For the past two decades, give or take a year here and there, actress Martha Byrne has played the character of Lily Snyder on As the World Turns. That all ends next month. According the executive producer Christopher Goutman, "We made Martha an incredibly generous offer in hopes that she would remain. Unfortunately, Martha has decided to leave despite our best efforts to keep her." That's the show's side of the story. Michael Logan spoke with Martha Byrne to hear her side of the story.It turns out that contrary to Mr. Goutman's statement, their offer to Martha -- a two-time Daytime Emmy award winning actress -- was lame. In 2007, when asked to take a pay cut, she signed a one-year deal. For 2008, her only request before re-signing was a guarantee on the number of days she would work. "I thought it was only fair - and I wanted it on paper - that I would work the same amount of days," she told Logan. Instead of negotiating, ATWT refused her request and sent out a notice to re-cast the role.
"After that, things went from bad to worse. I can't get into those details but it solidified my decision to leave the show. I never intended to speak about this, but I now feel I must. ...I feel the fans deserve the truth."
Speaking truthfully, this is a real blow to As the World Turns watchers. Martha has grown up on the show. Her character has gone from being a teenager who fell in love with the stable boy to the mother of a young man who has realized he's gay. She's played Lily through every kind of emotional trauma. She's left the show of her own accord a couple of times, but always came back because nobody else ever was the real Lily -- she was. And with Jon Hensley, who plays Holden, she's been half of one of the soap world's best love stories. Her leaving the show under these circumstances really stinks.
Unlike other actors who are let go or treated shabbily by management when they are no long popular or in front-burner stories, Martha's is still very popular and has had lots of action this past year. "I've spent 21 years of my life at ATWT and have loved every minute of it, and that's what's so hard about this," she admitted to Logan.
I hear you, Martha, and I hope you get a new gig on another soap -- or primetime -- very soon. You're good enough, you're smart enough, and doggone, people like you!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-20-2008 @ 5:26PM
Darlyn said...
How about we start a letter to CBS! This is so unfair and as a long time watcher of the show I feel cheated with the lies. I watched my Mom tuned in to ATWT when I would come home for my school lunches and now I am a Grandma. The long time actresses become a part of our lives. We follow their stories, and cheer their accomplishments. Lily has been a favoite character of mine and my children for years and we will miss her, there is no other Lilly!
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3-20-2008 @ 8:07PM
turtlechelle said...
Here's hoping another soap snatches her up quickly. I've been watching the same soaps for over 25 years, but I'd check out a different one if Martha Byrne were on it.
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3-20-2008 @ 11:38PM
Michelle said...
Bad new! But I think we -- her fans should defer to her decision. She has spent 21 years of her life at ATWT. That is a long time. Different from others, I'm very partial to her role in her "Life After Tomorrow":
http://dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=91894&ru=279 , It has everything I've ever wanted to know about being a child in professional theater, all the positive and negative sides. So I think maybe "Change" is a good choice for Martha.
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4-04-2008 @ 1:10AM
marybeth said...
This will be a big loss and she will be missed...Godspeed
and good luck. Other shows will be glad to have you and
I'm surprised at ATWT and their lack of wisdom in keeping
the "family" together~
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4-06-2008 @ 1:55AM
Janet Harris said...
I have been watching ATWT as long as it has been on, my mother watched it, I have watched Lily grow up on this show, and now this.... I am also a grandmother and I will her. Her and Holden were the best on the set. I love all the old actors on this show, Bob's sister and brother, his first son, Lisa, with her dozen different names, the roles of all of them will be missed, I am through watching it if she goes. I will watch what ever show she goes on from now on..
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4-12-2008 @ 11:37PM
KDK said...
No matter how likeable the replacement, who may be very popular playing a new role, NO ONE can take Martha's place.
I may keep watching the show, it's not fair to the other cast to quit, but I don't like the way Martha was treated so it might be soyanara to ATWT.
I can't imagine ANYONE TRYING TO REPLACE HER!!!!!
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4-14-2008 @ 11:13AM
Silversurfer said...
I feel as eveyone else does about Martha and her role as Lily. No one else can replace her. Shame on you, Christopher Goutman as Executive Producer for allowing a star as Martha leave the show. First Dusty is killed off and now A new Lily? I don't think so. You are probably going to lose a lot of fans for not doing the right thing. Fans get caught up in the characters and some roles just can not be replaced. If I were you I would rethink my decision. Hire Martha Byrne back!
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5-09-2008 @ 8:48AM
Cathy Snyder said...
First it's Jennifer, then Dusty, Will & Gwen and now Lilly! The new characters just don't have the same charisma. Lilly was the star and I can't believe you let her go. I don't think I will watch it anymore after 40 plus years. I do like all the outdoor true to life scenes though. However the writers don't do their homework very well I must say. Some things are really far out.
5-09-2008 @ 9:00AM
Cathy Snyder said...
First it's Jennifer, then Dusty, Will & Gwen and now Lilly! The new characters just don't have the same charisma. Lilly was the star and I can't believe you let her go. I don't think I will watch it anymore after 40 plus years. I do like all the outdoor true to life scenes though. However the writers don't do their homework very well I must say. Some things are really far out.
4-22-2008 @ 3:08PM
JANICE SHAVER-GREENE said...
SOMEONE NEEDS TO TELL THE WRITERS AND MANAGEMENT OF AS THE WORLD TURNS THAT THEY ARE BEGINNING TO DESTROY THIS WONDERFUL SHOW...I AM 56 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS SHOW SINCE IT'S BEGINNING WITH MY GRANDMOTHER,MOTHER,3 HUSBANDS AND CHILD...MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD CRY WHEN SOMEONE PASSED LIKE IT WAS FAMILY...INSTEAD OF KICKING OUT THE OLD FAVORITES LIKE LILY AND NOT GIVING HER WHAT SHE REQUEST AND BRINGING IN TWO BIT NEW PLAYERS THEY HAD BETTER STICK WITH WHAT THEIR FANS WANT...THEY HAVE TONS OF SHOWS ON NOW SO THEY HAD BETTER START KISSING SOME OF OUR BEHINDS TO KEEP US INTERESTED AND WATCHING...GIVE MARTHA ANYTHING SHE WANTS TO GET HER BACK AND KEEP HER THERE...THAT INCLUDES ALL THE OTHER VETERAN ACTORS/ACTRESSES...WAKE UP WHO THE HECK IS IN CHARGE THERE BEFORE YOU END UP LIKE ANOTHER WORLD,EDGE OF NIGHT,SEARCH FOR TOMORROW AND ALL THE OTHERS WHO ARE NOW HISTORY...
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4-25-2008 @ 4:29PM
Sandy Bernardoni said...
I have been watching ATWT since I was 12 and I am 63 years old now. I have watched them come and go. I do not understand why some of these shows take off the really good and put someone else in there place. Especially someone like Lily (Martha Bryne) Stupid. ATWT has done this alot. Management should ask the fans what they think. We are the ones that keep the shows going. I love Martha as Lily I have watched her grow up and she is a great actress and has turned into a wonderful Human Being. Beautiful as well
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4-29-2008 @ 3:00PM
NIKKI said...
WOW!!!- I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE IS GONE, I STARTED WATCHING THIS SHOW WHEN I WAS 13 I'M NOW 36, LILLY & HOLDEN, ARE THE REASON I TUNE IN AND HAVE SUCKED IN OTHER COWORKS INTO THIS SHOW. PLEASE BRING HER BACK, I STOPPED WATCHING YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS 5 YRS AGO ( I WATCHED THAT SINCE AGE 13) DUE TO ALL THE RECASTING. NOONE WILL EVER BE ABLE TO PORTRAY LILLY IN THE MINDS OF LONGTIME FANS....THEY ARE DESTROYING THE SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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5-08-2008 @ 2:44PM
omcindy said...
I say we all boycott Proctor and Gamble products. I think CBS could have fought harder for her, but if it was really P&G then we should just not buy any of their products and maybe they'll get the message. The role of Lily belongs to Martha, and no one else can take her place.
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5-08-2008 @ 6:58PM
Becky Blair said...
I was shocked when I saw someone else playing Lily. I did not know about her leaving. It is really upsetting because Lily and Holden are my favorite couple besides Bob and Kim, and I was hoping that they would grow old together on the show. I've been watching them since they started on the show. My husband even watches it. He just loves Martha Byrne. It's just not going to be the same without her. When you have someone as popular as Martha why would you let her go? It will definitely hurt your ratings.
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5-09-2008 @ 12:32AM
christine said...
You should be boycotting Proctor and Gamble products regardless. P&G refuses to stop testing its products on animals, despite the fact that these tests are not required by any law, and despite the fact that more reliable and humane alternatives do exist. http://www.pandgkills.com/main.html
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5-20-2008 @ 5:45PM
Lee said...
The powers that be at CBS have made a terrible mistake and should reconsider this decision immediately! I have watched Martha since she first came on the show and she is one of my very favorite actresses on daytime. Not only is she talented and beautiful, but she also possesses that "IT" factor with her warm, sparkling charisma. PLEASE BRING HER BACK, ASAP!!!
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5-21-2008 @ 7:06PM
KNS said...
I grew up watching ATWT. My mom always watched it when I was a kid and now I even have my husband watching it! I grew up with Lily and Holden. I remember when there was another lily and I never liked her. I was so happy when the "real" Lily came back. I just can't believe she's gone. I told my husband the other day, I don't care anymore if Holden and Lily split up because that's not Lily anymore! Byrne and Hensley have been together FOREVER. It just seems a shame to seperate them.
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5-28-2008 @ 8:37PM
daMomma said...
I really do not care for the new Lily...Martha, we miss you!
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6-01-2008 @ 1:48PM
Barbara said...
I have watched ATWT since the 1950's and there are some of the actors/actresses who are so much a part of the show that they just can't be replaced. The role of Lily is one of them. I always missed Martha when she was gone. So far as I am concerned there is no Lily without Martha playing the role and never will be.
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9-06-2008 @ 8:54AM
TERRY said...
SHAME ON YOU , HIRE LILY BACK, SHE IS THE ONLY LILY I CAN ACCEPT.I'VE BEEN WATCHING AS THE WORLD TURNS SINCE CHRIS AND NANCY HUGHES, HIRE HER BACK OR I'M GONE.
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