First, Paula Abdul walks away from American Idol (or was she shoved out by the producers a bit?), now comes news that Susan Lucci's not sure about sticking with All My Children when the ABC soap relocates to Los Angeles in December. My thought was there's no way La Lucci was going to pass on the chance to keep on working, but she's saying it's a tough decision. "I don't know ... I love the show and I love playing Erica, but I'm just now going to have a couple of days off. It's a lot to think about." Could Susan truly be thinking anything but, "Yes, I'm going"? Seriously, All My Children has been her mainstay for 39 years. That's right, nearly four decades of continuous employment in essentially a starring role.
Even at the height of her popularity, when she won the Emmy -- after 18 tries -- and was snagging TV movies and commercials (her Sweet One was a classic), Lucci stuck with AMC. She had offers for prime time, but she never spread her wings and flew away from the nest. With the nest moving to L.A., would Susan really let them go without her? I think not.
Therefore, what does she mean when she says, "It's overwhelming. I'm a New Yorker. My family is here. I love this city. So I have a lot to think about"? Perhaps it's a ploy to extract a new contract from the producers, or bargain for certain perks like travel expenses for trips home to Scarsdale or other niceties. She wouldn't be the first star to finagle for more.
My advice to Susan, for what it's worth: be careful. This relocation by AMC, which she's viewing as a sign of faith by the network in the soap, could be a way of downsizing the production cost which includes lopping off high-priced talent that may be past their prime.
If that sounds like Lucci, well yes, that's because it's true. Remember, her character -- Erica Kane -- isn't getting any younger, although her leading men have been. Still, she's not the center of attention anymore. Also, in just the last year alone, other divas of her ilk have been rudely treated in soapland. Deidre Hall was pink-slipped from Days of Our Lives, The Young & the Restless played hard ball with Melody Thomas Scott and Jess Walton and won. Even Robin Strasser was demeaned by One Life to Live into taking a huge pay cut.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
8-08-2009 @ 7:46PM
Tim said...
AMC's relocation is to save $$$, bottom line. As much as we can't see AMC without her, I wouldn't be surprised if actors choose not to move. Plus, I heard the actors hd a week to decide. If they don't go, that's money saved.
http://tvtimepodcast.com/
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8-08-2009 @ 9:34PM
maggie mae said...
If Susan left, it would be no big deal. She has out stayed her time. Need to get more story lines and up to date actors on set.
8-11-2009 @ 8:30AM
Ann said...
I am tired of soaps so I don;t feel really upset I always loved AMC but the sotry lines are the same as 30 yrs ago...
8-11-2009 @ 11:08AM
RCS said...
I totally agree...plus isn't her hubby's work is in NYC and she loves the Hampton's. Why would she want to go to LA?
I'm thinking she's the one who accidentally offed Stewart Chandler, and somehow that's going to be her SWAN SONG with AMC...How? I haven't figured it out yet.
I also think there will be a few more NOT heading West from AMC.
8-11-2009 @ 12:19PM
Dudley Haas said...
I never cared for this old bitch anyway. She should should have retired long ago. As a kid, I watched AMC in the 70s and 80s with my grandma. I wrote to her when I was 12 years old and her secretary never even replied with a photo. OPlain and simple -- she suicks and so does the show. I have'nt watched AMC is over 20 years now. Got more imporatnt things to do like weeding out my head and growing the biggest B-9 mole on my 4-head. Kiss my ass Susan Lucci, you old dried up, wrinkled, worthless hag!
8-14-2009 @ 4:07PM
Toni said...
Susan Lucci would be missed by all even if you do or do not like her! She has made AMC what it is today. If she goes then the fans will soon follow and then there would be no more AMC. We love to see what the infamous Erica "DIVA" Kane is going to do next. I love the May-December romance between her and Ryan Lavery. It is very sweet but she will have him for lunch and spit him out at dinner. I hope for her and Jackson to reunite very soon. And if that is not possible, then what not steal Adam away from that lunatic Annie! What a wack job that woman (Annie) is!
8-19-2009 @ 2:25PM
RAY VAGNA said...
GOD I HOPE SUSAN LEAVES. I'M SO SICK OF HER ERICA THE BITCH ROLE AND NOW SHE'S WAY TO LONG IN THE TOOTH FOR THE RYAN SHARACTER.SHE CAN QUIT AND TAKE HER BOOB JOB WITH HER.
8-08-2009 @ 8:56PM
Chet said...
Sounds to me like AMC is looking to do significant retooling... and I wouldn't be surprised if Susan Lucci moves on. She could do theatre, TV movies and supporting roles for the rest of her life and still live in New York.
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8-08-2009 @ 10:06PM
clinton said...
Susan voluntarily took a pay cut last year, with no drama or fan fair. She just wanted to do her part to keep the show on the air.
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8-08-2009 @ 10:16PM
RTMS said...
I thought NY had all the tax breaks, that it would be too expensive to film in LA? And at the rate they are booting long time actors off these soaps she better be careful.
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8-08-2009 @ 10:55PM
Anita said...
I think that might be why Lucci is thinking of leaving. After all, if the show goes to LA, there's no guarantee it'll continue for another year. Plus, considering how soaps have treated the more seasoned actors, there's no guarantee they would keep her on. Plus, Lucci has been with AMC for most of her life and I could see her realizing she has accomplished everything she can with it and valuing her family above it. Finally, Lucci is a veteran actress and can, no doubt, find work in any of the East Coast theatres, albeit at a smaller pay offering, and could probably do guest stints on other shows.
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8-11-2009 @ 11:13AM
angel said...
I see no reason why Ms. Lucci can't take a page from her on-screen daughter and "pop into town" several times per year.
8-09-2009 @ 4:33AM
RobynM said...
Perhaps she should be taken at face value. It could be that she's already been thinking about moving on, and this change gives her the opportunity to do it with grace. Or maybe she's one of those people who loves where they live so much they'd rather lose their job than relocate.
Also, 40 years in soaps would put anyone through the wringer, and I certainly wouldn't blame her if she thought it was time to slow down a little.
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8-09-2009 @ 10:35AM
Susan said...
Susan doesn't have to keep working if she doesn't want to. I'm sure she's not hurting for money at this point. Maybe she should stop and smell the flowers for a change. Spend some time just being Susan instead of Erica.
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8-09-2009 @ 12:52PM
Bubbameister33 said...
Are you Susan Lucci?
8-09-2009 @ 1:27PM
Susan said...
LOL No, I'm not but I wouldn't mind being Ms. Lucci. She's led quite a life.
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8-10-2009 @ 1:58PM
Denise said...
Ok.... so this woman has devoted the better part of her life to this show, while she's established her own life on the east coast to accomodate that job. And now they want her to uproot herself and/or her family and move across the country to keep that job in a few months time. And you're critical of her. That's very interesting..
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8-11-2009 @ 6:21AM
Debbie said...
I don't care for AMC anymore I quit watching after Rebecca Budig left. I am tired of the story lines boring. Nothing on ABC is worth watching anymore. I could care less about the topics they choose to put on the air. I could care less for that stupid show The Bachlorette or The Bachleor what does it matter to me who the hell they end up with. Dancing with the stars another dumb show. I could care less who is the best dancer. Come on ABC when are you gonna put something on that is watchable with the whole family. So far nothing but trash!!
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8-11-2009 @ 6:37AM
sick of the vulture mentality said...
OK. A BIG pet peeve of mine is people who misuse the "could care less" phrase.
Allow me to educate you, Deb, so that you NEVER make this STUPID mistake EVER again.
The proper phrase, Debbie, is "couldn't care less". Think about it: if you "could" care less, then you actually COULD care less. I believe you meant to say that you COULDN'T care any less.
Try working this new phrase into your obviously limited vocabulary, then work on sentence structure, run-on sentences and punctuation.
8-11-2009 @ 9:05AM
Dorothy said...
sick of the vulture mentality
Wow, what a BORING life you must have if you spend your time cleaning up the grammar errors on the AOL message boards. You must be HELL to live with...