Friday, February 1, 2013

Prospect Park Statement on ABC and ONE LIFE TO LIVE Characters On GENERAL HOSPITAL

Prospect Park released the following statement regarding its licensing agreement with ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE. In 2011, when Prospect Park decided to reboot these shows, they lent characters to GENERAL HOSPITAL until shooting began for the new programs so that the characters could stay alive with the fans and also so that the actors could remain working. Everyone at ABC and on the production staff of GENERAL HOSPITAL understood that this was a temporary arrangement until production started once again on ONE LIFE TO LIVE. Now the time has come to start production and Prospect Park wants to, once again, cast these characters including Llanview transplants Michael Easton (John McBain) and Kristen Alderson (Starr Manning). See statement below:

"Prospect Park understands that GENERAL HOSPITAL has featured Llanview transplants Michael Easton (John) and Kristen Alderson (Starr) among others while we arranged production of the new version of ONE LIFE TO LIVE. These characters, who we own under our agreement, are obviously essential to our production efforts, and a large reason we licensed the program. We also understand that legions of GENERAL HOSPITAL fans have grown to love these actors and characters in a short time. So even though we are paying ABC millions of dollars to license the shows, we have been, and continue to be willing to equally share the characters with GENERAL HOSPITAL and ABC. It's a win-win for the actors, the shows and fans, who love all of the shows and storylines. We hope to work out these agreements with ABC and the actors."

The statement did not specifically mention Roger Howarth (Todd Manning).

RELATED:
- Michael Easton, Roger Howarth & Kristen Alderson Leaving GENERAL HOSPITAL (For Now); Prospect Park Recasting John, Todd & Starr?
- ONE LIFE TO LIVE Cast & Crew Update
- ALL MY CHILDREN & ONE LIFE TO LIVE Set to Premiere Digitally on Hulu, Hulu Plus & iTunes
- ONE LIFE TO LIVE Co-Head Writer Thom Racina Makes Video Message For Fans

20 comments:

  1. So the outlets reporting that PP is unwilling to share the characters must have sources at ABC that are telling them something different. Was the lack of RH an oversight or does it mean more?

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  2. What actor would want to do both shows? One is shot on the East Coast and one on the West Coast. Roger and Michael have families which relocated to CA. Michael Easton, Roger Howarth and Kristen Alderson are all under contract to ABC not PP. PP has no control of the actors at all.

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  3. It also would benefit PP much more than ABC to let the characters crossover.
    The viewership of an online soap will be far less than an network one.

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  4. I'd be happy if they shared the characters. It would be great if all characters had the opportunity to hop around so hopefully people will watch all 3.

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  5. If Prospect Park is willing to share, why would ABC have a problem with that?

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  6. Glad to see PP put out an official statement on the matter. I've been very disappointed with most of the soap media's reporting on the story - they've been twisting it into some big unexpected legal battle (and riling up the soap fans - a passionate group whose very passion can make them fly off the handle easily if rubbed the wrong way) when it's all a part of the process of the victory of getting the shows back.

    When the oltl'ers came on gh, EVERYONE involved - the writers, producers, and especially the actors themselves - KNEW that this was most likely a temporary gig while the fight to revive oltl was still going strong and likely to succeed sooner or later (either via PP or another entity). One of the main reasons they were even ON gh to begin with was to keep the characters and stories visible and the momentum to bring oltl back as its own production thriving. Everyone involved KNEW FULL WELL that the time would most likely come ... and be around this time ... that oltl would go back into production in some format or other and the process of deciding what happens next with each character would begin.

    All the time this was happening, gh fans bellyached over the oltl'ers coming on fearing they would take over and eat the show...now everyone's getting on their knees begging them to be able to stay! (A good testament to how great oltl, its characters and its actors are and why so many have fought so hard to bring them back to begin with)

    Part of the reality of oltl going ahead is the teams of both shows coordinating what happens next with the crossover characters - not only for casting purposes but also so both writing teams can be on the same page in terms of continuity in the storytelling. Because rights and contracts are involved, it's both a creative as well as a legal matter - and yes, lawyers have to by the nature of the beast be involved. That's not to say both sides aren't working together to come up with the best solutions for both shows, the actors, and the fans they're serving.

    Yes, there has to be a firm date where gh would have to stop doing things with the oltl characters because otherwise oltl can't write the final drafts of the shows: no final draft = no shooting; no shooting = no shows in the can by the target date; no shows ready on time = fans now complaining about the situation complaining even louder that the shows were delayed!!!! The whole thing is much like knowing you have all year to do your taxes and running around in a screaming panic when April arrives.

    Getting oltl back is a huge victory. With each victory comes consequence and the working out of what happens with the gh crossover characters is part of the process. Messy and complicated,yes but essential and not unexpected.

    Hopefully cooler heads will prevail and everything can be worked out as quickly as possible. I'm glad to see the oltl'ers have been so successful on gh that the throngs of fans who didn't want them coming on now don't want them going off. But ya know, gh is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary so why not allow the "true" gh characters to take center stage at this time while the oltlers can be back among their loved ones and families?

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  7. Remember only ME had originally signed on to PP, KA and RH were relocating to CA. and had moved on until FV called and invited them to join GH. All 3 have been hits. ME seems to be more recurring then the other 2. So I fill that PP should wait until their contracts are over and if KA and RH refuse to come back then so be it. They could focus on bringing TSJ back. Also I feel that ABC and PP are connected in some way. Prospect is the name of the studio that produces GH. I know, because have been to the studio on Prospect. You would think ABC would have issues with the name of the company?

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  8. Actually we don't know for sure if RH's family lives here in LA, he's VERY private about his personal life

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  9. I dont think Roger ever signed with PP. I constantly searched for anything saying he did at the time because he is my favorite actor. If Roger stays at GH I will be happy but happier if Michael also stays.

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  10. I dont think Roger ever signed with PP. I constantly searched for anything saying he did at the time because he is my favorite actor. If Roger stays at GH I will be happy but happier if Michael also stays.

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  11. RH has since gotten a divorce, ME married w child, KA & family relocated, so all 3 should stay, they are involved in pivotal story, more $$ for them & ABC

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  12. RH has since gotten a divorce, ME married w child, KA & family relocated, so all 3 should stay, they are involved in pivotal story, more $$ for them & ABC

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  13. It might be nice to have them on both shows, but not if it interferes with their work/storylines at OLTL, where they rightfully belong.
    I find it curious (and somewhat concerning) that Roger wasn't mentioned.

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  14. d.w. Mckim your post is spot on and I agree. For me I am too grateful to complain about whos coming and whos going. Its a soap actors/characters/couples / storylines always change. Part of being a soap fanatic is you expect and accept changes.
    I am hoping people stop complaining before PP and ABC get tired of the whining and threats of not watching from people, I still think that was part of the reason the soaps were cancelled before, No matter what ABC did people were complaining, demanding, threatening and ungrateful so they gave up. Its not up to people to demand anything, either watch or don't watch your choice, but don't ruin it again for us fans who genuinely love and appreciate our soaps. I am very grateful to PP and ABC for bringing them back. I will roll the punches and enjoy every minute of the good/bad and the ugly, Its what makes it a soap.

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  15. RH, ME, and KA are part of the revitalization of GH. Let them stay put. They have all been successfully written out of Llanview and none of them are that vital or central that you need them in OLTL storylines.

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  16. Todd and Starr have been resolved thanks to visits by Blair and Tea. John need to go back to resolve the Nat story. If Victor comes back, then then Todd and Starr back to resolve that story, but only that story.

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  17. ABC Disney made this mess and now they want their cake and to eat it too. They canceled One Life to Live so that meant the characters too. Now they are crying foul we want them back? Yes it is true that only the actors suffer in this whole mess that ABC/ Disney created. I do not blame Prospect Park they are the ones trying to please us, the soap fans by bringing back our ABC/Disney canceled soaps. I have already signed up for Hulu and am awaiting the renewal of OLTL with much excitement. I watched OLTL since its inception and GH just as long. Can't wait for the revival.

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  18. MK Scott...they film at Prospect Studios. Prospect Park Production is a completely different company. But it is headed by a former Disney exec...

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  19. PP your a CLASS act!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  20. I have watched both shows for over 40 years, and enjoy the shows and the cast of both. This is very sad to have this arguing. Who knows what, if any, games are being played by ABC and PP, but we wanted our shows back, and are getting them back! Neither show will die without these 3 people, unless the fans kill both show by threatening to quit watching if this or that happens, and we don't want that! ABC changed some of OLTL when they killed off people and divorced John and Natalie, so ABC needs to atleast let them go back long enough to straighten out the mess!

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