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‘One Life’ Late March Casting Updates

HOME / News / ‘One Life’ Late March Casting Updates

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‘One Life’ Late March Casting Updates

Photo: Donna Svennevik/ABC

Thursday, March 25, 2010 12:00 AM ET | By Scotty Gore

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — The latest comings and goings for “One Life to Live.”

Will she or won’t she? There has been much speculation recently regarding Florencia Lozano‘s future with the show. The actress, who portrays legal ace Téa Delgado, returned to Llanview in late 2008, after an eight-year hiatus. However, last week rumors began to spread like wildfire that she was being let go from “OLTL.” Some reports were claiming that battle lines were being drawn between the show and ABC over her supposed firing, with the network brass wanting Lozano fired, and “One Life” wanting to keep her as part of the cast. At the same time, contradicting reports claimed that the actress had signed a new contract with the show, and that her publicist announced that “Florencia has no plans to leave ‘One Life to Live.'” SON will continue to follow this developing story.

It appears that Tika Sumpter (Layla Sumpter) is still on contract with “One Life to Live,” despite an earlier assertion by TVGuide Canada‘s The Suds Report that claimed the actress had recently asked to be bumped to recurring status (which SON told you about earlier this month). According to ABC Soaps in Depth, a spokesperson for the show informed them that Sumpter’s status with the soap has not changed.

John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex Balsom) has reportedly inked a new long-term contract to keep him in Llanview for the foreseeable future. Lavoisier joined “OLTL” in 2001.

Soap Opera Digest reports that they are hearing that Michael Lowry may be returning to the canvas as Ross Rayburn around mid to late April.

Steph Garcia taped her 4th appearance as a Buenos Dias Waitress on March 10th. Look for her latest scenes to air on Tuesday, May 11th.

So much for a big exit. Daphnee Duplaix left Llanview, along with the role of Rachel Gannon, on Tuesday, March 23. Talk about bad timing; Rachel leaves Llanview just when her mother and brother are about to need her the most.

Scott Clifton last airs as Schuyler Joplin on Friday, April 9th. Look for Schuyler to become desperate after “his” infant daughter is kidnapped by Allison Perkins, before ultimately owning up to his actions and facing the consequences. There is some speculation that Clifton may soon resurrect the role of Dillon Quartermaine on “General Hospital.”

Fans can expect Brett Claywell (Kyle Lewis) and Scott Evans (Oliver Fish) to fade into the background in the next few week. Evans will last air on April 12th, while Claywell’s final appearance will be on April 16th. No word on what this means for Audrina and Sophia Miscione, the babies who portray Fish’s daughter Sierra Rose. A rally to support the Claywell and Evans will be held in front of the Good Morning America studios on Friday, March 26th. For more information, click here.

In related news, Scott Evans was recently presented with the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) Visibility Award. According to the organization’s website, the HRC’s mission statement is as follows: “The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. HRC seeks to improve the lives of LGBT Americans by advocating for equal rights and benefits in the workplace, ensuring families are treated equally under the law and increasing public support among all Americans through innovative advocacy, education and outreach programs. HRC works to secure equal rights for LGBT individuals and families at the federal and state levels by lobbying elected officials, mobilizing grassroots supporters, educating Americans, investing strategically to elect fair-minded officials and partnering with other LGBT organizations.” For more information, click here.

In flashback scenes on Thursday, March 18th, Nadine Jacobson played Teen Jessica, and Jorge Luna portrayed Teen Cristian.

Kathy Brier (ex-Marcie McBain) has taped a guest spot on the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire,” in which she portrays the legendary Sophie Tucker. “I had a blast playing her, and am also planning to put together a stage show of her songbook in NYC and perform it sometime around the time my appearance airs on HBO,” Brier comments in an e-mail. In addition, Brier will be teaming up with her “Divas of Daytime TV” musical co-stars Kassie DePaiva (Blair, “OLTL”) and Bobbie Eakes (Krystal, “AMC”) at the Largo Community Center in Florida on Saturday, May 1st for a concert at 2:00 PM ET. Proceeds will benefit MyHopeChest.org. For more information call Patti at (727) 410-0427 or Barbie at (727) 410-0424.

In an interview with MTV about his new film “The Big Valley,” “One Life” alum Ryan Phillippe (ex-Billy Douglas) states that he has no intention to return to the show has helped launch his television and movie career, when asked if he had any plans to follow in James Franco‘s (who recently guest starred on “General Hospital”) footsteps. However, Phillippe does credit “One Life to Live” with giving him the “best training he could have.”

Peter Bartlett (Nigel Bartholomew-Smythe) is on the mend following rotator cuff surgery a few weeks ago.

According to IMDb.com, Meredith Collins will appear as Ella on April 19th. To read a summary of the audition script for the role, click here.  Collins appeared as “Reporter #2” in two episodes of “OLTL” last year, and has also appeared as a “Dressmaker” on “All My Children,” and as “Guest #2” on “As the World Turns.”

John Brotherton (ex-Jared Banks) recently tweeted that his wife Alison is pregnant with the couple’s first child. They were married in 2007.

Bree Williamson (Jessica Brennan) tweets that the episode of “Gossip Girls” she taped recently should air the week of March 29th.

Tuc Watkins (David Vickers Buchanan) will be appearing in the off-Broadway play “White Lies,” beginning Monday, April 12th at New World Stages. Watkins takes over for “Gilmore Girls” star Scott Patterson in the role of Joe White. The play also stars Betty Buckley. To learn more, click here. Look for Watkins to return briefly as David on “OLTL” beginning March 30th.

Michael Emery, who has been seen on “One Life to Live” recently as both a cop and an EMT, appears in the short film “Diamonds in Da Ruff”. Emery first scenes are about twenty-five mintues in.

Kristen Alderson (Starr Manning) tweeted on Monday that she was “Doing a Photoshoot today!! sooo excited!” And on Wednesday she tweeted that “I’m on the the set 2day&someone walks behind me, I turn around& Greg Kinnear looks at me & goes ‘this doesn’t look like The View.'”

Brittany Underwood tweets to a fan that “hey hun, playing Langston is basically just a lot of fun lol 😀 and i have no idea when Markko finds out [about Langston and Ford] I wish I did!”

And Melissa Archer (Natalie Buchanan Banks) has posted some more pictures of her new “OLTL” dressing room on her Facebook page. 

“One Life to Live” airs Weekdays on ABC. Weeknights on SOAPnet. Anytime on ABC.com and SOAPnet.com. Check local listings.


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