EMERGENCY RECAST: Patricia Mauceri FIRED
Birdie
Friendly Carlotta!
Submitted by Jamey Giddens on June 27, 2009 - 5:01pm One Life to Live
This Just In: Patrica Mauceri has been reportedly fired from the
recurring role of Carlotta Vega on One Life to Live allegedly due to
the star's protests about Carlotta's small role in the upcoming gay
storyline between Kyle (Brett Claywell) and Fish (Scott Evans),
according to a setside source.
" Carlotta was supposed to have a small role in the upcoming "Kish"
storyline. She objected to Carlotta's positive attitude about
homosexuality, saying it conflicted with her personal beliefs."
The source goes on to say the role of Carlotta was recast with Saundra
Santiago (Guiding Light, The Sopranos, and Miami Vice). Her first tape
day was Friday 6/26. Santiago previously played the role of Isobella
Santi on OLTL.
UPDATE: Reportedly the soap opera wanted to go against stereotype and
show Carlotta as a gay friendly Latina mother. The actress allegedly
vehemently protested that story decision, resulting in show brass
replacing her.
---------------------------------
Birdey
Jason Atwater
wow that is surprising. Never knew the actress was a raging
homophobe.
SFJason
Birdie
The Story Beat That OLTL's Patricia Mauceri Allegedly Protested
Revealed
SPOILER ALERT: More has come to light in regards to what allegedly
drove Patricia Mauceri to demand re-writes of Carlotta's scenes as
part of the "Kish" storyline on One Life to Live, resulting in the
star being terminated from One Life to Live and replaced with Sopranos
and Guiding Light actress Saundra Santiago. Here's what a source tells
Daytime Confidential:
"Near the climax of a beat in the gay storyline where Fish decides to
come out to his very religious family, he purchases a book on how to
come out to your parents. Somehow this book ends up in Cristian's
possession and Carlotta mistakenly believes Cristian is gay, leading
to a comedic scene where Carlotta is first floored, then begins to
accept "her" son's sexuality citing his sensitivity, artistic
temperament and concern for his appearance. The scene was meant to be
played as a comedy of mistaken identities, with Cristian continuing to
insist he isn't gay. When Patricia read the script she went to the
producers and demanded the scenes be re-written, or she wouldn't play
them. Patricia felt Carlotta would never accept her son's "gayness".
When the producers informed her the scenes would play out as is,
Patricia persisted and the decision was made to recast with Saundra.
Patricia has worked extensively with gays in theater and on film over
the years, but her personal religious beliefs have changed. "
Twelve years ago in 1997 Mauceri starred in I Think I Do, a gay
romantic comedy also starring Tuc Watkins. As Daytime Confidential
broke this story over the weekend, we have not been able to seek out
comment from ABC, One Life to Live, or Patricia Mauceri. We will be
doing so on Monday morning. Keep checking back for further
developments.
Birdie
and more.....
http://www.soapcentral.com/oltl/news/2009/0629-mauceri_santiago.php
Another gay, another holler. One Life to Live has not yet delved fully
into its new gay storyline and already there's controversy. 14-year
vet Patricia Mauceri was reportedly booted from the role of Carlotta
Vega when she expressed concerns over her character's behavior. The
role has been recast.
Patricia Mauceri, a 14-year veteran of One Life to Live, was abruptly
dumped last week after she expressed concerns over the show's upcoming
gay storyline and her alter ego's participation in it. The show
responded by recasting the role.
"Carlotta was supposed to have a small role in the upcoming [Fish and
Kyle] storyline," Daytime Confidential reports. "She objected to
Carlotta's positive attitude about homosexuality, saying it conflicted
with her personal beliefs."
But a source tells soapcentral.com that there's more to Mauceri's
ouster than just a bit part in a gay storyline. Mauceri has reportedly
been unhappy for more than a year.
"Patricia has been bitter ever since they changed the name of the Vega
diner to the Bon Jour Caf�," the source says. "She felt like it
insulted Carlotta's history with the show and even encouraged fans to
write in to protest the name change."
The source explains that Mauceri does not have a personal problem with
homosexuality, but rather that the actress doesn't believe that her
character would respond the way she's being written.
Another source goes one step further, hinting that show execs knew
that portraying Carlotta as "gay friendly" would push Mauceri's
buttons. Ultimately, that may have been exactly what the show wanted.
"There was a lot of surprise among some of the [executives] by how
much play the Chris Engen situation got in the press," the show snitch
continues. "For a few weeks everyone was talking about The Young and
the Restless. There are whispers that forcing Mauceri's hand may have
been a way [for One Life to Live] to get some buzz of its own."
The buzz the source mentions involves an actor on The Young and the
Restless suddenly walking out after it was revealed that his character
would be involved in a same-sex romantic storyline. The actor,
newcomer Chris Engen, released a statement refuting claims that he was
homophobic and asserted that he left the top-rated CBS soap due to
artistic differences.
With Mauceri out, soap opera vet Saundra Santiago has returned to the
show to take over the role of Carlotta. Santiago previously appeared
on One Life to Live in 2004 as Isobella Santi. Prior to that, Santiago
enjoyed a three-year run as Guiding Light's lady mobster, Carmen
Santos.
Santiago's first day at One Life to Live was Friday, June 26.
Birdie
<atwat...@gmail.com> wrote:
>On Jun 27, 6:31�pm, Birdie <bir...@rr.com> wrote:
>> EMERGENCY RECAST: Patricia Mauceri FIRED; Saundra Santiago Cast as Gay
>> Friendly Carlotta!
>> Submitted by Jamey Giddens on June 27, 2009 - 5:01pm One Life to Live
>
>wow that is surprising. Never knew the actress was a raging
>homophobe.
>
She's not. Patricia objected to Carlotta's sudden change in behaviour.
Birdey
Witchy Way
she was protesting the character's character. i can understand that.
D.W. McKim
once been considered untouchable are no longer safe from the chopping
block, i'll fully admit that i'm really not all that sad to see PM go.
She was good a long time ago, but for almost the last decade, Carlotta
has been one of the show's most unlikable characters. Granted, a lot of
that has to do with the writing - but even despite the writing, PM could
have tried to rise above that direction with her acting choices but
instead helped the writers destroy the character by making her such an
unlikable, unbearable shrew. She could have complained to the writers
about THAT aspect of her character, but when she DOES complain, it's
when the writers try to make her more human and likable! Very dumb!
I hated the Santi story but i had no problem at all with the actress who
played Isabella and am really quite excited to see that she'll be the
new Carlotta - should really be a huge change for the better!
--------------------------------------
d.w. mckim
http://community.webtv.net/larynx1/UltravioletMUSEings/index.html - "Let
me show you the world in my eyes" (Depeche Mode)
http://muppetfreak.blogstream.com - 75/85% Muppet/Henson fandom
commentary plus other areas of interest and cool stuff
Suzanne D.
news:9470-4A47FD6E-1615@storefull-
> She was good a long time ago, but for almost the last decade, Carlotta
> has been one of the show's most unlikable characters. Granted, a lot of
> that has to do with the writing - but even despite the writing, PM could
> have tried to rise above that direction with her acting choices but
> instead helped the writers destroy the character by making her such an
> unlikable, unbearable shrew.
I always felt that she was really angry all the time. The smallest problems
would get her scowling and scolding. Maybe if she had played some of these
problems with sympathy or pleading or sorrow or wisdom, she wouldn't have
seemed so consistently shrewish.
> I hated the Santi story but i had no problem at all with the actress who
> played Isabella and am really quite excited to see that she'll be the
> new Carlotta - should really be a huge change for the better!
I liked the actress as Isabella, but that was a low-key, sad, mousy
character. I hope she will be able to portray fiery Carlotta just as well.
--S.
Birdie
Patricia Mauceri has been an actress on 'One Life to Live' for a long
time, but she left after a plotline she didn't approve of developed.
No one is talking on the record, but here's what happened:
"OLTL" was taping scenes in late-June concerning roommates Cristian,
Layla and Fish. (They'll air in September.) Cristian and Layla suspect
that sweet cop Fish is gay, but aren't sure how to approach him about
it. So they buy a book about how to tell if you're gay and plan to
give it to him.
Cristian's mom, Carlotta, was supposed to find the book and assume
Cristian is gay. Her reaction was scripted to be very accepting and
even amused, citing his love of art and fondness for going shirtless
as signs she should have recognized.
But Mauceri, who has played diner purveyor Carlotta Vega for 14 years,
refused to play the story as written, saying a Latina mother would not
be so accepting. Rather, Mauceri rewrote the scenes to make Carlotta
confused and troubled, and submitted them to "OLTL" execs.
"That's not the story we're telling," responded an exec.
Mauceri then said she could not play the scenes as written, so the
show called Santiago. (Santiago had played a small role on the soap in
2004 as Cristian's brother Antonio's biological mother, Angelina.)
Santiago, who starred on "Guiding Light" as mob mom Carmen Santos and
on "The Sopranos" as Tony's neighbor Jean Cusamano, reported for work
the next morning.
"Saundra Santiago is now playing Carlotta Vega," confirms an ABC rep.
(This comes on the heels of Chris Engen quitting "The Young and the
Restless" just before his character, Adam, was to kiss a man. He was
replaced by Michael Muhney.)