GL/OLTL: Michael Zaslow shocker
William Brainard
If Cassie's birth father comes back, even for a few days, think of the
possibilites. Maybe some long-unknown explanation as how Dorian became
involved with David Rinaldi and why they didn't marry when Dorian became
pregnant with Cassie. It would explain alot of the questions we have had
over the years about Dorian's past. And Zaslow's character David Rinaldi
was a world-renowed concert pianist. The avalanche storyline could put
David into a depression because he could not play as he once did, much
like Dorian's sister Melinda after her tragic horse-riding accident and
her damaged arm precluded her from continuing on with a concert career.
--
William Brainard
p020...@pb.seflin.org
John Amato
The following article will appear in next week's TV Guide:
HE'S DOWN BUT NOT OUT
By Michael Logan
Here's one of the wilder soap developments in memory: Guiding Light's
Michael Zaslow (Roger), who has been kept off the show for months due
to a debilitating undiagnosed illness, has been making plans to return
to work--in his old role on One Life to Live!
But fans of the beloved, Emmy-winning star shouldn't get
excited. Just as OLTL was expecting Zaslow's name on the dotted line,
his agents nixed the gig.
Zaslow caused the GL audience great concern early this year when he
began to show signs of trouble -- weight loss, slurred speech, and
facial dis-figurement that suggested he may have suffered a stroke.
For weeks he gamely remained in the role as doctors put him through a
variety of tests, but his continued deterioration became impossible to
overlook. In April, GL's production company, Procter & Gamble, asked
him to take a 13-week hiatus to focus on getting better. They replaced
him with soap vet Dennis Parlato, announcing to the press that they
fully expected Zaslow to return.
Though neither Zaslow nor his agents will comment, the star is
report-edly furious with P&G and is claiming he was fired. On June 23,
he filed a grievance with his union, the American Fed-eration of
Television & Radio Artists.
We did not fire him," says P&G day-time chief Mickey Dwyer-Dobbin. "We
asked him to take a sabbatical and, dur-ing this time, we have been
paying him a small stipend." She says that Zaslow asked to have
his disability written into the show.
But Dwyer-Dobbin says: "Roger is a powerful, active, sexual,
multicolored villain. That's who we need him to be on the GL canvas.
We do not need a wizened little old man. And that's what he would have
to play in his condition. It really hurts me to have to say that, but
all I can do is wish Michael all the best. My heart truly goes out to
him."
The actor, who may be gearing up for a whopper lawsuit and looking to
prove that he's employable, sent word to OLTL that he is eager to
work. On July 17, he met with the show's executive producer, Maxine
Levin-son, and head writer, Claire Labine, who admits they were
reduced to tears during the emotion-packed powwow. They offered him a
three-day stint as David Renaldi, the character he played from 1983 -
86. (To explain Zaslow's condition, they planned to reveal that
Renaldi had been injured in an avalanche.) Labine, who wanted Zaslow
on-air September 1, says: "We were very moved by Michael's courage and
forthrightness and his willingness to do this role." Adds Levinson:
"He feels he can be inspiring, and we quite agree."
Why Zaslow's agents killed the deal is a mystery. At one point they
told OLTL they weren't sure if he is contractually free to take the
job. But P&G has no objections. Says Dwyer-Dobbin: "We're not going to
stop him if he wants to do this ."
Mylene Savard
Whoa! Zas bAck at OLTL! Thanks for the scoop or quasi-scoop John. But I
would still prefer Zas as Roger confusing the heck out of Holly.
God's speed Zas.
--Millie
--
LAD RULES!(Liza+Tad) * ROLLY LIVES!(Roger+Holly) I'm not doing well!
- FAC Chef Larry - LCAS #1 Cheerleader/Memo pad - FG(L)C Tangie Hill
- BABE [Banding against Brooke English] - AFAC Gloria [Go *comfort* Dimmy]
- STUD (Save Tad, Send GloHo to Pigeon Hollow!) - Real Liza's Back!
TRINAJOHN
>Whoa! Zas bAck at OLTL! Thanks for the scoop or quasi-scoop John. But I
>would still prefer Zas as Roger confusing the heck out of Holly.
>
>God's speed Zas.
>
>--Millie
This is the first I have heard of this. Does anyone have anymore info on
this please. I would Love to see him come back to see his daughter and
cause some troulble for Dorian and Mel. I want Mel with Vickie.
Trinia
SCRM...@aol.com or TRIN...@aol.com
Tante Joan
Actually, Zaslow asked OLTL whether they were interested in bringing David
Rinaldi (Z's OLTL character) back, after GL nixed his return to GL. The
Labines are reported to have said they were indeed interested, but that
GL's restriction about hiring actors presently under contract prevented
them from taking him up on his offer. GL, however, supposedly said
something like "we don't care what he does."
This is a very ugly story, the ugliest part being GL's original response to
MZ's wish to return to work.
TJ
DonnaB
On Sun, 03 Aug 1997 20:21:13 GMT, tant...@writeme.com (Tante Joan)
wrote:
| Actually, Zaslow asked OLTL whether they were interested in bringing David
| Rinaldi (Z's OLTL character) back, after GL nixed his return to GL. The
| Labines are reported to have said they were indeed interested, but that
| GL's restriction about hiring actors presently under contract prevented
| them from taking him up on his offer. GL, however, supposedly said
| something like "we don't care what he does."
|
| This is a very ugly story, the ugliest part being GL's original response to
| MZ's wish to return to work.
Which was what?
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