Byrne Gets Political on General Hospital

As the World Turns fans might want to tune in to General Hospital this summer. One of the soap's most popular actresses, Martha Byrne (ex-Lily/ex-Rose), has just been hired by GH for the recurring role of Andrea Floyd, the first lady of Port Charles. Andrea's husband, Mayor Garrett Floyd, is played by John Bolger (who had a run as Phillip Spaulding on Guiding Light after Grant Aleksander exited the role the first time).

ATWT recast beloved heroine Lily Walsh with Noelle Beck when contract negotiations fell through with Byrne. Byrne had wanted a guarantee to appear in the same number of episodes as her previous year on ATWT. Not too much to ask for, but apparently the show didn't feel the same way. Recently, Byrne started a trial run as a scriptwriter for The Bold and the Beautiful, a job that allows her to stay on the East Coast with her family. The GH role is recurring, so she will have a bicoastal commute for now.

As a longtime Byrne fan, I can't wait to see if Andrea is more like Lily or like Rose--Lily's spitfire, big-haired New Jersey twin. Let's hope it's a little of both.

ATWT's Parker Receives Young Artist Nod

Mick Hazen (Parker, As the World Turns) received a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Performance in a TV Series as a Recurring Young Actor. The awards will be presented on Sunday, March 29th at the Globe Theater at Universal Studios. For more information please visit http://www.youngartistawards.org/.

In other ATWT news:

Kelley Menighan Hensley (Emily) and her husband, Jon Hensley (Holden), as well as Michael Park (Jack) and Martha Byrne (ex-Lily) are scheduled to attend the Inaugural Angels for Hope Gala on Friday, May 29th from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Estate at Florentine Gardens, which is located at 97 Rivervale Road in River Vale, NJ. Angels for Hope is the first major fundraising event to be held on behalf of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Bergen County. Guests will enjoy a night of fine dining, cocktails, music and dancing along with a unique live and silent auction. Tickets are $200 each and seating is limited. Please reserve early. Please visit http://www.stjude.org/angelsforhopeorcall212-239-3239for reservations.

AS THE WORLD TURNS FAN CLUB LUNCHEON 2009:
Luncheon, autograph and photo sessions. Meet the Cast of As the World Turns on Saturday, April 18th from from 12 noon until 4 p.m. (Doors Open at 10:30 a.m.) at the Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway (Between 45th & 46th St.), New York, NY.

Here are the specifics: Current Fan Club Members pay $125 per ticket while non-Fan Club Members pay $135 per ticket. Children under 5 years of age are not permitted. If you wish to sit together your money must be mailed in together, no exceptions. Ten people per table. Additional People cannot be added to your party or table at a later date! There are no refunds or credits, no exceptions. Seating will be limited to the first 500 people. Money order (U.S. Funds only) to be made payable to: AS THE WORLD TURNS FAN CLUB (Canada - We will only accept Postal Money Orders in U.S. Funds) (All other Countries - We will only accept International Money Orders in U.S. Funds) Please mail to: AS THE WORLD TURNS FAN CLUB Luncheon Tickets P.O. Box 455 Lynbrook, NY 11563-0455

Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Video cameras are not permitted at the luncheon. There are a limited number of rooms available at the Marriott Marquis at a special rate. Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday nights, single or double is $329. For hotel reservations please call (800) 843-4898 and mention As The World Turns Fan Club. More Information: http://www.officialatwtfanclub.com/

New Lily Announced for ATWT

Noelle Beck joins the cast of As The World Turns, taking over the role of Lily Snyder, beginning on Thursday, May 8. Most recently, Noelle appeared on Cashmere Mafia. No stranger to daytime television, Noelle got her start on the soap Loving back in 1984.

Noelle has quite a road ahead of her, as she is taking over the role from the very popular Martha Byrne, who was unceremoniously ousted from her longtime role when she and the PTB could not come to terms on her contract - specifically the amount of episodes Martha would be guaranteed each year. ATWT did a smart thing by hiring a familiar face, however, as this should help Noelle's chances of being accepted by sometimes-fickle fans.

Martha Byrne Leaves As the World Turns ...

... and I can't say I blame her. If I may paraphrase Soap Opera Digest, Byrne, who plays the lead actress on ATWT, Lily Snyder, was in the middle of contract negotiations when talks were stalled. Byrne then heard through the grapevine that the show put out a casting call for her character and, not surprisingly, took that to mean they didn't want her, so she packed up and left.

Unbelievable! First Scott Bryce (or, going back as far as 2004 with Larry Bryggman/John Dixon) now Byrne. I realize the soaps need to trim their budgets, but this is ridiculous, and it's not just ATWT, mind you, that is shrugging off its vets.

Byrne left the soap before, and Heather Rattray was cast as Lily for a while. I can't imagine anyone else but Byrne in the role, but let's keep our fingers crossed that there's a successful recast. Can you imagine any other actress as Lily? If so, place your nominees in the comments section. I think it's going to have to be a big name and not a newcomer for the recast to be accepted.

P.S. Byrne has an absolutely beautiful singing voice. You can order her CD through her official website: http://marthabyrne.net/