The following ties into the earlier post about GT leaving - I did not want to make
this into a reply to the other thread because this is an update on the character's fate - not the sad story of Tognoni leaving the show. That topic was
too much of a downer for me, so forgive me if it bothers you that I am making this into a new thread, but in my mind, this is positive news whereas the other
was not! We, GL fans, all need some good news these days, don't we!
Soap Central:
Soap Central:
Gina Tognoni leaves GL, will air through the finale
Posted Sunday, July 12, 2009 10:41:08 PM
by Dan J Kroll
Gina Tognoni will continue to air on Guiding Light through the show's finale. Claims that the actress had left the show high and dry to pursue another soap role appear to have been exaggerated. Thanks to the magic of technology, Tognoni pre-taped all of her remaining scenes.
Though two-time Emmy winner Gina Tognoni (Dinah Marler) has officially left Guiding Light, the actress will continue airing through the show's September finale. The clarification comes amid reports that GL was left scrambling to rewrite story when the actress declined to renew her contract through the 72-year-old soap's final episode.
"The former One Life to Live actress refused to extend her GL contract until the finale on September 18," the TVGuide Canada's Nelson Branco revealed two weeks ago. "At the very last minute, GL had to re-write long-term story to accommodate Tognoni's decision to quit her popular role. There is no word yet as to why she didn't re-sign with the cancelled soap."
Now, Branco offers an update: Tognoni pre-taped all of her remaining Guiding Light scenes last month. Those scenes will continue airing through the final Guiding Light episode. It is, however, unclear if any of Dinah's storylines had to be adjusted to accommodate the early exit.
As widely assumed, Tognoni's early exit was necessary to accomodate her landing a role on another soap. Exactly which soap that is remains a secret. Tognoni has previously expressed a desire to stay on the East Coast, but talks to return to One Life to Live, where she played Kelly Cramer for six years, reportedly broke down because of salary.
Meanwhile, The Young and the Restless also reportedly expressed an interest in Tognoni.
