Casting News: Officer Down! Parnell Exits 17 Year Role

According to SON, Charles Parnell has left the role of Derek Frye. The role will not be recast. Parnell took over the role of Derek in 2005 from William Christian who originated the role in 1991. The role will not be recast and no air date for an onscreen exit will be arranged.

Christian played the contract role of Derek until 1991, but continued in a recurring basis. The Frye family continued to grow throughout the 1990's, but saw its numbers diminish in 2007. Tanisha Lynne (ex-Danielle Frye) was the last Frye family member on contract. Hopefully, the writers will reunite estranged father and daughter offscreen to account for this longtime resident's absence.

The writers have been referring to Derek offscreen since the Hubbards came back to Pine Valley. It was somewhat ironic that Derek was not called to The Season's East Casino to respond to the shooting at the Hubbard Wedding.

This begs the question that in light of the growing diversity on canvas with the reintroduction of the Hubbard family, can Pine Valley only accommodate one African American family at a time? Derek shares a lot of history with many of the characters on canvas, including a short lived engagement with Dr. Angie Hubbard (Debbi Morgan).

The SON report also confirms the exit of Billy Miller (Richie Novak), Leven Rambin (Lily Montgomery) and the conclusion to Cady McClain's run as Dixie Cooney's spirit.

The Happy Family Portrait

For all longtime Tad and Dixie fans, here is a picture from the current Soap Opera Digest of Tad Martin, Dixie Cooney and their beloved Kate (or as we know her, Kathy Mershon Keefer). As perfect and wholesome as the Martin family is supposed to be, they sure go through the ringer.

It is another sad reminder of what could have been.

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

On May 28th, star-crossed lovers Tad Martin (Michael E. Knight) and Dixie Cooney (Cady McClain) reunite, sort of.

Tad is critically injured after his uncle Rob Gardner goes on a shooting rampage at the Hubbard wedding. Dixie and Tad share a brief interlude imagining their life together had she not faked her death in 2002.

As much as we would all like to blame Dixie for ruining their chance at a happy ending, remember it was Megan McTavish and Julie Carruthers who pissed on our dream when they planned the plot driven drivel of Dixie's murder in 2007.

Crazy is as Crazy Does

The week of May 12 spoilers has Adam Chandler (David Canary) committed to Oak Haven, in the same room he threw Dixie Cooney (Cady McClain) in 1989.

The only problem, Dixie was never committed to Oak Haven. Nope, her sanitarium of choice was Laurel Hill.

All My Children, hire a story editor, stat. Better yet, just read this site.

Dreaming of Pigeon Hallow

This week's Soap Opera Digest Magazine now on the stands, has more information about Dixie Cooney's (Cady McClain, pictured r.) ghostly return to Pine Valley. Looks like when the going gets supernatural, Adam Chandler (David Canary, pictured l.) will turn to Opal Cortlandt to get to the bottom of the situation.

In other Cortlandt news, Opal and Palmer Cortlandt team up again when James Mitchell makes one of his all too rare appearances on All My Children during May Sweeps. I am holding out hope for one more walk down the aisle for these kooky lovebirds.

Source: Soap Opera Digest

Welcome Home Dixie

This week Soap Opera Digest has exclusive photos from Dixie Cooney's (Cady McClain) return to Pine Valley as Adam Chandler's (David Canary, pictured r. with McClain) ghostly vision. The man who once made her think she was going insane, gets a taste of his own medicine for keeping one of the Valley's biggest secrets.

Let's hope they make it clear Dixie is Adam's vision and not a ghost, like they did with Maria Grey in 1998 when Eva LaRue returned for a handful of episodes after Dimitri Marick (then Michael Nader) saved Edmund Grey (John Callahan) from the aqueduct. ABC may be trying to write their wrongs, but to this long time fan they are just digging a deeper hole.

McClain's first airdate is May 2.

Who Says You Can Never Go Home

Three major returns come to Pine Valley: one classic hero, a ghost, and an old friend with a new face.

Topping off the list of returnees is Laurence Lau as Greg Nelson, a role he played from 1984-86. Lau’s Greg brought national attention to All My Children for his star-crossed romance with Jenny Gardner (Kim Delaney) from 1982-84. After Jenny’s untimely death, Greg fell into the backburner. His last Pine Valley romance was with Robin McCall (Hunter Tylo, then Deborah Morehart), who was actually in love with brother-in-law, Tad Martin (Michael E. Knight). Greg left for Hong Kong, and kept his distance, especially from his overbearing mother Enid Nelson (Natalie Ross).

Lau’s return coincides with best friends and former business partners Jesse (Darnell Williams) and Angie Hubbard’s (Debbi Morgan) third wedding. His return is slated to be short-term starting May 20.

Also expect appearances by Cady McClain return as a ghostly vision of the late Dixie Cooney (pictured left with Knight as Tad). Dixie was killed for a second and what looks to be final time in 2007. McClain played the role from 1986-96, 1998-2002, and again in 2005-07.

Bad writing and a lackluster storyline botched her long anticipated return in 2005. Longtime Tad and Dixie fans were robbed of a true reunion of the one time super-couple with their long lost child, Kate Martin. Kate now resides in Pine Valley as Kathy Mershon Keefer, Julia Keefer’s (Sydney Penny) adopted daughter.

Hopefully they will make it clear McClain’s visits are only a vision so that the door could be left open for her long-term return. Then again, viewers saw Jesse in heaven on multiple occasions, and we see where he is now.

McClain’s first airdate in May 2.

Daytime veteran Ricky Paull Goldin takes over the role of Dr. Jake Martin this week. The Martin heir was last seen in 2003 (portrayed by J. Eddie Peck) when he came home to announce his engagement to fellow Doctor Without Borders colleague Dr. Carolyn Finn.

Somewhere along the way, Jake has found himself being held prisoner in war torn Darfur. This is not the first time Jake found himself in hot water. In 2000, Jake was presumed missing in action in Chechnya while volunteering for DWOB.

Death Becomes Her

If Jesse can come back from the dead after dying ON-SCREEN in Angie's arms twenty years ago, I think All My Children can write one of their greatest wrongs by reviving the late Dixie Cooney, most recognizably portrayed by Double Emmy Winner Cady McClain (1989-96, 1998-2002, 2006-07).

McClain just wrapped a six month stint on As the World Turns. She stated in her blog that ABC is yet to contact her about a return to All My Children.

Dixie fell victim to the Satin Slayer, Alexander Cambias, in mid-2007. Fans had waited four years for McClain's return since the character's apparent death in a off-screen car accident in 2002. Instead of the much anticipated reunion of star-crossed lovers Tad Martin (Michael E. Knight) and Dixie Cooney (pictured above in one of their last scenes), we got a promise of a date before her untimely demise, the victim of mistaken identity.

Now with the "Search for Kate Martin" storyline back in full gear (Sydney Penny's maternity leave put a halt to the story), there would be no greater payoff than a reunion for all the Martins, including Dixie. I don't think there will be a dry eye when Dixie finally holds the little girl she lost, in her arms again.

Jesse's return breaks all the rules:

• Jesse died onscreen. So did Dixie.
• Jesse appeared as a spirit to his family. So did Dixie (in a very busty white dress if I say so myself).

There is no excuse as to why Dixie cannot come home. Maybe Dr. David Hayward whisked her off and came up with another miracle cure (like Omar and Taylor on The Bold and the Beautiful). Maybe Palmer Cortlandt staged the death to remove Dixie from the threats at Chandler Mansion. Maybe Dixie took the opportunity to slip out of Pine Valley and continue the search for Kate the only way she knew how, alone.

Give fans what we have waited for: Bring Kate home. Reunite Tad and Dixie.