H50 cast changes

[azziria]

Whatever else I may or may not think and/or feel about Michelle Borth leaving H50, the one thing that I'm *not* is at all surprised. If you look at her recent appearances on the show (and I'm not talking about the episodes that Cath wasn't in, because it's my understanding that MB was contracted for 17 out of the 22 episodes this season, so missing some episodes is completely normal), then they've really dialled back her character and the length of time she's on screen. Which reminds me very strongly of the pattern they followed with Lori in S2. So coupled with the fact that it's clear from her Twitter comments that being on H50 hasn't been making Michelle very happy recently, then no, Cath's exit is not much of a surprise to me at all.

Comments

[stellarmeadow.livejournal.com]

The only thing about it that surprised me was that it leaked before 421. It was very clear it was no longer a good fit on either side.

[azziria.livejournal.com]

Yes, that is strange - despite all the speculation they didn't confirm Lauren's departure until Lori actually left. Maybe they were worried that Michelle would let something slip on Twitter?

[stellarmeadow.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling that the leak wasn't official, and the confirmation kind of came after the fact once the Cath was out of the bag, so to speak. But that's speculation--that and $4 will get you Starbucks...maybe. :)

[lunachickk.livejournal.com]

Even in my depressed state that almost made me laugh. ;)

[kitmerlot1213.livejournal.com]

It seems to me that the writers never had a plan for Catherine and after the Lori debacle, you'd think they'd work twice as hard to give the character good development so she'd fit organically into the cast but they didn't. The writers seemed to think that Catherine's not being Lori was enough for the fans to accept and like her.

Also on a side note, ever since the Twiiter insanity of Feb. 2013, I have grown to heartily dislike Borth, so I can't say that I'm sad to see her go or that I wish her well.

I just hope this means S5 will be a return to the ensemble of S1 and the fabulous McDanno :)

[azziria.livejournal.com]

I found that the whole Twitter business was affecting how I watched the show, unfortunately, which put me off Cath's character more than was warrented, probably.

Such a missed opportunity with this character, such a shame. Here's hoping they do better with the next new female character.

[gyri.livejournal.com]

Of course, Lenkov says this storyline was written two years ago and Borth's departure has nothing to do with anything. Apparently being an exec producer requires bullshit artistry.

[azziria.livejournal.com]

Yes, I saw that. It is, of course, what he *has* to say - he has to maintain an official line that they're not affected by fan pressure, otherwise he (and CBS) will be bombarded even more by the crazies.

I actually think that he's not totally lying - but he is spinning something. When he says that the storyline was mapped out 2 years ago he could well be telling a version of the truth - I suspect that any showrunner worth his/her salt has exit storylines worked out as a Plan B for all the main characters, just in case the actor wants to leave, has to leave, or becomes an embarrassment (or their character becomes unpopular). So that bit could well be true, after a fashion.

However, if this exit was indeed a Plan A as he's implying, and not a Plan B, then why dial back Cath's character so much in recent episodes? Surely if the plan was always to get rid of her (heroically, we assume), then why not make a big thing of how devoted she and Steve are to one another, to increase the impact of her departure?

The show's ratings have been good, so the Cath character clearly hasn't affected the show negatively in a big way. It may be that Michelle's departure is at her own instigation, seeing as being on 5-0 clearly isn't making her happy (as can be seen from her Twitter feed). (I think that if her departure was due to TPTB not liking her behaviour online then they'd instruct her to stop or lose her job, not just write her out straight off.)

If Michelle's departure is at her own request, then Peter's statement about Cath's exit not being due to fan pressure is walking the line between truth and untruth - on one hand, it would be true that they aren't writing her out because of fan pressure on *them*, while on the other hand her being unhappy and wanting out is most certainly at least partly due to fan pressure.

I guess we'll never know for sure. I just hope that fandom can move on from the negativity now. I really do hope that Michelle can move on and find success and happiness elsewhere, as Lauren German seems to have done. I don't think that Michelle handled this whole situation at all well, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone to be miserable in their work, and I don't think that any of this (however much she brought it on herself) has made her happy, any more than it has made us happy.

[dreamwind83.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I couldn't have stated it better. Not that I know everything about the Twitter fiasco, as I ignore Twitter with a passion. But I heard rumors and second hand comments. So I imagine her being unhappy made the fans unhappy, which in turn made her even more unhappy, which made the fans hate her and her character. Sad all around as I actually like Cath in season 1. Just not in anything after season 1.