Soap Star Locked Out Of Studio Beth Ehlers (Taylor, AMC, ex-Harley, GL) had a rude awakening recently when she headed over to GL to pack up her dressing room. "They wouldn't allow me in the building. They had revoked my credentials," Ehlers tells Soap Opera Weekly. For more on Ehlers and the real reason she's not playing AMC's Liza, pick up the July 8 issue on sale now.
--Morgan
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Posts: 2345 | Location: Arkansas State Univ Department of Theatre most of the time. | Registered: December 31, 2004
I've discussed this at SON already, and I was one of the few who didn't feel bad for Beth. She came in on a Sunday, when the offices are typically shut down to try and get her things? Not only that but the article seems to bait Beth to try and bash P&G. As awful as P&G may be, this claim falls flat. IMO Ehlers has been acting a bit odd for the last couple of years. Thinking that Harley could not exist without Gus is straight up delusional.
I love that Ehlers finally told the truth about P&G or EW or both. Never has she gone to the press regarding the "awfulness" of GL when her peers make their snide remarks to the press all the time. She took the paycut three years ago and kept her mouth shut and who knew when her contract was up? No one-because she never used the press or her fans to whine out her negotiations. As far as Harley's future was concerned, who knows what Wheeler had in store for the character. Maybe BE did know and it was more of the same crap. Ehlers gave enough over the years on and off the record--she just left when she knew it was right and by the sounds of it, her instincts were correct.
I would like to think that someone who has spent 20 years at the same job would give a lot of thought to leaving. But also as an actor, I'm sure Elhers was excited about the possibility of playing a new part, rather that be Liza (which she originally signed for) or Taylor.
With that said GL could have been more gracious about the situation, but the truth is we don't know if they have some type of security restrictions, etc., as most corporations do have.
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Posts: 3509 | Location: Atlanta, GA | Registered: December 15, 2002
Where I work, once you're fired or you quit, you lose security clearance and you need an escort. She had to know that if it's the same way at the studios. Seems to me that Goldein/Ehlers and Wheeler, CBS and P&G were play a P I S S I N G contest. I agree with MTSROCKS that Ehlers's comments the last year or so have been so bizarre that I do wonder if there is more to the story.
I know Nelson has said that ABC treats their stars better, but let's not forget that Frons insulted Brier in the press; gloated about how he was getting Heather Tom for a bargain and then treated Julia Barr like she was nothing to AMC. The topper was how Sabine Singh was treated. Her treatment was so horrendous that Rebecca Budig is still having to answer for it and she had nothing to do with it!
I don't know what's worse, getting fired over the phone or quitting and then being locked out your place of work when you go to clean out your space.
I'm torn about this. First, Beth Ehlers spent more than half her life with this show, and I don't like how that situation was handled, not one bit. Second, she did jump ship, and when you quit on your own two feet, then you forfeit your status quo with an organization.
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Posts: 7780 | Location: Ohio | Registered: April 02, 2003
Who can blame the woman for leaving??? My gosh anyone in their right mind on that show would get out while they can.
I know OLTL is a full house right now, but is there any way we can bring back Kevin (Dan Gaughier) and Kelly (Gina Tognoni)??? I said I got tired of her always sending in boo-hoo tapes; I didn't I say I didn't like her.
Face facts...GL is the new PASSIONS.
--Morgan
This message has been edited. Last edited by: AwardMadness101,
FYC Oscars 09 - The Visitor: Lead Actor (Richard Jenkins), Supporting Actor (Haaz Sleiman), Supporting Actress (Hiam Abbass) and Original Screenplay (Tom McCarthy) - Then She Found Me: Lead Actress (Helen Hunt)
Daytime Emmy Congrats Writing Team OLTL! Directing Team OLTL! Kristoff St John! Boo to every other single winner.
Posts: 2345 | Location: Arkansas State Univ Department of Theatre most of the time. | Registered: December 31, 2004
I'm not really feeling sorry for Ehlers in this situation. Its not like they were completely denying her access to clean out her dressing room, they just told her she would have to be escorted, which is common practice in any company.
I don't know why anyone at P&G would be mad at Ehlers for leaving. It seems to me thats exactly what they want: to force the more expensive veteran actors from their shows.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: zackfins,
Not to be a wet blanket but it's not uncommon to require a security escort when you leave a company. The reality is she wasn't an employee anymore. The fact that she came on Sunday with a suitcase probably wasn't the best idea. I think it would have been best had she contacted whomever and made arrangements in advance. The powers-that-be could have arranged for that same intern to meet her at the studio on Sunday and "escort" her as she cleaned out her dressing room. Just my opinion.
I haven't bought the magazines on a steady basis. Nor am I aware of odd comments by actress Beth Ehlers.
Can you give some examples?
Some of the comments have been talked about here--Harley is nothing without Gus; there was no reason to go on without Gus there; taking the writers to task for splitting them up when Ehlers and Goldin supported it, encouraged it, and wanted it. You also had her comments about her Emmy snub a few years back which struck me as odd. If can track down the mag, I'll type it up.
Ehlers didn't take the writers to task for breaking up Harley and Gus. She wanted to play the breakup and stated such AND she wanted the getting back together with it. Her comments aren't odd. Look at what EW has done to all the good couples on GL--she destroys them.
I have been to the GL studios many times, and they are locked down tighter than Fort Knox. One requires a special security pass, your driver's license for identification and permission from tptb in order to enter past the front desk. Employees have and must wear magnetized photo identification keycards which allow entrance through the gate.
As a 20yr plus GL veteran, BE would have known this and should have known to make an appointment to pick up her items after she quit the company. These security measures have been in place since GL moved to their current studios a few years ago. Imo, this was a lousy, stinking attempt on her part to make GL look bad for no good reason.
I was discussing this with someone who's familiar with how things work at GL and was told:
Clearly Beth is aware that IDs must be presented. She was not aware that hers had been revoked. In fact, Beth presented her ID and was told her credentials had been revoked making that ID worthless. That's the problem.
Yes, many companies accompany employees whose employment has just been terminated to their offices to clean them out and often escort employees to the door as they make their final exit. Guiding Light is NOT one of those companies.
This was a spiteful act by EW. As Beth's 9 year old said, "Mommy, I think the reason they took away your ID is because they're mad you're not staying."
Perhaps GL could have handled things better by having someone higher up the chain of command than an intern be the one to talk to Beth about her dressing room.
Originally posted by phoebecat: I have been to the GL studios many times, and they are locked down tighter than Fort Knox. One requires a special security pass, your driver's license for identification and permission from tptb in order to enter past the front desk. Employees have and must wear magnetized photo identification keycards which allow entrance through the gate.
As a 20yr plus GL veteran, BE would have known this and should have known to make an appointment to pick up her items after she quit the company. These security measures have been in place since GL moved to their current studios a few years ago. Imo, this was a lousy, stinking attempt on her part to make GL look bad for no good reason.
Provide us with more proof that you have been to the Guiding Light studios many times, and are apprised of their security system. Give us dates. Give us names. (What you have written is not enough. And we're not obligated to take you at your word, nor your opinion.)
GL is not shut down like Fort Knoxx. Actors are known by the security guards, and would NEVER be locked. I've been there a million times... and trust me, a fetus could sneak their way in. She was LOCKED out... plain and simple. And let's not forget that an intern called her to come in and clean out her dressing room, it was all a trap for humiliation. And plus, BE wouldn't speak out if she didn't feel she was wronged. C'mon, she'd protect them if it was a misunderstanding. She's only handled this whole soap hop scandal with class. And she's in such a a happy place now she wouldn't start slinging mud. BE is just hurt.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: nbgemini,
Who cares anymore? It's not like she didn't eventually get her belongings and now has another job. And so what if an intern called her? Did the intern fire her? No! It's a bloody intern for goodness sakes, TPTB have more important things to do than cater to BE. Geez, this whole thing is so dumb.
Originally posted by MTSRocks: Who cares anymore? It's not like she didn't eventually get her belongings and now has another job. And so what if an intern called her? Did the intern fire her? No! It's a bloody intern for goodness sakes, TPTB have more important things to do than cater to BE. Geez, this whole thing is so dumb.
Ah, MTSRocks, but I thought this thread wanted to focus on who was at fault.
When you write, "[TPTB] have more important things to do than cater to [Beth Ehlers]," you tip your hand to the soap.
…Shame on you.
I really agree with the part about it not mattering anymore.
