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Will ABC’s General Hospital lose another popular star? According to a bombshell exclusive from Daytime Confidential, sources tell them contract negotiations with fan favorite Rebecca Herbst and ABC have reached an impasse.
DC also reports there is interest from NBC’s Days of our Lives in signing the actress.
For nearly 19 years, Herbst as portrayed Port Charles’ flawed but oft well-meaning Elizabeth Webber, the granddaughter of GH legends Steve and Audrey Hardy. Over the course of her tenure, Rebecca Herbst has earned three Daytime Emmy nominations for her work. The actress has also been one half of many popular couples over the years with Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky), Steve Burton (ex-Jason), Rick Hearst (Ric), Tyler Christopher (Nikolas) and Billy Miller (Jake/Jason) to name a few.
When contacted for comment, a GH rep stated, “Per ABC policy, we do not comment on cast contracts.”
The last time Herbst neared an exit with GH was in 2011. GH unexpectedly Herbst would be leaving as a result of a “storyline dictated exit,” only to reverse course a month later. Outcry from fans and co-stars was a definite factor in changing direction. Co-stars Laura Wright (Carly), Lisa LoCicero (Olivia) and Ingo Rademacher (ex-Jax) spoke out in support of the actress when the news broke in 2011:
I would love to cheers to Becky being Back!!! Woo Hoo
— Laura Wright (@lldubs) February 19, 2011
Yay Becky! Vive le GH!!!
— lisa locicero (@lisalocicerogh) February 19, 2011
https://twitter.com/IngoRademacher/status/38662813341855745
If you want to call the General Hospital comment line to voice your support for Rebecca Herbst, dial (323) 671-4583.
Our Take: It’s inconceivable to me that executives would allow a situation where an actress as beloved as Rebecca Herbst – who plays a character with so much history, so many core ties – whose children are tied to other legacy characters and families – to be at a contractual impasse with the network. It’s inconceivable to me that we’re in an environment where the show spent days hyping the return of someone playing his fourth character in four years, but a 19-year veteran and 3-time Daytime Emmy nominee is at a contractual impasse with the network. It’s inconceivable to me that five years after nearly losing Herbst over creative foolishness – months after losing leading man Jason Thompson to a rival show – that GH is in a position to lose one of their most popular stars. Again. It’s inconceivable. It’s unacceptable. Fix it. Now.
Photo Credit: © John Paschal/JPI
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