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GH Exclusive! Sarah Brown Previews Her "Wild" Return
General Hospital's Sarah Brown by Ron Tom/ABC
A funny thing happened in the six-plus years since Sarah Brown left General Hospital — the role of Carly, the hell-raising, rollerblading tomcat she created back in 1996, was recast. A lot. With Laura Wright now embedded in the role, when Brown resurfaces in Port Charles on Jan. 31, she will have a brand-new vixen to bring to life — Claudia Zacchara, the prodigal daughter of mob boss Anthony. Here in Part 1 of TVGuide.com's exclusive sit-down with Brown, the three-time Daytime Emmy winner shares how her GH return came about and reveals why she is excited to be back. — Matt Webb Mitovich
TVGuide.com: When did the talks to return to GH first start up?
Sarah Brown: Oh, I want to say about five months ago. It was a really interesting happenstance.
TVGuide.com: Was it a call from [ABC Daytime president Brian] Frons or...?
Brown: No, it was nothing like that. First, I haven't seen Maurice [Benard, Sonny] or anybody from the show — except for Tava [Smiley, ex-Chloe] and Stephen Kay (Reginald) here and there — in six or seven years. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, I'm at the car wash and Maurice, who lives in my neighborhood, is there. "What's up, Mo?" [Laughs] Meanwhile, I'm running into Kin Shriner (Scotty) every other day at my gym. So Maurice and I chatted for a bit, and then three days later I run into [GH executive producer] Jill Farren Phelps, of all people, at the local café. I'm like, "This is weird. General Hospital is everywhere." So I felt like that was a really good time, for a lot of different reasons, to approach Jill and give her a big hug. It built from there.
TVGuide.com: Did you have any reservations about returning to the show? Concerns about "Who's going to have my character's back?"
Brown: A lot of "Who's going to have my back?" went through my mind. It took us five months to really work out all the details. It's been so many years, but right away they let me know that it wasn't ever going to be about me playing Carly, and that's always been interesting to me. They talked to me about that years ago, about a month before I did As the Worlds Turns , like, "[You can be] Carly's evil twin sister!" Because I had really dark hair at that point. We kicked it around, always in good fun, but it was never really something that we got into in terms of negotiations. I'm funny about the way that I work with soaps — I like to figure out creatively what we're going to do, and if it makes sense, I have no issues with the boundaries between daytime and prime time. I see other actors do it. Tamara Tunie does As the World Turns and Law & Order: SVU really successfully, and why not? You should be able to navigate both worlds. So I don't have any reservations about daytime per se. They pitched the hell out of the character and I responded to it right away. "That sounds like fun, sign me up!" [Laughs]
TVGuide.com: Did they offer you any reassurances that even with the writers' strike in play, they're trying to put out a quality product?
Brown: Absolutely. They let me know that everybody was still really happy because [head writer] Bob [Guza Jr.] had written so much of the show before [the strike], and before he knew I would take the job he wrote this outline based on how he thought I would play the character. That was wonderful to know. Obviously we hope the writers' strike doesn't go on much longer, because it's exciting to me to work with Bob. I want to get his deep insight into the character.
TVGuide.com: Now I have a Barbara Walters question: "How is the Sarah Brown returning to GH different than the one who left?"
Brown: Oh, I'm so different. I'm older! That's really what it's about. When I was first at General Hospital, I felt like I grew up there, like it was a college for me, whereas VR Troopers was "community college." I spent those years learning to navigate the business, and then I got to go out into the world and have all these wonderful experiences with other actors and directors.... At the time I left GH I was really wide-eyed and full of wonder at the possibilities of the gift I was given to play with. I've had six or seven years to play with it now, so I am coming back with a lot of joy. I left with a lot of joy, but I also left with a lot of fear as to what the future will hold. It was scary, but in an exciting way. Now I feel I can share a lot of my experiences, and that brings up the game level for everyone. Anyone who goes out and searches other techniques and styles and ideas and explores their creativity at the risk of failure comes back richer.
TVGuide.com: Since leaving GH, you have done comedy, procedurals, sci-fi, TV-movies.... What has been the most fun project?
Brown: Oh, that is such a hard question! Wow.... In terms of a great role that I really dug into, I loved The Closer, but K-Ville was really special to me, too.
TVGuide.com: I remember when you got cast on The Closer, I text-messaged you, "You're the killer!" And you replied, "Why do you say that?! Stereotyping!" But sure enough....
Brown: It's because you know me and the kind of roles I like to take.
TVGuide.com: I've always said that about The Closer: that sometimes they tip their hand with the caliber of actor they bring on for a guest spot.
Brown: Yeah, but Steve Culp played the attorney, and he's brilliant and well-used and one of my favorite actors in the world, and he didn't do the crime. The guy that played my husband, also — a fine, fine actor. You know, that's the best set I have ever worked on in terms of the kindnesses. That and the Monk set. I was just doing taxes and I found a letter signed by all of the [Closer] executive producers, thanking me for my work and letting me know when the episode was airing. That is the best place to work in the history of the world. Every single person who comes on their set, there's so much respect.
TVGuide.com: Back to GH: what do you think it means that Carly, a character you created almost 12 years ago, is still around, that the character has endured?
Brown: I think it's because she's well-loved, regardless of who's playing her. It's the character that the audience responds to because she was born into an underdog humanity that a lot of people can relate to. I didn't invent the wheel here. She's just someone that people identify with. The audience in America responds to that type of personality in a woman, sometimes.
But wait, there's so much more. In the Jan. 28 issue of TV Guide magazine, Sarah details Claudia Zacchara's first encounter with Sonny Corinthos* — and the wild aftermath. On Wednesday, in my Mitovich Mega Minute vodcast, I'll share a look at Sarah's first face-off with Laura Wright's Carly. Then later next week, come here for the rest of my in-depth conversation with Sarah, in which we get to the really good stuff as she sheds light on her deliciously dark new role.
* PS. That's where the "wild" in the headline comes into play....
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Jan 18, 2008 8:16 AM
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Well, so anyone who knows me knows that I am thrilled.
There are some things here that I need to think about a bit..., but either way, it's great.
Although, apparently the rumors about Sonny look like they are true, and well that makes me sick to my stomach so I'll be avoiding that stuff DEFINITELY (why does Sonny, the misogynist bed almost every new female character coming on the canvas? The writers seemed to be misinformed about his sexual appeal. It's over folks, LONG over, so please let it be.).
Any way, welcome back Sarah, hello Clauia.
ps. LOVE K-Ville, and The Closer
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Jan 18, 2008 9:18 AM
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I love Sarah Brown and I'm so excited to see her back. Her chemistry with Maurice Benard is smoking, they melt the screen.
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Jan 18, 2008 11:39 AM
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As much as I loved Sarah Brown on GH and ATWT, I just don't think I'll be tuning in. GH is just too guns and violence for me.
(Has the hostage situation w/ the day player father THIS WEEK been resolved?)
If they played Tracy Quartermaine more than once or twice or week I might be able to tune it because I love Jane Elliot but that's just not happening.
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Jan 18, 2008 11:42 AM
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SharonTateFan, the hostage crisis was resolved. It turns out his bomb was fake, it was just empty thermoses.
Yes, really.
As far as the article goes, I was a big fan of Sarah's until I read this. Anyone who expresses admiration for Bob Guza immediatlely gets put on my list.
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Jan 18, 2008 12:55 PM
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NO MORE. Just NO MORE!
I think Sarah Brown's a fabulous actress who can make just about any old piece of used toilet paper masquerading as a script work, but I'm not going anywhere near the TV cesspool that is General Hospital.
I have given Guza and his minions a dozen chances to get it right--when Robin Scorpio came back to the canvas. I gave them a whole six MONTHS after the the return of ROBERT Scorpio to the canvas before I gave it up as a bad job. Rick Springfield, Kin Shriner--the only thing I watched for more than 3 minutes was Genie Francis.
I watched this show for more than 35 years before I gave it up as irretrievable, and I'm not going to be tempted again.
I'm not even remotely interested in the Skid Row thrift store version of The Godfather that Guza, Phelps and Frons are obessessed with putting on the air these days.
As far as longevity of the character of Carly is concerned...
That's all Sarah Brown. Most of the people I know who haven't given up on GH don't SEE the Carly Laura Wright is playing. They're still seeing the complicated, unloved, revenge driven Carly that Sarah Brown CREATED.
I was one of the people that enjoyed watching that first Carly, and liked all her machinations--sleeping with Jason, sleeping with AJ, stealing Tony from her mother to cover up the fact that AJ was the father of her baby...the character was appalling, but Sarah Brown made the character work. I even considered the version of Carly Sarah created a nice little comeuppance for Bobbie, who ran around cheating, lying and committing all manner of mayhem and always got away with it.
But that was SARAH'S Carly.
The Carly that Laura Wright plays is a disgusting, aging, self-centered, unadulterated banshee with some sort of magic spell that prevents anybody from seeing her for the troll that she is.
Bringing Sarah back as a different character is just more "stunt story telling," and none of that has EVER been any good.
When Guza, Phelps and Frons are gone from ABC Daytime, I might look in on GH again--IF IT SURVIVES. Frankly, I don't think any of the soaps are long for this world. ABC cancelled The Edge of Night with a 2.4 share--and when was the last time GH had a rating that high?
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Jan 18, 2008 1:54 PM
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Thank you for the interview with Sarah Brown. I saw Sarah on The Closer and K-Ville and was very impressed. What happened with your becoming a regular on Without a Trace? You were there for a few episodes then nothing!
As an avid fan of General Hospital I was privy to Carly's first appearance in Port Charles. Needless to say she had quite an impact on many residents--good, bad or indifferent.
I find it interesting that you will now be playing a character of which we had no idea existed! Well, welcome back. Question: How long will you be in PC? Do you anticipate this character becoming involved with Sonny and/or Jason in more than a professional way?
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Jan 18, 2008 1:57 PM
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Sarah will do a great job. And you think Carly has a few lose screws Claudia will eat Carly alive.
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Jan 18, 2008 2:30 PM
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My only comment is to Barbara ... it wasn't Without A Trace that she was on but Cold Case if I'm not mistaken ... and I always wondered what happened there too.
Ok, so I lied, I do have one more comment ... when Sarah left, I lost all interest in Carly and the character hasn't been the same since. That being said, I'm glad Sarah's coming back.
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Jan 18, 2008 3:16 PM
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bossysheryl said:"The Carly that Laura Wright plays is a disgusting, aging, self-centered, unadulterated banshee with some sort of magic spell that prevents anybody from seeing her for the troll that she is.
Bringing Sarah back as a different character is just more "stunt story telling," and none of that has EVER been any good.
When Guza, Phelps and Frons are gone from ABC Daytime, I might look in on GH again--IF IT SURVIVES."
Bossysheryl, you're my HERO! I feel exactly the same! I'd like to add that the three AXIS of evil have tried to pretty up Carly, make her this sophisticated, savvy woman, when really, she's white trash, was never any good, and all she can do now is judge everyone, scream like a banshee and feel like she has every right to tell Jason how to run his life, who to love and to let HER be the decider. I keep telling myself to stay away from this trainwreck, but I can't.
Nothing against Ms. Brown, but if they can bring her back, why not Genie Francis? TPTB had the money to waste on people we don't know, could care less about (the extras from that disaster Nightshift) and new characters--but they couldn't find a place for Genie? PLEASE.
What makes me the angriest is how they treat long time fans like idiots, not giving us credit for having intelligence or remembering storylines, the way they keep re-writing history!
Sorry for the rant.
~Sangeeta
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Jan 18, 2008 3:55 PM
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Bossysheryl--that is, without a doubt, the most accurate description of Laura Wright's Carly that I have ever read. I could not have said it better myself!!!!
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Jan 18, 2008 4:17 PM
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I saw Laura Wright when she was Cassie on GL and Ally on Loving/The Sh-tty and I know she has acting chops.
But I just have never bought her as Carly. She just always plays her with real attitude and the head jerking.
There's more to Carly than that.
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Jan 18, 2008 5:41 PM
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Sarah was on both Cold Case and Without a Trace. On the former, she played a new detective, but rumor has it Kathryn Morris didn't like the competition and had Sarah canned. On the latter, Sarah played the adult version of one of Jack Malone's daughters in that weird end-of-season dream sequence episode. She kicked @$$, as usual. Sarah needs a better agent, IMHO, she should be a mega-famous movie star by now.
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Jan 18, 2008 6:24 PM
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The year of the return of the Carly's!
Hell yeah!
Just saw that Tamara Braun who kicked ass as Carly #2 is joining Days.
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Jan 18, 2008 6:41 PM
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Sarah needs a better agent, IMHO, she should be a mega-famous movie star by now.
Couldn't agree more. I was even planning to watch the Fox show with the awful Jason Behr (you might remember him looking totally dull and not acting on "Roswell") just because Sarah was cast as a regular. She is amazing in whatever she does and deserves to be a much bigger star!
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Jan 18, 2008 6:44 PM
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