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News is spreading around the net quickly that Emmy Award-winning writer Charles Pratt, Jr. has been fired as head writer and consulting producer for All My Children. ABC Soaps-In-Depth was the first to report the news this afternoon via their official Twitter, "Just heard from a reliable source something that'll make AMC fans scream with joy: Pratt is history." Soap Opera Digest was quick to ride on SID's coat tails and announced that ABC had confirmed the news, but there was no information about a replacement.
Pratt will began his run on the ABC soap on June 23, 2008 replacing former co-head writers Barbara Esensten and James Harmon Brown who wrote for the show from May 2007 to Spring 2008. Pratt served as co-head writer of ABC flagship soap General Hospital from 2002-2006. He moved on from GH to consult on primetime hits Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty at the height of their popularity. Pratt's other television credits include the original Melrose Place, Titans, Manchester Prep, Pacific Palisades, Models, Inc., Sunset Beach, Life Goes On, Gabriel's Fire and Santa Barbara. Pratt has been nominated for several Daytime Emmy Awards and won in 1989, 1991 and 2003.
All My Children fans have clamored for Pratt's firing for the past few months, with the internet parody series Pratt Falls, chronicling a sensationalized view of the backstage goings-on at AMC, TV Guide Canada's Nelson Branco and internet blog Daytime Confidential leading the pack of pitchfork-wielders. Initially, Pratt's run at All My Children had all the fanfare it could garner, but eventually things fizzled. Pratt's stint at AMC was kicked off with a promo campaign about his work on General Hospital and Melrose Place. Pratt got Eden Riegel (ex-Bianca, AMC) and Vincent Irizarry (David) to return to the show. He convinced fan-favorite Tamara Braun (ex-Carly, GH), freshly coming off a successful run at Days of Our Lives, to head to AMC and play Bianca's architect girlfriend, Reese. Undoubtedly, Pratt's best work at All My Children was when leading lady Alicia Minshew (Kendall) went on vacation and Kendall was in a 4-month coma. Pratt was able to shuffle things around on the canvas and really tell story without having to sacrifice other characters at the altar of Zach, Kendall and Ryan (see: Aiden Turner's departure).
The stunt casting of Guiding Light stars Beth Ehlers and Ricky-Paull Goldin saw mixed reviews. Ehlers' war vet Taylor never really gelled with Goldin's bachelor doctor Jake as AMC had initially intended and Pratt soon threw out the playbook and paired the popular Jake with Amanda (Chrishell Stause). The character of Taylor never landed on her feet and Ehlers is now exiting the show. Ehlers publically criticized Pratt's storytelling on Stardish Radio this summer saying, "And so maybe he needed to be reminded that soap audiences don't take kindly to you messing with history. And even if you can't see the seriousness of a situation, they see it. And they want you to write it seriously. You're asking them to trust you, and soap audiences are very generous. They'll forgive you as long as they think you're taking it seriously and trying. If they feel like they're being, pardon me, &#$@ed with is when they get pissed off."
Pratt has messed with All My Children's rich history on multiple occasions, including having Rebecca Budig's Greenlee share her wedding day with long-time rival Bianca in one of Pratt's biggest sweep stunts at AMC, and killing Stuart Chandler off at the hands of twin brother Adam (both roles played by David Canary) in another haphazard storyline that's currently unfolding onscreen.
Pratt had the eyes of the mainstream media on him when Bianca and Reese had the first same-sex marriage in daytime earlier this year. But he majorly fumbled the story when he had Reese make-out with Thorsten Kaye's Zach on the eve of her wedding, setting the stage for Bianca to quickly flee to France after the nuptials, coinciding with actress Eden Riegel's exit. Pratt was heavily criticized by the fans for his comments on the situation in which he insinuated Riegel was to blame for the fiasco that was Bianca & Reese's storyline. Pratt told TV Guide's Michael Logan "I was led to believe we had her for longer than we really did — suddenly I got word that Eden is leaving now. We got to play everything we wanted to with Bianca and Reese but not in the time we'd hoped for — in my mind, it was a two-year story. I guess I could have rushed to the wedding earlier so that they'd have had more time together as a married couple and then had them break up, but I think the fans would have been even more unsatisfied with that."
It seems AMC fans have gotten their wish. Pratt has been ousted, but what comes next? At press time, ABC did not return calls for comment. But with the daytime soap lineup continually shrinking, there are a lot of out-of-work writers available. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Claire Labine (Ryan's Hope, General Hospital) make her triumphant return to daytime. Either way, Soap Opera Source will keep you updated on this developing story. As for Pratt, he should head over to the struggling Melrose Place reboot over on the CW. His tried and true brand of camp is exactly what the Melrose brand is famous for, and they are in desperate need of a creative revamp.
Follow Soap Opera Source on Twitter at @SoapOperaSource | Follow Tara Blake on Twitter at @SOS_Tara
Comments (7)
why we shock
wonder why writers fired men taking children from their moms who happen raise the child their whole life . aiden sure helped annie that was ryan job get annie some help not steal her child and try send her prison just so save kendall
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Um...who is being fired next?
Now they're grasping at straws. I mean, really - was Aiden ever this twisted? Shouldn't he start looking for the (future) return from the grave, Greenlee? (I know, how many times can a soap do that one?) When did Annie rub off on him? When she was in the nuthouse? come on... And speaking of Annie - finally someone realized a person this twisted is not walking around free as a bird, knowingly!
And don't get me started on this latest twist with David and Trevor. David is one of the few things keeping this show interesting, and I wish they'd send him to General Hospital. I couldn't believe they brought Jesse back but it turned out to be quite an interesting turn of events. I like Brock, that was one of his achievements. But with the other unbelieveable storylines so intertwined with his, it kind of overshadowed Brocks storyline, and made it all seem kind of unrealistic.
So what is AMC anyway? Reality, close to reality, a twin planet, totally unrealistic? Then again, Pine Valley is conveniently located within 1 hour from every major city they go to. Hmmm...
Where oh where do I submit my resume?
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Are You Kidding Me??????????
Exactly what was so great about that time????
Was it the fact that he completely ruined Bianca???
Damaged the character of Zach??
Created the first baby that fans will never embrace....Zach's sperm donation to Bianca???
Turned the entire shows focus onto a new character that was destined for failure because she was just that disgusting, the character of Reese?????
Was it the stupid elf dance???
The not so ground breaking story about a same sex couple that never was???
The vile towel dropping incident???
Rylee part 3????
Annie ruined to facilitate the most repulsive pairing in daytime, Rylee???
Aidan ruined to facilitate the most repulsive pairing Rylee???
Sure, he killed off Babe.... Good for him, but he ruined every thing else..
The show sucked from day one of the twister....and went down hill more even after...
Tamara Brau couldn't wait to get the hell out of dodge because PRatt lied to her face, trashed the character she wanted to play, and ruined any chance she had on the show...
Chuck Pratt didn't have a best.....It was all bad....and continues to be.....
Maybe I should have been drinking what you were drinking during that time, maybe we all should have, because there was nothing good then, just like there is nothing good now!!!
Thanks for the laugh though.....
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Pratt's Best Work?????????
Pratt's best work was decimating AMC... destryoning every single character he wrote for, pushing long time loyal fans away, and insulting & disrespecting the amazing talented actors/actresses that put their heart & souls into the characters they portray..
He lied to Eden Reigle & Tamara Braun, then completely destoryed the character of Bianca.
Charles Pratt was a failure from day one...to say that his best work happened when Kendall was in a coma is ludicris.....He destroyed Zach, Bianca, even Erica....
He cenetered the show around a character that had no ties to PV....lied about what/who that character was...
I also have to wonder how much Chuck Pratt paid you for those remarks......about his best work......Kendall's coma was the beginning of the end and things only went down hill from there..
Sure, he brought VI back.....and the amazing Dr David Hayward, but look what he's done to him.....Amanda/David's sex in the backseat of a car was almost like watching someone being raped....
Pratt's hatred for women is evident in the way he writes the woman on the show....
I think maybe you either need to give CP back the money he gave you for singing his praises about the Kendall's coma mess....or you might actually want to watch the garbage he wrote during that time, that decimated the character of Bianca....damaged the character of Zach.....and more....
Sorry, but completely disagree with you about that...
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Pratt's Best Work???
Mr. Pratt did nothing but destroy the characters and history of this show. He did not have one successful or good story. Everything was pushed too far - all plot points and no substance. He showed nothing but disrespect to the actors and their characters and to the viewers of this show.
His firing is a cause for celebration for AMC viewers, however, it came way to late. Whomever picks up the reigns has their work cut out for them - not only to the characters need to be repaired and restored to their non pod selves, but the viewers trust and respect needs to be regained.
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Charles Pratt, is that you hiding under the name of Tara Blake!!!
Pratt focused the show solely on his confused bi-sexual lesbain. While Kendall was in a coma, Pratt destroyed the character of Bianca beyond repair for the sole purpose of showcasing his creation, Reese... He damanged the character of Zach....and introduced BOB (bundle of betrayal).
As for shuffling around the cast???? All of Zach's scenes where with Reese. A disgusting excuse for a character. Bianca was pushed to backburner in what should have been her story.
As far as sacrificing characters...... Zach & Kendall were sacrificed for his vile creation Reese Williams...as was Bianca... Zach, Kendall are and have been used to showcase the toxic waste characters since day one..
ITA that plenty of characters are sacrificed for Ryan.....but Zendall....they are the one damanged & used for other unlikable, unwatchable characters...i.e. Fake Liza, Reese, Bianca, Ryan, GL
As far as Aidan being sacrifice for Zach or Kendall,.... GMAB... Pratt didn't like AT... .He has no use for the character of Aidan and this is what PRatt does....destory them, then get rid of them.
When Kendall was in a coma, the show was lacking the fire that AM brings...
Reading your article, I have too wonder if you are not Chuck Pratt in disguse...
It's obvious you are not a fan of AM/Kendall....but saying that Pratt's best work was when she was gone is just a flat out LIE...
The show sucked from the very first day that Pratt took over.... Shoving his agendas at the expense of the "REAL" talent...
TB is a good actress, but the character Pratt created for her was just vomit inducing at best...
I'm glad Pratt is gone.... He destoryed AMC...destroyed every character he wrote for, including those he created.... His biggest mistakes started with Kendall in a coma.....hiring the worst recast in the history of daytime... focusing the show on Reese, Fake Liza, and Psycho Annie....
Too each there own....but I think every s/l Pratt wrote was a failure....espeicallly when Kendall was in a coma....and so do many, many others...
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