GL: How Harley Was Written Out

When Beth Ehlers decided that she'd rather play a new role on All My Children, instead of continuing on Guiding Light as Harley Davidson Cooper, the program was faced with how to deal with the character of Harley. Since Beth wasn't available to play a write off story, they could either recast the role or write Harley out without her...

If they went with a recast, it could have typically gone one of two ways...

• Hire someone else to play Harley like how GL brought in Nicole Forester (who was a daytime soap newbie) to play Cassie when Laura Wright decided to join General Hospital.

• Hire someone else to play Harley who is known to long term daytime soap viewers like how As the World Turns brought in Noelle Beck to play Lily Synder after Martha Byrne left due to contract issues.

Instead they decide to do a write out, which typically is resolved one of three ways...

• Here one day, gone the next and pretty much forgotten. This is how All My Children wrote out Brooke English or As the World Turns wrote out John Dixon, since neither performer was willing to work at their respective soaps without a contract. Guiding Light has done this recently with the character of Dylan, he was mentioned at Ava and Bill's wedding, but we didn't see him, and now he is away on business.

• Write the character out of town, and eventually have the character die in an off camera accident, which could be undone if needed. Friends, family and love interests would move on with their lives.

• Write the character out keeping them alive, giving an easy way to bring them back in the future with a somewhat happy ending.

Surprisingly, they chose the last option. Harley decided to stay in Greece due to a job and a man. She decided to leave her family and friends to make a new life in another country. Her younger children, Zach and Jude would join her off camera in Europe, while her older daughter Daisy would stay in Springfield with assorted relatives.

On camera, we saw Daisy and Buzz react to Harley staying in Greece. It was hard on both of them. What wasn't shown was the reactions of Zach and Jude's non-Cooper relatives. With Phillip roaming the world and out of his mind, at least as far as been said on screen, Harley had full custody of Zach, so bringing him to Greece wasn't an issue. Beyond the question of whether Zach's half-siblings would miss him.

Jude is another matter as his father Rick is in Springfield. Buzz stated that Rick agreed to allow Harley to send for Jude. There has been nothing with Rick missing his young son. This is the guy who was worried about Harley having custody due to who she was dating, and now he allows his son to go without even meeting Harley's current suitor. Say what? Did Rick get references to find out that the new guy wasn't a criminal like her last beau Cyrus?

Harley falling for someone else so quickly (whether one supported Harley with Gus or Cyrus) was surprising. In under a year, Harley went from loving Gus, than Cyrus and now this unknown new man. The character never seemed to be so fickle. I'll miss Harley, but I'm glad that I can continue to watch Beth Ehlers on All My Children.