All My Children Writer Speaks on Beth Ehlers Character, Story
Ready to get political, All My Children fans?
On July 24, Beth Ehlers — formerly of Guiding Light — will join the drama as Taylor McBride. As TV Guide reports, she's an Army lieutenant fresh off a tour in Iraq. Taylor will be teamed once again with Guiding Light partner Ricky Paull Goldin.
ABC hopes to re-create their supercouple magic ... but head writer Charles Pratt, Jr. says not to expect Jake and Taylor to be another Gus and Harley.
"Like many great romances, this one will be born of conflict," Pratt, Jr. said. "Jake and Taylor’s relationship, not unlike our current presidential campaign, is a clash of ideals — the liberal versus the conservative. Taylor represents the modern warrior who is gung-ho military. For her, it's all about her country, her unit, her mission, not about the politics."
Back together: Ricky Paull Goldin and Beth Ehlers.
Jake, conversely, spent years working in Africa with Doctors Without Borders and has a "completely different take on Iraq and fervently disagrees with what's going on there," Pratt said. Both suffer a degree of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Jake was held captive in Darfur, while Taylor, who is awaiting redeployment, was wounded in Iraq.
"The story is certainly influenced by the success of Army Wives," said the All My Children scribe. "The goal is to present the kind of debate that's going on all over the country in a way that's entertaining and relatable and without taking sides."
