Colby Chandler is a fictional character from the original ABC Daytimesoap opera, All My Children. Born on-screen in 1999, the character was rapidly aged in 2006. The role has been recast several times, but most recently the role was portrayed by Natalie Hall from 2009 until the show's cancellation in 2011. When the show was relaunched as a web series to air on The Online Network owned and operated by production company, Prospect Park, Brooke Newton stepped into the role of Colby.
Actress Ambyr Childers was cast as Colby in 2006 when the character was rapidly aged; she remained in the role until her exit in 2008.
The role was originated first by Carson Weaver and Jordan Petruziello in May 1999 and later by Carson Grace Levine in January 2000.[1] Later in 2000, Levine was replaced by twins Brianne and Morgan Mullan.[2] Kathryn Newton appeared in the role from 2002 to 2004. Abby Wathen also appeared as a teenage Colby in a dream sequence in 2002.[2] In May 2006, it was reported that Ambyr Childers had been cast in the role of a teenage Colby. Childers first appeared on July 3, 2006.[3] Childers revealed that she auditioned for the role about month before her high school graduation. At time, she was taking finals, so she flew out to New York City for a screen test. She returned home for her graduation and them came returned to New York for several fittings and eventually started work.[4] In the spring of 2008, rumors began to circulate that Childers the role of Colby was about to recast. An audition script for the role of "Edie" fed into the rumors. However, a spokesperson initially denied that Childers was departing from the series. In April 2008 it was officially announced that Childers had been released from her contract. Though Childers claimed that she had chosen to leave, other sources hinted that Childers was forced out. Childers made her last appearance on May 6, 2008, and was replaced by Brianne Moncrief on May 7.[5] With the decision to move production of All My Children, several actors chose not to relocate to California. Though initial reports said that all contract cast members were offered a chance to relocate, another source said that ABC had misled the actors. Apparently Moncrief was one of the actors who never got the offer to go to California and she was fired from the role.[6] Just days later, ABC announced that Natalie Hall had been cast in the role of Colby.[7] Meanwhile, Moncrief made her last appearance on November 12, 2009 and Hall made her debut on November 25, 2009.[8] Hall filmed her first scenes in mid October just before the show relocated to Los Angeles.[9] Hall made her last appearance in the final network broadcast of All My Children on September 23, 2011. In April 2013, The Online Network launched a Tumblr page and posted a picture of a call sheet. Viewers could vaguely make out the name Brooke Newton in the role of Colby Chandler, but nothing was confirmed.[10][11] Newton even attended the series premiere in late April and was photographed with Ryan Bittle who had recast the role of Colby's big brother JR Chandler. On May 6, the network officially confirmed through a mass press release that Newton had been cast in the role of Colby. Newton's first airdate was June 5, 2013.[12]
Development
In February 2006, rumors began to circulate that the 7-year-old Colby would be aged significantly. According to reports, Colby would be aged to 16 upon her return. However, the character's return would be anything but subtle. A "rebellious" Colby would cause trouble for her father Adam. Colby re-introduction mirrored that of her half-sister Hayley Vaughan (Kelly Ripa)'s debut in November 1990.[13] In the summer of 2007, Colby develops a crush on the much older Josh Madden (Colin Egglesfield), despite his interest in her ex sister-in-law, Babe Carey (Alexa Havins).[4] At the time when Babe interferes with Colby their "relationship," Colby is very emotional; "[Her] emotions are really being played with, and she has a lot on her plate right now with her family, with everything," Childers said in an interview.[4] Colby is being pulled in so many different directions and it is "a lot for a young girl of the age of 16 to handle." Despite her own issues, Colby must act as a parent to her chaotic family. "I'm giving my own parents advice on what to do" the actress explained of Colby maturity while the adults in her life seemed to be acting like children.[4] Upon Childers's departure, an executive was quoted in saying that "storyline dictated the change."[5] Another source implied that age played a factor in the casting decision.[14] Other sources revealed that Moncrief was hired so that the writers could age Colby making her the appropriate age for a romantic pairing with the 25-year-old Frankie Hubbard portrayed by Cornelius Smith, Jr. Colby had recently developed a crush on Frankie, and the two even shared a kiss. The potential pairing would also create drama based due to Adam's history as a schemer and Frankie's father Jesse Hubbard as the new chief of police.[15]
The writers' plans to capitalize on the chemistry between the two characters is abandoned as Moncrief's Colby does not share the same chemistry with Smith's Frankie.[16] In the summer of 2008, Colby and her friends mistakenly believe that they are behind the death of Richie Novak (Billy Miller). Colby turns to alcohol prompting her brother, JR Chandler (Jacob Young) to point out that she may have a problem like many others in their family. However, the storyline fails to progress any further.[17] When Natalie Hall stepped into the role, Hall said she believed that the writers wanted Colby to be more like her mother. Colby is meant to be "a person who is sweet, who is kind, and who will fight for what she wants." Colby is far from "weak" and according to Hall, "very complex."[18] With Hall's debut, Colby becomes very manipulative. However, Hall stated that Colby would start to show a sweeter side when she starts to grow closer to bad boy, Damon Miller (Finn Wittrock). The character of Damon is the illegitimate son of Liza's high school boyfriend, Tad Martin (Michael E. Knight).[18] In 2013, a press release described Newton's Colby as Adam's "spoiled and entitled."[19] Jillian Bowe wondered if Newton's Colby would cause problems for Rob Wilson's Pete Cortlandt and his new love Celia Fitzgerald (Jordan Lane Price) due to Pete's past crush on Colby.[20]
Reception
Childers's Colby was not immediately accepted by fans who grew tired of her "teen angst." However, once the writers toned down the writing, Childers was able to win over viewers and critics.[5]TV Guide's Nelson Branco listed Childers as #6 on the list of Most Improved Actors in 2008. Branco applauded Childers for being able to hold her own with the show's veteran actors.[21]Daytime Confidential also disapproved Childers's exit and applauded her for her performance. In a poll questioning fans about whether the recast was needed, 91% of voters also said Childers should have stayed in the role.[22] When the writing began hinting at Colby developing an alcohol problem, some disapproved of the potential plot as it was what not they envisioned for the character of Colby. A Daytime Confidential article hoped that Colby would follow in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother, Liza Colby and Marian Chandler (Jennifer Bassey) and become a schemer to get what she wants.[17] Upon Moncrief's ousting, Daytime Confidential recommended Marcy Rylan, known for her role as Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light for the a Colby recast. "Rylan was BORN to play Kelly Ripa's baby sister," said Jamey Giddens referencing Colby's connection to Ripa's Hayley Vaughan Santos.[6]
^Kroll, Dan J. (February 26, 2006). "AMC to recast, "age" Colby". Soap Central. Soapcentral.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
