THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS — Star-Crossed Again: Jill Out; Colin In!
• One step forward, two steps backwards: Emmy winner Jess Walton will be leaving Y&R for six months, the actress tells UNCENSORED exclusively.
“I asked [Y&R executive producer and head writer] Maria Arena Bell permission if I could take a short break after working non-stop in daytime for the past 28 years. I’m expecting a grandchild and settling in Oregon for [eventual] retirement. Maria agreed — and was fine to give me that short time off. I will be back. I wouldn’t leave without Maria’s approval; she’s been very gracious to give me this time off.”
Walton’s last tape-day on set is Tuesday, April 3. And no, Walton is not taking my suggestion that she become a part-time geisha.
Of course, this depressing news comes on the heels of Tristan Rogers returning to Y&R after having wrapped a critically acclaimed short stint on his alma matter, GH. “It looks like fans will have to wait longer for a Colin and Jill reunion,” sighs Walton. “Talk about bad timing!”
UNCENSORED exclusively reported to our readers that the Rogers deal was in the works over two weeks ago.
Today, Rogers tells UNCENSORED, “Needless to say, I am ecstatic about being back on Y&R. I love this character and revel in what he can be. I want to thank all those people who have been so instrumental in support. And you’re right: never underestimate the power of the fans, something other people would be well to remember.”
In story, Gen is on the receiving end of Colin’s call. Unfortunately, Colin and Jill’s paths will not cross until Walton returns.
Rogers will first return for a couple of episodes and then come back for an indefinite amount of time.
• Lukewarm Case? As previously hinted by UNCENSORED and SOAP OPERA DIGEST months ago, Lauralee Bell will be reprising her role as transient, beer-loving lawyer Christine Blair along with her popular co-star Michael Damian in May for a big story. Does Danny finally come out of the closet? Nope. But secrets do.
Phyllis’s rival Adam recently atoned for his past crimes so now it appears it’s the reformed vixen’s turn to reach catharsis.
TV GUIDE confirmed the news, reporting: “Our spies tell us head writer Maria Bell will revisit a memorable cold case from the '90s — the one where bat-crap crazy Phyllis attempted to kill Cricket in a hit-and-run. No one ever found out who did the dirty deed and Phyllis' days as a sociopath are long behind her. Will she get busted after all this time? And what will "The Bug" do when she finally learns the truth? We can't wait! Look for Bell to hit the air May 17. Damian shows up the following day.”
• Last week, we told you Joshua Morrow, Michelle Stafford and Peter Bergman will be headed to Toronto for a fan event. Now, UNCENSORED has learned another actor is headed back in May. Stay tuned for more details.
• Is this Heather? Sure sounds like it. UNCENSORED released this casting notice on Twitter earlier last week; here it is, in case you missed it:
[RACHEL] CONTRACT ROLE. CAUCASIAN FEMALE. 27 TO 28 YEARS OLD. STRONG
ACTRESS. Beautiful and VERY smart to play a strong woman. She is a lawyer and a passionate advocate of justice. While she has been smitten by a few men, serious romance is on hold. Her business life is the most important thing to her.
2009 SOAPFLASH
SCORPIO RISING
As General Hospital celebrates 45 years on air, Kimberly McCullough scrubs in to discuss the only groundbreaking and revolutionary storyline on soaps
It’s hard to believe that Kimberly McCullough had to audition for the role of Robin Scorpio 12 times in 1985 before earning the right to play the part of Anna and Robert Scorpio’s precocious daughter.
Four years later, at just 11 years old, McCullough beat out daytime heavyweights Anne Heche (ex-Marley/Vicky, Another World), Martha Byrne (soon-to-be-ex-Lily, WORLD TURNS) and Noelle Beck (ex-Trisha Alden, LOVING; soon-to-be-Lily, WORLD TURNS) as Outstanding Juvenile Performer.
In 1995, McCullough reminded the industry that she was the definitive younger actress on daytime when the industry honoured her for brilliant and poignant work after Robin watched her boyfriend, Stone Cates, die of AIDS.
Emmy-winning GH casting director Mark Teschner attributes McCullough’s success to her less-is-more approach. “Kimberly resonates because she is so real with audience,” he tells TVGUIDE.CA. “She is a beautifully honest actress. She is passionate, strong and intelligent, but it is her vulnerability and complexity that really resonates with the audience.”
In the boldest move in modern soap history, GH erred on the side of realism when they wrote that Robin did indeed contract HIV after having unprotected sex with Stone. Critics and fans hailed what was GH’s last responsible act before delving into its now legendary fascination with violence and mobsters.
Today, Robin is healthy and pregnant with her first child. Luckily for fans, Robin’s mother Anne Devane (Emmy winner Finola Hughes) is returning next month to help her daughter through this major milestone.
Because the character of Robin is a byproduct of the most important eras in Port Charles history, we couldn’t think of a better ambassador to celebrate GH’s 45th anniversary.
TVGuide: Earlier today, I was watching you accept your first Emmy Award thanks to a YouTube clip posted on welovesoaps.com. Do you surf online to watch old clips of yourself as a soap ingénue?
Kimberly McCullough: I’ve only seen one. Eons ago, [when I was a kid,] I was being interviewed by Regis Philbin and I told him about my boyfriend Phillip, who I met on the set of LES MISERABLES. When Regis learned that Phillip was 8 or 9, he got a kick out of the fact that was dating an older man! While the camera was on Regis’s face, I retorted, “Yeah, I love older men!” Needless to say, he had a good laugh.
TVG: GH is celebrating 45 years — what’s been your favourite storyline so far?
KM: Jason getting amnesia.
TVG: Looking back, Robin was a lively, charming, and funny kid. As an adult, she’s lost her sense of humour…
KM: I don’t know why. The writers got it in their mind that Robin should be a stick-in-the-mud. I don’t know where they got that idea, but alas, that’s been the reality since I’ve returned to the show.
TVG: Well, to be fair, Robin was an orphan, contracted HIV, buried her boyfriend, and now she’s dating a louse, albeit a sexy one! Heck, I’d be in rehab by now.
KM: [laughs] Yeah, but you know it’s also because she’s a serious student. Robin needs to be in control because as a child she had such a turbulent childhood.
TVG: Head writer Bob Guza has kept the HIV thread alive throughout Robin’s storyline and now that she’s pregnant — I have to say it’s the only storyline in daytime in recent memory that is truly groundbreaking. Do you think GH will continue to write this story responsibly?
KM: I certainly hope so. I saw Guza a couple of days ago and he said he’s been talking to the Center for Disease Control. He’s finding out what kind of pregnancies she could experience — and all the possibilities that are available. GH is responsible in the sense that they want to educate the public about having a baby as an HIV-positive woman. At the same time, Bob doesn’t want the whole storyline to be all about the HIV aspect, because it would also be irresponsible to say that HIV defines a person. People with HIV have full lives. It’s a manageable disease.
TVG: What did you think when Patrick forgot to tell Leyla that his condom broke when he had sex with Robin? I know GH will address this “mistake” soon.
KM: You know what — I don’t watch other people’s scenes; I don’t even watch the show, so I didn’t know that happened until I read the comments by [executive producer] Jill [Farren Phelps] in SOAP OPERA DIGEST.
TVG: You’re pre-nominated for an Emmy — what do you think your chances are of making the final ballot?
KM: I don’t know. You know what? I would almost rather wait to see what happens this year. I would be so excited to be nominated, of course, but I don’t think I have the juice to win for last year
’s work. I think it’s Becky Herbst’s [Liz’s] year — she has the juice. She had a great storyline, and should be recognized this year. I feel like my timing is coming, but 2007 wasn’t it. I’m really excited to see how the baby storyline will play out. Last year, they had to deal with Robin and Patrick on Night Shift, so the writers didn’t play us so hard on GH.
TVG: Good point. Will Night Shift air another season this summer?
KM: I think so. That’s what I hear. My concern is if we do Night Shift, Robin’s continuity is respected on both shows.
TVG: Do you prefer acting on GH or Night Shift?
KM: I like doing both shows. When I film Night Shift, I do feel like I’m working on an entirely different show, even though it’s the same character.
TVG: Who do you think is Robin’s true love?
KM: Her true love? Gosh, who is Robin’s true love? Her unborn baby!
TVG: Good answer. I think it’s Stone obviously, with Jason as a close second. You must be happy that Finola Hughes is coming back to GH. I would assume both of you are close friends…
KM: We text a lot, and I love that she is in contact with me all the time. It adds to her hotness. [laughs]
TVG: Are you on GH for the unforeseeable future? You’re not going to bolt down the road again, are you?
KM: If I meet my knight in shining armour and he whisks me off to Italy, it’ll be bye-bye General Hospital!
TVG: I know exactly what you mean.
THE IDIOT RATINGS: March 19-23, 2012
Winners: GH Sheds the Least!
Loser: All Soaps Shed A Ton of Viewers!
*Courtesy of Soap Opera Network
(Compared to Last Week/Compared to Last Year)
Total Viewers
1. Y&R 4,065,000 (-272,000/-463,000)
Soap Opera Uncensored: Issue 24 Page 2