Soap Opera Uncensored: Issue 32

by Nelson Branco

fanbase, then we were interested in presenting that -- because that's a news event to them."

  HLN and parent company Turner, which also provides the annual home for the Screen Actors Guild awards on TNT and TBS, are developing a number of promos to draw attention to the ceremony.

  "From the very beginning, it really came down to finding the right broadcast television partner that understood what we we're trying to accomplish," Gornell said, "not only creatively but from a messaging standpoint, that also had the platform resources to get behind it."

  There had been speculation, following the withdrawal of ATI and CBS, that the DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS might end up as a webcast or untelevised on any medium, but Wienges said that was not a possibility given the interest from "a couple of cable companies and agencies."

  UNCENSORED, however, learned that a NATAS executive, with close ties to HLN and CNN, had to call in a favour to air the legendary show.

  Moreover, a mole leaks to UNCENSORED that NATAS’s licensing fee for a network to air the ceremony is just one million dollars.

  COVER STORY

  AMERICAN REUNION

  Y&R’s Lauralee Bell is back and friskier than ever — and she promises the soap you used to love is headed back!

  As the Princess of the Bell Royal Family Dynasty, Lauralee Bell’s short-term visits to Genoa City are always a treat. And this time, there’s a trick involved, too!

  But it’s her current comeback that is most welcomed. Fans are rolling out the red carpet more passionately than ever before because THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS barely resembles its former great self due to countless of P&G and ALL MY CHILDREN rejects populating the canvas in contrived, clichéd plots subsequently stealing storyline from the vets we love.

  Forget pimps — these days, it’s hard out there for a Y&R fan.

  UNCENSORED spoke with the lovely, spirited 44-year-old actress on Memorial Day to preview what she promises is a week that will make long-time fans and cynical, disenfranchised former viewers relive the magic of Genoa City all over again.

  This must be some week of soap watching! And I’m holding her to it!

  Thanks for rescheduling our interview from Friday to Memorial Day. I know your family is important to you but my dog, Kayla, died late last week and I was a mess.

  No problem. The Bells are big dog people. We totally understand. I’m sorry to hear she died the night before your birthday. You have to see the timing as a special meaning: a celebration of your life and hers.

  In a way, it was beautiful. She was an outdoor dog and she died in my arms on the grass of our backyard with dandelions blowing in her face and the sun in her eyes. I was supposed to put her down a couple of days later so she let me off the hook, which I’m forever grateful for.

  That’s so much better. We had to bring in a lady to inject our dog — and that was horrible. Do you know that show, THE LONG ISLAND MEDIUM? She’ll say, whenever “they” — a human or an animal — feels like you’re in a peaceful place to let them go, that’s when they cross over because it’s the most freeing moment for them. I think about my Dad in those moments. The sun was coming down from the window with the entire family surrounding him as we all told him we loved him… I think my Dad thought, “It’s the right time.” Anyway, Kayla dying naturally was so much better than you having to put your dog down. It just sucks all around. I’m sorry for your loss.

  Thank you. I’ve never seen anyone die in front of me… so it was both sad and beautiful at the same time. We have to tell Maria Arena Bell not to kill any more dogs on Y&R!

  Did she kill a dog before?

  Yes, Zapato. And a cat — all within six months of each other, I believe!

  Oh, that wasn’t a real cat. That whole Patty/Kitty storyline still haunts me. I can’t remember if I told you this but Maria had these T-shirts made up for us for a show party with the Kitty on them. I didn’t read the back of the shirt — which said something about an evil bitch — and my kid took the shirt to school! He had to sharpie out all the swear words off the T-shirt! [Laughs]

  Yikes. Anyway, welcome back! You know I always like it when you return to reclaim what is rightfully yours because Y&R feels old school when The Bug’s zooming around. However, I was caught in a time warp when I saw you gracing the pink cover of SOAPS IN DEPTH — or, as I used to call it, LAURALEE BELL IN DEPTH — with Doug Davidson and Michael Damian recently. I felt like it was 2000 again when you literally graced the cover of each CBS issue.

  I know! Wasn’t that crazy?

  Not really. You sold out every issue, baby! Are you back in Genoa City for the foreseeable future?

  I’m not just back for Danny’s return. After this week, I’m gone for a couple of weeks. Then, I’m back for another month. My storyline is not forced and it all makes sense. When I went over the story, I had to call Maria to tell her how much I loved it and how well it was all so intertwined. It was nice to be able to write a nice email to my sister-in-law and thank her for the material.

  First of all, were you into Danny Romalotti at all?

  Eh, I could take him or leave him, but I’m glad he’s back because there is a lot of unfinished business between Danny and a few Genoa City denizens.

  Danny and Chris only had four days together but it really came full circle. We talked, we screwed, and we left each other again. For fans of Danny and Christine, it’s a total treat. We’ve been asked to come back together before but it never worked out until now. Danny should be there anyway for Daniel. I promise you the next four days of Y&R are really good.

  It better, because I’m holding you to it. When was the last time you and Michael acted together?

  Ten years, I think! It’s crazy. I thought it was longer, but Michael Graziadei was like, “No, I’ve only been on the show for eight years and you guys were on together then.” I feel like it was longer and I could be right because Graz is a young party kid and he’s just probably forgotten.

  How do Christine and Danny leave things?

  With heartbreak… after they ask the question: “Should we get back together or not?” As consenting adults, they can hook up and return to their careers. Maria wrote it very well. It just worked. There are scenes with Paul, Phyllis and Daniel, too.

  What was it like to see Michael Damian after all these years? Was the spark still there?

  Absolutely. It was truly the same dynamic and chemistry from the minute we saw each other again. I saw him two years ago coincidentally. I was having lunch with Rebecca Street — who played Christine’s mother, Jessica, and whom I hadn’t seen in five years — and Rebecca asked me, “Have you seen Michael?” And literally 30 seconds later — no joke — Michael walks into the restaurant! It was bizarre but so nice to catch up. Michael and I decided not to half-ass our return. We worked really hard to make the reunion good. It’s like no time had passed. But, you know, it’s always that way…

  This week, Danny and Christine have sex.

  The two days you have to watch are Tuesday and Friday. If you can only watch two shows, watch those. These are the characters that you could watch without sound on your TV and you would know exactly what they are saying. That’s why I love the relationship between veteran characters and the fans.

  There are still a lot of unanswered questions surrounding Phyllis and that infamous car accident 15 years ago so I’m happy Y&R is mining and revisiting that story.

  We haven’t taped that stuff yet. We kind of slowly unravel it, but I love the way it’s going to be told. I love that my dad didn’t wrap it up at all. He didn’t really believe in beginnings, middles and ends. I love that Maria is now revisiting this in real, normal time. The way it’s done is really cool. And Ricky is so creepy.

  Yeah, I’m beginning to like Peter Porte.

  Isn’t that always the case? The whole story just jives.

  He reminds me of an old-school Bill Bell psycho. Who is the love of Cricket’s life?

  It’s hard to mess with your first love. Danny will always be special
to Christine. Paul is more like her adult, spiritual love. There’s something so intense about young, stupid love because you’re experiencing these feelings for the first time. I’m proud to say Christine has only had two loves: Danny and Paul, because that could happen in real life. Obviously, they are two very different relationships. It’s so hard to answer that question. When I played the goodbye scene with Danny this time around, I played it like childhood heartbreak. One of our producers came out after we taped the scene and told us, “I feel like I just saw someone’s heart get broken.” When I work with Doug, there’s this safety connection, which is very adult. I know Paul would be there for Christine no matter what but I don’t know if Danny would cancel his concert to help Christine. They’re different men.

  And Danny didn’t rape Christine. At least Christine didn’t turn Danny or Paul gay like she did Phillip! [Laughs]

  [Laughs]

  Nina’s probably the love of Christine’s life.

  Exactly! In the first part of this return, I didn’t work with Tricia Cast at all but, when I come back in two weeks, Christine and Nina are heavily involved — which is great. Nina will complete the group.

  Tricia Cast is without a doubt one of the best actors Y&R has ever produced.