Nelson Branco's Soap Opera Uncensored: Issue 36

by Nelson Branco

SOAP OPERA UNCENSORED

  Volume 02, Issue 26 (No. 36)

  BY NELSON BRANCO

  Copyright 2012 Nelson Branco

  INSIDE — SPECIAL DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS NEWS EDITION — Here We Go Again: Eric Braeden Out? Why Y&R Is Writing Out Victor Newman During Contract Negotiations! Inside Sony’s New Battle With Daytime’s Biggest Superstar! DAYS Casts Eric Brady! Find Out Who’s Playing Sami’s Twin! Yep, Eileen Davidson Is DAYS-Bound! Inside the Sony Deal That Pissed Off Davidson! DAYS: Gay Storyline On The Back Burner! Kirsten Storms Back On GH? Plus: Exclusive Interview: Jen Lilley On Losing Her Job! AMC/ONE LIFE TO LIVE On? B&B’s Kay Alden: “I’d Love To Head-Write Y&R With Sally Sussman Morina!” Susan Lucci Headed to GH? Emmy Awards Roundup! This Just In: Joanna Johnson Out at B&B! And What That Means For Crystal Chappell! Why Adrienne Frantz Cleaned Out Her Dressing Room at B&B! Plus: Her Near-Death Experience! Guess Where Peter Reckell’s Moving To? Why GH’s Bradford Anderson Was Kicked Off The Emmy Red Carpet! GH Secret: Who Is Finola Hughes’s Newest Co-Star? Y&R’s Jess Walton Update! Latest on DAYS’s New Book! Which Vixen Is Headed Back to Y&R? Is Jackie MacInnes Wood Leaving B&B?

  Plus: Unbelievable Blind Items!

  UNCENSORED MASTHEAD:

  FOUNDER/EDITOR: Nelson Branco

  EDITOR AT LARGE: Denette Wilford

  Follow Soap Opera Uncensored at: @nelliebranco and @SoapUncensored

  NOTE FROM EDITOR/FOUNDER:

  You asked — and it’s happening. For more information on subscribing to daytime’s first weekly e-zine SOAP OPERA UNCENSORED, email soapuncensored@yahoo.com

  1 Year: $24.99 (*normally $129.48)

  *Based on $2.49 issue price

  COMING SOON: VENICE — UNCENSORED

  To pre-order your upcoming book VENICE THE SERIES: UNCENSORED for a special price email: soapuncensored@yahoo.com. The Sapphic tome, which will be out this summer, chronicles the web soap’s meteoric rise, punctuates and analyzes its relevance in serial storytelling and its groundbreaking achievements in the online and soap opera medium. With every single Crystal Chappell interview I’ve ever conducted in one e-book — and those of her VENICE co-stars/directors — this is one must-buy keepsake in addition to episode synopses and reviews, top ten lists, fearless predictions, translated quotes, humour, and exclusive season four previews. Plus: Tributes to GUIDING LIGHT’s Otalia and new interviews! Order your copy now!

  UNCENSORED QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

  “Personally, I watched my entire storyline blow up around me. It’s difficult when you’re standing in the middle of a landmine.”

  —DAYS’s Eric Martsolf on losing his co-stars Sarah Brown and Ian Buchanan

  Translation: I must have killed the Pope in a past life because I can never catch a break on this soap!

  “I feel like I’m pushing boulders up a mountain.”

  —Maria Arena Bell in a pre-taped Emmy segment

  Translation: And that’s just Eric Braeden’s ego!

  “We have 23 nominations, which is pretty amazing since last year we were almost cancelled for… CELEBRITY BOOB JOBS GONE WRONG. I think it was.”

  —GH’s Anthony Geary in his acceptance speech

  Translation: Starring Jackie Zeman.

  “Some old guy who has won a bunch of Emmys wins again? Is that really what Soaps need to grow a NEW audience? We need new judges' panels. Mr. Geary is FAR superior in his talent to most, including myself...by a million miles. But that category needs to get shaken up. Not even sure where 2 begin w/ @trevorstjohn. That man has been kicked in the balls countless years. Yo Trevor, I see ur talent! Florencia Lozano. Graciously gets punched in the nose every year. But she OWNS multiple Emmys in my mind. I'm an intelligent guy, I'm aware that my "speaking-out" & "opinions" GUARANTEE I won't EVER be nominated. I speak out 4 the quiet talent. Emmys need new blood...without bloodshed. Uh-oh. I guess I shouldn't be controversial with my opinions? What about being HONEST? Old-boys' club remains an old-boys' club. If I decide to participate in future Emmy reform, I will name my actions "The Beverly McKinsey Initiative." Who knew that some soap fans had such fragile sensibilities? Seems like the cruelest, inarticulate, foul-mouthed soap fans are the ones who don't allow for us to have strong opinions. #hypocritemuch In an industry that is EXTREMELY subjective we are bound to have clashing opinions. But fans' vitriol over some opinions are quite telling. And there is also a chance that a few fans are so myopic that their kind of outlook on the industry will be what kills it in the end. And if you can't see my meanings through my tweets, perhaps you're being obtuse. And there are quite a few people out there who have problems with figurative, hyperbolic language. Taking things SO seriously & literally. But 98% of y'all agree with me, and I'm proud of that. I'm only responsible for what I say, not what you understand.”

  —Y&R’s Michael Muhney reaction when Anthony Geary won his seventh Emmy as Lead Actor

  Translation: Suck my cock, bitches! Someone has to tell the truth in this in-denial industry!

  “Hate her.”

  —Y&R’s Tricia Cast accidentally tweets a dig when Nancy Lee Grahn wins the Outstanding Supporting Actress Emmy intended for someone else in a Direct Message; she later deleted it.

  Translation: I had to steal Michael Muhney’s Twitter thunder!

  “I don’t think I’ve fully mourned the end of ONE LIFE. I’m trying to prepare myself for seeing everyone again. Both shows will live on for years to come. There’s still incredible equity in both of those brands. Maybe you haven’t seen the last of them. Keep your fingers crossed.”

  —GH honcho Frank Valentini in THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE

  Translation: Nelson Branco knows which deal is on the table! He’s been telling you for months!

  AWARDS SHOW CENTRAL

  GH Sweeps! WHO WON! WHO LOST! DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS RECAP!

  The 39th annual DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS went off without a hitch despite finding a network to air the kudofest just three weeks ago.

  HLN earned itself the most watched, regularly scheduled, non-news broadcast in the network’s history. A reported 912,000 people tuned in; 327,000 among adults 25-54. Most impressively, over two million people tuned in to all five of HLN's Daytime Emmy broadcasts as a whole.

  However, the telecast's ratings were down from viewership of last year's CBS airing of the 38th Annual Daytime Emmys (5.4 million) by 83 per cent. Not bad considering many soap fans don’t subscribe to the new cable network.

  Meanwhile, the show garnered a huge thumbs up from the cast and crew of daytime TV (despite the lack of an AMC/ONE LIFE video montage tribute). While the show could have been more entertaining and gelled a little more effectively from a production standpoint, the general consensus was that the show was a hit especially after the last two Emmy outings which resembled an advertorial for Las Vegas.

  The future of next year’s telecast — its 40th anniversary — is now in question. But here’s some good news: According to VARIETY, a new, televised award show that would combine elements of the Daytime Emmys, Sports Emmys and News & Documentary Emmys is in discussion at the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

  The hybrid event would launch no sooner than three or four years from now, NATAS chairman Malachy Wienges said yesterday, and would not replace any of the existing awards shows — but would seek to draw upon the added star power that the news and sports events provide.

  Wienges emphasized that the Daytime Emmys would continue in 2013 as a televised event.

  He believes getting a TV deal done sooner could help with rehabilitating the profile of the show, and plans to begin sitting down with prospective partners July 1. This year, negotiations for
a new TV home didn’t get underway until mid-March, after an arrangement with former producer Associated Television International (ATI) fell apart.

  The NATAS chairman dismissed the notion of the Daytime Emmys failing to find a TV home next year.

  “I guarantee my reputation on it,” he said. “I didn’t spend 31 years at CBS to give it all up.”

  “We are wide open. We have two networks that are interested, alphabet networks, and we have three production companies interested, and Turner’s interested … I’ve already engaged an attorney in Hollywood who’s done probably dozens of these for different venues.”

  Below are this year’s winners:

  OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

  GENERAL HOSPITAL

  Rushing to the podium, ousted executive producer Jill Farren Phelps made sure it was she who accepted the show’s 11th Emmy Award