by Jen Calonita
“That’s what this bonding session is about? Alexis? Does this mean you’ve found someone new to loathe and I’m off the hook?” I ask hopefully. For once, Sky’s hatred is aimed at a costar other than me, which is great because I could sure use the break.
Sky purses her full lips, which she must have plumped up with Lip Venom again, and scowls at me. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for that sickeningly sweet act Alexis is selling everyone from Access Hollywood to craft services. I’m not buying it. I can spot a climber when I see one.”
“You would know,” I murmur. Oops. That’s not very True You of me. “I mean, cut her some slack. She’s only been on set for a month. She doesn’t know how things work around here yet. I’m sure she’s just overdoing it to try to fit in. It’s got to be hard joining a cast that’s been together forever.”
“K, for once, could you worry about yourself instead of someone else?” Sky rolls her eyes. “We have to contain this girl’s popularity before it spirals out of control.” I snort. “Only two of her episodes have aired so far and already Alexis is the hottest thing to hit TV since Grey’s Anatomy! The critics love her, the message boards are all about her, and I heard she’s getting invites to all the big parties,” Sky whines. “Her smug mug is all over this week’s People! If we’re not careful, Sam and Sara could be history and Colby could be the new, hot teen star of our show.”
For a second, I feel a slight pang of jealousy. I mean, I’ll admit, initially I was thinking the same thing Sky is now. When I read the first script of the season and saw Colby’s storyline, I panicked. Colby is Alexis’s character, a new girl at Summerville High that Sam and Sara befriend in the first episode. They don’t know Colby’s homeless, or that she’s got a deep connection to their family. Our creator/executive producer Tom Pullman told the cast the character of Colby was created to cause waves with all the characters on the show for the first half of the season and then the storyline will be wrapped up and the character written off. After I heard that, I calmed down.
Still, I can’t help but wonder: If Sky and I are as popular as they say we are, why do they need Colby?
I’m sure I’m just letting Sky’s venomous thoughts get to me. Just because Alexis is around doesn’t mean we’ll be any less popular. That’s ridiculous, right? I mean, having Alexis here has its advantages. Like giving the paparazzi a new face to hound. Hee-hee. “Sky, I think you’re just being paranoid,” I say finally.
“No I’m not!” Sky says. “Don’t you remember what happened to Mischa Barton on The O.C.? When they needed a ratings boost, they killed her off! Then the show tanked. I don’t want Sara’s Beamer to flip over the side of a cliff with us in it and then FA to be canceled!”
Hmm . . . maybe she’s right. No, no. That’s silly! Think, Kaitlin. If Sky is venting to you, she must have an ulterior motive. That’s what I should really be concentrating on. “Sky, this is crazy talk,” I tell her. “Alexis has been nothing but nice. She’s not trying to take our roles away. She’s just trying to do her own.” I pause. “And since when are you and I an ‘us’?”
“I’m not thrilled about making you my confidant either,” Sky snaps, her dark eyes blazing. “I just wanted to warn you.”
I’m only half paying attention now as I reread the script for episode four, which we start shooting tomorrow. We usually shoot an episode over the course of two weeks. The writers pump out a story, two weeks later we film the one-hour drama, and two weeks after that, it airs. That’s the one thing you can count on in television — a consistently grueling schedule for all twenty-four episodes of the season (we’ve learned the viewers hate repeats so we shoot more episodes than most). I look up and smile sweetly at Sky, trying to remain Zen. “Well, you don’t have to,” I reply. “I can take care of myself just fine. Thanks for your concern.”
“Suit yourself.” Sky tosses her hair over her shoulder. “But remember: Our contracts are up this year, K. I’m not worried about being renewed, of course,” she says ominously, “but if I were you, I’d make sure you’re seen as valuable around here. More valuable than the new girl. Don’t say I didn’t tell you to watch your back.” Sky turns on her black open-toed Christian Louboutin heels and slams the door, knocking my newly framed picture of Austin, Liz, and her boyfriend, Josh, off the periwinkle-painted wall.
At the mention of the word “contracts,” I freeze. Contract negotiations are not something to joke about. Everyone who works in TV has heard stories about stars whose contracts have not been picked up after a major set squabble or a disagreement about salary increases. Even the most popular star on a hit show isn’t guaranteed to be asked back. That’s why contract negotiation year is always one I sweat a little. I laugh nervously. “Sky is such a drama queen. I have no reason to worry about my conract,” I say to Nadine. I silently pray she will offer me some reassurance.
Nadine eyes me over the ironing board. She’s giving me her Yoda-like wise personal assistant face, which means I’m about to get a lecture.
“What?” I say, my voice sounding shrill. “You think she’s right about my contract?”
“No, silly,” Nadine laughs.
“Then what?” I ask. “Don’t tell me you think I was being too mean to Sky!” I groan, feeling a sudden wave of guilt. I’m not very good at being the mean girl.
“That’s not what I was thinking either,” Nadine says. “I was thinking how glad I am that you got a backbone on that awful movie set this summer. You won’t let Sky walk all over you this season.”
“Definitely not,” I say happily, feeling instantly better. I throw my legs over the side of the armchair and wiggle my freshly painted pink toes.
“But then again,” Nadine frowns and scratches her head as she turns off the iron. Her strawberry red hair almost touches her collarbone now and she’s got a green butterfly clip pinning back the bangs she’s growing out. Nadine’s wearing her standard set attire — a long-sleeved tee, well-worn jeans, and sneakers (today’s are pink Pumas). She loves how casual assistants and the crew dress. “Maybe Sky does have a small point.”
“What?” I ask, typing out a quick Note to Self memo on my Sidekick. It sounds cheesy, I know, but I’ve found e-mailing myself is the best way to keep track of my crazy schedule. It also helps to have a Sidekick and a super-organized assistant like Nadine who watches my back.
“I hope all this instant media love doesn’t give Alexis a huge ego,” Nadine says with a frown. She sidesteps the rack of shoes that wardrobe dropped off for me to try on and squeezes her slim torso around the large sack of fan mail that she’s sorting for autograph requests and the occasional craze-o letter that has to be turned over to the police. “Sky is right about one thing. Alexis is in every magazine this week being called the hottest new star on the tube and the best thing to happen to Family Affair in years.”
“She is?” Jealousy begins to rear its ugly head again and I try to push the thought out of my mind. “Wow.”
“It’s got to be overwhelming getting so much attention for your first acting job,” says Nadine. “I mean, what has she done before? A few commercials in Canada? Her head must be spinning. We’ve all seen what can happen to a teen star with amazing potential when their flame burns too bright too quickly. They crash and burn,” Nadine warns. “But I’m sure Alexis will be fine. The set gossip is probably wrong.”
“What gossip?” I’m curious.
“It’s stupid, really.” Nadine looks uncomfortable. “I shouldn’t be spreading rumors.”
It goes against True You principles, but I don’t care. I want to know. “I won’t tell anyone,” I beg.
Nadine sighs. “I overheard people whispering in wardrobe the other day about how Alexis is trying to butter up the writing staff to get more scenes,” she says. “Apparently she’s always bringing them cookies during meetings and stopping by to praise the lines they’ve written her.”
“Really?” Huh. I never thought of doing that. I mean, I always thank the writers, but I’ve nev
er baked them my famous caramel brownies or anything. I frown. “You think she’s really trying to get more airtime? She’s in plenty of scenes already.”
Nadine shakes her head. “I’m sure people are just jealous of all the attention she’s getting,” she says. Nadine sticks the new issue of TV Tome in front of me. “Like this. Take a look at this article.”
Fresh Faces
TV Tome’s Guide to the Blazing Stars of the New Season
“Who’s that girl?” have been the words on everyone’s lips in the Tome office, where we can’t get enough of gorgeous redhead Alexis Holden, who plays secret-ridden Colby on this season’s Family Affair. The 17-year-old should spice up Summerville High, where fraternal twins Sam and Sara (eternally dueling costars Kaitlin Burke and Sky Mackenzie) walk the halls. Sure, the ratings are still stellar for this aging nighttime soap, but the addition of Alexis, as Paige’s (Melissa Ralton) possible long-lost illegitimate daughter, should add some juice to the stuck-in-a-rut storylines of the past few seasons (Sam and Sara go on a triple-date with their parents? Yawn). Alexis’s past seems as secret as Colby’s at this point — all the show mouthpieces will say is that she was handpicked by executive producer and creator Tom Pullman for the role and she hails from Vancouver, where she was raised by her single mom — but who cares? As long as the girl can act better than that nitwit who plays Penelope, we’ll TiVo in. (Family Affair airs Sundays at 9 PM EST.
I’m quiet for a moment. The article reminds me of a Hollywood Secret that is particularly worrisome. HOLLYWOOD SECRET NUMBER ONE: There are a few telltale signs that a TV show’s days are numbered. One is when a head writer leaves (that hasn’t happened yet. Tom has been writing episodes for years). Another is when a show does a ton of stunt-casting. (Um . . . we did have Gwen Stefani drop by Family Affair last year. Hey, she’s a genuine fan!) The third is when a bunch of new characters are brought on board . . . oh no!
“Do you think our show has gotten stale?” I ask worriedly. “Do you think that’s why they hired Alexis?” As much as I sometimes complain about my crazy life on a big TV show, I wouldn’t want it to disappear. You hear that, God? I actually love being on FA!
“FA is the longest running primetime drama on TV and you have top twenty Nielsen ratings,” Nadine reassures me. “That’s not stale. I’m sure they just hired Alexis to pull off some new plot twists.”
“You’re right.” I tell myself, “I’m sure we’ve got nothing to worry about with Alexis. She’s probably just trying to fit in and maybe extend her story arc for a bit.” I grin. “I can’t say I blame her. This is a pretty fun place to work — most of the time.”
“Yeah, chauffeured rides, a fabulous assistant, a killer time slot — I would have to agree you have it pretty good.” Nadine grins.
Secrets of My Hollywood Life
FAMILY AFFAIRS
available now