Nelson Branco's SOAP OPERA UNCENSORED: Issue 59
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the most beautiful byproducts of Sharon’s storyline this year was how the fans universally came to your defense on social media — all without it being about the almighty and polarizing super couple. Before, Y&R fans would war between Shick VS. Phick but, in 2012, fans had your back regardless of whom Sharon was involved with, although Shadam saw a huge boost in coupledom support.
They really did! I think the fans are one of the big reasons things turned around for Sharon, the show and me. My performance helped, for sure, but it was the fans that really saved this because they got behind me. It made a big difference. It was a group effort. It involved you, the writing and the fans and me. I didn’t do this alone. Twitter is really good for that. I’ve really enjoyed meeting the people I have met on there. It’s fun because I’ve been on Twitter for just over a year… but in that relatively short time, there are some people I’ve really enjoyed talking to. I feel like I know some of them; in fact, they’ve become my Twitter friends. I never really did the Facebook thing, so it’s been cool… It was nice to get away from the Shick and Phick fan wars. I think Joshua [Morrow] and Michelle [Stafford] and I were really kind of tired of it. Yes, it’s nice to root for your favourite couple, and fans are going to do that regardless, which is what soaps are all about, but it got dark and strange there for a while.
As in every polarizing, successful triangle, the person sandwiched always ends up without the two objects of his/her affections. I kind of like that Nick is with someone new now.
I really like what the writers have done. Nick is kind of back to who he was before he worked at Newman Enterprises. A long time ago, Nick owned a coffee house not wanting to go corporate. He never wanted to work for his dad preferring to do his own thing. I think it’s cool Y&R is getting back to who the character is at the core. Avery’s a good character… she really helps bring out who Nick really is. I think Avery and Nick are very sweet. And I love Nick’s new club set, The Underground. It’s seriously the best set I have ever seen on this show.
I would definitely party there.
Me, too! I hope Sharon spends time there. It’s an amazing set. I don’t even feel like I’m on a set when I hang out there. It’s so comfortable. I really feel like I’m in a club.
Jill has done a fantastic job in that department. The show looks rich again — and by rich, I don’t mean “money rich” but in texture and identity. She really polished the show and then some.
And the fans have been saying they wanted that for a while. She really did update the show [modestly].
Was there one performance you enjoyed delivering the most this past year?
There were a few, actually. Doing too much camp can grate on your nerves, even though it’s fun, but I really loved when Sharon set the barn on fire. Also, I liked the boardroom scene when Sharon screamed at Nick and Victoria at Newman. I also liked when Sharon gave Victor’s eulogy and walked out with the urn! That was very funny and hilarious. Another scene I really enjoyed was when Sharon did these subtle things to show that her mental issues are still there. There was a recent scene where Cane tells Sharon she’s not getting a job at Jabot. Sharon went into it very hopeful but, when she realizes she’s not getting the job, she starts playing with her fork and flirting with Cane a little bit. When Cane explains to Sharon that the job is really tough, she is supposed to say, “I know, I’ve done it before.” Well, there are many ways you can say that line but I chose to say it very nastily but, seconds later, Sharon acted happy with the outcome of the meeting. I want Sharon to continue to be a little off and nervous even though she’s trying to get her life back on track. That’s typical of bipolar disorder. What I like about the storyline now is that it’s not these broad strokes anymore but it’s about honing these subtle nuances in Sharon’s personality, which is why I really appreciate this storyline.
Sharon’s always been a tortured heroine but she lacked personality. Today, she’s fun and one of the most fascinating characters on the show. I guess I owe Maria a big thank you!
One of the big highlights of playing Sharon this past year is that I can [infuse] her with personality and fun because, what happened a lot over the years — and part of this year — was that I was always getting notes from someone, whatever the regime du jour was at the time, for me not to bring life to Sharon. For 18 years, I felt like I was fighting a machine when it came to my performances. I really tried not to make Sharon milquetoast — even though we had some really good stories involving Sharon over the years, but I have to be honest with you: it has been driving me out of my mind. Finally, Josh comes in and is allowing me to make Sharon entertaining. But you’re right: it was really under Maria’s last few months on Y&R where I got to play Sharon the way I finally wanted. What you saw were my acting decisions; and, luckily, the audience loved it, which kind of validated what I always thought… that Sharon could be fascinating and not just a victim. I was really happy with how it all turned out. My biggest fear for Sharon is that she stops becoming interesting.
I doubt that’s going to happen ever again! [Laughs] Your craycray performances were anchored in reality… mostly you would just rely on Sharon’s crazy, darting eyes, which I think was one of the wisest acting choices I’ve seen in ages in any genre.
Awww, thanks. I didn’t realize I was doing the crazy eyes until people pointed it out. It’s hilarious! I love it.
The eyes are the windows to the soul…. You also get this sly grin like Sharon’s high when the crazy eyes pop out! So. Much. Fun. To. Watch. Were you worried about your job this past year? I was. Did you ever say, “Shit — I may be fired; I’m in trouble.”
Yes. The way things were going… I mean, the fans were so against the Shictor romance. The fans thought Shictor ruined the Sharon character so badly that I wasn’t sure she could recover. I did worry Sharon wouldn’t be on the show much longer. You have to be careful with how you write [popular veteran] characters. Sharon had already done enough in her past, but to get with Victor romantically, well, it really took Sharon over the edge. [Sighs] I needed my fan support and, luckily, I got it because, let’s face it, this storyline could have easily gone in the opposite direction, too.
Yes, Blanche, it could have! I don’t appreciate the fact that Victor isn’t taking any responsibility for taking advantage of a mentally unstable woman and romanced her — in addition to Sharon being the mother of his grandchild and ex-wife of his two sons. I’m glad Sharon showed up at the Newman Housewarming Party to defend herself. Victor is what is wrong with our misogynistic, homophobic patriarchal society we live in.
Yes, I agree. Everything has been Sharon’s fault. She took the brunt of everything. I don’t think Sharon is innocent…. They are equally responsible. But, hey, isn’t that the way of the world?
Luckily, the madness stopped when Josh Griffith and Jill Farren Phelps took over as head writer and executive producer, respectively.
It’s gone really well. I love everybody over there now. Josh is an amazing guy. Jill is an amazing producer. But I really have to give Sony’s Steve Kent a huge shout-out for really saving our show. I don’t think people really know how much Steve has done for the show — and the amount of care he has displayed when handling Y&R, especially in the amount of time he has during the day. Some fans may think Sony doesn’t care about our show but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He worked very hard to make these important changes; changes, I believe, will help keep Y&R on the air for a long, long time. I know we’ve had a lot of changes and, yes, there are some changes people don’t like, and there are some changes they do like, which always happens during any regime change — no matter who is in charge — but I really believe everything is going to work out.
Amen. Finally, rumours persist that you may be paired romantically with one of daytime’s biggest superstars: Steve Burton, who has joined the series as Avery’s ex, Dylan. Thoughts? Is this a new chapter for Sharon?
Yes, I’m excited for Sharon’s new chapter. Everybody’s speculating about Dylan, t
he new character coming to town but, all I can say is, I think it’s fun because it’s a hoot to speculate — and the fact is our fans are excited, and that’s a good thing for Y&R. I’m thrilled people are talking about our show. It’s better than people not caring about Y&R.
Josh Griffith did confirm in a SOAP OPERA DIGEST interview that Sharon would be getting a new love interest…
I really don’t know because we’ve been dark during the holiday but I think it’s all very exciting. Whomever is Sharon’s new love interest is going to be is going to be great — and we, the actors, are going to have fun playing it. As long as Josh is writing it…
Ditto.
Next week, UNCENSORED publishes Case’s thoughts on a possible Sharon and Avery hook-up; the magical re-pairing of Shadam and working opposite Michael Muhney again so intensely; why Nick needs to support Sharon more; the REAL reason behind Case’s sizzling chemistry opposite her onscreen son, Robert Adamson; Sharon Newman’s bitchy mother, Doris; her 2013 plans; and more!
News & Views
SOAPILEAKS
This Week’s Hottest News, Gossip, and Reviews!
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, CTV/CBS — Dollar Bill’s Slutty Mama!
• Is B&B casting Bill’s mother? During the Aspen trip, Dollar Stallion alluded to his mother. In response, SOAPS IN DEPTH prints a possible wishful casting list, which includes the boldface likes of Erika Slezak, Elizabeth Hubbard, Maeve Kinkaid, Jane Balder, and Anna Stuart. I say cast either Robin Strasser or Kim Zimmer! In fact, I have it on good authority that Don Diamont has previously and passionately pitched showrunner Bradley Bell to cast Zimmer as his mother. Where did I hear that from? From Diamont and Zimmer themselves on The Soap Opera Cruise years ago.
• Former GL lovers Karla Mosley and Lawrence Saint-Victor will soon debut on the campy soap promising to jumpstart Dayzee and Marcus’s snoozy storyline. Turns out Saint-Victor will play Marcus’s older adoptive brother while Mosley is tied to Dayzee’s past. They should rename B&B to THE BLACK AND THE BEAUTIFUL. Where are all the white people, damn it? Oh, I kid… nice work, B&B. Now all this soap has to do is hire an actor to play Marcus.
• Sorry, Liam and company: After Stephanie’s epic death — and Susan Flannery’s historic exit and performance — B&B is experiencing a major lack of buzz in the soap world while; conversely, Y&R, GH and DAYS have it in spades. I’m going to start a rumour that scribes Michele Val Jean and Patrick Mulcahey are embroiled in a torrid affair. Or that Lindsay Lohan has been cast as Caroline. Oh, and Peter Reckell is nuRidge. Give me something, B&B; something! I’ll be happy if you cast Kim Zimmer as Bill’s mother. Cue: full circle moment.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES, GLOBAL/NBC — Sex, Lies, and a Gay Baby Daddy! Will DAYS Will See 50 Shades of Salem?
• The 49th Parallel: DAYS has been rightfully renewed until 2014, NBC announced at TCA. Whew. "I'm feeling really good and we've got some great stuff coming forward," Bruce Evans, senior NBC VP of current told VARIETY TV. "I'm hoping that will give us a bit more ratings-wise. Creatively, we're very strong."
In the same article, Evans announced the show is hoping to inspire and connect with its viewers in a new way with the upcoming book "Days of Our Lives Better Living: Cast Secrets for a Healthier, Balanced Life" by Corday Prods. senior VP Greg Meng and Eddie Campbell.
"It may have life past a coffee table or informational book as a (Web) series dealing with different cast members on a weekly basis," Ken Corday says.
"The book gives us a chance to say, 'This is what we believe in,' someone named Kate Mansi says. "It'll be a great way for us to connect with our fans."
But the big question is, with DAYS on a creative and ratings high recently, will the lone NBC sudser celebrate its golden anniversary in 2015?
"We are all hoping and crossing our fingers that we make that milestone," Evans says.
"In these times, we take it year to year," says Corday, adding that he hopes that soaps can still fill a void for viewers who have so many more options now than when the genre was thriving in the 1970s and '80s.
"You always have to find ways of re-inventing the wheel, but people watch the show for romance, to get that emotional satisfaction from watching two people fall in love," he says. "That's our bread and butter."
No, your bread and butter is your last name, Kenny.
• Good news for Brady and Kristen: Drake Hogestyn will be leaving the Salem canvas for a short time beginning on January 18 but he’ll be back, promises DIGEST.
• Patrika Darbo brings her sassy self back to Salem in March. In a DIGEST interview this week, the actress reveals she’s also starring in a film titled MY TRIP TO THE DARK SIDE, which headlines the happiest man on the planet, and my pal, Mr. Sean Kanan.
• In story 411, Chloe is causing a lot of havoc after hitting Salem again. Turns out Chloe cuts off Kate’s contact with her former grandchild Parker. Kate’s reax? She tells Jennifer that Chloe used to be a hooker! Pot. Kettle. Black. Bitches. Hey, to each their own, but it’s not like Chloe ate at Chick-Fil-A.
But it’s next week’s wedding between Gabi and homophobe Nick that has my soap panties all wet. I can’t wait. DIGEST has the inside story of what is sure to be a memorable interrupted wedding. Chad, not knowing his future lover Will is the father of Gabi’s baby, barges in and exposes the fact that pencil dick Nick is not the bambino’s daddy. Rafe and Chad come to blows before Sami and Rafe exchange unforgivable accusations against each other prompting E.J. to come in and comfort Sami. Then, Will blurts out he’s the baby daddy! Cue: shocked expressions and mass hysteria. Propelling future story, Nick overhears how Lucas went to jail to cover up the fact that Will shot E.J.! This is going to be amazeballs and soapilicious.
GENERAL HOSPITAL, CITYTV /ABC — Fuck Steve Burton: GH Announces Several Superstar Comebacks!
• From Genoa City to Port Chuck: Not to be outdone by its rival stealing Steve Burton, GH has absorbed former Y&R star Genie Francis as Laura Spencer. Oh, I kid. I had heard last week that the Emmy winner was speaking to Cartini about reprising the iconic role of Laura, which catapulted Francis into the zeitgeist in the 80s but I didn’t think it would happen — or be announced —so fast. Francis is expected to air Feb. 11, reports a mole.
In an interview with EW.COM, Francis said re-joining GH was a no-brainer. She says, “I don't know what the story is. I have no idea, but Frank [Valentini, GH’s executive producer] is very persuasive, energetic, and infectious and has a sense of fun, a positive-ness that makes you want to work for the guy. He assured me there was going to be nice stuff to play. I am choosing to believe him!"
Translation: He had me at, “Jill Farren Phelps and Bob Guza will never come back to GH.” Where do we all sign?
Writer Lynette Rice reports Francis had only one caveat — that there be an explanation for why she was gone from Port Charles for so long. In the GH world, Laura has three kids: Lulu and Lucky with Luke Spencer, and Nikolas with Stavros Cassadine. "It's not for me to tell them how to run their show. But my biggest concern was that there had to be a good reason for me to stay away from my family," Francis says.
Like a big paycheque and a hacky storyline/character from CBS. Thanks, Oprah.
• Cady McClain can buy lunch now: SOAPS IN DEPTH reports that Jon Lindstrom is returning to as Dr. Kevin Collins, a role he played starting in 1994 and continued alongside Lynn Herring — who is everything, to be honest — on the iconic ABC sudser and on the GH spin-off PORT CHARLES.
"The last we knew, it was implied at Lila's memorial that Lucy had reconciled with Kevin, and that they were together," headwriter Ron Carlivati tells SOAPS IN DEPTH. “And we did see a picture of him on her desk at CoeCoe Cosmetics. So the big question is, where is he and why hasn't she mentioned him?"
Lindstrom will first air on Wednesday, January 30. The show has not confirmed how long he will be sticking around for this visit.
• Perhaps this is Cartini’s solution to keep M
ichael Easton around when Prospect Park demands the character of John McBain for its lame reboot of ONE LIFE.
TV GUIDE’s Michael Logan shocked fans when he printed this story. I can’t even do it justice so I’m re-printing it in case you missed it:
They're back in town and ready to kill. Or are they? Years before bloodsuckers were all the rage via True Blood, The Vampire Diaries and Twilight, they were raising holy hell on Port Charles. The 1997-2003 General Hospital spinoff featured Michael Easton as vampire stud Caleb Morley, Kelly Monaco as his luscious lover Livvie and GH crossover fave Lynn Herring as vampire slayer Lucy Coe. Now that Herring is back on GH as Lucy and Easton and Monaco are on the soap in different roles, it's time for some wicked fun!
On Monday, Jan. 14, Lucy will drop by Kelly's Diner for some chow and spot John McBain, the good-guy cop played by Easton. "She completely freaks and screams, "Caleb!" says head writer Ron Carlivati. "Later Kelly's character, Sam, comes out of the ladies room and Lucy think it's Livvie." Lucy goes into full slayer mode and stabs John. He's rushed to the hospital. She ends up in the slammer.
"Our universes are colliding but this is no quick gimmick," Carlivati promises. "This will kick off a nice little mystery story: Is Lucy crazy or is there something very real going on here? And, if she's crazy, why do John and Sam feel like they've met before?"
The plot gets even dizzier when Duke Lavery, played by Ian Buchanan who also played vampire king Joshua Temple on PC, pays a visit to Lucy at the jailhouse. "That really throws her for a loop — in fact, the whole thing's a total mindf--k!" says Carlivati. "We'll also throw Sam's mother Alexis [Nancy Lee Grahn] into the mix as Lucy's attorney."
How far will Carlivati take this thing? "The story does get pretty over-the-top yet it's still rooted in a certain reality," says the scribe. "Lucy may be off-kilter but she's certainly not in Heather Webber territory. Her belief in vampires will be very convincing." Especially for the PC viewers who saw it all happen!
"That show was so ahead of its time and this is a nice nod to the fans who supported all those wild chances we took," Herring says. "I love that we're still taking chances and not sidestepping the past. If Lucy met up with John and didn't recognize him, we'd be flooded with complaints!"
The return to vamp territory is especially gratifying for Herring who wasn't welcomed back to GH when PC was cancelled. "That was very disheartening," she says. "I never occurred to me that Lucy wouldn't still have a place in town if PC didn't work out. But you know what? Even knowing what I know now, I would still go off to do PC. I would not trade that fabulous experience for anything!"
My thoughts? Thumbs — and fangs — up, Cartini. Brills. We all complain when characters don’t react to the same actor playing a different player on the same soap, so I applaud Cartini for being realistic about this. Smart boys, they are.
• Speaking of Vamps, UNCENSORED is hearing that Erin Hershey, who starred on PORT CHARLES, may be headed to GH very soon, too! Love me some Hershey Kisses!
• UNCENSORED is hearing that Wally Kurth continues to tape at GH. The big buzz is that GH may finally be thinking of recasting Dillon. Make it happen, GH. Poor Scott Clifton!
• As UNCENSORED hinted last week, Carly and A.J. are going to hook up again. After drowning her sorrows at The Floating Rib, Carly unburdens herself to A.J. Do they sleep together? Not yet. Luckily, the next morning, Felix offers Carly a hangover cure. Let me guess? Hair of the Bitch?
• UNCENSORED exclusively received this interesting casting breakdown GH issued out earlier this week. Does this sound like a Kristina recast to you? I hope so because, after almost a year, Lindsey Morgan has not sold anyone as Sonny and Alexis’s daughter, Kristina. You be the judge:
[FEMALE] 19-24, a raven haired beauty. Pasionate, impulsive daredevil.
CONTRACT ROLE. Role starts app. late February.
TAINTED DREAMS, nycbrandproductions.com — Tainted Soap Dish!
• As previously reported last week, SOAP OPERA DIGEST columnist Carolyn Hinsey will be penning a regular blog on daytime’s hot new soap opera TAINTED DREAMS. Hinsey quotes a soap actor who said “working on soaps is like working in an insane asylum on a submarine.” To find out who quipped that zinger, read Hinsey’s first contribution to the blog here: https://carolynsdaydreams.com/
As for the soap within a soap’s future cast, UNCENSORED can report that several of your favourite actors from now-defunct soaps like AMC, ONE LIFE, WORLD TURNS and GL, along with famous non-soap stars, will be added to the all-star line-up in addition to the cast SOAP OPERA DIGEST reported last week.
According to her Twitter feed, turns out that one of the sticking points TAINTED DREAMS headliner Alicia Minshew has with Prospect Park is the ability to do the web soap and a film in addition to AMC 2.0. Minshew just became my favourite new soap star! Good girl. The same goes for Cameron Mathison who is in Toronto currently filming a ABC Family TV-Movie HOME AGAIN with Jennie Garth.
Meanwhile, Cameron Mathison tells UNCENSORED that he’s hopeful about Prospect Park’s reboot. He tells me, “Yeah... Interesting news about PP. Hope it works out for the fans’ sake... They deserve it.”
He’s such a class act, Mathison is.
What — am I Yoda all of a sudden today?
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, GLOBAL/CBS — The Steve Burton Effect! Lane Recast?!
• Sweet Jasus: As previously reported, Steve Burton has signed on with daytime’s number one sudser as Dylan McAvoy, Avery’s ex. The Emmy winner appeared on THE TALK to confirm the news this past Monday. THE TALK rolled out the red carpet, a banner and confetti to announce the worst kept secret in soaps. But it was nice to see Angelica McDaniel and company cross promote its daytime line-up.
Meanwhile, Burton isn’t the only GH talent executive producer Jill Farren Phelps has stolen. The showrunner replaced Y&R’s costume designer Jennifer Johns with former GH wardrobe chief Mary Iannelli, reports DIGEST. Former ANOTHER WORLD and GUIDING LIGHT costume head Shawn Reeves has taken over wardrobe duties at GH.
Memo to Steve Burton: Your famous Port chuck black t-shirts will most likely make the trip to Genoa City, too!
In the meantime, various Y&R actors have been sucking up to Burton like it's going out of style behind the scenes with a few exceptions. In fact, several leading ladies are pitching themselves as Burton’s major love interest. But not everyone is happy: what’s pissing a certain clique off is how much money Burton is making. According to moles, Burton did not come cheap. At all.
Yep, Burton joining Y&R is the best storyline on this show. Sad… but true.
I’m dying to see how Burton’s presence on this show will impact the acting, writing and overall direction of the show.
To quote DAYTIME CONFIDENTIAL’s Jamey Giddens, I hope Burton doesn’t accidentally park in Melody Thomas Scott’s parking spot!
Regardless, Steve Burton’s casting is the soap’s last chance to prove it can steal big talent from another soap and make it work after Maria Arena Hack Bell destroyed superstars Genie Francis, Debbi Morgan, and Darnell Williams in their Y&R reincarnations. If Burton’s addition doesn’t work, Y&R will never be able to hire a boldface name anymore with a straight face. I’m mostly looking forward to Burton acting opposite Michael Muhney because the former GH heartthrob actually works well opposite other strong males like Maurice Benard.
Personally, I think hiring Burton is a wise move. Say what you want but his crazy fans will tune into Y&R — and the soap may actually be able to regain the lost viewers La Bell drove away. After all, Burton does have almost 100K Twitter followers. Let’s just hope his Y&R tweets will consist more than “Hi, Everyone…” or “Good night y’all.”
Although I don’t think Burton will share any chemistry with Jessica Collins, I’m choosing to believe Josh Griffith will be able to make this work onscreen. Offscreen? That’s another — and the real — story.
• Is a Lane recast in the works? Nah, but I just couldn’t resist the opportunity to drive Lane
fans crazy even for just a second. However, Y&R is recasting the roles of Cane and Lily’s twin children, Whatever and Whomever Ashby. Here’s the casting notice:
[CHARLIE & MATILDA] RECURRING ROLES. Y&R is re casting the BI RACIAL
((CAUCASIAN & AFRICAN AMERICAN)) FRATERNAL TWINS OF ''LILY & CANE''. 1
BOY. 1 GIRL. They should be 4 years old or so. They do NOT have to be
actually related. They should be cute and smart.
Translation: Unlike their parents!
• Darnell Williams, who is said to be negotiating with Prospect Park, will reappear in Genoa City next week when Sarge spies his nephew Mason in cahoots with Victor to bring down Jack.
SOAP OPERA MYSTERY HOUR
This week’s hottest blind item!
• Who is this? DIGEST ran an interesting blind item in this week’s issue — and it can only mean Y&R, right? Here it is:
This big name star was hoping to reprise his character, but a change in leadership has convinced him otherwise since there’s not lost between the actor and the show’s exec.
Which Y&R superstar used to work with Jill Farren Fuck Up? I’m stumped. Though this blind item could mean someone over at DAYS and Gary Tomlin but I doubt it.
Nielsen Milk
THE IDIOT RATINGS: Dec. 24-28
Winners: All Soaps Post Six-Figure Gains!
Numbers are based on Live+Same Day ratings
(Compared to Last Week/Compared to Last Year)
*Courtesy of SOAP OPERA NETWORK
Total Viewers
1. Y&R 4,851,000 (+510,000/-234,000) *
2. B&B 3,550,000 (+346,000/+134,000)
3. GH 3,017,000 (+217,000/+590,000)