SOAP OPERA: UNCENSORED Volume 1, Issue 8 BY NELSON BRANCO Copyright 2011 Nelson Branco Published at Smashwords INSIDE — Sources: Two More Deals in the Works To License AMC/One Life — and They’re Not Prospect Park! Plus: Is That Why Prospect Park is Posturing Again? Exclusive: Y&R’s Son of Anarchy, Adam Newman, Speaks Out Via Michael Muhney! Frons: Most Hated Man in TV “Steps Down.” GH: Renewed For One More Year? Plus: Shocking Death on GH! Have the AMC and One Life sets been destroyed? Two Surprise Weddings on Y&R! Death and Miscarriage Alerts! Nixon: No Alternative AMC Finale taped; And It’s Too late for One Life, too! Or is it? Why DAYS’s Chandler Massey may be the next Jonathan Jackson! Y&R’s Genie Francis out? Hell, no! Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati GH-bound! Andrea Evans Returns to One Life; Kim Zimmer out! Erika Slezak sounds off! Last week’s Soap Reviews; Next Week’s Preview Cheat Sheet! And every week: Unbelievable Blind Items! UNCENSORED MASTHEAD: FOUNDER/EDITOR: Nelson Branco EDITOR AT LARGE: Denette Wilford Smashwords Edition, License Notes This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. Follow Soap Opera Uncensored at: @nelliebranco or @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 [email protected] 6 months: $14.99 (normally $51.74) 1 Year: $29.99 (normally $103.48) UNCENSORED QUOTES OF THE WEEK: “First I’m pregnant & then I’m divorced. What am I All My Children?! #ericakane #pshhh #ifihadadollarforeverytime ...” —Singer Katy Perry on rumours of an impending breakup with hubby Russell Brand Translation: Like La Lucci, I’m holding out for lotsa cashola and more time off before I re-sign our marriage contract! “It's actually a really bad, hilariously bad soap opera. And because it's so bad, [my hubby and Dark Shadows director Tim Burton] felt he had to make a hugely expensive movie.” —Helena Bonham Carter on Twitter about the TV version of Dark Shadows Translation: We’re making Passions: The Movie next! “Why bother saying goodbye? I see this as just closing a chapter. We will see each other again — someplace, somehow, somewhere.” —Erika Slezak at the One Life wrap party Translation: Three lives to live, damn it! “They kept trying to get more milk out of a cow by feeding it less. When you don’t nurture your product, it’s not going to perform well.” —Emmy winner Hillary B. Smith in Soaps In Depth on daytime programming Translation: Who you calling a cow, Frons? Web soaps are lactose intolerant! “I will roll my stuff unaided through the audience waiting in line to see The View like a discarded lover when she has been all used up. After 20 years of caring and bleeding for this show, I feel dismissed. Like we are all being told, ‘Move along. Nothing to see here.’” —Smith tweets about clearing out her dressing room this past week Translation: But there is nothing like a lover scorned; watch your back, ABC! And there’s no walk of shame when I leave Chappell’s house the next morning! “Brian Frons has been the driving force in our successful daytime division since joining us in 2002. And while we understand his decision to leave at the end of his contract, we’re sad to see him go.” —Disney/ABC TV Group Co-Chair Anne Sweeney on Brian Frons’s departure Translation: But we’re happy he accomplished his soap-killing mission in just nine years! A hefty bonus is in the mail, Fronsie. “While my decision to try something new was not arrived at easily, nine years is a long time in television terms. I’m proud of the performance of ABC Daytime over that time, and of all of the accomplishments that our team achieved along the way. I’m especially pleased by the early results for The Chew and excited for the launch of The Revolution, which will be one more positive step in transforming ABC Daytime for our viewers. I’ll miss my colleagues and the wonderful talent that makes our shows, but know they are in very capable hands with Vicki [Dummer] going forward.” —Exiting soap killer Brian Frons in a press release Translation: No one miss me! And they found someone dumber than I am! “Frank and Ron's creativity, passion and outstanding leadership will be a welcome addition to the cast and crew, as well as viewers and longtime fans, and creative leaders in the industry. I am very excited for their arrival to GH and their dedication to the genre will certainly invigorate the daytime drama that has been part of the pop culture and the TV landscape for many years.” —More spin from Frons in the same press release Translation: Battered wife syndrome rocks! My friends at AMC and GH got all the spoils with no results, but those talented patsies, Frank and Ron, will accomplish miracles and do all the heavy lifting for nothing! #Winning “I look forward to this next exciting chapter working with the wonderful cast and crew of GH. This is an incredible opportunity for me to extend my passion and expertise for daytime television as I continue my relationship with Disney/ ABC Television Group and become part of an extraordinary team in 2012." —One Life executive producer Frank Valentini in a statement about taking over the reins of GH Translation: This isn’t going to be easy! Thanks, Jill Farren Phelps, for making more money than I ever did and destroying an iconic show that I now have to clean up. Déjà vu, much? But I’ll prove to be Gloria Monty 2.0. SOAPY WEB: Crystal Chappell, who? Kiefer Sutherland confesses in new web show! Last week, my employer Bell Media announced today it will launch The Confession, a heart-pumping 10-part digital series created by and starring 24’s Kiefer Sutherland, on multiple digital platforms including online, mobile and tablets. The Confession premiered exclusively in Canada at theconfession.ctv.ca on Monday, Dec. 5 with the first three episodes, followed by two new episodes rolling out on subsequent Mondays. The full series will also be available on CTV Mobile on Bell Mobile TV for smartphones and superphones beginning Monday, Dec. 12, and on The CTV iPad App starting Monday, Dec. 19. The Confession is sponsored exclusively by Audi. The future is here — and it’s arriving large. COVER STORY: Son of Anarchy: Exclusive Interview with Master Adam Newman He’s mercurial. Charming, even. He’s super-handsome, most swoon. But mostly, the smart bastard’s dangerous and deadly. And that’s just his hair! Yep, Adam Newman is the best character to hit Y&R in ages. In fact, one could argue he’s stealing the entire show (not that that’s hard to do these days), but few know what makes the breakout character tick as he continues his relentless quest for destiny. Hell hath no fury like an abandoned son scorned. Uncensored poured a few glasses of expensive scotch when we ran into The Great Adam Newman at the Genoa City Athletic Club and managed to nab this first exclusive interview with the ultimate son of anarchy. Suck on that, Restless Style! When you were younger, what did you dream of becoming when you grew up? Well, as a kid, when I would pretend I was in Star Wars, I always related to Darth Vader more than Luke Skywalker. I enjoyed the snark of Han Solo but felt a lot of empathy for Vader and his childhood experience and subsequent difficult choices he had to make. How did you become so well versed in human psychology? You can figure out people very easily... I’ve always enjoyed reading books. But reading people is something that has come very naturally to me. People tell me everything, even if they don’t say a word. Were you a mama's boy? Yes. I thought I was, until I found out my mother had been lying to me about my father my whole life. Now I don't know what I was. An experiment for her pleasure? Still trying to figure that out. Any dead animals populate your farm? I’ve seen the circle of life, on the farm, many times. I understand that all things live, and all things, eventually, must die. What was your relationship like with your stepfather, Cliff? Next question, please. Growing up, who were your idols? Einstein. Mark Twain. And General Patton. A fictional hero of mine was Jack Nicholson’s character (Col. Jessup) in the movie, A Few Good Men. “You want me on that wall. You NEED me on that wall.” Have you ever been properly in love? Next question, please. What advice would you give your younger self if you could? Don’t trust many people. And don’t trust anyone in Genoa City. What do you think of the #Occupy movement? Good concept. Lazy execution. How do you feel about your brother, Nicholas? A unicycle that is missing one wheel. Do you love your father, Victor? Does he love you? Next question, please. What’s it like living in a town with intellectually challenged people and being the smartest person in town? Calling me the smartest person in Genoa City is like calling me the world’s tallest midget. It’s like playing Duck-Duck-Goose with a room full of kindergarteners. Every now and then they get lucky, every now and then they gang up, but in the end, they are just kindergarteners. Do you think Phyllis has a sexual crush on you? Yes. But let’s help her keep her secret; only half the world has picked up on how obvious it is. Does anything scare you? In a word: No. Do you still worry you’ll become blind like your mother? I did for many years. But after this groundbreaking surgery, I no longer obsess over it. What do you do for fun? Chess. Sudoku. Clay sculpting. Target shooting. Do you wish you had friends? Friends are overrated. The closer you let someone get to you, the more they can hurt/disappoint you. Do you think Ashley will ever forgive you? I certainly hope so, but I don’t expect that she will, or that she should. Do you ever think of having kids? Why would I? Look how I turned out. What hair product do you use? Up yours. Favourite movie? The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Devil’s Advocate, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, All About Eve, and Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope. Song? Beethoven’s works. Boxers or briefs? Neither. What do you know for sure? I know, with absolute certainty, that while we all live, we will endure pain, until we die. Do you feel like you’re misunderstood? I don’t FEEL that I’m misunderstood. I am misunderstood. Do you have sex, make love or both? I make love. And I have sex. It depends on the where, why, and whom. —Thanks to Michael Muhney for conducting this interview as Adam Newman. Chris Engen was unavailable! Oh, no I didn’t… THE EDGE OF SOAP: Exclusive: More Than One Deal in the Works To License AMC/One Life — and They’re NOT Prospect Park! Have the deaths of AMC and One Life been greatly exaggerated? Yep, but it has nothing to do with Prospect Park’s latest attempt at misleading fans, media, and AMC/One Life’s cast and crew. Yesterday, industry journal Variety poured further salt in the fresh wounds of the soap community by publishing unsubstantiated rumours that the most passive-aggressive production company in the world, Prospect Park — the startup that “licensed” digital rights to the soaps from ABC — “has continued to hold meetings with other parties exploring options for keeping them going online, according to sources familiar with discussions.” And if you believe that, I’ve got a bridge in Llanview to sell you! Uncensored has exclusively learned from sources that there is more than one deal in the works to save these two soaps — and none of them involve Prospect Park! At least one of these legitimate and earnest deals is intent on taking AMC and One Life to cable and the web. The people involved? All I can reveal is that the masterminds are people fans, actors and crew can trust and respect. And know soaps better than anyone. An insider involved in the deal surmises, “Yesterday’s Prospect Park move was designed to interfere with any further parties approaching Disney.” As one of these fledgling offers continues to gain traction, Prospect Park, some accuse, is either trying to drive up and/or squat on the licensing rights, and/or Disney is trying to prevent any other companies from leasing the coveted rights to Pine Valley and Llanview. Meanwhile, even if Prospect Park plans on circumventing the unions by airing the show overseas, as Variety is reporting, the fledgling production company needs to think again. One furious actor tells Uncensored, “I can safely tell you 100 per cent of our cast and crew are not, I repeat not, going to work with or for Prospect Park ever again, especially after their distracting shenanigans recently, and certainly not without union contracts. It’s called career suicide. In fact, Prospect is the kind of company unions were created for! Prospect is unbelievable — and completely delusional with all this bullshit they are spewing. They are distracting the media and fans so ABC/Disney can permanently bury us.” What’s shadier is the fact that earlier this week when Agnes Nixon accepted an award at Harvard University, she mentioned that Prospect Park was ready to outsource “production” of AMC and One Life to Canada — and recast the cast with new actors! As one actor put it: “It’s the blind leading the hopeful.” The consensus amongst those in the know is, if indeed Prospect Park does hold the licensing rights for one year after AMC and One Life’s final broadcast airdate, as Variety reported for the first time yesterday (some doubt Prospect has secured the right or that money/contracts have been exchanged at all), it’s more than likely the rights will expire by the time Prospect could actually get these shows back in production (rebuilding sets, luring actors, and finding another producer/writer) by the deal’s expiry. Hence, it’s highly probable the rights will become available again before anything is even aired. Well, if Disney’s intention is to make money off these two canceled properties. In the meantime, Prospect’s squatting on these rights (allegedly, September 2012 for AMC and January 2013 for One Life) may prevent at least two promising deals in the works from progressing further. And that may just be Disney’s motive. But the above conjecture is futile considering the contradictory statements Prospect Park (the few we’ve ever received, that is) has given to the press. Let’s review: famously, Prospect issued a press release the day before Thanksgiving stating they believe they have “exhausted all reasonable options apparent to us, but despite enormous personal as well as financial cost to ourselves, we failed to find a solution.” Well, if Variety’s reporting is accurate, one could surmise that apparently Prospect didn’t exhaust all reasonable options after all. Shocker. Had Variety dug further, the journal would have realized that Disney had been approached with other, more realistic and effective, offers. In that aforementioned press release, Prospect dared to further insult our collective intelligence by blaming the unions with baseless accusations. Immediately after Prospect issued its press release, two unions accused as being responsible for the deal-breaking move, AFTRA and WGA issued statements denying Prospect claims, adding that it was the production company that cancelled meetings with the unions to figure out a way for everyone cooperate. Any one who knows anything about web soaps knows that myriad of Internet serials have successful employed union actors, writers and producers. So what is it? Is it the unions’ fault? Or have they exhausted every option imaginable, like they stated? Clearly, neither is true. So why should we place any trust, confidence or hope in Prospect Park’s latest hackery? There is a reason why Prospect leaks “news” to mainstream magazines — because they have no clue what they are talking about when it comes to the soap world and they won’t ask questions. The company, however, seems to be having better luck producing a new TV show starring Ice Cube for FX with titled Eye for an Eye. That’s because it’s not a Disney property ABC wants to terminate. Meanwhile, One Life showrunners Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati have been hired at GH as executive producer and head writer, respectively (their official start date is Jan. 4, 2012). Word on the street is that the dynamic duo is already strategizing on how they will accomplish the Herculean task of turning around the worst show on TV. One thing is for certain, though: Cartini “have no plans on turning GH into a One Life dumping ground.” With their new appointment, many are now suspecting ABC may give GH another year in syndication, but most are confident that the venerable sudser will bow out by fall 2012. As for last week’s colossal corporate shakeup (ABC Daytime President Brian Frons “stepping down,” the firing of GH exec producer Jill Farren Phelps, and the demotion of co-head writers Garin Wolf and Shelley Altman), all Uncensored can say is: Whomever thought it would have taken a flip of a coin to create the giant shakeup at GH last week? That flip of the coin “changed everything,” squeals a major ABC insider. In other news, insiders are reporting that AMC’s sets have been allegedly destroyed (a few traveled over to GH), and a couple of One Life’s have been sent to the soap heavens as well. But don’t fret, soapers. “Storing the sets would cost more than actually rebuilding them, so it’s no big deal,” assures the insider. Not to put too much fear in my readers, but Uncensored has heard you may be hearing about Frons’s future endeavors soon (just stay away from CBS, dude)… But hopefully after a well-deserved trip to soap hell. But, hey, what do I know? I was only the first journalist to report that GL, World Turns, and One Life were being canceled a few years ago while magazines denied it over and over again (though Dan Kroll from Soap Central is giving me credit for breaking AMC being canceled back in 2009 but I don’t think that was me). Google it. SWORD’S MIGHTIER THAN THE PEN: D’oh: Writers Guild of America subs One Life! It’s hard out there for a pimp… and one of TV’s best soap operas. Yep, One Life can’t catch a break these days! As 2011’s best daytime drama, the cancelled sudser was overlooked for what many consider the most prestigious honour (well, not for scabbers) in the writing community: a WGA award. And it wisely submitted a show surrounding Shane’s acclaimed, timely teen-bullying storyline. Three of this past year’s worst soaps, AMC, GH, and Y&R have been nominated for the 2012 WGA awards in the Daytime Drama category. The WGA Awards will be presented on Sunday, Feb. 9 at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York. Last year, As The World Turns took home the prize. For all the television nominees visit www.wga.org SOAPILEAKS: This week’s hottest news, interviews, and gossip! All My Children — Agnes of God Speaks! • As previously stated, soap creator Agnes Nixon was the star guest at Harvard Foundation's artist in residence program and received an award this past week and here are the highlights courtesy of fan Ingrid Lobo: When asked about whether an alternate ending existed for AMC (inferred from the TV Line interview with Chrishell Stause), Nixon and Broderick commented that the ending was reworked five times. First they wrote the ending, then ABC gave then two hours for the finale so it was expanded. Then, when Prospect Park came into the picture, Nixon came up with the cliffhangers. Someone suggested a “Who shot JR?” cliffhanger, but she didn’t want it to be a copy of Dallas, so she thought a twist on the story would be good, and decided to create a “Who did JR shoot?” cliffhanger. She also developed the “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn” cliffhanger for Erica and Jackson, mentioning that she’s always felt Erica is the great-great-great-great-great granddaughter of Scarlett O’Hara. Incorporating these cliffhangers required Broderick and Nixon to go back and re-work five weeks of script to develop JR’s hatred for the five different characters shown before the gunshot and final cut. Broderick said that when Prospect Park came into the picture, ABC took away one of their hours for the finale, leaving a one-hour finale. The finale episode now had to include the cliffhangers along with trimmed down scenes that they had originally planned for the two-hour finale. It did not sound like a full alternate ending was taped, as Chrishell Stause recently stated to TVLine.com. However, Stause and Kate Collins taped a scene very early on for use in the two-hour finale. Broderick mentioned that the shows suffer when Agnes is not involved. Then Nixon commented that the man who didn’t want her around was gone now. The audience erupted in applause at this statement. • Despite all the bad news concerning AMC’s future, its actors are landing work faster than a L.A. hooker on Santa Monica Blvd. My favourite “hooker,” Cameron Mathison has landed a guest-starring role on Desperate Housewives, along with being a reporter for Good Morning America and his other million jobs. Mathison told Soaps In Depth that he’ll be “embroiled in a relationship with former soap star Marcia Cross’s Bree. Can’t wait. I don’t care what anyone says: I love Desperate Housewives. Head writer and creator Marc Cherry is a seriously underrated talent. Also, Thorsten Kaye has found a paycheque by doing at least one episode of the upcoming NBC series, Smash. Congrats, boys! • In more shocking alumna news, Deadline is reporting onscreen hooker Denise Vasi has been tapped for the lead role in VH1's sexy, fun dramedy Single Ladies. She’ll probably be a hit. Most lukewarm soap actors usually shoot to mainstream stardom. But who can really believe the usually reliable Deadline since they still haven’t retracted their assertion that Susan Lucci was holding up Prospect Park’s attempts to bring AMC to the web. Oh, wait: It was the unions. Oh, no: it was Herman Cain’s fault. Discuss. • Here’s what Chrishell Stause had to say in a recent TVLine interview regarding Prospect-less Park: “To be honest with you, that Prospect Park thing was such a disaster. They came to people and gave one offer, and when it came time to renegotiate they never came back to the table. It wasn’t the actors that weren’t trying to make something work. “I was always open to doing it as long as I could do it while doing other things. I certainly didn’t want [Prospect Park to have] exclusivity. I know how devoted the fans are, and if we could have made that work, it would have been great to do it. I’ve done a web series before, so I thought I could swing it and other projects on the side, but then I just never heard back.” • AMC graces the cover of Soap Opera Digest this week in their fantastic yearin-review issue (last week’s Best and Worst issue rocked Josh Kelly’s ass, too). Nice coup! One Life graced Digest last week but now finds a home on the cover of Weekly. The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS — No Logan Left Unturned! • Is Brad Bell trying to get us to turn off B&B? As most of you know, Nick and Donna will be inching towards a feared romance. What has Jack Wagner ever done to you, Brad? It’s a sad fact Wagner’s real life is more operatic: he recently found out he had a long-lost daughter and broke up with his woman, Heather Locklear. Yikes. But did you catch Nick’s reference to “Frisco” this past week. That was a nice twist. • Jowen fans, calm down. Despite reports that Brandon Beemer is on recurring status, Uncensored can assure you that actor is not. Despite the fact that he was on vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico where most of his co-stars — Adam Gregory, Jackie MacInnes Wood, Kim Matula and Scott Clifton — flew to the exact spot to shoot more location shoots for their storyline, he’s still on the show. But I say, DAYS should bring him back as Shawn if B&B isn’t using him. Days of our lives, NBC — Lucas is back! Massey: Show Stealer! • Hurray! As expected, Bryan Dattilo is returning as Will’s transient father, according to Soap Opera Digest. Expect Lucas to hit Salem sometime in February, 2012 (hopefully with a bottle in tow). Co-Executive Producer Greg Meng told Digest, "We are very excited Bryan Dattilo, who has been greatly missed on the show, is back in Salem. The reset of DAYS is about bringing core families back together, rekindling old romances, and sparking new ones." • It’s official: future Emmy winner Chandler Massey is stealing the entire show with his heartbreaking portrayal of a gay man resisting his true self. It’s been riveting to watch Massey go toe-to-toe with vets Deidre Hall, Alison Sweeney, James Scott, and Galen Gering — and stealing each scene he’s in. Yep, daytime TV meet soap’s best bitch! His tour-de-force performance is exhausting to watch — in a good way — so kudos for the hardest and mot dedicated younger actor for bringing it every time without relying on histrionics. Is he the next Jonathan Jackson? He very well could be. • Sympathies are in order for Molly Burnett, who recently lost her mother. XO • In story 411, Kayla returns to Salem with Joe! But where’s Tucker, fancy sweetness?! And Daniel dumps Jennifer. Not dumps inside, included. General Hospital, ABC — Is Tess Headed to Port Chuck? Sam preggers! • GH is shooting down rumours that Bree Williamson, who is now beautifully raven-haired, is joining the embattled sudser. Also, Bradford Anderson is being told he’s not going anywhere. Both of the aforementioned rumours originated from scoop queen, Raven Beauty. And she’s always right. Time will tell. • More black peeps! Newcomer Christopher Meyer has joined the cast as the son of the marine Shawn killed, TJ, according to Soaps in Depth. • Drunk tweeting rocks! Oh, I kid. Nancy Lee Grahn pulled an Alec Baldwin by revealing her on-screen daughter Sam is pregnant, as many predicted after Franco “raped” the heroine on her honeymoon with Jason. Ahhh, the romance on GH is just too much to handle these days. Why is it that barren heroines always become pregnant when they are raped? Grahn tweeted: "I hear that Sam is Preggers. I guess me and Danny Devito (explains Sam's height) are gonna be Grandparents. Oh joy!" And "I hear the baby will look exactly like @1steveburton but have Franco's career." She’s here all week, folks. Well, let’s hope! As most know, an actor revealing major plot points is a serious offence on some shows; a few serials even go as far inserting a penalty for the infractions in its actors’ contracts. • Congratulations are in order for Brandon Barash and former AMC starlet Natalie Hall. The couple’s engaged — and that means hunky Barash is off the market! Barash tweeted the news, penning: “Hey Twitterverse...she said yes. Who's the luckiest man alive? One, please!” Not Silas Kain. • No words: Entertainment Weekly released the results of a survey, which compares the viewing habits of Democrats and Republicans. The study, conducted by Experian-Simmons exclusively for the magazine, revealed that GH is the least favourite show of Republicans? WTF? What’s not to like? Mobsters. Rape. Misogyny. Homophobia. Blonde Bots. Sounds like the perfect Republican fare to me! The Tea Party? They adore Passions re-runs! Though, to be fair, the Republicans would probably manage GH the same way Fronsie did. I.e., into the ground and with an agenda, PR and otherwise. • Condolences are in order for Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo who miscarried her second child this week. The Emmy winner, who tweeted the news, has a child, Kassius, with Fringe star Brian Austin Green. Get well, boo! • In story 411: Next week, Dante proposes to Lulu. Are they still on this show? Meanwhile, in order to win Lucky’s heart, Liz commits herself to Shadybrook; and hair model Delores Padilla makes her move on Johnny! Yep, this show is so getting canceled soon. • In this week’s Soaps In Depth, Kimberly McCullough reveals her contract expired months but she re-signed so Robin and Patty Cakes could get a proper send-off. Um, with recent rumours about Robin dying of AIDS, perhaps the Emmy winner should have bolted when she had the chance. • Soap Opera Weekly has this blind item in this week’s issue: A major character will die in a shocking death next week. My guess? Abby. • Will new head writer Ron Carlivati stop this upcoming serial killer storyline? Apparently — with increasing buzz that Steve Burton has decided to leave the show, along with Maurice Benard and Tony Geary — it’s anyone’s guess. Maybe I should flip a coin! Let’s pray with Cartini headed to Port Hell all the actors stay on until the show’s finale. Heck at this point it’s better to ask: who isn’t leaving this show. The Nate Berkus Show — Soap fans: A lifestyle show actually wants YOU! • From Oprah’s gay BFF, Nate Berkus: Are you a huge daytime soap opera fan? Have you seen every episode since the first day it aired on television? Do you find yourself staying home to watch during the days or taping them so you can watch it at night? Are there any particular characters you idolize and follow their careers? If this sounds like you, and you live in the tri-state area, tell us your story! Please submit your full contact info (phone and email), a description of your situation and few recent photographs! Hey Nate: Just don’t pull an Oprah, er, Clint Buchanan and tell us soaps are dead and not financially viable. One Life to Live, ABC — Will Fraternity Row be canceled for a third time?! Best Writing Emmy Scored! • Are the rumours true that One Life filmed multiple endings as Hillary B. Smith hinted at in a recent interview (apparently, her story had different taped endings)? Head scribe Rob Carlivati tells Digest, “It's impossible. There is no reshooting of anything at this point." Let’s hope fans get closure with a two-hour prime time TV-Movie. All together: “Yeah, right.” However, in Erika Slezak’s newest newsletter (found at erikaslezak.com or onemillionemmywinner.com), she attests, like Smith, there was one alternative scene filmed. She said, “No, I don't think alternate endings were taped, except one, which in this case now, will apply. Other tidbits: Susan Flannery emailed Slezak to offer support; Brian Frons called her two hours before ABC made the cancellation announcement, but she refused to initially take the call “because he never calls just to say ‘hello;’ and how she loved working with my fave Barbara Rhodes (Irene). Read the rest of the informative interview for more scoopage. • From Mike Gold’s desk: Celebrity Events Group -- the folks behind the AMC’s "A Tribute To Pine Valley" fan event -- will present a farewell to One Life next month as well. "Loving Llanview" will take place on Saturday, January 21, at the Theatre at Westbury in Westbury, NY. Actors scheduled to attend are Jerry verDorn, Kassie DePaiva, Trevor St. John, John-Paul Lavoisier, Kim Zimmer, Melissa Archer, Michael Easton, Gina Tognoni, Ilene Kristen, and Sean Ringgold. The main event begins at 7 p.m., with a post-show autograph and photo session at 9:30. Tickets are on sale now at www.LovingLlanview.com. No word if the stars from Fraternity Row will be getting their own farewell event. I miss you Spring Skye! And Ruby/Roxanne! • Who needs the WGA? Speaking of #FratRow, head writer Ron Carlivati will most certainly score his second Emmy Award if he is smart enough to submit Tuesday’s spectacular homage to soaps and its fans (don’t count on it). Despite Soap Opera Digest touting that the last the Two Todds storyline was 2011’s best (and I agreed), the death of Fraternity Row, and its resurrection onscreen (the soap-within-a-soap was a huge story back in the 90s), was the best-written episode and possibly storyline of 2011, in my opinion (the year’s not over yet). The industry will love this unconditional tribute to daytime and its brave criticism of the destruction of our beloved genre… so it’s a great bet. Clearly, ABC didn’t approve these episodes! And thank you, ABC! Nice to see that One Life gave Soap Opera Weekly a co-starring role in this story. Weekly so deserves a Daisy Award for Outstanding Prop in a Storyline. That sound you hear? Morris, Roxy’s fake porcupine, Morris; and Cutter’s boxer briefs crying, “we were robbed!” • Shocker: The View will pretend that my fave TV show ever existed by saluting the Emmy-winning serial’s years on air with a special episode, co-hosted by Erika Slezak. One Life creator Agnes Nixon will also appear on the show, which will feature behind-the-scenes footage from Llanview’s final days and interviews with your favorite stars. Kassie DePaiva and Hills Smith are scheduled to appear as well; more boldface will be announced soon. • Emmy winner Crystal Chappell revealed on her weekly Venice blog she was offered role on the One Life reboot. No shit! She declined. • Next week, I’m offering you the ultimate Andrea Evans tribute. In what has to be the best comeback of the year — and best exit storyline for any character this year — the love of my life refuses to confirm she’ll be back for the show’s January final, but my sources attest otherwise. Tune in, indeed! It’s a mustread interview for any One Life, B&B, Y&R and Passions fan! Also, Kim Zimmer will not be seen on the One Life canvas until January towards the finale. The Emmy winner had e-mailed yours truly this past fall worried she had no more airdates but that has clearly changed. • And this is just for shits and giggles: read my former TVguide.ca article found here (http://tvguide.ca/Soaps/Features/Articles/110420_most_hated_man_NB.htm) which heralded Brian Frons: The Most Hated Man in TV. The Young and the Restless, CBS — Science and Tology Don’t Mix! Francis staying! • Is Genie Francis leaving Y&R for GH? Hell, no! Sources report she’s in Genoa City for the time being now that she has toned down her portrayal of the scene-chewing Gen. In fact, she’s heavily playing in scripts for the foreseeable future. • Are the rumours true that Sharon and Victor will fall in love and marry? No. But it was talked about. Luckily for us, it’s not happening. Yet. Trust me, kids: this show could be worse than it is now. • Actor Michael Fairman has filed a lawsuit against a Scientologist chiropractor -- claiming she refused to see him and his family after he was excommunicated from the Church. I’m glad he has a better real-life storyline than most of his on-screen peers on Y&R. According to TMZ: Fairman claims he was a prominent member of the Church, but became disenchanted with the way Church was running things. Fairman claims Church leaders got fed up with him earlier this year, branded him and his wife "suppressive persons" and blacklisted the family from all things Scientology. After Fairman was ousted, the actor claims he received a letter from the family chiropractor -- an active Scientologist -- informing him she would no longer treat the Fairman family. Fairman also claims she refused to hand over a copy of the family's medical records. In the lawsuit, Fairman claims he must have been discriminated against because he's no longer with the Church -- noting that he's been a good, paying customer since 2003. • Emmy winner Eric Braeden thinks the occupy movement will have an impact on America’s future, he tells Uncensored. However, he calls police violence against protestors “ridiculous. Why look for the confrontation. • Two shocking weddings? You decide. Deacon blackmails Nikki into marrying him after Victor takes the murder rap for killing Diane (he — nor she did, I think). Also, the worst couple on daytime, Neil and Sofia wed. Puke. AWARDS SHOW CENTRAL: Game of Thrones: NATAS finally reinvents the rules for the 2012 Daytime Emmy Awards showdown! Uncensored has the exclusive scoop! And the Emmy goes to … the most deserving actor and shows in daytime! Whatcha talkin’ about, Nellie? Yep, the elusive dream may actually become a reality next year. NATAS likes us; they really, really like us! Thanks to the tireless and brave efforts of actors like Y&R’s Michael Muhney, who boldly put a face on the fight for much-needed Emmy reform, NATAS listened and (re)acted in a big way! A National Academy of Arts and Sciences spokesperson exclusively confirms Soap Opera Uncensored’s Emmy report in our first issue six weeks ago: a major overhaul has reinvented the award nomination process, along with introducing a proposed new category that will get the web soap community all lathered up. The changes have mostly been approved but will be integrated over the course of two years. Below are the changes; read ‘em and rejoice: • There is no limit to how many actors from one show can submit their name for Emmy consideration in the pre-nomination round in a category. For example, 10 actresses from General Hospital can submit themselves for Lead Actress contention. So, goodbye bloc voting! This also means that you could possibly have five GH actresses on the final ballot, too. But hey, if the five best actresses are from GH this past year, that’s fair in my books. The alternative means members being forced to vote for actors due to the show they work on — and not talent. • Pre-nominee hopefuls will submit an edited two-minute reel consisting of one scene from one episode reflecting their best work from the calendar year. • Judging pre-nominees hopefuls will be conducted online only on a NATAS website over 4 weeks instead of 2. Members of the Academy will choose their top 10 choices from 1 (being the best) to 10 — regardless of what show they are employed on. The catch? The ballot will not include names or pictures of the hopeful candidates. Anonymous live links to their work will only be shown. In other words, voters will have to click on each link to find out who they are voting for — and most importantly, view the candidate’s work. Translation: Blind voting for members’ friends or well-known names is seemingly over. • An actor can still submit more than one role in the same category. • The top 10 pre-nominees from each category will be announced on March 2, 2012. • In the final round of judging, a blue ribbon panel will be chosen to judge each of the final pre-noms, who will submit one full episode from the calendar year on DVD. Next year, NATAS will propose 15 minutes of work from as many episodes as they like and viewed online much like this year’s pre-nomination voting session. Why not this year? The spokesperson elaborated: “We asked AMC, while they were putting together their reels, to give us some sample submissions with scenes from multiple episodes, so that it would lend weight to our argument and be able to let the awards committee view, and see how important it is for an actor to show a broader range of work. One thing we were told was that pulling from multiple episodes would be asking too much of shows, but AMC proved that wrong by quite easily working with the actors and putting together a couple of sample reels for us, quite quickly since they were about to wrap! We’re working on that change for next year – as you can see!” • The biggest win? A guest star category will more than likely be re-introduced in 2013. Over the years, members have suspiciously voted against bringing back the guest star category; but with so many recurring statuses and/or stunt casting enveloping the daytime dial, the Academy is finally reflecting the changing daytime landscape. But again, why not this year? According to NATAS, each show needed more time to create a new system of “guest star billing” in their credits to qualify. • Final nominees will be announced on May 4. The ceremony will take place sometime in June. And it looks “good” that they will air on broadcast television, shares the spokesperson. Moreover, he adds that a very cool plan to reinvent the ceremony may be in the works as well. Stay tuned. • When Uncensored asked if dramatic web actors could submit themselves in the mainstream categories (Best Actress/Supporting Actor/Directing, etc.) — especially since the number of broadcast soaps have decreased significantly in recent years and the quality of acting online is as top drawer as on the tube — NATAS answered: “That’s a good question! There is nothing in the rules that prevents web actors from entering in the main broadcast categories!” Ergo, Crystal Chappell could have legally submitted her work on Venice for Outstanding Lead Actress contention last year! Shut the front door! Hey, soapers: You really need to start reading the fine print like prime-time and film actors do. “In our literature, we’re not allowed to discriminate against platforms, [so on paper that would be legal].” After the discussion, NATAS later informed Uncensored that until they sort out this murky issue (after all, the broadcast soaps could revolt and simply refuse to vote for web stars), and barring any objections (at press time, it still needs to be passed by committee, but is expected to), NATAS has created a new category in the interim: Outstanding Performer (Male or Female) in a Special Class Format. Next year, the Academy will vote if whether or not web soaps should compete in the mainstream categories. With One Life to Live seemingly headed online, I think it would be wise to open the mainstream categories to this fledgling medium. SOAP WHISPERER: This week’s hottest blind items • Which leading man is scaring the hell out of a co-star with his inappropriate flirtations? • Which west-coast photographer is banned from the CBS studios? • Which major ex-superstar may be coming back to daytime? Make this work, puh-lease! HUMOUR: IMAGINARY CONVERSATIONS: Frons and Babs reunite! After “stepping down,” exiting ABC Daytime TV President Brian Frons calls his former cohort former CBS VP Barbara Bloom to catch up! Brian: Hey, you dumb bitch! How are you? Babs: Awesome. We did it; we really, really did it, huh? Brian: Yep! It was as easy… easy as some of the actresses I hired on GH! Ha… that’s what I said! Babs: You so funny, Bri-Bri! Oh, Brian… What do we do now? Now that I’m unemployed… I kinda wish Guiding Fight and As The Earth Turns… wait, what were they called? Brian: Fuck if I know, bitch. Babs: Well, you know what I’m talking about. Brian: No, I kinda never do. Babs: You’re so funny, Brian. You do have cuter lesbians. Brian: Are you coming out? Oh, wait; oh, well, not anymore! Winning! Babs: But what I’m trying to tell you now that we’re unemployed, there are no soaps to watch during our endless days. Brian: Oh, fuck! You’re right! Babs: [whispers] Let’s fuck. Brian: What? I’d rather have sex with Anna Lee. Babs: No, you’d bring her back from the dead, rape her, and kill her in a fantastic sweeps story. You’re my hero, Frons. Very romantic. Brian: And you’re my douche bag. Mission accomplished, indeed! SOAP PORN: Next Week's Soapgasms Can’t watch all the soaps this week? No worries — here’s a cheat sheet! Top Shows to Watch: 1. Venice, venicetheseries.com 2. One Life To Live, ABC 3. Days of our Lives, NBC Top Storylines to Watch: 1. Fraternity Row Canceled, One Life —tie — Love Story Revisited, Venice 3. Will’s Bitch Rampage, DAYS 4. Nikki Wed Deacon, Y&R 5. Susan Banks’ Mystery, DAYS Top Actresses to Watch: 1. Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki, Y&R) 2. Crystal Chappell (Gina, Venice) 3. Kimberly McCullough (Robin, GH) —tie—Stacy Haiduk (Emily/Patty, Y&R) 5. Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS) 6. Hillary B. Smith (Guya, Venice) —tie — Ilene Kristen (Roxy, One Life) Top Actors to Watch: 1. James Scott (EJ, DAYS) 2. Michael Muhney (Adam, Y&R) 3. Jerry ver Dorn (Clint, One Life) 4. Matthew Ashford (Jack, DAYS) 5. Jordan Clark (The Colonel, Venice) Top Young Actors To Watch: 1. Chandler Massey (Will, DAYS) 2. Adam Gregory (Thomas, B&B) 3. Kim Matula (Hope, B&B) Top Duos to Watch: 1. Gina and Ani, Venice 2. Sami and EJ, DAYS 3. Victor and Nikki, Y&R Top Couples to Fast-Forward Through: 1. Sonny and Kate, GH 2. Sofia and Neil, Y&R 3. Austin and Abby, DAYS —tie— James Franco and his ego, GH Top Dream Couples: 1. Carly and Shawn, GH 2. Will and EJ, DAYS 3. Sharon and Avery, Y&R Top New-ish Duos to Watch: 1. Thorne and Taylor, B&B 2. Jack and Neela, One Life 3. Thomas and Hope, B&B Top Newcomers: 1. Freddie Smith (Sonny, DAYS) 2. Sean Blakemore (Shawn, GH) 3. Neela Patel (Neela, One Life) —tie — Andrew Trischitta (Jack, One Life) Top Scene Stealers: 1.Ilene Kristen (Roxy, One Life) —tie— Josh Kelly (Cutter, One Life) 3. Tina Sloan (TK, Venice) 4. Austin Peck (Rick, One Life) Top Rivals: 1. Kate Vs. Madison, DAYS 2. Jack VS. “Scarface,” One Life 3. Pam VS. Stephanie, B&B Top Equations to Watch: 1. Gina/Ani/Lara, Venice —tie —Daniel/Jen/Jack, DAYS 2. Victor/Nikki/Deacon, Y&R 4. EJ/Sami/Rafe, DAYS Top Tweeters: 1. Crystal Chappell: @CrystalChappell 2. Joshua Morrow: @joshuamorrowYR 3. George Guzman: @georgeguzman Top 3 Soap Magazine Covers (based on art direction): 1. Soap Opera Digest: Y&R’s Victor and Nikki Have Sex! 2. ABC Soaps In Depth: GH’s Patrick and Robin 3. Soap Opera Weekly: DAYS Aftershocks! Top 3 Best Reads/Buys at the Newsstand: 1. Soap Opera Digest 2. ABC Soaps In Depth 3. Soap Opera Weekly Top Episodes To Watch: 1. Wednesday: Venice’s third episode airs. Gina seems obsessed with a new piece of bling. “It’s an Emmy necklace, bitches!” 2. Wednesday: DAYS’s Jack has a meltdown in front of Marlena. “Don’t worry: Dena Higley isn’t coming back,” comforts Marlena. 3. Friday: DAYS’s Austin and Carrie make decision about their marriage. “Yep, we need to recast you with Austin Peck,” realizes Carrie.
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