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
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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.