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General Hospital: So Much To Love
I have to say that Friday’s General Hospital episode might have just been the best one of the year!
Yes, the carnival earlier this month was…..exciting, breathtaking, action-packed, heart-pounding…..all that.
And if there is one soap opera that time after time does sweeps week best - it’s GH.
Then usually it goes downhill after that.
But Friday was everything a soap opera SHOULD be on a regular basis - a combination of humor and poignancy.
It started out of the box with the ‘oh so funny’ Maxie’s nightmare….
Mac (John J. York) was Hysterical…He totally stole the scene. Watch him knawing on that kiddie toy and drooling!
There were so many touching scenes leading up to the Spixie wedding.
The tears were flowing when Lulu (Julie Marie Berman) and Maxie (Kirsten Storms) were telling each other how much they mean to one another…..
How far those two have come from being mortal enemies, eh?
Not to mention how far Maxie has come from being a total train wreck.
I absolutely love Maxie now.
When she was pumping Lucky full of pills in order to sleep with him - not so much. But that’s all in the past.
Loved the Spinelli/Jason scene, when Jason told Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) that Maxie is the lucky one.
And did you get a load of Jason in the PINK TIE and the look on his face!!!
Which brings me to the next thing that I’ve been liking lately - JaSam!!!
I tell ya, didn’t think it would be possible for Jason (Steve Burton) and Sam (Kelly Monaco) to find their way back to each other, especially after he treated Sam like dirt and Sam watched as Jake was kidnapped.
At any rate, I’m just glad they’re back together, because she GETS him.
Did you see those coy looks they were shooting at each other during the wedding? Awwww. So cute!
Speaking of cute….How about Molly!!! I love her!
Talk about a scene stealer. Ever since they SORASed the character and brought on Alexis Pullos, she just shines every time she’s onscreen.
How about when she sat Jason down a couple of days ago and had a heart-to-heart, telling him not to break Sam’s heart.
She is SO wise beyond her young years, isn’t she?
Watch her for yourself, when Molly tells Spinelli that he’s her type because she likes the brainy ones!
One other character who I have thoroughly enjoyed since he entered the canvas three months ago: Dominic Zamprogna as Dominic Pirelli/Dante Falconeri.
I just think he has a real endearing quality about him, even when he was thought to be the bad guy working for Anthony Zacchara.
And I really like the relationship/rapport developing with him and Lulu. I think he may be just the ticket for a love match with Luke and Laura’s daughter.
We’ll see.
But for today’s eppy, the bottom line is this: Will Spixie tie the knot?
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One Life To Live: Riveting and Emotional
Were you all wiping your eyes after watching Tuesday’s One Life To Live?
Soooo many good performances……
Where to start…..
First of all, Mark Lawson, as Brody, was phenomenal throughout the past few days…particularly on Tuesday when he was talking to Jessica (Bree Williamson) about how he wants a family with her.
He was crying…..she was crying……I was crying….
I tell ya, Lawson and Williamson together are dynamic.
But most of all they make us really feel what they are feeling.
I have to say that I was a liiiiitle nervous that Tess or Bess would emerge to “rescue” Jess from an emotional situation. Jess was looking a bit unhinged there for a few minutes, but so far - and hopefully - she will remain integrated.
And more kudos to Lawson on his action scenes in the warehouse - gripping!
Certainly the saddest event of Tuesday - and the most shocking - was the news that Shaun (Sean Ringgold) is comatose from the effects of the brain surgery to remove a bullet fragment.
To complicate matters (and in soaps everything is complicated) his brother Greg (Terrell Tilford) performed the surgery, being the best and most qualified in Llanview Hospital.
When Greg had to tell his parents and Destiny that Shaun was not waking up……so moving.
Tilford really showed his depth with those scenes - and then in his later scenes when he totally broke down…..He has shown such a transformation of his character over the past few weeks…..
And Tuesday, Greg experienced a 180 degree turnaround from the cocky, self-absorbed doctor who stepped into Llanview a few months ago.
Daphne Duplaix as Rachel also delivered such good performances over the past few weeks as she wrestled with her feelings about Greg and Shaun, culminating in the realization of Shaun’s fate and Greg’s feelings of guilt.
Duplaix is a very real actress who makes you believe what she is saying and feeling.
Another really good performance from the younger set - Shenell Edmonds as Destiny.
She totally broke my heart when Destiny realized that Shaun was not waking up.
Here are some of the better scenes of Tuesday’s OLTL, including Jess and Brody towards the end.
On the up side: Starr, Hope and Cole were reunited.
Kristin Alderson has been incredible throughout the whole hostage thing and Brandon Buddy has been wonderful in the undercover storyline.
So for all you Sole fans out there, here’s a compilation of their scenes in the video below.
And be sure to check out the montage at the end of the video, which puts to music an overview of all the characters highlights from Tuesday’s eppy.
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End of an Era: Farewell to Guiding Light
I’ve watched a lot of different soap operas over the years.
But Guiding Light was not one of those that I regularly followed.
I do, however, have fond memories of going to visit my grandmother on weekday afternoons and she would be watching Guiding Light.
Regardless of whether one watched GL or not, it is sad to me that the show is going off the air on Friday after 72 years.
72 Years!
That’s more than a lifetime.
It began on the radio in 1937.
I hope that the cancellation of GL doesn’t signal the beginning of the end for ALL soaps.
There’s been so much written and so many tributes to GL, but I think the 60 Minutes piece that aired Sunday was wonderful.
I just loved the old black-and-white clips.
So if you haven’t seen it, I’m posting the video below.
60 Minutes Tribute Part 1
60 Minutes Tribute Part 2
And for those of you who want to watch the end of an era in it’s final week, tune in to CBS 3 p.m. EST to watch Guiding Light.
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Daytime Emmys: Kudos to AMC’s Vincent Irizarry Best Supporting Actor
Wasn’t that a wonderful acceptance speech given by Vincent Irizarry (Dr. David) on winning the Best Supporting Actor Emmy Sunday night?
He started off his speech with dedicating his award to his “beloved son Ash who is fighting our nation’s battles in the land of Afghanistan right now…To you, Ash, and to all your brave brothers and sisters in arms right now, Thank you. Come home safe, come home soon.”
He went on to thank and share the award with his wife and his other children. He also thanked his co-workers and - to a rousing applause - thanked “the people behind the camera, the crew.”
He was so incredibly eloquent and generous in his speech.
Well, here….Take a few moments to watch the video for yourself. It is well worth it.
The category was so strong that Irizarry tied with Jeff Branson (Shayne) from Guiding Light, who used to play Jonathan Lavery on AMC.
By the way, I think the Supporting Actor and Actress categories contained the toughest competition.
The only other thing that I will say about the Emmys is that I think Bree Williamson (Jessica/OLTL) got totally ripped off in the Supporting Actress category.
She should have won that Emmy, unequivocally hands down.
Her scenes before and after Nash’s death were gut-wrenching and her portrayal of three distinct personas - Jess/Tess/Bess - was nothing short of amazing.
And I’m not at all slighting anyone else in that category, because it was very, very strong competition.
I love AMC’s Melissa Claire Egan’s portrayal of Crazy Annie. She is so great to watch.
AMC’s Alicia Minshew as Kendall is always on…..giving 110 percent to every performance.
Please don’t misunderstand.
I think Tamara Braun, who won the award for her portrayal of Ava on DOOL, is a wonderful actress and has excelled at every role that she’s taken on.
She played a flawless “Carly Corinthos” on GH and did a wonderful job as “Reese” on AMC.
I’m just saying that Bree Williamson’s work was incredible above-and-beyond stuff and she should have been recognized for it.
What are your thoughts on the Daytime Emmys?
Want to see some Red Carpet photos of the evening?
Click here to see SOAPnet’s Red Carpet gallery.
Click here to see SOAPnet’s photos of the winners.
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Photos from OLTL Fan Club Luncheon in NYC
I wanted to post the link to the One Life To Live Fan Club Luncheon photos before any more time goes by.
It took place aboard the yacht “Duchess” which sailed around the Hudson River (and right past the Statue of Liberty)!
It was sooooo much fun….although I did get a bit nervous when an announcement came over the loudspeaker (while the boat was rocking in the waves) that everyone needed to take their seats due to “a safety issue.”
More than 100 die-hard OLTL fans were aboard and, of course, a plethora of stars.
I’ll have more on this and on Hillary B.Smith’s Fan Luncheon and Catherine Hickland’s Hypnosis Stage Show later.
But for now, enjoy the photos!
Click here to view my photos.
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Come See Catherine Hickland (Lindsay/OLTL) In Person
Wasn’t it good to see Lindsay back on One Life To Live last week?
Much too short though.
And she needs to get outta jail!
But if you want to see more of her portrayer, Catherine Hickland, there are still tickets left for her Aug. 15th show called “Mind Journey.” It will be held 7 p.m. at the New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, New York, NY 10019. Ticket Price: $40.
You see Cat is a certified hypnotist and in “Mind Journey” - you guessed it - she performs a comedy stage hypnosis show in a night of entertainment where she promises “a lot of laughs and fun.”
She will hold a meet and greet following the show.
She describes “Mind Journey” as a fast paced, family friendly, hilariously funny, and delivers a powerful message.
All proceeds from the ticket sales will go to her charitable endeavor for a family in need called “Home Sweet Home.”
Click here to get all the info you need to purchase tickets and attend the event. You will also find out more about the family who will benefit by your attendance.
I already have my ticket……just hope I don’t end up clucking like a chicken.
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What is the Real Reason Behind Moving AMC to L.A.?
I still can’t believe it.
It has taken some time to process the announcement and I still am in shock - and disbelief - and wondering “what the heck does all this mean?”
ABC is really moving production of All My Children from it’s east coast New York City studio all the way across the country to Los Angeles.
In addition, the One Life To Live studio will move into AMC’s New York studio.
The official word is that AMC will now have a studio twice the size and OLTL, which films in a much smaller space, will upgrade to the 30 percent larger AMC studio. The show will begin broadcasting in high definition along with the move.
The almost 40-year-old show will relocate in December and start taping in L.A. the week of January 4th, with first broadcasts of those episodes in High-Def beginning in February.
Click here to read the full press release issued by ABC.
Rumors and speculation abounds as to why ABC has chosen to go this route.
For me - and for so many other fans of the show - the news is sad on many fronts.
What will happen to the cast and crew? Word is that relocating for many production crew members is not an option.
As far as the cast, what about the longtime, older vets like David Canary (Adam) and Susan Lucci (Erica)? Will they pull up their longtime NYC roots and move across the country?
What about Thorsten Kaye (Zach), whose wife Susan Haskell plays Marty on OLTL? What will they do?
I just hope that this is not the beginning of the end…..and that these soaps won’t end up cancelled as so many others have been, including the soon to be departed Guilding Light.
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Lovin the Bo and Nora Love
It was the kiss felt ‘round the world!
So who was lovin the Bo and Nora kiss yesterday???
Raises Hand
It was the moment that so many Bo and Nora fans have been waiting patiently (or for some impatiently) for years to see again on One Life To Live.
And, of course, it comes on the eve of Nora’s wedding to Bo’s bro, Clint.
Oh the drama!
Here’s a photo of Nora the night before her wedding to Clint?
Does this look like a happy bride?
DONNA SVENNEVIK/ABC
So the question is, will Nora go through with the wedding?
I think I know the answer as it has been pretty well telegraphed for weeks.
First of all, I absolutely adore both actors and the iconic characters they have created.
Robert S. Woods as Bo Buchanan and Hillary B. Smith as Nora Hanen are a joy to watch each on their own merits and separate from the couple.
But together…..
Can you say SUPERCOUPLE!!!
We have watched them go through so much together and apart….and I, along with many OLTL fans love the Bo and Nora days of the 90’s.
I particularly loved their dancing days together….So much fun to watch and they always put a smile on my face!
So for all the Bo and Nora fans out there - and those who may become new fans - check out the wonderful, fun montage below…
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OLTL’s Tea and Blair: Must See TV
I just can’t get enough T&B on One Life To Live.
Not Todd and Blair.
I’m talking about Tea and Blair.
Tea (Florencia Lozano) and Blair (Kassie DePaiva) have such an amazing onscreen rapport.
The two work off each other seemlessly in a back and forth repartee - one minute they’re commiserating together and the next they’re trading insults and screaming at each other….or worse.
And, as always, the subject that sets everything off - Todd!
Like yesterday.
They started out so civilly, with Blair almost apologetic about sleeping with Todd.
And the next minute…..
Catfight!!!
They ended up in an all-out brawl and had to be pulled apart by Shaun….
The funniest part was when Tea - who is still recuperating from near death - took her walking cane and smashed Todd’s glassware, breaking the cane in the process.
I mean, the two of them are out-and-out hysterical.
Well here.
See for yourself.
And all this was BEFORE Todd proposed to Tea…..
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GH Tackles Teen Dating Abuse Storyline
Do you remember that obnoxious kid, Kiefer, who punched out and knocked out Michael Corinthos at Jake’s a couple of weeks ago?
Well, he’s back.
Kiefer (Christian Alexander) and Kristina (Lexi Ainsworth) will be involved in a storyline highlighting the problem of teen dating abuse on General Hospital.
Lexi Ainsworth (Kristina) and Christian Alexander (Kiefer) in a scene that airs the week of July 20.
“General Hospital” airs Monday-Friday (3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Photo credit: Ron Tom/ABC
Austin-based Loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline (NTDAH) is acting as an expert advisor on the GH storyline.
Kristina, the 16 year old daughter of mob leader Sonny Corinthos (Emmy-winner Maurice Benard) and District Attorney Alexis Davis (Emmy-winner Nancy Lee Grahn) will experience what teens are experiencing in real life and be confused by the roller coaster relationship.
Loveisrespect, NTDAH is a safe, anonymous resource for teens who seek information about healthy dating relationships. Teens may connect via phone or chat with peer advocates who are trained to respond to their concerns.
The Helpline is a place for teens to go to check out their feelings and to learn the red flags of an unhealthy relationship. Available 24/7, the Helpline also provides resources to parents, teachers and friends of teens.
Click here to find out more about teen dating abuse and get the answers to questions like what constitutes an abusive relationship.
The storyline is geared to the teen audience portion of GH viewers, but it can also help parents to be aware of warning signs in their teen’s relationships.
As far as Kristina getting involved in an unhealthy relationship….
All I can say is like mother, like daughter.
Can you say Jerry Jax?
He brings the words “unhealthy relationship” to a whole new level.
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OLTL’s Hillary B. Smith: a champion for animals
Every animal lover knows what it’s like to watch their beloved pet struggle with a debillitating or terminal illness.
It’s heartbreaking…It’s overwhelming….Words can’t even express the pain.
Even worse. What if there was treatment available for your pet and you were unable to afford it?
Enter Emmy Award winning actress Hillary B. Smith and her good friend, Lindsay Harrison, a television writer and multiple-best-selling author.
Hillary plays the smart, saavy, District Attorney Nora Hanen on One Life To Live.
Hillary B. Smith as D.A. Nora Hanen
Hillary and Lindsay, both huge animal lovers, set up a fund to help people who find themselves in just such a situation.
The endowment was established several years ago to honor the memory of their beloved dogs, Willie (Lindsay’s Bichon Frise) and Coppee (Hillary’s Golden Retriever).
It serves to discreetly assist pet owners who may be struggling with overwhelming veterinary bills and helps clients of the California-based Sherman Oaks Veterinary Group.
“While nothing can ease the pain of losing a beloved pet, there is great satisfaction in assisting fellow pet owners in need,” Hillary writes on her official website. “Everyone has been deeply impacted by the current economy, and some of the hardest hit within our society at present are pet owners.”
Hillary has asked her fans that instead of sending her gifts (which many of them do throughout the year) that they instead contribute to the Willie-Coppee Fund “so that others may benefit from your thoughtful generosity.”
Please visit the official website for the Willie-Coppee Fund to see how you can help pet owners withstand these troubled economic times, either by making a direct donation or by patronizing one of the site’s featured advertisers.
Also, visit Hillary’s Official Website where you can read more about the Willie-Coppee Fund through a letter from Hillary to her fans.
btw, You can meet Hillary at her fan event in NYC next month. Hillary is having her own fan party Aug. 14 in New York City, which is the day before the One Life To Live Fan Club Luncheon.
Hillary’s event is from 2-5pm at Playwright Tavern, 202 W. 49th St., NYC. The cost is $65 and includes lunch, dessert, coffee/tea/soda (cash bar also available), autographs, photos, Q&A and auction items, with proceeds from the auction items going to the Willie-Coppee Fund.
If you’re interested in attending Hillary’s event, please send check or money order made payable to: Angela Zilafro 39520 Twenlow Clinton Twp., MI, 48038 *With your ticket order, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope, name(s), address, e-mail address, phone number, and T-shirt size for each name.
For more information or questions about Hillary’s event, please contact her fan club president Angela Zilafro at: HBSRocks@comcast.net
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OLTL: Made Me Laugh; Made Me Cry
There have been so many good things happening on OLTL and so many good acting performances that I don’t even know where to begin.
Let me start with the baby switch reveal and Bree Williamson’s powerful performances.
She swept me along for the ride through all three of her personalities (Jess/TessBess) and, especially, her emotions when Jess finally faced that Bess had switched her dead baby with Starr’s live one and the impact to all involved.
Whether Williamson is feeling happy or sad as Jessica, she is always so real and she makes me feel every range of emotion along with Jessica.
And she does this time after time after time - consistent, strong performances.
I also love the Jess/Brody pairing.
Mark Lawson as Brody also has delivered time and again - particularly those scenes when he was comforting Jessica near the empty baby’s crib after Chloe - now Hope - had been given back to Starr.
Jess and Brody
Then there’s Kristen Alderson as Starr and Brandon Buddy as Cole.
Kudos to both these young actors for their performances when they discover their baby, Hope, who they believed to be dead was really alive.
They, too, took me through their range of emotions….from despair at the death of the baby, to their detective work in trying to find out the cause of death and finally to the elation that their baby was alive!
Starr and Cole reuniting with their baby was one big - awwwwww…..Followed by sadness, once again, when they gave Hope to Marcie and Michael McBain (Kathy Brier and Chris Stack) as promised.
But wait!
Marcie later overheard Langston telling Markko that it broke Starr’s heart to give up her baby and Marcie gave Hope back to Starr!
Elation once again for Starr ……
That is, until she finds out that Cole violated his probation by trying to throw away pills put in his pocket by his former drug dealer when - at that very moment - a cop came by and caught him with the drugs in his hand.
So now, they have their baby back and could be one big happy family…But, oh no, now Cole has to go to prison for two years. Grrrrrrr.
Starr and Cole
How much more of a rollercoaster of emotion can there be?
One more.
Cole proposed to Starr. She accepted. AND Todd gave his permission! Will miracles never cease?
I was sad to see Brier and Stack leave OLTL, but loved their final scene when Marcie discovers she’s pregnant.
At least that leaves the door open for their return to Llanview.
Another source of my viewing pleasure is T&B - and I don’t mean Todd and Blair.
I mean Tea and Blair…..
I love those two together.
Florencia Lozano as Tea and Kassie DePavia as Blair are so-o-o enjoyable to watch.
Talk about range of emotions.
Those two go from fighting like cats and dogs to bonding over their feelings for Todd.
Remember what happens in the boiler room stays in the boiler room?
Not!!!
Those two are really funny together!
They ratted each other out in heartbeat in court.
And just what secret has Tea never told a single person???
Hmmm.
My guess is that she has Todd’s secret love child.
But that’s just a guess.
Now, the only secret left to come out is the fact that Gigi (Farah Fath) did not cheat on Rex (Jean-Paul Lavoisier) and that her sleazy, skanky sister Stacy was not Shane’s bone marrow donor - And that Stacy was blackmailing Gigi to break up with Rex or Stacy (Crystal Hunt) would not save her own nephew.
Well, at least Gigi and Skylar (Scott Clifton) finally found out the truth….
Now they have to find the last puzzle piece - who the REAL donor is.
Let’s hope this happens before stripper Stacy seduces Rex.
I cannot WAIT until Rex finds out the truth.
And then it’s Buh-Bye Stacy and hello Gigi-Rex reunion.
We can only hope.
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Karen’s View of As The World Turns
My cousin Karen, my aunt Nancy and I all were hooked on Young & the Restless the first couple of years of it’s existence in the early 1970’s.
That’s when Jill Abbott was played by Brenda Dickson, who originated the role, and Katherine Chancellor was - and still is - amazingly portrayed by Jeanne Cooper.
We would all watch it together - mostly in the summers since Karen and I were in school and there wasn’t TIVO back then!
I remember the three of us also being hooked on the mini-series “Rich Man, Poor Man,” which was one of the first nighttime soap operas.
My grandmother was a faithful follower of “As The World Turns” and “Guiding Light.”
As you can see, we are a family of soap watchers.
About 17 years ago, Karen began watching “As The World Turns” and has been watching it ever since.
Karen has graciously provided us with her thoughts on -
The latest developments on ATWT
By Karen Bonanno
Meg, Paul, and Eliza -
Once again Paul goes off the deep end, kidnaps his daughter, and has everyone that he knows wanting to kill him. Then, as always Paul comes around and shows a very sensitive side with his touching display of remorse and compassion when he returns Eliza to Meg. Just when you think you can’t hate this character any more, he delivers his soft side.
Katie, Brad, Vienna, Henry -
Now that Katie is confined to bed rest for her pregnancy with the doctor’s orders to avoid all stress, the storyline seems predictable that Brad and Vienna’s TV partnership will drive another wedge into the friendship and send Katie into one of her emotional tantrums.
Dusty, Bonnie -
Who will start the new romance first - Dusty & Bonnie or Meg & Damian?
Chances are that it won’t be Dusty and Bonnie since Dusty seems attracted only to the women who are in crisis. Bonnie is a successful and independent woman who - I hope - has no interest in the angry, confrontational Dusty. What happened to Derek?
Carly,Parker -
This is a very realistic and relevant issue (Carly’s drinking problem) that ATWT is portraying with this family. The struggles between mother and son are intense and poignant. It’s interesting how Craig is the one trying to keep everything together.
And what are your thoughts about the latest developments on ATWT?
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It’s Brody To The Rescue on OLTL
I Cannot WAIT to watch One Life To Live today.
Because, if you remember, the very last thing we saw on Cliffhanger Friday, was Bess trying to make a run for it once again with Chloe….
And just as she opens the door to exit Nash’s parents place, Bess comes face to face with ——- Brody!!!!
I’m thinking that maybe the sight of the dashing Navy Seal will stir feelings that go deep down beyond the emotionless Bess and cause Jess to reemerge.
It happened before, when Bess was driving and Brody called on the phone.
Jess broke through, albeit shortly.
Bree Williamson, portrayer of the trio of personalities known as Jess/Tess/Bess, has been brilliant in carving out distinct voices and mannerisms for each one.
She SO deserves the Daytime Emmy and she’s up in the Supporting Actress category.
The growing romance between Jess and the handsome, charming and loyal Brody Lovett (Mark Lawson) has been so enjoyable to watch.
Lawson has really done a superb job with the growth of the character.
Brody entered the show as kind of a jerk in the very beginning….Can you say bar fights and one-night stands?
But all that changed along the way, when Brody showed his love and loyalty to Gigi and Shane and, somehow, found a second chance at love with Jessica.
Lawson does a great job of playing it real and making the viewer feel the range of emotions along with Brody.
Williamson and Lawson, together, have the makings of a Supercouple.
Check out this video of Friday’s eppy. It starts with some good Tess/Bess chatter - and ends with Bess opening the door to Brody.
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Stuart Chandler Dead? Say It Isn’t So!
Would someone please tell me why they killed Stuart Chandler on All My Children???
Sweet, kind, gentle, wonderful Stuart…..the antithesis to his power-hungry, manipulative, devious, identical twin Adam Chandler.
Both characters have been so adeptly played by veteran David Canary.
As such, Canary masterfully transformed himself into each character with distinct changes in wardrobe, gestures, expressions and appearance.
While playing the dual roles, Canary won the Daytime Emmy Award four times.
Stuart was such a breath of fresh air….so different than most soapy characters.
He was simple in his ways, yet so wise in his assessment of people and of situations.
All of this leaves me wondering…..
What are they thinking??
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She’s Baaaaaaack: Lindsay on OLTL
Guess who’s coming back to Llanview in June?
Catherine Hickland as Lindsay Rappaport returns to One Life To Live.
And her scores of fans are really looking forward to this - including me!
Catherine announced the good news last night on her Facebook and Twitter pages.
It’s been many months since we last we saw Lindsay, after being sent to prison for Spencer Truman’s murder.
If you remember, she faked insanity after it was discovered that she stabbed Spencer (who deserved it by the way) to death and got away with it……for awhile.
That is until Lindsay’s arch rival Nora Buchanan Hanan (Hillary B. Smith) discovered the truth in a letter and confronted Lindsay with the evidence when she was attempting to exchange wedding vows with Nora’s ex-hubby, Bo Buchanan.
Needless to day, the bombshell imploded the nuptials.
For the record, that was the second time that Nora has interrupted a wedding between these two.
Once the truth came out, Lindsay was carted off to Statesville, where last we saw her behind bars.
The time for Lindsay’s reappearance is long overdue.
Let the games begin.
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36th Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations
Nothing’s perfect. That’s for sure.
But, in my opinion, the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Nomination list is much more on target than last year’s picks.
There’s absolutely no question that Kristen Alderson (Starr/OLTL) deserves to be on that list in the Younger Actress category.
That omission just leaves me shaking my head. I just don’t understand how she didn’t make the final cut with such strong performances in her major front-burner pregnancy/baby death storyline. She hit home runs with those.
Alderson’s co-star, Brandon Buddy (Cole/OLTL) also should have made the list as well, but I think next year will be his year with his outstanding acting in his recent detoxing scenes.
I also think that Carolyn Hennesy (Diane/GH) should have made the list in the Supporting Actress Category. She is one of the brightest spots on that show.
But overall, I would say, it’s a much better list than last year, when they pretty much snubbed the ABC soaps.
Click here to view my nomination wish list that I wrote in March after they released the Emmy Pre-Nomination List.
I didn’t do half bad with my list,eh?
For me, the Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor categories are very strong. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Supporting Actress: OLTL’s Bree Williamson as Jess/Tess/Bess should take it, unquestionably. Although I absolutely love AMC’s Melissa Claire Egan as Crazy Annie. AMC’s Alicia Minshew as Kendall has been so strong and always gives us 110 percent. So that category is going to be tough.
Supporting Actor: Vincent Irizarry is a super strong contender. He gives us so many layers of Dr. David Hayward on AMC. He has been spectacular since returning to AMC in the past year. I also love Bradford Anderson as Spinelli on GH. Who doesn’t? He also has shown a broad range of his acting talents since setting foot in Port Charles.
All three ABC Soaps (All My Children, One Life To Live and General Hospital) got nominations in the Drama Writing category and, for me, that’s a good thing.
The Daytime Emmys show will be telecast on the CW Television Network on Sunday, August 30th from the historic Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.
Check out the list below to see if your favorites made it.
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS Debbi Morgan (Angie, AMC) - ABC Maura West (Carly, ATWT) - CBS Susan Flannery (Stephanie, B&B) - CBS Susan Haskell (Marty, OLTL) - ABC Jeanne Cooper (Katherine, Y&R) - CBS
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR Thorsten Kaye (Zach, AMC) - ABC Peter Reckell (Bo, DAYS) - NBC Anthony Geary (Luke, GH) - ABC Daniel Cosgrove (Bill, GL) - CBS Christian LeBlanc (Michael, Y&R) - CBS
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS Melissa Claire Egan (Annie, AMC) - ABC Alicia Mishew (Kendall, AMC) - ABC Julie Pinson (Janet, ATWT) - CBS Tamara Braun (Ava, DAYS) - NBC Bree Williamson (Jessica, OLTL) - ABC
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR Vincent Irizarry (David, AMC) - ABC Jacob Young (JR, AMC)- ABC Van Hansis (Luke, ATWT) - CBS Bradford Anderson (Spinelli, GH) - ABC Jeff Branson (Shayne, GL) - CBS
OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTRESS Meredith Hagner (Liberty, ATWT) - CBS Rachel Melvin (Chelsea, DAYS) - NBC Kirsten Storms (Maxie, GH) - ABC Julie Berman (Lulu, GH) - ABC Emily O’Brien (Jana, Y&R) - CBS
OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTOR Cornelius Smith, Jr. (Frankie, AMC) - ABC Blake Berris (Nick, DAYS) - NBC Darin Brooks (Max, DAYS) - NBC EJ Bonilla (Rafe, GL) - CBS Bryton McClure (Devon, Y&R) - CBS
OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES ALL MY CHILDREN DAYS OF OUR LIVES THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES DIRECTING TEAM ALL MY CHILDREN DAYS OF OUR LIVES ONE LIFE TO LIVE
OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES WRITING TEAM ALL MY CHILDREN GENERAL HOSPITAL ONE LIFE TO LIVE THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
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Not Invested in Nu-Michael on General Hospital
I have to say, I just can’t get into Michael Corinthos III waking up on General Hospital.
It’s because Michael - the Michael who we have seen on our TV screens for years growing up before our eyes - is now magically tranformed into a bigger, much older and totally different Michael.
TPTB fired the loveable, kid that we watched for years - Dylan Cash - and hired an older version.
It’s called SORAS (Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome) and is done on a lot of soaps.
But, in some cases, it just doesn’t work.
And, in this case, I’m not feeling it.
Dylan Cash was 13 when he got the axe, not that far from the age that this Michael is supposed to be - somewhere in his teenage years.
So when I see Carly (Laura Wright) crying through a soliloquy over the comatose new Michael, I don’t feel sad like I would if it were Dylan Cash lying in that bed.
I don’t feel anything.
Dylan Cash
So WHY couldn’t they just use Cash, someone who we all watched grow up onscreen since the time he was 7 years old.
I think it makes everything so much more credible and makes the audience so much more invested in having a young actor/actress stay in the role that they originated.
Cases in point: Kristin Alderson and Eddie Alderson on OLTL and Kimberly McCullough on GH.
Nu-Michael is newcomer Drew Garrett.
Drew Garrett
I don’t have anything against this young actor, don’t get me wrong.
He probably is a very good, capable actor.
But, for me, he’s just not Michael.
He’s not the kid who I watched grow up before my eyes and became attached to over the years.
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Exclusive Interview with Tonja Walker Davidson (Alex Olanov/OLTL)
So I know that I’ve been AWOL from the blog for awhile…..Sorry!
It’s called - real life intervening…full-time job, family, friends, obligations…..
But today I have a real treat.
An interview with the mult-talented Tonja Walker Davidson, portrayer of that scheming vixen Alex Olanov on One Life To Live, a role she originated in 1990.
In addition to Alex, Tonja’s other soap roles were Lizbeth Bachman on Capitol 1982-1986, Olivia St. John Jerome on General Hospital 1988-1990, Marie Green on Guiding Light 2003-2004 and Grace Nancier on Passions 2007.
She also produced the movie “The Derby Stallion” that came out in 2007 starring none other than big-screen, teenage heartthrob, Zac Efron. That was before he catapuled to fame in High School Musical. Tonja played his mother in the film and her real-life daughters, Isabella and Abrianna, played her daughters.
Also in the movie, Crystal Hunt….you know her as Gigi’s evil sister, Stacy, on OLTL.
Tonja is, not only an incredible actress, but she’s also a singer, producer, writer, and, above all, a wife and mom.
Tonja Walker
When last we saw Alex on OLTL in January, she was on the island that she blackmailed Nigel into signing over to her after Asa’s death. But the tables were turned a bit on her when Dorian blackmailed Alex into telling her the truth about David Vickers (Tuc Watkins) being a Buchanan.
I spoke with Tonja by phone recently and here’s what she had to say about her future plans on and off OLTL.
Michele: When will we see Alex again on OLTL?
Tonja: “I have no idea. What they normally do is call me and if I’m available, they book me. I’m on recurring status, but I just never know when that’s going to happen.”
Michele: What is the One Life To Live studio like?
Tonja: “At One Life To Live, everyone is down in the basement, except the executives, who are on the second floor. So the rest of us are down there like moles without windows. That’s where the dressing rooms are and the coffee and the green room and the rehearsal hall. Everything’s down there except for the stage and there’s no windows on the stage.”
Michele: Do you enjoy playing Alex?
Tonja: “Of course, I think it’s the greatest thing ever! When Alex was nice in the very beginning, it really wasn’t that much fun.”
Tonja remembers one day, back in the early days of her character, reading in one of the tabloids that Alex was going to be involved in a fatal attraction storyline on OLTL, where she would be killed off.
Tonja: “People starting writing in. A lot of people wrote in, this was before computers, and they kept me on the show for 8 years after that and more….to this day. So the next thing you know, I go to this mental institution for this fatal attraction, I don’t die and they bring in Michael Malone (as head writer) and he wrote me with Carlo Hesser (Thom Christopher) and I think that’s the most fun I’ve had in my life as an actress. We had such an incredible chemistry. We were funny. We were sexy. We were crazy.”
Michele: What is Thom Christopher like to work with?
Tonja: “He’s the most professional, the most generous. He’s a consumate actor. He takes it real seriously. He’s always 100 percent on. He’s always trying to make it better. He’s one of my favorite people and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.
“And then they put me with [the late] Phil Carey (as Asa Buchanan). That was fun. It wasn’t the same chemistry as I had with Thom, but it was fun and, of course, being a Buchanan is good for your bank account. Some of that stuff was pretty wacky. And, somehow, they turned Alex into a gold digger, which she never was.”
Tonja left OLTL in 1997 and went to Hollywood.
Tonja: “I was doing really well during pilot season and my sister said, ‘You have to go to the Deepak Chopra Center for Well Being.’ She said, ‘I have a strong feeling you should go.’ I met Ed (Edward Davidson, her husband) there and the rest is history. I have two beautiful children.”
In the past decade, Tonja has gotten called back to OLTL several times for short stints.
Tonja: “I really wanted to be with the kids, because I waited so long to have them. I would have never been happy if I just stayed working and not had children. And it wasn’t in the cards for me to be on TV and work and have kids at the same time.
“It was important to me to be with my kids until they really seemed like they were on their own path. Now Isabella is 10 and Abrianna is 9 and I can do more stuff and more work. But, to me, the best thing in the world you can produce is children and, for me, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done by far.”
Michele: What else are you doing careerwise?
Tonja: “Right now I’m writing a nighttime television series, a nighttime soap opera, it’s about “Mommies in Manhattan” and what it’s like to raise children in Manhattan. It’s directly from my life. I lived in New York for five years and I had my children in a private girls school in Manhattan. It was a rude awakening. I’d never been on the East Side. I was an Upper West Side actor/artist/single person and then I was on the upper East Side with all the moms. It was so weird and so funny. People who watch this are going to recognize themselves. I’ve got the first draft and we’ll see what happens.
“And I’ve written a children’s book. Right now, I’m putting the words and pictures together before sending it to a publisher. It’s called “Wear a Silly Hat.”
Tonja will be performing May 17 in the Cabaret Cares Gala at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in NYC. There are limited tickets available. To purchase tickets call 718-672-6714 or 917-589-6658 or email Joseph Macchia at jjmac249@aol.com
I have more material from Tonja’s interview, which I will post early next week. So Stay Tuned.
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Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis/GH) Testifies About Personal Ordeal
An interesting press release arrived today that I thought I’d share with you.
When I saw Nancy Lee Grahn’s name in the headline, it immediately got my attention.
And as I read on, it became even more interesting.
As a soap fan, I have - for years - enjoyed Nancy Lee Grahn’s portrayal of the strong, smart, ever-so-efficient attorney Alexis Davis.
But I had no idea that she was involved in a court battle regarding her child.
According to this release, Grahn is testifying Tuesday at the California Assembly Judiciary Committee Hearing on behalf of Bill AB 612. If passed, the bill would outlaw the use of Parental Alienation Syndrome to gain custody of children in divorce situations.
The syndrome describes behavior where one parent turns a child against the other by convincing the child the parent has treated him or her badly, even when they have not. Many call it “junk science” and are trying to get it banned from being used to gain custody in divorce cases.
Below is the press release which describes Grahn’s participation in these hearings and her support for this bill.
T.V. Star Nancy Lee Grahn to Join Dozens of Family Court Victims to Urge Passage of Assemblyman Jim Beall’s AB 612
What: Pre-Hearing Press Conference
Who: Daytime TV Celebrity Nancy Lee Grahn & dozens of family court victims & court reform advocates
When: 8:30AM on Tuesday, April 28 - Press Conference; 9:00AM Hearing in Room 4202
Where: State Capitol- Room 444
Acclaimed television star Nancy Lee Grahn will address reporters tomorrow about her personal family court ordeal before she testifies on behalf of AB 612 at the California Assembly Judiciary Committee Hearing. Grahn will join dozens of parents and children to speak about the ravages of Parental Alienation Syndrome, or PAS, on their lives, and the desperate need for family court reform.
Like thousands of parents in California’s family courts, Grahn was falsely accused of alienating her child against her father, yet she eventually prevailed in her protecting her child. AB 612 would outlaw the use of this unscientific theory that is typically responsible for placing more than 58,000 children per year in the U.S. into dangerous homes with parents the children have identified as their molesters and abusers (Leadership Council on Child Abuse & Interpersonal Violence). Beall’s bill is just one of a handful of measures addressing the need for family court reform in California this year.
PAS is a controversial, unscientific theory that does not meet legal evidentiary standards, yet it is commonly used in family courts everywhere. PAS and related alienation theories are not accepted or endorsed by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, American Psychological Association, American Prosecutors Research Institute, National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse, and nearly all credible researchers on the subject.
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A Bradford Anderson sighting in Las Vegas
I had a fortuitous encounter yesterday in Las Vegas.
Okay, maybe not an encounter….
Let’s call it a fleeting glimpse….
Do I sound like I’m rambling?
Maybe that’s because I haven’t slept in 36 hours.
But at the time of the encounter, er, the glimpse, I was fully awake, cognizant and had plenty of sleep.
Let me backtrack.
I spent the past five days in Vegas, watching and covering the World Cup of Horse Show Jumping.
The show was over on Sunday, but I couldn’t get a flight back until the red eye, 11:20 p.m., Monday night.
After walking around most of that day with my hubby, we had some time to kill before going to the airport and sat down in a large food court area at The Venetian hotel.
It just so happened that our table was right near a walkway that went from the hotel elevators to the lobby.
So we’re sitting there people watching and I see Bradford Anderson (Spinelli on GH) walk by - at a very fast clip - holding hands with an attractive brunette in a blue dress ( I think she was brunette - they were walking so fast).
I had my eyes fixated on him, because I was trying to figure out if that was really him or not. He was wearing glasses, but I’ve seen him in glasses before.
I mean what are the chances out of the hundreds - or thousands - of people who go in and out of The Venetian, that I would see Bradford Anderson.
I swear the two of them passed not 10-feet from where we were sitting.
I stood up and froze in my tracks.
Apparently my eyes got really wide, because my husband asked what was wrong.
They were obviously in a hurry and I wasn’t going to run after them.
I said to my husband, “That was Bradford Anderson…..You know, Spinelli on General Hospital.”
Could it be?
Then it dawned on me.
The official opening of GH castmate Kelly Monaco’s Peep Show at Planet Hollywood was last weekend.
I looked at my watch and it was 7:10 p.m., which would make sense because the show starts at 8 p.m.
So there you have it.
Elvis wasn’t in the building.
But Bradford Anderson was.
Or was it his evil twin?
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Latest comments
Oh. My. God. I have never before read a blog where I so completely disagree with everything said. I had to FF through most of all the scenes mentioned because the acting was some of the worst on the soaps. Jessica sobbing? Horrible. Greg whinning? The worst.
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Hi Sally, I’m going to try to fix this. Thanks for letting me know. I’m going to either reload it or post it to another type of provider and then repost it. Michele
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Tried to look at the photos, but only 2 of them loaded.
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I like Jon Lindstrom cause he is a pretty good actor.
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