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November 2007
It’s good to have Days’ ‘real’ Philip back
I am so glad they brought back Jay Kenneth Johnson to play Philip on Days of Our Lives.
I know he returned to the Salem canvas a little while ago, so it’s not like I’m writing about breaking news here, but every time I see him on screen it reminds me more and more how much he was missed.
Jay is Philip to me. When he left and they replaced him with Kyle Brandt, I really lost all interest in the character. I never bought his love story with Belle because the chemistry was severely lacking. It was no wonder she was pining for Shawn the whole time.
Kyle never brought fire and intensity to his portrayal of Philip. In fact, it was extremely hard for me to believe he was the son of Kate Roberts and Victor Kiriakis. With that gene pool, he should be both a lover and a fighter. But with Kyle in the role, the character failed on both counts. Philip might as well have been a cardboard cutout.
Then re-enter Jay.
As soon as he stepped back into Philip’s shoes, I was paying attention again.
His fight for Claire and Belle has brought the character’s passion and tenacity and nastiness and heart to the forefront.
And Jay has been more than capable of showing those layers.
Now, when I see Belle torn between Shawn and Philip, it makes more sense to me. Philip is no longer a door mat with puppy-dog eyes. He’s more like a wolf, going after what he wants and making no apologies for it. Grrrowwl.
Now, when I think about a newly returning Chloe, played by the striking Nadia Bjorlin, I can see a potential rekindling of her relationship with Philip. After all, Nadia and Jay had smokin’ chemistry. Remember that scene in the barn? Yowza.
Now, when I think about Kate and Victor, I can realistically envision Philip as their son, the embodiment of these two formidable, passionate individuals merged into one.
Yeah, Jay Kenneth Johnson is a keeper.
Welcome back, Philip. I missed you.
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A Sad Farewell to General Hospital’s Emily
Mourning the death of a beloved soap character is like mourning the death of a close friend.
And I have to say, General Hospital’s writers have taken me through the gamut of emotions over the past few days of mourning, followed by the funeral, for Emily Quartermaine (Natalia Livingston).
There was nostalgia.
The return of Ned Ashton (Wally Kurth) and Dillon Quartermaine (Scott Clifton) felt like old home week.
I so enjoy these two actors and their respective characters. Kurth makes reoccuring appearances, which are not often enough for me. Clifton left the show awhile back, so it was a pleasant surprise to see him return.
Heartwarming describes the scenes between Monica Quartermaine (Leslie Charleson) and her grandson Michael (Dylan Cash) and his brother Morgan (George Juarez). Monica, wallowing in grief over her daughter’s death, was briefly brought out of her pain by the children’s visit.
I have to say, Charleson turned in some of her most powerful performances.
She went from one emotion to another seemlessly.
She lashed out with untamed anger at Sonny and Jason.
Then there were the tender moments with Bobbie Spencer (Jackie Zeman). The two share a common bond of both having gone through the heartache of losing a child - in Monica’s case two.
There was a nostalgic nod to history when Leslie Webber (Denise Alexander) and Monica hugged in sadness over Emily’s death, acknowledging the irony of their long ago bitter rivalry over the affections of Rick Webber.
The eulogy given by Elizabeth Webber, (Rebecca Herbst) was honest and moving without being over-the-top emotional in her delivery. She quietly and methodically described how Emily touched everyone’s lives.
“Grace. Dignity. Kindness, Generosity. Unconditional Love.”
That’s how Elizabeth described her best friend, Emily.
And that’s how we’ll remember her.
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Let’s address these characters’ tresses
I’ve been thinking a lot about hair lately.
I don’t know. Maybe it’s all the drama and tragedy and tears happening on my favorite soaps that has me turning to more trivial thoughts.
In any case, I’ve been checking out characters’ hairdos more closely than usual. And now I’ve decided to share some of my observations.
Lucky you.
OK, here it goes …
The long … : Normally, I’m not a fan of long hair on guys. Yeah, I’ve read my share of romance novels illustrated with Fabio’s flowing tresses, but it’s safe to say it wasn’t the hair that drew me in. So imagine my surprise when I found myself liking the long locks of J.R. on All My Children and Jason on General Hospital. In J.R.’s case, it totally fits the direction in which the character is going. He’s spiraling down; it makes sense that he wouldn’t take the time visit a stylist. Well, unless it was a stylist/bar, but you get my drift. And then there’s Jason. Sometimes the feathered look is a bit much, but as Michele pointed out, there’s not much that can make him look bad in my eyes. He’s super dreamy … um, yeah, ahem.
… and short of it: On the flip side, how good did GH’s Johnny look with his new trim and style? He just hopped a notch on the hunk scale with that itty, bitty change.
Blindingly blonde: OK, I’ll admit I’m a bit biased towards brunettes, for obvious reasons. But, really, my next criticism isn’t so much about blondes in general; it’s about a certain shade. Sami on Days of Our Lives and Lindsay on One Life to Live are perfect examples. I get that these characters are supposed to be bold and brassy, but guess what? These actresses can pull that attitude off without the platinum prop. It’s just too much.
Bland brunettes: Now, this is going to sound strange, and slightly hypocritical given what I just wrote in the previous paragraph, but please, GH, give Maxie her old hair back. Or at least lighten it up a bit. Darkening her tresses made her look mousy, and we all know Maxie is anything but. Another character who isn’t pulling off the new hue is Annie on AMC. It’s too dark and seems to swallow her up. I find it distracting, and it takes away from what should be a powerful story surrounding her psycho brother.
There you have it. A fascinating read I’m sure. But perhaps I wasn’t the only one who needed a break from some of the sadness on soaps.
If so, hair’s to you.
Oh, ha ha …
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ABC Soap Stars Sing for the Holidays
Well Thanksgiving is over and I hope everyone ate plenty because I sure did!
Now we’re full-force into the holiday season.
And for those who celebrate Christmas, listening to Christmas carols is a big part of the season.
You know…shopping, Christmas carols, more shopping, more Christmas carols….and the cycle continues.
The ABC soap stars have produced a CD called “A Holiday Affair.” The CD has well-known Christmas songs sung by some of the actors and actresses from All My Children, One Life To Live, and General Hospital. I bought the CD last year at Super Soap Weekend and played it throughout the entire season - including while we were trimming the tree!
It’s really amazing the musical talent of these soap actors!
All My Children’s Susan Lucci (Erica Kane) opens the CD with “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”
Who knew that Susan sings?
She does.
And what a wonderful version of the song it is!
Then, there’s Kassie DePaiva, Blair on One Life To Live. She sings “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”
Well, Kassie is a singer in her own right, with her own CD’s. In fact, her most recent is “I Want To Love You.”
The One Life cast is chock full of talented singers.
There’s Kathy Brier (Marcie).
She also has a CD out,”Heartbreaker” and she starred on Broadway as the lead in the explosive hit “Hairspray.” Kathy has a powerful voice. And on this CD, she solos with “River” and teams up with GH’s Ignacio Serricchio (Diego) on “Silent Night.”
Renee Elise Goldsberry (Evangeline) is a Broadway vet with a master’s degree in vocal jazz performance and an absolutely gorgeous voice. She sings “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire).
Some of the other performers: GH’s Jason Thompson (Patrick) singing “Winter Wonderland,” AMC’s Bobbie Eakes (Krystal) singing “Joy To The World,” AMC’s Jacob Young (JR) singing “Silver Bells,” and OLTL’s Kristen Alderson (Starr) singing “Sleigh Ride.”
SOAPnet, the channel of all things soap, is running a behind the scenes look at the making of the CD.
It’s called “A Very Soapy Christmas,” and runs at various times on SOAPnet.
So if you want to get into the holiday spirit - check out “A Holiday Affair.”
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AMC’s Greenlee, Kendall saga on target
Ooohh, things are gettin’ good on All My Children.
First off, there’s romance. Greenlee and Aidan (Sabine Singh and Aiden Turner), for starters. I adore how he gets to be all hero-like with her, and she gets to be her sassy, vulnerable self with him. Love it.
And, of course, there’s Kendall and Zach. I may not always agree with these characters’ actions, but there’s no denying they are perfect for each other. And the actors (Alicia Minshew and Thortsen Kaye) have a nice, easy, remarkably believable chemistry.
But it’s not just the love stories. Those are simply threads in the overall tapestry on display these days in Pine Valley.
AMC has wisely thrown Greenlee, Aidan, Kendall and Zach into a major story together. Talk about combustion — not to mention history (some of it pretty ugly), high emotional stakes and personal ties that reach far across the canvas.
In fact, the show has done a superb job of building the story surrounding the decimation of a once-formidable friendship.
I am riveted.
The fallout from Greenlee and Kendall has touched many lives in Pine Valley.
It strengthened the bond between Jack and Greenlee, caused tension between Jack and Erica and led Erica to seek Adam’s help, of all people.
It solidified a brotherly relationship between Josh and Zach, proved how far Zach would go to protect his family and even had Zach working with J.R., of all people.
Speaking of J.R., he’s smack dab in the mix again, now that Richie stole his car, slammed into Zach and then left Kendall’s husband for dead. The problem? Relapsed alcoholic J.R. was on a bender and can’t remember where he was when Zach was hit. For all he knows, he could have done it.
And those are only some of the lives and relationships that have been swept up in the Greenlee and Kendall wave.
But my favorite part? What I believe to be the piece de resistance? The fact that Greenlee, while on the lam after being set up by Kendall, is the one to find an injured Zach. Now they’re trapped together, with only each other to count on.
It’s wonderfully rich, really. Greenlee stuck with the man she loathes above all others, and Zach stuck with the woman he blames for his wife’s unhappiness and his children’s misfortunes.
That’s one tete a tete I’m looking forward to.
Congratulations, AMC, you’ve got me hooked again.
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OLTL’s Clint and Nora: Nope, never saw it coming
So, I was watching Friday’s episode of One Life to Live on SOAPnet. (Ahhh, SOAPnet. The best invention since the apple cordger. It cores, it wedges. Now if it could just peel, too … but perhaps that’s more greatness than one gadget can bear.)
Anyway, I’m not much for spoilers, except General Hospital. I’m kind of a junkie in that regard. But all the other soaps, not so much.
You can imagine my surprise, then, as I watched the scenes with Clint and Nora. You know the ones. Them in the stables. He’s taking her for a ride, teaching her how to get in the saddle and such. I guess I should have known by the imagery that OLTL was heading somewhere with this. I just never would have expected it of these two.
Of course, at first I thought this is simply an innocent setup that Dorian is going to blow out of proportion. When Nigel informed Ms. Lord that Clint and Nora had gone riding, I chuckled at her reaction. It was even funnier when Alex chimed in about how romantic a moonlit horseback ride would be.
Yep, I assured myself, this is another plot point to cause misunderstandings between Clint and Dorian.
Boy, was I wrong.
As soon as OLTL cut to the stables, and I saw Clint and Nora making googly eyes at each other as they shared awkward pauses and flirty laughter … well, let’s say my “soapy senses” kicked in and the realization of what was happening burst out like a horse from the starting gate.
Clint was going to make a play for his brother’s ex-wife, his nephew’s mother, his ex-wife’s dear friend. And Nora was going to let him.
Let the kissing commence.
I’ll be honest. I’m not sure how I feel about it.
I believe the ship sailed on Bo and Nora long ago, which is a shame, because they were really great together. But too much has happened, and they don’t hold the same appeal for me. I’m actually more intrigued by a Bo/Lindsay pairing.
However, that doesn’t mean I’m ready for Clint to start macking on his ex-sister-in-law.
It seems like a love connection between Clint and Nora is out of left field. But I adore the too-often-underused Hillary B. Smith, and I think Jerry verDorn actually makes a better Clint than the original. With these actors at the helm, I think it could work.
I just need a little time to get over the shock.
And I’m sure Dorian does, as well.
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General Hospital’s Emily. Is She Really Gone?
I never saw it coming.
Emily Quartermaine, dead.
Talk about being totally blindsided.
Emily????
Emily is always the voice of reason amid the usual chaos that surrounds all things Quartermaine.
The only virtuous character on General Hospital and they kill her off?
I still can’t believe it.
Since I don’t read spoilers, I’m thinking that maybe she’s not really dead.
But Kara seems to think she is. Really dead, I mean.
If true, it really stinks, because I like Natalia Livingston, portrayer of Emily.
One thing about those GH writers, they really know how to get your attention during sweeps. There is so much action, tension, plots and subplots.
Last time, it was the Metro Court hostage crisis.
This time it’s the insanity during the Black and White Ball at Wyndemere.
There is sure a lot of insanity. And anger. LOTS of anger.
Let’s see, there’s the totally insane Anthony Zacchara (Bruce Weitz) - and, yeah, he’s plenty angry too.
Then there’s Nikolas (Tyler Christopher). He’s just plain angry….and maybe there’s some insanity there, too.
Especially now with Emily dead and Nikolas having flashbacks that he’s the one who strangled Emily to death….hmm.
So who really is the killer? Somehow Zacchara seems too convenient….and obvious….
That’s why I’m thinking it’s someone else….But who?
Emily’s father Alan Quartermaine (Stuart Damon) was killed off during the last sweeps in the Metro Court crisis.
I just don’t get it. What are they going to do, kill off a Quartermaine during every sweeps?
And poor Monica (Leslie Charleson). Her son A.J. was murdered a couple of years back. Then her husband, Alan, dies in February and now her daughter, Emily?
And last time we saw mob enforcer, Jason Morgan, who is Monica’s only remaining child, he was being held at gunpoint by Zacchara on a ledge at Wyndemere with the mother of his child, Elizabeth.
Zacchara told Jason that if he jumps to his death, he will spare Elizabeth’s life.
Talk about cliff hanger Friday!
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Can E.J.’s shooting give Days’ Lucas back his edge?
I’m really enjoying the “Who shot E.J.?” story line on Days of Our Lives. It involves people across the canvas … and characters I care about, to boot.
Did Lucas finally reach his limit and try to get his rival out of the way? Did Kate take aim at Sami and hit E.J. instead? Did Roman try to protect his daughter from a man he considers a monster? Did Patch exact revenge for all the DiMeras have done to him?
And that’s just the tip of the suspect list.
Plus, this story is moving the audience into the next phase of the Sami/Lucas/E.J. triangle. Sami is already showing more than a passing concern for E.J. And Lucas is rightly calling her on it.
It just keeps getting messier and messier.
Dontcha love it?
I figure it’s only a matter of time before Sami breaks Lucas’ heart (and this Lumi fan’s, as well), but if that’s what it takes to knock Lucas back into the man he used to be, I’m all for it.
Remember when Sami and Lucas were two peas in a pod? Both schemers who became friends because they had that nasty streak in common. It’s why I always thought they were a good fit.
But when Days decided to rekindle Sami and Lucas’ love connection, Lucas seemed to lose his edge. I miss that part of him. But I guess the writers felt Sami needed some sort of grounding, so enter the new, more moral Lucas. I suppose it’s his Horton “goodness” gene shining through.
The point is, Sami works best with a man who not only understands her yen for troublemaking, but also doesn’t judge her for it. In fact, her best pairings are with guys who have that bad-boy vibe. Lucas, Brandon and now E.J. come to mind. It’s why her obsession with bland Austin always seemed like such a waste of Sami’s fiery, conniving personality.
You know, come to think of it, I’d welcome Lucas as the shooter. That would prove he hasn’t completely lost his edge and that he’s still capable of fighting dirty for the woman he loves.
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Meeting Bradford Anderson and other Super Soap Musings
Soap fans are an amazing bunch.
A little excessive at times….maybe.
But there’s nothing wrong with being passionate about something.
One of the best things that I found at Super Soap 2007 was the other fans who I met along the way.
I’ve already mentioned some of them in previous blogs and I would say, on the whole, that soap fans are really friendly people.
In this category: Tina, Theresa and Kelly from Delaware as well as mother and daughter soap fans Bonnie from New Jersey and Christy from Tampa.
We met them all in the General Hospital line at 5:50 a.m. on Sunday. That was the time we got to the MGM gate and found that the Disney people had already cut off the line and was sending people up to the turnstiles to form a second line.
But there was no line…..It was many lines all squished together by the time they opened the gates. So basically, people who got there an hour after us ended up in front of us.
And that was what we were all predicting as we stood there for two hours waiting for the gates to open, only to be herded like a pen full of cattle up to the General Hospital line.
The girls from Delaware were a fun bunch, giving us tips on where the actors hung out, who they had already seen and who they wanted to see.
When the Disney people opened the gates and we were all getting pushed along in a huge mass of people - we lost the Delaware girls, but were able to stay with Christy and Bonnie.
Click here to view my photos from SSW.
Christy and I ended up pulling standby FastPasses for GH’s Bradford Anderson, who plays Damien Spinelli, the computer geek with the heart of gold.
Bradford has only been on the show about a year, but I would venture to say he is one of the most talented - and by far the most enjoyable - to watch. He really is a gem and, by watching him, somehow I knew he would be really fun to meet.
I absolutely love Spinelli, who calls himself The Jackal (of cyberspace).
I so admire his honesty and his loyalty and I just love Spinellispeak - like The Blonde One (Lulu), The Bad Blonde One (Maxi) and The Maternal One (Elizabeth).
I really didn’t think that I would be able to even get a standby pass for him because, as I predicted, he was the most popular ticket of the weekend. I was lucky enough to pull standby number 28, banking on the fact that I thought he would take all his standbys - and he did.
For one thing, he’s attractive - and sexy.
There is something really sexy about a guy who is kind and sincere - and that’s the way he appeared when interacting with each fan.
For another thing, he was so enthusiastic to see his fans. He was extremely attentive to each and every person.
When it was my turn to go up and meet him, Bradford greeted me with a big smile and a really nice hug….really nice.
While he was signing a picture for me, we chatted briefly about Spinelli. We posed for a photo and then I handed him a flier for Soapbox, asking him to check out our site. He gave me a big smile and said it sounds great - and then ended our visit with another big hug.
In that very short time, I came away feeling that he really cares about his fans.
So maybe, just maybe, he really will check out this site.
One can hope.
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SSW experience offers perspective
My second day at Super Soap Weekend 2007 was definitely full of highs … and lows.
Michele and I finally ventured into the General Hospital line. Actually, you couldn’t call it a line because by the time we got to the park entrance, Disney employees had cut off the main line and sent us to the turnstiles at the front gate. Now, that wouldn’t have been a problem if Disney had created any kind of organized plan for us cutoff people. Instead, we were part of a mass group, milling around, yammering about the unfairness of the situation.
But that wasn’t the worst part. Oh, no. That came when Disney employees finally opened the turnstiles. Instead of organizing a single-file line, which they had the courtesy to do with the people who had shown up earlier, they herded us like cattle. Everyone was jostling for position. People were pushing through, trying to stay with their friends and family.
I was next to one woman who had a hold of her daughter’s purse, but as the mass of people continued forward, her arm was stretched to its limit. I wonder if they managed to stay together.
Another young lady had to leave the crush of people because she felt too closed in. Gee, I wonder why.
Someone else tripped on a curb and almost fell, coming thisclose to being cattle, er, I mean, crowd fodder.
It really was a lawsuit waiting to happen. I hope Disney takes this year between SSWs to formulate a plan that doesn’t involve splitting up the line or humiliating us with mass migration.
Michele and I got separated, but I managed to find her. However, the idiocy of Disney’s strategy became clearer as I noticed that Michele and I were in front of people who had actually got to the park before us. And some people who had arrived after us were much farther ahead in line.
It just wasn’t a very judicious or safe way to handle the large GH crowd. I don’t know, maybe Disney is trying to discourage people from coming back to SSW. If that’s the case, they succeeded because Michele and I talked to several participants who said they wouldn’t return next year.
Then again, I also talked to many who were having a good time. And, I must admit, after the early-morning GH fiasco, I enjoyed myself, too. Mostly that was because I got to meet a couple of the actors on my wish list.
First up was Rebecca Herbst, who plays Elizabeth on GH. I always enjoy seeing her (despite my insane jealousy of her flawless, porcelain-like skin). We usually chat about kids. She has a son who is about a month older than my eldest, so I asked how her children are doing. Then I told her how much I enjoy Jason and Elizabeth together. She is always so very sweet and gracious. It was a pleasure to visit with her again. Oh, yeah, and her husband, Michael Saucedo, was there, too, which was an extra bonus. He’s always very welcoming to the fans, as well. They make a good pair.
My second visit was with Sonya Eddy (Epiphany). Wow, what a pistol! She just seems like she’d be the life of any party. Smiling, joking, ribbing on people. A very warm lady. I told her, “I’m so glad I get to meet you. I knew you’d put a smile on my face.” And she did. Thanks, Sonya!
My SSW day ended with me waiting for Michele while she stood in the holding pen for Kelly Monaco. I met an interesting woman named Nikki, who told me about a book she wrote, Samuel Tilden: The Real 19th President. She also had some fascinating tales about her involvement in politics and show business. You really are quite the story-teller, Nikki. I wish you the best of luck with the book.
Perhaps it’s fitting that my most defining moment of SSW happened at the end. I was sitting down, still waiting for Michele outside KeMo’s autograph site, when I struck up a conversation with Rhonda from Illinois. It started innocently enough. I asked her if she was having a good SSW experience. She said she was more than ready to leave, but her daughter was sticking it out. In fact, 13-year-old Alexis was in KeMo’s holding pen, too.
It wasn’t a surprise to hear that a teenager was making the most of her time at SSW. But what Rhonda told me next made Alexis’ effort a little more extraordinary. The 13-year-old has an immune system disorder that requires often-painful, needle-injected medication. It means that she tires out easily, often requiring long naps. And this is something she’s been dealing with since she was a small child.
Rhonda was understandably worried as Kelly’s autograph session was stretching into two hours. Her daughter had been standing there the whole time. I assured Rhonda that Alexis would get some one-on-one time with Kelly. The teen was No. 4 on the standby list. I’d heard that KeMo was really generous with her fans, so I figured she’d find a way to fit in everyone who was waiting.
But then Alexis came crying to her mother that Kelly was leaving without taking her standbys, and my heart sank. I was crushed just watching her; I can only imagine how her mother felt.
But there was nothing we could do.
I watched Rhonda walk away with her daughter, and a tide of perspective washed over me. Suddenly, my aggravations with SSW didn’t seem like such a big deal, after all.
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A Super Soap Encounter I’ll Never Forget
There are some people that you meet in life who really help keep things in perspective.
They make you look at the big picture and realize that the little things in life really aren’t that important.
Ten-year-old Jenna and her mother Jolece are two of those people.
And I had the pleasure - or rather the honor - of spending time with them Sunday in the “holding pen” waiting with those who held standby tickets for Kelly Monaco aka Sam McCall on General Hospital. So as we stood together for two hours while fans with regular FastPasses got face time with Kelly, we talked.
I learned that Jenna loves to dance.
I learned that Jenna is a big KeMo fan from when she won season one of Dancing With The Stars.
And I also learned that Jenna had a brain tumor…. that a doctor at the Mayo Clinic cut out the tumor in January and that her latest MRI last month showed some kind of change and they’re not sure what it means.
Understandably, Jolece is worried. But she puts on a brave, positive front.
And Jenna - well she is the cutest little thing and you’d never know what she’s gone through in her young life by looking at her.
Jenna was just so excited about meeting Kelly and she had written a message to Kelly on one of her cards for Jennaswish.org. You see, Jolece has waged a campaign to fight pediatric brain tumors and has a website telling Jenna’s story and raising awareness for the disease.
Click here to view the website.
As the time ticked away and the people with regular FastPasses just kept coming - it became apparent that Kelly wasn’t going to get to her standbys.
Kelly was wonderful with her fans. In fact, she was too wonderful. By that I mean she took a lot of time with each fan. She was incredibly attentive, especially to the children. By watching Kelly interact with her fans I was impressed with her sincerity. And with every passing fan, I really hoped that I would get the chance to meet her.
She took a lot of time going into the crowd, signing autographs and taking photos with those who didn’t have FastPasses or standby passes.
I think it’s wonderful that she is so giving.
But here’s the thing….Time ran out. The Disney handlers were rushing her to finish up. And the people who took the time to pull a standby pass with the hope that she would take them were left out in the cold.
At the end, Kelly ran around the railing trying to get photos with some of the standbys, but only a few ended up with a photo or autograph. Everything happened so fast. Jolece’s camera appeared to misfire and the card that Jenna wanted to give Kelly was lost in the shuffle.
I looked down and Jenna was fighting back tears and tears were streaming down Jolece’s face as she tried to comfort her daughter.
Another woman and I tried to get the attention of the Disney people. Kelly hadn’t left the area yet, but it didn’t look good that she was coming back…..Then she circled around.
I asked Jolece to get out another card and have Jenna write her message on it. Jolece dug in her purse and came out empty.
Dejectedly, she looked up. She was all out of her cards.
Then I remembered…Jolece had given me a card when we first met two hours earlier. I pulled out the card and Jenna wrote her message.
Kelly came within ear shot. We called her over and she spotted Jenna. She put her arm around her, posed for photos and read Jenna’s card. Kelly said she was about to cry.
Click here to view more photos of Kelly and Jenna.
I am a believer that everything happens for a reason….Several times during those two hours, I thought of leaving. We had a long drive back and I was really tired.
But something - I can’t explain it - kept me in that holding pen until the end….I know it sounds corny, but it’s true.
At the end of the day, it didn’t matter that I didn’t meet Kelly or get a photo with her.
It mattered that Jenna did.
(Come back Wednesday to read about my encounter with Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), which was worth the price of admission, and my overall wrap-up of the event - the highs and the lows. I’ll also include a link to all my SSW photos.)
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My SSW Adam and Zach great adventure
OK, here I am, at the end of the first day of Super Soap Weekend 2007, and all I can say is … Super Soap ain’t what it used to be.
Granted, this was only my third year, but even in that short time, this event has simply exploded. People up the wahzoo, everywhere you go. Wonderfully fantastic soap-fan people, mind you, but tons of people nonetheless.
In my previous blog, I said I planned to start out in the General Hospital line. And I had every intention of doing so … until we got to the main entrance of the park. I could swear the GH line snaked all the way back to Timbuktu, and while I’m sure Timbuktu can be a lovely place to visit, it wasn’t on my agenda for the day. So Michele and I stepped up to the All My Children line, the second-shortest after One Life to Live.
In the AMC line, we met the wonderful LuAnne from Ohio, mother of Gypsy and Gabby, who seems to have a soap friend in every port. We also chatted with Barb and Linda (“Like the good witch” … er, only without the G) from Brevard County, who had me in stitches. Thanks, ladies! They, and many others whose names we unfortunately didn’t catch, were all great entertainment during the wait.
I was able to get standby for David Canary and Thorsten Kaye. Luckily, they took their standbys, so I got one-on-one time with both.
If you read my wish list for 2007, David Canary was at the top for AMC. So I guess I didn’t do too shabby, eh? He is extremely pleasant and a lot more animated than I expected. And the combination of his blue eyes and white hair is absolutely striking in person.
Of course, if you read my wish list, you also know I was hesitant to meet Thorsten Kaye because, well, have you seen the man. I was sure I’d sound like an idiot. Guess what? I did. But the good news is, I was one of a sea of faces he saw today. I’m sure he won’t remember what little ole me said, right? Right?
Just call me Desperately Seeking Reassurance.
What did me in was the hug. Thorsten is a hugger. And not a little, pat-on-your-back, barely touching hug. A full-body, warmth-infused hug. In fact, he’s just overall a very welcoming, good-humored, breathtakingly beautiful man. I just wasn’t thinking clearly, which became obvious when I proceeded to tell him that Zach was not my favorite character on AMC.
Yeah, you heard right. It was like my evil twin had suddenly inhabited my body. Thorsten just looked at me with those intelligent, twinkling eyes and said, “Why not? He’s the best character on All My Children.” (Of course, you’d think so, Thorsten!)
But did I back out of the conversation gracefully? Did I nod in agreement? Did I at least shut my trap?
Uh, no. I told him that Zach doesn’t smile enough and that he’s kinda mean.
Yep. I’m an idiot.
But I did manage to gush about how much I adore Thorsten as an actor and how big a fan I am. Hmmmm, now I’m starting to think I sounded like a creepy, stalkerish idiot.
Great.
Maybe I’ll behave better tomorrow.
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Day One of Super Soap 2007
I would describe my first day of Super Soap 2007 as a mixture of frustration and elation.
Frustration because we got to MGM Studios at 6:30 a.m. and only got three standby passes - no regular FastPasses that would guarantee a one-on-one meeting with our favorite stars.
But alls well that ends well…..
I got a kiss, a hug and a photo (cheek-to-cheek) with Michael E. Knight - Tad from All My Children…
And I didn’t even have his FastPass!
Not that I didn’t try, but his were among the first to go…..So I ended up outside the railing of his booth.
I have to say that he is one of THE MOST generous actors that I have met……He’s just incredibly warm to everyone - and I mean every single person and then some.
And it is obvious that he is sincere in his attentiveness to every fan.
Michael stayed more than a half hour after he was scheduled to stop his autograph session to take ALL of his standbys…..Then he came out to those of us on the rail and took photos…and he just came up to me and kissed me on my cheek without me asking!
Thank-you Michael for your selfless generosity to your fans. For me, you made my day!
He hugged nearly every fan during his session - and I mean a really, good hug!
Speaking of really good hugs….Thorsten Kaye, Zach on AMC…..All I can say is WOW! He is touchy, feely with all his fans, which by the way is a good thing.
I had a standby ticket for him - and, boy, was that worth the price of admission! He, also, stayed way beyond his allotted time to take ALL of this standbys.
He seemed genuinely happy to see every fan.
And then there was David Canary, Adam on AMC.
I had an early standby, number 8, and he took me and others during his first session - which is rare. Many of the actors wait until their second session to take the standbys.
I don’t really remember what I said to him….I was probably babbling…He’s so talented, and boy does he look great….really good looking with a warm smile.
I was so excited to meet him because I’m such a longtime fan dating back to his Bonanza days….one of my favorite shows of all time.
But, yes, David didn’t disappoint. He was super nice - and I’ve got some great pictures.
And a shout out to Stephanie from Jacksonville. She took my picture while I was posing with David and she asked for my e-mail and said she will send it to me….Stephanie has been watching AMC since 1989.
Speaking of photos, I’m planning on posting a link with our SSW photos on Tuesday. Check back then for Sunday’s recap and photos.
The last standby ticket I had was for Brandon Buddy, Cole on One Life To Live.
Talk about taking his fans along the railing…..Brandon was hopping back and forth and in and out of his booth to sign autographs, hug and pose with his fans outside the railing….I mean these girls were screaming for the guy!
In fact, he was taking so many fans outside the railing that poor Tracy, who was on standby behind me, was going to miss her next session with Kristen Alderson. So I let her go ahead of me. She was very appreciative.
I wanted to meet Brandon because he was the only One Lifer at SSW who I haven’t met - and I figured that he would probably be really fun because it was his first year….and he was fun and very sweet….Although if I were him I would have been a little frightened at some of the younger fans practically throwing themselves at him from outside the railing…..
In fact, one girl was crying because he was the only one she wanted to meet and she didn’t have a FastPass. As the Disney people were trying to rush him out after the first session, Brandon saw her crying and took a photo with her….Definitely a nice guy!
I have to say, one of the best things that happened today was meeting so many nice fans while we waited in the seemingly never ending lines.
It was a real joy to meet such nice people, beginning with Lu Anne from Ohio at 6:30 a.m. in the All My Children line.
Yes, I said 6:30 a.m. outside the MGM gate.
Hey Lu Anne. It was fun chatting. Keep in touch.
I also met Barbara and Linda from Brevard County, FL. We met up with them again while waiting to see Thorsten….I took photos of them hugging him.
Sue from New Jersey - I got your photo too! I’ll send it to you.
Anita from Boston and Lori from Ocala - enjoyed visiting with you both while we were waiting to get into the commissary.
That’s it for now….Check back here Tuesday for more SSW recap and photos.
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My Super Soap wish list
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not really much of a planner, at least when it comes to events like Super Soap Weekend. I tend to have a rough outline of what I’d like to do, but once I’m there, I’m more of a go-where-the-mood strikes me kinda gal. I’ve found it’s easier on my sanity that way.
Of course, some have already questioned my sanity when they hear I’m heading to Super Soap.
“Why wake up at 5 in the morning to stand at the main gate with hundreds of other people?” they ask. “Why wait in all those long lines? Why bother with the crowds? Why, why, why?”
I’ll tell you why: ‘Cause I’m a soap fan.
It’s fun to see the stars in person, even if it’s just as they’re walking by. It’s a kick getting to meet them in person. But just as satisfying as all that is being surrounded by people who enjoy soaps just as much, if not more, than I do.
So, with all that in mind, here’s my wish list for Super Soap 2007 (Schedule subject to change, of course!).
The past two years I’ve gotten in the General Hospital line first. This year will be no different. It’s my favorite soap, it typically has the longest line and it’s usually the closest to the MGM entrance.
Who would I like to see? Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) would tickle me to no end (not literally, of course … although, hmmmm). Um, yeah, he’s a cutie in that nerdy, I wanna squish his face kinda way. And I love his character (despite the annoying Lulu worship). The catch? I have a feeling he’s going to have a lot of admirers clamoring for a Fast Pass, so we’ll see.
Sonya Eddy (Epiphany) and Kent Masters King (Lainey) would be fun. And I think Kelly Monaco (Sam) would be cool to meet, as well.
Other than that, I always visit with my fave, Rebecca Herbst. She’s so lovely and gracious. I appreciate that, so I like to show her my support. Oh, alright. Fine. Truth is, I have a huge girl crush on her. Are you happy now? I know my husband is.
By the time I get my one Fast Pass for GH, the people who went straight to One Life to Live or All My Children will probably have two or three. But that’s OK. It’s the price you pay for being a GH fan first.
At OLTL, Erika Slezak (Viki) is my goal. Let’s face it: She’s a daytime legend. I’m happy she came back a second year. It means she must have had a good time in 2006, and I enjoy meeting the stars who actually seem like they want to be at the event.
Like probably every other AMC fan out there, I am homing in on David Canary (Adam). What an absolute thrill that would be. He rocks, and that’s all I need to say about that.
Alicia Minshew (Kendall) is high on my wish list, too. I think she’s been doing some stellar work this year. Plus, she’s from my part of South Florida, so she must be a simply fabulous person, right?
Finally, I would like to meet Thorsten Kaye (Zach), but to be honest, the man’s so breathtaking that I’d probably be a complete idiot around him. No need to subject Thorsten to that.
Maybe next year …
So there you have it. My actor wish list for SSW 2007. Is there anyone you’re hoping to meet?
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My Plan for Super Soap Weekend
Two days and counting……
Yes, two more days until we get up at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m. and stand in line with thousands at the 12th annual ABC Super Soap Weekend at Disney World in Orlando.
But it’s worth it!
And the latest buzz is that Cameron Mathison (Ryan Lavery on All My Children) will be dancing in the Street Jam on Saturday night with Edyta, his professional dance partner on Dancing With The Stars. And for all of you who don’t watch DWTS, Cam is in the final five, thanks to all of the support from his soap fans voting for him (me included) —— and, of course, his hard work, which really shows.
I would LOVE to see those two dance, because I’m crazy about the show!
The previous two years, Kara and I, have been too tired to stay and watch the musical performances by the ABC stars in the Street Jam because it begins about 7:30 p.m.
After waking up at 5 a.m. and going constantly all day, we’re usually out of there by 6:30. I’ll have to wait and see how exhausted I am because we have to get up the same time on Sunday for round two.
So here’s my plan….
And by plan I mean who I want to meet one-on-one at the autograph sessions. And to do so, I must pull a FastPass - of which there are limited quanties - for each actor. (I explained the FastPass process in an earlier blog).
Here’s my wish list:
All My Children: Michael E. Knight (Tad), David Canary (Adam), Cameron Mathison (Ryan), Thorsten Kaye (Zach).
One Life To Live: Michael Easton (John), Erika Slezak (Viki).
General Hospital: Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Jason Thompson (Patrick), Kelly Monaco (Sam), Julie Berman (Lulu), Kimberly McCullough (Robin), Sonya Eddy (Epiphany).
I really, really want to meet GH’s Bradford Anderson - but so does just about everyone else….His FastPass is going to be the first to go on Saturday - guaranteed. So I’m going to aim for a standby FastPass on Sunday for him.
The GH line is always ridiculously long, so I may just get in the AMC line first thing on Saturday and try to grab at least two FastPasses from there.
OR I may get in the OLTL line first, try to get Michael or Erika or both and then zip over to the AMC line and save GH for Sunday, when there are usually less people.
The FastPasses are usually gone by 9:30 a.m.
Kara and I usually meet up after we get all our FastPasses and compare times and locations. From there, we decide what other events we can attend based on our autograph times.
I’d like to hear one of the Super Soap Talk Shows and also see the Triple Play Game Show, which we’ve never done.
So there you have it….My wish list…I’ll report back on which of those wishes come true.
Come back tomorrow for Kara’s Super Soap wish list.
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GH’s Jason and Elizabeth don’t disappoint
Is it possible to be in love with a soap couple? ‘Cause I’m starting to think that’s the only explanation why I’m always so positively ecstatic whenever General Hospital’s Jason and Elizabeth have scenes together.
OK, maybe I’m not actually “in love” with them, but I sure do like ‘em a lot.
Did you see Tuesday’s scenes? Sweetness and hotness rolled into one. Yeah, yeah, I know. Hotness isn’t technically a word. But I’m in soap-couple love here. Gimme a break.
Of course, the fact that Jason and Elizabeth decided to go their separate ways, mostly for the safety of their son, had heightened my anticipation for their next meeting.
And they sure didn’t disappoint.
I’ve always loved the way they complement each other, and the scenes in the barn really illustrated that. Elizabeth brings out such softness in Jason, and Jason has a way of drawing out Elizabeth’s fire and determination. They make each other stronger and more balanced as individuals. It’s the way love should be.
Jason and Elizabeth remind me of the classic soap romances. The angst-filled ones that actually take time to develop. Nowadays, most soap couples jump into bed within a few months of knowing each other. Where’s the buildup and the investment for viewers?
In their earlier years, Jason and Elizabeth would have me yelling at the screen, “Just kiss already!” But they’d almost always pull back for one reason or another. And it kept me tuned in.
Now they have me yelling, “Just get together already!” But, truth is, that anticipation is part of their charm.
I also give a lot of credit to the actors. Steve Burton (Jason) and Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth) just click. They always have. Their chemistry is off-the-charts and effortless.
Now, if I could just get a few more Jason and Elizabeth scenes in that barn, I’d be an even happier viewer.
Oh, yeah, and the paternity reveal would be nice, too.
Just sayin’.
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Was AMC’s Babe recast necessary?
I usually like to give recasts several months before I judge their performances, but I’ve decided to break my rule a bit and assess All My Children’s newest Babe.
Actually, it’s more of an assessment of the character, rather than the actress.
The role’s originator, Alexa Havins, left a little while ago, on the heels of her husband, Justin Bruening, who vacated the character of Jamie. (If ever two people were destined to have beautiful children, it’s Alexa and Justin. Just thought I’d throw that in there.)
Amanda Baker, the murderous nurse Jolene on General Hospital: Night Shift, is the new Babe. When I first heard she would be taking on the role, I thought it sounded like a good choice. She was by far the best actress of the twitlets. (That’s the name my husband gave the three pink-swathed ladies, Jolene, Leyla and Regina. Thanks, hon!) And she has the Babe “look.”
My familiarity with Baker helped ease the transition for me. Plus, she’s not jarringly different from Havins.
But as I’ve been watching, I realized something: I really could do without Babe in Pine Valley.
And it seems like the powers that be feel that way, too.
I’m not saying the show had to get rid of her for good, but a break would have been welcome, especially considering the type of storylines she’s involved in. Lately, Babe has been relegated to playing backup to her mother, Krystal, and her friend/co-worker, Annie. Oh, wait, there was that grand romance in which she foolishly fell for the “charms” of Wes/Richie. (What’s the deal with him anyway?) All the while her former flames are either gone or moving on.
Where’s the investment in Babe’s character? Maybe the show is letting her stew for awhile so that Baker can get used to the role — and the audience can get used to Baker.
Whatever the case, Babe has become boring. And that’s something the character’s never been. In fact, it’s decidedly anti-Babe.
I may not have always cared for the character — and sometimes resented the Carey women’s monopolization of the show — but AMC should at least give the girl a story. It would go a long way toward validating why the show decided on an immediate recast.
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Get Ready Super Soap, Here We Come!
Five Days….
We’re five days away from 12th annual ABC Super Soap Weekend at MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida’s Disney World.
And Kara and I will be there for the two-day soap extravaganza Saturday and Sunday - and we’re going to tell you all about it.
Who we see.
Who we meet.
Who we touch.
It’s our third annual sojourn to get up close and personal with our favorite ABC soap stars from All My Children, One Life To Live and General Hospital. And, as I’ve learned from past experience, expect the unexpected.
Last year, I ended up on stage as part of the “I Wanna Be A Soap Star” competition. During my scenes, I ended up rolling around on a couch with All My Children’s Cameron Mathison (Ryan) and General Hospital’s Scott Clifton (Dillon).
Talk about getting up close and personal! It doesn’t get much better than that!
I can’t imagine anything topping that, but you never know.
If you’re going, here’s my top five tips:
Tip 1. Get to the park early if you want to get more than one fast pass per day or if there’s an actor that you absolutely must meet one-on-one.
I mean really early….For us it’s getting up at 5 a.m. and getting there by 6:30 ish….Last year, I ended up with three FastPasses on Saturday. The gates to the park open at 8 a.m.
In order to see the actors one-on-one at the specified meet and greet autograph sessions, you need a FastPass.
And to get a FastPass, you must stand on line with thousands of people for several hours….There are three separate lines, each at a different location, for the three ABC soaps. Then, once you get one, you can run to the back of the line and go through again. Or, you can run to another location, for a different soap, and stand in that line.
Tip 2. The General Hospital line is closest to the entrance - and it’s always the longest. You can possibly get one or maybe two FastPasses if you’re lucky, but chances are you will not get your favorite.
One Life To Live is usually the shortest line. If you get there by at least 7 a.m., you should be able to go through that line at least twice and the same for All My Children. But the All My Children location is the farthest from the entrance, so be prepared to sprint.
Last year, I began Saturday in the One Life To Live line, because my goal was to meet Erika Slezak (Viki). I got her FastPass and then dashed over to the General Hospital line. There, I got a standby FastPass for Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio). After getting that, I ran back to One Life To Live and got a FastPass to meet David Fumero (Christian).
A standby FastPass means that the actor can opt to take standbys after taking all of the people holding regular FastPasses. I took a chance and Tristan took his standbys. The next day, I was lucky enough to get a standby to meet General Hospital’s Jason Thompson (Patrick). He was incredibly nice. He stayed through his break and met everyone with a standby ticket.
A word of caution with standby FastPasses - not all actors take their standbys. So, if it’s your first time, you might want the bird in the hand….
Tip 3. If you don’t want to get up early and stand in the long lines, you can still see the actors. Look up the times and locations for autograph sessions of the actors you want to see. Go to the autograph locations and stand outside of the railing. You will be able to see them and take pictures of them.
Some of the actors go to the railing and sign autographs for the milling fans and some will even take photos with fans standing there.
Last year, I saw Michael E. Knight (Tad), from All My Children, at his autograph session, but I didn’t have a FastPass.
I called him to the railing and he came up to me. I asked if I could get a photo with him and he said, “sure!”
I started to do a one-handed shot….you know the kind where you hold the camera out in front of you….Then he said, “Give me the camera. My arms are longer.” and he proceeded to hold the camera out in front of us and shot the picture. How nice was that??
Tip 4. One Life To Live fans will get a real treat if they show up one day early. On Friday, you can meet Kassie DePaiva (Blair Cramer Manning) without a FastPass. Kassie will be holding an autograph signing of her new CD “I Want To Love You” from 1-3 p.m. at The Writer’s Stop in MGM Studios. The CD is wonderful and if you never met Kassie, she’s super nice and so friendly! She will also be one of the stars available by FastPass on Saturday and Sunday.
Tip 5. Keep your camera at the ready at all times! You can almost always catch some of the actors walking from place to place.
All SSW events are included in the price of the admission ticket to MGM.
Click here to view the participating actors, events and schedule.
Click here for more information and tips.
And check back here - at Soapbox - for any updates and recaps.
If anyone who reads this is going, please feel free to list some of your “survival tips.”
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Go ahead, GH, sweep me away
It looks like it’s sweeps time for General Hospital again. And it appears the show is offering another real-time storyline, a la the MetroCourt hostage crisis. Only, this time, the stage is a black-and-white ball at Wyndemere.
I must say, I’m looking forward to it.
Did you see the opening? Nikolas, lying on the floor next to a prone woman and a blood-splattered mask. Shivers. And then his tortured cry?
Yeah, I think this is going to be intense.
I really enjoy when GH offers these ensemble dramas that bring various characters together. It’s fun getting to see most of the cast all in one place. It establishes new relationships and solidifies existing ones. And a little murder and mayhem always heightens the stakes.
The MetroCourt crisis took place hour by hour. It introduced us to James Craig, who turned out to be Jerry Jax. It launched Sam’s latest “career.” It resulted in the death of the beloved Alan Quartermaine. It reaffirmed the connection between Sonny and Carly. It led to Jason learning he is the father of Elizabeth’s baby. And it showed just how far Patrick is willing to go for Robin (although apparently that devotion doesn’t extend to parenthood … but I digress). Plus it mixed things up a bit by putting people together who normally don’t interact a lot. That’s always welcome.
I can only hope this sweeps will move stories along just as well. Who is Leticia’s killer? Just how dangerous is Nikolas? When will Lucky learn Jake is Jason’s son, not his? Will Luke manage to blackmail Logan into dropping Lulu? Will Spinelli finally realize Georgie’s just waiting in the wings for him? And what kind of havoc will crazy Anthony Zacchara wreak?
Yeah, I’m pretty excited. How about you?
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