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March 2008
It’s Tuc time once more on OLTL
I love hearing good news about soap casting, especially considering all the strange firings, show swapping, character killings and replacements happening in the genre recently.
Cases in point: Natalia Livingston and Lindze Letherman on General Hospital; Martha Madison and Brandon Beemer on Days of Our Lives; Grayson McCouch, Scott Bryce and Martha Byrne on As the World Turns; and Ricky Paull Goldin on Guiding Light.
I know characters come and go on soaps, but sometimes I’d much rather focus on the arrivals than the departures.
You can imagine my joy when I read that the wonderfully comedic, impeccably sculpted Tuc Watkins was returning to One Life to Live as David Vickers.
Hallelujah and a box of milk-chocolate-covered Oreos!
Is that good news or what?
I uber love David. Uber, uber, uber. Love, love, love.
Tuc is such a natural in the role. He manages to be devious and lovable at the same time. Sexy, yet sweet. Funny, yet sincere.
Considering that David is the actual long-lost Buchanan, and not Jared, Mr. Vickers’ visit this go-round should be especially interesting.
Tuc (and David) brings such a spark to the OLTL canvas. When he’s back in Llanview, I always tune in just to see which lucky cast member gets to work with him this time.
He plays so well off everyone, but my personal favorite is Viki (Erika Slezak). Their scenes have such a nice balance of warmth and mischief. They are one of my favorite non-romantic pairs.
Now, if I could only get David and my other fave, Rex (John-Paul Lavoisier), in more scenes together, I’d be one extra happy viewer.
There’s no word yet on an exact date for David’s return to Llanview. For the time being, I’ll simply bask in the knowledge that Tuc will be gracing our small screens again soon.
Let the squealing commence.
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Dr. Patrick Drake’s Baby Woes on General Hospital
It had to be THE CUTEST moment of the soap opera week!
Did you catch that scene on General Hospital with a baby being thrust into Dr. Patrick Drake’s arms by a mother who dropped some of her things on the floor of GH?
There he was, baby-phobic Dr. Drake (Jason Thompson) holding a baby!
I have to say, the baby stole the entire scene.
That baby…
Look at the gleam in his eye?
It’s as if he’s saying, ‘ha, ha. I know you don’t want to be holding me, but you have to!’
That kid was so adorable.
He had to be, because - in general - babies on soaps don’t normally capture my attention.
I mean, basically, they’re just window dressing in a scene.
But this one - well, he stole the scene.
And then he propelled the scene - and the ensuing reactions from Patrick, Epiphany and Robin - and they were all hysterical!
Check out the reactions.
First we have Patrick out of his comfort zone.
Then we have Epiphany who’s checking out the whole scene.
And then there’s Robin, who’s clearly enjoying the situation.
It was just a vignette, really, but it was a wonderful - and all too brief - respite from the mob wars and violence that usually prevails on GH.
(Screencaps courtesy of Clarissa’s General Hospital Screencaps)
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Erica Kane shouldn’t be so boring
Is it just me, or is this whole Erica’s on trial/goes to prison thing on All My Children a big yawner?
Maybe it’s just the fact that it’s juxtaposed with the excitement surrounding Jesse, Angie and Tad. Maybe it’s because I feel like I’ve seen this story before with Erica (Susan Lucci). Or may be it’s just the hideousness of her new hairdo.
In any case, I find myself faithfully fast-forwarding through all things La Kane.
And that’s just not right.
I mean, it’s gotta be soap sacrilege to find Erica boring, right?
But, as my 6-year-old son would say, “I just can’t help it.”
I don’t care what laws Erica supposedly broke (the explanations have been positively boring). I don’t care whether she goes to prison or not (been there, done that). And I certainly don’t care about her budding relationship with Samuel Woods (Jack and Erica forever!).
Hopefully, things will pick up now that she’s on the lam.
But really, AMC.
This is the best you can come up with for an icon like Erica Kane?
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Monica Quartermaine’s Drinking Problem Revealed on GH
It’s Monica!
We finally find out that it’s Dr. Monica Quartermaine (Leslie Charleson) who drove drunk, ran down Sam McCall and left her for dead on General Hospital.
In the beginning, Carly, Nikolas, Elizabeth and Monica were all suspects.
But as the weeks wore on, it came down to the final two - Elizabeth and Monica.
And just as Elizabeth is getting ready to go to the police station and confess, Spinelli gets the goods on Monica and tells Jason it’s his mother.
You see, Elizabeth was so tired on the night in question that she fell asleep at the wheel and hit something, but just didn’t know what and she doesn’t remember hitting Sam.
I know it’s easy for me to say this now…but I always figured it was Monica.
Elizabeth would have been too obvious - because of the animosity between her and Sam.
But with Monica…how else was her drinking problem going to come to the forefront?
Just before Jason got the confirmation, Lucky had figured out that Monica had a problem.
In fact, Lucky approached Monica outside General Hospital and tells her she needs to get help.
But Monica thinks Lucky is blackmailing her at the behest of Tracy and Luke!
Alice drives Monica home from the hospital and asks her if she wants some tea.
When Alice leaves the room, Monica pours herself a drink.
Just as she’s taking her first swig, Jason walks through the door and says, “You’re the one who hit Sam.”
According to a letter by Leslie Charleson posted on her official site, there are good things in store acting-wise for Leslie, but not for Monica.
So I ask…
What’s going to happen next?
Will Monica confess to hitting Sam?
Will Monica go into rehab - or to jail?
(Photos courtesy of Clarissa’s General Hospital Screencaps)
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Spinelli missing piece in GH explosion
As I’ve been watching the fall-out from the cannery explosion on General Hospital, I suddenly realized something.
Where in blazes are Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) and Maxie (Kirsten Storms)?
Did I dream the scenes where Spinelli needed Maxie’s wardrobe assistance, he explained to her about Diego setting a bunch of explosives and she hit a button on the computer that set the timer in motion?
I know we haven’t seen these two since that scene, and what has me extra confused is the fact that everyone — from the cops to the D.A. to Sonny to the Zaccharas to Jax — are scrambling to figure out who set the explosives. And, of course, not one of them has even come close to the real culprit.
So I ask, once again, where is Spinelli?
Are he and Maxie holed up somewhere trying to figure out where Diego put the explosives? Are he and Maxie on a shopping spree?
I just don’t get it. Spinelli would have told someone — Jason or Sonny, perhaps — or at least tried to tell them. And even if he wasn’t able to give warning, sure as shootin’ he would have heard about the explosion by now and would be filling in the blanks to Stone Cold.
This is the assassin of cyberspace we’re talking about, after all.
I’ll assume that GH will fill in this missing piece with some logical explanation, right?
Right?
Yeah, that’s what I thought.
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Jared on One Life To Live - Redeemed?
I can-not believe it!
I actually liked Jared Banks yesterday.
Really! I never thought I’d ever write that phrase.
I was so not liking him from the jump on One Life To Live.
Jared (John Brotherton) seemed sort of dark from day one. Maybe because we first saw in prison. That’s never really a good setting for anyone.
Then there was that whole thing where he underhandedly bought control of Nash’s vineyard from Antonio as revenge against Jess/Tess.
I guess I can kinda understand that. After all, it was Jess - as her alter Tess - who set Jared up to go to prison for something he didn’t do.
But one thing I really couldn’t stand about Jared is the way he started getting involved with Natalie only to jump at the chance to masquerade as her uncle in order to gain money and power with the Buchanan name.
The other thing I didn’t like about him is how he didn’t treat his real father, Charlie Banks, with respect.
So Jared was a lose/lose situation in my eyes…..Until yesterday in his scenes with Gigi…He actually showed humanity.
Humanity! Not a word I would have associated with him, previously.
First there was the scene where she spilled coffee and he helped her clean it up.
They were so cute together and he seemed to be really concerned that something was bothering her.
Actually it was two somethings bothering her - that freakazoid police commish, Ramsey, who tried to kill Gigi and her son, Shane, and Rex, her high school sweetheart who is Shane’s father.
But the thing is, Gigi (Farah Fath) never told Rex about Shane and visa versa.
So when Gigi was upset about Ramsey’s threats and her secret about Rex, Jared comforted her.
And he was sincere and caring.
The topper was the cliff hanger, when Rex walked in on Jared and Gigi kissing.
Hmmmm.
I think I see some possibilities here.
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What’s Going to Happen to Bo on Days?
Suzanne Oberman, our DOOL specialist, has returned as a guest blogger to offer her commentary on the latest happenings in Salem.
By Suzanne Oberman
Well, they killed John. Or so we thought.
And like John, Bo has been a fundamental part of the Days of Our Lives script for many eons. So now how are we supposed to believe they could really kill off Bo (Peter Reckell)?
The whole dying pancreas scenario has been dragging on for what seems like months that it’s hardly convincing he’ll just poof recover and live happily ever after.
And there’s also the fact that the only viable donor for the ultra-dangerous and risky transplant procedure is his daughter Chelsea who just got drunk!
Oh the drama!
Nevertheless, I believe the backlash that befell the writers and producers of Days after the supposed death of John will play a part in the revival of Bo’s toxic pancreas.
I just wish they would stop dragging it on for so long or else I might stage a backlash of my own!
As much as the Sami and EJ storyline can induce constant eye-rolling and serious bouts of nausea, I’m kind of missing it amidst this sluggish and ill-written sequence of “events” (and I use that word very loosely).
Let’s get back to what I now consider the good stuff.
Will Sami and EJ get together?
Or will she still pine for “Mucus Lucas?”
Don’t get me wrong-I am still concerned for Bo’s failing pancreas.
But after what happened with John I just do not think it actually will fail.
I am guessing that Bo will pull through with Chelsea saving the day and Dr. Jonas will be deemed a hero.
We’ve seen slight twinges of flirtation between Dr. “I know everything” Jonas and Chelsea. Although it seems a bit creepy if you ask me.
And excuse me, but weren’t Shawn and Belle supposed to be off the show a month ago?
Send them off sailing across the world and be done with it!
Be gone boring and frivolous, hello steamy and salacious!
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GH’s Dylan Cash gives impressive performance
Kids on soaps are more often seen than heard. (And in some cases they just disappear, i.e. the attic-climbing, ski-waxing Bobby Martin on All My Children.)
But every once in a while a show actually gives a child actor something to do.
On General Hospital, little Michael has been on the run after illegally buying a gun, trying to dump it and then accidentally shooting his father’s on-again, off-again girlfriend.
OK, it’s not exactly a typical feel-good story, but what did impress me were the scenes between Michael (Dylan Cash) and Carly (Laura Wright) after they had been reunited.
GH viewers have watched Dylan grow up on screen, which is a major indicator of how much he must be valued by the higher ups. Most children face SORASing every year or so. (Did you see how big Spencer’s gotten?)
But Michael, like Robin (Kimberly McCullough) before him, has been allowed to age at a normal pace. Because of that, viewers have been able to watch Dylan grow as an actor, too.
You know what? He can be pretty impressive.
Maybe it was the nature of the scenes, the fact that Michael was finally admitting what he had done (which will hopefully put an end to Sonny’s knee-jerk and downright jerky attitude toward, well, pretty much everyone). Maybe it’s the parent in me that responded so deeply, recognizing the dynamics between a concerned mother and her upset son.
Whatever the reason, Dylan did an excellent job relaying Michael’s fear — fear that he’d killed Kate, fear of Sonny’s reaction, and fear that he’d never be forgiven.
I guess big performances really can come in small packages.
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Kudos to AMC for Frankie focus
Calling all Hubbard lovers!
I read some great news the other day.
You know that fabulous actor they cast as Frankie, the son of the super-fabulous, recently reunited Jesse and Angie? Well, All My Children has placed him on contract.
Let the dancing commence.
I knew the higher echelons of soaps still had some intelligence floating around.
I am sooooo excited that I’ll be seeing Cornelius Smith Jr. on my screen more.
I thought he was great as Quentin, long before we knew he had significant ties to Pine Valley. When it was revealed that he was actually Frankie, he fit in wonderfully with Darnell Williams (Jesse) and Debbi Morgan (Angie), which is quite a compliment considering the caliber of those actors and their supercouple status as characters.
I hope the writers do Frankie — and Cornelius — justice.
So far, they seem to be going in the right direction.
I love that Colby (Ambyr Childers) has developed a crush on him. What a great pairing that could be, especially with the history between Colby’s mom, Liza, and Jesse.
Talk about a powder keg!
If AMC plays their cards right with Frankie, the show could start laying a promising foundation for future generations in Pine Valley.
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Loving Those Vega Boys on One Life To Live
There’s a lot of things I’m not crazy about in Llanview these days.
Top of the list: Todd Manning’s rage towards his daughter and her teenage boyfriend. But I’ve written enough about that last week.
Also not liking that sick, twisted freak Lee Ramsey.
I’ll save that diatribe for another day.
Add to that the Jared storyline and all the lies related to him..i.e. Charlie getting tangled up in the lies and Charlie, in turn, lying about being Rex’s father.
Not liking any of that either.
But I’ll tell you what I have liked this week: the Vega boys.
As in Christian and Antonio.
And it’s not any huge storyline that I’m talking about.
It’s actually two vignettes that occurred over the past few days.
The first was between Christian Vega (David Fumero) and Blair Cramer (Kassie DePaiva).
David Fumero (Christian)
I have to say, I love the friendship that has developed between these two.
It started after they had that awful ONS on Llantano Mountain last year, when they thought that Todd was sleeping with Evangeline. But he wasn’t and they did.
Thankfully, they realized their mistake. And after that, they developed a really nice friendship, which comes across warmly onscreen.
Maybe it’s the fact that their pairing is intermittent, so that when we see these two it really makes an impression.
Kassie DePaiva (Blair)
They came together this week to talk - each with a big problem.
Blair was upset over Todd’s rage against Cole and Starr.
Christian was upset over Antonio losing all his money and possessions, including Capricorn, which meant Blair was out of singing job.
When the two were together - it was only a couple of scenes - their problems seemed to ease if only for the moment.
I have a feeling that maybe Blair might buy Capricorn. She has that million or so she got from Todd from marrying him.
David and Kassie have a nice, easy way about them and it really translates together onscreen.
As for Antonio (Kamar de los Reyes), I was happy that he and Jessica (Bree Williamson) finally seemed to clear the air after their nasty split.
Jessica really did him wrong when she cheated on him all over town with Nash Brennan (Forbes March). That whole saga was just disgusting the way it all went down.
It was particularly reprehensible when Jessica promised Antonio’s daugher, Jamie, that she would adopt her. When in court for the adoption proceeding, Jessica ran out of the courtroom saying she couldn’t go through with it.
Even after Antonio found out about the infidelity, he donated a part of his liver to Jessica, who desperately needed a transplant.
Now that’s a gentleman.
Antonio and Jessica divorced and she married Nash. She apologized to Antonio in the past.
But to me, it never really appeared sincere until yesterday, when she told him how sorry she was about his losing the Santi money and everything else.
And, thankfully, Antonio has gotten past the anger and has moved on with Talia (BethAnn Bonner).
“I try to hold onto the good and forget about the bad. That way I don’t have too many regrets along the way,” Antonio said to Jessica.
Good advice for us all.
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Letting Martha Byrne go a big mistake, ATWT
This isn’t the first time I’ve asked this recently, but what is going on at As the World Turns?
First, longtime character Dusty takes a dirt nap. Then TPTB decide to kick Craig to the curb.
Now they’re picking on Lily.
Lily?
Unbelievable.
Talk about a legacy character, one with a super-talented, Emmy Award-winning, widely beloved portrayer in Martha Byrne.
Wow.
I’m almost wordless. (Almost. I mean, really, what kind of blogger would I be if I let this go by without comment?)
The scuttlebutt is that Martha didn’t want to go … and the role is being recast.
Um, huh?
And soaps wonder why they’re struggling so much.
Believe me, I get the concept of cost-cutting. Pretty much anyone with children is intimately aware of what it means to pinch a penny.
When soaps start feeling the monetary squeeze, they often let older, higher-salaried cast members go as a way to trim the budget.
But I don’t understand this massive bloodletting by ATWT.
They are getting rid of characters who are keystones on the canvas. People with history and investment from the viewers.
And this seems wise because …?
Most of the actors who have left recently seem to have been pushed out.
Perhaps the only notable exceptions are Jennifer Landon and Jesse Soffer (Gwen and Will). These two skilled performers have voluntarily decided to test their talents elsewhere. Of course I respect their decisions to spread their creative wings, but their absence will be quite a blow to the show.
Just another reason why ATWT can’t afford to lose another pivotal, familiar performer like Martha Byrne.
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Change is good on Guiding Light
OK. Color me surprised. I’m actually digging Guiding Light’s new format.
I had my doubts, but GL? Bravo.
In case you weren’t aware, there’ve been changes afoot at CBS’ venerable soap. The look has been seriously overhauled. (Here’s an article about it on GL’s Web site.)
For starters, instead of the two- to three-wall, open-top sets common on most soap sound stages, GL has taken a more realistic approach. Actors are playing their scenes in four-walled “rooms” complete with ceilings. The show has also established a wider array of permanent sets, immediately enhancing story line by enhancing atmosphere.
But my favorite tweak? The handheld cameras.
Surprising, I know, especially considering All My Children drove me bonkers not too long ago trying the same technique.
What’s the difference then? All I can say is that I know what works when I see it.
Something about the way GL is filming the scenes — cutting in close on actors, shooting over the shoulder of one character while he talks to another — has significantly upped the intimacy factor for me. It’s like watching a documentary that brings me inside the world of Springfield.
When AMC tried the handheld cameras, it felt disjointed, jarring and, most of all, too glitzy. Instead of adding to the scenes, the quick camera movements and music-video-like effects took me out of the moment.
GL, however, has managed to bring an authenticity to the process. I feel like I’m standing right behind Alan (Ron Raines), looking over his shoulder while he tries to put the screws to Jon (Tom Pelphrey). I feel like I’m the one visiting Rick (Michael O’Leary) in jail, staring at his face between the bars. I feel like I’m the one watching through the tree branches as Lizzie (Marcy Rylan) and Dinah (Gina Tognoni) talk.
It’s fascinating, really, and fits well with the high-definition world in which so many of us now enjoy our soaps.
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Todd Manning Goes From Bad to Worse on OLTL
The Rage of Todd Manning - Part II
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse….
Picking up from yesterday’s One Life To Live blog, when Todd slapped around teenager, Markko, in order to find out where his daughter, Starr, went with her boyfriend, Cole.
Well THAT was only the tip of the iceberg!
Wednesday was just way too intense
Where do I begin?
OK. I’m beginning at the end.
Because THAT was my favorite part.
When my absolute FAVE character, John McBain, pounds on the door of La Boule.
Todd answers the door and McBain decks Todd, knocking him to the floor!
“Touch the kid again and I’ll kill you,” McBain said.
Swoon…Swoon….
Yeah, I really like Michael Easton portraying the veteran cop, McBain.
Getting back to Todd, he roughs up Markko so that Langston, Starr’s best friend, will tell Todd where Starr and Cole went - and she does.
The two lovebirds went to Langston’s vacant house to make love for the first time….
At least it was supposed to be the first time….but before they got to it, Todd (Trevor St. John) burst into the bedroom and began beating and kicking Cole (Brandon Buddy).
Starr (Kristen Alderson) is screaming and crying for him to stop.
It was really hard to watch.
Let’s keep in mind this is a man assaulting a teenager.
And I don’t mean a few slaps - it was an out and out assault.
Then Blair (Kassie DePaiva) bursts in and tries to step in. She finally separates Todd from Cole and tells Cole to run.
Starr is devastated by her father’s actions.
The scenes of the aftermath between mother and daughter were so real and so raw. Kudos to both Kassie and Kristen for giving us some powerful performances.
When Todd, Blair and Starr get back home, Todd insisted that Cole raped Starr.
It seems like he is having some kind of flashbacks to his rape of Marty - who happens to be Cole’s deceased mother.
Yes, it was Cole’s mother, Marty Saybrooke, who Todd raped 20-plus years earlier.
So, I ask, has Todd totally lost it?
Is he having some sort of psychological episode where he has broken from reality?
Or, is he simply psycho?
You decide.
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Todd Manning’s Rage Surfaces Once Again
Just when I’m liking One Life To Live’s Todd Manning again, what does he do?
He goes ballistic, beating up on Markko, a teenage boy, in order to get some information out of him!
I was appalled at the way he was whaling away on Markko - and, judging by the previews, he will be punching out Cole today.
Isn’t that called child abuse since they’re under 18?
When disgraced FBI agent turned police commish Lee Ramsey entered Llanview, he is so vile that he actually made Todd look like a good guy!
Not that Todd is really a bad person, because he has a lot of good qualities - namely being a good father.
Trevor St. John
Trevor St. John, who portrays Todd, reminds me a lot of Rick Hearst, who plays Ric Lansing, on General Hospital. Here’s why: they both have done some pretty despicable things.
For Todd, his biggest crime was raping Marty Saybrooke many years ago.
For Ric, I would say chaining a pregnant Carly in a soundproof room in order to steal her baby is probably at the top of his list.
The thing about both these very talented actors is that they can turn on the charm so fast that the viewer immediately forgives them their transgressions.
I have liked Trevor St.John ever since he entered the scene as Walker Laurence - later revealing he was really Todd Manning.
I really enjoy his portrayal of Todd, because Trevor brings a lot of depth to the role.
To be honest, I never liked Todd when his originator, Roger Howarth, portrayed him.
Roger seemed to always show the dark side of Todd; whereas I feel that Trevor brings many layers and nuances to the character.
Not to say, Roger did a bad job. Not at all.
Hey, he won a Daytime Emmy for the role.
Scads of fans still adore Roger as Todd to this day. I prefer him as Paul Ryan on As The World Turns.
Just my preference.
As for Todd, I just happen to like the kinder, gentler version.
Although, Todd’s actions yesterday, were far from that.
This new turn of events…where Todd is violent to teenage boys…it’s his dark side reemerging.
And I’m not liking it at all.
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Where are you hiding Josh, AMC?
I’ve actually been enjoying All My Children lately. Not everything floats my dramatic boat, but when you’ve got the magic of the Hubbards on screen again, you can forgive a lot.
I do have one question, though.
Where in the world is Josh Madden?
I’ll admit his story wasn’t my favorite at the start. I’m not usually a fan of huge history rewrites (and it doesn’t get much huger than an abortion-turned-stolen-fetus-turned-“surprise, I’m your grown son you thought you’d terminated decades ago”).
But Colin Egglesfield (the second actor in the role) grew on me. Eventually, I was able to stop thinking of Josh’s presence as a major insult to longtime viewers and AMC history and, instead, basked in the character’s smoldering good looks and charisma.
So, what gives?
Josh hasn’t had a real story since his days chasing after Babe.
When she kicked him to the curb, he was relegated to mere backdrop for Kendall’s trials and tribulations. Or Erica’s.
He flirted with Greenlee and had a dalliance with Hannah. But, other than that, nada.
I’m starting to think AMC has difficulty finding, or at least sustaining, stories for its younger male characters.
Aidan’s struggled for years. Jonathan’s on his way out. Jamie’s gone.
And now there’s Josh.
How in the world AMC can’t find a story for him is beyond me.
He’s smart, sexy, sensitive. All those “s” words that make up a soap hero. Plus, he’s part of Erica’s brood. How can he go wrong?
Maybe the show’s just giving Colin a break while they cook up something juicy for his character. I hope that’s the case because I’d sure hate to see another talented hottie end up flying the Pine Valley coop.
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