How was your year?

As the world fell to pieces — from politics, global warming, disease and the economy — one person experienced what can only be called the perfect year in 2009 (well, if you don’t consider sweating your balls off for the half of the calendar in Peapack, N.J., that is!).

Little did Crystal Chappell know 365 days ago what the new year had in store for the insanely popular, unbelievably talented, and oh-so-sexy Emmy winner.

Let’s review, shall we?

• A breathtakingly brilliant performance as Olivia Spencer finally confessed the love that dare not speak its name for Natalia on the now-defunct sudser, Guiding Light, creating a cult-like super-couple in Otalia in the process.

• Later, a triumphant return to the role that made the 44-year-old goddess famous, Days of our Lives’s romantically challenged and coffin-fearing Dr. Carly Manning.

• The birth of the breakout and groundbreaking successful web soap, Venice, which reunited GL fans with a new-and-improved — and sexually liberated — version of Otalia 2.0, Gina and Ani.

• And last but certainly not least, the gestation of a loyal, passionate and loving community known as the Otalia fan base.

So it was a no-brainer as to whom TV Guide Canada would name 2009’s Entertainer of the Year.

Chappell’s in esteemed company — past winners include One Life To Live’s head writer Ron Carlivati and The Young and the Restless’s head mistress, Maria Arena Bell.

And if La Chappell keeps it up, she may just win this honour next year, too.

TV Guide Canada reflected with show business’s hardest working woman, wife and mother on her golden year, Venice casting news, if she’ll be submitting herself for Emmy consideration next year, and whether or not she’ll find time to split the atom in 2010.

TVGuide.ca: Did anyone have a better year than Crystal Chappell?
Crystal Chappell: [Laughs] I had a very, very good year! I am very lucky. It was certainly challenging, but great.

TVG: In your wildest dreams, did you ever think that Guiding Light would be extinguished, you'd return to DAYS, and create hit web soap Venice?
CC: Nope, nope, and nope [laughs]! To be honest, I didn’t think about my 2009 plans until I found myself halfway through the year! I did hope that Guiding Light would be renewed. But you know, you just have to deal with what life throws you. When one door closes, another opens. The only way I can sum up this year is to say I was very lucky. And I’m not in freezing cold weather right now [laughs]!

TVG: I hate you [laughs]! Do you subscribe to the philosophy that says, “Life happens when you’re making other plans?” What kind of head space were you in last year?
CC: I knew there’d be some kind of change this year. I figured something new would happen. I was very on the fence when it came to [renewing] with GL. I was 50/50. I was not totally unpacked in the house I was living in on the east coast just in case I had to move. Yes, it’s a strange way to live, but I think a lot of people live like that now. I’m still not necessarily sure what will happen next year, either!

TVG: Is there a little bit of gypsy lurking inside Crystal Chappell?
CC: Yes, absolutely! I’m very adaptable. I can live anywhere. It stresses me out less than other people. Growing up, I moved from city to city, so I’m used to it. But that’s not to say that’s the best thing when you’re a child, and/or have children! Right now, our industry is in transition and changing, so I think we all have to be amendable. Look at Apple — they are thinking about charging subscriptions for network shows on iTunes. It’s a very interesting time right now in show business.

TVG: You really reinvented yourself in 2009 ... who do you think you are, Madonna?
CC: I experienced a lot of opportunity this past year and I ran with it. I’m still not sure why I’m so blessed, but because of that, I feel a responsibility to everyone to do my best. I just brought someone in to edit Season 1 of Venice, so I got to watch the show in its entirety, and I have to say I am so proud of what all of us — the actors, writers, producers, crew and most importantly, the fans — have accomplished with Venice.

From a personal standpoint, I have to say 2009 has been a year of great growth and learning for me. I am beginning to learn the web world language. Yes, it’s a little scary … but I’m getting it. I feel like I’ve enrolled back in school, like I’m in grad school trying to get everything done before exams. But I’m not complaining! I am so grateful for everything.

TVG: When you stop learning, you’re dead …
CC: Life would be pretty boring after death, so why not keep learning [laughs]?! 

TVG: Your decision to charge viewers a subscription fee to see Venice was met with a little bit of controversy, but it certainly — and pardon the pun — paid off. After the first episode aired, you already had enough money from purchases made at the Venice store and the aforementioned subscriptions to pay for a second season and hand out some bonuses to your cast and crew to boot! That’s quite the accomplishment … especially in this day and age.
CC: It was the only solution that made sense. Listen, I’m not looking to buy a second home out of this venture. I’m just trying to create a budget so we can continue a show a lot of people want to see. Had our show not had the loyal support of worldwide fans, I probably would have reconsidered.

TVG: It's called supply and demand.
CC: Exactly. I want give the fans a good show, and the only way I can do that is by asking for their support. Do you know how many fans offered me money? They were literally sending me cheques, up to thousands and thousands of dollars with my name on them to help sponsor this show. So, I said, “I’m not taking your money, but buy a subscription instead and buy one for your friend or buy something from the Venice store.” And that’s what we’re doing. Right now, the fans are our sponsors.

TVG: That’s a beautiful and accurate way of putting it. And if you land a few big sponsors, you may not need to charge a subscription fee. I loved the story you told Soap Opera Digest about people buying subscriptions as gifts for those who could not afford them. You really have created a community, Crystal. Otalia is the gift that keeps on giving …
CC: I haven’t put this out there because perhaps it’s not my place to, but we recently auctioned off a Venice script for Jerry Ver Dorn’s American Cancer Society fundraiser. And a woman paid $9,500 for it! We called the woman to thank her. Later, she explained her generosity by saying that various members of her family have battled cancer. She said if she could donate to a worthy cause in association with Venice, [it was a good day]. That story in itself says a lot about our community. I’m so proud of everyone involved in Venice —and that includes our loyal and passionate fans. I’m a lucky woman! [Laughs] As hard as this business can be sometimes, how many people out there get to do what they love for a living? It’s totally worth it.

TVG: As polarizing as America is, it’s nice to see everyone at least agree on something! [Laughs]
CC: [Laughs] I’ll take that! As long as people are coming together …

TVG: After watching the première episode of Venice, in which you and Jessica Leccia kissed in bed, I felt like I finally got closure after Guiding Light’s sloppy finale and refusal to show Otalia’s physical intimacy.
CC: Good. I’m glad to hear that. That was the goal.
TVG: What was it like seeing the first episode finally air?
CC: It was great. We’ve been working on this since April. We happened to be in Las Vegas that night for a Guiding Light fan event so we were all a little scattered that weekend. But our amazing Venice Street teams really stepped up to bat and helped us promote the show’s debut all over the world. It’s so cool because everyone involved is volunteering his or her time and energy. I got to see the first episode at a party with about 150 people in Las Vegas, thanks to the organization skills and prowess of our American Street Team. It was one fun night! They even put Venice on the big screen for all of us to watch together. Like you said, I think the Otalia fans felt closure after watching the first episode. To see my best friend, Kim [Turrisi’s] words come to life was pretty magical. Kim has developed her own fan base rather quickly so that was nice to see, too. It was an emotional night. I’m even grateful for some criticism we’ve received. I’m already making notes for next season.

TVG: Will the episodes be longer?
CC: Yes. The problem is that you don’t know if people have the attention span to view anything longer than six minutes, which is the average industry standard. But I’m going to keep pushing the limits and make it longer! We’ll figure it out as we go …

TVG: Yeah, I don’t think you’ll have a problem extending the webisodes …
CC: [Laughs] Yeah, I’m getting that vibe!

TVG: You had to deal with more than a few emergency recasts, but I have to say I’m thrilled with your replacements. For example, Nadia Bjorlin taking over Elizabeth Keener’s role.
CC: Yeah, unfortunately Elizabeth was ill but Nadia is really lovely in Venice. I love her as Lara. It’s so different than Chloe [her role on DAYS] so I was really excited to see her interpretation in this role. We have some exciting twists for Nadia next season, too. I made sure to tell our makeup people to tone down Nadia’s makeup because she’s a truly flawless beauty and Lara is a writer so in this case, less is more.

TVG: When are you tentatively planning to run Season 2?
CC: We’ll probably starting filming around March. I get one week off of DAYS each month, which also conveniently means Galen Gering and Nadia do as well, which works out very nicely for [scheduling production on] Venice! We’ll start writing in January because we can whip out these scripts pretty easily. We’ll have a four-week hiatus after Season 1, so I’m estimating Venice will air around early May.

TVG: Is Season 1 basically one fragmented series episode?
CC: It’s written more like a short film. We have an upcoming episode that’s about eight minutes long. The time varies for each episode. Season 1 is about 76 minutes long. And like I said, next season will be longer.

TVG: Everyone remarks how great the production values are. It made me ask out loud: what did GL do with millions of dollars and their CBS resources? You produced this visually beautiful web soap for nothing! Who said nothing in life is free [laughs]?
CC: [Laughs] I definitely did not have access to the kind of budget GL was operating with, that’s for sure!

TVG: Coming off of GL, was the aesthetic of the show equally as paramount as the writing?
CC: Yes. We shot hi-def using cameras that cost about $18,000 each! Let me tell you, we had quite the big insurance policy on that set! I think if you use good equipment and talented technicians, then you’re going to end up with a really good product. That’s not to say we don’t have a lot to improve upon. I just sent the first season to a few digital friends of mine for advice on how to soften the look and fine-tune our sound.

TVG: I don’t think Galen Gering has ever looked better than he does on Venice!
CC: Um, hello! [Laughs] Trust me, I know how extremely good-looking that man is! And he’s really good as Owen. He’s charming, funny, and witty. And he’s like that in real life, too. We have lots of dramatic material headed his way throughout the season. As an actor, Galen has a wide range.

TVG: Owen was cast three times because Daniel Cosgrove and Jeff Branson encountered scheduling conflicts and/or other professional commitments. Do they have any regrets in not participating in Season 1?
CC: I have three characters coming up next season. Like any other show, our cast will ebb, flow and evolve. But I can tell you, I definitely have Jeff Branson on board for next season in a much darker role. Actually in hindsight, it really worked out for the best because he’s much more suited for this new role.

TVG: Hillary B. Smith is receiving rave reviews for her performance as Goya, the kooky psychic.
CC: Isn’t she funny? I love her in this role! We really lucked out with our casting.

TVG: What’s been the Guiding Light reaction? Have you heard from Ellen Wheeler or the rest of the cast?
CC: I haven’t heard from Ellen. But I did bring in a GL producer who did most of our editing. My castmates have been really lovely and very supportive with their feedback. Heck, they all want to create their own web shows now!
TVG: It’s funny that you and Martha Byrne, both P&G Emmy winners, are leading the soap web charge.
CC: I think what we’re all doing is great. I tell all my actor friends to dive in and just do it because it is doable. It’s a great medium to direct your creative energies into…
 
TVG: Having successfully launched Venice, do you think web soaps are the future of the business? We just lost As The World Turns …
CC: I know, it’s so sad. I do think soaps are heading to the web. It’s just less expensive to produce. It’s also a smart way to cultivate an audience. Having said that, I do believe the network soaps that can control their budgets will survive. That’s really the bottom line. You’ve got to keep the ratings up, and the overhead low. It’s really hard to lure back-lapsed viewers as we saw with Guiding Light.

TVG: One show that hasn’t had a problem luring viewers back is DAYS. Of course, the press gives you some of the credit. After GL, it must be nice working on a ratings hit. What’s the morale on the DAYS set?
CC: It’s really positive. We work really hard and really fast but [co-executive producer] Gary Tomlin has set a really lovely mood at the studio. If you work on daytime, you have to be a team player. GL and World Turns’s cancellations taught us all in the business that we have to make certain sacrifices in order to survive. There’s no getting around that. At the end of the day, we all just want to keep our jobs. In this economic age, it’s nice to see DAYS doing very well. Gary is one of those people who gets it, you know? And we actors are willing to work for less now. All of that is important in order to make a living. DAYS also proves that good writing should never be underestimated. Our writers are creating riveting drama while connecting all the dots.

TVG: Due to the overwhelming success of Venice, everyone wants me to ask you if you would ever consider becoming a soap opera executive? You clearly have your finger on the pulse of the audience.
CC: I have a great appreciation for the hard work and dedication of show runners like the Paul Rauches and Gary Tomlins of the world and what they do on a day-to-day basis. I’m nowhere near where they are in terms of experience — especially when it comes to dealing with networks. Down the road, I wouldn’t mind pursuing [a leadership position], but I would never want to put a show in jeopardy until I’m ready [laughs]! Right now, I’m having too much fun working behind the scenes and in front of the camera on Venice and just acting on DAYS. To answer your question, yes, absolutely I would consider it.

TVG: You’ve been back as Carly for a few months now — do you feel like you’ve shed Olivia’s skin and become Dr. Manning again?
CC: I do. I’m totally settled in as Carly now. In the beginning, there was a brief adjustment because I had to re-acquaint myself with the old way of shooting a soap again. That took a few weeks. Now that we’re heavy into Carly’s story, I feel like I know who she is again. And I’ve thrown some of Olivia into Carly whenever I can. I like that Carly’s darker. She’s a good person, but she’s no longer a victim and not scared to fight back.

Days of our Lives, NBC

TVG: She’s a Carly and Olivia hybrid!
CC: Yes. Back in July, I remember when Gary was pitching me this story, he kept mentioning Bette Davis. Any producer who draws on black-and-white film is a friend of mine because they are well-constructed and classic stories! I love that Carly’s a murderess, an adulteress, and a thief — and that she has no remorse. I love it because Carly’s the perfect soap character [laughs]!

TVG: I like that Carly’s slightly unhinged but she is smarter and stronger. What’s it like working with the magnificent Louise Sorel again?
CC: We laugh our asses off each day! She’s so much fun. We kept in touch with each other over the years so we’re happy to be working together again. Louise is brilliant. She has a ton — and I mean a ton — of dialogue; because our Vivian sure can talk! But she handles her workload so beautifully. She can go from menacing to comedy in a second … I love watching her perform.

TVG: I was genuinely surprised and impressed that DAYS didn’t rush into a Bo and Carly romance.
CC: I was assured of that when I signed on. DAYS is only concerned with telling a good story and if something doesn’t work, it doesn’t work; if it works, it works. Bo was having problems with Hope long before Carly arrived in town, and likewise, Carly was obviously having problems with Lawrence [laughs]! At this point, as far as I’m concerned, neither Bo nor Carly are ready for a relationship.

TVG: Now that the calendar year is over, are you submitting yourself for lead actress Emmy consideration? You better …
CC: I am. I haven’t looked at my material [with a fresh eye] yet, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be submitting the GL graveyard scenes where Olivia tells Natalia she loves her.

TVG: I think that’s a wise move! You could pull a Meryl Streep and submit yourself for both DAYS and GL ...
CC: [Laughs] I don’t think I have the material on DAYS yet to submit my name for Emmy consideration. What I filmed this past week as Carly is really dramatic but that won’t air until February. There’s a lot of juicy stuff coming up for Carly. More than likely, I will only submit my GL work. Alison Sweeney and Ari Zucker delivered such unforgettable performances this past year that I think it’s their year to be recognized.

TVG: What’s next for Crystal Chappell in 2010? Splitting the atom [laughs]?
CC: [Laughs] Yes, that’s what I’ll be doing on New Year’s Eve! [Seriously,] the objective is just to keep Venice going. I would like to get at least two more seasons in before 2010 ends. That’ll keep me pretty busy along with working on DAYS, of course. Here’s a shocker — I may actually start exercising again [laughs]! I don’t want to speak too soon, but that may be a possibility … [laughs]

TVG: With all on your plate, did you at least find time to buy Christmas gifts?
CC: I did, actually! I did everything in one day — and I even wrapped them all by myself. But let me tell you my secret — cash is a wonderful gift to give! Not for my children, but for my older nieces and nephews or friends — you can’t go wrong with cash! It’s a great gift …

TVG: Just like Venice.

 

 

 

 

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Nelson Branco is a Toronto freelance entertainment journalist, who regularly contributes to Hello! Canada, The National Post, The Los Angeles Times' theenvelope.com, TV Guide USA, tvguide.com, Inside Entertainment, OUT, and fab magazine, along with spearheading the soap coverage for TVGuide.ca's popular daytime TV hub. After graduating from Ryerson University in 1997, he moved from Toronto to New York in 1998 to take on the roles as senior news editor at Soap Opera Update. Branco first freelanced for Soap Opera Weekly as an intern in 1994, and after leaving Soap Update to help create and launch Bauer Publishing's In Touch Weekly in 2003, Branco continued to freelance occasionally for its sister publication, Soaps In Depth. Most recently, he helped create and launch Canada's first celebrity magazine, Weekly Scoop in 2005 as its news and entertainment director. Branco is also a contributor to a new TV show titled Planet Soap to air in Canada and America.