The Soapgeist - Aug. 31/09

SUDSIEST QUOTES OF THE WEEKEND:
“And working toilets! On our final day at GL we had 45 cast and crew people working in a house in Peapack, New Jersey, on a 100-degree day in August with no air conditioning and all the toilets stopped functioning. So my attitude about the show coming to an end — besides a feeling of extreme loss — is enough already. If a show has flushable facilities, I’m your gal! That’s all I need. I’m very easy to please.”
—Crystal Chappell (Olivia, GL) in an interview with TV Guide Magazine’s Michael Logan
Translation: Stand back, people — the truth is finally coming out.

“It was a very hard summer. We were on such a crazy, difficult schedule that we’d literally chase daylight trying to get scenes completed. ‘Quick! Everybody run over here! Set up the shot! Now run over there!’ So I think by the end of it we were all exhausted — physically and emotionally. We were ready to move on, but it was sad. When the stage manager said for the last time, ‘GL, that’s a rap,’ it really, really hit you. [Gasps] Oh!”
–La Chappell (Olivia, GL) regarding Wheeler’s “revolutionary” production model to Logan
Translation: Welcome to the world of freedom of speech, ex-GL actors!
 
“I wish I could say the Otalia fans are going to be happy with the way it wraps up. I wish they could get everything they want. It’s been frustrating. [Laughs] It got to the point where I didn’t know what to do anymore to show lust but at the same time not show lust — I did everything except pull Jessie’s hair. It became this running joke between us. [Sighs] Oh, I don’t know. I’d like to think the Otalia fans will be OK with the way it ends. I know that the plan — the endgame — has always been these two women would be together. If people are satisfied enough with that, then it’ll be a happy ending.”
—Chappell in the same story previewing Otalia’s endgame story to Logan
Translation: Send all hate mail to Ellen Wheeler. I tried my best. Watch Venice if you want to be respected as viewers.

THE EMMY LOWDOWN
Who won! Who lost! Who lucked out!
There may have been a heatwave and wild fires burning through Los Angeles but the real explosions happened on the 36th annual Daytime Emmy Awards red carpet and in the Orpheum Theatre in downtown L.A.
 

Despite the wacky nominations, critics were genuinely satisfied with the majority of the winners, which unusually represented the majority of the soaps on air. However, reporters gasped out loud when the telecast went directly to its end credits after Dr. Phil announced that B&B won its first best drama series win. The biggest upset of the night? GH’s Bob Guza, who didn’t even bother to show up, winning best writing.

Anthony Geary (Luke, GH) be damned: History was still made during the ceremony even when daytime superstar didn’t win his seventh best actor trophy. For the first time in Emmy history, a multi-hosted show, The View, took home best talk show host honours. Too bad, the bitches didn’t show up to claim their much-coveted trophies. Also, for the first time, a tie occurred in the best supporting actor category.

ABC took home the most gold with 17 wins (One Life and AMC tied with five a piece), while CBS trailed far behind with eight golden ladies. Y&R placed in third place with three golden nuggets.

Below are the winners from this past weekend’s award festivities.

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
The Bold and the Beautiful

OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW — ENTERTAINMENT
The Rachael Ray Show

OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW — INFORMATIVE
The Tyra Banks Show

OUTSTANDING WRITING
General Hospital

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING
One Life To Live

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR
Christian Le Blanc (Michael, Y&R)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS
Susan Haskell (Marty, One Life)

OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW HOST(S)
Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Barbara Walters, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd, The View

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR
Vincent Irizarry (David, AMC)
—tie— Jeff Branson (Shayne, GL)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Tamara Braun (Ava, DAYS)

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTOR
Darin Brooks (ex-Max, DAYS)

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTRESS
Julie Marie Berman (Lulu, GH)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT FOR A CASTING DIRECTOR
As The World Turns
 
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN 
One Life To Live

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN HAIRSTYLING 
The Bold and the Beautiful

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN LIVE & DIRECT TO TAPE SOUND MIXING  
All My Children

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP 
One Life To Live
 
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN LIGHTING DIRECTION  
All My Children

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MULTIPLE CAMERA EDITING
As The World Turns

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC DIRECTION AND COMPOSITION  
The Young and the Restless

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL DIRECTION/ ELECTRONIC CAMERA/VIDEO CONTROL FOR A DRAMA SERIES
All My Children
— tie —
The Young and the Restless

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG FOR A DRAMA SERIES
One Life To Live, “We All Fall Down”
Kevin Briody, Composer, Lyricist

EMMY FLASHES AND GOSSIP: Pelphrey joins World Turns; Borlenghi back on soaps; Tognoni joining Venice? • Expect more screaming in Oakdale: Emmy winner Tom Pelphrey (ex-Jonathan, GL) has joined the cast of World Turns, according to welovesoaps.net. On the red carpet, Pelphrey informed Should-less queen Damon L. Jacobs that he will be crossing over to GL’s sister soap as a new character. He told partygoers, “I’m just not a west-coast person.” • Emmy winner Gina Tognoni (Dinah, GL) informs Soapgeist that she was sent a Venice script by her former co-star Emmy winner Crystal Chappell (Olivia, GL) for a possible role on the much-buzzed online venture. “I’d love to be a part of it,” she tells Soapgeist. “We’ll see!”  As for rumours that Tognoni is in talks to join a soap, all she will say is, “things are in the works.” The loyal New Yorker adds, “I am willing to move to L.A. for the right show.” Hmmm …  Look for a more in-depth interview with one of daytime TV’s greatest talents very soon.

• Stacy Haiduk (MJ/Patty, Y&R) loves her pussycat so much the star has a Kitty tattoo on her ankle.

• Emmy winner Tamara Braun (ex-Ava, DAYS) lost her purse in a limo, but luckily the driver returned it. She told me, “This was one lucky night in more ways than one!” Thankfully, her Emmy Award wasn’t in her purse! By the way, Braun wore two stunning gowns last night: one by Lorena Sarbu and the other by Tristan & Trista. Braun and I hung out for an impromptu cocktail after the Emmy parties. “I’m focusing on Saving Grace and other projects but I won’t say no to soaps, either,” she whispered.

• Originally, fans who applied to sit in the red carpet bleachers at the Emmys were told that they had to be under 30 years of age to sit down on the coveted benches. But come camera time, producers changed their mind and allowed a handful of “old timers.”

• This Wednesday, The Suds Bubble will print B&B’s Emmy winner Brad Bell’s (how cool is that to say and write) un-aired speech. Because that’s how we roll.

• This past weekend, I was honoured to be invited to an exclusive party for Debbi Morgan (Angie, AMC) thrown by Victoria Rowell (ex-Dru, Y&R) at her Hollywood Hills home (one of the most beautiful homes I have ever seen in my life — and I produce at-home stories for Hello! featuring the very rich and famous; I call it the House Victoria Rowell built). It was one of the best Emmy parties I have ever been to. More this Wednesday.

• In an exclusive interview, Y&R’s head writer Maria Arena Bell told Soapgeist that her co-head writer Scott Hamner was misquoted in Soap Opera Weekly when he recently told the magazine that the soap never had any plans on telling a gay storyline. “He was solely talking about the Adam and Rafe story — not Phillip or Rafe’s personal journeys,” she asserts. “We’re totally committed to telling gay stories on our show.”  Look for more of Maria’s thoughts this Wednesday.

• The new Julie Chen? As Suds Report revealed a few weeks ago, Barbara Bloom’s husband, Frank Clem, is playing Eb, Maeve’s (Judi Evans) hubby. • At press time, Emmy winner Susan Lucci (Erica, AMC) is still undecided about moving out west. When TV Guide Canada caught up with a gaggle of defeated AMC vets, their plan to band together and threaten to quit has proven to be fruitless. “What’s the point?” one actor said. I hate to tell you, I told you so, kids! Regardless, the cast has until Sept. 8 to decide, so anything can happen. Also, insiders hint that David Canary and ABC may be working out a deal to extend Adam’s stay in Pine Nuts. When Suds ran into Canary and his lovely wife, Maureen, they were in lively spirits. Maureen told me, “I love Toronto. It’s truly one of the great cities.” FYI: Canary is in fine health these days. The Canarys hung out with the very handsome and physically gifted Adam Mayfield (Scott) during Emmy week.

• Which shady west-coast photographer instructed one of his boy-toy actors not to pose for anyone else because the snaparazzo wanted the hair model all to himself? Yes, because soap actors can afford to be picky with PR — not.

• Insiders report that former AMC stud Matt Borlenghi (ex-Brian), who attended the Emmois sporting super-sexy grey hair, will soon be joining a west-coast soap. Our lips are sealed.

• Where was Kendall? Emmy nominee Alicia Minshew (Kendall, AMC) did not attend the Emmys due to a heavy work schedule and her pregnancy.

• Is Thorsten Kaye (Zach, AMC) headed to L.A.? According to two-time Emmy winner Susan Haskell (Marty, One Life), “not without me!” Do the math.

• Which Y&R actor had to take prescription drugs to get through the show’s recent fan-club luncheon?

• The biggest star of the weekend? Y&R’s Kitty! Word is it that the male feline will refuse to take a pay cut. Maria Bell tells Soapgeist, “We may have to cave in.”

• According to his rep, Emmy winner Eric Braeden’s (Victor, Y&R) contract expires in late 2010, not at the end of this year as rumoured.

• Which east-coast actress, who was flown out to California and put up in a beautiful hotel, didn’t even bother to show up to the ceremony?

• New Couple Alert: Y&R’s Adrienne Frantz (Amber) is dating former GL heartthrob Scott Bailey (ex-Sandy).

• I think I’m a lesbian straight man now: Emmy winner Crystal Chappell tells Soapgeist that she loves and appreciates TV Guide Canada’s Venice and Otalia coverage. “Thank you so much,” she said as she hugged me. “And tell Mimi Torchin, I love her.” When I asked the actress if DAYS was capable of writing for her immeasurable and incomparable talents, Chappell, who was wearing a tight black tank top in her slinky new body, reassured me, saying, “So far, the writing has been very good. I think everyone will be surprised.” Whew. By the way, Otalia fans, she says, “I love my fans — I would not be where I am without them. This is not the end; it’s the beginning.” 

• Watch out, Oprah: Emmy winner Tyra Banks informed the press room that her titular talk show will now go by her first name. • One of my soap idols, AMC/One Life’s Emmy-winning art director Roger Mooney, who this past weekend took home his latest trophy for Pine Valley’s tornado fiasco, tells The Suds Report he will not be moving to L.A. But not to worry — he will continue making Llanview the most beautiful location in daytime. “Ron Carlivati’s writing definitely inspires my art direction. He makes my job much easier,” he says. • B&B’s Susan Flannery took former GH superstar Finola Hughes (ex-Anna) as her date to the Tech Emmys.

• Emmy winner Eden Riegel (ex-Binks, AMC) told Soapgeist she enjoyed a lovely dinner with Susan Lucci (Erica, AMC) the other night. “It was nice to play catch-up,” Riegel reported.

• When GH casting director Mark Teschner suggested I be on a soap, I retorted, “as a Port Charles corpse!” Perfect casting, huh, Mark! Your head writer Bob Guza would love that. BTW: Teschner was robbed of his casting Emmy this year. World Turns, my ass.

• Why wasn’t Vail Bloom (Heather) at Y&R’s fan club luncheon? Her rep tells Soapgeist that, “she’s filming a movie.”

• Memo to the GH writing team: Don’t enter the press room if you have no intention of being honest or offering your opinions. That’s what the photography press room is for. You’d think they were running for office or something.

• Speaking of casting, World Turns’ Emmy-winning casting director, May Clay Boland, claims her show doesn’t have it bad for GH actors. “Honestly, we just cast the best actors in the best roles. We did purposely cast Stuart Damon because of Lynn Herring as a wink to the audience, but everyone else was coincidental,” she said. When asked if World Turns is facing cancellation, she refutes those rumours. As for Austin Peck’s dismissal, she says, “That was unfortunate. Peck was brilliant as Brad. We’ll never see the likes of him again on our show. He’s very unique. I was very proud that we cast him — and that he got to prove how talented he really was. We need someone of his comedic charms and sex appeal on our show.” Ditto that business, Mary.

THE NELSON RATINGS: EMMY SPECIAL Best and Worst Dressed! Top 13 Fiercest Stars 1. Van Hansis (Luke, World Turns) 2. Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R) 3. Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe, DAYS) 4. Lori Laughlin (Debbie, 90210; ex-Jody, The Edge of Night) 5. Susan Lucci (Erica, AMC) 6. Lisa LoCicero (Olivia, GH) 7. Meredith Hagner (Liberty, World Turns) 8. Cameron Mathison (Ryan, AMC) 9. Noelle Beck (Lily, World Turns) 10. Vanessa Williams, host 11. Taylor Spreitler (Mia, DAYS) 12. Chrishell Stause (Amanda, AMC) 13. Victoria Rowell (ex-Dru, Y&R)

Top 10 Wardrobe Malfunctions 1. Brenda Dickson (ex-Jill, Y&R) 2. Debbi Morgan (Angie, AMC) 3. Winsor Harmon (Thorne, B&B) 4. Judith Chapman (Gloria, Y&R) 5. Bree Williamson (Jessica, One Life) 6. Marie Wilson (Meg, World Turns) 7. Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki, Y&R) 8. Grant Aleksander (Phillip, GL) 9. Laura Wright (Carly, GH) 10. Rachel Melvin (ex-Chelsea, DAYS)

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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.