WEEKEND SUDS FLASHES
More Gotham “gets!” World Turns diva sounds off!
• Emmy winner Martha Byrne is a big tease! The Gotham creator/producer/writer/star tells Soapgeist that three high profile soap names have been added to her sudsy web show. More this week.
• World Turns legend Eileen Fulton took time to address her loyal fans on her titular website. Here’s what the diva had to say:
“Many of you are writing to say you simply haven’t seen me on the show much. After a busy summer, I can’t say I am not disappointed. If I could have one Christmas wish, besides world peace, of course — it would be for a storyline! I really am beginning to feel that Lisa (and moi!) have become almost like a footstool, that just sits there until someone trips over it every once and awhile! I love this show just like most of you. And like most of you who write to me, I wish for the kinder, gentler Hughes years. Remember? When the characters had problems everyone could relate to. When events and circumstances mimicked real life, in real settings. Didn’t you feel in past years that the characters were your friends? [Characters] you could rely on their steadfastness or kookiness or evilness. You had a reason to be happy when they had a reason to be happy, sad when they were, fearful when you knew they were straying, mad when they were treating each other badly. I don’t know, I throw my hands up in the air and all I can implore you to do is write to P&G and CBS-TV.”
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SUDSY NEWSSTAND
Scott Evans honoured for being out in Out, Instinct
In the end, everything gay comes full circle. Joining my pal, Adamo Ruggiero, for Out magazine’s annual year-end review is One Life’s Scott Evans. Ruggiero, who came out to me exclusively in the pages of Fab magazine and Out in 2007, had a blast shooting with Evans. Soapgeist broke the news that One Life wrote Evans’ character, Fish, gay earlier this summer so this was an inspired pairing. |
| Ruggiero tells Soapgeist, “We didn’t talk too much, but the funny thing was that during our photo shoot, the concept was gym jocks. After looking at how hot and fit he was, I knew I was in trouble! So at the last minute, I threw on eyeliner and short shorts to be the ‘Gaga’ jock.” According to the Degrassi star, no dropped soap was involved in the photo shoot. Evans also graces the cover of this month’s Instinct magazine. Hey, One Life — why is Evans still on recurring and not on contract status? I’d lock Evans up immediately before Hollywood pursues the talented newcomer. And anyone with a brain cell knows that’s going to happen sooner rather than later. |
Photo credit: Jason Bell
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VIDEO PODCAST OF THE WEEK
Nelson Aspen co-hosts We Love Soaps TV
International entertainment reporter — and former soap actor/reporter — Nelson Aspen guest-hosted on Roger Newcomb’s We Love Soaps TV this past week to dish on soaps past, present and future.
DYKE AND GREET
Lea DeLaria’s big gay Toronto adventure
Scott Evans who? Out One Life actress Lea DeLaria will be appearing at Toronto gluten-free/organic resto/bar Big Mamma’s Boy on Dec. 10-13 and then from Dec. 17-20 for a variety dinner show with Maggie Cassella, international comedian and former producer of Planet Soap. Click here for times and prices. Yep, I’ll be there, so don’t be shy and say hi!
SUDS POLL
Who should we name 09’s Entertainer of the Year?
—Ron Carlivati, One Life
—Stacy Haiduk, Y&R
—Crystal Chappell, DAYS/GL/Venice
—Tuc Watkins, One Life
—Maria Arena Bell, Y&R
—Gary Tomlin, DAYS
—James Franco, GH
—Eric Braeden, Y&R
—James Scott, DAYS
—Brett Claywell and Scott Evans, One Life
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PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Ron’s One Life Angels
Brett Claywell: “Um, where’s your other hand, Scott?” |
SOAP SING-A-LONG/VIDEOS OF THE WEEK
Canadian soap fan sings the drama
The Toronto Star recently reported on Salt Spring Water Island, B.C.’s Paul Beckman. The sudsy fan uses soap plots and character histories as inspirations for songs/music videos. Since January, he’s posted roughly 4,000 videos. The 54-year-old Canuck has developed quite the following on YouTube. Beckham reveals he has autism, but when he sings and writes, his mind and emotions accelerate at a rapid speed, “like sands through the hourglass.” In fact, Beckham produces 50-100 songs in one day. His favourite soaps to sing about are Y&R and DAYS. Check out his Y&R videos and ones devoted to DAYS.
TOPS OF THE DECADE
Who were the standouts in Y2K?
Every Monday, Soapgeist will be rolling out the top shows, actors, couples and storylines until ’00 decade is officially over. See if you agree. This week? Best Villains from the new millennium. My buddy Michael Fairman of On Air On Soaps is weighing in as well.
10. Col. Mayer, World Turns
9. Spencer Truman, One Life
8. Andre DiMera, DAYS
7. Edmund Winslow, GL
6. Caleb Morley, Port Charles
5. Alan Spaulding, GL
4. Mitch Lawrence, One Life
3. Tom Fisher, Y&R
2. Adam Newman, Y&R
1. Todd Manning, One Life
Reader’s Choice — Chuck Pratt Jr.
THE NELSON RATINGS
Can’t watch all the soaps this week? No worries — here’s a cheat sheet!
Top 4 Soaps to Watch:
1. Venice, You Tube/Venicetheseries.com
2. Days of our Lives, NBC/Global
3. General Hospital, ABC
—tie — As The World Turns, CBS/Global
Top 3 Storylines to Watch:
1. “Otalia” Reunites, Venice
2. Vivian Drives Philip to Drink, DAYS
3. Sonny and Olivia Kiss, GH
Top 6 Actresses to Watch:
1. Crystal Chappell (Carly, DAYS)
—tie — Crystal Chappell (Gina, Venice)
3. Louise Sorel (Vivian, DAYS)
4. Jessica Leccia (Ani, Venice)
5. Lesli Kay (Tracy, Venice)
6. Sarah Brown (Sandy/Agnes, B&B)
Top 5 Actors to Watch:
1. James Franco (Franco, GH)
2. James Scott (EJ, DAYS)
3. Billy Miller (Billy, Y&R)
4. Tom Pelphrey (Mick, World Turns)
5. Roscoe Born (Mitch, One Life)
Top 3 Most Entertaining Performers:
1. Louise Sorel (Vivian, DAYS)
2. Amanda Setton (Kim, One Life)
3. Robin Strasser (Dorian, One Life)
Top 3 Duos to Watch:
1. Gina and Ani, Venice
2. Fish and Kyle, One Life
3. Katie and Simon, World Turns
Top 3 Rivals:
1. Nicole vs. Sami, DAYS
2. Mitch vs. Llanview, One Life
3. Franco vs. Jason, GH
Top 3 Triangles to Watch:
1. Carly/Bo/Hope, DAYS
2. Sami/Rafe/EJ, DAYS
3. Sonny/Olivia/Johnny, GH
Top 3 Guilty Pleasures:
1. “Nut Meg” Snyder, World Turns
2. Nicole’s black wig, DAYS
3. Aidan kidnapping Kendall, AMC
Top 3 Families To Watch:
1. The DiMeras, DAYS
2. The Kiriakises, DAYS
3. The Bradys, DAYS
Top 3 New Duos To Watch:
1. Layla and Cristian, One Life
2. Alexis and Mac, GH
3. Damian and Meg, World Turns
Top 3 Duos To Avoid Like the Plague:
1. Greg and Rachel, One Life
2. Bo and Nora, One Life
3. JR and Marissa, AMC
Top 3 Young Actors:
1. Drew Garrett (Michael, GH)
2. Lexi Ainsworth (Kristina, GH)
3. Lauren and Hailey Sinnema (Sydney, DAYS)
Top 3 Biggest Wastes of Talent:
1. Carolyn Hennesy (Diane, GH)
2. Van Hansis (Luke, World Turns)
3. Eileen Fulton (Lisa, World Turns)
Top 3 Hair Models:
1. Denise Vasi (Randi, AMC)
2. Jackie MacInnes Wood (Steffy, B&B)
3. Stephanie Gatschet (Madison, AMC)
Top 3 Soap Magazine Covers (based on art direction):
1. ABC Soaps In Depth — GH’s Lucky learns the truth/09’s Best/Worst
2. Soap Opera Weekly — December Preview!
3. Soap Opera Digest — Y&R Preview
Top 3 Best Reads/Buys at the Newsstand:
1. Soap Opera Weekly
2. Soap Opera Digest
3. ABC Soaps In Depth
Top 3 Soap Moments To Watch:
1. Friday: Venice finally premières!
2. Friday: One Life welcomes The All-American Rejects. “We named our group after Crystal Hunt,” reveals one of the band members.
3.Tuesday: B&B’s Owen and Jackie shoot their sexy “Adam and Eve” photo campaign. “More like Adam and Steve,” quips Whip.
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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.
