WEEKEND SUDS FLASHES
Mourning James Mitchell! SAG honours White! Moss a big hit in Italy! Day Emmys in June!
• Seven-time Daytime Emmy-nominated legend James Mitchell, a widely respected and talented stage actor (Billion Dollar Baby, Brigadoon, Bloomer Girl, The King and I, The Three Penny Opera), as well as films (The Turning Point, The Band Wagon, Oklahoma, Deep In My Heart), sadly passed away this past Friday at L.A.’s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to pneumonia at the age of 89. Born in Sacramento, Calif., the All My Children legend would have turned 90 on Feb. 29. Mitchell is survived by his longtime partner Albert Wolsky.
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Ever the versatile artist, Mitchell spent his early days fluidly dancing for the likes of The American Ballet Theatre and The Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre.
In 1956, Mitchell began a new chapter in his venerable career when he signed on to star on daytime soap The Edge of Night. In 1969, the California native soap-hopped over to Where The Heart Is.
Of course, Mitchell will be most remembered for his highly entertaining and lauded role as the ruthless yet lovable self-made tycoon, Palmer Cortlandt on AMC, which he originated in 1979. He last appeared on AMC earlier this month for one episode to celebrate the sudser’s 40th anniversary.
According to Wolsky, a memorial is still pending. |
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Soapgeist reader Derek Kitchen shares one of his favourite AMC scenes featuring Mr. Mitchell in which Palmer chastises his wife at the time, Donna, for her latest “makeover.”
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• Six-time Emmy winner Betty White, who may win a 2010 Daytime Emmy Award for her brilliant turn on B&B last year, was honoured with a Lifetime Actor Award at this past weekend's SAG Awards for her iconic six-decades-long contributions in the field of entertainment and acting. One of the most poignant moments during the kudofest was SAG’s memorial segment, which featured Phil Carey along with a few other ex-soap actors. Considering the Daytime Emmy Awards have shamefully failed to air an in memoriam, this was a sweet surprise. Like hearing an old song, watching old clips of friends gone by has a powerful effect on an awards show telecast. NATAS would be wise to re-introduce the segment — especially in light of James Mitchell’s recent passing. Until then, the soap world has welovesoaps.net’s Roger Newcomb to produce tributes to our fallen artists. |
• Speaking of the Daytime Emmys, ATI’s James Romanovich tells Soapgeist that NATAS will hold the ceremony sometime in June —whether they air or not.
• Major
One Life spoiler alert! Don’t read any further if you are spoilerphobic. Llanview spies inform Soapgeist that my desire to have Cristian and Jessica revisit their magical teenage romance is already in progress! The insider offers, “Last week, the soap was shooting scenes in which Jessica is determined to steal Cristian at all costs. Also, apparently John and Natalie have a close encounter on the mountain, which almost leads to a kiss. Naturally, Marty finds out about it just before she discovers she might be pregnant! However, Marty isn’t threatened by Natalie ... but judging from the additional shots created on set of having Melissa Archer act very upset by John and Marty's relationship, I’d say maybe she should be worried.” Well, duh!
• Word on the World Turns set is that newcomer Sarah Wilson “is flawlessly transitioning into Liberty. Everyone is raving about her.” Moreover, an Oakdale mole informs a not-too-surprised Soapgeist that “a lot of high-profile stars of yore have been calling asking to come back before the soap is cancelled.” Hmmm … could we see Julianne Moore, Meg Ryan or Marisa Tomei back?
Still thirsty for more Oakdale dish? Continues the fly on the wall, “The politico Molly slept with is coming back to the show in a more long-term way but expect a recast.” Sadly, the insider reveals that the show’s creative high is now a thing of the past. “Christopher Goutmam is killing the show again and the material we’ll see post-Feb. Sweeps is back to the ridiculous drek we saw in early 2009. In fact, the show is so bad that many people are actually secretly happy and relieved the show has been cancelled! Everyone blames Chris. And I agree.”
• Since One Life’s PR team couldn’t find out the catchy, definitive soap opera awards show theme song, which was specifically created for 1989’s The Daisy Awards, Soapgeist decided to go right to the source to get the answer. Former One Life executive producer Paul Rauch, who is currently helming daytime’s No. 1 soap, Y&R, tells me, “The writer of the song was Jonathan L. Segal. The music supplier to the overall show was Score Productions and the regular theme music under opening titles was written by 1989 Oscar winner David Grusin sung by Peabo Bryson.” Thanks Paul. To relive my second favourite soap moment of all time (Megan's death remains my most memorable), click here.
• Ronn Moss’s popularity has increased tenfold on Italy’s Dancing With The Stars competition. Which was evident after I visited a foreign newsstand. The B&B star is featured on the cover of several Italian publications! Now if only America cared as much.
REMOTE CONTROL — Rating the good, the bad, and the ugly on daytime TV
<< REW:
General Hospital — Unlucky Lucky, lucky us!
Like father, like son? Last week, three-time Daytime Emmy Award winner Jonathan Jackson proved why GH had no choice but to fire Greg Vaughan and recast the legacy role of Lucky Spencer with its originator. Jackson just may be the most talented actor in the Spencer clan. The handsome actor delivered an unforgettable, gut-wrenching performance as the cuckolded Lucky revealed he knew his brother, Dikolas, and his slutty fiancée, Liz, were having an affair. Even Tyler Christopher and Becky Herbst looked shell-shocked by Jackson’s hold-no-prisoner’s vitriol. It’s no secret that Jackson is equipped with an unrivaled arsenal of acting talents and skills — one that could rival Hollywood’s best actors — but it’s been a revelation and a blessing of sorts to witness the comeback kid showcase them again, but this time as an adult soap opera character. With Lucky falling off the wagon, Jackson may just steal the show as GH’s biggest — and most talented — actor. The best part of Jackson's tour-de-force performance? The almighty thespian proves that a great actor can indeed improve, reinvent and boost a boring and contrived storyline which was previously DOA. And just like that, I'm obsessed with this fascinating love triangle. Nikolas and Liz can have each other. They deserve one another.
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Venice — The Gering and Chappell Show
The cancellation of Passions is the best thing that ever happened to Galen Gering. Not only is the sexy actor receiving his most challenging and rewarding material yet on DAYS, but Gering is also (almost) stealing the show on Venice as the sarcastic yet loyal Owen. In the process, Gering and Crystal Chappell have become my favourite couple to watch on the web soap. They’re highly believable and entertaining as the criminally cynical (read — romantically starved), dysfunctional siblings. And the superb Jordan Clarke, who plays their homophobic father, The Colonel, proves why. Bravo!
HOTLINE OF THE WEEK
Strasser sounds off on Haiti!
Make sure you listen to Robin Strasser’s must-hear hotline. In this week’s edition, the Emmy winner questions the overgenerous support of Americans this past Friday to raise funds to rebuild Haiti when America is struggling itself with poverty and health care issues. She astutely notes how the American government ignored the New Orleans disaster a few years back. Me? I think, especially under President Obama’s new peaceful and diplomatic regime, America is proving to the world that a new day has dawned both internationally and nationally. But Strasser raises some good points. Have a listen and see if you agree or not by calling 212-414-5300.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Roscoe Born’s got the Pepsi Blues!
BLOG OF THE WEEK
Patrick Erwin asks — Is Frank Valentini towing the company line?
A Thousand Other Worlds blogger Patrick Erwin comments on One Life’s executive producer Frank Valentini’s recent remarks in Soap Opera Digest. Here’s an excerpt:
The soap industry is an unusual one. Soaps are seen by millions every day, but most shows fly under the radar when it comes to the mainstream. As a result, we rarely hear the real deal about decision-making, creative decisions or any important research and development at any of the shows.
What we often get, instead, is a whole lotta spin. And what often happens is that if one person gives us a bit of spin, others start repeating it as gospel.
This happened recently when one of my favorite contenders for Mr. Eloquence, Brian Frons, said this:
“Some (soaps) have been on many years, so people feel the need to make sage-like statements about the future of the genre,” Frons says. “Nobody makes those statements when a sitcom or long-running drama dies. It’s the end of that program, and that’s the way we should look at it as well.”
I chalked this up to Frons and his usual wellsprings of empathy and intelligence. But then I picked up this week’s Soap Opera Digest and read this in an interview with Frank Valentini, executive producer of One Life to Live:
“People just love to say that daytime’s dying, so knock yourself out. Say it all you want; they’ve been saying that for the last 10 years.”
I really like Frank Valentini. He’s a smart guy, One Life has been an overall solid show during his tenure, and he knows what he’s talking about. So I was a bit disappointed to hear him chirp the company line … especially since it’s not true.”
SUDS POLL
Which characters from other soaps should hook up? Click here to vote.
—World Turns’s Luke and One Life’s Fish
—DAYS’s Carly and One Life’s Todd
—GH’s Luke and AMC’s Erica
—DAYS’s EJ and World Turns’s Carly
—Y&R’s Jack and AMC’s Angie
—DAYS’s Sami and GH’s Jason
—Y&R’s Tucker and B&B’s Brooke
—GH’s Franco and World Turns’s Noah
—One Life’s Starr and GH’s Michael
—Y&R’s Patty and AMC’s Chuck Pratt
Editor’s Note — Some readers are having trouble accessing our polls on Firefox, so use Explorer or Safari instead.
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Free with a purchase of Monavie?
Ewww — Michael Saucedo tweets his wife, Becky Herbst’s pee stick!
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SAVE ONE LIFE CAMPAIGN
Write ABC — let your voices be heard!
Brian Scott Frons, Daytime President
Anne Sweeney, ABC President
President, Daytime Disney-ABC Television Group ABC, Inc.
500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA, 91521-4551
Phone numbers: (818) 560-1000 or (212) 456-7777
THE NELSON RATINGS
Can’t watch all the soaps this week? No worries — here’s a cheat sheet!
Top 3 Soaps to Watch:
1. One Life To Live, ABC
2. Days of our Lives, NBC/Global
3. General Hospital, CBS/Global
Top 3 Storylines to Watch:
1. Maggie’s Liquid Courage, DAYS
2. Sonny Shoots His DNA, GH
3. Lucky’s Sobriety Malfunction, GH
Top 5 Actresses to Watch:
1. Crystal Chappell (Carly, DAYS/Gina, Venice)
2. Maura West (Carly, World Turns)
3. Florencia Lozano (Téa, One Life)
4. Amanda Setton (Kim, One Life)
5. Suzanne Rogers (Maggie, DAYS)
Top 5 Actors to Watch:
1. Stephen Nichols (Tucker, Y&R)
2. Jonathan Jackson (Lucky, GH)
3. Billy Miller (Billy, Y&R)
4. Roscoe Born (Mitch, One Life)
5. Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH)
Top 3 Most Entertaining Performers:
1. Amanda Setton (Kim, One Life)
2. Louise Sorel (Vivian, DAYS)
3. Marie Wilson (Meg, World Turns)
Top 3 Duos to Watch:
1. Fish and Kyle, One Life
2. Carly and Bo, DAYS
3. Jack and Carly, World Turns
Top 3 Rivals:
1. Nikolas vs. Lucky, GH
2. Tucker vs. Katherine, Y&R
3. Vivian vs. Carly, DAYS
Top 3 Triangles to Watch:
1. Lucky/Liz/Nikolas, GH
2. Hope/Bo/Carly, DAYS
3. EJ/Sami/Rafe, DAYS
Top 3 Guilty Pleasures:
1. Nobody puts “Nut Meg” in a box, World Turns
2. Paolo Seganti strangling Marie Wilson, World Turns
3. Lily’s headscarves, Y&R
Top 3 Families To Watch:
1. The Newmans, Y&R
2. The DiMeras, DAYS
3. The Corinthos, GH
Top 3 New Duos To Watch:
1. Clint and Kim, One Life
2. Holden and Molly, World Turns
3. Alexis and Mac, GH
Top 3 Duos To Avoid Like the Plague:
1. Adam and Sharon, Y&R
2. Cane and Lily, Y&R
3. JR and Marissa, AMC
Top 3 Young Actors:
1. Shenell Edmonds (Destiny, One Life)
2. Drew Garrett (Michael, GH)
3. Kelley Missal (Danielle, One Life)
Top 3 Biggest Wastes of Talent:
1. Renee Jones (Lexie, DAYS)
2. Jane Elliott (Tracy, GH)
3. James Reynolds (Abe, DAYS)
Top 3 Hair Models:
1. Denise Vasi (Randi, AMC)
2. Texas Battle (Marcus, B&B)
3. Nathan Parsons (Ethan, GH)
Top 3 Soap Magazine Covers (based on art direction):
1. Soap Opera Weekly — DAYS Surprises!
2. ABC Soaps In Depth — GH’s Sonny/Dante/Jason
3. Soap Opera Digest — February Preview!
Top 3 Best Reads/Buys at the Newsstand:
1. Soap Opera Digest
2. Soap Opera Weekly
3. ABC Soaps In Depth
Top 3 Soap Moments To Watch:
1. Friday: The press asks Erica some pretty intimate questions about her cougtastic relationship with 40-year-old Ryan on AMC. “Do you get a senior’s discount at the Pine Valley Inn,” asks one reporter. Adds another, “When he opens his mouth to speak, do you immediately fall into a deep sleep?”
2. Tuesday: Victor offers Billy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on Y&R. “I’ll let you see my Sony contract if you tell me how nasty my ex-daughter-in-law Sharon is in bed,” offers the titan. “And if it’s good dish, I’ll let you pet my moustache, too.”
3. Friday: Friends, family, and enemies gather at Josslyn’s christening on GH. “I wonder how that baby came out of that used-and-abused womb of hers?” snarks Tracy. Alexis doesn’t have an answer, just another question. “I just want to know who the father is. Everyone knows Jax’s sperm is handicapped. I have more fertile sperm than the Aussie! Plus, he’s horrible in bed.”
Want to dish the soaps with Nelson Branco? Join The Suds Report discussion group today on Facebook.
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.
