SUDSIEST QUOTES OF THE WEEKEND
“Laura Wright always says, ‘You are never as bad as you think you are or as good as you think you are.’”
—GH’s Dominic Zamprogna on believing your own press to Michael Fairman’s On Air, On Soaps
Translation: I’m so winning an Emmy Award!
“I was sad for them. This is going to sound puffed up maybe … but too many people think they’re writers and they’re not. There are so many people who think it’s easy. The people I work with are so into character, into character building. I didn’t have time to watch Guiding Light. I knew some of the people there, who were very nice. I thought [GL’s cancellation] wasn’t necessary. If someone had a little more intelligence or understanding of the craft and the medium, it could have been saved.”
—Living legend Agnes Nixon in Entertainment Weekly on Guiding Light’s cancellation
Translation: That could easily apply to my network, ABC, as well …
WEEKEND SUDS FLASHES
Was James E. Reilly headed back to Salem? One Life writer jumps to DAYS! World Turns wins DGA!
• Former DAYS super-hunk Drake Hogestyn stunned Soapgeist when he relayed that he had heard that James E. Reilly was headed back to Salem before his untimely death in 2008. “I think that’s why he had his surgery. He wanted to get healthy again to come back to DAYS.” Had Reilly, who died while recovering from cardiac surgery, returned to the soap that made him a legend, DAYS headliners Hogestyn and Deidre Hall may not have been fired — considering John and Marlena were his favourite characters. Look for an exclusive interview with Hogestyn this Wednesday.
• Poor Larry Carpenter! Would World Turns’s Christopher Goutman have taken home this year’s DGA had One Life been nominated? Probably not. Regardless, the recently cancelled soap took home the honour this past weekend for its 2009 Valentine Day’s episode. Well, at least Ellen Wheeler didn’t win.
• Proving white men should never play basketball is GH’s Bradford Anderson, who injured his Achilles tendon during a game on the third annual soap cruise. “I may need surgery,” the cast-ridden star tells Soapgeist. “I have to get my foot looked at when I arrive in L.A. But, so far, I’m not in a lot of pain.” From the looks of the injury, don’t be too surprised if the injury is worked into the story.
• So are the rumours true that four-time Emmy winner Kim Zimmer may join B&B? “I’d be open to it. Something may happen or it may not,” Zimmer tells Soapgeist. “I love Bradley Bell and Susan Flannery.” As previously reported, Y&R wanted the former GL diva to play the super-short role of Katherine’s faux daughter, Jojo. “I want a short-term role — but not that short,” laughs Zimmer.
As for B&B, Don Diamont loves the idea, too. He enthuses, “We need to make that happen. She’s an incredible actress.” Can you imagine Susan Flannery, Heather Tom, Sarah Brown and Kim Zimmer in a scene together? Talk about heart-attack city!
Meanwhile, Zimmer and Robert Newman collectively stole the entire soap cruise during a re-enactment of GL’s finale scene — which they laughingly editorialized their way through the controversial scene. The super-couple, who still exude more chemistry than ever, danced to their first wedding theme song, “How Could I Ever Love You More,” which was performed and sung live by its original composer. It was such a beautiful moment that even non-GL fans had tears in their eyes.
But back to Diamont, the sexy actor also experienced a malady on the soap cruise as well. The former Y&R star took a relatively harmless spill on his jet ski during a Key West stopover. Fortunately, Diamont only suffered minor back and shoulder pain. Don’t worry — my incomparable massage skills came in handy.
• One Life’s loss is DAYS’s gain! According to a show source, longtime One Life script editor, Carolyn Culliton has joined her husband, DAYS script writer Richard Culliton, in Salem. The pair created the now-defunct Port Charles and have served as co-head writers on several soaps. More details this Friday.
• Yep, Daniel Cosgrove will be playing Chris Hughes on World Turns. Expect the former Emmy-nominated GL actor to debut in March.
• Is someone in trouble with the law? B&B’s Mykel Shannon Jenkins will return to L.A. on Feb 2. Too bad Y&R didn’t cast Jenkins as nuMalcolm.
• John Brotherton will reappear on One Life on Feb. 8 when Jared helps his wife Natalie through a dangerous situation. As for Brotherton, he tells Soapgeist he’s not mad at ABC for firing him. In fact, he’s thrilled. “I’m in L.A. auditioning for pilots,” the Soap Opera Spirit Award winner says. “I loved working on One Life but I learned as much as I could, so it was OK that they let me go. It’s on to the next chapter of my career and life. As a viewer, I have to say I’m happy Jared’s death provided Melissa Archer and Brian Kerwin some amazing acting moments and story.” Brotheron’s former co-star Bree Williamson isn’t worried about his future. “Mark my words — John will book a film very soon. He’s going to be very successful out in Hollywood.” Ditto that, Tessica!
As for Williamson’s new storyline, the Canadian says she’s enjoying the challenge of playing Jessica as a 17-year-old. “I never played Jessica as a teen [so in a way this helps me flesh out her history in a way I probably couldn’t before],” she says. “It’s a really fun storyline, though I think I could pass for 14, too [laughs].”
• Are you paying attention, One Life? World Turns’s Julie Pinson tells Soapgeist that she and hubby Billy Warlock are staying in New York after the CBS soap ends production in June. “We love it here,” the L.A. native says. As for Warlock, the Emmy winner told fans during the soap cruise that he’s interested in returning to soaps before dropping the bombshell that he wasn’t fired from GH! “I quit! GH is always going to be the Sonny and Jason show,” he told a couple of fans during an elevator ride. “You can’t win against them, so I decided to move on.”
SUDS POLL
Who is daytime’s sexiest couple alive? Click here to vote.
—DAYS’s Bo and Carly
—World Turns’s Noah and Luke
—One Life’s Fish and Kyle
—DAYS’s Rafe and Sami
—Venice’s Gina and Ani
—GH’s Jason and Sam
—Y&R’s Nick and Phyllis
—Y&R’s Nick and Sharon
—B&B’s Brooke and Ridge
—GH's Johnny and Olivia
Editor’s Note — Some readers are having trouble accessing our polls on Firefox, so use Safari instead.
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. General Hospital, ABC/A
2. One Life To Live, ABC
3. Days of our Lives, NBC/Global
Top 3 Storylines to Watch:
1. Sonny Meets His Son, GH
2. Ciara Goes Postal, DAYS
3. Toyotas crash on Llantano Mountain, One Life
Top 5 Actresses to Watch:
1. Crystal Chappell (Carly, DAYS)
2. Eileen Davidson (Ashley, Y&R)
3. Sarah Brown (Sandy, B&B)
4. Rebecca Budig (Greenlee, AMC)
5. Lisa LoCicero (Olivia, GH)
Top 5 Actors to Watch:
1. Dominic Zamprogna (Dominic/Dante, GH)
2. Jonathan Jackson (Lucky, GH)
3. Stephen Nichols (Tucker, Y&R)
4. Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH)
5. Billy Miller (Billy, Y&R)
Top 3 Most Entertaining Performers:
1. Louise Sorel (Vivian, DAYS)
2. Marie Wilson (Meg, World Turns)
3. Amanda Setton (Kim, One Life)
Top 3 Duos to Watch:
1. Fish and Kyle, One Life
2. Carly and Bo, DAYS
3. Ashley and Adam, Y&R
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. Ciara pulls a Sami Brady, DAYS
2. Vivian plots to kill Melanie, DAYS
3. Stacy’s impending death, One Life
Top 3 Families To Watch:
1. The Bradys, DAYS
2. The Cramers, One Life
3. The Corinthos, GH
Top 3 New Duos To Watch:
1. Clint and Kim, One Life
2. Holden and Molly, World Turns
3. Hope and Justin, DAYS
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. James Reynolds (Abe, DAYS)
3. Cornelius Smith Jr. (Frankie, AMC)
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. CBS Soap In Depth — Y&R’s Eileen Davidson and Michael Muhney
2. Soap Opera Digest — GH’s Maurice Benard
3. Soap Opera Weekly — February Sweeps Preview!
Top 3 Best Reads/Buys at the Newsstand:
1. Soap Opera Digest
2. Soap Opera Weekly
3. CBS Soaps In Depth
Top 3 Soap Moments To Watch:
1. Thursday: Dante learns Sonny’s his father on GH. “Luke, Sonny is my father,” says Dante. “No, I am,” reveals Luke. “My demon seed has populated all of Port Chuck, fool!”
2. Tuesday: John and Brody figure out Mitch’s diabolical plan on One Life. “Now everyone get in your Toyota and head for Llantano Mountain,” orders John.
3. Thursday: Mick and Alison end up in bed on World Turns. “From one hair model to another,” grimaces Tom Pelphrey.
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.
