The Suds Report - Nov14/08

SUDS TOP STORY: Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall fired!
• The soap apocalypse is officially here: Executive producer Ken Corday confirms weekend rumours suggesting Drake Hogestyn (John) and Deidre Hall (Marlena) have been fired. He tells Soap Opera Digest, "The couple will be happily reunited after a long period of angst and separation and will be off-screen after January for an unknown period of time. It was a very tough decision to make." Insiders are speculating that DAYS’ new budget strategy is to cut the highest paid stars instead of a handful of medium-tier salary earners. Another casualty is said to be soap newcomer Blake Berris (Nick).

NEWSIEST QUOTES OF THE WEEK:
“The stars just sort of lined up for me, and I think they did for the show, too.”
—Grant Aleksander (Phillip) on his GL return to Soap Opera Weekly
Translation: Damn the economy!

“It’s really a tale of romance. It’s an epic time.”
—B&B’s head cheese Bradley Bell on Brooke and Ridge’s umpteenth reconciliation in the pages of Soap Opera Weekly
Translation: I’m a one-trick pony!

All My Children, A/ABC — Erica “Everything I do is breaking news” Kane defends Rianca!
• Former Passions’ leading lady McKenzie Westmore (ex-Sheridan) has been cast as Dr. Sinclair, a psychiatrist who is hired to treat Annie beginning Dec. 12. Good luck with that.

• Click here for your opportunity to stalk 15 stars including Toronto’s Cameron Mathison (Ryan), who is hosting the Soap Cruise fan event. On Jan. 22, the cruise departs from Miami, Fla. with stops in Key West and Cozumel, Mexico for four fun-filled days. If you can’t make it, TVGuide.ca will be blogging live from sudsy tip with all the scoop from the love boat.

• Not sure why, but AMC’s casting honcho, Judy Blye Wilson won the 2008 Artios Award for outstanding casting in a daytime drama series in New York earlier this week. This is Wilson’s seventh triumph.

• Next week, look for my exclusive interview with six-dimensional actors Eden Riegel and Tamara Braun (Binks and Reese) on their historic gay relationship on AMC for out.com. “My hubby [Andrew Miller] is scared I’m going to fall in love with Tamara,” Riegel reveals! “Every night, he asks: have you fallen in love with her yet?” Hey, who wouldn’t, right? I certainly have. On the story front, expect some major bombshells regarding Reese’s mysterious past. DVR Alert: Erica goes all Sean Penn on her minister for refusing to baptize Gabrielle because of her plaid-wearing moms. Good work, Chuck. I’m totally digging this storyline. I especially love how Erica “Everything I do is breaking news” Kane is being written. Overall, AMC was highly watchable this week. Kudos! Perhaps, ABC chief Brian Frons will leave OLTL alone now.

Speaking of Rianca, a reader predicted on a recent episode of Soaps Up that Binks and Reese may tie the knot in Canada since Kendall is currently recovering in Hollywood North. Makes sense since it’s legal to wed immoral people here. Can I be the maid of honour, Binks?

• Don’t be surprised if Colin Egglesfied (Josh) returns to the canvas in the near future, whisper insiders.

• Newsstand alert: Pick up this week’s Hello! Canada for a cute “cocktail” feature with Cameron Mathison (Ryan) on stands now.

As The World Turns, Global/CBS — Luke Special: Scumdog alert!
• In honour of welovesoaps' Roger Newcomb, there is no Eric Braeden (Victor, Y&R) in this week’s Suds Report! Also, below is a Van Hansis news special just for the Scripts & Scruples creator and fearless soap blogger Newcomb!

• A year ago, gays were banned from kissing on ATWT. Today, it’s a free for all. Spoiler alert: After scumdog millionaire Brian marries Lucinda, the old fart kisses Luke! The Suds Report predicted months ago that Brian was on the down low. Now if Noah and Kevin slept together, ATWT could have a sizzling quadrangle on their hands, don’t you think? However, considering P&G’s lack of imagination, it’s safe to presume that Brian will go postal very soon.

As for P&G's latest creepy gay thread, Laurence Lau (Brian) tells New York Daily News’ Carolyn Hinsey: “I played it that this was Brian's first awareness that he has feelings for a man, and it just happens to be the grandson of the woman he just married. [Even though Luke is drunk], he remembers it. Things ensue. Brian genuinely wants to stay in the marriage. He loves Lucinda. He's just not sure what to do with Luke!”

Memo to Lau: How old is Brian, 102 years? He’s only now realizing he’s attracted to young boys? Yikes...

Calling GLAAD: It’s certainly suspect how every gay on this soap — other than Luke, of course — have to exhibit bisexual tendencies! And questionable moral standards.

• Sheer madness: Whatever Van Hansis (Lukisha) is doing with his hair these days, keep it up! I hated that mop-top he sported for years.

• But where’s Maddie? Jade Taylor is back to help her hot mess of a BFF, Luke.  Davida Williams takes over the role on Dec. 17. The role was last played by Van Hansis’ real-life BFF, Elena Goode.

• Emmy winner and fan favourite Martha Byrne (ex-Lily) is thrilled with how Hansis handled the P&G kissing ban, she tells The Suds Report. “I don’t know if I would have handled it as diplomatically as he did behind the scenes,” she shares. “He said: ‘I work here. I support my character. I do as I’m told.’ That’s all he could say. Van is an incredible ambassador for the cause and the story. Watching Van onscreen is a highlight for me, these days. People are embracing the story mainly because of Van’s portrayal.” As for P&G’s new production model, Byrne relays she’s more “concerned about what the characters are saying as opposed to be where they are saying it. Write good story — period.”

In other Byrne news, expect some big news in the near future. “Things are good,” she reports. “Lots of exciting things are happening.” Stay tuned.

The Bold and the Beautiful, CTV/CBS — For real: Hair models invade B&B!
• Sorry, Donna: B&B confirms Alley Mills (Pam) has been put on contract!

• Hair model alert: The Price Is Right models, Rachel Reynolds, Brandi Sherwood and Phire Dawson will play themselves on Nov. 17. Perhaps they could teach the cast how to act. And it’s now official: everyone, including me, has appeared on B&B more than Emmy winner Lesli Kay (Felicia).

• And people think OLTL head writer Ron Carlivati is rerun happy: This week, Brooke and Ridge reunite after they broke up last week in Malibu (where they wed in 1994). Also this week: Rick and Stephanie team up to cause more havoc for the most dysfunctional characters on daytime. Well, next to Llanview.

Days of our Lives, Global/NBC — Cast cuts imminent; Jay Kenneth Johnson out!
• As previously reported, Variety confirmed that NBC and Sony Pictures TV have finally reached a deal to keep Days of Our Lives on the air possibly through September 2011. The big question now is which star will be fired? Insiders insist cast cuts will more than likely happen sooner rather than later. Speculation points to Mary Beth Evans (Kayla), Stephen Nichols (Patch), Blake Berris (Nick), Lauren Koslow (Kate), Josh Taylor (Roman), Molly Burnett (Melanie) and Bryan Dattilo (Lucas) as those who may be receiving pink slips.

• This just in: According to Soap Opera Digest, Jay Kenneth Johnson (Philip) has left DAYS due to "a breakdown in negotiations and money." More next week.

General Hospital, CTV/ABC — Music to Bob Guza’s hears: Lipstick Jungle cancelled! • Lipstick Jungle has been cancelled by NBC, which means head scribe Bob Guza is currently outside Marcil Manor screaming, “Vanessa — come back; help save my job!” Seriously, set insiders think Brenda Barrett may finally return to GH this time. • Sri Rao who? Perhaps head writer Bob Guza’s job should be threatened more often. This past week, GH hit it out of the ballpark on all fronts. Especially during Jason’s bedside vigil over his “former” love, Robin. Swoon. Robin and Jason used to be my fave Port Chuck super-couple.

• Diane and Alexis would be proud: Emmy winner Nancy Lee Grahn recently walked in opposition of California’s ban on gay marriage.

Guiding Light, Global/CBS — Desperate soap stars
• Was he paid in food stamps? Look who’s back: Grant Aleksander (Phillip) is finally making his long-awaited return to the show that made him a daytime superstar. Debuting in January, Aleksander tells Soap Opera Digest, “I’ve agreed to make a commitment to be on the show for a while, and hopefully, it all works out that way. These are unsure times for a lot of shows, but it’s certainly my intention to be around for a while.” Or, until GL is cancelled. The embattled soap recently earned a terminal 1.3 rating on a recent Monday! Yikes. Why are these people still collecting a paycheque?

• Good news: Marcy Rylan has re-signed with GL as Lizzie. Poor thing.

• Spoiler alert: TV Guide’s Michael Logan is reporting that Reva learns she may have leukemia, leading the former slut of Springfield to contemplate terminating her late-in-life pregnancy.

Imaginary Bitches, YouTube.com — Catherine and Heather on Prop 8
• Canuck Andrew Miller, a.k.a. Mr. Eden Riegel, has announced that for every Imaginary Bitches DVD sold, 88 cents will go to “No on 8” — the campaign to fight California’s recent gay marriage ban. “This was totally Catherine and Heather’s idea to raise as much money and awareness as imaginable, and you know how big our imaginations are around here," Miller told daytimeconfidential.com’s Jamey Giddens. Quick question: why isn’t this talented writer working for daytime? Oh, right —because he’s talented. Silly me!

One Life To Live, A/ABC — Martinez, Watkins and Carey back! • Oh, happy day: Emmy winner A Martinez (ex-Cruz, Santa Barbara) is back at OLTL taping this week as Ray Montez, report sources. More next week. • In late December, Tuc Watkins will return to Llanview as the real David Vickers, my imaginary sex slave. Head writer Ron Carlivati tells Soap Opera Digest David will more than likely learn he’s a Buchanan. Also, Carolyn Hinsey is reporting at the New York Daily News that Phil Carey “will make one more pivotal appearance as Asa.”

• Spin is the new truth: In this week’s Soap Opera Digest, Andrea Evans (Tina) denies that ABC was paying for her flights back and forth from L.A. to N.Y. and accommodations. However, ABC insiders attest that her expenses “were worked into her contract and salary. No one in this business, even in the soap world, would expect an actor fly to work on his or her own dime. That’s ridiculous.” Regardless, Evans confirms that her departure from the show was merely because her short-term contract merely came to an end. Look for an interview with my favourite star next week.

In other Evans news: the soap vet joined 9,000 men, women and children on this past Sunday morning’s Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer at the City of Hope campus in Duarte. As Hope celebrity ambassador, Evans told the crowd: “I walk not just because I am the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, I walk because I don’t want [my daughter] to worry about this.”

• Mark Dec. 1 on your calendars: character actors January LaVoy and John Rue reprise the roles of Noelle and Moe, respectively for “a special appearance.”

• Did you ever think you’d live to see the day when Melissa Archer (Natalie) would steal the entire show? Well, she has, folks. In fact, in my opinion, Archer is easily OLTL’s MVP these days.

• Michael Easton (John) will appear on The View today to promote his graphic novel, Soul Stealer. Hopefully, Easton will punch Elisabeth Hasselbeck in the face for me.

Planet Soap, TVTropolis — Headline soap
• Life on Planet Soap is bigger, more volatile and intense. In this week’s instalment, soap stars recall the moments that shocked the nation, surprised soap fans and brought big ratings to daytime. Ah, those were the days.

The Young and the Restless, Global/CBS — The View ties Y&R! Katherine saves the Emmys!
• Ratings Report: The View was the most-watched daytime program tying Y&R. For the first time in the show’s history and boasting record deliveries, The View qualified as the week’s most-watched program in Daytime in Total Viewers (4.67 million/1.6 rating – tied with Y&R), and for the second straight week, and only the second time in the talker’s history, The View was Daytime’s No. 1 program in Women 18-49 (1.04 million/1.6 rating – tied). On post-election day Wednesday, the talk show qualified as the show’s most-watched telecast ever in Total Viewers (6.17 million), exceeding its previous peak delivery by more than one million viewers (5.04 million, 1/15/07). In Women 18-49 (1.43 million), Wednesday’s outing was the series’ seventh-most-watched episode on record.

• In story news, Katherine’s will reading creates shockwaves through Genoa City. Jill goes postal when she learns Kay leaves everything to cash-starved NATAS. “I want to win an Emmy on-air,” Katherine writes. Also, Nick punches Adam in the face before reuniting with his pop, Victor.

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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.