The Suds Report - May 14/09

MAJOR SUDS UPDATE: Homophobia on Y&R set?
Breaking news: A few days after The Nelson Ratings finally bought Chris Engen’s uneven portrayal of Adam Newman, the newcomer shocked the entire Y&R cast by quitting his role in the middle of his contract two days ago! According to sources, Engen bolted because, “he [allegedly] refused to kiss [his same-sex] co-star Yani Gellman [Rafe]. Chris hasn’t been happy for a while. He doesn’t like the dark direction his character is taking. He’s called in sick a lot recently and has been taking a slew of meetings with Y&R’s [top brass] to discuss his future on the show. Chris is still under contract — and Y&R is seriously thinking of taking legal action.” Meanwhile, the No. 1 soap is currently scrambling to recast the pivotal role. Stay tuned for more details on this developing story in Friday’s Suds Report.

For more on Engen's co-star Gellman, click here for an out.com interview I recently conducted with the actor.

SUDSIEST QUOTES OF THE WEEK:
"Quel surprise. There’s a long line of women with that problem. I don’t think he’s going to take advantage of the situation, though weirder things have happened on our show. I can see it now. Jason Morgan: Mobster-slash-Hero-slash-Saviour-slash-Pervert.”
—Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis, GH) to TV Guide’s Michael Logan
Translation: I don’t drink the Monavie Juice over at ABC.

“I so wouldn’t do that now. I no longer have any interest in that. [Laughs] They’ve beaten me down. I’m tamed.”
—Grahn to Logan on why she doesn’t complain to writers anymore
Translation: Only Steve Burton (Jason, GH) has that privilege

GOT HUNKS?
SoapHunks.net contest is far more accurate than the Emmys!
Where’s my nomination? Soaphunks.net is launching their annual Adonis contest which names daytime TV’s sexiest hunk. Fans can begin voting for their favourites on Soaphunks.net or on their facebook.com page. The Suds Report will be one of the judges.

Past winners include: Justin Bruening (ex-Jamie, AMC), Mark Collier (ex-Mike, World Turns), Eric Martsolf (Brady, DAYS; ex-Ethan, Passions), and two-time champ, James Scott (EJ, DAYS; ex-Ethan, AMC).

AWARDS SHOW CENTRAL
AMC sweeps the Emmys! The Young and the Restless snubbed! Imaginary Bitches nominated! Emmy host named: Ugly Betty’s Vanessa Williams!

More proof that the daytime business is totally crazy.

Despite Y&R’s creative renaissance under the brilliant leadership of Maria Arena Bell, Hogan Sheffer and Paul Rauch, daytime’s No. 1 soap opera was snubbed by the Academy in the best drama and writing categories. Instead the critically reviled AMC, DAYS and B&B were singled out as the best dramas on TV. And the business wonders why the industry is dying. If these nominees represent the best in daytime TV, hackery will continue to flourish on our screens, while the shining gems, Y&R and One Life, will have to continue to fight for the unparallelled quality they miraculously manage to air each day.  Earlier this morning, nominations were announced on an embarrassingly awful segment of the Today show. Ugly Betty’s Vanessa Williams was named as the telecast’s host when the 36th annual Daytime Emmy Awards airs on Aug. 30 live on The CW. AMC stole the show with a shocking 19 nods, while DAYS came in second with their best showing in decades with 13 recognitions. Suspiciously, 2008’s best soaps, One Life and Y&R, came in third and fourth with 11 and 10 nominations, respectively. GL wasn’t allotted much love despite their Sept. 18 cancellation. The CBS sudser, which normally sweeps the Emmy nominations, only scored four noms in total. Its sister soap, World Turns, bested TeleNext's latest casualty with six nods. It's ovah, folks.

AMC — 19
DAYS — 13
ONE LIFE — 11
Y&R — 10
GH — 7
WORLD TURNS — 6
B&B — 6
GL — 4
PASSIONS — 1

Here is the complete list of nominees. Congratulations to all the nominees; and to all the omitted pre-nominees, please accept our sympathies and condolences:

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
All My Children
Days of Our Lives
The Bold and the Beautiful
SHAMEFUL OMISSIONS: One Life, Y&R

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS
Debbi Morgan (Angie, AMC)
Maura West (Carly, World Turns)
Susan Flannery (Stephanie, B&B)
Susan Haskell  (Marty, One Life)
Jeanne Cooper  (Katherine, Y&R)
SHAMEFUL OMISSIONS: Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke, B&B), Kim Zimmer (Reva, GL), Judith Chapman (Gloria, Y&R)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR
Thorsten Kaye (Zach, AMC)
Peter Reckell (Bo, DAYS)
Anthony Geary (Luke, GH)
Daniel Cosgrove (Bill, GL)
Christian LeBlanc (Michael, Y&R)
SHAMEFUL OMISSIONS: Darnell Williams (Jesse, AMC), Michael Park (Jack, World Turns), Robert Newman (Josh, GL), Robert S. Woods (Bo, One Life)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Melissa Clare Egan (Annie, AMC)
Alicia Minshew (Kendall, AMC)
Julie Pinson (Janet, World Turns)
Tamara Braun (ex-Ava, DAYS)
Bree Williamson (Jessica, One Life)
SHAMEFUL OMISSIONS: Carolyn Hennesy (Diane, GH), Crystal Chappell (Olivia, GL), Kathy Brier (Marcie, One Life)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR
Vincent Irizarry (David, AMC)
Jacob Young  (JR, AMC)
Van Hansis (Luke, World Turns)
Bradford Anderson (Spinelli, GH)
Jeff Branson (Shayne, GL)
SHAMEFUL OMISSIONS: John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex, One Life), Tuc Watkins (David, One Life), Michael Graziadei (Daniel, Y&R), Ted Shackelford (Jeffrey, Y&R)

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTRESS
Meredith Hagner (Liberty, World Turns)
Rachel Melvin (ex-Chelsea, DAYS)
Kirsten Storms (Maxie, GH)
Julie Berman (Lulu, GH)
Emily O'Brien (Jana, Y&R)
SHAMEFUL OMISSION: Kristen Alderson (Starr, One Life)

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTOR
Cornelius Smith Jr. (Frankie, AMC)
Darin Brooks (Max, DAYS)
Blake Berris (ex-Nick, DAYS)
EJ Bonilla (Rafe, GL)
Bryton McClure (Devon, Y&R)
SHAMEFUL OMISSIONS: Brandon Buddy (Cole, One Life), Eddie Alderson (Matthew, One Life)

OUTSTANDING WRITING TEAM
All My Children
The Bold and the Beautiful
General Hospital
One Life to Live
SHAMEFUL OMISSION: Y&R

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING TEAM
All My Children
Days of our Lives
One Life to Live
SHAMEFUL OMISSION: B&B, Y&R

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION
All My Children
Days of our Lives
The Bold and the Beautiful
SHAMEFUL OMISSION: One Life, Y&R

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT FOR A CASTING DIRECTOR
As the World Turns
Days of our Lives
General Hospital
SHAMEFUL OMISSION: One Life, Y&R

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
All My Children
One Life to Live
The Young and the Restless

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN HAIRSTYLING
The Bold and the Beautiful
General Hospital
Passions

OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES IN DAYTIME
All My Children
Imaginary Bitches, YouTube
I Met The Walrus, YouTube
TAC TV, Internet
The New York Times Magazine Screen Tests, NYTimes.com

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Guiding Light — “The Leaver (Getting Left)”
One Life To Live — “We All Fall Down”
The Young and the Restless — “All My Days Filed With You”
The Young and the Restless — “For All Time”

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC DIRECTION AND COMPOSITION FOR A DRAMA SERIES
All My Children
Days of our Lives
The Young and the Restless

BEST TALK SHOW - ENTERTAINMENT
Live! With Regis and Kelly
Rachael Ray
Ellen
SHAMEFUL OMISSION: The View

BEST TALK SHOW - INFORMATIVE
The Doctors
Dr. Phil
Tyra

BEST TALK SHOW HOST
Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa — Live! With Regis and Kelly
Rachael Ray — Rachael Ray
Ellen DeGeneres — Ellen
Whoopi Goldberg, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd — The View

BEST MORNING PROGRAM
Good Morning America
The Early Show
Today Show

BEST LEGAL/COURTROOM PROGRAM
Cristina's Court
Family Court with Judge Penny
Judge Hatchett
Judge Judy
People’s Court

BEST GAME/AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION SHOW
Cash Cab
Jeopardy!
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Sesame Street

All My Children, A/ABC — Jammy fans rejoice! Liza preggers already? • Former GL starlet and on-and-off again Tom Pelphrey (Jonathan, GL) girlfriend, Stephanie Gatschet (ex-Tammy), has been booked to play the recurring role of Madison North. The Daytime Emmy-nominated actress’ first airdate is June 1. Since Pelphrey is returning to help wrap up GL’s CBS run, Gatschet was reportedly looking for a summer gig. Too bad AMC didn't hire the popular actress to play either a Babe or Colby recast instead. • Is Liza Colby preggers already? Nope, but the slut will be adorning a pregnancy pad in the next few weeks in an effort to pass off Amanda’s baby as her own. Seriously. As previously reported, Chrishell Stause (Amanda) is leaving the soap this summer.  Do the math. In other story news, Jesse accidentaly shoots Tad. “Oops.”

• Say it isn’t so: Daytimeconfidential.com is reporting the possibility that controversial GL writer David Kreizman may jump over to World Turns as co-head writer when GL is cancelled. Apparently, show-killers are in high demand.

• Will Trent Dawson (Henry) finally win an Emmy Award now? This week, Vienna miscarries Henry's baby while Cady McClain (Rosanna) pops back into Oakdale.
   
The Bold and the Beautiful, CTV/CBS — Katie dumps Nick!
• The National Post’s super gossip columnist Shinan Govani is loving the sexy Owen-and-Jackie May-December romance. “I hope B&B goes really dark with this psycho-drama. Brandon Beemer [Owen] and Lesley-Anne Down [Jackie] remind me of Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton in American Gigolo,” says the proud soap fan.

• Here we go again! In story news, after learning his marriage to Brooke is invalid, Ridge turns to Taylor. Also, Katie breaks up with Nick before the youngest Logan sister cozies up to Brad Carlton, er Bill Spencer, as The Suds Report predicted eons ago. Personally, I’d pair Don Diamont (Bill) with Brooke and Felicia. Can you imagine the fireworks between Katheirne Kelly Lang (Brooke) and Diamont? Instead, sex on three legs, Diamont, is being wasted on the sexless Katie and Donna.

• According to Digest, B&B is casting Bill’s son, who will be romantically paired with Steffy. The Suds Report was hoping that Brandon Beemer’s Owen would turn out to be Bill’s son.

Days of our Lives, Global/NBC — One happy family?
• In story 411, Rafe asks Sami if he can adopt Grace. As expected, Will isn’t very happy with the news. Hey, Will, it could be worse — a rapist could be raising your baby.

• Who else is loving the Kiriakis/DiMera feud? It’s about time these two power dynasties waged war on each other, don’t you think? Me? I’m surprisingly digging the storyline — but don’t tell head writer Chris Whitesell and executive producer Gary Tomlin. You just know the Bradys and Hortons are laughing their asses off. Well, those who are still living in Salem, that is. Next week, Owen “buries” Stephanie in a morgue casket. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
 
Daytimeconfidential.com, iTunes — Jamey Giddens’ Emmy-worthy tirade over Melody Thomas Scott’s contract scandal!
• The Daytimeconfidential.com podcast drought is finally over! After a week off, the website posted two must-hear episodes. Click here and here to check them out. Also, I’ll be joining the DC crew for our Emmy nomination roundup, so make sure to visit their site for the special podcast episode.

General Hospital, CTV/ABC — Is Michael the new Jason Morgan?
• In story news, Johnny bangs Olivia. Who knew Lisa LoCicero (Olivia) was still on the show? Also, Michael wakes up from his deep sleep and turns his hatred towards his mother, Carly. Naturally, Michael forgives Sonny for "inadvertently" setting up the events that led to his shooting. I have high hopes for newcomer Drew Garrett, so l’ll be watching closely. And who knew hospitals offered Clairol treatments for coma patients? Expect Michael to experience a major personality shift.

Guiding Light, Global/CBS — No lifeline for GL?
• More bad news, soapers: According to a setside source, Soap Opera Weekly is claiming GL is not nor have they ever been in talks with Lifetime or any other network. This past April, Daytimeconfidential.com first broke the story that TeleNext was in negotiations with a couple of cable networks to carry the show when GL signs off of CBS on Sept. 18. Funny since Robert Newman (Josh) and TV Guide magazine echoed DC’s scoop. However, Weekly suggests the end is near, reporting that executive producer Ellen Wheeler is holding meetings with each individual actor to discuss how to wrap up their storylines. As for GL’s future, the source offers some hope, saying, “There is about a one per cent chance that GL will go on.” Whatever that means. Question: Why doesn’t TeleNext just set the record straight instead of being vague?

• This week, Edmund is found murdered by Remy, who steals diamonds found in the villain’s pocket. This storyline will involve Cyrus and Natasha (played by Beth Ann Bonner), report sources.
 
One Life To Live, A/ABC — Bess kidnaps Hope!
• More rape drama: This week, Marty regains her memory when Powell informs Todd and Dr. Saybrooke that Hope is their grandchild. Of course, John runs in and saves the day by shooting Powell. Lame.

• Soap Opera Spirit nominated actress Lea DeLaria (ex-Madame Delphina) performed at this past weekend’s We’re Funny That Way fundraiser in Toronto and was seen brunching at Big Mamma’s Boy the next day. Look for an upcoming interview with the LOL-lesbian very soon.

• How much do you want to bet that baby Hope develops a split personality when she ages into a young adult? This week, Hope is kidnapped twice! Once by Powell, and later by Bess.

The Young and the Restless, Global/CBS — Holy crap: Thom Bierdz returns! • Soap goddess Maria Arena Bell means business, people! At the end of today’s Canadian episode, viewers were shocked to learn that Thom Bierdz was on the other end of a call Cane made two years ago to his Uncle Langley! Talk about a cliffhanger! Is Bierdz Phillip Chancellor III? Our lips are sealed, but we’ve been promised the reveal will be more shocking than the news of Bierdz’s re-arrival. So how did the CBS sudser manage to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes? Y&R shot the actor’s top-secret return on a closed set one weekend back in March. Not even Daniel Goddard (Cane) was made aware of Bierdz’s hiring — well, until today that is. Perhaps AMC hack Chuck Pratt should call up Maria Arena Bell for pointers on keeping a secret. The Suds Report has also exclusively learned that Bierdz has signed a one-year contract with the soap that made him a star. This past February, the sexy actor reportedly called Bell about the possibility of returning to the show. Bell jumped at the inspired opportunity, realizing what a casting coup “Phillip’s” return would be. As previously reported, Bierdz's arrival will kick off a major mystery storyline involving Tricia Cast (Nina) and John Driscoll (Phillip IV).

Before his death, Y&R creator William Bell admitted he always regretted killing off Phillip. Is soap opera’s Barack Obama, Maria Arena Bell, reversing his decision in yet another loving homage to her father-in-law? Or is this storyline just the latest Lynn Marie Latham disaster she’s fixing? Or both?

Last summer, TV Guide Canada asked various insiders, actors, and producers if a gay soap star could successfully work on a daytime-TV serial. In fact, last summer, Bierdz and I met up for brunch near the Y&R studios to discuss this feature article. At the time, Bierdz expressed interest in reprising his role as Phillip, hoping that the industry had changed its homophobic ways. Not even a year later, Y&R now boasts two out-and-proud stars, Bierdz and Clementine Ford (Mac). In the article, Bell said she’d encourage any member of her cast to be honest about their sexuality. Clearly, the two-time Soap Opera Spirit Award winner wasn’t lying.

Finally, don’t be too surprised if Bierdz’s former on-screen love interest, Lauralee Bell (Christine) hightails it back to Genoa City very soon.
 
• Come on down, Joshua Morrow (Nick) and Daniel Goddard (Cane)! The two super-hunks will be appearing on an upcoming Price Is Right episode.

• More shock and awe: This week, Della Reese (Virginia) informs a stunned Devon that Yolanda and Tyra aren’t related! Devon is further surprised to learn that Tyra has known all along. Moreover, Devon reads a letter written by Yolanda admitting that his father never knew she bore a child, sparking the former foster kid’s search for Daddy. Who could it be? 

• Y&R is intent on giving fans a heart attack: It’s revealed that Raul and Mac were shacking up in Darfur while trying to save the world. Hey, all work and no sex…
 

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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.