The Suds Report - July 31/09

BREAKING SUDS FLASHES: THIS JUST IN
World Turns being replaced? Strasser re-signs; AMC permanently L.A.-bound!
• The sky continues to fall: Nina Tassler, the president of CBS Entertainment, confirmed what The Suds Report revealed last April: that CBS is seriously considering cancelling As the World Turns within the year. She said that CBS is “looking at all of daytime very carefully.” Tassler added that CBS had taped three game-show pilots, including Let’s Make A Deal, which will replace Guiding Light when it signs off of the airwaves on Sept. 18, and one of them is already in place to replace World Turns if the sudser continues its downward ratings spiral.  Tassler says she “doesn’t know when” the fate of the program will be determined. “It is one of those things where you watch and you talk. All of daytime is a challenged day part.” Let's make a deal, indeed!

• Praise Jesus: Emmy winner Robin Strasser (Dorian) has re-signed with One Life to Live and agreed to take the pay cut ABC insisted she take in order to continue in one of daytime’s most popular roles. “Screw the pay cut — full steam ahead,” proclaimed Strasser on her infamous hotline yesterday. “My dear friends, a heart attack has been averted. It is my pleasure to announce that I’ve said yes. Yes, what did I say affirmatively “yes” to? The whole deal of continuing to play Dorian. I can’t allow it to be about money. It’s pay cut time. Daytime is hanging on by a thread. I believe that. I get it. I’m moving forward with grace and strength. I’ve never been the highest-paid actress, but I would I never give up the opportunity to [act inspiring material like re-imagining] Grey Gardens on One Life.” She goes on to credit executive producer Frank Valentini for one of the many reasons behind her decision to continue as Viki’s rival.

• ABC Chief Brian Frons informed the cast of All My Children yesterday that the soap opera will indeed move its production to Los Angeles to ensure the soap’s future, as daytimeconfidential.com first reported last week. One Life will move into AMC’s former studios, which also houses The View. Both One Life and AMC will also be available in HD. More in Friday’s Suds Report.

• CBS Soaps In Depth is reporting Young and the Restless Emmy winners Jeanne Cooper (Katherine) and Christian LeBlanc (Michael) will be making a guest appearance on the final episode of GL, who have not confirmed the news at press time.

SUDSIEST QUOTES OF THE WEEK:
“I think GH, of all the soaps, is in a real quandary because [the ABC sudser] is constantly fighting its past, and in particular, it’s fighting its past now. It seems to suddenly have become a real issue. When I went back to the show in 2006, [GH] was starting to bubble, and I don’t know if comments I made at the time helped it bubble up a bit hotter. But, I think what you have got now is an issue with the core body of fans. GH has a core body of fans that support it with whatever is happening. Now that core body of fans is deserting it and when the last one turns off, that’s it. The new fans will not support it in a way that the older, foundational group will.”
—Soap expert/actor/fan advocate Tristan Rogers (ex-Robert, GH/NS) to Michael Fairman at the Manhattanites DVD launch party in L.A.
Translation: Freedom of speech will cost you a job in America, but my integrity doesn’t come with a price tag.

“Good TV is good TV!”
—Emmy winner Cady McClain (Rosanna, World Turns) on her titular website
Translation: Which is why you shouldn’t watch my show.

“I was called directly by the head of CBS, Barbara Bloom, to do this.”
—Emmy winner Stuart Damon (TBA, World Turns; ex-Alan, GH) in Soap Opera Weekly regarding his new role on the lowest-rated soap after GL
Translation: How can I refuse to stick it to Brian Frons like she does?

“The first thing that comes to mind, because Proposition 8 was recently upheld, is people so averse to same-sex marriage. I’d like to get rid of that narrow-minded, bigoted thing about marriage.”
—My favourite One Life leading man ever, Trevor St. John (Todd), when asked the one thing in the world he could do without
Translation: Todd and John deserve to walk down the aisle.

“Never talk about politics in public. My dad gave me that advice.”
—St. John in the same story
Translation: Oops!

“I’m volunteering for an abused women’s shelter because of what Holly went through. Especially that final storyline with Roger’s son, Sebastian, who abused her. I have to tell you — that did me in. I couldn’t take it, so that was my swan song. After that, I was like, ‘I’m out of here.’”
—Maureen Garrett (Holly, GL) in Digest about her comeback
Translation: My love will save the world.

“The actor who plays Ridge on B&B, Ronn Moss, because he was on E!’s The Soup. He was really funny on it.”
—Van Hansis (Luke, World Turns) in Digest when asked which soap star he’d like meet
Translation: I need to ask him how he can act so badly and get paid so huge for it.

“During the day I was having bedroom sexual scenes with a female, and then at night on set in bed with a man. It was crazy. I needed a couple of drinks.”
—John Driscoll (Chance, Y&R) in to The Advocate on playing a gay character on The Book of Daniel and a straight guy on GL
Translation: [Gulp] And, so did GL fans.

ROCK THE SUDS Bob Guiney wants to cruise with you — just don’t tell his wife, Rebecca Budig!

Total Viewers
1. Y&R 4,936,000 (+333,000/-135,000)
2. B&B 3,262,000 (+192,000/-340,000)
3. GH 2,706,000 (+304,000/-128,000)
4. DAYS 2,599,000 (+14,000/+78,000)
5. OLTL 2,560,000 (+113,000/-199,000)
6. AMC 2,483,000 (+88,000/-184,000)
7. ATWT 2,377,000 (+168,000/-335,000)
8. GL 2,079,000 (+121,000/-266,000)

Households
1. Y&R 3.6/12 (+.2/-.1)
2. B&B 2.4/8 (+.1/-.3)
3. GH 2.0/6 (+.2/-.2)
4. AMC 1.9/6 (+.1/-.1)
5. OLTL 1.8/6 (same/-.2) * ties low rating
5. DAYS 1.8/6 (same/same) * ties low rating
7. ATWT 1.7/6 (+.1/-.3)
8. GL 1.5/5 (+.1/-.2)

All My Children, A/ABC — Pine Angeles? Is Willey out?
• Remember Soapgeist’s blind item this past Monday? Well, Daytimeconfidential.com’s Jamey Giddens beat me to the punch once again: ABC is seriously considering moving production from New York to L.A. to ensure the soap’s future. “If not, either One Life or AMC is cancelled within the year,” a reliable source told me last weekend. After DC.com broke the news earlier this week, Pine Valley sources informed The Suds Report, “that all hell broke loose on set. Several actors ran to the producers pleading for confirmation. The producers claimed they were just planning a location shoot in L.A. We don’t know what to believe.” Problem is the network heads, according to my moles, hadn’t told anyone yet because they are still trying to figure out all the logistics. “There could be an announcement as early as next week, but DC.com’s [bombshell] could have scared off ABC, so who knows what will happen now.” Ah, the power of the press.

• Emmy winner David Canary (Adam) will once again play Stuart, who pays Kendall a heavenly visit, on Aug. 5. In other story news, Adam and Annie get engaged! Also, Suds Report was right again: next week, Marissa is shot by Marian, who was really aiming for Prohibition Kendall.

• Is Walt Willey (Jackson) being phased out? That’s what sources are telling Suds. Don’t expect the contract player to appear in Pine Valley “for a while; they want to force him on recurring,” maintains an insider. ABC is also trying to figure out a way to throw Susan Lucci (Erica) on recurring, offers a major network insider. “She just costs too much,” he/she explained. Don’t worry, fans — the network doesn’t know how they will pull this off, but they’re trying to find a way to do it. Hello: L.A.!

• While AMC is a disaster, I do have to say I sort of like Adam Mayfield (Scott), but he’s not being given the material or the love interest he deserves. If I wrote the show, I’d pair Mayfield with Jamie Luner (Turbo Liza) because his uncle was married to her.

As The World Turns, Global/CBS — Rosanna gets some action!
• Emmy winner Cady McClain (Rosanna) announced on Twitter that her character is scheduled to be getting a love interest. With McClain gushing over Jon Lindstrom ad nauseam, I bet it’s Craig. Personally, I’d test chemistry between Rosanna and Holden. Why is the magical Jon Hensley (Holden) on the back burner? Makes no sense to moi.

Meanwhile, on her blog, McClain defends the influx of ABC stars on World Turns-ish. “I have had the extreme pleasure recently of working with some of my favorite actors on [soaps] — Lynn Herring [Audrey] and Stuart Damon [TBA], who are just in town for a time. I have always loved their work and am so happy to cross paths with them, if only for a little bit. Of course Jon Lindstrom [Craig], Noelle Beck [Lily] and Forbes March [Mason] are other ABC [actors] visiting Oakdale for [various periods] of time, [some longer than others]. [They] are incredible [actors]. Sometimes it might seem like [our soap] is the ‘ABC All Stars,’ but you gotta remember actors like to work, and if they aren’t getting a chance in one place, they will go elsewhere! I sure hope the audience just enjoys this and doesn’t feel like anybody is trying to ‘take over’ what is already a fantastic show, because I think it may be that the days of ‘network loyalty’ may be past. Maybe I’m wrong, and please don’t take that to mean that I am not grateful for what either network has been and done for me, I’m just talking as an actor about the bigger picture.” Tell that to Eileen Fulton (Lisa), Colleen Zenk Pinter (Babs), Elizabeth Hubbard (Lucinda), Don Hastings (Bob), and Kathryn Hays (Kim), Cady. We don’t care who is hired on World Turns as long as they can act and there is good story. One out of two isn’t bad. Having said that, Lynn Herring is amazing as Audrey, Henry’s mom-from-hell! Welcome back, Lynn. This miracle worker is the real deal — she can single-handedly turn crap into gold (actually, the writing on her first episode was amazing). More in Monday’s Soapgeist.

• Brain chip alert: As previously reported, Anthony Herrera (James) is back on Aug. 10. Does that mean we have to see more of Paul Ryan?

The Bold and the Beautiful, CTV/CBS — The most beautiful man on earth?
• It’s a lonely life: A friend in the industry emailed me with what could be Brandon Beemer’s (Owen) best review ever. “Brandon’s going to hell because anyone who is that beautiful, with a body of a God to boot, had to have made a deal with the devil! And he can act, too! Bastard.” I hear that all the time, myself. My pal is not a regular fan of B&B, but he “is now!” Wish I could say the same. Seriously, La Beemer, Lesley-Anne Down (Jackie) and Rick Hearst (Whip) are the only reasons to tune into this CBS mess. Vote for Suds’ '09 endorsement in soaphunk.net’s 2009 Adonis competition here. Go Team Beemer!

Days of our Lives, Global/NBC — Holy returns, Gary Tomlin! • Holy crap! Crystal Chappell (Olivia, GL; soon-to-be Carly) may be the most powerful actress in daytime TV at the moment. Her decision to re-join DAYS has single-handedly put money in the pockets of her former co-stars. Fan blog, The Diva of Days of Our Lives, first revealed Louise Sorel, will reprise her iconic role as Vivian Alamain, along with Chappell’s real-life husband, Michael Sabatino! Soapoperadigest.com confirmed both casting coups earlier this week. That sound you hear? Me proposing marriage to show runner Gary Tomlin. Best! News! Ever! Sorry, Y&R: DAYS is the soap to watch for the rest of ‘09! Ed Scott, who? I bet the late, great Cordays are smiling down on Tomlin — even if the show is turning into Passions 2.0 with better writing! • Want to hear from Louise Sorel? Tune into BuzzWorthyRadio.net for Paul Rauch’s favourite leading lady ever here tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET.

• Rachel Kimsey (Meredith) is out on Aug. 6 — but the former Y&R star may be back before we know. Well, if they don’t recast her with a Passions co-star. Bubbles is available, I hear! Actually, I’m just kidding: I actually like Kimsey in this role. Good work!

• Look who’s dating: Casey Jon Deidrick (Chad) and Molly Burnett (Melanie) are “doing it” in real life. Congrats.
 
Daytimeconfidential.com, ITunes — Is Kitty Benson the best Y&R character ever?!
• Who are the greatest Y&R characters in Genoa City history? Click here to find out who they are. Yes, Lily Winters is on the list! Don’t believe me? Listen, soap bitches!

General Hospital, CTV/ABC — Biggest news story ever: Charleson re-signs!
• Soaps In Depth speculates that Emmy-nominated actress Leslie Charleson (Monica) has inked a new contract with GH for another year.

• NY Daily News’ Carolyn Hinsey has the answers as to why Dante is really in Port Mobster. “There’s a huge piece of this puzzle that has not been revealed yet,” says Lisa LoCicero (Olivia). Could Dante actually be working with law enforcement to bring Sonny down? “If Dante were to go up against Sonny, Olivia would have to side with her baby,” hedges the actress. “But she would throw herself in front of a bullet first, before letting those two battle.”

• Is Sarah Brown (Claudia) ditching GH? According to Soap Opera Weekly, the Emmy winner told fans at GH’s annual fan club luncheon that she is thinking of bolting the Emmy-winning series thanks to the crappy writing. I guess she learned from Steve Burton (Jason). Read the Y&R/Melody Thomas Scott item for more on my feelings about actors using the press and fans to help them negotiate new contracts (though I exclude Brown from this because she needs nothing other than her talent and name to secure a job). • Buy Soap Opera Digest this week to see how beautiful Emmy-nominated actor Michael Sutton (ex-Stone) still looks in a Catching Up With feature on page 82. Slurp!

Guiding Light, Global/CBS — Natalia Is back! • Otalia fans, prepare to celebrate: The talented and gorgeous Jessica Leccia is back on Aug. 17! Let’s hope she miscarried. • Score another one for the “Internet speculation”: Daytimeconfidential.com’s Mel first reported that Another World show killer, David Andrew MacDonald, will return to GL as presumed-dead Edmund. According to PGP Classic Soaps Blog, the dastardly prince returns Aug. 7. Also, Bradley Cole is back as Jeffrey next week or so. • Ellen Wheeler who? Emmy winner Crystal Chappell (Olivia) announced that fellow Emmy winner Jordan Clarke (Billy) will be joining the cast of her lesbian soap, Venice, as Gina’s father. I bet you a million dollars that Chappell’s moonlighting adventure will secure more viewers than GL ever did since that Mormon hack helmed the oldest show in broadcast history. Insert tears here. • Yikes — I have a better chance of landing a role on One Life: Soap Opera Digest is reporting that Daniel Cosgrove (Bill) is not going to move to One Life as Joey Buchanan despite their assertion that the two-time Emmy nominee would join the soap. Memo to ABC: why can’t you secure Cosgrove or Gina Tognoni (Dinah)? Are you low-balling them, or what??  Regardless, why not hire that cheap hottie from AMC, Kieran Campion? He was hot stuff — and could act.

Welovesoaps.net — Make sure to enjoy the thinking view!
• If you’re not already in love with ATI President, Emmy producer and soap fan, Jim Romanovich, tune into to welovesoaps.net’s thinking podcast on its main page. Also, begin to check out Should-less queen Damon L. Jacobs’ brilliant interview with the master, Harding “Pete” Lemay in the same section.

The Young and the Restless, Global/CBS —  MTS speaks out RE: her contract negotiations ... again!
• Just when you think you’ve read it all: In this week’s Soaps In Depth, the magazine claims they have an “exclusive” interview with Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) regarding her re-signing with Y&R. Funny, since Michael Logan nabbed that “exclusive,” weeks ago, if memory serves me correct. Let’s review, shall we? The Suds Report first broke the news that MTS was in intense contract negotiations, which is a FACT. TVGuide.ca first broke the news that MTS was written out of the show, which is a FACT. MTS stupidly alleges that, “People get these ideas and think they’re true. I’ll never understand how people can make things up and claim them as truth. Instead of getting upset, I just don’t read them.” Question to MTS: If you’re not reading these “lies,” how do you know what anyone wrote? And what was untrue that we, the press, reported? Trust me — there was a lot we left out, honey!

Memo to actors: The press is sick of you — and your camp — coming to us off the record to help you with your contract negotiations. When we say “a source close to the actor,” it pretty much means the actor! I’m not implying or asserting that MTS was my source, but know that 90 per cent of our sources are the actor or producers themselves — or their publicists or agents — so if you don’t want anything out there — stop talking! And stop blaming the press! Every time someone like Steve Burton’s (Jason, GH) contract is up, they call us up and demand our prime real estate to raise their leverage. Later, they throw us under the bus by suggesting they had no part in the media hype. I’m sick of it. The fact that MTS gave this interview to a magazine that did not credit and pretty much stole TVGuide.ca/Soap Opera Weekly’s exclusive news reporting — and was the only journal to speculate about and sensationalize her contract negotiations — is simply pathetic and hypocritical.

So, let’s reveal our “erroneous” information on how the former stripper is written out: just before Nikki marries Paul, she skips out on the wedding and leaves town; but does she? Ashley, who sees Sabrina’s ghost while she’s driving, runs over someone! Is it Nikki? Of course not — because MTS re-signed.

And no, Nikki is not the Newman who dies, as The Suds Report exclusively reported weeks ago.

So, actors: Keep you mouth shut if you don’t want anything leaked next time, so there’s no need to “set the record straight” to a magazine that is the one guilty of “speculation” and “fodder.”

And p.s. to MTS: If you’re going to write your memoirs, maybe you should do it before daytime is dead.

Bygones.

• The best recast of 2009, Michael Muhney (Adam), will host The 12th Annual L.A. Cancer Challenge (L.A.C.C.) as the charity recruits a warrior to help fight Pancreatic Cancer. The hetero-flexible Muhney hosts the 5K/10K Charity Run on Sunday, Oct. 25 at the Veteran’s Administration Grounds in Los Angeles. The L.A.C.C. benefits the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
 
This is the second year Muhney hosts the popular charity run. In 2006, pancreatic cancer affected his life in a painful way. He witnessed how devastating this illness can be when he lost his favourite uncle to this deadly disease.
 
“I came face-to-face with the effects for pancreatic cancer when my Uncle Mike died from it,” Muhney states. “This is my way of fighting for more public awareness, more research and yes, finding a cure!” He adds, “When we find a cure, it will be justice for all those who have died from pancreatic cancer and their loved ones who were affected by it.”
 
The public can find out more information or register for the walk/run by calling 310-828-4123 or by visiting www.LACancerChallenge.com.

• According to fancast.com’s Sara Bibel: Sony Pictures Television President Steve Mosko visited Y&R’s studio for a town meeting with the show’s cast, crew, and production office staff. Mosko runs Sony’s entire television division including prime time, cable and syndication. Sources say he wanted to speak frankly with employees about the show’s recent two-year renewal by CBS. The new contract cuts the licence fee, which means even more budget cuts. Some production office staff and crew have already had their salaries slashed. Mosko discussed the current state of the show and praised the leadership of Maria and Billy Bell before opening up the floor to questions. The meeting was described by an attendee as a pep talk to let the staff know that their hard work was appreciated. Of course, Mosko may hope that future contract negotiations will go more smoothly than Melody Thomas Scott’s now that the cast knows that the show has no money to spare. CBS daytime president Barbara Bloom did not attend the meeting. Nor did Eric Braeden (Victor), even though he was reportedly on set Friday.

• Here we go again, Soap Opera Digest: As Sharon breaks up with Jack, Nick weds Phyllis next week. Pathetic. Hey, at least Phick is finally afforded a beautiful wedding ceremony for once. Memo to Phyllis: you deserve better; run for your life!

SOAP OPERA MYSTERY HOUR: This week’s hottest blind items
—Which daytime superstar is regretting switching soaps? Well, with the exception that the married Emmy winner is benefiting from sleeping with his untalented co-star?

—Which west-coast diva gave birth to a bastard child and gave it up because her husband found out about her affair with another man?

—Which controversial recast plans on quitting her show because she can’t believe she signed on a show that is about to be cancelled?

—Which east-coast ingénue is hated by her entire show? And when I say everyone — I mean everyone but a network executive.

—Which gay soap star recently had sex with his straight co-star? And now his straight co-star is demanding more?

Want to dish the soaps with Nelson Branco? Join The Suds Report discussion group today on Facebook.com.

Follow TV Guide Canada on Facebook! And follow Suds Report on Twitter!

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.