DAY FOUR: Jan. 26
Back home
INTRODUCING BRADIA
The best part of the Soap Cruise? Meeting Brandon Beemer (Owen, The Bold and the Beautiful) and Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe, Days of our Lives) in person. Not only are the two most gorgeous people on the planet criminally genuine and nice human beings, but they are also funny and smart (mostly because they quoted their favourite parts of my past Suds Reports verbatim when we met). Bradia’s perfect, really. Yep, I hate them. Seriously though, this oh-so-in love couple make Brangelina look like Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. After unjustly simmering on the back burner this past year, both stars are gearing up for two new romantic pairings on their respective soaps. Owen will be steaming it up with Bridget (though I’d rather Owie get horizontal with Steffy or Felicia), and Chloe is having an affair with Dr. McMan-whore, so stay tuned. Sadly, I missed out when Bradia invited me to hang out with them during a Mexico beach stop. “I was wearing only my underwear because I forgot my swim trunks,” teased Beemer, who should star on The Hung and The Beautiful. Kill. Me. Now.
A GUIDING MESS
I’ve never met Murray Bartlett (Cyrus, Guiding Light), but the soap newcomer is one fine man. Springfield’s man-whore won the award for being the shiest actor on the cruise. Is the sweet Aussie happy with his new romantic pairing opposite Marcy Rylan (Lizzie)? “Yes,” he answers, before issuing a warning: “My love interests have a habit of leaving the show when I’m involved with them! First Harley, then Cassie. Let’s hope this one sticks.” I pray Bartlett is romantically paired with soap blocker, Ellen Wheeler, so we are finally rid of her. However, GL may not need to. With cancellation rumours reaching a fever pitch, Bartlett confirms, “This is do or die time for us. Hopefully, Grant Aleksander’s return will spike our numbers.” Good luck with that, Peapack!
MAD WOMAN
Hung out with Mrs. Austin Peck, Tara, who just found her TV soulmate, and surprise, it’s not As The World Turns! “I’m in love with Mad Men,” she proudly proclaimed. “The show has inspired me to write. Now that our kids are a little older, I’d also like to start acting again.” Good thing, too, because ATWT won’t be around in the next five years. Tara was super-jealous when she learned I had interviewed the entire cast and creator of Mad Men this past fall. Come to think of it, she has that Mad Men look. Someone get her an agent. As for Peck-licious, who kept touching me because he loved my fashion choices, he made me laugh when he said the best thing he’s ever done in his career is make people think he’s stupid. He’s not. And he’s hilarious. Chelsea Handler-hilarious.
MOLLY BURNETT WHO?
Days Of our Lives stud Jay Kenneth Johnson (Phillip, DAYS) was spotted signing up for a massage… without a release.
KAY-TASTIC FAMILY
Time sure has flown by at warp speed. I’ve known Lesli Kay (Felicia, B&B) for 11 years. We both moved to New York to start soap gigs at the same time and have been best girlfriends forever (I have the best taste in actors). I’m oh-so-proud of how far she’s come both personally and professionally (we like to joke we were messes back in the day). Not only is she one of the fiercest actors in the business (with an Emmy, to boot), but her gorgeous family also makes me want a family of my own. Almost. Lesli and Keith Coulouris (ex-David, ATWT) treat their kids, Jackson (who is one hell of an art protégé — he’s already being courted by universities) and Alec (who is a musical protégé, as well) as equals and with mucho respect. Very rare these days. The loving family had a blast flirting with dolphins in Mexico. As for Coulouris, he’s ready to dive back into the choppy soap waters again. Someone call him up. He looks better than ever, and is sporting a hot new body. I miss them already. Le sigh.
CIAO ANTONIO!
So, how is One Life to Live writing out Antonio Vega? Kamar De Los Reyes tells moi it’s not the most spectacular exit. “Antonio leaves town looking for Carlo Hesser,” he reveals. Hmmm… Does that mean Talia will be stuck in romantic limbo while Reyes is off the show? Sounds like it. As for his future plans, Reyes says he isn’t moving to L.A. right away, though. His wife and former co-star Sherri Saum is currently working on one of my favourite shows, In Treatment, so he’s not that desperate for a job. Come to think of it, Todd Manning should make an appearance on the Gabriel Byrne show.
IS THAT A CALF IN YOUR PANT LEG OR ARE YOU…?
…just happy to see Nelson Branco? Jacob Young (JR, All My Children) kept taking his pants off in front of me. The Emmy winner has enormous calves. “I don’t even work them out,” he proudly boasts. “It’s genetic. They’re huge, huh?”
If you can afford it, make sure you sign up for the third annual Soap Cruise or join SOAPnet’s Rock the Soap Cruise this March. The stars were amazing — and they all spent major face time with their fans. It was a fun and very memorable time.
DAY 3: Jan. 25
From Cozumel, Mexico, back to Miami
FIVE CARD STUD
The biggest gamblers on the cruise? That’s easy — Greg Vaughn (Lucky, General Hospital) and Brandon Beemer (Owen, The Bold and the Beautiful). In fact, oh-so-beautiful Beemer keeps winning money each night. Good thing, too — he’s a soap star. They need all the money they can these days, in this age of pay cuts.
SOAP OPERA MYSTERY HOUR: SPECIAL CRUISING EDITION
Which star hasn’t been the nicest to fans? And this actor/actress is paid to be here! Also, which two actors almost got involved in a brawl one night? Moreover, which actor may not be invited back next year? Want more gossip? Which two unmarried hunks are sleeping with willing fans? And, it’s not me. There was an erroneous rumour circulating that Beth Ehlers (Taylor, All My Children) was on board. Clearly, some fans were drunk out of their minds because she’s back in New York with her dying dog.
ALL MY SOAP HOPS
Happy almost one-year anniversary to Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake, AMC), who joined the cruise from Cozumel, Mexico, because he was stuck in the studio on Friday. It’s been almost a year after the oh-so-smart Daytime Emmy-nominated actor soap-hopped from the terminal Guiding Light to AMC. Goldin knows he’s been a successful recast. “I’m happy with my decision,” he concludes. “People seem to like me as Jake. Recasts are always tough, but thankfully I made the right decision.” Goldin asks fans to be patient with his co-star Beth Ehlers’ soap crossover. “She’s going to be paired romantically with Michael E. Knight’s Tad — and that’s going to help fans accept Taylor much more. It’s going to be a fierce love triangle, methinks.” I’d say.
YOUNG BACK ON B&B?
Speaking of soap-hops, there’s a rumour circulating on board that Jacob Young (JR, AMC) is being courted by CBS to reclaim his Emmy-nominated role as Rick Forrester. It’s no secret that Young’s contract is about to expire on the struggling ABC soap. Will he re-sign? Young wasn’t talking, but considering the ABC-CBS casting war, it’s not outside the realm of possibility. I’m not sure how I feel about this possible casting coup, because I love my Kyle Lowder (Rick, B&B). But, it’s also no secret that head writer Brad Bell loves Young. However, Lowder is currently doing the work of his career as Brooke’s son. Stay tuned.
THE BIGGEST STAR OF THEM ALL… WELL, SORT OF
Daytimeconfidential.com’s Jamey Giddens missed out: Fans were given a chance to write soap scripts with the actors on board acting them out. The funniest scene of the day? Emmy winner Lesli Kay (Felicia, B&B) played Erica Kane — and brought the house down! Not only was she shorter, but Kay also brought to life Lucci’s trademark acting style. “Where’s my teleprompter?” she quipped. Ouch. Ricky Paull Goldin played Zach. It was hilarious. The best part? Kay didn’t have to take a pay cut to play La Kane. And by the way: the fans’ scripts were better than anything DAYS’ head writer Dena Higley and Guiding Light’s 12 million scribes have penned in their careers. Burn-ish.
SAY WHAT?
Don’t tell Greenlee and Annie, but Cameron Mathison (Ryan, AMC) is losing his voice. Maybe that’s a good thing.
YOUNG: FORGET SOAPNET, FANS!
Emmy winner Jacob Young ordered fans to tape CBS and ABC instead of SOAPnet. “Those ratings don’t count,” he explains. “I don’t care if you tape NBC, but please help save our shows.”
WHO SAID SOAP FANS WERE DUMB?
Memo to Brian Frons, Babs Bloom, and Ken Corday: I’m having more fun hanging out with the soap fans (and BuzzWorthy Radio’s Na’Vell Lee — who is my new BFF), not the actors. Soap viewers get a bad rap from the networks, but everyone I’ve met on the cruise is intelligent, passionate, and funny as hell. There’s a millionaire on the boat, and two successful attorneys on board, too. We’re not all trailer park trash, soap blockers! You execs are the shady ones.
HOT TOPICS — WITHOUT ELISABETH HASSELBECK
Everyone is talking about the future cancellation of Guiding Light. “The writing is on the wall,” opined one actor. “And they deserve to be cancelled. They screwed up, big time.” Also, actor pay cuts are another hot topic. Jacob Young says, “Everyone from top to bottom is being asked to take almost a 20 per cent pay cut.” One star is angry: “Why aren’t the executives taking them?”
More tomorrow… if I’m not asked to take a pay cut.
DAY TWO: Jan. 24
At sea to Cozumel, Mexico
AND THE EMMY GOES TO…
Sorry, Daniel Goddard (Cane, The Young and the Restless) — Austin Peck (Brad, As The World Turns) is my new hero! During the Soap Opera Trivia Game in Celebrity’s Crystal Theatre, the hilarious actor compared female and male Emmy reels. Peck-licious mocked women crying relentlessly on their tapes, while he acted out men shouting and screaming with the occasional tear. It was Peck’s best work to date. He had everyone in stitches. ATWT really needs to work the comedy angle with Brad more often. Oh, and put him back on the front burner where he belongs.
BEEM HIM UP, BRAD
The criminally gorgeous Brandon Beemer (Owen, The Bold and the Beautiful) is thrilled he’s being romantically paired… with someone; anyone, really! “What’s coming up on B&B in the next few months is really shocking,” Beemer teases. “You’re not going to believe who Owen finds himself in a triangle with.” So far, Owen is swapping spit with True Blood guest star Ashley Jones (Bridget), but in typical B&B fashion, the writers are rushing through the showmance. At any rate, the former DAYS stud is just happy to have a storyline.
NADIA’S THEME
I’ve never met nor hung out with Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe, Days of our Lives) before, but we’re hanging out a bit on the ship. Not only is she as insanely beautiful as you’d imagine her to be in person but she’s also smart and funny. Bjorlin is thrilled fans are taking to Chloe and Daniel’s steamy romance, but is sad the soap had to say goodbye to Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn (Marlena and John) yesterday. I literally spit out my champagne when she suggested I should act on a soap. Yikes. And, no thanks! Nadia clearly needs contact lenses.
THE BOLD AND THE HAIRY?
Now that Brad is six feet under, Don Diamont and I talked about his career options post-Young and the Restless. The muscular star, who is now sporting the sexiest facial hair on the planet, doesn’t seem to be too upset or worried about being unemployed. While his last day on the Y&R set was, in his words, “sad, because I spent my entire career playing Brad,” that’s just how life works. When I mentioned a possible jump to B&B, Diamont nodded. “I would love to do B&B. It would make sense. I’d love to work opposite Lesli Kay [Felicia] and stay within the Bell family. But I think I have to wait a while until fans forget Brad.” Not bloody likely, Don.
YOUNG VS. VAUGHN
During a question-and-answer seminar, a fan asked whom Lucky should be paired with. Greg Vaughn (Lucky) revealed there’s a Lucky and Elizabeth reunion in the works. “Even though I always had more screen time with Sam than with Liz,” he said. Jacob Young (JR, All My Children), who won an Emmy playing Lucky, quipped: “That was never a problem when I played Lucky.” Burn.
IS THAT A THONG IN YOUR ASS?
The popular thing to joke about on the boat is Cameron Mathison’s (Ryan, AMC) thong-gate scandal. Seems no one is quite ready to believe he wasn’t sporting a thong on AMC when Talk Soup exposed the former Dancing With The Stars contestant. The Canadian hunk appears to have a good sense of humour about the whole thing, saying, “You know what I can do? I can crack my lower back with my ass. Not sure if that’s a good thing, but I’m impressed with myself for being able to do it!” Even I won’t touch that one.
SHY GUYS
The shiest soap star honours on the cruise belong to Murray Bartlett (Cyrus, Guiding Light) and Kamar De Los Reyes (Antonio, One Life To Live). Reyes, who is super-sweet and more handsome in person, tells moi that he finishes taping as Antonio next week sometime. “I’m not sad; it’s time for me to explore new projects,” he explained. No word on how the character will be written out. At press time, OLTL hasn’t even begun setting Antonio’s exit up, which is odd.
THE BEST BUTT AWARD
During the Soap Trivia Awards, the hunks showed off their tushes to determine who had the best ass. Cameron Mathison wasn’t amused because he lost. The winner? Mr. Peck, of course.
More tomorrow… if Beemer’s impossible beauty doesn’t give me a heart attack! Hopefully, next year they’ll invite some ugly stars.
DAY ONE: Jan. 23
From Miami to Key West
DADDY DEAREST
Soap Cruise’s host Cameron Mathison (Ryan, All My Children) is relishing in his time away from the crazy happenings in Pine Valley with his wife, Vanessa, and children, Lucas and Leila. Mathison has been dancing up a storm with his criminally cute daughter near the pool. “We’re having a blast,” says Mathison. The best part? Greenlee is nowhere in sight!
IS KENDALL STILL IN A COMA?
Alicia Minshew (Kendall) just returned to AMC from her two-month vacation, but she’s been MIA on the soap cruise. Why? Apparently, the soap needed her to work. Rumour had it Minshew wanted to attend the SOAPnet cruise this March, but wasn’t allowed to attend both. Did she choose Bob Guiney over her co-star Mathison? Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake) also had to work, but he’s joining the cruise on Friday in Key West.
THE BIGGEST SPINELLI OF THEM ALL
Who’s the most popular star on board? Well, it’s not any of the soap hunks, that’s for sure. General Hospital scene-stealer Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) is garnering most of the buzz and attention. In fact, my new BFFs, sister-in-laws Marie and Karen, are helping me stalk Bradford. The South Carolina natives are huge Spixie fans, and have officially forgiven me for not liking the burgeoning super-couple in the beginning. “We’re worried GH is going to screw this great love story… you know, because it’s good,” laments Marie. The smart attorney adds, “Anderson is the new Anthony Geary. This kind of magic comes around a few times in your lifetime.”
HAIRY DIAMONT
Exiting Young and the Restless star Don Diamont is sporting oh-so- sexy facial hair — and it’s hot. Diamont is in great spirits despite being fired from the No. 1 soap in daytime. “That’s life, “ he says. It’s Sharon — and Y&R’s — loss, if you ask TVGuide.ca. But don’t cry for Diamont — he’ll land on his hunky feet very soon.
YOUNG AT SEA
Emmy winner Jacob Young (JR, AMC) brought his brother-in-law to the cruise because his wife just had a baby. When TVGuide.ca told him he plays the best drunk on soaps, Young laughed, joking, “Thank you. I like to practice a lot in real life.”
THE EMMY WHISPERER
As reported in today’s Suds Report, Emmy winner Lesli Kay found out she landed a guest-starring gig on Ghost Whisperer! “I should cruise more often,” she quipped. With her luck, Kay will finally be given a storyline on B&B, too, once we hit Mexico!
BOYS CLUB
It’ll take a miracle to separate new BFFs Christian LeBlanc (Michael, Y&R), Young, and Brandon Beemer (Owen, The Bold and the Beautiful). It’s OK because it’ll take another act of God to separate me from Beemer’s gal pal, Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe, Days of our Lives), who becomes more gorgeous as time passes.
THE BODY OF A GOD
Austin Peck’s (Brad, As The World Turns) body should be illegal. Just sayin’.
More tomorrow… if those Spinelli fans don’t throw me overboard!
