SUDSIEST QUOTES OF THE WEEKEND
“Always use birth control when bedding brothers at the same time.”
—GH’s Luke Spencer gives advice to his slutty ex-daughter-in-law Liz as imagined by Soap Opera Digest’s cheeky opinion columnist Carolyn Hinsey
Translation: I always do.
“I didn’t realize I was a part of the O.A.S. — the Overacting Society.”
—B&B’s Betty White to Entertainment Tonight Canada on her Soap Opera Spirit Award-nominated soap stint
Translation: That Susan Flannery was always trying to upstage me, but I showed her. And if Jackie MacInnes Woods thinks she’ll host SNL before me, then she’s as stupid as she looks!
“[Crystal Chappell] had to give me mouth-to-mouth. So Crystal jumped right in there and it was great. I went, ‘I love this girl!’”
—DAYS/Venice star Galen Gering admits he has a crush on Crystal Chappell to Michael Fairman’s On Air, On Soaps
Translation: Suck on that, Nelson Branco!
WEEKEND SUDS FLASHES
Y&R wins WGA! Setton quits One Life! DAYS beats B&B!
• Congratulations to the writing team of Y&R, who won the 2010 WGA Award for best daytime serial writing this past Saturday in a joint bi-coastal ceremony. Since co-head writers Maria Arena Bell and Hogan Sheffer went fi-core during the 2008 writers’ strike, the dynamic duo were not eligible. However, Y&R’s pen masters — Amanda L. Beall, Tom Casiello, Lisa Connor, Janice Ferri Esser, Eric Freiwald, Jay Gibson, Scott Hamner, Marla Kanelos, Beth Milstein, Natalie Minardi Slater, Melissa Salmons, Linda Schreiber, James Stanley, Sandra Weintraub, and Teresa Zimmerman — all took home winged trophies. The deserved victory should cheer up Y&R’s writing team since they were snubbed for a 2009 Daytime Emmy Award for best writing nomination. Other nominees included AMC, World Turns and One Life. Last year’s Emmy-winning writing team, GH, was snubbed.
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• Say it ain’t so! Earlier this weekend, Soap Opera Digest’s fearless opinionator Carolyn Hinsey hinted on her Facebook page, Carolyn Opinion Hinsey, this weekend that Soap Opera Spirit Award nominee Amanda Setton quit One Life. Apparently, the former Gossip Girl actress’s last tape date was this past Friday. “Her agent doesn’t want her stuck on soaps,” a co-star tells Suds. “And Amanda hasn’t been shy about telling people that.”
According to daytimeconfidential.com’s Jamey Giddens, who later confirmed the news, ABC offered the popular star a raise and a contract, which she politely turned down. So who wants to join me in boycotting red-hot One Life until ABC offers the talented and sexy vixen the moon and her own set of nine irons to return? Of course, I’m joking, people! No one gets between my Llannet and I.
Although Soapgeist has no further intel on whether or not the soap will write the character out, it would appear One Life has no choice but to recast the role since we hear ABC may have already taped a Clint and Kimberly wedding. If I was One Life, I’d write her out and wait for her to return. After all, Setton’s the female Tuc Watkins — irreplaceable. |
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• For the first time since 2004, DAYS beat B&B in overall ratings as the most watched soap in daytime! Congrats! Scroll down for the rating tallies for the week of Feb 8-12.
• My bud Frank Grillo tells Soapgeist he landed the lead in a new ABC series, The Gates, which will debut in May. The former GL hunk was most recently seen in Mel Gibson’s film Edge of Darkness.
AWARDS SHOW CENTRAL
Daytime Emmy schedule
Here’s the official 2010 Daytime Emmy Awards schedule for submission and nomination deadlines courtesy of NATAS’s Brent Stanton:
Feb. 19. — Pre-nominations for performers are due back
Feb. 26 — Pre-noms will be announced.
March 16 — DVD are sent out to NATAS members to judge final pre-noms
April 19 — Final ballots are due back
May 12 — Final Emmy nominations will be announced
BLACK MYSTERY MONTH
Victoria Rowell sounds off on Y&R’s current black stories!
While we all wait her first fictional novel, Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva (Simon & Shuster), due out in May, guest critic Victoria Rowell offered Soapgeist her expert analysis on the current black stories airing on Y&R in honour of Black History Month.
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First up? Neil and Ashley’s out-of-the-blue interracial romance. The 11-time NAACP actress scoffs, “What is Y&R thinking? A desperate attempt to make music without an orchestra? The thought of Neil and Ashley hooking up brings to mind the unlikely combo of a harpsichord and didgeridoo. [Chemistry] is more than swapping spit, folks. It’s called timing, organic, character-driven storytelling, and tenure. Minimize it all you want, but Genoa City’s black history can’t be erased.”
As for Y&R’s controversial Malcolm recast, Darius McCrary, Rowell agrees with most fans. The Emmy-nominated diva wonders, “Why does Y&R continue to undervalue its fan base by recasting Malcolm with the highly questionable Darius McCrary? Although McCrary is a solid actor in his own right, it remains to be seen if the true blue fans will accept him as Malcolm. Talk about poetic licence! I can just hear the notes being tossed about in a writers’ meeting now: ‘We'll blame the remarkable non-father/daughter resemblance on a recessive gene in the Barber/Winters tribal gene pool.’ Or is it because Y&R couldn’t afford Moore?”
Instead, Rowell wishes Y&R would have opted to create a new black leading role all together instead of recasting the super-popular Shemar Moore. “Why on Earth didn’t Y&R just create a new role? Fans barely cared what Malcolm was saying — God bless, Shemar Moore! All they wanted was that fine piece of caramel candy to suck on when they tuned in! Being that their audience is predominantly African-American women, Y&R’s casting department missed their mark by a country mile. Happy Black-mystery month, indeed!”
What she said. |
REMOTE CONTROL — Rating the good, the bad, and the ugly
<< REW:
One Life — “One Life is like a box of chocolates …”
If Forrest Gump was a soap fan, you’d most likely hear him proclaim, “One Life is like a box of chocolates — you never know what you’re going to get.” Electro-shock therapy! Icy deaths! Conniving strippers! Sugar daddies! Three baby daddies! Psychotic zealots! Car crashes! And ghostly visits, oh my! I was so addicted to the nail-biting adventure that I even fast-forwarded through Trevor St. John's scenes!
When executive producer Frank Valentini pronounced his soap’s February Sweeps as their best yet, I was a tad skeptical (after all, I grew up on Paul Rauch’s Llanview — when every day was a sweeps event). But the Emmy winner was right — and didn’t let down his viewers. While I won’t concede February was One Life’s best sweeps period ever, every One Life fan out there owes a huge congratulations and a big hug and kiss to everyone involved in this soap extravaganza (though I could have done without the endless exposition). Most impressive? I can’t wrap my mind around how this little yet fierce production machine managed to tape myriad of scenes/sets, organized their endless, challenging out-of-sequence setups, and how the actors kept everything in context, delivering kick-ass performances, with barely no rehearsal. But bravo all around! Below, are my favourite moments!
1. How inspiring is it to see two showrunners, Valentini and head writer Ron Carlivati, fight for their daytime survival by focusing on one strategy — delivering the best soap to their loyal fans each day. What a concept, huh?! These days, One Life is just showing off their unrivaled prowess. Hey, if there’s a chance you may be cancelled, go down as the best soap, not the worst.
| 2. Talk about sugar! Although I watched a much younger Gina Tognoni and Tuc Watkins mix it up back in the day, watching these two comedian/dramatists reconnect as grown-up thespians has been a delicious treat. Together, Tognoni and Watkins exhibit red-hot chemistry. You know the kind we used to see in classic movies. For my Llantano money, David and Kelly have all the makings of Llanview’s next big super-couple. Who else could tell Tognoni was in acting heaven working opposite an equally talented leading actor who kept her on her toes. Watching the Emmy winner and Watkins devour Carlivati’s hilarious scripts was akin to watching two pros in a kick-ass tennis match. Throw in David’s love for Kelly’s aunt, Dorian, and you have the makings of a fascinating and highly entertaining love triangle. |
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3. Undoubtedly, Robin Strasser is One Life’s most loyal, passionate and hardest working MVPs. No matter what the material, the Emmy winner ensures her scripts and character snap, crackle and pop! However, La Strasser’s scenes opposite Stephen Markle, who returned as Dorian’s conscience, were some of her finest, rawest work to date. Like Y&R’s Jeanne Cooper as Marge, Strasser stripped Dorian down to her most vulnerable state delivering a Broadway-esque performance in the process as the Cramer matriarch debated whether or not to allow Charlie to kill Mitch. It was refreshing to see One Life delve into Dorian’s conflicted mind for a change. Because let’s face it, we’ve seen more than enough of Viki and Jessica’s poorly constructed inner terminals. And who didn’t swoon when Dorian called Mel “my husband,” as if he were still alive? Hey, One Life — I’m not sure how I feel about bringing the marvelous Markle intermittingly because losing him over and over again just gets tougher. Bring Mel back, full-time! So far, in my eyes, Strasser is easily ahead of the pack for 2011 outstanding lead actress Emmy contention.
4. Welcome back! Farah Fath reclaimed her position as One Life’s most popular younger lead actress as Gigi helped delivered Sierra Rose before falling through an icy lake with said bambina in hand. Very impressive, Farah!
5. Honest talk about sex between teens and adults never happens on soaps anymore. But Langston shared her overwhelming sexual fantasies about Ford with Blair, despite her relationship with Markko. What resulted was a very frank, eye-opening discussion.
6. I was never a fan of John and Natalie’s but I sure am now! What a difference a few years — and a real head writer — makes! I hope One Life doesn’t rush into a John and Natalie sexual relationship because she’s still mourning the loss of our sweet hero, Jared. However, thanks to Melissa Archer and Michael Easton growing leaps and bounds as actors since they were last paired together romantically, their chemistry finally leaps off the page.
7. Now that Amanda Setton has quit, One Life would be wise to offer Melissa Fumero anything she wants to return as Bitchy Bangs. Seeing Fumero back put a huge smile of my face — just like Setton does whenever she’s on screen.
8. I always joke that Erin Torpey is the real Jessica, but that’s really a dig at ABC’s unsuccessful Rebecca Budig marketing campaign. The fact is, even if Bree Williamson were to quit One Life, Torpey couldn’t reassume her role. And that’s because Williamson has finally made the role her own. I couldn’t imagine Torpey stepping in and playing Tess or whatever whacked-out personality Jessica is fighting with. Over the past year, Williamson has been a revelation and joy to watch as Llanview’s most insane woman. Though I could have done without the shock therapy, I’m looking forward to Jessica’s latest breakdown because the campy high jinks balances out the sturm and drang of the show.
9. Is Roscoe Born a moustache-twirling cartoon villain? Hells no! One Life is clearly tackling those religious, incestuous zealots out in the world today (though the maniac is far more articulate). How creepy was it when Mitch almost raped his daughter after demanding she become his wife? Big Love, indeed! Whomever writes Mitch’s poetic vitriol (“degenerate slattern,” for instance) deserves an Olympic medal. It’s too bad Born is leaving the canvas. He’ll be missed. And isn’t Born sexier than ever?
10. Whenever Ilene Kristen and Brett Claywell share a scene together, you know it’s going to be a good day. How beautiful was it when Kyle told Roxie he loved her? In fact, I think Claywell shares more chemistry with Kristen than he does with Scott Evans! Sach relig, I know …
THE IDIOT RATINGS
Winner — DAYS beats B&B for second spot! One Life posts huge gains!
Loser — World Turns reclaims last place!
Ratings for the week February 8-12, 2010
(Compared to Last Week/Compared to Last Year)
*Courtesy of Soap Opera Network
Total Viewers
1. Y&R 5,240,000 (-28,000/+182,000)
2. *DAYS 3,325,000 (+202,000/+480,000)
3. B&B 3,267,000 (-121,000/-265,000)
4. AMC 2,971,000 (+251,000/+470,000)
5. GH 2886,000 (-165,000/+144,000)
6. OLTL 2,692,000 (+224,000/+267,000)
7. ATWT 2,428,000 (-56,000/-270,000)
*First time in second place since May 24-28, 2004
Households
1. Y&R 3.8/11 (same/+.1)
2. B&B 2.4/7 (same/-.2)
3. DAYS 2.3/7 (+.1/+.3)
4. AMC 2.2/7 (+.2/+.3)
5. GH 2.1/6 (-.1/same)
6. OLTL 2.0/6 (+.2/+.1)
7. ATWT 1.8/5 (same/-.2)
Women 18-49 Viewers
1. Y&R 1,240,000 (+27,000/+142,000)
2. GH 976,000 (-89,000/+25,000)
3. DAYS 853,000 (-20,000/-34,000)
4. AMC 802,000 (+68,000/+59,000)
5. OLTL 783,000 (+91,000/+16,000)
6. B&B 731,000 (-40,000/-9,000)
7. ATWT 586,000 (-41,000/-95,000)
SOAP SYLLABUS
One Life — If These Prison Walls Could Talk!
When Tina Lord Roberts was sentenced to jail in 1987, One Life decided to show her life in prison, which was pretty groundbreaking back then — especially with all the lesbian undertones. Check out this hilarious vintage clip featuring Andrea Evans and Judith Chapman. Hopefully, Y&R will bring Evans’ Tawny Moore so Evans and Chapman can reunite and do what they do best.
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PICTURES OF THE WEEK
Cameron Mathison proves it’s never too late for a Maldives Four Seasons honeymoon!
“It was so beautiful, it was ridiculous,” Mathison tells Soapgeist. |
SUDS POLL
Which soaper should replace American Idol’s Simon Cowell? Click here to vote.—Eric Braeden
—Carolyn Hinsey
—Michael Bruno
—Victoria Rowell
—Crystal Chappell
—Tuc Watkins
—Nancy Lee Grahn
—Snoop Dogg
—Jeanne Cooper
—Robin Strasser
Ed. 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. One Life To Live, ABC
2. Days of our Lives, NBC/Global
3. The Young and the Restless, CBS/Global
Top 4 Storylines to Watch:
1. The Case Against Sonny Corinthos, GH
2. The Case Against Adam Newman, Y&R
3. The Case For Julia Barr’s Permanent Return, AMC
—tie— The Case for Melissa Fumero’s Permanent Return, One Life
Top 5 Actresses to Watch:
1. Amanda Setton (Kim, One Life)
2. Crystal Chappell (Carly, DAYS)
3. Julia Barr (Brooke, AMC)
4. Melissa Fumero (Bitchy Bangs, One Life)
5. Gina Tognoni (Kelly, One Life)
Top 6 Actors to Watch:
1. Tuc Watkins (David, One Life)
2. Stephen Nichols (Tucker, Y&R)
3. Jonathan Jackson (Lucky, GH)
4. Dominic Zamprogna (Dante, GH)
5. Jon Hensley (Holden, World Turns)
—tie— Michael Muhney (Adam, Y&R)
Top 3 Most Entertaining Performers:
1. Amanda Setton (Kim, One Life)
2. Tuc Watkins (David, One Life)
3. Louise Sorel (Vivian, DAYS)
Top 3 Duos to Watch:
1. Lulu and Dante, GH
2. Diane and Alexis, GH
3. Fish and Kyle, One Life
Top 3 Dream Couples:
1. Kelly and David, One Life
2. EJ and Anna, DAYS
3. Alexis and Diane, GH
Top 3 Rivals:
1. Ashley vs. Adam, Y&R
2. EJ vs. Sami, DAYS
2. 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. David Gregory (Ford, One Life)
2. Sabrina’s stained, filthy purple dress, Y&R
3. Delia’s hats, Y&R
Top 3 Families To Watch:
1. The Cramers, One Life
2. The Kiriakises, DAYS
3. The Newmans, Y&R
Top 4 New Duos To Watch:
1. Clint and Kim, One Life
2. Holden and Molly, World Turns
3. John and Natalie, One Life
4. Liza and Tad, AMC
Top 3 Duos To Avoid Like the Plague:
1. John and Marty, One Life
2. Bill and Steffy, B&B
3. Lisa and Patrick, GH
Top 3 Young Actors:
1. Drew Garrett (Michael, GH)
2. Shenell Edmonds (Destiny, One Life)
3. Brittany Underwood (Langston, One Life)
Top 3 Biggest Wastes of Talent:
1. Renee Jones (Lexie, DAYS)
2. James Reynolds (Abe, DAYS)
3. Rick Hearst (Whip, B&B)
Top 3 Hair Models:
1. Denise Vasi (Randi, AMC)
2. Texas Battle (Marcus, B&B)
3. Jackie MacInnes Wood (Steffy, B&B)
Top 3 Soap Magazine Covers (based on art direction):
1. ABC Soaps In Depth — GH’s Sonny and Dante
2. Soap Opera Weekly — Adam’s Busted on Y&R!
3. Soap Opera Digest — Secrets Out on DAYS!
Top 3 Best Reads/Buys at the Newsstand:
1. Soap Opera Digest
2. Soap Opera Weekly
3. ABC Soaps In Depth
Top 3 Soap Moments To Watch:
1. Wednesday: Snoop Dogg barks his way through a performance at Capricorn on One Life! Snoop breaks mid-song to ask, “Wait — Amanda Setton’s leaving? Fo’ shizzle?”
2. Friday: Brooke and Taylor try to rip each other’s faces off on B&B! Clearly, Taylor has the advantage.
3. Tuesday: GH finally unveils its new opening during its 12,000th episode!
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.
