SUDSIEST QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND
“Julianne’s [Moore] appearance will definitely break the ice. It really says something about the show and how it had an important place in her life.”
—World Turns’ show runner Christopher Goutman in Entertainment Weekly
Translation: Thank you, Douglas Marland.
AWARDS SHOW CENTRAL
Soap Opera Spirit Awards — Who won? Who lost? Who got drunk?
DAYS/Venice stars Crystal Chappell and Galen Gering hosted the third annual Soap Opera Spirit Awards. If you missed the fun and light-hearted podcast last Tuesday night, click here because it’s still available. Tune in to hear Y&R’s Peter Bergman, Stacy Haiduk, Michael Muhney and Billy Miller’s acceptance speeches. The biggest news? The oh-so-charming, sexy and hilarious Chappell and Gering have a future in radio! Especially that sexy bastard Gering, who had me in stitches throughout the podcast.
For a complete list of the Soap Opera Spirit Award winners, click here.
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LONG LIVE SPRINGFIELD
Another GL event set!
Not sick of saying goodbye to Springfield yet? On March 27, Kim Zimmer, Robert Newman, Michael O'Leary, Grant Aleksander and Justin Deas will be appearing at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, Fla. Click here for tickets!
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WEEKEND SUDS FLASHES
Kish-ing fools? One Life under fire as more reports on backstage problems come in! Good Morning America rally set for March 26!
• Congratulations are in order for executive producer Frank Valentini, head writer Ron Carlivati, Brett Claywell and Scott Evans for winning their much-deserved GLAAD Award this past weekend for best daily drama.
As everyone and their drag queen mothers know, Valentini fired Kish portrayers Brett Claywell and Scott Evans last week. A gay brouhaha erupted charging ABC with homophobic agendas.
Boy Culture caught up with Evans at the GLAAD event, where the Soap Opera Spirit-nominated actor diplomatically summed up his experience on One Life. “I think we told a fantastic story,” he said. “Of course we feel like there’s always more places it could go. We told an incredible story. It got a lot of great reactions, maybe one or two not-so-great ones from people who are closed-minded. Now we’re done and moving on and I’m excited to see what’s in store for me.”
However, during the GLAAD ceremony, Evans’ co-star Claywell tweeted his disappointment over the fact their award wasn’t even presented (it never has been, by the way; GLAAD honours this category by inviting the soap winners to present an award annually during the show).
Claywell wrote, “In spite of recent news, [it’s] gonna be nice to celebrate what we did, together. It was a fun night. Would have thought they would have acknowledged our work at least, but not so. Oh well! We still won … I think …”
The next day, a more introspective Claywell tweeted, “Sitting in a church in NYC on a rainy Sunday listening to a performance of Mozart’s Requiem. Good end to the week. Gonna miss this place. :( ”
In a statement to the press, One Life expounded on their decision to write off Kish: “The groundbreaking Kyle/Fish relationship on One Life To Live was embraced by fans both as a great story and a fair and honest reflection of the LGBT community. We’re glad their story resonated with the audience, and understand the fans’ disappointment now that it has concluded. The show has a history of bringing LGBT stories to the screen — earning two GLAAD Awards in the process — as well as returning popular characters when they serve the ongoing story. These great characters remain in Llanview, and while there are no immediate plans to advance their story, the door is always open for their return.”
As One Life accepted their bittersweet GLAAD Award, sources are maintaining that Valentini is not to blame for the two controversial exits.
TV Guide Magazine wondered aloud that perhaps "gay overkill" may have led to Kish’s dismissal, a theory that may have deflected blame and the real issue here. ABC has yet to admit their decision has anything to do with ratings and/or an anti-gay agenda.
“This is the same network who has gays all over their primetime schedule,” points out a network insider. “And it's not about money because Brett and Scott don't cost a fortune. Heck, Scott's not even on contract.”
Say what you want about ABC’s chief Brian Frons and Valentini, but they’re smart men. They know that Kish isn’t to blame for One Life’s descent numbers-wise because it’s simply not true.
So what’s left to consider?
As I reported in Friday’s Suds Report, an actor’s partying got so out of control recently that scenes were delayed and later scrapped all together.
“We’re a lean mean machine,” says another insider. “Popularity doesn’t mean anything if you’re not professional. Frank is under budget because he runs a tight ship — and he wants to keep it that way,” defends a cast member who witnessed the production incidents. “He can’t sacrifice a show for just two actors. We’re already under a lot of pressure to produce all these shows in just one day. If not, we’re cancelled.”
Over the weekend, sources called Soapgeist to defend Valentini's decision. Now comes word that it wasn’t just one actor who caused problems — but the other half of Kish as well.
An insider informs Soapgeist, “[The other actor] was ‘not available’ on certain days, making for massive rewrites and rescheduling. One Life fought so hard to blaze this trail and now they’re being punished for it. Frank is too classy to inform the public that it’s his actors who cost them their jobs, not ABC. Once again, Frank is falling on the sword and taking the hits just like he did with Nathaniel Marston.”
In fact, One Life may have been in the process of recasting one of the roles because of unprofessional behaviour. A Soapgeist reader sent in this recent audition tape with Shawn Parsons, who looks identical to Claywell.
And let’s not forget one of the biggest red flags — Evans hinting that he may leave One Life last week when rumours arose that the actor was auditioning for another part. Perhaps, coupled with the hold-up in production with the other half of Kish, Valentini had enough.
Yes, it’s all speculation at this point. But the combined two issues with the two actors in question within the same week just seems a little too coincidental to overlook.
The saddest part in this whole mess? The fact that this time in six months time, we will have had lost three gay super-couples: GL’s Otalia, World Turns’s Nuke, and Kish.
Well, at least we still have GH’s Sonny and Jason.
For now, all we can do is support the passionate Kish fan campaigns. In fact, there is a Kish rally already planned for Friday, March 26 from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Good Morning America Times Square Studios in New York.
Hopefully, ABC won’t pull a CBS by forcing the Kish fans out of camera shot.
P.S. — TV Guide Canada does not support boycotting the show because of One Life's Kish-off. That's the surest way to ensure another gay couple never sees the daylight on this medium. One Life is still the best show on daytime, bar none, and deserves a chance to survive. However, I understand why fans who booked a one-way ticket to Llanview because of Kish would want a return flight and stop watching entirely.
• Wanna save Kish? Log on to SaveKish.com and http://dontputkishinthecloset.blogspot.com/ to make your voices heard.
• With all the Kish hoopla, Suds Report totally forgot to report that Scott Clifton was given his walking papers, too, last week. Viewers will learn next week that Schuyler is Roxy’s son! I have no idea which direction head writer Ron Carlivati is swerving in, but he’s got my attention. As for Clifton, he noted on Twitter that he’d be happy to return to GH. Let’s see if that happens, but it would be a wise move considering Lulu and Dante are headed towards a happily ever after and need an organic interloper in their midst sooner or later.
• CBS renewed its monster hit new show, Undercover Boss. Wouldn’t it be cool if ABC Daytime President Brian Frons went undercover on One Life? “Who are you? Are you our accountant?” he would probably ask a certain cast member. “Erika Slezak,” the stunned multiple Emmy winner would respond.
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PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Steamboat’s new gay super-couple! |
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Michael Fairman’s sitting in a tree with One Life’s Kish …
Missing Kish already? Michael Fairman recently interviewed Scott Evans and Brett Claywell for his website On Air, On Soaps. Enjoy it while it lasts.
SOAP SYLLABUS
One Life — A Single Boy
Kish isn’t the first gay storyline One Life told in less than a year. Click here to see Ryan Phillippe’s Billy tell his homophobic father he’s gay.
SUDS POLL
With the Kish uproar, should One Life re-hire Brett Claywell and Scott Evans? Click here to vote.
—Yes!
—No!
—What’s One Life?
Editor’s 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. The Young and the Restless, CBS/Global
3. Steamboat, Steamboatseries.com
Top 4 Storylines to Watch:
1. Dr. McBastard, World Turns
2. Kristina accuses Ethan, GH
3. Nicole’s back, bitches, DAYS
4. Is Ashley cuckoo again?, Y&R
Top 5 Actresses to Watch:
1. Stacy Haiduk (Emily/Patty, Y&R)
2. Leann Hunley (Anna, DAYS)
3. Eileen Davidson (Ashley, Y&R)
4. Arianne Zucker (Nicole, DAYS)
5. Kim Zimmer (Rhonda, Steamboat)
Top 5 Actors to Watch:
1. Stephen Nichols (Tucker, Y&R)
2. Stuart Damon (Jim, DAYS)
3. Eric Sheffer Stevens (Dr. Reid, World Turns)
4. Michael Park (Dirk, Steamboat)
5. Michael O’Leary (Michael, Steamboat)
Top 3 Most Entertaining Performers:
1. Amanda Setton (Kim, One Life)
2. Connie Towers (Helena, GH)
3. Louise Sorel (Vivian, DAYS)
Top 3 Duos to Watch:
1. Lulu and Dante, GH
2. Noah and Luke, World Turns
3. Kyle and Fish, One Life
Top 3 Dream Couples:
1. Kelly and David, One Life
2. Reid and Luke, World Turns
3. Maggie and Jim, DAYS
Top 3 Rivals:
1. Helena vs. the Spencers, GH
2. Nicole vs. Anna, DAYS
3. Erica vs. Greenlee, AMC
Top 3 Most Annoying Characters:
1. Marty Saybrooke, One Life
2. Steffy “Forrester,” B&B
3. Victoria Newman, Y&R
Top 3 Triangles to Watch:
1. Janet/Dusty/Jack, World Turns
2. Hope/Bo/Carly, DAYS
3. EJ/Sami/Rafe, DAYS
Top 3 Guilty Pleasures:
1. Cassie’s growth spurt in heaven, Y&R
2. Bree Williamson’s super-horny take on Jessica at 17, One Life
3. Henry’s sexual “prowess,” World Turns
Top 3 Families To Watch:
1. The Cramers, One Life
2. The Newmans, Y&R
3. The Corinthoses, GH
Top 3 New Duos To Watch:
1. Clint and Kim, One Life
2. Holden and Molly, World Turns
3. Reid and Luke, World Turns
Top 3 Duos To Avoid Like the Plague:
1. John and Marty, One Life
2. Steffy and anyone, B&B
3. Lisa and Patrick, GH
Top 3 Young Actors:
1. Drew Garrett (Michael, GH)
2. Lexi Ainsworth (Kristina, GH)
3. Camryn Grimes (Cassie, Y&R)
Top 4 Biggest Wastes of Talent:
1. Renee Jones (Lexie, DAYS)
—tie—James Reynolds (Abe, DAYS)
3. Brett Claywell and Scott Evans, (Kish, One Life)
Top 3 Hair Models:
1. Jackie MacInnes Wood (Steffy, B&B)
2. Denise Vasi (Randi, AMC)
3. Texas Battle (Marcus, B&B)
Top 3 Soap Magazine Covers (based on art direction):
1. Soap Opera Digest — Real-Life Drama!
2. CBS Soaps In Depth — Y&R’s Eileen Davidson and a fake baby!
3. Soap Opera Weekly — More Violence on GH!
Top 3 Best Reads/Buys at the Newsstand:
1. Soap Opera Digest
2. Soap Opera Weekly
3. CBS Soaps In Depth
Top 3 Soap Moments To Watch:
1. Wednesday: B&B’s Whip and Taylor inch forward to a commitment. “Let’s get divorced in two months,” proposes Whip. “B&B has no idea what they are doing with us, do they?” asks Taylor.
2. Wednesday: AMC’s David kisses Greenlee. “You are the real Greenlee,” quips the evil doc. “And you’re the real Lujack,” retorts Greens.
3. Monday: Allison informs Mitch that Schuyler is his son on One Life. “What are the chances of having not one, but two gay sons?” asks a stunned Mitch.
Want to dish the soaps with Nelson Branco? Join The Suds Report discussion group today on Facebook.
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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. |
