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SUDSIEST QUOTES OF THE WEEK:
“Forgetting my lines because I was staring at Thorsten [Kaye, ex-Zach].”
—AMC’s Denise Vasi reveals her biggest on-set goof in Soap Opera Digest
Translation: You try hair-modelling when Thorsten’s around. Now that he’s gone, I’ll have to find someone else to blame for not being able to act!

“Hands down, he is the ripping-est dude on our show. I have never seen my man [Brandon] Beemer eat a cupcake or a candy bar, he’s so strict to his diet. But when I’m chiseled and at my best, there will be a contest.”
—B&B’s Texas Battle is trying to win the war in a Soaps In Depth interview
Translation: Hopefully, the contest won’t include a grammar section.

“The Darius McCrary audition was one of the greatest the network had seen in 20 years.”
—Executive producer Paul Rauch proclaims to Michael Fairman’s On Air, On Soaps
Translation: Right after John Driscoll, Vail Bloom, Yvonne Zima, Tammin Sursok, and Amelia Heinle, of course. Later, we all had Kool-Aid.

“Sandra Bullock. With time, that changed [laughs]!”
—One Life's out-and-proud Scott Evans reveals who his first crush was in Soap Opera Digest’s annual Sexiest Soap Stars feature
Translation: Now I’m into Amanda Setton.

SO LONG SPRINGFIELD
New events announced
Where’s Ellen Wheeler? Liz Keifer, Bradley Cole, Justin Deas, Grant Aleksander, Beth Chamberlin, Kim Zimmer, Marcy Rylan, Daniel Cosgrove, Robert Newman, Jerry ver Dorn, Jessica Leccia and Michael O’Leary will be appearing on March 7 at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. For tickets and more information surf over to www.celebrityeventsgroup.com or call 1-866-364-0330 to purchase tickets securely.

And if you still haven’t gotten your GL fix, Mike Gold announced that he’s also organized a cruise, So Long Springfield at Sea (sadly, there’s no stopover in San Cristobel). Fans will cruise aboard the Carnival Glory, departing July 31, 2010 through Aug. 4, 2010 from New York. With stops in St. John’s and Halifax, this is a fantastic end-of-summer treat. Mohegan Sun will be giving away one cabin for two to one lucky fan.

PODCAST ALLEY
Michael Fairman unveils his first On Air, On Soaps podcast
It’s raining podcasts! Venerable soap journalist/producer, On Air, On Soaps’ Michael Fairman unveiled his first inaugural podcast co-starring GH's Carolyn Hennesy and Canada's own Dillon Casey of MVP and Being Erica. And it’s a doozy!

Fairman previews, “Canadian fans will get a huge kick out of the reading of the scene where Carolyn and Dillon re-enact an unaired scene between Diane and Franco in our Podcast Theatre. Dillon plays Franco in full Canadian accent — and its hilarious.”

If that’s not enough, Fairman also interviews AMC’s Jacob Young and Y&R’s Joshua Morrow in the same broadcast.

On March 9, Fariman will be airing the third annual Soap Opera Spirit Awards at 7 p.m. PT. Presenters will be announced in a future Suds Report.

For a complete list of the SOS Award nominations, click here.

All My Children, ABC, A — When in Pine Valley!
• James Franco who? According to Monsters and Critics, when asked about a possible return in a radio interview with Valentine in the Morning, Josh Duhamel shocked everyone when he said he’d love to come back to Pine Valley.

The Emmy winner said, “You know what? I would love to do that, actually. I would. I had so much fun on that show for those three years and I still keep in touch with a lot of the people over there. They never officially found Leo's body, so he could legitimately be alive.”

There was no word if crack cocaine was smoked during the interview.

• In Part 3 of his interview with soap creator Agnes Nixon, Scott K of US Townhall has the legendary scribe confirming David Canary’s exit, which Suds Report exclusively revealed over a year ago. At the Daytime Emmys last year, Canary informed Suds that he would help AMC transition to its new L.A. studio digs, but that the soap vet would not continue on a full-time basis.

In the same Nixon interview, the living legend criticizes Brian Frons for not inviting the N.Y. crew to L.A., especially the workers who have been toiling in Pine Valley since the first episode.

As The World Turns, Global/CBS — Soaps on the ground!
• Here we go, again! Jim Romanovich, Associated Television International’s president of Worldwide Media and Entertainment, has clarified recent tweets stating that the Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony won’t include a World Turns tribute.

He explains, “It would be too costly for P&G [TeleNext] to [participate] considering there is no real return of investment in doing so. They have to arrange all the cast, transportation, flights, hotels, etc. on a show that is going away or possibly gone by the time the Emmys would air. The Academy has no hand in this until they know the arrangements can happen. Then they decide to do it. So, ultimately it’s not really our decision.” Question — you can still run a tribute without the actors. Let’s face it — it’s not like the stars of Guiding Light had any screen time when their soap was honoured at the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.

In the meantime, Romanovich, who last week reported that he does have an offer to air this year’s ceremony, is currently working on a 40th anniversary AMC package for the kudofest.

• In story 411, Mick holds everyone hostage at Casey and Alison’s wedding. It’s too bad World Turns swerved in a different direction with its risky, strangely fascinating, Mick-could-be-a-younger-James storyline. In a recent Vogue article, a humble, nearly extinct apple tree has scientists believing in a fountain of youth serum. Seems the stem cells in this super-fruit, called an Uttwiler Spatlauber apple, are eternally resilient keeping the apple ripe forever.

The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS/CTV — Spinelli, Part 2?
• Three-time Daytime Emmy winner Jennifer Finnigan is working again! The Montreal native taped a comedy pilot starring opposite Joanna Garcia, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Since leaving B&B, Finnigan headlined Close to Home and appeared on Crossing Jordan and The Dead Zone.

• Is B&B running out of dressing rooms? Fearless leader Brad Bell is casting yet another role. Herbie is a 20-something computer geek who is socially awkward but sports a great sense of humour. Don’t they all?

• Miss those iconic Dynasty catfights? Well, next week B&B airs a hilarious and waterlogged re-imagining of Alexis and Krystal's infamous pond showdown featuring — who else? — Brooke and Taylor. Katherine Kelly Lang and Hunter Tylo even adorn very similar costumes from Dynasty's diva-licious scene.

Days of our Lives, NBC/Global —  EJ’s most evil act yet!
• Soap Opera Spirit Award nominee Suzanne Rogers revealed to TV Guide Magazine that come March, Maggie Horton’s Myasthenia Gravis, a neuromuscular disease, will return. In real life, Rogers has suffered from MG throughout her adult life. Does that mean that DAYS is opting out of Maggie possibly falling off the wagon after the death of her hubby, Mickey? Too bad, because I was dying to see a sloshed Maggie slurring her words around Salem while doling out advice!

• Thanks to John Edwards, politicos are all the rage on TV! As previously reported, Emmy winner Stuart Damon has joined the sudser as Governor Jim Ford.

• Evil much? In story 411, EJ does the unthinkable this week when he fakes his daughter Sydney’s death! And Sami and Rafe aren’t in on the scam! Makes karmic sense since Sami lied to EJ that Grace wasn't his daughter. Oh, and the fact that Sami’s in love with safe Rafe.

When all is said and aired, this DAYS baby-switch storyline will rank in the top five of all time because the plotting in this epic tale has been brilliant and organic (along with the acting). Over a year later, this baby switcheroo still has major legs. In other Salem news, Carly accidentally shoots her daughter Melanie! D’oh!

General Hospital, CTV/A — Wright reunites with Bradley Cole!
• Ask and you shall receive — even if it may take five years! Word on the street is that GH will unveil a new opening during its 12,000 episode anniversary on Feb. 23.

• So that’s where Jeffrey’s hiding out! According to ABC Soaps In Depth, Laura Wright’s former co-star Bradley Cole has joined the show in the short-term role of Carlton Bauer. This should be interesting …

• Show-killer Rena Sofer has landed a recurring role on Bones.

• Diversity in Port Charles? Let’s see how long this lasts! Newcomer Annie Ilonzeh has been cast as Maya Ward and will hit the air March 31.

• Angels in Port Chuck! EW.com is reporting that Lindze Letherman is set to return as Maxie’s conscience during a pivotal moment in her sister’s life (knowing Maxie, it’s probably a fashion crisis) beginning March 26.

• If you’re looking to spend Valentin’s Day with Matt Borlenghi, you’ll have to wait. Turns out the former AMC stud booked a movie. “The movie is basically Arachnophobia meets the Iraq War, which will take me about one and a half months to shoot. However, I look forward to going from a hero character to a monster like Valentin,” he says. Well, at least the husband and father is working …

One Life To Live, ABC — Die, bitch, die!
• Don’t miss One Life this week, soapers! It’s the event we’ve all been salivating for — Stacy’s icy death. I have to give head writer Ron Carlivati props for constructing a very karmic exit storyline for Crystal Hunt (heck, even I feel sad about the fact that Stacy’s inability to love herself resulted in her tragic death). Although One Life got a little wacky there for about two seconds last week, no one writes a better sudser than the Emmy-winning maestro. Yes, once in a while, Carlivati infuses the show with camp, but I’ve learned to accept that element in his writing because it’s also part of his charm.

Unlike AMC’s former head writer Chuck Pratt, Carlivati knows, loves, respects, and understands the psychology of his characters — and any accomplished and revered writer will tell you, once you can achieve that, it’s the characters who write your show.

• How much do I love Amanda Setton? Head writer Ron Carlivati was wise to compare Setton to Andrea Evans and Fiona Hutchison, but I’m beginning to think the newcomer may even surpass their legacies. Let me put my unconditional love for Setton in perspective — if a naked Brad Pitt walked into my house while the magical Setton was delivering one of her trademark, bravura performances, I’d kick the super-hunk out!

• Who else is loving the re-pairing of Brian Kerwin and Robin Strasser? I always thought One Life dropped the ball when it came to the underutilized Dorian/Charlie/Viki storyline a few years back — especially after Dorrie drugged Señor Banks. Regardless, their plot to kill Laurence has brought their history — and chemistry — back full circle.

The Young and the Restless, CBS/Global — Graz and Muhney out?
• Is Y&R about to lose two of its most talented and popular young leading men? As Suds reported yesterday, sources state that Michael Muhney may be out at Y&R as the dastardly Adam Newman. Apparently, Muhney only signed with daytime’s No. 1 soap for one year.

Meanwhile, it’s a deja vu for Soap Opera Spirit Award winner, Michael Graziadei, who is once again negotiating his contract. As Genoa City fans remember, Graz almost bolted last year before finally signing a one-year contract.

• It’s a wonderful life, indeed! Kazillion-time Daytime Emmy Award winner Christian LeBlanc has been over the moon ever since his beloved Saints won the Super Bowl last weekend. He tells Suds, “I’m so happy! I drank Hurricanes all night! But I was disappointed that I wasn’t there in person to run around Bourbon Street naked to support my team and hometown!” Um, you’re not the only one, Christian LeVuitton.

• Talk about class! The rest of the industry could learn a thing or two from living soap legend Paul Rauch, who called Suds to thank us for honouring him for this year's prestigious Irna Phillips Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Soap Opera Art Form at this year’s third annual Soap Opera Spirit Awards. “TV Guide Canada is a friend of the industry,” the Emmy winner said. “I’m honoured. Thank you.”

 

 

 

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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.