Follow Nelson on Twitter as well as his
partner-in-crime and editor, Denette!

 


SUDSIEST QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“I won’t miss that. Please, burn the wig.”
—DAYS’s Stacy Haiduk wigs out in Soap Opera Weekly on what she won’t miss about Y&R
Translation: And the studio!

“I was dreadful. I didn’t understand the medium. I didn’t understand that it’s not artistic. It’s kind of mechanical, and if you don’t do your homework completely, you’re hung out to dry.”
—Y&R’s Eric Roberts in Soap Opera Weekly on his original soap gig on Another World in 1977
Translation: Paul Rauch was on my ass then, and he’s still on my ass now!

SUDSY TRAILER
On The Edge
From the desk of James Romanovich: “As a treat for soap fans, I am releasing a small excerpt of On The Edge, which will be making its broadcast debut sometime around [American] Thanksgiving. I mentioned that the initial reason these stars went to Kenya was to help these poor kids and families. But they didn’t expect how much they actually received in return. It’s amazing, emotional experiences as you see their transformations happen in this excerpt. I couldn’t think of a better visual to get that point across than this. I can’t say enough how special it was to have these daytime stars contribute their time and compassion as they did. And I think they would agree that their lives are better now for doing so.” Here’s the sneak peek.
THE BIZ
Insider on ABC/WGA scandal: “Not the first time waivers have been asked for!”
The industry isn’t shocked over ABC’s ultimatum to the Writers Guild of America, states a major daytime insider, in asking for a waiver to produce less scripts than the current negotiated agreement/guarantee. In fact, it’s already happened! The WGA member says, “For a while now, a lot of shows have been asking writers to sign waivers that give the show the option not to have to provide a one-per-week guarantee to a writer. The guarantee of one show per week is in the Writers Guild MBA, which comes up for a new contract next spring. The WGA knows we will not be able to fight this request, but, as of now and our most recent meeting, we’ve opted to put this request as part of the new contract that the WGA will negotiate overall. As far as the future of daytime is concerned this won’t matter because if they want to cancel any show they can regardless of what the WGA likes or doesn’t like.”

All My Children, ABC — And the Emmy goes to … ?
• Watch out, daytime divas eyeing the big, golden prize next year! Debbi Morgan has another reason to burn the L.A. studios down next week. In story 411, Angie learns that she’s pregnant — along with battling a mysterious life-threatening illness! Guess head writers David Kreizman and Donna Swajeski were serious when they said they were going to throw Morgan on the front burner, cliché storyline and all. Predictably, Angie must choose between her life and her unborn baby.

As the World Turns, CBS/Global — CBS is all talk, no soap!
• The body isn’t even cold yet but CBS has picked a replacement for departing daytime soap World Turns and it’s not a silly game show: an untitled daily panel talk show hosted by Sara Gilbert, on whose idea the show is based, Julie Chen, Holly Robinson Peete, Sharon Osbourne, Leah Remini and Marissa Jaret Winokur that focuses on topical events through the eyes of moms. The talk show will be filmed in Los Angeles where Chen also co-hosts CBS’s Early Show all year round as well as the network’s reality series Big Brother in the summer. Chen is married to CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Les Moonves. Smart girl. Now if only Martha Byrne was as smart!

Meanwhile, my girl, Senior Network VP Barbara Bloom explains CBS’s decision: “Daytime is an evolving day part with more variety now among soap operas, game and talk shows. We were looking for a new format that would speak to the core audience but also have the topical and entertainment value to go even broader. This panel is not a bashful bunch; they are outspoken on any issue you put on the table. It promises to be an hour of television with timely discussions, unfiltered opinions and a lot of personality.”

• Whaaat? Turns out Barbara’s kidnapper is Iris — not James or Emily. Or me.

• On Aug. 30, Nancy Hughes will pass away. The next day, the show will air a tasteful yet modest tribute to the actress and character to honour Wagner’s wishes.

The Bold and The Beautiful, CBS/CTV — The Accidental Sex Report!
• In story 411, Brooke tries her hardest to convince Hope to forgive her for accidentally having sex with her boyfriend, Oliver. Yep, good luck with that, Brooke! God — this is going to be ugly. Next week, Ashley Jones and Kim Matula finally get to work opposite each other as half-siblings.

Coronation Street, CBC — Mr. Kitty fires his agent!
• Meow! According to Reuters, the ashes of Frisky, the cat who famously starred in the opening credits of soap opera Coronation Street, have sold to a British buyer for 844 pounds ($1,279). Dominic Winter auctioneers expected the cat’s remains to fetch between 100 and 150 pounds.

Frisky died in 2000, aged 14, after appearing in the credits of the world’s longest-running soap for 11 years. As well as Frisky’s ashes in a wooden casket, the lot included a cremation certificate and publicity shots with Coronation Street actors.

Days of our Lives, NBC/Global — Firings and hirings!
• Soap Opera Digest has learned exclusively that Lindsay Hartley has been let go as DAYS’s Arianna Hernandez. The former Passions starlet was given six weeks notice. Meanwhile, Emmy-nominated Soap Talk host and hunky ex-One Lifer Ty Treadway will play the role of Dr. Jason Walters for a few episodes this fall.

While many amateur casting directors pleaded for Hartley to play One Life’s spunky and funky Kim, the actress recently told me she couldn’t move to New York since her husband Justin Hartley is filming Smallville in Vancouver, which already makes their family life challenging to coordinate. But she’d make a kick-ass Bianca on AMC, non? Can you imagine Susan Lucci opposite Hartley? James E. Reilly would be smiling from the Pearly Gates!

• In story 411, Bo learns that Hope tried to kill him thanks to pint-sized detectives Theo and Ciara. Hey, they’re the smartest characters on the soaps these days. Let’s hope there’s a romance in their distant future. If DAYS has the cojones to pen an interracial romance with an autism slant.

• Safe fans, step away from the computer! Because next week, EJ proposes to his “darling Samantha!” Will she say yes? Will he blackmail her into saying yes like he did the first time they had sex? Will Rafe beat the sexy English accent out of  EJ? Or shall they just indulge in a modern threesome and make everyone happy? Regardless, this is getting good … because I’m actually torn. When was the last time you could say that about a soap triangle? Oh, right, Y&R’s Shick vs. Phick. Well, let’s pray this has a different outcome.

Degrassi, MuchMusic — The Ratings Are On!
• TeenNick’s and MuchMusic’s original two-hour Degrassi TV movie “The Heat is On” was a scorcher, setting a new ratings record for both networks. At press time, the numbers aren’t in for how Degrassi’s new groundbreaking telenovela format is fairing but we’ll bring you those numbers when we receive them.

Creator Linda Schuyler tells Suds Report that there has definitely been an adjustment period after bravely traversing from a weekly series to a daily one. “It’s a lot more work than I imagined,” she laughs. “Even though I created a Canadian daily soap, Riverdale, years back, I had forgotten how intense writing four shows a week is. But I’m loving it.”

General Hospital, ABC/CTV — Brenda’s Hollywood Kisser!
• Does GH’s Emmy-winning casting director Mark Teschner ever sleep? TV and film actor Brad Rowe (Billy’s Hollywood Kiss, Wasteland) has been cast as Murphy Sinclair, an internationally famous movie star who is involved with supermodel Brenda and children’s charity causes in Italy. Rowe first airs on Aug. 13. The Josh Duhamel look-alike may stick around longer than expected, hints an insider.

• Sad news: Robin Christopher's delightful short-term stint will come to an end on July 29. We’ll miss the gorgeous and talented sophisticated femme fatale, for sure. Are you listening, AMC? Nah, probably not.

• And here’s a sneak video peek of Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo and Brad Rowe on the GH set — champagne glasses and caviar dreams and all!
One Life To Live, ABC — The Warlock
• The first World Turns actor One Life decided to steal is Emmy winner Billy Warlock Pinson, who will be replacing Michael Lowry as a much shorter Ross Rayburn. Warlock and his wife, Julie Pinson, have become very close friends with Farah Fath and John-Paul Lavoisier so the current World Turns guest star should be welcomed in with open arms.

The Young and the Restless, CBS/Global — Oh Schmidt!
• After leaving Toronto, where he was filming his new Cartoon Network series, Unnatural History, Kevin Schmidt tweeted: “I have not be asked to return as ‘Noah Newman.’ A huge thank you to the cast and crew! Onward and upwards!” Earlier this week, rumours began circulating that ex-GH newcomer Drew Garrett had been recast in the role but Lexi Ainsworth shot down news after speaking to the actor herself. Too bad.

• Everyone knows Julia Roberts loves her some DAYS. But will she become a fan of Y&R now that her brother, Eric, is playing Vance Abrams for a short-term arc? According to her brother, the Oscar winner will be tuning in. He tells Soap Opera Weekly, “My sister and I were talking yesterday. I got an email that said, “Oh my God! You’re doing a soap? I can’t wait to watch you.” When asked if Roberts would consider a long-term stint with Y&R, he said he’d be open to an offer. But they better hurry, because RadarOnline.com is reporting that Roberts has signed to star on Celebrity Rehab 4!


 

 

 

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

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.