General Hospital News & Gossip

News for the week of 27-Mar-2000
by Carol Banks Weber

Apologies for not having News & Gossip posted last week. This was webmaster Jeff's fault, not Carol's, so please don't blame her! For this week we have a double issue which incorporates both this week's and last week's news. -- Jeff

Bad, very bad. Vanita Harbour (Dara) is now recurring.

Good, very good (for him anyway). Ingo Rademacher (Jax) is probably leaving. When his contract's up in June/July, that's it. Can he take Tava Smiley (Chloe) with him? Please? Anyway, he said he needs a break and may move to New York for a bit. But nope, he's not gonna be a "Titan" on Aaron Spelling's new primetime drama.

And more good, from Sarah Brown (Carly). Stop ruminating, she's staying. I'm hearing another year for her re-sign, but nobody's talking numbers just yet. She couldn't give up the chance to play opposite her partner in crime, Maurice Benard (Sonny) any more than you can keep from tuning in to their latest combative clashes. TPTB also gave her many tempting perks, such as another juicy incoming story not since she revealed she was Bobbie's long-lost daughter. Brown always wanted to share scenes with Sonny since she first started the soap.

Nominations for the 27th annual Daytime Emmys, with "Young And The Restless" leading the pack on 28 mentions:

OUTSTANDING DAYTIME DRAMA: "All My Children," "General Hospital," "One Life To Live," "Young And The Restless" [Whoo hoo! No "Days Of Our Lives!"]

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR: David Canary (Adam/Stuart, AMC), Anthony Geary (Luke), Robert S. Woods (Bo, OLTL), Peter Bergman (Jack, Y&R), Eric Braeden (Victor, Y&R) [Hey, where's Stephen Nichols (Stefan) and Maurice Benard (Sonny)?! Dammit!]

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS: Finola Hughes (Alex, AMC), Susan Flannery (Stephanie, "Bold And The Beautiful"), Hillary B. Smith (Nora, OLTL), Jeanne Cooper (Katherine, Y&R), Jess Walton (Jill, Y&R) [Hey, where's Genie Francis (Laura)?! The injustice!!!]

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR: Steve Burton (ex-Jason), Timothy Gibbs (Kevin, OLTL), Christian J. LeBlanc (Michael, Y&R), Shemar Moore (Malcolm, Y&R), Kristoff St. John (Neil, Y&R) [Hey, where's John Ingle (Edward)?! What is he, chopped liver?!]

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Patrika Darbo (Nancy, DOOL), Sarah Brown (Carly), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), Sharon Case (Sharon, Y&R), Tonya Lee Williams (Olivia, Y&R)

OUTSTANDING YOUNG ACTOR: Jensen Ackles (Eric, DOOL), Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky), Bryant T. Jones (Nate, Y&R), David Lago (Raul, Y&R), Joshua Morrow (Nick, Y&R), David Tom (Billy, Y&R)

OUTSTANDING YOUNG ACTRESS: Adrienne Frantz (Amber, B&B), Erin Torpey (Jessica, OLTL), Ashley Jones (Megan, Y&R), Heather Tom (Victoria, Y&R), Camryn Grimes (Cassie, Y&R) [Hey, where's Rebecca Herbst (Liz) and Amber Tamblyn (Emily)?! No fair!]

OUTSTANDING WRITING TEAM: "As The World Turns," "Bold And The Beautiful," "General Hospital," "Young And The Restless"

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING TEAM: "All My Children," "Bold And The Beautiful," "General Hospital," "Sunset Beach," "Young And The Restless"

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN: "All My Children," "Bold And The Beautiful," "General Hospital," "One Life To Live," "Port Charles," "Young And The Restless"

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN HAIRSTYLING: "All My Children," "General Hospital," "Port Charles," "Young And The Restless"

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP: "All My Children," "Bold And The Beautiful," "General Hospital," "Port Charles," "Young And The Restless"

The Emmy nominations were revealed with much fanfare early in the morning of March 15, from New York City's Rainbow Room via ABC's "Good Morning, America." Announcers included David Fumero (Cristian, OLTL), Travis Schuldt (Ethan, "Passions"), Martha Byrne (Lily, ATWT), Bradley Cole (Richard, "Guiding Light"), Finola Hughes (ex-Anna; Alex, AMC) and Patrika Darbo (Nancy, DOOL). The Emmy ceremony takes place on May 19 in Radio City Music Hall, New York City.

Reaction to the Emmy nominees? Tony Geary (Luke) was bumming because his co-star Genie Francis (Laura) didn't make the cut. ''I'm flabbergasted. I thought her work last year was among the best I've ever seen in any medium. I'm always shocked when she's left off the list, and this year was a stunner. It takes quite a bit of the joy out of my nomination when my partner is so grossly overlooked." Over in Steve Burton (ex-Jason) land, his wife Sheree nearly caused him a heart attack when she burst in the bedroom with the news of his nomination. "My wife was up early ... [s]he was like, 'Steve, Steve....,' I'm like, 'Either my mom fell down the stairs or my dog got eaten by coyotes.'" [SOURCE: Soap Opera Weekly, April 4, 2000]

After Soap Opera Digest's 16th Annual Soap Opera Awards, euphoric mayhem backstage at the Hollywood Palladium erupted as stars stopped to gab online with fans, March 10:

NANCY LEE GRAHN (Alexis)--

Quarterdine: ((HUGS Nancy)) I was SCREAMING for you! You were glowing!
Next stop Emmy's...I'll write in to tell them what clip they SHOULD
show! Grahn: We gave them the clip where I call Helena an old bat and
they cut before I got to say it! If I ever get nominated again, I have
to take more control over the clip! :)

shallotpeel: Congrats and you look great! Grahn: Thank you! Why thank
you! It's a big dress to whip around! Was my bra showing? Anything
sticking out that shouldn't be? :)

davidtomfan: Is your family with you tonight in the audience? Grahn: My
mother and my sister are here. Kate's at home. My other sister, her
daughter had an important swim meet, and my dad is at home. He has
emphysema so I will take prayers from everyone for miracle regeneration
of his lung cells.

SARAH BROWN (Carly)--

davidtomfan: What is your feeling on being in this category with two
other great actresses in daytime today? Brown: When I found out I was
nominated with these two women, I almost didn't feel like... all of the
women and men in this category are veterans, and I've only been here
four years! I don't want people [to] think that I don't deserve to be
considered at that level yet, that I'm too new, but the bottom line is,
Who doesn't want to be the favorite actress? :) [Huh? What the hell does
that mean? Mis-transcription goin' on here.]

jello_shots2: How do you stay looking so beautiful after having a child?
Brown: Well, I think that children bring more beauty to your life, not
take away. If you guys saw Kelly Ripa [Hayley, AMC], I could die! She's
got legs for days and then some! Kelly and I both put on a lot of
weight, 60 pounds, so I think it's got nothing to do with the baby. It
was a big toll on my body, but thank you for saying I'm in great shape,
and I don't do anything but chase my baby daughter around the house, and
that's enough! Thank you so much to the fans who voted for me in this
category!

latray2: You deserve every inch of that award Sarah! You ROCK! Brown:
Thank you! It's tall, too! Now I have a little collection! I have
nowhere to put them now, but I've got twins of each! I'm very excited.
Last year we called them bookends, now they're twins of each! I don't
know what to do for my next trick!  [Calling Dr. Freud!
::Guffaw!::]

Post-Op SOD awards banter went thusly...

A near ABC landslide caused some to theorize why. Simply, a stronger fan base, based on a stronger push for network name recognition. That's according to SoapCity. An excerpt:

The Soap Opera Digest Awards are a popularity contest, nothing
more. ABC knows this. So while CBS and NBC pay no attention, or figure
that their fans will vote, ABC takes no chances. ABC has created a brand
identity for their shows, so that even if you only watch one of them,
you think of it as ''ABC Daytime.'' They promote ABC Daytime just like
they do ABC Primetime and ABC Sports, and they send their stars to
Disney World to meet the fans every year, so fans really feel a
connection. And when ballot time comes around, they vote for people from
ABC, even if it's a show they don't normally watch. CBS also has four
shows, but those are essentially divided between the Bill Bell camp and
the P & G camp, and while you do find the occasional Y&R fan who watches
GL, they're never around when you need them. If any NBC or CBS soaps
want to win any categories back from ABC next year, they will need to
cooperate with each other, and make sure that their viewers know when to
vote. DOOL won the TV Guide Award this year, because they reached out to
the fans and asked them to help them win again. It was simple and
effective. DOOL and Y&R have some of the most devoted viewers in
daytime; perhaps next year they'll be mobilized. 

Nothing but love for co-star and co-SOD-winner Maurice Benard (Sonny) from Sarah Brown (Carly): ''I'm not easily intimidated by anybody. You know that's the one thing, it's really hard to intimidate me as an actress. But Maurice doesn't try. He's just like, he's ice cold, and he's sizzling hot. And he's just the most giving actor. ... I think there is something called chemistry that certain actors have together. Maurice and I are both very intense. We have a similar way of working."

So much for the rumored chill flowing over from script to reality between Maurice Benard (Sonny) and Tony Geary (Luke)? Geary attended an SOD awards party at the Benards' household.

Even before the SOD Awards began, the publication's editors hosted a Pre-Awards Breakfast Online Chat. Here goes...

STEPHEN NICHOLS (Stefan)--

Will Stefan and Alexis be having much story, and will Helena's antipathy
to them EVER be explored? Nichols: The answer to the first part is,
Alexis and I, I believe, will be in more scenes together. They want the
audience to know what I'm thinking and feeling and they think Alexis is
the perfect confidante for me. Of course, they never really dealt with
the rift between us, but now we're apparently in a good place with each
other, so it's my turn to use her as a sounding board. :) But Helena's
antipathy for us... I would like to see that happen, at this point I
kind of doubt it unless they can't come up with another story. :)

How is it working with Tony Geary (Luke) and Genie Francis (Laura)?
Nichols: It's a joy working with Tony and Genie, because they are
totally professional. Tony in particular has a totally wild sense of
humor. I always enjoy his wit. We have a lot of fun. There's an
intensity about working with them that I don't get with a lot of other
people. We joke around but once we get focused, we really do it.

Do you keep in touch with Mary Beth Evans (ex-Katherine; ex-Kayla,
DOOL)? Nichols: Absolutely! I was at her New Year's Eve party. We did a
photo shoot at her new house. I call her all the time...

The writers have been all over the place with your character in the last
year. Will there be changes for Stefan? Nichols: I am praying and hoping
that there will be changes! I definitely agree with you, and I have been
trying to talk to the powers that be, and give them ideas. I am trying
to keep my character on track as much as I can with what I have been
given, and I understand the frustration better than anyone because I am
the one playing it. But hang on and I will do my best! :)

JOHN INGLE (Edward)--

How have you liked working in the current Sonny/Carly/A.J. storyline?
Ingle: Oh it's wonderful! LOL. I relish it because I went through such a
drought of boredom this summer where the Quartermaines almost didn't
live in Port Charles anymore! And now we're back! I'm sure as a
voracious actor that I love to have the lines! And of course, I love
Billy Warlock (A.J.) so much and we are so close, that when I have to be
so mean to him, I can barely get the words out, because it couldn't be
further from how I really feel! And of course, Maurice Benard (Sonny) I
love working with, they don't give me much time with him but we like to
work opposite each other, and last night at the party I sat with Sarah
Brown (Carly) and we were mutually telling each other how much we love
to work together, and we do! I look at the script and I think "Ah, good
stuff with her today!" And all the Quartermaines, when we have people
visit the set, they say, "No wonder you guys like to work," because we
really are very close to each other.

Will Tracy Quartermaine ever return to wreak havoc for her family?
Ingle: I wish she would! We say that so often. And if Jane Elliot
doesn't choose to come back, that's her choice, but like Lucky has
gotten a new life with a new actor, there's no reason that Tracy
couldn't be given a new face if Jane doesn't want to come back! And I
don't know if they would do that or not. I know we're all looking
forward to having Linda Dano (Rae Cummings) with us for a while, and I
met her last night for the first time and I'm really looking forward to
working with her! But I would love to have Tracy back because if I don't
have a daughter to harangue, I just have to hit Alan constantly! Jane
and I love to work together and I think the Quartermaines need the kind
of female villain to act as a foil certainly for Edward, because I very
seldom... Well, Monica and I argue a lot and usually don't get to have
sincere moments of friendliness. I think we're losing out on the rich
history of Edward and Tracy by not having her back. People still
remember the fake heart attack from years ago, which means it was an
important storyline.

What would be a fitting retribution for Edward's provocation of his
grandsons? Ingle: The thing is, I was just blowing off steam wildly this
week, and Billy says to me, you'd better be careful, you might have a
heart attack if you still have one. And it's the kind of thing where
maybe some way God would say, "OK, enough of this BLANK. You'd better
mend your ways, Edward." So that might be it. I don't know how Edward is
ever going to quit picking on A.J. or Ned, I really don't. They won't
let him show his emotions any way besides screaming! :) [Here! Here!]

Do you know if the writers have ever considered a storyline linking both
Helena and Edward? Ingle: Helena and I?!?!? We have discussed it because
I like Connie [aka Constance Towers] so much; I said to her in the hall,
"I wish we could get together but I think we'd kill each other in 20
minutes!" We like to work with each other very much. It would be great
fun. I think frankly though that Edward will kind of do nothing as long
as he is still so firmly attached to Lila. I don't think the writers
won't do anything to rock the boat. I could be wrong, but I don't know.
I think they'll keep him pretty monogamous.

What do you feel about Sonny taking Michael out of the house? Ingle:
Well, I think that I am angrier at A.J. for being such a fool and not
covering his tracks better when the warehouse burned down. I am angrier
about that than I am at Sonny for taking Michael. I think I'll get the
baby back. Edward has, over the years, been involved in questionable
deals, but the thing about it is, you just have to be careful and not
get caught. Edward has to be careful that he doesn't get caught. So I'm
disgusted with A.J. that he allowed Sonny to blackmail him.

What was it like working with the late, amazing Rosalind Cash (Mary Mae
Ward)? Ingle: Well we had a beautiful working relationship, and personal
relationship too, and I know that, it's like my wife said, it's amazing
that the writers have you say to Lila, "Lila, thank you, it's been a
very nice life," and then he walks across town to Mary Mae's house where
he is this totally different man -- warm and nostalgic. She says it's
not fair of Edward to say one thing to Lila, then pour his heart out to
Mary Mae! Rosalind was an actor's actor. The most beautiful episode I
ever did was when Edward went to Mary Mae's house and talked about
Bradley, the dead son, and apologized for not knowing him. And while
they are talking, the ghost of Bradley came into the room, walked behind
us, touched me on my shoulders as I talked about him, and I could barely
play the scene. It was so moving, and a lot of truth in that moment. And
then when we had Mary Mae's funeral, I will never forget that, having
Lou Rawls in the choir. It was really something. That was the writers,
that was Claire Labine's [aka former head writer's] doing. Mary Mae gave
Edward a dimension that he doesn't seem to have now. I am not as layered
anymore as when I dealt with her. Now his focus is business and control,
yet I think surely there's more to life than business and control! But
right now there doesn't seem to be, except when I'm with Lila.

FINOLA HUGHES (ex-Anna; Alex, AMC)--

What's for breakfast? Hughes: What did I have this morning? OK, you've
got to understand it was a buffet and there were lots of different
things. I had sausage, bacon, potatoes, and before that, pineapple and
orange, cut up. But then also there was like a Japanese section, and I
had this thing called rice soup, I think, which was really good. I
remember I had it when I was in Tokyo. So I had a lot!

Will you be doing any episodes of "Charmed" again any time soon? Hughes:
Actually they just asked me to do another one. I hope I can find the
time from the storyline. I'm not sure that I'll get the opportunity,
however.

What is the difference between doing a soap and doing [the former
sitcom] "Blossom?" Hughes: Well, comedy is terrifying -- LOL. You do it
live in front of an audience after rehearsing it for a week, and with a
soap, you do it once a day. It's very immediate. Not so terrifying!

I heard you were willing to come back to GH but they didn't ask-what
gives? Hughes: Um, I guess you said it!

The handsome man with Sarah Brown (Carly) at the recent SOD Awards was not her brother, but her new boyfriend, Cory Tucker. I guess that takes care of her FORMER fiance, Shuki Levy.

SPOILER REFERENCES UP AHEAD! A recent fan event on March 12 revealed stuff in the Cassadine/Spencer vein, from Stephen Nichols (Stefan):

On Stefan and Laura finding each other again after the Lucky *betrayal*: "It ain't gonna happen.''

On Luke and Laura finding love with each other, again: "They [Tony Geary/Luke and Genie Francis/Laura] don't want to.'' But the story rushes along despite their alleged wishes. TPTB await viewer response, as to the green or red light of this reunion.

Nichols wants to know why Stefan and Helena loathe each other, and wants the writers to pursue this. An upcoming scene just may give him his way, a bit, when "Oedipal complex" is blurted out in a conversation between them.

Geary deserves all his acting nominations, raved Nichols.

He would play Carly and Helena if he could be an actress for one day.

If a story worth sinking his teeth into doesn't happen, he'll split. He doesn't hold a helluva lotta confidence in GH lately, comparing it unfavorably with DOOL, as almost as bad.

Teasers from the March 14th John J. York/Mac Chat (both during and after):

Are Mac and Felicia going to patch things up together? York:
They're going to try.

Any new women on the horizon for Mac that will be worthy of him? York:
There's a lot of super possibilities on the show without having to go
out and cast someone. Dara would be interesting and exciting, I think
Laura would be interesting.

What would be your ideal storyline for Mac? York: I've always been happy
with what I get in my script. It's a never-ending story. ... We haven't
come upon it yet and I hope we go through about 100 or so (stories)
until we get to the ideal one.

Do you really enjoy cooking? York: Yes, I cook for my family all the
time! I love cooking breakfast for Schyler (John's daughter) and I love
cooking dinner for anybody that wants to come over. I like being in the
kitchen, it's calming and relaxing.

What other projects besides GH are you involved in or would like to be
involved in? York: Other than GH, my biggest project is being a dad and
a husband. My goals in life all have to do with my family; taking care
of my family is my number one priority.

Who's your favorite actor? Musician? York: Favorite actor, Dick Van Dyke
for comedy, George C. Scott for drama... musician - I like everything
from easy listening to classical to Aerosmith.

Will we be seeing more of Mac helping Maxie with teen issues? York:
Robyn Richards who plays Maxie has grown a ton while I've known her on
GH. She's been asked to step up to the plate and she delivered. Teen
issues - depends on what's in the script.

You and Kristina Wagner share a unique chemistry - very comfortable. Did
you have trouble stepping to half of an iconic couple like Frisco and
Felicia and making it look so easy? York: F&F were very special, that's
a deal all its own. When I came in, all I wanted to do was good work.
I've been so fortunate to be paired with Kristina, she brings out the
best in me. She's thoughtful, creative, she goes the extra mile for the
scene and takes risks.

What is the hardest storyline you've ever had to do and who were you
saddest to see leave the show? York: Most physically challenging was
Norma and Eve when I was cross-dressing. Saddest to see leave - Kim
McCullough (ex-Robin). [Later, John added Tristan Rogers (ex-Robert) as
someone he was sad to see leave.]

Did you like working with Tristan Rogers in the past? York: Yes, Tristan
is an energy all to himself. LOL. Tristan was a blast to work with! I
had a great time being Robin to his Batman.

What is your favorite Mac storyline from the past? York: When I did the
HIV storyline, and at the same time, playing a cross-dresser.

What kind of case would you like to see Mac and Felicia take on in a
return to their private investigator roles? York: Affairs - LOL. I would
like them to do something noble, like looking for children. We're on
television five days a week and if there's a way to get a positive
message across, how great is that? Without stamping on the audience and
saying, "Here, we want to feed you this message now."

Do you think soaps in general have gotten too politically correct and,
as a result, have lost their sense of fantasy and adventure? York: It's
a fine line, I don't know the answer to that. I think we try to do our
best to bring romance, betrayal and greed into the show. The shows are
politically correct, but it's right in the middle of the day when
children can hear it. I have a nine-year-old and I'm very concerned
about what she watches and what she hears.

Do you have any input to your storylines or the number of times you're
on a week? Will you be on PC soon? York: I love working on PC. Storyline
ideas are created in the writers' room. I get to have input when we do
the scene on the stage. 

Tony Geary (Luke) has a change of heart about a NuLucky. Maybe it's better to recast with a fine actor like Jacob Young (ex-Rick, B&B) than kill off a beloved character completely, he admitted recently after winning Best Lead Actor at the "Soap Opera Digest" awards. "Well, I was against it in the beginning. I wanted them to actually kill the character because Jonathan [Jackson/original Lucky] had put such a distinctive stamp on it, and is such an extraordinary actor, that I was concerned that recasting would be a mistake. But we have a wonderful actor playing Lucky now, Jacob Young, and I look forward to working with him. Unlike life, in soap opera, when people die, we can revive them with a new face, and I've lost enough people in my real life that I don't feel bad when we can recast. Jonathan left the show at a very good time for him personally, he's an extraordinary actor and he'll be a huge stage or screen star, whichever he chooses, and as painful as it was to lose him, I'm looking forward to redefining the relationship between Luke and Lucky with Jacob."

Stuart Damon (Alan) and wife Deirdre are proud parents of a spanking baby boy, Alexander! Hold on, not their son, but their grandson whom they've finally adopted officially on February 24, since bringing him up practically from birth. Their daughter Jennifer could not take care of her son, so her parents took over about five years ago as guardians. They've since made peace with the boy's father, who keeps in touch and will figure prominently in helping raise Alexander. Everybody will need the aid of a specialist in handling how the kid will process who is who in this very unconventional family.

The quote turning posters upside-down last week on the GH board came from Billy Warlock about his character's current hammered motivations, NOT out of context: "I love the opportunity to play heavy stuff. A.J. isn't going to go to the pity pot; he'll become an arrogant drunk. But that arrogance is a great way of hiding his pain. He's on the road to destruction, and I'm looking forward to it." This man says more with his eyes than anybody I know. [SOURCE: Soap Opera Digest, March 28, 2000]

"People" magazine has its annual Most Beautiful. So does "Soap Opera Weekly." Amongst GH stars (asked either to define beauty personally or describe when they feel most beautiful, as well as tips to stay that way):

Maurice Benard (Sonny): "When Ron Hale (Mike) holds me."

A Martinez (Roy): "When my wife looks at me, and doesn't look away."

Ingo Rademacher (Jax): ''Around 4:35 p.m. on a Friday, out at Malibu with the sun going down, a beautiful breeze, salt water all around. It's nice, clean nature."

Constance Towers (Helena): ''When my husband tells me I'm beautiful.'' She uses Kiehl's Silk Groom for hair, Chanel Total Cleansing Milk, Chanel Body Gel, Chanel Lift Serum, Aida Thibiant Collagen Gel, Maybelline Moisture Whip lipsticks, Chanel foundation, blush and eyeshadows. Towers and her husband John Gavin are "moderate vegetarians. If we get hungry for a steak we go to a chop house and have a steak once in a while. But basically what we have for dinner is vegetable soups." For exercise, they both "work out with a trainer three times a week with weights. Every other day we go to the gym for about an hour. My husband gets on the treadmill and I'm on the stationary bike. Then we do our stretches." "I cleanse my face and put on a face cream before I get into the shower. Then I get into the shower and the water falling on the oil of the cream just seals it in so you seal any moisture that's in your skin underneath that, and then the water over it. And it just gives your face a wonderful glow."

Kristina Wagner (Felicia): "...wisdom with luscious lips.''

Lisa Vultaggio (Hannah): ''When I feel close to God.'' She uses Sebastian hair spray, Cetaphil face wash, skin-care products and foundation from Clarins, Revlon lipstick (Moonlit Mauve and Pink in the Afternoon), Prestige lip liner in plums and wines. Her diet omits wheat and diary. "I do yoga, which is good for the spirit; judo for self-defense; and salsa dancing for having fun and feeling sexy."

Tava Smiley (Chloe): ''When I'm with people I love, and when I'm dancing. Oh, and right after a yoga class.'' She also takes a class called "Booty Kicking Body Sculpt." "When it comes to exercise, choose things that are fun. I take hikes with a girlfriend and we chat. It's like a therapy session."

Finola Hughes (ex-Anna; Alex, AMC): "When I'm laughing." She uses Elizabeth Arden 8-hour cream. For exercise, it's yoga, "walking my dog around Manhattan, or sitting in a sidewalk cafe watching everyone else walk their dogs."

Linda Dano (Rae): "When I look into the eyes of my husband." This together lady doesn't always have it so together when it comes to routine exercise. "I used to say that I run all day long...up and down the stairs, to work, after the dogs, etc., but I'm now giving serious thought to becoming a lot more disciplined about regular exercise. I recently did about six weeks of yoga and loved it." She has advice about food too: "Look at what you're eating this very minute. Now think about whether you're eating it because you're hungry or any number of other reasons -- being tired, frustrated, underappreciated. If it's not because you're hungry, push the plate away!"

[SOURCE: Soap Opera Weekly, 4th Annual 50 Most Beautiful People in Soaps, March 28, 2000]

Walk with me and Jackie Zeman (Bobbie) through two of her five soap marriages, the most recent ones. Even she was baffled at the point of marrying Stefan. "Was that a mistake or what? This [marriage] I could never figure out. They got married at Wyndemere, but it was never built up to be an important wedding... It was like the wedding we didn't discuss." The wedding she wished were her last (or was that me transferring?), was to Jerry. Oh well, at least her gown kicked it. "I had the hair I liked," she added. "The producers hated it, but I liked it. ... I thought I looked like the heroine of a romantic novel." [SOURCE: Soap Opera Digest, March 28, 2000]

Genie Francis did not originate the role of Laura. Stacey Baldwin did, in 1975, and left a year later. Then, Francis came aboard to immortalize Laura forever.

Dude, buy a car already. Réal Andrews (Taggert) recently bid on and won the right to a one-year lease of a $35,000 Isuzu VehiCROSS in a charity silent auction to benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Just in time, since his lease on another car is up within a month. His $4,200 bid got him a good deal in his $350 a month payment plan. Here's some auto/finance jazz for those inclined: "Plus, there's no mileage penalty. No tax or license fees. ... It's the best deal I've ever gotten on a car." He likes the lease method so much, he wants to do it every year. [SOURCE: Soap Opera Weekly, April 4, 2000]

Fan encounters is an inventive section in this new site devoted to Maurice Benard (Sonny). Eloquent, genuine, thoughtful takes on chance and intended meets with the actor himself. Other stand-outs include a comprehensive bio, magazine profiles, updated news/quotes, a captivating array of photos in the gallery,and especially, the Action Center. This is the place where fans can support Benard whenever and however needed, whether it's writing or voting campaigns, or... It all depends on the cause, the situation, the dilemma, the need. Betty and Cathy's Maurice Benard Unlimited Website is a definite URL to bookmark.

Those previously unnamed special mystery guests at Réal Andrews' (Taggert) July 22nd fan club event are revealed: Maurice Benard (Sonny) and Michael Saucedo (Juan). In addition to A Martinez (Roy). Be there: 6 p.m.-8 p.m., the Vista Room, Sportmens Lodge Hotel, Studio City, California. Cost: $30 fan club members and $35 non-. Information: Réal Andrews GH Luncheon.

On April Fool's, Maurice Benard (Sonny) and Billy Warlock (A.J.) appear together at the Comedy Palace in the Aku-Aku Restaurant, Worcester, MA at 5 p.m. and the Comedy Palace in Grill 93, Andover, MA at 8 p.m. Tickets: $35, $40, $50. Information: (888) 865-2844.

Sears in the Westfield Shoppingtown Connecticut Post, Milford, Connecticut hosts Michael Saucedo (Juan) on April 8 at 1 p.m. Information: (203) 876-3201.

Even soap stars dish about the Oscars. Jackie Zeman (Bobbie) couldn't believe Jim Carrey was left out of the running for his perfect portrayal of Andy Kaufman in "Man In The Moon." And, she noted, it's not the first time either.

GH stats for those counting. I mean, what else are we supposed to do during the more-than-the-exception dry spells? Here are a few interesting tallies after two weeks:

I LOVE YOU gets way overused, like, about 18 times. The worst violators were Jax and Chloe. Big surprise.

In the hard-to-believe category, Chloe outcried Laura recently, 10 times to five. Carly should be third, don't ya think?

The docks seems to be the scenery of choice. Seven meetings took place with five of 'em involving Roy.

Back to Chloe [must we?!]. What else is new. Everybody kissed her forehead seven times. Generally, 71 smooches occurred, with 34 happening between Jax and Chloe.

Lucky's name was taken in vain 75 times.

[SOURCE: Soap Opera Digest, March 28, 2000]

In the "Toronto Star TV Guide" two weeks ago, Coltin Scott (Nikolas II) appeared in a feature story, "The Next Big Thing," with his agent having remarked early on that he could be another Tom Cruise. Even without acting lesson one. This Mexican-Sicilian-American doesn't just boast of uncle Guy Lombardo (famous bandleader) but a grandmother who could've gone beyond Broadway bound if it weren't for falling in love with a man who insisted she quit and follow him to St. Louis, Missouri to set up a family. Scott derives plenty of inspiration from her, as well as other members of his family. It helped when he started the audition circuit... his first happened to be, ''Kraa! The Sea Monster," a children's film. Then, a week later, he nailed a role in "Justice" starring Jim Belushi and Charles Durning. When he turned to soaps, success resulted in more callbacks than rejections. If that's not enough, he's working on his debut CD, with a style hinting of ''Chris Isaak meets Shania Twain with a little bit of Latin and Blues. My singing is like my acting, I never sang professionally. I was a sax player in high school. I used to sit in the back of the car and hum. I was afraid to sing. I auditioned for the 'Disco Boyz' film and they needed a singer so I sang on tape this song that I wrote. Six hours later, I'm on a plane.''

Jacob Young got the closure he needed as the recast of a popular role when the original Lucky showed up for a visit to the GH set. At first, when the two were introduced to each other in the make-up room, Young didn't know what to say, it was awkward. He had no idea how Jonathan Jackson felt. But after some small talk, he received a card from Jackson, which he read in his dressing room: "I hope everything goes well for you. Thanks for keeping Lucky alive. God bless. Jonathan Jackson." That was enough to rest Young's worries. "Jonathan made me feel like I'm doing the right thing. He's a very gracious person, very genuine. I thought it was a pretty amazing note. After I read it, I went and tracked Jonathan down to say thank you. It meant a lot to me." [SOURCE: Soap Opera Weekly, March 28, 2000]

Rachael Leigh Cook ("She's All That" movie) is definitely Jacob Young's (Lucky II) newest main squeeze.

In one of life's little GOTCHAs... After enduring chess game after chess game between Helena and Lucky, I learned that their alter egos don't know how to play. Well, Jacob Young tried his hand at computer chess before, but that's too restrictive; the computer refused to allow him to make a wrong move, he claimed. The actors have had to memorize moves from those in the know. But both would like to learn some day, especially Constance Towers, who finds the game intellectually stimulating and patience-challenging.

ABC Daytime's Star Interview with Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis):

Did you ever expect to see Ned and Alexis in a relationship when
you first started on GH? Grahn: No, they just sort of put us together.
The fact that we're still together is amazing to me. We just sort of got
together, there wasn't really a story. They've given us some fun things
to do. We have some interesting, fun things to do together and we try to
create some sort of interesting stuff between each other.

What surprised you the most about becoming a mother in real life? Grahn:
I had such a fantasy of how wonderful it would be, and it's even better
than what I thought. Even better than what I thought the best would be.
She has a huge joy factor. When she goes, she just goes all out. When
she was born, I called her, "Gusto Girl."

Is there one thing that you would change about yourself? Grahn: There's
not just one thing that seems more important than some other things. In
those moments when I overreact to something, I wish there was some sort
of trigger in my nervous system that would stop me. I would like to
change those moments when I overreact. And, I would make myself about 10
years younger so I could have two or three more children!

What do you do when you want to pamper yourself with something
indulgent? Grahn: I would take myself out to lunch or dinner and have a
martini and something that I really like. Or get a massage, a really
long, two-hour one. I used to take myself to spas. Of course, these are
things I don't get to do anymore! Something really indulgent right now
would be to fly to Hawaii and spend a week at a spa. Indulgent right now
would also mean stopping after work for a martini instead of going
straight home. Or just being able to take a bath by myself! 

When you're constantly around a certain group of people in a work environment, then throw in the creative flair, a recipe of intimate friendships is ripe. Nowhere is that more conducive than in soap operas. Intense stories contribute to the better-than-average chance to buddy up, explained Jackie Zeman (Bobbie). "You have a lot of emotional, mutual memories. Not only do you know each other emotionally because of what happened in your storyline, but spending so much time together, you get sensitive to each other's moods. When you stop to think, on most [acting] projects, you could be working with someone for a couple of days or a couple of weeks and then you move on. But with us, it goes on and on. It becomes very real after a while." Oftentimes, that togetherness equals off-screen romance. Which we've all read plenty about from one soap couple to another, taken fiction to fact. But not always. Not for Stephen Nichols (Stefan) and Mary Beth Evans (ex-Katherine)--friends since their DOOL's Patch and Kayla days in the sun. Their friendship has actually helped reassure spouses during on-screen love scenes. "I think it makes it easier if [your on-screen love] knows your family and you know theirs. You have a relationship with everybody. It's probably worse, for example, if you weren't friends and the husbands and wives were sitting at home wondering, 'What's going on with these two?' People, especially people who aren't in the business, secretly wonder that." While it's not important to make friends to translate that camaraderie easily from the written page as characters interacting, it makes things more comfortable, Nichols added. Better than trying to rise above animosity as enemies to portray what's scripted. [SOURCE: Soap Opera Digest, March 21, 2000]

E! Online's Top 10 Soap Sirens the other week included #2 Sarah Brown (Carly), #9 Tava Smiley (Chloe) and #4 Lynn Herring (Lucy, PC).

Johnnie Raines is GH/PC's go-to man. His story researcher's job--since taking on the position in 1998--is to track down information necessary to present stories authentically. He's become familiar with lawyers and doctors, protocols in foreign countries, pinpointed geography, linguists, whatever it takes. Actors will seek him out when they need assistance on pronunciation of legal terms (in the case of Alexis's Nancy Lee Grahn) or how to behave after a car accident (in the case of PC's Carly Schroeder/Serena). The majority of his sources are always willing to help out, because bottom line, accuracy assures effective, comprehensive education to the public, especially when it veers into the medical. Another aspect of his work is making sure volumes of scripts make sense to the actors charged with bringing them to life. "I want to make sure my research is translated into something that the actors and writers can understand, and something that can play dramatically," Raines explained. "I get the technical information, and it comes out in these nice dramatic beats. I'm also looking for tidbits that are added by the script writers or the outline writers that they didn't get from my research, and then I check to make sure it's correct." His most prized achievement flowed out in last year's Nurses' Ball. Emily's documentary--including her questions and the children with AIDS and HIV interviewed--was the result of his painstaking research and follow-up studies. "Through a screening process we got five or six kids to work with us on the show. It was a really emotional experience." Raines comes from a varied background, journalism, public relations, catering/restaurant business... before finally entering the soap world as an intern, lured by the romantic drama of the genre's possibilities as a writer; didn't take him long before internship turned to employment at GH/PC. Turns out he'd need every skill he picked up along the way from USC to the University of Kent in England to Los Angeles. Even though it can get "overwhelming at times," the wonderful people he works with and the training received to become a future soap writer are invaluably worth the occasional stress. "That's what's so great about my job. I'm constantly learning new things, and I love that." [SOURCE: Soap Opera Weekly, April 4, 2000]

Fans who regularly visit Lisa Cerasoli's (ex-V) website are regularly rewarded with her appearance on the message board. March 22, 2000 was no exception:

Happy 1 Year Anniversary!!

First, I would like to say that the website is so wonderful and
beautiful and complicated (?! WOW, you guys are smart :-) ). I think
it's a genuinely entertaining and intimate look into my career. It's
also acutely representative of the kind of energetic, intelligent, and
big-hearted people that have been supporting me and following my career
and taking time from their schedules to work on the website, organize
chats, send out memos, send fan letters, and check me out on TV too!
You're all so brilliant...I am so lucky!

Now about that little career of mine.......The original episode of THE
PRETENDER will be re-airing on April 22nd, to familiarize the audience
with Zoe again. The Season Finale of THE PRETENDER will air on May 20th.
I'm working on the show this week and next. I don't know if everyone
heard, but the terminally sexy and talented Tyler Christopher
[ex-Nikolas] will be playing Ethan in the season finale. It's a
fabulously complicated and intriguing character that we will all have
the pleasure of watching next year on the show as well. Yeah
Tyler!!!!

I'm also starting to take meetings for my screenplay and I've
resubmitted my final rewrite to a couple of companies that were already
interested.

On a personal note...just saw "Erin Brockovich." Loved it! Can't wait to
go see "Here On Earth." (I have a little "harmless" crush on a boy named
Josh Hartnett-who I believe will be the next Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt, or
even better...Josh Hartnett!...He's very very talented you know.) And
"American Beauty" better win best picture this weekend, or I'll have to
go into hiding for like two whole days.

I Love You Guys,
Take Care, God Bless, and Be Happy,

Lisa Cerasoli 

Tyler Christopher (ex-Nikolas) relishes his latest role as a hard-working lawyer in his 20s conflicted between his wife and his mom amidst the 1950s setting of Dorothy Parker's "Ladies Of The Corridor," because the part's more his age and performing on the stage is a huge turn-on. The retro-suits he has to wear receives a full thumbs up, as well. "The clothes from that era, especially the suits, are [in style now]. Wool suits are coming back around again, wool pants and wool coats. They're really nice and beautiful." The play shows on Monday and Tuesday evenings until April 18 in Hollywood's Tamarind Theater. Information: (323) 662-0553.

The long-awaited ABC-TV movie, "Trapped In A Purple Haze," airs on April 17. Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky) stars as the tortured son spiraling into drug addiction, thanks to Mommy Dearest.

I don't know who the hell Joshua Jackson (Pacey Witter, "Dawson's Creek") is or what he looks like, but apparently other people confuse him with Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky). "We get confused all the time because we have basically the same name. Or people think we're brothers," explained Joshua, 21. This created a side benefit when Joshua's name began to make the Anakin Skywalker rounds amidst the confusion. Jonathan's actually one of the contenders to play the teenaged legend in the next "Star Wars" sequel, not Joshua. But hey, a chance to play "the baddest man in the whole wide universe" is a chance Joshua doesn't mind taking. [SOURCE: People, March 27, 2000]

Executive producer Wendy Riche denies rumors that Vanessa Marcil will soon take the ex out of Brenda.

The big deal lately is Steve Burton (ex-Jason). What'd he do? Why, he merely landed a Steven Spielberg TV pilot-drama, "Semper Fi," as a Marine recruit. The NBC series about a group of military studs and their journey from boot camp to tour of duty debuts this fall.

Get your Joseph C. Phillips (ex-Justus) fix on March 29 when he guest stars in CBS's primetime drama "City Of Angels." I know I will.

Oh my. Following my treadmill work-out and shower, I turn on the tube to witness a vision in salsa, Ricky Martin (ex-Miguel) live in concert on VH-1. The hit singer is liquid sex, my friends, reminding me of an updated Latino Elvis, shaking, shimmying, shaking that fine body everywhere, mmmm mmmm mmm. Those of you lucky enough to have caught "Ricky Martin: One Night Only!" from Liberty State Park in New Jersey (March 22, 7-8 p.m., Pacific time) will understand my gist exactly. Guest stars Carlos Santana and Jose Feliciano augmented nicely. The crowd especially went wild during the fireworks finale.

If you look close enough, you'll see DOOL's Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe) in Ricky Martin's video, "Shake Your Bon-Bon." I wish she'd shake her bon-bon at GH. God, she's gorgeous.

Head back in time for a moment when Lily played a Spanish lullaby on the piano. That would be "Duermete Mi Nino" or "Go To Sleep, My Little Boy." Maria Del Ray does a version on her "Lullabies Of Latin America" CD and Carolina Landaeta in the "Latin Lullaby" CD. Buy these online if interested.

Kimberly McCullough (ex-Robin) doesn't need GH. She's too busy with primetime. If she's not wowing you on "Party Of Five" as a reporter (Phoebe) come April 25, she's prepping for the star treatment on a new WB pilot, "Inspector General," produced by comic genius Harold Ramis. That is, when she's not turning in recurring duty on acclaimed ABC drama, "Once And Again."

Dr. Pierce Dorman's gone but never forgotten. Not while Tuc Watkins draws breath. Catch him on March 28 when ABC primetime's "NYPD Blue" comes on.

John Stamos (ex-Blackie) shows up in "Fortunate Son," an NBC pilot.

No longer a rumor... Robin Mattson (ex-Heather; Janet, AMC) really is leaving the show in May--but not of her own volition. Earlier this month, she was informed by executive producer Jean Dadario Burke that her stint would be over. This, in the second year of her three-year contract. But it's as Mattson suspected.

Randolph Mantooth (ex-Richard) is possibly up for a new role on AMC as a Protestant minister in his 40s.

Happy birthdays to... Mathew St. Patrick (ex-Taggert II; Adrian, AMC), March 17 and Billy Warlock (A.J.), March 26 [WTF?! I read elsewhere a year ago that he was a Scorpio, not an Aries!].

Susan Pratt (ex-Anne Logan) returns to GL April 10 to reprise her role as Claire Ramsey. The call came out of the blue to Pratt. But she's glad to finally *meet* her on-screen daughter Michelle.

Gossip for the week of 27-Mar-2000

This is quite disappointing if true. The tabloid "Star" reported recently that Jacob Young (Lucky II; ex-Rick, B&B) blew up on the set, and immediately apologized. Everybody's trying to downplay it as just nerves and frustration from the pressure of the recast and him not being used to memorizing so many lines in such a fast-paced genre--the same problem which apparently plagued him on B&B until eventually he could not return because the executive producer Bradley Bell became just too fed up to deal with it anymore (in the article, Young allegedly ran off the B&B set in a rage when his storyline got to be too much to deal with). Throughout, veteran actress and class-act role model-Constance Towers (Helena) has sort of taken the young man under her wing, teaching him how to slowly ease into the role and how to memorize pages and pages of script in short order. A big problem seems to be, according to unnamed sources, that Young struggles with keeping his emotions in check, but after a while, they will explode. Seems this recast may not exactly be a permanent one either, given his B&B history: He's on a kind of six-month probation. I hope this guy straightens up soon; he needs to realize his innate gift for conveying the subtle and complex. He's that good. If he'll just give himself a chance.

SPOILER ALERT: Guess who could be Rae Cummings' (Linda Dano) former lover? Possible answer: Alan Quartermaine (Stuart Damon). How this relates to her missing biological daughter is a duh to me. But anything that sends a beefy story to these two...

Linda Dano (Rae) is also rumored to be in the running as the next Kathie Lee Gifford to Regis Philbin on their talk show. Remember, TV-philes, Gifford recently announced on the show that she was retiring from "Live With Regis And Kathie Lee" by the summer. In response, Dano's spokesperson fluttered something about nobody replacing Kathie Lee and how flattering to even be considered.

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