General Hospital News & Gossip

News for the week of 28-Jun-2004
by Carol Banks Weber

Tony Geary’s (Luke) been through a lot of changes, a lot more than most mortals.

He’s had to give up theater, film and primetime aspirations after enjoying enormous, legendary success as one-half of a supercouple on a soap opera in the early 1980s. He’s had to give up hoping for multi-dimensional, other roles outside the Luke Spencer box. And, in a heart wrenching move out by that other half – Genie Francis as Luke’s beloved soul mate Laura – he’s had to give up a major reason for his popularity.

Initially, around 1983, the reclusive actor balked. Partied, balked. Then, balked some more, yearning for a return to his stage production roots, Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, character acting on the big screen, anything but Luke Spencer. He managed to appear in some 13-odd movies, but all the audience saw was … Luke Spencer. Or nothing at all.

When he finally succumbed to soaps’ siren call, he did so as another character, Luke’s cousin, Bill Eckert, his ultimate failure and the final nail in the coffin of ever trying to break out of a typecast. But at that point, the fight had been sucked out of him. He began to embrace that which – for so long – he’d fled. People didn’t want Bill, Geary explained, people wanted Luke back, the Luke that had touched their hearts and souls for so long. To keep him from them, the 57-year-old actor added, “seemed silly.”

Losing Francis – reportedly due to TPTB (The Powers That Be) refusing to allow her enough vacation time, the same amounts her co-star Geary received without question – took a huge chunk out of him, but he perseveres, hoping one day, maybe he can convince his long-time friend to return, try again, and creating that same Luke-Spencer magic with whomever happens to be around (currently, she being Robin Christopher’s Skye).

In the meantime, he makes do by pretending a nameless, faceless substitute, a female fill-in with a blonde wig, is his Laura. And he’s given up something else, which has been particularly liberating: Luke’s ‘fro.

At this point, with all he and his devoted fans have had to go through – and how much they already know about the fictional anti-hero from scratch, it’s probably safe to assume that that trademark Luke Spencer ‘do is no longer necessary as an identifier.

They could spot the man in a crowd, ‘fro or no ‘fro.

While in New York in May – around the time of the Daytime Emmys – Geary caught a few stage productions, including Billy Warlock’s (ex-A.J.), The Normal Heart, a story the veteran was familiar with from the original. Geary admired and envied Warlock for taking on such a challenging role, and such a departure from A.J., by playing a gay man stricken with AIDS. Geary – who loves soaking up as many Broadway shows as he has time for, and had planned on soaking up at least five this last time – would jump at the chance to appear on-stage himself, but doubts that’ll ever happen, not as long as his leading man presence is required over at GH.

A couple of weeks ago, Sonny had to punch Jason in the face, to make it look (to Carly) like he was reacting in jealous rage at the news that Jason impregnated Sam. Filming the scene proved to be quite hilarious for good friends/portrayers Maurice Benard and Steve Burton. With Benard being an accomplished amateur boxer, Burton was afraid the staged swing would make contact, especially when the practice swings kept coming closer and closer to flesh. Burton mock-threatened Benard with Wrestlemania if he didn’t back off. “I’m like, ‘Dude! Stay back! Get back there, man! This is just TV!’” –ABC Soaps in Depth, July 6, 2004

When Robin Christopher (Skye) goes on maternity leave to give birth next month to her firstborn son with husband Matt Crane (ex-Ross) and tend to the newborn for a few more weeks, maybe months, she’ll do so without a nanny’s help – unheard of in Hollywood (where it’s de rigeur for the press to laud celeb mothers-of-the-year without benefit of that oh-so-important caveat… Anybody looks like the Madonna with a crack team of nannies on hand to deal with the dirty diaper work!). Her character Skye will go to prison on a murder conviction unsuccessfully fought, which, the actress agreed, seems fitting. They couldn’t very well have her pop a baby out and be all maternal all of a sudden, Christopher said, laughing...not self-centered, fashionably aware Skye.

As Maurice Benard (Sonny) described his two daughters, Cailey, 9, and Cassidy, 5, it was obvious how over the moon proud and adoring he is of them. While he can’t wait to meet his third child, due in the winter, he hopes a boy this time, his time with his daughters have been priceless. They’re very much like his wife Paula, but not in appearance, in Benard’s opinion; others disagree, citing striking resemblances. Cailey’s dark eyes resemble his, and Cassidy sometimes cops a similar grin, he added. His eldest loves art, learns piano, both girls do gymnastics and other sports.

Organized fans of Ingo Rademacher (Jax) managed to scrounge up a huge chunk of change for one of his causes, Heal the Bay, a foundation which helps protect the aquatic environs throughout the world and in which the actor belongs as a board member. Ingo Fans Unlimited contributed $4,500, with his fan club adding $4,100.

If Steve (Jason) and Sheree Burton hadn’t taken a parenting class at their church prior to having Makena last September, they might not have enjoyed the full-night sleeps after nine weeks (and continuing), they might very well have been as clueless as the rest of us first-time parents who have nobody to rely on but our parents. Otherwise, Steve and Sheree act and behave typically... when on their first date since having the baby, calling the babysitter three or four times, rushing through their dinner out, rushing back, overpaying trusted friend Melissa Reeves (Jennifer, DOOL) for babysitting, grooming Reeves’ daughter Emily, 12, for babysitting when she’s much older, not trusting anyone in their teens to do the job... And no, Mr. Burton would rather his little Makena not choose the same acting path he had; maybe go to college, earn a living in a more steady venture.

Alicia Leigh Willis (Courtney) can attribute her freshly scrubbed, natural California glow to a healthy, active lifestyle, a simple, light cleaning routine of Dermalogica face wash, Active Moist moisturizer and Origins zit cream (to help fight off the occasional break-outs due to the heavy make-up used at GH), as well as simple, light breezy make-up, Prescriptives shimmery powder, blush, more shimmer on the eyes, to accentuate but not overwhelm the summer tan. Grab a purse – her fashion weakness (“It’s a sickness”), and she’s ready to go break some hearts.

It can be fun, embarrassing, frustrating and wacky performing with babies and children. Ask Steve Burton (Jason), who’s had his share. Now that baby Michael has grown into a walking, wise-cracking, free-thinking, redheaded pre-teen in young actor Dylan Cash, it’s been downright “hysterical” and cool. Burton said the kid loves to talk and act up when the cameras go on, and is quite a trip to interact with. When Cash first joined the show, Burton put him through the Burton stand-up ringer by joking about his bright red hair not resembling Carly or A.J., and not even much of grandma Bobbie.

Tyler Christopher’s (Nikolas) first screen kiss attempt – with Mary Beth Evans (ex-Katherine) – looked exactly that, awkward, unsure, very unsoap-like. Then-executive producer Wendy Riche wasn’t satisfied, wanting the buss to appeal more, so a female producer came down and demonstrated the proper way to do it, right on Christopher, at the time, an acting novice. At least he wasn’t Ingo Rademacher (Jax), who had his first on GH with Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda) in their Malibu scenes; he said she hated his guts at the time, assuming he was an arrogant prick.

Speaking of love matches, Rademacher agrees with a great many fans that his on-screen pairing with Alicia Leigh Willis (Courtney) just might work. In the past, the actor explained, TPTB seemed to simply throw him together with a pretty girl, hoping for instantaneous sparks, expecting love within the first few days. But with Courtney, however, they just might be playing it slow, challenging and realistic. “This thing with Courtney is more interesting because it’s not a sure thing.” –ABC Soaps in Depth, July 6, 2004

When company arrives, Natalia Livingston (Emily) has to clear out the litter of clothes in her hallway and Kelly Monaco (Sam) really doesn’t have to clear out (or clean) anything. Livingston is a clotheshorse pack rat, with stuff from the fourth grade, and she’s not very tidy about keeping her bounty in line, whereas Monaco... thanks to her cleaning-crazy mom, keeps her place virtually spotless. “...I clean like it’s a hobby. ... It’s something that I can do and see immediate results. It’s therapeutic; I clean my mind as I’m cleaning.” –ABC Soaps in Depth, July 6, 2004

Jed Allan’s (Edward) three sons (Mitch, 43, Dean, 40, Rick, 37) started off shaky, but turned into solid, patient, good men who provided their dear ole dad with grandchildren, which helped ease the sorrow after their mom passed away not so long ago. Allan admitted that he may not have always done and said the right things, may have been very strict, but he also tried his best, “gave a lot of love,” and instilled a sense of loyalty and humor in his boys. “They were pretty bad growing up. Three guys always fighting, always giving each other noogies ... day in, day out. ... [Now] we’re much closer than we ever were. We’re closer also because I have my grandchildren.” –Soap Opera Digest, June 22, 2004

Last week, I reported from a Soap Opera Weekly article, where some who knew Gerald Anthony (ex-Marco) made it seem as if the Emmy award-winning actor committed suicide. A reader led me to a “blog for fans to write their thoughts and remembrances of Mr. Anthony,” where his sister posted a eulogy from his service, as well as a refutation of the suicide assertion. He died not from his own hands, but from a heart attack. [Look Frank, I only report what’s out there and I can only call bullshit on what I know to be false. Thanks for steering me to the other side.]

Gossip for the week of 28-Jun-2004
by Carol Banks Weber

NEm – Tyler Christopher’s Nikolas & Natalia Livingston’s Emily recast – was the brainchild of a friendly feud between co-head writers Bob Guza and Charles Pratt, not a natural offspring of two outstanding actors emitting such palpable chemistry as not to be believed. (If you believe the gossiping denizens of Data Lounge.)

It all started last year in February when Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda) made good on her promise to move on and find work that allowed her more time with family, leaving Guza and Pratt without much of a story or promise of a better one. In frustration and desperation, they began to argue a lot over a lot and a little, often out of stubborn macho pride and principle, which eventually led to their betting on the success or failure of their chosen couple: Guza’s NEm – a pet project in the making with him for years – and Pratt’s ZEm (Zander & Emily) – just out of spite. At that time, Christopher reprised his successful role as Prince Nikolas, a role he originated and Emily was recast with an unknown, unproven aspiring actress, Livingston.

Guza won when ABC Daytime president Brian Scott Frons got into the act and agreed with Guza on NEm, which then resulted in the untimely firing of Emmy award-winning actor Chad Brannon (ex-Zander), one-half of ZEm.

Well, Guza might’ve won the fight, but not the war, as it quickly became clear that NEm sucked ass with the audience. Now, Guza regrets pushing for NEm just to best Pratt, Pratt doesn’t really give a damn either way – but then he has been battling a thousand with the success of keeping Ric on board, when Guza had planned to off him, especially after portrayer Rick Hearst won his Emmy last May – and has been thinking of jumping on the MaNik (Mary & Nikolas) bandwagon, a better winner. The only problem is, if Guza does this, in Guza’s eyes, he admits total defeat to Pratt—a fate worse than a demotion to ABC’s family cable channel. So, in order to avoid admitting he was wrong all along and a total wanker about something as important as our entertainment, Guza is forced to stick behind NEm – whether we like it or not.

And you actually thought these brainiacs gave a damn about soaps?

Brenda probably will be a no-show at Lila’s July memorial service, but not out of any fault of portrayer Vanessa Marcil’s. She tried, tried and tried again to talk her NBC primetime bosses (Las Vegas) into letting her do a brief cameo for ABC Daytime’s soap, but they wouldn’t give an inch. The memorial service scenes have been delayed by only a few weeks, as TPTB want to ensure quality befitting such a quality veteran as Lila’s Anna Lee (who actually did die earlier this spring).

Every time Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda) is involved in the latest buzz, expect dizzying Libra-esque back-and-forth results. Yes, she’s returning, no, she’s not, oh wait, she is… In Lila’s case, the actress was supposed to have some free time this summer to make a two-day splendor of it. But then, her bosses at NBC (she’s a co-star of the primetime hit, Las Vegas) nixed that idea ‘cause they needed her or something. Her rep actually told the press that nobody is pointing fingers at anybody, which seems odd and out of place, considering, Nobody is pointing fingers at anybody! What’s the big deal anyway? It’s just for two days. Oh yeah, it’s VAN, where everything, even a boil, is a BIG. DEAL.

The Powers That Be (or The Idiots In Charge) are so determined for Sam to win over audiences nationwide that they might use Laura (of Luke & Laura fame) to further ingratiate the failed newcomer into the hallowed halls of accepted and beloved. Meaning, they use everything but blackmail to talk Laura’s portrayer Genie Francis into a long-term, contract return, to play Sam’s real mother and a Cassadine (either by Stavros or Stefan). According to the co-head writers – who’ve been pimping the hell out of Sam’s multi-layered mysteries, set to unravel this summer – more secrets from Sam’s past will make other characters and viewers rethink their hatred and/or apathy about the diminutive, dark-haired beauty.

I doubt it.

Kimberly McCullough as Robin Scorpio visits Port Charles to pay her respects to a dead-and-about-to-be-buried Lila, and throw herself upon the mercy of St. Jasus for the sin of telling the natural father, A.J., that he had a son with Carly those many fateful years ago. St. Jasus, in turn, bestows his forgiveness and understanding. They part with well wishes exchanged.

Brian Gaskill (ex-Rafe, PC) was just reduced to recurring at CBS’s B&B amidst rumors that TPTB don’t know what to do with his Oscar character. The actor figures it’s just as well, neither upset or excited about the demotion. He doesn’t know what will happen, doesn’t think AMC will replace the recast of Bobby with him, the original, any time soon. But maybe ABC Daytime president Brian Frons will snatch him up for something else.

Hmm… the news and gossip seems a bit scarce this week. Could it be the supposed lockdown on spoiler leaks, script transcripts, fan base interference and spies?

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