General Hospital News & Gossip

News for the week of 19-Jul-2004
by Carol Banks Weber

Look for another ABC Daytime-led promotional campaign to hit the airwaves – following The View and interspersed twice throughout each soap and going on for two weeks after the August 16th launch date – with Bachelor Bob Guiney as the selected soap commentator to an Olympics-style series of play-by-plays, updates and fun frolicking with studs in The Wide World of Soaps. ABC’s answer to the NBC Summer Olympics, set to air next month, The Wide World of Soaps will feature Guiney – husband to Rebecca Budig (Greenlee, AMC) – talking to soap stars in character about their motivations, joke around in the men’s free style six-pack competition, do the locker-room round-up and give upcoming story teasers that air after the Summer Olympics is long gone. Some of those teasers include a double-murder mystery on GH, the continuing saga of Todd and Blair’s quest for marital peace and world domination on OLTL and Babe finally seeing the light on AMC. According to ABC Daytime president Brian Scott Frons, the promotional campaign will also give soap fans in general an alternative channel to tune in to while their favorite soaps are preempted by the Olympics on the other networks.

SoapNet is going the way of reality-TV with I Wanna Be A Soap Star, and soap fans can participate. Chosen participants (888-751-8088) will try to out-shine each other on a soap set for the one-hour show, which debuts sometime in October and goes on to eventually single out the winner, who will win a role on GH for 13 weeks.

Shop the Soaps is back on ABC Daytime. The store offers GH caps, OLTL Love Center t-shirts and AMC hoodies. Purchase totals over $30 earn 10 percent off the order. (No word on whether Sonny’s barware is on sale yet.)

TPTB have finally okayed a story that was originally rumored to start several times before and since Sarah Brown (ex-Carly) originated then left the GH role, a Who’s the Daddy? reveal. Many characters were reportedly considered, Stefan Cassadine, Scott Baldwin, Mac Scorpio. But now, it’s official, Corbin Bernsen (ex-Father Todd, Y&R; ex-Arnie, L.A. Law) – son of Jeanne Cooper (Katherine, Y&R) – will appear starting September 3 to play out Carly’s real father and federal prosecutor, John Durant. ABC Daytime president Brian Frons praised the addition as a great means of showcasing a great talent like Tamara Braun (Carly) and promised the new storyline will last through May Sweeps next year.

At Nancy Lee Grahn’s (Alexis) ice cream social, 50s dress-up theme – held on July 9 during the annual summer GH Fan Club Weekend – a few spoilers and behind-the-scenes hijinks were shared by the hostess herself, as well as several of her guest co-stars, including Rick Hearst (Ric), Greg Vaughan (Lucky) and Cynthia Preston (Faith). Also in attendance were the twin toddler girls playing Kristina and a cake (to go with the ice cream).

As is Grahn’s habit, she went in to work clueless about the scenes she’d block, rehearse and shoot that day with Hearst, until he nabbed her in the dressing room area to “smirk” about their impending make-out session in the elevator. After suggesting she better read her script, he sauntered off.

Hearst and Steve Burton (Jason) were once found in the hallways of the dressing rooms wrestling as boy will do when Jane Elliot (Tracy) happened to pass by, and just as she did so, went “Stop!” – the boys stopped – and then went, “Go!” walking away – and the boys continued... total boys’ club over there.

In a serious moment, Grahn took time to credit her ABC Daytime president boss, Brian Frons, and the writers for listening to the fans and providing some balance of airtime for the rest of the characters on the show, as much as it was hard to believe for the fans in attendance at her shindig. She also believed her own frontburner story would continue on stronger than ever.

Still, she did allow that whenever it comes time for her to speak during a Cassadine-related scene, she just says her lines, without any idea as to the motivation.

A few of Eye on Soaps’ staff members were on hand to observe, take notes, conduct interviews and even man a few check-in booths throughout the entire fan club weekend of events. More on what Grahn said and did, no longer asking the writers the status of storylines, the difficulty of keeping storyline spoilers under wraps what with the Internet often leaking said spoilers out from under TPTB’s control, Hearst asking fans to keep supporting more airtime for his friend Vaughan, and more on the GH Fan Club Weekend can be found in EOS Reports LIVE From the 2004 GH Fan Weekend journal.

Fresh and suntanned from his vacation in paradise (that’d be Hawaii for the Florida lovers out there), Steve Burton (Jason) made it clear at his GH Fan Club event, in a casual, easygoing, take-it-or-leave-it kinda way, that he doesn’t take the show’s fiction like it’s life or death, whatever his feelings about a storyline turn, he does as he’s told, and for the most part, he’s cool with what’s gone on. Expressing a wish to explore his character’s relationships with the Quartermaines more, notably in the father-son dynamic with Alan, and dreading the prospect of taking over the show when and if Maurice Benard (Sonny) chooses to leave in December as rumored (the last time that happened, Burton said he nearly had a breakdown) were as far as he went in opinionated. Otherwise, he felt that mixing up the couples a bit helps keep the stories fresh, and if reunited, more the better.

One the star events of the last day of GH Fan Club Weekend turned out to be one of the best, most thrilling and exciting—hey, at least for the star host himself. Scott Clifton (Dillon) thought he was doing a special little segment with two chosen fans, him blindfolded, and they’d give him a kiss on the cheek. Instead, his event coordinators snuck co-star Lindze Letherman (Georgie) into the green room and led her onstage, taking the two fans offstage (they were all in on it), where she proceeded to—as the first fan—kiss his cheek, then his mouth. Clifton looked surprised, but hid it well, until barraged with an all-out attack on his mouth by the second fan (again, Letherman). When they pulled his blindfold off, the astonished expression on his face was priceless. But then, according to recappers, he should’ve known better, ‘cause Letherman was crashing every event that weekend (along with Greg Vaughan/Lucky; they had a running bet who would crash more). Dillon & Georgie Online has other details, including some behind-the-scenes glimmers on Clifton’s transformation into a girl for the upcoming girl band story, the gaffes which accompany every ensemble shot and a fan’s impression of his singing (think Rob Thomas from Matchbox 40).

Tyler Christopher’s (Nikolas) fan club event turned out to be such a revelation, with the quiet, but at the time, ailing actor speaking out so passionately about his theatre group that many fans vowed to check out his next scheduled event (the same happened for Cynthia Preston/Faith and her pajama party). Stephen Nichols (ex-Stefan) made a guest appearance, and later, Christopher returned the favor (see News below).

Missing from the GH Fan Club Weekend (July 8-11), or at least the main event luncheon: (Nancy Lee Grahn/Alexis)-luncheon AWOL, Ingo Rademacher (Jax), Kelly Monaco (Sam), Jackie Zeman (Bobbie) and Robin Christopher (Skye). Christopher had gone into labor, so had to miss the festivities (maybe that’s where Grahn was), or so John J. York (Mac) joked. Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth) dropped by with husband Michael Saucedo (ex-Juan) to sign many autographs, taking a breather from her mommy duties to their two children. The annual Hoss-type elections were also held, netting Tony Geary (Luke) scene stealer, Maurice Benard (Sonny) the usual best actor, Tamara Braun (Carly)-best actress, Steve Burton (Jason)-supporting actor, Natalia Livingston (Emily)-supporting actress, Lindze Letherman (Georgie)-younger actress, Scott Clifton (Dillon)-younger actor, Cynthia Preston (Faith)-best villainess, Rick Hearst (Ric)-best villain, Livingston-free spirit, Tyler Christopher’s (Nikolas) fan site, Hearst’s fan club, along with a tribute to the late-Anna Lee (Lila). Fast fan favorites turned out to be the very personable Catherine Wadkins (Mary why do they love me, I’m a psycho!) and as always, Blake Gibbons (Coleman), Greg Vaughan (Lucky), Ted King (Lorenzo), who mingled with his share of smitten ladies and just gave a nod to his own official fan club, and chatterbox (tied with Grahn) Rick Hearst (Ric), whose own event had his mom home-cookin’ some yummy lasagna (sure beats luncheon chicken cadaver).

When, several months ago, Tyler Christopher (Nikolas) heard his character associated with an impending amnesia storyline, the actor feared the worst of the soap cliché. Not one to approach performance by conventional standards, he needn’t worry for long, especially after working with Catherine Wadkins (Mary), a newcomer to soaps but, in his words, a veteran in the business. Once he knew she could maintain an authentic, realistic but non-cliché aura about this latest plot turn, he knew he could relax.

From the second Tyler Christopher (Nikolas) met Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky) as on-screen brothers, he knew he’d found a soul mate of a friend, the kind that defies description. They’re even closer than brothers, with a strong kinship found in most marriages, keeping in touch, hanging out, and realizing how connected they are, even with the slight age gap. “Even though he was so much younger than me, he was not that young; he was so beyond his age,” Christopher said of Jackson. –Soap Opera Digest, July 20, 2004

Lindze Letherman (Georgie) changed her mind about going public with her singing, in no small part to Scott Clifton (Dillon), who encouraged her to show off her pipes more, like, at this shindig where he accompanied her on guitar and the audience was made up of about 30. The last time she belted a tune out – the Star Spangled Banner at a Los Angeles Kings-Anaheim Mighty Ducks hockey game, to a crowd of 20,000 – several years ago was, she determined, her very last time, because of how frightening the experience turned out to be. Working her confidence up slowly but surely, her next step involved agreeing to sing two Sara Evans tracks for the upcoming Soap Sessions 9 CD (Ilene Kristen/Roxy, OLTL also sings). Info: 1-800-963-2656.

Scott Clifton (Dillon) offered up Lindze Letherman (Georgie) as a prime example of an actress who can’t be trusted to fake a fight scene to save her life – or his own sensitive face. He laughed that every time a scene calls for Letherman to get physical, he winds up taking the punch.

One day, about a month ago, I received an e-mail from a faithful reader asking why I never mention anything about Alicia Leigh Willis (Courtney). The obvious answer is, there hasn’t been anything about the former Georgia native-turned-California surfer girl lately. But serendipity working the way it does, right after that, I kept running into more Willis-related factoids and anecdotes. The follow fan Q&A (from ABC Soaps in Depth online’s Talk Back section, as of July 16) should please the Alicia/Courtney-starved in all of us:

She is so very tiny, muscular, fit and naturally gorgeous in person, as observed by a multitude of fans (notably from the recently wrapped GH Fan Club Weekend), but in order to keep in shape like that, Willis must stick to an exercise regimen loaded with as much fun as possible. If it’s only about exercise, she hates it. She just started really pushing herself with a triathlon-esque mix of boxing, surfing, swimming, running.

Being so naturally gorgeous, one would assume Willis simply adores those celebrity photo shoots, sitting in hair/make-up, getting adorned like a little Barbie doll. But she doesn’t, she’d rather be anywhere but trying to look sexy and voluptuous for the cameras. “The last photographer at a photo shoot told me, ‘Okay, Alicia. Pretend like you want to be here.’ I have a hard time taking myself seriously. Sitting in front of a camera posing or trying to look sexy, I feel stupid half the time. I feel sorry for the photographer.”

Like most of the thinking, feeling planet, Willis loves her some Tyler Christopher (Nikolas) – likened by many as the next Marlon Brando. If she could convince the writers to give Courtney her own alternate universe, she’d be on a deserted island with Nikolas, doing what comes naturally.

Also like most of the interviewed cast, Willis deeply respects the respect Maurice Benard (Sonny) holds for the craft of acting. Admitting that he can be goofy, she also praised him for so totally taking the role seriously, doing whatever he can to bring out authenticity.

Another person Willis admires is her own sister Tiffany, who went to Chapman College to receive teaching credentials and is currently working to become a fully-fledged teacher. The determination Tiffany possesses and hard work she’s not afraid to do to reach her goal are enviable to the actress sibling.

When, several years ago, Willis found herself in the big city of the Big Apple at a tender age of 21 and just got a role on AW for herself, she decided to celebrate with her first-ever tattoo. After a year wearing it, she wanted a different one, so she asked another artist to revamp the one she had to make it look better, with flowers, different colors and a Japanese symbol for water.

When Willis isn’t on the GH set as a major player, loaded with exhausting but rewarding work, she’s chilling out at home with her boyfriend and dog, maybe leafing through a book or trying to be still, peaceful and quiet.

The key to auditions, according to Willis, is practicing a bit of yoga beforehand to still and calm the senses.

The rock duo Wally Kurth (Ned) and Christian Taylor will team up for SoapNet’s new half-hour, weekly (Saturday night) show to debut this fall called, One Day, as host and producer, respectively. One Day follows the lives of daytime celebrities for... duh, one day. Their first guest star will be Ingo Rademacher (Jax).

The twin two-year-old toddlers Sarah and Emma who portray Kristina are so enamored of charming Maurice Benard (Sonny) that one of ‘em refused to go to Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), their on-screen mommy, as directed, but headed directly to Benard for him to pick up. The scene was at the hospital, where Kristina wandered off and ran into Sonny in front of the nursery.

Growing up, Kelly Monaco (Sam) and sister Marissa Cornell (younger by one year) were often confused for twins. They sure weren’t mistaken for anything but squabbling sisters, though. Cornell described Monaco as “bossy” and beautiful, and she as brainy and quiet back then, but the two still had lots of fun together in a family filled with sisters, the sum of five. As adults, the two are closer, no longer fight at all, and finally appreciate each other. Perhaps the long distance, Monaco on the West Coast, Cornell on the East, helped their hearts grow fonder. That Monaco had this ability as an actress did surprise Cornell, who didn’t get to see any acting whatsoever until her older sister’s debut in high school, senior year, as Rabbit in Winnie the Pooh. Today, Cornell – who, along with the rest of her siblings and their mom, watched GH religiously as children – jokingly said that she envies Monaco’s Sam for being in very tight with Sonny, and did admit that as beautiful and confident as she seems, people might be shocked to know that her actress sister suffers from insecurity.

Clive Robertson (ex-Ben/Derek, Sunset Beach) appears on GH as a type of Simon Cowell (American Idol’s acerbic judge and music producer) for the L&B teen set. It’s not permanent. According to Robertson – who did a syndicated series called Starhunter 2300, an animated movie The Ant Bully, and some video game voice-overs – said that casting director Mark Teschner, probably went to co-head writer Bob Guza (former head writer of the short-lived soap Sunset Beach and creator of the Ben/Derek roles) for the green light. GH is his first soap since Sunset Beach got cancelled.

Wally Kurth (Ned) will add a son to his brood of daughters come this winter. His wife Debra will give birth to a boy by then.

Slight correction to the Alicia Leigh Willis (Courtney) news reported two, three weeks ago on her summer vacation to Greece to catch the Summer Olympics. That would be in August, not July. And she had to ask way in advance for permission to take off for only one week. You know how these soaps work. Interrupt a guy’s honeymoon for a two-day shoot. Suddenly give a gal a major storyline to wrap up in the middle of a Caribbean getaway. Come to work hacking with stomach flu or food poisoning. Stupid crap like that.

Henri Lubatti has been cast as Sam’s brother, Danny, who showed up last week. Lubatti did stints on 24, Felicity, and Star Trek.

Like her returning guest stars, Lynn Herring (ex-Lucy, GH/PC) did not hesitate when TPTB asked if she’d attend Lila’s memorial service (held July 15-16). She and Jon Lindstrom (ex-Kevin, GH/PC) went together, as friends in character, and as actors, as a tribute to the veteran actress who played Lila so memorably for decades. While Herring has enjoyed catching up with her soap pals, she hasn’t set foot back in soaps since PC was cancelled last year, and probably won’t for a long-term capacity in any near future. She just loves her civilian rancher lifestyle too much.

Northwest Afternoon talk show co-host and self-proclaimed Queen of Soaps Cindi Rinehart had good friend Leslie Charleson (Monica) on July 12 for a little long-distance phone chat about the memorial service and the atmosphere on the set. Charleson said that obviously, everybody’s very sad about the death of Anna Lee (Lila), and when she saw how the set decorators had Lee’s movie stills from the past displayed, she almost lost it. One viewer phoned in and committed the biggest boner ever for fans, referring to Leslie by her soap stage name Monica when asking whether the death of Lila would precipitate a reunion of sorts with estranged, brain-damaged Jason. Charleson had no idea, that was up to the writers, but she has asked them frequently for more of that kind of substantive, family-based involvement.

Charleson’s fan club’s charity auction over at eBay (under LCFC) went into full swing around July 12. Fans bid on a variety of goodies, from an autographed script to clothing. Part of the money raised will be donated to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The auction wrapped up July 18.

Last week’s scenes between Maurice Benard (Sonny) and Kimberly McCullough (ex-Robin), for Lila’s memorial service, had the two actors genuinely in tears, in reaction to each other.

A lot of the time, actors are ill-fitted to their roles, at least fashionably. Tamara Braun (Carly) can dress up with the best of the Paris runway, but she’d rather hang out in casual jeans and T duds. Bree Williamson (Jessica, OLTL) looks at ease in her character’s get-up, and they don’t appear too different, but according to the actress, her alter-ego matches everything too much. Williamson said she’s more funky, Bohemian and varied. Dan Gauthier (Kevin, OLTL) is the complete opposite of his dressed-up suit of an uptight character, as to be uncomfortable at times, pulling at his ties, “... He’s almost always in a suit and tie, which was a big disappointment to me when I got the role.” –Soap Opera Digest, July 20, 2004

Congratulations to Amber Tamblyn (ex-Emily), who scored a nomination as one of five possible contenders for “Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series” in the 56th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, to be handed out on September 19 in ceremonies to air on ABC. Tamblyn’s work on CBS’s Joan of Arcadia as Joan garnered her the nod. She will compete with veterans, most of whom are perennially listed on the nomination sheet, like Jennifer Garner (Sydney, Alias), Allison Janney (C.J., The West Wing), Edie Falco (Carmela, The Sopranos), and Mariska Hargitay (Det. Olivia, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).

Vanessa Marcil (Sam, Las Vegas; ex-Brenda) showed Ellen talk show host Ellen DeGeneres how to almost touch the back of her head with the backs of her toes in a yoga move by touching hand to ass cheeks. Marcil also charmed (and perhaps more than turned on) DeGeneres with her guileless admission to hanging out at home stark naked except for a pair of Ugg boots and large granny panties, and tendency to read two books at once, because of an (joking) ADD thing where she gets bored or confused with one book, then goes to the second book, and by the time she goes back to the first book... well, it’s summer and reruns (July 15) are hell without air conditioning.

At the tail end of the GH Fan Club Event, Stephen Nichols (ex-Stefan) held his own on July 11 to meet fans, debut his 30-minute film, Get the Dime, auction off a cover picture of the “real Nikolas” (after Tyler Christopher quit GH in the late ‘90s) and maybe make a few disparaging remarks about the GH writers (writers? what writers?) who killed off his character in a most uncharacteristic way. Nichols acknowledged that at the time he agreed to return for a six-month stint last year, he was told that co-head writer Bob Guza had planned to execute Stefan. Nichols added that he just tried to do the best job he could, while fighting for the integrity of the character when he could. Also there as a guest star, Tyler Christopher (Nikolas) heaped praise upon Catherine Wadkins (Mary) as an actress who always comes to the stage prepared, consistent and flexible to the actor she’s with. More of the recap by Eye on Soaps staff member/Sherry’s Jubilee columnist Sherry Mercurio, here.

Gossip for the week of 19-Jul-2004
by Carol Banks Weber

Nikolas’ amnesia will last for quite awhile, giving the character a darker, edgier, truer Cassadine side. Rumors abound that he may even be the one to kill his own grandmother Helena. While spoilers indicate a thawing with Emily, perhaps even a bonafide triangle with brother Lucky, the real deal could be with Mary.

Two opposing assertions regarding S&C: 1) They’ll reunite, it’ll be beautiful, happily ever after, the portrayers are loving every aspect of their upcoming story, or 2) They’ll go their separate ways after all is said and done, and the secrets are out, the portrayers can’t wait to start different stories far far away from each other. My guess is #2, unless the S&C fan base wins out and Maurice Benard (Sonny) “gives in” (code for “says anything to get a fan base off his back”).

Mini-Sonny, aka little Michael – as played currently by Dylan Cash – might be growing up a little too fast in months to come, i.e., expect a SORAS’d (Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome), grown-up, teen Michael in the near-future.

Maybe Maurice Benard (Sonny) wants to jump ship over to Y&R.

Much of Reckless’s (Ric & Alexis) scenes, like the one in the courthouse elevator (which needs a major overhaul, didn’t Lucy get stuck there once?), are the result of the actors’ ad-libbing.

Jason and Courtney kiss and make up. Jax and Sam bond over the crowning birth of her baby with Sonny. Heather kills Edward, just in time for November Sweeps.

Once again, the Law & Order rumors have come up again regarding the possibility that Robin Christopher (Skye) is heavily in the running to take over Elizabeth Rohm’s (Serena, Law & Order; ex-Dorothy Hayes, OLTL) ADA role on the NBC primetime hit. Rohm announced recently that she would leave the show to pursue other projects. There’s even a petition online somewhere to kick her out prematurely.

Not to beat my dead meat or anything, but... if the Wagners (Kristina/Felicia & Jack/ex-Frisco) really wanted privacy and the soap press to lay off and give them some privacy – about reuniting after almost divorcing, again – then why pose professionally for the REUNITING AND IT FEELS SO GOOD photos in white? Let’s hope the third (or fourth) time’s the charm.

As usual, the annual GH Fan Club Weekend (July 8-11) resulted in some not-so-nice encounters between fans and their idols. Whether the idols themselves were overwhelmed with the occasional hysteria accompanying such encounters, just had a bad day, suffer from social anxiety/shyness, the fans misconstrued, or what...

One soap star, Katie Stuart (Sage), made such a bad impression that a fan quit some Sage Babes group, nearly dissolved into tears and swore she’d never attend another of these fan events again. This same fan claimed that Stuart wouldn’t answer an impromptu Q&A and didn’t react very well to another fan at an autograph line, who went nuts upon seeing the idol live.

I got a chance to ask one of my sources for the real deal on Stuart, and the source reiterated my own doubt that rudeness and this young actress could even be associated with each other. Besides, Stuart – seen adorably chummy with the other female teen set – wasn’t the snobby one.

Another soap star, Maurice Benard (Sonny), dealt with his own batch of accusations from fans of being too quiet, too anti-social, too withdrawn. A board war erupted last week over whether a psycho fan, screaming and carrying on, caused Benard to leave his autograph line early, escorted by a battalion of security guards. One fan swore he did, another denied a problem, insisting that the actors were all told to wrap up at 3 P.M.

Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis) made her political leanings, her current satisfaction with storyline and her resolve to stay out of the direction for her character perfectly clear to fans at her ice cream social over the GH Fan Club weekend. While the liberal actress has yet to realize that some of her fans may be Republican, and still stumps, albeit in fun, for her favorite pairing (wearing a leather jacket with Sonny crossed off and Ric’s Chick put on), she does learn from the past insofar as if she wants a good storyline, she should shut up and just act out whatever she’s given. Eventually, the writers will see fit to feature her in something special.

General Hospital News & Gossip, Copyright © 2004 Carol Banks Weber. No part of this page may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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