General Hospital News & Gossip

News for the week of 25-Apr-2005

by Carol Banks Weber

Spoiler Alert: Do not read below if you’re spoiler-free.

Most of May Sweeps will be caught up in the lives of Sonny, Carly, Jason, Reese, Michael, Ric and Alexis. After hiding out at Sonny’s place, Jason escorts Carly to another place to keep the cops from nabbing her as a suspect in A.J.’s murder, a safe house. She’d be fine there, except her son Michael is hurting and recovering at the hospital. Carly feels she must go to him, tend to her broken son. There, in a moving scene of mother and child, Carly reaches through to Michael, and Michael wants his mommy, her child holding his arms out to her. Unfortunately, the police charge through, placing Carly under arrest. Elizabeth worsens Carly’s case by testifying that she witnessed Carly at the scene of the crime moments prior to the murder. Forensics work reveals Carly’s DNA also at the scene of the crime, on the murder weapon—the pillow. Rousing from a bad dream, Michael is comforted by Reese. He also lets her know an important observation from that bad dream, how he witnessed Carly push a pillow over A.J.’s face. Sonny sticks his nose into Carly’s business, by fairly ordering Ric to back off the case on her, despite mounting evidence, or watch Alexis suffer the consequences with the loss of custody of Kristina. Ric laughs off Sonny’s orders. Authorities locate and clamp down on fugitive Alexis, found in London. If Ric goes ahead and does everything to prosecute in A.J.’s murder case, he could lose Alexis. Ric can’t help but put himself in Sonny’s shoes, maybe Alexis would turn on him too when the time came. If Alexis isn’t careful, she’ll ruin everything with Ric, in her vendetta against Sonny. Monica isn’t completely forthcoming with Jason. Lorenzo joins in the effort to defend Carly from murder charges and whatever. Ric doesn’t care, he’ll prosecute to the fullest extent of the law if he has to. Alexis listens in on a talk between Jason and little Michael, suddenly inspired…to join forces with an unlikely character to get her way. It is not Carly but Reese who will affect the boy, Michael, in touching ways. Most of May Sweeps centers around Sonny & Co., but a few leftovers include the odd but powerful teamwork of Lorenzo, Tracy, Skye and Luke in the take-down of Helena, as well as the return of Maxie from preparatory school, where she and Georgie wind up vying for the same hunk, maybe, and Georgie fights the same ole feelings of insecurity as she watches Maxie, Dillon, Brook Lynn and Diego graduate from high school and move onto adulthood.

Before the May 20th Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony – held at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan – SoapNet will air a two-hour red carpet special with soap star hosts Terri Ivens (Simone, AMC), Bobbie Eakes (Krystal, AMC; ex-Macy, B&B) and Ricky Paull Goldin (Gus, GL). They’ll preview the fashion statements and the nominee jitters. Following the Emmys, two days later on May 23, in a one-hour special, co-hosts Linda Dano (ex-Rae, OLTL; Lena, GL), Eva LaRue (Maria, AMC) and talent manager Michael Bruno (also a judge on I Wanna Be A Soap Star reality-TV show) will provide the post-mortem. Check local listings for times.

Don’t expect a return to the soap opera of old from GH’s head writers any time soon. Bob Guza Jr. and Charles Pratt Jr. plan to enforce a crime and punishment style of storytelling for as long as they reign supreme. They defended their liberal use of violence in an April 19th TV Guide Online Q&A interview with reporter/writer Delaina Dixon, by saying such use works on a show always known for its action-adventure, and often centered around crime figures. Guza – who referenced his previous tenure under ‘70s-‘80s executive producer Gloria Monty (the one responsible for bringing Luke on as an anti-hero) – compared GH to a highly-rated rival soap (B&B), without actually naming it, citing the violence factor as a distinction of the show, not a turn-off. “We’re not writing about the fashion industry, where people are scrapping over the latest design. We have very high life-or-death stakes. But we are very rigorous about dealing with the consequences of this violence.” Pratt asserted that GH fans demand their action-adventure after awhile of just “flowers and romance and medical drama,… I think that's the one thing that makes GH unique. We have a hero who is a mobster, and he's one of the most successful characters in daytime. To have him sit around and play chess all day, in our gut we feel that's not really what our audience wants.” That’s not to say that GH will focus exclusively on the doom, gloom and violence of the central mob characters either. The co-head writers promised more in terms of those happy, shiny romantic moments, like more of a love story with Lucky and Elizabeth, where they will face more relatable, everyday issues like financial setbacks, and a redemption love story between Emily and Nikolas, where, hopefully, the two work through her rape trauma to a reunion. For Guza and Pratt, it’s all about hope, even in the face of such controversial violence. It’s also all about recasting characters when called for, for the sake of ongoing “incidents” that peak the audience’s interest, i.e., plot points. If ever an action drove that point home, it’s the immediate hiring and airing of Jennifer Bransford in the recast (#2) role of Carly. They excused the seamless take-over by stressing the importance of the character (over the portrayer), especially to the current story. Pratt hoped the new Carly can handle the consequences of their decision not to give Tamara Braun’s departure the, IMHO, proper memorial, some time. “Carly is one of the most clearly defined characters in all of daytime. It would be suicide for us to try to accommodate the character to fit anyone,” Guza said.

Soap Opera Weekly editor Carolyn Hinsey interviewed Maurice Benard (Sonny) [“Carolyn’s Corner,” April 26, 2005] about his thoughts and feelings on the subject of the, now third, Carly – and what a role he played in helping to pick the right actress out. It’s hard to go through a recast, but for the show, he’s willing to go the extra mile – in the screen-test process and extra rehearsals if necessary. He will do so for any incoming actor willing to open up, work hard and improve. Jennifer Bransford (Carly III; ex-Georgie, OLTL) would not have made the cut if she didn’t possess the acting skills, he said. She did, she has to, in order to embody such a complex, prominent female character as Carly. She follows in the footsteps of outstanding, strong actresses in their own right, he added. Bransford “already has the essence of the character, so we’ll see.” In Bransford’s case, Benard’s coached her on selective dialogue; choosing which lines matter and which can be thrown away. In Benard’s estimation, Sarah Brown’s original Carly was tough, Tamara Braun’s second Carly was softer, and Bransford’s current Carly is a blend of her two predecessors, with a tinge more of the original Carly, up to her old tricks. If all goes well within three months, it’s triangle time with Kari Wuhrer’s Reese, Benard guessed.

Fiancé Nikolas reacts to Emily’s rape typically… anger, frustration, sensitivity. But he also goes one step farther to help her, especially in her inability to disassociate his face from that of his late foe Connor (the rapist), they were identical. Natalia Livingston, who plays Emily, admitted that it felt odd to now act in scenes where they’re estranged and why, after nearly a whole year of acting very mushy with each other, on- and off-screen. The mushy stuff is a source of kidding around for the couple, Livingston added, as they’re forever noting how often they kiss, despite the subject matter of their dialogue.

Back when Stuart Damon (Alan), a psychology major, started off wanting to be an actor, he did what other aspiring actors did – summer stock, racking up play after play, rarely rejecting any gig, soaking up every experience – until he joined the chorus on the Broadway show, First Impressions (Pride And Prejudice inspired), at 21, as well as played an understudy. He took over the role after the original actor got let go within two weeks of the play’s run. Eventually, his play after play caught the notice of those putting together 1965’s Cinderella, and his fame as Prince Charming caught further notice across the Atlantic, in England. Today, Damon is still a hard-working actor, on a top-rated daytime drama—GH (28 years so far), despite his back pain. A Daytime Emmy for Alan’s drug abuse story confirmed what legions of fans have known for decades: the guy “chose the right profession.” Whoopi Goldberg even recognized him once from his Cinderella run. –Soap Opera Weekly, April 26, 2005

Stuart Damon (Alan) hangs out in sweats, winter through summer. Several pairs of ‘em are as close and handy as his bedpost. Pull on a t-shirt and off he goes.

Damon’s grandson – the actor (and his wife) is the nine-year-old boy’s legal guardian – Alexander sometimes catches up with GH. He did once when Alan tussled with Sonny, and turned to Damon, commenting that his grandpa fought like a girl.

Steve Burton (Jason) enjoys the professionalism of the two young twins playing Alexis’s daughter Kristina. Some fans nitpick that Kristina is too shy and quiet, but Burton can vouch for different when the cameras stop rolling. The girls love to run rampant down the halls. In Burton’s opinion, it’s better they get their energies out before filming a scene; that way, they’re focused, they pay attention and they don’t disrupt the flow like… a certain other little boy who used to play baby Michael; that kid would talk non-stop, forcing retakes.

It would take a saint to feel nothing about leaving GH only to be replaced immediately in a seamless airing the way Tamara Braun’s Carly was with Jennifer Bransford’s. But ever the class act, Braun said it’s part of doing show business, it’s not personal and she understands why TPTB had to do what they could to preserve the ongoing storyline. She does wish the news of her departure hadn’t gotten out so prematurely. She’d planned on telling her family and friends before the online media spies did, but alas…that’s how they all learned of her GH status. When telling Dylan Cash (Michael), Braun expected a little sorrow, but not the heartbreaking disappointment. Cash reacted by asking who would next be his on-screen mother if not her, and Braun quipped back that she and he would, as characters, perish as a duo. Then, as the full impact of her exit hit him, Cash started weeping, his head nestled on her tummy, causing Braun to weep too.

TV Guide columnist Michael Logan criticized GH for neglecting the first winner of SoapNet’s reality-TV series, I Wanna Be A Soap Star: Mykel Shannon Jenkins (Officer Byron). SoapNet’s general manager, Deborah Blackwell, said she and her people have no power over TPTB over at GH and how they choose to handle Jenkins’ November prize win, a 13-week contract. If they wanna blow it on basically a walk-on part (with the runner-up getting more script action as a nurse), that’s their prerogative… is about how she put it, as relayed by Logan (but a lot nicer than I just did). Jenkins will get another chance to impress with 13 more weeks. Whether that means anything, is anybody’s guess… is about how fed up Logan was. “In a way this is not surprising. Jenkins is African American and GH has an abysmal track record where racial diversity is concerned. Still you'd think some cop would have some substance to do on a soap that's chockablock with mobsters.” Although Blackwell said she had no say so in pushing more of Jenkins on the air at GH, and wouldn’t have felt right about doing so since the show, in her words, has to remain true to its own integrity, she did take pains to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to I Wanna Be A Soap Star’s second winner, who will get a contract with AMC. SoapNet will work with AMC producers to make this prize count for something, with a new contract character tied to an existing family.

The casting department is searching for an actor in a recurring part, as a psychiatrist with the looks and the personality to match, 30-something.

It’s spring. Time to spruce up the wardrobe with lots of pinks, other pastels. Er, at least for the women out there. Kelly Monaco’s (Sam) loved ones are always reminding her to do so, especially since the petite actress tends toward the darker colors. OLTL’s Kassie DePaiva (Blair) treats the spring changeover as a fun tradition. She recently splurged on a pink wardrobe while in L.A. for a SoapTalk guest spot.

Adrianne Leon (Brook Lynn) is familiar with the phenomenon known as TiVo – a hard-disk video recorder that allows you to pause, rewind, stop and tape a variety of shows. For her, it’s all about the TV Food Network. If she misses any episodes of 30-Minute Meals’ Rachael Ray, it’s a bad day. “I am obsessed with it. I need help.” (If she needs help, so do I. I miss Ray’s $40 A Day or Giada De Laurentiis’ Everyday Italian, I’m suicidal.) –Soap Opera Weekly, April 26, 2005

DOOL’s Matthew Ashford (Jack; ex-Tom Hardy, GH) couldn’t stand the obnoxious disco song used in place of a ring tone on his cell. His daughter programmed it. But Ashford finds songs as ring tones obnoxious after awhile, even something classical like Beethoven. So he ended up just switching his cell phone back to ring, like a normal phone would.

Mary Beth Evans (ex-Katherine; Sierra, ATWT) finds the down-home, everyday working people atmosphere of her current gig, the East-Coast-based ATWT preferable, so preferable, she almost doesn’t mind taking red-eyes back and forth, to check in on her family, still based on the West Coast. Her co-stars are wonderful, her character compelling and the promise of better story keeps her a happy mainstay. She did miss two of her children’s birthdays, but that’s the life of a bi-coastal soap star. The Evans family has learned to adjust. “…but I think adversity builds character for all of us.” When not playing Sierra, hoping for more of a story of her own and taking six-hour flights back home from her job, Evans keeps in shape with a gym membership extension. If only she didn’t have to wait so long for her time on the treadmill (that was my problem, so we bought our own for the computer/3rd TV room). –Soap Opera Weekly, April 26, 2005

Gossip for the week of 25-Apr-2005

by Carol Banks Weber

All I can say about Jennifer Bransford’s (Carly III; ex-Georgie, OLTL) next-episode debut last Monday is: Poor girl, good luck with those head writers, you’ll need it. And, it’s obvious that Pruza views its cast as interchangeable caricatures (except Maurice Benard/Sonny and Steve Burton/Jason, as well as 3/4ths of the male performers), as opposed to characters with character; they’d probably replace all the chicks with animé if they could get away with it.

A spy squealed on B&B, to Soap Opera Digest editors, about the return of Hunter Tylo as Taylor. Of course supervising producer Rhonda Friedman denied any such return. Lo and behold, two beats later, Soap Opera Weekly , SOD’s sister mag, comes out with a cover story about Taylor returning to Ridge, even though she died . Moral of the story: Don’t believe everything you read, least of all from official sources.

Kari Wuhrer (Reese) is always, always good for a sexy, original, real, often outrageous quote. She makes even the clichéd – Do you troll the ‘Net? How’s Mo in love scenes? – fetching, in her special punchy way. She recently compared going online for too long to partying at a New York City club back in the 1980s, then stepping outside in the too-bright sunshine. “I get this hangover from staring at the screen. I feel dirty and wrong. [SPW, April 26, 2005 ]” In describing what it’s like to film the bedroom stuff, Wuhrer said: “being the true Guido that Maurice is, he leaves his socks on. It's very funny. [SPW, May 3, 2005]”

Have I imagined an improvement in the characterization of Emily as played by Natalia Livingston? Call me egotistical (since the world does revolve around my every word), but I can’t help but assume my criticisms have influenced the writers to reshape the duplicitous, self-serving man-crazy shrew into a semblance of a vulnerable, kind, wise-cracking, world-weary young heroine. Two weeks ago, Emily abruptly changed her attitude, right after giving Elizabeth some lip but Lucky the syrupy-sweet act, generously supporting the rekindling of a romance between her friends Lucky and Liz. Then last week, actually coaxing a smile out of me when she asked Dillon, Georgie and Brook Lynn – after Edward charged the teens with coaxing Emily to move back in with the Qs – if they were high, smiling and being so uncharacteristically positive (the irony).

What’s Ryan Carnes been up to since he’s not been up to GH, as Lucas XVIII? An occasional stint on Desperate Housewives, waiting on the rich and famous at a black-tie party. (Source: In Touch Weekly’s “Seen & Heard,” April 25, 2005)

Is Ted King (Lorenzo; ex-Luis) staying or going, and would his fans want him with a recast Carly or a new love, Skye? Soaps in Depth online reported that the actor re-signed his contract, yet Debby O’Connor – organizer of mucho soap star events – denied in her fan update, as of the morning of April 21, such a re-signing, yet some fans at King’s last fan event (Houston?) swore he was leaning toward re-signing.

General Hospital News & Gossip, Copyright © 2005 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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