General Hospital News & Gossip

News for the week of 10-Oct-2005

by Carol Banks Weber

Timothy Alan’s Two-Faced: Confessions of a Soap Opera Make-Up Artist hits bookstores on November 1. The $24.95 self-help book is about more than how to accentuate one’s beauty through the simple, easy and common sense application of the basics in make-up. It’s really – on a deeper level – a celebration of women in all their various facets, styles and make-ups of beauty, written with sensitivity, compassion and cheeky humor by the professional make-up artist soap opera magazine editors turned to for their cover and interview shoots. Best of all for soap fans, Alan’s book includes short Q&A interviews (about beauty and fun favorites) of some of today’s best icons of female beauty in daytime, from down-to-earth Eva LaRue (ex-Maria, AMC), bohemian eclectic Ilene Kristen (Roxy, OLTL), and ocean-loving original Kathy Brier (Marcie, OLTL), to keenly intelligent Hillary B. Smith (Nora, OLTL), and conservative-classic Robin Mattson (ex- Heather; ex-Janet, AMC) – all of whom Alan has made up. Not surprisingly, these talented, beautiful actresses cite inner beauty as the real source. As for the hands-on beauty tips afforded Alan – who has also helped provide quality control for several cosmetics companies, like the Body Shop, made up TV and movie stars from Yasmine Bleeth to Arnold Schwarzenegger, and did make-up for People, Soap Opera Digest magazines, and for TV and movies – hell, I might even give some of them a try. Using a toothbrush to smooth out the eyebrows prior to plucking? Less is more? Curl every lash? Maybe this make-up stuff isn’t that complicated, after all. Thanks to an advanced copy (yay, Nathalie!), I’m currently on page 77, Chapter 5: Base Instincts, about the how-tos of foundation, or, how to use foundation without drowning your face in mud, and can’t put this book down. The combination of Alan’s easygoing, goofy manner – he peppers his instructional, devotional wisdom with word plays and twists on quips and clichés – clear, concise directions accompanied by professional photography by Robert Milazzo, a known name in the daytime community, and the interesting interest drawn by the guest soap star appearances, with their honest, often light-hearted and wise takes on beauty … make the 149-page BenBella published book really easy to absorb, digest and enjoy. He’s not sharing all he knows to name drop or celeb schmooze either; his main goal is to share what the celebs have learned through his expert make-up guidance, and make you, the reader feel better about yourself. From the book’s preface, Alan wrote: “So, at the same time as I’m using this book to sing the praises of some of your favorite soap scene-stealers (and, heaven knows, mine), I’m also hoping it will be a tool you can use to refocus your attention on someone you’ve probably been neglecting: yourself.” Oh yeah, btw, the title comes from Alan’s belief that soap opera actresses have two faces, the glamorous one they show in character and the real one they have in private—both beautiful. Some of the proceeds from the sale of Tim Alan’s book will go to the late Gilda Radner’s Gilda’s Club NYC, which tries to help people with cancer feel better.

Three of GH’s hottest leading men – Ted King (Lorenzo), Rick Hearst (Ric) and Greg Vaughan (Lucky) – took Boston by storm October 1, while taking in a Sox/Yankees game at Fenway Park, September 30. In separate fan events, the actors met, mingled and meandered through a variety of storyline plots, spoilers and hopes. Some highlights, stolen from the fan recaps on the boards:

Ted King (Lorenzo; ex-Luis) probably knows a lot less than his online-posting fans about upcoming storyline, casting decisions and backstage politics. He does know that he delights in performing with the high-acting-caliber likes of Robin Christopher (Skye), and that he wouldn’t mind whether their on-screen relationship stayed platonic or went romantic. The impending addition of his former Loving/The City co-star and pal, Laura Wright, as the 4th Carly, delights him too; a triangle where he is the prize fought over by two women would be ideal. He also knows that a triangle with Sonny and Carly – as mentioned by ABC Daytime president B.S. Frons – will occur. In his mind, he played the break-up scene with Carly (portrayed by Jennifer Bransford) as a protective measure, for both Lorenzo and Carly. Because of her obvious torch for Sonny, Lorenzo felt the sting and the pull of the dark side, into the violent mob world of his late brother, King explained. And because Lorenzo ultimately loved Carly, he did not want her stuck in his darkening mess, so he gave her a reason, coldly, to leave him. The expansion of Lorenzo’s family would aid in fleshing out King’s outline for the motivation of his troubled, complex character; perhaps, in explaining more sufficiently why and how he turned out so troubled, complex and pre-destined for a life of criminality. More detailed recaps can be found at The Kingdom, a Ted King message board, and Endless Love, another message board, for Lorenzo and Carly fans—both register to view.

Rick Hearst (Ric) knows this much: soon, Sonny, then Alexis will discover Ric and Reese’s one night of indiscretion. He also knows whether Ric and Alexis’s unborn baby is a boy or a girl. As for hopes, he’s full up. He hopes his character is shown doting on that baby boy or girl, a changed father. While discussing his hopes and dreams for Ric with GH writer Elizabeth Korte, he grew more and more excited, his voice rising in volume, and noticed her furiously writing down everything he exclaimed. While Hearst attended a baseball game at Fenway Park with King and Vaughan, a vendor identified him as a GH soap star, then gifted him and his soap star buddies with freebies, but fork over the generous tip, wink, wink.

Greg Vaughan (Lucky) knows of a soap opera magazine (SOD next week?) cover shoot with himself and Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth), but knew nothing of the recast, SORAS’d (Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome) Lulu from tween to 15-year-old, until he met the older actress, Julie Marie Berman, while in the wardrobe department. Vaughan never really met Kimberly McCullough (Robin), but their characters are supposed to be close, so McCullough, upon meeting Vaughan, handled the background check. And, Lucky fans, there will be a shirtless Vaughan coming to a TV screen near you. On a slight downer, misinformation from a past Vaughan event came back to sting the actor, and sting it did.

In an upcoming scene this week, set in Hawaii, viewers will see Manny Ruiz order his men to brutalize Jason, forcing Sam to observe, then he’ll fire a bullet into Jason’s leg, after feeling Sam up. This final scene was changed considerably from the original script at the behest of Jason’s Steve Burton, for authenticity and character integrity. At first, writers had Jason depend on Sam for their next move, and then had the two sic the cops on Manny. Burton requested instead, that Jason keep his violent, angry retaliatory instincts, forging ahead with murdering Manny, for busting in on his and Sam’s idyllic paradise, until the cops arrive and stop him…as opposed to him taking advice from a woman about his former job.

Interesting. Maurice Benard (Sonny) gave every indication – according to fan accounts – at this past July’s GH Fan Club event of keeping his and Natalia Livingston’s (Emily) characters strictly big brother, little sister platonic, nothing romantic. A few months later, and he’s telling Soap Opera Weekly that he might be interested in something more for that unlikely, “Casablanca-type couple.” Benard compared Emily to the other women he’s known, liked then bedded, raising her, though, to a whole other level. At least this one would be loyal to a fault, he noticed. And, she’s easy to talk to, he added, so…

Here we go again… Kari Wuhrer (Reese) sounded off to the soap press (the latest Soap Opera Weekly) about her sudden ouster. The way she put it, it came down on her out of the blue, based on a tracking report (that only she’s ever been given in the history of GH) that puts her character down as nebulous and chemistry-less opposite Maurice Benard (Sonny). This all-important ABC Daytime tracking report – which TPTB used to fire Wuhrer, after having already picked up the option in her four-year contract back in July – assesses fan feedback. Further criticism from this tracking report had viewers confounded as to her character’s character. Explained Wuhrer, “A lot of people didn't understand if Reese was supposed to be good or bad. It was a story issue. My character was weighing down Sonny and I had to go.” Understandably upset, Wuhrer sought clarification from executive producer Jill Farren Phelps, and only received more bad news: The tracking report sealed Wuhrer’s fate, and the end – whenever that happens, the actress has no idea what’s going on, when she’ll air last or how – will not be candy canes and oysters. Her co-stars – who felt badly for the actress – were equally baffled, Wuhrer said, especially by this tracking report, which none of them had ever laid eyes on for themselves before, and which made her feel like she did something wrong. Had TPTB given her any critical guidance before and during her character’s tenure, she explained, maybe she could’ve helped turn the negative fan feedback around. Instead, TPTB only heaped on the compliments, but left her in the dark. Nevertheless, Wuhrer only has love, respect and peace for her time at GH. She loved the people she worked with, learned an awful lot about herself and how to rise to the fast-paced, voluminous scripted challenges, and to always give her all. It’s just that… having to exit in this abrupt manner, in such a vacuum, will be hard on her, a hard-working, open-minded actress who – up until GH – has never experienced a lay-off in all of her 22 years in show business. –Soap Opera Weekly

It’s been established by fans and co-stars that Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth) is not only a singularly lovely woman with porcelain skin, lustrous hair and a slim build, but very maternal – she does have two children – and keeps to herself. But when she’s used to someone and takes a liking to them, watch out for on-screen magic and off-screen camaraderie. Greg Vaughan (Lucky) has been a grateful beneficiary of Herbst’s elegant beauty, maternal concern and magnificent, realistic acting generosity. The two feed off each other quite capably, aided in part by an ice-breaking scene precipitating the reunion of their characters (and Herbst’s first go-round with 2nd Lucky recast Vaughan) – their paint fight in the new apartment. Vaughan always treats Herbst like a work of art, fine china, a goddess descending from the heavens. Herbst paid Vaughan one of the highest compliments, coming from her, that he puts her at ease, they get along really well in front of and behind the cameras, and grew to be friends within the past year. And, she added, Vaughan takes care to freshen up prior to the filming of their joint scenes, so he smells nice. Although Herbst tends not to want to rehearse as much as Vaughan, it’s evident from the work they’ve turned in for GH so far that whatever they do, is working magically.

TV Guide Online Soaps’ Daniel R. Coleridge somehow knows how to talk with soap stars in his easygoing but hardly softball Q&A interviews. He does it again, October 4, with an equally easygoing and decidedly unlikely Robin Scorpio, portrayer and aspiring director Kimberly McCullough. They start off with the obvious – Why come back to soaps when she’s done so well on primetime? Instead of issuing a tired refrain, code for, soaps are better than unemployment, McCullough cited wanting to work less, but more steadily, as her excuse. Her main goal in life isn’t to continue on as an actress, toiling for 16 hours a day (or more) in primetime the way her pal Amber Tamblyn (ex-Emily) did on the formerly successful CBS drama, Joan Of Arcadia (before cancellation)… but to direct film projects she believes in. Returning to GH will afford her the time to indulge in directing too. “I want to have a life! The soap is a perfect job because I can work with people I love, but I don't work all day, every day, and I'll still have freedom to pursue my other dream.” Her first days back at GH hasn’t exactly given her an opportunity to revisit former relationships with Jason, Sonny or Carly; she’s mostly kept to herself on a Paris set, with French-speaking nurses, or on the phone, with the stage manager at the other end, blandly, quickly reciting lines as prompts to her. But while in hair, makeup, wardrobe, she’s run into former co-stars and friends. Steve Burton (Jason) in a bloody getup, for example. “It was really funny. I asked, ‘What happened to you?’ He's like, ‘I don't know, I get shot every day on this show.’” The Kimberly part of her – the total opposite of strait-laced, humorless Robin – surfaced in the middle of Coleridge’s Q&A, in reaction to his joke about her character needing to lighten up with experimental drugs. When he asked whether Robin did any ecstasy, cocaine and the like, McCullough joked back, “I wish!,” then continued, “Why am I [as Robin] such a downer? We did one scene where I'm in the hospital and I'm telling the French nurses to be quiet because they're having a good time. It's like I don't want to have fun and I don't want anyone else to be having fun either.” The opposite of “downer,” McCullough remains happily free of romantic entanglements, especially of the co-star variety. Her guidelines on that score, “If you date an actor on the same show, disaster strikes.” Are Tyler and Natalia reading this?

Whether Kelly Monaco (Sam) likes it or not – not – or approves of it or not – not – Playboy will capitalize on her Dancing With The Stars mainstream success by publishing naked photos of her in its November issue, out right this minute (Ben, go buy me a copy). The naked photos are from her April, 1997 layout, previously unused, with the men’s magazine. Following the 1997 Playboy appearance, Monaco followed up her dream for stardom with acting gigs on Baywatch then Port Charles, a former half-hour GH spin-off that eventually got cancelled, before moving on to GH success. A Playboy questionnaire she’d filled out back then revealed a daring, bold and creative side, someone willing to risk for results. In last month’s WPLJ radio interview with co-hosts Scott Shannon and Todd Pettengill, Monaco said that Playboy’s people wanted her to do another, recent layout for them for a pittance, but she turned them down. Even if they’d anteed up on the pay, it wouldn’t have mattered to her, the answer would’ve still been a big, fat no. But alas, it doesn’t matter anyway, because her old naked pictures are good enough for Playboy. Monaco didn’t know about Playboy’s back-up plan, either. “… unfortunately, they own those pictures for life. If they chose to run them again, they chose to run them again.” –NY Daily News, October 6, 2005

Besides studying her own lines from her own part of a story, Adrianne Leon (Brook Lynn) will read the stories of interest for other actors/characters, depending on her level of interest. The Kristina kidnapping really captured Leon’s attention to the very end. But then, it’s not like she has her hands on all the scripts and could tell you spoilers, she can be as in the dark as many of her fans.

Another co-star to fall for and support Dancing With The Stars, Greg Vaughan (Lucky), would be quite at home on the new reality-TV hit show from last spring. He learned to salsa, and can also do country-western and ballroom. As a fan of the show’s winner Kelly Monaco (Sam), Vaughan cited her hard work, her guts, the constant of her down-to-earth personality throughout the starry experience. “… we watched her in our rehearsal hall prep for her routines. She really shined. She was the star… and [her success] hasn’t changed her a bit. She’s still one of us.” –Soap Opera Digest, October 11, 2005

Jennifer Bransford (ex-Carly) finishes up shooting some of her final scenes for GH, and, they are harrowing to perform, draining the actress of energy and life force. She steps into the green room to the greatest pick-me-up in soapdom, her fans laden with gifts wishing her well, begging her to stay, validating Bransford as an actress… a validation TPTB neglected to give her on the way out.

It’s been, what, over two months since July’s GH Fan Club Weekend. But who’s counting, KellyB of “Kelly’s Diner” at EYE ON SOAPS turned in Part 3 of her recap, around the time of the Saturday luncheon. She served as a registrar for the fans and escort to the green room for the stars prior to the big event, and shared her observations, experiences and outrageous thoughts about meeting, talking with and being stared at by some of her favorite GH stars. The last part’s the best, take it with a grain of salt, girlfriend’s just jesting.

Fans of commentary, recaps, blogs and assorted odds and ends related to soaps and to the classics from the golden past (who else but me can appreciate Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin?!) can now go to Evie TV. The woman who brought you critical, cute and creative overviews of ABC Daytime’s episodic blunders and wonders on EOS now has her own website. Look around, you may find me in there.

Gossip for the week of 10-Oct-2005

by Carol Banks Weber

According to SoapDish – the source of the rumor that Maurice Benard (Sonny) stormed off the GH set after his script revealed something that made his character appear bad – the reason for the stormy reaction was the possible source of Carly’s mental breakdown, back when Sonny accidentally shot her in the head. The bullet to her skull, never truly treated, Carly off her rocker, Sonny’s fault, mad Mo.

Another big-name star will soon cross paths with PC residents. Besides Finola Hughes (ex-Anna).

Reese will die, either at Helena’s or the mob’s hands.

A few of the younger characters might hit the road, paving the way for more of the vets and an increase in the vet/newcomer cocktail.

Perhaps the college stalker and the Miami mob are connected.

Jensen Buchanan (ex-Melissa) had been a name bandied about as GL’s Cassie recast (Laura Wright left producers of the East-Coast-based soap to take over as GH’s Carly) by her wishful-thinking fans.

An odd thought occurred to me while catching up on the last two weeks’ episodes. What if Carly isn’t hallucinating Faith, she really did somehow survive death and has been in cahoots with Reese all this time? Nah.

Clever, clever. One of a number of posting GH fans suggested Sam and Carly were related, through John Durant. Follow the elaborate, imaginative scenario: In his younger lothario days, Durant plays around with hooker Bobbie, girlfriend Evelyn hears about the dalliance, flips out and leaves him, he goes chasing after her, she flips him off, and has his baby, a baby named Sam she grows to despise and give up to her con artist husband. I almost fell for it.

SoapTalk’s co-host Lisa Rinna (ex-Billie, DOOL) might make a renewed name for herself if she lands on the next installment of the hit reality-TV series, Dancing With The Stars, Part 2, as the celebrity to a professional ballroom dancer. Unlike Kelly Monaco (Sam), however, Rinna does possess some modicum of dance aplomb from the start.

ABC Daytime really needs to bone up on proper, professional hiring and firing practices. The PTB at that network haven’t exactly been nice lately, what with the secret meeting to hire a Carly replacement, the misinformation and questionable ethics surrounding the firing of Jennifer Bransford to herald in a recently transplanted Laura Wright – who behaved unprofessionally IMHO with her suddenly quitting GL as Cassie at the last second – and now this, the firing of Kari Wuhrer (Reese) based on a tracking report filled with hurtful insults against her character. According to accounts by Wuhrer, she had little to go on when hired late last spring, other than assurances that she was doing good work. When fans began balking at her pairing with Sonny, when the writers – for whatever reason – decided to bail on one ill-advised story arc and jump on another, without preparing the actors involved or the viewing audience, when TPTB kept pushing their forced, pre-fabricated couple Sonny and Reese, then Sonny and Carly again, without character development, with total disregard for the rest of the veteran cast, etc., still, Wuhrer felt kept in the dark, to twist in the wind. She said she would’ve listened to any and all advice from on high, anything to improve her character, yet no advice came. Only that mysterious tracking report, delivered to her probably like a jury summons, informally and summarily, detailing fan displeasure, apathy and confusion as to Reese’s purpose, identity, appeal and worth on this show… a tracking report that executive producer Jill Farren Phelps was to have used as evidence in explaining the firing to Wuhrer… a tracking report that none of the other cast members had ever heard of or seen for themselves, according to Wuhrer… a tracking report that laid out her faults without giving her a chance to rectify them as an actress would, causing her to feel only the punitive effects.

Over at OLTL, this ongoing need-to-know attitude has inflicted worry upon a veteran soap actress, Hillary B. Smith (Nora), who now finds her long-time character flat on her back in a coma, lord knows when or if recovery lies ahead. (At the time of that report, Smith did not know. But this week, Nora will awaken.) Smith admitted to TV Guide Online Soaps’ Daniel Coleridge before a recent SoapTalk show that she heard nothing from her bosses in terms of a heads-up about this coma, and knows nothing of its length or her character’s outcome. Fans of Nora too, are worried for their favorite character’s longevity on OLTL, as the actress’s contract is up for renegotiation (or not) in two months.

AMC’s brass wasted a major opportunity in addressing an important social issue and capitalizing on the outstanding talents of its diverse actors by, instead, using Lamman Rucker’s Garret, Tanisha Lynn’s Danielle, Shari Headley’s return as Mimi as merely instruments of a plot device to save another returnee, the more questionably popular Sydney Penny’s Julia. This week, Garret – revealed not only to be a pedophile-leaning pervert, but the mob kingpin who executed his former best friend Noah and tried to do the same for Noah’s surviving widow Julia – will meet his untimely end as Julia and Di put an end to him, and to the reign of the fabulous actor portraying him. This could’ve been a human interest story about Danielle’s struggle to make herself heard to her mother Mimi, in the face of Garret’s unnatural sexual interest and molestation of her, awarding long-overdue frontburner status to some deserving vets and promising newcomers. But no…

The Screen Actors’ Guild released a daunting report about the effects of the rise in reality-TV programming. Fewer actors by far are being used in artistic works of fanciful fiction, because the audience is currently enamored of – to the point of pointless obsession – raising up the common man and woman to celebrity heights based on nothing but prurient, debasing, voyeuristic impulses. Since ABC Daytime seems destined to follow any immediate money-making trend, to its long-term detriment, perhaps the unprofessional buttmunches up on high should cancel the soaps in favor of a reality-TV program featuring soap stars, industry types and fans behind the scenes and backstage, cutting out the actual soap opera storytelling onstage.

In Carolyn Hinsey’s latest NY Daily News entertainment column, dated October 7, 2005, Maurice Benard (Sonny) reacts a bit more to the third Carly recast, Laura Wright (ex-Cassie, GL). The extent of his awareness of Wright comes from the word of mouth of others, all favorable. He said he’s confident that they’ll “work well together and get along,” but cautioned that an S&C history so involved, complicated and deep requires an equal and available connection as the best starting point. He can’t second-guess at this point, Wright hasn’t even started work on GH yet, but he’s committed to giving the pairing his all. It’s actually what he doesn’t say, what’s between the lines and how he juxtaposes the S&C stuff with an immediate mention of Carlo (Carly & Lorenzo), that has me wondering if maybe he would prefer avoiding the challenge altogether, hoping for Wright and Lorenzo’s Ted King – former Loving co-stars – to make that connection instead: “She's still married to Alcazar, so she may end up with him. Then Sonny will do what he's got to do and either be alone, or find somebody else.” Emily was also brought up in the “somebody else” conversation, not coincidentally.

At least Benard’s loving the growing, deepening connection with Rick Hearst’s Ric, as the two formerly antagonistic, on-screen brothers have to work together to face off the Miami mob. One recent scene pleased Benard immensely; when Sonny’s busting Ric’s chops for meddling in mob business, Ric feels like crap about it, then Sonny goes in for a hug, uncomfortably.

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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