General Hospital News & Gossip
News for the week of 16-Nov-2009
Executive producer Jill Farren Phelps first revealed the name of the new, stunt-cast character movie star James Franco would inhabit for several heart-stopping episodes. It’s Franco, as in a major photographic artist displaying his latest works for Port Charles, while secretly stalking Jason.
Phelps was asked by Wall Street Journal/SPEAKEASY writer Michelle Kung, in a November 6th article, whether there was any fear that Franco was pulling TPTB’s collective leg. There wasthe fear that Franco’s appearing on GH may not even come to pass, but it turned out the guy was genuine in his interest in expanding his acting horizons by trying out soaps. “But we made the plane reservation and he showed up — and could not have been nicer or more humble; he was willing to do whatever we asked. He had over 65 pages of material to do in the one day, so it was a very long day, but his demeanor was completely professional. We told him that if he ever wants to give up film acting, there’s always a home for him in Port Charles.”
During the tail-end of the interview, Kung broached the subject of soap fans’ known hatred for all things PTB, including her and ABC Daytime president Brian Frons. Phelps is very much aware of their critical press. So much in fact that she asks people to avoid Googling her as much as possible, because of the bad press. But to her credit, she didn’t feel sorry for herself or whine about the big, bad soap fans. She took the criticism in stride, as part of the business. “We’ve all done controversial things; some didn’t work, others were risks that paid off. Fans don’t really like change, so such things get them stirred up.”
Brandon Barash (Johnny) will be on hand personally on December 3, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., at the New York Helmsley Hotel on 212 East 42nd Street, to meet fans and help with the charity sales of his special book of photography and other photographs he’s taken. “Introducing the Photography of Brandon Barash” andseveral matted/framed photographs will go up for sale, with proceeds benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Fans who attended Barash’s event at last July’s GH Fan Club Weekend will remember some of his photos and his book. Tickets to the upcoming MDA event will cost $125 per person, and $50 for those 18 and under. For more info, call (212) 981-5281. Regardless of attendance, fans are encouraged to make a monetary donation for the MDA on Barash’s behalf.
Barash is loving himself on Rick Springfield (ex-Noah) & Friends 2nd annual cruise right about now. Boarding started on November 12 and will wind down on the 16th. Barash joined other celebrity guests, like musician Richard Marx. But while he’s on the high seas, we in Twitter-land are lonely without his clever, warm-hearted observations.
When SoapTown USA’s resident writer/reporter/columnist Dawn Griffin brought up raising a family, she unlocked the key to actress Rebecca Herbst’s (Elizabeth) heart. With two children of her own, Herbst and husband Michael Saucedo (ex-Juan) have had to confront the enormous responsibility that comes along with parenthood. They’ve taken the responsibility seriously, maintaining the boundaries between parents and children and never confusing their roles as mentors. “We're in a generation where parents obey children and not children obeying parents. It's now all about what the parent can do for the child, and that's the wrong way to look at it,” Herbst said. “You can't raise your kids like that. We really try to emphasize that Mom and Dad come first and the children come second. We've got a pretty good rein on them now, I don't foresee having any trouble. They're really good kids. Michael and I have a really good communication and our kids are really good communicators. We've got a really great community and a lot of friends and family.”
As good as they are as parents, they still face some unique challenges, what with her other role as famous soap star. Trying to keep her family grounded is tricky the older her son and daughter get, and the more they are aware of her celebrity standing. She definitely does not want her children to be in the spotlight whatsoever. “It's definitely becoming more and more of a juggling act, now that they're getting older and they're understanding more. I have to be a little more careful about what things are said and it's a little more tricky when I'm out in public now...They're starting to understand what I do and it makes me very nervous!”
When talk came to Greg Vaughan’s departing as Lucky and Jonathan Jackson’s returning to take on that role, Herbst expressed mixed emotions. She was happy about working with Jackson again, but she was sad about having to say goodbye to Vaughan. The news of the change took her by surprise. “[Vaughan] has been Lucky for the past six or seven years and he really helped Elizabeth mature as a person and as a character. I feel like Greg had such a significant role in that. It's just weird having him gone. I love Greg dearly and it's been hard not having him there,” Herbst said. –Interview by SoapTown USA’s Dawn Griffin, read on November 11, 2009
Research – interviewing actual police – informed Dominic Zamprogna’s (Dominic/Dante) portrayal, in terms of the background info he arms himself with when acting out the scripted material. It’s not been indicated by the writers, but Zamprogna has taken it upon himself to assume that his character has already had to unload his weapon on a perpetrator or perpetrators before he ever entered Sonny’s mob domain. “He's been on dozens of cases with Ronnie, and with the stuff that I've looked into, there's no way they'd get that deep and not have to at least shoot.” And by “shoot,” Zamprogna isn’t talking about winging the perpetrator in the left pinky toe. He’s talking about zeroing in on the kill zones—or else risk death on the job. It’s a general public misconception, himself included, Zamprogna explained, that cops avoid trying to kill the bad guys coming at them. “If you are in a situation where someone has provoked you to the point where you have to pull your gun and you are ready to fire it, the last thing you are going to do is trust that you can hit his knee, or hit his arm, or hit his shoulder. Because if you miss, then you are [in trouble]. It's not even about making them mad; it's like, you only get one shot. Your life is on the line. Do you want to live or do you want to die? Yeah, you want to be a sharpshooter, but in the moment, with adrenaline pumping and stuff going on, your hand’s shaking or not — you go for the vitals. That's just what they do.” –Soap Opera Weekly online, interview by Joe Diliberto, read last week
Chad Brannon (Zander) makes his way back to Port Charles for a day in the middle of next month. It’ll be in relation to Rebecca, of all characters.
The indie film West Of Brooklyn, featuring Ronnie Marmo (Ronnie) and Natalia Livingston (Rebecca; ex-Emily), debuts in an L.A. premiere November 19, 7:30 p.m., at Fairfax Cinemas, 7907 Beverly Blvd., L.A. Marmo also wrote the film. Several of Livingston’s and Marmo’s GH cast mates intend to be at the premiere. Tickets to attend are $10 per person.
James Franco played it earnestly in a November 9th New York Entertainment/Vulture piece that was decidedly anti-soap. Whoever did the interviewing was definitely mocking the genre while seemingly trying to get Franco to join along. But the movie star was on the level about trying soaps and how much harder it was on his first day. He marveled at the fast pace of the filming and the volume of script he had to remember for one day’s shoot (about seven episodes), which he compared to the equivalent of an entire movie. “If I needed it, they said they had a teleprompter, but the regulars didn't use it so I didn't want to use it, either. Anyway, I'm pretty good at remembering lines.” Franco didn’t seem to have a rhyme or reason to picking GH from the pack, except that he understood it covered organized crime and he was into that.
Gossip for the week of 16-Nov-2009
What happened to Valentin, the big threat to the Cassadines and the Spencers? Uh, according to head writer Bob Guza Jr. – who made no mention of Winifred, Spinelli’s geek friend, who disappeared for no reason – the Valentin thing should come back later on than expected, due to the volume of front-burner stories taking over. If Guza remembers Valentin at all, he should appear by spring at the latest. Meanwhile, enjoy MOB CENTRAL. I’m not.
Is photographer/hobo Franco the dude spiking everybody’s water bottles? First Lulu, now Maxie? He has Maxie in his sights, but does nothing sexual with her, ‘cause he might be some sicko.
General Hospital News & Gossip, Copyright © 2008 Carol Banks Weber. Published by SoapZone.com / Jeff Jungblut. 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. Opinions expressed on this page are those of the author and may not be representative of SoapZone.com or its advertisers. Don't steal scoops.
