General Hospital News & Gossip
 |
| scoops & spoilers |
| General Hospital |
| Young and the Restless |
| news & gossip |
| This week’s News & Gossip |
| News & Gossip from last week |
| ...from two weeks ago |
| ...from three weeks ago |
| ...from four weeks ago |
News for the week of 05-Jan-2015
Executive producer Frank Valentini and head writer Ron Carlivati showed the most positive, upbeat, congratulatory front in a gushing, but extensive interview with Michael Fairman December 29, 2014. They addressed every question with superlatives, as if on an endless promotional campaign. When it came to the fan- and blogger-driven criticism of too many in the cast, Cartini again put their best foot forward, applauding the talent of everyone involved, and the challenge of weaving in the best with more of the best.
For Valentini, it’s about the natural evolution of certain characters in certain storylines, and taking full advantage of that momentum. “I think that challenge goes to Ron to keep all those balls in the air, but I think people have their moments, and then they slightly reside, and then they come back to the forefront. I think that’s always good. Then there is a lot more variety on the show. I just think this show is jam-packed with good actors from top to bottom. Singling out those women who are exceptional, yes they are, but I think the entire cast is really good. When you add people to the show, you want to add really good actors if they are going to go up against the likes of: Laura Wright, Maurice Benard, and Kirsten Storms (Maxie). It’s just that … everybody is good in our cast! So, the people we bring on need to be just as good. We’ve been lucky that we have been able to add to the cast in a way that enhances not only the story, but the acting and the craft of the show.”
Carlivati credited his team for being able to find slots for such a large, talented cast. “Every time I look at the cast, I think, ‘There is nobody here that I don’t want to see!’ I have such a great team that is able to find ways to weave them all into one story together, or to find ways for each of them to have their own moments to shine. First, we had Ava (Maura West), who was a new character on the show, and then we brought on Nina (Michelle Stafford), who was another new character on to the show…”
Cartini even found ways to excuse explain gloss over the plot holes, like the return of the mask device for shock value. Carlivati acknowledged, as far back as his head-writing days at OLTL, that it can be a challenge to weigh the pros and cons of the far-fetched, but possibly innovatively, entertaining stories, with the reality of believability. But then, this is a soap opera he’s dealing with, so how far-fetched is too far-fetched? “Soap operas became known for evil twins, amnesia, and back-from-the-dead stories, and unfortunately in my mind that became a dirty word for soap. And for me growing up, that is what made soaps so much fun to watch. I feel there is a place for all of that on soaps. I felt there is a place for the well-placed amnesia story, or the well-placed evil twin story, or some larger than life moments. I love all that stuff, but I think that you have to be careful not to rely on it always. The stories have to be grounded in some sort of reality. It also helps to have great actors who can sell this stuff and type of material. That said, that is what brings a sense of fun to GH, and it’s not something we do every day. It was so successful when we did the mask with Faison. I think it was at that point I got some people from the network going, ‘A mask? Are you sure?’ (Laughs) But I will say, it didn’t hurt that Mission Impossible did a high-tech latex mask, and so it doesn’t have to be silly. So we did that, and then the one with Obrecht was going to be an homage to the Faison one, and then when I came up with this way to play up the red herring being Faison in the Fluke story, I basically promised that this would be the last one! (Laughs) That said, my other mantra is, ‘Never say, never.’”
Maurice Benard (Sonny) re-signed his GH contract. In a December 26th tweet, he made mention of the event: “It’s great to stay home for a little while longer doing what I love to do thanks for all your support couldn’t do it without you.”
The Sonny-and-Ava twist even had Maurice Benard scratching his head. It was a challenging pairing to take on, and one Benard admitted he didn’t get, at first. The actor explained: “In the beginning of working with somebody I can be a bit too intense, because to be honest with you, maybe I get a little scared, because I want it to be great, or I am concerned if this is going to work. So at the beginning of working with Maura, I don’t think I was the most pleasant to her, let’s put it that way. And that day of the ‘crypt sex’ I was way intense! Now with Maura, she is like a sister. I remember her also being very intense. It was kind of a dirty scene. I am not even talking about the sex part. I am talking that the whole show was dirty. It was dark, she was dark, I was dark, the whole set up was kind of ugly, but somehow I kind of dug it!” Even though he hadn’t planned on it, he realized the crypt scenes were possibly Emmy-worthy. He went from not intending to submit for the pre-nomination reel, to going for it. “For me, you have to understand, I have to pick something that is at least a bit different. Because with me, the people that are judging will go, ‘Oh, we’ve seen that before,’ or ‘We’ve seen him do this a thousand times … we know what he does.’ So, it either has to be deeper, or lighter, or something that I think is different … and, preferably not with a gun in it.” (Yes, folks, he’s sick to death of guns with his character.) –Michael Fairman, December 24, 2014 interview
Billy Miller (Jason; ex-Billy, Y&R) is making the role Steve Burton (Dylan, Y&R) famously left behind truly his own. It’s not Burton’s Jason at all, but a hybrid of the character as the writers and Miller envisioned. That’s on purpose, Miller explained to Alicia Rancilio with the AP (December 31, 2014). No way in hell did Miller — a multiple Emmy winner — want to follow in Burton’s footsteps in a copycat portrayal. Instead, Miller brought a little levity to the usually taciturn (Jason suffered brain damage, rendering him almost autistic) enforcer. Miller defended the choice: “It's more fun in this genre whenever you can add some lightness to it or make it funny. You don't get a lot of room for that so I usually look for it. It's a scary position for this guy who is so lost and doesn't know who he is, (so) you match that with a little bit of humor.” As much fun as the current Jake is to play, Miller is eager to jump in as Jason Morgan, as well as act opposite some other outstanding actors in the cast, especially another multiple-Emmy-winner, Tony Geary (Luke, Fluke).
Billy Miller (NuJason) stars in USA Network’s season finale of Suits, as Marcus Specter. Marcus is one of the main character’s (Gabriel Macht’s Harvey) younger brothers. Stephen Macht (ex-Trevor Lansing) also shows up for two of the last six shows, as Professor Gerard. Stephen Macht is Gabriel’s real-life dad. The renewed Suits series returns January 28 (Wednesdays, 10 p.m., ET/PT) after its midseason break.
Gossip for the week of 05-Jan-2015
Perhaps Morgan really is the father of Ava’s newborn daughter. DNA tampering?
Why in the world would Olivia screw around with Julian, knowing his sister killed Connie? Another plot point?
General Hospital News & Gossip, Copyright © 2024 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.
