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News for the week of 30-Apr-2007
Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) isn’t too concerned with soap typecasting. True, he never expected to turn into a daytime household name amongst the ABC Daytime sect, and he sure has heard the gripes about an annoying Spinelli early on. But now? Now, his grandmother back on the East side beams with pride, showing him off at her church, fans routinely burst into verbal applause and this theater-trained actor gets to add yet another memorable, different character success to his vast repertoire. A new character in an upcoming indie called Carts isn’t all that different from Spinelli, Anderson said. Here’s his breakdown: “Carts is based around five people who push carts in the parking lot of a Costco-type superstore. It's their purgatory for their previous life. My character's name is Ed. He used to be a CEO who ended up in purgatory because he killed his secretary. Now, he's this bipolar, comic book kind of nerd. Okay, well, I guess maybe you could kind of equate him with Spinelli [laughs]. But he's more of a nerd with an overbearing mother, and since he's bipolar, he has to take his medication because if he doesn't, craziness ensues. The film's a lot of fun.” –SoapOperaDigest.com, Features/GH/Interviews, “Five Minutes With ... Bradford Anderson (Spinelli)” by Tom Stacy
Bradford Anderson’s (Spinelli) taste in video games runs toward the popular Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07, which, I think, is the same game we play on the Nintendo wii at home. Not only is it really like golfing, with the golf calming effect, but the views are spectacular. He said so too.
When Sebastian Roche (Mr. Craig) said he was really Jerry, older brother of Jax, son of Lady Jane and the late John Jacks, GH fans the world over nearly puked into their TV dinners from shock and disbelief. While most of us are still denying what’s now playing out on-screen, some have taken well to the idea, however rewritten to fit the mold. Head rewriter Bob Guza Jr.—known for rewriting history and characterization when he’s in love with the idea of a new character—openly conceded to transforming hotel terrorist James Craig into the recast for formerly mischievous adventure-seeker Jerry out of desperation to hold on to a good, bad boy.
It was, alas, the only way he saw to keep Roche on staff as a villain he loves to use as a complex compelling villain. “I should take the blame for this, probably, but we have a long and nefarious history of playing with GH's past. We try very hard, as with Nikolas and Stefan to make it dovetail. This actually plays out and makes sense, including why Jax was gone traipsing around in Russia trying to track down his brother who's in trouble with the Russian mob.”
Claiming that executive producer Jill Farren Phelps, associate writer Elizabeth Korte, and a lot of TPTB were also on board with loving what Roche did with terrorist Craig, Guza went on to decipher and tease about the man’s future agenda. Despite fans seeing the original Jerry – portrayed by Julian Stone with less grating intensity – in the late ‘90s as gentle, respectful and charming around women and children especially, this newly renovated version—under Sebastian Roche—will reveal another layer entirely, born of some catalyst. Here’s where the revisionism after the fact comes into play. “The thing that will be explained in time is what turned Jerry Jacks,” Guza said. “You will hear why his appearance changed. We will deal with that in story and you will know why.”
We’ll also know why this Jerry will be nearly impossible to get rid of. Because what Guza wants, Guza gets. –Soap Opera Digest, May 8, 2007
Here’s another reason to hate Guza, ha ha. When asked about the vets of the ‘80s returning like they did for February Sweeps in 2006 (how great was that???), Guza changed the subject to the bit players already on the show—Epiphany, Max, Milo, Alice, Alfred. Basically, he put any vet return (i.e., Robert, Anna, Holly) on a future shelf.
A fan named Sue received more than she bargained for when 1980s GH icon Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio) attempted to explain the creative process at GH under Disney ownership. Most fans like Sue approach GH with an assumption that TPTB are TIIC, clueless about their crappy stories and crappy, overexposed characters. Rogers schooled us all about the bottom line. Back in the ‘80s when GH was actually watchable and made a niche for itself as a more adventurous soap opera, corporate ownership had nothing to do with it. Because there wasn’t a corporation dictating terms based on profitable ratings and the youth demographic, there was very little crap on-screen to gripe about, he explained. With the influx of Cap Cities, then Disney, “unbridled creativ”ity went out the window.
“With the purchase by Disney we have the corporate process or bottom line now being the bench mark for the show. In effect the creative process has to service the bottom line,” Rogers wrote in his website’s guestbook, posted on April 25. Under the umbrella of the corporate, bottom line process, the ratings goal for viewers 18-34 (the prime demo) is holding steady at a successful rate, he guessed around 2.0-2.6. Weirdly enough, if the ratings spiked to 3.1, the network would only concern itself with the youth demo numbers. They don’t seem to want any viewers past the 18-34 range; that would be considered a failure. “For serious change to come about the ratings would have to drop (I think) to around 1.5,” Rogers added. “If this happened, either some serious programming decisions would have to be made or cancellation might be an option.”
What compounds the situation is, all the griping in the world only continues to service that corporate objective, Rogers claimed.
It’s all considered interest, even if you wanna string the writers up for bringing back Jerry Jacks as a screaming Neanderthal.
Good for Tristan Rogers (Robert). (As an aside, how in the world does this busy, active man find the time to talk to fans, issue an apology to Sonny and Jason fans, do a film festival, host another film gala and participate in a charity, one among many?! He’s a god.) Rogers donated an autographed and framed poster from his short film called Opportunity Knocks, in which he plays the role of Death come knocking, for the cause of Project Cuddle. The charity rescues abandoned infants and gives them to loving, adoptive families. Jenn and Ro of Tristan-Rogers.com recapped the recent Palm Beach Film Festival where Opportunity Knocks premiered, with snappies. Stay tuned for video.
For the third time (to my recent recollection), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis) played cheerleader for Jerry and Alexis to the soap press. Grahn said the overwhelmingly positive response to such a pairing—despite his terrorist activities—overwhelmed her, considering their first meeting wasn’t overtly flirtatious. After perusing the ‘Net for feedback, Grahn marveled at their popularity with many fans. And hey, Alexis could do worse, she said jokingly, than such a suave, sophisticated babe magnet as Sebastian Roche as the recast Jerry (Mr. Craig). Once again, she downplayed his evil doing and didn’t seem to care how the writers will rationalize it away. She even sought a way to rectify the terrorist angle, in jest. “We were joking the other day that Craig was really shooting [Nikolas] up with a placebo [laughs]. Tyler [Christopher/Nikolas] said, ‘Then I’m an idiot for getting all sick and acting like I’m dying.’ I said, ‘Well, you’re just very affected by suggestion, that’s all.’” –Soap Opera Digest, May 8, 2007
The suave, sophisticated elegance of Sebastian Roche (Mr. Craig, aka Jerry Jacks II) cannot be denied, on-screen as a complex villain and off-screen as a multi-lingual man of the world. Roche’s off-screen life is almost as interesting as his on-screen, raised on a seafarer’s voyage and the theater sensibility. The August 4th, Parisian-born actor of stage and screen can converse in French, English, Spanish and Italian. And, if he had to, could survive at sea for months at a time. While most children in America stay in one place, go on scheduled playdates with neighbor kids down the block, Roche and his two brothers, together with a French dad and British mom, took to the high seas—a six-year adventure that spirited them around the world. Embarking on such an adventure was, for a then-12-year-old Roche a little intimidating. “I was terrified of the sea and I didn’t really like the first leg of the trip. We weren’t raised as sailors, but we learned along the way,” he described. “I was afraid of everything and there I was, swimming with sharks and spearfishing – fishing for my parents, basically, saying, ‘What do you want today? Barracuda, lobster?’ I’ve seen as much under water as I’ve seen above ground. It was the most extraordinary formative experience – an adventure that for me was everyday life.”
Extraordinary and formative, but not with the same influence as with his older and younger siblings who went on to a) be an architect of luxury yachts and b) captain cruise ships. No, Roche went another way, into acting and the Conservatoire Nationale Superieur d’Art Dramatique, based in Paris. It’s an impressive school of the arts, Juliette Binoche went there too. Afterwards, Roche headed to the States, started appearing in a New York play – Salome – opposite movie star Al Pacino immediately, and on and on, squeeze in some TV, movies (his next one is Beowulf with the venerable Anthony Hopkins—“It’s like 20 years of acting school just being next to him”), perfect the bad boy roles, a little Loving in 1992 (ex-Peter) and now, GH.
Tackling the role of dangerous, cocky, unpredictable bad boy Mr. Craig suited Roche just fine. The unpredictability and cockiness appealed a lot to the seasoned actor, fond of ad libbing and referencing past movies. “You have to have a certain confidence to be evil – I’m talking about the character not myself [laughs]. He’s too smart for his own good and chose to go to the dark side. … He’s still that bad guy, but Craig probably sings songs when he’s taking a shower. Evil people do have wacky traits in them, so they are human.”
None of the bad boy in Mr. Craig can be found in Roche, who described himself as a bookish nerd who is also fond of sticking his nose in the encyclopedia. What the two do share is a love of roaming and that unpredictability, which the actor redefined/reapplied to himself as “mercurial.”
Lucky for him and GH’s PTB, both parties took to the role and didn’t want to let it go. Roche got his first inkling from the approving crew, then sent a few feelers out that he’d be amenable to a longer term. And here we are. (Hey, he’s single and available, ladies.) –Soap Opera Digest, “Voyager Now” by Tom Stacy, May 8, 2007
Resurrecting Laura’s house enabled Greg Vaughan (Lucky III) to experience for the first time what it might’ve been like to be a Spencer back in the golden days of the ‘90s. Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth) had that privilege and relayed to Vaughan that ever since her first introduction back then, the house has been a favorite set.
I watched a Marlon Brando retrospective the other week and marveled at how much he resembled Tyler Christopher (Nikolas)—the younger version. It’s uncanny. The same quiet, tortured brooding, too, given off with every role. Christopher seems to understand that connection, because Brando would’ve been the only human being on this earth he’d break bread with, if given a choice. Dinners out with his favorite people at a favorite Mexican joint with a favorite Mexican adult beverage, the margarita, is another pastime, indulged in, Christopher said, way “too often.” Bust out the Trivial Pursuit game, and Christopher’s on it, hoping to score an answer to an obscure question nobody else knows…that’s half the work and appeal. On a more serious note, Christopher harkened himself back to Marlon Brando in his acting philosophy, born of hard-won experience. Acting isn’t about showboating, but about giving 1,000 percent. “If you’re not willing to sacrifice a whole hell of a lot, physically and personally, then it’s probably not for you.” –Soap Opera Digest, TAKE FIVE, May 8, 2007
All three of the musical outsiders Ted King (Lorenzo) reviewed in his weekly King’s Spin/Soap Opera Digest (May 1, 2007) require heavy listening. Tom Waits’ Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards is vintage Waits, with his trademarked “howls, screams and whispers… tales of bad behavior” and the deeply twisted understanding needed to appreciate them. Not for the faint of heart, King noted. Neil Young’s Harvest is a classic worth noting for its rich, provocative, heavy-hitting combo of musicianship and message (this is the album containing “Alabama”). “People don’t react lightly to this artistic recording,” King wrote. “They talk and talk, and then have another listen.” Check out Young’s sequel, Harvest Moon, for a “gentler” touch. Arcade Fire and its Neon Bible is a Canadian band of recent renown. They’re not quite R.E.M. meets Talking Heads, that’d be a disservice of a comparison all around, King wrote, but the thinking man’s band Arcade Fire manages to pull off gospel notes with “dark rock rhythms. It’s not a comfortable listen, but it is rewardingly compelling.”
Jason Thompson (Patrick) admires one of his acting ideals from the show, John Ingle (Edward). The young man has observed the former high school acting coach in action and always comes away from the experience humbled and moved. McKenzie Westmore (Sheridan, PSNS) kind of views Maurice Benard (Sonny) that way, as a legend who commands the screen, respect of colleagues and devotion of millions of adoring fans. Let’s not forget his devotion to helping others suffering from manic depression like him. Westmore is all about the commendation. “I’m just awestruck when I go to the Emmys and hear fans scream for him. I hope to achieve that some day.” Another PSNS actress, Eva Tamargo (Pilar), has long been a follower of Stuart Damon as Alan on GH, back when he was a lovable bastard, “the biggest bastard. I love [Alan] still, to this day.” –Soap Opera Digest, May 8, 2007
For Kelly Monaco (Sam), a good photo session is about more than good hair. It’s about self-confidence. Monaco could have bedhead, but if she feels good about herself, she said it shows in pictures. Although a sexy goddess like Monaco does experience her share of bad hair days, usually messy bun bad hair (put away that lens!). Her remedy in general is to put a hat on or hide in the swimming pool. Besides bad hair, Monaco’s let herself be a victim of fashion trends. Like, the Uggs phenomenon, ugh. “These days, Uggs are to be worn in the house only [laughs].” She joked a little about another fashion trend – the ‘80s are back! – MC Hammer pants and skinny ties. She’s all for the latter, not so much the former. She’s all for a Proactiv Solution, too, kidding around that she uses so much of the stuff so regularly, she could be a commercial spokesperson.
Ignacio Serricchio (ex-Diego), who credited GH with giving him his first TV break (for awhile before, it was strictly theater, dahling), went on the record with TVGuide.com senior editor Daniel R. Coleridge of Daniel’s Dish about his newest TV role. Starting April 27, Serricchio will guest-star as another ghost whisperer on Jennifer Love Hewitt’s hit CBS show by the same name. He’s on for three episodes ending in the season finale, playing an enigmatic and maybe malevolent force to hers. This choice job landed in his lap due to the acquaintanceship of the primetime drama’s casting director Donna Rosenstein. She knew him from another show she cast, Wildfire. While he didn’t get the first role he tried out for on Ghost Whisperer—naked, hunky ghost—Rosenstein remembered him for another one. All of this probably wouldn’t have come so easily if it weren’t for his learning curve on GH. He has nothing but praise for that soap, which many watching believe did his character wrong. In talking about the adjustment from Diego, the sexual predator, to Diego, the good guy, Serricchio admitted to the “challenge” of it. “Some things are hard to justify. But I would go back and do it all over again because of the training I got in acting for television. I had only done theater before GH. The cast is like a family there, and they made my transition to television easier.”
Gossip for the week of 30-Apr-2007
Fear not, SIPort and other Passions fans. The NBC soap may end on September 7, but thanks to DirecTV, it resurfaces anew on September 17 on Channel 101. Based on a mutually beneficial agreement between DirecTV and NBC Universal Television Studios, most of PSNS cast and crew will return to shoot for its 9th season starting in August for the airing of brand new episodes 2 p.m. weekdays (except Friday), and re-airing a marathon of the previous week’s shows on weekends. DirecTV has offered PSNS fans a great deal: free installation, upgrades on DVR or HC receivers and a portable DVD player (866-788-0003). This may bode well for other soaps on the chopping block. Going independent could very well free GH writers, for example, to go cable with the material instead of feeling constricted with the conservative, PG crowd over at ABC Daytime… Should the need ever arise.
Shaun Benson never worked out as Dr. Steven Lars, circa 2004-2005. But a new actor might fill the bill nicely, dovetailing with the premiere shoot of GH’s half-hour, nighttime spinoff on SoapNet, Night Shift.
Sounds like a Brenda recast coming. Sorry Vanessa Marcil. Advance scripts indicate Bree will intersect with Jason, and describes her as beautiful, insecure, impulsive and lonely, and the contentious current wife of the hitman.
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.
