One Life to Live News & Gossip
News for the week of 15-Mar-2010
Kish—Kyle and Fish, OLTL’s first gay supercouple—are officially over at OLTL. By the middle of next month, their prominent roles will end. Scott Evans (Fish), who chose to remain on recurring status, may still show up now and then in the cop role, but expect to see him go on to (hopefully) CBS for a pilot and other projects. He’s already ready to audition in L.A. Despite overwhelming popularity with the gay and open-minded communities, TV Guide columnist Michael Logan surmised that insiders saw Kish failing to win over the mainstream viewership, forcing TPTB to wield the ax. Story-wise, this means Fish will turn out to be Sierra Rose’s biological—then legal—father, take custody with boyfriend Kyle and live happily ever after, crushing Schuyler.
Before the ax came down, Brett Claywell (Kyle) and Scott Evans (Fish) spoke with Michael Fairman (for his March 11th interview) about their favorite Kish scenes and what playing the soap’s most popular duo did for them personally. Evans chose Kish’s first love-making scene as his favorite, because Claywell went outside the box (and the script) to extend himself emotionally. When Claywell as Kyle grabbed Evans’s hand and kissed it, that told Evans everything about true, organic emotional commitment to the story. Claywell agreed that the two of them are always so in the moment, but chose their first kiss as his favorite. That moment showed him that he could do more than he thought he could. “I always wanted to prove other people wrong.” The fans in NYC haven’t raised a stink or made a big fan deal of spotting their favorite soap actors in public. It’s NY, they don’t do that. But they have conveyed their pride and approval in quiet moments that have touched the actors. Claywell relayed that a woman called out to him one day, “Hey Kyle Lewis, I see you!” And Evans remembered an older gay gentleman putting his hand out, as thanks.
Perfect timing, dudes. This year’s GLAAD Media Award ceremony was on Saturday, days after the announcement of Kish’s end. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation tried to persuade ABC Daytime’s powers that be to reconsider ending Kyle and Fish’s popular, “ground-breaking” gay pairing. “While we understand that the close of storylines is a frequent occurrence on daytime dramas, cancelling this story just as it gains momentum is a step backward in ABC Daytime’s representation of the lives of gay Americans,” GLAAD president Jarret Barrios relayed via Nelson Branco of TV Guide-Canada/Soap Suds, March 12th.
Last week, Scott Clifton (Schuyler; ex-Dillon, GH) and Daytime Confidential made news over the news that Schuyler’s OLTL days are over. DC broke the news first, as a rumor, then Clifton tweeted a confirmation: “Hey guys, just want to let you know the rumors are true: I killed JFK. (Oh, wait, the OTHER rumor? Yeah that's true too. OLTL let me go.)” Clifton being Clifton, he also made light of his soon-to-be-exit: “Also, I just want to thank you guys for the overwhelming support and kindness... And offers for consolatory sexual favors.” Clifton will head back to L.A. for the audition process.
Austin Williams (Shane) saw his contract status reduced down to recurring. But he’s still on OLTL. Williams was named a nominee, along with GH’s Haley Pullos (Molly) and ATWT’s Mick Hazen (Parker), in their various age categories, for the 31st annual “Young Artist Awards.” Winners receive their honors on April 11th in a ceremony held at the Studio City, CA Beverly Garland Hotel.
Tika Sumpter (Layla), Keanu Reeves and Adrien Brody plan to race Toyotas in the April 17th Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity event.
Gossip for the week of 15-Mar-2010
The cowards at ABC Daytime dumped on OLTL’s gay couple Kish, aka Kyle and Fish, by dumping its two talented actors last week. The actors learned of their ouster after the rest of us did. How’s that for suck? The backlash from supportive fans was swift and brutal:
suzannembest: “My thoughts on what #ABCDumbasses did 2 #Kish? Mental dumbf**kery pretty much sums it up.”
crackmyribsopen: “I don’t understand how they thought a gay couple raising a daughter with no children experience couldn’t be a story.”
QueenPeng: “It will be cancelled before July of this year. I predict this, and expect full credit when this happens. Man, this stinks.”
SandyPaws: “@BrettClaywell Your extraordinary work can not be erased. It will live on. Your commitment to this story speaks volumes for you as an actor. While others at OLTL touted as great talents sometimes sleepwalk thru their scenes out of boredom you outacted every1 of them”
The chortling from the rest of strait-laced, Bible-thumping Middle America was nauseating.
With a few exceptions, Kish was my only reason to keep watching OLTL. They did more than showcase a GLAAD nomination. They showed that two gay men could outclass most of the straight soap couples across the TV dial, and did more for turning formerly homophobic minds around with their human love story. One of their love scenes is worth a thousand of Rex and Gigi, or Brody and Jessica. In fact, why are Gigi and Jessica still around when they’re completely useless? The question of the century.
Fans can try to demand their Kish back through petitioning the powers that be.
Rumor has it that ABC Daytime president Brian Frons didn’t exile Kish, OLTL’s executive producer Frank Valentini did—after much soul-searching. Nelson Branco reported in his March 12th Suds Report the following intrigue: “‘We were all shocked,’ says a cast member. ‘And so were they.’”
Executive producer Valentini didn’t write off Kish entirely. He stressed in the press that they’re recurring is all and could always pop up now and then. I won’t hold my breath. Besides, that’s not a story.
Speaking of most-hated figures in soap history… Farah Fath (Gigi) popped off at critical fans posting their hate on Television Without Pity and Soap Opera Network, through her official MySpace pageMarch 9th: “Farah Fath has her middle finger up to the posters on TWOP & SON most everyday. i give it my all in every show. please stop talking sh*t about me for one g*ddamn minute.” Like anyone cares at this point.
Scott Clifton (soon-to-be-ex-Schuyler) said he’d be amenable to returning to GH as Dillon, the soap he started out on. Once Mitch has his other son Schuyler killed off in the cross-fire, and once GH offs Spinelli in the mob cross-fire, this could very well happen.
If losing Schuyler and Kish weren’t bad enough, TIIC will get rid of the rest of the minorities in the Evans clan, except the worst-acting one playing Greg. As long as the KKK are pleased…
Tika Sumpter (Layla) allegedly asked for an out of her contract and into recurring, so she could pursue outside, mainstream projects in film and music. She was in Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming and engrossed in putting out her own CD.
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