Port Charles News & Gossip

News for the week of 16-Jun-2003
by Carol Banks Weber

The juiciest anecdote from ABC Daytime’s Super Soap Weekend at Disney’s California Adventure Theme Park, June 7-8, came from Lynn Herring (Lucy) about a love scene gaffe. Herring and Thorsten Kaye (Ian) were on the couch, under covers, simulating sex and the afterglow. She kept pressing and touching a certain part of the blanket, unaware that she’d actually been pressing and touching her co-star’s juicy fruits [lucky hand]. He told her after the scene wrapped. The most disappointing probably had to do with the reaction of executive producer Julie Hanan Carruthers, to a fan yelling, “No more vampires!” at her. Carruthers kept on walking but did manage to reply, “Oh, yes,” and again, to the fan’s repeat. Brian Gaskill (Rafe) showed up for the first day’s events, but couldn’t make the second, so Eddie Matos (Ricky) filled in.

The Presleys work hard but play harder. Brian (Jack) throws poker parties for his co-stars. Usually, he’ll have Thorsten Kaye (Ian), Eddie Matos (Ricky) and Gary Anthony Sturgis (Caz) come over, and they’ll bring their significant others, who hang out with Erin (Alison). The girls sit out on the deck eating nachos, drinking beer and talking story, or maybe catch a movie.

Erin Hershey Presley (Alison) provided secrets on how the hair department keeps her locks shiny, silky, smooth and straight. She showers, drives to work with wet hair in a bandanna, and lets the show’s experts blow-dry sections pulled out taut with a round brush, flattening further with a ceramic-plated flat iron (healthier to use). Any kinks are resolved with a hairspray and blow dry on wet strands. Throw in some Biosilk, and her hair looks almost naturally straight.

When it comes to skincare, Erin Hershey Presley (Alison) also knows her stuff, which co-star and friend Kelly Monaco (Livvie) discovered recently. Hershey Presley kept recommending Body Wise Tanning Cream as a healthy alternative to other self-tanners, plus it somehow clears up her pimples overnight. Until, finally, Monaco tried it and couldn’t believe how dark she got.

It’s not tough for Ian Buchanan (Joshua) – relaxing with family in Scotland after wrapping on a London-based movie project called Red Light Runners – to leave his evil alter ego at the dressing room door when he hops on his bike and pedals miles and miles back home, contemplating life and leaving other worries behind. After all, his character suffers from grand stupidity, often commits bone-headed moves out of arrogance and envy, and comes across as a buffoon, to his portrayer at least: “It always makes me laugh when he does such stupid things.” This approach shows such villainy in such a stumbling, fumbling light, as to hardly take it seriously, beyond exhausting, great fun. Besides, the actor – who also moonlights as a cartoon villain, Ultra-Humanoid, on Warner Brothers’ Justice League series – left his gothic darkness behind him IRL, and is more Mary Poppins now. “I’m naturally very positive about most things.” Although one of these days pretty soon, he worries that his character will receive as outlandish a comeuppance as he’s doled out, even joking to Caleb’s Michael Easton about it after the prison scenes. “I kept dreading something horrendous like being hung upside down by the ankles in water!” –ABC Soaps in Depth, June 24, 2003

Brian (Jack) and Erin (Alison) Presley bring new meaning to audience participation while watching – avidly – the hit sensation, American Idol, from the comfort of their living rooms, no less. During commercials, they’ll break out and pretend they’re contestants, even Brian, who can actually sing, affects a dorky Carl accent to her Carol Channing. When the reality-TV series first premiered last year, the novelty became a teasing vehicle for those in the cast and crew caught watching and those who hid their addiction. And then, admitted Erin with a grin, there was Brian, who mocked and avoided the show, until this recent second year when he used the excuse of her interest to cover for his own. She knew for sure, because the second she’d change the channel to something else, he’d be on her to change it right back.

As a newcomer, almost every part of a soap job intimidates. For Eddie Matos (Ricky), being in the midst of veteran actress Lynn Herring (Lucy) greatness and facing the guys proved a little daunting at first. He wanted to make a good impression, do a great job and fit in with the close-knit team. Especially around guys, ‘cause they “can tend to be stand-offish, so it was a little nerve-wracking.” –Soap Opera Digest, June 17, 2003

If they’re real actors, they’re nothing like their characters. But some of ‘em are so different. Take Mariam Parris (Reese). According to co-star Eddie Matos (Ricky), she’s so good, it’s often hard to believe the natural hippie chick is the same punk glam rocker with the heavy eye shadow and funky hair and accessories. Her personality, too, nothing at all like the high-maintenance firebrand, but more down-to-earth and laid-back.

On such an intimate set as half-hour PC, newcomers are bound to have it a little easier on their first days, with the entire gang waiting to welcome them with open arms. Reserved and shy, Kelly Monaco (Livvie) proved quite the challenge for polar opposite, Miss Sunshine, Erin Hershey Presley (Alison). Eager to make another friend, it did take some time to earn the title. “...but Erin was dying, banging on my walls going, ‘Let me in, let me in!’” Kimberlin Brown (ex-Rachel), who played her mother back then, didn’t have the same problem. A natural maternal vibe emanated, and “I just took to Kimberlin.” Kiko Ellsworth (Jamal) gave props to David Gail (ex-Joe II) for showing him the ins and outs.

Gossip for the week of 16-Jun-2003
by Carol Banks Weber

Ian Buchanan (Joshua) has no idea, but most likely, given executive producer Julie Hanan Carruthers’ interest, his dastardly character will continue when the next batch of story arcs resume filming in August.

Overheard at a post-Emmy public appearance by Brian Gaskill (Rafe) and Michael Easton (Caleb)—and reported in the June 17^th issue of Soap Opera Digest—is their plea for fans to write-in encouraging TPTB to keep PC on its daytime roster, with the admission that, to the best of their knowledge, the show hadn’t yet been renewed.

To prepare for the fall season of brand new story arcs, TPTB plan to hire themselves a brand new batch of supporting players.

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