Port Charles News & Gossip

News for the week of 22-Sep-2003
by Carol Banks Weber

Most of the cast mused on happy, favorable, character-driven endings and credited a wonderful, strong, supportive work atmosphere before their last good-bye to a half-hour soap that’s brought them lots of creative highs and lows. Erin Hershey Presley (Alison) and Nolan North (Chris) wished for a Dallas-like finale, with their characters waking up from the nightmare of the supernatural story arcs, back before Tainted Love. Thorsten Kaye (Ian) and Jay Pickett (Frank) pictured fulfilling wrap-ups to their characters’ stories... Ian reverting to human, Lucy exchanging her slayer powers for childbirth, home and hearth in Pine Valley, Frank saving people one by one from a burning building and disappearing in the midst of his heroism. Kelly Monaco (Livvie) preferred to leave her character up in the air and in the imaginations of her fans. Kiko Ellsworth (Jamal) would’ve just ridden the Jamal and Imani journey into brand new adventures on the run. For Joy Bisco (Casey), she’ll miss her crazy wardrobe and outgoing, wild alter ego. Both Eddie Matos (Ricky) and Rebecca Staab (Elizabeth) noted, with much appreciation, the collaborative efforts between cast and TPTB. “The show encouraged and gave me the freedom to make choices about how to play the character,” Matos added. –ABC Soaps in Depth, “Wistful Thinking,” September 30, 2003

Local affiliate canceled PC before its final Oct. 3^rd airdate? Not to worry—catch every last episode left on cable network SoapNet. And, starting on Oct. 4, noon EST, catch One Last Bite, a 24-hour marathon special featuring favorite shows of several of the actors, complete with intros and anecdotes.

Some other cast members might be a tad peeved with local affiliates choosing to ax PC before the rest of the remaining episodes air through till Oct. 3, but Kelly Monaco (Livvie) isn’t one of them. Since the current story arc, “The Gift,” was filmed as a continuation into the next and doesn’t really show closure in any shape or form, the actress explained, it doesn’t really matter if the show’s pulled now or later. If by some miracle they were informed of the cancellation beforehand and “The Gift” had been the finale, then yeah, she’d have been as pissed as everybody else.

As happens now and again, actors learn from the characters they play and discover traits within themselves they’d never realized before. Michael Easton (Caleb) – who’s already moved on and over to the East Coast as OLTL’s new John McBain – really inhabited the credible confidence and charisma of his seeming polar opposite. The actor himself is quite shy, reclusive, not given to grand gestures of self-aggrandizement, so to portray a vampire who is, provided untold lessons in truly losing oneself to a role. “There was an energy to Caleb that I really enjoyed because I myself am quite quiet,” which had to be reflected in every move, word and reaction within character—quite the challenge, ever elusive. In this case, with PC’s cancellation, frustratingly so. “The strange thing about it is that I think there was a whole part to Caleb that I wasn’t aware of. And I discovered a part of myself – which sometimes happens with a character – that I didn’t know I had.” –ABC Soaps in Depth, September 30, 2003

The scene between Alison and Rafe following their thwarted December 2002 wedding is one portrayer Erin Hershey Presley came away feeling most proud of. She used empathy to understand, and then convey, the belief that Alison and Rafe could be siblings. Against a backdrop of an admittedly cliché soap plot, Hershey Presley explained, she also used the experience of watching primetime NBC drama, The West Wing, to help her avoid playing a typical damsel in distress on the 11^th hour of the most important romantic occasion of her life, and maintain a certain authenticity of genuine feeling throughout. She and her co-star, Brian Gaskill (Rafe), also avoided over-rehearsing, which lent even more authenticity and intensity to a volatile, uncomfortable situation.

No talk of mentors would be complete without Hershey Presley fawning over her former boss, executive producer Julie Hanan Carruthers. According to the young actress, Carruthers is one of the hardest working, most dedicated professionals in the business. On top of running a half-hour soap, explained Hershey Presley, she also had to do it all under a time crunch, budget constraints and creative imperative, with a smile on her face. “She was always right there if I had a question. ... She taught me a lot in terms of the show, the business, the character [of Alison] ... everything.” –Soap Opera Digest, September 23, 2003

Gone With the Wind – that Margaret Mitchell novel and film classic starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh – inspired Lynn Herring (Lucy) to drop her other career aspirations, a master’s in psychology among them, to pursue the risky field of acting. Now that PC’s been cancelled, the respite will give this multi-talented environmentalist, rancher and mother a chance to maybe revisit her former career aspirations.

Nolan North (Chris) takes his soap stardom in stride. But then, he doesn’t have to deal with the constant paparazzi hassles of a Tom Cruise or a Brad Pitt. Whenever a fan does recognize him, it’s usually more low-key, “I’m more embarrassed by it than anything. I’ll be in a sweaty T-shirt at Lowe’s, and the fan will be like, ‘Hey, I saw your show!’” –ABC Soaps in Depth, September 30, 2003

Several castmates made mention of North’s innate ability to tickle their funny bone throughout the PC years. But as George, the overly tanned, exotic designer wannabe, he’s drop-dead, pee-your-pants hilarious to Erin Hershey Presley (Alison) and Eddie Matos (Ricky), who spent most of his on-set time trying not to loose it watching the comedic master in action. And off-set: “When the camera stopped rolling, he was still George. They gave him this sunburn, where he’s basically orange, he had this fake mustache, this crazy accent and this wig ... you couldn’t keep a straight face,” Matos described. Don’t forget the fake bulge in his pants during the outrageous fashion show, added Hershey Presley. –Soap Opera Digest, September 23, 2003

Rebecca Staab’s (Elizabeth) boyfriend turned a situation of guys admiring his girl’s beauty into a promotional opportunity. They were out at dinner when a businessman informed Dereck of how beautiful Staab was, prompting Dereck to launch into Staab’s current and past resume: “Well, if you’re not doing anything tomorrow at 11:30 a.m., watch her on TV.” –ABC Soaps in Depth, September 30, 2003

It’s Real World meets Girl Band when Joy Bisco (Casey) describes her new house and her new roommates, all five of them. Friends from hometown, San Diego, they live together, eat together, learn to play pool and fix up the backyard together, jam in a garage band together, but decorate to their individual tastes. About that garage band, she’s yet to finesse a note, but she’s working on the drums and the guitar, for starters.

Everyday conditions are bad enough on the skin. But throw in a job as an actress enduring thick slabs of make-up for the weird lighting and camera angles of daytime television? Forget about it. Kent Masters-King (Imani) was born blessed with creamy, smooth, perfect skin. That is, until she entered the PC zone, which resulted in blemishes. She switched her low-maintenance skincare regimen to Cetaphil wash, Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer and Oxy 10 zit cream. And swears off make-up as much as possible when the lights and cameras are turned off, except for a bit of lip gloss and eyeliner. Erin Hershey Presley (Alison) uses Body Wise products, the same company that offers the vitamins she takes. She swears by its simple, light and fresh effects.

Hey, actors aren’t perfect. They can be just as human as their devoted fans. For Brian Presley (Jack), washing the dishes has been a minor bone of contention between him and his wife Erin (Alison), because he’s always procrastinating about sticking them in the dishwasher. He’ll rinse the dishes and such out, but then leave them all in the sink for Erin to find and lecture about. Jon Robert Lindstrom (Kevin) – rumored heavily back at work on the East Coast directing some soaps there – doesn’t exactly rush to exercise and keep fit. Ditto that from Kiko Ellsworth (Jamal) and Kassie DePaiva (Blair, OLTL). Ellsworth also admits that he should be more attentive to updating his website.

Gossip for the week of 22-Sep-2003
by Carol Banks Weber

It’s a shame some local affiliates have chosen to pull PC off its daytime roster before the final episodes are aired. It’s also a shame that fans will never see subsequent story arcs that promise to mix, match and mete out explosive mayhem. Had the current arc been allowed to play out before the network made its final decision, Michael Easton (Caleb) mused sadly, PC might’ve earned a reprieve on the rewarding cliffhanger.

CBW: N&G for PC will end after the week of October 6...

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