Port Charles News & Gossip

News for the week of 29-Sep-2003
by Carol Banks Weber

The reason viewers are sorta/kinda seeing a more character-driven story arc about relationships and less a supernatural freak show is because the feedback’s finally caught up to TPTB. Because of PC’s accelerated production schedule – which forced the cast and crew to shoot a year’s worth of shows in six months, then take six months off – such essential feedback that usually influenced stories within at least three weeks would take much, much longer, try several story arcs in between, from Desire to The Gift. “We were getting input from ‘Desire’ that the show was getting a little dark and repetitive,” explained co-head writer James Harmon Brown. “So, when we were laying out stuff [for ‘The Gift’], it was really in response to the criticism that we felt was valid from the fans, the magazines and ourselves.” –Soap Opera Digest, September 30, 2003

Call me an obsessed idiot, but I spent all night trying to figure out whether the next story arc (we’ll never see) after “The Gift” had already been filmed by last March or had merely been glanced over and studied in scripts by the actors. Judging from their commentary in anticipation of October 3^rd’s final episode (by no means finale), my guess is the latter. Erin Hershey Presley (Alison) made mention of 40 to 50 scripts, including brotherly scenes between Jack and Chris. Brian Presley (Jack) wished those scenes aired, while his wife Erin added her wish for more story to have been devoted to the underrated, superlative Nolan North (Chris), who never received his due the entire time on the show as the only original intern left. Jon Robert Lindstrom (Kevin) – who said that returning to GH for him and Lynn Herring (Lucy) would never happen and be a considerable step backward in their progress – wished Kevin and Lucy enjoyed more closure as a reunited couple, not just for him but the fans.

Check out the ABC Daytime talk show, The View, October 15 and 16, because Hershey Presley tries out for the fifth chair, as the youth demo representative. PC Fan Club members should e-mail Debby O’Connor for tickets. If Hershey Presley wins this slot, and lands a soap, she could very well become the next Kelly Ripa, as the actress previously joked was her goal.

Too bad the AMC role of Babe went to Alexa Havins and her mother Kystal is heavily rumored to go to Catherine Hickland (Lindsay, OLTL), Michael E. Knight’s (Tad, AMC) real-life wife. That was Rebecca Staab’s (Elizabeth) one good chance to reunite with co-star fave Hershey Presley in another mother/daughter duo. Their instantaneous rapport was much appreciated and, will be much missed by Staab.

Hershey Presley better land another show biz job fast. Already, she misses the hair and make-up department, whose experts would sit her down, gab about the latest dish and just transform her into a screen-worthy goddess. Such luxury! Now, she has to do it herself, which definitely isn’t her favorite activity.

Annette is really a former Miss Universe contestant, Natasha Pavlovich. She’ll figure heavily in the Caleb/Livvie/Alison/Rafe story.

Actors must deal with the bad side of fame, namely, rumor mongering. Oftentimes, they’ll hear or read something so outrageously false about themselves that they just gotta laugh or shrug it off. And, tell the readers of Soap Opera Digest [9/30], of course. Eddie Matos (Ricky) mentioned a posted insult more than a rumor about his pointy ear, something along the lines that boxer Mike Tyson bit it off. GH’s Cynthia Preston (Faith) repeated an online rumor that she’d been let go for diva-like antics on the set as quite farfetched, and worth showing she’s a good sport about (for the umpteenth time): “Well, if having fun on the set and making people laugh is bad behavior, then I guess I’m guilty [laughs]!” –Soap Opera Digest, September 30, 2003

Gossip for the week of 29-Sep-2003
by Carol Banks Weber

Is it true that the Presleys (Erin/Alison & Brian/Jack) received confirmed job offers from GH?

Good luck to Michael Dietz (ex-Joe), who recently auditioned for a part on NBC’s Passions.

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