General Hospital News & Gossip

News for the week of 07-Jun-2004
by Carol Banks Weber

Maurice Benard (Sonny) happened to be in New York City recently – Daytime Emmys, anyone? – so he booked a May 31st guest star appearance on the ABC Daytime talk show, The View, where he spoke about his family, his influences and his manic depression. It just so happened that Rosie O’Donnell, former talk show host herself and diagnosed clinically as a depressive, filled in that same day as guest star co-host to help facilitate an informative, insightful discussion about the societal stigma attached to afflictions of the mind and prescriptive treatments, along with the usually press-shy GH actor.

In a revealing admission, and for the first time in 18-20 years, Benard contemplated going off his four-times-a-day lithium, because he felt so good about himself, he was in the best shape of his life, and he started believing that taking pills wasn’t necessary or even conducive to continuing his healthy track. But then, he explained, he’d remember (with his wife Paula’s gentle reminder) the times before, when he did go off his meds on a high note, and suffered a nervous breakdown as a result—a common condition validated by O’Donnell’s own personal admission.

O’Donnell and the other co-hosts (mercifully without Barbara Walters or Star Jones) reassured Benard that sticking with his lithium was the best antidote to keep him and other manic depressives on an even keel, with which to continue accessing the incredibly deep, dark and brilliant emotions and to share those emotions that, according to O’Donnell, most people are afraid to get into. And that taking lithium should never be considered a crutch, a weakness or a cosmetic addiction, but as essential to physiological improvement as taking Pepto-Bismol for a tummy ache.

Manic depression is not a mental weakness brought on by hypochondria; it is a physiologically based and physiologically induced illness that attacks its victim in the mind. Just a few minutes with Benard – and O’Donnell, who frequently talked over the man – helped emphasize that point to many in the viewing audience ignorant of the disease.

Also discussed, in less detail, were Benard’s and wife Paula’s impending third baby—due in October—a baby the actor hoped would be a boy to break up the all-girl family, and maybe side with him when his two daughters gang up against him with his wife. He teared up a bit when broaching the good news, which touched the co-hosts’ hearts, while wife Paula added that this her third pregnancy is by far the toughest to endure, what with the morning, noon, evening nausea, raising hopes that maybe that means it really is a boy. Co-host Meredith Vieira joked that, if it’s a “pain in the ass,” it’s probably gonna be a guy.

As for his influences, Benard said that he patterned his GH mobster Sonny after Al Pacino (one of his favorite actors) in Scent of a Woman, Peter Falk in Columbo and Robert DeNiro in New York, New York.

Overheard by the soap press following the May 21^st Daytime Emmys:

“Outstanding Supporting Actor” Rick Hearst (Ric) profusely thanked Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth), mentioning their LiRic pairing as magical and damaged, but unable to provide spoilers.

“Outstanding Leading Actress” Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R) referred to her popular bad girl character viewers can’t help but root for as a “freak of nature,” and last year’s reel as substandard compared to this year’s.

“Outstanding Leading Actor” Tony Geary (Luke), about to embark on his lengthy summer vacation in Europe, reiterated his catch-phrase, Keep Luke dark, and stumped for the actor he thought should’ve taken the category, co-star Maurice Benard (Sonny). “Maurice is extraordinary, and he's carrying the show right now. I know what that is like, and it's very difficult.”

“Outstanding Younger Actor” Chad Brannon (ex-Zander) insisted that his character died and will not rise up again on GH, but never say never to daytime; for now, he completed the requisite pilot auditions and will focus on Christian Ministries education.

“Outstanding Supporting Actress” Cady McClain (Rosanne, ATWT; ex-Dixie, AMC) continued her acceptance speech where she left off onstage, and raved about her two leading men – Hunt Block (Craig) and Roger Howarth (Paul; ex-Todd, OLTL) – in her on-screen life, both irrepressibly humorous, with a promise of more Rosanne and Paul scenes to come.

Surprise and surprised “Outstanding Younger Actress” for another year, Jennifer Finnigan (ex-Bridget, B&B) found extra time to promote her primetime showings, a co-starring stint in Crossing Jordan on NBC and a soon-to-debut new sitcom Crazy For You, on the same network.

Emmy hostess Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda) received some flack from some soap columnists about introducing a co-presenter, Tyler Christopher (Nikolas), as her “ex-boyfriend,” but in truth, they were both cool about it. Marcil had actually alerted Christopher via text-messaging before the ceremony that she would pull something, he then gestured a thank-you after on the way to the podium. Christopher, a few days earlier, had text-messaged Marcil that he’d be at the ceremony, would she? Umm hmmm...

Another actor receiving flack, Trevor St. John (Todd, OLTL), explained that he tried to reach for co-star Kassie DePaiva’s (Blair, OLTL) hand while walking together toward the podium to co-present an award, but missed, and then got nervous the rest of the way. “Unfortunately, I created an awkward situation when I didn't see her reach for my hand.”

The ABC Daytime pool party – filmed on location a few weeks ago at a Hollywood Hills mansion – had the crème de la crème of youth-demo beloved actors and actresses from GH, their adoring fans and some press on hand. Much of the choice footage of the actors romping around in beachwear, kidding around with each other and mingling with guests will go toward the promos, one which aired last week Friday. While also at the pool party, Greg Vaughan (Lucky) talked Natalia Livingston (Emily) to forget about the painstaking work stylists did to her hair, make-up and outfit, and cool off by jumping along with him into the pool. At first she hesitated, felt bad about the work her stylists did on her, then jumped in anyway.

Scott Clifton (Dillon) never got to do his wacky happy dance, give a shoot from the hip acceptance speech, or prove his lucky boxers er, lucky, since former co-star Chad Brannon (ex-Zander) took this year’s “Outstanding Younger Actor” honors at the Daytime Emmys. But he did get to show off for his family and friends, introduce a family favorite—Cynthia Preston as Faith—to his parents and chat to the soap press about his laid-back, anti-fashion fashion sense, the girly-man behind the macho front.

Miss the Soap Opera Digest awards ceremony and those phallic symbol trophies in glass? If so, stay tuned to SoapNet, where the once-annual, pre-Daytime Emmys event may return. SOD’s people aren’t yet certain whether to conduct voting by fans online or in the traditional format, by filling out magazine ballots.

The latest catchphrase going around—inspired by Justin Timberlake tearing off a huge chunk of shirt, as well as bra, from Janet Jackson’s chest in a SuperBowl halftime show—is “wardrobe malfunction.” In keeping with the spirit of that gaffe, Alicia Leigh Willis (Courtney) was asked about her most notable on GH. She recalled a love scene involving Billy Warlock’s A.J., where he ended up spending too much time untying the string of her blouse, looped around everywhere, trying to get it off for simulated coital. The romantic moment wound up becoming a comedy, as the two actors couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the silliness of it all.

The annual ABC Daytime Super Soap Weekend at Disney World’s MGM Studios in Orlando, FL will be from November 13 to 14. Same type of meet-and-greet events, same type of fan-based recaps, same type of soap press afterwards, months afterwards. Same haranguing for scoops.

Maurice (Sonny) – who was honored by the city of L.A. June 4 for his ceaseless dedication and honesty in de-mystifying the stigmas attached to manic depression – and wife Paula Benard aren’t the only ones expecting a bundle of joy. Wally Kurth (Ned) and his wife Debra will welcome their firstborn together later in the year. Kurth has daughters from previous relationships, including a pre-teen from his brief marriage to Rena Sofer (ex-Lois).

Adrianne Leon (Lynn), 17, packs a one-two-three punch, in that she is a multiply gifted composer, singer and now, actress. She started doing wedding gigs at the tender age of six, practically singing from birth. Her songs – written from personal experience and perspective – have already aired as tender, haunting musical soundtracks on GH as two major couples sought and fought to earn their tragic love – Sonny and Carly, and his first-time dalliance with Sam; Zander and Emily, and what could have been. Leon has collaborated with GH composer Rick Krizman for a while, and when not doing all that, kicks out “lyrically deep,” catchy rock tunes with her band, Cut Crimson, “but nothing [that makes] you want to go into a depression after you listen to it [laughs].” –TV Guide Online, Soaps, News, June 4, 2004

The new, recast Lois may miss her former Brooklyn digs over at East Coast-based ATWT, a CBS soap, as the long-running bad girl Molly, but Lesli Kay also looked forward to her first day on the job in another role for another network, airing on June 10. Finessing the all-important New York accent is the least of Kay’s worries. In fact, no worries at all, as the actress, with her family, last hailed from Brooklyn, her son visiting Coney Island almost all the time. She hopes to keep Lois with the same attitude from before, but with additional Lesli Kay touches. And if for some reason, the recast role doesn’t work out, Kay said she could always return to ATWT, where she happily discovered TPTB there plan to keep Molly around (Christina Chambers/ex-Maria, Sunset Beach has temporarily taken over).

Teen summer kicks off with a flourish, with some new kids in town: Trent Cameron (Trent), June 29, and Ryan Carnes (Lucas recast), July 8. Trent – rumored to be the offspring of Faith and Justus – will interact with the gang over at L&B Records. Lucas will catch Maxie’s eye.

Gerald Anthony (ex-Marco Dane, OLTL – 1977-’86, 1989-’90, GH – 1992-‘93; ex-Dr. Mario Corelli – 1978; Rick Madison, AW – 1991-‘92) died on May 28 at age 52. The actor won an Emmy for his supporting role on GH, playing a comedic foil for Luke and Sonny, and was a fan favorite for the years he played Marco Dane on-screen.

Gossip for the week of 07-Jun-2004
by Carol Banks Weber

The fate of Calamity Sam’s unborn baby has gone back and forth amongst the prognosticators since she first peed on the stick. She’ll miscarry in Texas. Oh, wait, she’ll only pretend to miscarry. But then pretending makes it so. Actually this Nico bad guy (not the glorified mob bad guys), Sam’s ex- will physically beat her silly and nearly cause a miscarriage. And now, the latest from SID’s spring previews, Sam and the baby will live through November Sweeps and beyond.

The back-and-forth reporting of news and gossip, rumors and speculation might have an answer in the co-head writers’ aversion to being out-scooped by the online amateur scoopsters frequently beating them to the punch, way before cliffhangers air. According to Eye on Soaps’ gossip columnist Sage, the ever-changing Sam storyline came about as a result of such aversion: “It was actually WRITTEN INTO SCRIPT, not just talked about, that Sam was going to miscarry, but when the writers learned that the info was out there on the Internet, they pulled a 180.” As of last week, the written script will play out Sam’s giving birth to a premature little baby girl. Sage doesn’t think the baby will live much longer.

Sonny’s worst nightmare – other than Carly falling in love with Lorenzo and taking their boys away, or Carly finding out he lied to her about Sam not incubating his baby – might come true, if Jason and Sam fall slowly but surely for each other, creating an uncomfortable triangle... a triangle originally meant for Sonny, Brenda and Jason, back over a year to when Vanessa Marcil was coaxed to do a reprisal (but quickly nixed as a bad idea).

A strange rumor, coinciding with a stranger hint from a co-head writer about summer previews, indicates that an unusual stand-out of a story is in store for Dillon...perhaps about impotency.

Nu Lois will be tested with a variety of men, from Ned and Jax, to ... Lorenzo.

Same with Carly, Lorenzo might have to fight Nikolas for her attention.

Sound like a chemistry test? It is. Except for Jax and Courtney’s Casper.

Tyler Christopher’s (Nikolas) January 20, 2002 wedding elopement to Eva Longoria (ex-faux-Brenda; ex-Isabella, Y&R) didn’t last long. Christopher confirmed to the press that indeed, they are splitting up, explaining that Longoria never quite took to the marriage thing. They never even had a honeymoon. Strange to me, the timing of this, with Vanessa Marcil’s (ex-Brenda) and Christopher’s text-messaging each other before the Emmys. In any event, everybody involved remain friends. Hey, at least he can dust off the fan and run it at night to keep cool now.

The staff of Robyn Richards’ (Maxie) website posted to fans last week on SoapZone’s GH board about the actress wanting to try out for the role of Belle on DOOL (recently vacated by Kristen Storms) but being torn, because she’s been so long on GH and wants equally to enjoy more of a story there. Richards already held talks with executives at DOOL about the possibility of doing the recast – Erin Torpey (ex-Jessica, OLTL) is also up for it. – much as it pains her somewhat to do so. “Robyn doesn't want to leave GH, but they are leaving her with not much of a choice, she doesn't have any current stories planned,” the post included.

The staff’s post continued by urging interested fans to do whatever they can to keep Maxie on GH if that’s what they want, campaign, send postcards (a series from the site is in the making), write posts on every soap-related board and site they can find, gather signatures, anything.

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