Soap Opera Uncensored — Issue19

by Nelson Branco

while. I actually like it, too. I don’t want to piss off any Shick fans, so let me say I don’t like Phick anymore than Shick or any other pairing. I still feel the characters have some issues to resolve and places to grow to, you know? I do like the characters together a lot because viewers never saw the characters in the beginning. Phick was a weird pairing. It’s not a cuddly relationship… there’s a lot of pain and damage that came from their affair. Phick got together during really painful circumstances. They kind of don’t belong together, which is why I like them. They’re fun, they like each other, but they have some serious flaws when it comes to building a real, steady relationship. It’s fun to play. I like that they are always trying to make it something that it probably isn’t. And that, to me, is interesting.

  The Nick and Sharon relationship is completely different because it’s based on this idea of having one true love, this kismet … and this idea that two people truly belong together. That’s why I think fans get all riled up.

  That being said, I really like Adam and Sharon together because it also doesn’t make sense. Why would this woman keep going back to this pathological, homicidal weird guy?

  Well, love is not logical.

  But man, when you see them together it does makes sense and it works for me as a co-worker. Plus, I think it humanizes the Adam character a little bit more. It’s nice that Adam has that to always fall back on, that he really loves Sharon. I’m conflicted because you can’t make everyone happy —especially since the fan bases are split in every direction 50/50. Everyone loves Nick and Sharon and everyone loves Nick and Phyllis, so we’re going to piss someone off.

  Well, that’s a good thing. The best triangles are always polarizing. The last one Y&R had of this magnitude was Nikki/Victor/Ashley.

  Yes. Listen, who wants everyone completely happy with white-picket fences and puppy dogs? And that’s what makes our show tick: seeing relationships go through trials and tribulations, extreme high notes, and they’re also hot and sexy. That’s what we do. It’s kind of our calling card. Right now, Nick and Phyllis still have places to go… they have children together and they’ve got a lot of issues. In our current landscape, I think Phick make the most sense. I’m not saying I don’t believe in Nick and Sharon, and there isn’t a future there, because clearly they belong together, but there is a lot of stuff going on preventing that from happening.

  Nick’s been quite a dog… screwing Avery and Diane. So I’m happy he’s back with Phyllis. Y&R has such a strong quad in Adam/Sharon/Nick/Phyllis, and I would capitalize on that for all its worth. You guys are adult and sexy and talented. Run with it, Y&R. There are years of story there. Sharon’s never been lucky post-Morrow with her other love interests. I never thought Sharon and Peter Bergman had chemistry, for instance, but now that she has Michael Muhney, you guys are all on equal footing. I think you guys are the future of the show because you all individually share unique chemistry and relationships with each other…

  I do think this grouping is great… but I don’t want to say this group is the future of the show because that sounds so arrogant. However, yes, this show is clearly investing in us… and I can see why because these three actors I work with are so talented and bring so much to the table. I’m very lucky to be working with them.

  And vice versa. But sorry, Michael Muhney’s the future of the show. I should have clarified that.

  [Joking] Michael Muhney is clearly the future of the show in his eyes… I don’t need to tell anyone that because Michael Muhney will tell them that! [Laughs] Man, he’s so driven… and he has the eye on the prize… It’s too easy to make fun of him, that’s what I love about him. He’s a very confident and he is an ambitious dude… and there’s nothing wrong with that.

  You must enjoy having someone like Muhney to play with on and off screen. I mean, all four of you get a long pretty well, right?

  Oh, yeah.

  I’ve been dying to ask you this because I have no idea: Does Nick love Adam at all? Recently, Nick showed some compassion over Adam’s blindness…. That was progress!

  Until the writers tell me differently, every scene I’m in… I play that Nick cannot stand Adam. The scene you referenced… well, here is someone who has lost his sight, is lost in his life… and has lost everything. I mean, who wouldn’t have sympathy for someone like that? Until the writers write it differently, whenever Adam walks in a room where Nick is, I’m like this coiled snake. Nick has a very long memory and hasn’t forgotten what Adam has done to everyone in town. Adam’s done horrible things to Ashley, and stole Nick’s daughter. Also, it hurt Nick’s ego when Adam stole Sharon from him in New Orleans. Say what you want about Nick, but he’s a nice guy and has his family’s best interest at heart, however, he does have a fair amount of pride, too. There are a lot of things that makes Nick hate Adam.

  Muhney always talks about the two coming together, but I don’t know about that because I find them far more interesting as Cane and Able. I like that dynamic. Selfishly, I like having Adam in Nick’s life as a rival. Adam shares Nick’s blood yet Nick hates him. That’s great to play as an actor. Yes, that can’t go on forever, but, for right now, it makes a lot of sense – and it’s a lot of fun. I love that Nick as a foil.

  Adam loves Nick, I think.

  Adam definitely wants to be Nick. And Michael Muhney definitely wants to be me. I think Muhney has a shrine to me in his closet…

  With 3Deep posters…

  Yes, pictures of me smiling, laughing. Pictures of my feet and toes… I’d bet a lot of money on that. [Laughs]

  We need to create a squish name for you guys: Adamick, Nickam, Moshua, MicJosh…. I dunno… I suck at squish names.

  I see you guys as the new Victor and Jack. In my eyes, you guys are a money couple just like Sharon and Phyllis are. Well, more like a monkey couple! Seriously, there are a lot of equations to exploit within the quad. I’d prefer more two-person scenes between Adam and Nick instead of Nick fuming in the background and Adam pretending to ignore his brother.

  Yeah. Muhney and I like to add a lot of flair to our scenes. If I see in the breakdown Adam and Nick have scenes… I’m happy, because I like working with the tool! He’s a good actor. Michael gives me a lot to play with. He’s a hell of an addition to our show. Of course, I would never say that to his face! [Laughs] If you want to put [the aforementioned sentence] in italics or something, please do, because I may have had a momentary lapse of sanity!

  [Laughs] It must piss off Nick that Adam is with Sharon. Do you think that Sharon is a little pleased she’s bedding Nick’s sworn enemy – like just a little – because Nick cheated on her with Phyllis?

  Maybe… maybe. Um, I’m not sure. Nick sees the situation as Sharon not thinking clearly and putting their daughter in harm’s way. It’s a very poor decision on her part. She seems to be ignoring all the horrible things Adam has done in this town. It’s beyond Nick’s comprehension how anyone can have a civil conversation with Adam because he’s the Antichrist. That’s more of an acting choice that I play because it’s more fun.

  Victor has committed worst acts than Adam and Nick always forgives his father. Is Nick jealous because Nick is more like his namesake, Nikki, minus the booze problem; and Adam is more like Victor?

  Nick has so much more heart than Victor and Adam, for sure. His dad is a different situation because Victor is still his dad; whereas Adam is just jacking Nick’s life and screwing everyone Nick loves.

  Literally.

  Whereas Nick doesn’t feel like he needs to protect anyone from his dad. Victor just acts like an asshole sometimes.

  Nick can be a dick sometimes, too...

  Do you really think Nick’s a dick?

  Yes, sometimes. Well, he certainly is blessed in the dick department. That’s the only explanation…

  He’s just really active in the community! [Laughs]

  How about an Adam-and-Phyllis hookup? I hope they don’t go there and keep the tension alive because Muhney and Staffy do have
chemistry.

  It will happen, at some point. Of course, it will. That’s what we do. But who knows? At this point, I don’t know anything but Adam and Phyllis would just be another reason for Nick to hate Adam, who seems obsessed with Nick’s chicks. It would be an interesting pairing. Michelle’s the red-haired tornado and Michael’s the ambitious tool! Can you imagine? The two of them would always be fighting for the sword.

  There wouldn’t be any scenery left to chew with those two in a scene together.

  Are you kidding me? [Laughs]

  “We’re going to win that Emmy, damn it!”

  [Laughs] Exactly. Pools of acting left on the floor! [Laughs]

  That’s funny. You had the best haircut last year. I have to say you’ve really blossomed into a very handsome man. You were kind of goofy hot in your 20s. Thoughts?

  Well, Nelson, I actually sit around and think about how better looking I’ve gotten over the years!

  [Laughs]

  It’s something I think about daily! [Laughs hysterically] Seriously, I do appreciate that. And I agree: I’m almost 40 and I do feel like a man now. Thank you very much. My wife agrees with you. She also thinks I’m better looking with age. But just know that I don’t spend one