Nelson Branco's SOAP OPERA UNCENSORED:Issue 49
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said, “When this story didn’t stick to the facts — the character’s history — fans got annoyed.”
Two weeks ago, I laughed when SOAPS IN DEPTH printed part-one of MAB’s interview/spin and in the same issue, there was a Top Ten Ways To Save Y&R noting all the problems Maria had caused! Clearly, SID agrees but they’re too scared to bring up these valued points up to a woman no longer working on the show!
• In WTF-News: John Driscoll has recently joined the military! Take care out there, buddy!
• In story 411, Phyllis and Ronan have sex — and Summer and Nick lose it. In related news, I think I have figured out why Sharon has gone all cray-cray. Ever since she coloured her hair, Sharon has been acting out of character. Are there toxins in Beauty of Nature’s hair colouring serum? That may also explain why Phyllis has lost it, too, because she’s been unhinged since colouring her hair auburn.
• The much anticipated updated Y&R credits debuted during the show’s 10 K episode celebration. What did you guys think? I’m OK with them. Love that Billy Miller and Michael Muhney are there to welcome viewers for an hour of drama in Genoa City.
• According to DIGEST, the sudser is casting Shane, a teen character who will create trouble for Fen.
• In this week’s SOAP OPERA DIGEST, Genie Francis talks candidly about being fired from Y&R due to budget cuts. It’s a relatively peaceful, mature interview in which Francis is optimistic of Y&R’s future and the new creative team. The Emmy winner confirms my reporting that Jill Farren Phelps let the soap vet go amicably —and that the firing was not personal. In the interview, Francis suggests she has the perfect storyline for Laura to return to GH. I’ll let Ron Carlivati be the judge of that, Genie! Knowing Genie, Laura will come back with a lip-biting fetish just like Gen!
• My sexy minx, Stacy Haiduk, called me up today to ask for some help: “I recently launched a movie I’m co-producing and will star in with Luke Perry on Kickstarter.com and wondered if you can get the word out. The Projects called Pater Noster. I really appreciate anything you can and will do!” Done and done.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1004446786/pater-noster?ref=live
• The truth always comes out in the sudsy wash: During an interview with TV GUIDE, Eileen Davidson confirmed my scoop earlier this summer regarding Sony’s decision to trade Davidson from Y&R to DAYS mid-contract and without the actress’s permission (though apparently, as I wrote, Sony originally wanted Davidson to pull double duty but MAB nixed it, firing Davidson in the process) — and she also gives us a hint of all that backstage infighting between Sony/CBS and the Bell Family I warned everyone about. Oh, and she basically calls Maria Arena Bell a liar!
Here are the juicy excerpts:
TV Guide Magazine: Let's clarify what went down between you and Sony and Y&R. Word on the street is that you weren't happy about the way you were treated, even though you ultimately did stay employed.
Davidson: It was a really weird time, what with Maria Bell being let go shortly after I was. I was led to believe that I was fired, though it was a bad news-good news thing — the bad news is Y&R is firing you, the good news is Days wants you. But then there was no actual confirmation that the Days thing was happening. Maria was in Europe at the time, so that made it even more confusing. But then the Days offer finally did come in, and here I am.
TV Guide Magazine: We know actors are at the mercy of networks and production companies no matter what those contracts say, but I've never heard of a case quite like this.
Davidson: What happened to me at Y&R was shocking — I've been in this business a very long time and have never seen anything like it — but it's not like I haven't been fired before. And with everything going on in daytime right now, it was not completely surprising because everybody seems to be scrambling. Apparently, there was a lot of infighting going on behind the scenes at Y&R. We obviously know that now, considering what ultimately happened to Maria. At the time it felt like I was being ripped from my mother's arms but, in the bigger picture, I'm really happy to be at Days. It was always a place of great creativity for me. I should also say that a couple of months before I was let go at Y&R, Sony, which owns both soaps, did put out feelers as to whether or not I'd be interested in doing both shows and I said yes. That, of course, didn't happen, but it wasn't like I was completely blindsided. At least they did ask how I'd feel about going back to DAYS. But it was so strange being fired twice from the same show. I was, like, "Seriously? Really, people? Again?"
TV Guide Magazine: Well, for what it's worth. I interviewed Josh Griffith a couple of weeks a go that he's back as head writer at Y&R, and he hates it that you're not on the show anymore. He wants you back. Bad! He told me he was the one who brought you from B&B back to Y&R during the writers strike.
Davidson: I talked to Peter Bergman [Jack] the other day and he told me the same thing. That's very interesting, because I'd always been led to believe it was Maria Bell who brought me back.
TV Guide Magazine: Why doesn't that surprise me?
Davidson: If Josh said it, I'm sure it's true. [Laughs] You know what? Even though I keep getting fired from that show things worked out to my advantage. The first time I wound up taking my character over to B&B where Brad Bell wrote really well for Ashley. It was a breath of fresh air. And, now, to be able to come back to Days and do Kristen 2012 is just a gift. Sometimes things happen out of your control and it ends up being for the best. I mean that in all sincerity.
That’s how Y&R fans feel these days, Eileen!
Shhh!
SOAP OPERA MYSTERY HOUR
This week’s hottest blind item!
• Which popular heroine was about to be killed off in a February Sweeps stunt had the show’s writer not been fired?
New And Improved!
SOAP PORN: Next Week's Soapgasms
Can’t watch all the soaps this week? No worries — here’s a cheat sheet!
TOPS OF THE TOP:
Top Soap: THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Top Soap Actor: Ian Buchanan, GH
Top Soap Actress: Eileen Davidson, DAYS
Top Soap Couple: Duke and Anna, GH
Top Tweeter: Eric Braeden
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
Top Actor: Sean Kanan
Top Actress: Katherine Kelly Lang
Top Storyline: Katie’s Postpartum
Worst Storyline: Rick/Caroline/Thomas
Most Annoying/Boring Character: Donna Logan
Biggest Hair Model: Texas Battle
Dream Couple: Brooke and Dr. Meade; Brooke and Bill
Best Couple: Bill and Katie
MIA Stars: Hunter Tylo, Winsor Harmon
Biggest Wastes of Talent: Crystal Chappell
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Top Actor: Peter Reckell
Top Actress: Eileen Davidson
Top Storyline: Kristen’s Return
Best B Plot: Caroline’s Health Crisis
Best Exit: Melanie Jonas
Most Boring Storyline: The Wilson Romance
Laziest Storyline: Nicole Loses Another Baby
Most Destroyed Character: Jennifer Horton
Most Improved Character: Adrienne Johnson