Soap Opera Uncensored: Issue 15

by Nelson Branco

  * Previous low: 0.9/5 (January 2-6, 2012)

  SOAPILEAKS: This Week’s Hottest News, Gossip, and Reviews!

  THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, CBS/CTV — New B&B Book!

  • Exclusive: B&B is releasing a picture book to celebrate the world’s most watched daily serial’s upcoming 25th anniversary! Expect B&B’s latest official tome to be very much like DAYS’ most recent book, DAYS OF OUR LIVES 45 YEARS: A CELEBRATION IN PHOTOS. “It’s more of a backstage photo album with quotes from the actors,” says a source. “There will be approximately 250 pages with more than 300 photos!”

  David Gregg, B&B’s international publicist, will write the book. B&B’s domestic publicist, Eva Demirjian wrote B&B last anniversary book five years ago, which primarily focused on story history.

  Also, look for a special episode to mark B&B’s milestone, along with a lavish anniversary party in downtown LA! No word if President Obama will show up.

  • Could B&B make history by winning their fourth Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series this year? So far, B&B is tied with GH and SANTA BARBARA for three consecutive wins for daytime TV’s top prize. Well, it’s possible. Sources whisper to UNCENSORED that B&B will submit their special episodes surrounding Beverly’s foster-care storyline. But watch out for, ONE LIFE, Mr. Bell!

  • UNCENSORED suspected Lesley-Anne Down would be taken off contract a couple of weeks back when news surfaced her contract was set to expire. With Brandon Beemer on recurring status for a few months, it makes sense. But don’t fret: “Jowen,” as they are affectionately referred to by their vocal fan base, will continue to air. Insiders, however, are whispering to me that Down could be hightailing it out of B&B if she finds a new gig.

  In the meantime, Jowen fans will be thrilled when Owen uses the couple’s squish name in an upcoming scene!

  • Tea Party at their house: The Bells may be a Republican family, but they’re wisely throwing their support towards the Democrats this election year. According to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, soap royalty, Bradley Bell and his wife, Colleen, will be throwing a fundraising dinner for President Barack Obama in their California home. Film star Will Ferrell and his wife, Viveca Paulin, are co-sponsoring the $35,800-per-person dinner for Obama on Feb. 15. Musical acts will keep revelers entertained at night for a much more affordable price tag of $250. Let’s hope Brooke doesn’t accidentally have sex with an Obama supporter thinking it’s Ridge! Because, you know, that’d be extra!

  • Are Liam and Bill the new Stephanie and Ridge? Yep! It’s a creepy storyline, for sure, but there is something oddly fascinating, albeit disturbing, about a father obsessed with his son’s sexual life with the object of his desires. In story 411, expect an “emotional” encounter between Liam and Bill. Scott Clifton tells DIGEST these scenes contained “my favourite dialogue since being on the show.” With this incestuous, plot-driven storyline, I’ll be the judge of that, Mr. Clifton. My prediction? Knowing B&B, Steffy will further stall Hope and Liam’s reunion by announcing she’s preggers (it’ll probably be Bill’s). When the sordid truth comes out, Katie and Liam will dance the horizontal tango with their collective Emmys as weights. #BAM!

  • Watch your back, Lorraine Bracco: Yesterday, Emmy winner Hillary B. Smith taped her first scenes as Dr. Stacy Burton. “We love her,” says one co-star. “She’s a fiery, super-type-A personality. She’ll fit here very well.” UNCENSORED suggests that Brad Bell be Stacy’s first patient because, if the sexual incestuous nature of B&B is any indication, the Emmy winner needs some sexual healing, STAT! Oh, I kid. Though an insider did compare Master Bell recently to a lightweight version of one of favourite directors of all time, Pedro Almodovar. Hmmm… what do you think? Is that reaching too far, or apropos?

  FYI: Smith first airs March 8.

  • Sad news for Ashley Jones: Her FX prime-time pilot, OUTLAW COUNTRY, was not picked up. CBS really needs to expand B&B to an hour so Brad Bell can really utilize all the talent on his roster — and take a bigger bite out of THE CHEW’s ratings!

  DAYS OF OUR LIVES, NBC/GLOBAL — The Princess and the Pawn Revisited: Is Zack Hope and John’s baby?!

  • Spoiler Alert: Look for Kristian Alfonso and Drake Hogestyn to share a big upcoming storyline. Looks like Princess Gina will be returning to the show, albeit in flashbacks. And so will The Pawn. Expect Stefano to be involved in this plot revisit. And don’t be surprised if John and Hope are kidnapped! Does this mean Hope did have a baby with John in the past when they were brainwashed to think they were Princess Gina and The Pawn, respectively. Oh, who are we kidding? Two words: Zack!

  • Uh, oh: Next week, Sami walks in on Rafe kissing Carrie! Also, Nicole proves why she’s one of Salem’s smartest characters. Suspicious of EJ and Will’s unexpected and unlikely alliance, EJ finally fills Nicole in on the truth: he’s blackmailing his former stepson with the fact that Will shot him in 2007. And, he wants to tap that ass. When Will finds out EJ exposed him to Nic, he freaks out, but EJ immediately renegotiates a deal with a bent-over Will. However, Nicole is still uneasy about Will and EJ’s budding relationship. Clearly, Nicole’s sight is 20/20 because she sees exactly what we’re all seeing: sexual chemistry!

  DIRTY SOAP — How Dare They!

  • Damn you, E!; damn you! Unfortunately, E! has not renewed guilty pleasure, DIRTY SOAP, according to Jenna Gering. Mrs. Galen Gering revealed on Twitter that the cabler needed at least one million viewers to return to that timeslot, but DIRTY only averaged around 900,000 each Sunday. Regardless, I say, E! spin off Fary Bjorlin in her own series!

  GENERAL HOSPITAL, ABC/CITY — No More Franco!

  • Jason is the father of Sam’s baby! Hurray! While we still have to wait a few more weeks before Cartini’s material airs on GH (mid-to-late February can’t come soon enough), things are already looking up for the lone ABC soap without a timeslot. Steve Burton tells DIGEST he thinks Franco is dead — and that it’s more than likely Franco will not return again. Whoohoo. “Frank agrees about letting [JaSam] be happy for a freaking minute,” Burton says. Co-sign that bizness, ‘yo.

  • That sound you hear: GH fans rejoicing! So far, Cartini has let that hair model playing Cassandra go! Good riddance! One down… 10 more to go…. Also, next week, Delores is attacked when she gets too close to the truth about her sister’s murder. I have an alibi, BTW. Hopefully, whomever the killer is, he/she will finish off the whole family.

  • As UNCENSORED broke on Twitter earlier this week, sensational newcomer — and one of ONE LIFE’s best recasts ever — Van Hughes will bring Cole Lockhart to GH to help usher in Starr Manning for a couple of episodes. Hughes is currently touring with his hit Broadway musical, AMERICAN IDIOT: The Brian Frons Story. Kristen Alderson is as shocked as we are at how awesome Hughes was as Cole. “I love Brandon Buddy to death,” she told me in L.A. recently, “but Van did such a great job. I wasn’t sure how it would all work out… but everything turned out positively given the circumstances.”

  • Bradford Anderson is as concerned about GH’s future as we all are. In an interview with welovesoaps.net, Bradford says, “At the same time, a lot of us wonder if it even matters. Is it a certainty that we’re done soon? Is it even in our control to change our destiny? Some days it feels like it is, some days it feels like it isn’t. In order to go to work and feel positive you have to at least think we have the power to change things. If the numbers go up and the budget goes down then hopefully we can. But then you see that THE CHEW got better ratings than we did in January, and beat us in the 18-49 category. I don’t know the budget cost between us and them but I can guarantee you they are cheaper. If it’s 10s of millions dollars cheaper then, even if we get our numbers up, then I don’t know what they prioritize. If THE REVOLUTION comes in and does well too? Then why would they keep us? If money is the only thing that matters, then why would they keep us?”

  ONE LIFE TO LIVE, ABC — No Jolly for Jolie Fans!

  • Whether you like ‘em, or hate ‘em, one thing is certain:
Jolie has its fans. But according to a GH spokesperson, Melissa Archer will not be joining GH when Michael Easton’s John McBain moves to Port View. Which lines up with what sources have been telling us. But is that wise? In a recent DIGEST poll, the majority, 41 per cent, voted for Natalie to move to Port Chuck. Second place? Viki at 35 per cent!

  • You can’t call yourself a ONE LIFE fan if you haven’t seen this brilliant video montage of all of Llanview’s brilliant moments from 2011. The montage, which was probably created in case ONE LIFE is nominated for Best Drama Series at this year’s Daytime Emmy Awards, was produced by former Associate Director and Editor Teresa Cicala set to a rockin' dance-track rendition of “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.” Click here: https://vimeo.com/33610960

  • Yep, that was our girl, Terri Conn, pulling a Carrie Bradshaw on last night’s 30 ROCK. Definition of a Lucky Bitch: A woman who is married to Austin Peck and guest-stars opposite Tina Fey. Yes, it’s very well deserved.

  • Whoohoo: The power of UNCENSORED! Thanks to our pushing, Patrick J. Gibbons’ father has decided to submit the