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OPINION
Blogging With Mara
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Mara Levinsky (Feature Editor)
— Soap Opera Digest
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December 17, 2008
YouTube has made our lives here at the Digest a lot easier — there's no more reliable way of fact-checking than going straight to the source, and with such a wide array of vintage clips available online, we frequently luck out and find the very scene readers have a question about or that we want to describe accurately in something we're writing. I am currently researching something — I won't say what — for an upcoming article, and dived into YouTube this morning to watch relevant scenes from DAYS, GH, AW, SUNSET BEACH and PASSIONS. Well! All of a sudden several hours have gone by and somehow (don't tell my bosses!) I got off track. Did you know you can find GUIDING LIGHT dubbed in Italian? ALL MY CHILDREN bloopers? Okay, back to work now....
December 10, 2008
I had an action-and soup-packed trip to the AMC set yesterday. To explain
the latter: There is a particular tomato soup much coveted by the people of
Pine Valley, and it was available to the cast yesterday. I was in Tamara
Braun's (Reese) dressing room when Thorsten Kaye (Zach) stopped by to see if
she wanted some. She did. He left to go grab the soup and minutes later,
Eden Riegel (Bianca) materialized with a surprise for her on-screen love:
the soup! Riegel and Braun were both well into their bowls when Kaye
returned and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw that his soup kindness
had been usurped. (It worked out beautifully for me, as I got the extra
dish.) Elsewhere, I got to catch up with new dad Jacob Young (JR) and see
photos of his beautiful, adorable, precious-beyond-belief new son, Luke, and
gab with Chrishell Stause (Amanda), Daniel Kennedy (Pete) and Brianne
Moncrief (Colby). But my favorite moment was when I was chatting with
Thorsten in the hall and Cameron Mathison (Ryan) came 'round the corner. "He
can SMELL press!" Thorsten teased. "He's not even working today!" Not true,
not true ... but definitely funny.
December 3, 2008
Last week I got together for lunch with an old pal, former AMC star Jeff Branson (ex-Jonathan), who, as I'm sure you're aware, recently joined the GL ranks as Shayne, debuting December 1. The long days of taping out in New Jersey that have become his new routine thanks to his new show's unique production model are a far cry from his experience with shooting on location, AMC style. Remember the scenes where Jonathan desperately searched for Lily on the streets of New York? Well, here's what you DIDN'T see. "We were the middle of Herald Square," Jeff recalled wth a groan. "I'm going, 'Lily! Lily!' It was rush hour, lunch. It was awful. Someone saw her down the block waiting for her cue and this guy holding up a sign selling $400 suits goes, 'I found her!' This is in the middle of rolling tape. 'I found her, she's right here!' He was so pissed off when we told him what was going on because he felt duped that he demanded an apology, wanted everyone's autograph, and they had to do what it took to appease him because he wouldn't get out of the shot. It added an hour onto our tape day."
November 25, 2008
I recently got to sit down with Vincent Irizarry (David) to discuss his return to AMC over lunch at a Mexican restaurant near the studio with which I have extremely fond associations — I did one of my all-time favorite interviews there with Justin Bruening (ex-Jamie), who happened to come up as we chatted because Alexa Havins (ex-Babe), Bruening's wife and Irizarry's former on-screen daughter, had just stopped by her old AMC stomping grounds to catch up with her Pine Valley pals. I've known Vincent for what seems like forever but really dates back to about 2000, when I worked at Digest but was not yet covering AMC. One of my favorite memories of working with him is one that I frequently reminisce about with former Photo Director Jody Reines: We did a shoot with him and his then-toddler son, Elias, a few years back and watching Daddy chase Elias around the studio (and try to stop him from unplugging computers, which was then one of his favorite activities) was so cute and endearing. It was great to catch up not only with Vincent but with his kids (albeit vicariously, through Vincent's anecdotes): Aria, 11, is all about The Jonas Brothers; Elias has moved on from Thomas the Tank Engine to Star Wars, and Siena, 18, still loves the music and fashion of the '60s but has discovered a knack for the culinary arts. There are some snippets from this interview online on this site; check the magazine out in a few weeks for the rest!
November 14, 2008
In this office, we do our best to put to good use the various sundry things that get sent to us as part of fan campaigns. For example, I proudly use my "Thorsten Kaye, Our TV Boyfriend" pens all day long. And, of course, if the gift is edible, the staff valiantly consumes the candy/chocolate cake/oatmeal raisin cookies/other high-calorie treats. But recently, my editor, Stephanie Sloane, received a gigantic box of balls of different sizes from a gentleman in Texas who was advocating for the DiMera men on DAYS to get their balls back, and we were somewhat puzzled as to how to make sure they didn't go to waste. Poring over the contents, I found the teeniest, tiniest orange balls, and Steph let me bring them home to my teacup yorkie, Dewey. I can't promise that any inroads will be made in the masculinization of the Salemites, but I can provide this proof of our efforts not to be wasteful!
October 31, 2008
Next Tuesday is Election Day — perhaps you've heard? I heard a great story
the other day from Eden Riegel (Bianca). "Julie [Carruthers, executive
producer] told met that Mario Van Peebles [ex-Sam] called her the other
day," she shared. "Mario was out campaigning for Obama in a swing state,
knocking on doors, and people were going, 'Senator Woods!' So," she giggles,
"I guess that Senator Woods endorses Obama!"
Hmmm.... With Van Peebles off the show, I wonder if we'll ever find out if
Sam won the election.... Or if Dre will come back now that he's not needed
on
the campaign trail!
October 20, 2008
Last week I made a bittersweet trip to the AMC studio for the taping of the
show's 10,000th episode. That milestone was, of course, cause for
celebration — and pretty much the entire cast and crew (and the show's
creator, Agnes Nixon, who'll cameo in the ep when it airs) was on hand to
toast the special occasion (albeit with cake, not champagne). However, the
recent death of Eileen Herlie, a stalwart and beloved member of the AMC
family since she joined the show as Myrtle in 1976, was clearly weighing on
the minds of the many Pine Valley folks who loved her, both in front of and
behind the camera. Thorsten Kaye (Zach) was especially emotional about
Eileen; they shared a special bond that was obvious to anyone who saw the
magical on-screen relationship between Zach and Myrtle. Fighting back tears,
Thorsten made it clear that Eileen's presence at the studio remained. "She's
still here," he said. "She was my girlfriend. What a woman. What a life."
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Mara, I too am intrigued by Ricky Paull Goldin's appearance on AMC. I'm not familiar with his work, but have heard very good things about him and have found his interviews enjoyable. I'm curious to see what dimension he brings to the show. I think AMC has been slowly, but surely digging itself out of the hole it had thrown itself into the past few months, the Hole of Horror didn't end with Zach and Greenlee's rescue in December, and I find myself my interested in what is going on. I absolutely loved how they handled Kendall's confession to Zach. While it never should have happened, I'm glad they allowed the Slaters to deal with it on their own and in a mature, realistic way. BTW, I thoroughly enjoyed your interview with Thorsten Kaye and Cameron Mathison. As a Zendall fan, I'm still waiting for a joint interview with Mr. Kaye and Alicia Minshew!
As almost always Mara, we're on the same wavelength. I absolutely adored that little scene between Palmer and Opal. I think David Canary continues to deliver amazing performances daily. He is the only one I know of that can break your heart and infuriate you in the same scene! I loved Krystal with Julia and her heartbreaking begging of Joe to do something and Julia to fight for her life. I also agree that the heaven scenes were done to appease fans. I don't really see how showing Tad a fantasy of what their life could be like "together forever" would make Tad want to wake up. All in all though, I think AMC has been fun to watch again!
This Erica and Sam thing is making me sick and I CAN"T TAKE MUCH MORE OF THESE TWO TOGETHER. What is wrong with Frons and Carruthers? Erica has a gorgeous guy in Jack who has great chemistry with her and a history as long as anyone's, and they chuck that for this boring, inconsequential, tedious, awful Wooden ? Erica is acting like simpering fool. These two actors are trying to force something where there is nothing. WE WANT JACKSON AND ERICA!
I can't stand Erica with that Wooden Sam and the thought of Erica actually playing kissey face with a man who humiliated her, purposely, in public when having her arrested, should be lying under Erica's boot. Plus MVP has no chemistry with LaLucci and it's a bore. Put her back with her heart, Jackson, and let Carmen take a whack at Wooden
I don't mind Erika working with Sam and them becoming friends, but I see no chemistry there and do not want Erika with anyone else but Jack. I think they need to make she and Jack stable like Joe and Ruth. Erika has had enough marriages and romances, I think it's time she stopped bed hopping and become more adult and had more serious storylines.
Mara, I'm worried too about all these newbies. I'm concerned by Pratt's recent comments. His reference to Kendall as a 'spoiled rich girl' who is unable to run Fusion and her 'poor put upon staff'. Not to mention his continually lumping of Zendall in with those other unappealing characters. Instead of focusing all of his attention and time on "Taylor", he should devote more time learning about the show's history beyond the past six months. Don't simply dismiss Kendall as a character with a flip 'spoiled rich girl'. Don't think her staff is 'put upon' when I barely see them working. I'm already resenting "Taylor" since Pratt doesn't seem interested in anyone else. If I'm wrong, he needs to come out and clarify things because right now, the audience's patience with AMC is very thin and Pratt is saying nothing that is encouraging.
I'm on the fence when it comes to Mr. Pratt and his plans for AMC. It's been an incredibly long and exhausting year as an AMC and Zen fan. I want to be optimistic, but I'm not convinced that he understands the problems of the show. AMC needs balance. If we continually see the newbies and less of the veteran players, the ratings will not improve. Zach and Kendall are the cornerstone couple of this soap. It is time we see that. No more regression to play with the unmentionables - time for them to be the strong, powerful, united couple we know they are. I want romance for Zen and for Jesse and Angie. I want to see Tad spend time with Kathy - not debate with Krystal about summer camp. I want the actors to have quality stories that are character and not plot driven. The stories need to be consistent and not insulting to the viewers intelligence. These issues need to be addressed and fixed - not have newbies take away the airtime of the veteran characters of the show.
AMC needs to stop bringing on new characters that we don't know or care about , and start taking care of the people that are already here and that we love. I can't stand Sam Woods or his son. I hate this Erica thing with him and her forgetting overnight her true love Jackson. SL and MVP have NO chemistry while she and WW sizzle. It makes no sense to do this. The teens are on this show are the worst and unwatchable. I too loved the first actress who played Colby. This one brings nothing to the character and I really don't care about her at all. Our Tad needs a love interest and I would love to see he and Carmen Morales together. Think about how we would laugh all day with the two of them. I read the interview in SOD by Mr. Pratt and his last line was to tell the AMC viewers to tune in, that we wouldn't be sorry, and we'd get what we want. I can tell him already that without my Jerica and my Tad, I have no interest in doing so.
Mara, thank you for the Zen Paradise history piece in this week's issue of SOD. As a Zendall fan, I feel AMC and ABC have been ignoring this large group of viewers but was pleased to see that the mags weren't! Part of AMC's problem right now, among many, is that they're simply not writing for Zach and Kendall. They're using the individual characters to simply prop weaker ones or bad storylines. Time to give Zendall their own storyline where they're working together. I also love your latest blog entry and if it was me, Mara, I would have sneaked a peak as Mr. Kaye took off his shirt! You're a strong woman, Mara! Thanks again!
Hi Mara..what a sweet story about Lish's RW shirt to TK. Thanks for sharing. I am hopeful with Pratt coming and I am fine with new characters, but there is so much wasted talent there already. I too am nervous about his comments regarding "rich spoiled girl" Kendall. That may be part of her history, but it's not who she is. I hope he treats Kendall and Zendall with more respect than B/E did..they deserve it and I miss seeing them so much. They are the reason I stayed with AMC during this past year when nothing seemed right to me...and watching them trashed and used to prop others was at times painful to watch. AMC is still "missing something"...it's heart, it's soul..I don't know, I just feel empty wathchin the show these days watching all these characters I care little about. It's sad. I hope Pratt fixes many of the problems...it can't be worse than this past year.
Hey Mara, I loved your blog about hanging with the fabulous and talented Alicia Minshew and Thorsten Kaye (I totally would have peeked!). I also really appreciated your Zen Paradise piece. Zen has such a beautiful history and I love to see it acknowledged--I just wish it were celebrated on AMC as well as in your magazine! I hope that Pratt's arrival will bring good things for Zen, as they are the greatest strength of AMC and have suffered long enough with writers having them regress, act out of character, push ridiculous plot points, and prop worthless characters. I don't mind new characters on occasion, but I don't want them shoved down my throat either, and I would much rather see a fantastic story for the wonderful characters that I'm already invested in. Zach and Kendall (along with the rest of Team Slater--Myrtle, Erica, Josh, Spike, and Ian) are the main reason that I continue to watch AMC, and they all deserve some quality storylines after this past nightmare of a year. GO TEAM SLATER!!
Loved your interview with Susan Lucci in the new issue and I'm happy to see that she doesn't want Jack and Erica broken up any more than we fans do. I hope this quadrangle with carem and Sam, brings Jerica together and maybe Carmen with Sam or Adam.
AMC has serious work to do. REUNITE JERICA. Stop making Erica Kane act like she is 20 years old and bring them back together. Put Carmen with someone her OWN AGE and her type. She does not fit with Jack and ha and Adam are too old for her. Hook David up with KWAK and give Tad a woman that can make him happy and fun again.
I do not like this Carmen thing for many reasons. She is too young for Jack and it's like he is romancing someone Greenlee's age. YUCK He has no chemistry with her She is Erica's friend Carmen isn't the person I thought she was. She was Jerica's biggest cheerleader and she knows better than anyone what they are to one another. To find her doing this makes me hate her. She can't act either.
Carmen coming between Erica and Jack is a joke. Jack wouldn't give a woman like this two looks never mind date her. I feel insulted that these idiot writers think J/E fans would buy this garbage. I do like Taylor/Jake/Amanda but I would much prefer Greenlee with Jake and Taylor with Tad.
I'm not into the Carmen with Jack thing either and I don't like her anymore since she has been doing this. I'd rather see her hook up with Adam or Tad, or even David. Let Jerica find their own way back.
Let them switch partners. Erica and Jack belong together and I would love Adam and Carmen to marry.
I'm enjoying the Taylor/Jake/Amanda triangle too but it needs to end soon. Amanda is far too young and immature for Jake. She needs to be with someone like JR or Josh if he ever comes back. Jake and Taylor just click together. I never saw them on GL, were they this hot over there?
Last week they met for lunch with an old friend, former AMC star Jeff Branson (ex-Jonathan), which, as I am sure you are aware, recently joined the ranks as Shayne GL, debuting December 1. The long days of recording in New Jersey who have become her new routine with her new show, unique production model are far from his experience shooting on location, style AMC. plot-movie.com Remember that scene where Jonathan Lily desperately searched the streets of New York? Well, this is what we see. "We were the center of Herald Square," Jeff recalled WTH a groan. "I go," Lily! Lily! It was rush hour, lunch. It was horrible. Someone saw the block waiting for such a search and holding a poster for sale is $ 400 suits, 'I found her! "This is at the center of the treadmill." I found it right here! "I was so angry when told what was happening, because he felt cheated that demanded an apology, everybody wanted an autograph, and had to do whatever it took to appease him because he did n
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