unrealistic. What I find now is that everyone hits the stage with their games faces ready to work their hardest. The cameras have their shots right away. The wardrobe is nipped and tucked. And it all happens in one take. What I love is, if something unforeseen or unplanned happens, the director changes shots and we go with it.
I may be in a minority but I think the lack of rehearsal isn’t such a bad thing in daytime. There are no rehearsals in life — and sometimes an actor’s first instinct is the right one. Acting is reacting… Of course, having said that, if a boom falls on Marlena...
Yes, I agree. For example, when I act opposite Chandler and watch him, his performance changes my performance so I think we’re all more aware of our co-stars now than we were before. My anger, amusement, confusion will bubble up naturally in moments when you don’t expect. It’s two people working without a net and we rely on each other to get through it.
I also find it ironic that the acting on all soaps has never been better. You would never know there’s actually less rehearsal time than those over-the-top 1980s soap days! Finally, don’t you think they need to bring back Eric Brady, Marlena and Roman’s transient twin?
I have no idea. I have no control over the story. I’m not sure why they haven’t brought back the character. It would, however, be great to see him again, obviously.
I wouldn’t mind knowing more about Marlena’s family, the Evans. I know Marlena has had her twin sister on the show a few times, but DAYS has never developed her side of the family, which has always been odd to me. Have you created a back-story for her?
I don’t know how much that would interest the audience. I would like to see them develop the war veteran storyline.
You and Matt were powerful. By the way: Ashford submitted scenes with you in his pre-nom Emmy reel.
Did you know one of the men in those therapy scenes was the son of my surrogate mother? Those scenes were very amazing for all of us.
Were you surprised or disappointed that you weren’t nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actress this year? I thought your reel was one of your best — and most subtle — ever. Actually, yours and Susan Lucci’s reels were really strong. Do you think your superstar status clouds voters’ judgment? I mean, it was a tough category to begin with: women were losing babies, detoxing…
For me, the Emmys have always been mysterious. I don’t understand them. I don’t know what happens. I’m just happy to see our young people celebrated. I’m just happy that the Emmys care enough to have a ceremony for daytime and honour the hard-working people in our industry.
Please submit yourself next year because you and Chandler continue to impress with your character-driven work.
You know what I want to see? I want to see Chandler walk off the Emmy stage with a trophy in his hands.
Me, too!
Follow Deidre Hall on Facebook and at @deidrehall on Twitter. To purchase her books, Deidre Hall’s HOW DOES SHE DO IT, and Deidre Hall’s KITCHEN CLOSE-UP, head over to her website, deidrehall.com or visit amazon.com/amazon.ca.
SNEAK PEEK
HEAR HER ROAR
Y&R’s Scene Stealer Stacy Haiduk Bares All!
Is it a meow or roar? Next week, future Emmy winner Stacy Haiduk and I catch up over what went wrong during her first breakout stint on Y&R and what her current status on daytime’s number-one show is today.
“I don’t know,” she sighs of her “sharp spurt” stints. “I really don’t know what happened. I don’t understand it. It’s like what we talked about the last time: you do well, the fans love you, and then, you’re let go. It was very different this time around. I wanted it to grow and go somewhere. I wanted the story to be deeper, but I get it — they have a lot of actors to write for.”
To learn more about Jack’s wedding from hell (“that was cool”); the possibility of her returning to the show since Y&R hasn’t written out Patty or Emily; why Emily is not boring; why we miss Mary Jane (Patty 1.0); if Patty can be redeemed; why Patty needs to be introduced to more men; if she’d bring her characters to B&B; and her super brief DAYS stint.
You won’t want to miss this super candid interview next week!
SOAPILEAKS:
This Week’s Hottest News, Gossip, and Reviews!
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, CBS/CSV — Wagner in AA!
• Taylor Hayes, who? Recently on Twitter, DANCING WITH THE STAR’s Jack Wagner admitted that he has been in AA: “Home from an AA mtng, I go 2 mostly men's mtngs, it's wat works best 4 me altho I do go 2 a lot of mixed mtngs also…4 teenage boys 2 feed!” Proud of you, Jack.
And after just three weeks of competition, Wagner and his pro partner, Anna Trebunskaya, were eliminated from the groovy reality series this past week.
"It was a great ride... it is what it is,” he sighed to the press afterwards. “I'm going to miss Anna and strapping it on every day. I surely would have liked to have gone on farther, but this is a competition. This is how it landed, and that's life."
As for his rumoured GH comeback, Wagner was coy, saying, "Wow, Frisco Jones. I have no idea. I'm just going to try to shed these clothes tonight and find Jack again. You just start over again tomorrow."
Look for an exclusive interview with Wagner this weekend… and next week in HELLO! CANADA. Because you know he’ll share more with me than he has been with other journalists!
• She’s here all century, folks! I had the honour and pleasure of interviewing living legend Phyllis Diller for an upcoming feature in HELLO! CANADA. I couldn’t resist bringing up her recent guest-star stint on B&B to celebrate the campy show’s 25th anniversary. “I had fun,” the 94-year-old comedian says. “I love those people. The Bells are always so nice to me. Gladys is a hoot.”
As for that eternal rumour that she is Susan Lucci’s daughter, Diller laughed, “Every time I see Susan during a show, she runs up to me and calls me, ‘Mama!’ Susan’s a beautiful, little girl!”
So where did the rumour originate? Diller answers, “That’s been around for years but it’s not true. Many years ago, some newsperson up in your section of your country simply put it in print that we were mother and daughter — and for some reason, it caught on. People wanted me to be her mother.”
Who doesn’t?
• Now that Caroline Spencer 2.0 is the centre of attention on B&B, don’t be surprised to see more of Joanna Johnson. In this week’s DIGEST, the star says she would like to come back for future shows — and expresses regret over leaving the sudser. She also adds that seeing “Caroline’s” name in scripts during her most recent visit confused her! Hey, it confuses me.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES, NBC/GLOBAL — Is Lucas a DiMera? There’s Room For Only One Marlena In Salem!
• Here we go again: Despite being DAYS’s real problem, executive producer Ken Corday has fired popular head writers Marlene McPherson and Darrel Ray Thomas Jr. They will be replaced by former DAYS showrunners Gary Tomlin and Chris Whitesell, who was most recently at Y&R. Joining them will be acclaimed Emmy-winning soap writer Lorraine Broderick. Good thing, too, because Broderick penned the revered Bianca-is-gay storyline on AMC, so Will’s coming-out tale should only get better — not worse.
Of course, the rumour mill is already swirling with whispers that another DAYS cast bloodbath will happen very soon given the show’s new direction. Considering Tomlin’s favourites included Crystal Chappell and Louise Sorel, could the two popular leading ladies be returning? Don’t count on it.
• Where in the world did Peter “Super Environmentalist” Reckell run off to? Well, it turns out his recent hiatus from the show was planned a long time ago so he could do a film in South Africa. In DIGEST, Reckell explained, “I extended my Christmas vacation a little bit [so I could do this movie abroad].” Unfortunately, the shoot was postponed, but Reckell got to spend some extra time off with his moneymaker, wife Kelly Moneymaker, while Bo languished in a coma. Good thing, too, because with John and Hope cavorting all over Europe, it would’ve looked stupid if Bo wasn’t trailing the two fre
aks!
• Here’s a hot story rumour: The latest story buzz is that Ian is Stefano’s brother and Lucas’s father! WTF? In story 411, this upcoming week Ian and Kate do the nasty, Viagra included!
GENERAL HOSPITAL, ABC/CITY — Is Lexi Sexy Enough For GH Now? Lozano Joins GH; Is St. John Next?
• This Just In: WE LOVE SOAPS is reporting that Florencia Lozano will cross over her beloved ONE LIFE character to GH. The SOAP OPERA SPIRIT winner will reportedly begin taping her scenes in L.A. this week. Is Trevor St. John right behind as Victor Lord Jr.? You betcha.
• Move over, Starr: Don’t be too surprised if Lexi Ainsworth heads her talented little butt back to Port Charles. According to SOAP OPERA DIGEST, buzz on the set is that head writer Ron Carlivati sees no reason why Lexi shouldn’t be playing the integral role of Sonny and Alexis’s daughter instead of an “older” actress. “The new regime sees an opportunity to bring her back,” whispers a mole. Well, duh.
• In a recent MSN interview, Kelly Sullivan weighed in on replacing popular Megan Ward as Kate/Connie. She said, “Recasting is never easy, for any party involved. Megan [Ward] created the role and set the bar very high. To be able to come in after that is the