October 2007 News Archive (Page 10)

John Brotherton is relatively new to One Life to Live. He recently spoke with Soap Opera Digest about his experience working on the show so far...

Who were the first people you worked with?
Brotherton: The first day I worked was the poker game, so Forbes March was essentially the first guy that I sat down and b.s.'d with, which was great because he sort of showed me all the tricks of the trade, gave me the tour and the whole nine, so he was super cool and we hit it right off.

Then I worked with Melissa Archer, who is about the sweetest person on the planet. When you're the new kid, you don't know if you're going to run into egos, but ... none of that [here]! It was very cool. I work with some very cool people.

So how's it going, aside from everyone being so friendly?
Brotherton: It is an absolute blast. I love going to work. I feel lucky because I'm paying my bills and doing what I love to do. It doesn't get any better than that. I'm having fun.

What were you told about the character going in?
Brotherton: I'll never forget the audition because my agent told me to think Sawyer from Lost. So I had to grow my scruff out because usually I didn't have scruff, and now I have scruff 24/7. And they wanted sexy and charming, but also edgy. I was like, "Cool!" Most of the parts I go out on I'm, like, Mr. All-American. Shave me and I look like a little boy from next door.

So this was fun because there was some meat there. Having a juicy character is what we crave as actors. I'm not just playing myself.

Fans are already writing in about your chemistry with Melissa Archer. How is working with Melissa?
Brotherton: She is the best! She's talented and she cares. She cares about her work and the people she works with. She's a joy to work with. I feel lucky to be surrounded by so many good people.

To read the full article, click here.

Alexa Havings may have been replaced by Amanda Baker on All My Children, but the actress still has at least one show she's watching: Dancing with the Stars.

And one contestant she's rooting for: former co-star Cameron Mathison.

Havins spoke with Soap Opera Digest about his chances:

Soap Opera Digest: What was your reaction when you found out Cameron would be competing?
Alexa Havins: I told him, ‘I am going to be front row, screaming for you.' He'll do so well. He has the best personality, and he's hilarious. His heart alone is going to win people over. Melissa Claire Egan and I were saying that the outtakes [alone] could win this for him. He has the best one-liners.

I think the most interesting part [of the show] is the dark horse you didn't think would be a good dancer. Somebody is going to emerge, and Cameron — we might be surprised! ‘Wait a minute, Casanova, where'd you learn how to dance?'

Digest: Do you think he's got a big enough fan base to pull this off?
Havins: It's not just ABC daytime fans, it's [all] daytime fans. A Passions viewer, or a Days of Our Lives or The Bold and the Beautiful viewer is going to respect the fact that he's one of our boys, he's a daytime actor. On top of that, I don't care who it is, [if anyone] watches him for two weeks, they're going to fall in love with him.

Welcome to The Soap Dispenser. For those of you new to the site, each day at just about this time, you will find links for official episode recaps of your favorite soap operas. Here are guides to episodes airing Wednesday, October 17:

• As the World Turns
• One Life to Live
• Guiding Light
• Days of Our Lives
• General Hospital
• All My Children
• The Young and the Restless
• The Bold and the Beautiful

Thank you for visiting The Soap Dispenser for daily soap opera episode guides, news and more. From Days of Our Lives to The Bold and the Beautiful, One Life to Live and more, we're your #1 source for all things daytime TV.

CBS is readying plans to cut costs and modernize the production process of two of the longest-running shows on television, Guiding Light and As the World Turns.

The low-rated classics are on the bubble for renewal in July and CBS is taking dramatic steps to try to keep the series on the air.

Plans include ditching their traditional soap opera production sets - which use three cameras shooting simultaneously into an expansive series of three-wall sets - in favor of using smaller crews shooting with nimble digital cameras inside enclosed four-wall sets.

Guiding Light is considering using multiple crews to shoot scenes simultaneously, reducing the number of production hours. All exterior scenes will be shot on location, on permanent sets built in a small town outside New York City.

For viewers, the effect is supposed to add realism to the staging, as rooms will not lack a fourth wall and shooting can be done in a more cinematic style. The outside location shots will give the shows a more natural sense of setting.

Overall, the goal is for CBS is finda way to reduce the shows’ cost.

Daytime dramas typically run more than $1 million a week and shoot nearly year-round, compared with syndicated daytime fare such as court shows (about $10 million a year) or talk shows (about $20 million for 26 to 33 weeks a year).

CBS met with Guiding Light and As the World Turns producers two weeks ago and gave them a mandate to “evolve” their production process.

“We all agree now is the time to really challenge the form,” says Barbara Bloom, senior VP of daytime for CBS. “We know what the audience loves about this form. But are we still doing that in a way that’s relevant to our audience, in a way that’s the best business and production model?

I have partners rising to the challenge in terms of evaluating that. How can we do it different, better, faster and more impactfully.”

Saying All My Children star Alicia Minshew is beautiful isn't really news, we know.

She was voted one of the most beautiful women in daytime by Soap Opera Digest editors earlier this month, but the actress says her idea of beauty has morphed since she first started in the business.

Earlier in Minshew's career, she was all about glamor. Now, though, hunkering down at home with boyfriend Richie in her nightgown, face washed and clean, is her ultimate idea of beauty. And we couldn't agree more.

Overall, the highest compliment Minshew can hear h ow she looks a lot like Vivien Leigh’s Scarlett O’Hara from the movie Gone With The Wind.

“And right up there with that is being told I look like Susan Lucci. Hello! The woman is gorgeous. To be told I look like those two women is beyond flattering.”

Here are a few words from the portrayer of Trevor on General Hospital, Stephen Macht:

Soap Opera Digest: Trevor is such a heavy. What's your take on the character?
Stephen Macht: He's juicy [laughs]. Just juicy. He's so much more than just an attorney. He's a power manager. He doesn't take anything too seriously except power. And in his mind, he's got nothing to lose because he's got real connections all over the place, not only through the law [as an attorney], but through his clients, as well. So, he really wields tremendous influence.

Digest: How can he be so mean to Kate?
Macht: He loves this girl, he really does. He'd love to restart their love affair again, but because of her involvement with Sonny, his pride is at stake and this is a big-stakes game. Ego can be a terrible thing [laughs].

Digest: Why does Trevor hate Sonny so much?
Macht: It's all about the mother, Adela. His mother was Trevor's secretary at one time and she was the love of his life. She had this son by someone else. Ric was our love child, but she chose not to go with [Trevor]. When she passed, it destroyed Trevor's faith in love. As a result, he was not really a father to Ric.

Digest: Is it tough to be so horrible to Rick Hearst [Ric] on-screen?
Macht (laughs): It's funny because he is such a sweet, sweet man. He's a great actor to work with, as are Maurice Benard and Megan Ward. At first, I was pretty isolated by the story, but now I'm working with more people and it's really fun getting to know everybody.

Brittany Underwood is a college sophomore who manages to juggles a contract role on One Life to Live with a full course load.

As Soap Opera Digest found out during a recent feature on the actress, she lives on campus and commutes to work. She also had different dreams at one time.

"At first I wanted to be a singer like Britney Spears," Underwood said. "When I was little I did plays in the community theater. I was in Sleeping Beauty and then Snow White. I was a little woodland creature, a chipmunk, but I did the singing for Snow White. I did plays in middle school and high school."

And it's all led to this: a role on One Life to Live that's close to being in the main spotlight of the show these days.

The soap opera is by far Underwood's steadiest gig, though her resume is impressive for a young talent. Her first job was on Law & Order: SVU. She also she spent part of last summer performing in the Shakespeare in the Park production of Brecht's Mother Courage and her Children.Recently, Underwood did her share of singing on One Life to Live's "Prom Night: The Musical" storyline, which sparked some fan frenzy over Langston's love/hate relationship with Markko (Jason Tam). The characters are now a couple, but the squabbling continues.

Despite school and the show, Underwood still has time for fun. She has a steady boyfriend and enjoys a relatively normal existence.

"I love campus life," said the actress. "It's so much fun being able to go at 3 o'clock to your neighbor's room and ask for something or talk. It's a cool little community. Everyone is going through the same things; you are all the same age."

Congratulations are in order for Ashlee Holland. The young actress won the fourth edition of I Wanna Be a Soap Star.

Her tremendous reward? A 13-week gig on Days of Our Lives.

With that in mind, we figured fans might wanna learn a thing or two about the new daytime star. To wit:

Holland was born in Roanoke, VA and currently resides in Lawndale, CA. She includes pool, bowling, cooking, sewing, gardening, dancing, singing and reading among her many hobbies and interests.

Athletic genes also run in Ashlee's family, helping her master physical stunts on set. The actress' father was a pitcher for the Yankees and and Phillies.

Adrienne Frantz - Amber on The Young and the Restless - is releasing her CD on October 30. Get excited, fans!

The actress will be having a CD Release Party on October 29 at the night club Area in Los Angeles.

She'll also be appearing on the Fox Red Eye Show on Fox news at 11:00 p.m. and you can hear her on Playboy Satellite Radio at 2:00 p.m. that day.

Frantz's CD “Anomaly” will be available at various stores. You can visit Adrienne's official website or her MySpace account to listen to some songs.

As reported earlier, Susan Flannery is set to bring back the character of Stephanie on Friday's episode of The Bold and the Beautiful.

But she'll be returning to a storm within the current story lines. Guest star Betty White will reprise her role as the Douglas matriarch, as Susan deals with the fall out from her involvement in Brooke's (Katherine Kelly Lang) rape.

Her actions, as well as her rather long absence, have driven the wedge between her and Eric (John McCook) even deeper.

Tune in all of next week, fans of The Bold and the Beautiful, to see how it all plays out!