November 2007 News Archive (Page 13)

The Soap Dispenser has posted guides to of all eight soap opera episodes airing Thursday, November 8. Below, find links to each of the day's soap operas:

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

Thanks for visiting The Soap Dispenser for daily soap opera spoilers, news and guides. From As the World Turns to One Life to Live, Days of Our Lives and more, thanks for making The Soap Dispenser the #1 soap opera site online.

Deidre Hall recently spoke with TV Guide about current and future Days of Our Lives story lines. Here is the interview:

TV Guide: I know you were disappointed that your longtime co-star Drake Hogestyn [John] was fired, but you must be digging the great material John’s shocking death has provided you as an actor.
Deidre Hall: I love that we got to play something with substance, and most importantly, that John’s death was given the weight and respect it deserved.

TV Guide: Can you talk about Marlena’s big upcoming storyline?
DH: I’m not terribly clear myself, but I believe I’m playing Jodie Foster, à la The Brave One: I’m out for the man who killed my man. And, of course, any kind of revenge story is great to play as an actor. Marlena’s quietly and fiercely empowered — and since she has nothing to lose, she has enormous strength.

TV Guide: Days of Our Lives feels very different these days — is it because of new co-executive producer Ed Scott’s influence?
DH: I don’t know who exactly is responsible, but my suspicion is it’s all Ed Scott, who has come in with great ideas and enormous energy. His first great idea was to change the lighting on the show. While it may seem superficial — and maybe it is — when you know you look good, you have the courage to do more and try more and [concentrate on the acting instead of hitting all these marks so you are lit properly and don’t block someone else’s lighting].

Also, when you make a change in the look of the show, it gets the audience’s attention. In regards to storyline, the audience then can focus on what’s happening instead of how bad things look, [which distracts fans, in my opinion].

TV Guide: After years of not submitting yourself for Emmy consideration, will you this year — especially now that you have the material to win? Fans and critics are dying to know.
DH: You know I haven’t for years, and it’s not that I haven’t been nominated, I’ve kept myself out of the race for years. I’m completely flattered regarding the Emmy buzz, but it’s such an energy black hole. I’m happy and peaceful knowing that Days of Our Lives is the best show on daytime, and has the most beautiful and talented people on TV.

Unfortunately, it’s always tragically overlooked on Emmy nomination day because it’s a numbers game. And I want the audience to know that we’re slighted on Emmy day because the Academy is compromised of actors on each show, and actors on each soap vote for their network — and now NBC only has one soap opera, Days of Our Lives, so we don’t have a chance.

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Soap Opera Digest went behind the scenes of Wheel of Fortune as soap opera stars from Guiding Light, All My Children, One Life to Live and Days of Our Lives partnered up with contestants, hoping to win big for their favorite charities at the game show’s annual Celebrity Week.

"I used to watch soaps before I had children and started on TV myself. They're so addictive, you have to watch them. I did for years and years and years!" Vanna White laughed.

From there, the soap stars slowly trickled in. The perfectly coiffed Jacob Young (JR, All My Children, pictured here with Robin Strasser from One Life to Live) was pumped to battle it out against other daytimers.

"I'm actually going to have my partner do all the work. I'm just here posing," he joked.

So what fellow Pine Valley denizen would he like to play in a one-on-one game show showdown? "Wow. I don’t know. That's difficult because I would beat every single one of them! I guess Aiden Turner [Aidan] because he's English," Young said.

Guiding Light'ss Gina Tognoni, representing the Hands On Network, was stunned to be playing on the game show she'd always watched with her grandmother.

"When I watched, I would check out who the celebrities were and now I'm on it! I'm thrilled!" she exlaimed.

Read the rest of the first-hand report now.

One Life to Live has confirmed that Nathaniel Marston will not be returning to the ABC soap opera. The show issued the following statement this morning:

"Nathaniel Marston has been a valuable member of the cast of One Life to Live bringing Michael McBain to life for legions of fans. He leaves the show with our sincere appreciation for his many contributions and our support as he addresses personal challenges. We wish him well."

When asked for further details - when the role will be recast, Marston's last airdate, etc. - a spokesperson for the series said this was the only comment that would be issued right now. Insiders say the role will be recast as soon as possible.

Marston has not been back to work since his October. 20 arrest.

As Cameron Mathison continues to advance on Dancing with the Stars, his All My Children castmate, Thorsten Kaye, continue to provide funny commentary.

Below, he shares a certain list with Soap Opera Digest:

Top 10 Reasons Cameron Mathison Should Win Dancing with the Stars
10. Smoothest natural chest of everyone, including the women.

9. Biggest natural chest of everyone, including the women.

8. Has never fainted.

7. Has never missed a results show due to food poisoning.

6. Most even tan.

5. Right or wrong, has never said no to an outfit picked for him.

4. Has never dressed in period costume.

3. Has never dropped his partner on her head...on camera.

2. Showed commitment to his craft — and the environment — by not using his own jet to travel cross-country every week.

1. Moved from the bottom to the top thanks to the biggest, most loyal cheering section in the competition: daytime fans.

As reported earlier, Days of Our Lives celebrates its 42nd birthday today.

Meanwhile, The Bold and the Beautiful recently shot its 5,000th episode. The cast threw itself an on-set party, highlighted by the show's original four members.

Here are Ronn Moss, Susan Flannery, Katherine Kelly Lang and John McCook at the festivities:

As As the World Turns fans are gladly aware of, Kelley Menighan Hensley is back on the series. She recently talked to CBS about the return:

CBS.com: Welcome back. How does it feel to be back on set?
Kelley Menighan Hensley: Thanks. It feels good. It took me a couple of weeks to say it feels good, but it feels good now.

CBS.com: What’s it like being a mom for the third time?
Kelley Menighan Hensley: It’s the best the third time around. [I’m] way more relaxed, way more appreciative of what I have, and just holding on to every moment.

CBS.com: What do you think is the biggest difference being a mom this time?
Kelley Menighan Hensley: All I can say is, I have so many friends trying to get pregnant, whether it’s their first child or their third child, and they cannot. I’ve had friends who have lost pregnancies. The gratefulness and the appreciation for this life that I’ve been given are unspeakable.

CBS.com: It’s not like Emily returned to town slowly. You had a major storyline when you left, and a big one upon your return.
Kelley Menighan Hensley: Yeah, but you know what? It’s actually been nice. When [the show and I] agreed on when I was coming back, I begged them to let September be easy days, [a] light schedule. I was not thrilled about coming back initially. I was not thrilled about leaving [new baby GiGi], more so than with my other two [children]. But now that I’m back, I’m in a groove.

She’s on a schedule; I’m on a schedule. Jon and I are almost always opposite work schedules. And having the same nanny that I’ve had since I was pregnant with my first – that’s nine years – makes it [so that] I don’t even think about it when I’m here.

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Coastal Dreams is a new show available only on NBC.com. The drama focuses on two young women living, working and playing in the scenic seaside town of Pacific Shores.

Love and danger unfold as their friendship is put to the ultimate test over the course of 24 interactive episodes.

Movie Web recently talked with actress Tanee McCall, who stars as Stacey, about this unique online series:

Q: Could you describe for readers the character you play on Coastal Dreams?
Tanee McCall: Stacey is actually Zoe's, played by Danica Stewart, best friend. They went to college together and she's just applied to Law School, she's about to go into Law School.

She's just smart, and sassy and fun. She's just trying to have a good time with her friend on their last summer as kids, and she's always very worried about her because she has a stalker. So she's protective as well.

Q: What attracted you to Coastal Dreams? Was it the character and all the things you thought you'd be able to do with her or the subject matter?
Tanee McCall: I honestly really just loved the idea of the new form, the internet. I just bought an iPhone yesterday and I have a computer sitting in my lap right as we speak. I pretty much, from the second I wake up to when I go to sleep, I'm on the computer for some reason.

I just thought it was a great new medium for entertainment television. As well as, I really did like the character of Stacey. Just her being so smart. I find it really hard to find good roles for African American women my age, that don't show us in a negative light.

I really liked that she was headstrong, street smart but also book smart, that was important to me. She went to SMU and I actually went to SMU, oddly enough. There's a lot of similarities other than the fact that she's a lawyer and I'm an actress.

Click here to read the full interview.

In 2006, Kristian Alfonso launched a jewelry line called Hope Faith Miracles.

Below, the Days of Our Lives star talks a bit about the endeavor:

"On the show, I've only ever worn my own jewelry and have always been asked where [fans] can get my earrings, my bracelet, my necklace, my this or that. They couldn't get it because they were my own personal pieces.

Then in 2006, I was back East at a store and a fan came up and said, 'Oh, my God! Those earrings! I love them -- you wear them on the show. And you have the fleur de lie pendant on, I love that!' After she walked away, my sister looked at me and asked, 'Are you convinced yet? Let's do a jewelry line and make it affordable for everyone.'

So we launched Hope Faith Miracles. The pieces are beautiful. I'm very proud of them and had fun designing them. Right now I'm working on some new pieces for Home Shopping Network.

You can get the pieces on HopeFaithMiracles.com or HSN.com."

Doesn't 42 years go by quickly?

As you watch today's Days of Our Lives episode, take a moment to acknowledge that the show first aired on this date in 1965. It's been quite a run.

Talk about your favorite moments over the years at our Days of Our Lives forum!