Exactly, nothing. In the ‘80s, GH shot up the ratings after knocking on cancellation’s door because it took a chance on the controversial Luke and Laura love story. It’s sickening that this industry finds it OK to rape and kill but to tell a love story most fans are demanding is still taboo.
If any storyline or coupling is capable of saving DAYS it will be because of James Scott and Chandler Massey. Mark my words.
• Overlooked Starlet: One actress I was certain would be nominated for a 2012 Daytime Emmy Award as Best Younger Actress was Kate Mansi. In fact, I thought Mansi was Christel Khalil’s biggest competition.
Was the newcomer a soap fan before joining DAYS? “I wasn’t a fan before but I completely became one once I started watching,” she responds. “I auditioned for Melanie three years prior, so since then, I have kept up.”
Was she disappointed her on-screen father Matthew Ashford was fired. “Yes, I was. He was great. I’m so excited he was finally nominated for an Emmy.”
With Molly Burnett leaving the show, Mansi expects to inherit the younger leading actress role on NBC’s lone sudser. “Hopefully,” she says. “I don’t know… those are big shoes to fill. But I’m excited about the opportunity.”
Because I don’t see an ounce of chemistry between Yancy Schulyer and Mansi, I would love to see a Daniel and Kate coupling, which would bring in Jennifer into the mix. Hello: that was the older man Abby should’ve been involved with, not Austin. Thoughts, Kate?
Mansi laughs at my comment, before saying, “What? Shawn Christian? Wow. That’s so funny because everyone in the cast jokes about that. Yes, he plays my mother’s boyfriend so we both feel protective of each other and he’s like a father figure, so that would be hard. But who knows….”
As for the “new” show-runners, Mansi says, “So far, it’s been great. The show’s very good. I feel very close to Gary Tomlin but I think it is going to take a bit of time to turn around the show… because we tape so far in advance and he’s tying up a lot of stories so I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
• Is Rafe Safe? Running into Galen Gering is always a hoot. Especially this year since he’s a part of an Emmy-nominated series! Hello: we’re not in Harmony, anymore.
Does he miss PASSIONS? “Parts of it, yes,” he says. “I will say there were parts of PASSIONS that were really relevant, as there were parts of it that were really absurd. I think that’s why I love PASSIONS so much. It was hard for me to be on PASSIONS because I played such a straight character on a show that was so broad… had I played one of the larger-than-life characters, it would have been easier, I think.”
Gering says fans still recognize him as Luis despite his multiple-year run on DAYS as Rafe. “To a certain degree,” he notes. “Some PASSIONS fans don’t watch DAYS, but yeah, I think Rafe has eclipsed Luis. Why not?”
Considering incoming co-head writer Gary Tomlin single-handedly brought Gering to DAYS — and worked on PASSIONS — are Galen’s days safer as Rafe?
“I am so happy,” enthuses Gering about his old boss returning to Salem. “He brought me here but, more than anything, Gary wrote a real character-oriented part for me in the beginning. There used to be this guy named Rafe who had a life on the show and a family… and I get that back now.”
When I mention I have been a little worried about Gering’s future on DAYS, he nods. “It’s wacky. Yes, I’ve been in limbo,” he acknowledges. “When I went to the writers to check in, they said, ‘You’re fine,’ but I still feel like a boat without a rudder. I feel like it was a missed opportunity to have Rafe walk away from Sami, who is supposed to be the love of his life. Why didn’t Rafe experience the turmoil of that loss? What the fuck? Why is Rafe doing what he is doing? Those things drove me crazy. But having said that, Gary’s back and he knows I’m an actor and what I’m capable of — and he’s proving that so far in the scripts so I’m very happy.”
With Peter Reckell out as Bo, Rafe could easily replace Bo Brady as the dark hero on the show.
In fact, I would pair Rafe and Hope together.
“She’s lovely,” he answers.
This fall, Gering is eager and psyched to be filming season four of Crystal Chappell’s Emmy-winning web soap, VENICE. The hunky actor tells me he doubts the DAYS brass has seen his character-driven work as Owen, and I suggest they should because perhaps that will translate into better story for Gering.
But whatever happens on DAYS, Gering insists he’s a lifer on VENICE. “The courage and tenacity and wherewithal Crystal has shown — and in the climate she did it in, by the way — is remarkable,” he praises. “When she introduced that show three years ago there was no money to be made in web soaps. She’s a trouper, a fighter. I want to be on her team, you know?”
The interview ends when I suggest Gering thank Jeff Branson for being too busy to take on the VENICE role. “I didn’t know that,” he smiles. “I guess I do owe him some thanks.”
Another happy accident in the world of soaps.
• Next week, look out for my no-holds-barred interview with Matthew Ashford!
GENERAL HOSPITAL, ABC/CITY — St. John Hospital? Nope!
• Where in the World is Victor Lord Jr,, damn it? Kristen Alderson, who looked beautiful and more adult than ever on the Emmy red carpet this past year, and I immediately shared our mutual love for Trevor St. John. When I mentioned I recently interviewed St. John while he was in Berlin shooting a new animated version of TARZAN where he said he had no plans on joining GH as Victor, she sighed, “Yeah, he’s closing the door on that chapter of his life. He’s doing so well right now career-wise and I think he’s just enjoying being a dad and adjusting to life on the west coast.”
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS — Guzzle Down Some Porte, Peter Porte!
• Sunset Gloria: My fave old-school diva, La Judith Chapman, was looking marvelous in an all-black vintage dress when we reunited on the Emmy red carpet. Very apropos considering many guests felt they were going to a funeral. “I decided to dip into Gloria’s closet this time instead of wearing my vintage kimonos,” Chapman told me. “It’s a David Meister piece but, of course, I had to put my own vintage twist on it in honour of Norma Desmond and Vivien Leigh.”
Chapman is thrilled with her latest leading man: Mr. Michael Muhney. Yep, you read that correctly. For years, I’ve been dying to see what kind of acting magic these two fearless thespians would generate together because I know Chapman responds to strong leading men. “Bring it on,” squeals Judith. “Michael’s fun. From day one, one of the producers said, ‘you guys work well together after we shared scenes a few years ago.’ I love actors who keep me on my toes, and Michael does that.”
Chapman is one of the few joys when I force myself to watch this mess called, Y&R, so why hasn’t she thrown her name into the Emmy race since Christian LeBlanc was in acting preschool?
After all, she is the quintessential supporting actress.
“Last year I was so busy doing my Vivien Leigh play… and I didn’t think I had any worthy Y&R material to submit,” she reminds me. “But a lot of things are happening this year. And Ted Shackelford’s back so I may feel competitive next year.”
As for our mutual husband, The Shackinator, does Chapman think the KNOTS LANDING hunk is one of her top three leading men of all time? This would be high praise considering Chapman has worked with the best during her storied career.
“Absolutely,” she answers. “I’d put him right up there with Michael Landon and Orson Welles.”
Chapman confirms Shackelford declined to reprise his iconic role as Gary Ewing on the DALLAS reboot! “For no personal reasons or anything,” she clarifies. “But he politely declined because he’s happy on Y&R. We have so much fun. We have nothing to lose in our careers at this point, so we just go for it. I haven’t shed a tear as Gloria in years and, who knows if I will again, because Ted and I are loving doing all
the comedy they write for us. Ted and I both say, ‘No one’s hired us to do a sitcom; we’ve never done comedy in film; and here we are doing comedy on a soap opera!”
Chapman was equally impressed with Kin Shriner’s job as a temporary Jeffrey replacement. “He was a formidable recast,” she offers. “We had a good darn time but the role is Ted’s — and Kin Shriner said the same thing. Kin and I are both scuba divers so we had a lot in common.”
Is Chapman still surprised Gloria has lasted this long? After all, on this show, it’s every diva for herself… or himself! In fact, I love to call Chapman the Teflon Diva!
“I’m still here,” she purrs. “I knew from day one that Gloria had to be different with different hair, clothes, etc… and here I am entering my eighth year.”
The delicious diva agrees me with me when I say it’s a tad weird not having LeBlanc in the Leading Man Emmy race, but, “how many doorstops does one man need? It’s nice to spread the wealth around.”
Tony Geary says “thank you, Christian.”
• In story 411, Paul kills his own son, Ricky, when the psycho threatens to slash Eden’s throat. Who else out there begged Paul to let Ricky kill Eden? Sadly, this means the end of