—someone forgot to eat his Wheaties today.
Earlier this year, you fired fan fave Becky Herbst after breaking up her uber-popular super-couple pairing opposite Steve Burton on GH. Did you run this network based on your personal taste and preferences — not the desires and needs of your viewership?
[Burps] Trust me: I know what America wants to watch: and that’s tits and ass, buddy! You Canadians have no right coming in and telling me, er, us what we want on our screens. No wonder your country is such a mess!
Why did you keep employing AMC executive producer Julie Hanan Carruthers when historically she’s proven to be inept at bringing the show under or on budget despite handing her a lifeline (and not One Life) by moving the show to L.A.?
She’s great at giving head. ‘Nuff said. Yeah, she could lose some weight; I’ll give you that.
If soap operas are dying, why are serials exploding on primetime and cable? Perhaps soaps are dying because people like you are in charge and refused to have them evolve like they have in nighttime. And anytime they tried to evolve, you stopped that growth.
Prime time doesn’t sell cheap detergent, crazy pills or bad food at night so they’re not soap operas. Get a dictionary.
Why haven’t you invested in the future of your shows by hiring new blood in all aspects of soaps — just like primetime, film, theatre and music have?
Because young people have ethics, talent, and it’s hard to corrupt them at that eager and earnest age. Plus, most of these wannabe soap writers are gay men. Let me put it this way for you: casting couch says no!
Were you planning on only canceling One Life and not AMC but with AMC’s anemic ratings freefall, you didn’t have a choice?
Duh. Despite us denying your scoop two years ago, it’s true. I even admitted it to Deadline on April 14th. God, they’ll believe anything over there, too, without any fact checking or research. But, then again, we were their source! [Crackling, evil laughter]
Why would you cancel One Life when it’s making money, under budget, critically acclaimed, and doing well in the ratings?
Because I can! Duh… I can’t watch that socially relevant crap. Can you? And I wouldn’t bang any of those chicks. OK, maybe Michael Easton if I had a gun pointed to my head. Which could, like, happen.
Did you purposely destroy two iconic institutions because you have no clue what you’re doing and/or hate the genre secretly?
I did it for the bonus cheque… and the tail! No, seriously I did it on purpose. Just like I did on NBC and CBS. Do the math, buddy.
Did you really tell Deadline you considered replacing One Life with a Real Housewives, Andy Cohen-inspired talk show hosted by you? In the same interview, you lied saying you weren’t in discussions with box-office poison Katie Couric about helming her own talk show, too, on ABC.
Yes, I did! And, yes, I did! OMG: My talk show would’ve been off the hook, ‘yo! Now that would have been a super breakout hit! Could you imagine all the chicks after a piece of this? I could have saved daytime TV, too, but that would’ve defeated by purpose at Disney/ABC, wouldn’t it? As for Katie, she finally caved in to my demands — if you know what I mean.
SOAP MEME REWIND:
DON’T TUNE IN TOMORROW
My National Post Interview with Brian Frons from 2007!
Frankly, Brian Frons, we do give a damn! In 2007, I interviewed Frons about the future of soaps in a four-page article titled “Tune In Tomorrow” in Canada’s top financial paper, The National Post. Here’s what he had to say to me about the viability and relevance of daytime dramas (other experts like TV Guide’s Michael Logan and B&B’s Bradley Bell were interviewed for the piece):
“We look at the soap-opera form as one that’s going to be around for a long time. Our challenge now is to find the next generation of soap viewers. Women’s lives have changed enormously. They are not building their lives around their soaps. The issues, stories and characters drive ratings. Passions was aimed at a fairly narrow audience with a unique creative proposition involving the supernatural. What I was surprised about was the inference that DAYS might be cancelled. It’s a very good show and it performs well.”
2012 STAR TO WATCH:
DAUGHTER OF ANARCHY
How ginger-haired spitfire Molly Burnett is breaking bad on daytime TV, prime time, music and the Web— and winning! Plus: Burnett on her real-life’s mom’s passing — and DAYS’s Chill!
Move over, Carol — there’s a new Burnett in town!
It was pretty hard not to notice Molly Burnett’s soap opera debut in 2008. After all, the bubbly acting novice, and her originally annoying, loopy, and ill-conceived character, Melanie Jonas, were shoved down our throats Charlie Sheen-style on DAYS.
Critics and fans groaned (I even put her on my annual Worst Actors List), but in true survivor fashion, Burnett’s tenacity, hard work and sheer determination to have her talent finally blossom and realized overcame all the naysayers’ concerns and making us all but forget her original soap opera malfunction. #Winning, indeed.
Burnett’s artistic transformation once again proved that, sometimes in the soap world, first impressions aren’t everything (just ask Melody Thomas Scott, Kristian Alfonso and Jessica Tuck).
Today, Burnett, who is one of the nicest and sweetest actors in the business, has evolved into a charming, infectious, talented and promising presence in this otherwise depressing genre.
For her efforts and hard work, the usually cynical industry rewarded the Littleton, Colorado firecracker with a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 2010 as Best Younger Actress.
Having appeared on hit prime-time series, True Blood, delivering nuanced performances on DAYS each weekday, and now joining her former Salem co-star Crystal Chappell’s Emmy-winning web serial, Venice, it’s clear it’s Molly Burnett’s world — and we’re just lucky to get a front row seat. Popcorn and vodka sold separately, of course. Which is why Uncensored had no choice but to name Burnet the star to watch in 2012.
Below, we discuss Melanie’s burgeoning on-screen romance with Chad; the popular non-coupling of Chill; her mother Katie’s death from lung illness; losing her on-screen mom, Crystal Chappell, on DAYS; her upcoming, mysterious appearance on Venice; Shawn Christian’s temporary absence from Salem; and the recent scene that had her bawling like a baby. Enjoy!
I’m sorry to hear about your mother’s recent passing. How are you doing?
It was pretty devastating. It wasn’t like she died suddenly, so I couldn’t have asked for more time with her. I didn’t leave her house for weeks. [We got to say a long goodbye to each other].
The greatest lesson the death of a loved one has taught me is: in order to honour his or her memory, you have to move on with your life and not mourn forever.
Exactly. We had a celebration of my mother’s life on a Saturday night, and on Monday, I was back at work. She would’ve been very mad at me if I sat around feeling sorry for myself.
Congratulations on all your success. I’m so proud of you. I’ve been loving your work more than usual these days — and Melanie is one of my favourite Salem characters. Though you may have to kidnap Chandler Massey because he’s single-handedly stealing the whole show from all of you as the pissed-off, closeted gay drunk Will!
Thank you. And I know! I gush about him all the time! I text Chandler constantly telling him how amazing I think he has been on the show. I’m so proud of him. He’s been phenomenal.
He’s entering Jonathan Jackson territory, in my opinion, which is pretty high praise. Likewise, you’re as effortless as Melanie as he is as Will. Are you much more comfortable in the role? I find it astonishing how great the cast has been despite not having any rehearsal time and shooting so far in advance.
Thank you! I’m finally understanding who Melanie is. She’s not too evil, she’s not too good; and she still does stupid things on occasion! The fun part being an actor is hearing fans say how much they hate your character or how much your character annoys them because they’re having an
emotional response — and that’s what you want as an actor.
She’s an anti-heroine now. She used to be a big sloppy mess! Melanie’s not a black-and-white character anymore.
Every now and then, she makes the wrong choice because of her upbringing. And hey, it’s always fun to play the complete bitch as an actor. I love where Melanie is right now.
I totally buy your chemistry with your on-screen dad, Shawn Christian. Even if it’s a little awkward watching Melanie talk to and hug hunky Daniel when he’s shirtless!
I know! Omigod, two days ago, there were three naked men in the spa! Imagine the pressure I was under that day! [Laughs]
It’s a hard and lonely life you lead. You get no sympathy from me, missy! Eric Martsolf’s chest deserves its own Emmy.
I think so, too! I absolutely agree.
I don’t like it when a show thinks every new character has to be tied to a legacy family, but I bought the Maggie/Daniel/Melanie retcon. I mean, you look exactly like Suzanne Rogers’ granddaughter!
I thought it was cool, too. It’s a bit of a fairytale and a coincidence, but I’m honoured DAYS wrote me into the Horton legacy and I got my own Horton ornament. The show wouldn’t let us see our ornaments until we taped so we could have a completely authentic