COVER STORY
FIFTY SHADES OF BROOKE
B&B’s Katherine Kelly Lang is 25 years beautiful, bold, but she’s more young and restless than ever! Why KKL may be branching out soon!
Strike a pose: She’s one of the most beautiful and sexiest women in the world. She’s my darling Brooke Logan, A.K.A. Katherine “Kelly” Lang. And the best reason to tune into B&B for the past 25 years — and the next quarter of a century, no doubt.
In honour of B&B’s silver milestone, here’s my latest catch-up with the most underrated soap actress on daytime.
First of all, I love your smoothie recipes that you post on Twitter.
Oh, good! Aren’t they good? I love them. Did you add some vodka?
Yes, I did. On the weekend, of course!
[Laughs] That’d be good. I haven’t tried that yet. I just got into them… I go to my health doctor, who is really big in L.A., for my hormone [therapy] and she got me into THE GREEN SMOOTHIE REVOLUTION BOOK — and I got hooked on it. More so than just juicing. Juicing was really big, and I did that, but I would stop. Smoothies are very filling and healthy. It’s more than just juicing.
You’re tweeting up a storm these days. How do you like it? It’ll be interesting to see what long-term effect Twitter will have on our younger generation. At least our generation has skills to fall back. We were born in a generation that used typewriters so at least we know how to spell and type more than 140 characters to get a point or message across!
Oh, yes! If it’s sad for all of us… it’s going to be worse for the younger generation — especially for my daughter. I see it with her a lot. She’s constantly on the phone and always on Twitter and texting…
I just talked to Jack Wagner today. Did you watch him on DANCING WITH THE STARS?
Yes, I was rooting for him. I voted for him. He made me smile for him every time. He just had this infectious smile, energy and sweetness about him. I also bought Jack Wagner T-shirts! I would wear them around the house because they are kind of boxy. I was rooting for Jack. I was actually surprised he was voted off. But I’m sure he’ll do very well in the future – he has bigger and better things ahead of him.
I asked Jack if he sought your and Ronn Moss’s advice considering you guys were on the Italian version of DANCING — but he had no idea you guys were on it!
What? I think I told him. But maybe he wasn’t paying attention. I don’t know.
Are you going to miss Jack on B&B? That was a special role. He told me it was his favourite soap role.
I miss him already. He was such a fabulous actor. I think his character got stuck… and got stuck in a place that wasn’t great for him or his character. He was so great… when he came on the show and he was so gruff, and he was this great sailor character with the beard and pipe living on the water… he was so great. And then they changed the character up a bit into his guy who had money and was into fashion… I’m sure he would agree.
I saw the writing on the wall. I told him I was dying to see him in a sailor uniform with a cigar à la Nick on DWTS! He agreed and said he was planning a Nick tribute but, alas, it didn’t work out…
I miss him. And Lesley-Anne Down. It was a shock to us — and it happened so quickly. I miss him already. It would be fun to have him back.
I always call him the male Brooke Logan… because he slept with all of Brooke’s siblings…. But I still think there is a lot of story potential there if he were to come back. Having said that, I am happy B&B let him go because Nick wasn’t Nick anymore; however, I still think there is another five years of story there. I mean, Ridge and Nick are brothers!
I think that, too, sometimes. They are brothers. My character is so comfortable with Ridge right now, yet there is some conflict with my daughter, Hope, and my stepdaughter, Steffy, who we side with… but not enough. Something’s got to happen to create more conflict.
Although you’re on a lot, you’re still playing a supporting role.
It’s fine. But I’m happy my story is more about family than about whom Brooke sleeps with accidentally. [Laughs] You can only do that so many times. There are a lot more stories.
I would love, love to see Brooke tackle a breast cancer storyline. Not only would that allow you to tackle another social issue but breast cancer would also offer another opportunity for Brooke to address her prized sexuality.
I would love that. Maybe they’ll figure it out. Something’s got to happen.
Is it weird playing the mother role? I mean, you still look 30!
I think it’s fine. If it’s a lead story, it has to be more than Brooke sleeping with someone by accident. You can only do that so many times. There are a lot of other stories out there for Brooke and me to tackle besides sleeping with people. But I don’t mind playing the mom who is finally paying attention to her children’s lives. As long as she doesn’t get too overbearing, it’s fine. I like the fact that she’s there and helping guide Hope through the most difficult times of her life. I want to do more; I definitely want to do more.
I may be in a minority, but I like the Hope storyline because of how she was conceived as well as how the story is constantly referencing Brooke’s controversial sexual past. But I also think this is Brooke’s story: Like Madonna, Brooke was a sexually free woman who liberated herself but she paid the price and was shamed publicly because of it. I do think Hillary B. Smith’s Dr. Stacy Burton should actually counsel Brooke instead of Hope! It’d be nice if Brooke reclaimed her sexual identity without being involved in a scandal.
I know! I love Hillary — and I love that Stacy came on not only as Hope’s doctor but also as Brooke’s friend.
Who knew Brooke had a female friend?
I love that Hillary is on our show. I finally saw VENICE. I saw the first show of the third season — and I loved it and I was very impressed. [Creator] Crystal Chappell has done an amazing job with VENICE. And Hillary was hysterical, hysterical.
Crystal will love to hear that!
Oh, I told her.
What was it like celebrating 25 years on B&B. It’s the only current soap on air that I have watched from day one. I vividly remember watching the first show — and falling in love with Brooke. Was it surreal? I mean, you look the same!
[Laughs] I don’t look the same! [Laughs] But thank you. I guess I just hide things well. I’m healthy. I’m trying to age gracefully instead of trying to look younger than I am, if that makes sense.
Yes, it does.
Staying healthy and active is key, I think. I love being outside in nature. I’m always biking, running, swimming or on a horse. But 25 years is strange. Usually, it’s your kids that remind you how time has gone by but the show reminds me that time is fleeting every time we celebrate a milestone.
Does it feel like 25 years? Or does it feel like, “Whoa, where’d that quarter of a century go?”
It feels like 25 years. Because when I look back, to me, it seems and feels like a whole other person and life. I can’t imagine that used to be me. In that retrospect, it feels like 25 years but it also feels like it flew by pretty fast.
Did you ever see yourself as one of the most successful soap actresses in the world? Or did you stumble into this business by accident?
Not by accident… I grew up in L.A. doing print and commercial work since I was three. Later, I moved to Carmel, Northern California, for my high school years but then I moved back because I wanted to do TV and film. After high school, I got my first part. I was lucky because I was at the right place at the right time. So, I found an agent… and I did my head shots. I went into an acting class and worked with my voice. I mean, you can get lucky but it comes down to talent if you want to continue in this business. I studied and I worked a lot on movies-of-the-week, episodics and movies.
Initially, I turned down soaps because I didn’t want to do a soap; I wanted to do movies because I wanted to be a movie star. I also turned down a lot of New York soaps because I didn’t want to live there. Then, B&B came along and I was
tempted because it was a half-hour soap and it shot in L.A. It was also refreshing because it was a brand-new soap and a new part so I didn’t have to replace another actor. That interested me. I went into a reading, they called me back several times and they really liked me. I finally read for the producers and they put me on tape. At that point, I had to make a decision because you sign a contract before you do your final taped audition. And I went for it. I had to sign a four-year contract deal in the beginning. At that point, it seemed like a lifetime. As a young actor, it’s scary because it feels like you’re signing your whole life away. Even though in the first year at B&B, I managed to do a play and a movie. So I still got out to do other things. Later, I got to do a recurring part on LONESOME DOVE, which was actually my favourite part.
Through the years, I stayed on B&B because of my family. It was good to have a job that was always there. B&B was safe. And 25 years later, I’m still here.
If you’re going to be a soap star, acting on the world’s most watched daily serial is the place to work!
Yes, being on a show like B&B, which is very successful and popular, definitely helps! I don’t feel like I made a bad choice by staying. And I still enjoy doing B&B. Yes, I feel like I have to reinvent Brooke a little bit but that’s life. You need to keep yourself excited about the process. And lately, I’ve been feeling like I need to be more creative so I’ve been looking outside the show. Like reading other scripts, like plays. Recently, I’m looking for other agents who can send me out for different projects — while still doing B&B, of course.
Whew.
We have so much time off here now. I have time to do other stuff.
Every other CBS soap star has been offered episodics so I think the network should cast you in prime-time roles considering your international appeal.
Yes, I agree. CBS is weird like that. Yes, they’ve done that with some Y&R people but they never want to do it with B&B people for some reason. I don’t know why. Maybe because we’re more privately owned. But I will be doing more episodics and stuff over the next year, for sure. I’m going to branch out.
Even though you’re too young and too blonde, I thought you’d make an ideal Pamela Ewing on the DALLAS reboot. Though it would be gross considering your B&B father, Patrick Duffy, would play your hubby, Bobby Ewing!
How much fun would that be? I love all those shows from the ‘80s.
I think no one would disagree with me when I say I think you’re the best crier in the business. When you cry, I cry. Is that easy for you?
Really? I guess it’s like therapy for me but I don’t have to pay for the therapy. [Laughs] I feel like I can get out my pent-up emotions on the show as Brooke, so that’s healthy. I don’t know, it’s strange: I love being dramatic and I love bringing emotions to a scene. Whether it’s crying or laughing or whatever, I just love it. But I will say, I’m so happy Brooke doesn’t cry every day anymore! That is a good thing because it gets to be too much for me and Brooke.
I agree.
Brooke crying all the time, made her feel and look like a victim at times, so I’m glad she’s having more fun.
Adrienne Frantz has helped a lot in that retrospect because Amber brings out Brooke’s protective, bitchy side. You must be happy Brooke’s playing the Stephanie role in the Amber and Rick storyline…
Yes! I hope they keep that up. Because, to me, I love all the new kids on the show and I think they’ll be great on the show for years to come. Brad’s really found his new core of characters to take the show into the future. And to have Adrienne and Jacob Young there again is so important because they are a part of the history of the show and the story resonates more with them playing the roles. Even though I miss Kyle Lowder, I’m happy that Jacob is my son again. I love working with Adrienne because Amber brings out that bitchy side of Brooke more and I get to play with that side of me as an actress, too. It’s a lot of fun.
Have you come to terms with the fact that you keep getting snubbed by the Emmys? It totally sucks because you totally deserve to be nominated and win an Emmy. I personally think you’re just too damn good for people to see your acting, but I know one day, you will be recognized.
You’re so funny. And so sweet. Thank you, that makes me feel good. But I have stopped trying to figure out what it is with me come Emmy time. There are so many people in our business who are so talented and they also don’t get noticed. Now there are only four shows… it was kind of funny because someone at B&B said to me, “Oh, Kelly will be nominated this year because there are only four shows on the air!”
Ouch!
And I still didn’t get nominated! [Laughs] It’s kind of funny, yes, but I can’t think about it. I’m just happy I have a job and I get to go to work every day and I love what I do. I’m happy that I’m doing the best I can do. As long as I feel good about it, and the audience enjoys it, that’s what matters. It would be nice to say, “Yes, I won an Emmy,” but in the long run, what does that really mean? I can’t figure it out… but I’m not wasting any more energy trying to figure it out and just let it be.
I admire how supportive you are of cancelled soaps like AMC and ONE LIFE. Did you ever think during the glory days in the ‘80s that this lucrative business would bleed out as fast as it did?
No, it’s just shocking to me. [Sighs] It’s so strange; I don’t understand it. It makes me think that our shows are dinosaurs or something. But we’re not. We shouldn’t be cancelled. I’m not sure why they are being cancelled and I’m not sure why they are still being cancelled. It makes me worry about the rest of the four shows. Are they going to go, too? Are they going to go in a different direction? I’m a curious person, so I’m always thinking. But it’s definitely an interesting time. The entertainment business is going through a lot of changes — not just soap operas. It’s becoming more difficult to get things made. Also, the economy isn’t helping. And the technology and the Internet has forever changed TV.
The William Bell biography is coming out. What was your relationship with Bill?
He was such a nice man. I remember meeting him in the very beginning of B&B and I vividly recall him being so excited about this new show and all the new people he cast to be a part of B&B. To be a part of that process, from the very beginning, was really something special. You bring up the ‘80s, which is funny because it was during the ‘80s when there was that magical feeling in TV. It feels different now. But back then, TV was magical. Bill was so super-caring with everybody. It’s not like he pulled an ego trip. He really cared about the people who helped tell this story.
Your boss, Brad, Bill’s son, gets that from Mr. Bell.
Bill had this smile and glint. Whenever I think of Bill, I think of that glint in his eyes. There was always a sparkle whenever I saw him. And, to me, that best sums up Bill. He was a great family man. I miss him — and I’m sure his family does, too.
Finally, I want to say that your greatest achievement is how you’ve made Brooke, who could easily have become a hated character, a rootable anti-heroine. I don’t know anyone I respect who hates Brooke. Is there any part of Brooke that resides in Kelly somewhere?
I think she does. But I still think Brooke and myself are two different people. It would be strange to live my life without Brooke. And vice versa! There’s definitely a bond that wouldn’t be the there if either one of us wouldn’t be in each other’s lives.
Every Week!
FEARLESS MAY SWEEPS PREDICTIONS
What Will Happen? Who Will Die? Who Knows?
UNCENSORED looked into our crystal balls to forecast the future of your favorite stories and characters.
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
• Hope and Liam’s wedding in Italy boosts the failing European recession!
• Danielle is shocked to find out her ex-lover, Felicia, is living in Aspen with her hunky new lover, Dr. Meade (played by Jon Hensley). Fans dub them the Peapack Triangle.
• The increasingly bloated B&B cast literally begins to spill o
ver to Y&R and THE TALK.
• Taylor and Bill have sex!
• Dr. Stacy Burton starts seeing dead people when Caroline Johnson returns in ghostly form. Liz Keifer is jealous.
• Steffy lands the role of Catwoman in yet another Batman reboot.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
• Friends grow concerned when Gabi enrolls in a cooking class to learn how to properly boil rabbits.
• The role of Chloe Lane will now be played by Fary Bjorlin.
GENERAL HOSPITAL
• Jack Wagner returns as Frisco Jones.
• Looking for a place to hide, Brian Frons jumps into Brandon Barash’s hairy chest.
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
• Yep, he’s not a Cassadine: Cane is not Tucker’s son as predicted by fans.
• Sharon and Victor make love — and the ratings nosedive.
• Phyllis and Nick ask Sharon to carry their baby.
SOAPILEAKS:
This Week’s Hottest News, Gossip, and Reviews!
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, CBS/CSV — The Great Bill Spencer!
• In story 411, Bill moves up his plan to sabotage Hope during her latest trip to Aspen. Enter Jon Hensley!
• Fuck, Y&R: It looks Heather Tom is the Best Actress frontrunner for the Daytime Emmy Awards race. Yep, that will make her the first actor in history to win all three acting categories. The nominations will be announced on May 4.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES, NBC/GLOBAL — Nadia’s Theme?
• Here we go again: In this week’s SOAP OPERA DIGEST, the magazine hints that an imminent return by the widely popular Nadia Bjorlin is in the works. Oh, really? UNCENSORED spoke with Bjorlin, who tells us exclusively, “No one has called me. I am not returning to DAYS. Not sure where these rumours start.” A few months back, DIGEST reported that Bjorlin’s comeback was a done deal, but Bjorlin told UNCENSORED she rejected the deal due to money and contractual issues.
• In story 411, Sami and Lucas kiss!
GENERAL HOSPITAL, ABC/CITY — The General Flo!
• Hurray: According to SOAP OPERA DIGEST, Florencia Lozano has signed a contract with GH. Yes, contract. Not sure why SOD didn’t make a bigger deal about this big news. Regardless, woohoo!
• Is Brandon Barash out? According to Raven Beauty, the hunk is. But DAYTIME CONFIDENTIAL quoted an insider stating Barash is safe and has big story coming up. Still, in its May Sweeps preview, the show hints a murder is headed Port Charles’s way. Hmmm… could it be Kate?
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS — The Uneven and the Badly Written!
• When is this madness going to end? Rattled by Daisy and Fen’s upcoming return, Lauren pulls a gun on Daisy. She’s arrested. And then people wonder why this show is losing viewers. Thank God, Jill comes to the rescue.
• It looks like Y&R may finally be writing out Julia Pace Mitchell as the badly conceived and unpopular Sofia. Or at least throwing the actress on the back, back burner. Me? I’d prefer if Sofia went bat-shit crazy trying to kill YoHarmony since Tucker and Neil can’t get enough of the crackhead.
• Great news: Y&R is finally producing a new opening, report insiders! More details soon.
• Yep, it’s true: Expect another round of Sharon and Victor in the romance department. This time, it looks like romance — not a marriage of convenience — is what draw these two back together.
SOAP OPERA MYSTERY HOUR
This week’s hottest blind item!
• For the second time, a major, critically acclaimed actor is seriously considering leaving a major soap! Say it ain’t so!
THE IDIOT RATINGS: April 9-13
Winners: Y&R, B&B, DAYS bounce back!
Loser: GH isn’t on ratings’ fire, yet!
*Courtesy of Soap Opera Network
(Compared to Last Week/Compared to Last Year)
Total Viewers
1. Y&R 4,309,000 (+349,000/-157,000)
2. B&B 2,978,000 (+167,000/+286,000)
3. DAYS 2,383,000 (+221,000/+29,000)
4. GH 2,217,000 (-27,000/-320,000)
Households
1. Y&R 3.2/10 (+.2/-.1)
2. B&B 2.2/7 (same/+.2)
3. DAYS 1,8/6 (+.2/+.1)
4. GH 1.7/6 (same/-.2)
Women 18-49 Viewers
1. Y&R 915,000 (+152,000/+34,000)
2. B&B 672,000 (+63,000/+156,000)
3. GH 550,000 (+12,000/-221,000)
4. DAYS 532,000 (+93,000/-65,000)
Women 18-49 Rating
1.Y&R 1.4/9 (+.2/+.1)
2. B&B 1.1/7 (+.1/+.3)
3. GH 0.9/5 (+.1/-.3)
4. DAYS 0.8/5 (+.1/-.1)
Women 18-34 Rating
1. Y&R 0.6 (+.1/-.2)
2. DAYS 0.5 (+.1/same)
3. B&B 0.4 (same/same)
3. GH 0.4 (same/-.4)
Men 18+ Viewers
1. Y&R 879,000 (+23,000/-135,000)
2. B&B 561,000 (+2,000/-9,000)
3. DAYS 502,000 (+39,000/-25,000)
4. GH 402,000 (-24,000/-13,000)
SOAP PORN: Next Week's Soapgasms
Can’t watch all the soaps this week? No worries — here’s a cheat sheet!
Top Shows to Watch:
1. GENERAL HOSPITAL
2. THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
3. DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Top Storylines to Watch:
1. The Finola Hughes Show, GH
2. Lumi, DAYS
3. Aspen Part Three, B&B
Top Actresses to Watch:
1. Finola Hughes, GH
2. Robin Mattson, GH
3. Kristina Wagner, GH
4. Laura Wright, GH
5. Renee Jones, DAYS
Top Actors to Watch:
1. Michael Muhney, Y&R
2. Chandler Massey, DAYS
3. Thorsten Kaye, SMASH
4. James Reynolds, DAYS
5. James Scott, DAYS
Top Duos to Watch:
1. Sami and Lucas, DAYS
2. Anna and anyone, GH
3. Nikki and Jack, Y&R
Top Couples to Fast-Forward Through:
1. Sonny and Carly, GH
2. Starr and Michael, GH
3. Gabi and Chad, DAYS
Top Dream Couples:
1. Nelson and Anna, GH
2. Adam and Phyllis, Y&R
3. Starr and Death, GH
Top New-ish Duos to Watch:
1. Anna and John, GH
2. Chelsea and Adam, Y&R
3. Anna and Luke, GH
Top Tweeters:
1. Joshua Morrow: @joshuamorrowYR
2. Michael Muhney: @michaelmuhney
3. Finola Hughes: @finolahughes
Top 3 Best Reads/Buys at the Newsstand:
1. SOAP OPERA DIGEST
2. ABC/CBS/NBC/FOX/BRAVO/TELEMUNDO SOAPS IN DEPTH
Top Episodes To Watch:
1. Tuesday: DAYS’s Nicole begs EJ to leave Salem with her if he wants to reunite. “Let’s wait until I learn if I’m pre-nominated for an Emmy first,” says Nicole.
2. Monday: GH’s Luke seeks help from Anna. “It’s called Clairol, Luke,” quips Anna.
3. Thursday (Canadian episode): Y&R’s Ashley and Tucker fight. And another million viewers switch off the channel.
The next issue of SOAP OPERA UNCENSORED will be out on Saturday, April 28, 2012!
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