known the show wasn’t going to be on the air, Gigi would still be alive. I’m not quoting anyone here, but the impression I got was that they were bored with Gigi and wanted to give me something more fun and feisty to do. And I was totally down with that because I literally almost had one foot out the door. They also knew that, I think! I’m flattered that they tried to appease me. After the ghost thing, I just said to myself that I’d ride that out… but then it all changed again. Now I’m playing Stacy again.... but things are getting more convoluted. I’m working a lot. And yes, I extended my contract until the end of November.”
Playing the maligned Stacy Morasco was quite the acting challenge, Fath admits. “I wanted to incorporate what Crystal Hunt did with Stacy but I knew I could never match what she did,” she shares. “So I just put my own spin on it because you know you have to. I have to say I thought that I sucked after I debuted as Stacy as The Spotted Pony… but when I watched it onscreen it wasn’t so bad. It’s something different, which is nice, after playing nice Gigi for so long.”
As for rumours that Fath will join Prospect Park in the online version of One Life, she tells me, “I’m not continuing on with Prospect. J-P and I are moving to L.A. and leaving the show when it ends on broadcast TV.”
Does that mean Fath could be considering a jump back to her alma mater, DAYS, as Mimi? “There are all these rumours about me returning to DAYS and that J-P is joining GH, but all of that is untrue. I don’t know where these rumours start! No one has contacted us. I don’t think there is a place for Mimi on DAYS. There’s no Shawn, Chloe, Belle or Philip so it wouldn’t make sense. But if they want to revisit that group of characters, I would definitely consider it, for sure.”
She continues: “J-P and I just want to try new things and audition for different roles. I have to say that Frank Valentini has been so good to us and is leaving the door open for us if we think we might have made a mistake by moving to L.A. He says there is always a place for us on One Life. But he understands we want to see what happens with our careers [post-soap]. J-P and I want to give L.A. a shot. J-P hasn’t really spread his wings… he’s been on One Life for 10 years, which was basically his first job.”
Despite that fact, Lavoisier booked his first L.A. audition recently with a guest-star role on The Mentalist. She enthuses, “He’s going to be a big star. I’m so proud of him.”
As for a possible engagement, Fath is keeping mum. However, our sources whisper to Uncensored that we shouldn’t be too surprised if a Dirty actress becomes engaged by season’s end. Stay tuned!
SOAP MEME:
As The DVD Spins: Martha Byrne immortalized forever on World Turns’s new collector set
What does Martha Byrne think of SoapClassics.com releasing a four-disc set of As The World Turns, which features the Emmy winner in all her glory? She exclusively tells Uncensored: “I think it’s awesome for the fans to have high quality memories on DVD of the show. I’ve always said the fans should have a voice. I’m glad someone believed in putting these classic episodes out there to the world. The response has been overwhelming on Twitter and Facebook. Maybe this will help generate interest in the World Turns brand again. There is power in the years of this show and it will not be easily forgotten.”
While I think it’s a great idea to revisit soap merchandising (back in the ‘90s, ABC/CBS released soaps’ best moments on VHS), I just hate making P&G any richer for cancelling these shows — but something is better than nothing, right?
INSIDE SUDS:
Report: GH a goner in May? ABC Daytime moves back to New York! Katie cleared in 60% of the U.S.!
Is another sudser biting the dust? Last night, Sudz.TV’s Silas Kain reported on his Blog Talk radio show (https://www.blogtalkradio.com/silas-kain/2011/10/25/coupons-tickets-to-soapy-victory) that several sources have told him that GH will be cancelled in January after One Life signs off on broadcast TV. Yep, these are the same sources that confirmed to him that ABC was cancelling AMC and One Life on April 14.
Furthermore, in order to capitalize off the upcoming election, ABC wants to start Katie Couric’s new syndicated talker, Katie, sooner rather than later. Kain relayed that Couric’s new project may begin as early as May. This lines up with what Uncensored has heard recently. In fact, Couric has been reportedly concerned about the backlash from soapers once her talk show begins squatting in GH’s timeslot this fall and prefers to have Port Charles’ pink slip handed out as soon as possible so her chat-fest doesn’t suffer like The Chew has.
ABC maintains, however, that it has no plans to cancel GH when Katie debuts in September 2012. Jori Peterson, Director of ABC Daytime Publicity, stressed, er spun, earlier: “The announcement does not mean the inevitable cancellation of GH. Rather, it means that in September 2012, we will program our daytime block with our three strongest shows. We’ll have options for the daytime daypart just like we do each year with prime time. We believe in all of our shows and the ones that our viewers want will be the ones that continue. There are many options that could happen… only time will tell. We are simply giving ourselves options for the future, which is a smart way to do business. The best way to ensure a favourite show stays on the air is to watch it.” Riiight….
Meanwhile, the alphabet network hopes to take a bite out the Big Apple again with their controversial daytime lineup. Soap Opera Network has learned that ABC Daytime is shifting much of its operations to New York City, including talent management and media relations two years after moving its spin machine — and AMC — to L.A. at great expense.
ABC’s new lifestyle shows — The Chew and the upcoming The Revolution, along with Katie — will be all shot in N.Y.
So far, Katie has been cleared to air in over 60 per cent of the country’s largest markets, reports ABC. Yep, that means even more bad news for GH.
Meanwhile, ABC has named Mirian Arias new VP Daytime Communications. Good luck, Mirian — you’ll need it!
STATE OF THE BIZ:
Fox Launches Its First Comprehensive Writer’s Initiative!
Remember the days when networks used to have soap opera writing development programs? Ah, those were the days! Well, at least America’s fourth biggest network, Fox, still believes in investing in future talent. Fox announced that it is launching its first ever Fox Writer’s Intensive, which will create a staffing pipeline of experienced writers with diverse voices, backgrounds and life experiences for its TV, movie and digital departments.
The initiative, which will kick off with its inaugural class in February 2012, seeks to both elevate the craft of participating writers and help them further establish deeper connections.
“Through the Fox Writer’s Intensive we are, for the first time, actively investing in experienced talent to bridge the gap between the emerging writer and show runner,” said Nicole A. Bernard, Senior Vice President of Audience Strategy for The Fox Group. “We’re providing multi-platform learning experiences and, equally important, higher levels of access to top creative professionals and senior executives — an invaluable benefit both to the writers and our entertainment businesses.”
The deadline for nominations for the Fox Writer’s Intensive is Nov. 9, 2011. For more information about the Fox Writer’s Intensive and a list of referring organizations, please visit: www.fox.com/audiencestrategy.
SOAPILEAKS:
This week’s hottest news, interviews, and gossip!
All My Children, TheOnlineNetwork.com — Army Diva! Williams in!
• Dancing With The Stars’s JR Martinez, who has the inside track to win the coveted Mirror Ball trophy, graces this week’s People magazine! The army vet tells the magazine that he doesn’t regret serving his country: “My life would not be what it is today: full of joy, happiness and positivity.” Hey, after enduring employment on ABC Daytime, Martinez is a true hero — and survivor — in every way. Maybe he should join Army Wives!
• According to Pine Valley spokeswoman Lindsay Hartley, Emmy winner Darnell Williams is
the latest actor to sign on with Prospect Park’s online version of AMC. Too bad… I was hoping that Williams would join Debbi Morgan on Y&R as a Malcolm recast or a new love interest.
• The first show to nab Susan Lucci’s services is Army Wives. Lucci will be reunited with her former AMC co-star Kim Delaney for at least two episodes of the series’ sixth season, which will begin airing in the spring of 2012. The Emmy winner will be playing a former army wife and a new confidante of sorts for Delaney’s character, Claudia. There’s still no word whether or not La Lucci will sign on with Prospect Park.
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS — Hope for Thomas?
• Speaking of Army Wives, actress Gina Rodriguez has been cast in the recurring role of Beverly, a homeless friend of Dayzee’s. A B&B spokesperson tells Soaps In Depth that Rodriguez will first air on Nov. 30.
Also, former ‘90s hunk Todd McKee is back as Jake on Dec. 5 — just in time for the Forrester fashion show.
• Watch out, Queen Stephanie! Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark, will be make her soap coronation debut on Dec. 5 as Alison, Bill’s personal secretary. Look for my interview with the princess in the royal bible, Hello! Canada in November.
• In story 411, it looks like Hope may be getting a new love interest! And if you know anything about the incestuous B&B… you won’t be surprised to hear it’s Thomas! Yep, all together now: “Ewww!” Can’t wait to see Brooke’s reaction to this one! Also, there seem to be rumblings that Pam and Nick could become more involved in a scheme surrounding Jackie M.
• Acclaimed and beloved soap scribe Michelle Val Jean has jumped ship from GH, where she penned for 18 years, to B&B! Smart girl!
Last week’s Creative Rating: C
Days of our Lives, NBC — Soap Opera Is Not A Democracy!
• Much has been made about my reported beef against Kristian Alfonso… and I’m to blame for it. I want to make it clear I have absolutely nothing against the actress. In fact, Bo and Hope were the first supercouple I ever fell in love with and I hope that Alfonso continues to keep me entertained on DAYS for many moons to come. I still remember running home from school to watch their British nuptials back in 1985.
I was also a staunch supporter of Alfonso’s when she was snubbed for Emmy nominations during her impressive Princess Gina performance and the fallout after Hope’s son, Zack, died.
So it’s nice to see Bo and Hope actually figuring out things during DAYS’s reboot! I haven’t enjoyed them this much since, well, forever.
However, as I’ve always done, I will stand up when an actor allegedly interferes with the writing on the soap. This isn’t the 1980s anymore, and egos cannot dictate what viewers see onscreen because the genre is on life support.
This spring, numerous sources relayed to me that Alfonso reportedly refused to work with Crystal Chappell. Don’t believe them? You try finding a scene with Hope and Carly in the past year (last time I saw one was during Hope’s prison storyline). In fact, a huge storyline involving Hope/Bo/Carly was scratched, squealed one scribe. Since the show couldn’t use Chappell in her signature pairing or rivalry, DAYS let the actress go after the Emmy winner failed to generate sparks with Shawn Christian’s Daniel, offers a mole. I’m not taking sides: I was really just eager and excited to see one of my favourite triangles play out with Hope/Bo/Carly… even though I’m more of a Bo and Hope fan.
No one died, but I still think there is more