Nelson Branco's Soap Opera Uncensored: Issue 43

SOAP OPERA UNCENSORED

  Volume 02, Issue 33 (No. 43)

  BY NELSON BRANCO

  Copyright 2012 Nelson Branco

  INSIDE — MAJOR Y&R SPOILERS — Y&R’s Wedding and a Funeral! The “Outrageous, Shockingly Horrible” 10, 000th Episode! Is B&B’s Ronn Moss Really Out? Airweek Set for Y&R’s “Independence Day!” Twit-Fil-A Controversy: B&B’s Crystal Chappell Defends DAYS’s Missy Reeves! Plus: Missy Leaves Twitter! Exclusive Interview: Y&R’s Elizabeth Hendrickson On AMC’s Binks, Eden Riegel, and Wanting To Work With Billy Miller! Why Y&R’s Sharon and Adam Need To Reunite — and Chelsea Needs To Die! DAYS Shocker: Grief Sex For Will and Gabi?! Plus: Sonny’s Assaulted! Iconic DAYS Leader Dead! Plus: Two ONE LIFE Actors Pass Away! Last Week's Reviews, Unbelievable Blind Items, and Next Week's Cheat Sheet!

  UNCENSORED MASTHEAD:

  FOUNDER/EDITOR: Nelson Branco

  EDITOR AT LARGE: Denette Wilford

  Follow Soap Opera Uncensored at: @nelliebranco or @SoapUncensored

  NOTE FROM EDITOR/FOUNDER:

  You asked — and it’s happening. For more information on subscribing to daytime’s first weekly e-zine SOAP OPERA UNCENSORED, email [email protected]

  1 Year: $24.99 (*normally $129.48)

  *Based on $2.49 issue price

  COMING SOON: VENICE — UNCENSORED

  To pre-order your upcoming book VENICE THE SERIES: UNCENSORED for a special price email: [email protected]. The Sapphic tome, which will be out this summer, chronicles the web soap’s meteoric rise, punctuates and analyzes its relevance in serial storytelling and its groundbreaking achievements in the online and soap opera medium. With every single Crystal Chappell interview I’ve ever conducted in one e-book — and those of her VENICE co-stars/directors — this is one must-buy keepsake in addition to episode synopses and reviews, top ten lists, fearless predictions, translated quotes, humour, and exclusive season four previews. Plus: Tributes to GUIDING LIGHT’s Otalia and new interviews! Order your copy now!

  Say What?

  UNCENSORED QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

  “I hate change. I hate it! I hate change unless it’s absolutely necessary. In this case, I found it totally unnecessary.”

  — Y&R superstar Eric Braeden on Maria Arena Bell’s firing in the pages of SOAPS IN DEPTH

  Translation: I’m fucked!

  “I almost felt like it was an end of an era. It is fundamentally disturbing to me to know that she is leaving. She supported this show with such enthusiasm. She loved [Y&R], has always loved it and really genuinely cared. I have no idea why the changes were made. The powers in charge have their reasons, but I found it completely upsetting!”

  —Braeden in the same interview

  Translation: Those five days a year she spent at the studio were some of the best times of my life.

  “It was shocking — to the core! Writing is the most important thing in our profession — period.”

  —Braeden comparing Bell to genuine writer

  Translation: Especially when you write for my ego.

  “What makes a show successful is usually a confluence of good, solid writing and acting.”

  —Braeden on Bell’s Y&R

  Translation: One out of two ain’t bad.

  “But what I felt with Maria was there a continuity from [the late] Bill [Bell, Y&R’s co-creator].”

  —Braeden

  Translation: In name only.

  “Liam has become the front-and-center male on B&B, a spot long held by Ridge.”

  —B&B showrunner Brad Bell in TV GUIDE

  Translation: That sound you hear is Nelson Branco shooting himself in the face!

  Translation 2: Scott Clifton will never be nominated or win an Emmy again!

  “Attention all DAYS fans: Does anyone know if Chelsea was conceived out of wedlock?”

  —DAYS’s Lisa Rinna asking for a history lesson on Twitter

  Translation: No one here at the DAYS studio knows shit about our history!

  Translation 2: I’m too old to be a mother of a 20-year-old daughter!

  Translation 3: I used to be on DANCING WITH THE STARS, damn it!

  Translation 4: Fuck Krista Allen and that swamp baby!

  "Hey @Official_YandR! How many times you gonna try and bring in a "New Noah"? There's only one! Sorry to those who watch for me. #Peace @CBS."

  — Y&R’s Kevin Schmidt on Twitter

  Translation: I’m taking all three of my fans with me, damn it!

  Suds Obits

  TWO LLANVIEW STARS DEAD

  He was the first African American to win a Daytime Emmy Award in 1979 as Outstanding Lead Actor. Al Freeman, Jr., who played Ed Hall on ONE LIFE TO LIVE from 1972-87 and reprised the role in 1988 and 2000, passed away on August 9. He was 78.

  After leaving daytime, Freeman starred in Spike Lee's MALCOLM X and was a professor of theater at Howard University.

  Freeman’s ONE LIFE co-star Judith Light conveyed her grief on Twitter, writing,"Al freeman Jr. amazing man, extraordinary actor, a joy 2 work with on the soap opera OLTL. He will missed. Rip dearest Al.

  Freeman was honoured for his soapy achievements in various categories in my ONE LIFE Tribute book, BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL. Below is the link to purchase your copy for the special price of $3.00; use coupon code KW82F.

  Meanwhile, Ron Palillo, the actor best known as the nerdy high school student Arnold Horshack on the 1970s sitcom WELCOME BACK, KOTTER, died Tuesday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. He was 63.

  Palillo suffered an apparent heart attack at his home about 4 a.m.. He was pronounced dead at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.

  In 1994, Palillo played Gary Warren on ONE LIFE.

  Rest in peace, boys.

  Hot Topic

  TWIT-FIL-A: RIKAART TAKES ANOTHER BITE OUT OF CHICK-FIL-A CONTROVERSY; CHAPPELL DEFENDS REEVES

  The pen is mightier than the sword: Greg Rikaart continued to address Missy Reeves’s quacky endorsement of homophobic fast-food chain, Chick-Fil-A.

  After diplomatically challenging the DAYS actress last week on Twitter, Rikaart penned a column for THE HUFFINGTON POST, where he further explained the ramifications and implications of the heated, polarizing Chick-Fil-A controversy.

  Here’s an excerpt of the brave blog post found at:

  https://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-rikaart/chick-fil-a-controversy-_b_1765990.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices

  I posted a tweet airing my disappointment in Melissa Reeves (another member of the daytime community) for aligning herself with this company that financially supports the furthering of hatred and bigotry. I did so because I have aligned myself with organizations like GLSEN (the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) and the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) and I have read too many stories of alienated LGBT kids taking their lives after relentless persecution.

  Whether grown up bullies like Dan Cathy and Melissa Reeves realize it or not, they are directly or indirectly telling these vulnerable kids that there is something wrong with them, or they are somehow less than. Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm certain of it.

  I'd happily talk to Mrs. Reeves about this myself, but alas, she has not responded to me and has blocked me from having access to her twitter account. I have happily engaged in debates with people who have reached out to me in defense of her and/or their own beliefs. The knowledge that I might have the ability to change someone's mind or possibly get them to see the issue from a different perspective is worth the few naysayers who have sent me unkind comments. People often say "agree to disagree.' I think that's a cop-out. Frankly, the stakes in this case are too high to let the conversation end. Let's disagre
e and talk about it. Maybe I can better understand you and vice versa.

  Meanwhile, earlier this week, gay icon Crystal Chappell, informed me personally that she hasn’t formally spoken about the controversy surrounding her former DAYS co-star — and her alter ego, Carly’s best friend, Jennifer — because she was working behind-the-scenes with Reeves to figure out her intents behind her tweet and somehow turn this brouhaha into a teachable moment.

  Finally, yesterday, the Emmy winner defended Reeves in a blog post on venicetheseries.com. Here’s an excerpt:

  “I reached out to our gay and married friends. Missy had called them in tears soon after the shit hit the fan. She told them how much she loved them and that the implication of that tweet was not what she intended. She said she saw half a tweet about Cluck Filet and thought she was supporting Free Speech. Nothing more. I thought...OK. Um....twitter fuck up? I've stepped into twitter convoys without really knowing what was being talked about and made a mess for myself unintentionally. Realizing after I stepped into it that I don’t at all support the person's words I stood up for. OK....it happens. And then I asked our gay and married friends...well, why not just say that to the folks in twitter land? Was someone telling her not to? Is it work related? Ostrich in the sand syndrome? If I don’t see it, it doesn’t exist kind of thing? Blonde moment? The more time went by the more frustrated I and my friends became. It started to hurt. We all know Missy has very strong religious beliefs but the person we know and love....is NOT a bigot.

  I reached out to Missy and she responded several days later. She's decided to not speak out and hope that the people who know her will trust that she didn’t intend to support an anti-gay corporation. I firmly believe she should speak...not only for the fans but for her friends. I read Greg Riikart's article in the Huffington Post. I thought it was eloquent and spot on...with the exception of calling Melissa Reeves a bully. Although, I understand where it came from. Sometimes being too quiet after creating a shit storm can make you look more guilty. So, Ill pray that she speaks so you can know that person who has a genuine love for all people regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.”

  Unfortunately, Chappell’s passive-aggressive support of Reeves has only enflamed the controversy. Earlier today, Reeves tweeted that she’s closing her Twitter account. Here’s what Missy wrote:

  “Due to all of the inappropriate comments and threats to me and my family, I regret to say that I will be shutting down this Twitter account. I don’t feel that it is God-honoring to spend this much time fighting over things that we disagree on. The Internet can be a great thing, but it can also be very destructive in the sense that you cannot truly learn the heart of a person in just a few words. I appreciate and love you all and thank you for your support over the years and will be praying for you.”

  “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

  Mark 12:30

  Disagree on civil rights? Or the intentions of her original, contentious tweet? A tad confused….

  As for how I feel about all this Twitter drama, one of my readers on Facebook, Kat Lucas, the ultimate Peter Reckell fan, wrote me the