Nelson Branco's Soap Opera Uncensored: Issue 36, Page 2

— and not current show-runner Frank Valentini. However, Phelps, now producing HOLLYWOOD HEIGHTS, was overwhelmed with emotion when she said she missed the “company of actors who have touched so many hearts for so many years.” In a classy move, Phelps tipped her hat to the men that helped save GH from cancellation, Mr. and Mr. Cartini. “Somebody told me that the best stories are the ones that never end, so from the old guard to the new guard: Keep the magic going,” she said. Predictably, Phelps and her producing team skipped the press room.

  OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A DRAMA

  DAYS OF OUR LIVES

  Truly the biggest upset of the night, DAYS took home its first Emmy in 36 years! Exiting head writers Marlene McPherson and Darrel Thomas were not on hand to accept the award but most surely must feel vindicated now after being fired. While the win wasn’t completely undeserved, this means despised scribe and rumoured scabber Dena Higley will also get an Emmy since she wrote the show for nine months last year.

  OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A DRAMA

  GH

  The directing team opted to ignore the press room… shocker. Probably so they wouldn’t have to discuss beating their boss, Frank Valentini, in this category.

  LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA

  Anthony Geary, GENERAL HOSPITAL

  Accepting his seventh career Daytime Emmy, making him the most fêted actor in NATAS history, Geary said, “It’s a good way for GH to start [the night].” Geary won alongside his onscreen son, Jonathan Jackson.

  LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

  Heather Tom, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

  The pregnant star made a lot of history this past weekend: Now only is she the first actress to win in the Younger, Supporting and now Lead categories, but she’s also the first performer to win a Lead Actor Emmy after winning a Supporting trophy the year before. Tom also becomes the second B&B actress to win in this category (Susan Flannery has dominated this category). Seeing past Younger Actor winners, Jackson and Tom, win in mature Emmy categories really punctuated how long I’ve been covering this industry!

  SUPPORTING ACTOR

  Jonathan Jackson, GH

  Just call him the Jackson 5! Jackson, who was a lock to win his fifth trophy (second in this category), said backstage the win was “a testament to [TV dad] Anthony Geary and his humanity and love and graciousness toward me.” He also name-checked scene partner Rebecca Herbst and “the monks on Mt. Athos who are ceaselessly praying for the life of the world.” OK then.

  SUPPORTING ACTRESS

  Nancy Lee Grahn, GH

  “OH MY FRIGGIN GOD!!!!” NLG shared via Twitter! “I’M IN MY JAMMIES with my family who

  mean more to me than anything!!!! So TRULY happy!!!” Memo to all daytime actors: If you really

  want to win an Emmy, don’t show up! Call it the Eric Braeden trick.

  YOUNGER ACTOR

  Chandler Massey, DAYS

  “I’m thrilled,” the first-time winner told UCNENSORED at the NBC/DAYS party after the ceremony. “I didn’t expect to win this year. I knew I had the material to compete next year so this is a huge surprise. I guess this win means DAYS has to keep Will gay!” I’d say.

  YOUNGER ACTRESS

  Christel Khalil, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

  “I guess the fourth time [nominated] is the charm, huh?” the ingénue said while accepting her award. Does she think her Emmy will translate into more screen time? “I doubt it,” she said rolling her eyes.

  SOAPILEAKS:

  This Week’s Hottest News, Gossip, and Reviews!

  ALL MY CHILDREN — Lucci to GH? Plus: Her New TV Project Is Picked Up!

  • Once again, ABC’s loss is Lifetime’s gain: Susan Lucci, the only presenter to appear in the Emmy press room, was over the moon after learning the day before that the cable network picked up Marc Cherry’s pilot, DEVIOUS MAIDS, starring La Lucci herself and former GH psycho Brianna Brown. The series will launch on the cable network in 2013. According to DEADLINE, Lifetime will produce the show in Atlanta, even though the pilot was filmed in Los Angeles.

  Considering GH is hosting an influx of ONE LIFE characters, would Lucci bring Erica Kane to GH? She told UNCENSORED, “Of course, if it worked out. They haven’t invited me or asked yet.” As for GH being renewed, Lucci told me, “I’m thrilled and very happy.”

  For more on Lucci, look for an interview in next week’s UNCENSORED where she reveals if she’s finally found closure over AMC’s cancellation.

  • It’s raining AMC stars over at Lifetime: the network has cast two soap alums in an upcoming episode of DROP DEAD DIVA! Ashley Jones and Cameron Mathison will both guest star in Episode 12 of the series' fourth season, set to air on Aug. 19.

  THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, CBS/CTV — Joanna Johnson Out! Why Adrienne Frantz Bolted!

  • Say it ain’t so: Brad Bell tells UNCENSORED that Joanna Johnson will not continue to recur as often as he would like as Karen because “she booked a pilot.” What does that mean for Crystal Chappell, who is hardly airing to begin with? “Don’t worry,” he assured me. “I’ll keep her busy and in storyline.” Whew.

  • I’m a sexy bitch, and I know it: Jackie MacInnes Wood is on fire: Not only did she earn her first Emmy nomination but the Toronto starlet is also stealing B&B, landed a role on GREEN ARROW and has been travelling the world to promote B&B while also starring in kick-ass music videos. Which usually means an upcoming exit is on the horizon, right? Never fear: Wood tells me her contract doesn’t expire for a long time, and even if it did, she doubts she’d leave. “The great thing about working on a half-hour soap is that you can do it all,” she pointed out. “I love it here. Why would I leave?”

  • Amber Alert: Adrienne Frantz asked to be dropped to recurring to pursue other projects, reported SOAPS IN DEPTH. However, UNCENSORED learned Frantz was not pleased with her lack of airtime so she quit — and cleaned out her dressing room in record time. “She wants back on Y&R, like, fast,” a friend hinted at the Daytime Emmy Awards. The actress was recently accepted to an improv and comedy school affiliated with the Groundlings.

  However, at the CBS Emmy party, Frantz hung out very closely to boss Brad Bell.

  Unfortunately, the day before the Emmys, Frantz was involved in a car accident which resulted in a concussion after her car hit her vehicle going 60 miles per hour! “My dogs were in the car but luckily we’re all safe. I’m lucky to be alive,” she told me.

  As for married life, Frantz’s handsome hubby Scott Bailey told UNCENSORED, “we’re very happy.”

  DAYS OF OUR LIVES, NBC/GLOBAL — Davidson’s Awkward Sony Deal To Reprise DAYS Roles Exposed! Greg Vaughn Cast as Eric Brady! Gay-less DAYS Ahead!

  • Eric Brady, Sami’s good twin, is finally headed back to Salem. Sources inform UNCENSORED that Greg Vaughn has nabbed the coveted role. Kyle Lowder, who played Brady on DAYS, pitched himself but the show thought it was too confusing for the audience to have Eric Martsolf—Brady’s current portrayer on the canvas. Yet it’s OK to have Josh Taylor’s Chris K play Roman Brady?

  Speaking of Vaughn and Sweeney, the duo will be working together a lot in the near future. According to DIGEST, the on-screen siblings will be teaming up for a Hallmark movie, which has begun production. "Finally signed, sealed & delivered! Starring in a new Hallmark Movie starting Wednesday opposite my girl @Ali_Sweeney!! Gonna be great fun!" the former GH actor tweeted.

  • Whoohoo: Eileen Davidson is indeed joining DAYS as Kristen and Susan, report my moles. But the story behind the worst-kept secret in daytime is more fascinating. Apparently, Sony’s Steve Kent brought Davidson into his office and said, “I have good news and I have bad news. The bad news is that you’re leaving Y&R because DAYS really wants and needs you.” At first, Sony wanted Davidson on both DAYS and Y&R. However, sources say that the Y&R writing team refused to share Davidson with DAYS and forced Sony to make a decision, ultimately leading to her Y&R firing. But those sneaky Y&R writers lied to Davidson’s face when she asked why she couldn’t pull double duty on bot
h Sony serials. The scribes insisted it was Sony’s decision, which led to the actress’s infamous tweet about learning she was fired (which now makes sense since we all knew she was merely being transplanted to DAYS). Needless to say Davidson is not a happy camper with the Y&R brass. Get in line, sweetie!

  • Gay-less DAYS: Several sources attest that DAYS will be throwing Will and his homosexuality on the back burner despite Chandler Massey’s Emmy win and the show’s Best Writing Emmy. Too bad because Massey is expected to leave the serial when his contract expires.

  • Guess where Peter Reckell is moving to when he departs DAYS as Bo this fall. “Costa Rica,” a friend of Reckell’s informed me. “He’s super-excited.”

  • Soap Star, Uninterrupted: Is Lowder’s wife Ari Zucker out at DAYS? That was a concerning headline on the cover of this week’s DIGEST. But do not worry NBC fans: While Zucker left L.A. the day after the Emmys for South Africa to promote her program LIFE CHANGE, Nicole will continue to air uninterrupted.

 

  • UNCENSORED spoke with DAYS’s silver-fox producer Greg Meng and Deidre Hall after the Emmy ceremony. Meng, the sexy beast, was excited about the new DAYS book which will focus on lifestyle, health and fashion tips from Salem’s brightest stars. “We’re coming to Canada to promote it,” Meng told