Post by Niki on Oct 7, 2007 14:17:08 GMT -5
News for the week of 08-Oct-2007
by Carol Banks Weber
Walt Willey (Jackson) has been on AMC for a long time, in background bit parts (Palmer’s butler, for example), even before he was given a major role as a lead (I’m wanting to say 1987, even though an online celeb resume site says 1990). But it has only been in the past five years where Willey said he has felt he has come into his own as an AMC soap actor, a person and a family man. It’s about maturity, contentment, learning to roll with punches, and there have been some punches. He doesn’t characterize any period, recent or in the past, as particularly “hard,” but rather, “just harder. Maybe I would have made different decisions, but this has always been a wonderful studio in which to work and wonderful people with whom to work.” Factor in TPTB’s letting Willey off to go on his comedy circuits, charities, other fan events, and really, the only problem that’s ever really raised its head had more to do with second-guessing his staying on for so long. To this existential-type question, Willey goes zen—a state he’s achieved only in the last five years. “If I wasn’t supposed to be here, I wouldn’t be here, and I’m really lucky to be here. That’s not for press only; we all grouse about this, that and the other thing, but I really like this place.”
During his soap period, the actor has been through tumultuous and triumphant times. Recognized by a stage manager’s husband and then-AMC executive producer (Steve Schenkel) as lead material, fired from Ryan’s Hope, making ends meet in book publishing, and trying out for a Lifetime show called Our (therapy) Group, fate conspired to catapult Willey into the hemisphere as one of AMC’s longest-running, most beloved vet (20 years and counting). After watching Susan Lucci (Erica) at work while pretending to serve drinks and what-not, Willey found himself hitting the chemistry goldmine shortly after introducing his new, lead character to hers, as Travis’s (Erica’s husband) brother. One producer at the time told Willey that TPTB had not planned to pair Jack and Erica up at all in the beginning. It was some time later during scenes of Jack and Erica’s adventure on a downed plane in the dessert that they changed their minds. Of all the faces, places and legends Willey’s had the privilege of working under, beside, alongside, near – and he’s met some of the greats from old-school show business – the late, great Ruth Warrick (ex-Phoebe) gave him some truly memorable thrills. She was the one who introduced Willey (“Ruth had it in her mind that I reminded her of the actors of the golden age of Hollywood, Leslie Howard crossed with Cary Grant”) to some of those show biz greats, including Ruby Keeler, Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart, Sean Connery, “the widow of the man who invented the wax carton that milk comes in – people I would never have met, places I would never have been, stories I would never have heard!” Willey explained. “I didn’t get into this business for the Michael Knights [Tad] – I didn’t know who Michael Knight was. But Ruth Warrick, Louis [ex-Langley; ex-Roger, Dark Shadows; ex-marijuana grower in Martha’s Vineyard] Edmonds, James Mitchell [Palmer] … That’s the Hollywood I got into the business for.” His first memorable experience with Warrick – an on-location shoot in Connecticut – as the butler, just kicked his ass… in a great way. They arrived at this fancy mansion, knocked on the door, and this groundskeeper lectured at them not to smoke, drink or eat on the premises when Warrick interrupted archly with, “Well, if the sofas have slipcovers, can we f--k?” –Soap Opera Digest, “Willey’s Testament” by Mara Levinsky, October 9, 2007
Terri Ivens reprises Simone for November 1st in a ghostly scene with Kendall, at her wit’s end.
Melissa Claire Egan (Annie) used Leven Rambin’s Ava wig to convince executive producer Julie Hanan Carruthers to let her make a hair color change, from blonde to brunette. It took some convincing at first, but eventually TPTB saw the benefit and the ongoing story harmony – a lot of women do something drastic with their hair during stressful times, and Annie’s going through a lot of stress with the return of her psycho brother Richie. Besides, Annie turning into a brunette will distinguish her from her romantic rival Greenlee somewhat.
Victoria Clark goes on the show for October 18th as Sharon Borg, party planner for Jonathan and Ava’s wedding.
Taking over Alexa Havins’ (original, exited Babe) role could’ve been awkward, daunting and humiliating for recast Amanda Baker (Babe II; Jolene, GH: NS)… if this were anybody but Havins and Baker involved in a seamless before and after scene. (TPTB decided to debut the recast Babe in an unorthodox manner, with Havins going to embrace her on-screen mom, and then Baker finishing the embrace in the same scene.) It seemed everybody else watching over the scene was more worried and upset about the transition. Havins said she was fine with it, that Baker was cool, and the way TPTB handled her exit was respectful way beforehand (try sitting on that keg for months). She did infer that part of her reason for leaving after four years with AMC was a need to branch out, a need that wasn’t, couldn’t be met under ABC Daytime’s requirement for its young leading actors. “…I worked to the point where I was never allowed to do any of my outs; I could never do other projects,” she told Soap Opera Digest [Oct. 9]. “That was a hard thing, but it’s in the past and I understand it as a business decision. If I were running ABC, would I let my actor who’s working five days a week go do a movie? No, probably not.” As for the new actress inheriting such an intimidating part in such an intimidating situation, Baker was all positive, effusive, grateful. “I was actually very happy that I could be there with Alexa. She was just amazing, being that it was her last day. It was very emotional and I felt very privileged that I could be a part of that, just seeing all the support that she had and actually being able to tape with her [there].” Baker received support too, from Havins, who offered sound advice about enjoying the ride, Bobbie Eakes (Krystal), who welcomed her as a surrogate daughter, just as she had done with Havins, and the other cast members. Baker’s first taste of AMC came in the form of an audition with Jacob Young (JR) and Eakes after a cross-country flight from L.A. (where GH: NS is filmed) to New York, and then hearing the good news from her agent only days afterwards. Both Baker and her agent screamed their happiness.
If given a chance at penning a monthly column, Alicia Minshew (Kendall) would turn to what she knows, what she grew up with – nutrition. Blessed with a nutritionist and Pilates instructor for a mom, and a follower of an holistic, organic lifestyle herself, Minshew would have plenty to say in her own column, even though, she laughingly guessed many readers would find such subject matter a mite boring. Still, when fans inquire as to the maintenance of Minshew’s lovely figure, the actress is always eager to talk about her healthy lifestyle in person.
Last week, I made reference to Dancing With The Stars’ two professional dancers Alec Mazo and Edyta Sliwinska as boyfriend and girlfriend. A reader corrected me. Mazo and Sliwinska actually married last month, after having planned to marry earlier but postponing the date because of being busy on DWTS. Btw, Cameron Mathison (Ryan) made it past the 2nd round, despite a judge describing him as Superman with a little Clark Kent thrown in now and then during their dance.
Gossip for the week of 08-Oct-2007
by Carol Banks Weber
Tad will learn about his biological daughter Kate with the late Dixie for November Sweeps. Maybe. If you’re good and patient.
by Carol Banks Weber
Walt Willey (Jackson) has been on AMC for a long time, in background bit parts (Palmer’s butler, for example), even before he was given a major role as a lead (I’m wanting to say 1987, even though an online celeb resume site says 1990). But it has only been in the past five years where Willey said he has felt he has come into his own as an AMC soap actor, a person and a family man. It’s about maturity, contentment, learning to roll with punches, and there have been some punches. He doesn’t characterize any period, recent or in the past, as particularly “hard,” but rather, “just harder. Maybe I would have made different decisions, but this has always been a wonderful studio in which to work and wonderful people with whom to work.” Factor in TPTB’s letting Willey off to go on his comedy circuits, charities, other fan events, and really, the only problem that’s ever really raised its head had more to do with second-guessing his staying on for so long. To this existential-type question, Willey goes zen—a state he’s achieved only in the last five years. “If I wasn’t supposed to be here, I wouldn’t be here, and I’m really lucky to be here. That’s not for press only; we all grouse about this, that and the other thing, but I really like this place.”
During his soap period, the actor has been through tumultuous and triumphant times. Recognized by a stage manager’s husband and then-AMC executive producer (Steve Schenkel) as lead material, fired from Ryan’s Hope, making ends meet in book publishing, and trying out for a Lifetime show called Our (therapy) Group, fate conspired to catapult Willey into the hemisphere as one of AMC’s longest-running, most beloved vet (20 years and counting). After watching Susan Lucci (Erica) at work while pretending to serve drinks and what-not, Willey found himself hitting the chemistry goldmine shortly after introducing his new, lead character to hers, as Travis’s (Erica’s husband) brother. One producer at the time told Willey that TPTB had not planned to pair Jack and Erica up at all in the beginning. It was some time later during scenes of Jack and Erica’s adventure on a downed plane in the dessert that they changed their minds. Of all the faces, places and legends Willey’s had the privilege of working under, beside, alongside, near – and he’s met some of the greats from old-school show business – the late, great Ruth Warrick (ex-Phoebe) gave him some truly memorable thrills. She was the one who introduced Willey (“Ruth had it in her mind that I reminded her of the actors of the golden age of Hollywood, Leslie Howard crossed with Cary Grant”) to some of those show biz greats, including Ruby Keeler, Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart, Sean Connery, “the widow of the man who invented the wax carton that milk comes in – people I would never have met, places I would never have been, stories I would never have heard!” Willey explained. “I didn’t get into this business for the Michael Knights [Tad] – I didn’t know who Michael Knight was. But Ruth Warrick, Louis [ex-Langley; ex-Roger, Dark Shadows; ex-marijuana grower in Martha’s Vineyard] Edmonds, James Mitchell [Palmer] … That’s the Hollywood I got into the business for.” His first memorable experience with Warrick – an on-location shoot in Connecticut – as the butler, just kicked his ass… in a great way. They arrived at this fancy mansion, knocked on the door, and this groundskeeper lectured at them not to smoke, drink or eat on the premises when Warrick interrupted archly with, “Well, if the sofas have slipcovers, can we f--k?” –Soap Opera Digest, “Willey’s Testament” by Mara Levinsky, October 9, 2007
Terri Ivens reprises Simone for November 1st in a ghostly scene with Kendall, at her wit’s end.
Melissa Claire Egan (Annie) used Leven Rambin’s Ava wig to convince executive producer Julie Hanan Carruthers to let her make a hair color change, from blonde to brunette. It took some convincing at first, but eventually TPTB saw the benefit and the ongoing story harmony – a lot of women do something drastic with their hair during stressful times, and Annie’s going through a lot of stress with the return of her psycho brother Richie. Besides, Annie turning into a brunette will distinguish her from her romantic rival Greenlee somewhat.
Victoria Clark goes on the show for October 18th as Sharon Borg, party planner for Jonathan and Ava’s wedding.
Taking over Alexa Havins’ (original, exited Babe) role could’ve been awkward, daunting and humiliating for recast Amanda Baker (Babe II; Jolene, GH: NS)… if this were anybody but Havins and Baker involved in a seamless before and after scene. (TPTB decided to debut the recast Babe in an unorthodox manner, with Havins going to embrace her on-screen mom, and then Baker finishing the embrace in the same scene.) It seemed everybody else watching over the scene was more worried and upset about the transition. Havins said she was fine with it, that Baker was cool, and the way TPTB handled her exit was respectful way beforehand (try sitting on that keg for months). She did infer that part of her reason for leaving after four years with AMC was a need to branch out, a need that wasn’t, couldn’t be met under ABC Daytime’s requirement for its young leading actors. “…I worked to the point where I was never allowed to do any of my outs; I could never do other projects,” she told Soap Opera Digest [Oct. 9]. “That was a hard thing, but it’s in the past and I understand it as a business decision. If I were running ABC, would I let my actor who’s working five days a week go do a movie? No, probably not.” As for the new actress inheriting such an intimidating part in such an intimidating situation, Baker was all positive, effusive, grateful. “I was actually very happy that I could be there with Alexa. She was just amazing, being that it was her last day. It was very emotional and I felt very privileged that I could be a part of that, just seeing all the support that she had and actually being able to tape with her [there].” Baker received support too, from Havins, who offered sound advice about enjoying the ride, Bobbie Eakes (Krystal), who welcomed her as a surrogate daughter, just as she had done with Havins, and the other cast members. Baker’s first taste of AMC came in the form of an audition with Jacob Young (JR) and Eakes after a cross-country flight from L.A. (where GH: NS is filmed) to New York, and then hearing the good news from her agent only days afterwards. Both Baker and her agent screamed their happiness.
If given a chance at penning a monthly column, Alicia Minshew (Kendall) would turn to what she knows, what she grew up with – nutrition. Blessed with a nutritionist and Pilates instructor for a mom, and a follower of an holistic, organic lifestyle herself, Minshew would have plenty to say in her own column, even though, she laughingly guessed many readers would find such subject matter a mite boring. Still, when fans inquire as to the maintenance of Minshew’s lovely figure, the actress is always eager to talk about her healthy lifestyle in person.
Last week, I made reference to Dancing With The Stars’ two professional dancers Alec Mazo and Edyta Sliwinska as boyfriend and girlfriend. A reader corrected me. Mazo and Sliwinska actually married last month, after having planned to marry earlier but postponing the date because of being busy on DWTS. Btw, Cameron Mathison (Ryan) made it past the 2nd round, despite a judge describing him as Superman with a little Clark Kent thrown in now and then during their dance.
Gossip for the week of 08-Oct-2007
by Carol Banks Weber
Tad will learn about his biological daughter Kate with the late Dixie for November Sweeps. Maybe. If you’re good and patient.