Nelson Branco's SOAP OPERA UNCENSORED: Issue 47 Read online

Stafford for frequently colouring her hair during inappropriate storyline moments and Joshua Morrow for growing out his hair. Oh, and Jen Landon for hating us so much she changed her hair colour, too.

  Winner: Peter Porte for delivering one helluva an unforgettable tour-de-force performance as Ricky became unhinged.

  Loser: Yvonne Zima returned.

  Winner: Doug Davidson securing his Supporting Actor Emmy nomination — and likely win — with a gripping performance worthy of Tricia Cast.

  Loser: This storyline has aged the actor about twenty years practically overnight. The man does not look well!

  Winner: Frustrated viewers are getting a totally new and updated opening sequence, which is currently being shot.

  Loser: Michael Damian still looks gayer than ever. And he still can’t act.

  Winner: Jeanne Cooper’s tell-all memoir, RESTLESS, NOT YOUNG is a NEW YORK TIMES Best Seller — and a must-read.

  Loser: Kate Linder. She was exposed in the book for suggesting the writers kill off Katherine Chancellor so Esther could inherit her boss’s fortune!

  Winner: Jess Walton for taking a self-imposed sabbatical so she didn’t have to waste her precious life and time acting out Maria Arena Bell’s hacky plots.

  Loser: Everything about Catherine Bach.

  News & Views

  SOAPILEAKS: SPECIAL Y&R EDITION

  THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS — The New Normal!

  • Lights, camera, bloodbath! As UNCENSORED reported way back in July, Sony and CBS have finally begun to axe their way through the bloated Y&R cast. And new executive producer Jill Farren Phelps is knee deep in white blood cells after firing Genie Francis, Debbi Morgan and Marcy Rylan this past week.

  But don’t blame the controversial former GH producer for these expected cuts.

  At this point, all the departures are CBS-Sony dictated.

  “The bloodbath began in May when Sony switched Eileen Davidson over to DAYS,” explains a source. “Then, Y&R got rid of Kevin Schmidt, Julia Pace [Mitchell] was bumped to recurring and then, of course, Debbi, Genie and [Marcy] were fired.”

  UNCENSORED has learned that roughly a dozen actors will be fired by the time all is said and terminated. So brace yourself Y&R fans, the firings are not stopping any time soon.

  “It’s not personal,” sighs another mole. “It’s a matter of whose contract or thirteen-week cycle expires first. Those stars will more than likely be out next — unless they are on the safe list that Sony and CBS have already agreed upon.”

  Case in point: Surprisingly, Darnell Williams could be safe assert sources, despite the fact that the former AMC Emmy winner was on the original cut list. Griffith is rumoured to be casting Sarge’s son, too, as a love interest for Lily, to further cement Williams on the canvas.

  While astute UNCENSORED readers aren’t surprised over the consecutive firings of Emmy winners, Genie Francis and Debbi Morgan, the soap community collectively gasped when SOAP OPERA DIGEST reported that one of the show’s most beloved and talented younger actresses, Marcy Rylan, who is involved in the show’s only new “it” pairing opposite Marco Dapper, was let go.

  What. The. Fuck.

  Here’s the story only UNCENSORED can tell you.

  The role will not be recast.

  Rylan’s contract was simply up next.

  The character may return in the future but, as a source explains, “Maria did so much fiscal damage that they have to start saving money as soon as they can. Again, this isn’t personal.”

  Indeed. It’s also important to note that the firings, including Francis’s, have been amicable.

  “Y&R is in the red,” continues the insider. “In fact, Y&R is one of — if not the most — overcast show in Hollywood history — all during an economic recession. [Conversely], with the exception of our show, all the other soap casts are dwindling.”

  “Maria is a collector,” continues the mole. “She likes shiny new things — which is why she’s a great art collector. But when she gets bored with a new acquisition, she moves on and acquires something else — but she doesn’t get rid of anything. Instead, she stores everything. That’s what she did with us.”

  So who’s next?

  DAYTIME CONFIDENTIAL is reporting that three-time Emmy winner Jen Landon will be out soon.

  Also, UNCENSORED has it on good authority that Stephen Nichols, who in the foreseeable future is virtually in no scripts, will more than likely be one of the next stars to be given his walking papers.

  “Stephen’s probably really scared,” offers an insider. “He was assured by Maria that Eileen Davidson’s departure would only mean more story for him — not less. So this whole regime change has him nervous since Sony/CBS wants most of the soap hoppers out.”

  Speculation is rampant among the show’s nervous cast. Possible casualties are Emmy winner Greg Rikaart, Elizabeth Hendrickson, Missy Claire Egan, Emmy winner Jeff Branson, Blake Hood (who is appearing on VAMPIRE DIARIES) and Jessica Heap. Also, don’t be surprised if hot newcomer Marco Dapper will be leaving. Opines a source, “He’s recurring so I doubt he’s a priority but with Em leaving….”

  Meanwhile, two popular actors, Emmy winner Billy Miller and Michael Graziadei, are bolting of their own volition, whispers DAYTIME CONFIDENTIAL.

  At Sony’s insistence, Miller extended his contract until November to film a TV Movie of the Week Down Under this past summer, as UNCENSORED exclusively reported; Graz also added an additional six months to his contract, according to DC.

  As for the topsy-turvy future of Christel Khalil, who is still in contract negotiations, anyone’s guess is good as mine because no one is talking about the popular actress.

  “The Emmy went straight to her head this past summer,” scoffs a co-star. “God Bless her little heart: She gave a list of demands to Sony when negotiating. That was the wrong thing to do at the wrong time. But no one knows how well or badly the talks are going. The fans flying a plane overhead our studios [in support of the actress] didn’t do Christel any favours.”

  Another hot topic in the halls of Y&R is whether or not CBS/Sony would take on a behind-the-scenes nightmare during such a tenuous time by bringing back Victoria Rowell.

  “As far as I know, that is not happening. More than likely, it’s dead,” punctuates a high-place insider. “But Vicki will always keep working behind-the-scenes to change their minds.”

  UNCENSORED was surprised to learn a lukewarm actress and relative newcomer to Y&R is staying put — and the show has big plans for her.

  FYI: Some actors on Sony/CBS’s hit list may take some time to get rid of because a select few stars have 26-week cycles in their contracts not the standard 13-week cycle.

  “Unfortunately actors are not being let go from a priority standpoint,” confirms an insider. “Just in order of contract cycles and expiries.”

  • Next to the Y&R Bloodbath sweeping daytime, the next big topic fans are buzzing about is when the heck the serial’s updated opening credits will debut. Well, hold on to your seats, soapers: It’s still happening but the revamp is on the bottom of the priority list as of press time. Originally, vets were not being re-shot, just new actors; but now the show is starting from scratch and filming new shots of everyone on the cast. Apparently, CBS, who requested the update, is eager for its entire line-up to have strong and fresh openings. More than likely, Y&R will want to cut down its cast first before producing its updated opener. Makes sense.

  • Is it Oct. 12 yet? This past Friday, Y&R shot Josh Griffith’s first script — and everything went off successfully. Yep, executive producer Jill Farren Phelps, known for her absentee management style in the past, was “on the set working her ass off! She was problem solving and helping to avoid conflicts before they even happened.”

  Which is very welcomed considering, “Maria was never on set,” says an actor. “Actually, she was rarely even in the building! Her tenure was empty to say the least. We have been devoid of a leader for a couple of years ever si
nce she fired Paul Rauch, who was almost always on the floor and in the control booth.”

  • Life on The D List: Even with Maria Arena Bell, Y&R continues to cast former sitcom stars. This time, THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR patriarch James Avery will visit Genoa City as a Judge. Yep, buzz is that he will be involved in Phyllis’s upcoming trial. Don’t look for it to drag on, though.

  • The revolving door is in full swing over at TV City: Newcomer Cooper Harris revealed on Twitter that she has joined daytime’s number-one serial. Word is she will be involved with Cane and Lily. The character used to be referred to in Maria’s old scripts as “Mystery Woman” but, now with Josh Griffith at the helm, who the Hell knows whom Harris is playing now.

  Shhh!

  SOAP OPERA MYSTERY HOUR

  This week’s hottest blind items!

  • Which Emmy winner was actually going to be fired if he/she didn’t change his/her attitude on set?

  • Which popular star will soon be thrown on the backburner?

  • Which popular actor is returning to his original soap opera stomping grounds despite the fact that he is currently on another soap?

  The Idiot Ratings

  NIELSEN MILK: Sept. 3-7/12

  No Need To Worry About GH! Ciao, KATIE!

  This Just In: Below are the ratings for the first week of September, but here’s a sneak peek into next week’s ratings report: According to numeric genius Marc Berman of MEDIA INSIGHTS, preliminary data for the week of Sept. 10 shows that GH triumphed by switching timeslots (when did that ever happen before on daytime?) earning an average 2.3 rating (on Monday, it hit an impressive 2.5)! Meanwhile, after a promising first episode, as expected, KATIE lost almost 40 percent of her audience going down to a 1.7 in GH’s former timeslot. $80 million well spent, ABC! Not. Now all together: Bring back AMC and ONE LIFE!

  Numbers are based on Live+Same Day ratings

  (Compared to Last Week/Compared to Last Year)

  Courtesy SOAP OPERA NETWORK

  Total Viewers

  1. Y&R 4,298,000 (-41,000/-333,000)

  2. B&B 3,198,000 (+87,000/+207,000)

  3. GH 2,561,000 (-100,000/+66,000)

  4. DAYS 2,458,000 (-113,000/-101,000)

  Households

  1. Y&R 3.2/11 (-.2/-.2)

  2. B&B 2.5/8 (+.1/+.3)

  3. DAYS 1.9/6 (-.1/+.1)

  3. GH 1.9/6 (-.1/same)

  Women 18-49 Viewers

  1. Y&R 812,000 (+8,000/-104,000)

  2. GH 608,000 (-18,000/-121,000)

  3. B&B 575,000 (-25,000/+23,000)

  4. DAYS 479,000 (-52,000/-92,000)

  Women 18-49 Rating

  1. Y&R 1.3/9 (same/-.1)

  2. GH 1.0/6 (same/-.1)

  3. B&B 0.9/6 (same/same)

  4. DAYS 0.7/5 (-.1/-.2)