Deep Soap: General Hospital Stars Paint The School Red…and Yellow

Saturday the stars of General Hospital teamed up with soap fans to volunteer at the Ramona Avenue elementary school in East Hollywood. Everyone worked together to cover drab buildings with colorful murals.

According to SoapNet Director of Marketing promotions Erin Weir, “We took two things that were happening and merged them into this event. The Entertainment Industry Foundation had this whole week called I Participate encouraging volunteerism across the country with all their shows. We on our side have Soap Nation, which is our initiative to bring our actors and fans together. I thought why can’t we combine those things together? So we partnered with City Year and they got us this great place and we brought our soap stars and our soap fans together to work together to do painting and gardening. It’s a unique fan experience.” The results were fantastic. A lot of children are in for a wonderful surprise Monday morning.

Dominic Zaprogna Is Charitable But Not Cheesy

Why did you decide to be a part of this volunteer day?

When I lived in Vancouver I did Meals on Wheels once a week. I haven’t been able to do it [here.] It felt good to do it. I donate to a lot of charities but I don’t, because of the schedule, actually get to come out and do stuff. I just like doing stuff. I’m not trying to be a cheesy person saying that. It feels good for selfish reasons. You come out and do stuff and see the difference you’re making.

Were you tempted to paint CO77X on a wall?

No! Because I don’t even know enough about it yet. I just know that I keep seeing it and it rings a bell for my character.

Have you had a chance to work with Jonathan Jackson or James Franco yet?

I don’t even know who James Franco is. All I care about is Dante Falconari. I met Jonathan the other day. He is a really, really nice guy which fits the mold of our whole show. Everyone seems to be really, really great people. It’s a great place to work for that reason.

What do you think is going to happen when Dante finally learns that Sonny is his father?

Me and Maurice talked about that the other day. Neither of us really know A) what is going to happen or B) when it’s going to happen. The fall out from it… I can see it being the first time in Dante’s life that he has a huge falling out and disagreement with his mother who is like a best friend to him. It will be a huge shift on his whole outlook on who she is and their relationship because he’ll find out she’s kept a secret from him his whole life.

When is Lulu going to loosen up and give Dante a chance?

I think there’s going to be a few things that are going to happen where Lulu will start to maybe see that he’s not just another mob guy.

I’m interested in the relationship that’s developed between Dante and Jax.

We were talking about that, too. Neither of us really like each other but he did something to make my job possible and Jax is definitely doing it because he wants Sonny locked up. It’s funny. We’ve got a few scenes where he’s now kind of getting in my way. He’s helping to a certain extent but then it becomes not helping.

Kelly Monaco Takes Issue With James Franco’s Character’s Name

Why did you decide to volunteer today?

I had nothing to do today so I decided to lend a helping hand to an underprivileged school that needed my time and effort. I thought it would be the perfect thing to do on a Saturday morning.

Do you do other volunteer work?

Yes. I do as much as I can as often as I can. I just got back from Africa with the Feed the Children program. November 7th I’ll be at a high school for a celebrity basketball tournament.

Are Jason and Sam finally going to publicly acknowledge that they’re dating?

I’m sure at some point they’re not going to be able to get around it but right now they’re not even admitting to each other that they’re dating. They don’t want to talk about it, but they just know it’s right.

Have you worked with Jonathan Jackson yet?

I have worked with Jonathan since he returned. Just minimally. I knew of him [before]. I had just never had the pleasure of working with him. He’s fantastic and he brings a different energy to the character. I miss Greg [Vaughn] dearly. He is one of my very, very, very good friends and it is unfortunate that [he lost] his job. They’re both great.

Do you have any James Franco scoop?

All I know is that his name is Franco on the show.

They do that a lot on GH. Dominic is playing Dominic.

I don’t like that at all. I’m sure it’s for a reason and they like it, obviously, but I just think it’s weird. I would hate to be called Monaco.

You say that, and next week you’re going to find out there will be a storyline where Jason goes to Monaco with Sam.

See, that’s funny. But I don’t know. Maybe it’s for a reason and I don’t know anything yet.

Brandon Barash Reveals The Secret of His Steamy Love Scenes

Why did you decide to spend your Saturday painting?

Because I have many Saturdays in my life and it’s important to give back to the community whenever we can.

Do you do other volunteer work?

I do volunteer work for MDA, the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Claudia’s tenure on GH is coming to an end. How is her departure going to impact Johnny?

It’s going to be interesting. I can’t go into too many details. It’s going to challenge his character a lot.

Have you worked with Jonathan Jackson yet?

I haven’t had a chance to work with him. I’ve talked to him. He seems like a great guy. I’ve watched him work. He’s immensely talented.

I’ve got to ask about James Franco and CO377X.

Haven’t met him, don’t know what it stands for, but excited that he’s going to be part of the family for a little bit.

Are Johnny and Olivia going to last, or is Sonny going to get in the way?

As long as it’s a soap opera, there’s always going to be something in the way.

You and Lisa LoCicero have some very steamy love scenes. What’s the secret to your sizzling on screen chemistry?

I don’t know if there is a secret. We go for it. We don’t really hold back. We just let what’s going to happen, happen.

Leslie Charleson Thinks It’s Time Monica Had An Affair

Why did you come out here on this beautiful Saturday morning?

It’s a chance for us to give back. We get an awful lot. To do something physical to give back and not just have it be a charity, I just think it’s the greatest thing in the world.

Are we going to see more of Monica on GH? The fans would like that.

I would certainly love them to see more of her. That would be great for me. But we’ll have to wait and see. They’re bringing somebody in that’s going to be Chief of Staff.

Shouldn’t that be Monica’s job?

As far as I know, and I admit that it makes sense, they’ve decided that she would rather devote her time to surgery.

I think it’s high time that Monica had a torrid affair.

I’m with you on that one.

Who do you think her next conquest show be, if you could pick any man on GH?

(Laughing) It’s been such a long time. Who do you think?

Monica needs someone fiery like Alan was so I can sort of see someone like Johnny or Dante, since they’re here…

That’s okay. Yeah. I have no problem with that. Now it’s just all you guys convincing the writers that’s the way to go.

Carolyn Hennesy Talks Shoes And Cougartown

Why did you want to spend this beautiful Saturday painting?

I’m playing with purple and green. It’s real simple. It’s something Leslie Charlseon and I have been discussing. We just get given so much that if we don’t give back… we have to. It’s incumbent upon us. It’s also fun. It’s great exercise. You meet some fabulous people. There are fans out here. It’s more exercise than I do in a week. My legs are going to be screaming tomorrow morning, but it’s great.

So, now that Diane has returned to Port Charles, what’s going on with her and Max?

They’re estranged. They are not speaking to each other right now, so we are going to see how that plays out. Diane thinks something’s happening with ADA Addison with the bad shoes. I don’t even think she’s horrified by the fact that Max is seeing another woman. It’s [that it's] another woman with such bad taste.

It would be spectacularly stupid of Max to date a district attorney.

Exactly. You think mobster, district attorney. Is that a conflict of interest there? What do you think? I have a feeling that all is not lost for the lovebirds.

Diane pitched Alexis my dream storyline of the two of them becoming a legal team. Is there any chance it will happen?

We’ve got to talk to Bob [Guza] because it was almost like they were teasing. It would be like the same kind of tease for me as an actress as if someone said to me, “Oh, and Spinelli’s going to be your son.” It’s like putting an apple in front of a horse. What are you doing Bob? Is this really going to happen? I wish it would. I think a Diane Miller/Alexis Davis law firm — of course Nancy would probably say Alexis Davis/Diane Miller law firm, but a shingle with those two names would be terrific.

The writers might be afraid. Nobody could ever win against them because no one can out-argue Diane and Alexis.

Exactly. We basically have all the judges in our pockets. We’d just go out for drinks all the time.

Does Diane really get to wear great shoes?

Yes, she does.

What are your favorites?

I don’t even check the labels. I don’t think they originally started out as Diane’s shoes, but I think there is a pair of Jimmy Choos. If they go missing from wardrobe, you should check my closet.

Are you going to be in any more episodes of Cougar Town?

I’m going to be on next week. We are on hiatus this coming week and then I think I go back.

Congratulations on the full season pick-up.

And a really nice blurb in Entertainment Weekly that says we’re a must-see, page 6 with my little punum right there!

Now that you are a big primetime star, have you demanded a larger dressing room?

You bet. I’m taking over Tony Geary’s when he’s not there. And when he’s there we have to share. No, they can give me a broom closet and I’m fine.

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