Deep Soap: Let’s Party!

By Sara A. Bibel
Fancast.com

Here’s more from my chats with the stars at last Monday night’s Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) bash in honor of this year’s Daytime Emmy Nominees:

The Bold & The Beautiful
Robin Riker Reveals Why She Left NY for The Bold & The Beautiful
The acclaimed actress whose credits include starring roles on several primetime shows joins The Bold & The Beautiful later this summer in the pivotal role of Beth Logan, matriarch of the Logan family. Robin Riker explains why she chose to leave NYC, where she worked steadily in the theater, for B&B: “I had a talk with Brad Bell, the Executive Producer and he made it sound like such a lovely invitation. And I love to accept invitations.” Riker shares that Jack Wagner’s character, Nick, persuades the absentee mother to visit her children. “Nick strong-arms her into coming home. It’s a lovely, tearful but conflicted reunion. One of the things I love about soap operas is that you see both the private space and the public space [of the characters.] What you see her doing I public, is very different from what you see her struggling with privately, so that will be the interesting reveal.”

Jacqueline Wood Does Double Duty
Jacqueline Wood is living the Hollywood dream. The Canadian native came to Los Angeles to try her luck during pilot season. The Bold & The Beautiful was her very first audition – and she landed the key role of ingénue Steffi Forrester. Viewers will also get to see a completely different side of the actress. Her former show, MVP, has its U.S. premiere on ABC following the Emmys before moving to SoapNet. Wood described her MVP character: “I play Ava the bitchy Hockey bunny.” Wood is enjoying her transition to daytime. She likes working with fellow newbie Texas Battle. Says Woods of her on-screen love interest, “We just know each other. We’re on the same page. The chemistry is awesome with us.”

Texas Battle Is Hot For His Mom
Texas Battle (Marcus) was referring, of course, to his on-screen mother Jennifer Gareis (Donna Logan.) The actor admits he was surprised to learn his character’s mother is young, gorgeous – and Caucasian. According to Battle, Gareis was surprised too, for an entirely different reason. At the initial casting sessions, “Jennifer thought they were casting her love interest. But she came to find out they were casting her son. She was like, whoa, who is he? Then I showed up.” Battle’s real-life Mom happens to be a B&B fan. She was understandably excited when her son got the part. “My Mom was like, ‘Who’s your Mom? Who’s your Mom?’ I said, you’ve seen her already. It’s Donna. My Mom said, ‘But she’s so young and she’s so beautiful! You make sure you tell Jennifer who your real Mom is!’” Check out my full-length interview with Battle in Friday’s column.

Days Of Our Lives
Bryan Datillo Is Ready To Make Out With James Scott
Days of Our Lives’ Lucas-Sami-EJ triangle is heating up now that Lucas has been released from prison. I asked Datillo what viewers could anticipate. “Lots of lovemaking, lots of kissing. With Sami or without her. I really don’t care. It’s all about romance in daytime and I’m willing to play my part. Whatever I have to do to make that happen. “ I jokingly asked if that meant we could look forward to love scenes between Lucas and EJ. Datillo was surprisingly game. “Whatever it takes. It’s all about ratings. I’m not afraid of the on-screen kiss.”

Judi Evans is Thrilled About Her Emmy Nomination
Days of Our Lives Judi Evans has played roles ranging from Guiding Light’s good-girl Beth to Another World’s feisty Paulina. This year she’s nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress for playing two-different characters – the wild Bonnie Lockhart and a the sweet, sensitive Adrienne Kiriakis. Evans reveals that she was shocked to learn she was nominated. “I kept thinking they must mean some other Evans, because it couldn’t possibly be me. But there was a lot of joy in [the moment] too.” When the character of Bonnie left the show, Evans had no idea she’s soon be asked back to reprise Adrienne, a character she portrayed during the 1980s. The combination proved to be an ideal Emmy submission tape. Evans says, “Honestly, I wasn’t sure whether I was up to the challenge [of playing both roles.] But it was written well, it was produced well.” She enjoyed reuniting with her on-screen brother Steve, played by Stephen Nichols. “Just looking in his eyes, and I was back [as Adrienne.]” Being a huge AW fan, I had to ask whether she was still in touch with Tom Eplin, who played her love interest Jake. She said she hadn’t spoken to him in years, but, she loved working with him. “You couldn’t bring your B-game ever. You had to bring your A-game. I miss that kind of challenge.”

Leann Hunley Appreciates Thaao Penglis’s Passion
The fan-favorite, who plays Anna DiMera on DOOL, was initially only supposed to make a short term return to the show. But the audience response was so positive that she was soon back in Salem for good. Hunley is thrilled that her on-screen husband, Thaao Penghlis, (Tony DiMera) is nominated for Best Leading Actor. “It’s well deserved because he brings such depth and passion to the characters he’s playing.” Hunley admits she’d like Anna to mix it up with the other DiMeras. “I want back in the Dimera mansion.” I couldn’t resist asking her about her infamous role as the teacher who deflowered Pacey Witter on Dawson’s Creek. Hunley laughed. “Somebody had to be his first woman! I was a bit nervous because he was a little younger. Normally, I don’t even talk to guys [that age.]”

General Hospital
Carolyn Hennesy Pitches A General Hospital Spin-off
General Hospital viewers love Carolyn Hennesy’s portrayal of mob lawyer Diane Miller. If GH ever decides to produce a second spin-off, she’s got a great idea. “Miller and Davis, Attorneys At Law. Alexis and Diane would clean up Port Charles and have Spinelli as our personal private detective. Can’t you just see Nancy and I forced to do undercover work in black catsuits!” SoapNet execs, are you listening? This is a show I would watch religiously.

Brandon Barash Dreams of Italy
Brandon Barash, GH’s sexy Johnny Zacharra is excited about attending his first awards show. He still hasn’t found the perfect tux to wear to the festivities. “It’s still up in the air. I’m off on Friday and I think that will be my shopping day.” Barash has high praise for his co-star Julie Berman. ‘She’s a generous person and a generous actress.” Barash has a great idea for Johnny’s future storyline. ‘It would be a location shoot in Italy about absolutely anything.”