Interview: 2008 — The Year in Review

Just like in the world of soaps, a lot can happen in a year in the life of a soap-opera actor. Let’s take a look back at some of the things that stood out in 2008:

Luke Perry (pictured, ex-Dylan, Beverly Hills, 90210): “There are certain things I wanna do before I’m done. I want to run on top of a train. If the script says I get to run on top of a train, I’ll do it. I accepted a role a while back — my manager didn’t want me to because it wasn’t that good — but the script called for running on top of a train. I didn’t care, I wanted to do it, so I took the role. The movie ended up falling through, though, which I guess was good.”

Andrea Evans (Tina, One Life to Live): “So much has changed since I’ve been gone. I am excited to find out where Tina has been all this time. She is such a glamorous, over-the-top character — I really have fun playing her. Tina is someone that so many people can identify with. I love her spirit. She is such an underdog. She tries so hard, and yet she almost always screws it up.”

Antonio Sabato Jr. (Jagger, General Hospital: Night Shift): “Working with the cast, old and new, has been wonderful. It’s great seeing Kimberly (McCullough) again and working with her. I remember working with her when she was 16, and now she’s 30. I also worked with a director I used to work with — it’s like family. It really is like coming home.”

Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe, Days of Our Lives): “She was always very likable, but she was a damsel in distress. And she is human. No one stays the same their whole life. I love the sassy Chloe. And I especially love all the catfights with Nicole. A lot of people are happy for me as Nadia the actress, because I get to play new sides to Chloe.”

Sharon Case (Sharon, The Young and the Restless): “I’m glad there are those who feel that way (want Nick and Sharon back together). If there weren’t, then they wouldn’t care so much about the current story line. The conflict wouldn’t be there, and no one would want to watch. I also think this is something that we all can relate to: being with one person that you love and longing to be with another who you’ve loved longer and who really is your soul mate. It’s a tragic love story.”

Texas Battle (Marcus, The Bold and the Beautiful): “You always hear the cliché about soaps and how it’s not real, and how the acting is not real. Well, I have to say that the people I’ve met are the nicest, kindest people, and they really know their stuff. This is the same hard work that people put into other TV and film projects. If you’re good, you’re good. Period. And these people are good.”

Tristan Rogers (Robert, GH: NS): “Night Shift is a different version of General Hospital, no question about that. It gets back, in some respects, more to the roots of the show. I wasn’t around when the show first started, but it would certainly seem to touch on a lot of those themes of when the show first originated. It has a great entertainment value. Fans basically get to see another version of the show. We get to see a lot more of the medical side; we don’t go outside the world of the hospital. While we are in the same building, it definitely is different.”

Lesli Kay (Felicia, B&B): “Susan Flannery (Stephanie Forrester) is the best. She is my momma. I spend every holiday with her. She took me under her wing and there was mutual respect right off the bat. I love Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke Logan) too. She’s my best friend here. As far as the rest of the cast, they are the most caring, loving, supportive people I’ve ever met. I’m very lucky to be on B&B.”

Interview: (NS) Jagger Returns to Port Charles

Antonio Sabato Jr. left General Hospital 13 years ago. In the time since, his fans have hardly forgotten him. He went on to stints on The Bold and the Beautiful and Melrose Place. Most recently, he won NBC’s Celebrity Circus, beating out the likes of supermodel Rachel Hunter and Christopher Knight of The Brady Bunch.

Now, however, after years of begging, GH viewers have finally gotten their wish: Jagger has returned to Port Charles in SOAPnet’s second season of General Hospital: Night Shift, which airs Tuesday nights at 11 p.m. ET/PT.

What prompted Antonio’s return to his old stomping grounds? Simple: They asked. “Before this, General Hospital had never come to me about coming back. My career was elsewhere; I was doing different things. But they came to me about it this year, and I realized that I really wanted to bring Jagger back, and the fans really wanted him to come back. The fan base has been unbelievable!”

Antonio also feels that Jagger’s return fits in well with where he currently is in his life. “It felt perfect,” Antonio says. “He comes home with his son, he’s more mature; I can relate to him in my own life, because I have two children myself.”

He was also excited to be returning to GH via Night Shift. Antonio explains: “Night Shift is a great show. It takes General Hospital to a whole new level. We have 13 episodes; we know where we are going and what the story arc will be.

“I am very excited and driven to make this a success. Everyone involved is so enthusiastic and energetic. I am just so thankful to be a part of it. The whole idea of the nighttime spin-off is great. It brings soaps to a whole new level.”

Fans will get to see a new side of Jagger. Yes, he is still drop-dead gorgeous, but now he is a father. “As we already found out in the first couple of shows, he comes back with Stone, who has autism. That’s what he struggles with. He’d do anything for his son. At first he can’t believe his son’s diagnosis, and he doesn’t want to accept it. Although eventually he does – he is driven and he has a big heart. Robin (Scorpio, played by Kimberly McCullough) helps him out a lot.”

Antonio also hints at a possible love interest for Jagger. “Throughout the process, he will get together with someone,” he teases.

It wasn’t difficult for Antonio to step back into Jagger’s shoes. “It was like going back home. This part, this situation – I like to put myself in that place. And I bring a lot of myself into it.

Working with the cast, old and new, has been wonderful. “It’s great seeing Kimberly again and working with her. I remember working with her when she was 16, and now she’s 30. I also worked with a director I used to work with – it’s like family. It really is like coming home.”

The Acrobatic Antonio Sabato Jr.

We've all been talking about Antonio Sabato Jr.'s return to Port Charles on SOAPnet's General Hospital: Night Shift, but you may not know that he has been kicking butt on NBC's Celebrity Circus. Check out his most recent appearance.



Catch him tonight at 10/9c on NBC!

Tristan Rogers, Antonio Sabato Jr. Join GH: Night Shift

PRESS RELEASE

Brian Frons, president, Daytime, Disney ABC Television Group, today announced that two award-winning actors, Antonio Sabato Jr. and Tristan Rogers, will reprise the roles they created for General Hospital of Jagger Cates and Robert Scorpio, respectively, for the second season of General Hospital: Night Shift. The SOAPnet series, which is the network’s most-watched of all time, follows the lives of doctors, nurses and patients as they embark on journeys of self discovery, love and heartache. The season premiere is TUESDAY, JULY 22 at 11:00 p.m., ET/PT on SOAPnet.

In other casting news, Billy Dee Williams (Touissant Dubois), Kimberly McCullough (Dr. Robin Scorpio), Jason Thompson (Dr. Patrick Drake) and Sonya Eddy (Epiphany Johnson) will be back for the show’s sophomore season. In addition, other members of the cast include Adam Grimes as Dr. Kyle Julian, Carrie Southworth as Dr. Claire Simpson, Ethan Rains as Dr. Leo Julian (he is taking over the role from his real-life brother, Dominic, who was unavailable for Season 2) and Azita Ghanizada as Dr. Saira Batra.

In storyline, Jagger will return to Port Charles after a 13-year absence with his five-year-old son, Stone, in tow. He will reconnect with Robin (Kimberly McCullough), meet some new residents – including Robin’s boyfriend Patrick (Jason Thompson) – along the way and, most importantly, face a difficult internal struggle as he grows emotionally as a man and a father. As for Scorpio, the super spy will have to face the fact that he is getting older and his health is failing. Upon his arrival in town, he’ll check into the hospital as a patient where his daughter, Robin, will be providing his care. Father and daughter will struggle to figure out their relationship as grown adults.

“It is very exciting to kick off the second season with casting two accomplished actors who will undoubtedly bring their A-game to the series,” said Frons. “Because of their own histories with the original top-rated show, the audience will be able to immediately connect with them and their characters’ upcoming storylines.”

On the casting of Sabato, executive producer Lisa De Cazotte adds: “I couldn't be happier to have Antonio Sabato, Jr. join us this season, as he will bring so much to this season because of Jagger's complex character and for the obvious natural charm he brings to the screen.” Head writer Sri Rao continues, “Antonio is a true star. We are proud that he can trace his roots to ‘GH’ and see it as befitting for him to return to Port Charles in the legendary role that helped propel his career.”

As for Rogers, Rao enthusiastically says: “I am thrilled that Tristan will be returning to reprise his iconic role, and I can guarantee fans that they will not be disappointed. Robert’s storyline will be heartfelt, funny and robust.” De Cazotte continues, “Tristan’s return to Port Charles will come with an important story for his character and for his daughter, Robin, that promises to be compelling and touching.”

Mr. Sabato originally created and played the role of Jagger Cates on ABC’s top rated daytime drama, General Hospital. After leaving the show in 1995, he continued work in a variety of different projects for film and television, including The Bold and the Beautiful, Melrose Place, Charmed and Becker, and is currently seen in the successful summer series Celebrity Circus. (Check him out here on The Wheel of Death.)

Mr. Rogers originally created and played the role of Robert Scorpio on General Hospital more than two decades ago. An accomplished actor, other appearances in his acting career include feature films and television series Opportunity Knocks, Family Law, The Wild Thornberrys, V.I.P. and The Bold and the Beautiful.

NAACP Image Awards Nominations

This just in from "Days of Our Lives":

James Reynolds (Abe Carver) has been nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series. The other nominees are, Antonio Sabato Jr (B&B), Bryton McClure (Y&R), Kristoff St. John (Y&R) and Michael B. Jordan (AMC).

The awards will be televised Live on Friday, March 2nd on FOX.

For a complete listing of all nominees, go to: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=2783056.

Congratulations and good luck to all the nominees!