Interview Outtakes

Most of the time when I am conducting an interview with a soap star, I have more interview material than space for printing the interview. Here are some blurbs from stars that did not make it to the print version of the interview, but were too good not to publish.

Dominic Zamprogna, pictured (Dante Falconeri, “General Hospital”), on working with James Franco: He’s great. He’s just a really nice guy and he’s a really passionate guy, interesting guy. He’s able to do a lot right now cause he’s been blessed with some great things happening in his career, and he’s taking advantage of it. There are a lot of people in his situation who don’t want as much as he wants or to accomplish what he wants to accomplish. He’s grabbing life and fulfilling whatever he wants to fulfill, which is amazing. There should be more people out there doing what he is doing. I think James just realized that [being on a soap opera] was something he wanted to try, and why not? He doesn’t care what people think, otherwise he wouldn’t do half the stuff he’s doing. I think that’s the problem with a lot of actors these days. They do it for the wrong reasons, and they’re losing sight of what matters. You’re not supposed to be doing this so you can get famous; you’re supposed to be doing this because it’s a fire burning inside of you and you have a passion to do this. I can say that’s why almost everybody on this show is doing it, and that’s definitely why James wanted to be a part of it.

Jennie Garth (ex-Kelly Taylor, “90210”), on husband/actor Peter Facinelli: “My husband is such a serious guy most of the time, but he's funny. Makes me laugh, I know that. I love that part of us when we're having fun together. Whenever we come to a crossroads and we are like, “Marriage sucks and it's hard,” I can always come back to, “But you make me laugh so much.” I don't want to end that.

Luke Perry (ex-Dylan McKay, “90210”), on his aversion to Twitter: “We live in a world where people are obsessed with the cult of Twitter, where they have to jump on and tweet every damn thing that happens. And they all have followers. Think about it: This is a media-generated thing where everybody can have followers. I question people who want to have a bunch of followers, and that presumes that they themselves are, what, the leader? I’m not buying into any of that. It’s so weird that everybody wants to tweet and everything, and I’m like, why don’t you just go and do it? I can’t do that – I like to do.

James Reynolds (Abe Carver, “Days of Our Lives”), on working with armed-forces veterans: “I started working with the active duty military about 12 years ago, working with the U.S.O. and with armed forces entertainment. It kind of took me back to those years ago when I was a young Marine serving overseas, and I began to recognize that in this country we ask a very, very small percentage — we don’t even draft anymore —and so we are asking a very, very small number of people to not only protect us in those places that we need protection, but to be the leading edge of whatever our foreign policy may be at the time. I got a letter a few years ago from a young woman whose husband was serving in Afghanistan at the time — this was about seven or eight years ago — she was losing their family home while he was in Afghanistan. It made me realize that we need to draw more attention to what is going on with these young men and women that we’re asking to put their lives and bodies on line for us, and we cheer them and do all of this here, but then we forget about them when they’re not there. So it seemed like a natural fit, and I wanted to make a point to them that all Americans care about them, regardless of political point of view.

Interview Outtakes

Most of the time when I am conducting an interview with a soap star, I have more interview material than space for printing the interview. Here are some blurbs from stars that did not make it to the print version of the interview, but were too good not to publish.

Jennie Garth (on deciding to compete on “Dancing with the Stars”): I had like a moment of insanity when I said yes to that. I didn’t realize, sometimes you get yourself into things and you are like, “What have I done?” And that was definitely one of those things for me, but once you are in, you can’t get out. I just had to keep moving forward. I had to keep going. It was go-time, and I had to go. It ended up going well — much better than I thought — but every moment, every turn, was unknown to me. I was in unknown territory. But it was fun, and it was exhilarating. It was challenging, and it was kind of freeing in that I really feel that I could do anything.

Jaime Pressly (on doing a wrap-up or reunion show for “My Name Is Earl”): I would be game to go back to that set and work with those people any day, any time. And I think everybody else that was a part of the show would say the same thing. It was the greatest job I’ve ever had and the greatest group of people that you could ever ask to work with. They all hold a very dear place in my heart, and I miss them all terribly.

Erin Karpluk (on similarities between her and her character on “Being Erica”): I like that when life gets her down or she stumbles in life, she is able to pick herself up, dust herself off and keep going. So that is something that I have learned personally from her. I've heard from friends and family that there are certain quirks and mannerisms that are my own that come out in the character. Usually any kind of awkward moments she is having is probably pretty authentically Erin, because I find that I can be awkward in life, and I’m not afraid to make mistakes. That is something of me that I bring to the character. And then on a dramatic level, anything to do with family is something that I can just draw upon from real life. The one thing that Erin and Erica both are is we are very committed and empathetic toward our loved ones. My family and my friends mean more to me than anything. I feel very lucky to have that connection in my own personal life, so I can draw upon that in my acting experiences. The fact that I work with such wonderful cast members, it just makes it so easy for us to have that connection. It’s like a real family I have now when I go back to Toronto to shoot. It’s really lovely to go back to those actors and create those connections.

Ross Thomas (on working with Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid on “Soul Surfer”): It was a bit surreal, to be honest. They both are icons in their own right and a pleasure to work with. Helen is an avid surfer — surfing is what really brought us together. Dennis is interested in learning and getting good. At first, he played golf on his days off, but we got him hooked, and he became a surf junkie. I think that really carried over into our performances, that sense of family.

Jane Seymour (on her children in the biz): My son, Johnny, one of the twins, is becoming a rock star. He is about to be signed by a major label. He’s writing this amazing music. He’s extraordinary. He’s the lead singer and the lead guitarist. I’m just in awe of his talent. Then my oldest son, Sean Flynn, he’s 25, he does the most extraordinary photographic art. Collectors have already been buying his stuff. He was studying to be a filmmaker and all of a sudden, the next thing I know, he’s doing this really unique, extraordinary photographic art. One of my daughters, Katherine Flynn, is an actress. She also writes great comedy. She ended up staring opposite me in a movie called “Perfectly Prudence” for the Hallmark Channel just recently. She was fantastic in it. She played my daughter. Of course, it wasn’t much of a stretch. But it was fun, because she had a lot of scenes with Joe Lando who, of course, was my “Dr. Quinn” co-star.

Heather Locklear (on flexing her comedy chops on “Saturday Night Live” in the ’90s): That was my favorite! That was my most favorite thing I’ve done where you could see that I’m funny. I had such a great time doing it. And that “Melrose Place” take-off was so funny. So perfectly perfect. I have a meeting coming up for something soon, something funny, so we’ll see.

Sharon Case (on Sharon’s lack of support from the men in her life): I think Sharon didn’t feel like she really did have a lot of support. She really felt like the town wasn’t quite behind her. Jack is “supportive,” but he has his own motives, and Nick was trying to get custody of her child, and Adam — though he is her only real, true support — he was off trying to find evidence to help her. But Sharon didn’t feel that she had an army of friends supporting her by any stretch of the imagination. She doesn’t trust Jack. When they were married, Jack was a liar, and besides, he’s back with crazy Phyllis, so why would she trust anything that he is doing? That lowers him on the totem pole in her mind. She knows he has ulterior motives, as well as Phyllis. When those two were insisting on “helping Sharon,” Sharon wasn’t even interested in that. I guess she was more humoring them by letting them think they were “helping.”

Mark Pellegrino (on the variety of the roles he’s played): Well, I’m glad that it is happening that way. Some folks would like to say that I’ve played bad guys. I think if I play the bad guy, I try to — I can never look at myself as a bad guy. I always try to bring out the good and the moral and the right that the person is going for, so hopefully any variety that I’m able to bring to a role just happens because I’m trying to find the human thing and not act in an archetypal way.

Eric Winter (on possibly working with wife, actress Roselyn Sanchez): You know, I don’t know. If the right project ever came up, and it made sense, then sure. I mean, we’re not completely against it, but it’s one of those things that a lot of couples — sometimes you keep it separate, but if the right opportunity presents itself, then who knows?

Interview: Jennie Garth 'Accidentally' Finds Love

Jennie Garth will probably forever be known as Kelly Taylor from both incarnations of “90210,” as well as for her comedic turn on the sitcom “What I Like About You.” But she is also the mother of three adorable daughters and the wife of actor/writer Peter Facinelli, who is best known for his role of the compassionate vampire “dad” Carlisle Cullen in “The Twilight Saga” phenomenon.

Years ago, Peter got an idea for a screenplay, with the thought that it could be a project for himself and his wife. But “Twilight” and other responsibilities made it impossible for Peter to act in his movie, “Accidentally in Love,” but the project went full speed ahead with Jennie in the starring role of single mom Annie, who finds herself falling in love with an actor who’s hiding a secret identity. “Accidentally in Love” premieres Saturday, Feb. 12 at 9/8c, on Hallmark Channel and runs throughout the weekend (check your local listings).

Daytime Dial: When your husband wrote this movie, he wrote it with both of you in mind, but it turned out he couldn’t be in it. Were you sad because you’d like to act with him, or were you a little relieved because you don’t want to mix business with pleasure?

Jennie Garth: No, I’d love to work with him, but it would have been a different movie if he’d have done it. It was funny because, like you said, he wanted to play the role of Eddie, and I told him, “You know, I don’t really think you’re right for it.” He said: “What? I’m not right for my own movie?”

DD: What are some aspects of Annie’s personality that you can relate to and empathize with?

JG: Of course, the mother aspect — the love for your child and protecting your child. I like that she’s a hard worker, and she works as a waitress and has a real life. I gravitate toward real people in general, real American working people. I really have a fondness for that life, and so I loved playing someone like that. My life, as real as it is for me, is probably not what some people would consider to be normal. So I loved that sort of “Everywoman” aspect to her.

DD: Of course you are a professional, but was it weird for you to be kissing another man, ironically because of something your husband wrote?

JG: It’s always weird. There is never a time when it’s not weird doing love scenes or being romantic with a stranger, especially when you are married and your kids are going to be seeing it. Peter wasn’t on set during that scene. I was on the phone with him going: “Oh, I don’t want to do it. It’s weird.” It is NOT my favorite thing to do.

DD: At least your co-star, Ethan Erickson, ain’t too bad-looking, and is quite the charmer, so that must have made it easier.

JG: He’s a doll, and just so respectful of me and my husband and our family. I couldn’t have asked for a better co-star.

DD: Speaking of co-stars, your other co-stars were wonderful — Marilu Henner, Fred Willard and Dannika Northcott.

JG: Weren’t they great? I was shocked that Marilu was going to be my mom, because she’s so young and foxy. But we have so much in common. I had an instant fondness for her and just wanted to hear all of her stories — and she has a lot of stories. And also having Fred Willard there, I was like: “Are you kidding me? Fred Willard’s going to come in and play this?” That was so exciting for me working with him. Dannika, who played my daughter, is a sweet friend of my family now. She is such a gifted, very natural actress.

DD: What do you hope the audience takes away from this movie?

JG: The message from Eddie’s character is pretty profound: You can have money and all the accolades and success, but until you have someone to share it with, you’re really nothing. And for Annie to let her guard down and be lovable, to try to move forward and find love again was a challenge for her.

Is Jason Priestley Returning to His Old Zip Code?

Hot on the heels of the news that Tori Spelling is out of the new 90210 spin-off (rumor has is she is miffed that she wasn't going to be paid as much as Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth), CNN is reporting that Jason Priestley is in.

While I had heard rumblings that Jason was interested in returning as a director, this article on CNN.com implies that he is back as Brandon Walsh.

"To help spin the spin-off, original cast members Shannen Doherty, Jason Priestley and Jennie Garth will reprise their roles as special guest stars on 90210. Joe E. Tata will return as Peach Pit cafe owner Nat."

OMG - I really hope this means that Kelly and Brandon ended up together, because I am a card-carrying member of the Dylan + Brenda Forever club!

ABC to Announce Latest Dancing With the Stars Lineup

On Monday, Aug. 25, the latest batch of celebs to grace the Dancing With the Stars stage will be announced during Good Morning America. Since many soap stars, past and present, have been a part of the show, I felt it only appropos that I make the announcement here.

Who do you think should put on his/her dancing shoes, a la Cameron Mathison, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, John O'Hurley, Lissa Rinna, and the original dancing diva and Season One winner, Kelly Monaco?

Post your suggestions in the comments section of who you'd like to see on the DWTS stage come Monday, Sept. 22, when the show enters its 7th season.

Cameron Mathison Dances Into the Sunset

Cameron Mathison has made the soap world proud. He made it to the top 5 dancers on Dancing With the Stars, before being voted off last night. When you consider all he's been doing since he started the show, it's amazing he's still awake, let alone dancing up a storm.

As many of you know, Cameron has been filming everyday for All My Children, rehearsing for DWTS whenever he gets a break, and he is also doing all kinds of promotional events -- the most recent being Super Soap Weekend. I saw him upclose at SSW and can't believe how great he looks for being run so ragged. It just goes to show what eating right and exercise will do for you, that's for sure!

While I am bummed I'll no longer get to watch him dance, in a way, I am happy that now he'll finally be able to catch up on some Z's. But as he said last night, he wanted more than anything to be able to stay on and keep competing.

Most of us agree that Marie Osmond is the weakest dancer out of them all, and she should not have lasted past the third week. But those Osmonds have a HUGE fan base, and they keep saving her, since the judges have made it clear that she is not up to par with the rest of the dancers. Also, with the news of her father's passing, it would have been cruel to vote her off this week.

Now, I am wholeheartedly pulling for 90210 alum Jennie Garth. Please help me and vote for Jennie next week. We need to keep the great dancers on the show -- especially soap-opera alumni! -- and leave the mediocre ones behind.

(Photo courtesy of ABC Television)

90210 Alum and AMC Star to Dance the Night Away!

The newest round of Dancing With the Stars competitors has been announced. They are as follows:

* Jennie Garth of Beverly Hills, 90210 will be paired with Derek Hough, a newcomer who is brother of Julianne Hough.

* All My Children star Cameron Mathison (pictured) with Edyta Sliwinska, who has appeared in all five seasons.

* Two-time champ Cheryl Burke with Wayne Newton.

* Melanie Brown of the Spice Girls with Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

* Sabrina Bryan of The Cheetah Girls with newcomer Mark Ballas.

* Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves with Julianne Hough. She danced with Apolo Anton Ohno, last season's victor.

* Billionaire Mark Cuban with Kym Johnson.

* Model-actress Josie Maran with Alec Mazo, who was the season one winner with Kelly Monaco (of GH).

* Boxer Floyd Mayweather with Karina Smirnoff.

* Marie Osmond with Jonathan Roberts.

* Model Albert Reed -- of Abercrombie & Fitch fame -- with Anna Trebunskaya.

* Actress Jane Seymour with Tony Dovolani.

The women dance the foxtrot or cha cha cha on Monday, Sept. 24. The men do the same routines on Tuesday, Sept. 25. The first results show and elimination will be Wednesday, Sept. 26. On the Sept. 26 show, Dolly Parton will sing 9 to 5 and Better Get to Livin'.