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.”

NS Sneak Peak - Season Finale

Episode 214 ("Past and Presence, Part 2") – In the aftermath of the explosion, Patrick and Jagger rush to diffuse a second bomb, while Robin, Kyle, Leo and Epiphany fight to save Saira's life. Meanwhile, Anna (special guest star Finola Hughes), Robert and Jagger all make life-altering decisions and Kyle and Claire reconcile on the season finale of General Hospital: Night Shift, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21 (11:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., ET/PT) on SOAPnet.

Night Shift: Sneak Peek!

Episode 212 ("Truth and Consequences") – Patrick puts the entire hospital in jeopardy when a notorious patient dies, and Dr. Monica Quartermaine (Leslie Charleson) pays a visit to the night shift. Meanwhile, Robert reminisces about the past with Anna (special guest star Finola Hughes) before taking a turn for the worse. Later, Saira confronts Leo while Kyle and Eric (special guest star Chad Allen) share a tender moment on General Hospital: Night Shift, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7 (11:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., ET/PT) on SOAPnet.

NS Sneak Peak

Episode 210 ("Brothers & Sisters") – Leo and Kyle are caught off guard when their mother comes to town unannounced. Meanwhile, Claire confesses a secret, Patrick is stuck in an awkward situation with Epiphany and Toussaint, Kyle meets an intriguing patient (special guest star Chad Allen), and Robert comes to see Robin in a new light on General Hospital: Night Shift, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 (11:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., ET/PT) on SOAPnet.

NS Sneak Peak

Episode 209 (About A Dad) – Jagger panics when Stone has a seizure and is rushed into the ER. Patrick feels left out when Robin's attention is split between caring for Robert and offering support to Jagger. Claire and Leo feel guilty for sleeping together. And Kyle finds a new purpose when Saira invites him to head her study on the benefits of breast milk on General Hospital: Night Shift, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 (11:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., ET/PT) on SOAPnet.

Tune In Alert: Night Shift

Robin must make a painful decision about her father's future when Robert goes under the knife. Meanwhile, Leo and Saira team up to save a patient, Jagger joins an autism support group and Claire butts heads with a former schoolmate on General Hospital: Night Shift TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 (11:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., ET/PT) on SOAPnet.

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.”

Interview: Robert Scorpio Is Back!

The last time we saw the debonair Robert Scorpio, he was at the ceremony for Luke and Laura’s vow renewal, which was almost two years ago. And, as far as Tristan Rogers knows, “He’s still sitting in that park, on that chair. We never did get to see him leave or find out where he went.”

Well, last Tuesday on SOAPnet, fans of “General Hospital” at least got to find out where Scorpio is now — he is the hospital as his daughter, Robin, tries to save his life. In season two of SOAPnet’s breakout summer hit, “General Hospital: Night Shift,” faithful viewers will be treated to the appearance of a number of familiar faces returning to Port Charles.

Tristan explains, Scorpio’s health “will be a singular cementing point in the story line. There are two elements to this story: the father/daughter connection and the father/doctor connections.”

Tristan readily admits that taking orders from his daughter, the doctor, will be hard for Scorpio. “He’s a stubborn person, and he won’t slide into the role of patient that easily — until she gives him a reason, which she does. But it’s a challenge for him; he’s never had to deal with this.”

However, Tristan had no trouble dealing with re-creating his iconic role on the “Night Shift” stage. Tristan tells me: “When you’ve been doing a character this long, you have thorough insight on how this character is going to react, so it comes rather easily.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been on the show,” Tristan continues. “Filming ‘Night Shift’ has been a completely different experience. We film only two days a week — which is such a luxury, getting two days to film one hour of television. We’re in a separate studio with our own separate resources: writers, producers, directors. I think this is a good thing — it’s the same, but different.”

While the experience has been positive for Tristan, it also feels a bit like déjà vu. When he first heard of the “Night Shift” concept, he thought: “Hey, we discussed this back in 1981. I spoke with Gloria Monty (then-executive producer and head writer) about it. It was going to be called ‘The Young Doctors of General Hospital.’ But we were very busy with the current story line, so the idea fell by the wayside.”

Another concept that sets “Night Shift” apart from Scorpio’s appearances on “GH” is his condition. “Robert is coming in as a patient; he’s not here to save the world or to unravel a mystery. Although he still looks sideways at everybody, he knows he needs help.”

Tristan also knows he and the folks at “Night Shift” are onto something special. “This 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. ‘Night Shift’ is ‘Night Shift’ and ‘General Hospital’ is ‘General Hospital.’ 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.”

You can catch Tristan on “General Hospital: Night Shift” Tuesday nights at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SOAPnet.

PHOTO CREDIT: SOAPnet/Craig Sjodin

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.

SOAPnet Orders 2nd Season of General Hospital: Night Shift

PRESS RELEASE:

New Head Writer and Executive Producer Join Series For Season Two, Which Will Be Shot in High Definition

Brian Frons, president, Daytime, Disney ABC Television Group, today announced that SOAPnet has ordered Season Two of its top-rated original scripted drama, “General Hospital: Night Shift.” Thirteen episodes, to be taped in HD, have been ordered. Production will begin in June 2008, and the series will premiere in July and air Tuesdays at 11:00 p.m. The series, which is the network’s most-watched of all time, is a storyline extension about the lives and loves of “General Hospital’s” favorite characters during the nigh shift at the hospital.

“Growing the ‘General Hospital’ franchise by expanding its storyline on SOAPnet was a great success. Each series compliments the other and drives viewership across both networks. In its first season, ‘Night Shift’ brought over a million new viewers to SOAPnet,” said Frons. “In addition to meeting our viewers’ needs with a great series, we are also proud to offer Season Two in HD, as our affiliates are looking for more and more HD content and added value.”

The second season of “General Hospital: Night Shift” will feature favorite characters from the first season, some new faces, as well as the return of legacy “General Hospital” characters. In addition, the continuity between stories on “Night Shift” and ABC’s “General Hospital” will match. The series will focus on the ups and downs of life for the hospital staff, as they cope with life and death situations that reflect their own personal struggles. In its freshman season, “General Hospital: Night Shift” was record setting, ranking as the net’s most-watched original series of all time in Total Viewers, Women 18-34 and Women 18-49. Competitively, the scripted spin-off ranked No. 5 in the hour versus all basic cable in core demo Women 18-49, an impressive feat given the channel’s midsize distribution. Moreover, “Night Shift” virtually doubled previous-year time period levels in Total Viewers and Women 18-49, and garnered double-digit percent increases in Women 18-34.

New to “General Hospital: Night Shift” this season are head writer Sri Rao and executive producer Lisa De Cazotte. Rao is best known for his character-driven relationship dramas, including “What Goes On” for MTV Networks and the off-Broadway play “Precipice.” De Cazotte was the former executive producer of NBC’s “Passions” and has served as a producer on ABC’s “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.” She also served as a supervising producer on “Sunset Beach” and as coordinating producer on “Santa Barbara.” Jill Farren Phelps and Bob Guza Jr. will continue their duties at “General Hospital” as executive producer and head writer, respectively. Neither of their schedules could accommodate both productions.

ABC's Super Soap Weekend Attendees!

Along with myself -- which I could not be MORE THRILLED ABOUT -- here is a list of the ABC daytime stars who will be attending the festivities at this year's Super Soap Weekend, Nov. 11-12, Disney's MGM Studios in Orlando, Fla.

The View’s new co-host Sherri Shepherd, along with other first-time attendees Melissa Claire Egan (All My Children), Brandon Buddy, Tika Sumpter (One Life to Live), Bradford Anderson, Josh Duhon and Sonya Eddy (General Hospital), join the star-studded lineup for the 12th annual “ABC Super Soap Weekend.” This year’s event will take place on November 10-11 as ABC once again partners with Colgate® Total® toothpaste (http://www.colgatetotal.com/) as its presenting sponsor of the “ABC Super Soap Weekend” at the Disney-MGM Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Also new to this year’s event will be the addition of stars from SOAPnet’s original primetime drama, General Hospital: Night Shift.

The complete list of talent includes more than 30 of ABC Daytime’s and SOAPnet’s most popular stars, including previously announced headliner Susan Lucci, along with Cameron Mathison, John-Paul Lavoisier and Jason Thompson. Completing the list from All My Children are David Canary, Bobbie Eakes, Melissa Claire Egan, Thorsten Kaye, Michael E. Knight, Alicia Minshew, Aiden Turner and Jacob Young. The talent from One Life to Live includes Kristen Alderson, Kathy Brier, Brandon Buddy, Kamar de los Reyes, Kassie DePaiva, Michael Easton, Forbes March, Erika Slezak, Trevor St. John, Tika Sumpter and Bree Williamson. Completing the list, from General Hospital, will be Bradford Anderson, Julie Berman, Tyler Christopher, Josh Duhon, Sonya Eddy, Rebecca Herbst, Kimberly McCullough, Kelly Monaco and Laura Wright.

This year stars from SOAPnet’s hit original series General Hospital: Night Shift, the highest rated series in SOAPnet history, will participate in the festivities. Nazanin Boniadi, Dominic Rains and Kent King will join Jason Thompson, Kimberly McCullough, Bradford Anderson and Sonya Eddy for special General Hospital: Night Shift appearances.

Throughout the weekend fans will have the opportunity to meet favorite stars from All My Children, One Life to Live, General Hospital and General Hospital: Night Shift. Festivities include celebrity motorcades, autograph sessions, talk shows, interviews and the chance to purchase one-of-a-kind memorabilia from each of the shows. The Colgate Total Street Jam will close the event each day with live musical performances by some of your favorite daytime stars.

“ABC Super Soap Weekend” is included with theme park admission to the Disney-MGM Studios – where guests of all ages are caught up in the glitz, glamour and excitement of show business. For future updates and more information about “ABC Super Soap Weekend,” guests may call the Super Soap Hotline recording at (407) 397-6808 or visit the ABC Daytime Web site at ABC.com.

POLL: Will You Be Watching General Hospital: Night Shift?

As many of you know, General Hospital: Night Shift premieres tonight at 11 p.m. on SOAPnet, and will continue for 13 weeks.

Tonight's episode summary: Patrick is caught in an explosion. Jason gets arrested. Maxie and Coop are caught in a compromising position and a mystery woman with the last name Barrett is in critical condition.

CoolWebPoll

General Hospital: Night Shift Update

(Kimberly McCullough pulls double-duty with General Hospital: Night Shift)

As you all know by now, General Hospital: Night Shift premieres on SoapNet in July. But didja know that the 13 one-hour episodes will feature only the actors on GH who portray doctors, who will also still appear on the daytime version, too.

As described by the show's publicity team: Night Shift is an episodic medical mystery drama - with the thoroughfare of House, the heart of Grey's Anatomy, the medical drama of ER and the longevity of General Hospital combined.


For all of you interested, here is the rest of the press release, including the cast announcement:


Billy Dee Williams is one of the new faces who will join the cast as Toussaint, a man with a haunted past. Other cast members include: Steve Burton (“Jason Morgan”), Kimberly McCullough (“Robin Scorpio”), Jason Thompson (“Patrick Drake”), Kirsten Storms (“Maxie Jones”), Julie Marie Berman (“Lulu Spencer”), Natalia Livingston (“Emily Quartermaine”), Rebecca Herbst (“Elizabeth Spencer”), Kent King (“Lainey Winters”), Jason Gerhardt (“Coop Barrett”), Josh Duhon (“Logan Hayes”), Lindze Letherman (“Georgie Jones”), Kiko Ellsworth (“Stan Johnson”), Sonya Eddy (“Epiphany Johnson”), Minae Noji (“Kelly Lee”), Bradford Anderson (“Damian Spinelli”), Adrian Alvarado (“Cruz Rodriquez”), Derk Cheetwood (“Max Giambetti”), Richard Gant (“Russell Ford”) and Wendy Braun (“Ms. Sneed”).

“General Hospital: Night Shift” begins production on Friday, April 20th and will premiere in July. Robert Guza Jr., head writer for “General Hospital” and Jill Farren Phelps, executive producer, “General Hospital” will write and executive produce “General Hospital: Night Shift.”