Super Soap Weekend Pictures and Videos

OK folks, it took me a while, but I finally have the Super Soap Weekend pictures and videos posted. As an added bonus for easier navigation and sharing, they are all located on one website (although Shutterfly and YouTube host them). So please, visit the site, share it with friends, and leave plenty of nice comments.

You'll also find pictures and videos from SSW 2007, for all those people who are feeling a bit nostalgic.

supersoapweekend2008.shutterfly.com

13th Annual Super Soap Weekend Is in 5 Days!

The 13th and final Super Soap Weekend is almost upon us (Nov. 15-16 at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Fla.), and Daytime Dial will be there. Featured guests are:

All My Children
Rebecca Budig (Greenlee Smythe)
Bobbie Eakes (Krystal Martin)
Melissa Claire Egan (Annie Lavery)
Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake Martin)
Vincent Irizarry (Dr. David Hayward)
Thorsten Kaye (Zach Slater)
Susan Lucci (Erica Kane)
Cameron Mathison (Ryan Lavery)
Alicia Minshew (Kendall Hart Slater)
Eden Riegel (Bianca Montgomery)
Aiden Turner (Aidan Devane)
Darnell Williams (Jesse Hubbard)

One Life to Live
Kristen Alderson (Starr Manning)
Brandon Buddy (Cole Thornhart)
Kassie DePaiva (Blair Cramer)
Michael Easton (John McBain)
Farah Fath (Gigi Morasco)
Susan Haskell (Marty Saybrooke)
John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex Balsom)
Erika Slezak (Viki Davidson)
Jason Tam (Markko Rivera)
Brittany Underwood (Langston Wilde)
Bree Williamson (Jessica/Tess Buchanan)

General Hospital
Bradford Anderson (Damian Spinelli)
Brandon Barash (Johnny Zacchara)
Julie Marie Berman (Lulu Spencer)
Tyler Christopher (Nikolas Cassadine)
Jason Cook (Matt Hunter)
Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Webber)
Kimberly McCullough (Robin Scorpio)
Kelly Monaco (Samantha McCall)
Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones)
Jason Thompson (Patrick Drake)
Greg Vaughn (Lucky)
Laura Wright (Carly Jax)

I will be at the media breakfast on Saturday morning interviewing the stars, and would like your input on what I should ask them. Give me some questions (and whom to ask) in the comments section, and I'll do my best to answer them. I have only a few minutes with each actor, so I'll try my best to cram in as many questions as possible!

Interview: OLTL's Blair Takes It All in Stride

Blair Cramer has been the originator and recipient of much trouble since coming to Llanview in 1991, and definitely since Kassie DePaiva took over the role in 1993. The latest drama to enfold on One Life to Live has Blair’s ex-husband, Todd, planning to fake his grandchild’s death so that he can raise the child together with amnesiac (and presumed-dead) Marty.

After all these years, trouble still manages to find Blair, and that is just they way Kassie likes it. “I don’t want life to be tame for her,” Kassie admits. “I like the excitement, although it does get a little exhausting in real life and on the soap opera. But it’s all good.”

Kassie hints that even more trouble is brewing than viewers originally thought. “Blair is gonna have her hands full with the turn of events in the next month, because once you think things have settled in, something else happens. Starr is giving the baby up, and there’s a lot of things that’s going to come out with the birth of that baby.”

While it seems inconceivable that Todd and Blair could even be old enough to be grandparents, Kassie takes it all in good humor. “Blair’s probably not the youngest grandmother around, but it is a little shocking. I really don’t even think about it. And it doesn’t change her stride at all.”

She adds with a laugh, “She still puts on a red dress, so it doesn’t matter.”

Blair has been making some inroads lately toward getting Todd out of her life, and even has a new guy, John. But will Todd ever truly be out of Blair’s life? Kassie explains: “I think once all of this (Todd’s kidnapping scheme) comes to light, it will be easier for her to choose to be with John. I think it’s easy for her to be away from Todd, but it’s one of those things where she might not be romantically linked to him, but she’s always going to be linked to him through their children and through their past. There’s no way around that.”

Kassie also has her own take on Todd’s outrageous plan for his daughter’s baby. “As a longtime viewer and somebody who understands Todd’s psychotic behavior, I think he truly believes that he’s got this clean slate now with Marty, and if he can somehow get her to believe that he is the good person that he is and not the bad person that he was, then he’ll absolve himself. People who are that narcissistic truly believe that. I think he truly believes that he can pull this off and that everything will be perfect.”

One new development that Kassie is really enjoying is relationship between John and Blair. “I love their relationship. I think that it’s very adult; there are no apologies. This is adult, it’s mature, it’s fun, and it’s a little sexy.”

Soap fans can catch Kassie in person on Nov. 15 and 16 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Fla., for Super Soap Weekend. “This is the last one that they have scheduled, so that makes me very sad. But they have ‘Soap Nation’ planned for next year, which is a series smaller fan events in other cities across the country, so we should be able to branch out and reach maybe a broader fan base that way. I will personally miss Super Soap Weekend. I know it’s a fan favorite, and it is also a really incredible experience for everyone. Since this is going to be the last one, I’m sure they’re gonna make it memorable.”

UPDATE: Super Soap Weekend 2008 Attendees

A few more names have been added to the roster of actors attend the latest, and final, Super Soap Weekend at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Fla.

Kimberly McCullough (Robin) and Greg Vaughan (Lucky), both of General Hospital, will now be attending. Also on hand will be Vincent Irizarry — the just-returned Dr. David Hayward of All My Children.

Last, but definitely not least, Susan Lucci (left, pictured with me at SSW 2007) has confirmed that she will be attending SSW, even though her busy schedule is even more hectic because of her Dancing With the Stars obligations. As of this posting, she is scheduled to be participating in only the events for Saturday, Nov. 15, because of DWTS.

I knew she'd come around. I mean after all, she has been to every SSW since it's inception, so she couldn't miss the final one, could she?

Super Soap Weekend 2008 Attendees

The list of attendees for the 2008 Super Soap Weekend at Disney's Hollywood Studios has been announced, which is scheduled to take place Nov. 15-16. They are:

All My Children
Rebecca Budig (Greenlee Smythe)
Bobbie Eakes (Krystal Martin)
Melissa Claire Egan (Annie Lavery)
Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake Martin)
Thorsten Kaye (Zach Slater)
Cameron Mathison (Ryan Lavery)
Alicia Minshew (Kendall Hart Slater)
Eden Riegel (Bianca Montgomery)
Aiden Turner (Aidan Devane)
Darnell Williams (Jesse Hubbard)

One Life to Live
Kristen Alderson (Starr Manning)
Brandon Buddy (Cole Thornhart)
Kassie DePaiva (Blair Cramer)
Michael Easton (John McBain)
Farah Fath (Gigi Morasco)
Susan Haskell (Marty Saybrooke)
John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex Balsom)
Erika Slezak (Viki Davidson)
Jason Tam (Markko Rivera)
Brittany Underwood (Langston Wilde)
Bree Williamson (Jessica/Tess Buchanan)

General Hospital
Bradford Anderson (Damian Spinelli)
Brandon Barash (Johnny Zacchara)
Julie Marie Berman (Lulu Spencer)
Tyler Christopher (Nikolas Cassadine)
Jason Cook (Matt Hunter)
Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Webber)
Kelly Monaco (Samantha McCall)
Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones)
Jason Thompson (Patrick Drake)
Laura Wright (Carly Jax)

You will notice the absence of Super Soap Weekend's Perennial Star — Susan Lucci. Word has it she can't commit until she sees how this whole Dancing With the Stars thing pans out. Last year, Cameron Mathison came, and he was still dancing, but he got voted off that week. Perhaps she wants to make sure she gets in enough practice to not let that happen to her. It will be a shame if she ends up missing the very last Super Soap Weekend, as she has been to every single one since the annual event started 15 years ago. We'll keep you posted as the story develops.

It is also nice to see some new names on the list. I look forward to seeing how they cope with this crazy weekend!

Super Soap Weekend Takes Its Final Bow

You'd better make your plans now to head down to Orlando on Nov. 15 and 16. Brian Frons, president of Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group, has confirmed that after this year, Super Soap Weekend at Disney's Hollywood Studios will be no more.

In a news release issued yesterday, Frons said that ABC wants to send its soap stars on a national promotional tour next year, rather than sponsor a single weekend at Disney World. "Our fans have told us they want us in their neighborhoods," he stated. "We thank Walt Disney World for being a wonderful host and partner, and look forward to our plans to send Super Soap off with a bang."

I will be there again this year, and will be reporting back with all the inside scoop I had last year. It is sad that this big soap-opera event, which just so happens to take place in my backyard, will be ending. Hopefully more fans will get the chance to see their favorite soap stars with this new national tour.

Susan Lucci Interview

Just as one would expect, Susan Lucci is super tiny in person, but the moment she begins to speak, her personality fills the room. I had the chance to catch up with Ms. Lucci at ABC’s Disney/MGM Super Soap Weekend in Orlando, Fla., last month. If you’ve never been or don’t know what it is, let me explain. It’s the mack-daddy of all meet-and-greets. All the hottest stars from the ABC soaps spend the weekend in sunny Central Florida for the main purpose of meeting, mingling with and entertaining their fans.

I guess I should say, their LEGIONS of fans. The numbers for any given day are in the tens of thousands, and they are all at MGM for one purpose — the chance to see their favorite soap star up close and in the flesh.

Susan has been a fixture at Super Soap Weekend since its inception 12 years ago. She’s seen it develop and grow into the fan-frenzy it has become today. So, how does this make the Diva of Daytime feel?

“I’m bowled over and so touched by the response. I am so grateful,” Susan says. With regard to the pandemonium surrounding the stars, Susan explains: “I couldn’t imagine it. During the Street Jam (celebration, which occurs each evening to close out the night), you look out from the stage onto the concourse and see 30 to 40 thousand people — isn’t that a giant stadium, like the Meadowlands or something? It’s truly incredible. It makes you breathless.”

Along with Susan’s immense appeal to her fans, her character, Erica Kane, has certainly made her mark on daytime television. What does Susan think leads to Erica’s lasting appeal?

“I’m sure that the fans have a better answer. I would love to hear what they have to say, because I really don’t know. Except that she is really unpredictable. And so there are things that she says that people want to say or do in their real life. Or they didn’t think of it until later, or didn’t have the nerve to try. Those kinds of things, I think, have been interesting to the audience.

“And her wardrobe’s pretty cute, too,” she adds with a laugh.

As “AMC” fans know, Erica Kane has been wreaking her own special kind of havoc in Pine Valley since 1970. She’s covered the gamut from kidnappings, pregnancies, multiple husbands, being scarred, finding a long-lost daughter, etc. Is their anything left for her that she hasn’t done already?

Susan replies: “Erica has done certainly a lot! I am sure that there are more fabulous things to do, and the writers will think of them. And I know Agnes Nixon (creator of ‘AMC’) is still very involved and hands-on — not in the daily production, but she’s certainly involved in the creativity. She created Erica Kane, so I am so happy that she’s there, and I’m sure her wheels are spinning.”

PICTURES From Super Soap Weekend 2007

Hey Guys!

I have finally uploaded, fixed and sorted my pictures from ABC's Disney-MGM Super Soap Weekend 2007, Nov. 9-11. Out of about 100 pics taken, these were the best ones -- ones that weren't too dark or blurry. I hope you enjoy them! (Also, I hope you've been watching the videos I've been posting!)

Here is the Shutterfly link to view the album:

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8SbM2bhi1Yro

Also, here is a taste of some of the pictures in the album:

VIDEO: AMC Talk Show at Super Soap Weekend

Here is a snippet from the All My Children talk show at Disney-MGM's Super Soap Weekend 2007 (Saturday, Nov. 10). This outtake features Cameron Mathison and Melissa Claire Egan joking around on the set.

VIDEO: Kassie DePaiva Sings at Super Soap Weekend 2007

Kassie DePaiva (Blair, One Life to Live) sings her hit single, Too Little, at Super Soap Weekend 2007. Watch my video below:

VIDEO: The Ladies of ABC Soaps Perform "Cell Block Tango"

The ladies of the ABC soaps perform their own version of Chicago's "Cell Block Tango." With Bobbie Eakes, Bree Williamson, Kristen Alderson, Tika Sumpter and Melissa Claire Egan. This performance was from Disney MGM's Super Soap Weekend Street Jam on Saturday, November 10.

VIDEO: Cameron and Edyta at Super Soap Weekend

I haven't had time to sort through and touch-up all my pictures from Super Soap Weekend yet, but, in honor of Cameron and Edyta's (premature, in my opinion) departure from Dancing With the Stars, I wanted to post this video of their performance this past Saturday night.

Enjoy!!

Kassie DePaiva Is the Awesomest

Quick post, checking in from ABC's Super Soap Weekend at Disney MGM Studios. Here's a shot taken after my interview with Kassie DePaiva (Blair, OLTL). She is one of the sweetest women I have ever met. I heart Kassie! BTW, I am 5'8", so you can see, she is a tall one!

Disney/MGM Studios Super Soap Weekend 2007 Is Upon Us

Well, I just received my Press Schedule for ABC's Super Soap Weekend, which takes place this weekend at the Disney/MGM Studios. More than 30 stars from the ABC soaps will be there, with plenty of opportunities for fans to get up-close and personal with their favorite actors. I can't wait!

In the meantime, I've been working in overdrive getting myself prepared for my various interviews that I have lined up, as well as a jam-packed schedule at the theme park. (So, if my blog posting is a little light this week, that is why.)

But never fear -- faithful readers of our Daytime Dial Web site will be getting exclusive news, and, even better, exclusive pics, of all the goings-on this weekend. I will be interviewing Susan Lucci, Erika Slezak, Laura Wright, Kassie DePaiva and Rebecca Herbst, and will be riding in a motorcade with Alicia Minshew! Plus, lots more!

I am especially excited about the Saturday night "Party With the Stars" dinner that I have been invited to. All the stars, executives and press will be attending this exclusive party. I'll be taking plenty of pictures and getting lots of first-hand scoop to share with all of you.

Shoot me an e-mail (daytimedial@gmail.com), or respond in the comments section of this post, if you have any questions you'd like for me to ask any of the stars I named above. If appropriate, I'll try to fit them into my interviews.

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.

Gearing Up for ABC's Super Soap Weekend

(Photo courtesy of ABC Daytime/Steve Fenn Photographer)

All My Children and Dancing With the Stars performer Cameron Mathison, with dancing partner Minnie Mouse, score a perfect 10 among judges and fans alike, dancing the "Mouse-A-Doble" in preparation for the 12th Annual ABC Daytime Super Soap Weekend at The Disney-MGM Studios, Orlando, Fla., November 10th & 11th.