New Head-Writing Team at Days

Ken Corday, executive producer of Days of our Lives, announced today that Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas have been named the head-writing team on NBC's longest-running scripted program, effective immediately.

Mr. Corday released this statement: "McPherson and Thomas will bring Days of our Lives back to its core values by telling exciting stories with a fresh and contemporary approach including beloved characters."

Interview (YR): Sharon Case, Full-Fledged Leading Lady

In the almost 17 years that Sharon Case has portrayed Sharon Newman on “The Young and the Restless,” her character has seen it all. From numerous romances, catfights, a death (and another supposed death) of a child, almost plummeting to her death from a cliff, and her attempt to save Skye, who eventually fell into a volcano, Sharon Case has finally made the ultimate “leading lady rite of passage”: On the run and falsely accused of murder, Sharon Newman is now presumed dead.

Daytime Dial: As you know, Sharon has been through the wringer, but now you have withstood the test of the true measure of soap-opera leading-lady standing: You are truly a leading lady when you’ve been wrongly presumed dead at least once!

Sharon Case: You’re right! You know you have to come back from the dead at least once. I think there is something to that. Most of the leading ladies have done that. I’m a full-fledged leading lady — now I’ve done it all!

DD: In true soap-opera fashion, it seems that every time we talk, many monumental events have happened to Sharon in the meantime. You must have the most fun job in the world.

SC: I shoot so many fun scenes, but what I’m shooting now is really different and fun. The volcano was different and fun. I’ve always got some really different, cool, fun story line. And we have these great sets: The hurricane set was amazing. And New Orleans was amazing and a great story line. I’ve had so many fun ones that it’s hard to pick which was my favorite. I think that all the story lines are terrific. They just seem to get better and better all the time. I used to say my favorite scene was with Nikki when we were in the sewer with the rats. I loved working with Melody (Thomas Scott), and it still is one of my favorite scenes, but I shot that scene not too long ago last year with Michelle Stafford where Sharon and Phyllis get in a chocolate fountain fight, and that is just like my favorite scene of all time now. It’s not every day you get to do something like that. I always have something exciting to do.

DD: Now that Sharon is presumed dead, she has time to prove her innocence, but what is she going through emotionally?

SC: She’s had to change her whole life. She abandoned her family, but she’s really in a place where she feels she also has no choice. Going back to Genoa City means being in prison for the rest of her life, and she’s not going to be with her children if she’s in prison the rest of her life. She felt that this is what’s best. Being out of prison, she can do a lot of things: find evidence, and at least she’s not locked behind bars. I can’t say what she’s going to do because you have to wait and see, but she has a lot of options now and decisions to make now that she has this new freedom.

DD: Veteran feature-film actor Sean Patrick Flanery has joined the cast as Sam Gibson, a veterinarian in New Mexico who takes Sharon in, not knowing who she really is. What can you tell me about Sam and about working with Sean Patrick?

SC: Sean is an amazing professional. He just jumped right into this role. Most people who haven’t worked on a soap can be a little bit disoriented their first day or their first week, because there’s a lot to learn. He did about 40 pages his first day, something like 17 scenes, and he did it perfectly. He did a great job. He’s amazing. His character, Sam, is somebody who Sharon meets along the way since her escape. But I really can’t tell you anything else other than he’s here and he’s doing a fantastic job.

DD: What was your response, and that of your fellow actors, when you heard the news of the cancellation of “AMC” and “OLTL”?

SC: I got a lot of emails from my friends and co-stars, and even actors from other daytime shows. Everybody was just reeling from the news. I guess when the Proctor & Gamble shows (“Guiding Light” and “As the World Turns”) went off the air, it kind of just looked like, well, P&G just doesn’t want to have a production company anymore and own a soap opera, which makes sense. But these shows, these were really a shock. It just seems like it is something that should not happen. “All My Children” should not be off the air. And that is my opinion. That’s a lot of people’s opinion. I was watching “The View” the other day — they had Mrs. Michelle Obama on — and they were saying the same thing, that this was just wrong. I hope it doesn’t continue. It hurts all of the other remaining shows, because it makes the genre smaller.

DD: It’s also scary because the shows they are replacing them with aren’t other dramas, but talk shows and reality shows.

SC: Right. It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago that networks were creating more soaps and putting them on the air. I remember they created “Port Charles” and then “Passions,” and the genre was growing. A lot of people have been saying this for a long time, that networks are putting on a little bit too much reality TV, talk-show TV, cooking shows, dance shows — it just becomes all that, all the time.


There is not a single person who I’ve ever met who is happy with that, as far as the audience goes. So, it’s bizarre to me that you could ask literally anyone you walk by on the street if they are happy with the programming of all those shows, and they will tell you: “God, no. I hate the talk shows,” or something like that. You like to have one talk show, but you don’t want them to all be talk shows. And you might want to watch one reality show, but most people have been saying for the past five or six years that they are tired of reality shows. They want TV to go back to their dramas and sitcoms. What happened to the days of real dramas and real sitcoms?

DD: On to a happier topic: Your line of jewelry, Pomp, has been kicking butt and taking names over at QVC.com. Any plans for a new line?

SC: Yeah, it’s so exciting. We are pretty much sold out. We got all five stars on pretty much everything. Those are kind of unheard of statistics. We did really well. Now we have to decide what we’re going to do and what the future line will look like, but we haven’t actually made a decision exactly where we are going to sell the line. We’re putting our heads together on that. It was really a fun experience to do the show on QVC, and they were wonderful to work with. Doing live television was exhilarating. We are definitely going to keep it going, but we haven’t decided on the details yet. There have been a lot of retailers interested in our line, and our line sold out. Suddenly we’ve been presented with a lot of options. It’s a really good problem to have.

Interview: Catching Up With Patrick Fabian

(Photo by Josh Madson)

Patrick Fabian is “that actor from that show.” With hundreds of acting credits from various television shows — including “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Reba,” “Friends,” “Burn Notice,” “Big Love” and “The Last Exorcism,” to name only a few — he is the quintessential go-to actor. Give him any type of role, and he’ll play it to perfection. His most recent role was that of Rob Parker on CMT’s first-ever sitcom, “Working Class” (which, sadly, was canceled by the network). I caught up with Patrick recently, and he told me about what he’s been up to lately.

Daytime Dial: You have such a wide and varied resume of characters that you’ve played. A lot of actors are probably envious of the fact that you are not pigeonholed into any one type of character. How has that given you freedom as an actor?

Patrick Fabian: It’s funny — being the typical actor, I’m like, “Oh, I want somebody else’s resume.” You’re never happy with what you’ve got; you’re always complaining in some respects. I’ve been really fortunate, and I have played a variety of things, and I have been on a lot of cool shows. When I say “cool shows,” it’s not necessarily the most popular. Yes, I’ve been on “Friends” and I’ve been on “Will & Grace,” and those are grade-A caliber shows. But I’ve also been on stuff like “Xena” and “Burn Notice,” which have their pocket of fans, and man, they are fun to be on. I just got offered a job on “Hot in Cleveland” to play half of a pair of Siamese twins. That’s the sort of job you just don’t say no to, because how often does that come around?

DD: You got a lot of notice for your role of Ted Price on “Big Love.” Tell me about that experience.

PF: I always joke that I was playing a “real” Mormon: He loves money first and Jesus second. I don’t think that has disparaged the Mormon faith by any stretch of the imagination, but I think my character was very much a guy about business above all, and he was using his religion as just another tool to get what he wanted financially. The best thing about that was working with Bill Paxton and Jeanne Tripplehorn. They were my main scene partners. They are just consummate pros. They bring their A game to everything, and it was a real treat to go on set and see people who, frankly, could probably put it in coast, but they chose not to. 

That was a real lesson to me as an actor, that you never sit on your morals and rest on them. You are always trying get the best out of whatever it is you’re doing, and it was really fun to work with them. I want to be Bill Paxton when I grow up. 

I know it’s funny with me being in that series, sort of a religious bent, but I played Reverend Cotton Marcus in “The Last Exorcism” last year, and I was doing religion again (with “Big Love”). A lot of people ask me if I choose my roles according to my religious views, and I tell them, “No, I actually choose them according to who’s offering me my next job!”

DD: For squeamish folks, like myself, who shy away from horror movies because we are wimps, what would you tell us to convince us to give “The Last Exorcism” a try?

PF: (Laughs) I’ll tell you a few things. One, I wouldn’t classify it as a horror movie straight up, because I think that gives the impression of a body count — a lot of blood and arrows in the eyes. I can tell you it was rated PG-13 for a reason. Not because it wasn’t creepy, not because it didn’t get into your spine, but it’s not a graphic gore fest. We like to call it a smart thriller with a horrific ending.

DD: How was the filming experience?

PF: This was a low-budget film. It was roughly $2 million for the budget. We shot on a shoestring for four weeks down in New Orleans. I’d never been to New Orleans. It was really fun, but in terms of creep factor, it was creepy, because the woman I was working with, Ashley Bell (who plays the possessed girl, Nell), is so good at playing both sides of her character’s coin: the sweet and innocent Nell and then the possessed girl. I can be as good as I want as the priest in the “Exorcism,” but if you don’t believe the possessed girl in an exorcism film, then you don’t have a film. And we do have a film, because she’s so good. I promise you, if you watch with the lights on, you will be OK. It won’t keep you up at night. And I think it’s a much smarter film than people give it credit for.

DD: How wonderful was it for you that the movie ended up being such a hit, and you won awards for your performance at a few major film festivals?

PF: Totally unexpected. The movie grossed, I think, like $70 million worldwide, and it had such a strong opening here in America, like a $20 million opening weekend. I got to fly over to London for the premier, and I got to fly to Toronto for the premier. So, after 20 years of kicking around as an actor, it was nice to play movie star for a couple of weeks. In Toronto I got the Best Actor Award in the After Dark Festival. The film got nominated for a Spirit Award and a People’s Choice Award. I won the Best Actor Award at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival.

DD: You have so much experience in all different acting genres — is there one you prefer, or do you enjoy mixing it up and keeping yourself on your toes?

PF: I’m kind of like a sled dog in that I’m really happy with where I am at the moment. So, if I’m doing a play, like I was doing last year, it was great, and I do love the theater, very much so. It’s how I was trained, and I really feel at home there. But I also feel at home when we have four-camera sitcoms. I like being on location with films, so I’ve been blessed with a varying degree of work in my career that I haven’t had time to really get burned out on any one genre, which has been nice. Although I used to say, “I’d love nothing more than to run a hundred episodes of something.” But honestly, I don’t know. I wouldn’t know that until I actually did that. What I know is what I know, and that’s being able to pick up and adjust to whatever the situation requires.

ABC Cancels AMC and OLTL

ABC announced that daytime mainstays All My Children and One Life to Live will go off the air in September and January, respectively. General Hospital will be the network's only remaining daytime drama.

The network also announced the shows' replacements, which will be The Chew and The Revolution, which are a show about food and a show about dieting.

(Read it all here.)

Interview: Catching Up With Ross Thomas

Most of us are familiar with the story of Bethany Hamilton: In 2003, the then-13-year-old was surfing in Kauai, Hawaii, when a tiger shark attacked her and ripped her left arm off just below the shoulder. Less than a month after her accident, sheer will and determination had her back in the water and on her surfboard. She has since gone on to win numerous championships and accolades.

Bethany’s story is coming to the big screen on April 8, when “Soul Surfer” opens nationwide. Ross Thomas — who most recently guest-starred on “General Hospital” as Abby’s abusive ex-boyfriend Brandon — co-stars in the film, playing Bethany’s older brother, Noah. Helen Hunt (below) and Dennis Quaid also star as Bethany and Noah’s parents. I spoke with Ross recently, and he told me all about the experience of filming this movie.

Daytime Dial: I know “Soul Surfer” is about Bethany Hamilton, the shark attack and her inspiring recovery, but what can you tell me about the movie from your perspective?

Ross Thomas: Obviously the story is about Bethany and how she lost her arm in a shark attack, but it’s also the story of how she overcame all of the odds to come back and become a champion surfer. The Hamilton family is such a strong unit; they have a deep set of family values. They are a Christian family with a deep faith, and they rely heavily on that and really promote that. As a family, they have really helped Bethany become who she is, and they’ve always been such a source of support for her. The film kind of spans the early years and how they were as children, all the way up through the attack and then the aftermath of that.

DD: Did Bethany and/or the family come to the set while you filmed?

RT: Yes. It was really kind of neat because the family was with us the whole time that we were filming, which, I have to admit, was kind of intimidating at first, because I haven’t worked on a set where the real-life person I’m playing is right there. They were really respectful of the process. There was never any stepping on anyone’s toes.


When we first got to the North Shore of Hawaii, we got to spend some time with the family. We had a week or so of rehearsal and preparation before having to go into principle photography. One of the ways we really bonded, right off the bat, was to go surfing together. That’s such an awesome experience to go out and surf with Bethany Hamilton and with Noah and the whole family. That’s how we all bonded and became friends. I got to learn a lot about who Bethany is from sort of an inside view and get to know her. She is such an incredible woman.

DD: Tell me about Noah.

RT: Noah is the oldest of the three kids. He’s the quintessential big-brother figure. He was actively involved from the get-go with pushing Bethany to be the best that she could be and to dominate as a professional female surfer. When the accident happened, Noah was crushed to see her hopes and dreams come crashing down with such an unfortunate incident. However, that bond of the family and the strength of the family coming together really helped inspire Bethany to get back out on the board. About a month’s time from losing her arm, she was already back out in the water learning how to surf again with one arm. Noah and Timmy and Sherry and Tom were all a part of that, and they were all out in the water together working on different ways to help her relearn how she’d be able to do what she loves again.

DD: This is such a great role in such an inspiring movie!

RT: Yeah, it really is. I’ve been following her story since it happened, and then all of these years later getting the opportunity to be a part of making her movie is so amazing. Bethany is such a source of inspiration to millions all over the world — her story of determination and faith and hope. It was such a pleasure making this film.

Roger Howarth Returns to OLTL; Trevor St. John Not Going Anywhere

Emmy-winner Roger Howarth returns to ABC Daytime’s “One Life to Live” and will begin taping in May. Howarth created the role of “OLTL’s” Todd Manning in December 1992, turning what was originally a day-player into a compelling long-term character. He was awarded the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding younger Actor in 1994. Howarth last appeared on “OLTL” in 2003.

“We are thrilled to have Roger return to ‘One Life to Live,’” said Frank Valentini, executive producer. “As ‘OLTL’ viewers know, Trevor St. John has been playing the role of Todd Manning since 2003. We have a great story planned that will involve both actors.”

“I am looking forward to returning to ‘OLTL,’” said Howarth. “We are going to have a lot of fun telling this story, and I am excited to see how it will unfold.”

Roger was last seen on "As the World Turns" as Paul Ryan, a part he had been played from 2003 until the show's cancellation in 2010.

Interview (Being Erica): Things Heat Up for Adam

“Being Erica” is well into its third season on SOAPnet, with Erica getting acclimated to her new business as well as group therapy. Adam Fergus, who plays patient Adam Fitzpatrick on the show, stands out as a man whose been on the wrong path in life who’s trying to make amends and make it right. Beginning Wednesday (11 p.m. ET/PT), things for Adam really start heating up, as we learn more about his past, and where that will take him in the future. When I spoke with Adam recently, he shared with me his experiences of being the new guy on a hit show.

Daytime Dial: You were a new cast member coming into the third season. “Being Erica” was already established, with its vocal fan base in place. Were you ever nervous about fitting in or if your character would be embraced by the fans?

Adam Fergus: I’ve always been the kind of person who is pretty easygoing. The Canadians are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life — I was so welcomed. So, as a person, I had absolutely no problems fitting in. I got along with the cast and the crew and everybody involved. But in terms of my character, yeah, I was worried that my character was going to be pulled by the network after a couple of episodes because they didn’t like him. But after a couple of episodes, everyone was coming up to me and saying how happy they were with the character. But you don’t really know how it’s going to be perceived until the audience critiques the character, so, I was pretty nervous when we were filming it.

DD: How were you able to assimilate into the time-traveling world of “Being Erica”?

AF: You have to give credit to Erin (Karpluk, who plays Erica) first and foremost. She’s so good, and she’s such a technically brilliant and gifted actress. She remembers everything that’s happened in any of the episodes in any of the previous two seasons. She keeps us on our toes.

DD: When I spoke with Erin a few months back, she said you bring a kind of masculinity to the show that had been lacking before. What do YOU think you bring to the show?

AF: Well, that (masculinity) is first and foremost what the team of all four executive producers wanted to bring to the show. Initially, the part wasn’t for an Irish guy at all. It was sort of added to the story and changed as the season went on. But initially we hadn’t really decided whether I was going to play it in a Canadian or Irish accent. There was going to be a Canadian character and an Irish character. Everyone was of the opinion that they liked the Irish character better. Toronto is such a multicultural city, and Canada seems like a nation that embraces everybody.

DD: Aside from being the heart and soul of the show, what do you think Erin brings to “Being Erica”?

AF: You know, it’s funny — the character of Erica is such a wonderful character. I love the fact that she is such a flawed person and easy to relate to — and not just for women, but for anybody. Some of the situations that Erica has been in, I had been in during my life. And I think that’s the thing, that it transcends those kind of barriers, and the fact that she’s not the perfect supermodel. And then what Erin has brought to that character — she has amazes us.

DD: As we all know, Adam rejected Erica’s advances in episode six, which really could have put you in the doghouse with the female viewers. And yet we just can’t stay mad at you. How do you do it?

AF: That was obviously a worry I had. But it comes down to Jana’s (Sinyor) and Aaron’s (Martin) writing and the whole writing team. The whole show really creates such well-balanced characters and well-written dialogue. To be able to say the words they write and play the character that they’ve written is a great opportunity.

DD: I think it also has to do with the accent. I don’t know about Canadian women, but I know we American women are suckers for a man with an accent.

AF: Yes. I’m never losing it. I’m going to try to be like Sean Connery and always have it about me my entire career. He seems to have gotten away with it very easily. On second thought, I don’t know if I will. I’m no Sean Connery anyway.

DD: What do you enjoy about playing the character of Adam?

AF: Adam has a dark and dangerous past with an abusive family. Not that anybody craves that, but it’s an interesting thing to try to play, to get to these places where it’s believable for an audience and they embrace you as a character as well. And the fact that he has sort of detached emotionally from the real world, and as you find out later on in the season why that is, it’s a maternal issue he has. That is why people can relate to him. You can see that he struggles with it and he doesn’t know why he struggles with it. He doesn’t understand that you can actually be friends with and have a relationship with the girl that you are sleeping with. And it actually works better that way.

DD: Tell me about Adam’s journey as it relates to the next few episodes.

AF: It’s a subtle journey that he goes on. It’s all about the discoveries that he makes. I did some of the most emotional stuff I’ve ever played as an actor in some of the scenes in (the coming episode). If you can get to those emotional places and make it believable as an actor, you achieve your goal. Michael Riley (who plays Dr. Tom) sent me a text after reading the script for this episode that said: “This is a great one for you.” Michael was a great help and a great influence on all of us the entire season. He was very supportive, especially in those big scenes I have to do coming up.

DD: Adam wants so badly to be a good person. How much is that a driving force for him?

AF: I think he struggles. I think he wants to be this ideal person that doesn’t really exist. It’s because of Erica and group therapy and Dr. Tom that he discovers that it’s OK to be able to give yourself a second chance. You don’t have to beat yourself up for the rest of your life just because you made some bad choices. We see from the beginning that he’s already made some big steps with Dr. Tom, and he really is trying, but I don’t think he’s figured out how to do it yet. It’s through Erica and through Dr. Tom that he finds his path.

DD: We recently got word that “Being Erica” has been renewed for a fourth season. What do you hope for Adam’s future?

AF: I think there is going to be an interesting dynamic between Adam and Erica. I’d like to see him grow up a little bit more. I’d definitely like to learn a little bit more about his relationship with his brother and see if they can develop that in any way. Hopefully he continues to grow and achieve his goal. He is kind of halfway there already.

GH Releases Statement on Elizabeth Taylor's Passing

"We were honored to work with Elizabeth Taylor on General Hospital. Her portrayal of Helena was a defining moment for the show and an extraordinary experience for everyone involved. She was a great talent, a gracious lady, and a rare presence. We are deeply saddened by her passing and send our deepest condolences to her family and friends."

BREAKING NEWS - Elizabeth Taylor Has Died

(From KTLA News)

Legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79.


Taylor died early Wednesday morning of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to her publicist, Jamie Cadwell.


She was hospitalized in February for symptoms caused by congestive heart failure, described at the time as "an ongoing condition" by Cadwell.


Taylor, a double Oscar winner famous for her eight marriages -- twice to actor Richard Burton -- underwent heart surgery in 2009 to replace a leaky valve.

(Read the rest here.)


While she will, of course, be remembered for her magnificent performances in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "Giant" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf," she will also be remembered by soap-opera lovers for her infamous appearance in 1981 on "General Hospital" as Helena Cassadine (she also made a cameo on "All My Children" in 1983). This was quite a coup for GH to acquire an actress of Elizabeth's caliber, and I remember the excitement around my house (and my grandmother's) as the story unfolded and Helena played a pivotal (and menacing) role in the wedding of Luke and Laura.

Elizabeth was married eight times, and she leaves behind four children and nine grandchildren.

Help Design Our Picture Header!

Hey guys, I need your input. I am going to change the picture header above soon (now pictured is Vanessa Marcil, Jack Wagner and Marcy Rylan), and I need your help in choosing which three actors to highlight. In the comments section below, tell me which actor/actress you'd most like to see featured in the blog header.