Soapbox1 by Michele Dargan » Super Soap Weekend 2008

Interview with Brandon Barash (Johnny Zacchara) from Super Soap Weekend

soapbox1 — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:00:00 +0000

It’s been a few weeks since Super Soap Weekend 2008 ended.
I had posted some interviews in the days that followed.
But then came Thanksgiving and some traveling and now I can get back to some unfinished business.
Namely: more interviews.
I’ll start with Brandon Barash, Johnny Zacchara on General Hospital.

Before I get to the interview, I have to tell you….He was so good with all the fans.
Incredibly nice, actually.
He not only met and spent time with all of the people with FastPasses AND all the standbys, but he also went around the railing and signed autographs and took photos with many of those people who waited patiently outside of his booth.
He was so friendly and nice to everyone and he looked like he was having such a good time.
Brandon went above and beyond what was expected of him and all of the fans who I talked to just raved about how nice he was.
Now to the interview.
Brandon described his alter ego, Johnny Zacchara, as being “like an onion. He’s got a lot of layers.”
Where would he like to see Johnny go as a character?
“I like where he is right now,” Brandon said. “I like the ‘to be or not to be’ struggle that he has going on. I like that his external instinct is to lash out and be rough and his internal struggle and instinct is to be a kind guy…to be a human being, and those instincts have been shut down and repressed through the years because of his father so I would like to see him explore more layers.
On working with Kirsten Storms (Maxie):
“Kirsten is a lot of fun to work with. It’s kind of hard not to have chemistry with Kirsten. She is who she is and she gives it her all and she’s great. I remember filming those scenes in the elevator when Johnny and Maxie were trapped and you can’t resist her. You can’t.”
And what does he think about Lulu (Julie Marie Berman) and Johnny?
“She brings the Yin to his Yang. She brings out that softer interior that he struggles to show. She brings out the human in him and not the monster.”
What was his first Super Soap Weekend like?
“It’s been madness, but very welcome madness. It’s been a lot of fun to put a face with the name of the fan community. It’s great to walk out and see a sea of people who came to see all of us, because we wouldn’t be here without them.”

Michael Easton: A SSW Interview

soapbox1 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite soap character is Lt. John McBain on One Life To Live.
Yeah, he broods sometimes. Big deal.
But what I really like about McBain is his honesty and loyalty and the fact that he always does the right thing to a fault.
The only times that he breaks the rules is if someone that he cares about is in danger or in trouble.
You gotta love that!
At Super Soap Weekend 2008, I caught up with the actor – who plays my favorite cop – Michael Easton.

And I learned an interesting fact that I didn’t know and maybe you didn’t either.
Easton rode around with one of New York City’s finest for a week before tackling the role of McBain.
“I went home with him and talked to his wife and I really learned a lot from that relationship,” Easton said. “She said that he’d come home and the whole night would go by and she knew something was on his mind and he wouldn’t talk about it. And she’d ask him and he’d say, ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ They see a lot of stuff and you know it has to affect them.”
Regarding playing John McBain, Easton said, “I like that he doesn’t talk a lot. It’s a hard thing to do on daytime not to talk about your feelings all the time. He’s a hard guy to like and that’s one of the things I like about Todd. It makes them sort of different from the other daytime male characters, who are always handsome and rich and very charming and there’s certainly a great place for them. But then you get these other characters who are reserved and can’t say I love you [like McBain] and that’s honest. Then you can get the audience to take that ride with you. The gestures mean a lot more and when he does say something he means it.”
Easton is multi-talented. He’s also a poet, writer and photographer.
His first book, “Eighteen Straight Whiskeys,” is a compilation of his poems about his life during less prosperous times. The writing is raw and real and you actually feel what Easton has been through. I have a copy of the book and it’s good writing.
He also has a recently published the graphic novel “Soul Stealer,” with illustrations by Christopher Shy.
On Soul Stealer: “It’s one of the things that I’ve done that I feel is beautiful and pure. I started asking a lot of questions in my life like “Have you ever lost somebody in your life and how far would you go to try and get them back?” Out of that came this character, Kalan, this Etruscan warrior, poet and he develops the ability to bring back souls from the after life. And he uses this to wander the earth, searching for his one true love.
“We’ve had a great response [to Soul Stealer] and it’s very kind of people to want to check it out.”
Easton, who played the vampire Caleb Morley on Port Charles, said he likes coming to Super Soap and seeing his co-stars from Port Charles – Kelly Monaco (now Sam on GH) and Thorsten Kaye(now Zach on AMC).
“We had a lot of fun with that,” Easton said. “That storyline had passion and humor and so many things you don’t often get. It’s nice coming down here, it’s almost like a little reunion with Kelly and Thorsten.”

Get your Super Soap photos here!

kkitts — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:59:27 +0000

Whew!
I thought I’d never get these Super Soap Weekend 2008 photos out into the blogosphere. (And I think Michele had serious doubts, as well!)
But here I am …
And here’s the link: SSW photos.
I only put one photo per star (although there are a couple “couple” ones in there, too.) I’ll be loading up the extras in the next day or so.
Here’s one of my favorites from the batch. It features Brittany Underwood (Langston) and Jason Tam (Markko) of One Life to Live.

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as Michele and I enjoyed standing thisclose to some of our soap faves.

Interview With A Daytime Icon: Erika Slezak (Viki/OLTL)

soapbox1 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:57:19 +0000

Everybody loves the honest, loyal, warm, compassionate and very wise Victoria “Viki” Lord Buchanan Davidson on One Life To Live.
And I see many of the wonderful qualities that we love about Viki in her portrayer Erika Slezak.
In the few minutes that we chatted Saturday at 2008 Super Soap Weekend, I felt like I’ve known her forever.
And in a sense I have.
I began watching One Life To Live from nearly the beginning of the show 40 years ago as an escape from high school angst.
And I still watch the show as an escape from the realities and pressures of the world today.
Erika is incredibly warm and welcoming – and funny!
She just seems to be really down-to-earth.
And how nice is that in someone who is an icon in the business!
It was Erika’s fourth year appearing at Super Soap at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios and here’s what she had to say about it.

“I think it’s a remarkable experience for us as actors to get to meet our audience who are incredibly warm and friendly and giving to travel from all over the country to come here and meet us. For us, we’re just people. We just happen to have a more high-profile job. To meet them face to face – it’s extraordinary. I just met a boy out there whose mother said he gets up at 3:00 in the morning to watch the reruns and I said, ‘you should be asleep.’ He loves the show and it’s just wonderful. It’s very humbling too because we live in a little cocoon. We are in our television studio and I get in my car and drive home. To see all the wonderful people out there who are our audience and who like what we do and who are grateful that we are there makes you feel really good.”
Erika told me that one of the highlights of playing Viki was the recent Paris, TX storyline, which, by the way, was one of my favorites.
“I loved the characters. I loved the idea of being there living a fantasy life. She knew she was only going to be there for awhile and she could get away from her problems and wouldn’t we all want to do that – just kind of vanish for a few months and not deal with life.”
Erika also really enjoys the new characters brought onto the One Life To Live canvas by the Paris, TX storyline – Gigi (Farah Fath), Moe (John Rue) and Noelle (January LaVoy). Gigi is now living in Llanview and Moe and Noelle are coming to Llanview soon.
Erika had Kara and me laughing as she described the people of Llanview.
“They [Gigi, Moe and Noelle] are such real characters,” she said. “They don’t have a ton of money. It’s not like the Llanview people where everybody is rich and nobody has a job and nobody pays a bill. Have you ever seen anybody pay a bill in Llanview? It’s fine we all have charge accounts everywhere.
“But [Gigi, Moe and Noelle] are real people and to bring them in and to assimilate them into the show is so wonderful and I think that was one of my favorite stories ever.”
Erika also said she loves the challenges of playing Viki’s alter personalities and she also very much enjoyed the recent 40th anniversary storyline where Viki died (briefly) and went to heaven and saw some of her dead loved ones, including her beloved, Ben (Mark Derwin).

“I loved heaven because it was so comfortable. I had ballet flats on for two weeks. It was great.”
She also enjoyed working with the show’s creator Agnes Nixon in some of heaven’s scenes.
“Agnes is an extraordinary woman. She was so nervous when we did the heaven stuff. She was wonderful. She was so determined to learn her lines and know every single word. She’s a very, very smart, funny lady. You will never know how funny she is. She’s delightful. It was a treat.
And I kind of went, ‘Yay! I’m the only one who gets to work with her. Yay!”
I asked Erika what are the characteristics that she likes best about Viki.
“She’s so good. She has such a big heart and is so fiercely loyal to her friends and her family in particular. She’s kind. She’s very smart. She’s able to differentiate in her mind what’s just and what’s not just and she always tries to do the right thing, which is a hard thing to do in life isn’t it?”
Kara asked about how Viki’s relationship with Todd will be affected when she finds out that Todd knew that Jess had turned into Tess for all those months that she wreaked havoc.
“Viki gets Todd. She understands his problems. But when she finds out what Todd did it’s not going to be pretty because that’s unforgiveable to leave your family hanging out to dry. Natalie could have been killed. Jared could have been killed. Tess was in a lot of trouble. It was his own selfishness. I don’t care what motivated him, it was unbelievably selfish. It’s interesting to see where it goes. She always wants to believe that there is good in everyone and I think she’s finally going to realize that the good in Todd is buried so deep, that there’s no point in looking for it anymore.”
On playing alter Niki Smith, she said, “It’s nothing but fun, but she is so tiring. She expends so much energy and she’s all over the place all the time. But after playing Viki for so many years who is so controlled and always does the right thing – and then to be Niki….it’s terrific.”

Super Soap 2008: Can’t Believe It’s Over

soapbox1 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:05:39 +0000

Super Soap Weekend 2008 at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios is over and I have LOTS to report.
And because was the last year for the uber-popular event, there was certainly a lot of sadness by fans, but also a feeling that everyone wanted to get the most out of it.
Since we packed so much SSW in two days, I can’t stay awake long enough to really do justice to all the good info, gossip and spoilers that we gathered.
So here’s what I’m gonna do.
Give you just a teaser….
You know, a few tidbits and morsels to bring you back in the next few days to read some more interviews with the stars.
Disney/ABC hosted a wonderful media breakfast each day, where members of the press questioned the soap stars in a red carpet-style format.
We got up-close-and-personal with 20 of the 32 stars, so we have lots to report – and photos too!
And we got more low down by attending some of the talk shows.
But we’re spreading things out through the week, so stay tuned.
But, for now, here’s a few tidbits.
Laura Wright (Carly/GH) was looking forward to taking her daughter on the Rock-n-Roller Coaster and Soarin’ during their Disney stay.
Laura loves the “passion” of Carly and how “her pendulum swings so drastically.”
Out of all her leading men, who’s the best kisser?
Ingo Rademacher (Jax).
You know Melissa Claire Egan who plays Annie Lavery? She dishs on some upcoming, jaw-dropping stuff.
We will see Annie quickly slipping farther and farther from reality after staging the kidnapping of her daughter, Emma.
When that plan backfires and Annie goes totally off the deep-end.
Annie thinks she’s marrying Ryan again and is at a party in her wedding dress, with lipstick smeared freakishly around her mouth and she’s holding a knife dripping with blood.
I saw previews, and I tell you she was scary looking!
And who did she stab?
Erica!

The Road To Super Soap 2008: Interview With Bradford Anderson (Spinelli)

soapbox1 — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Bradford Anderson has fond memories of going to Disney World every year with his family.
“Disney World is one of my favorite places,” he said. “It was the family trip. We all got in the car and drove down from New Hampshire each year and I looked forward to it so much. This year, I’m bringing my mom and my sister as well as my girlfriend. So coming back to Disney World in this capacity is strange but amazing.”
Anderson, best know as Damien Spinelli on General Hospital, is one of the 31 stars meeting and greeting fans at Super Soap Weekend 2008 – this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15 and 16. As Disney has announced, this will be the final year for the popular event and Soapbox will be the blogging live from SSW.
Bradford was the breakout star last year, with his FastPasses being the first to go each day.
He also surprised the fans camped out the Disney gates at 1 a.m. by visiting them and bringing them goodies to eat and drink. But Bradford says he won’t be doing the same this year, because he’s performing at the Street Jam for the first time – and he got the word from Disney not to.
The following is an interview I had with Bradford last weekend before his appearance with other daytime stars at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL.
As promised, here is my Bradford Anderson interview.
Michele: What are you looking forward to about Super Soap?
Bradford: It’s kind of hard to pick just one thing out. I’ve only been there one year and it was just a barrage of positive energy and fun. Seeing familiar faces. Seeing lots of new faces. Being able to perform in the Street Jam. Just the opportunity to meet people and run around and basically be as crazy as we want to be because that’s why we’re there. It’s kinda neat.”
Michele: What is it like to have Spinelli become such a breakout character?
Bradford: “I came from doing musical theater in New York. Not only did I never have a job that lasted more than two or three months, but the life of a theater actor is not necessarily congratulatory. Getting on a show like this with a job that lasts more than three months, those are the things that blow my mind on a daily basis. The things beyond that – like all the things I get to do because of it and the people I get to meet is just beyond anything that I could’ve imagined. I’m just glad to have a job.
“When I joined the show, I was only supposed to be on for two months. So the fact that I’m here two years later is the biggest blessing I could have asked for and all the things that come with it is the cherry on top.”
Michele: What do you love/hate about Spinelli?
Bradford: “I love his sincerity and the fact that he’s innocent enough to not quite know how to communicate without telling the truth. He’s so earnest and honest in everything he does. It pains him to not tell the truth. He never tries to put on anyone or manuever anyone.That’s what I love about him.
“What I look forward to improving on is his self-confidence in knowing that he is such a good person and therefore doesn’t need to become something that he isn’t. That is the struggle that makes him somewhat interesting. The more he allows himself to be confident in who he is, I think more adventures will ensue. I don’t think the confidence will take away from who he is, it will just enable him to have more experiences.”
Michele: How difficult is it to memorize Spinelli-speak?
Bradford: “It’s funny. When I go to work and put on my hooded sweatshirt, my mouth just figures out how to do it. People have asked me to go into Spinelli when I’m not at work and it’s hard. At work, I just kind of step into it and when I’m not at work, it’s out of me. Some soap actors, their characters are just a different version of themself and it’s hard for them to separate the two. You get kind of confused, because we live in our characters so often. But, for me, I never get confused.
“I grew up in central New Hampshire, we don’t have football, but I played sports. I was never the strapping young athlete, but I did okay. And my social skills are actually pretty good and I’ve always had a fair amount of self-confidence because of my parents. I do have much more confidence in interacting with people than Spinelli does and I know how to use a computer, but I don’t even know what hacking means.”
Michele: What do you hope for Spinelli”
Bradford: “To relax and to love, somehow. To find someone who allows that part of him to really come out. Being able to see how he reacts when he is loved in return and knows it.”

The Road to SSW 2008: Interview with Cameron Mathison

soapbox1 — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:00:00 +0000

He has played Ryan Lavery on All My Children since January 1999.
That’s right….
The surprise interview I mentioned last week is none other than Cameron Mathison, one of the busiest actors in television and the headliner at Super Soap Weekend 2008 Nov. 15 and 16 at Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World.

Photo credit: ABC/Heidi Gutman
I mean the guy is always on the go.
He’s perpetually in a front-burner storyline on AMC. He’s been in movies, primetime TV shows and the host of several shows including the SOAPnet reality show “I Wanna Be A Soap Star.”
And who can forget the crazy schedule he kept while jetting back and forth between coasts when he competed on last year’s “Dancing With The Stars.”
Cameron also can be seen as a special correspondent on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
The guy has so much energy….He’s like the Energizer Bunny…No kidding!
Cameron is gor -geous in person! And, by the way, he’s as nice and gracious and funny as he is good looking.
And I know this because I was actually up close and personal with him onstage in the “I Wanna Be A Soap Star” contest during Super Soap Weekend 2006.
I was chosen as a contestant and got to act out a scene with Cameron. It was so much Fun!
Well, here. See for yourself.

This year will be his 11th year at Super Soap and it’s the first year that he’s been billed as the headliner. He’s co-hosting the “Street Jam” with “The View’s” Sherri Shepherd and he’s hosting “Casting Call.”
Regarding being billed as the headliner, Cameron said, “I don’t think it makes me any different than anybody else that’s going to be there. We’re all kind of all headlining together. I’ve been there a long time and involved in so many different aspects this year…but really we’re all headlining together as a team.”
Michele: What is the best thing about Super Soap Weekend?
Cameron: “Just a sense of excitement and appreciation and enthusiasm that you get from the fans there that you really don’t get anywhere else. You have fans come up to you and show their support [other places], but it’s just such a different vibe there. Enthusiasm is a good word and passion. And it feels really nice and we try to give it right back.”
Michele: Is this something you look forward to each year and how do you feel about the hoards of people that turn out each year?
Cameron: “There’s nothing about Super Soap that I don’t enjoy. I love the number of people, even if they’re grabbing at you as you’re walking through the crowd. It’s an opportunity for the actors to show our appreciation. We wouldn’t have our jobs if it wasn’t for them.”
Michele: Which aspect of the industry do you like the best and where do you find time to do it all?
Cameron: “All My Children” has been incredible with working around the scheduling. The hosting stuff is so much easier to work in with All My Children. Obviously, “Dancing With The Stars” was a [scheduling] nighmare for everybody at the studio. They were very involved in making adjustments so I could do that show. Being a special correspondent for Good Morning America – I literally find out what time I’m working on “All My Children” and plan on shooting a taped piece for GMA around that and then the live GMA show happens before “All My Children” even starts.
“I’ve kind of cut back on some of the other things I’ve done. I’ve just taken one or two side jobs at a time. There have been times when it’s been totally and completely insane, but those days seem to be done for now and it’s a little more balanced…In order to find time for that stuff, I only cut out my personal extras like playing golf or going to the gym. I never take away from time with the kids or time with the family. If I’m taking on extra jobs, I should be the only one to suffer for that.”
Regarding his favorite aspect of the industry, Cameron called AMC his family and described the show as being “a part of him.”
He also enjoys being a special correspondent at “Good Morning America.”
Being a special correspondent “has been something that has been very exciting in my career and I get so much fulfillment from that,” he said. “That plus being able to work as an actor on “All My Children” is a really good balance for me.”
Michele: What is it that you love about Ryan and what do you hate about Ryan?
Cameron: “The thing that I love about Ryan is that all the decisions that he makes – good or not so great – comes from wanting to help other people. I think he trys to do the right thing by other people. Even his flaws come from trying to do the right thing by other people. Even when he pretended to kill himself it was because he didn’t think he’d be a good dad and didn’t want to be a bad father to his kids. He always tries to do things for the right reasons.
“The thing that I don’t like about Ryan is it seems like he flip-flops his position on a lot of things lately and that gets frustrating as an actor. And I think it takes away from the strength of his character when he doesn’t stick to his guns about stuff. There’s been a little bit of flip-flopping – not only on his feelings for women but also on his decisions about what’s right and what’s not right. We’re in a bit of a transition period for Ryan and that’s been a little tricky for me as an actor. But overall I think he’s a great character and we have a great new head writer and I think it’s only getting better.”
Michele: Are you hosting “I Wanna Be A Soap Star” this year at Super Soap?
Cameron: “Yes. But this year it’s called “Casting Call.” It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance for these fans to get up and act with their favorite stars. It’s so much fun to see how excited they are and to see the absolutely ridiculous stuff that unfolds in these scenes. It’s a lot of fun.”
Michele: What was your reaction to the fact that this will be the last Super Soap?
Cameron: “Initially, I was saddened by it because it’s been so much fun for us and for the fans over the years. But once I found out the positive I really kind of got it. I think we’re going to take the fun and energy and excitement from Super Soap Weekend and take it on the road…take it around the country. Some of the feedback we got from fans is that they wish we did this in their own backyards. So we’re taking that to heart and listen to our fans and bring it to everybody.”
Michele: What is it like to work with the “All My Children” cast?
Cameron: “It’s such a great cast and such a great family feeling and apparently it’s not always like that on some of the other shows. There’s not that same dynamic. It’s a real close feeling. Because of the economy, we’re not having a Christmas party this year. But all of the actors are getting together and we’re putting one together for the crew. We have just a really great dynamic going on at “All My Children.” We really look out for each other. We have a lot of support for each other. There’s a lot of close friendships there.”
Michele: Who are you closest with from “All My Children?”
Cameron: My three leading ladies: Melissa Claire Egan (Annie), Alicia Minshew (Kendall) and Rebecca Budig (Greenlee) is a very close friend of mine. I stayed with her during “Dancing With The Stars.” Even when she’s off the show, we’re very, very close. Thorsten Kaye, who plays Zach, is a buddy of mine, although we don’t hang out that much outside the show. We’re very close in looking out for each other. There’s a lot of friendships. I’ve been playing golf a lot with Jacob Young (J.R.). I could go on and on.
Cameron in action on All My Children

L-R: Aiden Turner ( as “Aidan”), Rebecca Budig ( as “Greenlee”) and Cameron Mathison (as “Ryan”)
photo credit: ABC/Lou Rocco

The Road To Super Soap 2008: Interview and Update

soapbox1 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:00:00 +0000

As promised, I will keep you updated with the latest news leading up to ABC-SOAPnet Super Soap Weekend, which, sadly will be the last one.
It will be held Nov. 15 and 16 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.
On an up note, I have tentatively set another interview next week with one of the actors appearing at SSW and will post the interview right here on Soapbox.
My first SSW interview was posted Wednesday with Jason Tam (OLTL’s Markko), who is making his SSW debut this year. Many thanks to Jason for taking the time out of his busy schedule.
Now, I’m not going to say who next week’s interview will be….I think it will be fun to surprise you.
I’m planning to post it Thursday so stay tuned.
And don’t forget that Kara and I will be blogging live from SSW each day, recounting who we’ve seen and what went on.
On to the latest SSW news….
There have been some more ABC stars added to the lineup.
Sherri Shepherd,The View co-host, will return to the event for the second consecutive year and will host the Colgate Total Street Jam with All My Children’s Cameron Mathison.
ABC-SOAPnet Super Soap Weekend November 15 and 16 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Sherri Shepherd,The View co-host, will return to the event for the second consecutive year and reunite with Mathison, her Daytime Emmy Awards co-host, to host the Colgate Total Street Jam.

Susan Lucci (Erica Kane/AMC), the only star to attend every SSW since it’s inception in 1996, will be there only on Saturday if she is still competing on “Dancing with the Stars.”
Added to the previously released list of stars: Vincent Irizarry (AMC’s David), Kimberly McCullough (GH’s Robin) and Greg Vaughan (GH’s Lucky).
The previously released list is: All My Children – Rebecca Budig, Bobbie Eakes, Melissa Claire Egan, Ricky Paull Goldin, Thorsten Kaye, Cameron Mathison, Alicia Minshew, Eden Riegel, Aiden Turner and Darnell Williams. One Life to Live – Kristen Alderson, Brandon Buddy, Kassie DePaiva, Michael Easton, Farah Fath, Susan Haskell, John-Paul Lavoisier, Erika Slezak, Jason Tam, Brittany Underwood and Bree Williamson. General Hospital – Bradford Anderson, Brandon Barash, Julie Berman, Tyler Christopher, Jason Cook, Rebecca Herbst, Kelly Monaco, Kirsten Storms, Jason Thompson and Laura Wright.
According to Disney/ABC, Super Soap Weekend is being shelved in favor of smaller fan events around the country called the Soap Nation Tour.
Below are excerpts from a Disney/ABC press release explaining things.
This year will mark the last Super Soap Weekend in Orlando, as ABC’s Daytime division embarks on the 2009 Soap Nation Tour, a collection of nationwide events designed to interact with fans on a year-round basis, offering greater access to stars in more cities, more often. The final Walt Disney World weekend will be dedicated to the fans with special retrospectives and exclusive productions.
This year special trivia and commemorative clip packages honoring the 45th anniversary of General Hospital; the 40th anniversary of One Life to Live and All My Children’s 10,000th episode and past Super Soap Weekends will be shown during the event.
Super Soap Weekend will become more interactive than ever with the introduction of new mobile programs and text trivia. A special musical number will be developed for Colgate Total Street Jam that honors the final event as well.
Throughout the weekend, fans will have the opportunity to meet favorite stars from All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital.
Festivities include celebrity motorcades, autograph sessions, game 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 favorite Daytime Stars. Colgate Total toothpaste has served as the presenting sponsor of the event for nine consecutive years.
Confirmed events within the 2009 “Soap Nation Tour” that support the new effort begin on the west coast with the maiden voyage of SOAPnet Presents Rock the Soap, a three-day cruise (from Los Angeles to Mexico) hosted by Bob Guiney and filled with top daytime stars, including Rebecca Budig, Thorsten Kaye, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Kassie DePaiva and Bree Williamson, and featuring musical performances, autograph sessions and parties. More information about the event can be found at www.rockthesoap.com.
New contests will be developed to provide trips to New York so winners can attend Broadway Cares, a one-night musical celebration featuring daytime stars, and continued participation in the CMA’s Music Festival with stars attending the event weekend. Additional information regarding new fan experiences and expanded affiliate events will be released next year.

The Road To SSW 2008: Interview with Jason Tam (Markko on OLTL)

soapbox1 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:35:00 +0000

Don’t ya just love the always steady, wise-beyond-his-years, Markko Rivera on One Life To Live?
I know. Me too.
Markko is such an endearing character…. he’s loyal, smart, a hard worker….the list goes on and on of all his admirable qualities.
I spoke with his portrayer, Jason Tam, who will be attending his first Super Soap Weekend Nov. 15 and 16 at Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World.

Jason was pretty new to the show when last year’s SSW rolled around, so he didn’t receive an invitation until this year.
And I have to tell you, Jason is really excited about Super Soap.
He very kindly took time out of his busy schedule to do an interview with me.
Jason, 26, holds a BFA in acting with honors from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He originated the role of Paul in the Broadway 2006 revival of “A Chorus Line,” which is one of my favorite plays of all time.
Jason spoke candidly about his career, his thoughts on playing Markko and what it’s like to be a part of the OLTL cast.
Michele: What are you looking forward to about Super Soap?
Jason: “I’m looking forward to the entire experience as a whole just because I’ve heard so much about it so now I want to see for myself what it’s like. I think it’s going to be really great to connect with the die-hard fans of the show, to interact with them, to see who they are. I think that’s going to be really cool. I’ve done the fan club luncheon, a lot of smaller events, the Feast With The Famous Faces [charity event] and other events in New York, but this will be, by far, the biggest fan event that I’ve been to.”
Michele: What about the Street Jam?
Jason: “I’ve been asked to do the Street Jam.I don’t know what I’m singing yet. I’m really excited about that because I’ve been singing my whole life. It’s something that I really love. There’s nothing like getting in front of a crowd and performing, especially a crowd who’s going to be really supportive and excited to be there.”
Michele: What is a typical day like on the set of OLTL?
Jason: I come in to dry rehearsal usually around 8 in the morning and we get blocking for the scenes that we’re doing and, depending where my scenes fall in the day I either go straight to hair and makeup, or I’ll have a few hours to kill. If that’s the case, I usually have scenes with Brittany [Underwood as Langston] so we’ll find ways to kill time together. She’s always watching funny videos on YouTube or watching episodes of Family Guy or sometimes we make our own random funny videos.
“Then we go through the lines with the all the people in our scenes and make sure we have all our lines down. Then we shoot our scenes and go home. The last scenes of the day can go until 7 or 8 o’clock. But if my scenes are the first ones up, I could get there at 7:30/8 o’clock for my blocking and be out of there by 12.”
Michele: Is there anyone who helped you out in your early days on the show?
Jason: “When I was auditioning for the show, I ran into Melissa Fumero [Adriana]. We went to school together. She was a few years ahead of me. It was really great to run into a friendly face and she said, ‘It’s so great to see you.’ And she had a big smile on and she immediately put me at ease in this really foreign environment. And then when I got the job, I was working with Kristen [Alderson as Starr], Brandon [Buddy as Cole] and Brittany all the time and the four of us got close pretty quickly.”
Michele: Are the four of you friends outside of the studio?
Jason: “We are. If we’re all working together, then it’s pretty much a given that we walk across the street to the ABC cafeteria and eat lunch together. We go to movies together or sometimes we just get together at someone’s apartment and play board games together.”
Michele: What is it like working with the OLTL cast?
Jason: “I really enjoy working with the One Life To Live cast. I think it’s a great cast with really talented people and there aren’t any big egos. There’s no behind the scenes drama or cattiness and that’s really good because it makes it so much easier to be open in a work environment where you feel comfortable.”
Michele: What is it that you love or hate about playing Markko?
Jason: “What I like about Markko is his confidence. I think in his head, he’s the kind of guy who has a solution for everything or will come up with a solution for whatever problem is at hand. He’s unafraid to share his solution to everyone else’s problem in the world. He always has the right thing to do. I love that about Markko, but at the same time it could be a bad thing. He sees the world as if he’s kind of a genius in a world where other people aren’t as bright. Confidence is always a fine line with a character. He’s got this strange handle on things and a sense of responsibility. In my head, it comes from his family, which hasn’t been written into the storylines yet. But I think his family plays a huge part in who he is and how he interacts with the world.”
[Although there has been no backstory for Markko related to his family, Jason said he would love for that to happen.]
Michele: Which do you prefer stage or screen?
Jason: “As an actor, my goal is to do everything. I find things from different aspects of the industry fullfilling in different ways. But if I had to choose, I guess I would say theater, because it has the most rehearsal time. I really love rehearsing and finding the nuances of different characters and relationships. I find I do my best work when I have a lot of time to rehearse.”
Michele: What advice would you give to a young person aspiring to be an actor?
Jason: “First of all, get into some classes and try to be open. A lot of learning comes from just observing the real world and watching how human beings react to things physically and emotionally and be open to exploring all parts of yourself. What makes everyone so beautiful is that everyone is an individual. Having said that, some people might be afraid to reveal too much of themself. Find a class where you feel really comfortable and, hopefully, try to bring as much of humanity as possible to the characters that you play.”
Michele: How do you feel about the fact that this will be the last Super Soap?
Jason: “I’ve never been to one…but I’ve heard only really good things about it and it’s something the fans look forward to every single year. I heard ABC wants to put together more local events around the country and I think that’s great. But, to be honest, I think you could do both. I think you could have this one giant event and have these other local events.”
So there you have it.
If you want to learn more about Jason Tam, visit www.jasontam.net
And keep coming back to Soapbox for SSW updates.

Super Soap Weekend ads add insult to injury

kkitts — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:19:38 +0000

Is anyone else catching the irony of the Super Soap Weekend commercials they keep running on SOAPnet?
You know, the ones featuring close-ups of select stars as they beckon you with the crook of a finger? The ones that have these same stars go on and on, gushing about what a wonderful event SSW is?
The ads work overtime to promote the energy and excitement of the weekend. Check out the one below featuring Bradford Anderson (General Hospital‘s Spinelli).

The promos literally make me wanna get out my pom-poms.
My favorite? The ad where Kassie DePaiva (One Life to Live‘s Blair) refers to how great it is to feel all the love from the fans … right before she slips in that this will be the last SSW.
Even she looks pained about it.
So, tell me … and maybe I’m just not getting the problem here … why exactly are they canceling this much-anticipated event?
I’d like to believe it’s for the good of soap fans. Er, excuse me. For the good of the “Soap Nation,” as ABC Daytime President Brian Frons says. At least, that’s the tale he’s spinning.
But something doesn’t ring true.
Regardless, I find it super interesting how they’re selling the heck out of SSW, making it seem like it’s the most wondrous soap event since … well, it is the most wondrous soap event.
Where else can you go and not only see stars from three different soaps, but meet them as well? It’s crazy to think a cruise can compare. Or a Broadway show. Or even the fan club luncheons.
I like having so many actors and actresses from different shows in one place, even if there are repeat attendees year after year. There are usually enough new people … and some of my returning faves … to keep me happy.
I do recognize that the event gets bigger, busier and more difficult for Disney to manage every year. Heck, after last year’s “herding” through the GH line, Michele and I both wondered if we’d be back for another turn.
Yet here we are.
I kind of liken it to giving birth. It can be a big pain while it’s happening, but the final result makes it all worth while. Before you know it, time passes, and you’re ready and willing to go
through it all again.
It’s just too bad ABC doesn’t feel the same.
And considering that’s the case, I wish they’d quit rubbing salt in the wound with those “Super Soap is Super Duper” ads.
It positively oozes hypocrisy.