It's that time again, so pull up a chair and get ready for more industrial strength lather. The drama behind "All My Cancellations" has really heated up this past week with planted spin meant to manipulate the masses into turning on daytime icon Susan Lucci. We were herded like cattle and fed accordingly and sadly, some fell for this obvious ploy, while others saw it for what it was (dirty backhanded politics). Many of you have been following me since I began writing this column back in 2001, and you know that I will never pull punches with you. It's human to be wrong. It's OK to be wrong, but I will never be dishonest with you.
The latest spin on Susan Lucci's refusal of the Prospect Park offer is nothing more than a backhanded slap at the beloved daytime icon for daring to tell the truth to her fans in the end. She added a chapter to her book, and in return, they added a gift of their own. Don't you believe it! Susan is one of the kindest, most gracious souls that the entertainment industry has ever seen. She took pay cuts quietly while others were vehemently vocal about them. She has been a company girl from day one. She has always played by the rules and has spent years giving of herself to this genre in every possible way. You are being manipulated and lied to. Susan will address this matter, however in the interim, get yourselves some Pepto and be prepared for more of the same. Disney will soon learn that soap fans are not so easily manipulated after all (they are learning ABC...they are learning). They are getting smarter every day, and with it comes the knowledge that you are bottom feeders through and through.
I am understandably concerned by something that one AMC actor stated on his personal Facebook page indicating that he has yet to be contacted by Prospect Park and doesn't know of any other fellow AMC actors who have been contacted either. This was only left out a few days ago! Why are we hearing so much about OLTL actors being signed, and nothing from the AMC camp? OLTL has months to go whereas AMC is done filming. Valid questions that hopefully the next few weeks will bring reassuring answers to. Now we have the beginnings of a rather dramatic set up for AMC to be shelved with Susan Lucci taking the fall. If this happens, it won't be Susan who takes the fall here. It will be millions and millions of viewers who will see through this nasty little mess and it won’t be Susan's reputation that will be on the line! Don't lay this one on Susan Lucci and put the fate of AMC on her shoulders! We were promised that AMC would continue to air through Prospect Park. We were not told that All My Children would only air if Susan Lucci plays ball! Please wait for Susan to tell you what she plans on doing. You are not going to get the truth any other way on this one. Feel free to ignore the spin cycle at any time. Wash, rinse, cycle, repeat....
I was also just given a bombshell by a very surprising source behind the scenes at OLTL. They indicated that someone who the fans have been trying to get back for some time now is in fact being wooed by Prospect Park! If this happens, there will be dancing in the streets for many out there. This fan favorite would have never considered returning under ABC's watch, but they are mulling the offer over as we speak. I am sure I don't have to tell you that this very fluid business has just become running water now that we have a new company taking over. OLTL performers that were set to leave through ABC, are now making new deals with Prospect Park (people who were set to stay, will not be transitioning and vice versa). This will be a very mixed bag of tricks. The person I spoke to couldn't be any closer to things backstage, and made it very clear that there is simply no way for any of us (whether we work for a magazine or write a gossip column) to get all the changes that are coming our way. Many will slip through our fingers because things are incredibly fluid right now. Please bear with me, as I will do my best to keep up with the many changes that are sure to follow. Obviously, there is no way I am going to get even half of these changes in this current climate! You are either going to get that now or be left behind scratching your head. It's up to you. Prospect Park is influencing the writing and even the finale's, which translates to more rewrites than before. I'm told that certain people at ABC are not very happy with these changes (apparently this was all part of the deal). Many changes afoot my friends.
If you have still not filled out a coupon for the campaign to keep this beloved genre of ours alive, please do so through the following link!
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Finally, before we get into more dish this week, I want to thank all of you for making me feel so welcome on Silas Kain's show. It was a pleasure to be part of the show once again last week. Much love to you Silas! Thank you for all that you continue to do on our behalf. It's incredibly appreciated by a great many out there.
OK gang, freshen up those Caramel Frappe's and away we go.......
Gossip Column Disclaimer That Will Appear In Each Column!
This disclaimer will appear each week. Please keep in mind that these are rumors, and any gossip or rumors found within, are completely unsubstantiated. I know this goes without saying for most of you, but there are many new readers out there as well. So far, my sources have been pretty darn good over the years, and I am truly grateful. It would be pointless to have a gossip column without gossip, so you will find both fact and unsubstantiated rumors within these walls. Also, please note that actors are contractually bound by gag orders. They are not allowed to reveal whether they are leaving or not, until the network gives them the green light to do so. Insisting that actors speak to rumors that involve their relationship with their respective shows, places them in a very awkward position. Please keep all of this in mind as you read my column (which will come out every other week). In addition, I can be wrong, and freely admit this. When my sources give me what they have, it's what they are hearing backstage at that moment in time. They are the first to admit that stories can be scrapped or rewritten, with casting decisions changing frequently. I respect their limitations, and so should you. Most of what I hear are very early rumblings, but I will keep nothing from you either way.
Ravenbeauty's OLTL Dish
I dropped a bombshell on OLTL fans weeks ago when I stated that that someone who would appear to be quite dead, would end up very much alive instead. That nothing is what it appears to be. I confirmed that it was Victor, and that an olive branch had been extended. If this cannot be achieved by the time that PP is ready to shoot, the role may be recast, however there is hope that Prospect Park can work its magic here. To give them a little boost, please let Prospect Park know how much you would like to see Trevor St. John return to OLTL! Please be respectful and kind when addressing them (no spamming please). One letter or e-mail from each household is enough to get your point across.
Let them know how much you miss Trevor. What Trevor has meant to the show over the past 8 years. As someone who has always adored Roger Howarth, I too find myself feeling a great sense of loss. I am elated to see Roger and his incredible intensity and magic back once again, but the storyline potential that exists in having Victor and Todd on canvas together is limitless. The chemistry between Trevor and Roger is phenomenal and unmistakable. Having both men share the same ties, the same connections, the same women, and the same money is pure genius. Had they made him Walker, he would have had none of those ties. We won't settle for a recast. We won't settle for anything less than Trevor St John! Here is your chance to get this across to Prospect Park now!
Twitter @prospectpk
Paul Frank Executive, Head of Television
pfrank@prospectpk.com Jeff Kwatinez partner
jkwatinetz@prospectpk.com Peter Katsis Partner
pkatsis@prospectpk.com Josh S. Barry Executive
jbarry@prospectpk.com Rob Carliner Executive, Head of Film
rcarliner@prospectpk.com Priscilla Crowe Assistant Executive Assistant
pcrowe@prospectpk.com Laurie Ferneau Executive, Director of Development
lferneau@prospectpk.com Rich Frank Executive Producer
rfrank@prospectpk.com Yvette Gonzalez Executive Assistant
ygonzalez@prospectpk.com Teresa Ingram Assistant Film, Assistant
tingram@prospectpk.com Lee Trink Executive, Participating Partner
ltrink@prospectpk.com A quick walk down memory lane in this excerpt from an interview I gave Soapzone in April. Carol Banks Weber asked me if I was willing to give them an exclusive as we neared the end of our interview, and here is what I had to say at the time (as you can see, this was very accurate as this is exactly what transpired even when the industry had TSJ as staying).
Is there anything you can dish just for me?
One of the actors from the upcoming "A Tale of Two Todds” will be gone sooner than later. Once the story wraps, he will be written out. The show will close with the real Todd.
As Jerry Ver Dorn (Clint) stated in a recent podcast, the story between Ford and Jessica will resume now that it appears as if Bree Williamson (Tessica) has reconsidered. He implied that she was indeed set to go, and thus the story was stalled as a result. It seems that she's had a very recent change of heart. You are going to see a great deal of this as we grow closer and closer to the end through ABC. Please note that I have not personally heard anything different where Bree is concerned. I did tell you that Tess would be the dominant personality, and this is the future my friends. The Jessica you remember will never return. The recipe has been changed. Hear/tell Bree couldn't be happier (70% Tess/30% Jess). No more toothaches. Our Jessica is a brand new force to be reckoned with...........
On May 20, I rocked the soap world when I said that Rex was out (there was nothing about JPL leaving anywhere at THAT time). If nothing has changed through the new PP deal, look for him to exit as planned once this story wraps. I gave you a huge hint about his future and it's closer to home than you think (he played by the rules and is said to be rewarded handsomely). General Hospital will be a very interesting place here very soon as we begin to get crossover news......
Natalie and John will be front and center through Prospect Park, and as I told you back in March, look for Brody to crash and burn. One Llanview resident is accused of murder, but it won't be who really pulled the trigger. She's safely tucked away for now watching over her son who is very much alive. There is a reason that Victor was so protected while Todd was held against his will for 8 years. Look for young Sam to be a surprising factor in this one....
Look for two major recasts from the younger set (one will shock long time viewers to the core). The Cole & Starr reunion was scrapped, but I am hearing it may be a go once again. Prospect Park is making some major changes already. Tomas has a secret that will blow everything sky high. It's coming.............
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