Interviews

Daytime veteran actor Sean Kanan began his daytime career in 1993 as AJ Quartermaine on “General Hospital;” a role the handsome 44-year old actor played until 1997. After a short stint on NBC’s “Sunset Beach,” in 2000 the actor landed on the most popular American daytime drama in the world which is CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful.” His bad boy character, Deacon Sharpe, memorably began an affair with and impregnated “B&B’s” top siren Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) while married to her daughter Bridget (then played by 3-time Daytime Emmy winner Jennifer Finnigan). His “B&B” stint ended in 2005, but Kanan has continued in the role on America’s number one daytime drama CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” since 2009. In Genoa City, Deacon’s carried on affairs with some of the most prominent women including queen bee Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott). Soap Opera Network recently caught up with the actor for an interview pertaining to his lifestyle book “The Modern Gentleman: Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan,” which was released on September 13. Kanan also discussed his career and his thoughts on the current state of daytime television.

Sometimes you can’t be two places at once. Thankfully, there are people willing to lend a hand. Professional photographer and sometimes writer Thomas Montalto was on hand for the annual Absolute Eden Riegel fan event last month and helped Soap Opera Network cover the event with pictures (see below) and even an interview. Unfortunately, just after this interview took place we would learn that Riegel was being let go from her contract role as Heather Stevens on “The Young and the Restless” before the actress was even told! Twitter broke the story to the actress before she was told by her bosses. In light of the actress completing filming at the CBS soap on Thursday, September 29, Soap Opera Network presents to you one of Riegel’s last interviews before she marks her grand exit from Genoa City in the coming weeks.

Ilene Kristen didn’t debut as Roxy Balsom on ABC’s “One Life to Live” until November 2001, but the actress did learn she had the job on September 10 of that year and began filming on September 27. Ten years later the actress reflects on the days after learning she had gotten the job, and what she is looking forward to when the soap transitions to Prospect Park in the coming months.

The 25th Annual Broadway Fleamarket sponsored by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS took place today and several of daytime’s biggest stars were on hand as celebrity guests including stars from “One Life to Live” such as Kristen Alderson (Starr Manning), Andrew Trischitta (Jack Manning), Gina Tognoni (ex-Kelly Cramer), Sean Ringgold (Shaun Evans), Ilene Kristen (Roxy Balsom) and even former cast member Judith Light (ex-Karen Wolek). Also in attendance was former “Guiding Light” actor Ron Raines (ex-Alan Spaulding), who is currently appearing in previews for the Broadway production of “Follies.” Raines’ former “Light” co-star Marj Dusay (ex-Alexandra Spaulding) was scheduled to appear but had to cancel due to illness. Also scheduled was “As The World Turns” actresses Eileen Fulton (ex-Lisa Grimaldi) and Ellen Dolan (Margo Hughes). Soap Opera Network spoke with a few of the stars and learned some interesting tidbits, one of which being that Ringgold received his offer from Prospect Park on Friday and he’s since decided to continue with the show when it moves to the web in January along with “All My Children.”

With today’s news that Prospect Park has officially begun making offers to actors in hopes of them joining “All My Children” 2.0 in time for its January 2012 debut, it’s only fitting to get an insiders perspective on the innerworkings of a canceled soap opera. Cameron Mathison, who portrays the role of Ryan Lavery on the soap, spoke with Soap Opera Network during the “All My Children” Fan Club Weekend and he shed some light on Prospect Park, being a contributor on “Good Morning America” and even dancing on “Dancing with the Stars.”

Cady McClain returned to “All My Children” during the Tuesday, May 17 broadcast of the soap despite filming her first scenes just seven days prior (May 10). So why did the show rapidly insert her scenes into already taped episodes of the soap? “AMC” was canceled of course! During fan club weekend last month, McClain spoke with Soap Opera Network about her return, what the cancellation news meant for cast and crew, the reunion of Tad Martin (Michael E. Knight) and Dixie Cooney (McClain) and even how she got to wear sweats to work while filming scenes of Dixie laying in bed.

Jacob Young is returning to the soap that started his daytime career back in 1997. This fall the Daytime Emmy Award winner will reprise the role of Eric Forrester (John McCook) and Brooke Logan’s (Katherine Kelly Lang) son, Rick Forrester, on the CBS daytime drama “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

On Thursday, July 28, while visiting the “Days of our Lives” set, my crew and I had walked in noticing a tray of cupcakes sitting at the security desk. Turns out it was brought in by Molly Burnett, who was celebrating her third year portraying the role of Melanie Layton on the daytime soap. After completing some scenes that are set to air in October, Burnett and Casey Deidrick (Chad DiMera) headed outside to Salem Place, one of the sets no longer used by the soap, and spent more than 11 minutes talking with us about their characters, what they do in their personal life outside of work, and some of their favorite TV shows and movies . Also, for those fans clamoring for some Chill (Chad/Will), Deidrick shared he’s not opposed to a possible pairing.

Just before “Krystal’s Country BBQ” event took place on Saturday, July 30 during the “All My Children” Fan Club Weekend, Bobbie Eakes (Krystal Carey) took the time to speak to Soap Opera Network on when she learned her show was being canceled, how she broke the news it was being resurrected on Twitter and her delight at having Alexa Havins back as on-screen daughter Babe Chandler, despite the character supposedly succumbing to death back in 2008 care of a Tornado that hit Pine Valley.

Greg Meng along with Noel Maxam were named Co-Executive Producers of NBC’s “Days of our Lives” on Tuesday, June 14, when the series released the first set of changes hitting the soap after the hiring of new head writers Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas. While the writing duo shared with Soap Opera Network what fans could expect from the soap when their material hits the airwaves starting Monday, September 26, Meng took the time to tell viewers why they should continue tuning in before that day comes.