News for the week of 28-Jun-2010

by Carol Banks Weber

Celebrity stunt casting alert: Adrienne Barbeau (Maude) has joined for a brief spell to play a children’s charity colleague of Brenda’s, starting August 12. Both Suzanne and Brenda will be seen working in the charity in Rome, then flying over to Port Charles.

Brandon Barash (Johnny) did a double-take when he read his script calling for a little Kristina-related trash-talking with Maurice Benard (Sonny) in upcoming restaurant scenes this week. Barash personally felt badly for having to say it, but it did give him some fun leeway to play up the inappropriate crassness as an actor. He also said that even though Johnny says some nasty things to get Sonny’s dander up, it’s all big talk, not what the guy really believes about Kristina.

When it came time to film the scene before the car bomb goes off, Barash and Lexi Ainsworth (Kristina) were given a rare second take to do it differently. Barash reported that in one take, they became very emotional, and in the next, they were a little more calm about coming to grips with ending the farce of the characters’ pairing for the good of Kristina’s mental well-being. Neither actor knows which take TPTB [THE POWERS THAT BE] will choose in the end.

Anthony Geary (Luke) goes overseas for his regular summer vacation in Amsterdam, so his character goes the same way. Look for Luke to poison the town by the time schools get underway.

Rosa Blasi (Fernanda, Alcazar’s money manager) appears July 22nd and continues on for three shows.


Gossip for the week of 28-Jun-2010

by Carol Banks Weber

James Franco (Franco) will continue on long after summer’s done. He and TPTB have plans for a third series. In the third series, Franco may support himself with a lot more celebrity pals in guest-starring roles.

Vanessa Marcil (Brenda) can do pretty much whatever she wants, now that she signed an über-lucrative contract. Unlike most contracted GH actors, she can come and go as she pleases, when she pleases.

Two other GH actors who can do no wrong are Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) and Kelly Monaco (Sam). They’re never leaving the show, as long as they don’t ever want to leave.

Genie Francis (Laura) may return for a longer term.

Claire and Spinelli could find themselves caught in the crossfire of Franco and mob wars this summer. One or both of them may never come back, if you know what I mean.

Elizabeth gives birth to the presumed Cassadine spawn July 15.