Nelson Branco, best known as the writer of the popular Suds Report column for website TV Guide Canada and for his contributions to magazine Hello! Canada is back! This time he’s Uncensored.
With Soap Opera: Uncensored, fans of Branco will notice the same writing style from his Suds Report, which includes an interview, translated comments on daytime moves, a breakdown of what’s happening on each soap and his uber-popular Blind Items.
For just $1.99 per issue, readers will receive 60 pages of news, notes and even an interview from “Venice: The Series” star Crystal Chappell where she explains why her online web soap is recasting roles played by Gina Tognoni (ex-Kelly Cramer, “One Life to Live”) and Wes Ramsey (ex-Sam Spencer, “Guiding Light”).
Snippet from Chappell Interview…
Despite winning an Emmy for Venice, Chappell still has to deal with the cruel realities of show business. But hey, what’s a soap without cast changes? My boyfriend Eric Martsolf has joined the Sapphic web serial as a recast. The ‘DAYS’ hunk will be replacing Wes Ramsey, who is currently in New York City shooting ‘The Playboy Club.’ “Eric’s wonderful in this,” compliments Chappell. “Eric’s always been supportive of the show. I had to shoot this character with or without Wes, so I sent the script to Eric, and luckily he agreed to do it. It was so much fun to see actors I love and respect in different parts. And you can talk to Eric about this — but this was a part he was born to play!” Also, don’t expect Gina Tognoni back as Sami. “She can’t do it,” sighs Chappell. “So I have to recast the role. I have someone in mind, but I can’t say who.”
INSIDE: Crystal Chappell Exclusive – Life After DAYS! Also: Why Venice is recasting Gina Tognoni and Wes Ramsey! Plus: Molly Burnett and Christian LeBlanc join Gina and Company!
Exclusive: Major Daytime Emmy Award changes!
Melody Thomas Scott VS. Sony: What really happened!
Is James Scott leaving DAYS?
Alleged Stalker Shocker Involving — Wait For It — John Driscoll!
Andrea Evans’s Cancer Victory!
Inside Dirty Soap! Is Eden Riegel AMC-bound?
The truth behind Megan Ward’s GH firing!
Drama at THE CHEW!
Y&R’s Christel Khalil divorce drama!
More turmoil at THE TALK?
Four Decades Later: DAYS Chief Ken Corday finally gets a clue!
Last week’s Soap Reviews; Next Week’s Preview Cheat Sheet! And every week: Blind Items!
If that wasn’t enough to get you interested, here are this weeks blind items from Soap Opera: Uncensored (as written by Nelson Branco):
—Which boring character is headed back to his old stomping grounds? —Which super villainess is returning to her old show with a new-ish face? —Expect some major firings very soon! —Which despised star is cleaning up his or her a-hole act? But co-stars are dubious. –Which soap actress in major trouble physically, mentally, and professionally? —–Which new actor is as “gay as a handbag,” says one co-star, but the acting novice thinks he’s fooling people into thinking he’s straight?
To order your copy of the first edition of Soap Opera: Uncensored, click here.
(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — A collection of Twitter and Facebook posts from current and former cast and crew members of “One Life to Live” during and following the show’s final days of production on its ABC Daytime run, which wrapped production last Friday.
Kristen Alderson (Starr): “Tomorrow [Friday] is the big day #LastdayofOLTL VERY strange feeling, harder than I could’ve ever imagined. Can’t wait for the wrap party though. Eddie [Alderson], Hillary [Nora], and Bob [Woods] last day today. So blessed to be with them today for it. It’s heartbreaking but so special. I want to thank all of our AMAZING/LOYAL fans for being so extremely supportive through all of the years&for today! Our cast partied their butts off until 4AM last night!…going to be hard falling asleep earlier now…lol”
Brittany Underwood (Langston): “Listening to OLTL musicals all morning. can’t believe the last day of OLTL as we know it has arrived :-/ thanks for all the memories. Just wanted to apologize to everyone who waited outside the studio for us. Couldn’t bear 2 say goodbye. Way 2 emotional 2day. Love you all. Yesterday was perfect. I got to be a part of something so amazing for 5 years and to be there for the end was truly special. So blessed 2 have worked with such amazing people.”
Jason Tam (ex-Markko): “Going over my lines for tomorrow [Friday]. So proud to have been a part of OLTL and can’t wait to be in the studio one last time.”
Eddie Alderson (Matthew): “Tomorrow [Friday] is my last day of filming of #OLTL..this is going to be one of the hardest days I’ve ever had. So thankful for all the years though. Wow..thank you so much everyone! You all have been more than amazing to my family over the years, we appreciate you all and will forever! ‘Don’t be sad it’s over, smile because it happened.’ That was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through..so upsetting. Every new beginning comes from another beginnings end. Wrap party time. Let’s go. After party bitchezzz. Well I guess you could say we went out with a bang.”
Bree Williamson (Jessica): “Today last day….. Tomorrow first day. Thanks so much for all of your thoughtful tweets!! They mean so so much. Jerry verDorn [Clint] told me he loved me today during taping and I lost it. To all the fans outside, thank you for your support! I am so sorry I had to run. I was trying to get home to be a mom before party time. Ouch……. Dear new York, thank you for giving me perfect days like these before I have to leave you.”
Melissa Archer (Natalie): “I just want to take a moment to thank all of you. Your support means so much. 10 wonderful years!! When one door closes another opens…”
Lenny Platt (Nate): “Last day heading into #OLTL. I’m grateful to have learned so much in my short tenure. Honor to have been part of it. Thanks to the fans. At least now i can keep my shirt on and don’t have to spend 2 hours in the makeup chair getting my extra nipples covered… So much change today. Also Regis‘s [Philbin] last day. Now where am I gonna go to get a lovable little man yelling at me 1st thing in the morning?”
Hillary B. Smith (Nora): “My emotions are over flowing!!! This is getting really sad. It’s our last few days of taping on ABC. We will be together again!! Hard to know when you have a cold if your eyes are running because you are sick or you are sad! I m here 4 my last tape day on OLTL for ABC. Last night we wewre told that we must remove all of our belongings from the dressing rooms. I have all this fan memoribilia, pictures of me with the bo and Nora Fans, jello shot girls, animals, cast mates, presents from fans. How? I love you all, you crazy people!!! You have kept me sane. Is it possible for insanity to bring clarity? thank you for 20 years of YOU! All I ask is that you watch us to the end. There is really good stuff. And then you can turn your sets off or turn the channel. Hey! Good Morning my tweets! It is Saturday morning and I am officially unemployed! Wow! Had a gr8 send off last night! Danced like a fool with my peeps. Cried like a fool, but laughed as well! Great party! You must keep watching OLTL. fantastic all the way thru to end! So good! Nora is not gone, she is out in the yard gardening… Okay ordering the gardner around. I can’t bear the idea that she might b gone. someone has to water the plants on the roof garden. Oh yea…. There is a huge roof garden.”
Shenell Edmonds (Destiny): “Tomorrow [Friday] is my last day on OLTL with the most amazing cast and crew I have ever worked with! I am so grateful the time I have had with them! Wow. I just started crying, realizing that this is my last day of taping until I move on w/ #PP . I really didnt think it would be this hard. thank u guys for the amazing support u have given, not just me but the entire show. U guy are awesome an we will never forget. Omg. Emotions r running high today. So happy an grateful to hav the opportunity to be part of this family!!!”
Farah Fath (Gigi/Stacy): “Sitting in my dressing room on my last day at #OLTL 3 more scenes & thats a wrap! Feeling so very thankful for the time I’ve had here. First scene I ever taped on #OLTL was w/ the queen Erika Slezak [Viki]. Last scene I will ever tape was w/ Erika Slezak. To my fans: From the bottom of my heart, thank you SO much for your support over the years. My 12 years on daytime is because of you all.”
Crystal Hunt (ex-Stacy): “Don’t know if anyone’s popping by the OLTL wrap party tomorrow [Friday], if so, see u there. Btw the wrap party is at Capital, not the studio. Last night was sad but sooo much fun!”
Kassie DePaiva (Blair): “This has been a sad day. I’m truly grateful 4 this awesome journey. I’ve had an amazing time in Llanview….& really hate 2 see it end. But it was great and my life is better because of the lives that have touched mine. Thank you OLTL/Blair fans for 18 years of goodness. It’s because of you that it has lasted this long. Until we meet again… Xoxo”
Andrew Trischitta (Jack): “Thanks to all those fans waiting outside the studio! I could never have done that it was freezing. greeted the fans outside the studio. Starting up the after party.. This is gonna be a long night. What am I going to do now that we stopped filming? Kelly [Missal, Dani] cause I miss you so much I just won’t be able to survive. Haha in a few pictures of me from the wrap party, my tie was obnoxiously long.. Because little Patrick [Gibbons Jr.] (Sam) was pulling it, I didn’t know. not that many cried there. But it was very sad.”
Kelley Missal (Dani): “thank you to all the fans for your incredible support and dedication to #OLTL!!! you mean the world.”
Nick Choksi (Vimal): “Incidentally, today [Thursday] is also my last day of filming! That’s a wrap! Thanks, OLTL, for a fantastic time and a hell of a year! The last day of taping is Friday, we’re all closing out. Today is just my last round, my last dance with the disco king! Thanks, everyone! Clarification: I’ll still be in episodes between now and the big Finale on Jan 13. The taping of it all is finished, they shot the last scenes yesterday and I taped my last scenes on Wednesday! there’s about 10 more episodes of OLTL that I am in between now and the 13th of Jan when it all come to a close. thanks for the good wishes. Happy Thanksgiving, America!”
Shenaz Treasury (Rama): “And it’s a wrap for OLTL. Just walked out of the ABC Studios for the last time [Thursday]. Emotional day for everyone on the show. I was just there a little over a year and I’m a weepy mess. Think about all the people who have been with it for 30 years! So grateful to have been part of such a wonderful team. Thank you for being my family in New York!”
Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian): “Fans couldn’t save AMC/OLTL but they FOUGHT back hard-Taking action-they created a shift in a mis-conceived plan. With LOVE-it’s never over. My heart feels this IS Black-est Friday. My mind-confused by rumors about Prospect Park. My spirit is proud of being part of OLTL’s history. Saw promo 4 a Charity Event-Chicago on LAST OLTL airing ABC Daytime. Zoicks! OMG! Last show is going to be 1/13. YO? that’s Friday the 13th!”
Gina Tognoni (ex-Kelly): “Going to the One Life Wrap Party / follow the show y”all Xx. Today last day of taping for entire One Life cast and crew. Today the last day of taping One Life.The amazing cast and crew god bless / great things ahead for ALL in the new year no doubt!! Going to the wrap party 4 sure.”
David A. Gregory (Ford): “Heading to the studio for the last day of OLTL. Thank you all so much for your support; it means the world. I was only supposed to be around a few episodes and you turned it into a few years. Thank you guys!” Gregory also posted this video thank you to his fans on Facebook.
Mark Lawson (Brody): “Studying for Brody’s last scenes for ABC. I can’t believe it’s here. The last three and a half years have flown by. I’ve learned so much and am so thankful for all the people I’ve been privilaged to work with. Above all, I’m overwhelmed by the support of the fans. Your love of the show, of Brody, and of me as an actor have made this ride worth it. Thank you.”
Carolina Bermudez (Blanca): “Sitting in my makeup chair for the last time [Thursday] at One Life to Live & it’s creator Agnes Nixon is sitting next to me… I’ll never forget this. Headed to the #OLTL wrap party to get my drink on!”
Catherine Hickland (ex-Lindsay): “Good morning, Kittens! Today belongs to #OLTL. Sending love to cast, crew, fans & all who supported the show throughout the years! BIG love To all of my brothers and sisters at OLTL. God Speed to the new and improved. Blessings on each cast&crew member. TY Frank V 4all.”
Fiona Hutchison (ex-Gabrielle): “Saying Goodbye. Goodbye One life to Live… We’ll miss you on the network… saying goodbye to One Life to Live on the ABC Network… as well as so much of daytime these past few years.”
January LaVoy (ex-Noelle): “To my friends and colleagues at One Life to Live…all the best. 44 endlessly entertaining years! From my grandmother’s knee to Paris, Texas, I was so fortunate to be a part of that family. Love and congratulations to everyone.”
Thom Christopher (ex-Carlo): “To everyone at “One Life To Live” let it be said that every individual involved in this show, both past and present, have added themselves to the collective memory of millions of viewers. The decades of this show and its’ success speak a million words of praise to everyones creative labor…how proud I am to have been one of its’ laborers. I join in the sadness to see it go dark but look at the greatlight it leaves behind..my love to all and the thanks for the journey.” And from “OLTL” Director Bruce S. Cooperman, “Hi Thom- you were definitely a part of my happy memories at OLTL. I will never forget the great times we had!! All the best to you and Judy. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!”
Nafessa Williams (ex-Deanna): “OLTL memories. I hear it’s lots of #OLTL supporters outside the studio. Sending my love to everybody from LA;) xoxo.”
Tika Sumpter (ex-Layla): “Goodbye #OLTL , it was nice meeting you and being apart of your T.V. history.”
Erin Torpey (ex-Jessica): “Thinking about my OLTL family today. Love you all.”
Crystal Chappell (ex-Maggie): “I miss One Life already. What a wonderful show! Thinking of everyone there. Enjoy the party tonight! Will toast in your honor.”
Terrell Tilford (ex-Greg): “To All of My ONE LIFE TO LIVE past-castmates, the crew and the entire awesome production team, Congratulations on your great job… Today may be the last day of THIS, but I look forward to the first day of 2.0 for all of you! Keep it movin’!!!”
Paul S. Glass (“OLTL” Music Director): “Thanks so much..I really appreciate it! I’m so proud of all we’ve done & hope to have the chance of doing even more! Can’t say enough about the people in that studio. Great friends, incredible talents and even better people. one family. We did things that people thought we were crazy for even trying and things that were impossible…year after year! So fortunate to have EPs (especially Frank [Valentini]! ) that always wanted to push the music to the limits! Their support made everything possible. Have had such great material and performances to work with! Thanks & thanks 4 you all your support! Nothing like the feeling of putting music 2 video & having it all come together! I still have 26 shows to do before the end of ABC run in January.”
Julia Davis (“OLTL” Make-Up Artist): “Good morning! Headed to Llanview. Today will always be remembered. So many wonderful memories… As we turn the pages of time, we discover hidden mysteries and triumphs in each new chapter. Wow! So many Fans outside. And its officially a Good Night & Good bye to Llanview.”
Bruce S. Cooperman (long-time “OLTL” Director): “This is a sad day in television history. No, not for Regis, who will take his millions and walk away into the sunset, but for all the hard working people at One Life to Live. After spending 30 years working on the show, I made some great friendships along the way. Even though I was tossed out after all that time, I too, would like to say what a great way to spend most of my adult life and I wouldn’t change it for the world. There are only some people that I wish nothing but the best in the future and for the others….well I don’t want to sound bitter but ….. As Bob Hope said, ‘Thanks for the memories.'”
Now that Michelle Stafford has signed on to portray the contract role of Nina Clay on ABC’s “General Hospital,” it was only a matter of time before CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” opted to recast her Daytime Emmy Award winning role. Earlier this month the soap announced they were doing just that after putting out a casting call for the role, which was recently landed by soap veteran Gina Tognoni.
Tognoni, who is best known for her portrayal as Kelly Cramer on ABC’s “One Life to Live” and her Emmy winning stint as Dinah Marler on CBS’ “Guiding Light,” was said to have been “flawless” during her audition scenes, per TV Guide Magazine‘s Michael Logan, who broke the news.
Last seen in a coma after a fall down the stairs following a confrontation with Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) last year, the role of Phyllis was originated by Stafford in 1994. The actress appeared on the soap off and on for 16 years (1994-1997 and 2000-2013). The role was portrayed by Sandra Nelson during Stafford’s time away from the soap.
“I am beyond blessed to play this incredible role of Phyllis Newman at Young and the Restless. I am thrilled to be back on CBS . Thank you for your support I feel it in my HEART. So excited to work with this Amazing cast and crew . I am grateful To my beautiful Husband, my family, friends and The best FANS in the world,” wrote Tognoni on her Facebook page.
Stafford acknowledged the news of Tognoni’s joining on Twitter and commented that “she will be awesome!!!”
Famous for her red hair, Phyllis Summers on CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” is about to get a new face. As previously reported, Gina Tognoni (“Guiding Light,” “One Life to Live”) is set to take on the role previously portrayed by Michelle Stafford, who is now appearing on ABC’s “General Hospital.” For fans wondering if Tognoni will be bringing back the fiery red look, the actress recently tweeted a response using an interesting hair quote/factoid.
“I see #PyhllisRed in the hair today. #Blondes are wild, #Brunettes are true but you Never know just what a RedHead will Do. – Unknown” read Tognoni’s Tuesday, June 3 tweet. She previously gave indication of her donning the red look on Wednesday, May 28, when she tweeted, “#YR #Genoa City #phyllis #RedHair #love.”
After nearly a year in a coma, CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” will once again say hello to Phyllis Summers when daytime veteran Gina Tognoni takes over the role beginning Monday, August 11, Soap Opera Network has learned exclusively. In our tribute to the character as she gets ready to wake up for the first time in the coming weeks, we take a look back at what Phyllis has missed while she was sleeping, including what former loves Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) and Nicholas Newman (Joshua Morrow) have been up to since last seeing their favorite feisty redhead.
Forget about the sun, BBQ flames and bikini-clad bodies: The one thing that will be heating up the most this summer is CBS’ “The Young and the Restless.” From shocking secrets, babydaddy drama, rip-roaring returns and more, the CBS sudser is pulling out all of the stops in the weeks to come — and Soap Opera Network spoke with several cast members to get the exciting scoop!
Perhaps one of the most anticipated bouts of excitement is the return of Phyllis, who wakes from a coma with a new portrayer, Gina Tognoni, on Monday, August 11. “It’s a lot of drama,” teases Cady McClain (Kelly Andrews) of the mess that ensues when Jack’s ex wakes up to find that he’s been getting hot and heavy with the town’s new blonde. “It’s heavy catastrophe!”
McClain is hoping for at least one good cat fight, though we imagine there will be many more! “We have to roll in the mud,” the actress says with a laugh. “That would be a blast.”
And speaking of fighting, there will be plenty of it even before Phyllis wakes up, seeing as how Summer (Hunter King) isn’t too keen on the fact that her dad, Jack (Peter Bergman) has been snuggling up to Kelly. “Summer’s been causing lots of trouble, for sure,” McClain says. “What’s happening is that Kelly is just trying desperately to get on the good side of the family, which sometimes works and sometimes does not. It just looks like the sucking up that it is!”
Despite the fact that his daughter isn’t too fond of his new gal, Jack will continue to get closer to her. “Jack is falling farther and farther for Kelly,” Bergman teases. “But the day [that Phyllis awakes] is coming! Tick tock….”
Sean Smith/JPI Studios
But of course, that’s not the only explosion primed to hit Genoa City. Stitch’s (Sean Carrigan) secret is on the verge of finally coming out, which the actor teases could leave the doc’s life in destruction. “It’s going to harm a lot of personal relationships that he has with a lot of different people,” he previews. “It’s going to be hard for him to deal with.”
And to top it all off, he may just find out that Victoria (Amelia Heinle) is pregnant with his child! “He doesn’t know now, but when he finds out, he’ll definitely want the baby to be his [rather than Billy’s],” Carrigan states. “He loves Victoria. So he’ll definitely want the baby to be his.”
But, as Heinle teases, there’s always a chance that the baby is actually Billy’s (Burgess Jenkins). “They’re telling me who it is, but I keep wondering if they’re going to change their mind,” she says of the paternity secret. “You never know. I think maybe they told me to trick me, you know? And then I’ll tell people and then I’ll be wrong!”
Sean Smith/JPI Studios
If it is Billy’s, then it could create a lot of tension for Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan), who’s connecting to her friend on a deeper level every day. “There will be a lot of Chelsea/Billy stuff coming in the near future,” teases Egan. “We’ve been working really closely together, and I don’t want to give too much away, but there’s been a lot of flirtation between the characters, and we’ve been working together almost every day. So you never know what could happen next!”
Speaking of babydaddy drama, Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman) previews that the reveal that Paul (Doug Davidson) is Dylan’s (Steve Burton) father leaves everyone in a long-running tailspin. “It creates a chain of events that are completely unexpected,” the actress teases. “It’s been really hard work — exhausting! But so much fun.”
Sean Smith/JPI Studios
Adds Jessica Collins (Avery Clark): “Summer is very high stakes; it’s emotional for a lot of the characters, certainly myself and Nikki and Dylan and Christine [Lauralee Bell] and Paul. I’ve spent a lot of time as the character being upset. It’s pretty intense!”
But why have just two babydaddy storylines when you can have three?! That’s the way “Y&R” rolls, as it won’t be long until the secret comes out that Sharon (Sharon Case) switched Summer’s paternity test results, meaning everyone will find out that the girl is Nick’s (Joshua Morrow) daughter rather than Jack’s! “Nick badly, even to this day, wants Summer to be his daughter; he feels like she is, and there’s a piece of his heart that knows that she is, even though the paper says it’s not,” Morrow reveals. “So it’s going to be a huge moment for him when he finds out the truth, and I’m looking forward to that.”
Howard Wise/JPI Studios
However, the bit of good news will come with bad: Sharon’s big secret is that she was the one who switched the paternity test results. And Morrow isn’t so sure if his alter ego will take the news too kindly. “I truly don’t know what’s going to happen… but obviously, it’s going to go one of two ways: Nick is either going to understand that she was ill and not in her right mind and help her through this, or he’s going to bail. I don’t know!” the actor says. “Nick has a big heart, but he acts impulsively in times like this. I’m looking forward to seeing which way they’ll take it.”
Sean Smith/JPI Studios
One thing he seems to know for sure: No matter what happens in the aftermath of the reveal, he’s almost positive that Jack and Nick will stand together when it comes to parenting Summer — who’s soon headed down a very rocky road of her own with Austin (Matthew Atkinson)! “Nick and Jack have seemed to have taken a pretty mature stance on this; they both have been very understanding about each other’s feelings toward Summer,” he previews. “If I had to bet money, I’d say Jack and Nick will say ‘Let’s just raise this young woman and help her through anything. We have to make this about her, not us.’”
Howard Wise/JPI Studios
Meanwhile, Christel Khalil teases that summer won’t be a smooth ride for her alter ego, either! “A big secret is going to be let out very soon, and it’s going to make Lily really mad,” the actress previews, adding that the big reveal could be something that blows her family apart. “It will definitely be interesting!”
But will the secret be big enough to cause waves between Cane (Daniel Goddard) and Lily? Khalil says you’ll just have to keep watching to find out! “It can be kind of tough for the writers to figure out what to do with us, because they want to create drama, and the best way to create drama is to split us up,” she teases. “But then, the fans go crazy, so they’re stuck between a rock and hard place! So we’ll have to see…”
“The Young and the Restless’” Hunter King (Summer Newman) didn’t win this year’s Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actress for nothing: Her storyline has been chock full of exciting ups and downs — and according to the actress, it’s only going to get crazier as the summer continues!
Fans may be a bit hesitant about Summer’s decision to loose her virginity to Austin (Matthew Atkinson) of all people, and they may be even more surprised by the youngster’s decision to marry Paul’s shooter, but King says it’s all pretty natural, where her alter ego is concerned. “I think she’s just been feeling really lonely and Austin is the one person that understands 100 percent what she’s going through, so she finds a lot of comfort in that,” the actress explains. “And she might not want to admit that she’s doing this because she’s lonely and she’s scared and doesn’t have her mom, [but she’s also] really in love with him, and I think it’s a little bit of that mixed in with the rest as well.”
Sean Smith/JPI Studios
As for choosing to finally lose her V-card, King blames Phyllis’ absence! “Girls, when they like someone, they think that they’re going to marry them, and they’re in love with them, like, ‘This is the guy!’” she says. “So I think she’s being a little immature about it, but at the same time, she’s 19 — and she doesn’t have her mom to ask her questions, so it’s going to happen!”
However, with Phyllis (Gina Tognoni) set to wake from her coma and return to the screen on Monday, August 11, Summer will be able to ask her mom questions — and the other way around! “I am really excited for the scenes coming up,” King enthuses. “As a fan of the show and as Summer, we’ve been waiting so long for Summer to have a mom, so I’m so excited to play the emotions that come with those scenes coming up.”
Especially because, as the actress teases, it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out about Nick (Joshua Morrow) being Summer’s real father, as opposed to Jack (Peter Bergman), whom everyone assumes is her dad. “Phyllis is the only one, besides Sharon (Sharon Case), who knows that Nick is her real father,” King reminds. “But Sharon is going through the whole, ‘I don’t remember anything’ phase, so either Sharon is going to say it, or Phyllis is going to say it. I’m assuming that Phyllis will remember that. And hopefully, it won’t be a year or two from now!”
Howard Wise/JPI Studios
Also on the horizon is Phyllis’ reaction to her little girl marrying a guy like Austin, a situation which King says will most likely lead to trouble. “Hopefully it’s not a mistake [that she married him], but you never know,” she teases. “It’s a soap opera, so I’m assuming something will be coming up… Things can’t always be perfect in la la land, so I assume something will come along and bulldoze their relationship. We’ll see!”
Remember that September casting blitz happening over at “The Young and the Restless?” Well, that’s just the beginning of familiar faces making their way through Genoa City this month. The next on the train of blasts from the past: Original cast member Tom Hallick, who played sexy neurosurgeon-turned-news reporter Brad Eliot from 1973-1978! But his return on Friday, September 26 comes with a twist!
It’s been 36 years since Hallick was last seen in Genoa City, meaning it’ll most likely be easy for viewers to accept the small change that “Y&R” put into effect: According to TV Guide, the actor won’t be playing Brad, but a kindly truck driver who helps an on-the-lam Phyllis (Gina Tognoni) make her way back home to friends and family! And funny enough, the scene pays homage to the 1973 premiere episode of the sudser, which included Hallick’s Brad getting a lift from a truck driver heading toward GC.
“They found the same kind of truck and dug out the old script — only now I have the truck driver’s dialogue and Gina has mine,” Hallick tells TV Guide. “It was weird recreating the scene that way, but really pretty wonderful.”
If You Miss “The Young and the Restless” This Fall, You’ll Miss Everything! Sweet Proposals, Hidden Desires, Shocking Secrets, Unexpected Surprises and Sexy Exes: Don’t Miss Out!
CBS
With summer almost (officially) over and fall right upon us, CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” is gearing up for one sexy, fun and exciting season of juicy television. In a newly released promo, aired at the conclusion of today’s episode, highlighting all the goings on in Genoa City, viewers better get ready for several twists and turns in ongoing stories and the beginnings of new story arcs.
Look for Nicholas (Joshua Morrow) to propose marriage to Sharon (Sharon Case), Devon (Bryton James) and Hillary (Mishael Morgan) to get even closer, Billy (Burgess Jenkins) and Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) to continue their slow build as Victoria (Amelia Heinle) stands aside still unsure of who the father of her child is, Ashley (Eileen Davidson) taking charge, the surprise appearance of Joe Clark (Scott Elrod) as Avery’s (Jessica Collins) ex and plenty of girl power. The ultimate tease is the return of Phyllis Summers (Gina Tognoni) to GC, who is ready to get her life back. Watch out Sharon!
While CBS is currently producing a latenight version of its popular daytime talk show this week, as it waits out the March launch of “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” that daytime version of “The Talk” has just surpassed ABC’s competing “The View” in total viewers for the first time ever.
During the week of January 5, “The Talk” had a 2% lead on “The View” in total viewers (2.95 million vs. 2.88 million). Meanwhile, both shows tied in both Women 25-54 (1.0 rating) and Women 18-49 (0.7 rating).
Hosted by Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Aisha Tyler, Sheryl Underwood and Sharon Osbourne, “The Talk” attracted its biggest audience since the week of February 10, 2014.
Sean Smith/JPI Studios
In related ratings news, CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful” started 2015 with some of their largest audiences in nearly a year. “B&B” attracted an average of 4.05 million viewers, its largest since the week of February 3, 2014. “Y&R” averaged 5.11 million viewers, its biggest audience since the week of February 17, 2014.
“B&B” is being led by the public affair between Rick Forrester (Jacob Young) and Maya Avant (Karla Mosley), while “Y&R” is enjoying a surge in storytelling courtesy of Phyllis Summers (Gina Tognoni) and Adam Newman (Justin Hartley), among several hot plots.
“The Young and the Restless’” Gina Tognoni is having the time of her life. Just seven months after reporting to the CBS Television City studio, where the daytime drama series is filmed, Tognoni is grateful for the warm welcome she’s received from viewers and the daytime community as a whole. Fresh off a pre-nomination in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category, for her role as Phyllis Summers on “Y&R,” Tognoni shares with us what it’s like playing such an interesting and dynamic character, provides insight into the Phyllis, Jack (Peter Bergman) and Kelly (Cady McClain) triangle, and which actors and characters she'd love to share more screen time with.
Since joining the cast of CBS' "The Young and the Restless" in early 2014, Cady McClain [ex-Dixie Martin, "All My Children"; ex-Rosanna Cabot, "As The World Turns"] has seen her character, Kelly Andrews, finally deal with several family matters that have helped shape her into who she is today. "Her child died, her marriage broke up, her mom was a drunk and was very unstable. She thought her father was good, and it turns out her father was abusive. So Kelly had a really rough life experience. I hope that the fans kind of remember that. She's really hanging on by her fingernails and trying to make this life, and Jack is a real key... falling in love," McClain says in an exclusive interview with Soap Opera Network, following the Tuesday, February 17 episode of "Y&R," which found Jack Abbott's (Peter Bergman) actions contradict his words when he once again became intimate with Kelly as they did the deed in the storage room of The Underground.
As it gears up to broadcast its first major awards telecast with the "42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards" on Sunday, April 26, Pop has released the Daytime Emmy Nominee Reels for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Competing this year for the coveted trophy are Peggy McCay as Caroline Brady and Alison Sweeney as Sami Brady, respectively, on "Days of our Lives," Maura West as Ava Jerome and Laura Wright as Carly Jacks, respectively, on "General Hospital," and Gina Tognoni as Phyllis Summers on "The Young and the Restless."
As has been done in the past, cast and crew from CBS Daytime’s “The Young and the Restless,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “The Talk,” “Let’s Make a Deal” and “The Price is right” are set to live tweet during or after their respective show’s east coast broadcast throughout the week of April 20, leading
Hilarity ensued as Deenie recapped 2015 on CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” with such character descriptions as mustache man, big boobs, sexpot, priss pants, red head, and perfect skin, among others, as a way to describe Genoa City’s most prominent citizens.
When asked if this has been a good year for her soaps by “Update” host Colin Jost, Deenie tells him, “Oh, have they ever been getting good!” before adding, “There’s so many good characters on there this year. Like um, what’s his name, or… you know, mustache man [presumed to be Victor Newman, played by Eric Braeden].”
Deenie then explains this year’s storylines featuring mustache man as she’s asked what he did this year that was so memorable: “So mustache hired the guy who looks like red heads husband, while perfect skin was tied to the bed in the boat house. And then… so sexpot gets involved with him and now his wife, dark hair, is gonna be so pissed off she’s gonna kill mustache.”
When asked “who is mustache?” Deenie says, “Mustache is the rich one. The one who owns the fish canary with his kids, you know mustache… The kids are hottie [laughs], sexpot, and skinny minny, oh and priss pants who he had with big boobs.”
Wondering if she even knows the names of any of the characters on the show, Deenie tells Jost, “No, I kinda half watch it while I’m coloring in my adult coloring book. It’s good for your brain.”
Following a breakaway conversation where they talked about what Deenie was eating while discussing her soaps, which was baked salmon for anyone wondering, Jost then brings the conversation back to the soaps. Once back on topic Deenie tells Jost, “Get this: Big boobs was stuck in the skyscraper fire with military doctor who’s got the hots for big boobs.”
Although she couldn’t name a single character outside of their hilarious descriptions, Deenie later admits she’s watched her favorite soap “everyday for forty years.” Unfortunately, she can’t even name it when asked which one it is. “The one before the other one,” she says. “It’s got the piano music at the beginning.” With “The Young and the Restless” pointed out as the possible show she’s referring, Deenie says, “Sure!”
Watch the hilarious “SNL” clip above and tell us who you think the following characters Deenie couldn’t properly name are in the comments below:
Mustache = ? Hottie = ? Sexpot = ? Skinny Minny = ? Priss Pants = ? Big Boobs = ? Perfect Skin = ? Dark Hair = ? Red Head = ? The Guy = ? Military Doctor = ?
Adam was grabbed outside his penthouse door, tossed into an elevator, and carted away, last week, while en route to a business trip for his father. When he never made contact with Chelsea, she went to Victor (Eric Braeden), who assured her he’d get to the bottom of things. Victor, however, quickly learned that his son never checked into his hotel in Spain, let alone boarded the Newman jet.
This week, with still no word from Adam, Chelsea turns up her efforts to find him, making the rounds through Genoa City.
“My husband is missing,” Chelsea tells Sharon (Sharon Case), before delivering the same news — and her frightening suspicions about what has happened to him — to Phyllis (Gina Tognoni) and Jack (Peter Bergman).
“Adam was kidnapped?” asks a stunned Jack.
Turns out Chelsea is right on target. Viewers see Adam tied to a chair in an undisclosed location, as he struggles to free himself.
A desperate Chelsea, ultimately, turns to Nick and explains all. “There is some Newman/Santori war going on and Victor threw Adam right in the middle of it. I need your help,” she tells him, adding that she believes Victor knows more than he’s letting on. “I have a feeling he’s hiding something”
Nick heads to see his father and asks him point blank, “You know what happened to Adam?”
As usual, Victor plays it cool, insisting he has things under control. “I will do whatever is necessary,” he tells Nick, regarding getting to the bottom of things.
Is the Santori family really behind Adam’s disappearance or is another sinister source responsible? Will Victor be able to track down his kidnapped son before it’s too late? Check out the video preview below.
As we get closer to daytime’s biggest night, taking place on Sunday, May 1, the industry is abuzz today over which actors were submitted for a pre-nomination for the “The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards,” presented by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). With at least two actors per show for each category (exception being Supporting Actress) several of daytime television’s biggest and brightest stars are looking to vie for the coveted trophy that celebrates their hard work during calendar year 2015.
What follows is a breakdown of each pre-nominated actor in each respective category:
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Pre-Nominees:
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Pre-Nominees:
– Lauralee Bell (Christine Williams, “The Young and the Restless”) – Molly Burnett (Melanie Jonas, “Days of our Lives”) – Jessica Collins (Avery Bailey Clark, “The Young and the Restless”) – Judi Evans (Adrienne Kiriakis, “Days of our Lives”) – Linsey Godfrey (Caroline Spencer, “The Bold and the Beautiful”) – Christel Khalil (Lily Winters Ashby, “The Young and the Restless”) – Peggy McCay (Caroline Brady, “Days of our Lives”) – Sofia Pernas (Marisa Sierras, “The Young and the Restless”) – Melissa Reeves (Jennifer Horton, “Days of our Lives”) – Kelly Sullivan (Sage Warner, “The Young and the Restless”)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Pre-Nominees:
– Sean Blakemore (Shawn Butler, “General Hospital”) – Darin Brooks (Wyatt Spencer, “The Bold and the Beautiful”) – Steve Burton (Dylan McAvoy, “The Young and the Restless”) – Sean Carrigan (Ben “Stitch” Rayburn, “The Young and the Restless”) – Bryton James (Devon Hamilton, “The Young and the Restless”) – Wally Kurth (Justin Kiriakis, “Days of our Lives”) – Greg Rikaart (Kevin Fisher, “The Young and the Restless”) – Christopher Sean (Paul Narita, “Days of our Lives”) – Jacob Young (Rick Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful”) – Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri, “General Hospital”)
Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series Pre-Nominees:
– Camila Banus (Gabi Hernandez, “Days of our Lives”) – Lauren Boles (Ciara Brady, “Days of our Lives”) – Ashleigh Brewer (Ivy Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful”) – Reign Edwards (Nicole Avant, “The Bold and the Beautiful”) – Hayley Erin (Kiki Jerome, “General Hospital”) – Kelli Goss (Courtney Sloan, “The Young and the Restless”) – Camryn Grimes (Mariah Copeland, “The Young and the Restless”) – Vivian Jovanni (Ciara Brady, “Days of our Lives”) – Olivia Keegan (Claire Brady, “Days of our Lives”) – Hunter King (Summer Newman, “The Young and the Restless”) – Alyvia Alyn Lind (Faith Newman, “The Young and the Restless”) – True O’Brien (Paige Larson, “Days of our Lives”) – Ashlyn Pearce (Aly Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful”) – Brooklyn Rae Silzer (Emma Drake, “General Hospital”)
Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series Pre-Nominees:
– Nicolas Bechtel (Spencer Cassadine, “General Hospital”) – Bryan Craig (Morgan Corinthos, “General Hospital”) – Max Ehrich (Fenmore Baldwin, “The Young and the Restless”) – Rome Flynn (Zende Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful”) – Pierson Fodé (Thomas Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful”) – Connor Kalopsis (Chase Jennings, “Days of our Lives”) – James Lastovic (Joey Johnson, “Days of our Lives”) – Jonathan McClendon (Chase Jennings, “Days of our Lives”) – Terrell Ransom Jr. (Theo Carver, “Days of our Lives”) – Tequan Richmond (TJ Ashford, “General Hospital”)
Following the pre-nomination announcement, potential nominees will be whittled down to as few as 4 or 5 prospects. Contenders will then advance from the pre-nomination round and enter the Blue Ribbon judging round, which will help determine the final list of nominees and eventual winner in each respective category. The complete list of nominees will officially be announced on Thursday, March 24.
The winner will be announced on Sunday, May 1 during “The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards,” as revealed exclusively from tabulations only known to the accounting firm of Lutz and Carr.
Get ready for a soap opera showdown. Stars from “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful” are competing against one another in CBS’ Soap Mayhem Basketball Tournament on Thursday, March 10. Part of March Madness 2016, the event will stream live on the CBS Facebook page at 11:30 am ET/8:30 am PT.
Last year’s winner, Bryton James (Devon, “Y&R) is back, looking to defend his champion status. Meanwhile, this year’s team captains and social media ambassadors, Linsey Godfrey (Caroline, “B&B”) and Christian LeBlanc (Michael, “Y&R”), will help live-tweet the event and post pictures on Instagram on both shows’ handles. That’s @BandB_CBS and @YandR_CBS.
Winners of each round will compete against each other until only one actor/actress is left standing from each show. Those sole representatives will then face off for the title of basketball champion.
Will Bryton James be the grand victor, again? Or will he be unseated by another soap star? Be sure to tune in to find out.
To help oversee a fair competition, announcer George Gray from “The Price Is Right” will officiate the event as the 2016 Soap Mayhem referee.
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced today the first round of presenters for “The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards,” taking place Sunday, May 1 from the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, CA and “The 43rd Annual Creative Arts Daytime Emmy Awards” taking place on Friday, April 29, also at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel.
“The Young and the Restless’” Gina Tognoni is having the time of her life. Just seven months after reporting to the CBS Television City studio, where the daytime drama series is filmed, Tognoni is grateful for the warm welcome she’s received from viewers and the daytime community as a whole. Fresh off a pre-nomination in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category, for her role as Phyllis Summers on “Y&R,” Tognoni shares with us what it’s like playing such an interesting and dynamic character, provides insight into the Phyllis, Jack (Peter Bergman) and Kelly (Cady McClain) triangle, and which actors and characters she’d love to share more screen time with.
Lou Rocco/ABC
This year marks 20 years since Gina Tognoni made her daytime television debut in the contract role of Kelly Cramer on ABC’s “One Life to Live.” Two decades later, she’s a Daytime Emmy Award winner (for her role as Dinah Marler on “Guiding Light”) and is currently taking names as she crosses their path in Genoa City. Have things changed that much since she started in daytime? “I was a younger woman and [my] first time doing a soap, and now you fast forward all of these years later at ‘Y&R,’ It’s just different. I have a deep appreciation for what we do. Not that I never did,” Tognoni clarifies. “I understand how hard it is at what we do, that we all do, and we have very little time with a lot of material and to make it work. Every department works so well together at ‘Y&R.’ It’s like a well oiled machine. I have immense respect and I love it. I love going to work everyday. I love my storyline. I love my character. She is just the epitome. [Executive producer] Jill Phelps said to me, ‘It doesn’t get better than this,’ [referring to Phyllis] and she really is a fabulous character. She gets to do so many things. She has so much leeway because of her past, and I love it. A simple answer… I absolutely am a very lucky girl.”
“[This week] is explosive and wonderful. I’m so proud of it,” says Tognoni of “Flirt with Disaster,” an umbrella storyline that kicked off Friday, February 13 on the CBS Daytime drama series. “It just has a lot going on in Genoa City, particularly The Underground,” says the actress of the on air promo hyping the disaster at Nicholas Newman’s (Joshua Morrow) club and the plane crash that has stranded several prominent citizens in the freezing cold, among other situations.
John Paschal/JPI Studios
Back to the Underground: “Obviously, it collapses,” says Tognoni of what occurred during today’s episode. “We have Jack, Kelly and Phyllis in the same place at the bar. Usually that never ends well. And ‘Kelly is being persistent,’ and really starting to get under Phyllis’ skin. And we sort of see that. It’s just awesome. The whole month of February is a killer, so to speak [laughs].”
Speaking of Kelly, for months viewers have been left to ponder if the character, or Phyllis herself, had lost her marbles in her desire to keep Jack. Even though it seems to be a little more obvious now that Kelly has been shown to be off her rocker, it wasn’t always that way, reveals Tognoni. “The cool thing is, it’s meant to keep the audience guessing. And definitely as actors, we were not necessarily sat down and told anything so we very much were working from the hip and doing what the script was essentially telling us and that can happen. It doesn’t happen that often… that you don’t really know what’s happening. I actually kind of think that it’s kind of great when you don’t know every edge and turn because it’s actually not that exciting. We really have just been trusting this and going with it. It’s fun. It’s been fun to tape it. All put together, I know it’s going to look great.”
Not knowing what’s going to happen next is a hard thing to prevent in today’s spoiler world, but Tognoni does believe that the best way to watch something unfold is not knowing what will happen next in advance. It’s better to watch and learn. “You know, I think it’s okay to tease [viewers] in the sense that something’s going to happen, but the audience is very intuitive. They can see the story. It ‘s like reading a book. Why spoil it for them? We have the opportunity to come into their home every single day and we get to tell them a story and that’s what we get to do every day and we change it up. Obviously we’re telling new stories, new dialogue, and that’s what we do. So it’s like, ‘Let’s do it!’ And we do it well. So yeah, keep ’em guessing.”
Sean Smith/JPI Studios
While Jack and Phyllis have a huge fan following, so does Nicholas and Phyllis, better known as Phick. Will we be seeing the dynamic duo in less than friendly scenes, outside of their dealing with their daughter, Summer (Hunter King)? “Oh, Phyllis and Nicholas! So here’s the thing… I absolutely think that Phyllis and Nick have to have more scenes [laughs]. They share a child, Summer, [and] I just am looking forward to how we live in that place… what we’re going to do with that. There’s so much going on right now and really, from a practical standpoint, I love the time that I’ve had to find a relationship with Jack, to develop [the triangle]. I mean look, we have a lot of gold there and it’s been so well worked in building that in an organic way. I think with Nick it’ll be just as good. Whenever the writers decide to create the conflict, or whatever the story is, we have time. You certainly do not want to rush that. You don’t want to rush that kind of stuff. I hate rushing that stuff personally. I don’t like seeing it. Just two people in a room together for the sake of having them in the room together? It’s like, let it be story driven/character driven. I trust that it’ll happen. He’s [referring to Morrow] such a neat guy to work with. We haven’t had enough scenes, that’s for sure.”
Sean Smith/JPI Studios
On the note of story driven, or particularly character driven stories, viewers loved the recent interactions between characters that just fit the scene. For example: Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) and Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John) became drinking buddies while discussing their mutual problems. That doesn’t happen very often in daytime. “That’s what it should be. I think that we love seeing these characters exist and then exist within a situation. ‘Oh, my gosh. What are they doing? What are they doing with this? What are they doing with that?’ Ultimately, it comes down to the characters and people falling in love with their favorite characters. I’m not a writer, but I have this faith that we’ll see more of Phyllis and Nick in the coming months.”
Edward McGowan/PlainJoe Studios
Outside of a possible dabble in the road of Phyllis and Nicholas, who else would Tognoni like to share more screen time with? Or in this case, a scene or two to start? As she correlated her thoughts, Tognoni noted, “We have a gigantic cast [laughs]. Who have I not worked with? My goodness. I have not worked with Noah [Robert Adamson]. I have not worked that much at all with Mariah [Camryn Grimes]. A little of bit of Nikki, I just love that. [Melody] cracks me up. I really like working with her. It feels very comfortable. It’s weird. Noah, yeah, that Newman side. I really haven’t done much with Sage [Kelly Sullivan]. That’ll be interesting.” And speaking of that Newman side, “I’ll tell you who I definitely would love to have fun with is Adam [Justin Hartley]. Definitely Adam. I ‘d love to check that one out. I mean, he’s too funny. I like the dynamic of his character, so I could definitely see that. He’s a hoot. He’s hilarious.” On the possibility of Phyllis and Adam in scenes together, Tognoni notes, “We’re definitely the antagonists.”
Outside of romance, one of Phyllis’ greatest relationships is that of which she shares with her sister, Avery Clark (Jessica Collins). Recently Phyllis fired her as her lawyer, but it happened in a funny way. During their conversation at the Newman ranch, Phyllis noted to Avery it’s her job to do “bug removal,” referring to Phyllis’ history with Christine Blair (Lauralee Bell), and told Avery, “I don’t need any help going to prison,” as Avery doesn’t appear to believe in Phyllis’ innocence. While those scenes may have come across adlibbed to some, “Those were definitely scripted. Some of what made it nice is that Jessica is so easy to work with. I love that relationship personally because the one relationship that is very different for Phyllis is her blood relationship with her sister. That’s family. It has a different tone than any other relationship on the canvas.” She adds, “I think that the writers are very much aware that it’s a good thing and I think that we’re fostering that, at least with this Phyllis, we’re really fostering that relationship and how precious it is. It’s a good one. She’s just terrific. A lot of these scenes are taped in one take. That was a one take scene. We’re just so proud of them. I mean, I am. Not everyday is it like this, but nine out of ten, a lot of the stuff you see is all in one take and it’s amazing. It just goes to show everybody just brings a really great energy.”
Sean Smith/JPI Studios
Going back to family for a moment, currently Summer is dealing with the possible loss of her husband, Austin (Matthew Atkinson), although mommy doesn’t know about it just yet. Can we expect Phyllis to be there for her child? “Oh wow, there’s some information that comes out in February in her storyline that I imagine we will have some scenes about and I’m looking forward to that. I look forward to being a mother to her and it’s a really funny line because Phyllis is certainly not the pillar of the community. She has her issues. But by God, when it comes to your daughter, when it comes to your children, you want the best of them. You see the best in them, and she is a shining star. Phyllis wants that for her. She wants her to shine and be her best self, and I want Phyllis to find that in Summer and always encourage that in Summer. For her to be her best self. I look forward to that.”
As for working with her on screen daughter, Tognoni says, “I love having scenes with Hunter. She’s incredibly pleasant and soft and all of those things that I just love in the present moment. It’s sort of that other side of Phyllis that we don’t see… the softer side, you know that relationship being where she’s my daughter and we have all those issues. I love it. She makes it a lot of fun and she’s just the nicest human being.”
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Earlier this month, pre-nomations for the 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced. Tognoni is pre-nominated for the first time in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role on “Y&R.” How does she feel to be recognized for her work, especially since it covered just the latter half of 2014? Tognoni says she’s just very grateful that her peers took notice of her. “I think it’s terrific and I’m totally grateful. I’m very proud of the scenes we submitted. It was a Jack and Phyllis scene at the Abbott mansion over Kelly and it was very real. I was really proud of those scenes. We did those in the first few items of the day at about 8:30 in the morning and I believe we got them all in one take. I think we were both really psyched that we got through that. I believe it was also a 6 page scene – one of our last scenes, second to last page – and we’re really proud of that too. A lot of material. So that kind of stuff I like and I’m proud of. We’ll see!” she says of possibly receiving an actual nomination when the final list of nominees is revealed in the coming weeks.
As for playing Phyllis, Tognoni says, “I’m really, really grateful that the audience has accepted me so much. I guess it could go any way, but I do really feel that they’re happy and they’re entertained and things are going well. I just want to do a shout out back to them and say, ‘Thank you for watching.’ I love doing it for them. It means a lot to me.”
