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Andrea Evans Chats On Her Latest Project Hidden Gems, OLTL, Erika Slezak, & Her Daytime Roles!

Photo Credit: Jago Soria

She’s synonymous with daytime drama for her memorable roles as: Tina Lord on One Life to Live, Tawny Moore on The Bold and the Beautiful, Patty Williams on The Young and the Restless, and Rebecca Hotchkiss Crane on Passions.  While soap fans dearly miss seeing Andrea Evans every day on their screens, the talented and clever actress has been busy with films, and her own projects.

In her latest entertainment adventure, Hidden Gems, Andrea, along with her producing partner Minh Collins, have created a new concept for a “unique” travel show, which has comedic actress Tara Erickson along for the ride with Evans.  These two very disparate women come together and check out some of the more intriguing, fabulous, and little-known places in America, and seem to get themselves in a whole heap of trouble while doing it!  As Andrea details, think of the 1991 motion picture classic Thelma and Louise as a sort of prototype for Hidden Gems.

On-Air On-Soaps caught up with Evans to find out details about the Hidden Gems Indiegogo campaign, and how fans can participate in the series fundraising efforts.  Plus, this being the 48th anniversary week of the beloved One Life to Live, Andrea discusses some of her most famous scenes, reflecting on her time there, and working alongside daytime legend Erika Slezak (Viki), and what she has thought of Stacy Haiduk’s turn in her former role as Genoa City’s Patty Williams.  In addition, you will learn what soap opera Evans could see herself on in the future.  So, let’s hit the road with Andrea, and find out what she had to say about it all.

So watching the Indiegogo teaser for Hidden Gems, it seems like a reality show, crossed with some scripted elements, and crossed with travel.  How would you explain the concept?

Courtesy/HiddenGems

ANDREA:  It’s kind of a weird hybrid.  I worked with this director on a film and we hit it off so well that we started our own production company, and optioned a couple of films, and came up with this show idea, because I love to travel, and he loves to travel.  We found that we both had gone to the same places that nobody ever heard of, and had great times.  So, that is how the Hidden Gems idea was born.   However, when we started shooting it we hired Tara to come with us.  She was so fun and wild.  Then strange things started to happen on the shoots.  We then kind of altered what we were doing from a simple travel show to a “Thelma and Louise” hit the road.  I think fans will see me in a different way than they have before, which is me out on the road having fun, and being a little wild and crazy with Minh and Tara.   They will catch me reacting to things, and it’s not entirely scripted.   You won’t just hear, and I don’t want to hear, that the “Ritz Carlton is a beautiful hotel.”  (Laughs)

When watching the teaser, I thought it was a very fun amped-up version of “Andrea Evans” you were playing.   Is that how you view it?

Courtesy/HiddenGems

ANDREA:  Well, (laughs) it’s not the glamour puss that people are use to seeing me play, but I love to travel, and I have a little rebellious side.  And as I say in the clip on the teaser, “I’m going rogue a little bit.”   In my off-soap career, I like to have fun, and do projects that interest me.  This was a riot to shoot.  The whole reason we are on Indiegogo is that we have some interest and a showrunner.  If you look at travel shows there is no “Thelma and Louise” about two women traveling.  One way to protect ourselves, and our idea, and our concept, is to shoot a few episodes ourselves first, which is why we are doing the Indiegogo campaign.

How did you find your on-screen sidekick, Tara Erickson?

ANDREA:  We had auditions, and talked with people.  When I met her we instantly clicked.  I thought she was hysterically funny.  She is very different from me, so we wanted that. We wanted someone quirky and still attractive, and to have someone else in a bathing suit, because God knows, I hung up my bikini a while ago! (Laughs)  I wore my bikini and my underwear on TV enough! (Laughs)  As for the reference to “Thelma and Louise”, I am more the Susan Sarandon to her Geena Davis.  But, at the same time in the teaser, I don’t tell my husband where I’m going!  Tara is more of a comedic actress, and I am known, whether I am funny or not, as a soap actress.

How much funding do you hope to raise through the Indiegogo campaign?

Courtesy/HiddenGems

ANDREA:  It’s a flexible goal, but we need about $4-$5,000 per episode just to complete them.  We try to put perks in there that we think those who contribute, and my fans will be interested in, and would like.  One of the biggest perks is that they could be on the show, and part of one of the road trips.

Where would you like to shoot and travel to, if you make more episodes?

ANDREA:  We have been researching travel places to go that are luxurious, fun, and a bit weird, and places people don’t even know about.  For instance: we have been researching route 66, and in Nevada there are all types of “alien” things that people don’t even know about.  There are crazy mansions in Northern California with doors, stairs, and rooms that were built, because the “spirits” told people to do that to protect themselves!  We are going to shoot right now in the U.S., but we would love to eventually shoot out of the country, because there are so many unique and unknown places around the world.

One Life to Live celebrates its 48th anniversary this Friday on July 15th.  It premiered on that date back in 1968.  I was thinking about you, and if it was still around, or was revitalized again, it would be great if Tina could come back and drop right back in the story!

Courtesy/YouTube/ABC

ANDREA:  Oh, absolutely!  One Life to Live is one of the great loves of my life.  I miss it dearly.  I think it’s a crime they took it off the air.  Happy 48th to One Life!  I know it still lives in a lot of people’s hearts.

Recently, I came across a clip from One Life, which was the set-up of the Marco Dane (the late Gerald Anthony) murder!  Looking back on it, it was still one of the best stories ever plotted, and there was you and Erika Slezak in the middle of it.  Wasn’t Tina being framed by Marco via a porn picture? (Laughs)

ANDREA:  What happened was Marco Dane was putting innocent 16-year-old Tina’s face on naked women and making porn!  Viki found out about it.

Do you ever talk to, or stay in touch with, Erika Slezak?

Courtesy/ABC

ANDREA:  Not that I talk with her a lot.  However, I was very touched when my mother passed about a year and half ago.  Erika really worked hard to locate me through people and to find me, and it was so nice to hear from her.  She was sending me her love and condolences.  Erika knew my mother, because when I started on One Life I was so young.  She got to know my mother very well, and it was so sweet of her to do that.  Erika is a lovely woman.  It’s a shame she is not on TV.  She is so talented, and wonderful.  So much about what I learned in this industry I learned from her.  She should be working and current.  I am just sorry that no one else has realized that and put her back on TV, because she should be there.

Every time I have been a segment producer for the Daytime Emmys, and they are looking to do a clip package from classic moments from the soap, one would always come across footage of Tina going over the Igazu Falls in Argentina!  It’s still iconic years and years later.  Where do all of those scenes sit with you when you reflect back on your time on One Life to Live?

Courtesy/ABC

ANDREA:   I started on the show so young, and I have to be honest, I was not even aware of the show before I started appearing on it.  But One Life to Live became such a huge part of my life and my career.  It’s funny, you see people who become very indentified with a character, and that character is indelibly created in people’s minds. Some people resent it, and some people love it.  I personally love it.  I take great pride in it, and I take great pride that my audience, whom I love, still adores it.  To be iconic in anyway in this industry is a blessing, and a huge, huge compliment.

What do you think of what happened to your former Y&R character Patty Williams since you have been gone from that role?  She is “crazy Patty” now, as played by Stacy Haiduk!

Courtesy/CBS

ANDREA:   Not only was there a change in the character, but she grew quite tall! (Laughs)  Patty went crazy!  I remember I went back to Y&R as Tawny from B&B one day, which was really strange.  And Stacy was on the same day, so it was kind of weird, but we did not share scenes together.  Tawny was looking for Amber before she returned to The Bold and the Beautiful.  Originally, I was not available to reprise Patty, because I was working, but I think Stacy did a really, really good job, and the character had gone an entirely different way.

Would you go back to doing a soap if a part came up?

ANDREA:  It’s not like I have been away from the soaps for too long, but yes, absolutely.  They are always a part of my life.  I love them!  I would be more than happy to return to The Bold and the Beautiful, or do one of the two shows I have not appeared on yet: General Hospital, or Days of our Lives.  I love the medium, and I totally support it.  Yes, I love doing other things, and have been building up my film portfolio, but daytime is always a part of my life.

If they could write a really good part for you on Days of our Lives, I could see you shaking things up in Salem.  What do you think?

Courtesy/IMDB

ANDREA:  You know the truth is: Days of our Lives is a soap I have always wanted to do, because I think I would fit in it really well.  I also have to say I am very protective of my career, and my brand, and my fans.  And for me to come back to do something, it doesn’t have to be a role that goes on forever, it could be a short run role that has a certain amount of pop to it.  I would choose a role that is important, and that has to be right.

Tawny Moore was great trailer trash on B&B!  Would you say that she was one of your favorite roles of your career, as well?

ANDREA:  I loved Tawny, and I had been assured she would be coming back to the canvas at some point.  Adrienne Frantz (Amber) and I have remained very close.

To sum it up, for us to see more antics from Andrea Evans, what are your hopes for your project, Hidden Gems?

ANDREA:  I hope people will love, and support it, and hopefully be on it!

Watch Andrea’s Indiegogo campaign video for Hidden Gems below.  Then let us know what you think of the concept? Would it be fun to travel with Andrea and her crew during filming? What did you think about her sentiments on One Life to Live, playing Tina Lord, and Erika Slezak?  Would you love to see her return to daytime on Days of our Lives, GH, or back as B&B’s Tawny? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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I’m still heartbroken over not getting my daily fix of One Life To Live! It’s a damn shame the idiots over at ABC took off one of the Best Shows to ever grace its network! It’s also a shame that Prospect Park’s failed attempt to bring it back happened! I watched all 40 some Episodes of the Reboot from Prospect Park and loved every minute of it! I thought they were doing a great job. Was it everything it was on ABC? No! Of course not! But it was pretty damn good! There’s no Actress better than Erika Slezak Period! Through Daytime or Primetime! She should be gracing our television’s on a daily basis! Robin Strasser is also another amazing actress we should still be seeing! I miss Dorian & Viki so much! It would also be great to see Andrea Evans on our television screens again! There’s so many Extremely Talented Stars we don’t get to see anymore! And that’s really ashame! Happy Anniversary One Life To Live! I still hope we get to see you again one day!

So true. Erika and Robin are awesome actresses along with so many of OLTL’s actors. They should be on daytime.

Kyle,

You took the words straight from my heart. I ache for our beloved One Life to Live. I am fortunate enough, read that old enough, to have seen the very first episode of One Life to Live on July 15, 1968 and instantly fell in love with it. All the wonderful characters and actors who have come and gone throughout the years were such a joy to watch. And I agree with you totally. Erika Slezak and Robin Strasser should be gracing out television screens this very minute. And Andrea Evans made Tina Clayton Lord Roberts unforgettable. They are not the only ones. I’ve always said One Life to Live has the strongest cast of any show on television. Even very young and/ or inexperienced actors who are not very strong grow and learn from working with the best of the very best.

Like you, I watched every episode of the Prospect Park series and loved every second of them. I was truly look forward to seeing what would happen next. Some fans have hard feeling about Prospect Park. I do not. At least they tired to keep bringing us the very best daytime drama there ever was. I will always be grateful to them for that.

I will never forgive the alphabet network/mouse company for taking our beloved One Life to Live from us.

Happy Anniversary One Life to Live!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are NOT forgotten and I too still hope to see you again someday.

Very nice interview with a consummate pro. I studied with a top soap Casting Director back in the day, and she bragged that Andrea Evans had a nearly photographic memory! And how sweet of Ms. Evans to mention Erika Slezak…two lovely women. Andrea’s new travel show sounds truly delightful, I hope a cable network picks it up.

I want her on GH….

I got into One Life right before they announced it was being cancelled and it was great TV for it’s last year on ABC. I really enjoyed Andrea making a brief return and thought it was a multi layered character.

I’ve been watching old OLTL episodes and am currently in mid-July 2008. Andrea’s Tina is back in a lackluster and disappointing storyline (IMO) but it sure is great seeing Andrea in the role again. Tina was always a favorite character of mine and I will always be thankful to Andrea for this and wish her well.

THIS actress was THE Patty Williams!

You should have asked her about her time on Passions. Her Rebecca character was truly memorable.

Thank you for an interesting and up to date interview with one my favorite actresses, Andrea Evans. Andrea is always a class act; I would love to see her on soaps again! Looking forward to checking out Hidden Gems!

I loved her on Passions, she and Liza Huber were delicious as mother and daughter villains. They were the best characters next to Tabitha and Timmy.

Love this woman. She always gives 100 per cent no matter what.

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Robin Strasser Meets Kristen Alderson’s Baby Kiera in a One Life to Live Reunion

For years, Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian) and Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) have been the best of friends and the best of co-stars. On One Life to Live, Kristen was only six-years-old when she began her journey as Todd and Blair’s daughter and met the iconic Strasser.

Now in 2024, Kristen is a new mom to her baby girl, Kiera. Strasser, who lives in New York, along with her best friend, John, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just a few days ago to visit the Alderson family and spend the day with Kiera.

Taking to her Instagram a very happy Kristen shared, “Look at who came to visit today! Robin & her bestie John! Robin and I got all misty eyed when she met Kiera today!”

Photo: JPI

In a very touching part of her post, Alderson expressed, “Robin is such a special person in my life, it means so much to me that we’re as close as we are. She’s just the best❤️ A great day of laughs & a great brunch spread😍”

Robin added, “I’ve been smiling since I met her. I’m a big softie for babies, but what a doll Kiera is!” The Daytime Emmy-winning star, also shared, “I’m so grateful for my ongoing friendship with Kris and Kathy. Amazing women and loyal friends!”

What do you think about Kristen and Robin’s enduring friendship and recalling their time on One Life to Live? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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