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Y&R's Melody Thomas Scott On Soaps Loyal Audience: "People like Meryl Streep Or The Biggest Stars In The World – They Don’t Enjoy The Fans We Have.”

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Leave it to Y&R stalwart Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman) to talk about her appreciation, and that of her colleagues for the dedicated soap fans in a new piece in the Washington Post from journalist Lonnae O’Neal.  The writers also cops to being a soap addict herself, like so many of us throughout our lives.

While detailing how she would watch soaps growing up and with her mother, and how daytime dramas have been multi-generational, O’Neal discusses General Hospital’s Luke (Tony Geary) and Laura (Genie Francis) and Tony Geary’s major end of an era on-screen departure from the ABC soap opera this week.  However, the columnist reveals her favorite soap opera since college has been The Young and the Restless!

Lonnae spoke to Melody Thomas Scott about how soap operas have helped her through the birth of her babies, divorce, and making some of her hardest work less lonely.  Scott replied: “People feel like we’re their dearest friends or their closest cousins.  People like Meryl Streep or the biggest stars in the world — they don’t enjoy the fans we have.”  Ain’t that the truth, Mel! 

What do you think about Melody’s comment that soap fans are the most loyal and dedicated in the entertainment genre?  Have soap operas helped you through some of the toughest times in your life?  Share your comments below!

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Amen melody !!!! We luv u n r so very proud of u n other actors on y&r as well as gh !!!! Team Mel !!!

she’s right and the soap stars are the best stars!

I agree and have always been a champion of daytime actors and actresses and the special bond we have with them throughout our lives and theirs.

When you invite the same set of individuals, such as the residents of Genoa City, into your home five days of the week for 40+ years, they earn a special place in your heart. They become like family. It’s a very special relationship we have with those actors and their characters.

been watching soaps 49 years, they are the best ACTOR’S in the business

That was good artical..
We do become addicted..

All that was written is so true and yet the networks will not hesitate to make y’all soap homeless and cancel the soaps without one pang or an apology. As a matter of fact they wouldn’t even recognize the fans in any manner at all (shown to be factually true with every canceled soap) They pull the plug without a word of sorry for your loss..

SOAP STARS—ALL OF THEM—ARE BETTER RIGHT NOW THAN ANYTHING NIGHT TIME TV HAS TO OFFER!!!

Just love the acting and storylines you have brought into my life for years. I love you with Victor and I would not want it any other way. Seasoned veterans like yourself are the best in the acting world.

I thought about this not long ago and have over the years but she is right, soap fans are the best fans you could ever have. Even fans of boy bands eventually move on. But soap fans remember EVERYTHING and are very passionate to say the least! lol

My husband is a sports addict and he is always talking about what’s going on behind the scenes. I always tell him it’s exactly the same with soap fans. We listen to find out what actor is moving from one soap to another and who is dropping off contract. Too bad they don’t have 1000 soap radio shows like theu do about sports! We’re a pretty loyal bunch!

With all the talk of Luke and Laura and the (sad) end of an era, I will always remember Victor and Nikki as THE power couple because their love lives on in infamy in the 80s movie, MR. MOM.

I never grow tired of this movie and absolutely love when Michael Keaton’s “Jack” becomes a stay-at-home dad and asks how people actually “watch this stuff” only to become addicted to it himself.

Aside from the crappy storytelling on Y&R lately, it still remains my favorite soap. Sadly most days are watched out of habit instead of intrigue, although today with Harding actually siding with Kevin and Michael and Lauren about to find their way back to one another, I have renewed hope.

Agreed. As far fetched as the Jack/Marco/Victor storyline has been, I’ve loved that they have put EB and PB on my tv everyday. Hilary/Devon, Sharon/Dillon are soooooo boring.

I agree, Ashleigh.

It is nice that they gave Sharon a man … again, but she has the best chemistry with Nick … unfortunately. Sage and Nick are boring. Hilary and Devon are boring (liked him better with Roxie). Somehow Melissa Claire Egan always seems to be able to work with the lack of talent she is paired with (Burgess Jenkins), but she has potential with Hartley.

What happened to that cute girl, Gwen? She would be good for Neil albeit a bit young.

And if we could just get the Baldwins to be on more, especially Gloria. Judith Chapman can act circles around the likes of the actors playing Summer, Abby, Kyle, to name a few. 🙁

Oh great comment, Chrystie!
And while I know many hate Victor Newman, he is still the man you love to hate.
Victor behaves abhorrently time and time again, and yet his explanations for that insane behavior is all logical and rational.
The other person to whom he explains it to usually nods and says,”Oh yeah, Victor, that makes perfect sense. You kidnapped Jack, imprisoned him with Krazy and then replaced him with a psycho killer for the good of the family. Yep! Makes perfect sense to me.”
Victor really amuses the hell out of me.

Haha Harry, how about Victor telling Jack all the reasons not to come clean!? I was sitting there thinking “Wow! SO Victor and probably the only way he could make this work in his favor! Kudos, writers!!” Hahaha.

completely agree. daytime soaps have the most passionate fans. some people take their fans for granite,but not the actors of daytime. Y&R is my favorite soap,I grew up watching it. Daytime soaps feel like family,because you let them into your home everyday

robert I have to agree..and with all their loyal following a lot of Daytime actors will take the time to respond to a tweet or message that hits them and interact with a lot of their followers on a regular basis..and are quicker to graciously follow fans that hold similar opinions of there’s too..and then there are those who just want the adoration and fanbase following..lol

So very true, but I think soap stars are loyal to there fan’s also, they are reachable, they tweet you back when you tweet them, they talk to you, not in a I’m a big star sort of way, but a down to earth I’m just like you and I appreciate the fact that you took the time to say something to me. I love Melody, just did a sketch of her with the shorter hair and was amazed to see her sporting the same do on the show 2 weeks later.. Love you Mel.

I tweet the sketch to her, hope she saw it, I did it with love and appreciation of her wonderful work on Y&R

I have been going to Soap events the past few years and I definitely agree. The stars of the soaps do not act like they are STARS, they are personable and eager to talk with their fans. If you want proof just go to the Daytime Stars and Strikes event n NYC daytimestarsandstrikes.com . It is so cool just to talk like an acquaintance to actors you see on TV. Have met Gina Tognoni there several times and it is just cool to talk about other events and feel like your are not just a fan. I don’t think many famous people from other mediums do the same.

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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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