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"Castle's" Nathan Fillion on what the recast of OLTL's Joey Buchanan needs to possess!
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Last night On-Air On-Soaps was at the season three premiere of the ABC primetime series, Castle and caught up with its star Nathan Fillion to ask him what attributes the next actor that embodies the role of Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live needs to have, now that the soap has put out a “casting call” to find the next actor to play the key part. Fillion played Joey from 1994-1997 and then made a brief return in 2007. Nathan offered insight into the role, the dwindling soap genre, and his love for his former castmates that he holds close to his heart to this day.
Fillion on what attributes the next actor to play Joey Buchanan needs to have: “I just read that they were recasting. You know, so much has happened since I played Joey. I think he even became a priest, I know, at one point. I will say this, both for the character and for the actor playing the role; you have to be willing to learn. That is the attitude I went into One Life to Live with and it served me very well. There is more than enough experience and amazing wonderful people on that television program. For a first job that was the most incredible experience I could ask for, that prepared me…. and I cannot even tell you…. and every day I use what I learned on that show. Those people were so kind to me there; Erika Slezak (Viki) Robin Strasser (Dorian), Bob Woods (Bo), Jimmy (Max) and Kassie DePaiva (Blair), Phil Carey (Asa) and Clint Ritchie (Clint)… God rest their souls. I learned so much for those people and I am going to cry right now thinking about it.
Fillion on the amazing treat for fans of OLTL and his castmates when he returned for a few episodes in 2007 to reprise the role of Joey, after his stardom! “Is it so amazing? I owe them so much and I know that all to well. I have never worked so hard and so much. In three years of working on a soap opera, I have probably logged more on-screen time than the rest of my career, except perhaps my last three years on Castle. That is a lot of on-air time. You have to be technically proficient, and you have to be able to act with distraction on soaps. There is a weakness in the soap genre, and that is not every show can be gold. It’s an hour long a day and you can’t work it, work it, and work it, till it’s amazing. You just don’t have the time for that. There are not the man hours or the manpower. There is a weakness in that sometimes you got to work together to take the best of what you have, and make into the best that you can possibly do, And, sometimes it’s a matter of resources, We were in New York City in a small building saying, “OK. This set is the woods and it’s 15 by 25 feet… but this is the woods, buddy.” And that is all you got, and you gotta make it wok, and you gotta make it real and you have to let people indulge in the story, and in invest in the story. You can’t just throw your arms up. I learned that and I learned that so incredibly well.”
Fillion’s thoughts on the dwindling soap opera genre. “I certainly say that it is sad. I certainly don’t want to be an end of era, and even just for young actor’s like me coming up, and what an intense and incredible experience it was, but just for the audience sakes, as well. Obviously there are people out there who still enjoy them. I remember when I got One Life to Live and then the O.J. Simpson trial started, and every network covered it every day and broke that chain of investment for the audience, and the ratings never recovered from that and it slowly, slowly dwindled. Do they need to be reinvented? I don’t know. I hope it’s not a dying breed, and I hope it does not go out. Maybe the networks should pool their resources and make what few soap operas are left stronger, and rather than let them slowly die, infuse them with energy and money and invest… so that other people can invest. And if it was not for One Life to Live, I would not be standing here at the premiere of season three of Castle, that is for sure.”
Days Of Our Lives
Kennedy Garcia on Joining the Cast of Days of our Lives: “For a Role to Come up for a Teenager with Down Syndrome was Just Amazing!”
Days of our Lives has made a groundbreaking move for the soaps, by casting Kennedy Garcia in the new role of Felicity. Viewers of the Peacock streaming soap opera will first see the character beginning the week of May 20th,
Garcia has previously appeared on primetime including on 9-1-1, This Is Us and more. Speaking to TV Insider, Kennedy shared: “I have wanted to be on a soap opera for a long time, so for a role to come up for a teenager with Down syndrome was just amazing!”
In real life, Kennedy who has Down syndrome is also a cancer survivor, and becomes he first teen with Down syndrome to land an ongoing role on the soaps. “It’s really such a special thing. I am so proud of Days of our Lives for taking this step and taking a chance on me. Inclusion in this industry is so important and I am proud to help move it forward.”
Photo: JPI
As to a little insight on her new role of Felicity in Salem, Garcia shared. “She is sweet, funny and kind. She is also very smart and she never misses anything. Most of all, she loves her family more than anything else. I think that viewers will love her and see the beauty she brings to everyone in her life.”
The actress added, “I hope that everyone will love Felicity and see that even though she has Down syndrome, she is cherished by her family and friends, she is capable of great things, and she’s a hard worker. I’m pretty sure she bakes better than I do. She is also a typical teenager who has real feelings and fears that people will see as her story goes on. I hope no one underestimates Felicity as a character, or actors with disabilities like me. Representation is so important and I’m so thankful for this opportunity to become Felicity and let you all get to know her, and me!”
What do you think of Days of our Lives casting of Kennedy Garcia and the importance of inclusion and representation on streaming and daytime dramas? Comment below.
General Hospital
Giovanni Mazza On Contract at General Hospital: What Are Your First Impressions?
This week, General Hospital introduced newcomer Giovanni Mazza in the role of Giovanni Palmieri, who apparently is Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) second cousin, one removed or so the story goes.
The character of Gio showed up at Brook Lynn’s wedding to Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) and played the violin at the ceremony. As has been previously reported, Mazza in real-life is a professional violinist and actor.
Upon making his first appearance on the ABC daytime drama series back on May 15th, fans wondered if Gio will be sticking around and that was confirmed by the closing credits of the May 17th episode where Mazza’s name is included along with other contract players.
Photo: ABC
When the news of Mazza’s casting was announced, the talent young man took to his Instagram and shared the good news, expressing, “I am so honored, grateful, and ecstatic to announce the big news! The biggest thank you to General Hospital for bringing me.” He closed his sentiments with “So much love and joy to my new fam! YAY!!! ”
Commenting on his post included new castmates Evan Hofer (Dex) saying, “Happy to have you brother,” plus Tabyana Ali (Trina), Eden McCoy (Joss) and ABC executive Nathan Varni who said, “Congratulations! Welcome to GH!
Photo: ABC
During the May 17th episode, Gio had an exchange with Dex, where he mentioned that his father was in the military back in early 2000’s. Previously, Gio revealed to Chase that his father died in the military when he was young. So this begs the question, who is Gio’s dad?
What were you first impressions of Giovanni Mazza in the role of Gio? Who do you think he might be romantically involved with and might be also related to other than the Cerullos? Comment below.
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General Hospital
Michael Easton Shares on the Loss of Kamar de los Reyes, “I Was Holding His Hand When He Passed”
For the first time publicly, General Hospital’s Michael Easton (Finn) opened up about losing his best friend, the late Kamar de los Reyes (ex-Antonio, OLTL) to cancer.
The former One Life to Live and All American star lost his battle to cancer back on December 24, 2023 at the age of 56. De los Reyes leaves behind his wife, actress Sherri Saum (ex-Sunset Beach, OLTL) and their twin boys, Michael and John, and his eldest son, Caylen from a previous relationship.
Easton along with Y&R’s Trevor St. John (Tucker) were both castmates with Kamar during their time on One Life to Live. The two shared their remembrances this past Thursday night during’s live virtual event, Daytime Stands Up – A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer … We All Have a Story.
Photo: Robin Platzer
In tribute, Michael expressed, “It was a 30-year friendship with Kamar. We did our first movie together in 1990. I was scared and I was quiet and I was instantly drawn to his bravado and his sense of himself. Kamar was larger than life. He was the best man at my wedding, and I am the godfather to his son, Michael. His loss was profound on all of us.”
He added, “There hasn’t been a day gone by that I haven’t thought of him, and his family and what he brought to this world, and the contributions he made, not only to this acting community. He loved being an actor and he was a great actor. I always like to say Kamar was such a good actor that they cast him as a priest, not just once, not twice, like seven times. I mean, he was often shirtless. But, if you needed a shirtless priest, Kamar was your guy.”
Photo: Facebook
When discussion turned to the end of Kamar’s life, Michael shared, “I was holding his hand when he passed, and he was surrounded by family and, and friends. There was so much love around him. I mean, he touched so many lives. I mean, Trevor knows that at his memorial, it was the biggest, at Forrest Lawn. They couldn’t even fit everybody in. There was people stretched out all the way to outside. People showed that hadn’t seen him in 20 years. That was the effect. So many of the One Life cast members came and cast from All American.”
Michael also spoke to Kamar’s determination till the end and his incredible work ethic, “Extraordinarily enough, he went to work two weeks before he passed at All American. He was fierce to the end. He never talked about being sick. Even though the odds were stacked from the very beginning, and it’s still really hard for me to talk about, but I was in awe of his strength and his resolve. I would’ve shut down long before he did.”
If you haven’t done so watch below 46:47 mark for Michael and Trevor’s emotional appearances on Daytime Stands Up as they share their memories on Kamar.
Then let us know, what you thought of Michael’s candid tribute to his best friend via the comment section below.
Kennedy Garcia on Joining the Cast of Days of our Lives: “For a Role to Come up for a Teenager with Down Syndrome was Just Amazing!”
Giovanni Mazza On Contract at General Hospital: What Are Your First Impressions?
Michael Easton Shares on the Loss of Kamar de los Reyes, “I Was Holding His Hand When He Passed”
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Brook Lynn and Chase’s Wedding Reception Brings a Beatdown for Dex
Kim Zimmer Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Michael Easton Shares on the Loss of Kamar de los Reyes, “I Was Holding His Hand When He Passed”
GH’s Nancy Lee Grahn Speaks Out for Jailed Former On-Screen Daughter, Haley Pullos
Patrick Mulcahey OUT as General Hospital Co-Head Writer
Steve Burton Confirms New Relationship
TONIGHT: ‘Daytime Stands Up – A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer’
Michael Easton Shares on the Loss of Kamar de los Reyes, “I Was Holding His Hand When He Passed”
Kim Zimmer Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis
The Young and the Restless Eileen Davidson to Chat Live on Ashley’s Alters Storyline
TONIGHT: ‘Daytime Stands Up – A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer’
Motion Picture Star Chris Hemsworth, a ‘Home and Away’ Alum, Defends Soap Operas, ‘It Used to Bother Me When Actors Would Later Talk About the Show with Guilt or Shame”
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I liked your interview with Nathan, Michael. It’s too bad that he can’t make a guest shot on OLTL. I do enjoy him on Castle. He has come a long way. If fans haven’t seen Nathan on his prime time show they should. He is very charming and funny as a writer of crime story’s and then helps police solve crimes. I’m glad you caught up with him, Michael……
Nathan – I was watching OLTL during the days you were on the show. I have one word for you – “gracious.” So many people turn their noses down at daytime television, but it is obviously a true learning experience for young actors. That you give credit to the “roots” for your career start certainly says something about you. I admire you tremendously and can’t wait for Season 3 of Castle. Thank you so much to you, Stana and the rest of the cast for your hard work. You bring a lot of fun to this crazy world.
Wow! What a love letter to the soaps. He has nice memories and doesn’t shy away from it.