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(WATCH) Andrea Evans, The Iconic Tina Lord, Remembered In Heartfelt Tribute From One Life to Live Co-Stars

Photos: ABC, JPI, IMDb, IG

On Wednesday, several of the stars of One Life to Live participated in a special tribute honoring the late Andrea Evans (ex-Tina), who passed away last month from cancer at the age of 66, on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.  Andrea’s passing came as a shock to many who were unaware that she was battling cancer for yet the second time.

In the world of soap operas, Andrea’s portrayal of One Life’s Tina Lord Roberts encapsulated what made people tune-in every day – the high camp, the vixen, and machinations of a villainess. Through it all, no matter what Tina did, fans still loved her and couldn’t wait to see what she would do next. While Andrea appeared on other soaps including, Passions, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless and the digital series, The Bay, it was her role on One Life to Live that will remain a part of soap history.

Joining Michael Fairman to honor Andrea were: Erika Slezak (ex-Viki), Fiona Hutchison (ex-Gabrielle), John Loprieno (ex-Cord), and. Robert S. Woods (ex-Bo).  Later, the actors were joined by the former head writer of One Life to Live and now the head writer of Days of our Lives, Ron Carlivati.  In addition, James DePaiva (ex-Max) and Barbara Luna (ex-Maria) sent special messages that were read on-air in tribute to Andrea, since they were unable to participate on the livestream.

Courtesy/BarBaraLuna

Fiona detailed her friendship with Andrea, and being one of the few people who knew she was ill, plus insight their time together on One Life which included the now classic Iguazú Falls storyline.  Bob Woods spoke with great sadness at losing Andrea at such a young age, while John Loprieno talked about his screen-test with Andrea which led to him becoming Cord Roberts.

Erika Slezak spoke on how Andrea made the character of Tina all her own, sharing, “Tina grew into a very complex character, that she herself created. I mean, they wrote it, but she created all the ins and outs and the different aspects of that character. She had to create everything from scratch and boy did she ever. She was very smart.”

Photo: JPI

In addition, Erika addressed the challenging life Andrea lived when she became the victim of a stalker, and how because of it, Andrea stayed away from show business for years and left the show.  “I was just so sorry she went through this just terrible period in her life where she was being stalked by somebody who literally wanted to kill her.”  The six-time Daytime Emmy winner, added, “Andrea was afraid to walk the streets alone because he found out where she worked. He would show up at the front door of the studio. To live like that for so many years, to the point to where she had to hire security guards to help her walk the dogs, to pick her up from the studio and to take her home, check the apartment, and then, she couldn’t leave after that. Then, they had to pick her up in the morning and bring her to work, that’s no way to live. She finally said, ‘I can’t do this anymore. I have to leave.’  She moved, and no one knew where she moved to. I knew she moved to California, but that’s all I knew.”

Photo: SOD

James DePaiva sent this very touching message: “In December 1986 I was brought to ABC to NYC. There in the early morning I was introduced to Andrea Evans for my audition as Max Holden. A few weeks later I moved to New York and began my work with Andrea. Two weeks after that I was whisked away to Argentina with Andrea, John Loprieno, Marcia Cross, and Fiona Hutchison. A sweltering heat wave and dangerous conditions, Andrea stayed cool, calm and collected. Back in NY I became aware that Andrea was the young star of OLTL. I was blessed to be working with her as she showed me the ropes of working on a Soap, but also the business and publicity savvy that it took to maintain a career. I remember John and I being eye candy bookends for Andrea at my first Emmy award show. She was wearing the most attention getting dress I had ever seen up to that point in my life. Andrea always knew how to make a splash.  Andrea was always generous, kind and helpful to this “green” actor from California. I can honestly say, if not for her I would never have had this wonderful career and life I’ve lived and for that I am grateful to her. I’m sorry I can’t be there to share in this tribute. She was always one of a kind and is dearly missed.”

One of the most outlandish storylines that Fiona, John, Erika and Andrea were all a part of was the underworld city of Eterna.  Fiona shared on that time, “It was great fun to go on the Eterna set every day. It was a whole other world and it was across the street.  It was very believable stepping into it. It was out of left field but that was, what One Life was at the time.”

Courtesy/ABC

John Loprieno said he was intimated when he first came to One Life to work with Evans, expressing: “Andrea was well-established and to kind of step into her light was very intimating. She was very thoughtful and kind during those first few couple of days.”

Photo: JPI

Former OLTL head writer, Ron Carlivati joined the tribute and shared why Andrea as Tina Lord Roberts made such an emotional and pivotal impact on his personal and professional life: “My love of soaps is so tied to that time with Tina, Cord, and Gabrielle, and Tina being presumed dead and going over the Iguazú Falls.  Tina is such an iconic, emblematic part of One Life to Live and such a part of why I loved soaps in the 80’s. There was just something about that character that as bad as she could be, or as evil she could be, you loved her. I think it was the warmth of Andrea coming through.”

You can watch the One Life to Live tribute to Andrea Evans in full below.

After you have been able to check it out, let us know what your favorite part of the tribute was, and your favorite memories of Andrea as Tina in the comment section.

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Thank you so very much for the beautiful tribute to Andrea Evans. I loved all the wonderful stories her cast mates shared about working with her. It was absolutely super seeing everyone again. It was a special treat to see Loyita Chapel again too. They all look wonderful. I miss all of them so very much. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss One Life to Live!!!!!!!!!!!!

Erica, you haven’t changed a bit . Still as beautiful as ever! Longtime OLTL watcher. Glad we get to watch you on Blue Bloods. Take Care❤️

I worked as an extra of the show. One day there was a fire alarm. Everyone went out to the street. I can still see a glamorous image of Andrea in a huge fur coat holding her dog or two.

This should be a required listening for an OLTL fan from the 1980s. Great hearing the cast reminisce and give insights about Andrea. Nice that JdP and the amazing BarBara Luna sent touching tributes.

Two of my fondest real life soap star meetings involved John Loprieno and Fiona Hutchinson. In the 80s, John would come into my place of work with some of his kids. Not only was he courteous, but he was just as handsome in person as on screen.

About 10 years ago, I talked with Fiona for a few minutes at a coffee house near where she was performing in a play. We chatted about OLTL and she tried her darnedest to get my sister and me to come to the play. If we didn’t have other obligations, I would’ve definitely got tickets. And yes, still stunning in person too!

General Hospital

(WATCH THE REPLAY) ‘A Tribute to Jackie Zeman’ Featuring General Hospital Co-Stars

Several of the late Jackie Zeman’s (Bobbie Spencer) former General Hospital co-stars gathered together last Thursday night, to honor the beloved actress during a special livestream event on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.

Joining in remembrance of Zeman, who passed away in May following a short bout with cancer, were several of the loves of Bobbie’s life including: Rick Springfield (ex-Noah), Brad Maule (ex-Tony) and Sam Behrens (ex-Jake).  In addition, Kin Shriner (Scott), Jackie’s longtime GH co-star and dear friend participated, as well as Tamara Braun (ex-Carly, GH, now Ava Days) and Tristan Rogers (Scorpio).

Throughout the hour, love was sent Jackie’s way, not only from the stars, but the fans participating in the live chat.  Each actor recalled their first meeting with Jackie, and in Rick Springfield’s case, how it was Jackie who told then GH-EP Gloria Monty, that he was her pick to play Dr. Noah Drake.

Later, Brad Maule shared heart-tugging moments when working with Jackie and how he was pretty much in awe of her throughout their time together on the soap.  When the talk turned to the iconic B.J. heart transplant storyline, Brad says it’s still difficult for him to watch even to this day, because of how emotional it was.

Tamara Braun, who was the second actress to play Carly, Bobbie’s daughter,  revealed how she tried to, and did find peace in Jackie’s passing, as Kin Shriner gave us the back-story of his over 45-year friendship with Jackie, and Tristan revealed his special connection to her.

In case you missed it, you can catch the replay below.  Then let us know what you thought of our tribute to Jackie featuring some of her GH co-stars, who showed up to give us some insights on their time working with Jackie, and to be a part of our special remembrance.

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Days Of Our Lives

Days of our Lives’ Suzanne Rogers Talks 50 Years as Maggie: From Farm Girl, to Becoming a Horton, to Picking Up the Pieces After Victor’s Death

Days of our Lives enduring favorite, Suzanne Rogers (Maggie Simmons Horton Kiriakis), recently chatted on some of the high points and low points throughout her journey, as she looked back on 50 years on the long-running soap opera.

Rogers was interviewed by Michael Fairman on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel during a virtual discussion, which covered a lot of ground including: her debut as a young farm girl who couldn’t walk and on crutches, to becoming a Horton, to more recently, losing her beloved husband, Victor Kiriakis (the late John Aniston), and everything in between.

Suzanne first aired on Days of our Lives back on August 20th, 1973. Throughout her time, she has been “killed-off” the show, only to ultimately return nine months later, after it was revealed her on-screen ‘death’ was part of an overall PR stunt and story arc.

Photo: JPI

Rogers has also had her real-life chronic autoimmune neuromuscular condition, myasthenia gravis, written it to the show, even though she was originally against it.  She has been married on-screen to two of the more complex men in the history of the show, John Clarke (ex-Mickey) and John Aniston (ex-Victor). As well, through the years, Maggie learned that she had more children that she thought! In addition, Maggie is an alcoholic, who has been known to have her battles with the bottle throughout the years.  It was her performance in Maggie’s original bout with alcoholism that won her the very first Daytime Emmy in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category back in 1979.

Here are just a few of Suzanne’s comments on some key subjects throughout her five decades on DAYS.

Photo: JPI

 

On filming the recently aired scenes, where Maggie learns Victor has perished in a plane crash, and how it brought back emotions of John Aniston’s passing: “It was hard. I think right back to the memorial service (for John Aniston). That was a hard day. All I kept thinking in my mind is he’s not in any pain anymore. I kept saying that. So, I had to play the scenes. It was all surreal. It really was surreal. The fact that he was no longer gonna be there. There’s a tribute to him on the set. I just look at that all the time and I’m right there with him.”

When addressing her fears and concerns about being seen with myasthenia gravis, and being asked to come back to the show: “The producers, Al Rabin and Wes Kenny, said, ‘We would like for you to come back to the show.’ I said, ‘I think you ought to see me first.’ I just didn’t want to shock anybody. We met at Du Pars (coffee shop). It didn’t register on their face that I looked any different, but I did. I really did. They said, ‘We’ll work around you, whatever you need. If you need to come in at noon, that’s fine. We’ll put a sofa in your dressing room so you can lie down.’ (Fast-forward) Then, the audience started seeing me on camera.  The first day I saw myself on camera, I turned off the TV, and I started crying. I thought, ‘Well, I guess God wants to see me, see myself like this. So, I put it back on and I forced myself to watch … and it didn’t look like me, to me. Then the audience, of course, got a hold of it, and they said, ‘What’s the matter with her? Is she drinking? What is wrong?’ So, they figured they had to write it (myasthenia gravis) into the show. I said, “Only if it has a happy ending, because I plan on beating this. That was the criteria that we went with – that they would write it in the show, but they had to have a happy ending.”

Photo: NBC

When recalling being killed-off the show in 2003, after Marlena clubbed Maggie over the head with a whiskey bottle, only for Suzanne to return to the show months later: “I thought I was gone and then to see yourself 10 feet tall. I mean, it was at least 7 feet tall that (movie) screen. It was more than I could handle. I really thought that was the end. I thought, ‘Well, this is a big sendoff.’  Marlena hit her with a bottle and smashed her in. I thought, ‘Oh, my goodness gracious’. It wasn’t a pretty scene.  And no, I didn’t know (I was coming back). I had brought my mother out here, and I had added on to my house, and I thought, ‘I’m going to lose this house.’ It wasn’t a joke, you know?  But then, we were all brought back on April the first. Hello!”

On the audience reaction to Maggie becoming an alcoholic: “Well, I think the first time, I knew the audience right off the bat, hated it. They didn’t like the Maggie character getting soiled in any way. But it led to the Emmy!”

Photo: NBC

On her working relationship with John Clarke (ex-Mickey): “Susan Flannery (ex-Laura) told me the very first day that I was on the show, ‘He’s (John) got to fall in love with you, or he can’t work with you.’ I said, ‘Oh, my.’  So, I remembered that in my mind. So, when we were off-stage, he would say, ‘Let’s go out to dinner.’  I said, ‘no’, because I knew Patty, his wife, and all of his kids. I just don’t mix business with pleasure. You just don’t.  That’s just not a good thing. I thought, ‘Let’s just keep the two separate, and that’s what I tried to do.”‘

Make sure to check out watch our full conversation with Suzanne below.

Now let us know, what has been your favorite storyline of Maggie’s through the years? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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General Hospital

Kin Shriner and Marcus Coloma Chat On General Hospital Departures, John Stamos, Avery Pohl & New Season of ‘2D’s’

Two former stars of General Hospital, Kin Shriner (ex-Scott) and Marcus Coloma (ex-Nikolas) opened up about their exits from the ABC daytime drama series, their focus on the second season of their comedy series, the ‘2Ds‘, and more on their recent livestream conversation with Michael Fairman on his You Tube Channel.

The first season of ‘2D’s’ was posted to Coloma’s Instagram account, and it featured many of his former GH co-stars including: Finola Hughes, Jon Lindstrom, Carolyn Hennesy and other former GH cast members, Michelle Stafford, Billy Warlock with his wife, Julie Pinson (ex-Port Charles, ATWT and Days) and more.

During the livestream conversation, Coloma, who has Avery Pohl (Esme, GH) guest-starring in episode one of season two of the comedy series, opened up about his diciest plot point to portray while GH, that of Nikolas hooking up with Esme.

Marcus expressed: “That was a very interesting time, because I love working with Avery. She’s just a great actress and super professional. She’s also just a really fun person to hang out with.  And so, sleeping with Esme was very stressful, because for so long I set up this strong relationship with my son (Spencer), and this popped in (the storyline) that, ‘you were going to sleep with Esme’.  It would really stress me out to be honest with you, because I would try to play as real as I possibly could and I would try to justify it on how I would get to that place. On top of that, in real life, I’m 44 and Avery is 21. I’m like, “God, I am going to make out with this kid.” I was stressed about it. At the same time, I really enjoy working with her.”

Courtesy/ABC

The actor, who was finished at GH after his three-year contract as the dark prince of the Cassadine clan, shared his thoughts on his exit after several months away from the soap opera.  Coloma said, “It really turned into that thing where you go on a date and fall in love with a girl . By the end of the three years, you fall in love with your castmates, you fall in love with the character. You fall in love with a lot of things about it, the fans.  And, I was surprising very sad, when I found out that it was going to end.  I wasn’t sad like, ‘I think we should make this thing work’.  I agree, I don’t think this should continue, but I was really sad about it. Now, I’m very happy because in this silly show the  I have found my happy place.”

Photo: JPI

Kin Shriner, who for six decades had played Scott Baldwin on GH, a few months back shared he was not coming back to the soap anytime soon.  However, as we have seen before, Scott has resurfaced.  Shriner weighed-in: “I don’t know what to tell you about that, and I am going to turn back up like a bad penny, and hopefully it’s going to be fun. My focus went from him over to this guy in the black trench coat and I’m having fun. So, I haven’t really thought about Scotty Baldwin … he’s in the closet right now.”

Photo: JPI

In the season one finale of the 2D’s comedy series, Shriner’s long-time budding, John Stamos (ex-Blackie, GH) made a cameo capping off the story.  Just how did Kin get John to participate? Kin gave the back-story: “I kind of pitched it to him a couple of different ways and getting John to commit to anything is tough, but I think in the end, he probably looked at a couple of episodes (before agreeing).  Stamos has been so busy with his book that I could only get him on this way (with iPhone video), but I think he is going to be willing to let me come to his house and shoot live. So we are looking forward to that and maybe he will be in the finale of season two!”

Photo: JPI

John and Kin first met when John started on GH in 1982. Kin recalls, “I took John under my wing when he was merely an 18-year-old kid that showed up eager and I taught him the ropes. He was from Orange County and he was raw, but he was tremendous at comedy. He was funny.  We kind of just had fun, and then we moved to New York and hung out, and then his career took off with Jack Klugman and then Full House. John had innate comedy timing, which Marcus has, and either they have it, or they don’t.”

This weekend starting on August 19th, Marcus and Kin are hosting several fan opportunities in the SoCal area.  Check out ticket info here.

In case you missed it, watch our full chat with Kin and Marcus below.

Now let us know, what did you think about the departures of Scott and Marcus from GH? Are you enjoying the 2D’s comedy series and all of the soap opera guest stars within it? Let us know in the comment section.

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Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

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