Days Of Our Lives

Crystal Chappell on Venice castmates, Jordan Clarke & Nadia Bjorlin!

February 1, 2011

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

In part two of TV Guide Canada’s Nelson Branco’s interview with Crystal Chappell, (as a wrap-up to the successful season two of Venice) the actress, producer, and writer discusses the pivotal scenes between Gina and The Colonel and Lara and Ani, and the amazing performances by Jordan Clarke and Nadia Bjorlin in the hit web series. Here are a few excerpts!

Chappell on Gina’s emotional letter to Ani and writing for Clarke and Bjorlin: “The letter was the first thing I wrote. I read it to Kim [Turrisi, Chappell’s writing partner] last February; we had gone to a hotel so we could do some work. When I read it to her, she said, “Wow; OK!” So from there, we had to see where Gina would end up; where she gets to at the end of the season. I love the relationship between The Colonel and Gina. It was funny because when I decided The Colonel was going to have a stroke, I knew Jordan Clarke had just had a stroke, so then I had to call him and say, “So, Jordan, here’s the story — you’re having a stroke!” He started laughing. He said, “Girl, I know what to do. I know what it’s about.” He was totally cool about it. He said, “I even have a cane — I’ll bring it with me!” That needed to happen. I like writing for people I love and admire. You can give Jordan anything. Even with just a look on his face — especially when Gina finished the letter … that was one of my favorite moments. When we landed on Jordan’s face, you saw what was going on. I love writing for people I know, especially after I get to know them better and finding out what their strengths are. Also, with Nadia, for instance, Susan Flannery and I were there and watched her go to that dark, dark place. I was so proud of Nadia. That was another favorite moment of mine of the season: when Lara breaks down.

Chappell on Bjorlin’s performance in episode eleven when Lara pushes Ani into the wall in a drunken stupor: “Once I saw the finished episode, I told her, “I think you’re going to be really, really happy.” I’m happy for her. I love it, I love it. You know what she told me the other day? This is kind of cool: Nadia went to an audition and the director was saying nice things about Venice … and that’s how Nadia got the film audition and how they knew her — based on her performance on Venice.”

Related Topics:Ani crystal chappell Days of our Lives Gina Guiding Light R.I.P.jordan clarke Lara Nadia Bjorlin The Colonel tv guide canada venice

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Guest

Imane Assi

So happy that finally more people are recognizing NB’s amazing talent.I hope she will get more opportunities to shine.She so desirves it

Guest

bookchick

If by more people, you mean Nelson Branco, that is nothing new. Nadia could read a phonebook and he would be salivating over how amazing she is. He has a handful of favorites that he obsesses over. He lost any and all credibility as a soap “journalist” a long time ago.

Guest

Imane Assi

No I mean by many, people who watch the show and start to focus on her acting instead of her look and are blown away by her performances….Yeah..he is “obsessed “with her.Tha’s the rpoblem with you people.Wheneverr someone praises NB,that someone is “obsessed” with her.Just about every single NB’s fan was called all kind of names on Venice/Days boards,banned,…. by haters like you.I am one of the many others.And obsessed is just one of these names…we’re used to it…It’s so pathetic.

Guest

bookchick

Imane, read my post again. It is not about you or Nadia’s fans. It is about Nelson and his lack of objectivity. I am not a hater just because I don’t agree with your or Nelson’s OPINIONS that Nadia is a good actress. Calm down.

Guest

Imane Assi

Becasue he praises Nadia he lacks of objectivity?I geuss if he had said that she sucks as an actress you woudl have agreed with his opinon and applauded him….Just the same,whenever someone praise NB,that someone is obsessed,blablablabla….

Guest

bookchick

Have you read any of Nelson’s work other than what he has written about Nadia? He is a hack. He has a list of favorites that he fixates on and Nadia is one of them. So is Crystal Chappell who I happen to think is a great actress but I don’t value a word he says about her either because he has his head so far up her butt. He wants to be friends with the actors he writes about. He is not interested in being objective. Stop putting words in my mouth and projecting your own issues on me.… Read more »

Guest

Imane Assi

All I see is that everytime someone praises NB’s acting or NB, that someone is called obsessed and worse.An not only here but on every Venice/Days board.So noThing new here.No wonder NB’s fans aren’t as vocals as they would like to be.Given the treatment they get….wether tHey’re called names,or banned or whatever…They’re not allowed to be vocals and passionate about her..but CC/Carly,AS/Sami,JS/EJ….fans can be as passioante and as vocals as they want no problem…Chloe can be bashed,called all kind of names,mocked,….no one is banned,But when I or anyone else defend her,,,,we’re called all kind of names or banned…NB’s acting can… Read more »

Days Of Our Lives

Raven Bowens is the New Chanel on DAYS

June 10, 2021

There has been a casting switcheroo at Days of our Lives. Precious Way is out in the role of Chanel Dupree and the part had been recast.

Way debuted on-screen back in March of 2021, but now comes word, first via Jason 47’s Facebook page, that Chanel will be played by actress Raven Bowens.

According to Soap Opera Digest, look for Bowens to first air on-screen on the July 6th episode. Apparently, she has been taping at the DAYS set since April.

Raven has previously appeared on All Rise, Insecure, The New Edition Story and Future Man.

You can follow her on Instagram here.

So, what do you think of the Chantal switch? Comment below.

Days Of Our Lives

DAYS Alison Sweeney Previews the New EJami

June 6, 2021

Coming up on Days of our Lives, Dan Feurerriegel take over the role of EJ DiMera on-screen, and the character is making quite the timely, or untimely return to Salem now that Sami (Alison Sweeney) has been hitting the sheets with her ex-husband, Lucas (Bryan Dattilo).

Feurerriegel is stepping into the coveted role of EJ made soap-famous by James Scott, who left the series back in 2014 and never returned.

Now the question is can Sweeney and Feurerriegel strike soap gold with their re-imagined duo known as “EJami”?

In the latest issue of Soap Opera Digest on newsstands now, Alison Sweeney opened up about the casting, working with Dan, and the future of EJami sharing: “To be honest, I was nervous when I heard they were recasting EJ. That’s a big role to fill, I mean, James Scott was definitely a fan favorite and EJ is such a memorable role in the story and certainly in Sami’s life.”

Sweeney said of sharing scenes with Feurerriegel, “Dan has been fantastic. I’ve really enjoyed working with him. He clearly understood the importance of the task ahead.”

As for what fans of EJami may be in for, Sweeney noted: ” I hope those ‘EJami’ fans see the couple they were so connected to, but of course, in a new, different way.”

So will you be giving the new EJami a chance? Looking forward to Dan’s debut, or are you Team Lumi all the way? Share your thoughts via the comment section below. But first check out this week’s promo for DAYS.

Days Of Our Lives

DAYS Billy Flynn Opens Up To Maurice Benard About His Battle with Addiction on All-New ‘State of Mind’

May 30, 2021

In a terrific episode of Maurice Benard’s (Sonny Corinthos, General Hospital) State of Mind You Tube series, the actor welcomes another one of the best actors on daytime, Days of our Lives star Billy Flynn (Chad DiMera, Days of our Lives).

What made this so compelling was Billy Flynn’s ability to talk openly, frankly, and with great understanding about his battles with addiction which he notes have been alcohol, drugs, and the cycles he has found himself in within his life and how he was able to break free of them, and the work he continues to do to keep him from falling back into them.

Flynn shares how much of his adult life was greatly impacted by his childhood, and explained to Benard, how he acted out when he was younger. He also shares how his addiction caused issues for awhile with his job at Days of our Lives.

This episode is a powerful one to watch for anyone struggling with issues of addiction, dependency, suicide, having problems at work, and trying to not self-destruct, which so many of us do, once we seemingly get what we what or while we are trying to obtain it.

Bravo to Billy and Maurice for bringing this forward and to the audience.

Watch Billy’a visit on State of Mind below, followed by a bonus segment where Flynn asks Benard some ‘hard-hitting’ questions.

What did you think of what Billy shared with Maurice? Comment below.