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Don Johnson Dishes His Return To Television & Leading Role In Soapy BLOOD & OIL!

Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

From his previous popular TV roles and star turns as a South Florida detective Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice and a San Francisco investigator in Nash Bridges, Don Johnson is doing an about face in his return to primetime in his juicy new role in ABC’s new soap opera, Blood & Oil! Johnson also serves as one of the executive producers of the show.

In the series which premieres this Sunday night September 27th at 9PMET, Johnson plays Hap Briggs, the oil baron at the center of the fictional Bakken Shale, a boomtown of Rock Springs, North Dakot.  And as you would expect from that premise, Hap is not the nicest guy on the planet.  The series also stars: Chace Crawford as Billy Lefever, Rebecca Rittenhouse as Cody Lefever, Scott Michael Foster as Wick  Briggs, and former Revenge star Amber Valletta as Carla Briggs.

The comparisons to the iconic primetime soap opera Dallas are already being bantered about.  But can Blood & Oil separate itself from that iconic soap classic?  Will it have traction with the viewing audience?

On-Air On-Soaps caught up with Johnson at the recent ABC TCA Summer Press Tour, as he shared a myriad of thoughts including: what to expect when the series begins its run, why he decided to take on the role of Hap Briggs, what does he think about the series be labeled a “soap opera” and more.   Here’s what Don had to say:

Courtesy.ABC

If he considers Blood & Oil a soap opera:   It’s a cut above that.  I certainly think in people’s minds it’s going to fall into that category.  But this is more like a sweeping epic novel that has some soapy moments.  You know I loved the show, Bloodlines.  And it was not considered a soap, but was sort of soapy, and sort of novelistic in its approach. That is what my aspiration is for Blood & Oil.

If this is the juiciest role of his career:  You know, I have had a lot of juicy roles.  But this is so much fun, because I’m not playing the good guy, and playing the good guy can get pretty boring, because you’re range is not that much.  However, when you get to play a character like this – you get to go all over the place.  And a lot of times in the middle of a scene that is written kind of innocuously or sort of neutral, I will say, “Well, what if he is sinister here … maybe he has a sense of humor … or what if we know don’t know what he is doing?”

Courtesy/ABC

How much villainy should we expect Hap Griggs to get into: He’s a billionaire!  So, he’s probably capable of doing whatever it takes to remain the king! When you get the biggest oil boom in the world, and the largest oil find in the world, and I get to play the big cheese … watch out! You know, I get to do a big romp with the seven deadly sins!

Who did Don emulate to come up with this rich guy characters:  I have patterned this character after an amalgamation of a few billionaires I know.  I can’t tell you who they are!  I gotta protect the guilty! (Laughs)

When fans turn into Blood & Oil, what can they expect to see:  The show is about a family, greed and the biggest oil discovery of mankind, and about this character who is larger than life named Hap Griggs, who I get to play.  He is a man that is driven by a sense of destiny to make America energy independent, and that it’s his calling to do it!  Nothing is going to stand in his way to see that done. And if that ain’t enough to get you in there and interested in watching, I don’t know what is! (Laughs)

What is most exciting for Don returning to a network television series:  You now what is exciting to me at this time?  It’s the opportunity to be in touch with my fans in a more personal and direct way.  That was never available to me before, and with social media and with the way that we are encouraged to involve and engage with our fans, that is very exciting for me.  I’m embracing that.

Courtesy/ABC

On having a career that has spanned several decades:  Television is king right now.  I enjoy the opportunity to be in this world. My goodness!  How lucky am I to be relevant after all these years!  One time I was playing golf with Kevin Costner in Aspen.  I said to him, “Wow, Kevin! Look at that.  Look at how beautiful this is and where we are!”  Kevin said to me: “Yeah, except for a right decision here and there, it could very well have been ‘Kevin and Don’s pool service.’”

Shooting on location, and the backdrop of the show: We are shooting in Park City Utah, and not North Dakota.  We wanted to have the scope and the size of the show reflect in the photography, and illustrate the enormity of what is going on up here.  And not unlike, Miami Vice where we created sort of a fantasy world, we are doing something here where you don’t have to think fantasy world, and where the power of being energy independent is the driving force in this story.

Courtesy/ABC

His thought’s on his Blood & Oil leading lady, Amber Valletta:  Amber Valletta doesn’t really have to say anything. All you have to do is look at her.  She happens to be a fine actress and she can deliver.  When she is on the screen, they don’t even know I’m there!

So, will you be checking out Don Johnson in his new role on Blood & Oil on Sunday night? Do you think it can become the next big primetime soap?

Are you happy to see Don back in a starring role in a nighttime series? Share your thoughts in the comment below!

 

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Don Johnson is tried and true, he will deliver..
thing is; in the trailers his southern accent is very heavy, even in TX is not that heavy lol
Blood & oil looks really good, I’m in ..

Actually, I am. I’ve missed seeing him in anything. Wouldn’t it be great if Kevin Costner was a guest star?

Don Johnson has been doing the talk show circuit to promote B&O. He looks fantastic! I was a huge fan of “Nash Bridges” and this looks to be just as good but totally different! He is very excited for people to see this and cannot say enough about how talented the cast is. I hope Michael Fairman includes updates and stories on this primetime soap like he has for “Nashville.”

Oh yeah, remember The Long Hot Summer…Jesus! Jason Robarts , Ava Gardner
Sybil Shepard. Don Johnson playing Paul Newman’s character good lord.

I’m so… looking forward to Don Johnson turn’

he can put that Miami Vice on the shelf and waste that

he has a brooding sensuality… and machismo

his command parlay

when asked if he considers blood & oil a soap opera his response was “it’s a cut above that” – hmm what does that remark mean – i took it as throwing shade against our beloved soaps & i am appalled he would even fix his lips to even say something like that………

this is just my opinion………………..

HE REALLY SAID…ITS A CUT ABOVE THAT??????? WOW..NO EGO PROBLEM THERE…..UNDERSTAND ITS THE REMAKE OF DALLAS…..WE WILL SEE…

yes judy – it is in the article ……………………

OH YES…I READ IT TOO IN THE ARTICLE,BUT I MEANT HE REALLY SAID THAT!!!!! watched for aqbout 45 minutes last nite…..Sure wasnt a cut above soap operas in my book….

i just finished watching it ( i record every thing ) and it definitely is a nighttime soap but that is just my opinion…………….

It’s far above Dallas and him saying it was a cut above has nothing to do with HIS ego, he didn’t say HE was a cut above, he said the show was, that means the writing.

I saw an interview with him and he said basically the same thing but he wasnt dissing daytime. He only meant that B&O was not like Dallas which was more like a daytime soap. Don Johnson is a good guy, his ego as he admitted was left behind in Miami back in the 80’s!

I recorded it. I’ll see if it’s any good. Loved him on MV!

I loved this show, I think it will far surpass Dallas, Dynasty and any other nighttime soap. It’s a soap to me.
Don Johnson looks amazing!
The characters all seem to have the right chemistry, I was thrilled to see Barry Corbin. He’s a great actor.

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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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