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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.

Breaking News

Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts and Marlene King Land ‘Calabasas’, a Soap in the Vein of the ‘O.C’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, at Netflix

There has been lot of soapy projects coming to life and in the works of late, and now comes word that Kim Kardashian is executive producing a new series in development for Netflix called Calabasas.

After a bidding war last week, it looks like Netflix cemented the development deal from Kim, and her producing partners American Horror Story co-star Emma Roberts (pictured below) and Pretty Little Liars creators Marlene King and Alexandra Milchan.

The concept of Calabasas is based on the book If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous By Now by Via Bleidner.  King set to write the adaptation and will serve as the series showrunner.

Photo: JPI

According to Deadline, Calabasas is said to be in the vein of primetime young teen and young adult soaps the O.C. and Beverly Hills 90210. The story follows “Via, a 16-year-old sheltered Midwestern Catholic school girl whose world is turned upside down when her family moves and she’s forced to transfer to the fast world of Calabasas High where nothing is as it appears and where everyone is trying to be someone else. It’s a place where dreams come true … but not without complications and sometimes unforeseen consequences.”

Photo: Hulu

As fans of the Kardashians know, Kim and her family made the town of Calabasas a household and worldwide name. Kim being attached to this project helped make its sale. This marks her fourth project to sell since the writers and actors strikes concluded at the end of last summer.

So, would you be interested to see a teen soap called ‘Calabasas’ on Netflix from Kim and company? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital

If General Hospital’s Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) nuptials are on, you didn’t think Grandma Gloria Cerullo would miss out on the festivities, now did you?

Casting news from Soap Opera Digest reveals that Ellen Travolta is back taping scenes that will air the week of May 13th on the ABC daytime drama series.  When viewers learned that Carmine Cerullo, was also on his way back to Port Charles, now in the face and body of actor George Russo, it only made sense that Grandma Gloria would join Grandpa Cerullo. Look for them both mid-May.

As most people know, Ellen is the older sister to John Travolta. She first make appearances as Gloria back on GH in the mid-90s. Most recently, she returned to the Quartermaine mansion to meet up with daughter, Lois (Rena Sofer) and granddaughter Brook Lynn for Thanksgiving in Port Charles in 2023.  Michael Fairman TV interviewed Rena Sofer and Amanda Setton late last year where they shared what it had been liking working with Ellen, who remains very close to Sofer in real-life.

Photo: JPI

Amanda shared: “We fell in love immediately. What’s crazy is my maternal grandmother was Grandma Gloria. I had her till I was 30 and we were so close. She was really like a second mom to me. So, when I got this script and I’m reading “Grandma Gloria”, it was so bizarre. And then in meeting Ellen, she looks like my grandma – same haircut, same high cheekbones. It really did feel like I had a few days with my grandma. It was very, very special for me. Ellen is sweet, prepared, professional, talented and funny to boot. So, it was one of the best weeks I’ve had at work. I hope she comes back. My fingers are crossed.”

Photo: ABC

Now, we can’t imagine Brook Lynn and Chase’s wedding day to be smooth sailing, in fact, expect just the opposite, but could it be Grandma Gloria who is ultimately the hero or the calming voice of reason for any pre-wedding jitters? Stay tuned.

So, glad to know that Ellen Travolta will be back for Brook Lynn and Chase’s big day? Comment below.

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Days Of Our Lives

Kristian Alfonso Returns to Days of our Lives for Tribute to The Late Bill Hayes

After a few weeks of Days of our Lives fans being upset that Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams) was not on the first list of initial returns for Doug Williams’ funeral and episodes honoring his portrayer, the late Bill Hayes, comes word that the popular star is back and taping scenes.

Kristian reported to work on the Peacock streaming soap opera on Monday, April 22nd. She shared how important it is for her to be back for this particular return to the show that made her a household name.

“My return is very bittersweet,” Alfonso told TV Insider,  “because it is the end of an era with Bill gone. So to return to Days is very sad. I am appreciative that they came to me to include me in their series of shows honoring Doug and I’m very happy to see everyone, but I’m entering the studio with a heavy heart.”

Photo: JPI

It was back in 1983 that Kristian first debuted as Doug’s daughter, and now 41 years later looking back at it, and her time with Bill Hayes is very emotional for her.

“I remember my first scenes with him/ He was very loving, very welcoming. That he was very talented and an incredible actor and an icon, that all goes without saying, but my personal relationship and my working relationship with Bill, it was home,” expressed Alfonso. “Doing the scenes with Bill, I felt like I was with my dad because there was so much warmth and reality.”

Photo: JPI

Alfonso did express some deep regret, in that she had wanted to work with Bill Hayes during her last appearance on the soap back in 2023, but according to the iconic actress, there was something in the works but it never materialized.  “I’m sad that I did not get the opportunity to do the storyline that Ron (Carlivati, head writer) had planned/ It was great; we returned to Salem to reunite with our families and I would have had father/daughter scenes with Billy. What Ron had written was beautiful and emotional and it was a fantastic story. I was 100 percent for it and the fans would have loved it.”

Photo: JPI

As for if Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope will be back on-screen together anytime soon, Kristian would only say, “What I will say is don’t give up hope.” Doug’s passing and memorial episodes will stream later this year come late November into December.

So, are you happy to learn that Kristian Alfonso is back taping episodes surrounding Doug’s memorial episodes? Comment below.

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