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John-Paul Lavoisier and Farah Fath Interview – One Life to Live Farewell

In their final video interview with On-Air On-Soaps as cast members of One Life to Live (Taped at the series final press junket) John-Paul Lavoisier and Farah Fath talk with Michael Fairman about Rex and Gigi’s final storyline and wrapping up their on-screen love story, their memories of their time together at OLTL, and what Llanview has meant to their real life relationship.

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i wish oltl stay on there is a lot of folks that dont have inter if they even go on line plese is there a way we can keep them on tv please please keep em on

Actually, OLTL is not going on the internet, That project was scrapped last month. The final episode on ABC will be the final episode of the show altogether.

:((((

So disappointed this show as well as AMC is ending. I’ve watched both of these shows since the first day they aired. I’ve vowed not to watch any ABC shows except for Desperate Housewive’s after January 13, 2012. Hope the network has countless failures. Very sad.

omg i hate the thought of not being able to watch oltl on the week days i get soo into watching the show you should ask my family you can hear me miles away. i just love the cast expecially jp lavoisier and farah fath! and cant wait to see them go on to see other things!! love you guys!

Farah, JP, you two are going to be pretty darn busy in LA. Hope to work with you someday.

This is a great interview. I’m so sad about the end

I havent listen to this interview.. the speakers are un hooked and a pain to deal with atm not feeling well ..lol but I do hope all the best for jp and farah .. and all the otl . …. and the all my cildren crew as well .. we housewifes that watch while doing our laundry and use the soaps as a way to take our minds off things till the screaming kids come home of which i have 5 and this show was my escape .. thatnks alot abc for taking it away any way we will miss ya good luck with your futre endeavors

I’am going to miss oltl so much all the characters and the memories It reall breaks my heart to see it end. I need to say this again abc and disney made a terrible mistake and I for one will never watch another show or movie that those networks have anything to do with.

I too am many years fan, and I will also not have anything to do with Disney, after the end of AMC I have only watched my two soaps, oltl and gh. Looks like it will only be gh after next week, I hope the network feels our dust!

Nice , enjoyed that.

one life to live is the best show on tv whoever got one life to live cancelled is out of their minds. I will miss this show i have no idea what i am going to do without one life to live but i will find something to do more computer time or i can read but i should practice more on the piano. anyway one life to live is a show will definatly be missed and my mom will miss this show too we watch it togather or i tape one life to live that i will miss the most. I sure hope one life to live will go on a differant network or a cable channel cross my fingers and toes.

Farah….you should be proud of your achievements this year. The scenes where Gigi talked Shane down from the roof yelling “we need more minutes” was heartwrenching. Gigi quickly became one of my all-time favorite OLTL characters and will remain so. If there is any justice, Farah, will win the Emmy this year in Supporting Actress if she submits that episode. I will continue to support JPL and Farah in whatever they do next. I am so sad to not be able to see Rex and Gigi every day, but I look forward to great things from these terrific actors. BTW…Farah……we like you with dark hair SO much better.

Great fun interview, Michael. JP and Farah are a great couple, on the show and off.You can se how comfortable they are as a couple. They truly have matured as actors . Now , I feel they have really shown how good they can be. The return of GIGI has been written so well and played so well. The latest show captivates the audience.The reveal to Shane was so sweet and he handled those scenes beautifully. And today when Clint and Viki saw Gigi come into the room was priceless. Clint grabbed his heart which was meaningful because of the transplant. But you can’t beat the scene when Rex proposes to Gigi finally after all this time and what they all have been through.- There was pure joy in that room and my room also. Loved it! And Michael you always ask the right questions that the fans want to hear and the actors are so comfortable with you. I think it is a gift, because it isn’t easy to have actors talk about themselves. You did it! It will be very difficult to see OLTL end. I’m sure there wion’t be a dry eye In our homes, and probably theirs, too..

with OLTL’s rating increasing on a weekly basis, maybe TPTB should take another look at the potential harm this is causing OLTL’s viewers.
If ABC keeps it, then great you’ll have all the support you’ve had for the last 43 yrs.
If you don’t keep it………….then and this is where it gets difficut: I will NOT be watching one show on ABC daytime or nighttime.
That does include The View and 2 of my primetime faves: DWTS and CASTLE (because I love Nathon Fillion on OLTL I followed him to his new show). That the kind of respect and loyalty soap fans have.
Get a clue SOMEONE, we don’t want this show off the air. I’ve been watching all 43 years and will have no idea how to get through my day without it!!!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE RECONSIDER!!! FIND A CABLE COMPANY. TALK OPRAH INTO HAVING IT ON HER NETWORK. JUST DO SOMETHING BECAUSE i’M SURE THAT THE ADVERTISORS ON THE NEW SHOWS WILL BE WONDERING WHERE THEIR PROFITS ARE…….Because I will NOT purhcase any product from any show that airs in the hours that my shows were in!!
This is a fight ladies and gentlemen and we will fight long and strong for what we believe in.

Thanks for listening, now get ABC to start listening!!

Nope. ABC doesn’t care about soaps or soap viewers. The Chew replaced AMC. It costs 40% less than AMC and has equal ratings. That leaves more money in ABC’s pockets, which means more bonus money for the ABC executives.

Remember, corporations do not care about people. They only care about making money. Employees and customers are disposable and replaceable.

The best thing you can do is to vote with your viewership and wallet; spend your time and money on non ABC/Disney programs and products.

In reading your comment i question the part that The Chew has EQUAL RATINGS…Says who, ABC??? They will say anything to cover up their mistake,like taking AMC & OLTL off the air. I doubt they have equal ratings of these long standing shows. Besides have you watched any of the chew? Its horrible,the cast is nothing but a bunch of misfits & poor directing. This show won’t last 43 years thats for sure.

I agree! We soap fans are loyal. I will begin watching GH due to the fact that some OLTL stars will be going there. Starr and John just signed 3 yr contracts and who knows who else will follow. Cutter Wentworth went to Bold and Beautiful CBS and the old skye chandler is there too. Nora will be going to B&B so I’ve attached myself to that show now. GET IT ABC. We are really not happy with you now. I get it, Soaps cost alot more money than a quick one table talk show but how about combining the amc/oltl crew for one hour. I think we would accept that than chopping up the set and FIRING EVERYONE> GEE I bet you still have your jobs… Hope you sleep well knowing you terminated all those AMERICAN people. These shows are more than a chop of the onion and squeeze into a “5” pants show. We follow these stars know them know all about them because we love them. Anything you place in that slot will not bring back what you took away sooooooo Give it back please

then why cant soapnet keep them on they aint part of abc or are they?

Yes, soapnet is a Disney owned network! unfortunatley!

Watching this interview, i could see how sad & lost JPL was. It’s like looking in the mirror,i have been so upset knowing the show will be ending soon. I keep a box of tissues with me @ all times when watching. The charactors are like family too me,which is how most of this cast is with one another as you can see by watching Bo & Nora & Rex & Gigi interviews. This show was truely a blessing to have as a distraction to real life for 43 years.I will miss all of you in Llanview…

abc/disney doesnt have enough kids shows so there turning soapnet into a kid show.keeping the soap channel would be a good thing for us soap fans ,but it wont happen with abc,they want to save money and loose millions of fans for cheep crap reality shows.because they donjt care about the viewers.got to go ,one life to live started.

You two are awesome. You guys are so real and funny. Good Luck to you both and I hope you both find work as you deserve it. I will miss OLTL as Ive been watching the show since I was in Jr High. I am now 49.

I love you guys and will miss you so much. I will miss the show terribly. Your acting has been great. Emmy noms for both of you!!

I cannot believe that the show is coming to an end. I am so sad. I wish you two the best of luck. I have been watching this show since the day it aired. What am I going to do no more recording my soaps. We tried everything to save our soaps but it did not work. Hope to see you on other shows. I love you both. Good luck with everything you do. One unhappy One Life to Live fan. Fran

Will miss Rex and Gigi—-and OLTL!!! You have been a part of my life for so many years. Good luck in your future!!! LOVE!!!!!

I’m sure it’s an excellent interview but I can’t see all. It stops at 01:52! Made several attempts to continue, restart but the end result is that I’m denied viewing beyond the cut-off.

I’m sure it’s an excellent interview but I can’t see all. It stops at 01:52! Made several attempts to continue, restart but the end result is that I’m denied viewing beyond the cut-off.
Now, my comment as a primary entry is not being posted!

Finally, it is????

Why is JP wearing an LPD officer’s uniform?

I can’t say much more without going on forever. I just echo so much of what has been said about losing OLTL.

Great interview, i’m glad they come across as upset that the show is going off. I can’t believe the show only has 2 full weeks left, and unfortunately I heard that tomorrow’s show January 2nd show will be preempted for a game, I hope not!
And it’s so cool that Soapnet is showing a marathon of OLTL shows over the years. It’s so sad that OLTL and Soapnet are both going off for good soon. I still can’t get over this.
I have watched OLTL when it was really good around 2002 (around the time they had the live week), and when my favorite show Guiding Light went off two years ago I replaced it with OLTL especially when I heard Kim Zimmer went there.
Now I am going to ban ABC once OLTL goes off for good. I might start watching Days of Our Lives now and support them.
I can’t wait til OLTL cast is on The View the day of the last show, and with that and the last show it will be such a sad day. I’ll have to fight back the tears i’m sure.

Thanks Michael, JP, & Farah! 😀 😀

What is ABC thinking? Shame on them for cancelling OLTL! I have watched it for years! I tweeted, fb, sent letter to ABC, begging had a petition! they don’t care what the people want! Sounds a bit like congress! Not to mention the actors are out of jobs! I will NOT watch another cook “The Chew” show or makeover home! ABC lost alot of viewers. Myself and many others asked Oprah’s network OWN to please pick up OLTL. If a network is smart they will pick up OLTL because duh! there are dedicated viewers! thousands! Sad for me, my friend and family because I taped and dvr’d everyday, when we would get home from work, we would get on the phone and say.. ” did you see who was doing what on OLTL! It was part of our lives for years! Can’t someone please save our soap and our wonderul actors!! I wish I was rich enough I would pick up OLTL in a heartbeat! To bad all the actors can’t get together somehow and have their own network!! We all need a break fro reality in these times!! ABC again SHAME ON YOU! My friends and family and their friends will not be watching ABC, their are other channels! The greedy ceo’s of ABC don’t care about THE PEOPLE! I posted quite a few comments on ABC.com only for them to not post any on OLTL… umm? I would like to thank Michael Fairman for having Rex and GiGi on and hope he interviews Kassie as she seemed very sad! and the whole cast!
“The View” is honoring OLTL in January for the hour…. I thanked the co-hosts for that! Vikki and Dorian will be there! Nora and Bo I think too… I can’t say this enoug ‘SHAME ON ABC FOR CANCELLING OLTL AND NOT CARING ABOUT THE PEOPLE!!

I was wondering if we’re going to see Rex,Gigi and Shane again before January 13 or was “The Wedding” episode their final air? These past 2 weeks were great to see.I enjoyed every story they’ve been in.

I feel like I am losing part of my life with OLTL going off the air. They
have been part of my daily life for 12 years. I started watching in 2000
when my other favorite soap was cancelled. I watched Another World for 17 years and looked around for another soap that was as good and
found OLTL. Goodbye to all my tv friends. I guess it is silly because you don’t know me but I feel like I know all of you.
Till we meet again. I hope. Jeanette Wilkins

What JP said about “not seeing 90% of the people” he and Farah worked with is, sadly, true.
That is something I learned many years ago, in a similiar situation. The thought of never seeing people, who you worked with, and spent more time with, than your own family and friends, didn’t enter my mind. That is, until a co-worker said, “good luck Tim, and if I don’t see you again..have a good life!”
JP…you are so right.

I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOO UPSET THAT ABC IS MAKEING A BIG MISTAKE BY CANCELING ALL MY CHILDREN AND ONE LIFE TO LIVE IV BEEN WATCHING THE TWO SOAPS SINCE I WAS 10 I AM 40 NOW AND I AM STILL A BIG FAN OF ONE LIFE TO LIVE I HAVE MY DAUGHTERS WATCHING ONE LIFE TO LIVE TOO THY ARE 21 AND 18 WE ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOO DISAPPOINTED IN ABC IM GOING TO MISS MICHAEL EASTON,MELISSA ARCHER,JP&FARRAH,KASSEY,ERICA SLEZACK,BOB WOODS,HILLARY,KRISTAN HER BROTHER THAT PLAYED MATHEW,THE GIRL THAT PLAYED DANNY,AND THE FORD BROTHERS, DESTINY I HOPE THEY LET HER HAVE THE BABY BEFORE NEXT FRIDAY DORIAN LORD AND DAVID AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST TREVOR SAINT JOHN 🙁 WHATS NEXT ABC ARE YOU GOING TO GET RID OF GENERAL HOSPITAL TO? I AM SO DISCUSTED WITH ABC I WILL NOT BE WATCHING THE ABC NETWORK ANY MORE NOT EVEN IN PRIMETIME ANYMORE ONE LIFE TO LIVE CAST AND CREW YA WILL BE GREATLY MISSED :((

Loved the interview with JP and Farah. I am so glad Gigi and Rex got back together. I cried at the wedding, it was so beautiful. I am not surprised JP and Farah are a couple in real life, because their chemistry is amazing. Looking forward to seeing JP on Loving Llanview on Jan. 21. Good luck to both of them in future endeavors.

I am one of those fans who has watched from day one. Erica, you and Robin have become “mature” ladies with me, I think the acting that you all have done has been from your hearts and to me the BEST on television…so my dear precious friends……thanks for the memories, the hours of escape, letting me pretend while ironing clothes, taking care of my babies, and for all the love……..LOVE you all!!!

The last two episodes were so heart-wrenching, but I think the saddest of all was a week or so ago; the shot of David and Roxy leaving the darkened studio of Fraternity Row. I couldn’t help wiping a away tears.

Have to agree, I think ABC screwed the pooch with their decisions about OLTL and AMC! My DVR will have a lot less recording on daytime now. I could barely stand that it would catch about 15 sec of that god-awful The Chew before recording OLTL!

Interviews

The Young and the Restless’ Michael Damian On Christine/Danny/Phyllis: “It’s a Fun Triangle Story That They’re Having Us Do, Because It’s Very Retro”

This week on The Young and the Restless, while Danny (Michael Damian) and Christine (Lauralee Bell) hit the sheets, and Phyllis (Michele Stafford) sets off an alarm as payback (literally!), the top-rated CBS soap opera continues to weave the tale of these three characters decades later, finding themselves in very familiar territory with each other.

We know that Christine and Phyllis are basically, mortal enemies, while Danny, who has been the man in the middle, has had a past with both women. However, it is Christine who has been, for all intent and purposes the love of his life.  But, will Phyllis’ machinations make it near to impossible for Danny and Christine to be together? Stay tuned.

Last week, Michael and his real-life wife, Janeen Damian visited the Michael Fairman Channel promoting their #1 streaming film on Netflix, Irish Wish starring Lindsay Lohan. The film was produced by the Damians, while Janeen directed it and co-wrote the romantic story. Michael is featured on the Irish Wish soundtrack performing his track, Wild Irish Heart.

Photo: Netflix

During the conversation, Michael shared what it has been like revisiting the Christine/Danny/Phyllis triangle years later. Damian addressed the fans on the livestream, who inquired. “It’s a fun triangle story that they’re having us do, because it’s very retro. And I think it’s fun to bring that nostalgia, retro thing back.”

Photo: JPI

Recalling a tender moment between Danny on the piano alone with Christine (during the standalone episode which honored Lauralee Bell’s 40th anniversary with Y&R), Michael expressed, “I think what they’re doing is so smart, and they’re reconnecting a lot of the fans to a lot of the story. I mean, we’re talking years and years of story.”

Photo: JPI

The longtime Y&R fan favorite, added, “I’m really glad they did the thing on the piano because people have been asking, ‘Why are you not doing any music? Why are you not singing? Where’s your band?’ You know what I mean? Janeen is asking the same thing, ‘Why aren’t you singing something on the show?’ The last time I sang on the show was when we thought Phyllis was dead. So, you know, that didn’t count. (Laughs)

One of the funniest moment in the revisiting of the triangle occurred when Phyllis and Christine were arguing over Danny, and he was right there in the room with them. The two women got so engrossed in their fight, they forgot he was there, and thus he walked out of the room.

Photo: JPI

Michael revealed, he liked that scene too! “They’re fighting. They’re arguing and Danny’s like, ‘Listen, I’m over here. Please stop it.” And then they don’t stop,” Damian recalled. “And so Danny just grabs his coat, picks up his sheet music, because he was working on a song. He goes to the door. In the scene, I even look back to see if they are even noticing me leave, and then I just left. That one was pretty funny. I’ll be honest. I was laughing out in the hallway when I left. I was thinking, ‘Should I slam the door? But then if I slam the door, they still have dialogue.’ They’re still talking and they would’ve turned, and then it would’ve ruined it. So, I just gently closed the door and left.

Photo: JPI

During the livestream, Damian teased he has some upcoming scenes with longtime Y&R co-star Beth Maitland (Traci), “I just worked with Beth Maitland actually the other day, and that was really fun. I can’t wait for people to see that show.”

Check out the the Michael Fairman Channel chat with Michael and Janeen Damian below.

Now, let us know, are you rooting for Danny and Christine? Do you think Phyllis will continue to be a disruptor in this relationship and somehow worm her way back into Dannys good graces? Share your thoughts in the comment section. But first check out this sneak peek for this week’s Y&R featuring the trio.

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Days Of Our Lives

Days of our Lives Star Blake Berris Chats On the Everett Lynch/Bobby Stein Mystery, Working with His New Co-Stars, and the Last Christmas Episode with Bill Hayes

On Days of our Lives, the return of Blake Berris is making for some very intriguing drama, with the audience guessing just which way the story will go.

When Berris arrived back on Days of our Lives, after previously playing Nick Fallon, he was taking on the new role of Everett Lynch, who has a past with Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) and Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu). Only, as it has been revealed, the past he had with Jada was under the name “Bobby Stein,” who from what we can tell was far from a nice guy.

Blake visited the Michael Fairman Channel for a livestream interview this week, where fans in the live chat were weighing-on what could be the truth about the guy – is he a split personality suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder? Did the accident that cost him a year of his life in a coma, never happen? Recently, someone set fire to the beloved Horton house. Fans are suspecting it would have been “Bobby” who is working for Clyde Weston (James Read). Others believe that Everett/Bobby could actually be Clyde’s son. With upcoming therapy sessions with Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) about to start, things are about to get more juicy in Salem.

Photo: JPI

Here are just a few excerpts from our conversation with Blake on a myriad of Everett/Bobby subjects. Make sure to check out the full interview for more.

Did you know that they were going to make Everett Lynch a Jewish character? This is only the second time in the history of the show that they have even had a Jewish character on the canvas. Didn’t they reveal this at the Horton family Christmas episode?

BLAKE: No, they never asked me. I am half-Jewish on my dad’s side. There was never like, ‘You’re Jewish, right? We can call you Jewish on the show?’ At the Horton Christmas, “They made a real point of it, yeah.”

And now the new ‘character’ is “Bobby Stein” …

BLAKE: “Right, and that suggests more Jewish, and then Lynch must be coming from somewhere else, maybe the mother. I was so curious because I think the show has been historically, I’m gonna say, Catholic more than like Wasps. With the Bradys there’s this sort of Irish influence, and then the DiMeras, that’s Italian. So, we’ve got Catholics sort of on both sides that are dominant. Now I, “represent”.

Photo: JPI

What has it been like working with Abigail Klein?

BLAKE: I think she is extraordinary. We start off sort of frosty, or she’s frosty with me, like she doesn’t want to let me in. And then, for a while things are going really well. I just could not adore Abigail more. She’s such a good actor. I could always rely on her to bring me back into a scene and be there in this emotionally, supportive way.

Photo: JPI

Everett and Chad seemed to be becoming friend-ish, when all went awry when at the PCPD interrogation room, Everett let him know about Elia and Bobby Stein, and Chad let him have it for worming his way back in to Stephanie’s life.

BLAKE: Billy would call us the ‘disgusting brothers’ and that’s a reference from Succession, because all of a sudden they’re just so chummy with each other. It’s like all of a sudden we just had this like ‘Bernstein and Woodward’, sort of dynamic duo. I think that Everett really started to think of Chad as a friend and feels sort of disappointed, and he feels, “Oh, it’s that easy? I just needed to have some other identity and now you’re a fair-weather friend?”‘

Photo: JPI

In recent scenes, Jada sees Bobby Stein for the first time, and we see you and Elia Cantu share scenes with each other for the first time. What is it like working with Elia?

BLAKE: She’s fire, man. She comes in hot and she tells you the way it’s going to be. I think early on, we were trying to suss each other out and the more we worked together, the more comfortable you get with somebody. I think actors do this sometimes with each other; if there’s spice on screen, you like to keep some of what you have on-screen in your (real-life) interactions because it helps … it helps the work.  Eventually, we just sort of wore each other down and we’re like, ‘I actually totally get you, and you’re great.'”

Did you know that they were going to make Everett Lynch a Jewish character? This is only the second time in the history of the show that they have even had a Jewish character and didn’t they reveal this at the Horton family Christmas episode?

BLAKE: No, they never asked me. I am half-Jewish on my dad’s side. There was never like, ‘You’re Jewish, right? We can call you Jewish on the show?’ At the Horton Christmas, “They made a real point of it, yeah.”

And now the new ‘character’ is “Bobby Stein” …

BLAKE: “Right, and that suggests more Jewish, and then Lynch must be coming from somewhere else, maybe the mother. I was so curious because I think the show has been historically, I’m gonna say, Catholic more than like Wasps. With the Bradys there’s this sort of Irish influence, and then the DiMeras, that’s Italian. So we’ve got Catholics sort of on both sides that are dominant. Now I, “represent”.

Photo: JPI

You were on set and in the annual Horton Christmas episode which sadly marked the last for Days of our Lives legendary Bill Hayes, who passed away in January of this year.  What do you recall of that tape day?

BLAKE: It was the Christmas episode when we were watching Susan (Julie) and Bill, say ‘Merry Christmas.’  And there was something about it that just felt like it could be the last time. I mean, it wrecked us all on set. Bill gets so choked up and there was something really profound about the moment. They kiss each other as they have so many times before on the show. It was just beautiful. It felt beautiful to be there for that last Christmas. He’s just such an icon. Every time I’d see him, he was so with it … he knew my name, he knew his lines. What an incredible, incredible man.

Photo: JPI

Fans will get to see Everett in therapy sessions with Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall)? Would you say she is helping the guy?

BLAKE: Deidre’s always making jokes about Marlena, ‘She’s the worst therapist in the world’ (Laughs) I remember in the first therapy session, we almost couldn’t get through the scenes because it’s just so clear that Everett has a litany of very profound psychological issues that he is going to have to work through. He’ll keep coming back. This guy’s gonna pay the bills!

Photo: JPI

Viewers are waiting to see how they mystery of Everett Lynch/Bobby Stein plays out. What can you say as a tease for what’s to come?

BLAKE: As far as a tease, I would say, you have all these characters sort of, trying to wake up the ‘sleeping giant’ in a way. I think it’s safe to say that like if you poke a bear, the bear might wake up.

Watch the livestream chat with Blake in full below.

Now let us know, what do you think is going with Everett/Bobby? What has happened to him in his past? Share your theories in the comment section below, and make sure to catch Days of our Lives next week on Peacock for more to his story.

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Interviews

Y&R’s Melody Thomas Scott Talks on 45 Years as Nikki Newman, the Keys to Playing Drunk, And Those Genoa City Relationships

February is ‘Nikki Newman Month’ in soapland as the The Young and the Restless iconic Melody Thomas Scott celebrates her 45th anniversary in her leading role.

My how time flies! Nikki has had numerous marriages, and some to the same man, battled her addiction to alcohol too many times to count (and we loved it all), and faced so much heartache in the process.

Currently, on all-new episodes of the top-rated CBS daytime drama series, Nikki can’t quite get a grip as Jordan (Colleen Zenk) is out there and in the middle of her next master plot to make Nikki suffer, all the while Nikki is drinking again. Thanks to the heinous plot concocted by Jordan and Claire (Hayley Erin) that revealed itself last November.

Photo: JPI

In a special conversation for You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, Melody shared her thoughts on a myriad of subjects including: her current story, those long tape days at Victor and Nikki’s weddings, why she plays drunk better than anyone on television, plus we take a mini-deep dive into Nikki’s past.

Y&R fans were stunned when the powers-that-be had Nikki kidnapped and then hooked her up to an IV of booze. Just how much did Melody know of the story going in? She elaborated, “I knew Nikki would be terrorized. That’s all that I knew. I thought that sounded like great fun. I didn’t know for a little bit that she was going to fall off the wagon in the process of it. And then when I heard how it would happen, I was thrilled to bits. I did kind of want to have a little leader (or crawl) down at the bottom of the screen saying, ‘Hey, people don’t put an IV with vodka in your arm because that will kill you.’ But, poetic license, I suppose.”

Photo: JPI

Melody also weighed-in on if she thinks Nikki will stop drinking anytime soon, expressing, “She just can’t get out of this. Then of course, Jordan’s not letting her out very easily. Just when Nikki thinks she is mentally strong enough to never take another drink, well, of course she does, because something else happens. I think it’s also a learning point for people who are watching the show who may have an addiction problem. Now, I could be wrong, but I think it’d be highly unusual for somebody to be just mentally strong to be able to stop.”

If you wondered if Melody enjoys playing a drunk Nikki, look no more, “I do. That’s simply for selfish reasons,” she shared. “That’s for my enjoyment. I take great pleasure in it. It’s fun for me, and just the process of pretending to be drunk. I love the end result. I try not to do too much because there’s nothing worse when an actor is overplaying drunk. So you have to kind of keep it a little bit underneath (the surface). However, sometimes because of Jordan, Nikki does get much sloppier than I normally would play it.”

Photo: JPI

In recent episodes, it seems that Jack (Peter Bergman) and Nikki are gravitating more to each other, as both are drawn together through their shared experiences with addiction. Victor (Eric Braeden) is not happy that his arch-nemesis is helping Nikki try to stay sober. Could Melody see Jack and Nikki becoming romantic again? “I love Peter. I mean, Peter was my second favorite husband on Y&R. It would be wonderful, but I don’t know if the fans would go for that,” she explained. “They’re so invested in Niktor that I think they would really be upset about that unless Victor did something really crummy, then I could buy that.”

Photo: JPI

One of the more ‘out there’ stories during Melody’s 45-year run, was when Nikki was paired with Crazy Edward, and he took her home to meet his mother … who was in an urn! You would think maybe Melody didn’t like the story .. but think again! “Bill Bell (co-creator, Y&R) was writing the show in those days, and Bill kept that information pretty tight. I don’t remember us knowing even a week in advance. Maybe, we would get our scripts, three or four days in advance and that was it. You knew nothing about future story, but I loved the story,” she raved. “It was almost Hitchcockian, shall we say. The actor who played Crazy Edward, Paul Tulley was so magnificent and such a sweetheart. We loved working with each other so much, but man, when that red light came on the camera, he scared the you-know-what out of me. He was absolutely terrifying. But then, the minute the scene was over, we’re fooling around and laughing and everything. He was so good. So good!”

Photo: JPI

According to Melody, the pairing of Victor and Nikki was not something she, nor Eric Braeden, initially thought would made sense: “I was a little terrified when I heard that he and I would be doing scenes. I thought, ‘What, what?’ He also wondered, ‘What am I going to be doing working with that young kid, that snotty kid?’ We had no idea what Bill Bell saw. He had a vision with us and somehow knew that we would have chemistry. It didn’t take Bill long to show us in the scripts why he put us together. Then, we started to see it. Although, it was hard to imagine at first, certainly we knew it worked by the time Nikki had baby number one during the ‘Who’s the father?’ storyline. Nikki and Victor weren’t even married yet. So, we did figure it out pretty early on.”

Photo: JPI

From her early years as Nikki Reed, Melody reflected back on some major story points in her character’s history, relating, “I actually did like her in the very beginning when she was just a little brat living with her sister and her father, who of course ended up trying to rape her…  and she had hit him over the head with a lamp … and he died. I did not care for the stripping storyline at all. Only because I knew that I didn’t have the natural dancing ability. I wasn’t fluid enough to really look good up there stripping. I know they hired wonderful choreographers and everything for me, but I just didn’t feel worthy of being up there … I guess is what it was. Of course, now I look back on it and I think, ‘Oh, I guess it wasn’t too bad.’ Later, there was a strip she did in the Colonnade Room. At the time, she was married to Jack. Victor’s sitting there with some other woman and she’s drunk. I saw that scene recently, and I thought it was great. I didn’t at the time, but looking back, I thought, ‘Wow, that was good.'”

Photo: CBS

Watch the full 45th anniversary conversation with Melody below.

Now let us know, are you enjoying Nikki being back on the bottle? Would you want to see Jack and Nikki try their relationship one more time? What has been your favorite storyline of Melody’s over the last 45 years on Y&R.  Let us know in the comment section.

 

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