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Lauralee Bell discusses new web series, "Just Off Rodeo" & Christine's plight on Y&R!
Photo Credit: CharlesBush.com
From the creative mind of The Young and the Restless’ Lauralee Bell (Christine) comes another intriguing and fun web series, Just Off Rodeo. (She previously launched the hilarious Family Dinner). The actress, now wearing three other hats, and might we say quite well, of executive producer, co-writer, and director, has brought to the Internet a new concept she had brewing for over a decade. The idea centers on a clothing store (something Bell has firsthand knowledge of) with interesting and quirky characters that interact, while at the same time, fans and site visitors viewing the webisodes can buy merchandise built into the content of the show! Just Off Rodeo premiered its second installment this past Sunday. You can view the first installment here. The series features a stellar cast comprised of Jennifer Birmingham, Zoe Taylor and Mike Rose. On-Air On-Soaps caught with Bell to get the low down on the new series.
And later in our interview, we catch up with Lauralee on what’s next for Genoa City’s Christine now that Ronan has disappeared, and Nina and Paul continuing to get cozy! Here’s our “quickie” chat with Lauralee, the entrepreneur!
Lauralee, what inspired you to do this concept?
LAURALEE: When I would pitch the concept, I would have people from weird walks of life tell me on a business level, it’s a great idea. I have had it in my head for twelve years that these girls in the series would look different in every episode. They will start looking kind of “plain Jane” and go to extremes. I put in all the things I would want to see. I love watching the red carpet on award shows because of how people reinvent themselves. So I thought, why can’t we do this with every episode? And especially, for Middle America, who just has Target as their option. You have to train your audience to get online to get the merchandise, and make them excited to check it out, as you never know what we are going to sell next week. I would love to have a clothing designer come in and say, “I will design just one item and it is specifically for Just Off Rodeo.” Then they make a cameo appearance in the series. I think there are so many things we could do.
Explain how someone purchases the items they see on the webisodes, and the retail aspect that gives the series a wider marketing appeal?
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
LAURALEE: In the first episode, we have two scarves available for purchase, and made it simple to explain the concept. In the second episode, it’s all about a white t-shirt and a black t-shirt with our Just Off Rodeo logos, and it’s just a cool t-shirt to wear under a suit. I have to say I have worn it under a business suit and it’s a cool t-shirt. You can see it can fit a skinny Jennifer Birmingham (Danielle) or a size 18 woman. You can see below the episode player two choices for buying the items. You can click on the item and purchase it and it’s in your home within four days. What makes this show so different is the marketing element. It’s very simple… it’s product placement built into the storyline. But, I don’t want the clothing to take away from the story. I just know if you could have bought a simple item worn by the Sex and the City girls and had it at your door in four days, it would have done very well. Plus, we have free shipping in the United States!
You said you were co-writer. Who also helped you write the series?
LAURALEE: My husband Scott’s brother, Matt Martin who lives in Chicago. He has been in comedy classes and writing skits and working with Second City. I had been reading his material before this and thought he was really good. I thought I am going to give him a crack at this. So he sent me the script, and I gave him a little bit of a re-direction, and added a few lines. He sent it back to me, and he got it completely!
One of the standouts in the cast is the hilarious Mike Rose, who plays the hairdresser Rodrigo. His timing is so unbelievable. How did you find him?
Courtesy/MartinBellProds
LAURALEE: So it’s getting down to the wire and everyone is trying to send me these beautiful Rodrigo’s. But I knew the character of Rodrigo, and they were sending me just these pretty boys. If they don’t have the personality to go with the looks it would not work. My Rodrigo is such an important character now. So Jason Wood was helping me cast this. He told me about this guy, Mike. I worked that day on Y&R and Mike was saying to Jason, “I know I am your guy. I know I am your guy.” So I ran to The Grove shopping center which is right near CBS, and was sitting there at the Coffee Bean looking like an anxious dater! (Laughs) I met Mike and I did most of the talking going, “I don’t know where this is going, but you just need to understand I came up with this in 1999. I have been passionate about the concept. It has moved forward and then stopped. I just need to put this out there. We talked for ten minutes or so, and I said, “Will you do this?” He said, “Yes.” This was the first thing I hadn’t been in as a performer, so I was going to be in complete director mode. I was wearing so many hats in this… creator, executive producer, co-writer, and director!
Are you ever going to appear in Just Off Rodeo?
LAURALEE: I do what I call the Alfred Hitchcock walk by. It’s like if you blink, you might miss it. I wear a mask in the second webisode. You will see it’s sort of a fantasy and I don’t say a word. And, I won’t be in this series moving forward. But, when I created this 12 years ago, I saw myself in it as Danielle, but now I am too old to play the role. Family Dinner I created as well, and I play a main role in it. So I didn’t want it to come off as I am creating another web series so that I can play another role. These two projects are my two concepts and I am done. I hopefully will be able to move forward with one of them or both. But, I am not becoming the webisode girl! (Laughs)
Your clothing store On Sunset is no longer in existence, but from the looks of it and having been at your store before, it looks like the set for Just Off Rodeo. Why the decision to close?
LAURALEE: Regarding On Sunset, I feel it was not a sad thing for me when I closed the store. I feel I had to close it so another door opened. I really desperately needed to do Just Off Rodeo. Because the store has not been leased out yet, I was able to shoot there! Now I can finally explain the whole reason I signed on to opening up a store; because in my mind I was going to get this show off the ground and have the real life store, and the fake store from the web series, and somehow we would incorporate it all.
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
On to some Y&R questions: What is the status of Christine? Are you done taping episodes or are you still there?
LAURALEE: Yes. I was taping last Friday and was there yesterday, and after that I do not know. And so that is about a month out from airdates when fans will see it. You know, I walked in after having two and half weeks off, into the Nina storyline and no one said, “You’re back!” That was good, as I thought the time I am away was not looking so obvious anymore.
What is Christine thinking about Ronan, who now looks as if he turned his back on every one and vanished after his brother gave him a new lease on life with a life-saving transplant?
LAURALEE: I think, even though Christine is a tough girl and she is prepared for anything, I think she did trust Ronan. I think when her life was here, there, and all over the place, Christine thought she could count on Ronan to be her eyes and ears if she is away, and be that person she could trust. For him to just take off after the major surgery, I am sure she feels shocked, betrayed, and won’t be giving him any second chances. At least I am hoping.
Looks like Christine got everyone’s hopes up again! Have Nina and Chris really made up?
LAURALEE: Nina is her best friend, and Christine keeps getting blamed, even though we had kind of a makeup scene. Nina kind of went back and forth. So I would say it was a mini makeup, until Ronan was gone. (Laughs)
There was a scene where Christine was looking on as Paul and Nina comforted each other in the hospital scenes, waiting for Ronan and Chance to come out of surgery. She looked a little pissed off!
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
LAURALEE: Does she really wish them well? I mean, I think it’s always weird when people get divorced and are with their new spouses. I think you always feel, in some way, you have that claim on that person. People have a kind of territory thing. I try to leave it as I had played it with Ronan, and how I play it with Paul, which is very neutral. God forbid she should act on one! You just know there is such a deep connection between Paul and Chris. It is funny for me to see Paul and Nina together.
So you are kind of being able to still go in and out of Y&R. What would you say to your fans about what your decision is to keep coming back or not, to do more story on the soap?
LAURALEE: I am really appreciative of Maria Arena Bell and the fans, for being kind of forgiving of me and allowing me leeway. I just can’t do it all. I love being busy doing Y&R, my webisodes, and my other projects.
Now that you have sort of got your feet wet at Y&R again, is there something you would love to do or play as Christine, that you have never done?
LAURALEE: I would love her to do off the wall things. It would be a little out of character, but have Christine be just quirky and outrageous.
In closing, if you were trying to encapsulate for fans what they will get when they watch Just Off Rodeo, what would you tell them?
Photo Credit: Lesley Bohm
LAURALEE: I am trying to say, that while my first project, Family Dinner, is very raw, and is something we can all relate to, Just Off Rodeo is a total fantasy about hair and make-up and fun. I really want the audience to get to know the characters. Here are three people who are in this boutique for whatever reason. The one girl is there because her father put it in her lap. The other girl, Kat, has gone to art school and wants to make this work. And Rodrigo wants to be the next Paul Mitchell or Vidal Sassoon. They are going to get a taste of this business they have been given. All of a sudden, it’s going to become a hot place to go to in Beverly Hills. They realize that the three of them together, with all their quirky talents, is what is making this a stopping place for a Lindsay Lohan or whomever, and that is a fun place to shop and be around. I want to show how their success came together. They realize how they need each other and what they have to offer as a team makes it a success. They get charged up and disappointed by the hype and glamour of Los Angeles and the whole scene.
Make sure to log onto www.justoffodeo.com for more series information and to watch the webisodes!
This summer beginning on July 21, Netflix streams the return of WWE: Unreal for its third season. The behind the scenes docudrama series gives fans a glimpse of life in WWE and inside the writers room, as injuries, last-minute pivots, and career-defining decisions reshape WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania 42.
WWE Unreal is taking fans deeper than ever inside World Wrestling Entertainment’s creative process, The hit docuseries will once again pull back the curtain on some of the biggest moments, boldest decisions, and unforgettable storytelling with some of the WWE’s greatest legends who’ve shaped the industry and new stars who are emerging as prominent parts of the future.
In the new season of ‘Unreal’ which consists of 5 episodes at 50 minutes each: John Cena says goodbye, a fan favorite returns, and the next generation of Superstars rise to the occasion.
Photo: WWE
The cast and WWE superstars featured include: the aforementioned Cena, plus Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan, CM Punk, AJ Lee, Trick Williams, Lash Legend, Stephanie Vaquer, Oba Femi, Bron Breakker, Chelsea Green, Matt Cardona, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
As previously reported AJ Lee revealed on General Hospital star Maurice Benard’s (Sonny Corinthos) mental health series, State of Mind, that she was part of the cast of WWE: Unreal.
WWE: Unreal production credits include: Directors/Showrunners: Chris Weaver and Erik Powers Executive Producers: Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, Ross Ketover, Keith Cossrow, Ken Rodgers, Jessica Boddy, Lee Fitting, Ben Houser, Marc Pomarico Sr. Producers: Harley Glantz, Brian Decker, Michael Flynn Producers: John Galiani, Dan Gati, Jeremy Lundblad Production Companies: Omaha Productions, NFL Films, Skydance Sports, WWE.
So, what do you think of the loglines for the new season of WWE: Unreal? Who are you most excited to see featured in the behind the scenes drama from the list of WWE superstars and the twists and turns leading into this past April’s WrestleMania 42? Let us know via the comment section below.
If you have ever tuned-in to the soap opera genre over the last 50 years, and witnessed some of the greatest romances, drama, classic and outlandish storylines of all-time, you would have seen Deidre Hall smack dab in the middle of it as longtime Salem heroine, Dr. Marlena Evans.
It was 50 years on this date, June 21, 1976 that Hall first appeared on DAYS on NBC which was its home for 57 years before it moved to its current streaming platform on Peacock in September of 2022.
In Hall’s first episode she was introduced as a psychiatrist treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at Bayview Sanitarium after he suffered a complete mental breakdown. Mickey learned that his brother Bill Horton (Edward Mallory) was the biological son of Mike Horton (Wesley Eure) with his wife Laura (Susan Flannery) and that he had been lied to for years and years. From that moment on, the rest is television and soap opera history. Days of Our Lives put Hall front and center.
Photo: NBC
There were so many heartbreaking and shocking story twists involving the beloved Marlena. One of the first was the historic crib death of baby DJ (Don Jr.) in 1980, Marlena’s infant son with Don Craig (Jed Allan). The story had never been told on daytime television and Hall’s performances received accolades from TV critics to fans when Deidre received thousands of letters from grieving mothers who had gone through the same thing in their own lives.
DAYS also brought Deidre’s twin sister, Andrea Hall Lovell to the show as her on-screen sister Samantha, who had a grudge and even locked Marlena up in a sanitarium and took her place! Fast-forward and in 1982, DAYS launched the Salem Strangler story where everyone believed Marlena was his next victim, only it turned out to be Samatha. Jake Kositchek (played by Jack Coleman) was revealed to be the actual serial killer.
Later, Deidre would assume the role of Marlena’s look-alike, Hattie Adams in 2004, once played by her sister, Andrea. Over the years, Hattie has come back to Salem and caused trouble giving Hall a chance to play a different type of character, then the always upstanding Marlena.
Photo: JPI
THE LOVES OF MARLENA
Deidre Hall struck gold with all her leading men: from the late Jed Allan, to Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady, and of course, her enduring love story with the late John Black played by the iconic Drake Hogestyn. In fact, Marlena’s 1986 wedding to John (who was believed to be Roman at the time) remains a favorite of fans to this day.
TOP MARLENA STORYLINES OF ALL-TIME
While the list is long, here are several that were some of the memorable during Deidre’s five decades in Salem!
The Possession (1994- 1995)
Considered one of the most ambiguous, outlandish and unforgettable story arcs in soap opera history, then Days of Our Lives head writer, James Reilly went there! Marlena was possessed by the devil! That included; the demonic eyes, hissing at father John (Black) the priest, morphing into creatures, and the classic levitating in her bed! It became a cultural phenomenon and cemented Deidre Hall’s status as a daytime television legend. Just ask Ryan Gosling!
Photo:JPI
The Affair with John Black (1993)
John and Marlena’s forbidden love could not be denied and they had passionate affair, while she was still married to the real Roman. Problem was her daughter, Sami (Alison Sweeney) caught her mother having sex with John on a desk that changed Sami forever.
The Salem Stalker Mystery (2003-2004)
In a shocker, Marlena was revealed to be a serial killer who bumped off several Salem favorites residents who were all alive on the island of Melaswen (spelled “New Salem” backward). Turns out, she was manipulated and gaslighted by Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) to do the “killings” and had no memory of her actions.
The Pier Scene (1991)
This remains Michael Fairman TV’s all-time favorite Deidre Hall moment, which featured some of the best acting in the storied careers of both Hall and Drake Hogestyn.
In the story, a presumed-dead Marlena returns after four years. One foggy night on the pier, John is alone, and Marlena steps out of the fog to reveal herself, and is reunited with the love of her life. You can watch it any year, any decade, and in any moment, and it will have you reaching for the hankies again and again. (best music score fo a soap scene of all-time too!)
Photo: NBC
Kristen’s Secret Room Reveal (1997)
Marlena was caught in Kristen Blake’s (Eileen Davidson) elaborate web of lies, when she was held hostage in a secret wine cellar/room until John managed to track her down, leading to an iconic on-screen reunion. The classic catfight between Hall and Eileen Davidson was one for the ages.
It should be noted that Maison Blanche, Queen of the Night, Possession, Aremid and Lady in a Cage were all a part of classic DAYS storyline and all featured Hall at the epicenter of it from 1993-1996.
THE RECENT YEARS OF MARLENA
In recent years, DAYS brought back the possession 2.0 storyline under then head writer Ron Carlivati in 2021 where the devil leapt back in Marlena after taking advantage of a frail Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes)
In 2025, viewers watched the end of the love story of John and Marlena, as John succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion saving a vial of medication needed to bring Bo (Peter Reckell) back to life. Marlena has been a widow on-screen since June of 2025 as Hall as portrayed the good doctor struggling with her grief and to move on with her life since his death.
Photo: JPI
One story that never goes away is Stefano DiMera’s (the late Joe Mascolo) obsession with Marlena, his “Queen of the Night.” Even in death, Stefano is toying with her from the great beyond with the mysterious chess set and the missing “pawn,” that he had gifted John and Marlena in his will. The mystery is currently unfolding on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives.
Tune-in to Days of our Lives on the Monday, June 22 episode as Marlena looks back at her 50 years in Salem.
Share your congratulations to Deidre Hall for this incredible 50-year milestone as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives in the comment section. Then let us know, what is your all-time favorite storyline or moment in the life of Marlena over the past 5 decades? And, just for kicks, and to celebrate this amazing milestone, here is Marlena levitating below circa Christmas Eve 1994.
General Hospital
Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
With the highly-anticipated returns of Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) on this week’s June 24 episode of General Hospital, Steve Burton’s (Jason Morgan) upcoming return on July 13, which also serves as the ABC daytime drama’s 16,000 episode, things are about to fire on all cylinders in the story, as noted today by series star, Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos).
On Father’s Day, the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning actor and mental health activist took to his Instagram and expressed in a video that he has some unbelievable upcoming senes with the aforementioned Burton and Hughes. Add to that Nazneen Contractor (Justine Turner) and Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing), where Benard gave credit where credit is due to the GH writing team, which is led by co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten..
In this video, Benard said, “I just want to get on here and say that I did some work with Steve Burton, Finola Hughes, Rick Hearst, Nazneen Contractor, and they’re all just fantastic. Truly fantastic. But, I want to say the writing was just exceptional. It truly was. It was exceptional. So, thankful for that kind of writing. I know writers don’t get the credit a lot, but I just want to say to the General Hospital writing team, keep rolling!”
GENERAL HOSPITAL PREVIEW
So now the question becomes, with a major tease like that, what is about to go down between Sonny, Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric? Will we finally get to the end of the line for Sidwell (Carlo Rota), as previously teased by the GH co-head writers? Will we learn what happened to Jason and Anna, fully? Will Justine and Sonny becomes closer or stop their liaisons? And what of Ric? Will he be true blue to his brother or double-cross him? There is a lot at stake as we move further into the summer and one that looks like it could be one of the more exciting ones in years!
FINOLA HUGHES CONFIRMED AMAZING SCENES WITH MAURICE BENARD
As a punctuation point to his video, Benard also shared this written message in the post: “I just did some wonderful scenes with Steve Burton, Rick Hearst, Finola Hughes and Nazneen Contractor and and unbelievable writing, freaking amazing scenes that you will see in the near future on General Hospital.” In fact, Finola Hughes jumped in the post comment thread and responded, “I loved our scenes so much xxx”
Fans will most likely see all the scenes Benard referred to later in July, since GH tapes approximately six weeks ahead of air.
So, are you excited to see what Maurice is talking about? Are you hyped for what’s to come on GH? Any clue on what you think will go down between the main characters on the soap with the returns of Anna Devane and Jason Morgan to the mix? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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‘WWE: Unreal’ Season 3 Premiere Date, Cast of Superstars, Announced by Netflix
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom
Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans
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Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
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‘Days of Our Lives’ Eric Martsolf Recalls Moment He Learned He Was Cast as Brady Black, and Last Scenes with Drake Hogestyn (SOAPY Exclusive Preview)
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Great interview! Congrats to Lauralee and her new series! Can’t wait to check it out! 🙂
Hey, Mike. Interesting article with Lauralee. Her idea for her shop with story and merchandising is very unique. I hope she has lots of success. If she stays on Y&R,i hope she doesn’t end up with Nick. I’ve had it with all the coupling and where it has lead. I just hope Diane doesn’t get pregnant and where it could be Victor’s or Nick’s baby. That would be some great story..you heard it here, fans….