News
OLTL's Hillary B. Smith chats on Willee-Coppee Fund and Venice!
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Each Sunday for the next four weeks, On-Air On-Soaps will be rolling out parts of our chat with Daytime Emmy winning actress, Hillary B. Smith (Nora) of One Life to Live for the ebay auction to help raise money for Hillary, and her best friend, Lindsay Harrison’s joint endeavor The Willee-Coppee Fund! Check each weekend for a new auction item that will be up for bids that is something very special and personal to Hillary, and fans of OLTL, and especially, Nora Hannen Gannon Buchanan (fill in the rest)…love that name! Right now, you can bid on a great tape of episodes from the 93-94 soap season featuring: Todd terrorizing Nora (in the form of Roger Howarth) through Nora defending Dorian on a murder charge.
Here are this week’s excerpts from my conversation with Hillary on the background of the Willee-Coppee fund and “Dude”, Guya’s special needs dog coming in season two of Venice.
Hillary on how the Willee -Coppee fund was created: “It came about two-fold. Lindsay had her dog Willie, and I had my dog Coppee, who was 16 when she passed away. During her life there were times where Coppee had her various things like Lyme disease, and needed medication that could cost around $400.00. I had the money to do that, but it was the realization that some people don’t. Lindsay works with the Sherman Oaks Veterinary Group and they are really wonderful. The idea for the fund was that hopefully it would catch on and people would do this in their neighborhoods as well. Lindsay and I wanted to find away to honor our puppies, because Willee and Coppee died at around the same time, and we said, “You know what? We need to do a little something in their honor!” So it’s used as a discretionary fund by the Veterinarians in the clinic, and it has been used for lots of wonderful purposes. It all started around three years ago, and it took on its own little life. ”
Hillary on how a pet owner can get help from the Willie-Coppee Fund: “Usually there are people who go to the Sherman Oaks Veterinary Group and when they bring there animal there, it’s based upon the need of the pet owner and if they can’t pay for the care. It’s up to Sherman Oaks to say, ”I think this is something for the Willee-Coppee Fund to kick in on.”
Hillary on her beloved Coppee: “She had gone through so much. Coppee was allergic to everything like grass, and hay, and she had to be on steroids and prednisone. They kept saying this was going to shorten her life. I think what happened was that the dog just did not want to leave us. She always wanted to make us happy and she knew if she died, it would make us sad. So ultimately we had to carry her into the vet and put her down.”
Hillary on “Dude”- Guya’s special needs dog in Season Two of Venice: “In season two, I think you will see Guya in her store, which is interesting because shooting schedules being as they were in season one, there was no store. Instead, we were in New York in Tina Sloan’s fabulous apartment. When I entered her place, I said to myself, “Oh, I have read about places like this!” It’s spectacular. How “Dude” comes into Venice…I think is…that the dog spoke to Guya and she is desperately in need of being needed. You saw her with her babies. There is nothing she loves more than her babies, and that is Gina and Owen. You will start to understand why Gina and Owen are so important. In real life, “Dude” was a product of an owner who decided not to give the dog spinal surgery which would have saved the dogs ability to walk. You understand now? And then the dog ended up being paralyzed and then they could not take care of the dog so they gave the dog away. But Lindsay ended up with him through many twists and turns, and he is just wonderful!”
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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Remembers Carly Just as She Is Marrying Jason
After nine months of being “Mike”, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) had a major breakthrough as his memory is all coming back to him now (as the Celine Dion song says), and in the process the Tan-O has burned to the ground, signaling the the probable end to the Nixon Falls arc of the story.
As the story picked-up on Thursday, Nina’s (Cynthia Watros) plot to keep Sonny for herself and away from Carly majorly backfired on her. Not only does Phyllis (Joyce Guy) now know that Nina lied about “Mike’s” identify the entire time, but Peter August (Wes Ramsey) is running wild and free heading back to Port Charles to claim his baby and Maxie (Kirsten Storms), after setting fire to the building.
Courtesy/ABC
Since “Mike” ran in to save Nina and got hit by a beam in the process, he is alone in the burning Tan-O enveloped by flames, but that triggers the beginning of his memory coming back.
Meanwhile, back in Port Charles, Jason (Steve Burton) and Carly (Laura Wright) are at their wedding, with the five family mob bosses present with a plot of their own and everyone wondering if Jarly will say “I do'”. The two light a candle together for those loved ones no longer with them … ah, Sonny!
Back the burning Tan-O, Sonny is visited by the vision of the real Mike (Max Gail) who tells him it’s time for him to go home now. A conflicted Sonny tells Mike he is very happy in Nixon Falls with Nina, but Mike tells him he needs to know his past in order to move forward. When Sonny has flashes of his violent past it frightens him, and he says whatever family he has is better off without him in their lives.
Jax (Ingo Rademacher) tries to text Maxie while still in Nixon Falls with Nina to watch out for Peter, but she is attending and managing Carly and Sonny’s wedding, so she doesn’t pick up the phone!
Inside the Tan-O, Sonny sees a vision of woman, who when she turns and faces him is Carly. While Sonny is lying on the floor and is engulfed in flames and trapped, Mike tells Sonny he can die as “Mike” or live on as the man he truly is, Sonny. It is then Sonny calls out “Carly!”
So, what did you think of the episode? Do you think Carly and Jason will get married? Will Sonny tells Nina he remembers? What will Nina’s next move be? Are you glad Sonny seems to have his memory back? The episode featured another strong performance by Maurice Benard. Share your thoughts below.
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Aww. I just love HBS. She’s so sweet and funny. Sad to hear about Coopie, but I’m glad Hillary decided to do something positive to remember and honor her. Excited to see what’s in store for Guya in season 2 of Venice. 🙂
Such great insight into a wonderful project!! Dude is one lucky dog!! Of course, Hillary is fabulous, too!!
Michael this is a really great article bringing awareness to animals and ways to help, and Thank you Hillary for doing such a wonderful thing in honor of your beloved dog
Hillary is such a wonderful person, she is one of the most generous, loving & caring person I have grown to love. She is so loving towards her fans. She and Lindsay Harrison are doing a wonderful thing in helping pet owners pay their Veterinarian bills through The Willie-Coppee Fund.