Interviews
The Sharon Case Interview – The Young and the Restless
Courtesy/QVC
In a major plot twist on today’s episode of The Young and the Restless, Sharon Newman reveals in a discussion with the vision of her deceased daughter Cassie, that she switched the paternity results of Summer Newman, and that Nick is her true biological father, not Jack Abbott! This comes on the heels of recent developments where Nick finally came forward with what he believed to be the “truth” … that he was not Summer’s bio-dad! Or, so he thought! Flashback: Years before, Nick has an affair with Phyllis while she is seeing Jack, and she becomes pregnant. A paternity test is ordered. Only when the test comes back, only Nick sees the results and proclaims that he is indeed Summer’s father. Flash forward: Years later in 2013, Nick starts feeling guilty when Summer takes a liking to Jack’s son, Kyle. He opens the paternity test from years ago to see that it reveals that the results are inconclusive. So, he orders another one secretly, and this time the test comes back from the DNA sample, showing that Jack is Summer’s father. Oh, what a tangled web the powers-that-be at Y&R are weaving now on the number one soap!
As for Sharon Newman, changing the paternity test results is just another shocker from the character who has previously: burnt down the Newman ranch, developed kleptomania and stole things left and right, and fell in love with Adam Newman (the man who stole her baby and made her believe hers had died, while he passed the baby off as Ashley’s in a despicable plot!) But for Daytime Emmy winner and fan favorite, Sharon Case (Sharon Newman) this new plot development opens up a whole new set of circumstances and secrets that will generate so much story for her and others on the canvas in the months, and possibly years to come!
In this exclusive interview, On-Air On-Soaps sat down with Sharon Case in her dressing room at CBS to get her thoughts on: how she justifies Sharon’s action in the switching of Summer’s paternity, what she thinks this means for the future of Shick and Shadam, what will the upcoming departure of Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) mean for the story moving forward, and how Cassie’s Death still resonates years later to Y&R fans everywhere, and how Sharon and Nick losing their daughter many years ago, has been the impetus for so much heartache, change, miscommunication, and missteps, in their lives.
Whether you are on board with the decision that Y&R has made to have Sharon be the woman who pulled the ultimate switch, one thing can be said, Sharon Case has played everything that has been handed to her to the hilt, and after you read our chat, you will come away with the motivations behind it all. Here’s what Ms. Case had to say!
MICHAEL
How long have you known that it would be revealed that Sharon ultimately was the one who switched the paternity results? And, what did you think when you heard that Sharon was responsible for the switcheroo?
SHARON:
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
I have known for a while. I was told in advance of shooting it, roughly what the storyline was going to be, not the whole thing, but I was given enough information so that I knew how to play the scenes. What did I think? I think it was a great idea. I said to Josh Griffith our head writer, secrets in soap opera are key. We have had a secret in place, or sort of secret, for seven years, and that is what is the paternity of Summer? Nick never exposed what it is. So these little secrets that the writers put in, and leave there for years, are what are driving the show in some respect. So, you can’t not have them, and then eventually you have to pick them up. But, the great thing about when you pick them up is that maybe you resolve the secret, but at the same time you create some other secret. So it just keeps going, and that is what keeps the show going. I love how Josh decided to address this secret about the paternity test, yet he put a twist on it, so it still remained unknown, or set wrong, or somebody does not know the truth. But, it’s really only great if you are going to leave it like that for years, just like it was like that for years before. So, that the same game is always in play. How hilarious and wild would it be for it to go on for years that the audience knows that Sharon switched the test, and the audience knows who Summer’s father is, but no one, not Nick, or anyone else in Genoa City, knows except for Sharon? I think that’s a great long-term secret, and one day it can be addressed and come out, and we could re-test the paternity, and then maybe the truth is then… it is Jack’s! There is no reason to resolve or end it, because I think it’s fun to see what happens. All of these things are what creates conflict and high drama, because that is what we are after. This is brilliant, because it is very relevant to every single character on the show. What could be more relevant … Cassie’s death, and then the paternity of Summer. Phyllis getting pregnant in the first place, and Sharon feeling that was wrong. That changed fate in a way it never should have.
MICHAEL:
We had spoken about this before, about how all the different writing regimes had put Sharon through the ringer, and you had to make sense of all of it, and had the task of making it all work on-screen. Were you at all concerned about how your fan base would react now to the revelation of Sharon being the one who switched Summer’s paternity test?
SHARON:
Courtesy/CBS
Well, no. First of all, you are right. The burden was always on me as the actress to make sense of this character, and to try to use a point of view, an opinion, an emotional tone, something that I add to her in playing these storylines that somehow makes this make sense to the audience. And, that was up to me. My writers were not necessarily always giving me that. They always gave me good storylines. And boy, were they dramatic, quirky, fun and entertaining! But it wasn’t all adding up in the end. Finally, Josh Griffith did that when he decided that Sharon was bipolar. That resolved everything from her entire past, and for her entire future. It was the greatest relief to me, because I don’t have to justify Sharon’s behavior anymore, as the actress. I don’t have to rely on my writer to justify her behavior anymore. We now know why Sharon behaves this way, and that probably should have been written or decided upon a long time ago. So, it was a stroke of genius for Josh to come up with that. There are always times when people go off their meds, and people do go off their meds constantly. First of all, no one really remembers to take their meds everyday. You may remember for a whole week, but then you forget a day, that is just how life goes. Or, you go out of town and you just forgot them, or you purposely go off them, because you think you are doing very well. This is a chronic issue with people who take meds on a regular basis, and so you are never always leveled out. So every time you do that, you really rock your boat by missing one day of meds.
MICHAEL:
On today’s episode Sharon sees Cassie, and that precipitates the reveal that Sharon switched Summer’s paternity results. Why do you think she came to her at this time?
SHARON:
Photo Credit: Getty Images
My take on Sharon talking to Cassie, from Sharon’s point of view, is this: Sharon has always been very spiritual. She was a spiritually religious young lady. Remember, when she was with Adam at the feet of angels at the graveyard, and she had gone to seek out the psychic? Sharon believes in all things in the spiritual world. She spends a lot of time at the graveyard since Cassie passed away. Sharon really does believe that she is connected to the spiritual world, and that she does have some kind of communication with it. In some way, that makes sense to her. I think she feels, in really trying times in her life, extra communication with her daughter, and that spiritual mother/daughter connection will never end. When she sees Cassie, she always feels that is her guardian angel. Nick and Sharon have always said that she is. They have always told the other kids that, “Cassie is their guardian angel and watching out for them, and if you really listen, you can hear what she is saying.” Sharon is really listening right now to hear what Cassie is saying.
MICHAEL:
Doesn’t Cassie seem to appear when Sharon feels guilty about things she did?
SHARON:
I think guilt is a time when you are in need of counseling, as well as some other emotions. So Sharon does tell Cassie she switched the results of Summer’s paternity.
MICHAEL:
Courtesy/CBS
So, does Sharon feel justified in switching the test results?
SHARON:
Sharon really does feel justified in what she is doing. In fact, she feels she is doing what needs to be done. She feels that hers and Nick’s destinies, and Cassie’s destiny, and everyone’s life was compromised by Phyllis having this baby, because Nick and Phyllis had an affair, and Nick wanted to get back with Sharon. Sharon said “no” and it ended up not happening because of this baby …that is the thing …. it was because of Summer. Sharon sees it, as that was something that was never meant to be. Sharon is a religious person, and that was the devil’s work. And so, she is going to take matters into her own hands, and set things right for her destiny, and everyone’s destiny to fix things the way they should be in the name of Cassie, who lost her life, and in the name of everything. So she is absolutely convinced that this is the right thing to do. Sometimes there is a point of view that, “OK, maybe some level of destruction is necessary to do right by all.” That is why I think she thinks everybody is going to be better off because of this change that was made. And that is why she goes into it very righteously doing so, knowing this is the right move. I think she’ll take her signs from the universe as to if she did the right thing, or not. And, some more signs come from the universe immediately after this that tell her whether this is her path, the right path, their fate. It’s interesting how it moves along.
MICHAEL:
So many people wanted Adam and Sharon, or better known by many as “Shadam”. Now are you saying that all along Sharon had in her mind that she ultimately wanted to get back together with Nick?
SHARON:
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
I think she thinks again that is the way things were supposed to have happened. But in the meantime, and in those years, because it hadn’t happened that way, and it didn’t seem like Nick was going to leave Phyllis, Sharon met Adam and fell in love with Adam. That was the only other man that has ever come into her life, where she felt the same way as she does about Nick. I would not say that one is better, or bigger than the other. I think they were both equals, and that is what made that storyline so interesting. You have two different kinds of men, and yet they are brothers … and yet Sharon fell in love with both of them, and each of them for opposite reasons, which made it very compelling. I think the events at the time that led to Shadam make perfect sense. She had to realize she wasn’t going to get Nick back, or for the foreseeable future. So she created a great relationship and a future for herself with Adam. You know what? That did not work out. It fell apart. Now she just newly discovered that now this is what is supposed to be … that Summer is really supposed to be Jack’s daughter, and then none of this would have occurred. Sharon is just trying to figure out her life as she goes along, too, like everyone else is.
MICHAEL:
So, Sharon is OK with Nick taking the fall for the latest paternity result fiasco, when she really tampered with the results?
SHARON:
Courtesy/Y&Rfansitefacebook
It’s not that she is really OK with it, but I think she understands, because she went through the loss of Cassie as well. Sharon can understand how really deep that pain is, and how it might drive you to make a bad decision. Nick made a decision that helped him at the time. He did what he needed to do. Sharon can certainly understand needing to feel like you have another daughter to replace the one you just lost. I don’t see how anyone could actually blame Nick for that, even though it’s wrong, it makes a lot of sense. I think Sharon understands it, and so since Nick seemed willing to tamper with the paternity test and allow people to believe something about that test that wasn’t necessarily true, she thinks, “Then, why don’t I let people believe something about that test that isn’t necessarily true, too!” She thinks that they are both on the same page with each other! (Laughs)
MICHAEL:
OY! Nick and Sharon deserve each other! (Laughs)
SHARON:
Yes, they do! (Laughs) I think Sharon figured if he was willing to go that route, then maybe that’s the way we should go.
MICHAEL:
When Joshua Morrow (Nick Newman) found out the twist on the twist, what did he say to you? Everyone was worried about how this paternity test switch would wreck Nick’s credibility as a good guy, and he would look like a jackass for a moment! But now Sharon ultimately sealed everyone’s fate!
SHARON:
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
I have had conversations many times with Joshua and Michael Muhney (Adam Newman) about how we feel about our characters looking like jackasses. No one wants their character to look like that. We all get concerned when that happens, but I think as long as there is some redeemable reason why you did something, and there usually is, then I don’t worry about it Nobody is all good, so why should these characters be? Everyone makes a mistake in life, and can be stubborn about the mistake, or admit to their mistake. That is how people are, and so that is what makes these characters real.
MICHAEL:
What does Sharon think of Phyllis at this point in time?
SHARON:
She thinks this is a dark element that literally moved in and rained over this happy family. She thinks it’s time for her, or someone, but likely her, to literally buck-up and cast it out once and for all!
MICHAEL:
How do you feel about Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) leaving the show? You two have had a lot of amazing scenes over the years!
SHARON:
We have had a lot of amazing scenes! I remember I was in Paris not that long ago and they were showing me what episode was airing there. It was Phyllis and Sharon arguing in one of their typical fights in the Restless Style office, back when Sharon was working there, and Sharon was married to Jack. I thought, “That really brings me back. We really had a lot of stuff!” There was so much that I forgot a lot of it! I think the triangle of Sharon/Nick/Phyllis went on for a very long time. It was a fantastic triangle. But eventually these triangles end, and they eventually move on to some new triangle. What I think was we sort of merged out of that to the Nick/Sharon/Adam triangle. We just barely merged in to that, but I see that is the triangle that is coming for the future. Before Sharon/Nick/Phyllis, it was Sharon/Nick/Grace, and people loved that one! Those things last for a period of time and then you move on to the next one, and then the next one is even bigger and better. I think, as far as the Phyllis character, I think that maybe that character has played this part of its storyline out. If the character were to come back for any reason, I don’t know if it would be the same storyline, as now this is moving in a direction and progression that the show has to take. The show has to keep moving. But once you get a really good triangle, it’s good to stick with them. We usually do stick with them for four or five years, or more. I am excited about where the storyline is going now.
Photo Credit: Duffimages.com
MICHAEL:
Do you think Michelle Stafford exiting Y&R will be a huge loss and hit for the show?
SHARON:
We have had two key actresses leave the show this year for one reason or another. We have had key actors leave before, but I think the show is strong, because it’s about the show. It’s the ensemble of the show, and the characters on the show, and the show will be fine and survive things like this. While at the same time, I think it’s important to keep key characters and key actors visible on the show, more so than newbies leading the airwaves. Otherwise, you start losing the audience, and as long as we don’t start slipping into too much of that, then the show should be fine and stay stable. We are all horribly sorry about the loss of Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor). We miss her dearly. It was a real hit to our show. She had a lot of great storylines, even in recent years. Michelle decided she wanted to go and try other things. Everybody’s feeling about that here is: we wish her luck and have our fingers-crossed.
MICHAEL:
We have discussed this in other interviews, how you have such devoted and passionate fans and followers on Twitter. Have you checked out what they have been saying? What do you think they will say when this all comes to light?
SHARON:
I have read a lot on Twitter that the fans are concerned. They don’t like it when the writers write Sharon doing bad things. I agree with them. Bad things that are not explained don’t need to happen for Sharon. I saw some complaints right off the bat. But I am telling you, once you see the whole thing, and the great twists in it, I think they are going to like it. So right now, I am just not replying too much. I want them to get to see a little more of the storyline, and then we will see.
MICHAEL:
Courtesy/CBS
The death of Cassie was the most important event in the history of Nick and Sharon’s life together, because it really changed everything. How much longer can this go on that Nick and Sharon don’t get back together? Do you feel it’s time?
SHARON:
You would think that they would. You have this core couple on the show that have not been together that much in the last seven or eight years … other than one quick bit together when they had Faith, and that did not last too long. But, you know that is what happened when Nikki and Victor split, too. When Nikki and Victor split they were split for like ten or more years, and when they got re-married it was the “Wedding of the Century”. I was relatively new on the show then, and Sharon and Nick were married, and we were having Nikki and Victor’s wedding, and it was a big deal. And so I thought, “That is why Nick and Sharon have been apart for a long time.” It’s kind of like the same story told again with the new generation. Who knows, if they will get together now? Or, if it will be like Nikki and Victor and ten years will go by? We will see, but I think it’s all good.
MICHAEL:
The Y&R audience adored the Cassie character. It’s interesting to see how she is still weaved into the show.
SHARON:
People love the Cassie character. She is one of the most beloved characters on the show of all-time, and to bring her back as a regular character, not just one time in somebody’s flashback, is a phenomenal idea. Talk about losing actresses on our show that the core audience wants to see? Well, we lost her a long time ago, and it created the best story for years and years. But the show found a way to bring the character back in a way, it’s the best of both worlds … where we did lose her … but the actress is back and the character is still in some shape or form on the show. I am sure it was nice for the audience to see Cassie on-screen again. I am sure it would be comforting to know that the relationship would always be there. This is a big core family on our show.
MICHAEL:
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
Now that this reveal is out, do you think we will see more of Sharon and Adam?
SHARON:
I think in the future that is ultimately where it may go, but that is not what is happening right now. It is my guess that the future of it is the triangle of Nick/Sharon/Adam. I just don’t see it being someone else in the triangle. These are the men in her orbit. I am not saying she is going to get back with Nick, and then get together with Adam, and go back and forth. That is not what I am saying. My writers did not tell me this, that is just my projection, and it’s my impression of what is happening, because after all, these are the men that have been in Sharon’s life for a while now. It just makes sense.
MICHAEL:
Do you remember shooting the Cassie “death” scenes? Whenever there is a Y&R retrospective clip package that is in it, and it evokes such emotion from the audience, and it still holds up!
SHARON:
They were so hard for everyone. That is the most interesting thing about those scenes. That no matter who is watching it, and I have never seen this before, but whether it’s you, me, or Joshua, or any member of our audience, or any one of the crew … it does not matter who you are when you watch that scene you start crying, and its hard not to. It’s hard to talk about those scenes with someone without starting to cry. Something in those scenes struck a chord. I am sure there have been scenes in a drama where someone’s child died, but this was special. There was something about the scene.
MICHAEL:
Courtesy/CBS
It was the writing, and the production, and the performances that made those scenes some of the most gut-wrenching, powerful moments in the history of the show, or soap opera.
SHARON:
It was everything. It was Jack Smith’s writing. It was the way the story was told. It was who these character were, and how beloved they were, and how long the audience has known all of them, and the way that Cassie died, the relevancy of the drunk driving part of the story, and the utter tragedy. So many people were touched by the drunk driving. It was not that Cassie was drunk, but Daniel, who was supposed to be driving wasn’t responsible and drank. And so, an alternative plan came up and that was a bad plan, and to it was Phyllis’ son. These are things that happen when kids are out drinking. These tragedies touch all of us in so many ways. Even when we watch other families go through this, we are devastated. I think this story was so true to form, and touched everyone as though it really happened in real life. It wasn’t a story that just happened on a soap opera, where things can just be overly dramatic, or whatever. This wasn’t that, it was real. It was too real for Joshua and me to even go through it. We did it in one take. The scene is still devastating in my mind and Joshua’s. It’s almost not watchable. If it comes on, I can’t get through it. It’s so interesting how something that is on a television show can be so real to you.
MICHAEL:
Are you worried about how Sharon keeping this secret will destroy Jack again down the line? Does Sharon even care about Jack in all this deceit?
SHARON:
Courtesy/CBS
I think that Sharon sees the bright side of that. Jack wanted a child. Once upon a time he and Phyllis wanted a child, and they were not able to have one. Wouldn’t this be a blessing for that couple? And, wouldn’t this put solidarity and family in their lives? Maybe there is a happy ending in this, and also it’s not going to change Nick and Summer’s relationship. That is already established. It’s not like anyone is being ripped apart from anyone, in reality. Instead, if Jack and Phyllis are going to get together, which it seems like they are, this would be a really good catalyst to fall in love and solidify a family.
MICHAEL:
Do you think Sharon can ever be a mother to Summer if Nick and Sharon were to get back together?
SHARON:
Sharon is a good mother figure in the way that she says things to people when they need to hear them. Sharon has that with anyone. But beyond having that basic ability with all people, I don’t think she is ever going to see herself as Summer’s mother, or step-mother, or ever be able to take Summer under her wings to much of an extent. Phyllis was a poison in hers and Nick’s life, and Summer came in between Nick and Sharon, ultimately. Sharon does not blame either of the kids… not Daniel either, and he is more directly related to Cassie’s dearth. She does not feel that familial feeling with Daniel or Summer … they are Phyllis’ kids. In that respect, that is an element that Sharon feels should never cross paths with her and Nick.
MICHAEL:
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Who knew that Cassie’s death would supply so much continual ongoing story for years and years to come! We knew when Cassie said on her deathbed, that Nick and Sharon would have another little girl, that would come to pass, but so much has happened! And look at where we are now?
SHARON:
I have not watched Y&R for the entire 40 years, but I did watch some of it before I was on, too, and I was on GH and ATWT before that. So being on soaps you want to check out the other soaps. I was aware of the characters on Y&R for some time, but I was not that closely related to it. But, I remember there were these great couples on the show like Nikki and Victor, and Ryan and Victoria were just great, and Paul and Christine. I remember when I was a kid I would see then on the show with Peter Barton (Ex-Dr. Scott Grainger), and I remember to this day and these were great love stories all around. But I don’t know that the show has ever had an astounding significant story that affected the characters in Genoa City, and the show, the ways Cassie’s death had. If that ever happened, prior to Cassie’s death, I don’t know what storyline that would be? That fact that happened, at least in these recent decades, that is The Young and the Restless.
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tis crazy but its goood soap. love Sharon
We are back again to the hate bashing on social media RE: Sharon Newman character! She is my huge reason I watch. I am so disappointed the writers again are making Sharon look crazy. When will it be Sharons turn to be happy.?But thanks for finally doing a article for Ms. Case Love Her <3 🙂
I agree. I have been waiting for years for them to reconcile Sharon and Nick. I, too, feel like they were cheated out of their life together by the affair with Phyllis. Just when Sharon needed her husband the most, Phyllis moved in on Nick when he was vulnerable.
Unfortunately, it seems like every DAMN time it looks like they might have a shot at getting together, the writers move it in a different direction. I love Adam, but I could NEVER wrap my head around someone marrying the person who freaking kidnapped her baby and let her believe her baby was dead.
Jack and Phyllis, back in that same time period, were perfect for each other and he wanted a baby so bad. Now, when the storyline looks like fate is moving to right the wrong of Jack and Phyllis’ fate from long ago, and that Avery might be so disappointed in Nick and perhaps go back with her soul-mate, Dillon, so that finally Sharon and Nick can come together, they have to have Sharon do this paternity switch thing, which is, to me, also an unforgivable act, it looks like Nick and Sharon will never really have happiness with each other.
Geez…every single couple that should be together is kept apart. Adam loved Chelsea, Dillon loved Avery, Jack loved Phyllis, and of course, Nick and Sharon. This really pisses me off.
I hope this latest twist doesn’t make Sharon’s character so unredeemable that she has no connection to anyone in the town because by then, they will have to kill her off because she will be untouchable.
I am ready to see Nick And Sharon back togeather ! Tired of Phylis and Nick story . He should always be with Sharon ! They are great togeather
Sharon is the best character! I am so not happy with how her character still has not married her true love Adam. Seems like they changed Adam. He always loved Sharon and not Chelsea ever. Chelsea was a rebound. Sharon is now being written that she changed the paternity. No way! Sharon would not do something so cruel to hurt Summer or even her own kids that this will effect. I really would hope it is time to STOP making Sharon the worst person on the show when you have characters like Phyllis and Chelsea doing the worst things to people.
Sharon & Adam Are each other’s true loves. Not Chelsea. Not Nick. Sharon needs to be truly happy for once. Adam & Sharon need to be married & start a family of their own.
Team Sharon! Love her! I really thought we would of had a summer fairy tale Wedding for Shadam . Adam and Sharon should be the happy ever after. I do not like the hate speech I have to see on the web because the writers keep writing Sharon now worst than when they made her with Victor. PLEASE LET SHARON BE HAPPY she is the only character with a loving pure heart <3
Ditto from me. Love tour post.
Sharon I love you first off! But however not happy they still have Sharon not happy. So pissed I have to see her be so sad. Really! This must stop. I do not like the Avery character at all. I really hate the Chelsea character! When I say this this is not because I love to hate them. They truly ZZZZ Bore me that I do not watch them when they are on. I really wanted Drucilla back but still can’t have my fav. back it seems. The Rose story has dragged on and on.. I will not miss Phyllis being so mean at times but would like Daisy to come back and Danielle.To fight and make Phyllis crazy. Right now Adam and Sharon need to get back and have a baby of there own. I do not want to see this Chelsea person have anyones child. She gave away her last. Dylan needs to get away from her asap.
Sharon and Adam must get back together very simple. This thing with that paternity stop it. This Chelsea person needs to go. Period. I really wonder why they are doing this again to Sharon making her the town crazy person. As a fan of the show for 30 yrs so not happy the way they are changing the characters.
Shadam 🙂 Want my Sharon and Adam to get married again and have a baby boy together 🙂
Sharon would never ever ever change a paternity test only the evil like Phyllis and Chelsea do that sort of deal. Sharon would and should not forgive Nick. Nick lied all those years and made Sharon not let Adam see Faith when Nick did worse. Let Sharon adn Adam be happy and have a baby. I never liked Chelsea on this show. Liked her better as a crazy Annie because that is better for her.
Sharon did change the test and that is that. Phyllis is a wonderful and important part of the show and I don’t see her as evil as you do. I know Sharon is glad and some of her fans love that she has left but there are many of us wish that she hadn’t. Phyllis and the actress Ms. Stafford are great! Evil….Sharon could be called a sugar sweet evil person…evil hiding behind the false front.
Sharon better be nominated next year for best actress. I was shocked she did not win a Emmy for her bipolar story. The writers give her a script and she turns even sour lemons into lemonade. Bravo Sharon. I would love to see Sharon and Adam re marry and have a son.
WOW Sharon Case will be doing a live interview with the actress who plays Cassie. I have been waiting and waiting because Sharon is my favorite character since she first came on the show. Problem! The amount of bashing hate comments is so over whelming. sad that the writers changed our sweet loving Sharon. The writers are making her seem like she is the town pariah and she is so not! Even Victor who is one of the badist characters with his crimes and Phyllis and Chelsea and even Nikki just ask Kyles mom, Diane . Really writers please get Sharon and Adam back together. Nick was never worth Sharon’s time.
SHOCKED and horrified The writers choose once again to make Sharon who is my FAVORITE character the town crazy! Been a fan longer than I can remember! The Sharon we all know and love would never of done this to a child (Summer) or even that it effects her own children! Even if some may say Sharon may of not always made the best judgement about the men she chooses , Sharon ALWAYS loves her kids and all kids. Also Jack! What about Jack??? Sharon would not do this to Jack! Sorry I am so outraged when the writers promised to restore Sharon after the Victor fiasco! If fixing Sharon is making every single person in GC hate her when they find out because they will be running her out of town for sure. really wish that Dylan was her brother or drucilla was back as her best friend! Sharon has zero friends!
I’m all on Sharon’s side. Wish Cassie wasn’t no ghost though. They should of had her come back as a twin somehow lost in the hospital! Victor just nasty forgiving Nick but Not letting Sharon and Adam be together!When someone crosses old saint Nick he punches walls. When he is a sinner he wants forgiveness.let us see if nick gonna forgive Sharon. Sharon should kick Nick in the nuts! Her daughter died all them years ago and he goes and hooks up with Phyllis. Damn.
Love Sharon! She is the most talented actress. Thanks so much Michael for giving her fans this wonderful interview !
OMG!! she can’t even talk correctly, what I have read doesn’t even make any sense, this sharon character is so full of herself,.. Phyllis is and will always be the best actress besides Mrs C,… R.I.P.god bless her soul) , how can any one play such a inmoral character and then talk of sharon being spiritual…OMG! are you kidding me? I have watched this show since 1980, and nick and sharon WILL NEVER be another nikki and victor!! and how cruel of (case) to say phyllis’s cahracter has played out, once (michelle) is gone im done with this show CBS has made a mistake by letting her go,.. (case) should leave,.. how could you say sharon is right in what she has done… switching the paternity for her own reasons,.. yea nick may have held out all these years wondering about summer but he knew he said that summer was his, and turns out she is,..nick is not wrong here,.. sharon is! what a slore! feeling sorry for sharon,.. no way in hell !! she is wrong for what she has done,. no morals and by the sounds of this interview, she has no morals in her own life.!! what a slob!!! TEAM STAFFORD ALL THE WAY….!! GO PHYLLIS GO , YOU ARE DESTINED FOR FAR AND BETTER THINGS THAN THIS CRAPPY STORYLINE OF OMG! POOR USELESS SHARON….. Annette Dallas for TEAM STAFFORD!!
I thought and I hope that I was reading more into what Ms. Case said in reference to the Phyllis character. I think the awesome Ms. Stafford and Ms. Case are friends but when I was reading Ms. Case’s interview I was like wow she didn’t sound nice reference Phyllis or Ms. Stafford, she didn’t say anything negative towards Ms. Stafford, it was just what she said in the end of question reference Phyllis and Ms. Stafford. In all fairness, I may have read more into than what Ms. Case meant. Team Phyllis and Team Ms. Stafford always!
She wished her well and said MS wanted to do other things their is absolutely no hostility between these two women they do not take their work home with them. That is fans pitting the characters/actors against each other they are role playing nothing else. I just wished she had not been thrown under the bus again but so it goes.
I think it’s stupid, IMO.. They built up the storyline, then Phyllis acts like an idiot and kisses Kyle to keep him away from Summer, now this? I wanted Jack to be the father..
I agree Jewell. I was routing for smiling Jack. I know this is TV but this is cruel for Jack as well as NIck.
this is ridiculous all t his heartache for what I have no words for the disgust I feel for this regime this could’ve benn a great s/l but they’ve ruined it
I want Jack to be the real father. Maybe it was Faiths hair Nick sent in by mistake.
Ooooo, and Ah ha!!!! I love this plot. Maybe so. Never thought about this twist!!
You are so beautiful Sharon! You are the Best!!
Agreed! 🙂
You are the Best Sharon!! a big Fan French!
Love Sharon also. Sharon and Adam need to get back the way there characters always loved each other. What happened to Dylan and Sharon being siblings? I thought that was a fantastic idea.
This storyline has turned into a JOKE
I couldn’t agree more its a joke
Agreed, how many times can they throw Sharon under the bus, until there is nothing left to retrieve?
Why does Sharon keep calling Josh Griffith and his staff “my writers”. Very egotistical. And she seems to brush off Michelle Stafford’s departure.
She sounds as delusional as her character.
I agree…
that’s pretty rude, she wished her well what is she supposed to do cry and said the show will no go on it will. she spoke about facts noting wrong with that.
Yes I noticed this too! She doesn’t sound all that upset over losing Jeanne or Michelle!
Yes, she did totally brush that off lol I see you Sharon! But delusional? Ummm, no, not sure how that was inferred (unless you mean in regards to her speaking positively of the story line, then ok). There are some delusional actors on this show when it comes to their characters, and Sharon isn’t one of them, but apparently, some people cannot separate reel life from real life. Just because you dislike/like the character doesn’t mean YOU have to be delusional. I see this a lot on those raggedy boards. Good interview, and she answered the questions and threw as many neutral bones as best as she could-except for the part about how she felt about MS leaving lmao.
If she said “I hate the story and Michelle Stafford leaving was a big mistake” she’d find herself fired and not able to work in soaps (I can think of one outspoken soap actress who’s done that and now she’s not working). Privately I’m sure she’s devastated both Jeanne and Michelle aren’t on the show. Privately I’m sure she HATES the story, but do you trash your boss in an interview then go to work the next day like everything’s fine? NO! Would you?
And considering she’s been there since 1994-1995 Im ok with her saying “MY WRITERS” as most of them are newer to the show. And I bet if she said “THE WRITERS” people would say “She’s so detached and unaffected.”
Stop being a cyberbully. You don’t like Sharon or it’s stories stop watching. But we have had a HUGE rash of teens committing suicide over cyberbullies (aka anyone who comes online to bash people they have a perceived notion of for no other reason than boredom); it needs to stop in adults as well. IT’S A SOAP OPERA! IT’S NOT REAL LIFE! Cut it out. Sharon is a consummate professional answering her questions the best way she can with as much tact. ANYTHING she says will be scrutinized. I support her…even if I no longer support the storytelling.
Well said David, common sense goes a long way. If you are speaking of VR, then she is definitely working. She has always had a lot on her plate.
Because there are always a set of specific writers for each character and story line. This is not news.
THANK YOU FlixX. This I didn’t know. So there IS a headwriter whom says “I want A, B, and C to happen” then there is a set of writers to say “I will take character X in story A?” WOW That’s pretty interesting. It makes sense though. I’ve been watching the show since 1992 on and off and NEVER knew lol
It’s not VR. In fact she didn’t say anything till after she left. There is another multiple Emmy Award winning actress whom bashed her producers/storyline while on the show. I personally love her and miss her on screen, but I think she’s been blacklisted.
Even if she wasn’t think about this would you in an interview bash your current boss even if you had cause? In this job market you’d be a fool to do so is what I’m telling you lol I’ve had friends bash their jobs on FB and then get fired cuz coworkers told on them. Whatever you feel personally you keep to yourself and express positivity to the world. That’s how you keep your job and get another should you lose your current. Sharon Case is amazing! I watched her on both ATWT and GH!
And let’s keep it real when Sharon Collins first was in Sharon Case’s hands (always thought it was weird Sharon is playing Sharon) she was a basic saint. Worked hard to help her wheelchair bound mother. Had a child out of wedlock in high school. Found with Nikki constantly. She lost her way BIG TIME after Cassie died. Became extremely promiscuous, klepto, and married all the wrong men FOR HER! I get the whole Cassie ghost thing. But switching the test results…it’s funny as I am watching today’s episode I was saying to myself “They will win the Daytime Emmy for writing…oh guess not.” When she explained to Cassie why she did what she did it was awful.
The writers clearly watched old tapes of Y&R saw the audience never saw the actual results Nick was holding and built a story around it. I loved it because it was to me Nick Newman becoming exactly what he vowed he’d never be: Victor Newman. Then they throw Sharon in the mix? Didn’t they just get me to like her again? Bipolar people do messed up stuff but this is just a disservice. A gimmick to let her get away with stuff and be redeemable…OR is she going to be the next town Villaness?
Either way I’m on the fence if I want to continue watching. I love the actors and support them but JFP and JG…(breathes deep). I don’t know if I can support those two individuals as JFP has been a challenge on every soap I’ve loved (remember she killed Maureen Bauer on GL then tried to fire Anna Lee on GH?). I’m gonna play it by ear this week, but I may do what Michelle Stafford did…and walk away.
YW 🙂 Yes, it is true, but I believe they switch off, kind of like a musical chairs kind of thing. I have heard (or read actually lol) actors say this in interviews. I believe it all has do be approved though, or at least they piggyback off of a them or idea, or something to that effect. Trust me, you will get varying answers to this question, just like some say that the actors have input and some say they don’t, which they do…to an extent, and it also depends on who it is I guess lol I really don’t believe she was trying to be egotistical, but like I said before, these people have a hard time separating reel life from real life. It’s funny that you mention it being weird that Sharon is playing Sharon. Sometimes, I get the feeling that the nasty comments are directed towards Sharon Case, under the guise of “Sharon the Character”. I saw a pic of her and JM presenting at the Emmys a few years back, and someone commented something to the effect of, “ugh, you can tell he doesn’t even want to be up there with her, he looks so bored, she is such a whore, PHICK is better” -_-…REALLY?! lmao I agree with everything you said. If she had said her honest feelings, then she would get slammed for being tactless. Sharon and Sharon can’t win!….HOLY COW! It was JFP that killed Maureen?! My mom is STILL mad about that! I never got to see Maureen unfortunately, but have always heard about her (I always heard that Ed and Lillian’s affair was stupid, random, and unnecessary…It was Lillian, right?). Sometimes I wonder if this is deliberate. I have never understood why they play musical chairs with these Writers and EPs. We need some new blood; some new blood who actually care about soaps, their legacies, the characters, and most importantly, the AUDIENCE. I haven’t watched in a while, I just kind of keep up with it by reading about it. I watched the episode where Nick told Phyllis the truth, but haven’t watched since (and hadn’t watched since the fall of last year). I was going to try to get into this LONG AWAITED story line, but, I just can’t. I can’t watch this happen to Sharon anymore, I am so tired of it.
*theme
Love Sharon! She is the best
The Ed/Lillian/Maureen story was actually very well written. It was adult, mature, and utilized beloved veterans in a very meaningful way. The fact that it resulted in Maureen‘s death was sad and a legendary industry mistake, but if you go back and watch the aftermath on Youtube….wow! Awesome acting and writing. It was really soap opera at its finest, despite the fact that it was a very unpopular decision. I don‘t know why JFP feels it is her duty to kill of core characters at all of her shows. GL-Maureen, AW-Frankie, Bridget. OLTL-Drew. GH-half the cast. She has not killed anyone of importance on Y and R…could it be that after decimating and gutting other casts, she has learned her lesson? CBS and Sony seem to have her on a very tight rein. She is a very good producer in that she takes what is written and translates it very well to the screen. I would LOVE to see her paired up with a head writer of quality and substance like Claire Labine, or Lorraine Broderick. It seems all of the major head writers she has worked with are all recycled hacks into telling violent and misogynistic stories…Bob Guza, Megan McTavish, Margaret DePriest, Charles Pratt, etc. And Josh Griffith‘s “writing“ does her no favours either. This man seems virtually incapable of telling actual stories.
Personally, I have been a long time fan of Y&R and I don’t like the way this storyline is going regarding Summer. This is the cruelest thing to do to anyone. I could take the old switcheroo but to do this to Nick and Jack is unforgiveable. That is messing with peoples lives. Now Jack and Summer will bond and only years later or when either of them get sick when they find out the they are not kin.
agree!
Nick is the one that did not get it retested, just because the results are now switched doesn’t change what he did either. I think its a great storyline and have waited years for this to come out. Soaps are about entertainment and drama and that is exactly what this is! We got some amazing scenes already some of the best acting I have seen in years. Just that alone makes it worth it and I am sure we have more to come.
I cant believe someone at y&r thinks this is the way 2 go im sick as a longtime viewer im done this wqs the chery on the sundae for me along with all the other idiotic s/l’s right now on y&r
OH I SO AGREE Kerry,.. this s/l is so cruel, yet an actress can say its what needs to be done!! this is bad writting … i think my boots are walking away!!
Well this is NOT a TWIST- this was a GIMMICK– never mind Nick losing credibility— for me the show has LOST it with this gimmick. As a viewer I do not wish to be manipulated and that’s what this story line was– now whenever there is a big reveal or emotional scene it will be meaningless to me, because with a stroke of a pen some writer can undo it all.
I think it was pointless to redeem Sharon only to have her go back to altering tests just because she thinks it is right- what is she off her meds? Frankly I love Ms. Case but I will never respect Sharon the character again. They ruined her with this last stunt. To
For me this gimmick ruin what was a solid week of heart wrenching performances- I am big fan of the show, but this stunt has lower my respect for it, because this stunt does not respect the characters, the show’s history or the audience- this is NOT good soap writing- it is writing to grab ratings– it tick me off so much- I am furious.
Ms Case can spin it all she wants, but this was just the wrong move for the show to make. I have defended a lot of lame story lines over the years, but this one- crossed a line- and I’m not sure the show will ever be same again for me.
I totally agree!!! I am NOT happy. We have waited patiently for YEARS for it to come out that Jack is Summer’s father and we didn’t even get a week to enjoy it.
It should not take years for this plot to get undone. Undo it now!!!
Who is “we”? There are many of us who love Nick being her father and never wanted it changed. Shick and Jacks fans may have wanted it to happen but many more of us did not want a switch.
“WE” are the fans who have waited years for them to come back to this story that they eluded too when Summer was born. Now they finally do, and the other shoe goes and drops before the first one even hit the floor!! It makes the whole story pointless now. They could have milked this story for a long time with wonderful implications and repercussions. Now that we already know Nick IS the father all of the suspense is gone. And I hate that they are turning Sharon into a total nut case. Hoping they do a better job with Katherine’s death and the story that follows or they may lose me all together. This was handled horribly. Y & R is not what it used to be.
I don’t understand how she can think anyone would be happy about this story line. So many people love her character and are tired of the blatant assassination. I am thinking that she is hoping that people will appreciate that the character isn’t a goody two shoes and that it is something different for her to play. Believe it or not, some people want bad Sharon. I can understand why, as an actress, it would be interesting to her though.
speaking the truth mary.. i so agree…. no moral writting at all…. its a sad day for Y&R…
I agree with every word you said, this paternity storyline is a HUGE disappointment and a LOT of fans are not happy with it. I’m not watching the show anymore because of it. What was the point of this storyline when the results are the same? I would be interested to hear from the writers and why they thought this was necessary to throw Sharon further under the bus!
I have waited so long for Summer to be Jack’s. I am not all that happy with the new twist. I hope they keep it a secret a long, long time. Poor Jack never gets any long term happiness!!! And I don’t like that they have turned Sharon into some psycho person like Phyliss used to be….switching paternity tests and all. Sharon , for so many years, was the good girl and Phyliss the coniving b..atch I liked it that way!!
Sharon was never a good girl, but she was never a psycho either! This is out of character and soooo left field…when was the last time she was even checking for Nick?
omg..i love sharon case…but im soooo glad i tuned this show out when they fired genie francis,,,i giv it 3 years tops…
this is an out right lie, we have know for seven years that JACK was the FATHER & to change it now… We the FANS are not buying this story line. this is the same story line with Victor & Ashley baby. NEW WRITERS WANTED!!!!!!
Again…who is “we”? Stop speaking for all of us. Summer always has been and always will be a Newman.
WHO Summer’s father ends up being is not the issue. The issue is, after several years of horrible writing, it looked like WE, THE FANS, were finally going to get a good. meaty story and they killed it before it even got off the ground. No one is speaking for you.
Agreed, the “revisionist” history is a bit disturbing. This was stuff “other” soaps did, not Y/R, if one does not include that whole Cole/Victoria mess from the mid 90’s. I predict the same for Kyle/Summer/Noah, with poor Summer headed for the nearest Sanitorium. 🙁
SC is as delusional as Sharon Collins Newman Abbott Newman Newman Newman almost Tucker
sorry, but Nick is Summer’s father, Saint Cassie of Genoa City is dead and rotting in a grave, too bad she can not go the way of other dead soap characters – FORGOTTEN!
Hope SC has put away a nest egg, JFP hates female soap characters over the age of 40!!! I have a feeling SC will be the next gone.
She really is. I think she must be off her meds. HOLY COW
…But…isn’t that why she changed the test though? BECAUSE Nick was the father?…I don’t understand your comment.
GMAFB, Sharon is a lot more evil then Phyllis ever thought of being. Sharon has committed more crimes and committed adultery over and over again and has no problem having sex with relatives.
Ms. Case seems to think that her character is some teenage virgin who does no wrong
and the whole Cassie crap, being used by both her mother and adopted father like this is sickening.
Ms. Case may think she is lead character material, but now that role is with Jessica Collins and Melissa Claire Egan, JFP does not write for over 40 females, she gets rid of them
LOL LIES. BTW, Reel life does not equal real life, not to mention, your hostility is misplaced and out of context. I could see if I actually said Sharon was a saint and Phyllis sucks, but I said neither. Heck, I didn’t even bring up Phyllis’s NAME LMAO. Crazy. And where did she say or imply that her character was a teenage virgin?! TF…
Crystal…very well said!!!!! Also, ever since Jess Walton came back to Y and R, why do you think Jess is currently on recurring status (or whatever)??? Yep…because of that Soap-Zillla W-I-T-C-H Jill Farren Phelps. And, you know how Steve Burton is JFP’s current golden boy??? Well, back in the day, A Martinez was also one of JFP’s golden boys. This goes way back when A was on Santa Barbara…another soap that JFP gradually RUINED with her godawful, controlling and bullying antics. Bottom Line here: JFP’s tenure at Y and R is rapidly (and even more inanely) becoming an unnecessary KISS OF DEATH. VERY, VERY DUMB AS HELL!!!!!
Sharon is a lot ore evil than Phyllis!? GTF out of here with that. You obviously do not know these two characters or their history. Your comment is a joke.
Almost McCall you mean. Tucker was his first name.
And Crystal…um…Sharon is more evil than Phyllis ever thought of being?????? Well. Possibly if you have only watched the show since last summer, I could see how you might think that. But Phyllis has committed murder, attempted murder, and she was a certifiable psychopath back in the day. She did stuff that would have made Patty Williams blush like a schoolgirl. So…you can hate the character of Sharon, but you cannot realistically say that she is more evil than Phyllis because it‘s just not true. For the longest time, Sharon‘s biggest problem was the fact that her legs could not stay together. Being loose with your goodies is not a crime.
Crystal…SAY W-H-A-T????? Jill Farren Phelps actually HATES female soap characters over the age of 40????? W-O-W…I did not know that. Crystal, check this out: Back in the day, that manipulative and controlling vulture JFP herself pretty much openly feuded with Robin Strasser (aka Dorian from OLTL) and especially Beverley McKinsey (aka Alexandra from GL). Also, get this: I once read somewhere that JFP HATES working with ANY soap actor or soap actress older than her. When JFP was the so-called executive producer of GH, why do you think she VERY UNFAIRLY fired/got rid of Stuart Damon and Anna Lee????? And, trust me…JFP caught MAJOR HELL from BOTH most of the GH cast and from countless soap viewers because of what she did to Stuart Damon and Anna Lee. I mean…Anna Lee was in her 90’s when JFP very cruelly let Miss Lee go. One last thing: God only knows which current Y and R female cast member that that insufferable witch JFP will get rid of next????? Remember when she got rid of BOTH Genie Francis and Debbi Morgan??? Oh, God. Anyway, take care, Crystal. Peace.
I love Sharon, but I HATE this story line. :'(
I so agree with Sharon saying that the Cassie Death scene and storyline is the most dramatic, on-going emotional plot with overtones today of Y&R. Even just readng through Sharon’s answers about the scene of filming Cassie’s death, I have tears in my eyes.
Several years ago, at one of Kate Linder’s Vancouver Afternoon Teas, Christian LeBlanc asked everyone there about what they thought was the most emotional story of Y&R. Almost unanimously everyone shouted out Cassie’s death.
It was a great scene with all three, seeing as Cassie was acting lying very still too and Joshua and Sharon absolutely devastated. I actually bid on one of Christian’s prints at one of the Afternoon Tea’s and have the one with Cassie’s face in the print.
Great interview with Sharon. Keep up the great acting, no matter what the writers write, you can pull it off!
From a Canadian fan in Vancouver.
Those were great scenes, now imagine those scenes happening, going through all that grief and pain and then the next day, Cassie heart starts beating out of the blue- and she is not dead after all. Those scenes stood the test of time, because they were rooted in reality- there didn’t undo the death. They didn’t have her die to get ratings, then have her live to get ratings- it was about the story and that is what made it great.
This is why so many are upset at this new story line, they had this whole week of powerful performances– only to “undo” it a week later- to clue us in that Nick is the father. Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t. Maybe they will undo this twist too. But at this point as a viewer I no longer care- it is all meaningless to me.
To me this isn’t good soap writing- good soap writing is s/l like Cassie’s accident- things that really happen- tragic things, dramatic things- things that can’t be undone- just lived through. It is a shame soaps have been reduced to stunts and so many actually think that is what a soap is about.
Yes Ms Case is wonderful at her craft, but there comes a point the story is so horrible even the most brilliant actor cannot redeem it. I am another Canadian fan who hates what they are doing to Ms. Case’s character.
Very good message Mary. More love from Canada here. 🙂
You know, I think if one person could relate to Sharon in all of this, it would be Sheila. If Kimberlin was on the show right now, I think they would have a strong friendship since Sheila always did the wrong things for the right reasons and we see Sharon has been heading down this same path for some time now.
Sheila was a loon lol come on now
hahaaaa , awesome! i so agree ,
No if anyone could relate to Sheila it was Phyllis.
Before Cassie’s death, it was the death of another Cassie- Cassandra Rawlins – way back in 1991 that launched a really intriguing umbrella storyline where Paul and Brad were both potential heirs to her huge estate. Victor, who was also in love with Cassandra had to justify his sentiment for her to Ashley and Paul was worried about telling Lauren who had just gone into labour. In fact, the episode where Cassandra was killed trying to get to Paul marked a major MAJOR zenith in Bill Bell’s creativity on the show for it was that very SAME episode where Nina shot David Kimball five times and Sheila’s black market baby was delivered just as Lauren was going into labor! Amazing times. The best for Y&R!
Im sorry to hear that Phyllis is leaving Y&R! She will be missed ! Always loved Sharon& Nick together -Hope to see you in Vancouver for Kate’s Tea- Ive been watching the show for years-
Ms. Case is always promoting the triangle that keeps her relevant on the show.
I hope that triangle is never revisited. I hope the Adam/Sharon thing is permanently destroyted. You would think that flip flopping again between brothers is a sicko sitiation and she would be tired of it Ms case wantst stay employed and her ticket is JM and MM. I find her a complete waste of airtime. No matter what story she is in it is boring, boring. Not even MM can make her interesting. SC is as dilusional as SN.
Ms. Case is always promoting the triangle that keeps her relevant on the show.
…someone’s mad
no we are just stating our opinion!
What does that have to do with them being mad though? NOTHING. Here we go with these out of context replies again…
agree again,…. SC is as dilusional as SN
Sharon has always been one of my favorite characters, and so is Jack. I hate what this “twist” has done. Finally, Sharon’s neurotic years had been explained, and now this! I know that those with mental illness have ups and downs, but this is ridiculous. I have waited since Nick was announced as Summer’s father for it to come out that Jack was really her dad, and that too has been destroyed. Sharon would never destroy a child’s life, even Phyllis’ child. Remember when Summer had the allergic reaction and since Nick and Phyllis were being investigated, Sharon sat at Summer’s side. Maybe the writers think that the memories of the fans are short-lived…they are NOT. Give us some credit. We remember old storylines and the nature of the characters. Kudos to the actors for putting up with craziness in writing, but my gosh, we barely have any Soap Operas left. Do we have to destroy this one too?!
Bring back Jack Smith! Fire JFF now!
Who is JFF??
Sorry i meant JFP (Jill Farren Phelps). And really they need to rehire both Kay Alden and Jack Smith.
Sharon Case is so wrong. Her fans HATE what is going on with her story line & the Y&R fans are crucifying her character.
I have been a devoted fan of Y&R & have been waiting for a SHICK reunion for the past 7 years. When I watched Monday’s episode I was disgusted. I cannot believe what Josh griffith has done to SC’s character.
When JFP took over last year we were all lead to believe that one of the top priorities was to “fix” Sharon. They diagnosed her with bipolar & had her getting back on track, then this. There is so much hatred directed towards Sharon that I seriously doubt that her character can ever be redeemed now & I think that SC will grow to regret having not fought where this story line was going.
I have watched this show since I was a child & have been supportive of the changes that have been made, but this is the final straw. I really don’t know if I can keep tuning in after this.
What she said in this interview is correct.
The scene with Summer & Jack at the Abbot from door when they saw each other for the first time, thinking they were father & daughter, was beautiful and amazing. Hunter and Peter’s performances were simply outstanding. The whole storyline was, I felt beautifully done, by all actors. However, just when I was so moved by those moments and seeing Cassie again ( which was a dream come true) I was thrown the curve of Sharon going in and changing the test results!! While I understand Sharon Case’s view that this gives a basis for continued intrigue & drama, in the moment I felt cheated and manipulated. So much emotion had been invested over the last few weeks. Things had been resolved. In amazing scenes, Nick had told Summer, Phyllis had told Jack – beautiful symmetry there. I was just about to comment kudos to all and then this twist. I don’t think Sharon would have stooped to those measures. The Vancouver Tea is coming up on Saturday and it will be interesting to hear the comments from cast & fans alike on what I’m sure will be a hot button topic!!
Awesome interview Michael with Sharon. I watched Y&R in the very beginning in high school. Then adult life pulled me away and have really watched again for about 2 yrs. Sharon has not been a fav of mine but now I see/think she is not taking her meds. This is causing her to do the things she is to get her “almost perfect life back”. She wants those happy times. So yes Sharon is a fav of mine her warts and all. I do feel bad for Summer and Nick because of the pain it will cause. But I will see how they proceed. Great job by Sharon and Y&R. Thanks again for the interview!
Ms. Case, I love ya – you are so talented and beautiful – but have you been drinking the JFP koolaid, or perhaps you are trying to keep your job? I know you are a smart woman, so I am disappointed on how you try to justify this crap, but I suppose you have to play it this way. Sharon has been vilified so badly by the writers – she has no friends, no family other than her kids, she has BP, she does totally un-Sharon-like crazy things, everyone in town hates her, etc. I thought Sharon was going to be FIXED. How about delving in to Sharon’s problems with that wonderful therapist she has? (Her scenes with Sharon are fantastic.) How about a dad or a brother or sister who actually care about her? Soo many opportunities for Sharon besides the crazy bit.
So, after watching on and off since day one, I finally give up. I don’t care if Sharon just “imagined” she did it, or if Summer is still really Jack’s, this show just has jumped the shark. JFP needs to be fired for all of the crap that has been airing. You have no idea how much I miss Y&R of old. It will be hard to let go, but this show is barely a shell of what it used to be.
I’m holding out that this is all a dream ala Dallas. A result of her not taking her meds. This is soOOoo out of character for Sharon, it’s not even funny. She having conversations with her dead child, so I’m inclined to believe, the poor dear got her dosage messed up.
Well at least if that were the case Sharon the character would have a chance- obviously at some point they would need to address her illness head on. But as a twist on the paternity test story line- it was unnecessary to have this side to it. I get writers wanting to prolong the suspense of ” who will be Summer’s father?” but sometimes in story telling the direct approach is best– even if they undo it by saying Sharon dreamed it all- the fact they threw it in there at all tainted the story line for me– it is a shame really- the only good thing if there is a twist on the twist like Sharon only imagines she did it- is it will save the character Sharon, otherwise, if true- she crossed the line from victim to villain and I would hate that to happen to that character.
With respect, Miss Case does not yet realize the character of Sharon has been murdered. She can not be redeemed. It is too much. The destruction this will cause is not entertainment. JFP, JG, & AM are killing this show way faster than MAB & the 2 writers of the apocalyspe ever did.
If they can redeem Michael Baldwin for attempted rape, anyone can be redeemed!
Michael also strangled his accomplice Rebecca to death in 1993 and tampered with the brakes on Hilary’s car so she would crash. Y&R views seem to have forgotten.
I took y&R off my dvr today I refuse to watch this nonsense I love s haron case but after reading this interview all I come away with is she’s drinking the kool aid to im very disappointed that anone would think that this is a good s/l ive watched well over 25yrs and this has to be one of the worse s/l I see it as yet anoterh way to make Sharon the villioan and the guy who kept the lie for years becomes a victim due th her actions I feel this show as a whole is at a crisit point and things needs to change soon.
I think this story is stupid. What they are putting Jack, Summer, Nick and Phyllis through and for what?…never mind what they are doing to Sharon’s character. Y&R is so bad right now. The acting is great…the show sucks.
Let me start out by saying I love Sharon Case the actress. She and Michael Muhney are my two favorites on Y&R. I have been watching Y&R off and on for over 30 years and it has always been my favorite soap. For the first time I am very disappointed in the story lines. Not disappointed in the actors on the show. Paul, Summer, and Nick had me crying. Very well written and the emotions were running so high I cried and cried. I could not wait for Jack to find out about Summer being his daughter. We all new from the start he was the father, not Nick. Everything was fine until the writers made Sharon tamper with the results. The air went out of the balloon. It was spoiled for me. Sharon Case is so talented and she has been given crap stories for some time now but she always delivers. It is time to fix Sharon. She is way to talented to be wasted. And while I am on the subject of being wasted, where is Adam Newman? Do we need to put his picture on a milk carton? He is missing on my t.v. screen and I cannot stand it. Why do we have so many new people and everyone has scenes but Michael Muhney, the best thing to hit Y&R in years. These writers and new people in charge better wake up and listen to the fans. I feel like Y&R is in serious trouble. Need to turn it around. We need better writers. We need excitement, romance, good story telling using our characters we have always loved. Sharon, Adam, Billy, Vicki, Victor, Nicki. They are all talented and just need good scripts. The talent is there just waiting on a good story. Who says the triangle between Sharon, NIck and Adam is old news. It was some of the best stories ever. Very exciting and entertaining. Very sexy also. Let Chelsea have Adams baby and they co-parent like so many couples today and let him be the one to save Sharon once again. They both truly love each other. Sharon is just off her meds and having a complete breakdown. The writers have Adam so screwed up right now saying he only wanted meaningless sex with Sharon. That is a bunch of crap. Shadam was the best love story on daytime. They understood each other and were good together. Give us back our Adam and Sharon. Leave Nick with Avery, put Billy and Vicki back together, and send Dillon back to General Hospital. Send Chelsea on that slow boat Victor talked about not too long ago. Adam and Sharon can take care of baby Newman. Anyway, thanks for the interview with Sharon Case. I always love interviews with Sharon and Michael. Sharon is always up front and honest with her fans. She speaks from the heart.
Very well said– I don’t understand why tptb can’t put two and two together and realize what attracts viewers are good old fashioned story telling based in reality, with characters we love, acted by talented men and women. What we want is simple- but what do we get- gimmicks and cheap stunts that try to cover up the fact the writing is poor. I love this show, been loyal to it, will even forgive them for this latest goof, but they lost credibility for me, and I will never get emotionally invested in any story because I can’t trust in what I am seeing is really a story or just a stunt that will be undone next week. And that is sad.
I expect this kind thing from Days because Days became a stunt soap during the nineties, but Y&R has been a character driven soap- if they change that- I predict it will lose it’s number one spot fairly soon. Fans will put up with a lot, but if they cross a line and change the format of the show — they will lose more viewers than they will gain.
Wow Michae!, what a great interview with Sharon Case, But the shocker of the revelation that Sharon switched the test results again to win back Nick doesn’t surprise me at all. I am not a big Sharon fan . Sharon has now lied to Faith that NIck and she will be a family again. Such machinations! The show is getting redundant in their story plots. It will be interesting to see the next switch. Soaps are eternally recycling story plots. Well, onward and upward!!…
I am very distressed at the turn of Sharon’s character, I am tired of her being the town slut, nut job, and yes the gold digger, when we know her great down fall after Cassie’s death was the Newman’ s, however this is what I believe that while she is in wacky land she is hallucinating that she changed the test results …..or some computer glitch because um how did she get into a lab when the door is usually some type of lock or key pad and would not the computer lock? I believe that she is going to have a rescuer, if the writer do not FIX this wack story line I am done I have been watching this story since I was seven years old and I am 47….AND I WILL WALK AWAY……the writers suck and this story line makes noooooo sense e and I am tired of Sweet and Low Avery…..seriously….Give Sharon love or put her back with Nick because actually the only other person she had good chemistry with is Adam……sorry for the Rant
I love Sharon Case however, if she think Sharon fans like me are satisfied with the direction of this character, she may be as delusional as Sharon Collins talking to ghost Cassie. She is a team player but she nor Josh Griffith realize how many people will stop watching. I am on strike unless it turns out that she hallucinated the whole thing or if Jack is really the father. Otherwise, I must say Josh Griffith and Jill Phelps will be the end and cancellation of Y&R by the end of 2014!
I think Sharon Case is only defending this storyline because she wants to keep her job. She’s a smart girl. The downside to working on a soap opera is that job security tends to override artistic integrity – if Sharon were to strongly protest, she would risk her character getting recast. You know what these soap producers are like- they LOVE playing God.
Wow. Just wow. I have loved and supported the character Sharon since SC started playing the role in 1994, and I understand that professionally you don’t bite the hand that feeds you, but I think SC is missing the mark regarding how her fans feel. This storylin twist is far from “brilliant” and the writers need to undo it NOW, not years from now! The storyline twist destroys the character of Sharon, perhaps beyond repair, and no matter how it’s written, not even Meryl Streep can make any part of this storyline make sense to the audience. The character Sharon has been off the rails for years now (ever since the Lynn Latham regime) and in the hands of Josh Griffiths her Bi-Polar diagnosis isn’t helping. I have been at a loss as to why Sharon has been behaving the way she has over the past 5 or so years and even Sharon Case, with all the spin and optimism she gives in every single interview, can’t truly believe that the character wasn’t being destroyed. Can she?! Her job as an actress is to make sense out of what her character is doing; but when the writing is so blatantly destructive to the character the audience can see that; and there is no “sense” to be made, no matter how talented the actress is (which I believe SC is). It’s heartbreaking to see now that this recent diagnosis of Bi-Polar Disorder will only be used now to justify every non-sensical thing Sharon has done and, apparently, will continue to do. Josh Griffiths is using a mental illness to excuse more sick writing for Sharon, which I find offensive to those people and their families that live with this mental illness. Entertainment is one thing, mocking a serious mentall illness and using it to make a joke out of a beloved character is something else all together. It’s WRONG. I couldn’t even finish reading SC’s entire interview because, like so many of her interviews in the past several years, she is trying to be positive about what her character has had to endure under EPs Lynn Latham, then Maria Arena Bell, and now under Jill Farren Phelps, but it’s just not ringing true for me as a long-time viewer of the show and supporter of the character Sharon. The Sharon Collins Newman that was such a strong fan favourite for many, many years is regime-by-regime being destroyed, yet I feel SC can’t (won’t) speak on that. The only time in my recollection that she was being completely forthright about her feelings about one of her (many) destructive storylines was when she was in that repulsive pairing with Eric Braeden’s Victor. Then, even the usually overly politically correct Ms. Case could not contain her intense “dislike” on twitter and let it be known that even she felt “this madness has got to stop!”. So I know Ms. Case recognizes when a storyline makes NO sense for her character and just demeans her… Read more »
I couldn’t agree with you more. Well said.
Thanks for saying or writing this because this is exactly how I feel after being a daily viewer of Y&R ever since mid 1980’s. The Sharon character is so unrecognizable and destroyed and this latest paternity twist takes the cake for me. I don’t understand why other actors fight for their characters and yet Sharon Case does not. Josh Morrow indicated in an interview that he spoke with the people in charge of writing that he was worried about how he will be depicted in Summer’s paternity storyline and lo and behold: Nick character is being protected at all costs while the Sharon character is being thrown under the bus or trashed again. Obviously, the Newman male characters are now being uphelded and being protected and women, not so much, and the bipolar mental illness is a convenient tool for the writers from her on out and it will be used as an excuse to keep writing Sharon as unhinged forever and will never be the normal Sharon again (Y&R Bill Bell’s Sharon, I am afraid is long gone). Obviously, this new regime has other new characters to promote as their kings and princesses: namely Dylan, Chelsea, Avery, Summer.
There is so much organic drama involved in the fallout of the Summer story that there is NO NEED to do these silly plot devises. These writers are incapable of writing a real drama and have to resort to over the top story telling. Instead of focusing on the feelings of the characters (PB, HK, MS can really convey their pain and anger) they throw this curve at us.
I read somewhere that Sharon is hallucinating that she switched the results. Even if that is so, the damage has been done. Such lazy writing depending on shock value to entertain. Well, it only ruins the show.
I agree George- even if the twist isn’t real and Sharon dreamed it, or there is some way to undo it all– the damage has been done– as a viewer I will never ever really trust any “big reveal” or “moment” on the show- because it could just be a stunt, a gimmick a way to create buzz. Good story telling depends on empathy, for viewers to be able to put themselves into the character’s lives, which I did with the story line- up until the “twist”- after that every scene before that seems like a lie- all the scenes after it seem like a lie. It is okay for characters to “lie” to each other, but not the writers to lie to viewers like that.
If this switch was reveal ten years from now- I could accept it because new writers change things. But they went into this last storyline knowing full well for a time they would be deceiving not just the characters, but me as well– and that is what can’t be undone. Fool me once shame on me- Fool me twice- I don’t think so.
Another great interview Mr. Fairman!!!
I so love Sharon Case and her acting skills.
But I’m so not loving this story line at all. I think Y&R should have waited a while longer before telling the viewers that Sharon had changed the results to help her get back with Nick.
I can’t believe that Jack is going to have his heart ripped out, again, when this is all said and over with. But I am so ready for the performances that will be coming from PB, MS & HK!!!! I know that they’ll be bringing their “A” games!!!!
Sharon C. seems to have reasoned this plot out well for herself , if not for me as a fan– and as I posted on the board, the actors see SLs primarily as it relates to their air time and careers. I don’t think they really get the attachment the fans have to their characters. Interesting that she talks about them discussing when their characters look like jackasses; but I don’t think she gets that we don’t like her character being the loser all the time. Seems like they’ve gone from the persecution of Adam to the persecution of Sharon.
I’m still aggravated that they blew the opportunity to have Sharon be very successful as the CEO of NE when Victor was missing. Could have been great for the character and the fans.
I think this is a joke,this is just going too far.
I am just about ready to stop watching Y&R. I don’t understand why they don’t just bring Sharon and Nick back together and let the viewers have at least one rock solid couple. I thought that Michael and Lauren would be that couple but look what they have done. I am so sick of the changes they make with Sharon. The whole marriage to Adam and Victor was ridiculous. I was also hoping that Summer really would be Jack’s daughter. I hate Phyllis and Summer and Jack and Kyle.
Look up bi-polar on the internet enough said! They are pulling a fast one on you she imagined the whole thing!
Just one more reason why Sharon should be dumped from the show, c’mon, do you really think she will get Nick back after seeing the pain he’s in? God, I hate this character so bad, Sharon go away, go far away.
You keep forgeting the pain Nick caused Sharon for 18 years and then being the last person he tells. And he is not suffering from BPD. If anyone needs to leave it is Nick. I love Sharon and i get where the actress is coming from. I want her to stay for a long time. As SC mentioned, Sharon is not malicious, she honestly feels she is supporting Nick.
well said shelley……Sharon go away, go far away.
lol
No…it’s the writers that should go away, far away. The fans could write better material.
Ruth, your comment is TRULY HILARIOUS…LOL!!!!! And, very true…I totally agree!!!!!
I am new to the show and loving it! I knew one of them was going down those stairs! it was so good and so soapy!
I love Sharon Case but I hate this story line. I want to see her get back with Adam and have true love. She deserves to have it after so long. I feel the writers are missing out on an epic couple. They have so much chemistry, so much tenderness and love in their interactions. I miss seeing them together. They just explode on the screen.
She is as crazy as her character.
I’m giving up on this show until jfp and jg are fired. They have ruined the Sharon character,changed the background music, and the show is the most boring show. I have watched for fifteen years. I’m switching to gh maura west is great on that show:))
The writers appear to have no creativity at all. The Y&R has gone down. It is not interesting anymore. Too many main and excellent characters have left. When Phyllis die, I will not tune in to the Y&R anymore.
Is it really that easy for someone go and switch a paternity test? They couldn’t come up with something else. Why this? All this back and forth; you are his daughter, no you are his daughter. It’s a stupid plot. Then there’s Sharon at the cemetery talking and Phyllis just happened to walk through the cemetery, when she was on her way to the Newman’s. stupid! They could not find another way for Phyllis to die?
Why are they holding these lengthy conversations with these dead people? Jack is talking to his father, Sharon is talking to her daughter, whose next? That’s too much of nothing. Neil and Leslie plot is a joke and very boring. Why haven’t Avery gotten over Dylan? It’s boring now. Victor and Nikki — no action there, they are dry. Adam sounds like a robot when he talks. Alex and Kevin role is boring. Bring back the original Kyle. Why can’t Billy stop drinking and gambling. Why do their bad habits always have to resurface? Why can’t they move on to more interesting and original parts? Because you need writers that are creative.
I tape the show now because there are so many boring plots. When I look at it, I fast forward through practically everything. I will watch an hour show in 15 mins. I never could figure it out why mostly at least 95% of the time, why everybody do their work (job) at a restaurant or bar doing personal transactions and people just walk up on you. Never could figure out Jill and Will’s part. Why are they there? OMG and Kevin’s mother.
Chelsea and Dylan are interesting and so is Adam and Sharon – together; hopefully the writers will retain Sharon some sense. Its boring to see her play stupid and dumb all the time. Jack is an interesting actor. Chloe is pretty good.
Well there’s no need for me to gripe anymore, because after Phyllis’ death, I will have no more comments.
Amen!
I started watching the Y&R with my grandma yrs ago,I haven’t been watching it as much bc haven’t cared much for the story line. I’ve been very disappointed bc Nick & Sharon never reunited,I don’t like how they have made Sharon out to be. Please Please! Let Nick & Sharon get back together & stay together. Let there be one decent couple that has been on the show for yrs have a life together again. RIP Katherine,you will be deeply missed……..
I started watching Y&R yrs ago with my grandmother. I have always loved Sharon & Nick but I don’t care for Sharon’s storyline. I still haven’t understood why Sharon & Nick haven’t reunited. Please Please! let them get back together. Let two people that have been on the show for yrs have the relationship they once had & stay that way. RIP Katherine you will be deeply missed,the show will never be the same without you…….
“Sharon is a good mother figure in the way that she says things to people when they need to hear them.” IN WHAT UNIVERSE??? WHAT WORLD? Sharon Case is as Delusional and Narcissistic as Sharon Newman! Sharon is a TERRIBLE MOTHER!!!!!!!!!! TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!! She Loves and beds a man who both STOLE HER BABY and Subsequently TOLD HER the baby was dead! She JUST finished manipulating her impressionable daughter Faith into coniving with her to remove Avery from Nick’s life … who does that? Come on ….. “Mother of the Year??????” NO FREAKING WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Bi-polar explains it all? Check the medical books again! This explanation has been a HUGE gaff on Y&Rs part and a DISSERVICE to those dealing with Bi-polar behavior! They should have given he the Brain Tumor and let her die. At this point, I really Wish Sharon took her “MiniMe manipulator Faith” & went back to the farm with the Vet and NEVER CAME BACK TO GC! Continues to be WORST PART OF THE STORY — Fast Forward when I see her tuck her hair under her ears (every episode!)
Deborah…girlfriend…in more ways than one, you are so RIGHT ON!!!!! Sharon Case is acting so STUPIDLY CLUELESS that it is BEYOND PATHETIC!!!!! As far as I’m concerned, BOTH Miss Case and her soap character each live on the, um, planet of…TOTAL DENIAL!!!!! Deborah, remember when Sharon slept with (and married!!!!!) Victor? ICKY ICKY ICKY ICKY!!!!! I lost all respect for the character of Sharon from that point on. Yep. And Sharon using Faith (her own daughter!!!!!) to break up Nick and Avery is BEYOND DUMB AS HELL!!!!! More and more, Y and R is becoming UNWATCHABLE TV!!!!! Not good at all!!!!! And, Sharon Case’s self-absorbed and totally airhead-like behavior (BOTH on-screen and off-screen) is NOT helping Y and R much. The Bottom Line: Sharon Case is fooling NO ONE!!!!!
General Hospital
GH’s Tamara Braun Talks On: Kim’s Plight With Her Son Oscar, Her Relationships With Julian and Drew & Coming Home To Port Charles
When Tamara Braun stepped back on to the canvas of General Hospital back in November of last year, the one-time and wildly popular Carly Corinthos #2 was now taking on the role of Dr, Kim Nero – a single mom of a teenage son (who is very protective of him), top-notch gynecologist in the medical profession, and a woman with a past with Drew Cain (Billy Miller). It was eventually revealed that Drew is her son Oscar’s (Garren Stitt) biological father.
Now as viewers have seen on recent episodes of the ABC soap opera, Oscar’s life looks like it could very well be cut short after the story shocker that now has the young teen diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor from cancer. Kim had kept the truth from her son until he confronted her upon learning the news on his own (with an assist from Cameron) and putting two and two together. This sets the stage for some difficult and heartbreaking moments ahead.
As for Braun, she rose to the top as one of soap operas most critically-acclaimed actresses after having the challenging task of taking over the role of Carly #1 in 2001 from three-time Daytime Emmy winner, Sarah Brown. Tamara not only met this challenge, but made Carly her own scoring an Emmy nod along the way. After departing GH in 2005, Tamara returned to daytime in 2008 in the role of Ava Vitali on Days of our Lives, which indeed earned her an Emmy. Next, she headed to Pine Valley and All My Children to take on the role of Reese Williams, the love interest to Bianca Montgomery (Eden Riegel), who eventually married from 2008-2009. Tamara even came back to DAYS for awhile in the role of Taylor in 2011, and later reprised the role of Ava in 2015-2016. With an impressive resume, GH is lucky to have her back and Braun finally felt the time was right to take on a new role on her first soap home upon her return in 2017. Viewers hope that they get to see more of those emotionally raw, honest performances that Braun is known for as more layers of Kim are revealed,
Michael Fairman TV caught up with Tamara to get her take on: the latest storyline involving Kim, Oscar and Drew, where Kim’s relationship with Julian Jerome stands, and how she feels it’s important to shed light on causes of the day needing our help and how we can all ultimately live in a kinder, more thoughtful world. Here’s what Tamara had to shared below.
In the episodes we saw last week, Kim had no choice but to tell Oscar the truth. What have you thought about this whole story where now Oscar is hating his mother, and upset with her, when she did not come forward with the truth about his medical condition to him, because in her mind she was protecting him?
Courtesy/ABC
TAMARA: Yes, that was reasoning. She did all of this to protect him so that he could have a normal teenage life without all of that hanging over his head. What do I think of it? I think that it has been hard for me, Tamara, to play. It has been hard for me to wrap my head around why a physician would not tell her son that he’s ill. It’s also been hard for me to wrap my head around because the way the writers have made Oscar and Kim’s relationship such a beautiful one that has been seemingly full of honesty and openness, that they can really talk to each other, which is one of the things that I really like. In terms of the storyline, what it does do is create conflict which is what’s needed in shows. Things can’t be ‘happy, happy, joy, joy’ all of the time, so it’s created conflict for Oscar and Kim and now Drew, because Kim dragged him into keeping the secret too for a little bit.
Courtesy/ABC
We just also learned that Kim’s reasoning to come to Port Charles in the first place was indeed because of Oscar.
TAMARA: Like Kim said, she came because she did an ancestry report, and it turned out that he has relatives in Port Charles. So, she wanted for them to get the opportunity to know him and him to get the opportunity to get to know them. I’m sure we will learn something about Kim’s past which would explain why in her mind she felt this was the right thing to do. We know that it seems like a very controlling thing. As a mother, take the physician out of it, I still think that Kim would have shared his diagnosis with him, but I don’t think one ever knows what they would do in that situation. You think you know what you would do, but perhaps she felt that she could control it; she could figure it out. Perhaps, Kim felt that because she is a physician she’ll find some answer, and she’ll be able to fix it. These are the questions, and these are the things that as an actor, I have to put in my head because it’s not what I believe I would do. It’s not even what I believe the character of Kim as I knew her would have done, but it’s what the writers have written. So, they have to have a reason, and I think that it has got to be more than just to create conflict. That’s what stories rely on. It’s soap, and a lot of people on soaps have to do crazy things and find out ways to justify them when they seem out of character.
You’re right. Kim and Oscar had a very open relationship. Yes, she was a “controlling mother,” if you want to say that, but they were honest with each other. Garren Stitt has been very endearing in the role. What can you say about working with him?
TAMARA: I just adore Garren. I have adored him from the minute I met him. I think he’s a lovely, sweet, kind person, and I feel so fortunate to get to play his mom. I really do. I think he’s wonderful, and I’m lucky.
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Now as to the situation with Drew, Kim truly did not know he was in town when she got to Port Charles, right?
TAMARA: Correct.
What does she feel towards Drew now, and does this situation ultimately draw them closer together?
TAMARA: I think it absolutely draws them closer together, because now they have to deal with Oscar. Because once Kim accepted Drew back into their lives (she thought he was dead long ago), she opened up her arms to him in the capacity of being a father for Oscar. Kim has had to deal with everything with her child all on her own for fifteen years. It’s just been the two of them. So, I think that at some point it has got to be difficult to allow someone else in to help make decisions, and to lean on, and to co-parent with. I think it was difficult at first, but I think now she is grateful to have him to share it with, even though they may not see things eye-to-eye all of the time.
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Do you foresee Kim and Drew, at any point, growing closer romantically?
TAMARA: I don’t know. It’s not looking like that. It’s looking like a nice friendship and one that is very caring and understanding, but as of now, I don’t see hints of it. You never know. As you know, it’s a soap. Anything could happen.
How has it been working with Billy Miller? He has also done some wonderful work as the devastated father.
TAMARA: It’s been great. The last few scenes that we had to do, there have been those special moments you get as an actor where the angels are just with you. It all just kind of connects and flows together. I think we’ve been lucky to have gotten a few of those as of late, and that’s been really nice.
Courtesy/ABC
In story, it was revealed that Oscar could enter an experimental trial that could help his tumor and the cancer, is that what Kim wants her son to do?
TAMARA: Absolutely, because she feels anything that could possibly save his life or give him more time, she wants for him.
I also like that they made Dr. Terry Randolph (Cassandra James), Oscar’s pediatric oncologist.
TAMARA: Yes. Cassandra is really lovely to work with, and she’s just a lovely human being as well. I’m fortunate right now. I get to work with some lovely people.
Courtesy/ABC
Do you think Kim’s going to let Julian (Will deVry) know about what she is dealing with?
TAMARA: Julian does not know. Oscar doesn’t want anyone to know and especially Julian. He wants his mom and dad together, so he’s decided not to let Julian know. I think only for those reasons. Kim really didn’t honor Oscar by keeping this news of him being ill from him, so she has to honor him in his request not to share this with Julian.
Is Kim aware of how Cameron (William Lipton) is trying to maneuver himself into a relationship with Josslyn (Eden McCoy)? Does she understand what’s going on there?
TAMARA: Kim doesn’t know anything about it.
Photo: ABC
Does Kim want Josslyn to be with Oscar?
TAMARA: She does, because she knows that Josslyn makes Oscar happy, and to be happy, is what’s most important right now, because that also can help any type of recovery. When we are happy, or are doing things that make us joyful, or raise our endorphin levels in a positive way, that’s good for health. That’s good for recovery, and she wants her son to be happy. What mother doesn’t want her son to be happy? Especially now, with everything going on.
Kim was having an issue that Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) and Franco (Roger Howarth) knew about Oscar’s prognosis. Do you think she’ll be more lax about that now, or do you think she’ll be more even intense about people not finding out?
TAMARA: I think she doesn’t want people to know because Oscar now knows, and he doesn’t want people to know. I think that she wants to keep his confidence. I think she doesn’t want anyone else to know because she needs to respect Oscar’s wishes.
Courtesy/ABC
Do you think that it’s possible that Drew’s twin, Jason (Steve Burton) is somehow the bio-dad of Oscar, and not Drew? The character of Jason has a history of brain injuries and trauma.
TAMARA: I never thought of that! (Laughs) That would be a fun kind of plot twist! I don’t think so because there have been lines a couple of times when Kim is with Jason and she says, “You know, you look exactly like him. It’s kind of hard to wrap my head around that, but you act so differently.” You know what? Even if Jason did have a brain tumor, he is Drew’s twin, and Drew is Oscar’s father, so that does still genetically match and run in the family. It’s an interesting twist there that you bring up!
I remember watching the episode where the audience learned Oscar was dying and I was completely shocked! I had no idea where the writers were going with it after the seizure. When the powers-that-be filled you in on what was going on, what was your reaction to that part of the story?
Photo Credit: ABC
TAMARA: Illness in any form on a soap gives you something to play. So, that’s good. When they start saying in the dialogue, “terminal,” you’re like, “What!?” But then you also have people saying, “There’s always hope,” so, you never know where it’s actually going to go, or how the story lines will play. I understand how people keep saying that it came out of the blue and they didn’t even hint at that. So, I will say they did write a scene the day that Michael (Chad Duell) lost the baby, and I believe Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Michael were in the church. There was a scene that I was ready to shoot that day, and it was a monologue in the church. It was after Nelle’s (Chloe Lanier) baby had died and after Kim and Nelle had scenes. Kim goes to the chapel and she has a monologue talking to God, and it was a bit of a hint, but they had to cut the scene because the tape day ran long. I didn’t even shoot it. I think that had they had left it in; people would have been like, “Oh, that’s what that meant.” I think now that I see the reaction of viewers and you’re bringing it up, that would have been the moment you could have gone to and said. “Oh! That’s the moment. That’s what she meant,” or when it happened, the audience have been like, “What’s going on? What don’t we know?” I think had that scene been in there, people wouldn’t have been taken aback so much.
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
So, what would you say the audience can look forward to with Kim coming up? Are we going to see her with a lot of stress on her relationship with her son? Do you see her holding it together, or falling apart?
TAMARA: I think probably all of the above… trying to pull it together, falling apart, a rift between them, trying to bring it back together, making mistakes, doing the right thing … I think it’s everything. I think reality just smacked Kim in the head, and her son… but when you’re so closed and tight about something in life, and when you no longer have control over it… you’ve got your best-laid plans, and you know what they say about your best-laid plans. (Laughs). It explodes, and then you have to deal with the aftermath. So, hopefully we will see some nuance in there. I’m hoping for it. Hopefully, we will see Kim and Oscar work through stuff because people make mistakes; people do the wrong things for what they think are the right reasons all the time. If Oscar is dealing with an inoperable, terminal brain tumor here, then time is of the essence for them to get it together and come together.
Well, I hope that it’s hankie-inducing, poignant and does have those beats for you to play, and they don’t kind of skip story beats. As you said, time is of the essence for them and there is, usually no matter what, an unbreakable bond between mother and son.
TAMARA: I hope so, too! We can keep our fingers crossed for that!
Photo Credit: ABC
What attributes of Kim do you like playing?
TAMARA: Kim’s no pushover, which I do like about her. She’s strong, but she’s a quiet strong. She doesn’t come at somebody charging, blazing, knocking things down or with a baseball bat like Carly does. She has strength as a woman, and it’s in a very different way.
Do you think Kim is in love with “Charlie” AKA Julian?
TAMARA: I think she loves him. It’s been a long time since she’s been in a relationship. Her primary relationship, for better or for worse, has been her son all these years. She’s made him her number one and didn’t feel she had time or that there was anyone who was worth that time. So, I think that with Charlie, or Julian, whoever the hell he is (laughs)…
… Wait! She knows he’s Julian, right? (Laughs)
TAMARA: Yes, she knows, but she likes to call him, “Charlie” because of the bar. It was a cute little thing from the beginning. I think that he doesn’t pressure her. It’s easy, it’s fun, it’s light, and that’s what I think she can handle right now.
How has it been playing the mother of a teenager? Is that odd for you? It seems like a bit of a jump.
TAMARA: It seems like a jump from what people have seen me do for a long time. If you think about it, the last time people saw me on General Hospital with a kid, it was Michael (formerly Dylan Cash), and I mean, not in soap terms, but in real life terms, he was playing I think 6 when he was 8, and now he’s 23 so he would have been playing 21 if he had stayed.
Courtesy: TBraunTwitter
Is it ever odd for you that you aren’t the character of Carly anymore when you see Michael and characters that you have shared and played emotional attachments with your first go-round on GH? I would suppose as an actress you can switch that on and off, but what about as a person?
TAMARA: Yes, as an actress you switch it off, but as a person Michael is not the same Michael. I think if he had been the same because we were so close, and we were so connected it might have been more difficult. If it were him on set playing him every day, I’d be like, “Hi honey! Hi my son!” He was so in my heart. I think because it’s Chad Duell now playing the part, who is lovely and wonderful, there’s no history with us, and that made it really okay. I loved Dylan as a little boy. I still love him. He stopped in at my fan event, which was wonderful!
When you think back on all of your soap roles, it’s pretty amazing what you’ve done. Although we hated the end of the Reese/Bianca wedding on All My Children, it was the first same-sex wedding, and was a landmark moment. You were a part of it. Forget what happened afterwards, but that moment was key. When you were on General Hospital, you received a Daytime Emmy nomination for your performance as Carly. And then there was Days of our Lives’ Ava Vitali! You got to play the psycho. You won the Supporting Actress Emmy for your performance. Do you think Ava is somehow still alive?
TAMARA: I think she may be alive. I mean, no one really saw. They put a sheet over her and rolled her out. You didn’t see her dead. I mean, come on now. Joey (James Lastovic, Ex-DAYS) can strangle, but I don’t know that he’s that strong. Ava’s got some fire in her.
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Such a great role!
TAMARA: I have been really, really blessed to play very strong or pivotal or interesting, dynamic roles on daytime. I have been very fortunate to do that, and I have been very fortunate to work with people who allow me to do my thing. They don’t hamper it. They say, “Go. Go for it.”
I love your Instagram posts, and I love when you talk about social issues and things that are important to you. Could you talk a little bit about how you’re using that platform to make a difference?
TAMARA: I just like to post things that are important to me. There are a lot of people who are using social media for brand identity. I’m glad that I don’t even know what that is. I mean, maybe I should know. (Laughs) It probably would be better for me, but –
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
You realize on Instagram; if you post a shirtless pic along with a quote from something unrelated and are a guy, or are a very sexy woman, you’re going to get millions of likes.
TAMARA: Yeah, and that’s not my brand. (Laughs) I guess if I had to say what my brand is; it would be “Truth. Real. Honest.” You know, here’s the real deal from me. I think it’s important to bring awareness to what’s going on that touches your heart. I think that if you can shed light on issues in a positive way, to make people think, to make people feel; that is important. I have always wanted to do good things in the world, and you can do that at any place and time in your life as a human being, but when you have a bit of a platform, I believe it is a responsibility to use that to share things of importance to the world for humanity. We’re given this one life. Whether you come back, or whatever you believe this is the one life we have, if we don’t do something good with it, what’s the point? I think there’s too much, “Me, me, me, me, me.” I mean, that’s what this business is, right? But we need to step back, and we need to remember that there is a real world going on out there where people are dealing with issues, and we need to be kind. That being said, I do post stuff of myself, and people want to see it, so I want to give them what makes them happy, but I think that as long as I’m doing that too, I think it also makes people happy to see things good going on in the world, bring light to issues that need light brought on them. I really just feel that we need more kindness. We need more positivity because right now is a really hard time in our world, in America especially. It’s important to be more generous and kind-spirited than what we’re so often seeing these days.
So, what have you thought about the way Kim handled telling Oscar of his cancer diagnosis? Do you hope Kim continues to stay in Julian’s orbit, or would you want her to become involved with Drew? What do you think will happen next in the story … will Oscar survive? What has been your most favorite performance of Tamara Braun of all her soap roles through the years? Comment below.
Interviews
Y&R’s Hunter King Talks Summer’s Clash With Phyllis, Seducing Billy, ‘Life In Pieces’ & Being Newly Engaged
On The Young and the Restless viewers just watched the summer of … Summer! When the top-rated soap brought back two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Hunter King to the canvas, you knew it was going to be to stir up some major drama. But, little did viewers know that Summer came back a vixen, ready to steal her mother’s man!
Last month, it became game on between mother and daughter after their epic showdown, where Phyllis (Gina Tognoni) got wind of Summer’s attempts to put the moves on Billy (Jason Thompson) and her plans to meet up with him in Philly! (And that spelled trouble for the couple known as “Philly” too) Oh yes, and there was that well-deserved bitch-slap! So, where will it all go from here?
Michael Fairman TV caught up with King where we discussed: Summer’s new attitude, if Summer will get her wish and have sex with Billy, her real-life engagement, and her upcoming return to the CBS sitcom Life in Pieces, and more. Check out what Hunter had to say below.
Summer is so pursuing Billy! When you came back to Y&R, did they tell you we need her to be really vampy and this seductress? What has happened to her? (Laughs)
HUNTER: Yes. I understood where it was coming from, and I was excited to play the same character, but being able to play it totally different. I get to sort of reinvent her. I think when Summer went away she discovered herself, and kind of grew into Phyllis’ daughter … maybe. But I will say, it has been very vampy, and you don’t even know yet what’s to come!
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
How is working with Jason Thompson?
HUNTER: Working with Jason is great. He is always so professional and prepared and always willing to collaborate on scenes. Jason is just so creative, and so in it, and loves to work so much that he just exudes that the scenes.
Let’s just say when Summer and Billy “finally” hit the sheets … (Laughs)
HUNTER: We don’t yet … we shall see. The way this whole storyline unfolds you think it’s going one way and then there is a twist, and then twists on top of twists. The more layers that come into play you start to understand why everything is happening the way it is.
Now, Summer had no idea that Billy had a gambling addiction, which put this whole spiral of his in motion?
HUNTER: I guess not? (Laughs) It’s hard to know. I would say she evidently did not know about his gambling.
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Viewers saw Phyllis slap her daughter in the face as the fight between them escalated; when Summer admitted she was going after her mother’s boyfriend! How was it taping that scene, and working with Gina Tognoni?
HUNTER: She’s amazing! Gina didn’t really slap me, but I will say afterwards they wanted to put red blush on my cheeks, and I said, “Oh, just pinch my cheek instead, and I wound up bruising my cheek.” So Gina goes, “I really didn’t hit her!” It was the funniest banter on set. Gina was scary in those scenes, like a good scary. I went, “Damn!”
On August 18th, you got engaged to your beau, Nico Svoboda. Were you expecting him to propose when he did?
HUNTER: I was so shocked, even though I had wanted it to happen, very much. But, I had no idea when it was coming. It was amazing, and the best day of my life and, we are engaged!
Photo : HKingInstagram
And he got down on one knee for the proposal!
HUNTER: Yes! I thought it was sweet. It’s something you dream about when you are a little girl.
What it is about Nico that makes him the guy for you?
HUNTER: Besides the amazing qualities he has as a person – he’s compassionate, he’s caring, he’s driven, he’s loving, and just cares for others so much – I love the way that he loves me. I have never felt so loved before, and so accepted, and he is very supportive of my career.
Courtesy/CBS
Are you excited to go back to your role as Clementine on the sitcom, Life in Pieces? It is slated for a midseason premiere.
HUNTER: I am super excited to be back. We are back taping again I am excited to do the sitcom and Y&R As an actress, it’s so exciting to get to do different things: a sitcom and soaps … why not?! (As noted in the press: King took a three-episode break from Y&R to film some episodes of the sitcom due to a scheduling conflict.)
Then speaking of “All in the Family,” it was just announced, your sister, Joey is coming onto Life in Pieces.
HUNTER: Yes! How crazy. She will be on for a few episodes, and it will be fun. I think we will interact a little bit on the show, and we have never had the chance to work together before.
Photo: HKingInstagram
You and your sister have the funniest Instagram videos. Do you plan those out?
HUNTER: Joey is so funny. It kind of just happens when we get together. Sometimes we film something and sometimes we don’t. But Joey is so much fun and my best friend. She is the funniest person in the entire world, and so it’s just easy to laugh when I am with her.
So, what did you think of the showdown between Summer and Phyllis? Are you glad Phyllis slapped her daughter, or was it a mistake? What do you think will happen next? Will Summer ultimately sleep with Billy? Do you want Summer to end up with Kyle (Michael Mealor)? Will you be checking out Hunter on Life in Pieces? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
General Hospital
General Hospital’s Max Gail Opens Up On Portraying Mike’s Battle With Alzheimer’s & Making A Difference In People’s Lives
“What happens the day I wake up, and you guys are the strangers,” says Mike to his son, Sonny and his wife Carly (Laura Wright). “I left you before to my everlasting regret, but it’s going to happen. I’d do anything if I didn’t have to do it again, but it’s going to happen – one way or the other. At least this way I could leave some good feelings, instead of disappearing before your eyes.” Those words were said during a gut-wrenching scene on Friday’s episode of General Hospital, as Mike tries to come to terms with his deteriorating mental state in his battle with Alzheimer’s, and the hard realization that he may be better off in a care facility, instead of at his son’s home. These scenes, as all the scenes in this storyline, have been exquisitely played by Max Gail (Mike) and Maurice Benard (Sonny).
When Max Gail arrived on the GH canvas as the recast Mike Corbin in a role made soap-famous by Ron Hale, viewers did not know what to initially expect. What they did know was that Max is an accomplished actor with a body of work from primetime dramas and comedies, film, and the stage, and that if he is coming to GH, he must be coming on board for something major. Before GH, suffice to say, Gail is most remembered for his role as “Wojo” on the ABC sitcom Barney Miller that aired from 1975-1982.
In story on GH, Mike, who abandoned Sonny as a child, once again re-enters his son’s life, but soon we learn that he is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and that the soap is tackling a story that is an important medical, social, and familial issue of our time.
Gail has been a revelation in this role. A clear frontrunner for an Emmy, playing the facets, the levels, the characteristics, and the heartbreak of a person who is slowly losing everything they know near and dear to them, as in the end they are ultimately stripped of their dignity from this most horrific of diseases.
On a personal note, and as part of this conversation with Max, it was important for him and for me to share, that I lost my mother at the end of April of this year to Alzheimer’s. So his work hits close to home, this story hits close to home, as it has also resonated for many viewers who have shared their stories on social media and when Max makes personal appearances.
Here now is this very special interview for Michael Fairman TV with an actor whom we can all agree is touching all of our lives.
You’re portraying a person suffering from Alzheimer’s and play the progression of the disease. Do you feel pressure as an actor to get it right for those who have loved ones, or person’s afflicted with it?
Courtesy/ABC
MAX: It’s more like an urge, or a calling to find some kind of truth in it that I can connect with. One of the things I’m inclined towards showing is someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia often just drifts off somewhere else. “Where am I going?” This has happened to me many times in life. For instance, when I was a youngster, I can remember getting in my car, and I’d driven a long way from some party or something like that, and I’d been drinking, and I didn’t remember it. I knew I’d gotten home somehow. So, it’s not out of my realm. I’ve learned that there are no set behaviors really… other than that it usually ends up being really difficult for caretakers, and seemingly really painful for many, if not most people suffering with Alzheimer’s, and losing connection and losing the ability to just function. We are kind of on the cusp of that in story at GH. I think it was originally proposed that I would play the part for just a few months, and to give me an out if it wasn’t working. Maybe, there was a placeholder idea to ship Mike off to a home or something, but the storyline has touched so many people that it has been continuing.
The story has been so effective. You’ve done such an amazing job, and the fans love Mike and what you’re doing with the character, and they’re on board on this journey. It’ll be interesting to see how far they will take this with Mike. Will we actually see him not being able to communicate anymore? How far will the writers go to show the horrific aspects of Alzheimer’s?
MAX: I’m not sure. You know, I’ve had times where I’ve got the scene, I get the writers, and I get the heart of it. Other times, I find where that transition is from where Mike is lucid and clear, and other times what that state of mind is and that switch is, and what that is in behaviors and energy level. I think there’s an ongoing downturn for Mike, and for me as an actor finding something in the moment and finding how it works with things that he does remember. They’re trying to find a place for Mike within all of the interwoven drama of General Hospital. I, frankly, had no idea how complex the range of storylines was. Mike doesn’t really have control over his story. I don’t want that as an actor. Mike has some intentions that are really important to him. I’m trying to find that balance where there are times when he has a pathetic, very sad remorse about what he has missed. I think that underlies his feelings for his son, who he never could quite reach, because of his own failings as a father. Sonny’s formative experiences growing up were then with his abusive stepdad. Finding all of that is really important to do in a way that doesn’t make Mike just this sweet older man with Alzheimer’s. It’s a wonderful challenge to be presented with.
Courtesy/CBS
You brought up that Mike is seemingly very sweet in his demeanor now. My mother, who I shared with you died a few months ago from Alzheimer’s was a strong-willed, feisty woman. As the disease took hold of her, she became very sweet. She became almost childlike. The fire had gone out of her eyes. You knew she didn’t know who you were, and so, all of that, as you know is so tough to witness as her son. In terms of Mike and his ultimate care, everyone says they love him and want what is best for him, but that he needs to be taken care of because he gets confused, doesn’t know where he is sometimes. etc. Sonny has been grappling with putting him in a care facility to be looked after, or to keep him with the Corinthos family under their roof. However, Mike has come to a realization that he may need to be in facility all on his own, and doesn’t want to burden his son by living with him anymore. That was a poignant moment, and another one of the best scenes has been when Mike couldn’t remember that Sonny was his own son.
MAX: Right and he doesn’t know if he’s around friends or around enemies. This can be true of Alzheimer’s patients.
I had that happen with my mother when she came out to Los Angeles to see me for the last time. She was out of her element, she was confused, and she broke down and cried in the hotel room. She asked my father, “Why did you bring me here?” and he told her, “We came to see our son.” It was heartbreaking. Later, she had a moment of clarity and realized more of what was going on. I think it’s those in-and -out moments that you portray so well on-screen. I feel that they are very realistic to what I, and others, have experienced.
Courtesy/ABC
MAX: I appreciate that and sharing that with me, because you never know as an actor. That place of “Where am I? What is this?” makes me think of that “Summer Wind” moment from the Nurses’ Ball when it wasn’t just, “I’m embarrassed. I don’t remember the words.” It was, “I don’t know where the f**k I am. I thought there was a band there, but there’s not.” So, in a way, I just had to be there on this big soundstage and just feel this big space around me. I could barely see that there were people out there. It’s kind of a terrifying thing to a lot of people, but I think Mike has something in him that makes him want to be okay with all of this. He doesn’t have to freak out and get accusatory.
Courtesy/ABC
What has it been like working with Maurice Benard as your on-screen son? Do you watch back your scenes together and ever go, “Oh, that was great!?”
MAX: Yes, there have been a lot of those! There are some scenes that are so emotionally focused, and we get a lot of delight in each other. He has been playing this character in this situation for so long, so it’s just kind of in him. Maurice has presence. I think when I went in to read for the part of Mike, I had gone through pilot season and had gone in for some interesting pilots. I didn’t feel like I was really connecting in the readings, because most things are by tape these days, anyway. When this part came up, a soap hadn’t really been on my radar. I knew I’d be going in to read with the actor, so I said, “Okay,” and I looked at the material, and then I checked out Maurice on IMDB. One of the things that got my interest was that he has been diagnosed and takes medication to deal with bipolar disorder, and that’s become a part of his life, and it’s become part of his character. I thought, “Wow, that’s really interesting. This is a survivor, and he’s risen to something that takes a certain kind of balance and courage.” I watched some clips, and when I went in for the reading of this kind of an amalgamation scene of what the story elements were going to be, I felt like we connected before we’d even started the dialogue.
Well, Maurice certainly loves working with you! He has been very supportive and vocal about that.
MAX: It’s mutual. We can take really little simple moments, and we can find something deeper in it, and it doesn’t have to be an, ‘I’m going to start crying now’ moment. Although, I would love for Mike to have a moment of self-observation where he goes, “Gee. I cry a lot more than I used to.” I think there are people who are like that, and it’s okay for certain people to cry, and for other people it is not.
Courtesy/ABC
There was a part of my mom that knew something was wrong. She’d go, “Why am I crying? I don’t know why I’m crying.” She got confused as to why she was feeling that. She couldn’t connect it all, and at times she kept saying, “I don’t understand. I don’t understand.” Those were the things she would try to express.
MAX: I have a feeling that Mike has those moments too, but he finds a way for it to be okay. There may be a point where someone with Alzheimer’s can’t pull it off anymore, but how we find those and those specifics, I don’t know.
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Working on a classic sitcom such as Barney Miller is vastly different than working on a daytime soap opera. While now being at GH, have you found any commonality within the experience?
MAX: If I can take a moment and reflect on Barney Miller, because it was a great experience and one that I found was not so easy to find again over the years. One of the things that really resonates is that when we started shooting the studio audience laughed too easily. We would end up retaking the scenes. Sometimes, we didn’t have the end of the show written, because they tended to let certain things start to show up in the earlier parts of the script. Danny Arnold who was the writer, creator and producer of Barney Miller would always take over the way Frank Valentini (executive producer, GH) does in a way … looking to be respectful of the director, but still seeing things on his own. Frank has a really wonderful eye. He’s much more connected into the overall storylines, the motivations that went into the writing, and what he sees in the moment. I always welcome him on the set because the directors, who have a range of talents and sensibilities, are tasked with coming up with a whole lot of shots to cover, a whole lot of tricky angles, and all of that.
Courtesy/ABC
Vernee Watson has been amazing as Stella, who is also Mike’s social worker. Does Mike have romantic feelings toward Stella?
MAX: Vernee is wonderful. I didn’t know Vernee had been on the show when I came on board. She won an Emmy, and I’m not surprised. She is so present and so specific, and she’s very bright and gets what all of these elements are, and so, I think they have a connection. For whatever ways Mike has lived in his like, there isn’t some strange, exotic draw that she is black, and Mike is white. I like that because both my first and late wife, and my second wife, with whom I’ve had children (and we’ve been separated for awhile, but have a great relationship) are African-American. So, in my world that is not a big deal. I think there’s an affinity there between Mike and Stella. You know, he’s alive. He’s old, but he’s not dead. There’s an ease with women he likes. I think there are a whole lot of reasons for them to not get involved. One is just professional, and she’s a social worker. We just shot something where I say something to somebody else about, “back when I still had all my marbles,” you know, he’s in another stage of life, which many people go into gracefully, while many don’t.
What do you think about how Mike knows about who was buried at Charlie’s Pub? He was trying to keep the truth about Charlie Delaney from coming out, which turned into a gas leak that blew up the bar! This storyline ties in to Sonny’s mobster dealings as well.
MAX: Well, this is where they put this effort in the storytelling to connect Mike in some way and be intertwined with Sonny. Of course, it reveals certain things about Mike that he’s never revealed to anybody before. So, that’s kind of cool. I think when he knows what and how much sometimes is not clear. That’s why I started talking about Barney Miller because the other thing was a lot of times when we go together for the table reads, they didn’t have the end of the story. They had a first draft, maybe. Dan would talk about it, and they’d say, “Next week, the main story is going to be this man in his fifties who is coming to terms with the fact that he is gay,” or whatever those underlying themes may be with the different characters reactions. So, we knew elements going into it and that sometimes I didn’t know what the writers are really intending. In terms of Mike, he’s kind of back and forth in certain moments. I have to resist the idea that they trap me by just being careless. I’ve learned that just trying to fix the script often gets you into a place where you “rehearse yourself out of it,” as they say.
Courtesy/GoodDayLA
You appeared on the morning show Good Day LA a few months back with Laura Wright (Carly), and Maria Shriver, who has founded the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement. What was that like meeting Maria, and helping get the word out about the effects of this disease and the work Maria is doing?
MAX: It was great to do. Maria had sent out a tweet that is was wonderful what was going on, on General Hospital. On Good Day LA, she talked about her work, particularly focusing on the fact that more women are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s than men. So, then Laura and I sat down and did an interview alongside Maria. We actually had a nice conversation before. They did a web interview also as a follow-up. That was very cool, because Maria is very smart, and I’d never met her, but it was great to see what she was doing. Whatever we are dealing with in the show is sort of my opportunity in the real world to bring awareness and shed light on the subject. I’d love to see an ongoing conversation online amongst people who can share their stories with each other. That’s a lot of what they’re doing. They’re raising money for research, but people need to be able to talk to each other when you’re a caregiver. Coming out of the early sixties and early seventies when I was playing a cop on TV, I never was a fanatic activist. I certainly got the behavior of the Chicago police at a certain time in terms of the energy and conflicts of the time. There was something to think about, but at the same time, I had opportunities to kind of share that all cops aren’t bad, just look at the show, Barney Miller.
Courtesy/ABC
You were my favorite character on Barney Miller as Detective Wojciehowicz! I think for many who watched the show you were, too!
MAX: I think “Wojo” ended up being the heart of the show.
Max, you’re helping people through your beautiful performances including me. Congratulations on that. I’ll continue have to have a box of Kleenex handy as I watch how it all unfolds for Mike.
Photo: IMDB
MAX: Well, I really appreciate your questions. I’m just planting that seed. That is really what I would like to do after talking to you and so many people. That’s something I’d like to put out there. We each have our own domains and responsibilities and all of it overlaps, and you can kind of get in touch with that; if you just go around the circle and share it, and then go around again. I’m looking to help people out there in the world who are watching and are looking to share in the conversation.
So, what did you think about the heartbreaking scenes on Friday’s episode of GH between Mike and Sonny? What have you thought of Max Gail’s performance throughout his GH run? Have you experienced the loss, or are watching someone you love, or care about slip away from Alzheimer’s? Share your thoughts via the comment below.
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