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As The World Turns

Want to Know What's Good on the Soaps? – Power Performances of the Week!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

For all of those naysayers in the world who say that soap operas are the poor step children in the entertainment medium, and that the performers in them are just churning out the same ole’ same ole’, day in and day out, one can look no further than this week on daytime.  There were so many riveting moments performed by some of the best that soaps have to offer, that when everyone in the mainstream says there is nothing left in soaps anymore, and they are an eroding commodity, they should have witnessed what many fans saw.   Our Power Performances of the Week, include five actors who each gave us chills and made us reach for our hankies.   Let’s begin in Port Charles with General Hospital’s Kimberly McCullough and Jason Thompson.   As Robin and Patrick, the betrayal and disintegration of their marriage began, when Patrick fessed up to Robin he cheated on her with nut job Lisa, while she was away in Africa.   After having been backed into a corner due to Lisa’s machinations, he had no choice but to admit to Robin his infidelity.  McCullough, whose performance was so powerful when she realized that Patrick shattered their marriage, showed us once again how given the material, she can hit it out of the park every time.  And, the writing of these scenes was also spot on.  Robin was all at once strong and that hurt little girl we have watched grow up before our very eyes for decades.   We never want to see our Robin hurt.  When it does, it’s a major moment.  On Friday’s episode, McCullough did it again when she struggles to come to terms with Patrick’s betrayal, realizing she wants to work things out.  Jason Thompson, what can I say?  One of soap operas best leading men. And, perhaps can out cry any male actor on daytime with real tears, and real emotion.  As Patrick, Thompson played his embarrassment, betrayal, and disgust of the situation with Lisa, and what he had done to his beloved wife, and their child, Emma to perfection.  It looks from where I am standing and from what we know is to come – a special return from Michael Sutton, as Stone Cates in the month of September – that old heartfelt wounds between Patrick and Robin, and the impact of the memory of Stone, will play out.

Courtesy/ABC

Crossing over to Llanview, Robin Strasser (Dorian) reminded us all of how to chew the scenery, and still make everyone around you, and the audience at home, believe every single second of it.  When Dorian’s big wedding day to David Vickers (aka Buchanan) arrived, and the duo had finally gotten past their mistrust of each other and got over themselves, and truly admitted their feelings for one another, it looked like this match made in heaven was going to endure.  Ah, but not when Tuc Watkins (David) is involved, because he had to be written out to go star on Desperate Housewives for awhile.  So Ron Carlivati and the One Life to Live writing team came up with a perfect plan that gave Strasser her moment to shine.  Dorian receives a letter that David is standing her up at the altar for the second time!  Reeling from the news, humiliated, and embarrassed, Dorian retreats to her room and bit by bit comes unglued, destroying everything in her path, and ending up on the floor clutching a pillow, and reminding us that there is a fragile little girl inside Dorian.  But wait!  When Viki (Erika Slezak) comes to help Dorian, literally and figuratively pick up the pieces, Dorian lays into her nemesis and blames her for the whole thing… classic Viki/Dorian!  Later, as Langston and Starr brought Dorian back to La Boulaie, the intensity and the emotions of the abandonment and betrayal were brilliant played by Strasser yet again!

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

As we head over to Oakdale, it was truly a gift from Jean Passanante and As the World Turns writing team to give Colleen Zenk (Barbara) an episode that truly showed her remarkable talents.  It was truly, I believe, a love letter to Colleen and Barbara for 32 years of bringing a one of a kind character to the small screen.  As the series ends it’s remarkable run of 54 years on September 17th, Friday’s episode was the beginning of the can’t miss episodes that will tie together, and give closure to a myriad of the key characters.  But it started with veteran Zenk.  As Barbara and Henry struggled to come to grips with whether they should marry one another with the Stenbeck curse hovering over them, Zenk played it to the hilt.  In a part “cougar” storyline, Barbara wondered if she was too old, not pretty enough, or was it her past evil skullduggery that was making Henry not commit?  But it wasn’t.  It was the curse of the Stenbecks that had this man, who was formerly scared by his own shadow, wanting to run to the hills.  But after an emotional and convincing speech by Barbara about their unorthodox and bizarre life and love, the wedding was a go and it was to happen right away! In the second half of the episode, that is when Zenk really shined.  Realizing her family would probably never show up for a wedding of hers and Henry, she was shocked when they all did! And, in bittersweet and emotional moments with the core characters of her family and extended family, back-history was subtlety played, and rivalries were subdued, as everyone was there to support Barbara in her big moment.  When it came to the vows – hankies!  Colleen, tears flowing (and reminding us all of Barbara’s and Colleen’s real-life cancer scare and the true meaning of getting a new lease on life), delivered a monologue to Henry (Trent Dawson) that without a doubt was one of the finer moments.   Bittersweet, joyful and life-affirming, Zenk did it all throughout the episode devoted to her.

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Finally, Days of our Lives James Scott (EJ Dimera) did not disappoint, and showed us the gamut of emotions behind his dark, brooding, and yet romantic character when the truth came out at EJ and Sami’s (Alison Sweeney) wedding day!  Many have known for months that before Labor Day, all of EJ’s lies would spin out of control once Rafe (Galen Gering) had the evidence to bring him down for his hideous plot to make Sami believe her daughter, Sydney had died!  Let’s not forget EJ was behind the baby girl’s kidnapping in the first place, and concocted all of this to exact revenge on Sami and everyone that wronged and betrayed him in the first place. After Rafe broke up another one of Sami’s weddings (the gal at this point should never get in a wedding dress again!) with the evidence of EJ’s deception, the sexy Dimera’s house of cards came tumbling down.   It was then we witnessed another superb performance by Scott.  Knowing he has been caught, EJ reveals he did it all, but he truly and deeply loves his Samantha no matter what he had done. EJ begs her to marry him, forgive him, and to stay with him, as he is now a changed man.  And, he does this with tears in his eyes!  Only James Scott can pull this off and gives so much dimension to this character that in the hands of anyone else, it could come off as just an evil sonofabitch with one black heart, and no redeeming qualities.  Later, after Sami lets him have a piece of her mind and kicks him to the curb and takes his kids out the front door, it’s daddy Stefano who lays into him for being so stupid to open his big mouth in front of Nicole, which caused his downfall.  Looking completely disjointed and unnerved by the disappointment of his father, and the shock of losing everything he fought so hard to get back, EJ ends Friday’s episode with one final thought:  “I’m going to kill Nicole”!

On-Air On-Soaps says “Bravo” to all the above talented men and women who make watching daytime still a fun and emotional rollercoaster!

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2 and 1 man women was the Performance of the Week for me 1st Alison Sweeney(days) Kimberly McCullough(GH) “the only thing was good about Gh this week” And Maura West and Michael Park(Jack and Carly) the always the best!!!

I totally agree about James Scott’s perfomance for the week of August 23rd. He did indeed show every emotion possible. And one thing that makes EJ DiMera so compelling is his vulnerability when it comes to Sami and his children. He bleeds with love for them and when the week ended the only things in life that really matter to him are gone. How often is it that an actor can say so much with his demeanor and his eyes? I cried along with EJ this week and expect to be doing more of the same in the coming weeks.

KIMBERLY McCULLOUGH IS AWESOME. Since she was a child, to a teenager and now a young woman she continues to amaze with her talent and beauty. She always brings it even when the material isn’t there but when it is she flys. And she always brings out the best in her partners – she did that with Michael Sutton ( looking forward to their reunion ) she did that for Steve Burton ( who is now a one note actor with the same expression on his mug 24/7 ) and she has certainly done that with Jason Thompson. He is a good actor whose gotten better thru’ the years but he continues to be at his best when he’s with his “perfect partner. “

HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU!!!!! 🙂

So true, Eileen. Agree with you!

KIMBERLY McCULLOUGH AND JASON THOMPSON WAS AWESOME THIS WEEK!!!!! THEY SURELY HAD ME IN TEARS JUST GREAT!!!!!!! 🙂

Wow! I would definitely love jason thompson and kimberly mccullough performances in # GH . I enjoyed watching the revelation scene. It’s so awesome! and the emotions that are coming out such a real emotions with two married couple who are dealing with crisis with their family life. Kimberly McCullough emotions are so amazing, she handled her emotions so real and natural, she delivered the betrayal, being cheated , looking such clueless of this cheating stuff… Jason thompson did a great job as always , he is giving his best whatever material or story giving to them. I can see how good he was on his own way. Kimberly McCullough and Jason Thompson always good when they are good and they keep doing their acting so well. They know how to play any scenes no matter how bad it is they will make it good. Both these actors gave their own best when they had a great story on the show… They bring each other’s best! I am loving this sl in gh for now and it’s keep getting better and better… This is the only story that appealed me on the show right now….. Kudos to Kimberly McCullough and Jason Thompson for doing this story so great! 🙂

Jason Thomspon and Kimberly McCullough were definitely awesome this week.
It was great to see this two nail the emotional scenes that they shared. I have enjoyed watching Kimberly since she was a young girl. But the character of Robin gained a new fan this week when she uttered the words – IF YOU COME NEAR MY DAUGHTER AGAIN, I WILL KILL YOU MYSELF. I love when a female character does not play the victim. And yes she was betrayed by her husband, but her first instinct goes right to protecting her child!!!

Colleen Zenk Pinter has always been my a favorite character of mine. I did not watch the scenes, but I will be sure to track those scenes down.

Thank you for sharing. I hope that all the soaps realize that there are soap viewers out here that want to see good soapy stories.

I have to agree about Kimberly and JT on General Hospital! They are in a class by themselves as far as I’m concerned…delivering spot on performances every time. I just wish the show would realize how special they are because they rarely give them the air time they deserve especially considering this is supposed to be a frontburner story.

I just finished watching yesterday’s episode of ATWT – everything you said is true! Colleen has been a delight to watch for years. While some of the show’s writing leaves a lot to be desired, it is wonderful what they gave to Barbara to complete her story. She and Henry are a fine match, as proven in their vows. 🙂

I cannot get over how amazing Jason Thompson has been through out this story, I think in my personal opinion he is one of the best actors on daytime. He brings his heart to the set no matter what he does. Kimberly McCullough was fab on reveal day such heartbreaking emotion.

James Scott is the best actor on Daytime TV and I don’t know any actor on DAYS who is supposed to be a bad guy, but you root for him to get the girl. To bad TPTB don’t realize who the true HERO on DAYS should be. James totally made the scene bareable for me to watch. It was so heartbreaking and cruel what Sami did to him when she took his kids away. Especially when she didn’t allow him to say goodbye to Sydney. I cried right along with Ej!

I totally agree with you! Just remember, Sami did it to EJ first, with the original sin!
So why does she have all the sympathy?

I love how James Scott never disappoints!! He always does an excellent job! I was feeling EJ’s pain right along with him this week.

James Scott is amazing …and Ali Sweeney is no slouch either. I’m more convinced than ever this is an Ejami story. And James will rock it for all it’s worth.

Colleen Zenk was wonderful. Barbara was real, one of us, flawed and yet thankful to get a chance to do it better. The wedding storyline was perfect. Trent Dawson and Colleen Zenk pulled it off so well I heard myself think… wonder if they are a real couple? I love all the characters on ATWT. I am going to miss my escape of reality. These people have been in my home over 35+ years. I’ve never been to NY. Never seen a studio or movie set. And up till mid Sep, I have washed my clothes, iron and folded while my TV was on CBS. Guess I’ll turn it off and just put the radio on the oldies station.

Isn’t it about time Robin Strasser’s Dorian and her fans got a romance written for the character that didn’t hinge upon the availability of Tuc Watkins? Strasser always rocks. She was exceptional with the material she was given. But I am tired of the Dorian and David rerun.

Coleen and Trent as barbara and henry were fabulous together,And when vienna lied to henry and pretended to be pregnant I cried for him.But finally Barbara and Henry got together…she is so beautiful, and he is so adorable and he finally grew up.Their wedding was so touching…i could see them together as a couple. in real life..anyone else agree?

James Scott is a brliiant actor and my main reason for still watching this show. He shows Ej so complex and passionate and the love he has for his darling Samantha and his beautiful children. I cried right alongside him when she took the kids away from him. JS is a wonderful actor he should be leading romantic man, Ej is so charming and oozes romance like no other on this show. Look at his proposal with the dinky fishing hat!! He needs to be with the leading female character Sami. Jamison have amazing chemistry, why waste this. Other shows would kill for what Days has with Jamison.

Nice to see JS receive much deserved praise for his amazing acting. He is one of the best actors on Daytime. He draws you and and makes you feel everything he’s going through good, bad or in between. Never in all my years of wathcing DOOL did I imagine rooting for or loving a Dimera as I do EJ. JS has done an outstanding job with this character.

have to agree with all the praise for James Scott. He is beyond awesome and my only reason for even tuning in when I know he is on, dont want to miss anything that down the road will be considered an Emmy worthy consideration.

thank you for recognizing him and his talent and his strength as a romantic leading man.

As The World Turns

ATWT Alum Martha Byrne Pays Tribute to Eileen Fulton: “The Original Soap Star Who Paved the Way for the Likes of a Susan Lucci or Andrea Evans”

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Tributes and remembrances are pouring in for the the late Eileen Fulton, who passed away on July 14th at the age of 91. Fulton broke the soap opera mold back in the early 60’s when she was cast to play Lisa Miller on As the World Turns, who would turn out to be the first villiainess, vixen, and homewrecker of daytime television.

Fans of the soap loved to love to hate her for how she destroyed many lives in her quests to nab a husband; especially one she had set her sights set on. In fact, Lisa was married 8 times during the history of the show. Fulton was with ATWT on and off until the final year of the show in 2010.

Martha Byrne, who has been Fulton’s castmate for a time (Bryne played Lily Snyder from 1985 to 1989 and then again from 1993-2008 where she also played Rose D’Angelo), took to her account on x to share her thoughts on what Eileen meant to the genre, and also spoke on how Fulton handled not being as front and center on the soap operas as the years went by.

Photo: JPI

“What can I say about Eileen Fulton. The original soap star who paved the road for the likes of a Susan Lucci or Andrea Evans,” began Bryne. “Since Eileen started on ATWT when the show was live, there aren’t enough pieces of history for us to truly grasp the enormity of her stardom and presence in the entertainment business. I remember being so impressed that she was a writer. The best part was she would use real stories from behind the scenes and change the names. Maybe that was her way of giving the audience a wink to include them even more.”

Photo: CBS

Bryne went to share, “She (Eileen) loved her fans and she had many. I went to her one woman shows and the place was always packed. As the years went on and her role wasn’t as prominent as it had been she took it with class. I never heard her complain as many did who were frustrated they didn’t have a storyline. She was always a class act and a true pro who knew a storyline or another opportunity was only around the corner. She knew her value and was secure in herself. A national treasure who shaped the entire industry. Thank you Eileen. I’m sure there was a pink feather boa waiting for you just inside the pearly gates.”

So, what did you think about the sentiments shared by Martha on the legendary Eileen Fulton? Would you agree, as we have previously noted, that Lisa as played by Eileen, was really the prototype for all soap opera “bad girls” to follow? Did you appreciate the fact that while having a more diminished role over the last few decades of ATWT, Eileen took it in stride? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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As The World Turns

‘As the World Turns’ Legendary Eileen Fulton Passes Away at 91

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The iconic Eileen Fulton, who was daytime’s first bad girl as Lisa Miller on As the World Turns, has died at the age of 91. According to the obituary on her passing, Fulton died earlier this week on July 14th in Asheville, North Carolina, after a period of declining health.

Fulton was born Margaret Elizabeth McLarty in Asheville on September 13, 1933. After studying acting in New York City, she changed her name to Eileen Fulton, when in 1960 she was cast in the film, Girl of the Night, co-starring with Anne Francis.

Eileen would change the face of daytime drama when in 1960 she was cast as the disruptor to the family dynamic, Lisa Miller, on the CBS soap opera. Throughout her ATWT run, the character of Lisa would eventually be married eight times to: Bob Hughes (1960–1964), John Eldridge (1965–1967), Michael Shea (1969–1970), Grant Coleman (1975–1979) ,Whit McColl (1982–1984), Earl Mitchell (1986–1987), Eduardo Grimaldi (1994–1995), and Martin Chedwyn (1996).

Photo: CBS

ATWT historians know that Lisa’s full name by the time the series went off the air in 2010 was: Lisa Miller Hughes Eldridge Shea Colman McColl Mitchell Grimaldi Chedwyn. Fulton played the role with only brief interruptions until the show was cancelled that year making her one of the longest-running tenured soap opera actors in US history. Other performers who took on the role of Lisa in Fulton’s absence included: Jane Powell, Maeve McGuire, Pamela King, Betsy Von Furstenberg, Lynn Rogers and Carmen Duncan.

Throughout her time on ATWT, it was Fulton’s eagerness to play Lisa as a villainess that contributed to the character’s popularity and therefore its longevity. She was inducted into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame in 1998 and was awarded a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.  In addition, in 1988, Fulton received her first-ever Daytime Emmy Award nomination in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series.

The legendary star was also infamous for the grandmother clause she inserted into her contract that guaranteed she would never have to play a grandmother on the soap. In an interview with the LA Times in 2000 she shared, “At that time, grandmothers had no romance at all – and I wasn’t about to let that happen to me.” At some point, this all changed and she became OK with the idea of grandmother-hood. At one point, ATWT fans were so angry at the manipulative villainess played by Fulton that she had to employ a bodyguard to protect her.

Photo: CBS

When Futon stepped away from the show, at one point, she left to star in ATWT”s 1965 spinoff Our Private World, which aired Wednesday and Friday nights on CBS. In the story, Lisa had fled Oakdale after dumping Bob to move to Chicago, where she wed the wealthy John Eldridge (Nicolas Coster, who later would play Eduardo Grimaldi). Our Private World was canceled after four months on the air, and Fulton went back to As the World Turns in 1966.

When Eileen received her Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, she was part of a group of actors who also received the honor that year including: her ATWT co-stars, Don Hastings and Helen Wagner, plus Ruth Warrick, Frances Reid, John Clarke, Ray MacDonnell, Don Hastings, Jeanne Cooper, and Rachel Ames.

Photo: JPI

For a time early in her career, Fulton not only was appearing in As The World Turns, which at that time was broadcast live, she was simultaneously appearing on Broadway in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and off-Broadway in the long-running musical The Fantasticks.

Fulton performed her cabaret act for many years in venues around New York and Los Angeles. In 1970, she co-authored her first autobiography, How My World Turns. In 1995 she co-authored a second autobiography, As My World Still Turns, to celebrate her 35th anniversary on As the World Turns. She also authored a series of mystery novels. In 2019, Eileen retired from show business and moved to Black Mountain, North Carolina.

Photo: JPI

She is survived by her brother, Charles Furman McLarty (Karen) of Black Mountain; niece Katherine Morris (David) and their children, Everly Ann Morris and Easton Lane Morris of Fort Mill, S.C.; and sister-in-law Chris Page McLarty of Camden, Maine. She was pre-deceased by her parents and her brother, James Fulton McLarty.

Share your remembrances and condolences for Eileen Fulton via the comment section below, but first check out this classic early scene from ATWT featuring Fulton as Lisa, and the 2004 Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award presentation.

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As The World Turns

ATWT Alum Tala Ashe Scores Tony Award Nomination; OLTL Alum Jonathan Groff and ‘Glee’ Favorite Darren Criss Also Receive Nods

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Nominations for the 78th annual Tony Awards were announced Thursday morning honoring the best in the recent Broadway season.

The awards will be presented on June 8th live from Radio City Music Hall live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ with Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, a Tony winner for The Color Purple, hosting the show.

While musicals Buena Vista Social Club, Maybe Happy Ending and Death Becomes Her topped the nominations with 10 each, the list of Hollywood names and former soap opera alums who will be part of Broadway’s bigges makes it interesting drama for Broadway’s biggest nights.

Photo: JPI

In addition, there were big time snubs including: Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal and Kieran Culkin, who failed to make the nominations list, while other big names including: George Clooney are in the running.

Soap fans should take note that Tala Ashe (ex-Ameera Ali-Aziz, As the World Turns – 2007) scored her first-ever Tony nomination in the Best Featured Actress in a play category for her performance in English. The play takes place in an Iranian classroom where four adult students and their teacher leapfrog through a linguistic playground, this is a funny, stunning triumph about the universal foibles of language and miscommunication.

Photo: JPI

On As the World Turns, Ashe’s Ameera became involved with Luke and Noah, after she fled Iraq when her mother died, after her protector, Noah’s father, the Colonel, was reassigned and imprisoned. Once in Oakdale, when he heard her sad story, Noah (Jake Silbermann) agreed to a marriage of convenience, upsetting then boyfriend Luke Snyder (Van Hansis).

Once again, Tony Award winner, Jonathan Groff (ex-Henry Mackler, One Life to Live -2007) had scored another nomination. This year for his star turn as Bobby Darin in the new musical, Just in Time. Groff is competing in the category alongside former Glee star, Darren Criss, who is nominated for his work as a retired robot in Maybe Happy Ending.

Photo: JPI

Interestingly enough, Jeb Brown who is nominated in the Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for Dead Outlaw, was formerly the bandmate of Beyond the Gates and General Hospital star, Jon Lindstrom.

Audra McDonald made Tony history scoring her record-setting 11th overall nomination, this year for her starring role in the musical revival of Gypsy. However, she will face-off with former Pussycat Dolls singer, Nicole Scherzinger, who plays Norma Desmond in the latest adaption of Sunset Boulevard, where she is getting all the raves this Broadway season.

Photo: JPI

You can check out the full 78th annual Tony Award nominations here.

So, remember Tala from ATWT as Ameera? Jonathan from OLTL as Henry? Who do you think should take home a Tony Award next month in the Big Apple? Comment below.

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