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Y&R Casting Call: Has Simone morphed into Dru?
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Here we go again! Seems the powers-that-be at Y&R are making a change-up, a game changer, again. That makes everyone in the industry wonder, if Drucilla is on her way back to Genoa City. Now if that were to be, it would appear not in the form of the talented actress and author,Victoria Rowell (Ex-Dru), whose novel Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva hasn’t even hit the bookshelves and is a hit, but a possible replacement for the role!
In today’s Soapgeist column, TV Guide Canada’s Nelson Branco stated, “As previously reported, Y&R is casting Malcolm’s fiancée, Simone. However, a revised casting call was sent out stating the character description has changed. Looks like Y&R is making their new black female role more like Drucilla by the minute. The role is expected to debut in May and begins taping in April.” What is going on here? Stay tuned.
News
Hallmark CEO Apologizes After Cable Network Pulled Zola’s Same-Sex Wedding Ad Sparking Controversy
On Sunday night, Hallmark Card president and CEO Mike Perry offered up an apology to wedding planner website Zola after the Hallmark Channel removed four commercials that featured a same-sex wedding. See previous story here, and as many soap fans several former favorites from daytime are hired as actors consistently by the network for their movies,
In a statement, Perry shared: “The Crown Media team has been agonizing over this decision as we’ve seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused. Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision. Our mission is rooted in helping all people connect, celebrate traditions and be inspired to capture meaningful moments in their lives. Anything that detracts from this purpose is not who we are. We are truly sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused. … Across our brand, we will continue to look for ways to be more inclusive and celebrate our differences.”
Then, on the companies corporate website another statement was served up expressing: “That is is, and always has been, committed to diversity and inclusion — both in our workplace as well as the products and experiences we create. It is never Hallmark’s intention to be divisive or generate controversy. We are an inclusive company and have a track record to prove it.”
That post talked about how the company has LGBTQ greeting cards, and goes on to say how the company has been recognized as one of the Human Rights Campaigns Best Places to Work, and as one of Forbes America’s Best Employers for Diversity. You can read that statement in full here.
GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis said on the the reinstatement of the ads: “The Hallmark Channel’s decision to correct its mistake sends an important message to LGBTQ people and represents a major loss for fringe organizations, like One Million Moms, whose sole purpose is to hurt families like mine. LGBTQ people are, and will continue to be a part of advertisements and family programming and that will never change. GLAAD exists to hold brands like The Hallmark Channel accountable when they make discriminatory decisions and to proactively ensure families of all kinds are represented in fair and accurate ways.”
So, what do you think about Hallmark’s apology? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
News
Call For Boycott and Pushback Continue For Hallmark Channel After Pulling Ad Of Lesbian Brides Kissing
We all know that many former soap stars are currently appearing, or have appeared in Hallmark Channel movies, and Christmastime is the cable outlets busiest season where they roll about several romance-themed offerings.
This weekend alone, DAYS alum, Jen Lilley (Ex-Theresa) and GH alum, Matt Cohen (Ex-Griffin) are in two of them However, on Saturday the channel became under fire for removing an ad from Zola.com which featured two brides kissing in a same-sex wedding moment.
Zola.com is a wedding planning and registry company, and in this version of their ads, it showed two women exchanging wedding vows and then sharing a kiss celebrating their union. The ad was one of six that had been running on the channel since December 2nd.
Enter conservative group One Million Moms. The group launched a petition to get the network to pull the commercial along with any other LGBTQ related-content. According to the group, they had 27,000 people sign it. On their website, the ‘Moms” group posted: “Parents need to know they could now come face-to-face with the LGBT agenda when they sit down to watch the Hallmark Channel.”
Next, Hallmark Channel caved to the conservative group and removed the ad saying it was in violation of their policy. They added to The Hollywood Reporter: “The debate surrounding these commercials on all sides was distracting from the purpose of our network, which is to provide entertainment value.” Zola countered with their own statement, pulling any and all advertising from the network: “All kisses, couples and marriages are equal celebrations of love and we will no longer be advertising on Hallmark.”
A Hallmark spokesperson added: “The decision not to air overt public displays of affection in our sponsored advertisement, regardless of the participants, is in line with our current policy, which includes not featuring political advertisements, offensive language, R-rated movie content and many other categories.”
GLAAD fired back with a statement from CEO Sarah Kate Ellis: “The Hallmark Channel’s decision to remove LGBTQ families in such a blatant way is discriminatory and especially hypocritical coming from a network that claims to present family programming and also recently stated they are ‘open’ to LGBTQ holiday movies. As so many other TV and cable networks showcase, LGBTQ families are part of family programming. Advertisers on The Hallmark Channel should see this news and question whether they want to be associated with a network that chooses to bow to fringe anti-LGBTQ activist groups, which solely exist to harm LGBTQ families.”
In some additional tweets on social media which find many calling for a complete boycott of the channel, The Ellen DeGeneres Show account tweeted: Isn’t it almost 2020? @hallmarkchannel @billabbottHC … what are you thinking? Please explain. We’re all ears.”
General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis) tweeted: “Sweet Jesus!…who ironically I hear does not get the Hallmark Channel due to its content, but instead binge watches @BritishBakeOff due to the joyful inclusivity… and of course the cake.”
Saturday Night Live took aim at the cable network with guest co-host Scarlett Johansson with the game, A Winter Boyfriend for Holiday Christmas, a Hallmark dating show – said to be created by the algorithm that makes Hallmark holiday movies. In it, Johansson was the’ bachelorette’ having to choose between three eligible bachelors which took aim at all the lack of racial diversity in Hallmark’s Christmas movies, and more.
Now below, watch the ad that is the center of the controversy below, followed by the SNL spoof of the channel.
In the comment section, let us know what your thoughts are on the decision by Hallmark to pull the wedding planning ad, and what you think of the networks movie content formula which clearly lacks diversity and inclusion.
News
Greek Soap Star Andreas Georgiou To Appear On The Bold and the Beautiful
B&B fans worldwide follow the exciting international career of legacy series star, Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke). As Lang had detailed recently on her social media posts, she was recently in Greece taping 16 episodes on the greek soap opera 8 Lexeis.
The series star of 8 Lexeis is Andreas Georgiou, and now he has come to Los Angeles to appear on Katherine’s soap, The Bold and the Beautiful.
Andreas had been documenting his trip to Los Angeles and CBS Television City (where B&B is taped) on his Instagram account. One shot is with B&B icon, John McCook (Eric), and there are others with Lang and her beau, Dom Zoida, and more.
Jennifer Gareis (Donna) also posted a group photo from the set with Andrea and actors from the cast of The Bold and the Beautiful.
No word yet on when Andreas will air on B&B, or what part he will play, but stay tuned for more intel as it becomes available.
So, what do you think of B&B continuing its international reach bringing Andreas to the series for a guest visit? Comment below.
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Hallmark CEO Apologizes After Cable Network Pulled Zola’s Same-Sex Wedding Ad Sparking Controversy
Call For Boycott and Pushback Continue For Hallmark Channel After Pulling Ad Of Lesbian Brides Kissing
Is Phick About To Reignite On The Young and the Restless?
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Wally Kurth & Chandler Massey Deliver Poignant Scenes As Justin Tells Will ‘Don’t Give Up On Life’
Greek Soap Star Andreas Georgiou To Appear On The Bold and the Beautiful
Tamron Hall Talk Show Gets Second Season Renewal
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Max Gail Turns In Another Emmy-Worthy Performance As Mike’s Battle With Alzheimer’s Takes Its Toll
OLTL Alum Renée Elise Goldsberry Says: “I Just Think The Best Actors In The World Are On Daytime Television”
DYNASTY’s Rafael de La Fuente Reflects On Being Out and Proud After Conquering His Fears
Days of our Lives to Air in the UK Beginning In January
Stephen Nichols On His DAYS Return As Stefano: “I Knew I Didn’t Want To Be A Cheap Imitation.”
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Wally Kurth & Chandler Massey Deliver Poignant Scenes As Justin Tells Will ‘Don’t Give Up On Life’
WATCH: Steve Burton & Bradford Anderson Take On Grammy-Nominated Hit ‘Old Town Road’ With A GH Twist
DAYS Head Writer Ron Carlivati Talks On: Ben Weston, Soap Amnesia, Doppelgängers, and the Time Jump
A Friz Holiday Miracle On GH?
Noted Soap Opera Producer Lisa de Cazotte Has Died; Daytime Community Mourns Her Passing
DYNASTY’s Rafael de La Fuente Reflects On Being Out and Proud After Conquering His Fears
Paging Dr. Griffin Munro! Matt Cohen Makes A Return Visit To GH
OLTL Alum Renée Elise Goldsberry Says: “I Just Think The Best Actors In The World Are On Daytime Television”
Alison Sweeney Reveals She Is Making A Return To DAYS In 2020
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Max Gail Turns In Another Emmy-Worthy Performance As Mike’s Battle With Alzheimer’s Takes Its Toll
A Friz Holiday Miracle On GH?
WATCH: Steve Burton & Bradford Anderson Take On Grammy-Nominated Hit ‘Old Town Road’ With A GH Twist
Rob Scott Wilson and Victoria Konefal Interview – Day of Days 2019
Freddie Smith and Chandler Massey Interview – Day of Days 2019
Camila Banus Interview – Day of Days 2019
Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall Interview – Day of Days 2019
Eric Martsolf and Stacy Haiduk Interview – Day of Days 2019
TONIGHT: GH Alum Ryan Paevey Stars In Hallmark’s ‘Christmas at The Plaza’
Stephen Nichols Returns To DAYS In Cliffhanger As ‘The Phoenix Always Rises From The Ashes’
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Days Of Our LivesDecember 10, 2019Stephen Nichols On His DAYS Return As Stefano: “I Knew I Didn’t Want To Be A Cheap Imitation.”
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Days Of Our LivesDecember 13, 2019DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Wally Kurth & Chandler Massey Deliver Poignant Scenes As Justin Tells Will ‘Don’t Give Up On Life’
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General HospitalDecember 6, 2019WATCH: Steve Burton & Bradford Anderson Take On Grammy-Nominated Hit ‘Old Town Road’ With A GH Twist
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Days Of Our LivesDecember 8, 2019DAYS Head Writer Ron Carlivati Talks On: Ben Weston, Soap Amnesia, Doppelgängers, and the Time Jump
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General HospitalDecember 9, 2019A Friz Holiday Miracle On GH?
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Days Of Our LivesDecember 8, 2019Noted Soap Opera Producer Lisa de Cazotte Has Died; Daytime Community Mourns Her Passing
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DynastyDecember 11, 2019DYNASTY’s Rafael de La Fuente Reflects On Being Out and Proud After Conquering His Fears
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General HospitalDecember 6, 2019Paging Dr. Griffin Munro! Matt Cohen Makes A Return Visit To GH
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If they are actually stupid enough to recast Drucilla when Rowell is available for the part, then MAB should quit. She is the empress of bad recasting and hiring/firing the wrong people!
Muhney is completely miscast as Adam, and she has made the show All About Adam. Reigel should be Mackenzie, so she’d be reunited w/ Hendrickson’s Chloe, but instead she’s Heather Stevens! Rylan should be Heather Stevens, but instead she’s a 29 year old Abbie, when Abbie should be a teen and they need teen Abbotts after stupidly killing off Colleen so Victor could temporarily be shipped out. All the more do the Abbotts need a teen character since they killed off Colleen, when the actress that portrayed her was actually decent, especially in that girls gone wild arc they did. She and JT had chemistry! Haiduk as Mary Jane, Patty, Emily is blech worthy. She ain’t anywhere close to Ashley Davidson’s brilliance as Kristen and the entire Banks on Days!
Knowing MAB, whoever they recast as Dru is going to be completely left field and a real stinker.
Rowell should either go to B&B as a new character, or head to Primetime and film since she’s that good.
Y&R is nuts to recast Dru.
Yeah, this is a bad move on the show’s part. The character and likeness of Dru that VR play is not replacable and they tried it before with Eva and it bombed miserable. Y&R, get on your knees and beg VR back as Dru and if the idiots have anything to say, they can lose their job too.