On-Air On-Soaps caught up with The Young and the Restless, Lauralee Bell (Christine) this week to discuss Chance’s “death”, Tricia Cast’s (Nina) and Lauralee’s heartbreaking performances surrounding the key story point, and to find out if she would now consider a permanent return to the soap. Lauralee was on hand at the set of B&B for the celebration honoring her mom, Lee Phillip Bell, who received a Lifetime Membership to IATSE Local 33 (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) for her contribution to the the Guild for the past 37 years. Below are some excepts from our conversation with Lauralee!
Lauralee on if she knew of the story twist that Chance was going to end up alive when she signed on to come back for her visit to Y&R this time: “I did not know Chance was going to be alive, either. And once I did find out, I had to call up to the office and ask, “Did Christine know all along?” But I did kind of figure this out for myself. Even the day we were taping the scene where I am yelling at Ronan about how did it go down this way, I had to call the booth the day before to get clarification. As an actor, I think it was the best way to do this. I was never ahead of myself. Even at the funeral, all of the Abbott’s did not know what the hell was going on which was great, and that is rare for soaps these days, because everyone usually knows. So it kind of kept it exciting.”
Lauralee on her thoughts of those final scenes where Chance meets up with his mom, Nina, and father, Phillip, after they believe he had “died”, and where Christine was so heartbroken over watching Nina’s emotional turmoil: “It was amazing and great. It is a whole different mentality because we would never have to do something like that before. Now that I have a son in real life, when the line is spoken between Chance and Nina, “Let’s make a promise to look at the moon” it is really powerful. As my character, Christine, I was thinking this is so amazing, and so sad at the same time, that this is what they are going to have to go through. And, I can relate it back to my own son. We are all older, and so it gives it a whole different feel to everything we played.”
Lauralee on how the relationship between Chris and Nina will wrap-up before she exits: “The way it wraps up is kind of sweet. There are a couple of final scenes with Tricia (Nina) before I go. You will see. There is also a little scene with Jeanne Cooper (Katherine), but very little. Chris is not going to leave before she can do her best to get everything as well situated for Nina’s life as she can. But this time when I say goodbye, I really do leave! (Laughs) I have an exit where you know I am leaving.”
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Lauralee on how she felt about her return to Y&R this time: “I purposely waited a long time to come back to the show, but it made sense and I feel like “mission accomplished”. I know it may sound silly to say that, but it was the proper amount of time, and what I wanted to do for now. It gave the audience a taste of what it would be like to have Christine around, so we shall see. Maria Bell, (Y&R head writer and EP) has been asking me to do more, but I am still airing, so it hasn’t been that long. I told her we would talk again in a couple of months.”
Lauralee on her real-life relationship with Tricia Cast: “We are very, very close friends, and we are very different as people, but we are so tight as friends. We have grown to respect and count on each other, and love each, and that makes this all the more fun.”
Lauralee on her mother, Lee’s honor by IATSE: “My mom for years would be so graciously received by IATSE. It’s nice to be respected by the crew and everyone behind the scenes. I am super proud of my mother and every award is due to her, and I truly believe it. She is amazing woman.”
THis is a really nice article, Michael. We really don’t hear too much from Lauralee. But her role in these episodes have been very good and it gave her a really good story to come back for. I hope they will bring her back again and maybe be with Paul as she was in the past. Especially, since Nina broke up with him. Thanks, Michael….
Guest
Barbara Lewis
This was a great article. I really hope Lauralee returns. Have loved her as Cricket forever.
Guest
AMANDA
Lauralee is a beautiful person who portrays Cricket so well. She is an asset to Y&R. Her fans will always welcome her back.
Best wishes Lauralee. Please come back soon!
Guest
O
Chris and Nick LOL, that would have both Sharon and Phyliss shitting their pants
The Men of Charity Lawson’s Season of ‘The Bachelorette’ Revealed
June 5, 2023
Bachelor Nation got a preview of the twenty-five men who are searching for love and are hoping to find it with season 20’s ‘Bachelorette’ Charity Lawson. The new season of the reality-dating competition kicks-off on Monday June 26th (9-11 PM ET) on ABC.
Viewers met Lawson during Zach Shallcross’ season of The Bachelor. During a recent appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Charity said on being the producers choice for the lead role in season 20: “This puts me in the position of being the fourth woman of color to hold this role and the second monoracial African American woman to have the opportunity to find love. I notice and acknowledge that this is so much bigger than myself. It is my journey to love, but it’s bigger than me.”
The men vying for the final rose will include:
Aaron B., 29, a software salesman from San Diego, Calif.
Aaron S., 33, a firefighter from San Diego, Calif.
Adrian, 33, a realtor from Northridge, Calif.
Brayden, 24, a travel nurse from San Diego, Calif.
Caleb A., 29, a resident physician from Ann Arbor, Mich.
Caleb B., 24, a pro wrestler from Orlando, Fla.
Christopher “Chris,” 27, a world record jumper from White Plains, N.Y.
Dotun, 30, an integrative medicine specialist from Brooklyn, N.Y.
James, 28, an attorney from Chicago, Ill.
Joe, 32, a tech operations director from San Francisco, Calif.
Joseph “Joey,” 27, a tennis pro from Lawai, Hawaii.
Photo: ABC
John., 27, a data scientist from New York, N.Y.
John Henry, 30, an underwater welder from Virginia Beach, Va.
Josh, 28, a Harvard grad student from Bethlehem, Pa.
Kaleb K., 26, construction salesman from Norcross, Ga.
Ahmad Khalid “Khalid,” 28, a tech recruiter from Dearborn, Mich.
Michael, 28, a yacht captain from Chicago, Ill.
Nicholas “Nick,” 32, an HR executive from Bayonne, N.J.
Peter, 33, an airline pilot from New York, N.Y.
Sean, 25, a software sales representative from Tampa, Fla.
Spencer, 32, a medical sales director from Moorpark, Calif.
Tanner, 30, a mortgage lender from Pittsburgh, Pa.
Taylor, 32, a loan officer from Springboro, Ohio
Warwick, 27, a construction manager from Nashville, Tenn.
Xavier, 27, a biomedical scientist from Carrboro, N.C.
Over the past weekend, a video teaser for the men of Charity’s season was released by ABC. You can check it out below.
Then, let us know, any picks on which guy could steal Charity’s heart on the upcoming season of The Bachelorette? Let us know in the comment section.
Walt Willey Brings All My Children’s Jackson Montgomery to General Hospital
June 5, 2023
Look for another legal eagle character from a former ABC soap opera to pop up on General Hospital!
News today out of Soap Opera Digest has that none other than Walt Willey set to reprise his role as All My Children’s Jackson Montgomery on upcoming episodes of GH in July.
Willey played Erica Kane’s (Susan Lucci) love interest and the Pine Valley lawyer from 1987 through to till ABC’s cancellation of the series back in 2011. The actor previously crossed-over to another soap opera in 1996, when he played Jack on ABC’s The City.
Photo: ABC
Taking to his Facebook account, Walt confirmed the news on his appearances on GH: “Hey Folks… Been sitting on this one for a while but now I’ve been given the clearance to announce that “Jackson Montgomery” is visiting Port Charles! I’ll be doing a few episodes of General Hospital, due to air mid July. So excited to reprise my character and see and work with old friends! I’ll keep you posted on any details. “Jackson” in Port Charles…who would have thought it? Let me, and ABC, know what you think about it!”
Could Jack’s sudden arrival in Port Charles have to do with the SEC and the trouble that Carly (Laura Wright) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) find themselves in? Will AMC fans get to see Cameron Mathison and Willey share scenes together again? Mathison played Ryan Lavery on the beloved former soap opera.
So, excited to see Walt on General Hospital? What do you think brings Jack to Port Charles? Weigh-in below and stay tuned.
DAYS Alum Jensen Ackles on ‘The Winchesters’ Inability to Find New Home is a Case of ‘Unfortunate Timing’
June 3, 2023
Former Supernatural, Big Sky, and Days of our Lives star, Jensen Ackles (ex-Dean, ex-Beau, ex-Eric) took to social media on Saturday when the news broke that his series, The Winchesters, in which he executive produced, has run out of options to find a new home.
The show which aired for one season on the CW was a prequel to Supernatural. In an update, The Winchesters producing studio, Warner Bros, attempted to find another network or streaming partner to move forward with the series after its cancellation.
Now comes word that all avenues have been exhausted. All this, even though a #SavetheWinchesters campaign led by Ackles, himself, was attempted to bring some attention and heat on the show.
Photo: NBC
Jensen expressed his ‘thanks’ to the viewers and cited the current WGA writer’s strike as one of the main contributing factors to making the search for a new home for the series extremely daunting.
Ackles shared: “To all of you who watched, followed, and supported this story, THANK YOU. And to all those who brought this show to life…I couldn’t be more proud of what we all did together. But as they say…timing is everything. With a massive Network shift coupled with an industry strike…welp…that’s some unfortunate timing. Sleep well dear @WinchestersOnCW…until we meet again. Somewhere down the road.”
Courtesy/CW
So, did you watch The Winchesters? Do you hope it can someday return? What did you think about the sentiments shared by Jensen Ackles? Comment below.
THis is a really nice article, Michael. We really don’t hear too much from Lauralee. But her role in these episodes have been very good and it gave her a really good story to come back for. I hope they will bring her back again and maybe be with Paul as she was in the past. Especially, since Nina broke up with him. Thanks, Michael….
This was a great article. I really hope Lauralee returns. Have loved her as Cricket forever.
Lauralee is a beautiful person who portrays Cricket so well. She is an asset to Y&R. Her fans will always welcome her back.
Best wishes Lauralee. Please come back soon!
Chris and Nick LOL, that would have both Sharon and Phyliss shitting their pants