As The Daytime Drama Turns

July 13, 2008

This week in the daytime drama world, it was a very entertaining week. My dear friend Jeffrey Byron, who has starred on “Port Charles,” “General Hospital,” “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” made his second stint on CBS’s mega hit, “The Bold & the Beautiful.” Jeffrey once played a financial adviser to the Forrester clan, and this time around he played a Justice of the Peace who was instrumental in getting the super couple “Nick and Bridget” married once again on the show. Jeffrey told Canyon News, “It was great that Brad Bell asked me back and I really enjoyed it. The show is really wonderful and I hope they’ll have me back again.”

“B&B” is currently undergoing some cosmetic surgery and initially the fast moving scenery showcasing LA’s hottest spots was a bit jarring for me. But after a week of it, I think it’s fun and exciting to see. This is an effort the production geniuses on the show are trying to use to bring young viewers to the posh Beverly Hills-based drama. Here’s hoping, however, that the show won’t lose its hottest two over 30 stars, Susan Flannery and Ronn Moss. Susan’s performance as “Stephanie” has been mind blowing over the past two decades and Bill Bell once told me that Ronn was the heart of the show. Here, here Mr. Bell. He’s still the most handsome man in daytime television as well. Hoping Ronn’s character “Ridge” will remain the main focus of the show. And for those interested, Ronn has an incredible CD out there. He has a romantic voice much like the great David Johnson, whom we love here at Canyon News.

“Y&R” is rocking the boat as it's trying to break up another dynamic duo. Cane and Lilly are victims of vile Chloe’s plan to get Cain for herself. But the most fun scene this week was not Lilly throwing Cane out the door after finding out he slept with her mentor, but when my friend Kathy Hilton made a return to Genoa City to meet up with Peter Bergman’s Jack, and give him advice. Kathy is a neighbor and longtime friend of Ms. Maria Arena Bell, and was asked to come on board for a short stint. Kathy, the mother of Paris Hilton, was a child star who starred in hits like “Happy Days” and “Family Affair.” She said of her work on the number one rated soap, “I figured it would be great synergy to do “Y&R” again when I am also on the Home Shopping Network promoting and selling my skincare line and fragrance line. It’s a lot of fun and I hope to be asked back to the show again.” Well, a “Y&R” source told me, they really enjoyed Kathy, that she and Melody Thomas Scott's Niki hit it off, and both beauties would like to see each other again.

ABC’s casting director, Mark Teschner, took home his third consecutive Emmy for excellence in his field, and it’s with sadness to say that one of his brightest casting coups bit the dust this week on “General Hospital.” For those who missed it, Scott Baldwin’s son Logan was murdered on the show and it was poignant and brilliantly written. Josh Duhon was excellent in the role and surely he’ll find his way to another soap. Teschner is one of the masters of finding some of television’s hottest stars before they become stars, and this was one of his greatest finds. Josh will be missed by his legion of female fans on the soap but someone so talented will find work in no time at all.

Look for “Y&R” to cast a major star in the role of Lowell Baldwin, who will be the long lost father of Michael Baldwin, played by the talented Christian LeBlanc and the ex-husband of the five-time married Gloria Bardwell, played by the scene chewing actress Judith Chapman.

Biggest mystery of the week? Who killed Sofie last week on “ATWT”? My money’s on Barbara, played by Colleen Z. Pinter, but guess who will be the one to figure it all out? Dynasty hunk John James, who once played Jeff Colby on the long running primetime drama will be returning to Oakdale as Dr. Rick Decker, the psychiatrist who is as insane as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, will arrive just in time to find the killer. Here’s hoping he crosses paths with Eileen Fulton’s Lisa. They’d make a great couple on the show.

More soaps? Maybe next week.