"If Oscar Wilde were writing soap opera today, the result might be something like SANTA BARBARA". Thus begins the article I am proposing to you today. The article is very interesting and I recommend it especially to those who had not yet fully catched the greatness of the SB’ early years. We will discover the origin of the motto: “Soap stars never die, they merely move to Santa Barbara”, the sudden cancellation of some characters and finally some insight about Elena Nikolas.
"From Fame to Faith". This is the title that the Edmond Outlook magazine uses to present the exclusive interview with Marcy Walker Smith (ex-Eden on Santa Barbara). In early 2005, after juggling two roles, one as an actress and another working part-time in her home church, Hope Church, in Wilton, Connecticut, Marcy Walker decided to pursue Christian ministry on a full-time basis. In 2005, she began working at Lake ForestChurch in Huntersville, North Carolina as their Director of Children's Ministry. In 2010 she announced on her Facebook page that she was resigning her position on staff with the church to take a position at another Charlotte-area church. In 2011, Marcy joined the staff of LifeChurch.tv at their Edmond, OK campus. During Lent even St. Paul was “struck” on his way to Damascus, and there conversion occurred. So what better time than this to read the interview with Marcy Walker Smith? Enjoy it!
God comes to people in deep and mysterious ways, and sometimes He arrives in a stamped envelope from New Jersey.
Marcy Smith, formerly and professionally known as Marcy Walker, never knew faith or religion while growing up. She certainly didn’t find it on the daytime dramas she starred in while living in New York City or Los Angeles. She did, however, open a letter weekly from a woman in New Jersey who wasn’t a fan of the daytime soaps, but just a person compelled to write each week about God to a woman she never knew. “I wanted God in my life because of the gospel I heard through her,” said Smith, now a children’s pastor in Edmond. “I wouldn’t be here today, I wouldn’t have met my husband, I wouldn’t know Jesus as my Savior now if it wasn’t for her.”
Former star of daytime dramas “All My Children” and “Santa Barbara,” Smith is a vital part of the LifeChurch.tv Edmond Campus, but her road to Edmond and faith was a weaving one that took her through starlet dreams, fame and finally, despair.
Smith was born in Paducah, Kentucky but never stayed in one place long. The daughter of an aeronautical engineer, she went to many different schools before graduating high school in Illinois in 1979. “I say I’m from everywhere,” Smith says. “I was in Illinois thinking about college and was encouraged to go to a casting call for a PBS movie, ‘Life on the Mississippi.’ I went and they said that out of all the people who auditioned, I was the most perfect for the role of the sourthern belle because I was the most naive.”
Because of her potential, beauty and talent, the casting director encouraged Smith to move to New York City. With the blessing of her parents, she moved to the Big Apple, got an agent and landed her first role on “All My Children.” “I was happy beyond belief,” says Smith. “It was the answer to my hopes and dreams. I think whenever you are on a set, you are meeting a new family. You are a part of something, and you feel accepted in your part. But it was also a learning curve.”
Smith played the roles of Liza Colby on “All My Children” from 1981 to 1984 and again from 1995 to 2005, and of Eden Capwell on “Santa Barbara” from 1984 to 1991. She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1987 and 1988 for her role on “Santa Barbara” and won the Emmy in 1989 for her portrayal in which her character was brutally raped. “Being nominated for an Emmy was very exciting,” Smith says. “To be thought of as the best of the best was an honor and to win was fantastic. The recognition was not something I took for granted. It was pretty incredible.”
Besides soap operas, Smith starred in several movies, including “The Return of Desperado,” “Terror in the Shadows,” “Bar Girls” and “Midnight’s Child.” Yet, throughout her acting career and rise to stardom, something was missing. During that same time, a message was coming to her every week, but it was a message she wasn’t ready to hear yet.
While Smith played her roles on daytime television, a housewife in New Jersey named Carolyn Guest was witnessing about her faith in God to a neighbor. She desperately wanted to find something in common with her neighbor in order to reach her with her faith. “This … neighbor was going out of town for a while, and this was before everyone had DVR’s for their television,” Smith says. “The lady asked Carolyn to watch her shows for her so they could have coffee when she got back and Carolyn could tell her what happened.”
Happy to have a connection with her neighbor, that’s exactly what Guest did. The daytime show, ironically, was not the one Smith starred in. “I was in the show right before that one, but Carolyn would tune in early and catch the end of our show,” Smith says. “She said she felt compelled to pray and saw my face when she prayed. Her husband told her, ‘Actresses are people too, so what’s the harm in praying for her?’”
Soon, the letters came. The New Jersey housewife reached out to the daytime star and told her the story of the neighbor and that she was praying for Smith. The letters came every week — sometimes they shared news about Guest’s children and family, sometimes they talked about life, but they always talked about her faith.“She wrote me every week for seven years,” says Smith. “I never wrote her back, but she didn’t seem like a fan, and she wasn’t a fan. I never think of her as a typical fan — just a person who came out of nowhere to fulfill a testimony to me.” At the time, she never saw how God was talking to her in each envelope.
Life, however, can turn sour and dark. In New York City, Smith saw suffering and sorrow in her friends and acquaintances. She saw drug use, alcoholism, anorexia, cancer and AIDS. She was surrounded by death and questioned why. “I lost a very good friend to liver failure,” Smith says. “I said, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ Carolyn helped me understand that figure — God — in my life really wanted to be Lord in my life.”
Finally, the letters hit home. Having not grown up with faith, Smith’s first impression of it was through the actions of a stranger. “She modeled who Christ was before I knew Christ,” Smith says. “It was 15 years ago that I gave my life to Jesus, when I said ‘I don’t want to be the lord of my own life.’”
After accepting God into her heart, Smith said she all of a sudden wanted things that God wanted for her. She found a home church in Connecticut and met her future husband in Bible study. Two years later, she started teaching Bible school. “I loved teaching the children about how much God was there for them and how He loved them,” she says. “After a long time of praying, God told me that the scales had tipped, and I said I’m walking away from acting.”
Smith married her husband after six months of dating, and Guest, the letter lady, was among her bridesmaids. Soon, Smith’s family and Guest’s family both moved to Huntersville, North Carolina and Smith went to work as a children’s pastor. “The experience I had in North Carolina was amazing. It was amazing what we were able to do, but God called me to something more,” Smith says. “I put my resume out there and I got a call from LifeChurch.tv asking if I’d come to Edmond, Oklahoma. I thought, ‘Oklahoma? Really? This isn’t part of the plan.’”
What Smith found, however, was a home. As soon as she set foot in the church, she fell in love with the city, the people, the food and the welcoming atmosphere. “Six months ago we moved to Edmond,” Smith says. “For me, I wanted to go where God is, and God is here. God is at work in so many ways … and I love that I’m now part of this church family and staff.”
To this day, the letters that a stranger sent for seven years straight are still a dear part of Smith’s life. “I hope my story encourages people to not give up on people they have hope for. It does matter, and what you say to others matters. Because of Carolyn, I took the leap … and look at how many lives she’s changed.”
Today I have another special treat for you. But step by step! As you know, since 1984 A Martinez played the detective Cruz Castillo on our beloved Santa Barbara. Then in September 1992 (SB’ cancellation was announced forJanuary 1993) A Martinez decided to leave the show in order to play the attorney Daniel Morales on the primetime serial "L.A. Law". So the L.A. Law’ writers decided to make a tribute to Santa Barbara during the first appearance of A Martinez. I don’t want to anticipate more. Watch the clip! What a funny way to introduce a new character!!
Dear Friends, today I I fainted for a few minutes…again! No health problem, do not worry. I fainted after seeing that, after Ms. Nancy Lee Grahn, also Ms. Signy Coleman (ex-Celeste on Santa Barbara) has decided to give her "support" to the Facebook page of Santa Barbara Blog. She wrote something on my wall in which she said “This is so wonderful!!! What a great tribute to all of the fans of Santa Barbara!!" Look at the picture below. Sorry guys, but I can not say this without any show off! For me it is a beautiful demonstration. Thanks Ms. Coleman and Good Luck again withRiver Ridge(click here to watch the first episodes; after the jump, you can watch the trailer with Ms. Coleman and many others).
the first part of the SB contest has ended. I have received your stories and I sent them to Lynda Myles (SB script writer). I thank you because all your stories are really funny and well written. Your ideas are very original and they reflect the irreverent style of SB. We have a lot of fun to read them all. But this is a "contest" and only a story can win. And now I’ll hand over to Miss Myles to crown the winner with the garland of thorns and sunflowers, grown under the California’s sun. This is a metaphor of life: joy and pain. I hope the winner does not consider this a too “new age” gift.
Ms. Lynda Myles: “All the entries captured the zany qualities of Santa Barbara, which made them a lot of fun to read. I LOL'd many times! Here are some of my favorite lines -- Amy: "As they wait, Julia and Mason get locked in the wine cellar. As they argue about the law firm and the company, they succumb to passion and make love. Just then Gina walks in... "; Enzo: "A portion of the church yields and Sophia ends up under the rubble.Gina was arguing with her before Sophia was buried by the collapse of the chapel and now she manages to save her," and Gabriele: "The flame of the lighter lights up the face of the mysterious Mr. Lew who turns out to be Eden Capwell, leaving everyone baffled… " (I should think so!) I chose Matt's because I thought his had the best qualities of the other submissions, plus a few more of its own. It flows smoothly from crazy event to even crazier event while keeping an impossibly "sane" tone. My favorite line is: "The wind is getting worse, a hurricane has shifted its trajectory and is heading straight for Santa Barbara. Its name? Eden! Hurricane Eden! Mason laughs bitterly, of course she had to come home now. No way she'll let a storm steal her thunder."
And now…the winner story! Congratulations, Matt Crider!
EDEN COMES BACK TO SANTA BARBARA DURING AN HURRICANE
“Most of the Capwell Family had long given up hope that Eden would ever return to Santa Barbara.She had disappeared years before, her mind fractured seemingly beyond repair.And although they still mourned her, they had all moved on with their lives.Cruz once again married Santana Andrade and they built a strong marriage, even if it lacks fire.
CC, now in ill health, gets a letter from Eden.She wants to see him.But ONLY him.If he tells anyone else, she will run away again and no one will ever find him.Sophia and Mason know something is wrong,They work together and retrieve the letter.They decide to confront Eden first, in case it is an impostor.
Sophia shows up first to the run down hotel that Eden has directed CC her to meet her at.There is no power because of the storm.Mason tries to stall CC, but is unable to do so. Mason gets in the car as CC takes off. The wind is getting worse, a hurricane has shifted its trajectory and is heading straight for Santa Barbara.Its name?Eden! Hurricane Eden! Mason laughs bitterly, of course she had to come home now. No way she’ll let a storm steal her thunder.
In the dark hotel room, Sophia confronts a blonde woman, who certainly bears an uncanny resemblance to Eden.But it's too dark for Sophia to tell for sure and the woman doesn’t speak, She gets away from Sophia and runs outside as the storm reaches a fever pitch.Sophia screams “Eden!” as CC loses control of his car, slamming into the blonde.
CC has chest pains as he and Mason get out of the car.Sophia rushes toward them.
All are in shock as they look down at the blonde.She has Eden’s face!But as Mason points out, looking at the open robe. “That’s definitely NOT Eden. That’s not even a she!” The impostor is a MAN.
CC has a heart attack and falls to the ground, next to the man.Before he passes out, he asks “Who are you?”
“Don’t you recognize me daddy?” The voice is decidedly male.
”That voice!” Sophia gasps.“That’s Kirk Cranston”
Kirk laughs weakly as he fades away.“And you will never find the real Eden, I made sure of that!”With that, Kirk dies.
THE END (?)
And now I have to tell you the theme of the next disaster contest:
BIRDS ATTACK SANTA BARBARA.
You can let your imagination run wild. You can enter all the characters that you want. Cross-over with other soaps or tv-series are allowed. You can choose who to kill and who to resurrect. I would recommend not exceed 30 lines.
Today I’m presenting to you the fourth part of the interview that Frank Salisbury has granted exclusively to "Santa Barbara Blog". If you missed the previous parts, you can read it by clicking here (part one - part two - part three). We'll find out something more about the alchemy of the supercouple Eden & Cruz, the genesis of the earthquake that shook Santa Barbara in 1984, who had the idea of the magical Christmas in 1985, we will reflect on the current decline of the soap genre, we will consider how Santa Barbara faced Channing Jr’ homosexuality, also we will try to figure out how Robert Barr crept into the love story of Eden & Cruz, we will speak about the wonderful soundtrack of Santa Barbara and much more ... Have a nice Reading!
Eden & Cruz: the Super Couple! Their chemistry is unmatched. You've written for them? SB was accused of being almost totally focused on this pair (mostly during Jill Farren Phelps tenure). Was this a conscious choice or not? Do You think it was a right choice?
Eden and Cruz.They were lovely people and I had a wonderful time writing for them.I think the show was indeed focussed on them for a while,but it had to be because they were so dynamic.Funny, tender, loving, adventurous, all the things you could ask of a couple.I certainly think it was the right choice.And I think it was a wonderful pairing of two actors and two parts.I think also that Gina and whoever, Sophia and C.C., Mason and Julia, and anybody and everybody on the show, for however long, were the best of daytime for the six years I was on it.
After about three months from the beginning of SB, the ratings were low and so the earthquake came. A real drama, but you also show the comic side: Minx is hidden in a sarcophagus and she is saved, Danny Andrade sleeps all the time and he did not notice anything. How was the idea of the earthquake born?
The earthquake was a joint effort of the Dobsons and Chuck Pratt.They worked together to make it the memorable experience that it was.I often think how, in many ways, it presaged 9/11. The humor was an intrinsic part of it, as it was of everything they wrote.Good and bad, light and dark, the sublime and the ridiculous in one throw of the dice.Of course we burned up material at an alarming rate.
Over the years, many evil characters came to SB. I loved Peter Flint (The Carnation Killer), Kirk Cranston (the first husband of Eden), Elena Nikolas (CC and Pamela's hidden daughter who tried to kill all CC's children). Did you like them?
I'm sorry I don't remember specifics, but SB's villains were uniformly fun and fun to write.I liked them all, some of course more than others.
Eden and Cruz broke up many times. But their love was never in doubt. Until the arrival of Robert Barr (Roscoe Born) in 1989. Fans protested against it. . Who had the idea? Did you like this story line?
I don't recall when or who had the idea.It was impossible to tell because so much was being written by committee.I think this was close to the time of the Dobsons' leaving and, if so, it was probably written by Anne Howard Bailey and Chuck Pratt...no, judging from the time frame I don't guess so.I really don't remember anything about it, which gives you an idea of how memorable it was.In fact, many of SB's storylines fall into this category, I'm sorry to say.
Eden and Cruz tried to get married a million of times: the first time at Capwell hotel, but the marriage was interrupted by a fire and all were in danger of dying (you wrote this fantastic episode). Do You remember it?
I remember that the Capwell fire was a lot of fun to write.
Another masterpiece came from you during Christmas Eve 1985... Mason as Scrooge! Can you share with us your memories about it?
Again, the retelling of the Scrooge story I recall as being Chuck Pratt's idea.And I know that the episode I wrote was fun, but difficult to relate to.It was like a break in the normal routine and story arc and we had to readjust our thinking.At least, I did.But, of course, the idea of Mason as Scrooge is a natural.
Another element that has always fascinated me on SB is the tunnel that connects the Capwell house with the Lockridges: it almost highlights that these two families are still linked by something deep, invisible, despite being rivals. You wrote the episode in which Marcello Armonti blew up the tunnel. What do you think?
My recollection of Armonti is that he was an Italian Count and that Sophia had a charming accent.I remember that Marcello didblow up the tunnel, but not why or how.You ascribe such significance to the tunnel that I feel I should remember more, but I'll be darned if I can.In any case, it was soon forgotten.
Do you remember anything about Dominc Messinger (SB music composer)?
I never met Dominic Messenger but he was obviously a very talented man.I think the theme for SB was sprightly and exactly suited to the show. When I wasn't writing breakdowns (which required me to go to the Dobsons' home once a week), I was working from my own home, so my contact was minimal,Later we started having weekly meetings with the network producers.My time at the studio, in any case, was narrowly circumscribed.I visited the set one time, but mostly stayed upstairs where the offices were.Courtney, Lynda and Patrick mercifully avoided all such meetings.And Gary, too, come to think of it.They were either in New York or San Francisco (Patrick) and thus immune.I think Chuck and I were the only locally-based writers.And, of course, the Dobsons and Anne Howard when she came in.
I am curious to know something about your poetry. What does it mean for you to write?
My poetry is the result of extensive reading and happening to remember.But I also kept a library, which hasbeen reduced through moving, donating, etc.I now have only poets I consider valuable, Eliot, Swinburne, Wallace Stevens, James Tate, John Peale Bishop, Alan Seeger, Cavafy...the list goes on.I hadn't realized I'd kept so many.But poetry seems to me the most durable form of writing.It's one thing I keep going back go, time after time, and the thing I'm the most reluctant to part with.
What do you think about the current state of soaps and about their quality? Since January 2012, the survivor soaps are only four: Y&R, B&B, GH and DAYS…
I think that soaps are going the way of the dinosaur.Eventually they'll be a dim relic.I certainly don't see any way to save them.I can remember when there were 13 soaps, all alive and kicking.And a lot of talent coming from them.And people had penthouse apartments and lived very well from the proceeds.Gone now, all gone...
Are you in touch with someone from the cast & crew of SB?
Lane Davies (Mason) is the only one I've kept in touch with.We send each other the occasional e-mail message.Rarely.I know he has his own theatre in Atlanta now and produces a yearly Shakespeare festival.For a while, I was close with LouiseSorel (Augusta), but that seems to have died out with disuse.
Another masterpiece is the episode in which Mason tells to CC that Channing jr was not his son, but Lionel’s son. "Only the Name Came From you !"... Mason’s dialectic is excellent. Do You Want to comment it?
Looking on You Tube I can find the story thread, but nothing that suggests I had anything to do with it.I suppose I wrote some of he connecting scripts, but they've vanished apparently.Or been translated into Russian.Or into silence. Sic transit gloria mundi.
One of my favorite episode happens in the summer of 1985, when Mason revealed to C.C. that Channing was gay by bringing his ex-lover to the house.C.C. starts to register who this guy is, and Mason offers him a piece of fruit while saying, “Fruit? Have one, I mean.” The ability to convey so much subtext with the words. What made that scene and so many memorable is that Mason could be horrifying, cruel, even homophobic, yet we still enjoyed him, we still rooted for him.You couldn’t help but be on his side.That’s a delicate balance. Did you remember it?
Remember it?I wrote it.And I must say, I felt very proud of it.There are any number of moments like this that I felt proud of, because they so exactly encapsulated what I wanted to say or do. Do you happen to know if You Tube has this episode?
No, Frank, there is not. But I have that episode and I made a video for you...
Thanks for the video. I can not tell you how happy I am to watch it again. And not having to wait for my birthday. I am really indebted to you.
Oggi vi presento la quarta parte dell'intervista che Frank Salisbury ha concesso in esclusiva a "Santa Barbara Blog". Se vi foste persi le precedenti parti, potrete leggerla cliccando qui (prima parte - seconda parte - terza parte). Scopriremo qualcosa di più sull'alchimia della supercoppia Eden & Cruz, ripercorreremo la genesi del terremoto che sconvolse Santa Barbara nel 1984, scopriremo chi ebbe l'idea del magico Natale del 1985, faremo una riflessione sull'attuale declino delle soap, rifletteremo sul modo in cui SB affrontò l'omosessualità di Channing jr, cercheremo inoltre di capire in che modo Robert Barr si insinuò nella storia d'amore di Eden & Cruz, parleremo della splendida colonna sonora di SB e molto altro ancora... Buona Lettura!
Eden & Cruz: la super coppia! La loro alchimia resta impareggiabile. Hai scritto anche per loro? SB è stata accusata di essere quasi totalmente incentrata su questa coppia (per lo più durante il mandato di Jill Farren Phelps). E’ stata una scelta consapevole oppure no? Pensi che sia stata una scelta giusta?
Eden e Cruz. Erano persone simpatiche ed era meraviglioso scrivere per loro. Credo che lo spettacolo fosse davvero incentrato su di loro per un po ', ma doveva esserlo perché erano davvero molto dinamici. Divertenti, teneri, affettuosi, avventurosi, tutte le cose che potremmo desiderare in una coppia, loro le avevano. Io certamente credo che fosse la scelta giusta. E penso sia stato un abbinamento meraviglioso di due attori e due personaggi altrettanto meravigliosi. Penso anche che Gina, Sophia, CC, Mason, Julia e chiunque nello show fossero i migliori personaggi nel daytime per tutti e sei gli anni in cui feci parte dello show.
Dopo circa tre mesi dall'inizio di SB, gli ascolti non decollavano e così arrivò il terremoto. Un dramma vero e proprio, ma SB ci ha mostrato anche il lato comico: Minx si nasconde nel sarcofago, e si salva, Danny Andrade dorme tutto il tempo e non si accorge di nulla. Come nacque l'idea del terremoto?
Il terremoto fu uno fatica dei Dobson insieme a Chuck Pratt. Lavorarono insieme per renderla l'esperienza memorabile che fu. Mi capita spesso di pensare a come, per certi versi, presagimmo l’11 Settembre. L'umorismo è una parte intrinseca di quell’episodio, come lo fu di tutto quello che loro scrissero. Il Bene e il Male, la Luce e il Buio, il Sublime e il Ridicolo in un lancio di dadi. Naturalmente abbiamo bruciato il materiale ad un ritmo allarmante.
Nel corso degli anni, molti personaggi diabolici hanno attraversato SB. Ho amato Peter Flint, Kirk Cranston, Elena Nikolas. Pensando a questi nomi, che cosa ricordi di loro?
Mi dispiace non mi ricordo di loro nello specifico, ma i cattivi di SB erano tutti divertenti e divertenti da scrivere. Mi piacevano tutti, alcuni naturalmente più di altri.
Eden e Cruz si sono lasciati e ripresimolte volte. Ma il loro amore non è mai stato messo in discussione. Fino all'arrivo di Robert Barr (Roscoe Born) nel 1989. I fan protestarono ardentemente. Chi ebbe l'idea? Ti piacque questa storilyne?
Non ricordo chi ebbe l'idea. E’ impossibile da dire perché la maggior parte delle storie venivano decise in gruppo. Penso che potremmo collocarlo nel periodo in cui i Dobson lasciarono lo show e, in quel caso, fu probabilmente scritto da Ann Howard Bailey e Chuck Pratt ... no, a giudicare dal periodo di tempo non penso. Davvero non mi ricordo niente, il che ti dà l’idea di come fu memorabile. In realtà, molte delle storie di Santa Barbara rientrano in questa categoria, mi dispiace dirlo.
Eden e Cruz hanno cercato di sposarsi un milione di volte: la prima volta all’Hotel Capwell, ma il matrimonio venne interrotto da un incendio durante il quale tutti erano in pericolo di vita (fosti tu a scrivere questo fantastico episodio).
Ricordo che l’episodio dell’incendio durante il matrimonio fu molto divertente da scrivere.
Un altro capolavoro è opera tua: durante la vigilia di Natale 1985. Mason come Scrooge! Che cosa ricordi?
Ancora una volta, il racconto della storia di Scrooge fu un’ idea di Chuck Pratt. L'episodio che ho scritto era molto divertente, ma difficile da collocare nella storia. Era come una pausa nella routine normale e nell’arco temporale e abbiamo dovuto riaggiustare il nostro pensiero. Almeno, io lo feci. Ma l'idea di Mason come novello Scrooge viene naturale.
Un altro elemento che mi ha sempre affascinato in SB è il tunnel che collega la casa dei Capwell con quella dei Lockridge: si evidenzia quasi il fatto che queste due famiglie sono ancora legate da qualcosa di profondo, invisibile, pur essendo rivali. Tu scrivesti l'episodio in cui Marcello Armonti fece saltare in aria il tunnel. Che ne pensi? Che cosa ti ricordi?
Di Marcello Armonti ricordo che era un conte italiano e che Sofia aveva un accento affascinante. Mi ricordo che Marcello fece saltare il tunnel, ma non ricordo né come né perchè. Tu attribuisci una tale importanza al tunnel che sento di dover ricordare di più, ma dannazione se ci riesco. In ogni caso, fu presto dimenticato.
Ricordi qualcosa di Dominic Messinger (il compositore musicale di SB)?
Non ho mai incontrato Dominic Messenger ma era evidentemente un uomo di grande talento. Credo che la colonna sonora di SB fosse vivace e calzasse a pennello per lo show. Quando non mi occupavo del trattamento della sceneggiatura (che mi richiedeva di andare a casa dei Dobson una volta alla settimana), lavoravo da casa mia, quindi il mio contatto con gli altri membri fu minimo, poi iniziammo ad avere incontri settimanali con i produttori. Il tempo che passavo negli studios, in ogni caso, era strettamente circoscritto. Ho visitato il set una volta, ma passavo la maggior parte del tempo al piano superiore, negli uffici. Courtney, Lynda e Patrick fortunatamente si sono risparmiati tutti questi incontri. E Gary, anche, a ripensarci. Loro vivevano a New York (Lynda) o a San Francisco (Patrick) e quindi erano immuni. Credo che Chuck ed io fossimo gli unici sceneggiatori che vivevano in zona. E naturalmente i Dobsons e Ann Howard Bailey.
Sono curioso di sapere qualcosa sulla tua poetica. Che significato ha per te la scrittura?
La mia poesia è il risultato di vaste letture e di appuntamenti da ricordare. Ma ho anche messo su una mia biblioteca, che si è ridotta col tempo e con i traslochi, ho dato alcuni libri in donazione, ecc ora conservo solo i poeti che considero preziosi, Eliot, Swinburne, Wallace Stevens, James Tate, John Peale Bishop, Alan Seeger, Kavafis ... e la lista continua. Non mi ero reso conto di averne conservati così tanti. Ma la poesia mi sembra la forma più duratura di scrittura. Me ne avvicino e mi allontano da essa, di volta in volta, ed è la cosa dalla quale io sono più riluttante a separarmi.
Che cosa pensi dello stato attuale delle soap e della loro qualità? A partire dal Gennaio 2012 abbiamo solo più 4 soap superstiti: Febbre d’Amore, Beautiful, General Hospital e I giorni della nostra vita.
Penso che le soap stiano seguendo le orme dei dinosauri. Alla fine diventeranno una reliquia. Io non vedo alcun modo per salvarle. Mi ricordo quando c'erano 13 soap, tutte vive e vegete. E un sacco di talento emergeva da esse. E la gente possedeva attici e viveva molto bene con il ricavato. Tutto questo è svanito ora. Tutto svanito ...
Sei ancora in contatto con qualcuno del cast e dello staff di SB?
Lane Davies è l'unico con il quale sono rimasto in contatto. Occasionalmente ci scriviamo via e-mail. Raramente. So che ha il suo teatro ad Atlanta ormai e produce un festival annuale su Shakespeare. Per un po ', mi tenni in contatto con Louise Sorrel, ma la cosa sembra essere morta per disuso.
Un altro capolavoro è l'episodio in cui Mason dice a CC che Channing jr non era suo figlio, ma il figlio Lionel. "Solo il nome è opera tua !"... La dialettica di Mason è eccellente. Lo ricordi?
Cercando su You Tube riesco a trovare il filo della storia, ma nulla che suggerisca che io abbia qualcosa a che fare con essa. Suppongo di aver scritto alcuni copioni collegati, ma sono scomparsi a quanto pare. O è stato tradotto in russo. O nel silenzio. Sic transit gloria mundi.
Una delle mie scene preferite si svolge nell'estate del 1985, nel momento in cuiMason rivela a CC che Channing era gay e gli porta in casa il suo ex-amante. C.C. cerca di capire in che modo questo ragazzo sia collegato a Channing, e in quel momento Mason gli offre un pezzo di frutta, dicendo, "Finocchio? Prendine uno voglio dire. "La capacità di trasmettere ilsottotesto con le parole. Ciò che ha reso quella scena memorabile è che Mason poteva essere orribile, crudele, anche omofobo, ma continuiamo ad amarlo. Non si poteva fare a meno di essere dalla sua parte. Questo è un delicato equilibrio. Ti ricordi di questo episodio?
Se lo ricordo? L'ho scritto io! E devo dire che ne fui molto orgoglioso. Ci sono stati molti momenti come questo in cui mi sono sentito orgoglioso, perché ero riuscito adincapsulare esattamente quello che volevo dire o fare. Per caso sai se questo episodio sia su You Tube?
No, Frank, non c’è. Però io ho trovato l’episodio e ho fatto un video per te. Eccolo
Grazie mille per il video. Non riesco a dirti quanto sono contento di vederlo di nuovo. E di non dover aspettare per il mio compleanno. Sono davvero in debito con te.
