Wolf Muser plays Adolf Hitler on a web series

Wolf Muser as Hitler

A glimpse into an alternate history of North America. What life after WWII may have been like if the Nazis had won the war. This is the synopsis of the sci-fi series The man in the high castle (2015-) produced by Amazon and based on the 1962 novel of the same name by American science fiction author Philip K. Dick. At the time of the events in The Man in the High Castle, Hitler is in his early 70s and is rumored to be in poor health, possibly suffering from Parkinson's Disease. And who else better than Wolf Muser (Marcello Armonti on Santa Barbara) could play the evilest character ever? No one, of course. After leaving Santa Barbara in 1985, Muser never stopped working and still he is always very busy as a guest star on several successful tv series, like Bones, Grimm and many others. 

NANCY LEE GRAHN shares her abortion story

In a very personal blog post for the nonprofit organization A Is For, which is dedicated to advancing women's reproductive rights and ending the stigma against abortion care, Nancy Lee Grahn (Julia Wainwright on SANTA BARBARA) shares that she chose to have an abortion in her mid-20s.

 The Emmy-winning actress reveals that despite using birth control, she was "shocked, scared and overwhelmed" to learn she was carrying a child. However, she explains she was never uncertain about what she had to do.

 “I knew I was not ready, prepared, or willing to be a mother at that time,” she writes. “I never once wavered in my belief that this was not the man with whom I wanted to, or should raise a child. Simply put, I was resolute in my decision to terminate my pregnancy, and grateful for those that tirelessly fought for my right to make that decision about my own body, and my own life. I was relieved that I lived in a time where I would not be shamed, confronted or harmed by others while walking into my nurturing doctor's office for this safe and legal procedure.”

 In the personal essay, which you can read in its entirety here, Grahn also shares that she feels no regrets about having made the choice to give up her child. “The entirety of my short pregnancy and abortion was a deep and transcending experience. It is my story. It is my truth, and no one else's,” she writes. “It belongs to me, and I cherish it. It helped me evolve as a person, and fueled my desire to be a good mother into actual manifestation when I gave birth almost 20 years later to the love of my life, Kate. It was ultimately a profound experience for which I have no regrets.”

 (soapcentral.com)

Proud of you, Mrs. Grahn.

Jeremy Jackson arrested over stabbing allegations

According to TMZ former “Baywatch” and “Santa Barbara” star Jeremy Jackson has been arrested on suspicion of attacking a woman with a knife. At the tender age of six, Jeremy Jackson got his first taste of show business, booking his first successful commercial for Mattel. From this Jeremy exploded onto the commercial scene starring in dozens of national network ad campaigns including television and print. In addition to his commercial work in 1990 Jeremy dabbled in daytime television with a seven-episode run on the soap opera Santa Barbara, playing a young Derek Griffin in some flashbacks. Jackson is accused of stabbing an unidentified female when she allegedly tried to stop him taking her boyfriend’s car from outside her home in Los Angeles in August. Jackson, 34, left the scene after the alleged altercation, and police officers subsequently arrested him at a hotel. He has been hit with felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats. The 34 year old could face up to seven years in prison if convicted. The arrest is the latest legal trouble for the actor following a previous arrest earlier this year  when he was accused of attacking a man at a hotel in April.

A Martinez and Thaao Penghlis join DAYS OF OUR LIVES

A Martinez and Thaao Penghlis

According to Soap Opera Digest, A Martinez (ex-Cruz Castillo, SANTA BARBARA) has been cast in DAYS OF OUR LIVES in a new role (Eduardo) “that will have many connections in Salem”. Martinez received eight total Daytime Emmy Awards nominations for his work on Santa Barbara. His numerous other credits include General Hospital, One Life to Live, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Bay, Longmire and California Solo.  In other news, Thaao Penghlis (ex-Micah De Angelis, SANTA BARBARA) who has played Tony and Andre DiMera on and off since 1981, and was last seen in 2009, is back filming at the set. “It is an excited situation and Josh [Griffith] has imagined a wonderful character”, Martinez said. Josh Griffith was hired in February 2015 as co-head writer of Days of Our Lives, alongside re-hired former head, Dena Higley. Griffith began his writing career on Santa Barbara in 1988 and continued writing for the show until 1991 when he moved over to One Life to Live.

 

 

 

Frank Runyeon (ex Michael Donnelly) Makes a Heavenly Appearence on The Young & The Restless

Frank Runyeon, well known for his previous daytime roles as Steve Andropoulos on As The World Turns, Father Michael Donnelly on Santa Barbara, and Forrester Williams on All My Children, is set to appear on May 28 and June 2 to a Genoa City resident as an angel named Angel on The Young and the Restless, according to TV Insider. “I'm L.A.-based and, apparently, they [Jill Farren Phelps and Chuck Pratt jr] were looking for a guy who looks sort of Biblical and Chuck thought of me. I mean, who else is so stupid they'll walk around with a beard and long hair looking for a job in Hollywood? Me! I'm that stupid! And it's such an interesting thing to play an angel. I mean, how do you do that exactly? There are no rules, so I just sort of winged it. Hey, if Brian Frons could play God on “Santa Barbara”, I can certainly do this!”, Runyeon said.

Runyeon, who travels part of the year doing one-man shows in churches, is also writing a book entitled, Escape From Hollywood: An Actor's Unlikely Journey to Faith. A very similar path to Marcy Walker’s one.

John O'Hurley joins DEVIOUS MAIDS

According to the Soap Opera Diget, John O’Hurley (ex Stephen Slade on SB) has joined the cast for season three of DEVIOUS MAIDS, which kicks off June 1. O’Hurley tweeted a photo of him on set with Susan Lucci (Genevieve on the show) and Rebecca Wisocky (Evelyn), along with the question, "What do you think of my leading ladies?”. We don’t know yet which role he will have on the show. Could he be Susan Lucci’s new love interest? After leaving Santa Barbara in 1991, the actor has worked nonstop in prime time until today. Seductive and secret character, Stephen Slade (briefly portrayed by actor Richard Hatch) arrives in Santa Barbara as a movie director. But he’s hiding a secret desire of revenge: along with Ethan Asher, Craig Hunt and Derek Griffin, he is one of the orphans in search of the truth about the death of their friend Cassandra, died as a child after having been adopted by the Capwells. In my opinion, that storyline, named “The four avenger orphans mystery”, was one of the worst occurred on the show. Its sole value was to show us a then-unknown Leonardo DiCaprio, who played young Mason Capwell in some flashbacks. 

JUDITH McCONNELL stars on THE PURGE: ANARCHY

Judith McConnell (Sophia Armonti #2 on SB) is back with The Purge: Anarchy, a bigger and bloodier sequel that tells its tale on a citywide canvas encompassing nearly all walks of life in Los Angeles. Instead of focusing on a singular family, The Purge: Anarchy builds its menu of target practice from an ensemble of potential victims. The central heroes are Eva and Cali Sanchez (Carmen Ejogo and Zoe Soul), a working class single mother and her teenage daughter. Clearly marked by generations of struggle that runs through her family’s blood, Eva has the kind of job that forces her to serve customers at a diner merely two hours away from the annual “holiday” that begins at 7pm once every year. Frank Grillo (Hart on GL) also star as Sergeant Leo Barnes. On a purely entertainment level, there are several set pieces that will please genre diehards that were left wanting last time out. In particular Judith McConnell as the smiling hostess taking down bids has especially delectable fun in crooning about her preferred shotgun of choice, entering momentary ecstasy when thinking about the chamber firing. It was released worldwide on July 18, 2014. Go Judith, go!

TWIN PEAKS Cast Reunites in Los Angeles 23 Years After Series Run

The stars of the cult hit but short-lived TV show got together at the Vista Theatre in Los Angeles. The reunion was in celebration of the release of Twin Peaks - The Entire Mystery, a Blu-Ray/DVD collection containing all 30 episodes of the ABC show. In addition to the original episodes, the box set also includes more than an hour of unseen footage, including deleted scenes. 

The Twin Peaks féte brought together a bevy of stars from the series, which ran for two seasons from April 1990 to June 1991. Dressed in a crisp suit, show creator David Lynch mingled with actress Madchen Amick, who played Shelly Johnson in the show. In the decades since the show first debuted, both have led successful careers. Lynch, 68, has been writing documentaries and shorts as of late, and Amick, 43, currently stars in Witches of East End.

Twin Peaks star Ray Wise, who played Leland Palmer, embraced his onscreen wife Grace Zabriskie (Theda DuVall on SANTA BARBARA), who played Sarah Palmer. Zabriskie, 73, starred on Big Love for five years and appears in the upcoming film The Judge with Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall. Wise has held a busy schedule with roles in How I Met Your Mother and The Young and the Restless.  Other Twin Peaks stars who made appearances at the L.A. event included Miguel Ferrer, Sheryl Lee, Peggy Lipton, Mary Jo Deschanel, Russ Tamblyn, James Marshall, and Catherine E. Coulson.

PHYLLIS FRELICH passed away at 70

After Dane Witherspoon’sdeath few weeks ago, one more big loss for Santa Barbara’s lovers: Phyllis Frelich has passed away. On SB she portrayed Sister Sarah from June to August 1988. Capital witness in the murder of Mark McCormick, Sister Sarah was a deaf and dumb nun, who officiates at the catholic mission directed by Father Michael Donnelly. Moreover she turns to be the best friend of regretted Sister Mary DuVall.

Sister Sarah’s character  was strongly desired by Nancy Lee Grahn. Ms. Grahn proved to be the conduit between Phyllis and the show. The two met at a celebrity benefit, A Night at the Movies, and hit it off marvelously. By coincidence, a few days later, SB's executive producer, Jill Farren Phelps, weary from the effects of the writers' strike, half-jokingly announced to the cast, "I'll pay ten bucks to anyone who comes up with a good storyline". "And I'll do anything for ten bucks," cracked Grahn. She immediately went to work devising a plot line that would heavily feature her and Frelich. Nancy's idea was nixed (though production staffers who read it insist that it was superior to the one the show ultimately settled on) but Phyllis got cast anyway. That is, after a degree of deliberation. 

Reports Grahn, "They were hesitant about it. They worried that the audience wouldn't like a deaf character or that a story line with a deaf character would be boring or that it would be difficult to communicate the plot points. All the typical things that someone who's never worked with deaf performers might think. But I just didn't let up on them. It got to the point that when Jill saw me coming down the hall, she'd lock her door, moaning, 'Shaddup, already. I don't want to hear about it any more." The determined actress even made her pitch to Brian Frons, NBC's vice-president of daytime programming. Once victorious, Grahn applauded the decision. "Hooray for them for trying it. I didn't think it was risky, but for them, it was. That's the one thing about SANTA BARBARA, it takes risks. I was so confident that they would love Phyllis - and they did. When she does her scenes ,everybody comes down to the studio floor to watch her work.”

Frelych was born on February 29, 1944 in Devils Lake, North Dakota. Her parents were deaf and she was the oldest of 9 deaf children.

She is best known for being the lead female role in the Broadway production of Children of a Lesser God which is the role that won the 1980 Best Actress Tony Award. The play was also named Best Play in 1980 as well.

Her latest work on Television was on CSI during the episode - The Two Mrs. Grissom's. She has also acted on E.R (98-99) and Diagnosis Murder(99). Some of her movie roles included Love is Never Silent (1985), Bridge to Silence (1989), and Sweet Nothing in My Ear (2008).

Marleen Matlin tweeted yesterday about Frelich’s death: 

DANE WITHERSPOON passed away at 56.

Dane Witherspoon, SANTA BARBARA’s original cast member in the role of Joe Perkins, passed away at 56. His second ex-wife, Tracy Shaffer, announced it through her facebook: “Good night sweet prince. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

We do not yet know the details, but it seems that Dane is dead after a few days in a coma following a ruinous fall.

In 1984, he made his soap opera debut as the original Joe Perkins on Santa Barbara. Three months later, Dane was replaced by Mark Arnold because the SB producers decided he wasn’t right for the role. This decision left fans bewildered, but Dane soon returned to daytime as Tyler McCandless on television's Capitol series. He played this part from 1985 to 1986.

Dane’s former co-star, A Martinez, wanted to commemorate Dane in this way:

And I wish to say goodbye to Dane with the following video, starring Dane Witherspoon, A Martinez, Robin Wright, Ian Abercrombie (Philip, the butler) and many others.

Golden Globes 2014: ROBIN WRIGHT wins as Best Actress in a TV drama

Northern Italy. 3:00 AM . I would never have believed that Kevin Bacon could give me such great satisfaction . I do not particularly like him. So when, during the Golden Globes ceremony , he introduced the category of Best Actress in a TV drama ( the category in which Robin Wright was nominated ) , I thought that this could be a harbinger of doom ...

But “The winner is ROBIN WRIGHT !” Instinctively I yelled : “She won !”

Robin Wright, petrified in her chair . On her right, Kevin Spacey . On the left her partner, Ben Foster . After a few seconds, Robin finally stands up . She is smiling. She is stunning in her gold dress. After her initial hesitation , she literally runs to the stage, hugs Kevin Bacon, quickly grabs the award, suffering wardrobe malfunction, and  thanked someone : David Fincher for having convinced her to accept the part on House of Cards, Kevin Spacey her co-star in the show and then she says : “Ok, now I'm going” .  I believe there is still something of Kelly Capwell in your eyes. So shy as to appear almost icy. Perfect: emotionally distant from Hollywood. This is why I love you, Robin. You're a great actress with or without the award. Bravo Robin, I'm proud of you!

CARMEN ZAPATA passed away at 86

According to KABC, actress Carmen Zapata died Sunday night at her home in Van Nuys. She was 86 and had been dealing with an illness and a heart condition for some time. On SANTA BARBARA she played Mama Castillo on and off from 1985 to 1991. Fate made it so that Cruz Castillo's mom passed away two days after A Martinez’ s mother, Eva Martinez. My condolences to Martinez and Zapata’s family.

Zapata worked to preserve Latin American culture in U.S., but she was also an actress who took on many roles.

In her career, Zapata did Broadway, movies and television. She appeared on numerous TV shows, including BONANZA and DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN.

Her resume was as long as her smile was bright. During her career, good roles didn't always come easy for a Latina in show business. But Zapata worked hard to change that.

The actress, teacher, producer, lecturer, narrator and translator spent decades in show business, even getting her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003. 

I'd like to remember her with this video: a funny sparkling lunch between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law! Enjoy and thank you, Mama Castillo. 

ATTENTION, PLEASE: URGENT APPEAL TO ALL THE Santa Barbara FANS

Dear SB fans,

Over the years we’ve had a lot of fun watching the stories of our beloved characters and we still are loyal to our heroes and heroines. Well, who better than A Martinez’s Cruz Castillo could keep us stuck in front of the TV? Easy answer: N o b o d y . He’s done a lot for us. Today, all of us together, we can do something for him. He did not ask me to do this. This is my idea.

I know that A Martinez has a project he’s been working as an actor, writer and director: Before your Eyes has completed roughly 60% of its principal photography.  The cast includes such accomplished veteran actors as Laurie O'Brien, Carl Weintraub, Leigh McCloskey (yes, Zack/Ethan Asher on SANTA BARBARA) , A Martinez and David Hayward, and a company of talented young actor/musicians portraying the members of a large band and their half-crazed would-be managers. 

But to complete the project, he needs to raise $ 15,000 (this is the bare minimum to cover editing and post-production costs).

Here some details: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1212038627/before-your-eyes-the-movie

What I ask you, my friends, is to contribute, as much as you can and want, to help reach the amount required for this project. I’ve already made a pledge . Even one dollar is enough. 

No payment is required for a couple of months -- just a pledge --  if he reaches his goal. If he doesn’t, your pledge will be cancelled. 

If we are united, we can multiply our dollars and help A Martinez to realize his project.

Remember –  we can help him in two ways:

 1 - by giving the amount that you consider most appropriate

 2 - by  sharing the above link anywhere you want

Over the years, A Martinez has given us all a lot of fun giving life to our SuperHero Cruz Castillo. I would like to repay him by doing something tangible for him. And you?

CURSE OF CHUCKY: uncensored trailer starring A MARTINEZ

Universal Pictures released a red band trailer for the sixth chapter direct-to-video of the horror franchise CHILD’S PLAY.

CURSE OF CHUCKY brings together the creators of the franchise Don Mancini (writer of the first chapter of the series and director of THE SON OF CHUCKY) and David Kirschner (producer of the entire series) and tells us on the come back of the famous doll possessed by the spirit of a serial killer, who was imprisoned as a result of a voodoo ritual. Chucky this time swoops to the home of a family as a gift and when he is acquainted with the new location he will begin its work: thinning the inhabitants of the house with the help of cutting weapons and deadly traps.

As I had announced to you last year, A Martinez joined the cast. He does not play a cop this time, but a priest! We know that priests often do not reach the end of a horror movie, but this time under the cowl there is the brave heart of Cruz Castillo. So Chucky, perhaps, is in serious danger.

New trailer confirms the extensive use of CG to give expression and movement to the lethal doll and the video release should give big doses of gore thanks to the “unrated” format. US release is scheduled for October 2013.

NICOLAS COSTER to star on MY SYNTHETIZED LIFE

Daytime Soap Legend Nicolas Coster (Lionel Lockridge on SANTA BARBARA) is more active and tireless than ever! After starring in the web series THE BAY, now he is one of the stars of the new comedy web series MY SYNTHETIZED LIFE, created, written, directed and executive produced by Nate Golon. Brent Bailey stars as Jimmy, a young office worker whose voice is suddenly transformed in a freak accident by his radio during a rap song, resulting in his voice becoming fully synthesized. While most people look down on him, his roommate Steve and Steve’s sister Liz help him to embrace the new powers and advantages that his new voice provides.

The show also has an impressive supporting cast, including Tony winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (KING OF THE HILL, AMERICAN DAD!, RETIRED AT 35), Stacey Oristano (BUNHEADS, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS), Katie LeClerc (SWITCHED AT BIRTH), Barrett Foa (NCIS: LOS ANGELES).

That’s enough chat, now it’s time to look at our beloved Lionel in action! Warning, the series can be addictive.

Dr. Joyce Brothers passed away at 85

Famed columnist and television personality Dr. Joyce Brothers died at age 85 on Monday. According to Starpulse.com, the TV psychologist passed away from natural causes. Brothers became famous after taking home the top award on “The $64,000 Question” in 1955, becoming the only woman to ever to win the coveted prize.

In 1958, Brothers created the advice program “The Dr. Joyce Brothers Show,” which aired on NBC. For over 40 years, Brothers hosted syndicated talk shows on television and radio. She made cameo appearances on popular series such as “Charlie’s Angels,” “Happy Days” and “Frasier.”

For nearly four decades she published an advice column in popular magazine “Good Housekeeping.” Beginning in the 1970s she wrote a column that at its height appeared in over 300 newspapers.

She also made many cameo appearances parodying herself on television sitcoms and soaps: in 1972, Brothers appeared on ABC daytime soap opera ONE LIFE TO LIVE; in 1981 she appeared on AS THE WORLD TURNS as an old friend of Bob Hughes and in 1989 she also appeared on SANTA BARBARA during a Gina’s dream : Bunny, dressed as a woman, welcomes a psychologist who wrote a book on women’s indecision and on propensity that some have to make bad choices in their life. The host then calls her other guest supposed to represent a typical case described in the book : Gina. Then a question follows surrounding the five marriages involving Gina, where she is attacked from everywhere and hissed by the public. Gina wakes up by waiting to answer the last question of psychoanalyst / Bunny :  “Who are going to choose you to be your next husband ?”

Here the clip (dubbed in French).

Cannes: ROBIN WRIGHT in trippy trailer for Ari Folman's "THE CONGRESS"

Imagine a wonderful actress forty year old. Imagine that she is very beautiful and talented. Imagine now that she has given up some important roles for family reasons. Imagine that she is scanned to live forever young on the big screen. Practically imagine Robin Wright who plays herself (or rather, a fictional version of herself) in the new film by Ari Folman, The Congress.

The story is a loose adaptation of Stanislaw Lem’s The Futurological Congress from 1971, and follows a version of Wright who has sold Hollywood the digital rights to a younger version of her entire being. This looks like a really cool sci-fi story with some poignant social commentary on Hollywood and maybe the future of cinema. The film also stars Harvey Keitel and Paul Giamatti and premieres as part of the Directors' Fortnight sidebar at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. The trailer for this highly anticipated movie was released a few hours ago and I love it. And you? I wonder if they will mention Santa Barbara ... Meanwhile, on May 16 Robin Wright will be in Cannes. Who wants to come with me? ;o)

A MARTINEZ on stage...with a black brother

If you are in California and if you love A Martinez, Cruz Super Hero Castillo from Santa Barbara, then you're a lucky man because you have the chance to see him on stage in the lead role on Blood Knot.

The play, directed by Lou Gossett Jr. and produced by Richard Johnson and Diane Peterson, tells the story of two biracial brothers divided by color but bound by blood in South Africa before apartheid ended.

Our beloved A Martinez and Oscar Best appeared on KCAL9 News to discuss the two-man play, “Blood Knot”.

Guys: this is an opportunity to be seized. I hope they will replicate when I’ll be in California, at the end of June. It would be an honor and a very big dream to meet a great actor and a great man such as A (this is my message in a bottle).

The production runs through May 19.

The Malibu Stage Company is located at 29243 Pacific Coast Highway.

For more information, visit the Malibu Stage Company online.

ROBIN WRIGHT to marry BEN FOSTER

- Kelly Capwell on SANTA BARBARA -

ROBIN Wright is planning to marry her new boyfriend, 32-year-old actor Ben Foster?

According to American tabloid the National Enquirer, the pair fell for each other in 2011 while filming the gritty cop drama Rampart, and they’ve carried on a discreet romance since then.

Robin was famously married to Sean Penn for 14 years and previously to Dane Whiterspoon, her SB co-star.

“Ben proposed to Robin a few weeks ago, and they’ve already set a wedding date for late spring 2013,” a source said.

“For the first time in ages, Robin feels happy and settled. She went through hell with Sean’s mood swings and violent temper, and never thought she’d find love again. But Ben worships her and gets along great with her kids."

“Sean threw away his marriage to Robin, and now he’s crying about how he hasn’t been loved.

“Robin feels as if the tables have finally turned. She’s grateful to be moving on with her life.”

What can I say? If you're happy, Robin Wright, do it! I I extend to you my best wishes for a happy life together. You deserve the best. Always.

Soap Actor Peter Love enjoying lounge performances

- Ric Castillo on SANTA BARBARA -

Soap fans know Peter Love as an actor whose credits include stints on “Ryan's Hope” and “Santa Barbara” (ex Ric Castillo). Now, soap fans, and anybody else who enjoys hearing good music in nice surroundings, can get to know Love as a musician and singer who plays January 1, 2013 at Vinyl at the Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road with  his “Welcome to My Living Room” show, as Las Vegas Report-Journal reported.

Love's dad was a musician, and his mom was a flamenco artist. Not surprisingly, music was a key aspect of Love's childhood.

“My father was always buying a musical instrument of some sort or another, going to auctions and buying them,” Love says. “I just gravitated toward learning guitar and piano, mostly, but whatever instrument he'd bring home, in my spare time I'd learn to play.”

Love eventually would move to California to pursue a career in acting and music. Actually, he admits, “I was really interested in music but, somehow or another, by accident, I ended up a leading man on a soap opera. But my main focus, my main interest, was always on singing and performing.”

Love moved to Las Vegas in 2004 and began playing lounges along the Strip. Then, shortly after returning to L.A. in 2008, he received a call to return here to play Hank's, a venue that Love says he “had always wanted to play.”

There, Love plays music from the late '60s to today by artists ranging from Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones to Nirvana, Maroon 5 and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Whatever the era or the genre, “I love music that makes you sad or happy or that makes you laugh or cry,” Love says. “I just love music, so I don't really gravitate toward any one particular type of music.”

Love also enjoys playing music in a way that spans generations.

“If you want to have some fun, stop in and watch musicians play and jam when they're not being paid,” Love says. “It's like an old-style Las Vegas show. You get off of your show, meet up with friends, find someplace that has a piano and a guitar and just jam all night.”

pic #2 is from Capridge.com