Interview Archive: Elizabeth Hubbard

Happy 85th birthday to the legendary Emmy-winning actress Elizabeth Hubbard!

We Love Soaps TV traveled to the As the World Turns studio in Brooklyn on the second to last day of shooting in June 2010 to speak with Hubbard about her storied career. Watch the interview below.

We Love Soaps Interview Archive: Eileen Fulton (October 2011)

Legendary As the World Turns actress Eileen Fulton turns 85 today. Back in October 2011, We Love Soaps spoke with Ms. Fulton in a three-part interview about her career in conjunction with the release of the first Soap Classics DVD collections. Read the interview below:

Part 1 - Ms. Fulton shared a spooky Douglas Marland story, and her thoughts on some of the episodes on the As the World Turns Classics DVD including Bob and Kim's 1985 wedding. "These weddings were shot mostly in the studio, and it took forever to film them!"

Part 2 - Ms. Fulton shared some of the ups and downs from her run including the writing regime of Stephen Black and Henry Stern. "I called them Black and Decker," Fulton joked. "Or Frick and Frack."

Part 3 - Ms. Fulton shared her thoughts on the ending for Lisa on As the World Turns. "Leaving Lisa standing alone in the hotel was disgusting," she said. "That was their 'Up yours!' to Lisa."

We Love Soaps Interview Archive: Doug Davidson (2009)

Doug Davidson has starred on The Young and the Restless as Paul Williams since 1978. We Love Soaps spoke to Davidson in 2009 about his long tenure on Y&R, his stint as host on the primetime Price is Right, the future of daytime, and much more.

In case you missed it, here's our three-part interview:

Part One - Davidson talked about his background and early years on The Young and the Restless.

Part Two - Davidson discussed the controversial "was it rape?" storyline with Christine and the recent twist in Paul's storyline with Nikki.

Part Three - Davidson shared his thought on the future of daytime, web soaps, almost hosting the daytime version of The Price is Right, and revealed some wonderful advice he received from his TV mother.

Interview Archive: Maurice Benard (2010, 2011, 2013)

We Love Soaps has always enjoyed speaking with Emmy Award-winning actor Maurice Benard, who has played Sonny Corinthos on General Hospital since August 13, 1993. Below are links to three separate interviews conducted with Benard: December 2010, June 2011, and April 2013.

December 2010
Part 1 - Benard discussed performing live, how he got into acting, playing comedy, working on All My Children and landing the role of Sonny.

Part 2 - Benard shared memories from his General Hospital career, working on his latest indie film, being an animal love, and learning to "live in the moment."

June 2011
Part 1 - Benard discussed Sonny's evolution on GH, and his ongoing struggles maintaining symptoms of Bipolar.

Part 2 - Benard shared more about his experience of portraying Sonny, keeping the role fresh, dealing with Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo (Brenda) leaving the show, as well as his own future aspirations.

March 2013
GH50 - Benard said it was "an honor to be on the show as long as I have been on" at General Hospital's 50th Anniversary event at the Paley Center. He also previewed his upcoming movie The Ghost and The Whale.

'To The Beat!' Interview with Eric Martsolf, Martha Madison, Lilly Melgar, Marie Wilson & Jillian Clare

Fans have been anxiously awaiting the release of teen/family movie To The Beat! since the trailer was first released in July. The movie releases across multiple platforms on March 13, and it is worth the wait. The script is lighthearted, with relevant lessons about family, friends and following your dreams. First-time director Jillian Clare deserves kudos for bringing a movie to life that delivers something for everyone - dance, drama and fun!

In To The Beat!, fourteen-year-old twins Mackie (Laura Krystine, Instructions Not Included) and Mia Castillo (Brisa Lalich) have been dancing since they were toddlers. They support each other's passion through competitions and rehearsals, even though they prefer different styles: Mia loves tap and Mackie loves jazz. When their favorite pop star (Chris Trousdale) launches an online contest to find the most unique dancers for his new music video, the twins each form their own team to compete. With the help of their family and friends, Pauly (Jaheem Toombs, 100 Things To Do Before High School) and Doug (Trevor Larcom, Fuller House), they campaign for the most votes on social media. Meanwhile, their arch-rival and neighbor Avery, (Jayden Bartels, Dance Moms, Musical.ly Star), uses her charm and resources to gain the upper hand in the competition.

In addition to being directed by Clare, who once played Abigail on Days of our Lives, the cast includes a number of other familiar faces to soap opera fans.

Marie Wilson (Camila), the soft-spoken, widowed mother of the twins, is perfect as the mom who keeps her family unit together. Indie Series Award winner Lilly Melgar (Ana Sophia) delivers an enchanting performance as the fashionista aunt of the twins. As Avery's (the rival) parents, Emmy winning Days of our Lives star Eric Martsolf (Michael) and Martha Madison (Clare) embrace their characters and deliver hysterical performances especially when Clare's obsession about Paula Abdul creeps into the conversation (and the dance contest)

We Love Soaps asked these current and former soap stars to share their thoughts on To The Beat! Check out our exclusive interview below.

Laura Krystine stars as Mackie in To The Beat!  Brisa Lalich,
tapping in the background, plays Mia Castillo.
Photo courtesy of Leonian Pictures.

WE LOVE SOAPS: What was your favorite scene in the film?
ERIC MARTSOLF: Having never had a daughter in real life, I truly enjoyed the one on one “parental discussion” with Jayden. It was an interesting glimpse into what fatherhood with a girl would have been!
MARTHA MADISON: I love the scene where you get to meet Michael and Clare for the first time. Eric is pitch perfect and getting to sing Paula Abdul songs loud (and very badly) was so fun. I laughed all day that day!
LILLY MELGAR: It has to be my kitchen scene with the girls. We had so much fun it's ridiculous! Jillian gave me a direction and I took the note and committed to it 100% and it was oh... sooo.... "too much"... that I completely startled the actress (Veronica St. Claire). It was the most amazing moment. I'm literally laughing out loud right now as I type.
MARIE WILSON: I loved watching the teens' characters interacting with each other....too many funny scenes between them.....and of course, the dance choreography was so well done!
JILLIAN CLARE: My favorite scene was probably the stand off between the two teams in the twins driveway. I loved watching all the girls fire back at each other. They’re all so talented and it was fun seeing these future stars all work together to create a fun scene.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Have you ever been in a "teen movie" before?
ERIC MARTSOLF: This would mark my first.
MARTHA MADISON: Nope. This is definitely a first, and I hope it won't be the last. It's so exciting to work with young, talented actors and actresses. This group of kids are incredible so it was a daily dose of inspiration for us old folks.

Jayden Bartels (right) plays Avery in To The Beat!  Also pictured
(left to right): Avery Hewitt, Martha Madison and Eric Martsolf.
Photo courtesy of Leonian Pictures.

LILLY MELGAR: No! I have not! I'm a child stuck in an adult's body so it was my very own personal Disneyland shoot. Again, ridiculous fun! When we weren't on camera shooting the film, we were shooting our own videos behind the scenes. Jaheem Toombs taught me the 'correct' way to do the Beyonce strut. LOL ... Can we please go back and do it all over again?
MARIE WILSON: This is my first teen movie so it was an entirely new experience for me.....learned a few things from them :)

WE LOVE SOAPS: Have you ever danced on camera before?
ERIC MARTSOLF: I dance around probably more than I casually walk in real life. I spent three years on the Joseph tour in a Pharaoh costume wiggling in front of thousands.
MARTHA MADISON: I have a really extensive dance background including decades of formal training and teaching, but I don't think I've ever done it on camera. I might be scared to do it at this stage in my life, but I'd always be open to trying! Can't promise success though! Ha!
LILLY MELGAR: Yes! Martha and I did an episode of Soap Box with Lilly & Martha where we had a "Celebrity Dance Off" with real Dancing with the Stars judges and a live audience. ... I also had a scene on General Hospital with Maurice Benard where our characters "Lily & Sonny" danced during a romantic date ... or two.... I had a salsa dancing scene recently on The Bay The Series Season 3 and lastly, my career began as a VJ on Univision so I danced around all the time when introducing new videos
MARIE WILSON: I did dance once but it shall remain nameless ;))

Days of our Lives stars Eric Martsolf and Martha Madison play
siblings on the small screen and a couple in To The Beat!
Photo courtesy of Leonian Pictures.

WE LOVE SOAPS: You've worked with Jillian Clare as an actor, but how was it working with her as your director?
ERIC MARTSOLF: She's just begun her directorial journey, and if her handling of future projects reflects this one, she will have stellar projects on the horizon.
MARTHA MADISON: Jillian is a natural! This business so clearly runs through her veins. It's ingrained in her DNA. I've always been so impressed with Jillian's deep knowledge of the industry, her grit, her fearlessness and her ability to communicate so clearly with any type of person. These are the traits that separate the talkers from the do-ers. She's going to have a very bright future!
LILLY MELGAR: Jillian's level of calm under extraordinary circumstances is awe inspiring! Truly a talent to be respected and admired. Her laser focus and calm inspired trust and set the foundation for a positive set experience. I am so proud of her and look forward to working with her again.
MARIE WILSON: I was so impressed that she took on such a project for her directorial debut since a dance film has so many challenges, but she did it with grace, ease and focus. I couldn't have done that at her age!

WE LOVE SOAPS: Martha and Eric, you play half siblings on Days of our Lives, and now you're playing husband and wife? How was that transition?
ERIC MARTSOLF: Completely awkward and I enjoyed every second!
MARTHA MADISON: Luckily, it's all G-rated! Ha! I do think we have great chemistry no matter what relation we are playing. I consider Eric a great friend and a terrific actor. I'd feel lucky to work with him any day, anywhere, under any circumstances.

Ladies of the Lake stars Marie Wilson and Lilly Melgar reunite
in To The Beat! Photo courtesy of Leonian Pictures.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Lilly and Marie, you played partners in crime on the Amazon series Ladies of the Lake, how was it being part of the same family in To The Beat!?
LILLY MELGAR: Working with Marie Wilson is seamless. Having that kind of connection with another actor is half the work. I get to just show up and be present and live it. ANYTHING with Marie Wilson .. ANY TIME ... ANY DAY.
MARIE WILSON: Having worked with Lilly before made it ideal to be playing family members.....it was just so easy and authentic.....I love Lilly!!

WE LOVE SOAPS: Jillian, what was your biggest challenge as a first-time director?
JILLIAN CLARE: I don't think I really encountered "challenges" per se. I always think of hiccups as a puzzle, and I love puzzles. I guess the most time-consuming and puzzling things to film were the dance scenes and the finale since there were so many dancers, actors, and background! Thankfully, my Director of Photography, Broderick Engelhard, and I had put in a ton of time thinking about the finale and shot-listing. We were able to get everything I had wanted and more!

Award-winning actress Jillian Clare stepped behind the camera
to direct To The Beat!  Photo courtesy of Leonian Pictures.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Did you ever think about acting in the movie too?
JILLIAN CLARE: I never thought about being in the film as well. I think to really excel in a craft you need to have 100% focus on it. I know there are a lot of successful directors who also star in the films they are directing, but many have been solely a director before. When you start in a film and direct it, a lot of the take-to-take stuff falls onto the 1st AD and DP to tell you that they think it's good. It's very time consuming to watch every single take right after it's been filmed. I wanted to fully dive into and indulge in the responsibilities of the director this time. Maybe one day in the future, when I feel I have reached the level I want to be at, I'll be able to star and direct a film!

WE LOVE SOAPS: What was it like to direct your co-stars from Acting Dead and Ladies of the Lake?
JILLIAN CLARE: It was so fun! I love them all very much and it was cool to be able to creatively work with them in a different way. They're all such stellar actors to begin with, and we had a blast being together again!

***

The story was created by Susan Bernhardt and Jillian Clare. The screenplay was written by Susan Bernhardt. The movie is produced by Ryan Armendariz, Susan Bernhardt and Jillian Clare.

You don't have to wait until the movie releases across multiple platforms on March 13! Pre-orders are now available on both iTunes and Amazon.

INTERVIEW: Cady McClain & Kate Super at 'Seeing is Believing: Women Direct' East Coast Premiere

Cady McClain and Roger Newcomb at the East Coast Premiere of
Seeing is Believing: Women Direct. Photo: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

In the latest episode of Serial Scoop Now (2.20), we traveled to Soho International Film Festival for the East Coast Premiere of Cady McClain's Seeing is Believing: Women Direct. Emmy winning actress turned executive producer/director/writer/editor, Cady McClain (All My Children, As the World Turns) talks about her new documentary, the women profiled, how she met producing partner, Kate Super, and much more!

Seeing is Believing: Women Direct is a documentary series directed, executive produced, written and edited by Cady McClain about women directors who are on the front lines of the field: from major award winners and those in the vanguard of television and feature films, to graduate students and frustrated auteurs. The first episode recently made its World Premiere at Newport Beach Film Festival, where it won an Honorable Mention for Best Documentary Short. McClain debuted a feature-length version at Soho International Film Festival.

McClain has spent the past year traveling the globe, speaking to female directors of film and television and documenting their stories. The outcome is a feature film and a serialized documentary, providing insider access to the skills and tools needed to succeed as a woman in the directing field.

The crowd--which included familiar daytime names such as Julia Barr, Jill Larson and Carole Shure--roared with applause as the film's credits rolled. McClain brilliantly edited together the stories of dozens of interviewees, with the most screen time given to fascinating insights from Sarah Gavron (Director, Suffragette, Brick Lane), Lesli Linka Glatter (EP/Director, Homeland), Li Lu (Director, There Is a New World Somewhere) and Naima Ramos-Chapman (Director/Writer, And Nothing Happened).

McClain is still exploring potential release and distributions for the project. No matter what form it takes when it becomes available publicly, it is sure to entertain and educate. Kudos to everyone involved!

Check out what McClain and Super had to say about Seeing is Believing: Women Direct in our new interview below.

INTERVIEW: James Kiberd Previews 'The Crusade of Connor Stephens'

Actor and artist James Kiberd is best known to soap opera fans for his 11-year stint as Trevor Dillon on ABC's All My Children. That followed a memorable run as Mike Donovan on Loving, and a few months as Dustin Trent on NBC's Another World. Following All My Children, he stepped in for a time as Hal Munson on CBS' As the World Turns. In addition to his work on daytime dramas, Kiberd is a talented artist and stage performer. He was named Best Actor earlier this year at the 2017 Midtown International Theater Festival for his portrayal of Big Jim in "The Crusade of Connor Stephens," a new play written and directed by Dewey Moss

In "The Crusade of Connor Stephens," extreme loss shakes a Texas family as it comes to terms with a tragic act of violence. In the midst of widespread media attention, their story becomes an allegory for the national debate over religion, tolerance and the seedlings of hate. With humor and resilience, they will confront the ghosts of the past and discover the brutal universal truths that define the American family in the 21st century.

I had the pleasure of speaking with the multi-talented Kiberd about his time on soaps and his latest stage role. Watch our recent interview below for Serial Scoop Now.



"The Crusade of Connor Stephens" will begin an open-ended run at Off-Broadway’s Jerry Orbach Theater at The Theater Center on June 17. Opening night is scheduled for June 26.

In addition to Kiberd, the cast of "The Crusade of Connor Stephens" features Ben Curtis, Kathryn Leask, Julie Campbell, Kathleen Huber, Jacques Mitchell, Clifton Samuels and Alec Shaw.

For more information on "The Crusade of Connor Stephens" or to purchase tickets, visit thecrusadeofconnorstephens.com.

Stephen Nichols & Mary Beth Evans Preview Steve & Kayla's 'Days of our Lives' Wedding

Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans play Steve and Kayla Brady on Days
of our Lives.

When Mary Beth Evans first appeared on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives in May 1986, it didn't take long for fans to fall in love with the onscreen relationship between her Nurse Kayla Brady and bad boy Steve "Patch" Johnson, played by Stephen Nichols. The actors shared a natural chemistry in their scenes together, which helped Steve and Kayla go on to become one of the most popular couples in the show's storied history.

The 1988 wedding of Steven Earl Johnson and Kayla Caroline Brady helped Days reach the top spot in the Nielsen ratings for the first time in more than a decade, with fans glued to their TV sets as Kayla regained her ability to speak during the ceremony. That marriage turned out to be invalid (though not in the minds of many fans), and the couple made it official once again in 1990. Sadly, Steve was presumed dead shortly after the next wedding, and the couple remained apart for 16 years until he turned up alive in 2006. The couple divorced in 2012, and Kayla focused on her job as Chief of Staff at Salem University Hospital. When Steve returned to Salem in 2015, he was determined to win his "Sweetness" back, and has been a man on a mission ever since.

On February 15, Steve and Kayla recommit to each other in a Valentine's Day wedding ceremony in front of family and friends. We Love Soaps spoke with Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans this week about the wedding, the history of their characters, and more. Read our interview below.

WE LOVE SOAPS:You may be making TV history with this week’s wedding. And it would only happen on a soap, where viewers see a couple get married, and then watch the same couple get married again 29 years later.
STEPHEN NICHOLS: That's amazing.
MARY BETH EVANS: Stephen and I have both been married for 31/32 years, and then this couple comes back around nearly 30 years later. It's pretty remarkable really.

WE LOVE SOAPS: And you guys look the same!
MARY BETH EVANS: Yeah, right!
STEPHEN NICHOLS: I've been look at photos from the '80s, and I beg to differ. [Laughs]

WLS Interview Archive: Claire Labine

Claire Labine

EDITOR'S NOTE: Reposted from November 2009.

I had the honor and privilege of talking with the eloquent and wonderful Emmy winning writer Claire Labine recently. In case you missed it, here is the complete seven part interview.

Part One - Labine discusses her writing process, reflects on her early career, and how mothering contributed to her understanding of soaps.

Part Two - Labine discusses her battles with ABC, struggles with recasts, and the psychological underpinnings of the Ryan family.

Part Three - Labine discusses controversial storyline choices on Ryan's Hope and General Hospital, and her reaction to the criticism that her work is “too depressing.”

Part Four - Labine dishes about life at General Hospital, the pressures of continuing the Luke and Laura legacy, inventing Sonny and Brenda, and why Jason Quartermaine was given amnesia.

Part Five - Labine shares insights into what happened when she went to work on One Life to Live and Guiding Light.

Part Six - Labine shares more about her struggles with Guiding Light and Paul Rauch, plus, the absurdities of focus groups.

Part Seven - We conclude by discussing Labine's life after Guiding Light, her health, and future hopes.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Claire Labine Answered YOUR Questions

Claire Labine

EDITOR'S NOTE: Reposted from February 2010.

The Divine Ms. Claire Labine took extra time last December to answer YOUR questions, in response to her We Love Soaps interview in November. Here below are the answers to your questions:

Part One - The Emmy Winning writer answers YOUR questions pertaining to her influences, the writers she admires, and her history of writing on daytime.

Part Two - She responds to more comments and questions about the current state of soaps. Plus, what role did Claire play in the creation of The Bold and the Beautiful?

Part Three - She answers your questions about Ryan's Hope. Including network battles, cast turnaround, and what Maeve Ryan would say about Sarah Palin!

Part Four - The Divine Ms. Labine answers your questions about General Hospital, including reflections on writing for Jonathan Jackson, Maurice Benard, and her plans for the beloved Ward family.

Part Five - She answers your questions about One Life to Live, including how she helped Ron Carlivati, her fascination with Todd and Tea, plus her secret about Wendi Mercury.

Part Six - She answers YOUR questions about Guiding Light and Love of Life, including what the real plan was for "Holivia" [Crystal Chappell + Maureen Garrett].

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Andrea Evans Reflects on Her 'One Life to Live' Days and Previews Her Latest Role in Dark Comedy 'Dinner at Home Between Deaths'

Andrea Evans was honored at the 6th Annual Indie Series Awards in
2015 for her work on the hit digital series, DeVanity. Photo Credit:
The Headshot Truck

As Tina Lord on ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live, Andrea Evans often had a hand in unscrupulous and far-fetched schemes. As Kat in her new play “Dinner at Home Between Deaths,” currently running at the Odyssey Theater in Los Angeles until May 8th, Evans plays the whistleblower who instigates the collapse of a Ponzi scheme. Also unlike many of her stories in daytime, “Dinner at Home Between Deaths” is a black comedy, a genre Evans said she relishes. “When I come into the play, that’s when things start coming out,” she said.

“I love comedy when you’re almost afraid to be the first person to laugh,” Evans said in a phone interview. Her voice was warm and easy—but still had the vulnerable, slight quiver characteristic of Tina Lord.

Its dark humor drew her to the play and the role of Kat, she says, along with how timely the topic is, in light of Bernie Madoff duping investors and Senator Bernie Sanders indicting all of Wall Street is corrupt in stump speeches across the country as he campaigns to win the Democratic nomination for President.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Wayne Wilderson Previews 'Club 5150' Series and Reflects On His Fascinating Career

Wayne Wilderson - Photo by Bonni Allen Photography

The chances are good that Wayne Wilderson has appeared in one of your favorite TV shows, or you've seen him in a commercial, or caught him on stage. The multi-talented actor's credits include A To Z, Mom, Two And A Half Men, The Office, CSI, Jessie, Bones, Wilfred, ER and Pushing Daises, among many others. He recently played a prosecutor in two episodes of How to Get Away with Murder. He also spent 11 years as the Purple Grapes in the Fruit Of The Loom ads.

He next stars in Steve Silverman's comedy web series Club 5150, which premieres on Monday, November 9. He recently spoke with We Love Soaps about his career, and gave us a preview of his Club 5150 character, Ted. Check out our exclusive interview below:

WE LOVE SOAPS: You have an amazing list of credits over the past twenty years. What has been your favorite role that you've played?
WAYNE WILDERSON: I had a great time in a couple of episodes I did on The Office as Martin Nash. It was pretty special, and I worked with very nice people. I got to do a lot of improv. It was people I've known for a long time, and people I'd just met, and it was just a very easy going, really creative fun couple of weeks working on that show.

Wayne Wilderson as Purple Grapes.

WE LOVE SOAPS: You've also appeared in tons of commercials over the year. Do you have a favorite?
WAYNE WILDERSON: I was the Purple Grapes for Fruit of the Loom for 11 years. Again, that was kind of along the lines of The Office. I got to work with some amazing people like J. P. Manoux [Green Grapes], who's somebody I knew before. We got that job and the early years were a lot of improv. It was a great gig and a lot of fun, and we got to travel. It was a big part of my career; it bought me a house, "The House that Underwear Bought." [Laughs]

EXCLUSIVE: 'Young and the Restless' Star Joshua Morrow on His New Film 'Golden Shoes,' Available Now on DVD and On Demand

The Young and the Restless star Joshua Morrow plays
George Larou in Golden Shoes, available now on 
DVD and On Demand.

Joshua Morrow has starred in CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless since 1994 as Nick Newman, who navigates romance, children and a career in fictional Genoa City. His latest project is a wonderful new movie, Golden Shoes, featuring an all-star cast in the story of a young soccer player with big dreams.

As long as he could remember, eight-year-old Christian Larou (Christian Koza) dreamed of being a great soccer player like his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo. When his father (Morrow) is deployed to Afghanistan, his mother (Dina Meyer) is hospitalized and he's subjected to intense bullying at school, Christian pours himself into the game he loves. With the help of some very special shoes, can Christian lead his team to the championship, inspire an entire nation, and bring his family together again?

Golden Shoes is available on DVD and On Demand starting today. We Love Soaps spoke to Morrow about his role in the film, working on location, and his love for Y&R. We even got the avid sports fan to make a college football prediction. Check out our exclusive interview below:

WE LOVE SOAPS: How did you get cast in the movie as George Larou?
JOSHUA MORROW: My manager called me up one day and they offered it to me. I didn't even have to audition for it. I think they were pretty happy with what they saw on my show, and offered me the role of George Larou. It's not a big role but I loved doing it. I don't get a chance to do things like that very often, based on my work schedule, but it was fun and a really cool experience for me.

'The Bold and the Beautiful' Pop Up Fan Event Interviews with Pierson Fodé, Ashleigh Brewer, Thorsten Kaye & Linsey Godfrey

Pierson Fodé and Ashleigh Brewer

The Bold and the Beautiful held a Pop Up Fan Event in New York City on Monday, September 14. I spoke with actors Pierson Fodé (who plays Thomas Forrester) and Ashleigh Brewer (Ivy Forrester) for Serial Scoop Now about their characters, what it's like to watch an episode with fans, their favorite thing about working at B&B and more. Later, Thorsten Kaye (who plays Ridge Forrester) and Linsey Godfrey (Caroline Spencer Forrester) spoke about attending their characters' wedding reception with fans, Godfrey's favorite thing about working at B&B, Kaye's cross-country commute and getting feedback from fans.

"It's nice to see it through their eyes, and not just my judgmental eyes of myself," Brewer said about watching Monday's B&B episode with the large group of fans in attendance.

"I love egging the crowd on," Fode added. "I become a little bit of a ham when people are involved."

Meanwhile, Godfrey is grateful to be working at B&B.

"I get to come to work with my favorite people, and be with my best friends everyday," she said.

Watch my interviews with Fodé, Brewer, Kaye and Godfrey below:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Michael Caruso Previews His Highly-Anticipated Drama 'Winterthorne'

Michael Caruso created and co-stars in Winterthorne,
premiering Thursday, August 27 at 6 p.m. ET.

Michael Caruso graduated from Syracuse University with a B.F.A. in Drama. After leaving New York City he moved to Los Angeles and appeared in indie movies The Blackout and Mind the Gap. He went on to create and star in the Emmy nominated series DeVanity, which ran for four successful seasons. The Indie Series Award winner has written promo work for FOX's Empire, and became a series regular on Pretty, in addition to guest stints on Acting Dead, and Progress: Ask A Cam Harlot over the past year. We are now just three days away from the premiere of Caruso's highly-anticipated new drama series Winterthorne, which he created and co-stars in.

Winterthorne is the story of Miranda Winterthorne and her rise to power to control the family’s multi-million dollar candy business. Martha Madison leads the stellar cast, which also includes John-Paul Lavoisier (Days of our Lives, One Life to Live), Linda Gray (Dallas), Kathleen Gati (General Hospital), Kirsten Storms (General Hospital), Gordon Thomson (Dynasty, Santa Barbara), Kevin Spirtas (Days of our Lives), Ron Hanks (Golden California) and Josh Thrower (90210, The Young and The Restless).

We Love Soaps spoke with Caruso to get the scoop on what fans can expect from Winterthorne. Read our exclusive interview below.

WE LOVE SOAPS: What inspired you to write Winterthorne?
MICHAEL CARUSO: After DeVanity was finished, I really needed a break. We had basically not stopped in four years, and I took a little time off, though not as much as I was originally anticipating. I started getting cravings to work again, and much like how my grandmother had inspired me with DeVanity from her love of her super soaps of the '80s, my grandma loved candy. When I was a kid she use to get gum drops and cinnamon bears and all this fun stuff, and we would talk and eat candy together.  It was a really lovely memory. Nobody's done a show about candy before, and I thought it would be fun to take something very innocent and happy on the surface and add a very dark undercurrent to it, and kind of create a family that used something like this as a front for something much deeper and scarier. That's pretty much how Winterthorne was born.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Meg Kelly and Michael O'Leary on SudsvilleTV, and Their Love of the Daytime Soap Audience

Michael O'Leary

Meg Kelly won three Daytime Emmy Awards as part of the writing team at As the World Turns. She also wrote for One Life to Live and Days of our Lives. Michael O'Leary played Dr. Rick Bauer on Guiding Light for decades, picking up an Emmy nomination along the way. He also won an Indie Series Award in 2012 for his work in the web series world. Both multi-talented artists are part of SudsvilleTV, an exciting new online network that is expected to launch this fall with a lineup that includes the Kelly-penned soap opera Year Rounders, and O'Leary-hosted game show Michael's Amazing Soap Trivia Challenge. We Love Soaps recently spoke with Kelly and O'Leary about SudsvilleTV, and the love they share for the soap opera audience.

Read our exclusive interview below.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Meg, can you tell me about your background? I know you wrote for As the World Turns, One Life to Live and Days of our Lives. Was writing a soap something you aspired to do?
MEG KELLY: It's funny, I was an actress for years. I was with Arena Stage stage at 12 and 13, and toured Russia with them, and then I went to Circle in the Square in New York. I did commercials and Off-Broadway, and a Broadway show. My husband's an actor, Tony Rizzoli, and when we moved to L.A., I didn't really want to act anymore. We had our first child, we had our second one, and somewhere in that I started writing screenplays. I signed with ICM, and was a finalist for the Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship, but I just didn't want to go down that path.  Because I had young kids, I went into daytime to be at home with the kids, and hands-on with them. So I did that, and it was great.

What I loved about daytime initially was you had to work at home. They didn't want to see you, so a lot of us were raising children and writing daytime, and it allowed for a certain balance in life. I wound up having a lot of respect for it, and really liking the audience.

My writing partner at the time was Hogan Sheffer. We did a pilot for CBS, then he got hired as head writer at Days, and asked me to come on as co-head. We had a lot of fun with story over there. Hogan had been a script doctor in L.A., and I started out with screenplays. The telenovelas were doing well at the time, and the rest of daytime wasn't doing so well, so we decided to tell our stories in 13-week arcs and use the screenplay mode. It was a really fun way to write, and the audience seemed to like it a lot because it moved quickly. It's a model I'll be using here with Year Rounders, and our other dramatic series will have a beginning, middle and end, and be told in screenplay structure as a soap--dramas driven by families.

WE LOVE SOAPS: That's like what ABC Family does. Actually, everything I watch in primetime I consider to be a soap, even though most don't want to be called that.
MEG KELLY: You're exactly right. The Sopranos was a great soap opera, and Game of Thrones.

WE LOVE SOAPS: I was just reading an article about seasons of 10 episodes being the new 13, which was the new 22.
MEG KELLY: It's fun to tell story in 10 episodes because it's very tight storytelling, and you can really make for a compelling season when you have parameters like that.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: 'Days of our Lives' Actress Aloma Wright Previews 'Second Chance Christmas'

Days of our Lives actress Aloma Wright in Second Chance Christmas.
Photo courtesy of TV One.

A graduate of New York's prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Aloma Wright toured with "Ain't Misbehavin'," and "The Gospel Truth with Jennifer Holiday, Tramaine Hawkins and Johnny Brown. She won two Drama Logue Awards, one in 1996 for her role in "The Visit" under the direction of Ted Lange and the other in 1997 for her work in "From the Mississippi Delta." She was also nominated by the NAACP Image Awards for Best Actress in 1994 for "First Breeze of Summer" and again in 1997 for "Four Queens no Trump."

From 2001 to 2009 she starred in the hit primetime comedy Scrubs as Nurse Laverne Roberts and, later, as Nurse Shirley. Since 2008, she has played Nurse Maxine on NBC's daytime drama Days of our Lives.

On Saturday, December 6, she stars in the TV One holiday movie Second Chance Christmas with McKinley Freeman (Hit The Floor), Michael Rainey Jr. (Power), Robinne Lee (Being Mary Jane), Kandi Burruss (R&B Singer and The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member), Durrell “Tank” Babbs (R&B singer) Ella Joyce (Roc), Golden Brooks (Hollywood Divas) and Rolonda Watts (Days of our Lives).

In Second Chance Christmas, Maisie (Lee) and her 13-year-old son Lawrence (Rainey Jr.) form a small, yet tight-knit family unit. Lawrence knows his mother doesn't have the easiest life as a single mother, but it makes him happy simply to know that she is there for him. His prayers for his mother to find happiness are answered when Malcolm (Freeman) marries Maisie. Yet ironically, Lawrence is indifferent to Malcolm and is certainly not afraid to wear his feelings on his sleeve. However, when a tragic car accident takes Maisie’s life, Lawrence and Malcolm must learn to lean on one other and get by with an important piece of their lives missing.

We Love Soaps recently spoke with Aloma Wright about her career and role in Second Chance Christmas. Read our exclusive interview below:

WE LOVE SOAPS: Second Chance Christmas tells the story of a young boy's struggle to accept his stepfather after the untimely and tragic death of his mother. How does your character fit into the story?
ALOMA WRIGHT: My character is the social worker who actually takes the boy from the stepfather. The stepfather makes a decision that the child is acting out and he can't handle him. He figures the best thing for him to do is let him go with his biological grandparents because of the loss of his mother. I'm the case worker that initiates the process.

Catching Up with Janet Iacobuzio (Part 3 of 3)

Nelson Aspen and Janet Iacobuzio talk soaps past
and present, including fun nights watching Dynasty.

Okay, Janet and I are sufficiently wine-fueled, so it's time for the Main Course. A fascinating Insider's look at how Soaps are written. Bon appetit!

In case you missed it, be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2.

NA: Having worked on so many different shows, you're the perfect person to answer this. How does one show differ from another or is there simply a basic formula for writing Daytime?
JI: The basic formula is this: head writer(s) write the story arc, not so much in advance anymore (they used to write these huge documents which of course no one ever followed, but they wrote 'em. Usually!). They break it down into a "thrust" for a week of air shows. All head writers are different. Some write bullet points, some write the whole thing, basically. This goes to the breakdown writers who then break the beats down to scenes, written in prose form. This doc is usually 18-22 pages, double spaced. Days is a teaser plus seven acts. Every show is a bit different, depending on the commercial structure of the program (figure around 39 minutes of air time, maybe a little less. Used to be 42 or 43). The breakdowns then get noted by production and the network.

Back when there was a Procter & Gamble, we had notes from the execs there as well. Once they are revised, the breakdowns then go to the script writers who write the dialogue from the outlines/breakdowns, 85 pages or so. Then an editor reads all of the scripts, tries to make them all sound like they come from the same brain and adds or removes anything the head writers or producers have told him/her about. These days, 7 scripts a week get written/produced. In the old days, maybe 4 or 5. It's all about saving money now. There were something like 20 shows on the air when I was interning at Edge. There are 4 left.

(Sad Faces!)

NA: Chris Goutman described each show as having its own personality and fan base. Speak to that from your experience on so many different shows.

Catching Up with Janet Iacobuzio (Part 2 of 3)

One of the most famous scripts written by Janet Iacobuzio was the
Bianca Montgomery coming out episode on All My Children.

By now, we were a glass of wine into our meal and the memories were all flooding back! Enjoy Part 2 of my 3 part interview with soap scribe Janet Iacobuzio, currently at Days of our Lives.

In case you missed it, you can read Part 1 here.

NA: To say we were madcap at Another World would be an understatement. I never worked on a show where the cast and crew got along so well with each other. What are you fondest memories of our days there?
JI: I don't know if I ever had more fun. We laughed ALL DAY LONG. We also worked really hard and put up with a lot of BS. And most importantly, we loved the show and we were fiercely protective of it. The Cosby Show being shot in the adjoining studio in the '80s left us with a ton of great stories about him and all the guest stars. Not everyone can say they saw Robert Culp put his foot in a tray of catering lasagna on the back stairs and nearly kill himself while running to the set. We heard him scream (and the the thump) from down the hallway. Taking "hells and damns" from the censors at NBC on the phone, the night before taping. (They'd cut a certain amount of them. They'd tell me to tell the directors not to let the sex scenes show too much. It was pro forma and ridiculous.) We used to all be fans of Santa Barbara and watch it on the monitors. Brad Pitt was an "Under Five" before he was Brad Pitt. Then we all saw Thelma & Louise and screamed. Oh, the stories I could tell. But should I???

Catching Up with Janet Iacobuzio (Part 1 of 3)

Nelson Aspen with Janet Iacobuzio.
Photo courtesy of Nelson Aspen.

I first met Janet Iacobuzio when I was working on Search for Tomorrow but it wasn't until I joined the production staff at Another World that we became close pals. Huddled in our little subterranean office in the Brooklyn studio for long days, we didn't know we were enjoying what would be the last great Hey-Days of the NYC-based Soap Operas. As often happens in life, we eventually drifted apart because of time and distance...occasionally managing to reconnect through other old friends. But as you will see in this three part series, once we finally managed to sit down for a meal together, it was like no time had passed at all! A testament not only to friendship, but the unifying power of Soaps!

NA: I'd say, "We're so old, we've been around forever" but it's more like "we started so young!" We were KIDS when we started in Daytime. I've known you since SFT. Remind me what the heck it was you were doing back then in the mid-80s and how the heck did you end up there!?
JI: I had an internship during my junior year in college at The Edge of Night which was sort of a dream come true for me as that was my absolute favorite show. It was on at 4 PM which was a great time after school and then when it was over, the 4:30 movie would come on! I mean, what more could you want? Anyway, how that happened is unusual. I grew up in Westchester and in the summer of 1982, I think, my brother was working as a reporter for the local newspaper, "The Daily Item.". The Edge of Night was shooting a night time remote at Playland with a huge stunt on the Dragon Coaster. I was out of my mind. My brother was assigned the story and pulled some strings - he brought me along as his staff photographer. Two of my photos were published with his front page story and I think of that to this day as a crowning achievement.