“I am nuts about Jason Thompson [Billy, Y&R],” enthuses his TV big brother, Peter Bergman (Jack). “Everybody on this show has their strengths, but I’m still trying to find this guy’s weaknesses. He is so good at everything! He’s cool, he’s stylish, he’s obviously great-looking, but as an actor, he’s got so many tricks up his sleeve, it’s just wonderful. I think he’s very funny as Billy, but when he needs his character to be tough and in your face, I think Jason is as good as it gets. I can’t figure out what this guy doesn’t do!” The quality of his co-stars makes Bergman very happy, even though Jack is miserable. “The storyline that we finished with Jack, Phyllis and Jason took a year to tell. When’s the last time you saw a good, year-long story? And it was fantastic in large part because of Jason. Gina [Tognoni, Phyllis] and I can make magic, but Jason has so much depth. He’s fantastic!”
A 30-year daytime vet, Wally Kurth (Justin, DAYS; Ned, GH) has grown to appreciate the medium over the years. “I am a fan of the shows, and I’ve never really been a fan until about nine years ago,” he explains. “I started watching in order to work on my performances, but now I tape them both and I’ll actually see stories that I want to watch. I’ll even go through old episodes and catch myself up.” There’s a viewing ritual that Kurth particularly enjoys. “On Sunday nights, my 92-year-old mother comes over,” he shares. “She lives with my brother down the street and they both come and she sits down and we watch the shows together. She wants to see my work and know what’s going on, so she holds my hand and we watch. She has always been my biggest fan. It’s such a joy that we can share this together and I can watch with her. She’s a little hard of hearing and for some reason, I don’t have closed-captioning on the DVR, so I have to turn it up really loud, and sometimes she’ll ask me, ‘Now, who is that?’ But, Sunday night has fast become my favorite night of the week.”
Photo credit: Steven Bergman
Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe) is happy they’ve kept her in scenes with Lauren Koslow (Kate) over the years on DAYS. “It’s always fun to play, but sometimes I’m like, ‘Why are we mad at each other again?’ ” Bjorlin laughs. “Because I’m just obsessed with Lauren Koslow and I think she can do no wrong. I just have the girl crush on her at all times, and every time she walks out on set I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, you’re so beautiful. What are those shoes? Are they Jimmy Choo?’ She’s just so fabulous. She’s fabulous when she just walks out for rehearsals and dry-blocks in the morning. I look like a vagrant — no, I really do — but she just always looks so great. I’m like, ‘Man, I just want to be her when I grow up.’ I love her so much. We have so much fun; we have such fun conversations that it’s sometimes hard for me that I’m like, ‘Why do we have to keep being so bitchy to each other? Can’t we team up some day?’ ”
Though they had been introduced briefly at Soap Opera Digest’s 40th anniversary party in 2016, Matt Cohen (Griffin, GH) didn’t get to spend quality time with his Port Charles pop, Ian Buchanan (ex-Duke), until Buchanan popped in for a surprise appearance when Liv tried to resurrect Duke using Griffin as a vessel. “I finally got to be graced with the presence that Finola Hughes [Anna] just spills on me about every day,” Cohen enthuses. “She’s like, ‘Ian is the sweetest and oh, his voice, and his kindness, and he’s the best actor.’ I’m like, ‘Finola, I’m never going to be able to fill his shoes! Never, ever!’ But I felt so lucky. Finola loves him thoroughly and it’s beautiful. Those two share chemistry on-screen, they share chemistry off-screen, they’re good friends, and that’s what you want. What they have done together is profound; they enjoy each other while affecting others with their work. It’s a beautiful thing.” Which he deliberately tried not to interfere with. “I would literally walk 20 feet away to stay out of their way,” the actor chuckles. “I was like, ‘Let them enjoy each other between scenes!’ They truly are lovely together.”