Nifty At Fifty
Since the SOAP TALK studio is located in L.A. and Jennifer is in New York, I volunteered to cover the taping. Now, let me confess that this wasn’t a magnanimous gesture on my part. You see, I have been a die-hard ATWT viewer since 1982 (I was initially hooked by the romantic quagmire of Steve, Betsy and Craig), so I jumped at the chance to meet some of the actors who were coming out for this media event. When I arrived at the soundstage on that sunny Saturday afternoon, I was escorted to a prime viewing seat as part of the live studio audience. It was quite evident that I wasn’t the only ATWT enthusiast as I could hear all sorts of excited buzz around me from people filing in to their seats. The resident warm-up comic (Chunky) was there to get the audience going, but this was one gathering that didn’t need any coaching. Exuberant cheers and applause were generously offered.
First up was Michael Park (Jack) and Maura West (Carly), whose entrance caused one audience member to almost hyperventilate. It was such a treat to see their mutual playfulness, but even when the cameras weren’t on them, the warmth and respect between these actors was obvious. In fact, while their co-workers were being interviewed, Maura cozily snuggled up next to Michael on the interview sofa.
I have to give a shout-out to SOAP TALK for staging one helluva show. They showcased ATWT’s rich legacy with a perfect balance of reverence and fun. There were plenty of clips (the vintage black-and-white scenes were a hoot) and fond memories. I was especially bowled over by Don Hastings’s (Dr. Bob) quick wit and sense of humor. He had the audience in stitches as he reminisced about his long daytime career. And, not surprisingly, Helen Wagner (Nancy) got a lengthy — and deserved — standing ovation.
Of course, the big surprise of the hour was when Paolo Seganti suddenly came onstage with the announcement that he would be reprising his unforgettable role as Damian. With that, the show came to an end, and I was led backstage to speak with the stars. There, it was spirited pandemonium since other members of the press were present and everyone quickly converged on the mingling actors.I first spoke with Michael and Maura together because they were still joined at the hip. Both had flown out from New York just the day before, albeit on separate flights. “We’re like the president and vice president in case one of us goes down,” she quipped. “You know the president in that scenario would be Maura West,” Michael clarified. He was meeting with friends for dinner that night, but Maura was headed back to LAX for a New York-bound flight scheduled to take off in two hours. “It’s a fast trip,” she sighed.
Next, I interviewed Paolo and a very pregnant Martha Byrne (Lily) at the same time. Like Michael and Maura, they were affectionate and lighthearted. When I asked what brought Paolo back, he joked, “I have naked pictures of Martha, so I blackmailed her.”
Terri Colombino (Katie) was my next subject and her effervescence was contagious. She was humbled by SOAP TALK’s tribute to her show. “It really got to me,” Terri admitted. “I love everybody I work with and really do enjoy going to work, but then you see something like this and it makes you realize what you’re a part of.”
Colleen Zenk Pinter (Barbara) echoed that sentiment. “I said a long time ago that I’ll never be here as long as Eileen Fulton [Lisa],” she recalled. “I thought that my life would go in a very different way, not knowing how beautiful an experience it would be to be here all these years.”
Since I didn’t have the pleasure to converse with Elizabeth Hubbard (Lucinda) or Don or Helen (they were spirited elsewhere by waiting limo), I was still very pleased to meet another one of my all-time soap faves: Kathryn Hays (Kim). I was immediately impressed by her charm and genial, maternal spirit. It was like I was talking to the kindhearted Kim herself. Kathryn, who used to live in L.A., explained how she had come out west a few days earlier. “I wasn’t working and I wanted to visit with friends and also go to the symphony at the Disney Concert Hall,” she smiled. “L.A. has really changed since I lived here.” Thankfully, I didn’t scare Kathryn off (actually, she seemed downright flattered) when I recited some of my favorite Kim lines through the years.To say the least, it was a memorable day, meeting memorable people from a very memorable show. Happy Anniversary, ATWT!
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