Soaptown USA

Orlando Magic!

Guiding Light takes Universal Studios by storm!

It's all about location as Guiding Light recently headed to sunny Universal Studios in Orlando to tape upcoming scenes and I was more than happy to be invited along for the ride. I arrived at the Royal Pacific Hotel and while the room was stunning enough, that was nothing compared to the view from my window. A pool. Whoa!! A pool that is only slightly smaller than say, Lake Michigan. A GL fan could get very used to this! It did take me a few tries to master navigating the hotel's enormous grounds (renting a mountain goat as a guide was not among my options) and soon I was sitting poolside, taking in the scenery. I head to the cabana bar for a refreshing beverage and happen upon Robert Newman (Josh) and Crystal Chappell (Olivia). I say nothing because I know my quality time with them is forthcoming, so I "nonchalantly" sip my soda and keep one eye on the basketball tournament. Other than offering a restaurant recommendation to Lawrence St. Victor (Remy), I allowed the actors to enjoy this quiet time.

The next day, we make our way over to the park for the tapings and it's run, run, run! The show's executive producer, Ellen Wheeler, has energy that knows no bounds and I was very impressed with her after watching her work. The characters of Bill and Lizzie are taping scenes while playing various park games and Robert Newman is present. Robert tells me that he arrived in Florida a few days early so he could get in a few rounds on the golf course. While telling me this, he takes note of a passing crew member and says, "That guy looks just like my son Connor!" Any funny golf adventures? "Not really," Robert says, "Do you have any funny golf stories?" Well, there was that shot that landed in the middle of the fairway. "What's the catch?" Robert laughs, and I tap him on the shoulder and say, "We're not playing that hole, we're playing this one." A true and classic golf gaffe that happens to everyone, except Robert, it seems!

We are chatting with Marcy Rylan (Lizzie) in between takes while she gets her make-up touched up and Marcy is leading the petition to have GL just move to Florida and tape there permanently. "I love it here!" she gushes. Before taping a scene at the water gun game, Marcy pleads, "Please don't take shots of my butt!" She wins a cute souvenir hat, which she proudly wore while posing for photos. Daniel Cosgrove (Bill) who just became a proud papa for the fourth time, is hoping he won't be too embarrassed at the game where you show your strength. Before the cameras roll, he turns to us and requests "cheering help" in case the light doesn't make it all the way to the top. "Come on, give me a whack!" the game announces and it was all Daniel could do to keep from collapsing into giggles at the double entendre. I was laughing too because it sounded so wrong, but not as wrong as seeing a crew member walk by with some type of a food product that I later learned was a turkey leg. Yes, yes, you can actually buy the baseball bat-sized slab of turkey leg to gnaw on whilst walking around the park. It was a temporary "What the heck is that?" moment. Said turkey leg was handed off to a crew member that was playing park extra.

Ellen is quickly moving from game to game to tape scenes and is joking and offering encouragement the entire time. She gently moves us out of one scene - "Unless you want to be on camera!" she laughs. Actually, being an extra would've been really cool but GL already had it covered. Marcy is telling us about scenes that Ron Raines (Alan) has already taped and says they are far too comical to miss ("Alan arrives in a three-piece suit!") because it will show a side of Alan we have not seen before. Think legs, Bermuda hats and Woody Woodpecker! After the tapings are done, we are turned loose and Marcy and I both head over to a stand that sells personalized jewelry. Amazingly enough, they actually have the name Dawn. We are due back at the hotel for lunch with the actors so we take the time to peruse the offerings of Universal. I am not one for rides so I start walking and praying that I am headed in the right direction, although I'm kind of enjoying the looks I'm getting from the "Guiding Light Crew" badge that I'm wearing. But I don't want to miss a minute of the lunch.

I waltz into the room where the lunch is being held and the beautiful Alan Locher, head of PR for the show, tells me to sit anywhere and to help myself to the delicious array of food laid out for us. I park myself right next to Crystal Chappell and soon, we are joined by Liz Keifer (Blake), a very pregnant Jessica Leccia (Natalia), Frank Dicopoulos (Frank) and Jordan Clarke (Billy). Sara Bibel of FanCast is doing a great job of asking questions while we all hungrily munch away. Crystal and Jessica are very pleased with the positive response to the Otalia story and Crystal doesn't think that it's a far-fetched idea for her character. Frank jokingly interjects that "Francine" is coming and that he will soon be pregnant. "What do you mean, Passions already did a hermaphrodite story? Aww darn!" Jessica says. Liz and I are exchanging cat stories and Crystal says to me, "Do you want to get dessert?" I glance at Jessica and suddenly all three of us jump up and make a dash for the dessert table. I can't stand that kind of pressure! The actors are very shocked to learn that former castmate Rick Hearst (ex-Alan Michael) may be available soon and they hope that he can make his way back to Springfield. Crystal is so over the moon about the Oreo cheesecake that she makes another stop at the dessert table, but not before sweetly asking me if she could get me some too. Crystal would come in handy later in the weekend when it came to menu choices, by the way. Michael O'Leary (Rick) is telling us about his and Jordan's hellish flight, which included no less that five screaming children. "Have some Oreo cheesecake," Crystal offers, "It will make you feel better!" Alan comes over and tells me that it's time for me to move to another table in order to speak to the other actors attending the lunch. I hereby declare that I'm at the cool table and everyone laughs. We are telling Frank about a nearby attraction that simulates skydiving and he's pretty gung-ho to give it a try.

I somehow manage to get pried away from the "cool table" and introduce myself to Beth Chamberlin (Beth), whom I had the pleasure of interviewing recently. Beth tells me that she avoids reading what the fans think online because she believes that it may influence how you play your character and the choices you make as an actor. We're happily chatting away and I lean in and say, "Girl, the kettle bell thing is working for you!" and it was off to the races after that, so much so that I had to be reminded to talk to the other actors at the table too. It's a Dawn and Beth thing, once we get going, we are gone. I turn to Bonnie Dennison (Daisy) and mention that we have a mutual friend: Brian Gaskill (ex-Dylan) and she inquires about the darling hunk and asks me to say hello to him for her. Soon, Bonnie and I are comparing features on our cell phones and talking about what a pain in the neck the "auto-fill" feature is while you're texting. Caitlin Van Zandt (Ashlee) joins us (looking fabulous, I might add) and soon we are all laughing at Michael's hysterical description of a love scene between Beth and Rick that had Ms. Chamberlin practically rolling on the floor, to say nothing of the rest of us. Yes, Michael is just as funny as everyone says he is. Included was Beth's patented "no lips" kissing, and pulling the blankets up to her nose. The description was so hilarious, but Michael's visual effects made the story so funny that I really hope someone captured it on video somewhere.

Soon, the lunch is over and everyone heads in their separate directions. I later end up back at the cabana bar, where I find Frank, Crystal and Jessica. I ask Frank if he tried the skydiving ride and he jokes, "Enough of these (drinks) and I may not need to! And what are you drinking?" A soda, my boring self admits. I'm a member of the non-alcoholic club, to which Jessica and I (with her virgin daiquiri) clink glasses together in a toast. The subject is baby names and Jessica wants to wait until she meets her baby before deciding on a name. Frank is telling us how he and his wife Teja came up with the name Jayden for their son, and says both their heads snapped to attention after hearing the name on an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Jessica's hubby shared ultrasound photos and Crystal says that the baby-to-be is already striking poses. I bid this fun bunch adieu and run into Liz, who shares a photo of her and her family, aboard the Men in Black ride. "I am the only one posing! That's an actor for you!" At dinnertime, I decide to treat myself to some real food and go back to the cabana bar, sit at a table and glance at the menu. Crystal tells me to try the fish tacos and goes on to describe the succulent dish. Since I'm not famished, I end up ordering the fruit plate, the rest of which was promptly wolfed down by new buddy Dan from SoapCentral. As the night wore on, my fellow online media colleagues and I sat down and enjoyed a good, old-fashioned gossip session which lasted several hours and also included FanCast's Sara and Mel from Daytime Confidential. It was nice to be able to spend that time with them because, as I pointed out, we are all soaps' children. Missing from the equation was Michael Fairman, soap reporter extraordinaire, who was having technical problems with his equipment and had to trek halfway across the state to replace the offending broken part.

On Saturday, we all met up and headed to the park again for the Q&A session with the actors and the autograph session. Many fans made mention of bringing Mindy back (Krista Tesreau will be happy to hear that). Kim Zimmer (Reva) is practically giving the audience directions to Jordan's house, and the actors are thoroughly enjoying the fans from the stage. We're perched up high, taking in the lovely vision that is Marj Dusay (Alex), as well as the fabulous Kimmer. One fan asks what it's like taping scenes in the cold and snow (which was kind of hard to conjure up on such a hot day) and Kim mentions that it's actually a welcome change of pace from the fake snow that the show used to use. Until, she says, you're so cold that your mouth doesn't move. Kim also joked that Reva was the "You-know-what of Springfield and now it's Beth!"
The Q&A lasts a good hour before the actors are ushered to their autograph lines and we are turned loose once again, with strict orders to return at a certain time. Unless you don't want to talk to Kim Zimmer, which we definitely do! After we return, we are shown to a cozy back cabin, where we wait to have our moment of glory with the Kimmer. I put my head on Michael Fairman's shoulder and tell the precious online media pioneer how much I love him.

Kim breezes in and is so enthusiastic and friendly that I have to resist the urge to put my head on her shoulder and tell her how much I love her. Jordan has joined us as well as Robert and Jordan is signing photos and playing with a new toy: the official GL key ring that doubles as a flashlight. Kim is good-natured about Reva's direction and not having much in the way of airtime, and makes the suggestion that they give her a contract that is similar to the one that Tony Geary has. In other words, let her tape a story, give her time off, then bring her back when a new story is ready. Kim believes that it could work in the long term. She also confesses to reading online message boards (she even names names) and says, "Maybe I should lose about forty pounds!" I can stop right here and tell you she actually looks wonderful and yes, like a normal woman. Not a thing wrong with it. Jordan is interjecting his funny commentary here and there and I ask Kim if there is anything possibly left on the menu for Reva to do. "Reva wants to make babies!" Jordan announces. Kim tells me that she would love for Reva to return to the work force, perhaps with one of the Lewis companies. "I would like to add a little more dimension, I'm just missing dimension right now" she says.

Kim was amazed at some of the fans that she met during the autograph session. "I think the most generations I met was five," she says, to which Jordan responds, "Everyone seems to have started watching the show with their grandma." All the actors enjoy the fan interaction and Kim says, "I've met as many as six generations (of fans). That was the most I've met. They were all there, standing in front of me. It made me cry, I was like, Oh my God! We don't do this nearly as much as we used to and I love questions and answers. We used to do it at our fan club gathering until they stopped doing it and I think that's where you can really get the feel of what the fans like."

"It's nice to have the one on one with the autograph session too because sometimes if you get caught up in the whole internet thing, especially if you're married to the wrong person, and they're so harsh," Robert adds, "You think, 'Oh my gosh, they're just so angry at me,' and then you get here and they get to see you and I think, all day long, I heard, 'I've been watching for thirty years, I've been watching the show for forty years, I've been watching since I was twelve.' You know, it was great!"

"It's nice to let them know just how important they are to us," Jordan says of the fans, "Because without them, we don't have a job and it's nice to see them, touch them, talk to them, because they feel like you're part of their living room."

As for the rumor that Kim objected to Reva being paired with Josh again, Kim says that she actually did object somewhat at first, because Josh had just been with Cassie. "Oh, no, he's gotta beg!" she laughs, "I was like, are you kidding me? No. So it wasn't that I said never. We needed this separation. I have to tell you though that I really like us as friends, Josh and Reva. I think that would be fun for Josh and Reva and then have something dramatic that happens that throws them back together again. I want to tell old fashioned soap opera stories again!" Kim also jokes that she has gotten a lot of sun and laughs, "I'll be the healthiest looking leukemia patient ever! I don't care, nobody else seems to care! The continuity is kind of iffy, so Reva's got a tan from her radiation therapy!" By this time, we are having a complete blast, but alas, Ms. Zimmer is needed elsewhere and we part ways, again with strict orders to return at a certain time. The clock is ticking for me because I have to catch a plane back home later in the day but I decide to stick around and get some real chat time in with Crystal, Frank and Jessica in an official capacity.

After doing some more wandering, I return and am greeted by the site of the divine Ron Raines and the beautiful Marj Dusay, both waiting to take their turns at the autograph booth. "Look behind you, look behind you," says a flabbergasted Mel, to which I reply, "Oh, you mean turn around and LOOK AT RON RAINES? Hey baby!" Yes, I did say that and I'm pretty sure he heard me. We're also loudly gushing about how gorgeous Marj is looking. Yes, we know how to get your attention. Soon, Crystal, Jessica and Frank are ushered over to us and Frank tells us that he still hasn't gotten over to that darn skydiving ride. The official site of the Otalia contingent is called Big Purple Dreams, and conveniently enough, Jessica is wearing a purple dress. "You look good in purple," Crystal insists. "What if it were called Big Green Dreams or Big Checkered Dreams?" Jessica laughs.

"People were warm and fuzzy today and full of love," Jessica says, "They're grateful for the story and we're grateful for them, so we were just doing that, back and forth."

"It is a different story for daytime and it was nice to see so many people embrace it," Crystal offers and adds, "I've always said that this would not be working without Frank. He's been so crucial to the story and adds so much to it."

"I think the great thing about the story is that it's appealing to everybody, somebody can pull something from it and now it's even a broader, broader spectrum, which makes it more colorful and more full," Frank says, "They are hitting it from all the way around and now everybody can pull something out of each story and that's magical, actually. That happens very rarely and I think this is a good time for the show." As for playing spoiler in the Otalia story, Frank continues, "He has blinders on and he's madly in love with Natalia, so he's going to do the best that he can and see what happens. The unique thing is that he has actually befriended - we actually have a little bit of a past, Olivia and I, with my father..."

Oh, bring that up!" Crystal laughs, and Frank continues, "He's actually uniquely trusted her recently, like hey, come clean with me, let's talk about this, what's going on. And she's giving me pointers on how to date her and woo her and he's actually developed a friendship again with Olivia. It's really interesting how this all plays out."

"It's now starting to dawn on me, I guess me personally, how important it is, how far reaching it is and how much support there is," Jessica says of the Otalia story, "It's kind of my first time for that and I didn't expect it, I thought, I was used to the slower pace, I was used to just doing the story. And now it seems that it's bubbled into something different and I didn't expect that."

"This is a love story," Frank adds, "And the people love a good love story... It has to come from the story and the actors that bring it to life and it's written so meticulously and so carefully that it's actually a beautiful love story. You can't have a love story without a lot of different conflicts. You have to have the conflicts.

After hugs all around, it is time for me to depart Springfield by way of Orlando. I can't thank Alan Locher enough for giving me this wonderful opportunity. He was gracious, sweet and extremely accommodating, and I also must extend thanks to Jeannie and Meredith for allowing us ample time with the actors and making sure we got everything we needed. I hope I'm invited to the next remote and in the meantime, be sure to tune in to GL to see all these mentioned scenes, which begin airing on April 24!

Photos: JPI Studios and Soaptown USA