From: riddle@brahms.udel.edu (Tammy Riddle)
Subject: SB:  SOW Info (Long)
Organization: University of Delaware
Distribution: world 
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 00:46:04 GMT


CRUZ LEAVES KELLY AND SB

Cruz finds that keeping the secret that BJ is his daughter is too heavy a
burden this week on SANTA BARBARA, and he leaves town.  He also hopes NBI
agent Connor will think he killed Frank Goodman, which would free BJ from
being charged with the murder she committed.  [NOTE:  The magazine said
Connor is an NBI agent, but isn't he a FBI agent?!? :-)]

The heartbreak remains for Kelly to bear, and she learns the truth in a
very CASABLANCA-type way.  Kelly had hoped that after numerous bad
relationships, her romance with Cruz would be different.  "It's devastating
to her because she truly believed that he was the one man who would never
hurt her," says Davidson.  "She held him in such high esteem before they
ever fell in love with each other, so in that way it's like a double
whammy.  I think deep inseide she understands why he's leaving.  But the
other part of her that is constantly making the wrong choices leaves her
somewhat humiliated, because everyone told her she'd get hurt."

It would be human nature for Kelly to resent BJ's existence.  "That anger
has to come into play," Davidson says.  "Her reasoning self knows Cruz made
the decision; the best part of herself would not feel that way.  However, I
imagine the other part...it's like when you get married and have a
stepchild.  You don't hate the child, but it gets in the way."

Kelly will naturally mourn her loss.  "I think the way Kelly's character
has metamorphosed in the last few months, so she's not so devasted that she
doesn't bounce back.  So she'll learn from it, and after a period of time
go on," Davidson adds.

*****

SANTA BARBARA has cast D. Paul Thomas in the brief role of Mr. Stapelton,
the businessman Lilly and Rafe try to con while they're on a business trip
in Cleveland.  Thomas' soap record includes EDGE OF NIGHT, THE YOUNG AND
THE RESTLESS, and GENERAL HOSPITAL.

*****

Apparently an actress named Beverlee McKinsey has left her role on GUIDING
LIGHT...I don't watch the show, so I don't know her.  Anyway, SOW tried to
"cast" her on some of the West Coast soaps since she is moving West.  Here
is the writers stab at creating a role for her on SANTA BARBARA.

Sophia's sister:  The off-again, on-again Capwell wife needs a gal pal to
talk to.  Or maybe her globe-trotting sister could compete with Sophia for
the affections of C.C. or with Rosa over Raphael.

OR

Augusta Lockridge:  Let's face it, Lionel was at his best when he had this
mate to banter with.  Now that Louise Sorel is Vivian on DAYS OF OUR LIVES,
the role's open.  Even better, Coster and McKinsey were a pair during their
ANOTHER WORLD days in the early 70's.

***** 

For those of you in the Boston area that lost SB.  Here is a letter sent to
SOW about that particular issue.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

Viewer writes:
WBZ-TV here in Boston has canceled SB and replaced it with two hideous
shows.  I have tried to call the station several times and have written to
the program manager, but haven't received any response.  Talk about getting
no respect.  It's as if soap opera viewers don't count.

When THE PEOPLE'S COURT was taken off, it was put back on the moment
viewers complained.  Can anything be done to save SB?  NBC seems to have
the most zealous fans.  If this is happening in Boston, I'm sure it is
happening elsewhere, too.  So I urge NBC viewers to start a letter writing
campaign to WBZ-TV and other stations that may be considering canceling
this fine show.

Signed, L. Austin, Woburn, Mass.

SOW EDITORS NOTE:  You can write WBZ-TV at 1170 Soldiers Field Road,
Boston, MA, 02134 or call 617-787-7000 and ask for TV programming.

*****

ZEN & THE ART OF SOAP OPERA ACTING -- Interview with Stephen Nichols

DEJA VU With a twist might be the best way to describe Stephen Nichols'
return to daytime television.  About two years after his departure from the
legendary role of Steve "Patch" Johnson on DOOLs, Nichols once again finds
himself reporting for work on the Burbank studio lot, lunching at the NBC
commissary and rubbing elbos with a few familiar crew members.

But Nichols is on a different show now -- the multi-Emmy-Award-winning
SANTA BARBARA.  He is portraying Skyler Gates, a Zen therapist specializing
in Eastern philosophy and religion -- a character who is the antithesis of
his former DOOL alter ego.  "It's like coming home in a way, but maybe to a
new addition that's been built onto the house," the actor muses.

Nichols admits he missed certain aspects of the daytime medium.  "The
regular routine is nice...to know that you're going to the same place each
day," he says.  "There's something to be said for that consistency, that
steadiness in daily life.  That's one of the nice things about daytime.  I
enjoy that.  Plus, I've got kids at home," he continues.  "It's nice to be
able to get off work, drive home, and there they are.  I'm not on location
in Tennessee or somewhere across the world.  I'm at home."

Dressed casually in black jeans and a T-shirt, and surrounded by pictures
of A Martinez and Martinez's family, Nichols is sitting in what used to be
Martinez's dressing room, which now belongs to him.  He appears relaxed and
content in his new surroundings.  Although he's only been on the job for a
week at the time of the interview, Nichols has settled in quite
comfortably.

"My first day, they treated me like a king," he says.  "Everybody was very
nice, very friendly.  Pam Long, SB's head writer, even gave me a beautiful
floral arrangement ith a bit of Asian flavor to it."

Despite the SB welcome wagon and Nichols' extensive acting experience, he
admits he still experienced the usual first-day jitters.  "Oh, sure," he
says.  "It's like being a kid again and going to a new school.  You're not
quite sure where anything is.  I was kind of lost in the hallways.  I had
to get to know many new people.  I got over it immediately though," he
says.  "After I got through the first dress rehearsal all the jitters were
gone.  I felt totally at home."

It helped to have a few co-stars around the set whom he already knew --
people like Nancy Lee Grahn, Kim Zimmer and Eileen Davidson, whom Nichols
had met at various events during his time on DOOL.  It also helped to hit
the ground running with storyline co-stars Jack Wagner and Sydney Penny.
"Jack's a real gas.  He's cracking us up all day long.  Of course, he stops
just before we're ready to tape, but by then it's too late," laughs
Nichols.  "I really enjoy working with him."  As for Penny, "This yound
woman is a very, very fine actress, and I'm sure that I'm not saying
anything that people don't know already.  She is really tuned in.  It's a
joy to work with her."

During his time away from the medium, Nichols has explored a number of
other projects, fielded his share of daytime offers and endured countless
"rumors" that he was joining other soaps (among them GENERAL HOSPITAL) and
returning to DOOL.  "Most of the rumors were just that -- rumors and
nothing more," he says bluntly.  Nichols concedes that he has been
"approached a couple of times" by other soaps.  "I've had some talks with
some people in New York," he says.  "It seemed that most people don't
understand what my needs were in coming into a daytime situation.  So none
of the situations worked out."  So Nichols continued working in other
areas.  Most recently, he completed a recurring role in the Aaron Spelling
series 2000 MALIBU ROAD, portraying a character named Brad Dimitri opposite
Sally Kellerman.  He also just finished producing a presentation pilot -- a
comtemporary Western called WILD HORSES -- in which he starred with his
wife, Lisa.

Nichols explains the chain of events that led him to SB.  "The role came up
and one of my agents called and suggested me for it.  The SB brass thought
it was a good idea, called me in, and we had a little meeting.  Pam Long
and Paul Rauch described the storyline to me in general and the type of
person Skyler is.  I was very intrigued by what I heard.  Skyler sounded
very interesting, not run-of-the-mill."  Nichols elaborates:  "Skyler's a
Harvard graduate who was schooled as a psychiatrist.  During his training
and his study of Eastern philosophy and religion, he found that the
disciplines and practices in meditation, when applied to psychoanalysis,
were very helpful.  They brought a whole new area of intuitiveness into his
work.  He has a calmness and an easiness about him that puts other people
at ease,"  Nichols continues.  "He's easier to talk to.  He can go beyound
what someone is saying and see the truth behind the words."

The character description of Skyler, along with a few other key facts,
ultimately lured Nichols to SB.  First and foremost, the SB brass did not
insist that Nichols sign a lengthy pact with the show.  Instead, they
dangled the word "recurring" in front of him.  "Because I was not obligated
to sing a contract right off the bat, this was a good opportunity for me to
feel things out," he says.  "The reason that was so important to me is that
I didn't want to go on a show and get involved in a heavy contract right
away, and then end up as dead weight hanging around on a show that I wasn't
happy on, where I was not working and putting something into it."

SB's talented cast and writers were also major factors in his decision.
"I've taken tapes home.  I spent half a day in my office watching several
tapes to catch up on storylines and characters that I'm involved with.  I
was very impressed.  I'm very proud to be a part of SANTA BARBARA."  For
that reason, Nichols hopes he can make a statement as Skyler.  Long
dedicated to children'scharity organizations, particularly those involved
in fighting against child abuse, Nichols says he's putting his heart and
soul into his role as therapist to abuse victim BJ Walker.  "All the actors
involved in that story have done really great work.  The show's done a
wonderful job in the writing and execution of the story.  I hope that I can
contribute to that in a good way."

Nichols also wants to educate daytime television audiences to the world of
Easter religion.  "I hope to take away the sort of stigma or misconceptions
people have about it," he explains.  "I hope to be able to show that there
is a basic truth in all religions and a common spirituality running through
everyone's lives.  I studied Eastern religion and philosophy for many
years," he says.  "I've been a member of the Self-Realization Fellowship
for 20 years.  I also have several people in my family who are into
psychiatry and psychology and who have known actual Zen therapists.  So I
have a lot to draw from."

When asked if he's ever gone through therapy, Nichols responds wrly,
"Hasn't every creative person had therapy some time?  I don't know a person
who hasn't been through some kind of therapy or analysis at one point in
their life."  

While Nichols believes the first hand experience will be helpful in his
portrayal of Skyler, he isn't one to get too caught up in it.  "I really
believe in playing pretend...just being like a child again," he says,
describing his method of acting.  "All this heavy-handed collecting,
researching, and blah, blah, balh just gets very laborious most of the
time.  I believe it gets in the way.  We're all human.  I think that's the
most important thing in acting -- to be human and to relate to the people
you're talking to.  The rest of it just falls into place."  

It's with that same ease that Nichols tackles the inevitable question:
Does he feel any pressure to save SB, a show that's been living under the
threat of cancellation for the past year?  "No, I don't feel any pressure
at all," he says bluntly.  "I'm just an actor who took a job and is willing
to commit to it 100 percent.  That's as far as my commitment goes.  I'm not
obligated to try and keep the show on the air or do anything beyond what my
job is as an actor."  However, Nichols is confident that DAYS fans who
loved him as Patch definitely will tune in to get to know him as Skyler.
"Every single person who ever watched me on DAYS wil ltune into this show
to see me," he says.  "Since I left DAYS, I've kept all the fans in touch
with where I am and what I'm doing.  They've been following me from one
project to the next," he notes.  "I've always been able to generate my
fans' interest for other projects that I'm doing.  I've kind of educated
people, in a way, not to be too attached to one particular character but to
tune into everything that I'm doing, because it's much more fun.  "So
everybody who's been following me since I left DAYS is going to be here,"
he stresses.  "I think there's going to be a great carryover.  Then again,
no pressure, right!" he adds with a laugh.  "There's some really wonderful
stuff happening on this show," adds Nichols.  "A lot of steam has been
building up.  It's just starting to gel now, and it's going to break loose.
SANTA BARBARA is definitely somethin worth watching.  I want people to know
that."

*****

That's it.  Sorry it is *SO* long, but there is really A LOT of press
regarding SANTA BARBARA these days.  Also, I, too, got a card from Stephen
Nichols.  It talked about his appearance on SB, asking me to watch, and
asking me to help save SB by writing my local affiliate and/or the network
in California.

Later,

Tammy
television audiences to the world of Eatern religion.  "I hope to take  
  

-- 
**************************************************************************
I always have THOUGHTS about anything;      * Tammy Riddle - U of Delaware 
 However, SOLUTIONS might be another story! * riddle@brahms.udel.edu 
**************************************************************************  
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps