January 19, 1999

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Special thanks to Dazzlyn for typing some of these articles.

Soap Opera Magazine

SOAP OPERA SUPERCOUPLES: A Trend Whose Time Has Passed?

If Shakespeare had lived in the 20th century, undoubtedly, his Romeo and Juliet would have starred on daytime television, rather than Elizabethan theatres. The original star-crossed lovers have all the characteristics of the classic soap opera supercouple: They're young. They fall in love at first sight. She's betrothed to another against her will. Their families hate each other. She fakes her death. They die together rather than face life apart.

Daytime's supercouples have endured all that and more, sometimes even saving the world on their way to the altar. The Vietnam War couldn't kill the love between AMC's Phil and Tara; DAYS' Stefano may have erased Hope's memory, but not her love for Bo.

"When these couples see each other, sparks fly," comments ABC soap historian Gary Warner, who produced the network's recent special, Unforgettable Love Stories, and also wrote coffee-table books on AMC, GH, OLTL and the new Love, Honor and Cherish, celebrating ABC daytime's greatest weddings. "Their love is undying, and they are willing to die for each other. And you love them. The key ingredient is the audience puling for this couple."

While soaps have always featured lovers who were destined to be together, even as the world seemed to conspire to keep them apart - couples like ATWT's Jeff and Penny and DAYS' Doug and Julie were among the first supercouples - by the 1980s, supercouples were on nearly every show, driving story, spawning high ratings and involving the whole town in their adventures.

"You don't realize how big it is until you're completely out of it," according to Peter Bergman (Jack, Y&R), who was half of AMC's Cliff and Nina supercouple for most of the '80s. "It was a different time; everyone came out of the closet as soap fans. Afterward I realized it was a big time in daytime history. GH's Tony Geary (Luke) and Genie Francis (Laura) were on the cover of Newsweek, I was on the cover of People - when was the last time someone from daytime was on the cover of People?"

"I am so lucky I was around at that time," says Taylor Miller (ex-Nina, AMC), who has made several return cameo appearances. 'ABC daytime was brilliant."

But now these couples are threatened by something much more sinister than GH's Cassadine weather machine or the maze created by ATWT's Mr. Big to entrap Tom and Margo. The threat is daytime's move away from the supercouple trend all together.

"It was a '80s phenomenon," believes Warner. "I don't know if we could ever get that back. So much has changed in the way stories are changed these days. I don't think couples are developed in the way they used to be. They were given time to hook the audience in slowly, reel them in."

"In the '70s and '80s, we could move things more slowly," agrees SUN head writer Maggie De Priest, who has written for soaps such as GH, DAYS, AMC and AW since the 1960s. "The audience was more patient and would wait for things to evolve and develop."

"We knew who we were and where we came from," adds Miller. "The story was so carefully unfolded and stretched out, with stories within stories. It was multi-dimensional and very rich. The difference is like tapestry versus a fabric print."

"Since Julie and Doug Williams were the first major supercouple on daytime television, it's only natural that Hope (Doug's daughter and Julie's half-sister/stepdaughter) would become half of another generation supercouple on DAYS," comments Kristian Alfonso (Hope). "Bo and Hope's love for each other has never been questioned before. They always had each other in the past, no matter what. In recent years, that's changed.

"Betrayal has never come into their relationship before," Alfonso elaborates. "Hope never acted on her attraction to Franco because her heart was always with Bo. So Billie's pregnancy was really an unmistakable betrayal."

The change isn't isolated to Bo and Hope. Nearly every remaining supercouple on daytime is being threatened in ways that go to the very heart of their relationship: ATWT's Tom and Margo are both attracted to younger people, while Holden and Lily must deal with his murder of David;  GL's Josh and Reva are haunted by the death of her clone and the continuing specter of Annie; Victor's tactics in fighting Diane may backfire on his relationship with Nikki on Y&R. And the most well-know supercouple of all time, GH's Luke and Laura, are currently estranged. While Luke deals with the knowledge that Laura's son Nikolas was fathered by Stefan, Laura is sharing memories and kisses with her husband's mortal enemy.

"If Luke and Laura hadn't returned to General Hospital, they'd always be perceived as belonging together, of overcoming every obstacle," Warner notes. "But the nature of this medium is ngoing; there has to be conflict, dilemmas. This is a couple that continues to face adversity.  Given that things are cyclical, I would guess that they'll eventually find the strength they've always had. When they see each other, it's always there, regardless of whether they're going through a personal hell.  They're still my favorite couple. I can look at them and just fall in love like they did."

Not only are established supercouples finding themselves in hot water, most shows do not have other pairs warming up in the bullpen. Couples that do show signs of attaining supercouple status are finding surprising sidetracks on the way. Furthermore, the type of storylines that turned lovers into supercouples has nearly disappeared from daytime: the lovers on the run who save the world.

"Supercouples require an overwhelming element of fantasy," observes Warner. "When you have stories that are grounded in reality, it's kind of tough to get lost in a story that's so real."

"So-called supercouples rarely showed a human flaw," argues DAYS' executive producer Ken Corday. "It was not an honest portrayal, but more of a cartoon. Soap opera relies on melodrama and tragic events, but the most dramatic thing one of the former supercouples could do was die."

Not only did DAYS create its first supercouple with Doug and Julie, it also carried the most supercouples on any soap opera: Bo and Hope, Patch and Kayla, Marlena and Roman/John, Shane and Kimberly, and Jack and Jennifer all shared screen time and storylines in Salem during the 1980's. Yet Corday readily admits to playing a hand in killing off the supercouple genre - along with DAYS' executive producer Tom Langan and then-headwriter James E. Reilly - in the early 1990s.

"We took the supercouple concept to the highest floor and dropped it to its death," explains Corday. "It's an outdated and limiting idea. It had become the writer's crutch. It takes more craft and weaving to take individuals like Stefano and Kate, Vivian and others and create stories that also involve couples like Hope and Bo and show them all more realistically."

"A writer uses any crutch he can get!" laughs De Priest. "Sometimes you want to please your audience. You can be inventive in getting a supercouple back together, with suspense, surprises, false starts. Then lay the groundwork for a future story in the reconciliation. How they would take off in different directions again."

"As much as I loved working with Peter, I don't think it was ever addressed why Nina left Cliff or what she learned," adds Miller. "There needed to be some kind of discussion about what kept going wrong."

Producers may be shying away from the creation of new supercouples, but so are fans. Today's pairings are not catching on in the same way that couples did in the 1980s - even the romance of GH's Stefan and Katherine failed to develop a strong following, despite the fact that their portrayers, Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans, were one of DAYS most popular supercouples ever as Patch and Kayla.

"Couples today develop much more quickly. As a result, I think the audience has less of the investment in the characters, because they're not given that chance to simmer and develop," Warner speculates. "I don't think the audience roots as much for a couple to be together against all odds."

"People want a more instant development, but when that happens, the audiences don't have as much investment," adds De Priest. "Their interest peaks more quickly."

Given the accelerated pace of today's love stories, it's no surprise that all of daytime's remaining supercouples first fell in love in the 1980s.  In the fast-forward 1990s, can any new pairing create the fantasy and develop the following it takes to become a supercouple?

"You can't sit and read poetry anymore, but you can still have the innocence and the earnest love," believes Bergman. "Cliff and Nina had classic storytelling on every front."

Warner points to GH's Lucky and Liz as having what it takes to reach supercouple status. "They have the chemistry, that kind of 'looking into each other's eyes thing.' They've allowed the relationship time; there's the whole unspoken element between them. It's a tribute to the two actors (Jonathan Jackson and Rebecca Herbst) that you can see the love burning in their eyes."

With or without supercouples, though, romance remains the most popular component of daytime drama. In putting together Unforgettable Love Stories, Warner did not concentrate solely on ABC's top supercouples but picked pairs that illustrated different aspects of love. "We wanted to show what kinds of love there are, the rainbow of emotions: fun love, passionate love, obsessive love. Love is the main ingredient of soaps."

Echoes Bergman, "It's all love, love in every sense. He walks in the room;  she changes. That's the most powerful stuff on daytime."  -Jami Deise

Soap Opera Magazine

THREE'S COMPANY, TOO? - Today's supercouples are turning into supertriples

A funny thing happened to GH's Sonny and Brenda on their way to supercouple status - a blond millionaire names Jasper "Jax" Jacks. Rather than acting as a temporary obstacle to the couple's reconciliation, Jax evolved into a multidimensional hero in his own right, captivating Brenda and dividing GH fans over which man was right for the love-torn model.

"Sonny and Brenda had magic, but they also had struggle and conflict," comments ABC soap historian Gary Warner. "I think Jax appealed to the part of people that want to be cherished and put on a pedestal, the way he did for Brenda. While Sonny and Brenda always wanted the best for each other, there was hurt and pain, too. Jax offered a pain-free alternative."

This GH triangle is hardly an anomaly. While the love triangle has been a classic soap opera staple since its days on radio, usually the third wheel was just a fleeting diversion. Now fans are more willing to see the third person as being the better match.

Take DAYS' Carrie and Austin. To become husband and wife, these lovers fought the odds for years. Now Carrie finds herself drawn to Mike, and DAYS' audience is clearly divided on whether she should stay with Austin or look for greener pastures with Mike.

On PC, Kevin and Lucy's love was so strong that ABC built an entire new soap around it. But now that Lucy's sudden affair with Scott has renewed her feelings for her old lover, she's torn and confused - and so are fans.  SUN's Ben and Meg finally walked down the aisle, only to discover that her new friend, Dana, is actually Ben's presumed-drowned wife, Maria.

"With this triangle, everyone is behaving ethically," explains SUN head writer Maggie De Priest. "Although the audience has been rooting for Ben and Meg, they feel sorry for Maria. What the audience will root for now, I don't know."

"Add a third element, and things pop and explode," elaborates DAYS executive producer, Ken Corday. "When you've got heads turning, attractions, a variety of emotions, they're more human."

That humanity extends to all players in a well-developed triangle. While Y&R's Victor and Nikki Newman have loved and lost each other for nearly years, Nikki's marriage to Jack was more than just an obstacle to the supercouple's reconciliation, but a plot that allowed all three characters to grow in ways that impact them even now. "Jack understood pain in a way he never understood it before," comments Peter Bergman (Jack). "It was a profound, painful experience that will always be in the background. Jack became part of the human race after Nikki. Having his feelings that deeply touched, he'll never run roughshod over anyone that way again."

Will these new "equilateral" triangles sound the death knell for daytime's few remaining supercouples? Should we look forward to Stefan and Laura Cassadine, Bo and Billie Brady? Probably not.

"We know who the audience wants to see together," Corday says. "We've never lost sight of that, but they don't always stay together. It's not simply mix and match either, but relationships that are interesting to watch - romantic and otherwise - are built on conflict."

Soap Opera Magazine

NEWS & HOT SHOTS! - Oh, To Be In England

James Reynolds (Abe) and his wife, Lissa Lang, his son, Jed, and one of Jed's school buddies enjoyed a vacation in England. They saw some plays, including the current hit Art. Since Lang studied in London for a while, three were plenty of friends to visit, too. And several restaurants made a hit with the group. "We ate at many ethnic places," says Reynolds.  "Ethiopian, Indian, Italian, Vietnamese. The kids like the pub food."  Reynolds was surprised to be recognized as frequently as he was since DAYS is only on cable access there. "[Cable access] is expensive," he says.  "Actually, everything was quite expensive there. But I thoroughly enjoyed it and could even imagine living there for a while. The pound was equal to about $1.75. A cup of coffee cost about $8."

Soap Opera Weekly

SNEAK PEEKS

Week of Jan 11 - Carrie and Mike make a deal in order to prevent further temptation.

Week of Jan 18 - Austin takes the law into his own hands. Mike finds a badly beaten Ali lying in the hospital parking garage.

Soap Opera Weekly

1999 PREVIEWS & PREDICTIONS

What they say:  

Sami's trial takes a climactic turn when the jury reaches a verdict, but a shocking disappearance disrupts the proceedings. Austin takes matters into his own hands "to protect Sami and Will," head writer Sally Sussman-Morina reveals, and, in the process, places several lives in danger. "Will Austin's actions send Carrie into Mike's arms for good?" As Carrie's life spirals out of control, Mike breaks a sacred promise he made; the consequences put Carrie's job and their friendship on the line. Carrie's marriage crumbles further when she believes Austin has done the unthinkable. All of the above sets the stage for "Mike and Carrie to really heat up," Sussman-Morina says, noting that "Ali's obsession with Mike takes a dangerous turn."

Sussman-Morina promises "lots of romance and adventure" in the Hope/Bo/Greta/John/Marlena mystery, as they "go on a discovery of Hope's past: the four years she was Gina, Gina and John's relationship, and into John's past as well." Hope's and Bo's lives are further complicated by Hope's abrupt change in behavior, and learning that Shawn-Douglas is missing. Bo is certain Stefano is behind the disappearance and vows to bring down his adversary once and for all.

Bo, however, isn't the only one out for Stefano's blood. Stefano's machinations and very existence are threatened by his new wife. "When Vivian discovers what Stefano has been doing, she turns the tables on him," Sussman-Morina teases. Although Marlena "is reticent to find out about John's past, she knows she can't hold him back; that really is a genuine need in him," Sussman-Morina explains. "And she also feels like it's almost a challenge for her to defy Stefano.

As Eric and Nicole become more deeply involved, Nicole is forced to make a big decision regarding their future. Lucas is going to make an assertive move to find a woman to be his wife and Will's mother, so that he can regain custody of Will." A night of passion reignites Roman and Billie's relationship. Their affair is complicated by the fact that Roman "continues to suspect Kate [in Franco's murder cover-up]."

What we think:

With Austin nowhere in sight, Carrie and Mike succumb to temptation and have an affair. When Ali learns about the other woman in Mike's life, she sets in motion a plan to eliminate her. As Hope remerges into Gina, a rift develops between her and Bo. It turns out Hope's illegal actions as Gina are directly responsible for Shawn-Douglas' disappearance. Marlena's doubts about Greta intensify, and John's trust in Greta deepens when the young woman's true connection is revealed. Lucas sets his sights on marrying Nicole. Taylor is left to pick up the pieces of Eric's heart.

In our wildest dreams:

Kate's and Billie's scandalous mother/daughter affairs with Roman are further complicated when Chris Kositchek arrives and sets his sights on both women. During a hypnosis session with John, Marlena is shocked to learn that during his priesthood past he was intimately involved with Sister Mary Moira. The Bayou Boys, Wayne and Earl, forsake the swamps for the big city when they land gigs as lead models for Titan's "Back to the Basics" fashion campaign.

Soap Opera Weekly

VIEWERS' VOICE

Which current daytime couple should get a divorce?

Viewers were clamoring for the breakup of Days' Carrie and Austin. "They are about as stale as an old loaf of bread," one malcontent chided. Most fans were pro-Carrie and Mike, and  couldn't wait for the day Carrie gives Austin "the boot!"

Soap Opera Weekly

A couple of this week's questions:

In General - #3 Who was your favorite performer the week of Jan 11?

#4 Which often-used soap plot should be forever banned?

Send your answers by Jan 20 to

Voice 3
SOAP OPERA WEEKLY
261 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016

You can also respond by e-mail to SPWvoice@aol.com

They'll publish your responses in Vol 10 Issue 8.

Soap Opera Update

SCENE AROUND TOWN

Patrika Darbo (Nancy, DAYS) and Christopher Halsted (ex-John, PC) were all smiles as they took part in the city of Hope's Walk for Hope Against Breast Cancer, which raised more than $275,000!

Soap Opera Update

THE LAST TWO WEEKS

Mike's In A Mess

Ali won't give up on Mike and gives him an expensive Christmas gift.  Carrie and Mike argue when he says she's not trying hard enough to save her troubled marriage - then he admits he's in love with her.

Holiday Celebrations

Everyone gathers for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The Horton family celebrates the traditional ornament-hanging holiday. Austin spends much of Christmas with Sami. Meanwhile, Carrie and Mike find themselves under the mistletoe.

Soap Opera Update

SECRETS - DAYS Star's Growing Pains

Christie Clark (Carrie) is used to her problems being on the backburner, as she is the eldest of three in real life. "I identify with the Brady kids," Clark admits. But she gladly tells that her relationship with Katie, a college student, and high-schooler Kevin, aren't traumatic like on TV.

Soap Opera Update

'99 EMMY PREVIEW

The 26th annual Daytime Emmy Awards, which will reward the best work of 1998, won't even take place until May. But believe it or not, daytimers everywhere are already starting to think about who might go home with the gold.

One West Coast actress is boasting to friends that she has already made room on her mantel for the coveted statuette. As the new year approached, another big-name diva telephoned her show's headwriter at home to request a few more heavy-duty, Emmy-worthy scenes before the end of 1998.

And at least one show is planning to do "bloc voting" - a controversial process in which everyone involved with a show agrees in advance to nominate the same performers, pretty much guaranteeing that the show will have lots of entries on the final ballot.

New Faces In The Crowd

TV Guide's star soap columnist Michael Logan believes that the coming Emmy race will be one of the most interesting and original ever. 'We are going to see some new faces nominated this year," predicts Logan.

Don't Forget Erika Slezak

Don't rule out the usual nominees, either. Although OLTL's Erika Slezak (Viki) "has won a million Emmys," laughs Logan, she could bring home yet another, especially if she plays her cards right and uses a little strategy. Slezak has so far won all five of her statuettes in the Lead Actress category. In 1998, though, she didn't really have a big, Emmy-worthy, Lead Actress storyline.

However, says Logan, "she has shown how well she works as a supporting actress. Remember the scene when Viki found out Clint married Lindsay? If Slezak enters herself as a supporting actress, she could give herself a better shot at actually winning."

Logan believes, in fact, that many actors submit themselves in the wrong category, entering the fray as lead performers when they should be competing as supporting players.

One AMC insider thinks that 18-time also-ran Susan Lucci (Erica) has precisely this problem. "If Susan was smart, she would submit her name this year in the supporting category, because she didn't have a frontburner story, and it would probably increase her chances of winning," the insider tells Update. "But, you know, it's very hard for such a big star to be recognized in a supporting capacity."

Logan agrees. But, he says, that attitude is a mistake. "Supporting work is the most overlooked and, most times, the best. Look at DAYS OF OUR LIVES' spectacular Patrika Darbo (Nancy) and Kevin Spirtas (Craig) - they are the best thing on that show."

DAYS Newcomers

Most insiders are already sure that Darbo and Spirtas will get supporting-category nominations, along with GUIDING LIGHT's impressive Hunt Block (Ben) and vastly improved Beth Chamberlin (Beth); and ATWT's Lauren Martin-Harkins (Camille).

The Top Honors Go To

As for the coveted Outstanding Drama Series category: It will be interesting to see if a new show will be nominated. For the past few years, the competition has been between AMC, DAYS, GH and Y&R. Logan's prediction: "I think GUIDING LIGHT will break into the Outstanding Drama Series category this year. It may oust GH, which has had a horrible year.  OLTL also may break in as well."

But, remember, nobody's been nominated yet. We won't even know who is until March. And anything can happen when it comes to the Daytime Emmys, proving that this awards show is consistently the most surprising drama in daytime.

"Especially," laughs Logan, "when the Emmys get it right."

And speaking of getting it right, is it possible that Susan Lucci could win this year? While she may not have had a strong 1998, each nominee only needs two episodes to submit to the Blue Ribbon panel. If Lucci is smart, she'll stay away from showcasing glitzy clothes and trendy hairstyles, as one insider claims she does and let her acting speak for itself!  By Nelson Branco

Soap Opera Update

Who are the Stars Picking This Year?

DAYS' Peggy McCay (Caroline): "I really wish Christie Clark (Carrie) would be nominated again. She didn't win last year, and I would like to see her have another opportunity. And Joe Mascolo (Stefano) - without that nefarious gusto of his, what would Salem do?"

DAYS' Christie Clark (Carrie): "I think Ivan G'Vera is probably the best actor we have here. He is just so free and hilarious."

Soaps In Depth

SET YOUR VCR - Week of January 12-19

Hoping to avoid the temptation to give in to their feelings for one another, Mike and Carrie make a deal never again to be left alone in a room together.

Soaps In Depth

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH - Will Lucas finally confess to save Sami's life?

For weeks now, Lucas has been tormented, holding Sami's fate in his hands.  If he confesses that he killed her fiance, Franco, to protect his mother, Kate, both he and Kate will be thrown into the slammer. If he doesn't, the mother of his son - the two-faced, lying, vindictive witch who kept the boy's very paternity a secret even from Lucas - could be sentenced to life behind bars or, worse, death!

Now, as most of Salem begins to point a finger of guilt at Lucas, he is close to cracking. But Kate has a daring new plan to keep his main accuser, Roman, off of her son's back. And in the end, it may be Sami's own innate spitefulness that costs her the one thing she treasures more than her own life - the chance to spend that life watching her son grow up! Will Lucas do the right thing?

Sami Figures It out!

Lucas and Kate's carefully spun web of lies began to unravel when Sami remembered that little detail that had been nagging her throughout her trial - that her philandering fiance had been dead before she even burst into Kate's drawing room. However, Sami's recollection of that evening's events isn't enough to stop the wheels of justice from turning, and as this week begins, the jury gathers to determine the fate of the accused.

Knowing that Sami may be condemned to spend the rest of her life behind bars or - gasp! To have her life abruptly abbreviated - for a crime that he himself committed, Lucas is bedeviled with misgivings. "He is really nervous, and he's feeling guilty and defensive about Franco's death and Sami's problems," says Lucas' portrayer, Bryan Dattilo. "And he's feeling even more pressure right now everybody is suspicious of him too."

Indeed, Lucas has been under a dark cloud of suspicion ever since Sami's memory fatefully came charging back on Christmas Eve - and that cloud is only getting darker. Even though Sami can't be positive of her former friend's guilt, she can come pretty darn close. After all, she knows at least that she is innocent. "She doesn't know for certain that Lucas killed Franco, but the only thing that she does know is that she didn't do it," Dattilo points out. "And that leaves only Kate or Lucas as the possible killer. Sami is aware that Lucas knew where the gun was kept," Dattilo adds, "so I think that she has vague suspicions about me."

Roman To The Rescue

Sami's suspicions about Lucas become stronger thanks to Roman's determination to free his daughter. Explains Dattilo: "Roman is like, 'Every time I talk to Lucas about Franco's murder, he gets nervous, and I almost got a confession out of him three or four times.' So they've probably surmised that I'm the killer."

Worried that Lucas may break at any moment, Kate whisks her son off for a quiet evening at Salem's newest restaurant, Tuscany. There, Kate reminds him that if he cracks, he will take her down with him. "That's the major thing that's stopping him," Dattilo confides. "I think that if Lucas was the only one who would pay for this crime, he would have already confessed. Yes, he feels guilty for framing Sami, and, yes, he doesn't want to go to jail, but the big thing here is that his mom would go to jail, too, and that's the last thing he wants."

Kate also reminds her son of all the evil things that Sami has done to their family, including keeping him from seeing his son, Will. Yet before Lucas can agree to keep his mouth shut, to Kate's dismay, Roman arrives at the restaurant.

Eric Accuses Lucas

In a last ditch attempt to save his daughter's life, Roman corners Kate, hoping that enough pressure will cause her to slip up. However, she is tougher than tempered steel, and she demands that Roman stop hounding them. After all, she warns him icily, she can still press charges against Sami for waving a gun at her and Lucas weeks ago. And if she so desires, she adds confidently, she can even have him thrown off the police force!

Meanwhile, Lucas tries to escape the restaurant but runs into the rest of the Brady clan. He is stunned when Eric point-blank accuses him of being a coward for not confessing to Franco's murder. A belligerent Lucas suggests that he and Eric step outside, but Roman and Mickey intervene before any blows can be exchanged. "Lucas is in total denial that everything is coming apart," says his portrayer. "He doesn't know what else to do, and that's why he's acting the way he is."

The tension in the room is made worse when Will runs happily into Lucas' arms, leaving Sami seething about the fragile rapport that has blossomed between father and son. "She doesn't trust Lucas," explains Sami's portrayer, Alison Sweeney. "She doesn't want him to have anything to do with Will because of his drinking. And," she adds, "Sami hates the fact that Lucas may be a part of Will's life while she might not be there for her son."

Kate Plans A Seduction

However, Sami realizes that, with the verdict due any moment, her last minutes of freedom may be ticking away. Deciding to make amends for her past mistakes, an emotional Sami publicly apologizes to her family.  Marlena becomes choked up when she believes that she may lose her daughter forever, and reaches out to embrace Sami.

From afar, Lucas and Kate watch their reconciliation - both with different reactions. Kate believes that Sami's heartbreaking performance is simply another ploy, but Lucas is disturbed, particularly when Sami begins to sob that she cannot imagine life without her little boy. Explains Sweeney:  "Knowing that her son is growing up without her would be the worst version of hell that Sami could imagine for herself."

Consumed with guilt, Lucas steps forward to confess at last, but is thwarted by Kate. Sami is furious when Lucas once again clams up, and wastes no time in telling him what she really thinks about him. Austin also rushes to Sami's side, and sternly warns Kate that if she continues covering up for his weasily half-brother, he will never talk to her again.

Although shaken by her older son's threat, Kate remains determined to protect Lucas at all costs - even, she decides suddenly, if she has to seduce Roman to do it! And at that moment, she comes up with the ultimate attempt to prevent the driven cop from badgering the truth out of Lucas!

Will's Life In Danger

While Kate contemplates her change in strategy, Lucas' attention is caught by his son, who begins to gasp. Realizing that Will is choking, Lucas performs the Heimlich maneuver. Not surprisingly, Sami misinterprets Lucas' actions. "She thinks I'm hurting him," says Dattilo. "She doesn't know that he's choking, and she gets mad at me."

However, Sami is shocked to discover that not only had her son been choking, but Lucas saved Will's life! Ashamed for how she treated Lucas, Sami offers him her thanks, which Lucas accepts as an olive branch. Lucas reiterates his love for Will, and even admits that he was wrong to have Will in the car while driving drunk. Desperate to quench the animosity between them, Lucas asks Sami is she could meet him halfway.

Has Sami Blown It?

Unfortunately, Lucas' words remind Sami of all the bitterness between them, and she lashes out at him - she never will let him become a part of Will's life. As a defeated Lucas walks away, Roman pulls Sami aside to warn her against alienating the one person in the whole world who could clear her of the murder charges. If she had accepted Lucas' apology, Roman reminds her, then her sworn enemy actually might have confessed to killing Franco, thus letting her off the hook.

Later, Roman's words prove to be accurate, for Lucas admits to Kate that he was on the verge of confessing - if only Sami had met him halfway.

Kate is relieved that Lucas kept quiet, and reminds him of just how vindictive Sami can be - and has been. In face, Kate adds, she suspects that the old manipulative Sami is simply biding her time hiding behind this kinder, gentler facade.

Still, Lucas is taken aback when later in the evening Sami telephones him, relating that she has seen the light. The time has come, she says, for both of them to tell the truth. "Sami is going to be nice to Lucas, but she has a hidden agenda," acknowledges Dattilo. "She wants me to go to jail instead of her."

Yet, as the verdict looms large over Sami's head, the true question may not be about her change of heart, but whether the olive branch that she is offering is too little, too late. Her sincerity in this, her darkest hour, may mean the difference between life… and death!

Soaps In Depth

TRIAL & ERROR - Will Sami rue her day in court?

Legal pundits may say that Sami is as good as fried for the murder of her fiance, Franco. But in Salem's courtrooms, anything can happen - and often does! (Hey, O.J., keep that in mind!) Why, just look at the wild outcomes of these other high-profile cases.

Bill Horton Vs. The State

The victim: Tommy Horton's wife, Kitty.

The accused: Tommy's brother, Bill.

The facts: In reality, Kitty died of a heart attack, but the bruises on her body - and Bill's admission that he had argued with her - put him in the hot seat.

The verdict: Since Bill refused to reveal why he and Kitty had fought - she was blackmailing him with her knowledge that he, not brother Mickey, was Mike's father - he got three years.

Marlena Brady Vs. The State

The victim: Public enemy number one, Stefano DiMera.

The accused: His nemesis, Marlena Brady.

The facts: Marlena did shoot Stefano - to protect herself. This caused the devil to fall in the direction of hell, seemingly fatally.

The verdict: Stefano's cronies insisted that Marlena was involved with her tormentor, and when he dropped her, she decided to drop him - with a bullet. But the D.A. actually sided with the good doc, and she was set free.

Kayla Brady Vs. The State

The victim: Patch's long-lost wife, Marina Toscano.

The accused: The love of Patch's life, Kayla Brady.

The facts: When Marina was found dead, circumstantial evidence pointed to Kayla as the culprit - even though Victor Kiriakis had a tape of Isabella Toscano killing her sister in self-defense. The verdict: Since Isabella's memory of the incident never returned, all that circumstantial evidence sent Kayla up the river.

John Black Vs. The State

The victim: Kristen's husband, Tony DiMera.

The accused: Kristen's true love, John Black.

The facts: Knowing that Kristen's heart was lost to him, the terminally ill Tony planned to kill himself and frame John for murder - both of which he did. As a result, poor John looked as though he would spend the rest of his life counting the tiles in his prison cell. The verdict: John won a last-minute reprieve when the Lady In White revealed a glitch in Tony's plan - he'd written the whole scheme down in his diary!

Soaps In Depth

SOME LIKE IT HOT - Lisa Linde can't wait for the steamed Ali to burn Mike!

Poor Ali. In short order, Dr. Mike dashed both of her dreams - of becoming University Hospital's youngest head nurse and becoming the next Mrs. Horton. And ever since, she's been on an emotional roller-coaster ride, trying everything from making accusations to staging seductions to entice him back into her life. In other words, can you say Fatal Attraction?

"She really doesn't think to play it cool," admits her portrayer, Lisa Linde. "If the thought hits her, then she's going to do it, as far as Mike is concerned. She is totally into him. You know when you like someone so much and you can't stop yourself from making an idiot out of yourself?  That's where Ali is with Mike."

Clearly, Linde views her character in a sympathetic rather than psychotic light. "She is an overachiever who gets let down a lot," explains the actress. "It's good for people to shoot high, but she shoots WAY too high."

And Linde has a different take on Ali's manipulative side as well. "She's a people pleaser, and sometimes being a people pleaser can make you manipulative. That's what she does with Mike. She's always at him, like, 'Look, I did this. Look how bright I am.' She's not doing it consciously. It's just that when it comes to Mike, Ali can't stop herself from doing certain things. She knows she shouldn't buy him presents, but she can't stop herself. She just keeps hoping that if she does that, Mike is going to turn around and see how great she is. She's almost hoping against hope."

Don't Get Mad, Get Even!

However, Ali's hope slowly is beginning to dwindle away, thanks to Craig's insinuations that Mike only wanted to get her into bed because he was frustrated about not having Carrie, with whom he really is in love. At the moment, Linde says that her alter ego is in serious denial. "She's not allowing herself to think that her relationship with Mike was a mistake."

Yet Linde sees fireworks ahead, when Ali finally admits that she's lost Mike. "I think she's going to be hurt, then I hope she's going to get angry. I think that's the natural process. You feel better being angry; you're like, 'Thank God I'm not hurting anymore.' You take all your disappointment out with your anger, especially when you look back and see what an idiot you made out of yourself."

Growing Up And Acting Out

Playing the fiercely bitter woman scorned is a wonderful change for the Tennessee native. "It's fun being the girl who gets really aggressive and verbal about things, because it is so opposite from me," Linde says, smiling. "I'm so laid-back. I usually don't get into a tizzy about anything."

In fact, as Linde relaxes in her dressing room, she exudes a happy-go-lucky aura. Her casual appearance - faded bluejeans, thin blue sweater and no make-up - doesn't detract from her supermodel looks. But she dismisses any reference to her beauty with an uncomfortable shrug. "I see myself cast as more of an oddball," she insists.

Linde always has been something of a paradox. Growing up as the oldest of three (she has a brother and a sister), she says that she was too shy to admit to her dream of becoming an actress ("I felt it was too much of a show-off thing."), and yet at the same time, she refused to be a timid wallflower. "From a young age, I knew that I wanted to experience a lot of different things."

That meant being her family's official wild child, going through both punk and hippie phases. "I was just trying to find my identity," she offers, "playing out a lot of different things." Through each of her identity crises, though, Linde's family remained supportive, if sometimes gently sarcastic. "They were like, 'Lisa, nice nose ring,' " she recalls.

Real-Life Love

These days, Linde professes to have hit upon her true identity. "I think I'm all grown up now," she laughs. For three years, she has been in a solid relationship with actor James Marsden (Disturbing Behavior), with whom she shares a house.

The couple met through a mutual acquaintance, and initially began hanging out as pals… then one day something clicked. "Every time he came around, my shoulders would just relax," recalls Linde. "Jimmy is from the South, and we just had a lot of common ground. We both have the weirdest sense of humor, and we both have a large capacity to love."

Interestingly, even though Linde describes her relationship with Marsden as rock-solid, it is the area of her life in which she finds the greatest connection to Ali. "When I wasn't working, and Jimmy would go away and do a movie, I felt more insecure because I had all this time to sit around and think," she says. "You start going crazy, and that's where I can relate to Ali. She really needs some hobbies!"

Sitting around bored is no longer much of an option for Linde. And she couldn't be happier with her change of circumstance. "This role has been like a dream," she marvels. "There are times when being an actor can start wearing on you, when you wonder whether you've made the right decision.  But I can honestly say that my life has come together just great."  Julie McElwain

Soaps In Depth

Ali's Secret Past With Roman and Jack!

Long before Lisa Linde was cast as Ali, she was making connections in Salem. In fact, back when she was in high school, she met Josh Taylor (roman ) when he traveled to Nashville to conduct a soap workshop. Later, after the aspiring actress moved to L.A., she had a to-die-for encounter with Matthew Ashford (ex-Jack) - they performed together as guest stars on PACIFIC BLUE, the USA Network's series about crimefighting bicyclists.  "His character killed off my character," she remembers with an incredulous laugh. "Isn't that crazy? Good old Jack killed me."

Soaps In Depth

NOW & THEN - PAST IMPERFECT

Bombs Away! Mike's love for Carrie isn't the only bombshell he dropped.

After returning to Salem form the Middle East, Mike barely had dusted the sand off his hush puppies before his past came back to haunt him. Stefano knew that he hadn't been on his best behavior away from home, and unwittingly had been involved with terrorists. So, the Phoenix blackmailed Mike into getting close to his colleague, Marlena, in order to steal the security code to her penthouse. Eventually a guilty Mike confessed his sins.

Soaps In Depth

READERS' POLL

Last issue, we asked if Carrie and Austin's marriage could be saved.  Here's the Reader Reaction: 52% feel that the Reeds' romance was based upon teenage infatuation, and she now belongs with her true soulmate, Mike. 48% have faith that Austin and Carrie's love can pull them through this rough patch.

Top 5 Couples: #1 - Carrie Reed & Mike Horton

Top 5 Actors: #1 - Roark Critchlow

Top 5 Actresses: #1 - Christie Clark

This issue's question: Is Lucas justified in letting Sami take the fall for shooting Franco?

To answer this question, and to vote for your favorite actor, actress and couple, please send your responses by January 21. Write: Readers' Poll, c/o Soaps In Depth, 270 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632.  E-mail: SOAPSID@COMPUSERVE.COM

Soaps In Depth

CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR - Fickle Fate

When it comes to getting her way, Sami generally is at the top of her game.   Usually, she manages to get what she wants by relying on her own devious means. Perhaps that's where she made her mistake. When she asked Franco to help her develop a new and nasty plan to break up her crush, Austin, and his wife (her half-sister), Carrie, the schemer got far more than she could have wished for: She unexpectedly fell in love with the handsome Italian.  Too bad the only thing she meant to him was a green card. Another woman held his heart - or at least, shared his bed - and Sami found out that little tidbit on the day of her wedding. Before she had a chance to confront her fiance, however, he was shot and killed, and she was branded public enemy number one. Now, Austin is being more attentive to her than ever. The only problem is, if she gets the chair, she won't get to enjoy his attention for very long!

Soaps In Depth

STAR TALK

Question: If you won the lottery, how would you spend the cash? How would your character spend it?

Bryan Dattilo (Lucas, DAYS)

"My father and brother work at Ford Motor Company in Chicago, so I would given them enough money so that they could retire. I would take care of my family. I would open up a teen runaway shelter. Lucas would do just the opposite. I think he would put everything into a Swiss bank account that only he could tap into."

Patrika Darbo (Nancy, DAYS)

"I, Patrika Darbo, would invest. I mean, I would buy something frivolous, just for me, maybe a new car or something. I would invest so that I would never have to worry again, because that money would just be turning over new money. Nancy is very much the same. She would buy something frivolous and then she would invest it so that she would never have to worry again."

Soaps In Depth

STORYLINE RECAPS

Carrie's Dilemma - Carrie and Austin's night of romance left Carrie more confused than ever.

The morning after a wonderfully romantic evening on the rooftop with Austin, Carrie hoped to avoid seeing Mike, but wasn't so lucky. When the two again came close to giving in to their passions, he suggested they could not work together any longer. The next day she tendered her resignation, but he ripped it up, realizing he had no right to make her leave the job she so loved. Ali, meanwhile, continued to lie about her relationship with Mike, telling Craig she saw a wedding in the future for her and the chief of staff. Later, she arranged to work with Mike on the surgical team which would operate on Greta.

Soaps In Depth

SNEAK PREVIEW

Carrie and Mike make an important decision.

Soap Opera Magazine

VIEWERS' GUIDE

Week of Jan 11 to Jan 15 - Carrie and Mike agree not to be alone together ever again because it's much too tempting.

Week of Jan 18 to Jan 22 - Austin takes the law into his own hands.

Soap Opera Magazine

SOAPS Q&A

Q: As I was flipping channels, I thought I saw Christie Clark (Carrie, DAYS) in the movie Children of the Corn II. Was that her? -  jessme@juno.com

A: Yes, it was. Clark played Lacey Hellerstat in Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice, which was made in 1993.

Soap Opera Magazine

PERSONAL APPEARANCES

Roark Critchlow (Mike) appears at the 21st annual World of Wheels, Multipurpose Event Center, Wichita Falls, Texas, Feb 6, 2-5 p.m. and 7-9:30 p.m.

Soap Opera Digest

Casting About

Days of Our Lives is looking to cast a woman to play Ali's (Lisa Linde) mother. Rumor has it that the soap is in discussions with a Hollywood actress to play the role. Will she be as mentally unbalanced as her daughter?

Soap Opera Digest

VCR Alert

Rescue 911
Lucas saves his son's life on Wednesday, January 13.

Soap Opera Digest

Second Impressions

Thirteen years ago, she played his naive secretary. Four years ago, she was hired to play his love interest. Clearly, there's something going on between Days of Our Lives's James Reynolds and Renee Jones!

By Jeffrey Epstein

Sitting down in the executive dining area of NBC's bustling commissary, it's easy to see why DAYS OF OUR LIVES's James Reynolds (Abe) and Renee Jones (Lexie) are so believable as husband and wife. "Sometimes, in a way, it's like we are married," explains Reynolds, who is happily wed in real life to Lissa. "And I think that's because we've had history, and we do like each other. That makes it easy."

Digest: Renee, you played Days's Nikki Wade from 1982-83. Was it strange coming back to play Lexie?
Jones: My first day, it was raining really hard, and I was about a half-hour late. There was panic going on!
Reynolds: I was getting ready for the next girl to come in.
Jones: As soon as I walked in, the stage manager said, "Put your stuff down! Get on the set!" And when I finally got down to my room, there was a rose and a note from Jim. It's pouring down rain, and he stops and gets a rose for me. It was very sweet. And I heard he's a real romantic. His wife said he's a real romantic. I was like [sigh of relief], "Okay, I can relax. Everything's okay 'cause Jim says it's going to be okay." I don't listen to him anymore, but that's the one day I listened to him!

Digest: Jim, this was your second time working with Renee. How is it different the second time around?
Reynolds: She's more mature, as odd as that may seem.
Jones: My voice is lower.
Reynolds: But they're both nice. I like both Renees a lot.

Digest: What would you say is the best thing about working on Days?
Reynolds: One of the first things that comes out is just that fact that you're working. But I think one of the best things is the people who are around. It's a really, really nice bunch of people. And they make work a pleasure. I don't think many people have that kind of atmosphere.
Jones: Everybody, from the makeup people to the crew.

Digest: Has it frustrated you that your on-screen life together has not been more front-burner?
Reynolds [sarcastically]: Frustrated? Us? No! Are you kidding? Of course, it's frustrated us.
Jones: My whole philosophy is to go with the flow of lie, to be honest with you. And when you look at the logistics of the whole thing, with 30-something characters on the show, not everyone can always have a front-burner storyline. And there are others who don't. When you get frustrated, what do you do with that? Because you can't do anything positive with that, so what I've done is use the time off to do more things that I love doing. And I just say, "Well, this is a blessing, and this is just something for the time being, and it will come back around."
Reynolds: One of the things about these characters is that they're very involved. Abe is sort of the moral center of the show. And I think Lexie in some ways joins that, too. But they are also the two characters that have a relationship with everybody on the show. I see them as very pivotal in that way. I feel, as Renee does, that if you keep a certain equilibrium about it, the potential of those characters is going to be explored. There are just a great many things that could happen [to] cause distress. So, we're always hopeful.

Digest: A couple of years ago, they were mentioning having a baby.
Reynolds: They're still mentioning that.
Jones: We stopped and then it just started again. We haven't tried for two years. She stopped once she found out that she had Stefano's blood in her veins. She stopped having sex with Abe altogether!
Reynolds: It seems like they may be having a baby soon, and that'll open up even more potential for story. A lot of things could happen.

Digest: If you guys do have a baby, you'll be one of the few couples...
Reynolds: ...to raise their own children?

Digest: That, and who wanted to get pregnant, wanted to have a baby, had a kid and have a solid marriage.
Reynolds: It's good to have that solid marriage and to bring a child into a loving unit, but yet, they have to deal with adverse things. I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with that.

Digest: It's been almost four-and-a-half years since you got to know each other. How have your opinions changed?
Reynolds: I really, at this point, can't stand the sight of her [lots of laughter].
Jones: You know what? It hasn't changed. We don't see each other that often 'cause we don't have that many scenes together. So, when we come up for air, we're always trying to catch up on stuff. Especially if we have a scene to do, let's say in a church - we always have to sit together during a wedding - and those things take forever. That's when we're catching up on life.
Reynolds: I think it's very good that we have a history and we like each other.
Jones: He knows me. He knows my good side; he knows my bad side; he knows when to leave me alone. [To Reynolds] Tell him when to leave me alone.
Reynolds: Mornings. Always.
Jones: You can't get Jim upset. He comes on the set "up" and happy. He comes in the morning singing. When you just want everybody to shut up, he's singing! I can be kind of moody. Jim - never. He's always in a good mood. You can always talk to him about anything.

Digest: How do you feel Hollywood's attitude toward African-Americans has changed?
Jones: My agent doesn't send me out for roles which require a person to be black. I've done lots of things where I was auditioning with the other white actors. During those times, I got cast because I was the right actress for the part, not because of my color. So, I think as long as your agents keep an open mind, the public will.
Reynolds: The public really doesn't care. They just want to see their favorites or good people doing good roles. As far as daytime is concerned, I've seen it change from the time when black actors had to come on and be in the 'black story." No question. That was it. Nowhere else. In fact, I think my character was probably one of the first that got involved in other storylines, other than stories that just dealt with black characters. But now, that's not the case. And I think when any actor of color is limited to just that story, a black story, a Hispanic story, then it becomes a problem for the show because the story can't expand. So what's happened, as you can see on Days, is that these characters expand far beyond their ethnicities.
Jones: Right.
Reynolds: Their ethnicities are very important, but it's also very important that we fit into the entire scope of the world of Salem. And I think that's been for the good.
Jones: It's interesting. I was on L.A. Law for a few seasons, and when I first started the relationship with Blair Underwood, that was cool. Then, all of a sudden, they started writing scripts about us dealing with being black. They put us into a corner with no place to go. Once the [show] starts talking about you being black....
Reynolds: You're pretty much done.
Jones: We don't sit around and talk about ethnicity all the time. I mean, it might come up once in a blue moon because of this job interview where you can tell that this person is racist or whatever, but maybe 5 percent of the conversation's gonna be about that. I think people make it their problem when they start letting their whole life be about that.
Reynolds: Another problem is that it turns those actors into victims.

Digest: What's the weirdest acting job you've ever had?
Reynolds: I actually did Shakespeare in a field with cattle roaming around. That was the strangest, 'cause you had to watch where you're gonna step. It was Much Ado About Nothing. Why we did it, I have no idea!
Jones: I did this Highway To Heaven. [To Reynolds] As a matter of fact, you were in it, too.

Reynolds: Yup, yup, I was in it. We never saw each other.
Jones: And my character had to have a baby off-screen, so we did it, and then I thought I was finished, and [the late] Michael Landon, who directed that episode, called me over and said, "No, Renee, we need to do some [dubbing] on that." So, I had to just stand there with the mike in front of me, with everyone looking, screaming like I'm having a baby. It was so embarrassing!

Digest: What keeps you here?
Reynolds: I think part of it is really the pleasant [atmosphere]. To some degree, you want the meat of the scenes. There's a lot I don't think I've accomplished as Abe.
Jones: I like the character. I like Lexie a lot. She has integrity. It's just a good, positive role. It feels good coming in and stepping into her skin, getting into it.
Reynolds: It is really doing what you love to do. How many people get that opportunity?
Jones: If it were a character I didn't like, that would be difficult. I don't know if I would continue doing a character I thought was really negative I wouldn't want to do that. Not for this long.

Soap Opera Digest

Romance Language

Is Daytime's Love Affair With Love Over? Nah, But It Has Changed - Truly, Madly, Deeply.

By Joe Dziemianowicz

It's easy to understand why soap fans would be jazzed about the provocatively titled new soap Passions, which will debut on July 5. After all, many fans and followers of daytime believe that passions don't get nearly enough play these days.

"I don't know if I think romance is dead on daytime, but it sure ain't healthy," muses Michael Logan, TV Guide soap columnist. "Clearly, what keeps Young and Restless and Days of Our Lives up there in the ratings is the fact that they have heavy quotients of romance - or certainly the crises connected with romance. Many other shows seem to think, erroneously, that you can do without romance or do with only very little of it."

And Logan has a theory why. "I think some writers and producers are actually embarrassed by romance," he says. "It's as if it has some sort of Harlequin taint to it, which is insane. That's what the entire genre was based on. We're peeking through the keyhole and rooting for the right people to get together. Daytime has strayed from what it really does best."

Or in many instances, soap romance has been tweaked and disguised to such a degree that looking for love is like solving a "Where's Waldo?" puzzle. "I don't think that anyone in daytime ever set out to say, 'Let's not do romance any more,' " says Barbara Esensten, head writer at Guiding Light. "It was more like, 'Let's see if we can't do romance in a different way. Let's see if we can't bring in more viewers by being more '90s.' "

In other words, less traditional, with fewer hearts and flowers. And Esensten isn't alone. As The World Turns Executive Producer Felicia Minei Behr has been there and pondered that. "Romance can be done in many different ways," she says. "It's not just candles and hugging and kissing. There's all kinds of romantic beats that we try to infuse into different scenes and some of them are a little offbeat."

Or, for that matter, very offbeat. "At the heart of every story, no matter how bizarre it seems, we always talk about the fact that it has to be a love story," Esensten explains - even the show's clone encounter. "We envisioned the clone story as a love story between the two characters the audience loves more than anyone - Josh and Reva," the writer sighs. Viewers had trouble buying into that. "We learn from our mistakes as much as our victories," Esensten allows. "I think there was a period of time where we were all trying to see what was going to seduce viewers. We were trying more tricks and gimmicks, and I think soaps did go off-track a little bit on that."

Like fans, those in the biz noticed. "I think that there is probably less romance than there used to be," declares Elizabeth Keifer (Blake, GL). "There's not as much room for it. Adventure and cloning storylines are larger than life. They're flashy - and they get people to watch. But I think that romance keeps people watching."

If not lining up in droves to get a peek at it, as Logan recently found. "I was at Super Soap Weekend in Florida," he says. "It was so amazing to see the lines for Becky Herbst and Jonathan Jackson, [GH's Liz and Lucky]. You wouldn't believe all the old ladies, who were goosey as hell to see General Hospital's young lovers. You'd expect kids would like it. And they do, but so do older people. It proves you can be any age and be extremely interested in romance with people of any age."

Then again, that would probably come as no surprise to Days Executive Producer Ken Corday. "Romance is the major draw of daytime," he asserts. "For some people, it may be the only draw. Our show is really based on romantic triangles, quadrangles and couples. Just look at what goes on between Mike and Carrie and Austin. Or between Bo and Hope. Or John and Marlena." In other words, romance is alive and well in Salem? "It's flourishing," says the exec. "I think the romantic aspect of the show is more alive now than it's been in a while."

And Esensten vows that romance will be getting a new lease on life at GL. "Our intent now is to go back to a more traditional kind of love story," she says. "In the future, stories we have in mind to do are stories that are more fantasy-based. Not fantasy in terms of it's fantastic to believe it would happen, but in terms of what a woman's fantasy might be. For example, a woman on the show will find that everything she wishes and dreams for comes true. That's because a man she believes is just a friend - the least likely person on Earth to be head over heels - has fallen in love with her. It's a very traditional love story."

That kind storytelling sits well with One Life To Live's Wortham Krimmer (Andrew). "We need old-fashioned romantic storylines," he says. "People love that stuff; that's why they watch. The only question anybody ever asks is, 'Are you going to be with so and so?' Soaps still have romance, but it's romance with a sick twist. It's negative. We don't see the wooing and the longing. What we need is more classically structured romantic storylines. By that I mean you get two people together who would never be together in a million years. They, for instance, get handcuffed together by some circumstance where they've got to be together against their will - and slowly but surely they fall in love. Then something comes in and breaks them apart and then they've got to find their way back together again. And it's a six-month to a year deal."

Talk of timing is actually very important, since love stories are an investment. "Part of the reason we don't see much romance is because it's deemed a dramatic dead end," says Logan. "If you get into that mindset, nobody can stay together too long. People don't stay together long before the third party comes in, the ex-boyfriend, the dead wife." Think Sunset Beach's Maria or Joey on Dawson's Creek. "Nothing lasts long without the ringer," says Logan. "We don't even notice it anymore. It happens so much."

Is that because happy couples are a bore to watch? "You have a greater challenge when you have a happy couple," admits Esensten. "The minute a couple gets married or has a baby or does anything that's happy, the actors go, 'Oh, my God! This means we're going to be boring and in the background.' It is more of a challenge for the writers to come up with things that keep the romance alive. You have to put challenges in their lives, but if you jump - as we've done on our show and we're not going to do anymore - from one catastrophe to another without being able to catch your breath, that's a mistake."

If not unnecessary. "I always think of an example that disproved the idea that happy couples are boring couples for years," says Logan, referring to the twosome of Cruz and Eden on Santa Barbara. "They certainly had their romantic crises here and there, but they were a couple for a very long period of time and they remained constantly interesting. Much of that has to do with what the actors bring to the party; much of it has to do with your outlook. Once writers understand that we're bottomless in our hearts and souls, they can dig deep down emotionally and keep a romance going without wacky plot contrivances. There's no need. There's just a wellspring of dramatic possibilities."

Isn't that romantic?

Soap Opera Digest

Harumph For Hollywood?

"Hollywood movies are showing that audiences are still very much interested in romance," says TV Guide's Michael Logan, who finds soaps' stinginess with romance quite ironic - especially when one considers that romantic films are doing gangbusters at the box office.

"Titanic was a huge romance," he states. "Yes, the special effects helped, but the romance brought people back. There's also City of Angels, The Wedding Singer, Ever After and now, You've Got Mail. Audiences keep responding. That's what Hollywood keeps finding out. And since everybody copies everybody, I'm shocked we don't see more soaps aping Hollywood. It's a formula that works."

Soap Opera Digest

Days' Bo and Hope: Still On Fire Or Time To Expire?

Love it

Love is in the air

I have watched Days Of Our Lives since it started, and I'm happy that Bo and Hope have had some sort of reunion. It's about time that they were brought together! They belong with each other. Watching their scenes, you can just feel the chemistry. I thought when Days brought back the real Hope a few years ago that she would be reunited with Bo, but then the writers went with a different storyline, which was very disappointing. I even quit watching at that point. But now, Bo and Hope seem to be working toward being together again. Billie needs to stay away from Bo, and I hope Greta doesn't get involved with him, either. Bo and Hope deserve some happiness!  - J.S., Sibley, IA

I'm a great fan of Peter Reckell [Bo], but I'm upset with the fact that there have been three women [Hope, Billie and Greta] vying for his attention. Hope is his true love. Neither of the other women should be around to complicate things, especially Billie, who really needs to move on with her life. Reckell and Kristian Alfonso [Hope] have been greatly missed, and I'm glad that they've finally had some scenes together. I look forward to them sharing a long, happy life. Bo and Hope still have the best chemistry on TV!  - Name Withheld

I have been a Days fan for as long as I can remember. I've always thought that Bo Brady and Hope Williams Brady were the best daytime couple. When Hope returned from the dead, I prayed for a romantic reunion between her and Bo. I was happy that Days recently brought them together... sort of. I hope they soon reunite for real because sometimes, I could just punch Billie. It seems like Days is going to keep us on our toes, but I don't mind; I want to stay tuned in to Bo and Hope forever.  - C.D., Cape Coral, FL

Hate it

Nothing but despair

I am writing just after turning Days off. Recently, Hope "The Saint" told Bo "The Jerk" about Billie's lies about Georgia. Everyone is so down on poor Billie. Bo filled Billie full of hopes and dreams and then yanked the rug out from under her when Hope returned. I can't stand Hope, have no respect for Bo and wonder what all the fuss is about regarding these two. [Days], please get rid of Hope and Bo. Give us a break, and lose this vain, insufferable pair.  - K.L., Emmitsburg, MD

For so many years and through so much time, we've had to sit through Bo and Hope and all their ups and downs, ins and outs. I stopped watching Days for a couple of weeks and tuned in just in time to see Bo learn about Billie's deception involving the death of her baby. Bo was upset for maybe two minutes, and then he was all better and ready to go back to Hope. Please! Is their love really so strong that he can recover from such a shock so quickly? Kill the Bo and Hope romance already - it's old. Do they always have to be the ones who win out in the end?  - B.R., Newport, NH

Days needs to get some romance and passion back in their storylines, or they can start saying everyone lives in Dullville, USA, rather than Salem, USA. Days once had an all-star cast of supercouples and potential supercouples. Now some, like Bo and Hope, have fallen into the category of "couples who fans aren't actually sure are together." The Days writers should know that it's okay to have romance, passion, sex, mysteries, evil, fantasies, secrets, weddings, flirting, love and hate all in one show... after all, it is a soap opera.  - N.C., O'Fallon, MO

Soap Opera Digest

Roundup

What was your most embarrassing on-set experience?

Renee Jones (Lexie, Days)

"It was either my first or second day on the show. Lexie was at John and Marlena's house, and she had to leave. So I say good-bye to everyone, and I move to get my coat off the coat rack, while Drake [Hogestyn, John] and Deidre [Hall, Marlena] are doing a scene and Marlena is crying her eyes out. As I go to grab my coat, the whole coat rack starts to fall on me. But Deidre doesn't see it because her back is to me, and she's on-camera and she's crying and I'm trying to get the rack up and then Ali Sweeney [Sami] comes over and she's trying to help me. So as Deidre's crying her eyes out in the background, we were struggling to get it up. When it was over, everyone just died laughing 'cause everyone was watching except Deidre - she didn't know. That was the day Ali and I got close; great bonding!"

Bryan R. Dattilo (Lucas, Days)

"Probably my first day on the show when Lucas had to sleep with Cherish the rock star. I had never met her, I was half-naked and it was April Fool's Day. Everyone turned up the a.c. on the set that day so I was... I was ready for action, let's put it that way."

Soap Opera Digest

Soap Characters Who Could Take A Lesson From Hollywood

Hollywood movies can provide us with more than just entertainment: There's often a moral to the story. Judging by some recent goings-on in soapland, we think the following folks should beat a path to the local Blockbuster and rent an "educational" video.

Ali, Days of Our Lives

In Play Misty for Me, the 1971 fore-runner to Fatal Attraction, kooky Jessica Walter stalked Clint Eastwood after a night of passion. Salem's nutso nurse is certainly on the same track with mike. (That balloons business was muy creepy, no?) This screen gem should serve as a cautionary tale about what happens when girls can't take no for an answer.

Soap Opera Digest

NBC Gossip

Days's Austin doesn't approve of Carrie-ing on.

Three's A Crowd: "I was watching scenes with Mike [Roark Critchlow] and Carrie [Christie Clark], and I got sick to my stomach," confesses Austin Peck (Austin). "The fact that she's a married woman and is so coveted by this other man was so upsetting. But it's what happens to people every day." Peck says he likes the story itself, just not what it's doing to the characters involved. "I don't like that Carrie seems less and less remorseful; her conscience seems to be falling asleep," he notes. "However, I think this storyline is totally realistic. When you're with someone, and you share things in your most intimate moments, you believe that person is being true to you. Carrie and Austin have been through way too much for it to be a reality - there's no way she could do that. When I see fans, though, they say, 'Austin is being so mean to Carrie.' And I think, 'What?' I admit that Austin should back off from Sami and concentrate more on his home life, but it still doesn't justify cheating on him!"

Soap Opera Digest

Soap Synopses and Previews

What Will Happen

• The jury reaches a verdict in Sami's trial.
• Hope is shocked when she realizes what she did for Stefano during those missing years.
• After Lucas saves Will's life, will Sami have a change of heart?

Soap Opera Digest

Is Carrie cheating on Austin (Austin Peck)? Christie Clark replies:

"She's cheating in her mind, more than anything, by having fantasies about being with Mike in bed. And I think kissing another man and having those feelings is cheating."

Soap Opera News

Eileen Davidson Puts Baby Plans On Hold

The former Days star decided to concentrate on house-hunting, tap-dancing, traveling around the world with her husband Jon Lindstrom - and just maybe returning to daytime!

Fans my clamor for Eileen Davidson to return to daytime, but the former Days star (ex-Kristen/Susan, et al.) is happily living the real-life role of a non-working wife. But Davidson and her husband Jon Lindstrom (Kevin, PC) have put parenthood - which Davidson once said was an immediate priority - on hold.

"We decided to put it off for a little while and do some serious traveling," Davidson tells Soap Opera News. "We were in Central America in August and over Christmas went on a two-week photo safari in Tanzania."

Davidson and Lindstrom packed plenty of film for their trip to Africa, but for their journey to Central America, the two certified scuba divers took masks and fins. "We did the most amazing scuba diving we've ever done," Davidson says. "We did a lot of nurse shark diving and rays. They have the most amazing undersea life. The water is very clear and very beautiful."

Travel is a great way to broaden one's horizons, but it's not the only way to do so. "I love going to school," Davidson reveals, "so I like to take classes when I have the time. I'm a pretty curious-minded person, so I like to challenge myself. I've taken three different courses at UCLA. Jon and I took a couple of screenwriting and directing courses and I'm taking tap-dance classes. I'm very committed to the tap-dancing, which has been a hoot."

What Davidson hasn't done is spend a lot of time auditioning, although she did an ad for award-winning jewelry designer Michael B. that appeared in In Style magazine. She confesses that she didn't even have an agent for most of the past year, but the situation has just changed. "I'm trying to get back into the swing of things," she says, "and see if I can find something - or something finds me that I like. It has to be mutual."

So has Davidson given any thought to joining former Days headwriter James E. Rielly's new soap, Passions? "I don't know if I'll go back to daytime for a while," she says. "I want to take a good amount of time off. I like having a life and the life I have is really good, so I'm just enjoying it."

That said, Davidson admits it was a tough transition to a life away from Days. "It was pretty intense," she says. "After I left the show, I'd find myself waking up at 4 a.m. It took me so long to decompress. I'd find myself doing 50 things at one time, still trying to juggle, because I was so used to having to do it. It's been really good for me and my marriage to be taking it kind of slow and hanging out. But it's taken a long time - about four months."

One thing Davidson will do, post-Africa, is resume house-hunting. She and Lindstrom moved into a rental home after their wedding, but now want a place to call their own. "We're looking in Malibu and the canyon areas off Pacific Coast Highway," she reports. It will be an ideal location for the couple - the beach is nearby. In addition to scuba diving, Davidson is an avid surfer. Of course, the move will add miles to Lindstrom's drive to the set of Port Charles, but he's willing to make the sacrifice for his bride.

It sounds like their married life couldn't be better but does it feel differently from when they were just living together? "It's psychological," Davidson responds. "People treat you differently when you're married. Marriage seems more permanent, even in this day and age. I think people pretty much adhere to the thought of marriage being a commitment."

Davidson has also had time to reestablish relationships with friends and family and continues with her service in a mentor program. "When people ask me, I feel like I've done so much," she says, "but I can't remember because I've moved on to different things."

- Paulette Cohn

Soap Opera News

face-off

Greta is under the knife and Stefano is under the gun as the Hope-Gina mystery intensifies on Days

By Alan Carter

This week in Salem, Hope (or is that Gina?) has a hard time trying to remember who she is. Or is that was? Meanwhile, Stefano steps up his campaign to brainwash Hope into believing that she's really Gina - for reasons that will soon become abundantly clear to her. And at long last, Gina's daughter Greta has an operation to remove her unsightly facial scars. By week's end, the questions to which viewers will want answers are: Will Greta come to terms with her past once she's able to face her present - with a new face perhaps? And is Hope going to do Stefano's bidding?

Under the knife
Greta is wheeled into surgery, but not before John kisses her forehead for luck. And when she comes out of recovery, a groggy Greta sees John - but as in Father John. They both vow (no pun intended) to keep helping each other put together the pieces of the puzzle that is their joint past.

At this stage, Greta doesn't really know who her father is, she believes her mother is dead (although she'll soon have reason to question this) and is unclear what her connection to Stefano really is. But for actor Joseph Mascolo (Stefano), being identified as Greta's father wouldn't be that surprising.

"Stefano has fathered half of Salem anyway," he jokes. "He does have a strong connection to Greta. He's told her several times, 'I promised your mother I'd take care of you.' "

Is Stefano being concerned, paternal - or does it go even deeper than that? Julianne Morris, who play Greta, is glad she doesn't know. "It's the wonderful thing about soaps," Morris explains. "If this was primetime or a movie, you'd know the ending. And it would help you in how you play it. But we don't have that luxury on soaps. I honestly have no idea how it's going to play out."

Greta is something of a walking mystery novel: Who is she? How old is she? Who is her father? What's her true connection to Stefano - and to John? Post-surgery, she'll tell John that she always wished he was her father. Do wishes come true or is it the drugs talking?

When Bo comes to the hospital to talk to Greta, she gets mad at him for suggesting that Gina might have been doing nefarious things with Stefano. "Greta knows her mother is dead - or she thinks her mother is dead," Morris points out. "She saw Hope way back when, in the hotel room, and all she could say then was it was uncanny how much Hope looked like her mother. That's all she knows."

Greta knows, logically, that her mother would be older [than Hope], but, Morris explains, "Greta just remembers what her mother should look like.

"Everyone wants to know what's happening in this story," the actress add with a laugh. "They love the mystery of it. All my friends ask me: 'Why is Marlena so mad about Greta's relationship with John - and is John her father? She has all these feeling for him as a father. And is her mother really alive and...' All I can say is, 'I really don't know myself!' I wish I did. I'd love to know. I'm as interested to find out as they are. They say, 'C'mon. You must really know.' And all I can reply is, 'No. I really don't.' "

Under the gun
Stefano, meanwhile, is panicking, to say the least. His plan isn't going well. A snowstorm is brewing, and if it becomes a blizzard, the satellite transformation that will brainwash Hope and make her think she's Gina won't work. If the plan doesn't go down, a worried Stefano warns Rolf that his head will roll.

What is sure is that this week, Hope will be horrified to discover that Gina was an art thief. And Stefano is using Hope, as Gina, to steal valuable paintings from Lili Faversham.

As one of the world's most powerful men, it might make more sense for Stefano to just steal the paintings himself. But for Mascolo, an artful and complex plan is keeping in character for Stefano. "That's one of the things I love most about Stefano," Mascolo exults, "it's his flair. Life is a chess game. Games are his metaphor for life. Stealing the paintings himself? Anyone could do that. Hope has the talent, the intelligence and the look to pull this off. Stefano could do it himself, but this is much more clever.

Right now, Stefano's clever moves have Hope almost out of her mind. "Stefano is really enjoying this game," Mascolo says. "And Hope is obviously one apt pupil." If not necessarily a good driver. During an icy storm, Hope's car slides off the road into an accident - and she wakes up in the hospital, not sure who she is. Stefano's plan now seems to be progressing nicely.

"I don't know if he and Gina had a deep loving relationship," Mascolo muses, "or even a very sexual one. But it's clear he had a ball with her. On some level, he wants that back." Of course, one might say brainwashing someone to think she's someone from your past is a mite drastic. "Stefano has to manipulate Hope. And he doesn't even get his hands dirty this way."

Perhaps not dirty, but certainly busy. Stefano is also still pulling Vivian's strings (literally) while trying to brainwash Hope. Vivian knows something is wrong as her tooth starts to pick up radio signals. "Right now," Mascolo says with a laugh, "Stefano is just trying to get more power. He owns half the world, his tentacles reach all over. But that's not enough. He's just trying to protect the people he loves. He really does have feelings for Vivian. That's why he married her. He has an agenda - he's trying to steal from her, but he isn't evil."

But is he happy? Mascolo laughs before replying: "Hmmm. Interesting question. No one has asked that before. I think Stefano is probably most happy when he's controlling people. So he has to be very happy at this moment. He's brainwashing people and forcing his will on everyone. He's such a control freak."

For hi part, Mascolo is grateful that the dominating DiMera has a new obsession in Hope-Gina and has finally gotten over his obsession with Marlena. "For the rest of my life," he says with a Stefano laugh, "I never want to kidnap Marlena again. I do like being a thorn in her side, though. But it was time for Stefano to move on! I mean, it's not easy to tell a woman you'll give her the entire world and have her tell you, 1,000 times, basically f*** you."

Soap Opera News

Scarface no more!

You have to wonder. She's one of the most beautiful women in daytime, yet she's been cast twice in very unattractive roles. First, Julianne Morris created the role of Amy on The Young and the Restless, where she was beaten, raped and later turned into a catatonic, mumbling mess. And now, on Days, she's been decidedly unglam. First she was dumped in the mud as Swamp Girl, and now, as Greta, she's had to endure makeup sessions to scar and mar her pretty face. SON asked Morris what it's been like to under-go the process - clearly, her sense of humor remains intact:

J.M.: You have no idea! Once I had to run out and do errands - and I couldn't take the scars off. And I got stared at a lot. Luckily, it was three days before Halloween, so it wasn't that bad. [Laughs] And I'd go to the NBC commissary and everyone would have a comment. "Hey, you have something on your face." That sorta thing. I'd be like, "Thanks, haven't heard that one before." [Laughs] Whatever.

SON: Funny that they'd hire a beautiful woman and mess up her face.

J.M.: Thanks. It's been a lot of fun, really. Greta is definitely not your average character. I knew when I got the role of Swamp Girl it wasn't going to be glamorous. I knew it would be bad. Swamp Girl, [Laughs] Obviously. Then they told me about the scars. And then I saw the mud. They caked that stuff on. I'm starting to think, what do I do on [soap] auditions that makes them decide to make me look so bad? I never get to be the glam queen. I always look like hell. [Laughs]

SON: Was the mud worse than the scars?

J.M.: No, the scars were worse. I'm glad the holidays came. My face needed the break.

SON: How so?

J.M.: The scars were awful for my skin. You can look closely and trace the lines. I broke out where the scars were put on.

SON: You're kidding.

J.M.: [Laughs] no. First they scrubbed my face every day - totally stripped it down with Seabreeze to make sure there were no moisturizers or anything. Then the glue goes on. And then they put hot gelatin on my face - they heat it and then they color it.

SON: Yikes. Who's your agent?

J.M.: [Laughs] It's really been wonderful. They told me I'd lose the scars eventually and get to be decent looking for a change. I couldn't wait! And the mud! I'd wake up in the morning, shower and come to work feeling all clean. Then they'd put mud all over me and make me filthy. [Deadpans] That was so much fun. One day I went to Taco Bell. I was in a hurry and didn't have time to show the mud off. The looks I got!

Soap Opera News

Bryan's Song

By Alan Carter

On Days, Bryan Dattilo hits all the right notes as Lucas, even if he doesn't always think so. But at home, it's a dog's life.

Bryan Dattilo, who's played the ethically challenged Lucas Roberts on Days of Our Lives since April 1993, is fretting. He's just completed a scene, and in the opinion of just about everyone in the studio, it's a good one.

Kate has told Lucas to stay the course and not tell Roman the truth about Franco's fatal shooting. Dattilo hears "niche job" all around. But all he really hears is his own internal voice telling him that he was lousy. "I haven't been very good today," he says matter-of-factly. "Certainly not good enough for me or my standards." While the subject of whether he has been good or very good is a matter of interpretation, Dattilo will hear none of it.

"I also found out when I came in this morning, that we had a scene that I didn't know we were shooting," he reveals. "And I had to cram learning that scene in with the other scenes we were doing. And our scenes were up early so it's not like I even had the whole day to learn [the material]. I would much rather have an entire night to prepare. That's when I feel best about what I'm doing. You thought the scenes were fine. I thought it looked like I didn't know what I was doing. It looked like I was reaching all day."

That could hardly be the case. Dattilo, who turns 28 in July, has reached soap stardom by being convincing onscreen - not to mention making Lucas likable underneath the slick and sometimes slimy veneer. "You can't help but feel sorry for Lucas," Dattilo says with a laugh. "The guy tries so hard, but nothing he does ever seems to come out right. And any woman he wants doesn't want him."

The woman of the moment is Nicole, Eric Brady's girl. "That's typical Lucas. Wanting something he can't have. Plus he hates Eric. So what could be more perfect? I'm sure it's all the more reason Lucas has decided he must have Nicole."

On the other hand, Dattilo is glad his long obsession with Carrie is seemingly a thing of the past. "It was absolutely time to end the Carrie thing - that was run into the ground," he says.

Of course, poor Lucas is now more preoccupied with wondering if he's doing the right thing by not telling the truth about killing Franco. "I love that Lucas is in this interesting place right now," Dattilo declares. "He really doesn't know what to do. He knows the truth but doesn't know what to do about it. Telling gets him and his mother in trouble. Not telling keeps Sami in trouble. Although he hates Sami and is trying to put her behind him, he really is torn."

Dattilo concedes that the old Lucas (under the writing regime of James Reilly) probably would've had no crisis of conscience over framing Sami. He likes that new headwriter Sally Sussman Morina has subtly made Lucas more complex. "He's more human now. And he's a lot more interesting to play. He has all sorts of moral dilemmas going on. I mean, a guy like Lucas basically doesn't change. He falls victim to his own habits. That's the gross human nature of Lucas. But now he thinks a lot more about what his actions will mean."

As intense as Lucas is, Dattilo is a lot more laid back - and clearly has a much better sense of humor about himself. A large poster hangs outside the makeup room congratulating the show's recent nominees for awards and accolades. Under Best Actress Deidre Hall (Marlena) and Best Newcomer Patrika Darbo (Nancy), someone [take a wild guess] has written Best Looking - Bryan Dattilo!

Indeed, that sense of humor comes in most handy when Dattilo goes home. SON has long chronicled Dattilo's problems with his mischievous 1-year-old dog Dante, a German Shepherd mix. "As in Dante the devil," Dattilo laughs. Dante has already eaten algae cleaner for the pool, mauled a couch and dug up holes in the yard. But he saved the best for last.

"I came home the other day," sighs Dattilo, "and discovered that Dante had eaten my sprinkler system. The sprinkler system! He chewed up all the wiring, then chewed the metal bulkheads off. I don't know how he did that without cracking his teeth."

Dante did have a nasty scratch over his eye, but Dattilo thinks it's because the mischief maker got into a fight with Vinnie, the actor's 2-year-old Labrador. "I think Dante will spend only so much time with Vinnie before he gets bored and has to get into trouble," Dattilo notes. "Vinnie got into a fight with him, probably trying to get him to stop [digging up the yard]."

Fortunately, Dattilo's gardener was willing to do all the replacement work for nothing. "He should have - I've spent so much on gardening in the past, I've put this man's kids through college," he jokes. "But I still told Dante that if he was bad again, he was going to the place where they send bad puppies. I don't think he'll do anything bad ever again."

For better or worse that's something you can't say about Lucas.

Soap Opera News

Daytime's Most Stately Mansions

The rich are indeed different from you and me - they live in really big houses. But their king- (and queen-) sized homes are not always happy ones - soap city mansions are often full of bedroom betrayals, shootings, poisonings and lots of arguments. And while some of the owners use every room in the house to accommodate family and friends, others find it very lonely on the top floor. Join SON as we go on a very special tour of houses of the rich and famous.

By Hope S. Breslauer

The Kiriakis Mansion

Current residents: Kate Roberts, Lucas Roberts, Austin and Carrie Reed, Will Reed Roberts and Phillip Kiriakis (we assume)

Tales of the estate: The Kiriakis mansion has been the site of much drama over the past dozen years. Once the home to the rich, powerful and ruthless Victor Kiriakis, it was the place John Black first lived when he arrived in Salem, looking like a mummy known only as The Pawn. Justin Kiriakis' first appearance in the mansion was in bed with Victor's faithful maid, Janet. Today, the mansion hardly resembles its former self, and not just because it's been remodeled. Victor's semi-wife Kate (they never really made it legal) lives there with her children. One of them, Lucas, shot Franco Kelly in the living room last summer. Victor has been recovering from a stroke for almost two years, but returned for a few days this past Christmas. Maybe if he were to return permanently, things would get back to normal in the Kiriakis mansion.

Soap Opera News

NBC News & Gossip

Night Fright

Patrika Darbo (Nancy) gets scared while watching latenight TV. And we're not talking about midnight monster flicks. Darbo loves to watch The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, but the program often gives her sleepless nights. When Leno does his popular "Jaywalking" segment - in which he asks people on the street current events and history questions - Darbo says she often can't believe how much some people don't know.

"I've been very scared," Darbo laughs, "when I watch that show and hear some of the answers that people give to some basic questions. I mean, recently Jay was talking to a junior high school teacher who didn't know who Benedict Arnold was. Hello?

"And the other night, he asked people, 'What two states are not attached to the 48 continental states?' And somebody said 'Canada and Mexico.' That's frightening to me. Terrifying. Can you believe it?

"It's funny when you're watching the show. But then I try to go to bed and it hits me - we're in serious trouble," she adds. "I have friends who teach and they all complain that because of bureaucracy and class size, they're not really teaching anymore. It's the system - but that doesn't make it less frightening."

Soap Opera News

20 Questions with...

• Days' Josh Taylor

Character: Roman Brady

Love status: Engaged to Lisa Temblay

If you could chat with any person today or in history, whom would you choose: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

What do you think is your best quality: What you see is what you get.

What is your worst quality: I'm messy.

All time favorite song: House of the Rising Sun

If you weren't an actor, what might you be doing: I'd be a football coach.

Food you can't live without: Tuna fish

Favorite singer: Garth Brooks

What you like in others: A sense of humor

Celebrity you can imitate: Joe Pesci

The last smart thing you did: Returned to Days of Our Lives

Favorite movies of all time: Godfather II and Schindler's List

If I could do anything: I'd rid the world of bigotry.

Favorite possession: My house

Dream place to live: Los Angeles

Favorite junk food: Pizza

Favorite actor: Paul Newman

Favorite actress: Jessica Lange

Greatest accomplishment: Having success in the most competitive business in the world

Soap Opera News

Previews

Next Week...

Bo asks for Hope's hand in marriage...

• But will her memories of her past thwart his plans?

Bo asks family matriarch Alice Horton for her permission to marry Hope.

Meanwhile, Hope gets the shock of her life when she finally remembers exactly what she did for Stefano DiMera during those missing four years of her life.

Minding Your Business
Stefano suggests to Vivian that she should increase the insurance on her artwork, but she ahs other things on her mind - such as consummating their marriage. (Surely that's not too much for a bride to ask!)

Lead Me Not Into Temptation
Carrie and Mike agree not to be alone together ever again because it's much too tempting sexually.

A Call For Answers
Lucas is take aback when he receives a phone call from Sami, who bluntly tells him that it's time for them both to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

 In Two Weeks...

• Austin takes the law into his own hands
• Greta demands that Stefano tell her how her mother died
• Mike rushes to Ali's side - and finds her bruised body lying in the hospital parking garage.