|
|
News and Rumors
Stop the Presses- Kimberly
McCullough to AMC (SOW 5/1/2001) With all the talk of GH's Robert and Robin
Scorpio on AMC since Anna's return from the presumed-dead, it was just a matter
of time before one (and maybe both) showed up in Pine Valley. Kimberly
McCullough, who has played Robin on and off since 1985, will reprise the role
beginning May 30 for a few days. She will be reunited with on-screen mom Finola
Hughes, now doing double duty as AMC's Alex and Anna, Robin's mother.
Since her parents
were presumed dead in a boat explosion in 1992, Robin contracted HIV from her
boyfriend, Stone Cates, in one of GH's most memorable storylines. She later had
a tender romance with Jason, and then left Port Charles, first to attend Yale,
and later to study in France.
AMC Fans Rate the New Dimitri
(SOD 4/10/2001) When AMC recast Dimitri in Michael Nader's absence, many of his
devotees protested that only Nader could play the count. Anthony Addabbo took
over on April 6, and though Nader fans (specifically The Loyalists) have upped
efforts to get the original back, his replacement has scored some boosters.
In an e-mail to
ABC and Digest, a fan claimed to be a member of "Anthony's Adorable
Angels" raved, "We have a new hunk in Pine Valley, and it's Anthony
Addabbo... The hottest male specimen to hit AMC. Besides his great looks, he can
actually act."
Another fan
wrote, "He is doing fantastic and is giving the biggest compliment an actor
can give another actor... continuing the true essence of the
character."
The majority of
e-mails and posts favor a Nader return after he sorts out his drug-related and
legal woes. "There is only one Dimitri Marick, and that is Michael
Nader," argues one viewer. "I will not watch AMC again until he is
back."
One fan came up
with a solution for everybody. "[I] hope that if Michael Nader does come
back, [AMC] finds a way to keep Anthony." It wouldn't be a first. Kevin
Bernhardt, who briefly replaced Jack Wagner as GH's Frisco in 1984, was brought
back the following year as Kevin O'Connor.
AMC's New Dimitri (SOD
4/3/2001) As reported in the 3/27 issue, Anthony Addabbo will take over as
Dimitri while AMC figures out what to do about troubled Michael Nader. The star,
who originated the part of Count Andrassy, was charged with selling cocaine to
an undercover cop on February 24 and subsequently checked into rehab.
Addabbo (ex-Jim,
GL; ex-Jonny/Rush, B&B; ex-Jason, Generations), who first airs on April 6,
has been doing his homework on the complex royal. "They've loaded a bunch
of tapes on me so I could see the relationships Dimitri had with different cast
members. And so far, so good. I'm ready to jump right in there."
The actor has his
work cut out for him- he's filling the shoes of an actor with a vocal and
organized fan base. "I don't find it intimidating," says Addabbo.
"I know how they can come to love a certain actor portraying a role and how
he plays the role and everything, but this happens in daytime so frequently that
I don't find it intimidating at all. What I do find a little intimidating is
making the Dimitri that I will portray fit in with the rest of the cast. I'm
just here to do a job; people are either going to love me or they're not."
The recast's
message to the fans is: "I hope I can live up to your expectations, and I
will certainly try. I will definately make Dimitri a very interesting and
fascinating character." Tune in next week and judge for yourself.
New
in Town (SOU 2/27/2001) Pine Valley's getting a new man and he's a big
primetime fan favorite. Ralph Waite, who played John Walton on The Waltons, will
be joining AMC. Waite will play the character of Bart and will be part of the
mystery of where Alex Marick has been for several months. Sources say Bart's not
one of the bad guys, but just who is he? Look for him to arrive in town when
Alex returns at the end of February.
A New Mystery Man (ABC Inside Scoop 2/6/2001) Ralph Waite has been cast in the recurring role of Bart, a mysterious man who will play an integral part in Dimitri and Edmund's discovery of Alex. Mr. Waite is best known for his role as John Walton on the television series "The Waltons." His first airdate on AMC will be Monday, February 26.
Hughes Takes a Baby Break!
(SID 11/28/2000) "Hughes and her husband, photographer Russell Young,
announced this past June that they were expecting their first child. Since
spreading that news, the mom-to-be has been shrouded in dark duds when
on-screen, so as to disguise her condition.
'As you may have
noticed, I have the corner on wearing black around Pine Valley,' Hughes quipped
in a letter to her on-line fans at friendsoffinola.simplenet.com. 'Our esteemed
wardrobe master, [AMC costume designer] Richard Schurkamp, has decided it is the
only way to disguise the "bump". It is the first time he has faced the
challenge of dressing a lady in waiting... I thank him for making me feel both
comfortable and fashionable.'
Having taped her
final AMC scene in late October (to air Friday, November 17), Hughes now is
officially on maternity leave; an AMC rep had no comment on her possible return
date.
How is the show
writing in the absence of Hughes' character? Sources say that Alex's departure
will factor heavily into the renewed animosity brewing between the British
beauty's husband, Dimitri, and Edmund, her increasingly borderline ex-lover.
Alex's surprising exit reportedly will serve to either reunited the sparring
siblings, or perhaps explosively split them apart once and for all!
Secrets Exposed! (SOU 8/29/2000) "It will be a shocking time for Alex when she finally finds out that Dimitri is alive. 'It will be interesting to see who she chooses, Dimitri or Edmund,' says Dadario Burke,'if she chooses either one of them. The question is: How will she react when she realizes all of the deception that's gone on behind her back. Is she truly in love with both men? What will the journey back to normalcy be for all of them?'"
Alex sees Dimitri! (SOD
8/22/2000) "This should be a wonderful week for AMC's Dimitri. His neurological condition is finally improving and the time is right to tell wife
Alex that he's alive. Unfortunately, Edmund plans to propose to Alex this week,
by enlisting Hayley and Mateo to pull off an A Midsummer Night's Dream
marriage proposal for his lady love. 'We spout a little Shakespeare, and then it
gets very sincere,' enthuses Finola Hughes (Alex).
In the meantime,
Dixie, who knows that Edmund is planning to pop the question, urges a stubborn
Dimitri to go to Alex. Michael Nader (Dimitri) explains, 'Based on the history
of what he's going through with this disease, he thinks it's inevitable that
Hayward's treatments will not work. So why expose himself?' At long last, Dixie
gets through to Dimitri, who decides to come clean with Alex. The count heads to
Wildwind just in time to learn that his brother and his wife are engaged. 'He
does take the chance, but at that moment when he hears the proposal and her
acceptance, he finally says, "That's it."'
Instead of making
his presence known, Dimitri decides to disappear again after his treatment is
over. But by the week's end, Alex, Edmund, and Dimitri all end up at the
airport, where the count is departing for Zurich to get his affairs in order.
'That's where Alex thinks she sees Dimitri,' previews Hughes.
Will the couple
immediately fall back into each other's arms? 'The dilemma for Dimitri is his
brother's happiness,' notes Nader. 'As much as he loves Alex, he's made the
choice to give her to Edmund.' But for how long?"
*Finola and hubby are expecting their first child in late October. The pregnancy will not be written into the current storyline.
*Samantha Eggar's first airdate as Alexandra's mother, Charlotte, will be May 24th. Her last airdate will be July 10th.
*Michael Nader's first airdate is said to be May 5th.
Alex's Mother is on her Way!
"Don't put out a 'missing person' ad for Alex's mother on AMC just yet.
Although Alex and Edmund failed to hook up with the Devane matriarch during
their recent visit to Wales, SID has learned that AMC is, in fact, looking to
cast the role of Andrea, Alex's mom.
Described as
'beautiful, but unbendable'- like mother, like daughter?- the character is
slated to first appear some time in late May and air for approximately two
months. Will the elder Devane be able to offer some insight into the identity
crisis befuddling her daughter, to whom one character recently referred to as
Anna? Stay tuned!" (SID 5/2/2000)
From TV Guide Online- AMC is casting for an actress to play Andrea, Alex's mother, for the next 6-8 weeks. Andrea will be attended to by a nurse and orderly.
Hunt Block Joins AMC "Hunt Block, who played Ben Warren On Guiding Light (1997-99), has landed the recurring role of Guy Donahue on AMC. Block's first airdate is March 10. Edmund hires Guy as a stable hand to care for Alex's new stallion, yet Guy may have his eyes on someone else at Wildwind." (SOW 2/29/2000)
