DC EXCLUSIVE: Victoria Rowell, "I Have Yet To Be Invited Back To Join Tonya" Submitted by Jamey Giddens on September 7, 2008 - 7:46pm.
This weekend I caught up with none other than Young and Restless actress-turned-author Victoria Rowell (ex-Drucilla). Rowell was in my new ATL stomping grounds for a Barnes and Noble book signing for her New York Times best selling memoir The Women Who Raised Me. I informed the daytime legend that TV Guide Canada's Nelson Branco had broken news of her former on screen sib Tonya Lee Williams (Olivia) returning to the CBS soap this month. Could Rowell and Drucilla be far behind? Here's what the hilarious and always thought-provoking Rowell had to say.
Daytime Confidential: So how was the book signing? Victoria Rowell: Unbelievable! I have been out on the road for 17 months and it has been great to meet so many fans face-to-face. DC: That does sound like quite the experience. Have you heard the news about Tonya Lee Williams returning to The Young and the Restless as Olivia? VR: She is? Wonderful! DC: Nelson Branco broke the story this weekend. VR: Wow, well first of all, I want to say that it is great that Y&R finally has the presence of mind to bring back a member of the Barber family, because that family was completely obliterated. The Barbers were the first true, cohesive black family on The Young and the Restless and shortly after we were introduced, the show went to number one, where it still is to this day. Who knows, maybe now they will bring back Mamie? They really should bring Veronica (Redd) back. She was the matriarch. DC: It would be great to have Mamie back, but what about Drucilla? Would you consider a return to the show? Have they contacted you? VR: I love the character of Drucilla and my fans, but I have yet to be invited back to join Tonya. DC: Tonya gave Nelson a few of her storyline ideas for Liv's return, being that you are a successful writer (in addition to The Women Who Raised Me, Rowell wrote scripts for her hit CBS primetime series Diagnosis Murder and is working on a novel, Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva), how would you write Drucilla back in? VR: I really see Liv throwing a bungee cord over that cliff and pulling her sister right on up! Or, why not have Liv out berry picking and come across a familiar woman–wearing a straw hat–and it's Drucilla! But she doesn't recognize Liv because she has AMNESIA! Since she fell off that cliff, she's been eating pine nuts and fishing! DC: (Laughs) Tonya also mentioned that she wouldn't be signing a contract with the show because of her busy schedule (Williams founded the Reel World Film Festival), but that she would recur indefinitely. Would you opt for a similar situation? VR: I would definitely consider recurring as long as Y&R knew that it was part of my M.O. that I am able to do independent films and my books. I've always been an entrepreneur.
For more on Victoria Rowell, be sure to look for Daytime Confidential's upcoming podcast interview with the actress for our 300th episode.
Posts: 5356 | Location: New York/California | Registered: September 30, 2006
"At Least She's A Girl!" Eden Riegel Dishes AMC Return, Tams and Future of IB with Daytime Confidential Submitted by Jamey Giddens on September 22, 2008 - 4:23pm.
Every so often a story breaks that reminds you why you haven't deleted the entire daytime soap lineup from your DVR. This past week such a development took place. ABC/SOAPnet announced the unforgettable Eden Riegel would be reprising her groundbreaking role as Bianca on All Ryan Lavery's Children. If that wasn't reason enough to make a pilgrimage to Mount Soap-Olympus, Binks will be coming home with a new lady love named Reese, played by none other than this blogger's all-time favorite General Hospital heroine Tamara Braun (ex-Carly). Talk about Gay Paree!
I must admit my excitement was initially mixed with a bit of panic . As much as I can't wait to see the Emmy-winning Riegel share screentime with "My Tamara"—as I affectionately started referring to Braun years ago on the SOAPnet GH message board —I was concerned with what Riegel's return would mean for Imaginary Bitches, the show that singlehandedly made me give a damn about webisodic television. Not to worry, the lovely Riegel quieted all my fears and provided Daytime Confidential with some awesome insight into how Bink's return came about, whether or not Maggie is next and the future of Imaginary Bitches.
Daytime Confidential: Congrats on reprising your role as Bianca! How did it come about?
Eden Riegel: Thanks! Because of Imaginary Bitches I have a new-found presence on the web, and that has put me in close contact with fans and bloggers like you guys at Daytime Confidential. All I've been hearing about is how much everyone would love it if Bianca could make a return. Of course, I always want to pay Pine Valley a visit. But after watching Erica languish in prison without so much as a "how-do-you-do" from Binks, I decided it was time to express my eagerness to return to someone who could actually make it happen. The folks at AMC cooked up a great story for me, and now I am happily heading home. DC: General Hospital and Days of Our Lives alum Tamara Braun will be playing your new love interest, Reese. Are you excited about working with her?
ER: I am beyond excited. I am a huge admirer of hers from her work on GH. She is an awesome talent and stunningly beautiful. Bianca deserves no less!
DC: I agree! How do you think the BAM fans will respond to their Binks finding a new love?
ER: I'm pretty sure BAM fans will never be entirely satisfied until they have their two favorite girls together forever. But Lizzie's [Elizabeth Hendrickson] been so successful on Y&R [as Chloe Ashby], and is so obviously happy there, I am hoping they are able to embrace this pairing for the time being. Hey, at least she's a woman. And maybe sometime down the road the show would be able to entice Lizzie back for a visit to Pine Valley. I do have pull with the little munchkin. I bet I could get her to do it.
DC: Will this affect the next season of Imaginary Bitches?
ER: Definitely not. At least negatively. It does give us extra impetus for getting the DVD out on the market sooner. Maybe my return to the show will help us spread the word a little bit more about IB. That would be awesome. But as far as season 2 and beyond, everything is shaping up beautifully. More to come. You know you guys will be the first to know!
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Posts: 5356 | Location: New York/California | Registered: September 30, 2006
DC Exclusive: Chandra West on playing A 90210 Type-a-Ho Submitted by Jamey Giddens on September 23, 2008 - 6:55pm.
Whether she's breaking the hearts of plucky Web TV heroines on You Tube's Imaginary Bitches or causing even more angst for teen queen Naomi (AnnaLynne McCord) on the post-Kurt Cobain version of 90210, Chandra West is making waves on our favorite soaps. I recently talked with West for Daytime Confidential. The actress shares what it's like appearing on two of the most buzzed about shows this season. We find out if her aborted same-sex match up with Eden Riegel will be revisited on the next season of IB and talk about what things have been like on the set of 90210. Have Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty really been behaving themselves? And you'll never guess which daytime soap opera West just can't get enough of.
Daytime Confidential: You're quite the busy actress these days, appearing on Imaginary Bitches and on 90210—the most talked about network show of the new season—how does it feel to be a part of projects that are generating so much buzz?
Chandra West: It's good, we'll definitely see where it all goes. It's been fun to be a part of both shows.
DC: Your character (Chandra) broke our Eden's heart on the two-part season ender of Imaginary Bitches. How could you do that to such a sweetheart?
CW: {laughs} I'm sorry!
DC: How did your role on Imaginary Bitches come about?
CW: Andrew [Miller, creator of Imaginary Bitches] and I have known each other since I was 19. We're both from Canada and actually met at a Halloween party after my first acting job.
DC: What job was that?
CW: It was this movie called True Confections. I played Carol.
DC: We've already established that things didn't end well for you and Eden (Chandra's character hooked up with Eden's nemesis Jessalyn instead of Eden on Imaginary Bitches), but will you be back for Season Two?
CW: I think so, I don't know. It's possible Eden and I can rekindle things!
DC: You had smoking hot chemistry with both Eden and Jessalyn. Is this the first time you've played gay?
CW: [Laughs] It was a first actually!
DC: Let's talk 90210, will your character be interacting more with the kids or the adults? [This interview was conducted before West's character premiered.]
CW: So far it's been with AnnaLynne McCord who plays Naomi. My character, Gail, is a boutique owner who is sleeping with Naomi's father.
DC: Uh, oh, drama!
CW: Oh yeah!
DC: How many episodes will you appear in?
CW: I'm not sure, right now I've taped one and I am definitely back for at least one more.
DC: So have you had any contact with Shannen [Doherty] or Jennie [Garth]?
CW: I haven't. You know, there was the whole "will there be a fight" drama, but from what I can see everyone's working together just fine. I do think all the interest helped the show though.
DC: You worked with Mark Paul Gosselaar on NYPD Blue. His new show Raising The Bar is also creating a lot of buzz.
CW: I saw that! I'm happy for Mark.
DC: Andrew tells me you're a big fan of The Young and the Restless.
CW: I am, I am. I have been watching it on and off since I was five. I Tivo it.
DC: Who's your favorite couple?
CW: Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) and Nick (Joshua Morrow). It's pretty hard not to like them. They have amazing chemistry.
DC: Have you met Liz Hendrickson (Chloe, Y&R; Lizzie, IB) or Greg Rikaart (Kevin, Y&R; Mark, IB) through Andrew and Eden?
CW: I have met Lizzie. I think she's great. Greg also.
DC: So are you Team Chloe or Team Lily [Christel Khalil]?
CW: You know it's funny! I see Lily and Cane [Daniel Goddard] as the next big supercouple, but then Chloe comes in and throws a wrench and it's interesting, but I gotta say I'm still Team Lily!
90210 airs Tuesday nights at 7pm C/8 ET on The CW. Check out the entire first season of Imaginary Bitches at You Tube.
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Posts: 5356 | Location: New York/California | Registered: September 30, 2006
