Darnell Williams Joins Y&R

No details are yet available as to character or airfare, but Soap Opera Digest is reporting that Darnell Williams (Jesse) is joining the cast of Young and the Restless! Wow! For the fourth time, Darnell and Debbie Morgan (Angie) will be working on a soap together (AMC, The City, Loving and now Y&R).  Stay tuned for details as they come available.

Tribute to Pine Valley Dish!

Ahh well, dish might be a little strong.  There really wasn't much of that but it was fun anyway!  I went to the event at Town Hall in NYC on Tuesday, October 25 with PVB friend, Kelli.  And what a great time we had!!  It started out with each of the guys being introduced one by one and coming out to the stage.... Walt Willey (Jack), Vincent Irizarry (David), Jacob Young (JR), Cameron Mathison (Ryan), Darnell Williams (Jesse) and Michael E. Knight (Tad).  Walt and Cameron were given microphones to go out into the audience so fans can ask questions.  There were some about the finale, general questions about this and that... nothing too memorable or that we haven't heard already.  But one thing I do remember very clearly was that Jacob said that his contract with Bold & Beautiful is short term!  So if/when the Prospect Park version of AMC gets off the ground, Jacob is not completely out of the picture to return as JR.  One of the funniest things, to me anyway, was that whenever a question was directed to Jacob, Vincent (who was sitting right next to him) would say, "Oh you mean Rick Forrester?" referencing Jacob's B&B character.  I think Jacob might have been getting a little irritated by it by the end of the Q&A!  

Check it out, I'm sitting next to Rick Forrester!

Someone did thank Darnell for signing and he seemed still so unsure of how it will work or if it will ever get off the ground.  Cameron chimed in as a Prospect Park cheerleader, assuring fans that it will happen.  After fans asked questions, the guys then asked us questions, about the show for prizes (the "Who Did JR Shoot?" t-shirt autographed by all the guys).  And then fans got to stump the actors for the same prize.  


The best part of the night, for me anyway, was when the guys got to tell behind the scenes stories.   Both Walt and Michael had hilarious stories about Ruth Warrick (Phoebe), with Walt's being my favorite story of the night.  Of course I'm paraphrasing here and going by memory, but the gist of it was that during Cliff and Nina's wedding, on location.  Walt was just an extra at the time.  The venue was very strict and had a ton of rules about what they could and could not do and the director of the venue gave a big speech about no smoking, no eating, no drinking etc...  Ruth Warrick looked at the venue representative and said, "If the sofa's have slipcovers can we f**k on them?"  Oh to have been there to hear that!   

Michael's story about Ruth was much different.  Apparently she was a notorious, um, well I can't really say this delicately so I'll just say it, farter.  Everyone knew it, everyone ignored it.  It was just Ruth being Ruth.  But when there were visitors to the set, they didn't know how to handle it!  Case in point, Ian Buchanan (ex-Dr. Madden) was visiting Finola Hughes (ex-Anna) on the set one day and Ruth went by tooting her way along.  Michael recalls the hilarious look of absolute confusion that Ian experienced seeing the legendary Ruth Warrick farting her way across the stage!  Years later when Ian returned, this time as Dr. Madden, Michael asked him if he remembered that visit to the set, and he did... oh boy did he ever!   


Vincent recalled a not so pleasant first meeting with James Mitchell (Palmer) while Vincent was still on Guiding Light.  They were sharing a car to take them to an event and Vincent was very late, making James wait in the car for however long it was.  Years later when Vincent joined AMC he asked James if he remembered him, and James very distinctly said to him, "Oh yes, I remember you."  But they did become great friends after that.  

Michael and Walt recalled the trouble James Mitchell and Ruth Warrick had once teleprompters were taken out.  Michael said that Ruth still always looked in the spot where they were, even years after they were taken out, even though she knew her lines.   James on the other hand would write his lines on index cards and hide them all over the set that he would be filming in.   To mess with him, Michael and others, would take the cards and mix them up and change their locations.  Then James would be wondering around and muttering... "no, that's not right" until he found the correct card!


Michael also told a funny story about Eileen Herlie (Myrtle).  During a Crystal Ball scene, which took many many hours to film and often went well into the night, Michael was in the background with Eileen for part of the shoot.  She kept pointing to his teeth very casually and subtly.  Michael assumed that he had something in his teeth and kept trying to get it out and then showing her.  She just kept pointing back at his teeth.   At the end of the scene he asked her what was wrong and she replied, "Oh nothing, I was just bored so I thought I'd f**k with you."  

All of the actors had the utmost respect for the elder statesmen of the show.  Especially Jacob for David Canary.  He spoke of how much he absolutely loved working with him.   They all loved hearing the stories they had to tell of old Hollywood.


Once the first part of night was over, there was a short intermission and then we were ushered back in for the meet and greet.  Unfortunately this part didn't go as well.  It was chaotic and disorganized.  Having been to my share of events, I took it in stride.  They promised everyone would get their chance to meet each of the stars, so you have to trust that it will happen.  It did.   It may not have been the dream meeting some had in mind, but it did happen nonetheless.  The night went well over the time it was scheduled to end.  It was the first of the events, and as always there are problems that need to be ironed out.   


If you'd like to see all of my photos, check them out on Facebook.  I have made the album public so everyone should be able to check them out!

Tribute to Pine Valley is This Week!!

This week is A Tribute to Pine Valley week!   The big event is being held on Tuesday, October 25 at Town Hall in NYC.  On Wednesday, October 26 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ.  And on October 27 at The Theatre in Westbury in Long Island, NY.  Attending from AMC are Walt Willey (Jack), Cameron Mathison (Ryan), Jacob Young (JR), Vincent Irizarry (David), Michael E. Knight (Tad) and Darnell Williams (Jesse).  For more information, check out the Tribute to Pine Valley website.

I will be attending the one at Town Hall in NYC, so if you want to meet up, drop me a line!  

Another Actor Signs with Prospect Park!!

Finally! Prospect Park has signed another actor for the continuation of AMC on the internet and it's a biggie! Darnell Williams (Jesse) joins the already signed Lindsay Hartley (Cara) and Cameron Mathison (Ryan). Jesse will unfortunately be going on without Angie though since Debbi Morgan is now on Young and the Restless. 

Performer of the Week - Jesse

It's difficult to chose between the amazing Debbi Morgan and the fabulous Darnell Williams for such honors as Performer of the Week, but this week was all about Jesse.  Having whisked his beloved wife Angie away to the Justice of the Peace where they were married so many years ago, their walk down memory lane was interrupted when Angie started to feel contractions and more.  It was much more.  It was all out pain.  

So in labor with an apparent complication and no time to get to the hospital, Jesse had to step up and deliver his baby girl Ellie, named after his mother.  Just as he was started to see the baby's head, in sheer exhaustion and overwhelming pain, Angie passed out.  Jesse was able to deliver the baby but it was soon apparent that the news was not good.  The baby did not survive the delivery.  Jesse's anguish as he desperately tried to get baby Ellie to breathe was more than I could stand.  My own tears flowed as I watched Jesse's rolling down his face.  He tried so hard to revive her and then Brot arrived, having someone to share his pain with, with Angie still unconscious, was even worse.  

Holding his baby in his arms he told her tried and tried and when he cried, "where did you go?  where did you go?" well kids, I'm done for.  Tears turned to sobs and the pain Jesse felt seemed so very real.   I don't like what transpired next.  Brot had an abandoned baby with him, conveniently an African American newborn girl.  Without missing a beat and absolutely zero thought to what he was doing, Jesse placed her in Angie's arms after Angie woke to the sounds of that baby crying and thinking she was hers.  All he knew as that his wife sacrificed so much, her own sight even, for this child and he could not break her heart.  This is not a path I would want Jesse to go, but since he's gone full steam ahead, I will take great pleasure in watching Debbi and Darnell shine.

 

Happy Birthday Darnell Williams!!!

Happy Birthday wishes to one of my faves, Darnell Williams!!   Darnell celebrates his 56th birthday today!!

AMC Gets Some Nominations for NAACP Image Awards!

This years NAACP Image Award nominations are out and AMC, past and present, is represented nicely.  Debbi Morgan (Angie) was nominated in the Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series category.  And for the guys, Darnell Williams (Jesse) and Cornelius Smith Jr. (Frankie) were both nominated as Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series.  In addition to our current cast members, Lamann Rucker (ex- Garrett) was nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns.  The awards will be handed out on March 4 and will broadcast live on Fox beginning at 8:00 pm EST.

AMC Stars get "Hot in Cleveland"

Last season, Susan Lucci (Erica) did a blink and you miss it cameo on the TV Land hit sitcom, Hot in Cleveland but this season will be even better!   Susan, Michael E. Knight (Tad) and Darnell Williams (Jesse) will all be appearing on Hot in Cleveland as themselves and Wendie Malick will appear on AMC as her Hot character Victoria Chase!  The story has Victoria butting heads with her nemesis, Susan Lucci in a continuation of the storyline that began last season.  The two part Hot in Cleveland episodes will air on February 16 and 23 at 10 pm EST on TV Land.   Wendie will appear on AMC as a character named Gertie who works as a bartender at ConFusion after being fired by Erica.   That episode of AMC will air on February 24 at 1:00 pm EST on ABC.  Sounds like fun!

More What If...

Learning the Game of Life

In 1985, All My Children released a Game Board that gave their fans the chance to live out the lives of some of their favourite Pine Valley Citizens. Though the game proved to be incredibly popular, it was not the easiest to figure out.

As Carmen Thomas-Paris recounts, "We tried to play it, but no one could ever figure it out. I remember a few times we tried to play it on the set. The directions are a little complicated. By the time you are finished reading the directions, you didn't want to play anymore."

Let's check out some of the cast featured, then and now:Debbi Morgan (Dr. Angie Baxter Hubbard):
Darnell Williams (Jesse Hubbard):
Michael E. Knight (Tad Gardner Martin):
Carmen Thomas-Paris (Hillary Wilson):

I think that we can agree that time seems to stand still in Soap Land.

Happy Birthday Darnell Williams!!!!

Happy Birthday wishes to Darnell Williams!!! He celebrates his 55th birthday today!

Congratulations Debbi Morgan!!!!

Debbi walked down the aisle yesterday, marrying her boyfriend Jeff. Many of her AMC family were in attendance at the Washington DC ceremony. The bride was given away by none other than her on screen husband Darnell Williams (Jesse)!

Happy Birthday Darnell Williams!!!

Happy birthday wishes go out to Darnell Williams! He celebrates his 54th birthday today!!

Casting News: Some Blasts From Jesse's Past!!

AMC has cast two new characters who will factor into the past 20 years of Jesse's life on the run. Model/actress Shannon Kane plays the contract role of Natalia, the young woman we saw hanging outside Jesse's apartment recently, waiting to talk to him. Shannon has previously appeared on Young and the Restless, and CSI: Miami, and will be seen in upcoming movie, Brooklyn's Finest.

Also cast is Laura Koffman as Rebecca, Natalia's mother. The woman from Jesse's past comes to Pine Valley on October 28. Laura has appeared on OLTL (as Cassie) and on Another World.