Eye on Soaps

THE BIG EVENT – SATURDAY

By Kathy Hardeman

Like previous years on the Saturday morning of the GH Fan Club Luncheon, I woke with a hitch in my stomach and a knowledge that today was going to be fabulous, adventurous, fun, and a multitude of other positive adjectives. 

It’s one of those jump out of bed when the alarm goes off because I’ve been laying there waiting for the day to start mornings.  Well, I say jumped but it was more like jumped with groaning because when we moved flames began to lick our skin from the sunburns we acquired the day before at Venice Beach.  Katrina’s knees were so red I wondered how she would ever make it though the day.  Delena and I suffered with red shoulders and chests but we weren’t as bright red as Katrina’s knees.  LOTS of aloe was smoothed on that morning.

At 6:45 it was off to the breakfast buffet at the Landings Restaurant where we met up with Errol Lewis, webmaster for the kickin’ soap site Soap Opera Network.  Filled with more carbs and greasy protein than any person should ingest in one meal, as instructed, we arrived for check in duties a little before 8 a.m. perky and bright eyed, ready to start the proceedings.  You will probably grow tired of listening to me reiterate how smoothly the day went but it’s true.  If you are seeking nitpicky complaints and snarky comments, feel free to move along to one of those other sites because we at EOS enjoyed the heck out of the day.   We sat at tables in the courtyard between the main hotel and the tower hotel and people came in a steady flow to check in and receive their wristbands.  Groups would pile up for a few moments and ease but from 8 until 10:30 we checked in at a steady but leisurely pace.  After checking in, attendees were free to browse items for sale in the Tower Room before heading over to the Concorde Room in the main hotel for the luncheon.

During previous years, because of the set up at the Sportsman’s Lodge, we would finish with check in, move onto escorting, green room interviews and then try to take notes about the awards given to the actors during the luncheon.  When the actors moved to the tables, we would go to our assigned table and help with picture taking and line monitoring.  There was a place for us to be almost every minute.  This year, because of the set up at the Airtel Plaza, things were closer and therefore, not as rushed.  We really enjoyed the Airtel Plaza Hotel.

We finished check in after connecting with many people that we see only once a year at the GH Fan Club Luncheon.  I can’t necessarily put faces with names but I recognize many people and love saying hello.  Each year I am amazed at the details I can remember.  This person loves this actor or couple.  That person comes from Alaska or Hawaii or even Australia (hi Natalie).  Another person runs an actor’s fan club.  It’s like going to a reunion only we all have GH in common so no one has to stand around trying to think of something to say.  When 10:30 rolled around we strolled – not ran, not walked fast, not hurried – up to our room for a quick bathroom break and bottled water guzzle before heading down to the green room for interviews.

Escorting was not specifically our job since the walk from car to hotel side entrance was short.  Security handled escorting though Dianna and Delena walked to that area to help and have some escorting stories to tell.  Meanwhile, Katrina, Errol and I took ourselves to the green room to prepare for pictures and interviews.  It’s funny how we perceive ourselves.  Since only two of us were allowed into the green room due to its size, it was a big deal figuring out who would go in.  Katrina and I went after much discussion over who could do the best interviews (which really means can talk to gorgeous actors without wetting themselves or getting lockjaw at the sight of them) and take pictures.  Errol was in as press because he has his own site.  Katrina insisted I do good interviews.  Umm, I insisted that she definitely is a smoother talker than I am.  In the end we balanced our skills because while I am OK with striking up conversations, she is great at carrying them.  While she carried, I snapped pictures.  While I conversed, she took notes.  Errol, smart guy that he is, brought a digital tape recorder so he multi-tasked and talked, snapped and recorded.  Next year, I want one of those!  As a press team, we impressed the heck out of ourselves.  I’d select a target, stroll up and ask if we could snap a couple pictures and the questions would begin.  Lucky for us, the actors expect to be photographed and interviewed so they tend to be amenable.

Our first victim…ah, interviewee was Drew Cheetwood.  Drew plays Milo, brother to Max, one of Sonny’s intrepid bodyguards.  Drew also works as a personal trainer for many of the actors on set.  I received the impression that, at least among the men, there is respect and camaraderie.  He mentioned that Tyler Christopher has built a top notch gym at his house and several of his clients meet at Tyler’s house to work out.  Don’t you wish you could be a fly on the wall during one of those times?  All that testosterone in one place working out, *sigh* better forget being a fly, I’d fall off the wall.

I asked Drew which he preferred acting or personal training and he answered immediately acting.  He moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.  He auditions regularly and has a couple projects in the works such as a CSI episode.   On the GH set, Max and Milo are referred to as Ham and Eggs.  They have some fun scenes coming up.

We laughed over him producing a training video and he talked about how things are different now than when he and Derk were children and Derk delighted in putting Drew in a head lock and giving him noogies.  “Oh yes,” Drew laughed, “things are different now.  You watch, when I see Steve (Burton) I’ll say, ‘Steve, it’s time,’ and he’ll drop and start doing push ups.”

Laughing, I commented, “Oh so that’s why Steve always arrives just in time to head into the luncheon.”

The question of the day was “Facebook or Twitter?”  Drew says he’s still stuck on MySpace, “So 2007,” he noted.   Keeping up with it became overwhelming with friend requests and communicating so he pretty much gave it up.  Sarah Brown, he knows, Twitters quite a bit as well as several other actors so he seemed to be pondering its merits while talking to us.  Who knows, Drew Cheetwood may show up on Twitter in the near future.

Katrina went on to discuss a movie they both know and love called Monster Squad in which Stephen Macht (Trevor) had a part and various Star Trek series.  You know how those trekkies are, once they get started…

Derk was standing close by and I walked over to talk to him for a couple minutes.  Our chat was delayed though by his daughter, 14 months, who chose that moment to amble by.  Wherever she wandered, she charmed the people around her and it was nice to watch the caring that surrounded her by those in the room.  After setting her upright and allowing her to toddle on her way with Derk’s wife in close pursuit I snapped a couple pictures and asked him if he Twittered since I already know he has a Facebook page.  He and Errol discussed the different uses of Facebook and Twitter for a few moments and Derk seemed to be seriously considering becoming a Twitter Tweeter (sorry, I couldn’t help myself).

For the past year and a half, Derk has taken it easy, relaxing at home and appreciating life with his wife and daughter but now he’s ready to get back into the swing of auditions.  He was not ready to divulge details but implied that he may have a project in the works.  Because we are so prepared an’ all Katrina and Errol whipped out site business cards and we asked him to e-mail us with his announcement when he is ready.  Let’s all send positive thoughts his way.

While we were talking to Derk a funny thing happened.  Katrina, who raises the bar of wonderful as far as people go, made me laugh as she abandoned me without a backward glance when Stephen Macht walked into the green room.  Her little compass point focused upon him and it was like and invisible cord pulled her right over to him.  I wandered over to snap a few shots, heard movie and trekkie talk and wandered away to face life in the green room alone until Katrina got her Stephen Macht fill.  Lucky for me, Errol and I made a good team and he was carrying his handy dandy digital tape recorder so what I don’t remember I can e-mail him and ask for details.

We visited with Brandon Barash for a couple moments.  Several children were in the room and it’s obvious that Brandon enjoys them as he squatted down without hesitation to give one a steadying cuddle as he wandered by.  Not sure who this little guy belonged to.

We asked Brandon if he had any fan stories he wanted to share but other than mentioning and uncomfortable exchange last year without elaboration he didn’t have any at that moment.  You can find Brandon on Twitter.  Since Kirsten Storms was sitting nearby, Errol included her in the conversation asking if she thought Maxie and Johnny should have a shot at coupledom.  Kirsten answered, “Well, I don’t know.  Johnny has been around now.”  Errol noted that Maxie had also.  “Yes, but we can’t have two of those in a relationship,” she replied.

Errol asked if Kirsten would ever consider doing another Zenon movie but Kirsten negated the idea saying that she feels too old to play that roll now.

Wondering about Kirsten Storms apart from her character, I asked if the fast talking she does as Maxie is something she does in real life or a character development.  “Sometimes I get pages and pages of dialogue and if I didn’t speak quickly, I’d never get it all said,” was her response.  I marveled at her powers of memorization and she noted that when she goes on vacation and doesn’t have to memorize lines, her brain relaxes and it’s harder to memorize when she first gets back.

We caught up with John Ingle and asked him how he felt about life as a Quartermaine right now.  He is pleased to have a job in this economy though he did mention regretfully that he doesn’t think he’ll be working with Drew Garrett (Michael) for long as he is sure that Michael will be lured back into Sonny’s clutches soon.

John spoke about the oddities of aging.  He and his wife don’t feel as though they have hit their 80’s and it perplexes them when they are treated as one of the older generation.  I loved that about him and hope that when I hit my 80’s I am as happy and forward looking as he seems to be.  His 5 daughters treated him and their mother to an evening at Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey’s Circus for John’s last birthday.

While we were speaking, Jason Thompson caught sight of John and came over to give him a hug and shake his hand.  He didn’t have anything in particular to say, he just wanted to greet him.  It was nice to see the respect he clearly felt towards John Ingle.

I spoke briefly with Christian Alexander, Keifer (Kristina’s boyfriend), who Twitters by the way.  After surviving the kick off party, he was enthusiastic about the event but not sure what to expect for the luncheon.  I assured him that people would be around to take care of him.

While moving around the room, I kept my eye on Bradford Anderson who was busy speaking with Rosemary Rossi of ABC Soaps in Depth.  Hopefully, we’ll see an article featuring Bradford from her soon.  You might not think much about who writes the articles that appear in the soap magazines but over the past couple years I have been privileged to meet some of the writers and Rosemary Rossi ranks high on the list of cool people to know.  Each year I watch her poise and kindness as she interacts with actors and fans and think what a good example she sets.  She’s a class act.  Anyway, when she finished with Bradford I scooted over and asked if I could take a couple pictures.

Remembering his debut at the fan club weekend 3 years ago, I marveled at his maturity.  He reminds me of Scott Cliffton who I watched grow up for a couple years.  Katrina commented that he didn’t seem jaded at all and Bradford’s offered a serious response stating that if an actor does become jaded then that actor should find another job.  What a gracious reply.

I’d recently seen a picture on the internet of Bradford holding a cat at a pet adoption facility.  Turns out the picture is a couple years old.  He volunteers at the animal shelter when he makes it back to New Hampshire and they named a cat Spinelli after him.

Bradford does both MySpace and Twitter and is engaged to be married.

Next stop – Blake Gibbons, also known as Coleman.  Blake neither Twitters nor claims a Facebook page so don’t bother looking for him.  He does, however, have an episode of The Mentalist coming up as well as a couple commercials so he stays plenty busy even without the common technological crutches the rest of us depend upon for communication.  I guess if people want to talk to Blake they have to *gasp* call him on the telephone.

If you were wondering about the hat Coleman has been sporting, it is not fedora or a nod to Michael Jackson.  Quick to point out, it’s more of a rat pack hat such as those worn by Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin.  He thought it would be a good prop for Coleman as he MC’d karaoke at Jakes and wardrobe (or whoever approves such things) agreed.

Carolyn Hennesy (why does she not have a contract with GH yet?) wandered by for a quick chat.  Her next installment in the Pandora series comes out in November and she’s working on the fifth story.  Being a writer I was interested in how she accomplishes so much and she said that she doesn’t have a set schedule.  She might come home one day after working, tell her husband that he’ll have to find himself dinner and spend the evening writing.  It’s all about the muse.

Errol requested that she show us her cat pose and she obliged.

Jason Thompson also showed no interest in modern technology (at least that he would admit to) and said that he doesn’t Twitter or Facebook.  He prefers to stay far away from computers.

John J York shares similar technophobia feelings and said he only goes on the computer to check his golfing site to see when the tournaments are scheduled.

At the last moment Ingo Rademacher ambled in.  What a treat!  I’ve been attending the event for 7 or 8 years now and this is the first time he’s made an appearance.  He could only stay to sign autographs for a short time and I didn’t get near him.  Hopefully, one of the lucky fans who visited with him will post a picture or two.

Sadly, at that point the actors had to begin lining up to go into the ballroom where the luncheon was ending so our interview time was over.  Fans were waiting!  John Ingle acted as both referee and MC and used his big voice to call the actors names so they could line up in alphabetical order.  After lining up, Michelle, Debbie Morris’ security person explained to them how things would work in the new facility.  Same as the Sportsman’s Lodge, the actors’ names would be called in alphabetical order.  They would take a seat, in no particular order on the dais that had been set up for them.  After the luncheon, the actors would return to the green room and wait to be shuttled to the other building in the vans the hotel was providing.  I was standing by John J York who turned and asked incredulously of Greg Vaughan, “Did she say vans?  We have to ride in a van to the other building?”  It was a good arrangement but John made me laugh the way he said it.

Various shots as they waited for their name to be called to go into the ballroom.

Usually, we go into the ballroom and take notes but after receiving our table assignments and quick instructions we headed over to the Concorde Room to meet the actor we would be working with during the afternoon as they stepped out of the vans.  My actor was Steve Burton.  Moment of happy silence…can’t stand it, squeeeeeee!  Actors arrived and went to their tables.  More actors arrived.  Still MORE actors arrived and went to their tables.  I was getting antsy when suddenly Steve arrived with Jim Warren, his photographer, event coordinator and general Take Care of Steve Guy.  The first order of business was to move Steve’s table because Jim thought it should be in a different spot.  We quickly commandeered the only empty table in the room where we had all stashed our purses.  It worked though because I was able to keep an eye on the purses while I worked Steve’s line which wasn’t really work since I enjoyed every second.  Jason on GH looks like Jason but let me tell you that Steve looks BUFF!  If Drew Cheetwood had shown up and ordered him to the floor for some push ups they wouldn’t be any pansy ass push ups but the real thing.  Picture flat stomach, bulging biceps, tanned from his recent vacation in Hawaii and sun bleached hair.  Really the only work I did was keeping my knees locked so I didn’t melt into the floor.  LOL, I was a total fan girl for the first few minutes but then it was time to get down to business.

Katrina’s internet bestseller YOU and the GH Fan Club Weekend should be required reading before attending the event.  It states clearly the sequence of events when visiting with an actor.  Signature, hug, photo, GO!  Not so difficult to understand but sometimes difficult to remember when one is standing beside the object of one’s secret passion.  C’mon, you know he or she (picture favorite actor) has featured as the star of a fantasy or two.  A line monitor must make sure the next person in line has their camera ready and signature object out for signing while making sure the person currently with the actor is taking care of business.  That means Signature, Hug, Photo, GO!  Not gaze adoringly into his eyes, ask if you can touch his abs, ask to buy his shirt or belt buckle, or wrap yourself around him like an octopus with tentacles on crack.  My favorite reaction though were a couple fans who waited until Steve bent over to sign whatever they gave him and they started jumping up and down in excitement.  When Steve straightened up, they stopped jumping and stared at him some more.  I laughed and so did the people standing in front of the table.  I remember how overwhelmed I was at my first GHFCW so I understood but it was still funny.

Steve didn’t suddenly start sprouting storyline spoilers but he did mention a couple things in response to fan questions.

-          His contract negotiations with ABC are in a holding pattern for the next couple weeks but he’s hopeful about the outcome.

-          He and family vacationed in Hawaii within the last couple weeks.

-          He rarely shaves, but prefers to leave a little stubble on his face.

-          He’s looking so buff because Jason has to wrestle with Nikolas soon so he’s been working out.

-          His daughter is now 6 and he was happy to whip out his wallet to show off photos of her.

-          He doesn’t know when or if Jason will ever get back with Liz.

-          I repeat – He doesn’t know when or if Jason will ever get back with Liz.

Did everyone read that?  Because he must have been asked that question a 100 times.

At one point, EOS Dianna, darted behind the table to pull Carolyn out of my purse.  Steve was leaning down signing something and he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.  Then he turned and looked and said, “Is that a Barbie in her purse?”

“No,” I explained, “that’s our friend Carolyn who is here in spirit.”  He looked at me for a second and kinda shook his head and moved on to the next fan.  I am sure he was shaking his head because he was amazed that Carolyn had been behind him the entire time and he didn’t know it.  Otherwise, I am positive we would have had to pry her away from Steve like we did a couple other actors.

The event lasted until 4 but Steve cut out at 3:20 because his event began at 4.  It’s clear that he appreciates the adoration of his fans because he smiled, signed and talked to fans with only a 5 minute bathroom break for more than 3 hours.  I was so busy that I didn’t even think to pull out the pictures I had to ask him to sign for my friends.  The best part though was the hug and picture at the end.

Several of the other actors stayed until 4 so I was able to run around as a fan and snap some pictures.

Dominic Zamprogna is the friendliest, most outgoing, confident actor I’ve ever seen.  Wherever he walked people hailed him and wanted to talk to him.

It was clear that Lisa and Brandon enjoy working together.

Rebecca Herbst remains quietly gracious with all her fans. 

I hope the current Scooby crowd sticks around because they make a great team. 

These two soaked up the attention and enjoyed the afternoon immensely.  Anyone who spoke with them enjoyed them also.  Errol took care of them during the afternoon and even went above and beyond the call of duty and secured lunch for them.

These are Blake Gibbons parents who come with him almost every year.  They love Katrina and want to adopt her.

Katrina snapped this picture and told him to hold me closer.  I stepped closer and Blake said, “C’mon now, if we’re gonna do this, let’s do it right.”  He pulled me close, wrapped his arms around me and his hand landed where it landed.  Fun moment!

A little after 4 Katrina, Delena, Dianna, Errol and I gathered together, moaned about our feet, sunburn, hunger, etc and decided to head up to our room.  After saying good bye and thank you to Debbie Morris, we took our tired bodies to a place of rest and phone service where we promptly ordered pizza.  Or tried to.  Dianna called Pizza Hut and tried to place an order.  They asked her where she was and she told them Airtel Plaza Hotel.  They asked her where the Airtel Plaza Hotel was located.  Dianna, being Dianna, replied, “Don’t you have MapQuest or something?”  The side of the conversation we could hear made us all laugh because they tried to tell her that if she didn’t know where she was they’d have to charger her extra.  She told them that she knew exactly where she was and it was their job to find her.  After deciding that she wasn’t talking to the brightest pizza order taker in the land, she hung up.  Meanwhile, Katrina commandeered Errol’s laptop and ordered on line.  And what do you know, they managed to find the Airtel Plaza Hotel and before long we were luxuriating in shoeless feet, stuffed crust pizza, cheesy bread and soda (or green tea in my case).

Soon after the pizza arrived, Victoria, who writes our LOST commentary and reviews for EOS, came to visit and eat with us.  We all stuffed ourselves with pizza, laughter, and soap industry stories.  Since Victoria interned at General Hospital she knew some really good stories.  I’ve never enjoyed a party in a hotel room so the experience was all the more fun.  It was late in the evening before things calmed down and we fell into bed too tired to dream of soap stars or pizza.

July 22nd, 2009 | Tags: general hospital fan club weekend, GH Fan Club Luncheon, GHFCW 2009, kathy hardeman | Category: General Hospital | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL