Shaun Proulx, Christine Fix and Peter Bergman (Soaps.com)
I was contacted about the visit and walk on role on and off throughout the months. By the time June 4 rolled around, the Associate Producer and casting called me to prepare for my role. I elected not to discuss the cameo on Soaps.com until it was taped, for fear that something would come up and would leave me with my tail between my legs, apologizing for being a cameo tease. Daniel Goddard knew (Cane, Y&R) and Soaps.com staff. I was glad not to have written about it because we had to reschedule the cameo for a later date, because the actors were all fighting over who would play out their scenes with me... something like that – or not! (Or was it work visa related issues?!) They were more upset than I, knowing that either way, after watching Y&R on and off since I was a child, the prospect of touring the set was awe inspiring. Not only would it be loads of fun for me, but I was pumped about getting the scoop out there for the fans.
I knew right away who I'd be taking with me. I had known Shaun Proulx, and have been a guest on ProudFM's Shaun Proulx Show, for a year. We go to 'Genoa City' each Friday afternoon and I spoil them with the Y&R goods. I asked him to come along as my red carpet date on live radio, and he promptly passed out.
Fast forward to the day in question. We headed over to the CBS Studios in Hollywood in silence, dolled up, with the occasional big goofy grin, plastered on our faces. Directed to the Artist's Entrance, we found my dear Teni, who had originally invited me and set things up. We headed to the Y&R classroom to speak with the exuberant ex-actor, Judd Laurence, who has been the Dialogue Coach for several years. It's obvious that he loves what he does. He works closely with 20-25 actors per day, running through 60-70 pages, daily, of lines, in order to make suggestions about how to make those lines come out sounding flawless. During our chat, my eyes kept wandering to the monitor, where I could see a juicy scene being taped with Amber (Adrienne Frantz) and Daniel (Michael Graziadei). Judd mentioned that today he'd coached both of them, Peter, Jeannie, Eyal, Amelia, Christian, and Jess, amongst a few others.
We wandered into hair and make-up to find George Guzman, who has been a Y&R hair stylist for the past six years, relaxing. Apparently he's either lying low or insanely busy, sometimes doing two heads at once. Getting up from his chair, with a smile, he came to me and complimented me on my “beautiful” hair and asked if it was real! Real? That's the second time I've gotten that line in a month! Yes, it's real! I'm from Toronto, not L.A., I said with a grin. Of course, he needed to touch it, as he fluffed, ran his fingers through my hair, I was glad to have done a deep conditioning that morning! George and the other stylists and makeup-artists remember working 17-18 hour days, but tell us they're on a 10 hour day schedule these days. He commented that Emily (Jana), Tracey (Lauren), Amelia (Victoria), Jeannie (Katherine), Sharon (Sharon Case) and Jess (Jill) were on the roster for today, as well as Christian (Michael), Michael (Daniel) and Peter (Jack). The men of the cast don't do their own hair, but he gives them a slightly bed head look that's sexy. I asked if he was the one who changed Michael Graziadei 's (Daniel) hair for that surfer movie he recently did. He had, and showed us before and after photos! The array of products nearby caught my eye and we found out that Adrienne Frantz (Amber) preferred 'Goddess' products, while Judith Chapman (Gloria) swore over 'Kerastase', much like some of our actor friends over at DAYS. George uses Moroccan Oil to blow out the actress's hair and give it that gorgeous sheen that we see, daily. He also hand dyes the flirty hair pieces that we see in Emily O'Brien's (Jana) gorgeous locks, and grins that many of the actresses wish they too could use the hair pieces, but they simply wouldn't suit the style of the character. Since Patti, the head of the make-up department, was rushing around with brushes and other assortments in her arms, making up Sharon Case (Sharon) and Amelia Heinle (Victoria), we were not able to pick her brain.
Christine Fix and Shaun Proulx - Abbott dining room. (Soaps.com)
We headed to the commissary for lunch, seeing Sharon Case, Adrienne (Amber), Melody Thomas Scott, Amelia and a few other actors pass by. I was interested in the difference between the lack of make up on certain actresses in comparison to the cake makeup on beautiful Amelia, who was all dolled up for a fight scene. I wondered if the shots were not as close up, figuring they'd need to be able to see her features from far. (No idea!) After lunch, we saw Michelle Stafford donning a blue bathrobe and crocs (ick), chatting up Lesli Kay (Felicia, B&B). We didn't say hello. We didn't know she was there, because we were told she'd just had back surgery. Peter Bergman joins the two as Winsor Harmon wanders around and we head into the set to watch a scene being taped between Adrienne Frantz (Amber Moore) and Emmy Award winner, Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor). I was mesmerized by Jeanne. If you read Candace's little pre-set visit interview, you'll know that Jeanne is so far the only actress who I've been a little star struck with. I remember watching her as a kid. All those rings and those gorgeous long painted nails and the acting! I loved watching their scene in Amber's penthouse - which if you recall, was Phyllis' old penthouse apartment. It was an emotional scene and one that I unfortunately can't discuss. It was a huge spoiler, even for me! We watched them block their lines, read, then tape and I was so enthralled with Jeanne that I missed out on Eric Braeden's arrival on set. Shaun nudged me and I looked around but saw… nothing! See what that Jeanne does to me? She's so captivating. After the scene ended, we spent a little time with Jeanne and Adrienne. Adrienne didn't want photos taken and had to rush off to get her Emmy jewels. We completely understood, and promised to call for another interview, soon. She dashed off to makeup and to change while Shaun picked Jeanne's brain. Not me. Shaun. I had nothing to add, I was ridiculously star struck. First time this has happened to me, aside from seeing Jeanne at last year's Emmys! I was simply happy to be sitting across from Jeanne, I blurted out. (Honestly, I've met so many actors and never gave it much notice, but this was amazing.) She held my hand... yes, the little kid in me kept saying, Katherine Chancellor is holding my hand. Come on, you would be saying that, too! Not Jeanne - Mrs. Chancellor! We took some photos and I floated out of the room. We then watched a quickie scene between Jack and some unknown. It sounded intriguing. I won't say anymore! We are invited to view more scenes, but declined. Anymore and this would be a 10 page essay. We discussed rescheduling my walk on role as Shaun did a guest spot for The Shaun Proulx Show on ProudFM outside the CBS studios, we had a car take us back to the hotel and back to our places around the pool, where we basked in the afterglow that was our Y&R set visit.
To view all of my Y&R set photos, please visit Soaps.com's Facebook!
Christine Fix
Editor-in-Chief
Soaps.com
