Lesley-Anne
Down (Jackie), Kristoff St. John (Neil Winters), Jerry Douglas (John Abbott) and Matthew Ashford (Jack Deveraux)The Bold and the Beautiful's Lesley-Anne Down (Jacqueline Payne) says all she did was take down pictures on her dressing room walls so the place could be painted, and the next thing she heard was that she had packed up and left the show in high dudgeon over snagged contract talks.
All rumours, no facts, she says. She does say she was quite ill for several days after unwittingly overdosing on a herbal supplement. But now everything's OK with her health, and with the show: She signed for another three years.
And despite other rumors to the contrary, B&B is really letting Felicia Forrester die of cancer, even though portrayer Lesli Kay's co-stars and fans want the show to let the character live so that Kay can stay around.
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Meanwhile, over at B&B's sister show, The Young and the Restless, Kristoff St. John's fans are breathing easier now that the long, dawn-out contract negotiations 'twixt him and the soap are over and he will be playing Neil Winters for another three years.
Also: 'Y&R' is said to be trying to get Shemar Moore (Malcolm), currently on Criminal Minds, to come back for a story-line arc.
Jerry Douglas is leaving his role as John Abbott on Y&R. The 72-year-old actor has left before and returned, but this time he says he's going to concentrate on other aspects of his life, especially his family. The soap is letting him go concurrent with the rumoured seven years in prison John Abbott will serve for killing Terrible Tom (Roscoe Born).
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Despite Jack Deveraux's ghostly appearances with his presumed widow, Jennifer, Days of Our Lives has NOT created another Ghost and Mrs. Muir situation for the pair. Thus sayeth Matthew Ashford, who has played, and maybe will or will not continue to play, Jack. (The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is the film and TV series about the ghost of a sea captain who hovers over his living lady love.) As of early February, Ashford says he doesn't know if Jack is still alive and what his (Matt's) future on the show is. But he says, "I'm going to give them the best performances I can," regardless of how much time he may still have with them.
P.S.: Ashford continues in his play, Deceit, at the El Portal Forum Theatre in North Hollywood through March 5. For tickets visit www.deceittheplay.com.
FAN FARE: From 'Betty' "I want to add my thoughts to everyone who has written about (Passions) Sheridan (McKenzie Westmore) wallowing in so much anguish. Get a life. This is a soap opera. You always have at least one 'nebbish' (a much put-upon person) on a soap. Focus on other, more interesting story lines and do the dishes or something when Sheridan is on."
