Super Soap RECAP

Hundreds of soap opera fans leaned over the tape snapping photos as the actors danced on an outside stage at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

While several later took the microphone showing off their singing talents, I glanced around the special roped-off section near the stage where I was standing and realized one of the stars from All My Children, Eden Riegel, who plays Bianca, had literally come up behind me with her husband to listen to the show.

About 10 minutes later, another star was standing immediately in front of me hugging her friends. Before I knew it, in between the different show segments, several stars from All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital were walking past or standing nearby talking to their families, some dancing with their children in their arms.

It was Saturday night at ABC-SOAPnet Super Soap Weekend's Street Jam and I was literally partying with the stars who I've watched for more than 20 years. The people who came into my living room every day as an escape from work life were now in front of me dancing and enjoying their families.

This was just one moment in a weekend of soap moments on Nov. 15 and 16th where the actors became "regular people" to their fans -- signing autographs, posing for photos and even participating in game shows and talk shows. Fans, many wearing photographed shirts of their favorite stars, braved long lines and some camped out at the park in the early morning hours for the chance to talk one-on-one with their stars.

Sandy Zugaro, 53, of Port Orange has been to about 10 Super Soaps with her boyfriend, Richard Smith.

She has autographs of more than 40 of the stars and got a few more this past weekend. Her mission was to meet Darnell Williams, "Jesse" who recently returned to All My Children after a 20-year absence. He was all she hoped him to be.

Her boyfriend, meanwhile, thought some of the fans were "nuts" and feared what the guys at work would think knowing he attended Super Soap.

While Smith didn't admit to watching soaps, Vincent Irizarry "David Hayward" of All My Children said many men are "closest" viewers, including businessmen with briefcases.

For me, the nerves in my stomach calmed after interviewing more than 20 of the actors Saturday and Sunday at media press conferences. Greg Vaughan, "Lucky" of General Hospital, was down-to-earth, sharing experiences about coming to the Daytona 500 and taking spins around the track.

"We are just people," long-time soap actress Erika Slezak, "Viki Davidson" of One Life to Live told me last Saturday. "We just have a more high profile job