Up close with the Soaps

Leaning against the wall, I glance over and Kelly Monaco "Samantha McCall" from General Hospital and former Dancing with The Stars winner is drinking coffee. Next to her Kimberly McCullough "Robin" from General Hospital is talking to Greg Vaughan, "Lucky" from the same show.

I'm like a kid in a candy store. I've been awake since 5 a.m. -- my nerves keeping me from sleeping. Dozens of soap stars from ABC soaps are meeting with media as part of ABC-SOAPnet Super Soap Weekend.

After two star interviews out of the way, my nerves calm. What I found was they are down-to-earth; many are very funny, gracious and while they are all beautiful as they are on T.V., most are much smaller in person than on television -- whoever says the camera adds 10 pounds is right.

When Greg Vaughan "Lucky Spencer" of General Hospital approached, his smile relaxed me in seconds. He's one of my favorites.

Immediately, we talked about Daytona Beach. He "loves the beach" and NASCAR. He's been to the Daytona 500 and has driven around the track, meeting drivers and NASCAR owners through the help of the father of fellow actress Kirsten Storms "Maxie," who is originally from central Florida.

When asked if he'd ever race himself, he said, "I would love to race." But he laughed he doesn't think anybody would put enough money into him to drive multi-million dollar cars.
Thorsten Kaye, "Zach Slater" of All My Children says he's a huge Miami Dolphin fan and also has been to Daytona Beach for bike week.

Many of the stars talked about how "devastated" they are that it's the last Super Soap weekend as ABC moves to having more events in various cities nationwide. Some come not only to see fans, but as part of their family vacation. They said Super Soap gives them a chance to get input from fans about their characters and acting. In some cases, like Michael Easton "John McBain" of One Life to Live said, the actors hear how soaps help people personally through hard times, including a child who watched the show while going through chemo treatments.

At the various talk shows and events during Super Soap on Saturday, I got insights on the actors and scoops into the show. Vaughan and John-Paul Lavoisier, "Rex Balsom" of One Life to Live, who hosted the game show in pajama pants and a shirt with actor, Cameron Mathison's picture on it, had the audience laughing about Vaughan's muscular physique. Eventually after teasing the audience, Vaughan took off his shirt to screaming fans.

As far as twists, On All My Children, look for a major one with Ryan Lavery, played by Mathison, and Annie Lavery, played by Melissa Claire Egan, that ends with her walking down the isle in a wedding dress with a bloody knife and Susan Lucci "Erika Kane" on the floor.

Monaco of GH was funny as she talked to the media about how independent her character is and it would be some time before her Sam would forgive "Jason," played by Steve Burton  despite upcoming adventures.

Monaco, who hinted that she has a major project coming out that will involve dancing and will change her life forever, also gave advice to the current Dancing with the Star celebrities. She said the final four can't dance any better than they already have and should now just "take it in," "breathe "and enjoy it.

Susan Lucci talked to fans about recently leaving Dancing with the Stars and is expected to perform a dance tonight. She describe the competitive dancing as "an art form and a major athletic sport."

"I just love to dance. I had no idea what kind of amazing dancing they were doing to have us do," Lucci said.

Well, I'm off to catch Lucci soon dancing at the Street Jam and other stars singing and partying with fans.

Tomorrow, there will be more sessions and shows with the stars, stay tuned...