Out in Daytime TV: June 2008 Archives

I can count on one hand the times I have felt physically star-struck. It just sort of hits you in unexpected ways and for me, it seems to happen when I meet stars who I watched in my childhood including two of "Charlie's Angels:" Jaclyn Smith and Cherly Ladd. It happened again the other day with Susan Lucci. Here is a column I wrote on Miss Lucci that will appear in today's LA Daily News:

During all the years that Susan Lucci was nominated for - and famously lost - the Daytime Emmy Award for her performance as Erica Kane on "All My Children," she handled the result each time with extraordinary grace.

So when she finally won her Emmy in 1999 - on her 19th try - there was something akin to a palpable sense of nationwide relief even if it meant she wouldn't be able to spoof her losing streak on "Saturday Night Live" and in commercials.

"When I did win, I got the key to the city of New York and New York City firemen would stop on their trucks and give me a big thumbs up, and beggars would sing (laughs)," Susan said when we spoke at a pre-Emmy party last week. "It was wonderful. It's much better to win but it's great to be nominated."

Here is video from the night of her 1999 Emmy win:

The night of her win, Susan vowed that she would return to the set of "Children" the next day and play Erica "for all she's worth." She kept her word and is now in her 38th year on the show playing the most famous character in soap opera history.

"I love the part of Erica Kane," she said. "I walk into the studio in the morning and I'm smiling, I'm happy. I work with great actors and I've got one of the best parts ever written for a woman as far as I'm concerned."

Remarkably youthful at 61, Susan has managed to juggle her role as the larger-than-life Erica with many other ventures including a series of well-received television movies ("Mafia Princess," "Between Love and Hate" and "Ebbie").

"I love that the fans and the public has really responded to (Erica) so much that I also have had the chance to go on Broadway in 'Annie Get Your Gun' and have a line of jewelry and lingerie and all of that on HSN," she said. "I enjoy it all. But it's all because of Erica Kane."

Erica has been married seven times, legally, and there were another five unions that were either ceremonial or later found to be invalid.

"No, I don't forget," she said when I asked if she remembered everyone her character had been married to.

Nothing in Erica's life is ever simple. She has a lesbian daughter who battled anorexia, a daughter from a traumatic teenage rape, and a son who she thought she had aborted but who was used by the doctor in an experimental fetal transplant.

Working woman Erica started as a model then edited a magazine, wrote several books, ran a cosmetic empire and now works as a talk show host. She is currently involved in a political storyline with Mario Van Peebles.

"I had talked about Erica being involved with a politician and the political world a couple of years ago," Susan said. "But the time is right now. I'm so glad that we're doing it right now because I'm loving it."

I did a joint interview with Cameron Mathison and Sherri Shepherd Wednesday afternoon to talk about their co-hosting the Daytime Emmys Awards on June 20 and they were on fire - talking over each other and making making me and themselves laugh.

Sherri is all jokes and Cameron is full of energy. Since this formidable pair are just too much for one column, I'll focus on him first and write about Sherri next week.

Cameron, 38, has played Ryan Lavery on 'All My Children' for nearly 10 years and has long been one of the most popular actors on daytime television. He just roles with each storyline, including his current one which has his character suffering from amnesia.

"I love my job and I love my life here on the show," he said. "This place has become a second home and a second family. It would take something pretty astounding to get me to leave 'All My Children.'"

Sherri suddenly interjected with her own ideas of what kind of roles Cameron should take away from the show: "I'd like to see you as a houseboy on 'Desperate Housewives' roaming around the bushes or as a patient on 'Grey's Anatomy,' naked."

Those Daytime Emmys are gonna be scandalous!

Cameron is used to being objectified though, especially after his successful stint last fall on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." when he waltzed and fox-trotted his way to a fifth-place finish. He flew cross-country regularly to do "Dancing" in Los Angeles and "Children" in New York and gained more fans than ever.

"I do have a lot of energy, I've worked hard and come a long way," he said. "These opportunities come up and I feel a little pressure to take advantage of them while I can."
Cameron's charisma and good looks have landed him various hosting gigs including the new show "Your Place or Mine" which premieres Sunday on the TLC channel.

"It was really strange to go from ignoring the camera to looking into them," he said. "For me, it is something that has become so comfortable and exciting in my life."

Each week on "Place," two families compete for a chance to win brand-new furnished rooms for their homes, or for the ability to steal rooms from their competitors.
"It's a cross between a game show and a reality show," said Cameron. "I've never hosted this kind of show before. It's a lot of information, the game is complicated, and I've got someone talking in my ear. It's a really great challenge. It keeps me sharp."

Cameron is famous for his lean but muscular physique. So much so that it was big news when tabloid photos were snapped of him carrying a couple of calorie-laden donuts in his hand.

"I saw that picture!" he said, laughing. "I work out and I try to stay active and fit so I can enjoy certain foods that I like to eat. I try to keep everything in moderation. I used to be insane about it. By the way, when I grabbed those donuts, I had just finished working out."