Shanked: New York Soaps

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Forgive the obvious pun in the title but this post has gone through a variety of stages. It began several months ago when a FH reader wrote in asking if I would do a feature on actor Bill Shanks. The reader wrote one of his favorite parts of the blog was Blast from the Past, especially the soap stars that he grew up watching were featured. Bill Shanks played Dr. Casey Peretti on the soap from 1986 through 1990. Unfortunately, after quite a bit of research I found very little of Shanks on the net. But this week after reading an interesting NY Post article on New York and the soaps I thought of a good reason to post a bit of Shanks and some other starts from some NYC based soaps.



I did not watch the cancelled As The World Turns nor have I seen a second of One Life To Live which ends it's forty plus year run this Friday. That does not mean however that I don't mourn the death of the daytime soap. (R.I.P ABC Soaps) There is something comforting, even safe about soaps. I have vivid memories of getting home from school as a kid, making a peanut butter sandwich and sitting with my mother as she watched Another World. I remember watching The Young And The Restless with the girl I was dating in Jr High. I still DVR Days Of Our Lives from time to time when there is a storyline of interest (current Chandler Massey is rocking the house with his coming out storyline). Currently daytime is riddled with shows that frankly scare me. I like Dr. Oz, but between his show, The Doctors, Dr. Phil, The Chew and the slew of other shows, when you turn on the tv during the day now the only thing you find out is how wrong everything your doing in your life is! The bedroom scenes from Bay City are looking tame in comparison to the reality based 'stories' on most of the talk shows.

Jon Hensley & Brian Bloom

The story in the NY Post was interesting as I have always thought the NY soap world seemed quite special in the genre's hay day. I remember how it was depicted in Tootsie and how it became a running storyline for Joey on Friends (Although Days Of Our Lives is actually filmed in CA). Soaps in NY make sense as many soap actors move back and forth between their shows and the stage. Give me a juicy soap opera over a bunch of loud mouths talking about topics many know little to nothing about.

If you want to check out a comprehensive journal of the history of hunks on the show there is no better place to visit than SoapHunks.Net. Here are a few of my favorites from the soon to be gone One Life To Live:

Christopher Douglas

David Fumero

David A. Gregory

Joe Lando

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Kudos to Chandler Massey

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I have not had much time to watch much television lately but did begin setting my dvr to Days Of Our Lives again a few weeks ago after reading that the show finally officially committed to Will's coming out storyline. Chandler Massey seems like a great guy, sensitive and proud of the storyline and touching carefully but succinctly on the right notes of confusion, anger and pain. I have never seen, only read, about other soap opera coming outs but this one is hitting close to home for me and I look forward to watching it unfold.

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Just Because: Brandon Beemer in Dirty Soap

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I don't think I have ever watched an episode of The Bold Of The Beautiful but...that does not mean I don't know how freakishly hot Brandon Beemer is. I have also not seen a minute of Dirty Soap but if Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelo's continue to find reasons to shoot Beemer in his tighty whities I might have to give it a try.

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Just Because: Bren Foster

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Great face, sexy accent and a chest to die for, it is no wonder Days of Our Lives quickly rehired Bren Foster last month. He is a hot property one the show was silly to even think of losing. Somehow I am not sure the show will really be able to ulitize what they have but we shall see.

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The FH Curse....

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It has been years since I watched a daytime soap. I have so little free time as it is. I do have fond memories of Another World after school with my mother and The Young and the Restless with friends when I was in university. With the cancellations of so many shows (and the appeal of watching quickly with the DVR) I decided to give another show a shot. I started DVR'ing Days Of Our Lives several months ago, mainly because of two very hot new additions to the show. (Bren Foster (above) HERE: Francisco San Martin (below) HERE:)



I cannot say I fully got into the show (erased many episodes before watching) but the cast overall (especially the phenomenal Crystal Chappell) made it worth continuing. Sadly the show recently dumped a slew of cast members, including Crystal and the two guys I profiled. I say sadly because given the state of soaps, the show was incredibly dumb to fire one of it's best actress's and two actors who were not on long enough to establish a fan base. Neither actor (San Martin in particular) was blowing it away acting wise, but both were growing and just beginning to find their footing. To spend time finding actors only to turf them just as viewers are starting to enjoy them does not seem wise. I know the show is bringing on some old favorites but I think my brief entry back into soap viewing might be coming to an end. These 'old' favorites hold no interest to me, I never watched them then, not sure I care to now.



I am hesitant to write what I do like as the show seems to fire anyone FH profiles, but...the one storyline which might keep me tuning in for a short while anyway, is the much hyped 'gay' storyline which began this week. Just new to the show is Freddie Smith (last seen being hit upon by Trevor Donovan on 90210). Smith was instantly watchable and highly adorable in his first appearance this week. Chandler Massey (Will) is also extremely cute and extremely likable. Might just have to see where this goes....




Below: Chandler (second from right) with Casey Jon Deidrick (whose appeal is lost on me plays Chad) Kate Mansi (Abigail) & Camila Banus (Gabi)

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Just Because: John Allen Nelson & Todd McKee

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As many of you know, I love putting together features on former Hunks in my Blast From The Past section. When I revisited some of my favorites a few weeks ago I did not include some the soap actors I had profiled. This shot of the oh so hot John Allen Nelson & adorable Todd McKee reminded me of the posts I have done on both actors. If your a fan of John or Todd take a trip down memory lane with Todd HERE & HERE: and with John HERE:, HERE, HERE, & HERE

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Towel of the week: Yellow terrycloth worn by Bren Foster

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Back in March actor Francisco San Martin had me contemplating starting to watch Days Of Our Lives. With the soap opera genre slowing dying out I thought tuning in for the shirtless scenes would be be the least I could do to help out.



Well, I have not had the time to actually begin but...as the summer draws nearer and the addition of Aussie Bren Foster, the time might be now. Besides acting, Bren is a martial arts expert who has won over 150 first place medals and has competitively fought in over 200 matches ranging from Taekwondo, Kickboxing and full contact Karate. Bren studied acting at the University of Western Sydney and began appearing on Days last month. The soap wasted no time in getting his clothes off.






Thanks to SoapHunks for the two caps above!

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I left my heart....in Francisco San Martin

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Shot above from Francisco's new site opening soon.

It has been awhile since I have watched a soap. They are dropping like flies so it might be time to invest. Never really watched Days Of Our Lives (is it any good?) I often work at home on Monday's and today as I was 'working' I flicked to find a shirtless wonder arguing with a rather annoying actress on the show. The torso was hot but the face was magic. A little googling led me to find out the actor was Francisco San Martin whose beautiful eyes and smile are mesmerizing. A think a little more research is in order!

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