With a brief stint on As The World Turns under his belt, Peter Reckell forged his path to daytime royalty as the bad news little brother of fan favorite, Roman Brady on Days Of Our Lives. But it wouldn’t take him long to carve out a lane of his own. Over the next 40 years, Beauregard Aurelius Brady would become a beloved and integral part of the NBC sudster whether his character was on screen or not. From the shock of Bo’s true paternity to one — if not the — greatest daytime love stories of all time, Peter humbly credits the writing for his character’s longevity and popularity. But we know that the writing would mean little if the portrayer was anything less than iconic.

TV Source Magazine was honored to sit down with Peter Reckell to discuss Bo’s return to Salem, who he is eager for his character to reconnect with and if Bope fans can expect immediate gratification or just a tad bit more torture.

In previous interviews, you mentioned that the vibe onset at Beyond Salem felt alive again in a way that it wasn’t during the end of your previous runs. Now that you’ve returned to the main show, how would you describe the onset vibe now compared to when the show aired on network tv? 

We have a little bit more freedom now that it’s on Peacock. So that helps. It’s more freedom in terms of storylines, as well as more freedom in regards to both language and content. So that kind of opens things up for you as an actor. When I first started on Days, especially with the character I’m playing being so “out there” with his emotions, my language sometimes needed to be curbed. But nowadays it’s nice to have that freedom as an actor to express those emotions.

The show went through, as all of us, some pretty incredible things with the pandemic. The results of which remain with us. For the show, production became much more streamlined. So as an actor, you really have to be prepared when you go in. You don’t get a lot of rehearsal. 

For me, it’s been different than everyone else’s experience because I’m coming back and I’ve got this atmosphere of friends both in the cast and crew. For example, the other day I finished a scene and I went back to pick up a prop behind a set. I heard one of the cameramen say to the other cameraman, who was new, “Hey, it’s so great to have Pete back. He really knows how to help us out.” I was like, “Oh my God, I couldn’t get a better compliment from somebody on the crew than that.” 

So yeah, it’s been great to be back on the show.

Based on all of the press surrounding the move from NBC to Peacock, a big factor in the decision appeared to be how well the Beyond Salem franchise performed. You’re no stranger to the growing online soap genre. How did it feel knowing that you were a part of moving the soap genre into the future on a new platform? 

That’s kind of hard to talk about without sounding a little bit egotistical, but it feels good. They asked me if I wanted to be part of the Emmys, and I was like, you know what? That’s a whole political thing. I’ve already gotten my accolades, but just being there and seeing the show being picked up through its 60th year, and people in the crew saying, “Hey, it’s good to have you back. you’re helping out the show.” 

That’s enough for me. I don’t need to get an Emmy or anything. Just the day to day emotions from the cast and crew is better than anything else.

Some fans were initially apprehensive about the move to Peacock, but it seems like the actors have really enjoyed it. Have you felt any big differences in production from NBC to Peacock?

When I was doing the stuff in heaven, they had me swear a couple of times and I was like, “I don’t think I can do that.” It was difficult for me. However, I think I did a couple of times on this go around, but mostly because of where my character is at the time. Bo’s been through an awful lot and done some crazy things. But this go around is unlike anything that he’s been through before.

I think the audience is going to be glad to see him, but also shouting, “what the heck is the matter with you” while throwing things at the TV. So it’s going to be quite a ride.

As Bope fans, we have to admit that we have been through quite a bit over the decades and we never really got our happily ever after that so many super couples have received. What would you like to say to the Bo and Hope fans that never gave up and where can we expect their story to go? 

For Bo and Hope, their best love stories are always ones where the circumstances keep them apart and they are struggling to get back together. That’s what we have coming up here as these circumstances will keep them apart but obviously you know their love is going to carry them through. 

To have fans who — you know, fans just doesn’t seem the right word, they’re almost like friends who’ve been there, and it’s because of them that this couple has survived.

I mean, it’s crazy. I first left the show over ten years ago [in 2012]. I came back because Bo’s absence was really felt strongly by the audience. They didn’t have a chance to really say goodbye. So I came back for that stint, where Bo passed away [in 2015], so that the audience had a chance to say goodbye to Bo. At the time we thought that that was going to be it. There was so much uncertainty with the future of Daytime. We are one of four shows left, and who knew what was going to happen to Days of Our Lives? But despite all the odds it is still going, and now we’ve gotten picked up and we’re going to make it to the 60th anniversary, which is astounding.

So when I left the show, I didn’t know that I would have an opportunity like this to come back. 

The reaction from the audience to Bo and Hope coming back is just breathtaking to me. We’ve had amazing storylines and I’m pretty excited to be back and to see what else they can come up with for Bo and Hope.

It’s been over fifteen years since you last appeared in a scene with Brandon Beemer’s Shawn-Douglas and you have never shared a scene with Victoria Konefal’s Ciara. What was it like getting to work with your on-screen kids?

I have been so lucky to work with some amazing actors. I actually had an idea about presenting a storyline for Ciara and Bo because the audience reaction to that relationship is quite large. She’s just an incredible little actress and I would love to work with her. To be able to bring in this older audience that I have and combine it with the younger audience that she has I think would be wonderful.

In the past, Bo’s had very multifaceted relationships from Mrs. H, his mother, Pops, his brother and his sisters. So it’d be awesome to be able to work with my family, specifically my kids again.

On May 3rd, 1983 the character of Bo Brady debuted on DAYS and immediately became a fan favorite. What about the character do you think has resonated so much with fans? 

You know, if I could answer that question, I’d probably be a very rich producer. Most of it had to do with the writing. The writing was multifaceted and had storylines that were rather long. You’d have arcs that were six to eight months long. One of the biggest being the storyline revolving around the prisms and our trip to New Orleans. 

Honestly, Kristian and I just gave everything we had. We worked really hard. We both had a similar work ethic. To this day when we get together, we’re like, okay, how can we make this work? And what can we do? It’s that respect for each other. So when we look into each other’s eyes on screen you can see that. I think that’s what really pulls people in. When we have that close up just on our eyes, there’s no faking the audience out. It’s got to be there, and hopefully that’s what the audience will see in this go around, too. 

As previously mentioned, your character quickly became a fan favorite and really took off in 1984 when Roman Brady “died”. The then final scenes that you shared with Wayne Northrop are still highly regarded for your performances. Was the dynamic between you and Wayne similar to that of Bo and Roman?

Oh, absolutely. And it wasn’t just Wayne, you know, it was James [Reynolds] and Deidre [Hall]. I was thrown in with these icons of Daytime. I had done my two years on As the World Turns, so I knew a little bit about Daytime television. But to be thrown in the mix with these powerhouses was a learning lesson. They helped me along quite a bit. I learned an awful lot from them, and Frances Reid. The Bo and Mrs. H. relationship was one of the more important relationships in Bo’s life. I was extremely fortunate to work with those people and I learned an awful lot with them. 

Bo has had many great loves in his life. What was your reaction when you learned that Bo’s ex Megan Hathaway would be behind his return? 

It’s perfect, you know, especially with the ultimate Daytime villains no longer there. It just makes sense, especially the fact that Bo and Megan had a relationship pre-Days of Our Lives. So it’s just perfect for the writers coming up with that. It’s a perfect segway.

Recently, we sadly lost John Aniston who played Victor Kiriakis, Bo Brady’s biological father. What was your favorite memory of working with him?

Yeah, that hit me hard. I didn’t even realize how much he meant to me. Having my father pass just recently, and when I found out John passed it hit me pretty hard.

I think the best compliment you can get as an actor is when you hear “I didn’t catch you acting” and that’s what it was with him. You could never catch him. He just was.  Looking into his eyes when I was on set, I never saw anything but my father, or at the beginning this asshole who mistreated my sister, he just was. Every day I’d go in and work with him in his dressing room and he’d have a couple of jokes, always a couple of jokes and honestly some advice quite often, whether it was something about the show or mostly about life, ranging from the stock market to my personal life. He was always there. He was very wise and able to help me out during difficult circumstances. So going into rehearsal with him wasn’t always just about rehearsal. It was just a couple of jokes to lift my spirits or some advice to help me out through some circumstances.

Is there a current actor you’d like to work with or a character that you would like Bo to interact with that you may not have yet?

I think with my kids I’d really like to build those relationships because it seems like the audience wants to see that. They want to see us build on those, especially with Victoria. She has sort of taken on, or rather they have given her the mantle of Bo Brady’s spirit. The rebel, and she’s quite a feisty little actress and performer and people have recognized that as a Bo Brady attribute. So it’d be cool to get the two of us together.

We expect a lot of twists and turns as Bo and Hope’s return story unfolds. What can you tease for viewers?

As we see coming out of the cryogenics with Megan, she’s obviously going to have some kind of hold over Bo and when we’re looking at what’s keeping Bo and Hope apart, obviously Megan’s going to do everything she can to make Bo love her and try to rekindle what they had 40 years ago. Megan’s going to be the fly in the ointment, as they say.

Bo is coming with his memory of who he is right? Because sometimes whenever someone comes back from the dead or they’re coming back from, you know, a suspended state of reality, they don’t always have their memory of who they are and who they love. So we’re hoping that Bo comes back and he’s aware of who he is. He’s trying to get back to his family because if he comes back and his memories are wiped out, that’s just going to take a very long time.

His memories aren’t going to be wiped out, that I can guarantee you. But who he cares about and honestly more searching for himself because he doesn’t really know where he’s going and what his priorities are, which is the interesting part about him because his priorities are shifted. So that’s how they elongated the story. If you want to see Bo and Hope together right away…

Not going to happen.

On a personal note, what is something that you would tell others about life in Alaska that they may be surprised to know?

It’s incredibly beautiful. When people first learn that we’ve been in New Zealand, and now we’re in Alaska, I’d say, “Yeah, we just want to live in the places that people want to visit.” People go, “Wow, you lived in New Zealand, that must be beautiful.” We’re like, “Yep, it was” then people will say they want to go on a cruise to Alaska. To which I’m like “Yep, you should, because it’s beautiful here.”

I grew up in Michigan and lived part of my childhood in Marquette, Michigan, which is right on Lake Superior. So the weather there was very similar to here, maybe not quite as long or quite as cold, but very similar. I thought I might have some issues living here. Kelly is absolutely loving it because she’s back home. But I fell right into it. I got my mountain bike all set up. So I’m still riding my bike over the winter. I feel at home here. 

Climate change is really hitting Alaska hard and faster than quite a few places on Earth. I’ve always been an advocate for the environment, and have done so via social media.I recently recorded a video to the Alabama song “Pass It Down” which came out in the early 90s. There were people aware of what was going to happen in regards to climate change a long time ago. There’s a line in that song that says, “Now we all outta feel just a little bit guilty, When we look into the eyes of our kids, ‘Cause, brothers, it’s a fact, if we take and don’t put back, They’ll have to pay for all we did.” 

That’s a huge part of who I am. Because I’ve got a daughter now and knowing what she is going to be faced with when I’m gone is… To see the hurt and pain in her eyes is. That’s hard to face. 

As a veteran in this ever changing industry that is Hollywood, What advice would you give to up and coming actors that you wish you’d known as a young actor?

This is something I’ve said forever. If you’ve got something to fall back on if acting doesn’t work out, just go ahead and do that because this is a very difficult path in your life. So go ahead and take on your second plan. As long as you’ve got that in your back pocket, it’s ok if you don’t make it in this industry. 

Thank you so much for speaking with us today. We are huge fans and are very excited about your return. We can’t wait to see what unfolds!

Peacock is now the new exclusive home of the fan-favorite drama series Days of our Lives. The 61-time Emmy Award-winning daytime drama began streaming daily ONLY on Peacock in September. In addition to new episodes streaming daily, the past season will also be available exclusively to Peacock Premium customers.

Peacock is also home to the Peacock’s Original limited drama series Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem and the holiday film Days of our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas.

The post Daytime Legend Peter Reckell Talks ‘Days of Our Lives’ Move to Peacock, the Loves of Bo Brady’s Life and How This Return to Salem Will Be Different (EXCLUSIVE) appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

TV Source Magazine sat down with the actress to discuss everything Chanel, from her love life (#Challie vs. #Janel) to her fashion, the star breaks down this dream role come true. But Bowns doesn’t stop there as we discuss her efforts to give back to the community that raised her and other future business endeavors. 

We know that you originally auditioned for Chanel, didn’t get it but of course got called back once the role was vacated by Precious Way. What was it like getting a second shot at DAYS? What was the transition like into the role of Chanel?

So it was actually crazy because when they reached out, they sent me an audition for the role. So I would say I screen tested in November and then my birthday came around  on March 24th and they sent another audition and I read the character breakdown and I was like, this sounds like the character they already saw me for. It sounds really similar. So I was shooting at the time – on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel- in New York. and so I was really busy all day and they were like, We need this tape ASAP. So I called my manager and I was like, they already saw me do this, so like, tell them to just use my tape. I’m not auditioning, you know? My manager was like, “You know what? I agree”, and I was like, “Wait, wait, wait, wait, am I going to sound bougie? Am I going to sound crazy?”  She was like, “No, no, you’re right.”  And so I said, “OK”. And so she told them that.  Then they said,  we are recasting the same role and she doesn’t need to audition again, we’re prepared to offer it to her. So then the next day, they sent over the deal. 

I got started about a week later, I had to start a little bit later than they wanted me to start because I was still doing the other show. So when I came in I think they needed to get 13 episodes done right before they went on a hiatus. So I was going to have to basically come in and shoot those episodes in a week. Which, yeah, I did. It was crazy because I had never had to take on that amount of material that quickly. I was on the plane learning lines, calling friends like, Hey, can I? Can I pay you ten dollars an hour to run lines? Because I have no money yet?  You know, and just kind of just trying to get it done. And so, yeah, it was just really, really fast.  When I came in for my first week, I didn’t even know anyone’s names because I couldn’t I couldn’t memorize anything else.  So yeah, that was pretty much it.

Do you still get starstruck every time you work with Jackée Harry or Marla Gibbs? Have they shared any showbiz advice with you? *

I would say definitely, I definitely still get star struck for sure, especially whenever Marla comes on because she is just an icon. They’re both icons, really. ButI get to see Jackée more and play with her more. . But Marla was so funny because she’s actually a big fan of the show. So she knows everything that’s going on, so she’ll come on and she calls you by your character and she talks to you about your storyline. And she’s just so beautiful and so sweet. Then, Jackée,  she respects the craft so much, and she’s such a professional that it is just such a pleasure to work with her and to learn from her. And it’s always interesting because I get the scripts and I run the lines. And, you know, sometimes when you start to know people, you can know how they’re going to deliver the lines. But Jackée is such a, you know, wild, spontaneous actor that I never know what to expect. So it’s fun because it keeps me on my toes because I know it  won’t be anything like what I thought it was going to be.

You work with the younger cast a lot and of course those two iconic actresses, but who else would you like to share scenes with from Salem? *

Oh yeah. I haven’t worked with Drake Hogestyn (John Black) yet, which is like, I want to work with him. He’s an icon. He’s like at the top for me because I think I’ve almost worked with mostly everybody else for the most part.

I’m not sure if you’re aware of Twitter ship names, butI’m going to refer to them as Challie and Janel. Did the support of Challie and Janel coming so quickly surprise you? The chemistry is so natural between both of them that it’s hard to know which one to choose. Myself included. One week, we like Challie. The next week, we love Janel. Was that support surprising to you at all?

Yes, definitely. Because I didn’t know I had heard of super couples and soap operas, but I never realized how big that the ships were like. I  didn’t even realize because sometimes people tag me in things, and so I’ll see them that way. But one day I got curious and I just typed hashtag Janelle or hashtag Challie and then I saw so much stuff and I was like, Wow, it’s amazing, actually. But yes, it definitely surprised me. Definitely.

There was a scene between Chanel and Paulina where Chanel admitted that while she had romantic feelings for Allie, it was Johnny who she was truly in love with. Is that still the case or are Chanel’s feelings between the two more even?

Oh, I would say that it’s kind of a constant evolution. I think that Chanel is very much in the moment, and I think that she loves both of them. But I think her concept of long term is kind of, or the idea of whatever long term is, is kind of far out for her. So it’s just like, what is being reciprocated, what feels good at the time? That’s the interesting thing because like you would think with that, that it’s not real or it’s not genuine, but I feel like for her, it is, but it’s just that she just has this ability to just be in the moment with whoever she’s in that moment with.

Chanel has come to Salem and become very much the voice of the audience in a lot of ways and they have written some very funny lines for you. “White people are crazy” is probably our favorite. How do you approach your character being the funny, current young woman that she is?

That’s my mom’s favorite too! She’s like, Yeah, make sure you put that in your interview reel.

Well, it’s interesting because for the most part, the way that she feels about things and the things that she says is aligned with me.So that makes it easier for me to be in Salem and to have that perspective. Because sometimes you get far out stuff. Chanel, for the most part, gets to exist in a place of truth and, you know, relatability.

So we need Chanel style secrets! The clothes and the hair, they’re always on point for Chanel. Can you tell us more about Chanel style? Is it evolving? Would you say that it’s changed since she came in or will it change going forward?

So Richard Bloore the costume designer and head of wardrobe, when I first came in, he had a conversation with me. He pulled a bunch of clothes and he asked me, “What do you like? What don’t you like?” For me, I like colors. On brown skin colors pop so I like colors. Then also, Chanel is bold and has a very bold personality, and she also is named Chanel,  so I think those are two hints that she has to be a fashionista.

With those two things, I go, “OK.” Me, Raven. Naturally, I like solid colors. You know, I like simple but stylish that is what I would say I lean towards. But with Chanel, it gives me permission to be a little bit more wild in the wardrobe choices because I see Chanel as new money. So new money is real loud. So we’re going to wear all of the colors. She’s going to be like, if it had a brand name, it’d be all the way across the chest. Like, that’s very much her. So that’s kind of where we come from collectively. We always try to find things that look like they’re high fashion, but like the loudest of high fashion.

As a longtime viewer of Days of Our Lives,  when I think back on their history of diversity  we’ve always had the Carver family but I can’t honestly say that they’ve ever been a fully fledged family. It’s been a couple of people here and there, and that’s it. So how do you feel being part of such a major moment in Days as a core member of the show’s first true fully fledged black family unit? And what can we expect from the messiness that is the Carver/Price family?

So I would say that, with the Carver family, I think, in a lot of ways they have paved the way for us to come in, and from Lani and Eli having the first black marriage on Days of our Lives and just all the interracial stuff that they’ve done in the past that was pretty much before its time, in a way. I feel like I’m adding to that and contributing to the groundwork that they’ve already laid. It just feels like a privilege, and I feel honored to be able to contribute to the representation, because representation matters.

I love that they keep adding and expanding our family. I think it’s necessary and I also love that the way that they write is like us. I don’t feel like it’s an idea of what a black woman is or a young blackperson is. I feel like it’s pretty much on point for the most part, and if there’s ever any issues, there’s always an open dialogue in which we can contribute in that way. But I do feel like whenever I see it, I’m like, “Oh yeah, this sounds like Jackée.” “Oh  Yeah, this sounds like, me.” So I like that we’re not just, you know sometimes in mainstream media they will put black people there just as decoration or to fill a quota. That’s not what they’re doing here. We have strong voices, we have clear voices and we have voices that are true to to our DNA.

Hopefully, we’ll get some more moments between Chanel and Lani because one of my favorite relationships between sisters was actually on the Young and the Restless back in the 90s, and we haven’t really had that since.  Can we expect some more sisterly scenes between the two?

Oh yes. Some more scenes coming. Chanel looks up to Lani and in a lot of ways they’ve always both yearned for that sister relationship because it was something that they were both deprived of because of Paulina. But yeah, they’re both yearning for a relationship and it does manifest.

We loved seeing Chanel as a part of a Very Salem Christmas on Peacock. What was it like participating in something that was a little bit more lighthearted than the main show?

It was really fun. I’ve always wanted to do a Christmas movie. I say it all the time, so it just kind of came out of left field and they were like, “Oh, we’re going to make a Christmas movie.” 

All of us playing with people that we don’t usually play with was also fun. Like them, putting me with Tripp was hilarious. So that was just fun, and then just me and Lucas like making a joke out of it and milking it and just we had to have fun. So we just had a great time. We shot the whole movie in I think four days. Yeah, I heard that. It was long days, longer than our days ever are on Days,  But  yeah, it was just really, really so much fun.

How did it feel winning the Soap Opera Digest Outstanding Newcomer award alongside Carson Boatman?

I’ve always read the soap digest. I’ve read it for years, even when I was a kid, I would always pick them up because they were always the small ones, you know, and I would pick them up and look at them. So just ever being in the soap digest is still surreal for me, just in general. Then winning, that really caught me by surprise.  It was amazing.

Your hometown, and your family, clearly mean a lot to you. We’ve seen San Diego celebrate you, your family’s big viewing party for your Days debut. What has it been like for them to see your career grow this way?

I think it’s one of those things where everyone is so proud and they all feel like they’re here and they’re part of it and they have been throughout my whole entire journey, they’ve all been so supportive. I’ve done a lot of plays around the city and I always had a lot of friends and family drive up from San Diego to pay money to come and see me being in a hole in the wall production of something.  I’ve sacrificed a lot. I’ve missed a lot of birthday parties, baby showers, weddings. I miss a lot of those things because I’ve been out here on my grind and I was always afraid that I was going to ruin those relationships or jeopardize those relationships. But really, there’s just so much love that everyone’s so understanding and it’s just so beautiful. I just have such a beautiful, strong support system.

Speaking of your hometown, we’d love to hear more about your giving back efforts, namely the cheerleading program that you began. Is that still running?

Unfortunately, not anymore. But I started a cheerleading program for inner city youth in South Central. I worked for ICF, which is Inner City Education Foundation, so I worked there as a tutor, and then I went from tutoring to coaching cheerleading at four of their schools.

I want to figure out how to get back into doing that because I really loved that. But the timing is hard because there’s a very specific window that you can do that in and it’s hard to juggle with other opportunities. 

Speaking of other ventures, you have a new Tea business coming out with your sister called Peace Potions. Is it safe to say that you’re not a coffee person like I am?

Oh no, I hate coffee. I hate it. Hate it. I like the smell. It smells beautiful. Like when you wake up and someone’s brewing coffee, I love that smell. But I don’t like the taste. I don’t like chocolate either, and they taste the same to me.

My mom. She loves coffee. It’s a little ritual for her. So like, sometimes I’ll tell her to give me like we’ll say a fourth of the cup with coffee and then the other three fourths filled with cream. Cream with coffee. I can do that. As long as I can just only get a hint of it, then it is fine.

But I love tea, all kinds of tea.  But mostly I like black tea, which is the most similar to coffee. You know, black tea with a little cream. So my sister and I, we have a tea company that we do together that is called Peace Potions. We curate different herbs and blends.

When I think about life goals and I think about happiness,  I truly mean peace. It’s above happiness for me. I think that peace is more important. I think that we have to remember to make peace a priority in our lives. So that’s kind of what the tea company is for me, because whenever I sit down and I have my tea, and I’m sure people feel this way with their coffee, but that’s like a moment for you to just get centered. It’s time for you to figure out what you’re going to do and you should feel at peace. When you’re having your little little moment, your little tea moment or coffee moment.

So we also loved seeing you on HBO’s Insecure as Sharice, being the scene stealer that you always are. What was it like being able to be a part of a black led production?

It was incredible.  I am such a big fan of Issa Rae. I’m such a big fan of hers and I was disappointed I didn’t get to meet her. But Yvonne Orji,  I worked with her for a few days and she was second on the call sheet. She was really just a really generous actress and really present and really made me feel like I was a part of the family, even though I was only there for a short time. That whole entire set. When you talk about, you know, black being black or being black and being a woman, you go on that set and everybody is of color. There’s so many women in positions of power and it, the whole set, really feels like a party. 

For our last question, do you have any words of advice for aspiring young actors, especially young black actors like yourself getting into this industry? 

Don’t let anyone else limit your beliefs or stand in the way of your dreams. Because everybody sees things through their own limitations and you can’t let other people’s limitations limit you. Because there’s no limits.

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Since its debut in 2017, viewers of the show have tuned in week after week making it the most talked about show on social media during its time slot. While the star may be drug kingpin, Franklin Saint, loyal fans know that he would not have amassed the power he has without the woman by his side. His right hand. Can he still thrive now that his #2 wants to spread her own wings?

TV Source Magazine got the chance to chat with Snowfall’s resident Queen, Angela Lewis as season 5 kicks off on what to expect now that the family is fractured. Has Louie’s quest for independence been a gift or a curse? The answer to that might be a little hard to determine. 

We ended last season with Louie and Jerome informing Franklin that they wanted to branch out on their own by making him their supplier. Is that still the plan or will Franklin find a way to bring the family back together?        

I think that is definitely Louie and Jerome’s plan, and I think it is Franklin’s plan to keep the family together. Honestly, I don’t think that Louie and Jerome want the family to not be together. I just think that, especially Louie, she’s really looking to have loyalty and love amongst the family, but still be able to do her thing the way thinks it should be done.

Snowfall has often attempted to portray Leon as Franklin’s right hand, but those of us who know, know that it’s Louie and always has been. There are even times when they two appeared to be closer than Jerome and Franklin. What can we expect the dynamic between them to be now that she’s branching out from him? 

That’s the thing; Louie has always been his right hand, but she’s not always recognized as his right hand. And that’s something from the audience, from Franklin and the rest of the family. So I think she doesn’t want to be the right hand anymore. She wants to be her own boss, her own person. And that means that there’s two cooks in the kitchen and that never goes well. I think it’s just a matter of how well they’re able to figure it out and how well they’re able to manage two very strong personalities and two totally different ways of doing things. That is just two totally different ways of doing things. I think the nuances are everything. It’s the fight of the season, you know, wanting to maintain the love and the family, but still wanting to do things your own way.

Louie and Jerome haven’t always been on the same page when it comes to business or Franklin. Will this season see them as a united front or is there still the potential for dissension between the two?

I think both. I don’t think that there is dissension, necessarily. I think with Louis and Jerome, when it’s good, it’s good. And when it’s not so good, it’s quite tumultuous. But I think in spite of it all, they do love each other very much and I think they always fight to find each other in the end. Since Louis was shot and almost killed, that really put things into perspective for both of them. They are wanting to maintain a united front. No matter what comes up, they’ll continue to fight for each other, to find each other, to be on the same page. And I think that’s incredibly beautiful.

Especially considering she got him on that horse. I don’t know how that happened.

(laughs) Something else, right?  We were at the stables practicing, myself and Amin [Jerome Saint]. He wants to be the master of all things. So he was getting all the extra stuff, the extra lessons and the extra tricks and things. I was like, “wait a minute. Louie is the horse rider right now!”

It appears that while Louie still has Franklin’s ear, she may have fallen back on giving her advice. Has she completely lost faith in his decision making abilities after he basically did the opposite all last season?

Yes. I think she doesn’t really feel like Franklin is hearing her so she’s had to make some hard decisions. I do think, though, that she’ll always try to reason with him. Absolutely. 

Last season left Louie fans a bit stressed out after our girl caught a stray. Previous seasons have also landed her in some pretty dangerous situations. Will we be able to take a season off from Louie being in peril?

I cannot assure you of that. We’re all at risk on this show! (laughs)

Considering Louie’s previous dust ups with the LAPD, we were surprised to see her on the brink of joining forces with them for her own gain. What can we expect to see with this unlikely alliance?

I would actually wonder why anybody would be surprised at that. Even when she was working with Claudia, they had some LAPD on the books. However interesting and destructive her relationship with Claudia was, she definitely learned a lot from her and having some police on your team is smart. I think Louie thinks that that’s a smart way to go. And you know, you can’t do much more questionable than being on the same team as the CIA! So, why not? If it’s going to keep her informed about what’s happening and if it’s going to be an avenue to be able to have an upper hand in multiple ways, I think she’s going to do that. It’s a matter of finding the relationship that’s going to be mutually beneficial. Also with the cop that Franklin has in his pocket where he’s kind of rogue and definitely not having the family’s best interests at hand, I think she’s looking for a slightly different color.

We’ve thought of Aunt Louie and Uncle Jerome as a unit for so long that we often forget that they aren’t actually married. It looks like that might be changing based on the season 5 preview. What can you share about that?

This season in particular has our characters on a totally different path. Last season had them in some situations where they really had to question what’s important, especially for Louie. And realize that everything can go away really quickly, including themselves. Louie is laser focused this season and really wants to protect everything which is important to her and Jerome is definitely one of those things that is supremely important to her. I’m not going to give anything away! Stay tuned. 

I have to ask about Skully. Finding out that he didn’t die on the hospital floor last season was a pleasant surprise, but seeing that he’s still in an alliance with Jerome and Louie was a bit of a curve ball.  How can they continue to work together given their past?

Well, if you will recall, Louis recommended getting rid of Man Boy before the double dip he tried to pull off. Skully always stays in his lane. He might be crazy, but he always stays in his lane. After he came to the hospital to kill Louie, she was able to talk him down and to speak to him in a way that made sense to him. That allowed for a sort of bond between Louie and Skully. And when Louie was able to prove to Scully that Man Boy was double crossing him, from then on, he really had her ear and understood that she wasn’t out for him and that she was honest. I think honesty goes a long way with Scully. Louie is going to use that to her advantage.

For me, Louie is a flawless character, but as her portrayer, can you tell us one thing you love about her and one thing you dislike?

I try not to judge Louie because I don’t think I would be able to play her if I was judging her. I love that Louie goes for what she wants. I love that she stands in her power. She doesn’t take no for an answer, and she tries to take what she’s given and move in a way that works for her. What don’t I like about Louie? I don’t know, I kind of like Louie. I guess I don’t like that she’s a drug dealer! (laughs)

Unfortunately, even with some progress made, the number of dramas led by a majority black cast making it to 5 seasons is still relatively low. What is it about this show and this cast you feel keeps viewers coming back every week?

I think we have a stellar group of artists that are really smart and really pay attention to story. I think the process is relatively collaborative. There is an open door where we’re able to ask the writers questions and even the showrunner. We can ask questions and express our concerns. Even if our questions and concerns don’t always make it to the script, at least we’re heard. At least there’s a conversation that’s being had. And I think as a group, we check in with each other. We love each other. We care about each other and we care about each other’s artistic integrity. If one of us is not understanding something or if one of us understands something that the rest of us are missing, there’s always conversation on set. We figure it out. And I think that shows up on screen. We trust each other because we know that we have each other’s backs, and that’s everything.

Much of the show, its content and Louie’s characterization can be extremely heavy and serious. Are there things you do to decompress after scenes wrap?

All of us have such good relationships that we just try to keep it light even when the cameras are rolling because it can be a lot. But there are certainly instances where an actor needs to maintain that space, that solitude or that energy, that they need to really bring the fire. I think in those instances, it’s just important for me to laugh at the end of the day. It’s important for me to formally say good night to Louie and to the situation. I also recently moved out of the city, so I have a nice, decent ride home to decompress and put on my 90s R&B and sing and let it go before I get home.

Last question and it’s something we’ve been dying to know since season 3. How did Claudia REALLY die?

(laughs) So Louie did kill her. She did drown her. But it didn’t happen in the way that Andre said. The fighting and screaming and water splashing everywhere, that did not happen. Claudia was taking heroin to manage her pain. And in that bathroom scene, she asked Louie to help her out. And she did. Claudia knew that Louie was staying clean. She knew that Louie was focused and had goals of her own. And when she got abusive, in that moment, I think it just tipped Louie and she was able to push her down in the water and there wasn’t much of a fight.

Snowfall is currently airing its fifth season Wednesdays at 10:00 pm on FX Network. Episodes are available next day on Hulu.

The post ‘Snowfall’s Angela Lewis Dishes on How Louie’s Independence Will Be the Fight of the Season  appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Deflection

Looking for another ally, this week “Steve” reveals his true identity to Kristen. Abigail is surprised when she finds them together. Later, as Lani enlists Kristen’s help, Gina and Stefano devise a new plot to break up John and Marlena and “Steve” convinces John to leave town with him to hunt down Stefano. Julie has bold advice for a frustrated Kayla in regards to Steve. Also, Chad grows suspicious of Kate and what she may know about his father and Kristen wants to talk to Brady about the day their baby died.

More Days of our Lives Spoilers:

• Clyde suggests to Ben they break out of prison
• Hattie causes complications for Kate
• Ciara is blown away when Xander and Victor’s secret is revealed
• Lani reveals to JJ what Gabi has done
• Abe is stunned when Eli fills him in about Lani
• Armed with a hidden agenda, JJ pays Gabi a visit
• JJ attempts to disable Gabi’s pacemaker app
• Kayla and Rafe compare notes on Hope
• Sonny visits Will in prison so they can sign their divorce papers
• Eric and Sarah receive more bad news about Mickey

Source Sneak Peek – DAYS Edition – Week of January 20, 2020

It’s a week of flashbacks as we are shown all that went down last Mother’s Day; Tragedy strikes Adrienne and Sarah; Kristen’s entire world is shattered; Abigail tells JJ that Haley is dead

The post <i>Days of our Lives</i> Spoilers: January 13-17, 2020 appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Taped: December 30, 2019
Panel: Ashley, Jonathan K., Coryon, Ryan
Producer: Jonathan K.

Synopsis: The Season 3 finale begins with our hosts naming our performers of the year (three women and one male), before tackling each soaps’ subject matter. Every segment ends with what we’re looking forward to/hopeful for in the new year for our shows. From high profile castings, heartbreaking losses, cancellation threats, controversial returns and exits, chemistry-lacking couples, nonsensical plots and the moments we loved — we’re running down the Year in Soaps for 2019.

Timestamps: Performers of the Year 0:01:00 | The Bold and the Beautiful 0:09:21 | The Young and the Restless 0:23:40 | General Hospital 1:01:51| Days of our Lives 1:29:00 | Hollyoaks 2:07:00

Episodes of the TV Source podcast are available on iTunes, Spotify and Google Play. Join in on the conversation using #TVSPodcast on Twitter, comment below, or email us at podcast@tvsourcemagazine.com.

The post Podcast Episode 105 | Season Three Finale – Year in Soaps: “2019 Hot Takes” appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Party Crashers

It’s not a New Years Eve party in Salem without a shock arrival or return. This year is no different when Julie and Doug’s New Year’s Eve party is crashed by an unexpected couple. While Kayla, Justin, Marlena, and John share theories about who might’ve been the mystery Santa Claus, they are then left stunned by Steve’s return. Kayla confronts Steve one-on-one about not only is absence, but his unexpected return.
Days of our Lives will be preempted on Wednesday, January 1, 2020.

More Days of our Lives Spoilers:

• Gabi discovers someone has vandalized Gabi Chic
• Kristen is enraged when she spies Brady and Nicole kissing
• Kristen is tormented by the thought of Brady being with Nicole
• Eli receives surprising news about the person who threw a rock through the Gabi Chic window
• Kristen tells Brady she wants him back
• Kristen attacks Nicole
• Gabi is stunned to discover Lani is back in town
• Ciara supports Ben on the day of his final appeal
• Xander and Victor realize Ciara has been playing them
• Gina lashes out at Rafe

Source Sneak Peek – DAYS Edition – Week of January 6, 2020

Ciara’s confrontation with Victor takes a stunning turn; Kristen uses Gabi to get what she wants; Lani confides in JJ who offers his help; Jack rips into “Steve” and is perplexed by his brother’s behavior

The post <i>Days of our Lives</i> Spoilers: December 30-January 3, 2020 appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Hollyoaks Spoilers: Flash Forward

A flash-forward to NYE 2020 reveals police banging on the Osborne’s front door, Charlie’s game controller lying on the stairs and Nancy shouting up to him, asking what he’s done. At the Lomaxes, Leela tells a chuffed Sid that she wants to foster him, if he behaves himself. Brooke is holding her own party at the house. Juliet feels pressured when Sid suggests going somewhere more private. She questions whether becoming an official couple was a mistake. In Charlie’s bedroom, Leah suggests playing Truth or Dare and dares Ella to steal something from The Hutch but Charlie steps up to do it instead. Ella makes a promise to stay out of trouble in 2020. At The Hutch, Misbah insults Marnie and worries that she’s made an enemy of her.

Meanwhile, Sid meets his cousin Jordan for drugs but is seen by Ollie and Imran. Luke arrives and convinces Sid to give up the drugs and make the next year a positive one. Sid reveals that he likes to play the guitar, so Luke encourages Sid to focus on his music instead of bad habits. A flash-forward sees Leela, dressed as if she’s been to a wedding. She looks at the floor of The Dog carpark and sees a guitar has been violently smashed to pieces. Back at The Hutch, Mandy interrupts Cindy being bitchy about Nancy and orders her to give Nancy a break. Nancy overhears and, not wanting to live a lie, tells her that she slept with Darren. Peri, Tom, Romeo and Yazz are at the Lomaxes before heading to a club. Realising that Yazz won’t be able to hear anything in a club, Tom decides that he’s going to The Hutch instead, and the others follow. Tom arrives at The Hutch to celebrate his birthday. He cuts the cake with a distinctive knife, which a year into the future is being put in an evidence bag.

More Hollyoaks Spoilers:

• Back to New Year’s Eve 2019, Peri walks into The Lomaxes to find Juliet and Sid about to have sex
• Cindy tells Luke to knock some sense into Darren
• Fed up of love-birds Brooke and Ollie, Juliet is keen to get out of the Osborne’s and asks Sid to get hold of some drugs
• Peri and Romeo push Tom and Yazz to get together
• Tom asks Yazz on a date
• Jack tells Breda about his plan for them to live in Portugal
• John Paul returns
• Mercedes is preparing a special dinner for Bobby and is pleased to have her brother John Paul back by her side
• Mandy is still jumpy when Darren tries to touch her and questions whether he still loves Nancy
• Sienna agrees to take part in Liberty’s sharing circle where they talk about any worries and hopes and dreams for the baby

Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 6:30 on Channel 4, with first look screenings at 7 pm on E4 in the U.K.. Episodes air on a two-week delay on Hulu in the United States. For more on Hollyoaks, visit their official website.

The post <i>Hollyoaks</i> Spoilers: December 30-January 3, 2020 appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Secret Santa

After hiding in the shadows since his return, “Stefano” is tempted to reveal himself to Marlena. Unaware of her husbands return, Kayla plans a romantic Christmas with new love Justin. Temptation finally gets the best of “Stefano” and he secretly joins the Christmas party at the hospital as old Saint Nick. Kayla notices and follows “Stefano” and confronts the mystery man. Meanwhile, Marlena finds a mysterious gift in her purse likely left by the secret Santa. Later, Hattie is thrown when she finds “Steve” in Kate’s room. With his cover blown, what will be his next move?

More Days of our Lives Spoilers:

• Rafe questions why “Hope” and Kate were fighting
• JJ comes clean about his addiction to Jack and Jennifer
• Julie worries no one is going to come to the Horton tree trimming
• Eve and Hattie both receive an early Christmas gift
• Xander gives Sarah a special Christmas present
• Marlena helps Ciara visit Ben without Victor’s knowledge
• Kate is upset to see Sonny with Evan
• John gets an unpleasant surprise at home
• Lani indirectly strikes back at Gabi
• Nicole impulsively pulls Brady in for a kiss

Source Sneak Peek – DAYS Edition – Week of December 30, 2019

Marlena confronts “Hope” about her feelings for John; Kristen attacks Nicole; Kayla and Steve come face to face; Ciara supports Ben on the day of his final appeal

The post <i>Days of our Lives</i> Spoilers: December 23-27, 2019 appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews