Brandon's Buzz

Regular Buzz listeners know it's always a fun time when the amazing LINDA DANO stops by for a chat!  An Emmy-winning veteran of more soaps than I have fingers to count, she is now a staple on QVC, for whom she designs a mega-selling line of affordable accessories for the home.  She returns to the network this week with a second iteration of the popular Christmas decor line which she premiered during the holiday season last year, and she is returning to the Buzz to offer us an exclusive sneak peek at the goods!

A tragic victim of inevitable cost-cutting and magnificently poor network (mis)management, ABC's classic soap "All My Children" signs off tomorrow afternoon after forty-two years and some 10,700 episodes.  And returning to the Buzz to help me mark such a wrenching occasion is the soap journalism icon CONNIE PASSALACQUA HAYMAN, who has written crisp, compelling commentary for over two decades now using the nom de plume of Marlena De Lacroix, and who just happens to measure "AMC" as the finest soap opera in television history.  Talking turkey about daytime --- and bidding adieu to a television landmark --- with a true master, exclusively on Brandon's Buzz!

He burst onto the pop music scene in 2007 with his arresting major-label debut record Indiana, and followed that up with a high-profile performance on the 2008 Academy Awards telecast, and a pop masterpiece called OK Now, released later that year.  He's back on the block after an extended hiatus with a terrific third album, Forever If Ever, and singer/songwriter JON McLAUGHLIN is stopping by the Buzz to discuss both the making of the album and how liberating it is to be on his own again in the music business.  PLUS:  celebrity chef CURTIS STONE stops in for a quick chat about food, fun, and the art of life.

She has covered the crazy, kooky world of soaps for some two decades and more now, and her sarcastic and blisteringly brilliant Soap Opera Digest column "It's Only My Opinion" has one of the most readerships in daytime.  She is now taking on the world of publishing, with a brand new book called Afternoon Delight: Why Soaps Still Matter, in which she reminds us why this uniquely American genre of television earned its significance within the culture, and analyzes the ways the soaps can propel themselves into the future.  And to celebrate the book's debut in stores, the captivating CAROLYN HINSEY is stopping by Brandon's Buzz to give us an exclusive sneak peek!

Brandon's Buzz is thrilled to welcome back the fabulously irreverent Marlena De Lacroix herself --- the captivating CONNIE PASSALACQUA HAYMAN --- for a special live event!  With all the recent head-spinning developments in soapland, and the news that her old favorites "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" will soon be going off the air, you just KNOW Miss Marlena's got LOTS of opinions about the state of daytime these days, and she is making her seventh visit to the Buzz to gab with the fans and to tell ALL!

As a member of Michael Malone's Emmy-winning head-writing team on "One Life to Live" in the early '90s, she actually created (and named!) the soon-to-be-iconic character of Todd Manning, and as the series' executive producer from 1994-96, she was instrumental in shepherding and executing some of the most important, most memorable, and most compelling storylines --- Joey and Dorian's illicit affair, Asa and Alex's whirlwind courtship (and crazy Egyptian-themed wedding!), Viki Lord Carpenter's irrevocably shattered psyche, the staggering revelation that Todd was in actual fact Victor Lord's long-lost son, and the arrival in Llanview of dashing Irishman Patrick Thornhart --- in the classic soap's rich, riveting history.  Now, with the recent announcement that "One Life" will be wrapping up its four-decade run next January, the spectacular SUSAN BEDSOW HORGAN is stopping by the Buzz to reminisce. and to remember the incredible years she spent hanging out with the folks in Llanview, PA.

She wrote for some of the most beloved couples --- John & Marlena, Patch & Kayla, Shane & Kim --- in "Days of Our Lives'" rich history, and now she is constructing a trilogy of novels around those classic characters.  Now, the remarkable SHERI ANDERSON returns to Brandon's Buzz to offer a sneak peek at the second novel in the series, "A Stirring from Salem," and to discuss her thoughts on the future of the soap opera!

His magnificent music has been a big part of the soundtrack of our lives for some three decades now; best remembered for his classic 1984 smash "Missing You," he has just released his tenth studio album, "Rough and Tumble," and now, singer/songwriter JOHN WAITE is stopping by Brandon's Buzz to discuss the new record and to reflect on one of pop music's most enduring careers.  Plus:  chef LORENA GARCIA --- one of the four judges on NBC's hot reality competition series "America's Next Great Restaurant" --- pops in to preview Sunday night's exciting finale!

She toiled away in the daytime grind for nearly three decades --- with one Emmy statuette and a slew of nominations to show for it, thank you very much! --- so you just know the magnificent LINDA DANO has lots of opinions on the state of soaps these days, and as we prepare to face life without All My Children and One Life to Live, both of which ABC has just cancelled, she is returning to the Buzz to really let it rip. (Oh yeah, and she's also dropping by to give us a special sneak peek at the latest additions to her massively successful collection of home decor accessories for QVC, and she's revealing how she feels about the upcoming royal wedding.) Compellingly candid views from a beloved daytime icon, in a riveting Brandon's Buzz exclusive.

He became a suds sensation nearly ten years ago, first by playing opposite the legendary Kim Zimmer as noble Dr. Noah Chase on "Guiding Light," and later as the slimy serial killer Daniel Colson on "One Life to Live." He has moved behind the scenes of late, having formed a new independent film production company entitled Shake the Tree Productions, and now, actor-turned-auteur MARK DOBIES is stopping by the Buzz to fill us in on all he has been up to since leaving the world of daytime behind!

He willingly walked away from a high-profile career in the world of New York City law to spend more time with his family and to return to his first love: writing. And now, author CAMERON STRACHER stops by the Buzz with an exclusive sneak preview of his fascinating first piece of full-length young adult fiction, "The Water Wars." PLUS: Academy Award-nominated actor ERIC ROBERTS checks in to discuss his participation in the latest cycle of VH1's smash reality series "Celebrity Rehab," and to preview what lays ahead for his character on "The Young and the Restless" in the new year!

They are three determined stars each making names for themselves in the cutthroat world of young Hollywood, and they've all three come to Brandon's Buzz to tell their amazing stories: JEROME ELSTON SCOTT discusses the making of his new directorial debut "Anderson's Cross"; TYNE STECKLEIN discusses working with the great Michael Jackson just prior to his tragic passing, as well as her role in the new smash musical "Burlesque"; and TANNA FREDERICK breaks down her collaborations with famed film director Henry Jaglom, and describes their latest project, "Queen of the Lot." Scott, Stecklein, and Frederick, in a Brandon's Buzz "Rising Stars of Hollywood" special presentation!

She was my fourth guest, some twenty-one months ago, and I'm so thrilled to welcome her back for episode *seventy*-four: as sensitive Blossom Russo, she was once America's favorite teenager, and now that she's a smash as natty neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler on CBS' hit comedy "The Big Bang Theory," the magnificent MAYIM BIALIK returns to Brandon's Buzz to discuss Sheldon, science, and success the second time around. Plus: Emmy- and Academy Award-winning actress CHRISTINE LAHTI stops by the Buzz to break down her recurring role on "Law and Order: SVU" and the rest of her glorious career!

NBC's classic soap "Days of Our Lives" hit the airwaves in November 1965, and forty-five years later, the show is still cooking with gas, and to help mark the soap's landmark anniversary, a quartet of the series' stars --- JAMES REYNOLDS (Salem's top cop Abe Carver), ARIANNE ZUCKER (scheming bad girl Nicole Walker), JUDI EVANS (family gal Adrienne Johnson Kiriakis), and SUZANNE ROGERS (heart-of-gold grandmother Maggie Horton) --- are stopping by the Buzz to reminisce about the show's glorious past, and to offer a sneak peek at the next forty-five years in the life of Salem, U.S.A.!

As an Emmy-winning daytime writer, she helped create and write for some of the most iconic characters and couplings --- Luke and Laura, Shane and Kim, Patch and Kayla, Jake and Vicky --- in soap history. Now, the spectacular SHERI ANDERSON is heading back to the suds scene with a trilogy of novels based on former characters from the rich forty-five-year history of "Days of Our Lives." Book one --- "A Secret in Salem" --- is due in bookstores on November 9, and in the runup to its release, the amazing Anderson is stopping by the Buzz to give us an exclusive sneak peek at the action, as well as to reminisce about the days of her life behind the soap scenes!

November 1, 2010 is the third annual "Give Up Your Shoulds" Day, and We Love Soaps' divine Damon L. Jacobs is continuing his crusade to convince us all to live a "should-less" life! The recent rash of gay-related teen suicides has alarmed a great many of us, and Damon is returning to Brandon's Buzz for a very special LIVE event to give us an exclusive sneak peek at his plan of action, as well as to dish about all the hot topics in soapland (including "One Life to Live's" quasi-renewal and Stephanie Forrester's brave battle with stage four cancer!) and whatever else crosses our crazy minds! Tired of thinking you SHOULD join a gym, you SHOULD look for a better job, you SHOULD be a better person, you SHOULD be a positive example in today's world? Ditch the "shoulds" and come join us as a true master teaches us how to take the first step toward a happier existence!

Still fondly remembered for her legendary, Emmy-garnering seventeen-year run as wacky, wonderful Felicia Gallant on NBC's classic soap "Another World," she left daytime behind to return to her first loves --- decorating and design --- and on the eve of her return to QVC with her first-ever collection of Christmas collectibles, the extraordinary LINDA DANO returns to the Buzz to give us an exclusive sneak peek, as well as to reminisce about how it felt to win that elusive Emmy, and to explain why she almost turned down the role that made her a globally-beloved superstar!

Regular listeners of Brandon's Buzz know that I got my start working on Stardish Radio, a BlogTalkRadio show hosted by my good pal JoAnn Kubasek. I still work with JoAnn often, and occasionally, I even pop in and guest-host Stardish. And with JoAnn's very generous blessing, I am presenting a compilation of conversations I have conducted over the past couple of years on Stardish with four of our favorite soap stars past and present, including: "One Life to Live" hunk MATT WALTON (who discusses how he nabbed the role of Llanview legal eagle Eli Clarke); former "General Hospital" star MICHAEL SUTTON (who talks about his recent return to the show as tragic hero Stone Cates); former "Another World" heroine SANDRA ROBINSON (who recalls working opposite daytime legends like Doug Watson and Victoria Wyndham, who portrayed her character Amanda Cory Fowler's parents); and legendary "One Life to Live" returnee KIM ZIMMER (who discusses the turbulent final days of "Guiding Light," as well as how thrilled she is to ret

His fabulously infectious 1980 smash "Steal Away" earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and has become one of the most enduring, most popular hit singles of the past three decades. He has just released his latest album, "Time and Tide," and to mark the event, acclaimed singer/songwriter ROBBIE DUPREE is stopping by the Buzz to discuss his career, to tell the story behind his most famous hit, and to explain precisely why Katy Perry beats Lady GaGa in his eyes!

He shot to fame in the late '60s as romantic werewolf Quentin Collins on the beloved daytime soap "Dark Shadows," and later became a global television icon as charming rogue Richard Channing on CBS' classic prime time drama "Falcon Crest." Now, he is front and center among the ensemble of fall's most talked about film "The Social Network," and the incredible DAVID SELBY is stopping by the Buzz to discuss his staggering career and his role in the year's hottest movie!