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-Terri Colombino & Paul Leyden Press 2001 -
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-Terri Colombino & Paul Leyden Press 2001 -
What a turnaround year for the residents of Oakdale! Shortly after celebrating its 45th anniversary, As the World Turns carted home a trunkload of Daytime Emmys for 2000. The show hardly rested on it's laurels afterward, with stories like Julia's descent into madness and Vicky's ghostly return. Fun, new couples like Simon and Katie, Paul and Rose and Hal and Emily kept us laughing, while Barbara's accident and Bryant's death shocked us. It's a delight to watch this World keep turning.
Hit Couple: Simon and Katie
ATWT has achieved in the impossible: keeping a married soap couple interesting. What's next? They'll have a baby that lives?
Remote Patrol : Frasier ... Simon Frasier (Soaps in Depth, December 18, 2001)
Katie's Leave It to Beaver fantasy was a riot, but Simon's James Bond spoof easily topped it. Paul Leyden looked the part of a dashing secret agent in his tux -- forget 007, he's a 10 -- and Terri Colombino, though almost unrecognizable in her slinky, black outfit and red wig, made a spunky and able assistant. So when do they get their own show?
{Note: It was actually Simon's Leave It to Beaver fantasy; Katie's was the Bond one.}
Best and Worst 2001: Best New Couple (Soap Opera Digest, December 18, 2001)
BEST New Couple: Katie and Simon, As the World Turns
We knew, from the moment Simon yada-yada-yada'd his way through his vows, that this marriage of convenience would last - it's a classic soap story.
What we didn't expect was that spending an entire, breathless year watching Simon fall in love with his wife, Katie, would be so much fun. It's not just that they're irresistably romantic and sexy and stubborn and fun. Or that Terri Colombino and Paul Leyden, who can deftly handle desperate longing and wacky hijinks in a single scene, work so well together that we couldn't imagine them with anyone else. It's that the writers clearly love the Frasiers as much as we do. From that magnetic kiss after the island rescue to their sexually charged Maltese adventure to disbelieving Katie imploring Simon to tell her he loved her over and over again during their passionate together-but-not-quite-together-yet reunion, there wasn't a single false moment.
Of course, it was destiny - but with this couple, nothing is predictable.
Best and Worst of 2001: Best Couple ... Simon and Katie, ATWT (Soap Opera Update, December 18, 2001)
Not even Scrooge himself could be cynical toward Simon and Katie's courtship. With their comical one-upmanship and youthful flair, the Frasiers' witty dialogue presented as many heartfelt moments as it did belly laughs. The fact that Simon and Katie are also wonderfully attractive didn't hurt, either. The two battled brutes (Bruno) and long distances (the island; Malta) in an entertaining love affair.
Simon gives Katie the wedding of her dreams -- the church, the flowers, the bridesmaid -- this week on ATWT. But before the bride says 'I do' she has a nuptial nightmare: She hasn’t a thing to wear!
"Katie wants to look really special, but they don’t have any money, and she doesn’t know where to get a dress," previews Terri Colombino (Katie) to Soap Opera Weekly. "The only person she can think of is Carly, because she made that mistake before with the dress. She thinks maybe she could wear that beautiful dress again, but Carly doesn’t want to let her because it belongs to BRO."
Despair. "The doorbell rings -- it’s Carly with a dress," Colombino continues. Not just any dress; it’s the one Carly almost wore in her aborted wedding to Jack.
That’s one crisis averted, but then the guests don’t show up. Fortunately, the couple receives some special signs that everything will be okay. "Katie told Simon of the things she dreamed of when she was a little girl, and that’s what he’s been trying to do the whole time with the wedding. But then some miracles happen that are out of their control," Colombino teases.
Family and friends finally arrive, as do some key guests at the eleventh hour. "It is really important to Katie for Craig to be there, since her own father can’t," relates Colombino. "I guess he was always the substitute in her mind of who would walk her down the aisle. When he bailed on her she was really upset, but he shows up at the last minute to give her away. And he brings Snickers!" Oh my aching head!
Colombino says their wedding lives up to Katie’s dreams, and then some. "In Katie’s head she wanted her wedding to be huge, like a Princess Di-type wedding," she adds. "But she realizes that’s not important. What’s important is that Simon thought all of this out and got people to come -- even though nobody likes her -- and did all these sweet things. It’s not really about how big it is or how many people are there, it’s about the sentiment."
Turning Point on ATWT (Soap Opery Weekly Online, December 11, 2001)
Simon and Katie say 'I do' again this week on As the World Turns, which marks the second time Terri Colombino (Katie) has played bride in the last few months
"It was weird," admits the actress, who wed actor Arthur Colombino in real life Sept. 7. "They always say life imitates art. They should have waited about 5 years, when I'm missing it. I just went through getting a beautiful dress and being excited and everything. This was nothing compared to my own wedding. It was kind of a letdown. Simon wouldn’t have been able to do everything. Artie helped me with every decision. I didn't make one decision without him. But my mom was really the planner. I don't think we could have done it without her!"
As for what the future holds for Mr. and Mrs. Frasier, Colombino previews, "Lots of wacky stuff, I’m sure! Obviously things change when you get married. Even though they were married for a year, it wasn’t really real. There’s a lot of pressure on them in their own minds, even if they don’t talk about it. I’d like to see how that plays out."
Katie thinks she's remarrying Simon this Week, but she's in for a big surprise ....
True to form, it's a wacky week for green-card blessed yet star-crossed Katie and Simon on ATWT. As Katie prepares for the long-awaited renewal of their vows, Simon is preparing and even bigger surprise for his wife. The problem? It will require patience, which is not exactly her strong suit. So, while the bride may wind up as "something blue" this week, she is guaranteed to end up with "something new" in the weeks to come: a husband who will actually mean his vows this time around. (Hint: You'll see this dress again.) Here are Terri Colombino and Paul Leyden on the Frasiers' future:
Digest: What makes Katie think that the wedding day is here?
Digest: What does Simon say?
Digest: So, he promises that it will be the wedding of her dreams. I don't think the fans can stand it much longer--what do you think their appeal is?
Digest: A year ago, did you think they'd be this popular?
Digest: Some fans we even upset that Simon and Katie's big love scene had a Lily voiceover.
Digest: What do you like best about working together?
Digest: What are your favorite scenes?
Digest: What would you choose for their next adventure?
Digest: Supposedly, the next adventure leads to Henry.
Digest: You really think Henry would just give them the money?
Digest: Can they last?
The treats aren't over for Katie and Simon as they renew their vows of
intimacy this week on As the World Turns. "In Malta, Simon realized how
amazing Katie is; how could he not have her in his life," ponders Paul
Leyden, who plays Simon. "She makes him laugh, she's smart and beautiful,
and she's just got so much love. The whole storyline with Bruno clarified
the fact that Simon doesn't need Katie, but he wants her around."
Katie and Simon finally reunited last week, but the consummation of their love has had to wait, thanks to a superstitious Katie. "I think Simon's horny, basically, and just wants to get it on," laughs his portrayer, Paul Leyden. "All they can talk about is having sex, but Katie's like, 'No, we have to wait until the time is right.'"
On top of it all, Katie's friends from the ashram tell her that to make things right, she and her husband have to reconnect on the one-year anniversary of their first one-night stand, which took place in a convertible at the garage. "They try to find the car, and it ends up that Nancy has it. So, they borrow the car to have sex in it."
Afterward, the happy couple discusses married life, which leads to fantasies (one leave it to beaver-style, and another like James Bond) about what their lives might be like. "By the end of it, they [realize that] marriage is a compromise," says Leyden. "They have their spats and get on each other's nerves, yet they do really love each other and can't live without each other."
Preview: The Week of November 6 (Soap Opera Digest On-Line, October 29, 2001)
It's the week Simon and Katie fans (and the couple themselves) have been waiting for: One year after their original one-night-stand, they will finally make love again.
"Obviously Simon has worked out that he loves her," says his portrayer Paul Leyden, adding that, at this point, Simon just wants to get it on already. But his stubborn wife, whose last hideout was an ashram, has other ideas. "Katie says, 'No, according to the ashram, we have to reconnect on the date of our one year anniversary.' So it's Halloween, a year later. Simon's like, 'Come on, I'm about to explode. Let's do it now!'"
But before they can, some friends from the ashram show up and convince Katie to recreate that night, down to the last detail: the convertible. "It ends up that -- and this is kind of disgusting -- that Nancy has bought the car," he laughs. "So they borrow the car and they have their one year anniversary in the back of it."
The next day, they discuss what each of them wants from their marriage, which leads to two very different fantasies. "One, I think they're going to do in black and white, like a 1950s sitcom. Simon walks in with a suit, a dorky haircut, a briefcase and a hat, and is like, 'Honey, I'm home.' She's in her apron, like a housewife, and they talk about being so happy. They've got these little kids, which are six rabbits," Leyden explains, adding that the second fantasy "is very James Bond. Simon comes in in a jumpsuit, and underneath he has a tuxedo, and she has a sexy dress under her jumpsuit, and they drink martinis and go and have dinner in Rome. It s going to be pretty funny, I think."
Simon and Katie Make Love (Soaps in Depth, November 09, 2001)
Can the Frasiers' recreate the magic of last Halloween and save their marriage?
It was one year ago that Katie and Simon enjoyed the drunken backseat tryst that led to their marriage of convenience, which in turn led to the odd couple developing real feelings for each other. And this week, Katie is convinced that the only way to ensure the future happiness of their union is to recreate that evening down the last detail. "Katie learned a little bit at the ashram [she hid out in] about energy, numerology, astrology and all that stuff," explains her portrayer, Terri Colombino, regarding the method to her character's madness. "She's using that to fix their relationship."
Simon Can't Wait!
Unfortunately, while Katie wants to wait until that magic moment, now that Simon has realized his true feelings for her, he's chomping at the bit to get his wife between the sheets again. "I think she's a virgin again, it's been so long!" Colombino jokes.
Paul Leyden (Simon) believes that it's time for the Frasiers' to take their relationship to the next level. "It started off kind of fun and light," he says, "but it's very sensual as well, and kind of heated." As Simon grows more and more impatient, tensions rise between the young marrieds. Luckily, Katie finally manages to convince her mate to go along with her superstitious idea to wait until Halloween night to make love for the second time.
But First, They Need Nancy!
The Frasiers' head off to the garage where they had hung their hats last year while struggling to make ends meet, but when they arrive, they find themselves in for a nasty shock! The convertible in which they'd revved up their own engines has been sold to Nancy Hughes.
The desperate pair visit Nancy and beg her to let them borrow the car for the evening (without telling her exactly what they plan to do in it, naturally). "Of course, Katie tries to lie," Colombino reveals to SID. "Simon chimes in and tells Nancy basically that it has a special significance for them and this is their anniversary, so would she mind if we took it out for the night."
The Perfect Moment!
With everything in place, the stage is set for Katie's perfect evening of romance. But as she and Simon settle into the back seat of Nancy's convertible to make love for the first time in a year, Katie hesitates, admitting that she's a little nervous. "She's really kind of scared," Columbino admits. "Now that it's gotten to this point and everything is as she's wanted it, she doesn't know what to do with it."
Simon reassures his wife by revealing that he's just as scared as she is, and then Oakdale's unlikeliest couple at long last consummate their marriage.
Where Do They Go From Here?
As the Frasiers' revel in the afterglow, Katie shares with her husband her hope chest containing her wishes and dreams for the future. Simon worries that he won't be able to live up to her lofty expectations, but they both agree that somehow they will work it out, because they are in love. "I think they have a chance," Colombino speculates. Then she laughs. "I mean, he's the only guy that could ever deal with her!"
"This is based on a definite mutual attraction," adds Leyden. "Two good friends who have helped each other out a lot and spent a lot of time together. But it's not a classic romance."
"No," Colombino agrees quickly.
"And if they try to make it into a classic romance," Leyden warns, "it'll fizzle."
But Katie and Simon never have had what you'd call a "classic" romance. And since her ideal future mirrors that of June Cleaver while his casts him as James Bond, can they possible find the middle ground that will let them live happily ever after? Stay tuned.
November Sweeps Preview: Simon and Katie: A Dream Come True? (Soaps in Depth, November 6, 2001)
Simon Confesses His Love to Katie (Soap Opera Weekly, November 06, 2001)
Simon finds Katie in Margo's attic and finally tells her what she's been waiting to hear (the "L" word).
"Their reunion is definitely not what you'd expect, but it's really sweet," reveals Terri Conn (Katie). "He professes his love in front of Margo. It's almost like she's not there. Katie and Simon have thought about it and really missed each other more than they thought they would. It's like a magnet pulls them together," Conn tells Soap Opera Weekly.
Unfortunately, something -- make that someone -- is still pulling them apart. "Katie remembers what she was running from -- Bruno -- and that Katie and Simon shouldn't even be in the same room together," points out Conn. After Simon admits his feelings, "she gets scared again, and then Bruno shows up at Margo's."
Bruno bullies Katie into leaving with him. "She very forcefully tells Simon to stay away," previews Conn. "Katie loves Simon and will do anything to save him."
Simon forces a showdown over Katie, and only one man is left standing: Simon. So now Simon and Katie are free to be together.
Or are they? Katie rebuffs Simon's amorous advances. "They need to wait," teases Conn.
Memorable Moments: Huggable and Lovable Applause (Soap Opera Update, November 6, 2001)
Preview: The Week of October 29 (Soap Opera Digest On-Line, October 29, 2001)
Simon and Katie reunite this week when a new and improved Katie returns to town, and Margo and Simon track her down in Margo's attic.
"Katie comes back to town with a newfound spiritual side," chuckles Terri Colombino (Katie). "Katie has only been gone for two weeks, but has managed to go from convent to a commune to an ashram." Colombino can relate to Katie's new way of thinking. "I believe in Tarot cards and astrology," she admits. "I can relate to it, but Katie goes a little overboard with it, obviously."
Simon finally tells Katie those three little words, but Bruno still stands in their way. "It's some good stuff," previews Colombino.
Editor's Choice: Romance 101 (Soap Opera Digest, October 23, 2001)
A few weeks ago we noted the importance of extraordinary actors with great chemistry in maintaining the romantic rooting value of As the World Turns' Jack and Carly. But if they're an example of a couple that endures despite sometimes-spotty storytelling, the love story of Katie and Simon has shown the perfection you get when everything is done right from day one. So aspiring soap scribes take notes because this should be in a textbook.
It helps to start with actors like Terri Conn and Paul Leyden, who seemed to fit from the beginning even though we wouldn't have thought to put them together. They have been able to hit all the right notes from jealousy and sexual tension to humor and teasing familiarity to stubbornness and heartache without seeming forced. Of course, frustration is their specialty. Leyden is brilliant with Simon, feigning detachment and confusion, he makes it seem like Simon can't stand to look at Katie but can't stand not to either. Conn always shows Katie's prime conflict: the struggle to keep her dignity paired with insecurity about whether it could cost her what she really wants.
Of course in stories like this, exceptional pacing is also key. It's been ten months since their marriage of convenience but rather than boring us with interruptions and delays, ATWT always leaves the audience wanting more, heightening the stakes for Katie and Simon. But you can't keep us waiting without a few poignant turning points to tide us over. We got that last week when, with excellent scripts by Lynn Martin and Elizabeth Page, Katie and Simon reached another heartbreaking impasse: Katie fed up with Simon's resistance to love, decided to force his hand by planning a getaway with Bruno. Simon walked in to find his wife in a sexy, new outfit. He didn't bother hiding his appreciation but got annoyed when he heard that it was a gift from her new paramour. She saucily offered to take it off but he stopped her. "You don't like the outfit, but you don't want me naked. You don't want me but you don't want anyone else to have me. You can't have it both ways forever, Simon." she shouted, holding her ground despite his weak attempt to explain himself, including a tender invitation for her to join him in Tahiti.
Next, Simon went off to confront Rose for bringing Bruno into the picture. After he used the possessive "my wife" for the zilliionth time since we realized that he was falling for Katie, Rose was frank: "Are you the only person who doesn't know that you're in love with your own wife?" He dodged the question while Katie, back at the suite, scolded Craig for helping get rid of Simon by giving him his long-overdue paycheck."Now he's got a roll of bills burning a hole in his pocket and he sticks around then you know he's yours and yours alone," Craig told his sister who closed her eyes and prayed that he was right.
The final round came at the airport, Simon's last chance. "I know you. You don't want just sex. You need love. You want love," he practically pleaded while Katie saw what he couldn't.
"I have love. You love me, you just can't admit it," she said, near tears now and looking both confident in what his heart was saying and saddened that he couldn't voice the words. He warned her that it would be over if she left, but she did anyway with a passionate kiss and a pained glance back.
We were left thrilled and heartbroken and dying for more all at the same time which is exactly how soaps are supposed to make us feel. Class dismissed.
Unexpected Couples on As the World Turns (Soap Opera Weekly, October 23, 2001)
If someone had suggested a year ago that Katie and Simon and Hal and Emily would be the two hottest couples on As the World Turns, you would have said, "Wha-at?" After all, Katie and Emily were neck and neck for town pariah honors, Simon couldn't see past Lily, and Hal was trying to make his marriage to Barbara work.
Oh what a difference a year makes! By cleverly pairing these couples, the writers have added new layers to established characters. Tough cop Hal brings out the human side of Emily, and she makes him smile. Katie's humourous, indomitable nature blossoms with Simon, and she chips away at his Aussie bravado.
Both couples are loaded with sex appeal and chemistry. Benjamin Hendrickson and Kelley Menighan-Hensley (Hal and Emily) -- co-stars for nearly 10 years now -- look like they're having so much fun with the new pairing. While Terri Conn and Paul Leyden (Katie and Simon) also look like they are having the time of their lives, the first three words that come to mind (especially after Simon buried his face in Katie's cleavage... um, long story) are hot, hot, hot! -- Tonya Lensch
Caption: Simon and Katie generate intense sexual heat -- and more than a little sense of fun.
Crazy For You: Go One on One with the Frisky Frasiers (Soaps in Depth, October 09, 2001)
Terri Conn and Paul Leyden explore the lighter side of love as harried marrieds Katie and Simon.
As the World Turns' fans were stunned at Katie and Simon's drunken backseat tryst last Halloween, and positively flabbergasted when he agreed to marry her to stay in the country. And now that the unlikely couple seem to have fallen in love for real, we decided to go to the source to learn the secrets behind this duo's success. But Paul Leyden and Terri Conn are just as outrageous as their characters, so getting a straight answer proved tricky. See for yourself!
Soaps In Depth: What was your first reaction when you learned that your characters were going to hook up?
In Depth: Was the marriage of convience originally planned to be briefer?
In Depth: So when did you two notice that you have on-screen chemistry?
In Depth: What were your first impressions of each other when you first met?
In Depth: What do you admire most about the other?
In Depth: So then, what is each other's worst habit?
In Depth: Is it difficult, then, to rehearse if you're always cracking each other up?
(Caption: "Everytime I watch Terri," leading man Leyden laughs, "I just crack up!")
FYI
Terri Conn
Paul Leyden
-- Chris Eades
Love Shakeups: Will Simon Finally Tell Katie He Loves Her? (Soap Opera Update, September 25, 2001)
Cupid's arrow may have struck several targets but sometimes it's not easy to hold on to. Can As the World Turns' Simon confess his true feelings before losing Katie? Ah, yes it's the three words that every person longs to hear -- "I love you" -- but they recoil in fear at the thought of actually having to declare it out loud. In the case of Simon and Katie, such a proclamation from Simon hasn't been uttered. Katie has only been able to steal an "I like you" from her commitment-phobic spouse. However the Australian is going to be forced to either lose the woman he really does love to a brute named Bruno or take the giant leap from spirited wanderer to committed man.
Feelin' Love
"Katie can feel Simon has fallen for her -- you can just tell when someone begins to develop feelings like this -- but he won't admit it. Katie knows that it has got to be something big to bring Simon over to her side, especially after he hints about leaving Oakdale," explains Terri Conn.
The big something that Katie dangles in front of Simon is Bruno-a brawny Italian, big on seduction. She decides to make a not so veiled threat in a last ditch effort for a happily ever after with Simon. Mr. Frasier is "stubborn" says his portrayer Paul Leyden. "Simon is suspicious of Bruno, but I don't think he's jealous of him," says Leyden of Katie's overly affectionate suitor. "He knows that she is playing one guy off of another. The thing about it is that Simon does love Katie. He just can't get it, because as soon as you say those words out loud, things change. And I don't know whether Simon is open to that change."
Pride and Truth
Bruno is so demonstrative towards Katie that the two are preparing to embark on a trip to St. Martin. As part of her plan, Katie makes her romantic getaway known to Simon by leaving a detailed message on their answering machine about where she is going, whom she is going with ... and why!
"Katie doesn't want to go with Bruno," teases Conn, "I don't believe that she would ever leave Simon. She still wavers in her decision, and the minute that she gets an inkling that Simon is going to confess how he feels, she gives it up, and then, he gives it up. "Katie's definitely physically attracted to Bruno," she continues. "Katie allows him to want her...and it feels good. She just wishes it was Simon."
Rose, of course, is the one woman with enough spitfire to give Simon a swift kick in his tush! She makes it clear that he will lose Katie to someone -- if not Bruno -- should he not admit how he really feels for the woman who has given him so much. Wise enough not to dismiss her words of wisdom, Simon runs into the departing Bruno and Katie at the airport. The men eventually come to blows, after Simon warns Bruno against harming Kaite in any way. "Simon is just frustrated with himself," tells Leyden of Simon and Bruno's improntu boxing match. "He is falling for someone he never wanted to fall for. And Simon really believes that Katie will leave with Bruno, and that he deserves this. He hasn't given Katie what she's wanted for so long."
The Lily Factor
Katie, on the other hand, is giddy at the sight of the brawl. "She's excited at first to have two men fighting over her," laughs Conn, her eyes wide. "she's not scared that Bruno will do anything to Simon, but -- to be honest -- once Simon enters the picture, Katie is not even thinking of Bruno. It's like 'Bruno did his deed! He's outta here!'"
Alone, Simon protests, claiming that Katie, as usual, is acting on impulse before giving the situation some serious thought. However, this unlucky-in-love gal remains steadfast, responding that if Simon wants her to remain in Oakdale, he had better offer up good reason. The most that her husband can sputter is that he likes her, which forces Katie to once again contend with the Lily Snyder factor. The reason his reserve is so biting to Katie is because "she's seen the way that Simon was -- and still is -- with Lily, and wants that for herself," reveals Conn. "Katie knows that it's in there. When you know that something is available and you just can't get it, you're going to want that and nothing else."
In Simon's defense, Leyden reasons, "Simon is making sure that this exactly want he wants. This is the first relationship that has affected him in such a strong way. The whole Lily thing was more of a dependency issue. Simon and Katie's relationship is based more on friendship. He can't not have her around. And Simon is also getting to that point where he can move on from his friendship with Lily and close that chapter in his life and begin anew."
But will Simon's hesitancy drive him toward a dead end with Katie?
(Caption: "Simon really does love Katie," faithfully tells Paul Leyden (Simon).) -- Laura Debrizzi
Crash Landing for Simon and Katie (Soap Opera Weekly, September 18, 2001)
Katie's plan to make Simon jealous - and admit his love for her - backfires this week on As the World Turns.
“Simon comes home from Malta and finds Katie and Bruno squashing grapes in the bathtub,” previews Terri Conn (Katie). “He’s so mad.”
He has every reason to be. Simon, who was about to confess his love to Katie, finds his wife liplocked with Bruno. Simon’s jealous reaction is just what Katie hoped for, but his inability to express his feelings is not.
“Katie’s thinking: “This is all I have to do. Now he’s mad, which means he’s jealous, which means this is over,’” relates Conn. “But he still won’t admit to her what he’s feeling. She felt it in Malta. She at least knows it’s there, but she has to hear it. Because once again, he left her to go help Lily, and that just can’t happen anymore. She is desperate for him, but she still wants it to be real. She doesn’t want leftovers.
Simon doesn’t cave, so Katie announces she is leaving for St. Martin with Bruno. “Katie is attracted to Bruno,” points out Conn. “It was perfect timing. Craig had just said, ‘Play hard-to-get.’ She is getting attention from a beautiful man, which she has never had. It’s always been the other way around. Of course, Katie revels in it a little bit.”
By weeks end, Katie and Simon have an emotional confrontation at the airport. “She has to put the ball in his court, otherwise it will be another runaround, and she can’t handle it anymore,” asserts Conn. “You see them both wanting so bad to say, ‘Oh, I love you, let’s go home,’ but they can’t and that’s what is so heartbreaking.”
Katie Geta a New Contract and Admirer! (Soaps in Depth, September 11, 2001)
Now that Terri Conn has inked a new deal to continue as As the World Turns' Katie, look for Simon’s lonely wife to find herself the object of a new man’s affections!
The In Depth Story: With her three-year ATWT anniversary arriving in September, Conn cut short any prolonged fretting that she’d vacate her role by re-signing in early August, Soaps In Depth has learned. Alas, fans of Katie and Simon’s unorthodox romance now might have another reason to worry about the duo when Jamie Passer (the original Father Ray Santos on Guiding Light) joins the cast as Bruno Portolano, a shady knave with designs on a certain blonde. And with Simon off in Malta hunting down Lily, it appears that Katie may be ripe for wooing.
"Katie decided that she needed to let Simon go and chase after her," Conn explains. "But since he’s gone, this guy, Bruno, starts to hit on her." Katie surely will resist any overtures lacking an Aussie flair, right? "She lets Bruno [flirt with her]," Conn says, then laughs, "But she gets in a little bit over her head. Of course!"
Yet Simon may not have too much to worry about; Soaps In Depth hears Passer’s run is not long-term. Instead, maybe Bruno will linger just long enough to make Simon reach new realizations about his feelings for Katie.
Preview: The Week of September 10 (Soap Opera Digest On-Line, September 11, 2001)
Katie and Simon are madly in love with each other, but just can’t seem to get it together. Katie is leaving on a jet plane with Bruno unless Simon steps up to the plate and admits his feelings for her.
"Bruno’s just a decoy," confesses Terri Conn (Katie). "It’s so hard for her to leave Simon, but she just knows if she gives in again, she is not going to hear what she wants to hear from him."
Katie takes off for St. Martin with Bruno, but not before one last painful encounter with Simon at the airport. "It’s so sad," previews Conn. "Paul [Leyden, Simon] played it so well. In scenes like that you have to play what you’re feeling inside and not what you're saying. Simon wants Katie to stay - he wants to grab her and kiss her - but he won’t let himself. But you can see all those things in his face." Could this really be the end for Katie and Simon?
Mimi and ... with Terri Conn (SoapNet OnLine Star Interview, August 24, 2001)
Note: This interview (although aired on Soap Center in late August was clearly done before the Emmys.)
Mimi Torchin: I really didn't know Terri Conn when I interviewed her. I had met the lovely young woman only once, a few days before the interview, at a charity event for an animal shelter. She had just been nominated for an Emmy for her role as the mischief-making Katie Frasier on As the World Turns. She was bubbling over with excitement and was almost as happy for her friends and cast mates Kristina Sisco and Annie Parisse (all three had been nominated in the Outstanding Younger Actress category) as she was for herself. I liked her right off the bat, because she wanted to take all the dogs up for adoption home with her. Anyone who loves animals is okay with me, so I suspected she was a nice kid. But I wasn't at all prepared for her genuine sweetness, thoughtful intelligence and the openness and depth of feeling she would bring to the interview. By her own admission, Terri Conn has led a "charmed life," and nobody knows better than she does how truly lucky she is.
Torchin: Never having been nominated for an Emmy myself, or anything, I'm just curious to know, what ran through your head when you found out you'd been nominated for outstanding younger actress in a daytime drama?
Torchin: Is Annie in the same category with you?
Torchin: She seems a little older, don't tell her I told you that! Now I know that you and Kristina are very good friends. Is this causing any friction between the two of you?
Torchin: It's very exciting, In fact, last year was really a very low time for the show, no nominations, everybody was really depressed, what do you think caused the difference between last year and this year? I mean, 25 nominations, that's unbelievable.
Torchin: Oh I think so. I think that 25 nominations, and I know some of you are going to take some home with you.
Torchin: Have you decided what clips you're going to show to the blue ribbon panel?
Torchin: Do you have any ideas of which scenes you might use?
Torchin: Yeah, you're being very smart, because a lot of years, when Susan didn't win, many people thought, myself included, that she didn't pick very good clips.
Torchin: Well, I think that, she's a conniver, I think you'll have fun picking, you'll probably be surprised when you're looking at things. How good your work was.
Torchin: So whenever anybody gets up there, they make their speeches, and they always say I didn't do this alone. We know you didn't do this alone, you're not acting in a vacuum, who do you think of all your costars, has really helped you, with their work, to get you this nomination?
Conn: He's so good, he's so talented, and I think I've learned a lot from him without even knowing it! Because I look back and think that's really where I started to feel comfortable, as an actress, and Katie really started to grow. And then of course, Jon Hensley, it's like seamless working with him, you don't even know you're acting. Martha Byrne, we haven't worked together a lot, but she's always there to give me tons of advice and encouragement, and I admire her.
Conn: Right, right, and then Paul Leyden, we're friends in life, so I think that really translates, and they love Simon and Katie as friends because I think that that chemistry we have in our own friendship translates, so I get a little bit from everyone.
Torchin: You've had some help, but you stand pretty well alone, too.
Torchin: But you're not alone, that's the good news. In real life you have a darling fiancé, Art Columbino, how did you all meet?
Torchin: That's portentous, isn't it?
Torchin: You have your Emmy nomination, you have your one-year anniversary, it probably bodes well for both the marriage to come, and the Emmy, right?
Torchin: When you met Artie, besides the fact that he's quite good looking, what was it that struck you?
Torchin: And how long after that did it get romantic and you realized he was [the one]?
Torchin: How soon after that date did he propose, and how did he do it?
Torchin: Is it a big family?
Torchin: So how did he propose?
Torchin: Oh, you're a lucky girl. Let me see the ring. It's beautiful.
Torchin: You know you're very young, you don't have any qualms about settling down with one person while you're kind of young, do you?
Torchin: Well you sound very sincere about this, I think you probably know what you're doing. We used to make jokes about ATWT because so many of your costars fell in love. We used to say what's in the water in Oakdale? So whatever you do, don't drink the water!
Torchin: So don't drink the water! Although I don't think you can get pregnant by drinking the water.
Torchin: When you went to LA, you went, wanting to be on a soap. Which I think is quite remarkable, because many young actors in particular, who don't know the lay of the land, and don't know how difficult work is, and how difficult soaps are, they consider soaps a stepping stone to other work, you went actually wanting to be on a soap, you didn't want to be a big movie star, you wanted a soap.
I just remember a show, not necessarily a soap, but any show, and I would listen to a line and look in the mirror and say it the way I would say it, you know I always wanted to be an actor, and I just thought what a great way to do it, to have consistent work and be on a show that people really feel that they know you. And so I went to LA and took a soap opera acting class, which was actually a really good class, taught by one of the casting directors of The Young and the Restless, Gail Camacho. I think she's still there, I'm not really sure, and then she gave me, well, she didn't give me a job, but I got an audition after that for an under five on The Young and the Restless so that was my first big job in LA, and I was so excited because it was the show that I had watching - I called my mom and said I'm going to be on The Young and the Restless, and they were all really sweet at the studio, I was there for all of an hour, because it goes so quickly, so that was my first taste of what soap operas were like. I mean of course I did, I do still want to do movies.
My main reason for acting is that I want to do things that touch people, that make people think. I love watching movies and walking away going, you know I never thought about that. Or you know, watching a really inspiring movie and going well I can do anything too. I love that, and I love how movies can do that for people and TV and so that's what I want to do. And so long as I'm doing that I don't really care what the medium is, if I'm happy with the people I'm doing it with, and I'm happy with the stories I'm conveying then who cares what it is.
Torchin: You know As the World Turns, you're on a show with an amazing legacy, 45 years, and there are many famous actors who have this on their resume. Do you think about the show's legacy?
Torchin: Don is very funny, isn't he?
Torchin: I love his stories. He just makes me laugh from the minute you start talking to him until the minute he walks away, or you do. He's just a great guy.
Torchin: Ok now I'm going to make up a soap opera scenario. It's the last day of the world, that's it, tomorrow it's all over. How would you spend your last day?
Torchin: I think that sounds like a great way to end things with a bang! I've heard that you've said, and I've read it, that you think you live a charmed life, now I'm pretty sure that after hearing about the current events in your life why you would say that, do you feel that way about your whole life?
Torchin: Do you believe in karma?
Torchin: I think we all worry about that especially when things are good. I think its human nature. Like when is the bus going to hit me, when is the building going to fall on me but I think your attitude about just enjoying it. I think it is very mature.
Torchin: It is good to see you appreciate it.
Torchin: A lot of people have charmed lives and they just don't realize it, they waste all of that great karma.
Torchin: You have good instinct.
Torchin: Ok. So now I know that you do a lot of charity events and that you work very hard you are a very lovely young women. But I want to know what you do for a good time.
Torchin: I know you know how to play and have fun.
Torchin: Do you have any ideas what your wedding is going to be like?
Torchin: That is so sweet. Tinker bell for the flower girl.
Torchin: Now, if you could possibly imagine yourself as old as 40, I know that's what people sort of think but take it from me, you get there, How do you see your life at forty?
Conn: Yes, May 18th, it's a lucky day for me. Thank you so much. Thank You.
Torchin: Well, I hope that as in all fairy tale's all your dreams come true you have happy endings and beginnings and I'm sure you'll have exactly the life you want to have. I'm very happy that you came to do this, it was really fun you were great thank you.
Televised Portion
Soapcenter: Look who's knocking at Mimi Torchin's door ....
Soapcenter: As the World Turns' Terri Conn is a grateful girl. The recently engaged, Emmy-nominated actress always had a gut feeling that the world of soaps was where she'd like to be.
Torchin: Do you think about the show's legacy?
Torchin: If you could possibly imagine yourself as old as 40, how do you see your life at 40?
Torchin: I can't imagine that you're not gonna get everything that you dream about.
One on One ... with Terri Conn (Soap City Online, August 16, 2001)
When Terri Conn taped her first episode of As The World Turns on August 25, 1998, she didn't feel too secure about the future. Her character, Katie Peretti, was basically a bland, blonde question mark - a college runaway who showed up on big sister Margo's doorstep with lots of fanfare, but not much storyline. In truth, the writers didn't know what to do with her. But once ATWT head writer Hogan Sheffer discovered the beautifully bent essence of Katie, he transformed her from an inept junior misfit into a high-stakes hellcat who could make a TV station quake and send the U.S. immigration bureau running for cover.
This spring Terri Conn earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for her turbo-charged antics, proving that getting off to a slow start on a soap can ultimately be a blessing in disguise. And that's not the only good news in her life: On September 7, the actress plans to marry her fiancé, actor/musician Arthur Colombino. In the midst of signing a brand-new contract with As The World Turns, planning her bachelor party (in Santa Barbara, CA) and handling a thousand-and-one wedding arrangements, Terri took time out to chat with SoapCity.
SC's Jason: Tell us about your audition for As The World Turns. You didn't start out testing for Katie, did you?
SC's Jason: Poor Lyla. She was always such a saint, but look how badly her kids turned out. With a daughter like Katie and a son like Craig &
SC's Jason: In the beginning, Katie seemed to be pretty rudderless, drifting from one story to another. First, she blamed Margo for her father Casey's death; then she tried to break up Georgia and Eddie; then she talked about being a misunderstood beauty pageant queen. None of it really seemed to stick. Was that a hard time for you as an actress?
SC's Jason: When do you think the turning point came for your character? Was there a specific moment where you felt, "Wow! I can really sink my teeth into this material!?"
SC's Jason: Like Trent Dawson, who had viewers in stitches as Katie's exasperating partner in crime, Henry.
Conn: Yes, he was only supposed to be there for two weeks, but thank God that he stayed on the show as long as he has. I credit him the most, along with the writers obviously, for Katie's transformation. Trent just has this life about him, this energy, that I can't help responding to when I'm doing scenes with him.
SC's Jason: In three years, Katie has really run the gamut of emotions &
SC's Jason: Do you have a favorite Katie/Henry moment?
SC's Jason: How do get along with your Australian leading man, Paul Leyden (Simon)? By the way, is it pronounced "Lay-den" or "Lye-den"?
SC's Jason: What kind of fan mail do you get?
SC's Jason: I bet Paul Leyden had the same problem. After all, Lily and Holden were the show's resident supercouple till his character Simon came along and started causing grief.
SC's Jason: True. For one thing, Simon and Lily were stranded on a remote island together, and she was thinking she'd never get back to her home and family. Plus, Lily and Simon obviously had real feelings for each other, whereas Katie's obsession with Holden was pretty one-sided.
SC's Jason: You mean we're more tolerant of the Simons of the world than the Katies&
SC's Jason: Before landing on As The World Turns, you actually got your soap start on The Young and the Restless &
SC's Jason: Were you equally familiar with the Oakdale scene when you joined World Turns?
SC's Jason: Who won the game?
SC's Jason: What kind of future would you like to see Katie have?
SC's Jason: But Margo and Katie have good reason to keep at arm's length.
SC's Jason: Well, we know how busy you are these days. Best wishes on your upcoming wedding, and thanks for joining us.
Look Out, World, Here's the Newest "Funny Girl" (Soap Opera Update, August 14, 2001)
Terri Conn locates a hidden talent and turns our world hysterically updside down.
John Belushi stung as a dancing bee and gross-out fraternity boy. Gilda Radner expelled prophetic dementia for Emily Litella. Mike Myers? "Wayne" was worthy of no one. And now, Terri Conn's "Katie Frasier" burns scatterbrained sunshine onto a cynical New York audience. Hey, it could be amended into the history books. After all, Lorne Michaels, the wizard behind NBC's iconic Saturday Night Live, has yet to fill the void left by Cheri Oteri. And anyone turning onAs the World Turns knows that it has assembled a platform where Conn can mine her comedic solos with such aplomb that Katie's hijinks darken our cheeks with a heavier shade of blush than Passions' Timmy.
Excuse You?
For Conn, a member of Oakdale since September 1998, a gig with SNL would be her "dream job," allowing her to remain in New York doing "quality work." The actress' fantastical fusion with Michaels would already exist, if not for one befuddled drive. "I got cast to do one of the fake commercials (on SNL) and it was hilarious. I was more excited about it than anything I've done for so long," begins Conn. "It was with Jimmy Fallon (an SNL regular). We were supposed to be sitting at the table, and this thing that you, well, that you put up your butt made you say something intelligent when you break wind. So, my eventual reaction would be
that this guy was saying something really wonderful."
Arriving two hours late, Conn lost her shot a being wooed by the one suitor no girl would want - flatulence - unless, of course, she was to be rewarded with a spot on a legendary variety show.
East Versus West
Ironically, Conn is not intimidated by the behemoth art form, most often regaled by industry insiders as the more difficult technique to master. "From the beginning, I thought comedy was easier," answers the petite blonde, her legs crossed and her mind enthusiastically engaged in our ensuing conversation.
"I danced when I was little, and comedy has a lot to do with rhythm. I mean, they talk about comedy being all about timing, and it?s just like hearing a beat. I've also watched sitcoms my entire life (F.Y.I.: Her favorite is Three's Company). You know, for some people like Lesli (Kay, Molly) or Martha (Byrne, Lily/Rose), those real emotional scenes are nothing. That's how I am with comedy."
But is Conn as amusing in everyday life? "My parents think so," meekly replies the only child, suddenly anchoring her remark with a strident laugh. "We all have the same sense of humor (very dry and quirky), so when I'm comfortable around people, I think I am (funny). I'm not the one out of the group to usually be the comedienne. I was never class clown."
He life will suddenly entertain an interesting dichotomy come August as Conn counts down to her September 7 wedding to actor/musician Arthur Colombino and decides on her ATWT future (the bell tolls on August 1 . "Artie and I are deciding whether we need to be in New York or Los Angeles," admits the New Mexico native. "I've lived in Los Angeles, and I thought I'd stay above it all and not become worried about my weight." ("He's sweet, open and down-to-earth," says Conn of fiancé Colombino.)
"You begin to feel like being a stick is the norm," she continues candidly. "There was a time when I wished that I could be anorexic. How sick is that? I was like, if I could just not eat as much as I do, but I can't! I love food! I feel good about myself here (in N.Y). I could get over it. It's just that I'm getting married... and I want a normal life. I told Artie that I wanted us to be like Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker."
At press time, Conn was still belaboring the pros and cons. While the prospect of doing a sitcom "excites" her, remaining on ATWT evokes similar pleasure. "Originally, I thought I would come for three years, learn a lot, make money, then take off! I decided that I wouldn't stay or else I'd be here forever," she recalls. "I used to think that was bad. Now, I know it's a great job, with great people, and a cool character, so why is it such a bad thing?"
Why Am I Here?
In the days of Georgia and Eddie, Katie's depth fell into shallow water. "I was totally confused and very depressed," remembers the actress, now an Emmy nominee, seen on air no less than three days a week and always paired with a hunk (Simon, Holden, Henry). "I wanted the opportunity to have cool storyline. I wanted to act so bad. But it wasn't on the grand scheme of things at the time, and they had to just fit Katie in there somehow." (Katie's turnaround can be attributed to Henry and their sparring)
Currently, Katie dreams of Simon and exacts "Miracle On 34th Street's" famed 'I believe, I believe' mantra in an effort to convert their marriage of convenience into a more traditional blend. Still, Conn believes that theirs is healthier than the one she shared with Holden. ("Simon sees the good in Katie, even though she does ridiculous things.")
As for Conn's own wedding, the vows remain her only concern. "I'm worried I won't be able to get through because I'll be crying so hard," she explains, strengthening her case with and admission that, after viewing a McDonald's commercial about a boy who learned sign language to communicate with a friend, a teary storm flooded Conn's cheeks.
Yes, even funny girls get the blues.
Katie Finds a Clue about Holden and Luke (Soap Opera Update, July 31, 2001)
An unexpected hero emerges to help Holden and Luke escape their imprisonment!
The scene: Malta. The hapless duo: Simon and Lily. The hostages: Holden and Luke. The Avenger: Katie. The roles of this crew reverse while occupying a foreign land's romanticized trails and decrepit hideaways. Katie the terrible may now be perceived as Katie the honorable! Alas before she can be lauded for her efforts, she must first be chastised for her impulsiveness. But will her penalty be at the cost of Holden and Luke's lives? And who is the mysterious stranger at the helm that controls all of thier fates?
Escape From Malta
Holden attempts, and fails, to make the "game" fun for Luciano, whose resilience recedes with every appearance made by their guards. The latest announcement instructs that Luke soon be moved, and consequently separated from his father. Intent on solidifying an escape route, Holden calls for his son to feign illness in an effort to bide them more time together. The scheme works, so Holden assures his boy that they will soon be free from their prison in the basement of the opera house.
While Holden and Luciano plot, Katie is booked and cuffed following the theft of a bike belonging to the American ambassador to Malta -- it was the tourist's only shot in catching up to her hubby Simon and his former flame and dear friend Lily.
Unlikely Hero
Katie's portrayer isn't surprised by the events, such as this, in which she finds herself. "Katie just gets something in her head ... this determinations," believes Terri Conn. "She's a dreamer and creates these little fantasy worlds." Does that include emerging as the hero, which she comes closer to obtaining than ever before, and gaining love at Simon's side? Exactly! And as the case with most instances involving Katie, she is disappointed by the very same man she so desperately tries to please. Simon, in his defense, is not apathetic to Katie's plight: He and Lily promise to bail her out of the slammer first thing in the morning. In her deloused state, however, the normally oblivious Katie uncovers a paramount clue in the hunt for Holden and Luke: The Argotti is the city's local opera house; Simon had overheard the two Americans were to moved from there.
The Plot Thickens!
"Unable to convince the warden to release her, Katie struggles to do the right thing and get the news to Simon and Lily. And this time, she is not taking no for an answer! Meanwhile an observer in the opera house dons an accessory very fimiliar to Lily. Who will this person be revealed as and when?
As the World Turns' Sandy Summer Hijinks (Soaps in Depth, July 14, 2001)
It's back to the island for As the World Turns this week, as Henry embarks with Katie on what could be the summer's wackiest story. Laughs Trent Dawson (Henry), "He shows up on the island with nothing but his martini shaker. He's really a good Boy Scout."
Having convinced herself that the only way to win Simon is to find his missing diamond, Katie has talked Henry into accompanying her on a trip to the deserted island where the gem was lost (and where Lily and Simon were stranded from June to August) last year. And this Friday, they set out on a treasure hunt that becomes more challenging than Henry expected.
"Katie didn't tell him a couple of things about the island, like the fact that it doesn't have a runway," explains Dawson, whose character revealed that he is a trained pilot last week. "He can fly the plane really well, but I don't know how well he can land. Henry doesn't think to ask about the runway, either ... he just assumes."
It turns out all of that assuming (and a little interference from Katie) lands the two crashed on the island. So, is it back to parachute bikinis? Teases the actor, "It' s all a little over the top, but in a really fun way. (There will be) a lot of Survivor references, obviously, and Gilligan's Island. A lot of it is mocking the story from last year. It's going to be great."
Unlike Henry, Dawson is prepared, "I've been working out," he grins. "I've been in a suit for a year-and-a-half, and it suddenly sounds like I'm gonna be half-naked!"
Soap's Hottest Newcomers: Paul Leyden, Simon Frasier, ATWT (Soap Opera Digest, July 2001)
Memorable Moments: Amazing! Right in the Kisser ... (Soap
Opera Update, June 19, 2001) Soap enthusiasts thought they had seen everything -- and we nearly
have -- until As the World Turns featured the greatest make-out session
since Friends' Rachel's sorority kiss. In a wonderfully-directed comedic
twist, a trapped Simon threw his hands up in frustration and tore out of the
Walsh estate, leaving Katie, Ruby and Lily to fight amongst themselves -- but
not before he placed a big wet one on the very proper Lucinda! And to make the
surprise even sweeter, ATWT threw in one last kick just for fun, but we
will get to that later.
Interrupting a brawl between Katie and Ruby, as LIly and Simon did their best
to play referee, Lucinda entered shocked .. and a tad amused. When she inquired
about Simon's presence in her home (after all, it wasn't that long ago that he
drove his car thorugh her front window), the sly Aussie proclaimed -- "This!"
And that was when Simon puckered up to a stunned Lucinda.
Katie, instead of resisting Lucinda as a viable competitor, warned, "You!
Don't even get any ideas. He is my husband." The scene was written
brilliantly, but it was Paul Leyden (Simon) and Terri Conn's (Katie) fearless
ingenuity that made it memorable.
(Caption: Who is simply the best? ATWT's Simon and Katie.)
Performer of the Week: ATWT's Terri Conn (Soap Opera
Digest, June 5, 2001) If you really think about it, ATWT's Katie is pretty ridiculous. she's
a spoiled, silly, scheming bitch (but not the kind whose strength you have to
respect), and from a woman's perspective, her behavior borders on offensive.
What could possibly be realistic - never mind appealing - about a character so
pathetic, she degrades herself with over-the-top tantrums and humiliating
declarations of love to a man who's made it clear that he doesn't want her? The
answer is simple: Terri Conn.
Katie may be fascinating on paper, but it's Conn who sells it. Upon catching
Simon kissing Ruby, she flew (literally) into one of her jealous rages, lunging
across the room. Conn's physical comedy skills are supurb because she's fearless
- she knows the scenes won't work unless she commits completely, so Katie
becomes a squirming, grasping, spitting beast, and always end up making a fool
of herself. "And you, don't you get any ideas either - he's mine," she hissed
breathlessly, poking an amused Lucinda in the chest before stomping out. Later,
Katie met with Simon in a scene that could not have been more different in tone.
"You're the one who's making me do these things," she told him, her voice
quivering with heartache and frustration. "I am sweet. I can be very sweet if
you would just treat me the way I want to be treated."
The wild juxtaposition of cartoonish bursts of violence with serious human
emotion shouldn't work in the same character. At the very least, we should be
pitying Katie, not rooting for her, but ATWT's writers (clearly enjoying
themselves) keep piling on the complexities, taking more risks with Katie than
with anyone else. Maybe it's because they know what those who watch her every
day already do - in Conn's hands, it all makes sense.
Almost everyone on soaps has to be sneaky at some point, but for a select few characters, it's their everyday m.o. With that in mind, we've compiled dossiers on 10 of daytime's most devious double-crossers.
As the World Turns: Double (Cross) Agent: Katie Fraiser (Terri Conn)
(Caption with photo: "Katie bagged her mind, Simon (Paul Leyden), when the INS came calling.")
Soap City On-Line Chat with Terri Conn & Kristina Sisco (April 30, 2001)
Conn: Hi everybody -- thanks for coming. We're excited to answer your questions, so I hope we get some good ones!
gmanwannabe: Viewers seem to be enjoying the chemistry between Kristina and Craig Lawlor. Do you have a storyline in the works?
gmanwannabe: Terri, I just wanted to say that Breaker High has a huge following in Canada (Go Leafs!). Do you still talk to anyone from the cast?
amyy0923: Who would you like your character to interact with more?
amyy0923: What would you change about your character(s)?
gmanwannabe: Do you have any amusing stories to tell from this year's fan club luncheon?
pwrscarlet: Terri, I just love the scenes that you have with Trent Dawson. What do you think are the best scenes that Katie and Henry have had so far?
sm_cosper: Kristina: Will we get treated to scenes of Adam and Abi's prom date?
carlymolly2001: Are you looking forward to the Emmys?
trstup: Were there any scenes in particular this year that were your favorites?
sm_cosper: Terri: Today we saw catfight #2 between Katie and Ruby (at Lucinda's). How much fun was it do those scenes?
glteenfan: Kristina - did you have fun at the Caribbean with Laura Bell Bundy?
thrillcatz: Kristina, did you have a nice birthday last week?
kayla_loves_atwt: Terri: What is it like working alongside Paul Leyden? I think he is such an amazing actor.
klimtgirl17: Did you guys go to your own proms?
stargazer91625: Terri how can you keep a straight face when acting with Craig and that scene when Simon kissed Lucinda?
Fee93: Kristina and Terri, if you had to choose one CD to put on right now, who would you listen to?
Fee93: How often do you get recognized when you go out to eat or shopping?
greatwhite078: What actor who has left the show would you most like to return?
klimtgirl17: Do you guys watch any other soaps (or have you in the past)?
pantherfrey62: What was your reaction when you found out you were nominated?
qwiji081380: Kristina: why don't you sing on the show?
jungle_girl_ag: Terri are you excited about getting married?
pantherfrey62: Which cast member do you admire most and why?
johnnyknoxvilledajackass: Who was your biggest inspiration to become who are right now?
latinplayer2345: Terri & Kristina: what is the worst pick up line a guy has ever used on you?
kayla_loves_atwt: Terri: Hunt Block is an awesome actor, and he portrays Craig so well, how is it doing so many scenes with him?
thrillcatz: How has the show changed since Hogan has been head writer
kayla_loves_atwt: Kristina: Is it difficult working with little twin girls on the show? Or do they behave well?
Bernard_Sandner: What are your favorite television shows?
klimtgirl17: Terri & Kristina: What are your all time favorite movies?
plkitties: Do either of you have plans to venture outside the world of soaps?
tyshanescott: Terri what is it like working with Martha Byrne? Is she one of the most amazing people on the set?
johnnyknoxvilledajackass: If you weren't acting in soap operas, what do you think you'd be doing today?
Soaps Q&A: Terri Conn (Katie Peretti Frasier), As the World Turns (TV Guide Online, March 2001)
While Katie may have married in a quickie ceremony in front of a justice of the peace, Conn is planning something a little more elegant for her own special day. TV Guide Online caught up with Conn to discuss what's behind her character's mischievous machinations, and her initial thoughts for her upcoming nuptials. - Delaina Dixon
Your first soap wedding was in front of a justice of the peace. Were you hoping for something a little more elaborate?
Do you think Katie's marriage to Simon has any chance for survival?
Does Katie have true feelings for Simon?
Some ATWT fans would like to see Simon and Lily finally together. Do you think fans could ever get behind a Katie/Simon pairing?
Well, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Maybe Katie just wants to be...
Katie's a little self-oriented right now. Do you think she'll ever become a selfless, upstanding character, or is she going to get worse?
Do you prefer to play the bad girl?
How are you enjoying playing opposite two of the hottest men on the show, Jon Hensley (Holden) and Paul Leyden (Simon)?
You're also experiencing the Hogan Sheffer age. Are you enjoying where your new head writer is taking your character?
Lily Leaves Simon -- and Oakdale -- Behind!(February 27, 2001)
Lily Makes a Break
Poor Holden! Will this guy ever catch a break? Just as Lily decides to dump Simon in favor of her favorite stable boy,s he also opts to check out of Oakdale -- with Luke and Faith no less -- in order to "find herself." One has to wonder if she is truly prepared to part ways with the man on whom she once placed all emphasis. However, Lily gives us her answer when Simon is confined to a cell in the basement of the police department. Will she allow Simon to starve himself on a diet of bread and water? Or is she capable of offering him a tastier piece of meat?
Holding On To Love
Lily clues Holden in to her latest plan and he is troubled by the news. He fears that she is simply running away from having to make a final choice between himself and Simon. His estranged wife empathizes, promising him that hse will come back from this excursion better for it, and consequently, so will they as a couple. Not that Holden is guaranteed his old life back, but it is a start. It is Lucinda who finally gets Holden to agree to Lily's escape from Oakdale. However, she also tells him privately about Simon's condition: He's locked up in the slammer! She wants him to not afford Lily this information, but being the honest man that he is, the truth is made known. What will Lily do?
Unexpected Results
To his surprise, Lily doesn't make a move and is gone before Simon can hope for a jailbreak! When she returns, it may be Holden, not Simon, who greets her with a smile. Meanwhile, Katie learns whether luck is on her side or not! Will she get the official word that will allow her to remain Mrs. Frasier indefinitely?
Is alcohol dangerous for a woman faking a pregnancy? If not, break out the champagne, Katie -- it's curtains for Lily and Simon this week on As the World Turns. "Lily's been having a lot of questions about her decisions in general," states her portrayer, Martha Bryne. "[Her family] plays an important part in what Lily's decision is, and how she handles it. It's all based on her children. It's a journey she goes through to make this discover."
Lily tells Simon that even if Katie were not pregnant it wouldn't matter -- they are finished. Simon won't give up, but Lily is adamant . She has turned her back on everyone and everything that matters in her life -- and the confusion and hurt must end. "Lily is lost," Byrne declares. "The passion she has for Simon is overriding all of the other situations in her life."
Simon freaks, and points out to Lily that he has sacrificed a lot to be close to her, as well. For starters, he's stuck in a loveless marriage with Katie, who is now having his baby (or so he thinks). Simon's angry reaction rattles Lily -- but she ain't seen nothing yet.
Saying Goodbye?
It was a shock for everyone to see Holden and Rose -- yes, Holden and Rose, and not Holden and Lily -- have "relations." It was mostly shocking for Mrs. Snyder herself! But hey, honey, you can't have your cake and eat it too, which is exactly what LIly is intent on doing. Her passion for Simon diluted whatever loyalty and love she ever felt for Holden. It seems that even her kids, Luciano and Faith, have taken a back seat to her raging hormones. While Lily must come to terms with Katie's alleged pregnancy, which could exact a birthing holocaust for Simon and Lily, another bomb is about to be detonated: Holden slept with Rose -- again! Will this have Lily remember what she and Holden once shared?
I Did It!
When Holden returns from being with Rose, he openly admits to Lily that he did spend the night with her twin. With this latest turn taken in their crumbling marriage, a shaken Lily does not immediately denouce her man, givent he latest goings-on that she has forced him to endure in recent months. In fact, for the first time, Lily confessed that ever she is confused by her uncharacteristic behavior. Topping her realization is Holden, who announces that he is not going to wait for Lily. However, it is obvious that this is easier said than done; when Lily reveals Katie's impending pregnancy, Holden wonders if this development is what encouraged his wife to see him out. Lily quickly assuages the situation by insisting that her intentions were pure: She returned to the farm to apologize for leaving Holden earlier on, per Simon's phone call. That's all ... for now! But Lily makes a decision not long after that will stun both the men in her life!
Proof of Life
Meanwhile, Simon forces Katie to bring forth substantial proof that she is indeed on the verge of becoming a mama, leaving her two options -- either coloring pink pluses onto her home pregnancy test or constructing a bulging belly made out of paper mache.
(Caption with photo: "Is Katie with or without child? That's exactly what Simon wants to know.")
As As the World Turn's devilish duo Katie and Henry, Terri Conn and Trent Dawson are in cahoots again -- and loving it. Henry dresses up as a pregnant woman to help Katie this week. Simon accompanies Katie -- who is faking her pregnancy -- to a shady doctor's office,w here "Henrietta" is waiting, to Katie's surprise. Is there anything these two won't do to get what they want? Their portrayers, Terri Conn and Trent Dawson, are just as quick-witted as their fiesty atler egos. Get ready for some hilarious observations regarding their characters (are they must misunderstood?), Henry's sexuality and that crazy little thing called love.
Terri Conn: How was it dressing as a woman?
-- Edited by Tonya Lensch
So, just how good is Katie at faking it? That's the test this week on As the World Turns. A suspicious Lily tells Simon to question Katie further about her pregnancy. Meanwhile, Mrs. Frasier gets a crash course from Margo "what to expect when you're expecting."
"Katie goes to Margo because she wants someone to believe that she is pregnant," previews Terri Conn (Katie). Katie tricks her. "She first pretends she wants to get back into the news business and she's doing a story on teen pregnancy. But Katie fakes it really badly, so Margo knows she is 'lying' and trying to avoid the fact that she really is pregnant."
Katie immediately puts Margo's tips to good use. "Katie learns from Margo there are major mood swings, so she plays that with Simon," relates Conn. "She knows there is morning sickness, so you'll hear a lot of fake vomiting. I almost really vomited, because faking it gets your body going. It's awful!"
Does Simon buy it? "Simon has an inclination that she is faking it," concedes Conn. "He wants to go to the doctor with her, which is why Katie goes to Henry. He's the only one who can help."
Katie's faux pregnancy may spell the end for Lily and Simon. With a baby on the way, Lily knows her future with Simon looks bleak.
(Caption with photo: "Katie makes Simon think he's going to be a daddy on ATWT.")
-- Tonya Lensch
There are a few things that, over the years, have come to be law at As the World Turns. Rule No. 1: Lily is our heroine. We are to love and support her -- no matter what! -- because of All She's Been Through. Rule No. 2: We are to hate anyone who keeps Lily from whatever she is seeking at any given time. Rule No. 3: If Lily doesn't vanquish her enemies at the last minute, we will not be satisifed (see Rule No. 1).
If we followed these guidelines, the marriage between dreaded meanie Katie and Lily's island savior, Simon, would have been a truly depressing event. Thank God we didn't, because ATWT played the quickie green card-inspired nups for laughs and earned plenty of them.
It was clear from the start that Katie would get her way -- she even brought a matching fuschia veil for her wedding suit -- and Simon agreed to wed the woman he doesn't love to be near the one he does. Lily stalled the INS agents coming to deport him, and he urged the judge to "jump ahead to the absolute necessary parts."
"Love and commitment" came down from the bench. "Got that, skip ahead," grinned Katie, whipping out the rings. As Simon jammed his on his finger, Katie asked to say her own vows. "I, Katie, take you, Simon, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and cherish, through sickness and health, for richer, for poorer, through rain, snow, sleet, hail, in the darkness of night, till death do us part, I do. Your turn," she gushed. "Okay, I, Simon, take you, Katie, in richness and poorness, and all the other beautiful things that you just said, right -o, ditto, right back at ya, yada, yada, yada, amen, hallelujah ... and I do. Is that okay?" (Don't expect to hear those words on the next Weddings of a Lifetime, but they should turn up on a highlight reel somewhere because the whole scene was absolutely hilarious.) Just then, the INS agents burst in and told "The Frasiers" they'd have to stay married for two years, with no slip-ups. Lily and Simon stared longingly at each other, as Katie's smile stretched ear to ear.
Terri Conn has come into her own as wacky, desperate Katie. Conn makes Katie's underlying ambition a strength despite her pathetically skewed goals, and Conn and Paul Leyden (Simon) hav a natural comedic chemistry. Simon's romantic gooeyness over Lily was getting a bit heavy-handed, so he's well balanced when he loosens up. It's as though Simon can't help but be tickled by Katie's ingenuity. Leyden giaves him the quirky charm of a man stuck in a predicament he hates, but who occasionally finds the humor in it. As usual, Martha Byrne knew exactly how Lily should react, giving her the unique blend of self-pity, indignation and sadness about this latest curve in her curve-heavy life. We do feel bad for Lily, but still had to giggle as Katie danced off on Simon's arm.
"You're not exactly single -- not just yet -- but you'll have to do," the bride said cattily, tossing her bouquet to Lily. "Great catch! Guess that makes two of us." The newlyweds went home for a farcical wedding night, in which Katie was waiting naked under the sheets asking if he "liked to sppon" faster than Simon could say "in name only!" Snuggling up to her flinching hubby, Katie said she agreed, but we know she'll hold on to him for the next two years or die trying.
But wait! Our heroine, Lily was left dejected and alone ... and yet somehow, we didn't mind. So, here's to breaking the rules.
Flash back to December, 1999 at As the World Turns: Christopher Goutman was settling in as executive producer, Georgia and Eddie had just gotten together, and their portrayers Jaime Dudney and Nathanial Marston, were let go. Terri Conn's Katie was the third wheel in that storyline, and everyone -- including Conn -- figured she was next to leave.
Certainly no one would have ever anticipated that a litle over a year later, not only would Conn still have her job, but Katie would have become one of ATWT's most dynamic characters. "I'm totally surprised that I'm still here. I thought for sure I was gone too," states the actress, without a moment's hesitation. "The first year that I was on the show, I don't think they knew what to do with the character. I was always trying to give her some backstory, and then something would happen on the show that would totally negate what I had in my mind. I was really lost, and frankly, I wouldn't have been too upset if I'd been let go because I wasn't that happy. I mean, I wasn't unhappy; I just wasn't thrilled. Especially like I am now. But I think Chris Goutman saw potential in me and in the character and decided to take it another way, and it's definitely gone the other way!"
In fact, while everyone was speculating on exactly when Conn would get the pink slips, Katie was already evolving. The endearingly pathetic character found a perfect foil in Trent Dawson's equally engaging Henry, and Conn made the most of Katie's clumsy attempts to claw her way to the top at WOAK. Katie finally had a purpose, and when new Head Writer Hogan Sheffer arrived, he brought her truly complex identity into focus. Today's Katie is full of contradictions: She's capricious one moment, calculating the next; both bold and insecure; comically clueless, yet surprisingly shrewd. She manges to be a dreamer and a realist at the same time. Somehow Conn sorts it all out, and Katie makes perfect sense.
A gifted comedienne, she tackles the new material with gusto. "I think that's where her vulnerablity shows -- through just laughing at herself, basically," Conn smiles. "I always imagined that I would love it as much as I do now."
In a way, Conn's rebirth precipitated Conn's own. "I'm not the new kid anymore. It's a different feeling, and it took a while for that to happen, too. I think because I wasn't really confident in what I was doing, I wasn't confident in myself as a person with the cast. Iw asn't showing who I was. And I didn't notice that until I got to know people and feel comfortable. I could see the difference in them seeing the real me. I think that's affected my work and my life."
The real Conn is smart, driven and somewhat pragmatic -- but she's also a bit of a romantic. In November, she got engaged to fellow actor Arthur Colombino after about six months of dating. The proposal was a surprise (though they had discussed getting married eventually), and she knows it's fast, but she's also positive that he's The One. "I'm so happy and you know, I don't feel scared or anything," she enthuses. "There's no doubt in my mind. Especially about him. I thought I was so far from [marriage], but what I realized I needed in a relationship was somone to understand my passion for acting. No one has really understood that before. It's great to have a romantic relationship like that where you have that best-friend bond and something that you're both really passionate about, plus all the other stuff."
Of course, actors are notoriously bad matches for each other because the competition can get in teh way. Conn knows the score. "That's why I never wanted to date an actor before because I'm a very competitive person, and actually so is Artie," she admits. "But the funny thing is, once you realize you love someone, you just want them to do well regardless. And I've also realized -- I mean, it sounds so stupid and cheesy -- but life is about learning to love someone. I love what I do, but I will never let it -- and I hope I will always remember this -- get in the way of the relationship because that has made me feel better than acting has. But I'm not kidding myself. I know it's oging to be hard," she says, noting that she might have to move with him for a job or vice versa.
Which brings her to the subject of her ATWT contract, which defied expectations and is about to expire in August. "It's not too far away. I've thought about it, and it's tough. I don't know what I'm going to do," sighs Conn.
She obviously has more leverage now that Katie is not only in a front-burner story, but has just been told by the INS that she has to stay married for two years, though Conn is thinking of her own husband-to-be. "I guess it's all going to depend on where he is in his career and what we decide to do. We both love New York, so that would help us stay here, as long as ... see, I love what I do, but I also want to do stories that I want to do. And that's the only thing about soaps that you don't have any control over. Ideally, I'd like to do both." That includes working with Colombino on some projects. They're putting together ideas even now. If all goes well, she might try to get a few more "outs" from her ATWT obligations. "I don't know," she finally says with an exasperated grin. "It goes back and forth. There are so many variable."
The irony of all of this contract confusion has certainly not escaped her. "Because finally I've gotten to a the point where it's so much fun and the character's great and I feel good about what I'm doing," she says. "I love everybody I work with. Before, they were cool people and they seemed nice, but I didn't have a relationship, really with anyone, except for Jaime. Now I have a friendship with almost everybody. It's weird. I wasn't confident at all, and it affected me in a big way. It's taken me a while to get out of it and look at it from a different side. Now I'm like, 'Wow. You've come a long way, baby,'" she laughs.
Winter Previews & Predictions -- As the World Turns (January 16, 2001)
What They Say
What We Think
There was nothing traditional about Katie and Simon's wedding day on As the World Turns unless you count Lily as "something blue." The bride wore hot pink, the groom had a stricken look on his face that complemented the frowns worn by every "guest," and they improvised their vows. Katie's included a hilarious piece of the postal carriers' code ("through rain or sleet...") while Simon uttered the famous stanza "yada yada yada." As they stammered through the ceremony, Lily stalled the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which was racing to deport Mr. Frasier.
Katie's desperate desire to get hitched was a hoot, as was Simon's visible panic about marrying a woman he doesn't love so he can stay near the woman he does. Speaking of Lily, Martha Bryne was perfect as Lily flip-flopped between the horror of Simon wedding Katie and the terror of him leaving town. (The horror won.)
Kudos to Terri Conn, Paul Leyden and Bryne for exposing the true heart of this triangle: Katie really does care for Simon, and while he is obviously find of Katie, Lily holds his heart. This could have been played as very serious, rip-your-heart-out melodrama, but thanks to this talented trio and razor-sharp writing, the scenes were lively and fun. When Lily blasted Katie for going after her man yet again, Katie retorted that if Lily would just make up her mind already about what man she really wanted, there wouldn't be a problem. Touche.
The humor continued when Katie and Simon were forced to sleep in the same bed (in case the INS was sneaking a peek, of course). Katie jumped out of her clothes faster than you can say "Victoria's Secret," and slithered up against poor Simon, who nervously slammed the brakes on her amorous plans.
This whole Green Card-inspired premise is full of endless possibilities -- let's hope the honeymoon lasts a long time.
-- Tonya Lensch
Sierra isn't the only one returning to celebrate an Oakdale Christmas on ATWT. Lyla Montgomery Peretti and Penny Hughes Cunningham -- played by Anne Sward and Rosemary Prinz respectively -- both return Dec. 26, and find themselves in family turmoil.
The Montgomery family is in need of healing ... so Lyla returns to help her kids: Craig, Margo and Katie. Especially Katie, who just married Simon so he wouldn't be deported. Craig and Margo hope their mother will help Katie realize she made a big mistake. "Lyla wants to hear both sides of the story because she's totally out of the loop," Sward notes. "The older children are really coming down on Lyla to convince Katie that her actions are unacceptable, so she's in a difficult place."
-- Tonya Lensch
(Soap Opera Weekly, December 25, 2001)
Terri Colombino: Katie keeps getting these little hints that it might be the day, and then the doorbell rings and it's a bellman delivering a wedding dress. Then Simon calls and gives her another hint that it's today. It's actually Carly's dress from the fashion show, but Katie thinks that Simon is being clever. So she puts it on, veil and all, and trots downstairs. So she makes a big ass out of herself in front of everybody in the Lakeview dining room.
Paul Leyden: (to Colombino): What does he say?
Colombino: I don't remember. Oh Katie gets really embarrassed once they get upstairs, so it's kind of a little fight.
Leyden: Yeah, they have a bit of a tiff because she's really upset that she's been made a fool of. And he says, "What gave you the impression we were getting married today, anyway?"
Colombino: She say, "Am I supposed to embarrass myself every day?"
Leyden: He's like, "If it's going to drive you crazy, then I'll tell you [the details]. And he goes to tell her and she says, "No, don't tell me." Because she's a schizo. But a lovable one at that.
Colombino: Awww.
Leyden: And the crowd goes, "Awww."
Leyden: The fantasy stuff gives us a new dimension to play. There are no characters who are as light as these two, and yet there's so much intimacy and love between them, which is obvious. Even when they're kind of toying with each other, there's so much love. I think they're more like a real-life couple than anyone.
Colombino: Which makes it more romantic.
Leyden: Because when you're really in love, that's when you play with each other, that's when you have fun. As opposed to getting deep all the time.
Colombino/Leyden: No.
Leyden: I think when they first got together, they had instant supporters but instant haters, because Simon and Lily had so many fans.
Colombino: Right.
Leyden: Well, I think a lot of people were disappointed with their reunion. There was such a build up to it, and then all of the sudden...I think they wanted to see it. It's weird because they wanted to see penetration or something.
Colombino: [grimacing] Oh, God.
Leyden: [laughing] I don't know. That was the impression I got.
Leyden: Terri's one of my best friends. To be able to work with that every day is amazing.
Colombino: [laughing] That?
Leyden: With her. But we've got such a shorthand now, too. When you work with someone a lot, you know where you want the gags to go. We've got a great way of working together. That cuts back on all the time. That's why we have so much fun because we're not busy trying to learn how the other person works. We can bypass a lot and just have fun.
Colombino: Right.
Colombino: Now, its the fantasy scenes. They were fun to do -- and to watch.
Leyden: They were excellent. I think the scenes building up to the fantasy scenes were fun because it was just two people feeling each other out.
Colombino: Because they've been working so hard to get together.
Leyden: And they both want to make it right.
Colombino: Now that the work is over, it's like, "Oh, what do you want? "I don't know, what do you want?"
Leyden: I think both of us are going to be disappointed--because we talked about it-- if they back these two characters into a wall to the point where they are going to become a soppy, lovey couple. That would just ruin them completely, and we'll be pissed off, because it doesn't need to get that way. But as someone once said, "They have to be brought really together before they can be pulled apart."
Colombino: They already are together.
Leyden: You only have to pull couples apart when they're not working. This couple just needs to be a fun, loving couple.
Colombino: And do things together.
Leyden: Maybe start a profession together. These people who love each other and work together and yet they're always bickering, it makes the moments when they come together so much more powerful.
Leyden: That we go to Australia and do a location shoot. He'd take her back to the sheep station or wherever he comes from. It's changed about a hundred times. He had a ranch and a brothel ...
Colombino / Digest: A brothel?
Leyden: [laughing]: No.
Colombino: That's where he got all his wives.
Leyden: He ran a dating service.
Colombino: Oh good!
Leyden: That's great. That was ultimately what all three of us wanted. The most perfect thing would be to get Katie and Simon to a point where they're happy together, they're having so much fun, yet they have no money. Simon doesn't want to do suit jobs and Katie doesn't want to get her hands dirty either. So, that's when Henry comes back to town with the diamond, really rich. And we all split the money and become the richest people in Oakdale ...
Colombino: Yeah, they might have a fight on their hands with that one.
Leyden: But even that could be fun, getting the money out of him. Then they all become the pimps of Oakdale and spend heaps of money. How much fun would that be?
Colombino: Oh, I know.
Leyden: They're irresponsible about it, but trying to be responsible.
Colombino: I agree with that.
Colombino: Yes, definitely. It better last. Before Paul leaves to become a big movie star ....
Leyden: This couple could go a long while. If Lily and Holden have 15 years of history, then we can make a year-and-a-half, can't we?
Finding the right setting to express their love becomes a zany premise after
Katie gets some words of wisdom from a philosopher. "Simon just wants to get
it on," Leyden exclaims with a chuckle. But he gives in to Katie's demands
as the two return to the convertible where they first made love. "The
convertible belongs to Nancy, so Katie asks if she and I come and speak to
her, and ask to borrow the car. We tell her we want to reminisce."
Reality settles in for the young couple as they realize they are going to
have to compromise on what each considers to be the ideal image of wedded
bliss, which leads to a hilarious fantasy sequence. "Simon thinks that Katie
wants the white picket fence, but he doesn't want that lifestyle. He then
[envisions] Katie's idea of a perfect marriage, something fifties style, and
she sees his."
Despite their differences, Leyden feels the future for this couple is a rosy
one. "I don't think there's another couple like this on daytime," he
declares. "They're wacky together. I don't think they'll become a couple
that sinks into domestication; [they'll] maintain their sense of fun and a
sense of adventure between them."
As the World Turns' Paul Leyden is just as dynamic and complex as his character
Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. Sam and Diane. Lucy and Desi. Simon and Katie. "Simon and Katie are the Moonlighting-type couple," smiles Simon's portrayer, As the World Turns' Paul Leyden. "There's a lot of love there, but they still argue."
There's more love and less bickering this week as the pair consummate their marriage by recreating their first night together. "They get another convertible and make love in the car," previews Leyden, adding that Katie obsesses over making everything perfect. "She doesn't want to get it wrong, and he's like, 'If we get it wrong, it's going to be okay, we'll just keep practicing and practicing,'" he adds with a laugh.
Obviously, Leyden has fun with the offbeat matchup. "I love the dynamic between them," he declares. "Simon's a bit of a drifter, an adventurer, and he doesn't want to be tied down. But he's found someone who really challenges him, really excites him. As Paul, when I'm not working with Terri (Colombino), I miss her and it feels weird, so that translates to the character. When Simon's not around her, he just doesn't feel the same ... Terri is one of my best friends, so I kind of just have to look at her, and it's easy. I could work with Terri and Martha (Byrne, Lily/Rose) the rest of my life and be completely happy."
Simon and Katie are hardly a conventional couple, even by soap standards: They got married, then fell in love. Leyden hopes that unpredictability continues. "I would be so upset if they didn't maintain the humor of the couple," he states. "I hope they won't get lovey-dovey, Holden/Lily style, where is just becomes banal. You have to keep them adventurous, keep them on their toes."
Simon may still be on his toes, but he's a far cry from the con man who first wandered into Oakdale with a get-rich-quick scheme in his bag. "I don't think he takes himself so seriously," Leyden remarks. "He's probably a little less impulsive, which isn't a good thing, but in a small town like Oakdale, how can you be spontaneous? I think the fact that he stayed in this small town and he has a reason to stay means he's changed. He isn't looking so much for the bigger picture, he's content with being happy in the moment."
Leyden understands why it took Simon so long to admit his feelings for his impetuous wife. "I think everyone has been in that situation where they are just so stubborn. I've been in those situations in my real life, where I've liked someone but I'm afraid to change my life and adapt when I should," he confesses. "When you find that right person, you know, and you will change. I think Simon realizes that if he doesn't give it a go, he'll never know."
When Leyden first joined the show, his character did the unthinkable - he came between the Oakdale institution of Lily and Holden. "Simon's love for Lily started as infatuation," Leyden asserts. "He became obsessed with the stability and a life with her because it was so different than what he was used to. Ultimately, he realized his love for Lily was more fantasy, whereas his love for Katie is more real. It's more him. They're better suited because their personalities are a bit flighty, and they don't like to be held down."
And what about finding his own Katie in real life? "I'm looking for a 6-foot-3 woman with a moustache, hairy armpits, who has her own trailer, speaks English and has limited teeth," deadpans Leyden, revealing that there is no special someone in his life right now. "For the last 10 years, I've been in two-year, three-year relationships. This year I've been concentrating on myself. I've met a lot of great girls, but I'm all about concentrating on my career."
"If someone comes along and blows me away, then of course, I'll be open to it. But at the moment, I'm definitely not looking," he adds. "I'm happy. I've learned a lot about myself. I've been in a lot of relationships, and you lose your individuality a little bit. I'm finding out again what makes me tick."
Bruno represents everything that Simon can't or won't; he is an unintentional intermediary to Simon and Katie's cause. Bruno forces Katie to face the fact that she cannot simply replace Simon with someone else. And Simon sees that Bruno behaves in a way towards Katie that he should-if he hopes to remain with his wife! Bruno's presence won't cause Simon and Katie much concern in the long run-because we know that Bruno is simply the court jester (albeit a hunky one!). He is here to entertain us all, including Simon and Katie, until they decide to embark on their Cinderella story for real.
Conn: Aw, shoot! (she laughs) No, I'm just kidding.
Leyden: It's one of those things you kind of saw was going to happen. So I actaully wasn't that surprised. We work really well together, and I think you can see how much fun Simon and Katie have together.
Conn: I'm not quite so sure that they did want us to end up together.
Leyden: No.
Conn: Not way back then.
Leyden: I think they just took it as it happened, and it just so happened that when they put me and Terri together, stuff happened very quickly. There's a chemistry there because we're such good friends in real life.
Leyden: I think for me it was the first time that we worked together.
Conn: Yeah. Especially the first time we had a scene, just us, together. Halloween?
Leyden: Yeah. And again, we didn't work togther until Halloween last year, and yet, as friends, we'd been hanging out a lot.
Conn: Yeah. That probably helped.
Leyden: Being comfortable with someone, I think ...
Conn: ... it makes all the difference.
Leyden: I feel like I've known Terri forever.
Conn: I know. It's weird.
Leyden: I feel like we've known each other for years and years instead of just a year and a half. I think we just sort of clicked as friends right away.
Conn: (turns to Paul) I admire your acting. I do. That's the other thing I remember from when we first met. We talked about acting and how we approach it. He's really well-trained and went to an amazing school and has worked with some amazing people, so I always like hearing stories about that. He always goes for everything, and I love that.
Leyden: That's one of the things I admire about Terri as well. I love actors who take risks. She's great, and she'll take risks as an actor and not just go for the safe choice. And apart form that, I admire her sense of loyalty as a friend, her love for [husband] Artie [Columbino] -- whom I love as well, he's one of my closest friends in the city -- and her love for her friends and family. She's an incredible friend.
Conn: I love all that about you too.
Conn: Probably, not learning my lines.
Leyden: (He laughs.) I was going to say that, but I was waiting for you to say it.
Conn: Well he always gets me laughing, and I can't stop, and then I get in trouble.
Leyden: Well, it gets to crunch time where we have to.
Conn: We're like, "Shut up! Ten minutes!"
Leyden: All of a sudden, we're on the set in like, three minutes. And that's when we run our lines. (He laughs.) Seriously.
Conn: Yep. Keeps it fresh. Seriously.
Leyden: I don't want to know my lines too well, because you've got to add elements of spontaneity in there.
Conn: Maybe that's why we're so good together -it's because we never learn our lines!
Leyden: Because we're improvising the entire scene!
Conn: Pretty much!
Birthday: January 28
Anniversary: Conn married real life love Arthur Colombino on September 7, 2001.
Soap Start: Early in her career, the young actress had roles on the daytime sudser The Young and the Restless and the primetime serial Malibu Shores.
How Terri sees Simon: "He went from cool guy...you know, sultry, kind of mysterious man, to cool guy not-so-mysterious..." she declares, quickly adding, "but still sultry!"
Birthday: December 18
From Down Under: Leyden moved to New York City from Melbourne, Australia, in February 2000.
Soap Start: Early in his career, the actor appeared on the hit Australian soap opera Home and Away.
How Paul sees Katie: "She's just kind of weird, but in a really interesting and endearing way," he laughs.
Terri Conn: I know, I don't know. Nothing ran through my head, I was like, 'what! I was at work, getting my hair done, and Alan, our publicist called and he said go get Terri, and I was like I'm getting my hair done I'll call him back, and they said, no, I think you really want to talk to him, and I said we have five more minutes let me just call him back and they said, no, get on the phone now! I was like, ok, whatever. They don't air the younger actress category on television, and we had been waiting, and it was still 15 minutes before it started airing so I wasn't even thinking about it. So I ran into the other room, got onto the phone, and he said congratulations, you got nominated, and I was like, oh! I was the first one for everyone to hear about, Everyone just freaked out and Kristina was sitting right next to me, and then he said is Kristina there, and I said, yes, and then I handed her the phone and she started screaming, and so we all started screaming again, and then he said, ok is Annie there, and I said, ok, this is my competition, my two favorite girls, so I was just thrilled and it's so nice to have someone to share it with.
Conn: Yeah
Conn: No, definitely not. In fact, I would rather have it that way, because it's fun to experience it with someone. And I didn't realize it until that day when I handed her the phone and I was so happy for her. It was like yeah, let's do it together! We'll go look for dresses, we'll go to all the parties. We went to them together last year, and everybody looked at us like who are you? Oh, ATWT, is that still on the air? We weren't treated very well, so this year we're going to live it up!
Conn: I know. Last year, we were going through a move, and we were just kind of starting out with Chris, Goutman, and our new writer, Hogan Sheffer, so things were just starting, and I think they were just focusing on making the show better, and not worry about nominations. This year, after being shunned all across the board last year, after the Emmys we all got together and said, we're getting good, and we deserve what we deserve. A lot of people on the show had deserved it for a long time, so I feel like this is representative of all these past years of coming on and not getting recognized, and this sheds a positive light on the show for the past and for years to come.
Conn: Oh definitely. Well the thing is every single person has so much to back it up. I was running through the studio yesterday trying to get some tapes and a lot of the nominees were there trying to put together their tapes, and it's like everybody has a list, pages long, of scenes to choose from, because so many things have happened this year, we've had great storylines, and it's not like oh no, I got nominated, and I have nothing to show for it. It's trying to figure out what out of all the great things to show.
Conn: No, that's what I'm doing today, after we're done here. We have to decide by tomorrow.
Conn: I can't decide. I actually voted last year, so I kind of got an idea of what works and what doesn't, and you need either something very dramatic, but no too screamy, just something very moving, I watched Heather Tom last year and she was amazing. It was very simple and very real, and I it made me cry, if you can do that out of context, it's a good tape.
Conn: It's all strategic, very strategic, you have to pick something that showcases you, and not worry about what other people are doing, because we all have different characters. My character is kind of a bitch, and doesn't have those emotional scenes, she causes people to have emotional scenes. I'm trying to focus on the strengths of Katie, which have come to be kind of comedic this year too, so I'm going to try and look for maybe one dramatic episode, maybe from the stalker stuff, and then one comedic, kind of goofy one.
Conn: I've been looking through tapes that I completely forgot about, it's really fun to see how you've grown. There are things you've done, things I've forgotten about because I've gone thru so many transitions this year.
Conn: That's a tough question, there are so many. The first person that comes to mind is Trent Dawson, who plays Henry, because Katie took a major turn, for the best, when he came on the show. He's my comedic cohort, and I think he just added such an element of manipulation, fun manipulation, that you don't see a lot on soaps. The relationship that Katie and Henry has is very unique and very fun, and people love it, and I love working with him.
Torchin: He's darling.
Torchin: She's been on the show since she was a little girl so she really knows, knows it from the ground up.
Conn: Thank you.
Conn: We actually met, this is a funny story, May 18th, last year, at a pre-Emmy party, so it was the same day as the Emmys this year. This is our one-year anniversary.
Conn: Yep, it's interesting.
Conn: Right. It's been a very good year.
Conn: Well, he's definitely good looking, because I was not looking at the time. Steven Bergman who's a photographer for the Soap Press, actually introduced us, he's good friends with Artie, thru Donny Jeffcoat, who was on One Life to Live. I'm pretty good friends with Steven too and we were talking and he said oh have you met my friend Artie? And I was like oh no, oh no, because I really didn't want to be introduced to anyone at the time, and then he walked up and I was, oh, ok, bring him over! He's beautiful, and I can really say within the first two minutes of talking to him there was just something, we just connected, on a level that you can feel, you know how it is that you can feel with certain people than you know you're going to be friends with them. And that's what I actually thought when I first met him, I thought what a great guy, so down to earth, so talented, so sweet I could just tell he was a good person, and I wanted to be friends with him.
Conn: About two weeks! Really the first time we went out, we spent about probably only 20 - 30 minutes talking that night, which I totally enjoyed, and then as we were leaving, I turned around and said I hope you call me, because I really like you, and then I thought, why did I just say that! That was so, you know that's not like me to say something like that, but I really did have a strong feeling about him, and I thought you know even if it's just friendship, he's a cool person and I need someone like that in my life. Then the first time we went out at the end of the date, we waved goodbye and I got in the cab and I drove off thinking, that could be it. I mean people say, when you know you know, and I was pretty sure. I didn't know for sure, but then over the next couple of weeks I was just flying! And have been ever since.
Conn: He proposed on Nov 3, and he had been planning on taking me away that weekend, and didn't want me to know, didn't want me to have any idea. We kind of talked about this, where our relationship was going, and he had called my mom that morning, to ask ...
Torchin: Oh he's so sweet!
Conn: Yeah, he's amazing, he has the best heart, and morals, and an amazing family. That's what I'm excited about, everybody says you know you're marrying into a family, and I'm very happy to marry into this one.
Conn: Yeah, huge, Italian, you know! He has an older brother and a younger sister, who are both actors too. He comes from an amazingly talented family, very supportive, which is important so, I'm excited to be a part of that family.
Conn: So he asked my mom, and she was thrilled of course, and my dad wasn't around, so she said make sure you call Terri's dad. And so he had called and left a message, and my dad wasn't around, so he called back right when we were getting ready to go out to an event, for Cerebral Palsy, so we were all dressed up, he was in a tux and I was in a dress, and he called back, while I was there, so he was freaking out, I have to take this call downstairs, so he took his cell phone downstairs, and I was thinking, what is he doing, he never does that. So he comes back upstairs, kind of laughing and looking flushed and I said who was that? And he said I'll tell you in a minute, let me calm down, and I'm thinking what is that about, did he get a part, what was it? And then he said come out here and let me see how you look. So I walked outside and he said oh you look so beautiful, and I said thank you, and he said what jewelry do you think you're going to wear, and I said I don't know. And he said well I think you need another piece of jewelry. And he got down on his knee and I was like what are you doing? I knew what he was doing, I was just so shocked. He wanted to shock me and he definitely shocked me. We both got very emotional, it went by so fast, and yet at the time it went by so slow, it was like, I can't believe this is happening right now, you know just [he] said the most beautiful wonderful things. We celebrated and rejoiced and I called my parents, and my mom said wait he was going to take you away, and he just couldn't wait. He'd talked to my dad and he was so happy and he'd had the ring for a couple of weeks and he's like I just couldn't wait and we have romantic days everyday who needs to go away off to some island.
Conn: This is a testament to how much he knows me because it's exactly what I would have picked out had we gone out together, but I'm glad that we didn't, because you know, it's something from him, that he chose, that I wear. It's not about the ring. I could have a piece of paper around my finger and be happy. It's not about that, it's about the love. It's just a symbol.
Conn: Well, you know the reason I didn't want to meet anyone before him was because I was worried about that, I thought oh look at the business that I'm in, people come and go, and have these affairs, and I was really scared, but that's why I love him so much. When I met him, he's in the same business, which I wasn't really too thrilled about at first either, but what I've realized is that we think the exact same way about the business, about life in general, and that your love relationship and friendships are more important than anything. I will always feel that way, and I will never let my career get in the way of us, he won't either, and I trust that. And I want him to trust that in me. You know, life is not about being on TV, or getting this role, or whatever, it's about your relationships with people, and I'm so thankful to have him, he's such a beautiful person and I'm not going to let anything get in the way of that.
Conn: With the pregnancy thing too, when I first joined the show two women were pregnant, then three women got pregnant after that, they were like don't drink the water!
Conn: Well you never know!
Conn: : Well I just grew up watching The Young and the Restless, and it's something very special in our culture, I think, to have something always the same, you can turn on the TV when you're 5 yrs old and turn it on when you're 15 and see the same person, and see how they've grown, and it's kind of a cool thing, so I always thought.
Conn: Oh definitely! I love that, like I said earlier, I love the history and the familiarity of having a show that you can just turn on and see the same people over and over. And Eileen Fulton and Helen Wagner and Don Hastings, they have these stories from years and years of being on the show, and it's just amazing.
Conn: Oh - he is just the funniest person I have ever met, I love when he's on set.
Conn: He's great on those days when we have a Thanksgiving show or a wedding, when everybody's onset and we're there for hours and we're all delirious by the end of the day, he keeps us laughing the whole entire time, he, Michael Park and Martha Byrne. We've got some comedians on the show.
Conn: Gosh that's a good question. Well I probably if I could get every person that I love together in one place which would be hard to do since they're spread out all over the united states and just have a big party. And definitely just spend some time alone with Artie. With no one else around! But I would definitely want to spend it with the people I love. No jumping off mountains or anything, I'm not a daredevil. I would just want to be with the people I love, and make amends, if need be and let everyone I know, know how much I love them.
Conn: Yeah, basically I do. Ever since I was a little girl I have always just thought, it makes me emotional too. I have always just wondered why you know. Why do some people get such a short end of the stick and I don't but the only way I can really deal with it? I mean I have talked to my parents about it before and they just said be thankful and give of yourself to others. Which is, we were talking earlier saying Rosie O'Donnell wanted to use her celebrity to help people and I think that is what I am here to do cause I really want to do that. It's really important to me. But you know, it's so tough. Its like great things have happened to me and I am so thankful and so thankful to my parents. Exactly knock on wood. I don't know why I do that. I have to knock on my head and your head. I've always just felt really blessed and really thankful. I just always want to give back and make people's lives a little bit easier. Maybe that is why I became an actress. I don't know but?
Conn: Definitely.
Torchin: You have probably led many, many lives as a really wonderful person.
Conn: Or maybe I have led a lot of tough lives and I have all the worst behind me. I hope. But I have a fear too of something tragic happening.
Conn: I try!
Conn: I do.
Conn: I know. It's so sad. What I hope for people is that people just follow their passions. I think that is probably why good things have happened to me. Because I always try to follow my heart and follow my passions instead of doing what I should do, what society thinks I should do or my parents think I should do. And luckily they have always been very supportive so I have always felt like I can do whatever I want.
Conn: Yeah! I try to follow them and when I don't, not so great things happen so I try to always follow them even if I have no idea where I am going or why. It usually works out and everything builds on everything else so it' has been good so far.
Conn: I don't ever, no I am kidding.
Conn: You know I don't really have a lot of hobbies or anything. People always ask me what are your hobbies and I am like uh, am I boring? I don't really have any. I like to spend time with friends. I love instead of going to a club and partying till all hours of the night, I would rather have all my friends over with a bottle of wine and just talk and hang out and laugh and dance and goof around. That's my favorite way to spend my time.
Torchin: I wouldn't argue with that. I think I would go along with it.
Conn: I am so excited for my bachelorette party. We are going to Santa Barbara for a weekend, a girl weekend. So all of my best friends my different times in life, I have some best friends from high school, my closest friend Julie Smith, well now she is married. It's the hardest to remember people's new last names. She's orchestrating the whole thing so she is getting my high school, my college friends, my CA friends, my NY friends and we are all going to Santa Barbara for a weekend just to do that. Dance and sing and drink wine and lay on the beach.
Torchin: Oh it sounds fantastic.
Conn: Oh its going to be the best. I mean when do you get to do that in your life, get all of your friends together.
Torchin: I can't even imagine. It's a wonderful thing for someone to do.
Conn: I am really excited.
Conn: Well it is such an exciting time just to be able to put together your ideal day. And I love fairy tale land so that is what I want it to look like, a fairy tale. I think every bride does too to a certain extent but I even want out flower girl to wear wings. I don't know exactly how I am going to do that.
Conn: Yeah little tinker bell and she is so cute too. I don't know. I just want everyone to walk into a fairyland. Stay there for a couple hours and leave happy.
Conn: I'll never be forty. It's not that far away actually. Well, ideally which I always say ideally, I would like to have a family and a beautiful home either outside of New York or outside of LA, which is where we're going to be being actors. I don't want to be in the city I want to be out in a nice home where it feels like a regular family life. I'd love to be doing movies, scripts that I want to do, maybe one a year. I love Meryl Streep's life. I love her acting. She has a charmed life too. She isn't in the public eye. She doesn't have to be on the cover of every magazine. It's not about that for her, it's not about that for me, she does one or two movies a year or one every other year, she does whatever she feels like. She picks good scripts that speak to people and she has a great family life. She has the best of both worlds and that's really what I want. I'm not in this to be a famous star but I want to be big enough to be able to pick and choose the scripts that I want to tell the stories that I want to tell. Which means that I might be producing eventually because I want to have control, so I wouldn't mind that either so ideally I want to have as normal as a life as possible and still be able to do my passion, which is acting and storytelling.
Mimi Torchin: Oh my God, it's Emmy nominee, Terri Conn.
Terri Conn: I grew up watching The Young and the Restless. I would listen to the line that they'd say and then I'd look in the mirror and say it the way I would say it (laughs), you know? I always wanted to be an actor and I just thought what a great way to do it. To have consistent work and be on a show where people really feel like they know you.
Conn: Oh definitely. I love that; love the history and the familiarity of having a show that you can just turn on and see the same people that you've seen over and over. Eileen Fulton and Don Hastings, they have these stories from years and years of being on the show and it's just amazing.
Conn: Ideally, I just want to have as normal of a life as possible and still be able to do my passion, which is acting and storytelling. I'm not in this to be, you know, a famous star, but I want to be big enough that I can pick and choose the scripts that I wanna tell; the stories that I wanna tell.
Conn: I'm working for it (laughs), working hard.
Terri Conn: I originally auditioned for the part of Lucinda's niece, Georgia. They didn't even have Katie Peretti on the canvas. I wasn't really right for Georgia, but they liked my audition, and I guess they liked something about me, so they decided to find a way to keep me. They figured that if they brought Georgia on, they'd probably need another young girl to either be her friend or cause her mischief, so they looked back at the show's history and said, "Let's bring back Lyla's daughter, Katie Peretti. She should be about 12 years old now - let's make her 18!"
Conn (laughing): That poor woman. She's like the opposite of the Virgin Mary!
Conn: I just didn't feel like I fit in at all. I barely worked. Jaime Dudney (Georgia) and I became really good friends. She was working all the time, and I'd just be sitting at home. Her character had this great little love story with Eddie, and all these fun things to do, and I had nothing.
Conn: Once I started to work at WOAK and starting going after Holden, that's when it really turned around for me. Having my own storyline - the whole stalker business - was the beginning of a real turnaround for Katie. And it really helped, too, that I suddenly got to work with a whole new set of people.
Conn: She went from goody two-shoes to a bitch to this goofy lovesick puppy with Simon, but she still has all those facets in her. That's what makes her really fun to play.
Conn: Oh, gosh. That's a great question& Let me see& Oh, I remember one. When Henry left town after the Endicott Awards and then came back without telling her. He'd been gone for months, and I'd become this spoiled little bitch living with my brother Craig (in his hotel penthouse) and having everything handed to me. Well, I'm sitting in the Lakeview lounge. I've ordered a drink and he - Henry - brings it to me. I don't even look at him, so I don't know who it is. I take a sip of the drink and go, "Ugh. This is isn't right! I said no ice." So he brings back another one with ice. This time I take a sip and go, "It needs more lemon!" So he brings back yet another one with more lemon. And it still isn't right! Finally, I just look at him very disdainfully and say, "Would you listen to what I& " And I never finish the sentence. I just freeze because I see his face, and there he is, back in my life, rubbing it in my face that he managed to escape all the flak from the Endicott Awards and is doing really well, while I'm actually down on my luck and only pretending that I'm doing well.
Conn (laughing): It's pronounced "Lay-den," but Paul says "Lye-den" because he's Australian. We've become good friends. Paul, Trent and Martha Byrne (Lily/Rose) - that's my dream team to work with. Paul Leyden is hilarious. His character doesn't indicate that, but he's the funniest guy around. We're always cracking up when we rehearse, and I can never keep a straight face. I'm sure that comes across sometimes because I'm not very good at holding in laughter. He gets me laughing a lot, and so does Martha.
Conn: Well, it's changed a lot. I used to get some nasty letters. When Katie was going after Holden, people were not happy, and everybody warned me about the mail I was going to get. Lesli Kay (Molly) said, "Be prepared to get the meanest fan mail, to have everybody hate you." And I was like, "Oh, great."
Conn: No, it's different for men. It's such a double standard. They get forgiven for doing the same thing a woman does. It's much easier for the audience to swallow a Simon and Lily relationship than a Holden and Katie relationship. Well, I suppose the Holden and Katie relationship wasn't as feasible, anyway. I mean it just wasn't believable that Holden would fall for Katie, whereas it was believable that Lily might fall for Simon.
Conn: Yes, but it just seemed easier for people to accept Simon and Lily getting involved. It's like that in real life, you know.
Conn: Sure, a woman cheats (or busts up a marriage) and she's the big red "w," but a man cheats and he can be forgiven.
Conn: I was a Jabot model for one day. I was doing a photo shoot with Malcolm, and Dru came in during the scene. The actors, Shemar Moore and Victoria Rowell, were very sweet to me. I've watched Young & Restless since I was in the womb practically, so I knew exactly who their characters were and I was very excited about being on that show.
Conn: No, coming on World Turns was a very different story because I hadn't watched it as much growing up. I'd catch it every now and then, but I'd never really been a faithful fan. When I got the role on World Turns, my mom bought me the big fortieth anniversary coffee table book - the one written by Julie Poll. It helped me so much because it had all the history and back story. I mean, there's a lot about the show I still don't know. I was actually reading an interview with Kelley Menighan-Hensley (Emily), Colleen Zenk Pinter (Barbara), Scott Holmes (Tom) and Benjamin Hendrickson (Hal). They were being asked trivia questions, just to see who knew the most about the show, and it amazed me how much they knew.
Conn: Colleen - she knows everything!
Conn: I think Katie and Simon are really good together. I'd like to see what they do with their relationship. And I'd like Katie to have more of a relationship with Margo. There's so much unexplored territory there. Even if it's a difficult relationship, it would be interesting to see them interact. They obviously don't get along - a lot of siblings don't.
Conn (laughing): Yes, she killed my dad!
Conn: Any time. Thank you.
"Kristina Sisco [Abigail, who's sitting next to him]. Lying in a hammock in some beautiful beach bungalow in a tropical place like Thailand or something. Enjoying each other's company, eating, drinking and swimming...Wow, Kristina, let's go now!"
Do you have any hidden talents?
"If I tell you, they won't be hidden anymore."
Which celebrity's career do you most admire?
"Mel Gibson, Russell Crowe and probably Tom Cruise, as well. Mel and Tom have been in the industry for a long time and have had very successful careers, which they've been able to maintain with good publicity and good movies, and by continually transforming."
What song makes you totally happy?
"'Tiny Dancer' by Elton John. I love that film, Almost Famous [in which it was featured], and it was a really cool scene. Whenever I hear that, it makes me feel good."
What was your biggest on-set gaffe?
"Probably at my audition, when I tripped. But apart from that, a funny thing happened the other day. We were doing a pretty emotional scene between Martha [Byrne, Lily/Rose] and I, and I turned around and a huge booger went flying out of my nose. Everyone just lost it. Then, the booth played it back in slow motion. So, probably my biggest on-set gaffe is not blowing my nose before I got to the set."
Peer Review:
"If there's any way of being serious about what you are doing without being too serious about it, that's Paul Leyden," says on-screen wife Terri Conn (Katie). "It's like a perfect combination. He cares about every scene and wants to make everything the best it can be, yet he doesn't dwell on it or take it too seriously, which you can't, really, in daytime."
Known Confidante: Henry Coleman.
Priors: Faked a one-night stand with Eddie to win him from Georgia in 1998.... Snapped compromising photos of Molly and Chris in 1999.... Used the saucy pics to oust Molly and get a promotion at WOAK in 2000.... Pretended to have a stalker that year to gain sympathy from married Holden, then continued the lie to gain national prominence for her stroy.... Also in 2000, kept the truth about Rose (and the fact that Lily was M.I.A.) secret from Holden, slept with Simon even though she knew he loved Lily and helped Simon thwart the INS by marrying him.... Lied that she was pregnant to keep Simon from running off with lily in 2001.
Busts: Katie's lies backfired when her imaginary stalker turned out to be real in 2000, but she milked the attack for all it was worth. That was after the stalker made her tape a confession ... which popped up at the Endicott Awards later that year, where Katie was exposed for all of her WOAK crimes in front of the entire town and left with nothing.
Oral Evidence: "She gets obsessed, but I don't think it's eer really about the person, it's just that need to focus her energy on someone else. It's interesting that it's always a man," muses Terri Conn (Katie), because she grew up without a father, and girls who grow up without fathers sometimes do have a problem with needing praise and approval. That's what kind of saves Katie in my mind from being totally pathetic -- because she has this deep-seated need for someone to just love her and she does the stupidest things. But it is really sad."
Current Mark: Simon Frasier, the Aussie who got a lot more trouble than he bargained for in his marriage of convenience to Katie, is no angel himself -- and his wife isn't that smart. She's making her usual clumsy attempts to hold on to him, but this time it could be just dumb luck for Katie because Simon (gasp!) might actually fall for her regardless.
Sisco: Just what she said!
Sisco: I know that there is definitely a storyline in the works. From what I've found about it I'm really excited because it seems like something the fans will like. Definitely, summer is the time for the teen story lines come out of the woodwork. Definitely be expecting that for the summer.
Conn: Yes I do -- two of my very best friends are Rachel and Wendy who played Tamira and Cassidy -- they're in LA now but we still talk all the time and they're both gonna be in my wedding along with Kristina. Yeah we're very close and I talk to the boys every once in a while but not as much as the girls.
Sisco: Katie! I love doing scenes with Terri, I've only done a couple. Her and Paul Taylor, he's a good friend and I'd like to do scenes with him. That would be fun.
Conn: I would love to do scenes with Kristina too! I think we have only had two ever but we have such a good time because we're such close friends. And I think Katie needs girl-friends, although I'm not quite sure that Abigail would like her. We would have fun and there would definitely be chemistry, I know that. I love Benjamin Hendrickson, I love his work. I'd love to get to know him better too, but I don't see Katie and Hal interacting either.
Sisco: Hmm. She's been too happy lately. Yeah, I think what's a soap opera if you can't cry a little. I miss cryin', I cried so much when I first came on the show and I would like a little bit more range for her. It's great when her life is happy and I'm happy for her being happy, but that would be it. No change in personality traits, I love her personality.
Conn: I think I'd like for Katie to mature a little bit. I'd love for someone to fall in love with her too, so she can experience what that feels like and I think that would do the maturity a favor.
Conn: I don't have a specific story, but it was really great. It was neat to see people come together and the various clubs within the clubs (like Paul or Trent's).
Sisco: Very funny story. Tom Eplin is just a riot. He is such a great guy 'cause he gives back to the fans 100%. I paired up with him and there was a long line. Every person who would come up he would give individual attention to. I told him we should just take pictures and sign autographs because we had to be out of that space by 4 o'clock. He was kissing people, picking them up, hugging people and throwing them around and he's like "NO, these people have waited all year and have given up so much of there time I'm going to give every single person the attention they deserve and I'm gonna be here until midnight if I have to." I was so inspired by that and it was just really neat. I was just so excited to meet the fans. Tom had so many fans there including fans of Another World who came just to see him at the luncheon.
Conn: I loved the very beginning of Henry and Katie because it was so fun to have this crazy couple really start out of what seemed like nothing. So I loved all of the stalker stuff, when he didn't believe me that it was real. And some stuff coming up is going to be really, really fun -- our little 'Survivor' island getaway for the summer.
Sisco: There's definitely going to be a prom. I think the show's wanting to have it air really into the summer so that teens are home from school and can watch it. So, we haven't taped it yet, but from what I've heard I think fans will like it a lot. It's so cute and it's so sweet, it's young and it just fits the story so well. That's kind of the beginning of the summer.
Conn: No, not really. Ha, just kidding! Of course, I can't wait. I have so many things to look forward to this year but that one is coming up the quickest. I'm a little bit nervous too because I'm going to be very emotional because so many of us are nominated. I'm a just worried about crying all over the place, but we'll see. It's a different emotion than happy crying or sad crying, it's 'proud' crying. It's such a great feeling to see the show get the recognition it deserves.
Sisco: I have never really been nervous for anything in my entire life but I am so nervous about this. 'Cause I'm so nervous for everyone, Lesley is so close to my heart as is Terri. So, I'm really looking forward not so much to the televised Emmys as I am to the technical Emmy's, the hair and makeup people, we see them everyday and they're such a big part of our lives, as much as our fellow actors are. To watch them get rewarded and recognized for their work is really exciting. I'm just nervous all over the place. I'll really started thinking about the televised Emmy's after May 12th. I got my Emmy dress today! So that has made it all more real!
Conn: It's hard to look back and remember but, my favorite to tape and that I felt really good about afterwards were the Endicott awards, and the stuff with the stalker, when it actually started becoming more real, they were really challenging and fun. I've always wanted to be in a horror movie, so that's the closest I've gotten!
Sisco: I think in the beginning of the year more in February, I've never been challenged more than finding about Molly and Chris and and here being in the hospital. There were 3 weeks of crying every day and having like 40 pages of script. Going back and looking at those scenes now, I'm so proud about how they came together. It's nice to look back now and feel good about something I did.
Conn: Those will be my favorites from this year so far. For some reason Guenia (Ruby) and I really got into it. It's so fun to live vicariously through Katie and get that stupid b*#!% who is after my man. It's happened to me before in real life with girls hitting on my boyfriend and I would love to be able to do that. Since I've never done that in real life that's probably why I had so much fun with those scenes.
Sisco: Yes, I did! Laura and I went down on the Cruise Ship for E! Entertainment. I love having friends on other soaps because they know exactly what you're going through and especially Laura because she's around my age and it's fun getting to know someone and beginning a friendship and we really began a friendship on that trip. It was really fun. It was great. We hosted a new show as well as Wild on H20 which will be out next Fall. Terri would have had so much fun, but she had to work.
Sisco: I kind of forgot it was my birthday. I was like, "Oh it's almost April 18," and I just didn't make a big deal out of it. Leslie called me up the day before and said she's taking me out. So her and Keith and little baby Jackson took me out to eat and she gave me such a beautiful gift, a 1/2 day at a spa so I could go to a spa before the Emmys and get a massage. I watched TV at their place and played with Jackson, it was just so nice since my mom and dad couldn't be there, it was nice to have my second "mom" take me under her wing and make my birthday special! It was really neat. And I stopped by to see Terri and Artie, it was so neat 'cause I saw everybody I love on my birthday, except my parents of course.
Conn: He is an amazing actor -- I love working with him. He's so good that it doesn't even feel like acting and that's why I love working with him. There's so many layers in the character that he's been bringing out in Simon recently and that's bringing out different layers in Katie so that makes my job easier. And he's easy on the eyes -- what a great job I have!
Conn: I did go -- When I was a sophomore I went with Neal Patrick Harris who played Doogie Howser, as well as many other roles, he went to my highschool as well as Freddy Prinze, Jr. although he was younger than me. I went to three different proms sophomore to Senior year, so by the last year the specialness wore off and I was ready to go to college. But I got to go with all my friends so that was really fun so we had a big group and rented a big limo, so that was a lot of fun.
Sisco: The second semester of my sophomore year, I decided to home school to really focus on my acting career. So I told my friends that when prom came up that they better ask me to go with them and they didn't! So, I never went to prom! But I remember last year at the Emmy's getting dressed up and riding there in a limo and walking down the red carpet, I thought this is my prom. It was much better than any prom or high school function for that matter. But now Craig Lawlor asked me to his prom so I'll be making up for that two weekends after the Emmys and Kim Onasch is coming too with one of his friends, so we're going to have a little mini Oakdale prom, so that'll be fun.
Conn: I loved it! They had to do it three different times, it was so funny. I have a problem keeping a straight face every single day.
Conn: Right now I'd like to hear Dave Matthews, Under the Table and Dreaming.
Sisco: Actually, I have two friends who are recording artists and they're coming out with their CD's, for something that's more well known Lifehouse's No Name Face. I work out to that CD everyday.
Sisco: For me personally, it's very few and far between but when it does happen it's very rewarding to me. I love to hear people's opinions of the stories and the show. They immediately recognize me and say "Oh I love Adam and Abigail." It's exciting for me because it shows me that people who are watching the show are picking up on characters and chemistry. I never get bothered by it and I always make a point to talk with the person and fish out of them what they think about things.
Conn:It didn't happen for me until about two years into my being show. Even now, people look at me and I know they know, but they don't want say anything, but then I'll talk to them, and say "Yeah, it's Katie." and they'll say "Oh my God." First couple of times it happened people recognized me for my voice! They said that I don't look anything like I do on TV but they recognized me from my voice.
Conn: Julianne Moore because I love her, but I don't see that happening any time soon.
Sisco: I loved Keith Corrith because I see him all the time. He played Reed David. I loved him.
Conn: And Jamie, too.
Conn: I grew up watching The Young and the Restless, and I still watch (it's on CBS, so it's OK). And I've gotten into watching The Bold and the Beautiful because it's on right before our show. I try to catch some of the other ones once in a while because I like to see the work that other people are doing but I'm not hooked on any of the other ones.
Sisco: It's sad to say I'm hooked on The Bold and the Beautiful. It's only 30 minutes before our show, it's so short and you can catch up with it quickly. I don't know why I'm hooked on it. A lot of people in my building are on All My Children or One Life to Live, so when I get a chance, I like to flip around channels and try to catch them. I really make a point to try and read soap magazines to see other people's work. We all run into each other at events and I really want to honestly say that I like their work because it means a lot to me when someone from another show sees me and compliments me about my work because they know from working in the same industry they know what goes into it.
Sisco: Terri was the one who found out first and a publicist had called. I found out she had gotten nominated first and then she handed me the phone. I screamed, and Alan who is our publicist, I screamed in his ear and he said that it was really loud. That was my immediate reaction followed by an "Oh my gosh!" Then Kevin the make-up artist saying "We have to finish your makeup so you can go down." I'm like, "Who cares! I've been nominated!"
Conn: I found out, as Kristina just said, at work. I was getting my hair done and Alan was calling, trying to find me and I said to tell him to call me back later, I didn't know what it was about. And they said, "No, I think you better come talk to him." So I went into the other room and Kristina was sitting right there and after he told me I was so excited and then he asked "Is Kristina there?" And I knew right away what that meant. It was great that Kristina was right there, 'cause we're so close and to experience it together was fantastic. Being nominated is the most amazing compliment I could ever have and now I'm just going to have fun with it. I'm just glad that I have so many people to share it with instead of being the only one from the show.
Sisco: I am going to sing on the show. I'll give a spoiler. Something is going to happen this summer, maybe a wedding and maybe someone is going to sing at that wedding. You never know.
Conn: That's definitely the most exciting thing of the year! Yeah the Emmy nomination is really cool but it's nothing compared to the feelings I feel to marry this amazing man. It's such an exciting project, today I was running around looking for hotels for guests. I picked out the brides maids dresses today as well.
Sisco: Oh you did?!?
Conn: Yes I did and I'll tell you about it later. Just putting everything together and putting your dream together is just such a fun experience. I just can't wait for that moment when we say the vows. You never can expect what it's like until you're in that moment and I just can't wait for that moment. The planning's gone pretty smoothly up to this point - knock on wood. Getting married has been so commercialized, people make up all these traditions just so they can make money off of you. So we're really trying to things ourselves and make it our own, but that's the hardest thing to do because everybody wants your money and for things you don't need. So anyone who is getting married out there, if you have the time to do things yourself it's so much more meaningful and you save a lot of money and I don't think people realize if certain things aren't there that the wedding industry says you need.
Sisco: Leslie Kay because she's a professional and always prepared. She has a 14 month old son and stays up with him all night and comes in the next day and knows all of her lines. Tom is a wild man and Leslie loves him and tolerates him and deals with changes that happen every day. I'm very impressed with her 'cause she'll cry when you need it and angry when she has to be or be subtle and in the background. She's just like a second mother on the set, it's really great to have someone who is older than you that you can look up to. I admire her working habits. She's a strong woman.
Conn:I'd say -- well there's so many -- but on the level of longevity I would say Eileen Fulton because has been on the show for 40 years, and she has stayed passionate about the show and the fans. She still does a cabaret show because she loves to sing and she loves to perform. She just always seems to me to have followed her heart and her creativity and her passion. I admire her for that because I hope that I can do that same thing when I'm her age.
Sisco: That's a tough question because my biggest inspiration has been my faith and my family. I grew up in such a great Christian family, my inspirations come from Jesus Christ and my parents, who are so strong and so supportive. I wouldn't be here without that.
Conn: My parents are definitely my inspiration and I wouldn't be here without them. I wouldn't be here without them. They have always supported me 100%. I've been thinking about that a lot lately, thinking about the Emmys and if I were to win, who would I thank. I think that's the most special thing if one of us were to win, is to publicly thank the people who have been there your whole life and have made so many sacrifices just for you and mostly supported you. If I hadn't had the support from them and from my good friends I wouldn't have been able to do the acting thing because it's not easy and you get rejected a lot and people nit-pick at you and your ego falls sometimes. But if you have a strong support system from your parents and your friends then you can do anything.
Conn: Are you doing research 'latinplayer'? The worst pick up line? I don't think that people really use lines anymore. But the usual suspects 'Haven't I seen you somewhere before?' or 'I feel this really strong connection,' 'We must have known each other in a past life.' Etc.
Sisco: I haven't really been in a situation like being in bars with guys trying to pick me up. I usually go with friends and I'm the youngest one of the group so I'm the last one who gets picked up. It's the typical kind of line, ''If I could rearrange the alphabet, I'd put you and I together.'
Conn: It's interesting -- he is so focused. He's just about the most focused person I've ever worked with. It's a different dynamic with Hunt than doing scenes with other people. And also, he's really funny, but most people don't get that because of his character. He'll tell a joke, everyone else will laugh but he won't laugh, then two minutes later he'll be staring straight forward and going over his lines and not talking to anybody. I think he's great. I love working with him. I feel so lucky, I get to work with the greatest actors, our whole show is like that. I have a friend who is auditioning for the show right now, he's from another show but I can't tell. They're doing his deal right now and his agent was saying that if you do want to go on another soap then this is the one, the actors are the most respected in the business and it's an actors' show.
Sisco: I think the whole morale has changed. It's injected new life because it came at a point where the actors were rallying together to bring our show recognition. We have the best actors on daytime and I say that proudly because I believe it. So Hogan came in at the perfect time with the changing stories and the interesting characters that were being written. It kind of made everyone excited. It changed it in that sense and brought the actors closer together.
Conn:I agree, and also I think he injects comedy as well as drama at the right times, which is very important in soaps. They tend to get very melancholy and very down. He has a gift for bringing out layers in characters that you would never have thought of before. Who would have thought that Katie had a goofy side a year and a half ago?
Sisco: Surprisingly, it's not difficult. They always have a backup set of twins in case they start crying. But the specific set we've been working with lately are so well behaved. I remember when we were shooting the scenes of hiring the nanny it was written in the script that the girls had to run around and that we had to run after them, more specifically that Abigail had to run after them. And I told them that they got to run around and that I would run after them. They got so excited! I got my workout for the day. I was running all over and couldn't find the little girl who plays Michelle and she was referenced in the scene. So I see her and she's sitting at the bottom of the camera and I couldn't get to her. So, I had to go offset and get her. I could see what parents go through chasing after little toddlers all day. They are very well behaved. You give them a little cookie or some cheerios or something and they sit and are quiet.
Conn: I love Sex & the City and I can't wait for the next season, and I'm into The Sopranos lately. And I always seem to get sucked into VH1 Behind the Music, no matter who it's about because I love that show. And the same thing with Inside the Actor's Studio. It's so interesting to see what people have gone through in their life both personally and professionally.
Sisco: I agree with Terri, Inside the Actors Studio on Bravo. Nobody takes the same road. I also keep the E! Channel on all day. My guilty pleasures are the WB Shows, Roswell and Popular. I'm taping Roswell at this very moment.
Conn: The Sound of Music, The Breakfast Club, Casablanca.
Sisco: Okay, let's see. Forrest Gump and I will watch Titanic a million times and it never gets old. I don't watch it just for Leo, I love that movie and I've always been fascinated by the Titanic. Also, Somewhere in Time with Jane Seymour and Christoper Reeve is such a beautiful love story. Also, Newsy with Christian Bale is a favorite.
Conn: I definitely want to do movies. I eventually want to produce, because I want to be able to tell the stories I want to tell. I love movies, because they can change the way you think about things. And now that I'm into comedy, maybe sitcoms.
Sisco: I think I'm just so young and there's so much I want to learn like writing screenplays and directing, even working the camera. I love to learn and grow. I love coming home and writing or writing music. I'll just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens.
Conn:She is amazing. She was going to be my answer for the "Who do you look up to?" question. I admire her so much. Like Eileen she is very passionate about what she does, and she's so giving and kind. What she does with St. Jude's blows my mine. And she is such a good mother and friend -- I can't say enough. If she doesn't win that Emmy I'm gonna be so mad. She's gotta win that Emmy -- I'm a presenter, I'd love to give it to her.
Sisco: If I wasn't working tomorrow I would be studying in Italy (Rome or Florence). Studying Italian or cinematography.
Conn: I would probably be traveling, if I had the money -- that's something I love more than anything. I've been to Europe, and Hong Kong, and I want to go everywhere. I hope some day I'll be able to do that. Careerwise, maybe photography. It's creative!
Conn:Thank you all so much for asking such great questions. It's always fun to intereact with the fans and you asked some great questions. We appreciate it a lot -- and see you at the Emmys! Thanks for being such great, loyal fans of As the World Turns!
Sisco: Thank you all for taking the time to come online and chat with us. It means a lot that you all are fans and are interested in our characters and the show. So please tune into the Emmy's and watch for us, root us on. Thank you all and God Bless!
I heard a couple of months before, and I got really excited when I heard it was going to happen, that I would get to wear a wedding dress; girls like to do that. And then I found out that it was fuchsia and not really a wedding dress at all, but that's okay... I got engaged in the meantime and I'll get to wear a real one then.
I actually think it might. There's the beginning of a friendship there. And when you're in desperate situations and you trust someone, you just kind of go for it. So there's a chance it might work out. But it's based on a lot of lies.
I think she tends to force her feelings on others, to make it up in her head and then try to make it actually happen. After sleeping with Simon, and that was her first time, there's more of an emotional attachment than she's had with any other guy.
Well, I've gotten a lot of good response from it. I think the reason many fans are pro-Simon-and-Katie is because they want Lily to be back with Holden, no matter what happens. If [the fans] want Lily with Simon now, I'm sure they're pissed Katie keeps going after all her men.
To be Lily. Well I told Martha (Byrne, who plays Lily), if Lily would just not be interested in Simon anymore, then Katie wouldn't be either. That's how she could get Katie away from him.
I don't think she'll ever be upstanding. I just think her life hasn't been that easy. Once you lose your innocence kind of early, you never get it back. But I think if she fell in love, and found love, that it would change her a lot. I think that's why she does awful things. She doesn't mean it; she's just desperately looking for love and acceptance. If she finally got it, it would take away that need. I think it would be interesting to see that happen. But I wouldn't want Katie to become a goody-two shoes all of a sudden just because she fell in love. I don't think that would happen either.
I like to play a more complex character. I try to stay away from judging a character by one thing, because nobody is one thing. You just have to figure out why they are like that.
Well, I got kind of lucky there. But not only are they beautiful, they're really amazing people, too, and they're fun to work with. And they're good actors. That's more important to me. But they're not tough on the eyes either.
Oh, so much. I think I've benefited the most from him. The ways that Katie has gone, and just the levels he has brought to her, are just such a blessing. Sometimes characters get into a rut and it's not the writers' fault; imagine writing for 30 some-odd people and intertwining it all together. It's easy for people to get lost in that shuffle. But he has a gift for fleshing out every character and then bringing them together. I really benefited from that, and I praise Hogan Sheffer.
Trent Dawson: I've done it before for plays.
Conn: You've done it in your living room.
Dawson: I do it down in the meatpacking district for some extra money (laughs). It was great because the point was not for me to look like a drag queen; I had to be so convincing that Simon doesn't recognize [Henry] and Katie does. They got me a great maternity outfit and they went through twenty short wigs, and the makeup was fantastic. I was really pretty.
Conn: You were pretty. Your eyes looked beautiful. But you were not as hot as you are as a man.
Dawson: My character had four children already, and I am trying to find the voice and it can't be [too high]. It's a woman (mimics deeper voice) in her third trimester ... after four kids! So that was the biggest challenge, playing around with that. And keeping the straight face with you.
Conn: I walked into the studio behind you, and people would look at you, look away and then do a double-take and go, "Oh my god."
Dawson: Imagine 30 guys from Queens, who we sit around and do locker-room talk with all the time and suddenly here I am. They loved it. And I was flirting with all of them. And they were like: Hey, hey, hey, you're a little too cute there, I don't know ...
Conn: It was hilarious! You had way too much fun with that. I'm starting to suspect something.
Dawson: Oh, god, here we go again. I feel like Tom Cruise. Hogan (Sheffer, ATWT's head writer) is [including] everything from horse-fetish videos to things like this. He's having a lot of fun trying to out Henry. If Henry is gay, you have two problems. No. 1: There are no other gay people in Oakdale as of yet, unless they bring in Rex or Ricky. No. 2: He's a villain, and if you want to make strides in terms of having a gay character on a show, would you want to have the only gay character and make him be a bad guy?
Conn: Which would be great, because it gets rid of all the stereotypes.
Dawson: What is stereotypical is the queeny, flamboyant, feather boa homosexual, which Henry would definitely not be. But I am having a lot more fun playing it up and flirting as much as possible with both sexes when I can. My only reservation is that Henry needs a love interest.
Conn: He could be bisexual.
Dawson: That's true. That would be more progressive. With Henry's ambiguity, in addition to the fun, it's also power. Henry's in love with power. He was all over Holden, he's all over Simon, because if he makes them uncomfortable, he wins; he has the power. I would love for Henry to fall in love, to just undermine everything and go, "What the hell? How did this happen?" It would totally throw him for a loop. We were talking about Katie's relationship with Eddie, then Holden and now Simon. What is it like constantly chasing after another woman's man?
Conn: I don't know why I always play that girl (laughs). I think the writers have done a good job making it different every time, but it is hard to play the loser. A lot of people live in a fantasy world. That's just her fetish: guys she can't get. She likes to torture herself.
Dawson: You're a sexy little thing. Katie and Henry need to work something out.
Conn: They're both on the outs with a lot of people.
Dawson: Like the scenes in the garage where Henry said, "You just trade one man for another." There was a part of him that was defending the fraternal order of malehood. There is also a jealousy aspect that I try to bring out. I think Henry likes [Katie] a little bit, but he won't admit it to himself or anyone else.
Conn: Trent in a versatile actor. The audience sees you as Henry, when you're not like that at all.
Dawson: We have certain things in common, certain drive issues. I am not the manipulator. What did you think of Katie's virginity?
Conn: I was stunned. I never viewed her as a virgin. I always thought she was a closet slut. There were things about Katie that people didn't know, and no, she didn't have a lot of friends, but what did she do behind closed doors? What do you think Henry's past is?
Dawson: I don't know, and I don't think they've even figured it out yet. I was really generating a lot fear and paranoia out of thin air. They did mention something when Henry found Chris and Emily naked in the office. He starts talking about sexual harassment in the workplace. Right before we went to tape, the director came up to me and said, "This has happened to you before." Maybe he was in a position where a female superior sexually harassed him.
Conn: A couple of positions (laughs). Why are Katie and Henry in kahoots again?
Dawson: He's spying for two different people. His life's in danger, his career is in danger, he is caught in a trap and she's the only friend he has. He needs Katie. I wouldn't go so far as to say he is in love with her, but she's the only friend he has. She's said she hates him many times, and she always comes back to him, so he knows she's lying (laughs).
Conn: And he needs her right now.
Dawson: Exactly, and he loves her when she needs him.
Conn: As all men do (laughs).
Dawson: Faking this pregnancy is probably the biggest, most massive betrayal a woman can do to a man, outside of faking orgasms for 20 years. Katie has done some crazy things, but this is the most serious infraction, and she agrees to it (snaps his fingers) like that. How do you feel about that?
Conn: She's desperate; she has the desperate need to have a man by her side.
Dawson: Is Katie in love with Simon?
Conn: I don't think she's in love with hiim. She latches on and makes herself believe these things. I think she is slowly starting to fall in love with him, just because he's given her more attention and more understanding than anybody, not just for what she can do.
Dawson: But he's been putting her off, too.
Conn: He puts her off, but it's just the way Paul (Leyden, Simon) plays it: She's a young girl, I took her virginity, she's all over me, I could have her in bed in a second, she saved me legally, she adores me, why not?
Dawson: You're like a sugar mama ...
Conn: Without the money!
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