The GH Luncheon
July 19, 1998
~Recapped by nicholsevansfan…
WOW! What a difference! Let me tell ya, I don’t know where to begin. Just have to say this year’s GH luncheon was A LOT better than last year. It was better organized, and some annoying parts like the “awards ceremony” were cut out altogether. It made for more quality time with the actors. One of the first raffle tickets chosen was for a jacket worn and autographed by Stephen Nichols (Stefan, our guy=-) …and Kathy (sntgwk) won it!!!! A Tree!!! WOOOOO HOOO!!! You should have heard us cheering her on!!!
The stars were brought into the room through a side door which was roped off. (Much better than down the middle of crowds of fans which was the case years before.)
When Mary Beth entered the room, she received the LOUDEST applause of the afternoon IMO!! The whole roomed cheered and clapped for her, and especially us trees=-) We did you proud!!!!
Mary Beth was wearing a summery dress made of brown crocheted material over a nude colored/light beige under slip. I had tried the dress on before (for a wedding I had to go to), and recognized it! I loved that dress but it did not fit me *half* as well as it fit her. She looked GORGEOUS. Her hair was up and she looked tan and vibrant.
Stephen was wearing a taupe/beige casual suit and a white TIGHT, form fitting t-shirt underneath. NO BLACK!!! He looked SOOOOOOO handsome. Let me tell ya, for once that weekend the heat was my friend! It made Stephen take off that jacket and WOWSA. SAWWWWWOOOOOOONNN.
On stage, Mary Beth was asked what she has been doing with her time away from the show. She said she has been a mom, as well as spent more time with her friends. At someone else’s prompting she added that she had been training for a triathlon that was coming up in two weeks.
Stephen was asked what he does to keep in shape, and he mentioned he eats, fats, carbs,…a well balanced meal and learns his lines on the “climber”, as well as some weight training during the week. He said it was “all a pain” though. At one point, he also said he danced to keep trim, and did a little dance number on stage, which had us cracking up!! Not very Stefan-like behavior at all!!!
After the question and answer session, more raffle tickets were chosen, and then it was time for the autograph lines. This year they were on both sides of the ballroom, rather than in another room or on one side of the room as in years before. It made the fans spread out more, which was a HUGE improvement. No “cattle run” atmosphere, it was actually- GASP- FUN!!!!!!
I went to Mary Beth’s line first. She had a long line, but was very gracious. A highlight was seeing Kecia meet MBE for the first time after 12 years of wanting to meet her.
I got magazines signed for Frankie and Todd (ah yes, I can see them smiling as they read this). But like an idiot, I had her sign the cover of the two magazines rather than her picture in them. Sigh. But I did it!!!
I also went to Stephen’s line, of course, and Kennie and I traded off taking pictures of each other with him. He was so gracious, and did I mention he looked reallllllyyyy FINE?
Next I went into Wendy Riche’s line. Michele Val Jean and other writers (not Guza though thank goodness) were also at the table with her. While another man in front of me was telling Wendy exactly what he thought about the show (including how he missed Katherine…he isn’t a Tree, but gosh darn it, he rocked). I spoke to Michelle Val Jean.
I asked her what was going to happen with Stefan and Katherine on GH, that I truly loved them. She said she couldn’t tell me, that I needed to just watch. She kept on saying to just let the story unfold, like people did back when there were no magazine scoops and things telling you what was coming up. I said (nicely), “Well I am watching, and she’s dead and I love this couple, and I invested in this couple.” She got the point me thinks, and looked at me and said, “Ok, I understand that… I can tell you we do have a story arc planned for them.” I added that Wendy told a friend of mine at the PC dinner that Katherine was coming back with a vengeance…but she said to ask Wendy about that=-)
At this point, the cool guy in front of me left, and Wendy was ready for me=-) . She said, “Well, she is HERE,” and had an expression on her face as if she wanted to tell me more but couldn’t. I said, yes that I saw her at the other end of the room… LOL (I was kidding with her and she knew it). Wendy added that there was a story coming, that Mary Beth would start taping as Katherine again in August, and that we would be happy.
Next I stood in lines for Lisa Cerasoli (V Ardanowski) and Nancy Grahn (Alexis).I asked Lisa if she had a story coming and she thought she did, and I asked her if it was with Ingo and she said (shyly and with a grin on her face) that she thought so. She was just beautiful, and very sweet. I posed in a picture with Nancy too, and she was really nice- I really liked her a lot.
I wasn’t feeling too good (hot in that room!!) and Kennie and I both needed film, so I left the building (forgetting that they don’t let you back in) to go buy some film and get fresh air.
The gift shop was closed, so I couldn’t buy film=-( I was stuck outside but made the most out of it and spent time with Kecia and Ahn who had also left early. I missed seeing and getting pics with other favorites Becky Herbst, Billy Warlock, John Ingle and Tyler Christopher=-( But I was on a cloud (and still am) over who I did meet. They were all great!
The Lakeside 10th Anniversary Event:
—Lead up/Room description—
I *tried* to help, but ended up just watching as Ahn helped Kecia with pinning the red dress in the right places. Ahn was also a hero to me and Kennie, lending us each a roll of film. I think I remember 7 tables on each side with 8 people in each table, but I was on a cloud and not paying much attention. In the very front of the room was the head table. At the left end (facing the other tables) were Linda Pidutti of Lakeside, Stephen next to her, Mary Beth next to him, her mom next to her, her sister Debbie next to her, then her sister Carrie next to her, and the other founder of the Aliso School at the far right end of the table. In the back of the room was a table with the raffle prizes displayed, and in back of that was the deli-style buffet spread.
Each table had a yellow rose centerpiece, which you won if you could answer all ten trivia questions on a special sheet you were given. Each place setting had door prizes- 10th anniversary programs, keychains, pencils, a silk flower to pin on, and other goodies.
—THE EVENT—
The event got underway with a speech from Linda about the friendships we have made through the years. She thanked her friends and spoke a little about what made Stephen and Mary Beth so special, and the warm feeling of friendship and family in the room. She even thanked (unnecessary) me and Ahn for having another friendly positive support group for SN and MBE.
Linda presented Stephen and Mary Beth with gifts- giving Mary Beth a GREAT book about gardening (one of her favorite past times) and Stephen some books on Van Gogh (his favorite artist). They were very appreciative. Just as she tried to go on and have them sign autographs, they said they had a surprise to present to her.
Lakesiders and people going to the event who were in TCT were notified about an opportunity to contribute to a gift for Linda. Stephen and Mary Beth also both contributed. It was arranged by Nickey/Greekette. The gift was a beautiful gold necklace with a .60 carat bezel cut diamond (I think that’s how Nickey described it, but could be wrong). Stephen had Linda close her eyes as he and Mary Beth put it around her neck. They really enjoyed presenting it to her. Linda was happy with the gift and thanked everyone!
Stephen started to work the room, then Mary Beth. They posed together for pictures with Kecia in the lady in red dress (Mary Beth told her it fit Kecia better than it ever fit her). Somehow the topic got to dancing and they did the dance we saw at the Bacchanalia Ball!!! It was so cute!! Totally spontaneous!! I think it may have gotten on the video, but I didn’t snap a picture of it in time and didn’t see anyone else do it either=-(It was totally unexpected, and so adorable. You could tell they are close, good buddies.
As they worked the room, Mary Beth stopped to talk to us at table 3 for a long time! Kecia talked to her about the dress, Ahn asked her about the story. Mary Beth said that at first they told her 10 days, then 3 weeks, then just kept building from there and she started to wonder. But she is scheduled back to tape as Katherine on August 4th. She said the last week of the Bacchanalia ball was some of their best stuff. She talked more about the triathlon… (She has to run, bike and swim). She was so nice and easy to talk to, very down to earth…no egotism. She posed for pics with all of us.
Stephen came around the room as well, and posed for picture after picture so calmly.
IN MY OPINION, A LOT of actors that weekend seemed frustrated with the writing. They all said that we the fans should write the show because if they griped too much they could lose their jobs. This is why it’s so important to drop off even just a note in the mail.
Stephen said he was taping the trial this coming week…said that they had spent weeks just talking about/preparing onscreen for what was going to happen on the trial, and then the trial is taping and there were no surprises.
I took Kennie’s (Kendra) picture with Stephen and told him she is the youngest tree. He didn’t seem too interested in that fact until I said “She is 14,” and did the double take we all did when we first saw her (She does not look 14). He was totally shocked, and I embarrassed Kennie <>.
About an hour to an hour and a half into the event, Mary Beth had to head back home, but her mom and sisters and the other founder of the school stayed. Stephen also stayed for a little while longer up at front. We watched a video all about the Aliso School and its goals and functions, and then some of us asked questions about the school.
(This Next part isn’t in order, just in order I remember it):-
Linda got choked up as she thanked Debbie (Mary Beth’s sister) for all her help, and presented her with an opalescent bracelet and a quilt for the Aliso Academy (with the schools name on it) on behalf of Lakeside. Mary Beth’s mom gave a very moving speech about how much she and her family appreciate all the support Lakeside and other fans give to Mary Beth and to the school. Debbie did the same.
Mary Beth’s sisters, the school director and her mom all watched as we watched retrospectives of Mary Beth’s career. Her mom called out the names of different things she had done, just as we did! It was pretty cool! Then they had to leave, but stressed how much everything meant to them. It really added a cozy family feeling to the event.
All the proceeds from the raffles went to the Aliso School, as well as a percentage of each ticket sold, so this event was a great fundraiser for the school.
After they left, we watched a retrospective of Stephen’s career, music videos Kathy made about the friends that have been made over 10 years of Lakeside. I was very touched to see a picture of my friend Michelle (she passed away). Made me emotional.
Then we watched old outtakes from Days of Our Lives that a fan had brought with her. We laughed hard!!!!
Stephen and Mary Beth could not have been more wonderful to us. Meeting the trees, and hanging out with all of them was equally as wonderful. There are such funny, warm people in this group and I really treasured the time with all of them!
Gallery: Click on the picture to view a larger version. Click on the picture again to close the large view screen.
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