Post by jag11 on Jan 22, 2008 20:39:14 GMT -5
Y&R’s Joshua Morrow wins this year’s top honours, as he dishes about his explosive chemistry with Michelle Stafford and his sexy boy band past
What a difference a love interest makes! When The Young and the Restless decided to pair avowed enemies, Nicholas Newman and Phyllis Summers in a controversial affair two years ago, no one was more shocked than his portrayer, Joshua Morrow.
Instantly, and to everyone’s amazement, the accidental and unlikely lovers captured the imagination of viewers, and thanks to their uniquely seductive chemistry, he, along with co-star Michelle Stafford (Phyllis), single-handedly brought sexy back to daytime. Serving a potent thingytail of raw sexuality, unbridled passion, and an enduring love story for a new era, Phyllis and Nick have also managed to do the impossible, eclipsing the loyal fan base of Nick and Sharon, the show’s first young super-couple who reigned Genoa City for over a decade. You can credit the emergence of Morrow’s leading man status and his impressive evolution as a serious actor — along with his lusty looks, gorgeous locks, and sexy facial hair — for the success of this pairing. In fact, whenever Nick is on-screen, the unlikely sex god can’t help but illicit dirty thoughts from viewers whenever he struts his stuff.
TVGuide.ca spoke with this year’s Sexiest Man Alive about the infamous pairing — and the more serious side of the business to find out how the writers’ strike is affecting his soap, his Emmy chances, and populating the world with little dudes.
TVG: Are you still shocked over the insane fan reaction to Nick and Phyllis’ romantic pairing?J
Joshua Morrow: I am totally surprised, and still shocked. Soap fans generally don’t like a lot of change. Sharon and Nick were this "Romeo and Juliet" story. I thought it was going to be a hard pill for fans to swallow. When they first began talking about Nick and Phyllis, I asked the writers: ‘Are you sure?; I’m not feeling it.’ But they said they liked our energy, chemistry and the shock value associated with the pairing. I went into the story very skeptical, but was immediately blown away by the level of chemistry we shared. It was very easy. I was nervous though — Michelle Stafford [Phyllis] is this very big, dynamic actress. Dude — the way they told that story was genius by showing Michelle’s vulnerable side, and then the fans went wild — they love Nick and Phyllis, let me tell you. I would’ve lost that bet, for sure!
TVG: I thought Nick and Sharon would be married forever!
JM: So did I! Sharon and Nick were this super-couple starter kit. They’d be together forever, experience a few hiccups and get back together — that was the drill. But Nick and Phyllis have proven they are a force to be reckoned with. It’s been a hell of a ride working with ‘The Stafford,’ as I like to refer to her. [laughs] It’s a beautiful story because Phyllis saved Nick’s life; she made him smile again.
TVG: And the viewers, as well. Nick hasn’t regained the two years he lost after the plane crash back yet — why?
JM: The only benefit of keeping him in the dark is if Nick lied about Summer’s DNA test. That’d be a doozy of an explosion.
TVG: To me, it seems out of character that Nick would lie about being Summer’s real dad.
JM: I’ve always told my bosses I’ll tell whatever story they want, but I have expressed my concern if indeed Nick’s lying. Nick’s not a bad guy; that’s just a vicious thing to do — to take another man’s child. I don’t know why he would ever do something like that — even if he were still dealing with Cassie’s death, but that’s not an excuse in my book. That being said, that’s probably what’s going to happen. I, as a person, don’t think Nick’s moral compass would’ve allowed that to happen.
TVG: Let’s talk about something more important. Are you keeping the sexy Wolverine look?
JM: What do you think, Nelson? I’ve been literally taking a poll.
TVG: Well, I wouldn’t kick you out of bed, that’s for sure! [laughs] Seriously, I also liked your buzzed-look as well, but I think this style is more emblematic of where Nick is in life.
JM: I agree, too. My wife hates it, my mom loves it, my bosses are requesting to keep it the way it is, but I want to shave it all off. So for now, I’m rocking the mini-mullet!
TVG: You and Michelle should be spokespeople for a hair shampoo! What’s the mood on the set with the writers’ strike still brewing?
JM: We’re not really feeling the impact yet. Obviously, the industry has taken a huge creative hit and it will affect us a lot more down the line. But as of right now, the show is still being written and going forth; we’re doing our jobs, and trying to put out a great product for the fans.
TVG: Are you being given the freedom to re-write dialogue to ensure the integrity of the characters remain?
.
JM: As long as we keep the gist of the scene intact, we’re allowed to have certain liberties in what we’re saying. That’s always been the case here, but we rarely need to change dialogue drastically.
TVG: You’ve certainly grown as an actor these past two years. It’s a shame you weren’t Emmy-nominated for your best work when Cassie died. [Ed. He earned five consecutive nominations as Outstanding Younger Actor from 1996-2000, but not since.]
JM: Thank you. The last couple of years, the writers have allowed me to explore and show off what I’m capable of with Cassie dying, his affair with Phyllis, and Nick being presumed dead. I’ve been very happy. The last ten years on the show, I didn’t feel like I got to show my range, but recently the writers have allowed me to bring my A-game to the table. I’m blessed.
TVG: You and Melody Thomas Scott [Nikki] are the only Newman characters not to have an Emmy on their mantle. Do you want an Emmy bad?
JM: Yeah, of course. As an actor, you want that kind of recognition from your peers. Unfortunately, for me, I’m always up against our very best actors. So it’s a difficult place for me to be in. I don’t have the status of a Peter Bergman [Jack], Kristoff St. John [Neil], or Christian LeBlanc [Michael], but I really don’t think about it. I just do my job and if it comes, it comes. I’d love to win one before the career is over, but I’m also not losing sleep over it. Melody’s Emmy-less career is much more tragic because she’s a soap icon. The fact that she hasn’t won an Emmy is ridiculous. I’m just a knucklehead trying to figure out what I’m doing.
TVG: Are you submitting yourself this year, and if so, which category?
JM: I’ve always been a leading man, but you know someone I respect told me I wouldn’t be nominated against Peter, Eric Braeden [Victor] or Christian in Lead. So I may submit myself into supporting, to see if that changes anything. It’s hard to be nominated in the lead category when you’re as young as I am, or not as good as the top-tier talent dudes on Y&R. I’m as competitive as the next dude, though.
TVG: Any plans to revive your boy band, 3Deep with former co-star Eddie Cibrian (ex-Matt)?
JM: [laughs] Oh, God no! Man, I’m old, dude! I’ve got a wife and kids now. At some point, you can’t tour anymore — and that’s the only way you can sell a CD. It was a nice two-year run — we had more fun than should be legally allowed. That was a time I always look back on and hysterically laugh about.
TVG: So you’re saying I should take down my 3Deep poster from my bedroom wall!
JM: No way, Nelson! I demand that you leave that poster up so you can keep the dream alive [laughs]!
TVG: You and your wife Tobe are expecting your third baby boy later this year [the couple have two sons, Cooper, 5, and Crew, 2.] Are you disappointed it wasn’t a girl?
JM: We were trying for a girl, for sure, but we’re destined to have a lot of thingyes running around my house! What can I say? I’m a hundred percent man!
TVG: You are the dude, indeed.
tvguide.ca
What a difference a love interest makes! When The Young and the Restless decided to pair avowed enemies, Nicholas Newman and Phyllis Summers in a controversial affair two years ago, no one was more shocked than his portrayer, Joshua Morrow.
Instantly, and to everyone’s amazement, the accidental and unlikely lovers captured the imagination of viewers, and thanks to their uniquely seductive chemistry, he, along with co-star Michelle Stafford (Phyllis), single-handedly brought sexy back to daytime. Serving a potent thingytail of raw sexuality, unbridled passion, and an enduring love story for a new era, Phyllis and Nick have also managed to do the impossible, eclipsing the loyal fan base of Nick and Sharon, the show’s first young super-couple who reigned Genoa City for over a decade. You can credit the emergence of Morrow’s leading man status and his impressive evolution as a serious actor — along with his lusty looks, gorgeous locks, and sexy facial hair — for the success of this pairing. In fact, whenever Nick is on-screen, the unlikely sex god can’t help but illicit dirty thoughts from viewers whenever he struts his stuff.
TVGuide.ca spoke with this year’s Sexiest Man Alive about the infamous pairing — and the more serious side of the business to find out how the writers’ strike is affecting his soap, his Emmy chances, and populating the world with little dudes.
TVG: Are you still shocked over the insane fan reaction to Nick and Phyllis’ romantic pairing?J
Joshua Morrow: I am totally surprised, and still shocked. Soap fans generally don’t like a lot of change. Sharon and Nick were this "Romeo and Juliet" story. I thought it was going to be a hard pill for fans to swallow. When they first began talking about Nick and Phyllis, I asked the writers: ‘Are you sure?; I’m not feeling it.’ But they said they liked our energy, chemistry and the shock value associated with the pairing. I went into the story very skeptical, but was immediately blown away by the level of chemistry we shared. It was very easy. I was nervous though — Michelle Stafford [Phyllis] is this very big, dynamic actress. Dude — the way they told that story was genius by showing Michelle’s vulnerable side, and then the fans went wild — they love Nick and Phyllis, let me tell you. I would’ve lost that bet, for sure!
TVG: I thought Nick and Sharon would be married forever!
JM: So did I! Sharon and Nick were this super-couple starter kit. They’d be together forever, experience a few hiccups and get back together — that was the drill. But Nick and Phyllis have proven they are a force to be reckoned with. It’s been a hell of a ride working with ‘The Stafford,’ as I like to refer to her. [laughs] It’s a beautiful story because Phyllis saved Nick’s life; she made him smile again.
TVG: And the viewers, as well. Nick hasn’t regained the two years he lost after the plane crash back yet — why?
JM: The only benefit of keeping him in the dark is if Nick lied about Summer’s DNA test. That’d be a doozy of an explosion.
TVG: To me, it seems out of character that Nick would lie about being Summer’s real dad.
JM: I’ve always told my bosses I’ll tell whatever story they want, but I have expressed my concern if indeed Nick’s lying. Nick’s not a bad guy; that’s just a vicious thing to do — to take another man’s child. I don’t know why he would ever do something like that — even if he were still dealing with Cassie’s death, but that’s not an excuse in my book. That being said, that’s probably what’s going to happen. I, as a person, don’t think Nick’s moral compass would’ve allowed that to happen.
TVG: Let’s talk about something more important. Are you keeping the sexy Wolverine look?
JM: What do you think, Nelson? I’ve been literally taking a poll.
TVG: Well, I wouldn’t kick you out of bed, that’s for sure! [laughs] Seriously, I also liked your buzzed-look as well, but I think this style is more emblematic of where Nick is in life.
JM: I agree, too. My wife hates it, my mom loves it, my bosses are requesting to keep it the way it is, but I want to shave it all off. So for now, I’m rocking the mini-mullet!
TVG: You and Michelle should be spokespeople for a hair shampoo! What’s the mood on the set with the writers’ strike still brewing?
JM: We’re not really feeling the impact yet. Obviously, the industry has taken a huge creative hit and it will affect us a lot more down the line. But as of right now, the show is still being written and going forth; we’re doing our jobs, and trying to put out a great product for the fans.
TVG: Are you being given the freedom to re-write dialogue to ensure the integrity of the characters remain?
.
JM: As long as we keep the gist of the scene intact, we’re allowed to have certain liberties in what we’re saying. That’s always been the case here, but we rarely need to change dialogue drastically.
TVG: You’ve certainly grown as an actor these past two years. It’s a shame you weren’t Emmy-nominated for your best work when Cassie died. [Ed. He earned five consecutive nominations as Outstanding Younger Actor from 1996-2000, but not since.]
JM: Thank you. The last couple of years, the writers have allowed me to explore and show off what I’m capable of with Cassie dying, his affair with Phyllis, and Nick being presumed dead. I’ve been very happy. The last ten years on the show, I didn’t feel like I got to show my range, but recently the writers have allowed me to bring my A-game to the table. I’m blessed.
TVG: You and Melody Thomas Scott [Nikki] are the only Newman characters not to have an Emmy on their mantle. Do you want an Emmy bad?
JM: Yeah, of course. As an actor, you want that kind of recognition from your peers. Unfortunately, for me, I’m always up against our very best actors. So it’s a difficult place for me to be in. I don’t have the status of a Peter Bergman [Jack], Kristoff St. John [Neil], or Christian LeBlanc [Michael], but I really don’t think about it. I just do my job and if it comes, it comes. I’d love to win one before the career is over, but I’m also not losing sleep over it. Melody’s Emmy-less career is much more tragic because she’s a soap icon. The fact that she hasn’t won an Emmy is ridiculous. I’m just a knucklehead trying to figure out what I’m doing.
TVG: Are you submitting yourself this year, and if so, which category?
JM: I’ve always been a leading man, but you know someone I respect told me I wouldn’t be nominated against Peter, Eric Braeden [Victor] or Christian in Lead. So I may submit myself into supporting, to see if that changes anything. It’s hard to be nominated in the lead category when you’re as young as I am, or not as good as the top-tier talent dudes on Y&R. I’m as competitive as the next dude, though.
TVG: Any plans to revive your boy band, 3Deep with former co-star Eddie Cibrian (ex-Matt)?
JM: [laughs] Oh, God no! Man, I’m old, dude! I’ve got a wife and kids now. At some point, you can’t tour anymore — and that’s the only way you can sell a CD. It was a nice two-year run — we had more fun than should be legally allowed. That was a time I always look back on and hysterically laugh about.
TVG: So you’re saying I should take down my 3Deep poster from my bedroom wall!
JM: No way, Nelson! I demand that you leave that poster up so you can keep the dream alive [laughs]!
TVG: You and your wife Tobe are expecting your third baby boy later this year [the couple have two sons, Cooper, 5, and Crew, 2.] Are you disappointed it wasn’t a girl?
JM: We were trying for a girl, for sure, but we’re destined to have a lot of thingyes running around my house! What can I say? I’m a hundred percent man!
TVG: You are the dude, indeed.
tvguide.ca