OnlineHost: Your host tonight is AOLiveMC7 (JackDL) OnlineHost: It's not many acting hopefuls that get the chance to personally quiz the likes of Jack Nicholson, Michael Douglas and Peter Fonda on how to make it big in Hollywood, so when a young James Reynolds got the opportunity, he grabbed it. Having studied journalism in college, Reynolds spent time as a film reviewer for the Topeka Daily Capitol and, as a part of his duties, interviewed a number of filmdom's brightest talents. Welcome! JmsRynolds: Thank you AOLiveMC7: Welcome to AOL Mr. Reynolds! JmsRynolds: Here I am in the middle of March Madness talking to all of you! AOLiveMC7: TVJill asks: Question: How did it feel to return to "Days" after your time on "Generations"? JmsRynolds: Actually it felt great to go back, but I enjoyed "Generations" immensely it was like coming back home after a nice visit with my aunt. AOLiveMC7: Desp0000 asks: Question: Who is the actress that plays Marlena? What is she like to work with? JmsRynolds: Deirdre Hall. I've been lucky to work with her closely. There are few people as professional and giving as Deirdre. And she knows the cameras we ll, it is a lot of fun to work with her and watch her. AOLiveMC7: Arnold159 asks: Question: How has your life changed since you've gotten this role? JmsRynolds: I'm now a WORKING actor! That's been great. I've been very lucky to have been working so long. it has been 15 years since I've been on NBC. It has now become life for me. It certainly has changed in that I know I have a job in the morning. I've also gained a lot of respect for a medium that I didn't know a lot about which has been good. AOLiveMC7: Desp0000 asks: Question: Does working on a daily sitcom that many years get to be a grind? Would you like to get out of it and into another type of acting? JmsRynolds: It is NOT a sitcom it's a soap opera. I've done sitcoms though. You have ups and downs like any job. When you do over 100 shows a year you have s ome that are good and some that aren't. it is my job to make it sparkle as much as possible. Having that as a responsibility, it is very hard to get bored. AOLiveMC7: Jillted asks: Question: James, Tell us about your one-man show, "I Too Am America". JmsRynolds: Well it is a collage of Black experiences. it is historically based and takes on 30 or so characters in reality. I have found that we all have pioneering ancestry. Which is what the show is about. So it has been a pleas ure, it has changed many times for me......for instance there were a huge amount of Black Cowboys and this is one way to show and bring African American history and culture to America. AOLiveMC7: Desp0000 asks: Question: How long does it typically take to shoot a "Days" episode? JmsRynolds: About 12 hours. Our day can range anywhere from 4 hours. to 18 hours. AOLiveMC7: Desp0000 asks: Question: How much of your own time do you actually spend working on the show? JmsRynolds: A good deal...I have to know those lines. It depends on how complex the show is. I will spend about 1-4 hours on the script at home depending on the complexity of it. AOLiveMC7: MARVIC12 asks: Question: Are the other stars on DOL as nice as they seem to be? JmsRynolds: Yes! That was easy. AOLiveMC7: PWilba579 asks: Question: Do you prefer daytime television over movies? I work on movie sets and love it, but do not know too much about how a daytime set operates. JmsRynolds: I try not to enter into that. I enjoy acting. It is the material that is important. I've had a great time doing films. I will be doing two this year. It is fun and challenging. I love challenging soap scripts too... However, if you are PRODUCING a movie and are interested, I promise to have a good time!(cough, gasp wheeze.....I have a cold) AOLiveMC7: T541ANGEL asks: Question: What's next for you Abe and Lexie? JmsRynolds: I think a little bit more of what you've seen. Conflict that he's Lexie's, father. We'll see some pressure on the marriage too he is considered the most evil man on earth and I think that we'll continue in that direction. AOLiveMC7: KWind1407 asks: Question: How long have you been on the show? JmsRynolds: I'm in my 13th year on the show, but 15 years on NBC daytime. I'm very lucky. AOLiveMC7: Tyrsis404 asks: Question: Have you ever done theater? JmsRynolds: Yes, a great deal, a play every year now...I love it and will continue to do it. Theater was my acting birthplace. AOLiveMC7: WHazard33 asks: Question: Are you and Lexie married in real life? JmsRynolds: No. Only in fantasy TV life. We are quite close friends and have been. AOLiveMC7: Shawny195 asks: Question: Are there times when the story lines get a little to far fetched, in your opinion? JmsRynolds: It depends, my feeling is that there is no such thing as being far fetched. I have done so many things that you think can't work, but then you do it and it does. I leave that up to the audience. AOLiveMC7: BeerKans asks: Question: James, I feel like I know you since I've been watching "Days" for many years now. What does it feel like to know that you have brought so much to so many? JmsRynolds: It feels wonderful, how could it not? I get letters from nice people who have said I have changed their lives in some way. It is great. It is a g reat and nice character with good qualities and I try to bring that out in him.... I've even had a person name their child after me. Which was a bit disturbin g but... It really does feel wonderful. AOLiveMC7: KevinL171 asks: Question: What is wrong with Wendy and Jonah? JmsRynolds: I don't know! Let me guess. I think you are going to start seeing more of them, and I'm happy to say that too. I miss having them around too. AOLiveMC7: SMuhol27 asks: Question: What ever happened to Hope? And I see that Andre has come back, is he going to stay? JmsRynolds: Have you watched the show lately? She was just saved by Bo yesterday. They are getting back together. I would love to have Andre back. I love Th ao Penglis and would love to have him back but I don't know if that is going to happen. AOLiveMC7: PWilba579 asks: Question: Are the actors on the show friendly with each other? Do you all see each other after filming ends to socialize? It seems like working so closely to gether could get a little suffocating at times! JmsRynolds: It doesn't get suffocating. But yes it is a cast that enjoys each other. There are occasions that we do get together, but not ALL of our free time or anything. Most of us have circles of friends outside the show so we d on't suffocate each other. AOLiveMC7: MizRail asks: Question: James are you a member of AOL? JmsRynolds: Yes I am. I have several on-line services. I like it. AOLiveMC7: PWilba579 asks: Question: How many shows a week do you film? JmsRynolds: At least 5. Sometimes 6 even sometimes 7 though not as often. AOLiveMC7: JCohen955 asks: Question: How did John Black come to call Abe Abraham when everyone else calls him Abe? JmsRynolds: Actually Celeste does too. It is just affection. That's all. AOLiveMC7: BIRDBREED asks: Question: What type of salary does, lets say the average actor on the show make per episode? JmsRynolds: I don't know, that is a hard one. The actor minimum is probably 500.00 plus 10% for the agent.. But if you really want to know...ask Susan Lucci. AOLiveMC7: MalibuPJ asks: Question: Was it fun to be on "Seinfeld"? JmsRynolds: It was great fun I would love to do it again. It was one of the highlights of the year for me. AOLiveMC7: TEAWev asks: Question: Do you ever get bored playing the good guy? JmsRynolds: I don't get bored but villains are a challenge that is a good deal of fun. But good guys do have their limitations AOLiveMC7: R and K 1 asks: Question: When are they going to show who the lady in white is? JmsRynolds: I don't know. Good question. We'd like to know that too. Sometimes we just don't know. We are 2 - 3 weeks ahead of what we see on the air. My guess is that we will find out sometime in May. AOLiveMC7: XMadisonX asks: Question: When Steve died, the coffins were switched in the cemetery. Is his return in the foreseeable future? JmsRynolds: Not that I know of. I saw Steven Nichols about a month ago and he didn't say anything so....... AOLiveMC7: Desp0000 asks: Question: How long has DOL ran anyway? JmsRynolds: 30 years, last November. AOLiveMC7: KellyK809 asks: Question: What are your future plans for TV? JmsRynolds: My immediate plans are to continue on DOL. I'd like to do a couple of movies, but I enjoy what I'm doing. AOLiveMC7: LowPro187 asks: Question: Do you have any children? If so, would you let them pursue a career in acting? JmsRynolds: I do have a son...If he wanted to. If he came to me and said "Dad I'm stuck between being a doctor and an actor" I would probably say go for the doctor, but no pressure. Whatever he wants. AOLiveMC7: ItsmeStace asks: Question: Mr. Reynolds, How do you feel about a rating system for television? JmsRynolds: I think it already has one. TV guide and the On/Off Switch I have a problem with abrogating responsibility. I think parents need to know what is coming on. The Movie codes didn't seem to change their content. It is the same in TV. It will only work if parents take the responsibility to know what is go ing on TV. AOLiveMC7: Wmeinstei asks: Question: What hobbies do you enjoy? JmsRynolds: I love reading, basketball, racquetball, those are the main ones each one eats up a lot of time. AOLiveMC7: R and K 19 asks: Question: Are you anything like your character? JmsRynolds: A little bit sure. We share some things. He is much more serious than I am and much more of a stickler for rules. I see more areas of gray than he does. AOLiveMC7: TKTIG asks: Question: Are you and Lexie ever going to get pregnant? JmsRynolds: Well Lexie might, not sure about me. I hope so, we would make great parents. It's about time for the Carvers to have offspring so I hope so. AOLiveMC7: CWilson86 asks: Question: I missed the show for several days and when I next saw it, Melissa Reeves had been replaced. What happened? JmsRynolds: Missy left for some personal reasons and they had to replace her rather quickly. I'm not sure what the reasons were but we miss her a lot. AOLiveMC7: ChezFunk asks: Question: I collect autographed pictures and would like to know if I could get one from you. JmsRynolds: Yes. Write to James Reynolds c/o Days of our Lives NBC 3000 West Alameda Burbank CA 91523. Say you would like a picture and that we met on line! AOLiveMC7: LongJ69 asks: Question: Would you like for them to bring your old partner Roman back? JmsRynolds: Wayne Northrop is a really good friend and such fun to work with that I would love to have him back at any time. AOLiveMC7: ChezFunk asks: Question: If you think the scene you have isn't something that would actually happen do you have any input to change it? JmsRynolds: Yes, fortunately. The writers and producers really open to suggestion from the actors. As long as you get it to them ahead of time so they can change it they are very good about it. AOLiveMC7: HiTec2 asks: Question: Are you afraid they'll kill you off in some strange way, and, do you have to go through the same routines to get a job, like casting calls, etc.? JmsRynolds: No, I'm not afraid. If I were to leave the show, yes I would have to go through the casting calls. I would occasionally just get a call without auditioning. AOLiveMC7: LBoyles85 asks: Question: What will your event be like during the "Days" weekend in June? I had a blast at your last one! JmsRynolds: I'm glad you asked. We're going to have a B-Ball game at S. Pasadena High School at 2:00Pm If you want information call 818-799-9449 and get your information or write to me c/o our fan club at NBC. AOLiveMC7: ChezFunk asks: Question: Are other members of Days on AOL? JmsRynolds: I don't know. I think there are some but I really don't know. AOLiveMC7: LBoyles85 asks: Question: Saw you in a rerun of "The Dukes of Hazzard" last week. Was that a fun show to work on?? JmsRynolds: Wow, I've even forgotten I did that show. It's coming back to me now. Yes it was fun I even got to do a car chase! It was a lot of fun! AOLiveMC7: AmishCntr asks: Question: Do the writers ever check in on our discussions on AOL? JmsRynolds: That is a very good question. I don't know. I do know that the actors do, so I imagine that the writers do too. So be nice. AOLiveMC7: ChezFunk asks: Question: Do you feel that some of the love scenes are too explicit for daytime TV? JmsRynolds: No, I don't. I think daytime TV has set a standard many years ago and hasn't strayed too far from it. I think the rest of the world has though. AOLiveMC7: We have time for one last question tonight. AckandIll asks: Question: Hey James, Do you have more pressure as Commander of the police force than you did as police Captain?JmsRynolds: Sure, I'm in charge of everyone but it is delightful, wonderful pressure though. AOLiveMC7: Do you have any closing words for us, Mr. Reynolds? JmsRynolds: I would like to say hello to everyone who are our fans for "Days" and please drop me a line! Thanks Especially Chezfunk! Have a good Friday Night! AOLiveMC7: Our thanks to you for joining us tonight, Mr. Reynolds! And thanks to your fans for joining us as well! Good night everyone!
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