Spotlight On…Tom D'Angora
Soap Opera Digest|July 27, 2020
The creator/writer/executive producer of the new drama MÉLANGE, which features a host of daytime faves, talks about his love of soaps.
Stephanie Sloane
Spotlight On…Tom D'Angora

First things first, tell us about your soap background and interest in soaps.

“I started watching ONE LIFE TO LIVE with my grandmother in 1986, when I was in second grade. I instantly became obsessed with the genre and became a lifelong fan. My shows were/are ONE LIFE TO LIVE, ALL MY CHILDREN, LOVING, RYAN’S HOPE, THE CITY, FALCON CREST, DYNASTY and KNOTS LANDING. I became so obsessed as a young boy that in second grade, I got suspended from school because I would only respond if you referred to me as Dorian Lord. Luckily, my mother had my back, and when the principal asked her if it concerned her that her 7-year-old son wanted to be a soap villain, she responded by saying, “Why would it bother me? Dorian is fabulous!” Robin Strasser [ex-Dorian] loves that story. My childhood bedroom walls were covered in clippings from Soap Opera Digest. I had every issue from September 1986-99, but a black mold problem in my mom’s house sadly destroyed my collection. Soaps have been my happy place for 34 years. No matter how bad my day is, popping in an old DVD and escaping to Llanview or Pine Valley can always bring me to a joyful place. Being an overweight and overly gay child in the 1980s wasn’t easy. I don’t know if I would have survived without the escapism my shows gave me. I have such love and respect for what [AMC/OLTL Creator] Agnes Nixon did. She was a trailblazer in every sense of the word and I never write a line without asking myself, “Would Agnes approve?”

Denne historien er fra July 27, 2020-utgaven av Soap Opera Digest.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra July 27, 2020-utgaven av Soap Opera Digest.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA SOAP OPERA DIGESTSe alt
GREAT Expectations
Soap Opera Digest

GREAT Expectations

With A Baby And Wedding On The Way, Y&R's Camryn Grimes Is Excited About The Future

time-read
5 mins  |
November 13, 2023
thumbs up! and down!
Soap Opera Digest

thumbs up! and down!

Best Of Show Or Worse For Wear? Digest Decides.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 13, 2023
DARIN BROOKS CLARIFIES B&B STATUS
Soap Opera Digest

DARIN BROOKS CLARIFIES B&B STATUS

Darin Brooks (Wyatt, B&B) posted an update on social media after fans noticed that he was removed from the opening credits of the show he first joined in 2013.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 13, 2023
A NOVEMBER to REMEMBER
Soap Opera Digest

A NOVEMBER to REMEMBER

Your must-have guide to soaps upcoming tales.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 13, 2023
Hot Plots Preview!
Soap Opera Digest

Hot Plots Preview!

What Will Happen

time-read
3 mins  |
November 13, 2023
Y&R: VICTOR'S ULTIMATE TEST
Soap Opera Digest

Y&R: VICTOR'S ULTIMATE TEST

Victor arrives at the GCAC for a meeting with his sons that Adam has organized. \"This is all Adam's plan to prove that his dad is incompetent,\" begins Mark Grossman (Adam). \"Adam has arranged for a psychiatrist, Dr. Skelton, to be sitting nearby so he can observe Victor's behavior and make a proper diagnosis.\"

time-read
1 min  |
November 13, 2023
GH PREVIEW: DREW IS FREE!
Soap Opera Digest

GH PREVIEW: DREW IS FREE!

Carly gets a happy surprise when Drew shows up at Kelly's, having been granted an early release from Pentonville.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 13, 2023
B&B: RIDGE KEEPS MUM ABOUT ERIC
Soap Opera Digest

B&B: RIDGE KEEPS MUM ABOUT ERIC

After learning that Eric is dying, Ridge tries to make his father's life a little easier. \"Ridge told Eric he won the fashion showdown because he realizes that his father needed this,\" explains Thorsten Kaye (Ridge). \"He's in no way trying to be patronizing, and if Eric were to ever find out, I'd hope he see the love behind it. Ridge just thought it was the right thing to do.\"

time-read
1 min  |
November 13, 2023
DAYS: LI IS MURDERED!
Soap Opera Digest

DAYS: LI IS MURDERED!

Gabi and Stefan's plot to take over DiMera takes a deadly turn when he finds her kneeling over Li's body, holding a knife.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 13, 2023
BLAKE BERRIS ON NEW DAYS ROLE
Soap Opera Digest

BLAKE BERRIS ON NEW DAYS ROLE

After years of playing a gamut of wild and wonderful characters on DAYS - the quirky, obsessive Nick, a Halloween zombie, and, most recently, the gatekeeper to hell Blake Berris is tackling something new and different: a bona fide leading man. And he's finally ready to embrace it.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 13, 2023