Soap goddess Maria Arena Bell means business, people! At the end of today's Canadian episode, viewers were shocked to learn that Thom Bierdz was on the other end of a call Cane made two years ago to his Uncle Langley! Talk about a cliffhanger! Is Bierdz Phillip Chancellor III? Our lips are sealed, but we've been promised the reveal will be more shocking than the news of Bierdz's re-arrival.
So how did the CBS sudser manage to pull the wool over everyone's eyes? Y&R shot the actor's top-secret return on a closed set one weekend back in March. Not even Daniel Goddard (Cane) was made aware of Bierdz's hiring - well, until today that is. Perhaps AMC hack Chuck Pratt should call up Maria Arena Bell for pointers on keeping a secret.
The Suds Report has also exclusively learned that Bierdz has signed a one-year contract with the soap that made him a star. This past February, the sexy actor reportedly called Bell about the possibility of returning to the show. Bell jumped at the inspired opportunity, realizing what a casting coup "Phillip's" return would be. As previously reported, Bierdz's arrival will kick off a major mystery storyline involving Tricia Cast (Nina) and John Driscoll (Phillip IV).
This past January, TV Guide Canada predicted Bierdz's 2009 return. In fact, I've already nailed about three major storylines - and the year isn't even half way over. Click here to refresh your memory. Yep, it's pretty freaky.
Before his death, Y&R creator William Bell admitted he always regretted killing off Phillip. Is soap opera's Barack Obama, Maria Arena Bell, reversing his decision in yet another loving homage to her father-in-law? Or is this storyline just the latest Lynn Marie Latham disaster she's fixing? Or both?
Last summer, TV Guide Canada asked various insiders, actors, and producers if a gay soap star could successfully work on a daytime-TV serial. In fact, last summer, Bierdz and I met up for brunch near the Y&R studios to discuss this feature article. At the time, Bierdz expressed interest in reprising his role as Phillip, hoping that the industry had changed its homophobic ways. Not even a year later, Y&R now boasts two out-and-proud stars, Bierdz and Clementine Ford (Mac). In the article, Bell said she'd encourage any member of her cast to be honest about their sexuality. Clearly, the two-time Soap Opera Spirit Award winner wasn't lying.
Finally, don't be too surprised if Bierdz's former on-screen love interest, Lauralee Bell (Christine) hightails it back to Genoa City very soon.
