Chat With CC:February 22, 2000
Our chat took place on Tuesday, February 22, 2000 at 6pm PT/9pm ET. Crystal showed up promptly and stayed for approximately 1 1/2 hours. Everyone in the room seemed to have a good time, chatting informally throughout, and cracking jokes. Crystal enthusiastically joined in on the fun and often times gave some snappy answers.

The following transcript is an edited version, with much of the comment from the "peanut gallery" omitted. Our intention was not to censor anything, but it was virtually impossible to post the entire 27-page transcript. We hope you will find the following version informative and easy to read!

>Special thanks to Crystal, who so graciously spent her personal time talking with us.

Thanks, also, to all the folks who showed up, fan club members and non-members alike.


Question: How much can you tell us about the storyline in advance? Is Olivia going to pick up a butcher knife anytime soon?
Crystal: Liv is not crazy, just trying to be a "good" b*tch. Is there such a thing as a b*tch with a heart of gold? I'm told she's just strong and determined. Besides Reva has never said sorry for the troubles or thanks for saving my ass.
Question: What advice would you give to people trying to pursue a career in acting?
Crystal: Acting. Just act and learn another skill.
Crystal: Go to school. Have a life.
Question: Crystal, are we going to see some nice tender scenes with you and Robert Newman?
Crystal: Yea, they've told us they're going to commit to Josh and Olivia. Kim and Robert have both said they want their characters to go in separate directions for a good while.
Question: What other love interest on the show do you see Olivia with other than Josh? And does your answer have a David Andrew MacDonald in
it?(g)Crystal: I definitely think Olivia needs to see other people. Not just be apart of a Josh/Reva/Olivia triangle.
Question: So, Josh and Olivia will be a long term couple Crystal?
Crystal: They just said they'd commit to them.
Question: What about a lesbian coupling?
Crystal: Lesbians on GL... Let's see if we can get our black cast back in action.
Question: Will Olivia EVER get a friend???
Crystal: I hope Olivia gets a friend that won't judge her. Everyone is good friends with Josh and Reva.
Crystal: Yea why is everyone so hard on Olivia?
Question: I was sort of hoping Josh's company would be part of the SC construction storyline…
Crystal: SC is Richard, Cassie, Danny and Michelle. I do think Olivia should be doing business opposite Edmund.
Question: Crystal, was Olivia raped or have they dropped all that subtext stuff you were playing?
Crystal: Liv has a troubled past.
Question: How's your pregnancy going?
Crystal: Baby sabo is doing great.
Question: I think Olivia should develop a drinking problem - stuck on Jaegermeister.
Crystal: Liv could use a drink.
Question: Are you working up until the baby is born Crystal? How long will you be on maternity leave?
Crystal: I'll work 'til my due date. Then see what time they give me. 6 weeks would be nice.
Question: Crystal, I've got cookies here, want one?
Crystal: No thanks. Only cheese.
(LOL, Crystal LOVES cheese!)
Question: Will more of Olivia's family be showing up in SF?
Crystal: Maybe a bro will show up. It's been talked about. Divorced family. These Spencers kids sure got messed up.
Question: I heard you were naming your son Mohamd Abdul - any truth???
Crystal: Abdul Sonny
(Ha ha ha!)
Question: Crystal... when will Jeva get divorced?
Question: When is Josh going to ditch that wedding ring??
Crystal: Josh hasn't taken off his ring or divorced because of the kids.
Crystal: He's telling her (Olivia) he wants a life with her. She eventually catches on and pushes him out the door. Josh admits he's been waffling. I think he asks her a (very important) question.
Crystal: He asks Olivia to move in with him.
Question: Crystal , does Olivia really believe that Josh is hers?
Crystal: He's tellin' her he's moved on, what's to not believe?
Question: Are you still involved with Body Sculpt?
Crystal: No haven't been part of bodysculpt.
Question: Do J & O have to have sex everyday?
Crystal: Not everyday, only the days they're on TV.
Question: They are moving too fast IMO.
Crystal: They have moved too fast. Reva was supposed to be more apart of Rich and Cass but that changed.
Question: When is Josh and Olivia breaking up so I can be prepared for that?
Crystal: I don't know if they break up.
Question: How are you being written out for Maternity leave??
Crystal: Liv visits her sis in SC.
Question: Crystal, how's the mood at the set? Kim said it wasn't great...
Crystal: Mood on the set depends on who you ask.
Question: While KZ is on vacation do we see them (Josh & Olivia) having afterglow while Reva is gone?
Crystal: Marah gets pretty tricky.
Question: Does Liv fall into the trap and get ruined?
Crystal: Nope she knows what Marah is doing so she plays with her a little.
Question: Does anybody get hurt?
Crystal: No bodily harm.
Question: CC - did you know right away you had that 'chemistry' with the Josh character?
Crystal: I like Robert a lot. He's a pro and reallllly cute.
Question: What's it been like working at GL?
Crystal: Tough in that I feel kind of trapped in a no-win situation with Josh and Reva.
Question: Crystal do you know a lot of Jeva fans are waiting on the day Olivia gets hurt?
Crystal: Gets hurt ? That's cruel. What has Liv done to Reva except help her?
Question: Is Olivia gonna follow in Pilar's footsteps and go psycho over Josh?
Crystal: No crazy Liv. But she'll kick some booty if she absolutely has to.
Question: Why didn't Olivia tell Josh about the answering machine?
Crystal: He came out in a towel. She thought he'd call the next day and set the dinner up. It wasn't to be cruel. People are way too hard on her for that. Reva and Marah haven't exactly been truth advocates, (either).
Question: I was just wondering if Crystal knew if they are going to bring in a new man for Reva?
Crystal: I don't know if anyone else is coming to SF.
Question: Hey, what's Michael up to?
Crystal: He's doing a play called Cobb off Broadway. (Would) love to see Michael on (As the) World Turns.
Question: Do you guys get a lot of fan letters still?
Crystal: Yea it's great to get mail and it helps.
Question: Do you answer your fan letters?
Crystal: Yea I answer mail.
Question: When we write, what should we write about?
Crystal: Just whatever you want to happen.
Question: How's Brookalini?
Crystal: I love being a Brooklinite.
Question: Do you like Grant Aleksander and do you get to work with him more?
Crystal: I like all the cast. Would love to work with Grant. I think Olivia should hook up with Spaulding business.
Question: Who do you hang out with on the set Crystal?
Crystal: Laura Wright (Cassie) is a positive energy I like that.
Question: Olivia should be a business powerhouse in the community.
Crystal: If Josh jerks her around she could certainly take over his business.
Question: ANY clues as to what you will name Sabateeny? :)
Crystal: We know his name but will tell him first.
Question: Crystal, do you get any input at all with the storyline?
Crystal: I'm not the type to tell others how to do their job. Some actors do talk to the writers.
Question: Crystal, what's Louise (Sorel) gonna do now?
Crystal: She's on PC. Then I think she wants to be here in NYC.
Question: Crystal do you personally want Josh and Olivia to stay together?
Crystal: I want Josh and Olivia to stay together if it's interesting and real.
Crystal: If Josh and Reva get (back) together, chances are they not going to have much story. Look at Matt and Vanessa.
Crystal: In all fairness I need to see more of what Olivia is about and how Josh and Olivia relate before I can fully get behind them.
Question: Crystal, saw Florencia Lozano (Téa, OLTL) recently and she asked how you were and said to say "hi!" :)
Crystal: Love Florencia.
Question: Crystal, do you read any of the GL bulletin boards on line?
Crystal: Yea I read the boards - ouch!
Question: Do we get anymore Shayne scenes?
Crystal: Yea. The actor who plays Shayne was filming in LA.
Question: So, do you have the baby's room decorated yet? What kind of theme are you going with?
Crystal: No theme. Simple white with pastels.
Question: Have they given up on trying to hide that you're pregnant?
Crystal: They've been trying but whoa nelly!
Question: are we going to see Olivia at the Lewis' House a lot now?
Crystal: Olivia only goes to Company and the Lewis house. Dialed into her car directional device.
Question: And now Josh's apartment.
Crystal: Yes Josh's apt., I forgot.
Question: Crystal, odd question. Do you wear a toe ring?
Crystal: No toe ring.
Question: What about a tattoo?
Crystal: I have a tatoo.
Question: Does Olivia tell Josh she loves him?
Crystal: They don't mention the "L" word.
Question: RN said Olivia had scenes with a psychiatrist?
Crystal: She sees a doctor. I had a lot of judgements about suicide until I did these scenes.
Question: Crystal, do you think Josh and Olivia have a future?
Crystal: Josh and Olivia care sincerely for each other who knows about a future.
Question: If Olivia gets a brother, they aren't gonna name him Ian, are they? :-)
Crystal: No, not Ian! ("Ian" was the long lost TWIN brother who Maggie - Crystal's character on OLTL - was reunited with... he was about 7 feet tall!)
Question: Crystal-- do you get recognized on the street a lot?
Crystal: Get recognized yea.
Question: Any psycho fans come up to you?
Crystal: Sure. They don't mean to (be) but they get a little too personal. Angry with me because their fave soap couple is having marriage problems.
Question: Don't worry, a lot of GL fans love you AND Olivia.
Crystal: No worries. Just makes me scratch my head. Going bald.
Question: Crystal, I think Olivia is a great character but I really loved you on Days. Do you ever miss Days?
Crystal: I had fun at Days.
Question: Crystal, I have been a fan of yours since Days Of Our Lives, and have wanted to meet you for a long time. Congratulations on your baby. Will you be making any appearances later on this year?
Crystal: No event 'til fall.
Question: So why do you all like Olivia so much then?
(This question - apparently from a Jeva fan - was posed to the whole group of chat participants)
Replies: Olivia's got spunk!
Replies: Olivia is honest.
Replies: And she's caring and compassionate.
Replies: Yeah Olivia is cool.
Replies: And goes after what she wants!
Replies: (She's) sweet.
Question: Well not to Josh and Reva fans.
Crystal: I don't think Olivia and Reva are too different - just at different stages of their lives.
Question: She (Olivia) runs the spectrum of "possibilities"...what she can be....has amazing potential. Now if they would only dig deeper w/ Olivia's character...that would rock.
Crystal: I agree. I need that or I don't know if I can pull it off.
Question: Crystal, of the three daytime characters you've portrayed, Carly, Maggie, and Olivia, which one do you think you resemble the most?
Crystal: I resemble Rocky from Rocky and Bullwinkle.
Question: Crystal-- who's your favor actress?
Crystal: I love Annette Bening.
Question: Crystal I was told the writers love Joilvia? This is true?
Crystal: They like it enough to commit to it but I do believe that Josh and Reva will struggle to reunite.
Question: Crystal where do you want your character to go? Or what do you want to happen to her?
Crystal: Olivia needs to meet others in SF.
Crystal: Don't want her to be too nice. But not a "c" word (clown).
Crystal: Not nice but good and b*tchy.
Question: I don't think Olivia will ever be too nice just because all of Springfield wants Josh and Olivia together and I'm sure Olivia will get crap forever.
Crystal: That's the triangle.
Question: I heard a rumor Kim might not re-sign.
Crystal: I can't imagine Kim not resigning.
Question: So Crystal - is Michael still doing the dishes? Hah!
Crystal: Michael does the dishes and gives me massages.
Question: I feel that Olivia is being made b*tchy while Reva gets nicer and nicer and more perfect.
Crystal: She will be made b*tchy and yea to keep the heroes in their place.
Crystal: Just so long as it's fun and interesting and we see why she's being that way.
Question: A few times lately, it was like the b*tchiness came out of the blue.
Crystal: I know a lot happens with Olivia that is out of the blue. It throws me. I check the character name (on the script) to see if they're my lines.
Question: What kind of music do you like?
Crystal: All kinds from Santana - great CD - to Mozart.
Question: Crystal, you said that Olivia's suicide scene on Guiding Light was difficult for you to do. What was it like being in the coffin on Days Of Our Lives? Was that scary?
Crystal: Creepy coffin but sooo much fun to do.
Question: When some scenes are finished, do you just want to roll your eyes?
Crystal: It's my job. (I) try to make it at least interesting. Grateful for the support.
Crystal: It's a soap. I guess I just want to make it fun.
Question: Crystal -- have you ever auditioned for any prime time series?
Crystal: Sure, but I like the schedule of daytime.
Question: How long is your work day?
Crystal: 8 hours starting at 7.
Question: Who is the goofball on the set?
Crystal: Michael O'Leary is goof #1.
Question: When are you gonna be working with somebody other than Josh? Olivia and Abby scenes were cute.
Crystal: I know Olivia needs to stop talking to strangers. Don't they teach that in SC?
Question: Whatever happened to the Harley friendship?
Crystal: Harley and Olivia haven't been in touch.
Question: Any changes in the powers that be coming up? New writers, producers, ??
Crystal: No changes as far as I know.
Question: There is a crazy rumor going around about GL being cancelled...no truth to that , is there?
Crystal: No GL has resigned with the studio 'til '05.
Question: Crystal -- Reva's in Tulsa now. How long will she be gone?
Crystal: For a few weeks.
Question: Crystal is your mother coming to NY for the birth?
Crystal: She's coming for the (pre-birth) shower.
Question: So, Crystal... any funny pains yet? Can you still see your toes?
Crystal: What toes?
Crystal: No pains, he's kicking really hard.
Crystal: Yea he kicks during scenes.
Question: Hiccups??
Crystal: Hiccups yes
Question: Crystal, I wanted to say CONGRATS to you for quitting smoking:) :)
Crystal: Thanks I feel good.
Question: Have you bought your snugli yet? pram? cloth or disposable?
Crystal: Waiting for the shower before I buy.
Question: Forget about the diaper genie.
Crystal: They don't work.
Question: Crystal, when will your last episode be, and when will you return to the show after the baby is born?
Crystal: I'll tape 'til end of April be back in early June.
Question: Are you going to have a nice drugged up delivery?
Crystal: Drugs, simply put.
Crystal: I had a psychic tell me it would be painful. I thanked her.
Question: Crystal -- what did YOU have for supper tonight?
Crystal: Burger and fries.
Crystal: Well, y'all, I need to get some shut eye, got a photo shoot tomorrow.
Crystal: Thanks!