The following are highlights from our recent online chat with Crystal. It has been sorted, rearranged and edited for easier reading. Enjoy!
Crystal: Hi, all! Thanks for coming... it's been awhile. I can't wait to hear what you have to say.
Attendee: If you could change one thing about Olivia, what would it be?
Crystal: She would have a family in town. I think she desperately needs people to talk to.
Attendee: Crystal, what can you tell us about the mood on the set? My guess is that it's probably mildly chaotic, LOL. I'd just like to add that you have been one of the few truly enjoyable aspects of the show over the past 12 months.
Crystal: The mood on the set is anticipatory. We're kind of waiting to see what's going to happen. But we're a group that shticks together regardless, and thank you for adoring me so much ~ that's so nice to hear.
Attendee: What is Beth Chamberlin like?
Crystal: Beth is a lovely, intelligent, funny woman. You'd never know it from her character, but she's extremely light and funny.
Attendee: I'm really glad they have Olivia back to being feisty. But, witht he way they are taking her right now, are they putting her in a corner, so to speak?
Crystal: Um... I don't think she'll ever be in a corner. You know she's innately a good person with a lot of bad habits and they always take care of her. They just need to push her as far as she can go.
Attendee: If you tape two days a week, do those two days air, or is some of it on the next shows, etc.,?
Crystal: If I work two days, I work two days... so, if I work for two days and am off for five, then I'm off for five aired shows. I think we're (taping) about three weeks ahead.
Attendee: Hi Crystal... glad to see you here! Is there anything remotely redeeming about what Olivia is up to right now? Or is she strictly out for herself and Emma? Do you have a feeling that your story might change again with the new EP (and hopefully new HW)?
Crystal: (missed the first line of Crystal's answer! HELP) She cares about Phillip, but he's treated her horribly. Olivia's at a pointwhere she really wants to push love out of her life except for her daughter and her brother.
Attendee: Hi Crystal. Thanks for doing this chat for us tonight. My question is do you know Ellen Wheeler and are you familiar with her work?
Crystal: I've known Ellen Wheeler for a few years now. She's extremely bright, multi-talented and very capable of doing this job well. And, I think I can say with a great deal if certainty, generally speaking, that the cast is very happy that she's here.
Attendee: Crystal, you are a joy to watch! I know you're very busy, but do you have time to watch any other soaps?
Crystal: I watch a lot of soaps. I would say I'm addicted. I often watch SoapNet on the weekends and in the evenings when the kids go to bed. But certainly, during the day, I'll flip around and watch a lot of them... 10-15 minutes on a show. I figure there's always something to learn from someone.
Attendee: With 2 little boys, what's it like for you to work with a baby girl on set?
Crystal: Ha ha... she's sweet! Well, you know, at that age, they just look like little tots... there's no gender attached... but being the mother of two boys, you do talk to girls differently and handle them differently. Oh... but she's wonderful... she's slept through everything! Except when Olivia reveals the baby to Phillip and she wakes! Olivia is completely committed to this child, moreso than she's ever been committed to any romance.
Attendee: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Crystal: I have two brothers, that's why I think God gave me two boys... I'm well equipped! LOL!
Attendee: Hi Crystal! Other soaps have been on game shows. How come the stars from Guiding Light haven't been?
Crystal: I would say there's some kind of agreement between the game show and the network that the game show is on. It will be a network soap that gooes on a network game show. I wanna be on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" in "Clean Sweep".
Attendee(s): LOL!
Crystal: I would get Michael on the Fab Five show... doesn't have to be me!!!
Attendee: Today's episode with "Cassie" was excellent. You two work so well together. Every once in a while we see the comedy side of Olivia. Would you like to possibly play a role in a comedy feature film?
Crystal: Yeah, I love comedy. It's not something I feel like I can go to far with Olivia. On some level, she has to remain an antagonist. I can't be too goofy.
Attendee: I would just like to say hi and I am glad to be here for the first time. I was just wondering if you think what is happening with Cassie and Olivia will affect their friendship and do you think that anyone else in Springfield will ever befriend (Olivia)?
Crystal: Cassie and Olivia are more like sisters than they are like friends. So, they'll always be a tie between them. And Olivia will always go through stages where people misunderstands her and then embraces her.
Attendee: Would you ever consider having Dylan portray 'Emma' on GL? Or do you (not) want to have your sons included in show business / soaps?
Crystal: Well, actually, John Conboy offered to use Dylan as my baby (Emma), but I declined. Because if my son started to cry during taping, that would be the end of that scene. It helps to have it be someone else's baby if they start to cry.
Attendee: Will Olivia ever get a love interest? Normally when a soap female "gives up on love", that's the signal for some lovely man to start backing her up against the nearest available wall.
Crystal: Well, I don't mind that she's given up on love at this point. Because, there's a nice conflict there... but, I know she has an exchange with Bill Lewis coming up.
Attendee: Bill Lewis? Does she sleep with him?
Crystal: Not that I know of... yet, anyway.
Attendee: Is it safe to assume that Olivia, Phillip & Emma are not going to be one big happy family at least for the time being?
Crystal: For the time being, they have a lot to work out. Never say never, but there are a lot of hurt feeligns. It goes somewhere...
Attendee: Hi Crystal... I met you here in Illinois back in your DOOL years. Any chance you will come back to Illinois for a personal appearance? I (dragged) my husband to a woman's convention just to meet you!
Crystal: Oh my gosh... thank you for doing that. I would love to come to Illinois to do that but we don't get many offers to do personal appearances. It must be Guiding Light or something... I have family in Illinois, so I'd love to (go) there!
Attendee: I have to admint that it's been a tough year for viewers in terms of the show's writing -- characters' motivations have been extremely unclear, history has been butchered, core characters rendered unrecognizable. Have you and your co-stars been as miffed by the constantly changing, oftentimes nonsensical, storylines?
Crystal: You need to learn to speak your mind!! LOL! Yes, there's been confusion in the storytelling in the past year. But there usually is, in terms of character motivation. I think the viewers have a great voice and people are listening. I've actually enjoyed watching the great men from Guiding Light... Justin Deas, Peter Simon (who I've tried to have a love scene with since he came on the show), Jordan Clark (who's one of the best in daytime).. Ron, and Robert... for someone who's only been a viewer for 4 1/2 years, I have so loved watching them in this story. It's been my favorite part of the show.
Attendee: What do you think of Matt Bomer?
Crystal: Oh... god... hot, sexy, and extremely talented... too young for me, but hot.... but for Olivia, she could roll around with him. This is the soap opera perk for your later years, getting to be with the younger guys!!! LOL... Hopefully! Too bad Sam is my brother... LOL. I SO want him back on the show. I want a mother and I want a brother... that's my wish list.
Attendee: Many of the viewers are miffed by the fact that the show hasn't moved heaven and earth to get Wes back, either.
Attendee: Who do you miss working with on Days and OLTL?
Crystal: I miss (all) the people that I worked with... every group is different, so I miss hanging out with those people. You tend to run into the same people in this industry, so I just ran into Bobbie Eakes, Matt Ashford... Louise Sorel is a friend of ours. I'm in contact with peoople so I don't feel like I'im that far away.
Attendee: Have you ever wanted to or have/would you consider doing anything other than soaps full time?
Crystal: I'm always open to the experience of something else, but I don't really want to leave NYC.
Attendee 1: (Referring to Crystal's wish of having a mother and brother on GL) Liv's mother is dead... or maybe Liv will sleep with Bill Lewis then discover he is really her father AND her brother... LOL.
Crystal: I think that Liv's mother is a big tramp who ran off with whatever rich man came into port and she'll eventually show up in Springfield in the body of Louise Sorel... wouldn't that be fabulous... wanting a bit of Liv's money! She could even go after Alan... it's all so perverted and appropriate, don't you think?!
Attendee 2: It should also be revealed that said big tramp had an affair with island-hopping Roger Thorpe -- and had an affair that produced one Sam Spencer.
Crystal: I think Sam should be Liv's son.
Attendee 1: Lots of people think Sam should be Liv's son... if they want the backstory, I've already written it.
Crystal: Excellent... mail it in! IF she had more people to talk to, more family, people would understand her better.
Attendee 1: If she had more family, she would probably have them put away in sanitoriums and steal all their money. Ha ha.
Crystal: That's so unfair... she only does that to people who screw her over... if you mess with Liv, you're a goner. Just because Phil is having a little mental breakdown doesn't make him innocent... I mean, c'mon! Kick a pregnant woman out... wouldn't believe her... but truly, I don't think Phillip ever loved Olivia. I think he only said he loved her to get back at his father. I think Olivia knows that. That's why she's so PISSED! There's a tad of resentment toward him because she knows.
Attendee 2: Couldn't Jeffrey mess with Liv? LOL
Crystal: Hasn't Jeffrey messed with everybody? He should be checked for disease!
Attendee 3: Alan was removed fromt he equation too soon...
Crystal: I agree that Alan was removed far too soon...
Attendee: I moved to NYC last year - I love it! I live in Brooklyn... do you miss Brooklyn at all? How's Jersey?
Crystal: I love Brooklyn and I miss it. Jersey is a sweet place to live with our kids, but I'd be back in Brooklyn if I could.
Attendee: Crystal, I'm coming to NY for the first time ever this summer. What Broadway show should I go see?
Crystal: I hear that Wicked is wonderful.
Attendee: What was up with all teh near-fainting Olivia was doing when she first got back to town? Was that just scene-filler or part of a storyline that got dropped?
Crystal: I think the fainting had to do with her disgust at having to tell Phillip that she lost the baby.
Attendee: How is Dylan, Jacob and Michael? Is Dylan sleeping thru the night? Also do you have any tips on breaking the bottle habit with a 2 year old?
Crystal: Well, I have a 3 1/2 year old who still wants a bottle at night, so no tips there. Dylan still isn't sleeping through the night. I think as far as the bottle, it'll happen (naturally).
Attendee: Do we know about Liv's father? And does Wes (Ramsey) want to come back full time?
Crystal: Liv's father died and I think Wes would come back.
Attendee: Off subject... Crystal, do you have any guilty pleasures... food, tv shows, etc.?? Have you seen any good movies recently? Just curious...
Crystal: Gosh... I'm getting quite good at color... we're renovating our home and I'm painting... so that's my only guilty pleasure... painting. I see movies at home, so it's way after people see them.
Attendee: As a loyal viewer of Guiding Light for more than 20 years, I am excited about the strong female characters of today. I love the scene between Olivia and Alex
Crystal: Marj is just that... she's a firework! She's wonderfully kind, but sharp. I love working with Marj.
Attendee: Crystal, I want to know when the darn show is going to add some FIREMEN to the cast?!
Crystal: There should be a big fire in Springfield. It should be at the Beacon and someone should pull the fire alarm... no need for a real fire... just shirtless firement running into the lobby.
Attendee: Oooooooo! YES!! [wiping drool off the keyboard]
Attendee 2: I see no reason why it shouldhn't be a real fire. There are several characters I can think of who could tragically perish.
Crystal: Tell me who should perish, everyone?!
Attendee 2: JEFFREY! Eden, Tony, Nico, Danny, Michelle
Attendee 3: Yes, Jeffrey!
Attendee 4: Joey, Eden, Tony, Nico
Attendee 5: Jeffrey, this incarnation of Shayne, Nico, Nico, Nico, Nico, Eden, Jeffrey and Eden.
Crystal: What is it about Jeffrey that is so off-putting?
Attendee 6: I seem to be in the minority - Idon't mind him as long as he's not on 24/7.
Attendee 7: Jeffrey is a misogynistic jackass into bossing everyone around.
Attendee 8: It would take hours to answer that question adequately, but (he's) a disgusting excuse for a human being... so completely uninteresting
Attendee 9: He's in just too many storylines and we've yet to figure him out.
Attendee 10: He's a chauvinistic pig.
Crystal: OMG! LOL! Alright, I get it. Obviously, if he were written differently, you'd like him.
Attendee: Crystal, there's a lot of talk about how much money BC is being paid to play Jeffrey and that came just before all the "recurring" announcements of veteran actors... not to mention he's in too many storylines. There's a lot of resentment for him out there... I don't think there's anything they could do with the guy at this point that would go (over) well with the viewers.
Crystal: I have no idea how much Bradley gets paid, but regardless, Maureen Garrett is at the top of my list of people I'd love to have back. I think the budgent cuts came across the board in daytime. It wasn't just a particular producer... it wasn't Conboy. It was something that came down from a broader spectrum. GL is one of the few shows where people have been bumped to recurring, but the (character) is still alive and (the actor) is still working... other shows are killing (characters) off! Our show is the one show that kept these characters alove so they could possibly come back. I think it's a testament to Conboy and P&G that they are keeping these characters alive instead of killing them off.
Attendee: Crystal, you seem like a fun person - what's one of the craziest things you've ever done?
Crystal: Ummm... other than having two children?!! Well, I've hiked up the mountains in the Sierras with no makeup.
Attendee: OMG!!! The scandal!
Crystal: Yep, well you shoulda seen me!
Crytal: A couple more questions... I've got a baby that's awake. It's amazing that he slept for this hour!
Attendee: Crystal, what's the cutest thing that Jake and/or Dylan has done recently? Is Jake still enjoying pre-school?
Crystal: He loves preschool. He's like a little man at 3 1/2. Dylan's just sound asleep... that's the biggest news. I just love my time with my boys.
Attendee: Crystal, since you keep your pulse on other soaps, what actor/actress would you like to work with?
Crystal: Oh GOD! I'd love to work with David Canary, Anthony Geary, lots of sexy people!
Attendee: I adore the name Dylan. My nephew is named Dylan. It's a strong name. Who was he named after or was it just a name you liked?
Crystal: He wasn't named after anyone. I wanted an Irish name... but it was too big a stretch between an Irish name and the Italian name, so we went with something Welsh.
Attendee 2: Is it true you were going to name the baby Catherine if it was a girl?
Crystal: Emma Catherine... yes... Catherine is a family name.
Crystal: I had a great deal of fun. I love this group... and we'll do it again soon!
Attendee: Thanks Crystal, bye for now.
Attendee2: Thanks so much for chatting with us, Crystal! Hope to see you soon!
Crystal: Thank you, too! Goodnight!