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The Jury is In...
General Hospital Juror #11
November 14, 17 2003
I have worked as Maurice Benard's Fan Club President for many years. I have also helped him answer his many fan mail letters and requests. I know how many admirers this talented actor has and yet, I was asked with Betty Vowell Rauhe and Cathy Nalewjka (and a few others like Jamie Hast, Rich and Raquel Aurilia) to appear as a juror on General Hospital by none other than Paula Benard. The hook. I guess was to have some of Maurice's fans appear as jurors. I have watched General Hospital for all of its 40 years and have visited the set many times. I have had the opportunity and still do to work for many of the General Hospital actors. And yet, this was a surprise, that truly knocked me off of my feet. Never in my wildest imagination or dreams would I had ever expected to be asked to appear on this soap opera.
Of course this being a major surprise as it was, I wasn't quite prepared mentally or physically. However, amazingly so, it all fell into place. My husband was so supportive and said to me, "Go and have a great time." I knew Cathy and Betty from the GH weekends. I have also known them as members of Maurice's fan club. Comfortable with that, I contacted them immediately. I think we were all in disbelief when we started e-mailing and calling and then as the days got closer, I could almost guarantee they felt as I that we were starring in our own dream.
I really don't like to admit this but I am afraid to drive in LA. My friend Kimberly picked me up from the airport and drove me to the hotel. We met Betty and Cathy for dinner and then went back to the hotel. We figured we all needed our "beauty sleep" for the next day as we were due on the set at 9 AM. Betty drove her truck from Arizona to LA. She was extremely gracious and drove me back and forth to the studio on both days. We all went from nervous to calm to nervous on the way to the studio. Once we got there and schleped four outfits each to have Lenny the costume designer clear us and the outfits we were ready for the first day of shooting.
We went into the Women's Extras dressing room and put our purses in a locker and our additional clothing was hung up. We went up to the 5th floor and filled out some forms for the business office. While we were on that floor and hallway we saw various Soap Opera magazine covers that featured the General Hospital cast from then and now. That was an amazing treat. We also saw Stanley Kamel (Cody) in the business office. I told him I had remembered him from his Days of our Lives stint. We wished him well on his new endeavor..General Hospital.
Betty, Cathy and I went down to the Green Room where there was coffee, tea and bagels. This was where many cast congregate at least to have a bite to eat or drink. On the way to the Green Room, we passed various actors dressing rooms, saw the ping pong room and many photos of actors on the hallway walls, who are part of the General Hospital history. First person I saw in the hallway was Kin Shriner. I have worked for Kin since 1987. We said hi and before we knew it Kin was called to the set and off he went. Raquel and Rich Aurilia were sitting in the Green Room and I had heard that Rich was going to be on the show too. I do not follow baseball so I didn't even realize it was them. Raquel and Rich are very down to earth and I explained after a bell rang in my head realizing who they were, how embarrassed that my brain didn't click in. They both couldn't have been nicer. We saw Maurice and he gave us a hug and as always we were very happy to see him. We thanked him for the amazing opportunity. He is friends with the Aurilia's so they took some time to chat. Maurice was called to the set, waved good-bye to all of us and off he went. Many of the actors were just walking around at their work place. It was a very laid back atmosphere. We saw Tamara, Becky, & Alicia too. I saw Steve Burton, who I also help answer his fan mail. He came over to me in the Green Room and gave me a big hug. We all asked how his baby-daughter and wife were doing. We were pleased to hear they were doing very well. Up to the stage he was called and we said so long until later.
There were many extras working on the show and once the jurors were established, we all started to bond.
It was time for the jury to be brought up to the sound stage. The director, Owen Renfro put us in sitting order. I was put in the second row behind Rich and his wife. Next to me was Bruce Heath, a choreographer and friend of Ted Lange (Judge), and Elender Wall, friend of Bergen Williams,(Alice). Jamie Hast gymnastic teacher to the Benard children was next to Bruce. Betty and Cathy were seated in the front row next to Rich and Raquel and Heather Hunt (the foreman). There was one other man who I didn't get to know who was a juror too. He mentioned he was an extra before as was Heather and Elender. Personally I think the professionals got a kick out of the novice's (that's me) energy and excitement. The scenes were blocked and lit and then taped. After those were shot, the reaction shots from the primary players. First we watched Kin Shriner, then Rick Hearst, then Ted King, M'fundo Morrison (Justus) and then Tamara Braun each do a magnificent job. During one of the breaks, Kin Shriner came over to me to talk and Steve Burton joined in. Maurice made sure to say hi to us again while we were seated as the Jury. Paula Benard came on to the set and said hi to us during one of the breaks. We all thanked Paula for also giving us this once in a lifetime special moment. Maurice and Steve were having fun with Rich and Raquel. There was a "stuffed monkey" that Steve brought on to the sound stage. It was hanged all over the set without being seen on camera. We were having a great time with this monkey, laughing but not holding up production. It was hanged on the lights! It was in one of the empty juror's chairs! It was on a camera at one point. We were all hysterical. We never knew where the monkey would appear!!!
As we were getting ready for our lunch break, Jim Warren appeared on the set and took some photos of us. Tara Shaffer of (SOD) and Rosemary Rossi (ABC SID) were both there to interview, Rich and Raquel. I didn't realize how nervous I was because I had spent a lot of time with Rosemary over the General Hospital Weekend during the summer and didn't recognize her. When I returned from lunch it dawned on me that I had mistook her for someone else. I went over and said hi and I explained that I was out of my environment and she understood. Rosemary interviewed Betty, Cathy and I. I do not know how much the magazine will use or what photos will be used but we were told we will be in ABC Soaps In Depth magazine on sale December 23.
We returned from lunch it was time for Maurice's major scene. He was spectacular!!! His monologue was truly Emmy winning material. We watched him prepare from Maurice to Sonny. It was really something to witness. He paced ,while saying his lines to himself. He took giant breaths and drummed on the table. Most of us were in tears after his monologue. It was extremely moving. All during the day, there was no wall behind the jury so the camera could shoot from that angle. We were told to react to the actors and scenes. However, with no wall we knew we wouldn't be seen during those scenes. OR so we thought. As our first day of shooting came to an end, a wall was brought behind us and we were asked for reaction shots. Maurice, Rick, M'fundo, Tamara and Kin reread their lines and the jury was filmed. However if we would have shown our true and moved tears during Maurice's scene it wouldn't have been good for the story. There would have been no "surprise" to the verdict.
Cailey and Cassidy Benard came to the set and gave Maurice the biggest hug. Then they saw Jamie and showed their affection to her. We could tell theirs is a mutual admiration.
We went down to the Green Room got our "stuff" from the Women's Extra Room and I ran into Chad Brannon, another client of mine. It was a nice surprise for both of us.
I knew the day had to end but selfishly I didn't want it to be over. We said good-bye to everyone at the studio, thanked Paula and Maurice and headed back to the hotel. At the hotel I thanked Betty for the ride and Cathy for being so sweet and off I went to catch my plane home to Las Vegas for the weekend.
As I got on the airplane to go back to Las Vegas after the first day of shooting, I relived the entire day. I was thinking how much fun this job must be for the actors. I know they have to remember so many lines and everything seemed to go at a record pace. I have always admired these professionals for the time and commitment they brought to their individual roles. And now more than ever, I admire them for what they do day in and day out.
Steve (my husband) and I had a very full weekend in Las Vegas and that was my main reason for coming back home. Needless to say the weekend flew by and it was time again to say good-bye to Steve and head out to LA. Our friend Cliff commutes each week from Las Vegas to LA so he was nice enough to drive me back to LA. The traffic was a killer this particular Sunday.It took us close to 6 hours to get to the hotel. I didn't drive but I was exhausted. I brought a snack with me to the hotel, ate it and went to sleep. In the morning I met up with Cathy and Betty who housed my clothing and we went on to our final day of shooting. As excited as I was about going to the set, I was sad as well. I know it's being greedy but I didn't want the fun to end.
We needed to go into the business office again. We got there earlier than 9am and no one was "home" in the office. We went downstairs and had our outfits approved by Lenny. We hit the Green Room and we met up with Maurice. He asked if we had fun....of course we had fun. What a question... At that moment, Jim Warren walked in and spoke privately to Maurice. Then Maurice left the Green Room. He reentered with sets of photos for Cathy and Betty, Jamie and myself. Two were jury photos and each of us received a private photo with us and Maurice. He autographed them for us too. We all were overwhelmed by the kindness of both Maurice and Jim. Of course a great big thank you was heard from each of us after receiving this wonderful gift. After Maurice left to get ready for his day up on the set. Betty, Cathy and I went up to the business office on the 5th floor and completed the forms we had to fill out. We came down to the Green Room and a large group of people were hanging out in there. I thought, to myself wow there are a lot of extras today. Much to my surprise they were winners of a contest from the "Wayne Brady Show." They won the chance to go to the set and tour it. It was quite funny because they all thought that Cathy, Betty and I were actors. They wanted our autographs. To me, knowing we weren't actors, I thought this could be a Punk'd episode. They were so excited about being on the set and oh so ready to see what it took to tape an episode. One lady was a huge Maurice fan and wanted a photo with him. I suggested that she sit in a certain chair where Maurice had sat previously. I took the shot of her and she was pleased. They left with their tour guide after they signed a non disclosure affidavit. Once they left Ron Hale came into the Green Room and we chatted as if we had known him for years. Then Rich and Raquel came in and before we knew it most of our jurors were all there sitting and talking to Ron. Of course we didn't let this moment go by without taking a few photos.
The next thing we knew we were upstairs and ready to block, tape, etc., the scenes. Heather the foreman was really thrilled that she had a speaking line. They gave her the make believe verdict and I asked to see it. I am too much of a lady to write what it said. However those who saw this faux verdict were laughing. We the jury had to walk into the courtroom. We were asked to take our shoes off because we made too much noise walking in. I was personally concerned I would fall on my face. Luckily that didn't happen. The verdict was read. And the jury was no longer needed. By the lunch break our part was completely finished.
Saying good-bye to the "jury," Maurice, Steve, Kin and everyone else was so sad for me. We went down to the Green Room and realized we hadn't checked out. We went back up to the soundstage and found it completely empty. The opportunity was ripe for us to go through some of the sets and take some photos of each other. Betty, Cathy and I have our shots of our special moment. We went downstairs our final time and passed the hair and makeup room. There was a party going on for Billy Warlock who completed his last day of shooting. I walked in and asked someone in that room if I could speak to him. The woman motioned to Billy that I was there and Billy came out and say a hi and good-bye. Billy is also one of clients and I didn't want to go out knowing I could have said good-bye to him without doing so. I wished him the best of good luck. I didn't want to keep him long. It was his good-bye party. We hugged and he went back in to the hair and makeup room.
Cathy, Betty and I gathered our stuff and it was time to leave the building. We decided to go to their special Chinese Restaurant near the GH studio for some lunch. This was where they went with Maurice and Paula during a studio tour. The food was delicious. The atmosphere was truly pretty and of course the company was divine. We ate, we talked and continued getting to know one another. And then the clock on the wall said, it's time Maxine. It's time to go home. We went back to the hotel and I got my extra luggage out of Betty and Cathy's closet and we kissed and hugged good-bye. I then went down to the lobby and asked for a taxi to take me to Burbank Airport. Once I arrived at the airport, I was able to change my reservation to get home earlier. Steve met me at the Las Vegas airport and even though I didn't want my journey to end, I knew the time had come for me to be home and to come back to reality.
Looking back on this experience there are so many people I owe a thank you for making it so exciting, non stressful and downright enjoyable. So thank you to Sheryl for driving to the airport, Cliff for driving me to LA, Betty and Cathy for so many things too numerous to mention, Kimberly for picking me up at the airport in Burbank and for being there for me. My husband Steve who has always stood behind me, the cast, crew and production staff of General Hospital, Jim Warren for being a dear friend and last but not least, Paula and Maurice Benard for asking me to be on General Hospital and for being extraordinary human beings. This year has been an exceptional year for me personally. However, I can honestly say being asked to appear on General Hospital
