Who's the best "Scene Chewer" on your show?

[ClassicsSoapFan]

We have had topics on the worst actor and the best actor.

Now who is the best scene chewer? The ham. The over-acting king or queen.

Justin Deas of the late great Guiding Light OWNS this thread!

Y&R

Judith Chapman

Christian LeBlanc

Ted Shackleford

ATWT

Elizabeth Hubbard

Trent Dawson

CZP

[Lucid]

Trent Dawson ATWT, he OWNS the title

[MarkH]

Susan Lucci (AMC)

Robin Strasser (OLTL)

Carolyn Hennesy (GH)

Jeanne Cooper, Judith Chapman (Y&R)

Leslie Anne Down and (famously) Darlene Conley (B&

Kim Zimmer (GL).

Let me say, I don't think scenery chewing is bad. In fact, I think it is essential for a soap to be a soap.

[dragonflies]

The major overactor on ATWT Is Kelley Hensley, OMG she overacts almost every scene. Also NuLily, I'm blanking on her name, tends to overact ALOT

[edgeofnik]

So funny, now that I'm back on ATWT: my top 3: CZP (always #1); TD; and NB aka nuLily. Half of the Y&R cast falls in this category -- it's just a matter of degree.

[jfung79]

What's the difference between scenery-chewing (good?) and over-acting that people view as bad?

My answer:

I view good "scenery-chewing" as acting, not over-acting. I've never felt that Kim Zimmer over-acted. The character of Reva ia larger than life. So is Jonathan, when people say Tom Pelphrey overacts. It is not over-acting, it is true to the character.

Bad over-acting is when someone seems "fake" in their emotions. Cady McClain is usually a fine actress, but sometimes she flutters her eyes dramatically and that is so fake, and I think it's meant to come across a little fake but it goes way beyond that and just gets really annoying.

As for best scenery-chewer (which is good) on my show, ATWT, hmmm ...

I think I would actually go with Ewa Da Cruz (Vienna).

[DRW50]

This category was made for the women of ATWT. CZP, Liz Hubbard, and KMH all chew scenery brilliantly, and they balance that out by having some very subtle, searing moments.

[SFK]

I CANNOT look at this girl's name without saying "Eww-uh". EVA EVA EVA, SFK!

I don't want to sound like one of those annoying people who try to sound like an authority when they were too young (or not born yet) to have witnessed it themselves, but from the many episodes I've gotten my hands on, Beverlee McKinsey, Douglass Watson, and Victoria Wyndham could chew the HELL out of a scene and make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Not at all about overacting, but they were so committed to the material and invested in their characters, the blood would really get to boiling and it was riveting! There was one fight between Iris and Mac in particular when Iris screamed on him, my stomach jumped like it would when my parents were fighting.

[DRW50]

Vicky could definitely go OTT when she needed to. Ithink of Bev as being understated, but that was more her work on GL.

Carmen Duncan was also a divine scenery chewer.

[ClassicsSoapFan]

Scene chewing to me is a good thing.

I remember on ATWT during Doug Marland's days. He'd have big scenes at the Mona Lisa or Fashions or the hospital cafeteria. Several characters would come and go and different stories were going on.

Liz Hubbard would be there as Lucinda. She may be in the background and not have a single line. With her body language,her facial expressions and her chuckles she would react to what was going on around her. You couldn't help but watch her.

I miss the old days!

[Darn]

Peter Bergman on Y&R, rare is the day he leaves a set standing but he's damn good at it so he gets a pass.