The Locher Room

Tune-in to The Locher Room as we welcome Connie Passalacqua Hayman, also known as Marlena De Lacroix. Connie will share her deep passion for daytime television and discuss how it shaped her illustrious career as a writer, editor, and professor.

Connie began her journey into soap journalism in 1980, serving as editor for Afternoon TV magazine and Soap Opera World. Her contributions spanned across every soap magazine ever published, including notable roles at Soap Opera People and Soap Opera Digest.

In 1989, Connie was invited by Mimi Torchin to write the critical column "Critical Condition" for the newly launched Soap Opera Weekly magazine. Under the pseudonym Marlena De Lacroix, her candid, witty, and impeccably written columns quickly became a sensation in the soap industry.

Beyond her impactful columns, Connie's writing has graced prestigious publications such as the New York Times, New York Daily News, USA Today, Variety, and TV Guide. She served as a syndicated television columnist for United Features and as the soap columnist for Newsday. In 2007, she launched her own platform, Marlena De Lacroix, Soaps for the Thinking Fan.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation with Connie Passalacqua Hayman looking back at her incredible career in soap journalism, her over 50 years as a soap viewer and her time creating the popular column, Critical Condition under the pen name, Marlena De Lacroix.

Meet Director, Writer and Producer Kenneth Johnson who sat down with me in The Locher Room to look back at his incredible career in television which began in 1964 when he joined CBS in NY.
Kenneth is responsible for creating some of television’s most iconic shows including The Bionic Woman, The Incredible Hulk, the original mini-series V, and Alien Nation.

Kenneth also directed numerous TV movies including Disney hits Zenon and Don’t Look Under The Bed plus the features Short Circuit 2 and Steel.

Kenneth has authored three novels Holmes Coming, The Darwin Variant and The Man of Legends – an Amazon Bestseller and he is currently at work completing his memoir, A Flurry of Sparks: My Life and (mostly fun) Times in Show Business.

In much of his work Kenneth has focused on the injustices caused by prejudice, discrimination and intolerance. He has been a continuing contributor to Amnesty International, NPR and Doctors Without Borders.

Don’t miss the chance to hear incredible stories from his almost six decades in show business.

Author William Keck joined us for An Author’s Afternoon in The Locher Room to tell us about his new book, "When You Step Upon A Star: Cringeworthy Confessions of a Tabloid Bad Boy” 

William began his career working for TV titan Aaron Spelling and as an NBC and CBS studio page before turning his focus to journalism and television production. He has worked as a staff reporter for the National Enquirer and USA Today, a senior editor and columnist for TV Guide, a regular contributor to People, Us Weekly, Closer Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, and so much more.

In the book, William draws from his three decades working as an entertainment reporter. He confesses ALL about his most memorable celebrity encounters that (for one reason or another) went horribly wrong. Far more than a shocking admission of past sins, the book chronicles the repentant author’s own evolution from a lonely only child obsessed with Hollywood stars, to an eager tabloid snoop keeping personal secrets of his own, to a well-respected journalist who ultimately learns from his mistakes, changes his wicked ways and befriends the celebrities he’d once wronged.

Hear these stories firsthand from William and read them on the pages of William’s book.

Actor Pooch Hall and Director Shane Dax Taylor joined me in The Locher Room to discuss their WWII drama, Murder Company. The film is in select theaters, on digital and on demand. The film, an unknown story, takes place during the D-Day invasion, where a group of US soldiers are given orders to smuggle a member of the French resistance behind enemy lines to assassinate a high-value Nazi target.

Pooch Hall is best known for his portrayal of ‘Daryll Donovan’, Ray’s (Liev Schreiber) younger half-brother and professional boxer, in Showtime’s critically acclaimed series Ray Donovan. Prior to Ray Donovan, Pooch spent nine seasons as the iconic “Derwin Davis”, a new and eager wide receiver for the San Diego Sabers, in the CW/BET series The Game.

Shane Dax Taylor began his career at 19, starting at ESPN where he swiftly moved up to become a producer of major live sporting events including MLB, NFL, PGA, MLS, The Olympics, and college sports. After a 13-year tenure at ESPN, Shane his feature filmmaking debut with, "The Grey.” He followed this with the critically acclaimed Sony release, "Bloodworth."

Spend the hour with these two talented men to learn more about their film and their road to success.

Guiding Light alum John Driscoll sat down in The Locher Room to look back at his time playing Henry “Coop” Bradshaw. Surprising John during our conversation is Guiding Light's Beth Chamberlin.

John joined Guiding Light in September 2004 and played the role until that fateful car crash in 2009. John has been serving our country actively in the National Guard for the past 12 years and when he is not deployed, he works as a Defense Contractor.

Don’t miss the chance to catch up with John, thank him for his service and hear about his greatest role to date as Dad to his son, Wesley. 

Trailblazing actress Candis Cayne sat down in The Locher Room to talk about her new series, Candis Cayne’s Secret Garden available to stream on Hulu. Secret Garden is a gardening show unlike any other.

After many years pursuing her dreams (and a transition) Candis was cast in the groundbreaking role of “Carmelita Rainer,” on the hit ABC primetime drama Dirty Sex Money. She became the FIRST transgender actress to play a recurring starring role on a network television series and by doing so, broke down barriers.

She was also cast as the “Fairy Queen on SYFY’s The Magicians.Candis has also recurred on shows such as Nip / Tuck playing the transcharacter “Alexis Stone” and "Ms. Hudson” on CBS’s Elementary. Some of her other guest-starring roles include NBC’s Heartbeat, Drop Dead Diva, and Necessary Roughness.

Don’t miss the chance to hear from this trailblazer and style icon. Candis will tell us about being a vocal activist for the LGBT community and why it is more important than ever for her to represent and fight for the trans community during this time of trans-exclusionary strife.

Guiding Light made its television debut on June 30th, 1952. The one and only Maeve Kinkead joined to look back at this historic show and her iconic role as Vanessa Chamberlin Reardon.

Maeve joined Guiding Light in June 1980 and graced the Springfield canvas for nearly 29 years. She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1995 and won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1992. In addition to her role as Vanessa, Maeve had a three-year stint as Angie Perrini on NBC’s Another World.

Maeve, the daughter of parents who worked for The New Yorker magazine, attended Radcliffe University where she majored in English, initially planning to pursue a career as an English teacher. While continuing her education at Harvard, she became involved with the Loeb Drama Center, sparking her career in acting. Maeve earned an M.F.A. from the Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers. Her writings have appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry in Performance, and Seventeen Magazine. Her first poetry book, A Dangling House, was released in 2017. T

Don't miss this conversation for a special look back at Guiding Light with Emmy winner Maeve Kinkead!

Join us in The Locher Room for an in-depth discussion on Pride with actors Adam Bucci, Adam Huss, and Greg Rikaart. In celebration of Pride Month, these three men joined for an enlightening and heartfelt conversation, shedding light on the personal experiences of these actors both in and out of the spotlight.

We delved into the progress made in LGBTQIA rights, the challenges still faced, and the importance of visibility and representation in the media. Adam Bucci and Adam Huss celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary in July, while Greg Rikaart and his husband Rob Sudduth marked their ninth anniversary on May 9th. Greg and Rob are also raising their eight-year-old son, Montgomery.

Whether you're part of the LGBTQIA community or an ally, this is an important discussion you won't want to miss. Listen in to hear these inspiring stories, gain insights into the ongoing fight for equality, and celebrate the spirit of Pride with us.

Don't miss this crucial conversation in The Locher Room!

Listen in to an exclusive interview with Doug Heilman, one of the talented home cooks competing in Season 3 of The Great American Recipe. Doug will share his journey, culinary inspirations, and what it means to be part of this celebrated cooking competition.

Doug Heilman, a training consultant from western Pennsylvania, brings a unique blend of cultural influences to his cooking. Growing up on a farm with German roots, Doug was inspired by his maternal grandmother's “peasant food,” traditional German recipes made with fresh farm ingredients. His culinary style is also influenced by the diverse and vibrant food scene in Pittsburgh and his husband's Italian heritage. Doug's passion for cooking shines through in every dish, often utilizing his family’s cherished handwritten recipe cards.

Season 3 of The Great American Recipe features eight home cooks from across America, each showcasing their culinary talents and the multiculturalism that makes American food so vibrant and delicious. This eight-episode series airs Mondays from June 17 through August 12, 2024, from 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET on PBS, http://PBS.org , and the PBS App (check local listings).

Meet my friend Doug to learn about some of his favorite recipes, and what drives his culinary passion. Doug will also share an easy salad recipe.

Catch up with actor Danny Pintauro right here in The Locher Room.

 Danny is well-known to television audiences for his incredible eight-year run as the precocious and spunky “Jonathan Bower” on the hit ABC series, Who’s the Boss? starring alongside Judith Light, Tony Danza, Katherine Helmond and Alyssa Milano.

Danny began his professional career at the age of two as a model and commercial actor. By the age of three, he had a five-year contract role as Paul Stenbeck on As the World Turns. This was followed by his film debut in Stephen King’s legendary Cujo. In 1997, Danny was one of the first celebrities to publicly identify as gay and in 2015 he used an opportunity on The Oprah Winfrey Show to share his HIV status to help spread awareness.

Today, Danny is happily married, feeling healthy and is returning to his acting roots actively auditioning for roles. Don't miss the chance to hear what Danny is up to.