#Thaao Penghlis

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Altered States (1980) Ken Russell

February 2nd 2024

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Altered States | Episode 416

New Post has been published on https://esonetwork.com/altered-states/

Altered States | Episode 416

In this very special anniversary episode of MONSTER ATTACK!, Jim reflects on the first time he saw Ken Russell’s classic 1980 Sci-Fi film “Altered States,” written by Paddy Chayefsky and starring William Hurt, Blair Brown, Charles Haid, Bob Balaban, Thaao Penghlis, Dori Brenner, Charles White eagle, Drew Barrymore, Megan Jeffers, Jack Murdock, John Larroquette, and George Gaynes. Russell’s surrealistic look at a man’s obsession with finding answers to the meaning of life developed a large cult following during the last 40+ years. Find out more on this episode of MONSTER ATTACK!, The Podcast Dedicated To Old Monster Movies.

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William Hurt in Altered States (Ken Russell, 1980)

Cast: William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid, Thaao Penghlis, Miguel Godreau, Dori Brenner, Peter Brandon, Charles White-Eagle, Drew Barrymore, Megan Jeffers. Screenplay: Paddy Chayefsky, based on his novel. Cinematography: Jordan Cronenweth. Production design: Richard Macdonald. Film editing: Eric Jenkins. Music: John Corigliano. 

In theory, choosing Ken Russell to direct Paddy Chayefsky's screenplay based on his novel, an updating of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to the psychedelic era, had some potential. Russell is known for his flamboyant visuals and Chayefsky for his talky screenplays like the Oscar-winning Marty (Delbert Mann, 1955), The Hospital (Arthur Hiller, 1971), and Network (Sidney Lumet, 1976). Perhaps the visuals would moderate the verbosity, or vice versa. Unfortunately, Altered States wound up something of a mess -- a watchable mess, but still not a satisfying film. Chayefsky was so upset with the movie he took his name off the credits and substituted a pseudonym, Sidney Aaron. But the problem is inherent in the premise: that a potion can alter not only the mental state of the person who takes it but also the physical state -- that matter itself, the human body, can be changed by drinking a mixture of blood and hallucinogenic mushrooms. It's the stuff of fairy tales, not science. So when Dr. Jessup (William Hurt in his film debut), a respected physician researching the causes of schizophrenia, drinks the concoction, he reverts to his primordial self: a small, aggressive carnivorous simian. Good enough for a horror-movie setup, but not quite what Chayefsky had in mind when he wrote lines like these: "It is the Self, the individual mind, that contains immortality and ultimate truth....  Ever since we dispensed with God we've got nothing but ourselves to explain this meaningless horror of life." Chayefsky's existential conundrums go missing in a welter of special effects. And ultimately, the film collapses in bathos, with a plot resolution in which love conquers all after Jessup's experiments go calamitously awry. Hurt and Blair Brown as Jessup's wife do what they can with the material, giving controlled performances, but Russell, that connoisseur of excess, lets Charles Haid overplay his role as Dr. Parrish, the supposed skeptic about Jessup's research who seems like a nutcase himself.   

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Joseph Mascolo, Thaao Penghlis, and James Scott on Days of Our Lives

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Julie Pinson's Soapnet Chat Transcript

(Friday Feb. 25, 2005)

Moderator: The chat with Julie will begin in just a few minutes so get your questions ready!

Moderator: Don't worry, we're still chatting with Julie today. She's running slightly late and is racing to the phone as I type!

Julie Pinson: Hi everybody! I'm glad that you all are joining us for a chat. This is my first time doing this but please be gentle!

Penny Hey Julie, it is great to see you on Days.. Was it strange for you to take over the role from Lisa Rinna?

Julie Pinson: No, it wasn't strange at all. I think if Lisa wasn't available to do the role, I think it was fated to be mine.

DAYSfan

hey Julie! i love watching you on DAYS! i'm wondering if anyone has ever told you that you look like Rosalind Russell? you should audition for The Women remake!

Julie Pinson: Rosalind Russell? I've never heard that one but I'm flattered!

becky

at what age did u start your acting.

Julie Pinson: The first time I remember is when I was in sixth grade and I was in the play, Heidi. I played Fraulein Rottenmeyer, the bad lady. At the curtain call, my family stood up and clapped so loud and I loved the feeling so much that I knew it was what I wanted to do.

daysluvr

hey julie, thanks for chatting with us today. i was wondering how you are adjusting to being on days? who has been the biggest help to you in the cast?

Julie Pinson: Definitely, Peter and Kristian. My storyline is with the two of them so obviously I spend most of my working time with them. They've helped fill me in on the show history and family and things like that. Basically, I found out that I'm related to everyone in Salem!

LuvThatBo

Were you a DOOL fan before landing the role of Billie, and if so, for how long?

Julie Pinson: Honestly, when I was growing up the only show that I watched was AMC. I hear the Boos coming, lol. I do remember being in a restaurant about 15 years ago and looking at the TV and seeing Kristian ice-skating. I remember thinking how beautiful she was.

Jessica

Hello Julie! I think you're doing a great job as Billie. I don't miss Lisa at all! Do you think there BIllie will fall back into drugs because of her sadness over not having Bo or Georgia?

Julie Pinson: Anything's possible. I would hope that Billie would be stronger than that but finding out that my daughter is alive is a life changing experience. I'm not sure how much disappointment it would take for Billie to go over the edge again.

sandy

do you want to always act the bad girl along with kate. to me you and kate makes sami look like a saint.

Julie Pinson: I think it's just as fun to play the bad girl, it's more fun. I think the fans like to have the bad girl on screen. If everyone was nice and wonderful it would be really boring.

Steff

Hi Julie.

I watched you on PC and Eve and Ian were one of my favorite couples. Have you kept in contact with Thorsten Kaye after you left PC?

Julie Pinson: Unfortunately I haven't. He's in NY doing AMC and we lost touch after my run on PC ended. But I loved acting opposite him.

LuvThatBo

Do you think finding your character's daughter will make her stronger or more dependent?

Julie Pinson: Stronger. I think it would give her something to live for and it would give her life meaning. I think it will strive to make her a better person.

Leslie

Who would you like to have more scenes with or work with more from the show??

Julie Pinson: I like working with Lauren (Kate). I think it might be fun for the two of them to partner up and try and wreak havoc. I would also love to Thaao Penghlis (Tony). I don't know what kind of story we could have but I would love to work opposite him. For storyline purposes I think it would be cool if Billie tried to infiltrate the DiMeras and take Tony down.

Anna

Thank you for your great preformances. LOL I want to slap you at times though for what you are doing. It looks like you are enjoying this roll. Is it fun playing Billie Holiday Reed?

Julie Pinson: Lol. I'm having a great time, it's fantastic.

jenny

i know it must have been hard on you when pc was cancelled....what's your fondest memeory from that show?

Julie Pinson: Working with Jon Lindstrom and Kin Shriner and what they taught me.

Julie Pinson: One more thing for the girl who wanted to slap me: If you didn't want to slap me at times, I wouldn't be doing justice to the character!

Desi

I was a huge Chris and Eve fan when you were on Port Charles and so felt that Eve died long before her storyline was over. I think you're doing an awesome job on Days as Billie and was so glad to see you back. In your opinion, what is the most challenging part of being in the daytime world?

Julie Pinson: I think the most challenging part is taking the stories that the writers come up with and making them work because sometimes the stories are really out there and we have to make the audience believe that it's really happening.

Holly

Hey Julie.. I remember reading once that you collect dolls. Do you still?

Julie Pinson: Yes, absolutely. I collect Barbies! I haven't bought any new ones in a couple of years. I got to the point where I thought I had enough. I just got a new Barbie catalogue so I might look at it after the chat!

BoluvsFancyFace

All the smiles and smirks that you do behind Hope's back, is that a touch that you add on your own or are you directed to do so?

Julie Pinson: I add it on my own. Do you hate it or love it? You have to bring something of your own to the character and the history that I understand Hope and Billie have warrant the smirks.

Holland

Loved your scenes with Bryan Dattilo (Lucas). Great brother and sister chemisty. Will there be more of that in the future?

Julie Pinson: I hope so! I haven't seen any scripts yet within the next few weeks where we're together but I love hanging out with Bryan.

Kallie

Hi Julie! I admire your acting on the show and loved you on PC as well. Who are your personal heros?

Julie Pinson: That's a good question. Well, I'd say one of my personal heroes is my best friend Sherry who has managed to raise her daughter (my goddaughter) by herself and hold a full time job. Single parents are amazing to me. My parents, as well.

Penny

Do you still keep in touch with any of your Port Charles costars?

Julie Pinson: Jon Linstrom is one of my best friends. Ion Overman and I still talk.

Connie Boaz

I love your hair. Can you give me some details on the type of cut it is and what you do to get it to look so great? i.e., products, styling etc.

Thank you

Julie Pinson: It's pretty much a razor cut. I use BedHead products - the Movie Star line. I also use KMS Configur and then I turn my head upside down and blow it dry.

noodle0043

Has it been hard playing Billlie and trying to come between Bo and Hope?

Julie Pinson: No, it's not hard because Billie has a reason for everything that she does. At this point, she's not trying to come between Bo and Hope on purpose. She's really not. You may snicker, but she really isn't. lol.

Oahu girl

Julie, do you think that it would be a better story for Billie to get over Bo and become a mother to Georgia? I know you are new to the show, but for long time viewers, this Billie coming between Bope story is old. It's unbelievable that after 16 years we are led to believe Billie has not moved on. Billie is better than that. I think Bope belong together. Billie needs a new man, and a new story. Do you agree?

Julie Pinson: I think that Billie deserves a chance at true love. And I'll leave it up to the writers to tell me who they think that is.

Kelly

What adivice would you give to someone who might be considering going into acting?

Julie Pinson: Love it more than anything in the world. Have a tough exterior because you'll have to get used to rejection. But it only takes one yes to make it to the top.

Alina

Are you friends with any of the cast members outside of work?

Julie Pinson: Brody (Patrick) and I hang out together.

Dawniebeth

Since you and Bryan are brother and sister I hope they make the big sister come out and protect him from his lying mom. Billie is smart enough to see thru Kates lies, do you think that might happen?

Julie Pinson: I think the truth is going to come out that Kate set Sami out and Billie will be very upset with her mother. I think right now Billie is giving her the benefit of the doubt.

Desi

I loved you as Eve. You and Nolan North had amazing chemistry as Chris and Eve. A lot of fans felt like the story ended way too soon for those two characters. Would you have liked to have seen Chris and Eve get together back in the day?

Julie Pinson: Most definitely, yes. I always thought that Chris and Eve would have made a great super couple. We would have taken over PC as the best super couple. I loved working with Nolan, by the way.

noodle0043

What characteristics do you and your character Billie have in common?

Julie Pinson: We're both strong and we both have a sense of humor. I've tried to infuse a little bit of humor into her because I think that I'm funny. Lol. We're independent women.

Holly

What do you enjoy most about being back in daytime?

Julie Pinson: I enjoy that I look forward to going to work every day and getting to do something that I love so much.

Kelly

Who's your favorite actor/actress(not from Days, of course!)?

Julie Pinson: My favorite actor is Robert Redford. My favorite actress would take too long to decide. Elizabeth Taylor is my all-time favorite movie star but I don't really have a favorite actress right now.

Kelly

Have you heard that Billy Warlock is returning to Days? Weren't the two of you engaged? Are you looking forward to working with him?

Julie Pinson: I've heard that Billy is coming back and I'm definitely looking forward to working with him. We have always remained friends.

Emanuel

If you had to play another on "Days" who would it be?

Julie Pinson: I wouldn't want to play any other character. I love playing Billie.

Kelly

I've particularily enjoyed the flashback scenes with Peter! How did you enjoy shooting those, especially with the long hair?

Julie Pinson: Those were fun. It was nice having long hair again. I enjoyed playing those flashback scenes because Bo is actually in love with Billie!

Brandy

What is the most exciting part about being a part of the Days of Our Lives cast? Anything in particular that's your favorite thing about working there?

Julie Pinson: My favorite thing about working at DAYS is that from the minute I stepped on that stage I have felt nothing but warmth and welcome from everyone - the cast and the crew. I have never had that experience working in the industry before. That's the truth!

Julie Pinson: Thank you all for chatting with me today. Thank you for the interest in myself and in Billie. Stick with her and I promise you'll never have a boring day! Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

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Thaao Penghlis Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Looking as fit, youthful, and handsome as ever, thrice Emmy nominated, Thaao Penghlis, was a model of class, sophistication, charisma, and information. As has always been the case, the conversation flowed and the time flew. We talked about Thaao’s travels to Egypt and Greece, how to best visit his family’s homeland, The Lost Treasures, his podcast, his passion for cooking, his first appearance on a cooking show, and what he cooked, the recent drop of the paperback of his Seducing Celebrities One Meal At A Time, why he’s no longer on Days of Our Lives, and the illness that he faced without fear, with grit determination to best, which indeed he did. Diagnosed with colon cancer early in the pandemic, Thaao, who’s spent his life with extreme discipline––a Mediterranean diet, little to no junk food, regular exercise, daily meditation, yet he was predisposed to the disease which took his mother. With the same no-nonsense directness, Thaao faces everything in life, he took on his illness and beat it into remission, with the support of loving friends, which he credits with helping him get through the six months of hellacious chemo and radiation, where trim to begin with Thaao dropped 50 pounds. You’d never know any of that to look at him today. When last we met almost two years ago he was not quite on the other side of it but not yet ready to talk about it. Leave it to Thaao to use his challenge to be of service to others discussing it openly, including a suggestion that might ease the path for others now facing treatment. As is Thaao’s style, even this conversation was done with great good humor… culminating with a fabulous story about Robert Redford which got cut short when Thaoo’s battery died. Suffice it to say it has a happy ending with “Bob” as he calls him, being gracious and familiar. 

Yes, Thaao's first cinematic starring role was in John Avildson’s, Slow Dancing in the Big City, followed by Ken Russell's, Altered States, with William Hurt, and as Dame Edna’s love interest in Les Patterson Saves the World. He also played the lead, Nicholas Black, in the television series, Mission: Impossible, and starred in several mini-series, including, Tribe, Memories of Midnight, and Under Siege. We talked about none of that. We stayed focused on his current events, the projects Thaao’s working on now with a new writing partner, and his aspiration to produce as well. The weight’s back on, he’s working out thrice weekly, and throwing his fabulous dinner parties. oh please invite me! 

Spending time with Thaao is like a feast for the soul - where every course is new, exciting, and delicious, and at the same time, comforting, and familiar. 

Thaao Penghlis Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 6/19/24, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here: 

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On Thursday; #ChattingWithSherri welcomes #multiawardwinning #makeupandhairdesigner; #DeborahLanser on 10/12/23 at 7pm pt; http://tobtr.com/12271329 #interview #filmandtelevision

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Watch "STATE OF MIND with MAURICE BENARD: THAAO PENGHLIS" on YouTube

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Days of our Lives cranked out supercouples on the 1980s like nobody’s business. Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley shined back then, as they do today, as Tony DiMera and Anna Fredericks DiMera. The t...

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Tony Dimera & Anna Dimera.  #Days #Tanna

  03/24/22

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Altered States (1980)

Director - Ken Russell, Cinematography - Jordan S. Cronenweth

"So the end was terrible, even for the good people like my father. So the purpose of all our suffering was just more suffering."

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the cast of days of our lives: beyond salem, streaming september 6th 2021 on peacock