SODhost: Welcome to our special chat tonight! Days vs. Beach -- the softball showdown preview chat! Actors from both soaps will be squaring off this weekend in California. Join the fun at Valley Park -- located at 1625 N. Valley St. (Cross streets are Clybourn & Edison.) Our special guests are Sunset Beach's Tracy Melchior (Tess) and Days' Bryan Dattilo (Lucas). Please welcome Bryan Dattilo & Tracy Melchoir!
fineCALIgurl asks: Where can we see this baseball game at?
BRYAN DATTILO: The basics are that it's in Burbank at Valley Park! 1625 N. Valley Street! And the proceeds go to the Children of the Night: www.childrenofthenight.org.
RooRooKat asks: How much do tickets to the softball game cost?
TRACY MELCHIOR: $10 for adults, $5 for children! I'm all about the money!
DATILLO: Atta girl!
MELCHIOR: I didn't even know they were charging, but that's how you make money, huh!
DATILLO: Does the word "deductible" mean anything to you? :-)
cabravesfan asks: WHO HAS THE BETTER BASEBALL TEAM?
MELCHIOR: We'll find out on Saturday I guess!
DATTILO: You're talkin' the mess I like to hear!
MELCHIOR: We have lifeguards, which I think gives us a slight advantage.
DATTILO: you have lifeguards that can't swim! I've seen you guys try to run on the beach. I'll be pushing Jason George (Michael) to his limits!
MELCHIOR: But you guys are a bunch of suits over there!
DATTILO: Yeah, we are a bunch of tightwads. Hopefully we'll show up and give a good showing.
MELCHIOR: You don't have to wear dress heels; did they tell you that?
DATTILO: Oh, we don't have to wear dress shoes? :-)
RooRooKat asks: Bryan, you look great! Do you have a special diet/fitness regimen? What are your favorite junk foods?
DATTILO: LOL! I love junk food, so it's hard for me to stay in shape because I love French fries and fast food. But I try to eat good and I try to work out a little bit. It ain't easy bein' cheesy!
MELCHIOR: Have you tried McDonald's French fries in the milkshake?
DATTILO: Who are you talking to? I invented that!
MELCHIOR: It's the ultimate extravagence.
DATTILO: You're not supposed to know that.
MELCHIOR: I wish I didn't know that.
DATTILO: Oh girlfriend, who you kiddin'? You know you look good!
Booger_Barbie_Dolly asks: Tracy, is the water at Seal Beach dirty?
MELCHIOR: You think I'm the one who really got in that water? Are you kidding? :-) I don't know that it's necessarily dirty, but it's cold!
DATTILO: Do you guys have swimming doubles?
MELCHIOR: I have to! Otherwise I wouldn't be here chatting right now! I'm not a very good swimmer. :-( Uh-oh, I'm playing right into Bryan's game right now! I did get in the water, but I didn't do any of the drowning stuff.
Kitty043 asks: Bryan: Do you ever get mad at your character, Lucas? If so, what makes you the maddest?
DATTILO: Get mad at my own character? That's funny! No, I never get mad at my character! I always think he does nothing wrong and he's justified for doing everything he ever does.
MELCHIOR: Good answer!
moni_co_2004 asks: Is the game going to be on TV?
MELCHIOR: I haven't a clue.
DATTILO: I don't think so, but that would be really fresh! Get a little prime ticket thing, a little local cable action! We might have to call up some news people and get them on this!
MELCHIOR: I think we should do pay per view. It's as good as boxing, right?
DATTILO: Everyone at this chat should send an email to NBC and request that it be on TV. That's the only way to handle this!
MELCHIOR: I have to agree.
DATTILO: I would also request that you tell them you like my character and want to see him more, because I haven't worked in two weeks and the bills are piling on! :-)
circemagic asks: Tracy - Do you think that Tess really gives a darn about Maria, or is she doing it all for the money?
MELCHIOR: Ooooh, wow. Yeah, she cares. I don't know if it's for the reasons she says, but she does...
Shayla_Julese asks: bryan--you're hot--boxers or briefs?
DATTILO: They are actually a combination between the two. They are long like a boxer but tight like a brief.
MELCHIOR: Can we see them on Saturday?
DATTILO: Sure, I'll bring them out. Why not! Anything for the fans! I'll show it all for charity! (Kidding, kidding...)
tigger_2024_98 asks: What's your favorite food
MELCHIOR: I am going to have to say pizza, because I just had one.
DATTILO: I'd have to go with seafood. I love seafood. Re: pizza, I like thin crust over thick crust.
aprilrogers asks: Tracy, in what ways are you like your character - if any?
MELCHIOR: Very few! There are some similarities of how I used to be, like in my teenage years, perhaps, but nothing of who I am today. I have to draw on my past for her.
Jason2628 asks: for Tracy: how do you feel about playing a character like Tess?
MELCHIOR: It's fun because she's a take-charge, strong character, which is different from what I've played in the past, which is nice. She's not a victim. But it's unfortunate because people have a hard time differentiating between you and your character in the mail I get, sometimes. I'm really not like her!
butterfly_princess808 asks: Will Tess and meg ever get in a physical fight, like Meg and Annie? That would be such a riot!
MELCHIOR: I had the same thought! Tess and somebody! I don't know who she is going to scrap with but I have the feeling she is going to scrap with somebody!
DATTILO: She looks like she can kick some butt!
MELCHIOR: That's right -- and don't forget that on Saturday!
DATTILO: Aw, I gave you that one!
maevemccaffrey asks: Bryan, do you consider yourself a sex symbol?
DATTILO: ABSOLUTELY! :-) Of course not! No, I do not consider myself a sex symbol! I want to clarify that for the record! Maybe a soap hunk, but not a sex symbol! Kidding again!
MELCHIOR: Modest too!
DATTILO: I don't really fit that mold. I'll take it if comes though!
Heather_1424 asks: For Tracy...Have you ever worked for Aaron Spelling before being on Sunset Beach??
MELCHIOR: No. I auditioned for him one another time, but that was it.
Booger_Barbie_Dolly asks: Bryan, What's it like working with Alison Sweeney (Sami)?
DATTILO: Let me tell you! Where do you want me to begin? It's wonderful and fulfilling. She's an angel of the acting world. She's great. We love Alison!
cabravesfan asks: WHO EVER WINS DO THEY GETTING THE BRAGGING RIGHTS TO WHO HAS THE BETTER SHOW
MELCHIOR: Absolutely! Right?
DATTILO: Yeah, I guess. We should have a tournament. You can't just base it on one game. What if we have a bad game?
MELCHIOR: What if?
DATTILO: Not that I'm making apologies...
MELCHIOR: Don't sound as confident now, Bryan, do ya!
maevemccaffrey asks: How would you both discribe the characters you play in one word?
MELCHIOR: Desperate.
DATTILO: Oh, that is terribly sad, Tracy. I am going to go with diabolical.
MELCHIOR: Just because you like the word?
DATTILO: Just because I like saying the word. Couldn't spell it if you paid me. :-)
ladycj99 asks: Bryan, are you fixing to be on the show more? How come you aren't on that much now?
DATTILO: Am I fixin'? Who's from the South here? I'm fixin' to do a lot of things! Yeah, I'm fixin' to be on three more years because I just got a new contract! It's through 2002, and after then, who knows. Plus they could fire you, so you never know...
foxy7brown asks: Tracy, do you believe that your character, Tess, is really "the evil nanny" like "Meg" says?
MELCHIOR: No! I don't know why you think that!
kristy_kees asks: Bryan: Will Drake Hogestyn (John) be playing in the game?
DATTILO: I'll say yes so all his fans will come, but I don't know, so don't hate me if he doesn't! I would think he would. He's a big baseball guy.
MELCHIOR: Have you guys been practicing?
DATTILO: We actually have a team that we play with here in Los Angeles, and we have another team that we play in North Carolina with.
MELCHIOR: You are so full of it.
DATTILO: LOL!!!!! We so do! For like the last eight years, we've been the champions of this league in Burbank!
MELCHIOR: Oh no!
AngelBaby_4_11 asks: Bryan and Tracy, what type of music do you like and what are your favorite songs?
DATTILO: I'm into this hip hop thing, I'm into this whole rap thing. I get a lot of, "Oh, you listen to that music?" But I really like rap. Right now I am listening to this guy named Nas.
MELCHIOR: I wanted to go last because I didn't want Bryan to make fun of me: I listen to country. See, and you thought you'd get a lot of flak for listening to rap! It's so hard being a country fan!
DATTILO: Jensen Ackles (Eric) is a big country fan. That guy is like Clint Black revisited! Do you line dance?
MELCHIOR: Guilty!
DATTILO: Break out the moves! Get down with your bad self!
klovie_676 asks: Do you think you would ever date a Hanson?
DATTILO: I am going to take the fifth on this one!
MELCHIOR: I'd have to say no.
DATTILO: No!?! But what if they were really mature for their age?
TommyGirl_1975 asks: Hey Bryan are you taken?
DATTILO: Um, yeah, I'm actually engaged! I'm taken!
circemagic asks: Tracy - As Tess, do you think that she even cares about Tim? Or do you think that she's just using him?!
MELCHIOR: That rhymed! Do I have to rhyme back? LOL. I think a part of her cares for him -- the part that wants to get the money! LOL!
ChaosAngel99 asks: Hi Bryan! I am a huge huge fan of DAYS. I was wondering if you had anybody in showbiz that you would like to work with one day.
DATTILO: If I had a choice I would like to work with... I don't know... I'd like to work with Ashley Judd. But that wouldn't really be working!
mairhofer11 asks: Tracy I like Country too who is your favorite singer mine is Garth Brooks
MELCHIOR: I like Garth, but I'm a big Tim McGraw fan right now, just because I met him at The Tonight Show the other day!
wowey_2 asks: Do you have any hidden talents?
DATTILO: Acting!
MELCHIOR: That is so hidden!
DATTILO: You'd never know it! You'd never know!
MELCHIOR: I can't think of any.
justn554 asks: Tracy- How have you liked kissing Dax Griffin (Tim)?
MELCHIOR: He's got a bit of a different style, but we've come to an understanding.
ILUVCLIVE asks: Tess, tell us the truth. Are you Benjy's mother?
MELCHIOR: I don't know!
DATTILO: And I'm not allowed to say!
LonleyGirl_123 asks: Bryan, on DAYS, Why doesn't Sami want to share custody with Will?
DATTILO: Because she is hoarding Will! She doesn't think Lucas is a fit parent because he kidnapped the kid and he killed somebody and he may have an excessive drinking problem and he dates people for the wrong reason, but that's no reason!!! I don't agree with it but morals in the '90s, what are you going to do??? :-)
mairhofer11 asks: Tracy, do you really speak Spanish?
MELCHIOR: What made you think I speak Spanish?
butterfly_princess808 asks: Bryan-Do you think that Sami and Lucus should end up together one day. I can just see it now: Suddenly in the midst of arguing (like they always do) Sami slaps you across the face then you grab her a kiss her hard. Then neither one of you can turn away. What do you think?!?
DATTILO: No! I don't want to watch that episode! No, I think the dynamic between them is much more effective when they are at each other's throat. If they get along, that's killing all the good stuff!
Jason2628 asks: Tracy, you're real pretty! How do you stay in such good shape?
MELCHIOR: I am just very active: I ride horses, I take my dogs on hikes, and I go to the gym three or four times a week. But mostly I am just active, always doing something.
ILUVCLIVE asks: Tess, is Clive going to play in the baseball game? Is he as sexy as he appears?
MELCHIOR: I think Clive is definitely a sexy man. And more in person, definitely, than on TV! I don't know who is playing, to be honest with you!
ChaosAngel99 asks: Bryan, how do you feel about going against the cast of Sunset Beach for this game?
DATTILO: (in mock nerdy voice) I don't imagine getting a lot of sleep Friday night, but we are going to muster our energies and we are going to give it a college try! We're shaking in our boots!
blushinblue asks: What are your favorite hobbies?
MELCHIOR: Well, horseback riding.
DATTILO: Nice!
MELCHIOR: Darts! I just did it the other night. It was fun!
DATTILO: I sculpt, I paint, I write poetry, I like a nice torte with a nice gouda cheese... some iced wine after a hard day at the soap opera arena... No, I collect saltwater fish. I do. I have a couple of fish tanks going. And I have two dogs. They are my hobby, I guess. And sports, anything sports-oriented, I love. Watching, playing.
MELCHIOR: Does your fiancee know?
DATTILO: Yes -- and she still loves me!
MELCHIOR: See, it wasn't in the fine print when I got married!
DATTILO: The sports thing?
MELCHIOR: Yep. Golf is the sport of choice now.
DATTILO: Golf? That's not a sport! It's like going to therapy!
MELCHIOR: Well if that's the case, I should say, "By all means, go!" :-)
hcarllee asks: Tracy, are you looking forward to working with Sydney Penny (ex-Julia, AMC) when she pinch hits for Susan Ward (Meg) this fall?
MELCHIOR: Yeah. I think it's going to be a little strange. I don't envy her. I think it's sort of a scary thing to come in and replace somebody. I will miss Susan though. I like Susan a lot.
DATTILO: I didn't know that. I'm out of the loop! I didn't work for three weeks, and see?
Fruity_1981 asks: Lucas, would you steal another guy's fiancee in real life?
DATTILO: See, I would have before I got engaged, but now that I got engaged myself, I can't see myself doing it. Before, I would have been like, hell yeah!
MELCHIOR: See, it changes everything!
DATTILO: She'll make a man out of me.
MELCHIOR: Finally! And if she doesn't, we will on Saturday!
DATTILO: LOL! Is my nose bleeding?
tiawia_99 asks: Who is your favorite person to work with on the set?
MELCHIOR: I like working with the character of Annie. I haven't gotten to work with her much, but I really would like to more. Maybe her and I could scrap!
DATTILO: That would have to be Frances Reid, who plays Alice Horton!
Dawn_GHfan asks: Tracy- What do you enjoy most about about being on Sunset Beach?
MELCHIOR: I think the friendships I've made. I really enjoy going to work every day.
DATTILO: Awwww.... So sweet!
MELCHIOR: Are you going to cry?
DATTILO: You just don't hear answers like that any more!
SODhost: Bryan is sobbing ;)
justn554 asks: Tracy, who would you like Tess to have a romantic interest with?
MELCHIOR: How about the cop, Ricardo (Hank Cheyne)!
DATTILO: LOL! That's my boy! Hank's my boy! I think Hank is a stud, and I'm straight!
mairhofer11 asks: Well you do speak a little in the show, and anyways, I myself am from Spain I just wondering.
MELCHIOR: Oh! I actually don't speak Spanish on the show; perhaps you are thinking of Rosa (Margarita Cordova)?
goddess22_1999 asks: Tracy, are you looking forward to the charity game? Are you ready?
MELCHIOR: I thought I was ready, but now he's making me nervous.
DATTILO: Oh, you're ready: you're going to the batting cage!
MELCHIOR: No, I'm going tonight! I am excited. I love playing softball and I don't get to play it very often. It's a great charity; I'm excited about the charity.
sugar6_16 asks: Do you think you could ever do a game in Canada for us fans up here? MELCHIOR: If NBC wants to pay for it, I'll go! Bryan?
DATTILO: I agree with that! We deserve first class tickets, a stay at the Ritz, and that should cover it! But in case that never happens, I'll be in Toronto on August 15th at Canada's Wonderland!
tuney11 asks: What charity does the money that is raised go to?
MELCHIOR: Children of the Night, which was established in 1979 for children who are forced into prostitution or pornography. You can learn more about it on their website, www.childrenofthenight.org
rocky450 asks: Where are you from, bryan?
DATTILO: Kankakee, Illinois.
CFKP_AnimalJohn asks: Tracy: how many dogs do you have? And how do you feel about orange cats?
MELCHIOR: I have one dog, and orange cats are just fine!
Booger_Barbie_Dolly asks: Bryan, Did you really show up to the studio naked under an apron?
DATTILO: I wasn't completely naked! There's a big ongoing joke in the makeup room about this apron and I. About once a month, I like to treat my makeup artist to a little something. It's my way of a Christmas bonus, if you will. I come up in this apron, this Brady Pub apron, and the whole back sticks out. I show up in my underwear and she gets a kick out of it. And everybody else tries to give me wedgies so I have to run downstairs and put something else on. At least Austin (Peck, Austin) always tries to do that. But he's just jealous. :-)
beammeupscotty87 asks: TRACY; IS IT FUN WORKING WITH BETTE?
MELCHIOR: I haven't had any scenes with her so far, but Kathleen Noone, as a person, is wonderful. I would love to get more into the Bette storyline. She has the best sense of humor on the show. She's hilarious!
lil_auc asks: I play softball myself. What positon will you be playing?
MELCHIOR: Mr. We've Got Organized Teams, go ahead.
DATTILO: I don't know where I'll be playing, but I'll play wherever I am needed most. I want to play shortstop, though.
MELCHIOR: Anywhere infield! I do not want to be outfield, that's all I care about. All those long balls into the field, they are hard on your career if you get a softball in your face!
pixiebdg asks: BRYAN...SINCE YOUR TEAM WILL BE WINNING SATURDAY ARE YOU GOING TO GLOAT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER TEAM?
DATTILO: No, that would be arrogant! We're not arrogant! ;-) Of course. We're gonna rub their faces in it! LOL! We're just going to have some fun and raise some money for the kids. But you should definitely come because I just might bring my apron. You never know -- I'm a loose cannon! :-)
ILUVCLIVE asks: Tracy, how did you practice that Seattle hippie chick style? You have it down pat.
MELCHIOR: I didn't practice it, I just have been to Seattle so I just kind of recollected!
TommyGirl_1975 asks: Bryan you should come to illinois nothing exciting ever happens here. It's the corn state
DATTILO: Illinois!!! Ever heard of the Cubs or the Bears or the Bulls??? That's excitement! But I don't have any public appearances booked for Illinois yet, so as far as that, I won't be there soon.
MegFan asks: Tracy, how do you like working with Clive and Susan?
MELCHIOR: I like working with them a lot, actually. All of them! Christina (Chambers, Maria) also, and Chase (Parker, Benjy). But I do want to start getting into the other storylines, as well.
SuzieQ_104 asks: Lucas: would you really confess to a murder in real life if you really didn't do it?
DATTILO: Hell no! I ain't doin' time for NOBODY! :-)
lil_auc asks: Tracy, my real name is Tess. How did they come up with your name on the show?
MELCHIOR: I don't actually know, but when I auditioned for it, it was actually Tess/Natalie. So I don't know if they were deciding between the two names and Tess won out, or what!
Booger_Barbie_Dolly asks: Tracy and Bryan, Paper or plastic?
MELCHIOR: Paper.
DATTILO: Paper?
MELCHIOR: They have new paper bags with handles!
DATTILO: Yeah, but they rip. Two or three grapefruits in there, and you're done. It's gotta be plastic because that's what I pick my dog's stuff up with!
sunsetbeacher99 asks: Who is the biggest practical joker on the set?
MELCHIOR: Let's see... Probably Dax Griffin, for our show.
DATTILO: I have worked very hard to claim that title. Nobody can top the apron! I move people's cars out of their spots, relocate them. I t.p. cars.
MELCHIOR: How do you get their keys?
DATTILO: It's not easy.
MELCHIOR: Do you know what we did to Eddie Cibrian (Cole) one time? He had just gotten a new car, and my husband is a police officer, and he hadn't met him yet, so we had him come to the parking lot and tell Eddie that it is stolen and he's going to arrest him for stealing it! DATTILO: I respect that!
MELCHIOR: Actually, maybe I am the biggest practical joker. Another time, I had a kissing scene with Dax Griffin, and when we finished, he turned around and my husband was standing there in uniform! Dax was like, "Gasp!" But I still can't top you, huh?
DATTILO: No, I think you have a future!
MELCHIOR: We should get together and swap ideas.
ILUVCLIVE asks: Tracy, if you could play another character on the show, who would it be? Same question Bryan.
DATTILO: I would play John Black, just because he's like eight characters!
MELCHIOR: I would play Benjy, because he works only about four hours a day! And he's always eating ice cream, and he always has a toy to carry! He's got it made.
DATTILO: That little kid took me for $20 in the commissary! He did! That kid's cute! He's got personality for a little kid. Took a 20 right out of my wallet and walked away. I was going to give him a $1 bill, and he grabbed the twenty and walked away!
SODhost: Any final predictions for Saturday's game?
DATTILO: "Predictions? Pain!" You guys see Rocky III? The guy is like, "Predictions? Pain!" Anyway, I know we're going to have like 30 or 50+ runs going on. I don't know how many runs they are going to have -- depends on how many we give them! Don't you guys have like a 20-point run when we start, like a handicap? "It's 20-0 right now!"
MELCHIOR: I think it's going to be pretty close, actually. I think it'll be exciting.
SODhost: Thank you Tracy & Bryan for joining us today! Hope you had fun! Hope you visit again soon!
DATTILO: Thank you!
MELCHIOR: Thanks!
