The Index-Journal from Greenwood, South Carolina • Page 48

Ttm MM-JourfMl. Qwinwod. SC. July 14, IMS TV Mro 4 Busy Rick James kicks drugs, booze I James stable) as support he has made one thing clear to any and all potential staffers. "The law on my tour is this," says the man who once took pride in being the "Superfreak.

"You're wired, you're fired." ation Hospital in Boston, "and I feel the best I've ever felt in my life." James gives talks and conducts rap sessions with drug-prone kids around the country, but adds, "I don't want to sound like a preacher or anything to the people. I just know what drugs and alcohol did to me." As James readies his upcoming Glow tour which will start in August and feature the Mary Janes, the Doo Rags and crooner Val Young (the latest entry in the Furniture Stripping and Ftr finishing fjsetf and Antique urnifurr Craft Collectibles Hwy 246.Cornic-i 223 H347 Mack Janice Collins jy.Nl KS Homt-: 223 8432 Temporary Secretaries, Typing, Word Processing, Answering Service, Copies, Bookkeeping, Payrolls, Adm Services. EXCECUTIVE SERVICES Park Plaza Suite 216- 229-0785 SOAP SCOOP By CONNIE PASSALACQUA For the most part, dictators of South American banana republics enjoy better reputations than executive producers of daytime soap operas. Total authority is vested in these producers, who can kill off a character (thus firing an actor) with a stroke of a pen, or completely change life in his or her soap opera dominion (both in its fictional locale and backstage at the studio) on any kind of whim. Most rule despotically, inspiring fear in their actors and writers, which inevitably surfaces on the screen and subtracts from a show's quality.

Then there's Stephen Schenkel, who became executive producer of "Another World" last fall. He's been described by one of his actresses as a "teddy bear:" He has noticeably improved the show, mostly because his natural warmth encourages backstage cohesiveness, and he believes in personally nurturing his staff and cast. "I like to be supportive," he says. "I like to generate a certain amount of enthusiasm. I love actors and writers and technical people.

And I like to laugh." Schenkel says that most of the factors that have led to the show's improved ratings existed before he took over. "There were well-defined characters, outstanding writers and excellent production values," he explains. "These things were in place but needed to be stimulated. There wasn't a lot of excitement. What really was missing was an adequate story.

We added Gillian Spencer as a By E.A. VARE The Mary Jane Girls had their first top 10 hit with "In My House," and, if you read the fine Erint in the Hot 100, you would ave noticed this line under the title: Produced by Rick James; written by Rick James. That's only one project paying off for the king of punk-funk. Process and the Doo Rags, a doo-wop revival act, are gaining cult status. James' own album, "Glow," is picking up airplay.

James is working on a screenplay for a semi-autobiographical film called "Spice of Life," as well as a vehicle for Teena Marie called "Alice in Ghettoland." He has a line of actionwear clothing bearing his name out in stores. And it all almost killed him. "I was doing the album 'Glow' and I had probably reached the lowest point in my life," admits a low-keyed James. "There was no 'glow' in me, not even the flickering of a match. I wanted to die." The reason, he says, was simple: drugs and alcohol.

"I was never a social drinker or a social drug user," says James. an extremist. Whatever I do, I do to the extreme. Drugs and alcohol became a very bio part of my life, and it just brought me to my knees." It was his overloaded work schedule that led him to overdo a snort of cocaine to wake up, a joint to wind down and at the same time kept him from ever getting it all finished. Now it's full steam ahead on all fronts.

"I haven't had a drink or a drug in three months," says the new graduate of McClean's Rehabili- OAKLAND APTS. HWY. 72, ABBEVILLE, S.C. (Conveniently Located) Stephen Schenkel writer (she also plays Daisy on "All My who's wonderful, and it just coalesced. The writers' energy and commitment to the show began to give it an emotional intensity and some real passion within the characters." Schenkel, a former ABC programming executive who helped develop "Ryan's Hope," is a strong believer in stressing romantic and comedy elements in soap operas.

"AW" is also one of the only soaps with an established group of comic characters, including Wallingford (Brent Collins) and Lily Mason (Jackee Harry). Schenkel raves about the talents of all his actors, and even has something good to say about the Brooklyn location of the show's studio, which most of his Manhattan-oriented staff loathe. "I like the people here. I like to walk down the street and feel their energies," he says. He also violated a soap opera no-noO, inviting actors and writers to the same party.

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