Soap Alum Michael Damian Talks His New Hallmark Film, A Potential Return to Y&R, and Much More! Check it out here ---->>>
Soap Opera News had the wonderful opportunity to chat with the multi-talented Michael Damian about his latest project Christmas Waltz, a possible return to The Young and the Restless, and much more!
We were especially excited to talk with Michael since his film High Strung Free Dance landed on the trending page on Netflix! “Yeah, that’s pretty exciting! Netflix is such a huge broadcaster and it’s exciting that millions get to see it,” he expressed. With the film getting so much attention we had to ask if he and his collaborator - and wife, Janeen had any plans for a third film in the High Strung series. “We’re always open to that idea. We just have to see how it all plays out. Hopefully, we’ll have some good news and make a third one. That would be fantastic!”
While he is currently riding the wave of success for his earlier project, he has his eyes set on the future with the release of his latest Hallmark movie, Christmas Waltz! It will star Lacey Chabert and will be released as part of the network’s iconic Christmas lineup. “I love the holidays and Christmas. Janeen and I have written A Princess For Christmas, A Royal Christmas, and Crown For Christmas. What could be more fitting than the Christmas Waltz,” Damian said. “It’s a very special story and filled with magic, romance, and Christmas. I really hope everyone loves it.”
It certainly seems that Michael always has a project in the works and that hasn’t changed during the quarantine. He has been recently hosting a throwback radio show. “My brother, who has started the Real Hit Radio Network. There are several different stations that he has and I picked up the Las Vegas station. I just thought it would be really fun to play some of my favorite 80s and 90s music and talk to some of the stars I know. I’ve even mixed in some actors. I had Nancy McKeon from The Facts of Life because I played a character on the show. That’s really fun to relive some great times in music. And it helps me reconnect and stay close to music.”
Of course, as soap fans, we had to ask Michael about a potential return to The Young and the Restless after a recent article surfaced stating he was in talks to return to the CBS soap. “I don’t have a definite plan but I do know that the door is open,” he shared with us. “They’ve asked me to come back before for different events and I was not in the country because as a director I’ve been shooting all over the world. As I’ve told producers if I’m in LA and you want to have me come into Genoa City, absolutely! Let’s do it.”
Michael shared his dream return would include his friends - and favorite co-stars. “It would be fun for Danny, Phyllis, Paul, Cricket, Lauren, and Traci to get together. Maybe we’re stuck somewhere in a hotel during a hurricane and we all kind of get together and talk about great times and we could flashback to them!”
The appeal of a return has certainly been hovering for him and fans alike since the airing of classic Y&R episodes during the production shutdown. “It’s been incredible. I’m so thankful that The Young and the Restless has been running those retro shows. It inspired me to do an Instagram Live with Lauralee [Bell] when they played the Hawaiian wedding. We did a whole commentary behind-the-scenes while that was running, and I did the same thing with Tracey Bregman and Beth Maitland. So, it’s really been fun reliving those moments, and reminiscing with all of us together has been incredibly enjoyable.”
He expressed how blessed he is to have these iconic memories in soap history that are still so beloved by viewers decades later. “I had no idea! You know, when I signed my first contract with the show I was seventeen years old and I was only going to be on the show for three months during the summer.” That 3-month recurring role would turn into a fan-favorite character that was on the canvas for eighteen years, with several returns over the years. “It was really almost surreal to me. At the time it was kind of art imitating life and vice versa,” he recalled about how the soap paralleled the career highs in his life. “When I had a number one record with “Rock On’ so did Danny Romalotti. When I was on Broadway playing Joseph so was my character. And when I was on tour my character was on tour too.”
It’s lovely to see someone of Michael’s caliber so focused on everything he does and when we asked him what is next for him he had this to say. “My goal is to constantly learn and grow and push myself to step out of my comfort zone. To really see what’s out there and not become complacent. I think I’ve always been that way. I've just never intellectualized it. I love to do stuff that inspires people and brings a smile to their faces. That’s in part why I think that I was put on this Earth. So, I’m really fortunate and I hope I can continue to do that.”
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