Leisure Time Soap-opera veterans help fuel Lifetime’s latest V.C. Andrews movies Kristian Alfonso stars in the V.C. Andrews- inspired fi lms “All That Glitters” and “Hidden Jewel,” Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28, on Lifetime. MARCH 14-20, 2021 A News West Publishing Co. Publication 2 LEISURE TIME COVER STORY Soap-opera veterans help fuel Lifetime’s latest V.C. Andrews movies If you’re playing a heroine enduring twin sister Karina Banno portrays Ruby’s how many others were: “When people plenty of troubles, it’s fitting to be pit- hateful sibling) faces off against her asked why I was leaving town and which ted against daytime-drama icons whose stern stepmother Daphne (Bell) while project I was for,” she says, “as soon as characters have had their own problems. forcibly separated from her high school I mentioned (Andrews’ book) ‘Flowers in Two such actresses — “The Young sweetheart Paul (Sam Duke). The last the Attic,’ everyone was like, ‘Oh, yes! and the Restless” staple Lauralee Bell two stories, “All That Glitters” (Saturday, Of course!’ and Kristian Alfonso, who ended her March 27) and “Hidden Jewel” (Sunday, “Since I grew up in a television fam- long “Days of Our Lives” tenure last year March 28), feature Alfonso as Paul’s ily, we were always watching televi- — have prominent roles in Lifetime’s domineering mother Gladys ... who sion,” Bell notes, “I had the book, but I latest movies based on bestsellers by threatens to use a secret against Ruby was just not a great reader.” Once Bell V.C. Andrews about several generations just as the latter thinks she’s finally became familiar with Andrews’ Daphne, of multiple families. The four new films found happiness. she immediately embraced the part: will run over two consecutive weekends, Now recurring as lawyer Christine “She’s so different from anyone else I’ve forming a virtual miniseries. Blair on CBS’ “The Young and the played. Once you see her high hairdo In “Ruby” (Saturday, March 20) and Restless” (created by her parents) and the clothes, you get a sense of what “Pearl in the Mist” (Sunday, March 21) after starting on it in 1983, Bell admits this woman is about.” Louisiana-bayou-bred Ruby Landry she wasn’t fully familiar with novelist Similarly, in the first job she did after (played by Raechelle Banno, whose Andrews, but she quickly discovered leaving her iconic NBC “Days of Our Renee Fleming opens another ‘Great Performances’ showcase for opera greats Since so many avenues for us,” Fleming says, “and the fact ertoire that I enjoy to sing. I was artistic advisor to Washington’s the arts have been closed for the that they were able to find his- especially happy with how this John F. Kennedy Center for the past year, Renee Fleming is glad toric halls and unusual venues (show) turned out, but there was Performing Arts. She appreci- television is bringing her back to makes it even more interest- a lot of tweaking along the way.” ates having such duties after the the business of opera. ing, I think.” As for her “Great Fleming maintains that making coronavirus pandemic sidelined The internationally celebrated, Performances” site, “Stravinsky her musical selections can be a part-American, part-European much-honored soprano offers a had a relationship with the (own- even tougher when she’s on tour: 2020 recital tour she says she concert that opens Season 15 ing) family,” Fleming notes, “and “I might be in a major capital was looking forward to greatly, of PBS’ “Great Performances at his pieces were composed there where people hear music every but she sang for dignitaries at an the Met” franchise Friday, March and premiered there. That gives day, so they want something event preceding January’s presi- 19 (check local listings). Fleming it a musical history in addition to challenging or unusual. And then, dential inauguration. performs works by composers the Washington history.” I might be someplace where they “This whole past year including Puccini, Massenet, While she’s grateful to have rarely get to hear anything, and has been so devastating for Handel and Korngold at the PBS showcase, Fleming I want to bring my ‘greatest hits.’ our industry,” reflects 2018 Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, allows that choosing music for Balancing the two, and making “Carousel” Tony Award nominee D.C., launching the latest round it was “a nightmare. I’m looking sure everything is to my stan- Fleming, who intends to release of the series-within-a-series that to provide an experience that dard, is always a challenge.” a new album in the near future. will present a total of 12 new pro- reaches as many people as pos- Valentine’s Day-birthday cel- “That The Met can do an entire grams this season (all hosted by sible, so a little bit of something ebrant Fleming has stayed busy series like this (PBS program) fellow soprano Christine Goerke). for everyone is typically in my with such activities as hosting and have it packaged so gor- “All of these places are rela- planning ... but it also has to be the online interview series “Music geously, it’s a privilege to be part tively close to home for each of comfortable for me, with a rep- and Mind Live,” and serving as of it.” LEISURE TIME 3 CROSSWORD WEB LINKS Beyonce leads the pack with nine nomi- nations — including Record of the Year Lives” role as Hope Brady, Alfonso and Song of the Year — as comic Trevor found plenty to appreciate about her Noah takes the stage for the first time to Andrews character. Affirming “it’s a host The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards Sunday on CBS. Find the full list of those complete departure” for her, she deems competing for hardware at www.grammy. Gladys “really interesting and complex, com and I thought it could be so much fun. I felt like I was part of a family from the Host Elizabeth Vargas breaks down cases and consults with a team of moment I stepped on the set.” experts representing law enforcement Since Lifetime’s initial Andrews-based units, while viewers at home have an movies have repeated successfully, opportunity to be armchair detectives the new group also is likely to have by aiding in the pursuit of justice and tracking down culprits, in the reboot many more showings in years to come. of “America’s Most Wanted,” opening Though she had to quarantine for two Monday on Fox. Get a look at www.you- weeks before she could film in Canada, tube.com/watch?v97BN5HjIfLA Alfonso liked having so much prep time. Tragedy turns to into a love story when “They put all my scenes together, so I Erica, a mother of seven, and Spencer, a shot for four full days. It went by so fast, father of four, both widowed, marry each because I was so busy.” other and try to turn their individual fami- lies into a cohesive unit in “The Blended Bunch,” premiering Tuesday on TLC. Watch the preview at www.youtube.com/ watch?vGSdROStITnU WHAT'S ON Contractor Mike Holmes and children Sunday Sherry and Michael tackle projects Ellen DeGeneres hosts as contestants play for a cash and surprise deserving individuals who prize on “Ellen’s Game of Games” Sunday on NBC. are making positive impacts in their communities in the launch of “Holmes Monday Family Effect” Tuesday on Fox. Check Pike and Bishop (Ashley Walters, left, and Noel Clarke) out the teaser at www.youtube.com/ head for a break in South Africa only to be drawn into watch?v789R0tRmtCU another case in “Bulletproof” Monday on The CW. Scott faces some big decisions about his Tuesday relationship while Kim prepares for a test that will determine her career as a lawyer Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins face off as “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” against the Boston Bruins Tuesday on NBC Sportsnet. opens its 20th and final season Thursday on E! Get your first look at what’s to Wednesday come before the final curtain at www.eon- A big announcement forces Toni (Vanessa Morgan) line.com/shows/kardashians and the gang to examine their lives in “Riverdale” Wednesday on The CW. Families that need to clear the clutter out of their homes or downsize call on Thursday a group of appraisers and host Lara A singleton (Mayim Bialik) opens a cat cafe in Spencer (“Good Morning America,” “Flea Louisville, Ky., in “Call Me Kat” Thursday on Fox. Market Flip”) to help them cash in on hidden treasures hiding in plain sight in Friday “Everything But the House,” dropping Weight loss gives June Shannon a new life on “Mama Friday on HGTV. Learn more at www. June: From Not to Hot” Friday on WE tv. hgtv.com/shows/everything-but-the-house Leisure Time is published every Sunday by the Mohave Valley Daily News/Booster, 2435 Miracle Mile, P.O. Box 21209, Bullhead City, Arizona 86439. Phone: (928) 763-2505; Fax: (928) 763-7820. ©2020 News West Publishing Co. 4 LEISURE TIME SUNDAY MORNING MARCH 14, 2021 A=SuddenLink B=CMA C=Davis Dam Translator D=Oatman Translator (Digital Only) E=Ft. 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