Hillary B. Smith (Nora, OLTL)
“I play a lot of paddle tennis. When you play a sport outside, especially in the winter, you really burn a lot of calories. Some mornings we have to put the heaters on to get the frost off the court. Recently, I got down to my T-shirt and sweatpants playing. I’ll play for three hours. For my cardio workout, I try to do a sport. That makes it much more fun than just getting on a treadmill or trying to trudge through the rain. In the summer it’s easier. We’re into health in our family right now. We need to take good care of ourselves and be more mindful of our health, so we’re eating healthy and we’re all working out.
-Soap Opera Weekly, 02-06-07
By: Denise Balcarcel
If you could play Head Writer for just one day, what story would you choose to tell? Would you turn back the clock, speed into the future or simply reshape the present? Would you reunite your favorite couple, create an outlandish fantasy, or change a character’s persona entirely? If you had only one day to tell your story, what would it be? This month, otherwise known as “Fan February”, is very familiar to ABC Daytime fans. I thought it only fitting to celebrate the month by asking some fans for their answers to the following question: If you had just one day to write for Hillary and Nora’s character, what would that story be? Surprisingly, and judging by the early feedback I received, this task proved much more difficult than it seemed. Perhaps that is because we have craved Hillary and missed seeing her onscreen so desperately. Or perhaps it is because we questioned whether fan input still matters, and stopped thinking about what we, as fans, wished to see. 2007 may truly prove to be the year of the fan, as the year certainly commenced on a high note with the news of Hillary’s new contract. This is the time to tap into our creativity and put these ideas to paper, because fan input counts more now than ever before. We are finally able to shape Nora’s future, and our suggestions and ideas might very well redefine the essence of Nora’s character and OLTL as a whole. Now is the perfect opportunity to gather those thoughts and run with them in our correspondence. Here are some of these ideas, graciously written and submitted by fans, for our version of “Fan February.”
Beth from IN: “I would write a family fantasy for Bo, Nora and Matthew. I’d have the three of them spend the day together – maybe start out at a picnic, and just have an entire day of family interaction. I guess in that regard, I would turn back time, because I just miss seeing these three together as a family. Bo and Nora’s marriage dissolved by the time Matthew was old enough to have his own identity and personality, and if I could have just one day with all three of them together and happy, I’d be in heaven. It would be so interesting to see Matthew interface with his parents on a mature level, because Eddie Alderson has grown so much over the past few years, and so has his character.” Carrie from TX: “I would bring back Hank, Rachel and Susannah, add RJ and Matthew, and have an entire episode devoted to Nora spending time with her family. If not for a holiday, then just a family reunion of sorts, but we haven’t seen all these characters together in so long. There’s so much history and emotion there, and losing Hank and Rachel from the canvas was a huge loss, both for Nora’s character and for the show. Nora needs her family, and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be an active part of her life right now. So I would write an episode just devoted to her and her family and think it would be wonderful to watch them together again.” Juliana from CA: “I would write a huge holiday gathering, such as Thanksgiving, and have Nora be at the center of this get together. Though I only started watching the show back in 1999, I’ve read up on the history and been fortunate enough to watch my mother’s old tapes of the show. What strikes me is how Nora’s presence just energizes a room, much like Hillary’s presence energizes her fans. It just seems that whenever she is present onscreen, everything and everyone around her is so vibrant and alive. I would write a huge Thanksgiving get together at Asa’s mansion that featured the whole Buchanan clan. I’d love to see these characters that once shared so much history together again, interacting years later, after all that transpired between them.”
Julie from MN: “I would write an episode that had Nora and Viki reconnect. It’s been how many years since they’ve spoken or spent quality time together? These two women are best friends, and Hillary and Erika always worked so well together. I really want to see these two back in each other’s worlds. They’re supposed to be best friends – and they were virtually family – and yet we never see them together. I would have them spend the day together and have a touching heart-to-heart about all the parallels in their lives. These two really need to connect again in a huge way!” Katherine from NC: “I know this probably sounds odd, but I would write an entire episode that ran tons of flashbacks of Nora’s life. There are so many newer, younger fans of the show, and a lot of these people missed Hillary’s early years. So I would write a retrospective where Nora was sitting, having a cup of coffee or what have you, and show her reflecting on the past. Then I would run the best flashbacks from past episodes that really chronicle her life and the major events that happened. I wouldn’t write it with the intention of focusing on the past, but rather I’d use these flashback scenes to bring all this rich history to the forefront. This way, newer fans would be able to see the amazing life this character has had, and really appreciate Hillary’s early work – and it would help those of us who have been watching for a long time but may have forgotten some of the past!” Lauren from WI: “I would have to write a huge Nora-Lindsay showdown! I still watch reruns of the food fight from years ago and laugh hysterically. I’m always thrilled to watch Hillary and Catherine Hickland square off onscreen, and it’s so obvious how much these two women enjoy and respect each other in real life. This really comes across to the viewer and makes any scene just click. I have always enjoyed watching these two characters go at it, and it doesn’t matter what they’re arguing about (though it’s usually a man), so I’ll take the action any way I can get it. I would definitely write another large scale blowout between these two, and happily sit back and watch the fireworks!”
Nancy from HI: “I really want to see some mother and son time between Nora and Matthew. She missed so much of his life last year, and the viewers missed out on their relationship at the same time. So I would write an episode where Nora and Matt had the chance to bond on a deeper level. He isn’t a little boy anymore; he’s a young man, and because of this, his relationship with his mother is going to change just like it would between real life mothers and their sons. I think their relationship is really special, and we don’t see nearly enough of it.” Rosemarie from AZ: “I would write something completely outrageous and do a romantic fantasy where Nora was forced to choose between the men in her past. I always thought it would be hysterically funny if all of these men were present and active in her life at the same time. Could you imagine? After all the trauma and conflict she went through last year, I would have a whole day where the focus was just about her and no one else. She’s spent so much of her time and energy on other people that I would love to create a day where all the men in her life could come together and realize just how amazing this woman is, and make them rethink any past transgressions and regret ever letting her go!” Staci from NJ: “I would have Nora try the case of the century, and go up against Evangeline in the courtroom. I always thought Hillary and Renee shared tons of chemistry, and I would love to see their characters face off in the courtroom on opposite sides of the table. Hillary is incredible with those trial scenes, and it’s been a long time since Nora has had an all-out battle in the courtroom. We missed an opportunity with the Todd trial, but I think it would be amazing if Evangeline was defense attorney for someone that both she and Nora shared a connection with, and if Nora was forced to prosecute that person. So I would have both characters face off in court, with Nora giving the interrogation of the year!”
What I found most interesting about these fan submissions is that all are fundamental thoughts and incorporate the history of Nora’s character that we yearn to see. The following common themes are emphasized: reconnecting Nora with family and friends, exploring her past relationships (both romantic and otherwise), emphasizing her career and how the legal realm figures so prominently into Nora’s essence of being, and reflecting upon the years of joy and character growth that Hillary has brought to each of us. As Hillary begins her new contract term, and as Nora obtains a second lease on life, these are the kinds of ideas that will strengthen and deepen our correspondence in support of her. Fans offer the richest wealth of history, because unlike teams of writers that come and go, we are steadfast and consistent. We remember details that others easily forget or deem unimportant, and we refuse to allow these characteristics to be lost with the passage of time. As fans, we are meticulous record keepers, because our recollection of history and our refusal to allow it to be forgotten trumps all. While it may have seemed as though the significance of fan input dwindled, the fact that we secured Hillary for four more years changes the landscape entirely. Just as fan cries were heard and answered, our contribution and importance to the medium were subsequently restored. Now is the time to capitalize upon the opportunity to tell our stories through an individual lens. This is when writing for a day truly becomes writing for a lifetime, shaping the future of Nora’s character, OLTL and the daytime medium for generations to come.
Many soap couples don't survive long enough to celebrate their first Anniversary. But ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Bo (Robert S. Woods) and Nora (Hillary B. Smith) accomplished the unthinkable: Not only have they stayed married, they've been faithful to each other! Here's their account of life and love in the rollicking Buchanan family.
1992
Nora Gannon came to Llanview intent on convincing her dropout daughter to return to college in Chicago. Rachel (then Ellen Bethea) was happily living with her dad, so Nora went to plan B: She moved to town. "I was working as a partner in a big law firm in Chicago," recalls Smith. "I had a friend who had a law firm in Llanview. He needed a partner and I said, 'I'd love to buy into your firm.' So I bought in and the next thing you know, he wasn't on the show anymore."
When Bo and Nora first met at Llanview Hospital, it wasn't exactly love at first sight. "We were throwing little zingers back and forth," recalls Woods. "But you know," the actor grins, "as soon as [a man and woman] start making snide remarks to one another, they're going to end up in the sack." A tragedy in Bo's life drew the duo closer. "Sarah [Grace Phillips] and I were about to get remarried and then she died in a car crash," recalls Woods. "Nora and I were together a lot, trying to find the answers to who was responsible. That was part of the building block of the relationship
1993
A grieving Bo tried to fight his attraction to Nora, but his heart won out. "At Sarah's grave," says Woods, "I kissed Nora and then I said, 'Get out of here!' Smith recalls the next scene: "I was with Rachel and I said, 'I'm gonzo over him, and he's still hung up on his [dead] wife.'"
Early in their relationship, Nora and Bo celebrated Mardi Gras at the Palace Hotel. "Bo bought the costumes for us to wear," Hillary remembers. You can't help but associate popcorn, old movies, rock 'n' roll, and, of course, dancing with Bo and Nora. They even jitterbugged at a local dance contest. "The dancing stuff was hard," sighs Woods. "Not the fooling around dancing, but when they have a choreographer come in and we're trying to learn all this stuff - it's not as much fun as you might think. [Hillary and I] were both covered in Tiger Balm, because we were so sore from doing all the lifts and ups and downs."
That summer, Nora moved in with Bo. Three months later, he was about to propose when she admitted that she might have killed Sarah. "Nora was driving to the airport and had been having migraines," Smith recalls. "She passed out on the same stretch of road where [Sarah] was forced off." It turned out a drunk driver was the guilty party. In October, Bo proposed to Nora, who said yes! Their troubles weren't over. Nora was diagnosed as having a malignant brain tumor and needed surgery. She reluctantly opted to go under the knife, but didn't inform Bo. "I was in the hospital," says Smith, "and he came there and found out that Hank and Rachel knew." Woods remembers, "I got mad at them, because she was unconscious."
It's the little things that set Bo and Nora apart from standard soap couples. "I thought our first love scene was pretty romantic," offers Woods. "Also the time when you filled the house with flowers," Smith chimes in. Woods agrees: "That was probably the most romantic. We ended up singing 'My Girl' and using the flowers as microphones."
1994
Some of our best scenes were when the show couldn't commit to a storyline because Hillary was working on the primetime TV show [SOMETHING WILDER]," notes Woods. "They would write [dialogue] that wouldn't move the plot. There was one scene about Hillary's hair - Bo didn't recognize right off the bat that she had cut her hair. It ended up being this funny, little bantering scene. Just a slice of life."
1995
Fearing Bo would find out from R.J. (Timothy D. Stickney) that she'd had an affair with him while she was married to Hank, Nora confessed her infidelity to Bo. "I said [at a fan event], Bo will probably say, 'Oh, that's okay hon, I still love you,'" says Woods. And he did, though the actor would have preferred a different scenario. Love and marriage don't always go hand-in-hand. But Bo and Nora's friends - Max, Luna, Hank and Sheila (aka the wedding police) disagreed.
"The wedding police wanted us to get married," chuckles Woods. "They went out and bought Nora's dress, rented my tuxedo and bought the flowers. They did everything." They even threw an engagement party featuring the Singing Norettes - Jessica, Sheila, Tina and Renee.
Bo and Nora walked down the aisle, but when it came time to say, 'I do,' they didn't. Unwilling to tie the knot in a traditional ceremony, the couple were on their way out of the church when they heard a yell from Little Richard. "We were like 'Yes, this is what we wanted. A rock 'n' roll wedding,'" Woods smiles, "I grew up listening to his music. I always loved Little Richard. It was the first time I met him. That was a fun day."
1996
The Buchanans and Gannons celebrated Rosh Hashanah together, but what happened behind the scenes was even more memorable. "It was 'Watch Nathan eat dinner,'" laughs Smith. "He thought he went to a real banquet," cracks Woods. "He was eating like he was going to the chair. [In between takes, he'd yell], 'I need more roast beef over here!'"
After Bo was gunned down by one of Carlo's henchmen and lay in a coma, Nora kept a bedside vigil and bonded with her curmudgeonly father-in-law, Asa. "Asa and Nora have always been combative," notes Smith. "He never remembers Nora's name. He calls me 'her' or 'that lady lawyer of yours.' But when Bo was shot and in the hospital, he came in and actually put his arms around me and comforted me. And that wasn't in the script. That comes from the character relationship and the actor relationship." Woods wasn't as moved. "I didn't hear any of that," he laughs. "In order to hold real still and look comatose, I wore earplugs. I'd fall asleep and start snoring. They almost had to cut a couple of times." What's it like working with Smith? "It's easy," Woods praises. "I think our stuff is always natural and believable." Recalling their first kiss, Smith laughs. "I was so excited that I got to kiss Robert S. Woods. I watched him before I was on the show - I was a fan! There's no one better to play with than Bob. He's one of the best."
