FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Byrne & Hapka

We Love Soaps is introducing a new weekly column, "First Impressions," where we will take a look at the significant new characters that debuted during the week and share our thoughts. It will be interesting to see over time if the first impressions were on the money or way off base. Please let us know if you agree or disagree.

For the inaugural "First Impressions" column, Michael Goldberg and I take a look at Martha Byrne's new role as Andrea Floyd on GENERAL HOSPITAL and Mark Hapka's debut as Nathan Horton on DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

GENERAL HOSPITAL's Andrea Floyd (Martha Byrne)
GOLDBERG: Emmy winner Martha Byrne is loved for her long term run as Lily Snyder on AS THE WORLD TURNS. Her departure upset many and we all wondered what it would mean for ATWT and where Byrne would end up next. Fans of Byrne want what is best for her. Selfishly though, we want her on our television screens. This week on GENERAL HOSPITAL, she debuted as Andrea Floyd, the mayor's wife. When you cast an actress with the chops of Byrne, you expect to see her succeed immediately. I wasn't worried how well Byrne would do in the role, but was more worried about much I would miss her as Lily. I needen't have worried. While Lily was passionate, souful, and many times weepy, Andrea Floyd is the complete opposite. This is a lady who is in control and carefully considers every word that comes out of her mouth. When Patrick Drake asked if Andrea was family of the dead woman, Brianna Hughes (her husband's mistress who was found murdered) Byrnes' line delivery was perfect. Icy and full of venom, Andrea responded, "Hardly, but my husband might give you a different answer. That woman, that VIPER, she is going to ruin my life beyond the grave and I have to stop her." She wrung up a sufficient amount of pathos while still remaining cold and calulating while talking about how Briana's death has affected her. "You must know what people say about women like me. the frigid wife who couldn't satisfy her man, who got what she deserved. I didn't do anything but support my husband's career. Why should should I be punished!" Finally, her scenes with John Bolger's Mayor Garrett Floyd were completely on point. Andrea showed who wears the pants in the family. She told Garrett, "If you would like to remain in office, I think you should shut up and let me do the talking." This is definitely not Lily Snyder and Byrne is playing her new role to perfection. One wonders if Andrea has a genuine bone in her body, and yet somehow you feel sorry for the woman who is trapped in this political nightmare. Byrne can play it all and I look forward to seeing her shine on GENERAL HOSPITAL.

NEWCOMB: I loved Martha Byrne's debut on GENERAL HOSPITAL as Andrea. "I'm surprised you don't recognize me," a surprised Andrea said to Patrick. Byrne's signature role, Lily Walsh Snyder on AS THE WORLD, was a very rich but very down to earth woman who let her many passions cloud her judgment which lead her into all kinds of troubling situations. Later she played Lily's over-the-top twin sister, Rose, from Jersey. Seeing her as an uptight, never-let-her-feelings-show, maybe even snooty Mayor's wife was a little jarring at first, but Byrne owned it. Andrea told Patrick she wasn't made of stone, and she did reveal a tiny bit of vulnerability, but Andrea seems like a woman who knows what she wants and takes whatever actions are necessary to make it happen. Andrea is very aware of the the Port Charles resident's perceptions of her, and doesn't necessarily like them, but enjoys her prominent position in the publicy eye enough to deal. I loved it when Andrea told her husband to shut up and let her doing the talking. Soaps needs more strong women and Andrea Floyd is a welcome addition.



DAYS OF OUR LIVES' Nathan Horton (Mark Hapka)
GOLDBERG: For better or for worse, DAYS OF OUR LIVES has a reputation for casting young actors whose pecs are their biggest asset. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a nice set of pecs and wouldn't turn them away! But when the casting call came out for a younger leading man to play opposite Molly Burnett's Melanie, many were concerned. Would we have another Austin Peck on our hands? No offense to Peck, who certainly improved over the years on DAYS and has found success on AS THE WORLD TURNS as Brad, but to say he was a little rusty his first couple of months on DAYS would be kind. Thankfully, with Mark Hapka in the role of Nathan, it looks like we may have lucked out. As a long time fan of DAYS and the first family of Salem, the Hortons, I was happy to learn that Hapka had been cast as Nathan Horton, Maggie's grandson. In his first three episodes, Hapka has come across really well. His Nathan so far is confident, funny, and flirtatious. He is playing the scenes as written, but one gets the sense he may be bringing his own personality into the role, always a good thing as the writers figure out where they want the character to go. When Nathan told Melanie, "You know, you're pretty, but you're a real idiot," he said it with a sly grin and a voice that oozed charisma. He is bringing palpable heat and charm to a role that could easily be very one note. To be fair, he was right about Melanie! Also, there isn't any denying that Hapka is easy on the eyes, and at the end of his first episode, we did indeed see his pecs. I can report they were a sight to behold. Would DAYS hire anyone and not exploit their assets? It will be interesting to learn about Nathan's back story in the months to come. Is he Pete and Melissa's son? With DAYS focusing more on family, what will Nathan's relationship with Grandma Maggie be like? And will Nathan and Melanie create some heat this summer? Hapka seems up to the challenge and I will be watching to see how he develops in the role and how many days this summer he ends up shirtless. Let the drinking games begin!

NEWCOMB: Melanie took an instant liking to Nathan when she bumped into him (literally) at the University Hospital. Mark Hapka's first day at Nathan didn't reveal too much of the character's personality, but by the end of that episode and half the next, a lot more was revealed - like much of Hapka's body. Melanie returned to Maggie's and found a shirtless Nathan there. I'll look past the fact that the end of Wednesday's show was repeated on Thursday but had different dialogue. Melanie had no idea Nathan was Maggie's grandson, and the two of them shared a classic soap super couple combative exchange. No new ground was broken there, but Hapka displayed a lot of charisma on camera and the two actors worked well together. It was a bit odd they talked for so long before his identity was revealed but I can overlook that. Nathan is obviously attractive, and knows it. Hapka gives his med student character the right amount of cockiness without going too far, making him likeable so far. This was a promising debut.



Check back next weekend when we share our thoughts on Casey Diedrick 's first full week as Chad on DAYS OF OUR LIVES and the debut of Michael Muhney as Adam on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.