Talk about your ways to get the message out to voters in our upcoming presidential election! Underwear fashion visionary, designer Andrew Christian, and his team put together some of daytime soaps sexiest and fun stars with Christian’s new line of “Obama ’08 Briefs” for a photo shoot to raise awareness for Obama and for soap stars to let their fans know that they are involved, and to support your candidate!

TV SOAP Australia and “Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps” were behind the scenes, getting interviews with the participants as they were going through hair, make-up and wardrobe… and, which “briefs” to wear! We asked each of them why they decided to participate and even got some hot storyline info to boot!

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the briefs is contributed to Obama’s campaign. Log on to www.andrewchristian.com for details!

Check out these just released photos with: “B&B’s” Lesli Kay and Ashley Jones, “DAYS” Blake Berris and Kristen Renton and, “Y&R’s”, Christel Khalil!

TV SOAP:

What made you decide to participate in an “Obama” underwear shoot?

LESLI KAY (Felicia) “B&B”

It has nothing to do with my body, and has everything to do with my political beliefs. I got an email saying it was, “Daytime for Obama” and I am there. My brother works on the Obama campaign in West Virginia, which is kind of an oxymoron. I am from West Virginia. Forever, I have been trying to organize something like that, thinking about those states… Pennsylvania, Ohio…. that we could have some sort of soap event for Obama. There are a lot of soap fans in those states. If they thought for a second it was OK for us to vote for Obama, this could help somebody who is on the fence who wasn’t planning to vote, but now they would. We are on vacation from “B&B” right now…. a three week hiatus. I changed all of my vacation plans around this shoot. This is very important to me that Obama is our next president.

BLAKE BERRIS (Nick) “DAYS”

I wanted to take off my clothes any chance I get. I will do it! (He laughs) No. I am a huge Barack Obama supporter, and I really believe his candidacy and election will be a great departure from the last 8 years with George Bush and Dick Cheney and that administration. I am trying to do whatever I can to help him get elected.

CHRISTEL KHALIL (Lily) “Y&R”

I decided to participate, because to me, it’s really important who are next president is and I really wanted to be part of it to show my support. It’s a way to do it for the fans to see these actors are for this candidate. I know there are a lot of people not out there voting, and I want to show even young people that every vote counts.

ASHLEY JONES (Bridget) “B&B”

I think it’s great whether you want to vote for Obama or McCain to get people thinking about something bigger than just themselves, and our country, and politics. We are actually about to elect the leader of the free world and this is no small feat. I think if one person that is my age or younger that watches “B&B” is aware of what’s going on, that this is worth doing. Especially for Australia too! It’s great for them to be aware. They are an ally of the US, and they always have been. I always like to know what’s going on in their country as well. If this shoot and your article helps them know what’s going on with our country, that is a win!

KRISTEN RENTON (Morgan) “DAYS”

I will tell you what: I feel like our country is at such a cross roads while we try to repair the damage that has been done for the last 8 years, and even more. I feel like Obama is the first candidate I have seen in a while, who has the most tools and things in line, and is ready to start to repair the poor choices we have been making. I feel, if his opponent is the one to succeed, that I honestly feel our country could be doomed.

TV SOAP:

Was it ever a choice between Hillary Clinton and Obama?

LESLI KAY:

I was a 100% Obama fan. If Hillary Clinton was the democratic nominee, of course I would vote for her because I do not want McCain in office, but I would not be wearing her underwear! (She laughs) But with Barack, I said, “I can be half- naked, and you can tattoo his face on my “you-know-what.” I am fine with that. I said, “Are they going to have an “Obama-thong?”

ANDREW CHRISTIAN:

I thought they were both great candidates. I thought it was a really exciting time in our country that we had two such phenomenal candidates running for president.

KRISTEN RENTON:

I had not made the decision between Hillary and Obama, because I was waiting to see how the campaigns had played out and if they stuck to what they originally said they were going to stick with. It’s a win-win situation with both of them. We had a woman who got 18 million votes, and it was not that long ago that women were fighting for the right to vote. It’s a thrilling thing to see that she got that far. Now we are putting this country in the hands of a very strong, well-educated, amazing black man. It says a lot of where we have come. And he is a younger man too. It’s time for a change!

TV SOAP:

Do you like doing photo shoots?

LESLI KAY:

It depends on the cause. If I am at a photo shoot just because, for me, or for headshots, I am not thrilled. But for something like this, or our cast photos at “B&B”… I love that! It’s a camaraderie thing and group effort, and that’s fun. This is easy, and it’s for a great cause.

CHRISTEL KHALIL:

I love doing photo shoots I love getting the cool makeup and the clothes because on “Y&R” you wear the same kind of clothes and have same kind of hair. It’s fun doing a shoot as Christel instead as Lily. I am excited to do this with all the fabulous woman from soaps that are here.

BLAKE BERRIS:

I am not that good at photo shoots. The idea of taking off my clothes was not something I was enthusiastic about, but what I will do for a new president is limitless!

KRISTEN RENTON:

It is a love/hate relationship. My older sister is a model, and I have done photo shoots in the past, especially being on daytime you have lots of photo shoots you have to do. They are very tiring and I am a very self-conscious person. I am just starting to now embrace my body. I have hated the way I looked for a long time. And you know I always felt I was beautiful on the inside… I just didn’t feel it on the inside. Now, I am embracing that.

TV SOAP:

Are you OK with participating in photo shoots being this revealing?

CHRISTEL KHALIL:

I am OK with it being sexy and revealing.

BLAKE BERRIS:

Originally, when they contacted me they said, “We are doing this shoot for “Obama ‘08” and you are going to be in your underwear!” I was like, “OK. All right. I’ll do it!”

I am actually going to wear an “Obama 08” boxer brief, and it’s a little skimpy.

ASHLEY JONES:

I will be honest. I did not know completely what I was signing up to do. I knew it would be something fun and cute and that Andrew was a fashion designer who did men’s underwear. So, I did not know if we would be in jeans or tanks, or what! You saw me in the corner throwing on bronzer and moisturizer. I did not fully know I was going to be in “Obama ‘08” underwear! I had not seen this particular style yet, because this is brand new from him. It’s just now on the market. One of the benefits of being on soap is even though I may not look my best, or my stomach is not that flat or as toned as I would like it to be… I walk around a lot in my underwear with Jack Wagner (Nick, “B&B”) in the same room. So you figure out ways to handle this!

KRISTEN RENTON:

I am going to wear briefs. I want to do the men’s with no top. It could be hot, with my co-stars hands around me (referring to Blake Berris). I have been working out hard core for this thing, and I am going to show it off!

TV SOAP:

Do you think it’s important to encourage young people to get out and vote for Barack?

BLAKE BERRIS:

What’s really important to note about Barack is, among young people, there is all this enthusiasm, and a need to translate into actually votes.

CHRISTEL KHALIL:

Yes. This will be my first time to vote. So, yes…. Lily Winters actually votes!

ASHLEY JONES:

I think it might encourage them to go out and vote. They will think, “She does more than just sit in front of the fire place and talk about her feelings.” (She laughs)

ANDREW CHRISTIAN- Designer

TV SOAP:

Why did you decide to create this “Obama ‘O8” underwear line”?

ANDREW CHRISTIAN:

I really wanted to get everyone in underwear, (He laughs) but to get Barack Obama elected the next president of the United States. He is very naked in his views, and I made the correlation between underwear and his beliefs, and I made the “Obama ‘08” underwear.

TV SOAP:

Was it challenging to put a political figure’s mug on underwear?

ANDREW CHRISTIAN:

It was definitely challenging creating underwear that wasn’t offensive. We put his likeness on the underwear. It has his face, or likeness, on the front and “Obama ‘08” on the back. We are donating all proceeds of the sales of the underwear to the Obama campaign.

TV SOAP:

You are the hot designer in LA, right now. Have you met these soap stars before that participated in your shoot today?

ANDREW CHRISTIAN:

I am the hottest working boy in underwear! (He laughs) I had not met them before. I am usually stuck in the design studio all day long. But they all seem terrific!

TV SOAP:

Have you been to Australia yet?

ANDREW CHRISTIAN:

I have not been to Australia, but it’s on my “to-do” list. We have many Australian customers!

TV SOAP:

As the designer, I am sure you have some points you need to make sure of before the stars hit this US flag backdrop?

ANDREW CHRISTIAN:

I am going to make sure all the designs look really good on them. And, we are going to have fun with the photo shoot. We have the American flag as our backdrop, so it should be fun.

TV SOAP:

What’s the most difficult part of a photo shoot like this?

ANDREW CHRISTIAN:

Just trying to get them comfortable and loosened up.

TV SOAP:

Have you ever thrown anyone out of your shoots because they don’t look right? Would you replace a model?

ANDREW CHRISTIAN:

I almost did. I had a guy show up to a photo shoot once that went out drinking the night before, and ate a bag of pretzels! So he showed up bloated to the photo shoot. So, we had to dehydrate him.

LESLI KAY ON OBAMA AND SOAP WRITERS

TV SOAP:

Is Obama, for you, about change and new blood for our country?

LESLI KAY:

I want new blood in the white house, just like I want new writers in soaps. If somebody didn’t work on three different shows, do you stick them on another show? No. If somebody has failed and failed and failed with their beliefs in office, get rid of them!

TV SOAP:

What do you think about everything that has gone on recently with all the writers leaving, or not-leaving? And what about the Internet rampages, and the people in the industry and the fans disgruntled with the current state of the soap genre… especially the writing aspect?

LESLI KAY:

I will say this. I do believe everybody should get a second, or even third chance, but when you failed three times, three strikes you’re out.! And that’s what I don’t understand. Three people who sunk a ship can move on and do well. Granted, with actors it happens sometimes too. We go from show to show. And sometimes, because one character was a huge success, doesn’t mean you are going to work well on another show. I think, sometimes you find a golden moment in a storyline or in a writing position. For instance, Hogan Sheffer (co-head writer) is at “Y&R”. I think he would have been great on “B&B”. It’s campy. It’s fun! It’s right up his alley and he loves that stuff. I know! He wrote me a ghost story. But, that being said, continuity is important and that’s why I think “B&B”, for better or worse over all these years, has worked because Brad Bell (exec prod and head writer) knows the show and the history of the show. He does stay true to the history of the show because it’s his. I think all soaps need to be reminded that the fans are really into history. They are like, “You can’t fool us!”

CHRISTEL KHALIL ON CANE/LILY STORYLINE

TV SOAP:

How is working with Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe, “Y&R”)? She is really stirring up trouble for your character.

CHRISTEL KHALIL:

I love working with her! She is so fun to work with, and she and I get along really well. I love our whole dynamic as a threesome with Dan Goddard (Cain, “Y&R”). I have fun with it.

TV SOAP:

Have you been pleased and surprised, by the response of the fans, and how they have taken to Cain/Lily?

CHRISTEL KHALIL:

I love the whole Cain/Lily story and whatever the fans like, I like. It’s great to get the fan’s support on storyline. I love that they had taken to it. So many people thought Cane/Lily wasn’t going to work. I thought that, too. It’s so awesome that it had worked out so well. I love it, and I hope they keep telling our story… like a Phyllis and Nick sort of relationship thing.

BLAKE BERRIS ON NICK’S NEW STORYLINE AND THE “DAY’S” HEAD WRITER SITUATION.

TV SOAP:

Does Nick’s have a new storyline on “DAYS”?

BLAKE BERRIS:

I got great new story with Max’s sister. I am exited about working with Molly Burnett. She is a wonderful edition to the cast. I have been back burner for a while, but it’s great to get closer to the center now.

TV SOAP:

With the rumors that broke two weeks ago, how does the Dena Higley (head writer, “DAYS”) in-fighting with “DAYS” and all the commotion going on behind the scenes affected you?

BLAKE BERRIS:

I am always the last to hear about everything. I had not been working enough. And you know 4 or 5 months ago I found out Hogan was not our head writer, and that happened 8 or 9 months ago! (He laughs). So, that shows you how much I know!

KRISTEN RENTON- ON MORGAN’S STORYLINE AND THE “DAYS” HEAD WRITER SITUATION.

TV SOAP:

Where you surprised Morgan lasted this long on “DAYS” after the sorority storyline? You are a now a full-fledged member of the Salem canvas!

KRISTEN RENTON:

First off, I am on contract, and it’s a fantastic story! When Belle and Shawn got let go, I got nervous, because I had not been integrated into the whole storyline yet, and they were doing house cleaning. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t a dust ball! So I wrote my agent who forwarded my email to Ed Scott (exec prod, “DAYS”), which said, “How much I love my job, and I will put all the blood, sweat and tears in everyday there.” They came back with a four-year deal!

TV SOAP:

How is working with Jay Phillip Johnson (Phillip)?

KRISTEN RENTON:

Jay is fantastic! It’s a difficult thing to look at someone that attractive everyday, and I have to make out with him. It’s so hard! Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe) has had sex with Jay on the show, but Morgan and Phillip fell in love and I did not have to put out! Look how good I am!.

TV SOAP:

Why do you think the pairing of Morgan and Phillip works?

KRISTEN RENTON:

I think they found that Morgan challenged Phllip in a way that he has not been challenged before. Everything has been given to Phillip, and it’s been very easy for him to get what he wants. But with Morgan, it’s a cat and mouse game. I think that intrigued him, and it’s like that passive-aggressive thing. I think it could be fun!

TV SOAP:

What was your take on the whole “DAYS” writing scenario?

KRISTEN RENTON:

In my opinion, “DAYS” is a big family and we all want the show to be the best that it can be. Sometimes as an actor, there might be a line that we want to change. We go through the writers and producers to let them know of our idea, but now if somebody is doing something else, I am unaware of it.

TV SOAP:

But has this been distracting for the cast, or fodder for gossip?

KRISTEN RENTON:

I think it’s both! There has been a lot of tension on set. It has gotten to the point, where at times, it’s gotten unbearable and you don’t even know where it’s coming from. You just walk on set and it’s, “Whoa!” But, when you are trying to make the show the best you can make it be, you are going to find moments like that and it comes with the territory.