Soap Central Interviews Joe Sernio - All My Children

Feb. 9, 2010 - PRLog -- How did you first learn about the auditions for All My Children?
I didn’t really hear about any auditions on the show it was just one of the shows that I had sent in for before getting called for As The World Turns.. I was going for both the shows at the time. Not sure why but AMC is what I wanted to do… I was very happy I was working especially on a soap but for some reason that was what I wanted. It was “The” show to get on. I remember this one day I was sitting in the dressing room on As The World Turns, when a woman by the name of Sue Henderson approached myself and a few other actors with her mailing labels…It was sort of like the Ross Reports but concentrated a lot more on the TV side of things but more the soaps..I went down to the cafeteria got a water came back up and opened the magazine like paper that I had just purchased and right on the front page was an article about getting onto the top soaps. The first soap in the article.. AMC. From there I just started the normal send out routine just concentrating on the one show. Not to say I didn’t like As The World Turns. I loved it. Great Great cast and the casting directors there are great to work with whether you’re recurring, background or whatever.


What was the audition process like?  Can you describe the process from start to finish?
The process was pretty much like any other audition. You get the call, they send you the sides, you study the sides, you know them front and back, and then once you get there you forget every word..And the ink is almost gone off the sides from your sweaty palms.. Ha-ha.. No it was like any other.  Every actor has their way of preparing for an audition. I prepared my usual way and did the best I can.  I auditioned for As The World Turns, to later book some recurring background work so I had an idea of what I was going in to. But all casting is different in this case I was in and out and felt I did what I could do.  


How did you learn that you had gotten the part?
Funny story…First time I went into ABC studios I was auditioning for a Spanish character… I think it was a cop I don’t remember.. but I couldn’t really pull off the accent the way I wanted to or they wanted me to. So I actually wound up not landing my first audition.. It was the 2nd time I was called in for the orderly where I read for the casting director again.. I left pretty happy.  I received a call about a month later ill never ever forget that call… I was on my way home. It was about 4:30 on the 27th of November. I answered the phone, he says “Joe it’s  bob Lambert  calling from All My Children, I want to book you for some recurring U5 work as an orderly”, I said “Great”, and the greatest 4 words any actor waits to hear “Welcome to the show”


What was your reaction?
At that moment I remember wanting to call him back and have him repeat what he said. I was so nervous I thought I was putting words into my head. I remember thinking “Did he say welcome to the show, or did I just say he said it” or maybe someone else said it in the car next to me and I just overheard them. I was nothing but just happy, very happy. I worked so hard to just get in that door. It was the one show I wanted.  I know it was nothing crazy at the time… Just some work here and there, but being on “The” soap opera it was a dream come true.  


Who was the first person that you told?
Oh this is a good story. I’m a momma’s boy… Who do you think the first person I went to was? I didn’t even call her. I went to her house. she was raking leaves in the backyard I said “Mom, I’m moving to Pine Valley” she replied “How much do you need Joe” She then realized what I was talking about and like every other time I gave her some news she told me how proud she was then asked if I can get her on the show…. After I went to my mom I made a quick stop at the cemetery where my father is. One of the most important people I had in my life passed at a very young age. He was 45. Everything I do big news or little news the two most important people have to know about it ya know.


Is being on a soap something that you’ve always wanted to do – or is it more about being an actor of any kind?
It’s both. I don’t want to say it’s more than the other. The acting I love. I love the craft and admire it. Always did. It’s a giant rush every time I’m doing it. I never really thought of soaps until I started working on them. Now I just don’t want to stop. I think in most projects if given the opportunity or control of the character you can be an actor of any kind. So as much as I love being on the soap and want to continue I still love my projects outside of that to. Given a character of a bad guy or good guy you can make them and shape them into whatever it is they are. Same with the soap you create that character and run with it.


Do you watch any soaps?  What is your first soap opera memory?
If I’m not working on the show I’m working on other projects so I haven’t been around to keep track of the show so I try to catch up when I’m on set. We can watch them film as we are in holding; It’s either that or the view so… If not I get my daily phone calls with my mom’s run down of the day in Pine Valley, well first she asks if I am coming for dinner.  She actually called once screaming about a hospital and someone getting shot, I realized shortly after it was on the show.

My first memory? Hmm. Ok True story. My grandparents owned a bar in Miami Beach a long time ago “The Playhouse Bar” and no it was not a strip bar it was more of a pub.  I remember my grandfather calling and saying that Days of Our Lives had just got done filming a scene at the bar and he was in it… They use to call him Ice Crème Joe around Miami. As we watched sure enough who walks by Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) with a cigar in his mouth… Ice cream Joe. I think he even had a few lines. That was my first memory. I try looking for it on YouTube but no luck. He was quite the character.


As a character that works in the hospital, you tend to be on scene when big and bad things happen. What are some of the scenes that you’ve been involved in or characters that you’ve crossed paths with?
There have been a few crazy moments in Pine Valley Hospital. Some crazier than others, and some that I have watched that I wasn’t there for. One was right when Kendal went in for her heart transplant. I was her nurse at the time. It was actually pretty emotional watching them act that specific scene out. Especially zack (Thorsten Kaye) incredibly talented. Then there’s the argument between JR (Jacob Young) and Ryan (Cameron Mathison) one time. (Also two unbelievable soap actors, they are actually my favorite. There preparation is amazing) I forget what episode it was but JR came storming out of the room and pushed Ryan into the cabinets, that was some pretty good action. And then of course you always have where someone is running down the hallway pushing orderlies and wheel chairs out of the way.. Always something happening.



As a character that pops up from time to time, are you contacted when the show is doing hospital scenes or do you have to re-audition each time?
I don’t have to re-audition I just get a call for the Hospital scenes I am in. Sometimes 2 episodes a day sometimes it’s different, sometimes you have lines sometimes you don’t.  Kind of better that way. I save paper by not sweating the ink off every time I have to audition.


How has your soap opera experience compared to some of the other roles that you’ve done (include any past work that you want to highlight ort anything that you might be working on that hasn’t been seen yet).

To Read The Rest of the interview please visit  http://www.JoeSernio.com