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North Shore soap shoot

'All My Children' in Port Washington

BY ROBERT KAHN | robert.kahn@newsday.com

June 10, 2008

CHECK IT OUT

Scenes from today's episode of the ABC soap "All My Children" (1 p.m., Ch. 7) were filmed at the Port Washington Yacht Club (re-christened the "Pine Valley Yacht Club").

WHY PORT WASHINGTON

The yacht club was selected from more than a dozen clubs scouted by producers because of similarities it shared with the studio set of Pine Valley Yacht Club interiors (the show is set in the fictional Pine Valley, Pa.). The North Shore retreat has outdoor fencing similar to the kind depicted in a "terrace cafe" that is part of the show's regular Manhattan set.

"There are things here that we couldn't have onstage that help us expand our environment," said "AMC" producer Julie Hanan Carruthers.

Yacht club general manager Pasquale Veneziano said "AMC" cast and crew were working primarily on Mondays, when the venue is closed, to avoid displacing members. The crew also was taking lunch at 10:30 a.m. to skirt conflicts with tennis club clinic schedules.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE

The story line evolving since last winter arrives at a semi-painful juncture today, when former stepsisters and avowed "frenemies" Kendall Slater (Alicia Minshew) and Greenlee Smythe (Rebecca Budig) engage in a tennis match that turns bruising.

THE BACKSTORY

Kendall and Greenlee have a lengthy, love-hate history of catfights, sniping and rolling around the floor of their shared workplace covered in lotion - don't ask. Kendall is the daughter of Erica Kane, the legendary vixen played by Garden City's Susan Lucci.

This winter, Greenlee became trapped in an abandoned bomb shelter with Kendall's husband, Zach. Kendall set out to try to find the missing duo, joined by Greenlee's then-fiance, Aidan. In the course of their hunt -- wait for it -- Kendall and Aidan found comfort in each other's arms.

Greenlee later learned of her ex-stepsister's illicit encounter. Tensions related to that momentary indiscretion get the better of them in Tuesday's tennis match.

COMING UP

Other scenes taped at the yacht club include a picnic between actors Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams, daytime TV's first black supercouple. Scheduled to air Tuesday.