mickey7453 asks:Tom, if you could have played any other role, what would you have chosen?
Tom: Never! Never! Never! Never! Never did I want to play another role other than Jake. Not one second of one day did I ever want to play another character other than Jake.

JuuYa asks: What would have been your ideal ending for AW?
Tom: I've done over 35 raido interviews today and I have been on live tv six times today. That is the biggest question today. For an actor to sum it up in one hour is an impossible task. They couldn't make everyone happy. They did the best they could. It would be impossible to have done justice to the show, but I think that they did the best that could be done.

NKracala asks: Tom - besides your boat and your plane, what other toys do you have?
Tom: I don't have time for many more. I have the motorcycle and the cars.

NONAME9270 asks: Tom: what's your favorite memory from the Jake/Paulina days??
Tom: Everything. I'll confide it now, but for years they told me that I was not funny. The fans told me they laughed. Judy Evans held my hand and showed me how it could be funny. She was the foundation of the work that I do to this day.

nik_elaine asks: How do you think Jake is going to handle being the father of twins?
Tom: I think that he is going to love it./

cooldude744 asks: Tom, the best and most remembered scene was when you cried (gushing tears) when you needed to borrow money from Vicki to pay off the lonesharks...I cried my eyes out with you...absolutely the best...!!! Good luck in Oakdale...Say hi to Lila & Cass for me...
Tom: Thank you cooldude! 744!
Tom: I hope they continue that same kind of drama in Oakdale.

Dana10199 asks: Did you watch the last scene with Vicky Wyndham?
Tom: I was standing right there. Usually we tape a show and there are 35-40 crew members. When Vicky played they last scene out, there were 300 people. Vicky played it like she would if there wasn't anyone in the house. She has more class in her little finger than most people have in their body.

worldlove80 asks: I love AW. What advice would you give to an aspiring actress?
Tom: If they have any regional theater it is the best place to start.

amegra asks: Out of Anne, Ellen, and Jensen, who was your favorite Vicky/Marley to act with?
Tom: That is a horrible question!
Tom: How can you pick from the three greatest actors that have every played daytime tv? I have no reason to tell you anything but the truth. You are talking about Emmy winners! There is no way to pick. I love them all so much. I did marry one, and would have married the other two, if they would have had me.

mystic_cda_61 asks: How long were you married to Ellen Wheeler?
Tom: Not long enough.

AW_JV4ever asks: Tom, would you ever consider working on a sitcom or an evening drama?
Tom: I'm happy doing what I do. If somebody comes along and would like me to do anything else, I'd be happy to welcome them. I've always been happy playing Jake. I've actively sought out other roles, but I've constantly come back because Jake was the greatest role.

JB_LP_TE_SS_ATWT asks: I loved the scene with you, Jensen and Kim, when you put your fingers together and said "you know what this is, its the worlds smallest violin playing my heart bleeds for you." Was that in the script or did you make it up??
Tom: I have to admit, I made that up. It is one of the few things that I made up. I didn't even plan that.

carol4998 asks: TOM, WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE MALE TO PLAY OPPOSITE?
Tom: There is only four: Eric Stuart, Eric Stuart, Eric Stuart and Eric Stuart.

LuvAW2 asks: Tom, aren't you originally from California? Do you think you might have a live event here in So Calif so we can meet you?
Tom: I hope I do. Unfortunately AW was never very popular there. I do visit Northern California a lot. You can find me at almost any Taco Bell up the coast of Calif.

Wit_67 asks: How much of Tom Eplin is there in Jake McKinnon?
Tom: don't think you can do a daytime show without showing a part of yourself.

Beau21994 asks: What acting did you do prior to AW?
Tom: I was on "The Facts of Life". I did a number of low budget movies.

glitterjenn asks: Did you get everyone to sign your "AW 35 Years" book?
Tom: Yes.
Tom: Everyone that was there that day.

lindafo7493 asks: ItTom, how did you react to the news of the cancelation?
Tom: I didn't believe it. I could not believe they would cancel our show for a show that, I felt, didn't have the history or the ratings that our show had.

MGAIL1 asks: WERE THE GORILLA SCENES AS FUNNY AS THEY SEEMED, TOM?
Tom: No. I was fighting off crying the whole time. It was not funny at all. Everybody who was laughing was doing it because they were great actors. Nobody was laughing off camera. Remember, that even though you watch us, there are a hundred people behind the scenes who lost their jobs.,

LOVESAW asks: Tom, how long are you going to stay on ATWT?
Tom: I would anticipate that they will keep me at least as long as my contract - three years.

AW_JV4ever asks: Tom, thank you so much for doing this chat. We, the fans, appreciate it so much. You are a terrific actor and I know you and Jensen will be well received by fans at ATWT. You two are the number one reason I watched AW. I will never forget the cast of the greatest actors I have ever seen.
Tom: Thank you! Very much! Again, there would be no Jake or Cass or Lila on ATWT if the people who are listening right now where not the incredible fans that they are. The networks respect those fans. They believe that their loyalty is so thick that they will come with us.

meztoymerrie asks: Tom, can you give us a little hint as to what your storyline is on ATWT?
Tom: It continues exactly as if left off in Bay City on AW.

Janash2708 asks: Is there a crew member at AW that you will miss the most?
Tom: Several. Eddie - Props. Eric - props. Mike Duffy - boom operator. Carl - boom operator. I'm remiss if I don't mention more, but there are so many people that were so important to what we did every day.

EdwardHarvey98 asks: Was the fact that you've given more interviews in the last year then you ever have your idea to help save the show or was that the shows?
Tom: It was my idea to try to save the show. I felt like a show without Jake would be impaired. I thought I could do some help. I never felt that anybody who actually watched Another World needed to hear my voice because I felt that I played the character 100%. I just thought that some private help might help.

Viva_26_98 asks: Do you find kissing scenes are easier with the taller women or the shorter women?
Tom: It doesn't matter. All the women I've worked with are beautiful.

radiant_98 asks: Was Linda Dano as nice in person as she seems on the show?
Tom: Linda Dano is every bit as nice and as intelligent in real life as you saw her on AW.
Tom: I have to acknowledge to this day Linda Dano, Charles Keating, Ellen Wheeler for making the actor, Tom Eplin, what he is today.

turanchik asks: Before you go, do you have anything from the heart you want to say?
Tom: There would be no jake that would continue, if it wasn't for the people like you who watched this show for 35 years. They have no idea how supportive they are and how much we feel that support. It is only because of those people, the fans, that we go on to these other shows.
Tom: We, the actors, benefited from having you as fans. You should go out with a feeling of joy, not pointing fingers. You made a remarkable thing happen. We lasted on tv for 35 years! Tom: That was an incredible feat and we all did it together.!

© (copyright) Yahoo! Reprinted without permission.

back to chats