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Soap star dishes on her Philly roots

Erika Slezak, a/k/a "One Life to Live's" Viki Lord, on her favorite Philadelphia memory.

Erika Slezak, of "One Life to Live" fame, was a rambunctious student during her time at the now-defunct Eden Hall.
Erika Slezak, of "One Life to Live" fame, was a rambunctious student during her time at the now-defunct Eden Hall.Read more

ERIKA SLEZAK may have spent her career playing good girl Victoria "Viki" Lord on "One Life to Live," but she had a rebellious streak during her time at the now-defunct Sacred Heart at Eden Hall in the Northeast.

"My best friends used to convince the teachers that we needed to go to the library in Torresdale to study," Slezak told me. "We would spend 20 minutes there and then we would go to the Mayfair Diner. We would eat hamburgers because the school's food would leave something to be desired."Ru

Scandalous!

Although "One Life to Live," created by soap godmother Agnes Nixon and set in faux-Philly suburb Llanview, was axed from the airwaves, Slezak can still be seen on Hulu and iTunes, where "One Life to Live" lives on in half-hour segments.

" 'One Life to Live' hasn't changed, it's grown. They've yanked us into the 21st century. The language, the sets are more contemporary," Slezak said. "What we had at ABC was beautiful, but it's a richer show in terms of the look, the dialogue and the stories. I think it's moving in totally the right direction."

So what's in store for Viki Lord? "[Viewers] can certainly expect the same drama that has surrounded her life since day one," Slezak said. "I have only read a few shows in the future, but I can see where it's going. She's going to be a busy lady."

Philly on the 'Runway'

* A Season 12 "Project Runway" hopeful is West Philadelphia-born and -raised. Dom Streater, a 24-year-old graduate of the Moore College of Art and Design is a contestant on the Lifetime reality competition. Could the oh-so-young Streater be the next Christian Siriano, the megasuccessful winner who took the top prize at only 21? Check out the July 18 premiere at 9 p.m. Guest judges this year include Kate Bosworth, Kelly Osbourne, Allison Williams, Sigourney Weaver, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kaley Cuoco and Stacy Keibler.

* Speaking of "Project Runway," I chatted with Season 1 winner Jay McCarroll about his new position as the fashion ambassador at the Hamilton Mall. He told me he'll host events, meet with shoppers and write a column for the mall's newsletter. McCarroll has kept a low-profile post-"Runway," but he's ready for his close-up . . . again.

" 'Project Runway' was shown in 70 countries or something ridiculous, and I felt like my privacy was taken away a little bit. I got off track a little bit and believed my own crap a little bit," McCarroll said. "But now I know how to produce multiple lines of clothes, now I know how to perform and be a brand. But before, I ran my mouth. I'm ready to go back out there."

Dead Philadelphian speaks?

One of my beloved spies saw a camera crew for the totally addictive TLC show "Long Island Medium" filming in Bella Vista's Bardascino Park this weekend. I wonder what Theresa Caputo has dug up this time?

A foodie 'Road Trip'

G. Garvin dedicates an entire episode of his Cooking Channel show "Road Trip with G. Garvin" to our foodie treats, stopping by Supper for red-velvet pancakes, Warmdaddy's for All-Night Braised Turkey Wings and pineapple upside-down bread pudding, Caribbean Feast for oxtail and gravy and Cookie Confidential for a Philly Cheesesteak Cookie. The ep airs Aug. 6 at 9 p.m.

OUT AND ABOUT

* Super Bowl-winning Ravens QB Joe Flacco stopped by Helium Comedy Club this weekend to catch comedian and Travel Channel personality Bert Kreischer. Kreischer stuck around on Sunday to record an episode of Doug Benson's Doug Loves Movies podcast with Casey Boy from WMMR's Preston and Steve, "Totally Biased" host W. Kamau Bell (who will be at the Prince Music Theater for his own set on July 12) and Rob Cantrell. Check it out at dlm.libsyn.com.

Ryan Coogler, the writer and director of the much-buzzed flick "Fruitvale Station," about the last day of the life of Oscar Grant ("Friday Night Light's" Michael B. Jordan) before he was shot by a police officer, was in town yesterday. He hit up Jim's Steaks for a bite to eat with his fiancee. Coogler had been at the South Street shop a decade ago, when he was checking out the University of Pennsylvania's football program.

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