NEWS ROUNDUP: Matt Bomer To GLEE! Betty White Back? Bebe Neuwirth Recurs On THE GOOD WIFE

Matt Bomer to guest star on GLEE
The former GUIDING LIGHT star will appear in April as Blaine's older brother. And he will sing!

Alley Mills Gets Busted on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
"Betty White told me they've asked her to return to the show even though her character is dead. I don't know how they can do that. She'll probably be haunting Pam in the mirror."

Soap Operas With a Social Message
Every Sunday evening, seven million Kenyans sit in front of their television sets to watch MAKUTANO JUNCTION, a soap opera set in a fictional village. By placing characters in situations not uncommon to the audience, producers hope viewers will think twice before spending money on alcohol rather than on lifesaving medicine.

INTERVIEW: The Further Adventures Of Bradford Anderson Part One; Working with Frank Valenti, the future of GENERAL HOSPITAL & Golden Handcuffs

GENERAL HOSPITAL fans know Bradford Anderson as the lovably cuddly Damian Spinelli.  Indie Soap Fans know him for his portrayal of troubled Greek hero Achilles in THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF CUPID AND EROS.  Everyone knows Anderson as a talented actor, activist, musician, and devoted father.  Come get to know all these parts of Anderson in our new interview with the Indie Soap Award Nominated star.   

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: It is such a pleasure to speak with you! It’s been exactly a year since our last interview, and a lot has changed on daytime and in the Indie Soap World.  First of all, I would like to sincerely congratulate on your first Indie Soap Award nomination for THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF CUPID AND EROS.
Bradford Anderson: Thank you so much!

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Where were you when you heard the news?
Bradford Anderson: As appropriate as it is, Avi [Glijansky], who brought me into the project, was the one who informed me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Were you surprised?
Bradford Anderson: Absolutely! I was just glad that it could be bring more eyes to the project. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Anything you can share with us about the further adventures of THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF CUPID AND EROS?
Bradford Anderson: I know Avi always has things mulling in his mind.  He’s a pretty smart guy.  He has his hands in a few different pots.  He and I are talking about revisiting a project he did in college.  We are talking about producing our own short film that I would produce and he would direct, so we’re in the early stages of brainstorming for that story.  This year is going to move by awfully quick.  But as far as Cupid and Eros there is nothing set in stone as far as I know, but I know he has plans for more episodes. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: One of the big changes from a year ago was the cancellation of two pillars of daytime, ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE.  We thought they were saved, then we lost them again.
Bradford Anderson: It’s been a roller coaster.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: As someone who continues to work on a network daytime soap, what has it felt like to witness these events from your point-of-view?

Today in Soap Opera History (January 27)

On this date in...

1972: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Nancy called Martha with an invitation to Vic and Laurie's engagement party.

1983: Actor Robert Christian died of AIDS-related complications on January 27, 1983 in New York City at age 43. Christian had roles on ALL MY CHILDREN and SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, but his biggest soap role was as Bob Morgan on ANOTHER WORLD.

1984: On ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Simon came to say goodbye to Cassie.

WHAT TO WATCH: Friday, January 27, 2012

What's new in the world of soaps? Serialized scripted content is everywhere in 2012, The Year of the Soap, and we have your guide to the new episodes airing on Friday, January 27, 2012.  Daytime TV, primetime, broadcast, cable, web series, we've got it all.

NOTE: Daytime soap times may vary in some local markets.

(All times are ET)

12:30 p.m.		THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS)
1 p.m.		DAYS OF OUR LIVES (NBC)
1:30 p.m.		THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (CBS)
3 p.m.		GENERAL HOSPITAL (ABC)
8 p.m.		UNA MAID EN MANHATTAN (Telemundo)
		WWE SMACKDOWN (Syfy)
9 p.m.		RIVER RIDGE (SFN)
		FRINGE (FOX)
		FLOR SALVAJE (Telemundo)
		SPARTACUS : VENGEANCE (Starz)
10 p.m.		RELACIONES PELIGROSAS (Telemundo)
		MERLIN (Syfy)

NBC is airing the two-hour series finale of CHUCK starting at 8 p.m. ET.

The CW is airing repeats of NIKITA and SUPERNATURAL.

Remember to use #yearofthesoap on Twitter to promote your favorite serialized shows.

RELATED: 
- Why 2012 Will Be "The Year Of The Soap" (Part 1) 
- Why 2012 Will Be "The Year Of The Soap" (Part 2): DARK SHADOWS, RAGGED ISLE, DALLAS, Univision Telenovelas and More

GOSSIP GIRL Celebrated For 100 Episodes By Mayor Bloomberg & NYC; City Hosts 23 Primetime Series

An event celebrating the 100th episode of GOSSIP GIRL was held in New York City on Thursday. The show continues to contribute to the city's economy.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke of the show's contribution to the city's economy from Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, where the CW soap is filmed.

According to the mayor, last year New York City hosted 140 television shows and 188 films, and the TV and movie industry generated $5 billion in local economic activity.

Robert Hegyes Dead At Age 60

Robert Hegyes, the Jersey-born actor who played Jewish Puerto Rican wheeler-dealer Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein on the 1970s classic WELCOME BACK KOTTER, died from an apparent heart attack after suffering chest pains at his Metuchen home this morning. He was 60.

Following KOTTER, Hegyes appeared on CAGNEY & LACEY, then continued to act on television, mostly in guest-starring roles including NEWSRADIO, DIAGNOSIS MURDER and THE DREW CAREY SHOW. He made occasional films, including Bob Roberts with Tim Robbins.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Brad Bell Estate Hosting Two Obama Fundraisers, PBS Yanks DOWNTON Jewelry, Jessica Lowndes Video Premieres

Two Obama Hollywood Fundraisers Set for Brad Bell's Holmby Hills Estate
Barack Obama's Hollywood fundraisers have begun selling tickets to $35,800-per-person dinner for the president at the Holmby Hills estate of soap opera producer and writer Bradley Bell (co-creator, executive producer and head writer of of THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) and his wife Colleen, according to an invitation obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

Actor Will Ferrell and his wife Viveca Paulin are among the co-sponsors of the dinner. Event organizers are also working on a line-up of musical acts to perform on the lawn of the Bells' house for earlier in the day. Those tickets start at $250 per person.

PBS pulls DOWNTON ABBEY-inspired jewelry after show objects
A "Lady Mary knotted pearl necklace and earring set” ($184.99) and a “Lady Sybil black pearl bracelet and earring set” ($159.99) were among the accessories that ShopPBS.org took off its shopping site on Tuesday afternoon.

Daytime Ratings: THE REVOLUTION 1.68 Million Viewers, Trounced By THE TALK; New Lows For GENERAL HOPSITAL

Daytime ratings for the week of January 16, 2012, are starting to come in. CBS issued a press release with news of THE TALK beating THE REVOLUTION.

From CBS:
THE TALK, CBS's daytime talk show, delivered its largest audience and women 18-49 ratings in nearly a year, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending Jan.20.

THE TALK averaged 2.39 million viewers and 0.9/05 in women 18-49, the best in both categories since the week ending Feb. 4. 2011.

Compared to the same week last year, THE TALK was up +12% in viewers (vs. 2.13m), +29% in women 18-49 (vs. 0.7/04) and +10% in women 25-54 (1.1/06 from 1.0/05).

In head-to-head competition, THE TALK also topped the premiere week of ABC's THE REVOLUTION by decisive margins in viewers and key women demographics. THE TALK out-rated THE REVOLUTION in viewers by +42% (2.39m vs. 1.68m), by +50% in women 18-49 (0.9/06 vs. 0.6/03) and by +38% in women 25-54 (1./06 vs. 0.8/04).

UPDATE:
The lack of having ONE LIFE TO LIVE as a lead-in has already started impacting GENERAL HOSPITAL ratings. The show had an all-time low household rating of 1.6 and an all-time low number of Women 18-49 viewers (530,000). The non-ABC daytime soap operas were up in the ratings!

Total Viewers (From SON):
1. Y&R 5,061,000 (+274,000/-121,000) - versus last week/last year
2. B&B 3,471,000 (+137,000/+281,000)
3. DAYS 2,528,000 (+104,000/-191,000)
4. GH 2,209,000 (-348,000/-471,000)

RELATED:
- Daytime TV Ratings: Week Of January 9-13, 2012 - OLTL 3.85 Million on Friday, #2 in W18-49 Demo For Week

Lesley-Anne Down Not Offered A New Contract With THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL's Lesley-Anne Down (Jackie) has updated fans on her contract status via a new posting on her official website:

Bradley Bell has decided not to renew Lesley-Anne Down's contract on B&B.
Lesley-Anne wants all of you to know how special and important you all are to her.
Your continued effort and support of Lesley-Anne is so appreciated by her.
When one door closes another one opens. This thankfully has been the case in this instance. We will let you know what it is when the time is right.

RELATED:
- Brandon Beemer & Zack Conroy Off Contract At THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
- Hillary B. Smith Joins the Cast Of THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
- Hillary B. Smith On Her New Bold & Beautiful Role: This Sounds Like Fun!