News Brief

Nelson Branco's Weekly "Suds Report"
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS shake-up: Raya Meddine & Paul Rauch out!

GUIDING LIGHT's Michelle Ray fired!

DAYS OF OUR LIVES' Ava beds John!

ONE LIFE TO LIVE and Cousins unrelated!

ALL MY CHILDREN bloodbath — and a tornado alert!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thank you Nelson for the shout out for SCIPTS & SCRUPLES.

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Sadism in the Afternoon
Marlena De Lacroix blogs on B&B's Bridget: "Even in a medium where it’s an expected practice to cause heroines heartbreak, the degradation of Dr. Bridget is reaching the outer limits of human torture — and viewer tolerance."

Alden promoted to Head Writer of B&B with Bell
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL scribe Kay Alden will now share the title of head writer with Executive Producer Bradley Bell. Alden had written for THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS since 1974 and was let go in 2006, but snapped up by B&B. Both shows were created by Bell's parents William and Lee Bell. Their son was a former writer for Y&R and was named associate producer of B&B in 1989, then supervising producer in 1992. The following year, Bell took over head writing reins from his dad and also became executive producer in 1995.

SOAP WATCH: Sabato Jr.: 'Night' to Day?
It's starting to look like SOAPnet's Night Shift might not be the only stop on Antonio Sabato Jr.'s return to soaps. The sudser star tells EW.com that bringing his GENERAL HOSPITAL character, Jagger Cates, back to the small screen for the second season of the nighttime GH spinoff has made him nostalgic for the daytime mothership. "I miss these people too much," Sabato Jr. said of his Port Charles family. "I think there's a chance that after this ends I might swing over [to GH], say hello to a few people, maybe bring Brenda back. You never know. The possibilities are endless."

NBC's PASSIONS Auction: The Grand Finale - August 9th!
Despite the over-the-top, supernatural happenings that were de rigeur on PASSIONS, the marking of its demise has been pretty businesslike. On Aug. 9, two days before the show's last air date, props and costumes from the nearly 10-year-old soap will be auctioned off. Among the items included in the auction are Tabitha's magic wands, Sheridan's Locket, and Rebecca's "Wonder Woman" costume. If you want to try your luck at landing your very own pair of Fluffy's paws, check out Premiere Props' website, where you'll find information on the live auction as well as how to take part online.

GUIDING LIGHT's Michelle Ray Smith off the show
Michelle Ray Smith (Ava, GL) has finished taping her final scenes and is on maternity leave with no plans to return.

Soap connection: David Johnson Sings At Vitello's
Multimedia luminary Constance Towers’s singing discovery, dreamy-voiced crooner David Johnson, will be making his debut in the upstairs cabaret room at Vitello’s Italian

David Johnson will be crooning at Vitello's on Wednesday, July 30.

"I owe the gig to Michael Logan [TV Guide’s Soap columnist] and [writer] Lindsay Harrison, who is a regular patron at Vitello’s," explained Johnson. "I had lunch with Michael and Lindsay there with Jeanne Cooper [the Daytime Emmy-winning actress who plays Katherine Chancellor on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS]. They encouraged me to do a show upstairs. Lindsay introduced me to Trace Barnes, who runs the restaurant, and he booked me into the room. It all fell into place so easily. Pretty amazing!"

Pratt, Jr. speaks on his plans for ALL MY CHILDREN
Now that Charles Pratt, Jr. has taken over the reins as AMC's head writer, he's got big plans on revitalizing the soap. "It is challenged right now," the scribe tells Soap Opera Digest in an exclusive peek at what's ahead for Pine Valley. There's good news for Adam and Erica fans and the men of Pine Valley are going to go through a change. "We're gonna get Zach off the couch," hints Pratt. Fans can also expect changes for the show's biggest couples. "The bond of marriage will be tested," Pratt promises.

INTERVIEW: B&B's Hunter Tylo
"I am dating different people. When I had the loss of my son this year, I realized I need to take my time with everything, and women should, anyway. We don’t have moms and dads married for 30 or 40 years anymore. Unfortunately, our culture is about: if its not working for you get out, otherwise you are going to fall apart. I don’t think people give relationships enough of a chance, on the other hand, they don’t date long enough to know. I have been trying to get rid of two mindsets that have been put out there by society. I have full intention to get to know someone for two years and find out what they are really like, day in and day out, before moving forward with any more definitive plans."

Doherty Moves Back to '90210'
It's official: Shannen Doherty is moving back to "90210." Executive producer Gabe Sachs said Saturday that Ms. Doherty will reprise her iconic role of Brenda Walsh in the network's upcoming spinoff of the Aaron Spelling-created soap opera. She had been in discussions with the network for several weeks.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: AMC's Mary Fickett
Mary Fickett seldom watches ALL MY CHILDREN these days.

For nearly 30 years, she was a star of the ABC-TV daytime drama. As the good and compassionate nurse Ruth Parker Brent Martin, she was loved and admired by millions of people. In 1973, Fickett won the first Emmy ever given to a soap-opera actress. Off-camera, she and her family lived an opulent life in New York City.

Fickett is now 80 and bedridden. Her memory is fading. She has trouble completing some sentences. But her blue eyes still sparkle and she is full of smiles and laughter.

She now lives with her daughter in Colonial Beach. Her Emmy statuette sits tarnished beside the television in her bedroom. On the wall are old photographs of her with Eleanor Roosevelt, Ralph Bellamy, Charlton Heston, President Lyndon Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird.

"I cut many a swath," she said of her career that spanned a half century of radio, stage, movies and television.

"Ruth's at home or off starting a health clinic in Mexico," said Ray MacDonnell, 80, who still appears occasionally on the show as Dr. Joe Martin, Ruth's husband.

Steve Burton Fan Club Event
Jim Warren hosted “GH’s” Jason, Steve Burton’s annual fan event this past Monday in Studio City, California. Fielding questions from a packed crowd, Steve, who is just as adept at stand-up comedy as playing a serious mobster, charmed the fans in attendance. Steve made his way to the Sportsman’s Lodge after scenes with Maurice Benard (Sonny). Steve told the predominately female crowd, that he had to yell at Sonny a bit, and in turn, the fans in unison, applauded!

Deep Soap: Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Sara A. Bibel blogs: "We are a nation divided. Do you support Obama or McCain? Lauren Conrad or Heidi Montag? David Cook or David Archuletta? Lumi or EJami? Yes, today I’m talking about internet 'fanbase' wars. They usually start with a soap opera love triangle. Naturally, viewers have differing opinions about what the eventual outcome of the love triangle should be. Supporters of each potential couple band together. Usually they create a cute 'shipper' nickname for their couple – and a derogatory name for the other. Soon thoughtful conversations about the storyline have degenerated into name-calling between rival factions. Each group creates its own fansites. Particularly passionate viewers 'infiltrate' the other team’s message boards. Soon the fans decide to lobby the show’s Powers That Be so that the desired story outcome is achieved. It’s time for a fan campaign! Viewers pick an object deemed symbolic of the couple and send hundreds of them to the show’s writers and producers. Individual scenes are viewed as being 'pro' or 'anti' the couple. Interviews with actors are analyzed for subtextual meaning as if they’re James Joyce’s Ulysses to figure out what pairing they prefer. Certain dialogue writers are pilloried for favoring the other team. So is all this energy worth it? Do shows actually pay attention to fan campaigns? Should they?"

Father Kieron to leave HOLLYOAKS
HOLLYOAKS' gay priest Father Kieron Hobbs is to bow out of the show in September. The character - played by 26-year-old Jake Hendriks - will meet an untimely demise when he is involved in a plot riddled with twists and turns, culminating in his departure from the village.

Speaking of his time with the Channel 4 soap, he said: "It's been an honour to play such an interesting and unusual character and I hope that I've done Father Kieron justice! It's been great being part of the family at Hollyoaks and I'd like to thank everyone for making my time here so enjoyable."

Producer Bryan Kirkwood commented: "In a short space of time Jake has won legions of fans for his role as Father Kieron Hobbs. It's been a complex role but Jake has proved himself to be an outstanding actor and I hope viewers enjoy the climax to his story."

ATWT writers vs… THEMSELVES!
"Many fans believe that the best explanation for the 'Nuke slow burn' is that the writers are cowardly. I think they’ve shown an amazing amount of courage, so far. I think this is a storyline that, like the Jessica and Duncan storyline, is challenging the audience to open a new discussion about what ‘different’ means."

Watkins returns to DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Gay neighbors Bob (Tuc Watkins) and Lee (Kevin Rahm) still live on Wisteria Lane and they now have a 4-year-old daughter in the upcoming flash-forward-five-years season: "...they now have a four-year-old daughter. Cherry said adding them to the show was 'just my commentary on how a gay couple moves in and nothing much happens.'"