News Brief

Deep Soap: Daytime Continues To Chew Off Its Own Leg
Sara A. Bibel blogs: "Another weekend, another set of shocking behind-the-scenes events. Just as Jossip-gate faded, Firing Friday began. The news trickled out. First Daytime Confidential broke the story that Ed Scott was out as Days of Our Lives Executive Producer. Then, Sunday night TV Guide Canada’s Nelson Branco revealed that The Young & The Restless’s Executive Producer Josh Griffith was also let go Friday. Scott’s replacement is Gary Tomlin, a veteran EP whose credits include SUNSET BEACH and ONE LIFE TO LIVE. Y&R has not yet named a new Executive Producer. Both men were allegedly fired for the same reason: rewriting scripts without the headwriters knowledge or permission. Writers from each show separately complained to the writers’ guild, which responded by issuing cease and desist letters to the producers. Both shows are produced by Sony. It seems like the studio was wary of possible legal action and decided to make a pre-emptive strike."

Trevor St. John issues an apology for "gang rape" comment at OLTL luncheon
OLTL's Trevor St. John (Todd) has issued an apology for saying "I'm all for gang rape" at the annual ONE LIFE TO LIVE fan club luncheon.

"I regret the way I responded to the question about the upcoming Todd and Marty storyline. It was meant in jest and I should know better than to ever try and make a joke about such a serious subject. I intended no disrepect and apologize to anyone I offended." --Trevor St. John

Hinsey Won't Be replaced at 'Weekly'; Leahey Assumes Control
Per Nelson Branco, via Daytime Confidential: Editorial director of Soap Opera Digest and its sister publication Soap Opera Weekly, Carolyn Hinsey won't be replaced. Lynn Leahey will be assuming control of the SOW, while Stephanie Sloane continues as editor at SOD.

New website for SOW and SOD
Soap Opera Digest and Soap Opera Weekly are launching a brand new homepage tomorrow, August 19. It will "feature more of what you love — breaking news, spoilers, quizzes, videos and more — with easier navigation and better visuals."

Ex-OLTL star Laurence joins CSI cast
After weeks of negotiations, Fishburne has finally agreed to join the "CSI" cast, making his first appearance in Episode 9. Here's what CBS has to say of Fishburne's role: "Fishburne will play a former pathologist who is now working as an itinerant college lecturer, teaching a course in criminalistics. His focus is on understanding criminal behavior, how and why people commit acts of violence -- tendencies he disturbingly sees within himself. In the course of a murder investigation, he comes into contact with the CSI team and ultimately joins the Las Vegas Crime Lab as a Level-1 CSI." sort of in this journey and -- and to discover who his true character will ultimately become."

Fishburne never watched CSI
But Fishburne says he's a "CSI" fan now that he's joining the cast. "To be perfectly frank, when we met here in New York I felt a little stupid an embarrassed that I hadn't watched the show prior to meeting them, but the episodes they sent me were really engaging, and really wonderful and dark and moody, like the work I've been involved in," he said today. "I was like oooooh, wow...this'll work." As for his character, details remain sketchy -- "CSI" producers deny he'll have the DNA of a serial killer. Fishburne says he'll be known on set as "the professor...he's a fresh set of eyes."

PATRICK ERWIN: Bad apples redux
"...there are several writers and/or producers whose stories have NOT been popular. Their creative efforts have shown a fundamental lack of understanding as to what soaps are about. They exhibit a complete disconnect to what the audience wants to see. And they have been fired, early and often. But they keep being rehired. Again, and again, and again."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for the comments, Patrick. My personal dream is to see Tom Casiello as headwriter for ATWT, with Martha Byrne as Executive Producer.

AUDIO: Interview with LIFE IN GENERAL producer/writer Karen Harris
Luke Kerr and Jamey Giddens interview GH writer and LIFE IN GENERAL producer/writer Karen Harrison on the latest "Daytime Confidential" podcast.

"I'm going to make 'Greenville General' its own show so you can see behind the scenes, and then you can what the fuss is all about."

Peter Bartlett to star in "What's That Smell: The Music of Jacob Sterling"
Peter Bartlett (Nigel, OLTL) will join David Pittu in "What's That Smell: The Music of Jacob Sterling," a comedy with music, to run at the Atlantic Theatre Stage II, September 2-28, with an opening set for September 10. The show features a book by Pittu, who will co-direct with Neil Pepe, and a score by Randy Redd. Additional casting will be announced shortly.