Wednesday, August 6, 2008

News Brief

Alison Sweeney to co-host Jerry Lewis telethon
Famed U.S. entertainer Jerry Lewis is to return as co-host of his 43rd Labor Day Telethon to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the MDA said Tuesday.

Originating from the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, the live show will air for 21 and a half hours, beginning at 9 p.m. EDT Aug. 31, the organization said.

The telethon is to be shown on 180 "Love Network" stations in the United States.

Lewis, 82, is to share the stage with a variety of celebrity co-hosts, including Nancy O'Dell, Tom Bergeron, Jann Carl and Alison Sweeney (DAYS OF OUR LIVES)

Laurence Fishburne the No. 1 fave to join CSI
The 47-year-old former ONE LIFE TO LIVE star Fishburne (ex-Josh) is in talks to make the leap from the big screen to the small screen as William Petersen's CSI replacement, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Says The Reporter: "CBS and CBS Par's search has been shrouded in secrecy, but sources say Fishburne is being heavily courted to play the new character, described as a doctor/scientist outsider to the CSI unit who has the same genetic profile as a serial killer but hasn't previously acted on any homicidal impulses."

INTERVIEW: 24 seconds with Van Hansis
" have had the most incredible fan response, much more so than I could have ever imagined. Our fan base is a really diverse group of people. We have gay fans, we have straight fans, and a lot of straight women fans. Hearing the stories of how our storyline has helped kids come out and helped parents accept their kids ... is very touching.

It's great to know that what you're doing is helping people and I really do think that in some way we are helping people."

PRIVATE PRACTICE gets Grant Show to play doctor
The SWINGTOWN star will make a guest appearance next season as a "charming and flirtatious doctor."

INTERVIEW: GL's Brian Gaskill
Brian Gaskill (Dylan, GUIDING LIGHT) was interviewed on "BuzzWorthy Radio" yesterday.


HOLLYOAKS' Ricky set for dance role
HOLLYOAKS actor Ricky Whittle - aka Calvin Valentine - must be on top of the world at the moment. Not only is his character involved in a meaty storyline starting next week, but the hunky star is also in the running to take part in the next run of hit BBC One show STRICTLY COME DANCING.

Speaking to Digital Spy, Whittle admitted: "I've just spoken to producers. There's a lot of people on the list wanting to do it, so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed."

A Martinez Starts at ONE LIFE TO LIVE
A Martinez arrived at the ABC studios yesterday for his first day of work on OLTL as Ray Montez.

The actor, who turns 60, in September, is probably best known, and most fondly remembered, for his role as Cruz Castillo on SANTA BARBARA. He won a Daytime Emmy in 1990 as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the role. He later went on to play Roy on GENERAL HOSPITAL.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: AMC's Melissa Leo
Reviews are excellent for Melissa Leo's turn as a single mother determined to provide a better life for her children at almost any cost in Frozen River. The respected character actress was passed over for a supporting Oscar nod in 2003 for her well-received turn as Benicio del Toro's wife in 21 Grams. And she failed to find favor with Emmy voters in the 1990s during her five seasons on HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET. Indeed, her only major acting kudo nom was back in 1985 at the Daytime Emmy Awards when she lost best ingénue for her stint as Linda Warner on ALL MY CHILDREN to Tracey Bregman of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.

Obama Fundraiser, "Spare Some Change," Will Now Play NYU's Fifth Floor Theatre
As previously announced, Spare Some Change: NYC Artists for Barack Obama is the title of the Aug. 11 concert to benefit Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign. The 8 PM performance, which was originally scheduled to play New World Stages, will now be presented at the Fifth Floor Theatre, which is located on the campus of New York University. Look for appearances from ONE LIFE TO LIVE stars Jason Tam, BethAnn Bonner and Kamar de los Reyes.

Ten Things You Never Knew About Hayden Panettiere
#7 Hayden got her big break at the grand old age of four in US soap ONE LIFE TO LIVE. She became the first child actress to star in two soaps at once when she landed a role in GUIDING LIGHT three years later.

Mike O’Hearn in Talks for Conan?
Mike O’Hearn, also known as Titan on NBC’s AMERICAN GLADIATORS (and Luke on DAYS), was on the Todd n’ Tyler radio show (in Omaha) Tuesday morning and said he is up for the lead in Lionsgate’s upcoming reboot of Conan.

Bagel Broker Bagels & Catering: Where Y&R and B&B go for bagels
"We’ve been delivering to THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL for maybe 15 years," manager's son Jason Tarnol said. "We deliver to Paramount, CBS, Cedars-Sinai and dozens of restaurants and bakeries around town."

Refused Entry To Balaji Studio, Aspiring Writer Sets Himself On Fire
An aspiring actor-writer Akshay Shivam Shukla (28) came to Mumbai or the ‘city of dreams’ to make it big but finished up in a hospital with burn injuries.

Shukla, a native of Allahabad, set himself on fire outside the gate of country’s most flourishing soap opera factory Balaji Telefilms office in Oshiwara on Tuesday, as he was not permitted to enter the studio by the security guards.

Shukla suffered 45% severe burn injuries and was admitted to Cooper Hospital.

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