Saturday, February 28, 2009

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Up Again

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS was up in the ratings for the second week in a row with 4.23 million viewers last night. That was 240,000 more than last Friday. The show finished third in its timeslot in total viewers and edge out DOLLHOUSE on Fox.

In the adults 18-49 demo, FNL had a 1.5 rating/5 share.

Stations Call March Sweeps 'Useless'

Normally the nationwide Nielsen sweeps months are November, February and May. July is also a sweeps month but of lesser importance. This year, due to the expected transition to digital television in February, sweeps was moved to March. That digital transition has been delayed until July for the majority of stations but sweeps plans were already made.

But many stations believe that the March sweeps data will not be as useful to them because you really can't compare this March to previous February data and draw a clear conclusion. Broadcasting & Cable published an interesting article about this today.

“It's just a mess,” says Chuck Larsen, president of October Moon Strategies, a syndication consultancy. “They should have just forgotten winter sweeps. Doing it in March is a waste of time. There will be nothing to compare these ratings to, and ratings in a void are useless.”

“We received a lot of suggestions about February sweeps,” says Nielsen spokesperson Gary Holmes. “In the end, we felt there should be a sweep in the first quarter and that it should not be in February because of issues with the transition. Our feeling was that the industry did not want an information vacuum from November to May,”

Nielsen gathers ratings information in several different ways. Local people meters in the top 10 markets gather the most precise demographic information about what people are watching locally, while people meters across the country acquire national demographic information, such as how CBS Television Distribution's Oprah did among women 18-49 in any given week as well as in households.

Set-top meters in the top 50 markets measure what people are watching, but do not measure demographic information. Markets below the top 50 are measured with diaries only. That's why sweeps remain important in those markets, and why it takes about a month for those measurements to be tallied.

But stations and syndicators have several reasons why it makes little sense to go ahead in March. First, no legitimate comparison is available: February is a darker, colder month, so people tend to watch less TV. And this year, daylight-saving time starts March 8, so even fewer people will be in front of their sets. With no apples-to-apples comparison, sales reps have nothing to match performances up with when they are trying to sell ads.

Moreover, by the time all the data from the March sweeps is collected, it will be time for May sweeps, which will supersede March.

“It's going to be the sweep that never happened,” Larsen says. “Once it's over, no one is going to pay any attention to it.”

The upcoming sweeps dates are as follows:
March: March 5 - April 1, 2009
May: April 23 - May 20, 2009
July: July 2 - July 29, 2009
November: October 29 - November 25, 2009

Anistons To Narrate Latest Loukoumi Book


Loukoumi, the fluffy, cuddly lamb, returns this spring with "Loukoumi's Good Deeds" (Dream Day Press/NK Publications; April 1, 2009; $15.95), the third title in the award winning series of illustrated books by Nick Katsoris for children 4-8. Featuring a CD narrated by Jennifer Aniston and her father, DAYS OF OUR LIVES star John Aniston, the new book follows Loukoumi through her day as she discovers how easy it is to make other people happy by doing something nice.

In addition to the Anistons, the CD also features the character voices of Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis, Gloria Gaynor (GRAMMY winner for "I Will Survive," who will also record an original song for the CD titled "Make Someone Smile") former THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL actor Constantine Maroulis, GUIDING LIGHT star Frank Dicopoulos and CBS News anchor Alexis Christoforous as the voice of Loukoumi. John Aniston also voices the character of Loukoumi's Daddy.

Every time a child reads Loukoumi's Good Deeds they too will be performing a good deed. $2.00 from the sale of each book will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

DAYS Celebrates 11,000 Episodes


DAYS OF OUR LIVES recently aired their 11,000th episode and everyone got together to celebrate.

The traditional cake (in this case, FIVE cakes!) were wheeled out and Ken Corday spoke to the assembled cast and crew.

The Latest in Soap Videos

Here are some of the latest soap videos to hit the web.

BETH CHAMBERLIN: The GUIDING LIGHT star appeared on Better TV talking about the soap and kettle bells.

NOW ESTHER'S GOT HERSELF INTO A MESS: The freestyling Y&R fan continues to write song after song about his favorite soap characters.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES: On Friday's episode, Bo and Hope reunited but he later had a vision of her with another man. As Sami and Lucas were fighting at the hospital, Will walked in.

ALL MY CHILDREN: Reese told Zach and Kendall on Friday that she wouldn't use their "secret" (that Kendall was driving the car in the accident that killed Greenlee) against them, but Adam walked in and said that he would.




BONUS:
- A short preview of The Four Musketeers reunion.

News Round-up

NY TIMES OP-ED: The Medium Is the Soup Commercial
For some time now, characters in daytime dramas have been taking time from their normal activities, like having amnesia, to engage in animated discussions about the sponsors’ products. The ABC soap actors spent February talking about how Campbell’s soup and other assorted products are good for your heart. (And tasty, too!)

Lynn Leahey, the editorial director of Soap Opera Digest, pointed to an episode of AS THE WORLD TURNS in which Margo needed to get her hair fixed before a date with her husband (don’t ask) and reached for a bottle of Nice ’n Easy Root Touch-Up. “I feel like I took off 10 years in 10 minutes!” she exclaimed.

Daytime dramas are swimming in choppy waters these days. Ratings are down. Shows are getting canceled. “They’re struggling to find a business model that works,” said Leahey, in a remark I have heard a time or two lately in other contexts.

So, the viewers acquiesce. In fact, for all the complaining about car bailouts and greedy bankers, people have become extremely tolerant of irritating behavior on the part of struggling corporations. Lines we never even bothered to think of as lines are being crossed.

Deep Soap: Heart Of The Matter
Sara A. Bibel blogs: "I’m not sure why Campbell’s picked ABC soaps to spread its message. There are certainly plenty of older, at risk, women who watch. It’s undoubtedly much cheaper to get ABC daytime on board then it would be to pay for a Campbell’s themed episode of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. I think there’s also an assumption that us unsophisticated daytime viewers will believe that canned food with less salt, rather than actual fruits and vegetables, are the ticket to good health."

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: ATWT's Jeffrey Meek (Craig)
Jeffrey Meek will star as Mack the Knife, Feb. 28-March 29, in the San Diego REP production of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's groundbreaking musical, "The Threepenny Opera."

Meek played Craig on ATWT for several months but was suddenly replaced by the original Craig in 2007 who lasted less than a year in his return to the soap.

VIDEO: Y&R's Morrow going to the outlets
Josh Morrow from CBS’s THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS is coming to Miromar Outlets. Meet him on Saturday, March 21 from 12 to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and then again on Sunday, March 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"The Man Who Came Back" part of film festival in May
The Bayou Playhouse in Lockport is giving performance-art fans a chance in May to view a showcase of works by acclaimed filmmakers Glen Pitre and Michelle Benoit at a month-long film festival. Included in the showcase is Eric Braeden's "The Man Who Came Back" on May 31.

Jim Lehrer love FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
"The writing and acting on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS is superb. These are seriously drawn stories about high school football in small-town Texas and the dilemmas these kids have. It's very gripping. Of course, I'm from Texas, so that's part of it."

Is Joe McCoy Making His Son Into the Next Todd Marinovich?
Slate's Meghan O'Rourke ponders the question: "Is FNL setting him up to be a future Todd Marinovich? Marinovich, as football fans will remember, was a vaunted quarterback who was micromanaged by his dad from birth. Like Joe McCoy, Marv Marinovich scheduled his son's every minute and meal."

The-N becoming TeenNick
In an effort to strengthen the already venerable kids and family-oriented Nickelodeon brand, Nick will rename its toddler-targeted Noggin network as Nick Jr. and its teen-tinged The N service (US home of DEGRASSI) as TeenNick later this year.

FLASHBACK: OLTL Soundtrack 1994

`OLTL' soundtrack is in tune with its fans

New York Times
February 27, 1994

NEW YORK - "Tina is overwhelmed when Bill Medley and Darlene Love sing 'Soul and Inspiration' at her bridal shower."

That's part of the story line so far of ONE LIFE TO LIVE, a daytime soap opera that regularly incorporates pop songs and pop singers and now has a soundtrack album, "ONE LIFE TO LIVE: The Best of Love" (SBK Records/ERG).

Some of the show's fans have been calling the ABC television network to find out who sings such songs as "I Still Believe In You," Luna and Max's theme song, and "Teach Me How to Dream," the musical centerpiece to Marty and Suede's romance. The singers are Cliff Richard and Chris Walker, in that order.

The album includes those songs as well as duets by Howard Hewitt and Brenda Russell, and Michael McDonald and Amy Holland. Jerry Butler, Stephanie Mills, Wendy Moten and Billy Dean also are there.

****

Track Listing
1. From This Day On - Barry Mann
2. I Still Believe in You - David Pomeranz
3. The Way That You Love Me - Albert Hammond
4. Here We Are My Friend - Gerry Goffin
5. (You're My) Soul and Inspiration - Barry Mann
6. Teach Me How to Dream - David Foster
7. All I Know - Jimmy Webb
8. New Fire from an Old Flame - Diane Warren
9. For Your Precious Love - Arthur Brooks
10. Goodbye - David Foster

Today's Soap Star Birthdays

Kelly Bishop (ex-Grace, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 65
Stephanie Beacham (Martha, CORONATION STREET; ex-Iris, BEVERLY HILLS 90210; ex-Sable, THE COLBYS) - 62
Bernadette Peters (Jodie, UGLY BETTY) - 61
Rick Lohman (ex-Gary, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW; ex-Joel, GENERATIONS) - 60
Lena Cardwell (ex-Simone, PASSIONS) - 27

Friday, February 27, 2009

News Round-up

Katie Cassidy joins new MELROSE cast
Katie Cassidy, the daughter of David Cassidy, is the first female resident moving into the CW's new MELROSE PLACE. Cassidy will play the sexy and stylish Ella Flynn, an up-and-coming publicist with a big career ahead of her. She joins Michael Rady, who was cast as aspiring filmmaker Jonah Miller.

INTERVIEW: Y&R's Nia Peeples (Karen)
Peeples was a guest on "Brandon's Buzz" earlier today.

Univision cuts 300 staffers
The faltering economy has taken its toll at Univision, which has cut approximately 300 employees. The reduction represents about 7% or so of the company's 4,000-members staff, with the pink slips being issued to workers across its various holdings.

Second season of MOVING WALLPAPER is here
The second season of MOVING WALLPAPER (ITV1, Fridays) is again set in the production office of a soap opera – one that has just flopped. This is no imagined flop; in the first season, MOVING WALLPAPER was followed by the said soap opera (ECHO BEACH) “written” by its scriptwriting team, and really too limp to continue. Now Jonathan Pope, the producer, needs a new series or else his ruthless boss, an implacable enemy, will fire him. Ripping a treatment from a writer who has died of a heart attack in his toilet, he saves his job – at the cost of making a soap based on zombies.

Report: Ratings Picture Not Pretty
Viewers may be consuming more content overall, but live ratings and the commercial ratings that form the currency of the business continue to fall at the broadcast networks. Live viewing at CBS, Fox, NBC, My Network TV and The CW was down 7-10% through mid-January, while C3 numbers were down 5-8%, according to a report from Los Angeles based ad agency RPA.

Rock the Soap: Karaoke Challenge
SOAPnet.com has suggestions for what the actors on the Rock the Soap Cruise can sing during the karaoke event. Suggestions include Stevie Nicks' "Leather and Lace" for Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann, and MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" for Kimberly McCullough.

Mary Beth Evans Is Enjoying Life


Soap vet Mary Beth Evans, best known for her role as Kayla on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, was also a guest on "Buzzworthy Radio" today and was positive and upbeat after wrapping up her latest stint on the soap.

My feet have not touched the ground since I left. Life is about a thousand reinventions and I almost feel like I'm getting more done. Being away has actually spurred a lot of things for me. I'm sad for Patch and Kayla but I'm happy we had the chance to go back. It was a dream come true.

She explained how she found out about Kayla and Steve's exit.

They had been talking to us a little bit about not renewing our contracts. They were paring down the show. They weren't really leaving Salem. They would still be around, they just wouldn't be on air. Our contract was really up in May and you're guaranteed a certain number of of days, but we had already completed that number so they didn't have to go all way to May. Then they said it would be March. Then they came to us and said, 'you shot your last show a week.' I laughed. I thought it was hilarious.

Listen to the entire interview here.

Crystal Chappell Loves "Otalia"


GUIDING LIGHT Emmy winner Crystal Chappell (Olivia) was a guest on "Buzzworthy Radio" this afternoon and had a lot of interesting things to say. The interview broke listener records for the show as fans jammed the phone likes to speak with the actress. You could tell she is as big a fan of "Otalia" as many fans are, including those at the now 733 member (and growing) Big Purple Dreams fan site.

Our intention from the very beginning was not to throw labels out there. It narrows the scope of what we could do. We just wanted to tell a love story.

Chappell said she loved how the show has taken their time with the Olivia and Natalia story. She said she had to learn to trust that fans would be interested in this type of slow buidling storyline.

I knew what was going to happen in January of last year. I wasn't sure how they were going to do it, or if the story was going to get pulled. I think because of the time they took with it and the care, people were allowed to invest in the relationship.

Listen to the entire interview here.

GUIDING LIGHT's "Four Musketeers"

The 25th reunion of "The Four Musketeers" (Phillip, Beth, Rick, Mindy) will air on GUIDING LIGHT from Friday, March 6 through Tuesday, March 10.

Grant Aleksander (Phillip) returned to the show earlier this month and Krista Tesreau (Mindy) is back on March 6.

Here's a look back at their prom from 1983:

TV Guide Canada's "Suds Report"

In his weekly "Suds Report" column for TV Guide Canada, Nelson Branco covers the following headlines and more:

Tuc Watkins back on ONE LIFE!

Joanna Johnson in talks with B&B!

Is AMC’s Greenlee alive?

Youth Artist nominations announced!

Daniel Goddard Toronto-bound in May!

News Round-up

INTERVIEW: OLTL's Bree Williamson (Jessica)
"I am such in a good place at ONE LIFE TO LIVE. I mean, look at the people I get to work with!

I do watch it. I think it’s important to have an interest in yourself and your show. So, not only do I watch myself, but I watch most of the shows when I can. It’s a really good show right now! We put on really good TV!"

AMC's Mathison takes on ballet for charity
He's tackled the waltz, the jive, the mambo and even the Pass Doble, but there is one dance "All My Children" actor Cameron Mathison said he has always been just too intimidated to take on: the ballet. But when he was called to host the Fifth Annual Broadway Cares Benefit, Mathison knew what he had to do: team with three young dancers from the Broadway hit "Billy Elliot" for a little tutorial.

Entertainment Weekly Hit List: #5 Soap star films her first porn
Soaps get mentioned from time to time in the 'Hit List' but that often. This week's headline was followed by commentary from Scott Brown: "Please tell me it's Susan Lucci. And please tell me she won't have to wait 21 years to earn her first Porny."

CLASSIC INTERVIEW: THE DOCTORS' Kim Zimmer (Nola)
Soap Opera Digest has reprinted a classic interview with Zimmer from their September 30, 1980 issue.

Y&R's Vail Bloom in new web series
Premiering March 2 on Crackle.com – an online venture of Sony Pictures Entertainment – is ANGEL OF DEATH, an original live-action series written by superstar comics writer Ed Brubaker. The series features Y&R's Vail Bloom, Lucy Lawless and Doug Jones.

Contest winner James DiSalvatore talks about Y&R walk on role
"I won a walk on role on the TV soap THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. A Web site called if.net offers many different contests for actors, musicians, dancers, sportscasters, etc. The premise is you submit a video, and people around the world vote for you. I ended up in the top five and was chosen by THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS producers. The show aired on Feb. 19th. I played a cabbie. Just had a couple of lines, but I got paid and flown to L.A. for the gig. If.net just ended a contest for a walk-on role in “Bones.” I was in the top five, but pulled out of the contest two weeks ago because I was unavailable the week of the shoot."

Has TV lost its nerve when it comes to complex dramas?
As is the case with the beleaguered music industry, television networks are responding to rapid and revolutionary changes in how audiences consume their products. In the TV industry, that’s having an effect on what gets made.

"Sometimes early on, being a little more episodic allows more people into the room. And as the show goes on, by its nature, it might find itself becoming a little more serialized," said Matt Cherniss, executive vice president of programming at Fox. "But to abandon the desire to tell stories that are, essentially, the hero’s journey and to watch that journey take place—I think that would be irresponsible. There are a lot of versions of that are successful, whether it's a soap or a medical drama. They're difficult to do, but that's not a reason not to do them."

Melinda Sue Lewis is using Twitter

Twitter is a free service that lets you keep in touch with people through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

GUIDING LIGHT's Melida Sue Lewis (aka Mindy) is now using Twitter where you can follow what she is doing.

Krista Tesreau returns to the soap as Mindy on March 6. Mindy attends the 25th high school reunion of Phillip, Beth and Rick.

Speaking of Twitter, be sure to follow We Love Soaps there as well.

FLASHBACK: McCullough kicks up heels in Hawaii 1994

`GH' star kicks up heels in Hawaii

By Nancy M. Reichardt
United Feature Syndicate
May 22, 1994

NEW YORK - Talk about a great class trip. Kimberly McCullough, who plays Robin Scorpio on GENERAL HOSPITAL, recently returned from eight days in Oahu, Hawaii, where she performed with her high-school dance team.

"We do mainly jazz dance," says McCullough, who is quite proficient at kicking up her heels. "I've been dancing since I was born," she adds with a laugh.

Continue reading...


McCullough said teams gathered from the West Coast for the event. "There were a few teams from the different Hawaiian islands, one from Utah, another from Arizona," she says. "It was sort of an exhibition, because there really weren't enough teams to compete. Basically, each group performed, and then we got to watch each other. Usually, you don't get to do that. When you're in a competition, you do your (routine), then you're not allowed to go out on the floor again."

Aside from the exhibition, McCullough also got in some quality relaxation time. "That was great," she said. "I got to hang out on the beach and go shopping. It was so much fun."

Needless to say, McCullough returned to California with several souvenirs.

"I brought back lots of shirts and stuff for my brothers and jewelry for my mom and friends," she said. "I also got myself some jewelry and clothes. They had this great Esprit store there. I went there one day to look around and ended up buying a lot."

The one thing McCullough didn't come back with was the "souvenir" that co-star John J. York (Mac Scorpio) had requested.

"I was supposed to bring him back Maui chips," she says, referring to a snack food available only in Hawaii. "He says they're great. But I couldn't find them anywhere. Actually, I didn't have any room in my suitcase for anything else. If I had brought them back, I probably would have crushed them anyway," she said laughing.

*****

Singing sensation Julio Iglesias will make a cameo appearance on GENERAL HOSPITAL June 9 and 10. In the story line, music manager Lois Cerullo (played by Rena Sofer), will take Miguel Morez (Ricky Martin) on a tour of a high-tech recording studio during a visit to New York City. Lois will meet and talk with Iglesias, and try to get some facts about Miguel's past from him. During the episodes of GH, Iglesias will perform Crazy, the Patsy Cline classic that is also the title song of his new album.

If Randy Brooks, the newest member of ANOTHER WORLD, looks familiar, it's probably because you have seen him on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, where he played the role of Nathan Hastings for the past two years.

On AW, Brooks is creating the role of book editor Marshall Lincoln Kramer III. Brooks, who was reduced to noncontract status on Y&R in the fall of 1993, had been looking for a full-time acting job when his AW role came along.

In the story line, Marshall and romance writer Felicia Gallant, played by Emmy-winning actress Linda Dano, did not hit it off when she learned he was to be her new book editor. But, soap watchers know that couples who hate each other in the beginning usually end up being lovers, or at least, good friends. So there could be an interracial romance in the offing for AW.

The Latest in Soap Videos

Here are somem of the latest soap videos to hit the web.

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Brooke proclaimed that she was giong to make a "life-changing announcement" that will "affect all our lives and this company forever".

IN THE MOMENT: A trailer for the upcoming new season of the web soap.

WENDY RICHARD: A tribute to the late EASTENDERS legend.

OTALIA: Olivia invited Natalia to Reva and Jeffrey's baby shower on Wednesday's GUIDING LIGHT but Natalia declined when she found out it was at Company. Watch Part 2 where Olivia had an interesting conversation wtih Mel.



BONUS:
YouTube user ChuckR7 has uploaded the death of Tonio Reyes on AS THE WORLD TURNS from 1991. Tonio didn't stay dead, of course.

News Round-up

Regime change at CW's 90210
Rebecca Rand Kirshner Sinclair is taking a permanent residence in the 90210 ZIP code. On the heels of the freshman CW show's renewal, Sinclair has inked a new seven-figure deal with 90210 producer CBS Par and has been tapped to serve as executive producer/showrunner on the high school drama for the next two seasons.

Sinclair joined 90210 as an exec producer in September, when she inked a two-year overall deal with CBS Par. Under the pact, she was to run the writers room this season, working alongside exec producers/showrunners Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah, then segue into development while serving as a consultant if 90210 returned for a sophomore year. With her new deal, Sinclair has been given the show's reins through the 2010-11 season. Sachs and Judah likely will depart at the end of this season.

Betrothal follows betrayals on Y&R
The good news is that Billy asks the mother of his new baby to marry him Friday on "The Young and the Restless."

The bad news is that she is still married to his brother.

"Billy wants to man up," Billy Miller, who plays the part, tells the New York Daily News. "He found a conscience somewhere between whoring and drinking. He wants his kid."

Even if he is not in love with her mother.

"What's love?" says the actor. "Billy loves a lot of people. Right now, he is in love with his daughter."

And he just had sex with his brother Jack's wife, Sharon.

"Yeah, he may have a couple of broken noses coming to him," says Miller.

Paul Anthony Stewart's "Crime and Punishment" begins tonight
Stewart (ex-Danny, GUIDING LIGHT) stars as Raskolnikov in the Cleveland Play House production, with Lethia Hall as Sonia and Patrick Husted as Porfiry.

AMC lesbian wedding storyline makes history — and mistakes
Sarah Warn, AfterEllen's Editor in Chief writes: "Many queer and straight viewers began heading for the door when it became clear that the kisses and the wedding plans were just new ways to dress up the same old depressing and boring lesbian storylines about sperm donors, custody battles, and sexually confused lesbians. And we already get enough of that on primetime TV."

Web soap explores gay safe sex in a post-Prop 8 world with four new episodes launching this spring
The boys are back! The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's online soap opera, IN THE MOMENT, returns with four new "webisodes" following the lives of several young gay men living in West Hollywood as they face difficult decisions about relationships, politics, drugs and sex. This season, which features a cameo by Darryl Stephens of NOAH'S ARC, includes up-to-the-moment topics such as Prop 8.

The new webisodes arrive amidst growing concerns regarding the rising HIV-infection rate among our nation's youth. New York City health officials recently reported that new HIV infections among young gay and bisexual men have risen 32 percent in recent years, in contrast to an overall drop for men older than 30.

"More and more young people are watching video content online, and more and more young gay guys describe meeting people on the web for dating and sex," says independent filmmaker Dave O'Brien, 31, who wrote, directed and co-developed In the Moment. "We had to create something that would tap into that, and do it in a way that wasn't about shaming people for their behavior. We wanted to create something that was about starting a conversation...bringing all of us together to help stop the spread of HIV."

Wendy Richard's 'support message' to Jade Goody
Wendy Richard sent a message of encouragement to fellow cancer sufferer Jade Goody shortly before she succumbed to the disease, it has been reported. The former EASTENDER actress - who was 65 - died in the Harley Street Clinic in London with her husband, John Burns, by her side.

She phoned 27-year-old BIG BROTHER star Goody - who has been given just weeks to live - to congratulate her on her wedding to Jack Tweed on Sunday, according to Jade's publicist Max Clifford. He told the Daily Mirror: "Wendy phoned and sent lots of love. She said she would have loved to have been (at the wedding) but was too sick. She told Jade she would be thinking of her."

CORONATION STREET baby boom continues as Jane Danson gives birth to a boy
Actress Jane Danson has given birth to a son today, making her new arrival the fourth CORONATION STREET baby this month. The 30-year-old - who plays vixen Leanne Battersby in the ITV show - welcomed her second son Alfie Sam Robert in the early hours of this morning.

Daytime Nielsen Ratings Week of Feb 16-20, 2009

From Soap Opera Network:
Total Viewers (versus last week/versus last year)
1. Y&R 5,457,000 (+399,000/-398,000)
2. B&B 3,573,000 (+41,000/-533,000)
3. DAYS 3,017,000 (+172,000/-198,000)
4. GH 2,801,000 (+59,000/-260,000)
5. AMC 2,729,000 (+228,000/-167,000)
6. ATWT 2,563,000 (-135,000/-779,000)
7. OLTL 2,560,000 (+135,000/-268,000)
8. GL 2,175,000 (-33,000/-633,000)

Household Ratings
1. Y&R 4.0/13 (+.3/-.2)
2. B&B 2.7/8 (+.1/-.3)
3. GH 2.2/7 (+.1/-.1)
4. DAYS 2.1/7 (+.1/-.3)
4. AMC 2.1/7 (+.2/-.1)
6. OLTL 2.0/6 (+.1/-.2)
6. ATWT 2.0/6 (same/-.4)
8. GL 1.7/5 (same/-.3)

PREVIEW: Tonight's FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

"Keeping Up Appearances" - J.D. McCoy (guest star Jeremy Sumpter) has gained popularity as the new star quarterback of the Dillon Panthers but his skills are put to the test at Friday night's big rival game on tonight's episode of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (9pm ET/PT, NBC).

Meanwhile, Landry (Jesse Plemons) thinks he is finally over Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) when he meets Devin (Stephanie Hunt) who seems to be the perfect girl, but he quickly learns Devin isn't who she appears to be.

Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Taylor Kitsch, Scott Porter, Zach Gilford, Minka Kelly and Aimee Teegarden also star.

Today's Soap Star Birthdays

Elizabeth Taylor (ex-Helena, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 77
Tracey Ross (Eve, PASSIONS) - 50
David Gail (ex-Joe, PORT CHARLES) - 44
Nick Mathews (ex-Clint, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES) - 27

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Rocky Mountain News Folding - More To Come?

After a would-be sale produced no qualified buyers, E.W. Scripps says its Rocky Mountain News, Colorado's oldest newspaper, will cease publication after the paper hits front steps tomorrow.

“Today the Rocky Mountain News, long the leading voice in Denver, becomes a victim of changing times in our industry and huge economic challenges,” said Scripps CEO Rich Boehne. “The Rocky is one of America’s very best examples of what local news organizations need to be in the future. Unfortunately, the partnership’s business model is locked in the past.”

Rocky employees stay on the payroll until April 28. Scripps says it will continue to “offer for sale” the paper’s assets, including the name and Website. It did not say it will continue publishing news on the Website.

“The closing of the Rocky Mountain News is sad for those of us who knew and respected journalists like Lynn Bartels, M.E. Sprengelmeyer, and Mike Littwin. They were the soul of a newspaper that covered people and politics for the west without succumbing to Washington-think or being homogenized by the big media corporate ethic,” said Sen. John Kerry (D-MA).

“Sadly, this won’t be the last in this unfortunate trend in the newspaper business which has already seen D.C. bureaus shut, foreign desks close, and now entire newspapers and newspaper chains disappear. It’s a trend that should alarm all of us. Thomas Jefferson recognized the importance of newspapers to our democracy when he said he’d prefer newspapers over government if forced to choose. It’s no coincidence that many of the great investigative pieces of journalism that led to progress on everything from workplace safety to civil rights began not in the national newsrooms but in local and regional newspapers from Boston to Chicago to Alabama. As our methods for disseminating news continue to rapidly change, I will make it a priority to take a hard and close look at the disturbing trend that is the disappearance of journalism.”

Will there be any newspapers left in a few years? The entire way people get their news is changing. I personally read all my news online. I watched some political shows in TV during the election year campaigning but not really since. The only time I read a print newspaper these days is when I'm flying on a plane.

I was actually quoted in a story in the Rocky Mountain News last year (see below).

News Round-up

Jessica Capshaw inks contract with GREY'S ANATOMY
Looks like Callie's new girlfriend is a keeper. Grey's Anatomy has signed Sara Ramirez's latest lesbian crush, Jessica Capshaw, to a contract.

INTERVIEW: AMC's Walt Willey (Jackson)
"I think soaps as we know them are in trouble. The days when 'daytime' was the “cash cow” for news and sports are well gone. With so many people back in the workforce, not many people can watch the show in 'real time'. We know people watch on VCR and DVR and even on Soapnet, but our advertisers know that we fast-forward through the commercials, so our rate card drops and revenue goes away. These shows are expensive to produce and we need to find a way to keep them on the air, hence all the pay cuts you’ve heard about. We have all taken a cut to help as best we can. The soap needs to be re-imagined, deconstructed and put back together in a format in which we can survive these hard times."

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: ATWT's Judith Blazer (Ariel)
Blazer will be part of a 21-member cast for the world premiere production of the musical "Giant" by composer Michael John LaChiusa and playwright Sybille Pearson.

Harold to leave NEIGHBOURS after 22 years
Ian Smith's long-standing NEIGHBOURS character Harold Bishop is about to fade off TV screens forever. Bishop has been a character on the Australian soap opera for more than 22 years, but will finally exit the Network Ten program on Friday.

In a show of respect, a group of young and old tuba players gathered in Sydney's CBD yesterday, playing the show's theme song. The stunt was part of the I (Heart) Harold campaign being run on the web. Fans of the show want people to vote for Smith to win the Gold Logie this year.

Tom Jones, Rick Astley boost NEIGHBOURS' Harold for gold Logie
International celebrities have joined fans in a campaign to farewell Neighbours veteran Ian Smith with a gold Logie.

Tom Jones and Rick Astley are among celebrities who have sent best wishes for his retirement and have backed an I Heart Harold gold Logie campaign being run on the NEIGHBOURS website.

"I was never going to give you up but you're off anyway - best of luck," Astley said.

Jones said, "Harold, good luck in the future from me, Tom Jones - we're gonna miss you."

EASTENDERS co-stars unite to pay tribute to Wendy Richard
Gillian Taylforth, who played Kathy Mitchell alongside Richard for 13 years, said she was "the loveliest of ladies and a dear friend".

"I remember going out with her many times and she made the most wonderful chilli with chocolate in it from a recipe from a chef at the Dorchester and used to make up an extra batch for me as I loved it so much," Taylforth said. "She was very generous like that, and had a great sense of humour."

Todd Carty, the actor who played Richard's on-screen son, Mark Fowler, said: "Wendy was a fantastic lady, not only to work with as an actor but especially as a friend. She had a heart of gold and always fought my corner on-set and off."

FLASHBACK: Quinn Redeker 1989

Writer rides career's twists and turns

By Mark Dawidziak
Knight-Ridder News Service
June 25, 1989

A funny thing happened to Quinn Redeker on his way to becoming a comedian.

The Illinois native discovered he wasn't very funny and switched to acting.

A funny thing happened to Redeker while he was working on his acting career. He received an Oscar nomination as co-author of the script for The Deer Hunter (1978).

After deciding to be a writer, though . . . well, you guessed it. Another funny thing happened.

Redeker's work as Rex Sterling on the CBS soap opera THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS brought a daytime Emmy nomination.

Continue reading...


"I write," Redeker said during an interview in Cleveland.

"The soap opera supports the writing. The acting also supports my four kids and the four different colleges they're in.

"The soap opera is 20 minutes of work a day so I can spend the rest of the time writing 10 pages a day in my dressing room.

"No, acting isn't very fulfilling, but, gee, it's a great buck. At least acting is fun, and a soap opera gives you something new every day."

If not prompted by a question, Redeker may not mention acting, awards or THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. He'd rather talk about the economy and the ecology.

"The most acute problem by far is the ecology," Redeker said. "The Deer Hunter discussed important issues.

"It's time to move on to other issues. I'm looking at new ground, and I have five scripts in various stages of development.

"After The Deer Hunter, Hollywood bought my next five scripts, then didn't make them. This time, I won't sell one unless I can direct it."

A graduate of Queen Anne High School in Seattle, Redeker became a stand-up comic in the '60s.

Redeker switched to acting when he began studying with renowned drama coach Sandy Meisner.

"With comedy, the gratification is immediate," Redeker said. "It was fun, but I got a part in a film and had children to support."

The acting jobs kept coming.

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS star has appeared in 15 feature films, including Airport, The Andromeda Strain, Ordinary People, The Electric Horseman and The Candidate.

His acting credits also include roles in 125 episodes of such series as THE ROCKFORD FILES and KOJAK.

More on Jeff Burton's GH Appearance

NASCAR's Jeff Burton drives into Port Charles and the daytime drama GENERAL HOSPITAL in an episode that airs WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18.

In the storyline, Burton visits neighborhood tavern Jake's, where he's having a conversation about racing with bartender Coleman (Blake Gibbons) when Dr. Patrick Drake (Jason Thompson) arrives. Despite being a race car enthusiast, Drake does not recognize the 21-time winner on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition, and a comedic beat ensues.

Burton will also be seen on ABC later this year as the network televises the final 11 races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, starting with the September 12 event at Richmond, Virginia. ABC has the live coverage of all 10 races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, which determines the NASCAR champion.

News Round-up

Teri Hatcher had "fun" kissing Eva Longoria
Usmagazine.com caught up with the DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES star over the weekend at an Oscar bash, and she talked about her upcoming show smooch with costar Eva Longoria Parker.

"I did not kiss her. She kissed me," Hatcher told Us. "We had fun."

SOD: Daytime Emmy Update
"There will definitely be a broadcast and it will be a cool event!" confirms an insider. The nominations will be announced for the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy awards in late April. The broadcast is slated for early June."

EDITOR'S NOTE: "Insiders" have talked to a number of soap websites and blogs recently, or are anonymously posting around the internet. I don't visit them, but are the talk show and game show and court show websites discussing this as much? Their shows are part of the Daytime Emmys too. By the way, I read another "insider" saying yesterday that the show definitely would not be in June. Who do we believe?

GUIDING LIGHT's Jeff Branson to star in "The Short Bus" reading
Branson (Shayne) will join Kelli Porterfield and Nedra McClyde in a reading of The Short Bus by Adrian Palacios at 8pm on Thursday, March 5 at the LGBT Center in New York.

The play, to be directed by Fritz Brekeller, tells the story of a brilliant, over-achieving orphan whose confession to an affair with a special ed student shatters the lives of everyone riding a short school bus home from a show choir competition. For more information, visit www.gaycenter.org.

Paul Fitzgeral makes another GUIDING LIGHT appearance
Fitzgerald returns as Reva’s doctor, Colin McCabe, on Wednesday, March 4.

Brittany Snow joining GOSSIP GIRL spin-off
The former GUIDING LIGHT actress will play young Lily.

Did new relationships hurt UGLY BETTY?
"BETTY began the season with promise, but after the first four weeks the series began to run off the rails. Too much of the story took place outside of Mode. Or when it was at Mode it was too much about relationships. But the relationships have been total snoozers. The show has given us no reason to care about Wilhelmina (Vanessa Williams) and her guy or Daniel (Eric Mabius) and his girl because the new love interests were not well drawn. These characters have little personality or appeal."

TV.com Launches iphone Application

TV.com, CBS Interactive's recently re-launched video site, has launched an application for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch devices.

The free app will feature full episodes, clips, news and information on the shows featured on the site.

The launch is significant because the streaming of free, full length episodes has the potential to eat into sales on Apple's own iTunes store, which sells many of the same programs for $1.99 a piece.

Among the programs available through the app are CSI, CSI: MIAMI, NCIS, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and classics such as MACGYVER, BEVERLY HILLS 90210 and STARK TREK.

There is currently a similar application available for the iPhone and iPod Touch from competing video site Joost. Hulu, the NBC-Universal/News Corp. joint venture video site, does not have a dedicated application, although its CEO Jason Kilar has hinted that one may be in the works at last year's NAB Show.

Locklear and Wagner Get "Reality Check"


"Reality Check," a new collection of contemporary realist paintings by Laurent Dareau, Malcolm Liepke, Frank Ryan, and Taylor Montague debuted at the LA Art house. Mergie Perenchio and Carole Bayer Sager hosted the opening which was attended by a number of celebrities including Joan Collins, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Tiegs.

In the photo above, the hosts pose with former DYNASTY and MELROSE PLACE star Heather Locklear and Jack Wagner from THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL.

Last year it was reported that the MELROSE PLACE remake would pursue Locklear, but to date only Michael Rady has been cast in the pilot.

News Round-up

Sara Foster joins 90210 cast, Green next?
Foster has been cast as Naomi's sister, Jen. She'll debut in April and make a beeline for Mr. Matthews. Also, word around the Peach Pit is that producers are once again pursuing Brian Austin Green for an episode.

90210 to honor late director
The show is dedicating the March 12 episode to its late, beloved director Kim Manners, who passed away on Jan. 25.

INTERVIEW: B&B's Dan Martin (Brad)
"It was gratifying to be nominated [for an Image Award] and recognized by peers but I do what I do to create art. To what accomplish what I have coming from cold mining territory outside of Pittsburgh, PA is unfathomable to become a soap star and movie actor."

HOLLYOAKS to explore HIV discrimination
HOLLYOAKS is famous for tackling real-life issues, and the teen soap is set to explore prejudice towards HIV sufferers next week. Viewers were appalled a few months ago when Malachy Fisher was diagnosed with HIV but continued to have unprotected sex with then girlfriend Mercedes McQueen, who was oblivious to his condition.

After a turbulent few months the couple reunited and married shortly afterwards. However, the subject of Malachy's condition will come up once again when it emerges that Myra McQueen is scared she could catch the virus by simply touching her new son-in-law.

Glen Wallace, who plays Malachy on the Cheshire-set soap, feels the storyline has been a long time coming. He said: "HOLLYOAKS has a track record of tackling big issues, be it Nico's [Newt's] mental illness or the bulimia storyline we had quite recently. The HIV storyline is relevant to today's youth culture, and as they're the ones watching the show we can tackle the issues in a sensitive way."

HOLYOAKS boys to play Chestnut Tree House charity football match in Worthing
For one day only, television heart-throbs will be strutting their stuff on the pitch at Worthing Football Club. Male stars from the popular Channel 4 soap HOLYOAKS have agreed to play a charity match against staff from Worthing-based telecommunications company, Systemcare. Hollyoaks actors including Ricky Whittle, who plays Calvin, Chris Fountain, who plays Justin, and Stuart Manning, who plays Russ, will make up an 11-man team.

More on the upcoming GREEK season
Michael Ausiello reports: "Bummed that Rusty and Dale are no longer roomies? You're going to be very pleased with what happens in the closing minutes of episode 4. Also, get ready for Rebecca Logan: Double Agent."

EASTENDERS' Wendy Richard Has Died

Actress Wendy Richard, best known for her portrayal of Pauline Fowler in the long-running soap opera EASTENDERS, died on Thursday at the age of 65, her agent said.

Newspapers have reported that the actress was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer last year that attacked her kidney and spread to her bones and underwent chemotherapy.

The agent had no further details.

Richard's earlier roles included that of sales assistant Miss Brahms in the TV sitcom ARE YOU BEING SERVED?.

PREVIEW: Tonight's UGLY BETTY

"Things Fall Apart" - Betty makes a surprising discovery when an assignment from YETI finds her and Marc analyzing Mode's budget for the past year. Meanwhile she has to deal with increased attention from Matt (Daniel Eric Gold) and the knowledge that old flame Henry has posted some unexpected news on Facebook, on ABC's UGLY BETTY, tonight (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

UGLY BETTY stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Judith Light as Claire Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. Rebecca Romijn is a recurring guest star as Alexis Meade.

Guest starring are Bernadette Peters as Jodie, Grant Bowler as Connor Owens, Sarah Lafleur as Molly, Lauren Velez as Elena, Daniel Eric Gold as Matt, Laura Heisler as Jenny and Chris Northrop as the blonde Modie.

"Things Fall Apart" was written by Henry Alonso Myers and directed by Tom Verica.

Today's Soap Star Birthdays

John Bolger (ex-John, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Phillip, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Gabe, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Garrett, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 55
Christopher Maleki (ex-Spike, PASSIONS; ex-Taylor, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Ben, PORT CHARLES; ex-Cole, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 45
Greg Rikaart (Kevin, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 32

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

News Round-up

DEGRASSI co-creator celebrated as maverick
DEGRASSI co-creator Linda Schuyler is being recognized with the Female Eye Maverick Award. The prize is a newly created honour by the Female Eye Film Festival, an annual Toronto showcase of features, short films and documentaries by female directors.

Campbell execs to make ALL MY CHILDREN cameo
While some executives sign off on integration deals, few are expected to actually play themselves as part of the branded move. Yet two Campbell's Soup heads will do just that, appearing as themselves on ALL MY CHILDREN this Thursday.

The appearance is the lynchpin in a three-show integration with ABC Daytime. Campbell's media agency, Mediaedge:cia, brokered the deal, developed by ABC Sales' integrated-marketing and promotion division.

"ABC Daytime delivered a strategic media solution to Campbell's heart-health marketing objective, and we are thrilled to see all four daytime shows working in unison to support this very important initiative," said Mike Shaw, ABC Television's president-sales and marketing, in a statement.

Deep Soap: Everybody Hates Reese
"ALL MY CHILDREN's writing staff has finally seen the light. Reese is not the world’s most awesome lesbian. She’s not even a lesbian. Watching the entire town of Pine Valley line up to take pot shots at her serves as the show’s mea culpa to the audience for shoving the unlikable pathetic character down our throats for months."

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: DAYS' Kenny Jezek (Lars)
Kenny Jezek, who played Lars Englund on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, has formed Command Performers, a Valley-based theater troupe. Jezek has connections in the Christian film community - specifically Advent Film Group ­- and wants to get some of his performers apprenticeships or small parts in movie projects.

Jezek, whose wife, Karen, was also a former soap star, spent many years in TV, movies and musicals, playing the role of someone else. His goal with his newly formed troupe is to give others a firm foundation in that arena - in a family-friendly environment.

"I want to keep it where a person can go and watch and not feel like, 'Oh, I wish they hadn't said that or done that,'" Jezek said.

INTERVIEW: DAYS' John Callahan (Dr. Baker)
"Dr. Baker the Baby Maker has a nice ring to it. I don't know what they will do with me. The writers are very mum about it and play their cards close to the vest. I really, honestly, don't know where they are going to go with the character, but they do have some talented writers on the show and Gary Tomlin is a great executive producer. I am looking forward to reading what is next! I hope you and the fans will be pleased with what comes next."

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: James Goodwin (ex-Kevin, AW; ex-Johnny, GL)
"I am now living in Austin, TX with Michelle, my wife of 25 years, my sons Zane, a sophomore in genetic engineering at St. Edward’s University, and Ben, a Junior in High School, and my two Welsh Pembroke Corgis, Oscar and Ellie. I now perform on a regular basis at the Zachary Scott Theatre (zachtheatre.org) and am currently performing in the World Premiere production of Steven Dietz’s 'Shooting Star' which runs until April 5. Although acting is my hobby now, it is what gives me true joy."

Morgan Freeman Sued Over Car Crash (Drinking?)

A woman who was Morgan Freeman's passenger in an August car crash sued the Oscar winner for negligence on Wednesday and said she wants to clear her name from claims she was his mistress.

Demaris Meyer, the passenger, also said that despite media reports to the contrary, she and former ANOTHER WORLD star Freeman met the night of the accident at a country club, where they dined with mutual friends, and that she was not in a romantic affair with him.

Continue reading...


"I have been labeled as the 'other woman' and have been accused of having caused the breakup of Mr. Freeman's marriage. Nothing could be further from the truth," Meyer said at a news conference in Los Angeles.

She is represented by celebrity attorney Gloria Allred.

Meyer's lawsuit was filed on Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi Delta Division. The crash happened the night of August 3, 2008, near a home that Freeman keeps in Charleston, Mississippi, when he lost control of his Nissan Maxima and it struck a ditch and rolled over.

"We are confident this will all be resolved," said Ken Sunshine, a spokesman for Freeman. "We have no further comment on the current litigation."

Meyer said she was riding with Freeman that night because they were going to his ranch, since it was closer to her work than a friend's home where she originally planned to stay. She said the actor assured her she would not only have her own bedroom at the ranch, but "her own house."

"He was a perfect gentleman and I accepted his offer," said Meyer, who lives in Tennessee, north of Freeman's Mississippi home.

Meyer's lawsuit also accuses Freeman of drinking before taking the wheel, but Mississippi authorities have not charged him with driving under the influence.

Freeman, 71, was hospitalized for four days after the collision, and his injuries included a broken arm and elbow.

Meyer was airlifted to a hospital and suffered numerous injuries, including a blow to the head resulting in cognitive difficulties and short-term memory loss, her lawsuit states. She has not returned to work as an executive assistant.

Meyer's lawsuit accuses Freeman of negligence for failing to properly operate the car, and she is seeking unspecified damages in an amount to be proven at trial to cover medical expenses and her permanent disability, among other things.

At the time of the crash, Freeman was separated from his wife of 24 years and was in the midst of a divorce, which has not yet been finalized.

Freeman won an Oscar in 2005 for his supporting role in Clint Eastwood's boxing drama "Million Dollar Baby."

Is OLTL The Best Soap You're Not Watching?

It is according to TV Guide Canada's Nelson Branco.

In a new feature out today he provides 14 reasons to check out the show.

Where do you think Tuc Watkins ranks on the list?

FLASHBACK: 1st Annual Youth in Film Awards 1980

The first Youth in Film Awards ceremony took place in 1980 and honored the best young actors in television and film. The awards are now called the Young Artist Awards. Back then there were categories specifically for young daytime performers.

The nominees that year were:

BEST JUVENILE ACTRESS IN A DAYTIME SERIES
Tracey Bregman, DAYS OF OUR LIVES (Donna Craig)
Genie Ann Francis, GENERAL HOSPITAL (Laura Webber)
Natasha Ryan, DAYS OF OUR LIVES (Hope Williams)

BEST JUVENILE ACTOR IN A DAYTIME SERIES
Shawn Campbell, THE DOCTORS (Billy Aldrich)
Meegan King, DAYS OF OUR LIVES (Pete Curtis)
Mikey Martin, DAYS OF OUR LIVES (Dougie LeClair)

Bregman and King took home the honors that first year. Bregman has gone on to decades of soap success on both THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. She won a Daytime Emmy award in 1985 as Outstanding Ingenue. Bregman won another Youth in Film award in 1984.

Francis is one of the great soap icons and finally earned an Emmy of her own in 2007. She won a Youth in Film award in 1981.

The other nominees have very few credits after their soap stints and none have any listings on IMDB after 1987.

Shawn Campbell, who played Billy Adrich before Alec Baldwin on THE DOCTORS, also had a memorable run as Ricky Donnelly on LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING. His mother was played by the legendary Beverlee McKinsey. He died in 1993 at the age of 34. He

News Round-up

Top 10 Blogs for Soap Fans
I was asked to be a "guest author" on blogs.com and name the top soap blogs. My choices are listed in alphabetical order.

Michael Rady cast in MELROSE pilot
Michael Rady, who starred in both GREEK and SWINGTOWN, is the first actor to sign on for The CW's remake of MELROSE PLACE. Rady will play Jonah Miller, a cute and quirky 25-year-old aspiring filmmaker who films weddings and bar mitzvahs.

INTERVIEW: Y&R's Sharon Case (Sharon)
"It’s stress that causes her to do weird things and panic. These are really extreme circumstances, where people can blank out or do things unlike themselves, or freak out. They even could go blind, temporarily. I heard someone who was having a nervous breakdown got hysterical blindness in real life. I know of people who have gone blind from stress or illness, and things can happen temporarily to you. With Sharon, she does not remember moments of time, here and there."

GL's Stunt Coordinater does "Hamlet"
In preparation for Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School's Performing Arts upcoming production of "Hamlet," acting students were given "hands on" combat instruction by internationally acclaimed Fight Choreographer Rick Sordelet.

Sordelet was delighted to take a break from his busy schedule to be a guest artist for the highly touted Performing Arts Honors Program at the school.

He was the stunt coordinator for the films The Game Plan, Dan in Real Life and Hamlet and is the chief stunt coordinator for GUIDING LIGHT.

MY Sun's Top 10 Soap Stars
Readers of The Sun voted on their favorite UK soqp stars.

BBC's first ever all-black episode of EASTENDERS watched by 8.4million viewers
The show which included references to civil rights leader Martin Luther King and racism showed an increase of over one million viewers in comparison to last Tuesday's episode. And this week the show was up against Champions League football on ITV1 rather than it's usual ratings rival EMMERDALE.

Charlie Brooks "blessed" to be back on EASTENDERS
EASTENDERS star Charlie Brooks (Janine) has said she feels "blessed" to be back on the soap. The 27-year-old actress returned to Albert Square at the end of last year after almost five years away from the show.

Charlie said on THIS MORNING: "I'm so happy. I feel blessed to have a job in the current economic climate and things are falling into place for me. I love the EastEnders cast. I was 17 when I first joined and a lot has changed since then, but Janine is still as fun to play."

Television's quiet gray revolution
For years the all-consuming emphasis on reaching adults under 50 has imposed dictatorial constraints on TV casting, prompting a Logan's Run-like effect that expunged older performers. Look closely, though, and you'll notice a new wave of dramas is producing what amounts to a mini grey revolution, virtually waged on the sly.

30th Annual Young Artist Award Nominations

The Young Artist Foundation has announced the nominees for the 30th Annual Young Artist Awards. The foundation honors "young artists under the age of 18 in television, motion pictures, theater and music." The winners will be announced on Sunday, March 29, 2009 at the Globe Theater at Universal Studios.

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SERIES - Recurring Young Actor
Eddie Alderson (ONE LIFE TO LIVE)
Preston Bailey
Aaron Hart
Mick Hazen (AS THE WORLD TURNS)
Joey Luthman
Dylan Minnette
Terrell Ransom Jr. (DAYS OF OUR LIVES)
Connor Stanhope
Austin Williams (ONE LIFE TO LIVE)

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SERIES - Recurring Young Actress
Kristen Alderson (ONE LIFE TO LIVE)
Danielle Hanratty
Haley Ramm
Christina Robinson
Erin Sanders
Kieman Shipka
Mackenzie Smith
Brittany Underwood (ONE LIFE TO LIVE)

OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERFORMERS IN A TV SERIES
THE BILL ENGVALL SHOW - TBS
Skyler Gisondo, Graham Patrick Martin, Jennifer Laurence

CORY IN THE HOUSE - Disney Channel
Jason Dolley, Kyle Massey, Madison Pettis, Jake Thomas

iCARLY - Nickelodeon
Miranda Cosgrove, Nathan Kress, Jeanette McCurdy, Noah Munck

ONE LIFE TO LIVE - ABC
Eddie Alderson, Kristen Alderson, Camila Banus, Carmen Lo Porto, Austin Williams

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SERIES (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actor
Jake T. Austin
Jamie Johnston (DEGRASSI)
Nathan Kress
Graham Patrick Martin
Nat Wolff

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SERIES (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actress
Miranda Cosgrove
Miley Cyrus
Selena Gomez
Taylor Momsen (GOSSIP GIRL)
Vanessa Morgan
Shailene Woodley (THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER)

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SERIES (Comedy or Drama) - Supporting Young Actor
Moises Arias
Mark Indelicato (UGLY BETTY)
Skyler Gisondo
Ryan Malgarini
Larramie Shaw

RELATED:
- Full list of nominess.

"SoapStock Weekend" Coming April 3-4, 2009

"SoapStock Weekend" benefitting Love Our Children USA will take place April 3 and 4 at the Villa Roma Resort & Conference Center in Sullivan County, New York.

Several stars from the New York soaps have graciously given their time to make "Soaptock Weekend" a star studded weekend for daytime TV fans to remember.

Schedule of events:

Friday Evening, April 3rd – Meet and Greet The Soap Stars

Saturday Afternoon, April 4th – Join Love Our Children USA in celebrating the Sixth Annual National Love Our Children Day. It’s a great time for parents and kids to spend together with fun activities.

Saturday Evening, April 4th – Q & A With The Soap Stars and a very special performance by these talented celebrities to honor children and raise funds for Love Our Children USA in efforts to keep America’s children safe www.loveourchildrenusa.org.

The following stars have been confirmed:

ALL MY CHILDREN
• Jacob Young (JR)
• Chrishell Strause (Amanda)

AS THE WORLD TURNS
• Billy Magnussen (Casey)

GUIDING LIGHT
• Kim Zimmer (Reva)
• Caitlin VanZandt (Ashlee)
• Robert Newman (Josh)

ONE LIFE TO LIVE
• Ilene Kristen (Roxy)
• Mark Lawson (Brody)

GL Casting News - Manhattanites Connection

Lev Gorn and Uma Incrocci play Mr. and Mrs. Kovac, a couple who give GUIDING LIGHT's Mallet and Dinah trouble in Bosnia on Wednesday, March 4. Gorn previously appeared as Anatoly on AS THE WORLD TURNS.

In between those gigs, Gorn (pictured in the black t-shirt) starred as one of the leads in my film, Manhattanites, which will be released this spring. Gorn played Blake Whitney, the closeted head of a conservative "family" magazine, who fell in love with up and coming singer, Matt Malone, played by former ONE LIFE TO LIVE star Forbes March. Unfortunately, he was dating entertainment lawyer Marilyn Marsden at the time (play by the sensational Ilene Kristen), which didn't go over very well as you can imagine.

FLASHBACK: Missing Videotape Aids Slipping Soap 1983

MISSING VIDEOTAPE AIDS SLIPPING 'SOAP'

By Sandra Earley
Miami Herald
August 5, 1983

NEW YORK -- A press agent of the old publicity-stunt school couldn't have planned a better TV promotion.

Last weekend, somebody stole -- or misplaced -- the only two videotapes of Thursday's episode of NBC's bottom-rated soap opera SEARCH FOR TOMORROW.

Police were called in. Rumors flew like New York litter in a March wind. Some said the tapes were simply mislabeled, but lost forever among thousands of tapes at the West 81st Street studio. Others said a disgruntled employe stole them, or was it the scorned boyfriend of a cast member?

Whatever happened, the show would have to go on at 12:30 p.m. EDT, and would be played live for the first time in 14 years. There simply wasn't time to retape.

The news media smelled a good story and descended on the broadcast in a way usually reserved for No. 1-rated GENERAL HOSPITAL on ABC or the Who Shot J.R.? days of CBS's DALLAS.

The Latest in Soap Videos

Here are some of the latest soap videos to hit the web.

OTALIA: Natalia slept with Frank on Tuesday's GUIDING LIGHT but wasn't happy about it.

RICK VS RIDGE: These two half-brothers can't stop fighting on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL.

GOODBYE BIANCA: Reese said a tearful goodbye to Bianca on Tuesday's show.

BOOM SHAKA LAKA: I love Crystal Hunt but not liking Stacy so far on ONE LIFE TO LIVE.


News Round-up

EASTENDERS coy about first all-black show
Viewers of EASTENDERS were treated last night to a unique storyline that involved a detailed and occasionally moving discussion of racist bigotry in Fifties Britain.

The BBC may say it is surprised at criticism that it underpromoted a televisual first: the first episode of the long-running soap to feature an all-black cast. The truth is that this reflective episode was undersold for fear of incurring the wrath, and race-baiting fury, of the redtop newspapers.

The BBC is adamant that it had no idea that the episode coincided with the tenth anniversary of Sir William Macpherson’s report into the death of Stephen Lawrence.

All-black EASTENDERS Makes Soap History - As in Lesson
Perhaps the most surprising thing about last night's episode of EastEnders was not the fact that it had an all-black cast, but that this was the first time this had happened in the soap's 23-year history. Here is a show that claims to represent life in the heart of multicultural London, which has put out thousands of hours of television - and yet it has taken more than two decades to dedicate a full 30 minutes to a black family.

According to the EASTENDERS press office, the episode was neither a political statement nor a conscious decision to right past wrongs. The episode was simply "Patrick Trueman sharing his experiences of being a young man living in 1950s Britain with the family he lives with (the Foxes), which does mean it's an all-black cast on screen ... This is no different to other episodes where we've concentrated on one particular family or storyline in the past."

Angry Viewers: Black EASTENDERS is racist
The BBC has been accused of racism after last night’s EastEnders showed almost exclusively black characters. Viewers from different backgrounds hit out at the “politically correct propaganda”.

The one-off show focused on the black Trueman and Fox families after it is revealed dad Patrick (Rudolph Walker) was arrested for assault in the 1958 Notting Hill race riots. Three white male extras made very brief appearances halfway through the episode, in separate scenes in the cafe and in the Queen Vic. All of the main characters were black.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Y&R's Donnelly Rhodes (ex-Phillip)
Rhodes feels fortunate to have earned a living working close to home in his later years. Canada's film and TV production industry works on a small scale, in part because there isn't enough money in domestic film distribution and TV advertising to sustain a larger industry.

The real opportunities -- and most of the well-paying jobs -- are in Los Angeles. That is why so many young Canadian actors try their luck there first, as Rhodes did early in his career, when he landed make-or-break roles in THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and SOAP.

Rhodes says he watched the Academy Awards, but in general he's not one to obsess over which actor wins which award in any given award show.

"I really think there should be an award for the best actor in a lousy script," he said. "That would be worth winning. Basically, it's about the script. If you have a really good part, any decent actor is going to look pretty good in it."

Grace Kelly to join CORONATION STREET?
Katherine Kelly's sister is in talks to join CORONATION STREET. Grace Kelly, 19, is being lined up to play the sister of Katherine's character Becky Granger in the ITV soap after she impressed bosses during an audition for another part.

A source said: "Grace came to audition for a small role and blew bosses away. She's as quirky as Katherine and she's a cracking little actress. However, they couldn't give her the part because she just looks too much like Katherine. It's uncanny. It's been agreed that if she joins the cast, she's going to have to play one of Becky's relatives, maybe even her sister. Sisters playing sisters would be a CORONATION STEET first."

CBS takes TV.com international
The battle between CBS's TV.com and Hulu has heated further with the former opening up some of its online video content to international audiences. CBS fell out with Hulu last week when the NBC Universal-News Corp joint venture pulled its programming from TV.com in a move the Eye claimed "contravened its contractual rights".

While Hulu has been working hard on its international expansion strategy but remains accessible only to US internet users, CBS has now made some of its TV.com content available to overseas surfers, albeit only clips. Classic shows such as BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 and MELROSE PLACE are now accessible globally via TV.com, which recently relaunched following CBS's purchase of the site as part of its US$1.8bn CNET buy-out last summer.

Lindsay Price joins WITCHES OF EASTWICK pilot
The Warner Bros.-produced EASTWICK follows three young witches who come into their powers. WMA-repped Price will play one of them, Joanna, a hardworking, shy reporter for the local newspaper. She joins Jaime Ray Newman, who was recently cast as a fellow witch. Price's casting on EASTWICK is formally in second position to LIPSTICK JUNGLE, which has not been canceled. The show, which wrapped its second season, has developed a passionate fan base but has lagged in the ratings.

INTERVIEW: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS' Scott Porter (Jason)
On my FNL has never found an audience: "There’s so many things you could say. You could blame it on marketing. You could blame it on timeslot or any number of excuses. I think at the end of the day we made it how we wanted to make it. You wish that it could be received as well. But the critical praise that we’ve had has been astounding. Everybody who watches the show absolutely loves it. I’ve never met anybody who said, 'I watched an episode but it just wasn’t my thing.' There’s nothing we can do about the ratings. Nothing we can control about it. I don’t know the real reason. It’s slightly disappointing because I would love the show to go on forever. But we fought for our life every year. I think we’re leaving a legacy that far outweighs ratings. I wouldn’t have it any other way."

Cady McClain on the times we are living in
"It’s an interesting time we are in. Frankly I am trying not to watch too much news, as it just seems to get worse and worse, and the media seems hysterical about every moment. I do have faith that there are good people in this world, and that we can all help each other if things get rough."

SoapFest Brings Stars to Marco Island For Fundraiser

The 11th annual Southwest Florida SoapFest returns May 2 and 3 to bring the best of daytime television's soap opera stars to Marco Island to raise funds for local children's charities.

Actors from ALL MY CHILDREN, AS THE WORLD TURNS, GENERAL HOSPITAL and GUIDING LIGHT will mingle with Southwest Florida residents and visitors for a weekend of non-stop fundraising events. Since 1998, Marco Island has welcomed more than 60 actors to Southwest Florida, including Kim Zimmer, Robert Newman, Jordan Clarke, Walt Willey, Jon and Kelley Hensley, Broadway's Laura Bell Bundy and film actresses Brittany Snow and Hayden Panettiere.

Mr. Willey — well known as heartthrob Jackson Montgomery on ABC-TV's ALL MY CHILDREN — will once again headline and act as master of ceremonies for SoapFest 2009 festivities, including the actor-favorite Art 4 Autism, a SoapFest program pairing daytime actors painting alongside children and young adults — many who have autism or other special needs.

A rundown of events...


Saturday, May 2 - A Night of Stars

Southwest Florida SoapFest 2009 kicks off with A Night of Stars. Guests enjoy up close and personal time with residents of television's Springfield, Oakdale, Pine Valley and Llanview.

This intimate and upscale event sells out quickly, with tickets costing $100 per person — including bar beverages and catered buffet by one of the area's top chefs. Special limited VIP tickets are available at $150 and guarantee seating with one of your favorite actors. Additional special ticket packages are available at www.SoapFest.com.

Saturday, May 2 - Celebrity Bartender Bash

The fun continues later that evening with our "Off the Hook" annual Celebrity Bartender Bash. Back by popular demand, this karaoke event will showcase celebrities singing their hearts out and serving refreshments to raise funds. This year's new feature is a festive "bottle grab" game. Tickets cost $40 each. Discounted tickets are available when combined with tickets to the "Night of Stars" event.

Sunday, May 3 - Cruisin' Boozin' & Schmoozin'

An afternoon of Cruisin' Boozin' & Schmoozin' With The Stars launches aboard the beautiful Marco Island Princess. This event always sells out and provides the perfect opportunity to mix with daytime's best during a sightseeing tour of beautiful Marco Island in a tranquil and intimate environment. Opportunities for autographs, photos, games, raffle prizes and auction items abound. Cruise tickets cost $75/person and space is limited. This event includes buffet lunch and entertainment.

Sunday, May 3 - Golfing with the Stars

If cruising isn't your thing and you prefer golf, you can tee off with one of your favorite actors for a "private" oneon one game. Spaces are limited and only serious golfers are wanted. E-mail [email protected] if you're interested.

For ticket or sponsorship information, e-mail [email protected]. Tickets may be purchased online at www.SoapFest.com or by calling 394-4559.

News Round-up

Larry Hagman Among Texas Film Hall Of Fame Honorees
Former DALLAS star Larry Hagman will be one of the honorees at the Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards. The Austin Film Society said Tuesday that other honorees at the March 12 event include Billy Bob Thornton, Powers Boothe, Catherine Hardwicke and the film Rushmore, whose award will be accepted by Luke Wilson.

Presenters will include Dennis Quaid, John Cusack, Keith Carradine and Linda Gray, who will be presenting the award to Hagman, her TV husband. Cast members from television's FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS including Kyle Chandler, will be special guests.

Hard Knocks Hollywood: Eric Braeden
On his beginnings at Y&R: "I hated it the first three months. I wasn’t comfortable playing an almost cartoonish bad character. And they had a producer who insisted on every line being said verbatim, and I said even Shakespeare didn’t do that, you must be kidding me.

Afer a year, I said I wanted out. And then they fortunately changed producers. Bill Bell, who was the head writer on our show, imbued my character with a background that made sense, that explained why my character was as rough and as hard nosed and as ruthless as he was.

It was a very emotional scene that explained to the audience why I was who I was. It was a story about my having been left at an orphanage at the age of seven, and you either go under when that happens or you become strong and tough and you don’t trust anyone but you at least show enormous vulnerability at certain times.

The moment I did that scene I said now I know I’m going to stay, and now I can play things I’ve never been able to play before. I knew that I would start a whole new career."

INTERVIEW: Y&R's Beth Maitland (Traci)
The Emmy winning sometimes star of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS was a guest on "Brandon's Buzz" on Tuesday afternoon.

Fox Reveals Development Slate Early To Advertisers
Fox is out this week updating media agencies about its programming plans for May. Chairman of Fox Broadcasting, Entertainment, Peter Liguori, together with entertainment president, Kevin Reilly and ad sales president Jon Nesvig hosted a number of sessions for agencies at News Corp’s headquarters; the latest was Tuesday.

Fox is the first broadcast network to give agencies a comprehensive presentation of its programming plans, though NBC shared its updated slate at the Super Bowl with those advertisers attending. Official development meetings, traditionally held in March, were wiped out last year as a result of the writers’ strike.

GREY'S: Does Meredith have another MIA sibling?
Is Grey's Anatomy giving Meredith another long-lost sibling -- this one a byproduct of her mother's affair with the Chief? The latest Ausiello TV has the answers.

TV GUIDE: GUIDING LIGHT reunited the Four Musketeers
GUIDING LIGHT is about to stage its own Big Chill. Back in the mid-1980s, Phillip, Beth, Rick and Mindy were known as the Four Musketeers, and they were the hottest young characters in soaps--so hot that GL pushed GENERAL HOSPITAL from its top spot in the ratings during their heyday. Now the show is bringing the pals back together for their 25th high-school reunion. The three-day event (March 6, 9, 10) marks the return of Krista Tesreau, the original Mindy, who admits to a few jitters.

"I was worried the four of us might not blend the way we used to and have the same chemistry," she says. "But when we got together, it seemed like no time had passed at all and the old magic was still there. Better yet, I still fit into my old prom dress!"

"The show pulled out all the stops to restage our disco prom," says O'Leary, whose character pulled out a few things of his own. "Rick tries some Bee Gees moves on the dance floor with Mindy. His back goes out. His knees go out. He's doubled over in pain. I think the fans are gonna love it."

A former soap hairdresser's takes up backstage at the Oscars
Scott Taylor (former hairdress for Y&R and GH) was the key hairdresser for the 1991, 1992, and 1993 Academy Award Shows.

“It is probably the most organized chaos you have ever seen in your life,” Taylor laughs.

As the primary hairdresser, Taylor would make sure the dancers, the presenters, and the Oscar girls were prepared and he had to be available for any stage side emergencies. Hair emergencies, you might ask?

“I have the perfect example,” Taylor explains, adding that one year, actress Kathy Bates emerged from a limo where someone had opened a bottle of champagne on the way to the show. “Half of her hair was done and the other half of her hair was totally drenched and she was supposed to be on stage in 6 minutes,” he says.