Catching Up With Denise Alexander: The PRETTY Interview, Part 4

In Parts One and Two and Three of our interview with Denise Alexander, the legendary actress spoke about her early career on radio and television, her early soap roles including DAYS OF OUR LIVES, her brilliant run on GENERAL HOSPITAL, and her stint at ANOTHER WORLD. In Part Four below, Alexander talks about meeting PRETTY creator Steve Silverman, working on PRETTY Season Two, and discusses the solid foundation her parents gave her which she credits with helping her have a lasting career as a working actress.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Let's talk about how your role on PRETTY came about.
Denise Alexander: I met Steve [Silverman, creator of PRETTY] because he worked on GENERAL HOSPITAL. Do you want to know how Steve and I got together?

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Of course!
Denise Alexander: This kid called me and he was like 24 years old or something and said, "I have a play I've written and I want you to come and do it." And I said, "Who the hell are you? I don't think so." I used to get a lot of inquiries like that. Here's some kid who has really never done anything except be an intern at GENERAL HOSPITAL and wants me to come and do a play with him, and he was going to also direct and produce it. He was nice to talk to on the phone so I said I would read the script. And I read the script and fell madly in love with it. I was then kind of in my producing mode and said that I wanted to option it. This little punk kid said to me, "If you act in it, you can option it." The nerve of him [laughs]! So I said yes. But I made him suffer, waiting until the last minute. Now we've become great friends, and that's how I wound up in PRETTY.

WATCH: EMPIRE Season 3 Episode 3 "Strange Bedfellows"

The latest episode of EMPIRE features references to GENERAL HOSPITAL, Salem, Tina Sloan's "Changing Shoes" and much more. Find out what shocking news Sandra Haven has learned below.

Finola Hughes Takes Stab at Action Films in Special Ops

Finola Hughes, perhaps best known for her Emmy winning portrayal of Anna Devane on the soap operas GENERAL HOSPITAL and ALL MY CHILDREN, has entered into the realm of action movies. Finola stars in the recently released, Special Ops, a film about an American Marine fighting to clear his name and save the lives of millions when top secret weapons fall into the wrong hands.

WATCH: ANACOSTIA Season 2 Episode 6 "One For The Road"

ANACOSTIA is back today with a brand new episode. Catch up on the drama below.

WATCH: PRETTY Season 2 Episode 4

The Champagnes arrive at the new and improved Miss Star Eyes Pageant on the latest episode of PRETTY. Watch it below.

NEWS: Kristoffer Polaha, Amber Tamblyn, James Franco, Message Soaps

Amber Tamblyn to young actors: Soaps are good start as long as long as you don't have "soap opera-ish acting"
“I try not to give advice because I feel like you can really lead someone astray,” she said. “All I tell actors is that it’s really a very difficult industry and you need to be ready to be rejected 5000 times over and over again. The rejection part of it can be rough. I think I also tell people to look at soap operas first. It’s one of the best mediums to get your foot in, as long as you don’t start having soap opera-ish acting. You have to be careful to stay out of the melodrama of it but as an exercise, as a way to be on the set every day and exercise your emotional intelligence, I think it’s a very, very good way to start out in the business. They do open casting all the times. Getting out of soaps is the hard part but I feel if I can do it, anyone can.”

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL For Two More Years

On the heels of giving THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS a three year renewal, CBS has also renewed sister soap THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL for two more years through the 2012-2013 season.

Eva Longoria Producing Texas Border Soap For ABC

Deadline.com is reporting that DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES star Eva Longoria and COLD CASE's Kathryn Morris have teamed up as producers for SENDERA, a Texas border town soap that is in the works at ABC.

SENDERA, from Unbelievable, Morris' Hotplate Prods. and ABC Studios, is described as a modern day Shakespearean drama about two wealthy families, one from Texas the other from Mexico, locked in a struggle for power, land, sex and legacy. Morris developed the project with Alan Barnette, Josh Gold and Sally Robinson, with Robinson set to write the script. Morris, Barnette and Robinson are executive producing with Texas born-and-raised Longoria and Unbelievable's Virginia Trinkle.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Kevin Conroy (ex-Jerry, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Bart, DYNASTY; ex-Chase, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) - 55
David Lee Russek (ex-Sean, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Chip, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Christos, GUIDING LIGHT) - 42
Jessalyn Gilsig (Terri, GLEE; Jessalyn, IMAGINARY BITCHES; ex-Gina, NIP/TUCK; ex-Shelley, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) - 39
Christel Khalil (Lily, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 23

CBS Y&R Renewal Press Release

CBS's THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, television's #1 Daytime Drama, has been renewed through the 2013-2014 season.

"THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS has been the #1 daytime drama on television for more than two decades, as well as an enduring symbol of CBS's success in the daypart," said Barbara Bloom, Senior Vice President, Daytime, CBS.

Y&R Renewed For Three Years!

Good news for viewers of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and all soap fans alike.  The 37 year old show was given a three year renewal today!  According to the official CBS Twitter account:

Hey Young & the Restless fans - TV's #1 daytime drama has been renewed for three more years!

This isn't just great news for fans of Genoa City. This vote of confidence for daytime's number one rated soap bodes will for the future of the genre as a whole. After learning of renewals of ONE LIFE TO LIVE and DAYS OF OUR LIVES, can soap fans sleep easier?

You can read more info at Deadline.com.

So what do you think Y&R needs to do to remain on the air past the next three years? What changes need to be made, or what needs to be kept the same? Please let us know what you think in the comments below.

James Franco To Co-Host Oscars With Anne Hathaway

James Franco and Anne Hathaway will co-host the 2011 Oscar ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced. Telecast producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer have decided to continue the two-host trend from last year’s show, when Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin shared emceeing duties.

Are Sesame Street and GENERAL HOSPITAL the same show?

I recently had the opportunity to read the fascinating book "Street Gang: The Complete History Of Sesame Street" by Michael Davis.  It traces the origins of the groundbreaking children's show, as well as the backstage politics and issues that have surrounded the show since its inception.  While enjoying this history, I couldn't help but notice some similarities between this show and the ABC soap GENERAL HOSPITAL.  It may sound strange, but let the evidence speak for itself:




GENERAL HOSPITAL                                              SESAME STREET
-Responded to ratings decline in late '90s by                -Responded to ratings decline in late '80s by
 retooling show around fan fave Sonny                         retooling show around fan fave Elmo
-Takes place in New York                                            -Takes place in New York
-Introduced first HIV+ mobster named Stone               -Introduced first HIV+ muppet named Kami
-Dealt sensitively with real-life loss of John                  -Dealt sensitively with real-life loss of Will Lee
 Beradino (Steve)                                                        (Mr. Hooper)
-Ignored tragic off-screen death of Shell                      -Ignored tragic off-screen death of Northern
  Kepler (Amy) in 2003                                                Calloway (David) in 1990

VOTE: Indie Soap of the Week Poll

Which indie soap was your favorite last week? Support your favorite continuing drama and vote in the weekly WE LOVE SOAPS TV poll below. Check back on Wednesday morning for the results (voting ends Wednesday at 9 a.m. ET). Only the shows that aired one or more new episodes from November 21-27, 2010 are listed. Based on release schedules, the shows in the poll will change weekly.

If an indie soap aired this week and is not on the list, feel free to cast your vote as "Other" and add a note in the Comments section of this post.



Watch this week's indie soaps below:
- AGENT LING Episode 5 "Betrayal"
- AS THE CORN GROWS Episode 57
- DAZE Episode 3 Part 1
- DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM Season 3 Episode 2 "Struggling or Surviving"
- I BREATHE THIS Episode 6 "Power Move" (explicit)
- MONTREAL HEARTS Episode 11 "Milk"
- ORANGE JUICE IN BISHOP'S GARDEN Episode 3.3 "Escape to Candyland"
- THE RENFIELD SYNDOME Episode 9
- TRAILER MADE Webisode 3
- TRANSITIONS Episode 4
- VENICE Season 2 Episode 6 (subscription)
- VENUS SPA Episode 2.9 "Posse Eating!"

Leslie Nielsen Dead at Age 84

Leslie Nielsen, best known for his work on Airplane!, passed away on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the age of 84 after being treated for pneumonia. Among his more than 200 television and movie roles was a run on PEYTON PLACE in the 1960s.

VOTE: Daytime Soap of the Week Poll

Which daytime soap was your favorite the week of November 22-26, 2010? Vote in the weekly WE LOVE SOAPS TV poll below and check back on Wednesday morning for the results.

Voting ends at 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

Free Web poll for your Web site - freepolls.com

Today's Soap World Birthdays

John Ashton (ex-Mickey, DOCTORS/ex-Cahill, EASTENDERS) - 62
Charles Grant (ex-Grant, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Evan, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Preacher, THE EDGE OF NIGHT; ex-Connor, SANTA BARBARA) - 53
Kim Delaney (ex-Jenny, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 52
Jane Cameron (ex-Nancy, ANOTHER WORLD)

Today's Soap World Birthdays

James Karen (ex-Linc, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Dr. Burke, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 87
Jeffery Byron (ex-Jeff, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Richard, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Mark, PORT CHARLES; ex-Chuck, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Vincent, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 55
Gina Tognoni (Sami, VENICE; Kelly, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Dinah, GUIDING LIGHT) - 37
Don Money (ex-Brian, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES/ROCKLAND COUNTY; ex-Rob, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 31
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (ex-Jessica, PASSIONS) - 26

WE LOVE SOAPS TV Interview Archive: Lane Davies

Lane Davies is beloved by soap fans for his brooding, complex, and hysterical portrayal of Mason Capwell on SANTA BARBARA.  He is also regarded by critics as one of the greatest actors in daytime history.  But how does this acclaimed thespian perceive his life and career?  Please join us for this interview from August, 2010,  in which Lane Davies discussed his roles on stage, daytime, and the exciting new web series THE BAY.

In Part One - The acclaimed actor of the hit webseries THE BAY discussed his drive to perform, and how that drive led to his first daytime role on DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

In Part Two - Davies shared memories of his time as Mason on SANTA BARBARA, as well as revealed his turbulent relationship with his SB costar Nancy Lee Grahn.

In Part Three - Davies recalled his decision to leave SANTA BARBARA, his never having been nominated for an Emmy, and the dumbing down of network television.

In Part Four - Davies discussed his time on GENERAL HOSPITAL, his new role on THE BAY, and making peace with Nancy Lee Grahn.  Plus, who did he almost play on GUIDING LIGHT? Find out here!

Damon L. Jacobs is a Licensed Therapist now accepting new clients in New York City.  He is also the author of the popular book "Absolutely Should-less: The Secret to Living the Stress-Free Life You Deserve." For more information about scheduling an appointment, please email him at Shouldless@gmail.com.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Joseph Campanella (ex-Harper, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Joe, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Jonathan, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 83
A Martinez (ex-Ray, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Cruz, SANTA BARBARA; ex-Roy, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 62
William Fichtner (ex-Rod/Josh, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 54
Robert Doran (ex-Jamie, ANOTHER WORLD) - 51
Fisher Stevens (ex-Henry, RYAN'S HOPE) - 47
Sean Kenniff (SURVIVOR; ex-Doctor, GUIDING LIGHT) - 41

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Marcy Walker (ex-Liza, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Eden, SANTA BARBARA; ex-Tangie, GUIDING LIGHT) - 49
Brandon Buddy (ex-Cole, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 25

WE LOVE SOAPS TV Interview Archive: Ken Corday

Happy Thanksgiving! To celebrate this special day we wanted to revisit our interview with the man who truly knows the definition of family business.  Please join us for this special interview in which the executive producer of DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

Ken Corday is known as many things to many people. But as revealed in his new book, "The Days of our Lives: The True Story of One Family's Dream and the Untold History of Days of our Lives," there is an undeniable emotional gravitas and spiritual thread that his parents infused in DAYS from the very start 45 years ago,  and which continues to this day.

In Part One - The executive producer describes his "mistakes" running DAYS, his tentative relationship with new media, as well as his revealing book "The Days of our Lives: The True Story of One Family's Dream and the Untold History of Days of our Lives."

In Part Two  - Corday discusses the need to protect DAYS from network "sharks", as well as how he copes with the breadth of negative criticism he receives. What does he think is the biggest misconception about him? Find out here.

In Part Three He shares his reasoning behind DAYS rise in the ratings in 2009, as well as the history of back-burnering older characters prior to 2010.  Which DAYS actress does he consider a "sister"? Find out here.  

In Part Four - He discusses his brother's chronic mental health issues, and the future of DAYS (including good news for "Magic" fans!). 

Damon L. Jacobs is a Licensed Therapist now accepting new clients in New York City.  He is also the author of the popular book "Absolutely Should-less: The Secret to Living the Stress-Free Life You Deserve." For more information about scheduling an appointment, please email him at Shouldless@gmail.com.

Charlie Holliday (ex-Dr. Campbell, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 71 Paul Copley (ex-Ivor, CORONATION STREET; ex-Ted, DOCTORS) - 65

Charlie Holliday (ex-Dr. Campbell, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 72
Paul Copley (ex-Ivor, CORONATION STREET; ex-Ted, DOCTORS) - 66

NEWS: Darren Criss, Jessica Tuck, Shonda Rhimes, Joan Collins

Viewers May Be Willing to Watch More Ads Online. Lots More.
Research conducted by Turner suggested that programmers could surround online streams of shows with even more ads than TV broadcasts have. The research comes at a pivotal time for programmers like Turner, which would like to extend TV-style ad loads to the Internet. Turner and others are slowly extending their programs to the Internet for existing cable and satellite subscribers only, a concept sometimes called TV Everywhere. Heavier ad loads and restricted access will go a long way toward bringing TV on the computer in line with TV on the living room set.

Thorsten Kaye Is Still The "Occupant" Of Our Hearts - Part Four

In Parts One, Two  and Three, the outspoken actor discussed his role in the upcoming thriller Occupant, working with Van Hansis, as well as his indelible roles on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, PORT CHARLES, and ALL MY CHILDREN.  In this final part he reveals what "embarrassed" him in his career, struggles of acting on soaps, as well as his future goals.  Is Patrick Thornhart about to rise from the dead in Llanview? Find out below:   

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Why will the fans who miss you on daytime want to see Occupant?
Thorsten Kaye: I hope people go and see it.  Not for me so much, but because the story is so good, and it is written so well.  It’s  a spooky little ride, you will want to get on it.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: I remember part of what made Jaws so scary was that we didn’t see the shark.   
Thorsten Kaye: They had a shark but it wasn’t working right.  It would probably look silly by today’s standards.  But your imagination is so much more vivid than anything we can put on the screen.  That’s what Occupant is about.  There is not a lot of gore.  There’s a little bit, but for the most part it is the thought of it that gets bigger and bigger. 

Bradford Anderson Joins Steven Weber TNT Pilot

According to Deadline.com, Blake Clark, Brett Rice, GENERAL HOSPITAL's Bradford Anderson and Rhea Seehorn are set as the supporting cast of TNT's untitled Allan Loeb pilot. Based on Marshall Karp's novel "The Rabbit Factory," the Allan Loeb project centers on recently widowed police detective Mike Lomax (former AS THE WORLD TURNS actor Steven Weber) and his newly married partner, Det. Terry Biggs (D.L. Hughley). Rice will play their boss. Clark will play Lomax's father-in-law who serves as his surrogate father. Seehorn will play a hot and smart medical examiner. Anderson will play a top computer investigator working at the homicide offices.

DARK SHADOWS Lives On In New Audio Version Starring Original Cast

DARK SHADOWS, television’s legendary Gothic soap opera is set for a resurgence of interest in 2011, as director Tim Burton starts work on a big screen remake starring Johnny Depp. But the legacy of the original ABC‐TV series is alive and well, continuing in a series of brand‐new audio dramas from Big Finish Productions, starring the classic cast, produced under official license from Dan Curtis Productions.

Since 2006, Big Finish has released over 20 new stories, featuring DARK SHADOWS favorites such as David Selby (Quentin Collins), Lara Parker (Angelique), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) and a special one‐off return from Jonathan Frid as vampire Barnabas Collins. Each story is presented in radio play format, with state‐of‐the‐art sound design and effects, backed with original music scores, including classic compositions by original composer Robert Cobert.

2nd Annual GENERAL HOSPITAL & Fan Build Day Dec. 4

On Saturday, December 4th, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. GENERAL HOSPITAL cast members, fans and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) homeowners will come together to help with construction on a Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles home. On July 30, 2010 registration opened for fans to purchase opportunities to build alongside their favorite General Hospital cast members with 100% of the proceeds going towards the home’s funding. All donations toward “The House That General Hospital Fans Built” are welcome. From $5 that will buy a box of nails to $1500 that will provide enough drywall for an entire home, visit http://bit.ly/ghfanbuild10 to support "The House That General Hospital Fans Built.”

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Roscoe Born (ex-Mitch, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Trent, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Tom, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Jim, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Joe, RYAN'S HOPE; ex-Quinn, SANTA BARBARA; ex-Warden, PASSIONS; ex-Adamski, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 60
Wortham Krimmer (ex-Andrew, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Cal, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 59
Lisa Howard (ex-April, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Meg, RYAN'S HOPE) - 47
Garret Dillahunt (ex-Charlemagne, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 46
Katherine Heigl (Izzie, GREY'S ANATOMY) - 32
Sarah Hyland (ex-Heather, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Rain, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Karen, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Ali, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 20

RESULTS: Indie Soap of the Week Poll

Here are the results from the WE LOVE SOAPS TV "Indie Soap of the Week" poll for the week of November 14-20, 2010. THE BAY remained in the top spot for the week with VENICE a close second. DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM returned and landed in third. EMPIRE, VENUS SPA, FAMILY DINNER, MONTREAL HEARTS and THE OMEGAS all had good showings and finished in the 4-8 positions. If you're a fan of any of these shows, we encourage you to check out some of the other series you may not have watched yet.

Rank/Show (Last Week/Weeks in Top 3)
1. THE BAY (1/7)
2. VENICE (2/13)
3. DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM (-/4)
4. EMPIRE (4/10)
5. VENUS SPA (-/0)
6. FAMILY DINNER (-/0)
7. MONTREAL HEARTS (5/2)
8. THE OMEGAS (-/1)
9. WALL ST. MANOR (-/0)
10. PRETTY (6/0)
11. SMILE & NOD (-/0)
12. AS THE CORN GROWS (-/11)
13. SNOW-WIGHT AND THE STRIPPER (-/0)
14. VAMPIRE ZOMBIE WEREWOLF (-/0)
15. THE BEST FRIEND (12/1)
16. PLACES PLEASE (10/3)
17. COLLEGE (11/1)
18. ORANGE JUICE IN BISHOP'S GARDEN (8/0)
19. 4B (-/0)
20. CELESTE BRIGHT (-/1)
21. DAZE (13/0)
22. I BREATHE THIS (14/0)
23. MY GHOST SISTER & ME (-/0)
24. THE RENFIELD SYNDOME (20/0)

Indie soaps that aired one or more episodes last week were eligible. Check back on Saturday when this week's polling begins and keep supporting your favorite indie shows by voting. But more importantly watch them and spread the word.

Watch last week's indie soaps below:
- 4B Episode 3
- AS THE CORN GROWS Episode 56
- CELESTE BRIGHT Episode 10 "No Regrets"
- COLLEGE Episode 204 "Sitcom Scenario A"
- DAZE Episode 2
- DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM Season 3 Premiere
- EMPIRE Episode 3.2
- FAMILY DINNER Episode 5
- I BREATHE THIS Episode 5 "It's Real Now!" (explicit)
- MONTREAL HEARTS Episode 10 "Poker"
- MY GHOST SISTER & ME Season 2 Episode 1 Part 2
- ORANGE JUICE IN BISHOP'S GARDEN Episode 3.2 "Mom + Dad are OK & the Kids Are Alright"
- PLACES PLEASE Episode 3.3 "Whose Whine Is It Anyway"
- PRETTY Season 2 Episode 3
- SMILE & NOD Episode 1
- SNOW-WIGHT AND THE STRIPPER Episode 4 "RATS"
- THE BAY Chapter 2 Webisode 8
- THE BEST FRIEND Episode 10 "The Perfect Woman"
- THE OMEGAS Episode 6 "Location 47"
- THE RENFIELD SYNDOME Episode 7
- VAMPIRE ZOMBIE WEREWOLF Episode 3 "Vampwardly Mobile"
- VENICE Season 2 Episode 6 (subscription)
- VENUS SPA Episode 2.8 "Take my trainee, PLEASE!"
- WALL ST. MANOR Episode 3 "Mark Rio"

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Jerry verDorn (Clint, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Ross, GUIDING LIGHT) - 61
Maxwell Caulfield (Mark, EMMERDALE; ex-Jim, CASUALTY; ex-Pierce, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Miles, THE COLBYS/DYNASTY; ex-RYAN'S HOPE) - 51
Sara Jane Henriques (ex-Tina, ALL MY CHILDREN)

NEWS: Ryan Kwanten, CBS Character Drama, Hatcher, Buffy, 101, Dolan

Changing TV Finances Behind CBS Move to Tweak Genre With Deeper Plots
CBS asked for an intriguing tweak in primetime: Place heavier emphasis on the characters. "We were willing to take this in a direction where it was more strongly procedural, and they were the ones who pushed it in this direction," said Robert King, co-creator of THE GOOD WIFE.

Thorsten Kaye Is Still The "Occupant" Of Our Hearts - Part Three

In Parts One and Two of our interview with Thorsten Kaye, the beloved actor discussed his role in the  new film Occupant, his experience working with Van Hansis, the Bianca/Reese wedding on ALL MY CHILDREN, as well as how soaps fumble by focusing on explosions.  In this part, he reflects on his time on PORT CHARLES, his passionate fan following, and why he chose to left AMC. What does he think of "Zendall?" Find out below.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: On PORT CHARLES, you came on as Ian Thornhart, Patrick’s brother, originally as a doctor who worked for a Doctors Without Borders type organization, then ended up fighting vampires.
Thorsten Kaye: Yeah, he had gotten bit by one vampire and everything changed.  But like all good drama it comes down to relationships, doesn’t it?

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: It does, but that’s where PORT CHARLES lost me a viewer. 
Thorsten Kaye: I think that soap was a little bit before its time.  You turn on anything now and you see vampires and superheroes.  If you are watching the [Washington] Capitals and are expecting to have fist fights, that’s not going to happen.  You watch soaps because you want what you want.  In our defense, our show was dying and they had to do something.  They thought, “Why don’t we do something radical and see if it sticks?” We were the only ABC soap nominated for an Emmy that year [2003].  So somebody was watching and somebody got it.  I don’t know that I necessarily agreed with it and liked it, but I understood it. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Did you enjoy the supernatural aspect of storytelling?

NEWS: Daniel Benzali, Teri Hatcher, Kimberlin Brown, Larry Bryggman

Kimberlin Brown still enjoys acting (and golf)
"I’m really loving South Africa. The people are great. It’s going to be really sad leaving to go back to Los Angeles (today),” said Brown who was appearing at the Gary Player Invitational golf tournament. "I still enjoy acting but I’m also very involved in American Airlines Celebrity, which supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Susan G Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer."

RESULTS: Daytime Soap of the Week Poll

Here are the results from the WE LOVE SOAPS TV "Daytime Soap of the Week" poll for the week of November 15-19, 2010. GENERAL HOSPITAL jumped from worst to first for the week finishing just ahead of ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

Rank/Show (Last Week/Weeks in Top 3)
1. GENERAL HOSPITAL (6/5)
2. ONE LIFE TO LIVE (1/56)
3. DAYS OF OUR LIVES (2/52)
4. ALL MY CHILDREN (4/15)
5. THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (3/28)
6. THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (5/3)

Check back on Friday when this week's polling begins.

Aldersons & Gatschet To Appear at Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade

ABC Daytime and SOAPnet's Soap Nation tour, in conjunction with WPVI-TV, bring ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Kristen & Eddie Alderson and ALL MY CHILDREN's Stephanie Gatschet to the 6ABC Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day parade on Thursday November 25th airing live from 8am to noon. Along with riding on a parade float, Kristen Alderson will be singing “Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree” and co-hosting a few segments of the parade.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Mariel Hemingway (ex-Stephanie, CENTRAL PARK WEST) - 49
Winsor Harmon (Thorne, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Del, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 47

TRIVIA: Harmon was born on the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

Daytime Stars in Primetime Shows: A Guest Star List

WE LOVE SOAPS TV is keeping a running list of soap stars who are guesting on primetime shows. Below is the latest list of stars who will be making guest stints on primetime shows in the coming weeks and months.

NOVEMBER
22 HOUSE - Amber Tamblyn (recurring role)
22 HAWAII FIVE-0 - Colin Egglesfield
23 NCIS - Michael Nouri
23 GLEE - Carol Burnett
23 NCIS: LOS ANGELES - Chris L. McKenna
23 THE GOOD WIFE - Scott Porter / Dreama Walker (recurring roles) / Reiko Aylesworth
29 LIE TO ME - Michael B. Jordan
30 GLEE - John Stamos (recurring role)
30 LIFE UNEXPECTED - Robin Thomas (recurring role)

DECEMBER
2 THE VAMPIRE DIARIES - Bryton James (recurring role)
2 PRIVATE PRACTICE - JoBeth Williams
3 MEDIUM - Kathy Baker

NEWS: Jason Tam, Alison Sweeney, Soapstar Spectacular, J-P Lavoisier

Daytime soaps come to life on Strand
About 250 fans gathered Saturday during a VIP event at Myrtle Beach Convention Center to meet some of CBS' most popular daytime soap stars.

"They're in my living room, and no one calls at that time as they know I'm watching it or I won't answer the phone," said Y&R fan Kathy Whisnant as she waited to see "Adam" and "Phyllis" at Saturday's Soapstar Spectacular.

30 YEARS AGO TODAY: Who Shot J.R.?

DALLAS revealed who shot J.R. 30 years ago today on the "Who Done It?" episode which aired November 21, 1980. Sue Ellen's sister was the culprit but she never went to jail. She was pregnant with J.R.'s baby. It was the highest rated television episode in US history at the time with a Nielsen rating of 53.3 and a 76% share. It was estimated that 83 million people watched.

Relive the big real below in this classic clip.

The Week in Review: Most Popular Posts

In case you missed them, here are the 15 most popular topics over the past week at WE LOVE SOAPS TV:

1.   Thorsten Kaye Is Still The "Occupant" Of Our Hearts - Part One
2.   Thorsten Kaye Is Still The "Occupant" Of Our Hearts - Part Two
3.   Catching Up With Denise Alexander: The PRETTY Interview, Part 3
4.   Give A Damn Campaign Releases New PSA About GLBT Homelessness

IMDB Starmeter

According to the Internet Movie DataBase (IMDB.com): "The STARmeter rankings provide a snapshot of who's popular based on the searches of millions of IMDb users. Updated weekly, these rankings also graph the popularity of people over time and determine which events affect public awareness."  Here is a listing of some present and past soap stars and their current ranking, as well as some public figures.  Do you agree with the list? Is Lisa Rinna really more popular than President Obama? Weigh in below.

 

1. Darren Criss (GLEE)

3. Leonardo DiCaprio (ex-SANTA BARBARA)

4. Johnny Depp (star of DARK SHADOWS movie)

9. Dot Jones (GLEE, VENICE)

11. Jill Clayburgh (ex-SFT)

19. Brad Pitt (ex-AW)

28. Amber Tamblyn (ex-GH)

54. James Franco (ex-GH)

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Juliet Mills (ex-Tabitha, PASSIONS) - 69
Rib Hillis (ex-Jake, PORT CHARLES; ex-Ethan, PASSIONS) - 40
Dahlia Salem (Claire, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Sofia, ANOTHER WORLD) - 39
Victoria Gabrielle Platt (ex-Vicky, GUIDING LIGHT) - 38
Brook Kerr (ex-Whitney, PASSIONS) - 37

VOTE: Indie Soap of the Week Poll

Which indie soap was your favorite last week? Support your favorite continuing drama and vote in the weekly WE LOVE SOAPS TV poll below. Check back on Tuesday morning for the results (voting ends Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET). Only the shows that aired one or more new episodes from November 14-20, 2010 are listed. Based on release schedules, the shows in the poll will change weekly.

If an indie soap aired this week and is not on the list, feel free to cast your vote as "Other" and add a note in the Comments section of this post.



Watch this week's indie soaps below:
- 4B Episode 3
- AS THE CORN GROWS Episode 56
- CELESTE BRIGHT Episode 10 "No Regrets"
- COLLEGE Episode 204 "Sitcom Scenario A"
- DAZE Episode 2
- DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM Season 3 Premiere
- EMPIRE Episode 3.2
- FAMILY DINNER Episode 5
- I BREATHE THIS Episode 5 "It's Real Now!" (explicit)
- MONTREAL HEARTS Episode 10 "Poker"
- MY GHOST SISTER & ME Season 2 Episode 1 Part 2
- ORANGE JUICE IN BISHOP'S GARDEN Episode 3.2 "Mom + Dad are OK & the Kids Are Alright"
- PLACES PLEASE Episode 3.3 "Whose Whine Is It Anyway"
- PRETTY Season 2 Episode 3
- SMILE & NOD Episode 1
- SNOW-WIGHT AND THE STRIPPER Episode 4 "RATS"
- THE BAY Chapter 2 Webisode 8
- THE BEST FRIEND Episode 10 "The Perfect Woman"
- THE OMEGAS Episode 6 "Location 47"
- THE RENFIELD SYNDOME Episode 7
- VAMPIRE ZOMBIE WEREWOLF Episode 3 "Vampwardly Mobile"
- VENICE Season 2 Episode 6 (subscription)
- VENUS SPA Episode 2.8 "Take my trainee, PLEASE!"
- WALL ST. MANOR Episode 3 "Mark Rio"

Thorsten Kaye Is Still The "Occupant" Of Our Hearts - Part Two

In Part One of our interview with Thorsten Kaye, the beloved and funny actor discussed his role in the new thriller Occupant, working with ATWT's Van Hansis, and the incidents and accidents that shaped his acting career.  In Part Two below, we delve deeper into the current state of daytime television, the misguided focus of "explosions" on soaps, what went wrong with the lesbian wedding on ALL MY CHILDREN, and reflections of his stint as Patrick Thornhart on ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: One of the reasons why I love soaps is because I believe they have to power to promote mental health and emotional resilience in a way that no other art form can. 
Thorsten Kaye: I think you’re right.  It’s a great platform for that.  But with that possible success comes possible failure.  I’ve been in story lines, and I know Van has [as Luke on AS THE WORLD TURNS], where that possibility was great, but the ball got dropped somewhere.  That is just as disappointing as it is rewarding when it does work. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: You’ve seen that happen in your roles?

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Robert Lipton (ex-Jeff, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 67
Sean Young (Martha, THE REPUBLIC; ex-Meggie, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 51
Ming-Na (ex-Lien, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 47
Jason Thompson (Patrick, GENERAL HOSPITAL/GH: NIGHTSHIFT; ex-Miles, UNDRESSED) - 34

VOTE: Daytime Soap of the Week Poll

Which daytime soap was your favorite the week of November 15-19, 2010? Vote in the weekly WE LOVE SOAPS TV poll below and check back on Monday morning for the results.

Voting ends at 9 a.m. ET on Monday.

Free Web poll for your Web site - freepolls.com

Terri Conn on Joining ONE LIFE TO LIVE

“I was watching the show on November 15th and it really hit me how fortunate I am to be on this AMAZING show!!!" said Terri Conn (formerly Colombino) on joining ONE LIFE TO LIVE in the role of Aubrey.

Soap Opera TV Ratings November 8-14

Compiled from a list of several Nielsen reports, here are the Nielsen ratings for the week of November 8-14, 2010 for all the daytime and primetime television soap operas. THE GOOD WIFE led all shows.

THE GOOD WIFE (12.327 million, 8.0/14)
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (11.921 million, 7.4/11)
GREY'S ANATOMY (11.127 million, 7.2/12)
GLEE (10.992 million, 6.3/10)
BROTHERS & SISTERS (8.595 million, 5.7/10)

Thorsten Kaye Is Still The "Occupant" Of Our Hearts - Part One

Fan favorite Thorsten Kaye is sadly leaving his six year role on ALL MY CHILDREN this week.  But soap viewers will be thrilled to know that he had teamed up with another fan favorite, Van Hansis, to star in the new feature film Occupant. Join me for this new interview in which we discuss his new role, how he felt about working with Van Hansis, and the life-altering accident that changed the course of his career.   

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: I’m so excited to speak with you.  I have enjoyed your work since your first  day on ONE LIFE TO LIVE as Patrick Thornhart and have enjoyed seeing your work evolve over the years. 
Thorsten Kaye: You need to get cable or something because there’s definitely other stuff to watch, but thank you.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Well, hopefully there’s going to be other stuff for me to watch with you in it.  We are so excited to see your new film after talking with Van Hansis last week. Tell me about your role in the film Occupant.
Thorsten Kaye: Tell me what Van said.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Glynnis O'Connor (ex-Margo/Dee, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 54
Allison Janney (ex-Ginger, GUIDING LIGHT) - 51
Meg Ryan (ex-Betsy, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 49
Nicole Forester (ex-Cassie, GUIDING LIGHT) - 38

ORDER: "The Survival of Soap Opera"

The Survival of Soap Opera: Transformations for a New Media Era" is now available at Amazon.com. Edited by Sam Ford, Abigail De Kosnik and C. Lee Harrington, the academic book, from University Press of Mississippi, is officially out on December 1.

The soap opera, one of U.S. television's longest-running and most influential formats, is on the brink. Declining ratings have been attributed to an increasing number of women working outside the home and to an intensifying competition for viewers' attention from cable and the Internet. Yet, soaps' influence has expanded, with serial narratives becoming commonplace on most prime time TV programs. "The Survival of Soap Opera" investigates the causes of their dwindling popularity, describes their impact on TV and new media culture, and gleans lessons from their complex history for twenty-first-century media industries.

I contributed an essay to this book entitled "AS THE WORLD TURNS' Luke and Noah and Fan Activism."(starts on page 293) A large number of wonderful soap journalists and critics and writers also contributed to the book including Patrick Erwin, Lynn Liccardo and Tom Casiello.

WATCH: DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM Season Three Premiere

DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM returned today with its Season Three premiere. We find Ocean and her family still reeling from the aftermath of Senior’s emotional and physical warfare. Ocean, Lupe and Peggy question their livelihood and how they’ll maintain a roof over their heads. Lupe’s health leaves her feeling especially vulnerable. Watch the Indie Soap Award winner for Best Indie Soap of 2009 below.


This weekend, while at the press junket, Robert Townsend announced that TV One wants to do a one hour special of DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM in January. Negotiations are happening now for the special which would gauge the audiences interest in the show.

NEWS: Beau Bridges, Leslie Uggams, Michelle Stafford, Joan Collins

Beau Bridges joins BROTHERS & SISTERS. Calista Flockhart to miss three episodes
Bridges will reunite with Norma Rae co-star Sally Field for a romantic arc. Also, Calista Flockhart will miss Episode 100 as part of a three episode break.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.30 Casey Deidrick & Camila Banus

On Episode 2.30 of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, Damon L. Jacobs and Roger Newcomb travel to the 3rd Annual Day of DAYS event and speak with DAYS OF OUR LIVES actors Casey Deidrick (Chad) and Camila Banus (Gabi).  Amongst many subjects covered, Deidrick discussed his thoughts on the possibility of "Chill."



If you are in the New York City area and would like to be in the audience during a taping of a future episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, email us at audience@welovesoaps.net and we will keep you posted on our upcoming schedule.

OTHER DAY OF DAYS INTERVIEWS:
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.10 Melissa Reeves & Ty Treadway 
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.11 Peggy McCay
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.12 Galen Gering & Chandler Massey
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.13 Aaron & Griffin Kunitz
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.14 Alison Sweeney
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.15 Renee Jones & James Scott
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.16 Lauren Boles & Terrell Ransom Jr.
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.17 Judi Evans & Wally Kurth
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.18 Crystal Chappell & Peter Reckell
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.19 Arianne Zucker & Eric Martsolf
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.20 Suzanne Rogers, John Aniston & Louise Sorel
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.21 Lauren Koslow & Joseph Mascolo
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.22 James Reynolds & Josh Taylor
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.23 Shelley Hennig & Mark Hapka
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.24 Molly Burnett & Shawn Christian
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.25 Bill & Susan Hayes
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.26 Jay Kenneth Johnson
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.27 Nadia Bjorlin
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.28 Carolyn & Campbell Rose
- DAYS OF OUR LIVES at NBC.com
- DAYS OF OUR LIVES on Twitter

Become a WE LOVE SOAPS TV Supporter!

Damon L. Jacobs is a Licensed Therapist now accepting new clients in New York City.  He is also the author of the popular book "Absolutely Should-less: The Secret to Living the Stress-Free Life You Deserve." For more information about scheduling an appointment, please email him at Shouldless@gmail.com

Eileen Fulton One Night Performance: "I Remember… or At Least I Try"

Eileen Fulton, star of the beloved CBS-TV soap opera, AS THE WORLD TURNS, is returning for one night only to Don’t Tell Mama on Friday, December 17th at 7:00 p.m. with a holiday show titled: "I Remember… or At Least I Try." The show will be directed by Diana Basmajian. Bob Goldstone is the Music Director with Tom Hubbard on Bass.

Fulton will add her signature flair to such classic standards as River, Blue Moon, and Stormy Weather, among others. She will also perform a special rendition of Santa Man a song in which she wrote music and lyrics.

Give A Damn Campaign Releases New PSA About GLBT Homelessness

The Give a Damn Campaign, a project of Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund, has released its latest video during National Runaway Prevention Month to raise awareness about homeless gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth. Eden Riegel, Susan Sarandon, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, Pete Wentz, and Cyndi Lauper speak up about the need to bring an end to this epidemic.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Anne Sargent (ex-Connie, THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS) - 87
Linda Evans (ex-Krystle, DYNASTY) - 68
Susan Sullivan (ex-Lenore, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Nancy, A WORLD APART; ex-Maggie, FALCON CREST) - 68
Peter Brouwer (ex-Alex, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Brad, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Joe, LOVE OF LIFE) - 65
Glenn Walken (ex-Mike, GUIDING LIGHT) - 65
Jameson Parker (ex-Dale, SOMERSET; ex-Brad, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 63
Gilles Kohler (ex-Gilles, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 62
Andrea Marcovicci (ex-Betsy, LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING) - 62
Shari Shattuck (ex-Ashley, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Heather, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 50
Paul Korver (ex-Chris, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 39

WATCH: THE BAY: Chapter 2, Webisode 8

THE BAY has released the final webisode of Chapter 2. Watch it below.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV Holiday Recommendation: The Corday Story

It’s not easy being Ken Corday.  On one hand you have the pride and burden of carrying a family legacy for over two decades.  On the other, you are constantly living in fear of a cancellation ax being wielded upon said legacy, as well as the knowledge that you sacrificed your own artistic hopes and dreams in order to make your parents’ creation thrive. 

These are just some of the challenges shared in the new book “The Days Of Our Lives: The True Story Of One Family’s Dream And The Untold History of Days Of Our Lives”.  This is an illuminating and powerful must-read for anyone who has ever watched DAYS, or for that matter, anyone who has ever put a family business in front of their own aspirations.  Say what you will about Ken Corday (as dozens of critics have).  But after reading this book one cannot deny the integrity, determination, and strength demanded of him to keep DAYS on the air, and keep network interference to a minimum.

NEWS: New DALLAS Details, DAYS Product Placement, Dracula, Sunjata

DALLAS 2011: Miss Ellie Dead, Bobby Remarried
TNT is currently negotiating deals with veteran Dallas stars Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray to head down south in early February to join a cast of hot, younger Ewings for a continuation of the 1978-91 primetime soap. And a lot has changed since we last visited with the Ewings in CBS's 1996 and 1998 reunion movies. For starters, Miss Ellie and Clayton are dead and buried on the ranch, reflecting the real-life losses of Howard Keel and Barbara Bel Geddes, and Bobby Ewing (Duffy) is remarried. But J.R. is still scheming and Sue Ellen has remained a powerful confidant and sober mother to all grown-up John Ross.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

James O'Sullivan (ex-Jerry, SOMERSET; ex-Jeff, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Ralph, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW; ex-Pete, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 66
William R. Moses (Morgan, THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER; ex-Cole, FALCON CREST; ex-Keith, MELROSE PLACE) - 51
Darian Weiss (ex-Will, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 18

NEWS: Mini GLEE, Greg Vaughan, Leona Lewis, Nia Long, Cara Buono

Kiddie GLEE Revealed
Here's a first look at Mini Finn, Sam, Kurt and Artie along with Rachel, whose Mini character is played by DAYS OF OUR LIVES actress Lauren Boles.

GLEE hasn't decided if Darren Criss will become Kurt's boyfriend
Ryan Murphy confirms Criss will be on the show "through the year and longer," but he hasn't determined his character's Blaine's role on the show. "I want to see what people’s reaction to that is," says Murphy. "Part of me thinks he should be the boyfriend, part of me thinks he should just be the mentor. I didn’t want to decide that until we got into sort of the middle of the season. We’re figuring it out now."

WATCH: PRETTY Season 2 Episode 3

Parker arrives, Allie Mac Kay and Kirsten Vangsness guest star, and Ethan's ready to tell Michael the truth on a brand new episode of the hysterical hit web series PRETTY. Watch it below.

DARK SHADOWS' Addison Powell Dead at Age 89

Addison Powell, 89, has passed away at his home in Vermont on November 8.

Powell was best known for playing the evil Dr. Lang, a mad scientist, on the ABC Daytime soap DARK SHADOWS as well as other characters including the ghost of Jeremiah Collins, one of Barnabas Collins' spooky relatives.

Born in Belmont, Mass. in 1921, Powell served in WW2 as a navigator in a B-17 bomber.

Pelphrey & Bledsoe Begin Filming Movie 'Junction' November 17

Camera’s will begin rolling on Wednesday, November 17 in Fort Lee, NJ as Tony Glazer’s Junction, gears up for a six week shoot, including large SWAT scene complete with helicopters and sirens, which is scheduled to shoot December 11 & 12.

Junction follows four strung-out meth-addicts who discover a dark secret about a homeowner during a burglary, pitting them not only against the police but against each other. And as they spiral out of control toward the explosive climax the lines blur between right and wrong until the final unexpected twist is revealed.

The Junction cast includes: David Zayas as Lt. Tarelli (SAG Award Winner, OZ), Michael O'Keefe as Walters (Academy Award Nominee Golden Globe Nominee), Anthony Rapp as Connor (Broadway’s "Rent"), Anthony Ruivivaar as Tai, Harris Doran as Spot, Tom Pelphrey as David (Two-time Emmy Award Winner for GUIDING LIGHT), Neal Bledsoe (GOSSIP GIRL; AS THE WORLD TURNS), Summer Crockett Mooore as Kari, Sharon Maguire as Jennifer, Makenzie Aladjem as Mia, Pat Patterson as Patrice (A Younger Man, The Night of the Iguana, The Job, Paramour), BRYAN DEEHRING as Bateman, Joanna Bayless as Mrs. Pendelson, Laurence Blum as Patrol Officer Laurant (ALL MY CHILDREN), Matthew Reines, Yvonne Jung as Reporter Sandra Wood.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV Holiday Recommendation: "Changing Shoes"

"The only thing that remains the same in this world is change."

I had a World History teacher in high school who often spoke this quote, referring to the fact that nothing in our world would ever be permanent, and the trick to survival was learning to adjust to change.  Tina Sloan (ex-Lillian, GUIDING LIGHT) has beautifully taken the lesson behind this quote and infused it with new energy and vitality in the inspiring new book, "Changing Shoes: Getting Older - NOT OLD - with Style, Humor, and Grace." 

Soap fans are well familiar with Tina Sloan's infectious positive attitude from her work on GUIDING LIGHT, as well her featured roles on the indie web series EMPIRE and VENICE. What you don't know is how this enduring talent has faced life's challenges and overcome adversities in order to learn, grow, and evolve.  She explains how at 67 years old she has had to frequently change roles in life, ie, "shoes", and despite painful setbacks has learned to thrive (and at times even sprint!).  Detailing her roles as actress, wife, mother, caretaker, marathon runner, and even mountain climber, Sloan reveals how she has overcome depression, ageism, caretaker fatigue, and burnout. Yet never at any moment does her writing decline into a "poor me" tone.  She continues to assert resilience, grace, and determination even in spite of challenging circumstances. 

As a male approaching 40 in this society, there are many valuable life lessons that I gained from reading this book.  Aging realistically presents all of us with limits, but at no point does it have to be a barrier to embracing new challenges, trying new things, and pursuing deeper fulfillment.  The physical act of changing shoes is a metaphor for giving ourselves solid and confident foundations to pursue new goals and dreams.  One never has to be a prisoner of their past, and never has to be afraid of the future.  Sloan offers myself and all her readers concrete step-by-step suggestions of how to keep our lives vital and replenishing at any age.

PHOTOS: Tina Sloan's "Changing Shoes" at the NY Public Library

Former GUIDING LIGHT star Tina Sloan never slows down. After her 26 year run on GL ended in 2009 she joined not one, but two indie soaps - VENICE and EMPIRE. Her Theodora Haven character on EMPIRE harkens back to her bitchy Kate Cannell on SOMERSET in the mid-1970s. But not only is she acting in indie soaps and films (Oh My Love), Sloan wrote a fabulous fast-selling book called "Changing Shoes: Getting Older - NOT OLD - with Style, Humor, and Grace" (see the WE LOVE SOAPS TV review here). She has traveled the country signing books and performing her one woman show of the same name. Former President George H. W. Bush even attended the show in Houston.

Last Tuesday Sloan spoke at the New York Public Library sharing stories from the book and taking questions from the packed crowd of fans. Tonight she will be doing a Talk Back after a performance of "Wings" at the Second Stage Theatre hosted by EMPIRE's brilliant creator Greg Turner. If you're in NYC or the vicinity be sure the check this out.

See more photos from the New York Public Library below.

RESULTS: Indie Soap of the Week Poll

Here are the results from the WE LOVE SOAPS TV "Indie Soap of the Week" poll for the week of November 7-13, 2010. THE BAY remained in the top spot for the week with VENICE a close second. VENICE has appeared in the Top 3 more than any other indie soap. ANACOSTIA placed in third while the sexy return of EMPIRE landed in fourth. MONTREAL HEARTS continued to do well in fifth place. PRETTY doubled its votes from last week and placed sixth. If you're a fan of any of these shows, we encourage you to check out some of the other offerings.



Indie soaps that aired one or more episodes last week were eligible. Check back on Saturday when this week's polling begins and keep supporting your favorite indie shows by voting. But more importantly watch them and spread the word.

Watch last week's indie soaps below:
- ANACOSTIA Season 2 Episode 5
- APT 1B Season 2 Episode 3
- BREAK Episode Zero
- COLLEGE Episode 203 "Randrew"
- DAZE Episode 1
- DIRTY SOUTH Episode 2
- EMPIRE Season 3 Episode 1
- GET FLOORED Episode 3
- I BREATHE THIS Episode 4 "What's Up Wit Ya Man?" (explicit)
- JOURNEYQUEST Episode 7 "Duplicitous Bastards"
- MONTREAL HEARTS Episode 9 "Mary & Nana"
- MY GHOST SISTER & ME Season 2 Episode 1
- ORANGE JUICE IN BISHOP'S GARDEN Episode 3.1 "The Friend Present"
- PLACES PLEASE Episode 3.2 "Whose Whine Is It Anyway"
- PRETTY Season 2 Episode 2
- THE BAY Chapter 2 Webisode 7
- THE BEST FRIEND Episode 9 "A Day Without"
- THE PARAGON Season 2 Episode 11
- THE RENFIELD SYNDOME Episode 5
- TRAILER MADE Webisode 2
- UNCLE FRANK'S Episode 3
- VAMPIRE ZOMBIE WEREWOLF Episode 2 "An American Zombie In London"
- VENICE Season 2 Episode 5 (subscription)

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Patricia Barry (ex-Sally, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Addie, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Carla, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Peg, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Isabella, LOVING) - 89
Marg Helgenberger (ex-Siobhan, RYAN'S HOPE) - 52
Maeve Quinlan (ex-Megan, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Betsy, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 46
Tricia Cast (Nina, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Christy, SANTA BARBARA) - 42
Tammy Lauren (ex-Maggie, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 42
Alexa Havins (ex-Babe, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 30
Kimberly J. Brown (ex-Marah, GUIDING LIGHT) - 26

WATCH: EMPIRE Season 3 Episode 2

An unwanted pregnancy, almost kissing cousins, an unexpected kiss and much more happen in the brand new episode of EMPIRE. Watch it below.

RESULTS: Daytime Soap of the Week Poll

Here are the results from the WE LOVE SOAPS TV "Daytime Soap of the Week" poll for the week of November 8-12, 2010. The top six remained unchanged for the week with ONE LIFE TO LIVE and DAYS OF OUR LIVES in a close race for the top spot.

Rank/Show (Last Week/Weeks in Top 3)
1. ONE LIFE TO LIVE (1/55)
2. DAYS OF OUR LIVES (2/51)
3. THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (3/28)
4. ALL MY CHILDREN (4/15)
5. THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (5/3)
6. GENERAL HOSPITAL (6/4)

Check back on Friday when this week's polling begins.

Catching Up With Denise Alexander: The PRETTY Interview, Part 3

In Parts One and Two of our interview with Denise Alexander, the legendary actress spoke about her early career on radio and television, hear early soap roles including DAYS OF OUR LIVES, and her brilliant run on GENERAL HOSPITAL. She also revealed how her guest appearance on the web series PRETTY came about. In Part Three below, Alexander talks about leaving GH, joining ANOTHER WORLD, and returning to Port Charles many years later.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: In 1984 the character of Lesley was killed off GENERAL HOSPITAL. Was it your choice to leave at that point?
Denise Alexander: I had been working a long time. I had a very strong contract and the network was cutting back on a lot of people and guarantees where you were going to get paid even if you didn't do the episodes. They were letting people go but they offered me a raise. Because I had been kind of a big noise in the field, and had a great agent who was very trend setting in how he negotiated for his clients, I had a three show guarantee. They could not book me for four shows more than half a dozen times a year. They had some storylines coming up and didn't want those restrictions.

WATCH: MISS BEHAVE Season Two Trailer

MISS BEHAVE returns for its second season starting December 16. Watch the trailer below.

New Trailer for MTV's SKINS

MTV's version of the UK's SKINS debuts on January 17, 2011. Check out the latest trailer below.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Brian Davies (ex-Dick, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Scott, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 72
Judith Chapman (Gloria, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Anjelica, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Ginny, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Charlotte, RYAN'S HOPE; ex-Natalie, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 65
Margaret Reed (Sheila, GOTHAM; ex-Shannon, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 54
Shailene Woodley (Amy, THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER; ex-Kaitlin, THE O.C.) - 19

GENERAL HOSPITAL To Use Enation Song on Tuesday

GENERAL HOSPITAL will use a song in Tuesday's episode from Jonathan Jackson's band Enation.

"Having GENERAL HOSPITAL use Enation's song 'Eyes Of Grace' is very exciting," says Jackson. "The producers of the show go to great lengths to make sure the characters and stories connect with the audience emotionally. Enation is thrilled to be a part
of that connection. We hope people love the song and download it -- it's one of
our favorites."

Download 'Eyes Of Grace' by Enation on iTunes: www.iTunes.com/enation.

Also, Jackson will be having a live Twitter chat on Tuesday evening at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Follow him at @JSJacksonWrites.

WATCH: Shirley Jones Guests on All-New FAMILY DINNER

Lauralee Bell's FAMILY DINNER is back today with a brand new episode, this time guest starring Shirley Jones. Jones plays a musical therapist who tries to help the family. Some familiar musical faces appear including Jordin Sparks, Rick Springfield, Chad Smith and Richard Marx. Watch the new installment of the Indie Soap Award nominated comedy below and be sure to rate it on funnyordie.com.

NEWS: Agnes Nixon Honored, Kyle Lowder, Coles Whalen, Silbermann

Agnes Nixon honored at Knock Out Abuse gala
"When Leslie Morgan Steiner -- a former [Washington] Post exec, now author of a memoir about her abusive first marriage -- took the stage, they grew respectfully silent. A career-achievement prize went to legendary soap opera producer Agnes Nixon (small world: she's the event chair's mother-in-law) which led to delicious video clips of Susan Lucci on a very special domestic-violence episode of ALL MY CHILDREN, and some charming anecdotes: The military wife ('it's Veterans' Day') who once called the producer and said she was refusing to ship out with her husband to Germany "unless you tell me what happens to Donna and Chuck!'"

For Michael Swan Audition Turns Into 'Old Home Week'

For Michael Swan Audition Turns Into 'Old Home Week'
By Tracie Powell and Angela Toszegi

What do Michael Swan, Robert Newman, Randolph Mantooth, and Mark Pinter all have in common besides the obvious? They all showed up for the same job interview last week. 

“Just came back from the ‘old home week’ audition of all time. All guys I've worked with over the years going back to prime time in the seventies,” said Michael Swan, who portrayed Duncan McKechnie on AS THE WORLD TURNS in the 1980s. 

Swan said he was at the audition with Newman (who portrayed the well-loved ‘Josh Lewis’ on GUIDING LIGHT) and they were talking about the ill-fated ‘Brad Green’ on GL and how Mark Pinter took over the part. “His name had no sooner left my lips then (Pinter) walked in the room,” Swan continued. “So great to see him; what a classy and great looking guy. I see Mantooth all the time at auditions, and we always tell each other, ‘if I don't get it, I hope you do!’ 

The Week in Review: Most Popular Posts

In case you missed them, here are the 15 most popular topics over the past week at WE LOVE SOAPS TV:

1.   WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.13 Aaron & Griffin Kunitz
2.   WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.18 Crystal Chappell & Peter Reckell
3.   WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.29 Van Hansis
4.   WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.14 Alison Sweeney

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Haila Stoddard (ex-Pauline, THE SECRET STORM) - 97
Meg Myles (ex-Mavis, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW; ex-Sid, THE EDGE OF NIGHT; ex-Joanna, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Mrs. Taggert, GUIDING LIGHT) - 76
Elizabeth Keifer (ex-Blake, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Connie, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Angela, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Sister Mary, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Amy, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 49
D.B. Sweeney (Carter, THE EVENT; ex-Michael, LIFE AS WE KNOW IT) - 49
Josh Duhamel (ex-Leo, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 38
Matt Cedeno (ex-Brandon, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 37

PHOTOS: Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo Operation Smile Event

Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo was in New York on Thursday for the "Glide into the 2010 Holiday Season" event sponsored by Oral-B Glide Floss. The program benefited Operation Smile by offering a day of free skating at New York's Wollman Rink in Central Park. Families were invited to Glide on the ice to raise money for Operations Smile and pledge not to forget their oral health during the holiday season.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.29 Van Hansis

On Episode 2.29 of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, Roger Newcomb welcomes actor Van Hansis, best known to soap fans for his three-time Emmy nominated performance as Luke Snyder on AS THE WORLD TURNS from 2005-2010. Hansis shares his thoughts on his career to date, offers a preview of his new film, Occupant, and talks about the future in this special interview conducted at the famous Bradbury Building in Los Angeles.



RELATED LINKS:
- Occupant - The Official Website 

If you are in the New York City area and would like to be in the audience during a taping of a future episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, email us at audience@welovesoaps.net and we will keep you posted on our upcoming schedule.

Become a WE LOVE SOAPS TV Supporter!

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Daytime Stars in Primetime Shows: A Guest Star List

WE LOVE SOAPS TV is keeping a running list of soap stars who are guesting on primetime shows. Below is the latest list of stars who will be making guest stints on primetime shows in the coming weeks and months.

NOVEMBER
14 BOARDWALK EMPIRE - Kathy Brier
15 GOSSIP GIRL - Luke Kleintank (recurring role)
15 HOUSE - Devon Woods
15 THE MIDDLE - Betty White
16 GLEE - Lauren Boles / Jake Vaughn

VOTE: Indie Soap of the Week Poll

Which indie soap was your favorite last week? Support your favorite continuing drama and vote in the weekly WE LOVE SOAPS TV poll below. Check back on Tuesday morning for the results (voting ends Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET). Only the shows that aired one or more new episodes from November 7-13, 2010 are listed. Based on release schedules, the shows in the poll will change weekly.

If an indie soap aired this week and is not on the list, feel free to cast your vote as "Other" and add a note in the Comments section of this post.



Watch this week's indie soaps below:
- ANACOSTIA Season 2 Episode 5
- APT 1B Season 2 Episode 3
- BREAK Episode Zero
- COLLEGE Episode 203 "Randrew"
- DAZE Episode 1
- DIRTY SOUTH Episode 2
- EMPIRE Season 3 Episode 1
- GET FLOORED Episode 3
- I BREATHE THIS Episode 4 "What's Up Wit Ya Man?" (explicit)
- JOURNEYQUEST Episode 7 "Duplicitous Bastards"
- MONTREAL HEARTS Episode 9 "Mary & Nana"
- MY GHOST SISTER & ME Season 2 Episode 1
- ORANGE JUICE IN BISHOP'S GARDEN Episode 3.1 "The Friend Present"
- PLACES PLEASE Episode 3.2 "Whose Whine Is It Anyway"
- PRETTY Season 2 Episode 2
- THE BAY Chapter 2 Webisode 7
- THE BEST FRIEND Episode 9 "A Day Without"
- THE PARAGON Season 2 Episode 11
- THE RENFIELD SYNDOME Episode 5
- TRAILER MADE Webisode 2
- UNCLE FRANK'S Episode 3
- VAMPIRE ZOMBIE WEREWOLF Episode 2 "An American Zombie In London"
- VENICE Season 2 Episode 5 (subscription)

NEWS: Marcil Giovinazzo, Charles Keating, Tina Sloan, MIchael Muhney

Y&R's Michael Muhney asks Raleigh fans not to grope him
“Don’t grope me,” Muhney said during a phone interview Friday afternoon with WRAL.com. “No groping and we’re all good.”

Muhney said he attends about three to four soap fan events every year.

“It’s always a fantastic opportunity for me. I love the interaction with the fans. I love hearing what they have to say,” he said.

VOTE: Daytime Soap of the Week Poll

Which daytime soap was your favorite the week of November 8-12, 2010? Vote in the weekly WE LOVE SOAPS TV poll below and check back on Monday morning for the results.

Voting ends at 9 a.m. ET on Monday.

Free Web poll for your Web site - freepolls.com

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Daniel Pilon (ex-Alan, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Max, RYAN'S HOPE) - 70
Tracy Scoggins (Grace, DANTE'S COVE; ex-Monica, THE COLBYS/DYNASTY) - 57
Chris Noth (ex-Dean, ANOTHER WORLD) - 56
Robert Aberdeen (ex-Greg, LOVE OF LIFE) - 48
Tari Signor (Margaret, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 43
Steve Zahn (ex-Spence, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 43
Melissa Hayden (ex-Bridget, GUIDING LIGHT) - 41
Cathy Janeen Doe (ex-Simone PASSIONS) - 40
Vail Bloom (ex-Heather, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS)
Austin Williams (Shane, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 14

NEWS: Tori Spelling ABC Daytime Talk Show, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ford

ABC finds man for Tori Spelling daytime talk show
Tapped to co-host and share the desk with Spelling is Jeff Lewis, according to people close to the project. Lewis is best known from the Bravo reality show FLIPPING OUT. In the test pilot show with Spelling last week, the two had good chemistry. The show, which is still in the development stage, wants to be a talk show version of WILL & GRACE.

Nostalgia TV Network Adds Soaps Including ATWT

The Nostalgia TV Network has loaded its IPTV channel on the TV4U.Com video portal with 100 more vintage TV shows. Nostalgia TV can be found directly at NTVTele.Net.

Soap operas include AS THE WORLD TURNS (one episode in which Lisa is pregnant with Tom), HAWKINS FALLS, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW (early Mary Stuart) and SECRET STORM. There's not much here yet but it's always fun to watch true classic episodes.

“We are very excited to expand our programming on the Nostalgia TV Network,” said CEO Charry Kennedy. “We truly have the best of early television and we give viewers a chance to experience the world of television in the 1950’s.”