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 February 21-25, 2011. DAYS OF OUR LIVES returned to the top spot for the week.



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

WATCH: 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards

The 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards presented by We Love Soaps were held on Monday, February 21, at The Ailey Studios in New York City. Martha Byrne hosted the ceremony which featured a performance of "Gumdrop the Unicorn" by Bret Silverman. Watch the video below (in two parts) to see the ceremony as well as some before and after footage of the event.

February 28 Birthdays

Kelly Bishop (ex-Grace, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Freida, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 67
Stephanie Beacham (ex-Martha, CORONATION STREET; ex-Iris, BEVERLY HILLS 90210; ex-Sable, THE COLBYS) - 64
Bernadette Peters (ex-Jodie, UGLY BETTY) - 63
Rick Lohman (ex-Gary, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW; ex-Joel, GENERATIONS) - 62
Lena Cardwell (ex-Simone, PASSIONS) - 29

WATCH: Premiere Episode of PIECES

PIECES is a new web series that premiered on Sunday from the mind of Dylann Bobei and starring a stellar cast of enthusiastic individuals.

Jacob Clarke leads an ordinary life until the day he finds out he has a brain tumor. It is around this time that he begins to hear the "Voice" call to him for the first time. Initially ignoring it, he is eventually persuaded to listen and eventually, comes to realize that the "Voice" is not merely a side effect of his cancer, but rather, something else entirely. Led by the "Voice", Jacob's life is turned upside down and he is forced to abandon his old world and run head first into an entirely new one, evading the police and an entire gang syndicate while he's at it.

Each season of PIECES begins with a montage of seemingly random images and clips. These will appear periodically throughout the season allowing the audience an opportunity to spot these "pieces" and attempt to piece together the overall fabric of the show as they go along.

On the premiere episode of PIECES, a freak accident turns Jacob Clarke's life upside down and everything begins to change when he is approached for the first time by "The Voice".

Watch it below.

WLS Theater Review: "Love, Loss, and What I Wore"

Scientists tell us that memories stored in the brain can be triggered by certain smells, sounds, and sights.  But what about the memories triggered by a certain outfit, accessory, or bag you once used.  Can our clothing and apparels be just as important in marking time, relationships, and life changes? According to Delia and Nora Ephron's play Love, Loss and What I Wore you bet your sweet bra they can!

This fun and touching play, now featuring the irrepressible Kim Zimmer (OLTL, STEAMBOAT), examines how various characters recount significant events in their life via outfits in their closet.  Topics such as relationships with mothers, sisters, husbands, weight gain, aging, illness, financial struggles, mothering, and even Madonna, are all touched upon through the lens of clothes worn at certain landmarks.  There are moments of levity (frequently provided by Zimmer, Tony nominated Orfeh, and 30 ROCK’s Katrina Bowden), moments of nostalgia and sentimentality, and some of emotional gravitas.  When Sabrina La Beauf (THE COSBY SHOW) shares the process of coping with a cancer diagnosis, you are right there with her feeling terrified and resilient.  When Barbara Rhoades (ex-GENERATIONS) discusses feeling left out and ignored as an aging woman in a department store, you can’t help but feel the loss and despair that comes from such an experience.

February 27 Birthdays

Elizabeth Taylor (ex-Helena, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 79
Tracey Ross (ex-Eve, PASSIONS; ex-Diana, RYAN'S HOPE) - 52
David Gail (ex-Joe, PORT CHARLES; ex-Dean, SAVANNAH; ex-Stuart, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210) - 46
Brandon Beemer (Owen, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Shawn, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Lucas, UNDRESSED; ex-Seth, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 31
Nick Mathews (Dalton, IN BETWEEN MEN)

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards Post Show

Photos by Gustavo Monroy

Follow Monday night's inspirational 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards ceremony, the casts and crew of numerous web series mingled at The Ailey Studios before moving on to the after party. What was so fulfilling about putting on this event was seeing the networking happening before and after the show. You will see in many of the photos below actors from different indie soaps posed together, exchanged business cards and offered their support. "Is there anything I can do to help your show?" was a phrase heard multiple times. There were also a number of crossovers being plotted so stay tuned.

Check out some of the post-show photos below.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV's Roger Newcomb and Damon L. Jacobs are joined by cast members from IN BETWEEN MEN, ANACOSTIA and THE BAY.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Jackée Harry's "Ideal Husband" - Part Two

In Part One of our interview with the unsinkable Jackée Harry, the Emmy-winning actress discussed her role on the exciting new GMC network film The Ideal Husband, premiering tonight, February 26th, at 7 p.m. ET (and again at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.), beginning on ANOTHER WORLD, and regrets about her illustrious career.  In Part Two below, Harry reveals her feelings about 227, how her religion has helped her reconcile her career choices, and offers insight for those who also have been targeted unfairly in their jobs. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: When 227 came your way you had a choice to make.  You wanted to do dramatic roles, yet you were presented with the opportunity to do a sitcom.
Jackée Harry: Yes, that messed me up. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: How so?
Jackée Harry: I never got to be the person I thought I was going to be, which was this grand diva actress.  It just didn’t happen that way.  I hate the fact that I never got the chance to show off my acting chops.  That’s what I mean by that. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Some people may think that creating this beloved character and winning an Emmy...
Jackée Harry: Would be the apex of my career?  No.  But I guess I’m just going to be the black Betty White.  I’ll work until it gets even better.

VOTE: Indie Soap of the Week Poll (Feb. 20-26, 2011)

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 February 20-26, 2011 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:
- 9INE Part 2 "October"
- BESTSELLERS Season 1 Episode 4
- MIND'S EYE Season 1 Episode 14 "After Math"
- OBLIVION "HALLOWEEN SPECIAL Part Two: Die, Die My Darling"
- SECRETS Episode 20
- THE BAY Chapter 4 Webisodes 15 & 16 (two part season finale)
- THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF CUPID AND EROS Episode 8 "No Good Deed..."
- THROWING STONES Episode 8

Today's Soap World Birthdays

John Bolger (ex-Garrett, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-John, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Phillip, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Gabe, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Garrett, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 57
Christopher Maleki (ex-Spike, PASSIONS; ex-Taylor, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Ben, PORT CHARLES; ex-Cole, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 47
Greg Rikaart (Kevin, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 34

VOTE: Daytime Soap of the Week Poll

Which daytime soap opera was your favorite the week of February 21-25, 2011? 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.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Kim Zimmer Reveals Her "Love, Loss"

Emmy-winning actress Kim Zimmer is making a splash in the theater world with her poignant role in the new staging of Nora and Delia Ephron's play "Love, Loss, And What I Wore."  Enjoy our exclusive new interview with the outspoken and fascinating talent as she discusses this new project, as well as life on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, and her upcoming book.  Plus, exactly whom was she channeling in her role as a pushy executive producer in STEAMBOAT? Zimmer answers below!

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: You just started appearing in "Love, Loss, And What I Wore." How did it go?
Kim Zimmer: Personally it did not go well for me [laughs].  Every time my husband AC Weary is in the audience I get a little nervous.  I so love his criticism.  I could feel him and I could hear him laughing at Orfeh through the whole thing, but I couldn’t hear him laughing at me! So I was nervous.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: What did your character love and lose and wear?
Kim Zimmer: She loves her bag.  She hates purses. She lost a husband along the way.  And she wore a very sexy pair of brown pants that had a hole cut in a very special spot when she went to visit her husband in prison.  You have to come see the show to find out where that spot is. 

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 February 13-19, 2011. SECRETS finished on top for the second week in a row.



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.

Indie soaps that aired one or more episodes last week were eligible.

Watch last week's indie soaps below:
- AS THE CORN GROWS Episode 59
- BESTSELLERS Season 1 Episode 3
- MIND'S EYE Season 1 Episode 13 "Eye of the Beholder"
- MISS BEHAVE Episode 2.10 "Over My Dead Body" (season finale)
- MONEY POWER & RESPECT Episode 41 "Unhappy Reunion pt 3"
- MONTECITO HEIGHTS Episode 8 "Gift"
- OBLIVION "HALLOWEEN SPECIAL Part One: Punish or Be Damned VIDEO 1"
- ORANGE JUICE IN BISHOP'S GARDEN Episode 3.14 "Ding Dong Ditch"
- SECRETS Episode 19
- THE BAY Chapter 4 Webisode 14
- THROWING STONES Episode 7
- TRAILER MADE Webisode 7
- VENUS SPA S2.19 "Sweating It Out!"

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards Red Carpet

Photos by Gustavo Monroy

The red carpet at Monday night's 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards was hopping.  WE LOVE SOAPS TV's Roger Newcomb and Damon L. Jacobs loved posing with some of our favorite actresses in both daytime and the indies - GOTHAM creator Martha Byrne (who hosted the ceremony), Kim Zimmer (nominated for STEAMBOAT), Hillary B. Smith (nominated for VENICE) and GOTHAM star Anne Sayre.

NEWS: Burton/Reeves, Franco, Lynda Carter, Ashley Fink

GH's Reeves and Burton: Soap stars share musical side project
"(Scott) was on the road 250 days a year making little money and grinding it out like so many people in Nashville do," Burton says. "But the great thing about being on GENERAL HOSPITAL is that we have a built-in fan base. It's the best of both worlds — we can actually go, make some money, have some fun, show our appreciation to the fans and then go home."

PREVIEW: James Franco back on GENERAL HOSPITAL
Franco shows up on Friday to remind Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) that he’s still around.

PRE-NOMINATIONS: 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) in cooperation with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), today announced the Drama Performer Pre-Nominations for the 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Awards.

A preliminary Daytime drama performer ballot, containing each of the six performer categories, was assigned to registered, eligible peer voters. This ballot contained the full list of all entrants submitted from each show and each voter was entitled to select as many candidates as they believed worthy of Emmy® consideration. The candidates below, who received the highest number of votes for each show in each category, now advance to the final at-home screening round, due to be conducted in March and April, 2011, which will determine both nominees and winners.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

ALL MY CHILDREN, ABC
REBECCA BUDIG, as Greenlee Hayward
ALICIA MINSHEW, as Kendall Slater
DEBBI MORGAN, as Angie Hubbard

AS THE WORLD TURNS, CBS
MAURA WEST, as Carly Tenney
COLLEEN ZENK, as Barbara Ryan

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, CBS
SUSAN FLANNERY, as Stephanie Forrester
KATHERINE KELLY LANG, as Brooke Logan

DAYS OF OUR LIVES, NBC
KRISTIAN ALFONSO, as Hope Brady
ALISON SWEENEY, as Samantha Brady

GENERAL HOSPITAL, ABC
KELLY MONACO, as Sam McCall
LAURA WRIGHT, as Carly Corinthos Jacks

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Andrew Miller (Creator, IMAGINARY BITCHES)
Jennifer Ferrin (ex-Jennifer, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 31

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Jackée Harry's "Ideal Husband" - Part One

Jackée Harry has entertained millions of viewers throughout her extensive career in both daytime and primetime television.  Fans of her beloved roles on ANOTHER WORLD, 227, and SISTER SISTER will get the opportunity to see her back in action on the GMC network's world premiere of The Ideal Husband, debuting this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET (and again at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.).  But how does this daytime alum perceive her illustrious career? And does she carry regrets about her career choices? Find out in this special two-part original WE LOVE SOAPS TV interview.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Ms. Harry, it is such a pleasure to talk with you, I have admired your work all the way back to ANOTHER WORLD.  But I’d like to start by talking about this exciting movie that is coming up this Saturday, February 26th, called The Ideal Husband, airing on GMC at 7 p.m.. 
Jackée Harry: It’s about relationships between men and women, which I find fascinating, because there’s no way you can ignore the fact that sometimes it doesn’t work out.  I wanted to make sure that I could be in something that specifically discusses African-American relationships.  We don’t do that enough. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: It’s certainly not done enough on network TV.
Jackée Harry: Yes, I want to convey that.  They think we’ve talked it through but we haven’t.  We have not dealt with the fact that we are not being represented that way. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Do you feel there were more representations of African-Americans and their relationships on television 25-30 years ago?

"My Big Gay Italian Wedding" Is Invaded By Soap Divas!

Fantastic news for Soap Fans!  Some of your favorite soap actresses of past and present join "My Big Gay Italian Wedding" from March 17-19, 2011! Ellen Dolan (ex-Margo, ATWT), Kristen Alderson (Starr, OLTL), Brittany Underwood (ex-Langston, OLTL), and Marnie Schulenberg (ex-Alison, ATWT) join Ilene Kristen (Roxy, OLTL) during her run for one weekend only! The ladies will be stepping in to fill all of the female roles in the show for an unforgettable set of performances!

This is truly a unique opportunity for soap fans to see so many beloved actresses on one stage, and support their continued work in stage and theater.  Plus, you never know whose former co-stars will show up for this.  Buy your tickets for this delightful experience here.

RELATED:
- WLS Review of "My Big Gay Italian Wedding" (with Ilene Kristen's Special Discount)

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards (5 of 5)

Photos by Gustavo Monroy 

Here are some other fun photographs from through the 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards ceremony.

Host Martha Byrne and presenter Kim Zimmer have a fun exchange before Zimmer presents the Indie Soap of the Year award.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards (4 of 5)

Photos by Gustavo Monroy 

BEST STORYLINE
Presented by: Cwennen Corral, THE CAVANAUGHS & Pat Rulon, TRAILER MADE

Special Message From Kim Zimmer

Emmy Award Winning Kim Zimmer (Echo, OLTL; ex-Reva, GL; ex-Nola, THE DOCTORS) has a special message for her fans about her fabulous new Off-Broadway play, "Love, Loss, And What I Wore", now playing at The Westside Theater, 407 W. 43rd Street, in New York City.  Soap fans don't want to miss this opportunity to see the living legend perform in this piece!



You can also watch Kim Zimmer's interview with Damon L. Jacobs about the play, scoops on Echo's future on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, and juicy tidbits about her role as a soap producer in STEAMBOAT by watching WE LOVE SOAPS TV #2.34

WATCH: Two Part Season One Finale of THE BAY

Two-time Indie Soap Award winner, THE BAY, wrapped up its first season today with a two episode season finale. Without giving too much away, there was a big twist in the Brian/Isabella story, a shocking turn of events for Mackenzie and Will, and a distraught Sara runs into Joe Lando Lee Nelson.

Watch THE BAY below.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards (3 of 5)

Photos by Gustavo Monroy 

EDITOR'S AWARD: SONG OF THE YEAR
Presented by: We Love Soaps' Damon L. Jacobs & Roger Newcomb

Another Legend Passes: Haila Stoddard Dead at 97

Haila Stoddard, a star on New York stages for three decades and who first produced works by James Thurber and Harold Pinter on Broadway, died Feb. 21 in Weston, Conn., of cardiopulmonary arrest. She was 97.

On TV Stoddard appeared as the wicked Aunt Pauline on CBS' THE SECRET STORM from 1953-71. In the early days of live TV drams during the 1950s, Stoddard appeared in principal roles in more than 100 teleplays on CBS and NBC.

Click here to read the December 26, 1964 TV Guide article that accompanies the image above.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Jean Alexander (ex-Hilda, CORONATION STREET) - 85
James Farentino (ex-Nick, DYNASTY) - 73
Debra Jo Rupp (ex-Edna, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Victoria, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 60
Jay Kenneth Johnson (Phillip, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 34

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards (2 of 5)

In Part 1 of our exclusive five part photo spread from the 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards, we covered Breakthrough Performance, Supporting Actress, Guest Appearance and Editing. Some very "Pretty" people continued the show. The ceremony pictorial continues below.

Photos by Gustavo Monroy

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards (1 of 5)

The 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards presented by We Love Soaps were held at The Ailey Studios in New York City on Monday, February 21, hosted by the hilarious Martha Byrne, creator and star of GOTHAM. Video from the event is coming soon but in the meanwhile, you can check out our exclusive pictures from photographer Gustavo Monroy below.

Byrne opened the show with a hilarious monologue which covered a variety of topics from producing shows on low budgets, merchandising (she took not one, but two drinks from a GOTHAM mug), the impact of secret weapon Nadia Bjorlin, confusing sexuality, and so much more. Byrne introduced the presenters and cracked jokes throughout.

Here's a rundown of the show:

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 Friday morning for the results (voting ends Friday at 9 a.m. ET). Only the shows that aired one or more new episodes from February 13-19, 2011 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:
- AS THE CORN GROWS Episode 59
- BESTSELLERS Season 1 Episode 3
- MIND'S EYE Season 1 Episode 13 "Eye of the Beholder"
- MISS BEHAVE Episode 2.10 "Over My Dead Body" (season finale)
- MONEY POWER & RESPECT Episode 41 "Unhappy Reunion pt 3"
- MONTECITO HEIGHTS Episode 8 "Gift"
- OBLIVION "HALLOWEEN SPECIAL Part One: Punish or Be Damned VIDEO 1"
- ORANGE JUICE IN BISHOP'S GARDEN Episode 3.14 "Ding Dong Ditch"
- SECRETS Episode 19
- THE BAY Chapter 4 Webisode 14
- THROWING STONES Episode 7
- TRAILER MADE Webisode 7
- VENUS SPA S2.19 "Sweating It Out!"

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.35 Love, Loss, and Le Beauf, Bowden

On Episode 2.35 of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, Damon L. Jacobs attends the opening night party for Love, Loss, and What I Wore's current cast which includes Sabrina Le Beauf and Katrina Bowden. The show is an intimate collection of stories by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron. Le Beauf talks about her COSBY SHOW days and both women share their thoughts on the play.



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.

RELATED LINKS:
- Love, Loss, and What I Wore Official Website
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.34 Love, Loss, and Zimmer, Rhoades, Orfeh
- Discount Tickets with Kim Zimmer Code

Become a WE LOVE SOAPS TV Supporter!

Much Love and Many Thanks to Martha Byrne

Two-time Emmy winner Martha Byrne hosted the 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards on Monday night in New York City and we can't thank her enough. Martha and I spoke about doing a live event a year ago after the 1st Annual pre-taped show and she has been 100% behind the idea, and in full support of the indie soap and web series community, from day one. I spoke to almost everyone in attendance after the show and they had nothing but praise for her class, sense of humor, style and grace.

A number of people asked Damon L. Jacobs and myself who wrote Martha's monologue and jokes. We had to tell them it was all her. She combined an honest respect for the work being done by the producers, directors, writers, actors, crew on the web series with her unmatched wit and humor. She was on point all night.

So Damon and I want to thank her immensely for hosting the awards ceremony and her unrelenting support for all these wonderful shows that need our encouragement and positive energy.

Oh, and if you haven't seen any photos or video of her from Monday night, take a look to your right. She looked better than ever!

We love soaps, and we love you, Martha!

Photo by Gustavo Monroy

Michael Kay on the Red Carpet at the 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards

Michael Kay from AT HOME WITH VICTORIA worked the Red Carpet at the 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards on Monday night in New York City. Watch his interviews with Martha Byrne, Susan Miller & Tina Cesa Ward, Gregori J. Martin, the cast of OUT WITH DAD, Jordan Clarke, Michael O'Leary, Hillary B. Smith, Steve Silverman, Bret Silverman, Terri Simmons, Anthony Anderson and Pasha Diallo below.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Sophie Hayden (ex-Lucia, GUIDING LIGHT) - 57
Paul Anthony Stewart (ex-Danny, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Casey, LOVING) - 41
Jaime Dudney (ex-Georgia, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 35

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.34 Love, Loss, and Zimmer, Rhoades, Orfeh

On Episode 2.34 of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, Damon L. Jacobs attends the opening night party for Love, Loss, and What I Wore's current cast which includes Kim Zimmer, Barbara Rhoades and Orfeh. The show is an intimate collection of stories by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron. Zimmer offers scoop on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, who inspired her executive producer character on STEAMBOAT, her new book ("I'm Just Sayin': Seven Husbands, Three Deaths and a Clone - My Life as a Daytime Diva" out August 2nd) and previews the show. Rhoades remembers being fired from GENERATIONS, while Orfeh explains why this collection of stories is perfect for soap fans.



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.

RELATED LINKS:
- Love, Loss, and What I Wore Official Website
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.35 Love, Loss, and Le Beauf, Bowden
- Discount Tickets with Kim Zimmer Code
- A Video Message from Kim Zimmer

Become a WE LOVE SOAPS TV Supporter!

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 February 14-18, 2011. ONE LIFE TO LIVE remained in the top spot for the second week in a row.



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

Digital Chick TV Backstage Camera at the Indie Soap Awards 2011

Digital Chick TV's Creative Director Daryn Strauss gives you the backstage experience at the Indie Soap Awards in New York City hosted by GOTHAM's Martha Byrne.

Catch some candid awards moments shot on Daryn's personal camera with Julie Ann Emery and Kevin Earley of THEN WE GOT HELP!, Michael Todd Cohen of RED CARPET RUN, Susan Miller of ANYONE BUT ME, Al Thompson of JOHNNY B. HOMELESS AND LEXOX AVENUE, and the cast/crew of ANACOSTIA.

Stuart Damon To Star In LA Real Estate TV Show

This March, Emmy Award winning Actor Stuart Damon, formerly of ABC's GENERAL HOSPITAL, and son, Christopher Damon, will unlock the doors to private celebrity estates, architectural masterpieces and never-before-seen luxury homes on the premiere of the new original series, LUXURY LIFESTYLES. The magazine-style show takes viewers on the ultimate open house tours of some of the finest real estate in Southern California. Produced by Luxury Lifestyles TV, this series premieres Sunday, March 6 at 11 a.m. on KCOP Channel 13.

NEWS: Bailey Chase, Sarah Brown, Laura Bell Bundy, Ray MacDonnell

Bailey Chase joins DAMAGES
The former Chris Hughes on AS THE WORLD TURNS has joined DAMAGES' upcoming season on DirecTV for a major recurring arc. Details on his storyline are being kept under wraps but he is said to be a potential love interest to Rose Byrne.

Sarah Brown bumped to recurring status on BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
Soaps In Depth has now confirmed that the actress is no longer on contract with the show, having officially been moved to "recurring" status.

Will Prince William Stir Interest in British Soap's First Gay Wedding?
Britain's ITV network is hoping that interest in the April 29 wedding of Prince Prince William and Kate Middleton will drive viewers to its long-running soap CORONATION STREET to see the show's first gay wedding on the same day.

OBITUARY: Former Y&R Actress Christopher Templeton Dead at Age 58

Christopher Anne Templeton passed away on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, in San Antonio at the age 58. She was born on February 26, 1952, in Lake Forest, IL to Edmund Owen and Joyce Irene Templeton. She is preceded in death by her parents.

Even though Christopher battled Polio her whole life, she courageously broke through all barriers she faced. She was the first disabled actress to receive many contract roles. She was a supporting actress on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (as Jabot secretary, Carol) for 10 years. She went on to become a successful writer, director, and actress in many movies, independent films, and television productions. Chris' shows included SIMON & SIMON, COLUMBO, and IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT among others.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Geoffrey Scott (ex-Billy, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Mark, DYNASTY; ex-Sky, DARK SHADOWS; ex-David, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Jeffrey, WHERE THE HEARAT IS) - 69
Leslie Charleson (Monica, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Iris; LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING; ex-Alice, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 66
Thorsten Kaye (ex-Zach, ALL MY CHIILDREN, ex-Ian, PORT CHARLES; ex-Patrick, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 45
Liza Huber (ex-Gwen, PASSIONS) - 36

WINNERS: 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards

The 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards were held on Monday night at The Ailey Studios in New York City hosted by the hilarious Martha Byrne and presented by We Love Soaps.  DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM captured the Indie Soap of the Year award.  The show also took home the prize for Outstanding Lead Actress with Monica Calhoun winning her first Indie Soap Award.  Anthony Anderson from ANACOSTIA was named Outstanding Lead Actor giving perhaps the most poignant speech of the night.  The mostly industry crowd praised the new frontier of storytelling on the web in a number of speeches from winners that consisted of former daytime soap favorites and new indie pioneers. 

The complete list of winners are below:

INDIE SOAP OF THE YEAR
DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR
Anthony Anderson, ANACOSTIA

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS
Monica Calhoun, DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.33 IN BETWEEN MEN's Nick Mathews

On Episode 2.33 of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, Roger Newcomb welcomes actor Nick Mathews, nominated as Outstanding Lead Actor at the 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards for his role as Dalton Fuller on IN BETWEEN MEN. Find out about this rising star in our latest episode below.



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.

RELATED LINKS:
- IN BETWEEN MEN

Become a WE LOVE SOAPS TV Supporter!

ABC Family Picks Up Charles Pratt, Jr.'s THE LYING GAME

ABC Family has picked up an additional one-hour scripted drama, THE LYING GAME, from Charles Pratt, Jr. and starring Alexandra Chando.

THE LYING GAME follows Emma, a kind-hearted foster kid who learns she has an identical twin sister, Sutton. Sutton, unlike Emma, was adopted by wealthy parents and is seemingly living an ideal life. After their initial meeting, Sutton talks Emma into stepping into her life for a few days while she pursues a lead on the mysterious identity of their birth mother. After Sutton inexplicably fails to return to the girls’ designated meeting place, Emma must decide whether to come clean about her identity and risk her own safety in the hope of uncovering her twin sister’s whereabouts, along with the truth about why they were separated in the first place. “The Lying Game” stars Alexandra Chando (AS THE WORLD TURNS) as Emma/Sutton; Andy Buckley as Ted; Helen Slater as Kristin; Blair Redford (“90210”) as Garrett; Sharon Pierre-Louis (LINCOLN HEIGHTS) as Nisha; Kirsten Prout (KYLE XY) as Char; Alice Greczyn (LINCOLN HEIGHTS) as Mads; and Allie Gonino (10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU) as Laurel. Charles Pratt, Jr. serves as executive producer and writer; Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo will serve as executive producers. Produced by Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television, the series is based on the novel by author Sara Shepard ("Pretty Little Liars").

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Tyne Daly (ex-Caroline, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 65
Christine Ebersole (ex-Maxie, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Lily, RYAN'S HOPE) - 58
Christopher Atkins (ex-Peter, DALLAS) - 50

NOMINATIONS: 32nd Annual Young Artist Awards

The Young Artist Foundation has announced the nominees for the 32nd Annual Young Artist Awards. Check out the soap-related categories below.

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A DAYTIME TV SERIES
Young Actor
Field Cate, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Mick Hazen, AS THE WORLD TURNS
Dylan Patton, DAYS OF OUR LIVES

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A DAYTIME TV SERIES
Young Actor 12 and Under
Tate Berney, ALL MY CHILDREN
Jake Vaughn, ALL MY CHILDREN
Aaron Sanders, GENERAL HOSPITAL

2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards: Lead Actor Nominees

The nominees in the Outstanding Lead Actor category at Monday's 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards were equally dramatic and comedic driving some of the best stories in web series during 2010.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR
Anthony Anderson, ANACOSTIA
Danny Cameron, CELL
Michael Park, GOTHAM
Nick Mathews, IN BETWEEN MEN
Will Conlon, OUT WITH DAD
Trevor Nelson, MISS BEHAVE
Sam Pancake, PRETTY
Camden Toy, THE BAY

Take a look at a sample of work by these talented men in the episodes below.

2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards: Lead Actress Nominees

The nominees in the Outstanding Lead Actress category at Monday's 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards all brought their "A" games in 2010.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS
Tamieka Chavis, ANACOSTIA
Rachael Hip-Flores, ANYONE BUT ME
Jourdan Gibson, CELL
Monica Calhoun, DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM
Tina Sloan, EMPIRE
Martha Byrne, GOTHAM
Jillian Clare, MISS BEHAVE
Cwennen Corral, THE CAVANAUGHS
Crystal Chappell, VENICE

Take a look at a sample of work by these talented women in the episodes below.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Marj Dusay (ex-Alexandra, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Vanessa, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Vivian, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Pamela, SANTA BARBARA; ex-Myrna, CAPITOL) - 75
Rodney Van Johnson (ex-T.C., PASSIONS; ex-Trey, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Sebastian, PORT CHARLES) - 50

VOTE: Daytime Soap of the Week Poll

Which daytime soap opera was your favorite the week of February 14-18, 2011? 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.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Michael Nader (ex-Dimitri, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Kevin, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Alexi, BARE ESSENCE; ex-Dex, DYNASTY) - 66
Stephen Nichols (Tucker, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Steve, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Stefan, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 60

WATCH: MISS BEHAVE Season Two Finale

Popular teen web drama MISS BEHAVE has finished its second season with "an ending so secretive that most of the cast didn't even know about."

"It wasn't in the script," says creator Susan Bernhardt. "We purposely left it out to keep the cliffhanger under wraps." But the MISS BEHAVE team wants to make sure their fans stick around long enough to see the big Season Two twist. They've strategically placed the final scene of the season after the credits start rolling; it's safe to say that you don't want to close your browser too quick. Just when you think it's over – it's most definitely not.

The finale episode will also feature familiar faces with the return of Eric Martsolf as movie star Marcus Dunne, Patrika Darbo as Dr. Freed and Jacee Jule as her loyal receptionist, Kristina. In addition, Tori and cousin Alex (portrayed by Jillian Clare and James Rustin) receive a surprise visit from the infamous Carol Ann McCracken - the glamorous host of her own do-it-yourself cooking and home improvement show, McCracken Live!

WATCH: THE BAY Webisode 14 Coster, Wilson & Hutzler Debut

Marie Wilson, Nicholas Coster and Brody Hutzler make their debuts on the latest webisode of THE BAY. Wilson picks up where she left off as crazy Meg on AS THE WORLD TURNS. Coster plays the Mayor of Bay City while Hutzler plays the Mayor's press secretary.

Watch the latest developments below.

Genie Francis To Guest Star On Current TV's BAR KARMA

Jonathan Frakes, best known for his portrayal of Commander William T. Riker on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, will be directing his wife Genie Francis, Laura Spencer from GENERAL HOSPITAL, on episode 9 of Current TV’s BAR KARMA, the world’s first community-developed television series which airs on Friday nights at 10 p.m. ET/9 Central.

The two storylines BAR KARMA is looking for viewers to explore further for this episode center around a woman, in the present day, who either has multiple personalities, or she’s a twin. In previous roles, Genie Francis has accidentally killed a few people, suffered a mental breakdown and been in a catatonic state. What will her character be up to in BAR KARMA? And what is her karma dilemma? That's up to you to decide by submitting your pitches on "The Woman with Multiple Personalities" or "The Twin" through Monday, February 21. The episode will air on Current TV in early April. Viewers can contribute to other episodes by logging onto www.current.com/barkarma, through social networking sites including Facebook and Twitter or through free iPhone, iPad and Android apps to submit story ideas.

BREAKING NEWS: ATI Acquires THE BAY

Associated Television International has acquired indie soap THE BAY with plans to sell it as a half-hour cable or syndicated program to air in 2012. To find out more check out this article from TVGuide.com.

New BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Opening Debuting February 21

Executive Producer and Head Writer Brad Bell spoke to TVGuide.com about the new BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL credits debuting on Monday, February 21, saying, "This is pretty monumental for us. We've always taken the if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it approach to our opening credits. The first one was so good we kept it from 1987 until 2004 — unlike a lot of things from the '80s it never seemed dated. Our current one has been running for six and a half years. It's beautiful and still works, but now we want to let viewers know that our show is all about experimenting, not only with our storytelling but with our image. We want to be known as a show that's thinking outside the box."

Watch a preview of the new B&B opening below.

"Colleen Zenk: LIVE!" Kicks Off In New Hope On April 8

Two-time Emmy nominee Colleen Zenk, is readying to premiere her new one-woman cabaret show aptly titled "Colleen Zenk: LIVE!" The show will debut on Friday April 8th at Bob Egan’s New Hope – one of the country’s leading cabaret showrooms.

Zenk, who is a two-time oral cancer survivor said “I believe the old saying that 'when one window closes, another window opens.' The end of AS THE WORLD TURNS was a great loss for me, but has given me the time to explore a lifelong dream. I have great material to draw upon and this show will give me the opportunity to sing some of my favorite songs and give the audience a glimpse into my life.” For AS THE WORLD TURNS fans Colleen promises great stories.

Zenk is best known to millions of fans as Barbara Ryan on the iconic daytime drama AS THE WORLD TURNS, a role she played from 1978 until the show went off the air in 2010. Her portrayal earned her Emmy Award nominations in 2002 (Outstanding Lead Actress) and 2001 (Outstanding Supporting Actress).

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Anthony Pena (ex-Miguel, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 64
Jess Walton (Jill, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Kelly, CAPITOL) - 62
Sarah Brown (Agnes, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Claudia/Carly, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Julia, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 36

NEWS: Adrianne Palicki, Rebecca Herbst, James Denton, B&B

WONDER WOMAN's Adrianne Palicki: "I'm into Supergirl. I have a Supergirl tattoo"
"I do this because I love it. You know, it's not the fame, it's not to be on TV — I love acting more than anything, and that's all I wanted to do. I sit around, I go hiking, I hang out with my friends. I read comic books."

James Denton calls DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES negotiations "tenuous," but he's optimistic
“I thinks it’s going to work out, the network really wants us, we all want to be there,” Denton said.

Rebecca Herbst not leaving GENERAL HOSPITAL after all?
Sources say the network is expected to release a statement regarding the change of heart.

B&B ladies on THE TALK on Friday
Susan Flannery (Stephanie), Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) and Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy) will sit down with the ladies of THE TALK.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Christina Pickles (ex-Linell, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Elena, ANOTHER WORLD) - 76
Mary Ann Mobley (ex-Jonelle, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Beth, FALCON CREST) - 72
Lynne Moody (ex-Florence, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Patricia, KNOTS LANDING) - 61
Jennifer Gee (ex-Susan, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 28
Darnell Lamont Walker (Julian, ANACOSTIA)

Presenters Announced For The Indie Soap Awards

The 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards will be held at The Ailey Studios in New York City on Monday night. The first presenters have been announced and will include Nick Mathews (IN BETWEEN MEN), Anthony Anderson (ANACOSTIA), Hillary B. Smith (VENICE/FUMBLING THROUGH THE PIECES), Gregori J. Martin (THE BAY), Cwennen Corral (THE CAVANAUGHS), Pat Rulon (TRAILER MADE), Will Conlon (OUT WITH DAD), Terri Simmons (PRETTY), Rachael Hip-Flores (ANYONE BUT ME), Michael O'Leary (STEAMBOAT) and Tina Sloan (EMPIRE/VENICE).

GOTHAM's Martha Byrne will be hosting the ceremony which will feature a performance of "Gumdrop the Unicorn" by Bret Silverman.

DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM leads all shows with 13 nominations.

Limited tickets are available and can be purchased here.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Hunt Block (ex-Lee, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Craig, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Ben, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Guy, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Peter, KNOTS LANDING) - 58
Richard Steinmetz (ex-Martin, PASSIONS; ex-Jeff, LOVING) - 52
Don Jeffcoat (ex-Joey, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 36
Agim Kaba (ex-Aaron, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 31

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 February 6-12, 2011. SECRETS finished on top for the first time.



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.

Indie soaps that aired one or more episodes last week were eligible.

Watch last week's indie soaps below:
- BESTSELLERS Season 1 Episode 2
- BLACKOUT Episode 6
- DAZE Episode 6 "The Biggest End Of Summer Party"
- IN BETWEEN MEN Season 1 Episode 3
- MIND'S EYE Season 1 Episode 12 "Showdown"
- MISS BEHAVE Episode 2.9 "The Last Straw"
- OBLIVION Episode 8 "Die Die My Darling"
- ORANGE JUICE IN BISHOP'S GARDEN Episode 3.13 "A Simple Answer"
- SECRETS Episode 18
- SWATS Episode 8 - "A bad guy" Part 2
- THE BAY Chapter 4 Webisode 13
- THROWING STONES Episode 6
- VENUS SPA S2.18 "KOOL AID MAN ATTACKS!!!"

WLS Theater Review: "My Big Gay Italian Wedding"

Two impossibly handsome young men fall in love in New York City.  After a year they decide they are ready to commit to marriage.  What can possibly go wrong?  Fortunately for the audiences of "My Big Gay Italian Wedding," quite a lot! This is largely thanks to Anthony Wilkinson who has written a comedic, socially relevant, and wildly entertaining theater piece.

The show begins with Anthony Pinnunziato (played by Wilkinson) telling his Brooklyn Italian family of his engagement.  The Pinnunziato clan has only recently begun to accept Barack Obama as President, much less embrace their gay son going through a traditional wedding ceremony to his Polish partner.  But true to the message embedded throughout the show, love and loyalty overcome old ways of thinking. Soon the whole family, including Ilene Kristen's delicious Aunt Toniann, stands behind him, and wants to pay for the lavish event. 

But this is only the beginning of what stands to prevent marital bliss.  Try throwing in an overprotective best man, an embittered ex-lover, a magniloquent wedding planner, a hypocritical priest, an unpredictable drunken drag queen, and two very angry lesbian ex-lovers and you just begin to get a sense of what obstacles lie in the path of true love.

Shocking Replacement At DAYS

According to Soap Opera Digest, DAYS has replaced Natalia Livingston's character of Taylor Walker with her former GENERAL HOSPITAL castmate, Tamara Braun.  This comes as quite a surprise, especially given that the show proudly publicized the hiring of Livingston several months ago. 

Several weeks ago, Taylor Walker returned to Salem after an eleven year absence.  As played by Livingston, she has been sweet, kind, down-on-her-luck, and suddenly in love with E.J. Dimera.  One can only speculate the reasons for this change.  But based on Braun's Emmy winning run as Ava on DAYS back in 2008, we can expect that Taylor will be more edgy, tough, and a force to be reckoned with that can rival Nicole and Sami.

What do you think of this move? Was it wise to replace Livingston so quickly? Will it be strange to see Braun back in Salem as a different character (along with all the other actors that have played dual roles)? Do you think Taylor is an asset to life in Salem? Let us know in the comments below!

Big Gay Discount For We Love Soaps TV Fans!

Exciting news for New York fans of soaps and theater.  Our good WE LOVE SOAPS TV friend, Ilene Kristen, has begun appearing in the Off-Broadway show "My Big Gay Italian Wedding" as Aunt Toniann.  And as a special bonus for WE LOVE SOAPS TV readers and viewers, Ilene has generously given a discount code:  BGCASTO2.  

Kristen's Broadway credits include "Henry, Sweet Henry," originating the role of Patty Simcox in "Grease" and playing Leona Helmsley in "Mayor," as well as many Off-Broadway appearances. She received two Emmy nominations for her portrayal of Roxy Balsom on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, and has also been seen as Delia Ryan on RYAN'S HOPE.

Planning a wedding can be hell... or a hell of a lot of fun! Two handsome grooms, one overbearing Italian mother, a jealous ex-boyfriend, the wedding planner from Hell, and an assortment of kooky family and friends all gather together for Off-Broadway's newest laugh-out-loud comedy with a heart.

St. Luke's Theatre is located at 308 West 46th Street. Press here for tickets. (And don't forget the discount!)

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Kurt McKinney (Daniel, STEAMBOAT; Liam, GOTHAM; ex-Matt, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Benny, ROCKLAND COUNTY; ex-Ned, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 49
Kelley Menighan-Hensley (ex-Emily, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 45
Ashley Lyn Cafagna (ex-Kimberly, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 28
Bonnie Dennison (ex-Daisy, GUIDING LIGHT) - 22

NEWS: Naked Cowboy, Radionovela, Taxi TV, Elizabeth Mitchell

Naked Cowboy's Lawyer: Blatant Disregard for Brand
“It's a blatant disregard for Mr. Burck's brand, which he has worked very hard on for the last 13 years come rain, sleet or snow,” said Todd Rubenstein. The cowboy, Robert John Burck, 40, who protects his brand like the cavalry defending a wagon train from Apaches, says that B&B's Oliver dresses in briefs, a cowboy hat and acoustic guitar—Burck's trademark uniform—is depicted as a "fool" and acts in a "drunken and sexually charged manner," according to the suit.

Radionovela Portrays Latino Teens Coming Out
San Francisco State University is partnering with Proyecto Poderosa and Radio Bilingüe on a new “radionovela” (a Spanish-language radio soap opera) that addresses LGBT issues in Latino communities. The new series, entitled BIENVENIDOS A CASA (“Welcome Home”), is airing on eight Radio Bilingüe stations in California’s Central Valley through March.

Come See Kim Zimmer's "Love, Loss" In NYC

More great discounts for theater fans in the New York City area!

GUIDING LIGHT and SANTA BARBARA alum, and current ONE LIFE TO LIVE actress Kim Zimmer, will appear in the next cast of Love, Loss, and What I Wore at the Westside Theatre in New York City from February 16 through March 20, 2011.

Here is a link with the offer for Kim's fans
http://www.darylrothproductions.com/loveloss/kim
Use code LLSKZ75 to purchase tickets for $45 for performances February 16 to March 20, 2011.

Proving that a great show is always in fashion, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, with its starry rotating cast and compulsively entertaining subject matter, is the toast of Off-Broadway. Entering its second smash year at the Westside Theatre, this intimate collection of stories by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, directed by Karen Carpenter and produced by Daryl Roth, is based on the best-selling book by Ilene Beckerman. Like the book, the show uses clothing and accessories and the memories they trigger to tell funny and poignant stories that everyone can relate to, creating one of the most enduring theatergoing experiences in New York. Joining Kim Zimmer will be Katrina Bowden ("30 Rock"), Sabrina Le Beauf ("The Cosby Show"), Orfeh (Legally Blonde the Musical), and Barbara Rhoades (The Goodbye Girl).

DAYS 45th Anniversary Is Back On Tour!

MULTI CITY BOOK TOUR FOR “DAYS OF OUR LIVES 45 YEARS: A CELEBRATION IN PHOTOS “AND “A SECRET IN SALEM” KICKS OFF FEBRUARY 17TH, WITH CAST AND AUTHORS IN HOUSTON,TX

Great news for DAYS fans all actorss the U.S.! Kristian Alfonso, James Scott, Drake Hogestyn, Crystal Chappell, Arianne Zucker and Eric Martsolf, will visit various cities on the book tour.

Various cast members from NBC’s daytime drama “Days of our Lives” will embark on a fan-filled multi city book tour promoting the glossy photo companion book, Days of our Lives 45 Years: A Celebration in Photos, along with its authors Greg Meng and Eddie Campbell. In addition, A Secret in Salem and author (former DooL head writer) Sheri Anderson will accompany this incredible tour. The tour begins with a signing in Houston, Texas and will include Miami, NYC, Chicago and New Orleans.

Days of our Lives 45 Years: A Celebration in Photos is a rare glimpse of over 500 behind the scenes photographs of one of America's most beloved television shows. Using never-before-seen images of cast, crew, sets, and styling, the proverbial “4th wall” is broken for an extraordinary look inside the studio and into the lives of the stars of the longest-running scripted program in NBC’s history. Author Greg Meng comments on the tour, “We are thrilled to be traveling with our cast to various cities to meet our fans and get a chance to chat with them in person! We are so appreciative that they come out to see us and that they seem to be enjoying our new book.”  Read the official WLS review here.

LAST DAY TO VOTE: Indie Soap Awards Fan's Choice Soap

Today is the last day for fans to vote in the 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards poll for Fan's Choice Soap of the Year. The poll consists of web series that were the Top 15 vote-getters in the WE LOVE SOAPS TV Indie Soap of the Week poll throughout 2010. Votes will stop being counted at 11:59 p.m. ET tonight. The winner will be revealed at the Indie Soap Awards ceremony on February 21 in New York City.

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 February 7-11, 2011. ONE LIFE TO LIVE returned to the top spot for the week.



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

Spend Valentine's Day With Bradford Anderson's "Cupid" - Part Three

In Parts One and Two of our interview with Bradford Anderson the beloved quirky actor discussed his exciting new role on THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF CUPID AND EROS, as well as his memorable tenure on GENERAL HOSPITAL as Spinelli, and the highs and lows of Spinelli's relationship with Maxie.  In this final part below he discusses his participation in the band Port Chuck, his pilot on TNT, as well as insights into his career on daytime.  What's next for this multi-talented artist? Find out below!

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Last year you went on tour with Steve Burton, Scott Reeves, and Brandon Barash, as a member of “Port Chuck.”  How was the tour?
Bradford Anderson: It was a blast! Us four guys have a great time together.  Steve has been a great friend, a great support system, and a great mentor to me, for a very long time.  He’s one of the most generous gracious fellows I’ve ever met.  Then you add Scott Reeves to that and he’s this great light of positive energy at all times.  Brandon and I were pretty tight, we were so lucky that Steve and Scott invited us to be part of it.  They take care of a lot of the details.  Scott has been a successful musician in Nashville, and Steve has the know-how and means to set things in motion.  Scott does the booking, Steve does the management stuff, and Brandon and I just show up.  We were on a tour bus together with nine other guys, going from city to city, getting to hang out with large groups of excited people.  It was something new for me.  I’ve been in music my whole life, but never in a band.  It was a childhood dream fulfilled. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: I can only imagine what that tour bus was like.

TMZ: Naked Cowboy Sues CBS -- B&B Ripped Off My Schtick!

According to TMZ, the famous Naked Cowboy is suing CBS for the shirt off their back ... claiming they violated his trademark by having a naked guy playing a guitar featured on one of their soaps.

In a lawsuit filed today in New York, the Naked Cowboy claims the CBS show THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL featured a character dressed as a cowboy, wearing only underwear, and playing a guitar -- which he claims is his thing.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Florence Henderson (ex-Carol, THE BRADYS) - 77
Kim Brockington (Felicia, GUIDING LIGHT)
Erin Torpey (ex-Jessica, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 30
Jake Weary (ex-Luke, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 21

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.   VOTE: Indie Soap Awards Fan's Choice Soap of the Year
2.   50 Greatest Soap Actors: #45 Larkin Malloy
3.   NEWS: Jennie Garth, Sonny/Brenda, OLTL Bully, Blake Lively, GLEE Tour
4.   Soaps Legends on OPRAH This Wednesday
5.   Chat With GH Stars The Week Of February 21st On ABC.com
6.   MAKE IT OR BREAK IT Q&A: Josie Loren & Cassie Scerbo
7.   Spend Valentine's Day With Bradford Anderson's "Cupid" - Part One
8.   TMZ: Kristoff St. John -- Super Sunday DUI Bust

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Sharon Wyatt (ex-Rachel, PASSIONS; ex-Tiffany, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 58
Kelly Hu (Pearl, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES; ex-Rae, SUNSET BEACH; ex-Jordana, ARMY WIVES) - 43
Galen Gering (Owen, VENICE; Rafe, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Luis, PASSIONS) - 40

PHOTOS: We Love Soaps Presents The Will Clark Show

The beautiful and talented Florencia Lozano was the special guest on Wednesday night at We Love Soaps presents The Will Clark Show. Over $700 was raised for God's Love We Deliver, and Lozano was a huge hit with the Christopher Street crowd.

More photos can be found below.

Spend Valentine's Day With Bradford Anderson's "Cupid" - Part Two

In Part One of our interview, the beloved Bradford Anderson spoke about his exciting new role as "Achilles" on the indie soap THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF CUPID AND EROS, as well as "Spinelli's" new book coming out this April.  In Part Two he discusses the Spinelli/Maxie phenomenon, handling his sudden rise to fame, as well as the messages he delivered at his high school when he returned.  How does he keep his "small town" identity in check in a big city? Find out below!  

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Damian Spinelli was originally written to be on for a short term.  We have talked in previous interviews about his appeal to viewers as an outsider.  But what do you think made his pairing with Maxie so popular?
Bradford Anderson: I think it was just about opposites-attract.  One of the things that makes Spinelli useful in Port Charles is how he affects other people.  Clearly that is what made the pairing with Jason so enjoyable, you saw a different side of Jason.  I think through that Spinelli/Maxie pairing, Maxie blossomed into a captivating multifaceted flawed and lovable character.  They brought out things in each other that hadn’t been seen yet.  Because Kirsten created this character in Maxie, and I was lucky to have this interesting character in Spinelli, there were so many ways we could play romance, longing, disappointment, and heartbreak.  We were lucky to play these characters that could experience these every day things you see on a soap opera, but to play them in a different way.

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 February 6-12, 2011 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:
- BESTSELLERS Season 1 Episode 2
- BLACKOUT Episode 6
- DAZE Episode 6 "The Biggest End Of Summer Party"
- IN BETWEEN MEN Season 1 Episode 3
- MIND'S EYE Season 1 Episode 12 "Showdown"
- MISS BEHAVE Episode 2.9 "The Last Straw"
- OBLIVION Episode 8 "Die Die My Darling"
- ORANGE JUICE IN BISHOP'S GARDEN Episode 3.13 "A Simple Answer"
- SECRETS Episode 18
- SWATS Episode 8 - "A bad guy" Part 2
- THE BAY Chapter 4 Webisode 13
- THROWING STONES Episode 6
- VENUS SPA S2.18 "KOOL AID MAN ATTACKS!!!"

Soap Nation: Jacob Young in Tulsa Today, John-Paul Lavoisier Sunday

ABC Daytime and SOAPnet's Soap Nation tour team up with ABC 8 to bring ALL MY CHILDREN's Jacob Young and ONE LIFE TO LIVE's John-Paul Lavoisier to the Women’s Living Expo in Tulsa, OK. The heartthrobs, who play JR Chandler and Rex Balsom on the popular daytime dramas, will do a Q&A and sign autographs with fans. Jacob Young is scheduled on Saturday February 12th beginning 1:00 p.m. John-Paul Lavoisier is scheduled on Sunday February 13th beginning 1:00 p.m.

VOTE: Daytime Soap of the Week Poll

Which daytime soap opera was your favorite the week of February 7-11, 2011? 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.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Cliff De Young (ex-John, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 66
Lillian Lehman (ex-Lena, SUNSET BEACH) - 64
Lisa Brenner (ex-Maggie, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Allison, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Jenny, UNDRESSED) - 37

Y&R's Rauch Out as Co-Executive Producer

According to Soap Opera Digest, Y&R's Paul Rauch will leave his position as Co-Executive Producer of YOUNG AND RESTLESS, effective April 1, 2011.

According to a statement, Rauch plans to return to the East Coast. "My collaboration with Steve Kent, and Maria and Bill Bell has been very rewarding. I have had great pleasure working with Y&R's magnificent cast and crew. I feel that I've accomplished everything that I set out to achieve, and it's now time for me to return to New York."

PREVIEW: ALL MY CHILDREN on HOT IN CLEVELAND

ALL MY CHILDREN's Susan Lucci, Darnell Williams and Michael E. Knight guest on HOT IN CLEVELAND on TVLand on February 16 and 23. Watch a few preview clips below.

10 Days Until The 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards

The 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards will take place on Monday night, February 21, at The Ailey Studios in New York City. Two-time Emmy winner Martha Byrne is hosting the ceremony which will feature a performance of "Gumdrop the Unicorn" by Bret Silverman. Presenters will include stars from popular web series such as ANYONE BUT ME, THE CAVANAUGHS, EMPIRE, IN BETWEEN MEN, THE BAY, TRAILER MADE, VENICE and many more.

Below you will find links to all the key information you will need.
- Complete List of Nominees
- Buy a Ticket
- Press Details
- VOTE: Indie Soap Awards Fan's Choice Soap of the Year (Voting ends February 14 at 11:59 p.m. ET)