MAD MEN Deal Is Done: Matthew Weiner Signs For Two More Years

There will be no cuts to the cast of MAD MEN and Season 5 won't likely debut till March 2012, but Weiner and AMC opted to compromise on the issue of cutting episodes short.

As the LA Times reports, "The first and last episodes of the upcoming fifth season will run at 47 minutes and the rest of the episodes will run at 45 minutes. Weiner will have the option to make those other episodes at 47 minutes for other platforms including video on demand, DVD and iTunes."

Weiner also signed a long-term deal with Lionsgate that will make a 7th season highly likely.

Genie Francis Joins YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

Genie Francis, best known as Laura from ABC's GENERAL HOSPITAL, will join THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS as a series regular at the end of May according to EW.com.

Francis will play the mother of Ethan Cane Ashby (Daniel Goddard), who was declared dead outside his dad’s wedding last month and is now appearing as a ghost on the show. The addition of Francis should reignite speculation that Cane will remain an integral part of Genoa City. His ghost is expected to continue appearing through the month.

Francis will begin taping in a month.

ONE LIFE TO LIVE Joins Forces With STOMP Out Bullying

In January 2011, ABC Daytime’s ONE LIFE TO LIVE began telling the story of teenager Shane Morasco (Austin Williams) being both bullied and cyberbullied. This week Jack Manning’s (Andrew Trischitta) bullying of Shane escalates to dangerous proportions both in person and online driving Shane to take extreme actions where he ultimately ends up on the high school roof (scenes airing Monday, April 4th and Tuesday, April 5th were shot on the roof of OLTL’s studios in New York City). For the telling of this story, OLTL joined forces with STOMP Out Bullying™, who stands as a leader in efforts to prevent bullying and cyberbullying among kids and teens, to air PSAs during the telling of this story (March 16th and April 4th).

Since the creation of ONE LIFE TO LIVE in 1968, the show has always looked for opportunities to inform while entertaining. Child and teen bullying and cyberbullying are at an all-time high. An issue that used to exist primarily while kids were at school, has taken on new extremes with social media. There are staggering statistics such as 1 out of 4 teens are bullied; 43% of kids have been bullied while online; 1 in 4 have had it happen more than once. The intentional cruelty of bullying has become a far too common a story in the news. The writers and producers of OLTL were profoundly affected by these devastating stories and made the decision to tell Shane’s story.

NEWS: Betty White, THE Talk More Profitable Than ATWT, Goddard

Betty White to Host OFF THEIR ROCKERS for NBC
NBC has put in an order for 12 half-hour episodes of OFF THEIR ROCKERS, picking up the format from German sales group SevenOne International. The show, a golden ager version of TRIGGER HAPPY TV, features senior citizens playing pranks on unsuspecting youngsters.

“People have been telling me that I’m ‘Off My Rocker’ for years – now I can prove it,” quipped White.

THE TALK Executive Producer Brad Bessey To Exit
Because THE TALK is owned by CBS, it is already more profitable for the network than the soap it replaced, AS THE WORLD TURNS. It has also started to sell internationally.

WATCH: THE CAVANAUGHS Season 2 Episode 3 "Beautiful Game"

Shea continues to haunt Noreen in the latest episode of indie soap hit THE CAVANAUGHS. Elsewhere, Justin brings Maddie and Charley back together, Bryan and Shea share a moment, Sarah is entertained by her new beau which makes Scott feel left out, plus Mark and Scott place a wager over a game of pool.

Watch it below.

CBS Announces #CBSTweetWeek

CBS announced today the launch of #CBSTweetWeek, starting this Sunday, April 3 and running through Monday, April 11. For eight nights, fans of the CBS Television Network's primetime series, entertainment specials and sports events will be able to log on to their Twitter accounts or CBS.com to watch some of their favorite actors, musicians and sports analysts tweet live during the broadcast of their respective programs. Throughout the shows, fans will be given special first-hand commentary and the opportunity to submit questions.

To participate in #CBSTweetWeek, fans can either follow on Twitter or log onto CBS.com/Tweet_Week at the scheduled start times. Fans participating via Twitter should use the respective show's hash tag and talent's Twitter handle when submitting questions.

NEWS: Bogue/Bruno Married, John Stamos, Keifer Sutherland, PLAYBOY

Former GUIDING LIGHT stars Rob Bogue and Mandy Bruno get married
"We got married!!" Indie Soap Award nominee Bogue tells Soaps In Depth of the March 26 nuptials. "On a beautiful beach in Playa del Carmen [Mexico], with lots of family and friends attending. The bride was stunning and the groom was blushing! And the weather was pristine."

CHARMED creator sues, claiming she was cheated out of money
Constance M. Burge says in her suit that CBS studios shortchanged her.

Former GENERAL HOSPITAL star Sharon Wyatt faces osteonecrosis, bone death in jaw

Sharon Wyatt starred on GENERAL HOSPITAL for 14 years as Tiffany. Tiffany's relationship with Sean (John Reilly) was a fan favorite. Now, Wyatt is facing a terrifying drama of her own: She has osteonecrosis - bone death.

Like 1,600 others around the country, mostly women, Wyatt believes she got it from the drug Fosamax. Fosamax is prescribed to build up bones, make them stronger, more durable - not to make them brittle and porous, as has happened to Wyatt's lovely jawline.

"I just want my jaw back," Wyatt, who will undergo surgery Friday, explained to the New York Daily News. "To tell you the truth, I like the way I look."

It doesn't sound conceited when Wyatt says it in her down-to-earth Tennessee drawl, it's just a fact. She was a beauty queen, and critics hailed her as a "sexpot with savvy" on GENERAL HOSPITAL. And looks aren't all she's worried about as her fate plays out in a real hospital.

"I'm afraid how it's gonna affect my speaking," Wyatt, 58, told the paper. That's death for an actor: If you can't say the lines, you can't work. It was supposed to help [my] bones, but it made it worse."

March 31 Birthdays

Shirley Jones (ex-Colleen, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 77
Christopher Walken (ex-Mike, GUIDING LIGHT) - 68
Anne Marie Howard (ex-Nicole, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Kimberly, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 51
Emma Atkins (ex-Charity, EMMERDALE) - 36

The Inspiration Behind Japan Calls (And What You Can Do)

THE INSPIRATION BEHIND JAPAN CALLS
By Tanya Meyers and Michelle "Moey" Mariano

After the travesties that hit Japan earlier this month, many were left wondering what they could do. Texting 90999 to the Red Cross was one way, or donating to a separate charity or even flying out to help directly… But for a lot of us, there wasn’ t much money to give, and anything more direct was near impossible, so all there was left to do was brainstorm.

Thus the idea for Japan Calls came about.

It started out as a very simple idea, inspired greatly by TwitChange. But many entertainers weren't on Twitter, or were already more accessible than huge names like Eva Longoria and Justin Bieber. So what more could celebrities give that people would be willing to donate toward? What would be a step above a simple text on the screen of an individual’ s computer?

A voice message.

But would any stars actually agree? How could we get their attention while simultaneously proving to be legitimate? It was a long shot, but it was worth making an effort. Armed with a group of highly motivated friends who simply wanted to help in whatever way they could, we began a net wide process of - well, pleading. Logging onto Twitter, Facebook, and any other social networking site that would give us access to entertainers of all kinds, we asked for their help in whatever eye-catching way we could. “ 15 seconds to help Japan” was the simple, but striking, phrase.

The response was outstanding. Celebrity names such as: The Veronicas, Mark Ruffalo, Sia, Jeremy Piven, Jenna Ushkowitz, Eliza Dushku, and Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen agreed enthusiastically on the spot. As the “ voices” grew, so did the crew of people wanting to help. Together with our team of friends, we signed 82 names onto the project in just two weeks.

With great anticipation, we finally opened up the auction for bidding on March 28th. (It will remain open through April 4th ). Donations are not required until after the auction has ended.) This is where you come in. The goal of this project isn’ t to garner fans to get personalized voice recordings from their favorite actor or singer, it's to provide a fun incentive FOR donating to an important cause. We have a list of charitable organizations for bidders to donate to directly. All we ask is to receive a validation of that donation before the entertainer is contacted. This is to ensure that every penny (depending on which charity one chooses) goes to where you intended. While the basic prize is a voice message, some entertainers have vowed to go beyond that. Matt Marshak wants to record an original song while Nia Vardalos promises a phone call! So what are you waiting for?

A great many soap stars have placed their voices up for auction, including: Agim Kaba (ex-Aaron, ATWT), Aiden Turner (ex-Aidan, AMC), Brad Rowe (ex-Murphy, GH), Davida Williams (ex-Jade, ATWT), Jake Silbermann (ATWT), Jennifer Finnigan (ex-Bridget, B& B), Karl Girolamo (ex-Kevin ATWT), Kelli Barrett (ex-Maddie, ATWT), Lexi Ainsworth (Kristina, GH), Marnie Schulenburg (ex-Alison, ATWT), Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake, AMC), Scott Clifton (Liam, B& B), Stacy Haiduk (ex-Patty/Emily, Y& R) and Van Hansis (ex-Luke, ATWT).

There are only a few days left… so reach out and help a country who needs us.  And who knows, you could have Winnie Cooper as your personal answering machine.

Go "like" Japan Calls on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @japan_calls.

For information on how to bid (Please read BEFORE Bidding!) click How To Bid and to place your bids click OFFICIAL AUCTION POST: Bid on Your Favorite Entertainers.

Who Watches What (and How Much)? U.S. TV Trends by Ethnicity

How and what Americans watch on TV varies to some degree based on their ethnicity according to a Nielsen report of TV viewing and usage trends in 2010.

In November 2010, African-Americans used their TVs an average of 7 hours 12 minutes each day–far above the total U.S. average of 5 hours 11 minutes. Asians used their TVs the least, just 3 hours and 14 minutes on average. African-Americans also used DVD players and video game consoles more than average.



Across all households, White households’ primetime usage increased by 5.0 rating points with DVR playback, more than any other group. Asian homes had usage growth of 3.1 rating points, while African-American and Hispanic households increased their usage by more than 2 rating points with the additional DVR playback. These increases more than double when cut back to DVR households.

For the complete picture, download: State of the Media: U.S. TV Trends by Ethnicity

NEWS: Kyle Chandler, Lucci & Grout, Lesley-Anne Down, Mobile

Kyle Chandler Courted For FX's POWERS
Chandler — who turned down a slew of offers for broadcast pilots this season — is now being courted for FX’s drama pilot, POWERS. Based on the graphic novel series by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming, the project is a police procedural set in a world where superpowers are relatively common. It centers on two detectives, Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim, in a homicide department that specializes in cases involving "powers."

Number of Americans Watching Mobile Video Grows More than 40% in Last Year
According to a new mobile video report from The Nielsen Company, the number of U.S. mobile subscribers watching video on their mobile devices rose more than 40 percent year-over-year in both the third and fourth quarters of 2010, ending the year at nearly 25 million people. These mobile video users watched an average of four hours and 20 minutes of mobile video per month in both the third and fourth quarter of 2010–a 33 percent and 20 percent year-over-year increase in each quarter respectively.

WATCH: RAGGED ISLE Episode Four

RAGGED ISLE has won the Indie Soap of the Week poll for two of the past three weeks. The show has just released its fourth episode, "No Line on the Horizon."

A driven, young lawman has come to Ragged Isle determined to find the answers that have, so far, eluded the Sheriff. An unseen killer lurks in their midst as he races into the unknown.

Find out what all the fuss is about below.

NEWS: Couric to CBS? Kimberly McCullough, Ignacio Serricchio

CBS Emerges As Front Runner To Land Couric Daytime Talker
CBS CEO Leslie Moonves fully backs the effort to keep Couric in-house, report several sources, and is very involved in talks. NBC, whose stations are seen as having the most need for a strong daytime show, remains interested, although CBS' option to match any offer is causing NBC to tread lightly, because "we don't want to negotiate her contract for her," according to one NBC source.

Although ABC doesn't seem to be a strong contender, ABC executives apparently would be more interested in having Couric host a network-based talk show that would replace another hour of the network's daytime programming, such as a soap opera.

NEWS: Eric Roberts Kisses Ali Sweeney, 'Sweet Valley' Revisited

Eric Roberts teaches Alison Sweeney hot to give the perfect screen kiss on ACCESS HOLLYWOOD LIVE
After airing a clip of Alison kissing her co-star on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Eric felt that Alison needed some pointers. Eric grabbed her face and went in for an open mouth kiss. Both Eric and Alison seemed smitten while Access live host Kit Hoover looked on. Kit added that she felt like "Chopped Liver," which Eric quickly rectified by giving her a kiss on the lips as well.

New Images of Eric Martsolf as Booster Gold in SMALLVILLE
"The episode takes place in Booster's very early stages where he's at his conceited best, where he believes he can do whatever he wants. He's gonna stay for the photo op and bask in the glory of his heroic efforts. [Beetle] wants to stand in the back and not be a glory hound, they are completely opposites of one another."

NEWS: Lucci on Pratt, America Ferrera, Sarah Silverman, Alec Baldwin

"I have another year to go on my contract. And, I can say to you that I have just begun - just begun - shooting material such as I have never done before as an actress. Things Erica Kane has never done before. It's very exciting material and that story arc is a long arc that is written to at least next Fall. That much I can tell you! Of course, the show is not just my storyline, it's all the people there - and that's what we're hearing from all the executives at ABC, is how enthusiastic and excited they are by the writing. We had a head writer who was let go a year and half ago - he was just not the right match for our show."

America Ferrera: "My Heart is Very Close" to GOOD WIFE Guest Role
"I certainly didn't expect to jump into anything on TV that shortly after being off BETTY," the Emmy-winning actress says of her guest stint on THE GOOD WIFE as graduate student and illegal alien Natalie. "For me, the appeal was just how [creators and executive producers Robert and Michelle King] were really interested in addressing this topic and having the character set in the world of these hot-button issues of immigrants in this country. My heart is very close to those issues."

March 30 Birthdays

Justin Deas (Scott, STEAMBOAT; ex-Buzz, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Keith, SANTA BARBARA; ex-Tom, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Bucky, RYAN'S HOPE) - 63
Ian Ziering (ex-Erich, THE DOCTORS; ex-Cam, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Steve, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210) - 47
Mark Consuelos (ex-Mateo, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 40
Quincy Morris (Creator, IN BETWEEN MEN)

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.48 Susan Lucci "All My Life" Book Signing

On episode 2.48 of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, Damon L. Jacobs travels to Barnes & Noble in New York City to speak with Susan Lucci at the first signing of her new book, "All My Life," which was released on March 29, 2011.



RELATED LINKS:
- SusanLucci.com
- Purchase Susan Lucci's "All My Life"
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.40 Broadway Cares with Lucci, Conn, Peck, Smith, Platt & Missal
- Susan Lucci Looks Back at Her Career and Ahead to More Man Trouble on ALL MY CHILDREN
- Andy Cohen on Loving (and Meeting) Susan Lucci
- ALL MY CHILDREN at ABC.com

Become a WE LOVE SOAPS TV Supporter!

Remembering THE YOUNG MARRIEDS, 45 Years Later

REMEMBERING "THE YOUNG MARRIEDS" – 45 YEARS LATER
By Rob Wargo

Forty-five years ago – March 25, 1966, to be exact – ABC aired the 380th and final episode of THE YOUNG MARRIEDS, a companion series of sorts to GENERAL HOSPITAL, launched approximately 18 months prior to TYM’s debut on October 5, 1964. The series was produced in Los Angeles by Selmur Productions, the same in-house production company responsible for producing GENERAL HOSPITAL, and purportedly was set in the same town as GH, although there was no interaction between the characters in the respective series. TYM was created by James Elward and written by him and Frances Rickett. During its 18 months on the air, TYM faced stiff competition from CBS’ THE EDGE OF NIGHT and NBC’s YOU DON'T SAY. Although the show ranked tenth out of seventeen soaps for the 1965-1966 season, ABC still decided to cancel the series. TYM had replaced QUEEN FOR A DAY on the ABC Daytime schedule, and was replaced by the struggling soap THE NURSES in the lineup. THE NURSES would limp along for another year before being canceled , having not improved on TYM’s ratings in the timeslot.

The show marked the return to daytime television of Peggy McCay, who had played Vanessa Dale on LOVE OF LIFE from 1951 to 1955. She played Susan Garrett, one half of four couples whose marital troubles served as the centerpiece for the drama. Paul Picerni played her husband Dan Garrett, while Susan Brown and Michael Mikler (pictured here on the cover of TV Week) played Ann and Walter Reynolds; Pat Rossen and Norma Connelly played Jerry and Lena Karr; and Charles Grodin and Floy Dean played Matt and Liz Stevens. Others in the cast included Irene Tedrow, Ted Knight, Robert Hogan, Brenda Benet and Susan Seaforth (Hayes). Susan Hayes played model Carol West on the series and recalled in her memoir “Like Sands Through the Hourglass,” that in the final scene of the final episode there was a cliffhanger concerning the Walter Reynolds character, with Carol at Walter’s front door screaming “Walter! Walter! Noooooo!” Offstage bang-thud. Fade to very black.

Susan Haskell OUT at ONE LIFE TO LIVE

Susan Haskell has been let go from her role as Marty Saybrooke on ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

Haskell won Emmys in 1994 and 2009 for her portrayal of the character that was first introduced in 1992. Marty's gang rape story in 1993 is one of the most memorable in the show's history. Amnesiac Marty's relationship with her rapist, Todd, in 2008 helped propel Haskell to her second Emmy win. In the past year, the writing for the character has been very uneven as if the writing team was unsure what to do with the character.

Stay tuned to We Love Soaps for further details in the coming days.

Al Thompson To Appear On ANACOSTIA

It was inevitable, Hollywood comes to ANACOSTIA. Al Thompson, star of such films as The Royal Tenenbaums, A Walk to Remember, and Love Don’t Cost a Thing, and appearances on ESPN’s A SEASON ON THE BRINK, Sidney Lumet’s 100 CENTRE STREET and LAW & ORDER will guest star on Season 3 of the award-winning web soap, written and directed by DC native, Anthony Anderson.

Filming for the third season has yet to begin, but sources close to the production say that Al Thompson will portray the role of Ray Shelton, “a severely controlling salesman” who has moved into the neighborhood with his new wife Madison. Viewers will be on the edge of their seats when loud noises start emerging from the Shelton home and Madison is seen with “mysterious bruises.” What secret is lurking behind the door of the Shelton household? Inquiring minds and ANACOSTIA fans will want to know.

Season 3 of ANYONE BUT ME Coming April 26

ANYONE BUT ME, the original critically acclaimed award-winning modern teen drama, has announced that season three will premiere on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 on www.anyonebutmeseries.com. Audiences can see a new episode of this five-episode season every other week. New season extras, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video interviews and photos will be rolled out every week throughout the season. Viewers have continued to discover Anyone But Me over the past two seasons, helping it reach a milestone of over seven million global views across the show’s online distribution networks. With season three, the total number of series episodes will grow to 25.

Online Premiere Fan Events
ANYONE BUT ME's “Sneak Peak & Live Chat” events will be hosted by Rachael Hip-Flores (Vivian) at 8:00 p.m. on the East Coast and Nicole Pacent (Aster) at 8:00 p.m. on the West Coast. Fans will watch the premiere with each actor and discuss the episode together online. (The premiere episode will be removed after each event until its official premiere the next day.) This is a free event that everyone is welcome to attend online. No RSVP is required. More details will be shared on the show’s Web site, Facebook group and via Twitter the week before. This is the show’s first live event for fans.

GLEE's 'Born This Way' Episode May Get Expanded to 90 Minutes

The April 26 episode of GLEE was inspired by Lady Gaga's hit "Born this Way," with a theme of self-acceptance. The title of the episode is “Born This Way” and it concludes with a rousing performance of the No. 1 smash.

According to TVLine, the "the episode is jam-packed with good stuff to the point that Fox will likely expand it to 90 minutes."

Although much of the episode has already been shot, I’m told producers are planning to go back and incorporate two additional musical numbers to fill out the expanded running time. It’s not clear if those numbers will be Gaga-related.

NEWS: March 2012 MAD MEN, Lea Michele, James Scott, Eric Marsolf

AMC Officially Greenlights Season 5 Of 'Mad Men' For March 2012 Premiere
The upcoming fifth season of MAD MEN is now slated to debut in March 2012. That is 17 months from the series' fourth season finale. While the protracted negotiations between Mad Men creator/ exec producer Matt Weiner and AMC/Lionsgate TV led to the series' pushed production start and, in turn, caused the show to miss its original July premiere date, the new March return date is not directly tied to the contract talks. According to sources with knowledge of the negotiations, Weiner had been actually pushing for a shorter gap between Seasons 4 and 5 and had stated that he could get Season 5 produced and delivered on budget for a 2011 premiere.

GENERAL HOSPITAL Tragedy: Has This Soap Finally Gone Too Far?
Ed Martin writes: "The current Death of Jake Webber disappointment is another matter entirely, and it comes at a time when soaps overall are in dire peril -- and in desperate need of stories that respect their shows' histories while reinventing them for the future. In that regard, this latest GH tale has done everything wrong: It has made viewers feel bad about the time they have invested in the Jake storyline during the last few years and killed off a character that was uniquely positioned to be at the center of dozens of compelling stories in the years to come. That's no way to improve a show or support a dying daypart."

PRIVATE PRACTICE Casts Charlotte's and Cooper's Parents
Cast as the Freedmans are John Rothman and Cristine Rose.

RESULTS: Indie Soap of the Week Poll (March 20-26, 2011)

Here are the results from the WE LOVE SOAPS TV "Indie Soap of the Week" poll for the week of March 20-26, 2011. RAGGED ISLE finished in the top spot for the week.



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:
- 9INE Part 5 "February"
- AS THE CORN GROWS Episode 62
- BESTSELLERS Season 1 Episode 8 "A Woman Walks Into the Room"
- BLOOD AND BONE CHINA Chapter 3 "Anna of the Six Towns"
- THE CAVANAUGHS Season 2 Episode 2 "If Not For Me"
- MIND'S EYE Season 1 Episode 18 "Harsh Reality"
- THE P@ASSIONATE & THE PRIVILEGED Episodes 105 & 106
- RAGGED ISLE Episode Three
- SECRETS Episode 24
- STACKS Episode 11 "Don't Trust Anyone"
- THEN WE GOT HELP! Episode 2.3: "Battle of the Exes"

March 29 Birthdays

Christopher Lawford (ex-Charlie, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 55
Terri Ivens (ex-Simone, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 44

Farley Granger Has Died At Age 85

Farley Granger, who played one of Lisa's many husband's on AS THE WORLD TURNS, died Sunday of natural causes in New York. He was 85.

Non-soap fans know him best as the likable tennis pro who was thrust into a murder exchange in Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train in 1951. Soap fans loved him as Earl Mitchell, Lisa's husband on AS THE WORLD TURNS during the early Douglas Marland years. His other soap roles included Trent Archer on THE EDGE OF NIGHT and Will Vernon on ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

In 2007, Granger published a memoir, "Include Me Out," in which he told of being bisexual, documenting affairs with Shelley Winters, Ava Gardner and Patricia Neal as well as playwright Arthur Laurents and a two-night fling with Leonard Bernstein. Since the 1960s, he lived with his longtime partner Robert Calhoun, a soap opera producer, who died three years ago.

Granger made his movie debut playing a Russian in Lewis Milestone's The North Star, a war propaganda moved about the Soviet Union's resistance to Nazi Occupation, written by Lillian Hellman. He next appeared in another World War II film, The Purple Heart, as a U.S. flyer court-martialed by the Japanese before joining the Navy in 1944. While stationed in Honolulu, he had his first sexual experiences -- with both a man and a woman on the same night.

"I finally came to the conclusion that for me, everything I had done that night was as natural and as good as it felt," he later wrote. "I have loved men. I have loved women."

His last film appearance was in the art world satire The Next Big Thing in 2001.

NEWS: Wendy Williams, Candy Spelling, Taylor Kitsch, GH Story Unrealistic?

Wendy Williams' Star Rises Through Renewed Image
The success of her talk show, which was renewed for its third season, has generated other opportunities for Williams. Along with DANCING WITH THE STARS and DROP DEAD DIVA, she'll appear on the soap opera ONE LIFE TO LIVE and host a new dating show LOVE TRIANGLE on the Game Show Network next month.

Candy Spelling to pen another book, this time about daughter Tori
Spelling is shopping another book, but this one plans to dish about her rocky relationship with her daughter, Tori. The widow of TV producer Aaron Spelling has written "Candy Spelling: Golden Girl, Silver Lining," a synopsis of her life since his death. Page Six obtained a copy of the proposal, including a chapter on her troubled relationship with Tori, which deteriorated after Aaron died. Tori, who reportedly received just $800,000 from Spelling's $500 million estate, claimed Candy never notified her of her father's passing. But Candy says she asked Tori to come home when Aaron was near death, but she was filming a movie in Toronto with now-husband Dean McDermott.

Susan Lucci Expresses Hope For ALL MY CHILDREN's Future

Appearing on GOOD MORNING AMERICA on Monday morning, Susan Lucci said that ALL MY CHILDREN seemingly has some support from some of the higher-ups at ABC:

"We’ll see, as long as we have these loyal, passionate fans in our corner ... we just received a letter from the vice president in charge of finance congratulating us on what great shape we’re in."

RESULTS: Daytime Soap of the Week Poll (March 21-25, 2011)

Here are the results from the WE LOVE SOAPS TV "Daytime Soap of the Week" poll for the week of March 21-25, 2011. DAYS OF OUR LIVES remained in the top spot for the third week in a row.

PREVIEW: SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER Season Premiere

ABC Family's hit series, THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER, returns with all-new episodes beginning Monday, March 28, (8:00 – 9:00 p.m. ET/PT). The network will air a special SECRET LIFE marathon (nine episodes) leading up to the premiere, Monday, March 28, from 11:00 AM ET/PT – 8:00 PM ET/PT.

March 28 Birthdays

Ken Howard (ex-Garrett, DYNASTY) - 67
Richard Backus (ex-Ted, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Barry, RYAN'S HOPE; ex-Jason, LOVERS AND FRIENDS; Writer for AS THE WORLD TURNS; ONE LIFE TO LIVE; DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 66
Janice Lynde (Peggy, DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM; ex-Leslie, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Laurel, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Gloria, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Tracy, ANOTHER WORLD) - 63
Todd Curtis (ex-Jordy, CAPITOL; ex-Skip, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 52
Siena Goines (ex-Callie, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Valerie, PASSIONS) - 42
Annie Wersching (ex-Amelia, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 34

TRIVIA: Also born on this day was the late Tom O'Rourke, who played Justin on GUIDING LIGHT for several years, among many other roles. He died in September 2009, a few days before the GUIDING LIGHT finale.

Thom Racina Honors Elizabeth Taylor

We asked We Love Soaps TV friend Thom Racina, and headwriter of GENERAL HOSPITAL from 1981-1983, to share with us his memories and recollections of writing for Elizabeth Taylor's most celebrated scenes as Helena Cassadine.  We thank you Thom for generously taking the time to pay homage to this irreplaceable legend.

HONORING ELIZABETH TAYLOR
By Thom Racina

It was her giggle I recall most.  Elizabeth Taylor being completely disarming, sounding like a little girl (as she did in so many movies!), pulling the rug out from under you, making you believe she was just as human as you were (as Tony Geary said when he went up on a line, the first time facing her in a scene I wrote, "It's fucking Elizabeth Taylor!"), totally self-effacing, warm and generous, and wickedly funny.  As you can see in the bloopers from GENERAL HOSPITAL, she couldn't say her name.  The part I dreamed up when she (a fan of the Luke & Laura Ice Princess saga) told us she wanted to "come to their wedding," was Helena Cassadine, pronounced Cassa-dine, like in having dinner.  She kept saying Cassa-deen, as in Paula.  It happened again and again, and one time she just broke up in a fit of giggles, turned to me and said, "Can't we just change my goddamned name?"  I said nope, it had been played on the air for a long long time (Luke & Laura had killed her nutty husband, the infamous Mikos with the weather machine, thus saving Port Charles), so Elizabeth had to grin and bear it, but thank God she kept having that problem because it made her more human and the cast completely felt at ease being with this goddess, this legend, this superstar who was, really, just one of them, another actor making her way (for the first time) through the wringer that is daytime television.

For me, the most poignant memory is what she did for my mother, whom I took to a benefit performance of the play "The Little Foxes," which she was doing at the Music Center when she taped her stint on our show.  When she gave me the tickets, I told her I'd bring my mom, Esther, as my date, but that was two weeks before the performance, and it was just in passing.  That night, after my mom was already thrilled that Jack Lemmon was sitting next her and that Lucille Ball caught her charm bracelets in her hair when sneaking in late in the row behind us (that's another story altogether), Elizabeth gave a private party with strolling musicians and lamb chops on silver platters served by guys in bow ties and gloves, pretty classy stuff.  When the legend finally entered, looking like a million bucks, she caught my eye and made her way across the room toward me.  I felt shocked and impressed, but she wasn't walking toward me at all, she went to my mother's arms, and she said, after a long hug, "Esther, you must be so proud of him."  Now that's class.  My mom's favorite movie star telling her that she must be proud of me?  It was the most generous thing anyone has ever done in my professional career.  (And the greatest day of my mom's life!)

We are all shocked by Elizabeth's death, I think, even though she'd been ill all her life, and so much so in recent years, because she lived with ferocity, such passion, such joy.  There's a lesson there for us all.  God Bless You, Mrs. Cassadine--or Mrs. Cassadeen, as you'd say it.  You made this world a better place, not only by entertaining us, but for leading the fight against AIDS at a time when no one (including our president) was willing to even speak that word.  I feel honored to have known you, even for such a short time, and will always be touched by your gentle, inspirational, warm and loving hand.

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 2.43 Erika Slezak Celebrates 40 Years
2.   Gregori J. Martin: Open Letter In Support of ALL MY CHILDREN
3.   DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Gay storyline coming to Salem?
4.   WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.42 Ron Carlivati, Frank Valentini & Mark Lawson
5.   NEWS: Liz Taylor, Jonathan Jackson, DAYS Helps Katrina Victims
6.   Anthony Geary Makes Statement on the Late Elizabeth Taylor
7. NEWS: Chandler Massey, Tyler Christopher, Maxwell Caufield, Connie Britton
8.   NEWS: DAYS in Georgia, MAD MEN, Lynn Leahey, Jonathan Cake
9.   NEWS: Amelia Heinle, Ricky Paull Goldin, Hispanic Growth, Kourtney, FRINGE

March 27 Birthdays

Michael York (ex-Charles, KNOTS LANDING) - 69
Michael O'Leary (Michael, STEAMBOAT; ex-Rick, GUIDING LIGHT) - 53
Elizabeth Mitchell (ex-Dinah Lee, LOVING) - 41
Nathan Fillion (ex-Joey, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Adam, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) - 40
Nicholas Rodriguez (Dan, THEN WE GOT HELP!; ex-Nick, ONE LIFE TO LIVE)
Kerri Ann Darling (ex-Alli, ANOTHER WORLD) - 23

NEWS: Michael Sheen, Fall Pilots, ARMY WIVES, Lindsay, DAYS Sellout

Michael Sheen looking to Join Dark Shadows?
The Emmy and BAFTA nominated star Michael Sheen (pictured right) is in early discussions to star in Dark Shadows. Although there isn’t negotiations, there is said to be some interest between him and Tim Burton. If negotiations do begin and he climbs aboard, he will join the stellar cast of Johnny Depp, Jackie Earle Haley, Eva Green, Bella Heathcote, Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter.

On the toughest possible loss, Lifetime's ARMY WIVES has winning episode
In the fourth show of its fifth season Sunday night, ARMY WIVES tackles the toughest of all military moments: when a "combat casualty" is one of your own.

VOTE: Indie Soap of the Week Poll (March 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 March 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 6 "February"
- AS THE CORN GROWS Episode 62
- BESTSELLERS Season 1 Episode 8 "A Woman Walks Into the Room"
- BLOOD AND BONE CHINA Chapter 3 "Anna of the Six Towns"
- THE CAVANAUGHS Season 2 Episode 2 "If Not For Me"
- MIND'S EYE Season 1 Episode 18 "Harsh Reality"
- THE P@ASSIONATE & THE PRIVILEGED Episodes 105 & 106
- RAGGED ISLE Episode Three
- SECRETS Episode 24
- STACKS Episode 11 "Don't Trust Anyone"
- THEN WE GOT HELP! Episode 2.3: "Battle of the Exes"

March 26 Birthdays

Judith Baldwin (ex-Beth, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 65
Billy Warlock (ex-Ross, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Ben, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Frankie, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-A.J., GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 50
T.R. Knight (George, GREY'S ANATOMY) - 38
Natalia Livingston (ex-Rebecca/Emily, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 35
Anthony Anderson (Sean, ANACOSTIA)

Justin Bruening Is WONDER WOMAN's Steve Trevor

Former ALL MY CHILDREN star Justin Bruening (ex-Jamie) has joined the WONDER WOMAN reboot for NBC according to Deadline.com. The David E. Kelley-penned project stars FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS actress Adrienne Palicki as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince, a successful corporate executive working to balance the elements of her complicated life.

Bruening will play Steve Trevor, a leading man Diana can't look past, an army vet who now works in the Justice department.

VOTE: Daytime Soap of the Week Poll (March 21-25, 2011)

Which daytime soap opera was your favorite the week of March 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.

WATCH: Opening Scene of GREY'S ANATOMY Musical Episode

"Song Beneath the Song" - In a series first, the music that has been at the heart of the show and been beloved by fans comes to life for GREY'S ANATOMY: The Music Event.

A cataclysmic event rattles the doctors of Seattle Grace to the core, as Callie, on the verge of an enormous life-changing moment with Arizona, envisions her hospital and friends as it has never-been-seen before.

"Chasing Cars" (Snow Patrol), "How to Save a Life" (The Fray) and "The Story" (Brandi Carlile) are among the songs performed by the cast in one of the most special hours of GREY'S ANATOMY yet, Thursday, March 31 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

NEWS: Amelia Heinle, Ricky Paull Goldin, Hispanic Growth, Kourtney, FRINGE

Census Underscores Hispanic Growth
The Hispanic population in the United States has surpassed the fifty million mark, according to the new census. On Telemundo, the soap opera LA REINA DEL SUR debuted only three weeks ago and beats its English language network competitors in primetime.

Amelia Heinle signs new contract with Y&R
"I'm happy here," the actress says with a smile. "The people are good here. I can't believe I've been here for six years!"

Emily O'Brien on her Y&R exit
"I had a really good run. Five years is good. I'm closing this chapter and going on to something else. I'm very optimistic."

Ricky Paull Goldin responds to ALL MY CHILDREN cancellation talk
"We have been told by the powers-that-be we're not going anywhere, that the rumors are not true and we would have been the first to know," Goldin reports. "These are all vicious rumors. To see false rumors affect or impact a legacy television program like this would be a sin." But that's not to say that the cast wasn't concerned. "It was a bit of a downer that we've all been fielding questions and texts and e-mails from people who love us, our family and friends," he notes. "My mom called and asked me if the show was going off the air. That doesn't set you up for a good day at work. That was so yesterday. And everybody is fine today." Nevertheless, the actor urges the fans to show their support for the 41-year-old sudser. "Now is the time to let their voices be heard," he says. "And they can do that by calling this phone number: 818-460-7477, press 1, then 2, then 3, then 255 for ALL MY CHILDREN and tell the powers-that-be that they support and love the show and that if the show doesn't go anywhere, they're not going anywhere."

Daytime Ratings Report for the Week of March 14-18, 2011
Total Viewers
1. Y&R 4,734,000 (-91,000 versus last week/-369,000 versus last year)
2. B&B 2,948,000 (+137,000/-240,000)
3. GH 2,593,000 (-94,000/+61,000)
4. OLTL 2,427,000 (+72,000/+113,000)
5. AMC 2,376,000 (+58,000/-105,000)
6. DAYS 2,316,00 (-172,000/-522,000)

Households
1. Y&R 3.4/11 (-.1/-.3)
2. B&B 2.1/7 (+.1/-.2)
3. GH 1.9/6 (-.1/same)
4. AMC 1.8/6 (same/-.1)
4. OLTL 1.8/6 (same/same)
6. DAYS 1.7/6 (-.1/-.4) ---- ties low

WATCH: THE CAVANAUGHS Season 2 Episode 2 "If Not For Me"

In defense of Maddie, the cast of 'The Cavanaughs' attempt a walkout in the latest episode of indie soap hit THE CAVANAUGHS. Elsewhere, Justin confronts Hope, Mark offers to meet Sarah's new beau, Maddie and Charley have a heart to heart that ends in a falling out, and Shea (now played by Ryan Kibby) returns to Noreen's side with a mission.

Watch it below.

WATCH: THEN WE GOT HELP! 2.3 "Battle of the Exes"

On this week's episode of THEN WE GOT HELP we meet Emily's husband Michael! Since he won't come to Group, Emily begins secretly taping Michael (played beautifully by Darren Legallo) at home.

Also this week, a new couple, played by Eric Anderson (Broadway's "South Pacific") and Daryn Strauss (DOWNSIZED and Digital Chick TV), comes to group with a secret.

March 25 Birthdays

Willian Bumiller (ex-Martin, PASSIONS; ex-Sean, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-David, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 55
Thom Bierdz (Phillip, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 49
Lark Voorhies (ex-Jasmine, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Wendy, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 37

WATCH: Kourtney Kardashian Makes Her Soap Opera Debut

On Sunday's all-new KOURTNEY AND KIM TAKE NEW YORK (10 p.m. ET on E!), the reality star prepares to appear on ABC's long-running soap ONE LIFE TO LIVE's March 28 episode.

In the clip below, she practices her lines with sis Kim and beau Scott Disick before meeting the rest of the cast. "It's like I'm watching Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise," Disick jokes as the girls recite Kourtney's scenes.

"I literally thought I would have two lines and my script is so long," Kourtney, 31, admits to Us Magazine. "I have to kiss a guy, but I'm not an actress. I just don't feel like kissing some random guy. This is definitely a lot more than I thought I was agreeing to."

"I literally thought I would have two lines and my script is so long," Kourtney, 31, admits. "I have to kiss a guy, but I'm not an actress. I just don't feel like kissing some random guy. This is definitely a lot more than I thought I was agreeing to."

Later, the first-time actress comes face-to-face with her kissing partner, David Fumero, who plays bad boy Cristian Vega. As the pair rehearse, Kourtney -- as lawyer Kassandra Kavanaugh -- gets flustered. "I don't know any of my lines!" she cries.

Despite her jitters, once the cameras rolled, Kourtney's costars say she was a natural actress.

"[She] nailed her lines," OLTL's Kassie DePaiva says of the star, who brought 15-month-old son Mason to the set and was in and out of the November 11 shoot in New York City in just three hours. "She's welcome back anytime!"



Photo Credit: ABC

Gregori J. Martin: Open Letter In Support of ALL MY CHILDREN

LETTER FROM THE CREATOR OF THE BAY THE SERIES IN SUPPORT OF ALL MY CHILDREN

To Whom It May Concern:

Twenty seven years ago was the very first time I ever set eyes on a Daytime Soap, and that Daytime Soap was ABC's ALL MY CHILDREN. I was five years old and my mother would occasionally keep me home from school to watch the town-diva/socialite (and now household name) Erica Kane, the hopeless romances between Jenny and Greg..., Angie and Jesse, Hillary and Tad the Cad -- all doomed from day one, the classic Shakespearian-like story telling and family dynamics of the Cortland's, helmed by the evil-patriarch, Palmer, the polar opposites -- rich and powerful Adam Chandler and his mentally damaged but warm-hearted identical twin Stuart, racy story-lines involving alcoholism, H.I.V. and AIDS, racism and rape! Sex, lies, scandal all taking place in the small fictional suburban town of Pine Valley, set on the outskirts of the great Philadelphia, PA. It's this type of storytelling that captured my interests and inspired me forever. Now, the rumor of it's cancellation has been circulating. What a sad thought this is, and while every day the rumor seems to become one step closer to a reality, I find myself asking, "Is there anything, anything at all I can do to help save ALL MY CHILDREN before we lose another classic daytime soap opera?"

Twenty seven years ago, I was just a fan of AMC. Today, I'm the creator of a new indie soap THE BAY and AMC is the work place of many of my very close friends and associates. For those who are not aware, THE BAY, starring a slew of daytime veterans from all of your favorite daytime shows, is a new and highly popular web series, generating a lot of buzz. As mentioned in TV Guide a month ago, we recently signed a deal with Associate Television International in hopes that by this time next year, THE BAY will have a television home. Our fan base is ever growing and the reviews have been nothing but positive. I'm extremely grateful for the attention our show has been receiving, and now the question is 'What can I do to help bring some of that synergy over to the very first soap to inspire me?' Producing a show with high production value, low costs, and mimicking the style and classic storytelling that made daytime so hot in the 80s -- along with hiring a cast of highly popular daytime soap veterans, has recently garnered me the title by daytime soap fans as "a new savior of soaps." I humbly appreciate the title, but how can I accept it without at least making some sort of an effort to help "save" one of the few remaining inspirations and my mother soap ALL MY CHILDREN?

I must admit, I have not watched a daytime soap in quite some time, though taking on this exciting venture with THE BAY, it is very clear to me by the reaction of our fans that the need for dramatic storytelling in the daytime format is still in heavy demand! I hope the powers that be do not overlook this and I ask all of my supporters and "The Bay Watchers" as we like to call them, to please show your support of ALL MY CHILDREN.

My dear friend Jill Larson (Opal, AMC) shared this link with me and so I now share this link with all of you…
thepinevalleyexposer.com/2011/03/dont-wait-help-save-amc-now.html

Please take a few moments to write something in support of ALL MY CHILDREN with hopes to keep the show on the air.

If it's any consolation at all, and in the rare case that any of the PTB may be reading this, I humbly offer any assistance I could "possibly" be in an additional effort to help bring the show under budget and on schedule with high production values.

Respectfully yours,
Gregori J. Martin
(Creator of THE BAY)
thebaytheseries.com
"LANYfilms"

CORRIE's Katherine Kelly: A "Magical" Time To Be Part Of The Cast

Katherine Kelly, who plays 29-year-old barmaid Becky McDonald (nee Granger), told the Gold Coast Mail it has been a magical time to be a part of the CORONATION STREET cast.

“It was such a privilege to be a part of the show in its 50th year,” she said during a recent trip to Australia.

Kelly says the live episode was a nerve-racking but exhilarating experience.

“It was a mixture of nerves and excitement but I've done a lot of theatre in the past,” she said.

The tram crash also revealed a darker side to Kelly's character, which the actor says she is enjoying. Becky took advantage of the crash chaos to steal money from the corner shop in a bid to “save” her nephew Max from his mum Kylie.

Eva Green on Dark Shadows Movie: It's Very Different

Actress Eva Green recently revealed how her portrayal of the character Angelique in Tim Burton’s big screen version of Dark Shadows will be a far different version to what fans know from the '60s gothic soap opera DARK SHADOWS.

"I haven't seen the TV series, but from what I've seen on the Internet, it's very different. My character is very different. She's American, blonde, cool, in the '70s. She is this sexy witch, very powerful in town, she's very cool. She has many faces."

Green also described Burton's approach with the movie, saying "It's something that he's never done, I think. It's much more focused on the actors. It could almost be a play...The script is very powerful and funny. [Angelique's] relationship with Barnabas, that 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf' relationship, very love-hate — it's very funny."

Helen Stenborg Has Passed Away At Age 86

Helen Stenborg, 86, a Tony-nominated stage, film and TV actress who was the wife of the late Tony Award-winning actor Barnard Hughes and mother of the Tony Award-winning director Doug Hughes, died Tuesday at her Manhattan apartment, according to press agent Chris Boneau. The cause was not given.

Stenborg is known to soap opera fans for her role as Helga Lindeman on ANOTHER WORLD from January 1977 to February 1978. Helga was the Cory housekeeper and a reluctant participant in several of Sven Peterson's schemes over the years. She also appeared on RYAN'S HOPE and ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

Stenborg earned a Tony nomination for her 1999 role as pyromaniac Sarita Myrtle in Noel Coward's "Waiting in the Wings." She and her husband celebrated their 50th anniversary onstage in the Coward play and were honored with Drama Desk Awards for Lifetime Achievement in 2000. He died in 2006.

March 24 Birthdays

Kim Johnston Ulrich (ex-Ivy, PASSIONS; ex-Diana, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 55

Anthony Geary Makes Statement on the Late Elizabeth Taylor

Anthony Geary statement on the late Elizabeth Taylor:

Elizabeth was more than a great star, she was an amazing human being. Her world famous physical beauty paled in comparison to the beauty that radiated from her heart and soul. She had great humor, didn’t take herself too seriously, and had the most wonderful bawdy laugh. She was a fierce and loyal friend and tireless advocate. She dedicated herself to education, treatment and the search for a cure for HIV/AIDS long before it was fashionable to do so. Back in the dark days of ignorance and prejudice against people stricken with the disease, Elizabeth was at the forefront of the battle. Ever ready to give love, comfort, and dignity to those whose lives had been devastated and cut short, her generosity was nothing short of spectacular. It made her furious to hear anyone claim that people who had HIV/AIDS were somehow morally inferior or that the disease was some kind of punishment. I was fortunate enough to call her my friend and every moment I spent in her company was unforgettable. I loved her very much. The world is a little darker, a little colder, a little less beautiful without her.

RELATED:
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Anthony Geary at Broadway Cares Event
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV Interview Archive: Anthony Geary

Van Hansis To Guest Star On PSYCH

Three-time Emmy nominee Van Hansis (ex-Luke, AS THE WORLD TURNS) announced today that he has landed a guest spot on an upcoming episode of the USA series PSYCH. Hansis told WE LOVE SOAPS TV in November he was open to any new opportunity: "It's not that it's more one of the other, or any specific genre I want to work in. I want to work everywhere and have the ability to do some theater and a TV show. It's really whatever comes my way."

Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

RELATED:
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.29 Van Hansis
- Van Hansis: Being An Open Book Is The Best Way To Go
- Q&A With PSYCH's James Roday and Dulé Hill
- Van Hansis in Black Swan Parody, Pale Swan

NEWS: Liz Taylor, Jonathan Jackson, DAYS Helps Katrina Victims

NPR: 'Laughter And Reflections' With Carol Burnett
"Being the good sport she is," Burnett remembers, [Elizabeth] Taylor hid from Burnett until her cameo [on ALL MY CHILDREN]. "The cameras kept rolling, and her belly laugh and my expletive — bleeped — went to the air exactly as taped."

Elizabeth Taylor special, marathon set
TV will be filled with Elizabeth Taylor memories and tributes over the next few days.

The Biography Channel and TCM are the first to announce special programs.

BIO REMEMBERS: ELIZABETH TAYLOR is scheduled for Thursday from 8-10 p.m.

TCM will air a 24-hour Liz Taylor film marathon starting at 6 a.m. Sunday with Lassie Come Home.

National Velvet follows at 7:30 a.m.

Conspirator is next at 10 a.m.

Father of the Bride is set for 11:30 a.m.

Father’s Little Dividend rolls at 1:15 p.m.

Raintree County starts at 2:45 p.m.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof goes at 6 p.m.

Butterfield 8 is a primetime attraction at 8 p.m.

Who’s Afraid of Virigina Woolf follows at 10 p.m.

Giant begins at 12:30 a.m.

Ivanhoe closes the tribute at 4 a.m.

"GLEE: The Music Presents The Warblers" Album Cover And Track Listing

GLEE is releasing a Warblers-only album, dropping April 19, filled with numbers from the past season. Track list below!

GLEE: The Music Presents The Warblers

1. Teenage Dream
2. Hey Soul Sister
3. Bills, Bills, Bills
4. Silly Love Songs
5. When I Get You Alone
6. Animal
7. Misery
8. Blackbird
9. Candles
10. Raise Your Glass
11. Somewhere Only We Know
12. What Kind Of Fool
13. Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?

TORCHWOOD: Miracle Day Premieres July 8 on Starz

TVLine has revealed that TORCHWOOD: Miracle Day — the much-anticipated fourth season of the UK phenom — will make its stateside debut on Starz on Friday, July 8.

Above is a first look at the provocative key art for Miracle Day (click to expand), which perfectly underscores the season’s explosive conceit: What would happen if the entire human race became immortal?

Adrianna Leon's Brook Lynn Exits Port Charles In Early April

Adrianna Leon (Brook Lynn) will be leaving GENERAL HOSPITAL in early April, when her songbird alter ego heads out of Port Charles on a music tour, according to a new report by Soaps In Depth.

A GH spokesperson says that the character of Brook has always been recurring, and will continue to be so. And Leon herself hasn't yet said a final farewell to the soap. "All storylines were left open, all explanations were left undefined," she tells In Depth.

NEWS: Morrison/Paltrow Duet, Elvis Martinez, PLL Ratings Up

Maine island of mysteries featured in Web episodes of the new RAGGED ISLE
Barry and Karen [Dodd] plan to film a second season this summer, to be released at the end of 2011. A third season isn’t out of the question, either. Last week, RAGGED ISLE was chosen as the Indie Soap of the Week by WeLoveSoaps.com. The first season has to play itself out, however, and the pair still have some finishing touches to put on the remaining eight episodes.

Matthew Morrison and Gwyneth Paltrow to duet on his upcoming album
The pair will be covering a tune very familiar to Morrison and his GLEE fans: the classic “Over the Rainbow.”

CLASSIC CLIP: Elizabeth Taylor on ALL MY CHILDREN

On June 4, 1984, Elizabeth Taylor appeared on ALL MY CHILDREN in a scene with Carol Burnett and Eileen Herlie.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.47 OLTL's Austin Williams

On episode 2.47 of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, Damon L. Jacobs travels to the ONE LIFE TO LIVE studios in New York to attend the celebration of Erika Slezak's 40 years with the soap, and speaks with actor Austin Williams (Shane) about his bullying storyline.



RELATED LINKS:
- ONE LIFE TO LIVE at ABC.com

Become a WE LOVE SOAPS TV Supporter!

CLASSIC CLIPS: Elizabeth Taylor on GENERAL HOSPITAL

In 1981, the late Elizabeth Taylor made a guest appearance on GENERAL HOSPITAL as Helena Cassadine just in time for Luke and Laura's wedding. Watch her scenes, and some outtakes, below.