VOTE: Indie Soap Best of the Week Poll (March 25-31, 2012)

Which web series was your favorite this week? Support your favorite continuing drama or comedy and vote in the weekly We Love Soaps poll below. You can also cast a vote for your favorite actor, actress and web series couple. Voting ends Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET.

This week's results will be announced on Tuesday's episode of our new web series, INDIE SOAP BEAT.

Only the shows that aired one or more new episodes from March 25-31, 2012 are eligible. If an indie soap aired this week and is not on the list, cast your vote as "Other" and add a note in the Comments section of this post.

Watch this week's indie soaps below:
- ADULTS ONLY Episode 5 "Scene Stealer"
- ANACOSTIA Season 3 Episode 6 "Show & Tell"
- AVE 43 Chapter 39
- CHECKED OUT Episode 2
- DRIFTER: BROKEN ROAD Chapter 3
- IN THE MOMENT Episode 19 "You're a Big Boy"
- JACK IN A BOX Episode 27 "The Pest"
- LEADER OF THE PACK Episode 2
- MELODY SET ME FREE Episode 2.6 "Everything"
- SQUARESVILLE Episode 2 "Let's Hang Out In The Treehouse"
- STALLIONS DE AMOR Episode 14 "Memory Recallation"
- SUBMISSIONS ONLY Season 2 Episode 7
- SUPER KNOCKED UP Episode 4 "Dr. Destruction"
- THE SYNDICATE Episode 6
- TIGHTS AND FIGHTS: ASHES Episode 139 "Le Blog Video of Le Dead"

If you know about a web series that aired this week we missed in the poll OR you are an indie producer and would like to have your web series added to our Indie Series Network (ISN) Guide, please contact [email protected].

Today in Soap Opera History (March 31)

On this date in...

1965: On ANOTHER WORLD, Pat (Susan Trustman) found a seedy motel after running away.

1967: ABC's THE NURSES aired its final episode. The show was a continuation of a serialized primetime drama which aired on CBS originally called THE NURSES when it premiered in 1962, later called THE DOCTORS AND THE NURSES. Mary Fickett and Melinda Cordell were among the stars.

1972: NBC's BRIGHT PROMISE, created by Frank and Doris Hursley, aired its final episode after two and a half years. It was replaced in the lineup by RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE. Dabney Coleman and Anthony Geary were among the stars.

SAG and AFTRA Members Approve Merger

Creating Hollywood's largest entertainment union, members of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have voted overwhelmingly to combine into a single bargaining unit. Read the press release from SAG-AFTRA below:

SAG, AFTRA Members Approve Merger to Form SAG-AFTRA
March 30, 2012

LOS ANGELES (March 30, 2012) — The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild are pleased to announce that members of both organizations have overwhelmingly voted to approve a merger, creating a new entity, SAG-AFTRA. SAG members voted 82 percent in favor of the merger. AFTRA members favored the merger with 86 percent, exceeding the 60 percent threshold needed for both unions' membership for passage.

VOTE: Daytime Soap Best of the Week Poll (March 26-30, 2012)

Which daytime soap opera was your favorite the week of March 26-30, 2012? DAYS OF OUR LIVES returned to the top spot last week after two straight wins by GENERAL HOSPITAL. But which show was did you like best this week?

Who was your favorite couple? John and Marlena from DAYS OF OUR LIVES are our reigning champs. And who was your favorite actor and actress of the week? Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall won last week's poll. These are write in questions so you can pick anyone from any daytime soap you enjoyed the most this week.

Vote in the poll below and check back on Monday morning for the results. Voting ends at 9 a.m. ET on Monday.

RELATED:
- EXCLUSIVE: SoapClassics Releases New AS THE WORLD TURNS DVD: The Story of Lily and Holden
- Daytime TV Ratings Week of March 19-23, 2012: Y&R, B&B, DAYS, GH Down
- Why 2012 Will Be "The Year Of The Soap" (Part 3): Promising Fall Pilots

NEWS ROUNDUP: Woman Skips Facial Injections Bill Using Fake Kelly Capwell Name, Kassie DePaiva on OLTL/GH, How HBO Makes Money

Woman Skipped Out on Paying for Facial Injections, Gave Fake Soap Opera Name, Police Say
Police in Culpeper, Va., are appealing to the public to help them find the woman they say received about $1,600 in cosmetic facial injections at a local spa, then skipped out on paying the bill.

The woman, who is believed to be in her 50s, gave the fictitious name “Kelly Capwell” when she arrived at the Med Spa in Culpeper on March 9.

Kassie DePaiva: My character was not invited to stay there, which I'm sure was based on story

EXCLUSIVE: SoapClassics Releases New AS THE WORLD TURNS DVD: The Story of Lily and Holden

The fans have spoken and SoapClassics has released another classic soap opera DVD, this time an AS THE WORLD TURNS collection: "The Story of Lily and Holden."

The ten episode set traces the 25 year relationship of the legendary ATWT couple Lily Walsh and Holden Snyder. Along the way, other memorable stories and characters will appear including a few that have yet to be seen on DVD.

Here is a summary of the ten episodes on the new "Lily and Holden" set:

Episode 1. A Rocky Start. October 16, 1985

ANACOSTIA Is Back With "Show & Tell"

The wait is over for ANACOSTIA fans as the show released "Show & Tell" this week. The tension continues to build and it looks like something terrible is about to go down.

As Dominique explained to Nancy, "Some real bad sh-- is about to go happen in Anacostia. You need to decide what side you're going to be on."

We can't wait to find out what happens next!

Watch the new episode below:

Today in Soap Opera History (March 30)

On this date in...

1970: A WORLD APART, created by Katherine Phillips, premiered on ABC.

Daytime TV Ratings Week of March 19-23, 2012: Y&R, B&B, DAYS, GH Down

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS reached a new low in total viewers last week (4.065 million viewers) while DAYS OF OUR LIVES hit a low point in the Women 18-49 demo (496,000). GENERAL HOSPITAL's 0.3 Women 18-34 demo rating was also the show's lowest ever. THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL was down for the week but has shown growth year to year in total viewers and the W18-49 demo.

HOLLYWOOD HEIGHTS Cast Previews The Nick at Nite Soap

HOLLYWOOD HEIGHTS stars Cody Longo, Melissa Ordway, Brittany Underwood and Justin Wilczynski previewed the show at the Nickelodeon Upfronts in March. Watch their interview below:

CLASSIC CLIP: Holden & Lily in AS THE WORLD TURNS 2005

In 2005 on AS THE WORLD TURNS Lily wanted to reunited with Holden but was tied to Keith thanks to the agreement she made with him to help Luke. In the clip below, she remembers her life with Holden:

Free (Permanent) Tattoos for Soap Fans? Yes, Please.

Tomorrow, GAME OF THRONES is teaming up with marketing group Campfire NYC, and NY INK tattoo artist Ami James, to give away free, real tattoos to the first 50 fans to line up at 43 Wooster Street in Manhattan. If GAME OF THRONES is your thing, here's the invite: GOT Ink.

We Love Soaps loves the idea, but we're not quite willing to be branded with a sigil from a House of Westeros. But there are some shows we'd love to have scarred into our flesh for eternity--I mean, we do love soaps, after all. As with any ink, the big question when considering a free tattoo is: is it the right image for me? Forever?

We came up with five ideas that just might be a little bit tempting. Would we pay for any of them? Maybe not. But if it's free...

Florencia Lozano Gets "Busted"!

Florencia Lozano continues to amaze and inspire soap fans and New York theatergoers with her new theater piece, "Busted."  Written by Lozano, "Busted" tells a story of four friends who reunite for an unexpectedly touching and complicated meeting.  Gigi is pissed, Lucía is about to let her have it, Jesse has a secret she doesn't want her friends to know-- or does she?-- and Melanie's announcement is about to change EVERYTHING. A tale in which friends cling to each other for dear life and tear each other to shreds in the process. An inexplicable hole, a mysterious visitation, a cosmic happening... with dance breaks: BUSTED.

A staged reading for the play will be performed on Saturday, April 7th, at 8 p.m.  Proceeds from ticket sales will go toward furthering HOLA's much needed advocacy efforts on behalf of the Latino/Hispanic entertainment community. 

Soap Opera Stars In Primetime: Upcoming Guest Appearances

Daytime and primetime soap stars are everywhere in 2012: The Year of the Soap! Below are some of the upcoming guest appearances by soap stars on primetime shows. We update this list every few days.

MARCH
29 THE SECRET CIRCLE - Joe Lando (ex-Jake, ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Tim Phillipps (ex-Fox, NEIGHBOURS)
29 THE MENTALIST - Jay Acovone (ex-Joe, GENERAL HOSPITAL)
30 CSI: NEW YORK - Spencer Grammer (ex-Lucy, AS THE WORLD TURNS)
30 BLUE BLOODS - Benton Greene (ex-Derek, AS THE WORLD TURNS)
30 GRIMM - Claire Coffee (ex-Nadine, GENERAL HOSPITAL)

APRIL
  1 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES - Sean Kanan (Deacon, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS)

NEWS ROUNDUP: Pilot Trends, Tristan Rogers to Y&R, GLEE to Actors Studio, Shannon Tweed Video Game

The Nine Trends That Are Dominating the 2012–13 Pilot Season
9. Soaps
REVENGE is apparently a dish served over and over again, at least judging by network development grids, which are chock-full of potential soap operas. ABC's lathering up the most, with nearly a half dozen sudsy projects. (EDITOR'S NOTE: We have deemed 2012 "The Year of the Soap" and the pilot trends are re-enforcing it.)

Tristan Rogers returning to THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS for a couple of appearances
"This is a two part thing," says the actor, who is due back to the set in early April.

GLEE Gang Going 'Inside the Actors Studio'
Co-creator Ryan Murphy and cast members Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith will sit down with James Lipton (ex-Dick, GUIDING LIGHT) on Monday, April 9 at 8 p.m.

PREVIEW: Thursday Night's MISSING Starring Ashley Judd

ABC is airing an all-new episode of MISSING, "Ice Queen," on Thursday, March 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

With Becca still on the hunt to find Michael, her best friend, Mary (guest star Aunjanue Ellis, "The Help"), complicates matters with her surprise arrival in Europe. Meanwhile, Michael struggles to uncover answers behind his kidnapping.

The location setting for this episode is Portofino, Italy.

Terri Garber Signs On For Three-Part MISS BEHAVE Finale; Leads Cast Of Spin-Off

Terri Garber, best known as Ashton Main from the North and South franchise, Leslie Carrington on the popular prime time soap DYNASTY and most recently as Iris Dumbrowski on AS THE WORLD TUNRS, has joined Indie Soap Award-winning MISS BEHAVE in the coveted role of "The Queen", Tori's (Jillian Clare. ex-Abby, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) ever absent mother. The series is set to wrap this summer with a three-part finale scheduled to debut late June.

In addition, Ms. Garber will headline a spin-off, REIGN.

PREVIEW: CW's Thursday Night Soaps THE VAMPIRE DIARIES & THE SECRET CIRCLE

The Year of the Soap continues when THE VAMPIRE DIARIES airs an all new episode, "The Murder of One," on Thursday, March 29 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.

Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) focus a new project that will bring them closer to destroying Klaus (Joseph Morgan), and they quickly bring Elena (Nina Dobrev), Caroline (Candice Accola) and Matt (Zach Roerig) in on the plan. After Klaus threatens someone close to Bonnie (Kat Graham), she has no choice but to work on the spell he needs.

Meanwhile, Klaus and Rebekah (guest star Claire Holt) find the perfect motivator to convince Finn (guest star Caspar Zafer) to cooperate with them, but Rebekah is more interested in her own brutal plan to take revenge on Damon.

James Franco Will Play Movie Mogul "Oz" In HOLLYWOOD HEIGHTS

HOLLYWOOD HEIGHTS (previously titled REACH FOR A STAR) is a daily scripted series based on the wildly popular Televisa telenovela, ALCANZAR UNA ESTRELLA. The new soap will debut in primetime on Nick at Nite in June. The 80 one-hour episodes currently in production will star Brittany Underwood (ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Melissa Ordway, Cody Longo and Justin Wilczynski.

Actor James Franco will also be joining the cast of HOLLYWOOD HEIGHTS in a multi-episode arc.

Michael Damian Directed 'Flicka: Country Pride' Released on Blu-ray and DVD May 1st

Michael Damian is returning to THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS on May 18 and the character of Danny Romalotti. May will also feature the Blu-ray and DVD release of Flicka: Country Pride which Damian directed!

The movie, available May 1st from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, stars country music superstar Clint Black (Flicka 2), Lisa Hartman Black (KNOTS LANDDING) and Kacey Rohl (THE KILLING), and is based on Mary O'Hara's popular novel "My Friend Flicka."

Warren Stevens Dead at 92

Actor Warren Stevens has died in Los Angeles at 92. Publicist Dale Olson says Stevens died Tuesday of respiratory failure complicated by lung disease at his Sherman Oaks home.

Stevens’ career in stage, film and television spanned 60 years including roles in the soaps RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE (Elliot Carson) and FALCON CREST (Senator Bundy Silverlake).

His other TV appearances include BRACKEN'S WORLD, BONANZA, IRONSIDE, GUNSMOKE and STAR TREK.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 29)

On this date in...

1967: On DARK SHADOWS, Maggie began to figure out what went down between her father and Roger 10 years ago.

1979: On ANOTHER WORLD, Iris informed Brian that Elena intended to seduce both their sons.

1982: SEARCH FOR TOMORROW aired its first episode on NBC after nearly 31 years on CBS.

RESULTS: Indie Soap Best of the Week Poll (March 18-24, 2012); B.J. FLETCHER, Fletch & George, Drew Droege & Dana Puddicombe No. 1

The Top 3 finishers for each category of our Indie Soap Best of the Week poll were revealed on INDIE SOAP BEAT on Tuesday. Below are the complete results from the We Love Soaps poll for the week of March 18-24, 2012. B.J. FLETCHER was voted as favorite web series for the third week in a row.

RANK	SHOW	LAST WEEK	TOP 3
1	B.J. FLETCHER: PRIVATE EYE	1	3
2	STALLIONS DE AMOR	8	1
3	ADULTS ONLY	6	3
4	MELODY SET ME FREE	-	0
5	VENUS SPA	3	3
6	DRIFTER: BROKEN ROAD	4	0
7	OUR WORLD	7	4
8	ANYONE BUT ME	-	6
9	GAY'S ANATOMY	-	0
10	LEADER OF THE PACK	-	0
11	SPY GAMES	-	0
12	THE PURSUIT	-	0
13	TIGHTS AND FIGHTS: ASHES	12	0

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 3.37 BOLD & BEAUTIFUL 25th Anniversary Party: Adam Gregory, Don Diamont, Jennifer Gareis, Kristolyn Lloyd

WE LOVE SOAPS TV recently traveled to THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 25th Anniversary party in Los Angeles as the show celebrated 25 years on the air.

In this new interview with Damon L. Jacobs, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL stars Adam Gregory (Thomas), Don Diamont (Bill), Jennifer Gareis (Donna), and Kristolyn Lloyd (Dayzee) reflect on the show's anniversary and preview what's coming next.

Watch our latest episode below.

CLASSIC CLIPS: Steve & Alice in ANOTHER WORLD 1974

Steve and Alice were one of the most popular couples in soap opera history. They married in 1971 but were torn apart and divorced. In 1974 they were slowly working their back to each other thanks to help from Pat and Lenore. They would marry for the second time that year in the show's first hourlong episode. Watch a clip from 1974 below:

NEWS ROUNDUP: More Dark Shadows Character Posters, AMC Developing Football Drama

Dark Shadows Reveals Nine New, Full-Body Character Posters
Warner Bros. Pictures has revealed, through iTunes Movie Trailers, another nine new character posters for Tim Burton's Dark Shadows. Unlike the ones that debuted last week, these posters feature full-body shots of the entire Collins family.

AMC Developing Football Drama ‘The Real All Americans’
Producers are in discussions with Tommy Lee Jones to direct the pilot, about the Native American college football program that minted Olympian Jim Thorpe.

Sara Canning returning to THE VAMPIRE DIARIES as Aunt Jenna Sommers
Canning will be returning in the Season 3 finale as Aunt Jenna Sommers... with a twist. No, she's not a zombie, and nobody is upsetting the balance of nature by channeling witch-power to resurrect her. Instead, Canning will appear in flashbacks, where we'll get a glimpse into what Elena's life was like before we met her in the pilot.

Univision Continues Ratings Surge Thanks to Telenovelas

Univision continues to surge in the primetime ratings thanks to its lineup of telenovelas. The network sent out the following press release on Monday detailing the ratings for last week.

Univision was the #3 network during primetime last week among Adults 18-34, out-delivering ABC (+32%) and NBC (+33%). Furthermore, for the eighth time out of the last nine weeks Univision has ranked #3 or higher among A18-34.

Disney/ABC and Nielsen To Measure iPad Behavior In Consumers

Disney/ABC Television Group's ABC Research team and Nielsen today announced a new and significant initiative to substantially improve understanding of how people use iPads, for video consumption and other activities. With Apple now reporting more than 55 million iPads sold to date and 3 million new iPads sold since March 16, the importance of understanding how, when and where consumers use tablets is a top priority for the media industry.

For the study, ABC Research commissioned Nielsen to build a proprietary, opt-in Nielsen metered iPad panel to aggregate and measure video consumption, app usage and other activity over the course of a year.

Michael Swan To Guest Star On THE BAY; Gerald Hopkins Joins Cast

Michael Swan, best known for his roles on AS THE WORLD TURNS and THE BOLD AND THE THE BEAUTIFUL, makes his way to THE BAY as a guest star in the role of Buck Stanton.

Swan reports to the set of THE BAY on Tuesday April 3rd and will first appear on screen in early May.

His new alter ego, Buck, hotel manager of Bay City Inn, will be seen in scenes involving the youngest Garrett, Peter (Kristos Andrews), and the mystery woman (Fiona Hutchison). Swan will appear in at least two installments this season.

In other BAY casting news, former GENERAL HOSPITAL star Gerald Hopkins (ex-A.J.) will be playing Michael, a bartender at Bay City Brewery. He shoots his first scenes tonight.

RELATED:
- Fiona Hutchinson Joins Cast Of THE BAY; Debuts in May
- John Reilly Joins The Cast Of THE BAY
- Brian Gaskill Joins THE BAY's Summer Special DARKSIDE OF THE BAY

Daytime Emmy Dates Announced; "Golden Globes" Type Gala At Beverly Hilton

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced that the 39th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Awards will be presented at the prestigious Beverly Hilton on Saturday evening, June 23rd, 2012.

“We are very excited to bring the Daytime Emmy® Awards back to Los Angeles and to such a glamorous venue as the Beverly Hilton,” said Malachy Wienges, Chairman, NATAS. “While we are continuing to speak with various networks and social media sites, we are planning a spectacular evening of stars and entertainment as we honor the best in Daytime Television. In addition, we are happy to return again to the Westin Bonaventure on Sunday, June 17, 2012 to present our Daytime Entertainment Creative Arts Emmy® Awards to honor all those who work behind the scenes raising the bar of what Daytime Television can be.”

TNT Reveals What's Behind DALLAS Shower Curtain

TNT has revealed its latest promotional image for DALLAS which premieres on June 13.

RELATED:
- PUBLICITY STUNT: New DALLAS Billboard Steams Up Times Square
- INDIE SOAP BEAT broadcasts from underneath DALLAS billboard

NEWS ROUNDUP: Jacqueline MacInnes Wood Cast In ARROW Pilot; THE REVOLUTION Exec Producer J. D. Roth: I Did Not Kill Erica Kane

Jacqueline MacInnes Wood joins ARROW pilot
According to Green Arrow TV, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood has just signed on to play Sarah Lance in the new CW pilot ARROW. Wood is best known for her role as Steffy Forrester in the CBS soap THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL.

Since Wood won’t be leaving the CBS soap, it’s presumed that she will have a guest starring role in the pilot. Wood confirmed her role to play Sarah Lance via a tweet.

THE REVOLUTION exec producer J. D. Roth: I did not kill Erica Kane

Today in Soap Opera History (March 28)

On this date in...

1944: Tom O'Rourke was born. He would go on to play roles on SANTA BARBARA and ONE LIFE TO LIVE but is best known for his run as Justin Marler on GUIDING LIGHT. He died in September 2009, a few days before the GUIDING LIGHT finale. (O'Rourke appears on the new "Phillip Spaulding Collection" DVD set from SoapClassics in a 1977 episode where he is credited as Thomas O'Rourke.)

1969: On DARK SHADOWS, Barnabas discovered Dirk outside, and claimed that Jamison was missing.

1989: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Shannon received a disturbing phone call.

INDIE SOAP BEAT 1.2: EMPIRE's Lauren B. Martin, ISA Winner Hillary B. Smith, THE BAY's Camden Toy

On this week's INDIE SOAP BEAT, we check in with EMPIRE's Lauren B. Martin, Indie Soap Award winner Hillary B. Smith from VENICE and FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES, and THE BAY's Camden Toy who sings! We also have the latest web series news and Indie Soap Best of the Week poll results all from underneath the new DALLAS billboard in Times Square.



For the full poll results, check back on Wednesday.

Stay tuned for our next episode on Tuesday, April 3.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Michael Damian & Lauralee Bell to Y&R, Whoopi Goldberg & Lindsay Lohan to GLEE

Lauralee Bell and Michael Damian Reunite on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Lauralee Bell and Michael Damian will finally re-team on the CBS soap for a major story development in May. Bell will hit the air May 17. Damian shows up the following day.

Ewa Da Cruz movie coming to DVD in April
In Dogs Lie, 8 patients and 2 clinicians (Frank Boyd, Samrat Chakrabarti) are thrown togther at a luxury New York sleep clinic for a night of observation and monitoring. As the night progresses dark secrets are revealed. The beatiful Lucia (Ewa Da Cruz) finds herself the center of attention as her life seemingly spins out of control. Romance, blackmail and murder ensue. Nothing is quite as it seems.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Daytime Emmy Awards in Jeopardy; Barbara Walters Host Betty White Roast; ARCHERS Controversy

Daytime Emmy Awards in Jeopardy
The Daytime Emmy nominations will be announced May 4, but so far no network has agreed to air the ceremony. A rep for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences claims negotiations are still in play, but insiders say a live Internet feed may be more likely than a telecast. The awards, even if they're a no-cameras affair, are expected to take place June 23 in Beverly Hills.

Barbara Walters will serve as roastmaster for the Friars Club sendup of comedy icon Betty White on May 16
White has said of the roast at Manthattan’s Sheraton Ballroom: “It will be an afternoon filled with dirty words, risque jokes and sex talk . . . and that’s just what I plan on saying.”

RESULTS: Primetime Soap of the Week Poll (March 18-24, 2012); DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES No. 1

Below are the results from the We Love Soaps "Primetime Soap of the Week" poll for March 18-24, 2012. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES was voted as the favorite of our readers followed closely by THE GOOD WIFE and the season finale of THE WALKING DEAD.

RANK	SHOW	LAST WEEK	TOP 3
1	DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES	2	3
2	THE GOOD WIFE	1	2
3	THE WALKING DEAD	3	2

Monday Night Ratings: SMASH, ALCATRAZ Down

Monday night was a mix of new episodes and reruns plus the return of SECRET LIFE and MAKE IT OR BREAK it. Below is a roundup of ratings reports for March 27.

From Media Life:
At 8 p.m. Fox was fourth among the broadcast networks with a 1.5 adults 18-49 rating for the first hour of ALCATRAZ. Univision was fifth with a 1.4 for UNA FAMILIA CON SUERTE. Telemundo was for UNA MAID EN MANHATTAN (tied with a movie on The CW).

Today in Soap Opera History (March 27)

On this date in...

1953: On SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, Joanne tried to help a patient who is in a coma (played by Don Knotts).

PUBLICITY STUNT: New DALLAS Billboard Steams Up Times Square

Right now, technicians are fine-tuning the plumbing behind the new, enormous DALLAS Billboard at the northern end of Times Square (723 Seventh Avenue at 48th Street). Depicting a sturdy male form showering in his cowboy hat, the billboard enigmatically proclaims, "They're Back."  If you look closely at the photograph at right, beneath the sign, you can see the legs of the workers along with their cherry-picker.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Bally's Host Soap Weekend With Y&R Stars, SMASH's Megan Hilty Scores Record Deal

Bally’s hosts a Soap Opera Weekend with THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Cast
Bally’s Atlantic City hosted a special Soap Opera Weekend last Saturday and Sunday, March 24-25, in its Park and Garden Ballrooms, which included a meet and greet with the stars of Y&R.

On hand to answer intimate questions about the show and their personal lives were Greg Rikaart (Kevin), Stephen Nichols (Tucker), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) and Michael Muhney (Adam). Watch a video here.

More Movies That The CW Could Turn Into Teenage Soap Operas

GENERAL HOSPITAL Promo: The Mystery Is Solved...

This week's GENERAL HOSPITAL promo features Jason, Sam, Franco and... Heather Webber! Watch it below to catch a glimpse of the fabulous Robin Mattson.

CLASSIC CLIP: Travis & Liza in SEARCH FOR TOMORROW 1983

SEARCH FOR TOMORROW's Travis frantically searched for his wife, Liza, in 1983. Watch the March 7, 1983 below in which Liza shoots Rusty:

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Turns 39; Watch Scenes From The First Episode

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, debuted 39 years ago today on CBS. Here's a summary of stories for that first year (1973):

Fantasies of starting over with a completely new life are rarely fulfilled, but Dr. Brad Eliot was swept into his without forethought. Distraught because the son of his fiancee, Barbara Anderson, died while he was operating on him, Brad Eliot walked away from his medical practice as a psychiatrist and neurosurgeon. Brad was actually the boy's father. As he left Chicago, circumstances went from bad to worse when his car and wallet were stolen. In a haze, he wandered into Genoa City with nothing more than the dirty clothes on his back. Then, after enjoying a meal at Pierre's restaurant, he had to admit he couldn't pay the tab. That's when Brad's luck actually changed for the better.
Stuart Brooks, the owner/publisher of The Genoa City Chronicle, overheard Brad's conversation with waitress Sally McGuire. Trusting his instincts that this was no ordinary panhandler, Stuart gave him a job. Fate continued to nudge Brad into a new life when he saw a news wire story declaring that Dr. Brad Eliot had been killed in a car accident. Clearly, the thief who stole his car and wallet had been killed and mistakenly identified, giving the real Dr. Eliot an opportunity to start his life over.

Stuart Brooks and his wife Jennifer had four daughters: Leslie, a rather shy pianist; Lauralee, called Lorie, an adventurous author; Chris, a journalist; and Peggy, a college student. Although Brad clearly chose to keep his past a mystery, he proved himself likable, helpful and basically honest. It was easy for Stuart to encourage a budding relationship between Leslie and Brad.

Watch the minisode version of the very first episode below along with some other historical clips:

Indie Soap Award Winner Sebastian La Cause Covers Next Magazine

Sebastian La Cause was named Best Lead Actor (Drama) at this year's Indie Soap Awards for his work on HUSTLING. Since then, he's been everywhere including on the cover of this week's Next Magazine (the sex issue).

Inside the magazine there are numerous sexy photos taken by Gustavo Monroy. If you would like to see the photos, visit nextmagazine.com (some are rather racy so be warned if you are at work).

The hard working La Cause is gaining attention and we hope this growing momentum will help lead to another season of his fascinating drama series. If you haven't seen HUSTLING, you can watch it at hustling.tv

Soap Opera Stars In Primetime: Upcoming Guest Appearances

Daytime and primetime soap stars are everywhere in 2012: The Year of the Soap! Below are some of the upcoming guest appearances by soap stars on primetime shows. We update this list every few days.

MARCH
26 SMASH - Neal Bledsoe (ex-Tyler, UGLY BETTY)
27 NCIS - Eden Riegel (ex-Bianca, ALL MY CHILDREN)
27 BREAKING IN - Sean Patrick Flanery (ex-Sam, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS)
27 RAISING HOPE - Vivica A. Fox (ex-Maya, GENERATIONS)
28 ARE YOU THERE, CHELSEA? - Mark Valley (ex-Jack, DAYS OF OUR LIVES)
28 WHITNEY - Peter Gallagher (ex-Chuck, GUIDING LIGHT)
28 HOT IN CLEVELAND - Rick Springfield (Noah, GENERAL HOSPITAL)
29 PERSON OF INTEREST - Sarah Wynter (ex-Catherine, THE CITY)
29 THE SECRET CIRCLE - Joe Lando (ex-Jake, ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Tim Phillipps (ex-Fox, NEIGHBOURS)

Sunday Night Ratings: MAD MEN Sets Records, GOOD WIFE, GCB, HOUSEWIVES Up

Sunday is soap day in primetime. MAD MEN returns to record ratings as The Year of the Soap continues. Below is a roundup of March 25 ratings reports we have so far.

From AMC Network:
Last night, AMC debuted season five of MAD MEN with a two-hour premiere, which resulted in record ratings making it the most watched episode ever from the series. From 9pm-11pm EST, the network attracted a 2.5 HH rating delivering 3.5 million viewers. This marks a +21% growth from season four’s premiere. Among the core demo of Adults 25-54, MAD MEN delivered 1.7 million marking an increase of +17% versus the season four premiere. MAD MEN airs on AMC Sunday nights at 10pm ET/PT.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Lucci Says Magic Happened At AMC; Kristian Alfonso Thinks The Carly Story Could Have Been Good; Story Left For Betty Draper

Susan Lucci: Magic Happened With ALL MY CHILDREN
"I believe that every once in a long while, some magic happens. And it's what everybody's looking for, the magic. I think it happened with ALL MY CHILDREN. I think it was embraced by the American public, across the board, across generations. People told me they came to this country not speaking English, but they watched Erica Kane to learn how. So I don't think it was the Emmy nominations that made Erica Kane an icon. I think it was [creator] Agnes Nixon's writing, and this incredible character was embraced, for whatever magical wonderful reasons, they all came together at the time they did."

Rebecca Herbst renews contract with GENERAL HOSPITAL
"I'm looking forward to what they have in store for Elizabeth."

Kristian Alfonso: The Carly story could have been interesting

Fiona Hutchinson Joins Cast Of THE BAY; Debuts in May

The second season of THE BAY continues starting April 26 and the show has been on a casting frenzy lately bringing in soap veterans for the series and summer special. Fiona Hutchison (ex-Gabrielle, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Jenna, GUIDING LIGHT) is the latest actress to join the cast.

Hutchison, who worked with THE BAY creator, Gregori J. Martin, in his movie The Southside (see photo), will play a "mysterious new role that will have her character linked to many Bay City residents."

The Mystery Woman first lights up your computers, TVs, iPads (wherever you watch) the first week of May and will be caught up in a web of deceit.

"Along with John Reilly, Scott Bailey and Brian Gaskill, we happily welcome Fiona Hutchison to our stellar cast in these upcoming installments," said Martin.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES Stars Bill and Susan Hayes Release Historical Novel

Decadent Publishing has released "TRUMPET," by Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes, longtime stars of DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Their debut novel, full of fascinating facts researched on site, is a historical romp through the theatrical world of the Regency Era. The adventures of heroine Elizabeth Trumpet, from innocence to experience, include famous characters of the time. Trumpet's conflicts with love and fame in history's most elegant yet brutal age mirror women's struggles in our own turbulent times.

Hayes and Hayes enthusiastically spent their lives acting; this wealth of wit and experience colors every page. Their enticing fiction moves from 1803 London to Egypt, the blossoming America and beyond with heartfelt emotion and adventurous fun - just like the romantic scenes Bill and Susan love to play.

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL's Linsey Godfrey Previews The 'New' Caroline

WE LOVE SOAPS TV spoke with THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL's Linsey Godfrey on the red carpet of the show's recent 25th anniversary party in Los Angeles. Godfrey, the newest addition to the B&B cast, debuts on as Caroline Spencer on March 27. Joanna Johnson (the original Caroline) is also returning on the same day as her mother, Karen.

So how does Godfrey describe this new Caroline?

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS' Maria Bell: Our Audience Means A Lot To CBS

WE LOVE SOAPS TV recently caught up with Y&R exec producer/head writer Maria Arena Bell on the red carpet of THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL's 25th Anniversary party. She feels good about the future viability of both show.

"I think we are really encouraged," she told Damon L. Jacobs. "If anything, we're up in many ways, and many demographics over where we were a year ago."

Bell feels Y&R has been helped by the recent soap cancellations.

CLASSIC CLIP: Tad & Dixie Reunite on ALL MY CHILDREN 2010

On ALL MY CHILDREN in 2010, a very much alive Dixie finally reunited with Tad. Watch the clip below:

RESULTS: Daytime Soap Best of the Week Poll (March 19-23, 2012) - DAYS OF OUR LIVES, John & Marlena, Drake Hogestyn, Deidre Hall No. 1

Here are the results from the WE LOVE SOAPS TV Daytime Soap & Couple of the Week poll for March 19-23.  DAYS OF OUR LIVES returned to the top spot with GENERAL HOSPITAL coming in a close second.. See the full results below.

RANK	SHOW	LAST WEEK	TOP 3
1	DAYS OF OUR LIVES	2	113
2	GENERAL HOSPITAL	1	36
3	THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL	4	3

PREVIEW: THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER & MAKE IT OR BREAK IT Return Tonight

ABC Family will continue its Monday nights of original programming with the Spring returns of THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER and MAKE IT OR BREAK IT, both premiering on Monday, March 26, 2012, at 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., respectively, one week after the season finales of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS and THE LYING GAME.

Starring Golden Globe ® nominee Shailene Woodley, THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER picks up right where it left off after a dramatic summer finale, with Amy accepting a marriage proposal from boyfriend, and father of her son, Ricky and Adrian and Ben moving on from their tragic past. This season the series continues to explore new and ever changing relationships with the introduction of several new characters. Despite the crazy relationships, there's an undercurrent of discovery, honesty and growing up - even for the adults. The series cast includes Shailene Woodley, Ken Baumann, Mark Derwin, India Eisley, Greg Finley, Daren Kagasoff, Megan Park, Francia Raisa, with Steve Schirripa and Molly Ringwald. THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER will continue its fourth season with all-new episodes beginning Monday, March 26, 8:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. ET/PT. Just released today is the beautiful new key art featuring Shailene Woodley which hints at a wedding – but ultimately, will Amy and Ricky make it down the aisle?

INTERVIEW: Ayla Kell Previews Spring Premiere Of MAKE IT OR BREAK IT

Ayla Kell began her acting career at the tender age of four, when she made her professional stage debut in the Los Angeles Opera production of "Madame Butterfly." She has appeared in dozens of commercials and has guest starred on WEEDS, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, WITHOUT A TRACE and CSI: MIAMI.

She also played the young Barbara Mandrell in the TV movie The Barbara Mandrell Story. Her feature film work includes The Omega Code, Rebound, and What Just Happened.

Kell began seriously studying ballet at a young age and danced with American Ballet Theater at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood as 'Greta' in The Nutcracker. She completed 15 years of Royal Academy of Dance ballet training at the Los Angeles Ballet Academy and competed in the finals at the Youth America Grand Prix in New York City and was a featured dancer at Valentino's International Carousel in Tokyo, Japan.

Kell is now starring on MAKE IT BREAK IT as Payson Keeler. The show returns on Monday, March 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC Family. She spoke with the media last week about the new season and you will find the transcript below.

PREVIEW: NBC Monday Night Musical Soap SMASH; Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic Guest Stars

The Year of the Soap continues on NBC on Monday, March 26 with a new episode of musical soap SMASH.

In "The Coup," the team deals with the aftermath of the workshop.

Ivy (Megan Hilty) remains in the dark about her fate, while Derek (Jack Davenport) recruits Karen (Katharine McPhee) to help him steal the musical from Tom and Julia (Christian Borle and Debra Messing).

Eileen (Anjelica Huston) must face up to her ex-husband, Jerry (guest star Michael Cristofer), when their daughter Katie (guest star Grace Gummer) pays a surprise visit from India.

Watch a couple of sneak peeks below:

Phillip R. Allen Dead At 72

Actor of stage, screen and television, Phillip R. Allen died on March 2, 2012 at age 72.

Allen played a policeman in episode 1034 of DARK SHADOWS in 1970. In 1981, he guest starred on DALLAS as Lloyd Bettinger.

His recurring roles in television series include THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, BAD NEWS BEARS (with Tricia Cast, Kristoff St. John and Kristoff St. John), HAPPY DAYS and BOSOM BUDDIES.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 26)

On this date in...

1967: On ANOTHER WORLD, Ada mentioned having been married to “Lou”, which was probably the original name for the character of Gerald Davis, Rachel's father.

1968: The first episode of DARK SHADOWS that Dan Curtis directed aired. Nathan told Naomi that Barnabas is the Strangler.

1973: THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS premiered as a 30-minute soap joining the CBS Daytime lineup. Watch the very first scene below:

Brian Gaskill Joins THE BAY's Summer Special DARKSIDE OF THE BAY

Brian Gaskill has been cast as the mysterious bad boy, Chase, in THE BAY’s upcoming summer special, THE BAY: DARKSIDE OF THE BAY. With shooting already in progress, DARKSIDE will revolve around THE BAY’s Generation Y, as the younger residents of Bay City suffer serious consequences when they venture into the wrong side of Bay City. Gaskill’s character, Chase, has a serious bone to pick with Will (DERRELL WHITT) and Lianna (JADE HARLOW). Lives hang in the balance when Gaskill debuts in this summer’s cutting and edgy edition of DARKSIDE.

Best known for his role as Rafe in PORT CHARLES, additional acting credits for Gaskill include GUIDING LIGHT, AS THE WORLD TURNS, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, ALL MY CHILDREN, and Aaron Spellings’ primetime TV series MODELS INC.

CLASSIC CLIP: Meg Ryan & Frank Runyeon on Game Shows

AS THE WORLD TURNS stars Meg Ryan and Frank Runyeon (Betsy & Steve) modeled the first item up for bid on THE PRICE IS RIGHT in 1984. Watch the clip below:

PREVIEW: Sunday's Night's ARMY WIVES Guest Starring Susan Lucci

Susan Lucci continues her guest starring run in Lifetime's ARMY WIVES on Sunday, March 25 at 9 p.m. ET.

In "True Colors," Roxy is presented with an opportunity to be more involved in the Army. Tension escalates between Claudia Joy and Jackie, leaving Denise in the middle. Joan feels the pressure when General Clarke chastises her for not combining the bases quickly enough. The Clarkes officially become a part of Fort Marshall.

Watch a preview below:

VOTE: Indie Soap Best of the Week Poll (March 18-24, 2012)

Which web series was your favorite last week? Support your favorite continuing drama or comedy and vote in the weekly We Love Soaps poll below. You can also cast a vote for your favorite actor, actress and web series couple. Voting ends Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET.

B.J. FLETCHER was voted the favorite of our readers last week for the second week in a row. B.J.'s Fletch & Georgia were voted favorite couple, while THURSTON's Steven Quartell and Catherine Frels were voted favorite actor and actress. This week's results will be announced on Tuesday's episode of our new web series, INDIE SOAP BEAT.

Only the shows that aired one or more new episodes from March 18-24, 2012 are eligible. If an indie soap aired this week and is not on the list, cast your vote as "Other" and add a note in the Comments section of this post.

Watch this week's indie soaps below:
- ADULTS ONLY Episode 4 "In-Store Signing"
- ANYONE BUT ME Series Finale
- B.J. FLETCHER: PRIVATE EYE Episode 3.3
- CHECKED OUT Episode 1 (Series Premiere)
- DRIFTER: BROKEN ROAD Chapter 2
- GAY'S ANATOMY Season 2 Episode 3 "Who's Coming Now?"
- LEADER OF THE PACK Episode 1
- MELODY SET ME FREE Episode 2.5 "Faded to Black"
- OUR WORLD Episodes 74-77
- THE PURSUIT Episode #12 "The Whiskey Rebellion"
- SPY GAMES Webisode 8 - Part 1
- STALLIONS DE AMOR Episode 13 "Two Somethings"
- TIGHTS AND FIGHTS: ASHES Episode 138 "Here, Kitty Kitty!"
- VENUS SPA Episode 3.15 "CALL ON ME!"

If you know about a web series that aired this week we missed in the poll OR you are an indie producer and would like to have your web series added to our Indie Series Network (ISN) Guide, please contact [email protected].

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 3.36 BOLD & BEAUTIFUL 25th Anniversary Party: Linsey Godfrey, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, Texas Battle, John McCook, Kim Matula

WE LOVE SOAPS TV recently traveled to THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 25th Anniversary party in Los Angeles as the show celebrated 25 years on the air.

In this new interview with Damon L. Jacobs, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL stars Linsey Godfrey (Caroline), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy), Texas Battle (Marcus), John McCook (Eric) and Kim Matula (Hope) reflect on the show's anniversary and preview what's coming next.

Watch our latest episode below.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 3.35 BOLD & BEAUTIFUL 25th Anniversary Party: Hunter Tylo, Adrienne Frantz, Heather Tom, Jacob Young, Winsor Harmon, Hillary B. Smith, Maria Bell

WE LOVE SOAPS TV recently traveled to THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 25th Anniversary party in Los Angeles as the show celebrated 25 years on the air.

In this new interview with Damon L. Jacobs, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL stars Hunter Tylo (Taylor), Adrienne Frantz (Amber), Heather Tom (Katie), Jacob Young (Rick), Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark (Allison), Hillary B. Smith (Dr. Stacy) and Winsor Harmon (Thorne) reflect on the show's anniversary along with supervising producer Rhonda Friedman and former writer Maria Bell, who is currently the executive producer and head writer of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.

Watch our latest episode below.

CLASSIC CLIP: Cruz & Eden in The Cave on SANTA BARBARA (1989)

SANTA BARBARA's Cruz and Eden made love in a memorable cave scene in 1989. Watch the clip below:

VOTE: Primetime Soap of the Week Poll (March 18-24, 2012)

Which primetime soap opera was your favorite the week of March 18-24, 2012? Tell us which show you enjoyed the most and check back on Tuesday morning for the results. THE GOOD WIFE was the favorite of our readers last week. Voting ends at 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

RELATED:
- RESULTS: Primetime Soap of the Week Poll (March 11-17, 2012); THE GOOD WIFE No. 1
- INTERVIEW: Q & A with Janel Parrish, "A" from PRETTY LITTLE LIARS
- Why 2012 Will Be "The Year Of The Soap" (Part 3): Promising Fall Pilots
- INTERVIEW: SWITCHED AT BIRTH's Sean Berdy Talks Acting, Performing and Playing The Deaf James Dean

Today in Soap Opera History (March 24)

On this date in...

1967: On DARK SHADOWS, Liz was surprised to see Jason McGuire in the drawing room.

1975: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Kay begged Phillip not to leave her.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 3.34 BOLD & BEAUTIFUL Turns 25: Alley Mills & Colleen Bell Reflect

WE LOVE SOAPS TV recently traveled to the set of THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL in Los Angeles as the show celebrated 25 years on the air.

In this new interview with Damon L. Jacobs, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL actress Alley Mills and associate producer Colleen (who is also Director of Special Projects) reflect on the show's 25th anniversary.

Watch our latest episode below.

VOTE: Daytime Soap Best of the Week Poll (March 19-23, 2012)

Which daytime soap opera was your favorite the week of March 19-23, 2012? GENERAL HOSPITAL finished on top last week for the second week in a row. But which show was did you like best this week?

Who was your favorite couple? John and Marlena from DAYS OF OUR LIVES are our reigning champs. And who was your favorite actor and actress of the week? Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall won last week's poll. These are write in question so you can pick anyone from any daytime soap you enjoyed the most this week.

Vote in the poll below and check back on Monday morning for the results. Voting ends at 9 a.m. ET on Monday.

RELATED:
- Why 2012 Will Be "The Year Of The Soap" (Part 1) 
- Why 2012 Will Be "The Year Of The Soap" (Part 2): DARK SHADOWS, RAGGED ISLE, DALLAS, Univision Telenovelas and More
- Why 2012 Will Be "The Year Of The Soap" (Part 3): Promising Fall Pilots

KNOTS LANDING Star Michele Lee Joins FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES Cast

Two-time Tony and Emmy nominated actress Michele Lee (Karen, KNOTS LANDING) will be joining the cast of the award-winning web comedy series FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES.

"Michele will play no-nonsense, quick-witted Eleanor," said series creator/writer Julie A. Smith. "She comes to town to lift her daughter Jesse's spirits, and share some good but unexpected news with the family."

Lee's participation in the show follows the recent announcement that ALL MY CHILDREN's Bobbie Eakes has also joined the cast, which begins production on its second season April 24th.

The series is set to return this summer.

RELATED:
- Bobbie Eakes Joins FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES
- INTERVIEW: From Theater to TV to the Web - Joan Van Ark

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 3.33 BOLD & BEAUTIFUL Turns 25: Katherine Kelly Lang, Ronn Moss & Hunter Tylo Reflect

WE LOVE SOAPS TV recently traveled to the set of THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL in Los Angeles as the show celebrated 25 years on the air.

In this new interview with Damon L. Jacobs, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL original cast members Ronn Moss and Katherine Kelly Lang, and longtime star Hunter Tylo, reflect on the show's 25th anniversary.

Watch our latest episode below.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 23)

On this date in...

1973: LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING aired its finale episode. Below is a an episode of the Irna Phillips soap which features Michael Zaslow and Beverlee McKinsey.

Travis Marsh Debuts New Video On The SFN; Features Jillian Clare

The SFN, the online television network, today announced the exclusive, world premiere of multi-talented singer/songwriter Travis Marsh’s new music video, "Love Take Over Me." Watch it at sfntv.com.

“We’re elated to feature Travis’ debut music video on the network,” said Todd Fisher, co-founder of The SFN. “He’s an extremely gifted musician, and we believe one hundred percent in his talent. Travis is part of The SFN family, and we think our fans are going to love his music.”

DAYS Stars Bryan Dattilo and Molly Burnett Stuck On Plane Due To Air Canada Walk Out

DAYS OF OUR LIVES stars Bryan Dattilo (Lucas) and Molly Burnett (Melanie) were traveling to Canada for a meet-and-greet with fans last night -- but were trapped on a plane for over two hours after landing at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

A rep for the show tells toofab the two were sitting on the runway for over an hour before being told an airline strike was causing major delays.

According to local reports, about 150 crew members from Air Canada walked off the job Thursday night after three workers were suspended.

RELATED:
- Molly Burnett to guest star on CSI: NEW YORK on April 27
- INTERVIEW: Bryan Dattilo on Chandler Massey, Joe Mascolo, Acting Drunk, the Super Bowl and more

Disney Junior Launches Today; Most Will Have SOAPnet For A Period of Time

Disney Junior, the multiplatform brand for kids age 2-7, their parents and caregivers, takes its next big step when it launches as a 24-hour channel today. The channel will ulimately replce SOAPnet but it's not a flip of the switch for everyone.

CLASSIC CLIP: Jake & Megan's Wedding in ONE LIFE TO LIVE

Jake and Megan were finally married on ONE LIFE TO LIVE in 1991. Watch the wedding begin below:

EXCLUSIVE: SoapClassics Releases New GUIDING LIGHT DVD: The Phillip Spaulding Collection

SoapClassics today has released the latest GUIDING LIGHT DVD, "The Story of Phillip Spaulding," featuring five episodes that span 32 years. The DVD kicks off with a November 1977 episode shortly after the Spauldings arrived in Springfield. Over the course of five episodes, Phillip goes from a young boy to grandfather.

It's especially exciting to have found the 1977 episode, which we did not know existed before. Bridget and Jerome Dobson introduced the Spaulding family when GUIDING LIGHT expanded to an hour on November 7, 1977. The story was so well crafted, the secret of Phillip's birth played out over the next six years. You can watch the powerful episode in which Phillip reacts to the truth on the very first GUIDING LIGHT Classics DVD.

Below you will find the complete episode listing for the new disc.

TWITTER PICKS: Fun Photos from Jen Lilley, Scott Reeves, Adam Gregory, Ingo Rademacher, Farah Fath, Maurice Benard & Aaron Diaz

Below are some of our favorite recent Twitter photos from soap stars. Post your own favorites in our Comments section.

Jen Lilley
@jen_lilley
"incognito with @KellySullivanNY"

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 3.32 BOLD & BEAUTIFUL Turns 25: Brad Bell & Lee Phillip Bell Reflect

WE LOVE SOAPS TV recently traveled to the set of THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL in Los Angeles as the show celebrated 25 years on the air.

In this new interview with Damon L. Jacobs, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL executive producer/head writer Brad Bell and co-creator Lee Phillip Bell reflect on the show's 25th anniversary.

Watch our latest episode below.

NEWS ROUNDUP: MAD MEN Mashup + Then vs. Now; Ed Speleers Joins DOWNTON; Jack Coleman Joins FIRST CUT

The ‘Mad Men’ days are over … a look at how far we’ve come
When it comes to the way we treat our environment, our health and our fellow man, we’ve come a long way, baby. In honor of the premiere of MAD MEN, HellaWella examines how attitudes toward key issues have changed since the 1950s and 1960s.

Mash-up of Every Woman Don Draper Hooked Up with in Season 4 of MAD MEN

CBS Announces Spring Finale Dates; THE GOOD WIFE April 29

CBS announced today the dates and storylines for its 2011-12 series’ season finales. (All times are ET/PT.)

SUNDAY, APRIL 29
9:00-10:00 PM THE GOOD WIFE – Lockhart & Gardner faces its biggest challenge yet when Patti Nyholm (Martha Plimpton) returns, joining forces with Louis Canning (Michael J. Fox) to drive Alicia’s (Julianna Margulies) firm into bankruptcy.

Soap Opera Weekly Shut Down

In April 2011, Soap Opera Digest and Soap Opera Weekly cut staff and the magazines' operations were turned over to National Enquirer and Shape owner American Media, Inc. in a licensing deal. Now, what has been rumored ever since has finally come true: Soap Opera Weekly has shut down. Along with AMI's Pixie, Weekly is now a thing of the past.

At the time of the licensing deal, David J. Pecker, Chairman, President and CEO of American Media Inc. (AMI), said “This agreement is ideal for American Media as both soap opera titles fit strategically into our entertainment group, which includes Star, National Enquirer, Country Weekly and TV Guide, reaching an audience of 37 million people. Advertising clients will benefit immensely as we will now deliver the most efficient ad buy in the celebrity category for consumers.”

In honor of the magazine's glorious past, here's an interview we did with founder Mimi Torchin last May.



We wish the best to anyone impacted today.