News Brief

Entertainment Weekly: Gay Hollywood: Out of Sight? These days, you might catch the gay romance on "As the World Turns" or get sucked into a bitchy same-sex speed date on MTV's Next.

Medai Post: Proctor & Gamble Co. has been in the news lately, as the company recently launched an online program called "Crescent Heights." The show features a recent college graduate named Ashley, who hails from Wisconsin and recently moved to Los Angeles to begin a career in public relations. The story focuses on Ashley's work life, love life and acclimation to being in a new city. Intertwined throughout the program is the connection to Tide, which serves as the sole sponsor/creator of "Crescent Heights."

Reno News & Review: Knitting has come a long way since the earth-tone, scratchy acrylic mittens, ill-fitting turtleneck sweaters and ponchos of the 1960s. The Zanders’ booth became a popular stop for celebrities, like Patrika Darbo (Days of Our Lives), who says she regularly knits on the set. “It was fun to do something different, and people kept coming back,” Zander says of the three-day event.

Computerworld: Geek stars: The secret (nerdy) life of celebrities. Soap opera heartthrob Drake Hogestyn (John Black, "Days of Our Lives") graduated from the University of South Florida with a double major in microbiology and applied sciences.

Lexington Herald-Leader: A Lexington man who told the audience he couldn't pay his rent when he won a local "I Wanna Be A Soap Star Live Tour" audition in August, has won the ultimate prize of a walk-on role on NBC's "Days of our Lives", SOAPnet officials announced Wednesday. After winning the local competition in Triangle Park, Darren Zancan was one of six semi-finalists from across the country to audition for the daytime drama. After he was chosen by "Days of our Lives" casting director Marnie Saitta, he taped his scenes on Oct. 17 and will make his national television debut Nov. 12.

Metro Spirit: Jerome Preston Bates not only credits Paine College’s Upward Bound program for setting him on his path to acting success — he just landed a featured role on ABC’s “All My Children” and wrapped the film “The Narrows” with Vincent D’Onofrio — but he worked with Wilson, starting in 1994 with the debut of “Seven Guitars.”

FemaleFirst: Dancing with "All My Children" star Cameron Mathison, Week Five.

AfterElton: Tuc Watkins, who plays desperate househusband Bob Hunter, recently took time out of his bi-coastal work schedule to talk about playing gay on a hit show, how he almost had Nathan Fillion's "Desperate Housewives'" role, and what secrets Bob and Lee might know about their neighbors.