News Brief

The Money Times: Tony Holland, creator of the British prime-time soap, "EastEnders," has died in a London hospital at age 67, the BBC reported. Holland -- whose credits also include "Angels," "District Nurse" and "Eldorado" -- had been ill for some time. "All of us at 'EastEnders' are forever indebted to him for creating the program with the late Julia Smith," said executive producer Diederick Santers. "Tony will be remembered with great affection and respect by everyone at 'EastEnders.'"

Los Angeles Times: Jeanne Bates, 89, a veteran actress who played Nurse Wills on TV's "Ben Casey" in the 1960s and the mother in David Lynch's bizarre 1977 cult favorite "Eraserhead," died of breast cancer Wednesday at the Motion Picture & Television Fund hospital in Woodland Hills. Born May 21, 1918, in Berkeley, Bates began her acting career appearing on radio soap operas in San Francisco while attending San Mateo Junior College. In 1972 she joined the cast of "Days of our Lives" as Anne Peters, a role she would play for three years.

Soaphunks.net: Voting is now open in the The 9th Annual Soaphunks.net Awards Official Ballot where you can vote in such categories as "Best Hunk", "Hunkiest Soap", "Best Eyes" and "Best Hair."

Los Angeles Times: This late afternoon in the Encino home of her editor, Zack Arnold, Anne-Sophie Dutoit is sitting on the sofa in his editing room, working on a romantic scene between her character of Cassandra and 22-year-old Brock Kelly (ex-Josh, "Days of Our Lives") who plays her love interest, Lucas, in "Faded Memories," a drama about a teenager with a phobia of being touched by others. Just like any teenager, Dutoit blushes when asked if this is her first on-screen kiss. "No," she says with a giggle.

Monitor: "Days of our Lives" star Kristian Alfonso will be in McAllen this weekend to meet fans from the Rio Grande Valley and hear what they have to say about her jewelry. She will be showcasing her jewelry line, Hope Faith Miracles, at the Junior League of McAllen’s annual Dias Festivos marketplace. The event began Thursday night and continues through Sunday at the McAllen Convention Center on South Ware Road and Expressway 83. She already met with some fans Friday afternoon and helped them try on pieces of jewelry.

Hamptons Independents: Bless the Hallmark Channel. It has brought "General Hospital" legend Genie Francis back to the screen in an absolutely heartwarming, sensitive and perfect holiday film; one in which viewers should without a doubt remember Peyton, her character's name. Holiday films have an identifiable trademark, which in all likelihood is why networks repeat most of them yearly. "The Note" debuts December 8.

CBS: Catching up with "Guiding Light's" Daniel Cosgrove.

SON: Nielsen Ratings for the week November 19-23, 2007. All soaps were down except "General Hospital" and "All My Children."