News Brief

TV Guide Canada: Nelson Branco's "Suds Report": Tuc Watkins returning to ‘OLTL’? Jerry Douglas’ new ‘Y&R’ role! Noah marries Ameera on ‘ATWT’! Plus: More on Byrne’s exodus!

Southern Voice: A decade ago, if middle class soccer moms wrote letters to media outlets complaining about gay content on a racy daytime soap opera, it would likely mean the show would react by removing the storyline, quickly, often painfully. Times have changed. Luke and Noah (Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann), the gay teenage couple on AS THE WORLD TURNS, found each other in the show's plot about six months ago — to wide acclaim by gay fans and gay media watchdogs.

Washington Blade: Jeannie Tharrington, a spokesperson for the ATWT’s producing company Proctor & Gamble Productions Inc. (a subsidiary of the company behind popular consumer products), admits that the 52-year-old series has a diverse fan base, some of whom might be called “conservative.”

“We are intentionally doing this slowly,” says Tharrington. “We’re trying to respect all viewers. We want to present what’s best creatively and what’s best for our diverse audience.”

“It’s sad that they don’t have confidence in their audience,” Booher says. “It’s almost as though they’re regressing.” Booher refers to the Valentine’s show as “a slap in the face. They’re playing footsie with Nuke’s sex lives, yet they allow straight characters to rip each other’s clothes off in tasteless elevator scenes.”

New York Daily News: Ryan sweet-talks his way into Kendall's room today on ALL MY CHILDREN, but he won't like what he finds. "Ryan had a flash of memory involving Kendall, so he got on a plane and flew all the way to L.A. to confront her," says Cameron Mathison, whose character is suffering from a touch of amnesia. "He woos the girl at the front desk to get the room number and just races up. Why he doesn't try to call Kendall again a few more times, I don't know. I guess he's on a mission." A mission to reunite with Kendall, because he thinks it's four years ago.

Charlotte Observer: EVENT: Rite Aid Health & Beauty Expo, Friday and Saturday at the Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St. Scheduled are soap opera stars Jacklyn Zeman (Bobbi Spencer on GENERAL HOSPITAL); Cameron Mathison (Ryan Lavery on ALL MY CHILDREN); and Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady on DAYS OF OUR LIVES).

Daytime Royalty: Nielsen Ratings for the week February 25-29, 2008.