News Brief

AUDIO: Eileen Davidson interviewed on Buzzworthy Radio
Eileen Davidson, Ashley Abbott from B&B and Y&R, was interviewed last night. She spoke with fans about her upcoming storyline and her previous roles on DAYS and SANTA BARBARA.

Viewers don't like soap GUIDING LIGHT's new look
A number of readers seem to agree with the complaint of angry viewers, reported here last week, that the new style of GUIDING LIGHT isn't working. The 71-year-old soap gave itself a major face-lift last month, with hand-held cameras, extreme closeups of the performers and a generally less "canned" look. Reader Carolyn Brown, among others, begs to differ. "Producer Janet Morrison says viewer response has been generally great. I am sorry to say that this is a blatant lie," wrote Brown. "All of the Web sites that I have seen constantly give bad reviews. I would say that about 90% of the feedback is negative. Longtime viewers such as myself demand that 'Guiding Light' go back to the original format. We cannot watch the show as it is."

AUDIO: Nelson Branco interviewed on Daytime Confidential Podcast
TV Guide Canada's Nelson Branco gives a fascinating interview on the latest happenings in the soap world (click on "Listen to DC").

PHOTOS: Gloria Gaynor visits the DAYS set
"I Will Survive" singer Gloria Gaynor visited the set of DAYS OF OUR LIVES and NBC.com created a slideshow with pictures of her with Deidre Hall, Drake Hogestyn, Ed Scott, James Scott and Alison Sweeney.

BBC: EASTENDERS burial scenes "not glorified"
The BBC has apologised to viewers who "did not enjoy" recent EastEnders episodes depicting one of the soap's main characters being buried alive. The episodes, which aired on Friday 21 and Monday 24 March at 8pm and 7.30pm respectively, saw Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner) finally exact her revenge on her promiscuous husband Max (Jake Wood) by subjecting him to his childhood nightmare of being buried six feet under in a coffin. Her guilty conscience, however, forced her to return to the woodland scene and dig him up. Friday's episode sparked 167 complaints.

A statement on the corporation's complaints website read: "Whilst we appreciate that these episodes were dramatic, they were carefully filmed and edited in order that Max's ordeal was in the main implicit, rather than explicit, whilst still retaining their powerfulness. The burial is in no way glamorised or glorified, rather we see that when pushed to the edge, Tanya's behaviour becomes out of character, and indeed that it's Tanya herself who ultimately suffers because of her actions. Once again we are sorry that you did not enjoy these episodes."

Courteeners' real soap-erstars
Hotly-tipped Manchester band The Courteeners faced their toughest interview yet - at the manicured talons of HOLLYOAKS' feisty McQueen sisters. The Middleton indie band were among a host of music stars appearing in the first-ever Hollyoaks Music Show, which was broadcast on Bank Holiday Monday.

General Hospital Week in Review
Imagine you're reading this and it's a witty and concise synopsis of the week that makes you want to read on. Or just know that if you keep reading, you will see 1) Sonny getting beat up, 2) a poll in which you can express your wish that Carly was dead, and 3) incontrovertible proof that evil forces are plotting against Kelly Monaco.

Seven soap divas ready for primetime
For some actors, the soaps are a stepping stone to a career in features. Looking at the current crop of actresses at work in daytime today, who are the women, the divas if you will, who are ready for primetime, nay silver screen, success?