Evening News

AFTRA: Contract talks with studios to begin Wednesday
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said Tuesday it would begin contract talks with producers — a move that could hurt the effort by a rival union to reach a better deal than writers and directors. AFTRA was expected to reach an agreement quickly after negotiations started Wednesday. That could leave the Screen Actors Guild alone in its push to surpass writers and directors on residual payments for DVD sales and content offered over the Internet. Studios aren't likely to budge, even though both sides have said they want to avoid a repeat of the 100-day writers strike that shut down production on dozens of TV shows and cost the Los Angeles area economy an estimated $2.5 billion.

Manchester (and Brazen) online soap opera goes live
SPINNING JENNY, the new online soap opera set in Manchester, has gone live with a revealing look at life in the PR industry, and a few well-known faces currently waiting stage left. The show follows the trials, tribulations, loves and losses of 23-year-old Jenny Hargreaves (played by newcomer Ruth Maher) – a young PR that, from initial impressions, appears to be half-Bridget-Jones-half-Hollyoaks-girl. Hargreaves works in a real life Manchester PR firm, Brazen to be precise, with the agency’s bustling offices doubling up as a location, and the staff getting to showcase their acting skills in a variety of supporting roles.

Although online soap operas (such as the popular Kate Modern) are not necessarily a new phenomenon, Spinning Jenny claims to be different as it mixes the format with social media interactivity. This allows viewers to influence plot lines (one’s guessing there’s going to be a lot of shower scenes then – Ed), vote characters on and off and also provide their own raw footage. It’s a concept that series producer Colin Bannon, of Silk Productions, says should produce a format that is "light, fun and based on the reality of current city centre living."

Pilots for the show are online now and filming on the series itself is due to start next week.


GOSSIP GIRL Guy: I'm Gay
last night's Gossip Girl episode featured the big coming out for Eric, who was caught making out with newbie Asher Hornsby.

Tammin's just "spectacular"
A year ago Aussie talent Tammin Sursok was busy navigating her way through Hollywood and the strain of constantly being rejected by glitzy town's talent scouts. Now the former HOME AND AWAY darling and current THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Emmy nominee has been burning up the dance floor alongside Madonna's choreographer as leading lady in musical film Spectacular! and recording her first album since her debut offering Whatever Will Be three years ago.

"I think I am at least getting momentum in Los Angeles," the 24-year-old said in an American accent from the set of Spectacular! in Vancouver.

"America is really tough and the first year I came over I kept auditioning for so many things and I wasn't booking anything, which was hard. But now I have been back in the recording studio and getting taught routines by Madonna and Janet Jackson's choreographers. It's just ridiculous."

Soap vet's daughter is an up and coming playwright
“Witnessing to a Murder,” a play by Elizabeth O'Sullivan, is part of the upcoming Spirit in the House theater festival at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church. Her father was Terry O'Sullivan, the late former soap star who was known for his roles as Arthur Tate on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW and Richard Hunter on DAYS OF OUR LIVES among others.

Liveblogging ATWT: Make room for Daddy!
Brian Juergens from AfterElton provides a live play by play from Tuesday's episode of AS THE WORLD TURNS.