News Brief

TV Guide Canada's weekly "Nelson Ratings"
Nelson Branco reports on last week's soap reviews, this week's viewing cheatsheet, and names his top-rated actors!

Changes For The Better(?) And Hot, Guilt-Inducing Sex!
In her new blog, former Y&R and AMC writer Sara A. Bibel writes: "Wednesday morning I posted that Young & The Restless needed to make some changes ASAP. Wednesday afternoon, former Days of Our Lives and As The World Turns headwriter Hogan Sheffer was appointed co-headwriter. I feel powerful. Sheffer is credited with leading ATWT into a golden era of Emmy dominance. His tenure at DOOL was characterized by low ratings and controversy. Sheffer is known for his witty dialogue and sophisticated camp, but maligned by some fans for his lack of attention to show history. I am cautiously optimistic that his sensibility will be a better fit for Y&R.

Y&R isn’t the only show changing its writing staff. All My Children just hired Chuck Pratt as its new head writer. Pratt’s credits include everything from a headwriting stint at General Hospital to consulting producer on Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty. Pratt replaces James Brown and Barbara Essensten, who managed to do the seemingly impossible – turn ABC’s flagship soap into the lowest rated daytime drama on the air. Pratt has his work cut out for him."

HOLLYOAKS star wants to film lesbian scene
HOLLYOAKS star Jennifer Metcalfe has revealed that she would be willing to film a lesbian sex scene. The actress, who plays Mercedes McQueen on the Channel 4 soap, said that playing a gay character could be a good career move.

"If the script was right I would do a lesbian sex scene," Jennifer told the Daily Star. "I'm not going to do it for the sake of it, obviously it has to be integral to the script, but if it felt right and the time was right in my career then yes, I would do it."

COUPLE'S CORNER: Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann


HOLLYOAKS soap stars raise £20000 for charity
Some of the UK's favorite television actors battled it out this weekend at the home of Chester FC in the Soapstar Football Challenge. Saturday’s home team was made up of Liverpool-based HOLLYOAKS stars including Chris Fountain, Ricky Whittle, Jamie Lomas and Nick Pickard.

Their opposite numbers were made up of stars from CORONATION STREET, EMMERDALE, CASUALTY, SHAMELSS and THE BILL including Ryan Thomas, Glen Lamont, James Redmond and Gary Lucy.

Captain and founder of the HOLLYOAKS team, Nick Pickard, who plays Tony in the soap, said: "Not only was the day and evening great fun, it’s also a fantastic opportunity for us to raise money for two worthwhile charities."

It was also a chance for fans to meet the stars.

HOLLYOAKS also held an evening of star-studded entertainment at a brand new venue within Chester Racecourse. Cast members, including CORONATION STREET's Kym Ryder, took to the stage for an evening of musical entertainment. The two events managed to raise £20,000 for the Alder Hey Imagine Appeal, and Claire House Children’s Hospice.

EASTENDERS - Michelle Ryan voted 'worst US accent'
Former EASTENDERS actress Michelle Ryan has topped a poll of the worst attempts at a US accent. Ryan, 24, recently starred as Jaime Sommers in the US show BIONIC WOMAN, before it was canceled after just one season due to the writers' strike.