News Brief

AfterElton has announced the Hot 100 for 2008
Several current and former soap stars made the list this year including Van Hansis, Jake Silbermann, Justin Hartley, Mario Lopez, Ryan Phillippe, Jensen Ackles and Josh Duhamel.

Cyndi Lauper Offers Her True Colors to Luke and Noah on ATWT
Cyndi Lauper taped a special gay pride episode of As the World Turns on May 27 which is set to air on July 3rd. It's a first-of-its-kind moment for daytime TV, and it's hard to argue for a better advocate than Lauper to come swinging through Oakdale.

NY Daily News on the former Luke and Noah kiss ban
Joshua Thacker is among a number of readers gratified that the Luke and Noah characters on the daytime soap AS THE WORLD TURNS have been allowed to kiss onscreen. Thacker sees it as a victory that goes beyond L&N.

"This is important because I think this is the first time that fans have protested FOR gay kisses and affection," he writes. "American culture is changing. CBS and Procter & Gamble should be acknowledged for listening to their pro-gay fans and standing up to pressure from such groups as the AFA."

Kitson to GH's Monaco: Let's Get Ready to Rumba
TMZ is reporting: "So maybe you thought that ol' Kelly Monaco dropped major coin for the dress she wore on at last week's DANCING WITH THE STARS finale. Turns out, it's actually trendy Robertson shopping enclave Kitson that'll be paying the price.

Like most stores in L.A., Kitson loans out clothes to freeloader celebs as long as they come back damage-free within 48 hours. We hear the disco diva's peeps arrived at the store in a panic five hours before the finale, desperate to find something for her to wear. Per their agreement, the store loaded them up with $6,500 worth of free dresses.

Little problem: TMZ has learned that her manager returned most -- but not all -- of the clothing a week late, and not only that, the dresses were 'completely ruined.' Apparently Kel wore another one of the dresses to party it up on her birthday in Vegas. Kitson says the dresses are 'filthy and definitely not in sellable condition.' Furthermore, they claim Monaco's people have refused to pay for the damaged dresses."

Duhon out at GH
Soap Opera Digest is reporting that Josh Duhon (Logan) is checking out of GENERAL HOSPITAL. The actor, who joined the show in March, 2007, is said to be making a dramatic exit this summer.

FOX 411: On Lauper and Byrne
Lauper, by the way, appears on CBS’s AS THE WORLD TURNS this week. Maybe it will help the ailing show’s ratings. Since they forced out star Martha Byrne in late April, their numbers have been in steady decline. EDITOR'S NOTE: Fox got in wrong - Cyndi airs on July 3rd.

It’s okay for queer viewers to lather up for the here! network’s lowbrow soaps
For 211 days, viewers waited with bated breath for gay teens Noah and Luke to kiss on AS THE WORLD TURNS. The perennial CBS soap offered up a smooch between its protagonist boyfriends last September, but then held off much to the dismay of its queer fan base. Ballyhoo ensued, including a flurry of Internet protests that ended last month when the pair finally locked lips again. But are these same viewers aware that there’s plenty of same-sex osculating, not to mention undressing and bitch-slapping, just a click away?

The answer, perhaps, is yes. In fall of 2005, here!, then a pay-per-view network, launched its first series, DANTE'S COVE, a supernatural and sexy soap that mixes witchcraft and sorcery with frequent disrobing. Though the show was seen by few at the time, DVD sales propelled it into a second, third and now fourth season.

GL's Tognoni is dressed for a winning role
GUIDING LIGHT actress Gina Tognoni was at the Taj Boston Saturday trying on dresses for the Daytime Emmy Awards. (The 35th annual awards show will air live on ABC June 20.) Nominated for outstanding supporting actress for her role on TV's longest-running daytime drama, Tognoni is working with Boston-based fashion designer Michael De Paulo and stylist Angelique O'Neil.

Caitlin Van Zandt Signs-on as Special Guest Speaker for National Obesity Awareness Event in Washington, DC, on June 17
The Walk on the Capitol is proud to announce Caitlin Van Zandt, star of GUIDING LIGHT and THE SOPRANOS, as special guest speaker for our National obesity awareness event in Washington, DC. The Walk from Obesity - Walk on the Capitol is a history-making awareness event that will gather thousands of individuals impacted by obesity to bring National attention to the obesity epidemic and the need for expanded efforts in prevention and treatment.

Nina Storey writes a song for DAYS
Rocker Storey is popping up on the tube in the middle of her successful tour. Her song "No Man" was played on Fox's SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE on Wednesday. She wrote the song "Patiently" for the NBC soap DAYS OF OUR LIVES, and it'll air June 9.