News Brief

CHUCK BARNEY: Maurice Benard has found his niche on GH
"I figure that I'll give it another couple of years," Benard says. "After a while, it starts to get to you. You get burned out."

His latest story line has given Benard a chance to stretch as an actor and play some different emotional textures.

"I'm really into it," he says. "It allows me to be kind of like a George Clooney for a while. There's some romance and a lightness to it. It's something I haven't done in 15 years."

Despite his Emmy-certified acting experience and his undeniable status as one of the most popular stars in daytime television, Benard sometimes still finds it hard to believe that he ever made it out of Martinez.

"I had a lot of Sonny in me when I was a kid," he admits. "I used to have a low-rider and I hung out a lot on Main Street in Walnut Creek, just looking for girls and for fights. "... And I also drank a lot. That was my thing."

IN LA Magazine cover shoot- behind the scenes
This past Monday, Michael Fairman, Y&R's Michelle Stafford, GH's Kimberly McCullough, DAYS' James Scott and B&B's, Heather Tom, participated in a cover shoot for the upcoming edition of IN LA Magazine due out at the end of this month.

TOM CASIELLO: The Sound of Silence
" Recapping previous episodes, at some point, turned into characters talking to themselves in order to explain their actions. And characters talking to themselves (and to other people) suddenly turned into scenes that so full of words, so full of explanation, there's no room for reaction."

DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD: Media Stocks Get Hammered Wednesday
GE (NBC Universal) fell $1.67 (-6.66%) to $23.39
Disney fell $.32 (-.98%) to $32.19
News Corp (Fox) fell $.78 (-5.75%) to $12.78
Time Warner fell $.34 (-2.41%) to $13.74
Viacom fell $1.18 (-4.59%) to $24.52
SNE fell $1.67 (-4.96%) to $32.00
CBS fell $.95 (-5.94%) to $15.05

JC-bound cabaret show lets soap legend Fulton return to roots
This weekend, she will bring her array of talents to Johnson City and open the inaugural season of the Goodwill Theatre with a cabaret performance. Fulton will take the stage at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Schorr Family Firehouse Stage, 46-48 Willow St.

"Eileen is a consummate performer. I saw her show 20 years ago and then again last year at the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan. I am still impressed with her talent," said Naima Kradjian, Goodwill Theatre Executive Director.

Fulton, who just celebrated her 75th birthday, said her cabaret show will feature new material as well as old songs such as Duke Ellington's "You Dirty Dog," sung with a twist.

"You have to have a reason for doing every song. You have to have a story," Fulton said. "It's more than just a pretty note."

VIDEO: OLTL's John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex) Loses The Scruff
After two weeks off from ONE LIFE TO LIVE, John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex) returned to the studio on September 16 to tape the show's new opening. Unfortunately, his new beard did not make it into the opening, but Soap Opera Digest got an exclusive look at the before and after — and the hilarious in-between.

Spirtas and McDermott Will Be Jersey Men Oct. 27 in Los Angeles
Singing actors Kevin Spirtas and Sean McDermott are joining forces Oct. 27 to raise money for the American Red Cross Hurricane Fund.

Their evening at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre in Los Angeles is titled "Jersey Men" and will salute native New Jersey artists. The duo plan to perform songs that have been "written, recorded, or performed by a man from New Jersey," according to press notes. Show time is 7:30 PM.