News Brief

INTERVIEW: DAYS OF OUR LIVES star Jay Kenneth Johnson
Nelson Branco interviewed Johnson whose contract will be up soon: "It’s simple, really. DAYS’ executive producer Ken Corday offered me a great deal to return. The contract’s for two years — and I have a few months left. Time has flown by. In retrospect, it was a brilliant idea on my part because of the writers’ strike. I’m happy where I’m at personally and professionally. Surprisingly, they haven’t asked me to re-sign yet."

Magazine Ad Pages: Down 9.2% Through August
The consumer magazine business, in a rough patch before, now appears to be falling off a cliff. Total magazine ad pages measured by the Publisher's Information Bureau are down 9.2% through August, compared to the same period last year. Virtually all the major publishers are feeling the pinch. Of 37 big publishing groups measured by TNS Media Intelligence, 32 or 86% have seen ad pages fall. For the 32 publishers experiencing declines, the average decline was 14% for the year to date.

In the top 10 publishers, ad pages are down 7.8% at Conde Nast (publisher of Vogue, GQ); 9.3% at Time Inc. (Time, People); 4.5% at Hearst (Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan); 7.3% at Bonnier (Popular Science, Field & Stream); 9.5% at Hachette Filipacchi (Elle, Car and Driver); 15.9% at Meredith (Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies' Home Journal); 4.5% at American Media (Star, Men's Fitness); and 20.4% at Source Interlink (Motor Trend, Soap Opera Weekly).

Canadian Soap Fans -- PLANET SOAP is Now Airing on TVTropolis
Catch Planet Soap on TVTropolis at these times:

Tuedays at 7:30am, 11:46am, 5:52pm and 7:44pm

Saturdays at 8:30am

Sundays at 7pm and 10:43pm

Mondays at 10pm

Tuesday night prime time: 90210 falls, FRINGE is average
According to Nielsen Media Research overnight numbers, FRINGE averaged a 3.2 rating/9 share in the demo from 8 p.m.-9:35 p.m., which Fox pointed out means that the numbers for the show will be approximate given the irregular running time.

FRINGE did build over its 90-plus minutes, averaging a 3.1 rating in its first half-hour and a 3.3 in its last half-hour or so.

In its second outing, 90210 mustered a 1.7/5, while the debut of Privileged drew a 1.3/3. 90210 was down significantly from the 2.6/7 it earned for its two-hour premiere the week before, which set a record for a CW premiere.

NBC and Apple are back in tune
NBC Universal ended its battle with Apple Inc. on Tuesday, restoring some of the most downloaded TV shows to the iTunes store.

With the return of such series as THE OFFICE, HEROES and 30 ROCK, the companies ended a feud that erupted last September over Apple's insistence on a $1.99 price for all shows. Analysts said the two appeared to be meeting in the middle, with Apple agreeing to allow a little flexibility but not giving NBC carte blanche to change the prices of shows.

Speaking of iTunes, check out the DAYS OF OUR LIVES episodes there.

"Rear of the Year" Award Winners Announced
It may have been crowned "Rear of the Year," but actress Jennifer Ellison today said she is not a fan of her bottom. The ex-BROOKSIDE actress beat off a host of shapely celebrities to be crowned the 26th Rear of the Year.

“It’s a huge honor because I don’t really like my bum,” she said. “Every girl has a hang-up about her bum so I am very honored and it’s flattering to be crowned Rear of the Year.”

Soap actors’ bottoms swept the board this year with CORONATION STREET star Ryan Thomas being honored for having the nicest male bum.

He plays builder Jason Grimshaw on the ITV soap and said, "I would like to thank my mum and dad. Without them, winning this fantastic award would not be possible, it brings a new meaning to the phrase builder’s bum.”

This year’s awards supports Jeans for Genes charity which helps fund research and care for children with genetic disorders.

Soap stars to do "Broadway on Broadway" free concert
Michael Park (Jack, ATWT), Stephen Bogardus (ex-Sandy, AW)and Tom Wopat (ex-Hank, AMC) will perform at "Broadway on Broadway" on September 14, 2008. The event is hosted by Drew Lachey and is a free concert. It will be held at 11:30 AM in Times Square.

Eye Scream Films Announces Premiere of their New On-line Comedy Series, POOR PAUL
Eye Scream Films today announced the premiere of their new on-line comedy series, POOR PAUL, starring Kevin G. Schmidt (Noah, Y&R), Zack Bennett, Nicholas Braun, Samantha Droke, Floriana Lima, Palmer Scott and co-produced by Kevin Schlanser (lonelygirl15). It will “air” on YouTube, MySpace and exclusively in HD on KoldCastTV starting September 16th, 2008. New webisodes will be available every Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. EDT / 10:00 a.m. PDT.


Kelly Taylor's 90210 mom is now a priest
The Rev. Ann Gillespie of the Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia didn't imagine ever returning to acting until she received a call from a casting agent a few months ago. "He said, 'You're written into an episode shooting next week; can you come?' " says Gillespie. "I said, 'I don't have any weddings next week, and so far no one's dead.'"

TRUE BLOOD tanks
With 1.44 million viewers, the premiere of Alan Ball's heavily marketed vampire drama drew less than half of JOHN FROM CINCINNATI premiere last year. But at least it had a Jessica Tuck appearance.

PATRICK ERWIN: Setting the mood (Part 2 of 2)
Erwin takes a look at the various GUIDING LIGHT theme songs throughout the years. My personal favorite is below.


INTERVIEW: ONE LIFE TO LIVE star Kristen Alderson
Alderson, who has played Starr Manning on OLTL since the age of 7, was a guest on "Stardish Radio" on Tuesday night.