News Brief

Are Daytime Soaps Doomed?
Yahoo! TV blogger Rebecca Detken writes: "When I asked my friend -- who works in the soap industry -- for his initial reaction to the news and what it means for the future of daytime, he responded, 'You might as well sound the death knell.'

According to my soap insider friend, instead of firing vets like Hall and Hogestyn, who longtime fans adore, the soaps should work on preserving what they have. 'I don't really think you're ever going to get new viewers,' he continued. 'The days of moms and grandmas turning their kids on to their stories are long gone. The next best hope is to attract lapsed viewers -- fans who left for a reason, who were disappointed in how their stories were being written and how their favorites were being fired.'"

90210 SPOILER: Adrianna’s Shocking News
Teen love between Adrianna (Jessica Lowndes) and Navid (Michael Steger) will turn into teen angst in upcoming episodes of the CW show. Adrianna, the recovering drug addict, will be dealing with a teen pregnancy, according to a source close to the show. But is Navid the daddy? It’s anyone’s guess since he recently revealed he’s a virgin.

Things heating up on Britain's I'M A CELEBRITY, GET ME OUT OF HERE
STAR TREK legend George Takei, 71, has been chasing EASTENDERS actor Joe Swash, 26. He has "already managed to snog him and grope his bum."

Jason Chambers, HUMAN WEAPON host, arrested on rape charges
Charges have been dropped against THE HUMAN WEAPON co-host Jason Chambers, who was arrested earlier this month over an alleged rape in Los Angeles, celebrity gossip site TMZ.com reported Friday. The report stated that Chambers was arrested on Nov. 11 on suspicion of sexual assault and drug charges. He had to post a bail of $200,000.

Besides being a martial arts instructor, Chambers has appeared in several soap operas including DAYS OF OUR LIVES (as Spencer the paramedic) and AS THE WORLD TURNS (as Kyle the bartender).

MICHAEL FAIRMAN: Super Soap Weekend Star Round-up Pt 1
As many in the industry, and many soap fans know, ABC Super Soap Weekend 13 held this past weekend at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida was the final version of this staple fan fest. “On-Air On-Soaps” participated in the finale and got the chance to catch up with the best from ABC Daytime’s star-studded line-up.

Jason Thompson: "Sometimes it’s easy, and sometimes it’s hard. The great thing about working with Kimberly McCullough (Robin), is that we have become great friends. We do care about each other. When I am thinking about her, and the situation we are in, it’s not that hard to feel that, which is, 'Who does not cry over a new born baby?' Sometimes, I feel like I needed to hold back more, and I was way too emotional. Not a lot of times, but sometimes, but there are definitely times I try and get there."

ABC Soap stars invade Disney World
Slideshow of photos from Super Soap Weekend.

It's a Wonderful Life on GH
GENERAL HOSPITAL pays homage to that Christmas classic on Wednesday, Nov. 26 when Patrick and Robin see what life might have been like had they not met when they did. "Robin ends up dating Patrick's brother, Matt, for a couple of days. Patrick hooks up with Elizabeth and Carly," previews Jason Thompson (Patrick).

Soap vet Mark Pinter to GH
Mark Pinter (ex-Roger, AMC; ex-Grant, AW) has been cast as Special Agent Thomas Rayner on GENERAL HOSPITAL. He'll debut on Dec. 11.

While out in L.A., Pinter has visited his daughter, Siri, who is producing on LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY.

SARA A. BIBEL: Girl On Girl Action
"There is this widespread perception that the daytime audience is socially conservative, unsophisticated and easily offended. That’s why soaps were scared to write interracial romances for decades. Soaps fans embrace love in all its permutations. Soap fans have rooted for romances between cousins, adulterers, felons, and people who have been possessed by the devil. To me, that’s the definition of open minded."

National Adoption Day 2008 Places More Than 4,000 Foster Care Children in Permanent, Loving Homes
As National Adoption Day's 2008 host city, New York City kicked off the 2008 event with a press conference and celebration, which included Rita Soronen, executive director of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and founding sponsor of National Adoption Day; Judge Joseph M. Lauria, administrative judge; Victoria Rowell, actress (ex-Drucilla, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) and New York Times bestseller; the New York City Family Court and the Ortiz-Torres-Fonseca family.