News Round-up

JULIA SPITZ: In tough times, keep soap alive
"This bad-economy, changing-times thing has finally gone too far. No money. No jobs. No prospects. Now the threat of no soaps? That's just unthinkable.

In my book, the daytime drama industry is as worthy of a bailout as any bank.

Why isn't anyone looking into having Sonny Corinthos testify before Congress about how Port Charles' mob wars have brought joy to millions? Or getting Viki/Niki Lord Gordon Riley Burke Riley Buchanan Buchanan Carpenter Davidson (have I left out any?) and her host of alters to explain how she has shined much-needed light on the problem of having twins with different fathers and then having your babies switched at birth?

Pull the plugs on soaps if you must, TV execs, but for the love of Luke and Laura, please at least wait until we're on the road to fiscal security. Dire times demand doomed romances and star-crossed young love."

Goddard's Kiss of the Vampire coming to DVD
MTI Home Video is releasing Kiss of the Vampire (aka Immortally Yours) on DVD January 6. The film stars Daniel Goddard (Cane, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Gary Daniels, Costas Mandylor, Matthias Hues, Eric Etebari, Miranda Kwok, Nick Jameson and Katherine Hawkes

Andrew Sachs to appear on CORONATION STREET
Actor Andrew Sachs has agreed to appear in the ITV soap opera CORONATION STREET. Sachs, who previously played Manuel in the cult comedy FAWLTY TOWERS hit the headlines earlier this year when comedian Russell Brand and TV host Jonathan Ross left lewd messages on his answer-phone, claiming Brand had slept with his granddaughter.

ITV reportedly offered Sachs a role in the soap last month, but he admitted he was a little anxious in taking it due to his age. Speaking to the Radio Times, the actor said: "They're asking me to do Coronation Street next year. I'm a little concerned because I'm a pensioner, as the newspapers keep telling me, and it takes me longer to learn the lines. I'm going to take up the challenge anyway. I have to watch CORONATION STREET. It was a condition of my marriage. My wife was such a fan that I've been watching it since 1962.

Soaps do their bit to help us talk about the unspeakable
Andrea Byrne of the Irish Independent writes: "Morbid though it sounds, never before has rape and sexual abuse been so deeply de rigueur in soapland; there's a smattering of sordid plots currently doing the rounds.

But are soap operas really an appropriate arena to be highlighting such serious and sensitive issues as sexual abuse? Personally, I don't see why not.

No other crime provokes such hysteria and emotion as that of pedophilia and yet still, little is known about the crime, or disease, however you choose to view it. Anything that succeeds in heightening awareness and providing an insight into the hidden and terrifying nature of sexual abuse should be welcomed -- even if it is fictional.

On EASTENDERS, Britain's National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children acted as adviser to scriptwriters. It shows. There was nothing nakedly sensationalistic or gratuitous about the plot, it was disturbingly believable and was well acted."

EASTENDES star urged to keep low profile
EASTENDERS star Chris Coghill has been urged to keep a low profile after the real-life murder of a pedophile. Neighbors of the actor fear vigilantes may target him now his character has been unmasked as a sex fiend.

Over 10 million soap fans tuned in on Friday night to see Tony King revealed as a pedophile, just days after Andrew Cunningham, 52, was attacked in Wandsworth, south London. Coghill lives in North London with his wife, New Street Law actress Lisa Faulkner, 35.

TV 2.0
While cable and satellite TV companies have been trumpeting the latest specialty stations and high-definition offerings, broadcasters including Canwest Global (which owns The Ottawa Citizen), CTV and CBC are responding. They're making many of their most popular shows available on-demand to any viewer with a digital cable or satellite subscription. And, for those who would rather watch online, they're creating internet libraries of prime-time TV content, as are technology companies such as Joost and Hulu. Call it TV 2.0.