News Round-up

GH's John J. York speaks out to lead charge to cure digestive diseases
Television and screen celebrity John J. York, best known for his role as Mac Scorpio on ABC's GENERAL HOSPITAL, recently donated his time to create a radio public service announcement (PSA) series on behalf of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. The 60, 30, and 15 second PSAs will encourage Americans to register for one of over 80 Take Steps Walks in communities around the country in spring and summer 2009. Walkers will raise much-needed awareness of and dollars for research into Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, chronic, painful, and often debilitating digestive diseases collectively known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that afflict millions of Americans.

York understands the ups-and-downs of living with a chronic digestive disease. Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 15, York has quietly coped with a mild case of IBD for decades. Playing GENERAL HOSPITAL's police chief since 1991, and most recently joining the daytime soap opera's spin-off, NIGHT SHIFT, York has been able to live out his dream of being a soap opera star. But he's unlike most patients who go day-to-day not knowing when they will wind up in the hospital or miss days or weeks of work at a time.

EASTENDERS' Chelsea gets a new man
Chelsea Fox is about to get a new love interest. Romance blossoms when feisty Chelsea - whose Walford conquests have included Grant Mitchell and Sean Slater - meets Theo Kelly next month. Streetwise Theo, played by Rolan Bell, charms the ladies of Walford as soon as he arrives but it seems it's Chelsea (Tiana Benjamin) who will catch his eye.

Reviving MELROSE PLACE
Contrary to published reports, ONE TREE HILL creator Mark Schwahn will not write the revamp, CW entertainment president Dawn Ostroff said.

"When you look back at the original MELROSE PLACE, it's really fascinating because it took place at a time not unlike what we're going through now," she said. "In the pilot of the original MELROSE PLACE they talked about the building being foreclosed on, people not having jobs. It took place in a very similar time, a time when the economy was in a downturn."

Matt Cedano on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES this week
Look for Matt Cedeno (ex-Brandon, DAYS) to make an appearance on the 100th episode of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, which will air this Sunday, January 18. "That was cool," he says. "It was a small scene, but they had called because I had met the casting director and they thought that I would be right for the part. I only worked with Nicollette Sheridan [Edie]. I'm her ex husband in a flashback scene and maybe I can come back; you never know. They have an argument and it's a bit of a heated exchange."

Fox cancels Fichtner's PRISON BREAK
The final string of episodes will kick off April 17, but exactly how many episodes there will be is an open question. Former AS THE WORLD TURNS star William Fichtner sees a second show canceled in three years, the last one was INVASTION.

Fishburne takes part of CSI Q&A
TV critics were taken to the set of CSI for a Q&A on Monday. New lead Laurence Fishburne (ex-Josh, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) inevitably got asked the question as to whether his being cast in the show might open the door to other African Americans being allowed to lead prime-time series. Fishburne "Hmmmmm-ed" dramatically, then answered that he hadn't stopped to think about it until a reporter asked him that a while ago and that he'd asked CBS CEO Leslie Moonves, who responded, "Dennis Haysbert," who, of course, is the star of CBS's THE UNIT.

Melissa George leaves GREY'S ANATOMY
"It was my choice," the actress-slash-Golden Globe nominee (for IN TREATMENT) confirmed at HBO's red-hot after-party, held poolside at the Beverly Hilton. "My last day of work is Tuesday."

Former GENERATIONS star Kelly Rutherford's divorce turning ugly
The divorce action between GOSSIP GIRL star Kelly Rutherford and her estranged husband has turned ugly, with the actress seeking to bar him from leaving the United States with their 2-year-old son for fear they'll disappear.

UGLY BETTY losing Ashley Jensen plus another character
Jensen, who plays Christina, reportedly asked to be let out of her contract.

Former UGLY BETTY star Christopher Gorham welcomes a daughter
The actor (who played Henry) and his wife Anel have welcomed a baby girl into their family Saturday, Jan. 10.