News Round-up: Michael Easton, Jack Wagner, Gordon

INTERVIEW: ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Michael Easton (John)
His book of poetry, “Eighteen Straight Whiskeys,” is in its third printing. And in June 2008, he released his first graphic novel, “Soul Stealer.”

“This is one of the things that I’ve ever done where I feel like I’ve done something beautiful and pure. It’s the closest I’ll ever come. The way it came about was I started asking a lot of questions in my life, like: Have you ever lost somebody, and how far would you go to get them back? So, out of that came this character Kalan, who is sort of this Etruscan warrior-poet, and he develops the ability to bring back souls from the afterlife. He uses this to wander the earth searching for his one true love, who has been taken away from him.”

With the great reception Michael’s books have received, should John McBain fans fear for his future in Llanview? Would he ever quit acting to be a full-time author? “It’s a good side thing, so I don’t get too obsessed with what’s going on over at ABC. But both jobs co-exist pretty well right now. It gets a little tricky switching from my day job (at OLTL) to writing, and sometimes the dialogue blurs over from one to the other. Especially if I’ve had a couple of drinks,” he adds jokingly. “But I think I’m good right now.”

It's official: LIPSTICK JUNGLE is dead
The show's leading lady, Brooke Shields, told E! that cast and crew received the bad news late last week. "I think a lot of people were really sad, but I think we hung on a really long time," she said. "It was three great years that we've been working on it."

B&B's Wagner set for upcoming golf event
B&B's Jack Wagner will be holding the Third Annual Jack Wagner Celebrity Golf Classic on Saturday, April 21. He explained his motivation to the L.A. Canyon News: “My brother Dennis has been battling leukemia for 10 years now. He received a full bone marrow in July of 2007 and his survival is based upon the research and combination of new treatments which is what my annual golf event raises money for.”

On keeping his character fresh on B&B: “I treat every day as a new play and a new performance. One scene at a time and try to make the most interesting choices I can.”

SESAME STREET's Roscoe Orman (Gordon) on his soap experience
"I learned early on," he said. "After my first season on SESAME STREET, I took a job on a soap opera as a bad guy. A really bad guy. Tyrone the pimp. I got in a lot of trouble over that . . . with the moms who were watching their soap -- and there was Gordon beating people up.

"If you're Gordon on SESAME STREET, you can't do stuff like that. Not on daytime TV, especially. . . . I tend to veer away from really bad characters on TV but in theater, I don't have any kind of restrictions, so I get to play the whole gamut of roles."

Justin Cotsonas in new Off-Broadway play
Producer Allision Ferrier has announced the upcoming Off-Broadway production of Brandt Reiter's new drama "End of Play," which will begin performances on April 17th, 2009. "End of Play" is a thirteen-character drama about Theatre, Hollywood and the cost of dreams. When industry outcast Jack Wells abandons his NYU teaching post for Los Angeles to support his young girlfriend's fledgling career, he finds himself caught between the depth of her ambition and his own tarnished soul. Former AS THE WORLD TURNS actress Justin Cotsonas will star along with Mark Doherty who has appeared in minor roles on the New York soaps.

Jessie Wallace to make EASTENDERS comeback?
The Mirror reports that Wallace - who played Kat Slater - has told friends that she is heading back to Walford to reprise the role that made her a star.

"Jessie is very excited about playing Kat again," a BBC source told the paper. She’s been off screen for a few years and a lot has happened since she was last in the show.

"She feels the time is right for a return and says she can’t wait to get back into the Square and stuck into some meaty storylines."