News Round-up: Crystal Chappell, Bobbie Eakes, SAG

Over 700 fans packed chatroom Friday for a chance to talk to Crystall Chappell
The popular GUIDING LIGHT actress, who is doing the best work of her career, chatted with fans on Friday night thanks for Chappell's website and the Big Purple Dreams fansite.

Chappell said: "This story is touching me. It's changed me. I'm such a fan of LOVE...and the story is about that and I think we've been lacking it for a long time. I live for those big, gut wrenching, totally honest moments. So, what I do is learn the lines and go into my imagination and forget what I'm doing and see what happens. It's total abandon and that's partof the fun. It's total abandon and I love it."

SAG, AFTRA approve commercials deal
On the heels of SAG's toppers reaching a tentative feature-primetime deal, SAG and AFTRA's elected leaders have unanimously endorsed a new three-year commercials pact. Move by the two actors unions - announced early Saturday afternoon -- will trigger a ratification vote among the 150,000 members.

Soap Shrink at Sea: On Deck with ALL MY CHILDREN’s Bobbie Eakes
Eakes tells Damon L. Jacobs: "One of the hardest things for me to do 10-15 years ago as an actress was to show the ugly side of the character. I didn’t want the fans to dislike me. And then I finally realized it’s not a popularity contest, this is not homecoming queen. This is about showing the dark and the light. It is more fulfilling as an actress, and I think more compelling in drama, to show these sides."

Y&R's Thad Luckingbill (J.T.) on his longevity on the show
"It was just supposed to be for five episodes,” Luckinbill said. "But five episodes turned into 10 years. All the characters I started with have either been recast four times or are no longer there. I started my character, and it’s still me playing it.”

Dyer scared of EASTENDERS role
Movie tough-guy Danny Dyer was approached to appear in hit U.K. soap EASTENDERS, which chronicles life in London. But Dyer rejected the role, which was devised with him in mind - because the series' stars regularly make headline news in Britain.

Dyer said, "I met John Yorke, controller of drama production. He asked if I would be willing to go in and shake up a few of the characters. He said they would write a synopsis and then take me out to dinner and anything I wanted to change, I could change, which gives me a bit of power. I quite like the idea of it. But actually, in reality, I just got cold feet. Just from having a meeting it's all over the newspapers and it gave me the horrors. Imagine if I went in it."

HOLLYOAKS actors defeated again by AC Broxtowe
Actors from Channel 4 soap HOLLYOAKS lost (7-1) for the third year running in a charity football match against AC Broxtowe at Meadow Lane yesterday, which raised money for Notts children's charity When You Wish Upon a Star, and Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Deidre Hall hosting "CLOUT!"
The complete audio from Hall's stint as a guest host last week.

Tristan Rogers on the future of daytime soaps
"What was done on NS 2 was the pathway to the future. What was demonstrated was that the show that it parallelled was not important, the historical legacy of that show was. Inside of only 14 episodes NS 2 showed, that with HD and a host of other subtle elements, all bound together with a solid story presented by characters that the audience were comfortable and familiar with, we had something unique. Not something that slammed you in the head with 'stunts and events', but a balanced presentation of elements that were consistent and never overpowered the viewer."