News Round-up: Reva, verDorn, Stagecoach, Leno

As the LIGHT dims, Reva gives birth
"I'm the oldest woman to give birth on a soap opera while being treated with chemo and radiation for leukemia during menopause," Kim Zimmer. tells the New York Daily News. "But hey, it's Reva Shayne."

All of Springfield gathers in Reva's hospital room today, including her ex-husband, Josh, to ooh and ah over the miracle baby and wish Reva well with her treatment.

"Everyone is talking about how sick she is, but my dialogue doesn't refer to that," says Zimmer. "I say things like, 'I'm not going to die. I beat this once, and I can beat it again.' I was hoping I'd take off this pregnancy pad and I'd be 40 pounds lighter, but that didn't happen."

Actually, Reva looks pretty good for a woman battling cancer.

"I'm tan because I was in Florida, so my joke was that I'm tan from the radiation," says Zimmer.

Special Edition: "Big Purple Podcast"
I joined Otalia fans on a special edition of of the "Big Purple Podcast" last night.


Jerry verDorn still on contract
Contrary to published reports, Jerry verDorn (Clint) remains on contract at ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

Soap stars to join Stagecoach lineup
The Stagecoach Country Music Festival has just gotten a little more drama in its lineup. Soap stars are coming to be a part of the festival April 25 and 26 at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, thanks to a presenting sponsorship from ABC Daytime and SOAPnet. The soap stars will introduce bands and interact with fans on the Mane Stage.

Actors slated to attend include Bobbie Eakes and Aiden Turner from ALL MY CHILDREN; Kassie De Paiva and Bree Williamson from ONE LIFE TO LIVE; and Brandon Barash, Steve Burton, Rebecca Herbst, Kirsten Storms, Jason Thompson and Laura Wright from GENERAL HOSPITAL. There will be autograph sessions and giveaways on site.

Fashion helps girls forget cancer
'N Sync's Chris Kirkpatrick was dancing back and forth. Bo Outlaw was waving his long arms around to make a small child laugh. And a bald eagle was flapping its wings wildly near the wife of a U.S. senator. It was all happening backstage Tuesday night. And soap star Finola Hughes was in the middle of it all, smiling graciously but wondering whether the event she was about to host would actually work. It did.

Moments later, the curtains pulled back, and two dozen girls — all of whom have spent far too much of their young lives battling cancer — got a much-needed break from reality and their moment in the spotlight. The event was the Pediatric Cancer Foundation's "Fashion Funds the Cure." Local notables and celebs escorted each of the girls, ranging in age from 2 to 18, down a runway during a private party at Saks Fifth Avenue at Florida Mall.

EASTENDERS wedding draws 10.6 million viewers
Over 10 million viewers tuned in to see last night's wedding of the year in EASTENDERS. The special hour-long episode, which featured Peggy and Archie's nuptials as well as the controversial death of Ronnie's covert daughter Danielle Jones, was seen by 10.58 million (48.3%) at 7.30pm on BBC One. BBC Three's later 10pm repeat added a further 1.24m (8%) and was the most watched multichannel programme of the day.

Soap dads are hindering journey towards an equal society
The stereotype of the feckless dad portrayed in soaps is at odds with the reality of fatherhood, say campaigners. Sheena Hastings reports.

It just shows the influence our soap operas are perceived to wield, that researchers have spent many hours studying them to pinpoint what kind of dad is shown to the tens of millions who between them devotedly watch CORONATION STREET, EASTENDERS, EMMERDALE and HOLLYOAKS and listen to Radio 4's THE ARCHERS each week.

They say that, for every mother who is shown to be the hard-working lynchpin of the family (Peggy Mitchell in EASTENDERS, Deidre Barlow in CORRIE) there's a dad who is seen to be uninvolved, feckless or inadequate.

Boston doesn't want Jay Leno show
The first great NBC-affiliate battle over the new primetime Jay Leno show is poised to take place in Boston -- the host's hometown. WHDH-TV, Boston's Peacock affiliate, announced via its website Thursday that it plans to launch an hour-long 10 p.m. newscast in the fall. That would pre-empt Leno's new, still-untitled 10 p.m. series. NBC swiftly responded, warning WHDH that such a move would make them in breach of their pact with the net -- and that the Peacock wouldn't hesitate to yank the station's affiliation.