News Round-up: Gering, Stewart, BETTY, Damian

INTERVIEW: DAYS' Galen Gering (Rafe)
On his role as Rafe: "I didn’t want Rafe to be this one-note FBI guy. I wanted him to be quirky. I didn’t offer a lot of input because we move so quickly on the show. That said, there is a lot of room for improv because scenes change at the very last minute, so we can add things to the script when it warrants it. This role has been a great marriage of acting and writing. I also think Gary knew what my strengths were as an actor."

On the cancellation of PASSIONS: "I wasn’t shocked that it was cancelled. I was shocked that it stayed on the air as long as it did. I thought some of [head writer] James E. Reilly’s stories worked. As far as consistency and character-driven storylines, I didn’t think they worked. I think the [contrived] relationships on the show ultimately killed it. No one really cared anymore about the characters or love stories because the soap became way too over the top. I know PASSIONS was suppose to be campy and mock the industry but it just became too ridiculous to invest in. You have to care about the characters, and unfortunately the audience fell out of love with the show and we lost a lot of viewers that way."

UGLY BETTY heads to TV Guide Network
In its first major acquisition since it changed programming direction under its new ownership, the TV Guide Network has picked up the cable off-network rights to ABC's dramedy UGLY BETTY. Under the deal with Disney-ABC Domestic TV, TV Guide will begin repurposing BETTY this fall, following the show's Oct. 9 season premiere. The cable network will air the series' new installments within two weeks of their run on ABC. (The episodes will also be available on Hulu.com and ABC.com the day after their initial broadcast on ABC.) Additionally, TV Guide will run BETTY as a weekly strip beginning in fall 2010 when TVGuide.com will have rights to stream up to five UBLY BETTY episodes at a time. If you'll recall, there was a split of the TV Guide entities which is why you see the print magazine at TVGuideMagazine.com versus the TV network at TVGuide.com.

Damian readies new album
Michael Damian is scheduled to release several new songs off his new "Rock On ‘09" album including the title track, “Close Every Door ‘09″, “Never Forget You”, and the remake of a previous hit “Was it Nothing at All”, which earned Damian a BMI song writing award.

ABC brings Soap Nation, daytime stars to Atlanta Aug. 8
Soap fans will want to hit the Mable House amphitheater well before country singer Sara Evans‘ Aug. 8 appearance at the Mableton concert venue. Starting at noon, ABC Daytime and SoapNet will present its first-ever Soap Nation tour at the amphitheater featuring actors from all of its daytime line-up.

Paul Anthony Stewart in cabaret show
On Monday, July 27th, New York Theatre Barn will present NYTB @ The Duplex, the monthly cabaret series that highlights new composers, lyricists, and performers. The evening will feature performances from Paul Anthony Stewart (Danny, GUIDING LIGHT) and several others.

FCC To Revisit Kids TV Rules
The FCC is opening an inquiry into its children's TV rules. That was the word from FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski at a hearing in the Senate Commerce Committee on what, if any, changes Congress should make to the Children's TV Act to reflect the explosion of new sources for content since the law was passed in 1990.