NEWS: Upfront, Villaraigosa, EASTENDERS, Waltz, FNL

EASTENDERS prompts differing views from Conservatives
Weeks before an election it seems the Conservatives are split - over whether or not EASTENDERS is a force for good. Shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has heaped praise on the BBC soap for tackling "difficult social issues" and even wished it a "happy 25th birthday". But shadow children's minister Tim Loughton is less sure, saying it is unrealistic and uses stereotypes that could potentially be "very damaging".

Upfront Preview: Handicapping the Upfront Stakes
With a strong scatter market and a steadying economy, the upfront is expected to regain its buzz. B&C gives seven factors that will dictate how far it bounces back.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's debut on ALL MY CHILDREN is set for Wednesday
The stunt, aimed at welcoming the long-running soap opera's move from New York to Los Angeles, involves the mayor meeting Susan Lucci's character, Erica Kane. The exact plot has not been released, but ABC offered this preview: "Villaraigosa also appears as himself, crossing paths with Erica Kane at Confusion, the local hot spot that is owned in part by Erica Kane. The two will have a back story of having previously met at a charity event in L.A. the year before."

Lisa Waltz joins GENERAL HOSPITAL
Waltz has been cast as Kiefer’s mom, “Melissa/Melinda Bauer.” She'll begin airing in March.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Ten reasons why Season 4 is the series' best
All the tension, as it has always been, is loosely connected via the fictional town's obsession with high school football. Perhaps more so than ever, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS in its fourth season captured the scope, diversity and challenges of small-town life. Even at its most personal, issues were shaped by the community, and the mission the show started with its pilot -- to realistically portray a down-on-its-luck town -- was fully realized.