NEWS ROUNDUP: Dark Shadows Comic, First Look At Carol Burnett on AMC, 90210 Rocks The Vote

Soap Vampire Barnabas Collins Returns in DARK SHADOWS Comic
On May 11, 2012, Dark Shadows will be revived, going to theaters courtesy of the frequent team-up of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. The soap opera from the late sixties is famous for its supernatural leanings; its cult status is due largely to it being the first exposure of ghosts and vampires to a daytime audience.

Before its revival in moving pictures, however, it is coming to comic books in October 2011 courtesy of Dynamite Entertainment. The story will revolve primarily around “reluctant vampire” Barnabas, the character Depp will play in the film, and will be in-continuity with the show that came before it. Writer Stuart Manning, who has a history with the property, teams with artist Aaron Campbell to bring a new generation into the world of Collinwood.

General Mills Denies Lesbian Content Behind Decision To Pull PRETTY LITTLE LIRAS Ads
In a blog post, FFA's David Caton shared a letter in which the company said it would no longer advertise Ole El Paso brand products on the show, and suggested the show's gay inclusiveness was the reason behind the move.

An unnamed spokesperson for the company, however, denied the claim in a statement to lesbian entertainment website AfterEllen.com.

“We make advertising decisions based on the audience demographic reach of a program and relevance for our brands, and we make changes to our ad buys all of the time. That should not be misinterpreted. The decision is entirely based on the relevance of the show's audience for our brands, not because of the sexual orientation of individual characters,” the spokesperson said.

GLEE's Jane Lynch talks about abusing NyQuil in new memoir
In her upcoming memoir, “Happy Accidents,” Lynch tells that she was so unhappy that she “wanted oblivion” and found it by downing NyQuil nightly. She continued her cough-syrup habit even after getting over a years-long alcoholic love affair with Miller Lite.

Showtime Picks Up Pilots From Andrew Gurland, Michelle Ashford & Ann Biderman
Showtime has greenlighted three pilots: Andrew Gurland's docu-comedy GURLAND ON GURLAND on Gurland, Michelle Ashford's drama MASTERS OF SEX and Ann Biderman's dramedy RAY DONOVAN. This marks the second round of pilot orders for Showtime's new entertainment president David Nevins.

HART OF DIXIE: Rachel Bilson Gets a New Ally, to Replace Nancy Travis
Eisa Davis has landed the recurring role of Addy Pickett, a nurse with 15 years experience at the Alabama medical practice Bilson’s big city doc inherits in the pilot (airing Monday, Sept. 26, at 9/8c).

Andrea Savopolos joins GREY'S ANATOMY
Savopolos has just been cast as one of the first-year interns.

First Look: Carol Burnett Returns to ALL MY CHILDREN
Burnett is back on her fave soap for her fifth stint (airing September 6 and 7) — and she's just in time for the Pine Valley High School reunion! Burnett's much-loved character, conniver Verla Grubbs (last seen in 2005), is intent on getting her hooks into old flame Sam Brady (Jason Kincaid) and wants to make sure her rival Opal (Jill Larson) doesn't land him first. Not even the mighty Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) can stop her!

UK: Stars of a new Cambridge soap opera have said they “cannot wait” for rehearsals to begin
The cast and crew of CAMBRIDGE LIVES gathered at Cambridge Central Library on Saturday to discuss their plans for the program.

Five reasons grown men love wrestling
2. Morality: Wrestling is enjoyable because there are two clearly-defined sides and in the end, good will triumph.

Cobra Starship to rock out on '90210'
The band, known for hits like “You Make Me Feel” and “Good Girls Go Bad,” will appear in a special Rock the Vote episode of the show airing in October.

Which soap opera star is using growth hormones and other supplements that are turning him a weird shade of yellow?
From the New York Post (of course).

Dylan Baker Set to Return to THE GOOD WIFE
The actor — who appeared during Season 1 as major client of Lockhart Gardner with whom Alicia (Julianna Margulies) successfully defended for the murder of his wife (but who later went to jail for another murder) — is returning to the CBS drama this fall.

BROOKSIDE's Dean Sullivan 'wants to cross soaps'
"If I had a pound for every time someone mentioned Jimmy to me, I wouldn't have to work again," Dean said. "So I think people would love to see Jimmy back - maybe in a different situation though. I'd love him to prop up the bar in CORRIE or pull a pint at the Queen Vic. It's been talked about before - why can't a soap icon cross into another soap?"

Inside the CW's Launch Plan: Trying to Slay a Broader Audience
"Our bread and butter is women 18-34 and to deny that is a mistake," Pedowitz told a group of reporters at TCA. "But what we do want to do, which RINGER and HART OF DIXIE provide us the opportunity to do, is to invite more 18-34s in, plus allow other people and other age groups to come sample us."

Scott D. Pierce: Soap opera fans lashing out at wrong people
"Soap ratings have been declining for decades. And the ratings are too low to support the expense of the shows."