Even though she has left California and relocated to Oregon, Jess Walton and Jill will still remain a vital part of THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS! The actress announced on her Facebook page that she will be continuing on with the soap. "I am indeed renewing my contract at Y and R," she posts. "The show has been very accommodating to me during this move to Oregon and I love them for it!"]]>
Associated Television International (ATI), the production company which has put on the Daytime Emmy Awards broadcast since 2009, will not be helming the show this year. In a statement released on Twitter, president Jim Romanovich announced that the company has opted to step away from producing daytime's biggest night.
"Regretfully, we have today officially passed on doing The Daytime Emmys for television this year. As fans of the soaps in particular, as well as being daytime producers ourselves, we have immensely enjoyed being a part of your celebration these past three years. In 2009, there was not going to be a Daytime Emmys for television, as you know. It was over. we felt it was important for it to continue on television for as long as possible to give actors, producers, writers and so forth the night of recognition they so deserve. It wasn't always easy. In fact, it was quite challenging on many levels. Although it was never a money making project for us, it was prestigious, first and foremost, plus we wanted to do something important for the daytime community. I would like to think in some small way we have contributed in the interest of the daytime soap formula being created beyond television as we're now seeing through various online ventures, such as what Prospect Park had tried to do, and series currently thriving on the web."
For the full statement, including what the production company had planned to do with this year's ceremony, click here. Keep checking back as this story develops.
UPDATE: Bruce Rosenblum, Chairman of The National Academy Of Television Arts And Sciences posted a statement responding to the current situation on the Academy's Web site that should give fans some hope. "The Daytime Emmy Awards is a powerful brand," he writes. "We at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences are continuing to explore all broadcast possibilities including network, cable and digital media in order to produce a prestigious show that will satisfy the daytime community, fans and the worldwide viewing audiences."]]>
Eric Braeden (Victor, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) will reunite with his co-stars from the 1971 sci-fi adventure Escape From The Planet Of The Apes this weekend! On Saturday, February 18, there will be a Planet Of The Apes marathon at The Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, with that movie screening at 5 p.m., and Beneath The Apes showing at 7:30 p.m. In between the two films, cast members from the series -- including Braeden -- will take part in a panel discussion set to take place at 7 p.m. General admission is $11 and parking is not included.]]>
We're working on a section celebrating THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL's 25th anniversary... and want your input. What moment stands out as your all-time favorite from the show's history? We're looking for very specific moments, such as Ridge and Taylor on the beach in St. Thomas or Sheila's wedding to Eric. What made the moment stand out for you? Make your comments below, then pick up the CBS issue of Soaps In Depth on sale March 26th to see which memories made the cut! ]]>
On this week's episode of THE SECRET CIRCLE, Joe Lando (Macauley, GUIDING LIGHT) brings Cassie's mysterious father, John Blackwell, to life. Speaking to Soaps in Depth from the set in Vancouver, Lando was excited to dish about his new role with his fans. "The show is based on a series of novels [by L.J. Smith], and in the books, I guess I'm kind of like the Antichrist. I'm the father of all the children in the circle, [and] there are all kinds of connections with the Blackwell character that I had no idea about!" Lando laughs.
While so far, the actor knows he'll be Cassie's witchy dad on the TV series, he remains in the dark about the rest... including how long he'll be around. "My voice appeared in one episode, I'm working on another now, and I'm in the next one, so that's three so far," he reveals. "I thought I was just guest starring, and now I don't know when I'm going home. They told me they're holding me captive!"
THE SECRET CIRCLE airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. Want to see a teaser clip of Lando's Blackwell? Click here. For more about Lando's wicked role, check out his Keeping Track feature in an the new ABC issue of Soaps In Depth, on sale later this week!]]>
There has been a lot of buzz about the demise of soap operas, but a new documentary just might bring the sad reality into the same world as Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg and other big time Hollywood names! Called Soap Life, the docu-film is about the changes taking place in the world of daytime television, and with over 70 interviews featuring fans, stars, producers, directors, writers, bloggers and fan club leaders, it could show the world what's really happening in daytime.
"The wife of our executive producer, John Grossman, who owns the production company NYPS, is a big fan of GENERAL HOSPITAL, and her whole thing was, 'You have the ability, so let's do something to save the soaps,'" explains producer Matthew D'Amato of how it all began. "We started doing research, and we sat down with a few actors, producers and directors, and said, 'Is this is a good idea? Could this work? Should we pursue it?' And we looked it up online and didn't see anything like this, so we thought it would be important to get started."
And the main goal of the film, D'Amato explains, is to generate enough buzz about the possible end of soaps to possibly prevent it from happening. "Hopefully this will get enough attention to help the genre, because we don't want to see it fade away," he says, adding that it's tentatively scheduled for a June 2012 release date at film festivals and possibly on networks such as Showtime. "We do want to see it at festivals, and we do want to see it on networks [so] people who aren't soap fans can watch the film and kind of relate to it, hear the stories and maybe want to pick them up or maybe do something about the genre. We have contacts we can send it to in order to get it out there, so hopefully it will get bigger and bigger!"
For more information on the project, visit www.facebook.com/soaplifedoc. To see a video about the project, visit www.youtube.com/user/SoapLifeDoc.]]>
*** VOTING HAS CLOSED FOR THIS ROUND ***
Once again, it's time to express your opinions for our Readers' Poll. In the comments section for this article, please respond to the question, and feel free to explain your answer, but remember that any comments here may be considered for publication in the magazine. Any extra comments you have that have nothing to do with this week's poll question should be directed to the Message Boards section of our Web site!
THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL: Who should be in charge of Forrester: Ridge, Thorne or Rick?
THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS: Do you think Adam can really change for the better?
Please note that the cut-off date for your votes to be counted will be Thursday, February 16. And please, only one vote per person!
To vote on your favorite actor, actress and couple currently appearing on a CBS soap, please mail your choices to:
CBS Readers' Poll
c/o Soaps In Depth
270 Sylvan Ave.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
Multiple mail-in votes during the same voting period will not be counted, so don't waste our time, your time, or the postage!
VOTES FOR ACTORS, ACTRESSES AND COUPLES CAST IN THE COMMENTS TO THIS ARTICLE WILL NOT BE COUNTED.]]>
In early January, THE TALK hostess Sheryl Underwood received the surprise of a lifetime when one of her favorite soap stars, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS' Christian Jules LeBlanc (Michael), surprised her with the news that she'd be making a cameo appearance on her beloved soap. Tune in tomorrow, Friday, February 10, to see Underwood's guest appearance as a justice of the peace who performs a rather surprising wedding!
"I was shocked! They can keep a secret!" Underwood tells Soaps In Depth of her surprise visit by LeBlanc. "I couldn't hold water if I were a bucket! Christian walked on stage and I said, 'Why is he sitting next to me?' When he said you have a part on the show, I thought, 'How fast can I get into an acting class?' It was a pleasant surprise!"
To find out what some of Underwood's favorite Y&R storylines were, be sure to check out our "Look Who's Watching" interview with the comedienne in an upcoming issue of CBS Soaps In Depth! ]]>
On Tuesday, February 14, CBS Daytime will be celebrating Valentine's Day with some special programming! THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS star Daniel Goddard (Cane) will drop by THE PRICE IS RIGHT to help host Drew Carrey make Valentine's Day extra special with some romantic prizes, including a home theater system and romantic trips to New York City, Venice and Paris.
On that day's episode of Y&R, Cane and Lily fans get the reunion they've been waiting for when the couple tie the knot again in a romantic ceremony in France! But will an uninvited guest put a damper on the joyous occasion? And on THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL, Valentine's Day is anything but a happy day for Steffy! She and Hope get into a drag-out fight -- that invloves a rather messy chocolate fountain! -- and then Liam serves her with divorce papers so he can marry her nemesis! ]]>
Johanna Johnson (Karen) returns to THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL next month, and she's bringing her daughter with her! Remember that casting notice that we told you about a few weeks ago? It was for the role of Karen's daughter, Caroline Spencer, who is named for her late aunt. Daytime newcomer Linsey Godfrey is the lucky lady who has landed the plum role. Her previous credits include the Disney Channel shows WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE and SUITE LIFE ON DECK, as well as spots on CSI: MIAMI, ONE TREE HILL and the TV movie Jack's Family Adventure starring Jonathan Silvermann and Dedee Pfeiffer.
TV Guide broke the story that Karen and Caroline come to L.A. for a visit because the design student is hoping to land a job at Forrester Creations. Not only does Caroline land the job, but Stephanie invites Bill's niece to live in her guest house! And while the audience will just be meeting Caroline for the first time when she and her mom arrive on Tuesday, March 27, the B&B characters on-screen will be acting as if they already know her! Reportedly, the young lass is not a blood relation to any of the characters on the canvas, so Steffy and Hope better beware of the new girl in town!
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Want to spend an unforgettable weekend with one of daytime's hottest couples? THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS' Daniel Goddard (Cane) and Christel Khalil (Lily) will be hosting a "Wild Card Weekend" fan event in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 31, and Sunday, April 1. The event will benefit The Shade Tree, a Nevada shelter that provides a safe haven for homeless and abused women, and children in crisis... and even their pets!
Attendees will get to interact with Goddard and Khalil all weekend long, and even bid on a dinner with them! There will be photo opportunities, autograph and Q&A sessions, a champagne brunch and much more! The events will all take place at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. For event schedules and tickets, visit wildcardvegas.eventbrite.com.]]>
Sean Kanan just made his last appearance as THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS' Deacon a few days ago, and he's already got a new gig! Tonight, the actor will be taping a guest-starring role on TV Land's hit sitcom HAPPILY DIVORCED, starring Fran Drescher.
A TV Land rep tells Soaps In Depth that Kanan will appear in an upcoming episode when Season 2 kicks off in March as Keith, a leather jacket-wearing, motorcycle shop owner. "I play a gay guy in a gay bar and Peter -- who is Fran's ex-husband -- has a crush on me," Kanan reveals. Hilarity is sure to ensue when Glen plays Peter's wingman and tries to make a love connection for his daughter's gay ex-husband.
HAPPILY DIVORCED isn't the first time that Kanan has worked with Drescher: He appeared in a 1996 episode of THE NANNY, along with Brian Bloom (Dusty, AS THE WORLD TURNS). "It's very cool working with Fran again," he tells In Depth. "I think she's one of the funniest women on television. She's really a terrific person. We saw each other a few months ago and she was nice enough to say to me, 'If you get called in to audition, let me know.' I did and she helped make [my being cast] happen."
At press time, an air date for Kanan's episode had not been determined, but we'll keep you posted! ]]>
In a not-so-surprising announcement, Jack Wagner's official Web site (www.wagnerworld.com) reports that the actor is out as THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL's Nick. The news comes on the heels of recent news that Lesley-Anne Down (Jackie), Brandon Beemer (Owen) and Zack Conroy (Oliver) have also been taken off contract. Wagner had just inked a new contract with the soap in September.
"We have just learned that Jack Wagner's option on his two year contract has not been picked up with The Bold and the Beautiful," says a post on the site. "We do not know if he will be leaving the show or staying on recurring basis, but with his lack of storyline in recent years, we highly doubt we will be seeing much more of Nick Marone. With Leslie-Anne [sic] Down's contract also not renewed and Brandon Beemer's move to recurring, it looks like the ship has sailed on the Morone clan.
Might his release from B&B open the door for Wagner to reclaim his role as GENERAL HOSPITAL's Frisco Jones, now that fellow 80s fan favorites Finola Hughes (Anna), Tristan Roberts (Robert) and Rick Springfield (Noah) are back on the GH sudser? "Head Writer Ron Carlivati is a longtime fan of GH. He has proven with his tenure at One Life to Live that he knows how to write for veteran characters," continues the post on Wagner's site. "Could it be time for Frisco Jones to come home to Port Charles as the show fights for its life? Get the letters and e-mails going. Let everyone know you want to see Jack Wagner back at GH!"]]>
Having spent the bulk of his career as a soap star -- most recently on AS THE WORLD TURNS as Craig -- Jon Lindstrom has had his share of smokin' hot female love interests. However, in his new romantic comedy, What Happens Next -- releasing on Netflix and DVD on Tuesday, February 7 -- Lindstrom is getting an adorable leading man! "I'm very, very proud of this movie," he offers of the picture that explores a gay relationship. "I think it's a little comic gem and given the political atmosphere out there, I think it was brave to make it."
In this film festival favorite, Lindstrom plays Paul Grecco, a recently retired, straight billionaire and socialite who finds himself at loose ends until his worried sister (HOT IN CLEVELAND's Wendie Malick) gives him a puppy. "While walking the dog in the park, he meets a young man [Andy, a gay advertising wiz], and they start to develop a friendship," Lindstrom previews. "Paul finds out things about himself that he'd never really considered."
As the new friends explore the distinction between contentment and happiness, they also face complications presented by their ill-informed family members, including Andy's sister, Roz, -- played by ALL MY CHILDREN's Natalia Cigliuti (Anita) -- and their well-meaning advisors. "Megan Hilty (SMASH) has a hilarious scene as Wendie's manicurist," Lindstrom previews.
Want to get a jump-start on the laughs? Visit www.jonlindstrom.com to view the trailer, or www.Amazon.com or www.Netflix.com to purchase the film. For more on Lindstrom's post-soap career, check out his feature interview in an upcoming issue of Soaps In Depth.]]>
This Saturday night, February 4, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL's John McCook (Eric) will join the improvisers at the ACME Comedy Theatre in Hollywood as the special guest star for the "(Unscripted) Hollywood Dream Role" improv show!
In the weekly on-line TV show, celebrity guests and the troupe of comedians create an improvised movie on the stage, based on the guest star's choice of the role they'd most love to play. Except that there is no set, no script, and the actors have to make it up as they go along! "I've never done anything like it," McCook tells Soaps In Depth. "There's not a lot of rehearsal. I'm a little intimidated, but I've seen what they do on YouTube, and I think, 'Oh, I can do that.'"
Show time is 10:30 p.m. PT. Tickets to be in the studio audience at the ACME Comedy Theatre are available at www.HollywoodDreamRole.com. Or you can watch it all happen via a live video stream at www.acmecomedy.com!]]>