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Of the 23 total Daytime Emmy nominations earned by THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS this year, 11 of them were for the actors in its cast, and Soaps In Depth caught up with them to get their reactions to the big news!

Peter Bergman (Jack) received his Lead Actor nod for the episode where Jack had a confrontation with Billy and then checked himself into the hospital for surgery. "Like everyone else, I had two or three great scenes followed by some run of the mill scenes. Nature of the beast. That's the way it is."

Castmate Doug Davidson (Paul) joins Bergman in the same category for the episode where Paul turns himself into Heather for shooting Ricky. "It's a difficult process to match what we do in daytime with the criteria of the contest," he admits.

In fact, Y&R dominated the Lead Actor category with three of the four nominees hailing from Genoa City. "It's a smaller field," Bergman allows of the current daytime landscape. "I don't want myself, Doug Davidson or Michael Muhney (Adam) to lose our nominations, I'm sorry it wasn't spread out more because it just looks better. But I'm not willing to give up my nomination and I don't think my two co-stars are, either!"

Jeff Branson (ex-Ronan) was nominated for Supporting Actor for Ronan got drunk and broke up with Phyllis, and has every intention of attending the ceremony. "I love this genre," he declares. "I love that show, I love these people. I would never not be there for something like that."

Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea) now has a Y&R nod for Supporting Actress to add to the three she earned while playing Annie on ALL MY CHILDREN for the episode where Chelsea argues with Adam over his hiding Sharon in the cottage. "I really loved those scenes," she confides. "Michael [Muhney, Adam] was really great in them as well. It seemed real and raw."

But she knows she's up against some stiff competition in her category. "Jessica [Collins, Avery], I'm so happy for her. I've known Julie [Marie Berman, ex-Lulu, GENERAL HOSPITAL] for years because of the ABC connection. I don't know Katherine [Kelly Lang, Brooke, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL] too well, but I loved her stuff on the pre-nom. I'm excited to meet Arianne [Zucker, Nicole, DAYS OF OUR LIVES]. I know it sounds cliché, but I swear it's the truth: Just to be nominated with people who are so great, it's really a win/win. I'm blown away each time."

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL earned its Outstanding Drama Series nomination with Stephanie Forrester's celebration of life and her good-bye party. "I just thought they were really touching and unique," says headwriter and executive producer Bradley Bell. "And Susan [Flannery, ex-Stephanie] was stellar, as always. Everyone in the room was amazing."

And don't think just because Flannery isn't with the soap anymore that she'll be giving the ceremony a miss! "She'll show up!" Bell insists. "I think this means a great deal to her. It's so significant because it was the end of her time at THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL, which was the biggest chapter of her life. So this means a lot to her."

And among the other B&B actors who enjoyed Emmy nods is Scott Clifton (Liam), who submitted the episode where Liam has the confrontation with Hope while in his underwear and sporting tattoos and dyed hair, which is followed by the confrontation with Bill where Liam ends up being choked by his dad!

"There were a couple other ones I was proud of," Clifton muses, "Some very small, subtle scenes with Taylor and some other scenes with Bill. But what I think are nice moments are not the kinds of things that other people are going to appreciate when it comes to Emmy voting. People kind of weighed in and said, 'No, you need to do that one in the underwear.' It was much more of an attention-grabber."

And that was important, because this was the first year where the actor was participating in the Supporting category instead of Younger Actor. "I feel like the competition is a little harder in this category and it means more to me to be recognized as a supportive actor," Clifton says. "In the medium we're in, it is an ensemble cast, and there's nothing more important than being recognized as being supportive of other actors. That's really special."

Katie's emotional roller coaster on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL gave portrayer Heather Tom an embarrassment of riches when it came time to choose what to submit for Emmy consideration. So what did she finally decide on? "I submitted the shows where Katie left baby Will the first time in the midst of her post partum depression," she reveals.

Because B&B is a half-hour, they're allowed to submit two episodes as opposed to the hour-long soaps. "I submitted back-to-back shows," Tom explains. "I still almost did just one episode, but the episode before was short. Casey [Kasprzyk, a producer at B&B] was the one who suggested I consider including the show before which sets it up. I've always felt that it's difficult to find that one episode that's going to encompass your entire year."

Tom is thrilled for fellow Lead Actress nominee Susan Flannery (ex-Stephanie) and Supporting Actress hopeful Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke). "I'm so happy for Kelly," she enthuses. "It's fantastic." Of course, there were some omissions, as far as she's concerned. "I thought Don [Diamont, Bill] did some really nice stuff," Tom says. "It was well-written and told a story. I'm surprised Laura Wright (Carly, GENERAL HOSPITAL) didn't get nominated."

Now it's time for the actress to get in fighting form for the ceremony where she'll see if she can bring home another trophy matching the one she received last year! "I have seven pounds to lose before June!" Tom laughs. "The fun part for me is getting on the treadmill, hiking and biking. Then, I'll think about what I'm going to wear. I had such a great time last year. I'm really excited that HLN is [broadcasting] it again. I'm looking forward to a fun night!"

When the Daytime Emmy nominations were announced, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS' Michael Muhney (Adam) was actually on his way to the set when he found out he'd been nominated for Lead Actor. "I got a text from an old friend in high school," he reveals. "He was watching GOOD MORNING AMERICA and he cursed me for making him drop his coffee when he heard my name!"

Muhney submitted an episode where Adam had dramatic interaction with Chelsea, Victor, Phyllis and Sharon so there would be a nice blend, but doesn't expect he has much of a chance to take home the trophy on Emmy night. "I'd have to say that Jason Thompson (Patrick, GENERAL HOSPITAL) has an 80% chance of winning," he declares. "Then, it's almost a toss up between Peter Bergman (Jack) and Doug Davidson (Paul) because they delivered some fantastic stuff. I shouldn't win — and I won't — but the most humbling thing for me is to be nominated and to be mentioned with three guys who gave such stellar performances."

For more reactions from Y&R nominees Michelle Stafford (Phyllis), Billy Miller (Billy) and more, make the jump!

Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL) was awoken this morning at a quarter after five by executive producer and headwriter Bradley Bell calling her with the big news that she had been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress! After years in the business, the actress is delighted to receive her very first Emmy nomination, and doesn't mind at all that it's in the Supporting and not the Lead Actress category.

"I was supporting last year," she explains. "All my stories... I had no story that was about Brooke. I did a lot of mom stuff, and Brooke supported Susan [Flannery] during Stephanie's cancer storyline. If I'd had a lead story, I would have put myself in lead."

And in fact, both she and Flannery submitted the same episode to earn their nominations. "I used the last scene in which Stephanie passed away," Lang explains. "I submitted the scenes where we're on the bench and she says 'Sing to me' and I sing to her and she passes away."

And Lang was the one who informed her former co-star that their episode had netted them both Emmy nods! "I sent her a text" she reveals. "She said 'I didn't even know [today was the day].' She's so happy!"

Did you know that Frank Sinatra was behind JFK's presidency? Or that the beloved president's assassination was really a Mob retaliation? And it all happened because the crooner introduced his girlfriend to a young senator, who simultaneously had an affair with the presidential hopeful and the head of the Chicago Mafia!

That's the theory behind the play Ride The Tiger -- currently being staged at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT, until Sunday, April 21, and starring GUIDING LIGHT alum Paul Anthony Stewart (Danny) as Frank and ALL MY CHILDREN's Christina Bennett Lind (ex-Bianca) as the above-mentioned mistress, Judy Exner. Written by William Mastrosimone -- who spent a year interviewing the beloved singer to write the Golden Globe-winning television series SINATRA -- the play is based on a revelation made during one of their conversations. "The play takes specific plot elements that Sinatra told Bill, who then creates a scenario of what happened in these rooms when no one else was listening," explains Stewart.

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Now that the Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony has been scheduled for Sunday, June 16, the question then becomes what can we expect from this year's celebration. So Soaps In Depth went straight to the source for answers: executive producer Gabriel Gornell and senior executive director David Michaels!

This year is the 40th anniversary of the Daytime Emmys as well as THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, and with GENERAL HOSPITAL celebrating 50 years on the air, it's the perfect time to celebrate daytime's illustrious history. "We'll definitely be looking at past, present and future with regards to daytime television," Gornell promises. "It's our own 40th and that will anchor the theme. It'll work nicely as we honor all the anniversaries that we'll be celebrating at the same time."

And of course, you can't celebrate history without plenty of clips to illustrate it! "We're going to put particular emphasis on the wonderful clips from years past," he adds. "I can tell you everybody is excited to see wonderful clips celebrating 40 years of achievements. This year, more than any other, we're going to be embracing that."

And while ONE LIFE TO LIVE is technically eligible for awards for its final month of episodes, ALL MY CHILDREN will also be included in the show. "Let's just say that a lot of those actors are part of our 40 year history," Michaels teases, "so it's certainly appropriate [to have them there]."

Additional creative elements such as the names of presenters and a host will be announced in the coming weeks, but Michaels wants soap fans to know that the genre will not be lost in the rest of the daytime programming. "The talk shows are huge right now as are the court shows and the culinary shows," he admits. "But all of that said, still, there are no fans like soap fans. People want to see the soap stars, and they will!"

Since leaving AS THE WORLD TURNS, Lamman Rucker (Marshall) has been keeping very busy both on the big screen and small, and this weekend, his newest film, The Undershepherd premieres on TV One. It stars Rucker and GREY'S ANATOMY'S Isaiah Washington as two ministers whose friendship is tested as their careers evolve in wildly different directions.

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Set those DVRs! Two of your favorite former daytime stars are about to storm two of your favorite primetime TV dramas. "I'm guest starring on ABC's CASTLE," reveals THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL's William deVry (ex-STORM) of his role in the series' 100th episode. Alas, deVry didn't get to trade dialogue with fellow former soap star, Nathan Fillion (JOEY, ONE LIFE TO LIVE), whose title character is laid up with a broken leg in the tale. "I've known Nathan from the past, so that would have been nice, but my scenes were with Stana Katic, who plays Kate," deVry reveals, adding, "She was great -- I had fun!" Look for the lady detective to head out on her own to investigate the death of an IRS agent. "I'm playing a suspect [named Dan Renner]," deVry reveals. "He's a millionaire, but he's also a real douche." The episode, titled "Plays Well With Others," airs Monday, April 1, at 10 p.m. EST.

The actor tells In Depth that he's already on to his next exciting project. "I'm making The Outsider, a movie starring James Caan," he says of the crime thriller. In it, a British military contractor (played by EASTENDERS' Craig Fairbrass) is mistakenly informed that his daughter is dead and launches an investigation. "My character is just a good dude who helps out his longtime friend (Fairbrass)," deVry offers.

Since returning from Canada, where he starred last year on a sitcom, deVry says he's been fortunate to continue working steadily in Los Angeles and happy to be home with his girlfriend, Rebecca Staab (ex-April, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS; Jessie, GUIDING LIGHT). Alas, the successful couple still hasn't had time to relax. Staab just finished taping a guest appearance for the upcoming summer season of Showtime's DEXTER! Look for her to play a character named Lucy Gerard in the episode airing Sunday, July 14, at 9 p.m. EST.

Robbie Tucker, who played a pre-teen Fenmore from 2009-12 on Y&R, can be seen in the film Family Weekend¸ set to hit theaters on Friday, March 29. The actor plays Mickey Smith-Dungy, a boy who suffers from undiagnosed Asperger's Syndrome. The film follows Mickey's older sister Emily, who takes rather drastic measures to capture the attention of her perpetually-scattered parents, played by Matthew Modine and Kristin Chenoweth!

"Mickey talks really fast and he's good at remembering anything," Tucker explains. "He can repeat back exactly what his family asks him. He doesn't talk much, but he has a breakthrough in the movie."

Shooting on Lake Saint Clair in Michigan was an added bonus for Tucker because he originally hails from that area! "We filmed in the winter at a house on a lake," he shares. "The whole back of the house is glass and it snowed almost every day so it was really cool!"

Tucker says his real-life mom and dad got a kick out of meeting his celluloid relatives including Shirley Jones (ex-Colleen, DAYS OF OUR LIVES), who plays his grandmother, and Modine. "My mom used to watch THE PATRIDGE FAMILY and she told me all about that show [which Shirley starred in]. My dad really likes Matthew so he came to the set and got his autograph. Matthew was really cool! And Kristin was either singing or joking around the set. She's really fun!"

Tucker says that he took the news of Fenmore being rapidly aged (last year Max Ehrich took over the part) in stride. "Fenmore was 8 and then he was 16," says the actor, who remains in touch with Samantha Bailey (ex-Summer). "Our families all went out to dinner together recently," he shares. "It'd be really fun if Samantha and I work together again someday!"

AS THE WORLD TURNS' Noelle Beck (Lily) is about to travel back in time! The actress has joined the cast of THE CARRIE DIARIES in the recurring role of Sebastian's absentee mother, Ginny?! However, don't expect to see a beleaguered heroine on the CW drama! "My character is crazy!" Beck laughs. "I would never talk to my kids this way. So funny! It's all about Ginny!"

The actress had previously worked with executive producer Amy B. Harris on the CBS primetime sudser CENTRAL PARK WEST, but was meeting the young cast of THE CARRIE DIARIES for the first time. "AnnaSophia [Robb, Carrie] is adorable," Beck enthuses. "She is such a pro for 19 years old. Austin [Butler, Sebastian] is even more handsome in person, if that's even possible! What a kind, sincere, sweet young man."

Beck reports that she had a blast working on the '80s-era series, especially when it came to her period costumes! "I loved my wardrobe, hair and makeup," she smiles. "I'm an '80s girl!"

Beck's first episode of THE CARRIE DIARIES, airs on Monday, March 18, and you can see her again in the following episode on Tuesday, March 25.

Eileen Davidson stirred up considerable excitement when she announced that she'd be returning briefly to THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS to reprise her role as Ashley on Monday, March 18 and Tuesday, March, 19 -- even as she plays vixen Kristen DiMera across the dial on NBC's DAYS OF OUR LIVES! "I thought I'd be really nervous, but when I got there... it was so much fun!" she declares of playing the dual roles, as it were. "I almost started crying, getting to work with Peter [Bergman, Jack] and Michelle [Stafford, Phyllis] right out of the gate! And being part of the [Nikki/Victor] wedding, I got to touch base with everybody!"

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Vanessa Marano may have left her own teen years behind, but she's still comfortable playing the angst of young people like THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS' Eden. In the new Lifetime Original, Restless Virgins, she's again living on the edge as a school reporter who ripped the lid off a scandal at her New England prep academy. "It's a ripped-from-the-headlines story that's also based on a book by the same name [by best-selling authors Abigail Jones and Marissa Miley]," Marano relates.

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Ignacio Serricchio plays Alex the cop during the day on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, but tonight he's a potential suspect on CSI! In the episode, titled "Exile," the actor plays Estefan Meha, the owner of the club where a famous singer's sister dies. "I can't tell you if Estefan is a good guy or a bad guy," Serricchio teases, "but I can say he's trying to do the right thing. He owns this club and wants to make some money. He knows [the victim] so this is very personal to him."

The actor agrees that CBS' crime dramas are expert at hooking viewers in — once you see the setup at the beginning of the show it's very difficult to not stick around to see how it's resolved! It's the same way, he says, when he read the script. "As I read it, I try to solve the mystery myself," he says. "That's what keeps me reading. I may make an assumption at the beginning and as I keep reading it I try to see if I'm right or not. You have to be a little bit of a detective yourself!"

Serricchio's CSI episode airs tonight on CBS at 10:00 pm EST.

Wednesday, February 13, marks a big day for SURVIVOR: PHILLIPPINES cast-off Malcolm Freberg. Not only will he make an encore run on the reality show's latest season, SURVIVOR: CARAMOAN -- FANS VS. FAVORITES, which kicks off that night, but he'll also debut on THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL playing a Forrester employee!

"I'm not an employee -- I'm an 'executive,'" Freberg jokes of his scene with B&B's Jacob Young (Rick) and Kim Matula (Hope). "Though I don't know what I'm in charge of or what my duties are."

While on the soap set, the reality star fielded inquiries from a few fascinated B&B castmembers. "Scott Clifton (Liam) is a huge SURVIVOR fan, so while I was sitting there trying to remember my lines, he was grilling me with behind-the-scenes questions about SURVIVOR," he says.

When asked if his B&B dialogue paid any joking nod to his other CBS TV gig, Freberg played coy. "You'll have to tune in to find out," he says, "I won't ruin the surprise, but it's funny, to say the least."

As to whether he'd be willing to reprise his B&B alter ego (also named Malcolm), Freberg was taking a "wait-and-see" approach. "That's going to depend on how the scene turned out -- I'm not sure how proficient my acting was. Then again, it's like SURVIVOR -- it's very hard to say 'no' when you get asked to come back!"

Daisy was definitely guilty of a few crimes on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, but when portrayer Yvonne Zima guest-stars on LAW & ORDER: SVU on Wednesday, January 9, her character's guilt or innocence will definitely be in question.

"It's a very complicated story," she teases. "I play a single mother — and it's like, the second time I've played a mother, which is weird because I'm only 23! — but I also play a rape victim and I'm also accused of murder. So there's a lot to watch on Wednesday!"

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AS THE WORLD TURNS' Michael Park (Jack) is back on Broadway following his stint in the hit musical How To Succeed In Business... Without Really Trying. This time around, he's appearing in the latest revival of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof starring Scarlett Johansson!

Park will be playing the role of Gooper, although he admits that director Rob Ashford cast against type by offering him the role. "He's supposed to be a portly man who is not very well-liked by his father and mother," the actor explains. "He's got to be diametrically opposed to Brick, who is the superstar of the family. I'm not your normal type for Gooper. [Rob] is thinking outside the box a little bit."

While Gooper and wife Mae are often considered the comic relief of the story, Park adds that they have to be a serious threat. "The real threat should be there that Gooper is going to be taking over the business," he says. "He's going to be taking over the family plantation. It's going to be interesting. I'm not taking this lightly at all. What an opportunity."

Previews for Cat On A Hot Tin Roof begin on Tuesday, December 18, and the show's opening night is scheduled for Thursday, January 17. It will only run for 15 weeks, so if you're hoping to get tickets, don't wait too long to click here!

And for more from Park about his post-ATWT career and what's next after this play, don't miss his interview in the new CBS Soaps In Depth, on sale 12/17!

It was a long time coming, but Happy New Year, the poignant film that Tina Sloan (Lillian, GUIDING LIGHT) made in 2010, has finally made it to the big screen. "It's about an injured Iraqi war vet (Michael Cuomo) who comes back and goes to a VA hospital," Sloan reveals. "In the movie, he's my son, and of course, my own son had been in Iraq, so all the fears I'd had for him I was able to use in this."

In the award-winning picture, the sergeant seeks healing and camaraderie with the other injured veterans, but the ghosts of war arise, leading him and his friends down a self-destructive path. Happy New Year is showing through Thursday, December 13, at the Quad Cinemas (34 West 13th Street) In New York City. For tickets visit movietickets.com. And if you can't make it to one of those screenings, we'll be sure to let you know when we hear of more showings in additional cities or an eventual DVD release so you can see it yourself!

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS' Judith Chapman (Gloria) plays the role of a socialite in the Lifetime original TV movie Liz & Dick, set to premiere on Sunday, November 25 at 9 p.m. EST. The film chronicles the life and tempestuous love story of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton and stars Lindsay Lohan as the legendary screen star. Grant Bowler (UGLY BETTY) plays Burton.

"It was wonderful," Chapman tells Soaps In Depth. "I heard about the project and who was playing the part of Liz. I had an audition to play her mother. I knew I'd knocked their socks off. Sometimes you have a feeling. But nothing happened. I was really surprised. Flash-forward a few weeks later, [my representation] told me that they'd already cast someone else as the mother, but that they really liked me and wanted me for the role of a socialite who would interact with Lindsay. (Laughs) I figured, 'Well, if my scenes are with her they probably won't be cut!'

"We shot in a beautiful home in the Pacific Palisades. I learned that Eyal Podell (ex-Adrian) was on the cast call sheet, too! We met in the makeup room and I learned that the same thing happened for him. He auditioned for Eddie Fisher, but he was cast [instead] as one of Liz's [other] lovers. The director asked me to improv at one point in a scene with Lindsay and when I did she laughed. I thought, 'There's a really nice, young girl in there.'"

Chapman says that when Lohan learned that her two fellow actors had ties to soap operas, she chimed in with the fact that she'd once played on ANOTHER WORLD as Alli (Rachel's granddaughter.) "She said, 'Oh, I used to be on a soap opera!' I gave her a look because I thought AW has been off the air for a while! She said, 'I think I was eight years old when I did it.'"

AS THE WORLD TURNS' Kelley Menighan Hensley (Emily) is starring in a very unique new series for Showtime called REALITY SHOW. The catch? It's not actually a reality series, but a scripted half-hour drama poking satirical fun at how manufactured many reality shows are!

"It is insane," she says of the series. "That is the perfect word for it. It's out there. I mean, I called my parents when I agreed to do it and I'm like, 'I'm just preparing you that.. I'm not a hundred percent sure I want you to see all of it!'"

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AS THE WORLD TURNS Tamara Tunie (Jessica) will be taking audiences to new heights when she headlines the famous Feinstein's club at the Loews Regency Hotel in New York City this month. "I guess you can call it a cabaret act," she confides of her aptly titled show, Yes, I Can Sing! "But I think of it more as an evening of great music and a little chatter." Together with her renowned band members: Mike Renzi, Gerald Cannon, and Buddy Williams, she'll be taking to the stage from Tuesday, October 28, through Saturday, November 3. "I'm excited about working with them because they're really exceptional musicians," she enthuses. For reservations, call (212) 339-4095 or visit Feinsteinsatloewsregency.com.

Next, Tunie takes to the skies when she stars in Paramount Pictures' new blockbuster, Flight. "It's about a commercial airline pilot (Denzel Washington) who successfully crash lands a plane and is touted the hero; however, at the hospital, they draw blood and his toxicology reports [present] questions," previews Tunie. Look for the actress to play the leader of the flight crew who — after helping to save the plane — gets unwillingly caught up in the investigation. "I consider this to be my first action movie," she relates. "I had such a good time shooting [it], I didn't want it to be over. I cried!" The film, which also stars Don Cheadle, John Goodman, and Melissa Leo (Linda, ALL MY CHILDREN), opens Friday, November 2. For more from Tunie, including details about her next project, check out her Keeping Track feature in the current issue of Soaps In Depth.

Justine Cotsonas, who portrayed AS THE WORLD TURNS' lovelorn (if not slightly loony!) Sophie, is about to have another bad run of luck. In the next episode of CBS' BLUE BLOODS (titled "Scorched Earth"), she guest stars a Mid-western children's book editor who falls victim to a drive by shooting on her wedding day! "She is very excited because she is about to get married the love of her life," Cotsonas explains. "Unfortunately she never gets to that point."

Although her character suffers the worst of fates, the actress says that being on set that day gave her reason to smile. "Christopher Stadulis plays the limousine driver [in my scenes] and it's funny because when I was ATWT's Sophie and I kidnapped the baby and ran away to New York, he played the cop that approached me and tried to make sure everything was okay," Cotsonas confides.

The beauty also got to meet series star Donny Wahlberg who was on hand during taping. "It's so funny because when I was real little, I had girlfriends who were kind of like big sisters and they were obsessed with [Wahlberg's former boy band] New Kids On The Block," Cotsonas giggles. "I have a video of myself when I was very little and dancing around to 'Step By Step.'" Tune in for CBS' BLUE BLOODS on Friday, October 19, at 10 p.m. EST. For more about Cotsonas' future projects, check out her upcoming feature interview in Soaps In Depth.

Having spent a year starring in Follies -- first at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., before a limited-engagement Broadway revival and ending in Los Angeles -- Ron Raines (Alan, GUIDING LIGHT) was ready for a break. "I was so artistically fulfilled... and also physically exhausted," reveals the actor, who received a Tony nomination for his portrayal of Benjamin Stone. I was really not in a hurry to work after Follies in a big show."

But then Disney came calling, making Raines a short-term offer to play Joseph Pulitzer in the smash musical Newsies while John Dossett stars in another musical, Giant. "It's a perfect follow-up," Raines tells Soaps In Depth. "It's not a huge role that I have to carry a major part f the show like I did in Follies. Which I did not want to do immediately. I'm in three scenes -- they're fabulous scenes -- and two songs. A reprise of another song, so a song and a half, if you will! It's perfect."

On October 9, Raines made his debut in the musical based on the 1992 film, based on the real-life newsboys strike of 1899. Set in New York City at the turn of the century, the show tales the tale of a band of teenaged newspaper boys -- aka "newsies" -- who dream of a better life far from the hardships of the streets. But when publishing titans Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the expense of the young peddlers, the boys across the city strike against the magnates. "It had a major impact at that time. It's very David against Goliath," notes Raines, who is scheduled to perform through Sunday, December 16. "That youthful, idealistic hope. And I'm Goliath!" Even though the young actors who play the newies carry the show, the character of Pulitzer is always front-and-center... even if he's not necessarily seen. "I'm talked about the entire time because I'm the bad guy!" Raines says with a chuckle. "I love that!"

Read more after the jump!

It's been 11 years since Laura Bell Bundy (Marah) walked away from GUIDING LIGHT to return to the bright lights of Broadway. Having since also launched a successful career as a country music artist, the Nashville resident is now coming full circle with a new role on The CW's primetime soap, HART OF DIXIE!

Together Again!
Bundy makes her DIXIE debut tonight as Shelby, the first woman with whom George -- played by AS THE WORLD TURNS alum Scott Porter (Casey) -- goes out with following his breakup with Lemon. "I don't know if they are right for each other, but they do have a little thing," Bundy grins. While she has great memories of playing the daughter of GL's wacky Kim Zimmer (Reva), the Kentucky native says she's basing Shelby on someone a bit closer to home. "She's the younger version of my mother -- with the Southern accent, her energy, and her [enthusiasm]!" Bundy giggles. "The show's dramatic, sexy, spunky... It's young, beautiful people doing crazy, scandalous things. It's lighter and [funnier] than GUIDING LIGHT."

This isn't the first time that Bundy and Porter have crossed paths. Not only did they both do daytime TV, but he'd also been one of the finalists to play Warner opposite the Tony nominee when she was starring in the hit Broadway production of Legally Blonde. "He didn't get it, but it was the best thing that could ever happen to him because he ended up on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS within months," Bundy recalls. "He's such a sweetheart, and we've had a lot of fun together."

Read more after the jump!

GUIDING LIGHT's Lauren Mayhew (Marah) will appear on Showtime's DEXTER as Melanie, a bartender at the Snakepit beginning on Sunday, October 14, at 9 pm EST. "I'm the love interest of an intriguing new man on the show named Ray (played by Matt Gerald). But I can't tell you what happens to me!" she previews of the gruesome show.

In the two-part episode, titled "Buck The System," Mayhew was thrilled to work with the show's stars. "Shooting DEXTER was awesome. The whole crew was amazing, and Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter are true professionals, but I got to know Matt Gerald the best," she confides. "We were constantly teasing each other and cracking jokes, and the last night of shooting when we were there to 3:30 a.m. and entertained ourselves with a musical jam session!"

International fans can also keep an eye out for Mayhew in her ongoing role as a correspondent for FOX Japan covering events and shows like AMERICAN IDOL. Additionally, she'll be performing her music in China while sporting cool, glow-in-the-dark pieces from Electrofur, a company that she now represents.

On THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL, AMERICAN IDOL finalist Constantine Maroulis (ex-Constantine) played another version of himself: a music producer who teamed with aspiring singer Phoebe to make magic. Now, he's attempting duality again while headlining the all-new touring production of the Tony Award-nominated musical, Jekyll & Hyde. "It's based on Robert Louis Stevenson's legendary story," Maroulis offers of the tale of a devoted scientist who makes himself the subject of his own experimental treatments, only to accidentally unleash his inner demons along with a seemingly alternate personality.

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What's it like to be a model, an actress, and a reality TV star? THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS' Eva Marcille (ex-Tyra) says it's definitely hard work! Of course everything is easier with a little help from your friends, and in her new Oxygen Network docu-series, GIRLFRIEND CONFIDENTIAL: LA, she gets just that from her "girls": interior designer Nikki Chu, talent manager Kelly Marie Dunn, and actress Denyce Lawton (HOUSE OF PAYNE).

Rumors have been flying over the past couple days that THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS would be recasting the role of Noah again, and now Kevin Schmidt himself has confirmed to Soaps In Depth that he is once again being replaced. (Noah was recast in 2010 with GOSSIP GIRL's Luke Kleintank before Schmidt was brought back to the role in 2011.)

"I was up in San Francisco at Outside Lands [Music And Arts Festival] when my manager got a call last Friday," Schmidt confides. "He didn't think that was the right time to let me know that Y&R was recasting again. That was the right call for sure! When I got back Monday, he let me know."

Unfortunately, the actor remains in the dark as to exactly why he was brought back to play Noah, and then replaced once again. "I was on hold to work next week, and then they just kind of dropped this bomb on me," he admits. "I was like, 'Okay, I'll roll with the punches. That's what I do.'"

Having worked so sporadically during this stint — his final episode would have been Jack's wedding — Schmidt has already been doing a lot outside of the soap. "I've got an animated film in production," he reports, "Cheaper By The Dozen 3 is coming up in the fall, I'm meeting with Steve Martin shortly. I'm developing an application for smart phones, a simple game for people to connect with each other... I'm always doing something!

"The best thing about Y&R is that it allowed me to keep my stuff polished while I went off and chased other endeavors," Schmidt continues. "I've made some great friends. As I move into my productions in the future, I have a whole alumni of talent to pull upon. I've had a flood of support from everybody on the show."

At this time, Y&R's production is on vacation for a week, so there has been no official word from the soap as to when the role of Noah will be recast, or with whom.

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS fans who lament that they haven't been getting enough of Billy Miller (Billy) during the day may want to mark their calendars for Saturday, August 25, because he'll be starring in the Lifetime movie Fatal Honeymoon that evening at 8 p.m. ET/PT! But be warned -- Miller will not be playing the reformed Genoa City rogue that everyone has come to adore. Instead, he will be taking on the persona of real-life accused killer Gabe Watson, who spent 18 months in an Australian prison after pleading guilty to negligent manslaughter when his wife, Christine, died while they were scuba diving on the country's Gold Coast during their honeymoon. (Watson was later acquitted of murder charges in Alabama.)

Not only is Jordi Vilasuso (Tony, GUIDING LIGHT) engaged to be married, but he and fiancée Kaitlin Riley are expecting a baby, to boot! "The cat was let out of the bag on national TV," the actor tells Soaps In Depth with a laugh. Last week, Riley's little sister, actress Bailee Madison, appeared on THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO to promote her new film, Cowgirls 'N Angels. When host Jay Leno asked how her family was, the 12-year-old excitedly shared that not only was her big sister engaged, but that she was pregnant! "We knew she was going to say we were engaged... we weren't sure she was going to say that that! The camera panned to us, and we were kind of caught off-guard. But it was very sweet."

Vilasuso says that learning on Easter morning that he was going to be a father sped up his plans to become a husband, as well. "We'd been talking about getting married for quite some time," he says. "We were already looking at places to have the wedding even before we were engaged. Katie would joke, 'I can't believe we're doing this. I don't even have a ring on my finger.' I'd been looking at rings, and had actually put a deposit down on a ring two months earlier. This kind of hurried the process along!"

Read more after the jump!

Fiona Hutchison (Jenna, GUIDING LIGHT; Celia, AS THE WORLD TURNS; Gabrielle, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) has returned to the genre that made her famous! As the mystery woman on the Web series THE BAY (www.thebaytheseries.com), she's been slinking around a hotel in a trench coat and seducing young Peter (played by Kristos Andrews) in an effort to gain information about her missing child.

"When I got the script, I thought, 'Oh God! I see where we're going with this: It's vixen time!" she laughs of the sexy scene. "But Kristos was a sweetie pie... I had to straddle him and do all the things you're not supposed to and he was fabulous to work with."

In last week's episode, however, the mystery woman pulled a gun on him! "That's really what makes it all work: a mother who is desperate for their child is prepared to do whatever it takes," Hutchison continues. It's a scenario that that she's played before. "Gabrielle would do anything too -- anything!" she recalls. "So I'm familiar with this sort of thing, and I've enjoyed it because my career has now covered more than a couple of years and it's fun to be given an opportunity to take something like this and try it again at another point in my life."

Read more after the jump!

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL delves into its first lesbian storyline this week when Crystal Chappell debuts on Thursday, May 17, as Karen Spencer's partner (and Caroline's other mom), Danielle. This marks the fourth gay character the actress has played in recent years, and she said it was without hesitation that she accepted the recurring role. "I said yes even before we got into any of the negotiation stuff," she notes.

As a celebrity ambassador for the Hetrick-Martin Institute, an organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, Chappell is proud to help B&B tell this story. "I appreciate that they are willing to represent the people out there who need to be represented," she says.

B&B executive producer and headwriter, Bradley Bell, told Chappell that he'd admired the work she'd done on the Emmy-winning webseries VENICE: THE SERIES, of which she is a creator, executive producer and star. "He told me he was very impressed with what we'd put together. Obviously, that meant a great deal to me, coming from him!" she says.

In addition to VENICE, Chappell is helming another web soap this summer called THE GROVE, and she'll begin taping a role in a third web series, THE TEAM, next month. So while she'll have limited time on her hands to keep Dani in the mix at B&B, the actress feels it's certainly doable. "At B&B you can go in and tape two or three shows in a day," she explains. "Even if [I can only get back for one day], you can absolutely get a lot done. So the role is really perfect for me."

Soaps In Depth staffers have been on the phone with Daytime Emmy Award nominees all day, offering our congratulations. Here are just a few of our interviews, so keep checking back for more updates!

"I was so surprised, I couldn't believe it," confesses Genie Francis, nominated in the Lead Actress category for playing THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS' Genevieve. "I feel like I've had tremendous good fortune with this new show, and I'm thrilled to be part of them." Headwriter Maria Arena Bell phoned Francis this morning to share the news of her nomination. "We get up very early over here. The kids go to school at 7 a.m., so we were all up when I got the call. It was a very nice surprise. I really did not expect it." For her reel, the actress submitted the scenes where Genevieve tells Jack about her daughter that died and needing to get a divorce from Colin. "It was a very long, heartfelt speech and it ends with them sleeping together for the first time. Genevieve came on so angry, and bitter and driven for revenge, but that scene told the audience why."

It's been a while since John McCook (Eric, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL) was last nominated, but he's kept a sense of humor about it! "[My wife] Laurette said, 'Finally, you get another nomination!' I said, 'Well, I'm glad I wasn't holding my breath! I'd be long dead!'" In all seriousness, the actor adds that his submission of scenes between Eric and Stephanie where he brings her a gift, hoping to get more intimate with her, were quality ones. "He talks in very adult terms about his needs. I was very glad to have scenes that talked about something adult. The adults on our show talk a great deal about the young people, and that's okay, but let's keep being interested in these adult characters."

Although she's taken home Emmys in the Younger and Supporting Actress categories, B&B's Heather Tom (Katie) will be competing for Lead Actress for the first time. "The category change makes this year very special for me," she confesses. "I kind of debated whether I should or shouldn't, and I was like, 'I've been on daytime for 22 years and if I can't compete in Lead at this point, I should just hang it up!'" Returning home from an early-morning yoga class, Tom found out that her scenes following Katie's heart attack had done the trick in bumping her up on the category ladder. But as far as being the first to win the Trifecta, Tom says she isn't putting the cart before the horse! "I'm just happy with a nomination!"

For Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe, Y&R), a live video chat played a part in how she learned of her nomination. "It wasn't airing here [on the West Coast] yet, so my mom called me on FaceTime. But they didn't finish all the announcements on TV, so I had to go on-line to see the rest. Thankfully, my name is really long so it stands out! My eyes went to that directly and I couldn't believe it! I was screaming my head off!" For her scenes, Hendrickson submitted the episode in which Chloe learns of her daughter Delia's cancer. "Now, we only get to submit one show. This year, I had this amazing show that had a full arc, everything wrapped up in this sweet little package. I guess the Academy always loves a good cancer story! My biggest competition, I know, is Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth, GENERAL HOSPITAL) because her baby died!"

Naturally, Y&R headwriter Maria Arena Bell is thrilled to see the soap nominated in the Best Drama, directing and writing categories. "I'm very happy for the acting nominees we have -- Genie, Christel [Khalil, Lily] and Lizzie. It's great to see Debbi Morgan (Harmony), Darnell Williams (Sarge) and Missy Egan (Chelsea) all nominated because it honors their work on ALL MY CHILDREN. They so deserve it." Of course, the scribe was disappointed for her colleagues who were not recognized. "There were certain standouts this year that I was surprised weren't nominated," she confesses. "To have a year where you don't see Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) or Peter Bergman (Jack)... [Thomas Scott, Nikki] had a brilliant year with the alcoholism with her special show, that we submitted as one of our Best Drama shows. She has never been more brilliant. The list goes on and on of people I wished I'd seen nominated. They tried a new system this year; it got some new names in there. I hope that those actors who I'd hope should have been nominated know that they helped bring to life the nominations we received for show, writing and directing."

While Shelley Hennig (ex-Stephanie) has moved on from DAYS OF OUR LIVES and now stars on The CW's hit drama THE SECRET CIRCLE, she hasn't forgotten her daytime roots. "I woke up to an excited voicemail from the DAYS hair and makeup room," she says. "What a nice surprise! DAYS was my first TV family, and this nomination reminds me of that. I'm also in great company with my friends Molly Burnett (Melanie), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy, B&B) and Christel Khalil (Lily, Y&R). So happy for the all the DAYS nominations as well!"

Fans of AS THE WORLD TURNS remember Kristina Sisco as Oakdale ingenue Abigail, but now going by her married name, Romero, the Emmy-nominated actress has dabbled in directing and recently completed her first novel!

"It does sound like I've been all over the map," she admits with a chuckle. "But for me, it's all the same, because I've always wanted to tell stories. When I went out to California after ATWT, I enrolled in USC and got my masters in writing. So it's always been a passion of mine."

Calling Extra is the story of 13-year-old immigrant Elsie Lutz who finds herself wrapped up in the infamous newsboy strike of 1899 after her father is arrested and she's left to fend for herself on the streets of Manhattan. "There were kids who lived in New York City who worked for a living and in such impoverished conditions," she explains. "They were doing all they could just to make pennies to get through the day."

The tenements of a turn-of-the-century Big Apple may seem a far cry from Oakdale, but Romero says she'd been working on her debut novel for years and was actually inspired by her love for the Disney movie (now-turned-Broadway-musical) Newsies!

"I always wanted to know more about the actual event of the newsboy strike," she says. "So for my undergrad, I did a little research and wrote a short story. At USC, my professor taught a historical fiction writing class, and I started to flesh it out and got a lot of positive response. So I spent the next few years doing more research and fleshing it out even more."

Romero laughs and adds: "I know way more about 1899 than one person probably needs to know!"

For more, make the jump!

Hillary B. Smith (Nora, ONE LIFE TO LIVE, ex-Margo, AS THE WORLD TURNS) debuts Friday, March 9, on THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL this week as Dr. Stacy Barton. She'll be helping one couple work through some intimacy problems, but if the actress had her druthers, she'd get to help the whole dysfunctional cast of characters! "Dr. Stacy is a therapist that specializes in relationships," Smith explains. "I'm hoping the whole town falls apart in some total sexual crisis, so that every single person needs to come to her [for counseling]! I think she should have the dirt on everybody!"

Having been a fixture on the cast of OLTL for almost two decades before its January cancellation, Smith had no qualms or nervous energy about trying a new soap on for size. "I've never done a Bell show," she explains, referring to B&B and its sister soap, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS. "But I've certainly watched them both, from their inception. It's definitely a different feel and tempo [than I'm used to], but I've been a big fan for a long time."

Smith would encourage her loyal fans from OLTL to give the show a look-see, too! "Oh, absolutely. I put a message on my website to my fans, inviting them all to come and tune in!"

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL welcomes Phyllis Diller back to the fold on Thursday, March 8, and Friday, March 9, when she turns up to play her madcap alter ego, Gladys Pope. Now that the laugh-a-minute beautician is certified as a justice of the peace -- she'll help one couple tie the knot this time around -- her portrayer wouldn't mind many happy returns. "Now that I'm back in the flow and jiggling around like a young hussy, I'll be looking for more weddings on the show," jokes the 94-year-old comedienne.

A gal pal of Sally Spectra, Gladys hasn't appeared on the show since Sally's portrayer, Darlene Conley, passed away in 2007. But when Diller's own pal, B&B co-creator Lee Phillip Bell, suggested she make a comeback, the actress was game. "She was pretty important in getting me back to the role," says Diller. "And I just love doing it!"

When asked if Mrs. Bell has the same outrageous sense of humor as she does, Diller let loose with one of her famous laughs. "No!" she proclaimed. "She's too pretty!"

GUIDING LIGHT alumna Tammy Blanchard (Drew) has been hard at work for the past year performing in the hit Broadway musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying -- even gaining a Tony Award nomination for her supporting role! But that hasn't stopped the actress from taking on additional work as well, because she has two television appearances in March!

First up for Blanchard is a pivotal role on the season finale of A GIFTED MAN, "In Case of Heart Failure," airing Friday, March 2, at 9 p.m. on CBS. She'll guest as Louise, a patient with a potentially fatal disease whom Kate discovers has a special connection to Michael, played by series star Patrick Wilson. "It turns out, she has Anna's heart. She's a really important character; she leaves a nice cliffhanger to the end of their season," Blanchard tells Soaps In Depth. "It leaves some questions for the audience whether or not Michael's wife is gone forever because of what happens to me. Working with Patrick Wilson was so great, I would do it again in a heartbeat!" Working on the medical drama reunited Blanchard with executive producer Neal Baer, with whom she worked in her 2001 guest appearance on LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT. "He said he wrote the part with me in mind," she marvels. "That was just a blessing."

Read more after the jump!

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.

In the two years since GUIDING LIGHT ended, Robert Newman (Josh) has had a successful run in theater, traveling across the country performing in productions of beloved musicals like Annie, Man Of La Mancha and, earlier this year, Curtains. "Life goes on, and as a by-product, careers go on," the actor tells Soaps In Depth with a laugh. "Most of my time in the past couple of years since GL has been on stage. That's where I love to be. I've had a great run of some outstanding roles, and they've all been successful."

In his latest project, Newman is starring opposite Broadway star Tovah Feldshuh in Gypsy at the Bristol Riverside Theatre in Bristol, PA. "Gypsy is a musical that's been around forever. Tovah is the leading character, Mama Rose. She's the ultimate stage mother. She drives her two daughters' careers to the point where they end up walking away from her," explains Newman, who plays Herbie. "He signs on as the girls' agent/manager, and he's also pursuing Rose and looking to settle down with her, marry and have a family."

Read more after the jump!

AS THE WORLD TURNS fan favorite Jake Silbermann (Noah) has a lot invested in the new Off-Broadway play Derby Day, which opens this week at the Clurman Theatre. His new theater company, The Camisade Theatre, is presenting the dark comedy as their first production! "We're flying by the seat of our pants," Silbermann tells Soaps In Depth. "I'm producing this as well as acting in it, and forming a theater company in the process. It's been a little difficult."

Set in a luxury box at the Oaklawn Racetrack in Hot Springs, Ark., Derby Day tells the story of the Ballard brothers, and how a day of drinking at the racetrack and revealing family secrets might just tear them apart forever. "They are "celebrating" the death of their abusive father, whose presence is looming throughout the entire show," explains Silbermann, who plays ex-con Johnny. "He's had such an impact on these three mens' lives, and we see this cycle of violence and how it goes from generation to generation."

The dark comedy does have a bright spot, however. "These three guys are just trying to do well with their lives. They hate themselves, they love each other, they hate each other. They've got a lot of history that they're not really equipped to deal with," he continues. "There are moments in the play that have me cracking up. A drama really becomes a dark comedy when it has a certain amount of laughs, and we cover that. It's a really funny, but sad, play."

While Silbermann knows what to do on the stage, the behind-the-scenes work was a new animal for the actor. "Malcolm Madera is another actor in the play who is co-producing this as well. We were naïve enough to think it would be an easy thing," he says with a chuckle. "We worked on a play together last year and became good friends. He knows the writer, Samuel Brett Williams, and we approached him to commission something for us. We were describing what we wanted, and he said, 'I actually have something written that seems right up your alley.' As soon as I finished reading it, I said 'We are going to do this play.'" The three men went on to found the Camisade Theatre Company.

Derby Day begins previews on Wednesday, November 30, and officially opens on Friday, December 1. The show will run through Saturday, December 17. For the full performance schedule or to purchase tickets, visit www.Telecharge.com. For more information on the play and Camisade Theatre Company, visit www.CamisadeTheatre.com.