UPDATE, 4:40 PM ET: Ian Buchanan is in fact portraying Duke Lavery. In an interview report with TV Guide‘s Michael Logan, Valentini says, “We will eventually find out that the Duke Lavery we saw die all those many years ago was an impostor. This is the real Duke.” So yes, we’re in for one of those storylines, folks.

“In the interim, Luke and Anna will find themselves in a new place with their romance and they will be very surprised by the intensity of it,” said Valentini to Logan. “Anna will, of course, be shocked and conflicted, she’ll run the whole gamut of emotions when she finally comes face-to-face with Duke. She’s going to want a lot of answers and Duke is really going to have to prove himself.”

Buchanan will not be seen on the show again for at least another next five weeks, according to TV Guide.

PREVIOUS, 4:22 PM ET: After promising that today’s episode of “General Hospital” was “not to be missed” as the series has “been keeping a huge surprise under wraps,” executive producer Frank Valentini got some good news today as the big reveal began trending worldwide (see images below) just a short time ago.

While live tweeting along with thousands of others, fans of the daytime drama series learned that actor Ian Buchanan had returned to the ABC soap after a 23-year absence. Of course, Soap Opera Network broke the story on Thursday, August 23.

When we last saw Buchanan on the drama series, it was 1989. His character, Duke Lavery, the love of Anna Devane’s (Finola Hughes) life faked his death and entered the witness protection program only to return to the series with a new face as portrayed by actor Greg Beecroft within the same year. The character was killed off in 1990.

A “General Hospital” representative was unavailable for comment at press time. It is currently unclear as to whether Buchanan is in fact portraying a once again alive Duke Lavery. If he is, does that mean Duke faked his death again? If not, who really died? The Tale of Two Duke’s indeed!

Buchanan had just completed his run on NBC’s “Days of our Lives” on Wednesday, August 22 as Ian McAllister, although the series films three months ahead of airdate, which enabled “GH” to snap the actor up quickly for this “secretive” plot twist.

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Television

While it is unknown when the message was first posted on her official copy written website, Brenda Dickson (ex-Jill Foster, “The Young and the Restless“) is apparently promising to release a “Tell All Book” in the next couple of months that will begin with highlights of her experience at the “canceled” CBS daytime drama series (say what?) and ends with her time in Hawaii. The site says that if you want to know what happened in the tropical state with Dickson and other assorted matters, “read the book, my friends. You will learn a lot about what you think goes on, and what really goes on. Who really runs the country!”

The message in its entirety can be viewed at http://www.brendadickson.com.

Note: Dickson alleges some serious matters including sexual harassment from the deceased William J. Bell (creator of “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful“), something about the “Mafia,” and claims that she’s telling all now that “Y&R” has been canceled (the show has not been canceled).

Photo Credit: Twitter

Shortly after Soap Opera Network reported on Friday, August 24 that Sean Kanan was headed back to CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful” as Deacon Sharpe, the actor himself tweeted “I never said I’m coming back guys. Let’s not stoke the fire of the rumor mill.” While the tweet seemed to contradict our reporting, Soap Opera Network has re-confirmed with the show and Kanan’s management team who assure us that “Yes…he is coming back.” So what happened? It looks like Kanan was not aware that the show was confirming his return to the press, which resulted in some confusion.

As previously reported, a first airdate for Kanan has not been set, but the actor is scheduled to appear on the drama series once more sometime in September. He is currently only scheduled to appear in a couple of episodes, however.

Photo Credit: John Paschal/JPI

Soap Opera Network wishes “The Young and the Restless” star Christian Jules LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin) a very happy birthday as the three time Daytime Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2005, 2007, 2009) turns 54 years-old today.

Joining the cast of “Y&R” all the way back in 1991, LeBlanc has enjoyed nearly two decades in Genoa City. Although he departed the role in 1993, LeBlanc returned to the CBS soap in 1997 and has remained there ever since. He brought his character from “Y&R” to “As The World Turns” for a couple of episodes in 2005.

LeBlanc appeared in episodes of “In The Heat of the Night,” “Diagnosis Murder,” and “Cheers.” Along with co-star Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor), the actor appeared in a 2009 episode of “Guiding Light” just as the series was coming to a close.

Note: Starting Saturday, September 1, 2012, Soap Opera Network will begin providing soap fans with a new database system that will house actor biographies, birthdays, and much more. Be on the look out.

Photo Credit: Robert Voets/CBS

Jeanne Cooper‘s “Not Young, Still Restless” once again remains a New York Times best seller as “The Young and the Restless” actress moves up a spot on the Times best seller list.

For the week ending Sunday, September 2, 2012, “Not Young, Still Restless” moved up from 30th place last week to rank 29th* in the Hardcover Nonfiction category. This marks the 3rd consecutive week in which the memoir has been in the top 30. “Restless” debuted on the list in 25th place for the week ending Sunday, August 19, 2012.

“Not Young” went on sale on Tuesday, July 31 and was written by Cooper with Lindsay Harrison. It was released by It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Cooper has portrayed Katherine Chancellor on “The Young and the Restless” since 1973, debuting just a few months after the soap premiered on CBS.

Robert Voets/Nickelodean

Soap Opera Digest grants Daytime Confidential‘s Jamey Giddens his wish. On Wednesday, August 15, Giddens had posted a Wishful Casting report shortly after word broke that Kevin Schmidt was out as Noah Newman on CBS’” The Young and the Restless.” The writer figured that Nickelodeon’s “Hollywood Heights” actor Robert Adamson (Phil Sanders) would fit the role perfectly. Today the magazine reported on its Facebook page that Adamson is now heading to Genoa City!

According to Digest, Adamson begins taping at “Y&R” on Tuesday, September 4. His first airdate is scheduled for Monday, October 1.

Jill Farren Phelps and Josh Griffith, the newly installed executive producer and head writer, respectively, at “Y&R” also served in the same capacities at “Heights.”

No word on whether Adamson has been offered a contract. Schmidt had portrayed Noah while on recurring status.

Photo Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Florencia Lozano will once again be reprising her role of Téa Delgado on ABC’s “General Hospital,” only this time she’ll be popping up in Llanview.

Soap Opera Network has learned that while Lozano is back for an unknown number of episodes, the actress will once again appear on the drama series after an unexpected visitor pays her character a visit on the Friday, September 7 episode.

Lozano’s return is said to coincide with a major cliffhanger the soap has planned that will help entice viewers to tune in for the Monday, September 10 episode, which is when the soap kicks things off in its new timeslot – a slot that was previously held by “One Life to Live” up until it aired its final episode nearly nine months ago to the day.

“General Hospital” moves to 2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PT/CT beginning Monday, September 10, on ABC. The show will not experience a timeslot shift on SOAPnet.

Photo Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Frank Valentini (Executive Producer, “General Hospital“) is promising that the Monday, August 27 episode of the drama series is “not to be missed” as the series has “been keeping a huge surprise under wraps.” The producer tweeted the message to his 12,000 followers earlier today.

From what we know about Monday’s episode Anna (Finola Hughes) learns the identify of a mystery patient, Jerry makes his demands clear to the people of Port Charles. Joe Jr. promises to protect Tracy and John questions Alexis about what she can remember about the night she was injected.

In possibly related news, Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda Barrett) just tweeted a picture to her followers that said “Got Brenda?” Also, “All My Children‘s” Rebecca Budig (ex-Greenlee Smythe) was the first one to respond to Valentini’s above mentioned tweet. The actress said “I’ll be watching!”

The things that make you go hmmm…

“General Hospital” moves to a new time period beginning Monday, September 10 (2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PT/CT). The network promises to thrill audiences in the days leading up to the timeslot switch with lives hanging in the balance and shocking revelations hitting Port Charles. Who survives and who thrives? You’ll just have to tune in to find out!

Photo Credit: Lou Rocco/ABC

Sunday, September 23 marks ABC’s turn to host the “The Primetime Emmy Awards” (now in its 64th year) and in honored tradition the network will also be airing the pre-show, “Emmys Red Carpet Live.” This year the red carpet festivities will be hosted by the network’s Josh Elliott and Lara Spencer (“Good Morning America” and “Good Afternoon America“), Chris Harrison (“The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette“) and Clinton Kelly (“The Chew“).

The quad will chat live from the red carpet with some of the biggest primetime stars as they arrive at the Nokia Theatre L.A LIVE. Elliott and Harrison will interview the stars and discuss the nominees, while Kelly and Spencer will also conduct interviews with a touch of Emmy fashion.

“Emmys Red Carpet Live” airs Sunday, September 23 from 7:00-8:00 PM ET/4:00-5:00 PM PT on ABC. “The 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards,” hosted by Jimmy Kimmel,” airs immediately afterward from 8:00-11:00 PM ET/5:00-8:00 PM PT.

Photo Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

UPDATE, 2:54 PM ET: Sources tell Soap Opera Network that Kanan is currently only scheduled to appear for a couple of episodes.

PREVIOUS, 1:55 PM ET: Soap Opera Network can confirm that CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful” is about to get a little more Sharpe, Deacon Sharpe that is.

While a first airdate has not been revealed, a “B&B” rep tells Soap Opera Network that fans can expect to see Sean Kanan, who portrays Deacon, back onscreen sometime in September.

In July, Kanan married long time girlfriend Michele Vega in Italy in front of what we’re told included family and a few close friends. ”They were married in Monte di Procida, Naples, Italy.  The ceremony and reception dinner took place at the hotel where they stayed called Al Chiar di Luna which is owned by good friends of Sean and Michele, The Mazzella Family,” Kanan’s rep told Soap Opera Network earlier this month.

Kanan returned to “B&B” earlier this year for the first time in seven years. The character had previously been seen on “The Young and the Restless” off-and-on since 2009.