Source Books

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — On Friday, June 1, 2012, Source Books (publisher of the recent “Days of our Lives” series of novels and coffee books) has scheduled the hardcover release of “The Young and Restless Life of William J. Bell: Creator of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful,” which covers the life and times of one of daytime’s most creative minds.

Publisher Description

For the first time fans will be able to discover the true stories behind the creation and growth of the most popular and iconic soap operas of all time, and they’ll learn about the man behind their favorite storylines. Filled with dramatic turns, dangerous risks, and an overall devotion to bringing life to the show, this biography will offer fans a backstage pass to the fascinating world of soaps! Bill Bell worked from a love of his characters and his family, and was never afraid to fight for what he knew to be important to both. For any fans of Bill’s shows or anyone working on creating dramas, this is an unprecedented look into the life of one of the men who did it best.

The book was co-written by Soaps in Depth contributing editor Michael Maloney and Bell’s wife Lee Phillip Bell, with Foreword by former “Y&R” star David Hasselhoff.

IMDb

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) – Finola Hughes, who has portrayed Anna Devane on “All My Children,” “General Hospital” and its spin-off “General Hospital: Night Shift” over the course of nearly thirty years, has been bumped to contract status at “GH” according to executive producer Frank Valentini, who made the announcement via Twitter.

“I am so excited to announce the lovely @finolahughes is now on contract!” Valentini said. Hughes followed up the producers tweet shortly afterward when she said “@valentinifrank And I am so happy to be there xxxx.”

Hughes returned to the ABC daytime soap in early 2012 and has appeared in numerous television programs in between her appearances as Ms. Devane including roles on such series as NBC’s “Blossom,” FOX’ “Pacific Palisades,” The WB’s “Charmed,” and NBC daytime’s “Sunset Beach.” In addition to television, Hughes has provided voice talents to the films “Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World” and “Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur.”

In 1991, Hughes appeared in a faux Daytime Emmy reel for the fictionalized soap opera “All My Trials” as part of the film “Soapdish” starring Sally Field as Celeste Talbert – a spoof character of Susan Lucci‘s Erica Kane from “All My Children.” From 1999-2003, Hughes transplanted Anna Devane and her twin sister Alex Devane Marick to “All My Children” in one of ABC’s first attempts to provide cross-over character appeal to its daytime soaps.

In 1984, the legendary star received two Razzie Awards nominations for her role in “Staying Alive, the sequel to John Travolta‘s “Saturday Night Fever.” She won for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at “The 18th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards” for her role on “GH.”

Pictured: Gary Tomlin (Photo: Aaron Montgomery/JPI)

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — With news of Gary Tomlin and Christopher Whitesell‘s ascension to the top of the “Days of our Lives” writing team after the NBC daytime soap let go Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas, Jr., less than a year after the two were hired to replace Dena Higley, Soap Opera Digest in its newest issue (issue dated April 16, 2012) is reporting that Tomlin and Whitesell has added the multiple Emmy award winning talents of veteran writer Lorraine Broderick to its new regime.

Broderick, who most recently enjoyed a stint at ABC’s “One Life to Live” as a breakdown writer shortly after penning the final months of “All My Children” as the soaps head writer – she was hired at “AMC” just days before the network officially announced it had decided to cancel both soaps with “Children” going off the air in September 2011 and “One Life” completing its run in January 2012 - joins “DAYS” in the same position she had at “One Life to Live” until its final episodes were written. “We are excited and look forward to the stories of romance, suspense and intrigue this new dream team plans to tell,” Co-Executive Producer Greg Meng said via Digest.

Broderick’s long career in daytime television as a writer began more than three decades ago when she was hired on as a script writer at “All My Children” in 1979. She held that position until 1981, when she was named Associate Head Writer. She would begin a short stint as the soaps Co-Head Writer in 1987, but would revert back to her former position as Associate Head Writer beginning in 1988 until 1991. She left “AMC” for “Guiding Light” beginning in 1992, where she was hired once again as an Associate Head Writer (1992-1993). After leaving “GL,” Broderick would find herself at numerous daytime soaps in various capacities including the role of Head Writer and/or Associate Head Writer at “Another World,” “As The World Turns,” “One Life to Live” and “Port Charles.”

Before marking her return to “DAYS” later this year, Broderick was previously credited as Head Writer of the soap for just one month (October 1999).

Disney/ABC Television Group

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Before we post the daytime soap opera ratings for the week of March 26-30, 2012, our friend Marc Berman at TV Media Insights has posted the latest ratings for daytime talk shows and things are still looking very bad for ABC’s “The Revolution” while “The Chew” has sustained a similar total audience in comparison to former time-period occupant “All My Children.” “The View” was in repeats, while “The Talk” on CBS was up year-to-year in total viewers and Women 25-54 rating, flat in Women 18-49 rating and down in Women 18-34 rating.

What follows is a look at the daytime talk show ratings for the week of March 26-30, 2012 and a breakdown of how “Revolution” compares to “One Life to Live” on a year-to-year basis.

“One Life to Live” on ABC began a ratings trajectory on the plus side year-to-year beginning with the week of March 14-18, 2011 in total viewers, when compared to its performance for the same week in 2010 (week of March 29 – April 2, 2010), while either flat or down in some of the key sales demographics (2011 vs 2010), but in 2012 the soaps replacement, “The Revolution,” has eroded any and all audience gains the drama had picked up and has brought in historic lows for the network overall in total viewers, Women 18-49, Women 25-54 and Women 18-34. The “It’s About You” daytime talker tied its historic low in total viewers (1.32 million), and tied or hit new lows in Women 18-49 (0.4/3), Women 25-54 (0.6/4) and Women 18-34 (0.2/2). Year-to-year (week of March 28 – April 1, 2011), “One Life to Live” performed much stronger in total viewers (2.57 million), Women 18-49 (1.0/6), Women 25-54 (1.2/7) and Women 18-34 (0.6/4).

According to Berman, “Revolution” is down a whopping 49% in total viewers compared to “One Life,” while losing 60% in Women 18-49, 50% in Women 25-54 and a jaw dropping 67% in Women 18-34.

CBS’ “The Talk,” featuring some of country music’s biggest stars as guests including Reba McIntyre in promotion of “The 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards” that aired on Sunday, April 1, jumped 10% year-to-year in total viewers (1.96 million to 2.16 million), 11% in Women 25-54 (1.0/7), while flat in Women 18-49 (0.8/5) and down 20% in Women 18-34.

For a look at how “The Chew” performed compared to “All My Children” on the year-ago and more on daytime talk, head on over to TV Media Insights.

Thomas A. Montalto/Montalto Photos

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Earlier today Soap Opera Network broke the story that NBC’s “Days of our Lives” has decided to end its relationship with co-head writers Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas, Jr. The female half of the dynamic team has now spoken out on Twitter against the decision by revealing that the two weren’t given enough of a chance to develop the soap to where they wanted it to go thanks to network interference.

“NBC never let us tell our stories. They kept stopping us and changing our direction,” said McPherson, who also took the time to thank the fans for hanging in for the ride (for the full tweet, see below).

Sources tell Soap Opera Network that Thomas deleted his Twitter account late last week.

An NBC spokesperson did not return requests for comment at press time.

Marlene McPherson’s Twitter Response

Twitter

Former “Days of our Lives” Co-Executive Producer Gary Tomlin and Co-Head Writer Christopher Whitesell will take over co-head writing duties effective immediately. Note: “Days of our Lives” films approximately three months ahead of airdate, however, in most cases the soaps writing is completed four months in advance. Therefore, depending on rewrites, Tomlin and Whitesell’s material should begin airing sometime in August after the Olympics on NBC.

Renee Jones has made one of the most daring decisions of her life. The “Days of our Lives” actress has decided to quit acting and leave the NBC daytime soap after a 20-year career that has spawned one of the longest and most successful pairings in daytime with her character Lexi Carver and James Reynolds‘ Abe Carver.

Read More >>

“Days of our Lives” Weekly Promo for the Week of April 2, 2012.

“The Young and the Restless” Weekly Promo for the Week of April 2, 2012.

“The Bold and the Beautiful” Weekly Promo for the Week of April 2, 2012.

Jo Brooks

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — According to ABC Soaps in Depth, “General Hospital” has cast actor and model Christian Monzon in the recurring role of Eddie Cabrera – the onscreen husband of Delores Padilla (portrayed by Rebeka Montoya). While the character had been discussed on numerous occasions for several months, it wasn’t clear if he would ever be seen. A first airdate is set for the week of April 16.

Before joining “GH,” Monzon appeared in episodes of several television series including “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “CSI: Miami” and “CSI: NY,” “The Closer,” HBO‘s” Entourage” and most recently Showtime‘s “Shameless.” In 2010, he appeared in the series finale of “Dollhouse.” He can also be seen in episodes of the 2008 online series ”Hot Hot Los Angeles,” which can currently be viewed  for free on Hulu.com. The actor is also known for his appearances in Dolce & Gabbana ad campaigns.

As part of Wyndotte Street, a production company that provides original online music and comedy, Monzon has starred in several shorts that he either wrote or helped produce such as “Naked Man,” a comedy series where he portrays a naked superhero (no worries, they blur out everything below the waste), and “Wyndotte Presents: (I’m At Work),” a sketch comedy following life within the walls of an office building.

Trailer of “Naked Man”