Photo Credit: Husbands: The Series

On Friday, July 27, we reported that CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” would be holding a Paley Center for Media panel as the daytime soap gears up to celebrate its 10,000th show. We are also happy to report that “Husbands,” an online series following the lives of a young same-sex couple through all their trials and tribulations will make history as the first online series to be hosted by The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, California.

The comedy series, co-created by Jane Espenson (“Once Upon a Time“) and writer/actor Brad Bell (“Pop-Up Video“), stars Bell, using his persona “Cheeks,” and Sean Hemeon (Brady Kelly) as two men, dating for only six weeks, who wake up in Vegas to find themselves married all thanks to marriage equality. The series also stars Alessandra Torresani (Haley).

The Paley Center for Media event honoring “Husbands” takes place on Monday, August 13 at 7:00 PM PT with the full cast along with Espenson and executive producer/director Jeff Greenstein scheduled to attend. As part of the celebration fans of the series can attend the Q&A session if they are in the Los Angeles area and willing to cough up $7 for non-members or $5 for members of the Paley Center. If you’re unable to attend in person, @PaleyCenter via Twitter will be the place to tweet to and #PaleyLiveLA will be the hashtag used for discussion on the program from around the world. Tweets sent in will be seen on a widget added to the Paley Center page for “Husbands” page on the day of the event.

Note: All attendees are invited to a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream social event immediately following the panel wherein they’ll get to taste the ice cream giants “Husbands” inspired ice cream flavor.

The second season of “Husbands” hits the web on Wednesday, August 15 only at LoveHusbands.com. The eleven episode first season can be viewed now at husbandstheseries.com in advance of season two’s premiere.

Some famous faces that have appeared in “Husbands” includes former “One Life to Live” star Nathan Fillion (now starring in ABC’s “Castle”) and YouTube sensation Michael Buckley (“What the Buck?“).

The Paley Center for Media

As “The Young and the Restless” gears up for its 10,000th episode tentatively scheduled to air on Thursday, September 27 on CBS, The Paley Center for Media, LA will be hosting a live event on Thursday, August 23 beginning at 7:00 PM PT with much of the veteran cast members of the popular daytime drama series including Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott), Eric Braeden (Victor Abbott), Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor), Doug Davidson (Paul Williams), Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin), Joshua Morrow (Nicholas Newman), Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman), Kristoff St. John (Neil Winters), and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Newman) scheduled to attend.

Prior to her recent ouster as executive producer and head writer, Maria Arena Bell was also scheduled to attend to event, but we’ve since confirmed via sources that will not be the case now. It is unclear at this time who will replace Bell as a senior member of the shows production, if anyone, for the Paley Center event.

As part of the celebration fans of the popular series can attend the Q&A session, which will be moderated by Brooks Barnes from The New York Times, if they are in the Los Angeles area and willing to cough up $15 for non-members or $10 for members of the Paley Center. If you’re unable to attend in person, @PaleyCenter via Twitter will be the place to tweet to and #PaleyLiveLA will be the hashtag used for discussions around the world. Tweets sent in will be seen on a widget added to the Paley Center page for “Y&R” on the day of the event.

To purchase tickets, click here.

Event Location
The Paley Center for Media
465 North Beverly Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Note: If you plan on attending and seating in the main theatre is unavailable, it will cost just $7 for closed circuit viewing (ie. not in the main theatre) at the Paley Center for Media.

Photo Credit: Keadrick D. Washington/PR Photos

In a posting on her facebook page yesterday, following the announcement by Sony Pictures Television and CBS that Jill Farren Phelps and Josh Griffith, Jr. would be stepping in to replace her, Maria Arena Bell stated that she was “mystified” as to why she was being let go as executive producer and head writer of “The Young and the Restless.”

“So it was announced today [July 26, 2012] I am leaving Y and R… the show I have loved so much for so long. It is the legacy of my father in law… my mother in law… and all the Bells. The show has been my heart and soul. I loved working with the most talented writers in TV who were also the most wonderful human beings I know. They became a second family and my best friends. I loved the cast and crew. I am extremely sad to go because there are more stories I could have told. So much more I wanted to do,” said Bell. “My ratings are strong… each week stronger than last year. The show is in a great place creatively. We are number one by the greatest margin in the show’s history and have been consistently while I’ve been there. Under no one else’s tenure as head writer exec producer have we won every demographic for so long. I am just shy of five years at the helm. It has been an amazing ride. So why am I leaving? I am mystified as are my cast and crew.”

Editor’s Note: “The Young and the Restless” has been down year-to-year in most rating categories as the current television season progressed more than it has been up, which is a direct contradiction to Bell’s statement above. Additionally, “Y&R” has hit or tied all of its series lows during Bell’s tenure including this season.

Bell’s statement continued with the following:

“There have been a lot of tears shed in the last few days… by me and by my loyal staff and by our iconic actors. I was not given a reason and in fact I have heard nothing from Sony or CBS. They sent me a message through my husband Bill who had the terrible job of conveying that they’d gone around him and were letting me go. I fought hard for my vision and to keep the show on track with the characters that matter to the audience. Maybe I fought too hard. But I am glad I did. I never compromised on what I believed in. I never dumbed down the storytelling. I walked in the door at Y and R in 1988… as a young writer getting her first job. Today I leave there knowing it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I love you Y and R. Your story was my life story too. And to Victor… Nikki… Jack… and Kay… I will miss you.”

Bell’s facebook message was first posted on the CBS Soaps in Depth website.

Rick Rowell/ABC

“General Hospital’s” Kelly Monaco (Sam McCall) is returning to ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Monaco was the first winner of the infamous mirror ball trophy and helped launch the competition series into the hit it became. She joins fellow former “Dancing” stars as Kirstie Alley, Shawn Johnson, Drew Lachey, Apolo Anton Ohno, Emmitt Smith, Joey Fatone, Pamela Anderson, Helio Castroneves, Melissa Rycroft, Gilles Marini, and Bristol Palin.

Carson Kressley, Sabrina Bryan, and Kyle Massey are vying for the 13th and final position in the all-star edition of “Dancing with the Stars.” Fans are being asked to vote for one of the three as part of a show first being called “Viewers’ Choice: All Star.” Voting began today, July 27, at 1:30 PM ET/10:30 AM PT via ABC.com/DancingwiththeStars, presented by Diet Pepsi. Fans can logon and cast their votes now through Friday, August 24 at 3:00 PM ET/12:00 PM PT, with the winner announced live on Monday, August 27 during “Good Morning America.”

While the cast list has been revealed the network won’t say who their dancing partners will be until the Monday, August 13 airing “Good Morning America.”

The new season of “Dancing with the Stars” dubbed “Dancing with the Stars: All Stars” begins Monday, September 24 at 8:00 PM ET with the first live results show airing Tuesday, September 25 also beginning at 8:00 PM ET.

NBC

Fans of NBC’s “Days of our Lives” may begin missing their favorites from Salem for the next two weeks due to the networks extensive coverage of the Olympic Games, but the network plans to keep them tuned in using the internet.

Beginning Monday, July 30 and lasting through Friday, August 10, fans can head on over to NBC.com to chat live with some of the shows biggest stars (list pending) starting at 2:00 PM ET/11:00 AM PT on NBC.com.

Related: NBC.com Reveals Some of the DAYS Cast Taking Part in Chats Next Week!

Sony Pictures Television

“The Young and The Restless” is making major changes at the top.  Executive Producer/Head Writer Maria Arena Bell is leaving the show and is being replaced by Jill Farren Phelps, who will be the new Executive Producer, and Josh Griffith, who will be the new Head Writer.

Co-Head Writer Scott Hamner is also leaving the show. The status of Hogan Sheffer, the show’s other Co-Head Writer, is currently unknown.

via Press Release

LOS ANGELES, July 26, 2012 – Jill Farren Phelps has been named Executive Producer of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, daytime’s number one drama, and Josh Griffith joins the series as Head Writer, it was announced today by Steve Kent, Senior Executive Vice President, U.S. Programming at Sony Pictures Television.

“We are excited to have such a talented daytime veteran leading our team at ‘Y&R.’  Jill has a stellar record of success in the daytime genre,” said Kent. “We are also happy to welcome Josh back to THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and are looking forward to his creative input and ideas.”

“On behalf of everyone at ‘Y&R,’ we extend our sincere thanks to Emmy® Award-winning Maria Bell for her contributions to the show over the last five years. We wish her the best of luck and continued success,” he added.

Phelps has been the executive producer of five daytime dramas and two prime time cable dramas: “Santa Barbara,” “Guiding Light,” “Another World,” “One Life to Live,” “General Hospital,” the first season of ”General Hospital: Night Shift” and “Hollywood Heights.”  As an executive producer, Phelps has been nominated for 14 Daytime Emmy Awards and has won seven times (1988–1990, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2012).

Griffith’s writing career includes “As the World Turns,” “One Life to Live,” “Santa Barbara,” “Sunset Beach,” “General Hospital,” ”The Young and the Restless” and “Hollywood Heights.” He has received four Emmy Awards and four Writer’s Guild Awards.

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS has been the number one rated daytime drama for more than 23 years and is in its 39th season.  The show is broadcast weekdays (12:30-1:30 PM; 11:00 AM-12:00 Noon, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and is produced by Bell Dramatic Serial Company, in association with Sony Pictures Television.

Getty Images

Actress Jen Lilley, who was given the ultimate acting challenge when she replaced Kirsten Storms in the role of Maxie Jones on ABC’s “General Hospital” in September 2011 now finds herself relinquishing the role back to Storms as the show prepares a time slot change in the coming weeks.

Last month Soap Opera Digest teased that Storms was “in talks to return the show,” and an emotional Lilley took to YouTube on Saturday, July 21, to confirm those reports (see video below).

Although a last airdate for Lilley has not been set nor has an ABC representative officially confirmed Lilley’s ouster and Storms’ return, sources tell Soap Opera Network that Storms is tentatively scheduled to return to the set beginning this week. A first airdate is expected for mid-to-late August, which is just in time for “General Hospital’s” move to 2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PT on ABC.

IMDb

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Former “General Hospital” and “General Hospital: Night Shift” star Graham Shiels (ex-Cody Paul) will appear on the Sunday, July 22 episode of TNT’s “Leverage.”

The actor will portray Craig Marko, who is a “bruising, yet emotionally bruised, minor league hockey player,” according to the actor. This will be the first time he gets to do more than than grunt work in Hollywood.

Episode Description
The “Leverage” crew helps a veteran hockey player who thinks team management is trying to get him injured on purpose but discover their real intentions are far more ominous.

“Leverage” airs Sundays at 8:00 PM ET/7:00 PM CT on TNT.

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.