Sonja Flemming/CBS

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Daytime veteran actor Sean Kanan began his daytime career in 1993 as AJ Quartermaine on “General Hospital;” a role the handsome 44-year old actor played until 1997. After a short stint on NBC’s “Sunset Beach,” in 2000 the actor landed on the most popular American daytime drama in the world which is CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful.” His bad boy character, Deacon Sharpe, memorably began an affair with and impregnated “B&B’s” top siren Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) while married to her daughter Bridget (then played by 3-time Daytime Emmy winner Jennifer Finnigan). His “B&B” stint ended in 2005, but Kanan has continued in the role on America’s number one daytime drama CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” since 2009. In Genoa City, Deacon’s carried on affairs with some of the most prominent women including queen bee Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott). Soap Opera Network recently caught up with the actor for an interview pertaining to his lifestyle book “The Modern Gentleman: Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan,” which was released on September 13. Kanan also discussed his career and his thoughts on the current state of daytime television.

Can you summarize the main theme and lessons of “The Modern Gentleman: Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan”?

“The Modern Gentleman: Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan” is a hybrid combining the best parts of a “how to” cook book and a self help/pop psychology guide for men to become better men. I teach you how to use food as a metaphor to connect with other people. I also decipher what it means to be a gentleman in today’s confusing landscape of mixed social signals. Many woman lament that they always fall for the bad boys. I will show you how to exude the “best” qualities of a bad boy all the while remaining a true modern gentleman. The book also offers woman a front row seat in the theater of the male psyche. This ain’t your mama’s cookbook.

The Modern Gentleman: Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan

What inspired you to write “The Modern Gentleman”?

I love to entertain and cook for my friends. For years everyone has told me that I should open a restaurant. Writing a book seemed like a better way to reach and affect more people. At the end of the day my most basic desire is to affect a positive change in as many people as possible. My other inspiration for the book centered around the frustration I see among men who have been largely depicted by Hollywood and Madison Avenue as a group of bumbling, overgrown and inept children. Obviously this is not reality. Men have simply never had a mentor, someone to teach them all of the things that women wish they knew. I am also very involved with the Anti Defamation League (ADL). I speak out frequently about bullying and cyberbullying. As a young boy I was bullied. Later I played iconic bully, Mike Barnes, Karate’s bad boy in the Karate Kid III. I was searching for a nexus between my work with the ADL and the information in my book. My girlfriend, Michele, pointed out that young boys taught to be gentleman do not generally grow up to become bullies. On the contrary, they evolve into well adjusted and tolerant men who view all women as someone’s daughter or sister. Consequently they treat them with respect.

On the subject of your daytime career, you’ve starred on “General Hospital” as AJ Quartermaine, and on “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless” as Deacon Sharpe. Can you give us some of your fondest memories from each show both as an actor and for each character?

My early days on “GH” were bitter sweet. I was involved in some very socially poignant story lines as well as a great many emotionally challenging scenes. I was honored to have this opportunity professionally. I was also dealing with some very serious inner-personal challenges that made my tenure in Port Charles very, very difficult at times. Ultimately albeit years later those days served to make me the man I am today. My early days playing Deacon Sharpe were really magical. They were so fulfilling on many different levels. I had finally found “The Part”. This is the role every actor prays for that will draw the attention of the outside world and speak to his or her soul. Deacon Sharpe was in those days my, “The Part”. I was extremely connected to my fellow actors, producers and the fantastic crew which supported me so well. I miss those days but I gotta say I am also loving these days.

With all the cancellations and potential online resurrections, what are your thoughts and feelings on the current state of daytime? What are your hopes for the future of daytime?

It all boils down to ratings and production costs. If a show sustains the ratings that allow the network to sell commercial time for a profit then that show has a good shot of remaining on the air. I am fortunate to be a part of the number one rated, daytime drama. My heart goes out to all of my fellow actors and the crew and production members who have lost their jobs. There is a very human face on these cancellations. Concurrently I really dislike when I hear people say “I hate that character. They should fire so and so.” That so and so has a family to feed and children to raise. Careless and insensitive comments like this result in human beings losing their livelihood. Words become actions. I talk about this in my book. Remaining accountable for the things we say is the mark of a mature adult and the hallmark of a modern gentleman.

You competed in the third season of the Italian version of “Dancing with the Stars.” Describe the experience. Are you ready for the American version?

My participation in “Ballando con le Stelle” was a life-changing experience. I lived in a foreign country under the best circumstances. I learned to dance with the best dancers in the world and, oh, by the way, I was living in Rome!! I drew a lot of inspiration from my book from my days in Italy. I would love the opportunity to dust of my dance shoes and join the American show.

Kanan is currently doing book signings for “The Modern Gentleman: Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan.” Follow the actor at his official site to find out the latest locations, dates and times for these signings. You can purchase this thoughtful advice and recipe book at book stores such as Barnes & Nobles and online at Amazon.com.

A special thank you goes out to both Kanan, of course, for taking some to share his thoughts with our SON family – and to Turk Entertainment for setting up this interview between the actor and SON.

Update (10:00 PM EST): The actor has just added three more dates for book signings for ”The Modern Gentleman: Cooking and Entertaining with Sean Kanan.” The book that just sold out at Amazon.com (it has been re-ordered) will be available at the signings and cooking demonstrations this coming weekend. Sean’s book is also coming to Bed, Bath & Beyond locations soon. The locations, dates and times for the upcoming appearances are as follows…

Saturday, October 16th, New Castle, PA
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Chuck Tanner’s Restaurant
2305 Wilmington Rd.
New Castle, PA
724-658-5900

Sunday, October 16th, Pittsburgh, PA
11:30 am
Giant Eagle Store
South Hills Market District
Village Square Mall
7000 Oxford Drive, Bethel Park
Cooking Demonstration and Book Signing

Sometimes you can’t be two places at once. Thankfully, there are people willing to lend a hand. Professional photographer and sometimes writer Thomas Montalto was on hand for the annual Absolute Eden Riegel fan event last month and helped Soap Opera Network cover the event with pictures (see below) and even an interview. Unfortunately, just after this interview took place we would learn that Riegel was being let go from her contract role as Heather Stevens on “The Young and the Restless” before the actress was even told! Twitter broke the story to the actress before she was told by her bosses. In light of the actress completing filming at the CBS soap on Thursday, September 29, Soap Opera Network presents to you one of Riegel’s last interviews before she marks her grand exit from Genoa City in the coming weeks.

by Thomas Montalto

Thomas Montalto/MontaltoPhotos.com

During my last trip out west I was able to cover the “Absolutely Eden” fan event for Eden Riegel held at Maggiano’s at The Grove in Los Angeles. The setting was very intimate. It was like I was joining Eden, who was accompanied by her mother Lenore Riegel, at a family dinner where everyone sat around a big table and chatted. “It went very well, I think everyone had a really great time,” Riegel said after the event. “Phyllis and Mary Beth always organize amazing events. We had a lot of very fun conversations and the food was amazing.”

If you have been following Eden on Twitter (@edenriegel), you know she recently became a mom for the first time. “It’s a huge adjustment. Life will never be the same again. It has been a lot of sleepless nights and stress. From the very second he was born, I was just so worried for him all the time, but he’s doing so great. The joy is much bigger than I imagined.”

It is so obvious from her tweets and after talking with her how much she loves experiencing motherhood and savoring every minute. “I am really loving it, I am really really loving it. I feel very lucky. My little guy is so special. I do feel very very lucky that I get to keep him. It’s just so weird, they let you go home with him from the hospital and he is just mine for the rest of his life. I feel so fortunate and so blessed.”

Thomas A. Montalto/MontaltoPhotos.com

“I spent a couple of months being just a mommy and that was great and I loved it. It was a tough transition to go ‘oh gosh I have to leave him and spend time away from him’ and that made me very nervous,” she said about her recent return to “The Young and the Restless,” where she currently portrays Heather Stevens, a hard ass attorney. “It is nice to have a little time for myself and to do a job that makes me feel capable and to do work that I am proud of. Also to see other grown ups and talk about grown up things and get my hair done and things like that. Then when I go home to Jack, I feel all filled up and I have so much to give to him.”

She also previewed upon her return Heather would be back at the District Attorney’s office involved in the prosecution of a very high level case involving very important people in Genoa City. She’ll also finds herself battling feelings for someone from her past and having to make a decision on how good of an idea it would be to go down that road again.

Thomas Montalto/MontaltoPhotos.com

As you know, Heather was not Eden’s first role on daytime. It has been over ten years since Eden was cast as Bianca on “All My Children“, the on screen daughter of Susan Lucci. It was no small role either. Bianca would have to deal with being Erica Kane’s daughter and coming out in the spotlight and facing her mothers issues. After Eden decided to move on to “Y&R,” “All My Children” recast the role of Bianca. Christina Bennett Lind would have some mighty big shoes to fill as Eden’s popularity was enormous as she brilliantly portrayed Bianca for the better part of ten years, which involved many groundbreaking storylines.

Although Bianca may no longer be hers to portray, she definitely has kept up with her and has kept a connection to the character and truly admires where Lind has taken the character. “I love her portrayal and I think she is extremely, extremely talented,” said Riegel of Lind’s portrayel of Bianca. “I’m very proud of her, I feel like the character is hers now and she’s doing amazing work. I actually saw the episode where Bianca and Marissa finally make love and I thought it was so beautiful. It actually brought me to tears. I just felt so proud and happy for Bianca, I think they are doing a great job.”

With “All My Children’s” broadcast television run coming to an end soon, Eden did mention she was sad she could not be there to help celebrate the end. “I regret that I could not be part of this big farewell and a lot of my old friends have come back to the show again in the final period of time. I of course would love to be a part of it, but at the same time I’m watching it as a fan and enjoying it in that capacity. It is bittersweet.”

“I am excited that the shows will continue and I think it would be the best for everyone because the fans keep wanting to see more and I think the shows are great and shouldn’t die because there is so much life left in them,” she said of “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” moving on to the internet after their runs on broadcast television comes to an end. “There is so much competition on TV now and as long as the shows can continue in any capacity, it is good for everyone. The actors will have work and the fans will get the stories that they love.”

Joe Magnani/The CW

Eden shared some more exciting news about husband Andrew Miller when she talked about his new series “The Secret Circle,” where he is the executive producer, which joins the The CW lineup this fall. Miller is pictured far left, with the “Secret” cast. “I really hope everybody watches it, it’s a great show,” she said of the series. The premiere date is September 15 and it will air at 9:00pm. So, be sure to tune in to help support Eden’s husband out!

For more information about Eden’s fan club, Absolute Eden, be sure to check out the website http://www.AbsoluteEden.com. You can also follow the fan club on twitter as well at, @AbsoluteEden.

Check out Mr. Montalto’s new website aptly named StupidLittleBlog.com.

George De Sota/jpistudios.com

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) – Ilene Kristen didn’t debut as Roxy Balsom on ABC’s “One Life to Live” until November 2001, but the actress did learn she had the job on September 10 of that year and began filming on September 27. Ten years later the actress reflects on the days after learning she had gotten the job, and what she is looking forward to when the soap transitions to Prospect Park in the coming months.

“It is ten years this week and it’s been a phenomenal ten years,” says Kristen in our exclusive interview. “It means a lot to me. I was actually told I had the job September 10 and it was very profound. I didn’t really talk to anybody or tell anybody on September 10. I didn’t tell them I had the job until September 20 because of everything that happened,” referring to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. “Acting at that moment seemed insignificant, but September 27 came around [getting teared up], it felt like such a furor to get out to entertain the troops. It was so sad,” she said as she wiped her tears away. “I’ve been on a mission for the last ten years, which is to truly entertain people. I really feel that it is an important thing. I see it as a healing for people and I particularly feel it was a healing for that period of time.”

At the time our interview with Kristen took place, the actress admitted she didn’t watch the series finale of “All My Children,” but she did tape it. “I taped it because I couldn’t bare watching it,” says the actress. “I saw some of it. I was actually at the ['One Life to Live'] studio and they had their cliffhanger, which was a little anti-climatic, but it was good,” the actress revealed. As for ABC’s decision to cancel the soap along with her show, Kristen says “It’s a sad thing. It’s a very sad thing. I think that ABC is making a huge mistake! I think they are going to live to regret it too, I really do. I think the network is perishing, their daytime is completely perishing. I mean who needs to watch news at 4 o’clock,” Kristen questions referring to New York’s WABC airing news at 4:00 PM after 25 years of airing “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in the timeslot. Even so, “It’s a new time and a new day. We’re moving on.”

“One Life to Live” is executive produced by Frank Valentini, a man that is credited for positioning the soap to the top of the ratings heap on ABC Daytime since before the announcement of the soaps cancellation by the network in April of this year. “Frank Valentini has such a deep love of the show, he’s deeply talented and he’s our fearless leader and I think we’re in really good hands,” said Kristen of Valentini. Upon hearing that Valentini would be joining Prospect Park as it takes over production of “One Life” as not just the soaps executive producer, but also taking on the role as Vice President, Serial Dramas, for the production company, the actress said “Well he should! I don’t know how he’s going to do everything, but if there is anybody who is really capable of handling things it’s him. He’s got very good taste and he’s got cutting edge ideas. He’s a modern person and I think they’re really lucky to have him. I just hope he has time for us!”

Unlike Sean Ringgold, who confirmed to Soap Opera Network exclusively that he would be joining Prospect Park when “One Life to Live” joins the web, Kristen has yet to receive an offer from the company. If you would like to see more Roxy on your favorite soap, let Prospect Park know via snail mail to Valentini at:

Frank Valentini
Executive Producer, One Life to Live
ABC Daytime
320 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023

Or you can also email Prospect Park at [email protected]

Donna Svennevik/ABC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — The 25th Annual Broadway Fleamarket sponsored by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS took place today and several of daytime’s biggest stars were on hand as celebrity guests including stars from “One Life to Live” such as Kristen Alderson (Starr Manning), Andrew Trischitta (Jack Manning), Gina Tognoni (ex-Kelly Cramer), Sean Ringgold (Shaun Evans), Ilene Kristen (Roxy Balsom) and even former cast member Judith Light (ex-Karen Wolek). Also in attendance was former “Guiding Light” actor Ron Raines (ex-Alan Spaulding), who is currently appearing in previews for the Broadway production of “Follies.” Raines’ former “Light” co-star Marj Dusay (ex-Alexandra Spaulding) was scheduled to appear but had to cancel due to illness. Also scheduled was “As The World Turns” actresses Eileen Fulton (ex-Lisa Grimaldi) and Ellen Dolan (Margo Hughes). Soap Opera Network spoke with a few of the stars and learned some interesting tidbits, one of which being that Ringgold received his offer from Prospect Park on Friday and he’s since decided to continue with the show when it moves to the web in January along with “All My Children.”

“You know what’s funny, I was making up my mind cause I got the offer to come over on Friday [September 23] actually and I didn’t give them my response, but after speaking with a couple of hierarchies, I just said ‘you know what? I’ll give it a year!’ Why not? So I’m going to come over to Prospect Park.” As for what the new version of the soap may look like and what fans can expect, Ringgold emphasizes that “There’s going to be more of a free reign to do more things on the internet than you could normally do on network. It could get quite interesting. I’ll leave that open for the imagination.” As for the chance of new faces popping up and where they’ll find their new filming digs, the actor says “I’m sure there are going to be new characters who are going to be brought on and I hope the studio goes to Brooklyn because I live in Queens. Although coming into Manhattan wouldn’t be a bad thing – I’ll miss Manhattan – but to just be able to wake up out of the bed and drive 10 minutes over to the studio. I’ll be in heaven.”

What is Ringgold looking forward to most for his character as the soap transitions from ABC to Prospect Park? “As long as Shaun is there for Destiny, and being supportive of his sister with her decision, whichever way we’ll see how that turns out to be… just to be there for [my] sister and to make sure she’s good and also my mom. They’re going to bring my pops back and it’ll be great if Greg [Terrell Tilford] popped up as well.” Speaking of Destiny, particularly her portrayer Shennell Edmonds, can we expect to hear news of her continuing as well? While Ringgold couldn’t confirm it as fact, he does hope it turns out to be the case.

Lastly with “One Life to Live” being canceled in April by ABC only to be picked up in July by Prospect Park, what happens to the planned series finale that was scheduled to air in January? “I’m sure they are changing the story a little bit because we’re going to continue on with Prospect Park.”

Thomas Montalto/MontaltoPhotos.com

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — With today’s news that Prospect Park has officially begun making offers to actors in hopes of them joining “All My Children” 2.0 in time for its January 2012 debut, it’s only fitting to get an insiders perspective on the innerworkings of a canceled soap opera. Cameron Mathison, who portrays the role of Ryan Lavery on the soap, spoke with Soap Opera Network during the “All My Children” Fan Club Weekend and he shed some light on Prospect Park, being a contributor on “Good Morning America” and even dancing on “Dancing with the Stars.”

“What we’ve learned, and I hope I do this justice, is that network television…big corporation television…have got a certain amount of timeslots allowed. So just because ‘All My Children’ and ‘One Life to Live‘ are off the air doesn’t mean they that it wasn’t a success, it just means in big business, you know… is there something in there that could made more money. There is only one time slot available,” said Mathison giving some insight into the decision to cancel the two soaps. “It doesn’t mean that ‘All My Children’ was a failure, it just simply means that for big business it wasn’t the best fit,” he continued.

You may be asking your self, “how can two soaps that weren’t ‘the best fit’ for broadcast television turn in a better profit for another company or find any type of success online?” While Mathison may not know the full answer to that question, he does help shed some light for those questioning the difference between an online series and one made available to you free over broadcast channels.

“This entrepreneurial company [Prospect Park], they don’t have the same restrictions that network television has. You can watch the show, any show, whatever you want with different types of advertising. I mean I don’t know the in’s and out’s of it, but I just know far fewer restrictions and I think because of that and because there is a daily production here that it’s a really a good fit. From what I understand, and again I don’t want to pretend I know more than I do, because I really don’t, but I do know that just because it came off the air on ABC it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t doing well. Apparently, they were still making good money, but they could make a lot more.”

For more from Mathison and where he sees his character going as we head into the final weeks of “All My Children,” click on the video below.

Thomas A. Montalto/MontaltoPhotos.com

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Cady McClain returned to “All My Children” during the Tuesday,  May 17 broadcast of the soap despite filming her first scenes just seven days prior (May 10). So why did the show rapidly insert her scenes into already taped episodes of the soap? “AMC” was canceled of course! During fan club weekend last month, McClain spoke with Soap Opera Network about her return, what the cancellation news meant for cast and crew, the reunion of Tad Martin (Michael E. Knight) and Dixie Cooney (McClain) and even how she got to wear sweats to work while filming scenes of Dixie laying in bed.

In January 2007, Dixie “died” from “peanut butter and banana pancakes,” according to McClain, but in soap opera reality Dixie is in fact alive and was being held by Dr. David Hayward (Vincent Irizarry). “It’s all a big mystery,” the actress explains about her return. “Why is David keeping her there, how did he keep her alive? Who’s going to rescue her? How does she get out?”

As for those long time Tad and Dixie fans, who have waited for the two to finally happily reunite, especially with the show coming to a close on ABC, what does McClain think about Tad’s new wife Cara (Lindsay Hartley)? The actress shared that there is “room for a lot of conflict, a lot of torn heart strings for all the characters involved. No one’s a bad [or] mean person, but their in love you know, Dixie’s in love with Tad, Tad’s in love with Dixie, Tad’s in love with Cara, Cara’s in love with Tad. It’s like a new discovery for them.”

For this and more, check out our exclusive interview with Cady McClain below.

Yolanda Perez/ABC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) – Jacob Young is returning to the soap that started his daytime career back in 1997. This fall the Daytime Emmy Award winner will reprise the role of Eric Forrester (John McCook) and Brooke Logan’s (Katherine Kelly Lang) son, Rick Forrester, on the CBS daytime drama “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

Four months after it was announced that “All My Children” would be ending its run on ABC in September and just a month after learning that Prospect Park, a 2-year-old production company, had picked up the show as part of its yet-to-be-named infotainment network set for a January launch, Young (JR Chandler on “AMC”) has become the second actor to bolt the daytime drama series. The first being Debbi Morgan (Angie Hubbard), who is heading to “The Young and the Restless” later this fall.

In an interview with TV Guide Magazine‘s Michael Logan, Young reveals that he will be returning on screen to “B&B” beginning Monday, September 26, which will also mark the first time in 41-years that “All My Children” was not on the regularly scheduled ABC Daytime lineup. “The Chew” replaces “AMC” on this date.

“When I started talking to ‘B&B’ I didn’t think it would happen so fast. But I guess it’s good that way. I was looking forward to wrapping up ‘AMC’ and having a bit of a hiatus, maybe a month or two to travel with my family,” said Young. “As it turns out, I’ll probably have my ‘AMC’ and ‘B&B’ schedules overlapping and be shooting both shows at the same time. I’m like, ‘You guys figure it out and point me in the right direction.’”

Although he hopes the deal with Prospect Park and “AMC” can come together even without him and Morgan, like many of his co-stars Young is concerned about the hiatus between the soap ending on ABC and taking off on the internet. Young thinks a January 16 debut is an optimistic time table for when “AMC” could end up back on the air considering the facts of the situation so far. His advice to his co-stars in the meantime is “to get out there in the business and see what’s crackin’. Anybody with common sense would do that.”

With Prospect Park yet to confirm details of when “AMC” will pick up production due to union issues, the company has been unable to reach out to actors to try and iron out contracts, leaving an actor exodus a strong possibility before the online version of the soap even debuts. Interestingly enough, news of Young heading back to “B&B” comes on the heals of that soap returning from a three week production hiatus.

In an interview with Soap Opera Network during the “All My Children” Fan Club Weekend, Young shared his hopes for fans who would continue with the show online and where he sees his character as the show comes to a close on ABC.

For more from Young’s TV Guide interview where he discusses both “AMC” and “B&B, click here.

About Jacob Young

Young put the character of Rick Forrester on the map on “B&B” from 1997 to 1999. The role was last played by Kyle Lowder (ex-Brady, “Days of Our Lives) in 2011. Young moved on to ABC’s “General Hospital” as Lucky Spencer, the son of Luke and Laura Spencer (Anthony Geary and Genie Francis), from 2000 to 2003. Keeping a track record of playing the son of some of daytime’s most important characters, in 2003, Young landed the role of Adam Chandler (David Canary) and Dixie Cooney’s (Cady McClain) son JR Chandler on “AMC.” That role had previously been played to much acclaim by Jesse McCartney.

Thomas Montalto/MontaltoPhotos.com

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) – On Thursday, July 28, while visiting the “Days of our Lives” set, my crew and I had walked in noticing a tray of cupcakes sitting at the security desk. Turns out it was brought in by Molly Burnett, who was celebrating her third year portraying the role of Melanie Layton on the daytime soap. After completing some scenes that are set to air in October, Burnett and Casey Deidrick (Chad DiMera) headed outside to Salem Place, one of the sets no longer used by the soap, and spent more than 11 minutes talking with us about their characters, what they do in their personal life outside of work, and some of their favorite TV shows and movies . Also, for those fans clamoring for some Chill (Chad/Will), Deidrick shared he’s not opposed to a possible pairing.

For the full interview, view the clip below.

Thomas A. Montalto/MontaltoPhotos.com

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Just before “Krystal’s Country BBQ” event took place on Saturday, July 30 during the “All My Children” Fan Club Weekend, Bobbie Eakes (Krystal Carey) took the time to speak to Soap Opera Network on when she learned her show was being canceled, how she broke the news it was being resurrected on Twitter and her delight at having Alexa Havins back as on-screen daughter Babe Chandler, despite the character supposedly succumbing to death back in 2008 care of a Tornado that hit Pine Valley.

“I got out of the shower. I was getting ready to go to work, and I have quite a drive from where I live, and all of a sudden I looked at my phone and I was getting message after message and tweet. You know all these things…text messages, phone calls and I said to my husband, ‘I bet we’ve been canceled,” said Eakes about the day she learned ABC decided to pull the plug on “AMC” after months of rumors. “I don’t have that many friends calling me all the time, so I knew something was up,” she laughed. “Sure enough, I got a call from the studio and they said ’you know there is a mandatory meeting,’ so I figured that’s what it was.”

For more from Eakes and whether she’d be open to moving with the show with Prospect Park now in control of things, watch our exclusive interview below.

Thomas A. Montalto/MontaltoPhotos.com

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) – Greg Meng along with Noel Maxam were named Co-Executive Producers of NBC’s “Days of our Lives” on Tuesday, June 14, when the series released the first set of changes hitting the soap after the hiring of new head writers Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas. While the writing duo shared with Soap Opera Network what fans could expect from the soap when their material hits the airwaves starting Monday, September 26, Meng took the time to tell viewers why they should continue tuning in before that day comes.

“There are surprises even coming up very soon on the show, so don’t wait until September 26, which is the big revitalized relaunch of the show, but there are surprises between now and then,” said Meng, who also discussed those “mini-plots” you’ve been seeing on your screens since Monday, August 1 (Please Note: This interview took place on Thursday, July 28) and what exactly caused the show to make such drastic changes just a few short months ago both on and off screen.

For more from our interview with Greg Meng, tune into the clip below.