Rodi Rosensweig
Earlier today, Prospect Park announced that actress Julia Barr will reprise her role of Brooke English on TOLN‘s “All My Children,” which resumes production on Monday, February 25.
Barr, who last appeared during the finale episode of the soap opera’s ABC run in September 2011, has signed on as a series regular, a Prospect Park representative tells Soap Opera Network. The actress had previously appeared on the soap in a recurring capacity after being dropped from contract status in December 2006.
Muse NYC
Soap Opera Network has learned exclusively that Laura Harrier has been cast in the contract role of Destiny Evans on “One Life to Live.” She replaces Shenell Edmonds, who portrayed the character on the ABC version of the series from 2009-2012. No word yet on who will be portraying the recast version of Matthew Buchanan, last played by Eddie Alderson.
“OLTL” marks Harrier’s first role as a series regular on television.
ABC
On Today’s “Katie,” “General Hospital‘s” Genie Francis (Laura Spencer) revealed that Rachel Ames, who portrayed Nurse Audrey Hardy since the debut year of the soap (1963) through 2009 (with breaks in between), is returning just in time for the shows 50th anniversary.
The actress will first appear on the Friday, March 29 episode of the series.
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Child actor Patrick Gibbons, who famously wore the Spiderman costume through several episodes of “One Life to Live” during the soaps final year on ABC, while portraying Sam Manning on the soap, is returning to the series when it resumes production later this month under Prospect Park‘s TOLN, the actors twitter account confirmed today.
ABC
UPDATE 2:17 PM ET: Score for Laura Wright! The actress tweeted, ”We are not saying goodbye to Roger, Michael and @krisalderson - just see ya in a few
)))))” and she was right! Soap Opera Network has confirmed with Roger Howarth‘s management that the actor is returning to “One Life to Live,” but only for the first four weeks. He will begin filming in March for the Hulu/iTunes aired series before returning to “General Hospital” shortly afterward.
PREVIOUS 12:01 PM ET: Miss a day, miss a lot is the saying, but as the behind-the-scenes drama continues to unfold between ABC and Prospect Park in relation to the characters of Starr Manning, Todd Manning and John McBain and their need on either “General Hospital” or “One Life to Live,” the saying has now become who’s has what and how it affects daytime viewers.
In our last couple of reports, we reported a statement from ABC that said, “‘General Hospital’ is excited about Michael Easton, Kristen Alderson and Roger Howarth staying on the show and we are exploring ways to allow that to happen.” Read More >>
Donna Svennevik/ABC
You can now add Cady McClain to the already confirmed list of stars returning to “All My Children.” The actress announced via her official website that she has been contacted by Prospect Park for their “AMC” reboot, which is set to premiere sometime this spring (likely April) via Hulu and iTunes. “I am very excited about the possibilities for the show in this medium and want to help give it every chance at success,” the actress said in a statement. “As you probably know by now, I am fascinated with all the many possibilities for creative expression that the Internet has to offer. I have a feeling the show will find many new opportunities for connecting with fans and I look forward to being a part of that as well,” she added.
Yolanda Perez/ABC
Despite Michael Easton‘s announcement early this morning, where he stated that after February 8th he would be exiting “General Hospital,” along with Roger Howarth and Kristen Alderson, due to “some ongoing legal this and that,” an ABC spokesperson tells Soap Opera Network that all three will remain an essential part of the “GH” canvas for the foreseeable future as the three are under contract with the network and not Prospect Park.
“‘General Hospital’ is excited about Michael Easton, Kristen Alderson and Roger Howarth staying on the show and we are exploring ways to allow that to happen,” read a statement from ABC, which did not provide further input on how the series would accomplish just that. Previously, the network stated, “There are on-going collaborative conversations,” in response to word that Prospect Park wanted to return the characters of Starr Manning (Alderson), Todd Manning (Howarth) and John McBain (Easton) to Llanview after formerly announcing it’s decision to re-launch “One Life to Live” later this spring. The production company licensed the rights to “OLTL’s” characters in July 2011 in a long-term distribution agreement between it and Disney/ABC Domestic Television, part of the Disney/ABC Television Group.
Yolanda Perez/ABC
UPDATE 8:09 AM ET: In an update to his original Facebook message, Easton says that he wasn’t trying to “upset anybody” with his previously mentioned words, which had sparked outrage across social media networks from fans of the actor and character, who were upset to hear of his pending exit from “General Hospital.” The actor also says that the matter between Prospect Park and ABC may “take some time and some very bright people to resolve.”
Michael Easton Facebook Message Update
THANK YOU (PART TWO)
Didn’t mean to upset anybody, was just trying to address the birthday stuff. Honestly not sure what the future holds but I think it’s going to take some time and some very bright people to resolve it. Thank you again for all your kindness and support…
ABC
PREVIOUS: 2:19 AM ET: As previously reported, Michael Easton along with Kristen Alderson and Roger Howarth are currently at the center of a legal dispute between Prospect Park and Disney/ABC Domestic Television, part of the Disney/ABC Telvision Group, over who has the right to use the characters of John McBain (Easton), Starr Manning (Alderson) and Todd Manning (Howarth)). In one corner you have Prospect Park and “One Life to Live” and in the other you have ABC and “General Hospital.” Unfortunately for the fans, no one is “winning.” According to one of the affected actors, after Friday, February 8, they “cannot be at ‘General Hospital’” any longer.
IMDb
Soap Opera Digest is reporting that soap alum Kale Browne will be heard in upcoming episodes of CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” as he portrays the role of a radio DJ on the soap.
The magazine reports that Browne’s voice will be heard on the Tuesday, February 12 and Wednesday, February 13 episodes of the drama series. The actor isn’t expected to appear in the actual episodes.
Browne worked under current “Y&R” executive producer Jill Farren Phelps while the two were at “Another World” and “One Life to Live” in the 1990′s.
Carol Kaelson/ABC
As previously reported, Jack Wagner is returning to ABC’s “General Hospital” to reprise his role as Frisco Jones on the daytime drama series. Soap Opera Network first reported on word of Wagner’s return to the set on Monday, January 14, following a now squashed Twitter controversy surrounding the actor and now co-star Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis). The two appeared separately in the Monday, January 7 episode of “Castle,” which also happens to air on ABC.