Thrusday, April 9, 2009 10:56 PM EDT | By Scotty Gore

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(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — May your Easter and Good Friday holiday celebrations be safe and happy.

From all of us here at Soap Opera Network, we would like to wish each and every one of our members and guests a safe and wonderful Good Friday and Easter Sunday. May the Easter Bunny overflow your baskets with eggs and goodies, and may the Lord bless you today as always. Praise God for your friends and loved ones, and remember that He is the real reason for this holiday. Set aside time to spend with your family this weekend and thank you for your continued loyalty to SON. Have a blessed Good Friday and very happy Easter!

Monday, February 23, 2009 2:23 AM ET | By Angela Rosa

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(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Did long-time “All My Children” fans feel a vague sense of déjà vu during Sunday nights 81st Annual Academy Awards?

No, we don’t mean from the sight of recent “AMC” alum Amanda Seyfried (ex-Joni), star of the musical hit “Mama Mia,” singing on stage, but didn’t Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role nominee Melissa Leo look familiar?

The New York born and raised actress earned her 2008 Academy Award nomation for the critically-acclaimed film “Frozen River.” Leo takes a star turn playing the role of a working class woman who turns to illegal immigrant smuggling to make ends meet. “The New York Times,” The Hollywood Reporter,” “The Los Angeles Times,” and “The Miami Herald,” were just a few of the prestigious publications that listed “Frozen River” among the Top-10 films of 2008. For her work in the lead role of Misty Upham, Leo was honored with acting nominations from the aforementioned Academy Awards, the Screen Actors Guild and the Broadcast Film Critics Association; she took home the Best Actress award from the Independent Spirit Awards and a Spotlight award from the National Board of Review.

Long before “Frozen River,” Leo starred on the ABC daytime drama “All My Children.” At the time, Leo beat out a young actress by the name of Julia Roberts for the role of Linda Warner. Showing early signs of being a captivating actress, Leo quickly earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for the role she played from 1984 to 1985. (Leo wasn’t the only Oscar nominee with daytime ties on Sunday night, Supporting Actress nominee Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler,” started her acting career on CBS’s “As the World Turns” in 1983). Before taking the Oscar spotlight, Leo was probably best known for the role of Sgt. Kay Howard (1993-1997) on NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Streets.”

At an awards show where it is truly a huge honor and recognition just to be nominated, Melissa Leo didn’t walk away with the Oscar on Sunday. Kate Winslet, star of the largest-grossing film ever “Titanic,” took home the award for her role in “The Reader.” The other nominees in the category were Meryl Streep (“Doubt”), Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”), and Angelina Jolie (“Changeling”).

“All My Children” air Weekdays on ABC. Weeknights on SOAPnet. Check local listings.

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Friday, February 20, 2009 7:50 PM ET | By Errol Lewis

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(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Does she have nothing better to do with her time? She’s already covering all the Awards for the TV Guide Network and danced her way off of “Dancing With the Stars,” but Lisa Rinna figures she can fit in a Playboy cover to show off her configured body.

Rinna will grace the cover of Playboy‘s May Issue in which she lets it all hang out, including the flabby parts. The actress/host was ordered by photographer Deborah Anderson not to hit the gym and tone up for the project, but be her natural self.

“She said, ‘I do not want you long and sinewy and angular and muscular. I want you soft,’” said Rinna when speaking with People magazine.

“This was really hard for me because being 45 years old and posing for Playboy, you want to amp it up.”

Rinna’s biggest fan is her husband and he thinks the photos are “Unbelievable!”

Playboy magazine is rumored to be up for sale after sluggish sales of the once hot property in recent months.

Prior to her hosting gigs on TV Guide Network, Lisa Rinna is best known for her role as Billie Reed on NBC’s “Days of our Lives.” She also starred in the FOX primetime hit “Melrose Place” as Taylor McBride. In 2004, she had a recurring role on UPN’s “Veronica Mars,” in which she played the murdered Lynn Echolls. 

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Discussion: God Help Us: Lisa Rinna Graces Playboy

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Friday, February 20, 2009 6:23 PM ET | By Errol Lewis

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(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — “Days of our Lives” star Galen Gering appears on TBS comedy series “10 Items or Less.”

“10 Items or Less” is an improv comedy series taking place in the fictional Greens & Grains supermarket, where New York City businessman, Leslie (John Lehr), is forced to move back to his hometown of Dayton, Ohio and take over the family supermarket following the death of his father.

In the February 24 episode (“Sesquicentennial”) and third season finale of the series, Lesie offers customers of Greens & Grains 150% off of their purchase in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the supermarket. Realizing his mistake, Leslie adds a catch that states that customers must dress in period-era attire during said purchase. Meanwhile, Ingrid (Kirsten Gronfield) meets Dave (guest-star Galen Gering), a polygamist on the prowl – only she doesn’t know that. Leslie, who secretly loves Ingrid seeks to expose the truth and his undying love for Ingrid.

The episode was written by John Lehr and Nancy Hower with direction by Hower and airs Tuesday, February 24 at 11:00 PM ET/PT on TBS. 

“Days of our Lives” airs Weekdays on NBC. Weeknights on SOAPnet. Check local listings.

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Discussion: ’10 Items or Less’ for Gering

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Thursday, May 29, 2008 5:15 PM EST | By Errol Lewis

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(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — “All My Children‘s” Cameron Mathison and “The View’s” Sherri Shepherd team up as co-hosts of the “35th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards,” which will air live on Friday, June 20 at 8:00 PM EST/PST (tape-delayed to the West Coast) from Hollywood’s Kodak Theater on the ABC Television Network. SOAPnet original series “MVP” to air immediately after the two-hour Emmy telecast.

“Cameron and Sherri both have such an inviting way about them. Viewers will feel like they’re in the Kodak and part of the excitement and enthusiasm surrounding this year’s broadcast,” said Brian Frons, president, Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group. “They bring the perfect vibe to the celebratory atmosphere of this show.”

“We are excited to have two of the biggest supporters of daytime programming as our hosts,” said show executive producers Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss. “The audience – both in the Kodak and at home – is in for a very entertaining evening, courtesy of Cameron and Sherri.”

“MVP,” also known as the “Secret Lives of Hockey Wives,” tells the story of the Mustangs hockey team and gives viewers a behind the scenes look at their lives off the ice.

“The Daytime Emmys are the perfect springboard into SOAPnet’s new original series. We have a unique opportunity to leverage the strength of the division and showcase a great new dramatic series to a broad audience that loves serialized drama,” said Frons.

The series is an original production of Screen Door Inc., with Mary Young Leckie and Heather Haldane serving as executive producers. It was cancelled in March by its Canadian broadcaster the CBC. Each episode reportedly cost about $1.5 million

“MVP” stars Lucas Bryant, Dillon Casey, Matthew Bennett, Peter Miller, Kristin Booth, Anastasia Phillips, Deborah Odell, Natalie Krill and Olivia Waldriff.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 6:04 PM | By Errol Lewis

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(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — According to published reports, Seamus Dever, who recently departed ABC’s “General Hospital” (as Dr. Ian Devlin) is joining the cast of Lifetime’s top-rated original series “Army Wives,” starring Kim Delaney (“All My Children,” “NYPD Blue”) and Catherine Bell (“Jag”).

Dever has signed on for at least four episodes and will play a doctor at Mercer Hospital. He will play the love interest to Bell’s character Denise.

The actor recently wrapped work on “Ready or Not,” which also stars Jordi Vilasuso (“Guiding Light“) and Jonathan Murphy (“Wildfire” and “The Bold and the Beautiful“).

The new season of “Army Wives” begins June 8.