As The World Turns

In the newest issue of Soap Opera Digest, on newsstands now, it’s revealed that Serena Mason will become the first victim of the upcoming serial killer storyline on NBC’s “Days of our Lives.” The news doesn’t come as much of a surprise considering the character was one of the first reported to be leaving Salem following the hiring of a new head writing regime earlier this year. In an interview with the magazine, portrayer Melissa Archer talks about how she found out about her character dying, what’s next in her career and how Serena meets her maker!

Four individuals connected by blood, friendship, sex, and love are dragged into the classic battle between good versus evil. No that’s not the description for an arc on ABC’s “General Hospital” or CBS’ “The Young and the Restless,” but the online drama “Pride: The Series,” which features “GH’s” Ilene Kristen (Delia Ryan) and “As The World Turns'” actress Lauren B. Martin (ex-Camille Bennett) as special guest stars. Recently, the series became an official selection of Miami Web Fest, a 10-day festival that showcases the hottest new web series around the world. The festival begins Friday, September 25 and culminates on Sunday, October 4 with the Miami Web TV Awards.

With production beginning this month, Michael Caruso‘s “Winterthorne” has added “One Life to Live” alum John-Paul Lavoisier to its cast. The soap star will portray the role of Hugh Cambridge, a handsome and mysterious man, who shares a past with Miranda Winterthorne, portrayed by “Days of our Lives” alum, Martha Madison. The character is said to be hell bent on becoming a member of the Winterthorne family and will go about any means necessary, including seducing Miranda, to get what he wants.

After several months of disastrous ratings returns that has left many in the industry wondering if “Days of our Lives” would survive its next renewal talks between NBC, Sony Pictures Television and Corday Productions, producers of the soap, the daytime drama series will welcome back veteran writer Dena Higley, and former “One Life to Live” and “The Young and the Restless” head writer Josh Griffith, as its new head writers. The two replace outgoing head writers Gary Tomlin and Christopher Whitesell.

The CW announced today during its portion of the Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena that it has given an early renewal to “Arrow,” “Jane the Virgin,” “Reign,” “Supernatural,” “The 100,” “The Flash,” “The Originals” and “The Vampire Diaries,” all of which appeared on the network’s fall 2014 schedule, for the 2015-2016 television season.

With word that Robb Derringer would be vacating the role of Special Agent Kyle Sloane on ABC’s “General Hospital,” it was anyone’s guess as to what the soap planned to do with the character. Enter “As The World Turns” alum Grayson McCouch (ex-Dusty Donovan).

Brandon Stoddard, the former president of entertainment and director of daytime programming at ABC, who is best known for spearheading the launches of such series, specials and miniseries as “All My Children,” “Roseanne,” “Roots,” “ABC Afterschool Specials,” “Moonlighting” and “Thirtysomething,” among many others, died today at his home in Bel-Air after a long battle with cancer. He was 77 years old.

Best known for helming CBS’ “Love of Life” for nearly three decades, veteran daytime director Larry Auerbach died on Saturday, December 20 in La Jolla, California from complications of glioblastoma. He was 91 years old.

One year ago today actor Paul Walker (ex-Brandon Collins, “The Young and the Restless”) died in a fiery car accident that also took the life of his friend Roger Rodas, CEO of Always Evolving, who was driving the red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT vehicle they were in at the time when it crashed into a tree and exploded.

Now that the Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone, Christmas Day will be all the rage this holiday season. If you’re not interested in staying home to open your presents and spend time indoors with the family, why not go “Into The Woods” with soap alums Billy Magnussen (ex-Casey Hughes, “As The World Turns”) and Mackenzie Mauzy (ex-Phoebe Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful”)?