Bob D’Amico/ABC

ABC formally announced its new lineup of shows on Tuesday at an upfront presentation held at New York City’s Avery Fisher Hall, and Paul Lee, the ABC Entertainment Group president, called series like the network’s new Steven Spielberg-produced drama, “Lucky 7,” soaps! And he revealed much more about the new shows in a special press conference in which Soap Opera Network took part.

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Steven Bergman/Photography

ABC has consistently brought soap-worthy programming to primetime (“Desperate Housewives” and “Revenge,” to name but two), and the schedule for this fall is no different: Intermixing with popular mainstay shows like “The Middle,” “Modern Family,” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” come thirteen brand new shows, a few of which may spur “General Hospital” and other daytime soaps to come to mind! And Wendy Moniz (ex-Mayor Finn, “One Life to Live,” ex-Dinah Marler, “Guiding Light”) strengthens the soap/primetime connection with a role in the new drama, “Betrayal.” Read on to get the exciting details!

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(L) Jordan Nuttall/The CW; (R) Cliff Lipson/CBS

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Eva LaRue and Sarah Michelle Gellar reunited with some of their former co-stars on the set of “All My Children” earlier today. The two beautiful women taped their scenes scheduled to air on Wednesday, September 21. Continue to read to find out who Gellar will be playing. Soap Opera Network also investigated to find out if this episode is it for LaRue.

With scripts reportedly being manipulated due to “AMC” receiving a new lease on life on the internet, it appears to be impacting more than one return to the program. As we reported earlier this week, Julia Barr‘s return was cut short. LaRue’s spokesperson tells Soap Opera Network that her appearance with Gellar will indeed be her next and final appearance on the soap on ABC. The actress who last appeared on the soap in July for two episodes was originally slated to air in three more episodes before “AMC” ended its run on ABC on Friday, September 23.

On her official Twitter feed, LaRue describes the scenes with Gellar that she affectionately refers to as cheesy. Paying homage to Gellar’s run on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and possibly to ”AMC’s” current bizarre umbrella story that has several character returning from certain death thanks to a miracle drug regime, Sarah will be playing Dr. Maria Santos psychiatric patient. Dr. Santos’ patient insists she’s surrounded by … vampires!

(L) Jordan Nuttall/The CW; (R) Cliff Lipson/CBS

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Earlier this month, Soap Opera Network reported that Sarah Michelle Gellar would be returning to “All My Children” for a cameo appearance before the Friday, September 23 finale, which is when the soap ends its 41-year run on ABC. Now we’ve learned when she’ll first air!

Right after learning the aforementioned news in April, the actress,  who won a Daytime Emmy for her portrayal of Kendall Hart in 1995 as the first-born of Erica Kane (Susan Lucci), began campaigning for a short return stint as a new character. It has been revealed that Gellar will appear on the Wednesday, September 21 episode in scenes opposite another former memorable Pine Valley star and her real-life best friend Eva LaRue.

Gellar appeared on “AMC” from 1993 to 1995. In 1997, the actress, who recently turned 34-years old, landed the lead role on The WB/UPN network primetime series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” The role helped make Gellar a household name, which will come in handy as she’s set to star in the upcoming CW thriller “Ringer, which premieres Tuesday, September 13.

LaRue ‘portrayal as Dr. Maria Santos lasted from 1993 to 1997 and again from 2002 to 2005. Like Gellar, LaRue was immediately interested in a return after hearing about the soaps cancellation. The actress was signed to return for five episodes, two of which already aired in July. The actress is currently filming the 10th season of her  CBS series “CSI: Miami.” She landed a regular role on the procedural in 2005.

“AMC” is slated to live-on with the help of the internet and potentially cable. The latest reports indicate that Prospect Park, the production company that has licensed both “AMC” and “One Life to Live,” is planning to debut both programs on their new format on Monday, January 16.

The CW

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) – Soap Opera Network first reported that Sarah Michelle Gellar was interested in returning to her roots for a guest appearance in May. Today, the same day that film-star Josh Duhamel first aired on “All My Children” in his return stint as Leo du Pres, it was announced that Gellar’s interest had come to fruition. Early this afternoon, Soap Opera Digest broke the news that he 34-year-old actress will appear on “AMC” for one episode before the September 23 finale on ABC.

Gellar, who has been a fan of the 41-year-old ABC soap almost her entire life, is also a fan of the actress that with much success took over the role of Erica Kane’s first born in 2002, Alicia Minshew. On that note, the actress will not be returning to reprise the role of Kendall Hart. Gellar originated the role in 1993. Of her successor, Minshew, Gellar says, “[it's her] role now. She has made that beyond her own. She’s amazing.” Who will Gellar be playing? She has no idea, yet. The actress tells Digest she is open to playing any role, from a bar patron to the long-missing Bobby Martin’s new ski-bunny wife, as long as she gets to bid the soap that started her career a respectful adieu.

The Daytime Emmy Award winner, who became a mainstream star for her seven season run (1997 to 2003) on the cult-classic and critically acclaimed “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” is set to star on the CW drama-thriller “Ringer“ which debuts in the 2011-2012 prime-time season. Speaking of “AMC” and “Ringer,” Justin Bruening (who is also returning to “AMC” as Tad Martin’s (Michael E. Knight) son for a short stint this summer) will be joining the cast of “Ringer” as a potential love interest for Gellar’s character. The role is recurring. (Bruening had originally been set to star on an NBC reboot of “Wonder Woman” for the 2011-2012 prime-time season; the production was dropped due to expense.) Gellar adds that she believes she is coincidentally set to tape at “AMC” on the same day her new co-star, Bruening, returns to tape his episodes. Update (8/6): Gellar will air on Wednesday, September 21.

Check out the August 23 issue of Digest for more from Gellar pertaining to her return to “AMC.”

Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox

Emmy Rossum went from “Law & Order” to “As The World Turns” (ex-Abigail Williams) and now is starring in “Dragonball,” the film adaptation to the popular “Dragonball” anime series.

“Dragonball” tells the story of Goku (played by Justin Chatwin), a warrior set out to save the universe from iminent danger. He seeks to locate the seven magical orbs known as the Dragon Balls, which together will help summon the Shenron dragon, who will grant a single wish to the one that summons him.

Rossum (right, picured with Chatwin) will play Bulma, a girl who aids Goku on his quest after her father’s dragonball is stolen from Lord Piccolo (played by “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” actor James Marsters). Joining her will be “The Bold and the Beautiful’s” Texas Battle as Carey Fuller, a bully in the film. Battle’s character was specifically written into the film for storyline purposes.

Rounding out the cast are Jamie Chung as Chi-Chi, Chow Yun-Fat as Master Roshi, Joon Park as Yamcha, Eriko Tamura as Mai, Luis Arrieta as Weaver, Randall Duk Kim as Granpa Gohan, Ernie Hudson as Master Mutaito, and Shavon Kirksey as Emi.

The $100 million budgeted “Dragonball” is a production of 20th Century Fox and is set for release on Friday, April 3, 2009.