In its newest issue, TV Guide Magazine has revealed some of televisions highest paid stars. As you can imagine, the list comprises of former daytime soap stars who’ve either gone on to host their own talk show or headline a top ranked primetime series, or in the case of primetime soap stars – gotten richer!

Kelly Ripa tops the list of stars with a soap opera connection as the host of the daytime talk show “Live with Kelly.” According to TV Guide, the former “All My Children” star rakes in an estimated salary of $20 million per year. Meanwhile, Michael Weatherly went from “Loving” in the 1990′s to “NCIS” agent for a cool $175,000 per episode. Mark Harmon, Weatherly’s co-star on “NCIS,” generates an estimated $500,000 per episode and is the highest paid actor (scripted). The magazine, however, does not make note as to whether that amount includes his executive producer credit or if it is based solely on appearance alone. Harmon starred in the short lived 1980′s primetime soap “Flamingo Road,” which preceded his ground breaking role in “St. Elsewhere.”

“Guiding Light” turned “White Collar” star Matt Bomer makes an estimated $110,000 per episode of his uber popular USA Network series. Also hailing from “Guiding Light” is Hayden Panettierre, who will take in an estimated $75,000 an episode for her starring role in the upcoming new series “Nashville.” The show stars Connie Britton as a fading country star, but Britton will take in $100,000 per episode for her efforts.

The stars of “Grey’s Anatomy” recently renegotiated new deals to continue on the series for another two seasons. With the shows ninth season debuting in September, stars Patrick Dempsey, Sandra Oh and Ellen Pompeo will now make an estimated $350,000 an episode.

Although he hasn’t appeared on a soap for some time, Alec Baldwin gained notoriety in the 1980′s after starring in the daytime soap “The Doctors” and the primetime soap opera “Knot’s Landing.” Now starring in “30 Rock,” Baldwin commands an estimated $300,000 per episode. “30 Rock” is expected to complete its seventh and final season with just 13 episodes beginning October 4. Mariska Hargitay, who recurred on primetime soap “Falcon Crest” in 1988, is the highest paid actress (scripted) taking in $385,000 per episode for her work on “Law & Order: Special Victim’s Unit.”

What follows is the complete list of salaries of stars with soap opera connections:

• Kelly Ripa (“Live with Kelly”) $20 million per year
• Mark Harmon (“NCIS”) $500,000 per episode
• Mariska Hargitay (“Law & Order: SVU”) $385,000 per episode
• Patrick Dempsey (“Grey’s Anatomy”) $350,000 per episode
• Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy”) $350,000 per episode
• Ellen Pompeo (“Grey’s Anatomy”) $350,000 per episode
• Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”) $300,000 per episode
• Stephen Moyer (“True Blood“) $200,000 per episode
• Anna Paquin (“True Blood”) $200,000 per episode
• Alexander Skarsgård (“True Blood”) $200,000 per episode
• Michael Weatherly (“NCIS”) $175,000 per episode
• Connie Britton (“Nashiville”) $100,000 per episode
• Terry O’Quinn (“666 Park Avenue”) $100,000 per episode
• Vanessa Williams (“666 Park Avenue”) $100,000 per episode
• Larry Hagman (“Dallas“) $75,000 per episode
• Lea Michele (“Glee“) $75,000 per episode
• Hayden Panettierre (“Nashiville”) $75,000 per episode
• Madeleine Stowe (“Revenge”) $75,000 per episode
• Kerry Washington (“Scandal“) $75,000 per episode
• Dave Annable (“666 Park Avenue”) $65,000 per episode
• Emily VanCamp (“Revenge”) $55,000 per episode
• Patrick Duffy (“Dallas”) $50,000 per episode
• Josh Henderson (“Dallas”) $50,000 per episode

For a complete list of stars and their salaries, pick up your copy of TV Guide today or head on over to the magazine’s website.

via Press Release

ROBIN ROBERTS CELEBRATES THE GREATEST TWOSOMES IN TELEVISION HISTORY
ON “TV’S MOST DYNAMIC DUOS: PRESENTED BY THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA,”
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 ON ABC

Ida Mae Astute/ABC

“Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts hosts a two-hour countdown of couples who have graced television with their amazing chemistry, hilarity, friendship and, in many cases, sexual tension. Whether it’s Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon, Laverne and Shirley, Tony and Carmela Soprano, Homer and Bart Simpson, Mulder and Scully or Lucy and Ethel, there is no shortage of indelible duos on television. Who will be No. 1? Find out on “TV’s Most Dynamic Duos: Presented by The Paley Center for Media,” airing SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

This couples cavalcade includes all-new reminiscences by some of television’s most beloved actors and personalities including Megan Mullally, Edie Falco, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Cindy Williams, Penny Marshall, Garry Marshall (creator of “Happy Days,” “Laverne & Shirley”), Nancy Cartwright (voice of Bart Simpson), Ed Asner, Vanna White, Penn & Teller, Chris Hardwick, Tom Smothers, Adam Carolla, Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke-Charvet.

The 30 duos were selected by a poll conducted by Nielsen Media Research. They are (in alphabetical order):

Read More >>

Photo Credit Bob D’Amico/ABC

Something must be in the air as ABC stars Marcia Cross and Patrick Dempsey have welcomed twins into their respective families.

People magazine is reporting that Marcia Cross, 44, who plays Bree Van De Kamp on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives, gave birth to fraternal twin girls on Tuesday, February 20. The actress and stockbroker husband Tom Mahoney, 49, named the twins Eden and Savannah, the magazine stated.

“Mother and babies are all doing well,” said spokesperson Heidi Slan.

Previously, Cross was ordered to bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. “Housewives” was forced to work around her pregnancy order and decided to rap Cross’ storyline earlier than planned.

In other news, Patrick Dempsey, 41, who plays Dr. Derek Shepherd on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” also welcomed twins in to the world during the month of February. Along with wife Jillian, Dempsey said hello for the first time to Darby Galen and Sullivan Patrick. The twins were born on Thursday, February 1. The Dempsey’s also have a four-year-old daughter named Talula.

“I think the thing about Patrick is, obviously he has a tremendous love for his wife and his daughter, but he has a tremendous sense of duty,” said “Anatomy” co-star Ellen Pompeo (Meredith Grey), when speaking to People magazine.

“He’s really sort of old-fashioned in that way – he’s got a good sense of being a gentleman and taking care of his family, and that’s what makes him a good dad. It’s an admirable quality.”