Robert Voets/Nickelodeon

Former “One Life to Live” star Brittany Underwood (ex-Langston Wilde; ex-Loren Tate, “Hollywood Heights”) has announced on her YouTube Channel that on Tuesday, June 4 she will be releasing her debut EP. While no title has been announced at this time, the actress and singer released her debut music video directed by Robert Adamson (Noah Newman, “The Young and the Restless“) on February 28, entitled “Flow.” The song, which is expected to be part of Underwood’s EP, features appearances by “General Hospital‘s” Kristen Alderson (Kiki Jerome) and Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos) as well as ” Heights” co-star from “Heights,”Ashley Holliday (Melissa Sanders).

Read More >>

Carin Baer/Crown Media Holdings, Inc.

Soap fans certainly know Eddie Cibrian as “Sunset Beach’s” Cole Deschanel, but the hunky star is widely known for a slew of other roles in films and TV shows like “Third Watch,” “Vanished,” “Ugly Betty,” “CSI: Miami,” “The Playboy Club,” and “For Better or Worse.” And now the actor is adding yet another gig onto his resume, this time in a new Hallmark Channel original movie called “Notes From Dad.”

Read More >>

Robert Voets/Nickelodean

Just hours after news broke that “The Young and the Restless’” star Emme Rylan (Abby Newman) was leaving the show and headed to play “General Hospital’s” Lulu Spencer, word spread that the soap had already replaced her! A CBS spokesperson has confirmed to Soap Opera Network that the drama series has tapped actress Melissa Ordway to take over the role of the Newman heiress.

Fans may recognize the young actress and model from such shows as “Privileged” and “Entourage,” as well as from the film “17 Again.” Read More >>

James White/Nickelodeon

Brittany Underwood, who starred as Langston Wilde on ABC’s “One Life to Live” and Loren Tate on Nick @ Nite’s “Hollywood Heights,” recently released her music video for the song “Flow,” which was shot and directed by Robert Adamson, who co-starred with Underwood on “Heights” as Phil Sanders and is now appearing on CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” as Noah Newman. Also making an appearance in the music video are “General Hospital‘s” Kristen Alderson (Starr Manning) and Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos) as well as another of Underwood’s co-stars from “Heights,” Ashley Holliday (Melissa Sanders).

Read More >>

Legion College

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — New head writer Josh Griffith makes some changes to “The Young and The Restless” writing staff.

Associate head writer/breakdown writer Marla Kanelos has left the show.   Taking her spot on the breakdown team is Lisa Seidman, who returns for her second stint with “Y&R”.   Seidman wrote for the show from July 7 – October 2, 2008, and last worked on “Hollywood Heights” where Griffith was the head writer.    Brent Boyd, another “Hollywood Heights” alum, is the  show’s new script editor replacing Beth Milstein.   This is  Boyd’s first time writing for a daytime drama.   Milstein, who has been “Y&R’s” script editor since 2008, will transition over to writing scripts.

For discussion on these topics and more, join us in the Writers/Directors thread at the SON Community.

TV Guide‘s Michael Logan pulls off another exclusive! In an interview with Steve Burton, the actor reveals that he has in fact decided to leave ABC’s “General Hospital” after two decades at the drama series. First joining the cast in 1991, Burton had portrayed the role of Jason Quartermaine turned Morgan. He left the series in 2000, but returned in 2002, and has remained at the show ever since. He’s also appeared on the “GH” spinoff, “General Hospital: Night Shift,” during the SOAPnet original series’ first season.

According to Burton, it was his contract coming up and his desire to move his family to Tennessee that resulted in him making this important life changing decision. “I’ve been through 21 years of ups and downs with ‘GH’ — regime changes, cast and crew changes, budget cuts, shakeups of one kind or another, and it’s been nothing but a huge positive in my life and for my family. I have no complaints, no negative feelings at all. But it’s time to go. I’m going to take some time off and do nothing but relax, just enjoy life a little bit with my wife and kids,” said Burton to TV Guide.

The actor also revealed that his next career move will be working on a project with James Franco (ex-Franco) and Jill Farren Phelps (former executive producer of “GH,” now at the helm of “Y&R”). “Jill went off and did that telenovela ‘Hollywood Heights‘ [at Nickelodeon] and James did a day’s work there. Suddenly he decides he wants to make one of his own novelas through his production company and we’re like, ‘Huh?’ So the three of us collaborated on an idea and came up with a really good one. Jill will EP it, I’ll produce and star in it and so will James. We’ll be able to get a lot of great cameos and guest stars because of James’ connections. It’ll be a fun show to do.”

As for rumors of him possibly joining “Y&R,” Burton says, “Jill is one of my dearest friends. [Laughs] I’m never going to say never because , as soon as I do, I’ll be popping up over there! Here’s the thing: As cool as it was to know I had a nice, cushy place to go every day with ‘GH,’ I think it’s going to be just as cool to not have a nice, cushy place to go every day. I like not knowing what’s next for a change. I’m jumping off a cliff in a total leap of faith.”

Burton is expected to complete filming at “General Hospital” on Tuesday, September 25, but he has informed the show that, if necessary, he would be willing to stay on little longer to help wrap his characters storyline. Whatever the case may be, look for the actor to air through at least the end of October or sometime in November.

Photo Credit: CBS

On Thursday, July 26, Sony Pictures Television announced Josh Griffith as the new head writer of “The Young and the Restless.” He replaced Maria Arena Bell, who also served as the soaps executive producer (she’s been replaced by Jill Farren Phelps in that position). In the days following the announcement of his appointment at “Y&R,” Griffith became a little more active on his Twitter account (@joshgriffith13).

On Friday, August 3, Griffith tweeted “My last day at ‘Hollywood Heights‘ studios. Sad to be leaving one show but excited about starting work on ‘Y&R’ on Monday!” Griffith and Phelps, who reigned over the Nickelodeon primetime drama series, officially took charge of daytime’s #1 drama series on Monday, August 6. Shortly after that tweet, Griffith responded to a tweet by “Y&R” star Michelle Stafford who asked her followers to “Do something today that u wouldn’t normally do!!! I am gonna!! I’ll tell u what it is tonight!!!” Griffith’s response was “@TheRealStafford Afraid. Very afraid.”

Today, Griffith tweeted “Back in action at ‘Y&R’ Great to see everyone. I’m thrilled to be back. Feels like home.”