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“Days of our Lives” stars Freddie Smith (Sonny Kiriakis) and Shawn Christian (Daniel Jonas) have a lot to celebrate. In addition to surpassing their Kickstarter page donation goal for their new web comedy project, “Addicts Anonymous,” a new star has joined the cast: “Full House” alum, Lori Loughlin!

Loughlin, who’s also known for her roles on “The Edge of Night,” “Summerland,” and the new “90210,” will play Smith’s character’s mother (opposite Christian, who will portray Smith’s character’s dad) if the project is made.

Check out the “Addicts Anonymous” Kickstarter page for more information and to find out how you can help create the potential web series, which also stars comedy veterans Matt Walsh (“Veep,” “Ted,” “The Hangover,” “Old School”) and Jerry Lambert (“Shameless,” Family Guy,” “Bad Teacher”), and former “DAYS” beauty Molly Burnett (ex-Melanie Kiriakis).

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NBC’s popular comedy, “The Office,” just aired its final episode, but fans of the single-camera mockumentary may have something similar to look forward to: “Days of our Lives” stars Shawn Christian (Daniel Jonas) and Freddie Smith (Sonny Kiriakis) have teamed up with Jack Briggs and Nate Hartley to create “Addicts Anonymous,” a possible web-bound comedy that brings the Peacock Network’s Dunder Mifflin-based show to mind — with a slight “The Breakfast Club” twist!

The show, which will also star comedy veterans Matt Walsh (“Veep,” “Ted,” “The Hangover,” “Old School”) and Jerry Lambert (“Shameless,” Family Guy,” “Bad Teacher”), along with former “DAYS” beauty, Molly Burnett (ex-Melanie Kiriakis), is about a group of college students — all battling different addictions — working through their problems in one room.

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Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

Cutie pie Molly Burnett left her role as “Days of our Lives’” Melanie Jonas in September, and the actress is already bringing her signature sunshiny smile elsewhere: To MTV!

Burnett stars as Ashley Bloom in the network’s new “Made” movie, “Ladies’ Man,” which follows a college freshman (Dave Davis) who enlists the help of his former babysitter (Burnett) — now the campus sorority queen — as well as Jill (Melia Renee) to teach him how to become the ultimate wooer of women. The film also features rising stars Ryan Guzman (“The Last Exorcism Part II“), Mark Daugherty (“Awkward“, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia“), Cole Escola (“Jack in a Box“), and Jeffery Self (“Desperate Housewives”).

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Photo Credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

While Soap Opera Digest in its newest issue lists their last airdate being Wednesday, August 15, both Matthew Ashford (Jack Deveraux) and Sarah Brown (Madison James) will actually find their characters departing the world of the living much sooner.

On the Monday, August 13 episode, fans saw Madison speak for the last time as she called out for her fiancé, Brady Black (Eric Martsolf). On Tuesday, August 14, Jack departs Salem for the umpteenth time as the elevator cables snap while daughter Abigail (Kate Mansi) and the love of his life Jennifer (Melissa Reeves) look on in horror. Sadly, it looks like Jack is really dead this time! Also according to Digest, Caleb Hunt (Andrew) last airs on Friday, August 17 despite the character escaping unnoticed on the Monday, August 13 episode while Chad (Casey Deidrick) was tending to Gabi (Camila Bannus). Father Matt (Ralph Waite) is also back on the 17th as he shares words with Nicole (Arianne Zucker).

Soap Opera Network has learned Brendan Michael Coughlin will return on Monday, August 20, when his character Tad (aka: T) has a confrontation with Will (Chandler Massey) that eventually leads to a dangerous one with Sonny (Freddie Smith) later that week. On Tuesday, August 21, Brant Daughtery is back as Brian, and Will is none too pleased when he sees him getting intimate with Sonny.

Blake Berris returns as Melanie’s (Molly Burnett) stalker Nick Fallon, who is up for parole, on Monday, August 27. As previously reported, Nick’s mother Jessica Blake Fallon (Jean Bruce Scott) returns to Salem after a 30 year absence on Friday, August 31.

NBC

EXCLUSIVE: Beginning today at 2:00 PM ET/11:00 AM PT, cast members of NBC’s “Days of our Lives” will take part in live chats, interviews and interactions with fans of the popular daytime drama series on NBC.com, while the soap is on hiatus during the networks coverage of the Summer Olympic Games in London. Soap Opera Network already revealed who will take part during this weeks sessions, but now we can reveal exclusively who will be taking part next week!

According to a “DAYS” representative, Daytime Emmy Award nominated producer and director Albert Alarr will take part in discussion with fans of the drama series on Monday, August 6. Actress Molly Burnett (Melanie Jonas) steps up on Tuesday, August 7, while Casey Deidrick (Chad DiMera) takes part on Wednesday, August 8. Meanwhile, Gabi Hernandez’s portrayer Camila Banus checks in on Thursday, August 9, and James Scott (EJ DiMera) will hopefully give fans a preview of what’s ahead when he chats live on Friday, August 10.

All chats and fan interactions are scheduled to take place for approximately a half hour from 2:00 PM ET/11:00 AM PT to 2:30 PM ET/11:30 AM PT.

As a recap, here are the full list of participants:

•  7/30/12 – Lisa Rinna (Billie Reed)
• 7/31/12 – Arianne Zucker (Nicole Walker)
• 8/1/12 – Shawn Christian (Daniel Jonas)
• 8/2/12 – Kate Mansi (Abigail Deveraux)
• 8/3/12 – Eric Martsolf (Brady Black)
• 8/6/12 – Albert Alarr (“DAYS” Producer/Director)
• 8/7/12 – Molly Burnett (Melanie Jonas)
• 8/8/12 – Casey Deidrick (Chad DiMera)
• 8/9/12 – Camila Banus (Gabi Hernandez)
• 8/10/12 – James Scott (EJ DiMera)

Note: Cast participation is subject to change.

“Days of our Lives” returns on Monday, August 13, when viewers learn the fates of everyone caught in the explosion that has rocked Salem.

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Nelson Branco, best known as the writer of the popular Suds Report column for website TV Guide Canada and for his contributions to magazine Hello! Canada is back! This time he’s Uncensored.

With Soap Opera: Uncensored, fans of Branco will notice the same writing style from his Suds Report, which includes an interview, translated comments on daytime moves, a breakdown of what’s happening on each soap and his uber-popular Blind Items.

For just $1.99 per issue, readers will receive 60 pages of news, notes and even an interview from “Venice: The Series” star Crystal Chappell where she explains why her online web soap is recasting roles played by Gina Tognoni (ex-Kelly Cramer, “One Life to Live”) and Wes Ramsey (ex-Sam Spencer, “Guiding Light“).

Snippet from Chappell Interview…

Despite winning an Emmy for Venice, Chappell still has to deal with the cruel realities of show business. But hey, what’s a soap without cast changes? My boyfriend Eric Martsolf has joined the Sapphic web serial as a recast. The ‘DAYS’ hunk will be replacing Wes Ramsey, who is currently in New York City shooting ‘The Playboy Club.’ “Eric’s wonderful in this,” compliments Chappell. “Eric’s always been supportive of the show. I had to shoot this character with or without Wes, so I sent the script to Eric, and luckily he agreed to do it. It was so much fun to see actors I love and respect in different parts. And you can talk to Eric about this — but this was a part he was born to play!” Also, don’t expect Gina Tognoni back as Sami. “She can’t do it,” sighs Chappell. “So I have to recast the role. I have someone in mind, but I can’t say who.”

Soap Opera: Uncernsored:
Inside the Issue

• INSIDE: Crystal Chappell Exclusive – Life After DAYS! Also: Why Venice is recasting Gina Tognoni and Wes Ramsey! Plus: Molly Burnett and Christian LeBlanc join Gina and Company!
• Exclusive: Major Daytime Emmy Award changes!
• Melody Thomas Scott VS. Sony: What really happened!
• Is James Scott leaving DAYS?
• Alleged Stalker Shocker Involving — Wait For It — John Driscoll!
• Andrea Evans’s Cancer Victory!
• Inside Dirty Soap! Is Eden Riegel AMC-bound?
• The truth behind Megan Ward’s GH firing!
• Drama at THE CHEW!
• Y&R’s Christel Khalil divorce drama!
• More turmoil at THE TALK?
• Four Decades Later: DAYS Chief Ken Corday finally gets a clue!
• Last week’s Soap Reviews; Next Week’s Preview Cheat Sheet! And every week: Blind Items!

If that wasn’t enough to get you interested, here are this weeks blind items from Soap Opera: Uncensored (as written by Nelson Branco):

—Which boring character is headed back to his old stomping grounds?
—Which super villainess is returning to her old show with a new-ish face?
—Expect some major firings very soon!
—Which despised star is cleaning up his or her a-hole act? But co-stars are dubious.
–Which soap actress in major trouble physically, mentally, and professionally?
—–Which new actor is as “gay as a handbag,” says one co-star, but the acting novice thinks he’s fooling people into thinking he’s straight?

To order your copy of the first edition of Soap Opera: Uncensored, click here.

Thomas Montalto/MontaltoPhotos.com

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) – On Thursday, July 28, while visiting the “Days of our Lives” set, my crew and I had walked in noticing a tray of cupcakes sitting at the security desk. Turns out it was brought in by Molly Burnett, who was celebrating her third year portraying the role of Melanie Layton on the daytime soap. After completing some scenes that are set to air in October, Burnett and Casey Deidrick (Chad DiMera) headed outside to Salem Place, one of the sets no longer used by the soap, and spent more than 11 minutes talking with us about their characters, what they do in their personal life outside of work, and some of their favorite TV shows and movies . Also, for those fans clamoring for some Chill (Chad/Will), Deidrick shared he’s not opposed to a possible pairing.

For the full interview, view the clip below.

Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Francisco San Martin is the next actor out at NBC’s “Days of our Lives” as another week comes to a close where blood is spilled at the fledgling daytime drama series. The actor tweeted the news to fans before the show could make it official.

“I wanted you guys to hear it from me first; ‘Days of our Lives’ has decided to bring back some of the old characters and I’ll be one of the casualties,” said San Martin. “I couldn’t be more honored to have been a part of an amazing team, both cast and crew who are both incredibly diligent and talented. Thanx for the support u guys! lol You guys are in great hands, hopefully the changes ‘DOOL’ is making will get u guys even more into the show!”

San Martin’s firing comes hours after reports that Mark Hapka would be returning to the show presumably for his character Nathan Horton to reconnect with Molly Burnett‘s Melanie Layton.

No last airdate has been set. A “Days of our Lives” representative was unavailable for comment.

Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — With the news that “Days of our Lives” has let Gary Tomlin go as co-executive producer and Soap Opera Network unable to confirm who is replacing him at this time, rumors began swirling that actor Mark Hapka would be returning to the daytime drama series just days after reportedly stating that someone in particular (possibly Tomlin) was in the way of his employment with the show.

According to a report on Soaps.com, the website stated that his character, Nathan Horton, will ” return from Baltimore a stronger person, persistent to get Melanie (Molly Burnett) away from Dario Hernandez (Francisco San Martin).” Hapka originally joined the “DAYS” cast in June 2009 until he was let go in January of this year.

While looking to confirm Hapka’s return, a “Days of our Lives” representative was unavailable for comment.