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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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PacificCoastNews.com

“Passions’” alum Justin Hartley has done a lot of work since he left his role as Fox Crane in 2006, including a leading role as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow in “Smallville,” as well as a role as Will Collins in “Emily Owens M.D.” And now comes word of the actor’s next chapter: He’ll be playing the boyfriend of Melissa Joan Hart’s character, Mel, in ABC Family’s “Melissa & Joey!”

A rep for the show confirms that Hartley will be making an appearance in the upcoming season of the sitcom as Noah, Mel’s new boyfriend who has to temporarily move in with her when his apartment floods. The sped-up cohabitation definitely spells trouble for the pair, especially since Joey Lawrence’s Joe is always hanging around, too!

Look for the episode to air later this summer.

Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — “Days of our Lives” may be a sinking ship, but that won’t stop Darin Brooks (Max Brady) from expanding his horizons.

Brooks has signed on to star alongside former NFL running back-turned-actor Ed Marinaro (“Sisters,” “Hill Street Blues”) in the SpikeTV comedy pilot “Blue Mountain State” from Lionsgate Television and Varsity Pictures, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

While still in the pilot stage, “Mountain” is a scripted series surrounding three college freshman who join the Midwestern college football team of Blue Mountain State University, and must adapt to college life while juggling football, girls, classes and hazing rituals. Brooks will play Alex, a talented quarterback content with riding on the bench, while enjoying college parties. The pilot was written by Chris Romano and Eric Falconer (“The Sarah Silverman Program”). Romano will play Sammy, Alex’s best friend,  who aspires to be the school’s mascot.

The potential series will also stars Sam Jones III (“ER“) as Craig, a top recruit and future pro footballer, whose life is already mapped out by his controlling girlfriend, Denise (played by Gabrielle Dennis, “The Game“). Alan Ritchson (“Smallville“) will portray Thad, a senior on the football team who loves hazing incoming freshman.

Brian Robbins serves as the potential series’ executive producer.

At this time, it is still unclear as to whether “Blue Mountain State” will interfere with Brooks’ “DAYS” obligations if it receives a full series commitment from SpikeTV.

“Days of our Lives” airs Weekdays on NBC. Weeknights on SOAPnet. Anytime on iTunes. Check local listings.

Photo Credit: Chris Haston/NBC

CBS Corp. and Warner Bros. Television stunned the television industry in late January, when they decided to merge their UPN and WB Television Networks to create a new and improved network called The CW in September. Now, they have stunned the industry yet again with the hiring of former “Passions” star, Justin Hartley (ex-Fox Crane) in the new untitled “Aquaman” project. Hartley replaces Will Toale.”Will is a talented actor with a promising career and we hope to work with him in the future,” a CW spokesman said. “We have made the decision to go in a different direction with the ‘Aquaman’ role and wish him the best of luck in all of his endeavors.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the people from the UPN side of the CW began taking a look at the WB‘s pilot development prospects. Additionally, President and CEO of CBS Corp., Leslie Moonves, known for his interest and savvy in pilot casting decisions, weighed in on the matter and recommended that they seek a new star, though Toale was still said to be in the running to keep the role as of last week.

Joining Hartley will be Ving Rhames as McCaffery and Denise Quinones as Rachel Starling.

“Aquaman,” a high-profile series in development at the WB before the CW announcement becomes one of few series from the soon-to-be defunct weblets (UPN/WB), that has a chance of landing on the CW. The series takes a modern day look at the DC Comics character.

Hartley is married to “Passions” actress Lindsay Hartley (Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald) and the two have a daughter named Isabella.

A newcomer to the entertainment industry, Hartley joined “Passions” in 2002 as the entitled Fox Crane, who could do everything wrong and get punished for it, as long as he didn’t involve the precious Ethan Crane (played by Eric Martsolf).

“Smallville” executive producers/showrunners Miles Millar and Alfred Gough penned the script and are executive producing the pilot with Greg Beeman, who is on board to direct.

The untitled project will find out if it made the cut in the CW’s fall lineup in May during the CW’s presentation of their fall 2006-07 schedule to advertisers and reporters in New York City.