People Magazine/Time Warner

The last time People Magazine offerred a collector’s edition of a soap opera was in September 2011, when the mag celebrated the life and history of the then canceled “All My Children.” This time the magazine is celebrating the continued life and history of “General Hospital” with a special 50th Anniversary collector’s edition that finds Luke and Laura Spencer (Anthony Geary and Genie Francis), Maxie Jones (Kirsten Storms), Sonny Corinthos and Brenda Barrett (Maurice Benard and Vanessa Marcil), Duke Lavery and Anna Devane (Ian Buchanan and Finola Highes), and Jagger Cates (Antonio Sabato Jr.) gracing the cover.

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Photo Credit: Rick Rowell/ABC

UPDATE, 11:42 PM ET: E! Online has posted Marcil’s divorce papers, which were filed on Friday, August 17 in L.A. County. According to the documents, Marcil married Giovinazzo on July 11, 2010, and now the actress wishes to dissolve their marriage as of Saturday, August 4, citing irreconcilable differences. The actress also wishes to remove the last name Giovinazzo from her legal name.

PREVIOUS, 12:58 PM ET: After famously denying any marriage following word of her legally changing her name from Vanessa Marcil to Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo, just before officially returning to ABC’s “General Hospital” back in 2010, Marcil Giovinazzo (ex-Brenda Barrett) is now divorcing her husband Carmine Giovinazzo (“CSI: NY“), according to a report by TMZ.

According to TMZ, Marcil is asking for Giovinazzo to pay her attorney’s fees and the court to award her spousal support.

For more on the matter, visit TMZ‘s website.

IMDb

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — On Thursday, July 21, ABC Soaps in Depth reported that Kelly Sullivan had been hired as a recast Kate Howard after more than a year since we last saw the character (last played by Megan Ward). Now Soap Opera Network has learned when you can catch your first glimpse of the actress.

In In Depth‘s posting they indicated that Kate “will be looking a bit different after all that time recently spent in Paris and Milan,” but that’s only half the story! Just wait until Kate comes face-to-face with Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard), her high school boyfriend and supposedly the loves of each other’s lives, or she was until Sonny remembered Brenda Barrett (Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo) at this point last year.

In addition to “GH,” Sullivan has appeared in episodes of “As The World Turns” and “One Life to Live” along with a guest-stint in “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” She’ll appear in the film “333” co-starring with “The Young and the Restless‘” Camryn Grimes (ex-Cassie Newman) which is set for release in 2012.

Sullivan’s first airdate is scheduled for Monday, September 12.

Photo: ABC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — “What Are You Talking About?” has been a running joke with fans of “General Hospital,” who have noticed Brenda Barrett Corinthos saying this exact line to a character in nearly every episode, but now we’ll soon never have to hear it again (at least for now) as portrayer Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo‘s final airdate has been set after it was finally confirmed on Tuesday, June 7 that the actress would be departing the ABC daytime drama series after months of rumors. Marcil Giovinazzo filmed her last scenes on Thursday, June 9.

While it was widely known that the actress would be leaving “GH” during the week of July 18, Soap Opera Network opted to wait to report on this tidbit as fans really wanted to know exactly when they’d get their final glimpse of the beautiful and talented actress in the fictional town called Port Charles. According to sources, Marcil Giovinazzo’s last airdate has been scheduled for Thursday, July 21, when Brenda says goodbye to her soon-to-be ex-Husband Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and all of Port Charles. But don’t feel bad for Brenda! She’ll depart Port Charles in a fashion similar to how she left back in 2003, but this time with some extra baggage and on a much happier note. Too bad the same can’t be said for Sonny and Carly (Laura Wright).

Where will Marcil Giovinazzo land next? On May 26, the actress tweeted follower nygall33 with news that she is “working on an animated children’s show that I wrote with my sister and my son. GAGOO AND THE LAND OF CHOICES ” Today, she followed up that tweet with “get ready guys….got a new job last night that I can’t wait to tell you about. GAGOO is coming………:-)” Could the two tweets tie in together? Follow the actress on Twitter to find out!

Rick Rowell/ABC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — On Monday, May 23, three days after news broke that Ingo Rademacher (Jasper ‘Jax’ Jacks) had been fired by ABC’s “General Hospital,” Soap Opera Network tweeted that we had exclusively learned that Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo (Brenda Barrett Corinthos) would be the next actor leaving the daytime drama series. On Thursday, May 26, just before the long Memorial Day Weekend, the actress confirmed our report when she revealed that her days with the soap were numbered via her Twitter page. Interestingly, the actress has been tweeting up a storm since revealing the news while keeping mum for nearly 3 months on her twitter account (it had previously been crickets since February of this year). Marcil Giovinazzo’s confirmation follows months of rumors since she revealed in an interview with Access Hollywood Live back in March that she was on her way out.

“I came back to honor my roots. These are the people that I grew up with. I haven’t been a regular on the show in 13 years. It was like going to an incredible high school reunion,” said Marcil Giovinazzo of her time back at the Prospect Studios where “GH” is filmed in her AHL interview. “We had so much fun. I have so much respect for these people. They work so hard. I loved being there. We shot the wedding for seven days. We just had the best time. There were all these insane things that happened and now after the wedding, there’s a lot of drama because now my time [on 'General Hospital'] is almost done.”

In a tweet posted on Tuesday, June 7, the actress revealed her last tape date will be this Thursday, June 9. “Thank you ‘GH’ for a great year. Best cast and crew in the world and in my heart forever,” she commented after revealing the date.

In the days leading up to her exit, the actress showed her appreciation for her co-stars, fans and crew including “General Hospital” executive producer Jill Farren Phelps. “My final days are near… will miss Maurice [Benard] and cast with every cell of my being. Should I keep Brenda’s thigh high stilettos?” was just the beginning of numerous tweets made by the actress back on May 26. It was followed up by the revelation that she’d be working on a cartoon series post “GH.” In her tweet to follower nygall33, Marcil Giovinazzo stated she was “working on an animated children’s show that I wrote with my sister and my son. GAGOO AND THE LAND OF CHOICES ” On Farren Phelps, the actress said “My boss Jill says door is open. She”s lovely.” On Friday, May 27, Marcil Giovinazzo revealed that Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) “got me through first 3 months here. He’s breathtakingly talented. Wish we had gotten more together.”

While a “GH” representative was unable for comment at press time nor do we expect to receive one on this matter as it is ABC policy not to respond to actor tweets, look for Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo to last air in mid-to-late-July as the soap currently films 5 weeks ahead of airdate.

Bryan Sheffield/Hallmark Channel

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Vanessa Marcil, 40, may have quit daytime in 2003 and hit it big in primetime from then on, but she has never forgotten her roots. In fact, she put a little bit of herself in Kate Hewitt, her character in the Hallmark Channel Original Movie “The Nanny Express.”

Kate loves her soaps – she watches her favorite daytime drama “Ray Loves Lisa” everyday. In it, Kate’s best friend, Lisa (Dorie Barton), is unable to admit she has a crush on bus driver Ray (Peter Dobson), whose route they ride everyday. Kate’s father, Jerry Hewitt (Dean Stockwell) has been suffering with heart disease since she was in High School. Recently out of work, Kate is desperately in need of funds to pay for her education – she is pursing a degree in teaching. She also helps out at her church as a tutor for under privileged kids. She’s a woman with a heart of gold. No wonder David Chandler (Brennan Elliott) finds himself smitten with Kate after she takes a job as the Nanny to his two kids, Ben and Emily.

Ben (Uriah Shelton) and Emily (Natalie Dreyfuss) Chandler lost their mother in a deadly car accident on Emily’s 12th birthday. Since then, they have run off 20 Nannies through childish pranks and crazy antics. Nanny #21 (Kate) is no different. Want a scare by a rat? Check. Have more soap in the wash than clothes? Check. Cooking a meal at 350 degrees? Why not put it at full Broil? How about sprinklers getting you all wet? Kate has everything thrown at her, including a book, but she is the first Nanny who seems to be able to handle the Chandler children.

While Ben starts to grow attached to Kate while she helps him with his homework, Emily makes it her mission to get Kate to quit and continue the Nanny cycle. She even goes so far as ensuring that her father falls for her dance teacher. Of course, this being a film starring Marcil…that won’t happen. Even after losing her father, Kate still tries to make amends with Emily by letting her know that she does understand where she is coming from. Emily takes her gift and rudely throws it aside.

Florian Schneider/Hallmark Channel

While I’m sure it was her father’s passing that causes Kate to move on, Emily gets her wish and Nanny #22 arrives just in time. Of course, Kate isn’t totally out of the picture and Emily finally sees the error of her ways.

“The Nanny Express” is a predictable, rushed and ridiculous film that is only saved by Marcil’s on cue crying and Dreyfuss’ ability to play a rude, snotty daughter so well that you just might want to throw a book at her. Emily is a cold-hearted little brat, who you just can’t seem to feel sorry for. She may have lost her mother at a young age, but she has no redeeming qualities that I could find. Elliott plays a hopeless romantic, but lacks the ability to control an out of control child. Meanwhile, Stockwell may not have many lines, but he plays an ailing father well enough that you too will cry along with Marcil as he sees the light. Barton and Dobson’s Lisa and Ray deserved more, as far as the writing is concerned, as they are pushed aside and used only as a way for Kate to deal with her problems.

Between flubbed lines (Vanessa, while having a drink with Elliott’s character and Elliott while talking to his on screen daughter during the birthday gift scene) and inconsistencies (Vanessa is wearing flats with her flower dress in one scene and knee high boots in the next) that went unnoticed, the movie is a flat out mess. The worst of all? You can’t catch a scene without some dose of music that is supposed to warm the heart, but borders on annoyance instead. If you are looking for quality writing, this isn’t for you. Otherwise, if you are looking for heartfelt melodrama, tune right in!

An LG Films Production in Association with Larry Levinson Productions, “The Nanny Express” airs Saturday, January 3 at 9/8c on The Hallmark Channel.

Larry Levinson is the executive producer, Randy Pope, Matt Fitzsimons and Michael Moran are the co-executive producers and Jim Wilberger and Erik Heiberg are the producers. Bradford May directed from a script by Judith Heiman Kriegsman, Stephen Langford and Riley Weston.