Month: February 2013

Earlier today Paos Revolution (aka: Soap Revolution flipped) announced that actor Ray MacDonnell is scheduled to make a return visit to Pine Valley as Dr. Joe Martin. It was previously stated by Michael E. Knight (Tad Martin), in a recent interview with Soap Opera Digest, that MacDonnell would likely be appearing on the reboot of the soap when Knight said, “I think the Martins are going to be well-represented with Cady and I hear Ray. I’m sorry if Ricky [Paull Goldin, ex-Jake] won’t be. I’m blessed, personally, that the Martins are going to be represented.”

Both the “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” official Facebook pages are seeking questions from fans to ask Agnes Nixon, creator of both legendary soap operas. Out of the all the questions submitted, 10 will be sent over to Nixon to answer next week just as each series goes into production in Stamford, CT. It is understood that 10 questions will be sent over for “AMC” and another 10 for “OLTL.”

Deadline is reporting that Eden Riegel is returning to TOLN’s “All My Children” to once again portray Bianca Montgomery for a cameo guest arc. Riegel last appeared on “AMC” in January 2010. The role was later played by actress Christina Bennett Lind, who is currently appearing in John W. Engeman Theater Production of “Wait Until Dark.”

On Wednesday, Soap Opera Network reported that actress Laura Harrier had been cast in the contract role of Destiny Evans on “One Life to Live.” Now the characters originator, Shenell Edmonds, has taken to Facebook to make clear that she had been in talks with Prospect Park about a possibility of returning to the soap, but the company was unable to come to an agreement with her that would have accommodated her school schedule.

Earlier today, Prospect Park announced that actress Julia Barr will reprise her role of Brooke English on TOLN’s “All My Children,” which resumes production on Monday, February 25. Barr, who last appeared during the finale episode of the soap operas ABC run in September 2011, has signed on as a series regular, a Prospect Park representative tells Soap Opera Network.

We’re just days away from “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” resuming production with Prospect Park, after more than a year having gone by since airing their final ABC episodes, but “AMC’s” Jill Larson (Opal Cortlandt) is helping build anticipation for eager fans as the actress has posted a behind the scenes video of sets being built at the Stamford, CT studio for both series as well as a photo of herself alongside David Canary (Adam/Stuart Chandler), who reportedly has returned to the series now that filming is essentially in his back yard (Canary reportedly lives in CT).

Soap Opera Network has learned exclusively that Laura Harrier has been cast in the contract role of Destiny Evans on “One Life to Live.” She replaces Shenell Edmonds, who portrayed the character on the ABC version of the series from 2009-2012. No word yet on who will be portraying the recast version of Matthew Buchanan, last played by Eddie Alderson.

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.

On Thursday, February 14, Soap Opera Network was first to report on Roger Howarth returning to “One Life to Live.” In our initial reporting it appeared that the actor would be returning to the soap full-time, but as the day progressed we soon learned that it would only be for four weeks with Howarth scheduled to begin filming on Monday, March 18, at the Stamford, CT studios for the online reboot of the series, per the actors management. Why the initial confusion? It looks as though Roger’s deal to return to “OLTL” was just being signed as Soap Opera Network went to press, per Howarth’s management, so word of his return to “OLTL” was correct, but length was unclear.

In a tweet posted by Angelica McDaniel, Senior Vice President, CBS Daytime, just a short time ago, it looks as though Eileen Davidson is returning to CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” as the soap gets ready to celebrate its 40th Anniversary on Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Davidson last appeared on “Y&R” in August 2012 before reprising her iconic role of Kristen Blake on NBC’s “Days of our Lives” in October 2012.

As Prospect Park continues casting for the upcoming online rendition of “One Life to Live” under the promise of blending “new themes, fresh stars and youthful energy,” the soap is making some alterations to a previously released casting call for a “charming” new character.

As previously reported, “All My Children” has named Marlene McPherson and Elizabeth Snyder as co-head writers. What’s so significant about their hiring is that this marks the first time since 2003 that a daytime soap opera has had two females leading its writing team. The last time was with Ellen Weston and Carolyn Culliton co-head writing CBS’ “Guiding Light.” Prior to that was in 2002, when Millee Taggert and Culliton also co-head wrote for “GL.”

“All My Children” and “One Life to Live” casting director Alison Goodman and assistant casting director Michael Morlani have been busy these last couple of weeks casting pivotal roles for the reboots of our beloved daytime soaps. Now comes word that one pivotal role may have gone to daytime newcomer Jordan Lane Price, who tweeted just a short time ago, “Soo I’m pretty much beyond excited to start work. #PineValley, here I come 🙂 #AMC.” Both Goodman and Morlani responded to Price’s tweets with Goodman saying, “I couldn’t be happier! Just remember me when you are a big freakin star!” Morlani added, ” SO excited. Me too….remember me as well!”

As part of his efforts to bring an oral history of “One Life to Live” to page via the upcoming book “Llanview in the Afternoon: An Oral History of ‘One Life to Live,'” entertainment writer Jeff Giles has been posting numerous interviews and snippets of interviews from his time speaking with writers, producers, cast and crew members as they told of their experiences working on the ABC drama series. One such interview/story was posted earlier today on the books official Facebook page, which highlighted a moment in the life of Patricia Elliott (ex-Renee Buchanan).

Earlier today we posted our ratings report for the week of February 4-8, 2013 and it looks as though the debut of Steve Burton on “The Young and the Restless” and Jack Wagner’s return to “General Hospital” have helped bring new (or returning) viewers back to daytime television.

Sure it looks generic (and that’s just us being nice) and may not be the final product, but TradeMarkia.com has a posting on its website which shows that Prospect Park Networks, LLC has filed a trademark on the TOLN logo. There is also a posting for TOLN’s more widely known name – the OnLine Network.

On Thursday, February 21, during the east coast broadcast of ABC’s “General Hospital” (2:00 – 3:00 PM ET/11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT) fans of Lynn Herring (Lucy Coe) will be able to chat live with the soap star as she discusses her characters crazy antics in an episode that finds Lucy being transferred to Ferncliff, while Molly (Haley Pullos) comes in with recent pictures of Sam (Kelly Moaco), which she hopes will help the police find Sam and her baby. Lucy is fearful for Sam and her baby and believes they are in serious danger, so Lucy concocts a plan to help secure her freedom as she believes she can help save the two.

With just a week to go before production is set to begin once more on “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” after more than a year since both series aired their last episodes on ABC, a number of behind the scenes personnel have been hired on to help spearhead the soaps into the digital world via Hulu and iTunes later this spring.