“The Young and the Restless'” Zach Tinker (Fenmore Baldwin) goes on the record about his career, family, real-life romance, and quarantine.

If a year ago someone bet me that a modern-day soap opera would not only put their African-American characters in a front burner storyline that was deeply entrenched in social issues, which had nothing to do with the color of one’s skin, race or ethnicity, I’d owe that person plenty of money right about now.

In life you set goals for yourself, or at least you try to. You even have expectations for yourself that you hope will eventually get fulfilled. In my case, over the years I had set a specific list of goals that included certain expectations as they related to one another. Earlier this year, I officially crossed one of the major things off that list. It wasn’t easy as it had plagued me for nearly a decade. A stepping stone you might call it. I took up something many years ago that eventually became impossible to maintain on a full-time basis. I decided to do it part-time. I went from part-time to being very part-time. Later you could say I dropped it completely in order to concentrate on the things that either gave me personal joy and fulfillment (this site) or put several well earned dollars in my pocket. I imagine I’m not the only one out there who’s ever had pull some sort of double duty in their lifetime. Right?

Late last month we released a new layout of our website that was to allow us to present our content in manner we’ve been working towards for some time. Unfortunately, the design came with some issues that needed to be cleaned up. That cleanup left the site virtually silent news and interview wise. That’s now over.

If things look a little bit different around here it’s because things are different. As promised on our social networks, we have been working very hard behind the scenes leading up to this Thanksgiving holiday weekend to bring you the best user experience at Soap Opera Network, which not only includes the most up-to-date soap opera related content, but also a more visually appealing layout with page speed in mind. As a result of our new design, there will be plenty of new features we’ll be able to play around with that’ll provide our readers with the best presentation of our content, including this puppy.

Susan Lucci portrayed the iconic role of Erica Kane on ABC’s “All My Children” for more than 41 years. Sadly, the character would last be seen on September 23, 2011, when a shot rang out during an event that brought Pine Valley’s most prominent citizens together. Despite Prospect Park bringing back the series for a short-lived online iteration in 2013, Lucci was unfortunately not part of the cast. Currently pulling double duty as host of the Investigation Discovery series, “Deadly Affairs,” and starring in Lifetime’s “Devious Maids,” Lucci recently told Soap Opera Network, during an Investigation Discovery/Glamour Magazine event honoring actresses Rosario Dawson, Marcia Gay Harden, Tamara Taylor and Stephanie March, that she remains proud of her daytime run as Erica Kane and that’s she’s having a great time with where her career has taken her since.

Something wicked this way comes: “The Taking of Deborah Logan,” a horror flick starring “All My Children’s” Jill Larson (ex-Opal Cortlandt)! And with Halloween creeping closer, there’s no better time to delve deep into the devilishly delightful (or rather, frightful) details of the film, which is already being heralded as an occult classic. Soap Opera Network caught up with Larson to the get the behind-the-scenes scoop, so read on for the scary details — if you dare!

You asked, and we answered! Following Soap Opera Network’s report that former “Days of our Lives” star Matt Cedeno (ex-Brandon Walker) would be appearing on an upcoming episode of ABC Family’s “Baby Daddy,” your enthusiasm was so great, we reached out to the star to see if he’d spill additional details about his appearance. And guess what? Not only was he more than happy to discuss his sitcom role (which airs Wednesday, October 22), he also opened up about starring in 50 Cent’s drama series, “Powers,” his reaction to Alison Sweeney’s departure as “DAYS’” Sami and much more!

Former “General Hospital” star Minae Noji (ex-Kelly Lee) hit the big screen this month in the new “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” film opposite Megan Fox and Whoopi Goldberg, but that’s not all the star has up her sleeves these days! Soap Opera Network caught up with the busy actress just before TMNT was released, and while she spilled the deets regarding the film in Part One of our interview, here, she shares information about her latest project that involves “GH” stars Kent King (ex-Lainey Winters), Ron Melendez (ex-Andy Archer), Dominic Rains (ex-Leo Julian) and Graham Sheils (ex-Cody Paul)!

Hillary B. Smith may best be known for her 20+ year run as “One Life to Live’s” legal eagle, Nora Buchanan, but she’s recently taken on a new role in life: Fashion designer! Soap Opera Network caught up with the busy actress — who also appears on and supervising produces the web series “Venice” — to get the scoop on her new fashion line, as well as her thoughts on what went wrong with “OLTL’s” second run and what she thinks about her former TV home, “The Doctors,” making a return to television!

It wasn’t that long ago that Minae Noji was starring as “General Hospital’s” Dr. Kelly Lee, and now — BAM! — she’s portraying the fierce ninja warrior Karai in the newest installment of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film franchise. Soap Opera Network caught up with the busy actress, who spilled details regarding the film, what Megan Fox is really like in the role of April O’Neil, and how her “GH” experience ultimately led her to sharing the screen and red carpet with the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, William Fichtner and Will Arnett.

From his early days as a male model to his time as “One Life to Live’s” Christian Vega, David Fumero has always had a smile to die for and heart to kill for. His wife, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star Melissa Fumero, fell under his spell while the two were working together on “OLTL” (she as Adriana Cramer), and if you haven’t already fallen for the star as well, you’re about to! Soap Opera Network recently caught up with the actor during a House of Kooser/Ronald McDonald House charity event, where he dished on the importance of giving back, what he’s been up to since leaving the daytime world and what it’s been like to ride along with Melissa’s primetime success. Brace yourself: What he had to say could make the hardest of hearts start swooning!

It’s been over a month since “The Young and the Restless’” Elizabeth Hendrickson last aired as Chloe Mitchell, and many fans are still getting used to her onscreen absence. But if all goes well, viewers will have the opportunity of seeing the actress on the small screen once more: In a comedy setting! Soap Opera Network caught up with Hendrickson to get the scoop on how life has been since departing the daytime world, and it sounds like the actress is doing everything she can to shed the tears of her acting past and welcome new smiles.

Former “As the World Turns” star Martha Byrne (ex-Lily Snyder; ex-Andrea Floyd, “General Hospital”) is making her debut on NBC’s drama series, “Crisis,” next month, and it looks like she’ll be doing it with a literal bang! A teaser trailer featuring the actress wearing a suicide vest has already racked up over a million YouTube views, with the number growing every day. Soap Opera Network caught up with Byrne to get the scoop on her emotional “Crisis” arc, how it might be a game changer for her career, what she thinks of soap fans and more!

Long gone but never forgotten characters are popping up left and right on ABC’s “General Hospital,” leaving many fans wondering which fan favorite could be next. The recent reveal that Julian’s (William DeVry) henchmen, Carlos Rivera (Jeffrey Vincent Parise), is from Puerto Rico had many under the impression that he was related to Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) late wife, Lily Rivera (Lilly Melgar), which then lead fans to wonder if Melgar could be headed back to Port Charles!

From re-runs of soap classics “Dallas,” “Dynasty,” “Another World,” “Port Charles,” and “Falcon Crest,” to the launches of original series “SoapCenter,” “Soap Talk” and “General Hospital: Night Shift,” SOAPnet was defined as the “new way to watch soaps” for much of its near 14-year run. With just 2 days left before SOAPnet is no more, we thought it would be a great opportunity to look back at the inaugural year of a network that gave diehard soap fans their own platform to shout with glee through the death of a network that outlived its purpose.

Celebrating its 12th year online, Soap Opera Network is currently experiencing its biggest year on record in terms of page views and unique visitors. This year we’ve been able to provide exclusive insight into the world of soaps while bringing readers inside the minds of some of their favorite characters and actors featured on “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Days of our Lives,” “General Hospital” and “The Young and the Restless.” As we come off of the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend, we’re gearing up for even more features in the coming weeks and the new year including the return of the SON Awards along with the annual Airhog Awards, while introducing new features such as our first annual best and worst of the year report and our new best of soaps weekly poll highlighting the best actors, best soaps, and best storylines of the week for both daytime and primetime soap opera related programming. To better present all this content we’ve made significant alterations to our website design that gets rid of clutter and inactive coding that previously prevented the site from being presented in the best way possible. The new design codenamed “refresh” was launched today.

“All My Children’s” Christina Bennett Lind (ex-Bianca Montgomery) never realized how much she could fall in love with a character until she stepped into the shoes of Erica Kane’s benevolent daughter back in 2010. And though a lot has changed since those days — including the end of the sudser’s run on ABC, it’s move to an online network and the eventual return of Binks’ previous portrayer, Eden Riegel — Lind still has a special place in her heart for the beloved character. How do we know? Well, we caught up with the actress to get her take on the new “AMC,” what it’s been like for her to see Riegel return to the role and to dish about the new project she can’t wait for fans to find out about!

Last summer I was lucky enough to be included as an interviewee in the new soap opera themed documentary appropriately titled “Soap Life,” which follows the life, and possible death, of daytime soap operas. I can’t believe I forgot all about it and didn’t realize it until this morning!

Ten years is a longtime for a website to remain in operation. It is thanks to all of you that we’ve been able to provide you with the most up-to-date, current and timely information relating to the genre of soap operas between our SON Community and our reporting team. Unfortunately, in the past month there hasn’t been much of any up-to-date, current or timely information relating to the genre of soap operas posted on Soap Opera Network by its reporting team.