As if tackling daytime soap operas and the Academy Awards wasn’t challenge enough for James Franco (ex-Franco, “General Hospital”), the actor is gearing up to next take on broadway as he’s signed on to make his debut in “Of Mice and Men” next year. Franco will portray George in the production, which is based on the John Steinbeck novel of the same name. The character is one half of two migrant workers looking for employment during the Great Depression. Actor Chris O’Dowd will portray Lennie, the other migrant worker.

Investigation Discovery announced today that it has greenlit a third season of its hit series, “Deadly Affairs.” Hosted by Susan Lucci (“All My Children”), the series provides audiences with titillating tales of murder and mayhem after relationships begin to falter. The program was one of ID’s top five shows in the 3rd quarter of 2013 in Women 25-54, Women 18-49 and Persons 25-54. In P2+, “Affairs” reached over 9.7 million unique viewers. The new season will premiere in summer 2014.

CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful” will be joining sister soap “The Young and the Restless” on cable for the first time ever when it begins airing encore episodes on TVGN (TV Guide Network) beginning Monday, December 2 at 6:30 PM ET/PT, it was announced today by Brad Schwartz, President, Entertainment and Media, TVGN and Bradley P. Bell, Executive Producer and Head Writer, “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

TVGN will encore the prior day’s episodes of “B&B” immediately preceding encore airings of “Y&R.” Additionally, TVGN will begin airing the five most recent episodes of the soap back-to-back every Sunday beginning Sunday, December 8 from 11:00 AM ET/PT to 1:30 PM ET/PT.

Held Monday, November 18 at the Beverly Hilton in LA and at the XL Nightclub, Cabaret & Lounge in NYC, “The Casting Society of America’s 29th Annual Artios Awards” honored the best of the best in casting and “The Young and the Restless'” Judy Blye Wilson took home her twelfth Artios Award in the process.

TNT has announced that the third season of “Dallas” will kick off on Monday, February 24, which will be the first season without actor Larry Hagman and his iconic character J.R. Ewing. Hagman died just before season two premiered, and as a result the show was forced to kill off the character as well. In season three, Patrick Duffy’s Bobby Ewing is now the senior member of the Ewing family following the death of his older brother. John Ross (Josh Henderson) is out to prove he can be just as powerful an ally or enemy as his infamous father. Meanwhile, Bobby’s adopted son Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) is newly single and determined to make a name for himself and his family in the world of natural gas. John Ross and Christopher’s former girlfriend, Elena Ramos (Jordana Brewster), is now blinded by thoughts of justice for previous wrongs.

As previously reported, Billy Miller is departing CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” and the role of Billy Abbott, which garnered him two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. After the actor and Sony Pictures Television failed to reach an agreement on a new contract, the studio and CBS opted to replace Miller with David Tom, who actually originated the role of an adult Billy Abbott in 1999.

Hot on the heels of “All My Children” being given its second cancellation notice in as many years, Debbi Morgan (ex-Angela Hubbard) has quickly found herself back on her feet. The actress has signed on to star in the new Starz drama, “Power,” which is being co-executive produced by rapper 50 Cent. Tweeted Morgan, “Happy 2 announce I’ll B joining the cast of the new series “Power” 4 the Starz network in the recurring role of ‘Estelle.'” Morgan’s character is the mother of Naturi Naughto’s Tasha St. Patrick.

In celebration of its “Home for the Holidays” campaign, ABC announced today plans to incorporate United States Veterans in upcoming episodes of its daytime and primetime programming, including “Modern Family,” “Last Man Standing” and “General Hospital.” Comedy “The Neighbors” will offer a veteran the opportunity to shadow one of their directors as they put an episode together. Meanwhile, “The View” and “The Chew” will support the vets with various themed episodes throughout the holiday season.

With word that Tristan Rogers would be departing ABC’s “General Hospital” and returning to CBS’ “The Young and the Restless,” it was only a matter of time before fans heard from the actor himself on the abrupt change in status from one soap to the next. Said Rogers on Twitter of his “GH” experience, “I’d like to thank Frank [Valentini, executive producer] and Ron [Carlivati, head writer] for great storyline that kept Scorpio true to himself.” On his “Y&R” return Rogers said, “I’m stoked on Colin’s return to #YR in 2014 and delighted to once again be a part of the CBS Daytime family.”

With sudden word that Tristan Rogers would soon be departing ABC’s “General Hospital,” one could only imagine what may have been the catalyst behind the actor’s decision. Looks like a move [back] to “The Young and the Restless” may have persuaded the actor to say goodbye once more to Port Charles’ Robert Scorpio and hello again to Genoa City’s Colin Atkinson, Cane Ashby’s (Daniel Goddard) father. A spokesperson for the CBS drama series confirms to Soap Opera Network that the actor is returning to the soap in early 2014.