Due to a White House press conference, ABC’s “General Hospital” will be preempted today, December 20, 2013. As a result, episodes will be pushed back and today’s previously scheduled original will instead air on Monday, December 23. In a statement, ABC says, “We apologize for any inconvenience and hope you’ll tune in Monday for a fantastic episode!”

For the week of December 9-13, 2013, ABC’s “General Hospital” continued to pace for its best season in seven years in total viewers (since 2006/2007 television season), and is turning in its best performance in the key women sales demos in 2 1/2 to 4 years. The soap was number 1 in Women 18-49 for the second consecutive week (779,000/1.2 rating), which is the first back to back win the soap has had in the demo in six-and-a-half years (since week of 5/21/07). “GH” turned in its 2nd-most-watched week in over two years in Women 18-49 and in over two and a half years in Women 25-54 (1.06 million/1.7 rating), behind only last week and since weeks of 8/15/11 and 3/21/11, respectively. Moreover, the past three weeks have been the show’s Top 3 most-watched weeks in nearly three years in Total Viewers – since week of 12/27/10. Additionally, “GH” posted the largest year-to-year increases of any broadcast daytime drama in Women 18-49 (+28% – 779,000 vs. 610,000) and Women 25-54 (+37% – 1.06 million vs. 774,000).

Sean Douglas (ex-Vargas, “Days of our Lives”) announced that he’s booked a role on TV Land’s “The Exes.”

In its newest issue, Soap Opera Digest shed some light on Mark Collier’s new role on NBC’s “Days of our Lives.” The actor, who debuts on the Wednesday, December 18 episode, is portraying Liam, who Adrienne Kiriakis (Judi Evans) sets up on a date with Jennifer Horton (Melissa Reeves). “I knew his first name was Liam, but not much more than that. He went to high school in Salem,” shares the actor who began filming in August. Ironically, with Collier now on board, the “DAYS” cast now includes the first two actors who portrayed “As The World Turns'” Mike Kasnoff (Collier played the character from 2002-2007; Shawn Christian [Daniel Jonas] originated the role in 1994).

CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” is in a celebratory mood today as the soap is enjoying 25 consecutive years as daytime television’s most watched drama series. As part of its continued success, the soap is also enjoying its best season average in total viewers since the 2011-2012 television season. To show their appreciation to fans for their support, cast and crew took the time to pose with a banner that states: “The Young and the Restless: #1 For 25 Years.” To honor this feet, Soap Opera Network has gathered all the images published on social media for your one stop viewing pleasure.

CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” has officially clocked 25 consecutive years as daytime’s #1 drama series. The soap is pacing for its largest audience to begin a season since the 2011-2012 television season with 5.1 million viewers tuning in on average to the trials and tribulations of Genoa City’s elite. “I am so proud of the talented cast and crew, past and present, for making ‘The Young and the Restless’ #1 for 25 years,” said Angelica McDaniel, Senior Vice President, CBS Daytime. “A special thank you to our loyal and passionate fans for helping us reach this incredible milestone.”

For the week of December 2-6, 2013, ABC’s “General Hospital” continued its ratings momentum from the week prior (week of November 25, 2013) with 3.31 million viewers, a 1.9 rating in Women 25-54 (1.18 million in actuals) and a 1.4 rating in Women 18-49 (880,000 million in actuals), per Nielsen Media Research Live + SD ratings data. This week marked the first time “GH” ranked a solid #1 in Women 25-54 in over six years and its best performance in Women 18-34 and Women 18-49, both since the week of July 16, 2007. The soap attracted its largest numbers since the week of January 21, 2008 in viewers, it’s largest Women 18-49 rating in over two-and-a-half years (since week of March 11, 2011) and best performance in Women 25-54 rating in close to three years (since week of December 27, 2010), respectively. The soap continues to pace for its best season in seven years in total viewers (since 2006/2007 television season).

Like “As The World Turns,” “Days of our Lives,” “General Hospital” and “Guiding Light” before it, producers of CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful” have announced a new partnership with Pan Macmillan and its digital-first imprint, Momentum, in which the publishing company will release a series of novellas surrounding several characters from “B&B.”

See “General Hospital’s” Rick Springfield (Dr. Noah Drake) as you’ve never seen him perform. From personal stories to stories from concert fields, the documentary film, “An Affair of the Heart,” follows the life of the multi-talented actor/musician from the perspective of his fans who share details on when they first discovered him and what makes him such an icon in their lives. The film was recently released on DVD/blu-ray and hails from an idea by producer Melanie Lentz-Janney, who has been a loyal fan of Rick’s for thirty years. “The Young and the Restless'” Doug Davidson along with “GH’s'” Jacklyn Zeman, Kimberly McCullough, Jason Thompson and Brandon Barash also appear in the film.

Thaao Penghlis (ex-Tony DiMera, “Days of our Lives”) is set to reprise his role as Victor Cassadine on ABC’s “General Hospital” in the new year, confirms a show representative to Soap Opera Network. The actor last played the role more than 30 years ago, when the character met his supposed death, but with the actor returning does that mean that the brother of Anthony and Mikkos Cassadine is in fact alive? You’ll just have to tune in to find out during the all important February sweeps ratings period!