On the Monday, November 19 episode of “How I Met Your Mother,” entitled “The Stamp Tramp,” Joe Manganiello (“True Blood”) returns for another stint as Marshall’s (Jason Segal) old law school classmate Brad. In the episode, Marshall finds out Brad lost his job as a lawyer two years ago after his company downsized. Hoping to help Brad out, Marshall cleans him up just in time for a job interview at Marshall’s firm. Unfortunately for Marshall, Brad screws things up and Marhsall has to do damage control with his boss.

It’s the semi-finals as ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” pays tribute to Michael Jackson and the 25th Anniversary of his “Bad” album. The “Dancing” tribute airs days before the network presents “Michael Jackson: BAD 25,” a documentary special directed by Spike Lee.

Stephen Colbert is a news junkie, but he’s also a soap fan as evidenced by numerous skits and jokes he makes in reference to them. The recent sex scandal plaguing Washington, D.C. is no different as the host of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” told the tale of the soap opera that is “General’s Hospital,” referencing the ABC soap “General Hospital” in name and even logo. With a cameo appearance by “All My Children” star Susan Lucci, the skit will likely soon become legen – wait for it – dary, in the words of “How I Met Your Mother’s” Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris).

According to a report by Soap Opera Digest, ABC’s “General Hospital” has let actor Erik Valdez go nearly six months after joining the cast of the drama series in the role of Trey Mitchell. The character is the son of Kate Howard (Kelly Sullivan) and the recently departed Joseph Scully, Jr. (Richard Steinmetz). The character was married to Kristina Davis (Lindsey Morgan) in August. Their marriage was annulled in mid-October.

On Wednesday, November 14, 2012, the world of soaps lost a true legend in Barbara Esensten, who passed at age 75. Esensten co-created “The City” along with her more than 20 year long writing partner James Harmon Brown. The duo worked together on such shows as “Dynasty,” “All My Children,” “Days of our Lives,” “One Life to Live,” “Port Charles” and “Guiding Light.”

Ratings Report for the Week of November 5-9, 2012

“The Young and the Restless” to re-air classic episode of Victor (Eric Braden) and Nikki’s (Melody Thomas Scott) wedding that aired on September 5, 2002.

On Friday, November 23, which just happens to be the day after Thanksgiving, former “One Life to Live” star Nic Robuck takes on his dark side as the star of Lifetime Movie Network’s world premiere movie “Dark Desire.”

On Monday, November 19, the winner of “The Price is Right’s” first ever Male Model search, Rob Wilson, will be Live Tweeting during the east coast broadcast (11:00 AM ET/8:00 AM PT) of the venerable daytime game show.

“I wish she’d tell me what she was thinking” are the first spoken words in the teaser trailer for the upcoming  film “On Air” by Paos Revolution, a new production company formed by Jordi Vilasuso (“All My Children,” “Guidiing Light”) and acting coaches from “AMC” and “General Hospital.” The film will tell the fictionalized story of life after a popular soap opera gets canceled and how the stars of the program are forced to move on.