Former “As The World Turns” bad boy Shawn Christian joins the cast of “Days of our Lives” as Salem University Hospital’s newest hot doctor.

EXCLUSIVE: Soap Opera Network has learned the names of soap opera writers who declared “Financial Core” status to keep on working during the strike. By going “Fi-Core,” these writers can never be members of the WGA again but they continue to pay reduced union dues and the Guild is obligated to continue providing services such health insurance, pension and residuals. Though they can still work on Guild projects, Guild members will not be keen to hire them.

Brian Frons, President, ABC Daytime, SOAPnet

Brian Frons promoted to President, Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group, Anne Sweeney, Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks and President, Disney-ABC Television Group, announced yesterday.

In the last couple of years ABC Daytime has had a nack of hiring actors and actresses with Broadway backgrounds, most noteably Renee Elise Goldsberry (“The Color Purple”), as Evangeline Williams and Kathy Brier (“Hairspray”) as Marcie Walsh on ABC’s “One Life To Live.” Now the network has hired Broadway star Christian Hoff for a recurring role on “All My Children.”