They say fast-paced soap operas are good training grounds for primetime gigs, and that must be the case, considering several former soap stars have garnered Primetime Emmy nods this year! In light of the official announcement of the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Award nominees, Soap Opera Network brings you the who, what and where of stars who’ve given sudsers a go.

ABC’s ‘Castle’ may have had a small production bump due to a reported dispute with star Nathan Fillion (ex-Joey Buchanan, “One Life to Live”), but that hasn’t stopped the casting department from moving forward. And the latest actor they’ve put to work comes from Llanview, too: Yancey Arias (Emilio Gonzales)!

“One Life to Live” fans were shocked earlier this year when it was announced that Jenni ‘JWoww’ Farley of “Jersey Shore” fame would be joining the cast of The OnLine Network drama series in the recurring role of Nikki, but the reality star and actress is having a blast. When Soap Opera Network caught up with Farley during SELF Magazine’s “SELF ROCKS the SUMMER” music party last night, the actress revealed that she actually prefers being called just Jenni vs JWoww, the nickname she became famous for via MTV’s “Jersey Shore.” She also reveals that we can expect to see her character in Llanview for sometime to come.

Nathan Fillion is best known to soap opera fans for his portrayal of Joey Buchanan on ABC’s “One Life to Live,” but the actor has made a name for himself in the mainstream world via the networks primetime hit “Castle.” Sadly, according to Deadline Hollywood, the actor is currently embroiled in a contract dispute with ABC Studios, which produces the drama series.

“Who are you, who are you, who are you? Why are you doing this to me?” says a frantic Dani to the man she thought was dead on The OnLine Network’s (TOLN) “One Life to Live,” which along with “All My Children” made its cable network debut on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network on Monday, July 15. For millions of potential viewers out there who have yet to view either soap on the internet via Hulu, Hulu Plus or iTunes, they are now being re-introduced to both soaps from the beginning as OWN signed a deal with Prospect Park (owner of TOLN) late last month to air the first 40 episodes of the current incarnations of both “AMC” and “OLTL.” OWN is billing the airings as the “OWN Summer Soap Fling.”

“One Life to Live” is celebrating the 45th anniversary of it’s very first episode, which aired on July 15, 1968, and in honor of the special moment, the suder’s ‘MORE’ show has released never-before-seen footage from two of the show’s iconic stars, Robin Strasser (Dorian Lord) and Erika Slezak (Victoria Lord)!

The shocking legal battle between “General Hospital” and “One Life to Live” has kept soap opera fans on the edge of their seats for months, and the latest information — behind the scenes details from the sudsers’ star, Michael Easton (Silas Clay/ex-John McBain), as told to TV Guide — serves as more juice to keep the flames a’ burning!

In honor of “One Life to Live’s” 45th Anniversary today, July 15, Soap Opera Network has joined forces with FamousBirthdays.com to bring readers the celebratory birthday wishes relating to soap operas and assorted soapy content. Readers will be alerted of upcoming birthdays as they relate to soap operas and other forms of entertainment.

On Wednesday, July 17, fans of “One Life to Live’s” Ilene Kristen (ex-Roxy Balsom) will get a chance to see the actress sing for a performance at Stage 72 at The Triad in New York City.

It’s a day that almost never came, but thanks to the team at Prospect Park, “One Life to Live” is celebrating its 45th anniversary on Monday, July 15. In honor of the sudser’s big milestone, iconic actresses Erika Slezak (Victoria Lord) and Kassie DePaiva (Blair Cramer) spoke with reporters about their favorite memories, proudest moments and surprisingly awkward first days.

As previously reported, OWN has picked up the first 40 episodes of both “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” for what they are billing as the “OWN Summer Soap Fling.” Episodes begin airing today, July 15. The launch of both soaps will consist of 3 repeat episodes each day and a “brand new” episode airing in each soaps regularly scheduled timeslot (1:00 PM ET/PT for “AMC”; 3:00 PM ET/PT for “OLTL”), according to recently released TV listings and an OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network representative. Actual new episodes of both soaps will continue to release on Mondays via Hulu, Hulu Plus, iTunes and iTunes Canada.

In a bizarre twist of modern family drama, Shanelle Gray (ex-Gaby Moreno, “The Bold and the Beautiful;” ex-Sarah “Flash” Roberts, “One Life to Live”) may be losing custody of her… sister. Yep, that’s right: Seven months ago, the former soap opera actress gained custody of her little sister, “Modern Family” star Ariel Winter (Alex Dunphy), after their mother, Chrisoula Workman, was accused of alleged physical and emotional abuse toward the 15-year-old. But now, Workman has asked the courts to re-examine their decision!

Typical rap song lyrics are coming to life for “The Vampire Diaries” star Zach Roerig (ex-Casey Hughes, “As the World Turns;” ex-Hunter Atwood, “One Life to Live”): According to TMZ, the actor is battling a woman named Alanna Turner for sole custody of their shared child!

Broadway star and former soap actress Valarie Pettiford (ex-Sheila Price, “One Life to Live;” ex-Courtney Walker, “Another World”) is about to take a bite out of something new: She’s joined the sixth season of the super popular HBO vampire series “True Blood!”

On the heels of the news that “Guiding Light” alum Grant Aleksander (ex-Phillip Spaulding) and “All My Children” alum Terri Ivens (Simone Torres) have joined the cast of the online drama series “Tainted Dreams” comes news that “General Hospital” alum Natalia Livingston (ex-Emily Bowen-Quartermaine; ex-Taylor Walker, “Days of our Lives”) has also joined the Internet sudser.

With “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” having successfully re-launched earlier this year via Hulu, Hulu Plus, iTunes and iTunes Canada by Prospect Park’s The OnLine Network (TOLN), it was only a matter of time before “A Tribute to Pine Valley” and “Loving Llanview” no longer became necessary. Today, Celebrity Events Group announced that now is your last chance to purchase merchandise featuring the ABC incarnations of both soaps on T-shirts, mugs, champagne glasses, sweatpants, magazines, and more. “Our Warehouse is Closing!” read a message sent out to subscribers of its mailing list.

OWN announced today plans to air a mini-marathon of its summer fling consisting of “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.”

As previously reported, both “AMC” and “OLTL” will join the OWN lineup airing Mondays through Thursdays. However, on Monday, July 15, both soaps will launch with a marathon of back-to-back half-hour episodes airing in different timeslots. The first three episodes of “AMC” will air from 12:00-1:30 PM ET/PT, with the third episode repeating at 1:30 PM ET/PT. From 2:00 PM-3:30 PM, “OLTL” will air its first three episodes with the third episode repeating at 3:30 PM ET/PT.

Beginning today, July 1, The OnLine Network has begun releasing episodes of both “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” Netlfix style with Mondays now known as “Soap Mondays,” where each week the company will post to both Hulu and iTunes new episodes of each soap and “MORE” on Mondays. In addition, episodes will now be published by episode number instead of by weeks as had been the case since the shows launched in late April.

Bella Book Productions and Open Books Productions announced today that former “Days of our Lives” and “General Hospital” actress, Sarah Joy Brown, has joined the cast of the webs series “Beacon Hill,” which follows the political world in Boston, Massachusetts. Filming is set to begin later this fall in and around Boston.

As a result of OWN picking up the cable rights to the first 40 episodes of “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” many wanted to know what that meant for “MORE,” the series that gives fans just that at the end of each week, or on Mondays now that it, along with “AMC” and “OLTL” will release new episodes Netflix style beginning Monday, July 1. Soap Opera Network has the answer.