General Hospital Fan Club 2009 Announced

General Hospital Fan Club Weekend July 16-July 20, 2009

The GHFCW 2009 will take place beginning July 16th, opening with the GHFC Kick Off Event from 7:00pm - 10:00pm and the Main Event on Saturday July 18th from 9:00am -4:00pm (estimated). Full details of these two events and others will be posted on the Official GH Fan Club website in the next couple of weeks. Party tickets will not be on sale for these events until after the first of the year. The weekend will begin with the Kick Off Party on Thursday night and end with Steve Burton's event on Monday evening.

There is a change in venue: The weekend's activities will take place at:

Airtel Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, 7277 Valjean Avenue Van Nuys, CA 91406 Phone: (818) 997-7676, Airtel Plaza

Rooms go on sale Wednesday December 17, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. PT

For more information visit: ghfanclub.com

Young & The Restless Celebrates 20 Years at Number 1

The cast of "The Young and the Restless" Actor Greg Rikaart, Writer and producer Maria Arena Bell, actors; Billy Miller, Vail Bloom, Eileen Davidson, Kate Linder, Peter Bergman, Jeanne Cooper, producer Paul Rauch, Michelle Stafford, Kristoff St. John, Adrienne Frantz, Tonya Lee Williams and Daniel Goddard attend the cake cutting ceremony celebrating "The Young and the Restless" staying the number one rated daytime drama series for twenty years straight at CBS Studios on December 11, 2008 in Los Angeles, California

photo credit:wire image, buckner

Michelle Stafford Brings Christmas To Hollywood

Michelle Stafford photo credit: A. Rodriguez
Young and the Restless star Michelle Stafford participated in the 76th annual Hollywood Santas Parade this past weekend. The parade featured marching bands from across the country, equestrian units, floats, and of course, Santa Claus.

Susan Lucci Charity Auction: Lunch and AMC Set Visit

Susan Lucci Photo: ABC
Description
Includes: a day on the set of All My Children in NYC and lunch with Susan Lucci. Valid for 2 people, for one year, based on availability.

Susan Lucci is certainly worthy of her well-known title as "Queen of Soap Operas". She has been nominated for countless Emmy Awards and is the recipient of an Emmy as well for her performance of Erica Kane on All My Children. Now, this famed actress is offering a once in a life time opportunity for the Rosie For All Kids Foundation Auction. Enjoy a day on the set of All My Children with this daytime Television Queen, Susan Lucci. In addition to a set visit, you will get the opportunity to have lunch with Susan Lucci as well! This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and any Soap Opera fan would kill for this experience.

Donated by: Susan Lucci

Terms: Includes: a day on the set of All My Children in NYC and lunch with Susan Lucci. Valid for 2 people, for one year, based on availability

Sales tax will apply to residents of the State of Connecticut.

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Soap Cruise With Your Favorite Daytime Stars

Celebrity Attendees From the 2007 cruise
Soap Cruise, a Caribbean cruise featuring meet and greets, autograph sessions, trivia, cocktail parties and more.

Thursday, January 22 2009 through Monday, January 26 2009.

Aboard Celebrity Cruises Century ship departing from Miami, FL, bound for Key West and Cozumel, Mexico.

For more information, visit: www.soapcruise.com or call (248) 855-7918.

Hosted by Cameron Mathison (All My Children)

Also sheduled to appear:

Austin Peck (Brad Snyder;ex-Austin Reed of Days of Our Lives) As The World Turns

Greg Vaughan )Lucky Spencer) General Hospital

Kamar de los Reyes (Antonio Vega) One Life to Live

Please note that Alicia Minshew (Kendall Slater will no longer be attending this cruise)

Don Diamont(Brad Carlton)The Young and The Restless

Winsor Harmon (Thorne Forrester) The Bold and The Beautiful

Lesli Kay (Felicia Forrester) The Bold & The Beautiful

Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake Martin; ex- Gus Aitoro, The Guiding Light) All My Children

Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin) The Young and The Restless

Jacob Young (J.R. Chandler) All My Children

Bradford Anderson (Damian Spinelli) General Hosptial

Jay Johnson (Philip Kiriakis)Days of Our Lives

Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe Lane) Days of Our Lives

Murray Bartlett Cyrus Foley) Guiding Light

Brandon Beemer (Owen Knight) The Bold & The Beautiful
(ex-Shawn Brady of Days of Our Lives)

The soap stars provided on the list have all agreed to participate in the Soap Cruise.
However, a celebrity's involvement is subject to change due to professional obligations out of our control.

All My Children Gets Some Passion

Mckenzie Westmore will join the cast of All My Children in the role of Dr. Sheridan, a psychiatrist who will treat Annie Lavery when she is committed to Oak Haven.

Westmore, who lives in Los Angeles, is thrilled to be working in New York at All My Children which she calls a working vacation. "I hadn't thought out it [working on an East Coast soap], but since we were going to be back here for the holidays, I thought...why not?", Westmore tells Soap Opera Digest. Her being cast for the role was a whirlwind experience. " I found out on a Friday that I got the job, got on the plane on Sunday and was at the set on Monday."

Westmore is no stranger to daytime viewers. She played Sheridan on Passions who was one-half of the shows popular super couple, Luis and Sheridan.

Look for Dr. Sheridan to have a love life as well as the doctor is rumored to cross romantic paths with both Ryan Lavery (Cameron Mathison) and Aidan Devane (Aiden Turner). Her first appearance will be sometime in December.

All My Children airs weekdays on ABC; weeknights and in weekend marathons on SOAPNet.

Days Of Our Lives Renewal and Shake Ups

The drama at Days of Our Loves seems to be happening behind the scenes as the struggling soap gets renewed by NBC for 18 months, a length that is considerably shorter than the previous 5 year renewals that NBC has given to the soap that created super couples Bo & Hope, Doug & Julie and popular vixen, Sammi Brady.

It has been reported that a condition of the deal is that the show strip their budget considerably with almost means shake ups in the cast. The first casualties of the new budget are the soaps resident veterans and super couple paring of John and Marlena. The actors who play them, Drake Hogestrn and Deidre Hall have been let go.

In commenting on the shocking but necessary firing of Hall and Hogestryn, executive producer Ken Corday tells Soap Opera Digest magazine, "It was a very tough decision to make. They have been wonderful for a long time. It's not about their work. They're obviously brilliant and have a very large fan base. But there is never an end when a couple leaves happily ever after. They're not dead. Characters have left and come back [before]".

Except other changes to the shows canvas which will be pared down a great deal as well as the shows production staff.

Days Of Our Lives, renewed through September 2010, airs weekdays on NBC.

Super Soap Weekend 2008 Highlights: Interviews

Visit Nancy and Chris at Mix 100.07 for hightlights and interviews from some of the stars at Super Soap Weekend.

Interviews with Thorsten Kaye(Zach, AMC), Eden Reigel(Bianca, AMC), Greg Vaughn(Lucky, AMC), Erika Slezak(Vickie, OLTL), Kelly Monaco(Sam, GH) and many more.

Website:tampabaysmix.com

Super Soap Weekend Interviews

Super Soap Weekend 2008 Highlights

Super Soap Weekend: Thorsten Kaye and Alicia Minshew

ABC's Super Soap Weekend 2008

ABC held their last Super Soap Weekend. It was a huge success. Updates will be posted as we get them.

Photos from: http://www.studioscentral.com/super-soap-weekend-2008-photos.html

Days Of Our Lives Renewed Through September 2010

The network currently shells out $1.7 million-$1.8 million a week in licensing fees for its longtime soap 'Days of Our Lives.

NBC has inked a deal with Sony Pictures TV to extend its run of daytime sudser "Days of Our Lives."
But in a sign of uncertain times for the daytime soap biz, the Peacock's pickup runs just 18 months. The previous renewal pact between Sony and Corday Prods. had a five-year term.

NBC's current deal for "Days of Our Lives" was set to expire in March, which means the new arrangement will keep the soap on the network only through September 2010. However, it's understood that another year will be triggered if certain perameters on the show are met. That would keep "Days" on the air through September 2011.

Shortened renewal comes as the economics of daytime TV -- particularly soap operas --continue to sour. NBC has gradually eliminated most of its daytime sudsers, most recently moving "Passions" to DirecTV (before eventually pulling the plug on that show altogether).

The reup also comes despite rumblings from NBC Universal topper Jeff Zucker a few years ago that "Days of Our Lives" might not be renewed at all. More recently, Zucker hasn't been as vocal about a "Days" cancellation, although the short renewal could signal that NBC's long-term daytime plans may not include sudsers.

It's unclear whether NBC also negotiated a reduced license fee for the show. The Peacock was most recently shelling out $1.7 million-$1.8 million a week for the show.

As part of the renewal it's understood that the show, led by exec producer Ken Corday, will be making some onscreen changes as well, including some cast shuffles.

Season-to-date "Days of Our Lives" is tied for third place in the daypart among women 18-49 and is tied as the No. 1 show in women 18-34.

SoapNet holds same-day repurposing rights for "Days," which is also available for download via Apple's iTunes.

The soap is celebrating its 43rd anniversary.

source: variety.com

SOAPNet To Air Three Original Series

Soapnet's series pickups include a 13-episode order for drama "Being Erica," from Temple Street Prods. and Canuck net CBC. Series stars newcomer Erin Karpluk as a 32-year-old woman who revisits moments in her life through shrink sessions with her mysterious therapist. It's set to bow in the spring.

"Southern Belles," from Endemol USA and ABC Media Prods., is described as a docu-soap following the lives of five twentysomething, single women in Louisville, Ky. Cabler has ordered 10 segs for debut next year.

"Greg Behrendt's Wake-Up Call" is a six-episode nonscripted skein from Avalon Television that is set to bow Jan. 8 at 11 p.m. as part of Soapnet's Valentine's Day-themed programming slate. Behrendt, co-author of the femme dating self-help hit "He's Just Not That Into You," will counsel one couple in each seg on their relationship troubles.

BACHARACH TO THE FUTURE FUNDRAISER

The premier performance of POZ magazine’s Bacharach to the Future, a fund-raiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, on World AIDS Day honoring music legend Burt Bacharach, the composer of “That’s What Friends Are For,” the pioneering recording that benefited The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) in 1985. Promises, Promises, Mr. Bacharach’s award winning musical, opened on Broadway forty years ago December 1, 1968. Each cast member will be singing songs from the Bacharach catalogue.


BethAnne Bonner (One Life To Live),

Katie Adams (Wicked),

Liz Callaway (Miss Saigon),

Gerard Canonico (Spring Awakening),

Franc D'Ambrosio (Phantom of the Opera),

Christian Hoff (Pal Joey, Jersey Boys, All My Children),

Jason Graae (Forever Plaid),

Natalie Hiatt (Leading Ladies)



Ilene Kristen (Grease, Ryan's Hope, One Life to Live),



Billy Porter (Angels in America, Jesus Christ Superstar),

Linda Purl (Tom Sawyer),

Julie Reiber (Wicked, Rent),

Tony Roberts (Promises, Promises, Xanadu, Victor/Victoria)

Michael Rupert (Sweet Charity),

Kevin Spirtas (The Boy From OZ),

Matt Walton (Hair, Burn After Reading),

Carla Renata Williams (The Lion King, We Will Rock You)


with other talented New York performers to be announced.


This show launches a partnership between POZ and BC/EFA. It continues a solid history of POZ fund-raising for AIDS Walk these last two years. Bacharach to the Future is POZ's tribute to the industry that has been in the forefront in helping to fight this disease.


Where: New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St, New York, NY

When: Monday, December 1, 2008, 7:30PM

$51.50—Balcony seating

$66.50—Orchestra seating

$251.50—Gold Circle Seating VIP seats with admission into the post-show Cocktail Reception.


For ticket information visit: Telecharge/BehindTheCurtain

Susan Lucci's Dance Card Ends on Dancing With The Stars

'Dancing With the Stars': Season 7
Even daytime diva Susan Lucci's large fan base couldn't save her from being voted off "Dancing With the Stars" Wednesday night. The longtime soap opera star's primetime story line ended after she and partner Tony Dovolani received the lowest votes Monday for their paso doble. The "All My Children" actress said, "It was definitely worth it," after getting the boot. "I just have to say, I have had the most incredible experience here. I leave with a life experience, something I will never forget. I feel so, so much gratitude for the opportunity to have had this particular experience in my lifetime."
(Kelsey McNeal/ABC)

All My Children Features Real Life War Veterans

The fictional town of Pine Valley gets a dose of realism when a real-life war veteran takes the stage on the popular daytime soap opera "All My Children" to try and bring accuracy to an Iraq-related story line.

In honor of Veteran's Day, Iraq War veterans will play themselves on the show. The show put out a nationwide casting call to find one special Iraq War vet for a recurring role on the show. Now, 25-year-old J.R. Martinez tackles a role that is perhaps all too familiar.

"For me to portray this role as Brot on the show, I think it's easy, because I can just take myself back to a place when it was painful, when I did want to be with someone, but I felt that it was better for them to move on with their life and not be a part of mine because of my appearance," he said.

On the show, Martinez portrays a veteran who decides to pretend he died in Iraq because he doesn't want to come back to his girlfriend.

Source:Good Morning America, ABC News

Michael Easton To Appear On The View

One Life To Life superstar Michael Easton will appear on The View, Friday November 14, 2008. Easton (John McBain) has released a new graphic novel titled Soul Stealer. Michael will appear on ABC's "The View" to talk about his books in depth. Michael also has a second book Soul Stealer: Blood and Rain.

The View airs weekdays on ABC.

Eden Reigel's Many Gigs

Actress Eden Riegel and Bob Guiney host the web-based series "Cooking to Get Lucky" which airs on mDialog. Cooking to Get Lucky offers a unique blend of professional cooking tips intertwined with lots of user generated content. Best known for her role as Bianca, Erica Kane's (Susan Lucci) daughter on ABC's All My Children, the Emmy award winning actress stars in this cooking series with Bob Guiney fondly remembered as the hot single guy looking for love on the fourth season of the hit reality television show The Bachelor.

"The show is going great," says Riegel, in and interview with Soap Opera Examiner. "The response has been terrific and we're certainly having a great time putting it all together." "It all got started because of the way my husband (Andrew Miller) won me over. Cooking Lucky is a show for guys—or girls—or really for anyone who is all thumbs in the kitchen and needs some help cooking meals that are so incredibly impressive they make it look like you’ve been slaving in the kitchen all day when in reality, they are so effortless to put together that even a moron can do it. I met my husband through a mutual friend. He invited me over for dinner and cooked this meal that knocked my socks off—and maybe knocked off a few other pieces of clothing off as well. Later, I learned he had a whole arsenal of recipes that were very simple to prepare and he wasn’t a culinary genius after all. But it worked—it really worked on me and I love to cook myself, so we sort of combined his proven recipes with others that I came up with-- we made sure they were all super impressive, easy to prepare, inexpensive and really quick using the materials even a bachelor would have in his apartment."

Riegel and Miller teamed up with Bob Guiney who happens to be married to Rebecca Budig who plays Greenlee Smythe on All My Children. “Bob is incredibly funny and he represents every guy out there who doesn’t know what he’s doing in the kitchen," Riegel says. "From there, we created a show that makes you laugh while teaching you some really interesting stuff."

Riegel believes that the Internet is the future of entertainment. "I personally love the Internet, she said. "It’s a great way to get in touch with the young, hip viewers who are our target audience and at the same time we’ve got the interactive feature where people can actually tell us their circumstances like what kind of girl they are trying to impress and we can come up with a menu and some quick tips that will wow whomever they are trying to dazzle. We take it on a case-by- case basis and fans of the show can actually be involved and ask for suggestions from us."

In addition to "Cooking to Get Lucky,” Riegel has recently returned to All My Children to reprise her role as Bianca. The busy actress is also the star and executive producer of the hit web series, "Imaginary Bitches" whose first season is set to be released on DVD later this month. “Fans will have that to look forward to and hopefully we will be releasing details of the second season very soon."

All My Children airs weekdays on ABC.

Source: Soap Opera Examiner

CBS Looking For Actors Of Color

According to a press release, CBS Diversity Institute and Casting is undertaking a new initiative to enhance access for actors of color who are 18 years and over to the talent pool for the daytime dramas "The Young and the Restless" and "The Bold and the Beautiful." As an extension of CBS Diversity's ongoing talent showcase initiatives, candidates will be pre-screened by the network casting department in December and the casting directors of these CBS daytime dramas will read actors on a regular basis starting in January 2009.

"Diversity requires action and we see this as a very intentional way of bringing attention to actors of color and continuing to open doors to the most successful daytime franchises in history with this new and additional avenue of access," said Josie Thomas, CBS senior vice president of diversity.

"With our daytime dramas on the air year-round, this is a remarkable opportunity for new talent to be seen by the highest number of people possible in this medium," said Barbara Bloom, CBS senior vice president of daytime programs.

Actors of color who are 18 years and older can submit resumes and photos electronically by logging onto www.breakdownexpress.com under CBS Daytime Diversity Initiative.

Super Soap Weekend Schedule of Events

Here is the schedule for The Last Super Soap Weekend 2008, it's November 15-16 at the Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida.


Saturday November 15th Event Schedule

SOAP CENTRAL
at the ABC Commissary
From 8:00am to 8:00pm

"ON LOCATION" AUTOGRAPHS
8:00am -- 7:30pm
*In order to ensure that each Guest receives an autograph, please limit items to one per person.

SUPER SOAP TALK SHOW
at the NEW Premiere Theater (located off Streets Of America)
Hosted by Bob Guiney

9:00am Family Ties -- Alicia Minshew, Eden Riegel, Brandon Buddy, Kassie DePaiva, Kristen Alderson, Susan Haskell, Julie Marie Berman, Tyler Christopher

11:15am "One Life to Live" -- Bree Williamson, Brittany Underwood, Erika Slezak, Farah Fath, Jason Tam, Kassie DePaiva,Michael Easton, Susan Haskell

1:45pm "All My Children" -- Aiden Turner, Alicia Minshew, Bobbie Eakes, Cameron Mathison, Darnell Williams, Melissa Claire Egan, Ricky Paull Goldin, Thorsten Kaye

4:00pm "General Hospital"-- Greg Vaughan, Jason Thompson, Julie Marie Berman, Kelly Monaco, Kimberly McCullough, Laura Wright, Rebecca Herbst, Tyler Christopher

5:15pm Back By Popular Demand -- Darnell Williams, Eden Riegel, Rebecca Budig, Vincent Irizarry, Bree Williamson, Susan Haskell

6:45pm Heartbreakers -- Aiden Turner, Ricky Paull Goldin, Brandon Buddy, John-Paul Lavoisier, Bradford Anderson, Brandon Barash, Jason Cook, Jason Thompson

CASTING CALL presented by COLGATE TOTAL
at the NEW Premiere Theater (located off Streets Of America)
Hosted by Cameron Mathison

10:15am Aiden Turner, Rebecca Budig

12:30pm Greg Vaughan, Kelly Monaco

3:00pm Brandon Buddy, Kristen Alderson

MOTORCADE AND STAR CONVERSATION
at Hollywood Boulevard & the Sorcerer's Hat Stage

10:00am "General Hospital" -- Greg Vaughan, Jason Cook, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Kimberly McCullough, Laura Wright, Rebecca Herbst, Tyler Christopher

11:00am "All My Children" -- Bobbie Eakes, Darnell Williams, Eden Riegel, Ricky Paull Goldin, Vincent Irizarry

12:00pm "All My Children" -- Susan Lucci
Hosted by Sherri Shepherd of "The View

1:15pm "One Life to Live" -- Erika Slezak
Hosted by Sherri Shepherd of "The View"

1:45pm "One Life to Live"-- Brandon Buddy, Brittany Underwood, Farah Fath, John-Paul Lavoisier, Jason Tam, Kristen Alderson

4:00pm "All My Children" -- Aiden Turner, Alicia Minshew, Cameron Mathison, Melissa Claire Egan, Rebecca Budig, Thorsten Kaye

5:15pm "General Hospital"-- Bradford Anderson, Brandon Barash, Jason Cook, Julie Marie Berman, Kirsten Storms

6:15pm "One Life to Live" -- Bree Williamson, Kassie DePaiva, Michael Easton, Susan Haskell

COLGATE TOTAL TRIPLE PLAY GAME SHOW
at Theater Of The Stars
Hosted by John-Paul Lavoisier

9:30am Vincent Irizarry, Farah Fath, Kirsten Storms

10:45am Melissa Claire Egan, Kristen Alderson, Greg Vaughan

12:00pm Ricky Paull Goldin, Brandon Buddy, Bradford Anderson

GRAND MOTORCADE up Hollywood Boulevard 7:45pm

- followed by -

COLGATE TOTAL STREET JAM
at the Sorcerer's Hat Stage
Hosted by Cameron Mathison and Sherri Shepherd
Musical Performances by ABC Daytime Soap Stars, followed by a Star-Studded Finale

*All outdoor performances weather permitting
*Talent and individual schedules subject to change without notice
*Check event information locations for the latest updates

Sunday, November 16th Event Schedule

SOAP CENTRAL
at the ABC Commissary
From 8:00am to 8:00pm

"ON LOCATION" AUTOGRAPHS 8:00am -- 7:30pm

SUPER SOAP TALK SHOW
at the NEW Premiere Theater (located off Streets Of America) Hosted by Bob Guiney

9:00am Rivals -- Alicia Minshew, Rebecca Budig, Kassie DePaiva, Susan Haskell, Kelly Monaco, Rebecca Herbst

11:15am Schemers -- Melissa Claire Egan, Thorsten Kaye, Vincent Irizarry, Bree Williamson, Kassie DePaiva, Kelly Monaco, Kirsten Storms

1:45pm "One Life to Live" -- Brandon Buddy, Brittany Underwood, Erika Slezak, Farah Fath, Jason Tam, Kristen Alderson

4:00pm "General Hospital" -- Bradford Anderson, Brandon Barash, Greg Vaughan, Jason Cook, Jason Thompson, Julie Marie Berman, Kimberly McCullough, Laura Wright

5:15pm "All My Children" -- Aiden Turner, Alicia Minshew, Bobbie Eakes, Eden Riegel, Ricky Paull Goldin, Thorsten Kaye, Vincent Irizarry

6:45pm Love Stories -- Aiden Turner, Cameron Mathison, Rebecca Budig, Farah Fath, John-Paul Lavoisier, Bradford Anderson, Kirsten Storms

CASTING CALL presented by COLGATE TOTAL
at the NEW Premiere Theater (located off Streets Of America) Hosted by Cameron Mathison

10:15am Ricky Paull Goldin, Melissa Claire Egan

12:30pm Bradford Anderson, Kirsten Storms

3:00pm John-Paul Lavoisier, Farah Fath

MOTORCADE AND STAR CONVERSATION
at Hollywood Boulevard & the Sorcerer's Hat Stage

9:45am "General Hospital" -- Bradford Anderson, Brandon Barash, Jason Cook, Julie Marie Berman, Kirsten Storms

10:45am "All My Children" -- Bobbie Eakes, Darnell Williams, Eden Riegel, Ricky Paull Goldin, Vincent Irizarry

12:15pm "One Life to Live" -- Erika Slezak
Hosted by Sherri Shepherd of "The View"

12:45pm "One Life to Live" -- Bree Williamson, Kassie DePaiva, Michael Easton, Susan Haskell

1:45pm "General Hospital" -- Greg Vaughan, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Kimberly McCullough, Laura Wright, Rebecca Herbst, Tyler Christopher

4:00pm "All My Children" -- Aiden Turner, Alicia Minshew, Cameron Mathison, Melissa Claire Egan, Rebecca Budig, Thorsten Kaye

5:15pm "One Life to Live" -- Brandon Buddy, Brittany Underwood, Farah Fath, Jason Tam, Kristen Alderson

6:15pm Men We Love -- Aiden Turner, Darnell Williams, Ricky Paull Goldin, Thorsten Kaye, Brandon Buddy, John-Paul Lavoisier, Michael Easton, Brandon Barash, Greg Vaughan, Tyler Christopher
Hosted by Sherri Shepherd

Sunday, November 16th Event Schedule (Cont'd)

COLGATE TOTAL TRIPLE PLAY GAME SHOW
at Theater of The Stars
Hosted by John-Paul Lavoisier

9:30am Aiden Turner, Bree Williamson, Tyler Christopher

10:45am Rebecca Budig, Susan Haskell, Laura Wright

12:00pm Bobbie Eakes, Brittany Underwood, Brandon Barash

GRAND MOTORCADE up Hollywood Boulevard 7:45pm

- followed by -

COLGATE TOTAL STREET JAM
at the Sorcerer's Hat Stage Hosted by Cameron Mathison and Sherri Shepherd

Musical Performances by ABC Daytime Soap Stars, followed by a Star-Studded Finale

*All outdoor performances weather permitting.
*Talent and individual schedules subject to change without notice.
*Check event information locations for the latest updates.

All My Children Pays Tribute To Eileen Herlie In December

Soap Opera Digest. com is reporting that ALL MY CHILDREN will dedicate the Dec. 19 episode to Eileen Herlie (and Pine Valley's Myrtle Fargate), who passed away on Oct. 8 at the age of 90. The episode will include flashbacks of Myrtle's 32 years on the ABC soap.

Myrtle Fargate was the matron of Pine Valley and loved mother figure to many of it's residents including Erica Kane and Zach Slater played by Susan Lucci and Thorsten Kaye.

Alicia Minshew Goes PrimeTime in "Life On Mars"

ABC's new prime-time hit series LIFE ON MARS will feature one of daytime's most familiar faces on November 13 when AMC's Alicia Minshew (Kendall) will appear on the series.

"The main character watches this soap opera on TV and I play a nurse on it", Alicia tells Soap Opera Digest. "It's a small part, but really fun." Minshew shares scenes with As The World Turns veteran's Grant Aleksander and Elizabeth Hubbard.

Minshew was requested for the role by the show's producer who is a big fan of All My Children. "The cool was that they requested me; the producer walked in and said, "Where's Kendall?'. We are so excited to have you here." The show is set in the 70's so the costumes were a nostalgic. " I was in this fabulous nurse's outfit...I had blue eye shadow and fake eyelashes."

The show is considering making the role recurring.
Jennifer Ferrin, of As The World Turns also appears in a separate story line.

Life On Mars airs Thursdays at 10pm on ABC.

Bonnie Hunt's New Talk Show

Bonnie Hunt has been called the best talk show guest on television. Now Bonnie finally brings her relatable comedic point of view to her own daytime talk show.

"The Bonnie Hunt Show" will be taped daily so Bonnie can offer her unique perspective on the day’s events. From entertainment and pop culture to the news, Bonnie will talk to her audience and crew about anything and everything that’s on her mind. The top of the show is sure to become appointment television for viewers looking for a smart, funny, common sense reaction to the complicated world they live in.

Everything that Bonnie has done in her life has prepared her for this new role. From her working class roots in Chicago and her time as a nurse, to her training at Second City and her success in movies and television, Bonnie’s authenticity in the many characters she’s played has made her everyone’s favorite best friend, sister and mom.

As a performer, writer, producer and director, Bonnie has earned the respect of everyone in the industry including the biggest stars in Hollywood. "The Bonnie Hunt Show" will be a place where celebrities can feel safe, let their guard down and have a good time.

Bonnie’s love of everyday people will set her show apart. Growing up in a large, blue-collar family, Bonnie was instilled with the work ethic that has made her successful and a gift of gab that makes her so entertaining. Every day, Bonnie will introduce America to itself through the stories of its people. From the inspiring to the amazing, viewers never know whom they might meet but it will always be memorable.

Bonnie’s show will be wrapped around her personality. She made her mark in show business with her love of storytelling, respect for the audience, her sense of humor and now "The Bonnie Hunt Show" will bring all these qualities together.

"The Bonnie Hunt Show" is produced by Bob & Alice Production and paraMedia inc. in association with Telepictures Productions and is distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.

HOST

Bonnie Hunt
(Host/Executive Producer) Bonnie Hunt is a versatile and accomplished writer, director, producer and an Emmy®, Golden Globe and SAG Award-nominated actress, earning critical acclaim in film, television and theater.

Growing up in one of Chicago’s blue-collar neighborhoods, Hunt pursued an acting career with the famous Second City improvisational theater while continuing to work as an oncology nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She soon became familiar to audiences with her unforgettable cameos in such films as "Rain Man," where she played the toothpick-dropping waitress, and in "Dave" as the White House tour guide. Her improvised line, "We’re walking, we’re walking…" quickly became famous as people embraced Hunt’s unique accessible brand of humor. More...

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

DON LAKE
(Executive Producer) Don Lake was born in Toronto, Canada. He first arrived in Los Angeles to attend California Institute of the Arts. After graduating, he returned to Toronto to join Second City, the renowned improvisational theatre company.

Productive years in Toronto led to two long-running series for Showtime and several feature films. But it was the opportunity to continue his association with Second City that brought Lake back to Los Angeles to form a new company on the West Coast, where he first met Bonnie Hunt. More...
JIM PARATORE
(Executive Producer) Highly respected television veteran and Emmy® Award-winning producer Jim Paratore serves as executive producer of "The Bonnie Hunt Show." Paratore’s production company, paraMedia inc., will be producing the talk show in association with Telepictures Productions. The full-service television production company also has an exclusive overall deal with the Warner Bros. Television Group.

Paratore brings over 20 years of experience in daytime television to "The Bonnie Hunt Show." He successfully launched the Emmy® Award-winning talk shows "The Rosie O’Donnell Show," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "The Tyra Banks Show" and continues to serve as an executive producer on "Ellen." More...
DAVID PERLER
(Co-Executive Producer) David Perler serves as co-executive producer of "The Bonnie Hunt Show."

Perler served as an executive producer of "The Tony Danza Show" and as the supervising producer of "The Rosie O’Donnell Show," where he garnered three Daytime Emmy® Awards. His other talk show experience includes "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "Leeza." More...

For information and for tickets to the Bonnie Hunt Show, visit her site at: www.bonniehunt.com

Soap Opera Writer James E. Reilly Remembered

The recent passing of head writer James E. Reilly has stunned the industry. His longtime friend and agent Jonathan Russo, who confirmed Reilly's death to Soap Opera Weekly, "We spoke an hour or two hours a day for almost 15-20 years. We did the math, 27 years. He was a towering figure in the industry. He deserved my time and attention. He wanted it and we were friends. We liked to catch up," Russo shares. "He never ran out of thoughts or ideas. He never repeated himself unless it was intentional so he didn’t lose viewers. He never had other people submit story ideas ever. He sat down and laid out and presented stories and layouts for 2 shows. This is an amazing accomplishment," Russo adds.

Ken Corday (Executive Producer, DAYS): "The DAYS OF OUR LIVES family is deeply saddened by the recent passing of James E. Reilly. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Jim was not only an ingenious storyteller who changed the landscape of daytime drama, but he celebrated life with passion, humor, and an appreciation for the best it has to offer. He was an inspiration for us all...and will be greatly missed."

Lisa de Cazotte (executive producer GH:NIGHT SHIFT, former EP PASSIONS): "Jim Reilly was not only a legend in our industry, but he was a great friend and mentor. His creativity, sense of humor and genius will be sorely missed. There will never be another like him and I am deeply grateful for the years we spent working together on PASSIONS and for the joy he brought to my life."

All My Children: A Tornado Sweeps Pine Valley

The much advertized tornado swept through fictional Pine Valley, PA on Thursday October 16th and will continue through the next week. The dramatic storyline will kill off the character of Babe Carey Chandler and reintroduce popular characters, Erica Kane's youngest child Bianca Montgomery and Dr. David Hayward.

October 16th also marked All My Children's the taping of it's 10,000 episode which will air on November 12th. The soap's creator Agnes Nixon will appear in the episode as a ghost who will help the town deal with the tornado aftermath.
All My Children airs weekdays on ABC and weeknight on SOAPNet.

source: abc daytime, credit to: thorstenkayefans.net

All My Children Celebrates Taping Of 10, 000 Episode

Photo: Wire Iamge

The landmark soap that features Erica Kane and her many husbands will celebrate the taping of their 10,000 episode on Thursday, October 16th. The rumors surrounding the premise of the episode include Erica Kane where she is the innocent victim of an incident (not relating to the much hyped tornadoes). All My Children began in 1970 when creator Agnes Nixon created Pine Valley. The groundbreaking soap was instrumental for some of the most popular characters in daytime, including Erica Kane, her daughters Kendall and Bianca, and Adam Chandler. The soap is iconic for unprecedented stories such as daytime's first abortion, first gay character, and super couples such as Tad & Dixie, Angie & Jesse and Zach & Kendall. All entertainment media to cover the event outside the ABC studios at 320 W. 66th Stre
et, New York City.

All My Children Icon Eileen Herlie Has Passed Away

Soap Icon and All My Children Matriarch Eileen Herlie has passed away at the age of 88. Eileen has played Myrtle Fargate since the early 80s. Myrtle's maternal relationships with popular characters Erica Kane, Zach Slater, Bianca Montgomery and Kendall Slater has made her a much needed presense on the show. Eileen's last screen appearance as Myrtle was in late June when she gave her surrogate son, Zach Slater a much welcomed visit.
Eileen Herlie was born to a Catholic father and a Protestant mother in Glasgow, Scotland.
Herlie was trained as a theatre actress, but her first big film break was being cast by Laurence Olivier in his 1948 film adaptation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. She portrayed Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, despite the fact that she was 13 years younger than Olivier, who portrayed her son, Hamlet. She reprised her Gertrude in the 1964 Broadway production starring Richard Burton. She repeated her Gertrude in the 1964 film version of the Broadway stage production.

After Olivier's Hamlet Herlie continued to make sporadic film appearances, but remained primarily in the theatre. In 1955 she was Irene Molloy in The Matchmaker on Broadway (this play was later made into Hello Dolly!). In 1960, she was nominated for a Tony Award as 'Best Actress in a Musical' for Take Me Along, in which she played opposite Jackie Gleason.

In 1976, Herlie made the move to television soap operas in the role of Myrtle Fargate on All My Children. In the 1980s, Herlie was nominated for three consecutive Daytime Emmy Awards (1984, 1985 and 1986). She became close friends with fellow cast member Louis Edmonds, and spoke at his funeral in 2001.

Until the late 1990s, Herlie was one of the few actresses to ever portray the same character on three different soaps. In 1993, she portrayed Myrtle on the All My Children sister-soap Loving. In December 2000, she portrayed Myrtle in crossover appearances on the soap opera One Life to Live, where a 'Who's the Daddy?' storyline was playing out on all four ABC soaps (All My Children, One Life to Live, General Hospital, and the now cancelled Port Charles).

Herlie is one of five children, Dennis, Gerald, Norah (all deceased) and Alfred. She was married and divorced once, but has no children.

Eileen has received numerous awards and nominarions for her work on stage and screen.
Daytime Emmy Awards

(1986) Daytime Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for All My Children
(1985) Daytime Emmy Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series for All My Children
(1984) Daytime Emmy Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series for All My Children
Tony Awards

(1960) Tony Award Best Actress in a Musical for Take Me Along

Days Of Our Lives Fan Event

SAVE THE DATE FOR A "DAY OF DAYS"!

STARS OF NBC'S DAYTIME DRAMA 'DAYS OF OUR LIVES' TO MEET FANS AT CITYWALK AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD THIS NOVEMBER!

Who: Stars of "Days of our Lives" (see below)

What: DAY OF DAYS
Meet & Greet, Q&A and many more exciting activities with your favorite "Days of our Lives" stars!

Where: CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood
1000 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608

When: Saturday, November 1, 2008 - 10:00am

Admission to event is free!

Meet all your favorite Days of our Lives stars, including:
Kristian Alfonso
Blake Berris
Nadia Bjorlin
Darin Brooks
Molly Burnett
Shawn Christian
Bryan Dattilo
Kevin Dobson
Mary Beth Evans
Galen Gering
Deidre Hall
Shelley Hennig
Leann Hunley
Drake Hogestyn
Jay Kenneth Johnson
Renee Jones
Lauren Koslow
Eric Martsolf
Joe Mascolo
Rachel Melvin
Stephen Nichols
Thaao Penghlis
Jim Reynolds
James Scott
Alison Sweeney
Arianne Zucker

The event schedule includes:
10-10:30 a.m. - "Day of Days" Introduction
10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. - "Meet & Greet" with the cast of "Days of our Lives"
1–2 p.m. - Lunch Break
2–3 p.m. - Q&A Panel with the Stars
3–3:45 p.m. - "Days of our Lives" Trivia Challenge
3:45 – 4:00 p.m. - Event finale including the selection of a grand-prize raffle winner and a sneak peek of future "Days of our Lives" story lines

Throughout the event fans will also have the chance to win raffle prizes, be selected as a "Days" star look-alike and win exciting "Days of our Lives" merchandise.

For more information on CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood go to www.citywalkhollywood.com.

Soap Actor Thorsten Kaye Talks Hockey!

Thorsten Kaye plays Zach Slater in “All My Children.” His dressing room is a team shrine.

On a recent afternoon at ABC Studios in Manhattan, Thorsten Kaye wore his Detroit Red Wings shirt in back-to-back love scenes.

Kaye, who plays the casino owner Zach Slater on the soap opera “All My Children,” finished rehearsing with Alicia Minshew, who plays his wife, Kendall Hart. Then he rolled up his script and walked to his dressing room and opened the door.

“This is like my own little Detroit locker room,” Kaye said, smiling. “This room is my tribute to the Red Wings.”

Kaye, who said he is looking forward to their season opener on Thursday night against Toronto, sat on a small bed covered by sheets emblazoned with the team’s winged-wheel logo. A giant logo loomed on a wall above his head, and other Red Wings memorabilia was scattered about, including an overhead light fixture that resembled the scoreboard at Joe Louis Arena. On Kaye’s scoreboard, the home team is always leading, 2-1.

“Look at that,” Kaye said, pointing to an empty Champagne bottle signed by all the Red Wings after they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Stanley Cup last season. “I wish I was there to celebrate with them that night.”

Kaye saw three games of the finals in Detroit but could not make it to Game 6 in Pittsburgh, where the Red Wings raised the Cup. He was in the studio that day, but he watched most of the game in character, through his cameraman’s lens.

“My camera guy put the game on his viewfinder so that I could see it while we were filming,” Kaye said.

Indeed, Slater often wears Red Wings jerseys and caps, and plays hockey with his young sons.

“My character is a misunderstood family man who just does what he needs to do,” Kaye said. “But being a Red Wings fan makes him a lot more human.”

Kaye, 45, was born in Mainz, Germany, and grew up in London. He came to the United States when he was 17, on a track and field scholarship at United States International University in San Diego, now Alliant International. He moved to Detroit to study acting at Wayne State University. By the time Kaye completed his master’s degree in classical theater, his affection for the Red Wings, and for hockey, had flourished.

“Hockey is the greatest sport in the world, and in my opinion, has the greatest athletes,” Kaye said. “You never hear a hockey player talking about himself in the third person, like so many other athletes from other sports.”

Kaye said his most memorable night at Joe Louis Arena was Jan. 2, 2007, when the Red Wings retired Steve Yzerman’s No. 19 jersey.

“I have been around actors my entire life, but I can tell you that the tears for Yzerman that night were very real,” he said. “And I don’t think I’ve ever heard a longer standing ovation.”

Though Kaye has become friendly with some players, notably Chris Chelios, he could not get any of them to say he was a soap opera fan.

“People never admit to watching the soaps,” Kaye said, grinning. “But I’ve been in the trainer’s room a few times and the soaps are on while guys are getting taped up and rubbed down, so somebody’s watching.”

Kaye, who proudly displayed his autographed photo of Darren McCarty hoisting the Stanley Cup last season, as well as a game-used stick autographed by Yzerman, has shrines to the Red Wings at his homes in New York and Detroit, and in Connecticut, where he lives with the actress Susan Haskell and their daughters, McKenna, 5, and Marlowe, 18 months.

Last season, Kaye won new fans in Detroit by blogging on NHL.com.

“I was most impressed with Thorsten’s knowledge about the Red Wings and his overall knowledge of the game,” Roberta McCarty, Darren’s mother, said in a telephone interview. “I also met Thorsten in person during the playoffs last season, and it was refreshing to talk to a celebrity who truly cared about his team and really knew his hockey.”

E-mail: cheers@nytimes.com

source: New York Times

SOAPS IN THE CITY

Soaps In The City will take place in LA October 16, 2008 by teaming up with Cops4Causes and Poz Magazine to host a private party to help support AIDS Project Los Angeles. Tickets can be purchased at michaelfairmansoaps.net for $50; only 250 are available. The event will take place at East/West on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood.

Cast members from General Hospital, Days Of Our Lives, The Bold and The Beautiful and The Young and the Restless will be on hand to mingle with guests.

Ilene Kristen, Roxy on One Life To Live, will perform.

Soaps In The City will kick off red carpet arrivals at 6:30 pm.

Casting News!!!! Guiding Light

Guiding Light



Soap Opera Digest has learned that Emmy-nominated actor Jeff Branson (ex-Jonathan, AMC) has been tapped to fill the the long-awaited recast role of GL's Shayne Lewis. Branson left Pine Valley earlier this year and will be heading to Springfield on December 1 as Josh and Reva's son, who had recently gone missing in Afghanistan. Branson is the seventh actor to play the part. Shayne was last seen on-screen back in 2004.

source:soapoperadigest.com;photo-ABC

Soapvivor On Rachel Ray Today!!!

Rachel Ray; Chrishelle Strause (Amanda) All My Children; Kane Manera (Grandy) Guiding Light

Jeff Probst, host of "Survivor," will be on the "Rachael Ray" show tomorrow to test the merits of three daytime stars: Chrishell Stause (Amanda on "All My Children), Brandon Buddy (Cole on "One Life to Live"), and Kane Manera (Grady on "Guiding Light").

They'll be competing in a "Soapvivor" contest -- except there won't be an island, or bugs or starving, hygienically-challenged contestants.

"Soapvivor" is people competing in games like "getting a high paying job with no experience," "talking to themselves," "having sex in caves," and "driving halfway across town when you could just use a phone."

Tune into "Rachael Ray" today on CBS to see who wins!

Bianca Back On All My Children With A Big Surprise

"All My Children" is getting a double dose of star power. Eden Riegel, who played the beloved Bianca Montgomery from 2000-2005 (with appearances in 2006 and 2007), is coming back to the show. She's bringing along actress Tamara Braun, best known for her work as Carly on "General Hospital" and recently as Ava on "Days of our Lives."

Bianca, daughter of Erica Kane, has fronted major storylines that has gained noteable praise and attention from soap fans and critics alike. She is best known as the first openly gay front burner character on daytime. Bianca MOntgomery has been though a lot in her short time on soap opera earth. Her character basically survived everything: a rape, having her baby stolen, anorexia, coming out, having Erica Kane as a mother. When last seen in 2007 (she arrived to visit her nephew, Ian), Bianca was living with Paris with her young daughter, Miranda.

Bianca is returning to Pine Valley with a new girlfriend, Her name is Reese Williams, played by none other than Tamara Braun. Reese is a confident and successful architect who Bianca has been living with in Paris. When last seen, Bianca was considering a relationship with Zoe, the transgender rock star played by the amazing Jeff Carlson.

More importantly, how are her sister Kendall (Alicia Minshew), her mother Erica (Susan Lucci) and her brother-in-law Zach (Thorsten Kaye) going to handle Reese? The Kane clan is rebuilding which is good. AMC has centered too long around characters like Ryan, Babe and Greenlee who have no real family ties to the community yet have been in storylines that seemed to dominate all of the shows focus. The return of Bianca will help the show facilitate a more direct approach to focusing on family and community. All of Erica's family should be in Pine Valley. They are a force to be reckoned with.

Bianca first airs on October 17. Reese will follow on October 30.

All My Children airs on ABC and on SOAPnet weekdays.

(source: SOAPnet.com; pictured: Eden Reigel(Bianca), Tamara Braun (Reese)

Big Twister, Dual Roles Planned On Soaps This Fall

All My Children and Young and The Restless Hopes Fall Storylines Will Bring Higher Ratings


Quick Hits: AMC's Big Twister, Y&R Sees Double & More | Soaps News | 9/16/2008 New
Storm Warming: A state-of-the-art tornado will hit All My Children's Pine Valley Oct. 16. "We're taking CGI effects to the next level," head writer Chuck Pratt says. "We're not just breaking the fourth wall, we're breaking the third wall, too. It's big, groundbreaking stuff." The devastation continues Oct. 23 when fan fave Vincent Irizarry returns to the soap as evil doc David Hayward.Double trouble: Veteran actress Jeanne Cooper — Kay on The Young and the Restless — finally won her first competitive Emmy this summer, after 11 nominations and a lifetime-achievement award. Will she make it two in a row? Cooper should have won the gold back in 1990 when she doubled as Kay's look-alike Marge, a greasy-spoon waitress with dubious morals, and may finally get her due. My spies tell me Marge will return to the show this fall, just as the unstoppable Cooper turns 80.Boss

source: TV Guide; pictured: Jeanne Cooper, Vincent Irizarry

Soap Stars Sign Mugs For Charity

Soap Stars Sign Coffee Mugs For Charity

Coming soon, dozens of soap star-autographed Nonni’s Biscotti mugs will be auctioned off to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. All proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which raises money for breast cancer research.

The fundraiser kicks off October 1st, when fans can begin bidding for the mugs on the eBay Giving Works Web site. Soap celebrity signatures include Susan Lucci, Van Hansis, Melody Thomas Scott, Cameron Mathison, Kirsten Storms, Jack Wagner, Heather Tom and many more. The mug auction can be accessed through www.nonnis.com or www.ebay.com/nonniscelebritymugs. Bidding is open throughout the month of October.

Additionally, for every box of Nonni’s Biscotti sold, customers can enter their UPC code at www.nonnis.com and 75 cents from that box (retail $3.49) goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. So far, the partnership has raised thousands of dollars to combat breast cancer.

source:we love soaps

Genie Francis Returns To General Hospital

Genie Francis made for return to "General Hospital" today after a two year absense. The 46-year-old actress once again reprised her role as Laura on the ABC daytime soap opera. The character's 1981 fairy-tale wedding to Luke (played by Anthony Geary) was watched by 30 million viewers and landed the couple on the cover of Newsweek magazine. Francis began playing Laura in 1976."This is a short visit," says Francis. "It's a mother-daughter story. Years ago when I started playing the character as a 14-year-old girl, it was a mother-daughter story, only I was the daughter. So it's kinda cool this is full circle. It's nice to come back for visits. 'General Hospital' is my home."Laura was last seen slipping in and out of a catatonic state in 2007. The upcoming appearance will feature Laura in a story line with daughter Lulu. Francis, who now runs a home-furnishing shop in Belfast, Maine, said she was told that Laura wouldn't be killed off during her latest guest stint."I would stay on, but 'General Hospital' honestly doesn't seem to want that relationship with this character at the moment," said Francis. "They want little short doses during sweeps periods. It's not entirely up to me. I'm thrilled and delighted my audience stands behind me. If they didn't, you can be sure I wouldn't get to come back for these visits."Francis won a supporting actress Daytime Emmy in 2007 for previously reprising the role.

(yahoo news)

Susan Lucci Confirmed For Dancing With The Stars

Susan Lucci, Toni Braxton and Lance Bass will hit the floor on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."They are among 13 celebrities slated to compete on the new season of the top-rated dance contest, premiering Sept. 22.The other contestants are Cloris Leachman, Kim Kardashian, Ted McGinley, Brooke Burke, NFL champ Warren Sapp and two Olympic athletes: Misty May-Treanor, who won her second gold medal for beach volleyball at this year's summer games in Beijing, and Maurice Greene, who won two gold medals in track at the 2000 games in Sydney.Rounding out the cast are chef Rocco DiSpirito, Cody Linley of "Hannah Montana" and comedian Jeffrey Ross.The names were announced Monday on ABC News' "Good Morning America."

(AP , ABC.com)

Obama Picks Biden As Running Mate

Barack Obama named Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice presidential running mate early Saturday, balancing his ticket with a seasoned congressional veteran well-versed in foreign policy and defense issues.
Obama announced the pick on his Web site with a photo of the two men and an appeal for donations. A text message went out shortly afterward that said, "Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee."
Biden, 65, has twice sought the White House, and is a Catholic with blue-collar roots, a generally liberal voting record and a reputation as a long-winded orator.
Across more than 30 years in the Senate, he has served at various times not only as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee but also as head of the Judiciary Committee, with its jurisdiction over anti-crime legislation, Supreme Court nominees and Constitutional issues.
In selecting Biden, Obama passed over several other potential running mates, none more prominent than former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, his tenacious rival in dozens of primaries and caucuses. Clinton issued a statement Saturday praising Obama's decision and calling Biden "an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant."
Obama's campaign arranged a debut for the newly minted ticket on Saturday outside the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill.
Obama's decision leaked to the media several hours before his aides planned to send a text message announcing the running mate, negating a promise that people who turned over their phone numbers would be the first to know who Obama had chosen. The campaign scrambled to send the text message after the leak, sending phones buzzing at the inconvenient time of just after 3 a.m. on the East Coast.
Hundreds of miles to the west, carpenters, electricians, sound stage gurus and others transformed the Pepsi Center in Denver into a made-for-television convention venue.
Tucked away in one corner were thousands of lightweight rolled cardboard tubes, ready-made handles for signs bearing the names of the Democratic ticket — once the identity of Obama's running mate was known.
While Obama decided against adding Clinton to his ticket, he has gone to great lengths to gain the confidence of her primary voters, agreeing to allow her name to be placed in nomination at the convention and permitting a roll call vote that threatens to expose lingering divisions within the party.
Biden slowly emerged as Obama's choice across a long day and night of political suspense as other contenders gradually fell away.
First Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine let it be known that he had been ruled out. Then came word that Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana had also been passed over.
Several aides to Clinton said the Obama campaign had never requested financial or other records from her.
Other finalists in the veep sweepstakes were Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Texas Rep. Chet Edwards.
Among those on the short list, Biden brought the most experience in defense or foreign policy — areas in which Obama fares relatively poorly in the polls compared with Republican Sen. John McCain.
While the war in Iraq has been supplanted as the campaign's top issues by the economy in recent months, the recent Russian invasion of Georgia has returned foreign policy to the forefront.
In addition to foreign policy experience, Biden, a native of Scranton, Pa., has working-class roots that could benefit Obama, who lost the blue-collar vote to Clinton during their competition for the presidential nomination.
Biden was elected to the Senate at the age of 29 in 1972, but personal tragedy struck before he could take office. His wife and their 13-month-old daughter, Naomi, were killed when a tractor-trailer broad-sided her station wagon.
Biden took his oath of office for his first term at the hospital bedside of one of his sons.
On Friday, he spent the day at his home in Delaware with friends and family. The normally loquacious lawmaker maintained a low profile as associates said they believed — but did not know — he would be tapped. They added they had been asked to stand by in case their help was needed.
No sooner had word spread of his selection than McCain's campaign unleashed its first attack. Spokesman Ben Porritt said in a statement that Biden had "denounced Barack Obama's poor foreign policy judgment and has strongly argued in his own words what Americans are quickly realizing — that Barack Obama is not ready to be president."
As evidence, Republicans cited an ABC interview from August 2007, in which Biden said he would stand by an earlier statement that Obama was not ready to serve as president. Hours later, the McCain campaign released a 30-second TV ad featuring Biden's comments from the interview and scheduled the spot for key states.
Biden is seeking a new Senate term in the fall. There was no immediate word on whether he intended to change plans as he reaches for national office.
Michael Silberman, a partner at online communications firm EchoDitto, said the campaign gambled when they made such a high-stakes promise and find themselves in a precarious situation where they could risk a great deal of trust with supporters.
"For Obama supporters, this is like finding out from your neighbor instead of your sister that she's engaged — not how you want or expect the news to be delivered," Silberman said.
Biden dropped out of the 2008 race for the Democratic presidential nomination after a poor finish in the Iowa caucuses, but not before he talked dismissively of joining someone else's ticket.
"I am not running for vice president," he said in a Fox interview. "I would not accept it if anyone offered it to me. The fact of the matter is I'd rather stay as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee than be vice president."
He had stumbled on his first day in the race, apologizing for having described Obama as "clean." Months later, Obama spoke up on Biden's defense, praising him during a campaign debate for having worked for racial equality.
It was Biden's second try for the White House. The first ended badly in 1988 when he was caught lifting lines from a speech by British Labor Party leader Neil Kinnock.
In the decades since, he become a power in the Senate, presiding over confirmation proceedings for Supreme Court nominees as well as convening hearings to criticize President Bush's handling of the Iraq War.
Biden voted to authorize the war, but long ago became one of the Senate's surest critics of the conflict. Ironically, perhaps, his son, Beau, attorney general of Delaware, is due to spend a tour of duty in Iraq beginning this fall with his National Guard unit.
Obama worked to keep his choice secret, although he addressed the issue broadly during the day in an interview.
"Obviously, the most important question is: Is this person ready to be president?" Obama told "The Early Show" on CBS. Second, he said, was: "Can this person help me govern? Are they going to be an effective partner in creating the kind of economic opportunity here at home and guiding us through some dangerous waters internationally?"
And, he added: "I want somebody who is going to be able to challenge my thinking and not simply be a yes person when it comes to policymaking.

(associated press)

SOAP STARS TO CRUISE IN MARCH 2009

Bob Guiney is giving daytime fans a chance to be a part of the first ever ROCK THE SOAP CRUISE! This exciting debut in the theme cruise entertainment market is sure to capture all the love you have for your favorite soaps as you'll get the chance to rock out with 20 plus of the Biggest Stars from Days of Our Lives, All My Children, As the World Turns, General Hospital, Young & the Restless, and many more!!! We are Raising the Bar on an Incredible Fan Experience!! All the great moments you have come to love - as well as Concerts from some of your favorite stars and so much more!! Visit the site for more information. Scheduled to appear: Brandon Barash (Johnny Zachara) General Hospital, Kathy Brier (Marcie McBain) One Life To Live, Rebecca Budig (Greenlee Smythe) All My Children, Bryan Dattilo (Lucas Roberts) Days Of Our Lives, Kassie De Paiva (Blair Cramer) One Life To Live, Bobbie Eakes (Krystal Carey) All My Children, Melissa Claire Egan (Annie Lavery) All My Children, Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake Martin) All My Children, Van Hansis (Luke Synder) As The World Turns, Susan Haskell (Marty Saybrooke) One Life To Live, Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe Mitchell) Young And The Restless, Thorsten Kaye (Zach Slater) All My Children, Michael Knight (Tad Martin) All My Children, Thad Luckinbill (J.T. Hellstrom) Young And The Restless, Constantine Maroulis (Constantine) Bold And The Beautiful/American Idol, Kimberly McCullough (Robin Scorpio) General Hospital, Kelly Monaco (Sam McCall) General Hospital, Eden Riegel (Bianca Montgomery) All My Children, Greg Rikaart (Kevin Fisher) Young And The Restless, Jake Silbermann (Noah Mayer) As The World Turns, Jason Thompson (Patrick Drake) General Hospital, Aiden Turner (Aidan Devane) All My Children, Bree Williamson (Jessica Buchanan) One Life To Live, Bob Guiney Host


(pictured: Kelly Monaco and Kassie DePaiva)


http://www.rockthesoapcruise.com/index.html

Will Erica Kane Appear On Dancing With The Stars?

Will the biggest star in daytime tackle dancing in primetime?

There has been buzz around the internet that All My Children's Susan Lucci would appear on Dancing With The Stars. The buzz actually appears to be true are. Susan Lucci's website there's a scroll teling viewers to tune in to Good Morning America on Monday, August 25th from 8:30-9:00 est. ABC and GMA have been heavily promoting that the cast of the popular dance show now entering it's 7th season would be announced on the 25th so the assumptions were obvious.

Susan has played Erica Kane, the most famous daytime character in history since the iconic show's inception in 1970. In those 38 years, Lucci has achieved international stardom as her alter ego has been the force of some of daytime televisions most fascinating stories. Erica Kane has been married (and divorced) 10 times, has had careers from modeling to television, and has helped lead some very socially conscious stories including daytime television's first legal abortion. Susan contribution to the entertainment industry was recognized recently when the daytime legend receieved a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

All My Children airs weekdays on ABC.

(photo: Getty Images)