Hererra and McCouch Returning to ATWT

1 The evil James Stenbeck, ATWT's all-time villain played by Anthony Hererra on and off since 1980, is returning to the show, and will first appear on August 27th. Now that the cat is out of the bag, I can report that I did see James on the shooting schedule when I visited the studio recently, but couldn't reveal this tidbit until it was formally announced. Soap Opera Digest is reporting that Grayson McCouch is returning as Dusty Donovan. He will begin taping in mid-August and debut on September 24th. This one is news to me. Dusty died earlier this year, so I'm not sure if this return means Dusty isn't dead or not (ATWT has featured ghost Sofie a lot lately). But he probably is alive since his return is somehow connected to James, the master at coming back from the dead. Also joining the cast is Benton Greene, whose character will make life difficult for Paul starting August 18th. With all the talk about budget issues at ATWT, the show certainly has not stopped casting, recasting and casting some more. This has lead to the show being very hit or miss and feeling disjointed from one day to the next.

A Martinez Joins the OLTL Cast

1 Soap Opera Digest is reporting that Emmy-winning daytime vet A Martinez (ex-Cruz, SANTA BARBARA; ex-Roy, GENERAL HOSPITAL) is returning to daytime in the new role of Ray Montez on ONE LIFE TO LIVE. Martinez won three ALMA Awards for his work on GH. He also won an Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1990 for his most memorable role, as Cruz Castillo on SB. Martinez said about New York (where OLTL tapes) in 2001: "Manhattan is an amazing place. The sheer level of energy on the streets lights me up like nowhere else I go."

SORDID LIVES Soundtrack Coming Soon

1 Del Shores (creator, writer and producer of SORDID LIVES: THE SERIES) has announced the show's soundtrack will be available soon, as will the episodes after they air on LOGO: "There is going to be a soundtrack!!! It will include the five new Olivia songs written by Olivia and Amy Sky, a long verson of the theme song (the version Olivia sang live at LA PRIDE), it also will include three Tammy Wynette songs sung by her daughter Georgette Jones. Also, one song by the amazing Sean Wiggins, one by great Kacey Jones and one awesome dance song called "Joyful Sound" performed by Debby Holiday and written by Debby and DJ Scotty for the show (prediction: This great song will be Debby's biggest dance single to date). The soundtrack should be available in a few weeks on iTunes and CD Baby. Also, the shows will be available for purchase on iTunes in a few weeks too." Don't miss Episode #2 tonight at 10pm ET on LOGO.

New Album From OLTL's Delaria

1 Ghostlight Records, a division of Sh-K-Boom Records, is partnering with Warner Jazz for the worldwide release of the new CD from acclaimed singer, actress, comedian and author Lea Delaria. The Live Smoke Sessions – recorded in concert at the popular uptown Manhattan jazz club last fall – will be released online and in stores on September 9. The disc features special guest performers Gil Goldstein on piano, Seamus Blake on saxophone and BBC “Jazz Singer of the Year” Ian Shaw on vocals. As a part of her busy fall schedule, Lea will appear in dual roles on the ABC-TV daytime drama ONE LIFE TO LIVE starting in September (one character, the psychic Madame Delphina, was recently labeled “What’s Hot” in Soap Opera Digest). She will celebrate the CD with a return to the New York jazz club Smoke for two Mondays, September 29 and October 6; and at the 606 Club in London on November 9. Her long-running weekend show at the Art House in Provincetown, Massachusetts runs through September 6.