News Brief

Special Message From Y&R's Music Men Mike Dobson & Bryan Harrison We are pleased to announce that airing this Friday, April 25th, is a heartfelt montage featuring a re-recording of "Bless The Beast And The Children". This song, composed by Barry De Vorzon and Perry Botkin Jr. (Nadia's Theme) has been apart of our show's music theme for decades. It's been quite some time since we last used this song, so we decided to re-record it. Our search for a special vocalist was not easy, however, much to our surprise, our choice singer came from a family whose work has been apart of our show for years. Laura Ann Wright discretely submitted an example of her talents, but omitted any references to the fact that her uncle is Michael Damian (Danny). Rowell speaks on a possible Y&R return Victoria Rowell writes on her official website (login required): "Thank you so much for your continued support as I criss-crossed the country. Your love of my work as the writer of “The Women Who Raised Me”; as an actress on Young and the Restless and Diagnosis Murder; as well as my film work, has been a blessing. You’ve shown me that my performances are more than Daytime drama to you. Over 4 million people have visited me here on my website and for you; I would like to answer the ubiquitous question of “Are you coming back to the Young and the Restless”. Well, due to the barrage of Soap Opera tabloid and Internet speculation, I want to go on record to say that Drucilla would love nothing more than to claw her way up the cliff that she flipped off of, but Y&R has not sent her a rescue crew or a life line to help her out of the ravine that she’s been in for over a year. I am alive and well and the ball is in their court. Email to Sony Pictures Television and The Young the Restless is appreciated." Afghan TV stations defy ban on soap operas The Ministry of Information and Culture ordered four TV stations to take five Indian soaps off the air by April 14. Only Noorin TV suspended its soap - WAITING - so the ministry issued a second deadline that ended Tuesday. Ariana TV caved after the second letter, ending broadcasts of KUM KUM, a drama about the tangled love life of a widow who is wooed by her childhood sweetheart but ends up taking her dead husband's brother as her second husband. The ministry is now threatening legal action against the other networks, who accuse the democratic government of trying to re-Talibanize Afghanistan. VIDEO: DAYS stars talk about going green on Earth Day Blake Berris, Shawn Christian, Peggy McCay, Peter Reckell, Suzanne Rogers, Alison Sweeney and Arianne Zucker all appear in videos. BLOG: Alison Sweeney DAYS OF OUR LIVES star Alison Sweeney blogs on "Earth Day": Why am I humming that old song “My boyfriends back and you’re gonna be in trouble…” ha… because BRYAN’S BACK!!! Yay!!!! Bryan, James and I shot some photos for Soap Opera Digest today, so that’ll be out in early May. It’s so great having him back, but uh… OMG – the scenes around Lucas’ return are… (insert adjective here – correct answer? All of the above)!!! So total classic soap. I have so much I want to say about this… seriously? I’m dying to tell you all about it right now… but of course, you know me… I’d hate to spoil it for all of you. So, you’ll just have to watch and we can discuss when you get caught up! :) 1 R.I.P.: Nicolette Goulet The daughter of actor-singer Robert Goulet and a familiar face to soap fans, Nicolette Goulet on April 17 at the age of 51. She was a regular presence on daytime television during the 1970s and 1980s. She played recurring characters in several soaps including RYAN'S HOPE, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, AS THE WORLD TURNS and GUIDING LIGHT. She was buried at the Palm Valley View Memorial Park in Las Vegas. Fitzpatrick hunted after missing court date Former HOLLYOAKS actor Craig Fitzpatrick, who plays bad boy Lewis Sneddon in the BBC1 drama WATERLOO ROAD, failed to turn up for his trial and was found guilty in his absence. Magistrates in Ashton-under-Lyne were told that Fitzpatrick, 21, of Burnage, Greater Manchester, hit seven months pregnant Julie Owens over the head with a shoe at her flat before threatening to punch her in the stomach. BLOG: Rachel Melvin DAYS OF OUR LIVES actress Rachel Melvin blogs "For american idol fans only-otherwise u might be lost": Alright, so I'm in love with David Cook. And by "in love" I mean: as in love as any viewer could be watching the most talented person perform on television that she doesn't really know personally- but for the record I would LOVE to!- so if anyone knows him or the producers at American Idol, please contact me! haha Now, not to brag, but I have to admit that had I not engaged myself in a career of acting, I might otherwise be a talent scout of some sort. From day one of his audition, I knew and still do, that David Cook will take the whole thing. He has the voice, the look, and a genuine personality that my optomistic side would love to believe would be hard for him to lose should he make it big in this business- and I believe he will. INTERVIEW: Former DAYS star Matt Cedeno Last we saw Brandon Walker on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, he was drugged by Kate, woke up in bed with Sami and then left town. While we haven't seen the character since, his portrayer, Matt Cedeno is another story. "Amazing how the time flies by. Three years already since I last appeared on the show! I actually had talked to Ken Corday (Days' Executive Producer) earlier this year about [possibly returning], but we'll see. I don't know. He had said there was something immediate, and then I think it just kinda faded. He got sick and I haven't reached back out and vice versa. I wouldn't say never, but nothing in the immediate works." Chapel Hill woman gets WORLD turn Meredith Hagner was riding the subway in New York when her agent left the message on her cell phone -- "Call us right back." Six weeks later, the 2005 Chapel Hill High School graduate is set to debut Thursday on the AS THE WORLD TURNS. Hagner's 16-year-old character, Liberty Ciccone, is spunky, she said from the set Tuesday morning. Liberty's entrance surprises another character, but don't try pumping Hagner for details. "Oh gosh," she said apologetically to the News & Observer. "I don't know if I'm supposed to say." It's the next big step for Hagner, 20, who knew she wanted to act "honestly, since I was a little, tiny kid." She moved to Brooklyn after graduation and landed commercials for Levi's, Radio Shack, Acuvue, Subway and JCPenney. But the mysterious Liberty -- Hagner had to dye her blond hair for the part -- is her meatiest role yet. Liberty is seen eating in many scenes. "I think one day I had a cheeseburger, a plate of eggs Benedict, a pretzel and two cinnamon buns, and all my scenes were before noon," Hagner said. "I was really sick the rest of the day." Hagner has had to adjust for a television audience. "On stage you're just so out there," she said. "It's easy to forget there's a box right there that's capturing everything."

ATWT's Schulenberg will sing for charity

Peep Show: Live from the Knitting Factory will celebrate the arrival of spring April 28 at the downtown nightspot. Presented by Empty Space Ensemble, the rock concert will feature cast members from "Cry Baby," "Rent," "Gypsy," "The Lion King," "Mamma Mia!," "Jerry Springer: The Opera," "Saved!" and AS THE WORLD TURNS. Those currently scheduled to perform include Carly Jibson, Adam Kantor, Sean Bradford, Raymond J. Lee, Jason Michael Snow, Nancy Braun, Michael Buchanan, Katrina Rose Diderksen, Rachel Frankenthal, Travis Greisler, Auri Marcus, Melissa Menezes, Marnie Schulenberg, Anne Brummel Gallagher, Chris Yonan and Claire Wilmoth. Show time at the Knitting Factory is 9:30 PM. The singers will be backed by a four-piece band that features Chris Lane, Marcus Ricci, Doug Fischer and Jess Stewart. The Knitting Factory is located at 74 Leonard St (between Church and Broadway). Doors open at 9 PM. Tickets, priced $10, are available by visiting knittingfactory.com or at the door the night of the concert. Proceeds benefit ESE'S Young Writer's Forum, which is an initiative to foster the development and growth of new works by young artists. Visit www.emptyspaceensemble.com for more information.

Inturn Season 3 - Episode #3

InTurn3 - Episode 3: The Wedding Audition The InTurns arrive at the loft for the first time and are shocked to learn that only 8 of them will be moving in. Nell relaxes after winning their first challenge granting her an automatic callback.

Mitch Longley on DH

Former ANOTHER WORLD and PORT CHARLES star Mitch Longley appeared on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES last night in scenes with Eva Longoria Parker's Gabrielle. Longley has been in a wheelchair since an accident a few weeks before he turned eighteen. He survived a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. But he never gave up his goal of becoming an actor, something he had dreamed of since he was five years old. On DH, Gabrielle was frustrated by all the empty handicapped parking spaces at the local discount store where she was shopping so she used the fact that Carlos is blind ot get a handicapped tag for her car. At one point, Mitch Longley's character approached her outside a store where she was parked in a handicapped space because he was forced to park far away and she wasn't really handicapped. They got into an altercation and eventually she managed to push his wheelchair away so she could drive off. It was very politically incorrect and hilarious at the same time.

Vinci Alonso Has Meltdown on VIVA HOLLYWOOD!

Vinci Alonso is one of the contestants on the new VH1 show VIVA HOLLYWOOD! a reality show in which Latino actors compete to become the next telenovela star (the winner receives a contract with Telemundo). The latest episode demanded that contestants Vinci and Berto do a gay scene together, which caused Vinci to lock himself in the bathroom and cry.

AMC Promo: Dixie is back!

Interview: 35 years of Y&R Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor): "I have installed Katherine’s sense of humor. I can cry only so many times. We’ve gotta laugh. Esther is usually my target, and so is Jill. My sense of humor is very accepted by the audience, which is a good thing. No one wants to be sad all the time." Eric Braeden (Victor Newman): "I came to America for adventure. I’d read a lot of things about the American West and cowboys and Indians. For a while, I was a cowboy in Montana. I got into acting early on. I grew up in hard times (with World War II and the British occupation), and my father died early on. I’ve always been into acting. I wanted an escape." Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Newman): "I don’t think she's really strong. She’s seemingly strong, but strong women make stronger decisions; they don’t get into compulsions. She has a lot of bravado, but she’s pretty weak. That’s what’s very interesting to play – underneath she’s damaged, but she’s a fighter." Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman): "Sometimes I just want to strangle Nikki – like when she worked for Victor’s competitor, and the times when she isn’t treating her children too nicely. She is a narcissist who needs attention." Vail Bloom (Heather Stevens): "Michael Graziadei is fun to play with. He brings comfort and casualness – he goes with the flow. It's a great working experience. In fact, it doesn’t even feel like work!" Adrienne Frantz (Amber Moore): "Jeanne Cooper and Jess Walton are so incredible. I learn so much from working with the daytime divas of the show. I just try to absorb from them. I’m like a sponge. They both are always so in the moment, and they give you things back to work off." Don Diamont (Brad Carlton): (On his early days on Y&R) "I had just been fired from ‘Days of Our Lives’ and voted Best Newcomer in the same week. At the time, I really embraced the ‘hunk status’ that soaps were focusing on, and just thought that hopefully I’ll prove myself as an actor and evolve beyond being the hunk by the pool. I was thrilled to get out of the tank tops and put on a suit." Ten actors who helped make GENERAL HOSPITAL shine The list includes Amber Tamblyn, Jonathan Jackson, Rena Sofer, Jack Wagner and more. Soap vet Constance Towers covers Kate Linder's Hollywood star ceremony "What an event it was," Connie raved, recalling the exciting sidewalk festivities. "Kate wore a great Navy pants suit with white cuffs and collar. She looked fabulous. 'Every inch a star,' as they say. She paid great tribute to the Bell family for her career and dedicated the star to Bill Bell [the late co-creator/head writer of Y&R and B&B] and Johnny Grant [the late honorary mayor of Hollywood]." In the VIP section, Connie met up with Lee Phillip Bell, widow of Bill Bell and co-creator of Y&R and B&B, and her actress daughter, Lauralee Bell, who had a long run playing Christine Blair on Y&R. "I stood with them," Connie reported. "It was fun to chat with Lee. She looked beautiful in a robin’s egg blue Chanel-type jacket. She is so lovely." Also on hand was the Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, and other Y&R stars, including Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor), Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott), Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren Fenmore Baldwin), Y&R co-head writer Maria Bell, B&B executive producer Bradley Bell as well as Charlene Tilton (ex-Lucy Ewing, DALLAS), top designer Barbara Lazarus (the former wife of Wolfgang Puck, who designed Spago and all of his restaurants during their marriage) and another famous designer, Mr. Blackwell. Hit Indian soap opera pulled from Afghan TV An Afghan TV station said Sunday it had pulled a popular Indian soap opera, branded "un-Islamic" by conservative clerics, on the orders of the government which also wants several others banned. The show, named KUMKUM after the central character, is the first victim of a government order giving several stations until Tuesday to stop airing certain programmes it says undermine Afghan culture. The stations had ignored a previous government order against the shows -- all of which touch on love stories and disputes among Hindu families -- by mid-April. EASTENDERS chiefs axe Honey Mitchell EASTENDERS star Emma Barton has been axed by the soap's producers. The actress, who joined the BBC One show as Honey Mitchell in September 2005, will now depart later this year. Her on-screen husband Perry Fenwick (Billy) has been told that his job is safe. An insider told The Sun: "Emma's a lovely actress, but we've just come to the end of her storyline. Honey will go this summer."

Series Finale of HORRIBLE PEOPLE

1 When last we saw Daniel Hugh Kelly's creepy Colonel Mayer on AS THE WORLD TURNS, he was about to hauled off to prison for murdering Cheri Love. Before he left, Luke managed to scream out "I love your son!" in a heated exchange as Noah looked on. Nearly seven months later, the Colonel will be back. Kelly returns to Oakdale as Noah's father beginning on Tuesday, May 6. No word yet on what the story might be. Kelly is best known to soap fans for his three year run on RYAN'S HOPE as Frank Ryan. He also played McCormick on HARDCASTLE AND MCCORMICK in the mid-80s.

AS THE WORLD TURNS Friday Previews

1 Kiss the Bride premiered at the Regent Showcase in Los Angeles last night. Kristen Renton (Morgan, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) was on hand as was Jason Dottley and Del Shores from Logo's new SORDID LIVES: THE SERIES.

Out on the Town - April 17, 2008

1 The ONE LIFE TO LIVE crew fills the boardwalk as it films a scene near the Aztec Ocean Resort and the Casino Pier. 1 Extras stroll the boardwalk (above) during a scene for the soap opera. Actor Trevor St. John (below right) talks with the crew. (PHOTOS: THOMAS P. COSTELLO) The sun was shining, the cameras were rolling, and the production crew of the daytime soap opera "One Life to Live" was on their second day of taping on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, Thursday. From the Asbury Park Press: A cool breeze blew off the ocean as extras milled about, pretending to enjoy a day at the beach. People came out to watch. Amid the roving cameramen and directors making frantic hand gestures, people silently watched as ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Todd Manning, portrayed by actor Trevor St. John, acted out a scene in front of the Aztec Ocean Resort. As taping wrapped up to move north to Lucky's Arcade and Pizza, onlookers scurried to St. John, to get autographs and take pictures with the actor, who portrays the father of character Starr Manning. Although the producers could not reveal any plot teasers besides the involvement of a popular couple, or which actors were at the boardwalk, people watching the taping reported rumors of characters Starr and Todd Manning, Cole Thornhart, Blair Cramer Manning, John McBain, Talia Sahid and Antonio Vega, being in the borough. "Technically, everything is going well and everyone in Seaside Heights and the Casino Pier have been very accommodating. Everyone down here is excited that we're here," said producer John Tumino. Tumino and senior producer Suzanne Flynn said that costumes were being stored in the Lifeguard Headquarters, actors were using rooms in the Atzec Ocean Resort, and crew members were staying at the nearby Holiday Inn. Flynn said that two different story lines are being taped involving eight actors and about 25 union extras. "This is a great place with beautiful beaches," Flynn said, adding that the location is being used as the setting for Virginia Beach. "We want to say a big "Thank you' to Seaside Heights. Everyone has been very helpful, and we're very grateful. "It was colder than we thought it would be," Flynn said. She noted humorously that an actress who was taping on the pier Wednesday had taken off her shoes to enjoy the mild daytime weather but ended up chilly during the evening when the temperatures dropped.