News Brief

Frank Parker (ex-Grandpa Shawn, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 69 Denice Duff (ex-Amanda, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 43 Henry Simmons (ex-Tyrone, ANOTHER WORLD) - 38 Bryant Jones (ex-Nate, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 17

CBS Daytime: Everybody's In Love Today

Is ONE LIFE TO LIVE Daytime’s Lifeboat? Marlena De Lacroix blogs: "Have you boarded the ONE LIFE TO LIVE lifeboat yet? Judging from the letters I’ve received in the last three weeks from readers like Esther, Cherry, Marilyn and DSO, even the most discerning and stubborn of Marlena’s Thinking Fans seem to be boarding. They’re in hope it’s the one show that can keep their long-term love of soaps afloat in a sea of rapidly sinking - and stinking — shows." Legacy characters Jagger Cates and Robert Scorpio join NIGHT SHIFT Brian Frons, president, Daytime, Disney ABC Television Group, today announced that two award-winning actors, Antonio Sabato, Jr. and Tristan Rogers, will reprise the roles they created for GENERAL HOSPITAL of Jagger Cates and Robert Scorpio, respectively, for the second season of GENERAL HOSPITAL: NIGHT SHIFT. The SOAPnet series, which is the network’s most-watched of all time, follows the lives of doctors, nurses and patients as they embark on journeys of self discovery, love and heartache. The season premiere is TUESDAY, JULY 22 at 11:00 p.m., ET/PT on SOAPnet. In other casting news, Billy Dee Williams (Touissant Dubois), Kimberly McCullough (Dr. Robin Scorpio), Jason Thompson (Dr. Patrick Drake) and Sonya Eddy (Epiphany Johnson) will be back for the show’s sophomore season. In addition, other members of the cast include Adam Grimes as Dr. Kyle Julian, Carrie Southworth as Dr. Claire Simpson, Ethan Rains as Dr. Leo Julian (he is taking over the role from his real-life brother, Dominic, who was unavailable for Season 2) and Azita Ghanizada as Dr. Saira Batra. In storyline, Jagger will return to Port Charles after a 13-year absence with his five-year-old son, Stone, in tow. He will reconnect with Robin (Kimberly McCullough), meet some new residents – including Robin’s boyfriend Patrick (Jason Thompson) – along the way and, most importantly, face a difficult internal struggle as he grows emotionally as a man and a father. As for Scorpio, the super spy will have to face the fact that he is getting older and his health is failing. Upon his arrival in town, he’ll check into the hospital as a patient where his daughter, Robin, will be providing his care. Father and daughter will struggle to figure out their relationship as grown adults. “It is very exciting to kick off the second season with casting two accomplished actors who will undoubtedly bring their A-game to the series,” said Frons. “Because of their own histories with the original top-rated show, the audience will be able to immediately connect with them and their characters’ upcoming storylines.” On the casting of Sabato, executive producer Lisa De Cazotte adds: “I couldn't be happier to have Antonio Sabato, Jr. join us this season, as he will bring so much to this season because of Jagger's complex character and for the obvious natural charm he brings to the screen.” Head writer Sri Rao continues, “Antonio is a true star. We are proud that he can trace his roots to ‘GH’ and see it as befitting for him to return to Port Charles in the legendary role that helped propel his career.” As for Rogers, Rao enthusiastically says: “I am thrilled that Tristan will be returning to reprise his iconic role, and I can guarantee fans that they will not be disappointed. Robert’s storyline will be heartfelt, funny and robust.” De Cazotte continues, “Tristan’s return to Port Charles will come with an important story for his character and for his daughter, Robin, that promises to be compelling and touching.” B&B's Mackenzie Mauzy joins cast of "A Tale of Two Cities" The upcoming musical "A Tale of Two Cities" has completed and announced their cast. Mackenzie Mauzy (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) will play The Seamstress. WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Redd and Blacque Veronica Redd (ex-Maimie, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) and Taurean Blacque (ex-Henry, GENERATIONS) will star in the Horizon Theatre Company's world premiere of Valetta Anderson's family drama "Hallelujah Street Blues." Developed through Horizon's New South Play Festival and presented as part of the 2008 National Black Arts Festival, "Hallelujah Street Blues" will run July 11-Aug. 24 under the direction of Thomas W. Jones II. EVENT: Kathy Brier BROADWAY FOR MUSIKIDS Live at the Zipper Theater on Sunday, July 6th 2008 at 7:00pm. Come out to support MusiKids, CT Inc. and experience a night of amazing talent and surprises. Featuring Andrea McArdle, Kathy Brier (ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Julia Murney, Kate Pazakis, Natalie Weiss, The Broadway Boys, and The Wagner College Alumni Ensemble. The evening will be osted by Colin Sheehan with Musical Direction by Brian Nash. WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Mark Derwin THE SECRET LIFE OF AN AMERICAN TEENAGER debuted last night on ABC Family. The show is about what happens after vulnerable 15-year-old "good girl" Amy (Shailene Woodley) comes home from camp pregnant from her first and only sexual experience. Amy's father is played by former ONE LIFE TO LIVE and GUIDING LIGHT actor Mark Derwin. EVENT: Valarie Pettiford Jim Caruso's Cast Party and TheaterMania.com have announced Valarie Pettiford Monday, July 21, 2008 at 7:00p.m., as part of the long-running, Nightlife Award-winning concert series Broadway at Birdland. Valarie Pettiford (ANOTHER WORLD, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) gives you the reasons why she is thankful, as she puts her thoughts to music in her new show entitled "Thankful." The multi-talented, Tony nominated actress appears for one night only at Broadway at Birdland, blending a mixture of jazz, classic standards and musical theatre, with a stellar band musically directed by the brilliant Ron Abel. BLOG UPDATE: Tom Casiello "As soap writers, we sometimes tend to live in the shadows of previous soap writers. Of major story moments that existed before us. We cower in their greatness, and make every attempt to improve on them, to create new moments that are just as memorable."

Must See TV: Cyndi Lauper On ATWT This Thursday

Cyndi Lauper brings her True Colors Tour to Oakdake's Gay Pride celebration on Thursday and does her best to reunite Luke and Noah while in town. Here's a preview:

Heather Tom Who?

TMZ is reporting: "BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL" star Heather Tom and her 'borefriend partied it up at a charity auction in L.A. this weekend. Small problem: our photog had no clue who she was." 1

Vail Bloom at "The Wackness" Screening

1 Checking in with Y&R Emmy winner Jeanne Cooper In more than three decades of playing Genoa City's grande dame, Katherine Chancellor, on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Jeanne Cooper has seen her soap's popularity rise and fall in cycles, but viewers seem to like it best when the show concentrates on being a "tapestry of daydreams," she says. "People like that, thinking, 'If I weren't me, who would I be?' says Cooper, who marks her 35th anniversary on the soap next January. It's basically taking people away from their credit card debts and the question of who is going to be president and just giving them an hour when their mind can go somewhere else. I remember being on a plane one time, and the flight attendant leaned down and said very quietly, 'I do not believe for a minute that you killed your husband,' Cooper recalls, laughing. I could almost see the ears go up on the woman sitting next to me!" Now 79, Cooper isn't staying in sedate mode these days, recently finishing the movie comedy Donna on Demand" with son Corbin Bernsen. I play an old porn queen who was in a car accident, so now she directs and produces computer porn on demand," Cooper says. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The language is just hysterical!" From Walford To World Series – Former EASTENDERS star makes final table British-Italian actor Michael Greco, most famous for his role as Beppe DiMarco on EASTENDERS, proved he isn’t just a celebrity cashing in on the poker boom by making his first World Series of Poker final table. Prime time soap queen Heather Locklear seeking treatment for anxiety, depression Actress Heather Locklear has checked into an Arizona medical facility for psychological treatment, her spokeswoman said. Representative for Locklear, best known for her roles in DYNASTY and MELROSE PLACE, has revealed that the 46-year-old actress is being treated for anxiety and depression at an Arizona facility. "She requested an in-depth evaluation of her medication and entered into a medical facility for proper diagnosis and treatment," the New York Daily News quoted Locklear’s rep, as saying. 1 ATWT's Ewa Da Cruz speaks about her Julia Quinn book cover "I've done it before. I do a lot of those [covers]. It's just that people don't really recognize me all the time, because it might be a side shot or a back shot. It just happens to be a big author this time. It's pretty fun. It's fast. It takes an hour, and when you go in, you either work alone or you work with a guy. The guys are beautiful (laughs). Sometimes you get to wear all sorts of dresses. I always have fun when I'm working with the photographers that are doing those kinds of shoots. It's a nice side gig." GL Sound Mixer Jones in demand Coming off his 2008 Emmy win this month for Direct Live Sound Mixing of TV's legendary Daytime Drama GUIDING LIHGT, Charlie Jones remains in demand. When an Executive in Charge of Production needs an audio mixer, Jones--or "C.J." as his friends and colleagues know him--is the go-to guy. And now he has broken new ground, launching his own musical artist development company, Urban Melodic Entertainment (UME). Jamia on Y&R today Fans of CBS' THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS will get a good, long look this month at the daytime soap’s newest star — 11-year-old Jamia. The Oscar show singer and August Rush co-star, who shortened her performance name from Jamia Simone Nash to Jamia, begins appearing on y&r today as Ana, the daughter of single mother Tyra Hamilton (played by AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL winner Eva Marcille). AMC Costume Designer David Zyla judges Handbag Designer Awards Handbag Designer 101 announced the winners of the Second Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards which were held on June 18th, at the New York Historical Society. Three time Emmy nominee for Costume Design, David Zyla from ALL MY CHILDREN, was on of the judges.

Heather Tom attends "The Good Life"

Rebecca Budig (Greenlee, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Michelle, GUIDING LIGHT) - 35

Eden Riegel to Co-Host Cooking Show

Rebecca Budig (Greenlee, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Michelle, GUIDING LIGHT) - 35

Daytime Nielsen Ratings for the Week of June 16, 2008

Sherry Stringfield (ex-Blake, GUIDING LIGHT) - 41

B&B: Ridge calls for a family meeting without Donna

1 Checking in with Y&R Emmy winner Jeanne Cooper In more than three decades of playing Genoa City's grande dame, Katherine Chancellor, on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Jeanne Cooper has seen her soap's popularity rise and fall in cycles, but viewers seem to like it best when the show concentrates on being a "tapestry of daydreams," she says. "People like that, thinking, 'If I weren't me, who would I be?' says Cooper, who marks her 35th anniversary on the soap next January. It's basically taking people away from their credit card debts and the question of who is going to be president and just giving them an hour when their mind can go somewhere else. I remember being on a plane one time, and the flight attendant leaned down and said very quietly, 'I do not believe for a minute that you killed your husband,' Cooper recalls, laughing. I could almost see the ears go up on the woman sitting next to me!" Now 79, Cooper isn't staying in sedate mode these days, recently finishing the movie comedy Donna on Demand" with son Corbin Bernsen. I play an old porn queen who was in a car accident, so now she directs and produces computer porn on demand," Cooper says. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The language is just hysterical!" From Walford To World Series – Former EASTENDERS star makes final table British-Italian actor Michael Greco, most famous for his role as Beppe DiMarco on EASTENDERS, proved he isn’t just a celebrity cashing in on the poker boom by making his first World Series of Poker final table. Prime time soap queen Heather Locklear seeking treatment for anxiety, depression Actress Heather Locklear has checked into an Arizona medical facility for psychological treatment, her spokeswoman said. Representative for Locklear, best known for her roles in DYNASTY and MELROSE PLACE, has revealed that the 46-year-old actress is being treated for anxiety and depression at an Arizona facility. "She requested an in-depth evaluation of her medication and entered into a medical facility for proper diagnosis and treatment," the New York Daily News quoted Locklear’s rep, as saying. 1 ATWT's Ewa Da Cruz speaks about her Julia Quinn book cover "I've done it before. I do a lot of those [covers]. It's just that people don't really recognize me all the time, because it might be a side shot or a back shot. It just happens to be a big author this time. It's pretty fun. It's fast. It takes an hour, and when you go in, you either work alone or you work with a guy. The guys are beautiful (laughs). Sometimes you get to wear all sorts of dresses. I always have fun when I'm working with the photographers that are doing those kinds of shoots. It's a nice side gig." GL Sound Mixer Jones in demand Coming off his 2008 Emmy win this month for Direct Live Sound Mixing of TV's legendary Daytime Drama GUIDING LIHGT, Charlie Jones remains in demand. When an Executive in Charge of Production needs an audio mixer, Jones--or "C.J." as his friends and colleagues know him--is the go-to guy. And now he has broken new ground, launching his own musical artist development company, Urban Melodic Entertainment (UME). Jamia on Y&R today Fans of CBS' THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS will get a good, long look this month at the daytime soap’s newest star — 11-year-old Jamia. The Oscar show singer and August Rush co-star, who shortened her performance name from Jamia Simone Nash to Jamia, begins appearing on y&r today as Ana, the daughter of single mother Tyra Hamilton (played by AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL winner Eva Marcille). AMC Costume Designer David Zyla judges Handbag Designer Awards Handbag Designer 101 announced the winners of the Second Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards which were held on June 18th, at the New York Historical Society. Three time Emmy nominee for Costume Design, David Zyla from ALL MY CHILDREN, was on of the judges.