Happy 90th Birthday To ATWT's Helen Wagner!

1 Helen Wagner was born in Lubbock, Texas, on September 3, 1918. She has played matriarch Nancy Hughes McClosky on AS THE WORLD TURNS, with only a few interruptions, since the show's debut in April 1956. This has earned her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records ("Longest Time in Same TV Role"). She actually was part of a pilot taping for the show in late 1955 which means she has been "Nancy" for nearly 53 years now. Before she signed a 13-week contract with ATWT at the age of 37, Ms. Wagner played Trudy Bauer on both THE GUIDING LIGHT (original cast) and VALIANT LADY. She uttered the first words on ATWT, the now famous "Good morning, dear." She had been a singer and stage actress, sometimes working as a church soloist to pay the rent. She had roles in "Oklahoma!" and "The Bad Seed" on Broadway, played Blanche opposite Lee Marvin in a touring production of "A Streetcar Named Desire," and often did television drama in days when the medium was experimental and actors were sometimes unpaid. In 1963, she was on live television, debating whether her soap son should remarry his faithless ex-wife, when Walter Cronkite broke in to announce that President Kennedy had been shot. "That's my dubious claim to fame," Ms. Wagner has said. "I'm in the Smithsonian on tape, saying, 'I gave it a great deal of thought, Grandpa,' as Cronkite broke the story." The New York Times once said: "The character she created became an icon for a generation of women who understood her mostly futile attempts to run the perfect household and raise the perfect children. Nancy was Donna Reed with real problems in the days before soap characters traveled through time, engaged in espionage or almost routinely were reunited with evil twins." Wagner has taken some breaks from ATWT, both voluntary and involuntary. After six months in the role of Nancy, show creator Irna Phillips fired her because she did not favor the way Wagner poured coffee. After an overwhelming consensus was reached to hire her back, Irna did so begrudgingly. 1 "When we went on the air, Nancy and Chris couldn't sleep in the same bed," she said. "And when we finally got a double bed, one of us had to be in the bed and the other one had to have his feet on the floor so there was no hanky-panky going on." "You'd be surprised how much mail I got asking for advice," she added. "I got hate mail back in the early days: 'Why don't you leave your kids alone?'" Wagner left the show again in the early 1980s. Then-producer Mary-Ellis Bunim (who later went on to produce THE REAL WORLD) wished to take the show in a different direction and wanted to gear the stories toward the younger generation by showcasing the Hughes family less. Wagner and co-star Don MacLaughlin (Chris) walked away from the show after vocal dissent in the press. She returned to the role in 1985. Nancy and Chris celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1986 as AS THE WORLD TURNS celebrated it's 30th. McLaughlin died shortly after this was taped. In 1988, Wagner's alma mater, Monmouth College, awarded her with an honorary degree of "Doctor of Humane Letters". Although she has played the role for almost fifty years, she never won a Daytime Emmy Award for her work until four years ago. She was finally awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for her role on the show in May 2004 (along with Rachel Ames, John Clarke, Jeanne Cooper, Eileen Fulton, Don Hastings, Ray MacDonnell, Frances Reid and the late Ruth Warrick). 1 The night before that Daytime Emmy show, New York's Mayor Bloomberg had an Emmy reception at the Mayor's mansion. I was a volunteer that night and was assigned the task of escorting Helen Wagner for the evening. It was truly a pleasure and a night I'll never forget. She was 85 at the time and I was 34 and I couldn't keep up her. My only job was to keep track of her and make sure she was where she needed to be at the right time. She was full of energy and life and kept me on my toes all evening. It was such an honor to see all the wonderful daytime legends that night and also the next evening at the Emmy telecast. I also had the pleasure of seeing Wagner at the Museum of Television and Radio the night ATWT was honored on its 50th anniversary. Hearing her stories from the early days, when the show was live and how things have changed over the years was music to the ears of this soap fan. "It's more the people than it is the story," she said. "It was like growing up in a family. We've always been a happy show." Longer than her ATWT role, her marriage to Robert Willey has lasted 54 years and is still going strong. Wagner has said she has no plans to retire. "I'll just die with my boots on! That's my Texas background."

90210 Has Solid Opening By CW Standards

1 The much-hyped 90210 premiere earned a 3.3/5 in its first hour and a 3.4/5 in its second hour. The show had 4.91 million total viewers (more viewers than GOSSIP GIRL had on Monday but still less than THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS averaged last week - 5.1 million). In the adults 18-49 demographic, the 90210 premiere led The CW to the top of the heap for the first time in the network's two-year-plus history, drawing a 2.7 rating and 9 share. The show was #1 in the adults 18-34 demo as well earning a 3.1 rating and 9 share.

Message from Martha Byrne

Hello Everyone! I hope everyone had a great summer! I have been very busy with many exciting projects. After leaving ATWT I took a family vacation to Atlantis in The Bahamas. It was an amazing place to share with my husband and my kids. I highly recommend it! It was wonderful to relax with my family. I didn't have too much down time after I came home from Paradise Island. After my return from my much needed vacation, I did a play called "Other People's Money" at the John W Engeman Theater at Northport in Northport NY. I played a tough talking attorney who returns to her hometown to save the family business. I always wanted to play a lawyer for the obvious challenges that it presents an actor. I met some great people who have a true love of the theater. I was given a tremendous amount of support by my cast mates. Having a familiar daytime face in James Depaiva (OLTL) definitely put me at ease, we spent many hours rehearsing and making each other laugh. It was a very special experience. On the music front, I wanted you all to be the first to hear about a new web company I am working with. If you go to www.talkmarket.com, click on electronics and fun, then RECENT. You will see a short video of me singing and talking about the song I wrote for ATWT, "Find My Way Back.” I think it is an amazing new program to market music and I am thrilled to be involved. Please check it out and tell your friends. It is a cool site to hear new artists. I know the daytime fans are the best, so thank you for your continued support. Most recently I produced a short film in LA called Chrysalis. It was written and directed by Paul Leyden (ex-Simon Fraiser). Paolo Seganti (ex-Damian Grimaldi) starred in the film along with Malin Ackerman (Heartbreak Kid). It is a very dark comedy with a twist I had never seen in a film, I fell in love with the script the first time I read it. We are wrapping up editing right now and I am very proud of the project. Paul and I will continue to work on producing/directing feature films in the future. What a thrill it was to work with Paolo and Paul from behind the scenes, it truly was a dream come true. I keep in touch with my cast mates from ATWT as much as I can. Thank goodness for email and text messaging LOL. There are so many wonderful people there that are a tremendous part of my life. I am eternally grateful for their support and friendship. My work with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital continues. I am heading to Memphis for the PAB (Professional Advisory Board) meeting in October. It brings people from around the world to St. Jude to create new ways to help save lives through charity. I am honored to be a part of the team. Thank you for supporting the hospital. It is still very close to my heart. I will be having a chat in a few weeks and I hope all of you can make it. Hopefully I'll have more good news to share with all of you! Lots of love, Martha

90210 Returns Tonight

The lights at the Peach Pit went out at the turn of the century when BEVERLY HILLS 90210 went off the air. But the television show that was a pop culture sensation in the 1990s is back, on The CW, in what's being marketed as an edgy, updated version of the show. Catch the two hour series premiere tonight starting at 8pm ET. - Will The New 90210 Be As Successful As The First? - So, Just How Badly Does 90210 Stink? - 90210: Big shoes to fill - Brian Austin Green Spills on the New 90210 - Is 90210 a wise or desperate move?

GOSSIP GIRL Returns to Record Ratings

The second season of The CW's GOSSIP GIRL posted its highest ratings ever in all key demos last night. Aided by encouraging online reviews and a clever ad campaign, GOSSIP GIRL (3.4 million viewers, 1.7 preliminary adults 18-49 rating, a 5 share and a 2.3 adults 18-34 rating) returned up 6% from its premiere last year in the adult demo (and up 10% among the network’s key 18-34 demographic). Meanwhile, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS averaged 5.1 millions viewers last week, and a 1.7 ratings in the Women 18-49 demo. In fact, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL averaged 3.5 million viewers last week, also more than GOSSIP GIRL. So why is GOSSIP GIRL on the cover of every other magazine I see, with feature articles in the rest and newspapers across the country and Y&R is only on the cover of Soap Opera Digest? Are the 'GOSSIP' viewers much more demographically appealing to advertisers? Are soaps going after the wrong types of advertisers? Is the non-stop marketing working? It may be a little bit of each. But it is very interesting to look at the ratings the most buzzed about shows are getting.

Hollywood Podcast #53 - THE INTURN

Los Angeles actor/writer, Tim Coyne, spoke with actress Nell Mooney on "The Hollywood Podcast" about her victory on the CBS web reality series INTURN 3 and their summer acting experience together ten years ago. Running time 34:24

Takin' it Back with Barack Jack! (For Swing voters!!!)

ONE LIFE TO LIVE and Manhattanites star Ilene Kristen sitting in with the Will Galison Orchestra on "Takin' It Back with Barack Jack".

90210 Marathon on SOAPnet Today

In anticipation of 90210 returning to television, SOAPnet will air a 24-hour marathon of the original drama, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 on Labor Day starting at midnight and going through the entire day. The "BFFs of BH" marathon will feature 24 pivotal episodes of the hit TV series. It's all BEVERLY HILLS, all the time. Starring Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris, Brian Austin Green, Tori Spelling, Luke Perry and Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, the primetime teen soap first aired on Fox from 1990-2000. The show followed the lives of two transplanted Minnesota twins, Brandon and Brenda, as they made their way through Los Angeles amongst the privileged rich kids. Even though the show was known for its fabulous cars and clothes, the series covered many important issues, such as teen pregnancy, suicide, alcoholism, drug addiction, rape, integrated families and domestic violence. Artwork available on soapnetmedianet.com Episodes include: 12AM – Episode #1991-Pilot A - “Pilot-Part 1/The Class of Beverly Hills” – Twins Brenda and Brandon Walsh move to Beverly Hills where they start school at West Beverly and go to their first party. (Season 1) 1AM – Episode #1991-Pilot B - “Pilot-Part 2/The Class of Beverly Hills” – Brenda’s romance with an older man causes problems at home and at school. (Season 1) 2AM – Episode #1991-006 – “Perfect Mom” - As they prepare for the mother-daughter fashion show, Brenda's jealous of Kelly's glamorous mom, unaware of all the issues she's hiding. (Season 1) 3AM – Episode #1991-009 – “Isn’t It Romantic?” - Brenda and Dylan's first date is met with disapproval by her father. (Season 1) 4AM – Episode #1991-012 – “Slumber Party” - Secrets are exposed and emotions run high during Brenda's girls only slumber party. (Season 1) 5AM – Episode #1991-021 –“Spring Dance” - At the big spring dance, Kelly brings Brandon and is crowned Queen; Brenda leaves with Dylan and sleeps with him for the first time; Steve takes Donna, but it doesn’t go well. (Season 1) 6AM – Episode #1992-022 – “Beach Blanket Brandon” – Brenda’s so freaked out about her pregnancy scare, she breaks up with Dylan. (Season 2) 7AM – Episode #1992-034 – “Halloween” - Donna and Brenda support Kelly when she's the victim of unwanted advances at a Halloween party. (Season 2) 8AM – Episode #1992-047 – “Things To Do on a Rainy Day” – Donna goes to see her pop idols Color Me Badd, but finds out her mother is cheating in the process. (Season 2) 9AM – Episode #1992-048 – “Mexican Stand-off” - Brenda and Dylan sneak off to Baja, but then can't get back into the country; Kelly gets close with Jake, much to Steve's chagrin. (Season 2) 10AM – Episode #1992-049 – “Wedding Bell Blues” - The Walshes are furious when they realize Brenda lied and ran off to Mexico with Dylan, especially Jim who forbids her from seeing him. Kelly's pleasantly surprised when Jake shows up at Jackie and Mel's wedding. (Season 2) 11AM – Episode #1993-052 – “Too Little Too Late / Paris 75001” - Brenda and Donna have trouble adjusting to the Parisian culture. Kelly and Dylan bond in Brenda’s absence. (Season 3) 12PM – Episode #1993-054 – “Shooting Star / American in Paris” - Even after David catches them kissing, Dylan and Kelly end up spending a romantic night on the beach together; Meanwhile, in Paris, Brenda pretends she's French when she meets a handsome American student (Dean Cain). (Season 3) 1PM – Episode #1993-061 – “Destiny Rides Again” - David pressures Donna about her choice to remain abstinent; Brenda is shocked to run into Rick in L.A.; Brenda and Dylan break up when they disagree about the SATs and Dylan admits to a summer fling, but doesn't reveal with who; Dylan immediately asks Kelly out. (Season 3) 2PM – Episode #1993-062 - “Rebel With a Cause” - Kelly and Brenda get into a fight when Brenda (on a date with Rick) runs into Kelly out on a date with Dylan. (Season 3) 3PM – Episode #1993-068 – “Back In the Highlife Again” - Dylan tells Kelly that he chooses her over Brenda, and they kiss in the pool. They then break the news to Brenda and she takes it badly. (Season 3) 4PM – Episode #1993-076 – “A Night To Remember” – When Donna gets drunk at a prom party, her friends try unsuccessfully to hide it from Mrs. Teasley. (Season 3) 5PM – Episode #1993-077 –“Something In The Air” – As Donna faces the school board, her friends organize a march to protest her not being allowed to graduate with them. (Season 3) 6PM – Episode #1993-078A – “Commencement – Part 1” - As they prepare to graduate, the gang reminisces and participates in the year end rituals at school. (Season 3) 7PM – Episode #1993-078B – “Commencement – Part 2” – The gang graduates from West Beverly and leaves their mark on the Hollywood sign. (Season 3) 8PM – Episode #1994-081 – “The Little Fish” – The gang starts to adjust to college life – except for Brenda and Dylan, who have both given up on school for now and spend some quality time together. (Season 4) 9PM – Episode #1994-106 – “Acting Out” – Kelly and Brenda compete for the same role in a play. (Season 4) 10PM – Episode #1994-109A - “Mr. Walsh Goes To Washington – Part 1” – Kelly admits her feelings for Brandon to Andrea; Brenda gets an offer to study acting in London (Season 4) 11PM – Episode #1994-109B - “Mr. Walsh Goes To Washington – Part 2” - Kelly surprises Brandon in Washington; Donna catches David cheating; Brenda shares a special goodbye with Dylan before heading to London. (Season 4)

FLASHBACK: Cass and Kathleen's AW Wedding 1986

My all-time favorite soap couple is Cass and Kathleen from ANOTHER WORLD in the mid-80s. They were written as smart and funny and I rooted for them so hard back in the day as a teenager juggling many soaps with my trusty VCR. They finally married in November 1986 in a sweet ceremony following Kathleen's paralysis, Cass being kidnapped by Cecile and many other twists and turns. I have this episode saved on a VHS tape along with hundreds of other AW shows from its last 15 years. As many times as I've watched this wedding over the years, I just discovered something brand new today that I had never noticed before. Christopher Goutman, Executive Producer of AS THE WORLD TURNS, was the director for this episode. Stephen Schnetzer (Cass) and Julie Osburn (Kathleen) left AW a month after the wedding. Schnetzer returned in July 2007 and stayed with the show until it's demise in June 1999. He then brought the character of Cass to AS THE WORLD TURNS and GUIDING LIGHT but sadly, Cass was just a glorified dayplayer lawyer on those shows. Osburn returned to ANOTHER WORLD a few times, most memorably in 1991 in the hot Cass/Frankie/Kathleen triangle. By that time, Donna Swajeski was writing the show, and the story was clearly slanted in favor of Frankie. In the wedding episodes you'll see the wonderful Linda Dano as Felicia, the late Brent Collins as Wallingford, and Denise Alexander and Duke Stroud as Mary and Vince McKinnon among others.