10 Years Ago Today, Matthew Shepard was Beaten and Left to Die

It was ten years ago tonight, on the night of October 6, 1998, that Matthew Shepard was beaten by Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson and left to die tied to a fence near Laramie, Wyoming. He died five days later, on October 12. This morning, Judy Shepard appeared on THE EARLY SHOW to discuss the progress that has (and hasn't) been made since Matthew's murder. Wyoming still does not have a hate crime law that covers sexual orientation. Said Shepard: "I'd like to say yes it surprises me, but no it doesn't." "Matthew Shepard's story is one of the stories that changed the '90s as a decade and changed the world," reminds AS THE WORLD TURNS two-time Emmy nominee, Van Hansis. "One thing that Judy Shepard told me when I met with her was that there have been hundreds upon hundreds of other hate crimes since Matthew Shepard and they never get national recognition. Without recognition, there's not going to be change." Before a special benefit performance of "The Laramie Project" in 2006, Hansis told Soap Opera Digest: "I really feel that Luke's storyline has been groundbreaking in daytime television. From the response I’ve gotten, Luke has become a very loved character on the show despite his sexuality, which a lot of people might have problems with. They've gone forward in telling the first part of his 'coming out' story, and that has really opened up a lot of people's eyes. I hope they'll continue to show Luke as a full, rounded person. A very important part of 'The Laramie Project,' and ATWT does this as well, is that it shows a community. In everybody's community, there are gay people. It's a fact. You can't turn your back or try to hide from something just because you don't like it. People need to find a way to embrace each other and find out that, as different as people are, everyone in essence is the same."

SWINGTOWN Season 1 DVD

The cover art for the DVD release of the first (and only confirmed) season of SWINGTOWN has been released. The DVD will be out on December 9th. As reported earlier, reruns of SWINGTOWN, the CBS drama about partner-swapping couples in 1970s suburbia, will be shown on Bravo later this fall. SWINGTOWN stars Jack Davenport, Grant Show, Josh Hopkins, Molly Parker, Lana Parrilla, Miriam Shor, Shanna Collins, Aaron Howles and Britt Robertson. 1

The Complete Idiot's Guide To Daytime Soaps

Soap fans are very clever. I saw this "Idiot's Guide" earlier on a fan board and couldn't help but laugh. If only the daytime soaps were written for the intelligent audience I know we are, versus the uneducated, homophobic morons the folks in charge seem to think we are. 1

PREVIEW: Tonight's DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

1 "We're So Happy You're So Happy" - Secrets come out in the open, while others continue to unfold on the season premiere of ABC's DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, Sunday, October 5 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET): Lynette discovers her son, Porter, has a softer side, which she finds endearing; Gaby amusingly attempts to mask her demise in social stature; and the time has come for the men in Susan's life to meet. Meanwhile Bree begins to feel the pressures of balancing marriage and a career, Edie is reminded just how hostile the neighbors on Wisteria Lane can be, and a suspicious Mrs. McCluskey enlists Katherine's help to uncover more about their new neighbor, Dave. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES stars Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, Marcia Cross as Bree Hodge, Eva Longoria Parker as Gabrielle Solis, Nicollette Sheridan as Edie Britt, Ricardo Antonio Chavira as Carlos Solis, Doug Savant as Tom Scavo, Kyle MacLachlan as Orson Hodge, Dana Delany as Katherine Mayfair, Neal McDonough as Dave, Shawn Pyfrom as Andrew Van De Kamp, Brenda Strong as Mary Alice Young, James Denton as Mike Delfino, Charlie Carver as Porter Scavo, Max Carver as Preston Scavo, Joshua Moore as Parker Scavo and Kendall Applegate as Penny Scavo. Guest stars include Richard Burgi as Karl Meyer, Kathryn Joosten as Mrs. McCluskey, and Gale Harold as Jackson. "We're So Happy You're So Happy" was directed by David Grossman and written Alexandra Cunningham.

PREVIEW: Tonight's BROTHERS & SISTERS

1 "Book Burning" - Much to the chagrin of her mother and siblings, Kitty decides to publish a tell-all memoir about Robert's unsuccessful Presidential race and the trials and tribulations of the Walker family. Meanwhile, Justin slows his relationship with Rebecca to a near stand still, on BROTHERS & SISTERS, Sunday, October 5 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. BROTHERS & SISTERS stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper. Guest starring are Cathy Ladman as Carla Hanson, Karl T. Wright as Alan Simms and Marty Ryan as Mike. "Book Burning" was written by Jennifer Levin and Sherri Cooper-Landsman and directed by Laura Innes.

Manhattanites Trailer

Here's the latest trailer for my upcoming film, Manhattanites, starring ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Ilene Kristen, Forbes March and David Fumero, as well as ALL MY CHILDREN's Aiden Turner and Jill Larson. The film was directed by Gregori J. Martin and co-directed by Darnell Williams. manhattanitesthemovie.com

Daytime Nielsen Ratings For Week of Sept. 22-26, 2008

From the ABC Daytime ratings release: * For the fourth consecutive week, ABC ranked as Daytime’s No. 1 network in Women 18-49 (1.3 rating/830,000), this week topping CBS by 8% (1.2 rating/769,000) and NBC by 18% (1.1 rating/750,000). * ABC was home to Daytime’s Top 2 programs in Women 18-34 with “The View” (343,000/1.0 rating) and “General Hospital” (342,000/1.0 rating). “One Life to Live” (No. 5 - 267,000/0.8 rating) rounded out the Top 5, giving ABC 3 of the week’s Top 5 programs in Daytime. * The week’s No. 1 program in Daytime, “The View” hit a 7-Month high in Women 18-34 (343,000 - - since week of 2/18/08).   * In Women 18-49, ABC owned 3 of Daytime’s Top 5 programs with “General Hospital” (No. 2 – 947,000/1.4 rating), “The View” (No. 3T – 844,000/1.3 rating) and “One Life to Live” (No. 5 – 792,000/1.2 rating). * For the fourth week running, “The View” (No. 3 – 3.86 million) and “General Hospital” (No. 5 – 2.78 million) placed among Daytime’s Top 5 programs in Total Viewers. In Key Women, both shows tied for No. 1 in Women 18-34 and ranked among the Top 3 in Women 18-49. * Extending its streak as a Top 5 player in Daytime to 24 straight weeks, “One Life to Live” surpassed CBS’ “As the World Turns” in the 2 o’clock hour by 45% in Women 18-34 (267,000 vs. 184,000) and by 12% in Women 18-49 (792,000 vs. 707,000). * At 3 o’clock, “General Hospital” more than doubled CBS’ “Guiding Light” in Women 18-34 (153%; 342,000 vs. 135,000), and towered over the time period competitor by 66% in Women 18-49 (947,000 vs. 569,000) and by 31% in Total Viewers (2.78 million vs. 2.13 million). Following are the Daytime Lineup averages, plus Top 5 Programs Ranks – Week of September 22, 2008:Daytime Rank Total Viewers Women 18-49 (Rtg/000s) No. 1 CBS 3.55 million No. 1 ABC 1.3/830,000 (-38,000) No. 2 ABC 2.87 million No. 2 CBS 1.2/769,000 (-20,000) No. 3 NBC 2.57 million No. 3 NBC 1.1/750,000 (+41,000) Top Daytime Programs in Women 18-49 (rank based on rating):Program Net Rtg/000s The Young & the Restless CBS 1.8/1.17 million (+40,000) General Hospital ABC 1.4/947,000 (-41,000) The View ABC 1.3/844,000 (+8,000) Bold and the Beautiful CBS 1.3/836,000 (+2,000) One Life to Live ABC 1.2/792,000 (-57,000) All My Children ABC TBD/TBD Days of our Lives NBC TBD/750,000 (+41,000) As The World Turns CBS TBD/707,000 (-40,000) Guiding Light CBS TBD/569,000 (-6,000)