News

1980: Another World spin-off Texas premiered on NBC,

starring Beverlee McKinsey as Iris."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: Donald Briscoe assumed the role of Tony Merritt in Days of our Lives. A message appeared on the screen to explain the recast: "The part of Tony Merritt will be played by Donald Briscoe."

1980: Another World returned to 60 minutes daily, after more than a year of 90-minute episodes, to make room for Texas. Russ (David Bailey) and Tracy began their honeymoon, and Jamie (Richard Bekins) had dinner with Mac and Rachel.

1953: Love of Life's Meg was upset with Vanessa.

1983: Guiding Light's Mike investigated a birth certificate.

1988: General Hospital's Grant tried to kidnap Robin.

1993: NBC aired the final episode of Santa Barbara."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1953: On Love of Life, Van (Peggy McCay) and Meg (Jean McBride) were at odds over Meg's son, Beanie (Dennis Parnell). Meg later asked Van, "How can you go on being friends with a man who threatened my life?" McCay left Love of Life in 1955 after 4 years.

1977: Lovers and Friends premiered on NBC.

1980: Edge of Night's Cliff ate Mrs. Corey's soup.

1995: Days' Alice interrupted Bo and Billie's wedding.

2001: All My Children's Bianca was outed at the Crystal Ball."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1938: Irna Phillips' radio soap opera Woman in White premiered on NBC Red. The show told the story of Karen Adams, a young nurse who dedicated her life to others, taking care of two young siblings after the death of her parents. Karen spent much of her time counseling others,...

1979: The Edge of Night's Deborah continued to be poisoned.

1981: Milton Berle guest-starred on General Hospital.

1991: Days of our Lives' Carly and Bo exchanged vows in Mexico.

2001: One Life to Live's Blair was reunited with her baby."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Willy (Edward Holmes) informed Mike (John Larkin) that Ed was the staff member who talked to Dalton.

1971: On The Doctors, Dr. Steve Aldrich (David O'Brien) recalled how happy he and Carolee Simpson (Carolee Campbell...

1977: For Richer, For Poorer premiered on NBC.

1979: A mystery person tried to enter The Willows on Atwt.

1989: Guiding Light's Phillip tried to get through to Beth.

1995: Y&R's Ryan pitched a new Jabot ad campaign for teens."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Dark Shadows, Burke Devlin (Mitchell Ryan) realized that Victoria Winters was still at Collinwood.

1974: On General Hospital, Phil Brewer (Martin West) was murdered with a geode paper weight.

1974: On Another World, when a bitter and tearful Rachel...

1980: Another World spin-off Texas premiered on NBC,

starring Beverlee McKinsey as Iris."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: Donald Briscoe assumed the role of Tony Merritt in Days of our Lives. A message appeared on the screen to explain the recast: "The part of Tony Merritt will be played by Donald Briscoe."

1980: Another World returned to 60 minutes daily, after more than a year of 90-minute episodes, to make room for Texas. Russ (David Bailey) and Tracy began their honeymoon, and Jamie (Richard Bekins) had dinner with Mac and Rachel.

1980: Texas ("starring Beverlee McKinsey" as Iris) premiered on NBC.

Daytime Emmy winning writer Harding Lemay died peacefully on May 26. He was 96.

Lemay was born into rural poverty on March 16, 1922, near his mother's St. Regis Mohawk Indian reservation in North Bangor, New York. The fifth of thirteen children, he escaped his parents' alcoholism and his father's suicide by running away to New York City at age 17, finding early refuge at the famous Brace Memorial Newsboys' Home.

The Brace Home gave them a roof, food, and even provided them with job placement so they could earn a salary and improve their lot in life. He worked in a library, returning books to the shelves, and met a librarian who assigned him a classic book a week to read. She would discuss the book with him. This was like having a private tutor. He also worked for a stationer delivering packages. But he was determined to become an actor. As luck would have it,...

1982: Gh's Luke ran into his old friend, Johnny.

1983: Knots Landings' Ciji was found dead.

1987: Ryan's Hope's Max Dubujak fell to his "death".

1998: Aw's Shane Roberts died following a car crash."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."

― Machiavelli

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1953: On The Guiding Light, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) told her father-in-law, Papa Bauer (Theo Goetz...

1953: Love of Life's Meg was upset with Vanessa.

1983: Guiding Light's Mike investigated a birth certificate.

1988: General Hospital's Grant tried to kidnap Robin.

1993: NBC aired the final episode of Santa Barbara."History is a vast early warning system."

― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1953: On Love of Life, Van (Peggy McCay) and Meg (Jean McBride) were at odds over Meg's son, Beanie (Dennis Parnell). Meg later asked Van, "How can you go on being friends with a man who threatened my life?" McCay left Love of Life in 1955 after 4 years. She currently stars as Caroline Brady on Days of our Lives.

Thanks to...

1977: Lovers and Friends premiered on NBC.

1980: Edge of Night's Cliff ate Mrs. Corey's soup.

1995: Days' Alice interrupted Bo and Billie's wedding.

2001: All My Children's Bianca was outed at the Crystal Ball."History is a vast early warning system."

― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1938: Irna Phillips' radio soap opera Woman in White premiered on NBC Red. The show told the story of Karen Adams, a young nurse who dedicated her life to others, taking care of two young siblings after the death of her parents. Karen spent much of her time counseling others, although she did find time to marry and experience...

1979: The Edge of Night's Deborah continued to be poisoned.

1981: Milton Berle guest-starred on General Hospital.

1991: Days of our Lives' Carly and Bo exchanged vows in Mexico.

2001: One Life to Live's Blair was reunited with her baby."History is a vast early warning system."

― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Willy (Edward Holmes) informed Mike (John Larkin) that Ed was the staff member who talked to Dalton.

1971: On The Doctors, Dr. Steve Aldrich (David O'Brien) recalled how happy he and Carolee Simpson (Carolee Campbell) were the day that he was arrested for Dan's murder. Later at the jail,...

Daytime Emmy winning producer Paul Rauch dies at age 78: "Daytime Emmy winner Paul Rauch, executive producer of daytime dramas 'Another World,' 'Santa Barbara,' 'One Life to Live,' 'Guiding Light' and 'The Young and the Restless,' died Sunday. He was 78, and reports of his death on websites devoted to soap operas described him as legendary. Rauch won two Daytime Emmys, sharing one for 'Another World' in 1976 and another for outstanding children's special for 'Run the Wild Fields' in 2001. He was nominated for a total of eight Daytime Emmys, most recently in 2011 for 'The Young and the Restless.'" Variety 104 scores eligible for Oscar consideration: "The list includes Jonny Greenwood ('The Master'), whose efforts in a previous Paul Thomas Anderson film, 'There Will Be Blood,' were disallowed per Academy rules. 'To be eligible, the original...

I guess ABC doesn't worry about Apartment 23 mocking Dancing with the Stars with these ratings.

News

Over at the website for their farm, Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge write a thank-you post to The Amazing Race team along with pictures of gingerbread cookies inspired by their Amazing Race competitors. There's something encouraging about the sight of Brent's imperfect icing.

Speaking of The Amazing Race, Jaymes has set up a website to take donations for his father's battle against cancer.

Deadline adds to the story about that remake of The Saint that's in the works. Eliza Dushku has joined the pilot as a love interest for the lead character.

Brenda Song is heading to a recurring role on New Girl according to EW. I'm more than a little mixed about the news, I like Song, I like that she'll be playing a love interest for Winston — but I hoped...

C.B.S. Slipping From Long Daytime TV Lead

By George Gent

New York Times

January 21, 1972

Daytime television is a woman's world of exquisitely prolonged suffering, greed, hate, abortions, betrayals and young and middle-aged love. It is a world with a seemingly endless fascination for some 50 million viewers who together make up a market of more than $300-million annually for which the three major networks battle tirelessly. For 17 years, the Columbia Broadcasting System has reigned supreme over that world without serious challenge. Until now.

The challenge, from the National Broadcasting Company and American Broadcasting Company, has sparked a frantic scramble at all three networks to further improve their ratings posture and has set off another round of the TV industry's favorite indoor parlor games - executive musical chairs.

The threat to C.B.S was best explained by Oscar Katz, the networks vice president of programs on the East Coast and a veteran daytime programmer.

B. Donald Grant died on July 1 at age 79.

Known as Bud, Grant started his career at NBC in 1956 and held posts at the Today show as well as management positions at the network's daytime and late-night units. Among the shows at NBC that Grant played a role in developing Days Of Our Lives.

Grant joined CBS in 1972 as vice president of daytime programming, replacing Paul Rauch. The network successfully launched The Young And The Restless a year later.

Grant moved into primetime in 1977 and became president from 1980 until 1987. CBS primetime hits during that time included Dallas and Knots Landing.

A recipient of many industry honors, Grant was a past governor of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and a former member of the board of directors of the Hollywood Radio & Television Society.

Survivors include Grant's wife, Linda Fernandez, and children: David, a vice president at CBS; Kate Grant; Val DeNoia and Michele Spaulding.

On this date in...

1980: Texas ("starring Beverlee McKinsey") premiered on NBC. The show was created by John William Corrington, Joyce Corrington, and Paul Rauch. The show lasted until December 31, 1982. Another World returned to 60 minutes (from 90) that day.

Celebrating a birthday today are:

Laurie Heineman (ex-Sharlene, Another World; ex-Mary, As The World Turns)

President Barack Obama - 50

Sebastian Roché (ex-Jerry, General Hospital) - 47

Crystal Chappell (Gina, Venice; Carly, Days Of Our Lives; ex-Olivia, Guiding Light; ex-Maggie, One Life To Live; ex-Jane, Santa Barbara; ex-All My Children) - 46

James Tupper (Andrew, Grey's Anatomy; ex-Jack, Men In Trees) - 46

Timothy Adams (ex-Ron, One Life To Live; ex-Rob, Guiding Light; ex-Casey, Sunset Beach) - 44

Daniel Dae Kim (ex-Jin, Lost; ex-Dr. Kim, All My Children) - 43

Mick Cain (ex-cj, The Bold And The Beautiful) - 33

Abigail Spencer (ex-Becca, All My Children; ex-Miss Farrell, Mad Men) - 30

Editor's Note: If you would like to...

In Part One of our interview with Emmy-winning Thom Christopher, the beloved soap legend discussed his cult following as "Hawk" from the sci-fi NBC series Buck Rogers In The 25Th Century, as well as how this theater trained thespian found his way to daytime television. In Part Two below, we discuss his commitment to helping others with HIV/AIDS, his chemistry with Tonja Walker on One Life To Live, as well as Carlo's "homoerotic" desire for Cristian (David Fumero) on One Life.

We Love Soaps TV: Aside from your acting you have been involved on the Board of Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.

Thom Christopher: Please tell folks this isn’t over. It’s an organization that truly is a shield between the enemy AIDS and humanity. Tom Viola and everyone in that office kills themselves working so hard. It is an extraordinary organization. It’s mission is magnificent.

Emmy Winning Actor Thom Christopher is beloved by daytime fans for his memorable roles on One Life To Live, Loving, and Guiding Light. However, sci-fi fans know Christopher better as the legendary "Hawk" from NBC's Buck Rogers In The 25Th Century from 1980-1981. Join us as we explore Christopher's unique career track, his insight into his "outsider" roles, as well as memories of getting hired on One Life To Live. If you are near Tulsa, Oklahoma, do not miss the opportunity to meet Christopher and his Buck Rogers costars at the Trek Expo this weekend.

We Love Soaps TV: Did you see the Daytime Emmy’s this year?

Thom Christopher: No, but I read the L.A. Times review. It was scathing. Knowing that daytime is in its twilight, I would have thought there would have been courtesy toward it.

We Love Soaps TV: That didn’t seem to...

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the nominees for the 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Awards including Outstanding Drama Series.

Outstanding Drama Series                               All My Children - ABC                 Executive Producer                        Julie Hanan Carruthers                  Coordinating Producer                         Nadine Aronson                  Supervising Producer                        Hope Harmel Smith The Bold And The Beautiful - CBS                 Executive Producer                        Bradley P. Bell                  Supervising Producer                        Rhonda Friedman                  Senior Producer                        Ronald L. Weaver                  Coordinating Producer                         Adam Dusevoir                  Producers                        Edward Scott                         Cynthia J. Popp                         Casey Kasprzyk General Hospital - ABC                 Executive Producer                        Jill Farren Phelps                  Consulting Producer                        Robert Guza, Jr                  Producers                        Mary O'Leary                         Michelle Henry                         Mercer Barrows The Young And The Restless - CBS                 Executive Producer                        Maria Arena Bell                  Co-Executive Producer                        Paul Rauch                  Supervising Producers                        Anthony Morina                         John C. Fisher

Click here for a full list of nominations.

Emmy-winning actress Kim Zimmer is making a splash in the theater world with her poignant role in the new staging of Nora and Delia Ephron's play "Love, Loss, And What I Wore." Enjoy our exclusive new interview with the outspoken and fascinating talent as she discusses this new project, as well as life on One Life To Live, and her upcoming book. Plus, exactly whom was she channeling in her role as a pushy executive producer in Steamboat? Zimmer answers below!

We Love Soaps TV: You just started appearing in "Love, Loss, And What I Wore." How did it go?

Kim Zimmer: Personally it did not go well for me [laughs]. Every time my husband AC Weary is in the audience I get a little nervous. I so love his criticism. I could feel him and I could hear him laughing at Orfeh through the whole thing, but I...

Filed under: Reality-Free, TV News

Veteran showrunner Paul Rauch has opted to leave 'The Young and the Restless' effective April 1, 2011.

No, this isn't an April Fool's gag. Rauch, who's been sharing the executive-producer duties with Maria Arena Bell since 2008, is leaving to go home to New York.

Rauch, a Daytime Emmy winner, came to Y&R after helming a variety of soaps. His resume includes running 'Another World,' 'One Life to Live,' 'Santa Barbara' and 'Guiding Light.'

The exit is completely amicable. In a statement, Rauch said, "I have had great pleasure working with Y&R's magnificent cast and crew. I feel that I've accomplished everything that I set out to achieve, and it's now time for me to return to New York."

 

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According to Soap Opera Digest, Y&R's Paul Rauch will leave his position as Co-Executive Producer of Young And Restless, effective April 1, 2011.

According to a statement, Rauch plans to return to the East Coast. "My collaboration with Steve Kent, and Maria and Bill Bell has been very rewarding. I have had great pleasure working with Y&R's magnificent cast and crew. I feel that I've accomplished everything that I set out to achieve, and it's now time for me to return to New York."...

When so much of the news about soaps these days has to do with endings, One Life to Live executive producer Frank Valentini’s story seems to give hope to the genre. Valentini, 48, has spent all of his 25-year television career at Oltl, working his way up from assistant to the executive producer, and recently re-upped for another two-year stint as showrunner.

When he joined the show in September 1985 as assistant to then-ep Paul Rauch, Valentini had no real exposure to soaps and definitely didn’t foresee it being such an integral part of his life. “I was just a...

According to the Internet Movie DataBase (IMDb.com): "The STARmeter rankings provide a snapshot of who's popular based on the searches of millions of IMDb users. Updated weekly, these rankings also graph the popularity of people over time and determine which events affect public awareness."  Here is a listing of some present and past soap stars and their current ranking, as well as some public figures.  Do you agree with the list? Is Lisa Rinna really more popular than President Obama? Weigh in below.   1. Darren Criss (Glee) 3. Leonardo DiCaprio (ex-santa Barbara)4. Johnny Depp (star of Dark Shadows movie)9. Dot Jones (Glee, Venice) 11. Jill Clayburgh (ex-sft)19. Brad Pitt (ex-aw)28. Amber Tamblyn (ex-gh)54. James Franco (ex-gh) 101. Parker Posey (ex-atwt)

119. Jessica Lowndes (90210) 121. Amanda Seyfried (ex-atwt)125. Demi Moore (ex-gh)134. Lyndsy Fonseca (ex Dh, ex-y&R)144. Courtney Thorne-Smith (ex-Melrose Place)157. Morgan Freeman (ex-aw)189. Josh Duhamel (ex-amc)200. Julianne Moore (ex-atwt)208. Paul Wesley (ex-gl)236. Lindsay Lohan...

A piece of television history comes to an end today when Guiding Light airs its last episode. After 72 years, TV's longest-running drama succumbed to declining ratings but it hasn't dimmed the ardor of longtime fans who hoped that another network would air the show and who devoted pages to eulogizing the show in the countdown to the final episode. And they are not alone in their love. The show's stars have been making their own peace with the end of Gl. Here Kim Zimmer, Beth Chamberlain, and Grant Aleksander share some their favorite memories. Kim Zimmer "It wasn't just a scene, it was the whole arc of the Josh and Reva first wedding. It was shot on location and the whole cast spent 3 glorious days together gathered for the events leading up to and including the ceremony. It really felt as if we were all family. Not just the cast but the crew as well.