Y&R Billy Abbott's Back
Billy Miller will soon be popping up on Y&R as the new Billy Abbott. AMC fans will recognize Miller as the now deceased Ritchie. "He's a winner," a Y&R cast member says about Miller. That's a good sign, since the role has been a tough one to recast. After being successfully played by David Tom (1999-2002), two unsuccessful replacements (Ryan Brown and Scott Seymour) followed.
Days Olympic News!
Beginning on August 11, DAYS OF OUR LIVES will offer special programming because of NBC's Olympic coverage. Concerned that certain parts of the country might not get to see DAYS everyday during the games, the show will kick off two limited-arc storylines. "We didn't want to advance our front-burner stories knowing some fans would be missing out," explains Bruce Evans, senior vice president, Daytime and Drama Programming stated in a recent interview.
Father's Day is right around the corner!
YOUNG AND RESTLESS and GENERAL HOSPITAL have cast two very familiar faces as two long-lost dads. Michael Gross, who is best known Steven Keaton on FAMILY TIES, will play Lowell Baldwin, Michael's father on Y&R. He first airs Aug. 15. On GH, Vincent Pastore (ex-Big Pussy, THE SOPRANOS) will begin playing Maximus Giambetti, father to Max and Milo.
ATWT Big News in Oakdale!
Big news in Oakdale: Grayson McCouch who bit the dust as Dusty earlier this year will be back — alive!! He is scheduled to return on September 24. Anthony Herrera, who has played James Stenbeck on and off since 1980 will return on August 27.
More Oakdale News!
After weekend buzz all over the Internet of a surprise exit at AS THE WORLD TURNS, actor Jon Prescott (Mike) has cleared up the mystery. In a posting on his Web site, jonprescott.com, the actor confirms, "Mike Kasnoff will be leaving Oakdale at the end of August," citing budget constraints for the departure. Prescott, who stepped into the role previously occupied by Shawn Christian (Daniel, DAYS) and Mark Collier in April, added a heartfelt thank you to his fans, assuring, "I view my departure as a positive step forward." A P&G rep says he’ll be gone by October. No word yet on whether Collier will return after that.
OLTL Guess Who's Coming to Llanview!
Emmy-winning daytime vet A Martinez (ex-Cruz, SB; ex-Roy, GH) is coming back to daytime in the new role of Ray Montez on OLTL. After leaving GH in 2002, Martinez has been working in film and TV roles, most recently a recurring gig on CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION. Check back for more updates as no first air date has been released yet!
The End of Passions!!
PASSIONS, which was originally scheduled to end on August 11 on DIRECTV, will be airing it's final episode on August 7 instead. DIRECTV will also be running a marathon of the final four episodes on August 8.
Morgan Freeman Update
Soap vet Morgan Freeman continues to improve after a car accident in Mississippi late Sunday August 3. According to an Associated Press report, Donna Lee, Freeman's publicist, said the Oscar-winning actor underwent surgery late Monday. He has a broken arm, broken elbow and minor shoulder damage, ''but is in good spirits'' and is expected to make a full recovery. Freeman, 71, is currently starring in The Dark Knight. He played Dr. Roy Bingham on ANOTHER WORLD from 1982-84 and Cicero Murphy on RYAN'S HOPE in 1981.
The Daytime Emmy Winners
The 35th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards aired live from The Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Friday, June 20, 2008 on ABC. Here is a list of winners along with the other nominees in each catagory.
Best Drama Series
