Days Of Our Lives- Daytime Soap Operas- News, polls, previews

The actor’s daughter Jessie Withers announced on Friday that her father died on Nov. 22 after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“He confronted his illness with the same strength and dignity he brought to his craft, creating a legacy of warmth, humor, and dedication, along with his remarkable ability to make every role unforgettable,” said Jesse in a statement to Variety. “Mark’s enduring talent and commitment to the industry will be fondly remembered by colleagues, friends, and fans alike.”

In 1981, Mark had a six-episode arc on the first season of Dynasty as Steve Carrington’s (Al Corley) lover Ted Dinard, who meets an untimely demise that nearly breaks the Carrington family apart.

His other TV credits include episodes of Wonder Woman, Magnum P.I., The Dukes of Hazzard, Remington Steele, Hill Street Blues, Dallas, Days of Our Lives, L.A. Law, Matlock, Frasier, The King of Queens, Criminal Minds, Drop Dead Diva, Castle, Stranger Things and Sense8.

Born June 25, 1947 in Binghamton, New York, Mark studied acting and directing at California State University, Los Angeles, before getting his Master of Fine Arts at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Jackée Harry guests on The Neighborhood 12/9/24

“Welcome to the Wicked Stepmother” – Tina discovers her father has age-related impairments, making it crucial to reunite him with his wife. Meanwhile, Daphne gets her first little baby boo-boo, on the CBS Original series THE NEIGHBORHOOD, Monday, Dec. 9 (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Glynn Turman guest stars as Otis, Tina’s father. Jackée Harry guest stars as Loretta, Otis’ wife.

GH's Lynn Herring, DAYS's Deidre Hall And Others Remember Wayne Northrop

“Wayne has always been the Man of my Dreams and now he will always be the Man in my Dreams,” Herring wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) alongside an image of her husband petting one of their horses. “No one navigates a loss alone & all of your love & kindness helps Hank, Grady & I take this journey Thank you especially our ?? @GeneralHospital & ??@DaysPeacock family.”

The actor’s one-time on-screen wife, Deidre Hall (Marlena), had this to say to Us Magazine about her former leading man: “He never met a practical joke that he didn’t want to pull on somebody. He was forever, forever playing practical jokes.” DAYS’s Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie) told the outlet, “Wayne was always funny,” adding, “Everybody loved him. He worked very, very hard.” She dubbed Northrop a “darling guy” and noted that the late star would be “vividly remembered by all the fans and by all of us.”

Northrop’s former DAYS on-screen brother, Peter Reckell (Bo), told Michael Fairman TV that “Wayne was my big brother from the moment I met him. Teasing and joking with me. Putting his arm around me physically and emotionally to guide me on my introduction to DAYS. No ego, just love and support. I am extremely lucky to have had him as family. Forever in my heart.”

Christie Clark, who played the role of Roman’s daughter Carrie Brady, wrote on Instagram, “Wayne Northrop was the most gloriously funny cowboy who adored his family! So,very sorry for your loss Lynn, Hank, Grady & @deidrehall_official & all the days fans & my days family. Wayne had me in stitches nearly every time the stage mangers called action. This kept me on my toes & taught me to enjoy the ride. Drake [Hogestyn, ex-John] & Wayne played the same part & had a similar vein running thru their blood, family first,enjoy every morsel of life & if you can make folks laugh.”

Herring’s friends in the daytime community have been rallying around her in the days since her husband’s passing, including her executive producer at GH, Frank Valentini, who said on X, “I am so sorry to hear of Wayne Northrop’s passing. He and @TheLynnHerring were married for over 40 years and Wayne left his mark on Port Charles in more ways than one. On behalf of our entire @GeneralHospital family, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to Lynn and their sons, Hank and Grady – along with their family and friends. They are all in our thoughts during this difficult time.”

Longtime GH co-star Kristina Wagner (Felicia) also gave words of comfort to Herring when she wrote on X, “My deepest sympathies and much love to my friends, Lynn Herring and her boys, Hank and Grady Northrop. My heart aches for you guys. Our families have lots of wonderful memories together. Rest in peace, cowboy Wayne Northrop. ?? @TheLynnHerring”

Another longtime GH c0-star, Finola Hughes (Anna), posted a beautiful image of the couple on Instagram and wrote, “Dearest Lynn. Sending your beautiful family, Hank & Grady, my deepest condolences. The epitome of a gentleman, family man & rancher, rip Wayne Northrup” Replying to the post, Eva LaRue (Natalia, GH) commented, “Sweet Lynn, I’m so, so sorry for your loss and heartbreak. Sending you and your family all my love and prayers.”

Former on-screen hubby Jon Lindstrom (Kevin, GH) wrote this on his official X account: “I know many of you have been sending healing thoughts to Lynn and her family in the last few days. Wayne was such a vital and powerful soul that it’s hard to imagine him no longer on this plane with us mere mortals. But I have to take a moment to acknowledge my friend Lynn’s bravery, grace, dignity and, most of all, her unwavering devotion to the love of her life and husband for over 4 decades. It is an inspiration and an example of what true, committed, unvarnished love can be. I’m sending her my thoughts along with all of you. I know she appreciates it, so keep ‘em coming.”

Young and Restless star Tracey Bregman (Lauren; ex-Donna, DAYS) also shared her thoughts on Hughes’s post, saying, “He was so lovely. I’m heartbroken for their family.” while also posting Digest‘s tribute to Northop on her Instagram story and saying, “I’m am so sorry to hear this. What a wonderful, special, sweet man. My heart goes out to Lynn and their family.”

How ‘Days Of Our Lives’ Celebrated 15,000 Episodes

Doug Williams III was also introduced on the Peacock sudser; he’s played by Peyton Meyer.

The episode opened with a vintage, black and white clip of Bill Hayes‘ Doug behind bars from the good ol days on NBC. It then continued with Deidre Hall’s Marlena reading Doug’s obit before she gets a surprise visit from Loring’s Liz.

The episode sets the stage for Tuesday’s funeral for Doug and the soap’s official goodbye to Hayes, who died in January at 98. More former stars are expected to return to Salem for the tribute, which will feature Loring leading the group in a rendition of Irving Berlin’s “Always.”

Hayes originated his Days role in 1970 and played the part on and off through 2023. He and his wife, Susan Seaforth-Hayes were the foundation of the Williams-Horton family that spanned more than 50 years on DOOL. Seaforth-Hayes plays Julie Williams on the show.

In November, Peacock announced that Days of Our Lives will return for a 61st season.

Wayne Northrop, ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Dynasty’ Actor, Dies at 77

Northrop died Friday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, publicist Cynthia Snyder told The Hollywood Reporter. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years ago.

“He took his last breath in the arms of his family,” Northrop’s wife and fellow soap star, Lynn Herring Northrop, said in a statement. “We wish to thank the most caring and amazing place, the Motion Picture and Television Home, for taking such great care of him. Wayne touched so many people with his sense of humor and wit. A husband for 43 years, the best dad ever to his two boys, Hank and Grady, and a rancher who loved his cows and was a friend to many.”

Northrop appeared on more than 1,000 episodes of Days of Our Lives, first as Detective Roman Brady and then as Dr. Alex North. On Dynasty, he played Michael Culhane, chauffeur of oil tycoon Blake Carrington. On Port Charles, he portrayed the manipulative Rex Stanton.

Northrop also appeared on such other series as L.A. Law, Hotel, You Are the Jury and Cold Case.

Wayne Northrop was born April 12, 1947, to Robert and Donna Jean Northrop in Sumner, Washington. He graduated with a degree in communications from the University of Washington before taking an acting class at Seattle Community College and moving to Las Angeles to pursue an acting career.

He joined the newly formed Los Angeles Actors’ Theatre headed by Ralph Waite in 1975, which led to his first agent and television role, a small part on an episode of Police Story.

He married Lynn in May 1981, and the couple later purchased a working cattle ranch in Raymond, California. Passionate about wildlife and conservation, he ran the ranch with his environmental beliefs in mind. In 2008, he and his wife purchased the oldest house in Raymond, built in 1886, and converted it into a museum that’s now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Meet Doug Williams III: Peyton Meyer Introduces His ‘Days of Our Lives’ Character

Meyer, who began acting as a child, was living across the country when the opportunity to join the show came his way. “It’s a little bit of a crazy story,” he begins. “I lived for about 10 years in L.A. and then right around COVID time, I left L.A. and moved to Nashville and spent about two-and-a-half years there. I took some time off and then said, ‘I want to start acting again. I’m ready to get back in it.’ I booked a room in a house with some of my buddies. Four days after I had moved my stuff into that new house, I booked Days of our Lives, so it worked out perfectly; the timing was unbelievable.”

Doug Williams was introduced in 1970 as a con man; his grandson appears to be a chip off the old block. “When we first meet Doug, he’s a mischievous guy,” previews Meyer. “He’s in and out of trouble. No matter where he goes, chaos comes with him. He’s not purposefully mischievous or purposefully wishes harm on people. I think it’s just how he grew up, that everything he does ends up causing a bad karmic chaos storm behind him. He’s a gentle guy and he’s peaceful, but it seems that he doesn’t make the proper choices when he needs to.”

Meyer was excited to see that his first episode was also a milestone for the 59-year-old show. “When I got the script, I saw that it was episode 15,000, and I was like, ‘Oh, my, this is insane. Huge celebration for the cast and the crew. This is kind of cool that this is my first episode,’ ” he recalls. “So I walked on set with the excitement, obviously, of a new show and meeting a whole bunch of new people.”

But the mood at the studio caught him off-guard. While he was thrilled to be starting his Days run, the cast was not only saying goodbye to Doug Williams but also to his portrayer, Bill Hayes, who passed away in January after 54 years on the show. “When I got on set, it was really down,” Meyer relays. “The energy was really low and I had no idea what was going on. We ended up filming the scenes and after, one of the crew members came up to me and she was like, ‘Just so you know, this is a very emotional day today and the fact that you were able to do that scene and carry a positive attitude into the set was so amazing to watch because I don’t know if you know what’s going on, but it’s very heavy today so thank you for coming in so professionally.’ I think it kind of worked better that I wasn’t fully aware of everything that was going on.”

Meyer began his day working with Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams), who was not only mourning her TV husband Doug, but her real-life one, too. He didn’t exactly make the best first impression. “Susan was the first scene that I had,” he says. “I’m very adamant about time. I always try to be 30 minutes, maybe an hour early. I don’t like being late. So I got there an hour and a half early, and the makeup department was about an hour and a half behind and we were one of the first scenes up. So when I got to hair and makeup, we had about seven minutes until my scene, so the crew and the cast were waiting on me to get to set, which was out of my control. They had been waiting about two or three minutes. I meet Susan and she looks at me and she is so intimidating because she’s so professional. She said, ‘Nice to meet you. Be on time, get your lines down, show up, and be prepared,’ and gave me the entire rundown of how the show works. Immediately, I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m so sorry I wasn’t late to makeup. I don’t have time to explain because we’re shooting the scene already.’ After that moment of intimidation from her, [I realized] she has such a power on set. I was sitting there as a 25-year-old memorizing 25 pages a night working, filming an episode per day, and I didn’t understand how the process worked and it was so difficult. Watching Susan do it so effortlessly was something that I’ll carry with me forever. She was so professional.”

Meyer’s own professional career started when he was 10 and living in Las Vegas. He began modeling and making the trek between Vegas and L.A., where he scored some big campaigns. “Kids at school were putting up my Target ads on my locker and stuff,” he muses. “It was funny, but I said, ‘I want to be an actor.’ My agent ended up sending me on this general [casting call] for Disney and the next day I had an audition. Literally, 24 hours later, I had an audition for Girl Meets World. I went through about seven or eight different callbacks before I finally booked the show.”

Landing at Disney was a momentous career shift for Meyer. “It was incredible,” he says. “It was either going to be for ABC or Disney Channel and obviously, at the time I was 12 years old, coming up on 13 years old. I was like, ‘This is crazy; we’re doing the wand thing/‘You’re watching Disney Channel.’ It was like a dream.”

One of his co-stars was Sabrina Carpenter, whose concert he recently attended in Los Angeles. “It was amazing. It was incredible,” he raves. “I grew up with this girl! We were 12, 13 years old, and she always wanted to be a singer. She was putting out some music every now and again, and she sat right next to me in our schoolroom, so she would always hum. I would hear it and pop my head and kind of dance along to it while I was doing schoolwork. She would play her new songs, and we would go to her shows that had 150 or 200 people in it, and two nights ago I looked around a sold-out Crypto[.com] Arena with [L.A.] Laker banners hanging down and not a single seat open and watching her just tear up this stage. It was such a nostalgic night to be able to see how big she’s gotten and how far she’s gone from where I remember.”

After the show wrapped, Meyer moved on to ABC’s American Housewife. “That was honestly one of my favorite sets to work on,” he says. “The crew was very fun. Everyone was friends. Filming a sitcom is one of the best experiences you can have as an actor. The energy is always high. Everyone’s always relaxed. It takes a little bit more time, but it’s smooth sailing.”

Now, Meyer is eagerly anticipating his Days debut. “It’s one of the best experiences I’ve had in my career,” he enthuses. “Balancing the traveling between Nashville and L.A. and my son put me in such a challenging position that I had to use every ounce of strength I had in me to be able to show up and perform every day because I didn’t realize how difficult it was going to be. It feels like someone paid me to go to an intense acting boot camp. I feel like I’ve learned so much as an actor, and that this boosted my career and my performance as an actor 10 times.”

Maree Cheatham on Returning to ‘Days of our Lives’ and Big Compliment From Late Costar Bill Hayes

The actress holds the distinction of having appeared on DAYS’ premiere episode in 1965 when it debuted on NBC (it’s now exclusively on the streaming platform Peacock). She played the part on and off until 1973 and has visited Salem a few times over the decades. Soap fans also recall Cheatham for her memorable stints as Aunt Charlene on General Hospital, Stephanie on Search for Tomorrow, and Aunt Mary on Knots Landing.

Now, she’s going back to where it all began. Cheatham will appear on DAYS’s Monday, December 2 episode, which also happens to be the show’s 15,000th show. TV Insider caught up with the divine and quotable Cheatham earlier this year on set to chat about her playing Marie once more and a few of her other memorable roles including a Will & Grace guest spot alongside Jennifer Lopez and Sean Hayes.

Maree Cheatham: It’s such an honor to be called back for this very auspicious and emotional [occasion]. DAYS has to be congratulated for lasting this long and going into the future with streaming. This is the future of television!

My goodness. Bill was a good friend. He was a colleague. Bill gave me the best compliment I’ve ever had. I carry it in my heart. I played his wife in a play. He said, “Oh, Maree. I love the look in your eyes when you look at me on stage. It’s filled with love.” Soaps are the only genre where you can go to a person’s funeral twice. You go to the real person’s funeral and then you go to the character’s funeral. And you cry twice.

I was on the very first episode and I am the last surviving member of the original Horton family. I worked for the original Cordays [Ted, the show’s creator, and his wife Betty, who became executive producer after Ted passed away] and now, their son, Ken – it’s just like going home.

Do you have any memories of the show’s other creator, Irna Phillips, who invented many radio dramas and ushered soaps into television?

Oh, of course I do! When we were rehearsing for the pilot, [Irna’s] hands and her nose were over a lectern and she got right up close. Macdonald Carey [Tom Horton] and I were doing a very intimate scene. I asked him, “How can you work like this? She’s just right over our shoulder.” He said, “Maree, lock it out…and forget about it.” Only he didn’t say “forget”!

This return to DAYS is a reminder that you are the longest-running actress to be still playing your role on a soap opera.

Oh, my God! That’s true! In 1965, we did the first show. I’ve been in this business for 65 years!

You threatened to take Meg (Rhianna Janette) away from Mac (Kevin Dobson) and Karen (Michele Lee), pretending to be the late Laura’s (Constance McCashin) mother.

The interesting part of that character is that she wanted the child or the money – and she didn’t care which she got!

You appeared in the Will & Grace revival in 2018, playing a bereaved mother who had to identify a body in a morgue, a task made difficult at Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes) was playing the corpse. You had no lines – yet anyone who saw it could see that you clearly stole the scene with your hilarious reactions.

The casting people who hired me said, “You are the only person we know who can do it.” After the taping, they asked me how was it working with J. Lo. (Beat.) I told them!

Stephen Schnetzer on Returning to ‘Days of Our Lives’ as Steve Olson After 45 Years

The actor, who made his daytime debut in 1978, was thrilled to be invited back to his first soap home. “I was very enthusiastic about it,” begins Schnetzer. “They had reached out on a couple of occasions to see if I’d be interested in doing limited roles and stuff and it just didn’t work out. But this time, I was really excited to go back and it was just great to see how many people were still there from when I was there.”

As Julie Williams’ (Susan Seaforth Hayes) younger brother, Steve comes home to Salem for the memorial for Doug Williams, played by Bill Hayes, who passed away in January. Though Schnetzer and Seaforth Hayes weren’t in touch, “as soon as I knew I was going back, I asked for her email address and reached out to her and we talked and chatted,” he shares. “I just reminded her how important she and Bill were to me. It was my first time on camera. I had done mainly classical repertory theater for eight years. That was the first time I did camera work and they were very gentle, kind, and supportive. It took me longer than any actor I’ve seen to get used to working in front of the camera. I was still projecting to the back wall of a 1,000-seat theater, but they were always very gracious, supportive, friendly, and warm and that didn’t change when I returned.”

The on-screen siblings fell into an easy rhythm and Schnetzer reports that the character came back to him quickly, even though it had been over four decades. “It was like getting on a bicycle,” he relays. “Steve was a charming rogue, a schmoozer, a charmer, a manipulator, but there was a heart there and the heart showed up in the relationship with Susan’s character, Julie. It was so sweet to work with Susan again, and I really love that they gave me a couple of interesting episodes to play. I really appreciated that.”

Schnetzer is coy about whether his alter ego has changed since the ‘70s. “Well, that would remain to be seen,” he winks. “These two episodes will still have question marks about him and it will demonstrate people’s suspicions about him. Julie will remain steadfast in her feeling about his integrity. I don’t want to get any more specific than that.”

As for Seaforth Hayes, Schnetzer marvels at her skills during the taping of the funeral scenes. “Susan gave such a great eulogy at Bill’s real memorial that they asked if they could build an episode around that and she gave the same eulogy [on camera], with minor tweaks, and she killed it,” he raves. “I mean, that woman has a mind like a steel trap. Totally impressed. One-take Seaforth Hayes.”

He also has high praise for the scripted goodbye to Doug. “They did it right,” Schnetzer opines. “They brought a lot of the legacy people back. Those are tricky episodes, especially when it’s a big cast, but the head writer and writing staff did a terrific job.”

Reconnecting with old pals when the cameras weren’t rolling was another high point for Schnetzer. “I love our business,” he reflects. “I love what I do. I have the greatest affection for most of the people I’ve worked with. I’ve been so blessed, cast after cast, so it was just warmth and love. When you’re still standing decades after you first worked with someone, there’s a commonality, there’s a bond that doesn’t need to be spoken and that’s what it felt like. It was great to see Deidre [Hall, Marlena Evans] and Suzanne [Rogers, Maggie Horton Kiriakis]. Josh’s [Taylor, Roman Brady] face lit up, he was so happy to see me. I didn’t know he cared [Laughs]. And then all the ghosts in the place — Bill [Hayes] and Jed Allan [Don Craig], Mac Carey [Tom Horton] and Frances Reid [Alice Horton].”

He also found some familiar faces who he worked with at his other soap homes — One Life to Live (as Marcello Salta from 1980-82) and Another World (as Cass Winthrop from 1982-1999). “It was great to see Judi Evans [Bonnie Lockhart; Paulina Cory, AW] and Matt Ashford [Jack Deveraux; Drew Ralston, OLTL]. Matt was on One Life for a moment when I was there and Judi, she hasn’t changed a bit. She brought her pet chicken by and it was great! She wants me to be on the show.”

Schnetzer, who is based in Florida, wouldn’t say no to another go-round in Salem. “I would certainly be interested in doing it,” he allows. “A 3-to-6 month story would be a lot of fun and I definitely would do that.”

Talk Show Appearance

‘Days of our Lives’: Brandon Beemer & Martha Madison on Returning and ‘Great Drama’ to Come

Madison first appeared in Salem in 2003 as the on-screen daughter of supercouple John Black (Drake Hogestyn) and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), followed by Beemer, whose Shawn is the offspring of Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) and Hope Williams Brady (Kristian Alfonso), in 2006. The pair has come and gone multiple times since and another opportunity wasn’t guaranteed after their last run in 2023.

“I didn’t expect I would ever be back,” admits Madison. “So I think I just kind of made the most of it, not really knowing what to expect, and not really signing on for an extended period of time at the beginning, just kind of see how it went. And it was, honestly, my wish list come true and it’s been so nice. I’ve had the best time I’ve ever had this last year. Janet [Spellman Drucker, co-executive producer] is so wonderful. And Ron [Carlivati, former head writer] was great at the beginning when we came back — we were doing lots of fun things — and the new writers [Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford] who took over are [a] chef’s kiss.”

After so much back and forth, Beemer says he has tried to roll with the punches when it comes to playing Shawn, but it still takes him by surprise when he gets the call. “I didn’t expect it,” he says of a comeback. “Especially after the first go round, the first little stint. I was like, ‘All right, never going back.’ And then you come back, and then you go, and then you come back again. But every time you go, it’s one of those, ‘Hey, man, it’s great working with you.’ ‘No, no, no. Don’t shake hands, don’t say goodbye. We’ll see you again. Stop doing that.’ And I was like, ‘But it doesn’t feel that. It feels like ‘bye’ to me.’”

Observes Madison with a smile, “I think that our journey as actors on this show is very representative of a soap journey: lots of twists and turns, lots of unexpected phone calls and events, but here we are still together, still doing this show, and I don’t think it’s going anywhere.”

The duo is proud of their association with the soap, which just marked 59 years on the air and will celebrate its 60th in November 2025. “It’s an honor,” points out Beemer. “It’s such a cool thing to be part of it.”

Which wasn’t always a given to hear them tell it. “I remember my first anniversary party was the 40th anniversary,” recalls Madison. “And I remember all the whispers of, ‘This might be the last big one.’ And here we are, 20 years later, about to celebrate 60, and we’re going stronger now than we were then. So, I’m very optimistic.” Adds Beemer, “I remember the 50th and people were like, ‘This is the big one. We had one at 40 but this is the big one. We’re probably not going to have another one.’ And now we’re at 60.”

The enormity of the milestone is not lost on them. “It’s kind of mind-blowing,” marvels Madison. “And I think for Hollywood standards, it’s hard for anyone to really truly grasp the importance of this show in just the zeitgeist and in Hollywood in general.”

For the actress, a fan of the show before landing her job, it’s been a dream come true. “I always wanted to be on this specific show, and I always wanted to be like a Deidre Hall,” Madison explains. “I wanted to be one of these people that my whole career would be spent here. So I feel like, in a way, it sort of manifested, but [I’m] just so glad to still be here.”

But she feels the loss of on-screen father, Drake Hogestyn, who passed away on September 28 from pancreatic cancer, profoundly. “I was just thinking of him today because we’ve been doing some scenes where he comes up,” Madison shares. “And I can just say he was a huge influence, obviously, team captain of our little ship over here, and I worked with him so much. I know I’ve said this before, but even when it’s pretend, when you call somebody ‘Dad’ for 20 years, there’s just something to that. And we just miss him every day. But I feel his presence all the time. It doesn’t feel like he’s not here.”

Notes Beemer, “Feels like he’s here, feels like he’s going to pop out and be like, ‘Hey, kids!’” Which suits Madison just fine. “Maybe that’s just where we all are in the grief process, but I prefer it that way.”

As the year winds down, Madison teases there’s a lot to be excited about in the months ahead on Days. “There’s a lot of chapters for a lot of things coming,” she reveals. “I love how much it’s all kind of criss-crossing. We’re getting to work with everyone, and there’s a lot of great drama coming. We’re eight or nine months ahead right now, so it’s going to be a while before you see all of it, but it’s been amazing.”

‘The Neighborhood’ Adds Jackée Harry & Erinn Hayes as Season 7 Guest Stars

In an exclusive first announcement, TV Insider can reveal that Harry will play Tina’s (Tichina Arnold) stepmother, Loretta in the episode airing on December 9, “Welcome to the Wicked Stepmother.” In the episode, Tina’s father (Glynn Turman) visits, and she discovers he has age-related impairments, making it crucial to reunite him with his wife, but Tina doesn’t have a good relationship with Loretta.

The pair have an estranged relationship due to the fact that Tina has always blamed Loretta for swooping in way too soon after her mother died and marrying her vulnerable father. And so, it takes a while for Tina to admit and finally consider that maybe Loretta does really love her father.

Meanwhile, Hayes will play Clara, the head of a very prestigious and very exclusive preschool with the educational philosophy that “‘wrong’ is a four-letter word.” This approach clashes with Marty’s (Marcel Spears) philosophy, which is that some things, including what they’re teaching at the school, are unquestionably wrong.

Clara will appear later this season, but stay tuned for more details on the episode she’ll appear in during the weeks ahead.

Harry is best known for playing adoptive mom Lisa to Tia and Tamera Mowry’s characters on the beloved comedy Sister, Sister, which aired from 1994 to 1999. Her other television roles have included parts in Designing Women, That’s So Raven, 2 Broke Girls, Everybody Hates Chris, Pose, Family Reunion, and Dad, Stop Embarrassing Me. This guest role alongside Arnold will mark a reunion of sorts as they both appeared on Everybody Hates Chris.

Meanwhile, Hayes is known for her work on Children’s Hospital, Kevin Can Wait, Huge in France, Medical Police, The Goldbergs, Gaslit, and many more.

Don’t miss Harry and Hayes when they guest star on The Neighborhood as Season 7 continues on CBS.

Chrishell Stause joins ‘The Traitors’ Season 3

The cast of the reality TV competition includes Vanderpump Rules villain Tom Sandoval, stars of The Real Housewives franchise like Robyn Dixon, Chanel Ayan, Dorinda Medley, and Dolores Catania, and Big Brother legends like Danielle Reyes and Britney Haynes.

Other contestants include Britney Spears’ ex Sam Asghari, RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Bob the Drag Queen, Chrishell Stause, and Survivor alums Carolyn Wiger, Jeremy Collins, and Tony Vlachos.

The Traitors is a competition series in which contestants, known as the faithful, work together on missions to win a prize of up to $250,000 while trying to uncover the secret players working against them to banish them from the game.

Season 3 of the show features 21 celebrities, at least three of whom will be selected by Cumming to be a Traitor, while the rest will be Faithfuls. Viewers will discover the “Traitors” identity in the season premiere.

The Traitors is produced by Studio Lambert with Stephen Lambert, Mike Cotton, Sam Rees-Jones, Rosie Franks, Jack Burgess and Tim Harcourt serving as executive producers.

‘Baby Reindeer’s Nava Mau To Topline Comedic Thriller ‘The Dregs’

Shooting in Italy in March, The Dregs centers on a friends’ trip to Tuscany that gets derailed by old wounds and a cursed bottle of Vin Santo.

Others in the cast include Benjamin Norris (Never Have I Ever), Marta Pozzan (From Scratch), Maria Grazia Cucinotta (Il Postino) and Zach Tinker (American Horror Story), who also is executive producer.

Mike Stern developed the project and will produce through Astral Plane, with Alessandro Bertolucci (Spin Me Round, The Little Hours) serving as co-producer via Dublab IT. Co-EPs include Pozzan, Jeremy O’Keefe, Marco Allegri, and Austin Aronson. O’Keefe handled casting via JOK Casting.

Stated Stern on the addition of Mau, “Nava was incredible on Baby Reindeer, and we are thrilled to have her join The Dregs following the global success of the show. Connor Martin’s script for The Dregs is inventive, suspenseful, and painfully funny. Nava, Ben, Maria, Zach and Marta bring authenticity and conviction to everything they do and it’s a real honor to provide such a fun showcase for their talents.”

With her first Emmy nomination this year for her turn as Teri, the girlfriend of Donny Dunn (series creator Richard Gadd), on Netflix’s UK sensation Baby Reindeer, Mau became the first trans woman nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Subsequently signing on to a role in the fifth and final season of Netflix’s serial killer thriller You, she’s also been seen on the Max series Generation.

Norris rose to prominence as Trent on Netflix’s Never Have I Ever and had memorable recurring roles on Superstore and Abbott Elementary. Pozzan recently wrapped the indie Fior di Latte opposite Tim Heidecker, appeared in Netflix’s From Scratch alongside Zoe Saldaña, and starred in Jacob the Baker, produced by Indian Paintbrush. Tinker boasts credits like American Horror Story and horror thriller I Live Here Now, whereas Cucinotta is best known for starring in the Academy Award-winning Il Postino, having also been seen in Bond film The World Is Not Enough and Anthony Hopkins’ thriller The Rite.

Mau is represented by Innovative Artists, IKIGAI Management, and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz; Norris by Paradigm and Strig Artist Management; Tinker by Pakula/King and Luber Roklin Entertainment; and Martin by Jackoway Austen Tyerman. He and Pozzan are managed by Austin Aronson.

Former ‘Days’ Head Writer Ron Carlivati Joins ‘Beyond the Gates’

Carlivati’s involvement made headlines on November 15 as sites like Michael Fairman TV announced the new soap’s writing staff.

Former General Hospital writer Michele Val Jean is the creator, executive producer, head writer, and showrunner of Beyond the Gates, with Sunset Beach creator Bob Guza Jr. as EP and co-head writer, according to Michael Fairman TV.

Susan Dansby (The Young and the Restless) will be Beyond the Gates’ script editor, and Michael Montgomery (Y&R) will be the continuity producer.

Judy Tate (As the World Turns), Danelle Paige (Days), Jazmen Darnell Brown (Days), Cheryl L. Davis (Days), and Lynn Martin (ATWT) will serve as script writers.

And alongside Carlivati, other breakdown writers include Sara A. Bibel (Y&R), Christopher Dunn (Days), Teresa Zimmerman (Y&R), and The Bay creator Gregori J. Martin.

Commenters on the post chimed in Carlivati joining Beyond the Gates. “Well… if ReRon is involved, that makes this show less of a threat to GH at least,” one wrote.

Another wrote, “This list of writers is impressive to say the least. Yes, Ron and Bob are negatives to this writing team.”

On a Daytime Confidential post about the Beyond the Gates writing staff, other commenters reacted to Carlivati’s hiring.

One commenter rose to Carlivati’s defense, though, saying, “He’s had a pretty illustrious career so far. I’m sure he’s excited to be involved in a brand-new soapie. There aren’t many options for writers in this genre, and not too many know the soap business…”

Carlivati, a veteran of One Life to Live and General Hospital’s writing staffs, served as Days’ head writer from January 2017 to this July, when he was replaced by Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford. He told TV Insider at the time of his Days exit that his seven-and-a-half-year tenure as head writer was “one of the great joys of [his] life.”

Beyond the Gates, premiering Monday, February 24, 2025, follows the Duprees, a powerful and prestigious multi-generational family living in an affluent Maryland suburb just outside of Washington, D.C. “Behind these pristine walls and lush, manicured gardens are juicy secrets and scandals waiting to be uncovered. And those who live outside these gates are watching closely,” CBS teases. “Those who have ‘made it’ and those who haven’t are all trying to navigate life… and some with more grace than others.”

Tamara Tunie and Clifton Davis star as Anita and Vernon Dupree, the matriarch and patriarch of the family. Other cast members include Daphnee Duplaix, Karla Mosley, Brandon Claybon, Timon Durrett, Sean Freeman, Marquita Goings, Trisha Mann-Grant, Maurice Johnson, RhonniRose Mantilla, Ambyr Michelle, Colby Muhammad, Arielle Prepetit, Mike Manning, Jibre Hordges, Alex Alegria, Lauren Buglioli, Ben Gavin, and Jen Jacob.

'Days of Our Lives': Peacock TV Show Achieves a New Streaming Milestone!

The long-running soap opera TV series just achieved a new milestone in the streaming world.

After hovering within Peacock’s Top 10 for some time, the series – which has already been renewed through Season 61 – hit number one on the chart.

Puck News founder Matthew Belloni shared the information via Luminate, writing: “The top-rated show last week on Peacock, per new Luminate data: DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Season 60. Yes, a 60 year old daytime soap.”

The show just celebrated its 59th anniversary with a touching tribute to Drake Hogestyn (John), Bill Hayes (Doug) and John Aniston (Victor), with the 15,000th episode and 60th anniversary celebrations just ahead.

DAYS Star Bryan Dattilo’s Daughter, Delia, Cast on GH!

“A Dattilo was spotted in Port Charles,” he shared with a pic of his 10-year-old daughter in the studio parking lot in front of the GH sign. “Finally, a real soap star in the family.”

Of course, the actor is joking because he’s been a soap star since debuting on DAYS as Lucas Roberts back in 1993. His original run on the show ended in 2001, but he came back again from 2002-10, 2012-18, and 2020-22. He has continued to return for visits of varying lengths since then and is slated to come back to Salem in December 2024 for Doug Williams’ funeral.

Dattilo and his second wife, Elizabeth Cameron, welcomed Delia on May 14, 2014. While GH will mark the little girl’s daytime debut, she is experienced in front of the camera already having appeared in commercials for Capitol One and Hispanic Heritage Month. The proud pop also celebrated his little girl’s success playing three roles in the musical Wonderland as part of Worklight Youth Theater. “She is a force on the stage,” he enthused. “Next stop, Broadway!”

Soap Opera Digest is reporting that Delia will be appearing in scenes set at Rice Plaza. Given that GH will be taping its Christmas episodes around this time, it’s likely she’ll be one of the kids visiting Santa or enjoying one of the other festive holiday activities. So keep an eye out for her!

‘Days of Our Lives’ Boss Teases ‘Bright Future’ of Soap & ‘Great Surprises’ Coming in 2025

Corday, whose parents, Ted and Betty Corday, and Irna Phillips created the show in 1965, admits he wasn’t completely confident about Days’ future when it unexpectedly moved to Peacock in September 2022. “Well, I was feeling 50/50 on it,” he concedes. “I couldn’t understand why NBC Universal was removing it from broadcast, but the numbers added up in subscriptions and our subscriptions have increased. We continually test consistently in the Top 10 of Peacock’s shows, which shows that our viewers didn’t totally stray. When we migrated, almost half of them stuck with us and it’s a delightful surprise that the show thrives on a new platform.”

One that he feels his parents would be firmly behind. “I’m sure my mother and father would be thrilled because he was the true pioneer, to leave radio for television and leave East Coast soap opera for West Coast TV and start a show that wasn’t your typical soap opera back in ’65,” offers the exec. “There’s always been this, ‘we’ll go first pioneering spirit’ about the show, so why not? I like being the tip of the spear.”

Corday adds he “feels fantastic” about the state of the soap, which has endured some turmoil over the past two years with the very public exit of former co-executive producer Albert Alarr in 2023 followed by the show’s head writer, Ron Carlivati, nearly a year later. Regarding Carlvati, Corday notes, “I just felt it was time for a different look at the show, a different foundation for the show, and a different story push. Our previous head writer had a wonderful, long run, but change is a constant and sometimes change is called for and this was a case where it was clear to me it was.”

Those changes Corday references will take shape more fully in 2025. “There are powerful moments coming next summer, and just judging from the demeanor on the set, which is the best barometer of the show almost as much as the viewership is, everyone’s very excited about what we’re doing and where the show is going.”

That includes the team he has in place to make that happen. “I’m proud to say that I’m working with three women in positions of power,” declares Corday. “I have two female head writers [Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford] and a female co-executive producer [Janet Spellman-Drucker] and it’s just wonderful. This is the first time in my run of 40 years as producer on the show that I’ve had this luxury. I think it’s important to dig into the serious female point of view and stories underneath the regular story beats.”

While things are indeed looking promising, the real-life losses of Bill Hayes (Doug Williams) in January, and more recently, Drake Hogestyn (John Black) in September, offset the jubilant spirit. “They’re both iconic and two of the seven great heroes on the show,” Corday praises. “Drake was Superman. Doug was Super Conman who became Super Supercouple. They’re itreplaceable, had decades on the show, and we’re paying homage to both of their characters.”

The first will be Hayes’ Doug on December 2, also the show’s 15,000th episode. “Bill had died in January and we were not too far away from writing this November at that time because we’re so far ahead,” Corday explains. “For lack of a better cliché, the stars aligned correctly. So as we came up to 15,000, we thought, ‘This is the time to do it. Play the character’s death on the show and how that impacts everybody and bring a lot of people back for that.’” In addition to beloved faves Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams Brady) and Melissa Reeves (Jennifer Deveraux), blasts from the past that will take part in the tribute include Stephen Schnetzer (Steve Olson), Gloria Loring (Liz Chandler) and Maree Cheatham (Marie Horton).

The memorial for John Black, which was filmed prior to Hogestyn’s death from pancreatic cancer, will play out later next year. His death at age 70, has hit everybody including Corday hard. “Drake and I were very close,” Corday notes. “Drake was everybody’s good friend on set. He was the glue, he was like the captain on the floor, always knew his lines, always delivered, and was a perfect match for Dee [Hall, Marlena Evans]. We will pay proper homage to him as well.”

With a lot to be happy about, Corday says, “The future looks very shiny and bright. We are in for some great surprises by mid-2025. The stories will be wonderful and there will be many returns of familiar faces we’ve known or come to love in the past. I think it would be very rewarding for the viewers.”

‘Days Of Our Lives’ EP Says Drake Hogestyn Knew How His Character Was Going To Die

In a new interview, Executive Producer Ken Corday said he needed to explain to viewers why Hogestyn’s character, John Black, was gone from the drama for nine months. Off-camera, Hogestyn was battling pancreatic cancer.

“We were rolling the dice, because it’s difficult to tell a story of someone’s death or a character’s death while the actor is still alive; albeit [Drake] was fighting, like a tiger, a very difficult disease,” Corday told Soap Opera Digest of the goodbye episodes that will air next spring. “And I made the choice to, ‘Okay, let’s tell the story.’"

“He and I were in contact,” continued Corday. “I wanted to make sure Drake signed off on this, and he was totally in favor of it. He trusted me. Had Drake, God willing, beaten this, he would’ve come back, and it would’ve been something different. But [the story] had to be told. It was extremely difficult and painful for us to tell it — for the cast, for everybody. Drake was a big part of the show. The consummate actor. Always a team player and pretty good-looking, too.”

DOOL star Deidre Hall also told Soap Opera Digest that while the series filmed John’s death and funeral, she refused to let her personal grief over Hogestyn’s health impact her performance. “Drake was still with us,” she told the outlet. “I know Ken had promised him a place to come back. He was looking forward to coming back, and he was fighting the good fight. So we had not said good-bye to him yet. And we weren’t thinking good-bye to him at that point.”

Hogestyn died a day shy of his 71st birthday. He first began playing John Black in 1986, with a hiatus from 2009-2011, upon which he returned to the fan-favorite character until his death.

Recently, Hall revealed to People that “lovely tribute shows” have been filmed to honor her former co-star.

“It is a family-run show and it’s a family-produced show and that’s reflected in everything that we do,” she said. “We bring Christmas to people that don’t have one. We bring Thanksgiving to people that don’t have family. We are there and when we lose a family member, you share it with us. We’ve lost Bill [Hayes], we’ve lost Drake. You’ll share that with us. That’s, I think, comforting for the audience to know that they are part of that legacy and part of that future.”

Emily O’Brien is Returning to DAYS!

Introduced by host Tony Moore, O’Brien walked out onstage donning the blonde wig she’d worn while playing Theresa Donovan, playfully tossing the tresses. When Moore asked if she was Theresa, O’Brien shucked the platinum wig, revealing her natural brunette tresses, and exclaimed, “Actually, Gwen’s back in town, baby!” With a little help from Paul Telfer (Xander) and a handy hairbrush, O’Brien smoothed down her locks while Moore declared, “Ladies and gentlemen, making her grand return to Days of Our Lives, make some noise for Emily O’Brien, Gwen Rizczech!”

Following the event, O’Brien shared the surprise reveal on Instagram. “The cat (and wig) is out of the bag! Thanks for the warm welcome back to Salem! Now, buckle your seatbelts. Oh, and thanks, Paul, for the hairbrush.”

The English actress joined the cast of DAYS in 2020, creating the role of Jack’s long-lost daughter. In October 2023, she made her final appearance as Gwen and, in the same episode, took over the role of Theresa from Jen Lilley. She played Theresa until August 2024, when the character was shipped off to prison for her litany of crimes.

O’Brien can be seen at the end of the exciting Season 60 preview for the soap wearing a blonde wig… and Soap Opera Digest has confirmed that the actress will bring both characters back to Salem in 2025! According to our sister site, Theresa will be seen in March of next year, and then Gwen will return to town in July.

Martha Madison Returns to DAYS Full-Time!

While thanking all the fans who came out to support them at the annual Day of Days event, the actress revealed that they can expect to see much more of Belle very soon! “I’m thrilled to finally be able to share that I am back in Salem full-time and am loving every second of the drama,” she shared on Instagram. “Trust me when I say you will, too! Stay tuned for Belle’s return this Friday, Nov. 8!”

John and Marlena’s daughter, Belle, was originally played by a series of child actresses before being aged into a teenager in 1999 and recast with actress Kirsten Storms, who went on to play Maxie on General Hospital. After her exit in 2004, Charity Rahmer briefly took over the role for a bit until Madison stepped into Belle’s shoes in August of that year, remaining until March 2008.

Madison returned in 2015 for DAYS’ 50th anniversary and continued to make appearances in the years that followed, including for the digital series Last Blast Reunion in 2019. In June 2020, the actress brought Belle back to the canvas again but exited in November 2023.

In the preview, Belle tells Marlena that she can now find out who she is apart from Shawn, now that their marriage has ended. And it looks like she and EJ are going to try exploring the feelings that they were discovering back in 2023 before that particular storyline came to an abrupt end and Madison opted to leave the soap. Of course, the trailer also included clips of someone shooting EJ, so that’s definitely going to throw a monkey wrench into the works!

Deidre Hall Promises “Lovely Tribute Shows” In Honor Of ‘Days Of Our Lives’ Co-Star Drake Hogestyn

Hall, who portrayed Marlena opposite Hogestyn’s John Black, told People that the long-running drama will pay homage to the actor as it would a beloved relative.

Speaking more specifically on tributes in future episodes, Hall answered: “The show will handle that. We have shows coming up that are just hours of flashbacks of his history. So it isn’t coming up yet, obviously, because it doesn’t come in until next year, but you’re going to see some lovely tribute shows.”

The popular Peacock soap opera, which was just renewed for Season 61 at the beginning of the month, will feature upcoming tribute episodes for Hayes, who died in January at 98, this week. On Dec. 2, the Daytime Emmy-winning series will reach its 15,000th episode.

Hogestyn died Sept. 28, a day shy of his 71st birthday, from pancreatic cancer. He first began playing John Black in 1986, with a hiatus from 2009-2011, upon which he returned to the fan-favorite character until his death.

Hall paid tribute to her onscreen love interest last month in a statement, saying: “For nearly 4 decades, Marlena Evans and I have loved the same man. Marlena’s John is an iconic hero, and unfailingly rescuing her from all matter of villains. My acting partner was incredibly professional from the moment he entered the studio; flawless in his preparation and ready for any eventuality in any scene. He was gracious and kind to everyone, from the executive staff to the night crew. Drake loved what he did and adored and respected everyone with whom he did it.”

Daytime Drama Actors Unite To Support Kamala Harris In Social Media Video: “We’re Turning The Page With Our Vote”

Several actors from General Hospital, along with popular players from The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives, participated in a video that showed them turning the page — a reference to Harris’ recent call to voters that it’s time to “turn the page” on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

The video ends with GH mainstay Nancy Lee Grahn declaring, “We’re daytime actors for democracy. And we’re turning the page with our vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”

The rest of the participants in the video that was shared online Sunday are General Hospital‘s Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Finola Hughes, Kristina Wagner, Laura Wright, Rena Sofer, Elizabeth Hendrickson, Kate Mansi, Dominic Zamprogna, Van Hansis, Brook Kerr, Tabyana Ali, Eden McCoy, Jeff Kober, Bradford Anderson, Vernee Watson, Lisa Locicero, Kristen Vaganos and Ric Hearst, along with The Bold and the Beautiful‘s Annika Noelle, The Young and the Restless‘ Eileen Davidson, and Days of Our Lives‘ Tina Huang.

Grahn has been particularly outspoken during the election and routinely uses her X account to show her support for Harris. But she’s not the only soap star who likes to vent on the platform: Y&R‘s Eric Braeden, for instance, has been particularly fired up during the election, posting missives about Trump and his rallies.

@EBraeden: To listen to the ORANGE MAKEUP GUY talk about how to treat LIZ CHENEY IS SIMPLY OBSCENE!! The biggest coward talking tough, is a joke!! That guy has NEVER BEEN CHECKED! By that I mean he has never played honest sports, never fought an honest fight IN HIS LIFE! He’d shit in his pants if anyone had ever challenged him to a fight!! He is a classic BLOWHARD!!

‘Days of Our Lives’ Legend Susan Seaforth Hayes to Pay On-Air Tribute to Late Husband and Co-Star: ‘He Deserved To Be Lifted Up’

“Being without Bill is quite a change,” Seaforth Hayes tells Variety. “I really appreciate what the producers have done to honor him — to allow me to give pretty much the same eulogy [on the show for Doug] that I gave [Bill] at our church. I certainly didn’t expect that. He deserved to be lifted up, and I was so, so pleased that [his death] wasn’t just passed over as something that happened off stage. It happens very much on stage too. It was difficult to do, but not as difficult as living through it in life.”

The 12-tissue storyline rolls out next week, as Julie tends to her ailing husband, while the show keeps the date of Doug’s death and Julie’s heartbreaking eulogy close to the vest. Although the scenes have already been taped, Seaforth Hayes teases the touching send-off, saying, “They’re apparently putting together a lot of historical tapes around [Doug and Julie’s early days together].”

She adds, “The ‘Days’ cast was there for me and there for Billy too. Even Deidre [Hall] was there and visited the last few days of his life. She was in the room with us,” she says, pausing as emotions begin to rise to the surface. “So, you know, that kind of support is wonderful. He deserved to be loved by a wide audience, and he was. And now I want to just be as good as he was, as good a person and as good a performer, and in return, do the best I can with the years that are coming in front of the show, for the future. I don’t want to be separated and go away and have a private life. I prefer to work and do one of the few things I can do. I don’t know how to make change, but I do know how to be Julie the character."

Seaforth Hayes took over the role of Julie in 1968, three years into the show. Hayes joined the show a handful of years later, and it was instant romantic magic. They became one of Daytime TV’s first supercouples on- and off-screen, marrying in real life in 1974 and on “Days” in 1976, at which time they graced the cover of Time magazine.“We fell in love with each other in front of our viewers, and they knew it before we knew it,” Seaforth Hayes smiles. “And our head writer Bill Bell, he knew it before we knew it. He scrapped all the story he had planned and wrote a story for us that was endless. So, I owe ‘Days of Our Lives’ my career, my happy marriage, my mother’s writing career. All of that is entangled. And then the fact that I got a Lifetime Achievement Emmy because we were survivors, and we were still crazy about each other. I don’t know. I do have an Emmy on the piano for Billy and for me, and that’s a wonderful thing.”

On Nov. 2, fans gathered with the “Days of Our Lives” cast at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles to celebrate the start of the show’s 60th season. You read that correctly. “Imagine having a show that lasts 60 years. This isn’t like show business… it’s like General Motors,” she jokes.

“In a world where so many things are falling apart, it’s nice to know that there’s some place where you can turn on the set and be in an imaginary town with people you love, and people that are interesting, and people that are villains,” Seaforth Hayes says. “They’re threatening the people you love and [give you] reasons to watch and reasons to fall in love with the characters. It is an escape, but we are responsible for making it a happy escape.”

At the event, Seaforth Hayes led a moment of silence and a musical tribute to honor Bill Hayes and Drake Hogestyn [John], who we also sadly lost this year. “We had a lot of music on the show, and for Tom and Alice’s anniversary, Doug sang ‘I’ll Be Loving You Always’ to Tom and Alice, and all the family was seated at a long table, and we sang a few bars of it. And so that was kind of the core love song for everybody. … And then I was thinking how this audience that has loved Drake for so long deserves to thank him. So we sang it for them, and the fans were invited to join in.”

‘Days of Our Lives’ Renewed for Season 61 at Peacock

The newest outing will mark the iconic soap opera’s third season of streaming exclusively on Peacock. From its 1965 premiere until 2022, it aired on NBC, where it eventually became the network’s longest-running drama. Since the move, according to NBCUniversal, “Days of Our Lives” has remained among the streamer’s top 10 most-watched titles. New episodes release on every weekday, which will bring the series to its 15,000th episode on Dec. 2.

News of the “Days of Our Lives” renewal comes just before Day of Days, the series’ 60th anniversary celebration taking place at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on Saturday.

Set in the fictional town of Salem, Ill., “Days of Our Lives” follows the lives of several families including the Bradys, the Hortons, the Carvers, the DiMeras and the Kiriakises. Prominent members of the current cast include Suzanne Rogers, Susan Seaforth Hayes, Deidre Hall, Carson Boatman, Raven Bowens, Tamara Braun, Elia Cantu, Bryan Dattilo, Mary Beth Evans, Dan Feuerriegel, Billy Flynn, Galen Gering, Linsey Godfrey, Stacy Haiduk, Jackée Harry, Leo Howard, Cherie Jimenez, Abigail Klein, Eric Martsolf, AnnaLynne McCord, Stephen Nichols, Ashley Puzemis, James Reynolds, Josh Taylor, Paul Telfer and Robert Scott Wilson.

“Days of Our Lives” is produced by Corday Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television. Ken Corday executive produces.

The series has earned 62 Emmys throughout its 60-year run. Most recently, Dick Van Dyke became the oldest Daytime Emmy winner ever, taking home a guest acting award at age 98.

Brandon Barash Out at Days of Our Lives!

The actor had a feeling when he was summoned to co-executive producer Janet Spellman-Drucker’s office after shooting his scenes on set. “I knew exactly what was happening as soon as I was called up to [the boss’] office,” Barash told Soaps.SheKnows.com. “And she said, ‘Look, this is not my doing. I don’t like it. And this is no reflection on you or your abilities. You’re very talented. We know your work ethic is very high, but it’s just where we’re deciding to take the character.”

With Barash in the middle of a contract, he admitted it was a “gut punch” that the writers decided to write his character off of the canvas. Currently, Stefan and Gabi’s marriage is on the rocks because they cheated on each other with Ava and EJ, respectively. But it would appear that the writers aren’t interested in pursuing that storyline and possibly bringing Stefan and Gabi back together again.

After making his daytime debut as Johnny Zacchara on General Hospital back in 2007, Barash first joined the cast of DAYS in September 2018 to take over the role of Stefan DiMera from his former GH castmate, Tyler Christopher. After the character was killed off in October 2019, Barash began playing the newly created role of Jake Lambert, who was later revealed to be Stefan’s previously unknown twin. After Jake was killed in July 2022, his heart was used to bring Stefan back from the dead.

It would appear that Stefan is not being killed off this time (not that death is ever an obstacle to returning to DAYS), but while Barash isn’t ruling out possibly returning to the soap in the future, it’s a somewhat difficult situation now. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “This is the second time this has happened to me on Days of Our Lives. And, you know, it would have to be very, very right. The terms would have to be right. The story would have to be right. The contract would have to be right. And I would have to be able to trust them. And I’ve lost that ability to trust that team, quite frankly.”

AnnaLynne McCord Talks ‘Days of Our Lives’ Abigail Twist: ‘I Was Really Crying’

A year into filming at Days of our Lives, AnnaLynne McCord admits she wasn’t expecting to feel such a deep connection to the job.

“I was introduced to the world of television through Nip/Tuck [as Eden Lord] and then 90210 [as Naomi Clark], so it was a very different experience,” she explains. “I did not know that you could have the family energy that we have at Days. And I say ‘we’ now because I’m no longer an outsider guest; I’m officially a part of the group. It’s like my old theater days and everybody is just running around, in our dressing rooms, in the hallways finding our costars for the day and running lines, and there’s just a kind of old Hollywood magic to it. It’s been so much fun. It’s what my nine-year-old, little girl self dreamed of doing when I grew up.”

Ever since her debut in June, McCord has been playing a woman pretending to be the presumed dead Abigail Deveraux DiMera, which has presented its own set of challenges. “It was very confusing in the beginning, but I thankfully had Billy [Flynn, Chad DiMera] to kind of lead the dynamic,” she recalls. “There was a conversation of, ‘Would I really be Abigail Devereaux?’ So I had to walk the line a little bit and keep a very neutral energy with her in the beginning because we didn’t know. Then it became clear that I was definitely not going to stay Abigail, and that’s when I let her organically play off of Billy’s energy. He has helped me understand the intricacies of the history of not just the storyline of him and Abigail, but the future potential of storylines. He’s Mr. Sleuth. He likes to have all of his little Sherlock Holmes hypotheses on what’s coming next. He was dead on about a few things about my character that actually helped me with my work.”

“Abigail’s” connection to Clyde Weston (James Read) has been established, and Steve (Stephen Nichols) and Kayla Johnson (Mary Beth Evans) have figured out she’s a fraud. Now, she’s poised to get busted, and on Monday, October 21, the truth about her true identity is revealed: She is Cat Green, daughter of a very much alive Catherina (who wasn’t killed by John Black years ago), and granddaughter of the late Konstantin Meleounis (John Kapelos).

The scenes between Chad and Cat, McCord previews, are heartbreaking. “Something magical happens when you work with actors who just show up, like the way Billy does,” she explains. “He does it with a really raw emotion because it’s instinctual in process versus beat for beat. I was really crying, like, AnnaLynne was crying. I was like, ‘God, this is so heavy,’ and the body doesn’t know the difference. It’s very real. I’m looking in this man’s eyes and he’s lost the love of his life again, and he’s not angry at first, he’s devastated. And then at the end [of the scenes], I was like, ‘We have to hug and make up because I feel like it just ruined your actual life.’ And he said, ‘It’s not real. We’re acting.’ But it was very emotional and it was genuine emotion. The crew was clapping because they felt it, too.”

Now, McCord is excited about showing the audience who Cat is. “I got to create Cat out of my own feelings and experience of the process of [her identity] unveiled,” she explains. “So that allowed me a lot more freedom once we figured out who she was and where we were going more with the storyline. Once that big reveal happens and the details start to play out, you do get to really experience Cat and her dynamic with her family and what her siblings mean to her. I felt like there was a lot of seriousness to everything and maybe this character can bring a little lightness and joy. She’s been through a lot and her mother has been through a lot, so she gets to use humor as her outlet and it’s been fun infusing the storyline with that.”

Though this may be the end of the “Abigail” ruse, there is more complication to come with Cat, McCord teases. “I just found out something recently, which I definitely know that I can’t share,” she says with a laugh. “She has even more of a twist to her background and her story in the months to come. So, she continues to unfold and more comes to light about Cat Green, which is really cool.”

Make or Bake Christmas

Stars: Vivica A. Fox, Jackée Harry, Jasmine Aivaliotis, Landon Moss, and Corin Nemec

With Christmas fast approaching, Leslie (Vivica A. Fox), known for her expertise in all things domestic and top lifestyle brands, is looking to expand her business. She sets her sights on the bakery, Sugar Bakers, owned by Denise Sugarbaker (Jackée Harry) and run by her son, David (Landon Moss). Determined to make a deal before the end of the year, Leslie sends one of her top employees, Emma (Jasmine Aivaliotis), to go undercover as a seasonal employee in order to convince them to sell. Emma unexpectedly finds herself falling in love with the quaint bakery with its Christmas spirit, staff and especially, David. ‘Tis the Season to make or bake Christmas and discover everything sweet during the holidays, including love.

Make or Bake Christmas is produced by Hybrid, LLC. David DeCoteau directs from a script by Dana Verde.

Nancy and Joy Return to Days of Our Lives!

Darbo first joined the cast of DAYS in 1998, and although she exited the soap in 2005, she has returned for the occasional appearance in the years that followed. Her most recent visit was in 2022 when Nancy and Craig divorced after he came out as gay. When she left the canvas that time, though, Nancy was starting a new romance with Mike Horton!

Joy Wesley was born back in 2003 to Craig and Nancy in the hopes that their new baby would prove to be a viable bone marrow donor for her sister Chloe Lane, who was suffering from leukemia at the time. (She did!) Naturally, Joy is now all grown up and is being played by daytime newcomer Hopkins.

Per her IMDb bio, Hopkins’ interest in acting blossomed when she was just nine years old, and after some film school experience and a couple of summers in New York, moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career. The actress is already building a solid resume that includes playing Trixie Dean in the CMT series Sun Records and appearances in episodes of shows like The Goldbergs, Chicago P.D., and Criminal Minds, as well as in movies like Murder In-Law and Into the Arms of Danger.

There are currently no details as to how long either actress’ stay in Salem will be. Is Joy back permanently and Nancy just there to usher her onto the canvas? Or are both permanent additions to the cast? You’ll just have to stay tuned to find out. And who knows — maybe Nadia Bjorlin will one day come back as Chloe!

AnnaLynne McCord Admits She Was ‘a Little Brat’ on ‘90210’ But She Still Has ‘a Lot of Gratitude’ for Reboot

“Looking back on being 20 and getting a job, you have such little appreciation for what ends up being something that’s quite a blessing in your life, and you can look at in hindsight more clearly, perhaps,” she begins. “But I think in today’s climate with everything that’s going on in the industry, to do five years on a show is just such a gift. I look back on it with a lot of gratitude now.”

She’s the first to admit that her behavior, at times, may have been less than exemplary. “I was a little brat!” she says with a laugh. “I remember when I directed my first film, a little independent, I called my [unit production manager] and I was like, ‘On behalf of all actors who don’t know any better, I am so sorry that I thought everything was about me, and when I wanted you to change your schedule for just me and you were managing an ensemble of 12. I’m very sorry.’ He started laughing. He was like, ‘You’re a joy, you’re fine. We all understand the pressures of being on camera and being young and everything that comes alongside it.’ And then he ended up being so helpful on my project and it was a full circle moment that was quite lovely, actually.”

McCord recalls that she wasn’t thrilled when she was told that Naomi was going to provide some of the comic relief in the series. “I argued and fought tooth and nail with the showrunner from Season 2 because we went through so many showrunners on that show in such a short period of time,” she explains. “But Rebecca Sinclair [Kirshner] came on at the end of Season 1 and I was mad because [previous showrunners] Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah were my friends and I was like, ‘How dare you!’ I probably took it out on her, unfortunately. But she called me into the office in Season 2 and she was like, ‘We are going to write you funny; you’re so funny.’ And I was like, ‘What? No, I’m not.’ And she’s like, ‘Yes, you are, you’re so funny.’ And I was like, ‘No, I studied in New York. I’m a serious, dramatic actress. I’m not funny. I don’t wanna do comedy. I didn’t sign up for this.’ And the whole time, the more upset I’m getting, the more she’s like, ‘See you’re so funny. This is what you don’t understand.’ And that shift point gave me confidence in something that I never thought I had. I thought that comedic actors were trained in a different way. But she was letting me know that I have the ability to very seriously approach anything that’s given to me, no matter how outlandish, so it was a huge learning moment as a young actor. And it also allowed me to take that into my career in the future.”

The actress was unfamiliar with the original series when she was cast in the reboot because her TV time was limited when she was younger. “I was not allowed to watch the original,” she says. “I was allowed to watch Little House on the Prairie. [The 90210 showrunners] had a conversation with us about the nature of the show and it’s a new generation, but all the characters will have similarities to the original. So decided if I wanted to create something completely different with Naomi, I should do it with an unclouded mind. Honor Kelly [Taylor] and Jennie Garth and let Naomi be something of her own in her own generation. But Shanae [Grimes], who played Annie, was an avid original 90210 watcher, so she was obsessed. She was so excited about it.”

McCord shares that she enjoyed connecting with members of the original cast. “I had a beautiful time meeting the late Shannen Doherty [Brenda Walsh], and the stories about her, in my opinion, were all B.S.,” she relays. “She was just the person who tells the truth in an industry that doesn’t always appreciate that. And she tells the truth with her words and her energy, and she doesn’t bend for anyone. And those were aspects that I respected, and I appreciated meeting her and I will always remember her in that way.”

McCord can’t help but chuckle when recalling her more outrageous storylines on the show. “Oh, my God! There were so many crazy moments,” she exclaims. “So, Naomi was getting hazed during her college years and we were filming at UCLA and I had to come out in a panties and bra outfit and walk through the entire campus half-naked. And then the mean girls from the sorority have the entire group of people throw eggs at me. The stunt coordinator had shown me that the eggs were pretty cracked and they were handed out to only my stunt guys and girls that I had a relationship with, and knew were only going to aim at certain parts of my body that wouldn’t cause any damage. And the director just grabbed a carton of eggs right before they rolled and started handing them out to background [performers] to throw at me, which is incredibly dangerous. Thankfully, no one had that good of an aim or they weren’t aiming for my face, so that one was pretty wild. I had bruises and welts all over my body. Everybody was freaking out after. But there were so many things that Naomi got up to. I was home-schooled and didn’t get to go to college, so I got to go to college on 90210.”

‘The Roaring Game’: Darin Brooks, Fivel Stewart, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Justin Chatwin & Antwon Tanner Starring In Sports Comedy

The screenplay by Tom DeNucci (Vault) follows Rickey, a high school custodian whose world is rocked when his girlfriend, Kelly, is selected to play hockey for Team USA and compete in the World Games, thus leaving him behind. Determined to win her back, he assembles a misfit curling team, leveraging his janitorial skills to compete for gold. Below is a first-look.

DeNucci is also directing. Chad A. Verdi (The Irishman) is producing, along with Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba and Anthony Gudas. Sera Verdi is serving as an executive producer and Ed Brady is serving as an associate producer. Filming recently wrapped on the East Coast.

Additional cast includes John Fiore (Sopranos), Paul Johansson (One Tree Hill), Eric Lutes (Caroline in the City), Brett Azar (Young Rock), Jonathan Stoddard (Til Death) and Rob Goon (A Day to Die).

“We have assembled an elite team of comedic all-stars to bring this project to life. We are thrilled for audiences to see Rickey and the gang compete for the gold in the World Games next winter,” Verdi stated.

DeNucci added: “With so much negativity in the world, I really wanted to tell a story that embraces the lighter side of life. Directing my first comedy has been all about providing an escape and creating a space where audiences can just have a good time. We’ve had so many laughs on set. I can’t wait to share them with the world.”

Recent projects released by Verdi Productions include Chosen Family, starring Heather Graham and Julia Stiles; Junction, starring Bryan Greenberg, Griffin Dunne and Sophia Bush; and Knockout Blonde, the documentary about transgender boxing manager Kellie Maloney.

Scott Reeves Returning to ‘General Hospital’ After 11 Years: ‘It Was Like Coming Home’

Though it had been over a decade since he last filmed, heading back to Port Charles felt very familiar for Reeves, who now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. “It was like coming home,” he says. “I got to work the first day and it was early in the morning. It was just so weird driving up to Prospect [Studios] and going through the guard gate. Literally, from the moment I drove in, I was like, ‘Wasn’t it just a week ago that I left and I was pulling out of here?’ ”

Reeves, who appeared on the soap from 2009-13, had his first reunion before passing through the doors. “I was walking through the parking lot and I hear, from a distance, ‘Scotty Reeves!’ ” he shares. “And I turn around and there’s Rick Hearst [Ric Lansing]. I said, ‘Dude, this is like old home week!’ Rick and I have remained very close over the years.”

Entering the studio brought back its own set of memories. “I started walking down the halls and it was so surreal and strange because it did not feel like more than a week to a month had gone by,” he reflects. “There were so many things that were the same yet so many things had changed. So much life has happened in the past 11 years for everybody, and with the passage of time, we lose people, the faces change, so that was bittersweet.”

Reeves notes that it was hard not to think about the cast and crew that had passed away since he had been there last. “It was like, ‘Oh, this is so great,’ but there was a hint of sadness and longing for people that aren’t there anymore, like [Producer] Nneka Garland and Sonya Eddy [Epiphany Johnson] and Tyler [Christopher, Nikolas Cassadine],” he explains.

Stepping back into character “was like riding a bike,” Reeves reports. “Steven did his time, he’s been out of prison for a few months now and has been living in Sedona, Arizona trying to start over and figure out what life is supposed to look like at this point. He lost his medical license, obviously, when he went to prison [for killing a comatose patient, who was a murderer, to save a child] but he felt justified in it.”

The actor worked with Alley Mills, who plays Steven’s mother, Heather Webber, for the first time — Robin Mattson played the role the last time he was on the soap. “It was great to meet and work with Alley Mills. She is so hilarious and plays that role to the hilt,” he praises. Steven will also cross paths with on-screen sister, Elizabeth Webber, played by Rebecca Herbst, among others. “It was so great to see Becky again,” he enthuses. “That was like reuniting with family because Becky and I are close outside of GH. She really was like my younger sister.”

He also connected with good pal Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and spent time with him behind the scenes. “Steve and I sat in his dressing room when we weren’t on stage,” Reeves shares. “We were just reminiscing and telling old stories, making new plans together, and talking about possible Port Chuck [their band] reunions. We have known each other since 1988 when we met on Days of Our Lives [Reeves played Jake Hogansen; Burton played Harris Michaels], so we’ve known each other through living in different states, kids, grandkids and more. You can’t take that for granted.”

Another high point of his comeback was sharing it with his wife, Melissa Reeves, who was filming at the same time as Days of Our Lives’ Jennifer Deveraux. “It worked out perfectly because we got to be out in LA again together,” he smiles. “She was going to work and I was going to work over at GH, which was our whole life for decades. It was like a time capsule and it felt like it did before we had kids. We felt so blessed to get to be able to do that and experience that together again and then get to bring it home and tell the stories to our kids again.”

Reeves thoroughly enjoyed being back and would welcome another chance to return. “I told Frank [Valentini, executive producer], ‘I forgot how much I loved it,’ ” he says. “I’ve been doing other things, but this was like putting on a really, really comfortable pair of jeans. It was so comforting to get to work with everybody again and fall back into the lives of those characters. I would be totally open to coming back because I think there’s so much potential with Steven. Anytime they want me back, I’m there.”

‘The Young & The Restless’ Brings Back Edward J. Scott As Senior Producer

Scott will serve as a senior producer at Y&R. Josh Griffith is the executive producer and head writer.

Scott is a seven-time Daytime Emmy winner who has played a pivotal role in the development of the soap opera genre for nearly five decades. He began his association with the Bell family and Bell-Phillip Television Productions in 1976 when he joined The Young and The Restless as an associate producer. He quickly moved up the ranks and served as the show’s executive producer until 2007.

He then joined Days of Our Lives as a co-exec producer before returning to Bell-Phillip in 2010 to serve as a supervising producer for B&B from 2010-2024.

Scott and his wife, Y&R star Melody Thomas Scott, were the joint recipients of the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in June.

“Daytime TV is hard work,” said Thomas Scott at the 51st Annual Daytime Emmys. “I salute all of you here tonight for your contributions to our industry. Edward and I are eager to do our part to carry on the proud tradition of the great American soap opera.”

Jensen Ackles Returns to ‘Tracker’ — to Save Colter?!

As we’ve known since the summer, Jensen Ackles is returning to the CBS drama as Russell Shaw, Colter’s (Justin Hartley) previously estranged brother; the two began fixing things during his first appearance near the end of Season 1. Now, we have details for when Russell’s back in Season 2 Episode 2, “Ontological Shock”: Reenie (Fiona Rene) recruits him for help after Colter suddenly disappears during his search for a missing father.

Colter previously thought Russell had been involved in their father’s death when they were younger, but after they reconnected and talked, they parted on better terms. Russell insisted he didn’t have anything to do with their dad’s death but did know someone else was in the woods that night—and had seen their mother with that man.

“[Colter’s brother and sister will] be coming in and out of the show,” executive producer Elwood Reid told TV Insider. “If we can drop a few bombs into Colter’s life with those characters and then see how he wrestles with those, then we’ll earn them coming back to sort of sort out— because, I mean, the evidence we have in the show right now is his sister definitely has a point of view about what he should do, which is just forget about it and leave it. And then you look at Jensen’s character Russell, he seems to have sort of put it all away in a box in some way and kind of just dealt with it. But you’ll learn in Episode 2, he’s got very different memories of something that happened in their past that Colter has no memory of.”

And hey, maybe with Reenie calling him in, there will be more of that flirtation we saw in Season 1. “I think she wants to have a little bit of fun, especially since Colter pissed her off so much,” shared Rene with us. “Russell is a great opportunity to have a little payback, but at the same time, we don’t want to use anyone, right? So I think she’s going to have a little bit of fun. And I noticed that in Episode 12 when Russell came into play, although he was so forward with her and she was like, back off, I think there were moments where she was rethinking maybe some of her thoughts. So we’ll see maybe if there’s more of that in Season 2. I don’t know.”

Soap Star Michael Sabatino Diagnosed With Parkinson’s

Sabatino’s big break came in 1982 when he played Chip Roberts on the primetime sudser Knots Landing. From 1990-93 he played another villain, Lawrence Alamain on Days of Our Lives. The actor then moved over to CBS to play Anthony Armando on The Bold & The Beautiful from 1993-95, returning for another visit in December 2006. From 1995-96 he could be seen playing another villain, Dr. Jonathan Kinder on All My Children. After playing Phillip Vargas on Sunset Beach, Sabatino had a brief run as J.T. Cornell on Passions in 2006, played Vince Russo on Guiding Light in 2008, and reprised the role of Lawrence on DAYS in 2009 where the character was killed off. Still, he made additional appearances in 2010 and 2011 as a ghost. Most recently, he has appeared alongside his wife as Alan Anders in the web soap Venice: The Series.

Parkinson’s disease is a nervous system disorder that progresses over time causing muscle tremors, stiffness, trouble with balance, and slurred speech. There is no cure, but as symptoms worsen, there are medications that can help improve them and brain surgery is also an option to improve quality of life.

Fans naturally shared love and good wishes for both of them after Chappell’s announcement, and she was grateful for the support. “Thanks for all the good energy,” she posted the following day. “Always appreciated!”

Then, the day after that, Chappell showed how well they’re doing by sharing a selfie of her and her hubby in the car wearing headbands and eyepatches to celebrate their grandson Zeke’s pirate-themed third birthday party. “A good time was had by arrrr,” she joked.

Please join us in sending love to both Sabatino and Chappell as well as their entire family.

‘Days of Our Lives’ Returns Galore! Christie Clark, Victoria Konefal, Charles Shaughnessy & More Are Back

“We always love it when members of our beloved family return to Salem,” executive producer Ken Corday tells TV Insider. “Fans are really going to enjoy what we have in store beginning this fall and well into next year.”

Reeves, who will also take part in the show’s 15,000th episode, airing in December, always loves coming back to catch up with her castmates. “It’s literally like when you don’t see your family and then you have a family reunion,” she says. “I’m like, ‘I have to focus on the storyline but at the same time, I want to visit with everyone and find out what’s going on in their lives.’ You could text people that but there’s nothing like seeing people in person.”

She also appreciates the glamorous aspects of her soap job. “I get my hair and makeup done and wear beautiful clothes,” smiles the actress, who lives on a ranch in Tennessee with her husband, Scott Reeves (ex-Stephen, General Hospital et al). “We have the best hair, makeup, and wardrobe departments.”

The Peacock streamer is currently in its 60th season. It has an unusual shooting schedule for soaps in that it is the only show that films eight months in advance, so viewers will have to wait a bit to see why these stars have returned.

Access Hollywood Video: 'Days Of Our Lives' Star Drake Hogestyn Dead At 70

Days Of Our Lives': Stephen Nichols & Deidre Hall Remember Drake Hogestyn

Eric Martsolf and Christopher Sean talk Drake Hogestyn

Alison Sweeney Is About To Star In Her 30th Hallmark Movie

This Time Each Year will premiere October 24 as part of the kick off for Hallmark Mystery’s Miracles of Christmas programming event. Sweeney plays Lauren, who was once in love with Kevin (Niall Matter) but nearly a year after their separation, they now focus on co-parenting their young son Charlie (Ezra Wilson). Despite the split, Kevin is determined to make their family whole again.

A special first look of the film will debut during Sweeney’s 10th Hannah Swensen movie franchise installment, A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, that’s premiering October 4 on Hallmark Mystery.

“I couldn’t script this better, to reveal a first look at my 30th Hallmark movie during the 10th installment of Hannah Swensen is really special,” said Sweeney in a statement. “Throughout this journey, Hallmark has been so incredibly supportive of my choices as an actress and as a producer. I’m so grateful for their continued support and I cannot wait for fans to hopefully share in my excitement for these movies.”

For both movies, Sweeney will also executive producer through Looking Glass Productions, alongside Craig Baumgarten, who also serves as executive producer. Both films are also produced by Lighthouse Productions.

Sweeney’s first movie for Hallmark was the 2013 confection Second Chances with Greg Vaughan. She later kicked off her Murder: She Baked franchise (with titles like A Peach Cobbler Mystery and Just Desserts) before launching another called the Chronicle Mysteries and, of course, her Swensen flicks. Something about love on a blueberry farm was dropped somewhere along the way, too.

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Icon Deidre Hall Speaks Out On Drake Hogestyn’s Death

The “Days of Our Lives” icon shared her sorrow about castmate Drake Hogestyn’s death, telling Access Hollywood in an exclusive statement about the personal and professional legacy her longtime friend and colleague leaves behind.

“For nearly 4 decades, Marlena Evans and I have loved the same man. Marlena’s John is an iconic hero, unfailingly rescuing her from all matter of villains,” Hall said in part, referencing her “Days” alter ego. “My acting partner was incredibly professional from the moment he entered the studio; flawless in his preparation and ready for any eventuality in any scene.”

She went on to praise Hogestyn’s demeanor on set and dedication to his loved ones.

“He was gracious and kind to everyone, from the executive staff to the night crew. Drake loved what he did and adored and respected everyone with whom he did it. Having said that, we always knew that his two greatest loves were his family and the Yankees,” Hall added. “Victoria and their children were truly the center of his life. Drake is dearly loved by everyone who ever knew him and he will be missed beyond measure. We will continue, as he always encouraged us, to swing for the fences.”

Hogestyn died on Sept. 28, just one day shy of his 71st birthday. His last “Days” episode aired just weeks earlier.

His onscreen sons Eric Martsolf (Brady Black) and Christopher Sean (Paul Narita) shared loving memories of Hogestyn in an exclusive sit-down with Access Hollywood, and you can tune in on Oct. 2 to hear more from the “Days of our Lives” family only on Access – check your local listings.

“He Was a Legend and a Hero,” Says Alison Sweeney of Drake Hogestyn

While discussing her next film, This Time Each Year (premiering Thursday, Oct. 24 at 8pm EST on Hallmark Mystery), former Days of Our Lives costar Alison Sweeney teared up remembering her onscreen stepdad.

“He was such an important person on the show and to the fans and to every person on set,” Sweeney shared of her longtime costar. “He was a legend in his own life and a hero.”

“I thought of him as a father, and he was just a really special person,” she added. “And I want everyone to know that, because of all the love we’ve received from fans and people who knew him. I realized that every person feels the same way about him that I do.”

Since we were talking Hallmark, Sweeney also shared that Hogestyn was a big fan of the channel, and her films. “He loved Hallmark movies. He came to one of my Hallmark premieres a couple years ago with his wife beautiful, lovely wife Victoria, and they watched them together. And so he would always text me afterwards, and was proud of me, and he’s going to be missed. He was incredible.”

Stephen Nichols Remembers Drake Hogestyn

Drake was a man’s man with a huge heart. He was kind, respectful and honest. I never heard him speak a negative word about anyone. He was on a very short list of exceptional people I have known in my lifetime. He was a mentor without knowing it. I learned so much from Drake by his example. Humility, perseverance, forgiveness. We had long talks in his dressing room after working on our scenes. He spoke so lovingly about his beautiful family who he cherished above all else. Drake would tell me about his history, playing baseball, coming to Hollywood, getting into acting. He also shared triumphs and a few heartaches having to do with his long career on Days with such honesty. I felt privileged to be a sounding board, to have his trust. And he had mine. I could tell him anything; and recently when I was going through a rough time when I lost my sister to cancer, he was there for me and he listened and asked how I was doing daily.

Drake was a storyteller. Ask anyone around the studio. He could spin a tale, and he remembered his adventures in such detail and always throwing in baseball metaphors whenever he could. Drake loved his time as a ballplayer. And on our Days softball team he was, of course, our star player.

Drake and I began our working relationship in 1986. No one hit the stage with more commitment and enthusiasm than Drake. He inspired and energized me and everyone around him. He loved coming to work and showed up early to workout in the wee hours of the morning. I’ll miss hearing the whirring of his stationary bike and the clanging of dumbbells-we were dressing room neighbors.

Just being in Drake’s presence was enough to get a jolt of positivity. He was one of those special souls who exuded joy and love for life. The Days of Our Lives cast, crew, and fans (who he was always so kind to) have suffered a great loss. It has been palpable how much Drake was loved and has been missed during these months without him at the studio.

I kept in close touch with Drake throughout his illness and even through his darkest times he always threw in an optimistic phrase like … “not much positive to report, but I still believe in Santa.” Drake fought hard. That’s who he was. A man with an iron will, who would not give up.

In the fictional town of Salem, we were partners in Black Patch Private Investigations. In life we were good buddies who always had each other’s backs.

I’m at a loss without you, Drake. I will always remember our long talks about our families and our “out of body experiences.” I’ll miss your sweet smile and your greeting, “Hey, partner, come on in” when I knocked on your door to run our scenes, and your strong shoulder squeezes and pats on the back. And God knows, I will miss sharing the stage with you.

You worked hard and left us a legacy of beautiful work. Rest easy, partner. I’ll always love you and I'll never forget what a positive impact you've had on my life. That’s a fact.

Drake Hogestyn’s Final Days of Our Lives Episode Has Already Aired — Here’s How John Black Said Goodbye

The episode, which was reportedly filmed on Feb. 16, found John bestowing some grandfatherly advice upon Tate (Leo Howard), who was still feeling guilty about accidentally telling Holly that Eric was the drunk driver responsible for her biological father’s death. John couldn’t fully relieve Tate of his guilt, but he brought enough warmth and wisdom to the situation to ease his grandson’s troubles.

Hogestyn’s final episode also included a sweet moment between John and Brady (Eric Martsolf), who gave his father one last hug after announcing that all charges against him in Sarah’s ongoing hit-and-run case have been dropped.

And if you’re looking for Hogestyn’s final appearance opposite Deidre Hall, the other half of Days supercouple #Jarlena, you’ll want to stream the Thursday, Sept. 5 episode. Though it doesn’t give us one of the duo’s signature strawberries-and-whipped-cream scenes, it does include a few nice moments between John and Marlena.

Hogestyn’s co-stars have flooded social media with kind words about the late actor in the days since his passing. Stephen Nichols, who plays John’s BFF Patch, called Hogestyn “one of those special souls who exuded joy and a love for life.” And Alison Sweeney, who plays John’s daughter Sami, will remember Hogestyn as being “funny, generous and thoughtful” — an overall “incredible man.”

Patrick Muldoon, Kevin Interdonato & Michael Beach Set For Action Pic ‘Dirty Hands’

From writer-director Interdonato, Dirty Hands takes place in the underbelly of Chicago when a routine drug deal goes bad for the Denton brothers, Richie (Muldoon) and Danny (Interdonato). With a kingpin’s son murdered, a rival gang out for blood, and their own boss (Beach) trying to clean up their mess, the brothers must fight for their lives if they’re going to survive until morning.

Dirty Hands is slated to begin shooting in Chicago next month with Interdonato producing under his Take No Prisoners Productions banner.

The project marks the second outing for Interdonato as writer-director-star following the theatrical release of crime-drama The Bastard Sons by Vertical Entertainment in January 2024. He was also writer-producer-star on horror-thriller Malicious directed by John Fallon. He is also known for his recurring role as Tony Suferin in the Showtime crime-drama series City On A Hill from creator Chuck MacLean.

Prolific actor Beach is having a strong year with roles in series The Perfect Couple, The Mayor Of Kingstown and Tulsa King. The latter two are recurring.

Actor and producer Muldoon is known for movies such as Starship Troopers and Stigmata and as a production executive, most recently at Storyboard Media.

Muldoon is repped by Mosaic. Interdonato is repped by Brave Artists Management. Beach is repped by Global Artists Agency.

Trevor Donovan Joins ‘When Hope Calls’ For Great American Family

When Hope Calls follows a pair of sisters, Lillian Walsh (Morgan Kohan) and Grace Bennett (Jocelyn Hudon) to the town of Brookfield, circa 1916. It’s centered on the town’s orphanage and its residents who meet tremendous challenges while creating a hopeful, faith-filled community on the cusp of change in the frontier town while nurturing the children in their care.

Donovan plays Constable Jim Reynolds, an experienced Mountie who is known for his strong presence and skills in the field. His two-episode arc kicks off in the third episode of season 2, which will premiere early next year on Great American Family, then on Pure Flix.

Donovan’s role may be extended on When Hope Calls, if not other projects inspired by Oke’s When Calls the Heart book series.

When Hope Calls season two stars Cindy Busby (Crown Prince of Christmas) as Nora; Christopher Russell (A Dash of Christmas) as Constable, Mountie Michael; Nick Bateman (A Christmas Miracle with Daisy) as Wyatt; Wendy Crewson (Frankie Drake Mysteries) as Tess Stewart; Hanneke Talbot (Star Trek) as Maggie Parsons and RJ Hatanaka (Criminal Minds) as Mountie Gabriel.

When Hope Calls kicked off with 10 episodes in season one, followed by two one-hour Christmas episodes in 2021 that saw Lori Loughlin reprise her role as Abigail Stanton. There are eight episodes in season two.

When Hope Calls is executive produced by Brad Krevoy, Don McDonald, Alfonso Moreno, David Anselmo, All Canadian Entertainment, and Hideaway Pictures.

Daytime Stars Pay Tribute To DAYS’s Drake Hogestyn

Alison Sweeney (Sami): “Drake was an incredible man. He was funny, generous and thoughtful. He cared about every single scene, every person. He loved Days, the fans, and shared that passion with everyone on set. My heart breaks for his family, they meant everything to him. He was such a huge part of my life at Days. I will miss him terribly and treasure every story, every joke & every hug.”

Martha Madison (Belle): “Today, the world lost a great man, Salem lost its greatest hero, and I lost one of my favorite scene partners. With a heart full of baseball, Drake was the embodiment of team spirit and mentored so many of us at #Days like a true team Captain. He was also a cheerleader. One of my favorite memories of Drake was from not too long ago. He knew I was super nervous as I was preparing to deliver a five page deathbed monologue, and after we finished the scene (both soaked in tears and snot), he gave me a huge hug and whispered, ‘Kid, it was like that moment when you hear the crack of the bat against a long ball that flies into the stands and the crowd goes wild.’ I always knew if I was working with him that I would need to spend a little extra time on my scene prep. He was always off book and word perfect, and in 20 years I don’t think I ever remember him holding a script. More than that, he was always ready to play. He loved diving into our father/daughter dynamics, and there was no place I could go in a scene where he wasn’t exactly right there with me. Drake was full of enthusiasm and humor and aways told the most amazing stories. He loved being an actor and always showed grace and gratitude when it came to his work and his fans. He loved his family deeply and was over the moon to be a Grandfather. I’m sending my deepest sympathies to his family and to all of the cast, crew and fans who have loved him for decades. #RIP @drakehogestyn”

Kristian Alfonso (Hope): “My (heart) I’ll always remember u as a Loving father,husband&Dear friend but mostly an incredible passionate human being,generous &immensely kind,Always..Thank U4 the loveU gave us all everyday Drake on set&off Uwere always our hero. LoveU Rest in peace my sweet friend.”

James Reynolds (Abe): “Drake was my friend and cast mate, and I’m grateful for the moments we shared. Our love to Victoria and their family. [Wife] Lissa and I share your loss.”

Eric Martsolf (Brady): “This shot [Martsolf posted of himself with Hogestyn] was taken fairly early in my Days career; uncertain of my place within the historic family and so anxious to ‘fit in’. He placed his hand on my shoulder, as he would for the next 16 years as my tv Dad, and said ‘you got this kid.’ He ingratiated me into his soap opera family instantly, and was a big reason why I have made it my home to this day. His kindness, storytelling, and studliness is still unmatched. He was a man who wasn’t afraid to ‘feel’ and emote, a worthy lesson for all fathers to pass along. Our hallways at DOOL will never be the same without him strolling through them. I was honored to portray his son, and will continue to emulate his work ethic and spirit. The world will miss him, and I will continue to feel his hand on my shoulder always. God bless you, Drake.”

Lauren Koslow (Kate): “Good-night, sweet prince; And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Drake, We will miss you forever and a day . We -friends,cast mates , crew & loyal fans , anyone who crossed your path – were touched by your joyful & passionate zest for life. Your courage. Your compassion. We admired your deep respect for your craft . We appreciated your leadership during hectic times. We saw your fulfillment in your abounding love & devotion for your beautiful Victoria , your children & family . Our hero on and off screen , a man’s man, a woman’s friend, You lit up every space with your presence, your laughter , positivity, & undeniable beauty …. And of course , your unparalleled storytelling. You shared your grace, kind heart , professionalism & passion for your art with us all and we are all better for it Sharing the stage with you was an honor & delight . definitely some of my favorite scenes EVER … Lastly thank you for all the gardening advice, horse & dog stories, kids & grand baby chats and the best ,deep down the rabbit hole kind of conversations that will stay with me forever . Blessed to know you, my friend.”

Melissa Reeves (Jennifer): “Heartbroken is the condition of our hearts hearing of Drakes passing. Also blessed and grateful to know such a wonderful man. Thank you Drake for your example of professionalism at work for all of us to follow. Thank you for loving your precious Victoria and your children and grandchildren as we watched your family grow. Your stories of your adventurous life entertained us for so many years! Your last text to me was to love and cherish our time with our grandchildren and that was always the allegiance of your heart Family first. There are not enough words ”

Mary Beth Evans (Kayla): “With such a heavy heart, I can’t really find the words today about the passing of this sweet, kind man. From the first day we met in the green room of Days of Our Lives in 1986, we were fast friends. Drake’s love and devotion to his forever sweetheart Victoria, his children and grandchildren was one of his most endearing qualities. Such a good, honest man. We are all in shock of the news we received yesterday. @drakehogestyn you will remain in my heart always. Sending so much love to you.”

Greg Vaughan (Eric): “This [posted photo] was our last time together, giving a set tour of Days of Our Lives to family and friends of mine. And a few of our final messages. Drake was more than just a family man; he always made time for anyone & everyone! He was a wonderful storyteller, and most importantly, a loving and caring person. As a father figure to me and many of my costars, we shared our love for sports, and he always wanted to hear about my son’s life & sports! On set, Drake was never short of being a scene stealer but an amazing way of making everyone in the room feel loved, supported, and valued. It’s still hard to believe that he passed away a day before his 71st birthday. Like John Black, only Drake could have orchestrated such a dramatic exit. As I know he would want us all to celebrate his life and hold on to our fond memories. His voice will always stay with me, leaving a lasting impact. Happy Birthday and I love you, Drake. Godspeed”

Bryan R. Dattilo (Lucas): “Yesterday Heaven got the best 3rd baseman of all time. Drake lived 70+ years and fell one day short of 71. Today is that day. Happy birthday my idol and may you rest in peace.”

Christopher Sean (Paul): “I will always love you. You were more than just my tv father, in my eyes you were my dad. Thank you for everything you taught me and the love you gave me. The world lost a true Hero. Miss and love you so much Drake. Rest in Peace Dad. ‘Keep Swinging for the Fences.’ Drake Hogestyn.”

Kyle Lowder (ex-Brady; Rex): “Drake Hogestyn was not only my TV dad, he was a real-life father figure to me. I began my career as a nervous 19 year old kid on @dayspeacock , having just moved to LA, and right before our very first scene he grabbed my shoulders and said, ‘I got you kid.’ And he had me. Every step of the way. Drake was one of the kindest, most generous men I’ve ever known, with an unparalleled enthusiasm for life. It’s brutally hard to accept the reality of his passing. I will deeply miss you, Drake. The world has truly lost one of the best. #drakehogestyn #daysofourlives #dool”

Galen Gering (Rafe): “I was lucky enough to go on a special trip with Drake and represent Days in S Africa. We went from Johannesburg to Cape Town and had moments where thousands of people cheered for us to times walking on deserted beaches. The one constant in it all was Drake- always just awesome to be around. We laughed so much. I mean, my face hurt every day. We were in his element, surrounded by people and animals. The energy he had was contagious and people gravitated towards him. He always took time for everyone and made them to feel special. Drake was always such a great storyteller and I knew at some point on that trip we were creating one he would eventually tell. This adventure would be a square added to the extraordinary quilt of his life. One of the things Drake would often say among his many ‘isims’ was ,”…well that was a below average feeling.” And as I sit here and write this I can definitely relate. Thank you for the memories and the good times and being an incredible steward for the show. You are loved and you are missed. Sending my condolences to your beautiful family I know you cherished beyond measure. Rest in Peace my friend.”

Wally Kurth (Ned): “Im trying to find the words to express my deep sadness on Drake’s passing. He was a special man. So passionate about life, his family, his storyline sand the stories he would tell! He had a lot of them. Drake loved his job and all his fans. And we loved him.”

Dan Feuerriegel (EJ): “He was such a beautiful man. Always made me feel welcomed and part of the family. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and those who’s lives he touched”

Charles Shaughnessy (Shane): “Baseball and life can be brutal and heartbreaking. The very best of us can be struck out way too soon. I didn’t get to work with Drake as often as I would have wished, but it was always so much fun when I did. Just thinking of him in an odd moment would bring a sudden smile to my face: it will always do so. Love you, man. Sleep with the Angels.

Thaao Penghlis (Tony/Andre): “We shared much over the years John Tony & Andre. Great stories were told. To his family, to Deidre & Days so sorry for ur great loss. We will remember him well even though our hearts bleed. Drake thank you & May this next journey be one of great enlightenment. RIP”

Ariane Zucker (ex-Nicole): “Gentleman. That is the first thing I would say about Drake. A TRUE gentleman. Integrity, respect, kindness and love. He was truly authentic.”

Genie Francis (ex-Diana; Laura, GH): “So sad to hear of Drake Hogestyn’s passing. Such a wonderful and kind man. It was a pleasure to work with him. I always loved how much he loved his wife and children.

Eileen Davidson (ex-Kristen/Susan et al): “When I heard the news about Drake Hogestyn’s passing I felt kicked in the gut. A truly one of a kind. So kind, hilarious & talented. Loved his family so much. I know he’s up there telling one of his many stories. Thanks for the laughs Drake. I’ll always love and miss you. XO.”

Staci Greason (ex-Isabella): “I awakened this morning to some very sad news. Drake Hogestyn was a wonderful person. He took me under his wing when I started on days of our lives and he never let me fall. He was funny and a hard worker. He always used baseball analogies because he played for the Yankees in the minors. He joked around with me a lot, especially during our love scenes. We were always laughing and had a deep affection for one another. He was the big brother I never had. My first and only tv husband. My heart hurts. All of my love goes out to his wife, Victoria, the love of his life, and their four children and seven grands. His many loyal fans. And his family on days of our lives. Drake, your playing in the majors now. Much love to you my friend.”

Jen Lilley (ex-Theresa): “I am absolutely gutted by the news of Drake Hogestyn’s death. Though our relationship on screen was anything but civil, we had an incredible relationship off screen. When I went back last year, Drake was the first cast member to see me. He grabbed me and we gave each other the longest and tightest hug and then got in trouble for breaking Covid protocol. we didn’t care. We loved each other so much. There’s just not enough wonderful words to describe Drake. He was such a role model to me on and off screen. Intelligent, funny, a team player, a wealth of wisdom, and the best hugger. Hug your loved ones tight today. #ripdrakehogestyn you’re a legend PS I looked for an hour for my favorite photo of me and Drake but I can’t find it. He’s giving me a legendary hug with the cheesiest smile. Ugh. I loved this man #days #dool”

Cary Christopher (Thomas): “I am so heartbroken to hear about the passing of Drake. I won’t forget how excited he was to talk to me about baseball when I told him I was playing Little League. What an incredible person he was and I am so shocked and sad. My heart goes out to his family”

Matthew Ashford (Jack): “Dear Drake your love of family and friends of your love of this show we have all shared makes this an all too close loss. You are loved my brother”

Tamara Braun (Ava): “What an honor it was to work with you, to get to know you, to hear your incredible stories. Your kindness and generosity of spirit were always exemplary. Your work ethic, your life ethic, family ethic…. Oh how you loved your family so deeply. I loved to watch your face light up while speaking about your wife, kids and grandkids. You beamed. My heart hurts the most for them. What a loss. I’m so grateful that Days put you, me and Stephen together recently for a fun filled caper story. The three of us laughed so much while we ran lines, while we shot, while we played. We just laughed, laughed, laughed. What a treat. I will cherish that time and the memory of you. You, kind sir, sure did love life and knew how to enjoy all its gifts. Boy did I admire that in you. You are already greatly missed. Much love and respect always, Drake.”

Michael Easton (ex-Tanner): “Mourning the loss of our friend Drake Hogestyn. Drake was talented and kind and a true gentleman. On my first day on set, I had no idea what I was doing and he knocked on my door, introduced himself and welcomed me to the show and I’ll never forget how much that meant to me. He loved talking about his family, dogs and baseball and he was loved by all who knew him. My deepest sympathies to his family, his friends, the cast and crew of DOOL and all of his fans. Rest in peace, brother. #drakehogestyn #dool”

Kyle Brandt (ex-Philip): “I am so sad. Drake was the best. The best. I had a storyline with Drake in 2003. I was the clueless neophyte. He was the venerable legend. And he could not have been cooler, more helpful, or more wonderful. I am so sad.”

Lamon Archey (Eli): “Condolences to the family, friends, and fans who’ve watched Drake dedicate almost four decades to #Days. He will be missed. Heaven got a real one. Godspeed”

Julie Dove (ex-Connie): “Thank you for sharing your talent with us Drake. You will be missed.”

Kassie DePaiva (ex-Eve): “I’m so saddened by this news. One of the kindest people I have ever worked with. What an amazing life he lived. He will be missed. He made the world a better place. RIP Drake”

Colton Little (Andrew): “Drake thank you for welcoming me into the Days of Our Lives family so openly. Thank you for your stories, your pats on the back, your advice, your professionalism. My heart goes out to your family, your fans, and to everyone in Salem”

Andrea Barber (ex-Carrie): “Although our time together on Days of Our Lives was short, I’ve never forgotten your kindness and charm. Rest peacefully, Drake.” https://www.instagram.com/p/DAhOPrty88D/?hl=en

Mike Manning (ex-Charlie): “Sending prayers and love to the family of Drake Hogestyn. He was a talent, a gentleman, and most of all a good human being. RIP Drake”

Farah Fath Galfond (ex-Mimi): “What a sad night this is. He was so kind and genuine in every interaction…with a zest for life, his work, and all his millions of fans. But his biggest passion was always, by far…his family. And that was the most touching thing about him. Rest peacefully, Drake Hogestyn.”

Darin Brooks (ex-Max): “Man… This one is too soon… I had the pleasure of working with Drake and in passing for only a few years back on @dayspeacock and honestly, everyone is saying the exact same word that I feel about Drake… GENTLEMAN… He was the true epitome of the word… kind, soft spoken, welcoming… I remember him coming up to me on my first day (first real acting job ever) and just being kind and welcoming to me and talking about baseball…Thank you for that… I wish we got to play more on set… All our thoughts and prayers go out to the Hogestyn family… RIP in that great big baseball field in the sky…”

Billy Warlock (ex-Frankie): “I am absolutely shocked and saddened to hear about Drake. Drake was an amazing man and such a stud. The list goes on and on. He was Superman to me. He will be sorely missed.”

Former Head Writer Sheri Anderson: “From the day I saw his audition for John Black, to the last time he warmly hugged me at the Days studio, with that twinkly smile of his, Drake was the embodiment of the man other men want to be, and the man women want to love and be loved by. His remarkable good looks disarming, he was kind, funny, compassionate, goofy at times, a man of passion, strength, the ultimate protector. The deep love Drake had for his family and children extended to his family at Days. We are all better for having known him. Rest in Peace, Drake — you will always rest in our hearts.”

George DelHoyo (ex-Orpheus): “Simply put, Drake was as gracious, kind, patient and generous a man as I’ve known His ultimely departure is felt as a deep loss to all who have had the privilege of sharing the stage with him. God hold and keep his sweet soul. And to you, his beloved family, I send my deepest condolences and love. Our world was better for him.”

Charlotte Ross (ex-Eve): “My heart is broken… He was such a beautiful soul…”

Robert Scott Wilson (Alex): “An absolute legend and an incredible man. Will forever be missed and honored.”

Lindsay Arnold (ex-Allie): “Truly the sweetest, most welcoming man. Lucky and honored to have known him ”

Lucas Adams (ex-Tripp): “A wonderful and beautiful human being. It was a pleasure to have known you. Rest in peace Legend.”

Kate Mansi (ex-Abigail; Kristina, GH): “Heaven’s not ready for ‘Story Time,’ Drake, they don’t know how good they’re about to have it!!!”

Camila Banus (ex-Gabi): “RIP to the legend and super star @drakehogestyn. It was an honor to work alongside you. To hear your stories and jokes. To be in your presence.”

Stacy Haiduk (Kristen): “I cannot say enough great things about Drake! I am so sad you have passed! But I am grateful to have know you and all the beautiful stories you have told us all!!! To the family, my condolences to you! Much Love and Light to all!”

Paul Telfer (Xander): “The ultimate team player. So supportive, and so much fun. Devastating loss to this genre”

Victoria Grace (ex-Wendy): “Oh my goodness. I’m so so sad to hear this. I’m honored to have worked with him. Just the nicest guy. RIP Drake”

Soap Star Pals Pay Tribute

Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis, GH): “My deepest condolences to Drake Hogestyn’s family, friends and fans. What a lovely, lovely gracious man.”

Doug Davidson (ex-Paul, Y&R): “God’s speed, Drake. @DrakeHogestyn” and in another post, “I am so saddened by this news. May God shower him with His grace and comfort all who loved him . Rest in peace, Drake.”

William deVry (ex-Julian, GH et al): “Just seeing the news on Drake Hogestyn. RIP Drake. I know a lot of people are very sad this evening. Condolences to all who loved him. Family. Friends. Fans. #DaysCommunity #Days Been a rough few years in Daytime.”

Kin Shriner (Scott, GH): “RIP Drake a good guy ,crossed paths a few times over his great run on @DaysPeacock.”

Jon Lindstrom (Kevin, GH): “I don’t think you could find anyone who had ever met Drake Hogestyn, who didn’t like him. I didn’t know him well, but our paths crossed many times. Every time I found a warm, accessible, friendly and very, very funny man. The world is a lesser place without his kind. R.I.P.”

Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH): “such a great guy always happy. I didn’t know him that well, but every time I saw him just great.”

Drake Hogestyn Dies: ‘Days Of Our Lives’ Star Was 70

The news was confirmed by the long-running show’s social media account, which released the statement: “It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Drake Hogestyn. He was thrown the curve ball of his life when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but he faced the challenge with incredible strength and determination. After putting up an unbelievable fight, he passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones.”

“He was the most amazing husband, father, papa and actor,” the statement continued. “He loved performing for the Days audience and sharing the stage with the greatest cast, crew, and production team in the business.”

“We love him and we will miss him all the Days of our Lives,” the message, from the TV star’s family, concluded.

Hogestyn first began playing John Black in 1986, with a hiatus from 2009-2011, upon which he returned to the popular character until his death. His character’s main turning point was the reveal that he was actually the assumed-dead Roman Brady (originated by Wayne Northrop) after plastic surgery and memory loss.

Executive producer of the NBC-Peacock show, Ken Corday, said in a statement, per Soap Opera Digest, “This is a very difficult one for all of us. Hogey was the ultimate team player and there are not sufficient words to express how deeply he will be missed. His impact on our show, personally and professionally, was profound and will forever remain unmatched.”

Born in Fort Wayne, IN, on September 29, 1953, the future soap veteran attended university on a baseball scholarship, where he double-majored in microbiology and applied sciences with the aim of becoming an oral surgeon. He was drafted by two Major League Baseball teams (the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees).

An injury in 1977 cut his baseball career short, which resulted in him pivoting to entertainment. His entry began by being chosen as one of 30 actors in a pool of 75,000 applicants for a nationwide talent search conducted by Columbia Pictures. After completing the studio’s training program, he made his TV debut in 1982 with CBS’ short-lived Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (opposite the likes of a then-12-year-old River Phoenix).

Colleague Nancy Lee Grahn, who starred in another esteemed soap, General Hospital, wrote on X, “My deepest condolences to Drake Hogestyn’s family, friends and fans. What a lovely, lovely gracious man.”

Days of Our Lives Superstar Drake Hogestyn (John) Dies At 70

“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Drake Hogestyn. He was thrown the curve ball of his life when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but he faced the challenge with incredible strength and determination. After putting up an unbelievable fight, he passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones.

He was the most amazing husband, father, papa, and actor. He loved performing for the Days audience and sharing the stage with the greatest cast, crew, and production team in the business.

Executive Producer Ken Corday added, “This is a very difficult one for all of us. Hogey was the ultimate team player and there are not sufficient words to express how deeply he will be missed. His impact on our show, personally and professionally, was profound and will forever remain unmatched.”

Born Donald Drake Hogestyn in Fort Wayne, Indiana on September 27, 1953, the future soap superstar left his home state after graduating from high school to attend the University of South Florida on a baseball scholarship. There, he majored in pre-dentistry, graduating with a double major in microbiology and applied sciences, with the intention of becoming an oral surgeon. But after he finished college, he was drafted by two Major League Baseball teams, the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees. He opted to sign with the Yankees, and played third base on one of the organization’s farm teams in Oneonta, NY.

After an injury in 1977 ended his promising baseball career, Hogestyn began his pivot into showbiz, entering a nationwide talent search conducted by Columbia Pictures with 75,00o entrants. He was one of 30 actors chosen to participate in an acting training program sponsored by the studio and headed to Los Angeles. He made his television debut in the 1982 series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which ran for one season on CBS. Hogestyn played the role of Ben McFadden, the second oldest of the seven McFadden sons; Richard Dean Anderson, fresh from his breakout role as Jeff Webber on General Hospital, played Hogestyn’s older brother, Adam McFadden.

After that show wrapped, Hogestyn notched a few more roles in prime-time, such as Kort on CBS’s short-lived sci-fi series Otherworld in 1985. In 1984, he auditioned for the role of Kyle Sampson on Guiding Light, which went to Larkin Malloy. The following year, he was invited to audition for DAYS, but when he first showed up for the try-out, Hogestyn hardly had his heart set on the job — in no small part because his heart was back in Indiana, in the form of his future wife, Victoria. He recalled to Soap Opera Digest in 2015, “I had begun courting Victoria and I was flying back to Fort Wayne and DAYS was my last audition, as far as I was concerned. I pulled my Jeep up and I thought, ‘This is perfect. This is exactly where I started, at Columbia Pictures in the talent program. This is the first gate I walked through and it will be the last I go through. Let’s get it over with.’ ”

Fortunately, he continued, “[I] stopped myself and said, ‘What kind of attitude is that? Let’s get this over with?’ Got back in my Jeep, drove it around the block, pulled back into the parking lot and said, ‘Give ’em hell.’ And I walked in and when [Casting Director] Doris Sabbagh started describing the character, I pulled [the book] The Bourne Identity out of my briefcase and said, ‘Doris, are you talking about Jason Bourne?’ And she said, ‘Yes, but we’re calling him John Black! It’s only going to last a couple of months, through sweeps period, and then you’ll be free to do what you want to do.’ ”

Hogestyn made his Salem debut on January 24, 1986, and in a 2015 interview with Digest, he admitted that as a newcomer on the DAYS set, he felt “overwhelmed. When I started on the first day, I sat there all day long. I stayed on the set in everybody’s scenes all week long, just to see how they did it. I remember watching Mac [Carey, who played Tom Horton] and Frances [Reid, who played Alice Horton] and Quinn Redeker [who played Alex Marshall] and John Clarke [who played Mickey Horton]. [And] Deidre [Hall, who plays Marlena Evans], of course, took me by the hand and said, ‘This is how you do this, this is how you do that.’ ”

It was in no small thanks to Hogestyn’s chemistry with Hall that the show abandoned its plans to make John Black a short-term role. Introduced as “The Pawn”, John was revealed to be Marlena’s thought-to-be-dead husband, Roman Brady, who had been played by Wayne Northrop from 1981-84.

As a guest on Digest‘s podcast, Dishing with Digest, in 2022, his DAYS leading lady Deidre Hall (Marlena) recalled the beginnings of her long working relationship with Hogestyn. She said, “Drake came in to audition/screen test, I guess. I had agreed to test with everybody. I ran with everybody the same amount of time, practiced with everybody the same amount of time, and did the scene with Drake. Later, everybody was saying, ‘I don’t know, what do you think?’ ‘I don’t know, what do you think?”’ And they said, ‘What do you think?’ And I said, ‘I don’t think there’s any contest.’ ‘Who do you think it is?’ I said, ‘I think it’s Drake. I mean, he’s got everything you need. I think it’s a good look. I think we look well together. I think he’s got an intensity. He’s got a strength and a masculinity but a sexiness. Of everybody that you brought in, I think he’s your best choice.’ And they had been in the same place but kind of waited for me to say it, I guess. And so he was hired. I guess none of us stopped to think, ‘He’s not really what you would call a terribly experienced actor.’ I mean, he’d been a sports guy, a baseball player.” From the start, she smiled, “He was dreamy. He loved to rehearse, wanted to get it right, very serious about the work…. I think it worked from the very first moment.”

Hogestyn, of course, agreed to a longer stay — and while his professional life was on the upswing, that success paled in comparison to the happy tidings in his personal life: He and Victoria wed and began raising their family — daughters Whitney, Alexandra and Rachael and son Ben (who, for a time, appeared on General Hospital as Lucas Jones) — in California. In 2018, he shared his thoughts on how to have a lasting marriage with Digest, noting, “Stay married! You just stay married. And then you just fall in love with that same person over and over and over again…. I fell in love with Victoria when I was 15, she was 12, on the baseball field. She’s on the handlebars of her girlfriend Lisa Miller’s bike, I’m playing center field, go figure. That moment she just shocked me and I just screamed, ‘No! I have too much to do with my life,’ and from then on that was it! I look at her, I see her, I can see her when she was 12, when she was 13, when she was 14, 15, 16 … all the moments.”

When Hall left DAYS in 1987, Roman moved on to other romantic pairings, most significantly opposite Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital), who played Diana Colville, and Staci Greason, who played Isabella Toscano. In 2015, Francis told Digest, “Drake was adorable and funny,” and in 2022, Greason told Digest, “Drake really took me under his wing.” Then, in 1991, DAYS seized the opportunity to bring not only Hall, but the original Roman, Wayne Northrop, back to the show, which is how Hogestyn went back to playing John Black. The actor recalled to Digest in 2015, “I felt in a sense of fair play, I hadn’t created that character [of Roman]. Wayne did and had great success with it…. It was a good opportunity to re-explore John Black.” In 2018, he told Digest, “I hold those years [of playing Roman] very close to my heart, and I’m very proud and protective of my interpretation of Roman Brady.”

Hogestyn played John through 2009, when both he and Hall were dropped from the cast due to budget cuts. They were rehired in 2011. “I didn’t spend a lot of time thinking that DAYS was ever going to make the phone call to come back,” Hogestyn told Digest that year, adding, “Did I hope it would happen? Absolutely…. I was welcomed back with open arms. It brought a tear to my eyes.”

In May 2016, Hogestyn experienced brain injuries that kept him off the show for several months. Opening up to Digest upon his return to work in 2017, the actor said, “I don’t know if I’m being reflective or not, but you know, this whole thing with losing Joe Mascolo [ex-Stefano, who passed away in 2016] … I really loved that guy. I thought that he was going to live forever. I really did. I mean, his mom and dad lived up to their hundreds. So, as we go through weddings and funerals on the show, we do it in our own lives, too, and it’s kind of crazy.”

He went on to say, “I feel life is good…. Time’s going by. That’s just it. It’s amazing. It’s remarkable. We live a dual life here, you know what I mean? We not only have our real life, but we come here and have another life, and it’s really, really unusual. I wish everybody could experience this. It’s really rich and it’s really full and I’m very blessed. It’s a great way to go through life. I was texting with a [mentor] of mine [and] he said, ‘Hollywood really is a meat grinder,’ and I said, ‘Yeah. You have to know when you’re on top of the roller-coaster ride and be prepared for what’s coming next.’ Because that roller coaster goes up and goes down, and you have to have a very, very strong support group and sense of self and be very realistic. He was saying, ‘It’s amazing that you’ve had a gig half your life working in the entertainment industry on a show, and being passionate about what you love to do. How fortunate are you?’ And I said, ‘Yes. Exactly.’ ”

Hogestyn is survived by his wife, Victoria, their four children Rachael, Ben, Whitney, Alexandra and their partners, and seven grandchildren.

All About Days of Our Lives 2024 All-Star Day of Days Fan Event

In celebration of the 60th season of the beloved soap opera, streaming now on Peacock, a glittering array of stars of the series will be on hand to interact with fans.

The stacked roster of celebrities will make the Peacock Theater feel a lot like Salem, the setting of Days of Our Lives that fans have come to know and love.

You won’t want to miss a moment. Here's everything you need to know about the 2024 Day of Days fan event.

The 2024 Day of Days fan gathering will take place on Saturday, November 2 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Calif. Doors open at 10 a.m. PT.

This year, the annual event, set inside to provide seating and weather coverage, celebrates the milestone 60th season of the soap that’s kept fans glued to their TVs since 1965.

Getting up close with your favorite Days of Our Lives stars is one of the big events of the free Day of Days. Fans will have a chance to meet cast members in person and to participate in autograph signings. All the stars in attendance will sign in both the morning and afternoon, which is a first for Day of Days.

In addition, there will be photo ops, giveaways, and a Q&A session with the cast.

Just as fans have come to expect twists from their favorite soap, those are also on deck for Day of Days. “We have some exciting surprises lined up in honor of the 60th that you definitely don’t want to miss,” the event announcement promises.

Marking another first, there will be celebratory Days branded merchandise for sale.

A wide array of Salem’s finest will participate in the annual event, hosted by Tony Moore. Some of the Days stars scheduled to attend include Josh Taylor, James Reynolds, Eric Martsolf, Deidre Hall, Robert Scott Wilson, Paul Telfer, Stephen Nichols, Billy Flynn, Galen Gering, Jackée Harry, Raven Bowens, Dan Feuerriegel, Carson Boatman, Elia Cantu, Abigail Klein, Linsey Godfrey, Ashley Puzemis, Leo Howard, Cherie Jimenez, Susan Hayes, Al Calderon, Martha Madison, Brandon Beemer, Stacy Haiduk, Wally Kurth, Judi Evans, Tina Huang, Casey Moss, John Paul Lavoisier, Lamon Archey, Sal Stowers, Kennedy Garcia, Colton Little and Brandon Barash.

The Day of Days is free and open to the public. You can RSVP for Day of Days on the official event website but an RSVP is not required. Entry is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

To keep up with all the action in Salem, catch new episodes of Days of Our Lives on Peacock.

Alison Sweeney’s 10th ‘Hannah Swensen’ Movie Confirmed: First Look at ‘Sprinkle of Deceit’

In the new film, Hannah and Chad (Victor Webster) flirt with their own paths to solve the same murder while working to clear a colleague who is implicated in the crime. Meanwhile, Delores (Barbara Niven) gets her big break.

The sneak peek gives a glimpse at the mystery ahead. Hannah and Chad’s chemistry continues to get even better as they work together once again. “You know you really are good at this. Look what you’ve built here, all while solving the occasional murder,” Chad says while making a pitstop at Hannah’s shop. Hannah quips, “Well, it does happen more often than you think.”

This marks the 10th Hannah Swensen movie. The first entry of the franchise, Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery, premiered all the way back in 2015.

The first eight Hannah Swensen movies starred Cameron Mathison alongside Sweeney. Mathison played Mike, Hannah’s love interest. When Mike left for FBI training at Quantico, that’s when Webster’s Chad stepped in. Chad made his debut in One Bad Apple, which aired earlier this year.

“Bringing Victor in and kind of building this role for him was the opportunity to mix things up and really bring Chad in as a completely different dynamic than what Hannah’s used to, what the audience is used to, and create a new chemistry between Hannah and Chad that hasn’t been there before,” Sweeney previously told TV Insider. “Also, just playing off Victor. He’s good in any role, but I think he has a really fun time in this playing a tough guy who keeps his feelings on the inside. That was sort of the idea in creating this character. He’s not humoring Hannah the way everyone else in town does.”

A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, Movie Premiere, October 4, 9/8c, Hallmark Mystery.

Holidazed: Hallmark’s First-Ever Holiday Series Gets November Premiere Date

Hallmark’s first-ever holiday series Holidazed will premiere with two episodes on Thursday, Nov. 14, exclusively on Hallmark+, the streamer announced Thursday.

The limited series’ ensemble cast includes Ser’Darius Blain (The CW’s Charmed), Lindy Booth (The Librarians), Erin Cahill (Red Widow), Osric Chau (Supernatural), Nazneen Contractor (24), Loretta Devine (Grey’s Anatomy), Noemi Gonzalez (East Los High), Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars), Dennis Haysbert (24), Rachelle Lefevre (Under the Dome), Virginia Madsen (Witches of East End), John C. McGinley (Scrubs), Holland Roden (Teen Wolf) and Lucille Soong (Fresh Off the Boat).

Holidaze showcases six diverse families, each with distinct backgrounds, cultures, and generations, residing on the same cul-de-sac. As they navigate the joyous chaos of the holiday season, they embrace a family dynamic unique to them. Amid heightened emotions, these families and neighbors engage in both humorous and heartfelt celebrations of their traditions and quirks. Throughout the festivities, they uncover the universal thread binding them all: the various manifestations of love.

‘Tracker’ Season 2 Trailer: Jensen Ackles’ Return, Colter in Danger & His Love Life

Colter travels the country as a reward-seeker, but he only collects if he’s successful in finding the missing person, as he explains to a client in the video above, which offers a look at some of the jobs coming his way this season. The one in the premiere, which airs on Sunday, October 13, features the strange disappearance of a missing family whose car was found abandoned on the side of the road in the backwoods of Arkansas. Colter then makes a shocking discovery about the mother’s past that leads him into the world of organized crime.

At one point, his business handler Velma Bruin (Abby McEnany) warns him not to do anything stupid, and let’s just say that what he’s doing counts. Oh, his love life is going to be complicated this season, with bounty hunter Billie Matalon (Sofia Pernas) back and whatever he may have one day with lawyer Reenie Green (Fiona Rene). In fact, Reenie notes at one point that she didn’t ask him about Billie. “Can we just focus on work?” he asks.

Jensen Ackles also returns as Colter’s brother, Russell in the second episode. “Colter’s got a couple of questions for him about this Dory [their sister, played by Melissa Roxburgh] situation and the box that she has and does Russell know where it is? Russell’s also pretty heroic in Episode 2 and they get involved in this really black ops, kind of strange thing,” Hartley told us as part of our Fall Preview of Season 2.

“These government officials start asking about our dad out of the blue, and you’re like, ‘Whoa, what’s this all about?’ So, in every episode, Dad is becoming a little more vindicated maybe, or just maybe completely nuts,” Hartley continued. “We don’t know. We dive a little bit deeper into that.”

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Brings Back Super Couple Kristian Alfonso & Peter Reckell

Kristian Alfonso and Peter Reckell will reprise their popular roles for a special arc airing in May of 2025. The actors are filming their scenes now to help celebrate the soap’s 60th season.

“There is a saying I love: ‘Life takes you to unexpected places but love always brings you home,’” Alfonso said to TV Insider, which first broke the news. “Anyone who knows me knows how grateful I am to have all of you supporting me and welcoming me back when I’m back in Salem. These episodes with Pete will not disappoint.”

“Just like riding a bike,” added Reckell. “And thank goodness they keep one at the ready for me in Salem. This ride is one we know the fans are really going to love. Stay tuned!”

Alfonso last returned to the show in April to help bid farewell to the character played by Bill Hayes, who died in January at 98. Those episodes air in December.

‘General Hospital’ star shares unusual second job he takes on when he’s not acting

The 59-year-old actor, known for his character Ric Lansing in the popular soap opera, took to social media to reveal his double life.

“I’ve been on break from ‘GH’ for a couple [of] weeks now,” he explained in an Instagram post.

“About to head back in a couple of days. Going to get on a plane. I’m in Jersey, currently, New Jersey where I live. I just kind of wanted to show folks what New Jersey looks like.”

The actor continued to explain how visitors may misinterpret New Jersey for mostly being industrial but shared that there is more to the Garden State than what travelers see outside of Newark International Airport.

“General Hospital” actor Rick Hearst is sharing a glimpse into his second job when he’s not working in Hollywood.

The 59-year-old actor, known for his character Ric Lansing in the popular soap opera, took to social media to reveal his double life.

“I’ve been on break from ‘GH’ for a couple [of] weeks now,” he explained in an Instagram post.

“About to head back in a couple of days. Going to get on a plane. I’m in Jersey, currently, New Jersey where I live. I just kind of wanted to show folks what New Jersey looks like.”

He added, “There [are] different parts of New Jersey… The part that I live in, South Central New Jersey, which is a beautiful place. I also happen to be a real estate agent here. I love helping people find homes here, sell their homes here. It’s really a great lifestyle out here.”

The soap opera actor went on to give fans a preview of his backyard and explained how he grew up on the East Coast.

“There’s a lot of green… that’s more green than I want to have, it’s a lot to mow,” Hearst shared. “And yes, I do mow my own lawn. I know, nuts.”

While he showed his lush and “spacious” green backyard, Hearst said, “All those trees back there are going to be turning colors by the time I get back from Los Angeles.”

In Hearst’s video, he panned the camera to his mother’s vegetable garden and displayed his luxurious in-ground pool to his fans.

He accompanied his video with the caption, “A little view of the ‘garden state’ from my back yard.”

“We’re very happy here. It’s very peaceful, it’s very tranquil,” Hearst remarked. “I love being here.”

Hearst then reminded his fans of his real estate business and said, “So if you happen to be looking to come to New Jersey, give me a shout. I can find you a place. Or if you are in New Jersey and would like to get an estimate on your home, see what the options are available to you, and would love to be able to work with you as well.”

He returned to “General Hospital” this year after being on hiatus for eight years. He’s won two Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on the show.

His other television credits include roles on “Days of Our Lives,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.”.

What’s Next (and Who’s Arriving) on ‘General Hospital,’ ‘DAYS,’ ‘Y&R’ & ‘B&B’ This Fall

Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Taylor (Rebecca Budig) face off after Hope (Annika Noelle) continues making a play for Steffy’s (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) husband, Finn (Tanner Novlan). But when Steffy threatens to end the Hope for the Future fashion line, Hope sets her sights on a new man.
Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) discovers Taylor’s shocking reasons for returning home.
Will’s (Crew Morrow) return could lead to a reunion for his parents, Bill (Don Diamont) and Katie (Heather Tom).
Poppy (Romy Park) is committed to continuing her relationship with Bill. Li makes a grand gesture towards her sister to help Poppy heal from the devastating fallout of Luna’s (Lisa Yamada) murderous actions and kidnapping of Steffy.
Casting News! Guest star Tom Arnold returns as Captain Deuce Stevens. Musician Jökull Júliusson from the Icelandic band, Kaleo, rocks out at the Brooke’s Bedroom fashion campaign.

John (Drake Hogestyn) puts the pieces together regarding the accident that caused Sarah’s (Linsey Godfrey) paralysis. An unexpected treatment for Sarah’s paralysis is on the horizon.
Chad (Billy Flynn) finally accepts that Abigail is back and they prepare to get remarried.
Johnny’s (Carson Boatman) jealous side comes out when he questions Chanel’s behavior on the set of Body & Soul.
Once again, Victor’s (John Aniston) will is contested and a tug-of-war ensues for control of Titan.
Tate (Leo Howard) finds himself caught between Sophia (Madelyn Kientz) and Holly (Ashley Puzemis).
Casting News! Nancy Wesley (Patrika Darbo) returns to Salem to introduce someone she thinks is perfect for Body & Soul. Gabi (Cherie Jimenez) and Rafe’s (Galen Gering) cousin comes to town.

Alexis’ (Nancy Lee Grahn) plan to protect Kristina (Kate Mansi) hits a snag.
Molly (Kristen Vaganos) takes matters into her own hands to save Alexis.
Ric (Rick Hearst) finds another reason to stick around Port Charles.
Tracy (Jane Elliot) works through her complicated feelings about Cody (Josh Kelly) and Sasha’s (Sofia Mattsson) romance.
Lucky (Jonathan Jackson) dreams of Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst).
Hoping to clear his mind about Willow, Drew (Cameron Mathison) has a proposition for Nina (Cynthia Watros).
Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and Rocco (Finn Francis Carr) visit Lulu.
Jordan (Tanisha Harper) and Isaiah (Sawandi Wilson) get to know each other.

Victor (Eric Braeden) makes a deal with Lily (Christel Khalil) to take down Billy (Jason Thompson) once and for all while also dedicating his time to pushing Jack’s (Peter Bergman) buttons as he continues to mentor Kyle (Michael Mealor) at Glissade.
Cameron (Linden Ashby) remains a dangerous presence in Sharon’s (Sharon Case) life as he encourages her to visit her dark side leading Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Mariah (Camryn Grimes) to work together to help Sharon.
Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) is presented with an unexpected professional opportunity while also supporting Summer (Allison Lanier) and Daniel (Michael Graziadei) through some challenging times.
Victoria (Amelia Heinle) rekindles her romance with Cole (J. Eddie Peck).
Claire (Hayley Erin) sees a new side to Kyle as they take their relationship to the next level.
Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) and Adam (Mark Grossman) seek forgiveness for their night of passion while Billy and Sally (Courtney Hope) find themselves forming an unexpected bond.
Abby (Melissa Ordway) and Devon (Bryton James) face an unforeseen obstacle as they plan their November wedding.
Diane (Susan Walters) goes to great lengths to repair her relationship with her son, Kyle.
Audra (Zuleyka Silver) and Nate (Sean Dominic) navigate the waters of their new normal.

Maiara Walsh Wraps On Directorial Debut ‘Bight’; Stars Opposite Cameron Cowperthwaite, Mark Hapka & Maya Stojan In Indie Thriller

Written by Walsh and Cowperthwaite, the film delves into the turbulent lives of two couples whose provocative explorations of an open relationship spiral into a dark and devastating fallout. Cowperthwaite plays Atticus, a man who has lost his way after abandoning his dreams of becoming an artist. Hapka plays Sebastian, a successful avant-garde erotic photographer whose latest exhibition immerses him in the intricate and sensual world of Shibari. Walsh portrays Charlie, a woman struggling to regain her sense of self and security following a miscarriage, with Stojan as Naomi, a seductress painter with a dark secret.

Hapka produced under his White Room Productions banner, alongside Cowperthwaite (80 Proof Pictures), Walsh (Inspired Ink Productions), Stephen Mo?at, and Yori X. Sterling Beaumon exec produced alongside Todd Slater and Brandon Evans of Brick Lane Entertainment, which has come aboard to handle worldwide sales ahead of the Toronto Film Festival, as well as Emilio Nunez.

Said Slater, “The filmmakers delivered a tour de force of a film with Bight. The ensemble cast was first class and we are thrilled to showcase this film to audiences around the world.”

Most recently recurring in the final two seasons of Freeform’s Good Trouble, Walsh has also been seen on shows like The Last Ship, Switched at Birth and Desperate Housewives.

Also best known for his work in television, Cowperthwaite’s recent credits include Sugar, Station 19, Fallout, American Horror Stories, 9-1-1: Lone Star and The Rookie.

Hapka is best known for his longtime role of Nathan Horton on NBC’s soap Days of Our Lives.

Perhaps best known for turns on shows like Castle and Agents of S.H.I.E.LD., Stojan has most recently been seen on NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: Hawai’i, Magnum P.I. and The Resident.

Walsh is represented by Strand Entertainment and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols; Cowperthwaite by SDB Partners, Link Entertainment, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; and Stojan by Defining Artists Agency and Link Entertainment..

Days of Our Lives’ Abigail Mystery Deepens: Who Is AnnaLynne McCord Really Playing?

Monday’s episode featured a clandestine meeting between AnnaLynne McCord‘s mystery character and Dr. Greene (Jonah Robinson), the latter of whom was apparently responsible for fudging the DNA test.

“I’m just grateful you were in the right place at the right time,” the Abigail imposter told her accomplice. “As soon as the DNA results were in, Chad had no doubt that I was his dead wife.” Dr. Greene assured her that they should be in the clear, assuming she isn’t required to take a follow-up test. (Spoiler alert: We bet she will!) The duo then began discussing the “next steps” to their plan, but Chad showed up just in time to interrupt them.

Though McCord technically made her Days debut back in June, it wasn’t until Aug. 14 that a DNA test revealed her character to be none other than the presumed-dead Abigail DiMera, previously portrayed by Marci Miller. Or so we thought.

We knew that McCord was playing someone who underwent plastic surgery and suffered from amnesia (the soap opera double whammy!), but until that test confirmed her as a genetic match, we weren’t ready to assume anything. Heck, on this show, how certain can we even be about a DNA test?

While Chad, Jack and the rest of the family were immediately thrilled to have Abigail back home, the woman in question wasn’t feeling the same warm and fuzzies. “I don’t know you — any of you!” she told them. “I don’t feel like I belong here. None of this makes any sense to me at all.”

In the end, “Abigail” reluctantly agreed to stay in Salem, posting up at the DiMera Mansion while she adjusts to her new (old?) life. “So I guess Abigail’s home,” she said with a sigh as she took in her new (old?) surroundings.

Days fans, are you enjoying McCord’s run as… whoever she’s playing? And where do you predict this Abigail mystery will go from here?

Days of Our Lives Stars Arianne Zucker and Shawn Christian Get Married: 'Most Memorable Time in My Life'

The Days of Our Lives stars tied the knot on Saturday, Aug. 17 at Jacob's Berry Farm in Gardnerville, Nev., they both announced on Instagram over the weekend.

"It’s official! Mr & Mrs Christian! This is how we wedding! Action shot right in the middle of our entrance dance! ??," Zucker, 50, captioned two snaps of the pair dancing together.

"8/17/24 was filled with so much love with all our guests," she added. "We hope everyone felt like they were part of our wedding, not just invited! ?? Our guests met new friends, families came together and love was everywhere in the air! This was such a special time for me and Shawn!"

Before tagging the team that helped bring their wedding together — including the venue itself, photographer Casey Simon, hair stylist Sarah Santana, Candlelight & Roses Florist, event planner Shawna Pacheco and others — Zucker wrote to her husband, "We did it babe!"

"I love you so much! This truly is one of the most memorable time in my life! Soon to share….our wedding guest flash mob line dance! ????????"

Christian, 58, also celebrated the pair's wedding on Instagram with the same post and caption on his own account, adding that he was "DEEPLY GRATEFUL to the following and their incredible teams ????," before shouting out some of the professionals who helped plan their big day.

In the photos, Christian and Zucker could be seen in matching beige attire — with Zucker's dress including a pop of sparkle and a belt — as they busted a few moves on the dance floor in front of loved ones.

Zucker, who played the role of Nicole Walker on the long-running soap opera, revealed roughly a year ago that she and her now-husband — who played Daniel Jonas on the series — were "finally" planning their wedding. The duo, who have been dating for several years, got engaged in June 2021.

At the time, Zucker wrote that her partner "completely surprised me on Father’s Day" when he pulled out a ring while they were apparently boating together.

"This man has an unbelievably beautiful heart and he always seems to know how to make me feel so wonderful," she wrote. "??I am blessed to join him on this next adventure. ??Thank you @taylorquinncole & @ghstwrtr for helping to make this day full of love and happiness!"

Back in May, alongside a video compilation featuring photos of the couple, Christian revealed that he and his now-wife landed on their wedding destination and date.

"So grateful to everyone who has helped us make this exploration an eye-opening awe-inspiring adventure," he wrote at the time, adding that "there is great value in long courtships."

Baywatch Cast Reflects on Highs and Lows of the Show in Docuseries Preview: ‘There Really Was No Better Job’

The stars reunited for the new ABC News Studios docuseries, After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun, and revealed how their lives changed being on one of the most popular television series, which ran from 1989 to 1999. To promote the new series (premiering Aug. 28), some of the stars reflected on what the docuseries meant to them in this exclusive featurette.

For David Chokachi, who played Cody Madison, “I look back and was like, there really was no better job than Baywatch." Alexandra Paul nods in agreement beside him.

“Baywatch is a fantasy,” says Nicole Eggert, who produced the documentary and played Summer Quinn on the show.

The camera then cuts to Traci Bingham and Carmen Electra on each side of Jeremy Jackson, who played David Hasselhoff's child on the series. Jackson jokes, “Childhood memories finally manifesting,” as he hugs them and laughs.

Baywatch was a phenomenon during its 11-season run — creator Douglas Schwartz even reveals it had 1.2 billion viewers per week.

“That was the highest volume of viewers of any show ever in the history of television,” he says.

The lifeguard rescue drama made headlines worldwide, bringing extreme fame to the cast. Reflecting on that pressure of being in the public eye, Paul explains that she was grateful to have her costars by her side at the time.

“I think when you’ve been on a number one show in the world, it’s such a unique experience we had,” she discusses with Chokachi. “So coming together again, we’re just bonded because of that, because of what we went through — the good and the bad that came with that kind of fame.”

Erika Eleniak, who played Shauni McClain, says she agrees, adding that doing the documentary three decades later was a full-circle moment.

“It was a nice opportunity to be able to speak candidly about what was going on and how it affected our lives and our careers on a personal level,” she says while sitting beside Billy Warlock.

On the other hand, Electra says she is hoping nothing too crazy comes out of the behind-the-scenes clips that will be included in the docuseries, teasing: “I heard there’s unseen footage, lost VHS tapes, so I'm a little concerned about that.”

Director and executive producer Matthew Felker remembers the amount of attention the stars got during the peak of the show, saying he understands why the cast has been afraid of public scrutiny.

“They were very hesitant with press because they’ve always been sort of massacred in the press,” he explains.

The docuseries is a chance for the stars to tell their own stories about its impact on pop culture and their lives.

In the docuseries, there's archival footage of Pamela Anderson (who starred as C.J. Parker) saying she still can recall where she was when she realized that she was famous.

“We went to London to promote Baywatch and photographers were falling down backwards and down the stairs and I looked behind me and was like, ‘who are they shooting?’ And it literally dawns on you that it’s you,” she reveals.

(Video) “Just because you’re a beautiful person doesn’t mean that life can’t happen too,” Felker continued. “Life happens to a lot of these people, and we see that.”

The clip came to an end with a clip of Anderson declaring: “I’m really proud of everything I've done — almost.”

TLC Forced to Cancel NY Concert, T-Boz Hospitalized

The group says T-Boz, AKA Tionne Watkins, is suffering from an abdominal blockage that landed her in the hospital. The medical crisis meant TLC couldn't perform Saturday night at Foxwoods in Connecticut, and ditto for a Friday night gig at the NY State Fair in Syracuse.

After the Friday night cancelation -- which came just 30 minutes before the scheduled start time -- they said she had food poisoning, but 24 hours later they got a different diagnosis.

The group posted a statement saying, "The doctor verified that this was not food poisoning, but an abdominal blockage. Tionne deeply regrets having to cancel these shows and extends her sincere apologies to all her fans and the event promoters."

They say she was still hospitalized as of Saturday night -- doctors were monitoring her condition and did a CT scan to determine the severity of the blockage. They expect her to be released sometime on Sunday.

Prior to this weekend, TLC's last concert was Thursday night in Toledo ... although we're not suggesting some Ohio cuisine is to blame for her illness.

TLC says it will try to reschedule the canceled shows, but the current tour's been anything but smooth. They also had to cancel a couple of Canadian shows back in May due to a flu outbreak among tour members.

'Days of Our Lives' Star Jessica Serfaty Alerted to Tracker in Her Car

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Jessica -- who plays Sloan-Petersen Brady on "Days Of Our Lives" -- was hanging out in Malibu when her phone pinged her about the AirTag in her Range Rover.

We're told Jessica was immediately concerned, because she hadn't put any such device in her SUV, nor had she seen one. She worried someone had stashed it in her car -- perhaps in the engine compartment -- to keep tabs on her.

Sheriff's deputies showed up and searched the vehicle, but couldn’t find the AirTag. It's unclear if it fell off, or someone removed it.

Cops took a report for unauthorized use of an electronic device ... and our sources say detectives are now on the hunt, trying to track down the AirTag user's info by using Jessica's phone.

We're told operating theories on the suspect's motive include stalking, burglary or car theft -- none of which can make Jessica feel too comfortable.

John Aprea Dies: ‘The Godfather Part II’ & ‘Full House’ Actor Was 83

According to his manager Will Levine, Aprea died of natural causes on Monday, Aug. 5 at his Los Angeles home, where he was surrounded by family.

Born March 4, 1941 in Englewood, New Jersey, Aprea made his onscreen debut in 1968’s Bullitt, alongside Steve McQueen. He went on to one of his most memorable performances as Young Tessio in The Godfather Part II (1974) after auditioning to play Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola‘s original 1972 film.

Aprea once said working with Coppola and actors Al Pacino and Robert De Niro was “the high point” of his career, adding, “I was surrounded by the best in The Godfather.”

He also appeared in such films as The Stepford Wives (1975), New Jack City (1991), The Game (1997), Dead Man on Campus (1998) and The Manchurian Candidate (2004).

In 1989, Aprea was cast on the NBC soap opera Another World, playing Lucas Castigliano. The character of Lucas was paired with Felicia Gallant (Linda Dano). He had previously worked with Dano when they played siblings on The Montefuscos.

Aprea had a recurring role on Full House, and later Fuller House, as Jesse’s (John Stamos) father Nick Katsopolis. His TV credits also include The Gangster Chronicles, Matt Houston and Knots Landing, as well as episodes of Wonder Woman, Three’s a Crowd, The A-Team, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Fall Guy, Falcon Crest, Tales from the Dark Side, Night Court, Melrose Place, Saved by the Bell: The New Class and The Sopranos.

Aprea’s Knots Landing co-star Paul Carafotes paid tribute to the late actor on Saturday. “We had lots of laughs,” he wrote in part. “We met on the set of CBS television show Knots Landing, 1987, over 40 years ago. Many will miss this man! Rest old friend. I’ll see you on the other side.”

Soap star Judi Evans Dishes on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and Opens Up About Managing Grief After Losing Her Son and More

The Daytime Emmy-winner, who also got into the drama on Guiding Light, Another World, and As The World Turns spoke to WW/FFW about her 42-year run in daytime, creating romance with Wally Kurth, and getting goofy with pals like Deidre Hall. Evans also opened up about how her husband, her friends, and Bonnie Lockhart’s wacky adventures have kept her going in the wake of losing her son in 2019.

When Judi Evans landed the role as Guiding Light’s Beth Raines back in 1983, it put her on the map and earned her a 1984 Daytime Emmy at just 19. After three years of hustling and studying acting, that first role was a game changer… sort of.

“Getting that job was a dream, but I can’t tell you how many people said, ‘You’ll never make it. This is not for you. You should do something else,’” she recounts. “Since I was 22, I’ve heard nothing but, ‘There are not a lot of roles for a woman your age,’ so it’s always been an uphill climb. I just keep scraping along.”

Evans’ determination took her to Days of Our Lives, where she assumed the role of Adrienne Johnson-Kiriakis in 1996 and after many epic adventures, also created the role of Bonnie.

Along the way, there was a sidestep to Another World, where she played Paulina Cory from 1991 to 1999, as well as a stint as As the World Turns’ Maeve Stone — and four decades later, Evans is still making us laugh and cry as Salem’s beloved Bonnie.

“I have so many wonderful memories,” Evans marvels. “I’ve played such dramatic, angst-ridden characters. Bonnie is a great diversion from that, even though she does have that emotional side. She’s been through a lot, she’s struggled, she’s made bad decisions, she’s had to pay for them. Hopefully, she’s learned from them, but she’s still a little bit wacky. It’s so fun.”

Evans has been actually performing since her childhood on the road with The Evans Family Circus — and it turns out her days of clowning around with her family were the perfect preparation for soap operas.

“In a traveling circus, you’re entertaining people in a new city every day — whether it’s death-defying emotions or wacky, wild comedy,” she explains. “Much like a soap, you’re basically doing an entire play or movie every day, and even though you’re doing similar stuff, you have to make it very different to make it interesting for yourself and for the audience.”

“In the circus, you’ve got animals pooping on you and you’re falling all over each other,” she laughs. “You’re always ready for an accident. And you know what? I’ve actually had animals pooping on me on soaps, too! See, it’s pretty much the same.”

While Evans has played two very different characters in Salem, both Adrienne and Bonnie ended up with the same handsome local, Justin Kiriakis. That means the actress has spent much of her career creating romance and drama with Wally Kurth, who also does double duty as General Hospital’s Ned Quartermaine.

“I adore that man,” Evan shares. “We’re always in each other’s lives, even when we’re not working together, because we’re very good friends. It’s been wonderful to watch a great young man turn into a great gentleman, a great friend and a great partner. We’ve had a lot of adventures . . . but not nearly enough!”

Evans admits she’s gotten lucky with her leading men – including Michael Luciano, who she married in 1993.

“I also worked a lot with Brian Dattilo, Vincent Irizarry, Tom Eplin . . .” she lists. “It’s like I hit the lottery with friends that I’ve worked with, so I feel pretty fortunate.”

For the record, that lottery doesn’t just include soap hunks! In addition to making girlfriends as she soap-hopped around, Evans has come of age with a powerhouse cast of Salem women — including icon Deidre Hall, who plays both Marlena and her doppelganger Hattie.

When Evans learned Bonnie would join Hattie in the show’s soap within a soap, Body & Soul, she immediately called Hall to celebrate their onscreen reunion.

“We got so excited and tickled,” she shares. “Normally we’re moving so fast we barely say hi on set, but this gives us time to sit together and run lines. And yes, we ARE really running lines, but we also just get to have fun and be mischievous! Deidre’s such a wonderful friend, so working together is like eating ice cream with a topping on a topping.”

Having recently turned 60, Evans is doing her best to enjoy life, but she’s not exactly celebrating. While she’s recovered from a serious accident and a COVID battle that almost cost her her legs, she doesn’t expect she’ll ever get over losing her son, Austin, who died in 2019 at just 23 years old.

“I miss him every single minute, every single day,” Evans shares. “It’s always there, but it doesn’t stop me from helping other people enjoy life, or from enjoying it with them. My husband and my animals, they give me some purpose and certainly joy. And I’m lucky to have great friends who pull my focus. I would go to the ends of the earth for them, and they’ve gone to the ends of the earth for me.”

Like many Days of Our Lives fans, Evans also finds solace in escaping into her stories. “I’m always grateful for work, but even more so now, because it gives me a distraction,” she says. “I get to be someone else for a little while, which is a great relief. When I’m in an emotional storyline, it lessens my therapy bills. I love it when I get to cry every day! But also, it’s great to get to do comedy.”

Evans has also found joy in the Body & Soul reboot — which, in classic Days of Our Lives camp, has Salem locals taking on unexpected roles in their favorite soap opera and featured Bonnie stumbling and then nailing her audition for Kassandra.

“This has been quite a challenge, because it’s a character playing a character,” Evans says.

“But I’ve got some scenes coming up with Rob Wilson Scott, who plays Alex, and we had a blast! We were tickled . . . and I hope the audience will be, too.”

With Bonnie, Hattie and Leo involved, the Body & Soul story promises to be a wild ride, but Evans tells INSERT MAGAZINE it’s also a chance for Days of Our Lives to share some insider laughs with fans.

“In a way, we’re showing a bit of the behind-the-scenes of making a soap, but we’re also poking fun at our business,” the daytime vet explains. “Sometimes, soap storylines are hard to relate to, so we laugh a lot. It’s a way to let that go, so we can fully commit to what we’re doing.

“Now, we’re letting the audience in on our joke, so I hope you like it . . . and if you hate it, I hope you’re still entertained, because that’s what we’re here for!” Evans says with a smile. Her positivity against all odds and her joy in her work is truly infectious, and we can’t wait to see what she does next on Body & Soul.

Kyle Lowder Returns To Days Of Our Lives As Rex

On August 12, the actor posted a video from his car on his Instagram Stories, teasing, “I’m back in a very familiar place today, and tomorrow, and the next day. Give you a hint — I’m in Burbank at a studio. I’ve been doing this a long time, but it’s been a minute! I’m excited.”

A spokesperson for the show confirmed what Lowder appeared to be hinting at, telling Soap Opera Digest, “It’s true! Rex is in Salem, we’ll just have to see what brought him back… next spring.”

Lowder has made some big career moves in recent years, trading Hollywood for work on a different kind of set: He’s pivoted to broadcast news and serves as the morning anchor for the CBS affiliate KTVN in Reno, NV. In a 2023 Digest interview about his career change, Lowder explained that he made the switch to broadcast journalism in no small part to be closer to daughter Isabella, who was born on December 7, 2009, who he shares with Arianne Zucker (ex-Nicole, DAYS), his ex-wife. Isabella expressed an interest in living full-time in the Lake Tahoe region, where Zucker and her fiancé, Shawn Christian (ex-Daniel, DAYS) have a home. Lowder explained to Digest, “Immediately the wheels started to turn in my head about, ‘Okay, she’s got five years left before she graduates high school and then becomes an adult and decides what she wants to do. I don’t want to spend those five years driving up or flying in as much as I can and being a visitor in her life.’ ”

In that interview, Lowder indicated that despite his move out of state, he would be open to making further soap appearances. “The soap opera genre is the first job I ever had,” he said. “I love that industry. My gut answer is, if Days of Our Lives called, or any show for that matter, obviously, I’m on contract, so I couldn’t sign another contract. But if I got a phone call to see if I could pop in for an episode or two, schedule permitting, I would love to do that.”2

Days of Our Lives Finally Confirms AnnaLynne McCord’s Mystery Role

Nearly eight months after Peacock announced that AnnaLynne McCord was cast in the long-running soap, we can finally confirm which character the 90210 vet is actually playing. Following a DNA test on Wednesday’s episode, McCord’s Jane Doe was revealed to be none other than the presumed-dead Abigail DiMera, previously portrayed by Marci Miller.

While Chad, Jack and the rest of the family are thrilled to have Abigail back home, the woman in question isn’t feeling the same warm and fuzzies. “I don’t know you — any of you!” she told them. “I don’t feel like I belong here. None of this makes any sense to me at all.”

The episode ended with Abigail reluctantly agreeing to stay in Salem, where she’ll be posting up at the DiMera Mansion while she adjusts to her new (old?) life. “So I guess Abigail’s home,” she said with a sigh as she took in her new (old?) surroundings.

Days fans, now that we know — for real this time — that McCord is the new Abigail, how are we feeling about this frothy twist? And do you think there’s more to the story here? Do you think she is Gwen not Abigail?

Baywatch Docu Trailer Teases Lifeguard Drama’s Highs and Lows: ‘Everybody Was Disposable’

Baywatch debuted nearly 35 years ago, in September 1989, and aired on NBC and then in syndication until May 2001. (We don’t talk abut Baywatch Nights.) The series’ OG cast included David Hasselhoff, Parker Stevenson, Billy Warlock, Erika Eleniak and others, while subsequent additions included Pamela Anderson, Nicole Eggert, David Charvet, Alexandra Paul, Yasmine Bleeth, Traci Bingham, Carmen Electra and future Aquaman Jason Momoa.

In its bid to deliver “an unprecedented look into the stars who brought the world’s most famous lifeguards to life, After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun features dozens of new cast and creator interviews — including Eggert, Electra, Warlock, Paul, Bingham, Eleniak, Gregory Alan Williams, David Chokachi, Jeremy Jackson, Michael Newman, Michael Berk and Douglas Schwartz — and never-before-seen footage.

The four-part series also unveils a never-aired interview with Anderson, and shares loads of never-before-seen home videos shot by the cast and offering a unique glimpse into the real dynamics, struggles, friendships and moments that happened off-camera.

Press play on the trailer above to hear Warlock and others talk about the beauty standard made famous by the sun-baked series, the ever-changing cast’s “disposable” nature and the feelings the theme song alone triggered, and to get a peek at the never-before-seen Anderson interview.

Arianne Zucker Wins Round in ‘Days of Our Lives’ Lawsuit

In a decision issued Thursday, a Los Angeles County judge ruled that Zucker can move ahead with the disputed portion of her complaint that’s seeking a formal order barring former DOOL executive producer Albert Alarr from harassing behavior in any future workplace. In her lawsuit, Zucker sued Alarr for sexual harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and for the judicial order under a section of California’s business code. Alarr had asked the court to strike the alleged business code violation, claiming it didn’t apply to him.

“There have to be allegations he is engaged in continuing behavior,” Alarr’s lawyer Robert Barta argued at a hearing in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday. “He’s not even employed. There’s no allegation that he’s employed anywhere in this industry, as a result of what has transpired. It’s a matter of law. There are simply no facts alleged to support a claim for injunctive relief.”

The court disagreed. “Plaintiff has alleged a long-standing course of conduct by Mr. Alarr. An inference arises from the facts alleged that the behavior would be likely to recur,” Judge Kristin S. Escalante wrote in her ruling issued hours after the morning hearing. The judge said that although Alarr says he’s no longer working, an injunction could be appropriate if Zucker “ultimately proves that Alarr engaged in the behavior alleged, and that the behavior is likely to occur in other jobs.”

Alarr’s lawyer did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.

“We are very pleased that the court agreed with us, after today’s court hearing, that Ms. Zucker can proceed with her request for an injunction against Mr. Alarr, seeking to enjoin him form harassing and discriminating against women in the future,” Zucker’s lawyer, Anahita Sedaghatfar, tells Rolling Stone. “As we stated in our motion, Ms. Zucker wants to ensure that no other woman can be harmed at the hands of Alarr again, and I will fight to make that happen.” The next hearing in the case is set for October.

In her lawsuit, Zucker alleged that Alarr repeatedly subjected her to unwanted sexual advances and physical touching during production of Days of Our Lives and that she was written off the show and eventually fired for reporting his alleged abuse. (The lawsuit states that Alarr started working on the show in 2005 and was promoted to his co-executive producer role in 2015.)

“Alarr would frequently grab and tightly hug plaintiff, purposely pushing her breasts onto his chest, while moaning, ‘Oh Ari!’” Zucker’s complaint reads. “Alarr would put his hand on plaintiff’s waist, with his thumbs placed just above her vagina, and move her around, all the while smirking and grinning in a sexual manner, making plaintiff extremely uncomfortable.”

The complaint alleges Alarr also would make comments to Zucker’s male costar during scenes such as “You really just want to fuck her,” and “Believe me, I’d love to switch positions with you.” Zucker alleges she also observed Alarr tightly hugging other female actresses “while moaning sexually,” and when someone once questioned his actions, “Alarr curtly responded, ‘Women are so hysterical.’”

Zucker’s lawsuit names Alarr as well as Corday Productions and the show’s top boss, Ken Corday, as defendants. It alleges Corday failed to act when Zucker voiced her concerns about Alarr. Zucker alleges Corday was friends with Alarr and only terminated him after she and two dozen other employees drafted a petition to end Alarr’s employment that was picked up by national media. She says that after she complained, her subsequent contract negotiations ended with producers offering her a substandard “take it or leave it” deal that was akin to a contract termination.

In court filings, Alarr and his lawyers claim Zucker’s allegations “range from fictional to embellished to taken wildly out of context.” A rep for Corday Productions previously said the lawsuit’s allegations were “without merit.”

“Corday Productions offered to renew Ms. Zucker’s contract including offering her a pay increase. Rejecting Ms. Zucker’s counteroffer does not constitute retaliation,” the rep said in a statement. “Complaints about Mr. Alarr’s on-set behavior were promptly investigated. Corday Productions fully cooperated with the impartial investigation and subsequently terminated Mr. Alarr.”

Beyond her acting career, Zucker, 50, was thrust into the international spotlight during the 2016 presidential election when the 2005 recording of Trump speaking with former Access Hollywood host Billy Bush leaked to the Washington Post. In the recording, Trump made his highly offensive comments after catching a glimpse of Zucker while sitting on a bus, awaiting a cameo appearance on DOOL.

In the recording that became a flashpoint in the 2016 presidential race, Bush pointed out Zucker as the one who was set to escort Trump to the set. “Your girl’s hot as shit,” Bush is heard saying, to which Trump replies, “Whoa!”

“I better use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her,” Trump continues. “You know, I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything… Grab ‘em by the pussy. You can do anything.”

After news of the recording broke, Trump dismissed the tape as “locker room talk.” Zucker responded with a statement making it clear she considered the statements offensive. “I have grown to learn that the words of others cannot [affect] the value of my self-worth or define the content of my character. How we treat one another, whether behind closed doors, locker rooms or face to face, should be done with kindness, dignity and respect,” she said at the time. “Unfortunately, there are too many people in power who abuse their position and disregard these simple principles and are rewarded for it.”

In a recent podcast appearance, Zucker seemed to soften that stance, saying Trump’s comments sounded “like something my fraternity guys I know would say… I just didn’t see it in the way that people were seeing it.”d.&

Emily O’Brien Confirms Days of Our Lives Exit After Four Years, Looks Back on Playing ‘Two Amazing Roles’

It was confirmed on Thursday’s episode of the Peacock drama that Theresa had been sent to Statesville, where she’ll serve a presumably lengthy sentence for her recent crimes. Among other things, Theresa just came clean to kidnapping baby Victoria, defrauding Alex (and Xander by extension), and conspiring with Konstantin to steal the Kiriakis fortune.

Still, going to prison doesn’t always mean going off camera — just think about how many characters we’ve seen rock those iconic denim ensembles — so O’Brien’s full-on exit from the show will likely come as a surprise to many viewers.

“I wasn’t supposed to be on the show for as long as I was,” she tells the magazine. “I never thought that daytime would be something that was accessible to me again [after previously playing Jana on The Young and the Restless]. And I not only got to play one amazing role, but I played two amazing roles.”

Prior to debuting as Theresa in October 2023, O’Brien spent more than two years playing scheme queen Gwen Rizczech. In a truly unforgettable transition between roles, O’Brien was shown boarding a plane as brunette Gwen moments before getting off a separate flight at the same airport, this time as beach-blonde Theresa. It was a pretty wild moment, even for a soap opera recast.

“I ended up falling in love with Theresa and who she is and the circle that she’s involved in,” O’Brien adds. “The fact that [the show’s producers] put their trust in me to play both of these roles… I just feel so grateful for that experience.”

As for whether O’Brien would ever reprise either of her Days roles down the line, she offers a simple: “You never know.”

O’Brien is the latest addition to a growing list of Days veterans saying goodbye to the soap in recent weeks. July 29 marked Arianne Zucker and Greg Vaughan’s final episode as Nicole and Eric, as their characters left Salem to start a new life together in Paris.

'General Hospital' star Steve Burton finds new love after wife cheated, got pregnant

The General Hospital actor found happiness with chef Michelle Lundstrom following his split from wife Sheree Gustin in June 2022 after more than 20 years of marriage after she got pregnant by another man.

It seems the couple have been dating for a few months but have managed to keep their romance under the radar.

They stepped out together at the Daytime Emmy Awards in June, with the Barbecue Showdown 2 contestant sharing some photos of their “first red carpet together” on Instagram.

“Our first red carpet together,” she gushed in the caption. “It was a dream of a night from beginning to end. Thank you for all the beautiful kind comments + messages. I’m truly grateful [heart and prayer emoji] (sic)”

Later that month, Lundstrom, 43, shared a reel of her favourite times with Burton in honour of the soap star’s 54th birthday.

“Happiest birthday my love @1steveburton,” she wrote. “It’s a better place with you in this world. Anyone that has you in their life in any capacity is truly blessed.

“I think I’ll forever be in awe of what an incredible man and human you are. Thank you for wearing the largest fanny pack in Disney + sharing your beautiful life alongside mine. Wishing you a million more special memories smiles, you deserve it all!”

Burton and Gustin, who have Mackena, 20, Jack, 18, and 10-year-old Brooklyn together, finalized their divorce in December 2023.

They agreed to joint legal and physical custody of their younger children, with Burton agreeing to pay Gustin $12,500 a month in child support, which works out as $10,000 for Brooklyn — until she turns 18 — and $2,500 for Jack.

In April, Burton’s payments were reduced to $10,000 a month after Jack turned 18.

The former couple waived their right to spousal support “now or at any time in the future, regardless of the unforeseen circumstances that may exist in the future.”

But Burton is paying Gustin $50,000, in $2,500 per month instalments, as retroactive support.

The marriage cratered after Burton found out that his now ex-wife got pregnant by another man.

In May 2022, Burton shared an update about the couple to his followers on Instagram Stories.

“I wanted to clear something up,” he wrote, according to Page Six. “Sheree and I are separated. She recently announced that she’s expecting her 4th child. The child is not mine.”

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Bringing Back Alison Sweeney

Deadline has confirmed that Alison Sweeney is returning to Days of Our Lives after a two-year absence. Her episodes will debut in 2025.

“I was thrilled to be invited to return,” Sweeney told TV Insider, which first broke the news. “I love playing Sami and I am always happy for the chance to come back. We always have to figure out scheduling and such, but if at all possible, I’m so glad to make it happen.”

Besides her return to work on the soap that made her a household name, Sweeney is also working on another movie for Hallmark. “I can’t wait to share with everyone the concept,” she told TV Insider. “But that will be later this year. I’m really proud of this movie.”

Sweeney left Days in 2014 after starring in the show since 1993. During her time on the drama the actress was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category in 2015 and won the Special Fan Emmy Award for America’s Favorite Villain in 2002. She returned to the show in 2017 and has appeared on and off since in various storylines.

Sweeney first arrived at DOOL in 1993 to play Sami, the daughter of Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall). She enjoyed a 21-year run before leaving to focus on other projects, including her numerous Hallmark series. The actress has made multiple visits to the soap since her exit 10 years ago and was happy this one lined up with her current filming schedule.

Soap Stars in Upcoming Hallmark Movies

Synopsis: Married couple Dana (Chabert) and Mark (Elliott) are high-powered lawyers at separate New York City law firms who find themselves on opposing sides of a messy divorce between two reality stars. Soon enough, tension from the looming courtroom showdown strains the otherwise happy couple.

Starring: Alison Sweeney (Days of Our Lives), Victor Webster (Workin’ Moms), Barbara Niven (Chesapeake Shores), Tess Atkins (The Flash), Lisa Durupt (Less Than Kind), Daylin Willis (Betty’s Bad Luck in Love), Brittany Mitchell (Cradle of Deception)

Synopsis: Hannah (Sweeney) caters Lonnie’s (Willis) high school reunion, which is disrupted by a fight between his old friend Darcy (Mitchell) and her boyfriend. Lonnie helps Darcy get home safely, but becomes implicated in her murder after she’s found dead the next morning. Hannah ultimately puts her own safety at risk while working with Chad (Webster) to clear Lonnie’s name.

DAYS’ Greg Vaughan Reveals: “I Didn’t Leave By Choice”

Nicole was always going to have to leave town because Zucker’s contract was not renewed, but Eric and Nicole’s happy ending wasn’t part of Vaughan’s plan. In his Instagram Stories, set to “Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan, the actor shared some screenshots of Soap Opera Digest’s casting notice about his departure from the show and then a black screen with the words: “I didn’t leave by choice, I never had a choice” followed by a broken heart emoji.

Vaughan, who had previously played Diego on The Young & The Restless and Lucky on General Hospital, took over the role of Eric Brady in 2012 and remained until his exit in 2016 when he starred in the primetime series Queen Sugar. After another run from 2017-20 (which earned him the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2018), Vaughan made some appearances in 2021 and was back on contract with DAYS by 2022.

Although Digest listed Zucker’s DAYS exit under “Who’s Going,” they put Vaughan’s under “Who’s Staying,” reporting that “a reliable source has told Digest that this is definitely not the last fans will see of Eric.” So it would appear that Eric will return to Salem at some point in the future. But whether that’s for just a quick visit or a more permanent return, only time will tell. So stay tuned!

Days of Our Lives’ Arianne Zucker Exits After More Than 20 Years as Nicole Walker — Here’s How She Left Salem

Monday’s bittersweet episode ended with Nicole (Arianne Zucker) and Eric (Greg Vaughan) saying goodbye to Salem, as they prepare to begin a new life together in Paris with baby Jude. It was a relatively low-key affair, an intimate gathering of friends and family at the Brady Pub, where the newly reunited couple was celebrated with a champagne toast.

“You have weathered so many storms just to be together,” Marlena reminded her son as she raised a glass to him and Nicole. “You are strong, you are resilient, and we are so proud of you. Eric, we know how long you’ve wanted to be a father, and you finally have your beautiful baby boy. And now you have the woman you love, who happens to be happily the mother of that baby. Who said dreams don’t come true?”

If you haven’t been keeping up with the Peacock soap in the past year, you might be a little confused right now, so here’s what you’ve missed: It was recently revealed that Eric is the biological father of Jude, the baby Nicole was raising with her on-again husband EJ. When Nicole learned that EJ had been concealing the truth about Jude’s paternity, she left him on the spot and agreed to move to Paris with Eric, who accepted a new job overseas. Despite EJ vowing to make Nicole’s life miserable, a fresh start in France with the love of her life certainly feels like a happy ending, a luxury that few Salem residents are afforded.

Nicole’s daughter Holly will not be joining her in Paris; the rebellious teenager will stick around to finish high school in Salem, where she will live at the Kiriakis Mansion under Maggie’s watchful eye. Zucker’s final episode also included a tearful goodbye between the mother and daughter, whose occasionally fraught relationship has also been patched up.

Now for the tricky part. “On a personal note, I do hope that you get to come back sometime soon,” Marlena told Eric and Nicole. And while it’s certainly possible that Eric will return to Salem for a visit in the future, we’re less confident that Nicole will join him — not without a polarizing recast, anyway.

Zucker is currently involved in a lawsuit against Corday Productions Inc., Days executive producer Ken Corday and former EP Albert Alarr, alleging that Alarr — who was fired in 2023 following multiple allegations of workplace misconduct — sexually harassed her and several other female employees on the show, leading to a contentious exit from the soap.

Frankly, it’s difficult to imagine Days of Our Lives without Nicole, an iconic character Zucker has portrayed regularly since arriving on the scene in 1998. But unless a different actress picks up the mantle, it’s a reality that fans just may have to accept.>

‘The Boys’ Prequel Series ‘Vought Rising’ Starring Jensen Ackles & Aya Cash Ordered By Prime Video

The news is about to be unveiled by Jensen (in person) and Cash (via video) at The Boys Comic-Con panel for what is certain to be one of the biggest TV announcements at the convention.

The Boys series executive producer Paul Grellong serves as executive producer and showrunner on Vought Rising, which comes from the main creative auspices behind The Boys franchise, led by the mothership’s developer, executive producer and showrunner Eric Kripke.

“We are excited to bring you the next deranged series from the world of The Boys, Kripke and Grellong said, before lifting the veil on the time period and premise of the prequel.

“It’s a twisted murder mystery about the origins of Vought in the 1950s, the early exploits of Soldier Boy, and the diabolical maneuvers of a Supe known to fans as Stormfront, who was then going by the name Clara Vought,” they said, adding, “We cannot wait to blow your minds and trouble your souls with this salacious, grisly saga drenched in blood and Compound V.”

Ackles’ Soldier Boy and Aya Cash’s Stormfront have similar origin stories. Soldier Boy is the first American non-aging Supe, created by Frederick Vought during World War II. Stormfront was Frederick Vought’s first successful test subject for Compound V and she married him before they moved to the U.S.

Grellong and Kripke executive produce Vought Rising alongside Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Ori Marmur, Pavun Shetty, Ken Levin, Jason Netter, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, and Michaela Starr. The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios, in association with Kripke Enterprises, Point Grey Pictures, and Original Film.

This marks the latest expansion in The Boys franchise whose flagship series has been drawing more than 1 billion viewing minutes weekly in the U.S. alone with the recent release of its penultimate fourth season. Other spinoffs include the animated The Boys Presents: Diabolical, the college-set spinoff Gen V, which is filming its second season, and the upcoming The Boys: Mexico, executive produced by Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal.

With Vought Rising, Ackles gets the rare distinction of headlining two major ongoing series at the same time. He also is the star of Prime Video’s upcoming thriller drama Countdown from One Chicago veteran Derek Haas and Amazon MGM Studios, which last month received a 13-episode order.

Countdown was developed for Ackles who last year entered a first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios for Chaos Machine Prods., his company with wife Danneel Ackles, after he had joined the cast of The Boys. I hear the possibility for a Soldier Boy spinoff from The Boys was factored into the deals for Countdown, so Ackles could do both.

The spinoff also further expands Ackles’ relationship with Kripke which dates back almost two decades to the pilot of Supernatural, which Kripke created and Ackles starred in alongside Jared Padalecki. Right after that series ended its 15-season run, Kripke recruited Ackles to join The Boys in Season 3.

The Boys, based on the best-selling comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, is a fun and irreverent take on what happens when superheroes—who are as popular as celebrities, as influential as politicians, and as revered as gods—abuse their superpowers rather than use them for good.

The series just wrapped its Season 4 run, with Ackles’ Soldier Boy making a return in a finale post-credits scene. In it, after Senator Calhoun is sworn in as the new President, he takes Homelander to a chamber where Ackles’ Soldier Boy — Homelander’s biological father– is lying in a drug-induced slumber he was put into by Grace Mallory in the Season 3 finale.

During The Boys‘ Comic-Con panel today, Kripke announced that Jensen will rejoin the cast as a series regular for the upcoming fifth and final season.

Meanwhile, Cash’s Stormfront, who had a relationship with Homelander after being introduced in Season 2, committed suicide early in Season 3.

Ackles has experience with prequels to successful genre series. Best known for his starring role on the long-running WB/CW drama Supernatural, he executive produced and recurred on prequel series The Winchesters. In addition to his role on The Boys, he was a series regular on ABC’s Big Sky. He recently guest starred on CBS’ Tracker as Colter’s (Justin Hartley) brother and is set to reprise the role next season. Ackles is repped by Gersh and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.

Cash starred in the FX comedy series You’re The Worst. Her series credits also include major roles in Fox’s Welcome To Flatch and Hulu’s The Girl From Plainville. She is repped by UTA, Industry Entertainment and Paul Hastings.

TV writer/playwright Grellong has worked on such series as NBC’s Revolution and Law & Order: SVU and CBS’ Scorpion and Hawaii Five-0. He is repped by CAA, The Shuman Company and Schreck Rose Dapello.

‘The Boys’: Jensen Ackles To Return As Series Regular In Fifth & Final Season

During The Boys‘ Comic-Con panel, on which Ackles made a surprise appearance to announce Vought Rising, The Boys developer, executive producer and showrunner Eric Kripke revealed that Ackles will be returning as a series regular for Season 5 of the mothership series, reprising his Soldier Boy character.

“We can announce that Soldier Boy will be a regular in Season 5,” Kripke said Friday. “The motherf*cker’s back.” (You can watch the video below.)

Kripke had previously said in a 2022 interview, “We’ll all have to wait and see, but I can’t imagine the series ending without Soldier Boy making another appearance.”

Ackles’ return was teased in the recent Season 4 finale. Soldier Boy, who was a series regular character when it was introduced in Season 3, was MIA in Season 4 before making a return in a finale post-credits scene. In it, after Senator Calhoun is sworn in as the new President, he takes Homelander to a chamber where Soldier Boy — Homelander’s biological father– is lying in a drug-induced slumber he was put into by Grace Mallory in the Season 3 finale.

During the panel, Ackles was asked what Soldier Boy was doing in that chamber, to which he had a succinct, NSFW reply.us

Soap star Jessica Serfaty accuses billionaire Ray Ban heir of abuse — then ‘revokes’ allegations

Leonardo Del Vecchio — a scion of to the Luxxotica empire, which includes Ray Ban, Persol, Sunglasses Hut and many other luxe sunnies brands — has recently become engaged to soap star Jessica Serfaty, and they’ve been celebrating their romance with appearances at the Met Ball, among other splashy outings.

But we hear Serfaty — a former girlfriend of Ed Westwick, influencer Logan Paul and Niall Horan of the One Direction — has accused Del Vecchio of abusing her, and just as quickly withdrawn the allegation.

Del Vecchio is the son of Leonardo Del Vecchio Sr., and Milanese businessman who died in 2022 with a fortune of some $24 billion, making him the richest person in Italy. He was married three times and had six children, each of whom reportedly inherited several billion dollars.

Leonardo Jr., who serves as the chief strategy officer for Luxxotica, is reportedly for some $4 billion.

But on Sunday Serfaty accused him in a tearful social media video of hitting her.

Then on Monday she posted a message saying, “Leo and I apologise for any who were triggered or affected by yesterday’s story,” adding, “Sometimes a family can have their own arguments and these should never be made public.”

Serfaty, who has a son from her first marriage, said she would “never stay with an abusive man,” adding “which Leonardo Del Vecchio is not.” She said, “I revoke my words that were driven by anger and not in truth” and that he “will always be a companion, step father and family person to me.”

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Head Writer Ron Carlivati Departing Peacock Soap After Seven Years

The head writer for the last seven years has left the Peacock sudser and is being replaced by Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford. The changes are effective immediately.

Episodes written by Carlivati will air through April of 2025 due to the show’s unique tape-to-air schedule.

Cwikly has a long tenure in daytime television, having written for The Young and The Restless, As The World Turns and Sunset Beach. She was with Days of our Lives as both an associate and head writer in the early 2000s.

Ford is currently on the writing team as a breakdown writer and also has a long history with Days, having started her career as a writer’s assistant in 1992. Ford also wrote for As The World Turns and One Life To Live.

“We look forward to approaching our 60th Anniversary next year with Paula and Jeanne Marie at the helm and fresh, exciting stories that we know the fans will embrace,” said Executive Producer Ken Corday. “We wish Ron nothing but the best and thank him for his dedication and the respect he has shown to me, the cast, and the show’s legacy.”

Carlivati served as head writer during a particular challenging time on the soap. Last July, Deadline revealed details from a nine-week investigation into misconduct allegations against longtime Days of Our Lives director/co-executive producer Albert Alarr. About 30-40 people — primarily women — were interviewed in the investigation, which probed accusations of inappropriate comments and physical contact, including groping and forceful kissing, and revealed a toxic environment on the show that allegedly had been fostered by Alarr for years.

Earlier this year, former star Arianne Zucker slapped Corday Prods. and Alarr with a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment. She claims she was fired from the show for speaking up about how she and other women were treated on set.

Hallmark Franchise ‘Curious Caterers’ Returns For Fifth Installment With Stars Nikki Deloach & Andrew Walker

Curious Caterer: Drumstick Drama will be in production for three weeks starting July 28 with returning cast including Nikki Deloach (Love And Other Drugs) as Goldy Berry, Andrew Walker (Steel Toes) as Detective Tom Shultz, Lochlyn Munro (White Chicks) as Dr. Richard Korman, Jaycie Dotin (Ivy + Bean) as Marla Maguire and Riley Davis (Fire Country) as Detective Mason Kildea.

All five cast members have been a part of the Curious Caterer Mysteries series since the first installment in 2022. The TV movie will be distributed by Hallmark Mysteries and is slated for release in fall 2024.

In Drumstick Drama, Goldy Berry, caterer extraordinaire, has a dilemma to solve. A last-minute request caused her to double book herself catering a VIP album rerelease concert while also being booked on a first date with none other than detective Tom Schultz at the same concert. Goldy finds herself playing double duty and things get even more complicated from there when right as Goldy finally gets a moment to enjoy her time with Tom, the lead singer gets electrocuted mid-act. Suddenly, Goldy’s date has turned into a crime scene.

“We’re excited to be giving the Curious Caterer franchise fans another amazing movie to add to their watchlist,” said Ben C. Silverman, president of Timeless Pictures. “We hope we can bring the drama that our audience loves and a crime scene that will have our amateur sleuths out there stumped.”

This film is one of four movies in this year’s Timeless Pictures production slate. The company recently garnered the most nominations at the BC 2024 Leo Awards for the second year in a row.

Will Tracker Need to Recast Jensen Ackles and Melissa Roxburgh? EPs Reveal the Season 2 Plan

The May 5 episode of CBS‘ Justin Hartley procedural introduced Manifest vet Roxburgh as Colter’s younger sister Dory, a college professor who we later learned has been holding onto their dead dad’s research papers and journals — something she conveniently kept to herself when she urged Colter to let go of the past and stop trying to get to the bottom of what happened to their father.

One week later, Supernatural star Ackles arrived as Colter’s older brother Russell, an ex-military man currently working as a civilian contractor for a shady organization. For 20 years, Colter believed that Russell pushed Dad to his death, but Russell, upon reuniting with Colter, assured him that he did not have anything to do with Dad’s demise. “I don’t know if he fell, or if somebody else pushed him, but I do know that there was somebody else in those woods that night,” he said. “Dad had enemies…. He was a crazy son of a bitch.”

Suffice it to say, the seeds were planted for both Roxburgh and Ackles to return in Season 2 — and in a post-mortem interview with TVLine, Roxburgh seemed positively giddy about the prospect of sharing scenes with Hartley and Ackles this fall. But since their episodes aired, Roxburgh has been tapped to lead the NBC midseason drama The Hunting Party, while Ackles has booked the forthcoming Amazon thriller Countdown. Will their new commitments keep them from returning for more Tracker?

At the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour on Saturday, Hartley, who’s also on EP, confirmed that Ackles will be back — and in more than one episode, showrunner Elwood Reid noted. “We got him. He’s coming back,” said Hartley. “We’re having fun with that. It’s a great story.”

Similarly, Reid confirmed for TVLine that Roxburgh, despite her Hunting Party commitment, will be back as Dory. “We’ll unpeel some more stuff with his sister,” the EP said during the panel.

Days of Our Lives: Bill Hayes Makes Final Appearance as Doug Williams, Six Months After His Death

Appropriately, Hayes shared his final on-screen moments with Susan Seaforth Hayes, his beloved wife of 50 years. Fans have cherished watching the couple’s love story unfold, both on screen and off, making their last scene together all the more devastating.

After Julie revealed to Doug that Abigail might still be alive, the couple briefly reflected on the time they’ve spent together, celebrating the love they’ve shared along the way. Read on to experience their final on-screen interaction in full:

JULIE: Chad and Abby never really did have much time together, and you and I had years and years. Did I ever tell you how much I love you?

JULIE: First time I set eyes on you, I was lost. Then, all the trials we had, all those missed connections. And then I finally won the gold ring. And all your songs were for me. All your passionate kisses were mine.

JULIE: Oh, you brought out the best in me. And we’ve been a good team — good partners, I think.

JULIE: You’re a wonderful father. You know, for a guy who grew up in an orphanage, you’re quite a family man. You never let anyone in this family down, not ever. You showed me the whole world, every continent. And after we had our little adventures, saw all the beauty of the earth, our love outlasted time.

While we’ve now seen Hayes’ final appearance on screen, his character won’t be properly memorialized until December, when the entire town of Salem — plus the return of many important people in Doug’s life — will pay tribute to the unforgettable man. Among the former cast members returning for the bittersweet occasion are Kristian Alfonso as Hope, Melissa Reeves as Jennifer, Stephen Schnetzer as Steve Olson and Gloria Loring as Liz Chandler.

“To all of you who honored my Billy with a word of remembrance, a sense of personal loss, or even a tear, I thank you,” Seaforth Hayes wrote in a message to fans earlier this year. “You touched my heart by seeing in him the goodness and joy I experienced every moment of our wonderful marriage. May we all embrace life with the gusto of Bill Hayes, and enrich it with grace and love.”

Hayes originated the role of Doug in 1970, and was twice nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for his work, first in 1975 and again in 1976. He and Seaforth Hayes received Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 45th annual ceremony in 2018, which featured a touching tribute to the couple’s lasting love and careers.>

Alec Baldwin Wasn't Only 'Rust' Actor With Live Ammo On Set

The bombshell news was just dropped in court today as part of crime scene technician Marissa Poppell's testimony in Alec's ongoing manslaughter trial down in New Mexico.

Poppell told the jury actor Jensen Ackles also had a live bullet on set ... the ammo was in his bandolier ... and he was on set the day cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot.

Remember ... Alec's defense team, led by Alex Spiro, says it wasn't his job as an actor to make sure there was no live ammo in his gun. Alec's also said the gun went off without him squeezing the trigger.

Images of live ammo found on the "Rust" set were also shown in court Thursday ... and the bullets look strikingly similar to dummy rounds.

The only slight difference is live bullets have a silver center as seen from the bottom and the dummy rounds have a gold center.

So, even if Alec checked the revolver it doesn't seem likely he would be able to tell the difference between dummy rounds and live ammo.

Spiro asked Poppell if she had any reason to think Jensen knew there was a live round in his gun holster and she said no ... the implication being Alec would not have known about a live round in his gun either.

In addition to a live bullet in Alec's gun and one in Jensen's gun holster, live ammo was also found in a prop cart and a box of ammo.

Worth noting ... armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed has already been found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison based on her failure to ensure Alec's gun didn't have any live ammo. She's expected to testify Friday.

Holidazed: Hallmark’s First-Ever Holiday Series Reveals Full Cast

From Unity Pictures and Little Engine Productions, Holidazed is executive-produced by Gina Matthews (13 Going on 30), Grant Scharbo (The Gates), Claudia Grazioso (Are We There Yet?) and Ron French (To All the Boys: Always and Forever).

Modern Little Women Christmas Movie Set at GAF — Jen Lilley, Trevor Donovan, Gladys Knight Among Cast

Described as “a contemporary retelling of the beloved classic novel” by Louisa May Alcott, the TV-movie will follow “the lives and loves of the March sisters in a small Tennessee town at Christmas.”

The cast includes Jillian Murray (Code Black and any number of other Christmas movies) as Jo March, Trevor Donovan (90210) as Friedrich “Fritz” Baehr, Jen Lilley (Days of Our Lives) as Meg March, Hallmark movie vet Laura Osnes as Beth March, Julia Reilly (Gritz?) as Amy March and Jesse Hutch (Batwoman) as John.

Additionally, 10-time Grammy winner Gladys Knight will appear and perform her new original Christmas song “Joy”; Knight also has an executive producer credit on the flick.

“A Little Women’s Christmas is a new Christmas classic in the making, with an incredible ensemble cast and an adaptation of an original story that is one of the best I have read,” Great American Media CEO Bill Abbott said in a statement “Louisa May Alcott was intentional about focusing on the culture of young women, their hopes, ambitions, and dreams, and it remains one of the most widely read and beloved stories ever written.”

‘Baywatch’ Docuseries With Never-Before-Seen Interview With Pamela Anderson Set At Hulu

After Baywatch will feature new cast interviews as well as a never-aired interview with Pamela Anderson, who starred as CJ Parker, and home videos shot by the cast themselves.

The “docuseries unpacks how the show captured the mythology of California’s beach culture, set physical beauty standards for an entire generation, and capitalized on the adage “sex sells,” according to the press release. The series also explores the show’s impact on pop culture and its enduring legacy.

Produced and directed by Matthew Felker in collaboration with ABC News Studios, the series features exclusive interviews with over 35 cast members and the show’s creators, including Nicole Eggert, Carmen Electra, Billy Warlock, Alexandra Paul, Gregory Alan Williams, David Chokachi, Jeremy Jackson, Traci Bingham, Erika Eleniak, Michael Newman, Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz and more.

After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun was produced by ABC News Studios for Hulu. Matthew Felker is director and executive producer, Nicole Eggert is a producer, and Ari Shofet is executive producer on the series. For ABC News Studios, David Sloan is the senior executive producer, and Muriel Pearson is executive producer.

'General Hospital' Star Joan Benedict Dead at 96

A family spokesperson announced Monday that Joan, who was the widow of actor Rod Steiger, died on June 24 at L.A.'s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center due to complications from a stroke.

Joan had a remarkable career, kicking things off in the 1950s with "Candid Camera" ... where one of her most famous moments was playfully tickling men with her feathered hat as they sat next to her.

Throughout the 70s and 80s, Joan also starred in shows like "The Steve Allen Show," "Apple’s Way" ... and had recurring roles on "General Hospital" and "Days of Our Lives" -- and also appeared in films such as "The Prize Fighter."

Some of Joan's recent credits include the 2006 film "The Theory of Everything" and the 2009 TV show, "Dollhouse."

On the personal front, Joan was married to actor John Myhers from 1962 until his death in 1992. Later, she married Oscar-winning actor Steiger in 2000 ... a marriage that lasted until his passing in 2002.

OLTL / Days Alum Farah Fath's New Docuseries

In the first episode of their poker documentary series, personal friends of the Galfonds and professional poker players explain the origin story of Phil Galfond, also known as 'OMGClayAiken''.

Through interviews with family, friends, and Phil himself, this documentary provides clarity on a variety of questions like (but not limited to); how Phil Galfond started playing poker professionally, the origin of the companies Run it Once Poker and Run it Once Training, where the Galfond Challenge came from as well as how it affected him personally, and even how Phil and Farah Galfond met.

In weekly episodes, people who know Phil personally like Andrew Robl, Jason Koon, Brian Rast, Matt Berkey, Nick Schulman, Maria Ho, Elliot Roe, Farah Galfond, David Tuchman, Joe Stapleton, Dan Quinn, Jason Senti, Joni Jouhkimainen, and Landon Tice share insights and highlights from their time spent with and around Phil through the years.

Whether it’s the reality of playing poker at the highest level against the best poker players in the world, operating a poker training / poker coaching site and an online poker site, or facing tough personal loss and finding the ability to triumph, this docuseries aims to highlight the emotional rollercoaster you may be faced within a non-traditional career path like playing professional poker.

In every poker related video on this channel, Phil Galfond is here to teach you how to think like a professional poker player.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a new or beginner poker player (or even a full time poker coach!)

Do you need the best Texas Hold ‘em poker strategy and top tier Pot Limit Omaha tips?

Do you have a high stakes poker story question that you’d like to hear from the POV of a poker professional who was THERE?

A Day Of Days 2024

'One Tree Hill' Star Shantel VanSanten and Victor Webster Finalize Divorce

In new court documents obtained by TMZ ... the "One Tree Hill" actress and the soap star confirmed they negotiated a settlement in mediation ... agreeing to how their assets will be divided, as well as specifics surrounding pet custody and more.

It likely helped that the pair had a prenup heading into the divorce ... which the exes chose to incorporate into the terms of the settlement.

The key takeaways from the divorce settlement are as follows ... Victor will get custody of their dog Nova, but Shantel will get visitation with the pup for reasonable periods of time.

However, Shantel is required to share updates with Victor about Nova's whereabouts. If Shantel fails to drop Nova off for a period longer than 3 weeks, she'll have to pay her ex $10K/per day the dog is missing. Woof, indeed.

As for their cats, Finnegan and Phillippa, they're now in the custody of Victor's brother, Vince.

Victor and Shantel also reached a 50/50 split agreement regarding the money made on the sale of their L.A.-area home. Per the docs, they've already received their respective chunks of change from that deal. The former couple has a similar 50/50 split arrangement for other financial investments, although she also agreed to fork over an additional $25K to equalize the split of assets. Neither will get any spousal support under the settlement.

This update comes over a year after Victor filed for divorce after celebrating his and Shantel's nuptials in 3 different weddings in 2021.

Per the docs, they officially became single again on December 31, 2023 ... bringing this chapter officially to an end.

‘Days Of Our Lives’: When To Expect The Debut Of Cherie Jimenez As Gabi Hernandez

The role of Gabi, who is also the younger sister of the late Arianna (Lindsay Hartley) and Dario (Jordi Vilasuso), first appeared in 2009 on the daytime sudser. Gabriela Rodriguez played Gabi before she was replaced by Camila Banus in 2010. Banus held the role on and off through November of 2023.

Having attended both The Professional Performing Arts School and SUNY Purchase Acting Conservatory, Jimenez recently had the lead role in Lifetime’s Angie: Lost Girls and in the sequel, Maya. Previous credits include recurring for two seasons on Banshee (Cinemax), as well as roles on NCIS, The Newsroom, and Pretty Little Liars.

Jimenez recently wrapped production on Man In The Long Black Coat opposite Neal McDonough, Christopher Lloyd and Dermot Mulroney. She is repped by Amsel, Eisenstadt, Frazier & Hinojosa Talent Agency and ROAR.

AnnaLynne McCord Arrives on Days of Our Lives — But Who Is She Playing?

Despite Days‘ social channels hyping up Wednesday’s episode as McCord’s big debut, the actress was only briefly shown in one scene. And she didn’t even reveal her face, much less utter a line of dialogue.

For those who don’t speak fluent Days, allow us to set the scene: Chad (Billy Flynn) and Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) arrived in Chicago, following a tip that Chad’s presumed-dead wife Abigail may not be as deceased as we’ve believed her to be. Abigail’s killer, Clyde (James Read), told them they would find their answers in a safety deposit box, which took them half the episode to open.

Inside the box was a flash drive containing grainy footage of what appeared to be an empty room — that is, until they noticed a visibly frazzled woman pacing around in circles. Could it be Abigail? That’s the question Chad intended to ask Clyde upon returning to Salem, only to discover that the criminal had already been transported to a maximum security prison. No visitors allowed.

Like Chad and Julie, the audience is now left to theorize whether McCord’s mystery woman might actually be Abigail, or if she’s someone else entirely. And there will only be more questions coming as this storyline progresses, according to McCord herself.

“What we believe is that she’s Abigail Devereux, back from the dead,” McCord tells our sister site Soaps.com. “But even if she is, and Chad is ‘the love of her life,’ she still doesn’t feel anything [for him] because she doesn’t know who she is. She’s had amnesia. She’s gone through a serious accident. She’s had plastic surgery. She has had a whole myriad of things occur and she is navigating a really sticky situation when you first meet her.”

Hold on, plastic surgery and amnesia? What show is this, some kind of soap opera?!

You tell us: Do you believe that McCord is really Abigail, last played by Marci Miller? Or is this just part of Clyde’s master plan to get himself out of prison?

Arianne Zucker Talks ‘Days Of Our Lives’ Final Episode & ‘Access Hollywood’ Moment With Donald Trump: ‘I Didn’t See It The Way People Were Seeing It”

In a recent conversation with Rachel Uchitel on her Miss Understood podcast, Zucker said she wasn’t personally offended by Trump’s taped comments that included the now infamous “Grab ’em by the p***y” line. Trump’s 2005 comments were recorded with Bush before he arrived on the set of DOOL to shoot a cameo with Zucker.

“He made a comment, I guess, about my legs and so did Billy Bush,” Zucker recalled to Uchitel. “Everybody has spoken poorly about somebody in their lifetime. I don’t care who you are, everybody has, it’s just people get caught on camera doing it. Unfortunately, that happens all the time. And if you’ve ever gone to a fraternity party, the things happen. So [when she later read the taped comments] I’m going, ‘sounds like something my fraternity guys I know would say.’ But I just didn’t see it in the way that people were seeing it.”

“I felt attacked by the media because I knew all they wanted,” she continued. “I mean, the biggest thing was to get Trump off the ballot. I was like, that is not my job.”

When asked by Uchitel if she had a “different feeling” about Trump today, Zucker said no.

“I don’t really like talking politics, but as far as the way he speaks, could he do a better job of it? Absolutely,” Zucker said. “I think there are policies that were great that he did. I’m sure our pockets felt a little bit better four years ago than they do now. I know mine did. And so I think there were things … without getting too much into that … that I felt were really great. I am not going to judge the system. I think people can probably hear the way I think by the things that I’m saying, but I’m very in the middle of what’s going on in this country. And I mean, if this is the conversation we want to have, I just feel like there is weaponization on both sides.”

Zucker, whose last day on DOOL was Dec. 23, said her final episode as Nicole Walker will stream July 29 on Peacock. In her lawsuit filed in February, Zucker alleges her salary was reduced and her contract ultimately not renewed because she spoke out against Alarr, who lost his job in August of 2023 after Deadline revealed he’d been the subject of an investigation into allegations that included inappropriate comments and touching, including groping and forceful kissing, as well as creating a toxic environment on the show and governing by fear.

Zucker alleges she was victim of nonconsensual sexual touching and inappropriate comments by Alarr, like telling her costars during sex scenes that he would “love to switch positions” with them. He also would state that he enjoyed aggressive sex scenes. In response, a spokesperson for Corday Prods. released this statement: “The allegations in Ms. Zucker’s lawsuit are without merit. Corday Productions offered to renew Ms. Zucker’s contract including offering her a pay increase. Rejecting Ms. Zucker’s counteroffer does not constitute retaliation. Complaints about Mr. Alarr’s on-set behavior were promptly investigated. Corday Productions fully cooperated with the impartial investigation and subsequently terminated Mr. Alarr.”

“I will not say how I leave the show. I do respect that we don’t want to share that,” Zucker said on the podcast, though she did add that her character was not killed off. “We want the fans to be excited and enticed. Like I said, I’ve got a great group of women who are really standing up for [my] saying it’s not okay how you treat people there. I’ve done fan events recently, and how wonderful they are about sharing their personal stories, their personal trauma about something like this that happened to them at their place of work.” ..

‘Days Of Our Lives’: When To Expect The Debut Of AnnaLynne McCord & The Mystery Role She May Be Assuming

On June 19, a mystery woman will arrive in Salem. At first, it’s assumed that the character of Abigail Devereaux — who was previously portrayed by Kate Mansi, Marci Miller and Ashley Benson — is back in town.

A little backstory for the uninitiated: Miller was last seen as Abigail in 2022. Before that, Mansi played the character until 2020. Benson also had a turn from 2004-07.

In December, McCord signed a one-year contract to join Peacock‘s Days of Our Lives.

McCord played Naomi Clark on the CW’s 90210 from 2008 to 2013. Her other credits include The Night Shift, Secrets and Lies, Let’s Get Physical, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. She is repped by Innovative Artists, Vault Entertainment and Yorn, Levine.

In 2023, DOOL was picked up for an additional two seasons by Peacock, where it has consistently been a top 10 title since it moved to the streamer last year. The renewal will take the daytime sudser through its 60th ?season.

Ashley Benson denies taking Ozempic after shedding baby weight

Four months after the birth of her first child, fans questioned if the “Pretty Little Liars” alum was using the weight loss drug to shed her baby weight when she posed for a slimmed-down selfie.

“My fav hat,” she captioned the Instagram snap uploaded on Monday, showcasing a red and white hat paired with a cropped tank top and low-rise sweatpants.

Benson, 34, left several of her followers dumbfounded by her sizzling mom body with one person questioning, “how was she JUST pregnant?!?”

“How you look so good after having a baby girl tell me ??” another asked while another commented, “Reminding everyone she just had a baby 4 months ago******* hello??? ??????????”

However, it was one comment where a person speculated she was on Ozempic that had her speaking out.

After admitting she wasn’t upset at the assumptions via Instagram Story, she said she simply wanted to set the record straight.

“Comments like this are so funny to me,” Benson wrote. “I know a lot of people take Ozempic and that’s totally fine. To each their own. But don’t discredit people who also work very hard to get their body back like I’ve done with mine.”

She continued, “Getting back to work forced me to focus on my health and working out and I wanted to feel confident and good about myself.”

The mom of one credited her success to wellness guru Melissa Wood-Tepperberg’s fitness app.

Benson also shared a pic of herself alongside a yoga mat, some free weights and a resistance band.

The “Spring Breakers” star and her husband, Brandon Davis, 43, welcomed their bundle of joy in February.

The couple — who wed in November 2023 — haven’t disclosed further details about their child, aside from the fact that they welcomed a baby girl.

For Father’s Day, Benson gave a shoutout to Davis on social media Sunday, sharing a snap of the actor holding their daughter, whose face was covered by a flower emoji.

“From the moment I was pregnant you never left my side,” she wrote. “Came to every single appointment because you knew how scared I was. You showed up for me every time and I knew you were going to do the same for our daughter and be the best daddy to her “

G-Flip teases second wedding ceremony, baby plans with ‘most beautiful princess’ Chrishell Stause

The “Drummer” artist, 30, — who uses they/them pronouns — made their Governor’s Ball debut on Sunday where they caught up with Page Six and exclusively teased their plans for a second wedding with the “Selling Sunset” star, whom they first wed in May 2023, and potential baby plans for the future.

After celebrating one full year together, G-Flip called their first year of marriage “amazing.”

“Chrishell is the greatest, most beautiful princess human being that has ever graced the planet,” they gushed. “She’s just so fun and easygoing and makes my life so much better having her in my life. It’s been absolutely fun.”

In June 2023, the couple revealed they planned to celebrate their love by hosting a wedding every year. In keeping with those plans, G-Flip teased they’re already planning their “cheeky” second ceremony in Australia this summer.

“My family’s in Australia, she’s got family in Saint Louis — everyone’s all over the place. Our friends are on tour and all over the place. So we like doing a little ceremony every year,” they continued. “That way we eventually can have everyone attend a wedding.

The musician also tells Page Six they would “definitely” love to start expanding their family.

“Obviously being queer, there are a few more challenges,” the “Get Me Outta Here” hitmaker said, adding that they’re currently “working through” some of those issues.

“But it’s definitely on the cards. We would love to be parents and we’d be good parents,” they continued.

The reality star realtor told her followers last year that she and G-Flip were looking to have children together last August as she shut down any fans’ hopes of her rekindling her romance with her boss, Jason Oppenheim.

“I met my forever partner with G and we are planning a family,” she wrote at the time. “Everything happened the way it was supposed to.”

Ratings: Daytime Emmys Audience Grows 39% to Mark 4-Year High

The audience for this year’s kudoscast was up +39% from last year (where it didn’t air until December, due to the Hollywood strikes) and up +1% from June 2022.

Over on Paramount+, live streaming of the Daytime Emmys reportedly was up some 87% to mark the event’s largest live streaming audience to date.

During Friday night’s tight, two-hour telecast, ABC”s General Hospital grabbed gold four times, including its fourth straight Outstanding Daytime Drama win.

Daytime Emmys host CBS’ The Young and the Restless followed with a pair of wins, including for lead actress Michelle Stafford, while CBS’ The Bold and the Beautiful and Peacock’s Days of Our Lives each picked up a singular statuette.

Among the daytime talkers, The Kelly Clarkson Show took best show honors, while Live!‘s Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos won for hosting.

And quite notably, Dick “Spry for a 98-Year-Old Guy” Van Dyke became the oldest Daytime Emmy winner,m for his guest-starring performance as Days of Our Lives‘ Timothy Robiocheaux.

Dick Van Dyke Becomes Oldest Daytime Emmy Winner Ever: ‘I Can’t Believe It!’

To do so, Van Dyke bested a Guest Performance in a Drama field that includes Linden Ashby (Cameron on The Young and the Restless), Ashley Jones (Bridget on The Bold and the Beautiful), Alley Mills (Heather on General Hospital) and Guy Pearce (Mike on Neighbours).

“I’m the oldest nominee in history. I can’t believe it. I was playing old men all my life,” Van Dyke said upon arriving on stage to collect his Emmy. “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!”

“I had such a great time… a wonderful time” on Peacock’s Days, he continued, “but in one scene where I’m being really serious, I broke myself up and I started to giggle, and I ruined the shot.

“I’m not used to frowning!” he explained, before comedically shifting into a super-surly face.

“I’m 98 years old, can you believe it?” he again remarked. “Thank you so much. This really tops off a lifetime, 80 years in the business. I love you, God bless.”

The late Norman Lear, a few years before his passing, broke his own record to (again) be the oldest winner of a Primetime Emmy, also at age 98. (In 2020, he won for exec-producing Live In Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times.) The oldest winner of an acting Emmy was Betty White, who in 2010, at age 88, grabbed gold for guest-hosting Saturday Night Live.

Jensen Ackles To Headline ‘Countdown’ Drama Series Ordered By Amazon From Derek Haas

This is the first series to come out of an exclusive overall deal Haas has signed with Amazon MGM Studios following his exit from Wolf Entertainment. The project was developed for Ackles who last year entered a first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios for Chaos Machine Prods., his company with wife Danneel Ackles, after he had joined the cast of the hit Prime Video series The Boys.

Countdown starts following a suspicious murder in broad daylight, which leads to LAPD officer Mark Meachum (Ackles) being recruited to join a secret task force of undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement to investigate. But as the truth of a more sinister plot comes into focus, the team must overcome their conflicting personal agendas to unite and save a city of millions.

“We are incredibly excited to be back in business with Derek Haas,” Amazon MGM Studios Head of Television Vernon Sanders said. “He has an undeniable ability to enthrall audiences with thrilling storytelling and heart. We cannot wait for Prime Video’s global customers to experience this dynamic series, led by our very talented star, Jensen Ackles.”

Sanders and Amazon MGM Studios head Jen Salke both had worked with Haas for years while they were executives at NBC and he worked on One Chicago.

“I am thrilled to be working again with Jen Salke and Vernon Sanders and all the excellent people they’ve assembled at Prime Video,” Haas said. “I love making shows that keep you on the edge of your seat with nonstop action, drama, surprises, and suspense, and I can’t wait to work with Jensen and for everyone to see Countdown.”

Haas created the series and serves as executive producer and showrunner. The 13-episode order is closer to the broadcast runs he is used to vs. a streaming drama series, which typically produces seasons consisting of eight episodes, rarely 10.

“I had an incredible experience working with the Prime Video team on The Boys and am delighted to be able to continue that relationship on Countdown,” Ackles said. “I simply cannot wait to partner with Derek and the rest of our Countdown family to bring this story to life.”

During his decade-long association with Dick Wolf and his Wolf Entertainment, Haas co-created and/or executive produced five series, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med, FBI, and FBI: International. He is repped by UTA and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.

Best known for his starring role on the long-running WB/CW series Supernatural, Ackles executive produced and recurred on prequel series The Winchesters. In addition to his role on The Boys, he was a series regular on ABC’s Big Sky and recently guest starred on CBS’ Tracker as Colter’s (Justin Hartley) brother. Ackles is repped by Gersh and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.

‘The Traitors’ Season 3 Cast: ‘Big Brother,’ ‘Real Housewives,’ ‘Survivor,’ & ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Stars Set For Peacock Competition

In a video announcement on the Today show, Alan Cumming revealed who will be part of the third season of Peacock’s competition series. Reality TV star vets from shows like Big Brother, Survivor, The Real Housewives, Vanderpump Rules, and The Bachelor will participate in the competition.

“Well, there you have it, dearies,” Cumming said. “This is sure to be the most treacherous season yet.”

• Rob Mariano (Survivor)
• Dorinda Medley (The Real Housewives of New York City)
• Chrishell Stause (Selling Sunset)
• Britney Haynes (Big Brother)
• Danielle Reyes (Big Brother)
• Bob the Drag Queen (RuPaul’s Drag Race)
• Wells Adams (The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise)
• Chanel Ayan (The Real Housewives of Dubai)
• Gabby Windey (The Bachelorette)
• Dylan Efron (Down to Earth with Zac Efron)
• Tony Vlachos (Survivor)
• Jeremy Collins (Survivor)
• Dolores Catania (The Real Housewives of New Jersey)
• Robyn Dixon (The Real Housewives of Potomac)
• Bob Harper (The Biggest Loser)
• Ciara Miller (Summer House)
• Lord Ivar Mountbatten (British royal)
• Carolyn Wiger (Survivor)
• Sam Asghari (Britney Spears’ ex)
• Tom Sandoval (Vanderpump Rules)
• Nikki Garcia (Former professional Wrestler)

Earlier this year, Cumming teased Season 3 of the competition series at Deadline’s Contenders TV: Documentary + Unscripted event.

Executive producer Sam Rees-Jones added, “There are some exciting things planned; we want to keep the players on their toes, and we look forward to them keeping us on our toes. As far as Season 3 … this murder mystery is going to take lots of twists and turns, and we’re excited to see where it goes.”

Terrence Beasor Dies: Veteran Character Actor Known For ‘Walk Hard’ & ‘The Middle’ Dies At 89

A rep said Beasor died May 28 at his home in Santa Monica with his wife of 55-plus years, actress Muriel Minot, by his side.

Beasor appeared on dozens of TV shows during his 40-year career, including The Incredible Hulk, The Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, Hardcastle and McCormick, Hill Street Blues, Cheers, L.A. Law, Dynasty, Hunter, Knot’s Landing, Simon & Simon, Police Squad!, Chicago Hope, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Scandal, Angie Tribeca, The Grinder, Hot In Cleveland, Scrubs, Gilmore Girls, The District, Suddenly Susan, Days of Our Lives and Murder, She Wrote.

He also did voice work on several Star Trek series and video games and offscreen announcing on movies and TV shows including Jaws: The Revenge, Winchell, Coupe de Ville, Remington Steele and Runaway.

Beasor was born on February 2, 1935, in Omaha, NE. His family moved to L.A. when he was 7. He attended Garfield High, did four years in the Navy and in 1953 entered the Pasadena Playhouse for that years. At age 30 he went to New York.

He met Minot in 1968 doing back-to-back shows at Equity Library Theatre. Beasor was very proud that Actors’ Equity Association had been his first union.

The duo moved to Concord, MA, for seven years and co-directed numerous shows in the greater Boston area. He got his MFA at Brandeis University in 1976, after which they moved to L.A.

They performed together on Days of Our Lives, Gangster Chronicles, The Practice and several commercials as well as plays.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a in his name be made to Entertainment Connections (new name of the Actors Fund). Anything that helps actors would be his wish.

Daytime Emmy Presenters

Hosted by ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT’s Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner, the lineup of presenters from daytime’s biggest names includes: Kristos Andrews (“The Bay”), Lidia Bastianich (“25 Years with Lidia: A Culinary Jubilee”), Lauralee Bell (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Eric Braeden (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Steve Burton (“General Hospital”), Derrick Camana (“Wizard of Paws”), Kelly Clarkson (“The Kelly Clarkson Show”), Stefan Dennis (“Neighbours”), Zooey Deschanel (“What Am I Eating with Zooey Deschanel”), Scott Evans (“Access Hollywood”), Jackée Harry (“Days of Our Lives”), Amelia Heinle (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Annie Jones (“Neighbours”), Star Jones (“Divorce Court”), Christel Khalil (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL), Eric Martsolf (“Days of Our Lives”), Kiara Liz Ortega (“The Bay”), Danielle Pinnock (GHOSTS), Melvin Robert (“Extra”), Lawrence Saint-Victor (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL), Jonathan Scott (“Backed by the Bros”), Laura Wright (“General Hospital”), and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant (“Wild Kingdom”). In addition, THE TALK hosts Amanda Kloots and Jerry O’Connell will make a special appearance.

As previously announced, Daytime Emmy® Award nominated and multi-award-winning actress Melody Thomas Scott and Daytime Emmy-winning producer Edward J. Scott will receive Lifetime Achievement honors for their contributions to the world of Daytime television.

THE 51ST ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS is produced by NATAS and Associated Television International (ATI), which produced Daytime Emmy Awards ceremonies on The CW in 2009 and on CBS in 2010, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Adam Sharp and Lisa Armstrong are executive producers from NATAS, while David McKenzie is executive producer from ATI.

*Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the episode airs.

Mila Kunis Latest Addition To ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ Ensemble

Plot details are unknown. The most recent pic, Glass Onion, bowed in 2022, with Craig returning as the Blanc. The film premiered on Netflix after the streamer made a record-setting $450 million deal for the two sequels, with this being the third in the series.

The Knives Out series is no stranger to delivering ensembles packed with star power and this installment looks to be no different. Production is set to start next month with Netflix planning to release sometime in 2025.

Best known for her roles in the Bad Moms franchise and her portrayal of Lily in Black Swan, Kunis was most recently seen starring and producing the adaptation of Luckiest Girl Alive. She is repped by Curtis Talent Management, CAA and Patti Felker.

Chrishell Stause Joins Neighbours

The Selling Sunset star will return to her soap-opera roots when she joins the Australian drama Neighbours as a guest star, TVLine has learned.

Stause, who had long runs on All My Children and Days of Our Lives, will play Yasmine “Yas” Shields, who is described as “a glamorous and successful businesswoman in pursuit of an exciting new opportunity.”

The show airs daily Monday through Thursday on Amazon Freevee in the United States and the United Kingdom. Stause is slated to begin filming in Australia in July.

“I am honored and excited to join such a beloved and iconic show!” Stause said via statement. “Coming from the world of soaps in the U.S., it’s back to my first love in the entertainment industry. They pitched me an idea for a character, and I was immediately excited to figure out a way to make it happen. Ramsay Street here I come!”

Added Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison via statement: “We are thrilled to welcome Chrishell to the cast of Neighbours. We created a character especially for her and we can’t wait for her to bring the storyline alive. Expect intrigue and surprises — and many implications for the residents of Ramsay Street.”

Neighbours follows the residents of Ramsay Street in Erinsborough, Australia, a fictional suburb of Melbourne. It recently nabbed two 2024 Daytime Emmy nominations: Outstanding Daytime Drama Series and Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series for Guy Pearce’s stint. The nods are the show’s first in the United States. h

Elizabeth MacRae Dies: ‘General Hospital’ & ‘Gomer Pyle: USMC’ Actor Was 88

After graduating, MacRae pursued a career in acting and auditioned for Otto Preminger’s production of Saint Joan in 1956. Although she didn’t land a role, she continued to pursue acting. She moved to New York City where she studied with Uta Hagen at the Herbert Berghof Studio and gained experience in off-Broadway productions.

MacRae landed her first television role playing a witness in the courtroom series The Verdict Is Yours. Over a career that spanned 25 years, MacRae would be featured in television shows like Route 66, Surfside 6, Rendezvous, The Fugitive, Judd for the Defense, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, I Dream of Jeannie, The Andy Griffith Show, and many more.

One of her most prominent roles was in Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., where she played Gomer’s girlfriend Lou-Ann Poovie.

MacRae also appeared in soaps like General Hospital, where she played Meg Baldwin starting in August 1969. She remained on the ABC daytime soap until 1973, when the character was killed off. Other soaps MacRae starred in were Another World, Days of Our Lives, Guiding Light, and Search for Tomorrow.

MacRae’s film credits include Live in a Goldfish Bowl, Everything’s Ducky, The Incredible Mr. Limpet, and Frances Ford Coppola’s The Conversation.

She continued to work in television and featured in shows like Kojak, Barnaby Jones, and Rhoda. MacRae’s last film credit was in 1989, where she played a reporter on Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives!

Following her acting career, MacRae and her husband, Charles Day Halsey Jr., moved to North Carolina and, years later, returned home to Fayetteville.

She is survived by five stepchildren, Terry Halsey, Peter Halsey, Hugh Halsey, Cate Halsey, and Alex Halsey Topper.

Daytime Emmy Hosts Will Once Again Be ‘Entertainment Tonight’ Anchors Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and CBS were set to announce the news, which Variety has exclusively learned, on Thursday morning. Frazier and Turner previously hosted the Daytime Emmys in 2022 and 2023. The duo is also nominated this year in the outstanding daytime personality – daily category, while “Entertainment Tonight” is nominated in outstanding entertainment news series.

Frazier has been co-host of “ET” since September 2014; before that, he was co-host and managing editor of “The Insider” and a correspondent and weekend host of “ET.” Turner has been co-host of “ET” since 2021, first joining the show as a correspondent in 2014. She preciously served as a contributor for CNN.

Also on Thursday, NATAS revealed that Rachel Schwartz has been named head of daytime and children’s & family at the org. The landmark promotion makes Schwartz the first woman to ever lead the Daytime Emmys.

NATAS has additionally announced its 2024 Gold and Silver Circle Honorees, recognizing “admired individuals who have made enduring contributions to daytime television. Inductees are exceptional professionals who have performed distinguished service within the television industry, setting standards for achievement, mentoring, leadership and professional accolades for 50 or 25 years, respectively. They represent the best and brightest in the industry.”

Jerome Dobson (writer, “Guiding Light,” “As the World Turns,” “General Hospital,” “Santa Barbara”)

Patricia Denney (former hair and makeup department head, “The Young and The Restless”)

Rolonda Watts (talk show host, actress and voiceover talent, “Sherri,” “Curious George,” “Divorce Court”)

The 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards is produced by NATAS and Associated Television International. Adam Sharp and Lisa Armstrong are executive producers from NATAS, while David McKenzie is executive producer from ATI.

Kennedy Garcia Cast on Days Of Our Lives as Felicity!

“It’s my birthday! And huge news! I am moving to Salem!” Garcia wrote. “Ok, not really… but starting next week, you can call me Felicity and find me over on DAYS. I can’t wait for you to meet her and see how her storyline unfolds! I’ve been filming for the last six months and have been having so much fun! Please join me on my adventures!”

Garcia’s character will likely be involved in Chanel and Johnny’s storyline, as Chanel mentioned Felicity recently as a Sweet Bits regular with special needs who aspires to be a baker someday.

While DAYS marks the actress and model’s first major role, Garcia previously appeared in the short films Brownies and Bamboozled as well as a handful of YouTuber Dhar Mann’s skits, which portray the problems within modern society. The Tennessee native — who was diagnosed with Down syndrome hours after her birth and beat leukemia at just three years old — began her professional career as a child model after being discovered by the American Girl brand. Becoming the first model with Down syndrome to work with that company, Garcia went on to do campaigns for Justice, Claire’s, Disney, and many others. Last year, she appeared in McDonald’s Super Bowl commercial.

Garcia is also a sought-after public speaker, who frequently makes appearances to talk about her journey and teach people how to be friends with someone with a disability. According to Garcia’s agency, Paloma Model and Talent, she is the first actress with Down syndrome to have a storyline in any U.S. soap opera. “We are so proud of you!” the agency shared in a post touting Garcia’s new role. “Watch for her starting next week.”o

Independent Artist Group Signs ‘Pretty Little Liars’ Alum Ashley Benson

Benson is best known for starring on the hit Freeform series Pretty Little Liars, based on the novels by Sara Shepard, which aired for seven seasons from 2010 to 2017.

Created by I. Marlene King, the mystery drama follows the lives of four high school girls whose friendship falls apart after their clique leader, Alison, goes missing. A year later, they start receiving anonymous messages from a mysterious figure known as “A,” who threatens to expose their deepest secrets, including ones they thought only Alison knew. In the role of “It girl” Hannah Marin, Benson starred opposite Troian Bellisario, Holly Marie Combs, Lucy Hale and more.

Most recently, the actress starred alongside Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Jenna Colman in Prime Video’s thriller miniseries Wilderness. Her feature film credits include Mob Land with John Travolta, Kevin Dillon and Stephen Dorff; Harmony Korine’s cult hit Spring Breakers; Pixels alongside Adam Sandler, Josh Gad and Michelle Monaghan; the Liza Johnson-directed Elvis & Nixon; the Elisabeth Moss-produced Her Smell; the Xavier Manrique-directed comedy Chronically Metropolitan; the drama Private Property; crime thriller The Birthday Cake; and the starry satire Angry Neighbors.

Coming up for Benson is McVeigh, a psychological thriller set to premiere at next month’s Tribeca Festival, which also stars Alfie Allen, Anthony Carrigan, and Brett Gelman. The actress continues to be represented by Untitled Entertainment, Viewpoint, and attorney Nina Ramer.

Camila Banus Appears to Call Out Former Days of Our Lives Colleagues’ 'Behavior' After Exit from the Show

In a May 15 Instagram Stories post, the 33-year-old actress — who played Gabi Hernandez on the iconic soap for 13 years — shared a pointed message criticizing “behavior” she experienced at her “previous place of employment,” according to Soaps.com.

“I will never understand all the people at my previous place of employment that are friends with snakes,” the Emmy-nominated actress wrote. “Just know this. I remember all, I will continue to remember how those snakes treated me and how others allowed and perpetuated their behavior.”

“I remember times where everyone just stayed quiet, knowing what was happening was wrong,” she added. “Men and women.”

According to the outlet, Banus also accompanied the call-out post with both a teapot and cup of tea emoji, seemingly indicating she has a lot more to share about the drama behind the scenes of the popular soap.

Banus first announced her departure in an interview with TheWrap published in May 2023, telling the outlet that the show's "changes" were a sign for her to move on from the long-running Peacock soap, which previously aired on NBC from 1965 to 2022.

"There's definitely been a lot of changes at Days, the last couple of years, one being moving to Peacock," said Banus, whose last shoot day was April 28, 2023.

"Although it's been wonderful and we've had a super great reception, for me, I felt like that was kind of like the initial start for changes happening in general," she continued. "And I kind of just saw that as a sign for me to start the next chapter in my life."

Banus also told the outlet that she was “open to renegotiating a certain type of shooting schedule” that allotted her more time off — “but they didn't go for it."

“At first, it was just easy to say, 'Well, if you can't meet these demands, then I can't,' and move on with a new contract,” she said. “But then, you know, I talked to producers and they had a call with me and they were like, 'Well, what can we do?' And I honestly, I need to slow down. And part of that is, you know, you guys accepting this shooting schedule for me, and you won't.”

“So, you know, I have to respectfully bow out and say thank you, and that's all I can do,” she added.

Banus’s new post targeting “behavior” at her “previous place of employment” also comes months after another Days of Our Lives star, Arianne Zucker, sued the soap’s production company Corday Productions and co-executive producers Ken Corday and Albert Alarr for alleged discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

In the new suit, the longtime soap opera star, 49, alleged that Alarr subjected her to "sexually harassing comments and nonconsensual physical touching of a sexual nature." Per the complaint, Zucker claimed that Alarr would routinely pull her tight to his chest while making sexual moans and "forcefully" touch her during dry blocking of scenes without her consent.

Among other claims, the complaint also alleged that the exec enjoyed filming aggressive sex scenes and threesomes. And, while directing Zucker in an intimate scene on DOOL, she claimed that he once said, “Believe me, I’d love to switch positions with you."

In a statement to PEOPLE, Alarr's attorney denied Zucker's claims and said the television producer plans to fight her allegations.

“As Albert said when Ms. Zucker first leveled these outrageous claims through the press last year, her baseless allegations were examined in a detailed and entirely independent investigation that lasted for two months. Dozens of individuals cooperated and every claim was thoroughly looked into. At the end of that process, the decision was made that Albert should continue in his role as Co-Executive Producer of Days of Our Lives," Alarr's attorney said, in part.

"Enough is enough," their statement continued. "Every day for decades, Albert worked with hundreds of people who can - and will - testify about the falsity of Ms. Zucker’s mischaracterizations of him. We relish having a chance to share the truth and putting an end to her offensive claims once and for all.”

‘The Bay’ Casts Patrick Muldoon & Jennifer Taylor As Mike Manning’s Parents

Patrick Muldoon (Melrose Place) and Jennifer Taylor (Two and a Half Men) are joining the Popstar TV! sudser as the conservative dad and mom to McKinnon (Mike Manning), who lost touch with his parents after they essentially abandoned him when he married Daniel Garrett (Eric Nelsen).

In other casting updates, Rhonda Ross (Another World) is joining the soap as Coleen Givens, the biological mother of Pete Garrett’s (Kristos Andrews) wife Vivian (Karrueche Tran). Garrett goes on the search for Colleen after Vivian becomes ill. Colleen is a jazz singer who gave Vivian up for adoption at birth and resurfaces in Bay City this season as the only hope to save her.

Vivian was adopted by police captain Mackenzie Johnson, who will now be played by Gordon Thomson (Dynasty).

The Bay also recently announced the cast additions of Dee Wallace (E.T.), Olivia D’Abo (The Wonder Years), Tristan Mack Wilds (90210), and Daytime Emmy-winner Jordi Vilasuso (The Young and the Restless).

The Bay is written and directed by Gregori J. Martin and produced by LANY Entertainment in association with She Mogul Media. Episodes air weekdays on Popstar! TV and are later made available on demand on Tubi, Amazon Prime, and more.

The series received 5 Daytime Emmy nominations this year, including Outstanding Drama Series, writing, and directing.

Lacey Chabert To Topline Netflix Holiday Rom-Com ‘Hot Frosty’; Dustin Milligan, Joe Lo Truglio & Craig Robinson Among Others Set

Others set to star include Dustin Milligan (Schitt’s Creek), Craig Robinson (Killing It), Joe Lo Truglio (Brooklyn 99), Katy Mixon (Mike & Molly), Lauren Holly (Dumb and Dumber) and Chrishell Stause (Selling Sunset).

Written by Russell Hainline (The Santa Summit), the film picks up with Cathy two years after losing her husband, as she magically brings a handsome snowman to life. Through his naïveté, the snowman helps Cathy to laugh, feel and love again, as the two fall for each other just in time for the holidays…and before he melts.

Joel S. Rice (Single All the Way, A Tourist’s Guide to Love) and Michael Barbuto (Never Too Late to Celebrate, Catch Me if You Claus) are producing for Muse Entertainment. Aren Prupas and Jonas Prupas are exec producers on the project, which is part of a 2024 holiday slate at the streamer also including the Lindsay Lohan starrer Our Little Secret and Meet Me Next Christmas starring Christina Milian.

Best known for her role as Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls, Chabert has most recently been seen starring in numerous holiday films, most of them for Hallmark, including Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up and A Merry Scottish Christmas, along with the franchise The Wedding Veil. Securing her involvement in Hot Frosty was considered a coup for Netflix, sources tell us, given the actress’s cachet in the holiday space. This year, she’ll also be seen starring opposite Kristoffer Polaha in The Christmas Quest for Hallmark.

Perhaps best known for directing episodes of series like My Life with the Walter Boys and Schitt’s Creek, Ciccoritti has also helmed TV movies like Turkey Drop and Angel Falls Christmas, among many other projects.

Chabert is repped by Innovative Artists and Thruline Entertainmen; Milligan by Gersh, Red Management, and McKuin Frankel Whitehead; Robinson by UTA, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Ziffren Brittenham; Lo Truglio by 3 Arts, Andy Corren Management, and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum; Mixon by Verve and Principal Entertainment LA; Holly by Mavrick Artists Agency, The Characters Talent Agency, and Gilbertson Entertainment; Stause by UTA; and Ciccoritti by OAZ..

Jeff Bridges, Dave Bautista, Bryan Cranston, Sam Elliott & More Set For Live-Action ‘Grendel’ Movie

Grendel is the tale of the legendary monster at the heart of the Beowulf epic poem who steps forth to tell his side of this riveting story. Directed by Robert D. Krzykowski (The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot), the film’s ensemble also includes Dave Bautista (Dune: Part Two) as Beowulf, Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) as King Hrothgar, Sam Elliott (A Star is Born) as The Dragon, Thomasin McKenzie (Last Night in Soho) as Queen Wealhtheow, and Aidan Turner (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) as Unferth. In addition to playing the role of The Shaper, famed recording artist and record producer T Bone Burnett will provide original songs for the film.

Krzykowski adapted the script from John Gardner’s critically acclaimed novel of the same name. Producers on the project include Brian Henson (The Muppet Christmas Carol, Farscape) and Vince Raisa (The Happytime Murders) for The Jim Henson Company, Krzykowski and Jay Glazer (Body Language, Get Luke Lowe), who together acquired the rights to the novel in 2020, Dennis Berardi (Monster Hunter, Frankenstein), and Jon D. Wagner (Bone Tomahawk, Haunt).

Exec producers include Bridges, John Sayles (Lone Star, Eight Men Out), Tamara Birkemoe, and Joe Jenckes of Ashland Hill Media Finance. Palisades Park Pictures are launching international sales at the upcoming Marché du Film, with CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group co-repping rights for North America. Ashland Hill Media Finance is financing, with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop (Five Nights at Freddy’s, Where the Wild Things Are) to handle the practical creature work and design. Production is slated to kick off in Europe later this year.

“Grendel represents everything I love about the movies,” Krzykowski said. “John Gardner’s mad masterpiece cleverly tackles what it is to be human through the wild-eyed lens of a monster. It’s an honor to work with such a remarkable group of storytellers, all of whom seek to bring something wonderful and unexpected to audiences now.”

Stated Palisades Park Pictures CEO Tamara Birkemoe, “We are delighted to be introducing this elevated, high-concept story to our distributors around the world. With this brilliant cast, Bob’s vivid vision and the extraordinary creative track record of our friends at The Jim Henson Company, we cannot wait to see Grendel come to life.”

Other feature titles on the Palisades’ Cannes sales slate include The Magic Faraway Tree starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy; That’s Amore! starring John Travolta, Katherine Heigl and Christopher Walken; Philip Noyce’s action-adventure Fast Charlie starring Pierce Brosnan, Morena Baccarin and James Caan; and Neil Marshall’s action thriller Duchess, starring Charlotte Kirk, Philip Winchester, Sean Pertwee, Colm Meaney and Stephanie Beacham.

Bridges is repped by CAA, MGMT Entertainment, Special Artists Agency and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum; Bautista by CAA, Meisner Entertainment Group, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Cranston by UTA and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole; Elliott by Gersh and Berwick & Kovacik; McKenzie by UTA, Untitled Entertainment, Gail Cowan Management and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole; Turner by Curtis Brown Group, Lisa Richards, and Felker Toczek Suddleson; Burnett by LJ Entertainment; and Krzykowski by Neon Kite, Verve, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman.

Paul Telegdy Producing Spanish-Language Sci-Fi Podcast ‘Zone Of Silence’ With Mario Lopez & Eric Winter

Telegdy, who left the network in August 2020, has teamed up with Access Hollywood host Mario Lopez and The Rookie star Eric Winter, to develop a Spanish-language sci-fi podcast, Zone of Silence.

It marks one of the first projects to be unveiled by Telegdy since he set up The Whole Spiel with his cousin, Stefan Telegdy. In 2022, he was involved in a Falklands war drama series that was being shopped.

Zone of Silence is being produced by The Whole Spiel and podcast company Sonoro.

There are plans to develop it as a scripted television series as well as in other mediums.

The podcast will be centered around Mexico’s often mythicized Zone of Silence, a patch of desert in Durango where no radio signals can be received, which according to urban legend is caused by supernatural forces. When a bus transporting a notorious narco from Mexico to a maximum-security prison in the U.S. goes missing in the Zone of Silence, mass hysteria spreads around the local vicinity. In a town already skeptical of the U.S. government, two federal marshals must work with the locals familiar with the terrain to hunt down the bus and its missing Cargo.

“At a time when the business models of television and streaming are going through a reset, audio is still experiencing explosive growth in usage and therefore can still take risks with talent and ideas,” said Telegdy. “Mario and Eric have great stories to tell, and we are really delighted to be a part of that with Sonoro, where the team continues to deliver compelling content through its ever-expanding universe.”

“The Latino community’s growing influence on culture and commerce is becoming abundantly clear to Hollywood, as is the growth opportunity that creating culturally rich and relevant content presents,” added Camila Victoriano, co-founder and Chief Content Officer of Sonoro. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with such marvels in entertainment to bring Zone of Silence to life.”-

PBS National Memorial Day Concert To Feature World War II Tribute And Gold Star Families Remembrance

The event, marking its 35th anniversary, honors members of the military and their families, with an evening of music and storytelling.

Among the segments planned are a tribute to World War II, featuring Bryan Cranston and spotlighting U.S. Army veteran John T. “Jack” Moran, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. The segment also will mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

A remembrance of Gold Star families, featuring BD Wong, will spotlight the story of Vietnam veteran and Gold Star father Allen Hoe, who followed generations of his family into service. Two of his sons also served in the U.S. Army. One of his sons, First Lieutenant Nainoa K. Hoe, was killed in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Another segment, featuring Jena Malone, will focus on the challenges of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, with the story of U.S. Marine Corps veteran and amputee Kirstie Ennis, who sent on to become an adaptive athlete and has made it a mission to bring awareness to encourage others to reach out for help.

Also featured in the concert will be Cynthia Erivo, Gary LeVox, Jamey Johnson, Mary McCormack, Ruthie Ann Miles, Patina Miller and the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jack Everly. The event also will include a Salute to Services with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Service Color Teams. Also participating will be members from The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus, The Soldiers’ Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants and the Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.

The concert will air on PBS from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET, as well as to troops around the world on the American Forces Network. It also will stream at www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert and YouTube, and will available as video on demand from May 26 to June 9.

The concert is a co-production of Michael Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C.

Talk Show Appearance

Mike Manning And Olivia Blue To Star In Alien Adventure Film ‘Unexpected Treasures’

The film’s cast is rounded out with AnnaMaria DeMara (Lost in Space, Lucifer), Jay Whittaker (The Orville, Let’s Go to Prison), Michael Dunn (Bosch, NCIS), Lauren Han (Beef, Extracurricular), and Rex Edhlund.

Production for the film recently wrapped in Joshua Tree, CA. The script was inspired by the many extra-terrestrial-related stories and folklore of the Joshua Tree community and desert area. In the film, a wild alien encounter restores a local resident’s faith in humanity. Blue stars as the local resident, while Manning stars as the alien.

Unexpected Treasures is produced by Heller, Aline Andrade (How to Become a Cult Leader), and executive produced by Joanna Popper, Virginia Galloway, and Marcie Jastrow. Blue and Manning are also executive producers on the film.

Manning is currently nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in The Bay on Peacock, Tubi and Popstar ??TV. The 2024 Daytime Emmy ceremony will air live on CBS on Friday, June 7th on CBS.

Blue is repped by Jonathan Rakower at Framework Entertainment and Jaime Love at LoveTalent Agency. Manning is repped by Kurt Patino at Patino Management Company and Kris Heller at IAG.

Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan, Austin Abrams & Cary Christopher Round Out Cast Of New Line’s ‘Weapons’

As previously announced, Josh Brolin, Julia Garner and Alden Ehrenreich will lead the cast.

Pic’s plot and all roles are under wraps. Written and directed by Zach Cregger, it marks his follow-up to Barbarian, the horror film marking his debut solo outing which opened #1 at the box office in 2022 and sits at 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long, that film grossed ten times its production budget of $4.5 million to ultimately take in more than $45 million worldwide.

Cregger will also produce Weapons alongside his Barbarian producing team, Roy Lee of Vertigo and J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules of BoulderLight Pictures, as well as Vertigo’s Miri Yoon.

Best known for his role of Wong in numerous Marvel films and TV series, Wong currently stars in Netflix’s sci-fi epic 3 Body Problem and will next appear in Bad Genius, an English-language remake of the hit 2017 Thai film Chalard Games Goeng.

An Oscar nominee most recently seen in films like Antlers, The Hunt and American Woman, Madigan’s TV credits include Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, Fringe, Grey’s Anatomy, The Laramie Project and Carnivàle.

Abrams plays Ethan on HBO’s Euphoria and has also been seen on shows like This Is Us, Dash & Lily, The Americans, and SMILF, among others. Next. he’ll be seen in the acclaimed Tribeca drama The Line and Jon Watts’ Apple thriller Wolfs opposite Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

Christopher currently stars in Days of Our Lives for which he received a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2023. Other series credits include NCIS, The Rookie, 9-1-1, Fuller House, American Horror Stories, Station 19, and Mr. Mom.

Wong is repped by attorney Robert Wallerstein at Hirsch, Wallerstein, Hayum; Madigan by Paradigm and Anonymous Content; Abrams by WME, Amplified Management, and Myman Greenspan Fox; and Christopher by Zuri Agency, Evolve Talent Management and Yorn, Levine, Barnes.-

Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer - We All Have a Story

Tune-in live on Thursday, May 16th from 8 p.m-11 p.m ET / 5 p.m - 8 p.m. PT. as favorites from As the World Turns, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, Guiding Light, One Life to Live, The Young and the Restless and more, come together for this worthy cause. Hear inspiring stories of courage, resilience, and hope as guests share their personal connections to cancer, or the impact they have made portraying characters battling the disease. Watch moving tributes to beloved daytime favorites we lost: Andrea Evans, Jackie Zeman, Kamar de Los Reyes, Jerry verDorn, Elizabeth Hubbard and more. In addition, look for special musical performances and segments during this one-night only virtual event. The show will stream simultaneously across Michael and Alan's YouTube channels, as well as the Stand Up To Cancer website.

Featuring: Eddie and Kristen Alderson, Brandon Barash, Carson Boatman, Eric Braeden, Jeremy Bennett (Elizabeth Hubbard's son), Elia Cantu, Sharon Case, Eileen Davidson, Kassie DePaiva, Don Diamont, Michael Easton, Linsey Godfrey, Lacey Gorden (Jackie Zeman's daughter), Leo Howard, Lesli Kay, Liz Keifer, Wally Kurth, Cassidy Macleod (Jackie Zeman's daughter), Cameron Mathison, Eric Martsolf, Eden McCoy, Stephen G. Rodriguez and Kylie Rodriguez (Andrea Evan's husband and daughter), Kin Shriner, Erika Slezak, Tina Sloan, Michelle Stafford, Trevor St. John, Beth verDorn (Jerry's wife), Colleen Zenk and Kim Zimmer.

Deidre Hall to appear on Hacks season 3— check out first-look photos of her

The soap legend will guest star on season 3 of Hacks, and Entertainment Weekly has your exclusive first look at both her and Back to the Future star Christopher Lloyd's guest appearance. Both pop up in episode 7, titled "The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular," which airs May 23 on Max.

Hall will play a fictional version of herself, who just so happens to be the mom of Paul W. Downs' Jimmy. “It made sense to us that Jimmy’s late father, a big-time manager, would have been married to an actress," co-creator Lucia Aniello, who also directed the episode, tells EW. "When the idea for Deidre Hall came up, it just felt right.”

As for Lloyd, he plays reclusive writer Larry Arbuckle, who had a rather famous grandfather.

"He is exactly what you think, and he's so funny and so good," Downs says of Lloyd. "Just sitting with him in cast holding and hearing about Taxi and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, I'm like, this is crazy that he is on Hacks. We were so, so excited to have him. We wrote the character with him in mind, and the fact that he said yes was really cool."

Larry and Deidre's worlds ending up colliding in the episode, and according to the showrunners, there were onscreen sparks.

"We had written some things that were flirty, but the chemistry was palpable," says Downs. Adds co-creator Jen Statsky, "It was undeniable."

Hall and Lloyd are just two of the many guest stars on season 3 of the Emmy-winning comedy series starring Jean Smart as comedy legend Deborah Vance; J. Smith-Cameron, Tony Goldwyn, Christina Hendricks, Helen Hunt, Dan Bucatinsky, and George Wallace are among those who also appear, along with returning guests Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald, and Jane Adams.

Peacock Raising Prices By $2 A Month This Summer, Its Second Hike In Two Years

Beginning in July, the monthly price for Peacock Premium will increase to $7.99. Premium Plus, which offers limited advertising, download capability and live local programming, will now be $13.99.?Annual plans will go up to $79.99 for Premium and $139.99 for Premium Plus.

The change will take effect starting July 18 for new customers, and for existing subscribers at their next billing date on or after?August 17. The timing is similar to that of a 2023 hike, which was the first since Peacock’s launch in 2020. The Summer Olympics in Paris are slated to run from July 26 to August 11.

The pricing change comes just days after NBCU parent Comcast offered the latest snapshot of Peacock’s financials. In a quarterly earnings report last Thursday, the company said Peacock narrowed its losses and took in more than $1.1 billion in revenue.

While Peacock has been gaining steadily, its tally of 34 million subscribers lags behind the scale of other major services in the market. With Wall Street laser-focused on profitability in streaming, NBCU is aiming to use pricing as a lever to help it achieve break-even. It has plenty of company in that strategy, as the entire cohort of new rivals to Netflix has rolled out increases over the past year or two. Netflix itself has done likewise, but also is heavily promoting its $7-a-month subscription tier with advertising, which will be the market’s cheapest after Peacock’s latest increase.

Comcast President Mike Cavanagh, who oversees NBCU, said Peacock is “seeing traction” with its mix of live sports and entertainment. The service saw record viewership for an NFL playoff game last January and also launched two of its most successful originals ever, in Traitors Season 2 and Ted. The Summer Olympics in Paris this July will be another major sports milestone, and pay-1 movies like Oppenheimer and family hits like Kung Fu Panda 4 are also helping with retention, execs say.

Encouraged by the success of the NFL Wild Card playoff game, which was acquired as a one-off outside of NBCU’s overall NFL rights deal, the company secured rights to a game to be played Friday, September 6. The game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers, will be part of the league’s opening week and will be played in São Paulo, Brazil. NFL games accounted for 93 of the top 100 programming titles on the TV schedule in 2023, so it seems as sure a bet as there is in streaming.

Marla Adams Dies: ‘The Young And The Restless’ Daytime Emmy Winner Was 85

Born in Ocean City, New Jersey, on August 28, 1938, Adams’ love for the stage was ignited after winning the Miss Ocean City and Miss Cape May pageants. She also finished as a runner-up in the Miss New Jersey pageant and was the Miss Diamond Jubilee Queen during the 1954 celebration of the 75th anniversary of Ocean City’s founding.

A student at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Adams appeared on Broadway in the 1958 production of The Visit at the Morosco Theatre with Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. She also starred as June in the 1961 feature film, Splendor in the Grass.

Adams starred as Belle Clemens on The Secret Storm from 1968-1974¸and joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in 1982 as the Abbott family matriarch, Dina Abbott Mergeron, who returned to Genoa City to reunite with her estranged family.

She appeared on and off in the role though the years, returning full time to Y&R in 2017. She won a Daytime Emmy Award for her work on the show in 2021 and was previously nominated in 2018.

Adams also appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, Generations, General Hospital, and Capitol. Over the span of her career, Adams starred in more than 40 productions including The Golden Girls, Hart to Hart, The Love Boat, and the feature film, Beneath the Leaves.

She is survived by her daughter, Pam Oates, son, Gunnar Garat, grandchildren, Gefjon and Stone, and her great grandson, Remi. No information on memorial plans has been revealed.

“TRACKER,” SUNDAY, MAY 12

“Off the Books” – Colter is forced to team up with his estranged brother, Russell, who enlists his help to track down a former army buddy who’s gone missing after several weeks of paranoid behavior. The investigation takes the brothers into the world of Special Forces missions, shady off-the-books programs and conspiracy theories, all while they contend with their family’s past, on the CBS Original series TRACKER, Sunday, May 12 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*.

‘Tracker’ Casts Jensen Ackles In Justin Hartley Series

The series, a strong ratings performer, received an early Season 2 renewal just weeks following its Season 1 premiere.

Tracker, based on the bestselling novel The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver, stars Hartley as Colter Shaw, a lone-wolf survivalist who roams the country as a reward seeker, using his expert tracking skills to help private citizens and law enforcement solve all manner of mysteries while contending with his own fractured family.

The series also stars Fiona Rene, Robin Weigert, Abby McEnany and Eric Graise also star.

Tracker is produced by 20th Television. Hartley, Ken Olin, Elwood Reid and Ben Winters serve as executive producers.

Ackles is best known for his long run as Dean Winchester in The CW’s Supernatural, a role he reprised in Supernatural prequel series The Winchesters. His other recent credits include the role of Sheriff Beau Arlen in Big Sky, Soldier Boy in The Boys and a guest role on Gen V.

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Brings Back Kristian Alfonso For Brief Return To Pay Tribute To Late Bill Hayes

Alfonso, whose DOOL character, Hope Brady, was the daughter of Hayes’ Doug Williams, was on set April 22 to shoot the tribute, as reported by TV Insider. Her episode will air Nov. 29.

“My return is very bittersweet, because it is the end of an era with Bill gone,” she told the outlet. “So to return to Days is very sad. I am appreciative that they came to me to include me in their series of shows honoring Doug and I’m very happy to see everyone, but I’m entering the studio with a heavy heart.”

“I remember my first scenes with him,” she continued. “He was very loving, very welcoming. That he was very talented and an incredible actor and an icon, that all goes without saying, but my personal relationship and my working relationship with Bill, it was home. Doing the scenes with Bill, I felt like I was with my dad because there was so much warmth and reality.”

Alfonso left DOOL in 2020 after appearing on the soap since 1983. She briefly reprised the role in 2022 for the Days offshoot Beyond Salem on Peacock.

“I feel incredibly grateful that I ever had the opportunity to be a part of such an incredible show and the legacy that it holds,” she said to TV Insider. “I’m very blessed. I’ll always be very blessed, regardless if I ever return to do more shows or finish the storyline or not. I will always be eternally grateful and so appreciative to Days of our Lives and to Ken Corday [executive producer] and the fans that kept me going.”

Mila Kunis Says She & Ashton Kutcher Won’t Return For ‘That ’90s Show’ Season 2

In a new interview, the actress revealed that she and Kutcher would not be reprising their That ’70s Show characters when the sequel series returns to Netflix.

“No,” Kunis told ET when asked if she and her husband Kutcher would return to the sitcom. “I mean, we did our thing, and they introduced our son in the show.”

Kunis, who was on the red carpet of the PaleyFest in L.A. to celebrate Family Guy, where she voices Meg Griffin, was alongside her co-star Seth Green, who interjected to say he would guest star on That ’90s Show.

“I’ve already done an episode of it, and I’m going back to do another one,” Green said.

Green had a recurring role on That ’70s Show, playing Mitch Miller, the nemesis of Topher Grace’s Eric Forman.

That ’70s Show ran for eight seasons on Fox with a total of 200 episodes. Netflix revived the show with the sequel series That ’90s Show, which centered on Leia Forman, played by Callie Haverda, Donna (Laura Preppon) and Eric’s daughter.

Kutcher’s Michael Kelso and Kunis’s Jackie guest-starred in the spinoff as the parents of Jay Kelso, played by Mace Coronel.

Netflix renewed the sitcom for a second season ordering 16 episodes, up from the 10 episode order of the first season.

That ’90s Show also stars original cast members Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith, reprising their That ’70s Show characters Kitty and Red, respectively.

Talk Show Appearance

Morning Show Appearance

Charlie Day, Billy Eichner, Gabby Beans, Talia Ryder & 9 Others Join Ethan Coen’s ‘Honey Don’t!’

As previously announced, Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans will lead the ensemble. Details as to the film’s plot are currently under wraps, though it’s said to be in the same vein as Coen’s comedy Drive-Away Dolls, starring Qualley, which Focus released earlier this year. Production is currently underway in New Mexico.

Coen is directing from his script written with wife Tricia Cooke, the veteran editor who cut such Coen Brothers classics as The Big Lebowski and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, also co-writing Drive-Away Dolls. Pic’s producers are Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Coen, Cooke, and Robert Graf.

Day is represented by CAA, 3 Arts Entertainment and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; Eichner by UTA, 3 Arts, PJ Shapiro, and Ziffren Brittenham; Abova by Paradigm, AFA Prime Talent, and Accelerate in the UK; Jacnier by Kreativ Media Partners; Beans by TalentWorks and Brillstein Entertainment Partners; Ryder by UTA and Untitled Entertainment; Connolly by Paradigm and Authentic Talent and Literary Management; Hall by Independent Artists Group, Diarmuid Quinn at TourDForce, and Granderson Des Rochers; Swayze by David Shapira & Associates; Pafchek by The Park Agency and 23 Management Group; Browne by the Lisa Lax Agency; Carstoiu by Presley Talent and ADS Management.; and Antidormi by AKA Talent Agency, manager Nils Larsen of Integral Artists, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman.

Writers Guild Award Winner

Maree Cheatham and Matthew Ashford Lead List Of DAYS Returns

On the heels of the news that Melissa Reeves was back filming, comes confirmation that Matthew Ashford, her character’s other half, Jack Deveraux, is also back. He was last seen in Salem in 2023. Having both Jack and Jenn back to support her will surely be a tremendous comfort for Julie.

As previously announced, fans can also look forward to seeing Julie’s brother Steve, played by Stephen Schnetzer return to support his sister during her time of mourning, as well as Liz Chandler, played by fan-favorite Gloria Loring. Dare we hope she may sing in tribute to her departed friend?

Other returns include beloved couples like Martha Madison (Belle) and Brandon Beemer (Shawn), Lamon Archey (Eli) and Sal Stowers (Lani), as well as Victoria Konefal (Ciara). Current cast members will also be included in the tribute. No word on whether or not Kristian Alfonso will be bringing Hope back for her father’s memorial.

Melissa Reeves Back Filming At DAYS OF OUR LIVES

TV Insider is reporting that she’ll be back for Thanksgiving and will also be there for the shows that will feature the memorial for Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes). The actress told the site she did have one concern about returning to the role she played for such a long time.

“My one thing was, ‘I’m not taking this away from Cady. If this is Cady’s thing and she loves being here and she really loves playing this part, I don’t want to take it away from her. I’m so good either way,’ ” Reeves explains to TV Insider. “I’m a huge fan of Cady’s. I even Instagram messaged her, ‘Oh, my God, I’m so grateful you’re playing my part! I’m honored.’ But it worked out.”

For fans, it certainly will, especially if the show decides to use decades-old flashbacks. While McClain is wonderful in the role, the opportunity to show heartfelt scenes from the past are more plentiful if it’s Reeves in the role. The actress also discussed going back with the actor who plays her character’s other half — Matthew Ashford. “I told Matt, ‘I would even come back full time but the problem is, I don’t have a place to stay anymore.’ I always had family in Los Angeles but all the Reeveses have moved to Tennessee!”

McClain had some meaty stuff to play as Jennifer too. She hit her husband’s daughter, Gwen, with her car. She had to deal with the death of her daughter Abigail. In 2021, she won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series.

Andrew Keegan To Star In Soapy PR Drama Series From Horror Actress Devanny Pinn

He will play an entertainment titan in The BLVD, which is being worked up as a six-part series set in LA’s hottest boutique public relations agency during awards season.

Keegan’s character will be Jake Flynn, head of a rival PR firm that is poised to depose longstanding celebrity publicist Persephone Reed (Kinmont).

Also starring in the indie production are Chelsea Gilson (Hawaii 5-0, Black Mass), Jordi Vilasuso (The Young and the Restless, Guiding Light), Vincent Irizarry (Bold and the Beautiful, All My Children), Nichole Tom (The Nanny, Beethoven), Adam Huss (Power, General Hospital), Candace Kita and Eric Himel.

The show is currently in production in LA, with Pinn (Camp Lake Pleasant) producing through her Jaguar Motion Pictures imprint from a script from Brandon Slagle and Eric Pereira. Sonia Blangiardo (Days of Our Lives) and Brian Beacock are serving as consulting producers with Michelle Romano (Escape From Ensenada) co-producing. Miranda Mariposa (The Black Mass), David Zagorski, Kimberly Cole, Robin Cote, Heather Cusick and Eleanore Sunchild are executive producing.

Keegan is rep’d by Deanda Management and Pinn is rep’d by Sheila Legette Entertainment.

DAYS Actors Featured In Playgirl

If you visit their website here, you can see a stunning lead shot of the following DAYS stars in shorts and little else with Telfer — Eric Martsolf (Brady), Robert Scott Wilson (Alex), Bryan Dattilo (Lucas) and Christopher Sean (ex-Paul), along with a story about them.

DAYS Tribute: Honoring Bill Hayes's Legacy with Beloved Returns

“With Bill Hayes’ passing, the show is doing a special celebration for the life and memory of the character he portrayed for so many years. ‘Doug William’s’ funeral is giving us the opportunity to welcome some important and fan favorite, legacy characters back to Salem, including Gloria Loring, Stephen Schnetzer, and more. The episodes taping this week include Doug’s funeral and the historic 15,000th episode. They will not air until December 2024.”

Considering Hayes began on the show back in 1970, there are decades’ worth of characters to choose from who would want to pay tribute to such a wonderful man and support his onscreen wife Julie Williams, played by his offscreen love, Susan Seaforth Hayes. Top of mind for most fans, of course, would be his daughter Hope, played by Kristian Alfonso. Hope’s true love Bo is currently in a coma. Bringing Peter Reckell back along with Alfonso would certainly thrill longtime fans but there is no word yet on the status of either actor.

Gloria Loring Returns to DAYS OF OUR LIVES!

Loring debuted on DAYS back in 1980 as Liz Chandler, a singer (like her portrayer!) who became the headline act at Doug’s Place. One of her most memorable songs performed on the soap, “Friends and Lovers,” was so popular that when it was released as a single, it became a hit, reaching number 2 on the Pop chart and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart!

After years of drama in Salem (including being kidnapped by Stefano, going to jail for shooting Marie Horton, suffering amnesia, a plane crash, and more!), Liz divorced her husband, Neil Curtis, and left town in 1986. When she comes back again to honor the man who helped her career with his club, fans will find out what she’s been up to since then!

Shanna Moakler all smiles on date with actor Greg Vaughan at Black Keys album release party

According to photos obtained by Page Six, the couple were all smiles in a car while leaving the Black Keys’ “Ohio Players” album release party held at Bar Marmont in Los Angeles on Friday night, sparking rumors of a potential new romance. They shared a laugh in the vehicle as they drove off together.

Moakler, 49, looked casual in an all-black ensemble which included a pair of white and black Nike shoes and a long black coat.

The “Days of Our Lives” actor, 50, wore a green jacket and a black shirt underneath.

Reps for Moakler did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

The outing comes just months after the “Meet the Barkers” alum made comments on her “Dumb Blonde” podcast alleging that her ex-husband, Travis Barker, made plans to “f–k Kim Kardashian” during their time together.

Both Travis and Kim have denied allegations of their involvement in an affair with each other.

Moakler shares two children — Landon, 20, and Alabama, 18 — with the Blink-182 drummer, 48, who is now married to Kim’s sister Kourtney Kardashian. Travis and the Poosh founder welcomed a son, Rocky, in November 2023.

The former Miss New York also has a 24-year-old daughter named Atiana with ex-partner Oscar De La Hoya. Her last public relationship was with Matthew Rondeau, 29. They broke up for the second time in 2021.

Video Preview: One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

DAYS OF OUR LIVES Recasts Tate With Leo Howard

While this is Howard’s first soap, he does have a personal connection to Salem: he is engaged to Natasha Hall, who recently subbed for Jessica Serfaty as Sloan. The actor told TV Insider that after doing an on-set chemistry read during the casting process, “ boom, all of a sudden I was thrust into the throes of our lovely little show, and that his time on the show thus far has “been a good experience.”

Stephen Schnetzer Returns To DAYS OF OUR LIVES!

Reflecting on his DAYS run to Digest in 2019, Schnetzer groaned, “Oh, my God, I was so awful! I had been doing eight years of theater. Here I am projecting to the back wall of the film studio and the boom is right above you. It took me longer to get comfortable in front of a camera than anybody I ever saw in the 22 years I was in daytime. They were very patient. Susan [Seaforth Hayes, Julie] and Bill Hayes [ex-Doug] were lovely. It was recurring. I was there for a year and a half. It was a nice, gentle entry. And then I had [Franco] Zeffirelli hire me to do a Broadway show. Because I was recurring and because they didn’t lock me down to a contract, I was able to say bye-bye and come back East.”

Due to DAYS’s long production lead time, Schnetzer won’t appear on the show until this fall.

Kyle Brandt Signs Off ‘Good Morning Football’ From NYC & Addresses Viewers Concerns Over Move To LA

Things got emotional at the end of the broadcast when Brandt went outside to the streets, where the cast had hosted many segments over the years. Brandt recalled the first episode, which aired on August 1, 2016, in which he said it was an “honor” and “privilege” to be at the GMFB table in NYC.

“I also remember at that time I had 18 months guaranteed on my contract, and my wife said, ‘Well, if the show is terrible, at least we have 18 months to figure out how to move back to LA,'” Brandt said. “And 18 months in New York City became eight years, it became over 1,800 episodes and it became home at the breakfast table.”

Brandt called NYC, the show’s fifth host, and said he was sad to be leaving and went on to appreciate all the people who make GMFB happen daily.

Although Brandt didn’t outwardly say if he was moving to LA with the show but did address concerns from viewers about the future of GMFB.

“Now I am saying goodbye to all these people. But I’m not saying goodbye to any of you. That’s very important,” he said. “It is exhilarating to me that you watch the show that you are watching right now. And I know you have questions because I’ve seen them. Why is this happening? Who’s going to LA? Why would you take something that you got so right and change it?”

He continued, “Some of those answers, I don’t know. Some of them are not mine to give. And candidly, I have a lot of questions myself. Here’s what I know. I personally will be intensely involved in Good Morning Football moving forward. And I want to spend the rest of my career with the NFL. And Good Morning Football is not ending. It is expanding. And it’s exciting because it’s a bigger show. It’s more show.”

Brandt assured viewers that the GMFB from LA would have all the segments fans have been accustomed to for years and saying the show would be covering the Draft.

“GMFB is leaving home for college. This will always be home. But it’s time to evolve,” he added. “And we are flattered that you’re wondering and maybe worried about what’s coming next with the show.”

Brandt also noted that the current producer of GMFB would be producing the show from LA, reassuring viewers that the show’s essence would not change with the cross-country move.

“That’s it for this show in this form. I am very, very proud of what we built here. Me, Peter, Jamie. Jason, Nate K. It has been a dream job,” he said. “I know we are going to make a fantastic show from Los Angeles because this little morning show, where we don’t scream at each other have fake fights or scripted debates, we made it in New York. You can make it here. You can make it anywhere. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I’ll see you this summer. “New York, it has been an honor. I’m out of here.”

The future of Brandt, Jason McCourty and Peter Schrager on GMFB remains uncertain. Before the start of her maternity leave, Jamie Erdahl revealed she would be making the trek to LA and would continue to host the show from there when the show returned in the summer.

Bryan Cranston To Narrate Doris Kearns Goodwin’s ‘An Unfinished Love Story’

Kearns Goodwin is releasing An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s on April 16 and the Breaking Bad star is providing some narration for the audiobook version.

Cranston will read the letters that Doris’s late husband Richard “Dick” Goodwin, a writer and presidential advisor, wrote to family and friends when he was in his twenties.

The book weaves together biography, memoir, and history. It will also feature historic archival recordings from speeches from JFK, LBJ, and Robert Kennedy.

The couple got to know Cranston when he was preparing to star as LBJ in Robert Schenkkan’s play All the Way. They also appeared together on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2018.

Dick and Doris Goodwin were married for forty-two years. Dick named and helped design Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society and was a speechwriter and close advisor to Robert Kennedy. The book is out via Simon & Schuster, which is also behind the audiobook version.

Cranston said, “The collective experience that Dick and Doris had with the highest level of U.S. politicians is unparalleled. Not just with the policies of the powerful, but with insight on their personal lives and sensibilities of how they framed the second half of the twentieth century. Doris really helps you navigate through the fascinating politics of the time, but with an emotional touch that lets you invest in Dick’s journey… it’s a love story, to a country and a partner.”

Goodwin added, “Dick and I had the pleasure of getting to know Bryan Cranston, one of the finest actors of our time, as he prepared for the role of LBJ in Robert Schenkkan’s play, All the Way. We so admired the dedication and talent that went into Bryan’s searing portrayal of LBJ during those chaotic, urgent and heady years of the Civil Rights Movement and his presidency. It was that personal connection to us and that era that brought Bryan to mind instantly as I thought about who might read excerpts from the scores of letters Dick, while still in his twenties, had written to his best college friend and his parents. How lucky for me—and for our listeners—that Bryan so graciously agreed to bring Dick’s words to life in a resonant and poignant performance that shows the young, idealistic, emotional, self-mocking, and reflective Dick Goodwin.”

Erin & Aaron Cancelled

Erin & Aaron premiered in April 2023 and ran for 12 episodes, averaging barely 100,000 weekly viewers. The cast was led by Ava Ro (Dino Ranch) and Jensen Gering, and also included TV vet Larisa Oleynik (Pretty Little Liars, The Secret World of Alex Mack) as Aaron’s mom.

Greg Vaughan Shares a Health Update

“Basically, my situation was a high-altitude pulmonary edema,” Vaughan explained in a selfie video he shot at home. “And so with some good friends’ doctors that have reached out to me and kind of gave me some understanding on the aftermath which was very beneficial. I’ve been resting, taking care of myself… even though I live in a hamster wheel. I gotta get up and do my normal domesticated stuff eventually. I’m tired of lying down in this bed. But I am feeling much better.”

Vaughan, who also has numerous fans from his previous run as Lucky on GENERAL HOSPITAL, was overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support from everyone around him, both personally and on social media. And he became very emotional when expressing his gratitude in his video.

“I just felt such an appreciation of gratitude for… everything,” he expressed, his voice catching. “Reaching out. Your prayers have been felt. It’s been a struggle, but I am over the top.

“Wherever you are, I love you,” Vaughan added. “And I appreciate you. Just the time and the thoughts that you’ve shared with me. I am on the uppity up. I didn’t realize that it would make such an impression on so many people around the world but I feel tremendously loved and I can’t say enough. And I’m good. Be safe out there, be well… there’s nothing gonna hold me down. We’re good. Take care of yourselves. Enjoy your spring break with your families.”

'Days of Our Lives' Star Greg Vaughan Hospitalized with Fluid in Lungs

The soap opera star -- best known for playing Eric Brady on nearly 1,000 episodes of "Days of Our Lives" and Lucky Spencer on over 600 episodes of "General Hospital" -- posted a couple photos from earlier this week of him hooked up to an oxygen machine.

Vaughan assured fans he was doing just fine before but had to rush to an urgent care after getting hit with a really bad case of altitude sickness.

GV says he took his kids to Breckenridge, Colorado for a skiing and snowboarding trip, but started feeling tired, congested, and short of breath just a day into what was supposed to be a fun, relaxing vacay.

Greg says he popped some NyQuil and drank a ton of Pedialyte ... but that didn't fix the problem, and he ended up heading down the mountain to seek some medical attention.

While he thought the issue wasn't going to be anything too serious ... Vaughan's lucky he didn't try and tough through this illness -- 'cause he says the oxygen level in his blood was at a paltry 54% and fluid was filling his lungs.

Vaughan says they hooked him up to a couple IVs and told him it was probably best he head for some lower altitude.

Greg's ultimately using his experience as a teaching moment ... telling people the Rockies are no joke -- so be careful on your next ski trip.

From "General Hospital" to generally hospitalized ... glad you're feeling better, Greg!

Talk Show Appearance

“THE 51ST ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS” TO BE BROADCAST FRIDAY, JUNE 7 ON CBS

The ceremony is set to take place at the historic Westin Bonaventure Los Angeles. The Lifetime Achievement honoree, nominations, host and additional information will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We eagerly anticipate our return in June as we once again partner with CBS to recognize the exceptional and talented individuals who make daytime television great,” said Adam Sharp, president and CEO of NATAS. He added, “We’re thrilled to kick off our second half-century of the Daytime Emmys.”

The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of categories, including daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary and legal/courtroom programs. In 2021, NATAS and the Television Academy jointly announced plans to realign the Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards to be organized by content genre, as opposed to program airtime.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES Temporarily Recasts Sloan

Anne Whitfield Dies: ‘White Christmas’, Prolific TV Actor Was 85

The actor, whose TV credits stretch from I Married Joan and Father Knows Best through The Six Million Dollar Man and Adam-12, suffered what her family describes as an “unexpected accident” during a walk in her neighborhood.

“Through the kindness of neighbors who provided expert medical support, family had the gift to say goodbye and express love and gratitude, a gift we will always cherish,” her family said.

Born August 27, 1938, in Oxford, Mississippi, Whitfield was four years old when she moved to Hollywood with her mother Frances Turner Whitfield, who served as the aspiring child performer’s agent and acting coach. By age 7 Whitfield was appearing on such radio series as The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show and radio soap One Man’s Family.

At 15 she was cast by director Michael Curtiz in the movie musical White Christmas starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen. Whitfield played Susan Waverly, granddaughter of Dean Jagger’s Major General Thomas Waverly.

“Just this past December during the holidays, Annie was able to watch White Christmas with her family on the movie’s 70th anniversary,” her family writes.

Over the next several decades, Whitfield made guest appearances on dozens of TV shows, including The Donna Reed Show, Bonanza, The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis, One Step Beyond, 77 Sunset Strip, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Ironside, Adam-12 and Kolchak: The Night Stalker.

After leaving Hollywood for Washington State in the 1970s, Whitfield, in her 40s, returned to college to earn a degree in communications. She later worked as a steward for clean water at the Department of Ecology for the State of Washington, and served as an activist and community organizer to fight climate change, transparency in political campaign financing, fair electoral systems, voter registration in swing states, and caring for the un-housed, among other causes.

She is survived by daughters Julie Stevens and Allison Phillips, son Evan Schiller, in-laws and seven grandchildren. A celebration of life is scheduled for March 22.

Charles Dierkop Dies: ‘The Sting’, ‘Butch Cassidy’ & ‘Police Woman’ Actor Was 87

The Wisconsin-born character actor got his start in an uncredited role opposite Paul Newman in The Hustler. He reunited with him as Flat Nose Curry in the 1969 flick Butch Cassidy and as a bodyguard in the Best Picture Oscar-winning 1973 movie The Sting.

He found steady work in TV, with roles in episodes of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost in Space, The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., Mannix, Kung Fu, The F.B.I., The Andy Griffith Show, Star Trek, Batman, Adam-12, It Takes a Thief, Love, American Style and Mission: Impossible.

Dierkop played Detective Pete Royston from 1974-78 as a series regular opposite Angie Dickinson on NBC’s Police Woman, a spinoff of Police Story.

His 1980s and ’90s work included guest roles on such popular series as Simon & Simon, The Fall Guy, T.J. Hooker, Matt Houston and MacGyver. Dierkop also appeared in a number of B-movies well into the 2000s. His last credited role was in the 2018 film Heaven & Hell.

Morning Show Appearance

Actors Vanessa Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Mekhi Phifer and Michael Beach ("Soul Food")

‘Blue Mountain State’ Sequel Series With Alan Ritchson Being Shopped

According to sources, the project has not fully landed yet with negotiations ongoing. The likely destinations are said to be Amazon, where Ritchson headlines hit series Reacher, and Netflix, where Blue Mountain State found new audience and cemented its cult status following its original three-season run on Spike.

Created by Chris Romano and Eric Falconer, who I hear are back for the sequel, Blue Mountain State is about a fictitious university, Blue Mountain State, and its football team, the Mountain Goats. It centers on three incoming freshman — played by Darin Brooks, Alan Ritchson and Chris Romano — who must quickly adapt to college life and juggle football, girls, classes and nonstop hazing. Ritchson’s Kevin “Thad” Castle was the ever-inspiring team captain of the BMS football team.

Funded by a Kickstarter campaign, a followup movie, Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland, was released in 2016 with Brooks, Ritchson and Roman reprising their roles.

Lamon Archey and Sal Stowers Return to DAYS

The actors left the show together back in 2022 when they both went off-contract, and while each individually made a short return last year, this comeback will mark the first joint reappearance for Eli and Lani. “I was excited to see Sal,” Archey told the outlet. “It had been a long time since I had had any scenes with her, so it was definitely good to come back and work with Sal again.”

Archey was also glad to catch up with other DAYS colleagues, like Jim Reynolds (Abe) and TV grandmother Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie). “Anytime I go there, I always go to her room and see if she’s in there, whether I have a scene with her or not,” he confessed. “I always try to touch base with her.”

Archey, who previously played the recurring character of Mason Wilder from 2012-14 on CBS sudser THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, joined the cast of DAYS as Eli Grant back in February 2017. Stowers got her big break as the winner of cycle 9 of the reality competition series AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, and she parlayed her modeling success into an acting career. In 2013, she joined the cast of the online revival of ABC soap ALL MY CHILDREN, playing Angie Hubbard’s daughter, Cassandra Foster. After joining DAYS in September 2015, Stowers exited in June 2016 but was back to reprise the role by December of that year.

Even though it had been a while since he and Stowers had worked together, Archey confessed it was was “easy” to get back into the groove of portraying Eli and Lani again. “It was definitely good to get back in the mix of things with Sal and have some scenes with her,” he admitted. “It’s always great working with Sal. Our friendship goes well beyond DAYS. I knew her before [the show] so there’s never the thing where we have to get used to each other again or feel like we have to dust off the cobwebs.”

The actor hopes viewers will enjoy the comeback as much as he and Stowers did. “I’m sure it will be really exciting for the fans to be able to see Eli and Lani together again.”S

Writers Guild Awards Nominees

Days of Our Lives, Head Writer Ron Carlivati Creative Consultant Ryan QuanWriters Sonja Alar, Jazmen Darnell Brown, Joanna Cohen, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Cheryl Davis, Kirk Doering, Christopher Dunn, Jamey Giddens, David Kreizman, Henry Newman, Dave Ryan, Katherine D. Schock; Peacock

General Hospital, Head Writers Dan O’Connor, Chris Van Etten Writers Ashley Cook, Emily Culliton, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Elizabeth Korte, Shannon Peace, Stacey Pulwer, Dave Rupel, Lisa Seidman, Scott Sickles; ABC

Kate Mansi Super Bowl Ad

DAYS Legend Bill Hayes is Remembered at His Memorial Service

The celebration of life service took place at First Christian Church of North Hollywood, where Hayes and his wife, Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie), were longtime parishioners. Among those who delivered heartfelt eulogies were Hayes’ daughter, Carrie Huff, grandson David Samuel, granddaughter Betty Jackson, and DAYS executive producer Ken Corday.

“Bill Hayes was the embodiment of the immortal words ‘the show must go on,’” Corday shared. “Bill was the ultimate pro. Any of us that worked with him knew this and knew this for 50 years. Bill was so darn lovable. That quality shined forth throughout his incomparable career on television as well as in his rich personable life.”

When it came time for her to stand at the pulpit and speak about her beloved late husband, Seaforth Hayes embodied grace during her time of grief—even beginning her eulogy by joking that the crowd was the most positive audience she will ever face. “The look of love. Bill Hayes had it and made this world shine with it, especially when he was looking at us,” Hayes’ widow began, going on to share stories about her husband’s childhood, time as a Navy pilot during World War II, his love of baseball and the piano, and career as an entertainer.

“Why did we all love him so much? Because he saw us. Bill gave everyone — a visitor at his door or a troubled grandchild — a smiling greeting that was full of optimistic expectation,” Seaforth Hayes shared. “But he saw in us something wonderful, and we became, in his company, as wonderful as we all want to be. No surprise, his favorite movie was Love Actually. He was passionately reaching out to people his whole life long, with a song, a story, and that look of love, love that transcends time and lifts us all into the light sublime where creation never ends and we all are shining, too. May his love live on to warm you in his light. And oh, how bright is Billy’s light.”

Arianne Zucker On Her Lawsuit Against Corday Prods. & Albert Alarr: “My Desire To Stand Up For Myself Got Me Pushed Out” Of ‘Days Of Our Lives’

A day after Zucker slapped Corday and former director/executive producer Albert Alarr with a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment, Zucker met with the press in West Los Angeles to explain how she believes she was retaliated against for speaking up about how she and other women were treated on set.

The actress who starred as Nicole Walker on the Peacock sudser alleges her salary was reduced and her contract ultimately not renewed because she spoke out against Alarr, who lost his job in August after Deadline revealed he’d been the subject of an investigation into allegations that included inappropriate comments and touching, including groping and forceful kissing, as well as creating a toxic environment on the show and governing by fear.

“For quite some time I’ve seen my female coworkers sexually harassed, violated and degraded as women by Albert,” Zucker said. “I myself have also been degraded, violated and degraded. In March of 2023, several female employees were fired. There was complete dissolution of the all-female PR department. Female contracts were not renewed, or they were not returning because of the way they were being treated on the show. Females were moved to recurring roles … feeling like if they do or say something, it would be swept under the rug. Or they would be fired.”

After attempting to talk to Corday and his staff about her concerns, Zucker said she approached the HR department at Sony, which distributes the show. Once an investigation was underway, Alarr remained on set and was still able to watch love scenes, albeit from the booth. Zucker added that DoOL did not employ an intimacy coordinator at the time.

After lodging her complaints, Zucker said her agents received two notices that Corday was reducing her pay before her character was ultimately written off. Her character was brought back after Alarr was dropped from the show, but Zucker alleged she was treated differently by male staffers who were close to the former director/EP.

Her contract on the show expired last month, though her character will continue to be seen on the show through the summer. Zucker did not address where negotiations are with the show; she did not take questions after the press conference.

After the lawsuit was filed Wednesday, Corday Prods. released this statement: “The allegations in Ms. Zucker’s lawsuit are without merit. Corday Productions offered to renew Ms. Zucker’s contract including offering her a pay increase. Rejecting Ms. Zucker’s counteroffer does not constitute retaliation. Complaints about Mr. Alarr’s on-set behavior were promptly investigated. Corday Productions fully cooperated with the impartial investigation and subsequently terminated Mr. Alarr.”

Added Robert M. Barta, attorney for Alarr: “As Albert said when Ms. Zucker first leveled these outrageous claims through the press last year, her baseless allegations were examined in a detailed and entirely independent investigation that lasted for two months. Dozens of individuals cooperated and every claim was thoroughly looked into. At the end of that process, the decision was made that Albert should continue in his role as Co-Executive Producer of Days of Our Lives. As Ms. Zucker’s own lawsuit all but admits, at a time of industry-wide cutbacks, she was aggressively seeking a significant personal pay increase and additional influence on the show. Having failed in those attempts, she is now – again – trying to exploit vile stereotypes to denigrate and demean a Black man who was in a position of power. Well, enough is enough. Every day for decades, Albert worked with hundreds of people who can – and will – testify about the falsity of Ms. Zucker’s mischaracterizations of him. We relish having a chance to share the truth and putting an end to her offensive claims once and for all.”

Zucker ended the press conference in tears. “So for all my coworkers, who were scared for being fired, you all were all right. After my loyalty to Ken Corday and Corday productions for 25 years and loving the show with all my heart and working to my highest ability, standing up for myself and others is clearly what got me pushed out of my longtime career. The struggle to create a safe balanced and fair environment continues on.”a.

Jordi Vilasuso’s Baby Girl Is Home From the Hospital!

“Lucy is home!” Kaitlin shared on Instagram. “Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love and every single prayer lifted up for our sweet baby. We are so happy to have her home and healthy (Lord, please help us keep her healthy) and for us to be back together under one roof. I missed that so much.”

Vilasuso has earned many fans from his various daytime roles (Rey on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, Dario on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Griffin on ALL MY CHILDREN, and Tony on GUIDING LIGHT) and they were all kept up to date on Lucy’s progress via social media posts. The parents posted positive updates like when Lucy was able to bottle feed again and as they weaned the infant off the oxygen so she could finally breathe on her own.

“Children’s Hospital L.A., we are forever grateful for how well you took care of our girl,” Kaitlin added. “More on that when I’m a little less PTSDish, but forever grateful for the intelligence and compassion of each person who cared for her — especially her ICU nurses who are angels taking care of baby angels day in and day out. I have so much more to say about that, but for now, holding each and every child and family within those walls (and each and every person taking care of them) in our hearts.

“Thank you again, friends,” she concluded. “For loving on us like you do and loving this baby girl! Praying things are boring around here for a while and I am just posting happy baby/family updates.”

Chef José Andrés Hosts Jamie Lee Curtis, Bryan Cranston & O’Shea Jackson Jr. In New Special

The Prime Video and Amazon Freevee collaboration celebrates the joy of cooking together and how food is a source of hope, inspired by Andrés’ work with the non-profit he founded in 2010, World Central Kitchen.

Andrés will host Jamie Lee Curtis, Bryan Cranston and O’Shea Jackson Jr. to join him in the kitchen, getting their hands dirty with approachable Spanish-influenced recipes while sharing stories that inspire them. Beyond cooking and conversation, the Chef will give viewers important takeaways to apply in their own homes while embracing imperfection and spontaneity in the kitchen.

Dinner Party Diaries with José Andrés is executive produced by José Andrés, Richard Wolffe, Matthew Goldberg, Ellen Rocamora, Max Wagner, Ryan Schiavo, and Michael Antinoro. The series is from Amazon MGM Studios.

Andrés is an internationally recognized humanitarian, culinary innovator, New York Times bestselling author, educator, Emmy award-winning television personality and owner of the award-winning José Andrés Group, which operates nearly 40 restaurants in the US and beyond.

In 2010, Andrés founded World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises. His work has earned awards and distinctions including the 2015 National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama, the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals and the Princess of Asturias Foundation’s 2021 Concordia Prize for his humanitarian work.

In 2023, Andrés founded the Global Food Institute at George Washington University in Washington DC, and he currently serves as the Co-Chair of President Biden’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. As a naturalized citizen originally from Spain, Andrés has been an advocate for immigration reform.

Arianne Zucker Sues 'Days of Our Lives' Producers ... Alleges Sexual Harassment

According to court documents obtained by TMZ ... Arianne is suing Corday Production Inc., its executive producer Ken Corday, and former executive producer of the show Albert Alarr claiming Albert sexually harassed her and other female employees on the show.

Zucker says she was subjected to nonconsensual sexual touching and sexually harassing comments during Alarr's employment -- claiming Alarr would frequently pull her close to his chest and make sexual moans while doing so.

At other times, Zucker says Alarr would make sexually suggestive remarks while filming, like allegedly telling her costars filming sex scenes with her that he would "love to switch positions" with them, and Arianne says he made it clear he enjoyed aggressive sex scenes.

On top of that, Zucker says his behavior was well-known to other producers ... claiming multiple women went to Corday Production Inc. over the years but the company allegedly did nothing.

Arianne says she ultimately contacted the co-producer of the show, Sony, and met with their HR department. She says she met with the department several times between March 2023 and June 2023 ... during which she claims Alarr was allowed to continue working on the show -- which Zucker says made her feel "violated and intimidated."

Alarr was later fired in August in what Zucker claims was a move to "save face" once allegations against Alarr went public.

Then in October, Arianne said her contract was running out and she attempted to negotiate with Corday Productions ... who she says gave her a "take it or leave it" offer and wouldn't negotiate in "good faith." She says her old contract expired last month, which she says essentially amounted to her being fired from her job.

She's suing for harassment, discrimination, retaliation, negligent hiring and supervision, and wrongful termination among other claims ... she's seeking unspecified damages.

Update 2:38 PM PT -- A spokesperson for Corday Productions tells TMZ ... "The allegations in Ms. Zucker's lawsuit are without merit. Corday Productions offered to renew Ms. Zucker's contract including offering her a pay increase. Rejecting Ms. Zucker's counteroffer does not constitute retaliation."

They concluded, "Complaints about Mr. Alarr's on-set behavior were promptly investigated. Corday Productions fully cooperated with the impartial investigation and subsequently terminated Mr. Alarr."

Update 4:32 PM PT -- He says they look forward to sharing the truth and "putting an end to her offensive claims once and for all."

Update: 4:32 PM PT -- Albert Alarr's attorney, Robert M. Barta tells TMZ ... “As Albert said when Ms. Zucker first leveled these outrageous claims through the press last year, her baseless allegations were examined in a detailed and entirely independent investigation that lasted for two months. Dozens of individuals cooperated and every claim was thoroughly looked into. At the end of that process, the decision was made that Albert should continue in his role as Co-Executive Producer of Days of Our Lives."

Barta adds, “As Ms. Zucker’s own lawsuit all but admits, at a time of industry-wide cutbacks, she was aggressively seeking a significant personal pay increase and additional influence on the show. Having failed in those attempts, she is now - again - trying to exploit vile stereotypes to denigrate and demean a Black man who was in a position of power."

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