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

For Andrews, it marks his first soap role, but not his first audition at the Peacock show. “I had actually auditioned for Tate (Black, Leo Howard), and I screen-tested with Ashley Puzemis (Holly Jonas),” he begins. “I ended up not getting it, and I really wanted the job. A couple months later, I auditioned again, but they didn’t really tell me who I was auditioning for. I tested with Marissa (Reyes, Arianna Horton), and then about a week later, they let me know that I got the job. I was really happy because the first time that I had auditioned, I told my agent, ‘Look out for the email, ’cause I think I might get this one.’ And then when it didn’t happen, I was disappointed, so I was really grateful that they ended up calling me back in the audition once more.”

While the role was a welcome surprise, stepping into the soap world was unfamiliar territory for the Philadelphia native. “I come from a theater background,” he explains. “And this feels like live theater because you have a rehearsal and then you go to tape, but you only get to do it once. So, I was a little overwhelmed the first day.”

Luckily, he felt supported from the start. His first scene partner, Billy Flynn (Chad DiMera; Cane Ashby, The Young and the Restless), helped him get acclimated to the place of daytime drama. “He really made me feel comfortable and gave me the breakdown of how everything films here,” Andrews relays. “We did this scene in Brady’s Pub, which was funny because I had actually screen tested in Brady’s Pub about six months prior, so it made me feel a little bit more comfortable that we were going to be doing the scene there. It was a lot more relaxed than I expected it to be. Everyone just made it a very inviting environment for me.”

That sense of welcome extended to his on-screen father, James Reynolds (Abe Carver). “I love working with Jim; he’s really become one of my best friends here,” Andrews shares. “He’s been really great because he’s so knowledgeable, and he’s been doing this for so long. If you just watch him, he teaches you a lot about finding the camera and finding the light. I love being able to go to his room and talk to him because he’s always available and he’ll tell you the old stories about back in the day and how they used to film and all those things, and I really enjoy that.”

Andrews has cherished getting to know more of the cast — including a familiar face from his childhood. “Jackée Harry (Paulina Price) is someone that I grew up watching on Sister, Sister, 227, and Everybody Hates Chris,” he says. “I was excited to meet her, but I was also a little nervous to meet her. She is just so funny, and she makes it so enjoyable to come to work. And Casey Moss, who plays JJ [Deveraux], we’ve become good friends, and we joke around a lot.”

As for his character, Theo returns to town from South Africa, hot off his breakup with Claire Brady. “He’s coming back sort of lost, but he’s trying to find himself and he’s trying to find that purpose that he needs in life,” previews Andrews. “He’s maturing, and he wants to solidify something in Salem for the future.”

Theo will also be leaning into his darker family lineage with the DiMeras. “I really love exploring the DiMera side because I get to work with actors like Thaao Penghlis [Tony DiMera], who really welcomed me, and he’s really been like an acting teacher for me, just watching him work,” Andrews shares. “It’s a different energy working with that side of the family, and it brings a different behavior out of Theo. I think the more he gets involved with the DiMera side of the family, he might adapt some of those attributes that you’re used to seeing with them.”

Before booking Days, Andrews appeared in an episode of All American: Homecoming, but his road to Salem wasn’t easy. “I didn’t struggle in Los Angeles, but boy did I struggle in Philadelphia,” he says. “I just wanted to be an actor, and I was traveling back and forth from Philadelphia to New York. So, for about a year and a half, I just lived in my car, traveling back and forth from the theater.”

Despite those early challenges, his family has remained his biggest cheerleaders, and they were thrilled when he finally booked Days. But because of the soap’s unique shooting schedule, Andrews began taping in 2024 and had a long wait for his first episode to air. “Before I became an actor, I was just all over the place, so when I told them this, they were over the moon about it,” he says. “But were like, ‘Are you sure you have a job?’ I was like, ‘Listen, you’re not gonna see me on TV for, like, maybe a year.’ My mom, my dad, my brother, my sister — they’re the real reason that I was able to be an actor for so long because they just supported me constantly, especially my dad and my mom. They’re in my corner 24/7. They want to hear everything about it, what’s going on with the show, with my character, and they have friends that they know watch the show, so they’re really excited to be able to tell them that I’m on it.”

Now, with his first episode finally set to air, Andrews is ready for his family — and fans of the soap — to see what he’s been working on. “It’s a big relief,” he says. “I know my family’s going to really enjoy watching it because I’m so far away from them. I don’t really get to see them a lot, so it gives them something to watch me on daily. I’m really excited for it to come out.”

Creative Arts Emmy Winner

Days of Our Lives Recasts Theo Carver with Soap Newcomer Tyler Joseph Andrews

Andrews’s previous credits include numerous short films and roles in the movies V/H/S/Beyond, The Christmas Chain, and A Heart Full of Hope. DAYS will mark the young actor’s daytime debut.

Abe and Lexie’s son, Theo, was born back in 2003, and after a series of child actors, the soap cast Terrell Ransom, Jr. in the role in 2008. Ransom, Jr. remained in the role until 2015. (He later popped back in June 2023 for a handful of episodes to play Jerry Prentiss, a Theo look-alike!) The character was aged into a teen in 2015, with Kyler Pettis taking over until 2018. When Theo returned to Salem in 2020, the role was recast once again, with Cameron Johnson taking over the part.

Back in 2021, Theo had hoped to rekindle his relationship with Ciara Brady, as she had lost her recent memories and only remembered him and not her current beau, Ben Weston. Unfortunately, Ben was able to remind her of their love, and a brokenhearted Theo decided to return to South Africa. Having grown close to Ben herself, Claire Brady found herself in a similar situation and, having accepted a job in South Africa, joined Theo.

However, after Claire called Belle and Theo phoned Abe back in July to let their parents know that their relationship had come to an end, it would seem that Theo is once again returning home to Salem single. What kind of drama will he get mixed up in this time around? Only time will tell!

‘Young and the Restless’ Taps ‘DAYS’ Alum Lucas Adams to Play Noah Newman

Adams is no stranger to the soap world. He made his daytime debut on Days of Our Lives in 2017 as Tripp Dalton, son of Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) and Ava Vitale (Tamara Braun). His run as Tripp — the troubled soul who found his calling as a doctor — lasted on and off until 2024, earning him two Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Younger Actor along the way.

Noah, the offspring of Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon Newman (Sharon Case), was last seen in 2023. He then relocated to London, where he found success in the nightlife scene. The character, who was born onscreen in 1997, has been played by several actors over the years, including Rory Gibson (2021 to 2023), now General Hospital‘s Michael Corinthos; Robert Adamson (2012 to 2020); and Kevin Schmidt (2008 to 2010; 2011 to 2012).

During his most recent run in Genoa City, Noah nursed feelings for Tessa Porter (Cait Fairbanks), who eventually married Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes). He also shared a complicated romantic history with Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver) before falling in love with Allie Abbott Nguyen (Kelsey Wang), Jack Abbott’s (Peter Bergman) granddaughter. Two years ago, Noah and Allie left town together to start a new life overseas.

Interestingly, this isn’t Adams’ first time in Genoa City: He appeared on the CBS soap early in his career, playing a character named Wesley in the teen scene for one episode in March 2012. Outside of soaps, he portrayed Josh Wilcox on the Disney Channel sitcom Liv and Maddie from 2015 to 2017. He has also made appearances on Dexter, True Blood, School of Rock, and The Thundermans.

On a personal note, Adams met actress Shelby Wulfert on the set of Liv and Maddie. They began dating in October 2015, then tied the knot on October 15, 2022, at the Chateau Hiddenwood estate in his native Texas.

When Adams reports to Y&R, he will find some familiar faces at the studio. Braun, his onscreen mother from Salem, has joined the cast in a new role, Sienna Bacall. Meanwhile, Billy Flynn (who is still airing as Chad DiMera on DAYS) is now portraying Y&R’s Cane Ashby.

Love-struck fan duped by AI videos of popular soap star in shocking $81K scam

Abigail Ruvalcaba sent money through prepaid cards, cash and bitcoin after being conned into believing the actor lost properties in the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year, ABC7 News reported Thursday.

Abigail even sold her LA condo for $350,000 and planned to give the funds to the con artist until her daughter, Vivian Ruvalcaba, stepped in.

“Had I not intervened when I did, she was scheduled to send the scammer $70,000 out of that money that was sitting there,” Vivian shared.

Abigail believed she was in a relationship with Burton after she started receiving AI clips of the actor’s likeness professing his love for her.

In one of the messages shared by the outlet, the deep-fake version of Burton is seen telling Abigail: “Hello, Abigail. I love you so much, darling. I had to make this video to make you happy, my love.”

Vivian told the outlet that her mother suffers from bipolar 1 disorder and was in a manic episode when she began getting messages from the scammer last October.

“Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. These include emotional highs, also known as mania or hypomania, and lows, also known as depression,” according to the Mayo Clinic. In certain cases, mania “may cause a break from reality.”

“In her head, there was no scammer. She was talking to Steve Burton the entire time,” Vivian said.

Abigail is now “in complete debt” due to the calculated scheme and is “going to have to file for bankruptcy,” according to her daughter.

“She’s ashamed and to put that stress on me, on herself, on my dad, the entire family, I know it weighs heavy on her,” Vivian continued.

Vivian teared up as she emotionally told the outlet that she was “sickened” by the ordeal.

“I’m sickened by it because why did it go this far? Why didn’t I know this? Why didn’t I see what was happening? What did I miss?” she said.

Burton — who has starred as Jason Morgan on “General Hospital” since 1991 — also talked to the outlet, confirming that he’s unfortunately seen this type of con using his likeness play out many times before.

“That I know of who have lost money, it’s in the hundreds. It’s in the hundreds,” Burton said. “I see people come to my appearances and look at me like they’ve had a relationship online for a couple years and I’m like, ‘No, I’m sorry. I don’t know who you are.’ It’s so sad, you see the devastation.”

He also cautioned his fans to be wary of similar scams, saying: “I don’t need your money. I would never ask for money.”

A similar romantic scam was reported in January after a French woman coughed up $850,000 to someone on social media posing as Brad Pitt.

The interior designer named Anne gave the fake Pitt her life’s savings after she was duped by AI images into believing Pitt was sick in the hospital and needed help paying his bills.

She realized she had been deceived by scammers after she saw reports of Pitt’s ongoing relationship with Ines de Ramon.

Soapy Episode 8 | Christian LeBlanc and Tracey Bregman Join Hosts Rebecca Budig & Greg Rikaart

‘The Young And The Restless’ Casts Tamara Braun

Deadline has confirmed that Braun, who played Ava on the Peacock sudser, will join Y&R this fall as Sienna Bacall. She’ll begin taping next week.

A source told People that Sienna has “personal connections to several characters.”

Braun last appeared on DOOL on April 3. She announced via her Instagram account that “I wish this was an April Fool’s Joke but it’s not. This is Ava’s last week on Days. Last couple of days really. Sad but true. I’ve been gone since late July of last year but you can still catch Ava on your screens until April 3rd! I miss being with my Days pals. They are a really good group of caring individuals and being with them was a joy.”

She had been in and out of Salem for years after first joining the soap in 2008. She earned her first Daytime Emmy in 2009 in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category.

Braun previously starred in other soaps like All My Children as Reese Williams and in General Hospital as Carly Corinthos and Kim Nero in separate runs.

‘Tracker’ Reveals Details for Jensen Ackles’ Return as Colter’s Brother Russell

On Monday, August 25, CBS dropped the first details from the Season 3 premiere. “The Process,” which will air on Sunday, October 19, at 8/7c, will feature Ackles’ return as Russell, Colter’s (Justin Hartley) brother. According to the logline, “As Colter grapples with the shocking truth surrounding his father’s death, Russell (Jensen Ackles) joins forces with his brother to help track down the missing wife and daughter of one of Reenie’s [Fiona Rene] clients. Their reunion finds them mixed up in a chain of events involving a sinister underground operation known as ‘The Process.'”

Tracker Season 2 ended with Colter encountering the man who pushed his father over the cliff all those years ago on the night he died — and finding out that his mom (Wendy Crewson) asked for the man’s help! Notably, when Colter and his mother reunited, he didn’t seem to let on that he and Russell had repaired their relationship, and showrunner Elwood Reid did call that important. In fact, their mom was all too happy for the brothers to be estranged at the beginning of the series, when Colter thought Russell had something to do with their father’s death.

“For a lie or a conspiracy to work, people all have to have parts of the truth and parts of the lie. And his mother in the beginning was very, very adamant about, ‘You guys not talking is probably good for me because I know Russell might know a little bit more about what your father was up to and some of the people he was involved with. I don’t want you to know that stuff, Colter,'” Reid told TV Insider after the Season 2 finale.

He continued, “So he’s been very sort of consciously keeping that from her. And that’s why it’s funny, the conversation in the finale when she’s fishing around about Dory [Melissa Roxburgh], she’s not really asking how Dory’s doing. She’s asking, ‘Did you guys talk about me? Or what did Dory tell you?’ And Dory’s even more innocent because Dory was moved away to her aunt and uncle. So I think that’s the one person she looks at that she can probably win back if we learn a pretty dark secret about her for next season. So it is just all fun family dynamics to play with and hopefully, I can get these actors back to play with them.”

Well, now that Ackles is back as Russell, we might get to see that. We’ll have to wait and see just how much they discuss their family drama while working the case.

‘Celebrity Weakest Link’: See Star-Studded Lineup, Trailer & More

Weakest Link first made its debut in 2001. Anne Robinson hosted the original version, which was canceled in 2003. The game show was revived in 2020 with Jane Lynch as the host. Weakest Link has a team of contestants who try to reach and complete a chain of correct answers from general knowledge questions within a certain time limit.

At the end of each round, one person is considered the “weakest link” by either answering questions wrong or not banking money. The contestants vote on who the weakest link is, and Lynch will tell them, “You are the weakest link. Goodbye!”

However much money is banked at the end of the round goes into the contestant’s total pot, and one person wins at the end. This time, celebrities will try to win money for charity.

Celebrity Weakest Link will begin on Monday, September 15, at 9/8c on Fox, and air every Monday after that. The regular version of the game show used to air on NBC. Name That Tune will precede the new game show. Lynch is no stranger to Fox, as she starred in Glee, which aired on the network for six seasons.

The new season will air on Fox. Old seasons of the game show currently stream on Peacock.

Yes! Watch above. In the trailer, Jane Lynch is seen calling the celebrities “terrible people who suck at this game.” She also teased that this season will be “bigger, badder, better.”

The new season will have 11 episodes with themed eight guest stars. They include:

Glee Homecoming: Max Adler, Dot Marie Jones, Heather Morris, Alex Newell, Chord Overstreet, Amber Riley, Becca Tobin, Jenna Ushkowitz

Roasters: Cedric the Entertainer, Margaret Cho, Kathy Griffin, Lil Rel Howery, Lisa Lampanelli, Natasha Leggero, Chris Redd, Iliza Schlesinger

TV Moms: Melinda Clarke, Jackée Harry, Mary-Margaret Humes, Constance Marie, Monica Potter, Caroline Rhea, Sherri Saum, Bellamy Young

8 Degrees of Jane: Joel Kim Booster, Laverne Cox, Ron Funches, Carson Kressley, Jon Lovitz, Cheri Oteri, Adam Pally, Andy Richter

High School Reunion: Tatyana Ali, Shenae Grimes, Matt Lanter, Beverly Mitchell, Scott Porter, Daphne Reid, Aimeé Teegarden, Barry Watson

Ex-Wives Club: Cynthia Bailey, Tamar Braxton, Kate Gosselin, Vicki Gunvalson, Dorinda Medley, Shanna Moakler, Kendra Wilkinson, Jill Zarin

Reality Couples: Kelsey Anderson, Melissa Gorga, Joe Gorga, Joe Graziadei, Lauren Speed-Hamilton, Cameron Hamilton, Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt

Special Forces: Tyler Cameron, Gus Kenworthy, Kenya Moore, Jack Osbourne, Kyla Pratt, Jovon Quarles, Rudy Reyes, Christy Carlson Romano

TV Doctors: Torrey Devitto, Dr. Dubrow, Ryan Eggold, Jason George, Hill Harper, Dr. Will Kirby, Dr. Sandra Lee (Dr. Pimple Popper), Kal Penn

Holiday Heroes: Jonathan Bennett, Rachel Leigh Cook, Taye Diggs, Vivica A. Fox, Melissa Joan Hart, Eric Lloyd, Luke Macfarlane, Reginald VelJohnson

Football Legends: Emmanuel Acho, Vernon Davis, Keyshawn Johnson, James Jones, Cam Jordan, LeSean McCoy, Sony Michel, Andrew Whitworth

‘Celebrity Name That Tune’ Season 5: ‘Real Housewives’ Stars & ‘Modern Family’ Alums Confirmed For Fox Competition

The competition show premieres on Monday, September 15, at 8 p.m. ET and is available to stream the next day on Hulu.

The hour-long game show tests contestants’ music knowledge as they battle it out in an assortment of challenging musical games for a chance to win over $100,000.

Jane Krakowski hosts the game show with American Idol alum Randy Jackson serving as band leader. Each episode of Celebrity Name That Tune is comprised of two stand-alone half-hour contests, each pitting two players—either celebrity or civilian pairings—against each other as they test their knowledge of songs, performed by the live band.

Each contest features a rotating variety of games from the original format, before the iconic Bid-a-Note round. The player with the most money at the end of Bid-a-Note wins the game and takes his or her bank into the Golden Medley bonus round, for a chance to win additional cash and potentially the life-changing $100,000 grand prize.

The celebrity contestants compete for their chosen charities in each episode. Stars of Season 5 include Modern Family alums Jesse Tyler Ferguson (“Pronoun” Nick Leung) and Ariel Winter (SOSA).

Former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna (St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital) and Comedian Matteo Lane (Doctors Without Borders) will be featured in the same episode.

Other celebrities that will take part in Celebrity Name That Tune Season 5 include Actress Aisha Tyler (Planned Parenthood), Actress Mira Sorvino (UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons), Lil Jon (Pencils for Promise), Chord Overstreet (A Sense of Home), Omar Epps (The Creative Coalition), Kal Penn (World Central Kitchen), Adrienne Bailon-Houghton (Birthfund), Chris Harrison (Experience Camps), Emily Osment (Project Angel Food), Nia Vardalos (Hope 4 Kids), Jillian Michaels (ASPCA), Ron Funches (Next For Autism).

Former Real Housewives of New York City alum Sonja Morgan (The Trevor Project) and Project Runway mentor Christian Siriano (GLAAD) will also be part of the new season.

Other stars in the game show include Debi Mazar (World Central Kitchen), Reggie Watts (Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund), Rob Riggle (Riggle Foundation), Finesse Mitchell (Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation), Torrey Devitto (SafeBae) and Craig Robinson (Saint Leonard’s Ministries).

Celebrity Name That Tune is produced by Fox Entertainment Studios, Prestige Entertainment and BiggerStage. On behalf of BiggerStage, Sean O’Riordan and Shane Byrne serve as executive producers. Noah Rubenstein and Tom Ruff also serve as executive producers.

‘The Boys’ Prequel Series ‘Vought Rising’ Super Suits Photos: Jensen Ackles As Soldier Boy, Mason Dye As Bombsight & More

The series stars Jensen Ackles (Soldier Boy), Mason Dye (Bombsight), Will Hochman (Torpedo), and Elizabeth Posey (Private Angel).

Vought Rising also stars Aya Cash (Stormfront), KiKi Layne, Jorden Myrie, Nicolò Pasetti, Ricky Staffieri, and Brian J. Smith.

Vought Rising is “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,” Kripke and Grellong said when the series was ordered last summer.

The Boys executive producer Paul Grellong is set as executive producer and showrunner of the hourlong drama offshoot from franchise developer Eric Kripke.

Kripke, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Ori Marmur, Pavun Shetty, Ken Levin, Jason Netter, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, Michaela Starr, and Jim Barnes also executive produce. Cash and Ackles serve as producers. Vought Rising is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with Kripke Enterprises, Point Grey Picture,s and Original Film.

Danielle Spencer Dies: ‘What’s Happening!!’ Actor Was 60

“Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior, without fail, has finally found her release from the clutches of this world and a body, Nelson wrote. “We celebrate Danielle Spencer and her contributions as we regret to inform her departure and transition from a long battle with cancer.”

“We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, “What’s Happening” cast member, veterinarian animal rights proponent and healer, and cancer heroine,” Nelson continued. “Our Shero. Danielle is loved. She will be missed in this form and forever embraced.”

Spencer was born on June 24, 1965, in Trenton, NJ, to writer Cheryl Pelt. She began her acting career at age 8, and in 1976 was cast as Dee Thomas on ABC’s What’s Happening!!, which was loosely based on the film Cooley High. She appeared on all three seasons of the show, which ran from 1976 to 1979, and later reprised her role in the series’ sequel, What’s Happening Now!!

Tragedy struck during production on the second season of What’s Happening!! in 1977 when she and her stepfather Tim Pelt were involved in a serious car accident that left Pelt dead and Spencer in a coma for three weeks. She spent six months recovering with physical therapy.

After What’s Happening!! was canceled in 1979, Spencer segued away from acting and attended UC Davis to earn a degree in veterinary science. She later went on to Tuskegee University Veterinary School in Tuskegee, Alabama and became a veterinarian in 1996.

She occasionally made acting appearances after she began work as a veterinarian. She actually portrayed a veterinarian in James L. Brooks film As Good as It Gets and appeared in Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix in 2001. Additional credits include Days Of Our Lives and The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.

Alison Sweeney Previews Major LEGO Masters Jr. Drama

On Monday, Aug. 18 at 8/7c, Sweeney and fellow celebs Ravi V. Patel, Andy Richter, Jordin Sparks and Porsha Williams will lend young builders a hand in Fox‘s LEGO Masters Jr., hosted by Kelly Osbourne.

The four-week LEGO Masters offshoot teams LEGO enthusiasts age 9-17 with a celebrity partner to pull off amazing, themed builds judged by Brickmasters Amy Corbett and (Season 1 finalist) Boone Langston.

TVLine hopped on a Zoom with Sweeney to discuss how LEGO Masters Jr. builds major drama, her most recent Days of Our Lives encore, and what’s ahead for the busy-busy actress at Hallmark Channel.

TVLINE | How far back does your personal history with LEGO-brand building bricks date?

It goes way, way back, actually. It’s OG, in that my brother had a huge LEGO collection, and then I got really into it with him. When we were little, I definitely was building stuff, but back then it was very, like, “free for all.” And then with my son, we were more buying the kits where you would follow instructions and actually, like, make a Star Wars ship or whatever. But either way, no matter what I thought I was capable of, I was so outmanned at this competition. I had no idea what I was getting into. [Laughs]

TVLINE | When you and I were young, they gave you a box of LEGO bricks and you just made something. For me, everything turned out to be a car, because I’d slap wheels on it at the end.

For me everything was a building. I was like, “OK, I get the concept of a building, and it will stand.” That was, like, literally my skill set.

Yeah, yeah, my son was really into it. And by the way, I’m a little Type-A, so I was really excited that we’d follow the instructions and it turned out exactly like the picture. And then I would come back hours later and Ben had knocked it all down and made his own invention that was totally cool. I was like, “Oh no, we worked so hard!” But of course, his designs were better.

Ajay and Zak are so cute. They’re brothers. They’re adorable, and they are really good, really good creators. And they each had their own skill set. Again, I am so out of my league because they understood different pieces and different elements. Like, one of them was good at explosions, and one of them was good at making the pieces move, and I’m like, “I didn’t know that they could do any of that. What are you talking about?” [Laughs] They were good at coming up with great ideas and then they’d be like, “OK, you’ll do this part, and I’ll do that part…,” and I was sort of just the runner bringing them pieces.

TVLINE | I was going to ask, is the celebrity guest stuck doing a lot of the grunt work? “Alison, we need 200 green 2x8s made into a wall, pronto!”

Yes, that was exactly my job. And there’s definitely a learning curve because I started out, “What do you mean a 2×8?” And then I was like, “Oh, OK. I understand what 2×8 is, but with the slant on it or not? The corner piece or the whatever?” There are a lot more options for LEGO bricks than when I was a kid.

TVLINE | I interviewed Brickmaster Amy once and learned some of the lingo. Like, did you learn what SNOT means?

Oh yeah, yes. It has been a little while since we filmed, so I have now also forgotten the terminology that I did learn, but it was really cool to meet Amy and [fellow judge] Boone [Langston].

TVLINE | Did you go into this experience with a sensible manicure, knowing what you were in for?

Actually, I did have my nails because you can pick [the bricks] apart. It does serve a purpose and I actually was useful because I could get in there with my fingernail and break ’em up.

TVLINE | There are five LEGO Masters Jr. teams. As things get underway, is there a sufficient amount of soapy drama going on?

Well, with the kids it’s a different kind of drama, right? First of all, they’ve all worked really hard to get there. They’ve done competitions, they knew what they were getting into. But it’s so much bigger than what they had expected, I think, and they all wanted it so bad that the stakes are so high for these kids. So the emotion just comes from how much they want it. Also, they probably — I didn’t, like, sit down and ask them these questions — came into it knowing they’re pretty good, and then they look around and saw that the other teams were really good, too. I think that was a bit of an awakening for them to recognize that they need to deliver their best stuff every time because everyone else was really solid.

So, there was definitely drama, and then the time crunch always gets you, right? And there were some conflicting concepts of what they want. And because Ajay and Zak are brothers, there’s a sibling familiarity they have where it sounded like they were having a real fight, and then it’s over, and I’m like, “Wait, are we not fighting anymore…? It’s over? Oh, OK! I’ll catch up with you.” [Laughs]

TVLINE | Has there ever been a Hallmark Christmas movie set around a LEGO building competition?

TVLINE | I’m thinking: high-powered executive returns to her hometown for, you know, a LEGO competition — everyone has to recreate the beloved town library that’s in jeopardy of being torn down — and she reunites with an old flame….

TVLINE | The title is right there, and I’ll take a producer credit for this: They Clicked at Christmas.

TVLINE | What is next for you over at Hallmark? What are we up to, the 13th or 14th Hannah Swensen movie?

Has it been 13? Oh my gosh, yes. I stopped counting. But, yeah, we’ve done a bunch, and we’re working on some stuff for 2026 which I’m really excited about. I have a lot of fun playing that character, and she’s got more crimes to solve. It’s amazing how many people get murdered in that town!

TVLINE | I haven’t seen it, but I heard you did some really great work on Days of Our Lives when Sami came back to mourn John (the late Drake Hogestyn).

Yeah, yeah, it was actually on [Aug. 4], and I have a few more episodes in this return, and another return coming up in a couple of months. It’s always fun to go back to that show. I love playing Sami. I love my family there — the cast and crew — so it is like going home.

TVLINE | Isn’t Sami’s son Johnny on trial for shooting EJ? It seems like she would or should stick around for the outcome of that.

I said I would just cause problems if I got involved in that. I would make it worse. And everyone agreed. [Laughs] I would just stir up more trouble!

Oh my gosh….. I have a new project I’m working on — I don’t know if we’ve announced it yet — but there are some fun development ideas I’ve taken to Hallmark recently that are different stories, other characters I wanted to play this year. I got to go to Spain and do two movies there where Ashley Williams and I got to work together as co-leads. That was so fun and fresh to do something like that and kind of break the pattern and do something different. And to shoot in in Barcelona was spectacular. I’m still working on challenging myself in that way and finding other ways to tell stories.

Susan Flannery Is Moving To Australia!

The news came first via Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke, B&B), Flannery’s longtime co-star, who shared in an Instagram story posted last month she and castmate Ashley Jones (Bridget) had attended a good-bye party for Flannery in celebration of her upcoming move to Australia.

Then, on August 6, Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie, DAYS), who worked with Flannery during her years in Salem, posted a photo of herself with Flannery and fellow DAYS cohort Suzanne Rogers (Maggie) on Instagram, writing, “3 Susies have breakfast at Art’s Deli. The occasion: Susan Flannery, one of the great ladies of daytime or anywhere she turns up- is moving to Australia. Flannery was a beloved mentor and pal to Suzanne and me in our early Salem Days together.” She added, “Laughs, love, tears, hugs… just like Salem. We will miss her.”

Flannery is one of the most acclaimed actresses in soap history. Over the course of her daytime career, she earned 10 nominations in the Outstanding Lead Actress category at the Daytime Emmys, winning on her first try, in 1975, for her work on DAYS. Three more trophies followed for her portrayal of B&B’s Stephanie — in 2000, 2002, and 2003 — and she became the first actress ever to win the Lead Actress award for two different roles on two different soaps. Since that time, two other actresses have accomplished that feat: Maura West, who won as Carly Tenney on As the World Turns and Ava Jerome on General Hospital, and Eileen Davidson, who was honored as DAYS’s Kristen DiMera, then as Ashley Abbott on Young and Restless.

After 25 years on B&B, where she was an original cast member, Flannery opted to retire from the show — and from acting — in 2012. Speaking to Soap Opera Digest in 2017, one of Flannery’s most memorable on-screen foes, Kimberlin Brown (Sheila), noted, “Susan was an incredible force on the show, but I understand that people want to move on, and the fact that she’s happy now and doing everything that she wants to be doing, I couldn’t be happier for her.”

Notoriously private, Flannery revealed in 2002 that she was the mother to an adopted daughter, Blaise, who ended up moving to Australia and still resides there with her own children. With Flannery now planning to call Australia home, there’s likely to be lots of quality family time in her future!

The actress has been close with Seaforth Hayes and Rogers for years, and they have spoken glowingly of working alongside Flannery in the early days of their DAYS careers. In fact, Rogers credits Flannery with getting her hired by the show in the first place! In 2015, she shared with Digest that when she first tested for the role of Maggie, “Susan Flannery was a big influence. She was walking through the booth at the time the two of us were testing and she said some very nice things about me, so I understand, and that’s how I got the part.” And as she found her footing in Salem, Rogers recalled to Digest in 2013 that Flannery “was very encouraging. I’ve always had a warm place in my heart for Susan.”

Seaforth Hayes has described Flannery as central to the strong sense of camaraderie she felt in the cast at the outset of her own time on DAYS. She told Digest in 2018, “When [Seaforth Hayes’s latest husband] Bill Hayes joined the show [as Doug] and was looking for a house, I remember Susan Flannery laying out a map of the areas she thought he ought to be shopping for a house in. We were all kind of wrapped up in each other’s lives in those days. For the first time, I was joining a company that was going to stay together for years. The dynamic was very affectionate.”

Not only that, but Seaforth Hayes revealed that Flannery was among the first to realize that she and her leading man, Bill Hayes, were falling in love. She winked to Digest in 2018. “Susan Flannery and Denise Alexander [ex-Susan] certainly caught on immediately. Immediately! You can’t get anything past Susan Flannery, for sure.”

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Actor Cary Christopher Joins ‘Lanterns’ DC Series At HBO

The series, from Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King, follows new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and Lantern legend Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.

Christopher is set to play Young Noah, a polite and charming small-town kid. Quite gifted for his age and effortlessly good at whatever he tries, he’s happiest when passing a football.

He joins the previously announced cast: Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Kelly MacDonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Ulrich Thomsen, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Sherman Augustus, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Jason Ritter, Nathan Fillion, Chris Coy, and Paul Ben-Victor.

HBO produces the eight-episode series Lanterns in association with Warner Bros Television and DC Studios. Mundy, who serves as showrunner, Lindelof, and King co-wrote and executive produced. James Hawes directed the first two episodes and executive produced, with Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel, and Alik Sakharov also tapped to direct.

Christopher made his acting debut at three years old in the Vudu/MGM streaming series Mr. Mom. Soon after, he landed the role of Thomas DiMera on NBC/Peacock’s Days of Our Lives. For his performance, he received a 2023 Daytime Emmy nomination at seven years old. Christopher will make his feature film debut in August in Warner Bros’ Weapons, the mystery-horror film from director Zach Cregger.

Looking ahead, he will appear as a series regular in Amazon MGM’s faith-based drama series It’s Not Like That and in a recurring guest role in Spider-Noir, the upcoming MGM+ and Prime Video series led by Nicolas Cage. His additional television credits include appearances on Fuller House, American Horror Stories, Station 19, NCIS, The Rookie, 9-1-1, and High Potential. Christopher is represented by Zuri Agency, Evolve Talent Management, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes.

Al Calderon Addresses Leaving ‘Days Of Our Lives’: “It’s Not Goodbye, Just See You Later”

In a post on social media, Calderon acknowledged his departure and shared some touching words.

“My time on Days of Our Lives has been truly life-changing,” Calderon wrote. “I’m endlessly grateful to the cast, crew, and creatives who made me feel seen, valued, and part of a legacy of family.”

He continued, “I’ll carry the love, lessons, and memories with me on every journey I go on. While I’m just a small grain of sand, I’m just happy I got to pass through the hourglass.”

Calderon ended his note adding, “As my mom used to tell me — it’s not goodbye, just see you later. I love you forever.”

On July 30, Deadline exclusively reported that Calderon would be leaving Days of Our Lives after booking a role in NBC’s Brilliant Minds Season 2. Calderon joined Days last February playing Javi Hernandez, a passionate and professional man who is larger than life at times, and sensitive at others. He’s the man you’d want to date or befriend, but not one you should aim to have as an enemy.

The role of Javi will be recast, and Calderon will continue to appear as the character until May of next year.

With filming done for Days of Our Lives, Calderon will now focus on his role at Brilliant Minds, where he will play Nurse Scotty Silva.

Billy Flynn Explains Move From 'Days of Our Lives' to 'The Young & the Restless'

Hunter Tylo Unfiltered

Alison Sweeney Says Sami Returns to ‘DAYS’ With ‘Unresolved Feelings’ About Losing John Black

For Sweeney, who was unable to make it back to set to film John’s memorial last fall, having the chance to honor the character and his portrayer on air is especially meaningful. “I was so devastated that my schedule didn’t allow me to film the funeral scenes for John Black with the rest of the cast,” she says. “But I had a great talk with [then-co-executive producer] Janet Spellman-Drucker, and she said she and the writers would figure something out for me to return as soon as I was able, which meant so much to me. I really wanted Sami to be a part of the story of saying goodbye to John, as well as being there to mourn with Marlena. As difficult as the subject matter was, I’m really glad they were able to make this happen.”

The scenes with Marlena will be carry a lot of history and heart, Sweeney previews. “It is one of those mom/daughter moments where you really don’t have to say anything,” she notes. “It is just an extremely emotional moment as the hug and cry, and it is really heartbreaking.”

John’s death strikes Sami deeply — not just because he’s gone, but because of the history between them. “It’s hard to separate how I felt personally about losing Drake, with how Sami felt about John,” Sweeney explains. “I think we all were a wreck about Drake, and it made my feelings very close to the surface to be back on set, ‘in Salem’. But in the arc of the Sami/John relationship, it seems to me that Sami has a lot of unresolved feelings about how she treated John.

“Things she can never make right now,” Sweeney continues. “Especially after the last time Sami was in town and had that talk with [her son] Johnny [DiMera, Carson Boatman], she mentioned that she was going to therapy and that kind of self-reflection would really make her aware of how poisonous she was to John. Even though the writers reminded me that there had been this mea culpa moment where Sami apologized, I still think Sami wouldn’t forgive herself that easily, now that he’s gone and they don’t have years to unwind all that bad blood.”

For Sweeney, portraying those highs and lows was a gift — one she doesn’t take for granted. “Over the years, I have really come to appreciate how lucky I was to have such a meaty, complicated storyline with Drake and Deidre and Wayne [Northrop, Roman Brady] at the beginning of my career at Days,” she reflects. “For so many reasons. I learned a lot working with them every day. And also, that storyline, the depth of betrayal and anger felt by Sami towards her mother and John, served to motivate and fill years of storylines afterwards. Everything Sami did was colored by that experience. And when she decided to forgive Marlena, she wavered between yearning to forgive and move on with John and quickly blaming him and turning on him the second things went wrong. He was totally her scapegoat for anything and everything.”

The real-life closeness between Sweeney and Hogestyn brought an added depth to their scenes. “I absolutely loved working with Drake,” she recalls. “Every time I got to have a scene with him, even when Sami was terrible to him, I was thrilled to get to see Drake, share the stage with him, joke with him, hear his stories and laugh with him. He really was like a dad to me, and I admired him so much. He was such a great role model on set, always a positive attitude, a professional work ethic, and he never missed a chance to be kind and caring to everyone we worked with.”

One memory of Hogestyn stands out to Sweeney when she looks back on the years they spent working together. “During so many big party scenes that were a main part of the show in the ’90s, ‘2000s, there would be downtime between scenes where he would always have a group of cast and crew gathered around him sharing a hilarious joke or a heartwarming family story,” she recalls. “I don’t know why this one memory sticks out, but I am a bit klutzy in general, and certainly have that reputation on set, and one time I shattered a glass in a scene — before it was supposed to shatter — and Drake immediately stopped to help me clean it up because he didn’t want me to cut myself. I can just imagine his daughters know exactly what I mean — he took over, made sure I was safe, and helped fix everything so that I didn’t have too much time to be embarrassed for my mistake.”

Sweeney, who left the show in 2014 after a 21-year run, appreciates that the soap finds ways to include Sami in its storytelling today. “Every time I get to go back to Salem to be a part of the family there, I am grateful,” she says. “I love Sami, I love Salem, I love everyone there. It is a second home to me. I can’t imagine not having it in my life.”

As the show, which just got a two-year pickup to remain on the air until 2028, is poised to turn 60 in November, Sweeney marvels, “What a milestone! I am so proud and honored to be a part of a show that has stood the test of time like Days has, been such an important part of the culture for 60 years!”

Look for her to be back on-camera this fall to mark the occasion. “I was thrilled to be included in the 60th celebrations, and I love that Sami is the kind of character that even with some personal growth, she can still be relied on to come into town and stir things up a bit,” Sweeney teases. “I mean — who are we kidding? She’s still a hurricane.”

What’s Next for Soap Couples on ‘GH,’ ‘DAYS,’ ‘B&B,’ ‘Y&R’ and ‘Beyond the Gates’ in August

From hookups to life-changing news to tough choices, the love lives of your favorite soap couples are facing major developments this month. Scroll down to find out what’s coming up in August on every show.

Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings) shares news with Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) that?affects their?future.

Kat Richardson (Colby Muhammad) and Tomas Navarro’s (Alex Alegria) relationship heats up?during salsa night.

Naomi Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) leans on her husband, Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges).

Amid the breathtaking backdrops of Naples and Capri, tensions brew between Nick Marone (Jack Wagner), Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye).

Will Daphne Rose’s (Murielle Hilaire) return impact Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Hope Logan’s (Annika Noelle) romantic reunion?

When Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) and Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) are caught in an elevator together, things heat up.

Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) and Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) decide to have dinner and get an eyeful of Xander Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) and Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) kissing. Sarah pulls a shocked Brady into a kiss.

Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) and Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper) have an unexpected close moment.

Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Justine Turner (Nazneen Contractor) connect.

Emma Drake (Braedyn Bruner) opens up to Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) about her feelings for Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza).

Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring) and Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) admit to a mutual?romantic interest.

Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) mourns the loss of Damian Kane (Jermaine Rivers) while still being pursued by Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn).

Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters) pulls out all the stops to romance Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) and make up for their ruined honeymoon.

Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) and Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) navigate mixing business with pleasure when she takes a more active role at Abbott Communications.

Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) and Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver) continue to play a dangerous game, leading both Claire Newman (Hayley Erin) and Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) to make some tough choices.

Al Calderon Exits ‘Days Of Our Lives’; Javi Hernandez Role To Be Recast

“We do not comment on the contract status of our actors, but fans should not worry, Javi is alive and well in Salem,” representatives for Days of Our Lives shared in a statement.

Calderon joined the long-running NBC/Peacock sudser last February as Javi, a passionate and professional man who is larger than life at times, then sensitive at others. He’s the man you’d want to date or befriend, but not one you should aim to have as an enemy.

The bilingual actor, singer and dancer is pivoting to prime time TV in a major way. Working closely with Zachary Quinto, Calderon’s character Nurse Scotty Silva, runs the hospital and looks good doing it. With charisma to spare, he’s widely regarded as the Mayor of Bronx General. His warm, funny and outgoing charm may or may not be the reason why he knows everything about everyone at work.

Inspired by the life and work of author and physician Oliver Sacks, Brilliant Minds follows Dr. Oliver Wolf (Zachary Quinto), a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist, and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier – the human mind – while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.

In addition to Quinto, Brilliant Minds also stars Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Teddy Sears and Donna Murphy. Bellamy Young recently joined as a recurring guest star. Production on Season 2 of the medical drama is currently underway in Toronto.

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Issues Rare Statement About One Of Its Actors NOT Leaving: “Suzanne Rogers Is Integral To Show’s History”

On Tuesday, DOOL announced that Suzanne Rogers, who has played Maggie Horton Kiriakis on the sudser since 1973, continues to remain a valued ensemble member of the long-running sudser.

“Maggie and Suzanne are integral to the show’s history, present storylines, and now, on the heels of our pick-up, the future!” according to a DOOL statement, first provided to Soap Opera Digest. “Neither are going anywhere.”

DOOL‘s decision to issue a statement came after fans began questioning whether the Emmy-winning actress is looking to retire from the soap world. There was even a story on Facebook that claimed Rogers announced her departure.

Peacock just renewed the sudser for the 62nd and 63rd seasons. Rogers’ character is expected to play a key role in upcoming storylines, including one that involves Sarah and her marriage to Xander, says Soap Opera Digest.

Currently in its 61st season, DOOL was recently nominated for 13 Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Daytime Drama Series. That’s the highest number of nominations the series has received since it moved to Peacock.

‘Brilliant Minds’ Season 2: ‘Days of Our Lives’ Star Al Calderon Joins as Series Regular

The drama is inspired by the extraordinary life and work of world-famous author and physician Oliver Sacks and follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist (Quinto’s Dr. Oliver Wolf) and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier – the human mind – while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.

Read on for everything we know about Season 2, including what it will entail, who will return, and more.

Yes! NBC renewed the series on Monday, May 12. The last two episodes of Season 1 aired back-to-back on January 6, 2025.

At the time, showrunner Michael Grassi told TV Insider about a potential second season, “All I can say is that we love the show so much, and we’re so happy that you’re enjoying it. And fingers are firmly, firmly crossed that we get to keep telling these stories and get to keep making the show.”

The series is on NBC’s fall 2025 schedule. It will continue to air Mondays at 10/9c. An exact premiere date beyond September or October will be announced at a later time.

In addition to Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf, Brilliant Minds stars Tamberla Perry as Dr. Carol Pierce, Ashleigh LaThrop as Ericka Kinney, Alex MacNicoll as Dr. Van Markus, Aury Krebs as Dr. Dana Dang, Spence Moore II as Dr. Jacob Nash, Teddy Sears as Dr. Josh Nichols, and Donna Murphy as Dr. Muriel Landon. The last two episodes of Season 1 introduced Mandy Patinkin as Oliver’s thought-to-be-dead father, Dr. Noah Wolf. Patinkin will return, though there is a question of in what capacity.

Brian Altemus and John Clarence Stewart have joined as series regulars, Deadline reported on July 7.

Altemus’ Dr. Charlier Porter is “the new neurology resident who is guarded, competitive and hiding something from his fellow doctors. Charlie believes in winning and sees medicine not as a calling, but a sport.”

Stewart will star as Dr. Anthony Thorne, described as “a mid-career ER doctor who’s grown a little too comfortable with the maxim that emergency medicine is blue-collar work. Dr. Thorne is charmingly acerbic, allergic to anything or anyone too earnest, and believes helping a little for all is better than doing the most for a few, putting him in direct conflict with Dr. Wolf.”

On July 29, it was announced that Days of our Lives star Al Calderon will also join the cast for Season 2 as a series regular. Calderon will play Nurse Scotty Silva, a charismatic caregiver who has the inside scoop on everyone on staff. Deadline broke the story on July 29.

Calderon played the role of Javi Hernández on DoOL, the cousin of Rafe (Galen Gering) and Gabi (Cherie Jimenez), whose character carries emotional scars from the discrimination he faced as an openly gay man.

Due to his face blindness, Oliver had no idea that he’d crossed paths with his father at the scene of a building collapse in Episode 12. It was at the end of the episode that we learned who he really was, when Muriel found he’d broken into her house and was waiting for her. In the finale, they then had to tell Oliver the truth, that because Noah felt he was a danger to his son (he’s bipolar), after leaving him on a camping trip, he thought it would be best if he was “dead.” At the end of the finale, Oliver met up with Noah, who revealed he was sick and needed Oliver’s help because no one could figure out why.

Meanwhile, Oliver and Josh’s relationship seemed to be going well. Josh told Oliver he’s falling for him and invited him to a gala at which he was being honored, only for the shocking revelation about his father to throw Oliver for a loop. He snapped at Josh and skipped out on the gala to meet up with his dad. Plus, Ericka, after surviving the building collapse (but one of the other occupants in the elevator she was trapped in falling to her death), was sneaking her friend and new roommate Dana’s anxiety meds. Furthermore, Carol learned that a complaint had been filed against her, for breaching an ethical code about a conflict of interest in continuing to treat a patient (the woman with whom her husband had an affair). Muriel told her she had to place her on administrative leave as a result.

When it comes to his father’s health, “Oliver is about to take on his greatest medical mystery yet and potentially his most challenging patient yet. So I feel like him and his father have a lot to work out, and at the same time he is going to help him deal with something that nobody else has been able to help him deal with,” said Grassi. “There’s a lot going through Wolf’s mind right now. It’s like, my dad’s saying that, is it a way for him to get back into my life? Does he really need me? Is he here because he wants to restart a relationship? Is he just here because he needs help getting better? I think it’ll bring up a lot that we need to work through and unpack in a Season 2.”

Looking ahead to a future for Oliver and Josh and the latter not responding in kind about his feelings, Grassi explained, “Wolf has strong feelings for Josh, but like everything he does, he’s not going to always show it in a conventional manner. I think not saying it back in that moment is not necessarily an indication that he doesn’t feel the same way. … I think that when Wolf does communicate his feelings, it’s going to be in his unique way.”

He acknowledged that there’s “a lot to unpack and work out” for the couple. “I think also by Wolf not showing up that event, it goes back to one of their earlier fights that they had, which is, I don’t think you see me as your equal. I think it brought up some of those feelings for Josh a little bit as well,” Grassi said. “This was really important to him. And it’s like, why isn’t Wolf just talking to him? Why are you pushing me away? What else is going on? So obviously they have a lot to work through, but that’s going to come with some complications and some surprises for sure.”

Carol is going to have a fight ahead of her, Grassi warned: “She’s going to fight like hell. And I also think she wants to know how this got out. Was it Morris [Rainbow Sun Francks], was it Alison [Julia Chan]? Was it one of the interns? Who did this? And how did it get out there? So I think there’s a bit of a mystery going into our next season, and how she’s going to sort of fight for her job and her livelihood now that she’s a single mom in a way is going to be really interesting to see how she navigates this very tricky situation.”

In general, Season 2 will feature “more medical mystery, more drama, and I think more of what we saw this season, which was big events and continuing to explore all of our characters and continuing to explore the human mind, which is the final frontier of medicine,” teased Grassi. “It’s still a mystery and there’s still so much more for us to unpack and to learn.”

Conner Floyd Talks Chance’s ‘Y&R’ Ending and Becoming ‘DAYS’ New Chad DiMera

“As sad as it is, I think that’s how Chance would want to go out,” says Floyd of his character’s death by gunshot, trying to save Cane [Ashby, Billy Flynn] and Lily [Winters, Christel Khalil]. “That’s his story that he’s always been telling — that he’s a hero — and the ultimate person to put everybody else above himself, so I think it’s a little poetic in a way. And then the way I died in Billy Flynn’s [Cane Ashby] arms is also very poetic.”

That’s because Floyd already has a new job at Days of Our Lives playing Chad DiMera, the part Flynn vacated in April. “I think Josh [Griffith, head writer and executive producer of Y&R] did that on purpose,” winks Floyd of the two sharing his final scenes.

The actor has nothing but positive things to say about his first soap home. “Oh, it was just perfect,” he praises. “It’s such a special place. Since day one, I felt welcomed, and I have zero complaints. I feel very honored to be a part of that show and to make my little mark on history there.”

That sense of gratitude extends to both the personal and professional moments Floyd experienced during this time on Y&R. “Off-screen, I think it’s just the connections and the friendships that I made there,” he reflects. “So many of the actors, so many of the crew, so many of the creatives, everyone that works up in the offices, I’ve built this relationship with, and it’s sad to say goodbye.

“On-screen, to turn on the TV and see me in a scene with Eric Braeden [Victor Newman] or Peter Bergman [Jack Abbott] or Melody Thomas Scott [Nikki Newman], it’s super cool,” he continues. “I know my grandmothers are rolling over in their graves right now. I wish they could have been here to get a little piece of that, but it’s really cool just to be a part of the soap world. It’s a unique place for an artist, and I feel like I came out of this a little better of an actor than when I started.”

Finding out about Chance’s fate was “bittersweet,” reports Floyd. “I had another job on the horizon, and so it’s like, ‘Oh, OK, I’m not going to be unemployed,’ but it is sad to say goodbye to Chance and to everyone over there at Y&R, so it’s a little bit of mixed emotions. I feel happy, I feel sad, it kind of depends on the day.”

Nevertheless, he enjoyed playing out Chance’s grisly exit. “It was a lot of fun,” Floyd enthuses. “The sets they built for this whole French storyline are amazing; I felt like I was there. The wardrobe was really fun — they really spiced it up since everybody was on vacation. We had all these actors in the storyline that I hadn’t seen in a while, like Bryton [James, Devon Winters] and Melissa [Ordway, Abby Newman Winters], and to do scenes with them and kind of do a callback on that whole history was fun. It was a good time.”

Walking out of the studio for the last time, however, proved more emotional than Floyd anticipated. “Oh man, I’m so soft-hearted and I’m such a crier,” he relays. “I was going into this thing being like, ‘I’m not gonna cry. I’m not gonna cry.’ And I remember talking to Billy Flynn, and he was like, ‘No, I bet you cry. I cried when I left [Days].’ I was like, ‘Yeah, we’ll see, man.’ We had this last scene, and everyone was clapping, and I was saying goodbye to everyone and walking out, and I cried like a baby. I’m not going to lie. There were a couple of us that got together and hung out afterwards, and I was still fighting tears there. But there are good things on the horizon, so I was OK.”

Floyd has already started working at Days as Chad and is embracing the challenge of his new role. “It’s just a really good opportunity,” he enthuses. “The DiMera family is really cool, and the more I dig into it, this character has a lot to unpack. I like working, so I was really, really excited to dive deep into Chad and explore this world that he’s in. Days of our Lives is an iconic show, and a lot of really talented people have walked those stages, Billy Flynn included, so it’s going to be fun to try to fill those shoes.”

The gig came his way after a chance meeting with Days’ casting director, Marnie Saitta. “This is actually a pretty crazy story,” Floyd begins. “I was flying to Boston for Christmas with my fiancée to visit her family, and I was going to propose to her that weekend right before Christmas. The flight was delayed, then we get on the plane, and it’s delayed on the tarmac, delayed in the air, and delayed when we landed in Boston. I mean, this thing turned into, like, a 12-hour trip. We’re sitting next to these people the whole time and after about five hours, we made conversation, and it was Marnie and her family. So, we were chatting and CBS got brought up somehow. She was like, ‘What do you do at CBS?’ I said, ‘I’m on Young and the Restless.’ After 12 hours of talking, she said, ‘I’m gonna call you.’ And that’s kind of how this came into play.”

Working with Flynn for Floyd’s last month on Y&R proved to be a fruitful experience. “First of all, Billy’s the freaking man,” he raves. “I was kind of bummed, like, ‘I wish you were here for the other four years I was here; we could have had a good time.’ But it was really cool just getting to talk to him and pick his brain about how things work over there, about the character and the sets and the family and the schedule. He had the nicest things to say. It was very serendipitous, which I love.”

Flynn had a helpful note for the Salem newcomer. “When we had our first scene together [on Y&R], I said a couple words to him and then after they said cut, he goes, ‘You and I sound just alike,’ — we have this low, gravelly voice and kind of talk low and slow — ‘I guarantee you the first note you get over there is more voice.’ And sure enough, first scene I had over there, my first note was, ‘Uh, Conner, we need more voice.’ I texted Billy and said, ‘You called that, man.’ The more we hung out, it seems we’re very cut from the same cloth, and it’s good casting on Marnie’s part, I ain’t gonna lie.”

While fans won’t see Floyd on Days until 2026 because of the show’s unique filming schedule, he is settling in well. “Salem’s great,” he concludes. “Everyone’s awesome and very welcoming and very helpful. I’ve hit the ground running, and it’s been going great so far. Just like Y&R, everyone over there is very hardworking, and there’s a very talented cast and crew, and I’m going to bring it for them.”

Entertainment Tonight: Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart Reveal Sexy Soap Opera Secrets

Chrishell Stause and G Flip Say 'I Do' Again in Fairytale Castle Wedding

The couple said "I do" surrounded by family and friends, in the Hollywood Hills, with the city skyline shimmering in the background.

Chrishell looked straight out of a storybook in a flowing off-the-shoulder white gown featuring a romantic lace-up corset. G Flip fully leaned into the fantasy theme, rocking a regal red prince ensemble -- complete with gold trim and even a sword strapped to their back.

Before the ceremony, Chrishell was spotted laughing and chatting with costumed knights at the castle gate, setting the tone for the night.

The pair rented out the magical venue and transformed it into their own enchanted kingdom, where love ruled supreme. Following their vows, video captured Chrishell bouncing with excitement, clearly on cloud nine.

The pair had a Vegas ceremony back in May 2023, but were finally able to have their happily ever after wedding.

Finding Mr. Christmas Adds Guest Judges

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Renewed Through 63rd Season By Peacock

The stream says DOOL has ranked among the top 15 entertainment series on the platform since September 2022. Currently in its 61st season, DOOL was recently nominated for 13 Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Daytime Drama Series. That’s the highest number of nominations the series has received since it moved to Peacock.

Also nominated was Paul Telfer as Xander Kiriakis, Blake Berris as Everett Lynch, Emily O’Brien as Theresa Donovan and Linsey Godfrey as Sarah Horton. Ashley Puzemis (Holly Jonas) was nominated in the new emerging talent category, while the show also received noms in directing, writing and casting.

Produced by Corday Productions Inc. in association with Sony, DOOL is one of the longest-running scripted television program in the world, streaming in Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, Israel, South Africa, and Australia, among others.

Peyton Meyer Leaving Days Of Our Lives

Peacock Announces Biggest Price Increase Ever, Will Test Stripped-Down Plan

The NBCUniversal streaming hub on Thursday announced its latest — and largest — price increase ever, while also offering the lifeline of a stripped-down “Peacock Select” tier that will allow access to… well, select shows.

Starting Wednesday, July 23, Peacock Premium Plus, which allows viewers to stream mostly without ads, will go up $3 to a monthly charge of $16.99; Peacock Premium Plus’ annual price will in turn rise from $139.99 to $169.99.

Peacock Premium, which has ads, also will increase $3 to $10.99 per month, or $109.99/year (up from $79.99).

Current subscribers will see the higher rates starting with bills issued on or after Aug. 22.

Peacock last upped the ante almost exactly a year ago, in what was only its second increase since launching in April 2020.

If Peacock is simply getting too rich for your blood, the streamer is going to be quietly testing an ad-supported “Select” tier that fetches a mere $7.99/month and affords access to next-day streaming of NBC and Bravo programs, week-daily Days of Our Lives episodes and “a broad assortment of library titles” (as Vulture puts it)… but no Peacock originals (such as Poker Face or The Traitors), no NBC Sports programming, and no streaming movie premieres (e.g. M3GAN 2.0, where are you?!).

Peacock is the exclusive streaming home of current NBC programming, with series like Law & Order: SVU and Chicago Fire available to view the day after they air on the broadcast network. Peacock also became the exclusive home for Law & Order: Organized Crime beginning with Season 5, though the Christopher Meloni-led procedural is still awaiting renewal news.

‘Beyond The Gates’ Writer Ron Carlivati Ends Short-Term Gig On CBS Sudser; “I Am Beyond Proud Of What We Accomplished”

Carlivati joined the CBS sudser after departing Days of Our Lives in 2024. He signed onto Beyond the Gates to help Michele Val Jean, who he used to work with on General Hospital.

“A quick career update from me: I recently wrapped my stint as a writer on Beyond the Gates, the hot new soap opera on CBS created by the incomparable Michele Val Jean,” Carlivati wrote on Instagram. “When Michele called last August and asked me to join her team, I jumped at the chance to be a part of the launch of this groundbreaking and historic show. After recently finishing Season One (200 episodes!), I decided to leave to pursue other projects, but I am beyond proud of what we accomplished and beyond grateful to Michele and to Executive Producer Sheila Ducksworth for this extraordinary opportunity. Wishing them and everyone at Beyond the Gates a long and successful run.”

Carliati is a two-time, Daytime Emmy-winning veteran of the soaps. Before joining Beyond the Gates, he served for seven years as the head writer for Days of Our Lives. He also wrote for General Hospital and One Live to Live.

In May, Beyond the Gates was renewed for a second season by CBS. At the time of the pickup, the sudser from Michele Val Jean was up 67% in multiplatform viewership from last years’ time period and is beating ABC’s General Hospital by 7% among women 25-54 on broadcast, according to Nielsen.

‘Days of Our Lives’ Star Susan-Seaforth Hayes Reacts To Daytime Emmy Snub For Episode Involving Late Husband: “Perhaps Judges Felt I Wasn’t Acting”

For several of the soap categories, the Peacock sudser submitted its 15,000th episode that addressed the passing of Doug Williams, the iconic character played since 1970 by the late Bill Hayes. The longtime soap star died at 98 in January of 2024.

What made the milestone episode so memorable — at least to fans and the production — was that it included emotional scenes with Hayes’ real-life wife Susan Seaforth-Hayes, who has played Doug’s wife Julie for decades.

But the actress who turns 82 on July 11 wasn’t nominated this year for lead actress, prompting objections from fans on social media. Hayes took to Instagram to post a reaction of her own.

“For everyone who was upset by the Emmy nominations, I am amazed and moved that so many cared that deeply about Susan Hayes and Julie, her other self.” She went on to say that “I have not been snubbed by all the judges of NATAS over time” and “perhaps the judges felt I wasn’t acting when for the camera, I got the news, kissed the body goodbye, and gave the eulogy. No matter, my truth was based on a love that was real for an audience that loved him, too.”

The last time Hayes was nominated for playing Julie was in 2020. In 2018, she and her husband received a Lifetime Achievement Award for their work on DOOL.

DOOL was one of three soaps that received a nomination July 10 for Outstanding Daytime Drama. The soap’s Eric Martsolf (Brady Black) and Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark) received lead actor nominations, while Lindsay Godfrey (Sarah Horton), Emily O’Brien (Theresa Donovan) and Blake Berris (Everett Lynch) receiving nods in supporting.

Nominees For The 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Revealed In Three Major Categories

Sharon Case (Sharon Newman, Young and Restless)
Eileen Davidson (Ashley Abbott, Young and Restless)
Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea Lawson, Young and Restless)
Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis, General Hospital)
Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers, Young and Restless)
Laura Wright (Carly Spencer, General Hospital)

Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott, Young and Restless)
Eric Martsolf (Brady Black, Days of Our Lives)
Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark, Days of Our Lives)
Paul Telfer (Xander Kiriakis, Days of Our Lives)
Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri, General Hospital)

LeAnn Rimes felt unfairly targeted by women after Eddie Cibrian affair: ‘Not all my pain to carry’

The singer, 42, recalled “all of the craziness” she and Cibrian, 52, went through and acknowledged why a lot of women especially had a harsh reaction to their relationship.

“I realized very quickly that there are a lot of women who’ve been hurt,” Rimes said in a new interview with Flow Space.

“Like, I’ve been on both sides of that coin — I’ve been cheated on, too, so I know that feeling,” she explained. “But so many women don’t know what to do with that anger. … I was a target that was just easily projected upon.”

The “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” songstress shared that once she had that realization, “things got a lot easier” and she stopped “taking it so personally.”

“This is not all my pain to carry. I know what I’m responsible for in the situation and making amends for that,” she added.

The couple’s affair began in 2008 while they were filming the Lifetime movie “Northern Lights.”

At the time, Rimes was married to actor Dean Sheremet, while Cibrian was married to “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum Brandi Glanville.

Rumors of an affair began to swirl in 2009 though Cibrian initially denied the claims.

“It is a fabricated story that is using random snapshots as connective tissue to create a scandalous relationship,” the actor said in a statement to “Access Hollywood” in March of the year.

In July 2009, news of Rimes and Cibrian’s respective separations broke within days of each other.

The “Third Watch” star’s manager released a statement at the time, saying, “Eddie is a devoted and loving father first and foremost, and the speed bump he and Brandi are experiencing needs to be worked out privately for everyone’s benefit.”

In August of that year, Cibrian and Rimes made their public debut as a couple and he filed for divorce from Glanville.

The “Take Two” star and the reality TV personality were married from 2001 to 2010 and welcomed sons Mason, 22, and Jake, 18, during their nine-year marriage.

The “Northern Lights” co-stars got engaged in December 2010 and said “I do” on April 22, 2011, making Rimes the stepmother of Cibrian’s two sons.

Glanville, 52, has been very open about her feelings toward the “How Do I Live” singer.

She even admitted that she threatened to “murder” Rimes when she found out about her relationship with her then-husband.

The two women have since put aside their differences, with Glanville insisting she learned to love the pop star.

The former model celebrated Christmas with Rimes, Cibrian and their sons in 2024, and the singer proudly posted with her as a member of the family.

“merry everything from our crew! so grateful for all the love in our home today! hope everyone has had a peaceful, magical day! now… bring on the sweatpants and a movie,” Rimes captioned the family snap.

Sweeney To Appear on LEGO Masters Jr.

Daytime Emmy Nominations Announcement Date

‘A Man On The Inside’ Adds Jackée Harry To Season 2 Cast

Created by Mike Schur, A Man on the Inside centers on Charles (Danson), a retired man who gets a new lease on life when he answers an ad from a PI and becomes a mole in a secret investigation.

Harry’s role is being kept under wraps. She could potentially return in Season 3.

The series is taking on an anthology format, with Charles tackling a new case each season. In Season 1, he went undercover at a retirement home. Season 2 will see him sleuthing at a liberal arts college, sources said.

The new destination was telegraphed at the end of Season 1 when Charles, a retired college engineering professor, started offering his services as a guest lecturer.

A Man on the Inside is based on The Mole Agent, a 2021 Oscar nominee for Best Documentary feature. Schur executive produces the series via Fremulon alongside Morgan Sackett, David Miner of 3 Arts Entertainment, Maite Alberdi and Marcela Santibañez of Micromundo Producciones, Julie Goldman and Christopher Clements for Motto Pictures. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.

Harry, who won an Emmy award for supporting actress in a comedy series for her role as Sandra Clark in 227, can currently be seen as Paulina Price-Carver in Days of Our Lives. Additional credits include The Neighborhood, Everybody Still Hates Chris, Lifetime original movie Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta, The Paynes, The Jeffersons, and Cool Kids, among others. She’s repped by Metropolitan Talent Agency and manager Bob McGowan.

Talk Show Appearance

Tuesday, July 8 — JENSEN ACKLES chats with Kelly and Mark about “Countdown”

Y&R Vet to Days

The CW Books 6 Harlequin Romance Movies for Fall — Stars Include Flash, Arrow and Glee Vets

Danielle Panabaker (The Flash), Katherine McNamara (Arrow, Walker Independence) and Amber Riley (Glee) are among the movies’ headliners.

First out of the gate will be Montana Mavericks, starring McNamara and getting a limited theatrical release (the weekend of Aug. 26) ahead of its primetime showcase on The CW.

“The CW has been building a passionate weekend audience of movie lovers, and this new slate of original films is for romance fans everywhere,” Heather Olander, Head of Scripted and Unscripted Content, said in a statement. “These feel-good stories, inspired by hugely successful blockbuster Harlequin novels, are the perfect blend of nostalgia and escapism, and thanks to our exciting partnership with Fathom Entertainment, we’re thrilled to bring these films to the big screen first — giving fans the chance to laugh, swoon, and fall in love, together in theaters this summer.”

- Montana Mavericks stars McNamara as a “New York City girl and a best-selling author on a mission to conquer writer’s block” when she inherits a family ranch in Montana. Dennis Andres (Workin’ Moms), Linda Kee (Ride) and Kaya Coleman (Beyond Black Beauty) also star.

- Second Guessing Fate — which I really hope adds a hyphen at some point — stars Panabaker as a successful event planner who has given up on dating until a fortune teller says that she is “one last horrible date away from true love.” Corey Sevier (Cedar Cove), Brendan Morgan (The Big Cigar), Jocelyn Chugg and Ari Rombough also star.

- In Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell, the title character (played by Riley) juggles a high-stress/low-thanks job, a stalled situationship and the love-worn kitchen she inherited from her grandma. Dorian Grey (Transplant), Nadine Whiteman (SkyMed) and Malaika Hennie-Hamadi (The Handmaid’s Tale) also star.

- Paws in the City stars Emeraude Toubia (Shadowhunters) as “a social media whiz” whose career hits the skids, and she in turn finds herself caring for a “dachshund diva.” Carter Jenkins (Famous in Love) also stars.

- In Ordinary Girl in a Tiara, “When vintage fashion devotee Caro Cartwright (Transplant‘s Katharine King So) agrees to harbor her childhood nemesis turned couture heiress Philippa Levreaux (YOU‘s Kathryn Gallagher), fireworks explode.”

- And in Recipe for Romance, “Would-be enemies turn to heartwarming lovers in this story of two warring businesses in Little Manila.” True O’Brien (Days of Our Lives) and Alex Mallari Jr. (Ginny & Georgia) star.

Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart

Hosted by daytime veterans Rebecca Budig (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, “All My Children,” “General Hospital”) and Greg Rikaart (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, “Days of our Lives”), SOAPY features lively, nostalgic conversations with beloved past and present stars and creatives from across the entire soap opera community and all networks and platforms, including daytime and primetime. From unforgettable storylines to behind-the-scenes insights, the series celebrates the genre’s rich history, passionate fanbase and the talent that continues to bring these iconic stories to life.

July 8: Eric Braeden (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS)
July 15: Deidre Hall (“Days of our Lives”)
July 22: Sheila Ducksworth (executive producer, BEYOND THE GATES)
July 29: Lauralee Bell (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS)

Upcoming episodes will include Maurice Benard (“General Hospital”), Tracey Bregman (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Marc Cherry (creator, writer, “Desperate Housewives”), Scott Clifton (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL), Eva LaRue (“General Hospital”), Christian LeBlanc (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Cameron Mathison (“General Hospital,” “All My Children”), Karla Mosley (BEYOND THE GATES), Lawrence Saint-Victor (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL), Melody Thomas Scott (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Heather Tom (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) and Tamara Tunie (BEYOND THE GATES).

Fans can listen to SOAPY HOSTED BY REBECCA BUDIG AND GREG RIKAART on Audacy or wherever podcasts are available and can watch full video episodes weekly on the CBS Brand YouTube Channel. Whether a lifelong fan or discovering the genre for the first time, SOAPY offers a fresh, fun behind-the-scenes look at the stories – and storytellers – that define daytime drama.

SOAPY HOSTED BY REBECCA BUDIG AND GREG RIKAART is produced by the Paramount Multiplatform Production Group. The podcast is executive produced by Mike Benson. Andrew Pemberton-Fowler serves as producer.

Rebecca Budig portrays Dr. Taylor Hayes, the compassionate psychiatrist and mother to Steffy and Thomas Forrester, and rival of Brooke Logan for the heart of Ridge Forrester on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL.

Budig, a four-time Daytime Emmy® nominee, is well known to soap opera fans for her numerous roles, including Michelle Bauer in “Guiding Light” (1996-1998), Greenlee Smythe in “All My Children” (1998-2011) and Hayden Barnes in “General Hospital” (2014-2019). This marks Budig’s homecoming to CBS Daytime, having previously appeared on “Guiding Light.”

In addition to her numerous daytime roles, Budig’s other credits include “Blue Bloods,” “CSI,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Fit for Christmas,” “Castle,” “The Beast,” and “Skating with the Stars.” In 2014, after the birth of her daughter, Budig was inspired to write about her experience for the short film “About a Girl,” in which she also starred. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter and two dogs.

Greg Rikaart is an accomplished actor known for his extensive career in daytime television, where he has become a mainstay for over two decades. Best known for his role as Kevin Fisher on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Rikaart has garnered critical acclaim and recognition, including six Daytime Emmy nominations. His portrayal of Kevin Fisher earned him an Emmy win, and he later received another nomination for his current portrayal of Leo Stark on “Days of our Lives.”

In addition to his impressive work in soap operas, Greg has made memorable guest appearances on popular television series such as “Dawson’s Creek,” “Major Crimes,” “Modern Family,” “Bones” and “Gilmore Girls.” He has also appeared in feature films, including “X-Men 2” and “Prey for Rock and Roll,” showcasing his versatility as an actor across various genres and mediums.

Outside of his acting career, Greg is an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. In 2014, he was honored with the Visibility Award from the Human Rights Campaign for his efforts to raise awareness and support for LGBTQ+ issues. Greg resides in Los Angeles with his husband, writer-producer Robert Sudduth, and their son, Monte. Throughout his career, Greg Rikaart has continued to thrive both professionally and personally, balancing a successful entertainment career with his dedication to family and advocacy.

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Casts Conner Floyd As The New Chad DiMera

The Peacock soap is bringing aboard Conner Floyd to take over the role previously played by Billy Flynn. Floyd, last seen as Phillip “Chance” Chancellor IV on The Young and the Restless, begins work June 23 on the sudser. Given how far ahead DOOL films, however, fans won’t be able to enjoy the new Chad until April of 2026.

Floyd is replacing Billy Flynn, who revealed earlier this year that he’s moving to Y&R. His departure from the Peacock soap was described as amicable. Flynn’s final episode of DOOL is not expected to air until early 2026; he made his Y&R debut on June 19.

“I am grateful for my years at Days. It changed my life in the best ways,” Flynn told TV Insider in March. “I’ve always said these stories we tell are like doing a play, and I’ve spent the last 10-plus years playing this amazing character and telling one of the all-time great love stories. And now I’m excited for this opportunity and to test myself in a new way.”

DOOL also released this statement at the time from EP Ken Corday: ““We support Billy as an actor and friend, and wish him nothing but continued success and happiness, personally and professionally.”

As for Floyd, he joined Y&R in 2021 as Chance. Last month, fans began noticing his absence from both the on-screen action and the credits, though nothing official about his status was revealed. Floyd previously appeared in such movies as The Last Deal and She Inherited Danger.

The role of Chad was first originated on DOOL in 2009 by Casey Deidrick. Flynn replaced him in 2014 and ended up developing a big following because of his romance with Abigail Deveraux (played by Kate Mansi and Marci Miller).

Lynn Hamilton Dies: ‘The Waltons’ & ‘Sanford And Son’ Actress Was 95

Carson added that she “transitioned peacefully” on Thursday, surrounded by her “grandchildren, loved ones and caregivers.”

“With profound gratitude and admiration, we celebrate the extraordinary life of iconic actress Alzenia ‘Lynn’ Hamilton-Jenkins, whose remarkable legacy continues to uplift and inspire. Her illustrious career, spanning over five decades, has left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment, motivating audiences across the globe through her work as a model, stage, film, and television actress,” he wrote, in part.

Born on April 25, 1930 in Yazoo City, MS and raised in Chicago, Hamilton graduated from the Goodman School of Drama, being the sole Black actor among her peers. She soon gained experience performing with a South Side theater company, per The Hollywood Reporter, and translated that burgeoning skillset to Broadway for four plays from the late ’50s to early ’60s. Her experience on stage included productions of Shakespeare’s works and a world tour of adaptations of The Miracle Worker and The Skin of Our Teeth as a member of President John F. Kennedy’s cultural exchange program. In 1966, she joined the Seattle Repertory Theatre.

Among her TV credits are episodes of Gunsmoke, The Bill Cosby Show, Hawaii Five-O, Ironside, The Young and the Restless, Starsky and Hutch, The Rockford Files, Roots: The Next Generations, Days of Our Lives, The Jesse Owens Story (TV movie), The Golden Girls, 227, Sunset Beach, Moesha, Port Charles, NYPD Blue, The Practice and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Her most significant arcs in television include her role as practical Nurse Donna Harris, Redd Foxx’s onscreen fiancée on NBC’s sitcom Sanford and Sun; Verdie Foster on CBS’ historical drama The Waltons and Vivian Potter on NBC sudser Generations. She also starred as ex-con Cissie Johnson on the early ’90s syndicated nighttime soap Dangerous Women. Hamilton also reprised her character from The Waltons for holiday-themed TV movies released in 1993 and 1997.

Hamilton was married to poet and playwright Frank S. Jenkins (Driving While Black in Beverly Hills) from 1964 until his death in 2014, and the two frequently collaborated together on various theater productions, including Nobody: The Bert Williams Story.

Hallmark’s ‘Pie to Die For’: Victor Webster Teases Hannah Swensen & Chad’s First Date

“Well, I have a history with Ali [Sweeney, Hannah Swensen],” he begins. “We were on Days [of Our Lives] together many, many years ago; too many to talk about. And then we’ve also done a bunch of movies together before this. We did The Wedding Veil series together, and I have so much love for Ali. She’s so fun to work with and talented. She’s just in the moment; I can improv with her and make stuff up, and she’s just right there with me. And Ali writes the scripts, but she’s not married to the word. She’s like, ‘If you guys have something better or funny or different, I’m totally open to it.’ She’s so great.”

Pie to Die For marks Webster’s fourth Hannah Swensen film. He stepped into the role two years ago, after Cameron Mathison, who starred alongside Sweeney in the Murder, She Baked series, moved on. Before stepping into the world, Webster ran the new gig by his predecessor. “I’m friends with Cameron, so I actually sent him a text message and said, ‘Hey, so I understand you’re going and doing your own thing. They’ve approached me. I don’t want to be weird. I feel like I’m stepping on your toes. I know I’m not, but just out of courtesy, I’d like to send you a text message and just kind of get your blessing,’” Webster relays. “And he was nothing but a true gentleman about it. He’s like, ‘Absolutely, you’re going to have so much fun. Everybody is incredible. I wish you nothing but the best.’ So, I went into this knowing Ali and having Cameron’s blessing and just really looking forward to joining this amazing family.”

There’s a lot to like about playing Chad Norton, and with each new film, Webster finds deeper layers to explore in his character. “He’s very different than me,” Webster shares. “Chad is very by the book. I’m a little more loosey goosey. He loves to mess with Hannah, and at first, he’s kind of like, ‘Whoa. What’s going on here? I have a cookie shop owner coming in and solving crimes? That’s not supposed to be happening.’ And then, of course, she’s charming and smart and funny, and just starts to grow on him, and I think now they’ve become the dynamic duo. It’s great. And also, Victor loves cookies, and Chad has not partaken the cookie.”

In this latest installment, Chad and Hannah finally make things official in the romance department. “It took four movies for these two to even go on their first date, which I kind of like because it gave us a chance to organically like these two together,” Webster points out. “It was a really nice slow burn. We’ve had three movies where we’ve kind of sensed a growing interest, and now this is the first film where we take it out of the business world, and we see what happens when they go on a date.”

In addition to an actual night on the town, Hannah and Chad will also take tango lessons while searching for clues in the latest murder investigation. “I come from a martial arts background, so learning choreography, learning steps, doing a lot of action movies in my past, I think dancing is like that,” Webster notes. “Ali is incredibly coordinated, and I think we just had a great time, and we meshed really well. It’ll be fun to see how that’s all edited together, because Crystal [Lowe, the director] got so many really cool camera angles, so I think it’s going to look really good.”

While Webster is well known to the Hallmark audience — he did his first film in 2012 — he is more often stopped by fans for his primetime credits. “A lot of people recognize me from Charmed, which is interesting because that was so long ago,” he observes. “I played Coop or Cupid and that had a really, really big following. I get a lot of sci-fi people from Continuum. When I grow my beard out, I get The Scorpion King. And then Workin’ Moms, which has been doing really well on Netflix.”

As for his favorite Hallmark movie, Webster goes right back to the beginning. “I’m a huge dog lover, so I would say Puppy Love [from 2012]. It was the first Hallmark movie that I’ve ever done. Five Star Christmas [in 2020] was great because it was an ensemble comedy. The Wedding Veil, the one that was in Greece [The Wedding Veil Journey, in 2023], working with Ali, and having had that connection of our characters, being married for a while and then going to this beautiful, exotic location and shooting, and working with [director] Ron Oliver, was awesome.”

Which is how he would describe his association with Hallmark overall. “I love doing all the movies with them,” he enthuses. “This might sound cliché, and I think probably every Hallmark actor has said it, and there’s a reason for that, but they really feel like a family. All of the actors, when we get together for events, it’s like getting together for Christmas, and all your cousins come over that you haven’t seen in a while. You stay in touch over Instagram and stuff but to actually get together, everybody’s so sweet.

“The actors on Hallmark are all really good people,” he continues. “And then the people that are in the Hallmark family are just so solid and good and kind and sweet and funny. I really look forward to every opportunity I get to hang out with them. And I’m not just saying that because they sign my paycheck — I actually say this to my friends — they’re a great family. I also like that my goddaughter can watch these movies, and she does. She sits there with grandma and her mom, and they all watch these movies together, and you leave the couch happier, more positive about life than when you sat down. And I think we can all agree that that’s something we can use in life.”

Pie to Die For: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, Movie Premiere, June 22, 8/7c, Hallmark Channel

Billy Flynn Confirms He’s Playing Aristotle Dumas on ‘The Young and the Restless’

News broke in March that the actor, 40, was leaving Days of Our Lives after a decade as Chad DiMera to join Y&R.

“There’s a lot of moving parts that were involved,” Flynn tells Us. “It was a whirlwind of emotions — mainly excitement, but there was fear involved. I was leaving something that was very comfortable and seemingly secure. It’s never really in this industry, but it felt like a gamble. I have a wife and two kids. But at the same time, it felt like something I needed in my life. It felt like a serendipitous thing, the way the universe put all these different pieces together for it to align where the opportunity came when it did, and how it did.”

“Before I started, I was nervous to work with all these people. I was comfortable where I was and I had earned trust and in the people who knew what I could do,” he continues. “[But] everybody here was so great. I remember watching the monitor the first day, and was so impressed by everybody’s talent that I started to get really nervous [again].”

Flynn adds that the fact that there has been so much hype surrounding Aristotle Dumas — the soap has been mentioning the character as a mysterious business tycoon for months, but he has yet to appear on screen — makes it even more “nerve-wracking.”

Flynn also teases that there’s more to the story, comparing his character to “the person behind the Great Gatsby.” (Fans can come back after his debut on Friday, June 20, for more from Flynn on that tease.)

“It’s been a dream come true,” he concludes of joining Y&R. “I’m really grateful to Josh [Griffith] and all the people involved who made that decision and trusted me to come over and see me in this part that on paper, I don’t know if it was me or not, but time will tell.”

Amazon’s Faith-Based Series ‘It’s Not Like That’ Rounds Out Cast With 5 Series Regulars

Created by Ian Deitchman and Kristin Robinson, who also serve as showrunners, It’s Not Like That follows Lori (Hayes), who is freshly divorced with two teens. Malcolm’s (Foley) a minister and recently widowed dad of three. Their families once did everything together, but now Lori and Malcolm must navigate their newly minted singledom, parenthood and the complexities of Malcolm being a modern-day minister. Is this the beginning of a love story? It’s not like that. Or is it?

Miranda, Paul and Christopher will play Flora, Penelope and Justin, respectively, as Malcolm’s (Foley) children in the series; and Baumann and Lindell portray Lori’s (Hayes) children, Merritt and Casey, respectively.

Deitchman and Robinson executive produce alongside Garret Lerner. Additional executive producers include Jon Erwin, Justin Rosenblatt, and Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten for Wonder Project, Alex Goldstone (Dickinson) for 42 & Anonymous Content and Kingdom Story Company. Seth Yanklewitz & Ben Pollack serve as casting directors. Brad Silberling will direct the pilot episode.The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios.

Baumann’s recent screen credits include AMC’s Parish, Grey’s Anatomy, Disney Channel’s Raven’s Home, HBO’s Doom Patrol, and Clint Eastwood’s The 15:17 to Paris. He will also appear in the upcoming feature California Skate. A seasoned stage performer, Baumann also has appeared in several Atlanta theater productions. He’s repped by Myrna Lieberman Management.

Christopher’s breakout role came at the age of three in streaming series Mr. Mom. He went on to play Thomas DiMera on Days of Our Lives, earning a 2023 Daytime Emmy nomination for his performance. Cary will make his feature film debut this summer in Warner Bros’ Weapons. On the teleivision side, he will be seen in a recurring role on Prime Video‘s upcoming series Spider-Noir, led by Nicolas Cage. Other television credits include Fuller House, American Horror Stories, Station 19, NCIS, The Rookie, 9-1-1, and High Potential. He’s repped by Zuri Agency, Evolve Talent Management, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes.

Miranda is a recent graduate of Chapman University’s College of Performing Arts. She will next be seen in a guest lead role in Netflix’s upcoming series The Gringo Hunters. Miranda is managed by Cultured Artists.

Lindell’s film roles include Saverio!, directed by Ellen Ancui and The Secret Village, directed by Bruce Nicholson. Lindell, a student at the Performing Arts Academy of Marin, is repped by Stars Management.

Paul’s role in It’s Not Like That marks her television acting debut. She most recently performed in community and regional theatre productions including Mean Girls, School of Rock, Bring It On, High School Musical, Mary Poppins and A Christmas Carol. Paul is repped by Kogen Management and Innovative Artists New York.

The Traitors Season 4 Cast Includes Olympians, a Kelce, Survivor Winner and 5 Housewives

The cast for Season 4 of Peacock‘s smash hit was announced Friday, and there were more than a few surprises in the bunch. Not only does the cast include a handful of actor/comedians (Loot’s Ron Funches and the controversial Michael Rapaport), but the group also boasts a pair of former Olympians (Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski) and one very famous “mama” (Donna Kelce).

Then, there’s your typical Traitors fare, which includes faces from shows like Survivor, Big Brother, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Bachelor, Love Island USA, The Real Housewives and so much more. (Scroll down to view the full list.)

For the uninitiated, the series brings contestants to the Scottish Highlands where they work together to win missions and build a prize fund of up to $250,000. Hidden among the Faithful are a group of Traitors hand-selected by Cumming. Each night, the Traitors “murder” a Faithful, in hopes of reaching the finale together and collecting the prize money for themselves. The Faithful, meanwhile, try to identify the Traitors and banish them from the game, so that they can claim and split the prize money at the end.

As previously reported, the show has already been renewed for a fifth season.Candiace Dillard Bassett, The Real Housewives of Potomac
Caroline Stanbury, The Real Housewives of Dubai
Colton Underwood, The Bachelor
Donna Kelce, Pro Footballers’ Mom
Dorinda Medley, The Real Housewives of New York City
Eric Nam, Singer-Songwriter
Ian Terry, Big Brother
Johnny Weir, Olympic Figure Skater
Kristen Kish, Top Chef
Rob Cesternino, Survivor
Lisa Rinna, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Mark Ballas, Dancing With the Stars
Maura Higgins, Aftersun: Love Island USA
Michael Rapaport, Actor
Monét X Change, RuPaul’s Drag Race
Natalie Anderson, Survivor
Porsha Williams, The Real Housewives of Atlanta
Rob Rausch, Love Island USA
Ron Funches, Comedian
Stephen Colletti, One Tree Hill
Tara Lipinski, Olympic Figure Skater
Tiffany Mitchell, Big Brother
Yamil ‘Yam Yam’ Arocho, Survivor.

‘Days of Our Lives’ Filmed John Black’s Funeral While Actor Drake Hogestyn Was on His Deathbed: ‘He Understood That This Is a Story Fans Would Want to Be Told’

Executive producer Ken Corday approached Hogestyn’s family and got permission to bring John’s story to an end this way, and they signed off on it. “Drake, as the consummate storyteller that he is, said, ‘Absolutely. You gotta tell the story,’” Eric Martsoff, who played his son Brady, tells Variety. “Drake knew what he was facing. He understood that this is a story fans would want to be told. So Drake graciously said, yes, let’s do it. But knowing that this man was on the planet, and we were literally taping his funeral and his death, that was hard. It was really hard.”

The filming of his funeral took three full days, and Hogestyn died the following weekend. “There was literally zero acting going on during those three days,” Martsoff says. “Everyone was holding hands to the point where our hands were getting white.”

Martha Madison, who played John’s daughter, Belle, said it was all very real for the cast and crew. “For us, it felt like our responsibility and an honor to do it the very best that we knew how,” she says. “The fact that we were losing Drake at the same time, it was very hard on us emotionally, as we’re losing someone we really love. We didn’t really have to perform. It wasn’t like we were having to dig for anything. It was just all right there.”

In a way, it was a beautiful release for everybody on set those days, because of the collective sentiment of, “We Love you, and we’re gonna miss you.” Madison says, “None of us were able to really see him or be with him towards the end. This was our opportunity to do it as a family, and do it together. And I thought it was so beautifully written — all of the flashbacks and really honoring his whole 40-year career on that show. It was all just very special.”

In these exclusive videos, John’s family gathers to pay their last respects at his funeral. There, Marlena (played by soap legend Deidre Hall) flashes back to her and John’s wedding where she says they think of their family as a garden: “Each child is unique, beautiful, cherished in their own way.” The couple symbolically builds a “bouquet” of their family, with each child represented by a flower. Back in present day, each of their children lay their flower beside candles and a memorial photo as a sign of their eternal love.

Speaking about Hogestyn brings Madison to tears: “I just looked up to him so much, and I admired everything about him — his deep commitment to his work and to his family, his joy and playfulness and his ability to bring people together.” Her voice cracks. “I just admired him so much, and I don’t think that he was even aware of the impact that he was having on all of us.”

Among the speeches eulogizing John is Marstoff’s Brady, who says that his father could be summed up in one word: eyebrow. “My dad had many, many skills — spy craft, martial arts, baseball. But I think the use of his eyebrow was perhaps his single greatest asset, not only was it effective, but extremely versatile.” Anyone who has watched “Days of Our Lives” knows exactly what he’s talking about: Hogestyn had an ability to raise one eyebrow to express everything from curiosity to consternation.

“Eric’s speech that he gives at the memorial is both touching and funny, and I think that is something that Drake, as a person, would enjoy,” Madison says. “I don’t think that he would want us sitting around crying all day, even though people like me couldn’t stop. I think he would want this to feel more celebratory, because he was very celebratory of his own life and how lucky he was to have this beautiful job and beautiful family. I think he would want us to honor that. I think that’s what you see in Eric’s monologue. It’s really perfect.”

Marstoff says he “lost a father figure” when Hogestyn died. “Drake and I were buddies. He usually started the day with a story. He just had so many life experiences. I mean, he was a Yankee at one point, for God’s sake!” he says, referring to Hogestyn’s pre-acting career as a professional baseball player. “Fans should tune in because we’re going to say goodbye to one of the most iconic men ever to hit daytime television. He was the epitome of a soap opera star on and off the stage, and the man deserves eyeballs, and he deserves that tribute.”

Set Decorators Society Of America TV Awards Nominations

The international organization will vote on the nominations from July 11-18 and reveal the winners on August 10. Its Lifetime Achievement and other meritorious award recipients will be named later.

BEYOND THE GATES - CBS
Set Decoration by Cynthia Slagter SDSA
with Production Design by Bruton Jones

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL - CBS
Set Decoration by Charlotte Garnell SDSA, Jerie Kelter SDSA & Chelsea Mondelli SDSA
with Production Design by Jack Forrestel

DAYS OF OUR LIVES - Peacock
Set Decoration by Adele Caine
with Production Design by Tom Early SDSA

GENERAL HOSPITAL - ABC
Set Decoration by Jennifer Elliot SDSA
with Production Design by Andrew Evashchen

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS - CBS
Set Decoration by Jennifer Haybach SDSA, Justine Mercado SDSA, Maria Dirolf & Monica Lowe
with Production Design by David Hoffmann

Inside Hallmark Superstars Alison Sweeney & Ashley Williams’ Journey to Their ‘Barcelona’ Movie Event

The longtime friends had been looking for a project to collaborate on for years, when inspiration hit Williams late one night at an airport. “Which is where all good ideas are born,” she quips to Swooon. “But I was having a bit of a low moment. My sister’s [Kimberly Williams-Paisley] an amazing writer, and I love to write maybe more than anything in the world, but haven’t had much success with it. So, I was flying into New York, and I went into a Hudson News [store]. I was walking around, and all I could think was, ‘I’m never going to be a real writer. This is just never going to happen for me.'”

As she browsed through the reading material, Williams found her thoughts drifting in a darker direction. “I’m looking at all these amazing authors, and then I was feeling so negative that I took it that extra step of, ‘If I ever did have a successful book, it would be because the book that I wrote was actually translated by a good writer in a different language, and maybe that book would be successful in some random country, and then I’d get to go there and do a book tour,'” she muses. “And then I was suddenly like, ‘That’s kind of an interesting idea.'”

After she arrived in New York for a Hallmark event, Williams pitched the idea to Julie Sherman Wolfe, who penned the network’s popular 2024 film, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. “Julie was like, ‘I think this could be a good idea. We’d need another Hallmark actress that speaks a different language,'” Williams recalls. “Ali Sweeney walked by the bar at 1 a.m., and I said, ‘Hey, Ali, do you speak a different language?’ And Ali said, ‘Yeah, I speak Spanish.’ And I turned right back to Julie, and I said, ‘So it takes place in Barcelona…’ And that’s really when it just took off, because a good idea is just a good idea until you have Alison Sweeney, and then it turns into a movie.”

Points out Sweeney, “What’s funny about that is, you were only going down that rabbit hole to torture yourself. There’s something so self-loathing about actors that you’re like, ‘Oh, and the only success I would ever have is if I stole it from someone else.’ And you’re piling on, and then all of a sudden, you’re like, ‘This is a great movie.'”

In the first film, To Barcelona, With Love, Sweeney plays Erica, an American woman living in Barcelona who translates novels into Spanish. Williams plays Anna, the American author of the book, Barcelona, Mi Amor, that became a big hit after Erica’s translation. Due to its local popularity, Anna comes to Barcelona for a book signing event, which threatens to expose Erica’s secret, that she took liberties with her translations of Anna’s work. Meanwhile, local bookstore owner Nico (Alejandro Tous), for whom Erica has long had feelings, is intrigued by Anna and her writing. The second film, To Barcelona, Forever, picks up the story five months after the first one ends.

Sweeney and Williams, who also serve as executive producers along with Craig Baumgarten, admit they’re surprised by how well it all came together. “There were a lot of different iterations of doing it in Mexico, or South America, and thinking about what different parts of Spain are feasible with our budget,” the Days of Our Lives alum explains. “Craig really did the legwork, and finally, we had a meeting with Hallmark, where we told them we thought we could do the whole movie in Spain. They looked at us, like, ‘Well, then great, go for it.’ And I don’t know about Ashley, but until I had that ticket and was going to the airport, I just couldn’t believe it was actually happening.”

Adds Williams, “I remember getting to the airport, and they said, ‘To Barcelona?’ And I was like, ‘I mean, I think. That’s what it says.’ [Laughs] And I just kept laughing as I’m heading to the airplane, thinking, ‘This is nuts.’ It was a dream come true.”

The reality surpassed the dream once they reached Europe. “It was so cool when we first arrived there,” continues Williams. “One of our producers, Kevin Leslie, said, ‘You know what’s amazing about shooting in actual Spain? Everywhere you look, it looks like Spain.’ When we shoot in Canada, a lot of time we’re having to cover up mountainsides or trees or snow. Being able to shoot in Spain just meant that we didn’t have to cheat stuff, and we could put our resources where they really needed to be, which was on story, and leaning into what was already there. For example, [Basilica de la] Sagrada Familia didn’t need set dressing, you know? We got to shoot at all the major spots, so people who are watching this movie and can’t travel to Barcelona, you don’t need to, because we’re bringing you there with this movie.”

The pals discovered that they work well together. “It was so fun because we both had the same vision,” says Sweeney. “Every day, every scene, every outfit, all the time, we were making the movie better together and because of each other and because of our dynamic.”

Agrees Williams, “Ali and I have made a lot of these Hallmark movies, and what I have to relearn every time is that a good movie is made incrementally, with teeny, tiny decisions all day long, and that was where Ali and I really thrived. So, we made a really good team that way. It was very fun.”

Now, they’re looking for something else to do together. “If you had spent seven weeks working with Ashley Williams, you would spend the rest of your life figuring out how to make that happen again,” praises Sweeney.

This isn’t the only place to see Sweeney on Hallmark this month. She’ll be back with Victor Webster and Co. for a new film, Pie to Die For: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, on June 22. “I’m so excited,” she enthuses. “I feel like these movies are so fun and so different. Hopefully, the audience will fall in love with these characters in Barcelona, and then maybe need a palate cleanser after we get back to some dead bodies.”

Days of Our Lives Reveals John Black’s Tragic Fate, Eight Months After Actor Drake Hogestyn’s Death

In the loving arms of his wife, Dr. Marlena Evans, John took his last breath at the end of the June 2 episode, after suffering devastating internal injuries during a lab explosion. The iconic character went out as he lived — a hero.

Sensing the fans’ devastation on Monday, Marlena’s portrayer Deidre Hall posted this simple-but-powerful message to fans on Instagram: “I know. I know. Hardest day ever.”

Hogestyn, who died on Sept. 28, 2024, made his final on-screen appearance during Days‘ Sept. 9, 2024 episode, allowing John one last chance to bestow some wisdom upon grandson Tate. That episode was reportedly filmed on Feb. 16, 2024.

John left Salem shortly thereafter as part of a top-secret ISA mission to Estonia, never to be heard from again. Steve and Marlena investigated his mysterious disappearance, leading to another near-fatal reunion with criminal mastermind Orpheus, but their search was ultimately unsuccessful. While Steve shifted his attention towards helping Bo with another life-threatening matter, the ISA tracked down John with the intention of bringing him back to Salem.

Shown only from behind, John eventually “returned” to town in May, helping Steve steal an experimental drug that could potentially cure Bo, who was dying of sepsis. But an explosion at the lab put John in the hospital, where his family gathered to say goodbye. The tragic gathering welcomed back several familiar faces, including grandson Will, daughter Carrie and son Paul.

Days executive producer Ken Corday previously explained to Soap Opera Digest that John’s demise was actually discussed with Hogestyn prior to his real-life death. Corday said he “wanted to make sure Drake signed off” on his character’s final storyline, “and he was totally in favor of it.”

“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,” Corday continued. “I made the choice to [say], ‘OK, let’s tell the story.’ He hadn’t been on [the show] in nine months. We needed a reason [for John’s absence].”

“For nearly four decades, Marlena Evans and I have loved the same man,” Hall said in a statement following his passing. “Marlena’s John is an iconic hero, 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. … 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.”

Greg Vaughan Talks Honoring ‘Father Figure’ Drake Hogestyn & His Future With ‘Days’

“The celebration of life and the celebration of Drake were very, very touching,” Vaughan previews of the upcoming episodes. “It was a very hard day for everybody, obviously, and bringing Eric back was very sweet, but I wish it was under better circumstances.”

Regarding the material that’s playing out, Vaughan notes, “Drake’s family, his wife, approved of this story, so I thought that was really just a wonderful gesture, and the way they wrote it was a nice touch.”

Filming the episodes, however, wasn’t always easy. “I just carried a lot of the memories we created together and the conversations we shared, and we all had a lot of laughs in the way he would want it to be,” Vaughan relays. “So, we kind of reflected a lot on that as the day and the week went forward, with the unfortunate prognosis of Drake’s situation.”

Vaughan, who began working with Hogestyn in 2012, felt a strong connection to the actor, who passed away on September 28, 2024. “There’s not enough time in the day to tell you all the great things about Drake Hogestyn,” Vaughan states. “He had a quiet leadership. He prioritized his family and life outside of work, but when he came in, he was always geared up to contribute. I cherish the conversations and the stories we had, and we exchanged text messages up to the very end.

“He was more than just a costar; our connection was deeper than I had with other people. Josh Taylor [Roman Brady] and Drake were like two fatherly figures in my life. He was a dear friend. He always just gave me great wisdom, great advice, and there wasn’t a day that ever went by that he didn’t pull me aside and ask about my sons. I’m very blessed to have known him, to have stood beside him, and to have worked and collaborated with him. He is dearly missed and very loved, and his memory will forever be cherished and remembered.”

While Vaughan is only back for a visit, he has kept busy branching out into other media. “I’ve written three projects,” he reveals. “I pitched one to a big network, and we had a great meeting. They gave me a lot of good notes. It’s an endeavor that I’m not very familiar with, but I just had to dive into it, and I found myself sitting at my desk and staring at my computer. It took a lot of time and a lot of patience, so now I’m in a zone and I’ve completed a full revised draft of a wonderful story.”

He also went public with his romance with Shanna Moakler, whom he first met in 1993 when she was 18 years old then recently reconnected with. “It was under wraps for a long time, which was good, and the way I like it,” Vaughan explains. “When you’ve been under the microscope and you’ve been in that world of being online visible, it becomes a little bit disruptive. But she and I have a lot of warmth, love, and appreciation, and that has developed over the last year.

“She is an incredible mom. She is a delightful, intelligent woman,” he continues. “She is a wonderfully talented, gifted entrepreneur, actress, director, and producer. She has written six books. We are both in each other’s corners. I admire her in so many ways. I lift her up as she does to me, which has been a missing piece of my life. She’s been an angel and a complement to me in so many ways. She’s just a beautiful person with a heart of gold.”

Vaughan, who now resides in his native Texas and recently celebrated his 18-year-old son Jathan’s graduation from high school, says he doesn’t miss the hustle and bustle of Tinseltown. “L.A. is good for what it’s good for,” he points out. “It served a purpose in my life, but I see the growth of my children and what they’ve gained by being here. Jathan and I had a conversation about the last four years because it’s been four years that I’ve been back in Texas, and to see Jathan go from being a freshman to being a graduate is emotionally hard for me, but at the same time, it’s such a blessing. I’m so thankful for the man that he’s becoming. All of my boys [sons Cavan, 15, and Landan, 13] have only benefited from being in this wonderful environment and this community. The support has been unbelievable.”

But that doesn’t mean he would rule out a Salem comeback. “I would under the right circumstances,” he offers. “I’m available.”

‘Days of Our Lives’ Star Alison Sweeney, 48, Reveals Her Next Big Move

Sweeney announced on her Instagram account the launch of a brand new podcast "Mi Amor, with Ali Sweeney + Ashley Williams", as the two share their experiences creating the upcoming Hallmark film.

Sweeney captioned the post, “So, @ashleywilliamsandcompany & I had so much fun filming #ToBarcelona together that we wanted to share the process with all of you. The first two episodes of our podcast about our experience comes out tomorrow! I put the link to Apple in my bio but it’s on all the major platforms. Like & subscribe!!”

The podcast is described as, “Join Alison Sweeney and Ashley Williams for unfiltered, laugh-out-loud conversations as they travel across the world to make two ROMCOM TV movies together. From on-set stories to off-screen antics, these leading ladies spill the behind-the-scenes tea on making movies, friendship and all the fun along the way.”

Williams previously shared on Instagram about working with Sweeney, captioning her post “Hey all you @alisweeney fans I’m coming for you! Imagine being a fan of an actress since you were a teenager and now you’re a grownup and you make her play your best friend in a movie and take her to Spain with you for months and now you’re real life best friends and this is your life now. You do normal things like text her by accident or take vet recommendations from her. You make fun of her and your life is made every time you make her laugh. This is my life now. This is midlife me and teenage me can’t stop squealing. Set your dvrs to watch it all in real time starting June 7th on Hallmark. (Also I’m gonna post a bunch of stupid less edited videos from set on tik tok so head there for some raw fun too) #passporttolove #passporttofriendship #romcom #bff @dayspeacock #tiktok #barcelona #tobarcelona #dance #spain @ronoliver @hallmarkchannel @hallmark @taylorswift #icandoitwithabrokenheart

"Mi Amor, with Ali Sweeney + Ashley Williams" is available now on all major podcasting platforms.

Shanna Moakler Reveals New Update About Greg Vaughan Relationship

In the weeks since they went public with their relationship, Moakler and Vaughan have mostly kept their romance off social media, but the former Miss USA had to give the Days of Our Lives star a special shoutout on May 27. She shared a new photo of the actor and penned a sweet message about her love.

“At the airport, not in his car, at the gate, shows up, and reminds me… good men do exist everyday,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. Moakler snapped a photo of Vaughan outside rocking a cowboy hat. The actor recently attended the graduation of his son, Jathan Vaughan. Moakler sweetly sent her congratulations to Vaughan’s son in the comments of her boyfriend’s post.

Moakler and Vaughan have known each other since 1997, when they met on the set of Poison Ivy: The New Seduction. They were first romantically linked in April 2024 after being spotted out at a party in Los Angeles.

In her 50th birthday post, Moakler wrote that Vaughan “loves me like no other.” Vaughan responded, “The human heart has potential for deep contentment, joy, and confidence… some stories don’t fade with time… they wait for the right moment to be found again.”

When Moakler shared a photo with Vaughan back in April 2025, a fan asked, “Is this the guy that you said on Jeff Lewis you knew from 20 yrs ago but now your lives were finally lining up?” Moakler directly responded “yes” with a heart emoji.

Moakler was previously married to Travis Barker from 2004 to 2008. They have two children, Alabama and Landon Barker. Moakler also shares Atiana De La Hoya with Oscar De La Hoya. Vaughan shares three kids with his ex-wife Touriya Haoud.

Jensen Ackles & Eric Dane Race To Prevent “Chernobyl-Level Event” In L.A. In First ‘Countdown’ Trailer

“I was just checking to see how you were after that bomb went off in our face last night,” says Ackles’ Mark Meachum to Camacho’s Amber Oliveras as the trailer opens. Cue to a massive car bomb explosion. “Ready to rock,” replies a confident Amber.

Created by Haas, in Countdown, when an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight, LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Ackles), is recruited to a secret task force, alongside undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement, to investigate. But the hunt for the killer soon uncovers a plot far more sinister than anyone could have imagined, kicking off a race against time to save a city of millions.

In addition to Ackles, Dane and Camacho, the series also stars Violett Beane, Elliot Knight and Uli Latukefu.

Countdown is created by showrunner and EP Haas and produced by Amazon MGM Studios.

As previously announced, the series will launch with its first three episodes on June 25. New episodes will follow weekly, leading up to the season finale on Sept. 3

Christie Clark Talks ‘Days of Our Lives’ Return for Drake Hogestyn’s Emotional Goodbye

For Clark, who began working with Hogestyn in 1986, it was an emotional homecoming knowing he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. “I knew what was happening with Drake, and I knew he wasn’t well enough to come and work, so that was sad,” Clark begins. “I knew I had to come back, because it was for him, because he was my mentor, and really was the main principal actor I worked with and grew up with, and gave me everything. And, my God, he was just a man of unbelievable beauty inside and out. So, I was just gutted that it was happening to him — the most fit, loving, gorgeous man who appreciated life. It was just heartbreaking.”

Hogestyn passed away on September 28, 2024, and his impact on Clark’s life was significant. “I don’t know many more beautiful souls that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting,” she reflects. “He just was so kind to everyone on the set, cast, and crew. He just made everyone feel good, and he made you proud to be a human. He taught me some good lessons on how to be a good person, and I think for me, that is the ultimate goal.

“He showed me how to be kind to cast and crew,” she continues. “But we really had that connection. He was my second dad, and we played a lot of practical jokes on each other constantly. That went on for many, many, many years. It was an absolutely stunning, beautiful experience to be with him.”

The actress wishes she could have visited Hogestyn when she was in Los Angeles filming these episodes last year. “I was hoping to see him, but he was so ill that it wasn’t going to happen,” she relays. ”He sadly died, like, five days after we filmed everything. Nobody knew that it was that serious, but everybody knew that it was going to happen because it was terminal cancer, so nobody was acting. It is just raw emotion for someone that we all loved.”

Despite the heavy circumstances surrounding her return, Clark was happy to be back at the studio. “Every time I go back to the show, it’s family,” she shares. “You just drop right back in and get on the bike and go for the ride. It was lovely to see [Deidre Hall, Marlena Evans]. I’ve grown up with her, too, and she loves Drake, same as all of us. Martha [Madison, Belle Black] is also lovely to see; she’s my little sister [on the show].”

Clark, who has played the role of Carrie on and off for nearly 40 years, resides in England with her husband and their three daughters. After taking a break from showbiz, she has recently returned to performing. “I’ve been very busy in the last year,” she shares. “I just started back in my favorite acting teacher’s class. I haven’t been in class for 25 years, and last time I was in class, I was 25 years old, and I was, I guess, kind of a sexy ingenue type, and now I’m the mom in it. There are all these cool, young people in class, and it’s inspiring to work with all of them, and I’m loving it. I’ve just signed with an agent over here, so I’m just about to start auditioning. I can only do an American accent for the roles so far, but I’m going to concentrate in the next few months and figure out which English accent I want to perfect, and then maybe throw in Irish because there’s a lot of casting over here for American TV shows.”

As a result, stepping back into Carrie’s shoes again after a four-year break wasn’t a difficult task. “Usually, I come back and it’s like, ‘Oh, God, I haven’t done this for a while. Am I going to forget my lines?’” she admits. “But because of class, it was easy to just jump back into Carrie Brady-land.”

Plus, walking through the studio halls reminded the actress of her decades-long association with the show. “I absolutely have old memories and flashes of scenes from the past, mostly being on the pier for some reason, and the Brady pub and the fish market that they used to have,” she reports. “Those are strong. And Marlena and Roman’s [Wayne Northrop] house; there’s a lot of flashbacks of that. But I thank God for YouTube, because I can really go back and watch older scenes, like the ones of John and Carrie crying at Marlena’s bedside when she was in the coma or something, and that instantly takes me there. I do still have a Carrie journal from the past, so I can also go back and read that, and that helps me get back into it, too. But for the most part, I’ve grown up with those people. I know those people. They do feel like family, and it just flows.”

While she’s recognized by soap fans in the United States, Clark says she lives more of an anonymous life abroad. “Nobody knows me here,” she muses. “They think Days of our Lives is fake. They think it’s something on Friends. I’m like, ‘No, I was on it. I was on it. That TV show is real.’ In South Africa, it’s massive. Australia, too. But nowhere in Europe.”

And that’s just fine with Clark. “Growing up and being a working actor is not the norm,” she reflects. “So being on Days was the perfect balance for me, really. Rather than being a famous TV star and movie star that is recognized all around the world, it was ideal, because you have a little bit of fame.”

While she is open to coming back to Salem again — “I don’t ever want to say never, because I think you never should,” Clark notes — her focus is currently elsewhere. “I feel like I want to move on,” she offers. “I’m sad to say that, and I felt that way before the Drake thing, and then I thought, ‘I have to go back for Drake.’ I would probably go back, because it’s family, but I want to work on other stuff right now.”

‘Days of Our Lives’ Wedding! Real-Life Couple Casey Moss & True O’Brien Are Married

The actors, who met on the NBC soap in 2014, married on May 25. Moss, who plays JJ Deveraux on DAYS, reposted gorgeous photos from his wedding to O’Brien, who played Paige, to his Instagram Stories. The newlyweds captured some of the wedding photos on the beach.

O’Brien wore a stunning strapless wedding gown that featured a lace corset bodice. Moss looked sharp in a black tuxedo for his romantic nuptials to his longtime love.

The actors became costars in 2014, and their characters were involved romantically for a short period of time. O’Brien’s character was killed off in 2015. Despite her exit from the soap, O’Brien and Moss’ real-life romance continued.

Moss popped the question to O’Brien in June 2022 while they were on a hike in Malibu, California. The actor shared a sweet video of the moment he proposed on Instagram.

In October 2024, Moss revealed that they had set their wedding date. “We’re not hesitant in getting married. We want to get married,” Moss told Soap Opera Digest. “But I think we finally set one. We were going back and for the between 9-20-25 and 5-5-25 for quite some time. I think we finally landed on 5-25-25.”

Peter Reckell Talks Emotional Return to ‘Days of Our Lives’ After Recent Cast Losses

“There’s so many different levels to it,” begins Reckell, who last appeared in 2023. “The first thing that I think about is that I grew up in a family with six kids, and once I left home, coming back for holidays or whatever, you just pick up as if it was just another day at home, and it all works. That’s the first feeling I have when I come back to the show. But then there’s the next layer, which is all the other people in the cast and crew and production that are involved with creating this show, and that’s like a class reunion, where you’re all just catching up with each other. And then there’s a whole other layer when you have all these fans that love the show, and you’ve had an impact on them and they’re showing their love and their appreciation for you, so your appreciation for being back in in that family of Days of our Lives just grows and grows.”

Reckell says he was also grateful for the emotional material he was given to play when Bo wakes up from his two-year coma. “It was cool because all the cast members, we had these awakenings,” he explains. “I got to, not only in person, but in character, have these reunions and tell people how much they mean to me. The last time I was there, Bo was in a whole different state of mind, and pushing everybody away, but this is a reconnection of the characters and the history of not only Bo’s children and his wife, his best friends, and his sister, but the people that are no longer there. So, these shows are really impactful that way and that’s why the impact of not having John [Aniston, Victor Kiriakis] and Drake [Hogestyn, John Black] hits you hard.”

Since Bo has been off the canvas, his father, Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston), passed away, as did his father-in-law, Doug Williams (Bill Hayes). In real life, Aniston died in November 2022, Hayes in January 2024, Drake Hogestyn (John Black) in September 2024, and Bo’s on-screen brother, Wayne Northrop (who played Roman Brady and Alex North), in November 2024.

For Reckell and for Bo, it’s been an overwhelming sense of loss, especially with John’s story tied so closely to Bo’s. “It’s still difficult to talk about because Drake touched everybody in his sphere so closely, and he was my brother and one of my best friends,” Reckell shares. “Having his memorial, there was no acting required in those scenes, because you’re saying things as the character that parallel your feelings in your personal relationship. When I went to John’s memorial and all these emotions came up, I just wanted to run away and be by myself and feel those feelings. To have to do it as a character was really difficult.”

Reckell, who now resides in Alaska, regrets that he didn’t have a final chance to visit with Hogestyn when he filmed at the studio in Los Angeles last year. “I tried to go see Drake, but when I went down, it was just a couple of weeks before he passed, and so I didn’t get to see him,” Reckell sighs. “I’m not feeling sorry for myself, but you gotta take that time to tell people how much you love them and how much they mean to you. We’re at that age in our lives where people are going to transition.”

Reckell’s memories of working with Northrop, dating back to the start of his run in 1983, are also dear to him. “Those first days and months when I came on to the show, he and [Deidre Hall, Marlena Evans] were not only Days superstars, but daytime superstars,” Reckell relays. “He was my big brother, and he just guided me along and gave me the space to do what I do. Right off the bat, that was so strong and deep and multifaceted. He just meant so much to me, and he and Lynn [Herring, Lucy Coe, General Hospital, Northrop’s widow] were just part of my life. And I just feel so bad for Lynn and his family, and same with Drake. They meant so much to everybody that they touched. Their spirit was just so loving and supportive. They’re amazing men that I’m going to miss forever.”

Two other men he misses greatly are John Aniston and Bill Hayes. “Obviously, they’re two very different people, but my feelings about both of them are the same thing,” Reckell says. “When I’d have scenes with them, I’d go to their dressing rooms and hang out with them. John would tell his jokes, and Bill would tell stories of his incredible family and his history with being a pilot. He always had family reunions in a town in Michigan that sounded awesome. I was like, ‘Hey, can you adopt me so I can go?’ They were just substantial, powerful men who happened to do the same thing I do. I just loved sitting and listening to them talk; that grew our bond. I think [their deaths] also hit me so hard because my dad had just passed recently, so it was a challenge, that’s for sure.”

On a happier note, May 23 marked the 40th anniversary of Bo and Hope’s first wedding, which the show marked on air. “Isn’t that amazing?” Reckell marvels of his longtime connection to co-star Kristian Alfonso (Hope). “It’s just astounding to me. Kristian and I were talking about how we created something along with everybody else that has touched people on a very deep level. Whatever it was, we worked as hard as we could to make it the best show that day and every day. We would surprise each other and challenge each other, and we can’t help but have that connection.”

With Days set to turn 60 in November, Reckell, who has made it clear he’d love to return to the soap in a more meaningful capacity, can’t help but reflect on the impact playing Bo has had on his life. “Having been involved with the show for 42 years, what an honor,” he reflects. “What an honor to get to say, ‘Yeah, I have been doing this for 40 years and loving it.’ You look at big movie stars and if they do three movies a year or whatever, they could be overdoing it, but I get to do this, not quite as often as I want to right now, but I’ve been able to do this for many, many years, and it’s been very fulfilling. I feel like I am one of the luckiest people in the world.”

General Hospital Star Steve Burton Marries Michelle Lundstrom in 'Romantic' Laguna Beach Wedding: All the Details

The actor, 54, married chef and content creator Michelle Lundstrom, 44, on Saturday, May 17 in an intimate Orthodox church ceremony, followed by a reception at Montage Laguna Beach in Laguna Beach, California. The pair's church ceremony was immediate family-only, while their ultra-exclusive oceanfront reception was attended by 45 guests from their inner circle, including a few of the groom's friends from General Hospital.

"This day isn’t just about a ceremony," Burton tells PEOPLE. "It’s the beginning of forever with the love of my life."

Lundstrom, who appeared on Netflix's Barbecue Showdown 2, wore a custom, strapless couture gown designed by Lee Petra Grebenau for her big day. "It was exactly what I had wanted, romantic with a vintage vibe," the bride says. Her daughters from a previous relationship, 14-year-old Lilah and 10-year-old Hannah, joined her in her search for the perfect wedding dress.

"When I tried on my dress I knew it was the one," she recalls. "I came out to show my girls and they both said, 'That’s the one, Mom!' We all knew."

"It was beyond special," continues Lundstrom, whose hair and makeup were done by longtime friends Anzhela and Luiza Adzhiyan, respectively, who work on General Hospital.

Lilah and Hannah joined Burton's three children — daughters Makena, 21, and Brooklyn, 10, and son Jack, 19 — in the wedding party. General Hospital stars Jonathan Jackson and wife Lisa Vultaggio were also in the wedding party.

"The girls were so excited to wear matching dresses," Lundstrom says, with Burton adding that it "meant the world" to him to have Jack as one of his groomsmen.

The bride's sister, Janine, served as her maid of honor. Meanwhile, Burton's best friend, Jeremy Ross, was his best man.

Because Burton and Lundstrom "connected" over '80s music and movies after meeting on social media, they requested that their pianist play '80s romance songs during cocktail hour, and that their DJ, On the Go DJ Pro, do the same during reception.

The duo selected a more modern, though just as heartfelt, track for their first dance song — "I Choose You" by Forest Blakk.

The couple's "dream-like celebration filled with so much love," joined by those "who have always been there" for them, was "more meaningful than words can express."

"I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend, growing together each day in faith and love," Burton says, with Lundstrom adding that marriage "means everything" to them.

Tying the knot with Burton was an especially emotional moment for Lundstrom, who has "never felt so safe and loved" by someone.

"Gosh, he's proven that fairy tale love truly exists," she tells PEOPLE. "He's like pure sunshine — always uplifting, endlessly caring. His love makes me a better person every single day."

She continues, "To have the most incredible man I've ever known by my side forever brings me so much peace and happiness. He is the love of my life, and I feel so blessed to call him mine."

"Honestly, I've never felt so loved and cared for in my entire life," he admits. "I'm incredibly grateful to have her by my side. She is the most amazing, beautiful, and selfless woman I've ever known. I love her so much."

The master chefs at Montage "blew away" Burton and Lundstrom with "incredible" culinary creations. The Days of Our Lives alum especially enjoyed the savory beef tenderloin. However, Burton wanted something less luxurious for his wedding cake, requesting the dessert "to taste as close to a classic grocery store sheet cake as possible." However, he ultimately expanded his palate, compromising on a vanilla sponge cake with vanilla cream and fresh berries.

The following day, the newlyweds hosted a Sunday brunch "to celebrate once more before everyone headed home."

The nuptials took place just four months after the couple got engaged. Lundstrom admits that planning a wedding so soon alongside The Ashlyn Company was "fun and a little crazy."

Burton let Lundstrom "make most of the decisions," but had "a way of keeping everything stress free."

Burton announced his separation from his wife of 23 years Sheree Burton in May 2022. At the time, it was revealed that his ex was expecting a baby, and Burton released a statement explaining that the child was not his. Their divorce was finalized in December 2023.

Five months later in May 2024, PEOPLE confirmed that Burton was in a relationship with Lundstrom. The following month, Burton brought Lundstrom as his date to the Daytime Emmy Awards.

"Although we had been friends for a while and lived in different states, there was always an undeniable, electric connection between us," Burton says. "She is a breath of fresh air."

Lundstrom notes that she and Burton "built a deep, meaningful friendship before [their] relationship turned romantic." It didn't take long, however, for them to realize that they were each other's perfect match, with the soap opera star popping the question on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.

"I found a beautiful farm that had a cool stage with string lights and a small romantic chapel. I told Michelle we were going to look at a piece of property to possibly buy," Burton remembers. "The plan unfolded perfectly and she said yes!"

"It was incredibly sweet," Lundstrom says of the proposal. "He had a backdrop of the first place we met in person set up on the stage. When he got down on one knee, I was filled with emotion and a bit in shock. But, of course, I said yes! He then led me into the chapel, where rose petals, candles, and our photos surrounded us. We slow danced to our favorite songs as I cried happy tears. He's very romantic. Afterward, we joined our kids and closest friends for an intimate dinner to celebrate."

Talk Show Appearance

Talk Show Appearances

Monday, May 19 – MEGHANN FAHY swings by the studio to talk about the new series “Sirens”

Wednesday, May 21 – KRISTIN DAVIS visits “Live” to dish on “And Just Like That…” Plus, RYAN PHILLIPPE sits down for a chat about the new series “Motorheads.”

Lisa Rinna Developing Feature Adaptation Of Jane L. Rosen Novel ‘A Shoe Story’

Released in June 2022, the novel follows Esme Nash, a young woman who has one month and a closetful of shoes to discover the future she thought she’d lost. After giving up her dreams to care for her father after a tragic accident, Esme, seven years later, is offered a dog-sitting job in Greenwich Village by a mysterious stranger, giving her access to all of her long-buried hopes and dreams — as well as to an epic collection of designer shoes. Esme jumps at a second chance to step into the future she’s sure was meant to be hers. As she retraces her steps, one pair of borrowed shoes at a time, making new friends and reconnecting with her old love, Esme tries on versions of herself she didn’t know existed. But the hazy August days and warm summer nights pass too quickly, and Esme must decide how much of the life she imagined still fits, and what — and who — is on the road ahead of her.

“I remember being the girl from a small town who dreamed about a bigger life in a bigger city,” Rinna told Deadline. “A Shoe Story captures the magic of that self-discovery journey with a bit of magical sparkle, a lot of heart and a ton of fabulous fashion. It fit me like a perfect pair of shoes.”

In her own statement Rosen said, “I’m thrilled that Lisa Rinna has optioned A Shoe Story. Her energy, creativity, and bold spirit are a perfect match for this project, and I can’t wait to see where she takes it.”

Rosen is an author, screenwriter and newspaper columnist who divides her time between Fire Island and The Hudson Valley. Aside from A Shoe Story, she has written six novels including Nine Women, One Dress and Eliza Starts a Rumor. The latest in her Fire Island trilogy, Songs of Summer, debuts May 20.

An actress, entrepreneur and bestselling author, Rinna is a veteran of series including Days of Our Lives, Melrose Place, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She’s also recently appeared on FX’s American Horror Stories, NBC’s Lopez vs Lopez, and CBS’s So Help Me Todd, and exec produced and starred in the Lifetime film Mommy Meanest. The co-host of podcast Let’s Not Talk About the Husband, alongside husband Harry Hamlin, Rinna is repped by Industry Entertainment, UTA and Brecheen, Feldman, Breimer.

Spider-Noir: Nicolas Cage Suits Up in Superhero Series for MGM+ and Prime Video

Debuting Stateside on MGM+’s linear channel and then streaming globally on Prime Video, Spider-Noir tells the story of an aging and down-on-his-luck private investigator (played by Cage) in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life as the city’s one and only superhero.

On track to premiere in 2026, the series will, fittingly, be available in both black-and-white and color.

(Photo, Video) Spider-Noir also stars Lamorne Morris (New Girl), Brendan Gleeson (Mr. Mercedes), Abraham Popoola (The Rig), Li Jun Li (Wu Assassins), Karen Rodriguez (Acapulco) and Jack Huston (Mayfair Witches), while the roster of guest stars includes Lukas Haas (Righteous Gemstones), Cameron Britton (The Umbrella Academy), Cary Christopher (Days of Our Lives), Michael Kostroff (The Deuce), Scott MacArthur (Killing It), Joe Massingill (Killing It), Whitney Rice (Jury Duty), Amanda Schull (12 Monkeys), Andrew Caldwell (Henry Danger), Amy Aquino (Bosch), Andrew Robinson (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and Kai Caster (Yellowstone).

Oren Uziel (The Lost City) and Steve Lightfoot (Marvel’s The Punisher) developed the series with the Academy Award-winning team behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (in which Cage voiced the same role) — Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Amy Pascal — and serve as co-showrunners. Harry Bradbeer (Killing Eve) is set to direct and executive-produce the first two episodes; Aditya Sood and Dan Shear also serve as EPs.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Nicolas Cage starring in this series,” Katherine Pope, President Sony Pictures Television Studios, said last year when the project was first announced. “No one else could bring such pathos, pain, and heart to this singular character.” Added Amazon MGM Studios TV chief Vernon Sanders: “The extremely talented Nicolas Cage is an ideal choice for our new superhero and the accomplished producing team with Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Amy Pascal, and the incredible team at Sony is dedicated to expanding this franchise in the most authentic way.”

Denise Alexander, ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Days of Our Lives’ Actress, Dies at 85

“I am so very sorry to hear of Denise Alexander’s passing. She broke barriers on-screen and off, portraying Dr. Lesley Webber – one of the first female doctors on Daytime Television – for nearly five decades,” “GH” executive producer Frank Valentini said on social media. “It meant so much to have her reprise her role in recent years and I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with her. On behalf of the entire General Hospital family, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to her family, friends, and longtime fans. May she rest in peace.”

Alexander’s acting career dates back to the early 1950s when she made her Broadway debut in “The Children’s Hour” and guest starred in such television classics as “Father Knows Best,” “The Twilight Zone” and “The Danny Kaye Show,” 1960 was the year that changed her career trajectory when she made joined the cast of the CBS soap, “The Clear Horizon.”

Two years later, she was a dayplayer in an ABC soap pilot called “Emergency Hospital,” which later became known as “General Hospital” — but not as Lesley Webber. Instead, she was cast as Susan Martin on “Days of Our Lives” in 1966, where she planted her roots for the next seven years. When she chose to leave the enormously popular soap in 1973, fans were not happy.

That is when Alexander joined “GH.” Ratings were not the best during that time, and ABC was looking to add exciting new characters and stories. Alexander’s Lesley became one corner of one of daytime’s hottest triangle — Lesley, Rick Webber (played by Chris Robinson) and Monica Bard (played by the late Leslie Charleson, who died earlier this year). Lesley was also up to her ears in trouble because she confessed to the murder of David Hamilton, a crime her daughter Laura (Genie Francis) committed. Her acting earned Alexander a Emmy nomination for outstanding actress in a Daytime drama series.

When storyline called for Lesley to be killed off in a car accident, fans once again were outraged. It wasn’t until 12 years later in 1996 that it was revealed that — in true soap fashion — Lesley was actually alive. In between the two soaps, Alexander appeared on NBC’s “Another World,” working opposite her former “GH” husband, Robinson.

Denise Alexander Dies at 85: ‘General Hospital’ Star Remembered by TV Daughter Genie Francis

Born in New York City on November 11, 1939, and raised on Long Island, Alexander began acting as a child, appearing as Perry Como‘s daughter in Perry Como’s Chesterfield Supper Club in 1949 and other primetime series in the 1950s and ’60s, including Father Knows Best, The Danny Thomas Show, and The Twilight Zone.

She made her first feature film, Crime in the Streets, starring John Cassavetes, at 14, and did her fair share of radio work from the age of 6, telling We Love Soaps TV in 2010, “My dad, at one point, counted up the number I had done, and it was 2,500 radio shows. You would get out of school and go from one show to the next. They were 15-minute or half-hour shows, and you would sit around the table, read the script, rehearse a couple of times, and do it. Then you were out of there and onto the next one. And sometimes it was in the next studio. I did way more than people know I did.”

Alexander made her soap opera debut as Lois Adams on The Clear Horizon in 1960, but her big break came in 1966 when she was cast as Susan Hunter Martin on Days of Our Lives while still attending college at UCLA. As Susan, Alexander played a host of dramatic tales, including murdering her husband David Martin (played by Clive Clerk) in May 1967 after the death of their son.

“She started out as the bad girl and was thrown out of boarding school for smoking and drinking,” recalled Alexander to We Love Soaps TV. “The character caught on and sparked something with the audience, and that is how Susan became an important part of the show. I was there for almost seven years…. I had such a wonderful time on Days. It was like going to camp every day for me. I loved the people, loved the show, and loved what I got to do. They loved the character and liked me as an actor and gave me lots of neat stuff to do. I didn’t even ask for a vacation for five years because if I worked 365 days a year, I thought I was great. It was a very good time in my life.”

In 1973, Alexander was in contract negotiations with Days when ABC offered significant perks to the actress to join General Hospital to play Dr. Lesley Williams. Though Alexander loved her time in Salem, she decided to leave. “It was [Days’ Executive Producer] Betty Corday who sent me to General Hospital,” Alexander told welovesoaps.net. “She said, ‘You must do this.’ So when I went to General Hospital, they didn’t have a character for me. They had a character that was coming in, a woman doctor who was going to have a romance with John Beradino [Steve Hardy]. And that was obviously wrong for me or for John, but they took the character and a couple of scripts of her arrival they had written and had to scramble to create a storyline.”

Alexander found great success in the role, earning a Daytime Emmy Award in 1975, famously becoming the mother of Laura Vining (Genie Francis) and foster mom to Blackie Parrish (John Stamos), and was a star player in the show’s rise to number one, thanks, in part, to the torrid Lesley, Rick Webber (Chris Robinson), and Monica Quartermaine (Leslie Charleson) triangle. In a 2010 interview with Soap Opera Digest, Alexander noted, I always say this, and I hope Leslie Charleson does, too: The first time that General Hospital ever went to number one in our era, it was on the Lesley/Rick/Monica storyline. It wasn’t Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura. They went farther than anyone dreamed possible, of course, but that was a big triangle back then.” Lesley was killed off the soap in 1984, only to be resurrected in 1996, when she recurred until 2009. She appeared again in 2013, 2017, 2019, and 2021.

In an exclusive interview with TV Insider, Francis looks back on her relationship with Alexander. “I loved her. She loved me,” she says. “I stole her good stuff. When I look at myself sometimes on television, which I don’t do often because I don’t really like to watch myself, but I have seen myself do stuff and been kind of taken aback because I realized I just did Denise. So when I say I stole her good stuff, I’m saying I was so young, she imprinted on me. And some of my acting, some of my style of acting, was directly imprinted on me by Denise Alexander. And she was very, very good to me as I was growing up.”

Alexander gave Francis a cherished keepsake that holds special meaning. “She actually gave me this lovely necklace,” Francis relays. “It’s like a little angel that’s standing on a cloud, and it’s on a pearl. It was a charm, and I wore it all the time. And then when my daughter wanted to become an actress when she was young, I said, ‘You’ve got to have your good luck charm.’ So I said, ‘I’m going to give you this little angel that’s been worn by two actresses, and now it’s yours.’ And so [daughter] Eliza [Frakes] has that, and it’s important to her too. And when I told Denise that, she cried. She was so excited to hear that what she had given me, I gave to my daughter.”

Alexander is survived by a stepdaughter, Elizabeth Colla, from her marriage to the late Richard A. Colla.

LeAnn Rimes & Kimberly Williams-Paisley Join ‘9-1-1: Nashville’

The 20th Television and Ryan Murphy Television project received a straight-to-series order from the network in February. The new offshoot joins the mothership series 9-1-1 on ABC, where it moved in 2023 following its cancellation at Fox. The second series from the franchise, 9-1-1: Lone Star, was canceled after five seasons in 2023 and completed its run early this year.

9-1-1: Nashville is written and executive produced by the franchise’s co-creators Ryan Murphy & Tim Minear and 9-1-1: Lone Star showrunner Rashad Raisani and will premiere during the 2025-26 season. The drama will also be executive produced by Brad Falchuk, co-creator of the first two 9-1-1 series with Murphy and Minear, and 9-1-1 star Angela Bassett, who executive produced Lone Star.

Although best known for her musical career, Rimes has appeared in various film and TV projects, including Moesha, Days of Our Lives, American Dreams, and Northern Lights. The Grammy winner’s musical hits include “How Do I Live,” which remains one of Billboard’s all-time greatest songs, and she’s had 15 top-10 hits across genres, including “Can’t Fight the Moonlight.” She is repped by Darrell Brown Management, Paradigm and Wasserman Music.

Williams-Paisley is an actress, New York Times Best-Selling author, Alzheimer’s advocate, and co-founder of The Store, a non-profit organization in Nashville that aims to address food insecurity. She is perhaps best known for starring in the Father of the Bride movies, co-starring Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, and Martin Short. More recently, she co-starred in the Lionsgate release, Jesus Revolution, and the Netflix film, Dog Gone. She also starred in Netflix’s The Christmas Chronicles and its sequel, The Christmas Chronicles 2, with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. She is repped by The Gersh Agency and Link Management.

‘Little House On The Prairie’ Netflix Reboot Finds Its Laura Ingalls In ‘Lessons Of Chemistry’s Alice Halsey

Halsey is the first cast member confirmed for the new series, described as part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West. Casting Laura is considered key: she is the protagonist of the show as it is based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s semi-autobiographical novels and tells the story of the struggles and triumphs faced by those who shaped the frontier through her eyes.

In the 1974 TV series, Laura was played by Melissa Gilbert who recently welcomed the new take on the classic books.

Per the official character description, Laura (Halsey) is a disruptor. Honest to a fault. Questions authority. She’s our window into this adventure. An American icon in waiting. Forget your modern ideas of childhood — the stakes are high for children living in the 19th century. They have responsibilities — and freedoms — that seem extraordinary in this era of helicopter parenting. Mixed in with small pleasures and petty disputes with her older sister are true feats of survival and bravery. She is observant, tender, strong-willed, hot-tempered. She resists the bounds of 19th-century ladylike behavior — she likes to run barefoot and feel the sun on her face. She is curious and optimistic and fearless, like her father; resourceful and hardworking and honest, like her mother. She is quick to call out anyone who is cruel or unjust. She loves fiercely and unapologetically and is utterly devoted to her dog, Jack. She rubs some adults the wrong way — too many hard questions, too much personality, too much energy — but to the people who matter, she’s a bright light. She absorbs every detail she sees around her, collecting them for stories she will someday share with the world.

Sonnenshine executive produces alongside Joy Gorman Wettels for Joy Coalition, Trip Friendly for Friendly Family Productions, Dana Fox and Susanna Fogel. Sarah Adina Smith will direct the first episode. She was a director and executive producer on the first two episodes of Apple TV+’s Lessons In Chemistry, which didn’t feature Halsey. CBS Studios produces with Anonymous Content Studio

Since its original publication in the 1930s, the Little House novels have sold over 73 million copies in more than 100 countries, translated into at least 27 languages. Their 1974 TV series adaptation has found new audience on streaming with 13.25 billion minutes viewed on Peacock in 2024.

Halsey launched her acting career at the age of 7, playing Madeline Zott, the hyper intelligent — and wise — daughter of Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson) in Apple TV+ praised limited series Lessons In Chemistry. She can be seen on Peacock’s Days Of Our Lives as Rachel Black and heard as part of the main cast of Disney Jr.’s animated television series Kindergarten: The Musical, voicing twin sisters Kat and Ellie. Halsey also recently guest starred on the NBC comedy series Night Court.

In a recent behind-the-scenes DoOL video. Halsey reveals that she first auditioned for a commercial when she was 3 but didn’t get the part. After a break, she started acting again when she was 5-6 and soon booked Lessons In Chemistry.

Jensen Ackles’ Action Drama ‘Countdown’ Sets Prime Video Premiere Date; First-Look Photos

The series will premiere with three episodes on Wednesday, June 25, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. New episodes will follow weekly, leading up to the season finale on Wednesday, September 3.

Created by Haas (EP of One Chicago and FBI franchises) in Countdown, when an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight, LAPD detective Mark Meachum, portrayed by Ackles, is recruited to a secret task force, alongside undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement, to investigate. But the hunt for the killer soon uncovers a plot far more sinister than anyone could have imagined, kicking off a race against time to save a city of millions.

In addition to Ackles, Dane and Camacho, the series also stars Violett Beane, Elliot Knight and Uli Latukefu.

Countdown is created by showrunner and executive producer Haas and produced by Amazon MGM Studios. (Pic1, Pic2, Pic3, Pic4, Pic5, Pic6)

‘Days of Our Lives’: Michael Dietz on His Surprise Soap Return After 20-Year Hiatus

Dietz started his daytime career on Port Charles as Joe Scanlon in 1997 but has since moved behind the scenes as a producer of reality television, so other than a brief appearance on 9-1-1 in 2022, performing hasn’t been on his radar. As a result, the idea of stepping back in front of the camera was somewhat daunting.

“For the last, 15 years, since my soap days, I have had a recurring dream probably once every couple of months, that I’m on a set and I completely forget my line, and I’m pulling up the script, and it’s a minute before the scene, and I’m panicking,” Michael Dietz says. “So, after I said yes, I started going, ‘Oh, no. Am I going to be able to learn my lines?’ I jumped in as quickly as possible into the scripts when I got them, and it all came back, but I was still very nervous.”

Getting a warm welcome from the cast provided reassurance, as did seeing a familiar face in the studio. “The greatest joy is I went in and, of course, everybody was beyond lovely,” Dietz reports. “And when I got on set, Scott [McKinsey], the director, came out, and he was one of my last directors I worked with on Port Charles. He gave me a big hug, and I said, ‘I’m a little nervous.’ I had my scene with Mary Beth [Evans, Kayla Johnson], and she was so lovely. After, Scott said something over the speaker on the stage, like, ‘Welcome home, pal.’ Then it all kind of melted away.”

That he’s been cast as a medical professional yet again wasn’t lost on the actor. “What is it with me and doctors?” he muses. “Ironically, my daughter’s graduating from Duke in a month, and she wants to go to UCLA for her Master’s and PhD. She wants ‘doctor’ at the end of her name, so the big joke is I’ve played one on TV, and my daughter will be one.”

Though Dietz has appeared on multiple soaps, he admits he wasn’t as familiar with the Salem crew. “Probably a lot of [the cast] was like, ‘Oh, who’s this new guy that just got this part?’ ” he notes. “I’m like, ‘Oh, no, no, man, I used to do this back in the day.’ I feel so old now. I’m a little bit grayer now.”

But the adrenaline rush from performing quickly came back to him after his first day on set. “I called my wife [Paige Rowland, ex-Kit Montgomery, All My Children] on the way home, and I was like, ‘Oh, my God! That was so much fun,’ ” he recalls. “I totally got bit again. I mean, realistically, it had been maybe 20 years since I did scenes like that in front of the camera. I did a gig on Passions [as Jake in 2007] and Bold and the Beautiful [as Dr. Mark Maclaine from 2002-05], but to go back to that when you basically don’t do it for 20 years is a really strange experience. It was awesome, though. Everybody was just really nice and made me feel super comfortable.”

Dietz’s path to producing began 25 years ago, when he started developing programs and pitching ideas to networks. “I ended up selling a scripted show to NBC that got greenlit for pilot, and we thought it was going to go to series,” he recalls. “And I was like, ‘Oh, this is so easy.’”

When that didn’t pan out as planned, a friend who was working on Big Brother urged Dietz to consider pivoting to reality TV. “Big Brother was one of my favorite shows,” Michael Dietz shares. “I watched it religiously with my wife and daughter, and he was the guy that was coming up with the games and the challenges. I was like, ‘That is the coolest job I’ve ever heard of in my life.’ And he ended up getting me an interview with Big Brother. My resumé had nothing in the unscripted world, but I went in as a fan of the show with a ton of ideas. And the guy at the time that was hiring was like, ‘Look, I have people with tons of experience on their resumés, but I love what you’ve come in with and your approach.’ A week and a half later, I got the call that I was coming on as a producer for Big Brother, and I have been working ever since.”

Dietz has found great success behind the camera and has served as co-executive producer on a string of high-profile shows, including House of Villains, Generation Gap, and Love Island USA. He’s looking to add even more credits to his impressive list of hits. “I’m still pitching and selling a lot of my own shows,” he relays. “I’ve got seven shows in some stage of development. We have one with Reese Witherspoon‘s company [Hello Sunshine], a show that we just started taking out pitching. I have one at Fox. I have one with Sony. And then my wife, since we’ve been empty nesting for four years now, came on and the two of us have put together shows, and we’re pitching. I can’t think of how many pitches we had in the last few months between Hulu, Netflix, NBC, all the places. So that’s been really amazing for us.”

Though his plate is full on the production side, Dietz wouldn’t mind flexing his acting muscles from time to time. “I could see doing it if stuff like this came up every now and then,” he states. “Before Days, I would have said no. I felt like I had closed that chapter and moved on. But then I had that experience, and I was like, ‘Oh, there’s no reason I have to close this. This is fantastic.’ So, I would definitely have a conversation, and I am 100 percent open now to explore possibilities that come up in this space again.”

Tanner Stine & Anna Grace Barlow Confirmed For Faith-Based John Bramlett Biopic ‘The Bull’

The feature is being spearheaded by director Trey Reynolds, who previously explored Bramlett’s life in the documentary Taming the Bull: The John Bramlett Story and a short fiction also co-starring Stine and Barlow.

He is also acting as a producer under his company TR Films, with Darren Moorman at Reserve Entertainment.

Bramlett rose from poverty to a successful seven-year NFL career from 1965 to 1971, earning Pro Bowl honors and nearly winning AFL Rookie of the Year behind Joe Namath.

Known for his aggressive and fiercely competitive playing style, he also had a reputation as a troublesome figure off the field, whose violent temper and substance abuse led to bar fights, arrests, and family struggles.

A moment of divine intervention turned the once-notorious linebacker into a devoted evangelist, and Bramlett and his wife, Nancy, would spend the next 40 years traveling the world, sharing a message of faith and hope with those in need.

“The Bull is a film about resilience and the transformative power of faith. Tanner and Anna Grace bring a depth and authenticity to their roles that will make this story truly unforgettable,” said Reynolds.

Reserve Entertainment’s credits include Same Kind Of Different As Me and Netflix Original Blue Miracle, starring Dennis Quaid. It has also collaborated with Angel Studios on films like Sweetwater, Sight, and recently released titles The Hill, Monster Summer, and Green and Gold.

With talent officially attached, the production team is actively engaging investors, production companies, and studios to secure the final financing.

“We are crafting The Bull not just as a movie, but as an experience, one that will challenge, inspire and move audiences,” said Moorman. “With Tanner and Anna Grace on board, we’re confident this story will touch lives and spark conversations.”

Stine is represented by Buchwald and Untitled Entertainment, while Barlow is represented by Gersh and Authentic Management.

‘Days of Our Lives’ Casting: Marissa Reyes to Play Teenaged Arianna Horton

As reported by Soap Opera Digest, Reyes is set to join the Peacock soap in May as part of a multi-month story arc. Arianna was last seen in Salem in 2023 before heading off to New Zealand to live with Will (Chandler Massey) and Sonny (Freddie Smith).

Multiple actresses have portrayed Arianna since she was introduced in 2013. Twins Harper & Sydnee Udell played the character up until 2019 when Sydney Brower took over as an aged-up Arianna. Lane Rosa, who recently turned 13 (see her instagram, below), then started portraying the character in 2022.

Arianna was born after a one-night stand between Will and Gabi (then played by Camila Banus) in 2012 and delivered by her future stepfather, Sonny. Gabi was later arrested and sent to prison for her involvement in the murder of Nick Fallon, and Arianna ended up being raised by Will and Sonny.

Reyes is a 21-year-old actress from Houston, Texas, who began her career performing in musical theatre. She made her on-screen debut in the supernatural horror movie Spooky Night: The Spirit of Halloween and went on to appear in two episodes of the Nickelodeon series That Girl Lay Lay.

Her first significant role came in the Disney Channel family sitcom Raven’s Home, where she played the character Cami Rivera. She also appeared in the films Ganymede and A Little Family Drama. More recently, she starred in three episodes of the Netflix comedy series Running Point and an episode of Prime’s Bosch: Legacy.

In addition to her upcoming role on Days, Reyes is also set to star in the horror film The Evilry with Faye Dunaway.

TLC Musical ‘CrazySexyCool’ Aims For Broadway

The musical tells the story of Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins (ex-Sheila, Days of Our Lives), Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, the Grammy-winning trio behind such hits as “Waterfalls,” “Creep,” “Unpretty” and “No Scrubs.” Written and directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, the former artistic director of London’s Young Vic whose credits include One Love: The Bob Marley Musical, CrazySexyCool makes its world premiere at Arena Stage in June 2026 for 8 weeks as part of the company’s 75th Anniversary season.

Producing is Bill Diggins’ Diggit Theatrical Group, with Stephen Gabriel as Executive Producer. Gabriel’s Broadway producing credits include The Roommate, The Who’s Tommy, Jagged Little Pill and Ain’t Too Proud.

Billed as a “(mostly true) story of unshakable sisterhood,” CrazySexyCool will feature choreography by Chloe O. Davis, the associate choreographer of the current Gypsy whose other credits as a performer include Paradise Square and Hell’s Kitchen.

Formed in 1990 Atlanta, TLC would eventually score nine Top 10 hits, including four number-one singles – “Creep”, “Waterfalls”, “No Scrubs” and “Unpretty.” The group sold over 95 million records worldwide, though creative differences and internal feuds set in. Lopes died on April 25, 2002, in a car crash while filming a documentary in Honduras.

“TLC completely changed the game,” said producer Bill Diggins. “Their music gave a voice to women everywhere, empowering them to be confident and unapologetic. But this isn’t just a story about the music; it’s about the sisterhood between these women and what kept them together through both unimaginable challenges and chart-topping success.”

“Bringing this story to the stage is a dream come true,” said Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins. “We have performed in a lot of different venues all over the world throughout our career, but bringing our story and music to the theater is a totally new and exciting challenge.”

“We have some of the best people in the business working on this project,” said Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas. “Audiences will get to hear our story – mostly fact with a sprinkle of fiction – told in our own way, and of course it’s set to all your favorite hits.”

Kyle Lowder Teases His Return as Rex Brady on ‘DAYS’ After Recent Pivot to Broadcast News

“I was going to L.A., as I do every two to three months to get my fill of Southern California and see my friends and reconnect,” begins Lowder of how his visit came about. “I was in touch with Ron [Carlivati, then-head writer] and coincidentally, almost serendipitously, he had an idea for Rex to make an appearance because of the storyline with his mother on the show, Kate [Roberts, Lauren Koslow]. So, I got to go to L.A. and spend some quality time with friends, see people that I’ve known for decades who were considered professional family, and it was a week of business and pleasure.”

During Lowder’s first stint on Days, he played Brady Black from 2000 to ’05. The show rehired him in 2018 as Rex Brady, and he has been appearing on and off since. This time around, he was thrilled to see that his scenes were with his on-screen parents, Kate and Roman Brady (Josh Taylor), where Rex assures them that he’s doing just fine following his recent car crash. “I’ve known Lauren and Josh since I was a literal teenager,” he points out. “I just love them as people, I love them as actors, and I think we work extremely well together. I love the chemistry that we have, and I was so happy to see their faces and to work with them again.”

That the soap continues to incorporate Rex for pop-ins is very special to Lowder. “I do not take it for granted,” he says. “I’ve been told multiple times, in different ways, by multiple people running the show that I’m very much a part of the fabric of Days of our Lives. They’ve always found ways to keep me a part of the storylines, and that’s something that means the world to me.”

A quarter of a century after he first appeared on the show, the excitement of doing it hasn’t waned, Lowder shares. “Every time I drive to the studio, I always have flashes of my 19-year-old self driving to the studio for the first time,” he explains. “Days of our Lives was my first job. It was the first time I was driving to work to get paid as a professional actor. I was 19 when I started, and I was 43 when I shot these episodes. All these years later, I still felt like I was driving to a place that feels like home to me, and then you walk through the doors of the studio to familiar sights and sounds and smells and faces, and it’s like riding a bike. I check in, go to my dressing room, get into wardrobe, learn the lines, run the lines, and go out to the set. I didn’t skip a beat. I didn’t feel any rust whatsoever. It’s so familiar to me.”

Which is saying a lot, considering he hasn’t been acting a lot in recent years. In 2023, Lowder moved to Nevada to be closer to his daughter, Isabella, 15, and pivoted from performing to news. “I have a lot of experience connecting to an audience through the medium of television,” he notes. “That was very, very helpful in terms of my transition from scripted television to broadcast news. When I sit at that anchor desk, I’m still communicating to an audience through a camera lens, and that is something that I’ve been doing for literal decades now. So the transition, in terms of the TV aspect of it, was very comfortable for me. I think that the learning curve was that this is not scripted television, and I had to learn the nuances and the ins and outs of this industry. But I’ve been doing it for almost two years now, and that has become second nature as well, which is great.”

But using a teleprompter every day didn’t make learning lines any easier. “One thing I realized is when you’re out of the soap opera game for even a relatively short amount of time, memorizing lines becomes a little bit more of an issue than it has in the past,” Lowder confides. “I’ve always been a very, very good line memorizer. It was never an issue for me. But being out of the game for a minute and coming back to shoot these episodes, I did notice that the normal time that I allotted in the past for memorizing lines was not sufficient. You go from reading a teleprompter every single day to having to commit copy to memory, your memorization muscles get atrophied.”

Nevertheless, he is all in on his new profession. “I truly have fallen in love with the industry of broadcast news,” he enthuses. “I sit at the same chair and the same desk in the same studio, but the news cycle is different every single day. It even changes throughout a two-and-a-half-hour broadcast that we do every single morning, so that keeps me on my toes. It’s very enjoyable.”

But he’s still open to popping up in Salem when needed. “I’m turning 45 this year, and if I’ve learned anything in 45 years of being on this planet, I’ll just say that you never know,” he offers. “I don’t like to put limitations on things whatsoever. I don’t like to say, ‘Well, that’s never been done before; I don’t see how that would work.’ I keep an open mind. This is a show that gave a very green, very inexperienced 19-year-old kid a shot and they changed my life. There’s a loyalty that I have to that show, and Ken Corday [executive producer] in particular. If the call comes in, I answer it and say, ‘How can I help?’ I love the show, I love working with the people on it, so I’m just very grateful for the experience to work there again.

Alison Sweeney Teases Sami Brady’s Epic ‘DAYS’ Return Brings Unexpected Twists

The actress, who last appeared in 2022, says she wasn’t expecting to see the story that was scripted — Sami’s son, Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman), recently learned that he was conceived in 2006 after his father, EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel), forced Sami to have sex with him.

“It definitely caught me off-guard that they were playing out the story, just because it felt like it was in the past,” admits Sweeney. “I liked the idea, but it seemed to me that it was common knowledge. I never thought about the idea that, right, people wouldn’t have told Sami’s kids.”

When Sami arrives in Salem, she heads to the hospital, where EJ, who has been shot, is in a coma. She finds her sister, Belle Black (Martha Madison), pledging her love to him. “Sami had been told that there was something between Belle and EJ,” notes Sweeney. “She’s not surprised, but she’s upset and immediately looking to cause friction. She and Belle are never going to be friends. Belle’s never been on Sami’s side for anything, and this is just another example of that. But Sami does think that EJ is with Belle just to piss off Sami — and it does — but she’s also a little egocentric about it and thinks that she should tell Belle that.”

Belle leaves Sami alone with EJ, and Sami speaks tenderly to her ex. “She professes her underlying feelings that she’s willing to admit when he’s unconscious,” previews Sweeney. “Maybe he’ll hear her and want to wake up. She wants him to fight through, she wants him to be OK. She doesn’t want this to be how it ends.”

Johnny enters and is stunned to see his mother being so cozy with EJ. Mother and son then have a difficult talk about his conception. Though 19 years have passed since she did the original tale, Sweeney had total recall. “Having played all those scenes, I remember it all,” she says. “In some ways, it isn’t hard to walk back into reliving those moments or dealing with those things because I have real feelings about how it was to play them. I remember all the backstory and the stuff leading up to it, and a lot of other storylines before and after that I played about it.”

Nevertheless, she had some trepidation about the material. “I felt such a responsibility to honor the storyline,” she explains. “I have so many conflicting feelings because there are so many Sami fans who have stayed with me and post on my social media, so I feel very connected to them. I remember what a huge uproar this storyline caused when it happened, and how all the different fan bases felt about it. I know a lot of them still watch the show, and I felt immediately like I was neck-deep trying to tackle a Days of our Lives fan controversy, never mind the real-life controversy of this particular issue. I worked really hard on the material and worked with the writers about the material. I hope I put our best foot forward in regard to the scene.”

Sweeney appreciates that the writers scripted an evolution for Sami off-screen. “Part of what they wrote for the storyline is that she’s been going to therapy and talking it out with someone,” she shares. “I thought that was a really interesting choice. I do think Sami can use some therapy, and working through some of those issues is probably very healthy for her. So, in some ways, she’s really tackled her feelings about what happened then and gotten some perspective on it.”

She enjoyed working with Boatman on the emotional material. “Carson is delightful, always a lovely actor to work opposite,” Sweeney praises. “But it’s a lot of Sami monologuing to her son, so I had a lot of dialogue, and Carson was like, ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ He was very sweet.”

Sami crosses paths with other people close to her, including ex-husband Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering), with whom she falls back into familiar territory. “That was really fun and funny and surprising,” Sweeney relays. “Definitely an unexpected turn for the storyline, and a treat for the Sami and Rafe fans. Working with Galen is such a blast; I really enjoy that. We’ve had a great history together — so many great storylines and fun times. For Galen and me, it was really an opportunity to showcase that Sami is going through this transition where she’s coming to terms with a lot of stuff from her past and has a much healthier perspective.”

Sweeney also connected on camera with Louise Sorel, who is reprising the role of Vivian Alamain. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh, who’s playing Vivian?’ and they said, ‘Louise Sorel,’” she recalls. “And I said, ‘Wait, really?’ That was such a delight to see her, and she looks exactly the same. It was so fun. She goes way back at Days, and I remember her in the very beginning when I first started, burying Carly [Manning, Crystal Chappell] alive.”

Sweeney appreciates that 11 years after leaving the soap she first joined in 1993, she is given so much to do when she comes back to visit. “I never wanted to close the door entirely on my time at Days,” she reflects. “But I just imagined being in a church with 15 other characters at a wedding. I didn’t really imagine how fun it would be and how creative they could get building whole moments for me in these short little returns. That really brings me a lot of joy, and it’s fun to play. I get a kick out of it, and I enjoy getting to see everyone. It always puts a smile on my face, and I always look forward to it.”

This is just the first of Sweeney’s upcoming visits. She’ll be back soon for the memorial for John Black (Drake Hogestyn), and for the 60th anniversary celebration that will air in November.

Days of Our Lives Among 2025 Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame Honorees

This year the organization will also present the Iconic Show Award to the long-running daytime drama “Days of our Lives,” as the show celebrates its 60th anniversary in November. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro will receive the Hall of Fame’s Chairman’s Award for his contributions across Disney’s platforms worldwide, and Emmy Award-winning actress and producer Sheryl Lee Ralph will be honored with the organization’s Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic work with the DIVA Foundation.

“The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame is proud to recognize this extraordinary group of leaders, innovators, and creative pioneers who have shaped the media landscape in profound ways,” Charlie Weiss, chairman of the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, said. “Each honoree has not only excelled in their field but has also driven meaningful change across the industry.”

The 33rd annual gala will also feature Lionsgate’s Sandra Stern and AMC’s Kristin Dolan among others. The gala will honor its new class on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at New York’s Ziegfeld Ballroom.

A portion of the proceeds from the gala will be donated to The Broadcasters Foundation of America, a charitable organization that provides anonymous financial grants to those of our industry colleagues and their families who are in acute need due to critical illness or accident, advanced age, death of a spouse or other serious misfortune.

Drew Barrymore – Actress, director, producer, host of “The Drew Barrymore Show” and co-founder of the production company Flower Films
George Cheeks – Co-Chief Executive Officer, Paramount Global; President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS
Kristin Dolan – Chief Executive Officer, AMC Networks
Richard A. “Dick” Foreman – President, Richard A. Foreman Associates, Incorporated
Michael Gelman – Executive Producer, “Live with Kelly & Mark” Disney/ABC
David Kline – President Spectrum Reach, EVP Charter Communications
Mark Marshall – Chairman, Global Advertising & Partnerships, NBCUniversal
Arthur Smith – Chairman & CEO, A. Smith & Co. Productions; Chairman, Tinopolis USA
Jon Steinlauf – Chief U.S. Advertising Sales Officer, Warner Bros. Discovery
Sandra Stern – Vice Chairman, Lionsgate Television Group
Rob Weisbord – Chief Operating Officer and President of Local Media, Sinclair, Inc.
Technology Leadership Award Honoree, Melani Griffith – Chief Growth Officer, Google Fiber
Chairman’s Award Honoree Jimmy Pitaro – Chairman, ESPN
Humanitarian Award Honoree Sheryl Lee Ralph – Award-winning actress and advocate
Iconic Show Award Honoree Days of our Lives – Daytime drama exclusively streaming on Peacock, produced by Corday Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Sends Tamara Braun Packing Again

Tamara Braun revealed via Instagram that she’s leaving Days of Our Lives on April 3. Given that it’s April Fools, Deadline checked with the Peacock soap to make sure it’s true.

“I wish this was an April Fool’s Joke but it’s not,” Braun wrote on IG. “This is Ava’s last week on Days. Last couple of days really. Sad but true. I’ve been gone since late July of last year but you can still catch Ava on your screens until April 3rd! I miss being with my Days pals. They are a really good group of caring individuals and being with them was a joy.”

Braun originally joined DOOL back in 2008 in the role of Ava. She earned her first Daytime Emmy award in 2009 in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category.

The actress has been in and out of Salem for years. She returned in 2011 as Taylor Walker, taking over Natalia Livingston. In 2015, she reprised her role of Ava when DOOL was celebrating its 50th anniversary before leaving a year later. She then came back in 2020 and 2023.

“The change was solely due to the ebb and flow of daytime storytelling,” a DOOL spokesperson said about her most recent departure.

Braun has previously starred in other soaps like All My Children as Reese Williams and in General Hospital as Carly Corinthos and Kim Nero in separate runs.

‘Days of Our Lives’ Star Greg Vaughan Confirms Romance With Shanna Moakler

In honor of Shanna Moakler‘s 50th birthday, she and soap actor Greg Vaughan officially confirmed their romance. The couple shared the same sweet photo of them gazing into each other’s eyes.

Moakler reflected on what she learned about herself in her 40s and how excited she was about the decade ahead. “I’m feeling extra blessed—grateful to God, to my beautiful, healthy kids, my family, my tribe… and the man who loves me like no other,” she wrote, the last part of her Instagram caption referring to Vaughan.

The General Hospital alum penned a sweet caption for his love. “The human heart has potential for deep contentment, joy, and confidence… some stories don’t fade with time… they wait for the right moment to be found again,” he wrote.

Moakler and Vaughan have kept their romance quiet, but they were linked together last April when they were spotted leaving a Black Keys release party in Los Angeles. They first met on the set of the 1997 film Poison Ivy: The New Seduction.

The pair have very famous exes. Moakler was married to Travis Barker from 2004 to 2008, and they share two children, Alabama and Landon. She also has a daughter, Atiana De La Hoya, with ex Oscar De La Hoya. Vaughan was previously engaged to Rizzoli & Isles star Angie Harmon. He was married to Touriya Haoud from 2006 to 2016, and they have three sons.

Maybe Moakler and Vaughan will spill details about their romance on Moakler’s upcoming podcast, Bad Bunnies, with former General Hospital star Kelly Monaco. Monaco and Moakler announced their joint venture on March 13. Monaco, who recently left the soap after over 20 years as Sam McCall, and Vaughan were costars on General Hospital when Vaughan stepped in to play Lucky Spencer.

‘Days of Our Lives’ Shake-Up! Details on the Big Change

She spoke about leaving the show in a press release: “It has been an honor and the pleasure of a lifetime to make my mark in Salem over the past 41 years. I will forever consider this show and everyone involved my second home, but it is time for me to focus on my family.”

Drucker started out on DOOL as a production assistant and made her way to the top over four decades. She has received 15 Emmy nominations and three wins during her time on the show. She is only the fourth woman to hold the title of Co-Executive Producer in the DOOL’s history.

Maxam has won several Daytime Emmy Awards as director. He began his career with daytime TV as a writer on As The World Turns in 1995. Maxam then went on to serve as a producer/director on The Young and the Restless. In 2008, he made the switch to DOOL and served as executive producer from 2011 to 2012.

Executive producer Ken Corday spoke on Drucker and her legacy on the show. “Janet began her career with us as a production associate and steadily rose through the ranks, becoming an integral part of our leadership team. She has been a guiding presence behind the scenes, and her positive influence has left a lasting legacy. We thank her deeply for her dedication, talent, and heart,” he said in a press release.

“Noel brings with him an exceptional blend of creative vision, technical expertise, and leadership experience. His deep understanding of the genre and steady hand behind the scenes make him the ideal choice to help lead us forward.”

William Moseley & Mark Valley To Lead New Luca Elmi Thriller ‘Hostage’

Written by Drew Ingram and produced by his Stagmoor Studios, Hostage follows a charismatic politician’s road to the governor’s office as it takes an unexpected twist when he becomes embroiled in a high-stakes hostage situation that forces him to confront his past and threatens to derail his path to power.

Moseley stars as ‘Logan Marshall,’ a man in his prime; a rising political star and the Independent candidate in the upcoming Kentucky gubernatorial election. The kind of politician every voter wants to believe in, a proud Kentuckian, handsome, young, charismatic, and commanding, with a supportive wife, Clara Marshall, and their daughter, Amelia, by his side. But beneath the surface, Logan is a man barely holding it together. He is polished in public, messy in private, and completely unpredictable when pushed. Behind the speeches and the campaign smiles, he constantly flirts with his darker impulses and baser instincts. He is a politician unraveling at the worst possible time.

Valley stars as ‘Jon Lewis,’ Logan’s ruthless campaign manager who keeps the wheels turning and isn’t afraid to speak the uncomfortable truth. He is brutally honest, unflappable, and cynical—his goal is to win at all costs, even if it means cutting moral corners. While he serves as Logan’s closest confidant, he is also a constant reminder of the pressures and compromises that come with ambition. Jon’s loyalty is absolute, but his patience wears thin as Logan spirals.

Elmi is a director and producer from Milan, Italy. His production company Roman Citizen has co-produced several features, including Succede, produced by Indigo Film and The First King, produced by Groenlandia. In 2019, he received the Producer of the Year award from the David di Donatello Film Festival for his work on The First King.

Moseley will next be seen as the lead in Hallmark’s Royal-Ish, and Steffan Jacker and Alexander Kiesl’s sci-fi feature Home Sweet Home: Rebirth opposite Michele Morrone. Most recently, he starred as the lead in Derek Estlin Purvis’ action feature The Ballad of Davy Crockett. In the same year, Moseley played the lead role of ‘Graham Savoy’ in the Crown Media feature Christmas In Notting Hill as well as Murder Company alongside Kelsey Grammer.

He is best known for his role as ‘Peter Pevensie’ in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. He reprised his role of Peter in the 2008 sequel The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and two years later in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Additional film credits include Romuald Boulanger’s On the Line, the Amazon Prime feature film Raven’s Hollow, the indie feature Saving Paradise, Petr Jákl’s Medieval and Zackary Adler’s action drama The Courier. Moseley is repped by Untitled Entertainment, IAG, CAM, and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis.

Valley was a series regular in FOX’s Human Target, NBC’s Harry’s Law, ABC’s Boston Legal, FOX’s Keen Eddie and ABC’s Body of Proof. Additionally, he recurred in Blood & Treasure for CBS, NBC’s Crisis, and FOX’s Fringe. He is repped by Schumacher Management.

Daniel Cosgrove Joins ‘General Hospital’ as ‘Consummate Politician’ Ezra Boyle

The opportunity to join the ABC soap came his way at the start of the year, but Cosgrove admits he wasn’t sure what to think when he first got the call from his reps. “On January 1, New Year’s Day. I had two missed calls from my agent and my manager, and then a text from my manager saying, ‘Oh, hey, give us a call when you can,’ ” he relays. “And I was like, ‘This is the day that my agent or manager is getting rid of me.’ I gave a call, and they asked if I would be interested in reading for a part on General Hospital. If you asked me a few months back, I probably didn’t have an interest, but as soon as the opportunity was presented, I was just like, ‘Yeah.’ ”

That role was the recast for Jack Brennan, which went to Chris McKenna — “Which totally makes sense,” says Cosgrove — but there was an upside for the actor. “I got to read with Laura Wright [Carly Spencer], who I hadn’t seen since my Guiding Light days,” Cosgrove notes of the show where he played Bill Lewis and she played Cassie Layne. “And then they asked if I’d be interested in this new character and I said, ‘Absolutely,’ and that was Ezra Boyle. They told me a little bit about him, and one or two people I’d be working with, but they kind of kept things tightlipped. Now, I probably have been filming for the past month and a half.”

Being back on a TV set at all is an unexpected turn of events for Cosgrove, who took a step back from the business in recent years. “I haven’t been auditioning,” he explains. “I took time off with the [actors’] strike [in 2023]. I got a real job,” — teaching acting and selling Jeeps — “and I was kind of thinking I was out of the business. And then this just reignited something in me, such an appreciation and such an excitement and a love. I mean, I get to work hours early and I don’t want to sound corny, but each and every day is just a blessing.

However, Cosgrove admits he had some concerns before his first day. “I thought I was going to have so much rust that memorization was going to be difficult, but not at all,” he reports. “I’ve been able to completely focus on what I need to do. And the way I learn lines, I adlib, I sing them. I do everything.”

As for how his alter ego fits into the Port Charles canvas, Cosgrove reveals, “He is part of the political storyline and he’s a consummate politician. At first, he seems to be aligning with Drew Quartermaine [Cameron Mathison] and there’s some shenanigans going on, but the character is kind of mixing it up with a lot of the cast, from Genie Francis, Mayor Collins, to the Quartermaines, to just kind of creating a little bit of a thorn in the side to some of the good folk of Port Charles. He comes across as maybe a little arrogant and full of himself, but it’s definitely been fun so far. I’m working with such a fantastic cast.”

Reconnecting with Mathison has also been fun for Cosgrove. The actors hadn’t crossed paths since they were on All My Children in the ’90s, where Mathison portrayed Ryan Lavery and Cosgrove was Scott Chandler. “I started All My Children in October ’96 and I believe Cameron started sometime in early ’97,” Cosgrove recalls. “It was his first show, it was my first show. We were in one of these foursome storylines for a little bit in the beginning, and that was a blast. I really hadn’t seen him since probably around that time — maybe I ran into him at an event or something in between — so we were just doing a lot of reminiscing, and we looked at some pictures of those old Pine Valley days and it was really great. At the same time, we’re talking decades, but it just seemed like maybe a couple of years. We were in our mid-20s then and you’re working to get your start. I was single and now here we are, in our 50s, I’m married with four kids, and we’re creating some more memories.”

The East Coast-based actor is commuting to Los Angeles for the new gig, but that’s fine with him. “We’ll see how it goes,” he allows. “I’ve commuted in the past, so it’s just part of the job.”

A job he couldn’t be more thrilled to have at this stage of his life. “There’s just so much gratitude for the opportunity to do this,” Cosgrove reflects. “I was on set and I just had the dialogue in my head of, ‘This is where my path has led me. This is what I’m best at.’ When I’m on a set, I love it. And now, being older and having all the experiences that I have, all of my favorite moments aren’t when I got this job or nailed this scene or did this or that. It’s all my relationships. I think about the people that I have worked with, specifically at Guiding Light, Days of our Lives [where he played Aiden Jennings], All My Children, and other shows. And it’s those relationships with not just actors but with people in the crew, and the laughs and those connections that we’re able to make that I remember. I never really took it for granted when I was younger but now, I have a true appreciation. I’ve lived a bunch, and what I really love is that I get to go to work and maintain these relationships.”

Something he hopes to do in the foreseeable future. “I’m excited when the next script comes for my next show,” Cosgrove enthuses. “It reminds me of waiting for the Sears Roebuck Christmas catalog when I was a kid. I can’t wait to see what’s next for my character.”

Precious Way & Jalyn Hall Round Out Series-Regular Cast In NBC’s Tracy Morgan Comedy Pilot

Written by Carlock and Means, the comedy stars Morgan as Reggie, a disgraced former football player on a mission to rehabilitate his image.

The pair joins previously announced cast members Erika Alexander as Monica, Reggie’s childhood sweetheart from Brooklyn who co-parents with him and still is his agent and business manager, even though they divorced years ago; Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Tobin, an award-winning filmmaker who moves into Reggie’s mansion to film an immersive documentary about the former star running back; and Bobby Moynihan as Gator, Reggie’s loyal former teammate who has always stuck with him even when things went sideways.

Also in series-regular roles, Way will portray Brina, Reggie’s loving and supportive fiancée who sees the documentary as an opportunity to advance her stardom; Hall will portray Carmelo, Reggie and Monica’s son, a high schooler who has grown up in the shadow of Reggie’s football career.

Carlock, Means and Morgan executive produce with Fey, Eric Gurian and David Miner. Rhys Thomas is executive producer and director of the pilot only. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, where Fey, Carlock and Means are under overall deals, produces with Little Stranger, Bevel Gears and 3 Arts.

Way starred in the Showtime original film Heist 88, opposite Courtney B. Vance. She also had a recurring role as the daughter of Naomi (Brandy) on the ABC musical drama series Queens. Additionally, Way played the lead role in the AllBlk half-hour comedy Partners in Rhyme, opposite MC Lyte, and starred in the horror-thriller You’re Not Alone. She is repped by Buchwald and Zero Gravity Management.

For his performance in the film Till, starring alongside Danielle Deadwyler and Whoopi Goldberg, Hall received an NAACP Image Award, a Critics Choice Award nomination and an African American Film Critics Association Award. He recently appeared in the Peacock limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Hart. Additional TV credits include playing a young Martin Luther King Jr. in the Emmy-nominated Genius: MLK/X, the Hulu/Onyx feature Bruiser, Disney+’s The Crossover, and the CW series All American. His film credits include Space Jam 2, Shaft, The House with a Clock in Its Walls, The Outlaw Johnny Black and All Day and Night. He is repped by Artist Collective Entertainment and Luber Roklin Entertainment.

AlexAnn Hopkins Exits ‘Days of Our Lives’ as Joy Wesley

A spokesperson for Days says, “We enjoyed having AlexAnn bring the character of Joy to life, it was a short yet important story arc, and we hope the fans enjoyed watching it unfold.”

The Florida native, whose past credits include The Goldbergs, Criminal Minds, and Chicago P.D., made her first appearance on Days on October 22, 2024, as a grown-up Joy, the daughter of Nancy Wesley (Patrika Darbo) and Dr. Craig Wesley (Kevin Spirtas). Joy was born on-screen in 2003 when Chloe Lane (Nadia Bjorlin), Craig and Nancy’s other daughter, was diagnosed with leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. Joy was, thankfully, a match and saved her sister’s life. Joy (Aisling Acuna) was a flower girl at Chloe’s wedding to Brady Black (Kyle Lowder) in 2005, then left town with her parents and wasn’t seen again until last year.

When Joy returned to Salem with Nancy in 2024, it was to audition for Body & Soul, the soap opera produced by Abe Carver (James Reynolds) and Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow). The night before her audition, Joy met Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) at a bar, and he revealed that he thought his wife was cheating on him. Joy and Johnny went back to her hotel room and he spent the night. He left his wedding ring; Joy ran into him the next day and returned it to him.

Joy then went to her audition for the role of Regan Holloway, where she discovered that not only was Johnny the director of the soap, but his wife, Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) was in the cast and playing Regan’s rival. Joy secured the role, so she and Johnny agreed to keep their night together a secret. The truth came out as the town rang in the new year, but since Joy and Johnny didn’t actually sleep together, everyone was able to put it in the past.

In time, Joy started sleeping with Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson), but they split up after he reunited with Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein). Since Body & Soul had been canceled, Joy needed a new job and was hired at Titan, where Alex also works. Joy then realized she might be expecting. Stephanie overheard Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) calling in a pregnancy test and confronted Joy. Joy got her results back and revealed to Alex and Stephanie that she wasn’t pregnant … which was a lie. Rather than stay in town, Joy decided to go home to New York and broke the news to Alex on the March 19 episode.

“I’ve decided to quit my job… I don’t want to be a problem for you and Stephanie,” Stephanie told Alex. “New York is where I need to be at this point in my life.”

After Joy packed up her belongings at the Brady pub, she called Nancy and said, “Hey mom, guess what? I’m moving back home actually. I know it seems sudden, but I will explain everything when I get home. I’ll see you soon.”

Before leaving the pub, she looked around and said her final line, which applied to both Joy and Hopkins, her portrayer: “Well, Salem, thanks for making me a soap star, I guess.”

Vivica A. Fox Guest Stars on Poppa's House

Billy Flynn on His ‘Days of Our Lives’ Exit After 10 Years and Moving to ‘Young and the Restless’: ‘It Made Me the Person I Am Today’

“We do the best work we can despite the obstacles that we’ve faced as a show. Part of that move I’m excited about is [that] they move slower and there’s more time to do stuff. But I was trained like a warrior here,” he tells Variety with a laugh, referring to the rapid “Days” shooting schedule which is more than nine months ahead of air. “There’s a different pace [here], but it’s made me the actor and the person I am today.”

The reason for the move is simple: actors love acting but, as he put it, sometimes they just have to try something new.

“I love acting, and I love stories, and I never imagined I would just tell one story for the rest of my life,” he says. “The fact that I’ve been here 10 years and it’s gone by in the blink of an eye is amazing to me. I wasn’t a baby when I started here; I was 30. I didn’t start acting until I was 26. So it’s gone by really fast. I think with this character, I’ve done everything I can with it. I’m looking forward to doing something new. I’m about to start a new journey and tell another story. It really is just that simple.”

During Flynn’s time on the show, Chad has had two kids and has become a man, one who does his best to do the right thing despite being the illegitimate son of one of the show’s most notorious bad guys, Stefano DiMera. “I’ve got to play this entire revolution. I don’t know what else to do with him. He’s been as much of me as I think I probably will ever put into another part. There were some times when I was going through some really hard things in my life, and it just so happened that Chad was going through similar things: losing his wife, and I had lost somebody close to me. Things have all lined up with the character that made it [so] I put more of Billy into Chad than I probably would’ve otherwise. There were moments in it that became like a love letter to my own kind of life. It’s special in that way.”

For that reason and so much more, Flynn says the move is “bittersweet.” He was living on a 25-foot sailboat and had “absolutely zero money” to his name when he was offered the “Days” role. “Since I took the job, I’ve gotten married, I’ve had two kids, I’ve bought a house. I mean, it’s changed my life. The people that I work with here are close friends — I’ve experienced all sorts of ups and downs since I’ve started this job, and they’ve experienced them with me.”

And it’s not just the people he’s worked with at “Days” but also the show’s fans he’s met along the way who have been supportive and loyal since day one.

“The outpouring of well wishes and love since this came out has been humbling,” he says. “It’s been incredibly moving to me, and I’m gonna take that with me. I hope [fans] continue to watch ‘Days’ and support ‘Days’ and support whoever might come in and play Chad, if there ever is that case. I hope they do that and give somebody the same love they gave me. And I hope that they come with me on this journey that I’m on and support me doing that too.”

Because of the “Days” shooting schedule, Flynn will be seen as Chad in 2026 — while also being seen on “Y&R.”

“In a perfect world, that wouldn’t be the case,” he says, “only because you want people to suspend disbelief” and believe him in each character, which can’t really be done when viewers are seeing him in two different shows at the same time. “It makes my job a little harder.”

“Y&R” EP and headwriter, Josh Griffith, who wrote for “Days” when Flynn first started on the show, said in a statement: “On behalf of the entire company of ‘The Young and the Restless,’ we look forward to welcoming Billy to the show. He will be a wonderful addition to ‘Y&R’s’ stellar cast.”

Flynn says, “Josh wrote for me here, and he wrote amazing material with the Necktie Killer and the birth of Chad and Abigail’s love story in my reign. And I trust that he’s gonna do that with this new character [on ‘Y&R’]. I’ll just be along for the ride. And luckily there’s so many talented people there that I’ll just riding their coattails the same way I rode everyone’s coattails here [at ‘Days’.]”

Soap Shocker! Billy Flynn Leaving ‘Days of Our Lives’ for ‘Young and the Restless’

Flynn, a daytime newcomer when he joined the soap in 2014, quickly became a fan favorite as part of the Chad and Abigail Deveraux (played by Kate Mansi and Marci Miller) romance and was a key player in the DiMera dynasty.

“I am grateful for my years at DAYS; it changed my life in the best ways,” Flynn tells TV Insider exclusively. “I’ve always said these stories we tell are like doing a play, and I’ve spent the last 10-plus years playing this amazing character and telling one of the all-time great love stories. And now I’m excited for this opportunity and to test myself in a new way.”

In September 2024, Flynn recalled how pivotal it was to land the role of Chad, noting, “I lived on a sailboat, and I had no money; I could barely eat. I got this audition and was like, ‘I don’t really want to be on a soap; I want to do movies or whatever.’ But my manager, God bless him, said, ‘Mate, you’re living on a sailboat. You can’t afford to eat dinner.’ The screen test is still a vivid memory because I did it with Kate Mansi [Kristina Corinthos, General Hospital] and Rob Wilson [Alex Kiriakis]. I was super critical of myself. I remember leaving and apologizing to Marnie [Saitta], the casting director, and she was like, ‘You’re crazy.’ And then they offered me the job.”

Flynn flourished at DAYS, earning three Daytime Emmy nominations as Outstanding Lead Actor and starring alongside Mansi in the spinoff miniseries, Chad & Abby in Paris, which streamed on Peacock in 2019. Last month, he appeared as Atticus Waverly in the hit CBS series Matlock.

The actor is leaving DAYS with the full endorsement of the soap, as well as executive producer Ken Corday. “We support Billy as an actor and friend, and wish him nothing but continued success and happiness, personally and professionally,” Corday says. “He will certainly be missed in Salem.” Because of DAYS’ unique shooting schedule, which tapes nine months ahead of when the shows airs, Flynn will remain on the soap well into 2026.

Y&R’s executive producer/head writer Josh Griffith wrote for Flynn from 2015-16 at DAYS, so he’s very familiar with the actor’s skills. “On behalf of the entire company of The Young and the Restless, we look forward to welcoming Billy to the show,” Griffith tells TV Insider. “He will be a wonderful addition to Y&R’s stellar cast.”

Soap Alum Victoria Platt Marries WNBA Coach Vickie Johnson

“Sooooooo, we did a thang ya’ll! Woot woot!” Platt declared on Instagram, sharing a carousel of photos from her and Johnson’s wedding day. “So very grateful to all my family and my Nu family for the love and support and joy you all shared and poured out on us. Happy three-monthaversary baby! And a few days but who’s countin’??? Uhhh I am.”

According to the couple’s wedding website, they were married on Dec. 7 in Dallas — nearly 24 years after they first crossed paths! “VJ and Victoria met in New York in 1999 when Victoria unapologetically stalked VJ during the second season of the WNBA, while VJ was minding her business, playing for the NY Liberty,” the couple said in the ‘Our Story’ section.

While the pair had a “deep friendship” for some time, “then life happened, as life does, and they both found adventure elsewhere for a couple of decades,” they wrote. For Platt, that included marrying her Guiding Light co-star Terell Tilford in 2001, the same year they exited the soap as Vicky and David. The couple, who share 10-year-old daughter Marley, were married for 20 years before announcing their divorce in 2021.

In February 2024, Platt and Johnson reconnected while celebrating a mutual friend’s birthday in New Orleans. They had lost touch over the years, “But when they laid eyes on each other at the airport in New Orleans, they both realized there was still something there,” they explained. “A couple decades of living and growing up has a way of sifting what’s important from what isn’t. They both recognized this as a second chance and by the end of that week, they committed to each other.”

Best known to soap audiences for her 1998-2001 run on GL, Platt also played Corinne on All My Children and spent time on Days Of Our Lives in 2020 and 2021 as Amanda Raynor, the doctor involved in Sarah and Kristen’s baby switch storyline.

Johnson’s professional basketball career spans 25 years. After 13 years as a top-scoring player for the Liberty and the San Antonio Silver Stars, she transitioned to coaching for the league in 2011. She’s been a head coach for the Silver Stars and the Dallas Wings and an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces. She’s currently an assistant coach for the Atlanta Dream.

Cheyenne Jackson, Olivia Rose Keegan, Tony Chung & Aaron Kingsley Adetola To Star In Indie ‘Chinese School’ From William Kwok

Set in present-day New York City, the film blends live-action, animation, and original songs to tell the story of Jacky (Chau), a Chinese American teen who grudgingly attends a Chinese language school every weekend with his longtime friend and bandmate Monica (Chantaratananond) — at least until he meets his dream girl: the blonde, all-American, devoted churchgoer, Abigail (Keegan). Jacky soon finds himself pulled in many directions, including on a reluctant journey of self-discovery and reflection.

Independently financed, the project is inspired by Kwok’s own coming-of-age experience. Kwok and Katherine Vondy (In a Wintry Season) are producing under the newly launched Solanum Projects, alongside Ece Turan (A Different Man), with Damian Bao (Port Authority) co-producing via his Qilinverse banner.

Kwok’s script was a semifinalist for an Academy Nicholl Fellowship, and the project is an alum of the Gotham Week Project Market, with support from the Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program.

Jackson is repped by Entertainment 360 and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols; Keegan by Paradigm, Artistic Endeavors, and Schreck Rose Dapello; Chung by Innovative Artists and Alan Siegel Entertainment; Adetola by Zuri Agency and Nouveaux Talent Mgmt; Chantaratananond by Industry Entertainmen; Hurley by Women360 Management New York.

‘Dark Winds’ Renewed For Season 4 At AMC; Zahn McClarnon To Make Directorial Debut

The network has renewed the thriller for a fourth season. The news comes ahead of the premiere of its third season on March 9.

Season 4 of the series, which stars Zahn McClarnon, will begin filming in Santa Fe, NM, in March and will air in 2026.

Much like Season 3, it will consist of eight episodes. Seasons 1 and 2 had six episodes each.

The news is not a huge surprise given the boost that Dark Winds seems to have gotten from its airing on Netflix. The first two seasons of the show are currently on the streamer and after they dropped in August, they remained in Netflix’s top 10 for over three weeks. Dark Winds also aired on Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max as part of a two-month pop-up in 2023.

Season four will also feature the directorial debut of star and exec producer McClarnon.

The series, which also stars Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten and Deanna Allison, follows Lt. Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon), Jim Chee (Gordon) and Bernadette Manuelito (Matten) of the Navajo Tribal Police solving mysteries on their reservation as it is besieged by increasingly violent crimes in the 1970s.

The third season picks up six months after the events of Season 2 and follows Leaphorn and Chee as they investigate the disappearance of two boys, with only an abandoned bicycle and blood-stained patch of ground left in their wake. Meanwhile, Bernadette Manuelito (Matten) attempts to settle into her new life 500 miles from home with the Border Patrol, but stumbles across a conspiracy involving human and drug smuggling with far-reaching implications.

It will also feature guest stars including Jenna Elfman as FBI Special Agent Sylvia Washington, Bruce Greenwood as Tom Spenser, Raoul Max Trujillo as Budge, Tonantzin Carmelo as Border Patrol Agent Eleanda Garza, Alex Meraz as Border Patrol Agent Ivan Muños, Terry Serpico as Border Patrol Senior Chief Ed Henry, Derek Hinkey as Shorty Bowlegs, Phil Burke as Michael Halsey, and Christopher Heyerdahl as Dr Reynolds. A Martinez also returns as Scarborough Police Department Acting Chief Gordo Sena and Jeri Ryan returns as Rosemary Vines.

The series, which is based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee book series, was created by Graham Roland, who exec produces alongside showrunner John Wirth, McClarnon, Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin, Chris Eyre, Tina Elmo, Jim Chory, Vince Gerardis and Anne Hillerman.

“When we greenlit the first season of Dark Winds, we saw the potential for an authentic and long-running franchise that could live alongside the worlds we were building around The Walking Dead and Anne Rice,” said Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks. “That is exactly what this cast and creative team delivered, and the fans have responded. It starts with Tony Hillerman’s unforgettable novels, cared for and attended to by a producing team that includes the likes of Robert Redford, George R. R. Martin, Chris Eyre and our showrunner John Wirth, and – at the center of everything – the truly extraordinary Zahn McClarnon and the entire cast. Fans have embraced this series on AMC/ AMC+ and made it a top 10 show on Netflix for a solid month last fall. There is so much great storytelling yet to come in these expanded third and fourth seasons.”

“I’m looking forward to exploring and inhabiting the character of Joe Leaphorn once again in Season 4, and I’m excited to make my directorial debut on a show that means so much to me,” added Zahn McClarnon. “I’d like to send my gratitude and appreciation to Kristin Dolan, Dan McDermott, and all of the hard-working folks at AMC Networks for their support and commitment to Dark Winds. And of course, I’m most thrilled to be spending time with this wonderful cast and crew whom I have grown to love.”

Season 3 will simulcast on AMC, BBC America and SundanceTV, as well as stream on AMC+ at 9pm on March 9.

Hallmark In Production On ‘True Justice’ Sequels With Katherine McNamara, Markian Tarasiuk, Nikki DeLoach & Benjamin Ayres Returning

The working titles for the sequels are Eye For An Eye and Lost Love, however, Deadline understands these are not final and could be changed.

The description for installment No. 2: Our Warriors work to exonerate a mother wrongly accused of murder. To reopen the case and solve the potential crime, our Justice Warriors need to go undercover and investigate the wealthy parents at a prestigious high school.

And for installment No. 3: Our Warriors work to not only exonerate Marianne for the murder of her missing fiancé but to bring to light a web of counterfeit jewels along the way.

McNamara returns as Casey Barlowe, Markian Tarasiuk as Eli Flint, DeLoach as Professor Ambrose and Ayres as D.A. Quinn.

“Megan McNulty and I are thrilled to continue the True Justice franchise on Hallmark Mystery. In the first installment, our characters, these law school students, come together to help one of their own, but in the process they find a higher calling. In the second and third installments, they follow this calling, by banding together, utilizing their individual skills, to liberate others in need,” shared DeLoach.

She continued, “Our incredible Hallmarkies, our audience, can expect more romance and connection between our leads, as we dig deeper into their histories. They can also expect fun worlds for our characters to uncover the truth, the real ‘whodunnit.’ And finally, our audience can expect more mischief, more disguises, and at the end of the day, more justice to be served.”

Jon Lindstrom & Cady McClain Join ‘Beyond the Gates’ — Plus, More Scoop on the New Soap

In addition to the previously announced talent — Tamara Tunie (ex-Jessica Griffin, As The World Turns) as Anita Dupree, Clifton Davis as Vernon Dupree, Karla Mosley (ex-Maya Avant, The Bold and the Beautiful; ex-Christina Moore Boudreau, Guiding Light) as Dani Dupree, and Daphnée Duplaix (ex-Rachel Gannon, One Life to Live; ex-Valerie Davis, Passions) as Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson) — popular soap favorites Jon Lindstrom (Kevin Collins, General Hospital) and three-time Daytime Emmy winner Cady McClain (ex-Dixie Cooney, All My Children; ex-Rosanna Cabot, ATWT; ex-Kelly Andrews, The Young and the Restless; ex-Jennifer Horton, Days of Our Lives), have been tapped to join the star-studded roster.

“I’m just so thrilled to be a part of this incredible cast and this amazing show,” says McClain, who will play Pamela Curtis. “I think it is so exciting. It’s such a beautiful production and such amazing actors, and I have the great pleasure of getting to work a great deal with Karla. We have so much fun —probably too much fun. We play very, very, very, very, very dear old friends, and we get up to a bit of trouble.”

As for what drew Lindstrom, who will play Joey Armstrong, to the project, he says, “Michele Val Jean. Everybody knows that Michele is the best writer in the business, and they don’t want to admit it, especially if they’re another writer, but she is the very best in the business. And to be able to come down here to this brand-new studio and every day, every single member of this cast — this incredible cast — and this crew, who are so happy to walk through those doors every day and be a part of something, I think it is so groundbreaking. That’s the most special part of it all.”

Val Jean, who has toiled on a host of shows, including B&B, Generations, and GH, has been working on Beyond the Gates for decades, so to see it finally make it to air is a surreal experience. She credits Sheila Ducksworth, President, CBS/NAACP Production Venture, for helping to make her dream of a Black soap a reality. “The origin was over 20 years ago when I met Sheila Ducksworth through Vivica [A.] Fox [ex-Stephanie Simmons, Y&R],” Val Jean relays. “I’d created a nighttime pilot about a rich Black family, and Sheila read it, and she really liked it, and she said, ‘You know, I can’t do anything with this right now, but you and I are going to work together one day.’ So fast forward all these years later, she became the president of the CBS/NAACP Venture, and she called me and she said, ‘This is the time.’ And I said, ‘You know, I’m not sure I know how to do that.’ And she says, ‘Yeah, you do. You just don’t know you do.’ So, I didn’t think anything would come of it, because we all know how soaps have been canceled, not greenlit, so, I just figured it would be a nice COVID project. I kept writing my scripts for Bold and the Beautiful, and I worked on the Bible. And four years later, here we are, amazingly enough.”

Ducksworth says she was excited about the project from the moment she heard the pitch from Val Jean all those years ago. “What I really loved about the idea of this premise is that I love to work with things that are real and authentic,” she explains. “And many people don’t know that the DMV area — Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia — is one of the most affluent areas for Black Americans in the entire country. And it’s a place where many Black Americans are living in gated communities, on big, park-like grounds. I’m not a writer. That is Michele, writer, and creator. But the idea of a big sprawling Black family, in this area in the DMV where we could explore the upstairs and the downstairs of it all, and have it be really real and authentic and something that people can check the demographics and say, ‘This exists,’ was important in that regard. And yes, Michele was the only person that I really felt could capture that world, and she did it in a huge way.”

After getting the go-ahead for the series, casting began and Tamara Tunie — who hadn’t been on a soap scene since a brief appearance as Judge Weston on Days in 2011, but had great success in primetime on shows like Law & Order: SVU — was tapped to play matriarch Anita. “Back in September, end of August, I got a call from my rep saying, ‘There’s this new African American soap that they’re going to be shooting in Atlanta, and they’d like to offer you the role of the matriarch of the show,’” Tunie recalls. “And I said, ‘Well, let me read something, and then let me sleep on it.’ And so I woke up the next morning, and what was uppermost in my mind was the historic nature of this project, and the glass ceiling breaking of this project — to have an affluent African American family lead a daytime drama for the first time in history was very, very enticing to me.”

Tunie asked to speak to Val Jean and Ducksworth before she officially got on board, and when she heard who was in consideration to play her husband, she was even more intrigued. “Over a period of a week or two, whatever it was, we came to an agreement, and I joined the family,” she says. “And as soon as I joined the family, I sent an email to Michele and Sheila and said, ‘By the way, I just spent five days with Clifton Davis in Winston-Salem at the International Black Theater Festival. And if you’re still talking to him about Vernon Dupree, just know that we’ve connected, we’re friends, we’ve got a nice chemistry, and I’m just throwing it out there,’ and I left it at that. And so, a week or so after that, Clifton and I did a camera test together over Zoom, which was fun. And then the next morning he was Papa Dupree.”

TV and film veteran Davis had to do some quick shuffling to make it to the set on time. “I got the call to confirm the role on Thursday, and I had to be in Atlanta on Monday,” he shares. “So I had to organize myself to find a hotel, to get an apartment, to start life in Atlanta. And with my darling wife’s assistance, Monica, I was able to do it and to show up. And I got to tell you, at my age, to get a job is a wonderful thing. My first television show was the Melba Moore-Clifton Davis Show in 1972. I remember starting the first day of That’s My Mama on ABC in 1974. I remember starting Amen in 1986. I remember getting the recurring role that lasted five years on Madam Secretary in 2014.

“And here we are in 2024, 2025, doing another television show. That brought tears to my eyes just to look back and see how this business has advanced since those first days when African Americans’ jobs on Broadway and in television were few and far between. And to look around and see Black crew, Black writers, Black actors, and everything, it was overwhelming. And I am so humbled by this, and I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished. And as many years as I can give you, that’s what I’m going to do.”

For Karla Mosley, who lives in Los Angeles, her past relationship with Val Jean played a role in her accepting the part of Dani. “I have been friends with Michele since working on Bold and the Beautiful, and when she was working with Vivica [Fox], on Ambitions, she was always saying, ‘I’d love to rope you in on something,’ ” Mosley recalls. “You hear that in the industry time and time again, but then I saw her at her birthday party, and she said, ‘It’s happening, Karla, it’s really happening.’ And I was just over the moon for her and so excited. And she said, ‘It’s shooting in Atlanta.’ And I was like, ‘I’m not moving to Atlanta.’ But then, a couple months later when they were contacting people, they sent a script, and I read the script, and I read Dani, and I texted her, and I was like, ‘Damn it, Michele.’ And here I am.”

Duplaix says she waited weeks to find out whether she booked the role of Nicole — “I felt like I was being tortured,” she jokes — but when her team reached out with the news, it was worth the wait. “My manager sent me a test and he said, ‘Pop a bottle. It’s yours,’ ” she relays. “Just being an actor in this business, you want to do great work. It’s what we do. It’s what we have a passion for. And then when I really thought about the magnitude of what we were creating, what Sheila and Michele had put together, I was like, ‘Oh, my God, this is big. This is really big.’ And so I’ve just been so excited and so proud to be a part of this groundbreaking show.”

Seeing the production go from the page to the stage was an overwhelming moment for Tunie and Co. “I’ve spent 40 years in this business, and the majority of that time, I’ve spent being the only Black person on a set,” Tunie concludes. “And so to walk into this production, which is not exclusively Black, but is predominantly Black, and to be shooting it here in Atlanta when there’s such a wealth of incredibly talented Black practitioners, whether it’s hair and makeup, whether it’s acting, whether it’s camera operating, whether it’s crew — to walk into the studio and see all of these extraordinarily beautiful Black faces and to walk into Black excellence on the level that this is overwhelmed me. It brought tears to my eyes, and all I could feel was absolute joy.”

Beyond the Gates will premiere on CBS on February 24. From February 17-21, CBS will air a five-part special, Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood, in BTG’s future time slot, 2 p.m. ET. Hosted by Sheryl Underwood and Entertainment Tonight‘s Kevin Frazier, the special will go behind the scenes and show how the new soap came to life, showcase the cast and sets, offer a sneak peek of what’s ahead and so much more.

Beyond the Gates, Series Premiere, Monday, February 24, CBS, Check Local Listings.

Hank Northrop, son of late Days of Our Lives actor Wayne and General Hospital's Lynn Herring, is headed to Salem

The son of Wayne and General Hospital actress Lynn Herring, Hank's previous acting work includes appearances on TV shows such as Insecure, The Morning Show, and 9-1-1: Lone Star, plus, four episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful in 2017. This year, he'll play a security guard in Antoine Fuqua's biopic of Michael Jackson, called simply Michael, where he appears alongside Colman Domingo, Nia Long, and Miles Teller.

The elder Northrop died Nov. 29, of complications from Alzheimer's, at the Motion Picture and Television Woodland Hills Home in Los Angeles, Herring announced Dec. 1. "Wayne was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's six years ago," she said at the time. "He took his last breath in the arms of his family. 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." She recognized him as "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 starred on Days of Our Lives from 1981, when he originated the role of Roman Brady, to 1984, then returned for a stint from 1991 to 1994. From 2005-2006, he played the character of Alex North. In addition to the more than 1,000 episodes of Days that he did, Wayne appeared in other sudsers, such as Dynasty and Port Charles.

Herring herself has starred on more than 800 episodes of General Hospital since 1986, but she also had a role on As the World Turns and worked with Wayne on Port Charles.

Her son said she's "ecstatic" about his new project. "She wants to scream it from the rooftops. She has been so supportive," he told TV Insider in an interview published Friday. "She gave me so much great advice before my first day and gave me so many tips heading into it. She's been the best support system I could possibly ask for."

"It's honestly, for our entire family, just such a healing moment for the tough times of going through losing Wayne," he said. "I'm just so honored now to get to honor my own father on the show that he loved so much. It's just so special."

In fact, the actor said that he had an emotional reaction to learning — on his birthday, no less — that he'd been cast.

"I got the call saying, 'Congratulations, you've booked Days of Our Lives.' And I just immediately broke down in tears," Hank said. "It was so cosmic. It was almost like my dad had given me a birthday present, the first birthday after his passing, to help me through the trauma of dealing with his passing. You can't script it. It gave me the ability to cope with it a little more. It was just such a beautiful full-circle moment."

Though Hank didn't reveal any details about his new role, he told TV Insider he shares his first scenes with James Reynolds, who plays Abe Carver and starred alongside his father for years. He also noted that he and Reynolds had an emotional first meeting on set: "We honestly couldn’t stop hugging each other. He was just like, 'Oh, my gosh, you're Wayne's son. This is the best thing. I'm so excited. I loved your dad so much.' I could not ask for a better first-scene partner on Days. He took me under his wing and taught me the ropes."

Daytime Emmy Exec Explains New Acting Category That Could Have Your Favorite Newcomer Taking Home the Gold

TV Insider spoke exclusively with Rachel Schwartz, Head of Daytime and Children & Family Emmy® Awards to get the scoop.

How did the new Daytime Emmy category come about – Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series? It sounds exciting.

Rachel Schwartz: Absolutely, and I’m glad to hear that you’re excited about this new category because we are also excited about this new category. Last year, we unfortunately had to make the decision to get rid of the younger performer category. There just were not enough entries to consider it a viable category any longer. But it was never really our desire to remove a chance for some of the amazing on-screen talent in daytime to receive an Emmy.

So, this is going to be a new category specifically for people who are on their first daytime contract, so there is not necessarily an age parameter with it. Although, I do imagine that some of the people that enter into the category will be on the younger end of the spectrum.

There will be a limitation that you can enter the category for the first 2 years that you are on the program, and then at that point you’re no longer going to be considered “emerging,” and you also, if you win the category, then you can no longer enter it as well.

One of the inspirations for the category was actually a couple of months ago, the passing of Helen Gallagher, who, of course, was a three-time Daytime Emmy-winner for her role as Maeve Ryan on Ryan’s Hope. Before she started there, Helen was already a two-time Tony Award winner and was well-known to New York theater audiences. She then transitioned to becoming a very well-known, well-respected daytime performer.

Do contenders have to be contract? Shows have used performers in front burner stories with actors who may not be on contract for economic reasons.

You need to have a speaking role and you need to have at least one continuous story arc in order to be eligible for this new category.

How recently – or how far back — can a performer have joined a show to be eligible?

They can be on the show for up to two years and also enter the category for those two years – unless they win. Then, they will be, of course, still eligible to enter the lead or supporting categories if they remain on their program.

Not right now. Our contract with CBS expired last year. Switching the Daytime Emmys to October was mainly driven by our desire to move other Emmy awards – news and documentary – to earlier in the year.

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Brings Back Super Couple Jennifer & Jack Deveraux

Deadline has confirmed that Matthew Ashford (Jack) and Melissa Reeves (Jennifer) are back on the soap’s Burbank, CA set this week to participate in the anniversary episodes. They will reunite with their on-screen son JJ, played by Casey Moss, who recently posted a picture of the three of them together on his Instagram story.

“Couldn’t be more grateful to be part of such a legendary family,” he wrote with the hashtag #thehortons.

Ashford and Reeves, who have dipped in and out of the soap for years, will re-appear on the Peacock sudser in June and continue to recur throughout the year. They are also expected to participate in the soap’s 60th anniversary photo this week.

All the 60th anniversary episodes will air in November. Jennifer and Jack last appeared on DOOL at the end of 2024.

Last year, DOOL began teasing the guest list for the anniversary celebration. In addition to bringing back Alison Sweeney as Sami, Peter Reckell (Bo) and Kristian Alfonso (Hope) for the celebration, Leann Hunley (Anna) and Chandler Massey (Will) are also set to appear in future episodes, as well as Christie Clark (Carrie), Thaao Penghlis (Tony), Victoria Konefal (Ciara), and Charles Shaughnessy (Shane).

DOOL was recently renewed for a 61st season. It is produced by Corday Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television. Ken Corday is the executive producer. Jeanne Marie Ford & Paula Cwikly are head writers. Janet Drucker serves as co-executive producer.

Since DOOL premiered on November 8, 1965, the drama has earned 62 Daytime Emmy Awards, including one last year for Dick Van Dyke’s guest-starring role.

Lisa Rinna & Harry Hamlin To Co-Host ‘Let’s Not Talk About The Husband’ Podcast For Dear Media

“We’re so excited to join the Dear Media family and finally bring this podcast to life!” said Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin in a joint statement. “After 30+ years together, some more fabulous than others, we’ve seen a lot, and we’re ready to dish on everything from marriage and family to friendships, business, and fame.”

The show’s title is a nod to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and the infamous “Amster-Damn!” episode from Season 5, where Rinna lunges at co-star Kim Richards after making false accusations about her marriage.

“But whatever we’re talking about, you can be sure it will be unfiltered! So tune in, because we are owning it all!” Rinna and Hamlin added.

Let’s Not Talk About The Husband will drop new weekly episodes every Friday. The premiere episode on February 14 will focus on Rinna dishing on her time filming the Bravo reality series, why she left, and what her life has been like since leaving RHOBH. On the second episode, premiering February 21, Rinna and Hamlin will dive into their love story, sharing details on how they first met.

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin on the launch of their new podcast, Let’s Not Talk About The Husband,” said Michael Bosstick, CEO of Dear Media. “Sitting down with Lisa and Harry, it’s clear they are a true powerhouse couple. As one of the last married Housewives, Lisa offers a unique, bold and unfiltered perspective, while Harry’s charisma and storytelling bring even more depth to the conversation. Their show is a perfect addition to the Dear Media family.”

Rinna and Hamlin have been in the entertainment industry for many years. Rinna has starred in shows like Days of Our Lives and Melrose Place, while Hamlin has starred in Clash of the Titans, LA Law, Mad Men, and Mayfair Witches.

Bravo audiences got a sneak peek into their lives when Rinna starred on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for eight seasons.

Rinna is known to have a larger-than-life personality while Hamlin is known for laid-back charm. Although the loving couple seemingly don’t have much in common, their 30-year love story proves that opposites really do attract.

Let’s Not Talk About The Husband will give Rinna and Hamlin a platform to dive deep into the highs and lows of their careers, stories from their marriage, and juicy behind-the-scenes gossip from their years in the industry.

Full-length video episodes of the podcast will be released weekly on YouTube. Audio episodes will be available wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Talk Show Appearance

Friday, Feb. 14 – The Love Show is back! LISA RINNA and HARRY HAMLIN join the fun

Casey Deidrick Arrested for Domestic Assault

Deidrick was taken into police custody Sunday and charged with domestic assault and interference with an emergency call, according to an arrest warrant obtained by TMZ. He was jailed at the Davidson County Sheriff's Office and later released after posting $2,500 bond.

Per the warrant, Deidrick told cops he got into a heated argument with his girlfriend in their Nashville home Sunday morning after he got pissed because he believed she was recording him with her phone, so he grabbed it from her.

He also claimed his girlfriend wrapped her hands around his neck, but officers say they found no evidence of that.

His girlfriend told cops the two got into a squabble ... but she denied recording him. She also told police she cowered in a corner of the kitchen with her phone.

She said Deidrick then came up behind her and placed her in a bear hug, ripping her phone out of her hand.

She said she demanded her phone back so she could call 911 because she feared for her safety ... and Deidrick eventually gave it back to her after she promised to move out of the house that day.

As for Deidrick's Hollywood career ... he's been in some major TV shows. In addition to "Days of Our Lives," Deidrick has appeared in "Glee," "Revolution," "In The Dark," MTV's "Teen Wolf" and "Eye Candy."

Netflix 2025 Movie Slate With Former Soap Stars

DIRECTOR: Stephen Chbosky (Wonder, The Perks of Being a Wallflower)
WRITER: Liz Maccie
PRODUCERS: Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane for Madison Wells, Jack Turner for Boat Rocker’s Matador Content

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Scott Budnick and Ameet Shukla for 1Community, Alexis Garcia, Vince Vaughn, Jay Peterson, Todd Lubin for Boat Rocker’s Matador Content, Amanda Morgan Palmer and Stacy Calabrese for Madison Wells, Produced In Partnership with Fifth Season
KEY CAST: Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Linda Cardellini, Drea De Matteo, Joe Manganiello, Michael Rispoli, Campbell Scott

RIP
Drama / Thriller
Upon discovering millions in cash in a derelict stash house, trust among a team of Miami cops begins to fray. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything is called into question — including who they can rely on.

DIRECTOR: Joe Carnahan
WRITER: Joe Carnahan
PRODUCERS: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Luciana Damon and Dani Bernfeld for Artists Equity
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Michael Joe and Kevin Halloran for Artists Equity
KEY CAST: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sasha Calle, Nestor Carbonell, Lina Esco, with Scott Adkins, and Kyle Chandler

WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
Mystery
Benoit Blanc returns for his most dangerous case yet.

DIRECTOR: Rian Johnson
WRITER: Rian Johnson
PRODUCERS: Ram Bergman, Rian Johnson
CAST: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church

R&B
Drama
R&B is a contemporary version of the story of Ruth and Boaz, one of the most iconic love stories in the Bible. Set in Tennessee, R&B tells the story of a young woman who escapes the Atlanta music scene to care for an elderly widowed woman and in the process finds the love of her life and gains the mother she never had.

DIRECTOR: Alanna Brown
WRITERS: Michael Elliot & Cory Tynan
PRODUCERS: DeVon Franklin and Tyler Perry
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Angi Bones, Tony L. Strickland, Bart Lipton
KEY CAST: Serayah McNeill, Tyler Lepley, Phylicia Rashad, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Walnette Santiago, Nijah Brenea, James Lee Thomas, Jermaine Dupri, Lecrae Moore, Christopher Broughton, Yung Joc

TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S DESTINATION WEDDING
Comedy
Brian and his ex-wife Debrah are shocked to learn their daughter Tiffany is engaged to a rapper she met on a yacht—and the wedding is in two weeks. Madea and her crew head to the Bahamas, stirring up chaos and heartwarming fun.

DIRECTOR: Tyler Perry
WRITER: Tyler Perry
PRODUCERS: Tyler Perry, Angi Bones, Yolanda T. Cochran
KEY CAST: Tyler Perry, Cassi Davis Patton, David Mann, Tamela Mann, Taja V. Simpson, Diamond White, Jermaine Harris, Xavier Smalls

THE WRONG PARIS
Romantic Comedy
A young woman (Miranda Cosgrove) joins a dating show thinking it’s in Paris, France, but it’s actually in Paris, Texas. She plots a way to get eliminated until her unexpected feelings for the bachelor (Pierson Fodé) complicate her plans.

DIRECTOR: Janeen Damian
WRITER: Nicole Henrich
PRODUCERS: Brad Krevoy, Michael Damian
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Miranda Cosgrove, Galen Fletcher, Janeen Damian, Amanda Phillips, Jimmy Townsend, Vincent Balzano, Kelly Frazier
KEY CAST: Miranda Cosgrove, Pierson Fodé, Madison Pettis, Madeleine Arthur, with Frances Fisher and Yvonne Orji. Also starring Torrance Coombs, Christin Park, Emilija Baranac, Hannah Stocking.
ADDITIONAL CAST: Veronica Long, Naika Toussaint and Ava Bianchi.

Days of Our Lives villain Derek Yates teases return to series after love triangle and proposes ‘shocking’ storyline

Derek, 41, plays Kerry Youmans on Days of Our Lives, where he is involved in a love triangle with Leo Stark and Javi Hernandez.

Derek reprised his role in January after a short stint on the soap, as his character’s episodes are currently airing.

The actor exclusively revealed to The U.S. Sun that he hopes to return to the soap in the future.

“Two episodes, that’s kind of what it was going to be. It was a love interest for one of the leads on the show. It didn’t work out, so my character is just gone. I get a call six months later and they’re like, ‘You’re coming back!’”

“I found out I am a part of a new love triangle situation. Now it’s been revealed that I’m kind of a villain. We’re going to see how it wraps up here soon!

"After I was done with my final day, the director did come up to me and say, ‘Don’t count yourself out yet.’ That’s all I can stay at the moment.”

As for a storyline, Derek proposed, “Now that I have the shorter hair, it would be fun to come back. They’re already doing a twin thing so maybe not a twin thing, but maybe a twin thing.

“I can come out as the same character and be like, the reformed version of my character. He cut his hair, seeks therapy, wants to be a good person, do better and be friends with Leo. It would be interesting to do that flip.”

“They turn and burn very quickly,” he said. “I wasn’t even fully prepared for it. The only time you have to rehearse is when you’re doing it with your scene partner before. You get one quick take while they’re making sure camera angles and lighting are good. Then you film it. You usually get one take.

“There is no room for mess-ups. There is no room for ‘I feel like I could do more.’ They got the shot. It tells the story, we got to go on. It forces actors to come and bring their game. They have to really nail their character.”

“I started that about three and a half years ago,” he said. “Before the pandemic, I was bartending, then the pandemic happened. Everything was shut down, I was one of the ones who didn’t choose to go back to work to get exposed.

“My roommate at the time was a personal trainer. I always kind of thought about it. I had all this time. I joined this program and started studying. I went through the program and started building my career.

He said of the non-profit organization, “They make tailored meals for people who are in need or have a medical condition where they need to be healed by food.

“I learned about it, I helped them by being in the kitchen. I helped with promotional videos, doing fundraisers. I’m going to be doing more kitchen work here soon.”

“I wanted to make sure I was able to raise enough money for them to cover the cost of the wig and any other shipping costs. I was able to raise over $1,600 for the wigs. So that covers the wig and hopefully extra expenses for that child.”

“We just came off a long actor and writer strike,” he explained. “That flowed into last year, making it difficult for a lot of projects to get green-lit, they were cutting roles.

“I was thankful to get all of these roles on Days of Our Lives. Now that we’re in the New Year, I am crossing my fingers that all this publicity from Days will help me push into the next project and you’ll see me in more stuff.”

Francisco San Martin Dies: ‘Days Of Our Lives’ Actor Was 39

Per the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office, the cause of death was suicide by hanging.

Born in Mallorca on Aug. 27, 1985, San Martin’s tenure on Days lasted for six months in 2011. He first appeared on the series as a petty thief, though it was soon revealed he arrived to Salem to investigate a cold case. His character subsequently moved to Argentina following a job promotion, and Hernandez was later portrayed by Jordi Vilasuso from 2016-17.

In 2017, San Martin also had an arc on CBS’ The Bold and the Beautiful as Mateo, a handsome groundskeeper at Forrester Manor, who soon becomes involved in one of villainess Sheila’s schemes. Skip in 5s

Additional TV credits include an arc on Jane the Virgin opposite Gina Rodriguez; San Martin portrayed an actor named Fabian Regalo del Cielo, who appeared on Jane’s father Rogelio’s telenovela. He appeared in Seasons 3 and 4, and Jane had a brief but messy relationship with him.

According to Forbes and several outlets, Days co-star Camila Banus — who portrayed his on-screen sister Gabi — posted a tribute to San Martin on Instagram: “Pepe, what can I say but I love you and rest in peace, my friend,” she wrote, adding, “Love you mucho mucho mucho; I wish I had told you more.”

Per the publication, San Martin began his acting journey in children’s theater productions while growing up in Montana. He returned to Madrid as a teenager, where he worked as a model and started taking acting classes. Eventually, he graduated to appearing in stage, TV and film productions in Spain.

Suicide is preventable and support can be found via a list of helplines here, and information on suicide prevention from the National Institute of Mental Health can be found here. For additional support, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call 800-273-8255 or Chat with Lifeline via text.

WGA Awards Nominations

Days of Our Lives, Head Writer Ron Carlivati Writers Sonja Alarr, Kirk Doering, Christopher Dunn, Jamey Giddens, David Kreizman, Henry Newman, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Katherine D. Schock; Peacock

General Hospital, Head Writers Elizabeth Korte, Chris Van Etten Writers Nigel Campbell, Ashley Cook, Emily Culliton, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Catherine LePard, Patrick Mulcahey, Dan O’Connor, Shannon Peace, Stacey Pulwer, Anne Schoettle, Scott Sickles, Micah Steinberg; ABC

The Young and the Restless, Head Writer Amanda L. Beall Writers Susan Banks, Jeff Beldner, Marin Gazzaniga, Lindsay Harrison, Marla Kanelos, Rebecca McCarty, Madeleine Phillips, Dave Ryan; CBS/Paramount +

Talk Show Appearance

Daytime, News & Documentary Emmys Move Dates

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is moving the News & Documentary Emmy Awards from September to June, while the Daytime Emmys are moving from June to October.

“For nearly half a century, the News & Documentary Emmys have honored the best in broadcast journalism and documentary programming,” said NATAS President and CEO Adam Sharp. “Moving the ceremony earlier in the Emmy schedule shines a brighter light on the timely nature of the incredible content being recognized.”

This means 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards will have an adjusted timeline. Entries open on January 9, regular deadline is January 24, final entry deadline is February 7, the judging window is now March 3 – April 13 and the nominations will be announced the week beginning April 28 before the event in June.

The eligibility window remains the same; all content originally broadcast in calendar 2024 is allowed.

This comes after the 45th Annual News & Documentary Emmys were celebrated on September 25 and September 26, 2024 with lifetime achievement honors given to the likes of Jane Pauley and Alex Gibney.

As a result, the 52nd Daytime and Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be held in October.

The 51st awards were held in June 2024 with Netflix’s African Queens: Njinga and Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones scoring three wins each.

‘Days of Our Lives’ Alum Nathan Owens Teases ‘Very Delicate,’ Mysterious ‘Y&R’ Role

Owens, whose career began in 2012 when he was cast as Days of Our Lives’ Cameron Davis, had some jitters about returning to the medium. “I’m not going to lie to you, I was a bit nervous,” he admits. “I know the speed at which the soaps move, so the preparation is key. I remember that being one of the issues I had when I was on Days, it being the first acting job I ever got. I was so green; I didn’t really know how to operate in that space and I kind of drowned a little bit because it was a bit difficult at that time. But I’ve seen a lot since then, so now I know the preparation that it takes.”

Though he only spent a year in Salem, Owens says he took a lot from the experience. “It really showed me how to prepare yourself in this industry in many different ways,” he reflects. “I was a lot younger at the time, and I wasn’t as focused as I think I should have been for something so big. I think my time there really gave me better insight going forward, about preparing and focusing and having discipline to make sure that you’re there and professional and a good scene partner. It really gave me a lot of tools for the rest of my acting career, not just in soaps. And I made some really good friends.”

After his Days run wrapped, Owens landed on Marc Cherry’s comedic drama, Devious Maids. “I was auditioning a lot after I left Days,” Owens recalls. “I actually did an ABC showcase in that interim period, which really put me on the map, I think, with a lot of the ABC shows. Thankfully, the folks at Devious Maids saw something in me and scooped me up for a couple of seasons, which was really fun.”

Owens played Jesse Morgan, a fitness instructor. “I liked the fun that you could have with the dramedy,” he shares of being in the campy series. “The cast was so amazing. We would do our dinner nights, and we really got to explore Atlanta when we were in production there. That was pretty cool because that was my first time ever being there for a longer amount of time.”

He also toiled with All My Children legend Susan Lucci (Erica Kane), who played Genevieve Delatour. “She was really cool,” Owens relays. “She’s a very sweet human being and we had a blast.”

Owens feels the show gave him a good career boost. “It put me on the prime time path,” he explains. “I was exposed to a lot more eyes on me, so I got more opportunities. One was travel. I remember I was in Colombia and I was going through security and somebody spotted me and said, ‘You’re on Devious Maids, right?’ And this was a couple of years after the show had already been canceled, so I was like, ‘Wow, ok.’ But it turns out they have a massive fan base in a few pockets around the world. That’s actually happened multiple times in a lot of different cities.”

Owens next landed on The CW’s Batwoman playing Ocean. “That was a whole other experience in and of itself because it was during the pandemic and it was in Vancouver,” he says. “The quarantine that was involved with that just really tested the mental fortitude of everyone. We all became very close because we kind of leaned on each other through those trying times.”

For the actor, a superhero fan, the gig was “like a dream come true. I used to collect comic cards and comic books growing up, so that was a trip to me, especially when we would go to set and see what the wonderful team had done there as far as the set design and creating the bat cave and all that jazz. I geeked out on all the set designs and the intricacies and the details that they put in. So, stepping on any of those sets and knowing that it was the DC world was amazing.”

He’s also done a handful of Christmas movies. His latest one, A Season to Remember, aired on OWN last month. “That was really wonderful,” he raves. “And then the one prior to that, The Christmas Sitters, I worked with another Y&R cast member, Melissa Ordway [Abby Newman] and her husband [Justin Gaston, Chance Chancellor]. That was a cool little surprise when I showed up on set and I got to see her.”

Now, he’s hoping to run into a fellow Days alum. “I haven’t seen Eileen Davidson [Ashley Abbott] yet, but she was over at Days [as Kristen DiMera] when I was there, which is pretty cool. I’m looking forward to seeing her.”

Owens reports that Y&R’s cast and crew have been very welcoming and made him feel at home on his first day. “I shook a lot of hands, met a lot of different people,” he remembers. “Everyone was incredibly warm. From the point I parked, I really didn’t know where to go, and I ran into one of the makeup artists, Amanda [Goldstein]. She literally walked me to where I needed to go. Everyone was very kind and inviting. That’s what really stood out to me, the warmth from everybody. The folks that I got to work with on day one were amazing. Sean Dominic [Nate Hastings] is one of them and he was great.”=

Owens can’t say a lot about his new part, which will become clearer as the weeks unfold. “He plays a very delicate role in this scenario, and he’s a very mysterious guy,” Owens winks. “He holds his cards close to the vest and he keeps things tight. I like diving into the mysterious world my character has. I very much enjoy this character and the depth that he can bring to the show.”

Gwen Van Dam, Character Actress, Dead at 96

Van Dam’s death was confirmed by her son, Dirk Smillie, who told our sister site The Hollywood Reporter that she died in her West Los Angeles home on Dec. 19, after a recurrence of cancer.

Starting off her decades-long career in the 1950s, Van Dam’s first TV roles included Dark Shadows, The Brady Bunch (as the teacher who gushed about Marcia, Marcia, Marcia in front of Jan, in the episode “Her Sister’s Shadow”) and Mannix.

Van Dam’s other TV credits included Where the Bears Are, Days of Our Lives, The French Atlantic Affair, Moonlighting, Pushing Twilight and One Mississippi. She played Mrs. Trotter in four episodes of Prime Video’s Homecoming, starring Julia Roberts, and most recently appeared in Prime Video’s As We See It and Hulu’s Interior Chinatown.

Van Dam’s many film roles included a sanitarium nurse in John Carpenter’s original Halloween, Stand by Your Man, Stir Crazy and Star Trek: Generations.

‘General Hospital’ Star Steve Burton Engaged to Michelle Lundstrom

Burton and Lundstrom announced their engagement on social media on January 4 with a carousel of photos from the proposal, including the moment when Burton got down on one knee. The couple actually got engaged a day earlier on January 3.

“Engaged 1/3/25,” their caption began. They also included a verse from Jeremiah: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Many of the actor’s GH costars sent their love in the comments. Kimberly McCullough wrote, “Congratulations!” Rick Hearst said, “Steve and Michelle I wish you both a long, loving and fruitful life together! Congratulations.” Finola Hughes added, “Oh Steve!!!! Congratulations! I wish you both all the happiness in the future, you are a wonderful couple! Congratulations Michelle!”

Burton and Lundstrom began dating in 2024. He confirmed his new relationship in May 2024 to Daily Drama. The couple made their red carpet debut at the 2024 Daytime Emmys a month later.

At the start of 2025, Lundstrom reflected on her past year with Burton. “Some years you wish you could just fast forward & forget,” she began. “I’ve had a few of them for sure. Then one day you’re living life differently…welcoming big changes, feeling content & full of LOVE. I hope to remember the memories from this last year forevaaaa and for that I’m grateful.”

Lundstrom is a recipe creator best known for being a Netflix’s BBQ Showdown competitor. She was a contestant in Season 2 and came in third place.

This will be the second marriage for Burton. He was previously married to Sheree Burton for 23 years before their separation in 2022. “I wanted to clear something up. Sheree and I are separated,” he wrote on his Instagram Story at the time. “She recently announced that she’s expecting her 4th child. The child is not mine. We are still co-parenting our three beautiful kids. We would appreciate privacy at this time. Much luv, Steve.”

He filed for divorce in July 2022. Their divorce was finalized in 2023. They have three kids together. ‘Days of Our Lives’ in 2025: Fan Favorite Returns, Recastings, New Writers & More (1/1/25) (tvinsider.com) It was a year of highs and lows for Days of our Lives in 2024. While the show was picked up for Season 61 by Peacock and celebrated its 15,000th episode, real-life deaths of beloved castmates and a head writing change shook up things behind the scenes.

As the new year kicks off, where the soap is set to celebrate its 60th anniversary on November 8, co-executive producer Janet Drucker says, “Despite how hard the past year has been, personally and professionally, including losing Bill [Hayes, Doug Williams], Drake [Hogestyn, John Black] and most recently Wayne [Northrop, ex-Roman Brady], in addition to the major changes in our writing staff, we have really settled into and are enjoying the trajectory of the show. We are truly enthusiastic about how our vision is taking shape and can’t wait to share it with our fans, old and new.”

Those changes will be more realized in the spring, when the material of new co-head writers Paula Cwickly and Jeanne Marie Ford, who replaced Ron Carlivati, will begin airing. “The stories created by Paula and Jeanne Marie will first be seen at the end of April and it will quickly be evident that they are moving us back to Salem’s core family dynamics — Brady, Horton, Kiriakis, DiMera, and Hernandez families,” previews Drucker. “We’ll see Sami [Brady, Alison Sweeney] and Rex [Brady, Kyle Lowder] come home for visits, and the closer we get to the show’s 60th anniversary in the fall, the more familiar faces will appear.”

And some new ones, as well, the exec shares. “It is going to be a big year honoring the show’s past and legacy while setting up new, eventful, and exciting stories,” enthuses Drucker. “Marnie [Saitta, casting director] continues to bring some really great actors our way for a couple of recasts, plus more intriguing characters to come. We have new actresses portraying young Rachel and Sophia; they appear early in the year. There is definitely a refocus and stronger storylines featuring our college-aged characters, as audiences are already getting a taste of with the Tate [Black, Leo Howard], Holly [Jonas, Ashley Puzemis], and Sophia [Madelyn Kientz] love triangle/baby story. We, of course, will stick with romance — Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, love triangles — plus a riveting whodunnit, and of course, small doses of humor Leo [Stark, Greg Rikaart], Hattie [Adams, Deidre Hall] and Bonnie [Lockhart, Judi Evans], Susan [Banks, Stacy Haiduk] and Vivian [Alamain, Louise Sorel] always deliver.”

- Episodes from the new head writing team of Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford will start airing on April 24, 2025.
- Special, joyous, 60th anniversary episodes are being planned and will include the return of some favorite Salemites, airing in November 2025.

- Madelyn Kientz’s last airdate as Sophia Choi is January 27, 2025. Newcomer Rachel Boyd takes over the role on February 12, 2025.
- Kim Coles returns as Nurse Whitley King — Abe Carver’s (James Reynolds) soap-loving kidnapper — for one episode February 5.
- Emily O’Brien, who played Gwen Rizczech before assuming the role of Theresa Donovan when Gwen left town in October 2023, will be back as Gwen on March 10, 2025.
- Alice Halsey takes over as Rachel Black on April 24.
- Soap vet Michael Dietz, known for playing Joe Scanlon on Port Charles and Alan-Michael Spaulding on Guiding Light, will appear for a short story arc beginning April 30.

- Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) and Xander Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) work to change the course of both Titan and DiMera Enterprises.
- Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) realizes Philip isn’t the one for her.
- EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) and Belle Black (Martha Madison) can’t deny their intense attraction to one another.
- The Who Shot EJ? mystery commences, involving most of Salem.
- Rachel Black disappears.
- Sophia Choi continues to weave a tangled web with Tate and Holly, and her mother, Amy Choi, adds to the chaos.
- Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) vows to Marlena Evans (Hall) that he’ll keep searching for John Black.
- Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and JJ Deveraux’s (Casey Moss) feelings are rekindled.
- Doug Williams III (Peyton Meyer) and Holly Jonas find an attraction
- As Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) and Rafe Hernandez’s (Galen Gering) wedding approaches, his doppelgänger Arnold Feniger (also played by Gering) returns.
- Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) and Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) do their best to fight undeniable feelings for each other.
- Rex Brady (Kyle Lowder), Vivian Alamain (Sorel), and Sami Brady (Sweeney) all make return visits to Salem.
- Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) is caught between Joy Wesley (Aisling Acuna) and Stephanie.

Sean Kanan Says ‘Fear of Losing’ His Wife Was ‘Ultimate Catalyst’ for His Sobriety

In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE alongside wife Michele Kanan, the Bold and the Beautiful star, 58, opened up about what motivated him to quit drinking nearly five years ago. He recalled the moment when Michele made a candid plea that hit him "like a lightning bolt."

"She said to me at one point, 'I have put my heart and everything into this relationship. Please tell me that I didn't back the wrong horse,' " says Sean, who has portrayed Deacon Sharpe — a character who similarly struggled with alcohol issues — on the daytime soap since 2000.

"I had been trying for a very long time to get sober, and I had intermittent periods of success followed by fairly catastrophic setbacks, let's say. But when I heard that, I don't know. The skies parted," he continues. "It set something in motion that was different than everything before."

Sean says it was the thought of losing Michele that gave him the push he needed to make a lasting change.

"I believe there's two forces in the universe that create profound and lasting change in human beings, and that's fear and love. I was motivated by both," he explains. "I was in fear of losing the thing that I loved the most, which was Michele, and that was the ultimate catalyst that finally got me to get it together."

Michele quickly clarified that she wasn't giving Sean an "ultimatum," but rather offering him a "safe space" to inwardly reflect and do the work to set himself on a path toward sobriety.

"I told him, 'Look, this is our life together, and it's either going to be painful and you're going to watch me slowly die because I love you, and I see that you're hurting yourself for some reason that I can't fix, and that's going to slowly kill me as well. So, we're in it together. Whatever you want to do, the ball is in your court,' " she tells PEOPLE.

She continues, "To me, being a partner is you take the good and the bad. I always knew that that guy was in there. I just was waiting for him to see that it was okay to come out. I figured if I provided a safe space for him, that he would be able to do it."

"I'm definitely the kind of guy, you put your finger in my chest and you're not going to get the reaction that you want, but if you give me positive reinforcement and allow me the space to do a little critical thinking, I almost always make the right decision. That's what Michele did," he explains. "I mean, she really played the long game. She understood this was not going to be a quick fix, but given the right environment and the right positive reinforcement, that I was going to get it."

The Cobra Kai star says his hard-fought sobriety has had "a profound effect" on his life and taught him a valuable lesson.

"Somebody said something to me once, and it sounds so simple, 'Would you give up one thing to have everything?' I gave up this one thing, and I have everything. I mean, I truly have everything," Sean says. "That doesn't mean that I don't strive for more, but my life is amazing. Probably the most incredible part about [giving up alcohol], aside from my relationship with Michele, is that I don't miss it. It's not like I'm white knuckling it and I'm hanging on."

"I attribute it to God, to my relationship with the Almighty that there has been something that has been fundamentally removed from me that I didn't ever think could be removed," he continues, adding, "I also attribute a lot of it to my love and relationship with Michele."

The pair — who married in 2012 — share some of their relationship wisdom in their book Way of the Cobra Couples, released on Oct. 8. According to a synopsis, the book promises to teach readers "the mindset, philosophy and battle-tested strategies that led [Michele and Sean] to a life of meaningful happiness together."

Michele credits their open communication and unflinching honesty with each other for leading them to a place where their relationship is now stronger than ever.

"When I first met Sean, he was going through some things, and I was also going through some things. We were in this really troubled time in our life, and we didn't try to hide them or pretend that it wasn't happening," she explains. "We just trudged through them. I feel like we came out the other side and are stronger because of it."

She adds, "Our relationship works because we inherently talk to each other. We inherently care about each other, and we're respectful to each other."

Diane Delano Dies: ‘Northern Exposure’, ‘Popular’ & ‘Wicker Man’ Actor Was 67

Delano is best known for playing Barbara Semanski, the tough Alaska state trooper and sometimes love interest of Barry Corbin’s astronaut-turned-entrepreneur Maurice Minnefield on CBS’ Emmy-winning comedy Northern Exposure. She also played Roberta “Bobbi” Glass on Ryan Murphy’s WB Network series Popular, which aired from 1999-2001.

Other credits in her 40-plus-year career include the films The Wicker Man and the Coen brothers’ The Ladykillers, while TV credits include Mom, Mike & Molly, Everwood, Days of our Lives, Desperate Housewives, Six Feet Under, Monk, Cop Rock, Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Teen Titans.

More recently, she voiced roles in video games including Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, animated series including Infinity Train and the TV series Pen15 and Good Girls.

“She was big and bold and brought her sharp wit and perfect comic timing to every role,” says friend Stepfanie Kramer. “Her earthy and raucous presence enabled her to always own the room. She was one of a kind.”

Born in Los Angeles on January 29, 1957, Delano begin acting at age 6. She was a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts/West.

“Diane was destined to thrive within the entertainment industry,” said her cousin Rick Sparks. “Our grandfather, Myrtland Vivian LaVarre, was a New York stage actor who was convinced by Cecil B. DeMille to change his name to ‘John Merton’ and move his wife Esther and their six children out to Hollywood. Eventually, the entire family became working professionals in various aspects of the studio system. Uncle Lane Bradford would take Diane and cousins often to watch him film.

“Although it was in her DNA, I believe those early studio visits cemented Diane’s love for a life within the industry.”

Jill Jacobson Dies: ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ & ‘Who’s the Boss?’ Actress Was 70

According to friend and publicist Dan Harary, Jacobson died “after a long illness” on Sunday, Dec. 8 at Culver West Health Center in Culver City, California.

“Beautiful, energetic, and positive to the end, she will be deeply missed by numerous relatives, friends, and her beloved dogs Benny and Kowalski,” reads a statement from her family.

The actress, who received awards for her work as a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, revealed earlier this year that she overcame a two-and-a-half-year struggle with esophageal cancer that “kind of took me out of the game for a while.”

She explained to Jim Masters, “What I went through was pretty intense. You can’t function, you just can’t function. And now I’m so grateful, I just want to keep going, I want to help people. It makes you want to help people.”

Jacobson’s The New Gidget co-star and close lifelong friend Caryn Richman also remembered Jacobson in a statement. “Jill’s comic timing was brilliant. And her enthusiasm and love of life made our time together on set joyful,” said Richman.

Jacobson appeared in such TV shows as Days of Our Lives, Falcon Crest, Quantum Leap, Murphy Brown and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Arli$$, Party Down, Hung and Castle, as well as multiple indie films since the ’70s.

After graduating from University of Texas in Austin with a BS in Radio-TV-Film/Performance, the Texas native made her onscreen debut in the title role of director Al Adamson’s 1977 cult horror film Nurse Sherri. She went on to appear in such movies as Bad Georgia Road (1977), Forbidden Love (1982), Baby Sister (1983) and Splash (1984).

In addition to multiple stage appearances, Jacobson also performed stand-up comedy at The Improv and The Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

‘Malcolm In The Middle’ Revived For New Episodes On Disney+ With Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston & Jane Kaczmarek

Also back are Malcolm In the Middle creator Linwood Boomer, who will be a writer on the new episodes, and producing director Ken Kwapis, who will direct all four. 20th Television and New Regency, whose joint venture Regency Television (via Fox TV Studios and Regency Enterprises) was behind the original series, are producing for Disney Branded Entertainment.

Muniz, Cranston and Kaczmarek are expected to be joined by other cast members from the original Malcolm in the Middle, which saw young genius Malcolm (Muniz) trying to navigate life with his quirky, often difficult family. The trio will be at the center of the new episodes, in which Malcolm (Muniz) and his daughter are drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal (Cranston) and Lois (Kaczmarek) demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party.

As the logline for the revival reveals, Malcolm has a daughter, and there have been feelers sent out for an actress to play his wife, I hear.

Given the occasion, Hal and Lois’ wedding anniversary, it would make sense for all of their children to be present. While Christopher Kennedy Masterson and Justin Berfield, who played their two eldest sons Francis and Reese, respectively, in the original, would likely be approached about reprising their roles, a return for Erik Per Sullivan, who played the youngest brother, Dewey, is unlikely. He quit acting in 2010 and has not participated in any of the Malcolm In the Middle reunions.

Muniz also has switched careers to become a full-time car race driver, but he has kept a toe in Hollywood with occasional acting gigs. Along with Cranston, he also has been the most vocal about trying to get the gang back together for a Malcolm revival.

Cranston and Kwapis executive produce the new episodes alongside the husband-and-wife duo of Boomer and KatCo’s Tracy Katsky, who developed Malcolm In the Middle as Head of Comedy of Regency TV; Gail Berman, who oversaw the original series as President of Regency TV; and New Regency’s Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan and Natalie Lehmann. Jimmy Simons and Laura Delahaye are co-executive producers.

“Malcolm in the Middle is a landmark sitcom that captured the essence of family life with humor, heart and relatability,” said Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Television. “Its hilarious and heartfelt portrayal of a lovably chaotic family resonated with audiences of all ages, and we’re so excited to welcome the original cast back to bring that magic to life again. With Linwood Boomer and the creative team at the helm, these new episodes will have all the laughs, pranks, and mayhem fans loved — along with a few surprises that remind us why this show is so timeless.”

Malcolm in the Middle ushered in the era of single-camera comedy series on broadcast TV, paving the way for shows like Arrested Development, The Office, 30 Rock and Modern Family. Fox took a big risk with the unproven format at the time, and it paid off — Malcolm gave the network its largest premiere audience since The Simpsons, with some 23 million viewers tuning in for its January 2000 debut. The number went up to 26M in Week 2.

The show’s look and feel also was embraced by critics, with Malcolm winning back-to-back comedy writing and directing Emmy awards for its first two seasons, including for the pilot, written by Boomer and directed by Todd Holland. Over its seven-season run, the series received a total of seven Emmys, a Peabody Award and a Grammy.

All 151 episodes of Malcolm In the Middle are available to stream on Hulu or via Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers. It is unclear whether the existing seasons would be made available on standalone Disney+ when the new episodes are released on the platform. The limited revival series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios, and New Regency.

“Malcolm in the Middle literally changed the face of the television comedy landscape when it premiered two decades ago, redefining what the genre could be,” said Karey Burke, President of 20th Television. “When Linwood Boomer suggested it might be time to bring everyone’s favorite dysfunctional family back for a bit of a reunion, we couldn’t think of a more iconic and influential series to revisit, along with a truly brilliant cast to reunite.”

Reboots/revivals are popular again, with 20th TV also prepping a Scrubs sequel for ABC and a new chapter of Prison Break for Hulu.

Muniz is repped by Established Artists and Jackoway Austen. Cranston, who went on to star in drama Breaking Bad, winning 3 Emmys for his work, is reppted by UTA and Johnson Shapiro. Kaczmarek is repped by Paradigm Talent Agency.

Dick Van Dyke Reveals “Exhausting” Escape From Malibu Fire, Says Neighbors Saved Him: “I Was Trying To Crawl To The Car”

Speaking with a local news outlet in an interview that aired on the Today show Thursday, Van Dyke, who turns 99 on Friday, said the fire “was coming from the hill, you could see it. And oh my God, and we got out of here.”

Van Dyke said he was struggling outside trying to unsnarl his fire hose when neighbors came to his rescue. “I was trying to crawl to the car, I had exhausted myself, I couldn’t get up,” he said. “Three neighbors came and carried me out and came back and put out a little fire in the guest house and saved me.”

Van Dyke and his wife Arlene Silver fled their home on Tuesday, along with their pets, all except one of their cats, Bobo, who escaped as they were evacuating. “Bobo escaped as we were leaving,” he wrote in a post on Facebook. “We’re praying he’ll be okay and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires.”

But there is a happy ending to the story. “We found Bobo as soon as we arrived back home this morning,” Van Dyke wrote in a post on Facebook alongside a love heart emoji. ‘There was so much interest in his disappearance that Animal Control was called in to assist. But, thankfully he was easy to find and not harmed.”

Van Dyke is one of thousands of Malibu residents forced to flee the fire that has burned more than 4,000 acres and is still 7% percent contained.

‘The Young & The Restless’ Adds Former ‘Days Of Our Lives’ Actor Nathan Owens

The sudser will kick off the new year by adding Nathan Owens — who played Cameron Davis on Days of Our Lives — in a mysterious new role. Details on his character are being held under wraps but Y&R promises his arrival will create plenty of excitement and intrigue for the locals.

The former model turned actor recently starred in the OWN holiday movie A Season to Remember and has completed production on the independent feature, A Mother’s Love, in the lead role. His past credits include series regular roles on Devious Maids as well as recurring roles on Batwoman and 911: Lone Star.

In 2012, Owens assumed the role of Cameron Davis on the then-NBC sudser DOOL. He became a romantic squeeze for Abigail Deveraux but his most memorable arc was how he moonlighted as a male stripper to help pay the bills. Owens left the show in 2013.

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Bids Farewell To James Read: “It’s Been A Fabulous Run”

His villainous character, Clyde Weston, was shot in the December 11 episode by Catherina Greene (Susan Elena Matus) for all the hell he’s brought to her family. He’s left in a coma.

“It’s been a fabulous run so far, only the soap gods know if it is meant to continue!” he tells Deadline. “I always think of Days as a family and have enjoyed every minute of working there since I started 10 years ago.”

Read first created the role in 2014 under writers Ken Corday, Greg Meng and Lisa de Cazotte. He was the estranged father of Ben Rogers and stepfather of Jordan Ridgeway. Read has played the troublemaker part on and off over the last decade.

Before his run on the Peacock/NBC sudser, Read worked as a journeyman actor in TV, with roles on such shows as Cheers, Trapper John M.D., the North & South miniseries franchise, Murder She Wrote, Profiler and 7th Heaven. The Gen X crowd should know him best for playing Elle’s dad in Legally Blonde.

In 2022, Read told Soap Opera Digest that “I don’t think anybody thought Clyde would be long for Salem.” He assumed it would be “a six-month thing. I was happy with that because I had never done daytime before, and I wasn’t sure I would like it. It was a way to get my feet wet and decide whether or not it appealed to me.”

Mark Withers Dies: ‘Dynasty’ & ‘Stranger Things’ Actor Was 77

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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