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2024 Daytime Emmy Winners & NomineesSee The Winners & Nominees in the soap opera categories (& our picks too) here.John Stamos Is Joined by Son Billy, 6, on Drums During Beach Boys Show: 'Had a Little Help From My Son'(7/9/24) (Video) Like father, like son!On Saturday, July 6, John Stamos posted a cute video showing that he had been joined by his son Billy, 6 onstage, as they played the drums together in concert with The Beach Boys on the bands Endless Summer Gold 2024 Tour. The sweet moment came during the tour stop at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre in Michigan on Friday, July 5. Had a little help from my son BILLY on good vibrations last night, Stamos wrote in the caption. Wasnt it nice! @thebeachboys." In the footage, Billy stood beside Stamos onstage wearing bright green headphones while banging on a drum beside his dad as the pair went into a drum solo together during The Beach Boys 1966 hit Good Vibrations. Stamos shares son Billy with his wife Caitlin McHugh Stamos, whom he married in 2018. Billys drumming skills at the Michigan show left concertgoers impressed as they wrote comment in praise of the six-year-old in response to the video. He did a great job! Loved seeing you live last night! Thanks for an amazing night! ?, one follower wrote in the comment section, as another said, He stole the show last night! It's not the first time the little boy has joined his father on stage during one of his performances with the legendary band. In March, 2023, Billy made an appearance during a Beach Boys show, and even helped his dad with playing the guitar. Stamos is currently performing with the Beach Boys on their Endless Summer Gold Tour, celebrating the bands 50th anniversary of their album of the same title, in a series of shows across the country. The actor played his first set of shows with the band from May 30 to June 20, and then on July 5 to Sunday, July 7. He is set to return with the band in concert from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, per ABC News. In another touching video posted by Stamos, which appeared to be from his show with the Beach Boys at Everwise Amphitheater in Indianapolis on July 6, he got emotional onstage as he introduced a song in tribute to his late father, who died on July 6, 2001. I lost my father 23 years ago tonight, he said to the audience in the clip while choking back tears. And hes with me tonight. Sorry but, um, Im grateful to be here and every moment counts Stamos added, before playing The Beach Boys' song Forever. Stamos has performed many times with the Beach Boys over the decades, dating back to 1985, per ABC news, and including as recently as 2022, before rejoining the band onstage this year. The actor has a long history with the band after he also featured in the bands 1992 music video for Problem Child and sang lead vocals on the updated version of their song "Forever" for the bands album Summer in Paradise, released in the same year.[ Candace Cameron Bure Books Next Holiday Movie For Great American Family; Cameron Mathison Co-Stars(7/9/24) Candace Cameron Bure (A Christmas Less Traveled, The Ainsley McGregor Mysteries) has lined up her next holiday movie at Great American Family. Shell star opposite Cameron Mathison (A Kindhearted Christmas, General Hospital) in Jingle Bells, Wedding Bells, which is set to premiere in November as part of Great American Christmas 2024.In Jingle Bells, Wedding Bells, Gracie (Bure) is Peachtree Inns perfect wedding planner whose mantra No problems, only solutions waiting to be discovered makes blushing brides dreams come true. When Charlie (Mathison) brings his sister and future brother-in-law to their former hometown of Butler, South Carolina, expecting to create a magical Christmas Eve wedding at the Inn for Lindsay and Josh, the trio is stunned when Gracie stubbornly declines the job, saying it is not possible to pull off the perfect wedding two weeks before Christmas. Eventually, Gracie relents and agrees to plan the wedding, only to discover there are more hurdles to overcome than expected. Great American Christmas is in its fourth season. Executive Producers are Cameron Bure, Holly A. Hines, Eric Jarboe, Jeffery Brooks, Ford Englerth, Gerald Webb, Paula Elle, and Trevor McWhinney. Produced by Mick MacKay. Supervising producers Michael Shepard, Jonathan Shore, and Robyn Wiener. Associate Producers are David Oland and Trudi Thorwaldson. Jingle Bells, Wedding Bells is directed by Paula Elle from an Original screenplay written by Katie Main. In February, Great American Family announced that its launching a Great American Mysteries series with The Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker. Bure and Aaron Ashmore (Ginny & Georgia) will star. Landman: Paramount+ Reveals Premiere Date, Drops First Looks Of Billy Bob Thornton Oil Drama(7/9/24) Paramount+ has announced the premiere date for its latest Taylor Sheridan drama.Landman, starring Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton, will premiere Sunday, November 17. The series will launch with two episodes, and subsequent episodes of the 10-episode long first season will be available weekly on Sundays. See the first-look images from the series below. Set in the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas, Landman is a modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs. Based on the 11-part podcast Boomtown, the series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, its reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics. In addition to Thornton, the series stars Ali Larter (The Last Victim), Michelle Randolph (1923), Jacob Lofland (Joker 2), Kayla Wallace (When Calls the Heart), James Jordan (Yellowstone), Mark Collie (Nashville), Paulina Chávez (The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia), and Demi Moore (Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans). Jon Hamm (Mad Men) will star in a recurring guest role with Andy Garcia (Expendables franchise) and Michael Peña (End of Watch) also serving as guest stars. Landman is executive produced by Sheridan, David C. Glasser, David Hutkin, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, Christian Wallace, Geyer Kosinski, Michael Friedman and Stephen Kay. Dan Friedkin and Jason Hoch, for Imperative Entertainment, and J.K. Nickell and Megan Creydt, for Texas Monthly, also executive produce. Peter Feldman serves as co-executive producer. Landman is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios and Sheridans Bosque Ranch Productions. Its distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. (Pic1, Pic2, Pic3, Pic4, Pic5, Pic6, Pic7, Pic8, Pic9, Pic10, Pic11) Joseph Hardy Dies: Tony-Winning Broadway Director, Exec Producer Of Ryans Hope Was 95(7/8/24) Joseph Hardy, the stage director who introduced the enduring charmer Youre a Good Man, Charlie Brown, won a Tony Award for 1970s Childs Play and, as an executive producer in daytime drama, attempted to rescue the fading serial Ryans Hope with some of the most controversial changes in soap history, has died. He was 95.His June 6 death was confirmed by New Yorks Primary Stages Off Broadway theater company. A resident since 2020 at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, NJ, his passing last month was not widely reported. Born March 8, 1929, in Carlsbad, NM, Hardy graduated from the Yale School of Drama and began his show business career working as a script editor for New York-based soap operas. He was soon making his way into the Off Broadway world, working extensively in small theaters before making his early mark with the original 1967 production of Youre A Good Man, Charlie Brown at Theater 80 St. Marks in Manhattans East Village. The musical, with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner based on the wildly popular Peanuts characters crated by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, was a simply-staged production that would go on to become a staple of amateur and school theater seasons. The show featured a book by John Gordon a pseudonym later revealed to cover Gessner, production staff and the original cast that included Bob Balaban, Gary Burghoff, among others. By the time the Peanuts musical transferred to Broadway in 1971, Hardy already was there, having directed several Broadway productions including Play It Again, Sam, the 1969 Woody Allen comedy that first teamed Allen with his greatest muse, Diane Keaton. The actress was nominated for a Tony for her performance in the comedy. In 1970, Hardy won the Tony Award for his direction of Childs Play, Charles Marascos Tony-nominated dark mystery drama set in an exclusive boys boarding school. The production also won Tonys for actors Fritz Weaver and Ken Howard, as well as for sets and lighting. Hardys other Broadway credits include Johnny No-Trump (1967); Bob and Ray The Two and Only (1970); Children! Children! (1972); Gigi (1973); The Night of the Iguana (1976); and, in 1978, Diversions and Delights, a one-man show starring Vincent Price as Oscar Wilde. Hardys final Broadway credit was 1979s Romantic Comedy starring Anthony Perkins and, in her Broadway debut, Mia Farrow. His stage career also included a stint as Associate Artist at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, and he was a frequent director at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Hardy also had a busy TV career: He directed, among other projects, Lily Tomlins first TV special in 1973; a 1974 TV-movie adaptation of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; and, that same year, the TV film Great Expectations starring Michael York and Sarah Miles. He directed and executive produced the headline making 1970s teen drama James at 15 (later retitled James at 16). Returning to his roots in daytime soaps, Hardy was hired in 1983 as an executive producer of ABCs Ryans Hope, a once-popular serial that had experienced dwindling viewership since its mid-1970s heyday. Hardy became part of a new producing team that overhauled the serial by firing some of its most popular cast members and shifting the focus from its longtime setting of the Ryan family bar to the goings-on at a nearby deli. The ratings crashed, many ABC affiliates dropped the show, and within a few years the network replaced Hardys crew and rehired original producer Claire Labine. Hardys Ryans Hope era became something of a cautionary tale for the daytime drama industry, as networks and producers would tread carefully ever after about making major shifts away from a serials founding focus. Hardy, however, landed on his feet, soon hired as executive producer of ABCs Loving and, from 1989-91, the hugely popular General Hospital. After leaving General Hospital, Hardy spent much of the 1990s living and working in France. He returned to New York City later in the decade and continued directing at the Old Globe Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Charlotte Rep. In 2008, he directed his old friend Lynn Redgrave in Grace for MCC Theater Off Broadway, and he reteamed with the star the following year for her acclaimed solo show Nightingale for New York City Center. He is survived by sister Caroline Rackley of New Mexico. He requested that no service or memorial be held. 'General Hospital' Star Joan Benedict Dead at 96(7/8/24) Joan Benedict -- known for TV favorites like "General Hospital" and "Candid Camera" -- has died.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," "Apples 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. Joan was 96. Doug Sheehan Dies: General Hospital, Knots Landing Actor Was 75(7/8/24) Doug Sheehan, known for his breakout role as Joe Kelly on General Hospital and as Ben Gibson on Knots Landing, among many other credits, has died. Sheehan passed away peacefully June 29 at his home in Big Horn, Wyoming, with his wife his side, according to a Kane Funeral Home announcement. He was 75. A cause of death was not revealed.Born on April 27, 1949, in Santa Monica, Sheehans first screen role came in a 1978 episode of Charlies Angels. He went on to join the cast of daytime soap General Hospital as a series regular in his first major role, appearing in 205 episodes as lawyer Joe Kelly from 1979-82. He earned a supporting actor Daytime Emmy nomination for his work. He segued from General Hospital to the role of reporter Ben Gibson on Knots Landing, appearing in 115 episodes from 1983 to 1988. He also starred as Brian Harper on comedy series Day by Day, created by Andy Borowitz and Gary David Goldberg, which aired for two seasons on NBC from 1988-89. The series centered on Brian (Sheehan) and Kate Harper (Linda Kelsey), a married couple with two successful careers (Brian as a stockbroker, Kate as a lawyer) and their teenage son, Ross (Christopher Daniel Barnes). He also portayed Mel Horowitz, Chers father, on the sitcom Clueless, based on the movie, taking over the role from Michael Lerner after the first season. His other television credits include Cheers, Columbo, MacGyver, Diagnosis Murder, among others. His final on-screen roles were in 2003, as Edward Gibson, Sabrinas (Melissa Joan Hart) father in Sabrina the Teenage Witch and in a guest-starring role in What I Like About You. Sheehan appeared in three films over the course of his career, 1979s 10 starring Bo Derek and Dudley Moore, Victor/Victoria (1982) and most recently, Cops n Roberts in 1995. Rick Springfield Fan Shows Up at His Home Twice, Cops Called(7/8/24) Rick Springfield is dealing with an unwanted pest ... cops say an overzealous female fan made her way onto his property on more than one occasion.Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... a woman in her 40s was determined to meet the rock legend, showing up at his Los Angeles-area home twice in the last week. We're told the fan talked her way into Rick's gated community ... telling security she was his maid. Though the fan didn't interact with Rick, we're told she did make her way to his door the 2nd time ... where she chatted up one of Rick's sons. Sounds like Rick's kid didn't take his 1982 anthem, "Don't Talk to Strangers," to heart!!! Our sources say deputies were called to the home ... where they spoke with the woman and told her to scram. We're told she was also instructed to not come back to the house. Sources say this isn't considered a stalking case ... that would involve someone following, harassing or threatening someone to the point they fear for their safety. Cops say the woman bounced and has yet to come back, so hopefully this should be the end of it. Still, we're told the police will be doing some extra patrolling in the area just to be safe. John Stamos on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire(7/8/24) WEDNESDAY, JULY 24 (ABC)8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT Who Wants To Be A Millionaire: In the Hot Seat: Nicole Byer & Sasheer Zamata / John Stamos & Dave Coulier (303) Logline: Playing for charity this week includes comedians Nicole Byer and Sasheer Zamata, plus a Full House reunion with John Stamos and Dave Coulier. General Hospitals Michael Easton On His Abrupt Departure From ABC Soap: I Would Have Liked To Have Brought A Little More Subtlety(7/5/24) Michael Easton is grateful for his time on General Hospital. But the actor, whose last day on the ABC soap was June 27, has one regret over the way his character, Dr. Hamilton Finn, wrapped his time in Port Charles.From an acting standpoint, I would have liked to have just brought a little more subtlety and nuance to it, he recently told Soap Hub about how his character fell off the wagon and immediately went off to rehab. I had to get to a point very quickly. But, Easton added, I was the beneficiary of a lot of really good writing and directing. I got to work with some really wonderful actors. On June 26, Easton revealed via social media that he was leaving the ABC sudser. Easton first joined GH in 2012 after departing One Life to Live, where he had played John McBain since 1999. He previously starred on Port Charles and Days of Our Lives. Ive always been partial to the Irish goodbye. Thats where you leave the party without actually telling anyone youre gone, Easton said in a video. But I thought you all deserved better, so I just wanted to let you know that I just filmed my final scenes here at General Hospital. Easton told Soap Hub that his hardest goodbye on the show was having to say farewell to Jophielle Love who plays his TV daughter Violet. That was the hardest goodbye of them all, said Easton. I have a daughter [in real life], and so Jophielle and I had this immediate connection. People said that our relationship looked so natural, as if wed known each other in past lives. I think [Jophielle] is going to do amazing things both as an actress and as a singer. Shes going to do amazing things in life. Jonathan Jackson Says He's 'Excited' to Return to General Hospital: 'I'll Be Seeing You All Fairly Soon'(6/29/24) Jonathan Jackson is making his return to General Hospital.The actor, who played Lucky Spencer on the popular series, is reprising his character later this summer, a rep confirms to PEOPLE. Jackson, 42, also took to his Instagram to share the news in a video on June 25. Im super excited and cant wait to dig in and see whats going on in Port Charles, he said. Excited to see Genie Francis and so many others. Just wanted to say thank you to all of the fans over the years your persistence and love has certainly played a part in all this. Thank you also to Frank Valentini and everybody at ABC also for welcoming me back. He added: Sending much love and I guess Ill be seeing you all fairly soon. Deadline was first to report the news. The Tuck Everlasting actor played Lucky from 1993 until 2011, leaving the role behind to take on new opportunities. After playing Avery Barkley in Nashville during its six-year run, which ended in 2018, Jonathan appeared in the 2024 film Unsung Hero before deciding to return to GH. His time on the long-running soap earned him five Daytime Emmy Awards, and actors Jacob Young and Greg Vaughan stepped into the role of Lucky once he was gone. Jonathan Jackson in a scene that airs the week of September 27th on ABC's GENERAL HOSPITAL Earlier this month, fan speculation grew after executive producer Frank Valentini teased a male cast members return to GH. A former cast member is coming back, he told ABC7. And I think that the audience will go crazy for him. Many wondered if Valentini was referring to Bryan Craig, who PEOPLE confirmed on Monday, June 24, would be reprising his role as Morgan Corinthos who died in a car bomb explosion and has only come back once for an on-camera cameo once in a brief appearance in an upcoming episode. Now, fans know Jackson was likely the him theyve all been wondering about, given the fact that his character is still a series regular. General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC (check local listings). Chicago Med: Dominic Rains Exits After 5 Seasons(6/28/24) Chicago Med fans fears following the Season 9 finale have materialized: Dr. Crockett Marcel is checking out of the Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. Dominic Rains, who has portrayed the ace emergency room surgeon since Season 5, is departing the NBC medical drama as a series regular. It is unclear whether he will reprise his character as a guest star in the upcoming 10th season.The Season 9 finale of Chicago Med set up a potential exit for Rains when Crockett was told by Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) to take all the time he needs following the deaths of one of his patients, a boy, and the boys father. The boy died after Crockett canceled his planned liver transplant because of an infection over the fathers pleas that not proceeding with the surgery would be a death sentence for his son. Following the boys death, his devastated father took his own life. Crockett was shaken by the news which brought up memories of losing his own baby daughter to leukemia. Chicago Med follows the emotional day-to-day chaos of the citys newest state-of-the-art trauma center and the lives of the doctors, nurses and staff who hold it all together. Emergency room surgeon Crockett Marcel was introduced as a recurring character at the start of Season 5, with Rains promoted to a series regular soon thereafter. He also appeared on the other One Chicago series in crossovers. Before joining Chicago Med in 2019, Rains recurred on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Chicago Med is undergoing a major transition heading into next fall, with co-showrunners Diane Frolov and Andy Schneider stepping down after nine years. They are being succeeded at the helm by Allen MacDonald. General Hospital: Michael Easton Set To Depart ABC Sudser(6/26/24) One door opens and another closes: a day after General Hospital thrilled fans by announcing that Jonathan Jackson is returning to the ABC sudser, Michael Easton has announced that hes moving out of Port Charles.The veteran soap star said his last day is June 27. Ive always been partial to the Irish goodbye. Thats where you leave the party without actually telling anyone youre gone, Easton says in a video posted to Instagram. But I thought you all deserved better, so I just wanted to let you know that I just filmed my final scenes here at General Hospital. Ive loved every minute that Ive been here. I want to thank the entire cast and crew for allowing me to share their stage this past 10 years, he continued. Most importantly, I want to thank all of you for the kindness and love youve shown me and my family. I wont ever forget you. And as I walk out here for the last time, and with apologies to the great Lou Gehrig, I feel like the luckiest man on the face of the Earth. Easton first joined GH in 2012 after departing One Life to Live, where he had played John McBain since 1999. He previously starred on Port Charles and Days of Our Lives. Spencer Milligan Dies: Land Of The Lost Star Was 86(6/25/24) Spencer Milligan, who starred in the 1970s Saturday morning series Land of the Lost from Sid & Marty Krofft and was a regular guest star on TV into the late 1980s, has died. He was 86.An obituary on the Huehns Funeral Home website said he died April 16 but did not provide details. Born on September 10, 1937, in Oak Park, IL, Milligan was active in local theater during the 1960s before serving a tour in the Army. His screen career began with a small as a head-change specialist in Woody Allens futuristic 1973 comedy, in which the filmmaker starred with Diane Keaton. He also appeared in the 1974 features The Man from Clover Grove and The Photographer, serving as an associate producer on the latter. The following year, Milligan was cast as Rick Marshall in the Krofft brothers hybrid live-action/stop-motion sci-fi/adventure series Land of the Lost. It focused on Rick and his kids Will and Holly (Wesley Eure and Kathy Coleman), who are plunged into an alternate world ruled by dinosaurs. The trio explores this strange new land as they struggle to survive and find a way back to the world they knew. Milligan starred in the shows first two seasons from 1974-76 before his character accidently escapes the Land of the Lost, sans kids. The series went on for one more season with a new adult star. Known for its campy, low-budget style, the show has gone on to cult status. It spawned a 1990s revival series led by Timothy Bottoms that aired on ABC and later Nickelodeon and a Razzie-winning 2009 feature that starred Will Ferrell, Danny McBride and Anna Friel. Milligan continued to work regularly in TV for the next decade, guested on such popular series as Gunsmoke, Baretta, McCloud, The Bionic Woman, Alice, The Dukes of Hazzard, Vega$, Hardcastle & McCormick and Quincy, M.E. He had a seven-episode arc as Ray Gibbons on General Hospital in 1987. He also starred as a New York Jets quarterback accused of killing his sisters attacker in the 1976 TV movie The Keegans and appeared in early-1980s telepics Terror Among Us and Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story. After his TV career, Milligan taught classes and directed stage plays in his adopted hometown of Sturgeon Bay, WI. He is survived by his wife, Kerry Milligan, and godchildren Andee Solis, Hilary Williams and Spencer Williams. The family asks that donations in his name be made to The Actors Fund. General Hospital Is Bringing Back Jonathan Jackson As Lucky Spencer(6/25/24) This is the announcement that General Hospital fans have been waiting for: Lucky Spencer, aka the Emmy-winning Jonathan Jackson, is on his way back to Port Charles.Soap viewers have been salivating over the possibility of a major star returning after GH executive producer Frank Valentini teased it on the red carpet earlier this month at the Daytime Emmys. A former cast member is coming back, he told ABC7. And I think that the audience will go crazy for him. That him turned out to be Jackson, who hasnt been on the soap since 2015 when he returned for a brief stint. Hes coming home to the ABC sudser later this summer in what is expected to be a long run. More characters from GHs past will make appearances in the next few months, too. The sudser already confirmed that Bryan Craig will reprise his role as Morgan Corinthos for one day in August. For those who lost track, Jackson originated the role of Lucky in 1993; hes the beloved son of super-couple Luke and Laura Spencer (Anthony Geary and Genie Francis). Jackson played the part on and off until 2011, when he left to star as Avery Barkley in ABCs Nashville for six seasons. But he had already started branching out beyond daytime long before that, having appeared in The Deep End of the Ocean, On the Edge, Insomnia, Tuck Everlasting and Venom. Meanwhile, actors Jacob Young and Greg Vaughan took turns playing Lucky. During his time on GH, Jackson was nominated for nine Emmys and won five in 1995, 1998, 1999, 2011 and 2012. As a musician, Jackson has written and recorded hundreds of songs and toured internationally with the cast of Nashville, and his band Jonathan Jackson + Enation. Hes a writer, too; he penned the theological prose The Mystery of Art, which has been translated into Greek, Romanian and Russian, and the epic poem The Harrowing of Hell. This year, Jackson starred in Unsung Hero opposite Terry OQuinn and Candace Cameron Bure. In 2022, Jackson was awarded the Distinction of Excellence by Royal Literary Magazine for his contribution to the understanding of authentic art, for literary works written with inspiration and talent, for highlighting the values of Eastern culture. Jackson is also the Associate Dean and Primary Lecturer at Theoria School of Filmmaking in Nashville. He lives in Tennessee with his family.> General Hospital Comeback That Will Drive Fans Crazy Officially Confirmed(6/24/24) The month-long guessing game thats been giving General Hospital fans heart palpitations is over: The popular cast member returning to the ABC soap this summer is Bryan Craig.A GH rep confirms to TVLine exclusively that Craig will reprise his role as Morgan Corinthos, the late son of Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Carly (Laura Wright), for one episode in early August. Its unclear what form the dearly departed Morgan will take when he resurfaces, although his comeback will come as his mob boss dad has alienated himself from everyone in Port Charles. Speculation about a big GH comeback began earlier this month when GH executive producer confirmed on the Daytime Emmys red carpet that a male former cast member is coming back that the audience will go crazy for. In recent weeks, Craig himself has been hinting at the possibility that the returnee could be him in a series of social media posts, one of which included a recent backstage photo of the GH set. Craigs nearly four-year GH run concluded in 2016 after Morgan (presumably) perished in a car bomb. He briefly returned in 2018 when he appeared in a vision to Maura Wests Ava. During his time on the soap, he won two Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series. Craig recently wrapped a two-season run on the Freeform drama Good Trouble. More St. Elmos Fire? Sony Explores Reuniting Cast Of Seminal 80s Brat Pack Movie(6/20/24) Andrew McCarthys Hulu documentary Brats has brought back memories of the coming-of-age film where the term Brat Pack was coined. Deadline can reveal that Sony is exploring the possibility of making a new version of St. Elmos Fire. This version would hinge on reuniting original cast members McCarthy, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Mare Winningham.The 1985 film that the late Joel Schumacher directed and co-wrote with Carl Kurlander, focused on that transitional period between college and the pressures of finding jobs and starting lives. It was a surprise summer hit with a hugely successful soundtrack. The follow-up would capture the characters as theyve come out the other end of all that. Movies get remade all the time, with concepts resuscitated and roles populated by younger actors, but to me this sounds a far more interesting way to reconnect with the original movie. Who doesnt want to find out what happened in their lives? It is very early going, they dont even have a script, and I dont even know that the cast has been talked to yet, but it will be worth watching to see what happens. As for the reticence McCarthy showed about the Brat Pack label, maybe a second wind will result for him. In an upcoming The Film That Lit My Fuse, Lowe had a pithy assessment of it all, saying that it was really like being identified as a member of the coolest kid club, and who wouldnt want that? Lowe does not seem to take himself too seriously, and importantly, still has his hair and youthful looks, to the point hes arguably more handsome now than he was in the Brat Pack days. Maybe that helps the fact that hes fine, continuing as a card-carrying member of that club as he stars in and is co-writer and co-creator of the series Unstable, which has Season 2 coming through Netflix. Blue Bloods Cast Marks Final Day Of Filming: Donnie Wahlberg, Marisa Ramirez & Vanessa Ray Share Moment As Series Wraps Shoot(6/20/24) Blue Bloods is wrapping up after 14 seasons and the cast of the CBS series is marking the final day of filming.Donnie Wahlberg, Marisa Ramirez, and Vanessa Ray shared a moment on social media where they were seen embracing each other. Last day feels, read the Instagram post Ray re-shared, adding, I love them so much it hurts. The long-running series will wrap in December after the second half of Season 14 airs on CBS. Wahlberg also took to Instagram to share his thoughts after he finished filming the last episode. Last day of Blue Bloods. Not sure I have the words to describe how I feel about today, or the last 14 years on this special Blue Bloods journey, but I do know how incredibly thankful I am for every moment of it, he shared. To the cast, the crew, the guest cast, every background actor, writer, producer and every member of every single dept thank you. Wahlberg continued, To the people of New York, in every neighborhood and borough, thank you for always showing your love. To the NYPD, thank you for your support and sacrifice, I hope we did you proud. The actor also dedicated some words to his fans saying that without them, making 14 seasons of a show wouldnt be possible. Your love and support for this show has been one of the great blessings of my life. Thank you, he concluded. Earlier this year, while making an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Wahlberg expressed he was upset and sad over Blue Bloods ending. General Hospital Responds To Trolls Attacking Star Tabyana Ali Online: Racism Has No Place In Port Charles(6/18/24) General Hospital has released a statement after one of its stars, Tabyana Ali, addressed the shocking amount of racism she has endured on social media.General Hospital does not tolerate hatred or bigotry of any kind, according to the GH statement posted on Instagram. Racism has no place in Port Charles. #GH Is For Everyone. John J. York opens up about 'very welcoming' return to 'General Hospital' amid cancer battle(6/17/24) (Video) "General Hospital" star John J. York is feeling the love from his TV family after he was forced to take a break from the show amid his battle with cancer.York, who plays Mac Scorpio on the ABC soap opera, opened up about his emotional return to the series in an interview with "Good Morning America" on Monday. "Everybody has been very welcoming, very supportive," York said as he choked up. "And here I go already, right off the top 'cause I cant tell you how nice it's been, the support that I've gotten." York revealed in September 2023 that he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome and smoldering multiple myeloma in December 2022. The 65-year-old actor also shared with fans that he would take a "brief hiatus" from production on "General Hospital" while he underwent treatment. Myelodysplastic syndrome consists of a "group of cancers that keep your blood (hematopoietic) stem cells from maturing into healthy blood cells," according to Cleveland Clinic. Smoldering multiple myeloma is a condition that signals someone may develop multiple myeloma, "a rare blood cancer that happens when certain white blood cells mutate into abnormal cells." "I said, 'How long would I have if I did nothing?' " York recalled asking his doctor after receiving the diagnosis. "He said, 'Three to five years.' I was like, 'Three to five years, are you crazy? I feel fantastic!' " John. J York reflects on receiving blood stem cell transplant For his cancer recovery, York opted for a rigorous treatment plan, which included chemotherapy and a blood stem cell transplant. The "Werewolf" actor teared up as he described the moment he learned of his transplant match. "She said we found an exact match, and I just couldn't talk," York said. "It's just a little bag of blood and fluid, and they put it in my body. Forty minutes later, and now I'm this person." He added: "And my cells are now fighting each other and battling each other and getting to know each other." York made his debut on "General Hospital" in 1991. He received a nomination for outstanding male daytime newcomer at the Soap Opera Digest Awards in 1992, per the actor's IMDb page. York's "General Hospital" return is expected to air Wednesday on ABC. "I just felt so attached that I didn't feel like I missed anything," York said of his absence. "I feel like I just had a little break a little vacation, I guess and had to go through something, and now were here on kind of the other side of it." Morning Show Appearance(6/14/24) Good Morning America - ABCJun 17, 2024 actor John York Conrad Vernon & Danielle Sterling Launch Animation Straight Up Creative; First Project With John Stamos At Netflix(6/13/24) Sausage Party and Addams Family animated feature filmmaker Conrad Vernon has opened the doors to the animation production company, Straight Up Creative with producer and development executive Danielle Sterling.Under the shingle, the group will develop and produce a slate of original content focused on animation aimed at a global audience, not just for kids, and with an edgy take. To spearhead development, Vernon and Sterling have hired producer Lauren Ito as Head of Development, and Jeremy Ross as Chief Operating Officer. Straight Up Creative is currently developing an animated feature at Netflix Animation with John Stamos producing and written by Ali Adler (Supergirl, The New Normal) and Zoë Worth (Thelma, Shut Up and Drive). At Straight Up Creative, we are departing from the misconception of animation as solely a childrens genre and see animation as a versatile medium capable of expanding the ability to tell any story, in any genre, for any audience, Vernon and Sterling tell us. Were drawn to edgy material that offers a fresh perspective. While animation is often associated with comedy, were intrigued by its potential to explore genres like romantic comedy or horror. Were also, equally enthusiastic about undertaking projects independently or in collaboration with studios, the duo add. Vernon has served as a director, actor, and producer on several animated projects, including the films Shrek 2, Monsters vs. Aliens, Madagascar 3: Europes Most Wanted, Sausage Party, The Addams Family and Addams Family 2, the last three of which he also served as a producer. Sterling launched her career at MGM Studios before moving on to become the SVP of Davis Entertainment. During her tenure, she contributed to projects such as First Daughter, I, Robot, and Flight of the Phoenix. Transitioning to 3QU Media, an independent animation studio, Sterling served as Producer and Head of Development producing four films released on Netflix: Charming, Gnome Alone, Fearless, and Dog Gone Trouble. In 2019, she co-produced The Addams Family and produced the sequel for the MGM franchise. Ito has been involved in the development, on-set, and post-production stages of over 30 films spanning various genres. Her notable credits include Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, Netflixs The Babysitter, as well as television series such as Snapchats Commanders, Funny or Dies Brockmire, and Blumhouses 12 Deadly Days. Ross, along with Sterling, co-founded 3QU Media, specializing in animated film financing and production. Their releases include Gnome Alone, Charming, Fearless, and Dog Gone Trouble. Additionally, Ross served as an EP on the Oscar-winning animated short film If Anything Happens I Love You. Over his career, he has facilitated over $150M in debt financing for independent productions.r Dozens March In Downtown Los Angeles To Demand Justice For Actor Johnny Wactor(6/12/24) (Video1, Video2) Dozens of people marched in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday to demand justice for former General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor, who was shot and killed May 25 in Los Angeles.The 37-year-old actor was walking back to his car with a co-worker at Pico Boulevard and Hope Street after a bartending shift when he noticed three men attempting to steal his catalytic converter. When he confronted them, he was shot. Before the march, family and friends held a press conference to demand justice for Wactor. You guys probably dont notice because the suns out but its the only street down there that doesnt have lights on, said Bryan Barkley, a security guard for Level 8 Restaurant and Lounge where Wactor worked. It probably could have been any one of us. Its important for us this story remains top of mind for his family, for his friends because we loved him and because Johnny deserves justice, added friend Micah Parker, as reported by ABC7. The district attorneys chief deputy Joseph Iniguez told the crowd that the major crimes division is working with Central Bureau homicide detectives on the case. No arrests have been made but Iniguez said: We have a number of leads. Marchers then walked to City Hall, where they were invited into the City Council meeting. Were committed to ensuring that we bring those responsible for this heinous act to justice, said Councilmember Kevin de León. Johnnys death was senseless and unnecessary. On Tuesday, Wactor was memorialized at the end of General Hospital with a title card. Wactor appeared in the ABC soap between 2020 and 2022 as Brando Corbin. John Stamos Helps the UnPrisoned Family Work on Themselves in Season 2 Trailer(6/12/24) (Video) A family healing coach played by Full House alum John Stamos is here to help the Alexander family, in the first trailer for Season 2 of UnPrisoned.The Kerry Washington comedy returns to Hulu this summer, with all eight episodes set to drop Wednesday, July 17. In Season 2, the Alexander family is still a mess, Paiges (Washington) therapy practice is in trouble and Finns anxiety is through the roof, according to the official description. Edwin (Delroy Lindo) is still figuring out how to get his life together outside of prison, and their relationships are more complicated than ever. The family needs help, and its time to call in a professional other than Paige. The Alexanders turn to a family radical healing coach (Stamos), who throws out all the rules to free them of the issues, old wounds and family secrets holding them back. Inspired by the life of creator Tracy McMillan and showrun by TV vet Yvette Lee Bowser (Living Single, Dear White People), the cast also includes Marque Richardson (Dear White People) as Edwins parole officer; Faly Rakotohavana (Ravens Home) as Paiges impressionable teenage son; Brenda Strong (Supergirl) as Edwins former girlfriend; Tim Daly (Private Practice) as Paiges almost-divorced boyfriend; Jee Young Han (Zoeys Extraordinary Playlist) as Paiges foster sister; and Jordyn McIntosh as Little Paige. General Hospital Star Tabyana Ali Addresses Racist Trolls On X: To Anyone Who Hates Me Sending You Peace, Safety & Prosperity(6/11/24) General Hospital Star Tabyana Ali Addresses Racist Trolls On X: To Anyone Who Hates Me Sending You Peace, Safety & ProsperityOnline hate toward actors especially those in genre projects is, sadly, nothing new in Hollywood. But a recent spate of attacks on General Hospital actress Tabyana Ali has demonstrated that even daytime soap stars are not immune from such trolling. Racist comments about Ali on social media prompted the actress to speak out on X about anyone that hates me. Thats absolutely fine, she continued. I dont know you and you dont me but regardless Im sending you peace, safety, and prosperity I also pray you touch some grass, see the sun, eat a delicious meal, and find something to do. Ali, who has played Trina Robinson on the ABC sudser since 2022, ended up posting multiple comments about the trolling she has endured. Tabyana Ali @iamaliford And Im sorry that this is the away you feel like you have to be seen. I'm sorry that life isn't happening how you want. But if you found something you loved to do other than hurting people. You would never have the energy to say what you've been saying to people ONLINE! 2/4 I promise life is more beautiful and peaceful and full when you give people and yourself LOVE. I pray you don't meet God and find yourself disappointed when he shows you the life you could've had, if all you had to do was stop giving out that type of energy and just went OUTSIDE! Okay this is the last time I'm going to speak on this today but we cannot be feeding in to peoples hate. We cannot be giving it back. We cannot stoop to rude/racist people's level. It doesn't help. We are fighting too many wars as it is. I believe we will have our world peace 1/2 But we got to find another way to fight. I've realized ignoring doesn't help but neither does giving the energy back. We're going in circles and that doesn't get us anywhere. Everybody might not agree with me but thats okay. I just want to let "those" people know, I see you. If you see anybody sending hate, send a "mirror" so they can reflect on themselves and start becoming the person the Lord intend! To anyone that hates me. That's absolutely fine. I don't know you and you don't me but regardless I'm sending you peace, safety, and prosperity... I also pray you touch some grass, see the sun, eat a delicious meal, and find something to do. Peace and love Deadline understands that ABC is engaging with Ali and her team on how to navigate the situation. There has been no official statement from the network or the soap, which was just named Outstanding Daytime Drama at Fridays Daytime Emmys. In the meantime, several of Alis co-stars have come to her defense. Maura West, who plays Ava on GH, wrote on X that I love you, Tabyana. I admire your strength and loving, open heart. You are a shining example of the best of humanity. Lydia Look (Selina Wu) said, Love! You go sis. Show them what youre made of. Pure Love, thats what. Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) addressed the haters directly: You hide behind a profile pix & spew hatred & racism at Tabyana, you spew it at every cast member of General Hospital & we condemn & reject it. We stand by our friend & colleague in her dignified & gracious response. Theres no place 4 racism of any kind in r beloved GH community. Even Michele Van Jean, who is penning CBS new soap The Gates, wrote My question here is why would anyone hate you? General Hospital Pays Tribute To Johnny Wactor In Latest Episode(6/11/24) (Photo) Johnny Wactor was memorialized by General Hospital with a touching tribute.On Tuesdays episode, a title card with Wactors image appeared on screen honoring the late actor who was killed over Memorial Day weekend. In loving memory of Johnny Wactor, read the title card. Wactor appeared in the ABC soap between 2020 and 2022 as Brando Corbin. Following news of his death, the General Hospital team said, The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Johnny Wactors untimely passing. He was truly one of a kind and a pleasure to work with each and every day. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones during this difficult time. Wactor was killed after he received a fatal shot following a bartending shift in Downtown Los Angeles. He was reportedly walking with a female co-worker when he noticed three men attempting to steal a catalytic converter from his car. According to Wactors brother Grant, the General Hospital alum saw the thieves and asked if he was being towed. He came across them and he thought his truck was being towed. So he said something to the guys, like, Hey, are you towing? Grant Wactor told the Daily Mail. And then once he turned around, he saw what was happening and he put his coworker behind him. And thats when they shot him. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner recently confirmed that Wactor died from a gunshot wound to the chest, and his death was considered a homicide. The suspects remain at large, and Wactors family is planning a march. A $25,000 reward has been implemented for information leading to the arrest of the suspects responsible for killing Wactor. Murdered Actor Johnny Wactors Friends And Family Plan March, Ask For Reward(6/9/24) Friends and family of the late actor Johnny Wactor are calling for a reward to be established to catch whomever shot him, and plan a march to City Hall on Wednesday in his honor.Wactor was shot and killed on May 25 at Pico & Hope St. in Los Angeles. The 37-year-old actor was walking back to his car with a co-worker after a bartending shift at Level 8 Restaurant & Lounge around around 3:15 a.m. He noticed some men tampering with his car, and when he confronted them, he was shot. The suspects fled the scene and no arrests have been made. Wactors family and friends intend to keep the incident alive. Unfortunately, what happened to Johnny can, and is likely to, happen again, reads a news release from the group. Johnnys family and friends are urging local community leaders to explore legislative and municipal actions that will hopefully not only lead to breakthroughs in Johnnys case, but that will also help make the city that Johnny chose to call home safer, the news release reads. This should be important to us all. The group has called for a $25,000 reward to be implemented for information leading to the arrest of the suspects responsible for killing Wactor. Ratings: Daytime Emmys Audience Grows 39% to Mark 4-Year High(6/8/24) The 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday night averaged 2.82 million total viewers on CBS, marking the events largest overnight audience in four years since the early-pandemic, virtual ceremony held in June 2020 (which drew 3.3 million lookie-loos).The audience for this years kudoscast was up +39% from last year (where it didnt 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 events largest live streaming audience to date. During Friday nights tight, two-hour telecast, ABCs 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 Peaco*cks 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. 'General Hospital' Star Johnny Wactor Was Cremated After Downtown L.A. Murder(6/6/24) Johnny Wactor's body was cremated after he was murdered in Los Angeles ... TMZ has learned.According to the late actor's death certificate, obtained by TMZ, his remains were transferred to his mother, Scarlett, cremated, and now reside at her home in South Carolina. Johnny's family had made it known they wanted his body sent over after he was killed in L.A. Johnny's occupation is listed as an actor, and the doc also notes he'd been in the entertainment industry for 15 years. The official cause of death is also detailed -- with the Medical Examiner citing a gunshot wound to the chest as the primary cause ... and no other significant factors contributing. The death cert goes on to say he died on a street and/or highway -- with officials pointing out he was shot by another -- and his death was ruled as a homicide. We broke the story ... JW was shot and killed by a group of thieves who were trying to steal his catalytic converter from his car -- with his car up on a jack as he and a coworker approached them after a late shift at their bar. Without provocation, Johnny was shot square in the torso ... with the assailants fleeing. They were never caught, and cops are on the hunt -- asking for the public help in finding them. His coworker Anita Joy -- who was with him when he was killed -- detailed his last moments on 'GMA' ... saying she was covered in his blood and trying to keep him conscious on the ground. Eventually, Wactor succumbed to his injury and was later pronounced dead. The bar he worked at has caught some heat after his murder -- with many alleging management had ignored calls for better safety measures for employees working late. Level 8 honchos said they're also mourning Johnny's death ... and looking into changes on this front. Wactor was 37. Michelle Obama, Regina King, Dwyane Wade & Ricky Martin Among Speakers And Attendees Set For 2024s CAA Amplify Summit(6/6/24) CAA on Thursday announced the speakers and attendees set for its seventh annual CAA Amplify Summit, the invitation-only convening of artists, thought-leaders, and executives of color from leading organizations in entertainment, sports, media, brands, and technology, and beyond.Confirmed speakers and attendees include: former First Lady of the United States and Co-Founder, Higher Ground Productions, Michelle Obama; Oscar and Emmy-winning Actress, Producer, and Director, Regina King (Shirley); NBA Hall of Famer, Activist, and Entrepreneur, Dwyane Wade; Grammy-winning Singer, Songwriter, Actor, and Activist, Ricky Martin; Emmy, Golden Globe, Grammy, and Academy Award-winning Singer and Songwriter, Jon Batiste; Emmy-nominated Television Host, Producer, Bestselling Author, and Activist, Padma Lakshmi; Actress and Comedian, Ego Nwodim (SNL); Academy Award-winning Writer and Director, Cord Jefferson (American Fiction); Chief Legal Analyst and News Anchor, Laura Coates (Laura Coates Live); Actress Ashley Park (Emily in Paris); Misty Copeland, Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre; Emmy-nominated Producer and Comedian, Roy Wood, Jr. (former correspondent for The Daily Show); three-time Emmy-winning Writer, Director, Creator, Lee Sung Jin (Beef); Academy Award-nominated Actor Demián Bichir (The Hateful Eight); Athlete and Civil Rights Activist, Colin Kaepernick; Peabody-winning Creator, Writer, Director, and Actor, Mo Amer (Mo); Errin Haines, Editor-at-Large, The 19th and MSNBC Analyst; Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director, ACLU; Fatima Gross Graves, President and CEO, National Womens Law Center Action Fund; Kelley Robinson, President, Human Rights Campaign and Human Rights Campaign Foundation; and Imran Ahmed, CEO, Center for Countering Digital Hate, among others. Kicking off in Ojai, CA on June 10, the event is organized by a diverse cross-section of CAA agents and executives and will explore business opportunities, social justice initiatives, and collaborations to accelerate transformational change in rooms of leadership and popular culture. Said CAAs Natalie Tran, who has helped organize this annual convening since its inception, CAA Amplify has become a place to activate a community of artists, thought leaders, and influencers of color. Our super power is connecting luminaries across business, philanthropy, entertainment, technology, politics, and beyond to inform, strategize, and take action to create a more optimistic future. Now, more than ever, as commitments to impact become less visible, the collective expertise and collaboration within the CAA Amplify network are essential to driving meaningful opportunities for those that help shape culture, storytellers, and global brands. Since launching in 2017, CAA Amplify has become a powerful platform to create and empower a network of dynamic leaders of color. These include Olympic gold medalists, Fortune 500 CEOs, philanthropists, industry-leading entrepreneurs, and award-winning artists, among others. In addition to the signature annual summit, CAA Amplify created CAA Amplify Town Hall, a series of special livestream events that address a range of urgent social issues of our time. The first Town Hall event, hosted in June 2020 in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, was an unprecedented gathering of more than 11,000 artists and cross-industry leaders who were able to discuss the state of race in America and hear about critical action steps necessary to help end systemic racism. Other Town Halls have focused on threats to democracy and civic engagement, the impact of the Covid pandemic on Americas youth and education system, the staggering increase in violence impacting the AAPI community, and the importance of allyship and humanity.rideProvider Daytime Emmy Presenters(6/4/24) CBS and The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced today the star-studded list of presenters for THE 51ST ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY® AWARDS, airing live on Friday, June 7 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+*.Hosted by ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHTs Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner, the lineup of presenters from daytimes 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 OConnell 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. Janis Paige Dies: Prolific Film, TV & Stage Actor Known For Pajama Game, Silk Stockings & Soaps Was 101(6/3/24) Janis Paige, who racked up more than 100 film, TV and stage credits over six decades including The Pajama Game, Silk Stockings and Santa Barbara, died June 2 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 101.Her friend Stuart Lambert told The Associated Press about Paiges death. During her long career, Paige toured with Bob Hope and danced onscreen with Fred Astaire, along with originating the Babe Williams role in The Pajama Game on Broadway in 1954. That same year she headlined Its Always Jan, a CBS sitcom about the problems of single-parenthood during which she usually sang a song. It lasted a single season. Born Donna Mae Tjaden on September 16, 1922, in Tacoma, WA, she began singing in talent shows at a tender age and moved to Los Angeles after graduating high school. Paige made her Broadway debut in 1951 opposite Jackie Cooper in the mystery comedy Remains to Be Seen but found her signature stage role three years later in the hit musical comedy The Pajama Game. Babe Williams is a union organizer in a factory who falls in love with the new superintendent. Her role was played by Doris Day in the 1957 film version. Paige later returned to Broadway three times, including starring roles in Heres Love (1963) and Alone Together (1984). In 1968, she played the title role in Mame as part of a replacement cast. Angela Lansbury was the original star. Along the way she appeared in dozens of movies and television series including 1946s Hollywood Canteen, named for the famous nightclub where Paige was discovered. Through the next five years, she appeared in several Warner Bros films, often opposite Jack Carson, Dennis Morgan and/or Robert Hutton. When you go on an audition as an actor, its not about the job, she said in a 2005 interview for the Television Academy Foundation. Its about the privilege of acting. Of working in front of somebody and acting. Watch some of that interview below. Among her most recognizable silver-screen roles were opposite Day in Please Dont Eat the Daisies and with Astaire and Cyd Charisse in the 1957 romp Silk Stockings, which also starred Peter Lorre and George Tobias. The upstart TV medium came calling in the mid-1950s. Along with toplining Its Always Jan, Paige guested on such popular 50s and 60s series in as Lux Video Theatre, Shower of Stars, Wagon Train, The Fugitive and The Red Skelton Hour. Paige continued to work sporadically in films, but she was a familiar face on TV during the 1970s, 80s and 90s. She appeared on hit shows including All in the Family during which she kissed Carroll OConnors Archie Bunker Happy Days, Columbo, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Hawaii Five-O, Charlies Angels, The Rockford Files, Police Story, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Too Close for Comfort, Night Court, Caroline in the City and Trapper John, M.D. She also appeared in dozens of episodes of daytime dramas General Hospital as Iona Huntington and Santa Barbara as Minx Lockridge. Her final credit was a 2001 episode of Family Law. John Stamos Warns Of The Wonkapocalypse In Sneak Peek At Musical Inspired By Glasgows Bizarre Willy Fest(6/3/24) When John Stamos warns of a chocolaty apocalypse, pay attention.He does just than in a sneak listen of what could be a pretty delicious musical parody inspired by that hilariously misguided (and unlicensed) Willy Wonka experience event in Glasgow a few months back. The Stamos track is one of three demos released to Deadline today by the producers of Willys Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody. With a line-up of songwriters including Riki Lindhome, Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, Tova Litvin and Doug Rockwell, and Daniel Mertzlufft, and performances by TikToks The Sharpe Family Singers and the real fests actual sad, gone-viral Oompa Loompa actress Kirsty Paterson, the demos will debut today on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and at willyscandyspectacular.com. Sample lyric, as delivered by Stamos with classic rock god moves: It was the start of the end of the world/Its significance was easy to miss/A scheme gone bad turned viral fad/brought us to the apocalypse/Some thought itd be Trump or Putin/setting the world ablaze/Some thought itd be masks or Covid vaccinations/that led to the ends of days/ But no! It was Willys Candy Spectacular! The parodys lead producer Richard Kraft of Kraft-Engel Productions had previously directed Stamos in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl that also featured Finn Wolfhard as Charlie and Weird Al Yankovic as the Oompa Loompas. Said Kraft, The process of creating a brand-new musical, which usually spans years, is being condensed into just a couple of months, with the team sharing their progress through social media. The first three demo tracks released today are: Willys Candy Spectacular Stamos performs a post-apocalyptic opening number that traces the downfall of civilization back to the disastrous event in Glasgow. This track is the brainchild of Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, known for their work on Broadways First Date and ABCs Once Upon a Time. Said the songwriters, We love musicals with epic opening numbers. And we thought what could be more epic than John Stamos singing about the end of humanity and linking our species demise to an underwhelming immersive experience in Scotland? Where Dreams Go To Fly An uplifting number written by Emmy-winners Doug Rockwell and Tova Litvin (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Julie & The Phantoms) captures the unbridled optimism of the impresario behind Willys Candy Spectacular. Theres such a fine line between soaring optimism and crushing defeat, they said. In our song, weve tried to capture the range of emotions one goes through when creating art, even when that art is mind-numbingly awful. Dreamed to Dare Written by Daniel Mertzlufft, who launched the viral TikTok musical Ratatouille the Musical, features TikTok singers The Sharpe Family and the actual sad Oompa Loompa actress Kirsty Paterson from the viral Wonka Experience in Glasgow as attendees preparing to enter the world of dreams (or nightmares). Said Mertzlufft, Not many shows have such high stakes and absurd characters that we deserve a bombastic anticipatory ensemble number but with a plot like this I couldnt resist! Demos of additional songs are expected to be released every Sunday in the coming weeks, including a song from Riki Lindhome based on the sad Oompa Loompa Wannabe, culminating in the debut of a staged reading of the musical at the Pleasance King Dome from August 9 to 26 during Edinburgh Fringe Fest 2024. Willys Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody, producers want to make clear, is a parody production and not sponsored, endorsed by or affiliated with Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Illuminati, Willys Chocolate Experience, The Ferrero Group, The Roland Dahl Story Company, Netflix, Village Roadshow Pictures, HeyDay Films and Domain Entertainment, or any of their subsidiaries or affiliated companies and/or third party licensors. Listen to the three numbers below: Willys Candy Spectacular: (feat John Stamos): Video. Dreamed to Dare: (Feat Sharpe Family Singers and Sad Oompa Loompa Kirsty Paterson): Video. Where Dreams Go To Fly: featuring Doug Rockwell and Tova Litvin): Video. The Rings Of Power Actress Nazanin Boniadi Not Returning For Season 2(5/31/24) Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power actress Nazanin Boniadi wont be returning as her human healer character Bronwyn for season 2 of the Prime Video series.Deadline has also confirmed that Boniadis role has not been recast. Bronwyn is the mother of Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) and the lover of elf warrior Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova). Both Muhafidin and Cordova are returning for season 2. Bronwyn didnt make an appearance in the recent teaser trailer for season 2 of Rings of Power. Boniadi recently wrote on Instagram that she paused acting to focus solely on the #WomanLifeFreedom uprising in Iran and to advocate or the people in my homeland who have been risking everything for freedom. She also mentioned Deadlines announcement of her movie, A Mosquito in the Ear, which she said, Despite my passion for acting, I knew it would take a very special project to convince me to once again split my time between my day job and my calling as an activist. The movie is based on the Italian graphic novel Una Zanzara nellOrecchio from Andrea Ferraris, which tells the true story of Andrew and Daniela, an American couple eager to form a family, who travel to India to bring home their newly adopted child. A Mosquito in the Ear reps the feature directorial debut of BAFTA Newcomer Nicola Rinciari. This past week, Rings of Power showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay said that a fan-fave character, Tom Bombadil, from the J.R.R. Tolkein novel was finally making his debut, that part played by Rory Kinnear. Johnny Wactor Co-Worker Describes Horrifying Final Moments: Everything Happened In An Instant(5/30/24) In an emotional and disturbing account of the final moments in the life of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor, the co-worker who was with him when he was shot by a thief provides new details of what she calls the unimaginable events of that night.Everything happened in an instant, writes Anita Joy in an Instagram message. Ive come to describe it as a glass of water that gets tipped over and youre scrambling to grab it and save it from spilling out completely but it just runs through your fingertips and is gone. Joy writes that she and Wactor, whom she affectionately calls Johnny Wacky, had finished their late shift at a downtown L.A. bar when, at about 3 a.m. last Saturday, the two were walking to their cars parked nearby. Friends for eight years, Wactor and Joy were laughing together, walking side by side when the encountered three people standing by Wactors vehicle. We cautiously approached the men, she writes, questioning what they were doing, at first thinking the car was being towed. We were no threat and Johnny kept his cool as he always did, simply stating that it was his car and for them to leave. Hands open to his sides in peace. Johnny was between me and the man who shot him as I heard the shot ring into the night, he forcefully tumbled back into my arms and as I grabbed for him, I shouted Hunny you ok? And he only responded Nope! Shot! We toppled onto the street, she continues, where I pushed my legs under him and tried to hold his body up while screaming for help and screaming at him to stay with me. At that point, she says, a security guard from the bar, identified only as Bryan, came running to the wounded man while calling 911 on his phone. The guard wrapped a denim jacket around Wactor in an attempt to stop the bleeding, and began performing CPR. It was too close range, she writes, too extreme of a wound for him to survive it but my god, he fought to stay. My only peace is that I was with him and this didnt happen to him alone my only other peace will be seeing these awful men brought to justice. In addition to calling for justice and directing readers to the Go Fund Me page set up by Wactors family, Joy also calls out the bar where the two worked to provide late-night staff with secure parking to prevent anything like this ever happening again to the best of their ability. The bar, she says, needs to contribute to Johnnys family to honor and respect him for all the hard work and effort he did for them. She further describes Wactor: He was beautiful, goofy as hell, full of work ethic and values, he never put people down, even when joking, he never made you feel unsure of yourself he knew how to be hilarious in such a positive way and it just made him that much more lovable. It just filled your heart to be around him. He called me Anita Bonita and I hope the stamp of his voice saying that every time I saw him never leaves my memory. Just one look into his big blue eyes, followed by a big goofy grin, Johnny made you love him instantly. Absolutely one of the best men Ive ever known. Im so grateful to have been a part of his world and him, mine./ John Stamos to Guest Star on UnPrisoned Alongside Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo(5/30/24) John Stamos wont mince words when he appears in the second season of UnPrisoned.The actor, 60, will guest star on the Hulu comedy as Murphy, a bestselling author, reality star and self-proclaimed family radical healing coach, PEOPLE has learned. The cut-to-the-chase type therapist prides himself in being very direct with patients about whats wrong with them. Stamos is one of several actors joining the upcoming season, premiering July 17, with other guest stars including Jamie Chung, Brandee Evans and Oliver Hudson. Brenda Strong, who appeared in the first season as Delroy Lindos onscreen love interest Nadine, will also return as a guest star. Season 2 of UnPrisoned picks up where the season 1 finale left off, with Edwin (Lindo) deciding to move out of Paige's (Kerry Washington) home. According to the synopsis, this season will see Edwin work on figuring out his life after getting out of prison during the season 1 pilot. Paiges therapy practice, meanwhile, is in jeopardy and Finn (Faly Rakotohavana) must navigate his anxiety. The Alexander family turn to Murphy, who tosses out all the conventional rules of therapy to free them of their issues, old wounds and family secrets holding them back. Stamos is no stranger to playing a therapist, portraying the pot-smoking Dr. Nicky Reynolds in Yous first and second seasons, who is wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail). Despite being innocent of Guineveres murder, the existential feeling Dr. Reynolds, contends in the season 2 episode entitled Love, Actually that he's guilty of other things, including destroying his marriage, his wife and his kids and of "using" Guinevere. Im guilty of using her [Guinevere] and shes not the first. Shes just the first to end up dead, Dr. Reynolds says in the episode. Stamos rose to fame playing Blackie Parrish on General Hospital from 1982 to 1984, for which he earned a Daytime Emmy nomination. He landed on another hit show, Full House, portraying Jesse Katsopolis, from 1987 to 1995 a role he would later reprise for the Netflix sequel series Fuller House, which ran for five seasons, from 2016 to 2020. "It's [Full House] a story critics can get contemptuous about but also one that moms and dads can enjoy with their kids," Stamos wrote in his 2023 memoir If You Would Have Told Me, adding the show "was sentimental in a way that feels brave" and displayed "a vulnerability that is almost retro." During his decades-long career, the actor has also starred in TV projects including the Disney+ sports dramedy Big Shot and the Fox comedy Grandfathered, for which he won a Peoples Choice Award in 2016 for favorite actor in a new TV series. He has also starred onstage in productions of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Cabaret, Bye Bye Birdie and Nine. Season 2 of UnPrisoned premieres July 17 on Hulu. General Hospital Actor Johnny Wactors Cause Of Death Revealed(5/29/24) The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has confirmed actor Johnny Wactor died from a gunshot wound to the chest. His manner of death is classified as a homicide.Wactor was shot early Saturday morning, May 25, in Los Angeles when he confronted three armed thieves who were trying to steal a catalytic converter from his car. The suspects fled the scene and the LAPD has asked for the publics help for tips. In a May 28 news release, Los Angeles Police Department said, based on witness statements, Wactor had ended his shift as a bartender at a local bar and was walking to his vehicle when he was confronted by three individuals who had Wactors vehicle raised up with a floor jack and were in the process of stealing the catalytic converter. Without provocation, the victim was shot by one of the individuals, police said. The three suspects involved were wearing all dark clothing and driving a dark-colored sedan. The suspects fled northbound on Hope Street. Central Bureau Homicide is investigating this case and is requesting the publics help. Wactors family has said that the actor was walking a female co-worker to her car and, upon encountering the thieves at Wactors car, the actor positioned himself in front of his co-worker just before he was shot. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Wactor appeared in the ABC daytime soap General Hospital between 2020 and 2022, playing the role of Brando Corbin. His other television credits include Station 19, Westworld, NCIS and Criminal Minds among others. On the film side, he was most recently seen in Dead Talk Tales: Volume I, released this year, in which he played Marcus. LAPD Seeks Publics Help In Johnny Wactor Killing; Suspects Remain At Large(5/28/24) The Los Angeles Police Department is asking the public for tips in the tragic shooting death of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor on Saturday.In a news release confirming earlier accounts of the crime, the Los Angeles Police Department said today that, based on witness statements, Wactor had ended his shift as a bartender at a local bar and was walking to his vehicle when he was confronted by three individuals who had Wactors vehicle raised up with a floor jack and were in the process of stealing the catalytic converter. Without provocation, the victim was shot by one of the individuals, police said. The three suspects involved were wearing all dark clothing and driving a dark-colored sedan. The suspects fled northbound on Hope Street. Central Bureau Homicide is investigating this case and is requesting the publics help. While the police statement mentions a witness, the LAPD has not confirmed that persons identity. Wactors family has said that the actor was walking a female co-worker to her car and, upon encountering the thieves at Wactors car, the actor positioned himself in front of his co-worker just before he was shot. Per LAPD: When police arrived at the crime scene in the 1200 block of Hope Street downtown at around 3:25 a.m. on May 25, officers found Wactor suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers began to render aid to the victim and requested the response of emergency medical services. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to the scene and transported Wactor to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to call LAPD Detectives Gonzales or Martinez at Central Bureau Homicide, at (213) 996-4142. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go to http://www.lacrimestoppers.org. Elizabeth MacRae Dies: General Hospital & Gomer Pyle: USMC Actor Was 88(5/28/24) Elizabeth MacRae, known for her recurring roles in General Hospital and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., has died. She was 88.MacRae died on May 27 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she grew up. After graduating, MacRae pursued a career in acting and auditioned for Otto Premingers production of Saint Joan in 1956. Although she didnt 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 Gomers 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. MacRaes film credits include Live in a Goldfish Bowl, Everythings Ducky, The Incredible Mr. Limpet, and Frances Ford Coppolas The Conversation. She continued to work in television and featured in shows like Kojak, Barnaby Jones, and Rhoda. MacRaes 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. General Hospital Alum Johnny Wactor Has GoFundMe Set Up By Grandmother To Support Loved Ones After Fatal Shooting(5/27/24) Johnny Wactor, the former General Hospital actor who was fatally shot on Saturday, has been set up with a GoFundMe to help support his loved ones.Wactors mother, Scarlett Wactor, endorsed the crowdfunding effort opened by the actors grandmother Michaelle Kinard. I want to raise money for his mother, Scarlett, and his brothers, Lance and Grant to be able to travel the distance of 2000 miles (the many times it may take) to take care of this heartbreaking business which they have been sentenced, reads the GoFundMe page. The fundraiser has a goal of $100,000, of which more than $35,000 has been raised as of this publication. Kinard noted that any excess donations would be donated to the charities the family chooses in memory of Johnny. Wactors grandmother said her heart is utterly broken and added, somehow we NEED justice for Johnny! With Gods will the killer will be arrested and the family will see him face to face. This may help bring closure to this tragedy, Kinard added. Wactor received a fatal shot after finishing a bartending shift in Downtown Los Angeles. He was reportedly walking with a female co-worker when he noticed three men attempting to steal a catalytic converter from his car. According to Wactors brother Grant, the General Hospital alum saw the thieves and asked if he was being towed. He came across them and he thought his truck was being towed. So he said something to the guys, like, Hey, are you towing? Grant Wactor told the Daily Mail. And then once he turned around, he saw what was happening and he put his coworker behind him. And thats when they shot him. Wactor appeared in the ABC soap between 2020 and 2022 as Brando Corbin. General Hospital Actor Johnny Wactor Was Shielding Female Co-Worker When Fatally Shot(5/27/24) Actor Johnny Wactor had just finished a bartending shift and was walking an unidentified female co-worker to her car when he was shot and killed by thieves apparently attempting to steal a catalytic converter from his car.The General Hospital actors brother Grant has told the Daily Mail that Wactor initially thought his vehicle was being towed, but when he realized what was actually happening he shielded the co-worker by putting her behind him. Were Southern, born and raised, and we would never let a female walk to their car by herself, Grant Wactor told the news outlet. He came across them and he thought his truck was being towed. So he said something to the guys, like, Hey, are you towing? And then once he turned around, he saw what was happening and he put his coworker behind him. And thats when they shot him. Wactors mother, Scarlett Wactor, confirmed that account to CNN affiliate KABC. She said her son occasionally worked as a bartender between acting gigs. The fatal shooting occurred around 3:25 a.m. Saturday near Pico Boulevard and Hope Street. The three thieves fled the scene, and as of Monday morning had not been apprehended. Wactor played the character Brando Corbin on General Hospital from 2020 to 2022. His other credits include Westworld, Criminal Minds, Siberia and Station 19. 'General Hospital' Actor Johnny Wactor Shot & Killed ... Alleged Theft Gone Wrong(5/26/24) Johnny Wactor -- an actor best known for appearing in nearly 200 episodes of "General Hospital" -- has died, TMZ has learned.Wactor was shot and killed in downtown Los Angeles early Saturday morning, his mother Scarlett tells TMZ. She says Johnny was with a coworker when they saw three men messing with Johnny's car. While authorities haven't release his name, this matches the description of an incident where three suspects allegedly tried to steal a catalytic converter. Scarlett says she was told Johnny didn't try to fight or stop them ... but, the men shot him anyway before taking off. According to police info, paramedics rushed to the scene just after 3 AM PT. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Police have not provided a description of the suspects ... but, Johnny's mother says she hopes they'll be found quickly. Johnny got his start in acting back in 2007 on the hit Lifetime show "Army Wives," playing a few different roles before working steadily over the next two decades. Some of his bigger credits include "Westworld," "The OA," "NCIS," "Station 19," "Criminal Minds," and "Hollywood Girl." Many of Johnny's fans will remember him for his time on 'GH' where he played Brando Corbin -- married to drug addict Sasha Corbin in the series. He played the role from 2020 until his character was written off the program in 2022. Wactor's mother remembers him as a loving young man ... adding his death leaves a huge hole in the family's heart. He's survived by his mother, and his younger brothers Lance and Grant. He was 37. Daytime Emmy Hosts Will Once Again Be Entertainment Tonight Anchors Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner(5/23/24) Entertainment Tonight anchors Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner are back to once again host the Daytime Emmys, as the 51st edition of the kudocast airs live on Friday, June 7, at 8 p.m. ET (tape delayed on the west coast) from the Westin Bonaventure hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The event airs on CBS and Paramount+, marking the 18th time the Daytime Emmys has been broadcast on the Eye network.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 childrens & 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. 2024 Gold Circle Inductees: Jerome Dobson (writer, Guiding Light, As the World Turns, General Hospital, Santa Barbara) A Martínez (actor, The Bay, Santa Barbara) Suzanne Rogers (actress, Days of Our Lives) 2024 Silver Circle Inductees: Patricia Denney (former hair and makeup department head, The Young and The Restless) Kathleen Finch (chairman and CEO, US networks, Warner Bros. Discovery) Linda Grand (set master props, The Bold & The Beautiful) Janet Spellman-Drucker (co-executive producer, Days of Our Lives) Mark Teschner (casting director, General Hospital) 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. Simmons planning Broadway show, audiences will join in on workout dance numbers(5/23/24) Will audiences be Sweatin to the Oldies on Broadway?Fitness pioneer Richard Simmons is putting together a show for the Great White Way. I just got off the phone with a friend of mine who is an attorney and manages famous artists in music, Simmons whos been something of a recluse for the last decade posted on Facebook last week. She wants to do an interactive Broadway show about my life. The show would create an open space near the stage where theatergoers could join in on workout dance numbers. Simmons, 75, told us: I am so excited about the prospect of my own Broadway show. I have so many ideas and Im writing them all down Broadway is in my blood! To get in the groove, the exercise pioneer has also been reminiscing about some of his own favorite Broadway shows for fans on Facebook. He posted this month, I saw a musical called La Cage Aux Folles, the 1983 Broadway show that was adapted from a 1978 French film, and later remade by Hollywood as The Birdcage starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. Simmons recalled of the 80s production starring Gene Barry and George Hearn, This show began with all these dancers singing I Am What I Am, one of my favorite songs. The dancers spotted me in my seat and waved at me. I did go backstage and said hello. I had tickets to see it the next evening. I sent each dancer a long stemmed white rose. About a week later they sent me a handmade thank you card and they all signed it. I still have that card today. He also posted of his theater experiences seeing musicals including Gypsy, The Lion King, Flora the Red Menace, Barnum, Sweet Charity, Chaplin, Wicked, Mama Mia, Hair, Phantom of the Opera, Fiddler On the Roof, and many more. Andrew McCarthy, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore and Others Revisit Brat Pack Ignominy in Hulus BRATS Trailer(5/22/24) (Video) Oh, fk was Andrew McCarthys reaction upon seeing the June 1985 New York magazine cover that would forever label him, Demi Moore and other peers as Hollywoods Brat Pack, he shares in a first trailer for Hulus upcoming BRATS documentary.Hulu also announced a Thursday, June 14 release date for the feature-length docu. McCarthy, who wrote, directed and hosts the documentary film, said at the TCA press tour in February that the infamous New York issue was originally just to have a profile of Emilio Estevez. But then St. Elmos Fire came out and it blew up into a Hollywoods Brat Pack cover. Its been a blessing more than a curse in my life, McCarthy shared at TCA. We were branded as partying, wanting to have a good time, get famous. In turn, he, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore and others lost control of the narrative of their careers. McCarthy suggested at TCA that the bona fide Brat Pack consists of him, Estevez, Lowe, Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Molly Ringwald. McCarthy hadnt spoken to Estevez since the June 1985 St. Elmos Fire movie premiere when he phoned him to discuss participation in the BRATS documentary. Nelson decided not to participate, telling McCarthy, The Brat Pat didnt exist, so Im not gonna talk about it. Ringwald also passed. An ABC News Studios co-production, BRATS looks at the iconic films of the 1980s that shaped a generation and the narrative that took hold when their young stars were branded the Brat Pack. The documentary explores the cultural phenomenon of films such as St. Elmos Fire and The Breakfast Club that tapped into teenage angst and connected with young audiences in a way that had never been done before. McCarthy, whose 1980s film credits included Pretty in Pink, St. Elmos Fire and Less Than Zero, and who wrote the New York Times bestselling memoir Brat: An 80s Story, reunited with several fellow Brat-Packers to answer the question: What did it mean to be part of the Brat Pack? McCarthy also speaks to key members of the Brat Pack films production, including directors, casting directors, screenwriters and producers. He also sits down for a first-time conversation with David Blum, the New York writer who fatefully coined the Brat Pack term.. General Hospital Says Farewell to Gregory Harrison(5/21/24) Port Charles is losing a favored denizen. Gregory Harrison, who first joined General Hospital in 2020, has left the sudser.His last episode aired May 21. Harrison, best known to boomers for his long-running role on Trapper John, M.D., played Gregory Chase, the father of Finn (Michael Easton) and Chase (Josh Swickard). His character died in his sleep after suffering from ALS. Easton paid tribute to his co-star on Instagram by saying One of the finest actors Ive ever had the privilege of working with and an even better human being. I learned so much from you, my friend, and it was an absolute honor to get to share a stage with you these past three years. Your talent, grace and powerful presence will be greatly missed around the studio." Nancy Lee Grahn, who plays Alexis on GH, said on X that it was hard to say goodbye to working with my friend, Gregory Harrison. What a treat to share the stage with this guy, and getting to know him was a gift. I truly love & respect everything about him. And I know hes seeing this. He doesnt post, but likes to read mine. Harrison told Soap Opera Digest in 2023 that he had many opportunities over the years to join a daytime drama especially All My Children. But it scared me so bad. But after the pandemic, Harrison was offered the part on GH and immediately said yes. It was almost like an out-of-body experience, because I was just desperate to go do what I love to do, he told the outlet. And then after I hung up the phone, I went, Oh, my God, what did I just say yes to?! You know, Why did you wait till you were 70-something to test your brain with 30 pages of dialogue a night? What, are you crazy? Are you out of your mind? I went through terror for a couple of weeks and then I started the show The terror ended after two or three weeks. A longtime journeyman actor, Harrisons other TV credits include stints on One Tree Hill, CSI: NY, Ringer and Joey. Polish Brothers Re-Team To Make Innovative Movie There There Starring Gretchen Moll, Shannon Sossamon & More(5/17/24) Out at the Cannes market, LA-based production company Convergence Entertainment Group is launching There There, which is being written and directed by the Polish brothers in their first collaboration in more than a decade.The film has begun principal photography and the duo are hopeful it will premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. This would be the sixth Polish Brothers film to premiere at the festival. On There There, each of the twin brothers will write and direct one half of the movie without the other knowing anything about the other, resulting in two separate storylines that will be interwoven into a single feature-length film. This approach will enable each brother to explore the nature of the twin relationship from their own unique perspective without being influenced or constrained by the others vision. The cast includes Gretchen Mol (Yellowstone), Shannon Sossamon (The Rules of Attraction), Corbin Bernsen (Major League), Zack Pearlman (The Intern), Logan Polish (The Mosquito Coast), and D.W. Moffett (Friday Night Lights). The movie will chart the story of two brothers who have spent 40 long years apart, unaware of each others existence. As fate would have it, their paths cross and they are forced to confront the truth that has been hidden from them for so long. By allowing each of us to create our own storylines, we hope to capture the complexity, honesty and richness of the twin relationship in a way that has never been seen before on screen, said Mark Polish. This is a journey that will tug at audiences heartstrings and leave people inspired by the incredible resilience of the human spirit. Michael Polish added: We took painstaking measures to keep all details of our respective halves from each other. This has never been done before in the history of cinema and will in many ways be reflective, we think, of the relationship between the two of us. The Polish brothers are known for movies including Twin Falls Idaho, Northfolk and Jackpot. Michael Polish most recently directed Sylvester Stallone movie Alarum. Convergence is the company set up by Randall Emmett and Joel Cohen in 2022. Recent credits include Savage Salvation (2022), starring Robert De Niro, John Malkovich and Jack Huston, and Gunner (2024) starring Morgan Freeman.. General Hospital Shakes Up Writers Room; Patrick Mulcahey Is Out As Co-Head(5/16/24) More change in the writers room at General Hospital.Patrick Mulcahey who was promoted in January to help fill the void left by co-head writers Chris Van Etten and Dan OConnor is no longer on the soaps head-writing team, Deadline has confirmed. Elizabeth Korte, who was upped alongside Mulcahey, will become the sole head writer for now. Korte has been a part of the GH family since 1992. Mulcahey is a longtime vet of daytime dramas, having started in the biz on Search For Tomorrow. He wrote for Loving, Santa Barbara, Guiding Light and The Bold and the Beautiful. He first started penning episodes for GH in 1996. Episodes that he crafted with Korte will air through mid-summer. A spokeswoman for the show declined comment. In December, GH took the prize for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series. It also racked up four Emmys in the acting categories (the late Sonya Eddy, Robert Gossett, Eden McCoy and Alley Mills) and another in the Outstanding Directing Team category. Andrew McCarthys Brat Pack Documentary Brats Sets Hulu Premiere Date(5/14/24) ABC News Studios, Neon and Network Entertainment announced on Tuesday that Brats, the feature-length Brat Pack doc directed by Andrew McCarthy, will premiere on Hulu in the U.S. on Thursday, June 13.Set to launch on Disney+ in select territories later this summer, after world premiering at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, Brats looks at the iconic films of the 1980s that shaped a generation and the narrative that took hold when their young stars were branded the Brat Pack. McCarthy reunites with his fellow Brat Packers friends, colleagues and former foes, including Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez, Jon Cryer, Lea Thompson and Timothy Hutton, many of whom he had not seen for over 30 years to answer the question: What did it mean to be part of the Brat Pack? The actor-filmmaker also sits down for a first-time conversation with writer David Blum, who fatefully coined the term Brat Pack in a 1985 New York Magazine cover story. McCarthys involvement in the Brat Pack is primarily attributed to his roles in iconic 80s films like St. Elmos Fire and Pretty in Pink. He directed Brats from his own script, with Neon and Network Entertainment producing for ABC News Studios. In a statement on Brats, McCarthy mused that making the film was that rare opportunity to dive back into the frozen past and bring it up into the living present. Derik Murray and Adrian Buitenhuis served as the docs producers. Exec producers included Brian Liebman and McCarthy, Neons Dan OMeara and Tom Quinn, Network Entertainments Brian Gersh, Paul Gertz and Kent Wingerak, and ABC News Studioss Victoria Thompson. David Sloan served as senior executive producer. Stated Mike Kelley who heads ABC News Studios, The Brat Pack captivated a generation and defined cool for so many. Andrew, as a seminal member, brings unbelievable access and perspective to the phenomenon as director of this film. Its a deeply personal, surprising and entertaining journey and a film we are so proud of at ABC News Studios. James Franco & Tommy Lee Jones Team For Action Thriller The Razors Edge(5/13/24) We can tell you that James Franco and Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones are leading the action thriller The Razors Edge from producer Corey Large (Paradise City, It Follows, The November Man) and filmmaker Demian Lichtenstein (3000 Miles to Graceland).Red Sea Media is handling international sales and will debut the film for buyers at the upcoming Marche du Film in Cannes. Cameras roll June 25 in Georgia. Lichenstein is helming off a screenplay he wrote with Vance Duplechin. After a mob hitman vows to leave his deadly past behind, he faces an impossible choice when his daughter is kidnapped and the woman he loves becomes a target of the syndicate. He is forced to undertake one final, perilous mission while being pursued by an assassin even more lethal. Pic is executive produced by Kirk Shaw (The Hurt Locker, Papa Hemingway in Cuba, Extraction). BondIt Media Capital is financing with Matthew Helderman (Clerks III, Book of Love), Luke Taylor (Dual, Redemption Day) and Jordan Nott (Assassination, Cold DeckI) also executive producing. Im excited that we have signed the superbly talented actors James, Suki and Tommy Lee to bring The Razors Edge to the big screen. They are perfectly suited to embody the protagonists in director Demians script, said Large. We cannot wait to begin filming this taut thriller next month with an assist from our seasoned executive producer Kirk, he added. Weve worked with Corey on over a dozen projects throughout the years and always appreciate his ability to get projects made in many different industry climates. Were excited for another adventure here with Corey and his team, commented Bond It Capital co-founder CEO Matthew Helderman. Large is producing through his 308 Enterprises. His other feature production, Assassination directed by Rain Man Oscar winner Barry Levinson and starring Academy Award-winner Al Pacino and BAFTA winning Shia LaBeouf is shooting this fall. Franco was Oscar nominated for Best Actor for 127 Hours and is a 2x Golden Globe winner for James Dean, in which he played the title role, and took home Best Actor in Miniseries, and for The Disaster Artist which he won Best Actor Feature Comedy/Musical. He starred in Sonys original Spider-Man trilogy from Sam Rami. Oscar, Emmy, SAG, Golden Globe, and Palme dOr winner Jones counts an Oscar and Golden Globe supporting actor win for The Fugitive and starred in Sonys Men in Black trilogy. Jones won a Lead Actor Emmy for NBCs The Executioners Song, and a Cannes Palme DOr for Best Actor for Sony Pictures Classics The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada which he also directed. He also directed The Homesman which starred Hilary Swank. Franco is represented by UTA and Anonymous Content, Jones is represented by CAA and Jacobson, Russell, Saltz, Nassim & De La Torre. When Calls The Heart Renewed For 12th Season By Hallmark Channel(5/10/24) Hallmark Channels longest-running original series shows no signs of stopping; the network picked up When Calls the Heart for a 12th season.The new season will consist of 12 episodes and production will begin in July. When Calls the Heart continues to exceed our expectations and the number of fans and viewers continue to grow every year, said Lisa Hamilton Daly, EVP Programming. Bringing Season 12 to life is a huge milestone and is a true testament to the cast and crews hard work and dedication throughout the last decade. We cannot wait for Hope Valleys next chapter full of exciting characters and storytelling. Season 11 of When Calls the Heart ranks as the most-watched entertainment cable series year-to-date among households, total viewers and women 18+. After four episodes, it is averaging 2.1 million households, 2.5 million total viewers and 1.8 million women 18+. As Hope Valley enters the 1920s in the current season, schoolteacher Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow) embarks on a fresh start with new romance, new challenges and new style. She and Mountie Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry) navigate their growing romantic feelings while also leaning on each other for support as they face new parenting obstacles. Newly elected Governor Lucas Bouchard (Chris McNally) must confront his past in order to embrace his strengths and lead Hope Valley into the future. Retired Mountie Bill Avery (Jack Wagner) and newspaper reporter Rosemary Coulter (Pascale Hutton) team up to unravel a mystery putting their entire community at risk. I am overjoyed that When Calls the Heart is coming back for a 12th season, said Krakow, WCTH star and executive producer. Our fantastic writers, cast and crew couldnt be more excited to begin filming this next season. We are proud to tell stories that warm hearts in homes around the world and so grateful to Hallmark for being such champions of that positivity. Having the Hearties support over the past decade has been a true testament to what this show is all about: community and love. We cannot wait for our fans to see what Hope Valley has in store. Jeff Bridges, Dave Bautista, Bryan Cranston, Sam Elliott & More Set For Live-Action Grendel Movie(5/10/24) Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) will play the title role in Grendel, a live-action monster flick from The Jim Henson Company, for which Palisades Park Pictures is launching international sales ahead of Cannes.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 films 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 Gardners 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 Hensons Creature Shop (Five Nights at Freddys, 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 Gardners mad masterpiece cleverly tackles what it is to be human through the wild-eyed lens of a monster. Its 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, Bobs 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; Thats Amore! starring John Travolta, Katherine Heigl and Christopher Walken; Philip Noyces action-adventure Fast Charlie starring Pierce Brosnan, Morena Baccarin and James Caan; and Neil Marshalls action thriller duch*ess, 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. General Hospital Casts Giovanni Mazza As Brook Lynns Cousin(5/9/24) A new player both literally and figuratively is about to show up at the wedding of Harrison (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton).Giovanni Mazza is joining the cast as Giovanni Cerullo, a cousin of Brook Lynn who will play the violin at the nuptials that are set to occur the week of May 13. In real life, the Chicago-based Mazza has performed the violin at several NBA events and on TV shows. He started acting professionally at the age of 8, when he appeared in a two-year Walmart commercial campaign, as well as in Chicago-based independent films. At age 10, Mazza made his TV debut in a small speaking role on Nickelodeons Bella and the Bulldogs. He currently attends high school in Chicago and is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Italy. He is repped by Arise Artist Agency. Typically, GH boosts its teen cast during the summer when youths are out of school. General Hospital, which won the top prize at the 2023 Daytime Emmys, airs weekdays on ABC. The sudser garnered 11 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, for the 2024 Daytime Emmys set for June 7 on CBS and Paramount+. Jake Lacy & Nazanin Boniadi To Topline Adoption Dramedy A Mosquito In The Ear(5/8/24) (Photo) Jake Lacy (Apples Never Fall) and Nazanin Boniadi (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) have wrapped production on A Mosquito in the Ear, a new film marking the feature debut of BAFTA Newcomer Nicola Rinciari.An adaptation of the Italian graphic novel Una Zanzara nellOrecchio from Andrea Ferraris, which tells the true story of his adoption journey, the film follows Andrew and Daniela, an American couple eager to form a family, as they travel to India to bring home their newly adopted child. The girl, however, is unaware and unwilling to leave the orphanage where she lives in India to become their daughter. Also starring Ruhi Pal, the film was shot in partnership with Lasutra Pictures, a division of YOYOGOA Communications PVT LTD helmed by Laurens Postma (Exitz, The Interview: Night of 26/11) and Sunitha Ram (The Archies, After the Wedding), as well as 3DMC, Ratan Films, Whiskey Stream, Greenmachine Films, 5x Media, Foothill Productions, Steak & Rosè, and Wooden Trailer Productions. Producers on the project include Emily Dillard, Darren Dean (The Florida Project, Tangerine), Ali K. Rizvi (Skin, Human Capital), Frank Hall Green (Gonzo Girl, Wildlike) and Stephen Stanley (What Lies Below, They Live in the Grey). Boniadi and Lacy served as executive producers. A MOSQUITO IN THE EAR captures the evolving relationship between a couple and their adopted child, Rinciari told Deadline. In this case, the parents know little about the world of their newly adopted daughter and cant speak her language. It leads to a question that Ive asked myself since I moved to the U.S. as a teenager: how much do you need to understand someone to form a relationship with them? Added the films producer, Dean, After nearly two decades of producing independent features, I can honestly say that Nico is one of the most promising emerging directors Ive had the pleasure of collaborating with. His refreshingly earnest approach and his empathetic lens make A MOSQUITO IN THE EAR a gift for the senses that we cannot wait to share. Most recently seen starring in Peaco*cks limited series Apples Never Fall, a Liane Moriarty adaptation that debuted at No. 5 on Nielsens streaming charts, Lacy garnered his first Emmy nom a few years ago for his role on The White Lotus and has also recently been seen starring in Peaco*cks A Friend of the Family. On the film side, recent credits include Willian Friedkins The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial and Aaron Sorkins Being the Ricardos. Best known for her role as the human healer Bronwyn on Amazons The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which is heading into its second season, Boniadis other recent TV credits include Counterpart and Homeland. On the feature side, notable recent credits include Bombshell, Hotel Mumbai, Passengers and Ben-Hur, to name just a few. Rinciari previously collaborated with A Mosquito in the Ear producer Dillard on Our Side, a short film that won the prize for Best Scripted Series at the College Television Awards and was a finalist for the Student Academy Awards. In addition to making a number of other shorts, hes worked as a previs artist on such DreamWorks titles as Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken and the upcoming The Wild Robot, along with live-action tentpoles like Thor: Love and Thunder, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and Fast X. Lacy is represented by Beth Rosner Management, UTA, and Schreck Rose Dapello; Boniadi by Jordan Lee Talent, CAA, The Artists Partnership, and Glaser Weil Fink; Ferraris by AM-Book; and Dean by 5x Media. #FreeToomaj : LOTR: The Rings Of Powers Nazanin Boniadi, Extractions Golshifteh Farahani Call For World To Rise Up To Stop Execution Of Iranian Rapper(5/6/24) Rise up and unite, says Nazanin Boniadi in a video appeal released today to save the life of Toomaj Salehi .The rapper was been given a death sentence by Iranian authorities last month for his involvement in the protests against attacks and killing of women and activists that swept the Islamic Republic in 2022. The 32-year-old Salehi has long been critical of the regime in Tehran and called out the theoracy for its assault on its own citizens in his rap lyrics and on social media. Hauled in by authorities in October 2022 and labeled as one of the leaders of the riots by pro-government media, Salehi was released from prison last year for a short spell, Salehi soon rearrested sent back behind bars. The rearrest came after Salehi revealed in a video that he was tortured and placed in solitary confinement for 252 days. Promoting the hashtag #FreeToomaj, the Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Boniadi is joined in the video appeal by Extraction actor Golshifteh Farahani and many more as you can see above. With Salehis fate already spotlighted by Meek Mills, the Recording Academy and the President Bidens National Security Advisor in recent days, the intent of this new plea is to persuade more artists around the world to use their platforms and status to generate more attention to the rapper/activists sentence. The video released by the Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran on Monday also features filmmaker and cartoonist Marjane Satrapi, and Toomajs cousin and a leader in the international #FreeToomaj campaign. According to the American-based Human Rights Activists News Agency last year, over 20,000 people have been thrown in jail by the rulers of Iran since the protests started. While it is unknown exactly how many have been killed or executed while detained, up to 600 people have died since the latest uprising against the policies of the Islamic Republic began on the streets of the country. Toomaj Salehi is a national hero, Iranian-born Boniadi told Deadline today. With his lyrics and his platform he has captured the aspiration of the Iranian people for freedom, the the Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran board member added. He is the voice of the streets in Iran, particularly in the #WomanLifeFreedom uprising. He should be on stage, not in prison. He should receive accolades, not a death sentence. For 45 years the Islamic Republic has persecuted and silenced artists, and anyone who opposes the regimes repressive ideology. Because theres nothing they fear more than a voice that galvanizes people for change. And that is exactly what Toomaj does. When we talk about the power of art and artists, this is why. We must all stand by this courageous soul. Mark Hamill Kicks Off White House Press Briefing After Meeting The President, Reveals Joe Bidens Jedi Nickname(5/3/24) (Video) How many of you had Mark Hamill will lead the press briefing on your bingo cards? the Star Wars icon joked as he took the podium at the White House. Yeah, me either.Its not such a far-fetched idea, however, when one considers the date. Its May 3, the last weekday before that sacred Star Wars holiday, May the Fourth. Also, anyone who follows the quick-witted Hamill on social media knows hes a staunch Democrat. For his support, Hamill got to meet with Biden before the press briefing and, while Hamill noted that he had visited the White House during the terms of both Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama, I never was invited into the Oval Office. Sounds like he finally checked that one off his bucket list. I only expected to be there for, like, five minutes, Hamill said of his meeting with Biden, [but] he showed us all these photographs It was really amazing to me. Whats more, Hamill entered the briefing room wearing aviators that he said President Biden had just gifted him Biden has made a habit of gifting his signature Dark Brandon glasses to visiting celebrities, including Chris Evans. I love the merch, said an appreciative Hamill. The actor, it turns out, gave something to the president, as well. I asked him what I should call him, recalled Hamill, and he said, You can call me Joe. I said, Can I call you Joe-B-Wan Kenobi? He liked that. Nicholas Alexander Chavez on his GH Status(5/3/24) @nicholasachavez: Im so appreciative of the opportunity that GH gave me, and I wouldnt be as busy as I am professionally if it werent for the talented producers, writers, directors and fellow actors.Frank Valentini is a mentor and a friend, and weve had some pretty extensive conversations about my future on the show. While there are no current plans for me to return, we are still talking very openly about future possibilities for Spencer in Port Charles. Beyond the people Ive already mentioned, I want to take some time to thank and honor the GH fan base especially the Sprina fans who must be THE most loyal and kind fan base in the universe of entertainment. Words fail to show the depth of my gratitude, thank you, I love you all very, very much. Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer - We All Have a Story(5/2/24) (Watch Here) Join hosts Michael Fairman of The Michael Fairman Channel and Alan Locher of The Locher Room as the stars of daytime unite for Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer.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. We all have a story, help us write a brighter future! (DONATE HERE) Blue Bloods Future Is Sealed: The Long-Running Series Will Wrap For Good In December(5/2/24) Tom Selleck may have warned CBS earlier this year that there are an awful lot of people who arent ready to say goodbye to Blue Bloods, but there are no plans to extend the police procedural beyond its 14th and final season.During a press conference Thursday to discuss the fall schedule, Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach conceded that while they will miss the series at CBS, the drama will still wrap after the second half airs this fall. The first half of Blue Bloods 14th season kicked off February 16. The second half of the season will return in October. We really want to thank the cast and crew, everyone involved in the show, Reisenbach told reporters. We absolutely will miss the family dinners. It is important to give show the sendoff it deserves. When reminded that the cast has made personal pleas to the CBS brass to reconsider the cancellation, Reisenbach added, We love this cast, we love their passion for the show. All shows have to come to an end. Its important to us to refresh the schedule. We are going to end the show come December. The police procedural drama has been airing on CBS since September 24, 2010. Its main characters are members of the fictional Reagan family, an American Irish-Catholic family in New York City with a history of work in law enforcement. When the shows final season was announced, star Selleck released this statement to fans. For the past 13 years, it has been an honor and a privilege to work on a show that not only celebrates the men and women who protect and serve in New York City, but also displayed the importance of family, he wrote. Working alongside these incredible actors, writers, producers, directors, and crew has been a dream come true and Im grateful to have been a part of this extraordinary group for over 275 episodes. General Hospital to Reunite Santa Barbara Duo (Again)(5/1/24) One of Santa Barbaras premiere supercouples will reunite (again) on General Hospital, when Lane Davies, Nancy Lee Grahns scene partner on the long-defunct NBC sudser, pays a return visit to the ABC soap but in a different role.On NBCs Santa Barbara, Grahn played legal eagle Julia Wainwright to Davies Mason Capwell, the black sheep of the uber-wealthy Capwell clan. An original cast member, Davies parted ways with Santa Barbara in 1989; Grahn, who joined its cast early in its run, stuck with the NBC soap until it went dark in 1993. Davies and Grahn first reunited on GH back in 2002, when he was cast in the role of Dr. Cameron Lewis and lightly crossed paths with her (déjà vu alert!) legal eagle Alexis Davis. Davies first GH run ended in 2004. This time around, beginning the week of May 22, Davies will play the GH role of Fergus Byrne, an attorney who crosses paths with Grahns Alexis. TVInsider was first to report on the casting. Grahn was quick to comment on the re-reunion, writing on Instagram, It never gets old. We do ?? . but it doesnt ??. Lookin forward to another romp. 'General Hospital' Star Haley Pullos Jailed for 90 Days in DUI Case(4/29/24) Haley Pullos got thrown into jail this week over her DUI case -- and from the way she looked going into court ... it's almost as if she knew what was coming.The "General Hospital" star was photographed walking into court Monday -- and she definitely didn't look too happy with what she was about to face. As it turns out, Haley ended up pleading no contest to one of the charges against her ... driving under the influence with .08 BAC causing bodily injury. Officers at the time claimed they found edibles and mini-bottles of tequila in her car -- and that she showed clear signs of intoxication. Even before this nasty wreck -- which landed the other driver in the hospital -- police alleged she'd been involved in an earlier hit-and-run incident. We're told Haley was remanded into custody for 90 days in jail and then will be placed on 5 years probation and have to perform 200 hours of community service, as well. She'll also have her license suspended for a year. In the meantime ... Haley will be in L.A. County Jail -- and it appears she may have realized her fate a few weeks ago ... when she was photographed crying and hugging a woman. Daily Mail broke the story of Haley getting taken into custody Monday. You'll recall ... this whole thing stems from an incident back in April 2023 -- when Haley was first arrested after cops claimed she was driving on the wrong side of a freeway, and collided with another car head-on. Photos of the aftermath surfaced, and they looked gnarly. Per the terms of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed to drop the other 2 charges she was facing -- felony DUI causing bodily injury and misdemeanor hit and run. We've reached out to Haley's team for comment ... so far, no word back. Marla Adams Dies: The Young And The Restless Daytime Emmy Winner Was 85(4/26/24) Marla Adams, best known for her 37 years in the role of Dina Abbott Mergeron on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless, died Thursday in Los Angeles. She was 85 and the cause was not disclosed.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 Citys 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. Nicholas Alexander Chavez Not Returning to General Hospital as Spencer(4/25/24) Nicholas Alexander Chavez leave of absence from General Hospital has gone from temporary to permanent.Although theres been no official confirmation from GH, multiple sources confirm to TVLine exclusively that the actor behind Spencer Cassadine who vacated the role earlier this year to shoot Season 2 of Ryan Murphys Netflix anthology Monster will not be returning to the ABC soap after all. Chavez indefinite departure was hinted at in late March when, as eagle-eyed GH fans noticed, his name abruptly disappeared from the shows closing credits. A GH spokesperson declined to comment for this story. A rep for Chavez has not responded to TVLines request for comment. When Chavez Monster gig was first announced last summer, an GH rep noted at the time, We support Nicholass endeavors and look forward to having him return to General Hospital once this project is wrapped. Chavez, who began shooting Monster in December, exited GH in late January. In his final episode, Spencer was presumed to have died alongside his ex Esme after being injected with a drug and falling off a boat into Frances Seine River. Chavez joined GH in 2021. He won a Daytime Emmy the following year for Outstanding Younger Performer in a Drama Series. Its changed everything about me, Chavez previously told People.com of the impact GH has had on his career. Before the show, I was selling cars in Florida. I live across the country now. I was driving my dads old Jeep and now, Im sitting in a car that I paid for. This show has given me the opportunity to become my own guy. Its also given me the gift few people get in life the privilege to earn an income doing what I love to do every single day. If Im not the luckiest guy in the world, Ive got to be damned close. Some had likened Chavez onscreen romance with Tabyana Alis Trina to GH super couple Luke and Laura, a comparison actor called the greatest compliment we could ever get. In Season 2 of Monster officially titled Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story Chavez will play Lyle Menéndez opposite relative newcomer Cooper Koch (as brother Erik). Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny round out the cast as the murdered parents, Jose and Kitty Menéndez.o Meg Bennett Dies: The Young And The Restless Star Who Played Julia Martin Was 75(4/21/24) Meg Bennett, an actress and writer on soap operas General Hospital and The Young and the Restless, died April 11 of cancer at 75, her family said.Bennett grew up in Pasadena began her career in 1975 on Search For Tomorrow, playing the role of Liza Walton on several episodes. From there, she segued to The Young and the Restless, where she played Julia Martin, a role that was featured on the long-running soap in appearances over four decades. She also contributed to the soap industry as a writer, becoming the associate head writer at General Hospital and penning 197 episodes. Survivors include her husband, Sunset Beach co-creator and writer Robert Guza, Jr., two stepdaughters, four grandchildren, and two siblings. Charlie Day, Billy Eichner, Gabby Beans, Talia Ryder & 9 Others Join Ethan Coens Honey Dont!(4/19/24) Ethan Coen has rounded out the cast for his comedy Honey Dont! for Focus Features and Working Title, on which we were first to report. Newcomers include Charlie Day (Fools Paradise), Billy Eichner (Bros), Lera Abova (Anna), Jacnier (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory National Tour), Gabby Beans (Presumed Innocent), Talia Ryder (Dumb Money), Kristin Connolly (The Cabin in the Woods), Lena Hall (Your Friends & Neighbors), Don Swayze (All Saints Day), Josh Pafchek (Marvels Runaways), Kale Browne (Mike), Alexander Carstoiu (Magnolia Flowers) and Christian Antidormi (Netflixs Lincoln Lawyer).As previously announced, Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans will lead the ensemble. Details as to the films plot are currently under wraps, though its said to be in the same vein as Coens 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. Pics 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. Y&R Casts Christopher Cousins(4/17/24) The Young and the Restless has cast Christopher Cousins (Breaking Bad, One Life to Live) as Alan Laurent, a psychiatrist and friend of Ashleys from her time in Paris. He will appear in multiple episodes beginning Tuesday, April 30.The Workout: Peter Jae, Josh Kelly, And Ashlee Evans-Smith To Star In James Cullen Bressack Action Film(4/16/24) The action film stars Peter Jae (Darkness of Man), Josh Kelly (General Hospital), UFC fighter Ashlee Evans-Smith to star in James Cullen Bressack latest film The Workout.Written by David Josh Lawrence and James Cullen Bressack (also story credit), other cast members include Kristos Andrews (Survive the Game), Augie Duke (Mayans M.C.), Galadriel Stineman (Murder, Anyone?), David Josh Lawrence (Darkness of Man), and BJ Hendricks (Darkness of Man). The film follows two army rangers set out to create a workout video, but their plans are abruptly halted when a mob hit interrupts their filming. Tragically, one of the rangers loses his wife in the attack, sending him on a relentless mission to take down the mob and anyone who stands in his way. 10 days before his birthday, Bressacks catalyst for the production, casting, and financing came from a post he made on Instagram. He mentioned that he usually shoots at least one film between his birthdays, but due to industry strikes, his last film was over a year ago that film was Darkness of Man, which Saban will be releasing in May. After the post gained a lot of attention, a producer provided financing and actors expressed interest in joining the project, leading to a quick production. The films producers are James Cullen Bressack, Jarrett Furst, and Ben Stobber. Executive producers are V Channels Mario Niccolo Messina and Valentina Cau with Gregori J. Martin, BJ Hendricks, James Rundquist as co-executive producers. As artists a painter paints, a musician makes music, a writer writes, but as filmmakers we have to ask permission to create. Its time to change that narrative. This film spawned from a necessity to create. We create. We tell stories. We play pretend. Im excited to take this journey. This is the truest form of collaboration and a community of friends coming together to make something fun. While our industry has had a rough time recently with strikes and a possible strike looming in the future, its nice to remind ourselves why we got into film to begin with. To have fun telling stories, said James Cullen Bressack. V Channels was founded with the intent to create a supportive ecosystem for young talents, not only offering financing but also providing visibility for films that, in this new media era, might not otherwise reach a wide audience. When James, having co-produced ten films with V Channels that showcased ten extraordinary talents in 2023, introduced this idea on Instagram, the notion of joining forces felt like a natural step. Having a greatly acclaimed talent like James in the V Channels roster also sends a powerful message to the youth: there is an alternative path in the entertainment industry where artistic freedom and expression are at the forefront, said EP Mario Niccolo Messina. James Cullen Bressack is represented by the Gersh Agency, Gallant Management, and Mortimer PR. Peter Jae is represented by Media Artists Group and Rectangle Entertainment, and Josh Kelly is represented by The Rosenzweig Group. Ryan Paevey to Take Acting Break, Says There Is No Word of Upcoming Hallmark Channel Movies(4/11/24) Hallmark Channels TV-movie lineup might be missing a familiar face this year.Actor Ryan Paevey, who has starred in more than a dozen films at the cable network, shared on social media that he plans to step away from acting during 2024, with no plans to reteam with Hallmark at the moment. Sadly no word of a [Hallmark] film, Paevey told fans in an X post on Tuesday. I may take 2024 off from filming, unless the project is with friends. The last 8 months of life in this industry have left a pretty bitter taste in my mouth, and I need some time away from a world so full of fake friends and empty promises. Im weary Paevey later reassured disappointed followers that he has much to be grateful for and will figure out a way to stay afloat without acting income, though he didnt rule out the possibility of returning to Hallmark Channel for future projects. Id like to think the powers that be know Id happily do another film if they wanted me to, he said. But I dont know anymore so Im just gonna do life, and make plans, and work and whatever happens happens. TVLine has reached out to Hallmark Channel for comment on Paeveys remarks. Paevey, who is also known for his work as Nathan West on ABCs General Hospital, most recently starred in the Hallmark flicks Fourth Down and Love and Under the Christmas Sky in 2023. Previous titles include Harvest Love, Hope at Christmas, From Friend to Fiancé, Coyote Creek Christmas and the networks Pride & Prejudice-inspired Unleashing Mr. Darcy and Marrying Mr. Darcy. Andrew Keegan To Star In Soapy PR Drama Series From Horror Actress Devanny Pinn(4/10/24) Andrew Keegan (10 Things I Hate About You, O, Living Among Us) is to star in an indie 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 LAs hottest boutique public relations agency during awards season. Keegans 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 Beaco*ck 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 repd by Deanda Management and Pinn is repd by Sheila Legette Entertainment. Shanna Moakler all smiles on date with actor Greg Vaughan at Black Keys album release party(4/6/24) (Photo1, Photo2, Photo3) Shanna Moakler appeared to be having a great time on her date night with actor Greg Vaughan.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 Sixs 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 fk 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 Kims 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. Sandrine Holt & Corbin Bernsen Join Apples Your Friends And Neighbors As Recurring(4/5/24) Sandrine Holt (House of Cards) and Corbin Bernsen (The Curse) have been tapped for recurring roles on Your Friends and Neighbors, Apples new drama series created by Jonathan Tropper, which is based on his original idea.The duos roles are under wraps. As previously announced, Jon Hamm leads the cast, which also includes Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Lena Hall, Hoon Lee, Mark Tallman, Aimee Carrero, Isabel Gravitt and Donovan Colan. The show centers on Coop (Hamm), a recently divorced hedge fund manager who, after being fired, resorts to stealing from the wealthy residents in his tony upstate New York suburb in order to keep his familys lifestyle afloat. These petty crimes begin to reinvigorate him until he breaks into the wrong house at the wrong time. Hailing from Apple Studios, the series showrunner is Tropper, who exec produces under his overall deal with Apple TV+. Hamm also exec produces alongside Connie Tavel (Confess, Fletch). Craig Gillespie, the Emmy nominee in talks to helm DCs Supergirl, as we were first to report, will direct the first two episodes, with Greg Yaitanes and Stephanie Laing to helm three apiece. A series regular on The Crossing, Hostages, and MacGyver, Holt has previously recurred on series including American Gigolo, Better Call Saul, The Expanse, Homeland, House of Cards, The L Word and 24, among many others. Up next, shell be seen starring in David Cronenbergs horror thriller The Shrouds. Most recently recurring as Emma Stones father on Showtimes The Curse, Bernsens also recurred on series like Showtimes City on a Hill, CBSs Tommy, Marvels The Punisher, Showtimes Billions, CBSs Magnum P.I., and Foxs The Resident. Up next, hell be seen recurring on Maxs Duster and FXs Donald Sterling series Clipped opposite Ed ONeill. Holt is repped by IAG, Agence Adequat in France, and Strand Entertainment; Bernsen by Paradigm and Randy James Management. Game Show Network Unveils New Series Beat The Bridge Hosted By Cameron Mathison(4/2/24) Game Show Network is gearing up to premiere three new original series this year: Beat The Bridge, hosted by Cameron Mathison, based on BBCs Bridge of Lies, in June; Tic Tac Dough, hosted by Brooke Burns, in August and previously announced Jaleel White-hosted Flip Side, which is launching in national syndication, in September. The news was announced by GSN as part of Sony Pictures Television Advertiser Sales upfront today in New York City.Hosted by Mathison (General Hospital, Home & Family), based on BBCs Bridge Of Lies from STV Studios, Beat The Bridge features an enormous interactive bridge that dares players to cross by stepping on the right answers to challenging trivia questions. Each step forward puts money in the teams bank, with bonus money for each successful crossing. However, the team gets to keep the money only if it can beat the bridge by returning one of its players back across before time expires in an exciting end game. Beat the Bridge is a Game Show Enterprises Studios production. Ed Egan serves as executive producer and Sabrina Hybel Snow as co-executive producer. Josephine Brassey, Gary Chippington and David Mortimer serve as executive producers for STV Studios. Tic Tac Dough is an update of NBCUniversals classic format originally created by Robert Noah. Burns (Master Minds, The Chase) guides two contestants as they compete to place three of their marks in a row on the giant trivia board. Both players must try to avoid the dragon, who lurks to steal their turns and stands in their path to victory. After three rounds, the winning player moves on to face the dragon in the grand prize round, where the dragon moves strategically on the board to block the players ability to make three-in-a-row and take home $10,000. Tic Tac Dough is produced by Game Show Enterprises Studios with Rane Laymance as executive producer and Sabrina Hybel Snow as co-executive producer. Village Roadshow Television serves as the studio with Harry Friedman, NBCs Brenda Milinkovic and VRTVs Shannon Perry executive producing. Casting announcements were posted for both Beat the Bridge and Tic Tac Dough earlier this year, but this is the first official announcement from GSN. Previously announced Flip Side is described as a fresh take on a traditional game show based on the format created by Keller/Noll. The easy to play-along game show pits two teams of players against each other to test them on how they think two different groups of people feel about the same issue. The teams compete for a shot at $10,000 by guessing the top answers based on anonymous surveys. Flip Side is a Game Show Enterprises Studios production for CBS Media Ventures with Jay James, Corin Nelson and Rich Sirop serving as executive producers. Cleve Keller and Dave Noll (Keller/Noll) and Ken Ross also serve as executive producers. T. Jones serves as co-executive producer.s The Weight Of Darkness: Angus Macfadyen, Jaime King, Doug Jones, Corbin Bernsen & Angus Benfield Sign On For Indie Thriller(4/1/24) Angus Macfadyen (Braveheart), Jaime King (Sin City), Doug Jones (The Shape of Water), Corbin Bernsen (LA Law) and Angus Benfield (Inventing Anna) have signed on to star in action-thriller The Weight of Darkness, directed by Mark Furmie (Terminus).Sean Rainwater and Furmie penned the script, with Benfield and Simone Bonser aboard to produce. LAMA Entertainment Studios will arrange financing and represent U.S rights. The film marks the first collaboration for LAMA Entertainment and Furmies Rezistor. The film centers around Mark Besson (Benfield), a psychiatrist trying to encourage reform in the public health system. He is offered a helping hand from John Gatlin (Jones), a favorite mayoral candidate, with an interest in supporting Marks vision. But Marks world is soon rocked by tragedy when his young daughter Emma goes missing at a social event for victims of PTSD. Despite the efforts of the Sheriff Eli Watson (Bernson) and his deputy, Emma remains missing. Marks estranged brother, Jim (Macfadyen), a church pastor, agrees to help an undocumented mother find her missing daughter, leading him to unravel a shadowy conspiracy that may lead to Emmas whereabouts. The Besson brothers are soon forced to face the demons of their past, reconcile their differences and unite to find both children, uncovering a sinister underworld of unspeakable evil in the process. Shooting for The Weight of Dakness is currently underway in Los Angeles. Ricky Martin Says Dad Encouraged Him to Come Out, Team Told Him Not To(3/21/24) Ricky Martin says his dad was all for him living his truth out loud ... telling him he needed to come out publicly -- this while his professional team tried to talk him out of it.The singer sat down for an interview on Sirius XM's "Andy Cohen Live" when he opened up about deciding to come out as gay -- and he says not everyone was in alignment on whether or not he should let the world know. Martin told Andy his professional team told him it wasn't a good idea to reveal himself as an openly gay man ... in fact, he says they were quite certain it could kill his career. But, Ricky goes on to explain his dad understood the importance of coming out and pushed him to tell the world after his two sons were born in 2008 ... with his pops saying RM couldn't start out by teaching his children it's better to lie than be yourself. In any case, Martin says he took his time formulating a letter to tell the world he was gay and then tweeted it out ... and he said he felt instant relief -- sobbing tears of joy. Of course, Ricky's since had some very public relationships with men ... including his high-profile marriage to Swedish artist Jwan Yosef from 2017 ... until their divorce last year. Anyhoo, Ricky's clearly living his life authentically now .. and it's all thanks to a little fatherly advice! Kelly Thiebaud Says a Final Goodbye to Her Dog, Ranger(3/20/24) (soapsindepth.com) Its been a rough week for pet parents. Just a few days after GENERAL HOSPITALs Rena Sofer (Lois) lost her beloved pooch Alfie, previous Port Charles resident Kelly Thiebaud (ex-Britt) revealed that she sadly said a final farewell to her former dog, Ranger.As Thiebaud explained on Instagram, its been several years since Ranger has lived with the Emmy winner and her dog, Whiskey, but she still loved him very much and will miss him now that hes gone. My little big boy Ranger, and Whiskeys best friend in the whole world, left us yesterday, she wrote. He hasnt been in our lives for a while, but I loved him just the same. My heart goes out to the family that loved him and gave him a wonderful home for the last five years. I know you are feeling a huge hole in your heart. Ranger is one of the dogs that Thiebaud shared with her ex-fiancé and former GH co-star Bryan Craig (ex-Morgan). I had to say goodbye to Ranger twice before and it ripped me to pieces, the actress continued, presumably referring to when the couple quietly split back in late 2016. Although Thiebaud didnt specify who Ranger has been living with over the past few years, were sure she appreciated being told by his new owners that her old doggie had crossed over the rainbow bridge. This is our final goodbye. You were such a sweet, cuddly, good boy who never understood how big you were, she concluded. I love you forever, Rangy. Fans who follow Thiebaud, who currently lives in London with her boyfriend PJ Harrison, on social media are quite familiar with Whiskey, as the actress often shares photos of her furbaby. Whiskey, who even has his own Instagram page, suffered an injury in late January that required surgery on his leg, and he is hopefully coming to the end of his six-week recovery period. Greg Vaughan Shares a Health Update(3/20/24) (soapsindepth.com) Just a couple of days after sharing the frightening health crisis he experienced while on vacation with his sons, DAYS OF OUR LIVES star Greg Vaughan (Eric) shared an update on how hes feeling now. On March 15, the actor revealed that he had fallen ill on a ski trip with his boys in Colorado and a trip to urgent care revealed that he had fluid in his lungs and a dangerously low blood oxygen level.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. Ive 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. Im 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. Its 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 youve shared with me. I am on the uppity up. I didnt realize that it would make such an impression on so many people around the world but I feel tremendously loved and I cant say enough. And Im good. Be safe out there, be well theres nothing gonna hold me down. Were good. Take care of yourselves. Enjoy your spring break with your families. GHs Rena Sofer Mourns the Death of Her Familys Dog, Alfie(3/20/24) (soapsindepth.com) Its never easy to say goodbye to a beloved pet, so our hearts go out to GENERAL HOSPITALs Rena Sofer (Lois) and her family as they grieve the death of their sweet dog, Alfie. In a pair of Instagram posts, the GH star and her husband, director Sanford Bookstaver, announced the sad news that Alfie had died of cancer.I have too much to say. But I have no words right now. Its all just so much pain, wrote Sofer. Yesterday was the most devastating yet expected day. But it was too soon. Alfie and his sister, Mega, were the first dogs that Sofer rescued, back in 2017 when she was playing THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFULs Quinn. Over the years, the actress and Bookstaver (as well as their daughter, Avalon) have opened up their home to several other rescue dogs and have fostered countless other canines. Alfies death comes eight months after the family lost one of their other rescue dogs, Princess Carolyn, in July 2023. I only had my boy for seven years and eight days. Cancer stole him from me, from Sandy, from Avalon, and from his sister, Mega. From everyone who knew and loved him, Sofer continued. I love all my dogs, but without remorse, Alfie was my favorite. My heart and soul dog. I am destroyed and numb. The greatest gift we ever gave each other was each other. I will miss you forever and ever and ever. We will miss you every day forever and ever, wrote Bookstaver. We have had many, many dogs, but Alfie was Renas baby boy and true love, shared Sofers husband. Alfie and his sister, Mega, were a bonded pair when Sofer rescued them. He was only alive for seven years, but they were beautiful, Bookstaver said of Alfies life with the family. In a sweet video, Sofer cried while kissing Alfies head while hugging Mega with her other hand. Thats your brother, she laughed through her tears. Richard Simmons Reveals Skin Cancer Removal Treatment(3/20/24) Just days after Richard Simmons alarmed fans with a misguided Im dying Facebook post he isnt the former fitness guru now says he has recently been treated for skin cancer, specifically the burning off of a basal cell carcinoma on his face.Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and highly treatable. With proper care, the prognosis, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is excellent. In a Facebook post yesterday, Simmons, who had noticed this strange looking bump under my right eye, detailed his doctor visits and treatment. After being told by his doctor that hed need to see a cancer doctor, Simmons made the recommended follow-up appointment. I waited in his waiting room and said hello to all of these people who had skin cancer as well, Simmons writes. I was shocked to see all of the skin cancers that they had. Some had cancer on top of their heads their face and their neck. In the exam room, Simmons was told by his doctor that the cancer would need to be burned off the skin. There was no numbing it just had to be done with a small instrument, he said. As he started burning my skin a tear dropped down my cheek. You cant cry during this and he wiped my tear. The burning really hurt my skin. It lasted about 30 minutes. Later that day, the doctor called Simmons back for a second treatment. Simmons ends the post with, to be continued Earlier this week, Simmons posted his now infamous dying message, which read: I have some news to tell you. Please dont be sad. I am .dying. Oh I can see your faces now. The truth is we all are dying. Every day we live we are getting closer to our death. Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to enjoy your life to the fullest every single day. Get up in the morning and look at the sky count your blessings and enjoy. He went on to offer diet and exercise advise. He later added a second post: Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today. Even the press has gotten in touch with me. I am not dying. It was a message about saying how we should embrace every day that we have. Sorry for this confusion. Beth Peters, Actor on General Hospital, Dies at 92(3/18/24) (variety.com) Beth Peters, an actor and singer who had a recurring role on General Hospital, died on March 14 in central Florida after a short illness. She was 92.In the early 1980s, Peters appeared in eight episodes of the popular ABC soap opera as the character Mrs. Whitaker. In an obituary for Peters provided to Variety by her son, her character description reads, The motherly Mrs. Whitaker dispensed country wisdom from her farm kitchen in Beechers Corners, serving as a surrogate mother to Laura Spencer, played by Genie Francis, as the teenagers story arc saw her fall in love with Luke Spencer, portrayed by Anthony Geary. Peters started her acting and singing career as a teenager in coastal New Jersey. In 1955, she appeared on Broadway for the first time as an extra for the play Inherit the Wind, later taking on the role of Mrs. Brady in the last months of the shows production. Peters acted in regional theater for much of her career, appearing on stage at the Sacramento Music Circus, Circle Star Theatre, Melodyland, Carousel Theater, Hyatt Music Theater, Dallas State Fair Summer Musicals, Fiesta Dinner Playhouse and Galveston Summer Musicals, among other venues. She played the matriarch Mrs. Paroo in Marion the Librarian more than 20 times. She also acted several times in Sound of Music, Show Boat, Big River and Funny Girl. In addition to General Hospital, Peters television credits include Mr. Belvedere, Quantum Leap, Beyond Belief, Hart to Hart, Simon and Simon, Highway to Heaven and The Waltons, among other titles. She also appeared in the films Where Love Has Gone, Fitzwilly, Kandyland and Back to School. Peters is survived by her son Sean Williams, step-daughters Barbara Davison (Don) and Monica Lange, as well as nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband Jack Danon, who died in 1996; he was also an actor. Peters was a longstanding member of the Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Peters name to the Entertainment Community Fund. Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, Katie Lowes & George Ferrier Join Cast Of Starz Drama The Hunting Wives(3/18/24) Chrissy Metz (This Is Us), Jaime Ray Newman (Dopesick), Katie Lowes (Scandal), and George Ferrier (One of Us Is Lying) have been cast as series regulars in Starzs upcoming drama series The Hunting Wives, alongside previously announced Malin Åkerman, Brittany Snow, Dermot Mulroney, and Evan Jonigkeit. Production is underway in Charlotte, North Carolina.Written by Rebecca Cutter based on May Cobbs novel of the same name, The Hunting Wives tells the story of Sophie ONeil (Snow) and her familys move from the East Coast to deep East Texas, where she succumbs to socialite Margo Banks (Åkerman) irresistible charms and finds her life consumed by obsession, seduction and murder. Metz plays Starr. Abbys mother, a proud working-class woman and staunch Christian. Although shes active at church and her daughter dates the star point guard Brad, she is not welcomed in the high-society world of the Hunting Wives. As a result, she will clash fiercely with Brads mother Jill. Newman portrays Callie, who is married to the powerful Sheriff Jonny, and a powerhouse in her own right. Shes an amazing marksman, and shes the second in command of the Hunting Wives (right below Margo). But she is also deeply in love with Margo and jealous of Sophies newfound influence. Lowes is Jill, the wife of Reverend Clint, and the queen of the mega church. But shes trapped in a loveless marriage, and as a result, she is overly invested in her son Brads life. And as we will soon find out, she will do anything to protect him. Ferrier plays Brad. On the outside Brad is the perfect All-Texan boy rich, handsome, and athletic with a bright future. But behind closed doors, Brad is the keeper of many secrets including an emotionally incestuous relationship with his mother Jill, and an affair with one of his mothers best friends. The Hunting Wives is executive produced by Cutter (Hightown), who will write and serve as showrunner, Erwin Stoff (The Serpent Queen, The Matrix, Edge of Tomorrow, Julia) for 3 Arts Entertainment and Cobb. The series is produced by Lionsgate Television and 3 Arts Entertainment. Metz is best known for her breakout role as Kate Pearson in NBCs This Is Us. Shell next be seen in the upcoming British comedy, Bank of Dave: The Sequel, based on a true story about victims of payday lenders. Metz is repped by CAA and Luber Roklin Entertainment. Newman will next be seen in a recurring role on Apple TVs The Big Cigar, directed by Don Cheadle. Xhe can currently be seen starring in the Titus Kaphar directed Exhibiting Forgiveness, which premiered in competition at the 2024 Sundance festival. She most recently played Kathe Sackler in the Emmy winning Hulu series Dopesick. Shes repped by The Burstein Company and Greene Talent. Lowes, best known for her role as Quinn Perkins on all seven seasons of ABCs Scandal, was most recently seen in the romantic comedy Merry Kiss Cam. Lowes is repped by The Gersh Agency, Framework Entertainment and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham. Ferrier first garnered attention with a breakout performance in Matthew Savilles feature Juniper. He went on to appear in multi-season recurring roles in Peaco*ck series One Of Us Is Lying and Netflixs Sweet Tooth. Hes repped by Circle of Confusion and Odd Management in New Zealand.i 'Days of Our Lives' Star Greg Vaughan Hospitalized with Fluid in Lungs(3/17/24) Greg Vaughan's recovering after a scary illness sent him to the hospital ... and, it turns out it's all because he got too high, too fast.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(3/15/24) Live with Kelly and Mark - SyndicatedAIRING Mar 18, 2024 Ricky Martin Robyn Bernard Dies: General Hospital Alum Was 64(3/13/24) Robyn Bernard, who played Terry Brock on General Hospital in more than 140 episodes from 1984-90, died March 12 in San Jacinto, CA, law enforcement officials said Wednesday. She was 64.The Riverside County Sheriffs Department said Bernard was found in an open field behind a business but did not reveal a cause of death (see the report here). Detectives were investigating, but sheriffs Sgt. Wenndy Brito-Gonzalez said, Foul play was not suspected in this death. Bernard was born on May 26, 1959, in Gladewater, Texas. She began performing at a young age, singing gospel songs with her younger sister, future longtime Wings star Crystal. The elder Bernards first screen appearance was in the 1981 film Diva, and she followed that with guest spots on such series as The Facts of Life, Simon & Simon and Whiz Kids. Her signature role began in September 1984, playing singer Terry Brock aka Terry OConnor. During her run on the ABC daytime drama, Bernards character the daughter of the ill-fated D.L. Brock (David Groh) developed a drinking problem that hindered her music career. Her run on the show ended in March 1990, when Terry scored a recording contract and left Port Charles. During her run on the hugely popular General Hospital, Bernard also appeared in the 1986 French pic Betty Blue, which was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar and BAFTA Film Award. Bernard worked only sporadically after her GH stint, appearing on the French mystery series Maigret in 1992 and the 1997 Gallic feature Kings for a Day. Her final screen credits was as a psychologist in the 2002 film Voices from the High School. THE 51ST ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS TO BE BROADCAST FRIDAY, JUNE 7 ON CBS(3/12/24) The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) and CBS announce THE 51ST ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY® AWARDS will broadcast LIVE Friday, June 7 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+*. This year marks the 18th time CBS has broadcast the Daytime Emmy Awards, more than any other network.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, Were 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. 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. Gringo Hunters Casts José María Yazpik, Sebastian Roché, Harold Torres & Mayra Hermosillo Among 11 As Production Begins(3/12/24) Production has begun on the new Netflix series The Gringo Hunters in Mexico City and the core cast has been revealed. They include José María Yazpik (Narcos, Madame Web), Sebastian Roché (1923, The Young Pope), Harold Torres (ZeroZeroZero, El Chapo) and Mayra Hermosillo (Narcos: Mexico, Thursdays Widows). Plans to shoot in Tijuana are also in place.Torres and Hermosillo are part of the gringo hunters core group alongside Manuel Masalva, Andrew Leland Rogers, Héctor Kotsifakis, Dagoberto Gama and Regina Nava. Gerardo Trejoluna and Paulina Dávila also star. All 11 are contracted as series regulars on the bilingual crime series which will be shot mostly in Spanish with some English. As Deadline revealed exclusively in 2022, a series based on The Washington Post story A U.S. murder suspect fled to Mexico. The Gringo Hunters were waiting, by Kevin Sieff was in development for Netflix. The series is inspired by a real elite Mexican police unit that catches American fugitives on the run to Mexico. The series will be coming to Netflix in 2025 and promises to delve into the reality of the International Liaison Unit, with mysteries to solve, suspense, twists and turns and the challenges and intrigue faced by this type of police operation. Our commitment to the best Mexican stories and creators is clearly reflected in The Gringo Hunters. Our producers have put together a very strong cast and crew. Partnering with Imagine Entertainment has been a very enriching experience. Im sure our subscribers will find The Gringo Hunters thrilling, said Francisco Ramos, Vice President of Latin American Content for Netflix. Directors include Adrián Grünberg, Alonso Álvarez, Jimena Montemayo and Natalia Beristáin. The project is produced by Woo Films and Redrum in co-production with Imagine Entertainment and in association with The Washington Post. Luis Rosales, who was behind casting for Alfonso Cuaróns Roma, served as casting director. Netflix will announce writers at a later time. The Gringo Hunters is the first series that hails from Imagine Entertainment and The Washington Posts partnership. The series will be executive produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Kristen Zolner and Lilly Burns for Imagine Television. Nicole Scott will oversee the project for Imagine. Sieff will serve as a consultant on behalf of The Washington Post. Since its formation in 2002, the real gringo hunters have apprehended over 1,600 fugitives ranging from murderers on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted list to billionaires accused of securities fraud. Roché is repped by Elevate Entertainment and Felker, Toczek, Suddleson and Abramson; Masalva is repped by Integral Artists and Jim Management. CBS Studios NAACP Venture To Develop New Daytime Drama For CBS Called The Gates(3/6/24) In a move that could bode well for the future of daytime dramas, CBS Studios and the NAACP, in partnership with P&G Studios, is developing a new sudser for CBS that would follow the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community.Dubbed The Gates, the new daytime drama is from Michele Val Jean, who has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and won multiple Daytime Emmys for her work on The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital. She will serve as writer and showrunner and will also executive producer alongside CBS Studios NAACP Venture President Sheila Ducksworth, along with Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner. The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective, said Ducksworth. This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment for broadcast television. With multi-dimensional characters, juicy storylines and Black culture front and center, The Gates will have impactful representation, one of the key touchstones of the venture. Im excited to develop this project with CBS and P&G, two of the longest and most passionate champions of broadcast and daytime television, and the NAACP, whose enduring commitment to Black voices and artists is both powerful and inspiring, continued Ducksworth. I also want to thank CBS George Cheeks, NAACPs Derrick Johnson and P&Gs Marc Pritchard for their personal involvement and support to take our next step forward with The Gates. Its been years since one of the broadcast networks launched a new daytime sudser. There are only three still existence between CBS and ABC B&B and The Young and the Restless on CBS, and General Hospital on ABC. CBS continues to rank No. 1 in daytime with its dramas but all three of the soaps are down in the key demos versus last year. Days of Our Lives is now streaming on Peaco*ck having moved from NBC to the the platform in 2022. The CBS Studios production venture and development deal with the NAACP was established to help elevate a diverse range of voices as well as increase the visibility of Black artists on broadcast and streaming platforms in an ever-evolving media landscape. P&G Studios is a division of Procter & Gamble. Michele Val Jean was represented by Gersh in the deal with CBS and the NAACP. Tuc Watkins Inks With Greene Talent(3/4/24) Tuc Watkins has signed with Greene Talent for theatrical representation. Known for his work on Desperate Housewives, Watkins will soon be seen recurring on the new Hulu series Paradise City starring Sterling K. Brown. He also recurred on Showtimes comedy Uncoupled, The Other Two at Comedy Central and Black Monday at Showtime. On the stage, Watkins co-starred in Inheritance at The Geffen Theatre, and before that the Broadway production of The Boys in the Band as well as the Netflix film, opposite Jim Parsons and Matt Bomer. Watkins was previously represented at A3 and continues to be managed by Karen Forman.Emma Caulfield Ford Updates Health After MS Reveal(3/3/24) In a People interview, Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress Emma Caulfield Ford (ex-Lorraine, General Hospital), who played the demon Anya on the TV series, updated her health and detailed her MS battle, which she kept quiet for more than a decade.The report indicates Caulfield Fords symptoms have been extremely mild, and she doesnt take medication. She has acute sensitivity to heat and stress, but severe symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, and lesions have not manifested. Im very, very fortunate, Caulfield Ford, 50, told People. But Im also aware that, with MS, this could all change tomorrow. Im stable and Ive made it a huge priority to do things so I stay that way. MS affects an estimated 1 million Americans. Caulfield Ford received her diagnosis on the autoimmune disease in 2010 after finding the left side of her face had gone numb. Because her symptoms went away after a few weeks, Caulfield Ford decided to keep her diagnosis secret, even from her family. I was like, Oh my God, whats going to happen? What am I going to do?' she said in the interview. So I told no one, not even my sister. There are just too many reasons people dont hire you as it is. I didnt need to give them any other excuse. But when Caulfield Ford was working on WandaVision in 2020 on an extremely hot August day, she ran into trouble. We were all in a sort of hot box, she recalled. I started feeling dizzy and faint. I was like, My body cant take this. I was putting myself under too much physical duress, being out in the heat and breathing the bad air. After cooling herself with ice packs, she vowed to no longer keep her condition a secret. I was like, I cant be afraid anymore. I have to tell the truth. Its not good for my health,' she said. Caulfield Ford publicly disclosed her diagnosis via Vanity Fair in October 2022. Revealing her condition was designed to provide hope to fellow afflicted. Its one of the reasons I decided to go public, she said, because if someone can recognize themselves or gain some inspiration from my experience, thats wonderful. Steve Burton Makes Bloody Return to General Hospital See the Menacing First Look!(3/2/24) (Photo) Steve Burton is back on General Hospital and this time he has blood on his hands.PEOPLE has the exclusive first look at Burtons return to the popular ABC soap opera, airing Monday, March 4. In the image, Burton, who plays Jason Morgan, is clad entirely in black and stands behind a dumpster, one hand covered in blood. The actor, 53, was last seen on General Hospital in November 2021 when a tunnel collapsed on his character as he was trying to save his brother Drew (Cameron Mathison) a disastrous event that left viewers presuming Jason was dead. Burton has made his mark on soaps for more than three decades, starring on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, Days of Our Lives and its spinoff, Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem. He played Jason on General Hospital from 1991 until exiting in 2012. The actor eventually returned to the daytime series in 2017 but was let go in 2021 over his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Burton went on to rejoin the cast of Days of Our Lives in 2023, playing Harris Michaels for the first time since 1988. Although he later announced his exit from the beloved show on Jan. 4, he revealed his plans to return to General Hospital just one day later. During his decades-long acting career, Burton won a Daytime Emmy in 1998 for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for his portrayal of Jason on General Hospital and another Daytime Emmy in 2017 for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for playing Dylan McAvoy in The Young and the Restless. News of Burton's return to General Hospital was announced in January during the final moments of ABC's primetime special General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars & Storytelling. "Happy anniversary, General Hospital," Burton said in a pre-recorded clip. "Stay tuned. Big things are coming to Port Charles." In a video posted to the Daily Drama's YouTube channel in early February, the actor offered a glimpse of his return to the ABC soap's set, teasing what's in store for his big comeback. "So, here's what's crazy is I'm back on the set! We're getting ready to shoot right now," he began. "I got to talk to the head writers. This story is going to be sick. Its gonna be awesome. So, make sure you keep watching, because the pieces of the puzzle are gonna be fit for when I return." Burton's return to General Hospital will air Monday, March 4 on ABC (check local listings). Outer Banks Season 4: Pollyanna McIntosh, J. Anthony Crane, Brianna Brown, Rigo Sanchez & Mia Challis Join Cast Of Netflixs YA Drama(2/29/24) Season 4 of Netflixs Outer Banks has some new cast members.Pollyanna McIntosh, J. Anthony Crane, Brianna Brown, Rigo Sanchez and Mia Challis have joined the cast of the show, which has been a breakout show for Netflix over its past three seasons. Created by Jonas Pate, Josh Pate and Shannon Burke, Outer Banks is a coming-of-age story that follows a tight-knit group of local teens the Pogues in the beach vacation destination of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Crane (Dead Ringers, Billions) will play Chandler Groff, a man darkly grief-stricken over the loss of his wife, who is welcoming to the Pogues on their latest adventure. McIntosh (The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, Double Blind) will Dalia, a revolutionary-like leader and worldly baddie on a plunder who comes face to face with the Pogues. Brown (Dynasty, Eastsiders) will play the biggest realtor on the island who previously worked with Ward Cameron in a successful business deal, she now has her eye on Rafe for a new venture and Sanchez (Animal Kingdom, Station 19) will play an imposing stranger with a piratical nerve. Challis (FBI: International, Clickbait) will play Ruthie, a wild child with a toxic streak who develops a close relationship with Topper. The young adult action-adventure drama stars Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss and Rudy Pankow and follows a group called The Pogues in a coastal town in North Carolina where the wealth divide is stark. Challis is repped by Karli Doumanis at Zero Gravity Management, Stewart Talent, and Moore Creative Artists from Australia. Outer Banks Creators Set Music Drama The Runarounds at Amazon(2/26/24) (hollywoodreporter.com) Amazon is heading to North Carolina with the creators of Netflixs drama Outer Banks.The retailer and streamer has handed out an eight-episode, straight-to-series order for The Runarounds, a music drama that follows a post-high school band as they try to make it big. The series is not a spinoff of Outer Banks but it does feature the same group The Runarounds that was previously featured in a season three episode of the hugely popular young adult drama on Netflix. From OBX co-creator Jonas Pate and with a teleplay from David Wilcox (Fringe), the fictional drama is inspired by the real band of the same name and will star the groups members William Lipton (General Hospital), Axel Ellis, Jeremy Yun, Zendé Murdock and Jesse Golliher as well as Lilah Pate and Kelley Pereira. Lilah Pate, the daughter of The Runarounds creator Jonas Pate, has had a recurring role in OBX. Like Outer Banks, The Runarounds will be set and film in Wilmington, North Carolina. Skydance Television is the studio. Jonas Pate, who directed the 2022 pilot, will exec produce alongside Wilcox, Joon Yun, fellow OBX creators Josh Pate and Shannon Burke, as well as Lisa Mae Fincannon, Scott Lambert and Skydance TVs David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Matt Thunell. When we first met with Jonas and Skydance about The Runarounds, it was immediately clear that they brought us a special show featuring an incredibly talented cast and real-life band, said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios. We are very much looking forward to sharing the exhilarating journey of The Runarounds with our global Prime Video customers. The Runarounds was formed as a band in 2021, when Jonas Pate issued a casting call for a group to appear on Outer Banks. The group first performed together when they played for Pate ahead of appearing in season three after being selected from a more than 5,000 musicians who responded to the casting call. At the time, Pate had already begun writing what ultimately became The Runarounds. The group filmed the pilot with Pate in 2022 and has since recorded an EP and gone out on tour. Outer Banks, heading into its fourth season on Netflix, has become a breakout hit for the streaming giant. All three seasons are in Netflixs top 50 shows of the first half of 2023. The Runarounds becomes the fifth Skydance TV show at Amazon, joining Reacher, Jack Ryan, Cross, and a recently ordered action-adventure series starring Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham. I am thrilled to reunite with Jonas, David, Josh and Shannon on a show that is so personal to them, and so brimming with heart and soul. We are grateful to Amazon for their partnership, and we cant wait for the world to meet The Runarounds, said Matt Thunell, president, Skydance Television. A premiere time frame for The Runarounds has not yet been determined. Sebastian Roché To Make K-Drama Debut In Netflixs Queen Of Tears(2/26/24) Sebastian Roché (1923) is making his K-drama debut in Netflixs Queen of Tears premiering March 9. He will portray Dr. Braun, a German doctor who has an interesting relationship with the two leads.From Studio Dragon, Showrunners and Culture Depot, the series follows Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won), the third-generation heiress to Queens Group and the queen of department stores, who has been married for three years to Baek Hyeon-u (Kim Soo-hyun), Yongdu-ri village chiefs son and the prince of supermarkets. As the couple weathers a marital crisis, they discover a miraculous new beginning that rewrites their love story. Additional cast includes Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon, Lee Joo Bin with a guest appearance by Song Joongki. Queen of Tears is written by Park Ji-eun. Jang Young-woo and Kim Hee-won direct. Roché can currently be seen in Paramounts Taylor Sheridan series 1923 starring opposite Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. He will return for Season 2 reprising the role of Father Renaud. Before that, he appeared in Guillermo del Toros Cabinet of Curiosities on Netflix. Additional roles include HBOs The Young Pope alongside Jude Law and James Cromwell and in Amazons The Man in the High Castle. He starred in Salome with Al Pacino on Broadway and appeared in a supporting role alongside Daniel Day-Lewis in The Last of the Mohicans. Other early work includes Roar with Heath Ledger and Vera Farmiga; Jeff Daniels in The Crossing; and Robert De Niro in 15 Minutes. Roché has also starred alongside Anthony Hopkins and Angelina Jolie in Beowulf, lent his voice to Steven Spielbergs animated The Adventures of Tintin and acted opposite Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington in Safe House. He is repped by Elevate Entertainment. Pamela Salem Dies: Doctor Who, James Bond & The West Wing Actress Was 80(2/23/24) British actress Pamela Salem (General Hospital), who starred in the James Bond film Never Say Never Again and TVs Doctor Who, died on Wednesday, according to Big Finish Productions. She was 80.Born in 1944 in India, she played Bonds secretary Miss Moneypenny in Sean Connerys 1983 film Never Say Never Again, which is considered an unofficial addition to the Bond canon because it was not produced by Eon Productions. Salem made guest appearances in Doctor Who as Professor Rachel Jensen, first appearing in 1988s Remembrance of the Daleks episodes with Sylvester McCoys seventh Doctor. She reprised the character in Counter-Measures, a Big Finish audio spin-off series. The more recent story in the series, The Dalek Gambit, was released in 2020. She also guest starred in Big Finishs The Fourth Doctor Adventures (reunited with Tom Baker) and then reprised the role of Toos in The Robots. Other screen roles included 1978 crime film The Great Train Robbery and The West Wing, in which she featured as fictional UK prime minister Maureen Graty. ER and Blakes 7 were also notable credits. Salem moved to Los Angeles in the 1990s and then lived in Miami. David Richardson, who produced all Salems work at Big Finish, said: Whenever there was a Big Finish recording for her, shed fly in from Miami on her own steam, without fuss or fanfare, and appear at the studio armed with the warmest smiles, the biggest hugs and often presents. She was a very gentle person always interested in everyone, from her co-stars to the production team to the guest actors and visitors. Karen Gledhill, an actress who worked alongside Salem in Counter-Measures, said: Pamela was the kindest, most generous actor I have ever worked with. Back in the 80s on Remembrance Of The Daleks (my first proper TV job), she took me under her wing and led me through a wonderful but slightly daunting experience. We became friends, and whenever we met were always so pleased to see each other. Judge Sticks It To ABC: General Hospital Crew Members Vaccine Mandate Suit Heads To Trial(2/21/24) ABC and Disney might be feeling a little under the weather right now.The network and Mouse House owners have lost their attempt to dismiss a discrimination suit by two General Hospital crew member over Covid-19 vaccine mandates. Now, the religious discrimination action will go to trial unless ABC wants to make a deal to make it all go away. Unlike ex-GH actor Ingo Rademacher in his own now tossed vaccine mandate suit, father and son James Wahl and Tim Wahl cooperated with the soap opera and the network on establishing their genuine Christian religious beliefs and desired exemptions from getting the then mandated vaccines. Of course, cooperation or not, ABC and GH still canned the duo when they refused to abide by the protocols and get the jab. The network told the Wahls that it was unable to conclude that you are prevented from receiving the Covid-19 vaccine due to a sincerely-held religious belief, practice, or observance. While not common, such refusals occurred on several shows and projects with more than a handful of those objecting during the pandemic return to work months. In particular ABC seems to have stumbled more than once in deftly handling religious objections, as the Wahls case and possible workarounds that were rejected makes clear-ish Which means, this weeks decision, even though LA Superior Court Judge Stephen Goorvitch did agree with ABC to jettison an invasion of privacy claim, will see the GH VFX department members will get their wish and have a jury make the final judgement on their faith, so to speak. Because this necessarily involves a credibility determination, it is difficult to grant summary adjudication of this issue, wrote Judge Goorvitch in a February 20 minute order. While Defendants counsel identifies seeming inconsistencies, Plaintiffs raise sufficient facts to give rise to a triable issue, viz., their explanations of their religious beliefs, he added. The jury, not the judge, should determine whether Plaintiffs were genuine in their beliefs, given the disputed facts and the necessity of making credibility determinations. Fired by ABC and GH in late 2021, the Wahls initially sued for religious and disability discrimination, retaliation and more in June 2022. As the case moved through the backlogged courts, the family members dropped the disability, wrongful termination, and retaliation claims. Disney and ABC did not respond to request for comment on the decision when contacted by Deadline. If and when they do, we will update this post. On the other hand, the Wahls main lawyer was very vocal today. As many people move beyond the pandemic, this ruling should serve as a reminder of the thousands of people who lost their careers because they asserted their rights and stood up to their employers efforts to make them violate their conscience, Scott Street told Deadline. The pandemic wont be over until every corporation that violated its employees rights has been held accountable. We look forward to presenting this case to a jury soon. A trial setting conference has been set for March 11 in DTLA. One more thing, if you have this odd feeling youve heard this before you kinda have. Street was Rademachers attorney in the fired actors unsuccessful vaccine suit. Adding to the mix, Judge Goorvitch was the LASC judge in that case too. A case he dismissed in June 2023 about a year after the Wahls filed their still ongoing case.a Writers Guild Awards Nominees(2/21/24) DAYTIME DRAMADays 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; Peaco*ck General Hospital, Head Writers Dan OConnor, 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 ABC President on the Future of GENERAL HOSPITAL(2/14/24) (soapsindepth.com) The Television Critics Association held its Winter Press Tour this February, and as part of that event, Craig Erwich, the president of Disney Television Group, met with hundreds of TV critics to discuss their various properties like ABC, Disney+, and Hulu.However, after the Q&A, Soap Hub caught up with the television exec to ask more specifically about GENERAL HOSPITAL, the long-running soap opera that has been airing on ABC for over six decades now. In addition to recently celebrating its diamond anniversary, GH took home numerous Daytime Emmy Awards in the 2023 ceremony including Outstanding Drama Series. [GH is] absolutely a tremendous pride for us, Erwich told the outlet. The shows been on for 60 years. That is a remarkable achievement. And the great thing about GENERAL HOSPITAL is that its on daily. Its an opportunity for us to delight, entertain, and surprise people on a daily basis. The joy is to have an audience who has watched the show for 60 years; theyre now watching with their kids and grandkids. That generational storytelling has made GH an integral part of the ABC daytime lineup for decades, and the exec promised that wasnt about to change anytime soon. Because the stories are on on a daily basis, they just become a part of peoples lives, and thats the goal of ABC, Erwich declared. Were very committed to the show. You saw the way that we celebrated the 60th [anniversary with the primetime special GH: 60 YEARS OF STARS AND STORYTELLING]. We do that because its a show were very proud of. We remain deeply committed to GENERAL HOSPITAL. Thats great news for soap fans, so heres to another 60 years of daytime drama in Port Charles! For Older News Visit The Daytime Soap Operas News Archives: Here!
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FAQs
Who is leaving GH in 2024 USA? ›
General Hospital spoilers reveal that several cast changes are coming for the show in 2024. Avery Kristen Pohl exited when Esme Prince fell overboard and was presumed dead. Spencer Cassadine (Alexander Chavez) fell overboard as well and there is news about him too.
What is the oldest running soap opera on TV today? ›ABC's Emmy® Award-winning daytime drama, "General Hospital," will celebrate its 60th anniversary on April 1, 2023. "GH" is both the longest-running scripted drama and the longest-running American soap opera currently in production.
Who is leaving General Hospital? ›Michael Easton is leaving "General Hospital." The actor announced his exit from the long-running ABC soap in a June 26 selfie video on Instagram. “I've always been partial to the Irish goodbye. That's where you leave the party without actually telling anyone you're gone,” said Easton.
Is Ava leaving General Hospital? ›As of now, there is no confirmation about Ava Jerome leaving General Hospital after Season 61. The rumors of Ava Jerome's exit were started by The Chat podcast host Casey who is also a known soap opera insider.
Why is Kelly Monaco leaving GH? ›(Soap vet Hartley previously — and briefly — stepped in for Monaco in 2020 and 2022.) A Gh rep declined to comment on the reason for Monaco's absence, but sources confirm to TVLine that the actress was simply under the weather.
Is Spencer returning to GH? ›Jonathan Jackson is checking back into “General Hospital.” The Emmy-winning actor will reprise his role as Lucky Spencer on the long-running ABC soap opera in what is said to be a long stint.
Who is the longest running soap opera actor? ›As of 2024, William Roache holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-serving actor in a television soap opera, having played Ken Barlow on Coronation Street since 1960.
What is the longest running show of all time? ›- The Simpsons. 1989– 768 epsTV-14. ...
- Gunsmoke. 1955–1975635 epsTV-PG. ...
- Law & Order. 1990– 502 epsTV-14. ...
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. 1999– 552 epsTV-14. ...
- Lassie. 1954–1974591 epsTV-G. ...
- Family Guy. 1999– 425 epsTV-MA. ...
- NCIS. 2003– 468 epsTV-14. ...
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. 2000–2015336 epsTV-14.
The longest-running drama in television and radio history, Guiding Light, barely reached 2.1 million daily viewers in 2009 and ended on September 18 of that year, after a 72-year run (including radio). As the World Turns aired its final episode on September 17, 2010, after a 54-year run.
Who is replacing Chad Duell on General Hospital? ›General Hospital fans were in for a big shock when they turned in for the soap opera on Wednesday (June 1). Without notice, the character of Michael Corinthos - usually played by Chad Duell - was replaced with Young & the Restless alum Robert Adamson. However, Chad, 34, won't be gone for too long.
Is Amanda Setton married? ›
Personal life. Setton is married, and has three children.
Who is the new boy on General Hospital? ›Giovanni Mazza has been cast as Giovanni, the newest member of the Bensonhurst clan. The handsome actor makes his General Hospital debut the week of May 13, 2024, just in time for his cousin Brook Lynn's (Amanda Setton) wedding where he'll perform a violin solo.
How many kids does Ava on General Hospital have in real life? ›Personal life
West has five children from her two marriages. Her marriage to Knight gave her a son: Benjamin (born in 1996). Meanwhile, she has four kids with DeFreitas: two sons Joseph (born 2000), and Basil (born 2007), and two daughters Katherine (born 2002) and Birdie (born 2009).
If you're an ABC Daytime fan you'll probably recognize Natalia on GENERAL HOSPITAL because the character is being played by ALL MY CHILDREN star Eva LaRue! The actress made her return to daytime in the Feb. 26, 2024, episode of GH, and here's everything we know about her character so far!
Why is Monica replaced on General Hospital? ›Has Monica been ever replaced on General Hospital? In 2018, the role was temporarily recast as Charleson injured her leg while walking her dog, preventing her from filming upcoming episodes. Patty McCormack replaced her temporarily, making her first appearance on May 7.
Is Sonny leaving General Hospital? ›As of early July 2024, there is no confirmed report on Benard's departure from General Hospital after Season 61.
Who is replacing Alexis on GH? ›Actress Stephanie Erb will be filling in during her medical leave so that Alexis' story can continue uninterrupted. GH will not be Erb's daytime debut as she played Camille Owens on PORT CHARLES back in 2000, Mona in an episode of DAYS OF OUR LIVES in 2001, and Dr.
Is Jeff Webber coming back to GH? ›And in November 2022, Jeff finally returned to the canvas, although the role was recast with William Moses. Dr. Jeff Webber arrived in Port Charles in the spring of 1976 with his wife, Dr. Monica Webber, planning to join the staff at General Hospital following the death of his older brother, Rick Webber.
Is Monica retiring from GH? ›No, Leslie Charleson's Monica Quartermaine is still a part of General Hospital. She made her return to the soap opera in episodes aired in December 2023, following an absence since early 2022.