By Nelson Branco
Exclusive: Is Brenda returning to GH now that Las Vegas may be cancelled? We tell you whether or not Days’ Brandon Beemer is really dating Lance Bass! Real-life couple engaged on Y&R! Three actors out on B&B! Jack’s back on Days! Are Babe and Jamie leaving AMC? Starring: Vanessa Marcil, Amelia Heinle, Thad Luckinbill, Matthew Ashford, Alexa Havins, Justin Bruening, Laura Wright, William deVry and Dax Griffin.
Is AMC's Babe really dead? |
All My Children (A-Channel/ABC) — Is Babe dead?
With a serial killer on the loose, it’s very possible. Rumours on the ABC set are that real-life husband and wife Alexa Havins (Babe) and Justin Bruening (Jamie) want out of Pine Valley, like yesterday, when their contracts are up later this year. Ironically, on Monday’s show Babe “dies,” but it’s probably just a ruse to catch the Satin Slayer. Yawn.
As the World Turns (CH/CBS) — Buried alive!
If Emily (played by pregnant Kelley Menighan Hensley) contemplating hooker-dom didn’t creep you out, tune in on Tuesday when Maddie and Gwen bury Adam. Also, ATWT reports we’ll be seeing a lot more of Luke (the always enchanting Van Hansis), who is set to get a same-sex love interest soon. Don’t you love that gay characters have become the most popular amongst viewers?
The Bold and the Beautiful (CTV/CBS) — Cast exodus!
After hiring expensive daytime superstar Eileen Davidson (Ashley), it was only a matter of time before B&B had to cut down its budget — which always means firing a few actors. Moving from contract to recurring status are Dax Griffin (Shane), Montreal’s William de Vry (Storm) and Lorenzo Lamas (Hector). Our biggest worry is that stars like Lesli Kay (Felicia) and Ashley Jones (Bridget) are without leading men to romance because they’re related to everyone on the canvas. Yes, we admit our favourite show has become very incestuous. On Friday, B&B celebrates its 5000th episode by focusing on its original cast members.
Coronation Street (CBC) – Star to get his own talk show?
Scene-stealer Antony Cotton may become the U.K.’s Ellen DeGeneres!
According to reports, TV execs want to parlay Cotton’s gigantic fan base into a daily chat fest. A source revealed: “He doesn’t want to leave Corrie but would love to take on this other project if he can fit them both in.” Let’s pray he doesn’t leave “the girls” on Corrie Street, or we’ll scream bloody murder and set him up on a blind date with Norris!
Days of our Lives (Global/NBC) — Scoop: is Brandon Beemer the new Reichen?
Don’t believe reports that Brandon Beemer (Shawn) is dating Lance Bass: we’ve learned the actor is not only straight, but he’s also dating Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe). The former NSYNC’er and Beemer are just good friends. Watch out for our exclusive interview with soaps’ most beautiful in upcoming weeks. Meanwhile, look for Matt Ashford to bring back Jack for a limited run soon, as Farah Fath (Mimi) leaves the soap for good.
Vanessa Marcil is currently starring in Las Vegas |
General Hospital (CTV/ABC) — Exclusive: is Vanessa Marcil coming back as Brenda?
Can’t Sonny take a hint? On Wednesday, the mobster pleads with his “wife” Carly to marry him for real this time. “It gets more complicated,” Laura Wright (Carly) teases to TV Guide. Wright also dished with us about the possible return of Emmy winner Vanessa Marcil as Brenda — the show’s most popular heroine to ever grace the soap. “I’ve heard Las Vegas is being cancelled in May, so it looks like it could work out and we won’t have to recast,” Wright says. Reportedly, GH is considering Rebecca Budig (ex-Greenlee, AMC) and Gina Tognoni (Dinah, GL) should Marcil decline.
Guiding Light (CH/CBS) — Springfield’s new power-couple!
Are you enjoying this new pairing as much as we are? On Friday, Alan gets a get-out-of-jail-free card when he marries the town’s manipulative D.A. Doris. Also, on Valentine’s Day, the cast shares their stories from their rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast in a very special episode (minus the teen pregnancy talk and Ty Pennington).
One Life to Live (A-Channel/ABC) – Notes on a few scandals
Why the heck is Jessica taking her sweet time to have sex with the irresistible Nash — is she not eating her veggies or something? Who cares if she’s married to boring Antonio — trust us Jess, take one for the team! Which on Monday, she almost does when Nash and Jessica make out — and almost do the dirty deed! Also, this week: Dorian makes a deal with Todd; Spencer’s will-reading ends with a shocking twist; and Lindsay confesses a secret to Viki!
Passions (Global/NBC) – A murder and a shooting haunt Harmony!
The stalker has a sick sense of humour: the mysterious killer murders Simone’s girlfriend, Rae, on Valentine’s Day (GLADD start writing your press release now!). And on Monday, Theresa accepts Jared’s proposal but on Tuesday, Jared’s shot! Harmony isn’t very harmonious these days — discuss.
The Young and the Restless (Global/CBS) — Carmen’s killer revealed!
In case anyone cares, Carmen’s killer (who was she again?) is exposed on Feb. 19. With Victoria Rowell leaving, could Dru be the culprit? And according to insiders, look for daytime fan favourite Vincent Irizarry (David) to extend his stay on the soap past his original three-month contract. Also, reports suggest Thad Luckinbill (JT) and Amelia Heinle (Victoria) are — gulp! —engaged in real life.
Victoria Rowell, aka Dru, is set to leave the Y&R in April |
MASTER CLASS: THE BEST OF THE BEST
The divine Victoria Rowell (Dru, Y&R)
When daytime dynamo Victoria Rowell announced she was leaving Y&R this April to concentrate on her memoir, The Women Who Raised Me, and her various foster children charities — along reigniting her once-prolific film career — we wept on the inside. To be honest, Y&R has not utilized, explored, or respected Rowell’s immense talents ever since Lynn Marie Latham took over the show. Instead, they’ve chosen to give her overwrought, nonsensical material that has turned the once-fascinating Dru into a loud and obnoxious loose cannon. While we certainly don’t blame the actress for leaving, we still can’t help but wonder why she’s still one of TV’s most underrated performers. In addition, why was Rowell left off the pre-nom Emmy ballot this year — this diva should boast a handful of Emmys by now! With Rowell gone, we really don’t have a reason to tune into Y&R anymore. There — we said it.
RANT OF THE WEEK: The Nielsen ratings have finally relented by agreeing to measure soap viewing among college campuses (duh!). Although this is good news, it’s a little too late now that NBC cancelled Passions, which has a main audience that’s aged 18-24.
TOP 5 SHOWS TO WATCH
1. The Bold and the Beautiful
2. General Hospital
3. Guiding Light
4. Days of Our Lives
5. The Young and the Restless
TOP 5 ACTRESSES TO WATCH
1. Susan Flannery (Stephanie, B&B)
2. Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke, B&B)
3. Alison Sweeney (Sami, Days)
4. Victoria Rowell (Dru, Y&R)
5. Laura Wright (Carly, GH)
TOP 5 ACTORS TO WATCH
1. Jack Wagner (Nick, B&B)
2. Stephen Nichols (Steve, Days)
3. Kyle Lowder (Rick, B&B)
4. Forbes March (Nash, OLTL)
5. Vincent Irizarry (David, Y&R)
TOP 5 SUPERCOUPLES TO WATCH
1. Sonny and Carly, GH
2. Nash and Jessica, OLTL
3. Sami and Lucas, Days
4. Brooke and Nick, B&B
5. Theresa and Jared, Passions
Published: Monday, February 12, 2007