We Love Soaps | Soap Opera News, Interviews and History

Today in Soap Opera History (May 6)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Wed, 06 May 2026 16:41:50 +0000

1985: Nancy Lee Grahn debuted as Julia on Santa Barbara. 1985: GH's Rick began to suspect Derrick was Mike's biological father.
1987: Dynasty's Alexis drove her car off a bridge. 1999: All My Children's Erica made her first public appearance since being disfigured.

On this day in...

1965: On Peyton Place, Claire (Mariette Hartley) stunned her mother, Grace (Edith Atwater), with the news that Dr. Vincent Markham (Leslie Nielsen) was actually Claire's husband. After learning Michael Rossi (Ed Nelson) knew Constance (Dorothy Malone) as an orderly in the hospital where 4she was born, Allison (Mia Farrow) decided to return home and ask Connie point-blank if Connie wanted her when she discovered she was pregnant. Connie removed her "wedding band" from "Mr. MacKenzie." Rodney (Ryan O'Neal) was unable to tell Norman (Christopher Connelly) the truth about their mother. Paul (Richard Evans) was angry that Matt (Warner Anderson) published a story that cleared Leslie of murdering Elizabeth. Norman read Matt's story and told Rodney never to mention their mother's name again when Rodney insisted she was mentally unbalanced.

1981: On Another World, Jamie (Richard Bekins) was arraigned and released on his own recognizance. Meanwhile, Mac (Douglass Watson) and Rachel (Victoria Wyndham) blamed each other for Jamie's addiction to prescription drugs.

1985: On Santa Barbara, Augusta (Louise Sorel) realized she was blind and called her sister Julia in Phoenix. This was Nancy Lee Grahn's first appearance as Julia Wainwright.

1985: On General Hospital, Rick (Chris Robinson) started to suspect Derrick (Mark Goddard) was Mike's (David Mendenhall) biological father.

1987: On the season finale of Dynasty, Alexis' (Joan Collins) car plunged off a bridge.

1994: Kristian Alfonso returned to Days of our Lives after a four year absence. Alfonso first appeared as Hope Williams in April 1983 and played the character four years before departing in April 1987. She returned from April-August 1990 for a short story that ended with Hope being presumed dead.

1997: The final episode of UK regional soap opera Quayside aired on on Tyne Tees Television in the North East England and Yorkshire Television in Yorkshire. after only four months on the air.

1999: On All My Children, at the opening of the S.O.S. club, Erica Kane's (Susan Lucci) arrival brought Opal's (Jill Larson) conga line to a halt. Later, reporter Jerry Reeves (Graham Winton) ripped off Erica's scarf to show her masked face.

2005: On Passions, Edna Wallace (Kathleen) had an epic battle at the Crane mansion in order to get to Beth (Kelli McCarty) and Alistair (John Reilly) before they made love. Edna revealed that Alistair Crane was Beth's long, lost daddy.

2006: Actor Lyle Sudrow, The Guiding Light's original Bill Bauer, died at age 85. Sudrow originated the role of William Edward "Bill" Bauer Sr. in 1948 when the show aired only on the radio, and continued in the part several years after The Guiding Light began airing on television in 1952.

2012: Actor Yale Summers died at age 78. He played Rodney Harrington on Return to Peyton Place and Dr. Bob Ayres in the first year of General Hospital.

2013: Casey Moss debuted as J.J. Deveraux on Days of our Lives. In the episode, viewers only saw J.J.'s hand in Jennifer's house looking at the photos on the mantel.

Today's Birthdays

Bill Tatum (ex-Arthur, As the World Turns) - 79
Alan Dale (ex-King George/Albert, Once Upon a Time; ex-Charles, Lost; ex-Bradford, Ugly Betty; ex-Jim, Neighbours) - 79
Kate Collins (ex-Janet/Natalie, All My Children) - 68
Roma Downey (ex-Lady Johanna, One Life to Live) - 66
Julianne Phillips (ex-Frankie, Sisters) - 66
George Clooney (ex-James, Sisters; ex-Doug, ER) - 65
Cynthia J. Popp (Producer/Director, The Bold and the Beautiful) - 64
Leslie Hope (ex-Tess, The River; ex-Linda, Knots Landing) - 61
Marshall Hilliard (Officer Marshall, General Hospital; Dylan, Days of our Lives; ex-Officer George, The Young and the Restless; ex-Hart, Guiding Light) - 55
Gregori J. Martin (Creator/Producer, The Bay) - 48
Stacey Oristano (ex-Truly, Bunheads; ex-Mindy, Friday Night Lights) - 46
Adrianne Palicki (Bobbi, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; ex-Cat, Lone Star; ex-Tyra, Friday Night Lights) - 43
Gabourey Sidibe (Becky, Empire; ex-Queenie, American Horror Story) - 43
Tyler Hynes (ex-Joshua, Warehouse 13) - 40

Today in Soap Opera History (May 5)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Tue, 05 May 2026 12:46:28 +0000

1965: As the World Turns spin-off Our Private World premiered. 1985: Days or our Lives' John rescued Marlena.
1992: Another World's Donna and John shared a kiss. 2004: The Young and the Restless' Kevin flatlined.

On this day in...

1948: On This is Nora Drake, Bob had disappeared from the hospital, and Nora knew that she was the cause of Bob's unhappiness. Peggy found him in the park, took him to his room and got him a prescription.

1948: On Claudia, Claudia (Patricia Ryan) and David (Richard Kollmar) waited for their new maid to arrive.

1965: Our Private World, a primetime spinoff of As the World Turns created by Irna Phillips and William J. Bell, premiered on CBS. Eileen Fulton's Lisa Hughes, one of lead characters in top-rated As the World Turns, left her home town of Oakdale and went to Chicago to forget all her sorrow and problems.

The twice-a-week series was the first attempt by a competing network to capture some of the popularity of Peyton Place, a primetime soap opera on ABC which was itself an attempt to copy the success of another show, the UK's Coronation Street.

The premiere of Our Private World received a Nielsen rating of 15.1, a 25 share of the audience. The second episode, which aired two nights later, only drew an 11.9 rating and 21 share. For that week, As the World Turns had an 11.1 rating.

Pictured in the foreground are Our Private World stars Geraldine Fitzgerald and Eileen Fulton. Robert Drivas, Julienne Marie, Nicolas Coster, David O'Brien and Sam Groom can be seen in the background.

Watch an episode from July 1965 below.

1972: On The Doctors, Dr. Vito McCray (Paul Henry Itkin) phoned Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) from New York to remind him that he was interested in working for him at Hope Memorial.

1982: On General Hospital, Bobbie Spencer (Jacklyn Zeman) and her sister-in-law, Laura (Genie Francis), tried to get along for Luke's (Anthony Geary) sake.

1984: Doris Hursley, who co-created daytime soap operas General Hospital and Bright Promise with her husband, Frank Hursley, died at age 85. Their daughter, Bridget Dobson, also wrote for daytime soaps and co-created Santa Barbara.

1986: On Another World, Catlin Ewing (Thomas Ian Griffith) married Sally Frame (Taylor Miller) despite Brittany's (Sharon Gabet) efforts to thwart the ceremony.

1986: On Days of our Lives, John (Drake Hogestyn) rescued Marlena (Deidre Hall).

1987: On Another World, Mitch Blake (William Gray Espy) and Dr. Cheng cared for Felicia Gallant (Linda Dano), who came down with a high fever.

1987: Alison Sweeney made her very first appearance in Days of our Lives, playing Young Adrienne in a flashback scene. Sweeney returned to the show in January 1993 as Sami Brady, a role she has played for over 21 years now.

1992: On Another World, John (David Forsyth) and Donna (Anna Stuart) shared a kiss.

2003: On The Young and the Restless, Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc) was about to fulfill his quest to marry Christine, but now wanted to wipe the slate clean by confessing his involvement with Isabella to her. In doing so, he got a not-so-friendly visit from his alter-ego "Bad Michael" - who noticeably still sported the scruffy beard and wife-beater just like he did when he obsessively dug his way through the apartment wall and attempted to rape Christine back in 1993.

Today's Birthdays

Lisa Blake Richards (ex-Sabrina, Dark Shadows, ex-Viki, Where the Heart Is, ex-Susan, One Life to Live) - 85
Gillian Wright (ex-Jean, EastEnders) - 66
Kurt Sutter (Creator, Sons of Anarchy) - 66
Darrin Dewitt Henson (ex-Ruben, Lincoln Heights; ex-Lem, Soul Food) - 54
Glen Wallace (ex-Cameron, EastEnders; ex-David, Doctors; ex-Andy, Holby City; ex-Malachy, Hollyoaks) - 50
Vincent Kartheiser (ex-Pete, Mad Men) - 47
Ian Virgo (ex-Phil, Doctors) - 45
Henry Cavill (ex-Charles, The Tudors) - 43
Clark Duke (ex-Dale, Greek) - 41
Adele (Guest Star, Ugly Betty) - 38
Taylor-Ann Hasselhoff (ex-Nurse, The Young and the Restless) - 36
Sean Freeman (Andre, Beyond the Gates)
Danielle Parker (ex-Emma, All My Children) - 24

When Daytime Doubled: The Soap Opera Expansion That Changed Everything

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Tue, 05 May 2026 12:29:57 +0000

In the 1970s, daytime television made a high-stakes move: expanding soap operas from 30 minutes to a full hour. Another World led the charge in 1975, and suddenly the rules changed overnight.

Writers like William J. Bell resisted moving to the longer format. It took The Young and the Restless four years to regain its place in the ratings following the switch in 1980. Not every show could keep up. For some, the added time exposed creative and production limits that proved hard to overcome.

The shift to an hour didn’t just reshape how soaps were written—it quietly determined which ones would endure.

I break down this turning point in daytime history, and why its impact still lingers.

In 1975, the network announced that Another World would expand to a full hour, with the expectation that it could set a new standard across daytime. Lin Bolen, NBC’s vice president of daytime programming, acknowledged the gamble in unusually direct terms for the New York Times, noting that the network was “violating an old show business principle by tampering with a hit” in hopes of revitalizing the genre.

The justification wasn’t purely economic—at least not on the surface. Bolen argued that audiences had grown more sophisticated and that the traditional half-hour format no longer delivered enough narrative momentum. “A complaint has been that the stories progress too slowly,” she said, suggesting that a 60-minute format would allow for richer character development and more fully realized scenes.

Read the full article on the We Love Soaps "Insider" Substack.

Today in Soap Opera History (May 4)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:12:41 +0000

1964: Another World premiered. 1982: Dynasty's Cecil died while making love with Alexis.
1984: Guiding Light's "Dreaming Death" virus killed Lesley Ann. 1987: Days of our Lives' Kim and Shane were married.

On this day in...

1943: On Vic and Sade, Chuck Brainfeeble visited Sade with a gross of "Little Leather Ringmasters." He proposed to use them to repay his $40 debt to Vic, and wouldn't take "no" for an answer.

1958: Elaine S. Carrington, the radio writer who created Pepper Young's Family and other daytime dramas, died at New York Hospital. She was 66.

1964: Irna Phillips and William J. Bell's Another World premiered on NBC. The script from this episode is archived at the National Museum of American History. When the show began, announcer Bill Wolff would say over the opening title: "We do not live in this world alone, but in a thousand other worlds. . . And now, Another World."

During its first year, the show, set in the fictional town of Bay City, set new standards for its time by taking on topics like abortion and illegitimate pregnancy.

The story initially revolved around the Matthews family in Bay City. The original characters were Liz Matthews (Sarah Cunningham, replaced after the first episode), Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison), Jim Matthews (John Beal, replaced after the first episode), Mary Matthews (Virginia Dwyer), Pat Matthews (Susan Trustman), Alice Matthews (Jacqueline Courtney), Russ Matthews (Joey Trent), Janet Matthews (Liza Chapman), Granny Matthews (Vera Allen), Missy Palmer (Carol Roux), Ken Baxter (William Prince) and Tom Baxter (Nicholas Pryor).

Another World ran for 35 years, achieving its greatest ratings success in the 1970s. The final episode aired on June 25, 1999.

1981: On Another World, Sandy (Christopher Rich) took Blaine (Laura Malone) and Jerry (Paul Tinder) to a museum and planetarium in New York City for the day. When they returned, Sandy noticed that the hotel room door had been tampered with.

1982: On the Season 2 finale of Dynasty, Cecil Colby (Lloyd Bochner) suffered a heart attack while making love to Alexis (Joan Collins) on the night before their wedding.

1984: On Guiding Light, Lesley Ann Andrews (Carolyn Ann Clark) died after being infected with the Dreaming Death virus. Elsewhere, Reva (Kim Zimmer) hosted the Mr. Springfield contest.

1987: On Days of our Lives, Kimberly Brady (Patsy Pease) and Shane Donovan (Charles Shaughnessy) were married.

1987: On The Bold and the Beautiful, while Mother Logan (Lesley Woods) and her daughter-in-law, Beth (Judith Baldwin), discussed why Beth's husband, Stephen, had deserted The Logan Family, Stephanie & Eric Forrester (Susan Flannery & John McCook) talked about a past of their own, which had included Beth. Meanwhile, Thorne Forrester (Clayton Norcross) pleaded with his sister Kristen (Teri Ann Lynn) to divulge where Caroline Spencer was now living, with Thorne confessing his love for his brother's ex-fiancée.

1992: On Santa Barbara, Cruz (A Martinez) and Jodie (Kim Zimmer) rescued Lily and Rafe.

2005: On Passions, Sheridan (Mackenzie Westmore) tore into Luis (Galen Gering) for not believing Marty was their son and for defending Beth. Later, a suspicious Sheridan found Beth (Kelli McCarty) lurking around the club and asked if she came with Alistair (John Reilly). Sheridan warned Beth she was going to get her son back and gave her rival a hard shove, starting an all-out brawl between the two women. Meanwhile, as Edna (Kathleen Noone) prayed for guidance and help, a horrified Tabitha (Juliet Mills) found herself stuck in place as angels descended upon her.

2007: On One Life to Live, Blair Cramer (Kassie DePaiva) was determined to find Todd Manning before leaving Chicago.

Today's Birthdays

Leonie Norton (ex-Kate, Love of Life; ex-Cindy, Another World; ex-Julie, One Life to Live) - 83
Richard Jenkins (ex-Nathaniel, Six Feet Under) - 79
Tanya Falan Welk-Roberts (Guest Star, General Hospital) - 78
Scott Stevensen (ex-Harvey, All My Children) - 75
Mary Beth McDonough (ex-Heidi, General Hospital) -65
Matthew Crane (ex-Perry, Gotham; ex-Ross, General Hospital; ex-Matt, Another World) - 59
Grace Phipps (ex-April, The Vampire Diaries) - 34

'Love Undone' Returns for Final Season, Closing Its Story with an Eight-Episode Farewell

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:48:41 +0000

The Indie Series Award-winning web series Love Undone returns for its third and final season on Sunday, May 3 at 6 PM, bringing its character-driven story to a definitive close.

Over two seasons, the series has built a loyal audience through its grounded approach to romance and family, centering on the interconnected lives of the Bell, Jones, and Hill families. The final chapter picks up as relationships are tested, ambitions come into focus, and long-simmering tensions finally come to the surface.

Season 3 raises the stakes without losing the intimacy that defined the show’s early episodes. As the characters confront difficult choices and unfinished business, the series moves toward resolutions that reflect both the cost and the reward of growth.

“Love Undone has always been about the beauty and difficulty of life—just putting one foot in front of the other and finding your way through,” said creator Joseph Goncalves.

The cast of the indie soap includes Maya Grant, Shaquan Perkins, Sonya Joyner, Capella Auriga and Robert Barnes Jr.

The eight-episode final season will roll out weekly, leading viewers through the story’s end with a clear sense of purpose rather than a drawn-out goodbye.

Watch the Season 3 trailer below.

Season Details
Title: Love Undone (Season 3 — Final Season)
Premiere: Sunday, May 3, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Episodes: 8
Genre: Romantic Family Drama

New episodes premiere every Sunday at 6 PM beginning May 3.

For updates and viewing information, follow Love Undone on Instagram or visit the show's YouTube channel.

Subscribe to the We Love Soaps Insider Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:27:31 +0000

Why Subscribe to We Love Soaps "Insider" Newsletter?

If you’ve followed We Love Soaps over the years, you already know what drives this site: a deep respect for the craft, history, and impact of daytime drama.

We Love Soaps Insider takes that a step further.

This is where the stories go deeper—beyond headlines and episode recaps—into the voices, moments, and history that have shaped the genre. Subscribers get access to in-depth interviews with the actors and creators who built daytime television, behind-the-scenes insights you won’t find anywhere else, and thoughtfully researched features that connect today’s soaps to their rich legacy.

At a time when coverage of daytime drama is thinner than it should be, this publication is committed to preserving and celebrating it properly—with context, credibility, and care.

Subscribing also helps sustain independent soap journalism. No fluff, no recycled press releases—just original reporting and storytelling from someone who has been covering this medium for years and understands why it matters.

If you believe soap operas deserve to be documented, discussed, and remembered, this is for you.

👉 Subscribe below to get new posts delivered directly to your inbox:

Today in Soap Opera History (April 30)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:39:32 +0000

1973: Nancy Pinkerton debuted as Dorian Lord on One Life to Live. 1978: Dallas' Pam revealed her pregnancy but later lost the baby.
1996: All My Children's Marian played a revealing tape to hurt Tad. 2001: General Hospital's Skye announced she was a Quartermaine.

On this day in...

1968: On Dark Shadows, Jeff (Roger Davis) dozed off in a chair in the living room of the Evans Cottage and had almost the same dream that Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) had earlier, except when he opened the door of the cottage, he found Dr. Lang (Addison Powell) there beckoning him. He followed him and, like Maggie, was locked in the room with many doors. He heard Lang's voice recite the same poem. He heard Josette's music coming from behind a door and opened it and found a green death's head, as did Maggie. He closed the door. The music started to come from behind a different door. He opened it and found a guillotine in the door frame. The blade fell loudly which awakened a terrified Jeff.

1973: The character of Dr. Dorian Lord debuted on One Life to Live played by Nancy Pinkerton.

1976: Another World, Pat (Beverly Penberthy) told Sharlene (Laurie Heineman) secrets could destroy even the best marriage.

1978: CBS aired the fifth and final part of its five-part Dallas mini-series. In the episode, Pam (Victoria Principal) learned she was pregnant but later lost the baby after falling out of the hayloft during a confrontation with J.R. (Larry Hagman). Dallas was picked up as a regular series for the fall.

1980: Jean Bruce Scott debuted as Jessica Blake in Days of our Lives.

1981: Robert Alda made his first appearance as Stuart Whyland in Days of our Lives.

1984: On Guiding Light, Lujack (Vincent Irizarry) shared his fears with Beth (Judi Evans).

1985: David Haskell debuted as Nick Hartley on Santa Barbara.

1987: On Knots Landing, Ben Gibson (Doug Sheehan, in his final appearance) left for South America. Also in the episode, Laura (Constance McCashin) gave birth to a baby girl - 8lbs, 3 ozs.

1989: Jet Magazine featured a Generations cover with cast members Kristoff St. Johnn, Jonelle Allen, Lynn Hamilton, Taurean Blacque, Joan Pringle and Sharon Brown.

1990: On Santa Barbara, Cruz Castillo (A Martinez) arrived on the island much to the delight of Kirk Cranston (Joseph Bottoms). Kirk captured Cruz, who escaped and made a run for it with Nikki Alvarez (Constance Marie) and Michael Donnelly (Frank Runyeon).

1996: On All My Children, Marian Colby (Jennifer Bassey) played cassette tape during Tad Martin's (Michael E. Knight) live interview with Dr. Joe Martin (Ray MacDonnell) that revealed his affair with Liza Colby (Marcy Walker).

1999: On Another World, Paulina Carlino (Judi Evans) confessed to killing Grant Harrison. Another World debuted a next-day preview at the end of the episode.

2001: On General Hospital, Rae admitted to Alan and Monica that Skye was Alan's daughter. "I'm Skye, and I'm a Quartermaine," Skye announced before asking, "Isn't anybody going to welcome me into the family?"

2004: On EastEnders, Laura Beale (Hannah Waterman) fell down the stairs to her death after tripping on a toy.

2007: As the World Turns debuted a new opening theme sequence.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Perry King (ex-Richard, Titans; ex-Hayley, Melrose Place) - 78
Megan McTavish (ex-Lola, Guiding Light; Former Writer, All My Children; General Hospital; Guiding Light; One Life to Live) - 77
Paul Gross (ex-Darryl, Eastwick) - 67
Justine Miceli (ex-Marsha, As the World Turns) - 67
Adrian Pasdar (ex-Alec, The Lying Game; ex-David, Desperate Housewives) - 62
Robyn Griggs (ex-Maggie, Another World; ex-Stephanie, One Life to Live) - 53
Jeff Timmons (Guest Star, As the World Turns) - 53
Alexandra Holden (ex-Suzy, Friday Night Lights) - 49
Lydia Look (Selina, General Hospital) - 46
Emma Pierson (ex-Becky, Grange Hill) - 45
Blair McDonough (ex-Stu, Neighbours) - 45
Kirsten Dunst (ex-Loving) - 44
Drew Seeley (ex-Andrew, Guiding Light) - 44
Gal Gadot (ex-Olivia, The Beautiful Life) - 41
Dianna Agron (ex-Quinn, Glee) - 41
Lindsay Pearce (ex-Harmony, Glee) - 41

Roberta Maxwell on Another World’s 1975 Expansion to One Hour

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:01:57 +0000

In 1975, Another World made daytime television history as the first soap opera to expand from 30 minutes to a full hour, marking a major turning point for the genre. The show’s move into the hour format helped redefine what daytime drama could be—and who it could showcase.

Recently, Michael Poirier spoke with actress Roberta Maxwell about her time on the series during this pivotal era. At the time, Maxwell was balancing her work on the soap with a demanding Broadway schedule, including her role in Equus alongside Anthony Hopkins and Frances Sternhagen.

Roberta Maxwell on Joining Another World

One of her earliest moments on the show still stands out. As attorney Barbara Weaver, Maxwell delivered a first line that feels unmistakably of its time:

“Now, Mr. Matthews, women lawyers try to forget about such things.”

The line was a response to patriarch Jim Matthews commenting on her appearance—a brief exchange that reflects the era’s gender dynamics while also hinting at the evolving tone of daytime storytelling in 1975.

Inside Daytime Television in the 1970s

Maxwell also reflected on the intense production culture under executive producer Paul Rauch, who closely oversaw nearly every aspect of the show, from casting to final script execution.

For Maxwell, the experience was both demanding and formative, offering a front-row seat to one of daytime television’s most ambitious expansions.

Read the full interview with Roberta Maxwell on the We Love Soaps "Insider" Substack: welovesoaps.substack.com

This Week in Soap Opera History (April 19-25)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:48:00 +0000

"This Week in Soap Opera History" is a curated video roundup celebrating the milestones, debuts, cliffhangers, wedding, and unforgettable twists that aired during this same week across the decades.

This week featurwa weddings on Days of our Lives (Julie & Scott, Liz & Neil), All My Children (Angie & Jesse) and Another World (Vince & Mary), the end of a kissing ban, and more!

Watch the full highlights below:

Today in Soap Opera History (April 24)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:26:45 +0000

1978: Ryan's Hope's Pat confronted Delia over on her miscarriage deception. 1987: Days of our Lives' Patch made chili.
2007: All My Children's Zoe performed. 2009: Drew Garrett debuted as Michael on General Hospital.

On this day in...

1959: NBC Radio soap The Woman in My House aired its final episode after an eight year run. One Man's Family creator Carlton E. Morse produced WIMH about the Carter family of Miami.

1959: Carlton E. Morse's long-runningOne Man's Family ended its run on NBC after 27 years. Ma Perkins was the only American radio soap opera that produced more episodes. Morse created over 40 radio serials during his career. In the 1980s he published a series of novels.

Morse (pictured) claimed in a 1976 Associated Press interview that One Man's Family was not a soap opera. "It was a dramatic family show," he said. "Soap operas are written by hack writers. They have no characterization or plot. Until One Man's Family, there was no such thing as a family show. After we came on, everybody had to have one. That's when the soap opera came about."

1970: On Another World, Alice Matthews Frame (Jacqueline Courtney) tried to assure an upset Chris Tyler (Steve Harmon) that things would go back to normal after Steve Frame's memory returned.

1970: On Dark Shadows, in the mausoleum, when Alexis Stokes (Lara Parker) touched Angelique Stokes Collins' arm, Angelique woke up and told her that it would be Alexis who will be destroyed.

1973: On The Doctors, Penny Davis (Julia Duffy) asked her mother, Althea (Elizabeth Hubbard), why she didn't tell her that Nick Bellini lived three floors down.

1978: On Ryan's Hope, Pat Ryan (Malcolm Groome) confronted his wife, Delia (Ilene Kristen), over the deception that led to their marriage. Roger Coleridge (Ron Hale) showed up and filled Pat in on the details that led to Delia's miscarriage.

1978: On One Life to Live, Cathy Craig Lord (Jennifer Harmon) reeled after a break-in at her apartment.

1981: On Texas, Barrett Marshall (Stephen D. Newman) overheard his wife, Ginny (Barbara Rucker), admit her love to Ryan Connor (Philip Clark) before she went to get some strawberry preserves. Later, Dr. Courtney Marshall (Catherine Hickland) advised Ryan that Ginny should have no issues carrying the baby to term, and Barrett locked Ginny in the cellar.

1985: On Search for Tomorrow, Stu Bergman (Larry Haines) attempted to console T.R. Kendall (Jane Krakowski), who feared Andrew Ryder (Adam Stoke) had rejected her.

1987: On Days of our Lives, after seeing her sister Kim (Patsy Pease) with Paul Stewart (Robert S. Woods), Kayla Brady (Mary Beth Evans) wondered to Jack Deveraux (James Acheson) if she should move on from Steve Johnson. Meanwhile, Steve (Stephen Nichols) helped his sister Adrienne (Judi Evans) by making "Patch's One-Eyed Chili."

1990: Actor Tom Rolfing, who played Cliff Tanner on Another World from 1977-1978, died at age 40. The character of Cliff left Bay City with Regine after they were married.

1995:All My Children aired an episode that included Janet using a bomb, so the show opened with a special message from the actress who played the character, Robin Mattson, referencing the recent Oklahoma City bombing in an attempt to alleviate fan concern about the story.

1995: Deborah Adair aired for the final time on Days of our Lives as Kate Roberts.

1998: Actor Frederic Downs died at age 81. He played Maggie's farm hand, Hank, on Days of our Lives for eight years.

1998: Eileen Davidson aired for the final time as Kristen DiMera during her first run on Days of our Lives in which she played multiple characters. She returned to the soap in 2012 playing Kristen.

2003: The Friends episode, "The One With The Soap Opera Party," aired and featured guest stars Matthew Ashford, Kyle Lowder, Farah Fath, Alexis Thorpe and Ethan Erickson from Days of our Lives.

2006: SOAPnet began airing same day repeats of The Young and the Restless.

2007: On All My Children, Zoe Luper (Jeffrey Carlson) performed "The Me Inside" on Erica Kane's (Susan Lucci) talk show, New Beginnings.

2008: Mark Lawson debuted as Brody Lovett on One Life to Live.

2009: Drew Garrett debuted as Michael Corinthos III on General Hospital.

Today's Birthdays

Shirley MacLaine (ex-June, Glee; ex-Martha, Downton Abbey) - 92
Michael O'Keefe (ex-Wally, Brothers & Sisters) - 71
John Vargas (ex-Rico, General Hospital; ex-Marcos, Santa Barbara) - 68
Aidan Gillen (Petyr, Games of Thrones; ex-Stuart, Queer as Folk) - 58
Stacy Haiduk (Kristen/Susan, Days of our Lives; Patty, The Young and the Restless; ex-Jane, Days of our Lives; ex-Hannah, All My Children; ex-Colleen, Melrose Place) - 57
Melinda Clarke (ex-Amada, Nikita; ex-Faith, Days of our Lives; ex-Julie, The O.C.) - 56
Rory McCann (ex-Sandor, Games of Thrones) - 56
Damon Lindelof (Creator, Lost) - 53
Derek Luke (ex-Boobie, Friday Night Lights) - 52
Thad Luckinbill (ex-Nathan, Nikita; ex-J.T., The Young and the Restless; ex-Kyle, Undressed) - 51
Rebecca Mader (Zelena/Wicked Witch, Once Upon a Time; ex-Margaret, One Life to Live; ex-Morgan, All My Children; ex-Charlotte, Lost) - 49
Eric Balfour (ex-Gabe, Six Feet Under) - 49
Katherine Bailess (ex-Kyle, Hit The Floor; ex-Nurse Waring, Sordid Lives; ex-Erica, One Tree Hill) - 46
Austin Nichols (ex-Julian, One Tree Hill; ex-Noah, Friday Night Lights) - 46
Sasha Barrese (ex-Lindsey, Undressed) - 45
Courtnee Draper (ex-Mary, The Bold and the Beautiful) - 41
Sean Rademaker (ex-Jonathan, Guiding Light; ex-Kirkland, Another World) - 36

'Days of Our Lives' Star Patrick Muldoon Dies at 57

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:41:00 +0000

The daytime television community is mourning the loss of Patrick Muldoon, who rose to fame as the original Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives in the '90s. The actor passed away on April 19 at the age of 57 following a heart attack, according to Deadline

Born in San Pedro, California, Muldoon initially pursued athletics, playing football at the University of Southern California. While still in college, he began building an acting career, making early appearances on Who’s the Boss? and Saved by the Bell. But it was in 1992 that his career—and soap opera history—changed when he was cast as Austin Reed on DAYS.

Muldoon quickly became a central figure in one of the show’s most iconic storylines—a complicated love triangle involving Carrie Brady and her sister Sami. His portrayal helped define a major era of the series, blending romance, conflict, and that classic soap tension fans expect. During his run, he also shared the screen with Lisa Rinna, who played his on-screen sister, Billie Reed.

After leaving Days of Our Lives in 1995, Muldoon successfully transitioned into primetime television, most notably with a recurring role as Richard Hart on Melrose Place. He also appeared in the cult sci-fi film Starship Troopers in 1997. Though the role of Austin was later recast with Austin Peck, Muldoon returned to Salem in 2011, describing the experience as “like coming home,” before departing again the following year.

In more recent years, Muldoon guest-starred on indie soap The Bay. He also shifted his focus behind the camera, becoming a prolific producer. At the time of his death, he was working on the upcoming film Kockroach, starring Chris Hemsworth. In a poignant final Instagram post shared just one day before his passing, Muldoon expressed excitement about the project, which was filming in Australia.

According to reports, Muldoon was found unconscious at his Beverly Hills home by his longtime girlfriend, who called paramedics. Despite efforts to revive him, he could not be saved.

Tributes have poured in from across the industry, including from former co-star Alison Sweeney (Sami), who remembered him as “brilliantly talented, endlessly kind, and generous in spirit,” adding that he brought charm and humor to the set every day.

Patrick Muldoon leaves behind a legacy that spans daytime television, primetime drama, and film. For Days of Our Lives fans, he will always be remembered as the original Austin Reed—a character who helped define a generation of storytelling in Salem.

Frank Salisbury: Remembering a Quiet Giant of Daytime Television

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:06:00 +0000

The daytime television community lost one of its most prolific—and perhaps most underappreciated—voices with the passing of Emmy Award–winning writer Frank Salisbury on March 20, 2026, shortly after his 96th birthday.

If you watched soaps during their golden decades, you saw his name scroll by. Salisbury’s credits read like a roadmap of the genre’s history: The Edge of Night, Somerset, Search for Tomorrow, General Hospital, As the World Turns, Guiding Light, Capitol, Santa Barbara, Dynasty, and Days of Our Lives. Not a dabbler—a working writer in the old-school sense, turning out scripts week after week across multiple shows.

In a recent interview with Michael Poirier, Salisbury reflected on that career with characteristic wit and understatement. At one point, he recalled juggling an almost unthinkable workload early on:

“I started writing one script a week for Henry, then two, then three… At the same time… I was doing three scripts for The Edge of Night and two for Somerset each week.”

That kind of output wasn’t unusual in the era—it was the job. And Salisbury did it across decades, adapting to different head writers, production shifts, and the ever-changing demands of daytime storytelling.

He also offered candid takes on the people and productions he encountered along the way, from his admiration for Doug Marland’s straightforward storytelling style to his blunt assessment of what went wrong at Capitol.

But perhaps most telling was how Salisbury viewed his own legacy. Despite a résumé that spans some of the most important shows in daytime history, he kept it all in perspective:

“The simple truth is, soaps are something I rarely think about and never analyze… I always had a parallel life in the theater, and that’s where my heart remained.”

It’s a striking reminder that many of the people who built daytime television treated it as both craft and profession—showing up, doing the work, and moving on to the next script.

For a deeper look at Frank Salisbury’s remarkable career and reflections on the industry, read the full interview on Substack: welovesoaps.substack.com

'One Life to Live' Stars Reunite for Charity and Share Behind-the-Scenes Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:40:00 +0000

Erika Slezak (Viki), Hayden Panettiere (Sarah), Tuc Watkins (David), Tyler Noyes (C.J.) and Krista Tesreau (Tina) starred on One Life to Live in 1994.

Several beloved One Life to Live favorites—Erika Slezak, Tuc Watkins, Roger Howarth, and Kassie DePaiva—recently came together for a virtual reunion benefiting CASA of Los Angeles, raising over $3,000 for children in foster care. Hosted by Dino Belli of Uncle Vinny’s Comedy Club, the event delivered nostalgia, laughs, and heartfelt reflections.

Slezak discussed her recent return to soaps on General Hospital, admitting it took time to get back into the rhythm but praising the familiar faces on set. Watkins shared a memorable story about landing his villain role on the show after a chance meeting with casting director Mark Teschner.

The group fondly revisited their One Life to Live days, from Watkins discovering the comedic charm of David Vickers to DePaiva’s improvised humor as Blair. They also laughed about some of the show’s more outrageous storylines—especially the infamous Eterna plot.

The cast paid tribute to co-stars like Robin Strasser and Judith Light, while also reflecting on the show’s lasting impact. Slezak echoed a longtime fan sentiment that canceling One Life to Live was a mistake, though the group agreed a short-term revival could work in today’s TV landscape.

More than anything, the reunion highlighted the enduring bond between the cast—and with their fans—proving that the spirit of Llanview is still very much alive.

Jonathan Bennett Heads to 'General Hospital' This May

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:42:00 +0000

Fan-favorite actor Jonathan Bennett is making his way to daytime television, joining General Hospital in the new role of Joe Fitzpatrick. His debut is set for May, adding a fresh face—and a familiar one for many viewers—to the long-running ABC drama.

Bennett first captured audiences as the charming Aaron Samuels in the 2004 hit film Mean Girls, and he’s continued to build a diverse career across television, film, and stage. Most recently, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by performing on Broadway in Spamalot, proving his range extends well beyond the screen.

“We’re so excited to have Jonathan joining our cast,” said executive producer Frank Valentini. “He’s a tremendous talent and will be a fantastic addition to GH.”

For longtime soap fans, Bennett’s casting also marks a return to his roots. He began his career in daytime television on All My Children, where he portrayed JR Chandler from 2001 to 2002, taking over the role during the character’s rapid-aging storyline.

Now, with a mix of experience, charm, and stage-honed confidence, Bennett is stepping back into the soap world—this time in Port Charles. Whether Joe Fitzpatrick arrives as a hero, a schemer, or something in between, one thing is certain: he’s bound to shake things up.

Source: Deadline.com

'Beyond the Gates' Renewed Through 2027-2028 Season

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:20:00 +0000

CBS remains the #1 network in daytime and is projected to claim its 40th consecutive winning season. The drama BEYOND THE GATES has been renewed for two additional seasons, extending through the 2027-2028 season.

The show will continue as part of CBS’ #1 daytime lineup alongside #1 THE PRICE IS RIGHT, #2 THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, #3 THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL and LET’S MAKE A DEAL.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 11)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

1966: Peyton Place's Steven married Betty. 1978: Ryan's Hope's Tom was drunk and angry.
1986: Lynn Herring debuted as Lucy Coe on General Hospital. 2007: All My Children's Krystal gave birth.

On this day in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Betty Anderson (Barbara Parkins) married her second husband, Steven Cord (James Douglas). Later, Steven showed Betty their new house. Note: Betty's first marriage to Rodney Harrington was annulled.

1967: On Another World, Danny Fargo (Antony Ponzini) continued to torment Missy Palmer in her dreams.

1969: On Dark Shadows, Quentin (David Selby) rushed downstairs to the drawing room looking for Edward but found Laura instead. He was shocked, and insisted that she was dead and couldn't really be there.

1978: On Ryan's Hope, when Faith consulted Maeve (Helen Gallagher) about marrying Tom, Maeve thought it would be the wrong thing to do. Later, Tom angrily told Jack (Michael Levin) that that the only reason that he did not have Faith's love was because of Pat.

1979: On Another World, Rachel Cory (Victoria Wyndham) decided to rescind her dinner invite to Mac when she found a woman's bracelet in the limousine

1984: On The Edge of Night, Raven Whitney (Sharon Gabet) slapped her husband, Sky (Larkin Malloy), during an argument.

1986: Lynn Herring debuted on General Hospital as Lucy Coe. In the episode, District Attorney Brett Madison called his star witness to the stand in Kevin O'Connor's trial: librarian Lucy Coe.

1989: On As the World Turns, a confident Emily (Melanie Smith) told Susan (Marie Masters) she figured out that Hal was Adam's father.

1996: The Museum of Television & Radio celebrated 40 years of As the World Turns with an event moderated by television curator Ron Simon. Simon made opening remarks about the series' emphasis on character over plot, and then introduced a screening of clips from the 1950s through 1996. After the screening, the following individuals joined Simon on stage: veteran cast members Helen Wagner, Don Hastings, and Martha Byrne; director Maria Wagner; head writers Henry Stern and Stephen Black; and executive producer John Valente.

2006: On Guiding Light, Tammy asked Jonathan (Tom Pelphrey) if he would take her back.

2007: On All My Children, Krystal Carey (Bobbie Eakes) gave birth to a baby girl, Jenny.

2008: On The Bold and the Beautiful, Ridge (Ronn Moss) told Ashley (Eileen Davidson) not to see Storm.

Today's Birthdays

Joel Grey (ex-Adam, Dallas; ex-Lemuel, Oz) - 94
Louise Lasser (ex-Mary, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; ex-Jackie, The Doctors) - 87
John Castellanos (ex-John, The Young and the Restless; ex-Jeff, The Bold and the Beautiful) - 69
Alec Musser (ex-Del, All My Children) - 53
Brett Claywell (ex-Kyle, One Life to Live; ex-Tim, One Tree Hill) - 48
April Hong (ex-Gee, General Hospital) - 48
Kelli Garner (ex-Kate, Pan Am) - 42
Alexa Gerasimovich (ex-Kathy, All My Children; ex-Natalie, As the World Turns) - 24

From Daytime to Center Stage: ‘Plot Twist’ Delivers Soap Drama Live

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:47:00 +0000

Former Santa Barbara star Lane Davies is directing Plot Twist.

If you’ve ever thought daytime drama was made for television and television alone, think again. A new stage production is about to challenge that idea in a big, bold way.

The Conasauga Shakespeare Coalition is bringing soap-style storytelling to the stage with the world premiere of Plot Twist, a new play written by Emmy Award winner Jerome “Jerry” Dobson and directed by Lane Davies, best known to fans as Mason Capwell on Santa Barbara.

The production opens at Synchronicity Theatre in Atlanta, and it’s not just another night at the theater—it’s a full-on soap opera experience, played out live.

Set in the high-stakes world of 1980s daytime television, Plot Twist centers on Henry, a gifted soap writer whose carefully constructed stories begin to collide with his real life. As ambition, betrayal, and desire spiral out of control, the line between fiction and reality starts to vanish—and when a gun enters the equation, all bets are off.

In other words, this isn’t subtle storytelling. It’s classic soap—turned up, tightened, and thrown right in front of a live audience.

What makes this project especially interesting is the reunion behind the scenes. Dobson, who helped shape Santa Barbara into one of the most daring soaps of its era, teams up again with Davies in a collaboration that’s been decades in the making. There’s a certain old-school craftsmanship here—story first, character first—that longtime fans will recognize immediately.

Davies puts it plainly: this is soap opera storytelling without a safety net. No retakes, no editing, no second chances. What happens on stage happens in real time, and that unpredictability is part of the thrill.

The production is led by executive producers Chase Parker and Emmy winner Chrystal Ayers, with original music by Dominic Messinger—another familiar name for Santa Barbara fans. The creative pedigree alone tells you this isn’t a casual experiment; it’s a serious swing.

Performance Details:

April 24–25 at 8:00 PM

April 26 at 3:00 PM

April 30 at 8:00 PM

May 1–2 at 8:00 PM

Tickets are available now, and if the premise is any indication, audiences should expect sharp turns, heightened emotion, and the kind of edge-of-your-seat moments soaps built their legacy on.

Bottom line: Plot Twist is making a strong case that the most compelling drama doesn’t need a camera—it just needs a stage, a script, and actors willing to go for it.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 10)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

On this day in...

1957: On As the World Turns, Chris (Don MacLaughlin) and Pa (Santos Ortega) discussed John Hughes, who ran away from the Hughes farm 18 years earlier. Meanwhile, Edith (Ruth Warrick) didn't want to rehash the past with Jim. Later, Pa encouraged Edith to make up with Penny before Chris returned.

1981: On Another World, Jamie (Richard Bekins) was rescued for the Complex. Later, Russ, Rick, and Alice refused to release Jamie from the hospital.

1981: On Texas, Iris (Beverlee McKinsey) made Paige (Lisby Larson) uncomfortable by mentioning a terrible movie she saw called "Endless Passion" to Eliot. Later, Iris told Paige about Chris's demands and offered money to Paige in exchange for leaving Dennis.

1985: Finola Hughes debuted as Anna Devane on General Hospital. Hughes has played the character on and off and ever, and crossed the character over to All My Children and General Hospital: Night Shift as well. She has been nominated for seven Daytime Emmy Awards for her work in the role on GH and AMC. She won in 1991.

Hughes looked back on her debut on an episode of Live with Kelly and Mark. Watch that segement below.

1986: On As the World Turns, Iva (Lisa Brown) clashed with Lucinda (Elizabeth Hubbard). "I know what you are," Lucinda told her. "You're the same little tramp that gave away your kid for money."

1986: On Guiding Light, Claire (Susan Pratt) told Kyle (Larkin Malloy) about Ed's "dark" side.

1987: The character of Jack Deveraux debuted on Days of our Lives, played by Joseph Adams.

1989: On Santa Barbara, Eden Capwell Castillo (Marcy Walker) received information about her baby.

1990: On Another World, John (David Forsyth) sought Dr. Craig's help with psychiatry information after reading about psychological disorders. Meanwhile, Sharly (Anna Holbrook) and Grant (Dack Rambo) kissed.

1991: On Another World, Kathleen McKinnon (Julie Osburn) was determined to reclaim her old life.

1995: On Loving, Deborah (Nancy Addison) sang a poignant version of "Hello, Dolly!"

2001: On One Life to Live, Hank told Judge Fitzwater that he had motive, means and opportunity concerning Blair's (Kassie DePaiva) attempted murder of Max.

2008: On All My Children, Jesse (Darnell Williams) told baby Jenny about the original Jenny.

2010: Actress Dixie Carter died at age 70. Carter made her mark in daytime on The Edge of Night as Brandy Henderson. She also appeared on The Doctors and filled for Nancy Pinkerton as Dorian on One Life to Live in 1974, while Pinkerton was on maternity leave. She also earned an Emmy nomination for her work on Desperate Housewives playing Gloria Hodge.

Today's Birthdays

Milt Kogan (ex-Irv, General Hospital) - 90
John Dewey Carter (ex-Grant, Another World) - 75
Peter MacNicol (ex-Robert, Grey's Anatomy) - 72
David Harbour (ex-David, State of Affairs; ex-Elliot, The Newsroom; ex-Roger, Pan Am; ex-Shanks, As the World Turns) - 52
Charlie Hunnam (ex-Nathan, Queer as Folk) - 46
Laura Bell Bundy (ex-Shelby, Hart of Dixie; ex-Marah, Guiding Light) - 45
Michael Pitt (ex-Jimmy, Boardwalk Empire) - 45
Chyler Leigh (ex-Lexie, Grey's Anatomy; ex-Carla, Reunion) - 44
Ryan Merriman (Ian, Pretty Little Liars) - 43
Jamie Chung (ex-Cordy, Days of our Lives; ex-Mulan, Once Upon A Time) - 43
Mandy Moore (ex-Mary, Grey's Anatomy) - 42
Billy Kay (ex-Shayne, Guiding Light) - 42
Shay Mitchell (ex-Emily, Pretty Little Liars) - 39
Jamie Renée Smith (ex-Rachel, The Bold and the Beautiful) - 39

Joshua Morrow on 'Soapy' Podcast: "Come on In", Soaps are "An Escape"

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:08:00 +0000

In this week's episode of Soapy, hosts Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart welcome long-time The Young and the Restless star Joshua Morrow. The conversation spans his 30-year career on the show, his life as a father, and his surprising past as a boy band member.

Interview Highlights

Fatherhood and Career Balance: Morrow reflects on how the Y&R schedule allowed him to be a hands-on father, coaching his sons' sports teams, which he considers the highlight of his life. He shares pride in his son Crew Morrow, who recently joined the cast of The Bold and the Beautiful.
Career Origins & Longevity: Morrow discusses his start as an actor, his audition process for daytime television, and his initial fears of being a "fraud" in the industry. He credits the late Jeannie Cooper and Peter Bergman for teaching him the importance of professionalism, humor, and kindness on set.
The "Boy Band" Era: In a surprising reveal, Morrow shares stories from his time in a Canadian boy band. He recounts the surreal experience of opening for Destiny's Child at the turn of the millennium.
Cast Dynamics: The group discusses the joy of working with icons like Eric Braden and Melody Thomas Scott, sharing behind-the-scenes stories about making each other laugh during serious takes.
Advice for Younger Actors: Morrow emphasizes that the most important thing for new actors is to introduce themselves to the crew, learn everyone's names, and stay on time.

Ultimately, Morrow explains why he believes soaps remain a vital form of escapism and romance in a complex world. Watch the episode below.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 9)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:44:00 +0000

On this day in...

1953: On The Guiding Light, Dick (James Lipton) looked for reassurance about his marriage to Kathy from Dr. Keeler. Kathy became sad when Timmy pointed out that her husband had never been to see her.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Kenneth confronted Faith (Faith Catlin), who inched closer to an open window.

1978: On Dallas, Pam (Victoria Principal) took Lucy (Charlene Tilton) under her wing.

1979: Lanna Saunders made her first appearance as Marie Horton in Days of our Lives.

1981: Charles Bateman aired for the final time as Maxwell Jarvis in Days of our Lives.

1981: On Another World, firefighters rescued Sandy (Christopher Rich), who had passed out from a gas leak. Later, Mac (Douglass Watson) and Ada (Constance Ford) tried to calm down a hysterical Cecile (Susan Keith) when another explosion occurred. Meanwhile, Mitch (William Gray Espy) bought a plane ticket for St. Croix hoping to find Rachel. Note: The episode includes flashbacks to Another World's famous 1980 St. Croix location shoot.

1982: On General Hospital, Mike (David Mendenhall) took a very important phone message from Tiffany (Sharon Wyatt).

1992: On General Hospital,

1992: Karen Moncrieff aired for the final time as Cassandra Benedict on Santa Barbara.

1992: On the season finale of Knots Landing, as a furious Paige (Nicollette Sheridan) got in her car to go to Greg's, Pierce Lawton (Bruce Greenwood) suddenly popped up from the back seat.

1996: Writer Robert Soderberg died at age 80. During his career Soderberg wrote for One Life to Live, As the World Turns, Another World and Guiding Light.

1996: On General Hospital, Jenny Eckert Hornsby gave birth to a little boy (Paul Hornsby Jr.) with help from Ned (Wally Kurth) and Lois (Rena Sofer). Meanwhile, Carly Benson (Sarah Brown)--using the last name Roberts--arrived in Port Charles.

2009: On As the World Turns, Damian Grimaldi (Paolo Seganti) spotted posters of his face on a bare-chested model from Playman magazine all around Old Town.

Today's Birthdays

Michael Learned (ex-Katherine, The Young and the Restless; ex-Shirley, General Hospital; ex-Judge Turner, All My Children; ex-Judge Turner, One Life to Live) - 87
Caryn Richman (ex-Nora, The Bradys; ex-Elena, Texas; ex-Lauren, The Young and the Restless) - 70
Christopher Durham (ex-Silas, As the World Turns; ex-Dakota, Ryan's Hope; ex-Matt, Capitol) - 67
Katell Pleven (ex-Dana, Guiding Light) - 64
Lisa Guerrero (ex-Francesca, Sunset Beach) - 62
Paulina Porizkova (ex-Clarissa, As the World Turns) - 61
Mark Pellegrino (ex-Jedikiah, The Tomorrow People) - 61
Austin Peck (Max, Tainted Dreams; ex-Rick, One Life to Live; ex-Brad, As the World Turns; ex-Austin, Days of our Lives) - 55
Leighton Meester (ex-Blair, Gossip Girl) - 40
Jesse McCartney (ex-Tim, Army Wives; ex-J.R., All My Children; ex-Andy, Greek; ex-Brian, Summerland) - 39
David Jones-Roberts (ex-Xavier, Home and Away) - 36

Today in Soap Opera History (April 8)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:00:00 +0000

1968: Dark Shadows' Barnabas had a strong reaction to light. 1983: Guiding Light's Nola wanted things to be perfect with Quint.
1985: Another World's Sally and Catlin were married. 2004: Days of our Lives' Bonnie enjoyed a Blue County performance.

On this day in...

1955: On Hawkins Falls, Millie Flagle and Lona Corey dyed Easter eggs for a local egg hunt. While they were chatting, Millie sensed that something wonderful was going to happen in Hawkins Falls. Soon after, a man crashed his automobile into Millie's porch. Feeling horrible over what he had done, the man, whose name was Gary Minden, entrusted his cash-filled wallet to Millie before Mitch and Dr. Corey took him to the hospital. Though Millie believed that her premonition was utterly wrong, Mrs. Corey thought something good may have come to Hawkins Falls, after all.

1968: On Dark Shadows, while driving Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) to the cemetery, Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke) swerved to avoid Peter Bradford and crashed the car. At the hospital, Dr. Eric Lang (Addison Powell) revealed that he knew something about Barnabas before opening the windows to reveal daylight. Barnabas screamed in terrified anguish.

1976: Murial Williams aired for the final time on Another World as Helen Moore. Helen, Lenore's mother, left Bay City to go on a cruise and never returned. Liz mentioned two months later that Helen was moving to Washington to help Lenore with Wally.

1980: On The Edge of Night, Raven (Sharon Gabet) lashed out at Steve and Calvin.

1982: Kate Linder debuted as Esther Valentine in The Young and the Restless.

1982: On Another World, Sally Frame (Jennifer Runyon) married Denny Hobson (James Horan).

1983: On Guiding Light, Nola Reardon (Lisa Brown) broke down while talking to Quint (Michael Tylo) about her past.

1985: Lanna Saunders aired for the final time as Marie Horton in Days of our Lives.

1985: On Another World, Sally Frame (Mary Page Keller) married Catlin Ewing (Thomas Ian Griffith).

1988: On General Hospital, Duke (Ian Buchanan) told Olivia (Tonja Walker) her father didn't want her involved in his organization.

1993: On The Young and the Restless, friends held a surprise party for Drucilla (Victoria Rowell) and Neil (Kristoff St. John).

1993: Joan Collins began a guest starring role on South African daily soap opera, Egoli: Place of Gold, playing Catherine Sinclair.

2004: On Days of our Lives, country music band Blue County (Aaron Benward and Scott Reeves) performed for Bonnie (Judi Evans).

2008: Stanley Kamel, who played roles on Days of our Lives, General Hospital, Rituals and Beverly Hills, 90210, died at age 65.

Today's Birthdays

John Schneider (ex-Johnathan, Smallville; ex-Jeffrey, 90210; ex-Marshall, The Secret Life of the American Teenager; ex-Skip, Dirty Sexy Money; ex-Ram, Nip/Tuck) - 66
Robin Wright (Claire, House of Cards; ex-Kelly, Santa Barbara) - 60
Emma Caufield (ex-Lorraine, General Hospital; ex-Susan, Beverly Hills, 90210) - 53
Rachel Roberts (ex-Alda, FlashForward) - 48
Katee Sackhoff (ex-Teddy, Nip/Tuck; ex-Annie, Undressed) - 46
Taylor Kitsch (ex-Tim, Friday Night Lights) - 45
Adrian Bellani (ex-Miguel, Passions) - 44
Kirsten Storms (Maxie, General Hospital; ex-Belle, Days of our Lives) - 42
Shelby Young (ex-Kinsey, Days of our Lives) - 35

Today in Soap Opera History (April 7)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:06:00 +0000

1966: Peyton Place's Steven prepared for his weddding. 1981: Another World's Sandy took care of Mac after an explosion.
1986: Santa Barbara's Kelly confessed to Nick before their wedding. 1989: Days of our Lives' Steve and Kayla became Gideon and Emily.

On this day in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Betty Anderson (Barbara Parkins) and Steven Cord (James Douglas) prepared for their wedding.

1976: On Another World, Emma Frame (Tresa Hughes) urged Russ Matthews (David Bailey) not to drag the police into Sharlene's disappearance.

1978: On One Life to Live, country singer Bill Anderson made his first appearance as the fictional Bill Anderson, a part he would play off and on for a few years. Aldo, being blackmailed by Brad Vernon, attacked Cathy in an attempt to get the ring off her finger outside the free clinic.

"I was a fish out of water when I was first hired to be on the show," Anderson blogged in 2010. "But Phil [Carey] and Clint [Ritchie] and Bobby Woods and Erika Slezak and Judith Light and others went out of their way to be extremely nice to me. Yes, the same Judith Light who was in her last days of doing daytime drama when I joined the cast, and who later went on to sitcom and movie success in California. She could cuss like a parrot on steroids, but never has anybody been more gently encouraging to someone than Judith was to me."

1980: On The Edge of Night, Dr. Gault lied to Draper (Tony Craig) about Draper being Kirk Michaels.

1981: On Another World, Mac (Douglass Watson) and Sandy (Christopher Rich) arrived to to warn Jamie (Richard Bekins) just as the bomb exploded in Mac's office. Later, Sandy called Mac "Dad" as he cradled him in his arms.

Brenda Benet

1982: Days of our Lives star Brenda Benet (Lee Dumonde) took her own life by a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 36. Benet's Days of our Lives co-stars Bill and Susan Hayes reflected on Benet in our 2010 interview. Read it here. Read a newspaper article about Benet's suicide here.

1986: On Santa Barbara, Kelly (Robin Wright) told Nick that she slept with Dylan, who canceled their wedding. Elsewhere, Madeline Laurent (Terry Davis, in her final appearance) was deemed to be brain dead.

1986: On Knots Landing, Abby (Donna Mills) feared Olivia (Tonya Crowe) would commit suicide.

1989: On Days of our Lives, staying at the mansion Nick gave them, Steve (Stephen Nichols) and Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) found the Civil War-era diary of southern belle Emily, and they began reading the love story between her and Union officer Gideon.

1997: On Sunset Beach, Paula Stevens (Laura Harring) took samples of Elaine's (Leigh Taylor-Young) hair to be tested against hair found at the murder scene.

2009: On General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) ran into Robin (Kimberly McCullough), who was dealing with postpartum depression. Later, Patrick (Jason Thompson) found them in an embrace.

Today's Birthdays

Stephen Bolster (ex-Ted, Another World; ex-Martin, As the World Turns; ex-Ken, Guiding Light; ex-Paul, Another World; ex-Bill, Search for Tomorrow; ex-Roger, One Life to Live; ex-Jerry, The Secret Storm; ex-Bart, The Doctors; ex-Mark, As the World Turns; ex-Jody, Young Doctor Malone) - 93
Patricia Mauceri (ex-Carlotta, One Life to Live; ex-Andrea, As the World Turns; ex-Angie, Another World) - 76
Alexandra Neil (ex-Paige, One Life to Live; ex-Ruby, Texas; ex-Dawn, As the World Turns; ex-Emily, Another World; ex-Rose, Guiding Light) - 71
Teri Ann Linn (ex-Kristen, The Bold and the Beautiful; ex-Kimberly, Dallas) - 65
Russell Crowe (ex-Kenny, Neighbours) - 62
Kevin Alejandro (Sebastian, Arrow; ex-Jesus, True Blood; ex-Dominic, The Young and the Restless) - 50
Matthew McKelligon (ex-Jeremy, EastSiders)
Morgan Farris (ex-Jennifer, Friday Night Lights) - 36
Cristine Prosperi (ex-Imogen, Degrassi) - 33

Today in Soap Opera History (April 6)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

On this day in...

1942: We Love and Learn debuted on CBS Radio. The show was previously titled As the Twig is Bent when it aired for a year on some Mutual-Don Lee stations.

1966: On Peyton Place, Betty (Barbara Parkins) and Steven prepared for their wedding.

1967: On Dark Shadows, when Willie (James Hall) made unwanted advances at Carolyn (Nancy Barrett), she pulled a gun on him.

1976: On Another World, Mac (Douglass Watson) wondered if Iris married Robert so quickly because she knew Clarice was pregnant.

1987: On Days of our Lives, Shawn Douglas Brady was born.

1988: On General Hospital, Colton's (Scott Thompson Baker) television show was a success.

1992: On The Young and the Restless, Lauren (Tracie Bregman) was stunned when Scott (Peter Barton) told her that Sheila came back from Michigan the day after she gave birth to Scotty.

1992: South African soap opera Egoli: Place of Gold premiered on M-Net.

1995: Patrick Muldoon's first run as Austin Reed in Days of our Lives came to an end. He returned to the show in 2011 and left again a year later.

1998: Country music icon Tammy Wynette died at age 55. She played waitress Darlene Stankowski on Capitol.

2004: Joan Van Ark debuted as Gloria in The Young and the Restless.

2004: Heather Olson aired for the final time as Jan Spears in Days of our Lives.

2005: On All My Children, as they were kept prisoner in a mine shaft by Jonathan, Kendall and Greenlee had an argument that turned physical. When Jonathan tried to break them apart by entering the cell he's kept them in, it turned out the fight was a ruse in order to escape with Lily. When they managed to subdue him, the three women made their escape and Kendall and Greenlee were shocked when Lily told them about Jonathan being Edmund's killer.

2009: On Guiding Light, Olivia (Crystal Chappell) and Natalia (Jessica Leccia) shopped for a dress for Natalia's upcoming wedding to Frank.

2011: On One Life to Live, Rex and Gigi talked Shane off a ledge. Elsewhere, Eddie Ford’s killer was revealed.

Today's Birthdays:

Billy Dee Williams (ex-Touissant, General Hospital; ex-Touissant, General Hospital: Night Shift; ex-Jim, Guiding Light; ex-Brady, DYNASTY; ex-Bo, DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM) - 89
Roy Thinnes (ex-Alex/Sloane, One Life to Live; ex-Roger/Rev. Trask, DARK SHADOWS; ex-Nick, FALCON CREST; ex-Phil, General Hospital) - 88
Gilbert Lewis (ex-Orval, General Hospital) - 85
Judith McConnell (ex-Sophia, SANTA BARBARA, ex-Eva, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Miranda, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Valerie, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Augusta, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 82
Karin Wolfe (ex-Mary, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Pam, ANOTHER WORLD) - 82
Patrika Darbo (ex-Nancy, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Dr. FREED, MISS BEHAVE) - 78
Jane A. Rogers (ex-Heather, SANTA BARBARA; ex-Julie, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Karen, FALCON CREST; ex-Celeste/Tess, General Hospital) - 66
Susan Miller (Creator/Producer, ANYONE BUT ME)
Candace Cameron Bure (ex-Summer, MAKE IT OR BREAK IT) - 50
Teddy Sears (ex-Chad, One Life to Live; ex-Hayden, 666 PARK AVENUE) - 49
Emily Allyn Barth (ex-Mary, One Life to Live) - 46
Robert Gorrie (ex-Matthew, One Life to Live; ex-Nate, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 39
Spencer List (ex-Ace, One Life to Live) - 28

'Days of our Lives' Weekly Preview Video (April 6-10)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 23:45:00 +0000

Next week on Days of our Lives, legacies return, truths surface, and danger pushes Salem to the edge.

Watch a sneak peek video below for a preview.

‘General Hospital’ Spoilers (April 6-10)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Newcomb) — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 23:39:00 +0000

What's coming up on General Hospital this week? Check out the day-to-day spoilers below to find out.

Monday, April 6
Sonny delivers a warning; Danny visits with Charlotte; Jacinda does some digging; Willow presses Chase; Stella makes a request of Portia.

Tuesday, April 7
A couple's date night ends in disaster; Dante wants an explanation; Lulu has cause for concern; Britt receives an ultimatum; Brook Lynn and Lucy catch up.

Wednesday, April 8
Carly leaps to action; Isaiah agrees to keep a secret; Nathan cautions Britt; Sidwell confides in Ava; Gio issues an apology.

Thursday, April 9
Curtis is distraught; Brennan makes a revelation; Carly is wary; Kristina opens up about her past; Gio is grateful to Emma.

Friday, April 10
Carly gives as good as she gets; Nina draws the line; Sonny makes a request of Ric; Laura seeks out Curtis; Cody dotes on Molly.