News Brief

Hollywood Reporter: With rumors flying of an imminent deal, it's safe to say Day Three of the DGA's contract talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers went well enough for another session to be scheduled for Tuesday. Hollywood has the collective sense that the directors will quickly hammer out a new contract to replace the DGA pact set to expire June 30. Whether the striking WGA embraces the terms of any such pact is quite another matter, however. Writers walked picket lines throughout Los Angeles on Monday and set plans for another major rally in New York for Wednesday, when WGA East members will protest outside the Central Park West production site of ABC's soap opera ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

Asbury Park Press: Ten months after leaving ALL MY CHILDREN, Rebecca Budig has landed a regular TV role -- back on "AMC" as Greenlee Smythe du Pres Lavery. Budig says relocating to New York doesn't mean she's given up on prime-time TV shows or movies. Her movie credits include playing Natalie Wood in "James Dean: Race with Destiny" and kissing Chris O'Donnell in "Batman Forever," a scene which appeared in Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" video. She has appeared in CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION and HOPE & FAITH, and has hosted FULL FRONTAL FASHION for the WE channel, CBS' "Sports Illustrated for Kids" and the Discovery Channel's BONEHEAD DETECTIVES OF THE PALEO WORLD.

WJTV: PRE-EMPTION ALERT: Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour will be sworn in for a second term this morning. Since the inauguration will be on during THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, WJTV will air today's episode at 12:37 a.m right after THE LATE LATE SHOW.

Tyler Morning Telegraph: New York producer/talent scout/career coach Peter Sklar will give a free discussion on youth and the performing arts at 1 p.m. Jan. 26 in Jean Browne Theatre on the Tyler Junior College main campus. His discoveries include such performers as Ashley Bashioum, (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) and Lori Loughlin, (THE EDGE OF NIGHT).

This is North Scotland: Patsy Palmer has spoken out about her return to EASTENDERS, saying she "can't believe she's going back". The 35-year-old actress left Albert Square nine years ago, and despite insisting she'd never return, fans will soon see her back in business as mouthy Bianca.

Liverpool Daily Post,: It's been an emotional rollercoaster of a week for actress Sarah Jane Buckley. First she got thrown off HOLLYOAKS, and then she turned 40. But Sarah has taken it all in her stride and on Saturday partied through the night with a special panto themed bash at her home, a hotel in North Wales, with about 70 guests, including many of the cast of HOLLYOAKS.

In The Zone: AUDIO: Interview with PASSIONS star James Hyde.