Today in Soap Opera History (August 27)

1976: Ryan's Hope's Frank realized his campaign was over.
1992: All My Children's Nick returned.
1996: Another World's Fax was ready to kill again.
2010: As the World Turns' Henry and Barbara married.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1968: On The Doctors, Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) and Dr. Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) talked about marrying. Both spoke of the changing times-Nick the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy; Althea the 1967 death of her son, Buddy Davis. Meanwhile, Steve (David O'Brien) and Karen (Laryssa Lauret) also headed towards marriage, if not a romantic one.

Thanks to Scott for sending in the item above.

1974: On Another World, Steve (George Reinholt) talked Janice (Victoria Thompson) into staying in Bay City.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Frank Ryan's family tried to console him with his campaign likely in shambles.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 27)

1976: Ryan's Hope's Frank realized his campaign was over.
1992: All My Children's Nick returned.
1996: Another World's Fax was ready to kill again.
2010: As the World Turns' Henry and Barbara married.

"The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1968: On The Doctors, Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) and Dr. Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) talked about marrying. Both spoke of the changing times-Nick the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy; Althea the 1967 death of her son, Buddy Davis. Meanwhile, Steve (David O'Brien) and Karen (Laryssa Lauret) also headed towards marriage, if not a romantic one.

Thanks to Scott for sending in the item above.

1974: On Another World, Steve (George Reinholt) talked Janice (Victoria Thompson) into staying in Bay City.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Frank Ryan's family tried to console him with his campaign likely in shambles.

Kyle Lowder Returning to 'Days of our Lives'

Kyle Lowder, who won an Indie Series Award last month for his work in digital drama Ladies of the Lake, is returning to NBC soap opera Days of our Lives later this year. Lowder previously played Brady Black on Days from 2000-05.

According to Soap Opera Digest, Lowder is back filming at Days but the details of his return are being kept under wraps for now.

"Days has always been very close to my heart," Lowder tells Digest. "To be part of this family and this energy again is truly special to me."

Eric Martsolf, who assumed the role of Brady in 2008, and won a Daytime Emmy in 2014, is not going anywhere, reports Digest.

Days head writer Ron Carlivati responded to the news with a cryptic tweet: "A Very Brady Sequel??? #days"

Check out Lowder's Indie Series Awards win in the clip below.

Soap Stars React to Indie Series Awards Nominations

The nominations for the 9th Annual Indie Series Awards were revealed on January 31st, and a number of familiar faces from the soap world were recognized.

The Bold and the Beautiful's Patrika Darbo (Shirley Spectra) is nominated three times for her work on in three different web series. She will be competing against herself in the best guest actress in a drama category for her work in both Ladies of the Lake and The Bay. She is also a nominee on the comedy side for her hilarious performance on Indoor Boys, which stars Alex Wyse (B&B's Saul).

gonna be a great evening. We're already winners. Grateful to be included in this group.

— Patrika Darbo (@patrikadarbo) February 4, 2018

Other nominees that made their mark in daytime include Arianne Zucker, Kyle Lowder, Wendy Riche, Karen Harris, Jennifer Bassey, Victoria Rowell, Jillian Clare, Ian Buchanan, Eric Nelsen, Anne Schoettle, Julie Poll and Maeve Quinlan, along with many more recognized as part of a nominated ensemble.

Check out more reactions from current and former soap stars below.

'Ladies of the Lake' Streaming Free on Amazon During August

If you haven't watched Ladies of the Lake yet, now is the perfect time. Ladies of the Lake executive producers Michael Caruso and Kyle Lowder announced today that their four-part adaptation of the Ken Corday novel would be made available to all Amazon customers during the month of August.

"Ladies of the Lake has exceeded all expectations on Amazon," said Lowder, who also stars in the series. "The numbers have been through the roof and we have trended multiple times over the course of several months on the platform. We were always hopeful the show would do well, but this has been beyond our wildest dreams, which is why we wanted to do something to make the show available to even more people."

"We wanted to give something back to the soap fans for their incredible support," added Caruso, who also wrote the series. "Beginning August 1st for the entire month of August, anyone with an Amazon account can watch Ladies of the Lake for free. You do not need to be a Prime member to watch the show. The response to Ladies of the Lake has been so overwhelming that we wanted to say thank you by including everyone who might not have access to Prime."

Ladies of the Lake tells the story of four women living in the exclusive gated community of Avalon in Southern California and the lengths they go to to escape their abusive marriages. The series boasts and all-star cast of daytime talent including Martha Madison, Lilly Melgar, Jessica Morris, Marie Wilson, Patrika Darbo, Arianne Zucker, Jillian Clare, Kyle Lowder, Ian Buchanan, Wally Kurth, John-Paul Lavoisier and Gordon Thomson.

Watch the trailer below.

'Ladies of the Lake' Now Streaming on Amazon

Ladies of the Lake, the much-anticipated digital four-part mini-series featuring an all-star soap opera cast, is now streaming on Amazon and Amazon Prime. The show tells the story of the glamorous residents of the Southern California community of Avalon, and the dark secrets they hide behind their perfect facades.

"It's pure glamour," says Indie Series Award winning Michael Caruso, who wrote the script and executive produces. "The novel is the kind of fun poolside read that people crave, and when Ken [Corday] permitted Kyle [Lowder] and I to adapt his novel we thought that the digital medium would be perfect for binge watching, which is why Amazon is the ideal home for Ladies of the Lake."

With a track record of hits that includes the popular dramas DeVanity and Winterthorne, Caruso's streak of successes will surely continue with the enchanting Ladies of the Lake.

The cast includes Martha Madison, Lilly Melgar, Jessica Morris, Marie Wilson, Jillian Clare, Kyle Lowder, Patrika Darbo, Arianne Zucker, Wally Kurth, Ian Buchanan, Gordon Thomson and John-Paul Lavoisier.

"Bringing Ken Corday’s story to life was one of the most exhilarating and rewarding experiences of my career," says Kyle Lowder, who executive produces and stars as Detective Shawn Daniels. "There's a little something for everyone. Mystery, romance, drama, and a visual feast that brings the over the top lifestyles of So Cal to life."

Watch the trailer below.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 27)

1976: Ryan's Hope's Frank realized his campaign was over.
1992: All My Children's Nick returned.
1996: Another World's Fax was ready to kill again.
2010: As the World Turns' Henry and Barbara married.

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree."
― Michael Crichton

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1968: On The Doctors, Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) and Dr. Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) talked about marrying. Both spoke of the changing times-Nick the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy; Althea the 1967 death of her son, Buddy Davis. Meanwhile, Steve (David O'Brien) and Karen (Laryssa Lauret) also headed towards marriage, if not a romantic one.

Thanks to Scott for sending in the item above.

1974: On Another World, Steve (George Reinholt) talked Janice (Victoria Thompson) into staying in Bay City.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Frank Ryan's family tried to console him with his campaign likely in shambles.

Michael and Barbara Caruso Productions Set to Produce Digital Series Based on Ken Corday Novel "Ladies of the Lake" Starring Kyle Lowder

Production on Ladies of the Lake begins next month.

In a first of its kind deal, Ken Corday, longtime executive producer of Days of our Lives, has enlisted Emmy nominated Michael Caruso, to adapt and produce his original novel, "Ladies of the Lake," for the digital platform. The series will be executive produced by Michael Caruso (under his company Michael and Barbara Caruso Productions) and Emmy nominated actor Kyle Lowder, who also stars in the series and was instrumental in spearheading the initial concept to bring the soapy page-turner to the small screen. Two-time Emmy winner Sonia Blangiardo will direct the series.

Ladies of the Lake tells the story of four wealthy wives living in the exclusive gated community of Avalon. When their abusive husbands begin to turn up dead, Detective Shawn Daniels (Lowder) launches an investigation, only to discover the many secrets hidden beneath the glossy veneers of Avalon.

The script was penned by Indie Series Award winning writer Michael Caruso, adapted from the novel written by Ken Corday.

“Ken has been behind us since day one, giving us the freedom and creative control to adapt his novel," said Caruso. "He has been incredibly generous throughout the entire process and working alongside Kyle on this has been extraordinary. We are pulling out all the stops to whip up a really fun ride for the audience."

“Bringing Ken Corday's novel to life is something that I wanted to do from the first time I read it," revealed Lowder. " To have the opportunity to work with Michael Caruso and all the talent involved, both in front of and behind the camera, is truly inspiring.”

“When Kyle and Michael unveiled their vision for transforming 'Ladies of the Lake' into digital episodes, I was delighted," added Corday. "Our creative collaboration is a burst of fresh energy which stays true to the original story and also introduces these beautiful, intelligent, complex women to a broader audience."

Ladies of the Lake begins production next month. Additional cast announcements will be made next week. To find out more, visit www.ladiesofthelakeseries.com.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 27)

1976: Ryan's Hope's Frank realized his campaign was over.
1992: All My Children's Nick returned.
1996: Another World's Fax was ready to kill again.
2010: As the World Turns' Henry and Barbara married.

"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."
― Maya Angelou

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1968: On The Doctors, Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) and Dr. Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) talked about marrying. Both spoke of the changing times-Nick the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy; Althea the 1967 death of her son, Buddy Davis. Meanwhile, Steve (David O'Brien) and Karen (Laryssa Lauret) also headed towards marriage, if not a romantic one.

Thanks to Scott for sending in the item above.

1974: On Another World, Steve (George Reinholt) talked Janice (Victoria Thompson) into staying in Bay City.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Frank Ryan's family tried to console him with his campaign likely in shambles.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 27)

2010: As the World Turns' Henry and Barbara married.

"To believe what has not occurred in history will not occur at all, is to argue disbelief in the dignity of man."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1968: On The Doctors, Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) and Dr. Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) talked about marrying. Both spoke of the changing times-Nick the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy; Althea the 1967 death of her son, Buddy Davis. Meanwhile, Steve (David O'Brien) and Karen (Laryssa Lauret) also headed towards marriage, if not a romantic one.

Thanks to Scott for sending in the item above.

1974: On Another World, Steve (George Reinholt) talked Janice (Victoria Thompson) into staying in Bay City.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Jill (Nancy Addison) arrived at Frank's Office and expressed her grief over what had happened. They found themselves in each other's arms and pledged that all they wanted was to be together.

1980: On The Edge of Night, Emily Michaels (Margo McKenna) was in a catatonic state.

NEWS: Zachary Garred, Deidre Hall, Drake Hogestyn, Tom Lind, Liz Dawn, Amy Acker, Victoria Rowell, Matthew Morrison, Arianne Zucker & Kyle Lowder

Zac Garred lands US soap acting role in GENERAL HOSPITAL
"This is quite an auspicious team to be a part of," Garred told the Maitland Mercury. "My only previous soap was Home and Away and the work people put into these shows in incredible. We are shooting on a very famous lot and I am so lucky to join such an amazing show that has been running for 50 years."

Woodstock native Tom Lind a soap opera regular
Lind recently appeared on DAYS OF OUR LIVES and regularly plays a pilot on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

"The interesting thign about soap operas is I give a lot of credit to those actors because they have so many pages of dialogue, and you only get one or two takes. Stefano [played by Joseph Mascolo] and Deidre Hall [who plays Marlena], they’re both great, super friendly. They were a little intimidating to me, but they were very welcoming. I met Joe [Mascolo] in the hallway before we started shooting. He didn’t know I was working with him. We chatted for awhile, and I was like, ‘By the way, I’m working with you.’ He was like, ‘Oh, that’s great.’ After our scene, Deidre was like, ‘Hey, do you mind taking a photo with me?’ I was super flattered."

Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn on Alison Sweeney's upcoming departure from DAYS OF OUR LIVES
“When Alison Sweeney joined the show, she was such a wide-eyed kid and has taken over sort of the lead role on the show and works every day, and her scenes are long and complicated and demanding and she has just said, ‘My kids need me now, I can’t keep doing it,”’ said Hall.

WATCH: New Episode of DEVANITY Features Guest Star Andrea Evans and the Return of Kyle Lowder

On this week's new episode of DEVANITY, Portia (Katie Apicella) squares off with Scarlett (Tiffany Michelle) after finding a new home for Preston Regis (Indie Series Award nominee Gordon Thomson), Jason (Michael Caruso) and Andrew (Indie Series Award nominee Kyle Lowder) continue to be at odds, and Jason's mother (guest star Andrea Evans) arrives with a gift for the son she hasn't seen in over 30 years. Watch "Revelations" below:

First Round of Presenters for the 5th Annual Indie Series Awards Revealed

We Love Soaps and the Indie Series Network are excited to reveal the first round of presenters for the 5th Annual Indie Series Awards, which celebrate the best in independently produced, scripted entertainment created for the Web. Stars from Television, Film, Broadway and the Internet are coming together to celebrate the very best of the World Wide Web.

The Indie Series Awards, hosted by Carolyn Hennesy, will take place on April 2, 2014 at the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.

The first 10 presenters are listed below:

Charlene Tilton

Tilton is nominated for her work in DeVanity. She is best known for playing the role of "Lucy Ewing" on the smash primetime hit Dallas. Her many television appearances include The Love Boat, Eight is Enough, Fantasy Island and Murder, She Wrote. Film credits include Edge of Salvation, Hemingway and Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker. In 2012, she appeared as a contestant on the British ice-skating show, Dancing on Ice.

Christine Lakin

Lakin made her film debut at age 11 in TNT’s The Rose and The Jackal. She is still remembered fondly for her work as “Al” in the sitcom Step By Step, which ran for a successful 7 seasons. Lakin voices multiple roles on FOX’s Family Guy, most notably as news anchor “Joyce Kinney”. She also stars in a recurring role on ABC Family’s Melissa & Joey. Other TV credits include True Blood, Breaking In, The Hard Times of RJ Berger. Her film credits include New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, Reefer Madness, You Again and the feature adaption of Veronica Mars. She will be appearing in the upcoming zombie comedy web series Acting Dead.

DEVANITY Season 4 Trailer Released

ISA winner Michael Caruso's brilliant web series, DEVANITY, returns on February 13 for its fourth and final season. The Season 4 trailer has now been released and reveals a sneak peek at some of the show's upcoming guest stars like Andrea Evans, Sheree J. Wilson, Steve Kanaly, and the returning Gordon Thomson and Kyle Lowder. Watch it below:

Kyle Lowder To Star In "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" At The Media Theatre

Emmy-nominated actor Kyle Lowder will have audiences singing "Go Go Go Joseph!" this holiday season when he brings his vocal talents and soap opera physique to The Media Theatre's production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." He will portray the title role in Artistic Director Jesse Cline's production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's family musical November 20 to January 5 in St. Media, PA.

Lowder received an Emmy nomination for playing Brady Black on NBC's DAYS OF OUR LIVES, followed by a run on CBS daytime's THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL as Rick Forrester. Writers occasionally showcased his unique talent by presenting musical numbers such as Rodgers & Hammerstein famous song "Sixteen Going On Seventeen." He also plays Andrew Regis on the hit indie soap opera DEVANITY.

Having just starred as Stacee Jaxx in the Las Vegas company of Broadway's "Rock of Ages," Lowder is no stranger to the stage. He studied drama and vocal performance with Italian opera star Dr. Renato Mario Vellutino, and was accepted into the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University before moving to Los Angeles for his television and modeling careers. Following his turn with The Media Theatre, Lowder will relocate to New York with Broadway on the horizon.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 27)

1986: Ryan had a memory on RYAN'S HOPE. 1986: Patch was
there for Hope on DAYS. 1996: Bay City was hot on Fax Newman's
trail on ANOTHER WORLD.  Antonio was in jail on OLTL.

"Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times."
-Machiavelli

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1974: On ANOTHER WORLD, Steve (George Reinholt) talked Janice (Victoria Thompson) into staying in Bay City.

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Emily Michaels (Margo McKenna) was in a catatonic state.

ISA4 Spotlight: DEVANITY

Stars from TV, Broadway and The Web will come together on February 19 at ISA4: the 4th Annual Indie Soap Awards in order to celebrate and honor the very best of the rapidly-growing indie series genre. As we countdown to the big night, We Love Soaps will be spotlighting the nominated series and asking producers to tell us their favorite episode of the past year.

We continue this special ISA4 feature today with the hit drama DEVANITY, which is nominated for nine awards (tied for the most of any web series):

BEST WEB SERIES (DRAMA)
BEST ACTOR (DRAMA) - Michael Caruso
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (DRAMA) - Katie Caprio
BEST WRITING (DRAMA) - Michael Caruso
BEST ENSEMBLE (DRAMA)
BEST GUEST APPEARANCE (DRAMA) - Robin Riker
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (ALL SHOWS) - Rodolphe Portier
BEST MAKEUP (ALL SHOWS) - Liz Kan
BEST OPENING SEQUENCE (ALL SHOWS)

"My favorite episode of Season 2 would have to be Episode 4: Holly Through Your Heart," DEVANITY showrunner and star Michael Caruso (he plays Jason DeVanity) told We Love Soaps.

DEVANITY Season 3 Trailer Released!

Michael Caruso's brilliant indie soap, DEVANITY, released its Season 3 trailer on Sunday and the countdown is now on to the January 10, 2013 premiere (66 more days!). Watch the trailer below which includes the returning Kyle Lowder, and sneak peeks of guest stars Charlene Tilton, Gordon Thomson, Arianne Zucker and many more.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 27)

On this date in...

1974: On ANOTHER WORLD, Steve talked Janice into staying in Bay City.

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, the Emily Michaels saga finally came to an end. Watch the episode below:

Ready for the Holidays? "Soap Sessions Merry Download Christmas!" Is Here With Nadia Bjorlin, Eric Martsolf, Rick Hearst & More

Earlier this month Swirling Records released a new "best of" collection titled "Soap Sessions Merry Download Christmas!" It features re-mastered Christmas Classics from Kyle Lowder, Nadia Bjorlin, McKenzie Westmore, Patrika Darbo, John Ingle, Rick Hearst, Eric Martsolf and Lindsay Hartley (in a trio with Patrika and Suzanne Rodgers).

It's available worldwide on Amazon, iTunes, CD Baby, etc. It is their first Download Only album collection!

See the track list and watch a preview video below.