Helen Slater Joins THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

Helen Slater is joining the cast of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, according to TV Guide Magazine. She will play an OB/GYN named Dr. Chiverton.

Slater will first air on May 2 and appear in at least five episodes.

Slater's debut film performance was in Supergirl, opposite Faye Dunaway and Peter O'Toole. She went on to star in such films as The Legend of Billie Jean, Ruthless People, City Slickers and The Secret of My Success, among others.

More recently she starred for two seasons in ABC Family's THE LYING GAME (Charles Pratt Jr.) as Kristin Mercer.

NEWS: THE LYING GAME Canceled, VERONICA MARS Book Series, Jerry verDorn, Cory Monteith, Jill Larson, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Daisy Lewis, Tracey Bregman

THE LYING GAME canceled
LYING GAME star Alexandra Chando tweeted the news: "To our awesome #lyinggame fans, thank you for these two amazing seasons. Unfortunately, Abc Family has decided not to bring us back for a third season. We so wanted to do 10 more for you guys! Thanks for your support and keep up with the cast to see what's next for us! Xx"

Cory Monteith Was Invaluable To GLEE. Where Does the Show Go Now?
Regardless of the cause, Cory Monteith’s death is a tragic one. He was young and talented — a gifted drummer, an awkward-as-hell dancer, and a reliable nailer of power ballads. And he was Finn Hudson, GLEE's main testament to the life-changing power of music, arguably the show’s primary message.

The loss of Finn alters the show’s landscape permanently and irrevocably. While Ryan Murphy hasn’t said much publicly about what this year holds, he negotiated a two-season renewal for GLEE last spring, and consensus is that he wouldn’t have been able to do so without some sort of master plan (or at the very least, a general sense) of how this next chunk of story plays out.

GLEE works as escapist television, and it almost always flounders when it tries to be something bigger. Season four’s misbegotten school shooting, prostate cancer, teen molestation, and eating disorder storylines – all either insensitively handled or dropped without explanation – are undeniable proof of that.

Inside Cory Monteith's Last Days: Glee Star Partied at The Roxy; See Recent Twitpic
Before his tragic death, Cory Monteith enjoyed his final days with friends.

More tests needed for cause of Monteith's death
Vancouver police Sgt. Randy Fincham said there's nothing to indicate the death was due to illicit drug use.

Tuesday Night Ratings: New Low For SMASH

On Tuesday night, CBS was first in households (9.5/15) and viewers (15.19 million), and was second in both adults 25-54 (3.9/09) and adults 18-49 (2.6/07). FOX was the number one network in adults 18-49.

On The CW, HART OF DIXIE earned 0.6 among adults 18-49, even with last week, and was watched by 1.44 million.

On NBC, SMASH fell to a series low 0.7 adults 18-49 rating, down 22 percent from last week’s 0.9. The show had 2.61 million viewers.

PREVIEW: “Advantage Sutton” In THE LYING GAME

Photo: ABC Family

Sutton decides she wants her life back in order to spend more time with Ethan, and Laurel asks Jordan out on a very awkward date in a brand new episode of THE LYING GAME, airing on January 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC Family.

In the episode, "Advantage Sutton," Rebecca advises Sutton to reclaim her life, leading Sutton to challenge Emma to a tennis match - winner gets to live as Sutton Mercer. Ethan is in danger of failing out of school, so Emma offers to tutor him, breaking plans with Thayer in the process. Laurel decides to ask out Jordan, but ends up bringing Mads along on their date. And new evidence comes to light that may exonerate Alec, or may further prove his guilt.

Watch a sneak peek below:

PREVIEW: “Cheat, Play, Love” In THE LYING GAME

Emma is shocked by a Rybak family revelation and Sutton makes her feelings for Ethan known in a brand new episode of THE LYING GAME, airing on January 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC Family.

In the episode, "Cheat, Play, Love," Sutton steps up her plans to win back Ethan, and makes a point to let Emma know her intentions. Feeling left out of Emma and Thayer's growing closeness, Mads visits her father in prison and shocks Emma with a family revelation. Dan continues his investigation into Derek's murder, regardless of Alec's arrest, and Jordan starts at his new school and tries to get close to Laurel.

Watch a sneak peek below:

PRETTY LITTLE LIARS Returns To Strong Ratings

ABC Family’s critically-"A"cclaimed and social-media favorite PRETTY LITTLE LIARS was handily Tuesday’s #1 TV telecast in Women 18-34 (1.2 million/3.5 rating), Viewers 12-34 (2.3 million/2.5 rating) and Females 12-34 (2.0 million/4.4 rating), the #1 cable TV telecast for the day in Women 18-49 (1.5 million/2.3 rating) and the #1 prime cable TV telecast Adults 18-34 (1.4 million/2.1 rating). Also impressive, among Adults 18-49 PRETTY LITTLE LIARS beat FX’s standout hit, JUSTIFIED, by a tenth of a rating point (1.4 rating vs. 1.3 rating).

ABC Family Presents Tweetapalooza Next Week; Network Has Record-Breaking 2012

ABC Family presents “Tweetapalooza!,” a live two-night social media event featuring fan favorites tweeting and participating in live blog parties during their premiere episodes.

On Monday, January 7, fans can join in a Twitter chat with Gilles Marini, star of ABC Family’s hit original drama, SWITCHED AT BIRTH. Marini will start off with a live blog party at 7:00 pm ET / 4:00 pm PT at www.abcfamily.com/switchedatbirth. Afterwards, he’ll be live tweeting from his handle @GillesMarini during the East Coast broadcast of the season premiere at 8:00 pm ET / 5:00 pm PT. To ask a question, fans should tweet at his handle and include #SwitchedatBirth in their tweets.

PRETTY LITTLE LIARS & THE LYING GAME Return On "Night Of Lies"

The new year starts off with a bang when ABC Family's original series PRETTY LITTLE LIARS and THE LYING GAME return with more deceptions and drama in all new episodes starting on Tuesday, January 8th.

In the mid-season premiere of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, entitled "She's Better Now," airing Tuesday, January 8th (8:00 - 9:00 PM ET/PT), Radley Sanitarium has given Mona a clean bill of health and she is headed back to the halls of Rosewood High, much to the Liars' dismay. With their former tormentor now back in their everyday life, Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer take very different views of the "new" Mona. She made their lives a living hell... Is she really cured? And what other secrets could she be holding onto? It's up to Mona to prove to the Liars if she has changed or not.

ABC Family Sets January Premiere Dates For SWITCHED AT BIRTH, BUNHEADS, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS & THE LYING GAME

ABC Family will kick off the New Year with all new episodes of returning original hit series and fan favorites SWITCHED AT BIRTH, BUNHEADS, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, and THE LYING GAME, all set to premiere the second week of January 2013, with two nights of original programming. Viewers can also catch up on all their favorite shows leading up to the January premieres on abcfamily.com.

The second season of ABC Familys award-winning drama series, SWITCHED AT BIRTH, begins Monday, January 7th, 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. This season sees dramatic changes in the lives of the Kennish and Vasquez families as a result of the verdict in the baby switch trial. Gilles Marini joins the cast in season two as a series regular. With an array of deaf and hard-of-hearing actors, including scenes shot entirely in American Sign Language, SWITCHED AT BIRTH was recently honored with a Television Critics Association Award for Youth Programming and an Imagen Award for Best Primetime Program. ABC Family will air a special “Switched at Birth” marathon on Monday, January 7th, from 11:00AM – 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, leading up to the season two premiere. The season one finale airs tonight, Monday, October 22nd at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC Family.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Larry Hagman Charity; Kimberly McCullough at THE LYING GAME; TEEN WOLF's Colton Haynes Staying?

Kimberly McCullough shadowing director Fred Gerber on THE LYING GAME
"It's no Lie....current Directing Program director Kimberly McCullough is in Austin, TX shadowing on the season finale of ABC Family's THE LYING GAME...Congratulations!!!"

Today in Soap Opera History (July 28)

On this date in...

1937: Short-lived radio soap SECOND HUSBAND aired its final episode.

1942: Actress Geraldine Court was born.  Known for her roles as Jennifer Richards in GUIDING LIGHT, Jennifer Sullivan Ryan in AS THE WORLD TURNS and Ann Larimer in THE DOCTORS (plus several others), Court passed away in 2010 at age 68.

1975: On ANOTHER WORLD, Iris overdosed on sleeping pills.

1989: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Lien wanted to slow things down when they became too heated with Andy.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Live Birth During EASTENDERS Olympics Episodes; Aaron D. Spears Football Past; Plus, Tom Degnan, Baby Names, Gaius Charles

Oxon Hill native Aaron D. Spears stars in THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, chose acting over football
Spears was in his senior year at Delaware State University in Dover when the NFL’s New York Jets extended an invitation for him to try out at training camp. However, an elective course in speech gave him a change of heart.

“There was a play production, and the professor was going to give me a B,” said Spears, 41, who wanted an A to try to maintain his 3.5 GPA. “There was no way out of getting a B unless I joined the production. So I did a little part in the play, and I just fell in love with it, and I turned down the Jets.”

Charisma Carpenter Becomes Series Regular In THE LYING GAME

Charisma Carpenter is joining the cast of ABC Family’s primetime soap opera THE LYING GAME as a series regular. Carpenter’s character, Rebecca Sewell, was introduced last season in a recurring role that was revealed in the season one finale to be the birth mother of identical twins Emma Becker and Sutton Mercer. The second season of the drama series begins production this month for a Winter premiere.

THE LYING GAME Renewed For Second Season

ABC Family announced today the pick-up of a second season of the original drama series THE LYING GAME. The new season will begin production this summer for a winter premiere.

The audience for the drama series grew considerably during its first season, surging by double-digit percent margins. The Winter run was up 28% in W18-34 over the first half of its season, with three consecutive weeks of series highs in the demo, and contributed to ABC Family’s biggest 1Q ever in Prime in Women 18-34, Women 18-49 and Females 12-34.

PREVIEW: ABC Family Monday Night Soaps PRETTY LITTLE LIARS & THE LYING GAME (exclusive clip)

The Year of the Soap continues on ABC Family on Monday, February 13 with new episodes of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS and THE LYING GAME.

The Liars come across someone from Alison's past who could hold the key to what Ali knew before she went missing in "Eye of the Beholder," an all new episode of PLL (8:00 - 9:00 PM ET/PT).

Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer are on the quest for answers of what Alison knew before she died and they might have just gotten a big lead when someone from Alison's past appears. Duncan might hold the key to all of the girls' answers, but can they trust him to let down their guard? And just when they feel like Duncan may be the only lead, Jason drops off a bag of Alison's personal items that could be more than just a bag of junk.

INTERVIEW: Adrian Pasdar Talks THE LYING GAME, HEROES, Dixie Chicks & Chuck Pratt!

A native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Adrian Pasdar's promising football career was derailed after he was injured in a car accident at age 19. He made his film debut in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun, but his breakout role came a year later as a reluctant vampire in the indie flick Near Dark. Pasdar turned to the small screen for meaty parts, winning kudos as the corrupt title character in the short-lived 1996 series PROFIT. His marriage to Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines and a recurring role on JUDGING AMY as a dangerous love interest for the title character raised his profile in the 2000s, and suddenly the veteran actor was enjoying name recognition for the first time in his career. His career skyrocketed, however, when, in 2006, he took on the role of high-flying politician Nathan Petrelli in the NBC smash hit HEROES.

In THE LYING GAME, Pasdar plays Alec Rybak, the father of Sutton's best friend Madeline. WE LOVE SOAPS TV spoke with the talented actor this read. Read a transcript below:

WHAT TO WATCH: Monday, February 20, 2012

What's new in the world of soaps? Serialized scripted content is everywhere in 2012, The Year of the Soap, and we have your guide to the new programs airing on Monday, February 20, 2012. Daytime TV, primetime, broadcast, cable, web series, we've got it all.

NOTE: Daytime soap times may vary in some local markets.

12:30 p.m.		THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS)
1 p.m.		DAYS OF OUR LIVES (NBC)
1:30 p.m.		THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (CBS)
3 p.m.		GENERAL HOSPITAL (ABC)
8 p.m.		PRETTY LITTLE LIARS (ABC Family)
		GOSSIP GIRL (CW)
		UNA MAID EN MANHATTAN (Telemundo)
9 p.m.		THE LYING GAME (ABC Family)
		HART OF DIXIE (CW)
		DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION (Teen Nick)
		ALCATRAZ (FOX)
		EL TALISMAN (Univision)
		FLOR SALVAJE (Telemundo)
		BEING HUMAN (Syfy)
		WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW (USA)
10 p.m.		SMASH (NBC)
		RELACIONES PELIGROSAS (Telemundo)
		LA QUE NO PODIA AMAR (Univision)
		LOST GIRL (Syfy)

Remember to use the hashtag #yearofthesoap on Twitter.

RELATED:
- Why 2012 Will Be "The Year Of The Soap" (Part 1) 
- Why 2012 Will Be "The Year Of The Soap" (Part 2): DARK SHADOWS, RAGGED ISLE, DALLAS, Univision Telenovelas and More
- Why 2012 Will Be "The Year Of The Soap" (Part 3): Promising Fall Pilots

WHAT TO WATCH: Monday, February 13, 2012

What's new in the world of soaps? Serialized scripted content is everywhere in 2012, The Year of the Soap, and we have your guide to the new programs airing on Monday, February 13, 2012. Daytime TV, primetime, broadcast, cable, web series, we've got it all.

NOTE: Daytime soap times may vary in some local markets.

12:30 p.m.		THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (CBS)
1 p.m.		DAYS OF OUR LIVES (NBC)
1:30 p.m.		THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (CBS)

PREVIEW: ABC Family Monday Night Soaps PRETTY LITTLE LIARS & THE LYING GAME

The Year of the Soap continues on ABC Family on Monday, February 13 with new episodes of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS and THE LYING GAME.

Hanna's worst nightmare comes to fruition when Caleb becomes a target of "A's" wrath in "CTRL:A" on PRETTY LITTLE LIARS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Caleb's involvement in cracking "A's" phone has had Hanna worried from day one and now "A" is determined to punish him for it. With Det. Wilden and Garrett now circling Caleb on bogus hacking charges and in possession of his computer, Hanna and her friends are convinced that this won't end well. What are the police looking for on Caleb's computer and better yet, would could "A" have possibly planted on the computer to interest the police this much? Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer may soon get another example of what happens to people they involve in "A's" game.

WATCH: Valentine's Sneak Peak at ABC Family's Most Romantic Moments; SECRET LIFE, SWITCHED, PLL

This Sunday, as part of their lead-in to Valentine's Day (Tuesday, February 14th, of course!) ABC Family will officially release this special promotional video featuring some of the greatest romantic moments from their prime time soaps. You can be one of the first to view it.

Our favorite parts? The clip with SECRET LIFE's Ricky proposing to Amy, and of course the one with SWITCHED AT BIRTH's Emmet speaking to Bay--for the first time.  It's tear-jerking moments like these that make ABC Family an important part of our Year of the Soap.

A Very Happy Valentine's Day from all of us at We Love Soaps!