Today in Soap Opera History (August 4)

1980: Another World spin-off Texas premiered on NBC,
starring Beverlee McKinsey as Iris.

"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...

1966: Donald Briscoe assumed the role of Tony Merritt in Days of our Lives. A message appeared on the screen to explain the recast: "The part of Tony Merritt will be played by DONALD BRISCOE."

1980: Another World returned to 60 minutes daily, after more than a year of 90-minute episodes, to make room for Texas. Russ (David Bailey) and Tracy began their honeymoon, and Jamie (Richard Bekins) had dinner with Mac and Rachel.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

1950: The First Hundred Years premiered.
1981: Falcon Crest premiered.
2000: Port Charles kicked off the "Fate" arc.
2009: Venice premiered.

"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...

1933: After its August 14 debut on local station WLW in Cincinnati, radio soap opera Ma Perkins graduated to the NBC Red network in the 3 p.m. ET timeslot. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including Just Plain Bill, Backstage Wife and Young Widder Brown.

Kim Zimmer Joins 'Venice' for Season 6

Four-time Emmy-winning actress Kim Zimmer is joining the cast of Crystal Chappell's Emmy and Indie Series Award-winning web series Venice for the show's upcoming sixth season?

The show revealed the casting news today on social media and only teased, "Will she be the woman to shake up Richard's life?"

Zimmer is best known for her iconic portrayal of Reva Shayne Lewis on Guiding Light.

Richard is played by longtime Guiding Light star Robert Newman (Josh Lewis).

Today in Soap Opera History (August 4)

1980: Another World spin-off Texas premiered on NBC,
starring Beverlee McKinsey as Iris.

"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...

1966: Donald Briscoe assumed the role of Tony Merritt in Days of our Lives. A message appeared on the screen to explain the recast: "The part of Tony Merritt will be played by DONALD BRISCOE."

1980: Another World returned to 60 minutes daily, after more than a year of 90-minute episodes, to make room for Texas. Russ (David Bailey) and Tracy began their honeymoon, and Jamie (Richard Bekins) had dinner with Mac and Rachel.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

1950: The First Hundred Years premiered.
1981: Falcon Crest premiered.
2000: Port Charles kicked off the "Fate" arc.
2009: Venice premiered.

"History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins

"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...

1933: After its August 14 debut on local station WLW in Cincinnati, radio soap opera Ma Perkins graduated to the NBC Red network in the 3 p.m. ET timeslot. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including Just Plain Bill, Backstage Wife and Young Widder Brown.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 4)

1980: Another World spin-off Texas premiered on NBC,
starring Beverlee McKinsey as Iris.

"History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins

"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...

1966: Donald Briscoe assumed the role of Tony Merritt in Days of our Lives. A message appeared on the screen to explain the recast: "The part of Tony Merritt will be played by DONALD BRISCOE."

1980: Another World returned to 60 minutes daily, after more than a year of 90-minute episodes, to make room for Texas. Russ (David Bailey) and Tracy began their honeymoon, and Jamie (Richard Bekins) had dinner with Mac and Rachel.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

1950: The First Hundred Years premiered. 1981: Falcon Crest
premiered.  2000: Port Charles kicked off "Fate."
2009: Venice premiered.

"More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers."
― Joe Murray

"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...

1933: After its August 14 debut on local station WLW in Cincinnati, radio soap opera Ma Perkins graduated to the NBC Red network in the 3 p.m. ET timeslot. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including Just Plain Bill, Backstage Wife and Young Widder Brown.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 4)

1980: Another World spin-off Texas premiered on NBC,
starring Beverlee McKinsey as Iris.

"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...

1966: Donald Briscoe assumed the role of Tony Merritt in Days of our Lives. A message appeared on the screen to explain the recast: "The part of Tony Merritt will be played by DONALD BRISCOE."

1980: Another World returned to 60 minutes daily, after more than a year of 90-minute episodes, to make room for Texas. Russ (David Bailey) and Tracy began their honeymoon, and Jamie (Richard Bekins) had dinner with Mac and Rachel.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

1950: The First Hundred Years premiered. 1981: Falcon Crest
premiered.  2000: Port Charles kicked off "Fate."
2009: Venice premiered.

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"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...

1933: After its August 14 debut on local station WLW in Cincinnati, radio soap opera Ma Perkins graduated to the NBC Red network in the 3 p.m. ET timeslot. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including Just Plain Bill, Backstage Wife and Young Widder Brown.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 4)

1980: Another World spin-off Texas premiered on NBC,
starring Beverlee McKinsey as Iris.

"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...

1966: Donald Briscoe assumed the role of Tony Merritt in Days of our Lives. A message appeared on the screen to explain the recast: "The part of Tony Merritt will be played by DONALD BRISCOE." In the clip below, Laura was played Floy Dean. Susan Flannery took over as Laura two months later.

Trailer Released for Crystal Chappell-Jessica Leccia Alzheimer's Film 'A Million Happy Nows'

Jessica Leccia (left) and Crystal Chappell star in A Million Happy Nows.

A trailer has been released for A Million Happy Nows, an upcoming film starring Guiding Light  alums Crystal Chappell and Jessica Leccia, and produced by Perfect Features and Open Book Productions.

A Million Happy Nows is the story of Lainey Allen (Chappell), a veteran actress tired of being sidelined for younger talent on the soap she has starred in for twenty years. Coupled with finding it harder to retain her lines, she decides not to renew her contract, and she and her publicist and partner, Eva Morales (Leccia), move to their weekend house overlooking the ocean on the Central California coast. The move highlights some small changes in Lainey's personality – mild depression that Eva puts down to leaving the show. But when Lainey starts to forget more than can be attributed to stress, Eva insists on a visit to the doctor.

The film chronicles Lainey and Eva’s changing relationship as they struggle to deal with the diagnosis of Lainey's Early Onset Alzheimer's, the prospect of an indomitable woman’s future of dependence and her single support system – the woman who was once in awe of her, became everything to her, and will now look after her.

Crystal Chappell and Jessica Leccia reunite for the first time in a feature, following their pairing as Olivia and Natalia in CBS-TV's Guiding Light and in Open Book Production's Venice the Series and The Grove.

Watch the trailer for A Million Happy Nows below:

Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

1950: The First Hundred Years premiered. 1981: Falcon Crest
premiered.  2000: Port Charles kicked off "Fate."
2009: Venice premiered.

"Most of us spend too much time on the last twenty-four hours and too little on the last six thousand years."
― Will Durant

"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...

1933: After its August 14 debut on local station WLW in Cincinnati, radio soap opera Ma Perkins graduated to the NBC Red network in the 3 p.m. ET timeslot. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including Just Plain Bill, Backstage Wife and Young Widder Brown.

Nadia Bjorlin Engaged to Grant Turnbull

Venice star and former Days of our Live actress Nadia Bjorlin is engaged to new beau Grant Turnbull.

Turnbull surprised her when he popped the question while they were vacationing in Ireland. An excited Bjorlin quickly took to Facebook to announce the news -- and post a photo of her gorgeous engagement ring: a square diamond in a pave setting.

"So, this happened. Couldn't be happier! And so it begins in Ireland... with Grant Turnbull," posted Bjorlin.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 4)

1980: Another World spin-off Texas premiered on NBC,
starring Beverlee McKinsey as Iris.

"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...

1966: Donald Briscoe assumed the role of Tony Merritt in Days of our Lives. A message appeared on the screen to explain the recast: "The part of Tony Merritt will be played by DONALD BRISCOE." In the clip below, Laura was played Floy Dean. Susan Flannery took over as Laura two months later.

We Love Soaps 25 Most Popular Couples of the Year (2013)

Clockwise from top left: Sonny & Will, DAYS; John & Marlena, DAYS;
Blair & Todd, OLTL/GH; Gina & Ani, VENICE

We Love Soaps has calculated a list of the 25 Most Popular Couples of the Year based on our page views, search numbers, comments, emails and votes in our weekly polls for 2013.

Check out the complete 25 Most Couples People of the Year list below:

  1. Will & Sonny, DAYS OF OUR LIVES

  2. John & Marlena, DAYS OF OUR LIVES

  3. Todd & Blair, ONE LIFE TO LIVE & GENERAL HOSPITAL

  4. Gina & Ani, VENICE

Today in Soap Opera History (December 4)

1950: THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS premiered. 1981: FALCON
CREST made its debut.  2000: PORT CHARLES kicked off
"Fate." 2009: VENICE premiered.

"That is the supreme value of history. The study of it is the best guarantee against repeating it."
- John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir

"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...

1933: After its August 14 debut on local station WLW in Cincinnati, radio soap opera MA PERKINS graduated to the NBC Red network in the 3 p.m. ET timeslot. The show was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, the prolific team responsible for numerous radio dramas including JUST PLAIN BILL, BACKSTAGE WIFE and YOUNG WIDDER BROWN.

READER POLL RESULTS: Indie Series of the Week (October 20-26, 2013); VENICE #1

VENICE was voted favorite indie series for the 11th time in 12 weeks.

The results are in from the We Love Soaps "Indie Series of the Week" poll for web series that aired October 20-26, 2013. VENICE returned to the top spot as favorite show for the third consecutive week. A new episode of CLOSE FRIENDS was second followed by TELEVISEAN, MY SUPER-OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION, and DUMPWATER DIVAS.

Check out the complete results below including the Favorite Actor, Actress and Couple of the Week:

RANK	SHOW	LAST WEEK	TOP 3
1	VENICE	1	41
2	CLOSE FRIENDS	12	1
3	TELEVISEAN	-	5
4	MY SUPER-OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION	17	0
5	DUMPWATER DIVAS	14	0
6	THE INN	6	12
7	SALVAGED: A LOVE STORY	15	0
8	THURSTON	-	6
9	STILL	-	0
10	POL	-	0
11	BROKEN AT LOVE	-	5
12	THE LYONS DEN	6	5
13	METHOD OR MADNESS	7	0
14	PRODUCING JULIET	-	0
15	DEVIL'S COURIERS	13	0
16	SILVER SPOON BLUES	9	0
17	FADE TO REALITY	18	0
18	SMOKE AND MIRRORS	-	0
19	HOW I SEIZE IT	19	0
20	THE GAUNTLET	11	0

See the rest of the poll results and watch last week's Top 3 Indie web series below:


(watch this episode with a subscription)

READER POLL RESULTS: Indie Series of the Week (October 13-19, 2013); VENICE #1

VENICE was voted favorite indie series for the 10th time in 11 weeks.

The results are in from the We Love Soaps "Indie Series of the Week" poll for web series that aired October 13-19, 2013. VENICE returned to the top spot as favorite show for the second consecutive week. A new episode of THE INN was second followed by HE'S WITH ME, THE STAFFORD PROJECT and the finale of DATING IN THE MIDDLE AGES.

Check out the complete results below including the Favorite Actor, Actress and Couple of the Week:

RANK	SHOW	LAST WEEK	TOP 3
1	VENICE	1	41
2	THE INN	2	12
3	HE'S WITH ME	-	4
4	THE STAFFORD PROJECT	-	0
5	DATING IN THE MIDDLE AGES	-	0
6	THE LYONS DEN	7	4
7	METHOD OR MADNESS	-	0
8	DEREK AND CAMERON	-	0
9	TAG! SILVER SPOON BLUES	9	0
10	THE REVERSAL	-	0
11	THE GAUNTLET	10	0
12	CLOSE FRIENDS	-	0
13	DEVIL'S COURIERS	-	0
14	DUMPWATER DIVAS	-	0
15	SALVAGED: A LOVE STORY	14	0
16	VANN	-	0
17	MY SUPER-OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION	18	0
18	FADE TO REALITY	17	0
19	HOW I SEIZE IT	21	0

See the rest of the poll results and watch last week's Top 3 Indie web series below:

VENICE (watch with subscription)

READER POLL RESULTS: Indie Series of the Week (October 6-12, 2013); VENICE #1

VENICE was voted favorite indie series for the 9th time in 10 weeks.

The results are in from the We Love Soaps "Indie Series of the Week" poll for web series that aired October 6-12, 2013. VENICE returned to the top spot as favorite show for the week, and 9 out of the last 10 weeks. A new episode of DESTROY THE ALPHA GAMMAS was second followed by THE INN, SIX MONTHS FOR SIX WEEKS, and BROKEN AT LOVE.

Check out the complete results below including the Favorite Actor, Actress and Couple of the Week:

RANK	SHOW	LAST WEEK	TOP 3
1	VENICE	2	40
2	DESTROY THE ALPHA GAMMAS	1	6
3	THE INN	-	11
4	SIX MONTHS FOR SIX WEEKS	-	1
5	BROKEN AT LOVE	-	5
6	PRODUCING JULIET	-	0
7	THE LYONS DEN	7	4
8	RECKLESS	-	1
9	TAG! SILVER SPOON BLUES	21	0
10	THE GAUNTLET	18	0
11	WHATEVER THIS IS	-	0
12	LIPS	13	0
13	HARLEM NOISE	-	0
14	SALVAGED: A LOVE STORY	-	0
15	GOVERNMENT LIES	-	0
16	HORROR HOTEL	-	0
17	RE-ELECTION	-	0
18	MY SUPER-OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION	17	0
19	STILL	14	0
20	FADE TO REALITY	20	0
21	HOW I SEIZE IT	22	0

See the rest of the poll results and watch last week's Top 3 Indie web series below:

VENICE (watch with subscription)

READER POLL RESULTS: Indie Series of the Week (September 29-October 5, 2013); DESTROY THE ALPHA GAMMAS #1

DESTROY THE ALPHA GAMMAS was voted favorite Indie Series for
the first time in our poll.

The results are in from the We Love Soaps "Indie Series of the Week" poll for web series that aired September 29-October 5, 2013. DESTROY THE ALPHA GAMMAS was voted favorite show for the week. A new episode of VENICE was second followed by the FREEFALL, PROGRESS and HE'S WITH ME.

Check out the complete results below including the Favorite Actor, Actress and Couple of the Week:

RANK	SHOW	LAST WEEK	TOP 3
1	DESTROY THE ALPHA GAMMAS	4	5
2	VENICE	1	39
3	FREEFALL	-	1
4	PROGRESS	-	0
5	HE'S WITH ME	-	3
6	THE STAFFORD PROJECT	-	0
7	THE LYONS DEN	5	4
8	SUNNY REIGN	-	0
9	DEREK AND CAMERON	-	0
10	HUSBANDS	7	0
11	BROTHERS WITH NO GAME	-	0
12	RISK: THE LIFE OF FLOYD AND SABRINA	-	0
13	LIPS	17	0
14	STILL	-	0
15	LIFE AFTER FAT	-	0
16	LOVE BYTES	16	0
17	MY SUPER-OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION	11	0
18	THE GAUNTLET	14	0
19	THE INDUSTRY	-	0
20	FADE TO REALITY	-	0
21	TAG! SILVER SPOON BLUES	12	0
22	HOW I SEIZE IT	-	0

See the rest of the poll results and watch last week's Top 3 Indie web series below:



VENICE (watch with subscription)