Evening News

AfterElton: "As The World Turns'" Luke and Noah ring in the new year alone, off screen. The fellas danced and Noah got over the "can't be gay in public" hump and it was cute. But why do I have the feeling that when we next see the fellas they'll be back to playing Archie and Edith while Dusty bangs blondes in his car and the Hotprechaun languishes in bed (with the same blonde, I might add) for an entire episode?

Soap Opera Digest: Pamela Payton-Wright Tackles A Whole New Addie. "One Life to Live" viewers were shocked when, after 15 years of seeing Blair's mom every now and then at St. Ann's, a freshly coiffed and seemingly normal Addie waltzed through Dorian's door on Christmas Eve. "It was pretty sudden for me, too!" shares Pamela Payton-Wright, who originated the role of childlike Addie in 1992.

Beaverton Valley Times: Jeff Hall originally thought it would be great if he could assemble a couple dozen Jesuit High School alumni in honor of Saturday’s 10th anniversary of the Alex L. Parks Performing Arts Center. A surprising number of those returning graduates have gone on to make names for themselves in musical or acting endeavors including Mandy Bruno from the class of 2000. Bruno, 26, earned an Emmy nomination for her role as Marina Cooper on CBS’ daytime soap opera “Guiding Light,” made her Broadway debut this past year in “Les Miserables” and appeared in an off-Broadway production of “Frankenstein.”

Courier Mail: A new wave of Aussie studs and starlets is set to sweep Tinseltown and 2008 will see the city swamped by expats doing their best to feign a Yankee accent. Former "Home & Away" tike Tammin Sursok already has a firm foot in Hollywood with her three-year contract in "The Young and The Restless" but will hit the big screen in '08 with a small role opposite Harrison Ford and Sean Penn in Crossing Over.

The Age: How the artistic landscape has changed. It wasn't always this good for TV. Even today it's widely considered to be the devil's spawn of the visual mediums. So how did TV come to get the moniker "the new film"? In the 1980s, it was intimated Elizabeth Taylor had lost her mind making a cameo on daytime soap "General Hospital."

FOX News: Well, nobody is going to argue that 2007 was a big year for former "Another World" star Lindsay Lohan — and the reformed rehabber made sure it went out with a bang.

MarlenaDeLacroix.com: Back to the Future: Soaps Try to Revive 80s Glory. Patrick Erwin writes: "The death of the soap opera may have been widely exaggerated — they’re still alive and kicking. But it’s no secret that the patient is ailing. Ratings for many of the shows are anemic, and they’ve continued to shrink. While many of us Thinking Soap Fans have ideas on how to make our shows more vibrant and healthy, most of The Powers That Be have, in the last few years, tended to stick to one of two approaches. One is the over-the-top, I can’t-believe-they-did-that story (clones, demonic possession, pregnant hermaphrodites, and so on). I’m not a fan of this kind of story– the damage done to the show is almost never worth the brief bump in ratings. The second trend is one I call “back to the future.” Most of the shows have gone back to characters and/or stories that were popular in the 1980s."

Daytime Confidential: Top 10 Actors of 2007. Van Hansis is #1.

News Brief

Richmond Times Dispatch: For the past five months, the life of Ashlee Holland, 28, could have been written for television. The former Roanoker appeared on a reality show, beat out nine other contestants and won a role as Crystal the Psychic on "Days of Our Lives." Holland, a graduate of William Fleming High School, made her debut on "Days" last week -- opposite actress Deidre Hall, who has been on the soap since before Holland was born. Winning SOAPnet's "I Wanna Be a Soap Star" show earned Holland a 13-week contract, but then "Days" offered her one for three years. Holland accepted.

St. Petersburg Times: She's involved in a love triangle, was drugged and nearly raped, and helped her sorority sisters hide a body in the basement. It's all in a day's work for former Countryside High School student Kristen Renton, who recently snagged a yearlong contract on NBC's Days of Our Lives. "It's extremely exciting; you never know what's going to happen next," said Renton, 25, who grew up in Clearwater. "When I get a new script, I can't wait to read it and see where things are going."

Asian Journal: LA Gets $72 Million to Fight Homelessness. The annual Christmas Eve Lunch at the LA Mission attracts hundreds of volunteers, including many celebrities, community and city leaders. “This is an incredible expression of love,” says Kate Linder who plays Esther Valentine in the 25-year-old soap, The Young and the Restless. “What is really great about it is that people do not have to stand in line to get food. We serve the food to them,” she said. Linder has been volunteering yearly at LA Mission for many years, including during Thanksgiving and Easter.

Press Association: The start date of new soap opera "Echo Beach" has been announced. The soap, along with the behind-the-scenes series "Moving Wallpaper," will air on January 11 on ITV1. The new serial stars ex-"EastEnders" actress Martine McCutcheon and former "Neighbours" heart-throb Jason Donovan. McCutcheon and Donovan aren't the only soap connections in the fictional series. Both have been penned by Tony Jordan, whose scripts for "EastEnders" made it one of the top-rated soaps.

Metro: It seems that Martine McCutcheon is a home girl at heart - according to the Daily Express the star is thrilled to be back in Blighty and back in soap. Since her days on "EastEnders," the 31-year-old has drifted through various roles and moved from London to LA. But Martine, who is starring in new soap "Echo Beach," has apparently revealed that she has found happiness by returning to her roots. "Soaps and television are what I know and love, so this role feels like coming home," she told the paper. "It's like stepping into a pair of comfy slippers - but decorated with rhinestones."

Serial Drama: Best and Worst of 2007.

Soap Talk: 1st Annual Soap Talk Awards. "As The World Turns" named Best Soap (Log in required).

Today's Soap Star Birthdays

Ron Hale (Mike, GH and PC/ex-Roger, RH) - 62
Kiko Ellsworth (ex-Jamal, PC/Stan, GH) - 35
Ryan Brown (ex-Bill, GL) - 33

Anna Lee (ex-Lila, GH) - Born January 2, 1913 - Died May 14, 2004

Two Former Soap Stars Are Getting Hitched

Roselyn Sanchez (the original Pilar on "As The World Turns") and Eric Winter (who played Rex on "Days of our Lives") got engaged during a holiday vacation on the island of Vieques, just east of mainland Puerto Rico, according to a statement released Tuesday.

The couple, who have been dating for two years, will talk about a date and location for their nuptials once they return to Los Angeles, according to Brenda Rodriguez, Sanchez's publicist in Puerto Rico.

Sanchez currently is starring in the CBS series "Without a Trace" and produced the 2007 movie "Yellow." In addition to "Days," Winter has appeared on "Brothers & Sisters" and is starring in Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.

One Life To Live Star On Food Network

Set your DVR's to record Kamar de los Reyes ("One Life To Live"), Daisy Fuentes, and Gloria Estefan as they celebrate their cuban heritage through food, fun, and partying with host Paula Deene for a little "Havana in Savannah".

The show airs January 18th at 10 PM est on the Food Network, check your local listings for details!

Speaking of Kamar, here is the new Soapnet Antonio Vega Promo: