News Brief

Deadline Hollywood: Another Negotiating Session Thursday. Yes, the AMPTP and WGA are still talking -- or what passes for talking between this bunch. What was only supposed to be three days of talks is now four days of talks. Next round skedded for 10 AM Thursday.

TV Guide: Michael Logan is reporting: "Could the writers' strike be good for The Young and the Restless? Word is, executive producer/head writer Lynn Marie Latham — who has nearly ruined the once-glorious soap — will not return, no matter when and how the walkout ends. When contacted, a rep for the CBS-Sony show hemmed and hawed but did not deny Latham's ousting or reports that Sony programming VP Steve Kent has now taken command. He's not just some suit. Kent was supervising producer of Santa Barbara, arguably the best daytime soap ever."

Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Here’s a lovely irony of the Hollywood writers’ strike: In the name of winning a bigger share of revenue from the sale of TV shows over the Internet, TV writers could wind up driving viewers to the Web in search of original online video.

Jackson Clarion Ledger: What's the story? Strike putting soaps, series in jeopardy. Daytime fans, prepare for the worst: If the strike lingers, it could affect when - and if - you find out the consequences of Belle and Philip's romantic evening on NBC's "Days of Our Lives", or if the longtime marriage of Victor and Nikki Newman can be salvaged on "The Young and the Restless."

Earthtimes: Three of Britain's biggest television channels has joined hands to create an on-demand service that will provide users will thousands of hours of their favorite television programmes from a single service. Channel 4 and ITV will generate income when any user clicks on the content provided by the two channels, which includes "EastEnders."

Blogcritics: Many think the end of soap operas on television is inevitable. None enjoy the ratings success they did twenty years ago, and most struggle to do the best they can with their small budgets. I think they are salvageable, but I doubt those in charge will do what needs to be done to fix them – remember what made viewers tune in to begin with.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Heartthrobs past and present were a part of this past Saturday's Celebrate the Season Parade in Pittsburgh. Ty Treadway, former "One Live to Live" star, now host of Merv Griffin's Crosswords, brought his perfect hair and smile to the festivities while taking that "Last Train to Clarksville" via the 'Burgh is Peter Tork of The Monkees fame.

Bay Area Reporter: Though obviously shot on a shoestring, Richard Natale's Green Plaid Shirt will haunt those of us who survived the holocaust of the 1980s and 90s. Many of us stood by helplessly as friends and lovers died one by one. Green Plaid Shirt tells such a story. Philip (Gregory Phelan), the film's narrator, is a handsome, idealistic young romantic who stands as the sole survivor of his small gay circle. In 1979, Philip meets the stunningly beautiful Guy ("Days of Our Lives'" Kevin Spirtas) at a garage sale. As they decide who's the rightful owner of the green plaid shirt of the title, the attraction between them becomes all too apparent.

AfterElton: Readers' Choice: The Top 25 Gay TV Characters Revealed! Characters from "As The World Turns", "Queer as Folk", "Desperate Housewives" and many other shows are represented.

Chicago Sun-Times: "Days of Our Lives" soap star James Reynolds lunched with soap opera reporter Mark Edward Wilows at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers.

GQ: Just months after pulling out of its deal with iTunes, NBC has gone and partnered with Netflix to distribute shows (including "30 Rock", "Friday Night Lights" and "The Office") the day after they air. No doubt just a matter of expanding their footprint and not a sign that that Hulu thing ain't working out so well.

Hollywood Reporter: ABC's "Ugly Betty" and NBC's "Heroes" took top honors Wednesday night at the Family Friendly Programming Forum's ninth annual Family Television Awards, which recognizes "outstanding programming for family viewing." Actors honored were Kyle Chandler ("Friday Night Lights"), America Ferrera, Zac Efron and Zachary Levi.