News Brief

New Republic: Historically, during a Writers Guild strike, there is some amount of scabbing, though less than one might expect. What there is falls into two categories. The first isthe classic example of the scab writer hired to bat out a script while the "real" writers are out walking picket lines. This has occurred most often with soap operas, since they broadcast new episodes five days a week. In '88, the show runner on a popular daytime drama declared that the strike was true agony for her. Not only had it disrupted her life--it was destroying the lives of these characters she cared about. She had carefully planned that Fred would divorce Jessica and find true love with Heather, whom he'd gotten pregnant. The scabs had Heather try to murder Fred, reveal it was Pete's baby she was carrying and run off with Sidney--or whatever it was. "When we get back, it's going to take me months to get some emotional logic back into those characters," the striking writer told me. As she put it, her "novel had been ruined."

Deadline Hollywood: Writer's Strike Impact: Pay Cuts And Layoffs At Major Agencies.

Fametastic: Former EASTENDERS star Tamzin Outhwaite has revealed she’s expecting her first child with husband Tom Ellis.

Press Association: One of HOLLYOAKS' most popular stars could be leaving the show to accept a starring role in the West End. Summer Strallen, who joined the popular Channel 4 soap in October as student Summer Shaw, is rumoured to have landed the lead role in West End musical The Sound of Music.

Soap Opera Digest: With THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS' Nick supporting his mother, Victor is lashing out against him, but the Newman patriarch must not remember what happened the last time Nick returned fire.

Soapnet: Schedule for SOAPnet's Welcome Back Weekend!

Just Jared: Former PASSIONS hunk Jesse Metcalfe gets a haircut at the very stylish Rudy’s Barbershop on W Sunset Blvd. on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Their slogan: “Cheap Cuts, No Nicks.”

E Canada Now A run down on how many episodes have been produced for prime time series and how many are left to air.