News Brief

Broadcast Newsroom: The Writers Guild of America East, on strike since Nov. 5, Wednesday donated 200,000 pencils to the United Federation of Teachers for use by students in New York City. Earlier in the day, the WGAE held a large-scale picket outside the ONE LIFE TO LIVE Studios on West 66 Street off of Central Park West. More than 250 striking WGAE members took part in the demonstration outside the ABC Studios, with John Leguizamo and Vincent D'Onofrio joining the line. Many actors from ONE LIFE TO LIVE also stopped by and demonstrated their support, including David Fumero, Forbes March, John Brotherton and Tika Sumpter.

Knoxville News Sentinel: How does ABC plan to get back viewers who have strayed from daytime serials? Entice them with actors they have loved but lost. "The (writers') strike actually helped us in terms of luring these actors back to the show," says Frons. "If you aren't an actor with a steady primetime gig, you probably won't find (work) until fall of '09. So I think that gives soap operas a chance (for actors) to find steady work."

Broadway World: There is life beyond off-Broadway and actress January LaVoy has found it. Lavoy, who captured the attention of New York audiences and critics playing the lone woman in the 2007 Lucille Lortel Award winning play, Two Trains Running has landed a contract role on ABC's ONE LIFE TO LIVE. playing Noelle Ortiz. "Noelle is, in my humble opinion, one of the sweetest characters ever to be seen on a soap."

Tulsa World: 9-year-old Tulsan Christopher Bones debuts on ONE LIFE TO LIVE TODAY today. "I remember that when we had just done filming, they made a tiny light change, and then we had to do it all over again," he said. "I'm like, 'Oh my gosh! Does it really make that big of a difference?'"

Pop Matters: Best TV Performances of 2007. Showtime turned a fat, gout-ridden king into a hunky porn star for THE TUDORS and for the first time in soap opera history, the most popular supercouple on a daytime drama was gay, Luke (Van Hansis) and Noah (Jake Silbermann) of AS THE WORLD TURNS. Is that the Armageddon I hear?

PR Web: Westlake Entertainment, Inc. announces today the release of DATING GAMES PEOPLE PLAY, a romantic comedy that was shot on 35mm scenic in scenic Newport Beach, California. DATING GAMES PEOPLE PLAY captures the unpredictable dating scene and has been compared to "Swingers" meets "American Pie." The Best Comedy Nominee at the 2005 World of Comedy International Film Festival, pokes fun at the very different perspectives that men and women have of dating and relationships, and shows the hilarious consequences. The star-studded cast features Austin Peck, who currently plays Brad Snyder on AS THE WORLD TURNS.

The Desert Sun: This weekend, Desert Hot Springs resident and soap star Judith Chapman presents two performances of "The Trial of the Catonsville 9" at the Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs. To cast the production, which she is also directing, Chapman reeled in a who's who of daytime television stars that features eight of her THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS castmates, including Vincent Irizarry, Christian LeBlanc, Emily O'Brien, Eyal Podell, Greg Rikaart, Michelle Stafford and Kristoff St. John. Other stars include Palm Desert resident John Callahan (Edmund Grey on ALL MY CHILDREN) and Ron Hale (Mike Corbin on GENERAL HOSPITAL).

Kansas City Star: A pair of TV soap opera stars are doing special engagements at Stanford’s Comedy Club at The Legends soon. Jason Thompson, Patrick Drake of GENERAL HOSPITAL, is scheduled for Feb. 9, and Walt Willey, Jackson Montgomery of ALL MY CHILDREN, March 29. Neither is doing comedy, though Willey has some experience in that area. They’ll talk about their careers, do a question-and-answer session and then a meet-and-greet with fans.

Aiken Standard: Young stars to campaign for Obama including Tatyana Ali (Roxanne, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS).

eTalk: DEGRASSI star Adamo Ruggiero opens up about his sexuality.

OK! Magazine: Patsy Palmer is back on EASTENDERS and she tells us why she wants to adopt a Third World baby.

Buzzworthy Radio: AUDIO: Interviews with Nazanin Boniadi and Bradford Anderson from GENERAL HOSPITAL and Agim Kaba from AS THE WORLD TURNS.

ATWT Fan Club: AS THE WORLD TURNS stars Terri Colombino and Michael Park will be performing at Blend Bar. Also performing is Joya Bruno Lead Singer from (Expose) and Artie Colombino (Terri's real life hubby) and his band. This will benefit Autism Marble Jam Kids on Saturday, February 23rd at Bend in Ridgewood, NJ. Tickets are $125.00 for info call 201 251-4343 or go to Blendbar.com

Soaptown USA: Interview with ONE LIFE TO LIVE star Jerry verDorn.