NEWS: Billy Warlock to OLTL, Trent Dawson, Duplaix

Billy Warlock coming to ONE LIFE TO LIVE
Soap Opera Digest is reporting that soap vet Billy Warlock (ex-Frankie, DAYS; ex-AJ, GH) has been cast at OLTL as Ross, replacing Michael Lowry, who last played the role in January. Warlock began taping yesterday, July 19, shortly after OLTL learned that Lowry would not be able to reprise the role as planned.

Trent Dawson cast in "Revival" at The Lion @ Theatre Row
The REVIVAL cast features Trent Dawson, David Darrow, Raymond McAnally and AiDan Sullivan. Opening Night is Tuesday, September 14 at 7 p.m..

Follow the Indie Soaps and Web Series on Twitter

If you are not following the indie soaps and web series on Twitter, what are you waiting for? There are always lots of interesting tidbits, casting scoops and news to be found. These shows are the future so keep supporting them!

(In alphabetical order)
CHICAGO TO CORONADO (@kirsteno)
EMPIRE (@EmpireTheSeries)
FAMILY DINNER (@fdonline)
FANTASY OVER REALITY (@OverReality)
GOTHAM (@GothamTheSeries)
HIGH RISE (@HighRiseAtl)
IMAGINARY BITCHES (@IBcatherine)
IN THE MOMENT (@inthemomenttv)
VENICE (@venicetheseries)
WORKSHOP (@WORKSHOPseries)

You can also follow my indie web radio soap, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES, which will be releasing some new episodes soon at @scriptsscruples.

News Round-up: Rickitt, FNL, Lesbian Love in the Afternoon

Lesbian Love in the Afternoon: Queer Women on American Daytime Dramas
Fictional small American soap towns such as Pine Valley, Springfield, and Llanview have historically dabbled in social angst as it relates to abortion, war, and AIDS, but until recently, have avoided directly addressing homosexuality and same-sex relationships, as if shooting an unscripted pregnancy behind a laundry basket.

This has changed in the last decade or so, however, as a few American daytime dramas have introduced gay and lesbian characters, and achieved several important "firsts" in the portrayal of same-sex relationships.

Obama dress: An Emmy winner? (Poll)
Victoria Rowell's Primetime Emmy dress is getting some attention in various newspapers and websites this morning.

Demise of broadcast TV was a hot topic at Emmys
"Amy (Poehler) and I are honored to be presenting on the last official year of network broadcast television," presenter Julia Louis-Dreyfus said.

"That joke is just for the 5,000 people in this room, not for the 5,000 people watching at home," presenter Ricky Gervais quipped.

Jim Parsons on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS? If he had his way
In a recent interview, THE BIG BANG THEORY actor was asked about his favorite current show -- other than his own -- and he said it was FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. "I don't have a specific pitch for a role that I've had in mind, but that's a damn fine show with some damn fine acting on it. Bravo. I am from Texas and think they've captured something about it perfectly."

Adam Rickitt 'injured in hit and run'
The former Coronation Street actor used his online video diary to discuss the incident, which occurred when he was walking his dog in Auckland, New Zealand earlier this month. Addressing his fans, he revealed: "[I] got run over by some complete arse. My whole arm has basically got enormous bruising."

INDIE SOAP BEAT Extra: C2C Looking For Cast Members

Digital soap CHICAGO TO CORONADO has announced a search for everyday people living interesting lives who deserve to be a soap opera character.

CHICAGO TO CORONADO (C2CSoap), the world’s first digi-soap opera, issued a call today for new cast members. The indie online soap opera invites soap opera lovers and everyday intriguing people to submit a request to become a celebrity star in the comfort of their own home without lifting a finger. The announcement comes one day before Guiding Light™, the longest running daytime television drama, airs its final show after 72 adventure-filled years.

CHICAGO TO CORONADO's call for new cast members opens the door for soap opera fans everywhere to become involved in a sudsy storyline in a way never achieved with traditional television soap operas.

"Are you an undiscovered superstar? Is your life already a soap opera? Tell us why you are interesting enough to be a soap opera star and you may get the chance to live out your fantasies online," said C2CSoap Creator and former Entrepreneur Magazine monthly marketing columnist, Kirsten Osolind. "Submit a request to become our newest C2CSoap character and earn the 15 minutes or 72 years of fame you know you deserve."

Continue reading...

To become eligible, simply visit http://C2CSoap.com/cast-call and enter your name, contact information, and proposed character description (either fictional or autobiographical). You can even upload a picture or a video clip.

C2CSoap will carefully evaluate all entries and select future cast members based on originality and storyline fit.

It’s safe and easy: CHICAGO TO CORONADO's staff of writers will work with selected new cast members to bring their character to life and write the character into the C2CSoap storyline, all while protecting individual privacy.

For the uninitiated, C2CSoap follows the reinvention of a former big city agency CEO after she relocates to Coronado Island. Romance and suspense with Navy SEALs, OtherGov operators, small town politics, and puppies ensues. C2CSoap experiences 41% fan growth every 21 days and now counts 30,000 total Twitter followers across a cast of 7 tweeting characters. C2CSoap fans outnumber Coronado Island's total population. The story is told via a website and e-newsletter combined with powerful social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Flickr (a photo sharing site), Vimeo and Bubbletweet (video sharing sites). Fans contribute to the storyline in real time – like a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book – voting on weekly plot ideas, sharing personal stories, and posting multi-media.

As entertainment takes a turn in a new direction and soap opera ratings experience a decline, digi-soap operas like C2CSoap change the media landscape with user generated content, increased opportunities for audience engagement, and enhanced “point of purchase” product placement for show sponsors and advertisers.

To join in on the fun, visit: http://C2CSoap.com/cast-call. Follow C2CSoap’s main storyline on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kirsteno. Interested investors and sponsors are welcome to contact 619.342.4411 for more information.

INDIE SOAP BEAT: August 11, 2009

In this week's "Indie Soap Beat" segment, we take a look at the latest happenings from around the world of independent soap opera production.

EYE OF THE STORM
J.R. Benight's radio soap, EYE OF THE STORM, returned this weekend with an all-new episode, "Kismet." You can catch up on the latest happenings in Lafayette by listening to the audio-only show which takes the concept of old-time radio soap drama and brings it into the modern era.

VENICE - THE SERIES
VENICE is launching a new contest on the show's website, venicetheseries.com, today at 4pm ET. Be sure to check it out.

INDIE SOAP BEAT: August 4, 2009

In our new "Indie Soap Beat" segment, we take a look at the latest happenings from around the world of independent serial production.

HIGH RISE
HIGH RISE is casting two upcoming roles for Season 2 from submissions received from HighRiseTheSeries.com. To be considered, upload a video to the Official HIGH RISE Facebook page telling the producers why you should be on the show and what your character would be, who would you be involved with, what would your occupation be, who would you be hooking up with on the show, and how would you fit in with the current characters.

Videos can not exceed 90 seconds and must be uploaded by September 1 to be considered. Introduce yourself at the beginning of the video. The video must show your face with you speaking. The show is looking for one male and one female character.

INDIE SOAP BEAT: July 28, 2009

On today's "We Love Soaps Radio" podcast, we discuss CHICAGO TO CORONAOD's Kirsten Osolind's ingenius trip to Comic-Con. There is plenty of other news in this week's "Indie Soap Beat" report.

VENICE - THE SERIES
Join one of the creators of VENICE, the fabulous Crystal Chappell, on Twitter tonight along with new co-star Hillary B. Smith to find out more about the show. Be sure to follow VENICE on Twitter as well. If you miss tonight's Tweetfest, follow the series anyway as new clues about the show are added all the time.

We Love Soaps Radio: Episode #5

On Episode #5 of "We Love Soaps Radio," Newcomb, Jacobs and Goldberg share their thoughts on the latest hot topics and news from around the soap world and welcome very special guest Jim Romanovich to discuss this year's Daytime Emmy telecast.

Episode #5 includes:
- ATI president of Worldwide Media and Entertainment Jim Romanovich shares the latest on the Daytime Emmy telecast including host Vanessa Williams' two production numbers, why The CW was the perfect network for the show, how the IMAGINARY BITCHES may be live on the red carpet and much, much more.

- Hot topics from all the daytime soaps including the addition of Louise Sorel and Lindsay Hartley to DAYS OF OUR LIVES, the annoying Meg Snyder on AS THE WORLD TURNS and the disgusting Deacon-Amber sex on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.

- CHICAGO TO CORONADO's ingenious appearance at Comic-Con is highlighted in our "Indie Soap Beat" segment.



ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO LISTEN:


Download this episode (right click and save)

INDIE SOAP BEAT Extra: C2C at Comic-Con

CHICAGO TO CORONADO took Comic-Con 2009 by storm. Watch C2C creator Kirsten Osolind on this "Save the Soap Opera Star, Save the World" video as she conducts interviews on the street with Comic-Con attendees.

C2CSoap at Comic-Con 2009! from chicago to coronado on Vimeo.

INDIE SOAP BEAT: July 22, 2009

On Tuesday's "We Love Soaps Radio" podcast, we aired our latest "Indie Soap Beat" segment. That segment will be included every week and will feature interviews with cast and behind the scenes folks from the world of independent soap opera production. We also produce a weekly column on the website and you will find it below.

Here's a rundown of some of the latest news from the indie soap world.

CHICAGO TO CORONADO
CHICAGO TO CORONADO is a Twitter romance/suspense soap opera written in 140 word soundbytes. The storyline follows a culturally-challenged Chicago to Coronado transplant – a former Prada-heeled agency CEO, noted feminist, Economic Club of Chicago member and Entrepreneur Magazine writer thrust into a world of Navy SEALs and flipflops. On this week's episode "We Love Soaps Radio," Vanessa Shoemaker, Director of Operations and Sponsorship for the show, appeared to explain how the idea for C2C came about.

Shoemaker also offered some additional commentary on the show: "Our message is universal. Absolutely anything is possible in life. The power of reinvention lies within us."

We Love Soaps Radio: Episode #4

On super-sized Episode #4 of "We Love Soaps Radio," Newcomb, Jacobs and Goldberg share their thoughts on the latest hot topics and news from around the soap world and welcome very special guest Harding Lemay.

Episode #4 includes:
- An in depth interview with Emmy winning former ANOTHER WORLD writer Harding Lemay where he talks about historical soap figures like Paul Rauch, Irna Phillips, Doug Marland and comments on some of the latest soap controversies like the Chris Engen situation or Noah burning the Purple Heart on ATWT

- CHICAGO TO CORONADO's Vanessa Shoemaker discusses the first Twitter soap in our “Indie Soap Beat” segment

- The hosts debate SOAPnet: Business versus Art

- Hot topics from all the daytime soaps including the new characters, Otalia, Spixie, Todd/Blair vs Todd/Tea and much more


BONUS (Fan Questions)
Also during this episode, Newcomb, Jacobs and Goldberg answered fan questions posted on our Facebook page. We had so much great feedback that it wouldn't all fit into the episode. You can listen to those answers below.



ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO LISTEN:


Download this episode (right click and save)

INDIE SOAP BEAT: July 15, 2009

On Tuesday's "We Love Soaps Radio" podcast, we aired our second "Indie Soap Beat" segment. This feature will be included every week and feature interviews with cast and behind the scenes folks from the world of independent soap opera production. We also produce a weekly column on the website and you will find it below.

Here's a rundown of some of the latest news from the indie soap world.

VENICE - THE SERIES
VENICE is the new web series being developed by GUIDING LIGHT star Crystal Chappell and writing partner and friend Kim Turrisi. You can follow the series at venicetheseries.com or on Twitter. Details are starting to come out about the project. Chappell tweeted today that GL co-star Jessica Leccia would also be playing a role in the series, as a photographer named Ani. A web show with Chappell and Leccia - brilliant!

INDIE SOAP BEAT: July 7, 2009

On today's first "We Love Soaps Radio" podcast, we debuted our new "Indie Soap Beat" segment. This feature will be included every week and feature interviews with cast and behind the scenes folks from the world of independent soap opera production. We'll also be adding a weekly column to the website as well.

Here's a rundown of some of the latest news from the indie soap world.

EMPIRE
EMPIRE will debut on Sunday on the show's website, empiretheseries.com. A premiere party will be held Saturday, July 11, at Slainte in New York City.

In the video below, cast memebers Chris Douros, Kate Forsatz and Nick Lewis offer a first look at their characters.


Look for an interview with writers/producers Greg Turner and Brian Hewson on We Love Soaps later this week.

CHICAGO TO CORONADO
CHICAGO TO CORONADO is a first of its kind Twitter soap opera that is taking a fresh approach, using social media, to tell their stories. You can follow the show as well as the various characters on Twitter. We plan on adding additional coverage of this show in the coming weeks.

CONFESSIONS
CONFESSIONS recently wrapped up its first season with a soapy cliffhanger. The show, a Lott 55 production, has released 21 secret-filled episodes to date and more are expected.

Look for more behind the scenes features on from the indie soap world over time at We Love Soaps. There are a number of immensely talented writers and producers out there who don't have a chance to break into the traditional mainstream soap landscape and these shows offer an outlet to express their creativity. Eventually someone is going to figure out a sustainable long-term production model that is cost effective and soaps will become the next big thing again. The genre isn't dying, it's changing, and We Love Soaps will support the revolution!

News Round-up: Ali Sweeney, Twitter Soap, DTV

ABC, FCC Working on DTV Reception Issues
ABC will be working with the FCC to try and fix the reception problems at WPVI Philadelphia and WLS Chicago, said a spokeswoman for the ABC-owned station group. Both stations have been experiencing reception problems following the shutoff of analog broadcasts on June 12. WLS was having difficulty reaching high-rise and downtown buildings, while Philadelphia viewers complained they couldn't find WPVI's new digital VHF signal.

Ali Sweeney's pre-show ritual
"I'm very much into music, and it helps me center myself. So I have a mix for almost everything in my life -- I have one for ["Days of Our Lives," in which she stars] and my husband and my maternity mix, and then I have weigh-in mixes. They all help me focus."

Twitter: Online soap opera CHICAGO TO CORONADO comprised of the tweets of our lives
While most people associate soaps with TV or maybe radio, Kirsten Osolind is creating a new era of storytelling using the Web and social media. Osolind, a former marketing agency CEO in Chicago, says the story line is loosely based on her personal relocation last year from Chicago to Coronado, Calif.. She says her ultimate goal is to flip the traditional entertainment model -- starting with social media and then branching out to a TV series and books.

CHICAGO TO CORONADO has the social media landscape covered. It's written in 140-word tweets sent at random, but it has a home on Flickr, Facebook and Vimeo, a video-sharing site. And this might be the coolest part: The characters lead active online lives -- they Yelp, have Amazon wish lists and LinkedIn profiles.

Lee Ross And Kate Williams To Return To EASTENDERS
Lee Ross (Owen) and Kate Williams (Liz) are set to rock the Fox family when they return to Albert Square in EastEnders on BBC 1. With Owen's release from prison imminent, he convinces Liz that she needs to settle in Walford so that he can re-establish his relationship with Libby and Denise. Liz loves being back in London - she's got bored of Spain - and she's keen to be reunited with granddaughter Libby.

Five Launches Syndicated Player Initiative With Brightcove Online Video Platform
Brightcove Inc., the leading online video platform, and UK broadcaster, Five, today announced the launch of a landmark initiative that will allow Five's viewers to embed episodes of their favorite television shows on their websites, social networks and blogs. Five becomes the first UK broadcaster to syndicate full episodes of popular programmes for catch-up viewing on third-party websites. The initiative, which utilises the Brightcove platform, gives Five the ability to expand the distribution of long-form, ad-supported video content online and will also generate additional advertising income.

HOLLYOAKS' Whittle talks about his jealous ex-girlfriends
HOLLYOAKS hunk Ricky Whittle says he's lucky to have a co-star girlfriend who lets him smooch with other women on-screen. The 27-year-old heart-throb has been involved in a string of steamy relationships with gorgeous women since joining the hit teen soap in 2006.

But handsome Whittle, who is dating actress Carley Stenson, says she understands about his romantic clinches unlike his former ex-girlfriends. Whittle even admitted that his exes would get so jealous they would taunt him by threatening to retaliate by kissing other men.

Once Banned, Ads for Hard Liquor Becoming Increasing Common on TV Stations, Including Those Owned by the Major Networks
It’s become “a real boozy time on television,” the New York Post reports. With TV stations stuggling for ad revenue, “local affiliates are not only accepting hard liquor ads—they are actively courting the $451 million distilled-spirits advertising business," the paper reports, citing numerous examples.