Morgan Fairchild Leads All-Star Lineup for 'Mélange'

Morgan Fairchild has been tapped to play the vindictive Vivian King in the new serialized half hour drama, Mélange. Using NYC as its backdrop, the show will center round the fight of ownership for a historic gay bar, Mélange, after its proprietor has suddenly and mysteriously died. The series will emulate the grand storytelling flair of 80’s primetime decadent dramas that pitted good vs. evil but in a contemporary, fast-paced style; exploring modern themes of sexuality, immigration, addiction, power, and inclusion. The ensemble cast of 17, lead by Morgan Fairchild, includes a roster of talent from television, Broadway, reality, and social media. Shooting for Mélange kicked off August 4th in New York City.

Scott Evans (One Life to Live) stars as Ryann Parker, the strikingly handsome young man whose once Utopian workplace has become infested with betrayal, corruption, and revenge. He fights to keep Mélange out of the claws of Vivian and into the hands of the employees and patrons who genuinely love the historic bar.

Through flashbacks and archival footage, Robert Newman (Guiding Light, Santa Barbra, General Hospital) plays Syd Winchester, the deceased patriarch of Mélange who, in life, was a pioneer and hero of the gay rights movement. Rounding out the ensemble cast: Emmy winner Darnell Williams (All My Children, The Young and the Restless, Loving ), Emmy winner Kristen Alderson (One Life to Live, General Hospital,), Ilene Kristen (One Life to Live, Ryan’s Hope, General Hospital), David A. Gregory (One Life to Live), Jessica Leccia (Guiding Light, One Life to Live, Venice The Series), Diana DeGarmo (The Young and the Restless, American Idol) ), gossip blogger Perez Hilton (Bold and the Beautiful), Anne Ramsay (Mad About You,The L Word), Alex Newell (Glee, Broadway’s Once On This Island), Mark Indelicato (Ugly Betty, Dead of Summer ), Laith Ashley (Strut), Maya Days (Damages, Broadway’s Aida), Omar Sharif Jr., Pamela Winslow Kashani (Star Trek: The Next Generation).

Mélange was created and is being executive produced by multi-award winning theatrical producer and political activist Tom D’Angora. It is being directed by Emmy Award winner Gary Donatelli (One Life to Live) and Tony Award winning producer Tim Kashani.

PHOTOS: 14th Biennial National Black Theatre Festival, Co-Chaired by Darnell Williams and Debbi Morgan

Emmy-winning All My Children stars Darnell Williams and Debbi Morgan served as co-shares for the National Black Theatre Festival. Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

The 14th Biennial National Black Theatre Festival, an international celebration and reunion of spirit, was held August 3-8, 2015 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, produced by The North Carolina Black Repertory Comapny, Inc. NBTF co-chairs (and All My Children legends) Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams led the celebrity procession on opening night, which included a gala dinner and awards presentation, followed by a week filled with plays, workshops and much more with.

The star-studded festival included participation from many familiar faces from the world of daytime soap operas, including Taurean Blacque (Henry Marshall, Generations), Norm Lewis (Keith McLean, All My Children), Andre De Shields (Marshall Lincoln Kramer III, Another World), Micki Grant (Peggy Harris Nolan, Another World – one of first black contract players - along with roles in All My Children, Guiding Light, Somerset and The Edge of Night), Lamman Rucker (T. Marshall Travers, As the World Turns - along with roles on All My Children and The Young and the Restless); Chrystee Pharris (Simone Russell, Passions - currently starring in Queens of Drama), Ted Lange (Love Boat star who played a judge on General Hospital), Timothy Stickney (RJ Gannon, One Life to Live), Jackee Harry (Lily Mason, Another World); Count Stovall (Roy Franklin, As the World Turns; Cal Cummings, All My Children; Hank Chambers, The Doctors) and Roscoe Orman (Sesame Street's Gordon who once played Tyrone on All My Children).

Check out photos from the festival below:

Sudsville Network Will Launch This Fall: Meg Kelly to Pen New Soap Opera 'Year Rounders', Michael O'Leary to Host Game Show

Sudsville, a new online network of all-original programming aimed at the soap opera audience, is set to launch in the fall. Daytime Emmy winning writer Meg Kelly has partnered with Joseph Craig and conklin-intracom.com, a global tech company, on the new venture.

“These are broadcast quality shows that will star a mix of daytime, primetime and film actors, written by daytime and prime-time Emmy winners and produced by an award-winning production team,” says Kelly

"Conklin-Intracom approached us about a platform they were developing. We thought it was perfect for daytime fans,” explains Kelly. "There will be one major new soap opera (Year Rounders), 40 total episodes created by Meg,” reveals Craig. "And there will also be 16 ancillary series, a combination of reality and game shows and improvised shows, that are aimed at the same audience, including a three-time weekly soap chat show, A.M. Sudsville.”

ID Enlists Lynn Herring, Kin Shriner, Mary Beth Evans, Wally Kurth, Lamon Archey, Darnell Williams & Katie Barberi As Hosts For Its Daytime "Soap" Block

Kin Shriner and Lynn Herring hos Sinful Secrets week on ID.

After a successful debut last year, Investigation Discovery bringing back its ID Daytime programming block featuring what the network calls "real-life soaps." Beginning Monday, August 25 from 1-4 p.m. daily, soap stars from past and present host encores of ID’s most scandalous series, such as Wives with Knives, My Dirty Little Secret, Scorned: Love Kills and Evil Twins. Beloved pairs are reunited on screen each week to provide insight into these cautionary tales, including: General Hospital's Lynn Herring and Kin Shriner; Days of our Lives' Mary Beth Evans and Wally Kurth; bad boys Lamon Archey from The Young and the Restless and Darnell Williams from All My Children; and telenovela actress Katie Barberi, Dona Barbara.

The daytime stunt airs in conjunction with ID’s evening primetime return of a new season of Deadly Affairs with Susan Lucci, featuring all-new stories of deadly dalliances on Saturday, August 16 at 10 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 3)

1980: EON's Draper was sentenced. 1981: GH's Sarah raised
Jeff's suspicions.  1986: Y&R's John confronted his son, Jack.
1995: AMC's Will shocked a Pine Valley courtroom.

"There is no present or future, only the past happening over and over again - now."
- Eugene O'Neill

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1941: Radio soap opera WE ARE ALWAYS YOUNG premiered on the Mutual Network. The show told the story of a serious composer who worked as a cab driver while waiting for his big break. Written by Ashley Buck and Nicholas Consentino, WAAY starred William Janney as Gary Haven and Joe Laurie Jr. as Sniffy.

Also premiering on the same day was EDITH ADAMS' FUTURE: "The story of a woman past thirty five, forced to a rude awakening to a world that had passed her by while she played dutiful wife to a domineering husband. Her story proves that beauty and a courageous zest for life are not to the young alone, but belong eternally to the young in heart."

ALL MY CHILDREN's Darnell Williams Guest Bartends On WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE

Emmy-winning actor Darnell Williams from ALL MY CHILDREN stopped by to guest bartend on Thursday night's WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE which featured Fantasia and Anthony Mackie. Williams was introduced after a classic early '80s Jesse and Angie clip was shown.

At one point host Andy Cohen asked, "Jesse and Erica (Susan Lucci) didn't really intersect very much, did they?"

Williams jokingly replied, "Yeah, the f*cked a lot."

Williams said he had not been in touch with Kim Delaney in a while. Their freindship, as Jesse and Jenny, was one of the best in daily drama history.

RELATED:
- INTERVIEW: Debbi Morgan & Darnell Williams On ALL MY CHILDREN - 'Fans Are Really Going To Love It'

PHOTOS: ALL MY CHILDREN & ONE LIFE TO LIVE Premiere Event

Jill Larson (Opal Cortlandt), Eric Nelsen (AJ Chandler), Jordan Lane Price (Celia Fitzgerald), Denyse
Tontz (Miranda Montgomery), Robert Scott Wilson (Pete Cortlandt) & Julia Barr (Brooke English)
- Photo: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

The OnLine Network celebrated their new "Anytime Dramas" ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE on Tuesday night with a splashy red carpet premiere event at NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Following a screening of the first episodes the cast, crew, press and fans were all smiles and everyone seemed to be very pleased with the outcome.

Read our first thoughts on the episodes:
- ALL MY CHILDREN
- ONE LIFE TO LIVE

Check out some photos of the casts below:

INTERVIEW: Debbi Morgan & Darnell Williams On ALL MY CHILDREN - 'Fans Are Really Going To Love It'

Debbi Morgan & Darnell Williams - Photo: TOLN

Emmy winners Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams have played supercouple Jesse and Angie on and off for more than three decades on ALL MY CHILDREN. When the show returns on Monday, April 29, the Hubbards pick up where they left off and their magical chemistry is on full display. We Love Soaps spoke with Morgan and Williams on Thursday as they met with the media to talk about the return of ALL MY CHILDREN less than a day after the show's world premiere in New York on Tuesday night. Check out our discussion below:

WE LOVE SOAPS: You both watched the premiere last night in a big theater surround by cast, crew, press and fans. What was that like being in that surrounding? And what did you think of the first episode?
DEBBI MORGAN: The surrounding was so different. [Laughs] I don't think we've ever had a premiere for ALL MY CHILDREN before or walked a red carpet.

"A Tribute To Pine Valley" Coming To Florida April 27-28

Celebrity Events Group (CEG)today announced “A Tribute to Pine Valley” will visit the Sarasota Opera House in Sarasota, FL on Saturday, April 27 at 7:00 p.m. and Seminole Casino Coconut Creek in Coconut Creek, FL on Sunday, April 28 at 1:00 p.m. The unique live fan tribute event dedicated to ABC’s most successful soap opera ALL MY CHILDREN will be at each venue for one day only.

Fans can expect up close and personal interaction with their favorite stars, audience interaction, lively question and answer sessions, behind the scenes stories and secrets, trivia, photos and autograph signings.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 3)

On this date in...

1941: Radio soap opera WE ARE ALWAYS YOUNG premiered on the Mutual network. The show told the story of a serious composer who worked as a cab driver while waiting for his big break. Written by Ashley Buck and Nicholas Consentino, WAAY starred William Janney as Gary Haven and Joe Laurie Jr. as Sniffy.

Also premiering on the same day was EDITH ADAMS' FUTURE: "The story of a woman past thirty five, forced to a rude awakening to a world that had passed her by while she played dutiful wife to a domineering husband. Her story proves that beauty and a courageous zest for life are not to the young alone, but belong eternally to the young in heart."

1952: WHISPERING STREETS debuted on ABC radio. The stories were told in a somewhat serial format with the next week's story using a minor character's point of view. It left the audience trying to guess which minor character will be the major character in the next week. The show had a slew of famous narrators over its run such as Cathy Lewis, Ann Seymour, and Bette Davis, who was the show's most dramatic hostess. The show ran until November 25, 1960, known as the day the radio drama died.

Debbi Morgan Joins New ALL MY CHILDREN

Emmy-winner Debbi Morgan tweeted the news that she's signed on for Prospect Park's upcoming ALL MY CHILDREN revival.

Ok, I can finally announce how thrilled I am 2 B on board w/the "All My Children" re-boot & Prospect Park! Agnes Nixon, you're my HERO!!!

Morgan played Angie Hubbard on and off for the last 30 years of AMC's run on ABC. She most recently played Harmony on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.

UPDATE:
Morgan later tweeted her longtime co-star Darnell Williams (Jesse Hubbard) would also be joining AMC.

It’s just terrific news, isn’t it?! Darnell is definitely on board, and I think Mike as well, but not quite sure yet…

RELATED:
- Agnes Nixon Releases Statement Confirming Return Of ALL MY CHILDREN And ONE LIFE TO LIVE
- ALL MY CHILDREN Premiered 43 Years Ago Today

30 Dynamic Duos of Daytime Soaps (20-16)

Our list of 30 Great Dynamic Duos of Daytime Soaps kicked off with a look at twosomes 30-26 and 25-21. Below the countdown continues with Dynamic Duos 20-16. Tell us your favorite Dynamic Duos in the Comments section below:

CLASSIC CLIP: Jesse & Angie Reunite On ALL MY CHILDREN 2008

One of the greatest reunions in soap opera history involved on of the most memorable supercouples, Jesse and Angie Hubbard. Watch their 2008 reunion, after two decades apart, below:

50 Greatest Soap Couples: #4 Jesse & Angie From ALL MY CHILDREN

COUPLE: Jesse Hubbard & Angela Baxter
SHOW: ALL MY CHILDREN
RANK: 4
PLAYED BY:
Jesse: Darnell Williams
Angie: Debbi Morgan
YEARS: 1982–1988, 2008–2011

STORY:
Jesse was a street kid from the "wrong side of the tracks" and Angie was part of Pine Valley high society so when they met and fell in love, Angie's father, Leo, instantly disapproved.  When Angie's friend, Liza Colby, accused Jesse of rape, he fled town with his best pal, Jenny Gardner, spending the summer of 1982 in New York.  Angie thought his leaving was a sign of his guilt but eventually Liza admitted she lied about the rape.   Angie and Jesse reunited and eloped.  Angie soon found out she was pregnant but thinking Jesse didn't want to be a father, divorced him and decided to give the baby away.  When Angie finally revealed the truth to Jesse, they got back together and kidnapped their baby.  They eventually convinced a judge to give them custody of the baby, Frankie, and started a new life together.

CLASSIC CLIP: Jesse & Angie Get Married On ALL MY CHILDREN 1983

Jesse and Angie Hubbard reunited in 1983 and planned on getting married again. Watch their second wedding, from 1983, below:

Today in Soap Opera History (March 3)

On this date in...

1941: Radio soap opera WE ARE ALWAYS YOUNG premiered on the Mutual network. The show told the story of a serious composer who worked as a cab driver while waiting for his big break. Written by Ashley Buck and Nicholas Consentino, WAAY starred William Janney as Gary Haven and Joe Laurie Jr. as Sniffy.

Also premiering on the same day was EDITH ADAMS' FUTURE: "The story of a woman past thirty five, forced to a rude awakening to a world that had passed her by while she played dutiful wife to a domineering husband. Her story proves that beauty and a courageous zest for life are not to the young alone, but belong eternally to the young in heart."

1952: WHISPERING STREETS debuted on ABC radio. The stories were told in a somewhat serial format with the next week's story using a minor character's point of view. It left the audience trying to guess which minor character will be the major character in the next week. The show had a slew of famous narrators over its run such as Cathy Lewis, Ann Seymour, and Bette Davis, who was the show's most dramatic hostess. The show ran until November 25, 1960, known as the day the radio drama died.

Don Cornelius Dead At Age 75

Don Cornelius, the producer and television host who created the dance show SOUL TRAIN, was found shot dead in his Los Angeles home early Wednesday morning in what appears to be a suicide, the Los Angeles Police Department and the county coroner’s office said. He was 75 years old.

SOUL TRAIN was one of the longest-running syndicated shows in television history. One of the early dancers on SOUL TRAIN was Daytime Emmy winner Darnell Williams. Darnell left Los Angeles for New York in 1977 in hopes of landing a part in The Wiz. He didn't get that part, but quickly landed roles in some Off-Broadway shows and a national tour before landing on ALL MY CHILDREN.

Two decades later Shemar Moore would become the new host of SOUL TRAIN.

"My heart is heavy after hearing the news of Don's passing," the former YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS star told ET.

In honor of Mr. Cornelius and the impact he had on so many (including Darnell and Shemar), below are a couple of videos from the early days of SOUL TRAIN.

Darnell Williams Joins THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Cast

Emmy winner Darnell Williams has joined the cast of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, according to SoapOperaDigest.com. He now joins his longtime ALL MY CHILDREN co-star, Debbi Morgan, on the No. 1 rated daytime soap. Their AMC pairing as Jesse and Angie Hubbard was one of the most popular in daytime history.

The good news is that the daytime genre needs talented actors of color on the canvas to add diversity that is seriously lacking, and sadly going in the wrong direction.

Darnell Williams Signs On To Continue With ALL MY CHILDREN

Until today the only confirmed ALL MY CHILDREN actors who had signed with the new Prospect Park web version of the show were Cameron Mathison and Lindsay Hartley. On Friday Hartley tweeted that Emmy winner Darnell Williams had also joined the new cast.

"Hello everyone! Pp update . Darnell Williams has officially signed on!! More to come xo"

Excited? What will Jesse do without Angie? Or would they recast? Let us know what you think.

50 Greatest Soap Actors: #17 Darnell Williams

NAME: Darnell Williams
RANK: 17
SOAP ROLES: Jesse Hubbard, ALL MY CHILDREN (1981-1988, 1994, 2001, 2008-present); Griggs, GUIDING LIGHT (2007); Jacob Foster, THE CITY (1995-97); Jacob Foster, LOVING (1995); Jack Durbin, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1994)

AWARDS:
2003 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
1996 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
1996 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor
1994 Golden Globe Special Award win for Best Ensemble Cast
1993 Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup Award win for Best Ensemble Cast
1985 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1983 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series
1982 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series