Ellen's 'The Slaps' Features Galen Gering, Jeanne Cooper (Video)

New NBC drama The Slap is generating a lot of attention, especially from Ellen DeGeneres, who complained this week that they stole her idea for a very similar show that includes multiple slaps. Watch Ellen's "Slaps" video below which includes appearances by Jennifer Aniston (Friends), Galen Gering (Days of our Lives) and the late Jeanne Cooper (The Young and the Restless).

NEWS: Doctor Who Announcement Imminent; GLEE's Plans for Finn & Cory; Spoiler Paranoia; Michael Damian Back to Y&R; Hulu

Doctor Who announcement imminent...
Will the BBC reveal the new Doctor Who tonight? We may find out at 7 p.m. ET.

GLEE Will Address Deaths of Cory Monteith and Finn Hudson in Third Episode
“The third episode will write Finn Hudson out of the show,” Fox Broadcasting Entertainment Chairman Kevin Reilly said at the network's exec session at the TCA press tour today. “That episode will deal with the incidents directly involved with Cory’s passing, (including) drug use.”

Ellen's Soap Opera With Jennifer Aniston Features Surprise John Aniston Appearance

It was a star-studded cast this week for Ellen's soap opera "The Tales of our Yesterday's Tomorrows," with Ellen, Jennifer Aniston and Portia de Rossi. But there were more surprises that some of the cast didn't even know about, including DAYS OF OUR LIVES star (and Jennifer's dad) John Aniston. Watch it below:

Today in Soap Opera History (February 11)

On this date in...

1972: On ANOTHER WORLD, Mary (Virginia Dwyer) felt Paula (Beverley Owen) wasn't right for Russ since she was more interested in her work than anything else, but Jim (Hugh Marlowe) and Alice (Jacqueline Courtney) felt it was up to Russ (Robert Hover) to decide.

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Miles (Joel Crothers) attacked Derek (Dennis Parker).

Today in Soap Opera History (February 11)

On this date in...

1972: On ANOTHER WORLD, Mary (Virginia Dwyer) felt Paula (Beverley Owen) wasn't right for Russ as she was more interested in her work than anything else, but Jim (Hugh Marlowe) and Alice (Jacqueline Courtney) felt it was up to Russ (Robert Hover) to decide that.

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Miles (Joel Crothers) attacked Derek (Dennis Parker). Check out our World AIDS Day feature on the actors here.

The Sexiest Women of All-Time: Jennifer Aniston, Raquel Welch, Heather Locklear, Teri Hatcher, Elizabeth Taylor, Farrah Fawcett

Men's Health has ranked The Sexiest Women of All-Time and Jennifer Aniston landed at No. 1.

Here are some of the names that appeared on daytime or primetime soap operas:
94. Kathleen Turner
90. Barbara Eden
74. Demi Moore
69. Elizabeth Taylor
42. Brooke Shields
38. Teri Hatcher
35. Halle Berry
31. Farrah Fawcett
22. Salma Hayek
19. Heather Locklear
  2. Raquel Welch
  1. Jennifer Aniston

Check out "100 Hottest" here, although we have to question any list that ranks Kim Kardashian and Pamela Anderson ahead of Farrah Fawcett!

Who would you have ranked as No. 1?

NEWS ROUNDUP: GLEE's Naya Rivera Defends Ryan Murphy, More On New DALLAS, 90210/RINGER Delayed

GLEE's Naya Rivera unhappy about negative Ryan Murphy rumors
"I think that the malicious things being written about Ryan Murphy are so sad and false. I'm proud to work for such a talented man!"

CW delays return of 90210 and RINGER by two weeks
The midseason fashion docu series REMODELED will blanket the CW schedule for two weeks in January pushing back the other shows.

AS THE WORLD TURNS' Marnie Schulenburg Joins Second Stage's "How I Learned To Drive"

Jennifer Aniston Talks About Her First Job, Acting On SEARCH FOR TOMORROW

Jennifer Aniston graces the front page of the October 2011 issue of Marie Claire Australia. They ask her about her first job and her answer involved a classic soap opera and her father.

Aniston explained she was "an extra on my dad's (actor John Aniston) soap opera, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW. When I was 12, I asked him if I could get a part on his show. I wore a yellow skating outfit, and I was kind of large. It's hard to look good in yellow, and I certainly did not. I remember I got a check for about $100, and I was blown away."

She added to US magazine in a previous interview: "I remember I got a check for about $100 USD, and I was blown away."

CASTING RUMOR: Jennifer Aniston NOT Appearing On DAYS OF OUR LIVES

Reports were swirling earlier today that FRIENDS star Jennifer Aniston was going to make a guest appearance on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, the soap that has starred her father John Aniston (Victor) since the mid-1980s.

The rumors said DAYS has cast Jennifer as a wedding planner hired to marry off Victor (to Maggie), and she will take home scale, or $645 per day, for her day on the show.

The Express (UK) posted quotes from an anonymous source saying, said: "John is thrilled at the prospect of working alongside his daughter for the first time. He didn’t approach her, though. The show’s executive producers did because John didn’t want to put Jen under pressure.

NEWS: EASTENDERS' Ben Mitchell Comes Out, REVENGE, John Aniston Meets Justin Theroux

Ben Mitchell's gay storyline on EASTENDERS shocks dad Phil
Ben Mitchell, played by Joshua Pascoe, will come out and shock his hardnut family months after kissing pal Duncan. Dad Phil, played by Steve McFadden, will be distraught at the news later this year. Ben will be Albert Square's third gay character after Syed Masood (Marc Elliot) and Christian Clarke (John Partridge).

Ironically, his romance will develop after Phil encourages him to toughen up by going boxing with Duncan. But the lads end up being more than just sparring partners when they share a kiss (filmed yesterday). When shopkeeper Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) sees them, Ben is worried his secret will come out.

NEWS: B&B Gets Fashion Makeover, Michael Corbett, Hulu, Kutcher, Robert White Dead

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Gets a Fashion Makeover
Colleen Bell, L.A. style maven and philanthropist — wed to B&B exec producer Brad Bell — holds the title of Director of Special Projects and is now in charge of giving the soap a major makeover.

"We really need to push the envelope," says Bell. "Brad and I would be watching the show together and I'd see what everyone was wearing and be really bothered by it. B&B should be a benchmark for fashion."

NOMINATIONS: People's Choice Awards 2011

The nominees for the PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS 2011 were announced Tuesday morning by Malin Akerman, Michael Chiklis, Zachary Levi, AnnaLynne McCord, Jeff Probst and Audrina Patridge, along with host Queen Latifah and Executive Producer Mark Burnett at The London West Hollywood Hotel. Prior to the announcement, over 35 million votes were cast by fans across the country. Fans were invited to pick new categories and determine the nominees for the annual awards show that celebrates fan favorites in movies, music and television.

NEWS: William Roache To Be Honored in New York, And Meet ATWT's Don Hastings

William Roache to be honored in New York next month for Guinness World Records
The 78-year-old British actor - who has played Ken Barlow for almost 50 years after appearing in Corrie's first episode in December 1960 - will officially become the longest-serving actor in a TV soap on November 22. Bill is set to overtake the current title holder, Don Hastings from American soap As The World Turns, who he will meet at the New York ceremony in November.

Roache first appeared as Ken on December 9, 1960. Hastings played Bob Hughes in AS THE WORLD TURNS show since October 1960 without a break, but ATWT ended in September after 13,858 episodes, so Roache is now set to take the title and has already been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. Roache told CORONATION STREET's 50th anniversary magazine: "Guinness World Records have been in touch and want to fly me over to New York for some sort of ceremony with Don Hastings."

Basic-cable shows are multiplying—and changing the way TV is made. Can the major networks learn from them?
As the media landscape changes and viewers flock to shows they like wherever they air, series on basic cable are still a junior circuit compared with the networks, but their universe keeps expanding, attracting better talent and growing in vibrancy. Once the province of reruns and sports, basic-cable networks will spend an estimated $23 billion on 1,462 original programs (including reality shows and specials), compared with $14 billion on 863 shows in 2005, research firm SNL Kagan reports.

Talkin' with Thom Racina: The WLS Interview, Part Three

In Parts One and Two of Nelson Aspen's interview with the legendary soap writer and author Thom Racina, they discussed the politics behind the scenes at GENERAL HOSPITAL in the early 80s, why the FBI was called to the set, how Elizabeth Taylor changed the course of soap history, and so much more.  In this final part, Thom shares how he helped Brad Pitt jump-start his career, and saved Anne Heche from being fired. Plus which show did he write in his underwear? Find out below!

Nelson Aspen: You have a Brad Pitt soap opera connection.  How does Brad Pitt fit into the world of soaps?
Thom Racina: I put him on ANOTHER WORLD. 

Nelson Aspen: How did you know Brad Pitt?
Thom Racina: I put up a little sign at Screen Actor’s Guild that said, “Needed: an actor to be a personal assistant. To walk the dog when he needed it.  Drive the scripts to the studio...” This kid shows up.  He’s cute, he’s full of energy and says, “I’m an actor,” which of course they all are in L.A.  So I hired him.  We became very close.  He moved in with me, in the maid’s room.  He had his own life, and yet we became good buddies.  My parents loved him, they became the new family he had away from Missouri.  Anyway, I came home from DAYS early one day, just in the last few months.  I saw him doing this scene with this girl in my living room...

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 1.04 Nelson Aspen

On Episode 1.04 of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, Hollywood's happiest TV personality Nelson Aspen joins Roger Newcomb and Damon L. Jacobs for dish on the latest soap hot topics, soap history and Aspen's book, "Hollywood Insider Exposed."

We cover most of the current and many of the classic soaps and if you were a fan of SEARCH FOR TOMORROW you especially don't want to miss this episode. By the end of the show we've discussed everything from Jennifer Aniston to Mary Stuart to Charles Pratt Jr.

We also hit the streets of New York city in our latest "Soaps on the Street" segment and ask fans if they will tune into GENERAL HOSPITAL to watch James Franco.



If you want to watch WE LOVE SOAPS TV on iTunes, you can. The TV show has a different link than our audio podcast. You can find it here.

If you are in the New York City area and would like to be in the audience during a taping of a future episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, email us at audience@welovesoaps.net and we will keep you posted on our upcoming schedule.

Check out these links related to this episode:
- Nelson Aspen Official Website: NelsonAspen.com
- Nelson's Book: "Hollywood Insider Exposed" on Amazon