Freeform Picks Up 'Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists' Starring Sasha Pieterse, Kelly Rutherford, Hayley Erin

In Beacon Heights, a seemingly perfect town, a group of three college
friends struggle with the stress of being overachievers. In the aftermath
of the town’s first murder, each Perfectionist hides behind a secret, a
lie and an alibi. (Freeform/Allyson Riggs)

Freeform announced new and returning series on Tuesday, including Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, whose cast includes current General Hospital actress Hayley Erin.

The recently re-branded network continues to build its roster of quality programming that speaks to the young adult consumer who has embraced its authenticity, evident in recent multi-platform hits "grown-ish," "Siren" and the critically acclaimed "The Bold Type." In addition to strong female representation on-screen, the network champions and has built an impressive, inclusive roster behind the scenes. Half of Freeform's episodic directors are female, diverse, or LGBTQ, 60% of series writers are female or diverse, and every original series on the network has a female producer. The network also boasts placement as No. 1 in digital viewing, No. 5 entertainment network and the most social cable network for the seventh year in a row.

NEW SERIES PROGRAMMING

"BESTIES"

"Besties," a half-hour multi camera comedy from co-creators Kenya Barris and Ranada Shepard has been ordered to series by Freeform following the enormous success of Barris's breakout coming-of-age show, "grown-ish," the No. 1 cable comedy season-to-date (women 18-34.) This multi-cam sitcom explores friendship, identity, race, and class as two lifelong best friends use each other to get through some of the toughest challenges that they will ever face - figuring out who they are and who they want to be. Kenya Barris and Ranada Shepard are executive producers; the series is produced by ABC Signature Studios.

"PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: THE PERFECTIONISTS"

I. Marlene King will expand the universe of "Pretty Little Liars" for Freeform with a 10-episode series order for "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists," featuring returning fan favorites Sasha Pieterse as Alison and Janel Parrish as Mona and starring Sofia Carson (Disney's Descendants) as Ava. The drama also welcomes Sydney Park (The Walking Dead) as Caitlin, newcomer Eli Brown as Dylan, Graeme Thomas King (The Widow) as Jeremy, Kelly Rutherford (ex-Sam, Generations) as Claire, and Hayley Erin (Kiki, General Hospital) in an undisclosed role. In Beacon Heights, a seemingly perfect town, a group of three college friends struggle with the stress of being overachievers. In the aftermath of the town's first murder, each Perfectionist hides behind a secret, a lie and an alibi. Like its predecessor, "Pretty Little Liars," which was No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list, "The Perfectionists" is also based on a popular book series penned by Sara Shepard. "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists" is produced by Alloy Entertainment and Long Lake Media, in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television. I. Marlene King ("Pretty Little Liars," "Famous in Love") wrote the pilot and serves as executive producer on the series with Charlie Craig ("Pretty Little Liars," "The 100"), Lisa Cochran-Neilan ("Pretty Little Liars," "Famous in Love"), Leslie Morgenstein ("Pretty Little Liars," "The Vampire Diaries") and Gina Girolamo ("The 100," "The Originals"). The pilot was directed and executive produced by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum ("Relationship Status").

NEWS: Guy Wilson, Morgan Fairchild, Debbi Morgan, Ashleigh Brewer, Ryan Paevey, Kelly Rutherford

Is Guy Wilson leaving Days of our Lives?
Is Will Horton going to be one of the victim's in Days' upcoming murder mystery story?

Daniel Morgan's new memoir "Last Stage Manager Standing" recounts 50 years in TV, including Search for Tomorrow
In his half-century working as a stage manager for CBS, ABC and NBC, Daniel Morgan had his share of unusual tasks. While working on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow in the 1970s, a producer told Morgan his job for the day was to make sure the show's star, Morgan Fairchild (who played Jennifer Pace), was wearing a bra.

"I guess the day or week before, she hadn't been wearing one and there were problems with Standards and Practices," Morgan wrote. He then went into her dressing room and started talking to her about cats "as a pretext to look down her blouse.

"She was wearing a sheer something," he wrote. "But she was wearing something."

The Bold and the Beautiful's Ashleigh Brewer on Ivy's failed romance with Liam
"It definitely got to the point where I'd read the script and my heart would break for her a little bit," says the actress of her alter ego's rough go of things with Liam, who, in the eyes of many fans, disrespected the brunette by tossing her aside in favor of her overtly sexy cousin.

General Hospital star Ryan Paevey on the road to recovery
After seriously injuring his hand in a motorcycle accident, Ryan Paevey (Nathan) tells Soaps In Depth that he's well on his way to a full recovery. "My doc is impressed with how quickly my tissue has mended," the actor reports. "All the 'road rash' is gone. The bones have fused, and my body's not fighting the metal. The surgical side is fine."

However, there are still a few obstacles to overcome. "My range of motion is still really limited," he confides. "It'll probably be a while before I'm on the bike or in the gym again."

Generations alum Kelly Rutherford refuses to hand children back to father
The Gossip Girl star spent the summer with her two children - Hermes and Helena - in New York, and was due to fly them back to Monaco on Thursday, but she declared on Friday in a statement that she is refusing.

"These past three years waiting for my children to come home have been very difficult. My children were forced to leave the United states in 2012 when they were only 2 and 5 years old," Rutherford says in a statement. "In May, a judge in California gave me sole custody and brought them home. I am immensely grateful and overjoyed to have them back. Since May, however, the court proceedings have been confusing."

All My Children star Debbi Morgan shines in one-woman show
In her one-woman show, “The Monkey on My Back,” Morgan opens up about her own life’s journey, from fear and abuse to empowerment and self-love.

The proverbial “monkey on my back” refers to the cycle of physical and emotional abuse that her grandmother and her mother went through. That cycle continued in Morgan’s own relationships, starting with the drug-dealing boyfriend of her youth and continuing through four marriages, with her fourth marriage to Jeffrey Winston being the charm.

NEWS: Brendan Coughlin, Martin Henderson, Kelly Rutherford, Alicia Coppola, Couch Potatoes

Estately ranked each state using eight separate metrics and then averaged those to create the final rankings. Couch potatoes are found in the greatest abundance in Ohio, while Hawaii is home to the fewest. West Virginia residents have the TV on the most, with an average of 3 hours, 37 minutes per day.

Lifetime orders The Unauthorized Beverly Hills, 90210 Story
Following in the footsteps of 2014's Saved By the Bell pic and the upcoming Full House movie, the project will show the roller coaster ride of the teen soap's first four seasons, particularly the drama between cast members and producers both on and off-set. The movie will also shed light on the show's several near-cancelations and its subsequent rise to ratings hit and pop culture phenomenon.

Martin Henderson joins Grey's Anatomy as new series regular
He is expected to play a new surgeon at Seattle Grace.

10 Episodes Is the New 13 (Was the New 22)
Long after cable networks trained viewers to live with just 13 episodes of their favorite shows, both cable and broadcast outlets are now adapting their business models to produce even fewer installments per season. The biggest broadcast hits of 2014 (How to Get Away With Murder) and 2015 (Empire) debuted with just 15 and 12 episodes, respectively.

Gossip Girl star Kelly Rutherford clears the air regarding her custody drama
"I was charmed. I fell in love and also it was the fact that I was ready for marriage and children. It was a combination of things coming at the right time. And he’s very good at what he does which is charming people. I thought we were both in love with each other and that our son would bring us even closer together."

Brendan Coughlin leave Days of our Lives?

@Bren_Coughlin sadly I think my time in Salem has run out but every time I run into a days fan it makes me miss it that much more!!!

— Brendan Coughlin (@Bren_Coughlin) June 13, 2015

TV's alleged 'rape glut' may just be a more reflective reality
Certainly there are instances in which rape is handled badly or used to push ratings, just as there are examples of violence against children being handled badly or to push ratings. But there are also plenty of examples of rape being used to explore the precarious role of women in certain societies and/or their ability to overcome hardship.

Former Another World star Alicia Coppola revisits her character's rape storyline
Alicia Coppola played Lorna Devon on Another World from April 25, 1991 to January 14, 1994.

"Linda [Dano] was unbelievable in these scenes. She did not know what I was going to do, how I was going to play this moment. We were both utterly in the moment. Linda, being the extreme empath that she is, felt everything I was feeling and then some. I think in those moments, our bond as mother/daughter was born, and has never been broken. Linda took care of me in those scenes. Her gentility and sensitivity safely guided me. Linda gave me courage."

NEWS: Forbes March, Jonathan Jackson, Maria Arena Bell, Connor Kalopsis, Karla Mosley, Jordana Brewster

Forbes March - Photo Credit: Noah Kalina

'One Life to Live' alum Forbes March is a 'Gentleman Farmer'
After years spent modeling in Europe and New York, March (ex-Nash, One Life to Live; ex-Scott, All My Children); ex-Mason, As the World Turns) worked in film and television, becoming known for a recurring role on the popular soap One Life to Live. He discovered Sullivan County on a family camping trip and returned for the fly-fishing whenever he needed to decompress from his acting gigs. Eventually, he bought a house in Jeffersonville and took refuge there when the recession hit along with his Italian wife, Vanessa, and their two kids, Marina, 15, and Peter, 8.

Kelly Rutherford Granted Sole Custody of Her 2 Children
The Gossip Girl and Generations star has been given sole legal and physical custody of her two children temporarily after a California judge ruled that son Hermes, 8, and daughter Helena, almost 6, be brought back to the United States from Monaco, where they had been living with father Daniel Giersch since 2012.

According to a court order filed Friday, the children must return to Los Angeles, and their mother will keep their passports. A hearing at the L.A. Superior Court – where Rutherford, Hermes, Helena and Giersch or his representative are required to be present – is scheduled for June 15.

Acting roles accumulate for young local thespian, Connor Kalopsis
Less than two months after filming ended for the pilot for a new television show, The Grinder, starring Rob Lowe and former child star Fred Savage, Fox Broadcasting has ordered the series to start next fall.

“It’s amazing,” said Kalopsis (Chase, Days of our Lives), the 11-year-old son of former London city councillor Nancy Branscombe and businessperson Ken Kalopsis.

“When you’re filming, you don’t think it will ever get picked up because you don’t want to get your hopes up. I’m just so happy.”

Actress Karla Mosley on the response to her 'Bold and the Beautiful' story
"The best responses are from people who tell me that I’m telling their story. Also from fans who say their hearts have opened to the transgender community or that they are thinking about things they never have before. There are Trans artists who have paved the way for many years before me and continue to do so. If I am in any way a part of increased awareness, love and rights for people – then I’ve done my job."

Karla Mosley takes the stage on May 30th
Ammunition Theatre Company, a new force on the LA theater scene, is proud to announce its inaugural production "One in the Chamber," an evening of 7 one-acts, acted by 12 company members, for one night only- Saturday May 30th 2015 at Art Share-LA in Downtown Los Angeles. Doors open at 7 p.m. for a cocktail hour, followed by the one-acts at 8 p.m. Performances from musicians Sin City and others will round out the evening at 930 p.m.

Former 'The Young and the Restless' head writer and executive producer Maria Arena Bell named new inductee to Newport Harbor Hall of Fame
Bell offered advice for current aspiring writers who attend her alma mater.

"The most important thing is to read, watch great television and films and observe everyone around you," Bell said. "It's so much the role of the writer to take in everything and distill it into something that has power that people can relate to. Enjoy your time at Harbor, you may write about it later!"

'Days of our Lives' theme song writer released 'Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce and Hart, the Monkees and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles'
Bobby Hart, one half of the legendary (Tommy) Boyce-Hart songwriting team, has just released his biography. Co-written with Puebloan Glenn Ballantyne, the tome is a colorful, introspective and pull-no-punches look at the roller-coaster life of the small-town boy born Robert Luke Harshman, who went on to scale show business heights.

Jonathan Jackson's 'Nashville' experience gives the actor’s band a boost'
“There’s the hesitancy some people have toward actors who do music or musicians who act,” Jackson says. “There’s a stigma there, but we’ve used that from the beginning. It’s made us fighters. We have to go out and prove ourselves. It’s given a little underlying punk edge to the band.”

Jordana Brewster on Chocolate Pizza, ‘Uplifting Podcasts,’ and Being Well
"I think my views have shifted from like, graduate from college, get the next job — very material goals — to less materialistic things. I think since having a kid I've become less stressed and crazy and type A, which I think is a really good thing. I just realized that you kind of need to be happy, so make yourself happy."

It's not everyone who has a soap opera character named for him
Chris Boothe, 50, is CEO of Spark, a Starcom MediaVest Group agency that last year was named Small Agency of the Year by Media magazine. Fun fact: The character Chris Boothe on the defunct NBC soap opera Passions was named for him, courtesy of a friend who worked on the show.

KITTEN BOWL, Hosted by Beth Stern, Will Feature Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Kelly Rutherford, Aiden Turner

Hallmark Channel, the heart of TV, is pleased to announce the latest celebrities joining the kittens out on the field in Kitten Stadium for its first-ever KITTEN BOWL, premiering Sunday, February 2, 2014 (12—9 p.m. ET/PT). Hosted by TV personality and animal advocate Beth Stern and the official radio voice of the New York Yankees and Emmy winning host of Yankeeography and Yankees Classics on the YES Network, John Sterling, who serves as the official play-by-play announcer joined by Renée Herlocker, KITTEN BOWL promises to knock your fuzzy socks off with an abundance of today’s stars across all aspects of entertainment including film, television, music and sports. Some of the brightest stars and TV personalities joining Hallmark Channel’s first annual KITTEN BOWL include Regis Philbin, Rachael Ray, Hoda Kotb, Lisa Vanderpump, Bob Harper, Chuck Nice, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Carrie Ann Inaba, Nicky Hilton, Kelly Rutherford (GOSSIP GIRL, GENERATIONS), Aiden Turner (ALL MY CHILDREN, Manhattanites), Cory Kalanick, Julian Starks and many more to come!