'Giants,' 'After Forever' & 'Indoor Boys' Lead Indie Series Awards Nominations

James Bland stars as Malachi in Giants.

The 10th Annual Indie Series Awards nominations were revealed on Wednesday in a Facebook Live broadcast hosted by former winners Dee Freeman and Michael Taylor Gray. The ISAs celebrate the best in independently produced entertainment created for the Web. Nominees were announced in 30 categories.

Giants led all series with 19 total nominations, followed by After Forever with 14. Those shows will compete in the Best Drama Series category with Conversations in L.A., In Absentia, The New 30, Only Children, Riley Parra and What's Your Status.

Indoor Boys led all comedies with 13 nominations. The series is joined in the Best Comedy Series field by 190 Lorimer, #Adulting, The Amazing Gayl Pile: Apocalypse Soonish, Does It Fart, My 90-Year-Old Roommate, The Rich and the Ruthless and #Washed.

Competing for Best Non-Fiction Series are Girl Mess, The No-Name Cinema Society, The Vivid Project, What The IVF and The Witching Hour.

Nominated soap stars include Kevin Spirtas (formerly Craig on Days of our Lives), Patrika Darbo (most recently Shirley on The Bold and the Beautiful), Marie Wilson (formerly Meg on As the World Turns) and Alex Wyse (Saul on The Bold and the Beautiful).

In all, there are 45 nominated series from around the globe: United States, Canada, Australia, Indie and the United Kingdom. Crystal trophies will be presented to the winners during a gala ceremony on April 3 at The Colony Theatre in Los Angeles. The two-day celebration includes a launch party, red carpet reception, press walk, presentation ceremony and official after party.

Since 2009, the Indie Series Award has honored the most creative and progressive talent in independent web series.

Check out the complete list of nominees below.

Best Drama Series

After Forever

Conversations in L.A.

Giants

In Absentia

The New 30

Only Children

Riley Parra 

What's Your Status

'Ladies of the Lake' Season 2 Now Streaming on Amazon

Indie Series Award winner Arianne Zucker is front and center in the second season of Ladies of the Lake, now streaming on Amazon, and the digital drama is more enthralling than ever.

Jessica Morris and Marie Wilson return as Crystal Amhurst and Morgan Firestone, the remaining Ladies of the Lake who are facing the consequences of getting away with murder. Both characters are more relatable in the new episodes. Zucker's Lisa Roth (Clara in Season 1) has infiltrated the group and is now living with Crystal. Her outstanding performance turns the hellbent on revenge guest-starring role into a strong but sympathetic leading lady. Joining the fun are General Hospital's Kathleen Gati as Crystal's mother, Margaret Cranston; GH's Marc Anthony Samuel as Clara's husband, Teddy DuPree; and Days of our Lives' Robert Scott Wilson as Clara's step-brother, Ethan Wyatt. Gati brings the comedy, while Samuel and Wilson add the sexy and intensity to the mix. Jillian Clare and Amanda Corday are back as Cassidy Montgomery and Maddie Firestone.

Guest stars Patrika Darbo, Eric Martsolf, Melissa Archer and Nadia Bjorlin are all hilarious.

Overall, the story works better this time around, and the show is edge-of your-seat fascinating throughout. If you liked Season 1, you will love Season 2.

Be sure to check out Season 2 of Ladies of the Lake: Return to Avalon on Amazon now (free for AmazonPrime members).

Arianne Zucker Returning to 'Days of our Lives' This Fall

Three-time Daytime Emmy nominee Arianne Zucker played Nicole Walker on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives for 19 years before she left to pursue other projects in 2017. At the time, she did want to be tied to a contract but was open to a return. That return will happen this fall when Nicole will make her way back to Salem for a story arc.

Since leaving Days, Zucker has made her way to primtime, filming several TV movies including Web Cam Girls, Mommy Be Mine and Blind at 17.

She also appeared in the first season of digital drama Ladies of the Lake, winning an Indie Series Award in April for her portrayal of Lisa Roth. Based on the Ken Corday novel of the same name, Ladies of the Lake was executive produced by Corday, Michael Caruso and Zucker's ex-husband and former co-star, Kyle Lowder, who will also be returning to Days this year. Zucker returns for Season 2 of the series, Ladies of the Lake: Return to Avalon, when it premieres June 19 on Amazon.

9th Annual Indie Series Awards: Complete List of Winners

The winners of the 9th Annual Indie Series Awards were revealed on Wednesday, April 4 at The Colony Theatre in Burbank. The ISAs celebrate the best in independently produced entertainment created for the Web.

Top honors went to Giants and How to Buy a Baby, named best drama and best comedy series of the year. Vintage America with Ginger took home the first ever prize for best non-fiction series. Ladies of the Lake led all series with four wins.

Since 2009, the Indie Series Award has honored the most creative and progressive talent in independent web series. The inspirational ceremony was hosted by Emmy winner Patrika Darbo, who took home her first individual ISA for her work in comedy hit Indoor Boys.

A number of soap opera stars who took home ISAs this year, including Arianna Zucker, Ian Buchanan, Kyle Lowder, Alex Wyse and Victoria Rowell (as part of the winning ensemble from The Rich and the Ruthless). Though he didn't take home an ISA for either of his two Ladies of the Lake musical nominations, Days of our Lives executive producer was thanked and applauded by winners and presenters alike throughout the evening. Other past and present soap opera nominees included Jacklyn Zeman, Maeve Quinlan, Jade Harlow, Brandon Beemer, Eric Nelsen, Jennifer Bassey, Chad Duell, along with numerous others as part of nominated ensembles.

In all, 46 series were nominated from around the globe: United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Singapore and Uruguay.

Check out a complete list of winners below.

Best Drama Series
Giants

Best Directing - Drama
Dan Ast, L.A. Macabre

Best Writing - Drama
James Bland, Giants

Best Lead Actor - Drama
Kyle Lowder, Ladies of the Lake

Best Lead Actress - Drama
Marem Hassler, Riley Parra

Best Supporting Actor - Drama
Wil Lash, Anacostia

Best Supporting Actress - Drama
Lindsey Middleton, Out With Dad

Best Guest Actor - Drama
Ian Buchanan, Ladies of the Lake

Best Guest Actress - Drama
Arianne Zucker, Ladies of the Lake

Best Ensemble - Drama
The Bay

Best Comedy Series
How to Buy a Baby

Best Directing - Comedy
Molly McGlynn, How to Buy a Baby

Best Writing - Comedy
Natalie Smyka, ThreadBare

Best Lead Actor - Comedy
Alex Wyse, Indoor Boys

Best Lead Actress - Comedy
Rachel B. Joyce, Royally

Best Supporting Actor - Comedy
Andy King, Filth City

Best Supporting Actress - Comedy
June Diane Raphael, ThreadBare

Best Guest Actor - Comedy
Zac Titus, Bad Timing

Best Guest Actress - Comedy
Patrika Darbo, Indoor Boys

Best Ensemble - Comedy
The Rich and the Ruthless

Best Cinematography
David Chung, Riley Parra

Best Editing
Nick Nordfors, Haunt ME

Best Costume Design
Vanessa Fischer, Filth City

Best Makeup
Jen Fregozo & Jennifer Corona, Ladies of the Lake

Best Production Design
Florian Wolf, Dear Mankind

Best Special/Visual Effects
Andreas Schmidt, Dear Mankind

Best Soundtrack
Judith Avers, Or So the Story Goes

Best Original Score
Mike Meehan, L.A. Macabre

Best Original Song
"Lost" from Giants, written by Drew Anthuny

Best Non-Fiction Series
Vintage America with Ginger

WINS BY SERIES
4 Ladies of the Lake
3 Giants
2 Dear Mankind
2 Filth City
2 How to Buy a Baby
2 Indoor Boys
2 L.A. Macabre
2 Riley Parra
2 ThreadBare
1 Anacostia
1 Bad Timing
1 The Bay
1 Haunt ME
1 Or So the Story Goes
1 Out With Dad
1 The Rich and the Ruthless
1 Royally
1 Vintage America with Ginger

45th Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations: 'General Hospital' Is Most Nominated Series

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the nominees for the 45th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. The ceremony will be held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Sunday, April 29, 2018 hosted by Mario Lopez, host and star of the Emmy award-winning syndicated entertainment news show, Extra, and Sheryl Underwood, one of the hosts of The Talk. The Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards will also be held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Friday, April 27, 2018.

General Hospital led all series with 26 nominations, followed by Days of Our Lives (25), The Young and the Restless (25), The Bold and the Beautiful (18) and The Bay The Series (15).

Check out the drama series nominations (TV and digital) below.

Outstanding Drama Series
The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Days of our Lives (NBC)
General Hospital (ABC)
The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series
The Bay The Series (Amazon)
EastSiders (Netflix)
Ladies of the Lake (Amazon)
Tainted Dreams (Amazon)
Venice The Series (venicetheseries.com)
Zac & Mia (Verizon go90)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Eileen Davidson, as Ashley Abbott
The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Nancy Lee Grahn, as Alexis Davis
General Hospital (ABC)

Marci Miller, as Abigail Deveraux
Days of our Lives (NBC)

Maura West, as Ava Jerome
General Hospital (ABC)

Laura Wright, as Carly Corinthos
General Hospital (ABC)

Nominees Revealed for 9th Annual Indie Series Awards: 'Ladies of the Lake' & 'The Bay' Lead the Pack

The nominations for the 9th Annual Indie Series Awards were revealed on Wednesday, January 31. Celebrating the best in independently produced  entertainment created for the Web, ISAs nominees were announced in 30 categories.

Ladies of the Lake led all series with 18 total nominations, followed by The Bay with 16. Those shows will compete in the Best Drama Series category with Anacostia, Giants, L.A. Macabre, Riley Parra, Running With Violet and Teenagers.

Filth City led all comedies with 12 nominations. The series is joined in the Best Comedy Series field by 190 Lorimer, The Amazing Hoolister Park, Bad Timing, Dear Mankind, How to Buy a Baby, Indoor Boys and ThreadBare.

The Bold and the Beautiful actress Patrika Darbo was nominated for her work in three separate web series: Indoor Boys, The Bay and Ladies of the Lake.  In an ISAs first, she will compete against herself in the Best Guest Actress - Drama category.

In all, there are 46 nominated series from around the globe: United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Singapore and Uruguay. Crystal trophies will be presented to the winners during a gala ceremony on April 4 at The Colony Theatre in Los Angeles. The two-day celebration includes a launch party, red carpet reception, press walk, presentation ceremony and official after party.

Since 2009, the Indie Series Award has honored the most creative and progressive talent in independent web series. 

The Annual Indie Series Awards is an initiative to elevate the entire indie series genre, organized by the nonprofit Indie Series Network. All proceeds from entry fees, ticket sales, program ads, etc. are reinvested in the production of the event. ISA9 is produced by We Love Soaps LLC (Crown Heights, Brooklyn) in cooperation with the Indie Series Network (IndieSeriesNetwork.org) and media partner Serial Scoop. 

The nominees are:

Best Drama Series

Anacostia

The Bay

Giants

L.A. Macabre

Ladies of the Lake

Riley Parra

Running With Violet

Teenagers

'Ladies of the Lake' Streaming Free on Amazon During August

If you haven't watched Ladies of the Lake yet, now is the perfect time. Ladies of the Lake executive producers Michael Caruso and Kyle Lowder announced today that their four-part adaptation of the Ken Corday novel would be made available to all Amazon customers during the month of August.

"Ladies of the Lake has exceeded all expectations on Amazon," said Lowder, who also stars in the series. "The numbers have been through the roof and we have trended multiple times over the course of several months on the platform. We were always hopeful the show would do well, but this has been beyond our wildest dreams, which is why we wanted to do something to make the show available to even more people."

"We wanted to give something back to the soap fans for their incredible support," added Caruso, who also wrote the series. "Beginning August 1st for the entire month of August, anyone with an Amazon account can watch Ladies of the Lake for free. You do not need to be a Prime member to watch the show. The response to Ladies of the Lake has been so overwhelming that we wanted to say thank you by including everyone who might not have access to Prime."

Ladies of the Lake tells the story of four women living in the exclusive gated community of Avalon in Southern California and the lengths they go to to escape their abusive marriages. The series boasts and all-star cast of daytime talent including Martha Madison, Lilly Melgar, Jessica Morris, Marie Wilson, Patrika Darbo, Arianne Zucker, Jillian Clare, Kyle Lowder, Ian Buchanan, Wally Kurth, John-Paul Lavoisier and Gordon Thomson.

Watch the trailer below.

'Ladies of the Lake' Now Streaming on Amazon

Ladies of the Lake, the much-anticipated digital four-part mini-series featuring an all-star soap opera cast, is now streaming on Amazon and Amazon Prime. The show tells the story of the glamorous residents of the Southern California community of Avalon, and the dark secrets they hide behind their perfect facades.

"It's pure glamour," says Indie Series Award winning Michael Caruso, who wrote the script and executive produces. "The novel is the kind of fun poolside read that people crave, and when Ken [Corday] permitted Kyle [Lowder] and I to adapt his novel we thought that the digital medium would be perfect for binge watching, which is why Amazon is the ideal home for Ladies of the Lake."

With a track record of hits that includes the popular dramas DeVanity and Winterthorne, Caruso's streak of successes will surely continue with the enchanting Ladies of the Lake.

The cast includes Martha Madison, Lilly Melgar, Jessica Morris, Marie Wilson, Jillian Clare, Kyle Lowder, Patrika Darbo, Arianne Zucker, Wally Kurth, Ian Buchanan, Gordon Thomson and John-Paul Lavoisier.

"Bringing Ken Corday’s story to life was one of the most exhilarating and rewarding experiences of my career," says Kyle Lowder, who executive produces and stars as Detective Shawn Daniels. "There's a little something for everyone. Mystery, romance, drama, and a visual feast that brings the over the top lifestyles of So Cal to life."

Watch the trailer below.

'Ladies of the Lake' Teaser Poster Released: Wealth. Power. Secrets. Murder. Welcome to Avalon.

The first teaser poster has been released for Ladies of the Lake, the upcoming digital series produced by Indie Series Award winner and Emmy nominee Michael Caruso and Emmy nominated Kyle Lowder. Ladies of the Lake tells the story of four wealthy wives living in the exclusive gated community of Avalon. When their abusive husbands begin to turn up dead, Detective Shawn Daniels (Lowder) launches an investigation, only to discover the many secrets hidden beneath the glossy veneers of Avalon. The script was penned by Caruso, adapted from a novel written by Ken Corday and is being produced through Michael & Barbara Caruso Productions.

Portraying the four mysterious ladies are Emmy and Indie Series Award nominee Martha Madison, in the role of Vivian Montgomery, an intellectual business woman who gave up her career to support her husband, Emmy and Indie Series Award winner Lilly Melgar as Angelica Louis, the quintessential Hollywood Wife with a tragic past, Indie Series Award nominee Marie Wilson as Morgan Firestone, a former pageant queen who became the face of her husband's shipping empire and Jessica Morris who portrays Crystal Amhurst, a barren trophy wife who will do anything to keep her husbands attention.

The talented female leads will be joined by a distinguished group of thesps playing their ill-fated husbands including Emmy winners Wally Kurth, in the role of Hudson Montgomery, a tech giant with a wandering eye and Ian Buchanan as Alphonse Louis, a B List movie star who will stop at nothing to land the next part. Golden Globe nominee Gordon Thomson will be seen as Sheraton Firestone, a shipping magnate whose ruthlessness is unwavering cements when protecting his business empire, and John-Paul Lavoisier will be portraying Jonathan Amhurst, the trust fund millionaire with an inexhaustible sexual appetite.

Three-time Emmy nominee Arianne Zucker is set to star as Clara, an investigative journalist hell bent on revenge with hidden ties to Hudson Montgomery, while Indie Series Award winner Jillian Clare is playing Cassidy Montgomery, the Queen Bee of the Ladies of the Lake children. Also joining the illustrious cast is Emmy and Indie Series Award nominee Patrika Darbo as Dorothy Nolan, a woman with a sordid past hiding behind the resident golf pro and soap veteran John Callahan as Tommy Nolan, her Avalon Golf Pro husband whose get rich quick schemes are finally catching up to him.

Ladies of the Lake will debut late summer.

Martha Madison, Lilly Melgar, Marie Wilson & Jessica Morris to Lead 'Ladies of the Lake' Cast

Lilly Melgar and Martha Madison

Emmy nominated Executive Producer Michael Caruso announced today the esteemed cast for Ladies of the Lake, the upcoming digital series which he, alongside co-executive producer and Emmy nominated star, Kyle Lowder, handpicked to bring the script to life. Ladies of the Lake tells the story of four wealthy wives living in the exclusive gated community of Avalon. When their abusive husbands begin to turn up dead, Detective Shawn Daniels (Lowder) launches an investigation, only to discover the many secrets hidden beneath the glossy veneers of Avalon. The script was penned by Caruso, adapted from a novel written by Ken Corday and is being produced through Michael & Barbara Caruso Productions.

Michael and Barbara Caruso Productions Set to Produce Digital Series Based on Ken Corday Novel "Ladies of the Lake" Starring Kyle Lowder

Production on Ladies of the Lake begins next month.

In a first of its kind deal, Ken Corday, longtime executive producer of Days of our Lives, has enlisted Emmy nominated Michael Caruso, to adapt and produce his original novel, "Ladies of the Lake," for the digital platform. The series will be executive produced by Michael Caruso (under his company Michael and Barbara Caruso Productions) and Emmy nominated actor Kyle Lowder, who also stars in the series and was instrumental in spearheading the initial concept to bring the soapy page-turner to the small screen. Two-time Emmy winner Sonia Blangiardo will direct the series.

Ladies of the Lake tells the story of four wealthy wives living in the exclusive gated community of Avalon. When their abusive husbands begin to turn up dead, Detective Shawn Daniels (Lowder) launches an investigation, only to discover the many secrets hidden beneath the glossy veneers of Avalon.

The script was penned by Indie Series Award winning writer Michael Caruso, adapted from the novel written by Ken Corday.

“Ken has been behind us since day one, giving us the freedom and creative control to adapt his novel," said Caruso. "He has been incredibly generous throughout the entire process and working alongside Kyle on this has been extraordinary. We are pulling out all the stops to whip up a really fun ride for the audience."

“Bringing Ken Corday's novel to life is something that I wanted to do from the first time I read it," revealed Lowder. " To have the opportunity to work with Michael Caruso and all the talent involved, both in front of and behind the camera, is truly inspiring.”

“When Kyle and Michael unveiled their vision for transforming 'Ladies of the Lake' into digital episodes, I was delighted," added Corday. "Our creative collaboration is a burst of fresh energy which stays true to the original story and also introduces these beautiful, intelligent, complex women to a broader audience."

Ladies of the Lake begins production next month. Additional cast announcements will be made next week. To find out more, visit www.ladiesofthelakeseries.com.