NEWS ROUNDUP: DAYS OF OUR LIVES 12,000th Episode To Air Jan. 11, 2013! Plus, Florencia Lozano, Lane Davies, Greg Rikaart, Darcy Rose Byrnes

DAYS OF OUR LIVES to air 12,000th episode on January 11, 2003
The cast and crew of NBC's Days of Our Lives gathered on Friday, Sept. 28 to celebrate a remarkable TV milestone — the filming of the soap's 12,000th episode. Days icons Deidre Hall (Marlena) and Drake Hogestyn (John), seen here, were among those on hand, along with executive producer Ken Corday whose late dad, Ted Corday, was a cocreator of the show. Episode 12,000 will air on January 11, 2013.

Anthony Geary: 'When I'm threatened or uncomfortable, [Luke Spencer] takes over'
"I can flip into 'Luke Spencer,' and I'm sure any of us can flip into our 'characters' at a moment's notice. I know how he feels, and when I'm threatened or uncomfortable, he takes over."

ONE LIFE TO LIVE alum Florencia Lozano: 'Tea was a blast to play'
"Tea was a blast to play. People always ask me, "Was she good or was she bad?" And I say "She did some questionable things because of her damaged heart." Who can't relate to that? I loved how psychotically driven she was by work and by ambition and by her loyalty to the people she loved. That was really fun to play. She was complex, and we don't get to see complex women often enough."

50 Greatest Soap Couples: #32 Mason & Julia From SANTA BARBARA

COUPLE: Mason Capwell & Julia Wainwright
SHOW: SANTA BARBARA
RANK: 32
PLAYED BY:
Mason: Lane Davies, Terry Lester, Gordon Thomson
Julia: Nancy Lee Grahn
YEARS: 1986-1993

STORY:
Julia came to Santa Barbara to help her blind sister, Augusta (Louise Sorel).  When she met Mason he mistook her for a prostitute.  Both Mason and Julia were unlucky in love so Julia decided to have a baby asking Mason to be the father.  Mason agreed and during the process of making that happen they eventually fell in love (although neither would admit it).  Julia did become pregnant, and Mason proposed to Tori (Kristen Meadows).   Julia and Mason, both sharp-minded lawyers who fought as well as they made love, eventually admitted their feelings and came together.

CLASSIC CLIP: Mason & Julia in SANTA BARBARA - Mason Recast

Mason Capwell was recast in the middle of an episode! Watch the clip below (with voice over actors voicing the roles):

CLASSIC CLIP: Mason & Julia's Wedding in SANTA BARBARA

Mason and Julia were one of the most popular couples in SANTA BARBARA history. Watch their weddings below:

CLASSIC CLIP: Mason & Julia in SANTA BARBARA 1988

Mason has turned to the bottle on SANTA BARBARA much to Julia's dismay. But their chemistry is undeniable. Watch the clip below:

CLASSIC CLIP: Mason & Julia in SANTA BARBARA 1985

Mason and Julia met in 1985 at the State Street Bar and he thought she was a prostitute. Watch the clip below:

THE BAY Series Interviews: Lane Davies, Part One

Lane Davies is beloved by soap fans for his brooding, complex, and hysterical portrayal of Mason Capwell on SANTA BARBARA.  He is also regarded by critics as one of the greatest actors in daytime history.  But how does this acclaimed thespian perceive his life and career?  Please join us for this interviewed in which Lane Davies discusses his roles on stage, daytime, and the exciting new web series THE BAY.

We Love Soaps: How did THE BAY come to you?
Lane Davies: Gregori Martin was casting, and put out feelers to find out who people wanted to see back from daytime, and he said my name kept coming up. I have been somewhat semiretired for the last four or five years, doing mostly theater while getting my boys into college.  So the timing worked out well.  I was just about to head back out to L.A. and earn some college money anyway when I got the call from Gregori.  I also wanted to do it because of the other people involved.  I figured if Mary Beth Evans, Tristan Rogers, and Charles Shaughnessy were willing to take a chance on Gregori, then I’d be willing.  Plus, I have always like the nature of serial drama.

We Love Soaps: What do you like about it?
Lane Davies: The problem I’ve always had with theater, which I do love, is that I bore easily.  As sublime as material can be, it doesn’t take long for me to want to move on to other material.  So the constantly changing material is part of it.  The other part is the pace of the work.  You can get hooked on the adrenaline of the daytime schedule if you’re on a busy part on a busy show.  That’s part of the attraction of it for me.  If you’re shooting film, or even episodic television, the pace can be glacially slow.  I tend to fidget.

50 Greatest Soap Actors: #27 Lane Davies

NAME: Lane Davies
RANK: 27
SOAP ROLES: Cameron Lewis, GENERAL HOSPITAL (2002-2004); Ridge Forrester, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1992); Mason Capwell, SANTA BARBARA (1984-1989); Evan Whyland, DAYS OF OUR LIVES (1981-1982)

AWARDS:
1990 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime
1988 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role: Daytime
1986 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role on a Daytime Serial
1986 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Comic Relief Role on a Daytime Serial