The results are in from the We Love Soaps Indie Soap Best of the Week poll for web series that aired December 30, 2012-January 5, 2013. The series premiere of THE GROVE was voted as the favorite of our readers this week, followed by the latest episodes of LEAVING EDEN, FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES and LENOX AVENUE.
Coming off of the success of its best year ever in 2010 and best quarter ever for 1Q'11, BET Networks announced that it will unveil a brand new slate of programming for BET and CENTRIC at its 2011 Upfront presentation at the Best Buy Theater in New York. During the event, BET plans to announce that it will continue its focus on original scripted content with a new sitcom, REED BETWEEN THE LINES, starring Tracee Ellis Ross and Malcolm-Jamal Warner. The Network will also unveil new scripted web originals, LENOX AVENUE and THE COME UP, and also its first ever sci-fi thriller web series, ODESSA and ASYLUM, all of which will run across all BET Digital platforms -- BET.com, BET Mobile and BET On Demand. BET will also announce another season of THE GAME and a second season of LET'S STAY TOGETHER. In addition to scripted programming, BET will also introduce a new music docu-series, THE MESSAGE, which is a four part series about the music, the culture and the message of hip-hop. The Network will also bring back a number of its popular returning series and tent poles including BLACK GIRLS ROCK!, SUNDAY BEST and the BET AWARDS '11. 
WINDSOR HILL is a web series chronicling the lives, loves and tribulations of theater majors at the Fictional Dowell University in the fictional city of Windsor Hill, Georgia. Creator Lawrence Weber tells We Love Soaps: "I wrote the pilot about four years ago when I lived in California, shortly after Hurricane Katrina, I was inspired by the crazy memories of my time as a theater major at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana (where the show is filmed) and wrote it out of missing my friends. The actors are actual Theater majors at Dillard, for that extra accuracy. In fact, the very first episode was a final grade! WINDSOR HILL has eight episodes in the first season, with us filming the second season in the fall of this year. Stay tuned as we will have more interesting storyline and an ending that will blow you away!"
MONTECITO HEIGHTS, the soap written, directed by, and starring Gene Gabriel, has three more episodes before the season finale. Says Gabriel of the project, "I knew I had to do my own thing and the web was the best, cheapest and fastest way to do it. Iʼve known that the internet was the future of Hollywood for some time now and by doing MONTECITO HEIGHTS I have gotten myself out of a three year slump. Itʼs funny as soon as I uploaded the first episode the phone started to ring and it hasnʼt stopped since."
ANACOSTIA will be featured in the Anacostia Smithsonian Museum Documentary which will run for an entire year. The Indie Soap Award winning show is also nearing completion on its second season with only two more episodes left to shoot teases creator and star Anthony Anderson.
LUCK AND THE VIRGIN (La suerte y la Virgen), the 60 second soap from Jaime Byrd, has now aired 20 episodes. The show takes you on a wild ride of how things can go very wrong in the small Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende. Ricardo, a burnt out hit man with a funny accent, and Valentina, a clueless women running from her boyfriend with all his drug money, end up becoming involved in some unfortunate ways after their bags are switched accidentally at a tamale stand. 
The second season of EMPIRE premieres on April 27. We Love Soaps is current counting down to the new season with "The 12 Days of EMPIRE." Look for a new feature every day including a brand new episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV fearing interviews with creators Greg Turner and Brian Hewson. Season Two star Tina Sloan recently previewed her new film, Oh My Love, for We Love Soaps. Read that interview here.
The fabulous Rachael Hip-Flores, who plays ANYONE BUT ME lead Vivian, won the Streamy Award on Sunday for Best Female Actor in a Drama Web Series. Why the Streamy show itself was vulgar and full of technical difficulties, it was nice to see some of the winners, including Flores, get recognized. ANYONE BUT ME was also an Official Honoree (Drama, Best Writing) for the 14th Annual Webby Awards which released nominees this week. Season One of ABM is now available for purchase at Amazon.com.
We Love Soaps recently spoke with new REALITY BYTES star Jade Harlow, who will play Victoria Radcliffe on the upcoming drama. Harlow revealed how the casting process worked: "I got the script and it was different than a lot of the other pilots in general that I had been reading over this past season. I got real excited to go in. The meeting was unlike any meeting. It was a giant conference table, which was a bit intimidating, but [Tristan] was very personable, a very smart man." Look for the full interview soon.
THE LOVERS AND FRIENDS SHOW returned on Wednesday with the first part of the Season Three finale. L&G is an urban web-based lesbian soap that debuted in January 2008. The show stars Marlaina Law, Christy Rodriguez, BeBe Brunswick, Nicole Pina, Zaire, Kissa Jo and Hollissia Holloway. A Season Two DVD is currently available for purchase.
In case you missed the We Love Soaps interview with REALITY BYTES star Drake Hogestyn, you can read it here. Hogestyn previewed his character, Jerry Parker: "Creating a character is always a challenge, but in this particular case I'm going to be ask to bring a character to life. He was a real-life hero to many and that in itself is especially daunting. I'm up for the task but I'll also be very respectful of the writer's interpretation of this man's reincarnation. From what I understand, the man was a state trooper who died a very young and untimely death, and left a lot of people behind. He was one of the all around good guys and quite a prankster. I'm honored to be asked to bring this man back to life with the help of Kate Lang, the writer." Look for our interview with Jade Harlow (Victoria Radcliffe) in the coming days. The second season of EMPIRE premieres on April 27. WE LOVE SOAPS TV is going to feature interviews with writers Greg Turner and Brian Hewson as well as features with several of the stars of the show as we countdown to the premiere date. Turner's critically acclaimed musical, "All Fall Down" is having a reading in New York City on Saturday.
THE LIKE US SHOW, a radio soapa opera airing on stations around the country, has now aired 49 episodes. The episodes are short enough that you can easily catch up so check it out! Christian Barber, who plays Robert, also has a role on EMPIRE in Season Two. Look for the We Love Soaps interview with two-indie soap star Barber soon. THE LOVERS AND FRIENDS SHOW returns on Wednesday, April 14, for the finale of Season Three. L&G is an urban web-based lesbian soap that debuted in January 2008. You can watch the trailer for the season finale here. The show stars Marlaina Law, Christy Rodriguez, BeBe Brunswick, Nicole Pina, Zaire, Kissa Jo and Hollissia Holloway. We Love Soaps spoke with new REALITY BYTES star Drake Hogestyn this week. Hogestyn, whose son, Ben Hogestyn, is also part of the cast, will play Jerry Parker. Drake told us, "Ben and I have not worked together in the business before. However, he was asked to come in to read for the role of Brady on DAYS OF OUR LIVES years and years ago." Aside from REALITY BYTES, the two of them also have some other projects in the works including a baseball-related docudrama/reality show. Look for the full interview with Drake Hogestyn on Saturday. In other REALITY BYTES casting news, Sarajane Rogers has been cast as Harper Rains the teenaged daughter of Trevor Rains (Tristan Rogers). 
LENOX AVENUE recently released a trailer for the upcoming season. LENOX AVENUE follows the fast-paced metropolitan lives of Harlemite friends Owen (creator Al Thompson), Sellars (Dorian Missick), and Vaughn (Ryan Vigilant) as they learn that in relationships even with experience, there's no playbook. The show also features a star-studded supporting cast, including Victor Williams, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Jamie Hector, Chenoa Maxwell, Lord Jamar and Michael K. Williams.
VENICE was honored with three awards at the recent LA Web Festival - Outstanding Achievement in a Drama Series, Best Theme Music and Lead Actress in a Drama (Crystal Chappell). We Love Soaps recently had the opportunity to VENICE actress Tina Sloan who said she would be turning for Season Two: "Kimmy [Turissi] said I was. I imagine I'll just be a tiny character but that's just fine with me." EMPIRE released the trailer for Season Two last week and fans are buzzing about the show. We Love Soaps spoke with Kathryn Neville Browne, who plays Haven matriarch Sandra, about the upcoming season.
