Today in Soap Opera History (January 6)

1975: Another World expanded to an hour full-time.
1983: Felicia Gallant arrived in Another World's Bay City.
1986: General Hospital's Monica was at odds with Alan.
1997: Aaron Spelling's Sunset Beach premiered on NBC.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Rodney Harrington (Ryan O'Neal) visited Allison Mackenzie (Mia Farrow) at Doctors Hospital. She had told Rodney she loved him on the day of his arraignment but she no longer remembered her feelings for him. The episode was written by Sonya Roberts and Rita Lakin. Lakin went on to become head writer of daytime soap opera The Doctors.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 6)

1975: Another World expanded to an hour full-time.
1983: Felicia Gallant arrived in Another World's Bay City.
1986: General Hospital's Monica was at odds with Alan.
1997: Aaron Spelling's Sunset Beach premiered on NBC.

"History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Rodney Harrington (Ryan O'Neal) visited Allison Mackenzie (Mia Farrow) at Doctors Hospital. She had told Rodney she loved him on the day of his arraignment but she no longer remembered her feelings for him. The episode was written by Sonya Roberts and Rita Lakin. Lakin went on to become head writer of daytime soap opera The Doctors.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 6)

1975: Another World expanded to an hour full-time.
1983: Felicia Gallant arrived in Another World's Bay City.
1986: General Hospital's Monica was at odds with Alan.
1997: Aaron Spelling's Sunset Beach premiered on NBC.

"More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers."
― Joe Murray

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Rodney Harrington (Ryan O'Neal) visited Allison Mackenzie (Mia Farrow) at Doctors Hospital. She had told Rodney she loved him on the day of his arraignment but she no longer remembered her feelings for him. The episode was written by Sonya Roberts and Rita Lakin. Lakin went on to become head writer of daytime soap opera The Doctors.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 6)

1975: Another World expanded to an hour full-time.
1983: Felicia Gallant arrived in Another World's Bay City.
1986: General Hospital's Monica was at odds with Alan.
1997: Aaron Spelling's Sunset Beach premiered on NBC.

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Rodney Harrington (Ryan O'Neal) visited Allison Mackenzie (Mia Farrow) at Doctors Hospital. She had told Rodney she loved him on the day of his arraignment but she no longer remembered her feelings for him. The episode was written by Sonya Roberts and Rita Lakin. Lakin went on to become head writer of daytime soap opera The Doctors.

Linda Dano Joins Cast of New Series From Janet Iacobuzio & Nelson Aspen

Nelson Aspen and Janet Iacobuzio celebrate Linda Dano joining their
new series with co-star Anna Holbrook.

News that will surely delight TV fans: much loved Emmy winning actor, author, designer, presenter extraordinaire Linda Dano is joining the all-star cast of Janet Iacobuzio and Nelson Aspen's new series. While mystery continues to shroud the specifics of the project, its creators assure us it will be worth the wait.

"We have the best talent in the business on board," Nelson says. "So we're making sure everything is perfect before we launch. Our cast and their fans deserve nothing less!"

Dano is best known for her 16 and a half year run as Felicia Gallant on NBC daytime drama Another World. Her other soap roles include Rae Cummings on One Life to Live, General Hospital, All MY Children and Port Charles; Cynthia Haines on As the World Turns; Lena Kendall on Guiding Light; and Francine Williams on Desperate Housewives.

For a sneak peek of the new series, check out the teaser below:

'Who Shot The Daytime Soap?' Sneak Peek (Video)

TVGN's increased soap opera visibility continues with a one-hour documentary, Who Shot the Daytime Soap? - airing Monday, December 16 at 2 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. ET, and 10:30 a.m. ET the next morning - which featuring 40 veterans of daytime drama including Susan Lucci, Linda Dano, Robin Mattson, Jacklyn Zeman and Colleen Zenk. Check out a preview video below:

Linda Dano Shares Child Spirit on CELEBRITY GHOST STORIES

Emmy Award-inning Actress, Talk-Show Host, Designer, Author and Women’s Health Advocate Linda Dano shares her personal encounter with the paranormal on CELEBRITY GHOST STORIES, airing Saturday, October 26 on Lifetime Movie Network (LMN) at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

In a historic 17th Century home she and her late husband, Frank Attardi, preserved for history, Dano talks about the spirit of a young girl who has terrified workmen, family and friends.

Dano is best known for her 17 years on NBC's ANOTHER WORLD as flamboyant romance novelist, Felicia Gallant. Her other soap roles include Cynthia Haines on AS THE WORLD TURNS, Lena Kendall in GUIDING LIGHT, and Rae Cummings on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, ALL MY CHILDREN, GENERAL HOSPITAL and PORT CHARLES.

CLASSIC CLIP: Liberace Guest Stars In ANOTHER WORLD

Liberace on ANOTHER WORLD in 1986

HBO's Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, garnered 2.4 million Total Viewers for its Sunday premiere, ranking as the cable network's highest rated original movie since Something the Lord Made in 2004.

The real Liberace made appearances on NBC daytime soap opera ANOTHER WORLD in the years before he passed away. He came on the show for for a two week stint in May/June 1985. He returned in February 1986 for Felicia and Zane's wedding. Liberace was a friend of Felicia Gallant (Linda Dano) and played the piano at her wedding reception. The classic clip below is from his 1986 appearance.

30 Dynamic Duos of Daytime Soaps (5-3)

Our list of 30 Great Dynamic Duos of Daytime Soaps kicked off with a look at twosomes 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-11 and 10-6. Below the countdown continues with Dynamic Duos 5-3. Tell us your favorite Dynamic Duos in the Comments section below:

The Many Loves of... Cass Winthrop From ANOTHER WORLD

Some beloved characters just missed our 50 Greatest Soap Couples list.  Were critics and fans torn about who was really the love of someone's life, or the most interesting, or fun, or exciting, or relatable?  Whatever each person enjoyed most when watching a soap opera couple, there were years of memorable stories and couples that just missed our countdown. One of them was an ANOTHER WORLD favorite.  Below is a quick look at "The Many Loves of" Cass Winthrop, played for more than two decades by Stephen Schnetzer on three different soaps.

Who was the love of Cass's life?

THE CONTENDERS

NEWS ROUNDUP: Kelly Ripa Finds Seeing Mark Consuelos Kiss Another Man 'Perversely Sexy, Interesting Ratings Facts

Kelly Ripa Finds Seeing Mark Consuelos Kiss Another Man 'Perversely Sexy'
Kelly Ripa, a longtime lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community advocate, says watching husband Mark Consuelos kiss another man (in this case, actor Craig Bierko) as part of his current stage gig actually gets her a little hot under the collar.

Ripa tells the New York Daily News that "as an actor, there's something voyeuristic and perversely sexy about watching my husband" kiss someone else. Consuelos and Bierko are currently starring off-Broadway in "Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays" at New York's Minetta Lane Theatre.

50 Greatest Soap Actresses: #14 Linda Dano

NAME: Linda Dano
RANK: 14
SOAP ROLES: Lena Kendall, GUIDING LIGHT (2005); Gretel Rae Cummings (1978-1980, 1999-2004); Rae Cummings, GENERAL HOSPITAL (2000); Rae Cummings, PORT CHARLES (2000); Rae Cummings, ALL MY CHILDREN (1999-2000); Felicia Gallant, ANOTHER WORLD (1983-1999); Cynthia Haines, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1981-1982); Airline Clerk, ANOTHER WORLD (1976)

AWARDS:
2004 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Special Class Special
2003 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
1999 ACE Award for outstanding contributions to consumer awareness of accessories
1999 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Favorite Veteran
1996 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
1994 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
1993 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
1993 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress
1992 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
1989 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Talk/Service Show Host
1989 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Comic Performance by an Actress: Daytime

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Thom Racina: (wrote for Dano on AW) One of the best actresses in the business, writing for her on AW was a joy. She could do anything, and still can. Many times she made my heart beat stronger than it did in the writing process, no easy feat. I just adore her.