NEWS: OWN Adds LINDSAY & Tyler Perry's SINGLE MOMS CLUB; Five Signs That You Are A Psycho Soap Fan; TWIN PEAKS Promo; Nude Archer; Michelle Stafford

OWN Announces Four New Shows Including Lindsay Lohan Ducmentary Series and Tyler Perry Drama
Tyler Perry's SINGLE MOMS CLUB: Brought together by an incident at their children's school, a group of single mothers from different walks of life bond and create a support group that helps them find comedy in the obstacles of life, and inner strength to overcome their personal challenges.

LINDSAY: Follows movie star and media sensation Lindsay Lohan on her journey through recovery following a very public period of crisis.

DOWNTON ABBEY Exec Producer Dismisses Speculation on Show's Demise
“I can confirm that there are no plans to end the show after the fifth series. ITV commission each series on a year-by-year basis,” Gareth Neame said.

DOWNTON ABBEY And THE WALKING DEAD: Are They The Same Show?
1. They both feature well-paced, visually exciting set pieces.
2. Daryl and the Dowager Countess of Grantham: Are they the same person?
3. Both groups have very questionable leadership at the top.
4. Both groups are under siege.
5. The characters' behavior can be mighty predictable.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES and THE BAY actress Jade Harlow guests on SOAP BOX WITH LILLY AND MARTHA
Harlow talked about her new DAYS role (Sheryl), working on THE BAY, her mother's new book and much more.

Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston Want to Join BETTER CALL SAUL
"Both Bryan and I want to be a part of that, if they'll have us," Paul says in a new cover story interview with Details.

Michael Muhney banner

Five Signs That You Are A Psycho Soap Fan
1. You tweet mean, personal things to an actor that you would never dare say to any other stranger.
2. You think that interacting with an actor on social media or at a fan event constitutes a genuine relationship.
3. You think that soap operas are run like B613 on SCANDAL.
4. You get into serious fights with fans whose opinions differ from yours.
5. You are convinced that a show's writers and producers make major decisions based on the reactions of Twitter.

Michael Muhney fly plane with banner of support over CBS
The banner reads: Team Muhney Supports Michael Muhney.

ARCHER Promotes Fifth Season by Posting Nudes on Reddit's GoneWild
Now this is how you promote a TV show: Ahead of its upcoming fifth season on FX, the cast of characters from ARCHER got buck naked and posted a series of nude pics on Reddit's exhibitionist subreddit /r/gonewild.

BET's BEING MARY JANE Series Debut Cumes 5 Million Viewers
An average of 3.3 million viewersbeingmaryjane__130912193819-275x154 tuned in to check out BET‘s first original scripted drama series, Being Mary Jane at 10 PM Tuesday, after which an immediate repeat clocked 1.8 million. BET boasted that made it the No. 1 original series debut on cable for the 2013-14 TV season.

Michelle Stafford’s Blog: So Long, Spontaneity
"All you single folks without kids (and it wasn’t that long ago that I was one of you), next time a parent tries to make you feel bad for not having kids just say, “Oh sorry, I didn’t hear you. I was too busy making plans for my last-minute trip to Bora Bora.”"

Chloe Sevigny and James D'Arcy Star in the New A&E Network Original Series THOSE WHO KILL
A&E Network will premiere the new original scripted series THOSE WHO KILL on Monday, March 3 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The suspenseful drama stars Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress Chloë Sevigny (BIG LOVE, Boys Don't Cry) and James D'Arcy (Hitchcock, Cloud Atlas). Based on the Danish crime series format inspired by the bestselling work of author Elsebeth Egholm, the thrilling drama follows Catherine Jensen (Sevigny), a recently promoted homicide detective who tracks down serial killers and relentlessly seeks the truth behind the disappearance of her brother. Pittsburgh serves as the picturesque backdrop for the ten-episode serialized drama.

Scandinavian Version of THE BRIDGE Added to Hulu
Hulu announced today that they've acquired BROEN/BRON, the Danish/Swedish crime drama on which FX's THE BRIDGE is based. It will be available on January 14.

Recent TWIN PEAKS Promo casting notice
TWIN PEAKS PROMO. Directed by David Lynch. Shoots in Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, 2014. Prob a 6 hour or less day. Rate is 150/8. You must live in LA to submit. I don’t think SAG has jurisdiction on this, so SAG and NON can submit. I have called SAG to double check this and I am awaiting a call back to confirm.

HOT Caucasian girl – BRUNETTE OR REDHEADS ONLY to play waitress. Age 18-27. MUST have an amazing body. Busty, very period looking face. Please submit two current color photos (one body shot, one face shot), your sizes, union status and contact info to: SandeAlessiCasting@gmail.com.

VERONICA MARS To Stream On Amazon Prime
Amazon.com, Inc. today announced that Prime Instant Video will be the exclusive online-only subscription home for streaming the TV series VERONICA MARS in a deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. Beginning today, Prime customers can enjoy all three seasons of the popular Warner Bros. Television series starring Kristen Bell, and get caught up just in time for the March 14 debut of the Veronica Mars movie.

HOLLYOAKS writer Jessica Lea talks John Paul, Finn rape storyline
"I can only hope that the viewers think I've done the story justice and that it helps anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation to John Paul. We've been building towards this rape storyline for over 12 months so it meant a lot to be trusted to write the episodes."

NEWS: Finola Hughes Dance Mom; BREAKING BAD Ad Dollars; Sandra Oh on GREY'S Exit; Jamie Lomas' EASTENDERS Debut

With BREAKING BAD Approaching Its End, Marketers May Clamor to Buy Commercial Time
The last seven episodes will almost assuredly continue the show’s viewership streak for AMC, the network that carries it, and they may set another milestone, too — near record advertising rates for cable television for marketers vying for the limited commercial time still available.

The BREAKING BAD finale on Sept. 29 could be the biggest original programming cable TV event since THE SOPRANOS finale in June 2007 — and those unsold units will get premium rates.

GENERAL HOSPITAL's Finola Hughes stars in the just-wrapped indie feature Platinum: The Dance Movie
"My character, Jo-Ann, is really pretty horrible! Platinum is a tongue-in-cheek take on dance competitions, with all these great young dancers competing at an extraordinary level and the crazy mothers who push them. It's very authentic, but also very funny."

Her GH costar Carolyn Hennesy is also in the film.

"Her character is even worse than mine! I just love that woman. So funny! [Laughs] She's mad as a bag of rats!"

Lindsay Lohan Hosts CHELSEA LATELY With Guest Star Dylan Bruce

Photo Credit: E!

Former ANOTHER WORLD child actress Lindsay Lohan is earning praise for poking fun at herself on Monday's CHELSEA LATELY as she filled in for Chelsea Handler.  Brad Wollack, Fortune Feimster and Jen Kirkman joined her on the roundtable panel.

In her monologue, Lohan started with, "Chelsea's not here, but I did see someone who looked like her moving into my old room at Cliffside," said Lohan, referring to the rehab facility she left on July 30 after completing a court-ordered 90-day program.

NEWS: Michael Easton on John McBain; CASTLE Takes on SAVED BY THE BELL with Antonio Sabato Jr.; Ellen Holly; Victoria Rowell; Mario Lopez; Darren Criss

GENERAL HOSPITAL's Michael Easton on if we will ever see John McBain again in some capacity
"Honestly, I don’t know the answer to that. I’d imagine…they have that character and they can put him up there with somebody else and whoever it is would probably do a great job at it. I don’t know what the situation is. I think those guys are still trying to work out their stuff. And maybe when they do, they’ll allow us to do it. I certainly miss him. I saw Bob Woods (Bo, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) two days ago, so I certainly miss seeing my friends. I enjoyed working with them and if there’s a story there that I can contribute to the show, I would…I would certainly be open to that. We’ll see how it goes. I know they’re doing great and I'm excited for them, I hope it ends up doing really really well."

Facebook's Mobile Site Owes A Debt To 1930s Soap Operas
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg won’t like this message, but someone has to say it. His vast social network lately has morphed into something none of us saw coming: the planet’s biggest soap-opera site of all time, digitally engineered to emulate the great radio-age businesses that Irna Phillips invented in the 1930s.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Ricky Martin To Judge THE VOICE Australia; Felisha Terrell, Carver Twins Added To TEEN WOLF; Chad Michael Murray Joins SOUTHLAND

Ricky Martin Joins THE VOICE Australia For Season 2; Replaces Keith Urban
he announcement was made on Nine's A CURRENT AFFAIR program in Australia Thursday evening after weeks of speculation.

GENERAL HOSPITAL alum Richard Dean Anderson to play himself on DON'T TRUST THE B IN APT. 23
Anderson will cameo as himself in an upcoming episode of the ABC comedy that stars DAWSON'S CREEK alum James Van Der Beek as a skewed version of himself. The actor becomes the latest star to potentially poke fun at himself on the series, which co-stars Krysten Ritter and Dreama Walker.

FOX moves back the return of TOUCH to February 8
The show’s premiere episode is two hours long and features Kiefer Sutherland as a single father who begins a mission with his gifted son Jake (David Mazouz) to help a distraught mom (Maria Bello) locate her missing daughter. The new season also features an appearance by Lukas Haas.

DAYS alum Felisha Terrell, and DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES alums Charlie & Max Carver Among New Cast Additions On MTV’s TEEN WOLF
Charlie and Max Carver, Adelaide Kane and Felisha Terrell have landed recurring roles on the 24-episode third season of the show, based on the 1985 movie about a high school student-turned-werewolf.

PREVIEW: 'Liz & Dick' Starring Lindsay Lohan

ANOTHER WORLD alum Lindsay Lohan stars as the legendary dame Elizabeth Taylor alongside GCB and UGLY BETTY star Grant Bowler as celebrated actor Richard Burton in the Lifetime Original Movie Liz & Dick, making its world premiere Sunday, November 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime. Based on the true story of the couple’s passionate and tumultuous love affair, the film is from executive producer Larry A. Thompson and was directed by Lloyd Kramer with a script by Christopher Monger.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Sped Up Stories On TV, Bryan Cranston, Liz & Dick, Can NASHVILLE Survive?

SPED UP STORIES: Is Speed the New Suspense on TV?
When Carrie confronted Brody for being a terrorist on HOMELAND; when Quinn Perkins' identity was revealed on SCANDAL; when Lori died on THE WALKING DEAD; when AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLYUM revealed who Bloody Face was: All of these things happened within the first five episodes of each of these series this season. Suffice it to say, the fall TV season has been full-steam ahead, with series diving straight into some of their biggest mysteries at such a breakneck speed, it has left fans wondering — and anticipating -- how the shows will top these events for the remainder of the season. Does this make speed the new suspense on television?

PREVIEW: Art Takes Center Stage On GOSSIP GIRL

Fictional or not, the Upper East Side–dwelling characters of the stylish drama GOSSIP GIRL — currently in its sixth and final season — have some fabulous and very real art collections. For five seasons, GOSSIP GIRL has partnered with the Art Production Fund (APF) to feature works by artists such as Ryan McGinley, Martin Eder and Kiki Smith in the series. In the "Where the Vile Things Are" episode airing Monday, November 19, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on The CW, the art takes center stage.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Luke Perry & Jennie Garth Sitcom! Plus, GREY'S ANATOMY Spoilers, Lamman Rucker, Lindsay Lohan

Luke Perry and Jennie Garth together for real?
“Since seeing Luke again, Jennie has fallen in love with him and Luke feels the same,” a source close to the couple told the National Enquirer. “There is an electricity between them that has been revived after all these years. It just happened.”

Jennie Garth, Luke Perry Are Developing a Sitcom Together
A rep for Garth confirmed the collaboration to RumorFix on Thursday, saying, "They have been spending a lot of time together recently because the two are working on developing a TV sitcom together. It will be a multi-camera half hour show, currently we have producers and writers and are meeting with networks."

GREY'S ANATOMY to Air Standalone Meredith and Cristina-Centric Episode
“It’s just the story of Meredith and Cristina,” shares series creator Shonda Rhimes. “It’s really going to be original. I don’t think we’ve ever told a story the way we’re telling a story in this episode.”

NEWS ROUNDUP: Nathin Butler, Jane Elliot, Sol Heras, Noah Bean, Jane Lynch, William Levy

Nathin Butler live-tweeting GENERAL HOSPITAL on Thursday, May 17
Butler plays Dr. Ewen Keenan on GH.

Jane Elliot loves her GENERAL HOSPITAL exec producer Frank Valentini
"Frank Valentini is as good as it gets. He has that old-fashioned Gloria Monty commitment to the job and is the first one in the building in the morning and the last one out at night. And he works all weekend! This is not to say that the people before him didn't care, but he's committed to this show in a very unique way. There's no substitute for loving the medium. You know that saying "A new broom sweeps clean"? Well, that's Frank. As good as [former exec producer] Jill Phelps was and as much as I loved working with her, a new broom sweeps clean. Frank comes to this show with fresh eyes, with no disappointments, no frustrations over lost battles. He comes with everything he has to give."

NIKITA Promotes Noah Bean to Regular

NEWS ROUNDUP: Soap Operas Change The World, AMI Creates Celebrity Magazine Group, Sarah Michelle Gellar Pregnant

Radio soap TARU  led to the opening of several schools

BBC News: How soap operas changed the world
Soap operas aren't often celebrated for contributing to the good of society. Whether it's the materialism of DALLAS or the idle gossip of NEIGHBOURS, they are better known for being shallow and addictive than for bringing about social change.

But around the world the genre has succeeded in providing "educational entertainment" - a blend of public service messages and melodrama that has enraptured millions of viewers.

Editorial Shakeup: James Heidenry named editor in chief of 'Star'

Lindsay Lohan Set To Star In Lifetime's Elizabeth Taylor Movie

Lindsay Lohan is set to star as the legendary Elizabeth Taylor in the Lifetime Original Movie Liz & Dick, based on the true story of the screen icon’s historic romance with actor Richard Burton.  Principal photography on the movie will begin in early June in Los Angeles, it was announced today by Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President, Programming, of Lifetime Networks.