Today in Soap Opera History (July 10)

1979: General Hospital's Laura and Scotty were married.
1984: Guiding Light's Bert gave Josh a pep talk.
1985: Santa Barbara's Julia smuggled Amy and Brick onto a train.
2006: All My Children's Annie arrived in Pine Valley.

"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...

1952: On The Guiding Light, Trudy (Helen Wagner) and Meta (Jone Allison) discussed Meta's plans to leave New York and return to California. At home, Papa Bauer (Theo Goetz) and Bill (Lyle Sudrow) played chess as Bert (Charita Bauer) prepared the baby's bottle. Papa told Bill he spent too much time away from home on business trips. Bill received a telegram from Meta announcing her impending return.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 5)

1966: Peyton Place's David had parting words for Rodney.
1993: Days of our Lives' Jack and Billie were arrested.
1996: Sarah Brown debuted as Carly on General Hospital.
1999: Guiding Light's Danny welcomed his sister home.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent 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...

1940: The final episode of Procter & Gamble radio soap opera Manhattan Mother aired. Written by Orin Tovrov, the show starred Kaye Brinker as Patricia Locke, who gave up a career to raise her daughter, Dale, in New York.

1966: On Peyton Place, David gave Rodney (Ryan O'Neal) some advice about living with his grandfather.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 10)

1979: General Hospital's Laura and Scotty were married.
1984: Guiding Light's Bert gave Josh a pep talk.
1985: Santa Barbara's Julia smuggled Amy and Brick onto a train.
2006: All My Children's Annie arrived in Pine Valley.

"All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"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...

1952: On The Guiding Light, Trudy (Helen Wagner) and Meta (Jone Allison) discussed Meta's plans to leave New York and return to California. At home, Papa Bauer (Theo Goetz) and Bill (Lyle Sudrow) played chess as Bert (Charita Bauer) prepared the baby's bottle. Papa told Bill he spent too much time away from home on business trips. Bill received a telegram from Meta announcing her impending return.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 5)

1966: Peyton Place's David had parting words for Rodney.
1993: Days of our Lives' Jack and Billie were arrested.
1996: Sarah Brown debuted as Carly on General Hospital.
1999: Guiding Light's Danny welcomed his sister home.

"All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"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...

1940: The final episode of Procter & Gamble radio soap opera MANHATTAN MOTHER aired. Written by Orin Tovrov, the show starred Kaye Brinker as Patricia Locke, who gave up a career to raise her daughter, Dale, in New York.

1966: On PEYTON PLACE, David gave Rodney (Ryan O'Neal) some advice about living with his grandfather.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 10)

1979: General Hospital's Laura and Scotty were married.
1984: Guiding Light's Bert gave Josh a pep talk.
1985: Santa Barbara's Julia smuggled Amy and Brick onto a train.
2006: All My Children's Annie arrived in Pine Valley.

"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...

1952: On The Guiding Light, Trudy (Helen Wagner) and Meta (Jone Allison) discussed Meta's plans to leave New York and return to California. At home, Papa Bauer (Theo Goetz) and Bill (Lyle Sudrow) played chess as Bert (Charita Bauer) prepared the baby's bottle. Papa told Bill he spent too much time away from home on business trips. Bill received a telegram from Meta announcing her impending return.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 5)

1966: Peyton Place's David had parting words for Rodney.
1993: Days of our Lives' Jack and Billie were arrested.
1996: Sarah Brown debuted as Carly on General Hospital.
1999: Guiding Light's Danny welcomed his sister home.

"All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"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...

1940: The final episode of Procter & Gamble radio soap opera MANHATTAN MOTHER aired. Written by Orin Tovrov, the show starred Kaye Brinker as Patricia Locke, who gave up a career to raise her daughter, Dale, in New York.

1966: On PEYTON PLACE, David gave Rodney (Ryan O'Neal) some advice about living with his grandfather.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 25)

1970: ABC aired the final episode of The Best of Everything.
1984: All My Children's Tad was celebrated at his bachelor
party.  1996: Days of our Lives' Sami and Austin married.
1998: One Life to Live's Bo grieved his son, Drew.

"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...

1967: On Dark Shadows, while Willie Loomis remained in a coma, Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) attempted to hypnotize David Collins (David Henesy) to stop his prying into Barnabas' (Jonathan Frid) affairs.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 10)

1979: General Hospital's Laura and Scotty were married.
1984: Guiding Light's Bert gave Josh a pep talk.
1985: Santa Barbara's Julia smuggled Amy and Brick onto a train.
2006: All My Children's Annie arrived in Pine Valley.

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree."
― Michael Crichton

"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...

1952: On The Guiding Light, Trudy (Helen Wagner) and Meta (Jone Allison) discussed Meta's plans to leave New York and return to California. At home, Papa Bauer (Theo Goetz) and Bill (Lyle Sudrow) played chess as Bert (Charita Bauer) prepared the baby's bottle. Papa told Bill he spent too much time away from home on business trips. Bill received a telegram from Meta announcing her impending return.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 25)

1970: ABC aired the final episode of The Best of Everything.
1984: All My Children's Tad was celebrated at his bachelor
party.  1996: Days of our Lives' Sami and Austin married.
1998: One Life to Live's Bo grieved his son, Drew.

"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."
― Maya Angelou

"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...

1967: On Dark Shadows, while Willie Loomis remained in a coma, Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) attempted to hypnotize David Collins (David Henesy) to stop his prying into Barnabas' (Jonathan Frid) affairs.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 10)

1979: General Hospital's Laura and Scotty were married.
1984: Guiding Light's Bert gave Josh a pep talk.
1985: Santa Barbara's Julia smuggled Amy and Brick onto a train.
2006: All My Children's Annie arrived in Pine Valley.

"History never looks like history when you are living through it."
― John W. Gardner

"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...

1952: On The Guiding Light, Trudy (Helen Wagner) and Meta (Jone Allison) discussed Meta's plans to leave New York and return to California. At home, Papa Bauer (Theo Goetz) and Bill (Lyle Sudrow) played chess as Bert (Charita Bauer) prepared the baby's bottle. Papa told Bill he spent too much time away from home on business trips. Bill received a telegram from Meta announcing her impending return.

NEWS: Ron Moody, Genie Francis, Mark Consuelos, 'Queer as Folk'

Genie Francis

Genie Francis staying on General Hospital after Anthony Geary's Exit Storyline
Genie Francis (Laura) reveals that she will be staying in Port Charles past co-star Anthony Geary’s (Luke) exit next month. “I’ll be there for that, but I’ll also be there for the fall,” she says. “I’m very happy about that. It looks like it will be a fun experience all the way around.” For more, pick up the new issue of Digest, on sale now.

All My Children alum Mark Consuelos joins Kingdom Season 2
Consuelos will recur as Sean Chapas, an ex-fighter and one of Alvey’s oldest friends — “a pivotal character that has the potential to forever impact the fate of the Navy St. MMA gym.”

How many TV series can your brain take?
With hundreds of scripted series to watch on TV and streaming services, some viewers are having a hard time keeping track of dozens of characters and complex story lines.

Passions alums Natalie Zea and Travis Schuldt expecting first child
Zea debuted her tiny baby bump in a plunging orange Solace London gown at Thursday's premiere of Too Late in L.A. She is due this fall.

Is Phil Daniels right: Has EastEnders run its course?
Phil Daniels, who played Kevin Wicks in the show from 2006 to 2008, thinks so.

"I'd take it off the telly if I could. I just think it's run its course," he said earlier this week. "I just feel that it is time for something different. EastEnders and Coronation Street seem a bit like the opium of the masses now. Why don't they try something else for the British public?"

Ron Moody

UK actor Ron Moody dead at 91
Oliver! brought him worldwide attention and the fame allowed him to develop a long career in TV and film, including a role in the long-running BBC soap opera EastEnders. He acted in numerous popular TV series, including The Avengers, Starsky & Hutch and Gunsmoke.

Raven-Symoné named co-host of The View
In a statement released by ABC, Raven-Symoné, called the appointment "another one of my dreams come true!"

Hulu is creating Seinfeld real-world NYC apartment
Hulu will construct a real-world version of Jerry Seinfeld’s iconic Upper West Side apartment as part of promoting the streaming service’s multimillion-dollar pickup of all nine seasons of Seinfeld, set to launch on the SVOD service June 24. Titled “Seinfeld: The Apartment,” the installation will open Wednesday, June 24, and will remain open to the public until Sunday, June 28.

Watch the dntire Queer as Folk ATX Television Festival reunion panel
The panel, moderated by The Hollywood Reporter, featured creators Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, as well as stars Gale Harold (Brian), Peter Paige (Emmett), Robert Gant (Ben) and Randy Harrison (Justin). The lively and insightful discussion touched on how the series approached sex scenes — and filmed them — before they figured out "cock socks" and the insane 21-page nudity rider that was required in order to participate.

Watch below:

Today in Soap Opera History (April 5)

1966: Peyton Place's David had parting words for Rodney.
1993: Days of our Lives' Jack and Billie were arrested.
1996: Sarah Brown debuted as Carly on General Hospital.
1999: Guiding Ligh'ts Danny welcomed his sister home.

"Mankind are so much the same, in all times and places, that history informs us of nothing new or strange in this particular. Its chief use is only to discover the constant and universal principles of human nature."
― David Hume

"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...

1940: The final episode of Procter & Gamble radio soap opera MANHATTAN MOTHER aired. Written by Orin Tovrov, the show starred Kaye Brinker as Patricia Locke, who gave up a career to raise her daughter, Dale, in New York.

1966: On PEYTON PLACE, David gave Rodney (Ryan O'Neal) some advice about living with his grandfather.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 25)

1970: ABC aired the final episode of The Best of Everything.
1984: All My Children's Tad was celebrated at his bachelor
party.  1996: Days of our Lives' Sami and Austin married.
1998: One Life to Live's Bo grieved his son, Drew.

"History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future."
― Robert Penn Warren

"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...

1967: On Dark Shadows, while Willie remained in a coma, Julia (Grayson Hall) attempted to hypnotize David (David Henesy) to stop his prying into Barnabas' (Jonathan Frid) affairs.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 25)

1970: ABC aired the final episode of THE BEST OF EVERYTHING.
1984: AMC's Tad was celebrated at his bachelor party.
1996: DAYS' Sami and Austin married. 1998: OLTL's Bo grieved
his son, Drew.

"In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind."
― Edmund Burke

"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...

1970: ABC aired the final episode of THE BEST OF EVERYTHING, a short-lived ABC soap opera that had only premiered on March 30, along with A WORLD APART, which ran until June 25, 1971. Based on the novel and 1959 motion picture of the same name, THE BEST OF EVERYTHING focused on three career girls who became friends at powerful Manhattan publishing company Key Publishing. April Morrison (Julie Mannix, who was later replaced by Susan Sullivan), Linda Warren (Patty McCormack), and Kim (Katherine Glass) soon discovered that achieving "the best of everything" was a difficult prospect, as they faced romance, intrigue, and publishing magnate Amanda Key (Gale Sondergaard) in the Big Apple.

Also starring in the cast were Geraldine Fitzgerald as Violet Jordan, Rochelle Oliver as Barbara Lamont, and Gwenn Mitchell as Ginnie Curtis, and Gregory Rozakis as Squirrel.

Robert Gant Coming To THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

Robert Gant will be appearing on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS as David Sherman, the son of Katherine Chancellor's lawyer and friend, Mitchell Sherman (William Wintersole). He will air on September 11.

David is also a lawyer and will gather friends and family together to read Katherine's will. It is unclear why Mitchell it not reading the will himself.

Gant is best known for playing Ben Bruckner on QUEER AS FOLK.

He has guest-starred on NCIS, ANGER MANAGEMENT and BABY DADDY this year.

Former QUEER AS FOLK Star Randy Harrison Previews "Harbor" On WE LOVE SOAPS TV

Former QUEER AS FOLK star Randy Harrison plays 'Kevin' in Primary Stages' upcoming production of "Harbor" alongside Erin Cummings, GUIDING LIGHT's Paul Anthony Stewart and Alexis Molnar. In "Harbor," when fifteen-year-old Lottie (Molnar) and her ne'er-do-well mother Donna (Cummings) drop in unannounced on the beautiful Sag Harbor home of Donna's brother (Harrison) and his new husband, Ted (Stewart), all hell breaks loose. The bonds between kith and kin are tested in this alternately biting and touching comedy about the constantly shifting nature of the meaning of family.

Harrison previews the play on the latest episode of our web series, WE LOVE SOAPS TV (4.21). We also talk about the fun "Our Hit Parade" shows and other projects he has in the works. Check it out below:

Today in Soap Opera History (July 10)

On this date in...

1952: On THE GUIDING LIGHT, Trudy (Helen Wagner) and Meta (Jone Allison) discussed Meta's plans to leave New York and return to California. At home, Papa Bauer (Theo Goetz) and Bill (Lyle Sudrow) played chess as Bert (Charita Bauer) prepared the baby's bottle. Papa told Bill he spent too much time away from home on business trips. Bill received a telegram from Meta announcing her impending return.

1958: Actor Shawn Campbell was born. He is best known for playing Ricky Donnelly on LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING (Beverlee McKinsey played his mother at one point), and later Billy Aldrich on THE DOCTORS. He died in 1993 at the age of 34.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 5)

On this date in...

1940: The final episode of Procter & Gamble radio soap opera MANHATTAN MOTHER aired. Written by Orin Tovrov, the show starred Kaye Brinker as Patricia Locke, who gave up a career to raise her daughter, Dale, in New York.

1967: On DARK SHADOWS, Liz (Joan Bennett) invited Willie to stay at Collinwood under pressure from McGuire.

1968: On ANOTHER WORLD, Lee convinced Ada (Constance Ford) that while Lahoma did love Sam, she too loved him.

Today in Soap Opera History (September 25)

On this date in...

1970: THE BEST OF EVERYTHING, a short-lived ABC daytime soap, aired its final episode just shy of six months after it debuted. Watch a promo for the show below:

YEAR OF THE SOAP: New Jennifer Lopez Lesbian Family Drama to Unite Emmett from QUEER AS FOLK, Janice Dickinson's Ex-Husband, ABC Family

1993: "From the producers of KNOTS LANDING."

With a couple movies out this year, huge clothing and perfume lines, a new greatest hits album about to drop and a summer concert tour, Jennifer Lopez is busy. Soap fans are busy, too.  Let's join her as she jettisons the sclerotic AMERICAN IDOL (three weeks of satire, three weeks of farce, with several weeks of nap time in between) for an exciting new ABC Family venture featuring "a new kind of family" indeed - one with same-sex parents, adopted twins, a biological son and a new, teenage homewrecker.

That sounds to me like a recipe for some fabulous family drama - and another ABC Family hit that just happens to be a soap opera.

2012 has seen a steady flow of high-profile soap opera projects backed by big names from the entertainment industry. Let's take a look at the latest.