NEWS: EASTENDERS Writers Respond To Gay Kiss Complaints; Ricky Martin; Victoria Rowell; Aiden Turner

EASTENDERS writers bemoan Danny, Johnny gay kiss complaints
The writers behind EastEnders' gay romance storyline have spoken out after the BBC soap received complaints over the kiss it aired on Monday. The episode, which saw Danny Pennant (Gary Lucy) and Johnny Carter (Sam Strike) kiss as part of a new plot that leads Johnny to come out to his father Mick (Danny Dyer), received complaints from viewers.

Pete Lawson, who wrote Monday's episode, said on Twitter: "2014, and gay teens kissing on a soap still draws complaints. Makes me even prouder to have written that ep."

GENERAL HOSPITAL Classic Photo Of The Day (Brenda & Miguel)

In honor of GENERAL HOSPITAL's upcoming 50th anniversary (GH50), We Love Soaps will be posting a "Classic Photo of the Day" for the rest of the month. Today's photo is of Brenda Barrett and Miguel Morez, played by Vanessa Marcil and Ricky Martin.

Photo Date: August 30, 1995

PREMIO LO NUESTRO Airs Live On Univision Tonight

The PREMIO LO NUESTRO award show celebrates its 25th anniversary and will air live from Miami on the Univision Network Thursday, February 21, from 8 to 11 p.m. ET/PT. The broadcast will be preceded by the red carpet arrivals pre-show NOCHE DE ESTRELLAS (Night of Stars) at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

The award show is the longest-running and top-rated Latin music awards show and will include some of the biggest names in today’s Latin music and television industries. The evening will include live performances, never-before-seen duos, and a long-awaited musical comeback from Thalía. Also on tap for the night’s events: a first from Ricky Martin and Draco Rosa: a live performance of their new single “Más y Más.”

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.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Constance Towers Returning To GENERAL HOSPITAL; Shobna Gulati Leaving CORONATION STREET; Melissa Reeves Talks DAYS

Constance Towers returning to GENERAL HOSPITAL as Helena Cassadine
Towers is reporting back to work at the GENERAL HOSPITAL set this morning.

Y&R's Joshua Morrow and his wife Tobe welcome new daughter
Morrow (Nick, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) and his wife Tobe welcomed their fourth child, a daughter, named Charlie Jo. "6 lbs 8 oz. 19 inches of pure amazingness," tweeted the actor. The latest Morrow addition joins brothers Cooper,10; Crew, 7 and Cash, 4.

WATCH: Ricky Martin Spoofs His Songs & His GENERAL HOSPITAL Past

Ricky Martin appeared in a series of “General Hospital” skits on Thursday episode of LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON, donning a wig and scrubs and saying lines to his pop songs. The segment was a call-back to Martin’s turn as Miguel Morez on the real GENERAL HOSPITAL in 1994.

The LATE NIGHT clips show a shaggy-haired Martin and Fallon in an emergency room, discussing patient injuries and treatments using lyrics from his songs.

Watch the segment below:

Ricky Martin Signs Talent Holding Deal With NBC's Universal Television

Universal Television has signed a talent holding deal with multi-platinum recording artist Ricky Martin to develop and star in his first network television series and specials, it was announced today by Bela Bajaria, Executive Vice President, Universal Television.

“Ricky is an iconic superstar who is as talented as he is popular,” said Bajaria. “Whether he’s performing before sold-out concert crowds, or starring on Broadway, where he is currently playing to SRO in ‘Evita,’ Ricky connects with his audience in a very palpable way – and we are thrilled that he will be adding TV star to his incredible resume.”

NEWS ROUNDUP: Vanessa Williams Reveals Sexual Abuse; Finola Hughes On Contract; Southern Leslie Bibb

Vanessa Williams Reveals Sexual Abuse as a Child
The DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES star reveals that she was molested as a 10-year-old, which she chronicles in her new memoir, "You Have No Idea."

According to Williams, she was visiting family friends in California when one night the family's 18-year-old daughter came into her room.

"[She] pulled down the bloomers of my cotton baby-doll pajamas," Williams writes. "‘What are you doing?' I asked. ‘Don't worry—it'll feel good.' I lay there paralyzed. What was going on? I didn't speak. She kept at [the molestation] for I don't know how long. She slid my bloomers back up and whispered: 'Don't tell anyone.' "

Finola Hughes now on contract with GENERAL HOPSITAL

NEWS ROUNDUP: Joanna Johnson Back To B&B, Super Bowl Live Stream Success, DOWNTON ABBEY Captures America

Joanna Johnson returning to THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
Johnson is returning to the role of Karen Spencer. Karen will be bringing along a daughter the audience never knew existed (played by Linsey Godfrey).

THE TALKS Sheryl Underwood on her Feb. 10 B&B guest appearance: I watch all the soaps
"When I was on the set I got to meet my pride and joy, Eric Braeden. He took me in his arms and spoke romantic German to me. I'm, like, is anybody filming this?"

PREVIEW: Ricky Martin On GLEE as "The Spanish Teacher"

GLEE's third season continues on Feb. 7 "The Spanish Teacher" featuring special guest star Ricky Martin.

Will assigns the glee club a Spanish singing assignment, and enlists the help of his musically-inclined night school teacher (Martin). Meanwhile, Rachel spills the beans to Kurt and Mercedes on Finn’s marriage proposal, and Mercedes has love complications of her own.

Check out two previews below.

CASTING NEWS: Ricky Martin To Guest On GLEE

According to TVLine, former GENERAL HOSPITAL actor Ricky Martin will play what a GLEE insider is calling “the hottest Spanish teacher ever in the history of Ohio.”

Martin’s scalding instructor will headline two big musical numbers in the episode, which is slated to air in late January.

Martin played Miguel Morez on GH in the mid-1990s.

Ricky Martin Comes Out!

We Love Soaps has learned that Ricky Martin, who played Miguel on GENERAL HOSPITAL in the mid-1990s, came out as a "fortunate homosexual man" today on his website. 

We praise Martin for having the courage to stand up against whatever elements had kept him from announcing this previously, and choosing to share this information publicly.  Even if daytime television opts to keep gays/lesbians off our screens, we can rest assured that more public figures will provide inspiration for living life authentically.

In this photo, Martin is posing with twin sons, Matteo and Valentino, that he had via a surrogate mother in August 2008.

Part of Martin's coming out message is below:

These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed.

What will happen from now on? It doesn't matter. I can only focus on what's happening to me in this moment. The word "happiness" takes on a new meaning for me as of today. It has been a very intense process. Every word that I write in this letter is born out of love, acceptance, detachment and real contentment. Writing this is a solid step towards my inner peace and vital part of my evolution.

I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.