Today in Soap Opera History (August 9)

1973: The Doctors' Penny kissed Mike.
1984: Guiding Light's Alex and Beth were held hostage by Darcy.
1994: All My Children's Kendall crashed Mona's funeral.
1994: One Life to Live's Todd met Blair.

"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...

1939: On radio soap opera Adopted Daughter, Jack and Uncle Charlie told Jonathan that he couldn't open the new swimming pool he's been advertising without their consent.

1966: On Dark Shadows, to protect David, Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) lied to Constable Jonas Carter (Michael Currie ) when she told him they had discovered the bleeder valve fell off by itself.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 13)

1984: Days of our Lives' Stefano was fooled by Roman's latest plan.
1984: General Hospital's Mike was upset about Lesley's death.
1992: Days' (new) Bo Brady unmasked himself to Carly.
2008: As the World Turns' Carly shot and killed Kit.

"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...

1967: CBS aired the first color broadcast of The Guiding Light. The show still ran for 15 minutes a day at that time.

1972: Australian soap Number 96 premiered. The show had a successful run, including spawning a feature film, and aired its final episode on August 11, 1977.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 9)

1973: The Doctors' Penny kissed Mike.
1984: Guiding Light's Alex and Beth were held hostage by Darcy.
1994: All My Children's Kendall crashed Mona's funeral.
1994: One Life to Live's Todd met Blair.

"The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron

"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...

1939: On radio soap opera Adopted Daughter, Jack and Uncle Charlie told Jonathan that he couldn't open the new swimming pool he's been advertising without their consent.

1966: On Dark Shadows, to protect David, Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) lied to Constable Jonas Carter (Michael Currie ) when she told him they had discovered the bleeder valve fell off by itself.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 13)

1984: Days of our Lives' Stefano was fooled by Roman's latest plan.
1984: General Hospital's Mike was upset about Lesley's death.
1992: Days' (new) Bo Brady unmasked himself to Carly.
2008: As the World Turns' Carly shot and killed Kit.

"Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli

"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: CBS aired the first color broadcast of The Guiding Light. The show still ran for 15 minutes a day at that time.

1972: Australian soap Number 96 premiered. The show had a successful run, including spawning a feature film, and aired its final episode on August 11, 1977.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 9)

1973: The Doctors' Penny kissed Mike.
1984: Guiding Light's Alex and Beth were held hostage by Darcy.
1994: All My Children's Kendall crashed Mona's funeral.
1994: One Life to Live's Todd met Blair.

"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...

1939: On radio soap opera Adopted Daughter, Jack and Uncle Charlie told Jonathan that he couldn't open the new swimming pool he's been advertising without their consent.

1966: On Dark Shadows, to protect David, Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) lied to Constable Jonas Carter (Michael Currie ) when she told him they had discovered the bleeder valve fell off by itself.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 13)

1984: Days of our Lives' Stefano was fooled by Roman's latest plan.
1984: General Hospital's Mike was upset about Lesley's death.
1992: Days' (new) Bo Brady unmasked himself to Carly.
2008: As the World Turns' Carly shot and killed Kit.

"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...

1967: CBS aired the first color broadcast of The Guiding Light. The show still ran for 15 minutes a day at that time.

1972: Australian soap Number 96 premiered. The show had a successful run, including spawning a feature film, and aired its final episode on August 11, 1977.

Today in Soap Opera History (August 9)

1968: Dark Shadows' Liz lied to protect David. 1984: Guiding
Light's Alex and Beth were held hostage by Darcy. 1994: All
My Children's Kendall crashed Mona's funeral. 1994: One Life
to Live's Todd met Blair.

"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...

1939: On radio soap opera Adopted Daughter, Jack and Uncle Charlie told Jonathan that he couldn't open the new swimming pool he's been advertising without their consent.

1966: On Dark Shadows, to protect David, Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) lied to Constable Jonas Carter (Michael Currie ) when she told him they had discovered the bleeder valve fell off by itself.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 13)

1984: Days of our Lives' Stefano was fooled by Roman's latest plan.
1984: General Hospital's Mike was upset about Lesley's death.
1992: Days' (new) Bo Brady unmasked himself to Carly.
2008: As the World Turns' Carly shot and killed Kit.

"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...

1967: CBS aired the first color broadcast of The Guiding Light. The show still ran for 15 minutes a day at that time.

1972: Australian soap Number 96 premiered. The show had a successful run, including spawning a feature film, and aired its final episode on August 11, 1977.

'Days of our Lives' Alum Lisa Rinna: "I Hated Robert Kelker-Kelly"

Lisa Rinna doesn't mince words about her former co-star.

In a new behind-the-scenes video released by Bravo, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills stars Eileen Davidson and Lisa Rinna talk share "secrets" from the world of soaps, including sometimes not getting along with co-stars. While Davidson was more tactful about her relationship on The Young and the Restless (where she has played Ashley Abbott on and off since 1982), Rinna came right out and said she hated former Days of our Lives co-star Robert Kelker-Kelly (she played Billie Reed opposite his Bo Brady).

"I hated Robert Kelker-Kelly," Rinna said. "Hated him with a passion. He hated me with a passion. We were a volatile combination, and it looked like love and sexual chemistry on camera. That was some darn good acting right there."

Watch the video below:

Today in Soap Opera History (August 9)

1968: Dark Shadows' Liz lied to protect David. 1984: Guiding
Light's Alex and Beth were held hostage by Darcy. 1994: All
My Children's Kendall crashed Mona's funeral. 1994: One Life
to Live's Todd met Blair.

"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...

1939: On radio soap opera Adopted Daughter, Jack and Uncle Charlie told Jonathan that he couldn't open the new swimming pool he's been advertising without their consent.

1966: On Dark Shadows, to protect David, Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) lied to Constable Jonas Carter (Michael Currie ) when she told him they had discovered the bleeder valve fell off by itself.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 13)

1984: Days of our Lives' Stefano was fooled by Roman's latest plan.
1984: General Hospital's Mike was upset about Lesley's death.
1992: Days' (new) Bo Brady unmasked himself to Carly.
2008: As the World Turns' Carly shot and killed Kit.

"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...

1967: CBS aired the first color broadcast of The Guiding Light. The show still ran for 15 minutes a day at that time.

1972: Australian soap Number 96 premiered. The show had a successful run, including spawning a feature film, and aired its final episode on August 11, 1977.

1975: On Another World, a distraught Liz (Irene Dailey) pinned Rachel against the wall and warned her to stay away from Mac, but Richard Gavin and Russ restrained her. Roy Poole played Richard. He returned to AW in the early '80s as Mayor Stein, the candidate Mac ran against. Mac bowed out of the mayoral race after Mayor Stein published photos of Sandy and Blaine.

1980: On The Edge of Night, Deborah produced Margo's stolen wig and accused Nola of the murder: "Nola, you wore this wig the night you murdered Margo Dorn!"

Robert Kelker-Kelly Returns to 'General Hospital' Again!

Stavros (Robert Kelker-Kelly) and Lulu (Emme Rylan).

Robert Kelker-Kelly made a return appearance as Stavros Cassadine on Tuesday's episode of General Hospital.

"I brought myself from the brink of death," Stavros revealed to Lulu and Dante.

In our 2013 interview, Kelker-Kelly had nothing but high praise for General Hospital.

"It was the best experience on any soap I ever had, working on GH. It was the silliest story, but the actors, writers, directors, crew and everyone associated with General Hospital was brilliant and gracious and kind. And there was no bullshit."

Watch a clip of Stavros, Lulu and Dante from Tuesday's GH below:

Today in Soap Opera History (August 9)

1968: Dark Shadows' Liz lied to protect David. 1984: Guiding 
Light's Alex and Beth were held hostage by Darcy. 1994: All 
My Children's Kendall crashed Mona's funeral. 1994: One Life 
to Live's Todd met Blair.

"To believe what has not occurred in history will not occur at all, is to argue disbelief in the dignity of man."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"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 Dark Shadows, to protect David, Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) lied to Constable Jonas Carter (Michael Currie ) when she told him they had discovered the bleeder valve fell off by itself.

We Love Soaps 25 Most Popular Interviews of the Year (2013)

Clockwise from top left: Brad Maule, William deVry, Ellen Wheeler
and Kristian Alfonso.

We Love Soaps has calculated a list of the 25 Most Popular Interviews of the Year based on our page views, comments on the website and social networks, and shares for 2013.

Check out the complete 25 Most Popular Interviews of the Year list below:

  1. Brad Maule (ex-Tony, GENERAL HOSPITAL)

  2. William deVry (Julian, GENERAL HOSPITAL)

  3. Ellen Wheeler (Former GUIDING LIGHT Executive Producer)

  4. Kristian Alfonso (Hope, DAYS OF OUR LIVES)

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Catching Up With Robert Kelker-Kelly

Robert Kelker-Kelly - Photo Credit: ABC

Robert Kelker-Kelly burst onto the soap opera scene in 1987 when he took on the role of Sam Fowler on ANOTHER WORLD. He left in 1992, then assumed the role of Bo Brady in DAYS OF OUR LIVES from 1993 to 1996.

He returned to ANOTHER WORLD as Bobby Reno/Dr. Shane Roberts from 1996 to 1998, then joined the cast of GENERAL HOSPITAL in 2001 as Stavros Cassadine. He reprized the role of Stavros for a short-term story arc on GENERAL HOSPITAL earlier this year.

In 1997, he married former DAYS co-star Miriam Parrish.

We Love Soaps recently caught up Kelker-Kelly to revisit his daytime career and to find out what he's doing now. Check out our exclusive interview below:

Today in Soap Opera History (August 9)

On this date in...

1935: Future daytime legend Beverlee McKinsey was born. McKinsey was best known for her roles as Iris in ANOTHER WORLD and its spinoff, TEXAS, and Alexandra on GUIDING LIGHT. She passed away in 2008 at age 72.

Before playing Iris on ANOTHER WORLD, McKinsey briefly played Emma Ordway on the show. Two years earlier she starred as Julie in LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING. Check out an episode from August 1970 below which also featured McKinsey and her future husband Berkeley Harris, who played Jim.

GENERAL HOSPITAL Trending Again, Emme Rylan Debuts (West Coast Spoilers)

GENERAL HOSPITAL continued to be the must-see daytime soap opera to watch live on Thursday. During the east coast broadcast, "Stavros," "Lulu" and "Brenda" were all trending at one point. [SPOILER ALERT] Viewers learned the backstory of how Nikolas came to Port Charles to reveal Stavros' evil plans. The script, with a lot of exposition that can sometimes be boring, kept viewers engrossed in the story throughout the entire hour. By the end of the episode we had seen both Helena's body as well as glimpse of the new Lulu, Emme Rylan. Check out some screen captures below:

Robert Kelker-Kelly Returns To GENERAL HOSPITAL [SPOILER ALERT]

Robert Kelker-Kelly

Robert Kelker-Kelly played Stavros Cassadine on ABC soap opera GENERAL HOSPITAL in 2001, with returns in 2002 and 2003. Stavros has now returned again as Kelker-Kelly appeared at the end of Wednesday's episode of GENERAL HOSPITAL. Stavros was holding Luke and Laura hostage following their showdown with Helena, and it looks like he was behind Lulu's disappearance as well.

Executive producer Frank Valentini promised a big surprise on Wednesday's episode and Stavros was it (along with Carly finding Brenda in bed with Michael). Head writer Ron Carlivati reveals Kelker-Kelly will appear in "a bunch of episodes spread out over a period of time."