NEWS: Ben Hardy, Mark Deklin, Georgia May Foote, Ron Raines, 'The Archers'

Is that really Peter Beale? 'EastEnders' actor Ben Hardy strips half-naked for magazine photo shoot
Hardy will grace the cover of Attitude magazine. Pictured in a variety of saucy shots, the 23-year-old got wet and wild and he posed seductively in and out of the swimming pool.

Witness in murder trial time-stamped alleged killer's arrival based on Y&R viewing
John Russell Giles is on trial in Crossville for murdering Kimberly Ann Batty. One key witness was 85-year-old Joy Miller of Bridgeport, WV, and a former resident and neighbor of Batty. She testified that she saw Giles drive up to the residence shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 in his white van. They briefly spoke — the first and only time they spoke — before Giles entered Batty’s house.

She was certain of the time because her favorite soap opera, The Young and the Restless, was on television from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. She walked to the mailbox after that day’s episode ended.

How 'The Archers' became a Shakespearean saga of fate, betrayal and family ambition
Radio soap opera The Archers is Shakespearean in its breadth and drama, according to the radio show's new editor, Sean O'Connor. In the middle of one of the most sensational storylines in its recent history, he is using Shakespeare as a template, with a few borrowings from Thomas Hardy and Henrik Ibsen thrown in.

"The story of the Archer family is like the Plantagenets. The model really is Shakespearean," said O'Connor, who has returned to the program he once produced via Channel 4's Hollyoaks and the BBC's EastEnders. "Unlike the other major soaps, EastEnders and Coronation Street, which are based on places, The Archers is about a family. Its social range is like Shakespeare's Henry IV plays too. It covers labourers, tenant farmers and land barons."

How 'Mad Men' became the most controversial show on TV
Assessing the series’ quality becomes an exercise in distinguishing where Mad Men is pandering to its audience versus where, if at all, it has anything of substance to say about the period and the people who populated it. And it's exactly this split personality — the desire to have it both ways, as dark antihero drama and glossy commodity — that has made the show so culturally divisive.

'Coronation Street' star Georgia May Foote to exit soap
The actress, who has played Katy Armstrong since 2010, will leave Weatherfield at the end of the year.

Malin Akerman is dating 'All My Children' alum Colin Egglesfield, and worries he's "too hot for her"
"They're taking it slow," a source tells Us.

Mark Deklin Is 'Devious Maids' Awesome New Mystery Man
"The main thing for Nicholas, there's so many secrets and lies that he's telling [that] I said to the producers, 'There are a few things I have to know. I have to in order to play it.' One is what really happened in the past. The other thing is am I really in love with Marisol or is that some sort of long con? And they said, 'No. That's the one thing that is true. You are madly in love with Marisol and she's madly in love with you.'"

'Guiding Light' alum and 'Beacon Hill' star Ron Raines stops by KETK
Texas native Ron Raines stopped by KETK with Richard Lee, the cCnductor of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra.

NEWS: EASTENDERS Cast Photo, Cady McClain, Crystal Chappell, David Gregory, Ron Raines

The class of 2014! EastEnders cast photo features cast members old and new - including Hetti Bywater as Lucy Beale ahead of her character's death
The photo, which was taken outside the iconic Queen Vic pub on the show's Elstree set, was taken ahead of the soap's 30th anniversary.

Standing: (L-R) Johnny Carter (Sam Strike), Mick Carter (Danny Dyer), Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), Lady Di (Hotlips), Lee Carter (Danny-Boy Hatchard), Les Coker (Roger Sloman), Pam Coker (Lin Blakley), Nancy Carter (Maddy Hill), Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo), Shirley Carter (Linda Henry), Fiona 'Tosh' Mackintosh (Rebecca Scroggs), Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw White), Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra), Cindy Williams (Mimi Keene), Shabnam Masood (Rakhee Thakrarr), Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater) , Charlie Cotton (Declan Bennet), Jane Beale (Laurie Brett), Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), Peter Beale (Ben Hardy), Denise Fox (Diane Parish), Jake Stone (Jamie Lomas), 'Fatboy' Arthur Chubb (Ricky Norwood), Dexter Hartman (Khali Best), Max Branning (Jake Wood), Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), Aleks Shirovs (Kristian Kiehling), Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy), Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson, Rebecca Fowler (Jasmine Armfield), Terry Spraggan Jnr (George Sargeant), Terry Spraggan (Terry Alderton), Jay Mitchell (Jamie Borthwick), Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), Liam Butcher (James Forde), Nikki Spraggan (Rachel Wilde), Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), Sharon Rickman (Letitia Dean), Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden)

Seated/Crouching: (L-R) Stan Carter (Timonthy West), Tramp, Donna Yates (Lisa Hammond), Morgan Butcher (Devon Higgs), Dennis Rickman (Harry Hickles), Tiffany Butcher (Maisie Smith), Rosie Spraggan (Jerzey Swingler), Dot Branning (June Brown), Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker), Cora Cross (Ann Mitchelle), Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons), Amy Mitchell (Abigail-Louise Knowles), Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick), William Mitchell (Toby Walpole), Mo Harris (Laila Morse), Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace), Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold), Tommy Moon (Ralfie White), Lexi Mitchell (Dotti-Beau Contterill)

Cady McClain on taking over the role of Kelly on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
"There's much more pressure being an instant replacement. Boom! Usually when this happens on a soap there's a break of a few months or at least weeks. And Cynthia was mind-bogglingly good and really made her mark with some award-worthy work. So I'm like, 'Oh, s—t!' But I'm bringing my A game and hoping the fans will accept me."

Ron Raines Previews BEACON HILL on WE LOVE SOAPS TV

Ron Raines plays "Senator William Preston" on BEACON HILL.

On the latest episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV (5.15), Roger Newcomb traveled to the set of an east cost photo shoot for upcoming web series BEACON HILL, a Open Book Productions and Bella Books political drama premiering on March 5.

Watch our new episode below as we speak with former GUIDING LIGHT star Ron Raines, who plays "Senator William Preston" in BEACON HILL. Raines talks about his new character, working on an Indie project, and playing powerful men on stage and TV so often. His most recent role was in Broadway's "Annie," where he played Daddy Warbucks.



For more information on BEACON HILL, visit beaconhilltheseries.com.

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- BEACON Hill Set To Premiere March 5th, Will Use Subscription Model

ONE LIFE TO LIVE Welcomes Four New Cast Members: Paolo Seganti, Ron Raines, Marnie Schulenburg & Alice Callahan

Paolo Seganti (Arturo) - Photo credit: Eric Liebowitz/The OnLine Network

This summer, things are going to get hot and steamy in Llanview as Prospect Park/The Online Network’s ONE LIFE TO LIVE announces the addition of four new cast members. Set to join the cast are Paolo Seganti who plays the role of Arturo Bandini, a wealthy man whose family is very influential in the art world; Ron Raines, who steps into the role of Carl Peterson, the mysterious benefactor of reporter Jeffrey King (Corbin Bleu); Marnie Schulenburg has been cast as Jo Sullivan, producer of David’s (Tuc Watkins) new reality show and Alice Callahan joins the cast as Kate, summer school teacher for Jack Manning’ (Andrew Trischitta). Viewers can watch all new 30-minute episodes of ONE LIFE TO LIVE, which run every Tuesday and Thursday and ALL MY CHILDREN, which run every Monday and Wednesday, via The OnLine Network at TOLN.com, the free Hulu.com service and to subscribers of Hulu Plus and available at the iTunes Store.

Fans can tune-in to watch ONE LIFE TO LIVE's newest cast members as follows:

Ron Raines Joins ONE LIFE TO LIVE

Ron Raines has joined the cast of ONE LIFE TO LIVE as Carl Peterson, the mysterious benefactor of reporter Jeffrey King (Corbin Bleu). He debut is scheduled for Tuesday, August 20.

Peterson is a distinguished and influential businessman who has been Jeffrey's longtime mentor.

Raines played Alan Spaulding on GUIDING LIGHT for many years.

Photo: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

Ron Raines Debuts In 'Newsies' (Photos)

GUIDING LIGHT's "Alan Spaulding" is now playing "Joseph Pulitzer"
in Disney's "Newsies" on Broadway / Photo by: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

Tony nominee and GUIDING LIGHT alum Ron Raines made his "Newsies" debut on Tuesday in the devious role of Joseph Pulitzer. Disney's latest Broadway hit is playing at the Nederlander Theatre, and Raines is stepping in for the show's original star John Dossett through December 16.

Set in New York City at the turn of the century, "Newsies" follows Jack Kelly (Corey Cott, who replaced new SMASH star Jeremy Jordan), a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged boys, who dreams of a better life far from the hardships of the streets. When publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack finds a cause to fight for and rallies newsies from across the city to strike.

Check out some additional photos below:

NEWS ROUNDUP: Gloria Loring Opens Up About Sexual Abuse Plus Her Relationship With Don Diamont. Plus, Nadia Bjorlin, Peter Galman, James Pickens Jr.

Gloria Loring's New Book Explores 'Coincidence' That Shaped Her Life, Including Relationship With Don Diamont
"Don [Diamont, currently playing Bill Spencer on B&B] and I were together for three years," says DAYS alum Loring. "He came from a family that was very respectful and schooled in the old ways. His mother and father were just the finest people, and they raised their children to be that way. I didn’t respect myself very much. I used to call myself names, and when my marriage ended, I felt guilty for breaking up the marriage to Alan [Thicke]. I felt all the powerlessness of my childhood come up."

"I was on DAYS at that point and earning a six-figure income. I was supposedly a celebrity and all of that, and I supposedly had all this talent, but I felt like a beaten-up child. So, all my powerlessness came up and Don came in and treated me with such kindness and respect, and paid attention to everything I was thinking or doing. He was so attentive. I had not been paying attention to what I need. So he taught me how to pay attention. Don is a really nice man, and family is number one with him. He has really great qualities. I have been very blessed to have him and others in my life. When we parted, because he knew he had to go off and have a family of his own, because family was so important to him after the passing of his own father, I said, “What is the most important thing he gave me?” I realized it was the respect and the attentiveness. I knew I had to start doing that for myself. It’s taken me a long time. I could still do better, but Don was an important person in that process."

Ron Raines To Star In "Newsies" For Two Months As Joseph Pulitzer

In a perfect casting choice, Tony nominee Ron Raines will assume the devious role of Joseph Pulitzer in Disney’s "Newsies" on Broadway beginning October 9 at the Nederlander Theatre.  Raines will step in for the show's original star John Dossett through December 16.

Set in New York City at the turn of the century, "Newsies" follows Jack Kelly (Corey Cott, who replaced new SMASH star Jeremy Jordan), a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged boys, who dreams of a better life far from the hardships of the streets. When publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack finds a cause to fight for and rallies newsies from across the city to strike.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow - In Honor Of SeptemBeard!

"Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow"
by Nelson Aspen

In honor of "SeptemBeard" --a witty celebration of facial hair intended to help raise awareness and donations in the fight against a leading killer of men, prostate cancer-- I am going razor-free for the next month.  I wrote a blog article about Hollywood's hottest hirsute heartthrobs (including Jake Gyllenhaal, Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackman...  You can read it here.) but I realized how woefully lacking the Daytime TV genre has always been in the Beard Department (that includes Talk & Game shows, too).  Does the female demographic the Sponsors covet really prefer baby-faced heroes with shiny, plucked chests and androgynous good looks?  Or might there be some viewers out there waiting to "Woof!" at the sight of some Au Naturel guys with some fuzz not only on their hands and feet, but right up there on their chiseled cheekbones or square cut jaw lines?

2012 Tony Award Nominations: Ron Raines, Judith Light, Christian Borle, Tracie Bennett

The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing announced nominations for the 2012 Tony Awards this morning and a number of soap stars were included such as GUIDING LIGHT's Ron Raines, ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Judith Light, SMASH's Christian Borle, CORONATION STREET's Tracie Bennett and THE WEST WING's Stockard Channing.

The full list of nominations are below:

Lunch And More With The Spaulding Family of 'Guiding Light' - Part 1

What a treat it was to meet GUIDING LIGHT's Ron Raines (Alan) yesterday and ride over to Puttanesca for lunch with the other actors in the show's Spaulding family.

Soon after we arrived, Grant Aleksander showed up, and looks exactly the same as when he left the show as Phillip four years ago. Marcy Rylan (Lizzie) arrived as stunning as ever and Marj Dusay (Alexandra) made a fashionably late entrance and lit up the room.

Having these four "Spauldings" all together and sometimes talking at the same time was really fascinating and entertaining. What was nice was that not everyone had seen Aleksander in a while so we were witnessing their reunions in person.

Aleksander will be returning to the airwaves in early February. He begins taping next week and there is a lot of excitement on set about his return and this group was especially thrilled. Aleksander told us that he spoke with one of the head writers, Jill Lorie Hurst, several months ago about the possibility of returning but didn't want the information to be "out there" in case it didn't happen.

We all tried to get spoilers out of him and the publicists, but no such luck. Aleksander said, "I'm not allowed to say anything. Aside from some early conversations about general things, I really wanted to stay out of that part of it. Once we talked and I had the sense of, in general, what they were looking for, I thought, 'this will be okay,' so there's a lot more I have to find out."