News Brief

Splitsville Over TV Soap: Why AFTRA Now Refuses To Jointly Negotiate With SAG
Nikki Finke writes: "Tonight I received the news that AFTRA national president Roberta Reardon and officers robertareardon.jpgincluding Susan Boyd Joyce, Denny Delk, Bob Edwards, Matt Kimbrough, Shelby Scott held their national meeting and approved a formal rift with their stepsister actors union SAG. They then went to SAG's national board meeting and declared that AFTRA won't negotiate jointly with the Screen Actors Guild on the new primetime TV contract. This, in spite of a long-time agreement by AFTRA to bargain jointly with SAG and not undercut rates. So basically those "make nice" pronouncements of recent days are out the window. And all because of a blown-way-out-proportion incident involving AFTRA, SAG and the soap opera THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. Now AFTRA has taken such an extreme position that not even the AFL-CIO may be able to rein it in."

AFTRA severs its ties with SAG just as contract negotiations are about to begin, raising fears of a strike
Heightening fears of an actors strike this summer, one of Hollywood's two major performers unions voted Saturday to break off its 27-year joint bargaining pact with its sister, the Screen Actors Guild, leaving each to negotiate separate new contracts with the major studios. Roberta Reardon, president of AFTRA, in explaining the decision to negotiate independently, accused SAG of engaging in a "relentless campaign of disinformation and disparagement, culminating in a recent attempt" to wrest jurisdiction of the soap opera THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL away from AFTRA. Although SAG rejected her claim of interference, Reardon said AFTRA is unable "to have any confidence in their ability to live up to the principles of the partnership and union solidarity."

Rowell's memoir raises profile of foster care system
The same month the character of Drucilla Winters disappeared over a cliff on the CBS daytime soap THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Victoria Rowell's book tour began. No coincidence. "I had to get off the stage and get on the road," says Rowell, who played the role of Drucilla Winters for 19 years on Y&R. Her memoir, The Women Who Raised Me (William Morrow, $27.95), was published in April 2007. Since then, Winters has done nearly 2,000 book signings. "We can't say for certain, but we think that's more than any writer has ever done in a year's time," Rowell says.

DALLAS: The Complete Ninth Season coming to DVD
JR and the whole Ewing clan are back for another exhilarating season of backstabbing, lust, betrayal, and outrageous surprises when Warner Home Video debuts Dallas: The Complete Ninth Season on DVD July 15, 2008. Larry Hagman (I DREAM OF JEANNIE), Linda Gray (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL), Victoria Principal (Earthquake) and Barbara Bel Geddes (Vertigo) star in the show which was nominated for 17 Emmys® over the course of its highly rated 14-season run. The four disc special DVD collector's set features all 31 episodes and is priced to own at $39.98 SRP.

Former DAYS writer directs 'Courage'
“Last Ounce of Courage,” a low-budget independent feature with a cast that includes Jennifer O’Neill and Fred Williamson, begins filming Monday in Paola, Kansas. At the helm is writer/director Darrel Campbell, a show business veteran whose writing credits include TV’s DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

EMMERDALE star Verity Rushworth hates a girl in uniform EMMERDALE star Verity Rushworth hates her blokish soap wardrobe so much she has given her character Donna Dingle a new nickname - Donald. The stunning star doesn't get much chance to show off her trim size-eight figure in the baggy and unflattering police uniform she has had to wear since her Dales alter-ego joined the force last year. It will be a different story when Verity, 22, gets glammed up for the British Soap Awards on May 3. The actress is celebrating her first ever nomination in the annual gongs since she joined Emmerdale as a fresh-faced 12-year-old a decade ago. She has been shortlisted in one of the most prestigious categories - Best Actress - and is up against the likes of EASTENDERS' Lacey Turner (Stacey Branning) and June Brown (Dot Branning), plus fellow EMMERDALE stars Charlotte Bellamy (Laurel Potts) and Roxanne Pallett (Jo Sugden). Verity said: "I'm chuffed to bits to be nominated. Although I'm not trying to take it too seriously, I'm really looking forward to the big ceremony in May. If nothing else, it gives me a chance to get dressed up for a change. I'll definitely be wearing a nice bright colour and not just opting for a safe black dress. I wear enough black as Donna the policewoman."

VIDEO: Episode #10 of SOFIA'S DIARY
Check out the latest episode of this internet Bebo series.

Evening News

Y&R wins Preservation Award
The Los Angeles Conservancy has announced the recipients of its 27th annual Preservation Awards, which recognize outstanding achievement in the field of historic preservation. As always, this year’s winning projects reflect a wide range of efforts to preserve L.A. County’s architectural heritage.

The winners include:
Media Award: THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS -- The highest-rated daytime drama on American television has introduced millions of people to preservation in the past year. In a storyline involving a development that threatened historic buildings, The Young and the Restless had key characters fight for preservation as a way to revitalize a community. This one bold stroke conveyed the value of historic resources to an entire nation through popular culture, a vital element in creating a true preservation ethic.

NBC's FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Returning for Sure
NBC's Friday Night Lights will, indeed, be returning for a third season, according to series star Kyle Chandler. Chanlder recorded an interview yesterday for an upcoming edition of NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and confirmed that a deal to spread costs and continue the series had been struck. All that was left, he said Wednesday, was to "dot the i's and cross the t's." He was scheduled, and planning, to report back to Austin in June, he said, to start filming season three on location.

Liveblogging ATWT: I'll stand (near)by you, Luke!
Dennis Ayers liveblogs today's episode of AS THE WORLD TURNS.

Ex-AMC star Consuelos on Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel will present Mark Consuelos (ALL MY CHILDREN) as a widower who falls in love again in SAVING GRACE, coming later this year.

Ex-OLTL Emmy nominee Ebersole releases new CD in May
The legendary Christine Ebersole and Billy Stritch bring their acclaimed live performance to disc on their latest CD, 'Sunday in New York.' Set for May 13th release on Ghostlight Records, the jazzy new vocal album was produced by Grammy Award winner Russ Titelman (Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon,) and features 13 tracks ranging from Rodgers & Hammerstein's “Surrey With The Fringe On Top" to Stephen Sondheim's “Not While I'm Around." Ebersole lost the 1984 Supporting Actress Emmy to Judi Evans of GUIDING LIGHT.

VIDEO: Episode #9 of SOFIA'S DIARY
Episode #9 of the Bebo online soap SOFIA'S DIARY is now available for your viewing pleasure.

"Fierce" Christian Siriano to appear on UGLY BETTY
PROJECT RUNWAY judge and Elle magazine fashion director Nina Garcia and fourth season winner Christian Siriano will pay a visit to Mode in an upcoming episode of ABC's award-winning comedy, UGLY BETTY. Garcia and Siriano will film their scenes in early April and the episode will air in May sweeps. How fierce will it be when Christian and Nina meet Betty, Daniel and the other Modies? Stay tuned.