Today in Soap Opera History (March 27)

1953: Search for Tomorrow's Jo tried to help a mystery patient.
1979: Ryan's Hope's Rae wanted to make Frank jealous.
1989: Daytime soap opera Generations premiered on NBC.
2001: Passions aired a Jerry Springer parody.

"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...

1939: Primetime radio soap opera Those We Love was canceled and taken off the air by NBC's Blue Network. It was the story of the Marshall family of Westbridge, Connecticut, and featured Universal starlet Nan Grey. It was canceled so abruptly the story was left in limbo which outraged fans. They responded with a flood of vitriolic mail to NBC, to Ponds Cream, and to such trade journals as Radio Guide. Some suggested boycotting the sponsor; interest was aroused by a "code of rights," to force networks and sponsors to keep faith with the audience; some listeners proposed to appeal to the Federal Communications Commission.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 27)

1953: Search for Tomorrow's Jo tried to help a mystery patient.
1979: Ryan's Hope's Rae wanted to make Frank jealous.
1989: Daytime soap opera Generations premiered on NBC.
2001: Passions aired a Jerry Springer parody.

"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...

1939: Primetime radio soap opera Those We Love was canceled and taken off the air by NBC's Blue Network. It was the story of the Marshall family of Westbridge, Connecticut, and featured Universal starlet Nan Grey. It was canceled so abruptly the story was left in limbo which outraged fans. They responded with a flood of vitriolic mail to NBC, to Ponds Cream, and to such trade journals as Radio Guide. Some suggested boycotting the sponsor; interest was aroused by a "code of rights," to force networks and sponsors to keep faith with the audience; some listeners proposed to appeal to the Federal Communications Commission.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 27)

1953: Search for Tomorrow's Jo tried to help a mystery patient.
1979: Ryan's Hope's Rae wanted to make Frank jealous.
1989: Daytime soap opera Generations premiered on NBC.
2001: Passions aired a Jerry Springer parody.

"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...

1939: Primetime radio soap opera Those We Love was canceled and taken off the air by NBC's Blue Network. It was the story of the Marshall family of Westbridge, Connecticut, and featured Universal starlet Nan Grey. It was canceled so abruptly the story was left in limbo which outraged fans. They responded with a flood of vitriolic mail to NBC, to Ponds Cream, and to such trade journals as Radio Guide. Some suggested boycotting the sponsor; interest was aroused by a "code of rights," to force networks and sponsors to keep faith with the audience; some listeners proposed to appeal to the Federal Communications Commission.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 27)

1953: Search for Tomorrow's Jo tried to help a mystery patient.
1979: Ryan's Hope's Rae wanted to make Frank jealous.
1989: Daytime soap opera Generations premiered on NBC.
2001: Passions aired a Jerry Springer parody.

"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...

1939: Primetime radio soap opera Those We Love was canceled and taken off the air by NBC's Blue Network. It was the story of the Marshall family of Westbridge, Connecticut, and featured Universal starlet Nan Grey. It was canceled so abruptly the story was left in limbo which outraged fans. They responded with a flood of vitriolic mail to NBC, to Ponds Cream, and to such trade journals as Radio Guide. Some suggested boycotting the sponsor; interest was aroused by a "code of rights," to force networks and sponsors to keep faith with the audience; some listeners proposed to appeal to the Federal Communications Commission.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 27)

1953: Search for Tomorrow's Jo tried to help a mystery patient.
1979: Ryan's Hope's Rae wanted to make Frank jealous.
1989: Daytime soap opera Generations premiered on NBC.
2001: Passions aired a Jerry Springer parody.

"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...

1939: Primetime radio soap opera Those We Love was canceled and taken off the air by NBC's Blue Network. It was the story of the Marshall family of Westbridge, Connecticut, and featured Universal starlet Nan Grey. It was canceled so abruptly the story was left in limbo which outraged fans. They responded with a flood of vitriolic mail to NBC, to Ponds Cream, and to such trade journals as Radio Guide. Some suggested boycotting the sponsor; interest was aroused by a "code of rights," to force networks and sponsors to keep faith with the audience; some listeners proposed to appeal to the Federal Communications Commission.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 27)

1953: SFT's Joanne tried to help the mysterious Wilbur. 1979: RH's
Rae plotted to make Frank jealous. 1989: GENERATIONS
premiered on NBC. 2001: PASSIONS aired a Jerry Springer parody.

"There is no present or future, only the past happening over and over again - now."
- Eugene O'Neill

"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: Primetime radio soap opera THOSE WE LOVE was canceled and taken off the air by NBC's Blue Network. It was the story of the Marshall family of Westbridge, Connecticut, and featured Universal starlet Nan Grey. It was canceled so abruptly the story was left in limbo which outraged fans. They responded with a flood of vitriolic mail to NBC, to Ponds Cream, and to such trade journals as Radio Guide. Some suggested boycotting the sponsor; interest was aroused by a "code of rights," to force networks and sponsors to keep faith with the audience; some listeners proposed to appeal to the Federal Communications Commission.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 20)

On this date in...

1919: Actress K.T. Stevens was born. She died in 1994 at age 74, and is still fondly remembered by soap fans for her work as Peggy Mercer in the original cast of GENERAL HOSPITAL, and as Mother From Hell Vanessa Prentiss in THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.

1966: On DARK SHADOWS, David (David Henesy) declared his hatred for Roger (Louis Edmonds).

STEAMBOAT Is Back, New Distribution on Roku and NetTalk Announced

Studio 47 Productions, with ConvergTV's The Venture Channel, announced today distribution of their award-winning and brand-integrated comedy soap spoof, STEAMBOAT, which is now available on Roku and NetTalk. This is phase one of a global roll out for the network and the show.

A NAPTE “Best In Branded Entertainment” nominee, STEAMBOAT is a behind the scenes mockumentary look at the last dying days of a beloved soap.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 27)

On this date in...

1939: Primetime radio soap opera THOSE WE LOVE was canceled by NBC. It was the story of the Marshall family of Westbridge, Connecticut, and featured Universal starlet Nan Grey. It was canceled so abruptly the story was left in limbo which outraged fans. They responded with a flood of vitriolic mail to NBC, to Ponds Cream, and to such trade journals as Radio Guide. Some suggested boycotting the sponsor; interest was aroused by a "code of rights," to force networks and sponsors to keep faith with the audience; some listeners proposed to appeal to the Federal Communications Commission.

Don Knotts on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW

Nothing came of it until six months later, when the Red Network picked up the story as if there had been no gap at all. Most of the audience returned but the show was canceled again in 1940. Six months later it was picked up by CBS then it went back to NBC and ran another three years.

1953: On SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, Joanne (Mary Stuart) tried to help a mysterious coma patient (played by Don Knotts).  The man would turn out to be Wilbur Peterson, a character Knotts played on SFT for two years.  Knotts would say decades later it was the only serious role he ever played professionally.

INTERVIEW: Kim Zimmer on GL, Indie Soaps & the Future

Kim Zimmer is a daytime legend after receiving eleven Emmy nominations, four wins, and coming in at #2 on We Love Soaps 50 Greatest Soap Actresses.  But how has she been coping in the year since GUIDING LIGHT went off the air?  And is she in touch with her "lesbian side" enough for Crystal Chappell's VENICE? The Divine Ms. Zimmer gave us the answers during the GUIDING LIGHT So Long Springfield Cruise Bon Voyage party. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Watch the video here.]

We Love Soaps: What about this cruise are you most excited about?
Kim Zimmer: My husband is coming with me. We will be married 29 years on August 29th.  So we’re using it as a little honeymoon anniversary celebration.  Unfortunately I think this is going to be our last group effort as a GUIDING LIGHT team with our GUIDING LIGHT fans.  I’m really sorry about that.  We have looked forward to these events, to be able to get together and shoot the shit.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Jonathan Jackson Previews NASHVILLE, Julie Berman Shooting Indie Film With Justin Bruening

GENERAL HOSPITAL alum Jonathan Jackson previews NASHVILLE, happy for Jill Farren Phelps
"My character Avery is more avant-garde musically, so I think the audience will get to see that side of the Nashville music scene through him. I wouldn’t say he’s very country at all, really. He’s really more Americana. [Recording artist] Elvis Costello is a good example, I guess. He does a lot of different genres and uses a lot of different voices. His lyrical content is very broad and deep, so we’re excited to explore the more indie music scene in Nashville."

"I haven’t been able to really watch [GENERAL HOSPITAL], but I’ve been hearing positive things, which is cool. I was also excited to hear that Jill [Farren Phelps] went to Y&R. I was excited for her."

Alexa Chung will make a cameo in GOSSIP GIRL
A spokesperson on behalf of Chung confirmed that she has filmed a cameo appearance, and will be playing herself.

Today in Soap Opera History (July 20)

On this date in...

1919: Actress K.T. Stevens was born. She died in 1994 at age 74.  She is remembered fondly by soap fans for her role as Vanessa Prentiss on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.

1966: On DARK SHADOWS, David declared his hatred for Roger.

1972: On ANOTHER WORLD, Alice told Jim, Russ, and Cindy that she and Steve would be taking a trip to St. Croix after he stopped off to see Jamie on his way to Washington. 

1979: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Paige was in danger from the Tobias gang.

Today in Soap Opera History (March 27)

On this date in...

1953: On SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, Joanne tried to help a patient who is in a coma (played by Don Knotts).

We Love Soaps Announces Additional Celebrity Presenters For 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards

WE LOVE SOAPS ANNOUNCES SEBASTIAN LA CAUSE, MICHAEL O'LEARY, RACHAEL HIP-FLORES AND YVONNE PERRY AS ADDITIONAL CELEBRITY PRESENTERS AT THE THIRD ANNUAL INDIE SOAP AWARDS

Winners will be revealed at a live ceremony

on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

(New York, NY) January 26, 2012 - We Love Soaps reveals second slate of celebrity presenters for the 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards.  The ISAs honor the best dramas and comedies in scripted serialized web series.  The winners will be announced in a gala award presentation ceremony at New World Stages in New York, NY, on February 21, 2012.

We Love Soaps is proud to announce the following celebrity presenters:

• Michael O'Leary, longtime star of Guiding Light; nominated actor from Steamboat

• Yvonne Perry, longtime star of As The World Turns; actress from Empire

• Orlagh Cassidy, star of Guiding Light and Another World; nominated actress from Empire

• Julie Ann Emery of TV's Damages, ER and Commander in Chief; nominated actress and producer from Then We Got Help!

• Karri Bowman of TV's Grounded for Life; nominated actress from Bandwagon

• Sebastian La Cause of Broadway's Rocky Horror Show and Chicago; creator and nominated actor from Hustling

• Kevin Earley of Broadway's Tale of Two Cities and Thoroughly Modern Millie; actor from Then We Got Help!

• Michael Myracle of action films Violent Zone and Delta Force 2; nominated actress from California Heaven

• Catherine Frels of The Academy of Classical Acting at George Washington University; nominated actress from Thurston

• Anthony Anderson, nominated actor and ISA winner from Anacostia

• Rachael Hip-Flores of the new series Good People in Love; nominated actress and ISA winner from Anyone But Me

• Rick Dalton, nominated actor from Ragged Isle

• Jason Leaver, nominated creator of Out With Dad

• Marion Akpan, actress from Anacostia

"We try to keep the focus on their incredible achievements in the web series medium, but it's just impossible to ignore the fact that we're packing the theater with an incredibly talented and accomplished mix of theater stars, indie filmmakers and daytime soap opera (and other!) TV actors," said We Love Soaps founder, Roger Newcomb.  "Moving the show to New World Stages allows us to do something even bigger and better this year.   We even have a surprise or two planned!"

As previously announced, Kristos Andrews (The Bay), Jodi Britton(Sundays), Michael Caruso (DeVanity), John Colella (Vampire Mob), Jillian Clare (Miss Behave), Patrika Darbo (Miss Behave), Dee Freeman (Pretty), Sid Garza-Hillman (Sundays), Michael Taylor Gray (Pretty), Stacy McQueen (Pretty), Forrest Naylor (Sundays) and Alexis Zibolis (DeVanity) will also be presenting awards during the ceremony.

We Love Soaps has been covering the best in serialized programming since 2007 from television to the web.  The Indie Soap Awards, or ISAs, were developed in 2009 to celebrate the best of serialized content developed for the web.   For more information, including all the nominations, visit http://welovesoaps.com/isa

###

Media Contact

Kevin Mulcahy Jr. kevin@welovesoaps.com

212-664-7620

Today in Soap Opera History (July 20)

On this date in...

1981: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, John Dixon threatened James Stenbeck at gunpoint.

2006: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Robert and Anna were in Port Charles, and decided to help out Robin with Patrick.

WATCH: Michael O'Leary Crosses Over From STEAMBOAT to THE BAY

In the first indie soap crossover, STEAMBOAT's Michael O'Leary appears on THE BAY in the latest installment of "Far From The Bay" released today.

In the episode, Pete (Kristos Andrews) is awakened on a park bench by Michael Donovan (O'Leary), who is flabbergasted that Pete doesn't recognize him as a longtime soap star.

"I thought you were somebody."

"I am somebody."

Watch it unfold below.

NEWS: Emmy Changes, Michael Buble, GAMES OF THRONES

Fewer soaps, fewer awards?
At the very least, the Natl. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences could explore having fewer candidates in some of the soap categories say Michael Maloney in a new article for Variety. While five has been the standard number of noms in each acting category, some feel that number should be lower because the genre has dropped three serials in recent years.

"They do need to change," says Peter Bergman, a three-time Daytime Emmy lead actor winner for his role on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS as Jack Abbott. "You can't have five (nominees) with only six shows. If you do, you may as well throw one from every show in."

"I don't think there should be younger actor or actress categories," says Christian Jules LeBlanc.

Michael Buble marries Argentinian soap actress, Luisina dela Torre ‘twice’
They first tied the knot in a civil ceremony in Buenos Aires, Argentina Thursday last week. On Saturday night, the celebrity couple walked down the aisle for a ‘lavish religious wedding’ attended by 300 guests.

March 27 Birthdays

Michael York (ex-Charles, KNOTS LANDING) - 69
Michael O'Leary (Michael, STEAMBOAT; ex-Rick, GUIDING LIGHT) - 53
Elizabeth Mitchell (ex-Dinah Lee, LOVING) - 41
Nathan Fillion (ex-Joey, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Adam, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) - 40
Nicholas Rodriguez (Dan, THEN WE GOT HELP!; ex-Nick, ONE LIFE TO LIVE)
Kerri Ann Darling (ex-Alli, ANOTHER WORLD) - 23

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards Post Show

Photos by Gustavo Monroy

Follow Monday night's inspirational 2nd Annual Indie Soap Awards ceremony, the casts and crew of numerous web series mingled at The Ailey Studios before moving on to the after party. What was so fulfilling about putting on this event was seeing the networking happening before and after the show. You will see in many of the photos below actors from different indie soaps posed together, exchanged business cards and offered their support. "Is there anything I can do to help your show?" was a phrase heard multiple times. There were also a number of crossovers being plotted so stay tuned.

Check out some of the post-show photos below.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV's Roger Newcomb and Damon L. Jacobs are joined by cast members from IN BETWEEN MEN, ANACOSTIA and THE BAY.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Kim Zimmer Reveals Her "Love, Loss"

Emmy-winning actress Kim Zimmer is making a splash in the theater world with her poignant role in the new staging of Nora and Delia Ephron's play "Love, Loss, And What I Wore."  Enjoy our exclusive new interview with the outspoken and fascinating talent as she discusses this new project, as well as life on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, and her upcoming book.  Plus, exactly whom was she channeling in her role as a pushy executive producer in STEAMBOAT? Zimmer answers below!

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: You just started appearing in "Love, Loss, And What I Wore." How did it go?
Kim Zimmer: Personally it did not go well for me [laughs].  Every time my husband AC Weary is in the audience I get a little nervous.  I so love his criticism.  I could feel him and I could hear him laughing at Orfeh through the whole thing, but I couldn’t hear him laughing at me! So I was nervous.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: What did your character love and lose and wear?
Kim Zimmer: She loves her bag.  She hates purses. She lost a husband along the way.  And she wore a very sexy pair of brown pants that had a hole cut in a very special spot when she went to visit her husband in prison.  You have to come see the show to find out where that spot is.