'Tainted Dreams' Season 2 Arrives December 21 on Amazon

Romance, intrigue, manipulation…and a little bit of humor. That's just a taste of what’s to come as the second season of the Emmy-nominated series Tainted Dreams kicks off, and fans finally get resolution from last season's gripping cliffhanger. Beginning December 21st, the next chapter of Sonia Blangiardo's Tainted Dreams, the soap behind a soap, will be available for streaming on Amazon and Amazon Prime.

The series, which was nominated for five 2017 Daytime Emmys, follows the behind-the-scenes drama of a fictitious soap opera titled Painted Dreams and features a very unique cast composed of classic soap opera fan favorites, reality personalities and stage stars. Creator and executive producer Sonia Blangiardo has served as a producer/director on five iconic soaps, including All My Children, One Life to Live, As the World Turns, General Hospital, and currently Days of our Lives. The show is based on the real-life dramedy she has lived and seen both on and off screen in her 25 years in soaps.

The first season is currently streaming on Amazon. The full cast for both seasons includes Alicia Minshew (Angelica), Michael Lowry (Jordan), Austin Peck (Max), Terri Ivens (Kassandra), Walt Willey (Gregory), Kelley Menighan (Veronica), Grant Aleksander (Adam), Bobbie Eakes (Courtney), Natalia Livingston (Liza), Marnie Schulenburg (Peyton), Nathan Purdee (Ethan), Colleen Zenk (Sofia), James DePaiva (Eddy), Tonja Walker (Tina), Ilene Kristen (Vivian), and the late Larkin Malloy (Henry). It also taps into the Reality TV world with stars Jessie Godderz (Dylan) of Impact Wrestling and Big Brother fame and Dina Manzo (Alessandra) of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, as well as a very talented Off-Broadway supporting cast, including Anthony Wilkinson (Anthony) of the My Big Gay Italian franchise. Lindsay Harrison is the writer.

Blangiardo says she is "excited to take everyone along these characters' journeys in Season 2, as they evolve and deal with ever increasing professional and personal turmoil."

'Tainted Dreams' is Now Streaming on Amazon Video

Actor Larkin Malloy, who passed away in September, plays Henry Steinman
in Tainted Dreams.

Soap with a soap Tainted Dreams began streaming on Amazon Video today. The show is ad-free for Amazon Prime members, while non-subscribers can watch with short promotional breaks.

Created by Sonia Blangiardo, Tainted Dreams follows the lives of the cast and crew of fictional soap opera Painted Dreams. The show features an all-star cast which includes Alicia Minshew (All My Children), Terri Ivens (All My Children), Grant Aleksander (Guiding Light), Kelley Menighan Hensley (As the World Turns), Walt Willey (All My Children), Bobbie Eakes (All My Children), Natalia Livingston (General Hospital), Marnie Schulenburg (As the World Turns), Michael Lowry (All My Children), Austin Peck (Days of our Lives), Colleen Zenk (As the World Turns), the late great Larkin Malloy (The Edge of Night), Nathan Purdee (The Young and the Restless), Tonja Walker (One Life to Live), James DePaiva (One Life to Live), Ilene Kristen (Ryan's Hope), Dina Manzo (Real Housewives of New Jersey), Anthony Wilkinson ("My Big Gay Italian Wedding" and the new "My Big Gay Italian Funeral"), Lisa Marie Varon (Impact Wrestling) and “Mr. PEC-Tacular” Jessie Godderz (Impact Wrestling, Big Brother).

Watch the Tainted Dreams trailer below.

'Tainted Dreams' Coming to Amazon on December 26, Watch a Sneak Peek!

Longtime As the World Turns star Colleen Zenk plays Sofia DiGiacomo in
Tainted Dreams.

Sonia Blangiardo's much-anticipated indie web series Tainted Dreams will finally be available to stream beginning December 26, for free on Amazon Video (ad-free for Prime members; with short promotional breaks for non-subscribers).

Tainted Dreams follows the lives of the cast and crew of fictional soap opera Painted Dreams. The show features an all-star cast which includes Alicia Minshew (All My Children), Terri Ivens (All My Children), Grant Aleksander (Guiding Light), Kelley Menighan Hensley (As the World Turns), Walt Willey (All My Children), Bobbie Eakes (All My Children), Natalia Livingston (General Hospital), Marnie Schulenburg (As the World Turns), Michael Lowry (All My Children), Austin Peck (Days of our Lives), Colleen Zenk (As the World Turns), the late great Larkin Malloy (The Edge of Night), Nathan Purdee (The Young and the Restless), Tonja Walker (One Life to Live), James DePaiva (One Life to Live), Ilene Kristen (Ryan's Hope), Dina Manzo (Real Housewives of New Jersey), Anthony Wilkinson ("My Big Gay Italian Wedding" and the new "My Big Gay Italian Funeral"), Lisa Marie Varon (Impact Wrestling) and “Mr. PEC-Tacular” Jessie Godderz (Impact Wrestling, Big Brother).

Watch a sneak peek video below.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Colleen Zenk on THURSTON and Her Indie Series Awards Nomination

THURSTON Indie Series Awards nominee Colleen Zenk
with WE LOVE SOAPS TV host Michael Goldberg.

On the latest episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV (5.21), Michael Goldberg chats with THURSTON star Colleen Zenk, who is nominated in the Best Lead Actress - Drama category at the upcoming 5th Annual Indie Series Awards. She is also soon to appear in the web series TAINTED DREAMS, nominated for Best Ensemble - Drama.

Zenk shares her reaction to her ISA5 nomination, compares THURSTON's "Agnes Snead" to her longtime AS THE WORLD TURNS character ("Barbara Ryan"), and reveals the current slate of projects she's working on.

Watch below:



To catch up on THURSTON, visit thurston-series.com. Follow Colleen Zenk on Twitter at @ColleenZenk.

Indie Series Awards Spotlight: Lead Actress - Drama

The Indie Series Awards celebrate the best in independently produced, scripted entertainment created for the Web. In the next of our 5th Annual Indie Series Awards Spotlight features, We Love Soaps takes a look at the nominees in the Best Lead Actress - Drama category: Kate Conway, Out With Dad, Sierra Hersek, Dark Pool, Alicia Minshew, Tainted Dreams, Lisa Roumain, Split, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Hustling and Colleen Zenk, Thurston. Watch the nominated work featured in an episode of each of their series below:

Alicia Minshew Previews BEACON HILL on WE LOVE SOAPS TV

Alicia Minshew previews BEACON HILL.

On the latest episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV (5.11), 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 actress Alicia Minshew about her role as "Sara Preston" on BEACON HILL. Minshew talks about starring opposite Sarah Brown on the show, shooting on location, and the advantages of working with producers like Crystal Chappell and Hillary B. Smith, who have played the same types of scenes as actresses.



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

RELATED:
- Crystal Chappell & Tina Sloan Preview BEACON HILL on WE LOVE SOAPS TV

NEWS: Angell Cornell, SuperJoey, Shawn Christian, Eileen Davidson, Bryan Batt

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS actress Angell Cornell featured on cover of IMAGINEI magazine's first issue
On playing lawyer Leslie Michaelson on Y&R: "I prepare by watching different films and television shows of actresses that I admired that potray laywers and characters of strength. I also contacted by lawyer friends and did Internet research on legal lingo."

You Can Record 8 Shows at a Time with Dish's New DVR
Dish's Hopper, long the king of DVRs, just zoomed even farther ahead: it's introducing a new SuperJoey, an improved version of their client receivers to its main DVR the Hopper. The improvements? It'll be possible to record 8 shows at once.

Study: 80% of Super Bowl Ads Don't Help Sales
Jack Neff in Ad Age reports on the latest study, from ad research firm Communicus, about the futility of advertising—in this case, about Super Bowl television advertising. The study "suggests 80% of the [Super Bowl] ads don't sell stuff."

TAINTED DREAMS: Watch The First Three Episodes

Sonia Blangiardo's much-anticipated indie web series TAINTED DREAMS follows the lives of the cast and crew of fictional soap PAINTED DREAMS. The show features an all-star cast which includes Alicia Minshew (ALL MY CHILDREN), Terri Ivens (ALL MY CHILDREN), Grant Aleksander (GUIDING LIGHT), Kelley Menighan Hensley (AS THE WORLD TURNS), Walt Willey (ALL MY CHILDREN), Bobbie Eakes (ALL MY CHILDREN), Natalia Livingston (GENERAL HOSPITAL), Marnie Schulenburg (AS THE WORLD TURNS), Michael Lowry (ALL MY CHILDREN), Austin Peck (DAYS OF OUR LIVES), Colleen Zenk (AS THE WORLD TURNS), Larkin Malloy (THE EDGE OF NIGHT), Nathan Purdee (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Tonja Walker (ONE LIFE TO LIVE), James DePaiva (ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Ilene Kristen (RYAN'S HOPE), Dina Manzo (DINA'S PARTY and REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY), Anthony Wilkinson ("My Big Gay Italian Wedding" and the new "My Big Gay Italian Funeral), Lisa Marie Varon (IMPACT WRESTLING) and “Mr. PEC-Tacular” Jessie Godderz (IMPACT WRESTLING and Big Brother).

The wait for the series is now over! TAINTED DREAMS released its first three episodes today via TV Guide Magazine. Watch them below:

NEWS: NFL GAME OF THRONES Logos; Alicia Minshew; SCANDAL Impacting Fashion; Cynthia Nixon; ANACOSTIA on NPR

See every NFL team reimagined as a GAME OF THRONES house
The NFL season kicked off on Thursday on continues with a full slate of games on Sunday. Reddit user Tim Proby created GAME OF THRONES-style sigils for all 32 teams. "The NFL and GAME OF THRONES both have drama and fan reaction that you don't see anywhere else in entertainment," Proby, who plans to continue tweaking the images, tells Co.Create. "The passion of both fanbases is equal."

Alicia Minshew approached to " tape a few episodes" of ALL MY CHILDREN for season finale but it didn't happen
"I was approached by Ginger to tape a few episodes at the end, a fun little thing that would be part of the season finale. I said, 'Sure, I’ll do it.' But that taped a long time ago, so I guess I’m not a part of the finale [laughs]. I get it, things happen."

Marnie Schulenburg on the Set of TAINTED DREAMS with WE LOVE SOAPS TV

Season 5 of our web series WE LOVE SOAPS TV continues from the set of upcoming Sonia Blangiardo dramedy TAINTED DREAMS. We spoke with Emmy nominee Marnie Schulenburg from AS THE WORLD TURNS this week during a shoot at Blondies Sports Bar in New York.

Schulenburg plays Peyton Adams in TAINTED DREAMS, an ambitious, sexy, twenty-something actress who stars as Tiffany on the soap-within-a-soap PAINTED DREAMS.

In this new interview, Schulenburg tells us about her TAINTED DREAMS character, and what is was liking working at the new ONE LIFE TO LIVE. Plus, she shares her excitement about her upcoming real-life wedding.

Check it out below:

Colleen Zenk on the Set of TAINTED DREAMS with WE LOVE SOAPS TV

Season 5 of our web series WE LOVE SOAPS TV continues from the set of upcoming Sonia Blangiardo dramedy TAINTED DREAMS. We spoke with three-time Emmy nominee Colleen Zenk from AS THE WORLD TURNS this week during a shoot at Blondies Sports Bar in New York.

Zenk plays Sofia DiGiacomo in TAINTED DREAMS, a women with four children that clearly adores her only son, Anthony (Anthony Wilkinson).

In this new interview, Zenk tells us about her TAINTED DREAMS character, what happened on last weekend's THURSTON shoot (she plays Agnes Snead in the Western web series), and if we might see her on stage as Tallulah Bankhead in "Looped" again.

Check it out below:

Terri Ivens on the Set of TAINTED DREAMS with WE LOVE SOAPS TV

Season 5 of our web series WE LOVE SOAPS TV continues from the set of upcoming Sonia Blangiardo dramedy TAINTED DREAMS. We spoke with former ALL MY CHILDREN actress Terri Ivens this week during a shoot at Blondies Sports Bar in New York.

Ivens stars as Kassandra Bently in TAINTED DREAMS. Kassandra is the actress who plays Brittany Welcher on soap-within-a-soap PAINTED DREAMS. She's is manipulative, ambitious and will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. Find out what Ivens had to say about her new character, and the other projects keeping her busy, in our new interview.

Check it out below:

Austin Peck on the Set of TAINTED DREAMS in the Season 5 Premiere of WE LOVE SOAPS TV

To kick off Season 5 of our web series WE LOVE SOAPS TV, we traveled to the set of upcoming dramedy TAINTED DREAMS and spoke with Austin Peck during a shoot at Blondies Sports Bar in New York.

Peck stars as Max Hillstone in TAINTED DREAMS, an actor who plays Erik Robar on the soap-within-a-soap PAINTED DREAMS. The former DAYS OF OUR LIVES and AS THE WORLD TURNS actor previews his new web series character, tell us how he stays in shape, and shares what he's watching on YouTube.

Check it out below:

Nathan Purdee Joins TAINTED DREAMS

Nathan Purdee - Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

ONE LIFE TO LIVE and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS alum Nathan Purdee has signed on to play Ethan Washington, a network President of Daytime TV in the new web series from NYC Brand Productions, TAINTED DREAMS.

"I needed someone with gravitas and experience playing strong, uber-confident men, and Nathan Purdee was at the top of my list," said series creator and executive producer, Sonia Blangiardo, "We are very fortunate to have Nathan join our cast. The character of Ethan Washington is overconfident, never in doubt, a real force to be reckoned with, feared by other executives, actors, and crew."

INDIE HOUSE: HUSTLING, THE STAFFORD PROJECT, Flip Fantasia, WHATEVER THIS IS, TRYING

THE STAFFORD PROJECT premieres August 5th

Gossip, secrets, leaks; kudos, picks, congrats - in the Indie Soap Web Series (Indies) world, this is where they live. Listen up: Kevin's Indie House.

Indie Soap Award-winning HUSTLING has started production on Season 4. Yes! Has Sebastian La Cause, winner in the Lead Actor category at The ISAs the past two years, gone blonde? Stay tuned for updates as production progresses.

Departing THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Emmy-winning actress Michelle Stafford has posted a teaser for her upcoming Indie satire THE STAFFORD PROJECT. On July 28, she took to Twitter to answer fan questions about the series. She described the show as a "comedy web series about an actress named Michelle Stafford who tries 2 juggle everything as it continuously blows up in her face."

When asked how many episodes are planned, she replied, "8 so far!! Hopefully in the long run 88!!"

Check out the teaser video below.

Bobbie Eakes Begins TAINTED DREAMS Tonight

Emmy-nominated Bobbie Eakes has arrived in New York City and begins filming TAINTED DREAMS tonight.

According to TD creator and executive producer, Sonia Blangiardo, “Eakes is playing Courtney Parish, a television network’s Vice President of Daytime programming. She’s strong, powerful and well-respected until one split-second decision changes everything.”

Blangiardo teases Eakes "first scenes are actually night scenes on location with her onscreen husband, Eddie, played by former One Life to Live heartthrob James DePaiva."

Though best known for her roles in ALL MY CHILDREN (Krystal) and THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (Macy), Eakes has enjoyed a rich and varied career in the entertainment industry. Her TV credits include many guest star roles on prime-time dramas and sitcoms. Throughout the years, Bobbie has also worked as a television host.

INDIE HOUSE: MY SYNTHESIZED LIFE, WHATEVER THIS IS, THE STAFFORD PROJECT, HEADSHOTS, BROKEN AT LOVE, Get Your Hot as Hell Tickets

Gossip, secrets, leaks; kudos, picks, congrats - in the Indie Soap Web Series (Indies) world, this is where they live. Listen up: Kevin's Indie House.

Nate Golon's notable new comedy MY SYNTHESIZED LIFE premiered this week with two episodes. Brent Bailey is pitch perfect as Jimmy Bales, a 25 year old man whose voice naturally synthesizes after getting electrocuted by his car radio. With sharp guest appearances from actors like Sean Hemeon (HUSBANDS), Marissa Jaret Winokur ("Hairspray"), Marie Wilson (AS THE WORLD TURNS) and Barrett Foa (NCIS), this show has the star power. But does it make you laugh? The answer is a resounding, "Yes," especially the beach phone call scene in the Episode #2.  In fact, not a flat note from the Nate Golon series so far.  Check out the second episode below:

Ilene Kristen, James DePaiva & Tonja Walker Join TAINTED DREAMS

Three of ONE LIFE TO LIVE's most beloved fan favorites - Ilene Kristen, James DePaiva and Tonja Walker - have signed on for TAINTED DREAMS, an upcoming dramedy providing a rare, realistic view behind the scenes of producing a daily scripted drama.

Ilene Kristen, best known for her role as Delia Reid Ryan in RYAN'S HOPE and, most recently, her twice Emmy-nominated role as the outrageous Roxy Balsom on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, will play Vivian Park, the estranged mother of soap star, Liza Park (Natalia Livingston). Kristen is also no stranger to the Broadway stage appearing in the original Broadway cast of "Grease." She is credited on the original 1972 Broadway cast album (along with Adrienne Barbeau as Rizzo and Barry Bostwick as Danny). A talented singer and songwriter, Kristen frequently performs her own original music on the New York City cabaret scene, and she has made numerous guest appearances in primetime and independent films.

Larkin Malloy Joins TAINTED DREAMS

One of Daytime television's most popular leading men in the 1980s, Larkin Malloy is joining the all-star cast of TAINTED DREAMS. The actor, best known for his roles as Sky Whitney in THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Travis Montgomery on ALL MY CHILDREN and Kyle Sampson in GUIDING LIGHT, will play the role of Henry Steinman, a director of PAINTED DREAMS (TAINTED DREAMS' soap within the soap.) He was named to our 50 Greatest Soap Actors list in 2010.

According to executive producer, Sonia Blangiardo, "Henry Steinman is the most politically incorrect director in the history of Daytime…truly the Archie Bunker of the soap genre. Whatever crosses Henry’s mind comes out of his mouth…in the most inappropriate way possible."

"Before you ask, yes, Larkin and I may have known a real-life director who might allegedly fit this description," Blangiardo adds with a grin.

INDIE HOUSE: THE WALKING TEDD, BROKEN AT LOVE, HUSTLING, DEVANITY, HUSBANDS, GAYS, TAINTED DREAMS

Gossip, secrets, leaks; kudos, picks, congrats - in the Indie Soap Web Series (Indies) world, this is where they live. Listen up: Kevin's Indie House.

Sean Willis' upcoming web seriesTHE WALKING TEDD just passed the $4,000 mark in their Kickstarter campaign. The show is a heart-warming comedy about a zombie teddy bear that may make you rethink your favorite childhood stuffed animal. Derek Stusynski, Sofia Regan, Ashton Swinford, Cherami Leigh, Kylie Sparks, Brett Johnson, DeVille Vannik, Trey Munden, Beau Wirick, Steven French, John French and Brooke Coleman star. Check out their fundraising video below.

Hot off the presses is casting news from the Karolina Sivas web series BROKEN AT LOVE. Former THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and RITUALS actress Sharon Farrell has joined the cast for Season 2. Who will she be playing? Stay tuned!