Today in Soap Opera History (January 28)

1980: ATWT's Barbara told Tom about the son she gave away (Paul).
1980: The Edge of Night's Margo needed surgery to survive.
1994: All My Children's Brooke had a nightmare.
2004: Original cast member John Clarke ended his run on Days of our Lives.

"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...

1965: On Peyton Place, Michael (Ed Nelson) told Constance (Dorothy Malone) that Elliot belonged in the past. "Michael, he's here now," Connie told him in an effort to make him see it wasn't that easy. "So am I," Mike replied.

Trent Dawson Reunites 'As the World Turns' Cast for 'The F' Benefit

Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

In 2017 an original play written by As the World Turns alum Trent Dawson, "The F," was produced at Manhatten Rep. in New York City. The play struck a chord with theatre-goers and is now being made into a film.

"The F" follows a real-time argument between Josh and Amanda. In this dark comedy, a New York subway platform becomes the stage for two lovers to battle about the truth: Did he or didn’t he? Who’s perception is real and who is delusional? A strange commuter seems to have the answers to their problems, but will either of them listen to her?

Dawson brought together a number of his former ATWT co-stars to perform "The F" live on stage at a benefit for the film on Friday, June 22. (Click here to support "The F" via the film's GoFundMe page.)

Check out more photos below from the benefit, which included Dawson (ATWT's Henry Coleman), Martha Byrne (Lily Walsh Snyder), Austin Peck (Brad Synder), Terri Conn (Katie Peretti Snyder), Anne Sayre (Mitzi Matters) and Eric Sheffer Stevens (Dr. Reid Oliver).

Today in Soap Opera History (January 28)

1980: ATWT's Barbara told Tom about the son she gave away (Paul).
1980: The Edge of Night's Margo needed surgery to survive.
1994: All My Children's Brooke had a nightmare.
2004: John Clarke ended his run on Days of our Lives.

"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...

1965: On Peyton Place, Michael (Ed Nelson) told Constance (Dorothy Malone) that Elliot belonged in the past. "Michael, he's here now," Connie told him in an effort to make him see it wasn't that easy. "So am I," Mike replied.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 28)

1980: ATWT's Barbara told Tom about the son she gave away (Paul).
1980: The Edge of Night's Margo needed surgery to survive.
1994: All My Children's Brooke had a nightmare.
2004: John Clarke ended his run on Days of our Lives.

"More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers."
― Joe Murray

"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...

1965: On Peyton Place, Michael (Ed Nelson) told Constance (Dorothy Malone) that Elliot belonged in the past. "Michael, he's here now," Connie told him in an effort to make him see it wasn't that easy. "So am I," Mike replied.

NEWS: Ingo Rademacher, Rick Hearst, Pierson Fodé, Martha Byrne, Alicia Minshew, Terri Conn, Billy Flynn

Ingo Rademacher

Ingo Rademacher returning to General Hospital as Jax
The actor, who made his Port Charles debut in 1996 and most recently reprised the role of Carly’s ex-husband in July, announced his latest return with a succinct Instagram post (“Back! @generalhospitalabc”). When Jax appeared over the summer, it was hinted that he had played a larger role in daughter Josslyn receiving Nelle’s kidney on the black market than he was letting on. Expect the actor to be back on-screen during November sweeps.

General Hospital star Rick Hearst books multi-episode stint on Daytime Divas
Hearst (Ric on GH) has landed a multiepisode stint on the VHI series Daytime Divas, set behind the scenes of a fictional talk show. “Well Atlanta you definitely are showing me that relocation was wise,” Hearst posted on Instagram. “Just booked an arc to play opposite the multi talented, and stunning #vanessawilliams on the #vh1 series #daytimedivas.”

Terri Conn and Alicia Minshew join faith-based movie Wholly Borken
Terri Conn (formerly Katie on As the World Turns and Aubrey in One Life to Live) and Alicia Minshew (formerly Kendall on All My Children) are at work on a faith-based movie musical titled Wholly Broken, which is shooting in Hampton Bays, NY. “Hello Hamptons!!! So excited to begin filming #WhollyBroken w/ @alicia_minshew,” Conn tweeted.

Pierson Fodé

The Bold and the Beautiful's Pierson Fodé lands role in It's Time film
Fodé (Thomas on B&B) has been cast as Brad Gaines in the film It’s Time, which tells the story of NCAA players Roy Lee “Chucky” Mullins and Brad Gaines’s friendship after a tragic accident during a football game that left Mullins paralyzed. Fodé posted on Instagram, “So proud to be apart of such an incredible and heart breaking TRUE story. My life has already changed in so many ways since picking up this script. spending time with #BradGaines , understanding how tragedy rocked both his Chucky’s (portrayed by the great @sedale3t ) lives. Most importantly how a deep friendship and love was created and never lost. To see the story Check Fritz’s @espn 30/30 documentary “it’s time” on @netflix”

Days of our Lives star Billy Flynn books Blood River movie role
Flynn (Chad on Days) has been cast in the film D.O.A. Blood River. The film tells the story of pharmaceutical rep Sam Collins, who travels from Los Angeles to a small town in Louisiana for business. “So excited I can finally share this news!!!!” the actor enthused on Instagram. “I can’t wait to tell THIS story…with such an amazing cast and@stephencyrussepher at the helm it’s going to be a really special experience.#DOAbloodriver #werecoming #lovehard @deadline”

Martha Byrne and the cast of "In the Car with
Blossom and Len".

As the World Turns alum Martha Byrne returns to New York stage
Byrne (formerly Lily on ATWT) has joined the cast of "In the Car with Blossom and Len" at Queens Theatre from November 11-20.

Departing General Hospital star Bryan Craig: "I've learned a new work ethic"
"As an actor, I have grown just from being on set and constantly working," Craig (Morgan on GH) tells Soap Opera Digest. "As a person, I’ve learned a new work ethic. I’d never worked that often and with that much material ever in my life. I learned to prioritize, to be more responsible. I think I’ve grown up a lot in the three-and-a-half years that I’ve been there."

Today in Soap Opera History (January 28)

1980: ATWT's Barbara told Tom about the son she gave away (Paul).
1980: The Edge of Night's Margo needed surgery to survive.
1994: All My Children's Brooke had a nightmare.
2004: John Clarke ended his run on Days of our Lives.

"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...

1965: On Peyton Place, Michael (Ed Nelson) told Constance (Dorothy Malone) that Elliot belonged in the past. "Michael, he's here now," Connie told him in an effort to make him see it wasn't that easy. "So am I," Mike replied.

NEWS: 'Hollyoaks' in Crisis? Plus, Terri Conn, Matt Bomer, Karla Mosley, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Stephanie Davis, Belinda Owusu, 'Degrassi'

Morgan Theresa Peck

Terri Conn and Austin Peck welcome baby girl
Terri Conn and Austin Peck (ex-Katie and Brad, As the World Turns) welcomed their second daughter together, Morgan Theresa Peck, on July 18. The couple's first girl, Keira, was born in 2012, and they both have children (her daughter Julia, and his sons Roman and Aidan) from previous marriages.

Stephanie Davis fired from British soap Hollyoaks
British actress Stephanie Davis has been fired from UK soap opera Hollyoaks after turning up for work drunk, her spokesperson has confirmed. Davis, who played Sinead O'Connor, was sacked with "immediate effect" by bosses at the Channel 4 network last week. Fans of the show were left shocked, and rumors about her departure swirled until her spokesperson confirmed on Friday that it was due to alcohol.

The statement reads, "Stephanie's contract was terminated following warnings for lateness, attendance and after a final incident in which she turned up to set unfit to work because of alcohol consumption."

Hollyoaks in crisis: Drunk actors, feuding stars and plunging ratings - is Channel 4 soap facing axe?
With the well-publicized sacking of Stephanie Davis coming shortly before it was revealed the Channel 4 soap's stalwart Helen Pearson has been banned from driving after being caught over the limit, the show is seemingly in crisis.

Falling ratings, more behind-the-scenes drama than on any other soap, and with outlandish sensationalist plots that would be more at home on a US soap, the show is clearly struggling.

Karla Mosley

You Should Really Be Watching The Bold and the Beautiful's Transgender Storyline
Maya's story is handled with sensitivity without (too much) sensationalism. If they still give out Daytime Emmys, throw all of them at Karla Mosley. Mosley — who is not transgender, which we could obviously quibble with but that's perhaps missing the bigger picture — said playing Maya has been "incredibly exciting" but admitted to misgivings.

“I was excited, and nervous at first,” Mosley told Janet Mock on So POPular. “Soaps don’t have a great history in handling transgender characters. Twenty years ago, the headlines were ‘So and So is A Man.’”

Instead, we get to go through the entire coming out process with Maya, from accepting her own truth to coming out to Rick, her family and eventually the world.

Magic Mike XXL star and Guiding Light alum Matt Bomer schools reporter on gay stereotypes
"I don’t know. I mean, why would I ever try to boil down an entire community into a yes-or-no question? Would you feel comfortable if I said ‘Are women harder or easier to please?’… One of the things, I think, you learn from this movie is that everybody is different and it’s all about communication and a dialogue between individuals. Get rid of the labels, get rid of the shame, get rid of the stigmas and just be your most authentic self."

20 Things You May Not Know About Clueless
Sarah Michelle Gellar was offered the role of Amber, but had to turn it down when her soap opera All My Children refused to allow her time away.

Belinda Owusu making another visit to EastEnders as Libby Fox
Owusu will be making a brief come back to the soap for two episodes in 2015, however it's been hinted that her reappearance will be something more significant than just a visit to Albert Square.

"It’s great to be back again! I'm always excited to see how Libby has grown and be back with the Fox family!" she said.

Netflix's Degrassi: Next Class will cover issues affecting a new generation, including a focus on social-media hazards like sexting and cyber-bullying
Linda Schuyler, executive producer of Degrassi at Toronto-based Epitome, said the company had planned the show’s reboot before approaching Nick and other distribution partners about the new concept. “The audience we’re speaking to now, some of them weren’t even born when we started ‘Next Generation’ in 2001,” she said. “That was talking to the millennials. Now we’re talking to this new Generation Z.”

Degrassi: Next Class will cover many of the serious, real-life aspects of teen life the show has become known for, ranging from homophobia to racism and substance abuse to violence. In addition, the show’s plotlines will examine how social-media services like Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and others are affecting teenagers.

“If you’re reading about it in the news, it’s on Degrassi,” said Schuyler, who is married to Stohn. “These kids are trying to figure out dating protocols and safety protocols.”

Today in Soap Opera History (January 28)

1980: ATWT's Barbara told Tom about the son she gave away (Paul).
1980: The Edge of Night's Margo needed surgery to survive.
1994: All My Children's Brooke had a nightmare.
2004: John Clarke ended his run on Days of our Lives.

"A page of history is worth a pound of logic."
― Oliver Wendell Holmes

"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...

1965: On Peyton Place, Michael (Ed Nelson) told Constance (Dorothy Malone) that Elliot belonged in the past. "Michael, he's here now," Connie told him in an effort to make him see it wasn't that easy. "So am I," Mike replied.

Meet Martha Byrne and Other Beloved Daytime Stars at 'Weight' Screening in NYC on October 8

Soap opera fans in New York City have a chance to meet a number of beloved Daytime stars at a VIP Soap Party and Advanced Screening of indie series Weight. Tickets are still available for the event, being held on October 8 at 7 p.m. at Galway Pub, 7 E. 36th Street (between 5th and Madison). Weight is a new comedy created and executive produced by Writers Guild Award nominee Daryn Strauss and starring two-time Emmy winner Martha Byrne.

An impressive list of stars from Daytime TV and the Web will be attending the VIP Soap Party including Byrne (As the World Turns, Crisis, Gotham), Elizabeth Hubbard (The Doctors, As the World Turns), Colleen Zenk (Thurston, As The World Turns, Thurston), Anne Sayre (As the World Turns, Gotham), Michael Park (As the World Turns, House of Cards), Terri Conn (As the World Turns, One Life to Live), Larkin Malloy (The Edge of Night, Guiding Light, All My Children), Lisa Brown (Guiding Light, As the World Turns), Lauren B. Martin (As the World Turns, Empire) and Elizabeth Keifer (Guiding Light, Venice).

Today in Soap Opera History (January 28)

1980: ATWT's Barbara told Tom about the son she gave away (Paul).
1980: EON's Margo needed surgery to survive.  1994: AMC's Brooke
had a nightmare. 2004: John Clarke ended his DAYS run.

"Maybe if people started to listen, history would stop repeating itself."
- Lily Tomlin

"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...

1972: On ANOTHER WORLD, Ada (Constance Ford) promised Rachel (Margie Impert) she wouldn't do anything foolish with what Ernie left her. Impert did not work out in the role of Rachel, and Paul Rauch brought Robin Strasser back to the soap for four months until Victoria Wyndham was hired. Read our interview with Robin Strasser here where she recalls her experience working with Constance Ford.

1980: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Barbara (Colleen Zenk) confessed to Tom (Tom Tammi) that she had a son with another man three years earlier and gave him to Claudia Colfax and her husband, Raymond, to raise.

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:

NEWS: Ashley Madekwe, Terri Conn, Beverly Collard, Victoria Rowell, Bobbie Eakes, Joylessness of Sex on TV

Ashley Madekwe leaving REVENGE
Madekwe will not return to the show next season as Ashley Davenport. Her option was not picked up due to (lack of) storyline reasons.

Beverly Collard returning to CORONATION STREET
Collard is returning to CORRIE two years after she quit over mental health problems. The actress, who has played barmaid Liz McDonald since 1989, will appear on screen in October.

NBC renews HANNIBAL
More than two weeks after its upfront presentation, NBC has decided the fate of its last remaining bubble series, giving drama HANNIBAL a 13-episode second-season renewal for a return next midseason or later.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 28)

1980: Barbara revealed a huge secret to Tom.

On this date in...

1972: On ANOTHER WORLD, Ada (Constance Ford) promised Rachel (Margie Impert) she wouldn't do anything foolish with what Ernie left her. Impert did not work out in the role of Rachel, and Paul Rauch brought Robin Strasser back to the soap for four months until Victoria Wyndham was hired. Read our interview with Robin Strasser here where she recalls her experience working with Constance Ford.

1980: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Barbara (Colleen Zenk) confessed to Tom (Tom Tammi) that she had a son with another man a few years earlier and gave him to Claudia to raise. Watch it below:

30 Dynamic Duos of Daytime Soaps (20-16)

Our list of 30 Great Dynamic Duos of Daytime Soaps kicked off with a look at twosomes 30-26 and 25-21. Below the countdown continues with Dynamic Duos 20-16. Tell us your favorite Dynamic Duos in the Comments section below:

DAYS OF OUR KNIVES Coming To Investigation Discovery August 20, Will Feature Kim Zimmer, Alicia Minshew, Drake Hogestyn, Kristian Alfonso and More

Walking in on your beau bedding your best friend… Halting your wedding because your evil twin stole your spot at the altar… Discovering that your mortal enemy is really your long-lost sibling. These may seem like the plotlines of a delicious daytime soap, but sensational stories are anything but fiction on Investigation Discovery. Dishing out the drama of blindsided betrayals, mistaken identities, and deadly deceptions, ID is staking its claim on real-life soap operas with the launch of daytime programming block DAYS OF OUR KNIVES on Monday, August 20 from 1-4 p.m. ET/PT.

By enlisting adored soap stars to host themed programming each weekday, ID will provide a new alternative to devoted soap fans searching for new “stories” to turn to. Hosting the block each day will be talent hailing from GUIDING LIGHT¸ to the now-longest running American soap currently in production, GENERAL HOSPITAL.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Linden Ashby; Liberace; Terri Conn & Austin Peck

TEEN WOLF's Linden Ashby on working in daytime soaps
"I started out in theater and then I got a job on a soap in New York. With a soap opera, its everyday, all year long- there’s no downtime and you’re shooting a show a day. You really watch people go through this process; I think I had a twitch in my eye for about the first three months I was on this thing because I was overwhelmed. There is no time to mess up, there’s no time for it, there’s no patience for it. You better be ready to play ball before you walk on that floor. And you see some of the best actors who you will ever have the pleasure to work with and then you see guys who learn tricks to get through the day and everything that you do becomes magnified. The good actors become great and the bad actors become really, really bad."

Today in Soap Opera History (January 28)

On this date in...

1941: Popular daytime actor Joel Crothers was born. He died in 1985 at age 44.

1972: On ANOTHER WORLD, Ada (Constance Ford) promised Rachel (Margie Impert) she wouldn't do anything foolish with what Ernie left her. Margie Impert did not work out in the role of Rachel, so Robin Strasser returned to the soap for four months until Victoria Wyndham was hired. Read our interview with Robin Strasser here where she recalls her experience working with Constance Ford.

1980: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Barbara (Colleen Zenk) confessed to Tom that she had a son a few years ago and gave  him to Claudia to raise.

1980: PEOPLE magazine published a story about SEARCH FOR TOMORROW consultant Dr. Anthony Moulton.

As the soap opera's medical adviser for the past five years, Moulton, 34, is on call to explain the possible dramatic repercussions of various diseases. He once wrote a 15-page report to the show's producers on the aftereffects of a mastectomy. Recently they wanted to know what complications could strike a little girl with pneumonia so that a nurse could save the child's life. When Moulton's advice is needed right on the set, which happens every three months or so, he has gone on camera himself (at union scale of $250 a day). He often portrays an anesthesiologist or junior surgeon, leaving the medical heroics to the series stars. Once Moulton's hands were filmed sewing up an incision (actually a surgical cap) while an actor portrayed intense concentration for facial closeups. "The first few times on camera," allows Moulton, "I was much more nervous trying to fake an operation than I am doing the real thing."

1985: On SANTA BARBARA, Veronica was in grave danger from Peter.

FLASHBACK: Hogan Sheffer's Oakdale Days (2002)

OAKDALE DAYS

Why do so many terrible things keep happening to one town?

By Larissa MacFarquhar
The New Yorker
April 15, 2002

Barbara Ryan has not been lucky in love. She was dumped by her stepbrother for a jewelry thief who reminded him of his ex-wife, and later she dumped him for a pretender to the Swedish throne who turned out to be an Egyptian-tomb robber. She was jailed for the murder of her first husband until he showed up alive, she lost her second husband in a mysterious ballooning accident, and she married her third husband three times but it didn't work out. As a consequence of her various marriages, she has been shot, drugged, kidnapped, committed to a mental hospital, afflicted by amnesia (twice), nearly gored by a bull, nearly poisoned in a remote Scottish castle, tormented by visions of herself as an eighteenth-century woman named Bianca, and had her oxygen supply turned off by a murderous uncle-in-law as she lay hovering between life and death. Just last summer, she was caught in a fire intended to kill her archrival, Carly; she lay in a coma, hovering between life and death again, and the unscathed and winsome Carly ran off with husband No. 5. Now, her once beautiful face burned and hideous, she hides in her lonely house rather than suffer the pitying gasps of strangers. Is it any wonder that in recent months poor Barbara has begun to nurture thoughts of revenge?

The shame of it is, though, that she will never be able to avenge herself on the true author of her torments -- a friendly yet floridly sadistic man named Hogan Sheffer. As the head writer of the soap opera AS THE WORLD TURNS, Sheffer is responsible not only for Barbara's agonies but also for those of her thirty-odd enemies and so-called friends in Oakdale, the small fictional town near Chicago where she lives. Sheffer torments Oakdale, but Oakdale also torments Sheffer: he spends his days urging his brain to create ever more ghastly fates for the characters in his charge -- bitter and complicated misunderstandings that will take months to resolve, evil conspiracies, appalling streaks of terrible luck -- and at night he walks the streets of Oakdale in his dreams. He has five blank hours of programming to fill every week, fifty-one weeks a year, and if ever the thought arises that he may at last have plumbed the very deepest well of human misery he must push that thought aside and create misery anew. He must, in addition, master the countless rules of the soap genre, few of which are obvious but all of which are essential to success. It helps that he feels he has no choice. "I literally have no other marketable skills," he says. "I don't fix things. I'm a techno waste. I don't have a college degree. It's either this or I sell shoes."