How Transgender TV Characters Teach Us About Capturing Audience Attention and Changing Opinions

Rebecca Romijn (right) played Alexis Meade on ABC primetime
soap Ugly Betty.  Also pictured, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade and
America Ferrera as Betty Suarez.

Caitlyn Jenner has been the talk of the town this summer since she opened up about her transition from Olympic athlete and reality television star Bruce Jenner to the woman she says she has always been. Between interviews with Diane Sawyer, her stunning Vogue cover, and her new reality TV show, she has done a lot to raise awareness and educate Americans about the transgender community. Yet before Caitlyn, the television industry was no stranger to educating Americans about the transgender community through characters and plot lines. And while many of these characters are fictional, they did help to paint a better picture of what it is like to be a transgender individual in today’s society. And for communications professionals, these shows give us ideas on how we can best reach our client’s audiences and media goals through timely storylines, relevant audiences, and successful pitch creation.

Here is a look at three shows that helped educate Americans about the transgender community and the communications lessons we can learn from them:

1) The L Word (Showtime) – It seems only fitting to start off with a show that had a goal to highlight the relationships and dynamics of the female LGBT community. This show, which launched on Showtime in January 2004, brought together a dynamic group of women who portrayed unforgettable characters facing relationship, career, and personal struggles. One of those characters was Moira, a computer technician from the Midwest who ultimately becomes Max, a transsexual man. Max experiences severe side effects from the hormones he is taking, reminding many viewers that transitioning is not simply about changing your names and clothes. It is a difficult medical procedure, one that affects you physically and mentally. Max’s struggle with his transition helped to put a spotlight on the medical aspects of transgender community.

NEWS: Janet's ATWT Baby, Charles Shaughnessy, Bradford

Janet's baby on AS THE WORLD TURNS will be played by...
Emily Griffin and Aniella Mohr portrayed the character Lorenzo on the last three episodes of AS THE WORLD TURNS.

"Spamalot" for Charles Shaughnessy
Charles Shaughnessy will headline this summer's zany "Monty Python's Spamalot," as King Arthur, joined by Broadway veteran Rachel York as the Lady of the Lake, on stage Aug. 18 through Sept. 11 at The Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine.

GH's Bradford Anderson on Kraft Singles Single Best Town in America - Three Lakes, WI
"This main street is wonderful. I love towns that have main streets. It seems like more and more towns don't have the historic main streets and that's what I love about this town, you can see the history and you can feel the energy, I love it."

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Debbie Lytton (ex-Melissa, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 44
Clementine Ford (Mackenzie, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Molly, THE L WORD) - 31

Also born on this day was the late Ruth Warrick (ex-Phoebe, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Hannah, PEYTON PLACE; ex-Janet, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Edie, AS THE WORLD TURNS). Warrick died on January 15, 2005.

NEWS: Darius McCrary, DAYS Holiday Memories, Kirshner

INTERVIEW: Y&R's Darius McCrary (Malcolm)
"I have been doing this long enough to know a few things. Look, Shemar is a great guy and a great actor, and a beautiful human being, but he is Shemar and I am Darius. I have been doing this since I was nine years old. So whatever the role is, I am going to do the best I can do. The only thing I am concerned with is stepping on the stage in front of that camera and giving the best performance I know I can give, day in and day out as an actor. Nobody brought up Shemar and it’s cool."

Alaina Reed-Amini has passed away at age 63
Reed-Amini died Dec. 17 at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica after a two-year battle with breast cancer, her publicist Billy Laurence said Monday. She was best known for her roles on SESAME STREET and 227.

Mia Kirshner joins VAMPIRE DIARIES
Kirshner will be playing the role of Isobel, the sweet-yet-dangerous wife of Matt Davis’ history teacher, Alaric. She debuts on Jan. 21.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES FAVORITE HOLIDAY MEMORIES
Molly Burnett (Melanie)
"My dad always makes my brother and I cut down a Christmas tree from the mountains, very much like Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation. It's hysterical and painful and cold and amazing."

Louise Sorel (Vivian)
"Christmas trees have always been my favorite memory and for a Jewish person it's not so common."

Eric Martsolf (Brady)
"Receiving my first drum set. It was a dream come true for a kid who adored noise."

INDIE SOAP BEAT Extra: Elizabeth Keener Joins VENICE

Crystal Chappell tweeted the latest casting news for VENICE on Wednesday evening.

So excited to be able to tell you Elizabeth Keener is joining Venice as Lara! We're thrilled to have her!

Among Keener's previous roles are Celia on 3WAY and Dawn on THE L WORLD.

News Round-up: Rogers, CA Incentives, Damian, DH

INTERVIEW: GH's Tristan Rogers (ex-Robert)
Rogers spoke to Michael Fairman at the Manhattanites L.A. DVD release party last week: "I think GENERAL HOSPITAL, of all the soaps, is in a real quandary because GH is constantly fighting its past, and in particular, it’s fighting its past now. It seems to suddenly have become a real issue. When I went back to the show in 2006 it was starting to bubble, and I don’t know if comments I made at the time helped it bubble up a bit hotter. But, I think what you have got now is an issue with the core body of fans. GH has a core body of fans that support it with whatever is happening. Now that core body of fans is deserting it, and when the last one turns off, that’s it. The new fans will not support it in a way that the older, foundational group will."

California incentives program lands 25 projects
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the California Film Commission on Monday announced the first 25 film and TV productions to qualify for recently passed state tax credits.

"I fought hard for economic-stimulus measures, including the film and television production incentive, because we must do everything in our power to stimulate the economy and put Californians back to work," Schwarzenegger said. "This is about the makeup artists, the caterers and the countless other small businesses that rely on film and television production to succeed and create jobs for Californians."

ABC Family orders more MAKE IT OR BREAK IT
ABC Family has ordered 10 additional episodes of the one-hour gymnastics drama MAKE IT OR BREAK IT bringing the first season order to 20 episodes. MAKE IT OR BREAK IT has roared out of the gate for ABC Family since launching in June, trailing only THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER in total viewers and winning its timeslot among the network’s core young female demos.

TV's never-ending season: Traditional cycles fall in modern era
Television was built around seasons. Programs premiered during the fall (to help sell new cars), as did the football season. The summer brought reruns to catch up on what we missed. Today, the unquenchable appetite for more of everything has long since eradicated these traditional cycles. Is it any wonder, then, that things we once counted on to be special -- the big award shows, the Olympics, new-season TV premieres -- are in danger of fatigue.

Reality TV is where the jobs are
The lesson here for anyone entering the television industry is pretty stark: Reality is where the jobs are.

“It’s definitely the real growth part of the television business,” said Mark Itkin, a senior agent in the television department at the William Morris Endeavor agency. Chris Coelen, chief executive of RDF Media USA, whose productions include DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS for Fox and WIFE SWAP for ABC, added that young people wanting to make a career out of television are going after what they know.

Drea de Matteo gets hazed by DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
The cast of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES has initiated their newest resident — Drea de Matteo — into Wisteria Lane.

“We were all covered in powdered sugar and at one point Drea had a lot of powder,” Teri Hatcher told PEOPLE while promoting DVD release of her movie Coraline at Comic-Con in San Diego. “That was her hazing.”

Ashton Kutcher says Mischa Barton is "doing great"
Mischa Barton is "doing great" following her hospitalization, and is expected to join the cast of her new CW series, THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE, soon, says Ashton Kutcher, the show's executive producer.

"I can tell you right now Mischa Barton is doing great," Kutcher said at a technology conference, according to the Associated Press.

Recreate Yourself in Swanky '60s Style With MadMenYourself.com
Are you a suit or a skirt? That's just one of the many decisions you can make with MadMenYourself, which lets you build your own character from the ground up.

Ilene Chaiken on plans for THE L WORD movie
The who killed Jenny mystery issue "will be addressed" in the film.

Tracey E. Bregman's Happy Birthday to Me being re-released on DVD
Anchor Bay is re-releasing the '80s Canadian slasher Happy Birthday to Me on September 10. It was previously distributed through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, however, there's a reason to double-dip. This edition of the film has something missing from the previous DVD release does not – the film's orchestral score, as composed by Bo Harwood and Lance Rubin, which was not included on the first DVD release.

Damian to Perform at Bonsallpalooza
Caption Records announced Grammy nominated recording artist Michael Damian (ex-Danny, THE YOUNG ANC THE RESSTLESS) will appear at "Bonsallpalooza", a benefit concert to fund School Music Education on August 7, 2009 at 8pm at the Pala Casino Spa & Resort in Pala, CA. Warning: Really loud music plays when you visit this URL.

Soap actress Licia Nunez distressed by Silvio Berlusconi spa story
Licia Nunez, 31, said that she joined the Italian Prime Minister at an Umbrian health resort with several other women last November, but was devastated to have been dragged into a scandal surrounding the alleged recruitment of prostitutes to attend parties.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Debbie Lytton (ex-Melissa, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 43
Clementine Ford (Mackenzie, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Molly, THE L WORD) - 30

Also born on this day was the late Ruth Warrick (ex-Phoebe, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Hannah, PEYTON PLACE; ex-Janet, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Edie, AS THE WORLD TURNS). Warrick died on January 15, 2005.

News Round-up: Nielsen, Ricky Martin, WWE, GG Movie

Will GOSSIP GIRL Make Its Way To The Big Screen?
"If they do that, I don't think it'll be for a couple more years," reasoned Jessica Szohr, who plays down-to-earth Vanessa Abrams on the show. "We're just going into the third season. But I think it'd be fun; we'd all be excited to do it."

THE L WORD convention set for Sydney
Rachel Shelley who played Helena Peabody, Laurel Hollowman who played Tina Kennard, and Marlee Matlin who played Jodi Lerner are lined up as guests at the event, planned for 22-24 January 2010 at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.

INTERVIEW: MAD MEN creator Matthew Weiner
"Our cultural history sees [1962] as this innocent time, right before the JFK assassination. Aside from the assassination, the Cuban Missile Crisis was the defining moment of the Sixties. There was a cultural realization of mortality. The response I got from people who saw the show, was that people remembered how overwhelming it was. I do a lot of revisionist history in the show where I go back and talk to people who were there. You find out that the individual experiences of what's going on in history are very different from the way history is told, to the point that people actually remember details wrong."

GREY'S: By George, The Old O'Malley Will Be Missed
"It's sad that a character with so much promise ended up fizzling out," says Gael Fashingbauer Cooper. "I'd say I'll miss him, but I've already been missing him for several seasons now."

USA Network admits Donald Trump did not actually buy WWE's RAW
NBC has taken down a press release touting the purchase, as it turns out that Trump is only buying MONDAY NIGHT RAW as part of the show's storyline.

Nielsen corrects ABC's WORLD NEWS viewer total
Nielsen's recount for ABC's WORLD NEWS last week has boosted its audience by about 800,000 viewers. Nielsen Media Research reissued its report on Wednesday after ABC disputed the original figures released by Nielsen the day before.

Former GH actor Ricky Martin to discuss his sexuality
From the TVaqui Twitter page: "Ricky Martin talked to TVaqui and accepted his heart to could belong to a male or female, more in our next issue."

Petition to get GL on TV Land
If you are a fan and want the show to continue, it can't hurt to sign. Also, check out this YouTube video on the subject.

GLAAD Hands Out More Awards in L.A.

Last month, redesigned trophies were given to AS THE WORLD TURNS and others at the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards ceremony in New York City. Last night the setting moved to the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live for additional categories. Winners included DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, BROTHERS & SISTERS and THE L WORD.

Following is a complete list of GLAAD Media Awards presented on stage, and the individuals that accepted the awards:

* Vanguard Award: Kathy Griffin

* Stephen F. Kolzak Award: The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson

* Special Recognition: The L Word (Showtime) [Accepted by: show creator Ilene Chaiken, with Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig and Leisha Hailey]

* Special Recognition: Prop 8: The Musical (FunnyorDie.com) [Accepted by: director Adam Shankman]

* Outstanding Comedy Series: DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) [Accepted by: show creator Marc Cherry, Teri Hatcher, Dana Delaney, Kyle MacLachlan, Tuc Watkins, Kevin Rahm, Andrea Bowen and Brenda Strong]

* Outstanding Film – Wide Release: Milk (Focus Features) [Accepted by: director Gus Van Sant, screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, and producers Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks]

* Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series without an LGBT character): "Unidentified Funk" THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (CBS) [Accepted by: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Megan Mullally, Clark Gregg, and show creator Kari Lizer]

* Outstanding Talk Show Episode: "Ellen & Portia's Wedding Day" THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW (syndicated) [Accepted by: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi]

* Outstanding Spanish-Language TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: "A juzgar por las apariencias" y "En otro cuerpo" Aquí y Ahora (Univision) [Accepted by: Univision producer Belissa Morillo and Monica Zapata, sister of murdered transgender teenager Angie Zapata]

GLAAD also announced that BROTHERS & SISTERS (ABC) received the award for Outstanding Drama Series and "Secrets of the Trade" by Jonathan Tolins received the award for Outstanding Los Angeles Theater production.

News Round-up: New Lesbian Story, MonaVie, Geary

HOME AND... a gay?
Conservative Christian groups have reacted angrily to news that Australian soap HOME AND AWAY will include a lesbian relationship in its storylines. The Channel Seven series will feature policewoman Charlie Buckton (played by Esther Anderson, pictured) falling in love with Joey Collins, played by Kate Bell.

Channel Seven representatives revealed that there will be intimate kissing and dance scenes over the next five weeks as their relationship blossoms into love - drawing the ire of conservative Christian groups.

"They continue to market to kids and they continue to develop quite sexualised plot lines," complained Pro-Family Perspectives director Angela Conway.

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you don't like it, don't watch it.

FLASHBACK: GH Stars Pitch MonaVie Acai Juice
"Apparently your favorite GENERAL HOSPITAL actors including Steve Burton, Derk Cheetwood and Michael Saucedo, Natalia Livingston and Rick Hearst have jumped on the MonaVie band wagon and joke about having a dispenser of the acai berry juice on set.

The Emmy Award winning actor Steve Burton has taken on a second job, promoting the acai juice and mentoring MonaVie associates in the business. He even made a statement, possibly in jest that he could retire soon from acting due to the success of the new venture."

RELATED: Burton drinks MonaVie on GH

Tristan Rogers on MonaVie
"Seems the MonaVie situation just won’t go away. So let’s look at it. What has really happened here? Frankly this is just one more 'celebrity driven' product that is only guilty of one thing. And that is…failing to understand the market it is selling to.

It’s one thing to sell a product to John Q. Public. There is nothing implicit in this arrangement other than the product is what it is and does nothing more or less than what it is advertised to do.

It’s another thing all together to sell the same product to a group of people who look up to you, and perhaps worth ship the ground you walk on. When dealing with people at this level it is MOST important that you are not seen to be 'selling' something. Rather, the product is presented in a sincere way and it is presented for what it is. Questions regarding this product must be answered in a way that do not
infer the product could be something more than it appears to be."

INTERVIEW: GH's Anthony Geary (Luke)
Geary talked with the WPIX morning news show about his 30 years on GH and the Broadway Cares event.

Turkey’s ‘Brad Pitt’ stirs wide Arab interest
With his blond hair, blue eyes and romantic gestures, Turkish actor Kivanc Tatlitug has captured the hearts of women across the Arab world, his fame creating a wave of regional interest in his homeland. Dubbed “the Middle East’s Brad Pitt” by Turkey’s media, he has led the growing success of Turkish TV dramas across the region through his soap opera NOOR and given a boost to his country’s tourism industry in the process.

THE L WORD Series Finale Delivers For Showtime
The series finale of THE L WORD delivered strong ratings for Showtime. Season six’s final episode drew 756,000 viewers, the highest rated finale in the series’ run, and the third most-watched episode in its history, behind only its first two installments in 2004.

SAG leaders still disagree
With the Screen Actors Guild's contract stalemate in its ninth month, the guild's elected leaders continue to bicker over tactics. In the latest iteration, the badly fractured Hollywood board voted Monday night to advise the national board to send out the congloms' final offer to members -- without a recommendation -- even though the national panel spurned taking this step two weeks ago.

LYNN LICCARDO: So Whose Idea Was It
"For a while, I thought that’s what was happening on GUIDING LIGHT, as the relationship between Olivia and Natalia developed. That perhaps Crystal Chappell and Jessica Leccia, like Benji [Hendrickson] and Hillary [Smith] before them, had decided to have some fun with their characters and fans noticed, and TPTB decided to have Olivia and Natalia fall in love. Pleased as I would have been had that been the case, I’m even more pleased at the actual events."

News Round-up: Slezak, The L Word, Matt Barr

ONE LIFE TO LIVE Ups the Stakes, But Does It Dare Fire Superstar Slezak?
Marlena De Lacroix writes: "These days, the only thing that can balance out the strippers, and the blow jobs, and the show’s general lack of class, is the one character who epitomizes class — namely Viki, as played by Ms. Erika Slezak."

FiOS TV Strikes New Deals With Turner, Sony
Verizon's FiOS TV has added more free movies and on-demand programming thanks to new deals with Turner Networks and Sony. The deals increase FiOS' on-demand library and allows users to see more recent films in high-definition (HD).

Matt Barr joins GOSSIP GIRL spin-off
ONE TREE HILL alum Matt Barr has been cast in the CW's GOSSIP GIRL spin-off as Keith van der Woodsen, a rich and handsome Malibu prince who is the love interest to Lily Rhodes (Brittany Snow).

Hayden Panettiere and Darin Brooks a couple?
I reported earlier today that they were in Hawaii together.

"Last Word" of THE L WORD: Lame, Lacking, Legacy-Tarnishing
AfterEllen.com's Sarah Warn writes: "Perhaps the only viewers that came away from the episode pleased were fans of Bette and Tina, the show's central on-and-off couple that is finally, permanently back on, and quite happily so."

News Round-up: THE L Word, Save FNL, Chapman

THE L WORD says goodbye
Showtime's groundbreaking show about L.A. lesbians — THE L WORD — will move off camera tonight, stage left.

“It put a face to almost an invisible community,” said Donna Arias, a Palm Springs resident and fan of the show. “I was glued to it.”

Arias said she originally tuned in to see how the show would portray lesbians. The guys have shows — think QUEER AS FOLK — why not one for the gals, Arias said. Then she got hooked.

TV land has done the gay sidekick or a gay coach — think WILL & GRACE or QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY — but lesbians on the boob tube? Not so much. Except the final season of ELLEN, after she came out for real. But then again, Hollywood gave ELLEN the pink slip.

Created by Ilene Chaiken, THE L WORD first hit the airwaves in 2004. Starring Jennifer Beals and Pam Grier, the show revolves around a group of trendy and mostly upper-middle class lesbians in West Hollywood.

Spoiler alert: Showtime execs have confirmed that Chaiken has shot an online spin off staring one of the show's favorite characters, Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Haley), headed to prison for murder.

Tonight's BROTHERS & SISTERS writer was an unpaid intern at GH
While at the University of Michigan, where she majored in screenwriting and Judaic studies, Beth Schwartz had an unpaid summer internship on the set of GENERAL HOSPITAL.

This is the second episode Schwartz has cowritten for BROTHERS & SISTERS. She especially likes writing for the sister characters, Flockhart, who plays Republican Party operative Kitty Walker, and Rachel Griffiths, who plays oldest sister Sarah.

FNL's Scott Porter on his final four episodes
"Texas Forever could have been a cheesy catchphrase on any other show. Not on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS though. Those two words carried more meaning than I could've ever imagined from the Pilot on. Every time we said it on the show, it was said from a place deep within the heart. They are words that carry with them, friendship and hope for a future that seemed beyond the grasp of these kids. We said these two words sparingly. Using them only when true friendship was so apparent that there was nothing else to say. Thank you so much for watching the show over these past years. Thank you for allowing these characters to live. Thank you to everyone involved with the show. Cast, Crew, Producers, Writers, Directors. I've said it before and I'll say it again. We caught lightning in a bottle here. We are a special show because of our trust, respect for each other, and dedication to making this show unique and real. I love you all, and I hope this show continues for years and years. Texas Forever."

Mike Vaccaro of the NY Daily News wants FNL saved
"Those of you with DirecTV already know this, of course, but we are now eight episodes into Season Three of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS on NBC, and if there has ever been an eight-episode arc of any show that's been as good as this one, I'd like to know what it was. This show needs to be saved as much as a public service as anything else."

FNL down 10 percent this week
The show had 3.82 million viewers on Friday night.

Y&R's Chapman does "Lunch with Lori"
Judith Chapman (Gloria) was one of three "divas" who were part of a "Lunch with Lori" charity auction prize. The other divas were Lindsay Wagner (THE BIONIC WOMAN) and Susan Stafford (the original pre-Vanna letter turner on WHEEL OF FORTURN).

REVIEW: B&B's 20th Anniversary Book
Tommy Garrett of the L.A. Canyon News raves about the book and the show.

THE L WORD Wrap Party

Cast and crew from THE L WORD gathered at Cafe La Boheme in West Hollywood last night for a final season wrap party.

Pictured are Rose Rollins, Mia Kirshner, Daniela Sea, Katherine Moennig, Laurel Holloman, Ilene Chaiken and Marlee Matlin.

CSI's Soap Star Cast Celebrates 200 Episodes

The cast and crew of CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION gathered at Universal Studios yesterday to celebrate the taping of their 200th episode. A number of cast members got their start on soaps including the two current leads.

In attendance were George Eads (ex-Nick, SAVANNAH), William Peterson, Laurence Fishburne (ex-Josh, ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Marg Helgenberger (ex-Siobhan, RYAN'S HOPE), Robert David Hall, David Berman, Paul Guilfoyle, Eric Szmanda, Jon Wellner, Liz Vassey (ex-Emily, ALL MY CHILDREN) and Lauren Lee Smith (ex-Lara, THE L WORD).

20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Nominees

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced today the nominees and honorees for its 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Presented by IBM.

"The 20th anniversary of the GLAAD Media Awards is an excellent opportunity to reflect on how media representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community have evolved over the past two decades, clearly helping shape and evolve people's hearts and minds about LGBT people," said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. "GLAAD's media advocacy and anti-defamation work as a resource for media professionals, combined with enabling LGBT people and allies to be compelling storytellers, has played a significant role in stories about our lives achieving greater visibility and being more compelling, honest, and real than ever before. We are proud to recognize all of this year's GLAAD Media Awards nominees."

OUTSTANDING DAILY DRAMA
ALL MY CHILDREN (ABC)
AS THE WORLD TURNS (CBS)*

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
BROTHERS & SISTERS (ABC)*
THE L WORD (Showtime)
SOUTH OF NOWHERE (The N)
TORCHWOOD (BBC America)
TRUE BLOOD (HBO)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
GREEK (ABC Family)
REAPER (The CW)
SKINS (BBC America)
UGLY BETTY (ABC)*

* Won last year

The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in New York on March 28, 2009 at the Marriott Marquis; in Los Angeles on April 18 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE; and in San Francisco on May 9 at the Hilton San Francisco.

News Round-up

TVGC: Live from the Soap Cruise: DAY FOUR
Nelson Branco reports: "So, how is ONE LIFE TO LIVE writing out Antonio Vega? Kamar De Los Reyes tells moi it’s not the most spectacular exit. 'Antonio leaves town looking for Carlo Hesser,' he reveals."

Photos from the cruise.

They killed Jenny. Can THE L WORD survive?
Ilene Chaiken, THE L WORD's creator and executive producer, said in a recent interview that the eight-episode season gave her an opportunity to take on a single story. "When we got in the writers room," she said, "we started talking about doing this final season as if it were a miniseries." The show has brought a loyal audience to the premium cable channel that, according to Showtime, has grown from an average of 924,000 viewers in Season 1 to 1.4 million in Season 5, its most popular so far.

ABC benches UGLY BETTY
In a just-announced Thursday night scheduling tweak, ABC is benching UGLY BETTY beginning March 26 and replacing it with episodes of SAMANTHA WHO? and the new Megan Mullally-Cheryl Hines comedy IN THE MOTHERHOOD.

Mathison and Braun to attend "Defying Inequality" event
On Monday evening, February 23 at 8:00pm, the Broadway community (and beyond) is coming together for one of the most important events of the year - "Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert" -- A Celebrity Benefit for Equal Rights, a one-night only concert event at the Gershwin Theatre (222 W. 51st Street). The special star-studded evening will feature performers from stage and screen including ALL MY CHILDREN stars Cameron Mathison and Tamara Braun.

Jeffrey Meek is Mack the Knife in San Diego's Threepenny Opera, Starting Feb. 28
San Diego REP's new production of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's groundbreaking musical, "The Threepenny Opera," will feature Jeffrey Meek (ex-Craig, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Quinn, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW) as Mack the Knife, Feb. 28-March 29.

Soap Opera Digest Snap Poll: Otalia
Do you like the relationship between GL's Natalia and Olivia?

News Round-up

NEW YORK TIMES: So Many Temptations to Succumb to, So Many Wandering Eyes to Track
Last summer CBS was flooded with letters from fans of AS THE WORLD TURNS who protested that two gay lovers had been shown kissing only twice. Many were young gay men and women who kept a tally of the weeks and days and hours since the initial embrace, and they spoke poignantly of the validation they felt whenever images of physical intimacy between gay couples turned up in popular culture. THE L WORD, whatever its absurdities, has listened to these voices actively.

Cameron Mathison Spreads His Wings
The actor recently joined GOOD MORNING AMERICA as a correspondent. He tells OK!, "I'm really excited. I'm now officially part of the GOOD MORNING AMERICA correspondent team. Obviously I love my gig on ALL MY CHILDREN, but it'll be kind of nice to focus on just these two, not jumping around killing myself."

INTERIVEW: Y&R's Christian J. LeBlanc (Fab at 50)
"Listen, I'm not fighting the battle of 20 or 30 year old actors anymore. I don't want the roles they would get. There's a certain ageism about working in any aspect of this industry but me feeding into that won't make it better. I want to be the age I am. I want to be hired because "My God, he's too good to pass by." Everything else is going to disappear eventually no matter how hard you hold onto it."

Parents TV Council applauds the cancelation of SWINGTOWN
The conservative watchdog claims the show's lack of sponsors doomed the CBS summer series. CBS' Nina Tassler says the show was a risk worth taking.

NBC not ready to cancel LIPSTICK JUNGLE yet
The network is exploring a possible FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS-type deal to save the Brooke Shields show. "We have to wait and see what our pilots are and what the mix of shows are," said NBC's Angela Bromstad.

Peter Berg confident FNL will be back -- Dwight Yoakam as coach? (mp3)
In an hour-long podcast, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS producer Peter Berg tells Sports Guy Bill Simmons that if the show gets the same ratings on NBC that it received last year, then the DirecTV experiment would be deemed a success. Berg also reveals that he initially didn't like Kyle Chandler as Coach Eric Taylor, and he had to be talked out of hiring Dwight Yoakam as the head coach. Meanwhile, Berg attributes FNL's survival to "The Jeff Zucker Lobby Theory," which contends that the NBC boss probably hears a lot of good feedback for the show on his way to work. Berg also points out that FNL has had to shamelessly lobby the network, including sending Adrianne Palicki to NBC with a chocolate cake and a guitar. "If you're not a hit show, you've got to hit them in 15 directions," he says.

INTERVIEW: Former OLTL star Wortham Krimmer
Krimmer was a guest on the premiere episode of the new Blogtalk Radio show, "Brandon's Buzz," Wednesday evening.

News Round-up

The "New" ALL MY CHILDREN, Part 1 — Lifting the Fog of Stupidity
Marlena De Lacroix writes: "A few weeks ago I realized I was receiving one of my best ever Christmas presents. I was watching ALL MY CHILDREN and I realized, after twelve long miserable years out in the cold, I finally want to watch my old favorite show regularly again!"

CBS going after Hulu with TV.Com
CBS Interactive (CBS) will relaunch TV.com, one of the domains it picked up in its $1.8 billion CNet acquisition, to go after Hulu and other TV-on-the-Internet portals more aggressively. The full-scale relaunch with new content partners is slated for January but the cosmetic changes will start this week with a new look and logo, according to sources familiar with the plans.

CEO Leslie Moonves singled out TV.com for investors last week as "extremely exciting," explaining "we think TV.com will become the destination, or certainly one of the leading destinations, for anybody who wants to watch TV shows or have a community around TV shows, see clips, play games, etc."

Magazines sacrificing websites to save print editions
The operating policy now, particularly at Condé Nast, basically reads: Revenue first! Future later. And the printed page, the luxury object, is still where you find the money these days.

Santa, celebrities and volunteers join forces to assemble milestone 400,000th package
During a fast-paced and energetic weekend, 1000+ Operation Gratitude volunteers were joined on the Assembly Line by celebrities Kathy Ireland, Ben Affleck and DAYS OF OUR LIVES stars Deidre Hall, Jay Kenneth Johnson and Leanne Hunley as they celebrated the assembly and shipment of Operation Gratitude's 400,000th Care Package. Founder Carolyn Blashek reported that this milestone package represents 20 million individual items, more than 2.8 million pounds and $40 million worth of product that Operation Gratitude has sent to troops deployed overseas since 2003.

More soap opera references as NFL players react to Pro Bowl announcement
Indignant over another Pro Bowl snub, Washington Redskins middle linebacker London Fletcher stepped out of character and vented his frustration, calling himself "the Susan Lucci of the NFL" and deeming his career "Hall of Fame worthy."

"I understand they can take only two middle linebackers, but to have it happen year after year after year after year after year. I'm an eight-time alternate. I'm the Susan Lucci of the NFL," said Fletcher, referring to the soap opera star who was nominated for an Emmy 18 times before finally winning.

Beals surprised by change in final season of THE L WORD
Jennifer Beals reveals she was "completely" surprised to find out that the final season of her "The L Word" series has been transformed into flashbacks. The Showtime series is returning Jan. 18.

Asked whether she likes the way her Bette Porter character's storyline has been handled, she says, "I don't know how the show has been edited. It's completely different from the way we shot it, in a way, since it's all being shown as flashbacks."

FNL, DH, B&S and GREY's appear on L.A. Times Best & Worst TV Moments of 2008 list
Best: The continued evolution of the relationship betwen Eric and Tami Taylor on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
"FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS has always nailed the difficulty in maintaining an adult relationship. This season, as the show airs on DirecTV, has been no different. The promotion of Tami to principal has added a new dynamic to the very real marriage, as Eric has been forced to adjust to a new role. 'You know who I miss? I miss the coach's wife,' he said early in this season. Rather than get angry, Tami does him one better. 'You know who I can't wait to meet? The principal's husband.'"

Worst: Denny's (latest) return on GREY'S ANATOMY
"The love story between Dr. Izzie Stevens and patient Denny Duquette was touching in season 2 and when he died it was downright heartbreaking. But now in season 5, seeing him as a figment of Izzie's hallucination is over the top and hard to watch."

Best: DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES make a five-year leap
"It could have been a jump-the-shark moment, but instead, "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry's time jump reinvigorated a show that was already on a Dana Delaney-juiced high."

Worst: Former siblings Justin and Rebecca get romantic on BROTHERS & SISTERS
"We know, we know. Rebecca was never technically Justin's sister. And yes, you could see the move coming from a mile away. (Both of them are young and hot. What else is a primetime soap opera to do?) Still, Justin and Rebecca operated as siblings for the better part of an entire season and the weirdness of seeing them jump each other, frankly, has never gone away."

CBS, Time Warner execs discuss Olympics TV bid
CBS Corp. and Time Warner Inc. executives have discussed joining forces to bid on rights to televise the Olympics in 2014 and 2016, turning that competition into an even greater clash of media titans.

2009 Star To Watch: 24's Annie Wersching
"Anybody who caught Annie Wersching as GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Amelia - aka the producer who sought revenge against Kelly Monaco's Sam by, um, making her a star (even for a soap, that one didn’t make much sense!) - could see that this woman’s star was on the rise."

Former 90210 star Tiffani Thiessen is pregnant
A source tells Star that the actress has been staying low key with the news because she's in the early stages of her first pregnancy. "She and her husband are over the moon at the thought of becoming parents."

Pregnant Kelly Rutherford still breastfeeding yer 2-year-old son
In the new issue of Us Weekly (out Friday), former GENERATIONS and current GOSSIP GIRL actress Kelly Rutherford says she's preparing for the summer arrival of her second child with hubby Daniel Giersch — and at the same time, breast-feeding 2-year-old son Hermes.

"It's an amazing bond with your child," says Rutherford, 40. "Some cultures do it up to five years, normally. I thought, 'Well, I'll just do it as long as it feels right for my son.'"

INTERVIEW: GH's Brandon Barash
"It was fun performing on stage at Super Soap Weekend - I think it would be fun for Johnny to be a rock star, just to fulfill my own selfish desires."

News Round-up

NBC might scale back hours, Zucker says
NBC is looking at "all options" to revamp its broadcast model, including possibly cutting the number of primetime hours or even nights per week, NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker said Monday afternoon.

Zucker said that the entire broadcast industry, including NBC, are under tremendous challenges because of the changing media landscape as well as the downturn in the economy.

"Can we continue to broadcast 22 hours in primetime? Three of our competitors don't," Zucker said during Monday's keynote at the annual UBS Global Media and Communications Conference. "Can we continue to broadcast seven days a week? One of our competitors doesn't."

The soap genre "deserves to survive"
Caitlin Heaney of The Evening Sun writies: "Soap operas really don't get enough credit for all they do. The actors and crew have to be some of the hardest working in the entertainment business, plugging away day-after-day to put out a constant stream of episodes. But the genre is in danger of failing. Maybe it's the Internet that's killing the soaps. Maybe it's the shorter attention spans people have nowadays that stems long-term interest. Or maybe these shows have just failed to adapt to the changing world. But the soap genre is ingrained in broadcast history and warrants better. It deserves to survive."

AMC's Cameron Mathison Responds to Thong Rumors
"I am finding this hysterical," he told OK! about the furor over his undies. "I gotta be honest, it looks exactly like a thong. But I hate to disappoint, it's only my t-shirt stuck in my underwear."

Katherine Heigl is the No. 5 highest-paid actress in Hollywood
The GREY'S ANATOMY star ranks behind Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz.

Ilene Chaiken and Showtime spoil THE L WORD
Why did Showtime spoil this season's THE L WORD death?

Scientists are all the rage in primetime
Flip through prime time on any night, and along with the requisite numbers of cops and docs and lawyers you'll find an astonishing number of scientists.

UGLY BETTY's Eric Mabius welcomes a baby boy
UGLY BETTY's and his wife, interior designer Ivy Sherman, have welcomed a baby boy, Rylan Jaxon Mabius.

The Truth Beneath the Stockings
Nate Sloan writes: "Stay at home Manhattan moms love soap operas, so it's no surprise that the crowd that trundled to last week’s soap-star filled celebrity bartending 'Stockings With Care' benefit at Bar 13 had a glut of ladies of advanced age milling about hoping to catch the glance of some chisel-cheeked ALL MY CHILDREN hunklet."

News Brief

DEEP SOAP: Unexpected Results
Sara A. Bibel blogs: "Unintentional hilarity can come from daytime’s one-take style, which can result in performances that should have ended up on the cutting room floor being beamed into your living room. But I think the majority of the accidental humor on soaps comes from writers being so deep inside the storylines that they lose perspective."

Also, Bibel makes this observation about ATWT Executive Producer Christopher Goutman: "When he came to ATWT, he and Hogan Sheffer revitalized the show. For years it was the 'prestige' soap. Now Goutman sounds burned out and unhappy. Maybe he needs to spend a couple weeks on a relaxing vacation. If that doesn’t reinvigorate him, perhaps it’s time he stepped aside and allowed someone who has a passion for daytime dramas to take over Oakdale."

Former soap stars Fichtner and Stringfield to star in TNT drama
Former AS THE WORLD TURNS star William Fichtner has been tapped as the lead in TNT's drama pilot NIGHT AND DAY. Also cast in the project is GUIDING LIGHT alumna Sherry Stringfield.

Written and executive produced by "24" co-creator Joel Surnow and Todd Robinson, NIGHT AND DAY is a fast-paced, gritty drama about the life of Dan Hollister (Fichtner), an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms who works for a special threat intervention task force.

Stringfield will play Dan's wife and emotional anchor Elizabeth, a stay-at-home mom.

CORRIE actor in talks to release "Mason's Arms"
Coronation Street actor Ian Reddington plans to release his on-screen ballad "(Don't Fall Into) The Mason's Arms" in the hope of securing Christmas number one. At the beginning of this month, the 50-year-old's Weatherfield character Vernon Tomlin hoped to win back the heart of his wife Liz McDonald (Bev Callard) by wooing her with the song intended as a put-down of her bookmaker lover Harry Mason (Jack Ellis).

New couple join EMMERDALE for Christmas
A smart and savvy City couple is to descend on EMMERDALE at Christmas as Amanda Donohoe and Maxwell Caulfield join the cast of the Yorkshire-based soap. The pair will play husband and wife Natasha and Mark Wylde, an aspirational, wealthy and dynamic duo who have decided to exchange their high-flying City life for the idyllic rural surroundings of Yorkshire.

Despite the initial warm welcome from the villagers, it's not long before Natasha and Mark's dream of a quiet life in the country comes crashing down around them in dramatic style.

Caulfield is most noted for his roles on DYNASTY and THE COLBYS.

Lucy Lawless on THE L WORD?
She posted on her blog: "Also, look for me on THE L WORD at some point. Can't tell you anything about that -- it's deep in the closet."

More 90210 on the way
The CW has ordered the back 9 episodes for 90210.