INDIE SOAP BEAT: May 20, 2010

In this week's "Indie Soap Beat" feature we reveal the latest happenings from around the world of independent soap opera and web series production. Click the show logos to visit the official websites.

Casting for the upcoming first season THE BAY is now complete. In addition to the previously announced Mary Beth Evans, Tristan Rogers, Martha Madison, John Callahan, Taylor Stanley, Sandra Robinson and Lilly Melgar, others in the cast are Derrell Whitt, Monti Sharp, Tanisha Lynn, Camden Toy, Kristos Andrews, Jade Harlow and Dylan Bruce. Bruce was last seen as Chris Hughes on AS THE WORLD TURNS. The show shot an opening sequence on Thursday in Pacific Palisades.

The second season of EMPIRE is well underway and the improvements in the look and feel of the show have not gone unnoticed by fans. If you've missed any of our recent features with the cast of EMPIRE, you can find them all on the We Love Soaps EMPIRE page. Video interviews with Christian Barber, Tina Sloan, Orlagh Cassidy and Kate Forsatz are included as well as an entire episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV dedicated to the show.

THE CAVANAUGHS, from creator Adrian Morales, premiered on Thursday. The show is about a group of friends that reunite for the screening of an unsold sitcom pilot entitled 'The Cavanaughs', and the seed to return to the project is planted. THE CAVANAUGHS has filmed six episodes to date and will resume production in three weeks. New episodes will be released every Thursday.

The latest actor to join the cast of REALITY BYTES is Bryce Vine, son of Tracey Ross. Vine will be playing Xavier Armstrong while Tracey is playing Alex Armstrong on the upcoming series. On a recent episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, producer Tristan Rogers teased that a "huge announcement" about the show would be coming out in the near future. Stay tuned!

INDIE SOAP BEAT: April 16, 2010

In this week's "Indie Soap Beat" feature we reveal the latest happenings from around the world of independent soap opera and web series production. Click the show logos to visit the official websites.

The second season of EMPIRE premieres on April 27. We Love Soaps is current counting down to the new season with "The 12 Days of EMPIRE." Look for a new feature every day including a brand new episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV fearing interviews with creators Greg Turner and Brian Hewson. Season Two star Tina Sloan recently previewed her new film, Oh My Love, for We Love Soaps. Read that interview here.

The fabulous Rachael Hip-Flores, who plays ANYONE BUT ME lead Vivian, won the Streamy Award on Sunday for Best Female Actor in a Drama Web Series. Why the Streamy show itself was vulgar and full of technical difficulties, it was nice to see some of the winners, including Flores, get recognized. ANYONE BUT ME was also an Official Honoree (Drama, Best Writing) for the 14th Annual Webby Awards which released nominees this week. Season One of ABM is now available for purchase at Amazon.com.

We Love Soaps recently spoke with new REALITY BYTES star Jade Harlow, who will play Victoria Radcliffe on the upcoming drama. Harlow revealed how the casting process worked: "I got the script and it was different than a lot of the other pilots in general that I had been reading over this past season. I got real excited to go in. The meeting was unlike any meeting. It was a giant conference table, which was a bit intimidating, but [Tristan] was very personable, a very smart man." Look for the full interview soon.

THE LOVERS AND FRIENDS SHOW returned on Wednesday with the first part of the Season Three finale. L&G is an urban web-based lesbian soap that debuted in January 2008. The show stars Marlaina Law, Christy Rodriguez, BeBe Brunswick, Nicole Pina, Zaire, Kissa Jo and Hollissia Holloway. A Season Two DVD is currently available for purchase.

INDIE SOAP BEAT: April 9, 2010

In this week's "Indie Soap Beat" feature we reveal the latest happenings from around the world of independent soap opera and web series production. Click the show logos to visit the official websites.

In case you missed the We Love Soaps interview with REALITY BYTES star Drake Hogestyn, you can read it here. Hogestyn previewed his character, Jerry Parker: "Creating a character is always a challenge, but in this particular case I'm going to be ask to bring a character to life. He was a real-life hero to many and that in itself is especially daunting. I'm up for the task but I'll also be very respectful of the writer's interpretation of this man's reincarnation. From what I understand, the man was a state trooper who died a very young and untimely death, and left a lot of people behind. He was one of the all around good guys and quite a prankster. I'm honored to be asked to bring this man back to life with the help of Kate Lang, the writer." Look for our interview with Jade Harlow (Victoria Radcliffe) in the coming days.

The second season of EMPIRE premieres on April 27. WE LOVE SOAPS TV is going to feature interviews with writers Greg Turner and Brian Hewson as well as features with several of the stars of the show as we countdown to the premiere date. Turner's critically acclaimed musical, "All Fall Down" is having a reading in New York City on Saturday.

THE LIKE US SHOW, a radio soapa opera airing on stations around the country, has now aired 49 episodes. The episodes are short enough that you can easily catch up so check it out! Christian Barber, who plays Robert, also has a role on EMPIRE in Season Two. Look for the We Love Soaps interview with two-indie soap star Barber soon.

THE LOVERS AND FRIENDS SHOW returns on Wednesday, April 14, for the finale of Season Three. L&G is an urban web-based lesbian soap that debuted in January 2008. You can watch the trailer for the season finale here. The show stars Marlaina Law, Christy Rodriguez, BeBe Brunswick, Nicole Pina, Zaire, Kissa Jo and Hollissia Holloway.