NEWS: Amanda Peterson, Kelly Rowland, Matt Dallas, Colleen Zenk, Corbin Bleu, Adan Canto, 'Queens of Drama'

Amanda Peterson

A Year in the Life actress Amanda Peterson dead at 43
Amanda Peterson, a TV and film actress best remembered for playing the love interest of Grey’s Anatomy‘s Patrick Dempsey in 1987’s Can’t Buy Me Love, has died at age 43.

Though a cause of death has not been confirmed, Peterson’s family tells TMZ that she recently suffered from several medical issues, including pneumonia, sleep apnea and sinusitis. Her body was discovered on July 5.

Peterson’s most notable television work was as on NBC’s A Year in the Life, which started as a 1986 miniseries before being turned into a drama series the following year.

Adan Canto joins ABC primetime soap Blood and Oil as series regular, replaces Yani Gellman
Blood and Oil follows Billy (Chase Crawford) and Cody Lefever (Rebecca Rittenhouse) who dream of a new life beyond their working-class roots and move to The Bakken in North Dakota, booming after the biggest oil discovery in American history. They’re soon pitted against a ruthless tycoon who forces them to bet big and put everything on the line, including their marriage.

Canto will play AJ Menendez, and take over the role previously played by Yani Gellman (The Young and the Restless) in the pilot.

Kelly Rowland joins Season 2 of Empire
The 34-year-old R&B singer will play Lucious Lyon's mother in a flashback.

'Queens of Drama' returning for second season?
The show released a casting call for two name soap actresses of any ethnicity in their early 20s-early 60s to join Donna Mills (Madeline, GH) and the cast on Pop's "reality" series. The show is scheduled to begin filming in mid to late fall for 6-10 episodes, and the pay rate is listed at approximately $40,000.

Colleen Zenk, Corbin Bleu, Randy Brooks among best in Dayton’s 2014-15 Theater Season
Bleu (One Life to Live) was nominated as Best Leading Actor in a Play for his work in "Family Shots," while Zenk (As the World Turns) and Brooks (The Young and the Restless, Another World) were nominated for their work playing Bleu's parents.

Orange is the New Black filming fourth season in Rockland County, New York
According to reports, the hit Netflix series is already shooting episodes for season 4 at the abandoned Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center in Orangeburg.

Amazon and Netflix pass on picking up Hannibal
Executive producer Bryan Fuller tweeted the news this afternoon, adding: "We're still investigating possibilities."

Lifetime renews UnREAL for second season
Lifetime has renewed its critically acclaimed primetime serial for a 10-episode second season.

Matt Dallas and Blue Hamilton. Photo via Instagram

Kyle XY star Matt Dallas marries musician Blue Hamilton
The 32-year-old actor broke the news on Instagram with the caption, "Introducing Mr. & Mr. Dallas."

Mr. Robot gains viewers with second episode
The USA drama's second episode shot up 13% over its premiere.

Whoopi Goldberg and Raven-Symoné are still sticking up for Bill Cosby, despite his Quaaludes admission
On The View this morning, Goldberg, one of Cosby’s "most vigorous defenders," and former Cosby Show star Raven-Symoné said their minds weren’t changed by Cosby’s revelations from a 2005 deposition.

FBI raids Subway spokesman Jared Fogle's home as part of a child porn investigation
FBI investigators and Indiana State Police served warrants on Fogle early this morning. Earlier this year, the executive director of Fogle’s Jared Foundation was arrested in a child pornography case.

Watch the 'General Hospital' Emmy Winners' Appearance on 'The View'

Chad Duell, Maura West, Anthony Geary, Donna Mills and Frank
Valentini. Photo Credit: ABC/Rick Rowell

General Hospital Daytime Emmy winners Anthony Geary, Maura West, Chad Duell and Donna Mills appeared on Monday's episode of ABC's The View, along with executive producer Frank Valentini, airing live from the Los Angeles.

For his role as Luke Spencer, Anthony Geary was honored with his eighth Daytime Emmy in the Outstanding Lead Actor category, making him the most honored actor in Daytime Emmy history, breaking his own record.

Emmy-winner Maura West took home her third Emmy marking her first for the role of General Hospital's Ava Jerome.

Chad Duell took home his first Emmy for the role of Michael Corinthos in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category.

Television veteran Donna Mills was honored with her first Emmy as Outstanding Special Guest Performer category for her portrayal of Madeline Reeves.

Watch the General Hospital segment on The View below:

ABC Celebrates Halloween with a Spooktacular Lineup of Shows

October is spooktacular on ABC, as the network gets into the spirit of things (literally!) with Disney·Pixar's first special for television, Toy Story OF TERROR!, daytime's THE CHEW, THE VIEW and GENERAL HOSPITAL, featuring frightfully entertaining celebrations, ABC comedies airing ghoulishly-good Halloween-themed episodes, GREY'S ANATOMY featuring a spooky storyline, and even SHARK TANK getting into the swim of the scary holiday. Also on Halloween night, the network will air the beloved classic IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN, and JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE will host a Halloween party. Following are details of "ABC's Halloween Spooktacular" programming airing in October.

[SPOILER ALERT]

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16

DAYTIME RATINGS: GENERAL HOSPITAL Hits Five-Month High In Total Viewers, DAYS OF OUR LIVES Up

The daytime Nielsen ratings are in for the week of September 16-20, 2013. Fresh off its most watched season in five years, GENERAL HOSPITAL hit a five-month high in total viewers for the week of September 16-20, 2013.

From SON:
Total Viewers (versus previous week/versus same week last year)
1. THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS 4,616,000 (-84,000/+327,000)
2. THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 3,506,000 (-77,000/+367,000)
3. GENERAL HOSPITAL 2,777,000 (+2,000/+549,000)
4. DAYS OF OUR LIVES 2,495,000 (+29,000/+183,000)

DAYTIME RATINGS: GENERAL HOSPITAL Hits 5-Month High In Total Viewers

The daytime Nielsen ratings are in for the week of September 9-13, 2013. GENERAL HOSPITAL continued to rise reaching a 5-month high in total viewers.

From SON:
Total Viewers (versus previous week/versus same week last year)
1. THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS 4,700,000 (+85,000/+484,000)
2. THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 3,583,000 (-88,000/+419,000)
3. GENERAL HOSPITAL 2,775,000 (+23,000/+247,000)
4. DAYS OF OUR LIVES 2,466,000 (-158,000/+169,000)

Jenny McCarthy Joins THE VIEW

Barbara Walters ended months of rumors and speculation this morning with her announcement that, after 17 appearances on ABC's THE VIEW, eight as a guest co-host, Jenny McCarthy will join the popular talk show as a co-host this fall. The comedian/actress/host and best-selling author officially starts on Monday, September 9 (11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon ET), the kick-off to Season 17.

"We are delighted that Jenny will be joining us as a permanent co-host on 'The View' starting in September. Jenny brings us intelligence as well as warmth and humor. She can be serious and outrageous. She has connected with our audience and offers a fresh point of view. Jenny will be a great addition to the show as we usher in an exciting new chapter for 'The View,'" said Ms. Walters.

Anthony Geary To Appear On THE VIEW On April 1 To Celebrate 50 Years Of GENERAL HOSPITAL

ABC's THE VIEW returns live Monday, April 1 (11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon ET) with actor Anthony Geary as ABC celebrates the 50th anniversary of its popular drama GENERAL HOSPITAL. Geary's visit falls on the show's actual anniversary date. GENERAL HOSPITAL hit the airwaves on April 1, 1963 and has been entertaining audiences for five decades. A seven-time Emmy award-winner, Geary is expected to discuss his career portraying the wonderfully unpredictable Luke Spencer since 1978, and what to expect all this week on GENERAL HOSPITAL in celebration of the show's Golden Anniversary.

Honoring 50 historic years on ABC, GENERAL HOSPITAL is the longest running scripted drama currently in production and the third longest-running drama in American television history. To mark the show's Golden Anniversary, "General Hospital" reprises the immensely popular Nurses Ball, a fictional charity event complete with musical performances from the illustrious citizens of Port Charles dedicated to HIV/AIDS awareness. The celebration begins on April 1. GENERAL HOSPITAL airs at 2:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. PT/CT, on ABC.

UPDATED:
Watch Geary's appearance below:

DOWNTON ABBEY Cast On THE VIEW Dec. 12

Cast members from DOWNTON ABBEY will be guests on ABC's THE VIEW on Wednesday, December 12. Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Rob James-Collier, Brendan Coyle, Joanne Froggatt, Elizabeth McGovern and Sophie McShera are scheduled to appear.

ABC Daytime Ratings: No. 1 Network Across Target Women 18-34, Women 18-49 and Women 25-54

ABC sent out a press release celebrating the network's ratings for the week of September 17-21, 2012.

ABC IS DAYTIME’S NO. 1 NETWORK ACROSS W18-34, W18-49 AND W25-54

Fringe Ratings Report: Daytime Programming -- Week of Sept. 17, 2012 

ABC Ranks as Daytime's #1 Network Across Target Women 18-34, 

Women 18-49 and Women 25-54

"The View" and "General Hospital" Are the Week's Top 2 Programs in 

Daytime in Women 18-34, and Rank #2 in Women 18-49

"The View" Levies 11-Week Highs in Women 18-49 and Women 25-54, 

and 9-Week Highs in Total Viewers and Women 18-34

THE VIEW's Bill Geddie To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award At Daytime Emmys

THE VIEW exec producer Bill Geddie will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmys in June. Read the press release from ABC below:

THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES THE 39th ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY® AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT TO BE PRESENTED TO EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, BILL GEDDIE

Executive Producer of "The View" and "The Barbara Walters Specials" to Be Honored