INDIE SOAP BEAT: Julie Ann Emery Talks 'Drifter' Dream Team; Sci-Fi With A Love Story!

On the latest episode of INDIE SOAP BEAT, actress/writer/producer Julie Ann Emery (THEN WE GOT HELP!, Hitch, LINE OF FIRE, SUITS) fills us in on all the details of her latest project, DRIFTER, a 30-minute TV pilot.

"There's an apathetic slacker guy who is on a space ship by himself on a supply mission to Mars," Emery explains. "To alleviate boredom and to give himself something to do, he teaches the computer to let him virtually enter the world of his favorite TV show. Where I really got hooked is the TV show is like a half-hour romantic comedy. He falls in love with the leading lady (played by Emery)."

We Love Soaps Announces Additional Celebrity Presenters For 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards

WE LOVE SOAPS ANNOUNCES SEBASTIAN LA CAUSE, MICHAEL O'LEARY, RACHAEL HIP-FLORES AND YVONNE PERRY AS ADDITIONAL CELEBRITY PRESENTERS AT THE THIRD ANNUAL INDIE SOAP AWARDS

Winners will be revealed at a live ceremony

on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

(New York, NY) January 26, 2012 - We Love Soaps reveals second slate of celebrity presenters for the 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards.  The ISAs honor the best dramas and comedies in scripted serialized web series.  The winners will be announced in a gala award presentation ceremony at New World Stages in New York, NY, on February 21, 2012.

We Love Soaps is proud to announce the following celebrity presenters:

• Michael O'Leary, longtime star of Guiding Light; nominated actor from Steamboat

• Yvonne Perry, longtime star of As The World Turns; actress from Empire

• Orlagh Cassidy, star of Guiding Light and Another World; nominated actress from Empire

• Julie Ann Emery of TV's Damages, ER and Commander in Chief; nominated actress and producer from Then We Got Help!

• Karri Bowman of TV's Grounded for Life; nominated actress from Bandwagon

• Sebastian La Cause of Broadway's Rocky Horror Show and Chicago; creator and nominated actor from Hustling

• Kevin Earley of Broadway's Tale of Two Cities and Thoroughly Modern Millie; actor from Then We Got Help!

• Michael Myracle of action films Violent Zone and Delta Force 2; nominated actress from California Heaven

• Catherine Frels of The Academy of Classical Acting at George Washington University; nominated actress from Thurston

• Anthony Anderson, nominated actor and ISA winner from Anacostia

• Rachael Hip-Flores of the new series Good People in Love; nominated actress and ISA winner from Anyone But Me

• Rick Dalton, nominated actor from Ragged Isle

• Jason Leaver, nominated creator of Out With Dad

• Marion Akpan, actress from Anacostia

"We try to keep the focus on their incredible achievements in the web series medium, but it's just impossible to ignore the fact that we're packing the theater with an incredibly talented and accomplished mix of theater stars, indie filmmakers and daytime soap opera (and other!) TV actors," said We Love Soaps founder, Roger Newcomb.  "Moving the show to New World Stages allows us to do something even bigger and better this year.   We even have a surprise or two planned!"

As previously announced, Kristos Andrews (The Bay), Jodi Britton(Sundays), Michael Caruso (DeVanity), John Colella (Vampire Mob), Jillian Clare (Miss Behave), Patrika Darbo (Miss Behave), Dee Freeman (Pretty), Sid Garza-Hillman (Sundays), Michael Taylor Gray (Pretty), Stacy McQueen (Pretty), Forrest Naylor (Sundays) and Alexis Zibolis (DeVanity) will also be presenting awards during the ceremony.

We Love Soaps has been covering the best in serialized programming since 2007 from television to the web.  The Indie Soap Awards, or ISAs, were developed in 2009 to celebrate the best of serialized content developed for the web.   For more information, including all the nominations, visit http://welovesoaps.com/isa

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Media Contact

Kevin Mulcahy Jr. kevin@welovesoaps.com

212-664-7620

SAVE THE DATE: 3rd Annual Indie Soap Awards to be Held on February 21, 2012 in Manhattan

The Third Annual Indie Soap Awards are coming, and they are going to be more exciting than ever!!  This year's event is scheduled on Tuesday, February 21st, 2012, in The Theater District of Manhattan.  Indie Soap stars from all over the globe will be coming to this unique and prestigious annual event.

Nominees will be announced here on the We Love Soaps homepage on Monday, December 19th.  On that day information will additionally be posted about the location, purchasing tickets, and more.

To see last year's ceremony hosted by Martha Byrne, with dozens of Indie Soap presenters including Kim Zimmer and Tina Sloan, as well as award winners Hillary B. Smith and Jordan Clarke, press here.

WATCH: THEN WE GOT HELP! 2.11 "Room in the Hot Tub"

THEN WE GOT HELP! is back with an all-new episode today, "Room in the Hot Tub."

Creator and star Julie Ann Emery offers us a preview: "Jenny subjects the couples to a Dr. Phil quiz but is interrupted when Detective Jan shows up unannounced...this time with his 29 year old girlfriend in tow."

REVIEW: Mutual Oprah Society - THEN WE GOT HELP Locates the Higher Self

Web Series: THEN WE GOT HELP!

For fans of...: MODERN FAMILY; THE OFFICE

What it is: Mockumentary of a do-it-yourself help group.

What's good: Strong chemistry between the entire ensemble cast. Diverse selection of “typical American” couples; accurate depiction of their dynamics.

What's great: The writing and acting are consistently witty--and frequently touching and incisive. An ingenious premise, with clever execution, successfully transforms the limitations of the webisode medium into assets. Are the producers familiar with the ancient art of Judo?


What could be better: Production wrinkles in season one are, by and large, ironed out in season two.

Addictive like...: Facebook updates

Grade: A

Review based on: Episodes 1; 2.1-2.10

See for yourself!
- Official Website - ThenWeGotHelp.com
- THEN WE GOT HELP! on YouTube
- THEN WE GOT HELP! on blip.tv

Kevin Mulcahy Jr. is a staff contributor at welovesoaps.com writing theater and web series reviews as well as other in-depth features. To contact Kevin, email kevin@welovesoaps.com.

WATCH: THEN WE GOT HELP! 2.10 "The Art of the Strip"

THEN WE GOT HELP! is back with an all-new episode, "The Art of the Strip."

"A game of Strip Poker leads to revelations, bickering, and the break up of one of our favorite couples," previews Julie Ann Emery. "This week our Swingers AND our Bi-sexual Trio are back, as well as, Dan and Eric together again. It's a full house! And the Dan & Eric adoption story line comes to a head this week...ending with quite the bombshell at the end of the episode. So tune in and find out who keeps their secrets and who doesn't. And who keeps their clothes!"

As Eric says, "Strip Poker for Group?!? Best idea ever."

Watch the episode below.

WATCH: THEN WE GOT HELP! 2.9 "What Am I To You?"

An all-new episode of Indie Soap Award-winning THEN WE GOT HELP! is out today! Creator and star Julie Ann Emery offers a preview:

"Emily wakes Michael in the middle of the night to interrogate him--'Jan style'. Thom has a big announcement about Lao Tsu. And our bisexual Vance returns. This time conflicted and alone.

"Dan runs the meeting. Forcing everyone to write 'partner bios' about their significant other. And they all go wrong one way or the other. It's a particularly good episode for Vance. And Eric Anderson is touching and terrific. He wants to tell the group his problems with Paige and Scott Austin, but he doesn't want to dig too deep. And I love how Nick (AKA Dan) really pushes him to get to the bottom of it.

PHOTOS: DAYTIME DRAMA Kick-Off Event!

We Love Soaps kicked off our inaguaral DAYTIME DRAMA event at Pieces bar in New York City on Thursday afternoon. DAYTIME DRAMA is a monthly happy hour event where we watch soaps (daytime, primetime, web series), have cheap drinks and share thoughts on the genre and our favorite storylines.

The first event was well-received and some of our favorite folks from the world of web series stopped by including Greg Turner and Brian Hewson from EMPIRE, Jason Vitteri-Lewis from TRAILER MADE, and Julie Ann Emery and Kevin Earley from THEN WE GOT HELP! Emery brought along HELP's fabulous guest star Sam McMurray (FREAKS & GEEKS, FRIENDS, Raising Arizona).

Clips included classic soap weddings, startling courtroom revelations, famous guest stars and much more. We also played a few web series -- THEN WE GOT HELP!, TRAILER MADE and IMAGINARY BITCHES. A great time was had by all!

See below for more photos from DAYTIME DRAMA.

INTERVIEW: Sam McMurray, Part 3 Soaps Will Survive, Make Money--On the Internet

If you have watched television or movies in the past 35 years, you likely have seen Sam McMurray in numerous shows and films. Among his many film credits are Raising Arizona, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, L.A. Story, The Wizard, and Drop Dead Gorgeous. On television he was a featured player on THE TRACEY ULLMAN SHOW, played a recurring role as Chandler's boss on FRIENDS, and appeared in THE KING OF QUEENS, Disney's RECESS, FREAKS AND GEEKS, and THE SOPRANOS. Now McMurray is bringing his talents to the web with a two-episode arc on hit comedy series THEN WE GOT HELP!

In Part 1 of our three part interview, McMurray revisted his early career including stints on daytime soaps THE DOCTORS and RYAN'S HOPE. In Part 2, he shared his experiences working on THEN WE GOT HELP! In the third and final part below, he discussing the future of entertainment and making money on the web.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: You've been in all kinds of feature films and TV shows. What's different about a web series?
Sam McMurray: We shoot everything in one day. It's done for shits and giggles. And the truth is, that that's the future. I think. The studios haven't a clue, honestly, and I've been out in L.A. for 25 years, so I can speak to this to some degree.

INTERVIEW: Sam McMurray, Part 2 Is Julie Ann Emery Orson Welles?

If you have watched television or movies in the past 35 years, you likely have seen Sam McMurray in numerous shows and films. Among his many film credits are Raising Arizona, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, L.A. Story, The Wizard, and Drop Dead Gorgeous. On television he was a featured player on THE TRACEY ULLMAN SHOW, played a recurring role as Chandler's boss on FRIENDS, and appeared in THE KING OF QUEENS, Disney's RECESS, FREAKS AND GEEKS, and THE SOPRANOS. Now McMurray is bringing his talents to the web with a two-episode arc on hit comedy series THEN WE GOT HELP!

In Part 1 of our three part interview, McMurray revisted his early career including stints on daytime soaps THE DOCTORS and RYAN'S HOPE. In Part 2 below, he shares his experiences working on THEN WE GOT HELP!

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: In comparison to your extensive Television and film experience, what was it like appearing on THEN WE GOT HELP!?
Sam McMurray: First of all, I have got to tell you, this is the most enjoyable thing I have done in years. Julie [Ann Emery] is a brilliant writer. She does the whole thing—I mean obviously her husband, Kevin, has a lot to do with it as well, but it's really her baby. She shoots it, she writes it, she directs it, and she cuts it, you know? There's only one ad-lib... have you been able to see it yet?

INTERVIEW: Sam McMurray, Part 1 What's Better than Being a Serial Killer?

If you have watched television or movies in the past 35 years, you likely have seen Sam McMurray in numerous shows and films. Among his many film credits are Raising Arizona, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, L.A. Story, The Wizard, and C.H.U.D. On television he was a featured player on THE TRACEY ULLMAN SHOW, played a recurring role as Chandler's boss on FRIENDS, and appeared in THE KING OF QUEENS, Disney's RECESS, FREAKS AND GEEKS, and THE SOPRANOS. He's even had roles on the daytime soaps THE DOCTORS and RYAN'S HOPE. Now McMurray is bringing his talents to the web with a two-episode arc on hit comedy series THEN WE GOT HELP!

In this new multi-part interview, McMurray shares mememories from his career, and takes us backstage at Indie Soap Award winning THEN WE GOT HELP!

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: How did you end up on THEN WE GOT HELP!?
Sam McMurray: I did a movie last summer with Julie [Ann Emery] up in Nashua, New Hampshire. She played my daughter in it, and we struck it off. We actually have a number of things in common, and she told me about this series, and I thought, oh, okay, webisodes. But of course you know, I'm a dinosaur, and I come back to L.A. and I'm actually with a younger friend who was staying here, and he says, “this show is hysterical,” and so I sat down and watched it—the whole season! All 80 minutes of it. And I laughed my ass off!

WATCH: Sam McMurray Guest Stars On The New Episode of THEN WE GOT HELP!

THEN WE GOT HELP! released a wonderful new episode today featuring guest star Sam McMurray. Creator and star Julie Ann Emery offers a preview, "When Gerry brings her Dad to the meetings to interrogate the couples, he manages to offend everyone on the planet.....seriously...Every One. Move over Archie Bunker, Jan is in the house!"

On the front of our favorite gay couple, Emery teases, "Dan is at a meeting with adoption agent Lorraine discussing how the legal adoption is going to go down (prompting a discussion on the issue of Gay Marriage...and Terry's version of who's really married and who isn't). This leaves Eric time to complain about how Dan wants to raise the baby, and reveal why he is 'afraid of babies'."

Sam McMurray (Raising Arizona, FRIENDS, Drop Dead Gorgeous) is playing Gerry's Dad! Emery says his character is "completely offensively hilarious. And I do mean offensive."

WATCH: THEN WE GOT HELP! 2.7 "I Never"

An all-new episode of Indie Soap Award-winning THEN WE GOT HELP! is out this week. Creator and star Julie Ann Emery offers a preview:

"Eric and Dan are in attendance together again...and Eric runs the meeting! He makes the group play a drinking game (of course he does). We also get a tiny foreshadowing moment of what is going to happen over the next 5 episodes with these two. The adoption process story line is going to turn dramatic in the next 3 weeks. Actually, the most dramatic we've ever gotten on our little show. And I'll leave you with that cryptic comment (of course I do).

Indie Soap Beat: The Latest Web Series News

Here's a rundown of some of the latest web series news:

WE LOVE SOAPS TV attended the second season premiere party for DOWNSIZED on Tuesday night at Copia in New York City. The crowd, which included ALL'S FAIRE creator Thom Woodley, and THEN WE GOT HELP's Julie Ann Emery and Kevin Earley, loved it. Look for additional coverage of this event later today.

Southside, the new movie from THE BAY creator Gregori J. Martin starring Kristos Andrews, begins shooting today in New York. Emmy winner and Indie Soap Award nominee Martha Byrne will be playing an NYPD cop in the film.

WATCH: THEN WE GOT HELP! 2.6 "If I Had a Hammer"

This week on an all-new episode of THEN WE GOT HELP!:

The Swingers are back, Dan discovers the downside of soft hands, Anna discovers the downside of Lao Tsu, and Kenny discovers the downside of bringing a squeaky hammer to the meeting.

Kenny saw a reality TV show with Jenny and "they were using these puffy bats to beat each other with when they got mad". The idea of beating Jenny with a puffy bat appeals to him so much, that he brings his own version to the meeting. And things definitely get out of hand.

WATCH: THEN WE GOT HELP! 2.3 "Battle of the Exes"

On this week's episode of THEN WE GOT HELP we meet Emily's husband Michael! Since he won't come to Group, Emily begins secretly taping Michael (played beautifully by Darren Legallo) at home.

Also this week, a new couple, played by Eric Anderson (Broadway's "South Pacific") and Daryn Strauss (DOWNSIZED and Digital Chick TV), comes to group with a secret.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.45 THEN WE GOT HELP's Rush, Jacobsen, Ferrara & Strauss

On episode 2.45 of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, Damon L. Jacobs and Kevin Mulcahy Jr. travel to Gossip in New York City to attend the THEN WE GOT HELP! Season Two launch party. Along the way they speak with actors Jessica Rush (Jenny), Shane Jacobsen (Scott), Susan Ferrara (Gerry) and Daryn Strauss (Paige), who also created the web series DOWNSIZED.



RELATED LINKS:
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.44 THEN WE GOT HELP's Emery, Earley & Hammond
- THEN WE GOT HELP! Official Website
- THEN WE GOT HELP! 2.1: "Haven't We Been Here Before?"
- THEN WE GOT HELP! 2.2: "Keep on the Sunny Side"
- DOWNSIZED Official Website

Become a WE LOVE SOAPS TV Supporter!

WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.44 THEN WE GOT HELP's Emery, Earley & Hammond

On episode 2.44 of WE LOVE SOAPS TV, Damon L. Jacobs and Kevin Mulcahy Jr. travel to Gossip in New York City to attend the THEN WE GOT HELP! Season Two launch party. Along the way they speak with executive producers Julie Ann Emery and Kevin Earley (who also star), and actor Blake Hammond (who plays Eric opposite Nicholas Rodriguez's Dan).



RELATED LINKS:
- THEN WE GOT HELP! Official Website
- THEN WE GOT HELP! 2.1: "Haven't We Been Here Before?"
- THEN WE GOT HELP! 2.2: "Keep on the Sunny Side"

Become a WE LOVE SOAPS TV Supporter!

Indie Soap Spring Preview Guide

Coming off the success of the recent Indie Soap Awards and a successful winter full of fabulous new episodes, the web series community is excited about what's next. WE LOVE SOAPS TV is happy to offer our Indie Soap Spring Preview Guide with the latest news and happenings from returning shows to crossovers and spin-offs. Check it out below.

SEASON PREMIERES


THEN WE GOT HELP!
Season Two Premiere Date: March 18

Creator and star Julie Ann Emery offers a preview of the new season: "The thing I think I'm most proud of is Season Two is fully fan funded. We did a crowd funding campaign and we surpassed our maximum budget asked for. We may not have the biggest audience on the web, but our fans are FIERCE!

Digital Chick TV Backstage Camera at the Indie Soap Awards 2011

Digital Chick TV's Creative Director Daryn Strauss gives you the backstage experience at the Indie Soap Awards in New York City hosted by GOTHAM's Martha Byrne.

Catch some candid awards moments shot on Daryn's personal camera with Julie Ann Emery and Kevin Earley of THEN WE GOT HELP!, Michael Todd Cohen of RED CARPET RUN, Susan Miller of ANYONE BUT ME, Al Thompson of JOHNNY B. HOMELESS AND LEXOX AVENUE, and the cast/crew of ANACOSTIA.