February 2008 News Archive (Page 4)

On One Life to Live this week, Marcie is free from jail. However, as The New York Daily News reports, but it's not the happy homecoming she's hoping for.

"Marcie thinks that the reason she got out of jail was because Todd got a conscience and doesn't want her to be in any more pain," says Kathy Brier,  pictured, who plays Marcie. "But with Todd, it's probably not heartfelt."

It's not. Todd dropped the charges against Marcie for kidnapping Tommy because her cop brother-in-law, John, blackmailed him into it.

"Marcie doesn't know that," says Brier. "She thinks Todd's being nice. He probably thinks that her having to live in the house where she raised this child, and having to deal with daily reminders of where Tommy lived, is harder than being in jail. I actually think he's right."

Read the full spoiler report now.

As TV Guide puts it: Get ready for TV's newest reality show: 55-year-old Guiding Light!

On February 29, the long-running drama will abandon the set-busting, all-encompassing way of making soap operas in exchange for a radical, extraordinarily authetic approach that has much of the show shot on location in the small town of Peapack, New Jersey.

For example, check out this Guiding Light spoiler: The first episode with the new look finds heiress Lizzie Spaulding (Marcy Rylan) being dumped in the middle of the woods by her ex-lover Jonathan (Tom Pelphrey). She'll be rescued — soaked and frozen — by her current flame, Bill (Daniel Cosgrove).

Guiding Light's soundstage in Manhattan also has received an overhaul. Three-walled sets have bee vanquished, those that have used since the 1950s. Now, each interior locale has four walls and a ceiling, requiring that all scenes be shot by a fleet-footed crew with minicams.

"We're bringing the viewers right into the experience in a very intimate way," says executive producer Ellen Wheeler.

Wheeler says CBS wants low-rated Guiding Light to remain on the air: "This is not a desperate survival move," she insists. "This is a creative, financially efficient way to move soap operas into the future. Guiding Light has always led the way."

With a series of actors leaving various soap operas recently, Trevor St. John felt the need to address rumors that he's one of them. The One Life to Live star has penned the following on his official blog:

"A friend of mine let me know that some people out there are under the impression that I'm leaving the show in April. I wish I knew where these things come from, but I thought I should tell you that this one isn't even a little bit true."

Phew.

Later this week on All My Children, Richie kidnaps JR. The reason? He wants to grab some of his bone marrow. Naturally.

"He hires a doctor and sets up his own little clinic, " Billy Miller joked to Soap Opera Weekly about the story line.

So, how does that work out for Kendall's brother? Pick up the March 4 issue of Soap Opera Weekly to find out.

The return of Tom Pelphrey on Guiding Light won't be lasting long.

According to Soap Opera Digest, the actor that portrays Jonathan Randall - and who came back to Guiding Light just last month - will end his run in March. We'll have more on this development as it comes in.

How will the General Hospital Text Message Killer angle end?

While the answer should surprise - and, hopefully, satisfy - General Hospital fans, the way it's revealed should also be quite exciting: the show will be utilizing CGI in order to reveal the murderer, a technique it incorporated on General Hospital: Night Shift.

The conclusion of the ''Text Message Killer'' storyline will incorporate a death-defying CGI'ed car scene that jeopardizes the lives of the two women important to both Lucky and Jason.

''The opportunity for us in daytime to break open the whole look of the show is very exciting,'' said executive producer Jill Pharren Phelps.

All My Children fans are still excited over the news that their favorite show has landed longtime actor Mario Van Peebles in the role of Samuel Woods.

The veteran star recently chatted with Entertainment Weekly about the gig:

Entertainment Weekly: People might not know this but you’re no stranger to daytime TV.
Mario Van Peebles: When I first started out, I did a lot of theater in New York and then I did One Life to Live with Agnes Nixon [creator of One Life and All My Children]. Her shows are pretty hip in terms of stuff that they’ve tackled. But when they approached me about this I didn’t feel that I’d do that again.

EW: What’s it been like to work with Susan Lucci?
Van Peebles: She’s really cool. She still has energy and sparkle for this. Still excited about her job. Still learning. And I think that has to do with how we age. And the fact that everything is not just a question of diet and working out, but it’s a question of intention and outlook. And she’s just got that sparkle.

EW: People have made a big deal of the fact that if your character and Erica become romantic, it would be her first interracial relationship. What do you think about that?
Van Peebles: I don't know. My mom's white. My dad's black. We've always been able to paint with all the colors in my family. So I'm not so color focused. That would be more a viewer thing. Even in the climate that we're in election-wise, I like to think that America is growing up. I like to think that we're getting past all that stuff and looking at the people. But maybe that's naive. The fact is it's an interesting dynamic.

As if the Angie and Jesse reunion on All My Children could get any more enticing...

David Rasche - pictured, most recently seen in movies such as United 93 and The Sentinel - will guest star on the show as the character of Rob Gardner, Tad's biological uncle.

Look for Gardner to play a major role in Jesse’s “death.” On the March 4 episode of All My Children, viewers will finally begin to unravel the truth as to why Jesse faked his demise and went on the run. We can't wait!

Brandon Beemer is finally speaking out on his recent, surprising firing from Days of Our Lives.

The handsome actor told Soap Opera Weekly:

“Somebody came in and had another vision. That's what happened. I understand it. It's the change that really hurts. [But] it's not that big a deal. What put it into perspective was when Heath Ledger was found dead in his bed. I was sitting at work and somebody was talking about our situation, I said, 'You know what? Things could be worse.'

I'm not going to sit here and complain about [being let go], because there are so many bigger things going on. Besides one door closes, and another opens."

Which door do you hope will open for Beemer? One on another soap opera? 

Coming up soon, on The Young and the Restless...

• Jack and Sharon travel to Los Angeles to meet with Eric Forrester.

• Adam begins work at Newman Enterprises, leading to conflict with Victoria (Amelia Heinle, pictured).

• J.T. (Thad Luckinbill) and Victoria worry when Reed grows ill.

• Jeff pressures Gloria to consummate their marriage.