Van Hansis is in the news a lot these days.

The reason? The young As the World Turns star is involved in a young, homosexual romance in that show's storyline. We think it's great and we admire Hansis and co-star Jake Sibermann for making the angle so believable.

Meanwhile, here are five fun tidbits about Hansis:

• His real name is Evan Vanfossen Hansis. Vanfossen means "House of the Fox."

• He'd be writing comic books if he weren't an actor.

• He replaced Jake Weary as Luke Spencer. Weary is the son of Guiding Light actress Kim Zimmer.

• Van is an avid cyclist who rides around New York whenever he can.

• Favorite actor? Sir Ian McKellan.

Thank you to Soap Opera Digest for this recap of a One Life to Live Fan Club event at New York's Marriott Marquis on August 4...

The luncheon kicked off with the usual roll call, during which fans were treated to an impromptu gymnastics floor show by newcomer Chase Coleman (Garrett). From there, fans challenged the Sean Ringgold to do push-ups with John-Paul Lavoisier on his back.

Catherine Hickland was the event’s emcee and introduced each actor with a fitting quip: "I have one word to sum him up and it’s hottie!" she cracked of David Fumero.

Fumero, pictured here with Melissa Gallo, was later put on the spot by fans who asked if he’d like to see a recast for Evangeline ("It would be weird, but then again, I don’t call the shots," he remarked) and what he’d think of a Cristian/Layla pairing. ("That would be kind of wrong, no?")

It was also apparent that fans pay close attention to their favorite actors' fashion choices. When one pointed out to Robert S. Woods that he wasn't wearing his typical Hawaiian shirt, the actor was quick to stand up and reveal the print at the bottom of his shirt.

"See these little palm trees? It's the kind [of Hawaiian shirt] you get married in," he said, winking at Hickland, whose Lindsay is rumored to be heading for a reunion with Bo.

An audience member asked Patricia Elliott  if viewers would be fulfilled by the episodes surrounding Asa's death. The actress assured the audience that the writers had done an outstanding job with the 9,999th and 10,000th eps, praising former co-star Phil Carey (ex-Asa) in the process.

"I learned so much from that man about how to be a human being and how to work a camera," she said. "There were times that he was so generous with me; he was very supportive. I am very much going to miss him. I don't know what that means for Renee, but I can tell you this:

She is now the richest woman in the world. She owned about half of Llanview and now she owns the other half and all the rest that comes with it!"

Wanna meet your favorite stars of The Young and the Restless? Here are a few opportunities to do so...

Event: Lunch with the cast of The Young and the Restless
When: Sunday, August 26, 2007
Where: The Sheraton Universal Hotel Ballroom in Universal City, California. from 11:00am - 5:00pm.
Appearances By: Fans will be able to meet, take photos and get autographs with many of the The Young and the Restless cast members.
Ticket Information: $125 per person. Call 1 - 818 - 503-2599.

Event: Autograph Session with Jerry Douglas (ex-John), Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren) and Doug Davidson (pictured, Paul); then watch Jerry Douglas in concert.
When: August 30, 2007
Where: After Jerry, Tracey and Doug sign autographs in the bandshell, Jerry will perform songs from his new CD on the Main Stage at the Canadian National Exhibition Fair in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Ticket Information: Call 416-393-6300 or E-mail: info@TheEx.com.

Event: Evening with the Stars Cocktail Party to benefit the Desi Geestman Foundation.
When: Sunday, October 7, 2007
Where: The Ivar, in Hollywood, CA
Appearances by: Although no names have been announced yet, in the past, over fifty stars from The Young and the Restless, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful.
For Ticket Information: Please visit the official site for Evening with the Stars. 

We've already told you that Crystal Chappell has signed a new deal to remain on Guiding Light.

Meanwhile, here are casting updates on other actors and the roles they inhibit...

• Former Beverly Hills, 90210 actor Daniel Cosgrove (pictured), who played Bill Lewis, is expected to reappear.

Some time in October is expected to be Cosgrove's return date, although the duration of his stay isn't clear right now. This actor left the show in 2005, subsequently appearing on the ABC series In Justice, as well as Dirty Sexy Money, Mattie Fresno and the Holoflux Universe.

• Edmund Winslow is also expected back in town. Following several successful stints on the stage in his time away from the show, David Andrew MacDonald will be reprising this role.
  

Winslow, of course, is supposed to be in a prison cell, so the circumstances and possible consequences of his return could raise a few eyebrows. Like Cosgrove, the length of MacDonald's stay and his return date have yet to be officially released.

• Darnell Williams, who appeared recently as Griggs, is also making his way back. Is this gonna be a chance for revenge, a chance to finish off the fragile Dinah who he left a bullet in? Or does he have new schemes and plans in mind?
  

Rumors are that his return may shatter a few illusions and open up some new questions. Williams will first appear on August 21.

• Lastly, for those who wish that Remy would find himself a woman, a new actress will be appearing next week. Vanessa Simmons will be taking the role of Lola, beginning on August 21. The 23-year old actress is the daughter of legendary Run-DMC co-founder, Reverend Joseph Simmons.

On As the World Turns, Luke Spencer (Van Hansis) has found romance in Noah Meyer.

We heard yesterday from the actor that portrays Noah, Jake Sibermann. Now, we wanna hear from you:

How do you feel about this gay storyline?

Wondering what Roman Brady (Josh Taylor, pictured) and the rest of the Days of Our Lives hunks were up to yesterday? How did The Bold and the Beautiful, which nears its 20th anniversary, play out? All your questions and more can be answered via our episode guides to Thursday's episodes.

Click on your favorite drama:

• One Life to Live
• As the World Turns
• Days of Our Lives
• General Hospital
• Guiding Light
• The Young and the Restless
• The Bold and the Beautiful
• All My Children

That's all for now. Visit The Soap Dispenser each day for the latest news, views and all things soap opera related.

On August 25, actors and actresses from Days of Our Lives will be at the Burlington Marriot in Massachusetts to support a charity event for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., fans will get the opportunity to meet these stars, as the Days of our Lives cast poses for photo opportunities and autograph sessions. Show novelties also be up for sale. The price is $80 per person and you can purchase tickets here.

The nighttime reception will last from 8 p.m. to midnight. The dinner portion of the event will be a buffet and is priced at $100 per person.

Among the Days of our Lives stars that are slated to appear are James Scott (EJ Wells), Stephen Nichols (Steve “Patch” Johnson), Rachel Melvin (Chelsea Brady), Judi Evans (Adrienne Josephine Johnson Kiriakis) and Blake Berris (pictured, Nick Fallon).

As the World Turns has been on the air for decades. And while it's had its share of firsts, the soap opera is about to embark on another:

For the first time ever on a daytime drama, we're about to see a teen gay male couple. Fans have watched as Luke Snyder (Van Hansis) came out to his friends and family recently - then, a few weeks ago, the show added Jake Silbermann as Noah Mayer, an intern at the TV station at which Luke and his friend Maddie are working for the summer.

And earlier today, the two shared a kiss on As the World Turns. The website AfterElton.com talked to Silbermann about it...

AfterElton.com: As the World Turns is one of TV's oldest daytime dramas. You're making history as the first gay male teen couple on the show and, in fact, on daytime TV. How does that feel?
Jake Silbermann: I'm really proud to be a part of that kind of storyline, that kind of history. It is kind of a milestone for daytime television. As an actor, you hope you can play a role with meaning, but I never even hoped it would have this kind of significance, so I'm thrilled.

AE: Do you feel a sense of responsibility about the role?
JS: Just as much as I do with any role — just to play it honestly and truthfully to that character's description — but I mean, yes, of course.

AE: So often when a show adds a gay character, that's the only gay character on the show. But ATWT already has Luke, played by Van Hansis. Did Van take you under his wing and tell you what to expect?
JS: Both Van and Alex [Alexandra Chando, who plays Maddie Coleman], who I work with a lot, they've been at this longer than I have. Generally, you learn from the people around you, and yeah, absolutely, I've learned a whole lot from both of them.

AE: I assume you knew you were auditioning for a gay role? How did you feel about the prospect of playing a gay character?
JS: I was excited. It sounded like a really different role for daytime, which it is. I was really excited about that.

AE: We recently did an interview with Paul James, who plays Calvin on ABC Family's new college drama Greek.
JS: Paul James and I went to Syracuse College together.

AE: That's awesome. He told us a story about his manager telling him everyone plays gay and it's no big deal while Greek's creator Sean Smith told us there are still plenty of actors — straight and gay — who won't play gay. Do you know actors still afraid of gay roles? What are your thoughts about that since having taken the role of Noah?
JS: That really wasn't too much my experience. I know all types of people, and you always get different reactions when you tell people that you're playing a role like this. Some people are just totally supportive, and yes, some people I've encountered are like, "Really? How do you feel about that? Are you okay with that?" And I explain to them I'm an actor who's really happy to be playing this character.

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The Bold and the Beautiful is turning 20 years old in a week.

And Guiding Light is scoffing at just how young that is.

The latter show is celebrating its 7oth year on the air - 70th!!! - and is America's longest running daytime drama. The Emmy-winning program is being honored in at least one unique way for this accomplishment:

On September 18, Pocket Books is releasing an original novel entitled Guiding Light: Jonathon's Story. It features the popular character Jonathan Randall (Tom Pelphrey, pictured, who made an exciting return on the show) in an all-new passionate and adventure-filled love story, one that provides crucial information not revealed on the show.

The book will also feature Jonathon's mother Reva Shayne, his deceased lover Tammy Winslow and his arch-enemy Alan Spaulding (Ron Raines). The novel was conceived by Guiding Light’s Emmy-nominated Head Writer David Kreizman.

Stars of Guiding Light will promote the publication of at two live appearances at shopping malls in the near future.

Here's a quick summer of the romantic adventure:

It begins with Randall fleeing the town of Springfield. He knocked up spoiled rich girl Lizzie Spaulding (Marcy Rylan on the show), but his heart belonged to his true love Winslow. When Tammy was killed stepping in front of a speeding car to save Jonathan from a hit man, he faked his own death and left town with his daughter, Sarah, in order to keep her away from the ruthless Alan Spaulding.

Only his mother knows he’s still alive.

The book reveals the new life that Jonathan has made for himself and his baby daughter. Far away from Springfield, Jonathan stops running and establishes a new identity for himself: J.B. Winslow.

While trying to establish a stable home for Sarah, he meets a strong, compelling young woman to whom he is instantly attracted. As he wrestles with feelings of guilt and loyalty to the lateTammy, Jonathan forges a new life and a passionate new relationship, which pose great rewards and great dangers….

Carolyn Hennesy isn't that new to General Hospital, we suppose, but she has appeared on less than one season of this show's 44-year run. Doesn't exactly make her a veteran.

With that in mind, Soap Opera Digest sat down with the actress for a few questions...

Soap Opera Weekly: Is playing a hotshot attorney anything new for you?
Carolyn Hennesy: No. I've played attorneys before. I actually did a sitcom with Jenny McCarthy, where I played her attorney. (Hennesy played Chase Gardner on Jenny in 1997.) I do a lot of smart, intelligent, acidic, acerbic women roles. Women who are great in suits.

Weekly: Aside from Jenny, what did you do before General Hospital?
Hennesy: Other sitcoms. Lots of film. Episodic work. I did a lot of stage work and commercials, too. Soap opera is a completely different animal from nighttime and film. I think I acclimated to it very well, but it's different. It moves at an electric pace, which is something I [wasn’t] used to, but I've gotten used to it. And I love it.

Weekly: Diane has emerged into quite a prominent recurring role. Was that always the plan for the character?
Hennesy: Nobody really knew, although I don't think the role was originally envisioned as going this long. But the fans have spoken out. The response to Diane has been amazing.

Weekly: What do you think it is that viewers like so much about Diane?
Hennesy: Diane doesn't let Sonny get away with anything, while all these other women are falling over at his feet. Diane looks at them and thinks, “Have you lost your mind? There's no way I will get involved with him. I want the money and the clothes and the prestige. I do not want to [get involved with him].” Women who fall in love with Sonny have a history of either dying or being locked up in a mental institution. That's not going to happen to Diane.

Weekly: What's it been like working with the don of Port Charles, Maurice Benard (Sonny)?
Hennesy: I love it. We have the best time. At least, in my opinion, we do. I could not ask for a better scene partner in probably anything else I've ever done. Maurice and Steve Burton (Jason) are funny. They have embraced me, and they've really made me feel like part of the team.

Weekly: Have you had any funny or favorite moments working with the mob gang, so far?
Hennesy: Yes. It was the show that aired on July 12. Bernie was flirting with Diane, and Sonny was not liking it. Bernie told Sonny that he could not have a relationship with Diane. Sonny called Diane back and asked, "Have I ever made a pass at you?" I almost spit up my coffee in the scene. It was one of the most fun days I've had at General Hospital. It was when I got to tell Sonny, "There's no way I would ever get involved with you."

Weekly: So is it fun playing a lawyer?
Hennesy: Well, there's a lot of legalese, especially in a soap opera, where things are kind of exaggerated and a little stretched out. So I have to make it work. That's a challenge as an actor, but it's fun. It's a whole mindset of actually bringing a point home and really having to defend it and getting behind it. That's very exciting.

Weekly: Anything else you really like about the gig?
Hennesy: The clothes are great. And the shoes are even better.