Later this summer, Sydney Penny will return to All My Children.

The actress has been on maternity leave, but found time to talk with TV Guide about the pregnancy and series comeback...

TVGuide.com: Love the baby's name. Chasen sounds like a soap opera hunk.
Penny: Oh, that's so funny. It's the name of my friend's brother, who is just a lovely young man. But it's just a name that stuck in my head. I went online and found out it's an old English name that means "huntsman." So that's cool.

TVGuide.com: How has your first week as a new mom been? Does Chasen keep you up all night?
Penny: He's a really, really good boy. Of course, there's a lot of adjustment as we figure out what he wants and what he needs. But he doesn't cry a lot, only if there's really something bothering him. I suppose I'm tired but I'm just having a good time. It's been a really lovely time and we're enjoying it.

TVGuide.com: Your AMC character Julia really wants a baby, but the show hasn't written your pregnancy into her storyline.
Penny: I really like what they did. Julia's relationship with Jamie (Justin Bruening) has been great, but there's always been something missing. Her life has become more stable now that she has friends and a good job. It's everything she was missing during her 10 years [on the run from gangsters], yet there's still something missing. So she's overjoyed at the thought that she might be pregnant. When Jamie discovers the pregnancy test, he mistakenly thinks that it's Di's test and that Aidan's gonna flip out at this terrible news. That's where Jamie gives away his hand — a baby is not something he would look forward to.

TVGuide.com: Bummer.
Penny: That was the question Julia had about her life. "Is Jamie the one I could start a family with?" Quite obviously, he isn't.

TVGuide.com: Too bad. In a recent AMC episode, Amanda peeked at Jamie's financial records and it was revealed that he's worth about $15 million!
Penny: [Laughs] I hear what you're saying. But hey, Julia and her friends are apparently living very well at the Wildwind estate rent free.

TVGuide.com: Wildwind is like the island of misfit toys, since all these homeless hunks and babes are squatting there.
Penny: That's what Justin Bruening calls it! Wildwind is the island of misfit toys. All of us love our scenes together and we hope nobody will move out. Hey, the Wildwinders are doing a really lovely fan event to raise money for charity. It's on August 4 in New York City. You can find all the info, like which actors are scheduled to appear, at wildwindevent.com.

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When Rick Forrester returned from overseas, fans got a slightly different character than the one they may have remembered.

That's because Kyle Lowder brought him back from Europe with a new musical talent. CBS.com caught up with Lowder to find out more about his own musical background and how he landed the role...

CBS.com: How has it been on the show so far?
KYLE LOWDER: It's been great. I had such an amazing experience on Days of Our Lives at NBC. It's one of the things that I really missed about my life, was the grind of daytime. It kept me busy. I'm someone who loves to stay busy. It was funny, the first couple of episodes I did here it's like riding a bike, you know, it gets a little shaky.

CBS.com: Were you looking to get back into the Daytime genre?
KYLE LOWDER: I was actually. I loved Days and again I had the best time there, but for a lot of reasons I just needed some time for myself. I didn't really get a chance to work on music that much and that's where I came from and what really drives me. It was no one's fault. It was just the grind and the work schedule was so busy I couldn't do it. So, I really wanted to take some time, as much time as I needed to start writing music again, get together with my song writing partners and record music again.

Even if it wasn't a career, I just needed to do that. But quite honestly, after a year of that, and it was wonderful, I feel like I got the music part of my career up and running a little bit. But then it was time I needed some stimulation. Because once you've done this grind it's hard to do anything else because it keeps you busy and it's such a great time. You form such a great bond with the cast, the whole crew, production staff. We just put out some feelers right after Thanksgiving. My representation just put up some flares and said Kyle's interested in returning to Daytime and it was just amazing that at time The Bold and the Beautiful was casting this role.

CBS.com: Fate stepped in.
KYLE LOWDER: Exactly. I had a wonderful meeting with Brad [Bell, Executive Producer and Head Writer] and I just fell in love with the guy. He's so cool and the story that he's telling right now that he was telling me about was so intriguing and I was like, "What do you need me to do?" Long story short, it worked out.

CBS.com: So you weren't worried about coming in as an already established character?
KYLE LOWDER: No hesitations but it was definitely was, and is still on my mind. I mean, especially with the popularity of the character. Jacob Young, Justin Torkildsen. Justin won an Emmy for the role. I wanted to remain as respectful to the history of the character as I could and of course put myself in the role but also try to keep it consistent and have a seamless transition between actors. Justin was just on the show recently and I didn't want people to be like, "Who is this guy?" You know what I mean?

Yeah I'm different but I'll do my best to keep the transition seamless. Intimidated, no - hesitant, no, but it is still on my mind. It's going to take a while before people accept me as this character and I can even accept myself as the character. Until then it's on my mind. I've told everyone here, I'm an open book, let me know what you need me to do. If this is not Rick, tell me. And also, Brad has been very forthright about, "Kyle, do your thing. We hired you because we want you to do your thing." So there's a mutual respect there.

CBS.com: So you are definitely aware of fan response when coming onto a show.
KYLE LOWDER: Very much so. The fans are what keep these shows driving. They're on during the day; it's an effort to watch them in this day and age with everybody working. Fans are what drive these shows, all of Daytime in general. You got to keep them happy. Playing a character that's front and center it's important to keep the fans happy. And that's just what I'm going to be aware what they're thinking, I'm going to do my thing but if there's anything that can be done better or differently I'm open.

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The Bold and the Beautiful received an IMAGEN Awards nomination recently in the category of Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama Series for Lorenzo Lamas, who played Los Angeles fire fighter Hector Ramirez.

This marks the first IMAGEN Award nomination for Lamas and the fourth nod for The Bold and the Beautiful. Lamas was nominated for his performance during the calendar year of 2006, in which he portrayed Ramirez, who fell in love with the beautiful Dr. Taylor Hayes Forrester.

His life spiraled downward after he insisted she cover her alcoholism, along with a tragic hit and run accident in which a major character died.

Lamas joined The Bold and the Beautiful in 2004.

The IMAGEN Awards are put on by the IMAGEN Foundation, a non-profit organization whose dedication is to increase Latino representation within the entertainment industry.

The Bold and The Beautiful… and the musical?

Our favorite soap opera is going melodious for its future guest starring stints. First, of course, American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis kicked off his acting career on The Bold and The Beautiful.

Later this month, we’ll also see 16-year-old R&B prodigy Lil’Keesha (pictured) on the show. She’ll an up and coming artist under Constantine Parro’s Boldface Record label.

Soaps.com says Lil’ Keesha will perform her new single “Heaven Knows,” while working with the former American Idol singer. She taped her episode on June 20 and her air date is July 30.

June 20 also happened to be a busy day on the B&B set because Alan Thicke (of Growing Pains fame) came in and taped a segment, reprising his role from August 2006. The actor plays a controversial talk show host named Rich Ginger - and this time he’ll be interviewing Stephanie (Susan Flannery) and Phoebe Forrester (MacKenzie Mauzy) about their new product line.

Reportedly, the smarmy talker has a few tricks up his sleeve, as takes aim at Stephanie. We can’t wait!

Of course, past stars who has have worked on The Bold and The Beautiful includes Bob Barker, Phyllis Diller, Patrick Duffy, Fabio, Tippi Hendren, Mario Lopez, Usher, Betty White, George Hamilton.

And who knows who the future will bring!

Alexandra Chando is an Emmy-nominated actress who became part of the cast of As the World Turns on July 27, 2005, a day prior to her 19th birthday.

Soon to be 21, Alexandra was also featured in MTV’s True Life: I’m Getting My Big Break - just as she got her big break on the hit soap opera.

Alexandra stopped by and talked to BuddyTV about working with MTV, her character, Maddie Coleman, and balancing acting with education.

Question: Alexandra, can you start by telling us a little about your background and how you eventually ended up as Maddie Coleman on As the World Turns?

Alexandra Chando: Okay. Well, when I was younger I did a lot of community theater, I was really heavy into theater and musical theater especially, and in high school I stuck with it and did a lot of theater. And then my summer going into my freshman year of high school I went to the city on an open call for a manager and they signed me. I started auditioning during my freshman year of high school and I got a pilot when I was a sophomore and commercials and everything, but the pilot did not get picked up. And then, it was time for me to decide what I wanted to do about college and so I either picked schools out in L.A. or New York; I decided to go to school in New York and I did one semester and then I got As the World Turns. I auditioned for it, I thought it was one of the worst auditions I’d ever went on, and I ended up getting it.

Question: So this was your first major gig then?

Alexandra Chando: First major gig that is airing.

Question: Were you always a fan of soaps?

Alexandra Chando: I grew up watching General Hospital actually. But I never pictured myself on a soap opera. I always said I don’t think I would do a soap opera but I absolutely take any of that back because it’s like school. I’m learning so much. You get so much experience and exposure and I’ve improved and I’ve learned so much just by being on the show for a year and a half.

Question: If I’m not mistaken, I think I read this somewhere, but shortly after you landed your role as Maddie Coleman, MTV gets in contact with you and they end up documenting your whole experience on MTV’s True Life: I’m Getting My Big Break. Is that how it happened?

Alexandra Chando: Well actually, I found out I got the role and then like an hour and a half later the publicist calls for the show and was like, “MTV contacted us and they want to know if you want to do this.” I mean, my head was spinning. Two hours later I got an offer to do this great show and it was a great opportunity.

Question: That’s crazy. Tell me what was that like for you? I mean, first day at a new job is always stressful and crazy as it is. What was it like having MTV and all these cameras following you around?

Alexandra Chando: It was so insane. The first day…what happened was that I found out the show on a Friday. MTV was at my house Saturday, in Bethlehem, Pa., just recording me and doing kind of like a pre-interview. I started work on Monday so I had like... I jumped right into it and it was very nerve-wracking the first day, especially because I hadn’t met anybody.

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Jer-ry! Jer-ry! Jer-ry!

The audience chant is all too familiar by now. But Jerry Springer, the one-time mayor of Cincinnati and host The Jerry Springer Show and America's Got Talent may now hear it from an entirely new group of viewers.

It has been announced that Springer will guest star on Days of Our Lives July 27. The series is on from 1-2 p.m. in most markets.

In this special summer episode, which tapes July 9, Nick Fallon (Blake Berris) is at a Las Vegas casino trying his luck at a game of blackjack when he meets skillful gambler and high roller in Pete (Springer).

Pete is winning every hand and Nick can't understand where he went wrong. On the verge of bankruptcy, Pete takes Nick under his wing and shows him how to win - and not just at cards, but also the heart of Chelsea Brady (Rachel Melvin).

"In light of the fact that I deal with real life soap operas every day," says Springer, "it's a total thrill to be able to appear on one - particularly of the stature of Days of Our Lives.'"

Springer has hosted, for 16 seasons, the The Jerry Springer Show. As of this summer, he's also handled hosting duties for the #1 program, NBC's America's Got Talent. He also appeared on this past season of the reality smash Dancing with the Stars.

Days of Our Lives is gearing up to celebrate its 42nd year on the air in November, having garnered numerous Emmy Awards as well as multiple Soap Opera Digest and People's Choice Awards.

The show's success derives from its commitment to excellence in writing and storytelling - supported by a diverse ensemble of performers - and an uncanny knack for anticipating viewer interests.

The Young and the Restless star Eric Braeden will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on July 20 on Hollywood Boulevard.

The 66-year-old has had a long career in the entertainment industry. He has been playing the role of Victor Newman on the popular daytime series since 1980.

His portrayal of the wealthy, prominent business tycoon has not only given him great popularity but also a 1998 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, and a trio of Soap Opera Digest Awards for the same honor.

Although he is most known for his work on The Young and the Restless, Eric Braeden has also appeared in other TV productions.

Prior to joining the cast of The Young and the Restless, he had guest roles in such series as The Rat Patrol, Mission: Impossible, Run For Your Life, Hawaii Five-O, Gunsmoke and Chips.

Eric Braeden has also appeared often in the big screen.

One of his most notable roles is Colonel John Jacob Astor IV in Titanic, which starred Academy Award nominees Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

His credits include Escape from the Planet of the Apes, The Adulteress, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, Death Race, Intertect, 100 Rifles, Morituri, Colossus: The Forbin Project and Dayton’s Devils.

Recently, he completed work on the film The Man Who Came Back, a western that also stars Billy Zane, Armand Assante, Sean Young, James Patrick Stewart and Carol Alt.

The actor has also shown great prowess in sports, having won the German Youth Championship and the 1972-73 US National Soccer Championship, where he played for the Los Angeles Maccabees.

In 2005, Los Angeles Chairman Tom LaBonge, with the approval of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, proclaimed February 1 as Eric Braeden Day.

She's one of the hottest stars on Days of Our Lives.

But Kristian Alfonso has plenty more to keep her busy - like branching out into the exciting world of celebrity fashion.

According to BuddyTV, the actress has come up with her own clothing line, which also features jewelry, and which she will extensively launch on the Home Shopping Network on July 23-24.

Alfonso, a 43-year old native of Brockton, Mass., is an actress currently in her third stint as Hope Brady on Days of Our Lives.

Her other acting credits include Falcon Crest, MacGyver, Day of Redemption, Whatever Happened to Bobby Earl, Melrose Place, Baywatch and others.

Quite fitting to her character on the long running soap, she has named her clothing line Hope by Kristian Alfonso, and her jewelry line, Hope Faith Miracles, or HFM.

"I wanted the clothing to be something every woman can wear," the Days of Our Lives icon says. "They will take you from a work meeting, to a function at your child's school, to dinner with friends and you'll never have to change once!"

Meanwhile, her jewelry line, which includes earrings and bracelets with her signature fleur-de-lis, is ready for purchase from her online store.

In a previous interview with Soap Opera Weekly, she described how her trademark evolved into her collection.

"For the last 10 years, fans have been asking about my fleur-de-lis. I've gotten letters, e-mails, questions on the street. It all started with my earrings, which I always wear on the show," she said. "Then it was a necklace and bracelets; all my different fleur-de-lis pieces. I finally thought, 'Let's make them available.'"

Aside from her launch on the Home Shopping Network, Alfonso will also be promoting her brand in Ocean City, Maryland, in September, and in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Agricenter International on October 4-5.