According to a report by NBC New York and Gothamist.com, a staff member of ABC’s “The Chew” was murdered on Thursday, January 10 after being shot in the stomach near Macon Street and Throop Avenue in the Bed Stuy section of Brooklyn. Identified as Ivan Giovanettina, 41, the prop supervisor for the daytime talk show was taken to Kings County Hospital and pronounced dead. A recording of the suspected shooters was posted on YouTube in hopes of someone being able to help identify the perpetrators. The recording took place a few blocks away at Tompkins Avenue and Halsey Street. An arrest has yet to be made.
Author: Errol Lewis
The world’s longest-running current soap opera, ITV’s “Coronation Street,” is finally heading to America, Soap Opera Network has learned. The program, which began broadcasting on December 9, 1960, will begin airing recent episodes via Hulu and Hulu Plus effective tomorrow, January 15 at 6:00 AM EST. Fans will have access to eleven episodes from the current season plus two “Christmas Special” bonus episodes – packed full of weddings, birthdays, affairs, and betrayals.
According to published reports, Thom Racina and Susan Bedsow Horgan have been named Co-Head Writers of Prospect Park’s re-boot of “One Life to Live,” which is slated to hit the company’s The Online Network (TOLN) later this year. While Racina appears to be a newbie when it comes to the town of Llanview and its citizens, Bedsow Horgan is more familiar as she served as an Associate Head Writer and later Executive Producer of the series in the 1990’s.
With Prospect Park now signing agreements with key unions SAG-AFTRA (actors), the DGA (directors), and the WGA (writers), with an expectation to begin filming episodes of “All My Children” as soon as next month, we wondered who you wanted to see act on the soap when it moves to the web. Your choices can include past actors as well as wishful casting (recast and new characters are welcomed). We also wondered who you want to join the writing team now that thousands of writers are at Prospect Park’s disposal courtesy of their agreement with the WGA, as well as who you want to direct episodes of the series. Keep in mind that Agnes Nixon, who created both “AMC” and “One Life to Live,” is currently working as a consultant for Prospect Park, according to Foz McDermott, head of production for TOLN (Prospect Park’s The Online Network). Also note that actors Jordi Vilasuso (Dr. Griffin Castillo), Darnell Williams (Jesse Hubbard), Debbi Morgan (Dr. Angela Hubbard), Vincent Irizarry (Dr. David Hayward) and Lindsay Hartley (Dr. Cara Castillo) are all confirmed as signing on to return to “AMC” when it moves to the web. Alicia Minshew (ex-Kendall Hart) has reported that she’s been approached, while Cameron Mathison (ex-Ryan Lavery) hope’s he can be involved. There’s no word yet on the status of Susan Lucci (ex-Erica Kane), who was the only original cast member from the first season of “AMC” that had remained with the show without interruption from its debut on January 5, 1970 through its final ABC broadcast on September 23, 2011.
Daytime Confidential’s Jamey Giddens reported earlier today that an agreement between Prospect Park and the WGA (Writers Guild of America) had been made regarding online versions of “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.”
Jordi Vilasuso, who tweeted, “Wishing everyone a happy and safe NYE! BTW, Is someone paging Dr.Griffin Castillo? 😉 #AMC @prospectpk,” back on Monday, December 31, 2012, has just announced via SoapCentral Live that he has in fact signed on to return to the drama series when it moves to the web later this year. The actor portrayed Girffin Castillo on the soap from November 2010 until the program concluded its ABC run in September 2011. He re-teams with on screen sister Lindsay Hartley, who was the first actor to have been confirmed as returning when the show resumes production for episodes set to air via Prospect Park’s TOLN (The Online Network) website.
Nominees for the 65th Annual DGA Awards were announced earlier this week with “Days of our Lives,” “General Hospital” and “One Life to Live” representing the category of Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials for calendar year 2012. CBS soaps “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless” were the only daytime dramas without a nomination in the category. “General Hospital” dominated with nominations for directors Larry Carpenter, Scott McKinsey and William Ludel all getting recognition. Jill Mitwell received her ninth directing nomination for the “One Life to Live” episode entitled “Between Heaven and Hell,” which aired during the soaps final week on television. Coincidently, the title of the episode is based on the fact that prior to its 43-year run began in 1968, “One Life to Live” was initially titled “Between Heaven and Hell.” Albert Alarr was nominated for episode #11,895, which was the episode following the aftermath of explosions that found several of Salem’s citizens in life-threatening situations. It was also the episode that found the drama series returning from a 2-week break while NBC broadcast the Summer Olympic games from London.
ABC Family and Muse Entertainment have announced that production will begin this week on the new original Thanksgiving movie, “Home Again” (working title), starring Cameron Mathison (“All My Children”) and Jennie Garth (“Beverly Hills, 90210”). The film is scheduled to premiere in November as part of the network’s annual “Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas” programming event. Mary Kay Place (“The Big Chill”) will also star.
As expected, NBC has renewed “Days of our Lives” through September 2014. The news comes just days after NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt said, “I think ‘DAYS’ is going to stick around,” during NBC’s portion of the Television Critics Association winter press tour. “I don’t know that I’m at liberty to say that officially yet, but it’s not going anywhere,” Greenblatt added. The “DAYS” renewal was announced today by Jennifer Salke, President, NBC Entertainment.
As he did back in 2011 when news of Prospect Park’s plan to move “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” to the web first hit, actor Jerry verDorn has announced that he will be returning to Llanview once more as Clint Buchanan. The actor made the announcement yesterday evening on his Facebook page:
In a press release issued just a short time ago, Prospect Park has confirmed plans to move forward with “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” online. The company states that Agnes Nixon, who created both series, has been working as a consultant on the project. They confirm that they have signed deals with the DGA and SAG-AFTRA, but nothing in regards to the WGA. Jennifer Pepperman has been hired on as Executive Producer of “OLTL,” Ginger Smith is EP of “AMC.”
With Lindsay Hartley, Vincent Irizarry, Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams now all said to have been confirmed in joining the cast of an online version of “All My Children” later this year, and actress Alicia Minshew revealing she has been approached by Prospect Park, which plans to re-reboot the series later this year after a failed attempt back in 2011, it’s only a matter of time before we learn who else will or will not be following the soap online.
Although news of Prospect Park once again being interested in reviving “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” for the web seems to have been universally accepted, many soap fans have remained a little doubtful on the matter to a certain extent. Former “One Life to Live” and “Dirty Soap” star Farah Fath seems to share in that doubtfulness. The actress began a series of tweets just a short time ago that led into discussion of the company and its online plans. Note: The actress admits to have been tweeting while drinking Heineken, so if you find yourself easily offended. Please stop reading now.
In a posting on her Twitter page just a short time ago, former “All My Children” star Alicia Minshew revealed that she has been approached by Prospect Park to return to the soap in the role of Kendall Hart. “I’m so happy for all of you getting your ‘AMC’ and ‘OLTL’ shows back!” Minshew commented. “Many of you have asked me-Yes I have been approached. No news yet!”
2013 began as a pivotal year for NBC’s “Days of our Lives” as the 47-year old soap was only renewed by the network through September 2013. According to sources, March is the deadline period for Corday Productions and Sony Pictures Television to come to an agreement with NBC that would allow the drama series to remain on the air beyond September. With fans in fear of recent ratings trends and decisions made by other broadcast networks in the past couple of years, it appeared the town of Salem and their future may have been in doubt. Thankfully, NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt is the one man of authority that can put fan fears to rest and he may have just done that earlier today.
Debbi Morgan, who on Saturday, January 5 announced she was returning to “All My Children” when it moves to the web later this year via Prospect Park, may have let the cat of the bag for one of her co-stars after responding to numerous tweets from excited fans. In response to Tweeter @irishbangers, Morgan said, “It’s just terrific news, isn’t it?! Darnell is definitely on board, and I think Mike as well, but not quite sure yet…” For those wondering, Morgan is referring to Darnell Williams, who portrayed onscreen love interest Jesse Hubbard and Michael E. Knight, who portrayed the Hubbard family friend Tad Martin on the soap.
When news of Prospect Park first came to light in 2011, Debbi Morgan decided to move on from Pine Valley and “All My Children” and head on over to Genoa City and “The Young and the Restless” instead. Now it appears the actress has decided to return to the drama series in the role of Dr. Angela Hubbard as it transitions to the web sometime this year. In a posting on her Twitter page, the actress said, “Ok, I can finally announce how thrilled I am 2 B on board w/the “All My Children” re-boot & Prospect Park! Agnes Nixon, you’re my HERO!!!”
Had “All My Children” remained on the air beyond its final September 23, 2011 episode, cast/crew and fans all around the world would have been celebrating the daytime soaps 43rd anniversary today, January 5, as the drama series debuted on this day in 1970.
On Monday, January 7, former “General Hospital” star Steve Burton (ex-Jason Morgan) will appear on CBS’ “The Talk” with a huge announcement, according to a promo released Friday by the network. Does that mean he will announce his joining “The Young and the Restless?” It’s definitely a possibility!
“All My Children” and “One Life to Live” creator Agnes Nixon has released an official statement on the news of Prospect Park once again moving forward with plans to produce online episodes of the soaps this year. Her message was posted on her official website as well as her official Facebook page. The statement is as follows: