Author: Errol Lewis

By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Soap Opera Digest is reporting that “General Hospital” will temporarily recast the role of Jasper “Jax” Jacks due to personal reasons for the characters originator, Ingo Rademacher. Gideon Emery, 35, will step into the role for three episodes during the week of January 14 says Digest. Rademacher will return to the role the following week. Emery’s most recent credits include stints on “Passions,” FOX’s “24” and CBS’ “Moonlight.” He can next be seen as Willy in the horror film “Train,” set in Europe where a group of American athletes board a deadly train. “Train” is…

A War is Coming Sunday, December 2, 2007 5:15 PM | By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — As the War begins, families come together. THIS WEEK ON “GENERAL HOSPITAL” Alexis tells Jerry that she won’t get involved with him. Alexis catches Leyla in Jerry’s bed, but it isn’t what it seems, at least not at that moment. Luke agrees to have the heart surgery he desperately needs after Lulu and Johnny help him post-collapse. Ric gives Skye an offer she can’t refuse, or can she? Maxie lets it slip that Coop had no alibi during the Black and White Ball. Is…

Prison Teaches Life Lessons Sunday, December 2, 2007 2:40 AM | By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — After spending time in the slammer, Casey Hughes is returning to Oakdale with a new face and a new storyline. Newcomer Billy Magnussen has been cast in the contract role of Casey with a first airdate set for Tuesday, January 29, 2008. The role was last played by Zach Roerig (2005-2007). The character will find himself trying hard to co-exist in Oakdale as the son of Tom and Margo Hughes and ex-con Casey Hughes. Hoping to help matters, his Grandmother Lisa offers him a…

By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — After a seven year absence, actress Sarah Brown is set to make her long awaited return to “General Hospital.” On Friday, November 30, rumors began floating around the net after Brown’s official website stated “Sarah is returning to ‘General Hospital.’ More details to come…”. With those few words written, Sarah was said to be returning as Carly Corinthos, the role she originated in 1996, to playing a new character with ties to the mob, and lastly the real Carly Roberts (last played by Kari Wuhrer). An ABC rep was able to confirm that Sarah is…

By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — DirecTV is gearing up for its debut of “Passions” after the daytime soap leaves its broadcast network roots behind for a more limited subscriber base. Beginning Monday, September 17, “Passions” will make DirecTV’s Channel 101 (aka: The 101) its network home for its daily dose of drama, passion and mythical creatures. The soap will continue to air at 2pm, EST as it did on NBC for eight years. However, “Passions” will now air on a Monday through Thursday schedule instead of the typical Monday through Friday schedule it had become accustomed. Encore episodes will air…

One Door Closes as Two More Open Wednesday, August 1, 2007 8:50 PM | By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — “All My Children” casts the contract roles of two new hunks and reveals the last airdate for Justin Bruening. Soap Opera Network has learned that soap newcomer Billy Miller has joined the cast of ABC’s “All My Children” in the contract role of Wes. The character is said to be involved with Babe Carey (Alexa Havins). Miller’s previous television credits include an episode of “CSI: NY” in 2006, where he played William Graham. Look for Miller on “AMC” beginning Thursday, August…

By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — “General Hospital: Night Shift” premiered on July 12, 2007 with an average of 1 million total viewers and just under 500,000 viewers in Women 18-49. The reach the soap had was beyond anyone’s expectations at SOAPnet and the Disney-ABC Television Group. So what does the head of the company’s daytime division think of the premiere? “Obviously thrilled. There is a mass idea there where you put all of these ‘GH’ viewers and say ‘let’s come up with something that is spun out of ‘GH’ and put it on SOAPnet.’ It seems like a pretty basic…

Tuesday, July 3, 2007 10:45 AM ET | By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — According to the Hollywood Reporter, former soap stars Nathan Fillion (“One Life to Live”) and Lyndsy Fonseca (“The Young and the Restless”) are in negotiations with ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” to join the cast as series regulars for the primetime soaps fourth season. Actress Dana Delaney (“China Beach,” “Kidnapped”) is also expected to come on board. Delaney is said to be playing a character currently going by the name of Katherine, a former “housewife” who is coming back to Wisteria Lane after a ten-year absence with a younger…

Network Premieres Drama in the A.M. Tuesday, July 3, 2007 11:50 AM | By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — SOAPnet, the new way to watch soaps, has a secret that they don’t want you to know. Thursday, July 12 at 11:00 PM, EST/PST has been the designated premiere date and time for SOAPnet’s highly anticipated new original series, “General Hospital: Night Shift.” What you don’t know is that the network plans on launching the show a full 18 hours early as a special sneak preview. If by chance you are awake at 5:00 AM, EST/PST, you can catch a glimpse of…

Soap Star Takes on Reality and TV Movie Sunday, June 17, 2007 1:40 PM | By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Soap Star Mark Consuelos (ex-Mateo, “All My Children”) is set to host “Age of Love” and star in an Oxygen original movie. On Monday, June 18, NBC will debut a new reality series in the vein of ABC’s “The Bachelor,” entitled “Age of Love” where contestants in their 20’s compete with women in their 40’s for the heart of Australian Tennis Superstar Mark Philippoussis. Mark Consuelos will guide Philippoussis in his quest to find true love with either one of…

“Life” Not as “Fashionable” Saturday, June 2, 2007 4:30 PM | By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — SOAPnet, the new way to watch soaps, bumps ABC’s “One Life to Live” in favor of new reality series. Soap Opera Network has learned that beginning Wednesday, August 1, ABC Daytime’s “One Life to Live” will lose its 9pm Wednesday night airings to new reality series, “The Fashionista Diaries,” which follows the highs and the lows of six assistants in the fashion world. According to a spokesman at SOAPnet, “Life” will fill the 12am timeslot for the thirteen week duration of “Diaries'” run. The…

14 Series See New Seasons Sunday, March 25, 2007 1:47 PM | By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — The ABC Television Network seems to have faith in its current crop of television shows as it becomes the first network to renew the majority of its series for the 2007-08 television season. On Wednesday, ABC announced that it has ordered second seasons for critical darlings “Brothers & Sisters,” “MEN IN TREES” and “Ugly Betty,” along with returning shows “The Bachelor,” Boston Legal,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “Lost.” They join the…

Friday, March 9, 2007 1:47 PM ET | By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Former “Days of our Lives” heartthrob and “Wildfire” cowboy, Eric Winter, has signed on to star in the Hugh Jackman produced CBS drama pilot “Viva Laughlin!” “Laughlin!,” tells the story of Ripley Holden, played by Lloyd Owen (“The Young Indiana Jones;” “Coupling”) and his family as they try to a run a casino in Laughlin, Nevada. Winter has signed on to play Det. Peter Carlyle. Character description is unavailable at this time. Also set to star in the potential series are Carter Jenkins (“Surface;” “Everwood”) as Jack,…

By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Vanessa Marcil is ready to give a makeover for Cosmopolitan magazine. Marcil, who plays Sam Marquez on NBC’s “Las Vegas,” has signed on as a judge in the upcoming Head & Shoulders “Head-Turning Hair” contest. Procter & Gamble Distributing Company will serve as Sponsor. Other judges include trendsetter Shawneelle Prestidge and Head & Shoulders celebrity stylist James P. Hayes. According to Cosmopolitan magazine, 80% of its readers found that Head & Shoulders shampoo products provided them with the best “Head-Turning Hair.” The magazine then wanted to find out who was the best head-turner. By January…

Return To ‘Vegas’ For Another Year Saturday, March 3, 2007 7:21 PM | By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — While NBC has enough problems on its schedule with such low-rated fare as “30 Rock,” “Friday Night Lights” and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” the network can at least smile at the fact that they have one constant player on their schedule. The network has decided to renew gambling drama “Las Vegas” for a fifth season. “Vegas,” which premiered in September 2003 revolves around an elite surveillance team who oversee the behind-the-scenes action going on in one of Vegas’ premiere casinos…

Become a ‘Loser’ with Sweeney Saturday, February 24, 2007 11:53 AM | By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — NBC is banking on “Days of our Lives” heroine, Alison Sweeney, to revive its ailing “Biggest Loser” competition series as it goes through a transition. Sweeney, who plays Samantha ‘Sami’ Brady on the popular soap, has been tapped to replace former “Sabrina, The Teenage Witch” actress Caroline Rhea as host of “The Biggest Loser.” The reality series aired its third season finale in December. “Alison is an incredible talent and will bring not only a great fresh face to the show but a…

By Errol Lewis (SoapOperaNetwork.com) — In what can only be called the biggest TV marriage in recent memory, the ABC Television Network has extended the contracts of its “Desperate Housewives” and their creator, Marc Cherry. Marcia Cross (Bree), Teri Hatcher (Susan), Felicity Huffman (Lynette), Eva Longoria (Gabrielle) and Nicollette Sheridan (Edie) may soon become the richest women on television as the stars have signed a new four-year deal with ABC Television Studio to continue their work on the ABC comedy-drama. The deal guarantees the actresses will appear on “Housewives” through at least 2011. It does not guarantee the series will…