Enrique Iglesias On Top Of You

Hall of Fame: Denise Alexander

Denise Alexander

2009 Soap Opera Hall of Fame Inductee

• unknown role, Perry Mason
• Lois Adams, The Clear Horizon
• unknown role, General Hospital
• Emily Sanders, Ben Jerrod
• Lorna Hill, General Hospital
• Susan Hunter, Days of Our Lives
• Dr. Lesley Wiliams, General Hospital
• Gail McLain, Hotel
• Mary McKinnon, Another World
• Sister Beatrice, Sunset Beach

Denise Alexander (born November 11, 1939) is best known to modern audiences for her role as Lesley Webber on General Hospital, a role she created in 1973. She has been called at times the most consistently popular actress in the history of television soap operas.

Born on Long Island, New York, she moved to Los Angeles when her father, Alec Alexander, an agent who handled at that point such notables as Frank Gorshin and Sal Mineo, decided to make the switch from the east to the west coast.

Alexander began her career as a child actress performing in radio shows such as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I Remember Mama, The Marriage where she played the daughter of Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, and the radio soap opera Perry Mason. A successful child actress, Alexander racked up literally thousands of performing credits on TV and radio, 5000 in radio alone, by the time she was a junior at UCLA where she majored in English. On the stage, she starred on Broadway as Evelyn Munn in the revival of Lillian Hellman's The Children's Hour and appeared with Ethel Waters in A Member of the Wedding. She made her feature movie debut at age fourteen in the John Cassavetes film Crime In The Streets in 1956. Television began to claim her almost exclusively, and she eventually guested in over 200 shows, including Father Knows Best, I Remember Mama, Ben Casey, Twilight Zone, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Virginian, The Danny Kaye Show, and Combat.

On daytime television, she got her first regular job in 1960 portraying Lois Adams on The Clear Horizon for two years. She next appeared in daytime on the pilot episode of General Hospital on April 1, 1963; the name of her character is unknown. Next she would have a shorter stint as Emily Sanders on the short-lived NBC soap opera, Ben Jerrod, which had debuted the same day as General Hospital.

Alexander took a brief reprieve from acting and tried to sell real estate. Her return to acting happened in 1965, again on General Hospital for a short stint, this time as Lorna Hill.

Alexander first came to fame in the soap opera genre by playing Susan Hunter Martin on Days of our Lives a role she created in March 1966. A popular actress, much of the show's early success had to do with Susan's rivalry with Julie Olson (played the longest by Susan Seaforth Hayes). She became so popular in the role that she was frequently at number 1 in the most popular fan poll of the time conducted by Daytime TV magazine; twice being named Best Actress of the Year for 1972 and 1973. For seven years, her character was involved in a never-ending series of melodramtic turns -- mental instability, serious illness, rape, murder, etc. -- but Alexander tore into the role with exquisite emotionalism and gothic beauty that kept viewers riveted.

In 1973, Susan Martin was written out of the show temporarily when the Days casting office hit a snag renewing her contract and the contract lapsed. ABC Daytime rushed to offer her a then-unheard of salary/perks package to join General Hospital. When Susan Martin finally returned to Days, a new actress was playing her.

A few months later, she started on General Hospital, playing the role of Dr. Lesley Williams, which would become her longest-tenured role in daytime. At the time of her move to General Hospital, she received the highest salary every paid to a daytime actress.

For several years, the character of Lesley lacked direction. She was burdened with frigidity, a psychopathic husband, and a child that aged ten years overnight. It seemed for at least awhile that General Hospital just didn't know what to do with the character. That all changed as Alexander as Lesley proved pivotal to the show's comeback in 1978 after the late Gloria Monty took over as producer. In a storyline written by the late Douglas Marland, Lesley took the rap for her daughter's murder of David Hamilton, culminating in Lesley's trial for murder and the alienation of her husband Rick. Alexander's performance in this plotline and in the subsequent Rick-Lesley-Monica triangle was just as important as the Luke and Laura love story in bringing General Hospital to number one in the ratings. This culminated in her once again being named Best Actress of the Year by Daytime TV magazine in 1980.

In a 1981 People Weekly interview, Alexander spoke about her General Hospital boss, calling the late Gloria Monty "a wonderfully bossy little lady."

Alexander stayed with the show for eleven years, choosing to leave after tense contract negotiations in 1984. She last appeared in March 1984. Fans were outraged when her character was not just written out but killed off in an automobile accident, leaving little chance of a return to the show, especially since at this time returns from the dead were not standard fare in daytime dramas. Fans picketed the ABC studios. General Hospital's ratings which were already declining continued to do so after her departure.

In 1986, she was offered a big salary to portray the absent McKinnon matriarch, Mary, on Another World. The role was created by Margaret DePriest who had written for General Hospital years before, and had worked with Alexander there. When the commute from her home in Los Angeles to Another World's studio in New York City proved to be difficult for her, she left in 1989. In 1996, she returned to General Hospital and has played the character of Lesley on a recurring basis. In 1997, she began appearing for a few months as Sister Beatrice on the NBC soap opera, Sunset Beach.

Outside of soaps, she has produced for both network and cable television, spoken as guest lecturer/speaker to groups from charities to civic groups to college audiences. She has also worked as a photojournalist for Ladies Home Journal and other magazines. For the Katherine Hepburn film Olly, Olly, Oxen Free, directed by her longtime companion Richard Colla, she served as still photographer and production coordinator.

In 1982, she also co-produced and co-starred in Shaft of Love for Showtime Cable Network. The soap opera comedy featured such daytime favorites as Tony Geary, Kin Shriner, Morgan Fairchild, Ed Nelson, and Susan Flannery.

Besides her wins as Best Actress mentioned above, Alexander holds the record as being the performer with the most appearances in their monthly Top 10. She received one Daytime Emmy nomination in 1976 as Best Actress for the role of Lesley.

Where Are They Now: María Celeste Arrarás

María Celeste Arrarás (Herself, Passions)

María Celeste Arrarás

“Maria Celeste is the leading show host for Hispanic television in the U.S!” Hispanic Image Magazine (June/July 2005)

“One of the most dynamic and well-rounded communicators in the entertainment industry today” says the NY Daily News (June 2003)

“She’s a household name in the United States and in Latin America. A darling of the Spanish- language media, which turned her into a cover girl for magazine articles that range from fitness to the super mom syndrome.” The New York Times (May 2002)

“The most prominent player in a blossoming media experiment between two television networks in different languages.” The Los Angeles Times (November, 2002)

“She’s a star, along the lines of talent like Diane Sawyer and Jane Pauley,” said the president of NBC to The New York Times (May 2002)

The Hollywood Reporter sees María Celeste as a “crossover Spanish/Anglo star” making an impact in front and behind the scenes (February, 2003)

“The Katie Couric of Latin TV” The Dallas Morning News (April 2002)

Her hiring by Telemundo/NBC was described as a “major on-air talent hire” in an article titled “NBC, Telemundo Snags Red Hot Arraras from Univision” published by The Washington Post (April 2002)

Electronic Media claims María Celeste Arraras is “the big get” in Spanish language television under the headline “Arraras turns up the heat at Telemundo. (April 2002)

“María Celeste is sizzling!” according to the Sun Sentinel. The South Florida publication points out that her show “has taken the U.S. Latin audience by storm” and that it’s popularity is spilling over into mainstream television making Maria Celeste “the darling of not only Telemundo, but also of its parent network NBC.” (November, 2002)

Maria Celeste is the host and managing editor of “Al Rojo Vivo con María Celeste”, the most talked about program in Hispanic television, produced by Telemundo/NBC. The popular newsmagazine airs nationwide in the U.S. and in 15 Latin American countries. “Al Rojo Vivo con María Celeste” can also be seen in Europe and the Middle East through different cable systems…it has viewers as far as Iceland!

In June 2005, Maria Celeste received an Emmy Award for her career achievements.

María Celeste is an Emmy award winning journalist that has been featured in articles by “The New York Times”, “Los Angeles Times”, “The Chicago Tribune” and “The Miami Herald”, to name a few.

In the annual “Hot Celebrity Poll” conducted by People en Español, she was chosen by readers across the nation as the “most popular and credible television personality.” She is the only person to have been in the magazine’s cover 8 times… 6 of them in the last year alone!

She has been a contributor to NBC’s “Today” show, reporting from Miami and the Bahamas, where she interviewed music superstar Shakira. She also sat with Katie Couric on the “Today” set when the show visited Miami.

Her book “Selena’s Secret” became an instant bestseller and was described by the prestigious trade magazine Publisher’s Weekly as “Simon & Schuster’s most successful front list title in Spanish.” María Celeste is currently working on a children’s book with Scholastics.

As part of her Journalistic work, she has traveled all over the world covering historical events such as the fall of the Soviet Union, the Olympic Games in Seoul, a Coup d’ Etat in Haiti, Presidential elections and many more.

On the night of María Celeste’s debut as a contributor for “Dateline/NBC”, the show experienced a dramatic audience increase in both Hispanic an Anglo demographics. Former NBC president Andrew Lack told “The Los Angeles Times” that María Celeste’s “was one of the highest segments at ‘Dateline’ that quarter.” He described her as “a serious, smart journalist.”

In 2004, she co-hosted the Brown-Black Democratic Presidential Debate in Iowa for MSNBC, a program that was #1 in the cable ratings universe when it aired live.

Her appearance as a guest star in NBC’s daytime soap opera “Passions” was an absolute success. The two episodes that she participated in experienced a dramatic increase in both household and key demos, versus the program’s average the previous year.

In May 2005 she was invited to the “Maury Povitch” show to talk about her program.

“Al Rojo Vivo con María Celeste” is one of the most watched TV show in its time slot in New York City, at times surpassing the amount of viewers of both Spanish and English speaking stations.
She has been the host of the in-flight news/entertainment program produced by NBC for “TED” a subsidiary of United Airlines.

She has been selected three times as one of People’s “50 Most Beautiful People.” In its 2005 special issue the magazine choose her to be in the cover.

Maria Celeste, is the official Spanish-language Tram Tour guide voice for Universal Studios.

She was named “Queen of the Internet” after her first cyber chat surpassed the record ‘amount of participants in a chat’ set by Ricky Martin. (2001)

Her hemisphere wide popularity, credibility as a journalist and reputation as one of the most elegant international stars were some of the reasons why she was selected to be a judge in the 2003 “Miss Universe Pageant,” celebrated in Panama.

She has a star in Mexico’s walk of fame and another in the Dominican Republic. María Celeste was also recognized by the Puerto Rican community when she was chosen to be its grand Marshall in the 2001 “Puerto Rican Day Parade.”

María Celeste has three children ages 7, 6 and 4. In her spare time she’s very involved with children’s charities and animal rights organizations. Her beautiful home in Miami has been featured in Architectural Digest.

“Al Rojo Vivo con María Celeste” is an infotainment news magazine that takes you around the world in an hour. Its format has been described as “paella style” because it covers several areas within the time period such as news of the day, immigration, health, sports, entertainment and consumer issues. The show airs in the U.S. Monday through Friday at 5pm east/pacific and 4pm central.

Steve Frame's Fan Art

Steve Frame's Fan Art

Gallery 1

Albion Market (Tony and Lisa)

Albion Market

Tony Fraser (portrayed by John Michie) says a final goodbye to girlfriend Lisa (portrayed by Sally Baxter), after she finds out about his advances towards a barmaid. He hitches up his caravan to his Land Rover and moves to pastures new. This episode was shown on 11th May 1986.

Soap Opera History

http://soap-operas.lovetoknow.com/Soap_Opera_History

Soap Opera History
From LoveToKnow Soap-Operas

America’s soap opera history is rich and extensive, from the airing of daytime’s first serial drama to the multitudes of programs running today for those who need an hourly escape from reality.

Defining the Soap Opera

Just like sitcoms and made-for-TV movies, soap operas have their own genre, and carry one of the most devoted legions of fans the entertainment world has ever seen. In its most basic form, a soap opera is simply a fiction television drama that is episodic in nature.

Most of the soaps on TV today have been airing for decades, and are continuing to go strong. With a regular entourage of characters for viewers to become emotionally invested in, the plot is usually centered on sex, romance and scandal. Unlike a typical dramatic show that follows one story throughout, soap operas usually flip flop between several plotlines, sometimes intersecting them for further twists. Females make up the majority of a soap’s audience demographic, and the classic dramatic format has caught on in other nations such as Mexico and the United Kingdom.

The Beginning of Soap Opera History

The term “soap opera” comes from the original serial radio shows that were sponsored by soap companies such as Colgate-Palmolive and Procter and Gamble. These “primitive” soap operas were broadcast during the day, where housewives became the target audience. This may quite possibly be the reason for the soap opera’s large female following today, as the trend that was sparked only continued to grow in momentum.

The first American soap opera was Guiding Light, which premiered as the first radio drama in the beginning of 1937. The program made the easy transition into television, and it is still on the air today, making it the longest drama ever played out. (Bloggers Note: The first American soap opera happened much earlier with Painted Dreams in 1930.)

Most soap operas have enjoyed over 30 year runs and continues to broadcast, including General Hospital, One Life to Live and All My Children, to name only a few.

Since so many shows have been on for such extended periods of time, many have had various actors play the same role throughout soap opera history. Since the plotlines usually veer so far from reality in terms of content, no one seems to complain about a character suddenly changing in physical appearance with no explanation. Soap opera history is rooted in fantastical works of fiction where viewers can get lost in the over-dramatic existences of several individuals, so casting can successfully be stretched and switched where necessary.

However, some actors have been with their show through thick and thin, such as Helen Wagner of (As The World Turns), who holds the Guinness Book of World Records for being the longest soap actor without interruption.

Moving Into Prime Time

Since the daytime soap opera became so popular, prime time programming got in on the action as well. While they have yet to hold such longevity, some prime time dramas have gone down in soap opera history as successful and memorable in their own right. These include Peyton Place from the 1960s, Dallas and Dynasty from the 1980s, and Beverly Hills 90210 and Dawson’s Creek from the 1990s.

Today we enjoy shows currently making history, such as Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives. On cable, some prime time soaps are pushing the envelope beyond what is allowed on network television, and these shows have developed cult followings as they defy morality and typical storylines.

Daytime Emmys

Since soap operas have played such an extensive role in our entertainment culture, the Daytime Emmy Awards were created in the 1970s to recognize those actors and writers in the soaps industry in the same way the traditional Emmy Awards honors those in primetime. The Daytime Emmys also honor talk shows and children’s educational series, along with other unique and dynamic categories.

Soap opera history continues to be established as new generations discover old favorites of their mothers and grandmothers, and new storylines and characters grace the airwaves. When it comes to television broadcasts, a future of juicy soap opera plots are probably a guarantee!

Days of Our Lives Love Theme

Carlo & Liz's Love Theme (Days of Our Lives)

Bruce Spingsteen's I'm On Fire

Used on Days of Our Lives as the love theme for Carlo Forenza (Don Diamont) and Liz Curtis (Gloria Loring) in 1984

Hall of Fame: Charita Bauer

Charita Bauer

2009 Soap Opera Hall of Fame Inductee

• unknown role, David Harum
• unknown role, Front Page Farrell
• unknown role, Orphans of Divorce
• unknown role, Rose of My Dreams
• unknown role, Stella Dallas
• Gail Carver, Lora Lawton
• Susan Wakefield, The Right to Happiness
• Fran Cummings, Second Husband
• Millie Baxter, Young Widder Brown
• Mary Aldrich, The Aldrich Family
• Lanette, Our Gal Sunday
• Maudie Mason, Maudie's Diary
• Bertha Miller Bauer, The Guiding Light

One of the most beloved actresses in the history of soap operas, Charita Bauer (December 20, 1922 – February 28, 1985) was born in Newark, New Jersey, and began her career at the age of eight as a model for clothing ads. She attended the Professional Children's School in New York and made her acting debut on Broadway in Thunder on the Left (1933) at the age of nine.

Also on Broadway she was the original Little Mary in Claire Boote Luce's acclaimed all-female comedy The Women, which ran for two years on Broadway with Bauer in every performance.

She was active throughout the 1930s and 1940s on numerous radio dramas and sitcoms of the day, portraying a wide array of characters as a Chinese boy, a mosquito, and a blind hillbilly. Some of the series she appeared on included Let's Pretend, Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons. The March of Time, The FBI in Peace and War, Suspense and other programs. Her longest role in radio was as Mary Aldrich on the comedy soap opera, The Aldrich Family. She portrayed the role from 1941 to 1953 on radio, as well as playing the role in the television sitcom version during the 1949-1950 season.

She was best known for playing headstrong and opinionated Bertha "Bert" Miller Bauer - the last name is just a neat coincidence - on the long-running soap opera The Guiding Light, both on radio from February 3, 1950 to June 29, 1956 and on TV from June 30, 1952 to December 10, 1984 - a total of 34 years, 10 months and 7 days as Bert Bauer. Her character was a spitfire in the earlier days, constantly nagging her husband Bill, and always meddling into other people's business. As Bert matured, she became the heart of the Bauer family and the heart of Springfield. The 1960s saw her character constantly dealing with her husband's alcoholism and his skirt chasing. By the 1970s she had been relegated to the ceremonial role of town matriarch. In 1951, to avoid confusion between her real life and her popular soap role, Charita asked the show's producer's to name her soap opera son Michael after her own son Michael Crawford. (The show was aired live in the early days, and a mistake like addressing her TV son by an incorrect name would have been difficult to cover.)

Bauer was no stranger to social issue storylines -- in 1962, she became the first actress on daytime television to tackle a real-life medical dilemma, as Bert was diagnosed with uterine cancer. The storyline helped millions of women realize the importance of regular checkups and pap smear screenings. Bauer received a record amount of mail from fans thanks to the wonderful storyline written by Agnes Nixon.

In 1978 Bert was involved in her first major storyline in years, as her troublesome, alcoholic husband Bill reappeared after an absence of ten years. Bauer's performance, as Bert went from shock to anger to forgiveness, was one of the season's highlights. The next year the actress was presented with the Outstanding Mother Award by the National Mother's Day Committe for heading up two families, one real and one fictional.

Her next major story came along in 1983 when Bert befriended a dying man.

On May 24, 1983, she was one of several stars of Guiding Light who appeared in the made-for-TV movie The Cradle Will Fall. The screenplay for the movie was based on Guiding Light storylines, and required the appearance of several characters from the show.

Just before Thanksgiving 1983, complications from a blood clot forced her to have her leg amputated. When she returned to the show in March 1984, her character's life mirrored her own. After visiting her sister-in-law Meta in New York, Bert returned to Springfield and began experiencing pain in her leg. She ended up having her leg amputated just as the actress who played her had. For the first time in decades, Bert had to depend upon others to wait on her hand and foot, resulting in one of the series' most memorable stories. (Bert, sitting in a wheelchair at Cedars Hospital, told Josh Lewis, who had been paralyzed recently and had given up hope, that life itself was a miracle and never to forget it.) In a moving scene, Bert dropped a teacup. She tried to get it, but could not, and in sheer frustration, she burst into tears.

With her health failing, Bauer made her last appearance as Bert on December 10, 1984. On February 28, 1985, Bauer died of complications stemming from diabetes only weeks shy of her 35th anniversary on the show. She was 62 years old.

Even with almost 35 years in the role, she passed away with very little fanfare, due in part to the snobbery that was placed on soap opera by much of the media which was far worse then than it is today. It was appropriate for this great lady though as Charita Bauer lived her life with a quiet modesty, always considering her work to be part of the great ensemble. She received a posthumous Lifetime Contribution Daytime Emmy Award that summer, along with Search for Tomorrow's Larry Haines and Mary Stuart. Her character Bert died in March 1986, a full year after Bauer died.

Christopher Schemering described her acting style this way: "Her acting was deceivingly simple, a brisk, technically astute playing style which exuded so much warmth that in later performances her characterization seemed to bask in nothing less than a Chekovian brand of heartbreaking merriment."

Bauer did what few performers ever get to do. She stopped being just an actress playing a part; she became the character of Bert. As Bert she became a national treasure. She was "the guiding light" for generations of Americans.

Spotlight on: Estelle Winwood

Name: Estelle Winwood
Birth Name: Estelle Ruth Goodwin
Date of Birth: 24 January 1883, Lee, Kent, England, UK
Date of Death: 20 June 1984, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA
Soap Opera Occupation: actress
Soap Opera Roles:

• Adeline Blair, Dr. Kildare, 15 October 1964
• Mrs. Bradburg, Love, American Style, 6 October 1969
• Flora, Love, American Style, 20 October 1972

Family Connections:

• wife of motion picture actor, Arthur Chesney, who was the brother of motion picture actor, Edmund Gwenn
• wife of motion picture director, Guthrie McClintic

Trivia:

• Her first husband, Arthur Chesney, was the brother of Edmund Gwenn
• Winwood's best friend from the 1920's until her death in the 1960's was Tallulah Bankhead.
• George Cukor died only hours after sending her a telegram for her 100th birthday.
• At the time of her death (at age 102) she was the all-time oldest member of the Screen Actor's Guild.
• Winwood was married four times but had no children. One husband, Guthrie McClintic, was a gay man who had also been married to lesbian actress Katharine Cornell; another of her husbands was a brother of the Welsh Oscar-winning actor Edmund Gwenn (The Miracle on 34th Street).
• On her 100th birthday, she was asked how it felt to have lived so long. Her response was, "How rude of you to remind me!"
• Bette Davis, an old co-star, was photographed at Winwood's side on the occasion in Hollywood.

More Info:

• IMDb
• Wikipedia
• IBDb

'100 Centre Street': The Scales of Justice, and How They Tilt

Source: Criminology.FSU.edu

January 15, 2001
TELEVISION REVIEW
'100 Centre Street': The Scales of Justice, and How They Tilt
By CARYN JAMES

For most of us, the news that a series has been shot in high-definition video is so much mumbo jumbo. Wake us when the technology moves out of the realm of nerds and into the hands of artists. Well, that's finally happened. In "100 Centre Street," created by Sidney Lumet, new technology visibly affects style in a tough, absorbing series about the judges, prosecutors and defendants who keep cases whizzing through Manhattan's grimy night court. Oddly enough, that future-oriented technology helps Mr. Lumet evoke the old days of live television drama, where he made his name in the 1950's.

At the heart of "100 Centre Street" (the address of Manhattan's criminal-court building) are issues that have resonated throughout his career, in films like "Serpico" and "Prince of the City." Here, too, he explores the personal ethical dilemmas that seem purely political to the outside world. But the new series also raises questions about television drama today: can a show with the calm look and earnest soul of an older era attract viewers used to the flash and pace of "E.R." and "The West Wing"?

Tonight's terrific two-hour opening should, because of Mr. Lumet's writing and directing and Alan Arkin's superbly real, understated portrayal of Joe Rifkind, a thoughtful judge so prone to giving criminals every chance at redemption that his nickname is Let-'em-Go Joe.

It takes about 15 minutes for the episode to pick up steam, which is about how long it takes to get used to the slightly unsettling difference in its look. High-definition cameras create a sharper texture resembling that of news coverage, which makes the action feel more alive.

In addition, Mr. Lumet has shot the series by placing several cameras around each scene and letting that scene run to the end, as if he were filming a play. That puts viewers outside the action, rather than in the middle of it. There are no dizzying camera moves, no White House aides dashing down the corridors of the West Wing into our faces. The editing is not static, but there are plenty of quiet scenes in which we watch characters talk in close-up.

In one of those conversations, Rifkind and a black judge, Attallah Sims, discuss how much they like their nicknames. Hers is "Attallah the Hun," for her harsh sentencing and manner. Though the characters' different philosophies and deep friendship implicitly deal with black- Jewish relations, Mr. Arkin and LaTanya Richardson as the wry, brisk Sims redeem the roles from stereotypes.

Rifkind lands in a moral and political nightmare when a subway turnstile jumper, whom he sets free, kills a police officer on that same night. There are even more melodramatic twists in the identity of the dead officer. Still, Mr. Arkin slips completely into the character of a man whose compassion and common sense somehow coexist. He tells his wife (Phyllis Newman, in a beautifully modulated performance) about the mess his decision has created. "I don't know if it's going to disappear," he says matter-of-factly. "I don't know if it should disappear."

Another character's moral dilemma echoes powerfully in future episodes. Bobby Esposito (Joseph Lyle Taylor) is an assistant district attorney whose grandfather was an immigrant and whose slimy brother is a Wall Street success and a drug addict. When his brother is arrested for the third time, Bobby's father (Tony Musante) asks him to delete one of the arrests from the computer records.

As the furious Bobby and his father sit on a bench outside the court building, and the camera lingers on their conversation, the scene is exhilarating and gripping. A return to this old style is not automatically a virtue, though. In the third week's episode, Kate Burton plays a woman tired of her husband's dangerous life on the police force; their long, anguished dialogue carries the stale whiff of old kitchen-sink dramas.

The series's only fundamental weakness is the character of Cynthia Bennington (Paula Devicq), an assistant district attorney supposedly rebelling against her rich Fifth Avenue family. If she were, she probably wouldn't have such long, golden hair or a genuine gold name plate on her desk.

Future episodes are uneven, partly because nearly a dozen different writers and directors are involved, including Mr. Lumet. Next week's (written by Siobhan Byrne O'Connor and directed by Jerry London) feels like warmed-over "Law and Order." But whatever the series' future, this first provocative installment puts technology to a dramatic use that even technophobes can love.

100 CENTRE STREET,

A&E, tonight at 9

Sidney Lumet, writer, director and executive producer; Debbie Elbin and David Black, co- executive producers; Phillip W. Hack, line producer; Delia Fine, executive producer for A&E Network.

WITH: Alan Arkin (Judge Joe Rifkind), LaTanya Richardson (Judge Attallah Sims), Paula Devicq (Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Bennington), Joseph Lyle Taylor (Assistant District Attorney Bobby Esposito), Manny Perez (Ramon Rodriguez), Tony Musante (Albert Esposito) Val Avery (Sal Gentile), Tony Gillan (Frank Esposito) and Phyllis Newman (Sarah Rifkind).

100 Centre Street

100 Centre Street

Network: A&E
Country of Origin: United States
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 35
First Air Date: January 15, 2001
Last Air Date: March 5, 2002

100 Centre Street was a short-lived courtroom television drama serial created by Sidney Lumet and starring Alan Arkin.

The show took its name for the street address of the criminal division of the New York Supreme Court for New York County. The show aired in the United States on the A&E Network cable television channel from 2001-2002. Some called it a more gritty and accurate version of Law & Order, although unlike Law & Order, 100 Centre Street focused more on the personal lives of its characters. Episodes focused on the friendship between Judge Rifkind, a liberal Jew, and Judge Sims, a conservative lesbian African American, as well as the romance between Bobby and Cynthia, Ramon's infidelity to his wife Cassandra, J.J.'s potentially corrupt mob ties, Fatima's drug addiction, Rebecca Rifkind's estrangement from her father, and Spiegelman and Byrnes' political scheming.

Main Cast:

• Alan Arkin as Judge Joe Rifkind
• Val Avery as Sal Gentile
• Bobby Cannavale as ADA Jeremiah "J.J." Jellinek
• Joel de la Fuente as ADA Peter Davies
• Paula Devicq as ADA/private attorney Cynthia Bennington
• Manny Perez as Legal Aid attorney Ramon Rodriguez
• Letanya Richardson as Judge Atallah Sims
• Joseph Lyle Taylor as ADA/PI Bobby Esposito
• Michole White as Legal Aid attorney Fatima Kelly

More Info

• Crazy About TV
• Episode Guide
• The Futon Critic
• IMDb
• PAZSAZ Entertainment Network
• Serial TV
• Telebisyon.net
• Time Magazine Review
• TV.com
• TVGuide.com
• TV Shows On DVD
• Wikipedia

LilliBuzz (GL): Now and Forever

Lillian & Buzz (Guiding Light)
Now and Forever



Photo musical tribute to Guiding Light's Lillian and Buzz

Where Are They Now: Steven Weber

Steven Weber (Kevin Gibson, As The World Turns; Sam Blue, Once and Again; Lloyd, Desperate Housewives; Graham Finch, Brothers and Sisters)

Source: Broadway World

BWW INTERVIEWS: THE PHILANTHROPIST's Steven Weber
Tuesday, June 9, 2009; Posted: 01:06 PM - by Joseph F. Panarello

There's something special about hearing the natural sound of human voices in the theater. They become a symphony of verbosity akin to a chamber ensemble performing in a first rate concert hall. There are nuances and colors that are to be detected without the aid of amplification. Such is the case with the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of THE PHILANTHROPIST which is currently on stage at the American Airlines Theatre. Prominently featured in the cast is Steven Weber whose voice carries so well that it seems like a clarion instrument in the divertissement of playwright Christopher Hampton's witty wordplay. Weber's voice is so mellifluous that it is obvious he's been trained to use it well on the stage.

Although he attended the famous High School of Performing arts in New York City, Weber credits his actual stage training to the State University of New York at Purchase. "I had several years of intensive and serious theater training with lots of vocal work and that's where I really had the bulk of my studies." He's very proud of the education he received at SUNY Purchase. "They have amazing facilities and great performance spaces up there. The theaters range from small black boxes to major ‘cathedrals' with thousands of seats and we put on plays like HEARTBREAK HOUSE and SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY, where we had to project our voices. In doing plays over the years, I've had to adjust per the requirements of each theater. The American Airlines Theater is deceptive. It's small and beautiful. It carries sound well in many ways but there are many pockets that your voice can disappear into."

Continuing with his discussion of the vocal skills he employs in this production, Weber talks about the challenge of playing a British character. "When trying to do an accent I found that much of my dialect got lost when I was trying to ‘project'. I made the decision to err on the side of being heard." For the record, no amplification at all is used in this production of THE PHILANTHROPIST. The "sound design" that is listed in the Playbill has to do with the music and sound effects that are used in the production. The actors' voices are not amplified in any way.

The actor is sitting in his dressing room before a Thursday evening performance. Casually attired in jeans and a blue t-shirt, Weber noshes on a spinach salad throughout the conversation. This is a man who knows how to "nosh": his father was a manager whose clients performed on the Borscht Belt and one just assumes that someone a Borscht Belt connection would certainly pass noshing skills down to his son. Weber's mother, who presently lives in Manhattan, was a cabaret singer and a Copa Girl. With a pedigree like that, is there any wonder that Weber would carve out a career for himself in the performing arts?

The actor is a familiar face to viewers of the small screen, having starred in the "Wings" sitcom, as well as such other television fare like the critically acclaimed "Once and Again" and "The DA". Yet, when meeting the actor in the flesh, one is taken by his affability, his intelligence and the sparkle in his azure eyes. These eyes gleam when lit by the fresnels on stage but reflect a thoughtful and sensitive man when Weber is engaged in conversation. The time in his company zips by and is filled with perceptive comments as well as modest assessments of his personal achievements. Through his father's show business connections, the young Weber did a few television commercials. The boy had headshots taken and before he knew it he went out for a bunch of auditions and booked several commercials. "In those days they were 60 seconds long and I've been actually trying to hunt them down to no avail. I've made direct inquiries to the advertising agencies that did them and they either don't have them or are disinterested. I remember doing a Gleam toothpaste commercial with Frances Sternhagen and it was a full minute long. That's incomprehensible by today's standards!"

Although Weber is proud of the experiences that SUNY Purchase provided, he never graduated. "I got cast in a PBS production of Mark Twain's "Puddin'head Wilson". Ken Howard, Tom Aldrich and a bunch of other great actors were in the cast. I'm terrible in it. Terrible, terrible, terrible. It was my first taste of professional acting and the treasures that went along with it were inestimable. I mean I had steak and shrimp every night and loved it." His first big theater gig was with the Mirror Reparatory Company. "It was a production of PARADISE LOST and I got to work literally along side of and become very friendly with Geraldine Paige and a cast of very talented character actors. It was pretty much an idyllic situation for me."

Weber also landed a recurring role on the soap opera "As The World Turns" however he didn't ‘recur' very long. "Julianne Moore and I played a couple, but after it became apparent that I was ill-suited to memorizing lines and stuff, my character took a bullet and I was fired. He previously appeared at the Roundabout when he did COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA with Shirley Knight. " I also did something in LA in 1987 or 88. It was a play called MADE IN BANGKOK which was written by Anthony Mangella. Zoe Wanamaker, James Cromwell and John Vickery were in that. It was my first taste of life out there. It was the next year or so that I got ‘Wings'. Thus began my legendary ascent to the middle," he remarked sardonically. "Wings" ran for seven and a half seasons. "Actually we expected to get cancelled every season or half season, I remember saying at the very beginning that this would be the happiest we'd ever be. The show was never a ratings favorite. Although compared to the numbers hit shows get today we would have been on top. We were getting more viewers than ‘American Idol' does nowadays and we were just good enough to give a boost to the higher profile shows like ‘Cheers' , ‘Frasier', and ‘Seinfeld' et al. In retrospect we were a good utility show. We stack up against and surpass many shows that are around presently. We had good, long, funny stories that were very well done. We also were the place that gave a lot of writers who are doing shows now their start."

Weber theorizes that what made "Wings" so endearing to many viewers was that it appealed to the Average Joe. "We dealt with basic, almost routine aspects of normal human beings. By that I mean we dealt with people who weren't particularly interesting. They were average people. That actually gave the writers a lot more freedom to write. The characters were given more breadth of detail, whereas with ‘Will and Grace' there was whatever social issues were overhanging and ‘Seinfeld' was almost hampered by its high concept to be obscure or odd in a way."

The actor has branched out into writing. "I wrote adaptations of a couple of Stephen King stories that filmed for ‘The Outer Limits' which was done in the 90's. I wrote and directed those. I also wrote a TV movie for Showtime called ‘Clubland' and it was a quasi-autobiographical story about my father and grandfather who were theatrical agents in the 50's. I wrote it and was able to act opposite Alan Alda. Brad Garret was also in it. It was a great experience for me. I find writing painful and lonely and I don't quite have the discipline for it." Weber does admit that he's become known for other writings as of late. "I'm a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and my writing there are leftist, cranky screeds that occasionally touch a nerve-- but more often than not the nerve that is touched is disgust on the part of people who can't stand my long, untethered metaphors and strangled syntax rather than my obviously left-leaning views. I've been called a ‘thesaurus-sucking liberal'. My response to that is ‘The only thesauruses I use are made in America and suck on thEm Lovingly.' Why not use five dollar words? I'm sick of saying ‘You know' or listening to people saying ‘You know' all the time. It makes me nuts. I have two little boys who are six and eight and my wife and I try gently to break them of that habit."
Steven Weber has been bold enough to step into the shoes of some very big names in his acting career. In 1997 he had the audacity to play the part Jack Nicholson immortalized in Stanley Kubrik's movie version of "The Shining". "I would readily take credit for having the guts to step into Nicholson's shoes if it was a question of that. It was more a case of being shallow and unaware. I got a call to audition for this and it really didn't occur to me that I was doing anything that was remotely sacrilegious because of the film's iconic status. I just auditioned without having Nicholson in my mind and got the role. I'm proud of most of it, although there are a few things I'd like to go back and re-do. Really, the specter of the Kubrik film didn't hang over the production at all. Mostly I think that was a good thing. The mini-series was done to fulfill Stephen King's real vision of the story. It was faithful to his novel but was hampered by the constraints of mini-series television. It was a fine experience for me. I didn't think-and perhaps I should have-that I was stepping into a role that people so closely identify with Jack Nicholson, and who I would pale in comparison to immediately."

Only a few years later, Weber found himself stepping into another pair of famous shoes but in a different genre. In 2002 he replaced Matthew Broderick in the Broadway musical THE PRODUCERS. "I had done a film called "Dracula Dead And Loving It" which was one of several not-so-great projects that I'd been involved in. The end result wasn't remarkable, at least perceptibly at the time (since then it's been on TV and it works much better on the small screen), There are great classic bits in it, though. Actually, it was an opportunity for me to work with several of my heroes: Harvey Korman, Peter McNichol and Mel Brooks. I'd worshipped Harvey Korman and loved Mel Brooks' 2,000 Year Old Man album ever since I was a kid. So I did that film and got to know these men. As years passed, we stayed in contact. Of course there was the massive triumph of THE PRODUCERS on Broadway, and when they were holding auditions to replace Nathan and Matthew, someone suggested that I should go for it. I thought, ‘Naw, that's ridiculous. Why should I audition? It's too much. It's in New York and I live in LA,' The only musical I'd sone was a limited run of HAIR in LA. for Reprise! And that was met with great response, but that was my one and only musical experience. Finally I was nudged into it by my wife and Richard Kind-who went on to play Max, although later in the run. So I figured that I had nothing to lose--even though on my way to New York I became terribly ill and developed a cold sore on my lip. I was a wreck. I think I was actually the last person they saw and somehow I got through the audition. I did "Till Him" and "That Face" and I didn't have a great amount of fear, which may have helped. I thought I wouldn't get the part but I did."

THE PRODUCERS turned out to be an incredible ten month adventure for Weber. "I'd never done anything on that scale of commitment before. Actors are a lot of things but on film and TV they're a bunch of pussies. In theater it's a different story. In the theater an actor is a soldier; you are in the infantry. You have to work. You cannot mess around; you can't throw hissy fits, you can't mess around and you can't give a half-assed performance. I learned invaluable lessons in the process. The biggest realization was how difficult it was to maintain your apparatus so you can sing and dance. I was proud of myself that I'd gotten dance-related injuries. I was incredibly proud of them! It was an amazing experience. Stepping into Matthew's shoes was great. I was encouraged to do some of my own things but in many instances I saw that I didn't have to because Matthew had already done them brilliantly so I incorporated those moments into my own performance."

When Weber was hired for THE PRODUCERS, he was paired with the brilliant British actor Henry Goodman who was replacing Nathan Lane in the show. "The producers had seen him do the London production of CHICAGO and he was reportedly sensational in that. I have no doubt he was. He was a respected actor and it seemed that the intent was to prove that the show itself was the star-- not its two flamboyant leading men. However things did not work out well in the beginning. After five weeks of rehearsal and a few performances, they let Henry go rather unceremoniously, replacing him with understudy Brad Oscar. They decided to keep me on although I'm sure there were moments when they felt they should scuttle everybody-myself included. I was lucky enough to be kept on and worked very hard with the result of having an amazing time."

Now Weber finds himself sharing the stage with Matthew Broderick in THE PHILANTHROPIST. Weber explains that he'd worked with director David Grindley at London's Old Vic, in a play called NATIONAL ANTHEMS. Also featured in the cast were Kevin Spacey and Mary Stuart Masterson. "We had a great time," remembers the actor, "It's a very interesting play and it was well-received by audiences. David and I developed a great working relationship. We kept in touch and after few years passed he actually mentioned that there was a role in THE PHILANTHROPIST that I could do. I said, ‘Just ask. I'll read for it. I'll do it.' As it turned out, I didn't have to read for it; David offered it to me. When I heard that Matthew was going to be involved I said, ‘Absolutely." It would be a pleasure to work with him. We'd only crossed paths a little bit during THE PRODUCERS but this has turned out to be an exceptional experience for me. It's great to work with Matthew, Jonathan Cake, Jennifer Mudge, Anna Madeley, Tate Ellington and Samantha Soule. This play was a big hit in England. It demands audience participation on an intellectual level. It was done at the Donmar Warehouse and it was performed in-the-round. If you put an audience around the play, then they are participating. Our current production is given a proscenium staging and it's rather like watching an oil painting, but it works. It's an interesting script."

According to Weber, the box office sales for THE PHILANTHROPIST are excellent and he credits that to word-of-mouth. "Our sales are up while critical successes have gone down the toilet. It's unbelievable to me. I guess it's saying that there is definitely an audience for this kind of drama. Not everything has to be on the level of a spectacle. This is an interesting play; not for everybody, but it shouldn't destroy the experience for that other demographic out there."
It is obvious that the audiences are enjoying Steven Weber's performance in THE PHILANTHROPIST immensely. At a recent matinee, there was a murmur of recognition when he was discovered onstage as the lights came up for the opening scene. Throughout the performance several theater-goers were observed leaning forward in their seats whenever he made an entrance. It certainly wasn't because they were straining to hear better. It's already been stated that Weber projects his voice effectively. Rather, it was probably due to the fact that he's become such a familiar face in movies and television that they relish the chance to share this theatrical experience with him without any artificial devices between them and the actor they feel very much at home with.

The Philanthropist is playing a limited engagement through June 28th, 2009. Tickets are available by calling Roundabout Ticket Services at (212)719-1300, online at www.roundabouttheatre.org or at the American Airlines Box Office (227 West 42nd Street). The Philanthropist plays Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. with Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. www.roundabouttheatre.org

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz is excited about Melrose Place

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz (Cecilia Smith, 7th Heaven; Violet Foster, Melrose Place)

Source: mtv.com

June 8, 2009

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz 'So Excited' About 'Melrose Place'
'It's got good drama,' singer/actress says of the show.
By Jocelyn Vena

Come this fall, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz will make her way back to the small screen for a new full-time gig on the CW's new "Melrose Place." The series, based on the drama-filled original from the '90s, which starred Heather Locklear, Marcia Cross and Kelly Rutherford of "Gossip Girl," promises to be just as scandalous as the original.

"I play the girl that's straight-off-the-bus. It's fun," Simpson-Wentz told MTV News about her character, the seemingly naive Violet Foster. "It's exciting because we don't get to see the next episode. We don't get to read the scripts until we're actually about to shoot it, and everyone is dying to know what's going to happen to their characters, so it's fun. It'll be exciting to play that arc. ... It's got good drama."

And with rumors that a dead body is already involved in the plotline of the first episode, it's a far cry from Simpson-Wentz's other TV series. "For me, I started off doing '7th Heaven.' I went on to do my music career so now I'm really, really thrilled [to be back on TV]. This is what I wanted to do and this is such a great show. I'm so excited about the show."

Recently, Simpson-Wentz made a cameo on "CSI" alongside her hubby, Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz. But don't expect to see him on the show anytime soon. "He hangs with me, but we don't read lines," she laughed. "I'm sure he would if I asked him to. I don't know about [him making a cameo]!"

What is a soap opera?

http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Soap_opera/

A soap opera or daytime serial is an ongoing, episodic work of fiction, usually broadcast on television or radio. What differentiates a soap from other television drama programs is their open-ended nature. Plots run concurrently, and lead into further developments: there is rarely a need to "wrap things up", although soaps that run in series for only part of the year tend to bring things to a dramatic cliffhanger. The soap opera form first developed on broadcast radio in the 1920s, and expanded into television starting in the 1940s.

The USA soap opera Port Charles has begun the practice of running 13-week "arcs", in which the main events of the arc are played out and wrapped up over the 13 weeks, although some storylines do continue over more than one arc.

Most soaps follow the lives of a group of characters who live or work in a particular place.

The term "soap opera" originated from the fact that when these serial dramas were aired on daytime radio, the commercials aired during the shows were largely aimed at housewives. Many of the products sold during these commercials were laundry and cleaning items. This specific type of radio drama came to be associated with these particular commercials, and this gave rise to the term "soap opera"—a melodramatic story that aired commercials for soap products.

Prime time serials were especially popular during the 1980s. The most successful included: Dallas; Dynasty; Knots Landing; and, from the 1990s, Beverly Hills 90210. The first real prime time soap opera was Peyton Place (1964-1969).

A few soap opera spoofs have been made. Two of the most famous U.S. spoofs were Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and Soap. On British television, comedian Victoria Wood a long-running spoof soap entitled Acorn Antiques features on her sketch show (loosely based on ITV's Crossroads). In the United States, Carol Burnett frequently ran a soap opera spoof on her show, called As the Stomach Turns.

The soap opera's distinctive open plot structure and complex continuity was eventually adopted in major American prime time television programs. The first significant one was Hill Street Blues produced by Steven Bochco which featured many elements borrowed by soap operas such as an ensemble cast, multi-episode storylines and extensive character development over the course of the series. The success of this series soon gave rise to a variety of other serious drama and science fiction series which took much the same elements to structure their own storylines.

The BBC continues to broadcast one of the earlier radio "soap opera" programmes in Britain, the ever popular Archers, on Radio 4. It has been running since 1951 nationally. It continues to attract over five million listeners, or roughly 25% of the radio listening population of the UK at that time of the evening.

The American soap opera The Guiding Light started as a radio drama in January 1937 and subsequently transferred to television. With the exception of several years in the late 1940s when Irna Phillips was in dispute with Procter and Gamble, The Guiding Light has been heard or seen every weekday since it started, making it the longest story ever told.

Eagles - Desperado (Live)

Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved

George Michael - Sexual Healing

Hall of Fame: Bill Hayes

Bill Hayes

2009 Soap Opera Hall of Fame Inductee

• Doug Williams, Days of Our Lives
• Byron Carmichael, Days of Our Lives

Bill Hayes was born William Foster Hayes III on June 5, 1925 in Harvey, Illinois. He grew up throughout the Midwest. His father was an encyclopedia salesman for 41 years. He got his talent from his dad who enjoyed singing and local community theater performing on the sly.

Hayes entered WWII as a naval airman, then studied at De Pauw University, where he met and married first wife Mary Hobbs. They married in 1947. The marriage ended in divorce in 1969. They went on to have five children. He later received his master's degree at Northwestern.

Blessed with a sturdy tenor, his interest in a professional career was piqued after happening upon a tour of Carousel in 1947. From singing telegrams to singing at Irish wakes to singing as a cantor in a synagogue to singing in barbershop quartets to choir directing to jazz group vocals, Hayes persevered musically until earning his first big break on TV. A lead singing/stooge role in Olsen & Johnson's zany burlesque revue Funzapoppin' in 1949 led to him joining the pair on their short-lived TV show. This led to his biggest break. Hayes was a singer on the Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca variety show Your Show of Shows from 1950 to 1953.

In the meantime he also performed in vaudeville and broke into films with a supporting role in Stop, You're Killing Me (1952). Despite a wife and family to support, he left Your Show of Shows on his own volition in 1953 for the chance to star in a new Broadway musical. Rodgers and Hammerstein's Me and Juliet which opened with moderate success in 1953 and lasted over a year, touring with the show in its aftermath.

During the Davy Crockett craze in 1955, three recorded versions of the Ballad of Davy Crockett were in the top 30. Hayes' version was the most popular, reaching #1 on the Billboard charts, selling over three million copies, and reaching #3 for the year. He had other small hits in the 1950's including The Berry Tree and covers of High Noon and Wringle, Wrangle.

A nightclub and TV-variety fixture in the late 1950s. In 1959, he co-starred with Florence Henderson in Oldsmobile Musical Theatre, a short-lived, experimental TV series that integrated dama and song in live half-hour stories.

He later managed to flex his vocal chords in such musicals as Bye Bye Birdie (national tour during the 1961-1962 season), Brigadoon, The Pajama Game and George M! He played a major role in the Otto Preminger film version of The Cardinal in 1963.

The 1960s were a slow, difficult time for Hayes professionally and personally, which culminated in the breakup of his marriage. Hayes scrambled to find a steady job to support his five children, who were all left in his care after the divorce.

Luck and talent played a part when he was hired to join the cast of Days of Our Lives playing the role of Doug Williams. The character was originally a louse and con artist, paid to seduce Julie Olson, but grew more reputable after his character fell in love with the feisty troublemaker Julie, played by Susan Seaforth. Throughout the 70s and a good part of the 80s, Bill and Susan reigned as the Lunt and Fontanne of daytime soaps earning them the title "the first couple of daytime". Doug's partnership with Julie is widely considered by many critics and fans to be the first supercoupling on the American daytime serials despite the equally or similarly popular couplings of the likes of Jeff and Penny on As The World Turns or Steve and Alice on Another World that preceded them.

They were both almost permanent fixtures on the popular Daytime TV magazine reader's poll. In the yearly awards given by the magazine Hayes won Best Actor of the Year for 1973, 1976 and 1977. His partner won the Best Actress title in 1976 and 1977.

Doug and Julie, along with writer Pat Falken Smith, are generally credited with Days of Our Lives popular and critical success of the early to mid 1970s.

Off-screen the couple also ignited sparks and, despite their major age difference (she is 18 years his junior), they married on October 12, 1974.

Hayes originally played the role from 1970 to 1984. His singing career also found its way into his storyline; in the story, Doug was introduced as a convict who was also a lounge singer.

While continuing in the soap role, Hayes worked in cabaret, continued to record albums, wrote a column in Soap Opera Digest, created a soap opera student workshop, and worked on the development of serial spin-off of Days of Our Lives.

In 1984, after 14 years, the cover of Time magazine, two daytime Emmy nominations, he and Susan chose not to renew their contracts with Days mostly over disagreement with storyline direction for Doug and Julie. Also due to the fact that it was felt by the current powers that be that the once pivotal characters were not needed and wanted to relegate them to permanent supporting status. Focus was now on Doug's daughter Hope and her onscreen beau, Bo Brady. The powers that be wanted to make Doug & Julie the heavy's in the story, completely ignoring that with all Doug & Julie went through to be together they would never stand in the way of true love. It was a total rewrite of the history of the relationship. The decision to leave was a mutual one between all parties, even though the Hayes' would have preferred to stay with the show they loved.

While Susan went on to join the cast of The Young and the Restless the following year, Hayes refocused on his singing by performing on the cabaret circuit and recording a few albums.

The character of Doug returned in 1986 and 1987, as well as 1993 and 1996. Most recently, he has been on the show since 1999, only to have his character killed off in the spring of 2004 by Dr. Marlena Evans (This was done to reduce the show's budget). In an elaborate plot hatched by head writer James E. Reilly, Doug Williams turned up alive on a tropical island and went home to his wife.

In 2005, the couple published their joint autobiography, Like Sands Through The Hourglass.

Bill is still performing on stage, more recently playing Beauregard in Mame and with his wife in productions of A Christmas Carol, Love Letters and Same Time, Another Year, which is a sequel to Same Time, Next Year.

Lynda Hirsch on Soaps Q&A

Source: Creators.com
July 25, 2009

Q: When the character of Mallet came to town on "Guiding Light," didn't he have another name and a shady past? — Robert, Port Huron, Ohio

A: Yes to both. When Mallet came to town in the 1990s, he had the name Anthony Camaletti. The mob was after him so he changed his name to A.C. Mallet. The writers were doing a goof on the name M.C. Hammer. As a law enforcement member, he fell in love with police cadet Harley. Harley and A.C. headed to Florida. While in Florida, he had a few affairs. Harley came back to town without her husband. In need of cash in Florida, Mallet became a hit man for Griggs. Mallet wanted to distance himself from the mob so he returned to Springfield. Short on cops, he was rehired by the police. Once again, he fell in love with a trainee. This time, it was Marina.

Q: When Don Diamont first came to "Bold and Beautiful," his character had a very prominent story line. Lately, no one even mentions his name. What is the deal? Also, didn't the actor have a relationship with a well-known singer? — Alicia, Rockford, Ill.

A: "B&B" has a reputation for shoving new characters down your throat. Suddenly, they disappear. Last time Whip was on the air, he was everywhere. Then he married Brooke and he disappeared. Whip is now back.

Massimo, dad of Nick and Ridge, was all over the place; then he disappeared. That worked well for "Days of Our Lives." It allowed Joe Mascolo to return to that show as Stefano.

Back to Diamont's Bill: While he was off the canvas for a while, the show says in the next month or two he will have a powerhouse story line.

Nice news for Don Diamont, who saw his Brad character killed off on "Young and Restless" earlier this year.

For many years, Diamont and Gloria Loring, who co-starred with him on "Days of Our Lives," were an item. Loring played nightclub singer Liz Chandler. Diamont played the lowlife son of her on-screen husband Neil Curtis. Aside from her work on "Days," Loring was a frequent singing guest on Johnny Carson's show. Loring was previously married to Alan Thicke. Their son Robin Thicke is a hot recording star.

Q: Didn't Kim on "As the World Turns" have a son by John Dixon? — Carrie, Waltham, Mass.

A: Indeed. Andy Dixon was the product of that marriage. Andy was a key character on the show for years. Scott DeFreitas, who played Andy since he was a teenager, met and married Maura West (Carly) when they worked on "ATWT." The couple now have five children — one from her first marriage and four from their own. DeFreitas proposed to West in a most unusual and — for some — embarrassing way: He asked her to marry him on the Yankees fan-o-gram. The love of baseball first fueled their friendship. The couple shared the birth of their first child on the cable television show "A Baby's Story." As for Andy, about six years ago, he left town to get over his issues with alcohol. We never understood why the show axed the character or why they never brought him back.

Y&R: So Far in 2009

December 29, 2008 to January 2, 2009: Sharon tells Jack that for Christmas she is moving out of the Abbott mansion so that he can have his home back. Sharon walks away from a heartbroken Jack. Kay becomes more and more certain that she is Katherine not Marge. Jill returns to the Chancellor estate and is shocked to find Kay there. Jill believes that Kay is Marge and goes to call the police while the real Kay tries to make Jill listen to her story. When the police arrive they ask Kay to prove that she is who she says she is, but Kay can't seem to remember anything specific. Jill demands that they arrest her. Gloria is shocked when she sees Kay in jail with her. She agrees to help Kay remember her life. Eden and Noah spend New Years Eve together, without their parents' knowledge. Kevin overhears Eden and Noah discussing what to do with River's. Kevin tells Jana what he heard and she says she will help him break into the tack house and get the money back. Nick finds Victor at Newman Enterprises and Victor informs him that he is back for good. Victor meets with Jill and proposes they work together to bring Jack and Jabot down. Neil and Karen return home with Ana as her new foster parents. Tyra is devastated when they tell her the court ruled she can only see Ana under the supervision of a social worker. Abby arrives home, all grown up, in time to spend Christmas with her parents.

January 5, 2009 to January 9, 2009: When Victoria and J.T. stop by the ranch for dinner with Victor, Victoria is happy to see Abby home but unnerved to witness Victor replacing his family with Ashley and Abby. Chloe becomes annoyed by Cane's attentiveness. While Cane is out of the room, Billy calls and Chloe invites him over. Jill asks Cane to come to work for her at Chancellor Industries and work side by side with Billy. Cane refuses. Jack admits to Sharon that he and Adam worked together on the forged diary. Nick and Sharon work to sell a potential client for Beauty of Nature, who is more interested in their history than any pitch. Later, Nick and Sharon are thrilled when the buyer makes a huge commitment to Beauty of Nature, but Nick is torn when Mariel tells them that she needs them to stay in New York for another night for a meeting with another buyer tomorrow.

January 12, 2009 to January 16, 2009: Heather tells Adam that Victor's terms for Adam's deal included jail time. Ashley is stunned how Victor can be so loving with one child and so hurtful with another. Ashley is unsettled when Victor asks Abby to start calling him "Dad." Phyllis is unapologetic to Nick as she explains what she did with Brad. Nick lets her explain, but when she is done Nick unleashes his fury. As the fight escalates, Phyllis admits she was scared and insecure that Nick could fall in love with Sharon all over again. Billy catches Chloe trying to find his profile on WebMeet.Org. Lily is bothered when she notices the familiarity between Chloe and Billy. Kay tells Murphy she is staying away from Genoa City for a while. Kevin tells Gloria that he put up the money for Kay's bail and Gloria panics. She tells him that she will lose everything, including Jabot, if Kay regains her memory. Karen tells Neil that she wants to adopt Ana. Phyllis and Chloe realize that Cane and Billy were in a fight and decide to use that as the theme for the photo shoot. Billy tells Chloe that he and Cane were fighting over her. River disguises himself as a priest and takes on a new life, as Eden mourns losing her father. Michael and Gloria lament River ever coming into their lives.

January 19, 2009 to January 23, 2009: Neil breaks it to Tyra that he and Karen are looking into adopting Ana. Tyra breaks down at the news and suddenly finds herself kissing Neil. Brad hides his fury when he hears Abby call Victor "Dad." Brad confronts Ashley about Victor's influence in Abby's life. Ashley tells Victor that he and Brad will have to find a way to live with each other for Abby's sake. Amber vows to get Kay's ring back in order to prove her true identity. Billy indirectly tells Chloe he knows the truth about the baby and he needs her help to keep their secret. At the party, Jack meets Shiva Rose, a friend of Billy's from New York, who knows him and Chloe. Phyllis and Sharon get into an argument about Phyllis' plot and Sharon's involvement with Nick. Victoria tells Nick he married Phyllis knowing who and what she is, so he must get over whatever she did to anger him. Sharon serves Jack with divorce papers. Brad asks Colleen and Abby to move back in with him, but Abby tells him she wants to stay at the ranch. Ashley enters and sees that Abby is upset. Brad decides to file for full custody of Abby. Jill tells Jeff she will name him the CEO of Jabot if he convinces Gloria to sell.

January 26, 2009 to January 30, 2009: Jack and Sharon say goodbye to each other and goodbye to their marriage. Gloria calls Victor and tells him the stock is his. Victor meets with Jill to tell her he bought Gloria's stock of Jabot for her. He informs her he has some terms to giving her controlling interest in Jabot back, including naming Billy the new CEO. Esther agrees to marry Roger. Victoria finally admits to Victor that Brad stole company secrets. Victor tells Brad that if he doesn't resign from the Newman board of directors, he will go public with the information. Brad overhears Abby call Victor "Dad" and confronts Ashley about replacing him as Abby's father. Nikki tells Brad that her sister, Casey, has cancer. Sharon is caught off guard when she finds Brad standing at her door at the Abbott cabin. Brad opens up to Sharon and lays his love for her on the line. Sharon, however, has to admit she doesn't return his love. Brad tells Sharon he will always love her and leaves the cabin, going out into a snowstorm. Brad's car breaks down in the snow. As Noah is showing Eden how to skate he gets too far out on the ice and it starts to crack. Eden goes to find help for Noah. While Brad is trying to get his car started he hears someone calling for help. Brad hurries out onto the ice to help whoever is drowning. Noah reveals that he didn't pull himself out of the water, and all wonder what actually happened.

February 2, 2009 to February 6, 2009: Sharon is surprised to find Nick at the cabin. He tells Sharon about Noah's accident and she panics, but Nick assures her Noah is going to be fine. Later, as Sharon and Nick are preparing to leave, the park ranger arrives to inform them the roads are closed. Sharon and Nick make love. Jack sits at Noah's bedside as Victor stands in the doorway watching him. Victor kicks Jack out of Noah's room. J.T. and Colleen track Brad's cell signal to a road near the Abbott cabin. They head out to look for him. Ashley and Abby stop by Brad's and find Lily and Billy there. Abby is stunned when they hear a message from Victor threatening Brad if he doesn't resign from Newman's board of directors. Victor tells Noah that he will be forever indebted to whoever saved Noah's life. Victor arrives at Brad's house and Abby confronts him about the message he left on Brad's voice mail. Victor tries to spin it, but Colleen overhears him and calls him out on his lies. Noah remembers Brad was the one who pulled him out of the lake. Michael brings the pawnbroker to meet with Kay and he claims he has never seen her before. J.T. breaks the news to Colleen that Brad is dead. Sharon is forced to tell Noah the truth that Brad lost his life saving him. Noah is stunned as Nick arrives and takes him in his arms. The family holds one another tight as they all feel the enormity of what they have and what they have lost. Nick admits to Phyllis he loves her and Sharon.

February 9, 2009 to February 13, 2009: Gil stops by the tack house to give Nick Noah's belongings, including a water bottle filled with alcohol. Nick is stunned. Jack is surprised when Gloria informs him that she sold her Jabot stock to someone else. Jack tries threatening Gloria with his civil suit against her, but she refuses to tell him whom she sold her stock to. Later, Gloria asks Kevin to sing her praises to Kay when he is helping to prove who she truly is, in hopes that Kay will be on her side when she is released from jail. Kevin tells Gloria he can't be her accomplice anymore because he doesn't want to wind up in jail with her. Jill meets with Victor, who tells her Billy is to be made CEO of Jabot. Jill doesn't like the direction this plan is going, but makes it clear he is in charge. Kay confesses to Joe and Pearl she isn't Marge; she is Kay Chancellor. Murphy finds a note from Kay telling him that she lied about who she is and now she is going to disappear. Meanwhile, Jill goes to the coffeehouse and tells everyone celebrating that the DNA results prove that Kay is not actually Kay.

February 16, 2009 to February 20, 2009: Billy gets a hold of the ranger, but he merely tells Billy that no medical help can get to them until after the storm. At the cabin, with Lily, Chloe prepares to give birth. Billy tells Chloe that he knew he was the father of the baby since before Christmas. Lily gets a hold of Olivia for help on how to deliver Chloe's baby. Cane arrives and declares his love to Lily just as Billy shouts over the walkie-talkie that Chloe finally gave birth. Chloe starts to hemorrhage. Chloe and the baby survive after being rushed to the hospital. Heartbroken when he learns Billy is the baby's biological father, Cane refuses to turn over parental rights to Billy and signs the birth certificate. Amber refuses to believe the DNA test came back negative and that Kay isn't Kay. Clint and Roger kidnap Kay, who they believe is Marge. Adam opens up to the prison chaplain about the loss of his mother and his father turning his back on him. Ashley tells Victor that Adam needs him today, the anniversary of Hope's death. Victor goes to see Adam in prison to give him Hope's Bible. When Adam sees him and the Bible, he goes off on Victor. Victor is impressed. Tyra tells Neil that she is going to adopt Ana. Tyra admits her feelings for Neil and kisses him. Neil doesn't resist the kiss. Ashley is hurt when she learns Brad put Colleen in charge of Abby's trust fund. Colleen decides to take over Brad's seat at Newman Enterprises. A drunken Sharon remembers sleeping with Billy.

February 23, 2009 to February 27, 2009: J.T. asks Colleen why she is tangling with Victor, but Colleen is adamant that taking over this seat is a way to honor Brad. Jill is stunned to learn Billy is the father of Chloe's baby. Cane meets with Michael and tells him that he is divorcing Chloe and filing for full custody of Delia. Cane asks Lily to marry him and help raise Delia. Billy asks Chloe to marry him and fight Cane for custody. Jeff tries to seduce Jill, and she is stunned by his audacity. Jeff, however, is taken aback when Jill plants a kiss on him and offers him uncomplicated, no-strings-attached sex. Gloria takes full responsibility for her actions with the face cream leading to Emma Gibson's death. Michael tells Gloria there is evidence that the face cream was not the cause of Emma's death. Gloria begins to sob as it sinks in that Emma died of a food allergy and not a result of her actions. While picking up books for Noah, Sharon unknowingly steals some books from the display. Eden, literally left holding the bag, is arrested. Roger and Esther marry. Annie introduces herself to Esther as Roger's wife. Esther and Kay have an emotional reunion. Esther, Annie and Kay are about to leave when Clint arrives and tells them that no one is going anywhere.

March 2, 2009 to March 6, 2009: Cane and Lily finally consummate their reunion and make love. Chloe agrees to marry Billy. Victor gives Noah a brand-new car for his birthday. Phyllis tells Nick that she saw Sharon take a silver picture frame from the ranch. Sharon finds the picture frame in her purse and is perplexed. Nick can't keep his hands off Sharon. Kevin tells Jana and Gloria that his all-night search with Amber for Kay came up with nothing. Kevin confronts Clint at the hotel and ends up being injected with a sedative by Annie. Kevin wakes up and realizes he is trapped in a car trunk. Clint shows Kay and Esther an active bomb. Roger and Annie tie them to chairs. Amber finds Kay and Esther bound at the motel and works to free them. Gloria arrives just before the bomb is set to go off. Amber manages to free Kay and Esther as they all rush out of the motel and the bomb explodes. Adam starts to show signs of problems with his vision. Heather visits Adam in prison and misinterprets his actions as him dismissing her; unaware that he is losing his sight. Nikki is overwhelmed when she learns Ashley is pregnant.

March 9, 2009 to March 13, 2009: Sharon pulls back from the kiss with Nick, and he quickly apologizes and leaves. When he gets back to the tack house, Nick tries to tell Phyllis about his encounter with Sharon, but she doesn't want to hear it. Jack consoles Sharon as she finally admits she is falling apart. Jack's love and compassion are almost too much for Sharon. She kisses him passionately and Jack can't resist her. Later, during lovemaking, Sharon calls out Nick's name. When Kay comes to her senses after the explosion, the doctor asks her questions, but she doesn't remember any explosion. In order to get released from the hospital, Kay claims to be Marge. Ashley worries she could lose the child she is carrying. Adam converses with Heather about his eyesight when she comes to the prison to check on him. Heather pushes the issue and Adam is forced to admit he is losing his sight. He tells Heather to back off; otherwise, she will get him killed. The ophthalmologist tells Adam and Victor that Adam is showing signs of having the same disease Hope did. Adam breaks down at the thought of becoming blind in prison. Victor gets a call that Adam has been badly beaten. Clint, Roger and Annie drag Kevin into a cabin, and Kevin panics when Clint forces him into a closet. Roger and Annie decide to take off while Clint is in the shower, leaving Kevin locked in the closet. Kevin regresses to his childhood when Clint pretends to be his father. Devon walks in as Tyra and Neil are about to make love.

March 16, 2009 to March 20, 2009: Daniel, Amber and Jana show Michael the footage of Kevin's robbery dressed as a chipmunk. Michael is stunned to learn Kevin is the masked gunman. When Clint suffers a fatal heart attack, Kevin recalls his father, Tom, and thinks he killed him. Kay and Nikki reminisce about everything that Kay has missed over the past few months. When Nikki tries to return Kay's emerald ring, Kay refuses to take the ring back. Nikki and Kay make a plan to retrieve a DNA sample from Jill without her knowledge. Nikki meets with Jill at the GCAC and manages to get a strand of her hair. When the DNA test proves negative, Kay decides to leave town. After seeing Cane and Lily with the baby, Jill voices her belief that they would be better parents for Delia than Billy and Chloe. Lily agrees to stand by Cane as he fights for custody of Delia. Devon confronts Neil about sleeping with Tyra. Neil is destroyed when Devon tells him that Neil let him down. Sharon begs Phyllis not to tell Jack that she slept with Billy. Adam gets out of a situation of his own making. Ashley goes to see Adam in prison and he opens up to her about how his life has changed since meeting Victor. Victor tells Adam he will have him released, but only under the condition that Adam is released into his custody and lives under his rules. Jack tells a fragile Sharon that he loves her no matter what she has done. He asks her to come home with him. Sharon finally gives in when Jack promises to protect her and the two start to make love. Jack is thrilled when Sharon tells him that she is moving back to the Abbott mansion. Victor meets with Mary Jane and she tells him Jack took the bait.

March 23, 2009 to March 27, 2009: Jana collapses after suffering a headache. Amber is shocked to learn just how truly disturbed Kevin has become. During one of his fits, Kevin forces Amber into the closet where she finds Clint's body. Amber tries to explain to Kevin that Clint isn't his father and he isn't sleeping; he's dead. Kevin takes out a chainsaw and becomes eerily calm. Kevin tells her if Clint is dead, then they need to make a coffin. Michael and Daniel arrive at the hideout and find the coffin, Amber's bloody scarf and Clint's body, but no sign of Kevin or Amber. Daniel begins to believe Kevin is on a killing spree and Michael can't argue with him. Adam and Victor have a father and son moment when Victor helps Adam after he stumbles due to his eyesight. Nikki gets an envelope from Kay returning her ring. Jill demands that Victor sell back to her the controlling interest in Jabot. Victor, however, refuses to sell them, ever. Nikki tells Paul she believes that Kay is truly Kay and they need to figure out a way to prove it. Paul suggests they exhume the body. Victor offers to give Jill back controlling interest in Jabot at no cost in exchange for her cooperation in exhuming Kay's body. Jill agrees. Murphy proposes to a stunned Kay, who happily agrees, and Marge says her goodbyes. Cane proposes to Lily, but Lily turns him down. She tells him that she wants to marry him, but she can't take Delia away from Chloe. Jack and Sharon find themselves unexpectedly close and playful. Sharon kisses Jack, which leads to their making love.

March 30, 2009 to April 3, 2009: Jana suffers another blinding headache. Kevin forces Amber to rob the bank teller. Amber finds a security camera and tries to mouth the word "help." Kevin collapses in pain during the robbery and Amber debates whether or not to run and leave him behind. Seeing the guard moving towards Kevin, Amber grabs the money and Kevin and drags him out of the bank. Lily tells Cane that she can't marry him and she can't take Chloe away from Delia because Chloe has always put Delia first. Cane refuses to take back the engagement ring because they will never be over. Adam eavesdrops on Olivia and Ashley's conversation about Ashley's struggle with mental heath. Adam works out intensely in the hopes of losing enough weight to slip out of his ankle monitor. Jill admits to Cane that none of the DNA tests linked her and Kay as mother and daughter. Phyllis overhears Nick giving Sharon a glowing recommendation and overreacts. She tells Nick that Sharon stole from them. Nick and Phyllis finally reconnect and make love. Just as Billy and Chloe are pronounced husband and wife, Mac arrives home.

April 6, 2009 to April 10, 2009: Everyone reels at Mac's sudden appearance just as Mac reels from learning that Billy and Chloe are married. The most shocking news of all is when Katherine announces to everyone that Brock is her son, but Jill is not her daughter. Billy and Mac realize they are not blood cousins. Everyone, with the exception of Jill, welcomes Kay back with open arms. Jill tells Kay that she is moving out of the mansion. Esther tells Chloe about Billy and Mac's past, and Chloe pales when she learns that they were married and in love. Mac tells Billy that they have both moved on with their lives over the past six years. Mac decides to turn her visit into a permanent stay in Genoa City. Ashley asks Jack what is going on between him and Sharon. Jack tells her that he isn't ready to let go of either his marriage or Sharon. Jack asks Sharon to give them one more chance to save their marriage. Sharon shows Jack that she signed their divorce papers and she tells him that she thinks it's the best thing. No longer able to stand Phyllis' treatment of Sharon, Nick says he wants a separation. Sharon goes to the tack house looking for Noah and learns that Nick moved out. Amos and Jeff find the boxcar where Kevin and Amber are hiding. Jeff calls Gloria to tell her that he is bringing Kevin home tonight. Thinking Jeff is Tom, Kevin pistol-whips him. When police arrive on the scene, they cuff Kevin, who is silent and staring off vacantly. Michael tells Jana, Gloria, Jeff and Kay that he's decided he has to have Kevin committed to a psychiatric hospital in order to get him the help he needs and keep him out of jail. Devon confronts Tyra about sleeping with Neil and about all the lives that they have selfishly hurt with their actions. Karen throws Neil out of the apartment. Noah and Eden are making out in Noah's car when she stops him and tells him that she doesn't think she is ready. Ashley starts to wonder if she is being haunted by Sabrina's presence.

April 13, 2009 to April 17, 2009: Phyllis sneaks into Sharon's G.C.A.C. suite and starts to get revenge by trashing Sharon's belongings. Later, as Sharon and Nick are making love, Phyllis' frustration and anger are taking over as she is destroying Sharon's room. Phyllis finds all the items that Sharon has stolen over the past few weeks and is stunned, realizing what she has found. Sharon returns to her room to find the police searching it. When Jack arrives, he immediately assumes that someone set Sharon up and vandalized her room, but Sharon starts to believe that she did take the items in question. Sharon is arrested for grand theft. Michael arrives at the police station as Sharon is being booked and Jack tells him about the stolen merchandise, including books from Trumbles. When he starts to put two and two together, he refuses to be Sharon's lawyer. At home, Michael tells Lauren and Eden that Sharon was the one who stole the books from Trumbles and let Eden take the fall for it. Nick returns to the tack house and tells Phyllis that it's time that they separate. The judge rules that after observing Kevin's behavior that he be released to a psychiatric facility. Michael and Jana go to see Kevin and are horrified to find him locked up and restrained in a straitjacket. Kay pays Amber's million-dollar bail. Victor tells J.T. to find something on Colleen to help him force Colleen to resign from the Newman board. Sharon explains to Nick what has been going on with her lately and that she believes Phyllis was the one who broke into her room. When Nick tells Sharon he left Phyllis, she tells him that she doesn't want to be the reason for him to break up his marriage. Jill is hurt when she finds all the things from her office at Jabot packed up and assumes Kay ordered it. Jill eventually pushes Kay to a breaking point and Kay admits that she is glad Jill is not her daughter. In family court, Karen is blindsided when she learns that there is another petitioner for Ana's adoption and it is Tyra. However, the judge still seems to be leaning in Neil and Karen's favor after hearing everything they have done for Devon and Ana. Later, tensions rise as the judge reviews Tyra's petition. Ana gives her testimony to the court that as much as she loves the Winters, Tyra is her mom who raised her. Although Karen is tortured by the realization that Neil helped Tyra find a lawyer, she is vindicated when the judge rules in her and Neil's favor. Neil, however, stops the proceedings, saying he has a statement.

April 20, 2009 to April 24, 2009: Cane tells a very bitter Jill that he quit Chancellor and Jabot. Later, Jill goes to Ashley, determined to tell her that Victor was the one behind buying Kay's stock from Gloria and firing Jack and Ashley from Jabot. Jill's announcement is thwarted when Ashley experiences pregnancy pains. Cane tells Chloe that he has decided to drop the custody battle over Delia. Cane tells Lily that he resigned from Chancellor and now is looking forward to living a simple life, drama free. Lily makes her own pronouncement that she wants to go back to modeling and together they will be starting over. Cane asks Lily to marry him for the fourth time and she finally accepts. Karen is completely betrayed when Neil asks the court to reconsider its decision and place Ana with Tyra where she belongs. The judge awards Tyra legal guardianship of Ana, which may have cost Neil his marriage to Karen. Neil finds Karen at the apartment with her suitcases packed and she tells him that she is leaving. Paul learns that Clint's autopsy proves that he died of a massive heart attack; however, they still need to find Roger and Annie in order to get Kevin out of the hospital. Amber reveals that they went to Canada. Heather wonders if Adam can see her when he identifies her. Adam tells her that he recognized her perfume. He demands to know why she came by and Heather admits that she is still in love with him. Adam tries to do the right thing by telling Heather to walk away from him, but she can't. Adam thanks Victor for throwing him a party on his birthday. When Adam announces that he is planning to write his own memoirs, Victor is furious. Colleen opens up to J.T. about how difficult losing Brad has been for her, and J.T. starts to feel guilty about helping Victor destroy Colleen. Kay and Cane both hope that Kay and Jill can have a relationship, but are painfully aware that depends solely on Jill meeting Kay halfway. Billy runs into Cane at Jimmy's Bar. Cane calls Chloe to come pick up Billy when he becomes too drunk to drive himself home. Cane tells Lily that he bought Jimmy's bar. While trying to play matchmaker, Lily tries to set Colleen up with Rafe, unaware that he is gay.

April 27, 2009 to May 1, 2009: After making love, Heather recommits herself to Adam. The fight between Kevin and the Chipmunk escalates until Kevin gets the upper hand, Kevin beats the Chipmunk's head off. Kevin finds himself staring at himself and suddenly he hears Daniel calling him and he is back inside his padded cell. Kevin seemingly wakes up from his hallucination and is back to his old self, which relieves all the people that love him. Victoria offers Colleen a position as an art curator with the Newman Art Collection in a vain attempt to get Colleen to give up her seat on the board. J.T. arrives just in time to hear Colleen make it very clear that she isn't going anywhere. Nick tells Phyllis he wants to come home. Sharon gets proof that Phyllis was responsible for the vandalism in her room. Phyllis is arrested at Newman Enterprises in front of Nick, who is horrified. Jack meets Phyllis at the police station and she admits that Sharon had her arrested for vandalizing her hotel suite. Jack tells Phyllis that her behavior isn't going to win Nick back and the only way to do that is to show Sharon a little understanding. Neil meets with Tyra and admits that he has feeling for her but tells her that they need to take things slowly. Kay hires Neil to head Chancellor Industries. Ashley comes downstairs, ready for the evening in a dress Victor presumably laid out for her. However, Victor is furious when he sees her and Ashley is completely confused. Estella sees the dress and realizes that it was Sabrina's from the gala. Victor immediately believes that Nikki set up Ashley. Jack and Mary Jane make love. After Paul brings Annie and Roger into the GCPD, Michael agrees to defend them on the stipulation that they tell him everything they know about what Clint did to Kevin. Mac applies to work for Cane at the dive bar, and Cane hires her immediately. Michael learns from Roger that the gun Kevin was using during the robberies was loaded with blanks. Later, Amber tells Michael and Paul that she knows where the gun is because she hid it. Sharon learns that she is pregnant. After having one too many to drink, Jill decides to make an appearance at Kay's wedding. Kevin prepares to make his reintroduction into the world at the wedding and everyone is thrilled to see him when he arrives with Michael and Jana. Nina catches Jill coming into Kay's wedding, sloshed just as the wedding march begins.

May 4, 2009 to May 8, 2009: Ana sings as Kay walks down the aisle. Inside the dining room, Paul runs into Mary Jane and recognizes her, but Mary Jane rushes outside to the ceremony before he can find out any more. Jill wants to move back into the mansion. Victor offers Nick Neil's old position of CEO at Newman. When Sharon sees Nick and Phyllis together, she decides against telling Nick about the pregnancy. Sharon tells Jack that she is pregnant. Jack can't hide his enthusiasm over Sharon's pregnancy, even knowing that Nick could potentially be the baby's father. Jack offers to raise this baby with Sharon, but she wants time to consider her options. Billy panics when he learns Sharon is pregnant. Ashley realizes that Victor is starting to believe that she is behind all the strange occurrences lately involving Sabrina's belongings. Nick runs into Paul at the coffeehouse and sees a ring box, realizing that Paul intends to propose to Nikki. Nick offers his genuine congratulations. Just as Daniel is about to pack it in for the evening, the man that was watching him earlier approaches him and asks to buy all of his drawings. As the doctor is knocking on Adam's door, Adam jabs his eye with a needle filled with botox. Gloria loses her lawsuit against Jabot. While on the witness stand, Ashley collapses and is rushed to the hospital.

May 11, 2009 to May 15, 2009: Adam jabs his eye with the needle as Dr. Lurie waits outside the door for him. A moment later, Victor opens the door and Adam pretends to have been sleeping. Lurie tells Victor that Adam's condition is irreversible and he will eventually go blind. Murphy offers a fellow vet, the governor, a souvenir of war as a gesture. When the governor says goodnight, he tells Kay and Jill that he'll grant amnesty for Kevin and Amber. Nina meets with Kay with a proposition for her: She wants to make Kay's life story into a screenplay. Howard Aucker returns to the gallery and introduces himself to Daniel as an agent from the Justice Department. He asks Daniel for his help in forging a painting in order to draw out black-market thieves. Daniel reluctantly agrees but is especially unhappy to learn that he has to keep this from everyone, including Amber. Nick is stunned to learn that Sharon is moving back in with Jack. Jeff and Gloria run into Jill as they all try desperately to get their holdings out of the Bank of Corozal. Jill calls Victor for help but learns that he was one of the main reasons the bank collapsed. Victor refuses to help them, stating that pulling his money from the bank was a business decision. Upon hearing the reason for Jill's plight, he agrees to give her the money for all of them, including Jeff and Gloria. Billy refuses to give up what he had or could have with Mac for what he has with Chloe and Delia. Karen gives Neil their divorce papers and says goodbye to him and Tyra. Cane and Lily are pronounced husband and wife. Ashley answers the phone only to hear Sabrina's voice on the other end. Ashley crumbles into Victor's arms as she rushes to get out of the house. At the wedding reception, Nina and Jill remember Phillip III, but Jill makes it clear that she thanks God every day for finding Cane. Meanwhile, as happy as Cane is on his wedding day, there is a flicker of guilt in his face as he remembers a conversation with his uncle Langley.

May 18, 2009 to May 22, 2009: As Ashley dissolves into Victor's arm, she tells him that Sabrina said that she was going to die. Ashley explains to Victor what happened and Adam places the blame at Estella's feet. Victor learns that Estella couldn't have made the call to Ashley because she was with Rafe all day. At the reception, Devon surprises Tyra when he brings his Great Aunt Virginia to the wedding. Devon is taken aback when he learns that Tyra is not related to him and Ana by blood. Devon realizes that his father never knew he existed. Jill admits to Billy that she lost everything, but when Billy offers to give her money, she refuses, wanting to stand on her own two feet. Paul invites Mary Jane to have lunch with him, hoping to figure out what it is about her that is so familiar. Mary Jane evades but eventually gives in, knowing Paul won't back down. Later, Mary Jane does everything she can to throw Paul off her scent, but he recognizes her laugh. Paul does a background check on Mary Jane. Phyllis overhears Sharon tell a stunned Nick that she is pregnant. Mac admits to Chloe that she had a serious relationship with someone in Africa that ended recently due to her bad timing. Raul shows up out of the blue at the BBQ and everyone is blown away to see him, especially, Mac. Before anyone can figure out what is going on, Raul pulls Mac in for a passionate kiss.

May 25, 2009 to May 29, 2009: Billy is stunned to learn that Mac and Raul were together in Darfur. Raul professes his love to Mac. Raul tells Billy that he wants to marry Mac and Billy covers, saying that he is over Mac and gives Raul his blessing. Mac agrees to marry Raul. Devon confronts Tyra about hiding from him the fact that they were never related. Kevin shows Amber e-mails and letters from people who are angry that they got off with only a slap on the wrist. Nick and Phyllis are both reeling from the news that Sharon is pregnant. Sharon confesses everything to Jack about sleeping with Nick and Billy, and he still tells her that he wants both her and the baby. Nick tells Sharon he plans to leave Phyllis and wants to be with her. Kay and Nina visit Phillip III's gravesite together on the anniversary of his death. Jill joins Kay and Nina at Phillip's grave and all the women find some common ground. Lily surprises Cane with tickets to Australia to extend their honeymoon two weeks longer, but Cane is leery about going home again. Cane's uncle Langley sits at work in an Australian bar. Jill runs into Jeff and Gloria, and they all bond over a broken secret.

June 1, 2009 to June 5, 2009: A concierge stops Victor about paying for his suite at the G.C.A.C. Victor tells him that it will be paid for in cash as always and to never discuss this with him in public again. Jeff gets a call from the concierge, who tells him that about Victor's secret suite. Victor meets with Mary Jane to tell her that he no longer will need her services, but Mary Jane refuses to leave. Jill witnesses what she believes to be a lover's quarrel between Mary Jane and Victor and snaps a photo with her camera phone. Nina goes to see Cane for information about how he came to Genoa City. When Nina brings up Violet, Cane halts the interview. Cane calls his uncle Langley and tells him that they have a problem. Sharon turns down Jack's re-marriage proposal. Billy pleads with Jack for his forgiveness. Phyllis realizes that Nick is leaving her and refuses to cry a single tear over him. Phyllis throws Nick out and tells him to go to Sharon. As Nick is going, Phyllis and Jack wallow in their respective misery and come together in an urgent, passionate kiss. Nick and Sharon make love, in contrast to Jack and Phyllis, whose sex is born out a desperate need to connect. Ashley finds herself at the top of the stairs and just as she unveils "Sabrina's ghost" to see that it is in fact Adam, she slips and falls down the stairs.

June 8, 2009 to June 12, 2009: Agent Aucker asks Daniel to submit to a polygraph test when he believes that Daniel is making up the story about the fake agent and the forged Terroni painting. Daniel plans to intercept Howard at Jimmy's and retrieve his forgery back on his own. In the alley, a man in a ski mask jumps out and surprises Howard and Daniel. Howard and the man struggle for the gun and Howard gets shot. As Howard lies dying, he tells Daniel that he will be blamed for his death. Adam puts Ashley back into bed and tries to destroy the evidence of her bloody nightgown as Nikki lets herself in. Dr. Taylor tells Adam that Ashley had a miscarriage and Adam blackmails him into keeping quiet. When Ashley feels the baby kick, Adam is stunned. Taylor explains she is having an hysterical pregnancy and may have this issue until the baby comes to term. Mary Jane remembers seeing Phyllis and Jack make love, and plots to get revenge on her. Mary Jane's sex games make Jack wonder what he has gotten himself into. Cane is clearly uneasy when Nina starts asking questions about his past and the story of how he became a Chancellor. Billy pleads with Chloe to take him back just as Chloe finally realizes that she doesn't think she wants him back. Billy pushes Mac to admit her true feelings for him and she finally breaks. Sharon tells Jack she belongs with Nick. Phyllis refuses to file for divorce. When Nick and Sharon tell Noah that they are getting back together, he is furious that they can't make up their minds about anything. Noah tells Eden he plans to file for emancipation.

June 15, 2009 to June 19, 2009: As Mac and Billy are about to make love, Raul starts pounding on the door at Jimmy's. Billy and Mac dress quickly, and Billy exits as Mac lets Raul in. Raul tells Mac that Chloe called and said that Mac needed him. Mac tells Raul that she can't marry him. Raul realizes that her change of heart has to do with Billy but asks her to keep the ring. Mac sees a family moment between Chloe and Billy and decides to let them continue to believe that she and Raul are still engaged. Victor orders Mary Jane to start playing things closer to the vest, starting with Paul. Jack tells Phyllis about his past mistakes with love and how it drove a woman to try to kill him. Devon has a fantasy that he is kissing Tyra instead of Roxy. Nina tells Jill and Kay that Phillip IV has been exhibiting signs of Huntington's Disease and they need to test Phillip III's DNA in order to confirm the disease. Jill agrees to let Phillip's body be exhumed if it is only to check for the Huntington's Disease gene to ease Phillip IV's mind. Nina collapses when the casket that is supposed to contain Phillip's remains are filled with sand bags. The real Aucker arrives at Crimson Lights with a search warrant just as Michael, Daniel and Jana arrive. Aucker finds the briefcase full of money in the back office and arrests Jana and Daniel. Adam is the chief suspect in the terrorizing of Ashley. Victor buys a stem cell research company in hopes of saving Adam's eyesight.

June 22, 2009 to June 26, 2009: Cane makes another desperate call to Langley after hearing from Mac that Phillip III's exhumation had begun. Paul tells Nina, Jill and Kay that he had a test run on the casket and it proved that there was never a body in there in the first place. Nina tells Jill that this means that Phillip III could still be Jill's son after all. Nina demands that Cane take another DNA test to prove who he truly is. Nina is convinced that Cane is lying about who he is and that he is someone who managed to manipulate the story of the baby switch into Kay's memory. Cane opens a freezer and pulls out vials of blood labeled "Langley." He calls his uncle to tell him that he is taking care of things so that he can quit running. Dr. Taylor gives Adam the botox injections and warns him it could do permanent damage to his eyes. Dr. Donahue reveals that Adam has really been suffering from the eye disease for some time now and reveals he faces permanent blindness. Jana's hearing begins and Heather immediately brings up Jana's "murderess" past. The judge agrees with Heather that Jana could be dangerous and denies bail. Daniel tries to figure out who would set him up. Jack makes it clear to Mary Jane that their relationship is entirely about sex and nothing more. Victor meets with Mary Jane to find out if she has been tormenting Ashley. Adam overhears Victor reminding Mary Jane that he brought her to Genoa City for one reason: Jack Abbott. Jack asks Noah to give his parents a second chance and Noah is stunned after everything they have put Jack through. Mac finally admits to Billy that she broke off her engagement to Raul. Mac can't deny that still loves him and they end up in a passionate kiss. Sharon can't help opening the paternity results and is elated to learn that the baby is Nick's. On his way to the hospital, a hysterical Phyllis calls Nick because Summer went into anaphylactic shock due to an allergy to peanuts.

June 29, 2009 to July 3, 2009: In his room, Adam continues to work Rafe in order to distract him from finding evidence that he has set up Estella. Adam seems so sincere that Rafe responds. Rafe is confused after making love to Adam. Nick finds Phyllis and Summer at the hospital just as the doctor tells them that Summer is in a coma from the allergic reaction to the peanuts. Sharon waits at the chapel for Nick, rejoicing in the news that the baby is Nick's, when she sees his message that Summer is in the hospital. Sharon arrives outside Summer's hospital room and is tortured to see how much pain Nick and Phyllis are in. After hearing Nick with Phyllis and as he promises to stand by her and Summer through everything, Sharon makes the decision to lie to him. Sharon claims Jack is her baby's father. Victor lets himself into Mary Jane's suite at the G.C.A.C. and is disturbed when he finds Mary Jane's dead cat. Mary Jane sees how deeply bonded Phyllis and Jack still are and starts making plans to keep Phyllis from Jack. Mary Jane lets Heather overhear her "suspicions" that Phyllis was the one who hurt Summer in order to get Nick's attention. Heather immediately starts investigating Munchausen syndrome. After Phyllis is arrested, Nikki is given custody of Summer. Amber tells Michael that she thinks that everything that has happened to Daniel is connected to her. After Kay has a mini stroke, Mac tells Billy that she loves him and wants to be with him. They fall into a passionate kiss. A distraught Nina becomes determined to find Phillip's body and find out who he truly was. Paul tells Nina that he learned from the lab there was something wrong with Cane's blood test. Cane realizes he can't lie any longer and admits to everyone that he is not Phillip Chancellor III. As Cane tries to explain himself to a heartbroken Lily, Jill and Kay, the real Phillip arrives and states that Cane didn't do anything wrong; Phillip is the one to blame.

July 6, 2009 to July 10, 2009: As Billy and Mac are finally about to make love after six years of waiting, they are interrupted by their phones that won't stop ringing and they both realize something could be wrong. When they hear the story and what happened to Kay, they rush off to help. Cane tells Lily, Neil, Billy, Chloe and Esther the total and complete truth about his life; about how he grew up alone on the streets and how he met "Langley." Phillip explains his plan to help Cane find a family and to help Jill and Kay heal by replacing himself with another son — Cane, until Nina came along. Phillip explains how he felt trapped in his own life and that he tried to kill himself, but when that didn't work, he needed to get out so he faked his own death. Cane tells Billy and Chloe how he switched vials of blood during the DNA test for Delia and that he knew Billy had to be Delia's father all along, but he couldn't risk exposing the truth without exposing himself. Lily gives her wedding ring back to Cane. Heather tries to piece together the story of how Summer came in contact with the peanuts and Phyllis' state of mind at the time. Phyllis loses her cool with Heather and slaps her. Heather makes it clear to Michael that she isn't letting this case drop for any reason. Summer awakens from her coma. Heather meets with Mary Jane to reassure her that no one will ever know that she was the one who reported the abuse. Nick is devastated as he realizes that Noah is still filing for emancipation. Nikki stops by the ranch to pick up a few things for Victor and is shocked when she sees Adam and Rafe kissing. Nikki starts feel sympathy towards Adam, believing this is the secret that Adam had been trying to hide from everyone, especially Victor. Mary Jane is horrified to see that Victor has discovered her wall of revenge with photos of Phyllis, Sharon and Jack. Victor tells Mary Jane that he is sending her away from Genoa City as soon as possible. Kevin works to fix Balfour's phone in order to help Daniel discover who is trying to frame him. The powerful man and Ryder plot to get rid of Daniel. Ashley tells Adam that she wants to name the baby Hope, after his mother. Adam finds a distraught Mary Jane on the grounds and uses her mental instability to form a bond against Victor with her. Adam lets Mary Jane hide at the ranch.

July 13, 2009 to July 17, 2009: Phillip tells Cane that he came out to Nina but isn't sure how she took it or how Kay or Jill will. Victor worries as he orders his guards to find Mary Jane. He tries to keep Ashley calm as they wait to get the sonogram for the baby. Dr. Taylor tells Adam that he rigged the sonogram machine to show images of a baby the same age that Ashley's fetus should be. Ashley agrees to marry Victor. Adam tells Mary Jane she is going to Victor and Ashley's wedding in Sabrina's bloodstained purple dress. Victor hires Jeff and Gloria to discredit Colleen. Gloria and Jeff get a report from the actor Aidan that they hired to hit on Colleen. A drunk Colleen flashes Aidan. Aidan posts Colleen's inappropriate photo on the Internet. Victor and Ashley exchange vows and are pronounced husband and wife. As everyone is congratulating the happy couple, Ashley sees Mary Jane through the window and mistakes her for Sabrina and passes out in Victor's arms. Acting on Dr. Taylor's advice, Victor asks Adam to move. Nick tells Phyllis that she and Summer need him and this is where he belongs. The doctor tells Nick, Phyllis, Jack and Sharon that Summer has some brain damage, but they should have every reason to hope she will recover. When Lily doubles over in pain, Devon calls 9-1-1. The doctor tells Lily that she isn't pregnant and the cramping is from an unrelated complication.

July 20, 2009 to July 27, 2009: Michael agrees to put up the capital for Kevin's Chipmunk line of t-shirts. There is an obvious spark between Chloe and Chance when they meet for the first time. Neil is devastated as he breaks the news to Lily that she has cancer. Olivia is heartbroken when she tells Neil that Lily's cancer spread and they had to remove all of her reproductive organs. Jill asks Michael to spilt her estate between her three sons: Billy, Phillip and Cane. Kevin sets Gloria up with a Newman Enterprises e-mail account and she is able to send the video of Colleen out. Victoria and J.T. see the video on a computer at Newman. J.T. is stunned by Victoria's fury toward Colleen's indiscretion. Victor arrives and sees the video and pretends as though he has never seen it before. Colleen arrives moments later and J.T. manages to warn her about the video just before Victor and Victoria confront her. Victor demands her removal from the Newman board for her behavior. An FBI agent arrives at Daniel's apartment with a search warrant and they find the forged Terroni behind the wall. Daniel is taken into custody. Nick and Phyllis bring Summer home but are a little heartbroken when Summer has some difficulty with her words. Nikki inform Nick and Phyllis that Mary Jane's entire background was fabricated, but Paul doesn't know why. Ashley asks Adam to be the baby's godfather and Adam is overcome with guilt. Nikki tells Victor that Adam is gay. Victor stuns Adam when he tells Adam he accepts him for whom he is. Deacon tempts Amber with evidence that could set Daniel free. When Amber doesn't believe him, Deacon plays her a tape of Balfour stating that they set Daniel up. Deacon tells Amber this is a one-time offer: either she sleeps with him tonight or Daniel stays in jail. Deacon sets Amber up so that Daniel hears everything and realizes that Amber is having sex with Deacon. Chance tells Chloe and Kay that he has decided to stay in Genoa City.