BLAST FROM THE ATWT PAST

In 1985, thirteen years after they first met and had a torrid, secret affair, Bob (Don Hastings) and Kim (Kathryn Hays) finally made it to the altar.

Above is their wedding photo. Members of the wedding party included (left to right) Emily's grandfather, David Stewart (Henderson Forsythe, who played the role for 30 years; 1960-90), Bob's brother, Don, Tom Hughes (as played by Emmy winner Gregg Marx 1984-1987), Andy Dixon (Scott DeFreitas a.k.a. Mr. Maura West/Carly), Emily's sister, Betsy Stewart (Lindsay Frost a.k.a Not Meg Ryan), David's wife, Emily's grandmother and daughter of Oakdale's original Lowell family, Ellen Stewart (Patricia Bruder, another 30 year vet), Barbara Ryan (Colleen Zenk Pinter, currently entering her 29th year in the role) and Margo (Hillary Bailey Smith; 1983-1990).

Please enjoy the trip down memory lane, and feel free to let us know what other blasts from the past you'd like to see featured here!

STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND

The New York Times reports on the intersection of Oakdale and (Jewish) Orthodoxy....

The show has been filmed in New York for its entire 51-year history, and it’s safe to say that its souped-up world of sex and chicanery rarely resembles life on the sidewalks outside. But seven years ago the producers moved their studio from Midtown to Midwood, and with a healthy dose of real estate irony, the relocation coincided with a sharp growth in the local Orthodox Jewish community. As Midwood’s Orthodox population soared to perhaps three-quarters of the neighborhood, the gap between sidewalk and soap opera became a gulf.

Read the entire article by clicking on the link above.

(Side note: Guiding Light made an attempt at having a Jewish character back in 1991, when Harley briefly met fashion designer Matt Weiss, had Shabbat dinner with him and his grandmother, then never saw him again. From 1997-2000, future primetime Emmy winner Tammy Blanchard played the Jewish Drew Jacobs. She even got her fiance, Jesse Blue, to agree to convert prior to their wedding. Unfortunately, nobody ever addressed the fact that as an adoptee and biological daughter of non-Jewish Serena and Ben, Drew herself needed to be formally converted. In any case, that was GL's attempt at religious diversity, but I can't recall any Jewish characters ever on ATWT. Can anyone out there jog my memory? Of who is currently on the canvas, I do have my suspicions about Noah. His last name is Mayer. And the actor playing him is Jake Silbermann. Maybe there are several areas in which Noah has yet to come out....)

NATIONAL PARENTS DAY

The fourth Sunday in July is National Parents Day.

Since soaps are all about family and illegitimate pregnancy (which leads to parenthood), we at the PGP Classic Soaps Blog thought it would be fun to honor some of the best parents on our shows.

However, once we started talking about it, it became obvious that even those who are always referred to as terrific parents aren't in reality all that great.

For instance, Nancy Hughes is practically an Oakdale saint. She is called the world's best mother, the world's best grandmother, the world's best great-grandmother. And yet, once upon a time, Nancy was such a nag and a buttinsky that her son, Don, moved out of town in a rage over the way she treated the love of his life.

Then there's Bob and Kim. Salts of the earth, both of them. Except that Bob's son, Tom, became a drug addict and a thief as a teen due to the way his parents alternately ignored and spoiled him. Not to mention that Chris, the child Bob and Kim had and actually raised together (as opposed to Sabrina, who was born as a result of their affair while Bob was married to Kim's sister, then kidnapped and raised by others), turned out to be more or less of a jerk with a passion for mother/daughter pairs like Abigail/Molly and Emily/Alison (I know, I know, Alison was raised as Emily's sister, but she's her biological daughter, and Chris knew it).

Upstanding Tom and Margo raised one almost-rapist son and one gambling jailbird. Holden and Lily's teen drove drunk and their daughter had an eating disorder. And Susan... well, what else is there to say about Susan?

Over on Guiding Light, Bert Bauer was the accepted paragon of parenting. Except that she enabled husband Bill's drinking all the years the boys were growing up, including defending him to son Ed (another alcoholic -- I wonder where he learned that behaviour?) in her famous "He's a big man and you're small" speech.

Cassie is often praised for being a good mother and no one is denying that she loved and grieves for Tammy. But how many Daddies has RJ had so far? And has she even mentioned Will lately?

Reva may have given birth to four children, but she hasn't raised a single one. Dylan and Jonathan were both given away for adoption, while Reva was "dead" (alternately a princess and an Amish woman) for the bulk of Marah and Shayne's childhood. (To give credit where it's due, when Reva returned from the dead and saw that her children were happier with the not-yet-crazy-then Annie, Reva did step aside for their own good).

Harley obviously loves her boys, but she's another one who puts her kids on the Daddy roller-coaster, not to mention periodically getting shot and making them think they might lose her.

Frankly, the Boudreau parents seem to be the most fit ones in Springfield. Clay and Felicia have only been married to each other (well, as far as we know, this is daytime, after all), Remy is a mostly upstanding cop (he did have the slip with Gillespie but hey, he was upset about the poorly-parented, now dead Tammy), while Mel has a JD and an MD, plus a seemingly well adjusted child, Leah, of her own.

To be fair, it's easy for Clay and Felicia to be good parents. They're rarely on-screen.

So I turn the question to you: On this National Parents Day, who would you nominate as the best parents in P&G soap land? Tell us in the Comments below.

EXPECTING...

With As The World Turns' Gwen (Jennifer Landon) and Will (Jesse Lee Soffer) expecting a miracle baby, we thought we'd put up a new hot shot of the couple, so we could all ponder what a pretty child it's destined to be.

Then, of course, there's the most important thing: names.

Since soap kids are rarely baptized with just some name their parents plucked out of a baby book (probably why no one on daytime is named Madison, despite it's being the second most popular name in America); it has to have meaning and symbolism and usually be in honor of a loved one (or at least a loved sentiment; Hope, Faith, etc...), here are some possibilities:

Girl: Jennifer, Hallie, Barbara, Paula
Boy: Harold, William Jr, Carl, Robert

What are your thoughts?

SO YOU LIKE SPOILERS, DO YOU?

The overwhelming response to yesterday's photo spoilers (scroll down if you haven't seen those yet) inspired us to post another pair of pictures -- one from ATWT, another from GL.

Let the plot speculations begin!

HE'S BAAAAACK....

A first look at two of Springfield's most missed family members, Jonathan Randall (Tom Pelphrey) and his baby daughter, Sarah (who has apparently become quite the computer whiz).

Look for them next week, only on Guiding Light.

(Ed note: The above photo is copyrighted by PGP/Televest, kindly link to the image, instead of copying it).

AND SHE'S BAAAACK, TOO!

Cady McClain returns to her Emmy-winning role as Rosanna Cabot on As The World Turns in August.

And she's not the only Oakdale denizen rising from the dead this summer. Guess Halloween is coming early this year...

(Ed note: The above photo is copyrighted by PGP/Televest, kindly link to the image, instead of copying it).

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Brittany Snow (ex-Susan; GL) now co-starring in the hit musical Hairspray, recalls another GL alum, Laura Bell Bundy (ex-Marah):

My friend Laura Bell Bundy is Elle Woods on Broadway. She was my aunt on The Guiding Light and was the original Amber in Hairspray. Maybe she can keep passing parts on to me."

Entire interview, here.

OUR FAIR BRADY

Here's the story
Of a former Brady *
He was Peter
(Who liked applesauce
And chops made out of pork)
Christopher Knight
He was a pre-teen heartthrob.
But adult Chris
Had a tough time finding work **

Till the one day when he joined
A daytime drama.
On Another World it all began to gel.
He was Denny and he dated
Jennifer Runyon ***
And that's why he now appears
On AOL.

On AOL
On AOL
Classic Soaps on A-O-L!

* Other PGP former Bradys include Christopher Daniel Barnes, who played Paul on ATWT before co-starring as Greg in the feature films, and Jesse Lee Soffer, who was Bobby in the movies before coming to Oakdale as Will. More here.

** Middle aged Chris has moved on to starring in reality shows. Check out his official website, here.

*** After playing Sally on AW, Jennifer filled in for Susan Olson as Cindy on A Very Brady Christmas, meaning she went from playing Chris' girlfriend... to his sister.

ROCK AND "COLE!"

Bradley Cole’s (Jeffrey; GL) Annual Rock Show for Charity presented by Nomadic Music, Inc will take place on Friday, October 5, 2007, with performances by The Bradley Cole Band, Kim Zimmer (Reva; GL)), Ricky Paull Goldin (Gus; GL), Ron Raines (Alan; GL), Robert Newman (Josh; GL), Nicole Forester (Cassie; GL), Tom Pelphrey (Jonathan; GL), Trent Dawson (Henry; ATWT), John Driscoll (Coop; GL), Caitlin Van Zandt (Ashlee; GL), Frank Dicopoulos (Frank; GL) and other special guests from the cast of Guiding Light and As the World Turns.

Two Shows! Two Pre-Show Mix-n-Mingles! Enjoy complimentary beer, wine, sodas and light hors d'oeuvres while you peruse auction items and mingle with actors from CBS Daytime before the show!

Tickets $125

American Red Cross Greater New York Headquarters, 520 W. 49th St., New York, NY

First Show 7:00 p.m. (arrive at 6:00 p.m. for Pre-Show Mix-n-Mingle)

Second Show 9:30 p.m. (arrive at 8:30 p.m. for Pre-Show Mix-n-Mingle

Buy your tickets online at TicketLeap.com

To order by mail, send a check or money order to:

Nomadic Music, Inc.
P.O. Box 1852
New York, NY 10163.

Please include a telephone number with your order. Mail order sales end September 30, 2007 or upon sellout, whichever comes first.

A minimum of 60% of each ticket sold will be donated to the American Red Cross Greater New York Chapter.

AS THE WORLD FLITCHES

Yesterday was Flitch Day.

According to this site: Flitch Day is an old custom, originating in Dunmow, Essex, England. Once a year, a flitch or 'slab' of bacon was given to any married couple who could prove they had 'not wished themselves unwed.' To offer their proof, a couple went before a mock court. In this court was a jury of bachelors and maidens, to which the the married couple would try to prove that they had lived in harmony and fidelity for the past twelve months. If they succeeded in convincing the jury, the couple was awarded a flitch of bacon from the local monks. Not surprisingly, it is said that very few "took home the bacon."

My question to you is: Is there ANY couple in Oakdale who might have qualified for the bacon in the past year? I've put up pictures above of ones who might come close, but do we really believe they've had 365 days of nothing but sheer bliss and never once wished themselves unwed? And which of ATWT's newer couples do you think has the potential to be future flitches?

Tell us what you think in the Comments below!

FUTURE ROULETTE

Next week, the above four Guiding Light couples all put on their party clothes and head out for a night on the town.

But which of these four do you think has the staying power to make it to the end of summer?

Let us know in the Comments section below!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: CAMILLA CARR (RITA; ANOTHER WORLD)

She made horror films and was cast as a regular on the soap opera Another World (she played Rita Connelly in 1979). But writing became her lasting love, one she nurtured with another formidable mentor, second husband Edward Anhalt, an Oscar-winning screenwriter (Panic in the Streets and Becket).

Full story here.

And check out the AOL/PGP Classic Soaps Channel reruns of Another World, here!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: CRYSTAL HUNT (EX-LIZZIE; GL)

Hanging with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Kind of.

(Hunt pictured above with former Guiding Light parents Grant Aleksander and Beth Chamberlin).

ATWT: CASTING NEWS

They're new, they're hot, and they're fabulous!

Justine Cotsonas and Chris Heuisler join the cast of As The World Turns as Sofie and Cole, a not particularly functional couple, with a surprise connection to an established Oakdale family.

Look for them this month, only on ATWT!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: GRANT ALEKSANDER (EX-PHILLIP; GL)

The Occasional Theatre will present the world premiere of Night by Philip Gerson, as part of the 11th annual New York International Fringe Festival – FringeNYC .... The cast includes: Grant Aleksander (of “The Guiding Light” and “All My Children”), Josh Clayton, Jenn Miller Cribbs, Veronica Cruz, Laurence Lau (of “Another World” and “All My Children”), and Maureen Mueller.

Complete details, here.

(Ed. note: Veronica Cruz also appeared on GL in 1994 as Gabriella).

GL: ACTOR APPEARANCE

Bonnie Dennison (Daisy), Ricky Paull Goldin (Gus), Michelle Ray Smith (Ava) and Marcy Rylan (Lizzie) will travel to New Orleans on Thursday, July 12 to volunteer alongside the 100 fans they recruited to help repair and restore the The New Orleans Mission.

The work includes installing showers, scraping/painting walls and floors, hanging drywall and building sleeping cubicles. Immediately following the Guiding Light air show on Friday, July 27, tune in to see a special video package, highlighting the efforts of this event.

A CHIP OFF THE OLD BUZZ

An ode to John Driscoll's (Coop; GL) hair.

Short.

Shorter.

Shortest.

Which do you prefer?

AS THE BUNNY TURNS

It's National Rabbit Month. Really. Look it up.

Snickers I & II: We salute you.

CHEMISTRY TEST: COUGARS VS. KITTENS

It's not just NBC that's got women in their twenties squaring off against women "of a certain age" for the attentions of a 30something hunk.

Guiding Light is pitting wealthy dowager Alex (Marj Dusay) against perky cop Marina (Mandy Bruno) for dashing (reformed?) jewel thief Cyrus (Murray Bartlett).

Should it be the kitten or the cougar? Let us know in the Comments section below, then tune into GL on July 26 to see who Cyrus picks!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Farley Granger (ex-Earl; ATWT)

Spencer Grammer (ex-Lucy; ATWT)

Terrence Mann (ex-Jester; ex-Newman; ATWT)

Update: Read more about Jonathan's Story in this week's TV Guide.

JONATHAN'S STORY

Have you been missing Guiding Light's Jonathan (Tom Pelphrey) ever since he and baby Sarah left Springfield for life on the run? Do you wonder what that life has been like for them? And are you also more than a little curious about what Jonathan called Reva (Kim Zimmer) for last week that required her temporarily absconding with Lizzie?

Well, wonder no more! Not only will GL be revealing -- this week! -- what Reva was up to with Lizzie, but, come September, Pocket Books (publishers of the New York Times best-selling ATWT tie-in Oakdale Confidential) will release a novel, Jonathan's Story, detailing where Jonathan went, what trouble he got into there, and spotlighting his surprising, continuing connection to true love, Tammy.

Also in September 2007, Reva and Alan find themselves entangled deeper in each other's lives than either ever thought possible. How does that happen and why? Jonathan's Story has the answers!

Watch -- and read -- all about it!

THE GREAT BIG WORLD

In honor of As The World Turns' just completed remote shoots in Branson and Upper New York State (standing in for British Columbia), the PGP Classic Soaps Blog takes a look back at two other occasions when ATWT left Oakdale to see the great, big world (the real great, big world, that is. Not a studio set with one tree, no wind and a big sign reading: Not Oakdale).

In 1987, Bob (Don Hastings) and Kim (Kathryn Hays) traveled to Venice via the Orient Express in their hunt for the mysterious Sabrina, who turned out to be their long-lost daughter (and a dead-ringer for her half-sister/cousin Frannie).

In 1989, James (Anthony Herrera) tried to kidnap Paul (Andrew Kavovit) from a helipad in New York City, but was presumed dead when his chopper crashed into the East River (not to be confused with the time he was presumed dead after falling out of an airplane. Or shot. Or shot by Paul. Or shot and burned. Or just burned).

What are some of your favorite ATWT location shoots?

YOUNG LOVE

Guiding Light has featured their share of memorable, young love summer stories (complete with the inevitable, love in the pounding surf ala From Here To Eternity, a movie most of the young lovers below were too young to have ever seen and so thought they were being original).

Morgan and Kelly had Laurel Falls. Dylan and Julie got Florida. Danny and Michelle frolicked in San Cristobel (really Puerto Rico).

Will Daisy (Bonnie Dennison) and Rafe (EJ Bonilla) be the next Springfieldians to get wet and wild? Stay tuned to Guiding Light this summer and find out!

GL'S OTHER EMMY WINNER NAMED "PELFREY"

Pelfrey's eventual Emmy-winning work came in the "Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series," for his work on "Guiding Light." Through the years, his work has accompanied a litany of popular television shows, including "American Dreams," "Saturday Night Live," "Felicity," "Six Feet Under" and "Friends." He has worked with some of the biggest stars in the music business from current stars Usher, Ashanti, Kelly Clarkson and Nick Lachey to legends such as Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Eric Clapton and James Taylor.

Full story, here.

A&A v.2?

So now that you've had a few weeks to watch ATWT's Aaron (Agim Kaba) interact with nuAlison (Marnie Schulenburg), what do we think? Is the spark still there? Does this couple have a chance? Let us know!

And, to help you make up your mind, here are some new hot shots of the potential (re)couple.

ROW RICKY'S BOAT

Ricky Paull Goldin (Gus; GL) will host his Fourth Annual Guiding Light NYC Harbor Cruise for Charity on Sunday, October 7 ^th .

Boarding time will be 11:00 AM at the Spirit of the Hudson, docked at Pier 61, Chelsea Piers, located at 23 ^rd Street and the Hudson River.

A jazz band will play music as you mingle with your favorite daytime stars, take photos of the skyline, and get an up close view of the Statue of Liberty. A brunch buffet will be served.

Guiding Light photos and merchandise will be available, and there will be the usual GL memorabilia auction, as well as a few exclusive door prizes and raffles. Advanced ticket price is $100.00.

Actors tentatively scheduled to sail with Ricky include John Driscoll (Coop), Bonnie Dennison (Daisy), Kurt McKinney (Matt), Arielle Renwart (Leah), Marcy Rylan (Lizzie), Lawrence Saint-Victor (Remy), Michelle Ray Smith (Ava), Caitlin Van Zandt (Ashlee) and Murray Bartlett (Cyrus).

To order tickets, please visit http://www.rickypaullgoldin.com

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: MATTHEW BOMER (EX-BEN; GL)

Bomer, who also starred on the TV series Tru Calling and the daytime drama Guiding Light, agrees with Corddry about the downside of "fast-paced" TV work: "A lot of times actors are left wanting more in terms of development of character, direction, and rehearsal time," he notes. "It's also relatively easy to get into a rhythm and a set pattern of working, and, as an artist, that type of security can be dangerous. Williamstown has been a reminder of why I love to act; it has recharged and deepened my creativity. On top of that, it's a hell of a fun party."

Full story, here.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: SPENCER GRAMMER (EX-LUCY; ATWT)

Heading east for college, she stayed when she landed a six-month stint on As the World Turns. "I was really young so it was hilarious playing a doctor on a soap. It was amazing training because it's the hardest work as an actor because you work every day and it's so fast. Everything is easy after that. It's really demanding."

Full story, here.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: MARIANN AALDA (DIDI; EDGE OF NIGHT)

Mariann Aalda debuted on The Edge of Night in 1981 and played the role until that show went off the air in 1984. Since then, she's appeared on Guiding Light, Sunset Beach, and in multiple nighttime guest-spots. But that's not all! Since leaving EON, Mariann has branched out into multiple fields... some of which may surprise you!

PGP: How did your role on EON come about? Do you remember your audition? Your first day on the set? What were they like?

MA: There's a monthly publication called ROSS REPORTS that updates casting and production information...and as a young actor, I made it a point to mail a picture and resume to all the new casting directors on the scene. When I saw that EON had a new casting director (Whitney Burnett), I mailed her my picture. A couple months later, she simply called me in to read for the role of "DiDi Bannister" -- which at the time was only slated to be a recurring role lasting a couple months or so to create a love triangle between Calvin Stoner and his wife, Starr.

Previously, I'd auditioned for contract roles on OLTL and The Doctors...and I'd been a recurring day player on OLTL and done under-fives on ATWT (with Sigourney Weaver!) and Another World. Over 100 women auditioned for the role of "DiDi." I think I auditioned 3 or 4 times and then four of us screen-tested for the role. The test was on the actual EON set, with the regular EON crew, at the end of their regular work day.

All four actresses testing were brought onto the set and introduced to Irving...and then director, John Sedwick, gave us our blocking and told us we would be brought back one at a time to rehearse with Irving and then shoot the 11-page scene. We were then taken back to the green room to wait. Some of the cast came by to say "hi" (and to check us out)...Lori Loughlin (Jody) claims that she took one look at me and knew I was "the one!"

After several hours, I was the last person to test. By that time I was really nervous, and when I walked onset, I could see that the crew was tired and just wanted to go home. Soooooo, John asked if I would mind if they just taped my rehearsal...and that, then, if I wanted to, I could do it again.

Well, I knew I was only going to get one chance, but I said "Okay."

DiDi made an entrance into the police station. It was a confrontational scene, with her as a brand-new attorney representing a young punk client, and Det. Calvin Stoner, who'd been the arresting officer. Well, unbeknownst to me, as a cost-saving measure, EON would lay down the music tracks as they were taping the scenes, so all of a sudden I heard this sexy oboe music starting to play over my dialogue!!! Fortunately, I happen to be very musical and (having done a lot of improvisational comedy), pretty quick on my feet, so it didn't throw me. Instead, I played the scene the way the music was playing...still confrontational...but a little sexier. And I think that's what got me the job!

"The new kid on the block" is always gonna get checked out on any set. The regulars always want to know if the new kid can pull her/his weight. Everybody was very cordial to me my first day on Edge... and by the end of the week we were all pals. After three months, exec producer Nick Nicholson offered me a two-year contract... and head writer Henry Slesar said (with a twinkle in his eye) that he planned to make "DiDi" suffer... because I "suffered" so well! I was very flattered, to say the least!

PGP: What was it like to film the last episode of the show when it went off the air in 1984? Do you still keep in touch with any former cast members?

MA: The last day on the set wasn't that sad, really... because by then we'd known for months that we were being cancelled and had a chance to get used to the idea... and a lot of us were planning on moving to LA and looking forward to that. I still stay in close touch with Jennifer Taylor (Chris; she and I were long-time dressing-roommates...and then, she moved to Chicago, and I was from Chicago, so I'd hook up with her whenever I went there to visit) and Kerry Emerson (Jody #2) ...and I get together once a year at an EON reunion with Lisa Sloan (Nicole) and Terry Davis (April). I stay in touch with Ernie Townsend (Cliff), too. And I used to get together regularly with Lela Ivey (Mitzie) till she moved back to Michigan.

Julius Burnett is a big EON fan and kind of an EON historian, and he usually organizes it. The next one is this July 21... fortunately it coincides with my going back to LA for a week of rehearsals before Iona Morris and I take our new show to the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, NC, in August... so I'll get a chance to see everybody then!

PGP: You have had small roles in movies ranging from "The Wiz" to "Beaches" to "Pretty Woman," plus dozens of guest-star appearances on primetime shows ("Designing Women," "Family Matters," "All Of Us"). How does going from set to set and part to part differ from playing the same role day in and day out on a soap? Which do you prefer?

MA: Along with tons of guest-star-roles, I've had regular roles on HBO's "First & 10" -- playing opposite OJ Simpson as his wife for three seasons... on CBS' "The Royal Family," as the daughter of Redd Foxx and Della Reese (it only lasted 15 episodes when Redd died on the set)...and recurring on CBS' "Designing Women" as Anthony's yuppie-from-hell girlfriend, Lita Ford... and on the NBC soap, "Sunset Beach" for a year-and-a-half as "the tragically disfigured Lena Hart."

Being a guest-star is a lot harder than being a regular because you're playing in somebody else's sandbox with somebody else's toys. Some sets are very welcoming and the regular cast is very warm... on other sets the guest-cast is pretty much ignored by the regulars unless you have a scene with them. It's not because they're cold or uncaring... it's just that they're preoccupied with all they have to do.

PGP: How did your 3-women show, 3 Blacque Chix, come about, and what is the message you would like it to send to women "of a certain age?"

MA: "3 Blacque Chix" ran in LA for almost two years, when one of the "chix" opted out. Iona Morris (she played Tamara Tunie's sister on ATWT) and I decided that we wanted to continue our message of women "of a certain age" still being sassy, sexy, vibrant and viable, so we wrote a new show premiering this summer at the National Black Theatre Fest, entitled "MOIST: 2Sxy 2B 4Gtn!" Our plan is to bring it to NY by next spring to a small Off-Broadway house.

PGP: You have so many other projects going on - please tell us about them.

MA: I'm doing re-writes on my book, "My Kid Is My Guru," and I've been working as an acting coach, using hypnosis techniques to tap into the subconscious and go deeper into character work and allow for greater relaxation and focus. And I'm also a distributor for Slumber Parties... another venue for women staying sassy and sexy!

But now that I'm back in New York, I've set my mind to being a regular again on a soap, and I've even been in touch with some of the producers.

I love it that "seasoned" actresses like Kim Zimmer (Reva; GL), Erika Slezak (Viki; OLTL), Robin Strasser (Dorian; OLTL) and Susan Lucci (Erica; AMC) are still getting great front-burner storylines... but it saddens me that with Tamara Tunie (ex-Jessica; ATWT) and Victoria Rowell (ex-Dru; Y&R) gone from daytime, there are no terrific role models like that for women of color... and I think they're needed.

Women have been "hypnotized" into believing that we lose value as we get older. Positive images in the media help to offset that. I'd love the opportunity to create a dynamic new daytime character... and I think that Edge fans who've been following my career since Edge went off the air 23 (Wow, has it been that long!!!???) years ago would be glad to have me back!

While we wait for Mariann to land back on another soap (which one would you like to see her on and as what kind of character -- tell us in the Comments below), you can also anticipate her first appearance on Edge of Night by watching episodes from 1979 on the AOL/PGP Classic Soaps Channel and getting to know Didi's love interest-to-be, Calvin Stoner!

ATWT: LIKE DAUGHTER LIKE...

Jennifer Landon, as Gwen, sings alongside Andy Williams at his Moon River Theater as As The World Turns continues its location shoot in Branson, MO next week.

Here, just for fun, is some rare video of Jennifer's dad, Michael Landon, best known for his television acting work, belting out a tune.

ACTOR APPEARANCE: LAWRENCE SAINT-VICTOR (REMY; GL)

Lawrence Saint-Victor (Remy) will appear in a production of Black Man Rising, a Choreopoem presented by StageFace Productions.

Performances will run Thursdays through Sundays from July 12 until July 28 at the Player’s Loft, located at 115 MacDougal Street in New York City.

Tickets are $18.00 and reservations can be made by calling (212) 352-3101. For more information, please visit www.stagefaceproductions.com.

EILEEN FULTON GETS LOST

Eileen Fulton, who stars on "As the World Turns," will make a special appearance July 12 to 14 at "The Lost Colony" outdoor drama in Manteo, N.C.

Details and article, here.

ATWT: BUH-BYE, BUH-BYE, BUH-BYE

Jennifer Landon ends her dual role as Cleo on Tuesday, July 10. This will also be the last airdate for Mattie Hawkinson (left) who has played Landon’s double since Cleo’s debut.

Elena Goode (Jade) says goodbye to Oakdale on Monday, July 16, and Kelley Menighan Hensley (Emily) departs on Friday, July 13 as the actress begins her maternity leave.

Kelley and her husband/co-star, Jon Hensley (Holden) welcomed their third child, daughter Georgia Grace (nickname: Gigi), on June 28.