Recently in As the World Turns

Back in March we told you about a collaboration between NATAS and the Smithsonian Institute to bring some of the most iconic daytime television memorabilia to the national museum, and today the first donations were presented!

Today's ceremony officially launched a three-year collecting initiative between the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and the National Museum of American History, aiming to help the museum expand its capacity to tell the story of daytime television and the Daytime Emmy Awards. At the ceremony, the Smithsonian accepted artifacts that reflect the contributions of daytime television programming, including a 1984 JEOPARDY! script from Alex Trebek, objects from the children's series BARNEY, and the gown that Susan Lucci (ex-Erica, ALL MY CHILDREN) wore on the cover of People magazine celebrating her legendary Daytime Emmy win. "They've asked me for [an AMC] script as well," the iconic daytime actress tells Soaps In Depth. "Plus, People is doing a big blow-up of the cover."

The daytime television collection (which will include children's programming, talk shows, game shows and cooking shows) will be part of a larger entertainment exhibit scheduled to open in 2015. "Right now, the area that the museum is going to devote to this exibit on American culture at large is under reconstruction," curator Dwight Blocker Bowers tells In Depth. "We have a very small soap opera collection, and this is an opportunity for us to add to it."

For more on this collaboration, check out an upcoming issue of Soaps In Depth.

Remember the Web series STEAMBOAT, the comedy about the last days of a dying soap opera that featured GUIDING LIGHT's Michael O'Leary (Rick) and AS THE WORLD TURNS' Michael Park (Jack) among other familiar faces from daytime dramas? Well, Studio 47 Productions and ConvergTV's The Venture Channel have announced that STEAMBOAT will now be available on Roku and NetTalk TV as phase one of a global rollout for the network and the show.

Studio 47 Productions is headed up by O'Leary and Scott Bryce (Craig, ATWT), and also has three more comedies in development and a reality show set to begin production this summer. There are currently 2 episodes of STEAMBOAT with 11 more in pre-production.

Congratulations are in order for AS THE WORLD TURNS alum Billy Magnussen, who today earned a Tony nomination for Best Performance By An Actor In A Featured Role In A Play for his performances as Spike Vanya And Sonia And Masha And Spike! The Broadway play by Christopher Durang nabbed a grand total of six nominations, including Best Play.

The Tony Awards are scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 9 in New York City, and will be aired live on CBS.

Rumors circulating that Maura West (ex-Carly, AS THE WORLD TURNS, ex-Diane, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) would be joining GENERAL HOSPITAL in a new role were totally on the money! The Emmy winner is reportedly already on set taping, and should debut as Ava Jerome sometime in May (just in time for sweeps... convenient!).

Longtime fans might recognize the name Jerome from Port Charles history. The Jerome clan was a Mob family that Duke and Anna found themselves wrapped up with. (Remember Tonja Walker as the Duke-obsessed Olivia?) Of course, the last name might just be a coincidence, but then again, headwriter Ron Carlivati is a big fan of GH history!

AS THE WORLD TURNS' Jesse Lee Soffer (Will) has landed a crucial role in an upcoming Lifetime movie, but let's just say that things won't end well for his character! According to Deadline.com, Soffer is set to play the male lead in Dirty Little Secret: The Jodi Arias Story. LOST alum Tania Raymonde is in negotiations to play Arias, who went on trial for murdering her boyfriend, Travis Alexander (Soffer). Filming is set to begin soon in Los Angeles, although the ending of the script can't be written until after Arias' trial concludes and the true story has a finale!

AS THE WORLD TURNS' Colleen Zenk (Barbara) is hitting the stage again, and this time she's bringing her daughter, Kelsey Crouch, along for the ride! The two actresses will be performing in the Off-Broadway musical Mama And Her Boys on Monday, May 6.

"I am so thrilled to be welcoming a mother and daughter to our guest star roster," says the show's creator, Ethan Paulini. "And what a fabulously talented pair they are. While the themes we explore in Mama And Her Boys have to do with mothers and sons, they are not gender specific. We worked hard to create a show that presented a universal point of view for all families."

Mama And Her Boys is currently playing at the new Underground Theater at 955 West End Avenue (at West 107th St and Broadway) in New York City, and Zenk and Crouch are scheduled to perform in the Monday, May 6, performance. Tickets range from $12-$44, and are available by calling (866) 811-4111 or visiting theatermania.com. For more details on the show, visit the Web site here.

Jake Silbermann (Noah, AS THE WORLD TURNS) achieved such success funding his indie film Stuffer through Kickstarter that he's back to try again for his new project, The Revival!

The story, by writer/director Samuel Brett Williams, concerns a southern baptist preacher named Eli, played by Malcolm Madera. To keep his congregation from dwindling, he plans a revival, but when he falls in love with Daniel (played by Silbermann), their relationship could destroy everything he's worked for. Eli must choose between his love for Daniel and his love for God, his church and his family.

Silbermann and his friends are nearly halfway to their goal of $67,000 with just over a month left before their deadline. For more information on the project, and to donate yourself, click here to visit The Revival's Kickstarter page. And as always, there are cool rewards for pledging, including signed scripts, DVDs and more! Heck, if you want to pledge $4,500, you can nab all of the rewards including a speaking role in the film!

Since leaving AS THE WORLD TURNS, Lamman Rucker (Marshall) has been keeping very busy both on the big screen and small, and this weekend, his newest film, The Undershepherd premieres on TV One. It stars Rucker and GREY'S ANATOMY'S Isaiah Washington as two ministers whose friendship is tested as their careers evolve in wildly different directions.

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The Smithsonian Institute has partnered with the National Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) to bring some of the most iconic daytime television memorabilia to the national museum! A rep tells Soaps In Depth that it is still in the planning stages, but the Smithsonian hopes to eventually showcase a collection that features costumes, props, scripts, awards and much more!

Tell us below, which iconic items from the history of daytime television programming do you think should be included in The Smithsonian's collection?

AS THE WORLD TURNS' Noelle Beck (Lily) is about to travel back in time! The actress has joined the cast of THE CARRIE DIARIES in the recurring role of Sebastian's absentee mother, Ginny?! However, don't expect to see a beleaguered heroine on the CW drama! "My character is crazy!" Beck laughs. "I would never talk to my kids this way. So funny! It's all about Ginny!"

The actress had previously worked with executive producer Amy B. Harris on the CBS primetime sudser CENTRAL PARK WEST, but was meeting the young cast of THE CARRIE DIARIES for the first time. "AnnaSophia [Robb, Carrie] is adorable," Beck enthuses. "She is such a pro for 19 years old. Austin [Butler, Sebastian] is even more handsome in person, if that's even possible! What a kind, sincere, sweet young man."

Beck reports that she had a blast working on the '80s-era series, especially when it came to her period costumes! "I loved my wardrobe, hair and makeup," she smiles. "I'm an '80s girl!"

Beck's first episode of THE CARRIE DIARIES, airs on Monday, March 18, and you can see her again in the following episode on Tuesday, March 25.

AS THE WORLD TURNS alum Jake Silbermann (Noah) has appeared in more than a few stage productions since the soap's end, and he's about to add one more to the list, having been cast in The Assembled Parties.

The world-premiere play from Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg will feature Silbermann on stage with actors like Jessica Hecht and Judith Light (Karen, ONE LIFE TO LIVE). The story chronicles the family drama of a Jewish family living on Manhattan's Upper West Side over a twenty year period.

The Assembled Parties will begin previews on Thursday, March 21, and open for a limited run on Wednesday, April 17, at Manhattan Theatre Club's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on West 47th Street in New York City. For tickets, click here.

As AS THE WORLD TURNS' Barbara Ryan, Colleen Zenk certainly had her moments of villainy, but that's nothing compared to the terrifyingly icy performance she gives as Agnes, the matriarch to the deadly Snead family in her debut episode of THURSTON.

This is the second episode of the second season of the western-themed Web drama, so jumping into the middle of things means it might be a little confusing. But you can still appreciate Zenk's scene regardless! (And it might inspire you to go back and check out the earlier episodes of the impressive Web series at its Web site!)

If you're an AS THE WORLD TURNS fan near Santa Barbara, CA, you can catch Trent Dawson (Henry) in the play It Has To Be You on Saturday, January 19, at 8:00 pm. This reading of a brand-new comedy by award-winning playwright Catherine Butterfield is about finding love in all the wrong places and will be followed by a brief talkback with the audience, playwright and actors. For more information, you can visit the PlayFest Santa Barbara Web site, and for tickets, click here! Tickets are completely free, but limited, so reserve your seats ASAP!

Our friends over at We Love Soaps have announced the nominees for the Fourth Annual Indie Soap Awards, their yearly celebration of the best in Web soaps. From drama to comedy, all eligible indie soaps were considered, and the nominees include some daytime favorites like Martha Byrne (Lily, AS THE WORLD TURNS) and Hillary B. Smith (Nora, ONE LIFE TO LIVE).

DEVANITY and OUT WITH DAD led the drama series race with nine nominations each, and HUSBANDS, THE BLOODY MARY SHOW and PRETTY racked up nine nods each on the comedy side of the spectrum.

The Indie Soap Awards will be held Tuesday, February 19, at New World Stages in New York City. You'll find a full list of the nominees after the jump:

AS THE WORLD TURNS' Michael Park (Jack) is back on Broadway following his stint in the hit musical How To Succeed In Business... Without Really Trying. This time around, he's appearing in the latest revival of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof starring Scarlett Johansson!

Park will be playing the role of Gooper, although he admits that director Rob Ashford cast against type by offering him the role. "He's supposed to be a portly man who is not very well-liked by his father and mother," the actor explains. "He's got to be diametrically opposed to Brick, who is the superstar of the family. I'm not your normal type for Gooper. [Rob] is thinking outside the box a little bit."

While Gooper and wife Mae are often considered the comic relief of the story, Park adds that they have to be a serious threat. "The real threat should be there that Gooper is going to be taking over the business," he says. "He's going to be taking over the family plantation. It's going to be interesting. I'm not taking this lightly at all. What an opportunity."

Previews for Cat On A Hot Tin Roof begin on Tuesday, December 18, and the show's opening night is scheduled for Thursday, January 17. It will only run for 15 weeks, so if you're hoping to get tickets, don't wait too long to click here!

And for more from Park about his post-ATWT career and what's next after this play, don't miss his interview in the new CBS Soaps In Depth, on sale 12/17!

Congratulations to Kristina Sisco Romero (Abigail, AS THE WORLD TURNS) and husband Dan, who yesterday welcomed their second child, Camden Rae Romero into the world! The baby girl was 19 1/2 inches long and weighed 7 lbs, 9 oz. The couple already have a son, Chase, who turned two last month.

AS THE WORLD TURNS' Craig and Rosanna had quite a tumultuous relationship, but portrayers Jon Lindstrom and Cady McClain certainly didn't! The pair have even just announced their engagement! Make sure to check out an upcoming issue of Soaps In Depth for more from McClain about taking the next step. Best wishes to the happy couple!

AS THE WORLD TURNS fans in New York City will have the chance to see Colleen Zenk (Barbara) on stage again as she performs in the benefit Bradway At The Met Room on Sunday, December 2, at 7:00 pm. The show will introduce the Nicole Fosse Scholarship and raise money for Broadway Performance Project's 2013 season.

Zenk joins other Broadway stars like Richard Kline, Anita Gillette, Kurt Peterson and Kevin Spirtas (ex-Craig, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) singing their hearts out in the Metropolitan Room. For tickets, click here or call (212) 206-0440!

Congratulations to AS THE WORLD TURNS' Terri Conn (Katie) and Austin Peck (Brad), who welcomed baby girl Keira Grace Peck into the world last night. Keira weighed 7 pounds, and the whole family is doing great!

AS THE WORLD TURNS' Kelley Menighan Hensley (Emily) is starring in a very unique new series for Showtime called REALITY SHOW. The catch? It's not actually a reality series, but a scripted half-hour drama poking satirical fun at how manufactured many reality shows are!

"It is insane," she says of the series. "That is the perfect word for it. It's out there. I mean, I called my parents when I agreed to do it and I'm like, 'I'm just preparing you that.. I'm not a hundred percent sure I want you to see all of it!'"

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The hilarious 1991 comedy Soapdish featured cameo appearances from daytime actors like Stephen Nichols (Tucker, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) and Finola Hughes (Anna, GENERAL HOSPITAL) alongside the film's stars, but now it looks like a couple of daytime aLums are going to be part of Soapdish: The Musical!

According to BroadwayWorld.com, the cast for an upcoming reading in late October of the musical will feature John Stamos (ex-Blackie, GH) and Michael Park (Jack, AS THE WORLD TURNS) alongside fellow Broadway stars Kristin Chenoweth and Jane Krakowski.

Hopefully we'll all be able to see this on Broadway next year!

AS THE WORLD TURNS Tamara Tunie (Jessica) will be taking audiences to new heights when she headlines the famous Feinstein's club at the Loews Regency Hotel in New York City this month. "I guess you can call it a cabaret act," she confides of her aptly titled show, Yes, I Can Sing! "But I think of it more as an evening of great music and a little chatter." Together with her renowned band members: Mike Renzi, Gerald Cannon, and Buddy Williams, she'll be taking to the stage from Tuesday, October 28, through Saturday, November 3. "I'm excited about working with them because they're really exceptional musicians," she enthuses. For reservations, call (212) 339-4095 or visit Feinsteinsatloewsregency.com.

Next, Tunie takes to the skies when she stars in Paramount Pictures' new blockbuster, Flight. "It's about a commercial airline pilot (Denzel Washington) who successfully crash lands a plane and is touted the hero; however, at the hospital, they draw blood and his toxicology reports [present] questions," previews Tunie. Look for the actress to play the leader of the flight crew who — after helping to save the plane — gets unwillingly caught up in the investigation. "I consider this to be my first action movie," she relates. "I had such a good time shooting [it], I didn't want it to be over. I cried!" The film, which also stars Don Cheadle, John Goodman, and Melissa Leo (Linda, ALL MY CHILDREN), opens Friday, November 2. For more from Tunie, including details about her next project, check out her Keeping Track feature in the current issue of Soaps In Depth.

Like many of you, writer Lynn Liccardo was a big fan of AS THE WORLD TURNS. And she's put down some of her memories and thoughts regarding the long-running soap in a brand new e-book entitled as the world stopped turning...

From the author's description: "Notwithstanding the title and cover photograph, as the world stopped turning... is not a post-apocalyptic novel, but a collection of 18 essays considering the final years of AS THE WORLD TURNS, the soap opera that redefined the genre when it premiered in 1956. Written by a lifelong fan of the show, these essays weave together the show's history, characters, storylines, writers and producers, to create a context within which to consider, not just ATWT, but all soap operas, past and present."

You can purchase the book for $9.99 and read a short sample of it by following this link.

Justine Cotsonas, who portrayed AS THE WORLD TURNS' lovelorn (if not slightly loony!) Sophie, is about to have another bad run of luck. In the next episode of CBS' BLUE BLOODS (titled "Scorched Earth"), she guest stars a Mid-western children's book editor who falls victim to a drive by shooting on her wedding day! "She is very excited because she is about to get married the love of her life," Cotsonas explains. "Unfortunately she never gets to that point."

Although her character suffers the worst of fates, the actress says that being on set that day gave her reason to smile. "Christopher Stadulis plays the limousine driver [in my scenes] and it's funny because when I was ATWT's Sophie and I kidnapped the baby and ran away to New York, he played the cop that approached me and tried to make sure everything was okay," Cotsonas confides.

The beauty also got to meet series star Donny Wahlberg who was on hand during taping. "It's so funny because when I was real little, I had girlfriends who were kind of like big sisters and they were obsessed with [Wahlberg's former boy band] New Kids On The Block," Cotsonas giggles. "I have a video of myself when I was very little and dancing around to 'Step By Step.'" Tune in for CBS' BLUE BLOODS on Friday, October 19, at 10 p.m. EST. For more about Cotsonas' future projects, check out her upcoming feature interview in Soaps In Depth.

Happy news for a couple of former AS THE WORLD TURNS stars who were once married to each other on the soap!

Firstly, Trent Dawson (Henry) married fiancée Sharon Kearney this past Saturday. And Ewa da Cruz (Vienna) is now engaged to boyfriend Laurent Scallie!

Best wishes to both of the happy couples!

Wondering how to spend your Friday? How about catching a movie? Excuse Me For Living, the new comedy starring Tom Pelphrey (Jonathan, GUIDING LIGHT), Ewa da Cruz (Vienna, AS THE WORD TURNS), Melissa Archer (Natalie, ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Tonja Walker (Marie, GL) and David Gregory (Ford, OLTL), premieres today at the Laemmle Town Center in Encino, CA.

And don't worry, on the off chance you can't make it out to California, it's still playing in limited release throughout the country, plus you can catch the flick On Demand or on iTunes starting today! For details about the show visit http://www.excusemeforliving.net/ and a complete list of theaters can be found at ://www.excusemeforliving.net/showtimes/.

"It's really going to be fun," assures Walker of the premiere. "Party and people and tons of celebrations and celebrities! I want to see all my fans there and all my friends there and everybody I don't even know there!"

You heard the lady! Get your tickets while you can!

It turns out that talent really does run in the family! Joe West, son of Maura West (ex-Diane, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS; Carly, AS THE WORLD TURNS) and Scott DeFreitas (Andy, ATWT) will be making his Broadway debut in A Christmas Story, The Musical!

West's son will be portraying the role of Ralphie in certain performances, alternating with Johnny Rabe. "After months of searching, we are thrilled to have found two exceptionally talented boys to play the role of Ralphie," producer Gerald Goehring said in a statement. "Broadway's newest 12-year-old triple threat, Johnny Rabe, graduated from the ranks of the kids' ensemble in last year's tour to become our terrific young leading man. And Joe West wowed us with his online video audition and now joins our fabulous company. We couldn't be more excited to be the first to share these two young stars with the Broadway community!"

A Christmas Story, The Musical, based on the classic holiday film, will run from Monday, November 5, through Sunday, December 30, with Monday, November 19 slated as opening night. Tickets are now on sale at www.AChristmasStoryTheMusical.com!

Legendary music star Andy Williams passed away yesterday, Tuesday, September 25, at the age of 84 in his home in Branson, MO. AS THE WORLD TURNS fans might recall the soap's location shoot in Branson in 2007 where Jennifer Landon (Gwen/Cleo; now Heather, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) sang on stage with Williams at the Andy Williams Moon River Theater.

AS THE WORLD TURNS' Colleen Zenk (Barbara) and Michael Park (Jack) make appearances in this new music video from teen rock group Going Dark. "I was very proud to have been a part of this anti-bullying music video," Zenk posted on Facebook. The song is called "Stand Up," and sends a powerful message about teenage bullying... and these kids can really play!

Emmy-nominated Web soap THE BAY is celebrating its second anniversary with a special THE BAY TOP 10 COUNTDOWN & 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL, which is now streaming online at this link. Hosts Mary Beth Evans (Sara; Sierra, AS THE WORLD TURNS), Kristos Andrews (Peter) and Dylan Bruce (Brian; Chris, ATWT) take you through a countdown of the most memorable moments from THE BAY's first two years. Did your favorite scene make the cut?

Feinstein's is renowned as one of New York City's preeminent cabaret venues, and last fall, AS THE WORLD TURNS' Colleen Zenk (Barbara) performed there. And now, as reported by Broadway World, one of her ATWT co-stars is about to take the same stage as Tamara Tunie (Jessica) prepares to debut her show entitled "Yes, I Sing!"

Daytime audiences who know Tunie best as the Oakdale attorney might be surprised to learn that the actress' background is actually in musical theater. "Yes, I Sing!" will run for one week only, from Tuesday, October 30, through Saturday November 3. (Which coincidentally falls during the same time as the release of her new film, Flight, in which she appears opposite Denzel Washington!) For more information on the show and ticket availability, visit the Feinstein's Web site.

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES has pulled from daytime talent before — series regular Zach Roerig was a big hit as Casey on AS THE WORLD TURNS — and now they're doing it again. According to TV Guide, a couple of daytime actors will be appearing in the primetime soap's fourth season.

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS' Blake Hood (Kyle) and ATWT's Alyssa Diaz (Celia) are slated to play Dean and Kimberly, hybrid vampire/werewolf creators under the control of the villainous Klaus. Hood is scheduled to appear in the fifth episode of the season, and Diaz will first appear in the sixth. Perhaps Diaz will share scenes with former ATWT co-star and on-screen love interest Roerig?

At this time, there's no word from Y&R about how this primetime gig will affect Hood's screentime as Kyle, but seeing as how characters on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES tend not to live very long, it probably shouldn't cause any scheduling conflicts.

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AS THE WORLD TURNS' Michael Park (Jack) appeared on the fourth hour of THE TODAY SHOW as part of the recurring "Everyone Has A Story" segment. This time the story belongs to Vietnam veteran Jullian Grante, who wrote a letter about his wife, Jo Draper Granate.

Serving two tours in Vietnam, Granante was diagnosed with Hodgkins in 2001, and explains how his wife has been devotedly by his side throughout his ups and downs and repeated surgeries. After he tells his emotional and powerful story, Park comes out to perform the song "My Angel," written by co-host Kathie Lee Gifford and David Friedman.

You might want to have a tissue handy!

AS THE WORLD TURNS' Jake Silbermann (Noah) has made quite a career for himself on the stage after production of the soap closed down. And now, the talented actor is about to tread the boards once more in the new production of Marie Antoinette for the American Repertory Theater.

"Marie Antoinette is a hysterically funny, achingly sad play about the experience of the doomed Queen," says Silbermann. "The author, David Adjmi, gives us an entirely new take on her experience through the writing and vision of the play. It's extremely vibrant and colorful. It's a very unique telling of Marie's story with talking philosophical sheep and an eclectic soundtrack. Armitage — choreographer of Madonna's 'Vogue' — gives us an opening dance number which is really special. It takes the audience by surprise even when they know it's coming."

Silbermann will be portraying a Swedish count who was historically alleged to be one of Marie Antoinette's lovers. "I'm honored to be playing the role of Axel Von Fersen," he reports, "who shares a complicated relationship with Marie. He is one of the few who understands her."

The "barbed and brassy tragiocomedy" opens on Friday, September 7, and will run through Saturday, September 29, at the Loeb Drama Center in Cambridge, MA. "It's a really special new play with an incredible cast," Silbermann declares. "Brooke Bloom as Marie Antoinette, helmed by our talented director Rebecca Taichman. I'm thrilled to be a part of it!" For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Actress Virginia Dwyer has died at the age of 92. Daytime viewers knew her best for her many roles on different soap operas. She played Mary Matthews on ANOTHER WORLD, Janice Turner on AS THE WORLD TURNS, Ruth Jannings Holden on GUIDING LIGHT, Tracey Malone on YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE, Jane Edwards Ames in THE SECRET STORM and Jocelyn Brentof on THE ROAD OF LIFE. Our sympathies go out to her friends and family.

SoapClassics has just released their latest DVD collection, and this time, it's a two-disc set celebrating the April 1985 wedding of AS THE WORLD TURNS supercouple Bob and Kim Hughes!

The 10 consecutive episodes chronicle the entire nuptials, from the preparation (introducing Bob's daughter Frannie, played by a then-unknown Julianne Moore) all the way to the ceremony and reception (where naturally things threaten to go horribly wrong!).

The DVD set costs $19.95, and to order your own as well as watch clips from all 10 episodes, you can visit the SoapClassics Web site. And while you're there, you can not only pick up some of their previously released ATWT or GUIDING LIGHT DVDs as well as watch a special online-only streaming episode from April 18, 1985, with the continuation of the drama at the reception!

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL may be losing Ron Moss' Ridge, but their hunk quotient won't be going down because it looks like Jon Hensley's Dr. Meade is set to pop up again! The actor tweeted yesterday, "Hi all, B&B has invited me back for a few more episodes, I shoot them next week! No details yet!"

Hensley, best known as Holden on the late, lamented AS THE WORLD TURNS, last appeared as Dr. Meade in July. As soon as we get any scoop on what his character will be up to this time, and when his episodes will air, we'll let you know!

When Emmy nominated Web drama, THE BAY, kicks off its summer special, DARKSIDE OF THE BAY, viewers will learn that there's a whole lot more to Bay City than just rich folks and white sand beaches. Helping to tell the edgy tale will be soap opera veteran, Brian Gaskill (Dylan, GUIDING LIGHT; BJ, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Ozzy, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL). "The [story] is about the show's younger characters getting wrapped up in this dark world on the other side of the tracks," previews Gaskill. "Lianna (played by Jade Harlow; Jessica, PASSSIONS) gets kind of [involved] in the prostitution ring that my character, Chase, works in as a pimp. I'm not the head honcho, but I work for [him]."

Gaskill has explored his own dark side before while playing ATWT's obsessive, BJ Greene, but the actor says that he approached this new character from another direction. "He's very different... laid back and soft spoken," Gaskill suggests. "Somebody who saw the dailies said that it reminded him of Mickey Rourke." The good news is that Gaskill's time in Bay City won't be wrapping up with the dog days of summer.

"Of all the magnificent roles we've seen Gaskill play, this is by far the creepiest," offers series creator Gregori J. Martin. "He was so captivating as Chase that I just had to bring him back for Season 3 of THE BAY [coming this October]." Also debuting in the special will be fellow soap alumni Rib Hillis (Jake, PORT CHARLES), Terri Ivens (Simone, ALL MY CHILDREN), and Massi Furlan (ex-Giovanni, GENERAL HOSPITAL). DARKSIDE OF THE BAY kicks off on Thursday, August 9, at 12 p.m. EST.

Kimberlin Brown's Sheila terrorized both THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS and THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL, while Marie Wilson's Meg lost her marbles over on AS THE WORLD TURNS, and now both actresses are about to get a little crazy again!

In last summer's THE BAY spin-off, FAR FROM THE BAY, Wilson appeared on the Web soap as Peter Garrett's adoptive mom who lost her grip after losing custody of him, and Brown played her psychiatrist. And now both characters are set to return in the third season of THE BAY, set to debut in October.

"Yes, both Marie and Kimberlin will be heavily involved in a very intense storyline involving Bay City's matriarch, Sarah Garrett (Mary Beth Evans)," confirms the serial's creator, Gregori J. Martin. "We will get to see both women tap into that nutty side we so enjoyed seeing them play on ATWT, B&B and Y&R!"

It looks like cable network Investigation Discovery is looking to lure some soap fans over to its channel with their new daytime block they've dubbed DAYS OF OUR KNIVES. Beginning on Monday, August 20, the various shows aired from 1-4 pm EST will be true-life tales, but featuring bumpers hosted by some familiar faces from daytime television.

"Investigation Discovery is already the home of guilty pleasure programming, but perhaps there is no more popular example of a classic guilty pleasure than the soap opera," says Henry Schleiff, president and general manager for the network.

Each week, DAYS OF OUR KNIVES will have its own theme and different stars to introduce the shows: