Recently in Guiding Light

It may feel like only yesterday that the long-running GUIDING LIGHT signed off the airwaves forever, but it was actually back in September of 2009. As part of their ongoing series of soap opera DVD collections, Soap Classics has today released GUIDING LIGHT: Farewell To Springfield, a 2-disc set that contains the final 10 episodes of the legendary daytime drama.

Click here to order your copy for just $19.99 and own a piece of soap history.

Sorry, ladies! Jordi Vilasuso (ex-Tony, GUIDING LIGHT) just announced via a Facebook status change that he is now engaged to girlfriend Kaitlin Riley. All our best to the happy couple!

Congratulations are in store for Ron Raines (Alan, GUIDING LIGHT), who has been nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway revival of Follies! Not only did Follies receive a nod as Best Revival Of A Musical, but Raines and co-star Danny Burstein will both be competing for the Best Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Musical! In all, Follies garnered eight nominations.

"What a thrill and honor to have received a Tony nomination," Raines tells Soaps In Depth. "I must say I was a little surprised. It's a nice gift for me at this stage of the journey."

The 66th Annual Tony Awards will honor theater professions for distinguished achievement on Broadway with a three-hour ceremony to be broadcast live on Sunday, June 10, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Good luck, Mr. Raines!

Have you heard about a little production called Follies, which recently ended a smashing revival run on Broadway? The musical, which starred Ron Raines (Alan, GUIDING LIGHT), will be taking over the stage at Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theatre from Saturday, May 3, through Saturday, June 9!

While Bernadette Peters will be replaced by Tony winner Victoria Clark for the production, Broadway stars Jan Maxwell, Danny Burstein and Elaine Paige will all be joining Raines in reprising their roles. Follies tells the story of a group of actors who reunite at the crumbling theater they once called home before the building is demolished. As two couples remember their pasts and how choices made have contributed to the harsh reality of the present, shadows of their younger selves remind them of the complicated steps they've danced, both on and off the stage, throughout their lives.

For tickets and more information, visit www.centertheatregroup.org.

The Bauer Family was the heart of GUIDING LIGHT all the way from its days as a 15-minute radio soap in the late '40s and continued to be so right up until the final episode in 2009. And now Soap Classics is honoring Springfield's "First Family" with a special 2-disc DVD set that features episodes of GL from 1973 to 2009.

The first disc contains five episodes including Mike and Ed rescuing Holly in Santo Domingo, Bert and Josh dealing with dual tragedies and Danny and Michelle's wedding. There is also a special bonus episode from 1973 where Bert and Meta organize a memorial service for Papa Bauer.

Disc two is a celebration of the Bauer Barbecue, featuring five episodes of the annual family gathering, starting in 1987 where the show was also celebrating its 50th anniversary, and closing out with the final Bauer Barbecue in 2009.

GUIDING LIGHT: The Bauer Family Story is available at SoapClassics.com for $19.99, and while you're there ordering your set, be sure to check out the bonus streaming episode of Rick and Melanie's 1988 wedding!

Soap veteran Crystal Chappell (Olivia, GUIDING LIGHT; Carly, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; Maggie, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) is adding another role to her resume -- and another gay character! EW.com broke the news that Chappell will be joining THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL cast as Danielle, the other mother of young Caroline Spencer (Linsey Godfrey), as the show launches its first-ever lesbian storyline. (Despite EW's opening line that B&B is bringing back a popular GL character, Chappell is not playing Olivia.) It's unclear at this point if Danielle and Joanna Johnson's Karen are still involved.

While Caroline knows that she has two mommies, the other folks in town aren't aware of her parentage. But the young lady will reveal the truth to her boyfriend Thomas and her Uncle Bill -- Karen's brother. Chappell's character will be introduced to the canvas in mid-May.

Just how funny is Brian Gaskill (Dylan, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Oscar, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL; BJ, AS THE WORLD TURNS; Bobby, ALL MY CHILDREN; Rafe, PORT CHARLES)? Find out on Saturday, April 14, when he joins the improvisers at the ACME Comedy Theatre in Hollywood as the special guest star for the "(Unscripted) Hollywood Dream Role" improv show!

In the weekly on-line TV show, celebrity guests and the troupe of comedians create an improvised movie on the stage, based on the guest star's choice of the role they'd most love to play. Except that there is no set, no script, and the actors have to make it up as they go along! Show time is 10 p.m. PT. Tickets to be in the studio audience at the ACME Comedy Theatre are available here. Or you can watch it all happen via a live video stream at www.acmecomedy.com!

GUIDING LIGHT stars Kim Zimmer (Reva; Echo, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) and Crystal Hunt (Lizzie; Stacy, OLTL) are in Corbin, KY, this week filming the upcoming family movie 23 Blast. "Very excited! Great Cast! Great Role!!!" tweeted Zimmer, while Florida native Hunt posted that she "can't wait to be back in the south."

Based on the true story of Corbin teenager Travis Freeman, who, despite losing his eyesight at the age of 13 due to bacterial meningitis, refused to let his blindness hold him back and played the position of center for the Corbin High School Redhounds. For the purposes of the movie, Travis -- who will be played by fellow soap alum Mark Hapka (ex-Nathan, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) -- goes blind as he's about to enter his senior year and must make a choice about returning to the field. OLTL director Gary Donatelli is one of the producers. Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3 star Dylan Baker plays Travis' father, Larry, and is also directing the inspirational story, which takes its title from one of the plays called by the Redhounds' football coach. Zimmer will play as Travis' mom, Mary, but it's not yet known what Hunt's role is in the independent film.

You can follow the experiences of the cast and crew on the 23 Blast blog here.

Fiona Hutchison (Jenna, GUIDING LIGHT; Celia, AS THE WORLD TURNS; Gabrielle, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) is the latest soap veteran to join the popular Web soap THE BAY! When Season 2 picks up next month, Hutchison will be playing a mysterious character linked to many Bay City residents. "The mystery woman lights up your screens the first week of May and will be caught in a web [of] deceit," creator Gregori Martin tells Soaps In Depth. "Along with John Reilly, Scott Bailey, and Brian Gaskill, we happily welcome Fiona Hutchison to our stellar cast in these upcoming installments."

Current and past episodes of THE BAY can be viewed at www.thebaytheseries.com.

Soap vet Brian Gaskill (Dylan, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Oscar, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL; BJ, AS THE WORLD TURNS; Bobby, ALL MY CHILDREN; Rafe, PORT CHARLES) has landed a rather villainous role on THE BAY's upcoming summer special THE BAY: DARKSIDE OF THE BAY. Gaskill will be playing the mysterious bad boy Chase in the spinoff from the Web soap, which will center around what happens when they younger residents of Bay City venture into the wrong side of town. As Chase, Gaskill will cross paths with PASSIONS alum Jade Harlow (Jessica), who plays Lianna on the series.

Currently in production, DARKSIDE will debut this summer. Current and past episodes of THE BAY can be viewed at www.thebaytheseries.com.

Rebecca Staab (ex-April, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, Jessie, GUIDING LIGHT; Elizabeth, PORT CHARLES; Cecelia, LOVING) filmed an episode of the hit FOX musical dramedy GLEE this week! "No singing. Just walkin' and talkin' and flirting with Puck while in a bikini," Staab tells Soaps In Depth. "Cougar stuff."

Staab will appear in the episode titled "Choke" later this season. "My scene is breif, but it's difficult to get on this show, so I'm thrilled.

Sad news from ONE TREE HILL star Bethany Joy Galeotti: The actress -- whom GUIDING LIGHT viewers knew as Joie Lenz when she played Michelle Bauer Santos -- announced on her blog yesterday that she and her husband, musician Michael Galeotti, are divorcing after six years of marriage. The couple has a one-year-old daughter, Maria; Michael is a member of the indie rock band Enation, along with Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky, GENERAL HOSPITAL).

"As most of you know, as much as I love to share with you the magic of ordinary days, I am also very private about my personal life. In fact, the only reason I'm saying anything about this at all is because you'll all be wondering soon why everyone is calling me "Bethany Joy Lenz" again. I'm sorry to say that Michael and I have decided to divorce. We remain friendly and dedicated to raising our beautiful girl in love and we appreciate your prayers and support during this difficult time."

GUIDING LIGHT alum Scott Bailey (Sandy) is the latest daytime vet to join the cast of the popular Web series THE BAY! The actor has been tapped to play Nathan Perkins, a hunky news reporter with a bad attitude who is willing to do anything for a story. Nathan thinks he's God's gift to the world, but can a good woman help put him in his place?

Bailey will make his first appearance in Chapter 8 of THE BAY, which will air in early May.

What's in the mind of an artist? Actor/director/poet Brian Gaskill (Dylan, GUIDING LIGHT; BJ, AS THE WORLD TURNS; Oscar, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL) wants you to know! The bard has recorded Make It Real, a downloadable collection of 21 of his personal works. "I recorded it a few weeks ago, and I'm very excited about it," Gaskill offers of his eclectic collection. "Its a very real and raw look into my life and life in general... It's about me, but when you are being real as an artist, hopefully you are holding up a mirror and [reflecting] the reader too."

Gaskill has been putting his thoughts -- both dark and light -- on paper for years. Why make his poems public now? "I very much enjoy reading [my work] aloud in coffeehouses, etc.," Gaskill explains. "In fact, the first poem in the collection, "M Street," is named after a place I read at once a month [in Sherman Oaks, CA]."

To preview and download Make It Real for yourself, visit http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/briangaskill. To catch Gaskill performing live as part of M Street Coffee & Gallery's The Spoken Poem open mic night, turn out on Thursday, March 15, (and the third Thursday of every month) at 6:30 p.m. You can find more information on that here.

Onetime HEROES cheerleader Hayden Panettiere (Lizzie, GUIDING LIGHT) is hoping to make a return to primetime television: she's nabbed a starring role in the ABC pilot NASHVILLE, according to Deadline. Fellow soap grad Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky, GENERAL HOSPITAL) will also be a series regular in the nighttime soap about family, love, politics and sex set against the backdrop of the Tennessee city's country music scene and its rising and fading stars. Panettiere will play teen sensation Juliette.

GUIDING LIGHT alumna Tammy Blanchard (Drew) has been hard at work for the past year performing in the hit Broadway musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying -- even gaining a Tony Award nomination for her supporting role! But that hasn't stopped the actress from taking on additional work as well, because she has two television appearances in March!

First up for Blanchard is a pivotal role on the season finale of A GIFTED MAN, "In Case of Heart Failure," airing Friday, March 2, at 9 p.m. on CBS. She'll guest as Louise, a patient with a potentially fatal disease whom Kate discovers has a special connection to Michael, played by series star Patrick Wilson. "It turns out, she has Anna's heart. She's a really important character; she leaves a nice cliffhanger to the end of their season," Blanchard tells Soaps In Depth. "It leaves some questions for the audience whether or not Michael's wife is gone forever because of what happens to me. Working with Patrick Wilson was so great, I would do it again in a heartbeat!" Working on the medical drama reunited Blanchard with executive producer Neal Baer, with whom she worked in her 2001 guest appearance on LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT. "He said he wrote the part with me in mind," she marvels. "That was just a blessing."

Read more after the jump!

Today, Thursday, February 23, is opening night for the Connecticut Repertory Theatre's presentation of Odysseus D.O.A., starring Kim Zimmer (Reva, GUIDING LIGHT)!

A re-imagined twist on Homer's The Odyssey, the drama centers around AIDS patient Elliot, who in the final stages of his disease, vividly imagines himself as the legendary hero Odysseus and is determined to bring his crew (aka his fellow patients in the AIDS ward) home. Zimmer plays Elliot's mother, Mrs. Hayes. The regional debut of the play will run through Sunday, March 4, in the Nafe Katter Theatre in Storrs, Connecticut. For tickets and more information, call (860) 486-4226 or visit www.crt.uconn.edu.

On this week's episode of THE SECRET CIRCLE, Joe Lando (Macauley, GUIDING LIGHT) brings Cassie's mysterious father, John Blackwell, to life. Speaking to Soaps in Depth from the set in Vancouver, Lando was excited to dish about his new role with his fans. "The show is based on a series of novels [by L.J. Smith], and in the books, I guess I'm kind of like the Antichrist. I'm the father of all the children in the circle, [and] there are all kinds of connections with the Blackwell character that I had no idea about!" Lando laughs.

While so far, the actor knows he'll be Cassie's witchy dad on the TV series, he remains in the dark about the rest... including how long he'll be around. "My voice appeared in one episode, I'm working on another now, and I'm in the next one, so that's three so far," he reveals. "I thought I was just guest starring, and now I don't know when I'm going home. They told me they're holding me captive!"

THE SECRET CIRCLE airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. Want to see a teaser clip of Lando's Blackwell? Click here. For more about Lando's wicked role, check out his Keeping Track feature in an the new ABC issue of Soaps In Depth, on sale later this week!

GUIDING LIGHT alum Terrell Tilford (David; Greg, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) will join ALL MY CHILDREN's Denise Vasi (Randi) for the second season of the VH1 hit comedy SINGLE LADIES!

Tilford announced the news on his Facebook fan page. "Single Ladies get ready ... Terrell Tilford joins the upcoming second season of VH1's "Single Ladies". Currently in production, season two will debut sometime in late May 2012."

Congratulations are in order for former GUIDING LIGHT stars Rob Bogue (Mallet) and Mandy Bruno (Marina)! The real-life couple welcomed son Flynn into the world on January 13. The tyke is the first child for the couple, who married last March in Mexico. Bogue has a son, Zeb, and daughter, Zoey, from a previous marriage.

"We welcomed in awe the birth of Flynn Zachariah Bogue on Friday the 13th," the proud pop tells Soaps In Depth. "7 lbs., 8 oz. of healthy yumminess. Mandy was a warrior goddess, delivering him after 8 hours of labor, with only 20 minutes of pushing. He is a handsome little boy and is now home with his older siblings, Zeb and Zoe, who are both thrilled and enamored with the new arrival. Even our yappy tea cup Yorkie terrier is often caught tucking him in with a blanket, and protectively sleeps very close to him. Mandy is mending well. And we feel blessed with the magnificence of this new life."

The hit CW occult drama THE SECRET CIRCLE has finally cast Cassie's mysterious father -- and he's a familiar face to soap viewers! TV Guide reports that Joe Lando (Macauley, GUIDING LIGHT; Jake, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) has nabbed the coveted role of John Blackwell, a former member of the Circle who was killed by his own coven centuries ago after he began to dabble in dark magic. Look for the powerful witch to make his first appearance in Episode 15, titled "Return," scheduled to air in early February.

Heads up Tom Pelphrey fans! If you've been longing to see the actor who once broke your heart as GUIDING LIGHT's Jonathan and AS THE WORLD TURNS' Mick back in action, now's your chance. CBS' hit police drama BLUE BLOODS is about to get a whole lot soapier next month!

In an upcoming episode titled "The Uniform," Pelphrey guest stars as Mike, the nephew of a diner owner who is being suspected of a crime. While show reps wanted to keep the rest of the details under wraps, they do reveal that the episode is "centered around" Pelphrey's character. Also featured is ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Matt Walton (ex-Elijah), who plays the publicity manager for the mayor's electoral campaign and takes a meeting with the police commissioner, played by series star Tom Selleck.

Tune in to CBS on Friday, January 13, at 10 p.m. EST.

If you missed GUIDING LIGHT alum Justin Klosky (Joey) in his recent guest appearance on ANDERSON -- Anderson Cooper's syndicated talk show -- you're in luck! The organizational expert and owner of The OCD Experience is bringing his enlightening tips and advice back for the Monday, January 2, episode. "It's all about New Year's Resolutions," Klosky hints. "It's been great, and hopefully they will continue to bring [me back]."

Might his newfound popularity result in a series of his own? "I wouldn't object to having a show, and it would definitely be a unique one because of the people that I know and the circles that I run in -- it could be interesting," he grins. "But listen, from your mouth to God's ears!"

For more on Klosky and The OCD Experience, visit www.ocdexperience.com. And be on the lookout for our Keeping Track interview with him in an upcoming CBS issue of Soaps In Depth!

GUIDING LIGHT fans, don't forget to tune in to LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT tomorrow night to see guest star Beth Chamberlin (Beth)! The episode is titled "Spiraling Down," and she'll appear as Georgia Stanton, the wife of a former all-star quarterback -- played by Golden Globe nominee Treat Williams -- who gets caught up in a sting operation with an underage prostitute.

"Getting to work on SVU has been an incredible experience," Chamberlin tells Soaps In Depth. "I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful each and every person there has been to me. Mariska [Hargitay], Danny [Pino], Ice-T, Kelli [Giddish], Andre Braugher and Treat Williams, who plays my husband, went out of their way to make me feel welcome and comfortable. I could tell a story about every person and their acts of kindness."

Chamberlin adds that the episode's gridiron backdrop a real eye opener. "The subject matter was something I knew nothing about until my audition. As a parent of a boy who will probably play contact sports as he gets older, I feel fortunate that being a part of this educated me."

Tune in to SUV tomorrow night, Wednesday, December 7, at 10 p.m. ET on NBC. But first, watch the preview clip below!

In the two years since GUIDING LIGHT ended, Robert Newman (Josh) has had a successful run in theater, traveling across the country performing in productions of beloved musicals like Annie, Man Of La Mancha and, earlier this year, Curtains. "Life goes on, and as a by-product, careers go on," the actor tells Soaps In Depth with a laugh. "Most of my time in the past couple of years since GL has been on stage. That's where I love to be. I've had a great run of some outstanding roles, and they've all been successful."

In his latest project, Newman is starring opposite Broadway star Tovah Feldshuh in Gypsy at the Bristol Riverside Theatre in Bristol, PA. "Gypsy is a musical that's been around forever. Tovah is the leading character, Mama Rose. She's the ultimate stage mother. She drives her two daughters' careers to the point where they end up walking away from her," explains Newman, who plays Herbie. "He signs on as the girls' agent/manager, and he's also pursuing Rose and looking to settle down with her, marry and have a family."

Read more after the jump!

This coming spring, the final days of The Wizard Of Oz star Judy Garland will be played out night after night on a New York stage, and Tom Pelphrey (Jonathan, GUIDING LIGHT; Mick, AS THE WORLD TURNS) will be a part of it! The Emmy-winning actor has joined the American cast of London's West End hit, End Of The Rainbow, which will make its Broadway debut in April. Pelphrey will play Mickey Deans, Garland's much-younger fifth husband.

Set in London in December 1968, Rainbow stars Tracie Bennett as Garland, who is about to make yet another comeback with a 5-week run at a West End theater. While Garland hopes that the shows will help her hold on to her star power, she struggles with strained personal relationships and a drug addiction that will ultimately lead to a fatal overdose six months later. Bennett received an Olivier Award nomination -- London's version of the Tony Awards -- for her run in the musical drama earlier this year.

While Pelphrey has been a part of many New York City plays in the past, this will mark his Broadway debut. End Of The Rainbow will have a pre-Broadway run at The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis from January 28 through March 11, and previews will begin at the Belasco Theater in Manhattan on March 19. For more information, visit EndoftheRainbowBroadway.com.

Add Beth Chamberlin (Beth) to the list of GUIDING LIGHT alums to guest star on primetime shows! The actress has nabbed a plum part in an upcoming LAW & ORDER: SVU episode! Titled "Sprialing Down," Chamberlin appears as Georgia Stanton, whose former all-star quarterback hubby gets caught up in a sting operation with an underage prostitute. Golden Globe nominee Treat Williams will play Chamberlin's husband, Jake, and Andre Braugher will also guest star in the episode, which begins taping this week. Tune in on Wednesday, December 7, at 10 p.m. on NBC.

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS star Marcy Rylan (Abby; Lizzie, GUIDING LIGHT) is a mother again! The actress and her fiancé, Don Money, welcomed their second son into the world yesterday, November 3.

"He is here!" the actress announced on her Twitter page with a photo of her newborn. "8 pounds 13 oz & 20.5 inches. Pretty much the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." The couple -- whose older son, Jackson, turned 2 last week -- have yet to decide on a name for their baby boy. "Going to hang out with him & then decide. Names on the table are Levi, Ronan, Sawyer, Declan, Sam & Ryder. I have so much adrenaline I just can't sleep!"

Congratulations to the entire family!

Soap vet Brody Hutzler (ex-Cody, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS; Zachary, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Patrick, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) is returning to television for a guest starring role in The CW's RINGER! In the episode, titled "It Just Got Better," Hutzler portrays the spouse of one of the show's soon-to-be introduced recurring characters, a socialite with a connection to Siobhan's past. "I'm playing Jeffery Sheridan," Hutzler previews. "I have a wife named Greer, played Madchen Amick (DAMAGES, GOSSIP GIRL)."

Might the duo cross paths with the series star Sarah Michelle Gellar (Kendall, ALL MY CHILDREN), who is winning acclaim as both Siobhan and her estranged twin, Bridget? Tune in to The CW on Tuesday, January 10, at 8 p.m. EST, to find out! In the meantime, check out Season 2 of the Web soap THE BAY -- premiering this week at www.thebaytheseries.com -- where Hutzler returns as Press Secretary Kenneth Allen.

The hit Web series THE BAY returns with new episodes starting today, Thursday, October 27! "This season will center more on the Garrett family," executive producer/creator Gregori Martin previews. As regular viewers of THE BAY know, Mary Beth Evans (Kayla, DAYS OF OUR LIVES; ex-Sierra, AS THE WORLD TURNS; ex-Katherine, GENERAL HOSPITAL) plays matriarch Sara Garrett, mother of Brian (Dylan Bruce, Chris, ATWT), Marly (Martha Madison, ex-Liz, GH; ex-Belle, DAYS), and Peter (Kristos Andrews). "This season is a little edgier and there's more glamour," reveals Martin. "The stories move a lot faster and our focus is on central characters."

There may be a wedding if Brian and Zoey (played by Taylor Stanley; Remy, ANOTHER WORLD) take the plunge. "Season 1 was about their engagement and now we're going to see whether or not the marriage will happen," Martin teases.

"Brian doesn't want to lose his fiancée," says Bruce, noting that his character's encounter with Isabella may come back to haunt him. "He didn't really do anything wrong. He was drugged, but he's still worried about losing Zoey."

New cast members this season include GH alums Jackie Zeman (ex-Bobbie) and Paul Satterfield (ex-Paul; ex-Spencer, ONE LIFE TO LIVE). Look for Zeman to play Sophia, the wife of Mayor Jack Madison (Nicolas Coster, Eduardo, ATWT; Robert, AW; Lionel, SANTA BARBARA), while Satterfield is replacing Joe Lando (ex-Jake, OLTL; Macauley, GUIDING LIGHT) as Lee. "Joe did two days with us," Martin shares. "We'll probably end up re-shooting his scenes for [our] TV [version], but they'll be on the Web."

"Sophia is a southern belle," Zeman shares. "I don't know exactly where we're going with her, but she's vivacious and fun. She loves life and her husband. Gregori's told me some people are not glad she's married to the mayor so maybe she's an opportunist? We'll see."

As for Lee, Satterfield notes that his alter ego and Sara have "been married three times. The third time was supposed to be the charm. Lee and Sara have a tumultuous relationship. Even though they're with different people they still have a strong connection. He's madly in love with her and always will be."

Zeman feels that Web soaps like THE BAY are the future of the genre. "People still love their soaps and their characters," she says.

Check out Season 2 of THE BAY beginning today at 3:15 p.m. EST at www.thebaytheseries.com. For a preview of the show's new opening sequence, click here.

Season Two of the popular Web series THE BAY is about to debut, but before it does, you can attend a fan event with all of the on-line sudser's stars! The event will be held at The Varsity in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 5, from 9 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $40 for THE BAY Fan Club members, and $65 for the general public, and will only be sold in advance. Finger food will be served, and a free beer and wine bar will be open until 10 p.m., with a cash bar for the rest of the bash. There will also be a raffle and silent auction. For tickets, visit www.thebaytheseries.com.

A helicopter gets hijacked on this week's CSI, and GUIDING LIGHT alum Johnny Messner (Rob) is behind it! In the episode titled "CSI Down," the actor plays ex-con Frank Cafferty, who is left for dead on a hillside and then transported via the medevac helicopter to a hospital. Unfortunately for Agent Brody, Cafferty isn't quite as dead as he seemed, because he hijacks the chopper with the CSI member on-board!

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS alum Vanessa Marano (ex-Eden) also guest stars in the episode as Frank's daughter, Samantha, who got mixed up with a gang. Tune in to CSI tomorrow night, Wednesay, October 19, at 10 p.m. ET on CBS!

Alina Adams has done it again! The New York Times best-selling author of AS THE WORLD TURNS and GUIDING LIGHT tie-ins Oakdale Confidential, The Man From Oakdale, and Guiding Light: Jonathan's Story, has just released her latest soap opera-themed tome, Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule Of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments. The enhanced E-book -- which can be obtained by downloading the free Kindle app from amazon.com to any Internet-enabled device -- will allow readers to have a truly interactive experience as they read about 45 of daytime drama's greatest moments as voted on by industry insiders and fans alike.

"People sent me by E-mail, Facebook, and Twitter their memories of the scenes that meant so much to them. Then I went to the actors, writers, and producers who had been part of those scenes to ask them how they came together," Adams explains of how the compilation came together.

In the book, readers can hear Linda Dano recount playing Felicia's intervention on ANOTHER WORLD, Eden Riegel relate her memories of Bianca declaring her sexuality on ALL MY CHILDREN, Michael Corbett regaling the tale of David Kimble's death on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS by trash compactor and more... and then click on provided links provided to see video clips, leave comments, or find out what the actors are doing now. "You can read about the scene, watch the scene, and contact the actor and [share] your thoughts!" Adams enthuses. "In that way, the book will not become stagnant because all of those pages will be constantly updated."

Having spent 30 years watching all of the great serial dramas that have come and gone, as well as those still on the air, Adams promises that there will be a little of something included for every fan. "There's a lot of talk about where soaps went wrong and what can we do to fix them. Those are completely legitimate questions and things that people should be asking in order to save and reinvent the genre," maintains Adams, who has also penned a slew of mystery and romance novels. "But I also wanted to talk about what soaps did right and ask: what were these moments that really had people glued to their TV sets? Because sometimes we can learn a lot from [identifying] and emulating that."

Soap Opera 451 retails for $9.99 and is text-to-speech and lending enabled. You can purchase the book here, and find out more about the author at www.alinaadamsmedia.com. And to learn how her history as a soap fan led to a career in the industry, keep your eyes open for a Look Who's Watching feature in an upcoming issue of Soaps In Depth!

When THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS' John Driscoll (Chance; Coop, GUIDING LIGHT) decided to pop the question to his long-time girlfriend, Beth Nelson, he considered a series of venues. "I thought maybe I would propose on the beach, having her family come out and surprising her. Then I figured maybe we'd go back home to Virginia. Then I thought, let's go to New York to the restaurant we had our first date at," he shares with Soaps In Depth.

Yet when Nelson, who works for an air lease company, needed to go to Paris for an air show, the actor realized that he couldn't ask for a better location. "She was going to be there for four days, where she had to work one day," he says. "We decided to turn this into a mini-vacation. She had no idea, but I thought, 'Oh, my gosh, this is the perfect time to do it."

Read more after the jump!

Cable network CMT -- as in Country Music Television -- is making its first foray into made-for-television films this week with the movie To The Mat, starring GUIDING LIGHT alum Laura Bell Bundy (ex-Marah) and Rick Schroeder. Penned by Sweet Home Alabama's writer, To The Mat tells the story of a laid-back former wrestler trying to keep his clan's wrestling school above water, and the high-strung Wall Street consultant hired by his mother to help save the family's business.

"She gets this project in Georgia, thinks she is saving this prep school from financial ruin. She does it as a favor to her boss," Bundy tells Soaps In Depth of her alter ego, Janice, who immediately clashes with Schroeder's Aaron. "They have this animosity towards each other because he doesn't think she needs to be there, but his mother does, and she's getting married in three months and just wants to get out of there."

CMT hand-picked the Nashville native for the project, based on her popularity as a country music career. "They realized that their viewership likes to watch movies and I was so honored that they asked me to be in their first one," she shares. "According to some of their CMT statistics, my video "Giddy On Up" did very well for them. So they thought, our audience is familiar with her and she also happens to be an actress... I think that's how it all came about. I have a great relationship with the folks over there.

"It was fun, and I was the lead in the movie which I had never done before," she adds. "I am as literally in every scene. It was a lot of work. We shot the film very quickly. But Ricky is great. He thinks like a director because he has been in the business for so long. So it was really fun to kind of learn from him in that way."

To The Mat debuts on Wednesday, August 17, at 8 p.m. EST.

The early exit of Robin Strasser from ONE LIFE TO LIVE means that Llanview will be in need of a new mayor when Dorian leaves town... so the soap has cast GUIDING LIGHT alumna Wendy Moniz (Dinah) in the recurring role of Mayor Finn.

Since exiting GL in 1999, Moniz has had recurring roles on primetime series such as DAMAGES, NASH BRIDGES, BIG SHOTS and THE GUARDIAN. Look for the actress -- who is married to fellow GL alum Frank Grillo (Hart) -- to make her OLTL debut in September.

Daytime veteran Tonja Walker (Marie, GUIDING LIGHT; Nancy, PASSIONS; ex-Alex, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) will guest star in the Off-Broadway play You've Got Hate Mail on Friday, August 5. The comedy, performed every Friday night at the Triad Theatre in New York City, takes a hilarious look at sexting, lies and laptops. A kind of digital-age answer to A.R. Gurney's Love Letters, the story about an extra-marital affair gone horribly wrong is told entirely in E-mails.

"It's a riot," Walker tells Soaps In Depth, who will be pinch-hitting for playwright Jane Milmore in the role of Stephanie, the wife. "I've been asked to guest star on August 5, and then for more dates in September and October."

Milmore's co-writer, Billy Van Zandt (who also stars as Stephanie's husband in the play), says, "we've been fans of Tonja's work for many years. She has great comic instincts that are a perfect match for the way Jane and I write."

But the theater role isn't the only thing that Walker has cooking these days. She'll also appear in the upcoming independent films My Dog The Space Traveler and Excuse Me For Living, which has a star-studded cast, including SEINFELD's Wayne Knight and Jerry Stiller, Tom Pelphrey (Jonathan, GL; Mick, ATWT) and Melissa Archer (Natalie, OLTL)!

For more information on You've Got Hate Mail, visit www.youvegothatemail.com. Tickets are $30-$35 and can be purchased at www.smarttix.com.

Congratulations to GUIDING LIGHT stars Rob Bogue (Mallet) and Mandy Bruno (Marina), who are expecting their first child together! The newlyweds were married on March 26 in Mexico, making Bruno stepmother to her husband's two children, Zeb and Zoe, from his previous marriage. The couple revealed the news of their expanding family last week at the opening night party for Bogue's new Off-Broadway play, Manipulation. (For more information, visit www.manipulationtheplay.com.)

Expectant mom Marcy Rylan (Abby, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS; Lizzie, GUIDING LIGHT) has announced that her toddler son, Jackson, will soon have a baby brother to play with! "We are having another BOY!!," she tweeted yesterday, following a doctor's appointment. "Jackjack can't wait for his buddy to get here! We ended up having a 3D sonogram we didn't expect! Cried as soon as I saw that little face! We are over the moon!"

Due in the fall shortly after Jackson's second birthday, the new arrival will be the second child for Rylan and her fiancé, Don Money.

Although soap fans know Thom Christopher as a Daytime Emmy winner who's played the roles of ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Carlo/Mortimer, LOVING's Joe/Dante and GUIDING LIGHT's Dax, the actor is probably most recognized for his 1981 role as The Hawk on the cult television series BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY. This weekend, Christopher will reunite with series stars Gil Gerard and Erin Gray (Nicole, PORT CHARLES) at the Trek Expo at the John Q. Hammons UMAC Arena in Tulsa, OK. "Even during my soap opera fan encounters, fans always asked me about Hawk," he recalls. "BUCK ROGERS was my first TV series, and playing The Hawk was an exotic, creative, challenging role that caught on with the audience in such a short time -- beyond my belief!"

The series only lasted two seasons, but was a smash hit with science-fiction fans. "Everyone thinks that the character I played was on for the entire 37 or 38 episodes. It was only the last 13," says Christopher. "Nobody expected that kind of reaction in just 13 weeks. I attribute it to what the writers did in making him the outsider looking for some place to call home emotionally, physically, as this kind of isolated person. So I think that's what really caught on, and characters like that invariably do."

This weekend will mark the first time in years that Christopher, Gray and Gerard are together again. "The last time was about five years ago in Orlando at The Mega Con Festival," he notes. "It's going to be a nice reunion for us being together again."

Trek Expo, happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, is a science fiction convention held annually in Oklahoma. For more information, visit www.trekexpo.net. For more about Christopher, visit www.thomchristopher.info.