This Week from the Soap Blog Coalition!!!

Daytime Confidential's Regan is back with a fresh batch of juicy General Hospital spoilers. (Daytime Confidential)

Remember how Patrick was wild in college? Or how Jason feels bad that Sam got kidnapped, but she's okay with it? General Hospital thinks that you can't, which is why they repeat these facts endlessly. Thank goodness for Jonathan Jackson's phenomenal performances this week, or else the Serial Drama girls would have completely gone insane. (Serial Drama)

Wub Tub: Sunday Surgery...Daytime Stars get out to the Rose Bowl in CA for Haiti relief. Guess who was there with them? Alberta WUBS! See pics of our lobster with GH and DOOL actors. (Wubs)

New Headwriters Announced!!!

ABC has announced that Donna Swajeski (former head writer for AW and GL) and David Kreizman (former head writer for GL and current co-head writer of ATWT) will be taking over as Co-Head Writers for AMC. Together this team won a Daytime Emmy for Writing GL in 2007.

Both have a rich history in daytime. Donna began her daytime career working as an AMC program executive. From there she worked as headwriter for Another World and Guiding Light. She's also written for Port Charles and B&B.

David began working at Guiding Light in 1995 as an intern and quickly worked his way up the ranks. In 1997 he joined the writing team and was made Head Writer in 2004. He worked at GL until the show ended last year and then moved over to ATWT as Co-Head Writer.

Spoilers for the Week of January 17!!!

This weeks spoilers are now posted. It's a bad week for David, a very very bad week. Other than being murdered (which comes close to happening!), it probably wouldn't get much worse! Also this week, Amanda rejoices, Marissa is pissed off - big time, Tad and Liza revisit old times and Adam has something up his sleeve!

LA Mayor and City Council President to Appear on AMC!

LA is rolling out the red carpet for AMC and welcoming the show with open arms. On February 16, City Council President Eric Garcetti will appear on AMC as himself in scenes with David Canary's Adam Chandler. The two will be meeting to discuss steps they are taking to make Chandler Enterprises more environmentally friendly. And then on February 17, Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigos will appear as himself in scenes with Susan Lucci's Erica Kane at ConFusion bar in Pine Valley. The two know each other from charity events both had attended.

AMC Stars Perform Agatha Christie!!!

On Saturday, February 20 and Sunday, February 21, LA fans will get a real treat at the Soap Fan Mystery Theatre kicks off with a new series of readings. For three performances only, you can see Hollywood legend Stephanie Powers along with Vincent Irizarry (David), Jacob Young (JR) and Adam Mayfield (Scott) as well as GL's Robert Newman perform Agatha Christie's The Unexpected Guest. The performance will take place at The Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills and will be held at 8:00 pm on the 20th and 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm on the 21st.

On Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14, the second reading will be Agatha Christie's Spider's Web. This time AMC stars Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake), Jacob Young (JR) and Adam Mayfield (Scott) will be performing with a guest to be announced. The performance will take place at The Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills and will be held at 8:00 pm on the 13th and 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm on the 14th.

Tickets are $49.50 for reserved seating or $150 for VIP tickets which include premium seating and a meet and greet with the actors. For more information and to buy tickets, check out the Soap Fan Mystery Theatre website!

AMC Nominated for GLAAD Award!!!

Once again, AMC has been nominated for a GLAAD Award in the Outstanding Daily Drama category. This year the competition is getting rougher. They are up against ATWT (who had the very popular pairing of Luke and Noah), GL (who's even more popular pairing of Olivia and Natalia is nominated), and OLTL (which featured a character coming out and having a relationship and well known character Dorian's advocacy for gay marriage). Is it safe to assume that AMC's storyline of Reese and Bianca, their marriage and subsequent annulment 5 minutes later might not stand a chance his year? We'll see! The GLAAD Awards will held in New York on March 13 at the Marriott Marquis. And then in Los Angeles on April 17 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. And then in San Francisco on June 5 at The Westin St. Francis. UPDATE (3/14) The GLAAD Award went to OLTL.

This Week from the Soap Blog Coalition!!!

Daytime Confidential's Jillian Bowe recently attended the One Life to Live Cramer Women event and explains the orgins of Bitchy Bangs to the Cramer women. (Daytime Confidential)

This week the PVB examines the latest returns to the show. Brooke, Jack and Dixie... Oh My! (Pine Valley Bulletin)

The Serial Drama girls were full of warm, fuzzy feelings towards All My Children for exactly 24 hours, thanks to the cast being so adorable, sweet and smart at the New York Times "AMC At 40" panel Mallory attended. (Serial Drama)

Soap Opera Examiner's Mary Montanari write an open letter to General Hospital's Franco. (Soap Opera Examiner)

Goodbye Franco, hello Helena! The Wubqueen writes to Bob Guza about the whole Franco-Fiesta and can't wait for Connie Towers to return to the set of General Hospital in February. (Wubs)

Rebecca and Bob Split!

People.com is reporting that Rebecca Budig (Greenlee) and her husband of five years, Bob (The Bachelor) Guiney, have split. No divorce has been filed, and the two remain very good friends, but apparently friends of both have confirmed that the marriage is in fact over. In a statement to People the couple said, “We love each other very much. We are best friends and don’t know what the future holds.”

Commentary: The Starting of a Brand New Day

It's a brand new day at AMC. The birds are singing. The sun is shining. Mr. Pratt and his almost complete annihilation of AMC is gone. Like the Six Million Dollar Man, we can rebuild it. Most of the steps taken to do that are steps in the right direction.

Brooke is back. An absolute no brainer. Brooke faded into the Martin attic back in 2006 when AMC decided not to renew Julia Barr's contract. At the time, the actress didn't want to stay on in a recurring capacity. Fans were in an uproar that such a classic as Brooke (and Julia) could be discarded the way she was. Quite honestly, the uproar never ceased. It got quieter now and then, but Brooke has always been missed, has always been one of the first mentioned when talk of characters returning happens. Many fans rejoiced when it was announced she would be on the anniversary show. And then popped the corks on the champagne when, shortly thereafter, it was announced she would be returning to AMC in February. Right now, the term of her return is short. But it's a step in the right direction. I hope she has sharpened her claws because I want to see some classic Erica/Brooke catfights! Meow!

Jack is back. Fans cried foul when Jackson Montgomery was basically forgotten about. His marriage to Erica fizzled. He had a brief affair with Erica's prison BFF. And then, nothing. He was gone. Liza was brought back as a lawyer so he wasn't even needed for lawyery stuff. Walt Willey has classically said on many occasions that he will leave Pine Valley when he leaves in a pine box. Well he didn't leave that way, but still he was gone. And while I'm one of the few who is really digging the Erica/Ryan May/December romance, I think she truly belongs with Jack at this point. The diversion of Ryan has been fun. And seriously, when I'm 63 I hope I can attract a smokin hot younger dude too! But it's time for Jack to return, remind Erica about their love and show her that Ryan was exactly what I said... a diversion until the real man of her dreams was back. Their history, their long long history pretty much makes their story simple. Two hearts that lost their way and need to find a way back to each other. Personally speaking, I think that Erica and Jack should never have gotten divorced. I can't even remember why it happened now (although I'm sure someone will remind me lol). It's time for Erica to settle down. It's time to make Jack and Erica the anchors.

Greenlee is back. Nice lead in huh? Jack is back and he needs to be back with Erica. That leaves Ryan alone. Or does it? Rebecca Budig has returned to the role of Greenlee. She clearly never lost her love of Ryan. How could she? She woke up a year later believing it was still her wedding day. She's just as much in love as the day she "died." And I definitely believe that Ryan never fell out of love with Greenlee either. Sure he grief sexed Kendall over and over and over again. And now he's trying to move on for good with Erica. Not going to happen. Greenlee will be back. And I'm sorry Ms. Kane, you don't stand a chance!

And alas, Dixie is back. I can't even pretend to be happy about this development, my Dixie hate is rather notorious. But I am happy for the fans who have wanted this. Death by poison pancakes has been the thorn in the side of many, Cady McClain included. And then, out of nowhere, it was revealed that the Satin Slayer did not poison the peanut butter that was put in the pancakes that were to be fed to Babe but that Dixie ate instead. So who wanted Babe dead? No one knows. The story was dropped. Should we assume that Alexander Cambias was lying? Is Dixie's return going to center around finding out what the real deal behind her death was? Is she a ghost? Has David been hiding her too? What's the deal!? We'll find out in March!

So how do you get back the fans you lost when you hired a hack who ruined your show? Well you bring back the characters people love. The tried, the true. You get back to honest storytelling from a character driven point of view. You stop changing characters personalities to accommodate idiotic plots. You get rid of characters no one cares about... like Bailey and Damon. Yeah OK, Bailey's going and Damon isn't. It's a head scratcher for sure. But he's a young guy and maybe something will develop between him and Colby.

The new writing team is said to be announced within the next few weeks. With my optimism in full swing, I have high hopes that this too will be a step in the right direction.

For the first time in several years, the future of AMC looks bright. I feel good. I have hope. I want to see what's going to happen. Yeah, a new day is dawning at AMC. It's no longer the winter of our discontent. It's springtime in the middle of January! Break out your shades and pass me a Margarita!

CASTING NEWS - She's Back!!! (Part 2)

AMC is once again bringing back Cady McClain in the role of Dixie. The stint is a short one and she will be in a storyline with Tad. Considering the short term aspect of it, it may be safe to assume she appears to Tad as a ghost, but that information has yet to be released. Stay tuned for information as it develops! Dixie is set to reappear in early March.

CASTING NEWS - Bailey to Exit!!!

This news probably comes as no big shock to anyone, but Sofia Black D-Elia is leaving AMC in the role of Bailey. She opted not to make the move to CA. The character will most likely exit Pine Valley with Baby Stuart.

Happy Birthday Brianne Moncrief!!!

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Brianne Moncrief! AMC's former Colby celebrates her 27th birthday today! For more on Brianne, click here.

Spoilers for the Week of January 10!!!

This weeks spoilers are now posted!! What a week!!! Greenlee has surgery, Adam collapses, David is thisclose to getting busted, Scott fights that feeling where Annie is concerned and much much more!!!

AMC Nominated for DGA!!!

The Directors Guild of America nominations are out and AMC's Casey Childs was nominated for his work on AMC episod 10,061 - which aired Feb. 16, 2009 - Reese and Bianca's wedding! This is Mr. Childs 4th nomination and this year he is up against Christopher Goutman (ATWT), William Ludel (GH), Cynthia Popp (B&B), Sally McDonald (Y&R), and Dean Lamont (Y&R). The 62nd Annual DGA Awards Dinner will be held on Jan. 30 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in LA.

UPDATE: 2/1/10 - The award went to Christopher Goutman of ATWT.

Congratulations Eva LaRue!!!

Eva LaRue and businessman Joe Cappuccio were set to wed this past June but the wedding had been called off. But now, the couple is back on track! The couple got engaged, again, while on vacation in Bora Bora! That Joe, he's one romantic proposer! First in South Africa, this time in Bora Bora! The couple plan to marry in the near future in Thailand. Congratulations!!