A BOLD Promotion
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL scribe Kay Alden will now share the title of head writer with Executive Producer Bradley Bell. Alden had written for YOUNG AND RESTLESS since 1974 and was let go in 2006, but snapped up by B&B. Both shows were created by Bell's parents William and Lee Bell. Their son was a former writer for Y&R and was named associate producer of B&B in 1989, then supervising producer in 1992. The following year, Bell took over head writing reins from his dad and also became executive producer in 1995.

AMC Shakeup!
Now that Charles Pratt, Jr. has taken over the reins as AMC's head writer, he's got big plans on revitalizing the soap. "It is challenged right now," the scribe tells Soap Opera Digest in an exclusive peek at what's ahead for Pine Valley. There's good news for Adam and Erica fans and the men of Pine Valley are going to go through a change. "We're gonna get Zach off the couch," hints Pratt. Fans can also expect changes for the show's biggest couples. "The bond of marriage will be tested," Pratt promises. For more spoiler alerts, check out the July 29 issue of Digest, which goes on sale next Tuesday.

GL's Ava Out
Michelle Ray Smith (Ava, GL) has finished taping her final scenes and is on maternity leave with no plans to return. For the scoop on who else is rumored to be on their way out of Springfield, pick up the July 29 issue of Soap Opera Digest, which goes on sale next Tuesday.

Y&R Actress Axed
Hot on the heels of Vincent Irizarry's (David) ouster, Y&R's Raya Meddine (Sabrina) has been given a boot. "We're all a little dumbfounded," a setside source tells Soap Opera Digest in the July 29 issue, which hits stands Tuesday. For more behind-the-scenes scoop and spoiler alerts, pick up the issue.

First Airdate For NIGHT SHIFT'S Tristan Rogers
Tristan Rogers' Robert returns to life in Port Charles on Thursday, August 5 at 11 p.m. The return marks the popular GENERAL HOSPITAL star's debut on GENERAL HOSPITAL: NIGHT SHIFT. Another reason to make sure your cable provider gets SOAPnet....

Change of Plan
Cady McClain (ex-Dixie, ALL MY CHILDREN) is sad to report that she has to cancel a few singing gigs because "due to personal reasons, a key member of my band is no longer going to be able to play with me and it's too late to find an adequate replacement. Prohibition (this Monday the 21st) and Alphabet Lounge (August 2nd) are out for sure. I am going to try to play Rockwood Music Hall so please hang on to that date: August 15th, 6 p.m. I will keep you informed!"

For more on McClain — and whether she is taking over the role of GUIDING LIGHT's Harley — see the next issue of Weekly.

Major VCR Alert
If you watch only two episodes of ONE LIFE TO LIVE this year, may we suggest the ones airing July 21 and July 22? Viki visits Heaven. Tina watches Sarah go over the falls. Bo and Rex travel to 1968. "They realize they are not in Kansas anymore," laughs head writer Ron Carlivati in the July 29 issue of Soap Opera Weekly. For more on these very special episodes, pick up Weekly, on sale now.

Baby Love
GH's Ingo Rademacher (Jax) and fiancé Ehiku welcomed son Peanut Kai Rademacher into the world on July 11. The baby weighed in at 7 lbs, 6 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. "Dad, mom and baby are all great," notes a show spokesperson. "The cast and crew of GENERAL HOSPITAL are very excited for Ingo, Ehiku and the entire Rademacher family. We wish them all the best during this important milestone."

GH Casting Scoop!
As first reported in Soap Opera Weekly’s 4/8 issue, Genie Francis (Laura) is returning to GENERAL HOSPITAL. It will be a short visit, beginning August 26. "I would stay on, but GENERAL HOSPITAL honestly doesn't seem to want that relationship with this character at the moment," Francis said in an interview with the Associated Press.

A PASSIONS-ate Return for Douglas
Christopher Douglas returns as PASSIONS's Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald on July 23. As soap fans know, the former NBC sudser is now on DIRECTV and ends its wacky run on August 11.

AMC Sets Date for Ehlers
Beth Ehlers (ex-Harley, GL) debuts on ALL MY CHILDREN's Taylor McBride on Thursday, July 24, and she hopes her Springfield fans will tune in to see her and co-star Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake, AMC; ex-Gus, GL). "I don't want them to stop watching GUIDING LIGHT, but I absolutely want them to follow us," declares Ehlers. "I'm not even shy about it."

Mauzy Makes A Move
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL confirms that MacKenzie Mauzy (Phoebe) has been bumped to recurring status. The reason: Mauzy's hitting the great white way — aka Broadway — to join the cast of the new musical A TALE OF TWO CITIES. Congrats!

Vive La France!
To celebrate its 20th anniversary of airing in France, YOUNG AND RESTLESS (known as Les Feux de l'Amour there) will go on its first location shoot in Paris. For now, the week of filming is scheduled for October, but Y&R has yet to confirm which actors will be going.

Corinthos vs. the Russians
Hang on to your vodka! There's a another mob boss heading to Port Charles, and this time he's a Russian named Karpov. Ilia Volok (ER, BURN NOTICE) debuts on GENERAL HOSPITAL July 18.

Y&R Star Out
According to a post on his MySpace page, Vincent Irizarry (David, Y&R) has been let go. Although a show's spokesperson wouldn't comment, the actor's fate, which has been in question for months, appeared to be sealed when it was disclosed on the July 1 air show that his character is responsible for Ji Min's still-unsolved death. A backstage source does report that David's behavior will become increasingly "unstable." Stay tuned...

A Bold & Beautiful Award
CBS' BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL took home the International TV Audience Award at the 48th Monte Carlo Television Festival for the third year in a row. The award means B&B is the world's most watched daily drama series. Congrats!

Casting the NIGHT SHIFT
Though the big surprises have already been announced (Hello, Antonio! Hello, Tristan!), ABC has released the official cast list of the second season of SOAPnet's original series GENERAL HOSPITAL: NIGHT SHIFT. "Robert's (Scorpio) storyline will be heartfelt, funny and robust," executive producer Lisa De Cazotte (PASSIONS) teased in the press release. The season premiere is Tuesday, July 22 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SOAPnet.

Antonio Sabato Jr. as Jagger Cates
Tristan Rogers as Robert Scorpio
Kimberly McCullough as Dr. Robin Scorpio
Jason Thompson as Dr. Patrick Drake
Sonya Eddy as Epiphany Johnson
Billy Dee Williams as Touissant Dubois
Adam Grimes as Dr. Kyle Julian
Carrie Southworth as Dr. Claire Simpson
Ethan Rains as Dr. Leo Julian
Azita Ghanizada as Dr. Saira Batra

Family Day for OLTL's Woods
It was all in the family for Robert S. Woods (Bo, OLTL) when wife Loyita Chapel (ex-Blaize) and 17-year-old son Tanner joined him in scenes surrounding the 40th anniversary of the ABC soap. Chapel will play Dallas AND Renee in the 1968 flashbacks. Tanner will play Bo. However, as previously reported in Soap Opera Weekly, John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex) will also play Bo in those sequences. Chapel also played Dallas in 2005 when she and Clint broke up. It's involved, we know, but we're betting it will be great. The scenes begin airing July 21. For more on these special episodes, be sure to pick up Soap Opera Weekly.

Jagger Returns to Port Charles
Antonio Sabato Jr. will reprise the role that made him a daytime star — the GH fave will join GENERAL HOSPITAL: NIGHT SHIFT SEASON 2 when Jagger Cates comes home with his young son, Stone. The original SOAPNET series returns on July 22.

DAYS Casting Scoop!
Joe Mascolo is coming back to DAYS as Stefano and Soap Opera Digest has the exclusive. "I'm thrilled that we were able to talk things out and reach a mutual conclusion," says the actor.

Baby on the Way
DAYS OF OUR LIVES's Alison Sweeney (Sami) is expecting her second child in January, 2009. "I'm so thrilled and everyone is super excited, but I got three hugs from James [Scott, EJ] because I think it's his first experience knowing someone actually going through it," says Sweeney. "It was really cute." The actress announced the news at a taping of the BIGGEST LOSER Monday night, then told her DAYS castmates when she got to work on Tuesday. Sweeney and husband Dave Sanov are already the parents of a son, Ben, 3. No word yet on whether DAYS will write the pregnancy in.

GH Casting Scoop
The rumors are true! GH's Tristan Rogers will reprise his fan fave persona, Robert Scorpio, in the second season of SOAPnet's original series, GH: NIGHT SHIFT, set to debut in late July. Rogers reappeared on GH in 2006 after a 14-year absence, in which his character was allegedly killed in a boat explosion. The actor's return is a gift to longtime fans, who've been calling for a father-daughter reunion ever since the character resurfaced, especially now that Robin is an HIV-positive mother-to-be. For more on the actor, check out his official Web site at www.tristanrogers.com or the actor's MySpace page at myspace.com/tristanrogersonline.

Happy 40th Anniversary
In honor of 40 years on ABC, ONE LIFE TO LIVE is bringing back some veterans for the special episodes set to air July 21 and 22. OLTL fans will see Phil Carey (Asa), Mark Derwin (Ben), Stephen Markle (Mel), Erin Torpey (Jessica), John Loprieno (Cord) and show creator Agnes Nixon in the episodes. Torpey as Megan? Yes, Torpey will play the daughter Jessica lost as Viki makes a brief trip to Heaven.

RESTLESS Reading
The new Y&R magazine Restless Style is going like hotcakes in Genoa City. Now fans can also check out an online version. The show is launching RestlessStyle.com. According to today's press release, "The site offers the latest runway trends, fresh beauty tips and red carpet coverage, in addition to such things as videos, polls, photo galleries and horoscopes." To see the site, click here.

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