Former "Days" Heartthrob Saddles Up on "Wildfire"

Eric Winter, who played Rex Brady on "Days of Our Lives" from 2002-2005, will be featured in a multi-episode arc on the ABC Family channel drama "Wildfire" beginning Jan. 15. He plays a rodeo cowboy and will appear in five episodes -- Jan. 15th, 22nd, 29th, and Feb. 5th and 26th.

The horse-racing drama stars Genevieve Cortese, Ryan Sypek, Micah Alberti, and Nicole Tubiola. Also returning this season is Amy Jo Johnson ("What About Brian" and "Felicity"), and joining the cast is John Terry ("Lost"). Also, don't forget to tune for the Mar. 12th episode when Ignacio Serricchio, who was recently killed off "General Hospital" as Diego, guest stars.

And Baby Makes 3!

"Passions" actress Liza Huber and husband Alex Hesterberg are delighted to announce the birth of their first child. Royce Alexander Hesterberg was born at 6 a.m. on December 23rd in Los Angeles. He was 7 lbs. 10 ounces and 19.5 inches long.

Of additional interest, the baby was born on the birthday of his maternal grandmother, "All My Children" icon Susan Lucci.

CONGRATS!

Soap Star Attacked by Obsessed Fan

According to the Web site TMZ, Days of Our Lives actor Drake Hogestyn was attacked at his home on New Year's Eve by an obsessed fan.

A restraining order was filed by Hogestyn against a man he says assaulted him in his home on New Year's Eve, and "physically tried to exorcise the devil from me."

[Go here to read the whole story.]

Hogestyn says Cheney was "calling me by my stage name ... recalling past storylines, especially the demonic possession of several years past. But more important, he thought I was dead, because the show that aired on Friday 12/29/06 left my character John Black shot and presumed dead."

Drake was every bit the soap-opera stud: He rushed over to the attacker, who was confronting Drake's wife on the porch, spun him around and decked him on the chin. He then subdued the man and duct-taped his arms and legs together until the police could arrive.

Thank goodness no one was hurt in this senseless act. Obviously the man who attacked Drake, Carl Raymond Cheney, has mental-health issues, so hopefully he will get the help he needs. And kudos to Drake's heroic bravery!

POLL: Alan Quartermaine to Be Killed Off

Poll Script from CWT

SPOILERS! Week of January 1, 2007

It's a new year, and we've got some new goodies to share with you. Enjoy!

AMC: Bianca is bitter about being "duped" by Zarf.
ATWT: Casey tries to explain away his gambling addiction.
B&B: Pandemonium erupts at the Forrester Fashion Show.
Days: Bonnie's son, Connor, is coming to town.
GH: Is Jax risking his life in trying to save Jerry?
GL: Springfieldians pay it forward, and try to "find their light."
OLTL: Blair's health takes a turn for the worse. Will she make it through?
Passions: As the wedding begins, Fancy faces another attack!
Y&R: The stress gets to Ashley, and she is pushed to the edge. Will she confess all to Victor?

Kudos!

“Passions” usually isn’t singled out for stellar acting, and I don’t think it’s the fault of the actors themselves. Yes, some of them are a little green, but because the writing can be so silly, it doesn’t really give them an opportunity to show some serious dramatic skills like most other soaps. And remember, soap actors tape a new episode everyday (sometimes doubling up and doing two shows in one day), and don’t have a week to rehearse like primetime-TV actors, so it’s remarkable that many of them are as good as they are.

However, I’d like to single out a great performance this week by “Passions” actress Emily Harper, who plays Fancy Crane. I was a little shocked and disgusted when yet another female character on the soap was raped, but so far the scenes of Fancy realizing and reacting to what happened to her have been so heartbreakingly good. Harper is doing a great job with this. She already proved she had a flair for romantic comedy in her scenes with Galen Gering (also doing a great job as Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald), but her most recent scenes where she cried her eyes out to Luis are worthy a daytime Emmy nomination.

Lately, “Passions” has been must-see TV. Yes, a lot of it is unbelievable (like JT’s body being stuffed into a humongous wedding cake meant to feed only 20 people), but if you’re looking for a more lighthearted soap (minus the rapes), this is a great way to spend an hour of your day.

So a round of applause to “Passions,” and especially Emily Harper. Hopefully, Fancy won’t be tormented for much longer, but if she has to be, at least Harper is getting a chance to show us how good she really is.

-- Dana