Miscellaneous Casting News

Rick Hearst (pictured, left), who had been bumped to recurring status on General Hospital, has been snapped up by The Bold and the Beautiful to reprise the role of Whip Jones.

According to her official website, Stephanie Gatschet (ex-Tammy, Guiding Light) has landed a recurring role on All My Children as Madison North.

Catherine Hickland will be returning to her role of Lindsey on One Life to Live later this summer.

Terrell Tilford (ex-David Grant, Guiding Light) is joining the cast of One Life to Live in the new role of Dr. Greg Evans.

Interview: David Charvet Shows Us What He's Made Of

David Charvet is perhaps best known for his roles on Baywatch and Melrose Place. On Melrose, David was the man (as character Craig Field) who was finally able to tame bad-girl Sidney Andrews. However, their happiness was very short-lived: She was hit by a car and killed on her wedding day.

David’s latest project retains all the excitement of his previous endeavors, without all the melodrama. In fact, his new show might even gain our new president’s seal of approval. That new show is called The Superstars, an athletic competition that pits teams of celebrities and professional athletes against one another in a series of strenuous and strategic competitions.

David explains: “The Superstars is a show that was first on back in the 1970s on ABC. When we met to shoot the show, they showed us a clip of a Barack Obama interview where he says The Superstars was his favorite show. It’s a show about athletes competing against one another; the twist on our version of the show is putting celebrities with athletes and pairing them up together. We compete in bicycle races, obstacle courses, swimming, triathlons, rock-climbing — all of these hard, physically demanding things — and see who’s the best at them.”

David and his partner, Jennifer Capriati, were quick to size up their competition. “I knew that (All-Pro NFL receiver) Terrell Owens would be a force to be reckoned with, with his tremendous speed and agility. There was another girl, Brandy Chastain, a gold medalist in soccer who won the cup against China. She’s so well rounded. I knew she’d be our competition.”

Among the other celebrities, David kept his eye on Julio Iglesias Jr. “He was unbelievable and super-fast. He was paired up with Brandy. He’s an outstanding athlete. I was really impressed with him.”

The Superstars was filmed on location at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. David says: “That was a lot of fun. The whole facility is really beautiful. The people are wonderful there. It was 15 days of bliss. And to be able to be competing with all the people I was working with was a dream come true.”

David didn’t get a lot of time to fully enjoy all the resort had to offer, explaining, “We had two days off out of the 15, and it was mostly just icing down and recuperating.” He was grateful that his fiancee, TV hostess/model Brooke Burke, and their children were able to join him at the island paradise.

Aside from The Superstars, David also has a new film in the works called Nephilim, a sci-fi action thriller created and directed by Danny Wilson. “It’s a comic-book series that’s being turned into a film. It’s a trilogy of films, and I play one of the lead superheroes, a priest named Father Markus Knight. I can’t say much about it yet, but it’s a very dark series about people dying and coming back to live and fighting evil and all that.”

With the announcement of the reincarnation of Melrose Place (following in the footsteps of the revamped 90210), there is also one question that has to be asked of a former Melrose Place actor: Can we expect to see David on the new Melrose? He reveals: “Right now I think they are really focusing on trying to get the show on the air and introducing the younger characters. As of now there hasn’t been talk of my going back there. However, it was a fun show, and if there is an opportunity to do something great, I’d love to be involved.”

In the meantime, don’t miss David on ABC’s The Superstars. The six-episode run begins Tuesday, June 23 at 8 p.m. EST.

UPDATED: GL Casting News!

In an effort to either drum up ratings for a possible pick-up by another network, or to merely tie up some loose ends storyline-wise, Guiding Light has some big casting news:

Tom Pelphrey will return as Jonathan, Paul Anthony Stewart returns as Danny and Nancy St. Alban is back as Michelle. No official date has been given, but it will be some time this summer.

UPDATE: Word has just come down that Peter Simon (pictured) will be returning as Ed Bauer. Now, they're pulling out all the stops!

UPDATE: Also, Danny and Michelle will be back Thursday, July 2 — no doubt in time for the Fourth of July Bauer BBQ — so I am hoping Ed will be there too.

UPDATE: Add Krista Tesreau (Mindy) to the Bauer BBQ list of attendees.

Casting Shocker on Y&R

Apparently Chris Engen, who plays Adam on Y&R, walked off the set and quit the show, leaving producers scrambling to replace him right in the middle of a front-burner storyline. This saddens me because I think Engen is one of the most talented new actors on daytime. However, I am looking forward to seeing what the recast can do — Michael Muhney (pictured above), best known as Sherriff Lamb on Veronica Mars.

Muhney is definitely good at playing slimeballs. Even though Engen reportedly wasn't happy with the dark turn his character was taking, I was anxious to see the day it would all blow up in his face. Now we'll have to see the payoff with another actor in the role. I can't say I'm happy about that, even if I do like Muhney.

Your thoughts?

Save the Light Rally tomorrow

PRESS RELEASE:

Save the Light Rally

A "Save the Light Rally" will take place in New York City on May 22 in hopes of helping to save Guiding Light. Although this is a save Guiding Light rally, it is daytime as a whole that is affected by the cancellation--so even if you don’t watch GL, you may be interested in supporting this effort. However, if you can’t make it to NYC, why not have a GL party or rally in your community and take photos of your group to send to Guiding Light executives?

Please email webmaster@savethelightrally.com or go to the website at http://www.savethelightrally.com/ for information and see the schedule below.

The Rally Day Schedule–May 22, 2009:

Meet at 7:30 a.m at the CBS Early Show (Tapes LIVE from 7am to 9am)
GM Building 5th Avenue and 59th Street New York, NY 10153

Lifetime Headquarters: World Wide Plaza, 309 West 49th Street, New York, NY 10019

Directions from CBS to Lifetime Headquarters:
Walking: The two places are approximately 15 blocks apart.
It should take about 20 to 25 minutes to walk from one to the other. 1- Head West down 59th Street to Columbus Circle. 2- Then turn South on Broadway until you hit West 49th Street. 3- Turn left and walk to 8th Avenue to Worldwide Plaza.

By Subway: 1- Take the N or R train at 5th Avenue & 59th Street downtown to 49th Street and 7th Avenue.2- Walk one block West to 8th Avenue to Worldwide Plaza.

Y&R Casting News: John Driscoll is Phillip Chancellor IV

John Driscoll (ex-Coop Bradshaw, Guiding Light) has been cast as Phillip Chancellor IV, the son of the "late" Phillip Chancellor III and Nina Webster on The Young and the Restless.

While Tricia Cast (Nina) has returned for a short-term role, and Thom Bierdz returned on Friday, (as a man named Langley, but we have our suspicions), this is a much-welcomed move for fans of the Chancellors.

According to soapcentral.com: "Driscoll reportedly auditioned opposite Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe Mitchell), hinting that there could be some couple shakeups in the near future. Driscoll's alter ego will also share scenes with Adrienne Frantz (Amber Moore) and Christel Khalil (Lily Winters)."

Personally, I am excited to see a story-line shift to the Chancellors. Hopefully that will mean less time devoted to the snoozefest that I find all this Nick/Sharon drama to be.

James Reynolds’ 20th Annual Celebrity Basketball Game

Group Shot From Last Year's Game

The James Reynolds’ 20th Annual Days of Our Lives Celebrity Basketball Game to benefit the South Pasadena High School Boys Basketball Program and the Fremont Centre Theatre will be held Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 7:30 pm. Joining Reynolds on the court will be Days of Our Lives stars Bryan Dattilo (Lucas), Jay Kenneth Johnson (Philip), Eric Matsoff (Brady), Arianne Zuker-Lowder (Nicole), Kyle Lowder (Brady), Terrell Ramson, Jr. (Theo), Shawn Christian (Dr. Daniel Jonas), Rachel Melvin (Chelsea) and many others.

The event will take place at South Pasadena High School’s Main Gym located at 1401 Diamond Avenue in South Pasadena, one block behind the school. Doors will open at 7:00 pm and there will be a raffle as well as a silent auction.

General Admission tickets are $15. VIP tickets are $125 which includes backstage access at the game, a team jersey, a photo with the teams, a gift basket and priority seating.

Tickets can be ordered by visiting www.FremontCentreTheatre.com; or by calling (323) 960-5056; or by emailing daysgame2009@gmail.com. Cash and credit cards will be accepted.

RFK Center Fundraising Auction Offers Soap Prizes and More

RFK Center ’s annual online auction is up now through May 28th and includes 125+ experiences with amazing stars of TV, film, music and sports. Here are just a few of the experiences:

Visit Ben Stiller or Robert DeNiro on the set of “Little Fockers.”

Meet Oprah Winfrey backstage

Visit the set of “The Office” and meet Steve Carrell and cast

A dance lesson from "Dancing With the Stars” contestant Jason Taylor

Lunch with “Project Runway”’s Tim Gunn at Bryant Park Grill

Have lemonade and cookies after Martha Stewart guides you through her garden

Have Gloria Ruben, star of “Raising the Bar” on TNT, sing for you and your guests at your next cocktail party

Meet Bobby Flay at a taping “Iron Chef America”

VIP tickets to "Saturday Night Live" and dinner at the Beacon

Tour Pine Valley on the set of “All My Children” with creator Agnes Nixon

Spend the day on the “Damages” set with Glenn Close

Meet Laurence Fishburne on the set of “CSI”

Dinner with TV legend Bill Cosby, with 4 bottles of wine from the Cos ’s cellar

Tour Wisteria Lane on the set of “Desperate Housewives”

Lunch at the Four Seasons with Dennis Haysbert of CBS’s “The Unit”

Enjoy a backstage tour of the Emmys

Go backstage at Rachel Ray’s show, take home pots and pans

Meet Charles Grodin, Regis Philbin and Alan Alda at a New York Lunch

Visit “America’s Most Wanted” and meet creator and host John Walsh

Tour the Set of “The Young and the Restless” with Kate Linder

Take home a pair of Larry King’s suspenders and visit "Larry King Live" to meet him

Visit set of “Anderson Cooper 360” and meet Anderson

Meet Bill O’Reilly on the set of “The O’Reilly Factor”

Dinner with “Hardball”’s Chris Matthews at the Willard in DC

Meet Joe Scarborough on the set of “Morning Joe”

Meet Jim Cramer on the set of “Mad Money”

Watch “Meet the Press” on set and then interview David Gregory

Meet Matt Lauer and tour “The Today Show”

Meet MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on set

Tour the set of ‘This Week” with George Stephanopoulos

VIP tickets to “Real Time With Bill Maher”

Coffee with Melody Hobson of "Good Morning America"

The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, www.rfkcenter.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides innovative support to courageous human rights defenders around the world. It assists advocates who have won the RFK Human Rights Award to boldly confront injustices such as modern day slavery in U.S. agricultural fields, torture in Darfur, and the devastation along the hurricane battered Gulf Coast. Every year the Memorial honors investigative journalists and authors who bring light to injustice through the RFK Book and Journalism Awards. With the Speak Truth to Power program, the Memorial promotes the value of the human rights and the courage of its defenders through the arts.

Support the RFK Center by visiting http://rfk.charitybuzz.com/viewLots.do and bid to give. Visit often and check out the new lots added daily.

Y&R Shocker!

As we learned on Friday's episode of The Young and the Restless, actor Thom Bierdz is back. However, it is unknown as to what capacity he will be utilized. During Cane's flashback to a conversation he had with his "Uncle Langley" (Bierdz), he tells him that he is in, and that they practically begged him to take the job. So, now we know that Cane is in Genoa City under false pretenses, and he might not even be the real Philip Chancellor III who was switched at birth with who we all thought was Philip. Did the former Phillip survive his car accident and simply leave Genoa City to get away from it all? Is he now pulling Cane's strings to destroy the Chancellors?

I must say, the time line is awfully confusing. Cane's background is that he was adopted by a woman named Violet Montgomery, who died shortly after, and then was raised by Violet's brother, Langley Ashby who lives in Canberra, Australia. So, how could Langley be the former Phillip? Also, Cane's character is about 13 years younger than the former Phillip, so how could one be confused for the other? I know that soaps play fast and loose when it comes to the ages of characters, so the answer might just be as simple as that.

I guess we will have to see how this all plays out. And I, for one, can't wait to see what is in store for us!

Days: Such a Tease!

NEXT WEEK:

•Stephanie (Shelley Hennig, pictured) stops breathing while trapped inside the morgue drawer.

•Rafe reveals his new job as a construction worker.

•Chloe admits to Daniel that she is not happy.

•Lucas has a memory from the night he was drunk.

•Nicole learns that Mia is seeing Will.

Thursday – Stephanie distracts Owen with a kiss.

Friday – Kate spies Chloe in Daniel’s arms.

GH: Such a Tease!

Jason wants to keep the truth from Michael.
Tracy (Jane Elliot, pictured) makes a confession to Lulu.
Claudia thinks she’s one step closer to being in the clear.

Carly is hurt by Michael’s anger toward her.
Johnny and Olivia find comfort in each other’s arms.
Jason opens up to Sam about his fears for Michael.

Carly blames Jax for Michael turning against her.
Tracy learns what Holly’s really after.
Rebecca might be more calculating than she’s let on.

Carly is devastated by Michael’s harsh words.
Claudia confronts Olivia about sleeping with Johnny.
Holly evades Lucky’s questions about Ethan.

OLTL: Such a Tease!

Marty attempts to outwit a menacing Powell.
Jessica is horrified to discover Chloe is missing.
Time is running out for Blair and Tea.

Tea has a secret she wants to reveal to Blair before it's too late.
Rebecca makes a desperate move.
Natalie and Jared confess all to their parents.

Starr and Cole get shocking news.
Bess emerges to protect a fragile Jessica.
Stacy (Crystal Hunt, pictured) manipulates Rex to get what she wants.

Having regained her memory, Marty shares an emotional reunion with Cole.
Viki figures out what’s happened to Jessica.
Kyle puts the screws to Stacy.

AMC: Such a Tease!

Kendall grows suspicious of Erica.
JR makes a surprising discovery.
Jesse springs into action.

Zach promises to keep Liza’s secret.
Annie gets an unlikely ally.
Tragedy strikes.

Krystal figures out what David’s been up to.
Liza shares her plan with Jake (Ricky Paull Goldin, pictured).
Tad exhibits some strange behavior.

Liza defends herself to Colby.
Kendall refuses to turn her back on Zach.
Zach has an encounter with Annie.

B&B: Such a Tease!

•Taylor finds the perfect opportunity to make a bold move.

•Katie makes a drastic decision about her future with Nick.

•Ridge gives Brooke an ultimatum.

•Bridget decides to get over Nick by taking her relationship with Owen to the next level.

•Bill (Don Diamont, pictured) reveals the true reason he came to Los Angeles.

Y&R: Such a Tease!

•Olivia and Victor fear that Ashley could be on the verge of another breakdown.

•Devon gets a shocking surprise at Cane and Lily's wedding that could change his life forever.
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•Mary Jane is hiding something and Paul is determined to uncover it.

•Jana (Emily O'Brien, pictured) becomes suspicious of Daniel's art work and tries to discover his secret.

•Nick and Sharon admit their need for one another, but what will it mean for their families?

GL: Such a Tease!

•Remy discovers Edmund's body.

•Reva becomes Mallet's No. 1 suspect.

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•Natalia (Jessica Leccia, pictured) admits her feelings to Father Ray.

ATWT: Such a Tease!

•Rosanna reveals where she's been.

•Henry is nowhere to be found when tragedy strikes Vienna.

•Paul takes drastic action when he is backed into a corner.

•Lisa (Eileen Fulton, pictured) spies on Barbara to get information.

Interview Privileged: JoAnna Garcia Keeps the Faith

Prior to landing the leading role on the CW’s nighttime drama Privileged, JoAnna Garcia was best known for her co-starring roles in Reba and Party of Five. Now, as Privileged lies on the cusp of finding out if the show has been renewed for a second season, JoAnna is keeping herself pretty busy.

She has been tapped to co-star in two pilots: one for Fox called Cop House and another untitled comedy for NBC starring Henry Winkler. (JoAnna gushes, “I think Henry Winkler might be my favorite person on the planet.”) While she is excited about both new projects, JoAnna wants to make one thing clear to the very passionate and very vocal Privileged fans: “Obviously, ALL of my commitments lie with Privileged. My whole heart is with Privileged, and I really believe it will be picked up for the second season.”

She went into filming these two pilots with everyone being aware that she might not be available to continue her role. “It would take a project that’s really special to get me to do another series (if Privileged is not picked up), and I really feel like both of these projects were really special, so I wasn’t sure how all of that would pan out. But I did let everyone know that I am definitely on the Privileged train.”

From Entertainment Weekly to TV Guide and every trade magazine and newspaper in between, people have been championing this show since it premiered in the fall of 2008. “In the beginning, our show didn’t really get a lot of promotion, so I was so pleasantly surprised by how well we were received, especially Megan. I think Megan is such and appealing character and I am so proud to play her. It feels really, really, really good to have people I respect in the business behind the show.”

The universal appeal of Megan is a big reason the show has such a strong fan base, and JoAnna also considers herself a fan of Megan. “When I first read the script, I felt like Megan was a really strong female role, and television lacked a girl in her 20s who is wholesome and good and strong and makes mistakes and falls flat on her face. She is emotional, intelligent and funny. She empowers young girls and is a real role model. The way I feel about Megan runs a lot deeper than just an actress taking a job.”

Privileged is in a class all its own in a market flooded with sensational, unrealistic shows geared toward the younger set. JoAnna explains: “There is a place for all types of characters and shows in television. There is a place for 90210 and Gossip Girl and that escapism. Privileged has that escapism quality, but on the flip side you have a very real girl that I think every girl in America can relate to.”

JoAnna is the first one to give credit where credit is due when complimented on the intelligence and realism of the show. “It’s a direct reflection of a writing staff that values the intelligence of our viewers and fans, and writes to that. They are always thinking about what our loyal viewers want to see next.”

Only time will tell what is next for our friends at Privileged, and JoAnna has high hopes for its renewal. “I just have a good feeling that we all will have a lot more Privileged in our future.”