Rebecca Budig Is Back!

ABC has confirmed that Rebecca Budig is returning to All My Children as Greenlee Smythe. She was presumed dead last February when Kendall ran Greenlee's motorcycle off the road. Headwriter Charles Pratt Jr. confirmed: "Greenlee didn't die but is being cared for by Nurse Gayle in Gloucester on orders from Dr. David Hayward."

Casting News Galore!

Lots of casting news to report, kids, so let's get right into it:

• Grant Aleksander (pictured) has confirmed that he will be returning to the role of Phillip Spaulding on Guiding Light beginning in January 2009.
• Jay Kenneth Johnson is leaving Days of Our Lives after stalled contract negotiations. Some report that it all came down to money -- while Days has been renewed through 2010, they had to massively trim down the budget, and it would appear that Jay was asking for too much. While others say it came down to story -- or lack thereof. The way his character has been being treated lately, I can't say that I blame him for picking up and leaving.
  
• Drake Hogestyn (John Black) and Deidre Hall (Marlena Evans) are OUT! Days' executive producer Ken Corday told Soap Opera Digest: "The couple will be happily reunited after a long period of angst and separation and will be off-screen after January for an unknown period of time. It was a very tough decision to make."
• Beginning Dec. 12, look for MacKenzie Westmore (ex-Sheridan, Passions) to play Annie's psychiatrist (boy, does she ever need one!), Dr. Sinclair, on All My Children.
• One Life to Live's Andrea Evans is out after her six-month stint as Tina Lord. However, they have kept the door open for her to return at any time.
• Rebecca Budig will be exiting All My Children in early spring 2009, when her one-year contract expires. Rebecca cited the bicoastal lifestyle (she is on the East Coast, her home and hubby, Bob Guiney, are on the West Coast) as the reason for her departure.
  

Rebecca Budig to Host The NephCure Foundation’s Fundraiser

PRESS RELEASE:

Rebecca Budig, two-time Emmy nominee, Soap Opera Digest Award winner and star of All My Children, will host The NephCure Foundation’s Countdown to a Cure 2008 event on Thursday, October 30, at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows, NY. The NephCure Foundation has set a goal of collecting $600,000 in donations at this year’s dinner.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Senator from New York , will serve as Chair of the Honorary Committee for the second consecutive year. The evening, consisting of dinner, silent and live auctions, reception and awards presentations, will honor four real-life heroes who have showed continued dedication to The NephCure Foundation and its mission.

All proceeds from the event will go directly to fund research into two debilitating kidney conditions, Nephrotic Syndrome and Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Nephrotic Syndrome and FSGS are kidney function afflictions that impact men, women and children of all ages around the world, affecting mobility, requiring heavy medication and often dialysis or transplant as a last resort.

“Giving back to the community is something that has always been very important to me,” said Rebecca. “It’s organizations like NephCure that make a difference in the world today, and I am more than happy to lend them my full support.”

“We are thrilled to have Rebecca as the host for Countdown to a Cure 2008, and would like to thank her for her dedication to our mission,” said Henry Brehm, Executive Director of The NephCure Foundation. “We are confident that her strong presence in the public eye will draw attention to these two devastating kidney conditions.”

Tickets to “Countdown to a Cure” can be obtained at www.countdowntoacure.org or by calling 631-205-4306.

Nephrotic Syndrome and FSGS are conditions that affect the tiny filtering units (glomeruli) in the kidney. The result is that protein needed by the body is discarded into the urine. Over time, these conditions can result in renal failure and the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant. The primary cause for most forms of Nephrotic Syndrome and FSGS are not known and there is no cure.

Based in Berwyn, PA, 20 miles west of Philadelphia, The NephCure Foundation is the only organization solely committed to seeking a cause and cure for primary Nephrotic Syndrome and FSGS. Comprised of patients, their families and friends, researchers, physicians and other healthcare professionals, Nephcure aims to help science unlock the biological mechanisms that cause these serious conditions and ultimately find a way to cure and prevent them. Further information can be obtained at www.nephcure.org.

Goldin and Budig Guide Daytime Emmys' Fashion Parade

They're no Joan and Melissa Rivers, but that's a good thing. The always hilarious Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake, All My Children) and the charming Rebecca Budig (Greenlee, AMC) will host SOAPnet's 2008 Live From the Daytime Emmys special on Friday, June 20, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Joining them are Finola Hughes (Anna, General Hospital) and Lawrence Zarian, both of whom have a background as fashion hosts and correspondents. To top it off, Jordan Pruitt will kick off the extravaganza with a special musical performance of the single "Her Shoes," which is featured on her upcoming album "Permission to Fly."

Budig, who is best known for her role as Greenlee Smythe on “AMC,” will chat with the stars as they arrive at the red carpet. Budig's credits as a TV host include Full Frontal Fashion, post-show round-ups of The Bachelor on ABC Family and as an occasional co-host of ABC’s The View.

Goldin currently stars as Dr. Jake Martin on AMC but for years was a fan favorite as Gus Aitoro on Guiding Light. Goldin, with his quick wit, has expertly interviewed the stars at the Daytime Emmys before, and I look forward to seeing his encore performance.

Hughes and Zarian will team up to discuss the most important part of the red carpet: Fashion. Featured this year is the “Dr. Scholls’ for Her” shoe cam, and at the end of the show, the fashion experts will announce the winner of the Dove Dark Chocolate “Most Fashionable Moment of the Night.”

Hughes is host of the Style Network’s How Do I Look?, while Zarian has numerous hosting gigs under his belt including TV Guide Channel’s The Fashion Team and co-host of KTLA’s Live from the Academy Awards in 2004.

This year, SOAPnet’s Live From The Daytime Emmys will also go behind-the-scenes with Jack Mackenroth, the season 4 contestant of Project Runway who is HIV-positive and, sadly, had to leave PR early due to a facial infection. He has created a one-of-a-kind gown for Heather Tom (Katie, The Bold and The Beautiful), who is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress. SOAPnet will reveal the final look on the red carpet, and her gown will later be auctioned off on ClothesOffOurBack.org and the money will go to AIDS-related charities. In addition, Good Morning America’s Sam Champion will review the nominees of the final four categories including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment, Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Lead Actress.

SOAPnet.com will feature red carpet coverage from fashion expert and Project Runway Season 2 alum Nick Verreos, as well as coverage from SOAPnet.com reporters Sam Sarpong and Jelynn Rodriguez. The website will feature a live blog from the Emmys, red carpet slideshows straight from the event, and streaming video straight from the red carpet — and the show — shot by fan favorite celebrity nominees!

Viewers will also have the chance to see what it’s like to attend the Daytime Emmys. SOAPnet.com will be placing video cameras at 20 of the tables for actors and actresses to capture all the excitement in the Kodak Theater on their big night. The footage will be streamed on SOAPnet.com, giving viewers insider access into the exclusive event.

Original Greenlee IS Returning to Pine Valley!

UPDATE: It's official. I just got the confirmation from AMC this afternoon. Rebecca Budig's first airdate as the new/old Greenlee will be January 16. While I do like Sabine, I must say that I am excited to see Rebecca on my TV set again. Stay tuned to see what she stirs up!

Soap Opera Weekly is reporting that Rebecca Budig is back as Greenlee on All My Children, and her replacement, Sabine Singh, is out.

Also, make sure you tune in to AMC next week for significant developments in the search for Zach and Greenlee that should have a major impact on future storylines.

New Greenlee Debuts on All My Children

In less than a week, AMC fans will get to see the new Greenlee in action. According to a statement by officials at AMC: "Sabine Singh has been cast in the contract role of Greenlee Smythe Lavery on All My Children."

The original Greenlee, Rebecca Budig, was approached about reprising her role, and she was game to doing a short-term stint, however, producers wanted Greenlee back for a long-term contract. Rebecca and husband Bob Guiney are happily settled on the West Coast, and didn't want to uproot and come back to NYC, where AMC is filmed.

Fans can catch their first glimpse of Sabine on Monday, April 16.