Interview (Being Erica): The Transformation of Erin Karpluk

The critically acclaimed and highly rated series “Being Erica” is finally back on SOAPnet for its third season. Erin Karpluk and cast are ready to start another round of time-traveling psychotherapy Jan. 26 on SOAPnet at 11 p.m. ET/PT. Erica has graduated to group therapy, which means the introduction of some new cast members (as well as a few visits from some familiar faces). I spoke with Erin recently to get the scoop on the new season.

Daytime Dial: Without giving too much away, what can fans expect for season three?

Erin Karpluk: It’s the same show, but we just went deeper into everything, into all of Erica’s different relationships and into her therapy. The new season is about transformations. There’s a character, Adam, that’s introduced, and Erica and Adam end up with a very strong connection to each other. There’s a new doctor, Dr. Arthur. We have characters that return: Kai returns; Cassidy returns; Erica’s sister, Sam, gets a boyfriend, Lenin. Barb (Erica’s mom) goes through some serious life changes. And there’s Erica’s budding business with Julianne. They’re trying to get 50/50 Press up and running, and it’s just the humps and bumps of being young entrepreneurs and starting a business.

DD: What is it like working with the new actors, especially in the group-therapy sessions?

EK: It was great. We have been very fortunate on the show that every actor that has come on board has been very professional and has had a really good grasp of their character. It’s interesting for Erica to have companions going through the same thing. I think it makes it more interesting than to just watch Erica grow and go at it alone; you have other people’s takes on it. We explore other characters’ pasts as well; it’s not just about Erica.

DD: What can you tell me about Adam and Erica’s relationship?

EK: They develop a very strong connection, and I don’t think that it’s what the audience might think it’s going to be. The relationship evolves throughout the season. With people who have watched it here (in Canada), they never really anticipate it. Adam Fergus, who plays Adam, is from a place just outside of Dublin, Ireland. He came on board, and within the first week of shooting, all the crew had his number and were inviting him to barbecues. He just has a super-good heart and gets along so well with the cast and crew, and there’s a lot of laughs on set with him. He also brings a certain masculine vibe to the show.

DD: What can you tell me about Kai’s return?

EK: I was only told to say that Kai does return — dot, dot, dot. It is lovely having Sebastian (Pigott) back. You know, when you work with an actor that intensely, when they come back, it’s just like riding a bike. It’s very nice to fall into that relationship again, certainly for Erica, because she doesn’t know if she’s ever going to see him again.

DD: What would you say to encourage new viewers to watch the show?

EK: The show has such a universal theme: regret. Regardless of where you are in the world — your age, your race, your class, your anything — everybody has regret. And I think that just that magical element of being able to go back and relive your regrets or try to fix them is enough of a hook that people would want to go in. Plus the nostalgia of the music of the ’90s and the clothes and the fashion whenever Erica time-travels — who doesn’t love that?

SOAPnet to Go Dark in 2012

Is this the sign of the Apocolyse that the Mayans told us about? Or just the sign of the beginning of the end of daytime soap operas? We hope the answer to both is NO!

In a press release sent out last night, the Walt Disney Company announced it will close its SOAPnet cable channel and replace it with a service aimed at preschoolers:

In 2012, Disney Junior will take the place of SOAPnet, a 10-year-old channel devoted to soap opera reruns that is available in about 75 million homes, according to Anne Sweeney, co-chairwoman of Disney Media Networks. Disney’s current preschool operation — a block of programming on Disney Channel and about two dozen Playhouse Disney international channels — will be rebranded Disney Junior starting next year.


“This represents the next step in a global preschool strategy that started 10 years ago with the introduction of dedicated channels overseas,” Ms. Sweeney said. Disney Junior will not feature advertising. It will be geared to a slightly wider demographic, ages 2 to 7, than other preschool offerings like Sprout and “Sesame Street,” which typically are aimed at ages 2 to 5.


Programming on Disney Junior will include about 200 new episodes annually of current Disney Channel shows (“Handy Manny,” “Special Agent Oso” ) and new series like “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” an animated series about children who pretend to be pirates and encounter Captain Hook. In the works are other shows that play off classic Disney characters (think princesses). Other offerings will include classic Disney movies like “101 Dalmatians,” “Aladdin” and “The Little Mermaid.”


Ms. Sweeney called the decision to unplug SOAPnet “a tough one,” but something that made sense from a business perspective because the original purpose of the channel — time shifting soap operas from day to night — has grown obsolete with the rise of digital video recorders.

Disney, currently selling up-front advertising for SOAPnet, emphasized that the channel will not go dark for another 18 months or so. Disney is still in the process of obtaining revamp approval from cable affiliates that carry it. Although ABC remains committed to its soaps (“General Hospital,” “All My Children”), other broadcasters have been moving away from the genre, limiting the amount of product available for SOAPnet.

Being Erica Season Finale

Don't miss the shocking season finale of Being Erica, "The Importance of Being Erica."

Erica's perfect life is turned upside down when she finally makes some big decisions: Will she and Ethan stay together or will she choose Kai? And will she take a big leap with her career?

Plus, Dr. Tom adds a major twist to her therapy that opens up a world of possibilities. The season finale of Being Erica, airs WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7 (10:00 – 11:00 p.m., ET/PT) on SOAPnet.

Trust me — you don't want to miss this!

Interview (Being Erica): Erin Karpluk Continues Righting Past Wrongs

The time-travel dramedy “Being Erica” is back on SOAPnet for its second season beginning tonight, and no one could be happier than the series’ star, Erin Karpluk. “I am over the moon” that SOAPnet picked it up for Season Two, Erin tells me. While “Being Erica” already is a popular show in its native Canada — the show was nominated for seven Geminis (equivalent to our Emmy Awards), with Erin winning the Best Actress Gemini — the show is steadily picking up steam here in America.

For those unfamiliar with the show, “Being Erica” is a quirky and inventive drama (with many comedic moments) where the show’s protagonist, Erica Strange, is going through a unique kind of psychiatric therapy: Each show brings a new situation where Erica gets to travel back in time to one of her past regrets, and she gets to do things differently to try to make things right.

Last season, Erica did a lot of learning and self-evaluating. “This season,” Erin tells me, “Erica uses what she has been learning and applies it in her own life, and also uses it to try to help others. The show is sexier and edgier, and it is more forward-thinking. We are also pushing the boundaries of time travel.”

Part of this boundary-pushing is the introduction of a new character, Kai Booker, whom Erica soon learns is undergoing the same type of time-travel therapy that she is. Hence the idea of Erica using what she is learning to try to help others.

Kai is played by Sebastian Pigott, a top-10 finalist from Season Six’s “Canadian Idol.” Erin was very impressed by her new co-star. “He is so talented, such a great singer and performer. He even sings one of his own songs on the show, ‘Alien.’ You’ll be very impressed.”

Season Two started with a bang: After Dr. Tom dropped Erica for violating his trust at the end of the previous season, this first episode focused on what made Dr. Tom who he is today and why he reacted to Erica in such a severe way. Erin tells me: “Michael (Riley) is a fantastic actor. It was great to see more of Dr. Tom — to see him being vulnerable and adding more layers onto his character. We also answered the questions posed in the cliffhanger, while blasting open even more questions for the rest of the season.”

While Erica is exploring life and love, much will take place at her workplace, River Rock Publishing. This season will see a change in allegiances, as Brent (played by Morgan Kelly) angles for more responsibility and a possible promotion. As this happens, his friendship with Erica becomes threatened.

“As actors, Morgan and I were devastated, because we love working together and sharing the office camaraderie, but we know that there has to be conflict. The writers have to throw in some hooks and mix it up.”

On the flip side, we’ll see the blossoming of Erica’s relationship with her snarky boss, Julianne, played by the wonderful Reagan Pasternak. “Reagan is a riot; she is so great,” Erin reveals. “Erica’s relationship with Julianne continues to grow. We’ll get to see more shades of Julianne’s character without her losing her edge.”

Erin was also excited to explore Erica’s relationship with Ethan, her longtime best friend who became her boyfriend at the end of last season. “Erica learns a lot about herself by being in a relationship with Ethan. She is learning and growing. She is not just the girl filled with regrets.”

Would Erin like to have a “do-over” in her own life, if one were offered to her? Her answer sounds very Dr. Tom-esque: “Sure, there are some things I’d like to do over. But I also feel it is important to make mistakes in life, and learn from them. They make you who you are.”

You can catch “Being Erica” every Wednesday on SOAPnet at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).

Catch Up on Being Erica

Season 2 of Being Erica premieres January 20 on SOAPnet. But for those of you who missed Season 1 of the show, now's your chance to catch up. Believe me, you don't want to miss this smart, funny and touching comedy/drama.

Start by reading my interview with star Erin Karpluk. Then, catch up on encores of the show on SOAPnet, which will begin airing Saturdays beginning Oct. 17 at 5PM/4c and Sundays at 11PM/10c.

SOAPnet.com is also airing Being Erica webisodes. Every weekday leading to the 17th, you can catch two installments of the Web series here.

Holidate Premieres Tonight on SOAPnet

What if the perfect guy for you is somewhere else? Each week on SOAPnet's new original reality series, Holidate, two women will switch cities and go on dates handpicked for them. They may date each other's friends, brothers or co-workers in the hope of finding true love.

The first episode premieres tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT and focuses on New York and Los Angeles, but subsequent episodes will be in many other cities, including Dallas, Tampa, Houston, etc.

Catch Up With the Southern Belles of SOAPnet

(Photo Credit: SOAPnet)

Here’s your chance to catch up (or get hooked) on SOAPnet’s new hit reality show, Southern Belles: Louisville, Saturday, July 4 from 3PM to 8PM EST/PST. Relive Emily's hair trauma, Shea's engagement ring shopping, Julie's birthday party, Hadley's dating drama and Kellie's shocking confessions — along with all the laughter, tears, beers, parties, shopping, gossip and romance, as SOAPnet runs down the first five episodes of down-home drama.

Must See TV: SOAPnet's Being Erica

If you haven't been watching SOAPnet's newest original series, Being Erica, then you need to remedy that, quick!

For those who don't know about it, here is the show's description:

We all have regrets and we've all made mistakes. But what if you could go back in time and fix them? Erica Strange (portrayed by Erin Karpluk, right) can – and desperately needs to. She's 32 years old and facing a premature midlife crisis. With no boyfriend, no job, no prospects, her life is in shambles, and she often blames her past mistakes for her current predicament.

Enter Dr. Tom, part therapist, part mysterious rogue. He comes into Erica's life at a time when nothing seems to be going right for her and offers one simple proposition: Whatever she is unhappy about, he can fix it. And with that they begin their extraordinary journey together, as he sends Erica back in time to excavate her past, to relive her regrets, and to make different choices this time around.

We've all, at different points, had the feeling that our lives would be much better if only we'd made wiser decisions in the past. In a world of big dreams and even bigger expectations, we're quick to label ourselves 'failures' when we fall short of achieving these goals.

In Being Erica, we empathize with some of these universal regrets through the eyes of our 32-year-old heroine, Erica Strange. Her experiences and insights are comical, sometimes whimsical, and always poignant. In each episode Erica discovers if what could have been should have been.

I had the chance recently to talk with the show's star, Erin Karpluk, and here is a portion of that interview:

Erin explains what drew her to the character of Erica: “I loved the character, because she is just an average gal, but she’s so flawed and awkward. And yet she is resilient in overcoming all of the adversity that has been thrown at her in life. She is very candid and funny. It is the opportunity of a lifetime to get a chance to go back in time with the foresight, the life experiences and past mistakes, and try to overcome them. The stakes are always really high in playing this character, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Being Erica has the honesty and humor of My So-Called Life and the time-travel/fantasy aspect of Quantum Leap. And, like the latter, Erica realizes that “when she does go back in time, she has a very big responsibility, and she knows that what she does in the past really affects those around her. The things that she learns isn’t ‘paint-by-numbers,’ it’s messy, just like life.”

And, just like life, Erica has her flaws. “The appeal of the show and the character is that everyone has regrets, and we all make mistakes in life,” Erin says. “We all fall down in our career and life, and we pick ourselves up and push on. I can really identify with her. She’s a relatable gal.”

I have seen the first six episodes of Being Erica, and each one just gets better and better. Tune into SOAPnet on Thursday nights at 10 ET/PT, and see what all the hubbub is about. You won't be disappointed.

Erica returns to the early '90s to fix a mistake made at her high-school dance.

SOAPnet Airs Three Classic Eps of GH for Christmas

IT'S THE MOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST AS SOAPNET CELEBRATES THE SEASON WITH THREE CLASSIC HOLIDAY EPISODES OF GENERAL HOSPITAL, AIRING DEC. 25 FROM 8 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Holiday Interstitials Hosted by Kirsten Storms and Bradford Anderson

After a long day of presents, eggnog and fruitcake, SOAPnet invites viewers to celebrate the season by relaxing and revisiting the best "General Hospital" Christmas episodes with "The Most of Christmas Past" marathon, airing December 25 from 8P – 11P ET/PT on SOAPnet.

Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones) and Bradford Anderson (Damien Spinelli) will host holiday-themed interstitials throughout the marathon.

List of Episodes:
8PM – General Hospital Episode #1996-8637 (original air date 12/24/96) — Sonny helps out by taking over as a Christmas tree salesman; Jax and Brenda spend the holiday together and Jason shares special Christmas wishes with Lila and Robin.

9PM – General Hospital Episode #1998-9151 (original air date 12/24/98) – Lucky and Liz say they love each other for the first time and then exchange gifts with Nikolas and Emily; Monica asks Edward to play Santa and Alan to read the Christmas story at the hospital party.

10PM – General Hospital Episode #2004-10689 (original air date 12/24/04) – Ric and Alexis are rescued from the woods in time to celebrate Kristina’s Christening with Sonny and Carly; Emily shares Christmas dinner with Nikolas, who’s in jail.

NS Sneak Peak - Season Finale

Episode 214 ("Past and Presence, Part 2") – In the aftermath of the explosion, Patrick and Jagger rush to diffuse a second bomb, while Robin, Kyle, Leo and Epiphany fight to save Saira's life. Meanwhile, Anna (special guest star Finola Hughes), Robert and Jagger all make life-altering decisions and Kyle and Claire reconcile on the season finale of General Hospital: Night Shift, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21 (11:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., ET/PT) on SOAPnet.

Join the Rock the Soap Three-Day Cruise

As part of the Daytime’s Division’s ongoing new initiative to reach fans in more cities, more often, SOAPnet will serve as the presenting sponsor for the maiden voyage of “Rock the Soap,” a three-day cruise (from Los Angeles to Mexico) hosted by Bob Guiney that will set sail March 20-23. The cruise will be filled with top soap stars from “All My Children,” One Life to Live,” “General Hospital,” “Days of our Lives,” “As the World Turns” and “The Young and the Restless.”

Throughout the cruise, fans will have a chance to mix and mingle with their favorite stars. Stars confirmed to date include “All My Children’s” Rebecca Budig, Melissa Claire Egan, Thorsten Kaye, Eden Riegel, Michael E. Knight, Aiden Turner and Bobbie Eakes; “One Life to Live’s” Kassie DePaiva, Kathy Brier, Susan Haskill and Bree Williamson; “General Hospital’s” Kelly Monaco, Kimberly McCullough, Jason Thompson and Brandon Barash; “Days of our Lives’” Bryan Dattilo; “As the World Turns’” Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann; “The Young and the Restless’” Greg Rikaart, Thad Luckinbill and Elizabeth Hendrickson, and “The Bold and the Beautiful’s” Constantine Maroulis.

“Rock the Soap” will offer fans a unique opportunity to have laid back interactions and exciting musical moments with the stars. Festivities throughout the cruise feature musical performances, book signings, meet & greet sessions, optional beach parties and even a chance to sing Karaoke with your favorite soap stars, as well as some other very special ‘one of a kind’ moments to be announced.

*All talent participation is subject to change.

For updates on the soap star lineup and more information about “Rock the Soap,” fans can log onto rockthesoap.com and SOAPnet.com.

Night Shift: Sneak Peek!

Episode 212 ("Truth and Consequences") – Patrick puts the entire hospital in jeopardy when a notorious patient dies, and Dr. Monica Quartermaine (Leslie Charleson) pays a visit to the night shift. Meanwhile, Robert reminisces about the past with Anna (special guest star Finola Hughes) before taking a turn for the worse. Later, Saira confronts Leo while Kyle and Eric (special guest star Chad Allen) share a tender moment on General Hospital: Night Shift, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7 (11:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., ET/PT) on SOAPnet.

SOAPnet to Air First Season of Dirty Sexy Money

Gearing toward its Oct. 1st return, SOAPnet announced that it will air the entire first season of ABC's hit series Dirty Sexy Money on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 9:00AM to 7:00PM. All 10 episodes will be aired in order. The series returns for its second season Wednesday, October 1 at 10 PM ET/PT on the ABC Television Network.

The Darlings of New York’s Upper East Side are absurdly wealthy, but always getting mixed up with the wrong people and finding themselves in the middle of bad situations. They rely on idealistic attorney Nick George (Peter Krause, pictured above) to fix their problems and keep their secrets.

Nick is the son of the Darling’s former consigliere. Though he’d vowed not to follow in his father’s footsteps, Nick decides to work for the Darlings thinking that he can use the big salary as their chief counsel to help others - but quickly finds the job to be more than he bargained for.

The cast includes Peter Krause as Nick George; Donald Sutherland as the powerful family patriarch Tripp Darling; William Baldwin as Patrick Darling, the NY Attorney General; Natalie Zea as eldest daughter and thrice-married Karen Darling; Glenn Fitzgerald as Reverend Brian Darling who’s loathed Nick most of his life but now needs his help; Zoe McLellan as Lisa George; Samaire Armstrong and Seth Gabel as twins Juliet and Jeremy Darling; with Blair Underwood as the mysterious mogul Simon Elder, the Darling family nemesis; and Jill Clayburgh as Letitia Darling.

Episodes include:

9AM – Episode #101 - “Pilot” - When his father dies in a mysterious plane crash, lawyer Nick George reluctantly accepts an offer from billionaire Tripp Darling to take over Nick's father's job as chief counsel for the obscenely wealthy and influential Darling family.

10AM – Episode #102 - “The Lions” - Nick tries to find out who killed his father with the help of airplane mechanic and Darling aficionado Norman Exley.

11AM – Episode #103 - “The Italian Banker” - Unbeknownst to Tripp, Nick finds himself in full damage control mode when a blackmailer surfaces and demands ransom for a sex tape featuring one of the Darlings.

12PM – Episode #104 - “The Chiavennasca” - At Tripp's behest, Nick travels to a vineyard in Italy to meet with a spy who may know more about the death of Nick's father. Nick appeases his wife Lisa's annoyance with his focus on the Darlings by taking her with him.

1PM – Episode #105 - “The Bridge” - Nick finally has a meeting with Tripp's nemesis, and finds he has more in common with him than he imagined. Since Darling twins Juliet and Jeremy are feuding over Jeremy's affair with Natalie, they decide to throw separate birthday parties for themselves, each budgeted at $1 million dollars.

2PM – Episode #106 - “The Game” - If Nick can convince Tripp to bet his most prized property in a high-stakes poker game, Simon will give Nick the dirt on his father's death. Karen panics when she learns she can't marry her fourth husband until her last divorce is finalized.

3PM – Episode #107 - “The Wedding” - Karen's cold feet about marrying Freddy cause drama as her wedding day arrives, and Lisa suspects that Nick is the reason why.

4PM – Episode #108 - “The Country House” - Nick and Lisa are looking forward to spending their Thanksgiving holiday together with no Darlings - but all that changes when Tripp demands that Nick set up a face-to-face meeting at the family's country house with a skeptical Simon Elder.

5PM – Episode #109 - “The Watch” - Secrets are revealed through a series of flashbacks regarding Nick's father, Dutch, about his affair with Letitia and his relationships with Nick and Tripp.

6PM – Episode #110 - “The Nutcracker” - Nick learns Simon and Karen are secretly seeing each other, but he refuses to admit why it truly bothers him. Karen bails on the family tradition of watching "The Nutcracker" in order to accept Simon's invitation to meet a mysterious person.

"Classic" 90210

In anticipation of 90210 returning to television, SOAPnet will air a 24-hour marathon of the original drama, Beverly Hills, 90210 on Labor Day, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 starting at midnight and going through the entire day. The BFFs of BH marathon will feature 24 pivotal episodes of the hit TV series, during the High School Years. It's all Beverly Hills, all the time.

Episodes include:

12AM – Episode #1991-Pilot A - “Pilot-Part 1/The Class of Beverly Hills” – Twins Brenda and Brandon Walsh move to Beverly Hills where they start school at West Beverly and go to their first party. (Season 1)

1AM – Episode #1991-Pilot B - “Pilot-Part 2/The Class of Beverly Hills” – Brenda’s romance with an older man causes problems at home and at school. (Season 1)

2AM – Episode #1991-006 – “Perfect Mom” - As they prepare for the mother-daughter fashion show, Brenda's jealous of Kelly's glamorous mom, unaware of all the issues she's hiding. (Season 1)

3AM – Episode #1991-009 – “Isn’t It Romantic?” - Brenda and Dylan's first date is met with disapproval by her father. (Season 1)

4AM – Episode #1991-012 – “Slumber Party” - Secrets are exposed and emotions run high during Brenda's girls only slumber party. (Season 1)

5AM – Episode #1991-021 –“Spring Dance” - At the big spring dance, Kelly brings Brandon and is crowned Queen; Brenda leaves with Dylan and sleeps with him for the first time; Steve takes Donna, but it doesn’t go well. (Season 1)

6AM – Episode #1992-022 – “Beach Blanket Brandon” – Brenda’s so freaked out about her pregnancy scare, she breaks up with Dylan. (Season 2)

7AM – Episode #1992-034 – “Halloween” - Donna and Brenda support Kelly when she's the victim of unwanted advances at a Halloween party. (Season 2)

8AM – Episode #1992-047 – “Things To Do on a Rainy Day” – Donna goes to see her pop idols Color Me Badd, but finds out her mother is cheating in the process. (Season 2)

9AM – Episode #1992-048 – “Mexican Stand-off” - Brenda and Dylan sneak off to Baja, but then can't get back into the country; Kelly gets close with Jake, much to Steve's chagrin. (Season 2)

10AM – Episode #1992-049 – “Wedding Bell Blues” - The Walshes are furious when they realize Brenda lied and ran off to Mexico with Dylan, especially Jim who forbids her from seeing him. Kelly's pleasantly surprised when Jake shows up at Jackie and Mel's wedding. (Season 2)

11AM – Episode #1993-052 – “Too Little Too Late / Paris 75001” - Brenda and Donna have trouble adjusting to the Parisian culture. Kelly and Dylan bond in Brenda’s absence. (Season 3)

12PM – Episode #1993-054 – “Shooting Star / American in Paris” - Even after David catches them kissing, Dylan and Kelly end up spending a romantic night on the beach together; Meanwhile, in Paris, Brenda pretends she's French when she meets a handsome American student (Dean Cain). (Season 3)

1PM – Episode #1993-061 – “Destiny Rides Again” - David pressures Donna about her choice to remain abstinent; Brenda is shocked to run into Rick in L.A.; Brenda and Dylan break up when they disagree about the SATs and Dylan admits to a summer fling, but doesn't reveal with who; Dylan immediately asks Kelly out. (Season 3)

2PM – Episode #1993-062 - “Rebel With a Cause” - Kelly and Brenda get into a fight when Brenda (on a date with Rick) runs into Kelly out on a date with Dylan. (Season 3)

3PM – Episode #1993-068 – “Back In the Highlife Again” - Dylan tells Kelly that he chooses her over Brenda, and they kiss in the pool. They then break the news to Brenda and she takes it badly. (Season 3)

4PM – Episode #1993-076 – “A Night To Remember” – When Donna gets drunk at a prom party, her friends try unsuccessfully to hide it from Mrs. Teasley. (Season 3)

5PM – Episode #1993-077 –“Something In The Air” – As Donna faces the school board, her friends organize a march to protest her not being allowed to graduate with them. (Season 3)

6PM – Episode #1993-078A – “Commencement – Part 1” - As they prepare to graduate, the gang reminisces and participates in the year end rituals at school. (Season 3)

7PM – Episode #1993-078B – “Commencement – Part 2” – The gang graduates from West Beverly and leaves their mark on the Hollywood sign. (Season 3)

8PM – Episode #1994-081 – “The Little Fish” – The gang starts to adjust to college life – except for Brenda and Dylan, who have both given up on school for now and spend some quality time together. (Season 4)

9PM – Episode #1994-106 – “Acting Out” – Kelly and Brenda compete for the same role in a play. (Season 4)

10PM – Episode #1994-109A - “Mr. Walsh Goes To Washington – Part 1” – Kelly admits her feelings for Brandon to Andrea; Brenda gets an offer to study acting in London (Season 4)

11PM – Episode #1994-109B - “Mr. Walsh Goes To Washington – Part 2” - Kelly surprises Brandon in Washington; Donna catches David cheating; Brenda shares a special goodbye with Dylan before heading to London. (Season 4)

Interview: Robert Scorpio Is Back!

The last time we saw the debonair Robert Scorpio, he was at the ceremony for Luke and Laura’s vow renewal, which was almost two years ago. And, as far as Tristan Rogers knows, “He’s still sitting in that park, on that chair. We never did get to see him leave or find out where he went.”

Well, last Tuesday on SOAPnet, fans of “General Hospital” at least got to find out where Scorpio is now — he is the hospital as his daughter, Robin, tries to save his life. In season two of SOAPnet’s breakout summer hit, “General Hospital: Night Shift,” faithful viewers will be treated to the appearance of a number of familiar faces returning to Port Charles.

Tristan explains, Scorpio’s health “will be a singular cementing point in the story line. There are two elements to this story: the father/daughter connection and the father/doctor connections.”

Tristan readily admits that taking orders from his daughter, the doctor, will be hard for Scorpio. “He’s a stubborn person, and he won’t slide into the role of patient that easily — until she gives him a reason, which she does. But it’s a challenge for him; he’s never had to deal with this.”

However, Tristan had no trouble dealing with re-creating his iconic role on the “Night Shift” stage. Tristan tells me: “When you’ve been doing a character this long, you have thorough insight on how this character is going to react, so it comes rather easily.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been on the show,” Tristan continues. “Filming ‘Night Shift’ has been a completely different experience. We film only two days a week — which is such a luxury, getting two days to film one hour of television. We’re in a separate studio with our own separate resources: writers, producers, directors. I think this is a good thing — it’s the same, but different.”

While the experience has been positive for Tristan, it also feels a bit like déjà vu. When he first heard of the “Night Shift” concept, he thought: “Hey, we discussed this back in 1981. I spoke with Gloria Monty (then-executive producer and head writer) about it. It was going to be called ‘The Young Doctors of General Hospital.’ But we were very busy with the current story line, so the idea fell by the wayside.”

Another concept that sets “Night Shift” apart from Scorpio’s appearances on “GH” is his condition. “Robert is coming in as a patient; he’s not here to save the world or to unravel a mystery. Although he still looks sideways at everybody, he knows he needs help.”

Tristan also knows he and the folks at “Night Shift” are onto something special. “This is a different version of ‘General Hospital,’ no question about that. It gets back, in some respects, more to the roots of the show. I wasn’t around when the show first started, but it would certainly seem to touch on a lot of those themes of when the show first originated.

“It has a great entertainment value. Fans basically get to see another version of the show. ‘Night Shift’ is ‘Night Shift’ and ‘General Hospital’ is ‘General Hospital.’ We get to see a lot more of the medical side; we don’t go outside the world of the hospital. While we are in the same building, it definitely is different.”

You can catch Tristan on “General Hospital: Night Shift” Tuesday nights at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SOAPnet.

PHOTO CREDIT: SOAPnet/Craig Sjodin

SOAPnet Acquires 5 Additional Movies for its SNM Lineup

SOAPnet announced the acquisition of five additional movies for its Sunday Night Movie franchise. Movies currently air Sundays at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT, and the five new films will begin airing on Sunday, August 3.

The five films were acquired from MGM Worldwide Television and Paramount Pictures Worldwide Television Distribution.

A description of each movie follows, listed in the order in which they'll air:

Moonstruck premieres August 3 and stars Cher, Nicolas Cage, Danny Aiello and Olympia Dukakis. Cher won an Academy Award® for Best Actress for her role as widow Loretta Castorini who falls for her fiancé's near-do-well brother (Academy Award® Winner, Nicolas Cage).

The Butcher's Wife premieres August 10 and stars Demi Moore, Jeff Daniels and Mary Steenburgen, Frances McDormand. A psychic impulsively marries a man she thought she was meant to be with, but later meets her real Mr. Right.

Clue premieres August 17 and stars Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Lesley Ann Warren and Martin Mull. Six guests and several staff members are all suspects in the murder of the owner of a strange mansion. Who is the killer? Was it colonel Mustard in the ballroom with the candlestick? Miss Scarlet in the library with the knife? Or did the butler do it? Based on the popular board game.

Mommie Dearest premieres August 24 and stars Faye Dunaway. No wire hangers ever! Academy Award® winner Faye Dunaway stars in this classic film about the life of Joan Crawford.

Lucky 13 premieres August 31 and stars Lauren Graham, Kaley Cuoco, Harland Williams, Ever Carradine, Jenna Fischer, Taryn Manning, Sasha Alexander and Debra Jo Rupp. In an effort to win over the girl of his dreams (Lauren Graham), a man tracks down his ex-girlfriends to discover what went wrong.

A Bird's-Eye View of the Daytime Emmys

BURBANK, CA. – June 25, 2008 – For the first time ever, viewers have a chance to see what it’s like to attend the 2008 Daytime Emmys through the eyes of their favorite stars by logging on to SOAPnet.com. Digital video cameras were placed at 20 of the tables inside the Kodak Theater during the live ceremony on Friday, June 20, where attendees documented personal experiences as it happened during the live event.

Highlights of the exclusive footage include:

Sherri Shepherd gets cozy with Ellen DeGeneres as the show was taping:
http://daytimeemmys.soapnet.com/n029.html

Ellen DeGeneres and Tyra Banks playing "Guess That Mouth:”
http://daytimeemmys.soapnet.com/n012.html

“General Hospital’s” Tristan Rogers and “General Hospital: Night Shift’s” Carrie Southworth talk about their passion for acting:
http://daytimeemmys.soapnet.com/n061.html

Fans express their love for Daytime in the SOAPnet Fan Booth outside the Kodak Theater:
http://daytimeemmys.soapnet.com/FanBooth/f015.html

SOAPnet Offers Sunday Night Movie Series

Kicking off the summer early, SOAPnet announced today the acquisition of six additional movies for its Sunday Night Movie franchise, "SNM." Movies currently air Sundays at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT, and the six new films, many starring current and former soap stars, will begin airing on Sunday, May 18.


My Date With the President's Daughter premieres May 18 and stars Dabney Coleman, Will Freidle and Elisabeth Harnois.
A high school junior gets up the nerve to ask out a girl he met at the mall, not knowing she's the President's daughter. Their dream date turns into more than he bargained for as they evade Secret Service and try not to jeopardize national security.


How to Marry a Billionaire premieres May 25 and stars John Stamos, Shemar Moore, Joshua Malina, Gabrielle Anwar and Roark Critchlow.
Three friends decide to spend their Christmas in search of rich wives.


Inside the Osmonds: The Osmond Family Story premieres June 1 and stars Bruce McGill, Veronica Cartwright, Joel Berti and Ryan Golden Kirkpatrick.
Chronicles the highs and lows of the Osmonds, one of the most successful musical family groups in the world.


Hello Again premieres June 8 and stars Gabriel Byrne, Shelley Long, Corbin Bernsen and Sela Ward.
Lucy Chadman didn't really start living until the day she choked to death.


The Ref premieres June 15 and stars Kevin Spacey, Judy Davis and Dennis Leary.
During a bungled burglary, a thief is forced to take a bickering couple hostage. He soon realizes his only way out of the situation is to help them resolve their differences.


Just a Walk in the Park airs June 22 and stars George Eads and Jane Krakowski.
A woman mistakes a down-on-his-luck dog-walker for her wealthy neighbor.

SOAPnet's MVP: The Secret Lives of Hockey Wives

SOAPnet is adding more original series to its slate and will premiere MVP: The Secret Lives of Hockey Wives (working title) on Thursday, June 19. A total of 10 one-hour scripted episodes will air Thursdays at 11:00 p.m. The series, produced by Screen Door Inc., follows the on and off-the-ice drama surrounding the Canadian Mustangs hockey team and the women in their lives.

“SOAPnet will increase its original program offerings this spring and summer. MVP is an intense drama with a great cast and interesting stories,” said Brian Frons, president, Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group. “Our record-breaking success with General Hospital: Night Shift last year reinforces that our viewers have an insatiable appetite for serialized drama. MVP is the next series to fill that need.”

“MVP is a fun, fabulous, sexy drama with a gorgeous cast and provocative stories. We are thrilled it has found a perfect U.S. home with SOAPnet,” says Mary Young Leckie of Screen Door Inc.

The star player dies of an overdose. His pampered wife ends up on the street. Their daughter sleeps with the hot new rookie ... and the season hasn’t even started yet! The series uncovers all the shocking scandal of hockey players living the life of instant wealth, excess and tabloid celebrity, with their girlfriends and wives all joining in the crazy ride. When the uniforms are folded and the gear comes off, that’s when the game REALLY gets interesting.

Welcome to the sexy, scandalous, fabulous world of MVP. The cast stars Lucas Bryant (“Gabe McCall”), Dillon Casey (“Trevor Lemonde”), Mathew Bennett (“Malcom LeBlanc”), Peter Miller (“Damon Trebuchet”), Kristin Booth (“Connie Lewis”), Anastasia Phillips (“Tabbi Schnaare”), Deborah Odell (“Evelyn McBride”), Natalie Krill (“Molly McBride”) and Olivia Waldriff (“Grace Morris”).

SOAPnet's Relative Madness: Mama Drama

Just in time for Mother’s Day, SOAPnet premieres Relative Madness: Mama Drama, an original special counting down the 25 most over-the-top TV and celebrity moms, THURSDAY, MAY 8 at 11:00 p.m., ET/PT.

SOAPnet’s top telltale signs you’re suffering from Relative Madness this Mother’s Day:

1. Your Baby Daddy ditched you while you were pregnant – and you still named your son after him.
2. Instead of taking mom to brunch, you’ve signed her up to star on a reality show.
3. You’re spending a day at the spa while the husband and kids are spending the month at rehab.
4. Your son sent flowers and a lovely card – and fired you as his manager.

Commentators weighing in on ‘mamas with drama’ are comedian Joy Behar (“The View”), actress Ana Ortiz (“Ugly Betty”), Actor Cameron Mathison (“All My Children” and “Dancing with the Stars”), actor Willie Garson (“Sex and the City”), actress Tatyana Ali (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”), comedian Chuck Nice (“Best Week Ever”) and actress Tika Sumpter (“One Life To Live”). Some of the over-the-top moms featured in the countdown include Dina Lohan, Britney Spears, Sister Patterson (“I love New York” ), Miranda Bailey (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Lynette Scavo (“Desperate Housewives”), Erica Kane (“All My Children”) and Sami Brady (“Days of our Lives”).