Charles Shaughnessy Returns to Days of Our Lives
by Michael Logan March 17, 2010 12:59 PM EST

Shane comes back! Charles Shaughnessy is returning to Days of Our Lives for a multi-episode arc in the role that made him an ’80s sensation—suave ISA agent Shane Donovan. The British actor is best remembered by prime-timers as Fran Drescher’s boss and eventual hubby on The Nanny, and he later played Drescher’s jerky ex on her follow-up sitcom Living With Fran. Most recently, he had a terrific guest stint on Mad Men as sneaky Saint John Powell, director of the U.K. ad agency that bought out Sterling Cooper.

An NBC rep says Shaughnessy—who briefly returned to Days in 2002—will appear on the soap for 10 or so episodes, though that might expand. He starts taping the week of March 22 and begins airing in a couple of months. Look for plot details and an interview with Shaughnessy in an upcoming issue of TV Guide Magazine.

There really ought to be a law against getting rid of a character like this one. Don't be surprised when you hear that one soap opera has thrown out one of its most popular actresses. I guess fans won't have to worry about who __________ should be with anymore. Want more clues? Follow me on Twitter.

Ashley: Family and friends attempt to make her realize Faith is really Nick and Sharon's daughter. Ashley refuses to fathom the baby she loves isn't hers and is hopeful Victor can prove everyone wrong. Billy and Jack wonder if their sister's starting to crack up again and are fueled further when she recalls Faith's delivery. Ashley relays the night she "gave birth," but her tale has key pieces missing. As she's telling her story, Ashley realizes she can remember being unconscious and coming to, but not being in labor. Meanwhile, Phyllis, Nick and Sharon swing by Ash's to visit with Faith where she's still firm on Faith being her child and not her former stepson's.Once the trio finishes an awkward chat with Ashley, she kicks them out and lets Jack know she doesn't need him acting like a mother hen. Later, when Jack jumps in the shower, Ashley decides to take Faith and flee! While at the airport, Ash and Tucker run into each other and chat a bit where he figures out how fragile she is right now. Surprisingly, Tucker gives Ashley some food for thought. The rebel billionaire (snort) makes Ash ponder if she really wants to be on the run with Faith.

Adam: He goes to Jill with some interesting information.

Katherine: The grand dame shocks Victor and Jack with their pitch regarding Jabot.

Michael: He gets eye-opening news that may wreck his marriage.

JT/Victoria: The Hellstroms amicable divorce goes out the window when JT decides to fight for sole custody of little Reed. JT thinks Victor's effect on his son isn't in Reed's best interest. When Victoria finds out from Michael about JT's intentions, she is thrown for a loop. Later, she swings by Crimson Lights and bumps in to Billy where she opens up about her divorce. The two bond over families sticking together while JT and Mac have the same conversation.

JT lets Mac know all about his heated association with the Newman clan. Afterwards, JT and Victoria have a showdown where she tells him he's a punk for not telling her about his plans to go for full custody and demands he leaves the house. JT pulls an Effie White and lets Vic know he's not going nowhere! Victoria goes to see Michael for help and he tells her JT's within the law by not vacating the house since the two signed the lease together (wah?!). Michael lets Victoria know the best way she can win the war is to stay put.

Cane: He turns to someone unexpected for assistance.

Patty: She turns up the heat in her quest for payback.

Lauren: Y&R's gearing up for her to have a doppelganger (How original right?).

The Official Taylor Miller Facebook (Nina) page has confirmed that Gillian Spencer (Daisy) will be returning for Palmer Cortlandt's funeral! This is AMAZING news! But really, how could you have Palmer's funeral without Daisy? Taylor also informs us that is now reviewing the script so should be filming very soon.

You guys are def gonna like were Amanda's story is headed. Ask and you shall receive! That's all I'm gonna say!....

U guessed it, I've heard just that unfortunately. :-( Greg will stick around as the "doctor". but buh bye Evans fam too.

One Life to Live KO's Kish
by Michael Logan March 10, 2010 04:13 PM EST

This won’t go down well with the LGBT community. One Life to Live stars Brett Claywell and Scott Evans—who play gay couple Kyle and Fish—are being written off the show and will be gone by mid-April.

“We are concluding the story that we set out to tell with Kyle and Fish,” says executive producer Frank Valentini. “We are very proud to have broken new ground with a same-sex couple on daytime.”

Word is, the decision to drop the duo didn’t come easily. Kish has been a big success with the media and the show’s gay fans, and gay-advocacy groups have showered OLTL with awards for creating the trail-blazing couple. But sources at the network say the duo failed to resonate with the mainstream audience. Ratings for the ABC soap were particularly dismal in late 2009 during the weeks that Fish came out of the closet and he and Kyle officially became a couple. Also playing simultaneously was a sprawling plot that had Robin Strasser’s character, Dorian, pretending to be a lesbian in order to win the gay vote in the Llanview mayoral race. A case of gay overkill? Perhaps.

Here are the plans for the Kish wrap-up: Spoiler Alert! On the March 29 episode, Fish will learn for certain what viewers have known for quite a while—he’s the biological father of baby Sierra Rose, via his drunken one-nighter with psychotic stripper Stacy Morasco (Crystal Hunt). With Stacy now dead, there are rumblings of a custody battle with Stacy’s sister Gigi (Farah Fath) but, ultimately, the law is on Fish’s side and the two dads will blissfully start a new life with the baby.

A show rep says the characters will not actually leave Llanview and, because Fish is a cop, he may pop up in a crime-related capacity down the line—but no promises are being made.