Errol

1 hour ago, dragonflies said:

Soon after news broke that he had been cast as Dr. Ted Richardson on “Beyond the Gates,” replacing outgoing cast member Maurice Johnson in the role, actor Keith D. Robinson took to Instagram to thank the almighty God, the show’s producers, the fans and his loved ones for standing by him through his journey to the world of daytime drama. “God is Good”. . . .This is gonna be a fun ride,” Robinson said in the caption of his post. “Special Thanks to @sheiladucks @cbstv @naacp @beyondthegatescbs @pakulaking @vaultentertainmentgroup and the friends, family, prayer warriors that hold me down on this crazy journey called show business. Glad to be the topic of your daily water cooler conversations along with my talented comrades.” Daphnée Duplaix, who plays Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson, Ted Richardson’s wife, on the series, replied to Robinson’s post, saying, “So excited to have you on this ride with us sugar!” In response to Duplaix, Robinson said, “Glad to be here.” Other comments from the show’s cast came from Ernestine Johnson Morrison who plays Shanice on the soap, who said, “Let’s Goooo sir!!!” and Maurice P. Kerry (Randy Parker), who used several emojis to emphasize his support and included the hashtag #GatesCommunity. Similarly, Ben Gavin (Derek Baldwin) used a salute emoji to welcome his new co-star. “Beyond the Gates“ CBS Additional replies came from fellow actors like Brian White (“Ambitions”), who said “Congrats, bro!” and Walter E. Jones (“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers”), who stated, “Bro thats awesome. Congrats ,well deserved.” Even former “One Life to Live” actor Tobia Truvillion (ex-Vincent Jones) commented, saying, “Like bing !!!!!” While it remains unclear what spurred the casting switch at the brand new soap opera, Robinson is set to debut in Fairmont Crest with his first episodes airing in May. Reportedly, he began taping at the show’s Atlanta-based studio in early February, before the show premiered. With more than 75 television and movie credits to his name, Robinson brings additional star power to the series, which already includes the aforementioned Duplaix, Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree), Clifton Davis (Vernon Dupree), Karla Mosley (Dani Dupre) and Timon Kyle Durrett (Bill Hamilton), among others. Robinson starred as the Green Lightspeed Ranger (playing Joel Rawlings) in “Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue,” as well as memorable roles in such shows as “ER,” “American Dreams,” “Over There,” “Half & Half,” “Canterbury’s Law,” “Monk,” “NCIS,” “Major Crimes,” “Saints & Sinners,” and more recently “A Million Little Things,” among other television credits. Among films, he’s appeared in the likes of “Dreamgirls,” “This Christmas,” “Dear John,” “Blade: Trinity” and “Fat Albert,” among others. A final airdate for Johnson and an official first airdate for Robinson was unavailable at press time. Note: The post Keith D. Robinson Excited To Join ‘Beyond The Gates,’ Daphnée Duplaix Welcomes New Co-Star appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More

Daphnee Duplaix responded to Robinson's Instagram post, saying, "So excited to have you on this ride with us sugar!"

As the show closed out its 12th season on Sunday night, Hallmark Channel announced that it has renewed “When Calls the Heart” for a record 13th season. “Hearties are far more than a fan-base — they are a connected community, as loyal and supportive as the characters of Hope Valley,” said Samantha DiPippo, Senior Vice President, Programming, Hallmark Media, Hallmark Channel’s parent company, in a statement. “It is an honor to tell stories of hope, resilience, humor and romance that continue to resonate with millions of viewers for twelve seasons and beyond.” Season 13 is set to premiere in 2026 on Hallmark Channel and will be available to stream the next day on Hallmark+, the streaming home for all past and future episodes of the series. Based on the novel of the same name by Janette Oke, the series stars Erin Krakow (“Santa Tell Me”), Pascale Hutton (“Fourth Down and Love”), Jack Wagner (“General Hospital,” “Melrose Place”), Chris McNally (“Holiday Crashers”), Kevin McGarry (“The Wedding Veil”) and Kavan Smith (“Big Sky River: The Bridal Path”). In Season 12, love flourishes for schoolteacher Elizabeth Thornton (Krakow) and Mountie Nathan Grant (McGarry) as they embrace the joy of new romance. Reporter Rosemary Coulter (Hutton) and retired Mountie Bill Avery (Wagner) team up once again to investigate a train robbery, while Governor Lucas Bouchard (McNally) and Mayor Lee Coulter (Smith) quite literally find common ground. The community comes together to celebrate and support each other through a season of discovering passions, leaps of faith, and a whole lot of dancing. An All Canadian Entertainment Production in association with Brad Krevoy Television and Believe Pictures, executive producers for “When Calls the Heart” include Brad Krevoy, Brian Bird, Michael Landon Jr., Lindsay Sturman, Joy Gregory, Mike Rohl, Jimmy Townsend, Amy Hartwick, Erin Krakow, Susie Belzberg, Michael Shepard, Vicki Sotheran and Greg Malcolm. Watch the renewal announcement below. Note: The post ‘When Calls The Heart’ Renewed For Record 13th Season At Hallmark Channel appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More

As the volatile network news market continues amid declining ratings, slashed budgets and uncertainty among staffers, “CBS Mornings” is the latest program seeing significant behind the scenes changes, following similar reports at ABC News. According to a report by the New York Post, the morning show anchored by Gayle King, Nate Burleson and Tony Dokoupil is set to move back to its former home at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street in New York City after spending the last four years at its more luxurious and technologically advanced studio in Times Squares, located at 1515 Broadway. “It’s all about saving money,” an insider at the network reportedly told the outlet. “This is another example of them [CBS News] not competing. It’s going back in time.” The move is set to take place in September and comes as the show averaged a mere 1.869 million viewers and a 1.2 rating/10 share among Households during the week of March 10-14, 2025, the most recent week in which network morning news ratings are available, according to Nielsen data. “CBS Mornings” continues to place third among Total Viewers and in the key sales demographics, behind both “Good Morning America” on ABC and “TODAY” on NBC, which averaged 2.544 million viewers and 2.467 million viewers, respectively, during the aforementioned week. Among Adults 18-49, the CBS morning show averaged a 0.2 rating/7 share with roughly 211,000 viewers in the demo, while the program averaged a 0.3 rating/8 share among Adults 25-54, of which 332,000 fell in the demo. “TODAY” was tops in both categories, averaging a 0.3 rating/13 share among Adults 18-49 (404,000 viewers) and a 0.5 rating/14 share among Adults 25-54 (635,000 viewers). Maurice DuBois, John Dickerson Gail Schulman/CBS News Reportedly, CBS’ morning show will share a smaller studio with the recently revamped and relocated “CBS Evening News,” which debuted in late January with new anchors Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson, after the show spent more than five years in Washington, D.C. under now former anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell. David Muir ABC News Like “CBS Mornings,” the “CBS Evening News” also continues to rank third among Total Viewers and the key demos, averaging a mere 4.038 million viewers and a 2.4 rating/9 share among Households opposite “World News Tonight with David Muir” on ABC (7.492 million viewers, 4.4/15 in Households) and the “NBC Nightly News” (6.114 million, 3.6/13 in Households) under the departing anchor Lester Holt during the week of March 10-14, 2025. “World News Tonight” leads the evening news race with a 0.5 rating/10 share among Adults 18-49 (700,000 viewers) and a 0.8 rating/11 share among Adults 25-54 (1.023 million viewers) and often places as the most watched and highest rated program on all of television. Wendy McMahon Sonja Flemming/CBS News Not helping matters for both “CBS Mornings” and the “CBS Evening News” is word that Wendy McMahon, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures, has been handed a mandate by Paramount Global, parent of CBS and CBS News, to slash the division overall budget by as much as $500 million ahead of Paramount’s planned merger with Skydance Media. Further, McMahon’s job is rumored to be on the line just weeks after the network hired former ABC News executive Tom Cibrowski as the new president and executive editor of CBS News, reporting directly to McMahon. “The Ellison-Skydance contingent has not been impressed by her strategy or leadership ability,” a source reportedly told the New York Post late last month during the outlet’s reporting on Cibrowski’s hiring and about the future company’s confidence in McMahon, with the outlet going so far as to report it was likely McMahon who sought out Cibrowski for the job considering his previous success as executive producer of “Good Morning America” at the time when the show overtook “TODAY” to become the most-watched morning news program – McMahon also previously worked at ABC as president of the network’s eight-owned television stations. “There’s no way she survives,” a source is said to have told the outlet. “She has been a disaster,” the unnamed person noted, adding, “I don’t think she lasts more than a month.” Tony Dokoupil, Gayle King, Nate Burleson Michele Crowe/CBS News As for “CBS Mornings,” the show was reportedly renting its Times Square studio from Paramount Global in the same location where the long-running MTV show “TRL” (Total Request Live) once taped. Meanwhile, the new studio space is much smaller and is likely to pose an issue for the overlapping crews who run the day-to-day operations for both the morning show and the evening news program once the transition takes place. “The studio is much smaller. There’s no space for couches for when the morning show hosts interview A-listers,” the New York Post reported, citing a source. Last fall, CBS News launched the long-awaited third hour of “CBS Mornings,” titled “CBS Mornings Plus,” which premiered Monday, September 30 on select CBS-owned stations. The expansion was intended to take viewers deeper into the most important headlines of the day, as well as pop culture, entertainment, health, wellness and financial news. The program is anchored by Adriana Diaz and “CBS Mornings” co-host Tony Dokoupil. “CBS Mornings airs weekdays from 7:00-9:00 a.m. ET/PT on CBS. Shawna Thomas is the show’s executive producer. Note: The post ‘CBS Mornings’ To Depart Times Square Studio, Return To CBS Broadcast Center In The Fall appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More

Although the series debuted on a Monday, today, March 23, marks the 38th anniversary of “The Bold and the Beautiful.” A spinoff of “The Young and the Restless,” the half-hour series was created by the late William J. Bell and the late Lee Phillip Bell, and remains the most-watched U.S.-produced daytime drama series in the world. Executive produced by Bradley P. Bell, who also serves as the show’s head writer, the soap opera has won over 100 Daytime Emmy Awards out of more than 300 nominations and has shot episodes in more than a dozen cities across several international countries. In a statement in 2022, when the show celebrated its 35th anniversary, Bell said, “Since our premiere in 1987, it’s been a fantastic journey and incredible experience for all of us. We would not be here if not for the invaluable support of CBS and our millions of fans around the globe for their loyalty and support.” A documentary film exploring the family dynasty behind the soap opera is currently in development at Amplify Pictures and was announced in January with filmmaker Matt Wolf (“Teenage,” “Bayard & Me”) directing after being granted unprecedented access to the show’s behind-the-scenes world. Dubbed a love letter to an often-dismissed art form and an unexpected look at the rapid-fire process by which soap operas are made, the documentary, titled “Soaps,” will explore the people who have brought television’s longest-running continuous stories that have captivated viewers around the world for nearly half a century. “When I first visited the set of ‘The Bold and the Beautiful,’ I was blown away by the Herculean effort that goes into bringing these stories to life. It’s a fascinating and unexpected world that is ripe for a documentary,” said Wolf, who also directed “Pee-wee as Himself,” which had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. That film follows the life of the late artist and performer Paul Reubens and his alter ego Pee-wee Herman. “I’m so grateful to be welcomed by the Bell family, and the tight knit group of actors and behind-the-scenes crew, who tirelessly bring this show to life and have made the genre flourish,” continued Wolf, discussing his current project. “Amplify Pictures is the perfect partner because they understand the sweet spot between art and popular culture, which is the core of this project.” Later this week, the soap will feature a daytime first when current cast member Heather Tom (Katie Logan) acts in an episode she also wrote and directed which is timed to Women’s History Month. Meanwhile, next month Lauralee Bell will make her third appearance on the series as Christine Blair, a character she has played continuously on “The Young and the Restless” since the 1980s. One of those episodes is also said to feature the likes of reality TV star Spencer Pratt (“The Hills”). The current cast for the daytime series includes Scott Clifton, Ashleigh Brewer, Kimberlin Brown, Sean Kanan, Murielle Hilaire, Naomi Matsuda, Christian Weissman, Delon de Metz, Laneya Grace, Jennifer Gareis, John McCook, Katherine Kelly Lang, Thorsten Kaye, Rebecca Budig, Don Diamont, Romy Park, Crew Morrow, Heather Tom, Lawrence Saint-Victor, Annika Noelle, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, Tanner Novlan and Lisa Yamada, all of whom appear in the 38th anniversary cast photo above. “The Bold and the Beautiful” is produced by Bell-Phillip Television Productions, Inc. Note: The post ‘The Bold And The Beautiful’ Celebrates 38 Years On Television appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More

In terms of social media being built into contracts, that's typically the SAG-AFTRA contract that covers primetime and movies, if there is one. I know it was a thing in the 2010s (think "Scandal" and "How to Get Away with Murder" - TGIT era), but that's less the case in the 2020s. That said, because the Net Code contract is completely different from the regular primetime/movies contract, I don't believe it is built into any contract requiring soap actors, talk show hosts, reality show personalities, etc to be on social media to promote their respective shows from the union's perspective, unless there is something specifically agreed upon by the network/production studio behind the show with the talent/personalities. Right. And considering he appears to have been let go after 13 weeks, specifically covering the time before the show even premiered, it's less likely he was required to post on social media or engage with fans after being let go and unable to tell anyone. I would have done the same thing if only to promote myself to a new group of fans who might follow me elsewhere once word got out I was off the show. It makes perfect sense, honestly. Without knowing the circumstances, I do agree he would be far from the first person I would have gotten rid of, but if they chose a stronger performer based on plans for the character, well, sadly it happens, especially in the soap world. It's not new and it will continue for however long this genre can sustain itself. In rare cases, it even happens with primetime shows.

Although he hasn't formally commented himself, Maurice is retweeting posts from fans about his exit.

Earlier this month, Disney released the first trailer for its highly anticipated live-action reimagining of the 2002 animated classic, “Lilo & Stitch,” which is set to release exclusively in theaters on Friday, May 23, 2025. The film follows the touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl (Lilo) and the fugitive alien (Stitch) who helps to mend her broken family. Within 24 hours of its release, the trailer emerged as the second most viewed Disney live-action trailer of all time with 158 million views, behind only 2019’s “The Lion King” teaser trailer. Within an hour of release, the trailer for “Lilo & Stitch” reached No. 1 on the trending chart on X (formerly Twitter) and remained in the top 10 for several hours following. The trailer also trended on YouTube, taking the No. 1 spot following its release, and even reached No. 1 on China’s Douyin platform. Zach Galifianakis, Billy Magnussen Disney Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp from a screenplay by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes, the film stars Sydney Elizebeth Agudong as Nani, Billy Magnussen (“As The World Turns”) as Pleakley, Tia Carrere (“General Hospital”) as Mrs. Kekoa and Hannah Waddingham as Grand Councilwomen, with Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles and Zach Galifianakis as Jumba, and introducing Maia Kealoha as Lilo. Meanwhile, Chris Sanders returns to voice Stitch, the renegade alien from the original animated movie. Producers include Jonathan Eirich and Dan Lin, with Tom Peitzman, Ryan Halprin, Louie Provost and Thomas Schumacher serving as executive producers. Watch the official trailer below. Note: The post Watch The Trailer: Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Starring Soap Alums Billy Magnussen & Tia Carrere appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More

“Live with Kelly and Mark” averaged 2.315 million viewers and a 1.49 rating among Households during the week of March 3-7, 2025, the most recent week available for syndicated television ratings. In the key sales demos, the daytime talk show pulled in a 0.33 rating among Women 18-49 and a 0.46 rating among Women 25-54. The week began on Monday, March 3 with the annual post-Oscars show from the famed Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, which averaged 2.650 million viewers and was the talk show’s second most-watched telecast of the season. Celebrity guests included Nikki Glaser, Jerry O’Connell, Steve Aoki and Lil Jon. Overall, the show was up week-to-week among all key measures, including Total Viewers (+4% – 2.315 million vs. 2.218 million), Households (+3% – 1.49 rating vs. 1.45 rating), Women 18-49 (+10% – 0.33 rating vs. 0.30 rating) and Women 25-54 (+5% – 0.46 rating vs. 0.44 rating). Compared to the same week last year, the Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos hosted talker was up among Total Viewers (+2% – 2.315 million vs. 2.278 million) and Women 18-49 (+14% – 0.33 rating vs. 0.29 rating). “Live with Kelly and Mark” remains syndication’s most-watched talk show for 110 weeks straight across most key measures, ahead of its closest competition for the week among Total Viewers (+52% – 2.315 million vs. 1.479 million), Households (+46% – 1.49 rating vs. 1.02 rating) and in Women 25-54 (+50% – 0.46 rating vs. 0.31 rating). The show has also beaten its nearest competitor for the 22nd week in a row among Women 18-49 by +55% (0.33 rating vs. 0.21 rating). For the season, the show ranks a solid No. 1 among syndicated talk shows in all key measures for the fifth consecutive season, outdelivering its closest competitor by +63% among Total Viewers (2.215 million vs. 1.360 million), +56% in Households (1.48 rating vs. 0.95 rating), +31% among Women 18-49 (0.27 rating vs. 0.21 rating) and +43% among Women 25-54 (0.44 rating vs. 0.31 rating). For the sixth season in a row, “Live with Kelly and Mark” leads all daytime talk (network and syndicated) with a 0.44 rating among Women 25-54, and remains the most-watched entertainment talk show on all of television in all key measures. Distributed in national syndication by Disney Entertainment, “Live with Kelly and Mark” is produced by WABC-TV in New York and executive produced by Michael Gelman and Kelly Ripa. Note: The post ‘Live With Kelly And Mark’ Excels Post-Oscars, Sees Year-To-Year Growth Among Total Viewers & Women 18-49 appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More

Let's not forget when this news broke. Without speculating about the reasons, which I am not doing at all, it's interesting that it broke at the end of business on a Friday. Reminder: News. Dump. Friday.

Although it seems that the role might have been recast prior to the show's premiere, as has been suggested, Maurice Johnson is the ultimate professional. He did interviews, engaged with fans and talked positively about the show despite knowing he wouldn't have long to enjoy it, with his role recast. Last week Friday, a local outlet even published an interview with Johnson discussing his role on the new series: https://www.wjbf.com/community/black_excellence/from-augusta-to-fairmont-crest-actor-maurice-johnson-goes-beyond-the-gates/

Lawrence Saint-Victor (Carter Walton, “The Bold and the Beautiful”) is set to take on corruption as a detective in the BET+ original movie, “The Accused.” Set to premiere Thursday, April 10 on the preeminent streaming service for Black audiences, Saint-Victor will play Detective Lance Branson, a dedicated and hard-working police detective who balances his demanding career with the responsibilities of being a husband and father-to-be. A man of integrity, deeply committed to justice, and often going above and beyond in his investigations, Lance’s latest case sees him seeking out the truth when a brilliant plant geneticist is framed for her fiance’s murder. Paige Audrey-Marie Hurd BET+ Paige Audrey-Marie Hurd plays the accused Dani West who must go on the run, relying on her intelligence and physical prowess to expose the truth and clear her name before time runs out. In addition to Saint-Victor and Hurd, the cast includes Crystal Lee Brown as Victoria Goode, Summer Crockett Moore as Detective Nadine Styles, Nicole G. Leier as Felicia, Manny Perez as Detective Bobby Rios and Rockmond Dunbar as Marcus Wainwright. Based on a story by Pat White, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Clarence Williams, “The Accused” was written and directed by Tony Glazer, and produced by Pierre Romain, Julie Solinger, Tony Glazer, Summer Crocket Moore and JD DeWitt. BET+ is a joint venture between BET and Tyler Perry Studios, with users able to stream Black culture including hit movies, TV shows, stand-up comedy, award shows, and specials, all in one place. The service from BET Media Group, a subsidiary of Paramount Global, is the official home of Tyler Perry’s film, TV and stage works. Check out the trailer below. Note: The post BET+ Sets Release Date For ‘The Accused,’ Starring Lawrence Saint-Victor & Paige Audrey-Marie Hurd appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More

I meant Molly, not Kristina. My bad.

I think GH fans would be fine, particularly as we had three Kristina's in 2023 alone.

Marking the first-ever recasting for the daytime drama series, actor Maurice Johnson is exiting the role of Dr. Ted Richardson on “Beyond the Gates” with daytime newcomer Keith D. Robinson taking over the contract role beginning with episodes set to air in May. On the series, Ted Richardson is the husband of Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnée Duplaix), the eldest daughter of Vernon (Clifton Davis) and Anita (Tamara Tunie), and father to Martin (Brandon Claybon) and Kat (Colby Muhammad). Maurice Johnson Quantrell Colbert/CBS Ted is a brilliant plastic surgeon with an ultra-exclusive private practice and women clamor to put their faces and bodies in what they call his blessed hands. Ted has created an impeccable life with his wife – whom he loves passionately – and sleeps well at night, secure that his past will never disrupt his perfect world. However, in recent episodes, that perfect world has in fact been disrupted with the revelation that he may have fathered another child, a daughter named Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle), from a prior relationship. No reason has been cited for why the show opted to recast. In fact, even as recently as last night (Thursday, March 20), Johnson had been one of the show’s most socially engaged cast members, commenting on posts about the soap opera, his character, and praising his fellow co-stars. In response to a post on X (formerly Twitter), Johnson “hearted” a post by a user who declared the Nicole character as one they would “defend till the end of time.” A final airdate for Johnson and an official first airdate for Robinson was unavailable at press time. Before joining “Beyond the Gates,” Robinson had more than 75 television and movie credits to his name, including a starring role in the early 2000s playing the Green Lightspeed Ranger (Joel Rawlings) in “Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue.” He also had roles on “ER,” “American Dreams,” “Over There,” “Half & Half,” “Canterbury’s Law,” “Monk,” “NCIS,” “Major Crimes,” “Saints & Sinners,” and more recently “A Million Little Things,” among other television roles. Among films, he’s appeared in the likes of “Dreamgirls,” “ Deadline first reported the news on the casting switch. Note: The post ‘Beyond The Gates’ Recasts First-Ever Role: Maurice Johnson Out As Ted Richardson, Replaced By Keith D. Robinson appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More

Apparently, I let the cat out of the bag so I removed it at the show's request. I've since reposted.

😀

Bump.

For the second year in a row, comedian and actress Nikki Glaser will host the Golden Globes, the first major awards show of the season. Earlier this year, Glaser became the first woman to host the Golden Globes solo, months after grabbing headlines for her successful performance during Netflix’s live broadcast of “The Roast of Tom Brady.” “Hosting the Golden Globes this year was without a doubt the most fun I have ever had in my career,” said Glaser. “I can’t wait to do it again, and this time in front of the team from ‘The White Lotus’ who will finally recognize my talent and cast me in season four as a Scandinavian Pilates instructor with a shadowy past.” “Nikki Glaser brought a refreshing spark and fearless wit to the Golden Globes stage this year. Her sharp humor and bold presence set the tone for an unforgettable night, making the ceremony feel vibrant and most of all fun,” said Helen Hoehne, president of the Golden Globes. Aired Sunday, January 5, “The 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards,” averaged 9.267 million viewers over its more than three-hour telecast and a 1.8 rating among Adults 18-49, according to Live+Same Day Nielsen ratings data. “The 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards” is scheduled to air in January 2026 on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Dubbed “Hollywood’s Party of the Year,” the Golden Globes is the largest awards show in the world to celebrate the best of both film and television. Dick Clark Productions will plan, host and produce the annual Golden Globes, which is viewed in more than 185 countries and territories worldwide. Note: The post Nikki Glaser Returning To Host ‘The 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards’ appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More

With ABC’s broadcast of “The 97th Oscars” earlier this month amassing five-year highs in Adults 18-49 and Total Viewers, the network announced earlier this week that writer, producer and comedian Conan O’Brien will return to host “The 98th Oscars” on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. Returning alongside O’Brien are the Emmy Award-winning live television event producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan as the show’s executive producers for the third consecutive year. Additionally, Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney will be back as producers for a second time, with Sweeney also serving as a writer. “We are thrilled to bring back Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff and Mike for the 98th Oscars!” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a joint statement. “This year, they produced a hugely entertaining and visually stunning show that celebrated our nominees and the global film community in the most beautiful and impactful way. Conan was the perfect host – skillfully guiding us through the evening with humor, warmth and reverence. It is an honor to be working with them again.” “The only reason I’m hosting ‘The Oscars’ next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech,” said O’Brien. “Conan delivered an unforgettable performance at ‘The Oscars,’ and we’re honored to have him and the producing team back next year,” said Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group. “Conan’s unique comedic style perfectly captured the moment, and I’m excited to have his talents back onstage next year to helm another indelible performance.” “We are both so honored to be returning in our roles for the 98th Oscars,” said Kapoor and Mullan. “We can’t wait to work with Conan and his entire team as we continue to explore even more special and heartfelt opportunities to celebrate next year’s nominees and the impact of film around the world.” Hosted by O’Brien, this year’s Oscars broadcast on Sunday, March 2 averaged 19.69 million viewers and a 4.54 rating among Adults 18-49, ranking as the No. 1 primetime entertainment telecast of the season in both categories while topping both “The GRAMMY Awards” and “The Super Bowl” among total social interactions, earning 104.2 million interactions compared with 102.2 million for the Grammys and 62.4 million for the Super Bowl. This was the first time the Oscars achieved this milestone. “The 98th Oscars” will be held Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide. Note: The post Conan O’Brien Returning As Host of ‘The 98th Oscars’ appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More

Hosted by actress and comedian Sherri Shepherd, Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury today announced that it has renewed “Sherri” (aka “The Sherri Shepherd Show”) for a fourth season, clearing more than 95% of U.S. television households, with the FOX Television Stations, Nexstar, Hearst, Sinclair, Gray, Tegna and Sunbeam among the broadcast groups bringing back the nationally syndicated daytime talk show to their fall lineups for the 2025-26 television season. “‘The Sherri Shepherd Show’ remains a lynchpin of our daytime lineup. We’re very happy to be bringing it back,” said Frank Cicha, Executive Vice President of Programming, FOX Television Stations. “‘Sherri’ will continue to provide stations with the quality original first-run daily programming they need to succeed in daytime,” said Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus. “Over the past three seasons, the show has proven its value to stations and advertisers, with Sherri Shepherd as the only single-host comedian on daytime TV able to deliver her audience a much-needed daily dose of laughs. We thank our great broadcast partners for continuing to make Sherri a foundational element of their lineups.” “I don’t take it for granted that people welcome me into their homes daily,” said Shepherd on the renewal, which she also announced to her studio audience and viewers at home during Thursday’s live broadcast. “I work so hard to bring escapism to viewers’ lives through joy, laughter and inspiration, and I’m grateful that the audience has embraced what we do. I look forward to raising the bar and turning up the volume as we plan for our season four return.” Coming off of a strong performance in February, the series ranked second in Nielsen’s metered markets among all syndicated talkers, representing a +33% rise from the show’s performance in November 2024 in the key Women 25-54 sales demographic. On a national level, “Sherri” ranked third overall, rising +17% vs. November and achieving a season high during the week of February 17-21, 2025. Produced and distributed by Debmar-Mercury, the talk show is taped live from New York City’s Chelsea Studios in front of a studio audience. Watch Shepherd announce the renewal to her audience below. Note: The post Syndicated Daytime Talk Show ‘Sherri’ Renewed For Season 4 appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More

Following the success of the “Seven Deadly Sins” movie franchise, Lifetime announced on Wednesday that it is once again teaming up with Derrick Williams and Adriane Hopper Williams, executive producers for DNA Media Group, for an all-new movie franchise called “Temptations,” starting with “Desire: A Temptations” story and “Fame: A Temptations Story.” Adrian Holmes Johnny Marlow Set to premiere Saturday, April 19 at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT, actress/director Tasha Smith (“Survival of the Thickest”) stars in “Desire: A Temptations Story,” which follows Kendra (Smith), a high-profile talk show host who, after a whirlwind vacation romance, gives into her temptations and spontaneously marries her new suitor, Malcolm (Adrian Holmes), only to discover her desires have led her down a dangerous path when the two return home and truths about Malcolm’s past start to come to light. The cast includes Jamall Johnson, Millan Tesfazgi, Miranda Edwards, Everick Golding, Requell Jodeah and Diana Pavlovská, with Smith also serving as an executive producer. Keshia Chanté Courtesy Premiering Saturday, April 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT, “Fame: A Temptations Story” stars BET and NAACP Image award winner Keri Hilson (“Almost Christmas”) and Juno award winner Keshia Chanté (“Law & Order,” “106 & Park”) as two sisters, Cherish (Hilson) and Roxy (Chanté), respectively, who are the hottest singing duo on the music charts. As the two harbor suspicions about the other’s true intentions, they are forced to work together by putting aside their temptations for fame to free themselves from the sibling rivalry that’s tearing them apart after living through a frightening robbery that took place shortly after they returned to their penthouse hotel room one night, where they were targets of a jewel heist. As investigators believe the robbery was an inside job, rumors begin to spread that Roxy secretly planned and staged the crime. The cast includes Romeo Miller, Ecstasia Sanders, Nathan Witte, Veronica Long, Reese Alexander and Sophie Carriere. Robert Adetuyi directed both films with the “Desire” script written by Kate Green and Jane Espenson, and the “Fame” script written by Andrea Shawcross, Annmarie Morais and Jane Espenson. Executive producers for both projects include Derrick Williams, Adriane Hopper Williams, Ngozi Paul and Breanne Laplante. Abraham Fraser also produces for DNA Media Group North. Note: The post Lifetime Announces ‘Temptations’ Movie Franchise Starring Tasha Smith & Keri Hilson appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More

Mark Dobies, an actor best known for his portrayal as Dr. Noah Chase on “Guiding Light” and District Attorney Daniel Colson on “One Life to Live,” has died. He was just 65 years old. Born Mark Steven Dobies on April 3, 1959, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the late actor passed away on Tuesday, March 11 in Dunellan, New Jersey, although no official cause of death was announced. An obituary posted on the Apyre National Cremation Services website notes Dobies was a “loving father, accomplished athlete, and talented actor.” During his school days, Dobies earned a football scholarship to attend Delaware Valley University (then Delaware Valley College), where he and his teammates won the school its first Middle Atlantic Conference football championship in 1980. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science from the school, and later a Master of Science from Easter College, with certifications in weight management and a senior population specialist. Throughout his life, Dobies was a personal trainer, where he eventually became a fitness, health and wellness consultant, competed in triathlons, worked as a lifeguard for the Ocean City Beach Patrol in Ocean City, New Jersey, and was an avid player of several sports including baseball, basketball, tennis, track and scuba, among others. He also appeared on the September 1994 cover of Men’s Health and IN NY magazine, both of which highlighted his dynamic fitness routines, plus his fitness brand Mark Dobies Fitness. Outside of sports and wellness, Dobies had a passion for the arts, appearing in movies, television shows, and theater productions, particularly having memorable roles on the aforementioned CBS and ABC soap operas, as well as his run as Bruce Niles in the 2004 Off-Broadway revival of Larry Kramer’s “The Normal Heart,” which told the story of the pain and frustration felt by its characters dealing with the devastation of the AIDS crisis. In the play, which received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Revival of a Play and four Drama League nominations, including one for Distinguished Revival of a Play, Dobies portrayed a still closeted bank executive who wouldn’t risk his high-level job by revealing his sexuality. The revival also featured the likes of Raul Esparza (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”) as the main character Ned Weeks, Billy Warlock (“Days of our Lives,” “General Hospital”) as Ned’s journalist lover, and Richard Bekins as Ned’s successful older brother, Ben, among others. The production had 13 previews and 63 performances before it closed on June 29, 2004. The late actor’s credits also include roles in such shows as “Melrose Place,” “Just Shoot Me!” “Nash Bridges,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “CSI: Miami,” “Fringe” and “Gossip Girl,” among others. In 2005, Dobies appeared as D.A. Daniel Colson on both “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” with the two soaps seeing a significant rise in the ratings as part of an ongoing crossover storyline. During that time, the character was married to Nora Buchanan (Hillary B. Smith), who later found out he had been cheating on her with another man, Mark Solomon (Matt Cavenaugh). However, before that, Daniel turned to murder to keep his secret from those close to them, including the killing of Paul Cramer (David Tom). “I am so terribly sorry to hear this. Too young. Hard to believe,” said Dobies’ former “Guiding Light” co-star Beth Chamberlin (ex-Beth Raines) in response to a post on Facebook by former Procter & Gamble Productions publicist turned podcast host Alan Locher (“The Locher Room”). “I was lucky to work with Mark at ‘Guiding Light’ and always knew him as a genuinely good guy,” continued Locher in his post. “I also feel very lucky that I got to see his performance in ‘The Normal Heart.’ “I’ll never forget this small-world connection: When I started dating my now-husband Ray and we were going to meet his parents for the first time, their street name sounded so familiar to me. It turned out Mark and his family lived just down the road. His children and ex-wife, Linda, are still our neighbors today.” A father of three adult children, Francesca (27), Olivia (24), and Robert (21), Dobies is also survived by his mother, Suzanne, his brother, Paul, and his sister, Sandy. Note: The post R.I.P. Mark Dobies – ‘Guiding Light’ & ‘One Life to Live’ Actor Dies at 65 appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More

Despite laying off about 200 employees earlier this month, ABC News president Almin Karamehmedovic recently held a town hall at the network’s new headquarters in the Hudson Square section of New York City, assuring staffers that the network is sticking with “GMA3: What You Need to Know” despite sagging ratings and a depressed news market in the second age of President Donald J. Trump. “ABC News has no intention of doing away with ‘GMA3,’” a source is said to have told the New York Post, which first reported the news. “The hour is not going away, the show is not going away and the anchors aren’t going away.” “GMA3: What You Need to Know ABC News Anchored by Eva Pilgrim and DeMarco Morgan since 2023, following the controversial departures of former co-anchors T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach, “GMA3” is often at or tied for last place in the key Women 18-49 and Women 25-54 sales demographics among all daytime broadcast shows, although it still manages to beat out the likes of “TODAY with Jenna & Friends” (formerly “TODAY with Hoda & Jenna”) and “NBC News Daily” among Total Viewers. Almin Karamehmedovic ABC News In an internal memo sent out following last week’s town hall meeting, and obtained by the Post, Karamehmedovic told staffers, “The entire industry has been challenged, and restructuring the way we operate has, unfortunately, had an impact on some of our colleagues.” He added, “As we look ahead, our mission is simple: straightforward journalism.” To help combat industry-wide challenges, the network merged all “Good Morning America” branded operations across all dayparts under the purview of the top-rated morning show’s executive producer, Simone Swink. Catherine McKenzie, who had been executive producer of “GMA3” since the current iteration’s debut in 2020, was among those cut. Overall, about 6% that also included Disney Entertainment Networks. Meanwhile, Seni Tienabeso was elevated to vice president of “ABC News Live,” the network’s 24/7 digital streaming news service, and structural changes were made to help consolidate the long-term content divisions that include ABC News Studios, “20/20,” “Nightline” and “Impact x Nightline,” among other programs, under one leadership umbrella. About 30 staffers were let go from ABC News Studios and its digital department, with consolidations seeing news gathering and various editorial teams working closer than before. Similarly, the data-driven news platform FiveThirtyEight was shuttered with all 15 employees working for the operation let go. During the hour-long meeting, Karamehmedovic also stated, “I have restructured the news division into three pillars to align with how audiences engage with us and how we can better serve them.” The reported “pillars” Karamehmedovic is said to have outlined include breaking news operations, the network’s signature news show “World News Tonight with David Muir” and long-form storytelling. “We were called to journalism because we believe in its value in society,” Deadline reported Karamehmedovic had written in his memo to staff, acknowledging tension in the industry amid the highly volatile political landscape across news media with a new administration now in place in Washington, D.C. “The role of an independent press is essential, and we cannot take this for granted. For 70 years, ABC News has delivered exceptional reporting, interviews and analysis — this is why audiences turn to us. We must continue to prove our value to protect our future. We must earn their trust every single day by providing straightforward journalism.” “Almin has devoted his career to ABC News, mastering every role and elevating excellence in journalism by connecting with viewers in a very meaningful and profound way that resonates with them,” said Debra OConnell, president, News Group and Networks, Disney Entertainment, to whom Karamehmedovic will continue to report, upon news of his taking over the role of ABC News president last summer. He officially replaced Kim Godwin after she was reportedly let go following her handling of the Holmes and Robach affair, among other reasons, which plagued the show at the time as headlines about their behind the scenes relationship got more coverage from other news outlets than even information reported on the daily news program could muster. Before taking on his current role, Karamehmedovic had overseen the production and all daily operations of “World News Tonight with David Muir,” the most-watched newscast in America across broadcast and cable, and often, the No. 1 program on all of television, since August 2014. In January 2022, News Content Development, including short- and long-form projects on streaming and broadcast, was added to his purview as his role expanded from executive producer to senior executive producer. ABC News “World News Tonight with David Muir” continues to rank as the No. 1 evening newscast in Total Viewers and also ranks No. 1 in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, the key sales demographics used for network news programming. Launched in September 2018 as “GMA Day” following the network’s cancellation of “The Chew,” the daytime news show was originally hosted by Michael Strahan and Sara Haines before it was later retooled and rebranded as “GMA3: Strahan & Sara,” formally referencing itself as a third-hour of “Good Morning America” while putting more emphasis on its co-hosts. By August 2019, actress and singer Keke Palmer had quickly become a fan favorite following her brief time filling in for Haines who had been on maternity leave. As such, Palmer was made a full-time co-host of the program to reward her contribution, with the show again rebranded to “GMA3: Strahan, Sara & Keke.” Sadly, with the emergence of Covid, production on the show was “temporarily suspended” in the spring of 2020, replaced by “Pandemic: What You Need to Know,” anchored by Amy Robach. With the success of the straight news format, “GMA3: Strahan, Sara & Keke” was quietly canceled, with Haines returning full-time to “The View” and Strahan returning full-time to “Good Morning America,” as the show was permanently replaced by the rebranded “GMA3: What You Need to Know,” debuting in June 2010. By September 2010, T.J. Holmes was named co-anchor of the program working alongside Robach and then medical contributor Dr. Jennifer Ashton. So far this season, “GMA3” is averaging 1.402 million viewers, topping both “NBC News Daily” and the since canceled “The Talk,” each averaging just 1.240 million viewers. Meanwhile, the ABC News program is up a mere +6% over last season’s average among Women 18-49 viewers (106,000 vs. 100,000). During the week of March 10-14, 2025, the most recent week in which ratings data is available, the show averaged 1.330 million viewers with 93,000 of them falling in the Women 18-49 demo. Comparatively, “NBC News Daily” averaged 1.138 million viewers, but pulled in 103,000 viewers among Women 18-49, and also 146,000 among Women 25-54, topping “GMA3” among both metrics. Note: The post ABC News Sticking With ‘GMA3: What You Need to Know’ Despite Staff Cuts, Unimpressive Ratings & Industry Turmoil – REPORT appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website. Read More