News
So what happened to the Soaps Area at TV Guide Magazine.com?
On-Air On-Soaps was very confused today, as I am sure many who were looking for the latest “exclusive” soap news or soap interviews offered by TV Guide Magazine on their online platform Tvguidemagazine.com were.
Monday, a new version was online, and in the Soaps area there was just a smattering of old soap related items from the past four or five months. Then we learned via Airlock Alpha.com that there was a shift in the branding between TV Guide Magazine and TVGuide.com. The post originally came via Advertising Age on May 24th which states, “A new partnership between Open Gate Capital and Lionsgate will allow content from TV Guide the magazine return to TVGuide.com, the first time the two will do anything together since Macrovision sold the two sides as separate pieces in 2008. Although both companies will remain separate — as will the advertising and editorial departments — but content will be shared, as well as promotional opportunities between the website, the magazine and the TV Guide Network.”
The post went on to say, “Unfortunately for Open Gate Capital, having a separate website from the primary domain never worked for the magazine publisher. The site, TVGuideMagazine.com pulled in just 103,000 visitors in April compared to 7.8 million who stopped by TVGuide.com, according to Advertising Age. Many readers didn’t even know that the magazine and the website were two different entities, and many continued to visit TVGuide.com thinking they were visiting the magazine’s website.”
“We’re doing this so we can do more together than apart, particularly in the area of driving readership, viewership and visitors to the various platforms,” said Jack Kliger, a senior adviser to Open Gate Capital, to AdAge. It’s not clear when the editorial share will take place. Neither site seemed to show any indication of cross-promotion or story sharing early Monday afternoon, and and neither site even picked up the story talking about the partnership from AdAge.”
However, thus far, it looks like the Soaps area is looking less and less populated by content, which could either signal another hit to the industry, or they are going to fix that area shortly. Whatever, it surely proves that TVGuideMagazine.com does not pull in the numbers that major online soap sites do.
Breaking News
REPORT: Nicholas Chavez Not Returning to General Hospital
For those who were holding out hope that Daytime Emmy winner and fan favorite, Nicholas Chavez would be returning to General Hospital after filming his leading role in Ryan Murphy’s Monsters anthology, it looks like those hopes have been dashed.
According to a report from TV Line, although unconfirmed from General Hospital or a representative for Chavez, the actor will not reprise his role as Spencer Cassadine on the long-running ABC soap opera and continue the love story of Sprina opposite Tabyana Ali (Trina, GH).
Chavez was cast as Lyle Menendez over the the summer of 2023 for the second season of Murphy’s limited Monsters series on Netflix. In the upcoming season, the series will focus on the the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, the two well-to-do Beverly Hills brothers accused of murdering their parents in 1989.
Photo: ABC
After word from Chavez casting was revealed, GH fans were concerned over the fate of the Sprina story, a spokesperson for GH shared, “We support Nicholas’ endeavors and look forward to having him return to General Hospital once this project is wrapped.”
In story, the series “killed off” Spencer when he went overboard with Esme to the steely waters below after being injected with a drug, thanks to Esme and falling into the Seine River in France. However, his body was never recovered, and believed to have drowned or washed away. Thus, leaving an opening for Spencer to return in the form of Chavez or be recast down the line.
Photo: ABC
TV Line shared that ‘multiple sources’ are confirming that Chavez is not returning to the ABC soap opera, which is what many had suspected might be the case once he left for this major starring role in a Ryan Murphy project. Chavez has been relatively quiet on social media for months.
Photo: ABC
The Michael Fairman Channel spoke with Nicholas Chavez for a virtual interview when he first joined the show in 2021, and spoke to him right after when he won the Daytime Emmy in 2022 – you can see those below.
No word yet on when Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story will debut on Netflix, but it is assumed later this year.
So, what do you think about the news of Nicholas Chavez not returning to his role as Spencer Cassadine on General Hospital? Comment below.
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS and ‘Supernatural’ Alum Jensen Ackles Joins the Cast of Justin Hartley’s CBS Series ‘Tracker’
Look who’s joining Justin Hartley’s hit freshman drama, Tracker! None other than another soap alum, former Days of our Lives and Supernatural favorite Jensen Ackles.
In a reveal via Hartley’s Instagram on Thursday, Ackles is set to play Hartley’s on-screen brother on the CBS procedural drama. In Tracker, Colter Shaw is estranged from his brother, Russell, which has been a big part of the mystery of season one.
Ackles is best known for his long run as Dean Winchester in The CW’s Supernatural, a role he reprised in the prequel of the series The Winchesters. He also recently starred in ABC’s Big Sky as Sheriff Beau Arlen and in The Boys as Soldier Boy.
Photo: CBS
Jensen was the original Eric Brady on Days of our Lives, a role he played from 1997-2000, before departing for the world of primetime and film. Eric was in love with Nicole played by Arianne Zucker. The part of Eric was recast with Greg Vaughan taking over the role in 2012.
Photo: JPI
In his Instagram post, Justin thanked everyone for watching Tracker, and then revealed Ackles as the surprise casting announcement in the role of Russell, while Jensen was playing pinball in the video! No word yet on when Jensen’s first episode as Russell will air. Stay tuned.
Check out Justin’s casting post featuring Jensen Ackles below. So, what do you think of Justin and Jensen playing brothers on Tracker? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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General Hospital
Jack Wagner Open to Making an Appearance in ‘Melrose Place’ Reboot and Shares, “You Never Really Die on a Soap”
With the Melrose Place revival the talk of the town, now Jack Wagner (ex-Frisco, GH, ex-Nick, B&B and ex-Peter Burns, MP) has weighed-in on it and if he would show up in the new series if it should find a home.
Currently, CBS Studios is developing a reboot starring Heather Locklear, Daphne Zuniga and Laura Leighton. But what is Dr. Peter Burns were to show up alive?
As those who saw the end of the original MP know, Peter and Amanda (Locklear) faked their deaths and then tied the knot with Peter on a beach, supposedly in a “happily ever after” scenario.
Photo: Fox
Speaking with PEOPLE, Wagner expressed, what we all know who watch the soaps, that no one is never, ever really gone for good. Jack expressed, “You never really die on a soap, right? How they unfold those two characters (Peter and Amanda), it’d be fantastic how they sort of tell that story.”
Wagner added, “That was a great finale to be included in, especially with Heather. If I’m asked to come back, I’d absolutely entertain that.”
Photo: Fox
The original Melrose Place aired for seven seasons from 1992 to 1999. The story featured the residents of an apartment complex, whose lives were intertwined. Eventually Wagner and Heather Locklear dated fro 2007-2011.
As previously reported, the new Melrose Place share that some of original neighbors and friends reunite after a death. The loglines add, “The pressure cooker of a reunion soon uncovers old traumas, rekindles old romances, reignites old resentments, and reveals new secrets… throwing our characters into chaotic drama that’s reminiscent of the past, but with a much more modern perspective.”
So, would you like to see Jack Wagner return as Dr. Peter Burns on Melrose Place, or Frisco Jones on GH, or both? Comment below.
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny and Jason Trade Threats on Each Other
Y&R’s Allison Lanier Lands Her First Daytime Emmy Nomination and Shares “Being a Recast Can Be Daunting”
REPORT: Nicholas Chavez Not Returning to General Hospital
DAYS and ‘Supernatural’ Alum Jensen Ackles Joins the Cast of Justin Hartley’s CBS Series ‘Tracker’
Jack Wagner Open to Making an Appearance in ‘Melrose Place’ Reboot and Shares, “You Never Really Die on a Soap”
‘Knots Landing’s’ Donna Mills and Joan Van Ark Reunite for Los Angeles Ballet Season 18 Gala
Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital
REPORT: Nicholas Chavez Not Returning to General Hospital
‘Tracker’s’ Justin Hartley on His ‘Passions’ Soap Start, “They’d Have Me With No Shirt Walking Around a Hospital for Three Weeks. It Was Ridiculous, but I Loved It.”
The Young and the Restless and General Hospital Actress and Writer, Meg Bennett, Passes Away at 75
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny and Jason Trade Threats on Each Other
REPORT: Nicholas Chavez Not Returning to General Hospital
Cameron Mathison Previews New Game Show ‘Beat The Bridge’ (Promo)
Y&R’s Michelle Stafford Talks on Her Lead Actress Daytime Emmy Nomination, Allison Lanier, and ‘Pacific Palisades’ with Finola Hughes
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nina Confronts Ava for Sabotaging Her Relationship With Sonny and Signs the Divorce Papers
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General HospitalApril 21, 2024‘Knots Landing’s’ Donna Mills and Joan Van Ark Reunite for Los Angeles Ballet Season 18 Gala
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NewsApril 20, 2024The Young and the Restless Preview: Ashley’s New Alter Emerges
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Days Of Our LivesApril 19, 2024Stephen Schnetzer Talks On His Return to Days of our Lives and Working with Susan Seaforth Hayes In Emotional Episodes
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General HospitalApril 22, 2024Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital
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Days Of Our LivesApril 17, 2024DAYS Alum Tanner Stine to Appear in ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ Starring Nicholas Chavez
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Breaking NewsApril 17, 202451st Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Set to Be Announced
That’s not good for Daytime and for the Daytime press at all. TVG’s Michael Logan is one of the few soap journalists who seems to have integrity. He seems to write what he actually thinks regarding Daytime, despite his opinions being popular or unpopular. His analysis of Daytime is incisive enough for such a lightweight, frothy, silly medium. His critiques manage to strike the right tone regarding Daytime, and he never overanalyzes a superficial medium or gives it empty, sychophantic, delusional praises like the kinds found in Nelson branco’s tvgc columns. Logan was one of the first to actually critique OLTL’s lack of diversity when it was being heavily pimped during Carlivati’s first run as the first openly gay headwriter penning a soap. Marlena delacroix also critiques OLTL’s lack of diversity and the overpimping of OLTL during Carlivati’s first run, but tvgc’s Branco countered her critiques of OLTL by calling her “ugly” and that “the only makeover she could afford is w/ crayons.” It’s this kind of mouthpiece reporting and pushing for certain writers, actors, soaps, exec producers, agendas, etc by soap press that is also contributing to Daytime’s diminished status. This is something Logan’s columns never did. His articles reflect his admiration for MTS, yet he still asked her difficult questions abt her negotiations w/ Y&R, while tvgc’s Branco called her “Miss Piggy” in a daytime confidential podcast. Logan called B&B on their demented writing by having Sheila kiss her own daughter Mary/Erica on the lips despite B&B claiming it was meant as a “possessive” kind of kiss. Whatever. On a side note, where was all the uproar for that? B&B, a soap abt fashion w/ no lgbtq characters, was portraying its first same gender lip lock as something psychotic, unnatural and incestuous. Yet people whine abt ABC Daytime being homophobic when kish did the deed while rianca got married. Which is homophobic, B&B or ABC Daytime? Logan also called B&B on their introduction of Marcus (a black character who is actually biracial) when he is mistaken by the Forresters (white characters) for the hired help. Despite it being a Bell show, Logan pulled no punches and questioned that it could be racist, w/c was valid since B&B is the soap w/ the least amt of diversity despite being in the LA fashion business. He gets the scoops and buzzed interviews. He sticks by his scoops. Logan also was the only critic to actually take Carlivati’s “gay overkill” writing to task as a factor to the kish axing while most soap critics were readily accusing ABC Daytime and Frons of being homophobic, despite ABC Daytime having the most lgbtq representation. Logan’s column is probably one of the most legitimate columns on soaps. This is a bad move for daytime as a whole.
When the kids are paying for programing, THEN I’ll be OK with another Disney Channel. Until then leave us our 1 Soap channel!!