News
Australian Soap "Neighbours" Set To Debut In U.S. Via Hulu!
The long-running and ever popular Aussie soap opera Neighbours is coming to audiences in the U.S via a new online distribution deal via its new platform Hulu and Hulu Plus starting on Monday, July 14th. In its new home, new episodes will post Monday through Friday and will air four weeks after their initial Australian broadcast. Neighbours follows the residents of Ramsay Street in the fictional borough of Erinsborough, who deal with the challenges and issues that ordinary people face every day.
The U.S. premiere week will include a guest appearance by actress and singer Paula Abdul. In the Friday, July 18th episode, Abdul visits Ramsay Street to drop in on Doctor Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher), who admits to a crush on the former American Idol judge – much to the surprise of his wife, Susan (Jackie Woodburne).
“Neighbours provides a delicious daily dose of Australian sunshine to soap-opera fans, and thanks to Hulu, we’re coming to the U.S. at a perfect entry point for first-time viewers,” said Jeff Siegel, VP Digital Distribution and Home Entertainment at FremantleMedia. “The drama, the excitement and the intrigue are all wonderfully accessible to anyone eager to get hooked on the compelling storylines of Australia’s longest-running scripted television series.”
Neighbours was first broadcast in Australia in 1985 and has since had over 6,900 episodes produced. The series is produced by FremantleMedia Australia and distributed globally by FremantleMedia International.
Watch the new Hulu major promo teaser for Neighbours after the jump! Will Neighbours be a success five days a week, after Prospect Park’s All My Children and One Life to Live tried to do so and then pulled back on their daily episodes ? Are you excited that Hulu is adding another soap to its line-up? Have you always wanted to check out Neighbours and looking forward to checking it out? Let us know!
Heres where soapnet made a mistake…they or another cable channel like tvgn should show these foriegn soaps…im addicted to Coronation Street…the characters are down to earth working class people who look and act just like your own family, friends and neighbors(ok, that can be a bit scarey at times…lol) but they have intelligent character driven plots we all can relate to where no one comes back from the dead or vistited by aliens or possessed by the devil…more lifelike but still fun and entertaining escapism!!!
THIS! Coronation Street is in another league from our U.S. soaps. No repetitive storylines, no absurd soap cliches, and the stories actually MOVE…what a concept! They have no qualms about major characters being killed off, or making them the “bad guy” and sending them off to prison for their crimes. It keeps the story fresh to turn over the cast this way, rather than “killing” characters on U.S. soaps only to have them return from the dead at some point, making a throwaway fringe character the culprit in murders etc., and/or never having characters pay for their crimes (Sonny, anyone?). It’s refreshing to watch quick moving character driven stories rather than an endless marathon of plot points strung together with no regard for character history, etc. Thankfully, Corrie has pretty much ruined U.S. soaps for me, so I’m looking forward to checking out Neighbours.
Coronation Street is my no.1 soap…
@Jimh(leave it to beaver)…I was joking around with you on your other post and posted what I thought about this under a GH post so now i’ll say it again. I wholeheartedly agree with you on this one. Once cable really got rolling and BBC America and PBS gave us EastEnders not long after it’s debut and gave it to us for years and years I fell in love with the realistic take on soaps from the Brits. Then came HollyOaks, Waterloo Road, Coronation Street and I haven’t stopped since. The past year into this year was block busters for Emmerdale with Cameron killing two major characters and holding the Woolpak hostage and finally Marlon,Debbie and Chas. EastEnders with the most powerful performances from Ian EVER finding out Lucy had been murdered. These shows are so addicting year after year and had Ellen Wheeler truly been allowed to work out her vision in the last years of GL I really feel it would have usurped Y&R. But people will always love cheesy sets and fake weather and over the top stories for whatever reason. That being said…Neighbors can be a bit slow and plodding at too many times so I wish they had brought of the two Aussie soaps..Home and Away. Which played here and hooked me but it was snatched off the air after a while. Still a great show. Why on earth are they giving us the show that gave us the Colleen Carlton replacement of Tammin Sursok and now the Kate character most recently killed off to be a new character on B&B?? That’s too bad because this show does NOT stack up to Corrie and HollyOaks and actually makes you WANT our more over the top shows. Down in the dumps Sue Kennedy??? For real HULU??? I don’t know.
Yes, Ellen Wheeler needed more time with GL…it slowly started to feel like those British soaps and had it been given another year or two it wouldve hit no.1 of all U.S. soaps…i started to watch again and had high hopes for it…but now i have Corrie and never miss an episode!!!
Ellen needed a good head writer. Her vision for GL would never be realized, otherwise, and it wasn’t in the time she had. I could say more, but I won’t. In the end, GL had good, even some great characters, but no really great stories IMO. If the stories had been really good (not even great), I could have looked past everything else that was a bit off. I’ll just say I believe Ellen had good intentions.
Aside from Jonathan and Tammy (esp her untimely and tragic death), there’s not one SL I remember from GL during this time, except the ending. Even when stories seemed promising, they just went nowhere . . . Sadly, I believe it could have worked if it had been written so well that it was mind-blowingly good.
I have to kick myself. I must be exhausted from work! Otalia! I did enjoy them and they will ALWAYS be memorable. I agree with Jimh and others in thinking that if GL had embraced storytelling more like Brit soaps (or Aussie), it may have had a real chance at surviving cancellation. Now I need a rest! Bye guys!
Yay! This is great news. I love Neighbours. Too bad they can’t make the entire series available. Helen Daniels and all were so much fun in the beginning. I have been watching the soap from the episode one, but I will watch concurrent with the new episodes. I hope they’ll get Home & Away, too. Sons and Daughters and Prisoner would be awesome additions as well. A Country Practice is quirky but fun. I own about 200 episodes of Number 96 (I wish there were more that survived, not sure there were). I also love Coronation Street and Hollyoaks (both on Hulu). Eastenders is also great; it appears on PBS in the States. Jimh is right. Foreign soaps are awesome. Hulu is becoming THE place for soaps! I had been waiting for this news; I have been telling others Hulu should be getting Neighbours and/or Home & Away. Just great!
Good to hear another Corrie fan…i love the humor of Steve, Norris, Mary, David, Roy,…the gang at the factor, Rovers Return, and Streetcars…i love everything about this show and the realism in its storylines…the funerals are grim and realistic they make you want to cry along with the characters…and the dead stay dead…great mix of young and old characters who are always interesting everyday i look forward to Rita, Dennis(who i hear is leaving again, Gail, David, Kylie, Nick, Fiz, Deidre…the list goes on…i know Rob and Peter are leaving at the end of the year but Ken is returning…the great stories of serial killer Richard Hillman who tried to drown wife Gail and her children by driving the car in the canal to the shows 50th anniversary with the club explosion and tram crash to Tinas murder(i will miss that character)…i cant praise this show enough…ITS THE BEST…wish American soaps took lessons from the British on how to produce and write a great soap!!!
I hated that Tina was killed. I really liked her, esp when she supported Ty and Fiz during Kirstie’s going off the rails. She was a great friend. Guess the writers had run out of SL for her. BTW I have been watching Corrie for years. I bought several of the box sets years ago and watched episodes from the beginning. My favorite era is late 1970s (considered a Golden Era) and early 1980s (although they lost greats like Pat Phoenix among many others during that time.) I loved Elsie; Hilda is one of my all-time fave soap characters; Annie Walker could shred you with just a few words; Bet Lynch was always a hoot and quite the diva. I loved when she and Lucy put on the shows at the Rovers! If you care to share, what other International soaps do you watch? Any I listed. Eastenders is amazing. I also watch New Zealand soap Shortland Street.
@MattsPlace how how how could you even not MENTION ENA SHARPLES and that iron helmet hair net. A poor Phoebe Tyler. LOL.
LMAO…Milk stout…Iron hairnet..and scathing words…Now see here Ellllseh Tannuh…LOL
Some of those characters like Bet and Hilda…i loved those too…Ena Sharples was also fun to watch as well as Curly, The Duckworths…Ashley Peackcock..i miss hearing his voice…i remember Brian and his mother and Brians shocking murder outside some club…John Stape was also an interesting character and i liked him with Fiz…hope they dont kill off Tyrone…hear he is in some sort of accident…enjoyed the Dennis, Rita and Gloria triangle…wish Stella was still around…i dont think they ran out of story for Tina…what ive heared the actress wanted to quit but i do miss her …enjoy David in scenes with Gail…David is still a brat…i watched Corrie from the 80s but briefly stopped in 1997 after my mother and so many other family members and friends passed away then during the late 99 started to watch again…and more regularly during the Richard Hillman storyline…the show helped me cope as i continue to loose so many family members and friends…didnt mean to talk about it but sometimes it helps…now i hear Rob is leaving and i hate to see him go…Rob and Tracy are soooooo perfect together…well, as for other foreign soaps, the only one i get in my area is Corrie…years ago someone showed Eastenders and i liked it before it disappeared from my viewing area…Prisoner Cell Block H is a good serialized series about a womans prison i watched back in the 80s…for the last few months ive caught episodes online of the others you mention and i liked them but n i havent really followed them as id like too at the moment…ive been writing to several cable cos to pick them up…but i guess hulu is the only place for them at the moment…i wish some cable channel would air them so others can enjoy them and see how wonderful they are!!!
@jimh, I didn’t know the actress wanted out. Too bad. I’ll miss her, too. Prisoner is fantastic. Sons and Daughters is online, too. Check it out. You may like it, if you haven’t seen it. SAD (as it’s known) is cnsidered one of the best soaps ever, it has a classic setup if families, one working class, one wealthy and both connected forever. Great stuff. I also watch Crossroads, but I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Corrie is the Grande Dame of Soaps, Eastenders is close behind. Pauline and Dot are classic! I’ll watch Neighbours (already watch classic episodes).
@ dav, I didn’t forget Ena Sharples. There are just too many to mention. Ena is truly unforgettable!!! Rita’s always a fave, too, loved her sparring with the very conservative (but involved with a married man) Mavis (enjoy the actress on the sitcom Dinnerladies, too.) BTW When Annie Walker gave Bet some of “her” clothes after Bet was burgled, I thought I’d split my sides laughing!
@jimh, I will forever be surprised at how Vera Duckworth grew on me over many, many episodes and I just loved watching her. No offense to the actress, but the “clown” wig (I sincerely hope that wasn’t her real hair!) was a bit off putting at first, but her personality and skill as an actress made her real and comical beyond the “wig”! Jack was a hoot, too. I really enjoyed them separately and as a couple.
Loved your replies especially about Vera…and your right about her hair…whats funny and ironic about that i just recently had a garage sale with a box of Halloween costumes and several wigs…one looked like Vera’s hair now that you mention it except for it was red…kind of wish now that i kept it!!! As, for Ena Sharples, i had always wished Coronation Street had done a spinoff period drama about Coronation Street in the early 1900s and featured Ena in her youth…i wouldve loved that!!!
You’re right about the period drama. I concur. As for Vera, she was interesting, a real character, the type of character(s) American soaps have been trying to get away from for years. Not many “realistic” characters on American soaps but lots of model types. I enjoy seeing people who look like they could be real people who live next door or down the street. BTW the way, Jimh, I’m glad you tossed that wig! LOL If you get a chance, do check out Sons and Daughters on the Y channel, it’s a rare gem. Dinnerladies is a hoot! (a younger Sunita and several Corrie actresses were in that). Great sitcom. Catch you later.
Foreign soaps are much more real. American soaps have gone way off the rails and that’s why there are only four left. Even the actors are having a hard time delivering the drivel they are forced to spout. When an actor uses the same tone of voice whether he is saying “My wife who was in a coma for 20 years is alive.” Or saying “Hi how are you?” There is a big problem.
YEP…
I’m excited about this; I like that the U.S. are getting more international soap operas. I hope this partnership works out!
Sorry, but Neighbours is awful, in the 80’s it was superb, now it’s just crap.
All My Children
Mark Consuelos Celebrates Kelly Ripa’s 56th Birthday on ‘Live,’ But Remember When Wendy Williams Outed the Couple as Married Before Anyone at ‘All My Children’ Knew?
On the Friday, October 2 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, the morning talk show marked the 56th birthday of Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley Vaughan Santos, All My Children).
During the opening segment, Mark Consuelos (ex-Mateo Santos, All My Children) humorously comparing his wife to both Gandhi and Groucho Marx, reflecting on both her comedic ability and peaceful ways.
Later, they went on to discuss the origins of her name and the most popular picks to name babies back in the year she was born, 1970. They were Kimberly, Lisa, and Jennifer for girls and Michael, David, and James for the boys.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Ripa recalled that she learned she was almost named Kim. However, their neighbors at the time had two daughters Kelly and Kim, which is what her parents wanted to call them, but they settled on Kelly and and her younger sister, Linda.
At the conclusion of the episode, Mark rolled out a huge cake for his wife. It was, “Happy birthday from all of us here at Live and at home.” Next, he cut the cake, and Ripa grabbed his face and gave him a “thank you” kiss.
Photo: JPI
KELLY AND MARK TRIED TO KEEP THEIR VEGAS WEDDING ON THE DOWN LOW
All of this brings back memories of how Kelly and Mark’s Las Vegas wedding ceremony went public in 1996 while the two were still on All My Children playing Mateo Santos and Hayley Vaughan. In essence, they were outed by then radio host Wendy Williams! They discussed it on the talk show back in 2024.
In fact, the duo hid their marriage from their All My Children castmates for months, until they found out Williams got wind of the nuptials and spread the intel on the airwaves.
The two recalled their secret wedding on a 2024 episode of Live! “We’d eloped. It’d been a few months at that point. We’d been married for three months, nobody at All My Children knew we were even dating, much less married to each other. We’re brushing our teeth and we’ve got Wendy Williams’ radio show on. We’re listening, and she’s like, ‘I’ve got celebrity dish!”
EYEWITNESS
Next Ripa continued, “The celebrities,’ I guess they had a broad use of the term back then, was the fact that ‘two soap stars from All My Children, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos eloped in Las Vegas.’ There was this eyewitness that worked in the Clark County courthouse that said we eloped, and the news broke, and we had to tell everybody we were married.”
Live With Kelly and Mark airs weekdays in syndication. Check your local listings for times in your area.
Share your birthday wishes for Kelly in the comment section, and let us know your thoughts on how Wendy Williams broadcast the news, unbeknownst to the All My Children newlyweds, that they tied the knot in Vegas? Check out Mark and the ‘Live’ studio audience singing ‘happy birthday’ to Kelly in the post below.
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Beyond the Gates
TUNE-IN: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Banneker Homecoming Episodes, EP Sheila Ducksworth Speaks on Impact HBCUs Have in Real Life
As previously reported, kicking off today, is a two-part Beyond the Gates, when The Duprees gather to celebrate Banneker University’s homecoming weekend.
The producers and writers are taking an opportunity to spotlight the rich traditions of the long-held tradition of attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through its fictional university.
The episodes are today on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Friday, October 2 and next week on Monday, October 5, where in true Beyond the Gates fashion, there will be some surprising drama that ensues when someone shows up!
Photo: CBS
BANNEKER REFLECTS THE IMPORTANCE OF HBCUS
Sheila Duckworth, (executive producer, Beyond the Gates) spoke to Soaps.com to give some insight on the decision for the series to illustrate the ties that bind with HBCUs.
“It was important that we have this school as almost a character on our canvas, right from the beginning. Beyond even education, HBCUs have been pivotal when it comes to everything from economic progression and fostering a sense of community to the development of leadership skills,” explained Ducksworth. “From the beginning, we wanted to illustrate that what the Duprees are able to do in the world was a direct reflection of the impact HBCU’s have in real life.”
EVERYTHING HAS ITS PURPOSE
The EP talked about how purposeful the elements that integrate Banneker into the overall story of Beyond the Gates are including: the Dupree family door knocker that is a lion, the mascot for the fictional university, plus, the upcoming fight song that the cast will sing together on the Monday, October 5 episode, and the painting the hangs at Fairmont Crest.
That portrait of Vernon Dupree’s (Clifton Davis) father, George Cheeks Dupree, that hangs prominently at the country club, was named after CBS executive George Cheeks (now Chairman of TV and Media, Paramount), and as Ducksworth says of the legacy of Vernon’s father, “He was the architect of Fairmont Crest.”
So, are you looking forward to these episodes honoring HBCU traditions with the Dupree and the Richardson clans? What surprises do you think might be in store come next week? Let us know via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘General Hospital’ Alum Tajh Bellow Fills In for ‘Days of our Lives’ Tyler Joseph Andrews in the Role of Theo Carver
After an earlier post on Thursday, October 1 about General Hospital alumni Tajh Bellow’s (ex-TJ Ashford) upcoming project from Issa Rae’s HOOPAE Digital, comes word that Bellow is temporarily stepping into the role of Days of our Lives Theo Carver to fill in for Tyler Joseph Andrews on the Peacock streaming soap opera.
According to TV Insider, Bellow will be making a one-day appearance next week on the October 6 episode of DAYS as Andrews was unable to make the tape date that was shot 10 months ago on a day last December. Andrews (pictured below) took over the role of Theo in September of 2025.
In Bellow’s upcoming episode as Theo, he will share scenes with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez). A DAYS spokesperson tells the outlet that Bellow “stepped seamlessly into the role, and the cast and crew were grateful for his professionalism and commitment, albeit for only one episode.”
Photo: JPI
TAJH WILL BE SEEN IN MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN OCTOBER
As General Hospital fans know, Tajh played the role of TJ Ashford from 2018 to his last appearance in December of 2024. Along the way, he received two Daytime Emmy nominations for his performances as TJ, the last being in 2025 in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
In addition, bellow along with Y&R alum Loren Lott will be seen starting on October 14 in the new Love Island spoof series, The Compatibility Experiment. The show will drop exclusively on TikTok and the PineDrama platform.
The Compatibility Experiment gives a satirical look at reality dating shows, think Love Island! The story centers around Kelvin (Bellow) and Camila (Lott), whose relationship is put to the test when they join a reality show to try to win a the million dollar prize.
So, what do you think of Tajh stepping in for Tyler Joseph Andrews as Theo on DAYS? Perhaps, the soap opera liked his work that he might be considered for another role in the future bringing Bellow back to the soaps? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
Mark Consuelos Celebrates Kelly Ripa’s 56th Birthday on ‘Live,’ But Remember When Wendy Williams Outed the Couple as Married Before Anyone at ‘All My Children’ Knew?
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: Kristen Locates an Alive Sophia, How Much Does Rita Know About the Birth of Dominic Marino?
TUNE-IN: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Banneker Homecoming Episodes, EP Sheila Ducksworth Speaks on Impact HBCUs Have in Real Life
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair
‘General Hospital’ Alum Tajh Bellow Fills In for ‘Days of our Lives’ Tyler Joseph Andrews in the Role of Theo Carver
REPORT: ‘Days of our Lives’ Puts Four Actors On Contract
‘Beyond the Gates’ Honors HBCU Tradition with Banneker University Homecoming Episodes
Alley Mills Returns to ‘General Hospital’ as Heather Webber
Judith Light Joins Cast of ‘Shrinking’ Season 4 in Recurring Role
‘Beyond the Gates’ Marquita Goings Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
Mark Consuelos Celebrates Kelly Ripa’s 56th Birthday on ‘Live,’ But Remember When Wendy Williams Outed the Couple as Married Before Anyone at ‘All My Children’ Knew?
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair
GH Alum Tajh Bellow and Y&R Alum Loren Lott Star in New Tiktok and Microdrama ‘Love Island’ Spoof
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ava and Drew Revealed to be Behind Framing Sonny for Sidwell’s Prison Beatdown
DANCING WITH THE STARS: Britt Stewart Visibly Upset After Shocking Elimination with Taylor Hanson
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