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DARK SHADOWS Sequel In Development By CW

Courtesy/ABC

What would a re-imagined Dark Shadows look now in 2020?  Well, the CW and Warner Bros Television have made a deal to develop the once uber popular ABC cult classic soap opera that aired from 1966-1971.

Now in development, the new Dark Shadows would be an hourlong.  According to Deadline, the pilot will be written by Mark B. Perry (Revenge, Ghost Whisperer and Brothers & Sisters.), so he definitely knows how to write a solid twist and turn soap.

The new Dark Shadows will be a modern-day continuation of the strange, terrifying, and sexy saga of the Collins family of Collinsport, Maine — a mysterious, influential, publicity-shy group hiding a ghastly secret: For the past 400 years, they’ve lived under a curse that bedevils their blue blood with every imaginable supernatural creature and horror.

The most notable and identifiable character of them all, was of course, Barnabas Collins played by Jonathan Frid.

In a statement, Mark Perry said of bringing back Dark Shadows: “As a first-generation fan, it’s been a dream of mine to give Dark Shadows the Star Trek treatment since way back in the ’80s when Next Generation was announced, so I’m beyond thrilled and humbled to be entrusted with this resurrection.”  He went on to say: “My plan is to take as few liberties as possible with the Dark Shadows canon, while bearing in mind a quote from a 1970s episode delivered by the inimitable Oscar-nominee Grayson Hall as Dr. Julia Hoffman: ‘The Collins family history is not particularly famous for its accuracy.’”

So excited to see an updated version of Dark Shadows? Who do you hope lands in the cast from the soap world? Comment below.

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Just air the original!

All episodes of the original are available on Amazon Prime. They are offered in two segments. Dark Shadows: The Beginnings start from the first episode and run, 35 episodes/season for 6 seasons, up to the introduction of Barnabas. The remainder of the series–with the exception of a lost episode “recreated” with available video, stills, and narration delivered by Lara Parker–start with Barnabas’ introduction and go to the very last episode (25 seasons of 40 episodes each, and the 26th at 19 or 20 episodes). Most, if not all, are also available on Hulu, I think.

Kit. Thank you so much for pointing this out. As a pre-teen ABC was our go to network as soon as we ran down the path and home from school. Watching Meredith Lord die on that snowy balcony on OLTL was my first angry at a soap moment. But Dark Shadows had us truly enthralled and genuinely scared. For years I’d searched for the original first years and I never knew I could have been watching them all along. I remember those original stories veggie Barnabas appeared were enthralling. I liked them more than the time traveling and irritating Julia Hoffman LOL. I watch on Hulu but this is the true origin story for me. I also recently watched the CW unaired pilot. It was OK. Rushed story and some nonsense at the beginning with Victoria on the train I really didn’t like. I fear the story will be rushed here too. I think the best way to reboot is start with Barnabas back story and go to the present day. Much smarter. Thanks again.

Before. Not veggie Barnabas. LOL. Although he turned a lot of characters into vegetables.

I never quite got over Meredith’s death either. Very dramatic–and drawn out because it was in the middle of the Watergate hearings–, but I think it created a hole in the OLTL canvas that was never quite repaired. And I suspect Agnes Nixon did it out of respect for Lynn Benesch Chester, who I’m guessing was planning to leave anyway and move to the west coast. (Not sure if she and Colby Chester were married then or not; she didn’t start performing under the name Chester until later at least.) Much the same reason Mrs. Nixon killed off Jenny Gardner Nelson on All My Children. (Both the characters, Larry and Greg, were never quite as viable after that. Well, except maybe for Larry while married to Karen.)

Modernizing Dark Shadows is a Mistake.
It can not be duplicated nor imitated.
The original Dark Shadows owns its soul.
I believe there will be great disappointments.

It was way before my time but it lives on.
Neighbor purchased the entire series on Amazon $300??
She lent it to me..
I was addicted..
I would watch one episode and couldn’t stop, usually, I needed 4 at a time and looked forward to the next every time!

I was a bit disappointed when it became colorized, that sorta took the atmosphere away.
And!! no ending 🙁 that sucked!

0ooh -the Dark Shadows 2012 movie was a disgrace, it was horrible!!
It was an Insult to the greatness of Dark Shadows..
((will the modern version also be??))

su000…Since I haven’t seen it I won’t have anything to compare it to. But I’m always nervous on reboots. Hope they do it justice. And I agree, about when they colonize something like Dark Shadows. It has to stay b/w. Some of the best semi-horror movies I’ve seem on TCM were always in b/w.

Hopefully it’s better than the awful Twilight Zone reboot.

I have always been a Dark Shadows fan,my favorite character was Angelique played by Lara Parker.I will watch this .

I never saw the original, but have noticed some of MF commenters really liked it. So I’m looking forward to this reboot. Plus Mark Perry liked the comeback treatment of Star Trek my all time favourite.

Music to my ears, as long as it’s done right and not like the parody with Johnny Depp and produced by Tim Burton, a few years ago.

Omg can’t wait this will be so good!

I loved DARK SHADOWS as a kid but absolutely hated Tim Burton’s movie version. The NBC remake got staked in the heart all too soon, so I hope the CW gives this incarnation a chance to bewitch us.

@Rodd….Even though I had very little exposure to the daytime series, I vividly recall the NBC weekly version…it was a properly moody, spooky, evocative primetime soap and I was disappointed when it was cancelled as I thought it had wonderful possibilities! Happily, I never subjected myself to that heinous Burton DS Deppfest, since I cannot stand the actor and all of his innate weirdness, both onscreen and off…However, if a new version would remain loyal to the original show without any of the modern revisionism that seems to afflict all current-day Hollywood reboots, then it could work. How about Michael Easton as the 2020 incarnation of Barnabas Collins??? We already know he can carry off vampire roles with great aplomb!

Hope it’s not awful like the CW version of Dynasty.

As long as we are not subjected to OTT revisionist overhauls of beloved DS characters into modern-day, politically-correct entities, then a reboot could be fun. Given that the CW’s complete hatchet job on the original Dynasty concept was so egregious, I found myself totally turned-off to the 2.0 version before I even turned it on. In other words, it was thanks, but no thanks. Glad I gave it an instant pass and never bothered with it….

OMG! For Satan’s sake, you took the words right out of my mouth!

Loved the original series. It was weird & quirky and the flubs only enhanced it. I still have the Dark Shadows album (vinyl) and the complete set of paperback books based on the series.

Hopefully, this reboot will not tarnish the original. Th Depp movie was just plain horrid. Hated every moment of it.

Michael Easton definitely as Barnabas Collins. He was great as Caleb in Port Charles.

Watched Dark Shadows as a child. Jonathan Frid was creepy and the best Barnabas! Good luck with new casting and I think I would go with 1/2 hour show. But please make a better product than the recent movie by Tim Burton with Johnny Depp. Depp as Barnabas – no way!

cant beat the original. i hope to god they don’t try another ghastly version like nbc did in 1991 with ben cross! that was a sexed up. Wikipedia says it was “a re-imagining” I’ll say. it was dreadful. It only ran Jan- March. it was so good.

The original is best, same for the movies. The original two movies are far superior to the Johnny Depp debacle.

Quit trying to make it something else!

“it was so good” Sarcasm!!

I would love to see a reboot continuation of Dark Shadows starring Ben Cross and the cast.. I really enjoyed this version. The ending was left unfinished. The characters and plots were so engaging.

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The Young and the Restless Favorite Michael Damian and Janeen Damian to Chat Live on the Michael Fairman Channel

The Young and the Restless fan favorite Michael Damian (Danny Romalotti) along with his real-life wife, Janeen Damian, currently have the most popular streamed film on Netflix as of Monday, March 18th, with their production of Irish Wish starring Lindsay Lohan.

The couple are set to visit the Michael Fairman Channel on Tuesday night, March 19 at 8PM ET/5PM PT. Michael and Janeen will talk about: the film project, Michael’s current story on Y&R as Danny is is being pursued by long-time rivals, Christine (Lauralee Bell) and Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford), his musical career and more. Y&R fans recall that Michael hit #1 on the charts with his rendition of “Rock On”, which has been a staple throughout his career.

Janeen and Michael have produced over 17 films together and for Irish Wish, Janeen Damian wore multiple hats as its Director, Producer, and screenwriter, while Michael not only was a producer of the film, but recorded its theme song, Wild Irish Heart. The film also possesses a soundtrack with other notable musicians and singers including: Earth Wind & Fire, Adam Ant and even Lohan’s sister, Aliana, has two songs in it.

Photo: Netflix

This marks the Damians second outing with Lohan who previously appeared in their holiday film, Falling for Christmas. In the story of Irish Wish, book editor Maddie is head over heels for the author she works with, Paul (Alexander Vlahos), until he falls in love with her best friend (Elizabeth Tan). Putting her feelings aside, Maddie travels to Ireland for their wedding, where sparks fly with a charismatic photographer (Ed Speleers) until an accidental wish turns her life upside down. She wakes up engaged to Paul and racing toward a walk down the aisle she’s not sure she wants anymore.

Photo: Netflix

Throughout the history of the CBS soap opera, Michael has returned on Y&R several times including in: 1981–1998, 2002–2004, 2008. 2012–2013, and his current run 2022–present.

Photo: JPI

You can watch the livestream with Michael and Janeen below.

Now, if you cannot attend Tuesday night’s livestream event, drop your questions for Michael and Janeen via the comment section.

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News

Clint Howard, Brother of Ron Howard, to Make Guest Appearances on The Bold and the Beautiful

The Bold and the Beautiful is bringing Hollywood veteran actor, Clint Howard, to the CBS soap opera for a two-day appearance.

On the daytime drama series, look for Howard to play a homeless man, who according to Deadline, “provides pivotal clues to a mystery.”

The actor is on the set at CBS Television City taping his episodes which will air on April 26 and April 29.

Photo: AP

Clint also has a famous brother, actor/director/producer, Ron Howard. Both Clint and Ron got their starts on The Andy Griffith Show (1962-1964), He later went on to be featured in the TV series, Gentle Ben in 1967.  Most recently, Clint appeared in 2023’s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Together with his brother Ron, they wrote The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family that was released in 2021. The memoir chronicles their lives from childhood stardom to adulthood and becoming Hollywood icons.

Now the question becomes, is the homeless man as played by Howard going to have some major intel into what happened to the ‘late’ Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown)?

Share your thoughts on Clint Howard coming to B&B and what “mystery” do you think he will be involved with via the comment section below.

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Days Of Our Lives

Days of our Lives Star, Greg Vaughan, Gives Health Update and Thanks Everyone for Their Support

Greg Vaughan (Eric, Days of our Lives, ex-Lucky, GH, and ex-Diego, Y&R) provided an update on his health on Sunday, March 17th. Vaughan had previously shared that he had become ill during a trip with his sons to Colorado, and had developed altitude sickness when he was having trouble breathing accompanied by terrible headaches and landed in the urgent care.

Now on St. Patrick’s Day, Greg took to his Instagram and shared how he is feeling now, and to thank everyone for their love and support.  As it turned out, Vaughan was diagnosed with high altitude pulmonary edema, commonly known as HAPE. However, he is on the mend slowly and surely.

In his new video post, the DAYS favorite started by expressing, “I just felt such an appreciation and gratitude for everything. . reaching out. Your prayers have been felt. It’s been a struggle, but I’m over the top. And, taking this moment just to say I didn’t realize the things that I was going through. My (original) post was simply just to educate, put some information out there and some things that I was feeling, just share that information and the struggle that I was going through, which I didn’t quite understand. And it wasn’t because I’m stubborn or just because I’m a father, a man, and didn’t want to go to a doctor. It is just something I thought was so minor that I could overcome it, just by taking care of myself.”

Photo: JPI

The Daytime Emmy winner then revealed his actual diagnosis, “So, basically my situation was high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). With some good friends, doctors that had reached out to me, it kind of gave me some understanding on the aftermath, which was very, very beneficial.”

“But I’ve been resting, taking care of myself even though I live in a hamster wheel,” said the dad of three teenaged boys. “I gotta get up and, you know, do my normal domesticated stuff, eventually. I’m tired of laying down in this bed, but, I am feeling much better.”

Photo: GVaughanIG

Talking on his confusion of trying to understand what could have been ailing him, Vaughan expressed, “I couldn’t quite figure it out, even though I was emphasizing and professing to my children going on our spring break getaway about hydration. I professed it. But, even though I was acting on it, it had a greater effect on me, and for which I did not even think, because my head was such in pain, and I was in a very bad state of mind – not being able to be out there with my kids on the mountain, enjoying their time, as well. I thought I was doing the right thing. Unfortunately, my lungs were full of fluids and my head was in severe pain and even migraine pills didn’t even help. So, I just want anybody that goes into the Colorado Mountains to know, it is no joke. It is this very serious thing which I guess is why they call it the Mile High City.”

Greg had a mountain of ‘thank you’s’ to give for the outreach he received from his original post, “For everybody internationally, wherever you are, I love you and I appreciate you and just the time and the thoughts that you’ve shared with me,” said Vaughan. “I didn’t realize that it would make such an impression on so many people around the world. I feel tremendously loved and I can’t say it enough. I’m good. And I appreciate you.”

Photo: GVaughanIG

The actor concluded his video with, “To all the family and friends that have reached out to me, man, it means the world. So take care of yourself, enjoy your spring break with your families. It’s Saint Patty’s Day, obviously. I wish I could be out there.” Vaughan added, “I feel loved and touched and I can’t emphasize that enough. I’ll take better care of myself, promise you will do the same.” Before he signed off, Greg shared, “Just know, that I’m alive and well and breathing, and I’m sore. So, be well, take care. I mean it. Thank you, tremendously.”

Glad to know that Greg has been on the mend, and shared his appreciation for everyone that reached out to him during this trying time? Comment below.

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Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

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