News
‘Santa Barbara’ 40th Anniversary Reunion: Cast to Mark Milestone and Honor the Late Bridget Dobson
It is hard to believe it has been 40 years since the iconic Santa Barbara first premiered on NBC. Coming up this month on July 30th will mark the milestone.
So many of the soaps iconic stars and creatives will take part in a one-night only event on Friday, August 2nd at The Colony Theatre in Burbank, California beginning at 5 to 10 pm PT.
Santa Barbara favorites scheduled to attend include: A Martinez (Cruz), Marcy Walker (Eden), Lane Davies (Mason), Nancy Lee Grahn (Julia), Judith McConnell (Sophia), Robin Mattson (Gina), Louise Sorel (Augusta), Harley Jane Kozak (Mary), Gordon Thomson (Mason), Terri Garber (Suzanne), Sherilyn Wolter (Eleanor), Vincent Irizzary (Scott), Robert Newman (Kirk), John Allen Nelson (Warren), Gina Gallego (Santana) and many more.

Courtesy/SBReunion
Premiering on July 30th, 1984 and ending its run in 1993, Santa Barbara quickly stacked up Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series and for members of its cast. Behind the scenes producer, writers and directors will also be on-hand including Jerome Dobson (Co-creator and co-head writer), plus writers: Mary Dobson, Patrick Mulcahey, Courtney Simon. Michele Val Jean, Chris Dunn, Thom Racina and more.
The Santa Barbara 40th anniversary event will feature a cocktail reception and arrivals, panel discussions and meet and greets. The event will also server as opportunity for the cast to gather for a memorial for the late Bridget Dobson co-creator of the series. The reunion will also help raise money for The Conasauga Shakespeare Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts in underserved communities.
Lane Davies (ex-Mason Capwell), who is helping organization the event expressed, “Santa Barbara has such an incredible, loyal audience and this 40th-anniversary event is going to have a great number of old cast members. It will be a combination reunion/memorial to Bridget Dobson. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone.”
For more information and purchase tickets for the this once-in-a-lifetime event, click here.
In case you missed it check out the Michael Fairman Channel’s recent conversation with Jerome Dobson and A Martinez where they share many in front of the camera and behind the scenes stories from Santa Barbara.
Will you be attending the Santa Barbara 40th anniversary reunion? Is Santa Barbara your favorite soap of all-time? Let us know in the comment section.
Shocked to see Marcy Alker’s name on the list of attendees!!!! I hope Michael can get some interviews. I wish Robin Mattson would return to GH – I love Alley Mills but Robin is the real Heather!
Recently I watched a ton of Santa Barbara episodes – there were missing episodes but I watched from 1984-1988, hoping more episodes will be put up online in the future. I particularly loved the late great Dame Judith Anderson as Minx! She wasn’t on all that much but she was such a hoot!
I would love to participate, but I live in Croatia (Europe), and of course I can’t be at the anniversary.. But I would be very happy if I could participate ONLINE.. Or at least if someone publishes a video..
Will this event be posted online after it happens?
Very excited about this event. I will be attending and Santa Barbara is the only soap I ever watched so yes it is definitely my favorite. No show has ever brought me more entertainment and enjoyment. It will be a memorable night!
It’s going to be a big party. The names of the expected cast members make me want to go there. I read that some were added like Valorie Armstrong. I would also like Julie Ronnie, Susan-Marie Snyder, Shell Danielson, Todd McKee, Margarita Cordova, Maragaret Michaëls, Rupert Ravens, Kerry Sherman, Melissa Brennan-Reeves, Andrea Howard, JonnaLeigh Stack, Linda Gibboney, Page Moseley, Stacy Edwards , Julia Campbell, Justin Deas, Marie-Alise Recasner, Lenore Kasdorf, Kristen Meadows, Ross Kettle, Rick Edwards, Jane Rogers, Frank Runyeon, Joe Marinelli, Carrington Garland, Paul Johansson, Karen Moncrieff, Christopher Norris, John Beck, Nina Arvesen …
If you are unable to attend is there a way to view the event online?? Is Marcy Walker really scheduled to attend?? I know the fans are dying to see her and A together!!
News
‘The Young and the Restless’ Tamara Braun Teases Sienna and Nick Relationship Turn, ‘There is Some Chemistry’
It looks like now may be the time that The Young and the Restless is building towards a change in the dynamic between Sienna Bacall (Tamara Braun) and Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow).
First, Nick is not himself these days since becoming addicted to painkillers and most importantly, fentanyl. Second, Sienna is seeing Audra (Zuleyka Silver) popping back into Lucas’ (Lucas Adams) life more than she wants to. Third, Sienna’s brother got into trouble with drugs so there is empathy there for what Nick is going through and potentially to help him pull through this.
Tamara Braun, who is celebrating her 25th anniversary on daytime soaps this month, spoke to Soaps.com about how the Y&R fans are noticing something between Sienna and Nick. Will they hit the sheets? Will they have an affair? A one-night stand? Or will it be platonic, and she could be the person to help Nick out in one of the darkest times in his life?

Photo: JPI
A NEW WOMAN IN NICK’S LIFE?
“I guess it would make for an interesting triangle,” said Braun about the possibility of being the woman between dad and son. “But people can have chemistry that isn’t romantic, and it can still become something really interesting. You know, like when you feel like you’ve met somebody before, or you meet somebody for the first time, and you’re instantly best friends, like, ‘How the heck are we grooving so well?’”
The two-time Daytime Emmy winning actress added that maybe that is what the audience is sensing with Nick and Sienna, but Braun does confirm,”There is some chemistry.”
TOUGH LOVE
With Nick’s addiction spiraling out of control and especially by week’s end on all-new episodes of the CBS soap opera, Tamara says Sienna’s experience with her brother and drugs, could lead to more key time with Nic:, “Whether it’s romantic, (it could be just a case of) ‘I want to try and get it right when I wasn’t able to before.”‘
So would be down for Sienna and Nick to have some sort of romantic encounter or relationship? Would you be more enthused if they remain friendly and she helps him try to deal with his addiction, or would you want them in each others orbits as friends and lovers? Let us know via the comment section.
Breaking News
Jennifer Harmon, ‘One Life to Live’s’ Cathy Craig, and ‘How to Survive a Marriage’ Star, Dead at 82
Sad news to report for the One Life to Live family. Actress Jennifer Harmon who was the last actress to play the emotionally troubled Cathy Craig has passed away. Harmon, who also starred on the defunct NBC soap opera, How to Survive a Marriage, died in New York on May 9 at the age of 82. Harmon’s family made the announcement.
Jennifer was the fifth actress to play One Life to Live’s Cathy, following Catherine Burns, Amy Levitt, Jane Alice Brandon and Dorrie Kavanaugh. During her two year tenure with the soap, from 1976 through 1978, she received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series at the 5th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 1978. The award that year went to Another World’s Laurie Heineman (ex-Sharlene Frame).
In her soap career, not only did Harmon have major success as Cathy on One Life to Live, but she starred on NBC’s new soap opera, How to Survive a Marriage as Chris Kirby and stayed with the series through its entire run which lasted just over a year from 1974-1975.

Photo: NBC
How to Survive a Marriage told the story of divorced couple as they battle for custody of their daughter, and as the mom enters the workforce. In the span of a year, Chris got divorced, remarried and battled alcoholism. Rosemary Prinz was the featured name in the cast.
On One Life to Live, Cathy was the nemesis of Victoria Lord (Erika Slezak). Cathy blamed the wealthy Viki for the accident that killed her child Megan Craig Riley (even though the baby has a congenital heart defect and her life expectancy was short). So, she set out to make Viki’s life hell by kidnapping Viki and Joe’s child, Kevin.
Later, Jennifer would return to One Life to Live in the 90s to play Viki’s attorney in a new role, went on to play Jean Weatherill on Guiding Light in 1991 and Lucretia Jones on Loving in 1995. Her primetime TV credits included: Barnaby Jones, Dallas, The White Shadow, St. Elsewhere, Homicide: Life on the Street, Oz, Rescue Me and The Good Wife.
Harmon was also known as one of the most accomplished stage actresses on Broadway having appeared over 21 times in different productions spanning nearly 50 years including in plays of the works of legendary playwrights: Noël Coward, Wendy Wasserstein, Lillian Hellman, Neil Simon, Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee and Jon Robin Baitz. Throughout her theatre career she was was known as a reliable actress, and at times was an understudy for the likes of: Stockard Channing, Judi Dench, Jessica Lange, Blythe Danner and Jessica Lange.
Share your remembrances of Jennifer Harmon on One Life to Live, How to Survive a Marriage, and more, in the comment section below.
Breaking News
‘EastEnders’ Wins Best Soap at the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards
Our friends from across the pond, BBC One’s EastEnders took home Best Soap honors at the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards in London, England on Sunday, May 10.
Just last year, EastEnders celebrated 40 years on television and has seen a resurgence. In attendance were cast members: Michelle Collins, Jessie Wallace, Diane Parish, and Aaron Thiara, as well former executive producer Chris Clenshaw and his successor, current showrunner Ben Wadey.
EastEnders was nominated in the category along with their rivals, Casualty and Coronation Street. Accepting on stage was 20-year veteran of the series, Diane Parish, who paid tribute to all the hard working people in front of the camera and behind the scenes. “It’s not easy doing a soap, but we manage to make it work,” shared Parish.

Courtesy/BBCOne
A BIG RETURN AND MEDICAL CRISIS IN STORY AHEAD
Recently, it was confirmed that in honor of her two decades with the show, Parish’s character, Denise Fox, is set for a major storyline this year, when she is diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a blood cancer.
And there’s more! In the winner’s press room, Ben Wadey shared there is a major return in store teasing,“I would keep your eyes peeled in the next few weeks, there might be some surprises on the horizon.”
On the official EastEnders Instagram account it also shared, “EastEnders has gone and won the Soap award at the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards! 🎉🥳🍾🙌What a huge honour, we truly couldn’t be prouder. Thank you BAFTA the whole cast and crew will be holding this one high when it makes it way home to Walford.”

Photo: EastEnders
BAFTA TV AWARD HISTORY IS MADE
Adolescence, the Netflix drama that took home Emmys and Golden Globes stateside, made BAFTA TV history during the ceremony winning four awards for the first time ever. Stephen Graham finally took home the coveted Leading Actor category in what was his 8th attempt to win a BAFTA in the fields of both TV and motion pictures.
The series is Netflix’s second most-watched English-language show of all time, and won BAFTA’s for Limited Drama and Supporting Actor and Actress for Owen Cooper and Christine Tremarco.
For a complete list of all the winners, click here.
So, happy to hear EastEnders won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Soap? If you catch EastEnders, who do you think might be returning on the horizon as teased by the series current EP? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
-
General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’s’ Giovanni Mazza Performs Aladdin’s ‘A Whole New World’ Ahead of Monday’s Crossover with Michael James Scott
-
General Hospital6 days agoGENERAL HOSPITAL: Ethan is Rocked at News of Delilah; Is Baby Phoebe His Child?
-
General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’s’ Chris McKenna On Jack’s Reaction to Carly Cheating On Him with Valentin: ‘Heartbreak and Absolute Rage and Humiliation’
-
Recaps1 week agoY&R’s Joshua Morrow Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’: His Co-Stars Couldn’t Agree More (Exclusive)
-
General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’s’ Alum Haley Pullos Stars in Lifetime’s ‘The Dating App Nightmare’
-
General Hospital1 week agoGENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Brennan, Cassius and Dante Discover Bombshell Revelations
-
General Hospital1 week agoHow ‘General Hospital’s’ Ned and Lois Love Story Moved Rosabel Kurth, Daughter of Wally Kurth and Rena Sofer, to Tears and Served as Inspiration
-
Days Of Our Lives1 week agoDAYS OF OUR LIVES: Kristen Double Crosses Sophia and Sends Her Up the River; Rachel Boyd Delivers Emotional Performance