On Wednesday, a new microdrama company enters the space of the burgeoning world of verticals with the the release of vertTV, a mobile-first streaming app and production studio featuring an original development slate starring several actors with a soap opera past or present.

Vivica A. Fox (Stephanie Simmons, Y&R), John Brotherton (ex-Jared Banks, OLTL), Josh Henderson (ex-John Ross Ewing III, TNT’s Dallas), Barbara Crampton (ex-Leanna Love, Y&R), Jason-Shane Scott (ex-Will Rappaport, OLTL), Krista Allen (ex-Taylor Hayes, B&B), Brittany Underwood (ex-Langston Hughes, OLTL) and Jessica Morris (ex-Jennifer Rappaport, OLTL) and Russell Todd (ex-Jamie Frame, Another World) are all in new or upcoming microdramas for the company.

Hollywood vets Jeffrey Schenck, Barry Barnholtz, and Peter Sullivan launched vertTV (vertTV.com) as a premium filmmaker-led studio delivering high-stakes, cinematic genre television for mobile audiences. The app has been created for on-the-go viewing, and the subscription platform features snackable, fast-paced vertical episodes.

Photo: vertTV

vertTV Slate of Microdrama Premieres

In conjunction with the July 22 rollout, vertTV has unveiled an extensive development slate of original premieres and those in development including:

Finding Hope: Written and directed by multi-hyphenate Marla Sokoloff, this premium small-town drama reunites Fuller House stars Jodie Sweetin and John Brotherton, along with Richard Karn (Home Improvement). The series follows Emily Harper (Sweetin), a successful big-city doctor who returns home to save the family’s crumbling clinic after her father suffers a stroke, forcing her to navigate the local crisis alongside a skeptical hometown EMT (Brotherton) while choosing between her high-flying career and the community she left behind.

Wicked Wives: Executive produced by and starring Vivica A. Fox this glamorous, high-stakes ensemble murder-mystery centers on an NBA wife and ICU nurse who relocates to Atlanta’s most exclusive Black gated community and is quickly drawn into a world of secrets, infidelity, and murder led by a powerful circle of elite neighborhood wives.

Lone Star Hearts: Set in the cutthroat, wealthy world of Texas oil, this soapy romance and corporate thriller stars Josh Henderson as charismatic tycoon Cooper Vale and Hallmark Channel star Cindy Busby as his sharp-witted ex, Isabelle. The plot centers around the daughter of a businessman whose life was destroyed by Vale. When she infiltrates the powerful tycoon’s company to clear her father’s name, she unexpectedly falls for the man she came to destroy.

Bad Blood: Tailored for a Gen Z audience hungry for dark academia and supernatural suspense, this thriller centers around a scholarship student investigating the suspicious murder of her best friend at the prestigious Weddington University. Her search leads her to The Crimson Circle, a secret society hiding centuries-old vampire bloodlines, where she finds herself torn between a fellow student with secrets of his own and a magnetic insider whose connection to the society runs far deeper than she realizes. The series also features horror icons Barbara Crampton, and Russell Todd reuniting on the 40th Anniversary of their cult classic, Chopping Mall.

As Hollywood continues to embrace the 1-2 minute episode storytelling made for scrolling on your iPhone or Android devices, will you be jumping into the world of verticals especially now after seeing some of these names from the soaps and more, or is it a hard pass? Let us know via the comment section below.

Scott Bryce’s beloved wife Jodi Stevens Bryce announced on Instagram that a memorial service for her husband will take place this coming weekend and will be able to viewed via livestream for family members, friends and fans who loved the actor, personally and professionally.

As first reported by Michael Fairman TV, Scott passed away on Sunday evening, July 13 at the age of 68.  His son, Jackson Bryce took to Instagram to make an official announcement of his father’s passing sharing, “What began as stage three esophageal cancer eventually spread and became brain tumors that took his life away from him.”

As the World Turns fans know that Bryce was smash hit in the role of Craig Montgomery, a part he played for several runs  on the CBS soap opera from 1982–1991, 1993–1994, and 2007–2008. Along the way, Bryce earned two Lead Actor Daytime Emmy nominations in 1986 and 1987.

Previously, Scott had been diagnosed diagnosed with Stage 3 esophageal and stomach cancer back in October of 2024. He had credited early detection as a vital part of his journey during a conversation on The Locher Room in July of 2025. At that time, Scott had shared he had undergone medical treatment and had since reported being “on the mend.”

Jodi Stevens Bryce’s message for those who want to view Scott’s ‘Celebration of Life” shares, “To our dear family and friends, both near and far, thank you for surrounding our family with so much love, kindness, and prayer. If you’d like to join us in celebrating Scott’s beautiful life, his memorial service will be livestreamed on Saturday, July 25 10am ET.”  She signed the message, “With love, Jodi and Jackson.”

Photo: JPI

AS THE WORLD TURNS CAST SHARES REMEMBRANCES OF SCOTT BRYCE

Over the last few weeks heartfelt condolences on the loss of Scott have poured including from: Finn Carter (ex-Sierra, ATWT), Martha Byrne (ex-Lily, ATWT), Melanie Smith (ex-Emily, ATWT) and  many more.

In fact, Bryne made note to TV Insider following the loss of As the World Turns co-star, of just how memorable Bryce’s work with the late Elizabeth Hubbard’s work as Lucinda was, and their unforgettable pairing; “The energy between them, their dynamic, all the play, fun, and the intensity just jumped through the screen. Most actors wouldn’t go down to set just to watch other performers. They’d stay in their rooms. I would go and just watch them work.”

The livestream will be broadcast courtesy of the The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport, Connecticut.

We all loved Scott Bryce and his powerful performances as Craig on As the World Turns and his body of work in primetime television as well. Now, it’s time to say our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to his family and loved ones. Comment below.

 

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On Tuesday, July 21, Netflix has dropped season 3 of their behind the scenes docudrama look at pro wrestling with WWE: Unreal and all five of its episodes.

As a video teaser on season premiere day, the streamer shared the first look of its first three minutes of the season from episode 1. It begins in 2025 and looks at the the feud during John Cena’s retirement tour which as this point he is a heel. CM Punk enters the ring with his rival’s vintage “Basic Thuganonics” character outfit, and during their heated confrontation, Punk whispered a secret message to the GOAT.

Off the mic, Punk says to Cena, “I’m gonna miss you,” so that the crowd in attendance and the TV audience at home, who could not make out what he said. However Punk had a reason why he said it the way he did in the first place.

Courtesy/Netflix

WHAT DID CM PUNK SAY TO JOHN CENA?

Backstage, the “Voice of the Voiceless” explains, “In that moment, I had to do that to kind of center him (Cena) and bring him into the moment.” At the time, Cena was a heel, but the crowd still continued to cheer for him. Punk added, “Because it was emotional for me, and I felt it needed to be emotional for him, too.”

Cena added when he sat down for his docudrama confessional: “Right in the middle of his (Punk) moment, he gave me a very real and authentic moment, and it was very special. Looking back there was never a more real thing said.”

Later what was mapped out was that Cena would defeat Punk at Night of Champions, but after that, it would soon come to fruition ahead of SummerSlam 2025, that John who turn babyface ahead of his match with Cody Rhodes.

The loglines for WWE: Unreal season 3  tease, “John Cena says goodbye, a fan favorite returns, and the next generation of Superstars rise to the occasion.WWE: Unreal takes viewers inside the writers’ room as injuries, last-minute pivots, and career-defining decisions reshape WWE’s biggest season yet heading into WrestleMania 42.”

WWE: Unreal season 3 also features the following WWE superstars: Liv Morgan, AJ Lee, Trick Williams, Lash Legend, Stephanie Vaquer, Oba Femi, Bron Breakker, Chelsea Green, Matt Cardona, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.

Check out the Sneak Peek for the new season of WWE: Unreal Season 3 below.

Now let us know, will you be checking out the full season of episodes of the docudrama series? Let us know in the comment section.