Breaking News
‘Soap’ and ‘Who’s The Boss?’ Star Katherine Helmond Dead At 89
One of the most beloved and respected actresses, Katherine Helmond, has died due to complications from Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 89. Helmond, who was one of the leads on ABC’s Soap in the role of Jessica Tate back in the late 70’s from 1977-1981, and a role in which she won a Golden Globe, died this past Saturday in her Los Angeles residence, according to Manfred Westphal, chief marketing and communications officer for APA.
Katherine was also best-known to TV audiences for her role in Who’s The Boss? from 1984 -1992 as Judith Light’s firecracker of a mother, Mona Robinson. The actress also won a Supporting Actress Golden Globe for that role in 1989. She also received four consecutive Best Actress Emmy Award nominations for Soap and back-to-back noms for Who’s the Boss?
Many former co-stars have taken to social media to share their grief and remembrances upon the heartbreaking news of Katherine’s passing including:
Billy Crystal: “KatherineHelmond was a remarkable actress and a huge influence on me during our @Soap years. I learned so much about acting from her and I’ll never forget her wit, her laugh and her comforting spirit.”
Judith Light: “Katherine Helmond was an inspiration to me and so many others Her grace, talent and humor will be deeply missed She is in my heart forever.”
Tony Danza: “We all lost a national treasure today. No words can measure my love.”
Helmond is survived not only by her husband; but her half-sister, Alice Parry; and many nephews and nieces. A memorial service is being planned for family and friends to celebrate her life and career and her career spanned five decades with numerous memorable work on the stage, film, and television.
Thank you Ms. Helmond for sharing your remarkable talent and grace with us. Bless you always. May you rest in peace.
Soap..Who The Boss and Everybody Loves Raymond…watched her in all of Them and in the mini series Pearl(Harbor)…she was great in everything she has done….and sorely missed!
Here’s hoping she found a brand new life around the bend. RIP
Nooooo! I’ve always loved Katherine Helmond. I watched the Soap and Who’s The Boss reruns with my grandmother, I especially loved her as Mona on WTB. She broke the sterotype of the grandmother not being sexy and in control of her life.
I also loved her in movies such as Overboard and The Lady In White. She wonderful playing the snobby, rich bitch in Overboard. I never get tired of Overboard and she’s one of the main reasons why. And she played so scary (yet misunderstood) in The Lady In White.
Such a versatile and talented actress, she will be missed. Love and prayers to her and her loved ones. At least she has made her transition to the other side!
So sorry to hear this.I loved her work.She was so funny in Soap.Matter of fact Antenna tv is showing reruns of soap if you like to catch Katherine on there she was so funny.May she rest in peace.God Bless her and her family
She will be missed, but I thank her for all the wonderful moments she gave us, as WTB, and her time on SOAP.Poor Mickey Mouse. Do you suppose he knew? RIP Katherine, and prayers to her loved ones.
Breaking News
Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts and Marlene King Land ‘Calabasas’, a Soap in the Vein of the ‘O.C’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, at Netflix
There has been lot of soapy projects coming to life and in the works of late, and now comes word that Kim Kardashian is executive producing a new series in development for Netflix called Calabasas.
After a bidding war last week, it looks like Netflix cemented the development deal from Kim, and her producing partners American Horror Story co-star Emma Roberts (pictured below) and Pretty Little Liars creators Marlene King and Alexandra Milchan.
The concept of Calabasas is based on the book If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous By Now by Via Bleidner. King set to write the adaptation and will serve as the series showrunner.
According to Deadline, Calabasas is said to be in the vein of primetime young teen and young adult soaps the O.C. and Beverly Hills 90210. The story follows “Via, a 16-year-old sheltered Midwestern Catholic school girl whose world is turned upside down when her family moves and she’s forced to transfer to the fast world of Calabasas High where nothing is as it appears and where everyone is trying to be someone else. It’s a place where dreams come true … but not without complications and sometimes unforeseen consequences.”
As fans of the Kardashians know, Kim and her family made the town of Calabasas a household and worldwide name. Kim being attached to this project helped make its sale. This marks her fourth project to sell since the writers and actors strikes concluded at the end of last summer.
So, would you be interested to see a teen soap called ‘Calabasas’ on Netflix from Kim and company? Comment below.
Breaking News
The Young and the Restless and General Hospital Actress and Writer, Meg Bennett, Passes Away at 75
Meg Bennett, who had played Julia Newman and later became a writer for the top-rated daytime drama, The Young and the Restless has died at the age of 75. The news comes from her family who shared that she lost her battle to cancer back on April 11th.
Daytime fans remember fondly, Meg’s portrayal of Victor’s (Eric Braeden)first wife. Bennett joined the show in 1980, after her first soap stint for two years in the role of Liza Walton on Search for Tomorrow.
Impressed by her story notes, the late Bill Bell, then head writer of Y&R, had Meg doing double duty acting and writing on the show from 1983-1987. When he decided to write off the character of Julia, he also wanted Meg to stick around as a writer. Not only did this begin a whole other daytime career for Bennett, but she was not done playing Julia either. Throughout the decades, Julia would still come back to Genoa City for a visit. Most recently, Y&R fans saw Julia in 2018, and again in 2020.
Bennett also appeared on Santa Barbara and was a writer on that show as well from 1991-1993. She played the role of Megan Richardson. It was next that Meg had her longest writing stint coming to ABC’s General Hospital. Meg wrote for GH from 1993-2011.
In 1995, Bennett won her first Daytime Emmy for writing and her personal life changed after falling in love with nine-time Daytime Emmy winner, former GH head writer, Bob Guza Jr. In addition, GH also utilized Bennett for her acting skill when she was cast as the villainess Allegra Montenegro. Meg and Bog Guza were officially married in 2004 and purchased a home once owned by Boris Karloff and Gregory Peck.
Additionally, Meg wrote for The Bold and the Beautiful 1987-1989 and later served as a executive story consultant to Brad Bell from 2002-2004. She also wrote for Sunset Beach, Generations and GH: Night Shift throughout her writing career. She went on to win five WGA Awards for GH and Santa Barbara.
Meg is survived by her husband of 19 years, Robert Guza Jr., two stepdaughters, four grandchildren, a brother and a sister.
Share your remembrances and condolences for Meg Bennett via the comment section below.
Breaking News
Steve Kent Reportedly OUT as Sony Pictures Television VP in Charge of DAYS and Y&R
On Friday, reports surfaced that Steve Kent, Senior Executive Vice President of Programming at Sony Pictures Television, is no longer with the company and overseeing the Sony soap operas, Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless.
According to Soap Opera Digest, a set side source reported that Kent’s last day was last Friday, April 12th, which was one day after what would have been his final appearance in his Sony VP role at the Days of our Lives 15,000th episode on set celebration.
During that ceremony, Kent gave a brief speech giving kudos to DAYS for its incredible milestone. Days is a co-production of Sony Pictures Television and Corday Productions, while Y&R is produced by Bell Dramatic Serial Company in association with Sony Pictures Television.
Kent started his soap opera career as a producer for CBS’ defunct Capitol and then as the supervising producer of NBC’s Santa Barbara from1984 to 1993.
At Sony, before his role overseeing the soaps, Kent was Senior Executive Vice President of International Productions for Sony Pictures Television International department.
If reports are true, the question becomes who has taken over his position, and would oversee DAYS and Y&R from the Sony side? Share your thoughts on this developing story via the comment section below.
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