Freeform’s smash hit series Cruel Summer is set to return as an anthology with a fresh mystery and cast  when its second season bows later in 2022.

And, a very familiar face to General Hospital fans will be one of its stars, when Daytime Emmy-winner, Sean Blakemore (Ex-Shawn Butler) joins the cast in the role of Sheriff Myer, an old-fashioned law-and-order type, under pressure to solve the first major crime in Chatham.

Cruel Summer season 2 is set in an idyllic waterfront town in the Pacific Northwest, and follows the rise and fall of an intense teenage friendship. Approaching the story from three different timelines surrounding Y2K, the season twists and turns as it tracks the early friendship between Megan, Isabella and Megan’s best friend Luke, the love triangle that blossomed, and the mystery that would impact all of their lives going forward.

Joining Blakemore in the cast are Sadie Stanley, Eloise Payet, Griffin Gluck and KaDee Strickland, Lisa Yamada, while Paul Adelstein recurs.

The series is executive produced bv Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple through Iron Ocean Productions and studio eOne.

So now, we may have some answers as to why Blakemore’s GH story wrapped sooner-than-later.

Excited to see Sean in his new project on Freeform? Comment below.

Every year, Six-time Daytime Emmy winner and iconic soap star, Erika Slezak, shares a holiday letter on her website to her enduring fan club over the holidays and this year was no different.

But what made this year’s communication so special, is it marked the 50th anniversary of the Erika Slezak Fan Club and her decades long partnership with its president, Walter Miller.  Together, they have delighted daytime viewers who watched Erika as the one and only Victoria Lord on One Life to Live, to keep abreast on her life, and her career.

Photo: Hallmark

As Christmas approaches and we ring a new year, Erika took a moment to write her thoughts looking back at a year which saw her: appear in Hallmark’s holiday movie, Next Stop, Christmas, dealing as we all have with life in a pandemic, and her husband Brian’s recent emergency surgery.

Here is what Erika shared:  “Dear Friends: This has been a year for the books, my friends, and I most sincerely hope that all of you are well and healthy, and have survived this monstrous year. I thank God that my family and I are completely vaccinated and boostered and healthy. Unfortunately though, Brian had a bad fall a few weeks ago, and had to have emergency surgery on his back. He is now finally in a wonderful rehabilitation hospital and is working hard to regain the strength in his legs. I come to see him every day, and Michael and Amanda alternate days to visit. It’s been a somewhat busy year: As most of you know, I was pleased to shoot a Hallmark Christmas movie called Next Stop, Christmas. It was great fun and was shot fairly close to where we live, so I could come home everyday. The people on the movie were all so wonderful, and my trailer, where I was keeping my things and resting between shots, was called Rudolph. All the trailers were named after reindeer, but unfortunately mine didn’t have a red nose on the front. The only hard part of the movie was that it was shot in August when it was 95 degrees outside, and we all had to pretend that it was December, so we were wrapped up in coats and boots and gloves, and really really hot!”

Photo: JPI

When speaking on her fan club’s milestone: Slezak offered up: “As difficult as this year has been, the bright spot for the the fan club is that we celebrated the “Golden Anniversary” this last October, and you can see the letter I signed back in 1971 to permit Walter to start it. It’s completely amazing that he and I have known each other for 50 years! I don’t know how that is possible since I’m only 39 years old � . Of all the things we have to be thankful for, I include my many, many years of friendship with Walter, and the fan club that he created. And even though “One Life to Live” has ended, the club is still going, thanks to the wonderful folks who run it and take care of it. A great big thank you to Walter and Kit and AJ for their time and patience with me. I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season, and I thank all of you for sticking with me all these years. Sending you hugs and best wishes for a Happy New Year and healthy 2022.”

Share your well-wishes to Erika as we say goodbye to 2021 and ring a new year in the comment section, and congratulations to Walter and Erika for a fan club well-done… 50 years! Wow!  In addition, in case you missed it, check out the Michael Fairman Channel’s chat with Erika from May of 2020 below.

In casting news announced on Monday, former One Life to Live and Desperate Housewives star, Tuc Watkins (Ex-David, Ex-Bob), has joined the cast of the upcoming Netflix comedy series Uncoupled, where he will appear along with its series lead, Neil Patrick Harris.

According to Deadline, Tuc will play the recurring role of Colin, who is said to be a hedge fund manager who blindsides his longtime partner Michael Lawson (Harris) when he leaves him on the eve of his fiftieth birthday and after 17 years together.

In story and the premise of the series has that overnight Michael has to confront losing his soulmate, and being a single gay man in New York City suddenly at his age. Along with Watkins, Oscar winner, Marcia Gay Harden, and Tisha Campbell (Ex-B&B) also are part of the acting ensemble.

There are high hopes for the series, especially since Darren Star, and Modern Family’s EP, Jeffrey Richman are the creators and EP of the new comedy.

Watkins was recently seen in Netflix’s adaptation of Boys In The Band and has a recurring role on Black Monday on Showtime.

So, excited to see Tuc in this new comedy series? Sound intriguing? Comment below.