PASSIONS End Date Changed
PASSIONS, which was originally scheduled to end on August 11 on DIRECTV, will be ending its run on August 7 instead. DIRECTV will also be running a marathon of the final four episodes on August 8.

In Memoriam
Soap vet Larry Haines, 90, died on June 17. The actor won two Daytime Emmys for the role of Stu Bergman on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, which he played for the show's entire run through 1951-86. The actor also played Sidney Sugarman on ANOTHER WORLD in 1989 and Neil Warren on LOVING in 1995. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Screen Actors Guild, Hollywood Headquarters, 5757 Wilshire Blvd. 7th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90036-3600.

Great Expectations, Part 2
Susan Lucci (Erica, AMC) confirms that daughter Liza Huber (Gwen, PASSIONS) and her hubby, Alex Hesterberg, are expecting baby No. 2. "We're so thrilled," Lucci gushes. "[One-year-old] Royce is going to be an adorable big brother!"

Great Expectations
Jacob Young (JR, AMC; ex-Lucky, GH) and wife Christen are due to become first-time parents on November 19. "It's a boy," reports Young. "We're going to name him Luke Wayne Young — Wayne is my middle name, and Luke we chose because we wanted something biblical. It's not after Tony [Geary, Luke, GH, his former on-screen father]!"

GH's Laura and Lulu Reunite
Laura counsels troubled daughter Lulu on GENERAL HOSPITAL Aug. 26, so Genie Francis gave Weekly the lowdown on her return. "I'm very much looking forward to it," bubbles Francis. "I love doing the mother/child story. That's always been one of my favorite things." Get the scoop on her return from ABC honcho Brian Frons himself in the new issue of Weekly on sale July 25.

Think Pink
Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS) reveals that the baby she and husband Dave Sanov are expecting in January 2009 will be a girl. "It wasn't on purpose, but I was wearing pink when I shared the news that we're having a girl!" the actress tells Digest. "I am so excited to have a completely different experience with it being a girl!" The couple has a son, Ben, 3.

(First) Name's The Same
Beth Ehlers's AMC alter ego, originally named Taylor McBride (the same name new AMC head writer Charles Pratt, Jr. gave to Lisa Rinna's MELROSE PLACE character), will now be named Taylor Thompson. Ehlers makes her first Pine Valley appearance on July 24.

Smith Stays?
Contrary to erroneous Internet reports, GUIDING LIGHT's Michelle Ray Smith (Ava) has not been fired. The actress, who is well-loved on set, discusses her current maternity leave ("I'm taking time to be a Mama"), GL's decision to leave the door open for what they HOPE will be her return, and her surprising future career plans in Weekly's Aug. 5 issue, on stands this Friday.

Y&R's David Targets Nikki
Once a murderer, always a murderer. Or so it seems when it comes to YOUNG AND RESTLESS's David. "If David killed once, he will kill again," warns Doug Davidson (Paul). Will Paul manage to keep Nikki from sipping David's morphine cocktail this week on Y&R? Pick up the July 29 issue of Weekly to find out.

A BOLD Promotion
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL scribe Kay Alden was recently named co-head writer by Executive Producer/Head Writer Bradley Bell. Alden had previously written for YOUNG AND RESTLESS since 1974 and was let go in 2006, but was snapped up by B&B. Both shows were created by Bell's parents William and Lee Bell. Their son was a former writer for Y&R and was moved up to associate producer of B&B in 1989, then supervising producer in 1992. The following year, Bell took over head writing reins from his dad and also became executive producer in 1995.

AMC Shakeup!
Now that Charles Pratt, Jr. has taken over the reins as AMC's head writer, he's got big plans on revitalizing the soap. "It is challenged right now," the scribe tells Soap Opera Digest in an exclusive peek at what's ahead for Pine Valley. There's good news for Adam and Erica fans and the men of Pine Valley are going to go through a change. "We're gonna get Zach off the couch," hints Pratt. Fans can also expect changes for the show's biggest couples. "The bond of marriage will be tested," Pratt promises. For more spoiler alerts, check out the July 29 issue of Digest, which goes on sale next Tuesday.

Y&R Actress Axed
Hot on the heels of Vincent Irizarry's (David) ouster, Y&R's Raya Meddine (Sabrina) has been given a boot. "We're all a little dumbfounded," a setside source tells Soap Opera Digest in the July 29 issue, which hits stands Tuesday. For more behind-the-scenes scoop and spoiler alerts, pick up the issue.

Change of Plan
Cady McClain (ex-Dixie, ALL MY CHILDREN) is sad to report that she has to cancel a few singing gigs because "due to personal reasons, a key member of my band is no longer going to be able to play with me and it's too late to find an adequate replacement. Prohibition (this Monday the 21st) and Alphabet Lounge (August 2nd) are out for sure. I am going to try to play Rockwood Music Hall so please hang on to that date: August 15th, 6 p.m. I will keep you informed!"

For more on McClain — and whether she is taking over the role of GUIDING LIGHT's Harley — see the next issue of Weekly.

Baby Love
GH's Ingo Rademacher (Jax) and fiancé Ehiku welcomed son Peanut Kai Rademacher into the world on July 11. The baby weighed in at 7 lbs, 6 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. "Dad, mom and baby are all great," notes a show spokesperson. "The cast and crew of GENERAL HOSPITAL are very excited for Ingo, Ehiku and the entire Rademacher family. We wish them all the best during this important milestone."

GH Casting Scoop!
As first reported in Soap Opera Weekly’s 4/8 issue, Genie Francis (Laura) is returning to GENERAL HOSPITAL. It will be a short visit, beginning August 26. "I would stay on, but GENERAL HOSPITAL honestly doesn't seem to want that relationship with this character at the moment," Francis said in an interview with the Associated Press.

A PASSIONS-ate Return for Douglas
Christopher Douglas returns as PASSIONS's Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald on July 23. As soap fans know, the former NBC sudser is now on DIRECTV and ends its wacky run on August 7.

AMC Sets Date for Ehlers
Beth Ehlers (ex-Harley, GL) debuts on ALL MY CHILDREN's Taylor McBride on Thursday, July 24, and she hopes her Springfield fans will tune in to see her and co-star Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake, AMC; ex-Gus, GL). "I don't want them to stop watching GUIDING LIGHT, but I absolutely want them to follow us," declares Ehlers. "I'm not even shy about it."

Mauzy Makes A Move
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL confirms that MacKenzie Mauzy (Phoebe) has been bumped to recurring status. The reason: Mauzy's hitting the great white way — aka Broadway — to join the cast of the new musical A TALE OF TWO CITIES. Congrats!

Vive La France!
To celebrate its 20th anniversary of airing in France, YOUNG AND RESTLESS (known as Les Feux de l'Amour there) will go on its first location shoot in Paris. For now, the week of filming is scheduled for October, but Y&R has yet to confirm which actors will be going.

Y&R Star Out
According to a post on his MySpace page, Vincent Irizarry (David, Y&R) has been let go. Although a show's spokesperson wouldn't comment, the actor's fate, which has been in question for months, appeared to be sealed when it was disclosed on the July 1 air show that his character is responsible for Ji Min's still-unsolved death. A backstage source does report that David's behavior will become increasingly "unstable." Stay tuned...

A Bold & Beautiful Award
CBS' BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL took home the International TV Audience Award at the 48th Monte Carlo Television Festival for the third year in a row. The award means B&B is the world's most watched daily drama series. Congrats!

DAYS Casting Scoop!
Joe Mascolo is coming back to DAYS as Stefano and Soap Opera Digest has the exclusive. "I'm thrilled that we were able to talk things out and reach a mutual conclusion," says the actor.

Baby on the Way
DAYS OF OUR LIVES's Alison Sweeney (Sami) is expecting her second child in January, 2009. "I'm so thrilled and everyone is super excited, but I got three hugs from James [Scott, EJ] because I think it's his first experience knowing someone actually going through it," says Sweeney. "It was really cute." The actress announced the news at a taping of the BIGGEST LOSER Monday night, then told her DAYS castmates when she got to work on Tuesday. Sweeney and husband Dave Sanov are already the parents of a son, Ben, 3. No word yet on whether DAYS will write the pregnancy in.

RESTLESS Reading
The new Y&R magazine Restless Style is going like hotcakes in Genoa City. Now fans can also check out an online version. The show is launching RestlessStyle.com. According to today's press release, "The site offers the latest runway trends, fresh beauty tips and red carpet coverage, in addition to such things as videos, polls, photo galleries and horoscopes." To see the site, click here.

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