Associated Television International (ATI), the production company which has put on the Daytime Emmy Awards broadcast since 2009, will not be helming the show this year. In a statement released on Twitter, president Jim Romanovich announced that the company has opted to step away from producing daytime's biggest night.

"Regretfully, we have today officially passed on doing The Daytime Emmys for television this year. As fans of the soaps in particular, as well as being daytime producers ourselves, we have immensely enjoyed being a part of your celebration these past three years. In 2009, there was not going to be a Daytime Emmys for television, as you know. It was over. we felt it was important for it to continue on television for as long as possible to give actors, producers, writers and so forth the night of recognition they so deserve. It wasn't always easy. In fact, it was quite challenging on many levels. Although it was never a money making project for us, it was prestigious, first and foremost, plus we wanted to do something important for the daytime community. I would like to think in some small way we have contributed in the interest of the daytime soap formula being created beyond television as we're now seeing through various online ventures, such as what Prospect Park had tried to do, and series currently thriving on the web."

For the full statement, including what the production company had planned to do with this year's ceremony, click here. Keep checking back as this story develops.

UPDATE: Bruce Rosenblum, Chairman of The National Academy Of Television Arts And Sciences posted a statement responding to the current situation on the Academy's Web site that should give fans some hope. "The Daytime Emmy Awards is a powerful brand," he writes. "We at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences are continuing to explore all broadcast possibilities including network, cable and digital media in order to produce a prestigious show that will satisfy the daytime community, fans and the worldwide viewing audiences."]]> tag:abc.soapsindepth.com,2012://7.22886 2012-02-16T18:23:08Z 2012-02-16T18:39:56Z

They've co-hosted the Daytime Emmy Awards, the final Daytime Salutes Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS extravaganza, and now ALL MY CHILDREN alum Cameron Mathison (Ryan) and THE VIEW's Sherri Shepherd are co-hosting The Oscars Backstage Pass! The two are teaming up with Radio Disney on-air personality Jake Whetter and Shira Lazar, the host of the live weekly interactive show WHAT'S TALKING, to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the Sunday, February 26, Academy Awards show at The Kodak Theatre. Fans can log on to Oscar.com to watch the festivities, or use the official Oscars app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to see the Backstage Pass offerings from the pre-show Red Carpet arrivals, during the live telecast, and even inside the Governor's Ball party afterwards!]]> tag:abc.soapsindepth.com,2012://7.22884 2012-02-16T17:58:54Z 2012-02-16T18:06:16Z

ONE LIFE TO LIVE alum Kearran Giovanni (Vivian) has landed a role as a series regular on the upcoming TNT drama MAJOR CRIMES, a spinoff from the cable network's hit THE CLOSER. According to Deadline, Giovanni will play Amy Sykes,...

Michelle Parkerton

ONE LIFE TO LIVE alum Kearran Giovanni (Vivian) has landed a role as a series regular on the upcoming TNT drama MAJOR CRIMES, a spinoff from the cable network's hit THE CLOSER.

According to Deadline, Giovanni will play Amy Sykes, an undercover police detective and former military vet who served in Afghanistan, in the procedural. MAJOR CRIMES is expected to debut the same week that the series finale of THE CLOSER airs this summer. The new drama will star Mary McDonnell and several other cast members, all of whom will continue on in their roles.]]> tag:abc.soapsindepth.com,2012://7.22258 2012-02-16T17:12:04Z 2012-02-16T17:41:05Z

In case you missed January 24 post of the run-down of important upcoming GH dates, here it is again! Mark your calendars, GENERAL HOSPITAL and ONE LIFE TO LIVE fans, because Soaps In Depth has the rundown of which...

Michelle Parkerton

In case you missed January 24 post of the run-down of important upcoming GH dates, here it is again!

Mark your calendars, GENERAL HOSPITAL and ONE LIFE TO LIVE fans, because Soaps In Depth has the rundown of which characters will be showing up in Port Charles when next month!

First up is Finola Hughes, who brings Robin's mother, Anna, back to town the week of February 13. OLTL's Kristen Alderson (Starr) makes her GH debut the week of February 20, and Tristan Rogers returns as Robert Scorpio the week of February 27. That same week also marks the Port Charles arrivals of Llanview transplants Todd and Blair Manning, played by Roger Howarth and Kassie DePaiva. Finally, fans of Michael Easton's John McBain will have to wait until March to see the hunky detective arrive in town!]]> tag:abc.soapsindepth.com,2012://7.22836 2012-02-14T20:26:03Z 2012-02-16T18:06:41Z

On this week's episode of THE SECRET CIRCLE, Joe Lando (Jake, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) brings Cassie's mysterious father, John Blackwell, to life. Speaking to Soaps in Depth from the set in Vancouver, Lando was excited to dish about his...

Michelle Parkerton

On this week's episode of THE SECRET CIRCLE, Joe Lando (Jake, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) brings Cassie's mysterious father, John Blackwell, to life. Speaking to Soaps in Depth from the set in Vancouver, Lando was excited to dish about his new role with his fans. "The show is based on a series of novels [by L.J. Smith], and in the books, I guess I'm kind of like the Antichrist. I'm the father of all the children in the circle, [and] there are all kinds of connections with the Blackwell character that I had no idea about!" Lando laughs.

While so far, the actor knows he'll be Cassie's witchy dad on the TV series, he remains in the dark about the rest... including how long he'll be around. "My voice appeared in one episode, I'm working on another now, and I'm in the next one, so that's three so far," he reveals. "I thought I was just guest starring, and now I don't know when I'm going home. They told me they're holding me captive!"

THE SECRET CIRCLE airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. Want to see a teaser clip of Lando's Blackwell? Click here. For more about Lando's wicked role, check out his Keeping Track feature in an the new ABC issue of Soaps In Depth, on sale later this week!]]> tag:abc.soapsindepth.com,2012://7.22819 2012-02-14T15:05:02Z 2012-02-14T17:15:51Z

In the six months since Jen Lilley has temporarily taken over the role of GENERAL HOSPITAL's Maxie, the actress has faced harsh criticism from fans of the character's most recent portrayer, Kirsten Storms. Storms herself was a recast, taking over...

Michelle Parkerton

In the six months since Jen Lilley has temporarily taken over the role of GENERAL HOSPITAL's Maxie, the actress has faced harsh criticism from fans of the character's most recent portrayer, Kirsten Storms. Storms herself was a recast, taking over the role from Robyn Richards when GH decided to age Felicia and Frisco's eldest daughter. Lilley recently found herself on the receiving end of a backlash when GH announced that Storms would not be returning to the show as soon as expected. Now, Lilley has taken to Twitter to make a statement and defend the difficult position in which she's been placed.

"I had to get twitlonger to answer properly," she writes. "First, I, Jen Lilley, LOVE Kirsten Storms. I think she's talented, funny, beautiful, and kind. While I have loved my time on GH, I think it's under the saddest of conditions that I'm there.

"Because of unforeseen circumstances, I am staying as Maxie," she continues. "Please know that as a KS fan, I am really sorry. Kirsten is irreplaceable. To keep GH alive, someone had to step into the role. I cannot change what's happened. Yes, I love being on the show, but if KS could have stayed all along, I would have wished a thousand wishes that I could have come on as a different character, for her sake and your sake as a GH fan. Change is never easy.

"I hope you will find it in your hearts to stop being so hateful toward me personally, because honestly, after 6 months of it, I feel broken, and it's not helping the show. We have to stand united for the sake of General Hospital's livelihood and for soap fans everywhere. I think all of Kirsten's wonderful fans know that she'd want her fans to support GH and fight like hell for it's renewal. With utmost sincerity: Jen Lilley."]]> tag:abc.soapsindepth.com,2012://7.22787 2012-02-13T16:04:35Z 2012-02-13T16:14:09Z

Soaps In Depth would like to extend our deepest condolences to GENERAL HOSPITAL star John Ingle (Edward), who lost his wife of 58 years, Grace-Lynn Martin Ingle, over the weekend. One of the couple's five daughters announced yesterday, February 12,...

Michelle Parkerton

Soaps In Depth would like to extend our deepest condolences to GENERAL HOSPITAL star John Ingle (Edward), who lost his wife of 58 years, Grace-Lynn Martin Ingle, over the weekend. One of the couple's five daughters announced yesterday, February 12, in a heartfelt message on Facebook that the singer/actress had peacefully passed away earlier that morning, in her bed, wrapped in her bathrobe, with her cat by her side. The family believes that she died from a stroke. Mrs. Ingle is survived by her husband, their five daughters, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

]]> tag:abc.soapsindepth.com,2012://7.22783 2012-02-13T15:05:46Z 2012-02-13T15:22:51Z

ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Brittany Underwood (Langston) has a new television gig! Soaps In Depth has learned that the actress has been cast in the new Nick At NIte daily primetime drama REACH FOR A STAR, being helmed by former...

Michelle Parkerton

ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Brittany Underwood (Langston) has a new television gig! Soaps In Depth has learned that the actress has been cast in the new Nick At NIte daily primetime drama REACH FOR A STAR, being helmed by former GENERAL HOSPITAL executive producer Jill Farren Phelps. Although it is unclear which role Underwood will play in the teen soap -- about an average high school senior whose life changes completely upon becoming a star and winning the love of her celebrity crush -- Underwood has signed on for the entire 80-episode run. Production of the series is set to get underway in March.

In Underwood's more immediate future is the upcoming HBO film Game Change, premiering Saturday, March 10, at 9 p.m. In the movie about the 2008 presidential campaign, the OLTL alum will play Sarah Palin's daughter, Willow.]]> tag:abc.soapsindepth.com,2012://7.22713 2012-02-10T16:55:10Z 2012-02-10T17:11:44Z

She's done daytime, sitcoms, Broadway and talk shows, and now ALL MY CHILDREN's Susan Lucci (Erica) is adding yet another genre to her fast-growing resume: Music videos! The star is not only included in the lyrics to Gloria Estefan's...

Michelle Parkerton

She's done daytime, sitcoms, Broadway and talk shows, and now ALL MY CHILDREN's Susan Lucci (Erica) is adding yet another genre to her fast-growing resume: Music videos! The star is not only included in the lyrics to Gloria Estefan's new single, "Hotel Nacional," but the Latina pop singer asked Lucci to appear in the music video for the tune, as well! "Needless to say, I am so flattered!" Lucci exclaimed on her Facebook page, adding that E! News premiered the video on February 9. "[It's] not to be missed. It is amazing!"

Check out the video here!]]> tag:abc.soapsindepth.com,2012://7.22729 2012-02-09T21:41:55Z 2012-02-13T15:23:29Z

There has been a lot of buzz about the demise of soap operas, but a new documentary just might bring the sad reality into the same world as Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg and other big time Hollywood names! Called...

Michelle Parkerton

There has been a lot of buzz about the demise of soap operas, but a new documentary just might bring the sad reality into the same world as Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg and other big time Hollywood names! Called Soap Life, the docu-film is about the changes taking place in the world of daytime television, and with over 70 interviews featuring fans, stars, producers, directors, writers, bloggers and fan club leaders, it could show the world what's really happening in daytime.

"The wife of our executive producer, John Grossman, who owns the production company NYPS, is a big fan of GENERAL HOSPITAL, and her whole thing was, 'You have the ability, so let's do something to save the soaps,'" explains producer Matthew D'Amato of how it all began. "We started doing research, and we sat down with a few actors, producers and directors, and said, 'Is this is a good idea? Could this work? Should we pursue it?' And we looked it up online and didn't see anything like this, so we thought it would be important to get started."

And the main goal of the film, D'Amato explains, is to generate enough buzz about the possible end of soaps to possibly prevent it from happening. "Hopefully this will get enough attention to help the genre, because we don't want to see it fade away," he says, adding that it's tentatively scheduled for a June 2012 release date at film festivals and possibly on networks such as Showtime. "We do want to see it at festivals, and we do want to see it on networks [so] people who aren't soap fans can watch the film and kind of relate to it, hear the stories and maybe want to pick them up or maybe do something about the genre. We have contacts we can send it to in order to get it out there, so hopefully it will get bigger and bigger!"

For more information on the project, visit www.facebook.com/soaplifedoc. To see a video about the project, visit www.youtube.com/user/SoapLifeDoc.]]> tag:abc.soapsindepth.com,2012://7.22712 2012-02-09T17:25:13Z 2012-02-09T17:40:43Z

Jason Thompson (Patrick) isn't the only face familiar to GENERAL HOSPITAL fans who will be dropping by ABC's primetime hit CASTLE. Erin Chambers (ex-Siobhan) has booked a gig on the crime drama as well! Chambers is taping her guest spot...

Michelle Parkerton

Jason Thompson (Patrick) isn't the only face familiar to GENERAL HOSPITAL fans who will be dropping by ABC's primetime hit CASTLE. Erin Chambers (ex-Siobhan) has booked a gig on the crime drama as well! Chambers is taping her guest spot today. "I really hope I don't giggle stupidly when I meet Nathan Fillion," she tweeted of the series star (who just so happens to be ONE LIFE TO LIVE's ex-Joey!). He's kind of dreamy."

So who will Chambers be playing? A spokesperson for CASTLE tells Soaps In Depth that the actress will appear as Suzanne Steiner, an old friend of the episode's murder victim, Odette Morton, who is a contestant on the competition show A NIGHT OF DANCE and is found dead in her dressing room. Chambers' episode is tentatively scheduled to air in mid-March.]]> tag:abc.soapsindepth.com,2012://7.22437 2012-02-09T17:15:35Z 2012-02-09T17:19:59Z

After the success of last week's Bring A Newbie Day -- a new program that we're starting here at Soaps In Depth to encourage GENERAL HOSPITAL fans to introduce non-GH fans to the fun and excitement of life in...

Michelle Parkerton

After the success of last week's Bring A Newbie Day -- a new program that we're starting here at Soaps In Depth to encourage GENERAL HOSPITAL fans to introduce non-GH fans to the fun and excitement of life in Port Charles -- we're going to do it again tomorrow!

On Friday at 3 p.m. ET, our executive editor, Richard M. Simms, will be live-tweeting the show -- hopefully, along with you GH fans -- at @soapsindepthabc. The goal is for each of us -- you included -- to entice a non-GH viewer to tune in with us. When they have questions -- "Isn't that Cassie from GUIDING LIGHT?" "Wait, the mobster's son is a policeman?" "Has that cute blonde girl always liked wine so very much?" -- you and Richard will be right there on twitter to answer them.

This way, we can not only share the experience of watching our favorite show, but we can encourage more folks to do so as well (thus bringing up the ratings and, knock wood, insuring that ABC's last soap will go on and on and on).

So what do you say? Who's in?

If this continues to be the fun that we had with it last week, we'll be doing B.A.N.D. tweets for other shows on other days TBA.]]> tag:abc.soapsindepth.com,2012://7.22685 2012-02-08T15:41:05Z 2012-02-08T15:55:31Z

If you loved the stylish fashions that the characters from ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE wore on television every day, now you can get them for your own closet! Starting on Friday, February 24, It's A Wrap!...

Michelle Parkerton

If you loved the stylish fashions that the characters from ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE wore on television every day, now you can get them for your own closet! Starting on Friday, February 24, It's A Wrap! Production Wardrobe Sales will be hosting the sale of items from the clothing departments of the canceled ABC soaps at both their Burbank and Beverly Hills, CA, stores and on www.itsawrap.com. Fans of the daytime dramas and fashion hunters alike will be able to purchase clothing and accessories by top designers like Calvin Klein, Prada, Chloe and Georgio Armani, and the racks will feature pieces worn by the men, women and children of AMC and OLTL. There will even be some bargains for those on a budget!

Rebecca Budig (Greenlee, AMC) will be the celebrity host at the Burbank store on the opening day of the sale. It all starts at 10 a.m., so mark your calendars and get ready to be dressed like your favorite soap character!]]>