Win lunch with the hunks of 'Passions'

Attention PASSIONS fans: you can win lunch with the hunky guys of the NBC sudser as well as a VIP weekend in L.A. by entering Soft Scrub's contest.

Bruening expected to exit AMC

They keep dropping like flies. This one is still in the rumor stage, but it's everywhere so I'd imagine there is something to it. AMC's hunkalicious Justin Bruening and his wife/co-star Alexa Havins are both looking to relocate to the West Coast when their contracts expire this summer, which would mean their departures from AMC.

Bruening is of course one of the premier daytime hunks of the 21st Century. He was the winner of this site's inaugural Adonis contest, and he has been nominated for 15 Soaphunks.net Awards during his AMC tenure, winning two.

No official word from the actor or the show at this point.

New life for 'Passions?'

My buddy Daniel Coleridge at TVGuide.com is scooping that NBC may be dealing with DIRECTV to keep PASSIONS around after its September axing by NBC!

TVGuide.com has learned that NBC is in talks to move Passions to DIRECTV when the soap's broadcast TV run concludes this fall.

As previously reported, the Peacock has cancelled Passions and will last air the campy sudser on Sept. 7, 2007.

Nevertheless, NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly recently offered us hope for Passions' future. "We are going to be looking very, very seriously at keeping [Passions] alive," the exec told reporters at TCA's winter press tour. "The fact is, there are loyal viewers of this show who love it and show up every day. And in a perfect world, we'd like to keep the brand alive. There may be another network. You know, I don't think it's a broadcast network, but there may be another cable network that wants to get in business with us and have some sort of on-air presence for the show."

If things work out, die-hard Passions watchers will have good reason to dump their cable and subscribe to DIRECTV satellite service. FYI, NBC declined comment for this story, while calls to DIRECTV were not immediately returned. No surprise there, since companies generally don't like to comment on these things until the deal is officially sealed.

Stay tuned, Passions aficionados... Tabitha, Endora and the rest of Harmony's lovable freaks may still have some afterlife in them yet!

Fingers crossed, all you Adrian Bellani and Eric Martsolf fans!

ATWT's Roerig, GH's King out; others to follow?

Confirming months of speculation, ATWT's young heartthrob Zach Roerig has announced that he will indeed depart the soap when his contract expires in April. Roerig developed a devoted following during his tenure in Oakdale, and he managed an 8th place finish in soaphunks.net's Adonis 2006 contest. No word yet on a recast.

Two more CBS hunks are officially attached to fall TV pilots. ATWT's Grayson McCouch is attached to FOX's "The Apostles," while Y&R heartthrob Thad Luckinbill is on tap for CBS's "Protect and Serve." Of course you should never say never, but if these pilots get picked up for full episode orders, then these two hunks would very likely be exiting their daytime homes.

Also announcing his imminent departuare is GH's Ted King, who will exit Port Charles in May when his contract expires.

Daytime Emmy nominations announced

Nominations for the 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced today. Brace yourselves.

Outstanding Drama Series
The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Guding Light (CBS)
One Life to Live (ABC)
The Young and the Restless (CBS)

The good news: no nomination for ATWT, which did NOT deserve one this year (and I am an ATWT fan). Also, PLEASE let this be a wake-up call for AMC, which was as bad in 2006 as it has ever been in its entire run. But way to go, OLTL! No longer the ABC red-headed stepchild! The bad news: No question about it--DAYS deserved (at last) to be on the list this year. It may not have been over all the best show in 2006, but the things it did get right certainly put it in the top half. Shame on you, Academy. I'd also say that GH should be on the list for its merits in '06, and I generally diss GH.

Outstanding Lead Actor
Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott, Y&R)
Anthony Geary (Luke Spencer, GH)
Ricky Paull Goldin (Gus Aitoro, GL)
Christian J. LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin, Y&R)
Michael Park (Jack Snyder, ATWT)

Nice to have a non-Sonny/Jason race for a change. I look for Geary to win No. 6, if only for the photo-op of him & Genie winning in the same year.

Outstanding Lead Actress
Crystal Chappell (Olivia Spencer, GL)
Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor, Y&R)
Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Abbott, Y&R)
Maura West (Carly Snyder, ATWT)
Kim Zimmer (Reva Lewis, GL)

So much for your declaration that you wouldn't be submitting your name this year, Ms. Zimmer. Expect a battle to the finish between Zimmer and Stafford. West may have an outside shot, depending on which episodes she submits. DAYS' Kristian Alfonso = robbed. Doing cartwheels, though, that Susan Flannery will be sitting this one out for a change. (And La Lucci out again. This year, that's correct.)

Outstanding Supporting Actor
Trent Dawson (Henry Coleman, ATWT)
Dan Gauthier (Kevin Buchanan, OLTL)
Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing, GH)
Greg Rikaart (Kevin Fisher, Y&R)
Kristoff St. John (Neil Winters, Y&R)

I suppose Trent Dawson's chances are better this year since ATWT threw him some drama to go with his comedy, and that makes for balanced tapes. Nice to see OLTL managed to remember Gauthier since they just fired him. Everyone else seems like the same old, same old to me. What will it take to get OLTL's John-Paul Lavoisier nominated? Flat-out bribery?

Outstanding Supporting Actress
Genie Francis (Laura Spencer, GH)
Renee Elise Goldsberry (Evangeline Williamson, OLTL)
Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Webber, GH)
Lesli Kay (Felicia Forrester, B&B)
Gina Tognoni (Dinah Marler, GL)
Heather Tom (Kelly Cramer, OLTL)

All I have to say here is this: if the never-has-won Genie Francis, arguably daytime's best actress, does not win THIS time, I shall rush the stage in protest. Her 1996 loss was the biggest crime in Daytime Emmy history, and she must be avenged. (For God's sakes, if Vanessa Marcil can come back for a few months and win, then Genie Francis better damn sure do it too!)

Outstanding Younger Actor
Van Hansis (Luke Snyder, ATWT)
Bryton McClure (Devon Hamilton, Y&R)
Tom Pelphrey (Jonathan Randall, GL)
Jesse Soffer (Will Munson, ATWT)
James Stevenson (Jared Casey, PAS)

I'm very happy for Hansis, though I worry that the way the writers have reduced him to background small talk for six months may hurt his chances. Never thought I'd see a Passions nomination this year, so good for Stevenson. Pelphrey will win.

Outstanding Younger Actress
Julie Berman (Lulu Spencer, GH)
Alexandra Chando (Maddie Coleman, ATWT)
Stephanie Gatschet (Tammy Winslow, GL)
Jennifer Landon (Gwen Munson, ATWT)
Leven Rambin (Lily Montgomery, AMC)

I love me some Alexandra Chando, but only when she's perky and happy, which was like 15 minutes in 2006. I think this one is Berman's to lose, with Gatschet as a dark horse. Could we have three of six acting trophies this year going to GH's Spencer clan?

The 34th Annual Daytime Emmys will be presented on CBS on Friday, June 15th. I shall be there. :)

DAYS alum Eric Winter cast on 'Brothers & Sisters'

Ex-DAYS hottie (and 2003 Best Hunk winner here at soaphunks.net) Eric Winter has been cast in ABC's hit Sunday drama, "Brothers & Sisters" as Todd McAllister. He'll be Rob Lowe's brother and the new love interest for Kevin (Matthew Rhys).

Winter will debut in April. Primetime fans who know nothing about soaps or soap hunks are about to be in for a major treat.

Eddie Cibrian cast in Americanized "Footballers' Wives"

Former SUBE/Y&R heartthrob Eddie Cibrian has been cast in ABC's pilot for an American version of the racy British soap, "Footballers' Wives." The original series, which appears on BBC America, is known for its sexy stories and frequently scantily-clad male participants.

Good choice, Eddie!

Cibrian remains one of the most searched-for names at soaphunks.net, and he was voted No. 2 on the list of the 100 Sexiest Soap Hunks of All Time.