9th Annual Soaphunks.net Award Nominations Announced!

The nominations for the 9th Annual Soaphunks.net Awards were unveiled today at soaphunks.net. 16 categories, 80 nominations, and limitless soaphunkery!

Check out the Flash nominations show here, or just refer to the text list here. Complete year-by-year history of the awards is also available online.

Matching last year's number, a total of 37 soap hunks were recognized this year. DAYS led all shows with 17 nominations, and CBS & NBC tied for the network lead with 28 noms each. This is the first year that CBS has ever been in the lead; ABC had 24 nods.

DAYS' Brandon Beemer & Marcus Patrick tied with PASSIONS' Adrian Bellani for the individual nominations lead, with 6 nods each.

The Best Hunk nominations went to Beemer and Bellani, as well as AMC's Cameron Mathison, ATWT's Austin Peck, and DAYS' James Scott. The latter three are all former winners in that top category.

As always, voting begins December 1 and runs about three weeks into the month.

Bruening to star as TV's new Knight Rider

Well, who better to play the son of TV's Michael Knight than an actor who spent the last five years playing the son of actor Michael Knight?

AMC's Justin Bruening, who left the ABC sudser in August, has been cast as the offspring of David Hasselhoff in NBC's reprisal of the 1980s series, "Knight Rider." (Himself a former soap hunk when the series first launched, Hasselhoff of course went on to a very successful career on "Baywatch," "America's Got Talent," and singing his megahits for crazy German people.)

Bruening, who was Soaphunks.net's first Adonis winner in 2004, will begin having conversations with his car in a TV movie, which may turn into a series if the ratings are good.

Damn! DAYS axes hunky Marcus Patrick

In a baaaaaaaaaaad move, DAYS has let go the gloriously gorgeous Marcus Patrick (Jett Carver) after a six-month stay. Ever since the actor appeared full frontal in "Playgirl" earlier this year, rumors have swirled that he would be dropped from the show. In an very candid open letter to his fans, Patrick says that the DAYS powers-that-be said that had nothing to do with his dismissal, but he still has his doubts. He also delves into his stripping sidejobs, his sexuality, as well as rumors that he was involved with a porn star. Here's the entire text of the letter:

DAYS has chosen not to renew my contract.

After 3 successful months [that's taping months; Patrick aired June-November], they felt that they had no more use for my character. It was strange as my IMDB rating was the highest of anyone on their show, including Allison Sweeney!!

When I asked why it happened, I was told...."That's show business."

Was I disappointed? A little at first, and a bit hurt too. But with thought, I feel instead like it is a big blessing. It puts me back into the mix as a free agent. I've been busy auditioning for TV shows ("Heroes" and "Dirty Sexy Money"), and have booked a national Ross commercial. So all is good.

What is in the immediate future? i have meetings set up with the heads of Daytime TV at both CBS and ABC. There are also meetings with the executive producers of some major TV shows. I look forward to being on, or creating a show that bravely deals with the current issues of today's world and focuses on a much higher level of acting.

There were rumors running around that DAYS was going to terminate me due to my "Playgirl" cover, and also my dancing and stripping. I was told that it had nothing to do with it, but I am not sure that's true.

If you look at today's television, it is still quite behind the times as far as involving people of color. DAYS in fact now will have only one person (a black man) as their ethnic character (token). There are over 22 caucasian people on that particular show. This doesn't reflect real life. The "Playgirl" issue was one of the, if not the, most successful issues ever. It has sold at least 2 million copies and still selling (even on my website marcus-patrick.com), and that translates into fans, which I would have thought would boost the ratings.

I will continue to be comfortable and do nudity in films or other media as required. Again, it is art. Artists are here to represent and air the dirty laundry of society in both a dramatic and comedic sense so we can reflect and make change for the better and have fun at the same time.

I've been often asked, "Why do I dance and strip?" I love to dance!!! It has been a great means of support financially and helps pay my expenses. Probably you all think that someone on a soap gets rich. Well it is not true. The pay is low and the hours are long.

It is very expensive to live in Los Angeles. I have a mortgage, taxes, agent, insurance, car payment, etc. I have to be able to provide consistent means to support myself and family. I also have to make myself available to audition (which is always in the daytime). The entertainment business doesn't usually provide that so I have to do what I have to do.

I also love to dance!!! It is great cardio exercise for me. Case in point....should I pay to go to a gym to get my cardio be bored for an hour, or should I dance at night and get paid!!! (ha ha)...you figure it out!

I have been questioned about my fan base by many. I get questioned all the time about my own sexuality. I dance at gay bars, and also for women at The Hollywood Men (hwmen.com). I attract a huge multi cultural and multi sexual fan base. But back the question at hand.....I am a free being and I could care less what a person does in their bedroom as long as they treat me with respect. I love all people the same. We are exactly as Mother Nature intended us to be. As long as you respect and don't hurt other people we're fine.

In closing, I am a humanitarian. I rescued Michelle Maylene from the porn business and she is my girlfriend/fiancee and she is the best partner I have ever had. You can write to Michelle at myspace.com/michellemaylene and see her interviews and views.

I hope you will all continue your unconditional support for me and I always try to "BE THE CHANGE IN THE WORLD YOU WISH TO SEE."

Much Love,
Marcus

So there! Patrick last airs on Nov. 14.

Non-Hispanic Redford to be PASSIONS' third Miguel

One of the hunkiest roles in daytime television history, that of PASSIONS' Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald, has been recast again. This time, however, it will be filled by the decidedly non-Latino Blair Redford, who played Scotty Grainger on Y&R for about 10 minutes in 2005 before being dropped.

This role, of course, was famously first filled by Jesse Metcalfe, who departed it to head to "Desperate Housewives" in its first season. He was then replaced by Adrian Bellani, who quickly became the most featured actor in Soaphunks.net history given his almost daily shirtlessness. Bellani departed when PASSIONS moved to DirecTV in September 2007.

Redford will assume Miguel duties in mid-November.