Soaphunks.net's Top 10 Latin Lovers

What makes a great Latin lover?

Well, obviously they have to be of Latin descent (sorry, Antonio Sabato, Jr.). They're generally heroic but always hot-blooded. They can fight for their true love but then also be just as gentle. Not all of the men on our countdown actually played Latin characters, but their heat was just as sizzling.

For our inaugural Soaphunks.net Top 10 countdown, we take a look back at the most swarthy, swoonworthy Latin lovers in soap history...you may need to sit down for this one!

Start the countdown...

Passions hunks headed to DAYS

DAYS has scored a double-sided casting coup, scooping up two of the most popular hunks from the now-cancelled PASSIONS.

Daytime Confidential is reporting that Soaphunks.net Award winner and Adonis 2006 Eric Martsolf has been named as the recast for Brady Black, a role that was made famous by Kyle Lowder, now on B&B.

Also nabbed for a Salem stint was four-time Soaphunks.net Award winner Galen Gering. Less information is available about Gering's character at this time, although he is slated to play an FBI agent who has involvement with Nicole (Arianne Zucker).

Both of these actors are known, of course, for extreme bouts of shirtlessness.

Okay DAYS, this is really good news. Now just scoop up Adrian Bellani and complete the trifecta!

OLTL Navy SEAL role finally cast...

The role that just about every former soap hunk auditioned for, OLTL's Brody, has finally been cast.

Among the ultra-hotties who went out for the part were Adrian Bellani, Brody Hutzler, David Lago, Matt Marraccini, Jack Krizmanich, Wes Ramsey, and Scott Bailey.

So after all that, which of these soap hunks is finally headed back to daytime? None of them, as newcomer Mark Lawson begins taping March 15th.

P.S. Note to OLTL: If David Fumero indeed leaves again, as has been reported, Adrian Bellani would be a PERFECT recast. I'm just sayin'.

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.

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.

Adrian Bellani to guest on NBC's "Heroes"

How 'bout some scoopage? Ex-PASSIONS stud and soaphunks.net fave Adrian Bellani tells me he will be back on TV soon, as he guest stars on the Nov. 12 episode this season of NBC's biggest hit, "Heroes." All that I know at this point is that Bellani will take part in the show's Dominican storyline, and he will get to speak Spanish.

Everyone tune in to support the woooooooooooonderful Mr. Bellani!

In other news, PASSIONS is now said to be actively recasting Bellani's role of Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald. Why they ever let him get away is just beyond me.

It's official: Adrian Bellani leaving 'Passions'

I just want to crawl back under the covers and pretend I don't know this. :(

As had been rumored, my current favorite soap hunk, Adrian Bellani, will not be transitioning with "Passions" as it moves to DirecTV this September.

From his message board post at his official Web site:

First and foremost, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support and kind letters/messages/comments I receive from all of you. I want all you to hear it from me before you read it anywhere else.
I have decided NOT to renew my contract with "Passions." After a long wait and wondering whether or not I was even going to be asked back on the show, my team (agents and managers), and myself decided to pursue other opportunities. We all believe this is the right decision to take, although it was very hard. My decision is simply a career choice, and has nothing to do with the show. I believe life is full of risks, and this is just one i have to take. I am a dreamer, and I dream of having a big successful career. One of my dreams did come true..."Passions."
I truly believe that I was blessed to work with and be among such a wonderful cast, crew, producers, and network (NBC). I know that "Passions" is only a start for me, and I promise you will all see me soon.
I want to wish all my "Passions" cast and crew the best on the move to DirecTV. I know they are all excited about the move as should all the fans.
At the moment I am still taping, and soon there will be a big turn in my storyline. I've been waiting for that as long as you have. What will happen with the character of Miguel, I don't know.
Thank you all for your support, and thank you for making my time at "Passions" a dream come true. None of this could happen without you, and I wouldn't be where I am today if i didn't have such a wonderful fans and friends.

Hopefully another soap or show will pick Adrian up very soon; we are talking major detox for yours truly. :(

But don't forget Adrian has already qualified as a finalist for Adonis 2007. Finals voting begins June 20. The Adonis 2007 will be named September 4: the day before "Passions" last airs on NBC.