Jesse and Angie Return to AMC
ALL MY CHILDREN confirms the return of Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams as Angie and Jesse Hubbard in January. Morgan first airs on Jan. 18 when the doctor returns to Pine Valley Hospital to consult on a mysterious illness that is killing Greenlee and another secret patient. Williams is first seen on Jan. 25.

"We started as kids and grew up and got married.... We always have such a soft spot in everybody’s hearts," Morgan told Soap Opera Digest in an exclusive interview. For more on the couple's exciting return to Pine Valley pick up the current issues of Soap Opera Digest on stands now.

"Angie and Jesse made an eternal imprint on ALL MY CHILDREN viewers, and many fans will not believe he's alive. We will continue to build upon the history of this core family and rekindle what made them a supercouple," Brian Frons, president, Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group said in a statement.

Budig Returns to AMC
Rebecca Budig will return to ALL MY CHILDREN in January as Greenlee Smythe, the role she created in 1999. Budig talked to Soap Opera Weekly before she even inked the final deal with ABC daytime. "I was having lunch with Brian Frons (president of ABC Daytime) ... And he just mentioned something about AMC to me. The next thing I knew there was an offer." Read the full interview with Budig in the latest issue of Soap Opera Weekly. You can't miss it; Budig's right on the cover!

Sean Kanan Pleads No Contest to DUI Charges
As previously reported, the LAPD nabbed GH and B&B alum Kanan in August for both driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a blood alcohol of .08 or greater. He was released on $30,000 bail and then reportedly pled "not guilty" to the misdemeanor charges back in September, but Kanan has now copped a "no contest" plea. This is Kanan's second DUI.

L.A. City Attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan says Kanan has been sentenced to 96 hours in county jail and ordered to serve five years of probation. In addition, he must pay a fine and participate in an 18-month alcohol education program.

Explosive DAYS
Chloe wants Philip, who wants Belle, who wants...um, Shawn or Philip? There are humongous fireworks ahead, find out what Jay Kenneth Johnson (Philip) has to say about the triangle-turned-quadrangle in the December 18 issue of Soap Opera Digest.

Belle's Secret Exposed
Belle and Philip's night in the hotel is about to get exposed when a spiteful Chloe lets the cat out of the bag. The action unfolds at the Salem High reunion. It's not just any reunion — there will be more than one blast from the past. Look for former Salem High teacher Mr. Woods and some other very familiar faces. Pick up a copy of the December 18 issue of Soap Opera Digest, with a preview from Jay Kenneth Johnson (Philip), for details.

PASSIONS Canceled Again
After NBC canceled PASSIONS last year, the sudser received a reprieve in September when it moved to the satellite channel DIRECTV. However, it looks as if the show may have to find a new home again. Liza Huber (Gwen) posted a message on her official Web Site www.lizahuber.com, "Hi Everyone. Yes, it is true that Passions will finish taping at the end of March 2008. We will start airing 3 days a week on DIRECTV which should last through summer of 2008. It has been a wonderful ride (although Gwen has completely lost her mind!) and I want to thank all of you for your amazing support for Passions through the years! Much love, Liza."

However, a spokesperson for the show and representative from DIRECTV stress that it isn't the end ... yet. "PASSIONS isn't going off the air," says the spokesperson. "In fact, additional episodes were just picked up. It's going to be on at least through August."

"The show just got an additional 52 episode pickup, taking it through the end of the summer," explains Caley Cronin, Manager of Public Relations at DIRECTV, though she admits its future is murky. "We'll see what happens after that," she says, "but it's going to be on the air for many months."

The New Weekly: More Late-Breaking News!
This week's Soap Opera Weekly (on newsstands now) debuts its brand-new format, boasting an expanded news section with bigger, splashier photos, and more scoops and interviews. Click here for a sneak peek!

Going Brown
According to Sarah Brown's (ex-Carly, GH; ex-Julia, ATWT) official Web site, www.sarahbrown.net, the actress is returning to GH. More info to follow as it becomes available.

Exclusive First Interview: Wagner Back On GH
Kristina Wagner gave her first interview since inking a deal to return to GENERAL HOSPTIAL as Felicia, the role she played from 1984-2005. The fan favorite shares the backstory she created to explain Felicia's long absence. "It involves hooking up with Frisco," she teases. As for the reason for Felicia's return? "There's going to be some amazing drama," Wagner adds. Since leaving GH, Wagner has returned to school. "I changed my major three times, starting with theater, going to liberal studies. And just last spring, I changed it to history." Pick up the December 11 issue of Soap Opera Weekly for the full interview, which includes a personal photo of Wagner's two teenage sons with actor Jack Wagner (Nick, B&B;).

Rowell Roars For Clinton
Victoria Rowell (ex-Drucilla, Y&R) has been actively stumping for Senator Hillary Clinton's presidency bid. The actress has spoken out for her favorite candidate in several southern states, as well as in New Hampshire. Says Rowell, "I am honored to be campaigning on her behalf because I believe in her experience as a legislator and world leader."

Rowell, the author of The Women Who Raised Me, which chronicles her childhood in the foster care system, first met Clinton in 1997 and has since supported the Senator's efforts to make adoption more affordable, offer tax-incentives to families adopting children with special needs and provide caregivers with additional support systems. "I can support a candidate who believes that every American is entitled to quality and accessible health care," declares Rowell. "I think Sen. Clinton's American Health Choice Plan will help the more than 47 million people in this country without affordable health insurance. I can support a candidate who fights for the invisible population, like the elderly and the more than 500,000 children living in foster care. I can support a candidate who has met with 82 heads of state around the world and can hold her own, and address national and global issues. I'll continue to do my part to get Sen. Clinton elected to the White House."

Rowell continues to stay busy with promoting her book and appreciates the continued support she still gets from Y&R watchers. "I'd like to thank my fans for coming out and meeting me on the book tour and campaign stump," she smiles.

Holiday Surprise
Gina Tognoni (Dinah, GL) announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend Joseph Chiarello on-air during the CBS broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

"I'm just thrilled," the actress gushed. Check out the December 18 issue of Digest to see what else Tognoni had to say about the big news and to find out which matchmaking GL castmate introduced the couple!

A New Casey at the Bat
Billy Magnussen has been hired as ATWT's Casey Hughes, who has been in jail since previous portrayer Zach Roerig exited on May 2. The actor is currently starring in The Ritz on Broadway and is a recent graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts — alma mater of Jennifer Ferrin (ex-Jennifer) and Cassandra Creech (ex-Denise).

Marston Officially Off OLTL
ONE LIFE TO LIVE has confirmed that Nathaniel Marston will not be returning to the ABC soap. The show issued the following statement on November 8:

"Nathaniel Marston has been a valuable member of the cast of ONE LIFE TO LIVE bringing Michael McBain to life for legions of fans. He leaves the show with our sincere appreciation for his many contributions and our support as he addresses personal challenges. We wish him well."

When asked for further details — when the role will be recast, Marston's last airdate — a spokesperson for the show said this was the only comment that would be issued right now. Insiders say the role will be recast ASAP (with the writers on strike, a hasty rewrite to explain Michael's exit would be problematic).

Marston has not been back to work since his Oct. 20 run-in with the law.

Marston landed in Bellevue Hospital after allegedly attacking three people in midtown Manhattan on October 20 at 4:30 a.m. Published reports say Marston assaulted his victims with a metal crate, breaking one of their legs. The incident resulted in the hospitalization of Marston, Police Officer Sean Turner and at least one of the victims. It occurred at 45th Street and 10th Ave.

In October 23 editions of the New York Post, Marston said that "cops arrested the wrong guy." He added that he "was mistakenly taken into custody as the attacker."

Marston is to appear in criminal court of the City of New York February 4, 2008. The formal charges are as follows:
• 1 count Assault in the Second Degree
• 3 counts Assault in the Second Degree
• 3 counts Menacing in the Second Degree
• 3 counts Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree
• 1 count Resisting Arrest

This is not Marston's first run-in with the law. He was arrested in October 1999 on criminal mischief charges after punching an ATM machine. He was also temporarily recast for a few episodes last November for reasons never made public.

Writers Strike Update
The Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers were unable to come to terms. No agreement has been reached on issues such as residuals and distribution of shows, and writers went on strike Monday, Nov. 5. What will this mean for daytime? Soap operas have been working to stockpile at least several weeks' worth of scripts in anticipation of a potential strike. The last writers' strike, in 1988, which ran for five months, did not result in a hiatus for soaps. However, without experienced script writers many suffered in quality. At first most stories were dragged out for as long as possible, then plots lurched forward that did not leave shows in the best of shape. This strike hits soap operas harder than other TV shows because prime-time shows can run repeats and daytime cannot. As GH Head Writer Robert Guza, Jr. said to Digest in the 11/6 issue, "There is definitely concern for how daytime would survive a long-lasting strike."

Knight Time for Bruening
Justin Bruening (ex-Jamie, ALL MY CHILDREN) has been cast in NBC's two-hour movie KNIGHT RIDER, based on the popular series which starred David Hasselhoff (ex-Snapper, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) from 1982-'86. Bruening will play the son of Michael Knight (the Hasselhoff character) in the TV film. Coincidentally, Bruening has already played the son of a Michael Knight, specifically Michael E. Knight's (Tad) son on AMC. Here's another tie-in: Catherine Hickland (Lindsay, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) was married at one time to both Hasselhoff and Knight.

If the movie is a hit, there could be a new series in the works.

UPDATE: Family Tragedy
A memorial site has been established for Michael Tylo Jr., the son of Hunter Tylo (Taylor, B&B) and Michael Tylo (ex-Blade, Y&R; ex-Quint, GL). The 19-year old Tylo drowned at the family home in Nevada on Oct. 17, according to the Associated Press. The cause of death reportedly was listed as accidental drowning.

According to Usmagazine.com, Sarah Mildebrandt, Investigative Supervisor at the Clark County Coroner's office, said, "The cause of death was drowning due to seizure disorder."

Hunter Tylo was in Los Angeles at the time of the incident, B&B; representative Eva Demirjian told the AP.

Soap Opera Digest and Soap Opera Weekly join the actress's fans in offering our deepest sympathy to Tylo and her family.

PASSIONS Online
Now PASSIONS fans — even those without DIRECTV — can keep up with their favorite soap in total Harmony. NBC.com/passions is offering a subscription service that will allow viewers to watch all new episodes online for $19.95 per month. New episodes can be accessed through the site for up to eight weeks so fans won't have to miss a single moment. Additionally, DIRECTV has added four new episodes of the interactive PASSIONS LIVE! series to their "101" channel, allowing viewers to call in and ask questions of their favorite PASSIONS stars.

PASSIONS: DIRECT(V) To You
PASSIONS fans will have multiple opportunities to catch the soap when it bows on DIRECTV. PASSIONS will air each new episode twice a day, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. EST Mondays through Thursdays, with PASSIONS marathons every Saturday at 10 a.m. EST. DIRECTV subscribers can watch PASSIONS on the satellite television provider's original programming channel, The 101.