Dude!
Y&R fans have certainly noticed Daniel's ever-evolving hair, which is currently bleached blonde. Digest was determined to get to the root of this hair-raising situation. According to a show rep, actor Michael Graziadei is filming an as-yet-untitled movie where he's playing a surfer, which explains this latest look. And on a side note, Graziadei's co-star: Nia Peeples (Karen) is playing his mom in the movie. To see more of Graziadei's 'dos, check out Star Style in the February 19 issue of Digest, which goes on sale Tuesday.

High Note
Music fans get big names on daytime next week when Mary J. Blige turns up at OLTL's Ultra Violet and Pat Benatar and Neil "Spyder" Giraldo hit Indigo on Y&R.; For more Comings and Goings, check out the February 19 Soap Opera Digest, which hits stands Tuesday.

Llanview Loses One Of Their Finest
It's not one big party for ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Bo when the "Go Red" Ball commences this week. Bo (Robert S. Woods) is axed as police commissioner. And you'll never guess who gets his job! For what Woods has to say about this shocking turn of events, pick up the Feb. 19 issue of Soap Opera Weekly on sale now.

Bye For Now
Catch your last glance of DAYS's Bryan R. Dattilo as Lucas this week when the character gets sent to the big house. As Digest told you first, the actor will be off screen for a couple of months. But what of Lucas's mom Kate, whose fate in Salem is the hot topic of online rumors? Get the story in the February 19 Soap Opera Digest, which hits stands Tuesday.

Dead Man Walking
ALL MY CHILDREN's Angie see Jesse for the first time in two decades this week. Is it a happy hugs-and-kisses reunion? In a word, no. It "causes her to collapse," reveals Debbi Morgan (Angie). And then what? Pick up the Feb. 19 issue of Soap Opera Weekly to find out what the future holds for Angie and Jesse.

Happy Return
Patsy Pease (Kimberly) will return to DAYS OF OUR LIVES for two episodes, beginning February 27. "My relationship with the fans is what has meant the most to me," the actress tells Digest. "When they write and tell me that it feels like there's a hole in the Brady family, then I want to come back. I am very protective of the loyal following I have. If they're feeling down about a storyline, I want to go in there and contribute something to make them feel happy. Their happiness means a great deal to me." For more, see the next issue.

Trent Stabilized
After some last-minute contract negotiations with AS THE WORLD TURNS, Trent Dawson (Henry) has inked a deal to stick around. "Thank you guys for the campaigning! Contract issues were resolved and Hank is sticking around. In fact he's very busy right now. Consider your mission accomplished, and my thanks eternal," he wrote to fans online.

The New Rage Page
What grinds your gears? What makes steam come out of your ears? If you could corner a soap writer for 5 minutes, what would you say? Don't hate the playa, hate the game! Send us your screed, and we'll print the best ones (along with your picture) in every issue starting mid-February. Email us at rage@soapoperaweekly.com.

Derk's A Dad
Derk Cheetwood (Max, GH) and his wife, Cari Costner, welcomed daughter Kylie Danielle Cheetwood on Jan 30. Kylie weighed 9 pounds and 3 ounces. Her dad's not the only family member in show biz. She's got a great-uncle named Kevin (Dances with Wolves) as well.

In Memoriam
Shell Kepler, who played gossipy nurse Amy Vining on GH has died. Says former co-star Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), "She was a sweet woman with a big heart. She couldn't have been lovelier to me and was very welcoming when I joined GH." According to reports on TMZ.com, the actress succumbed to renal failure on February 1. Kepler, whose entrepreneurial ventures included a clothing line, was 49. For more of the story, check out an upcoming issue of Soap Opera Digest.

Koslow Not Out!
Lauren Koslow (Kate, DAYS) is speaking out about those rumors that she's been fired. "Not only am I staying, but I've heard a little bit about a story that's coming up," the popular actress tells Weekly in the next issue. Hear what else Koslow had to say about the malicious gossip and her fans when it goes on sale Feb. 12 (cover date Feb. 19).

Two Boys And A Girl
Tala Ashe joins AS THE WORLD TURNS as Ameera, a young woman who will come to Luke (Van Hansis) and Noah (Jake Silbermann) for help on February 22 — and who supposedly has a deeper connection to Noah.

Blige Returns to OLTL
Mary J. Blige will sing again in ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Llanview. (She first sang at Capricorn in July 2006.) The Grammy-wining singer taped her appearance on Thursday, Jan. 17. Blige will sing her Grammy-nominated single "Just Fine" from her new album Growing Pains and another song, "Hurt Again." Blige performs at Starr's (Kristen Alderson) surprise birthday party at Ultra Violet. She'll air Feb. 15 and 18.

New Newman on Y&R;
YOUNG AND RESTLESS has tapped Chris Engen (from SAINTS AND SINNERS and FELICITY) to play Victor Newman Jr., the son of Victor and his former wife Hope. The younger Newman grew up in Kansas after his parents divorced and has been recently M.I.A. Engen's first air date will be February 12.

With This Ring
Daytime Emmy-winner Josh Duhamel, who starred as Leo on ALL MY CHILDREN before striking it rich in LAS VEGAS, is engaged. The actor popped the question to girlfriend Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. Duhamel was formerly engaged to model Kristy Pierce.

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."

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.

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.