BEVERLY HILLS—This week came news from the most reliable source of entertainment news, TV Guide Magazine’s uber columnist Michael Logan, that Lauralee Bell, television’s biggest soap star in history will be returning to the soap her parents created over 35 years ago. Also this week, Julie Davis’s “Finding Bliss” made its L.A. debut, more casting news in television, Lindsay Lohan made another jail-break and much more.
For the biggest news that has hit daytime television since movie star Julianne Moore returned to “As The World Turns,” came even bigger news that acclaimed director, producer and actress Lauralee Bell will be making a much anticipated return to “The Young and the Restless” this summer. Reportedly Bell will be appearing as early as July, with fans in joyful glee over the news. Lauralee portrayed Christine “Cricket” Blair Williams for almost two decades on the number one rated daytime drama in the U.S. Fans can expect a hot and exciting storyline involving Emmy-winner Michelle Stafford and Emmy-nominated iconic star Doug Davidson. When last seen, Christine had left town, but she made a trip to L.A. a few years later to help get Ridge Forrester off on murder charges. Christine won her case and Ridge’s hands are still filled with the drama of his wife Brooke Logan.
Lauralee is not only one of the greatest actresses of all time, but also one of the most beautiful women who has ever graced the small screen. She’ll be working alongside her friends who are ecstatic to have her back and her beautiful and talented sister-in-law Maria Arena Bell, who is now the show’s head writer and executive producer. Having worked for her dad Bill Bell, Sr., mom Lee Phillip Bell and Emmy-winning brother Bradley P. Bell, joining with sister-in-law Maria should make for exciting daytime drama on the top rated soap. Lauralee is also busy working on her amazing web series “Family Dinner,” which was nominated earlier this year for a much deserved Webby Award. Here’s hoping that my childhood friend Lauralee continues to do it all, and so well. Can hardly wait to see my beautiful pal on the small screen again!
Big news! “The Bold and the Beautiful” was the recipient of the International TV Audience Award in the Telenovela/Soap Opera category on Wednesday evening at the Monte Carlo Television Festival awards ceremony in Monaco, confirming that it remains the world’s most watched series in its genre. This is the fifth consecutive year that the series has been the recipient of this award. Congratulations to my friend Bradley P. Bell, the show’s talented executive producer and head writer and his brilliant team, which include, fellow producers Ron Weaver and Rhonda Friedman. And never forget Brad’s lovely and classy mom, the show’s co-creator Lee Phillip Bell and the entire cast and crew of the series. Attending this year with Brad were John McCook (Eric), Brandon Beemer (Owen) and Jacqueline MacInness Wood (Steffy).
On Tuesday the Arclight Theater in Hollywood was the red carpet scene of the season three premiere party for HBO’s “True Blood.” Sam Trammell who plays Sam, the shape shifter spent the most time being gracious to fans and the media. What a classy guy. For fans of Stephen Moyer, who portrays vampire Bill Compton, this man is one of the most fascinating people you can ever talk to. Not only is he open and thoughtful, but damn smart too! Anna Paquin and Rutina Wesley as Sookie and Tara were gorgeously dressed, Alexander Skarsgard was handsome and gracious, while the new werewolf Alcide, played by handsome star Joe Manganiello is not only strikingly handsome, but has the deepest voice. There is one word that describes Joe, woof! Or is it wolf? Either way, be sure to watch the show on Sunday night and enjoy the season three debut. Here’s a sneak peek! YouTube – True Blood: Season 3 Trailer #1 (HBO)
Lindsay Lohan does it again. The talented actress who is wearing a Scram ankle bracelet, which alerts her probation officers whenever she consumes alcohol sent a Beverly Hills judge after her yet again. On Wednesday, the judge issued another warrant for her arrest, but to avoid jail, Lohan, who was already out on a $100,000 bond, posted the $200,000 bond this time around to remain out of custody. Lohan is due in court next month on the previous probation violation and will surely find herself back in this judge’s courtroom to answer why she was consuming alcohol when she was ordered not to in the first place.
If you think Linday’s a bad girl, word is that the former porn star who claimed to be one of Tiger Woods’s 16 mistresses and the mistress “Bombshell” who was involved with Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock’s husband Jesse James, are taking their stories on the road and are planning to tell-all about their affairs with the two most hated men on the planet. First stop? A porn show. What will be the first question asked? Hopefully, how does it feel to be known as the women who destroyed two marriages?
Segue into porn. Sorry, Julie, your film is not quite porn. Just the most well written, acted and directed story about a young lady who arrives in Hollywood (Leelee Sobieski), who becomes an film editor in the porn industry as a way to break into the entertainment business. Actress and filmmaker Julie Davis made a splash in NYC last weekend for the premiere of her amazingly hilarious film “Finding Bliss.” The film stars Leelee Sobieski, Matt Davis, Denise Richards, Kristen Johnston and Jamie Kennedy. Julie Davis is also the film’s director. This weekend the film debuts in Los Angeles and can be seen at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 in West Hollywood. You can purchase tickets online at laemmle.com/viewtheatre.php?date=06112010&thid=2.
Independent film actress Tanna Frederick is busy preparing for “Project Save Our Surf,” an event next week in Huntington Beach. Tanna and famed surfer P.T. Towned appeared on Fuel TV this week. Watch Tanna and PT on Fuel TV
Tanna will also host the Fourth Annual Iowa Film Festival on July 16-18 in Clear Lake, Iowa, an event she founded four years ago to great success. “I wanted an Iowa film oasis – a place in the Midwest where the amazingly supportive and appreciative community I grew up with could enjoy, observe and interact with filmmakers as well as premiere their own films. All kinds of people – lawyers, students, regular people – are inspired to try their hand at filmmaking, and this year the event has increased threefold. With the technology of today, making films doesn’t have to be limited to Hollywood ”“ it’s available to everyone, everywhere,” Frederick tells Canyon News.
Congratulations to CMT award winners Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and my friend Keith Urban who took the top awards home earlier this week. Here’s hoping they continue to bring cheer, love and support to the flooded region of Nashville, Tenn. The awards this year really helped pick-up spirits of a lot of weary citizens in the country music city. Keith personally invited several struggling families to the awards that night in order to help lift their spirits.
Poor Gary Coleman has become more famous in death than he ever could have imagined. Already his ex-wife and parents are fighting over his remains, which still have not been cremated as were his wishes. You’d think his parents got enough of the $18M he made during the 1980s when he starred in “Diff’rent Strokes,” and his ex-wife admitted to being behind the deathbed photos in the current Globe magazine of Coleman. Here’s hoping Gary is finally put to rest and that this soap opera does not become the next Michael Jackson or Anna Nicole Smith story. I used to hear as a child, “When you are dead, it’s all over.” I suppose Hollywood makes an exception to that.
Also leading in the soap news, “B&B” announced this week that the Emmy-nominated actor Scott Clifton joins the cast in the contract role of Liam Cooper on the Emmy® award winning daytime drama. Clifton is no stranger to daytime television. He most recently appeared as Schuyler Joplin on “Once Life to Live” (from 2009 ”“ 2010). His performance garnered a Daytime Emmy® award nomination in the category of Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series. Although my money is on Drew Tyler Bell, his “B&B” costar. Clifton spent 2003 ”“ 2007 portraying Dillon Quartermaine on “General Hospital,” where he was also nominated three times (2004, 2005, and 2006) for an Emmy® in the same category.
In addition to daytime dramas, Clifton has appeared in many motion pictures as well as guest starred on numerous primetime television hits such as “Judging Amy,” “Undressed, and “Roswell.” His film credits include “The Death Strip,” “Arizona Summer” and “Terminal Error.” Clifton also lent his voice to the IO Interactive video game, “Hitman V,” to be released later this year.
An accomplished singer and songwriter, Clifton self-released albums entitled “Untitled,” “Unbeautiful,” “So Much for the Night Life” and “Mannequin,” with the assistance of his mentor and famed music producer, Jeff Pescetto. The actor’s first airdate is July 19. Welcome to TV’s best show, Scott!
Sunday night will be the season three premiere of HBO’s hit vampire series “True Blood,” also on Sunday, tune in to Showtime’s “The Tudors.” King Henry’s just two weeks from death, leaving his widow Queen Catherine Parr in a precarious situation and his 9-year-old son Prince Edward to ascend to the British throne. Next week on “B&B” Pam attempts to end her relationship with Stephen, but instead, ends up in bed with him, and Brooke grows increasingly upset as she struggles to come to terms with her betrayal. We all know she slept with her teenage daughter’s boyfriend! On “Y&R” look for fireworks between Phyllis and Sharon, while Nick is placed in the position of choosing soon again.
Good luck this week, see you next week!
XOXO
Photograph of Lauralee Bell (Christine) and Ronn Moss (Ridge) By JPI Studios
