Trailer Released for Jillian Clare's 'To The Beat! Back 2 School'

Vision Films will release To The Beat! Back 2 School, the second film from director and actress, Jillian Clare (Victorious: Freak The Freak Out, Days of our Lives, Pretty Broken) on all major VOD platforms and DVD on March 10, 2020. To The Beat! Back 2 School is the sequel to the hit teen comedy To The Beat!, released in 2018 from Leonian Pictures and Clare's Whimsical Entertainment.

In the highly anticipated sequel, the popular teen cast goes back to their performing arts school following spring break to compete for an all-expense paid summer scholarship program to a prestigious conservatory of fine arts. Friendships and feuds continue as sisterhood is tested, new bonds are formed, and rivalries heat up leading to a drama-filled evening at the epic 80’s Spring Fling where a major scheme shuts down the party and jeopardizes the upcoming end-of-year showcase.

"I'm honored and so excited to be one of very few women who have directed both the original and sequel in a film series," Clare says. "I've been able to grow so much as a director with these films and they hold a special place in my heart. Fans have patiently waited for this sequel and they won’t be disappointed."

The film reunites Laura Krystine and Brisa Lalich as twin sisters Mackie and Mia, with Jayden Bartels starring as their frenemy, Avery.

Soap opera fans will recognize a number of familiar faces in the film, including Clare, Days of our Lives stars Martha Madison, Eric Martsolf (Michael) and Marie Wilson (Camila), and former General Hospital actress Lilly Melgar.

Check out the newly released To The Beat! Back 2 School trailer below.

'Days of our Lives' Officially Renewed for 56th Season

Days of our Lives,the longest running series on NBC, has been renewed for a record 56th season.

“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”

Those words, which have drawn millions of eager viewers to their television sets for six decades, will remain a high point of the broadcast day with today’s renewal announcement of the multi-Daytime Emmy Award-winning series.

“From our incredibly loyal fan base to our wonderful writers, cast and crew, the enthusiasm for Days never wavers,” said Bruce Evans, Executive Vice President, Current Programming, NBC Entertainment. “We’re incredibly thrilled to bring viewers another season of a show that has cemented its place in television history and touches all generations.”

'The Young and the Restless' Renewed Through 2023-20-2024 Season

The Young and the Restless, the most-watched and highest-rated daytime drama for the last 31+ years has been renewed for four more years, through the 2023-2024 broadcast season. The renewal will officially see the series celebrating its 50th birthday.

“Having the #1 show for any length of time in any daypart is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Kelly Kahl, President, CBS Entertainment. “But The Young and the Restless has been daytime’s top drama for over three decades. The last time any other show was on top, Ronald Reagan was president and the Berlin Wall was still standing. It’s a remarkable achievement and a testament to the extraordinary cast, gifted writers, talented producers, and supremely passionate fans, as well as our tremendous partnership with Sony Pictures Television.”

11th Annual Indie Series Awards Nominees Revealed

The 11th Annual Indie Series Awards nominations in 28 categories were revealed on Wednesday via Twitter. The ISAs celebrate the best in independently produced entertainment created for the Web.

Indoor Boys led all series with 15 total nominations. The show is joined in the Best Comedy Series category by Before We Go, FabUless, F#CKING 40, La règle de (3), The Ninth, Poor Us and Three Year Letterman.

Poz Roz and Studio City earned 12 nominations apiece to lead the dramas. They are joined in the Best Drama Series field by After Forever, The Bay, Bronx SIU, People Like Us, A Place Called Hollywood and Save Me.

In all, there are 33 nominated series from around the globe. Crystal trophies will be presented to the winners during a gala ceremony on April 1 at The Colony Theatre in Burbank, California. The two-day celebration includes a launch party, red carpet reception, press walk, presentation ceremony and official after party.

Since 2009, the Indie Series Award has honored the most creative and progressive talent in independent web series.

Check out the complete list of nominees below.

BEST DRAMA SERIES
After Forever
The Bay
Bronx SIU
People Like Us
A Place Called Hollywood
Poz Roz
Save Me
Studio City

Carolyn Hennesy Shares Holiday Plans & Memories, Will Perform with Nelson Aspen in January Show in L.A.

Hi, Serial Scoop! You guys gave me such kind coverage after the October premiere of my new cabaret offering, "A Showbiz Scrapbook" at NYC's beautiful GreenRoom 42, I wanted to alert you to its upcoming engagement at Hollywood's crazy-popular theatrical venue, Rockwell Table & Stage. As an entertainment reporter, I spend a lot of time in LA during Awards season, so I was keen to schedule this performance for Thursday, January 30...right in between my coverage of the Grammys and the Oscars.

As many of you may already know, given my own long history in daytime TV, I often welcome stars of the genre to join me onstage for special interactive performances. These have included talented folks like Anita Gillette, Shelly Burch, Ilene Kristen and Monica Horan. For January, I'm excited to tell you it will be one of my very favorite soap opera scene stealers: the lovely Emmy and Indie Series Award winning Carolyn Hennesy....known to millions of General Hospital fans as lawyer Diane Miller. I first noticed Carolyn guest starring on an episode of Reba and was smitten. She's one of the main reasons GH is on my DVR! I've gotten to learn so much about her life away from Port Charles: she's a New York Times best-selling author, passionate advocate for animals, and a trapeze artist. Now THAT is a multi-hyphenate!

From my own years in Soap Land (working at Search for Tomorrow, Another World and One Life to Live), Christmas was always a favorite time of year. It started weeks in advance for us, since we were shooting ahead...and the studio holiday parties of the 1980s were the stuff of legend! My mentor, Mary Stuart (Search for Tomorrow's Jo and Guiding Light's Meta), celebrated the season like no one I'd ever met before or since, and her influence remains forever inside me at this festive time of the year.

So in honor of the Yuletide, here's a little Q&A I had with Carolyn for you to enjoy.

What have you got planned for this holiday season?
Heading to Zurich before Christmas to see Sabrina Kern (co-star, St. Agatha) in the Swiss national musical. Then home to hibernate over the holiday with family and friends.

'Days of our Lives': Last Blast Reunion Sneak Peek

Episode 3 of Days of our Lives: The Digital Series' "Last Blast Reunion" will stream this Thursday. Check out a sneak peek video below.

'La Doña' Premieres January 13 on Telemundo

The new season of La Doña premieres Monday, January 13 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Telemundo. Shot in Mexico and Brazil, this season marks the return of superstar Aracely Arámbula in her iconic role of Altagracia Sandoval, joined by a star-studded cast including Carlos Ponce, David Zepeda, Maricela González, Kika Edgar and Danna Paola.

The electrifying and action-packed drama picks up two years after the first season finale when everyone thought La Doña was dead, but she was far from it. Now, Altagracia Sandoval is back stronger than ever, focused on taking back what belongs to her and seeking revenge against those who wronged her and her loved ones. Many tragic events will impact Altagracia upon her return, but nothing will stop her from seeking her own justice.

The stellar cast is completed by José María Galeano, Eric del Castillo, Patricia Reyes Spíndola, Alejandra Barros, Paola Fernández, José Sefami, Andrea Martí, Fernanda Borches, Leo Deluglio, Diego Soldano, Simone Victoria, Claudio Roca, Mayra Sierra, Alexa Martin, Alberto Casanova, Agustín Arguello, Leandro Lima, Bernardo Flores, Rafael Ernesto, Diego Escalona, Aquiles Cervantes, Christian Ramos, Juan P. De Santiago and Paola Albo, among others.

La Doña is an original Telemundo production, written by Jose Vicente Spataro, directed by Carlos Villegas, Felipe Aguilar and Javier del Solar, with Mariu Fernandez and Mariana Iskandarani as executive producers.

Daytime Emmy Awards Divided into Three-Night Event

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced today that the 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be divided into three awards shows on Friday, June 12, 2020, Saturday, June 13th, 2020 and Sunday, June 14th, 2020.

"We are thrilled to add a third night of celebrating the diversity and talents of our Daytime community," says NATAS President/CEO, Adam Sharp. Adding, "We have seen how the Television Academy's expansion of the Primetime Creative Arts ceremonies has made room for more honorees to have their well-earned moment in the sun, and we hope to replicate their success."

All events/shows will take place in Pasadena, California. Categories to be presented at each program to be determined and announced at a future date.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 23)

"The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1978: On Another World, Rachel Cory (Victoria Wyndham) cut off Jamie's (Tim Holcomb) allowance after finding out he had married Blaine Ewing (Laura Malone).

1981: On General Hospital, the residents of Port Charles wanted Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura (Genie Francis) to have a big wedding.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 22)

"The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1968: On Dark Shadows, Joe Haskell (Joel Crothers) stabbed himself with a letter opener after Angelique (Lara Parker) told him that he bored her and wanted him to go.

1973: On The Doctors, Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett) reassured Dr. Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) while Dr. Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon) performed surgery on her daughter, Penny.

John Clarke Dead at 88

Veteran Days of our Lives star John "Jack" Clarke has died on October 17 in California from complications of pneumonia. He was 88.

Clarke had previously suffered a stroke in 2007 and has had declining health in the last few years.

Clarke was best known for his 39-year run as Mickey Horton on NBC soap opera Days of our Lives. He was an original cast member of the iconic daytime serial in 1965 and played the role until 2004.

In 1979, he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Emmy for his work in 2004.

'Chad & Abby in Paris' Sneak Peak: Abby Finds Chad in Juliette's Bed

On the next episode of Days of our Lives: The Digital Series, Juliette (Rachele Schank) and Abigail (Kate Mansi) come to blows as Abigail discovers Chad (Billy Flynn) in Juliette's bed! Check out a sneak peek below.

Nelson Aspen Thrills Packed House with His "Showbiz Scrapbook"

On October 4, I arrived at The Green Room 42 for international entertainment reporter and entertainer Nelson Aspen's sold out debut performance of "A Showbiz Scrapbook." Having seen Nelson multiple times in recent years, I knew he always packed the house so there was no excuse for not buying a ticket before they were all gone but I somehow still managed to end up on the wait list. After being rejected by the ticket booth a few times I made one last attempt to beg my way into the show and secured a bar stool by the door. Lucky for me there are no bad seats in this terrific venue, which I had never visited before. As for the premiere of Nelson's latest show, it was everything I had hoped for and more.

One big new addition for "Showbiz Scrapbook" was the use of audio-visual clips and images to highlight Nelson's prolific television work. During the course of the evening, Nelson recounted everything from how being Princess Diana's fitness trainer launched his broadcasting career to the thousands of celebrity interviews, breaking news stories and red carpet events that led to him becoming known as "Hollywood's Happiest Personality."

The clips featured celebrities such as Betty White, Hugh Jackman, Julie Andrews, Camilla Cabello, Roger Moore (Nelson's favorite James Bond), Carol Lynley and many, many more. The crowd—which featured former daytimers Denise Pence (Guiding Light), Emmy winner Louise Shaffer (Ryan's Hope), Shelly Burch (One Life to Live), producer Richard Schilling, publicist Lee Fryd, Emmy-winning writer Janet Iacobuzio, Marie Brossard and Randy Lein—loved every moment.

The evening also featured the first-ever live performance of Emmy and Murrow award winning journalist Phil Lipof, who killed with his performance of Bruce Springsteen's "Thunder Road."

But since my favorite television show of all-time was the daytime soap opera Another World, I was over the moon when Nelson sang the show's beloved theme song. Check out the iconic chorus below.