Daytime Confidential

On today's Performer of the Week episode of Daytime Confidential Luke, Tina, Mike, Jamey and Nicki are making their picks for the actors and actresses in daytime who they believe did an outstanding job. The gang also discusses their honorable mentions and discuss the latest ratings. Programming Note: This episode was recorded before word of Guiding Light's Headwriter changes were announced.

On today's Top 5 episode of Daytime Confidential Luke, Tina, Jamey and Nicki are counting down the Top 5 Men With Momma Issues in daytime. These are the men whose momma issues have inflicted, conflicted, and restricted their lives, loves, and loyalties. Tune in to Daytime Confidential next week for the Top 5 Daughters With Daddy Issues.

On today's episode of Daytime Confidential Luke and Mike visit with the Young & the Restless' Kate Linder about her twenty six year career on the number one rated soap. Kate talks about her character Esther Valentine, the pivotal role Esther has played in the life of Katherine Chancellor and what it was like to work with the legendary Bill Bell.Kate shares what it is like to be only the fourth daytime actor in history to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and how she found out about the achievement. She talks about what it is like to work as a flight attendant for a major airline and shares some stories about encounters with fans who don't expect to see her on their flight. We discuss Kate's charitable work with the USO, Make A Wish Foundation and the ALS Association.

On today's ABC episode of Daytime Confidential Luke, Tina and Nicki discuss All My Children's Tad and Dixie's heavenly reunion, Julia's death, and the trend of ghosts in soaps.We discuss Star's pregnancy on One Life to Live and Dorian taking over Buchanan Enterprises and David Vickers return. The crown jewels and this summer's adventure. Todd's court case and losing custody of his son.Sonny is out of the mob on General Hospital and we're discussing whether or not it will last. Alexis vs. Carly's ability to get sole custody their children. Tina has a fantasy about Jason and Sonny and Luke has something nice to say about Sam.

On today's episode of Daytime Confidential Luke, Jamey and Nicki discuss As the World Turns' Carly and Holden and Cyndi Lauper's upcoming guest appearance. We fantasize about what we'd like to see Sheffer do on Young and Restless and discuss Cane and Jill, Nia Peeples return and Judith Chapman's performance. We discuss the "gold standard" of daytime sluts and the Bold & Beautiful's poor, poor Bridget.Then we jump to Guiding Light and discuss Harley vs. Marnia. The return of G and  GL's mansluts.Days of Our Lives is hopping with Nicole vs. Chloe and Sami, Lucas and EJ. We discuss how drunk tanks might be the way of the future and how John's brains on a disk floating around town has potential.

On today's show Luke and Jamey visit with Tom Casiello, veteran soap scribe turned blogger, about his career in the daytime industry. He tells of what it was like to work on Another World during its final years on air. Casiello reminisces about his time on As the World Turns and what it was like to be apart of the show's rejuvenation under Hogan Sheffer and the advice Sheffer gave him when he began working at One Life to Live. He shares a story about a recent encounter with As the World Turns' Ellen Dolan and how the As the World Turns cast and crew were really like a family. We discuss his time at Days of Our Lives and whether or not the "Big Four" were actually back burnered. He talks about writing John Black's funeral and answers the question of whether or not he'd return to the show he's watched since childhood, given the opportunity.Casiello talks about his blog, being fired from Days of Our Lives and how the Writers Strike helped him realize the importance of the Writers Guild. He talks about the impact

Due to popular demand we're back with another episode of "Performer of the Week." On today's show Luke, Jamey, Tina and Nicki make their picks for the actor or actress who they think did an outstanding job during the past week. On today's show Jamey and Nicki make shocking choices and Jamey asks the question "Do fans really want their favorite characters to grow?"

On today's episode of Daytime Confidential Jamey and Luke visit with Sam Ford, project manager for the MIT Convergence Culture Consortium who wrote his Master's thesis on the daytime soap opera As The World Turns and currently teaches a course on the American Soap Opera at MIT.We discuss his thoughts on the daytime industry and what it is like as a longtime soap fan to teach a class on the American Soap Opera to students who may not be familiar with the genre. He tells us who his student's favorite characters are and how his work with the Convergence Culture Consortium impacts his perception of the daytime industry.

On today's impromptu episode of Daytime Confidential Luke and Nicki visit with mutual friend Meredith about Sonny "leaving" the mob on General Hospital and who is Meredith's favorite Greg Vaughn or Rick Hearst. Meredith gives her take on "The Real Greenlee" campaign and the returns of Angie and Jesse to All My Children and what we think of Charles Pratt as the new Head Writer of the venerable show. Luke and Nicki discuss Guiding Light's alleged budgetary woes and the apparent mass exit of the show's biggest stars.We discuss the class system in soaps, cumulative story telling, Soaphunks' Adonis 2008,  does anyone still date in soaps and who knew that camera angles made such a difference in the perceived height of daytime's actors.

Daytime Confidential is back with a Girl's Night Out episode hosted by Tina, Danielle, Regan and Nicki. The ladies discuss all their favorite and not so favorite couples. What would a Girl's Night Out episode be without the ladies discussing the love scenes made them weak in the knees and made them feel a little bit guilty watching?Be sure to check out their romp of a podcast.

On today's episode of the Daytime Confidential podcast Mimi Torchin, the founding editor of Soap Opera Weekly visits with Luke and Jamey about her trailblazing career. We visit about what it was like to found Soap Opera Weekly, compete with "the Digest", how she coined the term "SORAS" and the difficulties the magazine encountered when they provided honest criticism of the daytime industry. Mimi tells of her time at Soapnet and how it was difficult at first to get stars from the other networks to appear because the networks were worried about losing viewers.We ask for her thoughts on the current state of the daytime industry. Known for her honest appraisal of the industry, we ask discuss All My Children's rewriting to Erica's abortion and when exactly the show lost its way. Since "leaving" the industry Torchin has pursued her passion for photography and you can visit her website Mimi Torchin Photography to see her work.

On today's show the Daytime Confidential gang of Luke, Jamey, Mike and special guest Nicki are counting down the Top 5 Soap Moms in daytime.These are the women in daytime who have made mothering a fine art. Whether they are good mothers, bad mothers, or have questionable mothering abilities these are the women who keep our shows interesting.

On today's CBS & Days of Our Lives' edition of Daytime Confidential Mike, Jamey, and Luke dirty old men on the Young & the Restless. Brad's "thunder thighs" make a come back. Is Lily the new Dru and Nick needs to get over his issues?Word has it that Beth Ehlers isn't on contract at Guiding Light. Jamey calls Luke on something. Marina needs to quite throwing a fit and where is Cassie?The Forrester family gathered for Eric and Donna's wedding on the Bold & Beautiful and we're discussing the children's actions and whether or not Donna really loves Eric. Stephanie and Katie's friendship seems to be growing and we can't help but take note. Where in the world did drunk Taylor go? We want her back. We discuss this new sexpot Lily and her doing her darn best to steam up As the World Turns and get Holden "in the mood." Is Brad gullible or suffering from guilt? Who knew that it was hugs that made the world go round? Chelsea left Nick for Dr. Do Good on Days of Our Lives but he doesn't seem to want any of it

On today's ABC Wubs edition of Daytime Confidential Karen, Luke and Belinda discuss David Vickers' return to One Life to Live and his manipulation of Natalie and Jared.We discuss the latest General Hospital rumors Karen has for us. Carly's continual crying is getting old and why in the world is there going to be Limo sex?Dixie's back in Pine Valley on All My Children but wouldn't it be nice if she were alive and not a ghost? Colby 2.0 has arrived and seems to be doing a pretty well, even though the role didn't need to be recast.All this and more

On today's show Mike and Luke visit with former Young & Restless star Thom Bierdz about his role as Phillip Chancellor. He talks about what was like to star opposite of Jeanne Cooper and Brenda Dickson. He talks about how he dealt with being a popular young soap hunk while being a closeted gay man and what it is like to look back on those scenes. We discuss his memoir "Forgiving Troy." "Forgiving Troy" is a story of a family torn apart by extreme tragedy and then put back together through Thom's inherent compassion and his uncompromising search for answers.Thom talks about the inspiration behind his award winning paintings, which style is his favorite to paint, and how it provides meaning in his life. Be sure to tune in for this insightful interview.

Danny from Soaphunks.net joins Luke and special guest Nicki to discuss the launch of Adonis 2008, the hugely popular online contest that determines who is the biggest hunk in daytime is. You'll never guess which soap hunk is known to get eliminated early. Will he make it farther in 2008?Danny explains the rules, how the contest works, and when the winners are announced in each weekly chat. Nicki points out which rounds are expected to be the most competitive and Danny tells about the soap hunks that have shown up for the weekly chats. Oh and did we mention this episode includes an after the show discussion?

On today's super-sized CBS & Days edition of Daytime Confidential we're playing executive producer with Guiding Light and discussing what we'd do to get the show turned around within six months. Harley and Cyrus relationship and finances are a hot topic and we discuss Guiding Light's audio quality improvements and how the show needs "little moments" to get viewers to tune back in.Just week's after being interviewed by Daytime Confidential Brandon Beemer has signed on to the Bold & Beautiful and we discuss what type of character we'd like to see him portray. Is there a correlation with the lack of Stephanie and the show's ratings sinking? We discuss the possibility. Michael Damian is returning to the Young & Restless for another visit and we discuss how the show seems to be going nowhere fast. Victoria vs. Adam, is this rivalry worth the hype?As the World Turns' Brad Snyder found out he's a father and is a bit insecure while we're finally starting to see Katie mature. We're loving Emily and Casey a

On today's ABC edition of the Daytime Confidential podcast Jamey joins Tina and Luke to discuss Dixie haunting Adam on All My Children. Erica freed from solitary confinement and Angie and Jesse's daughter. Ron Carlivati's writing is back in a big way on One Life to Live. Jared and Natalie hook up and Blair finally finds her backbone and faces off against Todd. Is this the "real" Anna who has returned to spend time with Robin or is she being written out of character? Is Alexis legal eagle status in jeopardy? Spixie is a couple we're enjoying and are the writers blatantly turning Sam into a "Brendabot"?

On today's CBS & Days edition of Daytime Confidential Luke, Mike and Jamey discuss Lily losing her baby and Victor's new family on Young & Restless. As the World Turns' Luke and Noah kiss while the show tries to catch lightening in a bottle with Maddie 2.0. Katherine Kelly Lang's amazing performance surround Storm's death on Bold & Beautiful. Natalia & Frank on Guiding Light.Is Ava's forcing Patch to have sex with her any different than EJ forcing Sami to have sex with him on Days of Our Lives? Lucas' return to Salem and please let Robo John stick around for a while.

The 2008 Daytime Emmy Nominations were announced on April 30, 2008 and Luke, Tina, Jamey and special guest TV Guide Canada's Nelson Branco are discussing the controversies surrounding who was snubbed and who is deserving. From Younger Actress to Lead Actor there is so much to talk about and so little time. Branco talks about his recent visit to the GLAAD awards and the reaction to the Nuke controversy by those in primetime and movies. We question him on a couple online rumors hoping that he can debunk them. One about One Life to Live return and another about the possible return of a former daytime Co-Head Writer to daytime.