Martha Byrne

TV Guide Network's InFANity was on the set of As the World Turns for a look behind the scenes and to interview the cast. It's obvious that they've used old and new material, because they used a couple of interviews with Martha Byrne. Some of the other stars that were interviewed are Van Hansis, Jake Silbermann, Colleen Zenk Pinter, Marie Wilson, Billy Magnussen and Michael Park. Parts 2, 3 and 4 after the jump. Continue Reading...

Our good pal TV Guide Canada's Nelson Branco has done it again. The soap sleuth recently sat down with former As The World Turns star Martha Byrne and talked about everything from the real reason why she left ATWT, to the next soap job she'd like to land.

A must read for all you Lily/ATWT fans and fans of the soap genre.

TVG: I’ve always adored Noelle, and last year even suggested her in this column as a Meg Snyder recast. I have accepted her not as Lily, but as nuLily. In my eyes, Lily is a new character. Talk about gilding the lily! Maybe Rose and Lily had a triplet out there Hogan Sheffer was waiting to introduce. You will always be Lily in my eyes. And that’s a fact, as Days of our Lives’ John Black would say. I only want you on one show, and one show only and that, my friend, is The Young and the Restless. Though I’m not sure if you’re familiar with their four-time Emmy winning co-head writer, Hogan Sheffer [laughs].

MB: Yes, I think I’ve heard of him. In fact, I’m a fan! [Laughs] Listen, my family is very adventurous. Maybe we’ll consider a move to L.A. as long as it makes sense to all of us. If it’s fun, we may do it. My ego needs stroking. [Laughs] Who knows? We’re all about the experience. My husband has been in the trenches, so we can handle anything thrown our way. In that way, we’re very similar. I have lots of friends in L.A. I’m open to anything. Having said that, I haven’t pursued anything yet. Heck, I don’t even have an agent. One of my best soap pals is Lauralee Bell [ex-Christine, Y&R] and of course, I adore Brad Bell. In fact, I have a great Bold and the Beautiful idea that could work — and I don’t even have to act it out. But you’re right: I am the hugest Y&R fan out there. I have watched it for over 20 years. I love everything about that show. And give me Victor Newman every day. But you see, Y&R has wisely kept those faces on the front burner through the years. I want to see Kim Zimmer on Guiding Light. I can’t watch Guiding Light without Zimmer. She’s the nucleus of the show. She’s a magician. She’s simply amazing. I love her on and off camera. She is that show. She is Guiding Light. Do whatever you have to do to keep her on that show, people!

It's official, As The World Turns is BACK! I just caught up on last week's episodes and to borrrow from the Gossip Girl viral media campaign, OMFG.  It is been so long since I've been glued to my seat by a rich, complex, character-driven helping of heaping good daytime drama.

Carly and Holden: An Affair to Remember

The explosive climax (te he he) of Carly and Holden's affair spun off several believable story threads featuring characters we know and love like Brad and Katie, Jack and Janet, Luke, Noah, Parker and Janet. Who knew soaps still knew how to do umbrella stories that don't involve serial killers, explosions or memories on a disk?

Giving props where props are due

There are so many people to give kudos to for these amazing episodes that it's hard to know where to begin. Maura West is arguably the best actress on her network as she continues to prove day in and day out. Continue Reading...

On today's CBS and Days of Our Lives' Daytime Confidential episode Luke, Mike and Nicki discuss the latest on As the World Turns, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, Guiding Light and The Young and the Restless including...

Lily Snyder Guns It: Has As the World Turns' Lily Snyder lost it as she guns her car's engine to run down Carly? Can the writers get away with this happening to the character since Martha Bryne isn't in the role?

Blatantly Using Owen: Felicia getting her hooks into Owen Knight and she isn't the only one who wants a piece of him, so does Daytime Confidential's Nicki. Speaking of psychos, what's it going to take for Bridget to lose it and go crazy?

Cat Fights: Days of our Lives' Sami, Chloe and Nicole highly anticipated cat fight happened this last week and it didn't last long enough. What has happened to knock-down-drag-out cat fights?

Ava's Out: Michelle Ray Smith is out as Ava on Guiding Light and the Daytime Confidential gang discusses where the show goes from here. Mike has some definite opinions on Cyrus' brother.

Raya Meddine Let Go: Word has it that Raya Meddine has been let go from The Young and the Restless and we're discussing which character would have been a better rival of Nikki for Victor's affection.

All this and much more on today's CBS and Days of our Lives show.

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For anyone and everyone missing Martha Byrne on As the World Turns here is a clip of her winning Lead Actress in 2001. It was Byrne's first nomination and first win (in the category). 2001 was "Sheffer's year" as the show enjoyed unprecedented success  winning Outstanding Drama, Outstanding Writing,  Lead Actress and Supporting Actress.

For a fan such as myself who got hooked on As the World Turns after the cancelation of Another World seeing all these wins was fantastic.  Looking back on this clip and seeing Martha play Lily and Rose all I have to say is how much I miss her. As the World Turns isn't the same without her.

Wondering what Noelle Beck's take on Lily Snyder is going to be? Check out this preview from Thursday's episode.

Thanks to MarkDutchViewer for the tip!

TV Guide Canada's Nelson Branco joins Luke and Jay for an in-depth discussion of the soap industry, his column's The Suds Report & Nelson Ratings, all the latest soap gossip, his interviews with Michelle Stafford and Katherine Kelly Lang, his Emmy prediction, how the industry could reinvent itself with additional programming and much more including...

His belief that fans watch for the "little moments" and that soaps have been dumbed down. What is going on with the Proctor and Gamble soaps, including Guiding Light's use of its couples, the "Nuke" controversy and letting go of Martha Byrne.

Branco predicts that Victoria Rowell will return to the Young and Restless by April or May and discuss the rumors of Jeanie Cooper leaving the venerable soap.

We learn why there isn't more diversity on the Bold and Beautiful, which character was supposed to have been gay, and who might soon appear as a recast Thomas Forrester.

Could Cady McClain's return as a ghost for May sweeps end up being more? The real reason why Susan Lucci lost the Emmy so many times. All My Children is using its veterans more often and how Nelson believe it is emblematic of the industry.

Will Days of Our Lives be canceled? Where could Brandon Beemer and Martha Madison pop up next. Might Kyle Lowder be returning to Salem and will Deidre Hall get a Emmy nomination.

Did we call it or what??? A few weeks ago when word first broke that Martha Byrne was leaving the role of Lily at ATWT Daytime Confidential posted a blog in which we stated that Noelle Beck (ex-Trisha Alden, Loving) would be one of our top picks to assume the role. Soap Opera Weekly Online just broke the news that Beck will in fact take on the role of the Snyder family's long suffering heroine! 

 

As the latest Soap Opera Digest hit the press, it learned that As the World Turns found a replacement for the departing Martha Byrne. The show chose not to reveal the actresses' name because Byrne had not yet reached her last day. According to the article, "there were no screen tests". Byrne's finished filming March 14, so it's safe to say it won't be long before we find out who will take on the important role of Lily Snyder.