Martha Madison

Martha Madison (ex-Belle, Days), Lindsay Hartley (Theresa, Passions) and Thad Luckinbill (J.T., Y&R) have all landed guest stints on CBS procedurals. We Love Soaps has the news:

Former PASSIONS star Lindsay Hartley will guest on the CBS hit CSI on Thursday, April 9.

Former DAYS OF OUR LIVES star Martha Madison will play Kate on the April 29 episode of the CBS drama CRIMINAL MINDS.

Meanwhile, on April 22, Y&R's Thad Luckinbill will be playing Connor Dunbrook, the son of Craig T. Nelson's character.

Sorry Days of Our Lives and Guiding Light fans, Martha Madison herself has confirmed she isn't headed to Peapack. The former Salemite cutie just Facebooked me.

"I'm the new Michelle Bauer???" LOL! I didn't even know they were casting for that. I assure you that it's not true."

Madison did share, however, she had booked a guest-starring gig on a CBS primetime show.

"The only job in the works for right now is Criminal Minds," the actress reveals. "Just booked a guest star yesterday actually."

The soap sweatheart will start filming her gig on fellow sudser alum Shemar Moore's hit procedural on the 20th of this month.

We've been hearing rumblings for weeks now that former Days of Our Lives starlet Martha Madison (ex-Belle) was headed for Guiding Light. First we heard the show was interested in Madison for the role of Marah Shayne Lewis. Then came talk that it's actually Michelle Bauer Santos, whom Madison could be re-creating.
 
"Not true," says a Guiding Light rep, concerning Madison inhabiting Marah's designer pumps. " Also, we've just begun casting the role of Michelle."

Too bad. I could totally see the blonde beauty as Reva's fiery daughter. Madison came alive during Belle's Post Partum Depression storyline when she was allowed to abandon the character's saccharine-sweetness and be all nasty and bitchtastic to Meems (Farah Fath). She was also amazing opposite Jay Kenneth Johnson (Philip) when Belle was later caught up in an illicit affair with her true love's best friend. 

Can you imagine a bitter Marah returning to Springfield hellbent on destroying her mother's marriage to her former love Jeffrey? What if she teamed up with Edmund to do it? What if Marah hated Dinah, the new woman in her little brother Shayne's life, and set out to come between them, perhaps by trying to manipulate a reunion between Shayne and Marina? READ MORE

For more information, call 323-993-3376 or email DaysGame2008@gmail.com

Okay, let me first say that there is no, I repeat NO concrete talk of the fabulous Kim Zimmer leaving her legendary role as Reva Shayne on Guiding Light, but you'd have to have been living under a rock this week in Soapland not to know that Ms. Kim is a bit, shall we say cross, about the way things are going with her character at GL. So of course, you know me, my mind couldn't help but wonder where else the multiple-Emmy winner might end up should she decide to leave broadcasting's longest-running program.

Kim to Young and the Restless as Dr. Casey Reed

I was chatting with one of Daytime Confidential's faithful visitors in the comments section of the post regarding Zimmer's current state of unhappiness about how great it would be to see Zimmer go head on with Eric Braeden's Victor Newman on Young and the Restless (Feel free to remind me who you are as that post is now enormous and I couldn't sift  through the comments quick enough! LOL). So following in that vein, should Zimmer opt not to re-sign with GL, I propose she join the Bell sudser as a recast of Nikki's doctor sis Casey. READ MORE

On today's special edition of Daytime Confidential Luke and Jay visit with Brandon Beemer about his role as Shawn Brady on Days of Our Lives.

We talk about what it was like, as his first major soap role, to portray the son of soap royalty Bo and Hope Brady and work with Kristian Alfonso and Peter Reckell. He talks about Days of Our Live's big plane crash and what it was like for Shawn and Belle to spend so much time on the run.

He shares with us how he and Martha Madison found out that Shawn and Belle were being written off the canvas and who he would have liked to have more scenes with had he had the time.

We ask him about the online rumors that he may end up at One Life to Live or Bold and Beautiful and what other projects he may have in the works. He talks about Samantha's Friends, a wonderful charity that seeks to help youth, challenged by catastrophic illness, gain independence with the assistance of a service canine.

Be sure to visit drop by Brandon Beemer's Official MySpace profile and leave him a comment and keep up on his latest appearances. READ MORE

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. READ MORE

Exiting Days of Our Lives heartthrob Brandon Beener (soon-to-be ex-Shawn) blogged about his and Martha Madison (soon-to-be ex-Belle)'s last day on the set on his official website and although I have to admit I have never been much of a fan of this incarnation of Shelle (couldn't get over Jason Cook and Kirsten Storms in the roles), I have to say I am sad to see them go, especially Beemer. He has really risen to the occasion during the aftermath of Grandpa Shawn (Frank Parker)'s traumatic death and Bo (Peter Reckell)'s medical crisis. Beemer's Shawn has been a steady rock for his mom Hope (Kristian Alfonso) and Grandma Caroline (Peggy McKay) and has even made me able to stomach his bratty, self-centered half sister Chelsea (Rachel Melvin). Here's hoping another soap snatches him up pronto! Personally I think he would make a GREAT Thomas Forrester on Bold and the Beautiful. Just "putting it out there in the universe" as Lisa Rinna used to say on Soap Talk!

Here's Beemer's goodbye blog in its entireity: 
So... a lot of people have been asking me how it went down on our last day.. so here it is. Our last day was not a fun one. We had an afternoon call time so I had a lot of time to think before I went in. I wasn't really sure what to expect.
I got to work and I have to say that I found myself really appreciating more than ever the time I got to spend with everyone, walking the halls, sitting on set, sitting quietly in my dressing room, etc. It was very strange how aware of everything I was that day... knowing that this was my last day I will be doing this. I said my good byes to those that had to leave early and packed up everything in my dressing room before we started to tape our last scenes.
We had about five scenes to shoot at the end of the day... they went by really quickly and before I knew it we were on our last scene. It was hard...all the time that it took to shoot it seemed so great because it allowed us more time to stay on set and do what we love so much. Then it was done. Everyone gathered around as there was great applause and I stood there wishing I could run away from this moment and then come back to find that it never happened... but I figured that it probably wouldn't go down that way.
A cake and three presents were wheeled out on stage. Then they played a pre-recorded speech that Martha had done to thank everyone that she wanted to thank. She thanked everyone...it was very sweet. Then it was my turn..I thought it would be a piece of cake but I have to tell you that it was not easy. I said what I had to say or shall I say what I COULD say. When emotions start to overcome you, it's almost impossible to speak. Ed Scott gave a very nice farewell speech to us.. that man has got to be the coolest man ever!! Then we said our goodbyes, took our pictures and that was the End of our run on Days of our Lives. (Sounds soooo dramatic huh?!! Lol)
I am so thankful for every memory that I have and all the amazing people I met because of that show. The last year and eight months have been the best of my life. I will cherish everything that I have experienced. And I thank you all that have been so supportive during my run on the show and through this crazy last 8 weeks. I will never forget what you have done.

Sincerely, 
Brandon

I hope ya’ll got some answers because let me tell you! Have I got some questions!!!

Why is this the funniest screencap ever?

Why does Kayla have the best hair ever in the history of Salem??

And finally, why can’t I stop watching this video I found on you tube???

(Thanks to ChitChatHaven and Days of our Lives 2 for the screencaps!)