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Hogan Sheffer, an Emmy Award-winning daytime television writer known for his comical one-liners, died in his hometown of York, Pennsylvania on September 28. He was 61.

Sheffer went into cardiac arrest in 2014, and suffered a series of health problems up until his death last week from heart failure.

The veteran writer’s longtime manager, Brad Kramer, told Deadline Sheffer had a “huge heart” and always helped others.

“I met Hogan in 1993. I know I am speaking for countless others when I say Hogan Sheffer will be dearly missed,” Kramer said. “Besides a brilliant creative mind, and the most generous huge heart, Hogan could always and did make you laugh until you were in tears. He would and did do anything to help others.”

Sheffer started out in the industry in the 1980s and worked at DreamWorks as director of screenplay development from 1997 to 2000, under producers Mark Johnson and Elizabeth Cantillon. He was...

1933: One Man's Family expanded to a national audience.

1979: Delia loaned Johnny money on Ryan's Hope. 1988: Atwt's

Hal and Barbara celebrated on the night before their wedding.

1994: Gh's Felicia learned Maxie would get B.J.'s heart."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"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...

1933: Radio soap opera One Man's Family expanded from being broadcast on the west coast only to the full nationwide NBC network.

Here are the Daytime Emmy nominations in the technical categories.

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design For A Drama Series All My Children ABC Production Designer James Jones Art Director Bryan Langer Set Decorator Kay Dee Lavorin The Bold and the Beautiful CBS Production Designer Jack Forrestel Art Directors Fabrice Kenwood Charlotte Garnell Scheide Set Decorator Elsa Zamparelli General Hospital ABC Production Designer Chip Dox Art Director Daniel Proett Set Decorators Jennifer Elliott Andrew Evashchen One Life To Live ABC Production Designer Roger Mooney Art Directors Ruth Wells John Kenny Martin Fahrer The Young and the Restless CBS Production Designer William Hultstrom Art Director David Hoffmann Set Decorators Joe Bevacqua Andrea Joel Fred Cooper

Outstanding Achievement for a Casting DirectorFor A Drama Series All My Children ABC Casting Director Judy Wilson General Hospital ABC Casting Director Mark Teschner One Life To Live ABC Casting Director Julie Madison...

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the nominees for the 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Awards including Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team. 

Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team 

As The World Turns - CBS 

                 Co-Head Writers

                        Jean Passanante                         David Kreizman                         Lucky Gold                  Associate Head Writers                        Leah Laiman                  Associate Writers                        Josh Griffith                         Susan Dansby                         David Smilow                         Gordon Rayfield                         Leslie Nipkow                         Janet Iacobuzio                         Penelope Koechl                  Script Editor                        David A. Levinson 

The Bold And The Beautiful  - CBS                 Head Writer                        Bradley P. Bell                  Co-Head Writers                        Kay Alden                         Michael Minnis                  Writers                        Tracey Ann Kelly                         Patrick Mulcahey                         Shannon Bradley                         Adam Dusevoir                         John F. Smith                         Rex M. Best 

Days Of Our Lives - NBC                 Head Writer                        Dena Higley                  Co-Head Writer                        Chistopher Whitesell                  Script Writers                        John Newman                         Ryan Quan                         David Cherrill                         Richard Culliton                         Carolyn Culliton                  Associate Writers                        Rick Draughon                         Jeanne Marie Ford                         Michellle Poteet Lisanti                         Lisa Seidman                  Script Editor                        Fran Myers 

The Young And The Restless...

On episode 2.51 of We Love Soaps TV, Damon L. Jacobs and Roger Newcomb continue a five part series with Emmy-winning soap opera writer Tom Casiello who has written for As The World Turns, One Life To Live, Days Of Our Lives and The Young And The Restless.

In this episode, Casiello reveals how he made the transition from Another World to As The World Turns. He also shares the highlights from his years working with Christopher Goutman, Hogan Sheffer and the whole team at the beloved soap which experienced what many critics consider its last "golden" era.

Tune in to the next episode of We Love Soaps TV which features Casiello discussing his time at One Life To Live.

Actress.  Soap Legend. Oral Cancer Survivor.  Educator. Singer. Dancer.  These are just a few adjectives to describe the inspiring legend Colleen Zenk.  Her next role, with your help, will be as a contestant on ABC's Dancing With The Stars.  With three simple steps You can be part of making the dream come true for Zenk and the millions of people who were touched by her performances as Barbara Ryan on As The World Turns these past 32 years. 

We Love Soaps TV recently sat down to speak with Zenk and reflect upon her career as Barbara Ryan, surviving oral cancer, and coping with recent hardships.  If you haven't already seen our interview from September 2010, please take a moment to learn about this gorgeous talent, and then consider letting ABC know how you feel about her appearing on Dancing With The Stars.  It can happen!

 

In Part One - The daytime legend discussed her pre-world Turns roots,...

According to the Internet Movie DataBase (IMDb.com): "The STARmeter rankings provide a snapshot of who's popular based on the searches of millions of IMDb users. Updated weekly, these rankings also graph the popularity of people over time and determine which events affect public awareness."  Here is a listing of some present and past soap stars and their current ranking, as well as some public figures.  Do you agree with the list? Is Lisa Rinna really more popular than President Obama? Weigh in below.   1. Darren Criss (Glee) 3. Leonardo DiCaprio (ex-santa Barbara)4. Johnny Depp (star of Dark Shadows movie)9. Dot Jones (Glee, Venice) 11. Jill Clayburgh (ex-sft)19. Brad Pitt (ex-aw)28. Amber Tamblyn (ex-gh)54. James Franco (ex-gh) 101. Parker Posey (ex-atwt)

119. Jessica Lowndes (90210) 121. Amanda Seyfried (ex-atwt)125. Demi Moore (ex-gh)134. Lyndsy Fonseca (ex Dh, ex-y&R)144. Courtney Thorne-Smith (ex-Melrose Place)157. Morgan Freeman (ex-aw)189. Josh Duhamel (ex-amc)200. Julianne Moore (ex-atwt)208. Paul Wesley (ex-gl)236. Lindsay Lohan...

On soaps, every now and then the powers that be -- usually the head writer who's overdosed on Red Bull and jelly beans months before -- comes up with the idea of doing a special episode. They'll focus on a single character and think outside the box. Sometimes they hit the jackpot; sometimes they create a clunker. The Young and the Restless offered a very special New Year's Eve episode yesterday and it was a home run.

Headwriter Maria Arena Bell and her talented team, including Hogan Sheffer, decided to put the character of Billy Abbott under the microscope and, as it turned out, Y&R pulled off a great episode.

It wouldn't have worked nearly as well if not for the riveting performance of actor Billy Miller. He rose to the occasion and this could be an award-winner if it's submitted for the next round of Daytime Emmys. If...