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"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"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...

1942: We Love And Learn debuted on CBS Radio. The show was previously titled As The Twig Is Bent when it aired for a year on some Mutual-Don Lee stations.

1966: On Peyton Place, Betty (Barbara Parkins) and Steven prepared for their wedding.

Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the clip above.

1967: On Dark Shadows, when Willie (James Hall) made unwanted advances at Carolyn (Nancy Barrett), she pulled a gun on him.

1976: On Another World, Mac (Douglass Watson) wondered if...

"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...

1942: We Love And Learn debuted on CBS Radio. The show was previously titled As The Twig Is Bent when it aired for a year on some Mutual-Don Lee stations.

1966: On Peyton Place, Betty (Barbara Parkins) and Steven prepared for their wedding.

Thanks to Jennifer for sending in the clip above.

1967: On Dark Shadows, when Willie (James Hall) made unwanted advances...

After the first trailer for tonight's episode of Gotham teased our first look at the iconic Batman villain The Joker, Fox has debuted new promo art for "The Blind Fortune Teller", airing at 8 Pm Et. Despite the obvious nod to The Joker in last week's trailer, series creator Bruno Heller wouldn't confirm if this is actually The Joker or not. All we know until tonight's episode airs is that this character featured below is named Jerome, played by Cameron Monaghan.

"The Blind Fortune Teller" follows Gordon (Ben McKenzie) as he takes Dr. Leslie Thompkins (guest star Morena Baccarin) to the circus, but the day turns quickly when the circus comes under attack. Then, Falcone (John Doman) enlists Butch Gilzean (Drew Powell) to help Penguin (Robin Taylor) with the night club, while Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith) is otherwise occupied. Also, Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) schedules a meeting with the Wayne...

Just last week, we reported that Fox's Gotham will set up The Joker's story line by the end of Season 1. Tonight, Fox gave us our first look at The Joker in a new trailer for next week's episode, "The Blind Fortune Teller", airing Monday, February 16 at 8 Pm Et. Unfortunately, we only get a brief glimpse at The Joker, played by Cameron Monaghan, but hopefully we'll learn more about The Joker's plans before next week's episode debuts.

"The Blind Fortune Teller" follows Gordon (Ben McKenzie) as he takes Dr. Leslie Thompkins (guest star Morena Baccarin) to the circus, but the day turns quickly when the circus comes under attack. Then, Falcone enlists Butch Gilzean (Drew Powell) to help Penguin with the night club, while Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith) is otherwise occupied. Also, Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) schedules a meeting with the Wayne Enterprises board in the all-new "The Blind Fortune...

From the new opening credits to the influx of new actors playing aged up characters to spicier scenes, the retooled online versions of All My Children and One Life to Live are trying to show they’re not your mother’s soaps… while still trying to hold on to your mother as a viewer. If you have not seen the new shows yet, stop reading. Spoilers ahead.

The new 30-minute episodes from Prospect Park launched this morning on Hulu, set to post new episodes every weekday starting at 5 Am Et/2Am Pt.

All My Children picks up five years after...

"High School Musical" star Corbin Bleu is the newest actor to join the cast of the rebooted "One Life To Live," The Online Network announced on Thursday.

Corbin will play Jeffrey King, described as a "brilliant young reporter," by Toln, one who relocates to Llanview to work for Victoria Lord's (Erica Slezak) newspaper, "The Banner."

He will be a friend to Matthew Buchanan (now played by Robert Gorrie) and Danielle Manning (played by returning "Oltl" cast member Kelley Missal).

"We are absolutely thrilled to have Corbin Bleu join the remarkable cast of One Life to Live. Corbin ...

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From High School Musical … to the frothy (and sometimes cheesy) world of daytime drama. Corbin Bleu, best known for this role as Chad Danforth in the Disney franchise, will join One Life to Live that debuts April 29 on The Online Network.

Bleu will play Jeffrey King, a friend of Matthew Buchanan (Robert Gorrie) and Danielle Manning (Kelley Missal). His character is described as a brilliant young reporter who moves to Llanview to work for publisher, Victoria Lord (Erica Slezak) at Llanview’s newspaper, The Banner.

Bleu is set to star in Nurse 3-D, which will be released by Lionsgate Films later this year.

High School Musical‘s Corbin Bleu has been added to the cast of One Life To Live as Jeffrey King, a young reporter friend of Matthew Buchanan (Robert Gorrie) and Danielle Manning (Kelley Missal) who comes to town to work for Llanview’s newspaper The Banner under Victoria Lord (Erica Slezak). Production begins Monday on the soap revival, which debuts with new 30-minute episodes on April 29 via Prospect Park’s The Online Network, streaming online on Hulu, Hulu Plus, and available on iTunes. Bleu joins fellow Oltl cast members Melissa Archer (Natalie Buchanan Banks), Kassie DePaiva (Blair Cramer), Robert Gorrie (Matthew Buchanan), Laura Harrier (Destiny Evans), Roger Howarth (Todd Manning), Josh Kelly (Cutter Wentworth), Florencia Lozano (Tea Delgado), Kelley Missal (Danielle Manning), Erika Slezak (Victoria Lord), Hillary B. Smith (Nora Buchanan), Robin Strasser (Dorian Lord), Andrew Trischitta (Jack Manning), Jerry verDorn (Clint Buchanan), Tuc Watkins (David Vickers), Robert S. Woods...

The long-awaited return of "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" is set for April 29, when new episodes of both series will become available via Hulu, Hulu Plus and the iTunes store.

Prospect Park's The Online Network is producing the new 30-minute episodes, which will be available for free online and via streaming devices connected to Hulu Plus or iTunes. Production began Feb. 25 on "All My Children" (cast pictured below) and will begin March 18 on "One Life to Live" (cast pictured above).

"We thank the fans whose tenaciousness to see these shows return made this historical moment possible," Prospect Park partners Jeff Kwatinetz and Rich Frank said in a statement. "The response and camaraderie of our cast and crew has been inspiring as we have all banded together to succeed in our mission; unencumbered by the creative constraints of traditional broadcast television, to deliver storylines, style and characters that are stronger,...

It's really happening: The "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" premiere dates have been set. Both soaps return to life on Monday, April 29 on various online platforms.

The two soaps will air half-hour episodes and will be available for free on Hulu, Hulu Plus and iTunes.

“I am so pleased that our dream of bringing these two series back to life is coming to fruition," "AMC" and "Oltl" creator Agnes Nixon said in a statement. "I am grateful to Prospect Park for their unwavering commitment to this project and to the amazingly talented casts of ‘All My Children’ and ‘One Life to Live’ -- their devotion to these franchises has made this moment possible. And to the fans – well, we wouldn’t be here without you."

Nixon will serve as a consultant on the two soaps, which were originally cancelled by ABC -- "All My Children" ended in...

The Online Network's revivals of ABC's canceled soaps "One Life to Live" and "All My Children" have revealed their returning cast members, but there are still a few big names missing: including Susan Lucci.

There's a chance more familiar faces will be added as the shows ramp up production for a spring launch, but the newly confirmed cast members assembled for a promotional photo shoot are...

"All My Children":

Sal Stowers as Cassandra Foster

Eric Nelson as Aj Chandler

Denyse Tontz as Miranda Montgomery

Jordan Lane Price as Celia Fitzgerald

Ryan Bittle as Jr Chandler

Eden Riegel as Bianca Montgomery

Cady McClain as Dixie Cooney

Ray MacDonnell as Dr. Joe Martin

David Canary as Adam Chandler

Heather Roop as Jane McIntyre

Francesca James as Evelyn Johnson

"One Life to Live":

Robert Gorrie as Matthew Buchanan

Laura Harrier as Destiny Evans

"One Life to Live" was already far ahead...