I know this issue is going to be very late coming into your inboxes this week and I'm sorry for that. As you can imagine, it's been a very busy week. Happy New Year everyone and I'll talk to you next year.

All My Children Jesse (Richard Masur) is a network executive for New Beginnings starting January 13.

Days of Our Lives Two police officers (Jesse Tyler Gullion and Pete Wilson) investigate Zack's accident January 3.

Guiding Light A judge (Sam Freed) hears Alan side December 29 while a lawyer (Paul Rolfes) represents him. Duncan (Jason Schuchman) gets roughed up December 27. Jeffrey (David Andrew Macdonald) is back with news for Cassie January 19.

OUTS

General Hospital Brook Lyn (Adrianne Leon) is gone January 17. The role will not be recast.

Young & the Restless Sheila's (Kimberlin Brown) story is coming to an end meaning Sheila, Tom (Roscoe Born) and Scott (Blair Redford) all are out. Look for Born to exit sometime around January 2 and Brown and Redford soon after that.

NEWS & RUMORS

There's a change coming at One Life to Live. Alexandra Neil will take over the role of Paige from Cady Huffman starting January 27. Huffman last airs January 23. If you don't recognize Neil, then you haven't been paying attention. Earlier this year she was David and Dorian's wedding planner. In other news, fan favorite Hillary B. Smith (Nora) signed a one-year contract to remain with the show. Now while that should seem good news, the jury is out on what it really means. I don't think it will change head writer Dena Higley's plan to keep Nora in her coma until February sweeps. But the question is will it change the "shocking development" she had planned? Only time will tell...

The Bold & the Beautiful's Lesley-Anne Down had a scare December 10. While suffering from insomnia she inadvertently took the wrong herbal supplement and almost overdosed. She explains, "I woke up at 2 a.m. and I knew I was dying. I couldn't move. I felt like one part of my brain was going to the moon and the other to the sun. I was on the floor until 11:30 the next day, when I managed to crawl to the couch. It was the scariest, most horrendous thing in the world." Thankfully, the supplement wore off without requiring hospitalization and Down is perfectly fine.

For Passions fans, Luis (Galen Gering) will soon be home -- soon being February sweeps. The show has asked Gering to grow a beard as part of the storyline.

All My Children Erica demands answers from Josh. Babe accuses Amanda of drugging her. Kendall and Zach enjoy the moment. 

Days of Our Lives Alex escapes from jail. Nicole finalizes the takeover. Chelsea has an accident in Bo's car.

General Hospital Luke finds Lulu in an interesting location. Jason walks right into Durant's trap. Sonny tries to let Emily down gently.

Guiding Light Reva comes to Tammy's rescue. Marina falls for Alan-Michael's romantic gestures.

One Life to Live Todd's trial begins. Dorian tells Viki she's going after Clint. Cristian vows to win Natalie back.

Passions TC interrupts a moment between Simone and Rae. Fancy turns to Eve during a crisis. Tabitha scares off Norma and Edna.

Young & the Restless The Abbotts are left reeling after a violent confrontation with Tom. Mac is faced with a dilemma.

SPOTLIGHT ON...Eric Braeden (Victor Newman, Young & the Restless) www.ericbraeden.com

Eric joined Young & the Restless way back in 1980. He has been honored as the Most Popular Daytime Actor at the People's Choice Awards. And for good reason, doesn't everybody know him, whether they watch Y&R or not? He won the Soap Opera Update Award in 1997 as Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama in 1998.

No stranger to TV, Eric has appeared in 120 TV series(!) and a number of made-for-TV movies such as The Judge and Mrs. Wyler with Bette Davis, Happily Ever After with Suzanne Somers and Tyne Daly and the Jackie Collins mini-series Lucky. In films, he was in Operation Eichmann, The Ultimate Chase, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Morituri and even Titanic as John Jacob Astor.

On stage, Eric starred in Kean, the premiere production of the Santa Monica playhouse and the Broadway production of The Great Indoors with Geraldine Page and Curt Jurgens.

Eric was born Hans Gudegast in Kiel, Germany, a port city on the Baltic Sea. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1959 and settled in Texas for several years where he worked at the University of Texas medical school lab. He then moved to Los Angeles to attend Santa Monica College. While launching his acting career, he was playing on a semi-pro soccer team.

In 1989, Eric was chosen as the only actor to be on the newly formed German American Advisory Board. Other members include Dr. Henry Kissinger, Katherine Graham, Alexander Haig, Steffi Graf and Paul Volcher.

Eric continues to play soccer with several teams, including the Maccabees, with whom he won the 1972-1973 National Soccer Championship. He and his wife Dale, live in Los Angeles with their son Christian. Eric's birthday is April 3.

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