Brothers & Sisters: The Complete Fourth Season is now out on Disney DVD! To celebrate, SOAP WORLD is giving you a sneak peek at some clips from this hot new release.

Check them out below:

http://www.totaleclips.com/player/Splash.aspx?custid=1513&playerid=69&bitrateid=310&formatid=10&clipid=e72323&affiliateid=-1

http://www.totaleclips.com/player/Splash.aspx?custid=1513&playerid=69&bitrateid=314&formatid=10&clipid=e72327&affiliateid=-1

http://www.totaleclips.com/player/Splash.aspx?custid=1513&playerid=69&bitrateid=314&formatid=10&clipid=e72330&affiliateid=-1

http://www.totaleclips.com/player/Splash.aspx?custid=1513&playerid=69&bitrateid=314&formatid=10&clipid=e72329&affiliateid=-1

Pick up your copy of Soap World Issue #210 to read our EXCLUSIVE interview with Brothers & Sisters’ Sally Field and get the inside scoop on her firecracker alter ego, Nora Walker!

Sayonara, Stephanie Forrester?

If any of you have been checking up on your soap gossip online over the last week, you will probably have stumbled across the rumour that the great Susan Flannery – aka, Stephanie “don’t mess with my family or I’ll run you over with a herd of stampeding elephants” Forrester is gearing up to leave The Bold and the Beautiful.

The source of this rumour was US TV Guide’s Michael Logan, who recently sat down with B&B show-runner Bradley Bell to discuss Stephanie’s upcoming controversial cancer storyline, only to score a scoop when Bell revealed that there is a “possibility” that the marauding matriarch will not survive her disease! (For the full article, click here: http://www.tvguide.com/News/Bold-Beautiful-Shocker-1023296.aspx)

Before we start sticking pins in voodoo dolls of Bradley Bell (for contemplating killing off Stephanie) and Michael Logan (for revealing that Bradley Bell is contemplating killing off Stephanie), let’s pause and think of the bigger picture here, and that is a B&B without Stephanie Forrester.

Can you even imagine it? It’s like picturing a sky without a sun, or the cast of Home and Away without their radioactive fake tans – it’s just a completely alien concept. If Stephanie leaves B&B – who will keep Eric’s eye from wandering? Who will remind Brooke of her past sexcapades? Who will give Ridge a spine?

Aside from the loss of a fantastic character and actor, the biggest problem with Susan Flannery’s possible retirement is that the show itself really isn’t ready for Stephanie to leave.

Every soap opera is built around a matriarchal character that is there to metaphorically (and occasionally physically, if everyone is being really naughty) whip their kids, grandkids, maids, dogs and dining room furniture into line. On most soaps, there are back-up matriarchs, for whenever the primary matriarch is unable to fulfil her butt-kicking duties (like Days’ Maggie, Kate and Caroline or Y&R’s Nikki and Phyllis).

B&B, however, have not been grooming any of the their other leading female characters to step into the alpha role, once Stephanie has vacated it. It’s long been established that Brooke is a flake, Taylor is weak, and Felicia is… non-existent. The only character who could potentially step into Stephanie’s enormous shoes is her namesake, Steffy, but she is too busy pointlessly chasing Hope’s boyfriends to undertake the task of being a rallying-point for her family.

While we would like to think that Bell’s pronouncement is a way of scaring up ratings as the show moves into its November sweeps period, there’s no escaping that although Stephanie (and the rest of her soapy companions) is never a day over 45 on B&B, her portrayer is now 71 years old, and has made no secret of her desire to retire.

We can only hope that either a) Susan Flannery decides to remain with B&B until she’s 125, or b) Brad Bell finds some way to clone Susan Flannery so that she stays with the show forever, as a B&B without Stephanie would be a very dark (and very quiet) place indeed.

What are your thoughts on the (possible) end of Stephanie Forrester’s reign? Send your comments to: soap@next.com.au

Stefano, where did you go?

A Caged Phoenix

What would soap operas be without a villain plotting evil against his fellow man while twirling his metaphorical moustache with very real glee? Well, they would look a lot less like the melodramatic fantasies that we love, and a lot more like Play School.

Although every soap has its share of wrongdoers – Y&R plays host to boardroom baddie Victor Newman, B&B boasts gun-happy Stephanie Forrester, while Neighbours has been showcasing Paul Robinson’s sordid shenanigans since 1985 – none can touch Days’ Stefano DiMera for sheer evilness.

Unlike his naughty soap counterparts, who became villains out of power mania, greed or a lifelong appreciation for the the work of The Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West, Stefano was literally born to be wild. As the seventh son of a seventh son, the DiMera patriarch is fabled to be the very embodiment of evil, which has served as ripe fodder for storylines over the past three decades.

That’s why it is so tragic that this once great baddie has been robbed of his fire, and is now reduced to growling disconsolately while his son, EJ takes over Stefano’s position as the head of the family’s empire.

If Stefano’s shacking up with Kate in cosy marital bliss weren’t enough of a sign of his waning devilry, he actually (gasp) cries in an upcoming episode of the show. Yes, you read that right – the man who planted a mind-altering dental plate in Vivian Alamain can be spotted sobbing on the streets of Salem.

If Stefano can be de-clawed, what’s next? A sane Nicole? An ugly Rafe? An animated Chloe???

We can only hope that this Phoenix will once again rise up and embrace his inner cad, as Salem just isn’t Salem without Stefano at his maddest and baddest.

What are your thoughts on the new Stefano? Are you digging his softer side? Or would you like to see him return to his glory days of brainwashing and body snatching? Send your comments to: soap@next.com.au.

Deidre Hall, most popular for her role as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of our Lives, will be meeting fans in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.  She will share her personal Hollywood beauty secrets as well as discuss the latest discoveries that will help keep you looking young and vibrant at every age. After years of experience and research, Hall gladly reveals her personal guide to optimal wellness.

“Since the birth of my sons, I have worked hard to provide them with the safest and healthiest environment possible. Yet, after years of carefully monitoring food labels and ingredients, I realized that I have unknowingly neglected the largest organ in my body, my skin,” shares Deidre Hall.  “I discovered a skin care and cosmetic line whose ingredients, testing, and beauty philosophy align with my own. I look forward to the chance of offering my fans a simple way to empower their own complete wellness.”

Hall believes it is a parent’s obligation to teach children how to make healthy choices in an unhealthy world. She has dedicated herself in the fight for nutritional lunches in American schools and will continue to play an active role in this cause. Hall, with son David, traveled to Washington, DC last summer to host press conferences and lobby members of Congress to renew the Child Nutrition Act. Hall, will be given the opportunity to empower women to take a stand for their health by providing solutions on how to feel youthful at every age. She will share techniques on ways to reduce harmful toxins from products used in everyday life.

“Beauty starts from the inside and flourishes out,” says Deidre Hall.  “We must begin planting seeds for a healthy future.  It’s never too late to begin living a conscious and healthy life no matter where you are in your journey.”

Deidre Hall’s tour will begin on Saturday, July 17, 2010 at Daltone House Jones Bay Wharf
Piers 19-21 Upper Deck 26-32 Pirrama road Pyrmont, NSW.  She will continue to The Hotel Windsor in Melbourne on July 24th and will conclude her tour at the Stamford Plaza Brisbane on July 31st.  All events will begin at 10:30 am.

Please visit www.DeidreHall.me for information on how to purchase tickets along with further event details.

And the 2010 nominees are:

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

The Bold and The Beautiful

The Young and the Restless

General Hospital

All My Children

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Guiding Light

CRYSTAL CHAPPELL
As Olivia Spencer

The Young and the Restless
MICHELLE STAFFORD
As Phyllis Newman

As The World Turns
MAURA WEST
AS Carly Tenney

General Hospital
SARAH BROWN
AS Claudia Zacchara Corinthos

All My Children
BOBBIE EAKES
AS Krystal Carey

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

The Young and the Restless
PETER BERGMAN
AS Jack Abbott

As The World Turns
JON LINDSTROM
AS Craig Montgomery

As The World Turns
MICHAEL PARK
AS Jack Snyder

The Young and the Restless
DOUG DAVIDSON
AS Paul Williams

Days of Our Lives
JAMES SCOTT
AS EJ Dimera

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Guiding Light
BETH CHAMBERLIN
AS Beth Raines Spaulding

As The World Turns
JULIE PINSON
AS Janet Snyder

General Hospital
CAROLYN HENNESY
AS Diane Miller

Days of Our Lives
ARIANNE ZUCKER
AS Nicole Walker

One Life To Live
BREE WILLIAMSON
AS Jessica Brennan

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

The Young and the Restless
BILLY MILLER
AS Billy Abbott

General Hospital
BRADFORD ANDERSON
AS Damien Spinelli

General Hospital
JONATHAN JACKSON
AS Lucky Spencer

All My Children
RICKY PAULL GOLDIN
AS Jake Martin

One Life To Live
BRIAN KERWIN
AS Charlie Banks

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

The Young and the Restless
CHRISTEL KHALIL
AS Lily Winters

As The World Turns
MARNIE SCHULENBURG
AS Alison  Stewart

Days of Our Lives
MOLLY BURNETT
AS Melanie Layton

Days of Our Lives
SHELLEY HENNIG
AS Stephanie Johnson

General Hospital
JULIE BERMAN
AS Lulu Spencer

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

The Bold and the Beautiful
DREW TYLER BELL
AS Thomas Forrester

General Hospital
DREW GARRETT
AS Michael Corinthos, Jnr.

Days of Our Lives
DYLAN PATTON
AS Will Horton

One Life to Live
SCOTT CLIFTON
AS Schuyler Joplin

Guiding Light
ZACK CONROY
AS James Spaulding

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES DIRECTING TEAM

The Bold and the Beautiful

General Hospital

One Life to Live

All My Children

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES WRITING TEAM

The Bold and the Beautiful

As The World Turns

The Young and the Restless

All My Children

Raising money for the National Heart Foundation’s Go Red for Women day on June 11th, Guy Sebastian, Kate Ritchie and Kate Ceberano, as well as singer-song writers Katie Noonan, Damien Leith and Mark Vincent, and Melbourne Graffiti artist DrewFunk will be auctioning off their personally designed tea sets inspired by the slogan: “Love Your Heart”.

With all funds raised going directly to the National Heart Foundation, these limited designer tea sets will not only bring a little bit of celebri-tea to any herbal infusion but will help fund research into heart disease – currently the number one killer of women in Australia.

Tea sets can be viewed at www.tetleycelebrityteaset.com and on eBay during the auction period of June 11th – June 21st, 2010.