Soapside: Advocate's Guide to Daytime

Coming Home

Today is the first airdate of John Driscoll as "Chance" -- or Phillip Chancellor IV -- on The Young and the Restless . Chance comes home from the war -- in fatigues no less -- and reunites with mom Nina, grandma Jill, Katherine Chancellor, and his presumed dead father, Phillip "I'm Gay" III (played by Thom Bierdz). Gay fans are thrilled to have "hottie" Driscoll back on-screen after his touching performances as Coop earlier this year on Guiding Light , where they killed off the character to advance a major story. But all those online reports that Chance may be gay obviously are washed away when he gets one look at his uncle's wife and they hit it off.

And what of the bizarre and twisted relationship between Adam and Rafe? Rafe has realized that Adam is still sleeping with DA Heather Stevens! Adam breaks Rafe's heart by telling the legal eagle that he has genuine affection for the gal. However, young Rafe thinks that Adam just won't come out of the closet. Later it's time for a father and son chat. Enter Victor, who asks Adam if he is gay! Adam in turns wants to set his dad straight on his heterosexuality, but if seems to fall on deaf ears! What a juicy mess!!

The Bottom Three

Shocking! B&B 's Brandon Beemer (Owen), Y&R 's Daniel Goddard (Cane), and OLTL 's John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex) all ended up in last week's bottom three of the 2009 Adonis competition, and it was Lavoisier who got the boot! Now with eight finalists left, voting for week five of soaps' hottest hunk contest runs today through July 21. Joining Goddard and Beemer are Steve Burton ( GH ), Shawn Christian and James Scott ( Days ), Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann ( ATWT ), and Mark Lawson ( OLTL) . You can only vote once per day !

Venice : Crystal Chappell brings new same-sex love story to the web

I was waiting to officially announce the big news to get some more nitty gritty details, but as many of you have heard it is confirmed that Crystal Chappell (Olivia, GL ) has created and is launching and starring in a new web-based lesbian themed soap series called Venice . She will be playing the character of Gina. In her latest tweet, Chappell confirms that her current Guiding Light on-screen partner and co-star Jessica Leccia (Natalia) will be joining her as her character's love interest! "The lovely Jessica Leccia is the newest cast member of Venice . "She'll be playing the role of 'Ani', a photographer. Jess is very excited about doing the series, and we're so thrilled to have her! Who could resist those beautiful brown eyes? Prob not Gina."

Big Purple Dreams Turned to Nightmares?

Thanks to the amazing April of the Big Purple Dreams message board, the hottest soap board on the planet, I had the opportunity to address "Otalia" fans' concerns and fears over the recent developments in the story, where Natalia goes off to a retreat presuming she's pregnant, leaving poor Olivia in despair. This to facilitate Jessica Leccia's real-life maternity leave. You can listen to my comments here . I feel your pain, BPD fans!

"Otalia" Watch

Next Week's Preview

Olivia is hitting the bottle again, swiggin' down some wine. Then the poor gal runs after a woman she thinks is Natalia, but it's not. And then the pièce de résistance -- Olivia confronts one of Natalia's old bosses and handcuffs herself to the bar, demanding to know where she is. That's not all. Then she gets herself arrested. How long will we get to see the great Chappell hitting rock bottom? Calling Natalia to the rescue!