As for Haiduk's future with the show, the powers-that-be have indicated that they are big fans of hers and would love to invite her back if something else becomes available.

In other casting news, "Y&R" has recast the role of Nick and Sharon's son, Noah. Luke Kleintank ("Gossip Girl") joins the soap in the part last identified with actor Kevin Schmidt. Noah breezes back in town beginning Sept. 21. Also, Jerry Douglas returns as the ghost of John Abbott on "Y&R" Sept. 2, and you also might recognize a certain blonde (sans pigtails) on the show. Susan Olsen, who grew up playing Cindy on "The Brady Bunch," appears as Mrs. Morton starting Sept. 1.

Now that Ellen DeGeneres has bowed out of her gig as a judge on "American Idol," she can devote more time to her pet care line (and that award-winning hit daytime talk show of hers, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."). She recently appeared on QVC live to promote her signature line of holistic pet care products, HALO, Purely for Pets.

"I'm so happy to return to QVC for a couple of reasons," said DeGeneres. "For one, I want as many people as possible to know about the health benefits of feeding their animals HALO. Secondly, there is a Joan Rivers turquoise necklace that I have my eye on, and I'm hoping they'll give me the employee discount."

For more information or to shop, just log on to QVC.com.

Fans have a few more weeks before "As the World Turns" turns its lights off forever, and the long-running daytime drama is offering a contest each week where you can have a piece of the soap's history. CBS.com will hold a contest where fans can answer the "question of the week," which then automatically enters them to win prizes like, for example, Henry's (Trent Dawson) button-down shirt and tie. For more information, please visit www.cbs.com/daytime/as_the_world_turns.

While her character Elizabeth didn't have an easy delivery (her baby was kidnapped) on "General Hospital," in real life, Rebecca Herbst's time in the hospital was uneventful. She and her husband, Michael Saucedo (who used to play Juan on the soap), welcomed their third child, baby boy Emerson Truett, on Aug. 9.

Congrats also go out to former "All My Children" stars Alexa Havins (ex-Babe) and hubby Justin Bruening (ex-Jamie) on the birth of their first child, Lexington Grace, on Aug. 10.

If you've enjoyed seeing Thorsten Kaye back in Pine Valley as Zach, don't worry, he'll be back soon — for a little longer stay this time. The actor reportedly doesn't want to relocate to Los Angeles, where "AMC" films, because his partner, Susan Haskell (Marty, "One Life to Live), and their children are on the East Coast. However, he and the soap have reached an agreement, and he'll be back for a bigger story line in October and November.

If you have comments or questions about soaps for Dana Block, you can e-mail her at DaytimeDial@yahoo.com, or send them to Daytime Dial, 300 W. 57th Street, 15th floor, New York, NY, 10019.