In other TV news . . .
"All My Children" and "One Life to Live" are coming back to life on a computer near you.
The shows will soon be reborn online - new characters, new episodes - after getting the ax a little more than a year ago by ABC, after decades on the air.
The production company Prospect Park's the Online Network will debut both soaps on April 29. Both will appear each weekday with new 30-minute episodes available to stream on computers for free via Hulu.
Subscribers to Hulu Plus can watch them on a variety of other devices. Episodes also will be available on iTunes.
Production began on "All My Children" last month, and shooting starts for "One Life to Live" next week. Both series are produced in Stamford, Conn.
Agnes Nixon, the soap pioneer who created the shows more than 40 years ago, is serving as creative consultant for their online revivals.
Prospect Park partners Jeff Kwatinetz and Rich Frank are promising "new and creatively ground-breaking episodes that both the fans, as well as legions of new viewers, will love."
Returning cast members include David Canary, Julia Barr, Jill Larsen, Cady McClain and Debbi Morgan on "All My Children," and Erika Slezak, Robert S. Woods, Robin Strasser and Hillary B. Smith on "One Life to Live."
* Ellen DeGeneres' daytime talk show has been renewed through 2017, with 189 television stations, including the 10 owned by NBC, committed to airing it.
In its 10th season, "Ellen" has scored some of its best ratings. Valari Staab, president of the NBC-owned TV stations, described the show as the "crown jewel" of NBC's daytime lineup.
* Where in the world is Matt Lauer?
Falling on his own sword?
Undergoing image rehab?
The Daily Beast reported Monday that while the "Today" show's ratings were plummeting following Ann Curry's messy departure, Lauer told Steve Burke, the chief executive of NBC Universal, that he would leave the show if Burke thought the show was better without him. Burke dismissed the idea. The account of the behind-the-scenes drama at the troubled morning show was confirmed by show spokeswoman Megan Kopf on Monday.
Many viewers blamed Lauer for Curry's ouster, but the report said that Lauer had been urging NBC to move more slowly with its plans to replace her.
The corrections
Contrary to reports Monday, it appears as if Elisabeth Hasselbeck is not leaving "The View."
Co-creator Barbara Walters called that story "particularly false" on Monday's show, saying that "we have no plans for Elisabeth to leave."
She also denied reports that Hasselbeck has lost favor with "The View" for her conservative political stances, something Walters said "we value and appreciate."
On Monday, Tattle surmised that the cancellation of Justin Bieber's two concerts in Portugal could be due to any number of recent ailiments as opposed to the more common lousy ticket sales.
Turns out we were half right, half wrong. According to TMZ.com, Bieber did his Monday-night show but canceled the Tuesday gig due to slow ticket sales.
TATTBITS
* Stephen Baldwin's lawyer,
Russell Yankwitt, says that the actor will plead guilty to a tax felony, avoid prison and get up to five years of probation to pay back taxes of about $350,000.
If, however, he pays the money within a year, his record will be wiped clean.
Baldwin is accused of failing to pay New York state income taxes from 2008 to 2010.
* E.L. James, the pseudonym
who made it safe for soccer moms to read pornography, is working on a journal that also offers a few tips on . . . writing?
Vintage Books announced Monday that it will publish "Fifty Shades of Grey: Inner Goddess (A Journal)."
(In fairness, writing is often an exercise in masochism - but without the hot wax.)
The "Inner Goddess," the literary equivalent of a tourist trap, will be published May 1.
* L.A. prosecutors say that a
12-year-old boy has admitted that he made a prank 9-1-1 call - which included a fake bomb threat - that drew police to Ashton Kutcher's home.
The busy troublemaker is also accused of making false 9-1-1 calls involving Justin Bieber's house, and a bank. Those charges will likely be dismissed, but the D.A. says that the allegations will be considered when the boy is sentenced.
His "swatting" calls were among several targeting L.A. celebs in recent months, intended to draw large police responses, including SWAT teams.
In a bit of irony, the boy's identity has not been released.
* In another bit of irony, HarperCollins has announced that Sarah Palin is writing the perfect book to stuff your stocking - A Happy Holiday IS a Merry Christmas
It will be about the "over-commercialization" of Christmas.
- Daily News wire services
contributed to this report.
Email: gensleh@phillynews.comPhone: 215-854-5678
On Twitter: @DNTattle
