You got to strip dowwwwn to do the Lambada!

From my Youtube channel:

Here's a fun (and ridiculous) clip from Y&R in 1990. Drucilla has been introduced as the soap version of "ghetto," and then she proceeds to insult my Brad's perfect body. This did not put her high on my like list back in 1990! But we get to see Don Diamont in his requisite Speedo, so who cares! (Classic line: "You got to strip dowwwwn to do the Lambada!") Plus, what she's teaching him is hardly the Lambada!

Diamont's B&B debut: A hairy situation

Now that Don Diamont's B&B debut as Bill Spencer Jr. is upon us (hallelujah!), it's nice that the soap media is squarely focused on this square-jawed dreamboat again. Ladies & gents, here's your All Things Diamont Update:

First up, the great Michael Fairman just did an insightful interview with B&B's newest resident at his Web site. Check out that interview (including audio!) here.

Next, several soap blogs are abuzz over the surprising facial hair that Diamont's sporting with his new character. As his cheeks remained smooth for 23 years on Y&R as Brad Carlton, this new look is quite stunning for many Diamont watchers. One of those, in fact, is so anti-beard that they've started up a renegade site at BillJrMustShave.com, which chronicles in pictures and videos Don's good ol' days of being stubble-free. It's a fun site to reminisce on even if you don't agree with its premise...

...which I don't! Any longtime visitor of soaphunks.net knows that Diamont is my favorite soap hunk of all time, so I definitely have an opinion on this pressing issue. First of all, I can't blame Diamont for wanting to bring a new look to his new role, after being so closely associated with Brad Carlton for so long (on B&B's sister soap, no less). So there's that...but in my opinion, the beard looks GREAT on him! I'm generally not even a fan of facial hair on my soap hunks, but on Diamont, it just works. Sexy sexy sexy. So there! :)

May I suggest that if we really want to start a Web campaign to convince B&B to remove something from Diamont's body, that it be not his facial hair but instead his shirt? Y&R kept him clothed way too often towards the end, and make no mistake, Diamont still has an Adonis-level body. I just checked and BillJrMustStrip.com is available. Any takers?

Hallelujah! Don Diamont back, joining B&B

This just in from the Dreams Do Come True department: legendary soap hunk and your Webmaster's Numero Uno, Don Diamont, has just announced plans to join B&B in April as Bill Spencer, Jr. This comes less than a month after the 22-year vet's character of Brad Carlton was killed off of Y&R.

I think now everyone can agree that all is right once again in the world.

(Special note to B&B head writer Bradley Bell: The shirt off. And often!)

Engen stalled; Driscoll done

The economic woes of the country continue to have trickle down to daytime television, and apparently CBS isn’t quite finished tightening its purse strings. Hot on the heels of the ouster of Y&R's legendary soap hunk Don Diamont comes word that the ratings leader is also letting 2008 Hunkiest Newcomer nominee Chris Engen go, along with Vail Bloom and Michael Gross.

Over at GL, sexy John Driscoll, nominated for Hunkiest Newcomer in 2004, has reportedly been given the pink slip. The exit is rumored to be permanent for his character, “Coop” Bradshaw. E.J. Bonilla and Kane Manera are also out, along with Bonnie Dennison and Caitlin Van Zant.

Soapy in mourning: Diamont out at Y&R

Anyone who knows me knows how it pains me to type this one. Soap Opera Digest is reporting that Y&R's Don Diamont has been ousted from daytime's No. 1 soap. Details of his exit are said to be very "hush hush" at this time.

Diamont has been with the sudser for over 20 years. He first aired in 1985, after a two-year run on DAYS. He stayed with the show until 1996, returning in 1998 through now. During his tenure, Diamont has amassed 25 Soaphunks.net Award nominations and eight wins. In addition, in a 2005 poll at this site, he was named the Sexiest Soap Hunk of All Time.

If you didn't already know it, Diamont is personally my all-time favorite soap hunk, and the primary reason I created soaphunks.net a decade ago was to share and collect pictures of him.

Sigh.

Soaphunks.net turns 10 today!

Where has the decade gone?

It's official: today is soaphunks.net's 10th birthday. Once upon a time sitting in my old bedroom, I decided the Internet needed a place for easy access to pictures of Don Diamont and Drake Hogestyn (among a few others - lol) and whipped up a very small, very bare bones Web site. This, folks, was June 5, 1998.

Ten years later, the site has grown exponentially and become more popular than I could have ever imagined. With five very successful summertime Adonis contests, and nine editions of the Soaphunks.net Awards, plus 6,326 pictures and 144 video clips and plenty of other special features, such as the 100 Most Memorable Moments in Soap History, the site has always been a blast to bring to you.

I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who has helped me with the site over the years, and to all of you for visiting and making it so popular. The site always has been and always will be free, thanks to the support of generous donations from people like you.

Look for a 10th anniversary update with new pictures and video clips to be uploaded this weekend.

And again, thanks.

soapy