Hottest Headlines
Before you dive into the Best & Worst of 1998, here's a thumbnail review of this year's biggest daytime and prime-time news

RETURN ENGAGEMENTS
Some of daytime's - and nighttime's - most popular vets came "home" this year. Sandra Ferguson (Amanda), Ellen Wheeler (Marley) and Matt Crane (Matt) reprised their roles on ANOTHER WORLD.... ALL MY CHILDREN brought back Cady McClain (Dixie) and Nicolas Surovy (Mike). While Dixie remains in Pine Valley, the dashingspy went back into the cold in October.... After a 14-month absence, Maurice Bernard (Sonny) returned to GENERAL HOSPITAL as did Genie Francis (Laura) from her extended maternity leave.... GUIDING LIGHT's Beth Chamberlin (Beth), Marj Dusay (Alex) and Mary Kay Adams (India) returned to Springfield.... Don Diamont is YOUNG AND RESTLESS again as Brad.... Josie Bissett moved Jane back into MELROSE PLACE.... Luke Perry reprised his role as Dylan in BEVERLY HILLS, 90210.

SO LONG, FAREWELL...
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL gave the ax to Kimberlin Brown (Sheila), Barbara Crampton (Maggie) and Charles Grant (Grant).... GL's Cynthia Watros (Annie), Wendy Moniz (Dinah) and Frank Grillo (Hart) said so long.... AS THE WORLD TURNS let Tom Wiggin (Kirk), Sherri Alexander (Samantha) and Daniel Markel (David) go.... Victoria Rowel (Dru) and Michael Damian (Danny) exited Y&R.... Jay Hammer (Fletcher), Geoffrey Ewing (Griffin) and Fiona Hutchison (Jenna) were fired from GL.... Amy Carlson (Josie) and Robert Kelker-Kelly (Shane) left AW. While Josie was recast. Shane died in a head-on collision. Kale Browne's character, Michael, was the other casualty. Browne found a new home on ONE LIFE TO LIVE as Sam... OLTL's Ken Stapleton (Kevin) was replaced by Timothy Gibbs (ex-Gary, AW).... Eileen Davidson (Kristen, et al.) left DAYS OF OUR LIVES.... YR's Jerry Douglas (John) went on hiatus.... Debi Morgan (Ellen) left PORT CHARLES to pursue her film career.... OLTL's Roger Howarth (Todd) bid adieu to Llanview - again - as did Clint Ritchie (Clint).... AW dumped Charles Keating (Carl).... Kimberly McCullough (Robin) quit GH. So did Vanessa Marcil (Brenda), who joined 90210 as Gina.... 90210's Jason Priestley (Brandon) and Tiffani-Amber Thiessen (Valerie) bid farewell to their zip code, as did MP's Andrew Shue (Billy), Brooke Langton (Samantha), Alyssa Milano (Jennifer) and Lisa Rinna (Taylor).

NUPTIAL NEWS
Weddings: Peter Reckell (Bo, DAYS) and Kelly Moneymaker.... Laura Leighton (ex-Sophie, 90210; ex-Sydney, MP) and Doug Savant (ex-Matt, MP).... Michael Damian (ex-Danny, Y&R) and Janeen Best.... Timothy Gibbs (Kevin, OLTL) and Lisa Van Wagenen.... Sandra Nelson (Phyllis, Y&R) and Charles Winkler.
Engagements: Steve Burton (Jason, GH) and Sheree Gustin.... Laura Bryan Birn (Lynne, Y&R) and Mitch Sebolsky.... Josh Taylor (Roman, DAYS) and Lisa Tremblay.... Clive Robertson (Ben, SUNSET BEACH) and tubby Purvis.... Michael Dietz (Joe, PC) and Arianne Zuker (Nicole, DAYS).... Cady Mcclain (Dixie, AMC) and her long-time boyfriend, who she prefers not to name.... Lsa Ann Hadley (Julie, PC) and Craig McLachlan.... Billy Warlock (A.J., GH) and Julie Pinson (Eve, PC).

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS
B&B's Hunter Tylo (Taylor) won a $4.89 million judgment in her wrongful termination suit against MP Producer Aaron Spelling in December, 1997. Subsequently, tragedy struck when her baby daughter, Katya, with husband Michael Tylo (ex-Quint, GL; ex-Blade/Rick, Y&R) was diagnosed with a rare farm of eye cancer known as retinoblastoma. Matthew Ashford (ex-Tom, GH; ex-Jack, DAYS) and wife Christina revealed that their baby, Emma, was afflicted with the same ailment.... Michael Zaslow (ex-Roger, GL) announced that he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and filed suit against Procter & Gamble for firing him. After a settlement was reached, Zaslow reprise his role as David Renaldi on OLTL.... GL's Jordan Clarke (Billy) was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. After pleading guilty, the actor was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

INDUSTRY INTRIGUE
Prime-time sudser DAWSON'S CREEK premiere on January 20.... ATWT Executive Producer Felicia Minei Behr named Lorraine Broderick as head writer... Francesca James left her position as AMC executive producer and Senior Producer Jean Dadario Burke took over.... AMC (Outstanding Show), Cynthia Watros (ex-Annie, GL) and Eric Braeden (Victor, Y&R) took top honors at the Emmys... ABC replace OLTL Head Writers Claire and Matt Labine with Pamela K. Long. In November, Long was also dropped... William J. Bell stepped down as YR's head writer and named Kay Alden as his successor. Bell remains senior executive producer of the show.... Leah Laiman was named AW's head writer, while Richard Culliton was dropped to associate head writer.... Margaret DePriest took over as BEACH co-head writer when Meg Bennett left BEACH to return to GH's head writing team.... Charlotte Savitz was fired as AW's executive producer and replaced by Christopher Goutman.