The Bold and the Beautiful will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. It not only makes me feel old - because I can remember the first episode like it was yesterday - but it's also significant because, as the second youngest soap, it's been holding strong at No. 2 in the ratings. Four of its current stars have been with the show since its debut - Susan Flannery (Stephanie), John McCook (Eric), Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) and Ronn Moss (Ridge) - and they all have had front-burner storylines nearly the entire two decades.

Now the soap is giving its viewers (and stars) a treat with a location shoot in Australia. These outdoor shoots, especially overseas, are rare on soaps these days, so make sure you tune in the week of March 23. Pending final script approval, it will be announced soon which actors will appear in these scenes, but executive producer and head writer Bradley P. Bell assures us, "The scenes will be very romantic, enhanced by the immense beauty of Sydney Harbour."

In addition to these episodes in Australia, the cast and crew will be invited to a private party on March 24 in Beverly Hills. A location has not yet been decided, but there will be press coverage. There will also be a special gathering for fans on August 25 in Los Angeles. The soap is broadcast in 110 countries, so Bell and fan-club president Cathy Tomas would like to give fans from around the world an opportunity to attend - start planning now. You can watch for updates and registration details on the Web at www.boldandbeautiful.com, or you can email Cathy at cathytomas@boldandbeautiful.com to be placed on the mailing list to receive the reservation forms, which she will begin sending out in March.

In casting news, rookie cop Dallas Griffin on As the World Turns will now be played by Kenneth Franklin. He replaces Duane McLaughlin, who unfortunately did not see much airtime when he debuted during the Oakdale Slasher storyline. For a while there it seemed like he might be paired with Jade (Elena Goode), but nothing ever happened. Let's hope the writers beef up the role of Dallas now that they've chosen to recast it. McLaughlin begins airing on February 26.

Beth Maitland returns to The Young and the Restless as Traci Abbott for a brief storyline. We always welcome any member of the Abbott family, especially now that patriarch John (Jerry Douglas) and his daughter Ashley (Eileen Davidson) are gone - Jack needs some more family to fill up that big mansion! Maitland will tape episodes from January 24 to March 1.

Also on Y&R, Don Stark (That '70s Show) and Miriam Flynn (Grounded for Life) will appear together February 22, playing minister Frank McCallister and wife Edna, respectively, at a Las Vegas wedding chapel. The story somehow involves Amber (Adrienne Frantz) in what I suspect is an attempt to get her hooks into Aussie beau Cane (Daniel Goddard).

Congratulations to Passions' Daphnee Duplaix Samuel (Valerie) and her husband, Ron, as they announce the birth of their third son, Jaxson Ronald Samuel. He was born January 15 and tipped the scales at 7 pounds 5 ounces. While Samuel is on maternity leave, Siena Goines will be filling in as Valerie.

- Dana Block