The time is here! The Hoff returns to The Young and the Restless!

Starting tomorrow, Tuesday June 15th, David Hasselhoff returns to the show that launched his career, The Young and the Restless. Hasselhoff steps back into the role of Dr. William “Snapper” Foster, who was last seen in Genoa City in 1982, before Snapper left to teach a three-month fellowship in London. Of course, like many soap characters who leave to do something overseas, he never returned.  The Hoff will be guesting on the show for 5 episodes, taking him through June 21st.  You can catch a video preview of Hasselhoff’s return.

Returning to the Soaps that made you famous seems to be an in thing lately. Nathan Fillion returned to One Life to Live last year, and now comes word that fan favorite Vanessa Marcil will be returning to the role of Brenda on General Hospital this summer.  In addition to big stars going back to soaps, there have been some recent movie stars making the first time jump to the genre, most notability James Franco’s General Hospital stint, which he’ll return to later this month. Franco will be returning to the daytime drama and will be taking with him veteran film and television actor Bruce Davison.

Will you be watching Hasselhoff’s daytime return? Excited about other stars returning and some making their daytime debuts?

Welcome to my all-new column, where I look at the cool little aspects of the latest TV episodes and news.

Did you catch the inside joke on Monday nights episode of Castle?

Okay, so Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) is talking to his daughter and mother about Nannies.  Castle mentions that his nanny would sit and watch daytime soap operas.  He then revealed that he got the idea for his first book from watching an episode of One Life to Live.  In the mid 90s, Nathan Fillion portrayed Joey Buchanan One Life to Live.  This would be about the same time that Castle got his idea for his books.  Most of these little inside jokes the casual watcher won’t even realize, but they are funny when you do know them.

Speaking of Nannies and inside jokes on shows, there is also inside advertising.  On tonight’s episode of One Tree Hill, Nanny Deb is asking Jaime what he wants to watch and he replies Gossip Girl, cause it makes him feel bad.  Gossip Girl airs right before One Tree Hill on the CW.

And while we are on the subject of Gossip Girl, did you hear who will be portraying a teenage Lily van der Woodsen on the Gossip Girl prequel?  None other than Brittany Snow. Does anyone else think it’s weird that she was once in love with her daughter Serena’s ex boyfriend Dan Humphrey (they got down in John Tucker Must Die)?

(Brittany Snow in the Gossip Girl prequel)