I know that you're probably thinking "where the hell is Brian?" Well, the details are sketchy, but from what I gather he was called away for an emergency flea dip for a couple of Were-Cats (I think they could probably do with some neutering too ... but that's not for me to decide).

Anyway, I'll be covering the liveblog today, which should be interesting considering I really only pay attention during the Nuke scenes ... and the shirtless Butters scenes ... and the shirtless AustinFromDays scenes. Oh, and the QuakerOatsLady and Lucinda scenes (because they're fabulous).

Join us after break for the latest developments ... rumor has it that Noah learns that Luke has been hitting the bottle again. Will he reach him before Luke gets sloshed? Let's hope not!

Terri Colombino, Austin Peck

Two "breaking" news items just crossed my desk about shows we have been discussing in depth of late.

First, Out.com just posted their contribution to the Nuke coverage currently bursting forth from the media with comments from As the World Turns's Austin Peck (Brad) and Terri Colombino (Katie). The ATWT duo get up to the sort of erotic shenanigans that fans of Nuke can only dream of locking lips, legs, and other matching body parts.

Colombino says she and Peck won't suffer the same fate with their sex life because "I have a vagina." And Peck says producers were scared off because Luke and Noah are two men. He also boasted he had a vagina as well. Okay, not really, but this is a soap opera so maybe that is next.

Out also quotes an unnamed actor who says the producers are in a panic about the protest and rethinking their decision to keep Nuke kiss-less. Unless they're thinking about getting rid of Nuke altogether. Nelson Branco, who wrote the article for Out, concludes by suggesting that maybe the producers will end the whole controversy by just getting rid of Nuke altogether. Well, I guess that covers all the bases!

TVGuide.com just reported that American Idol's pole dancing contestant David Hernandez won't be dumped for giving dudes lapdances. Says AI executive producer Ken Warwick, "The truth is we're never judgmental about what people do to earn a living. They've gotta put food in people's mouths.”

Ken goes on to say that if David had done some sort of porn, then the outcome might be different. He also adds that the American public might not be so forgiving. "If the public doesn't like him, then they'll get rid of him."

I guess this means Hillary and Barack aren't the only ones with their careers at stake with the voting public.

Speaking of Hernandez, no doubt AfterElton.com's resident Idol experts Jim Verraros and Penny Frulla will have more to say on the lap dancing brouhaha in their next Idol Chat with Jim & Penny video blog.

Slim Nuke pickings on yesterday's As the World Turns. The best scene is when Luke ditches Noah and puts on his junior detective hat to join forces with grandma Lucinda (or as Brian likes to call her - Lady Drumstick). They both confess their suspicions that Holden is not fighting to prove his innocence because he believes that Lily killed Dusty.

Can Luke and Lady Drumstick solve the Mystery of the Old Dead Dusty? And should they really be taking on another case when the Mystery of Nuke's Missing Sex Life remains unsolved?

The video clip (of this scene and others) follows after the break. One highlight? Luke quoting biblical scripture.

And in case you missed it, check out Brian's increasingly indignant liveblog from yesterday. As always, you can find earlier Nuke clips, liveblogs, forum threads, and other fun stuff over on our ATWT Resource Page.

It's Friday so it must be time for our weekly dose of Nuke! I don't know who negotiated Van and Jake's contracts, but these two sure have it cushy!

Anyway, this week Luke's dad, Holden, is the one in peril as you can see from Noah's shocked look as he learns Luke's poppa is under suspicion of murder. Either that or he's trying to remember what character he plays on the show.

Holden, knowing he might be looking at doing time in the Big House, if not visiting the electrical chair, gazes at those who mean the most to him: Tom Brady and the New England Patriots! Then he picked up this picture and looked at his dear, sweet family when things were better.

Memories ... Light the corners of my mind...Misty water-color memories ...

But might there be a silver-lining to this murder-soaked cloud of travails cast over our beloved Oakdale? Might Luke and Noah actually kiss to blot out the horribleness of it all? Noah looks like he's thinking about it!

Luke cups Noah's face! Is he starting to pucker? Are we about to have lip-lock?

Awwwww.... it's just another hug. I guess kissing when your dad is at risk of lethal injection is a bit inappropriate. Still

.... memories ... of when Luke and Noah used to kiss...

PS: In case you missed it, check out Brian's always pee-your-pants funny liveblog of today's ep. And as always, you can find earlier Nuke clips, liveblogs, forum threads, and other fun stuff over on our ATWT Resource Page.

Check out today's clip after the jump!

Today on As the World Turns, Luke and Noah head to Henry's diner where Luke drops a bomb on Noah when he mentions that he wants to live on campus at Oakdale U. Noah has other ideas. He wants them to move in together!

Henry overhears and warns Luke not to rush into anything (Uh, as if!)

Luke has his own suspicions about Noah's rush to co-habitate. Does he still have something to prove to Captain Pervy?

Will Luke head to the dorms? Will they get an apartment together? Will they investigate lodging at the Oakdale YMCA?

You can find out Luke & Noah's surprising new housing arrangement in today's Nuke video clip, which appears after the break. Plus, as a special bonus: pics of a partially shirtless hotprechaun. Enjoy!

PS: In case you missed it, check out Brian's hilariously acerbic liveblog from earlier today. And as always, you can find earlier Nuke clips, liveblogs, forum threads, and other fun stuff over on our ATWT Resource Page.

Oh. My. God. I want every day to be Dickensian Christmas day on As the World Turns. I wish too that the daily Nuke video clip below included more of today’s hilariously inept non-Nuke related scenes. There were so many to choose from.

To get a feel for what actually transpired, check out Brian’s cat’s liveblog from earlier today.

Just my two cents, but I thought Luke and Noah acquitted themselves very nicely with their Merchant-Ivory accents and period getup. Much better than most of the rest of the cast. Still no onscreen kissing, however. And today we weren’t even treated to a mistletoe money shot.

Bah Humbug.

Still, worth watching the boys act out a snippet from Maurice. Enjoy the clip after the break…

Someone put up a sprig of mistletoe out at the Snyder farm, and apparently dimmed all the lights. (Was it just me or did Nuke's big scenes today seem especially murky?) Fortunately, Luke and Noah did find the mistletoe ... but unfortunately, so did the cameraman, who found the plastic bit of festoonery tacked above the pantry door more interesting than our beloved teen couple. When the two moved in for their much-anticipated first kiss in months, we were treated to this:

We've been very impressed with the way the show has handled the Luke and Noah romance thus far, and to be fair a good amount of screen time was dedicated to the two having emotionally candid and uncommonly insightful conversations (for teens, much less soap teens) about their relationship. But given that the two have been a physical nonreality as a couple for months (while it seems like half of the other characters on the show are pregnant), it does look like the couple is being treated differently because of their sexuality. We contacted the show today about this and As the World Turns' publicist responded with the following statement:

As The World Turns fully supports the Luke and Noah storyline. We have exciting story planned for the couple that will begin airing early next year. As soap opera fans know, there is an ebb and flow to storylines. While Luke and Noah may currently be in a lull, they won’t be for long.

Let's hope not.

Anyway as for the other highlights in today's show...

Luke spends most of the episode hobbling around with his cane or doing wheelchair wheelies underneath the mistletoe. Finally Noah shows up with a Hallmark Christmas card that says he lurvs Luke. Hey, at least he cares enough to send the very best.

To see this and more, check out today's Nuke video clip, which appears after the break.

For more details and a lively conversation in the comments, you can check out my increasingly indignant liveblog from earlier today. You can find earlier Nuke clips, liveblogs, and other fun stuff over on our ATWT Resource Page.

Interesting happenings with our boys over on As the World Turns today. Luke makes Grandma Emma very uncomfortable when he asks if Noah can stay over for the holidays. When she puts the kibosh on his request Luke assumes the worst.

Luke: I get the feeling that she's not exactly comfortable with us being together.
Noah: What? You mean us seeing each other?
Luke: No. I mean us beeeeeing together. (wink wink)

Sounds like Luke is itching for a sleepover. Will Grandma's prudishness stand in their way? To find out what happens next check today's Nuke video clip, which appears after the break.

Also a must see: Brian's transplendent liveblog from earlier today. You can find earlier Nuke clips, liveblogs, and other fun stuff over on our ATWT Resource Page.

Today on ATWT, Noah wants to get Luke out on the town and away from the Snyder farm. That's right, he says he's ready to "take it public."

Luke is thrilled by this development but once they're out on the town they run into the "cool kids" from Noah's community college Econ class.

After being prodded into making introductions, Noah refers to Luke only as his "friend." Ouch. So much for taking it public.

Noah tries to convince the demoralized Luke that he's not hiding their relationship. But Luke is not so sure. To find out what happens next check today's Nuke video clip, which appears after the break.

Also, check out Brian Juergens' hilarious liveblog from earlier today. As always, you can find earlier clips over on our ATWT Resource Page.