Lynda Hirsch on Soaps

The deaths of two icons on Thursday —Farrah Fawcett, who fought cancer for over two years — and Michael Jackson — whose sudden death blindsided the world — have brought lots of tweets from the soap world Most, like Catherine Hickland (Lindsay, "One Life to Live"), Eden Riegel (Bianca, "All My Children") and A Martinez (ex-Ray, "One Life to Live"), were stunned, offered condolences for families of both and the suggestion that deaths always inspire to live each minute, as in the words of Martinez, "because you never know."

Scott Clifton (Schuyler ,"One Life to Live") gave a different perspective in his tweet: "I think Nik (his girlfriend) and I are the only ones who aren't THAT sad about MJ dying. He had a good life, and he was done giving us what he had to give. He wasn't doing well in life. And in fact, it's good that he didn't go on so long that we forgot about how amazing he was in his prime."

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Lots of casting news to report this week. Judi Evans heads for New York and "As the World Turns" in August. Evans, who won a Daytime acting Emmy in the 1980s for playing Beth on "Guiding Light," will create the character of Maeve on the show. There are few details about the character, but word has it she will create issues for Lily.

Sean Kanan (Deacon on "Bold and Beautiful") reprises his character but this time on "Young and Restless." It makes sense since Amber (Adrienne Frantz), his partner in crime on "B&B," is now a major character on "Y&R." Both shows are the product of Bill Bell and company.

Many actors from one show have taken their character to another. Most recently, Eileen Davidson (Ashley) went from "Y&R" to "B&B" and is now back at "Y&R." Tracey Bregman (Lauren) has been on both shows. There have also been crossovers. "B&B's" Eric (John McCook) has visited "Y&R" to talk fashion with Lauren. Jack (Peter Bergman) has visited "B&B," which is set in L.A., to discuss his cosmetics firms.

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Sebastian Roche (Jerry) returns to "General Hospital" for a few weeks this summer. It seems he will be part of the "who shot Michael?" story line. It appears that the new character Dominic is going to be Sonny's son he never knew he had, Dante. Dominic is carrying dear old dad's business. What business? Well, no one is sure what Sonny's crime-incorporated business involves. It appears to surround shipments sent to the docks. However, it does not appear to be drug shipments. Just what "GH" needed: another thug. Port Charles has turned into the mob capital of the world. Let's count the mobsters and mini-mobsters who just came to town in the last few years: Dr. Devlin, Claudia, Jerry, Ethan, Rebecca, Johnny, Max and Milo's dad. Add all the mob or "what a disgusting human being" story lines and all the retreads from the brain injury to getting a hot red sports car, the Michael story is merely a Jason redo. We have terrific actors and great dialogue in stories that make no sense or make the characters look stupid. The best plotting "GH" had in the last few years was during the writers' strike.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

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