Lynda Hirsch Lifestyle Columns - LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS

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LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS -- SUMMARY BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL: Fresh from liberating himself from Steffy, Liam and Hope promise to spend the rest of their lives together. Steffy has not lost hope of a future with Liam, thinking that he just needs time away to realize she is the one for him. …Read more. LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS -- GOSSIP Two soap characters of the past are returning to daytime in the coming weeks. Over on "Bold and the Beautiful," the character of Karen Spencer (Joanna Johnson) is going to bring along her daughter Caroline to the show. Longtime fans of …Read more. LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS -- Q AND A Q: There has been lots of talk about the return of Anna and Robert on "General Hospital." Can you give me some background on the couple? — Arlene Henderson in Nevada. A: Robert, an Australian, was involved in many adventures with …Read more. LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS -- SUMMARY BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL: Now that the truth has been revealed about Steffy's condition, Liam has a major decision to make about his marriage. Bill does not mince words when he publicly makes his opinion known about whom Liam should chose to be with. …Read more.

LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS -- GOSSIP

Oprah has announced she will cease doing her syndicated talk show after next year. In her tearful statement on her show, it was obvious it was not an easy decision. Knowing Oprah, it is her final decision. When Oprah makes a decision, it is made. I know from personal experience.

When she was co-host of Baltimore's "People Are Talking" chat show, I was a monthly guest. One day, she pulled me aside. "Lynda, I am not certain I will be seeing you after today's show," she said. "I am moving to Chicago. I have been offered a half-hour talk show in Chicago. I am very nervous about this. A black woman taking over for a white guy who has done the show for years. He is really popular. I don't know. I know I have to try."

It was not the last time I worked with Oprah. In the beginning, she had me do her Chicago show on a semi-regular basis. Then her show took on a more serious tone. Through the years, we would run into each other. She was always gracious. Of course, she changed. Just as her audience changed with her. The changes were good. When I first worked with Oprah, she had a co-host who would nudge her in the knee if she asked two questions in a row. Maybe it was a signal that he wanted to ask the next question. Knowing this guy, it probably meant "that's enough." With her newfound fame, Oprah knew she could call the shots.

She did it in her career from acting to producing to good works.

Many of her viewers who never considered reading a delight learned to love it from watching Oprah.

In Baltimore, Oprah was never afraid to admit she was wrong.

In one segment, she called someone by the wrong name. Most talk-show hosts would never allude to that mistake. After the commercial she brought it up and apologized.

When Oprah learned her Oprah's Book Club author James Frey had made up his memoirs, she did not shrink from the tempest. She did not totally retreat. Oprah felt the book was beautifully written. She did not back down on that. She did talk openly about her dismay that he tried to pass a work of fiction off as his life story.

Of course, Oprah is not really going away after the 2011 season. She will likely move herself to her own cable network, tentatively called OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). This will be a boon to cable television. Those who do not have it will sign on. Those who get it and find that Oprah's channel is not in their lineup will demand it.

Remember, if Gayle King is Oprah's best friend, then she is a best friend to millions. No one lets a best friend's move stop then from keeping in touch.

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.