LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS -- GOSSIP by Lynda Hirsch on Creators.com

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LYNDA HIRSCH ON TELEVISION -- SUMMARY TNT has renewed "Dallas" for a third season. Produced by Warner Horizon Television, 15 episodes have been ordered, slated to launch in early 2014. "'Dallas' has built a passionately loyal following with its expertly woven storylines, …Read more. LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS -- GOSSIP I live in Cleveland. When most people think of Cleveland, they think the town that lost LeBron James, the town with the oldest new football team, the town of bad weather, the town of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and, yes, the town where a river …Read more. LYNDA HIRSCH ON TELEVISION -- Q AND A Q: When I heard Jeanne Copper died, I ran out and bought her autobiography. It was great. I read it in one three-hour sitting. She seemed thrilled that she had a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. Is it really a big deal? Are there many soap …Read more. LYNDA HIRSCH ON TELEVISION -- SUMMARY DAYTIME ALL MY CHILDREN: Five years have passed, and the citizens of Pine Valley reflect on their lives and recall the night J.R. starting shooting. David has spent several years in prison for manslaughter. He is headed for Pine Valley and revenge. …Read more.

LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS -- GOSSIP

The Daytime Emmys have found a television home. HLN will air the 40th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards live from Los Angeles on Sunday, June 16.

"Last year, HLN's first-ever presentation of the Daytime Emmy Awards was the No. 11 most-watched, regularly scheduled non-news broadcast in the network's history," said Scott Safon, executive vice president and general manager of HLN, and Malachy Wienges, chairman of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in a statement.

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The death of Roger Ebert is more than the death of a great critic. It is the death of a classy guy, who fought all odds.

I was first introduced to Ebert and Gene Siskel's "At the Movies" by my best friend. Every week, we would watch the movie review show. If we could not watch it together, we would call after the show.

We didn't just watch it for the reviews. We loved the interaction between the two thumbs-up guys. Sadly, I lost my best friend to the same scourge that ended Ebert's life — cancer.

My friend, who was truly a gift from God, did not make it to 50. Ebert was gone by 70. Like my friend, Ebert fought cancer with everything he had. When he could no longer eat or speak due to the ailment, he was asked by an interviewer if he ever asked, "Why Me?" His retort: "No. Then I would have to ask, why not me?"

As a film critic for a local television station, I was honored to be on the same press tours as Ebert. Siskel was sadly gone by then. Another victim of the disease that continues to scorch the earth.

Ebert was the most important critic on the tours.

He never acted like it. While lesser critics were demanding special clips, longer interviews, exclusives, he never did. He sat in the hallway just like the rest of the press peons.

He never played the I-have-to-catch-a-plane, can-I-do-the-interview-first card. He did not ask for photos or autographs from the actors. He was there to work and enjoy or not enjoy the films.

Through him, I learned how to enjoy films. I also learned how to be skeptical. I cam hear him talking about the stupid movie scene where the vegetable stand is knocked over in a car chase or, if a movie was bad, when you wanted to yell at the screen.

Upon his death, everyone — from the president to actors, producers, et al. — has been telling everyone what an amazing spirit he was.

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ABC daytime comes to primetime Saturday, April 6, when Katie Couric and "20\20" celebrate 50 years of "General Hospital." Take that, Brian Frons (former head of ABC daytime and soap slayer) — your former network not only thinks soaps are important in daytime, it sees them as important in primetime.

The hour special features interviews with Tony Geary, Genie Francis, Maurice Benard, Jack Wagner, Rick Springfield, many other cast members and Executive Producer Frank Valentini.

"20/20? goes behind-the-scenes and offers a visitor's guide to Port Charles and its residents, and shows how love in the afternoon has changed dramatically.

The special will also look at how "General Hospital" has been the launching pad for many actors, including Demi Moore, John Stamos, Kristin Davis and Richard Simmons, as well as for chart-topping music hits, and how it has led the way in cultural stories like HIV, teen sex, working moms, birth control and breast cancer.

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