LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS -- Q&A by Lynda Hirsch on Creators.com

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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 -- Q&A

Q: I was thrilled when the character of Phillip came back to "Young and Restless." I have not seen as much of him as I had hoped. Is this going to change? — Anita, Port Saint Lucie, Fla.

A: Thom Bierdz, who played Phillip over 20 years ago, returned to "Y&R" six months ago. For 20 years, everyone thought Phillip had died in a car crash. Turned out he faked his death because he could not reveal his secret: He was gay. Bierdz, who is gay in real life, jumped at the chance to tell Phillip's coming out story. When he was on "Y&R," the actor could not reveal he was gay in real life. "At the time," Bierdz says, "to be on soap and say you were gay would end your career." Right after his character was killed off, he suffered a stunning personal tragedy: His brother bludgeoned their mother to death; Thom was the other intended victim. Since then, Bierdz and his incarcerated brother have made peace. "I visit him. I realize he was so sick at the time, he did not know what he was doing." If that was not enough tragedy, years later, his other brother committed suicide. Bierdz says that painting saved his life. "I love to paint. I have had many commissions. I paint every day. I never really thought about a return to acting.

Y&R came calling and told me the story. I was ready to tell this story." As for Bierdz future on "Y&R," "My six-month contract is up. I will be on about eight episodes in November. So far, no one has asked me to stay on." Bierdz would continue if asked. "I think there is a lot more to Phillip's story. I would like the chance to explore it."

Q: That Rafe on "Days of Our Lives" is such a hunk. What is the character's back story? — Sharon, Bethesda, Md.

A: Presently a construction worker, Rafe was an FBI agent. Never married, he does have a tragic romantic past. His fiancee was killed in a car crash, which he feels responsible for. As Sami's guard while she was in the witness protection program, Rafe fell in love with her. Sami gave birth to a baby girl. Rafe wanted to adopt the child, who he thought was Sami's, but it died suddenly after being exposed to spinal meningitis. In truth, Sami's daughter was switched at birth by Nicole.

Q: Did Ronn Moss recently get married? I thought he was already married. Which is right? — Reggie, Palm Desert, Calif.

A: Both. Moss, who plays Ridge on "Bold and Beautiful," was married to actress Shari Shattuck from 1990-2002. Earlier this year, he married Devin Devasquez. Moss has two children from his first marriage.

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.