Q: Is it true that Michael Knight once played a different character than Tad on "All My Children?" — Roberta in Salt Lake City

A: Yes. When Knight decided to exit the show and start a film career, the show decided to kill off Tad. Tad was thought to be dead, but no body was found. When Knight agreed to return, Tad had amnesia. In fact, for a while AMC could have been a spin-off of "My Three Sons" called "My Three Moms." There was Tad's birth mother, Opal; his adopted mom, Ruth; and Nola, the woman who thought he was her long lost son. Brooke was in Napa Valley when she spotted Tad, but he thought he was Ted Orsini, the son of a California wine scion. Brooke eventually talked Tad into coming home and facing his past life in Pine Valley. There was also a time when Knight played a young man who had been sexually abused and unable to communicate. This character turned out to be the real Ted Orsini.

Q: Has John Stamos ever done a soap opera? — Callie in North Richfield, Ohio

Stamos joined "General Hospital" when he was a teenager. He played Blackie Parrish, a troubled teen. (Is there any other kind on soaps?) Leslie and Rick Webber took him into their home, and Blackie turned around his life. He met Lou, a girl who had more problems than him. When Lou was murdered, an innocent Blackie was convicted and sent to prison. As far as we know, Blackie is still languishing in jail.

Q: What is the oddest thing you have seen on a soap? — Rebecca in St. Louis

A: So much to choose from: Delia dating an ape on "Ryan's Hope" (no, not a guy who acted like an ape — a real ape); the hurricane that hit "Doctors," which was set in landlocked Wisconsin. They are top contenders, but the winner is "Another World." When Mac Corey died, the show was having a budget crunch. Of course, there would be no reason that his grandson Dennis would not make it to the funeral. Dennis was there — he was just never seen. He was supposed to be sitting on an unseen area of the couch. Characters would be talking to Dennis, who was really played by empty space. When not sitting on the far end of the couch, Dennis was getting a drink of water in the kitchen.

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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