Looks like there will be at least 365 "Days of Our Lives" and maybe 365 more after that. NBC has decided to pick up the soap, which has aired for half a century. They have also agreed to an option for next year. The negotiations were down to the wire. The show's writers were asked to stop working on new scripts. Since the show is taped six months ahead that was not an issue. NBC wants the show to tape not more than two months ahead. That might be so if they do not renew it next year they can wrap it up sooner. But for the week of January 4-8, 2016, "Days" averaged 2.91 million viewers, its highest weekly total in two years.

A lot of folks think that on "General Hospital," Luke and Laura gave soaps staying power. Wrong. In 1976 Bill Hayes (Doug on "General Hospital") and Susan Seaforth (Julie on "General Hospital") graced the cover Time magazine. That may not seem like much in these times of social media, but back than the magazine was social media. There was no Internet, no Twitter or Facebook. Yes, it was sort of like the dark ages. The soap opera press was strong. There were over 10 magazines that focused on daytime drama.

When the Time cover came out, the daytime press reported that Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth had begun to develop a real romance off the set. One weekend, the duo had a hush-hush wedding. Only a few friends knew about the event. When the press found out that the soap world's super-couple had married in real life, fans were delighted. They wanted the characters to be married on screen. Letters, petitions and phone calls flooded the office demanding that Julie and Doug say, "I do."

For years, the show's writers and producers resisted. They felt that keeping Doug and Julie apart with a star-crossed lovers story was a ratings gold mine. Finally, fans got their wish as Doug and Julie cut the wedding cake. Hayes and Seaforth say they are a lot like their characters in real life. "I can be a bit high-strung. Bill is very easygoing. He knows how to talk me down." Both the characters and the couple are still going strong.

Rumors are swirling about another "General Hospital" star. At this time, contract negations between Rebecca Herbst (Liz) and the show appear to be at an impasse. A few years ago, "General Hospital" announced that Liz was going to be written out. Fans, who have seen Liz go from sinner to saint and back again, were furious.

Not only did the character stay in Port Charles; she has had one front-burner story after another. While contract talks are simmering, it appears Herbst may go to another soap. No, it is not "The Young and the Restless." (In the past few years, actors from these shows have gone from one to the other.) It's "Days of Our Lives."

Chaz Bono is about to get bold and beautiful. On March 31 and April 1, he will play a minister on "The Bold and the Beautiful." He told People, "I'm very excited to have been cast in a role on 'The Bold and the Beautiful.' I'm grateful that they are willing to pay me to do something I love, which is to act." Of course, Bono is no newcomer to the CBS Television City stages (where B&B tapes), since it's also where the actor made his TV debut on his parents' variety series, "The Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour," back in 1972.

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.