Starting Feb. 7, we may be dealing with soap interruptus. That is when the Donald Trump impeachment hearings are set to start. If an entire episode is scrubbed, then the show will air at a later date. If less than 20 minutes are scuttled, then it will be decided if anything important was missing during that time. If so, it will be edited into a future episode. If not, then the scenes will not air. The news department makes the call of cutting into soap operas. If they think the hearings warrant the interruption, they will cut in. Each network makes its own decision. During the OJ Simpson trial, people in the industry complained that not only did OJ allegedly kill two people, but also he slaughtered daytime.

Rumors are swirling that "Days of Our Lives" is being canceled. Here is what is going on. The show has taped through April. Thus far, NBC has not announced a pickup. But there is no need to panic. Cast and crew have been reassured the show is going to continue. If NBC/Sony decides not to pick it up, several networks, such as the CW, could take it. Nominated for Writers Guild of America award, the show has a built-in audience. Earlier this year, the show was No. 1 for the ages 19-42 crowd. Those are the viewers that networks covet.

At this point, NBC does seem to have anything in the pipeline to take over daytime. Talk shows are waning. "Ellen" has tumbled 7 percent. Ellen DeGeneres got by on her "queen of nice" facade. Last year, that persona cracked. She was one of those people who do not let her staff look her in the face. Heck, people look in Queen Elizabeth's face all the time. If you do not want people looking you in the face, be the person in the back of the room, not in the front. Rosie O'Donnell had the same issue, in my experience. One time, she was upset with her stage manager and threw a Mars Bar at him. He walked off. I tangled with the two women. Actually, I just suffered through my allotted 10 minutes as an interviewer.

On the other end of the spectrum are Oprah and Kelly Clarkson. They're gems. Jerry Springer is a doll. Larry King was so warm. My fave is Maury "who's your daddy?" Povich. His show will only live on in repeats. I worked with him in Philly for years. He's just the best and has been married to journalist Connie Chung for decades. He had one oddity: When not on the air, he never wore a shirt.

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

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