Kassie DePaiva is a fighter on and off the screen. She got her entertainment start when she was 18 by singing at the Grand Ole Opry. She took that voice to "Guiding Light," when she took on the role of Chelsea. When that gig ended, she played Blair on "One Life to Live" for almost 20 years. She went to "Days of Our Lives" to reprise her role, Eve. Sadly, that gig ends on New Year's Eve. Sprung from jail, she decides to say "so long Salem." As Eve, she was touched when she seemed to find with Brady "a happily ever after." Of course, Eve messed that up. On the show, when her daughter was the victim of the necktie strangler, her pain was palpable. This year, she was in bad girl mode when she and Jack became political partners in crime. DePaiva tackled it all with aplomb.

In her private life, she tackled leukemia. She is in remission. When her son was born with a hearing problem, she and her husband, James (Max Holden on "Days" and the smarmy Dr. Bensch), banded together to find treatment.

DePaiva took to social media to announce her latest exit. She thanked her fans and the world of soaps for her decades in a genre she loves.

Aaron Spears (Justin, "The Bold and the Beautiful") is off contact. Too bad; he was great as Bill's (Don Diamont) Jiminy Cricket. Since Bill seems to have slipped off the face of the soap canvas, Justin had little to do. Speaking of Diamont, aside for Katie's health issues, Bill is nothing more than filler. Neither he nor the viewers deserve this. Just when you hate the character, you love him. Although he might get some airtime since Liam (Scott Clifton) is back working with him. Speaking of Liam, the multiple Daytime Emmy winner is getting on my last nerve. Not the actor; he is amazing. It is his storyline: "Now I love you. Now I don't. Yeah, wait, maybe I do." This carousel of love storyline is a disservice to the actor and viewers.

So many of the "B&B" actors are relegated to off the burner: Quinn, Wyatt, Sally. The worst story, or non-story, was when Rick's wife, transgender Maya, announced Rick did something awful while they were in Paris and she was filing for divorce. What did he do, it was never explained or mentioned since Maya made the startling announcement. Both Rick and Maya are MIA.

Louise Sorel (Vivian, "Days of Our Lives") is returning to the show for a story arc. Robin Strasser took on the role earlier this year for a few months.

I am getting my holiday wish — More Michael E. Knight (Martin) on "General Hospital." He will be off the show for a bit. When he returns, he will have lots of scenes with real-life pal James Patrick Stuart, as he represents Valentin when he fights for full custody of Charlotte.

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.

Photo credit: skeeze at Pixabay