LYNDA HIRSCH ON TELEVISION -- GOSSIP

Lynda Hirsch
Fri, 14 Apr 2023 21:00:00 -0700
Lifestyle

Elizabeth Hubbard, 89, died this week following a battle with cancer. She played Althea Davis on "The Doctors" on and off for 14 years. She was coupled with Gerald Gordon, who played acerbic neurosurgeon Nick Bellini. They were Sam and Diane with a sprinkle of Luke and Laura. Gordon died 20 years ago. At the time, the show was written by James Lipton. Yes, talk show host James Lipton. Let's say he was a better host than a soap writer. "Days of Our Lives" was set in Wisconsin. Yes, land-locked Wisconsin. He had a hurricane storyline. Hubbard earned an Emmy. She won her next Emmy playing Woodrow Wilson's wife. The daytime role she is best remembered for was Lucinda Walsh on "As the World Turns." Lucinda was a pip. A hard-as-nails businesswoman. A loving mother to Lillie (Martha Byrne), loving but interfering. Byrne, who came on the show as a teen, said she learned from the best. Hubbard was the best. In real life, Hubbard dated Warren Beatty. Am I the only woman in the world who did not date Beatty? Twice married and divorced, she had a son. Hubbard was very protective of her character and storyline. When I revealed a storyline, she took umbrage. She called. Her tone was ominous. "Who told you that?" I told her about Doug Marland, the show's Godlike head writer. "Well, he had no right to," she said, and then hung up. Years later when I interviewed her, she was still carping about it. Like Lucinda, Hubbard always stood her ground. The shining actress was an acting diamond.

According to fans' Facebook posts, Constance Towers, 89, (Helena Cassadine) is headed back to "General Hospital." She was last seen eight years ago. Her airdate was given as May 6, which is sweeps. "General Hospital" will neither confirm nor deny. Towers is the person I want to be when I grow up — beautiful, regal, voice like an angel and a wonderful dancer. She played opposite Yul Brynner in "The King and I" for 800 on Broadway. If you saw the show. close your eyes and you will relive the "Shall We Dance" number. She did not deny he could be prickly, but he was always professional and never upstaged her. Her only issue: the dress weighed over 100 pounds. She loved working with the kids in "Getting to Know You." And why not? She started singing professionally when she was 5. Most of all, I want to be like her because of all the charity work. Feeding kids and the homeless. She was married to John Gavin when he was ambassador to Mexico. In 1985, a storm batted the country. We had an interview slated; I assumed it would be canceled. A half-hour after it was slated, she called. I told her we could do it another time. She said, "Oh, no. John has it covered." Over the years, I have had actors be no-shows on calls because their fingernails were wet.

Good news: Steve Burton (ex Jason on "General Hospital" and Dylan on "The Young and the Restless") has signed a yearlong contract to play Harris Michaels on "Days of Our Lives" for a year. He joked with Wally Kurth (Ned on "General Hospital," Justin on "Days") it was the worst soap opera name in the world. The two-time Emmy winner says it took him a while to deal with the showing not only shooting out of sequence but taping days out of order. It has been a personal rough patch for Burton. Jason was killed off when Burton refused to get the COVID vax. Ingo Rademacher (Jax) is suing the network over his dismissal for the same reason. Good luck with that. Burton said he understood "GH's" decision. Later that year, his wife Sheeree posted she was pregnant with her fourth child. Burton is not the father. He says the relationship he has with his son and two daughters is as strong as ever. He loves being paired with Kristian Alfonso (Hope). "We just clicked." As for Peter Reckell (Bo), he knew he was getting between a fabled soap couple. Reckell is off the show soon but has told producers he would be glad to return.
Updated: Sat Apr 15, 2023