BEVERLY HILLS —This week in Hollywodland was a bit chilly weather-wise, but everything else is heating up for spring. “The Young and the Restless” is celebrating 37 years on-air, “As The World Turns” is welcoming a movie star back to the fold, Jesse James lands in rehab, Ricky Martin was not the only celebrity who came out of the closet and lots more happened in the city that never stops.

With “ATWT” possibly ending its run in September, my friend Eileen Fulton, who has starred as Lisa the past 50 years on the soap is planning a special tribute to the show on April 16, 17 and 18 in NYC at Don’t Tell Mama. Beautiful actress Fulton will be performing her famous cabaret act along with famed music director Bob Goldstone, bass player Tom Hubbard and Ron Tierno on drums. Fulton tells Canyon News, “It certainly is a very sentimental show for me. Honoring a series I’ve called home for a half a century. I hope fans will come out and enjoy the show and help pay tribute to 54 years the show has been on the air.” Don’t Tell Mama is at 343 W 46th Street in NYC. For reservations and costs call 212-757-0788. Eileen was a guest on my show “Hollywood Classics” and is the only person I came close to asking for her hand in marriage.

“Y&R” celebrated their 37th anniversary recently with virtually the entire cast and crew out at Via Alloro restaurant in Beverly Hills. The show that has remained the number one rated daytime drama every day for over two decades honors their veteran actors and is helmed by Maria Arena Bell, who is one of the most talented ladies in all of Tinseltown. Kate Linder, who portrays Esther Valentine on the show, tells Canyon News exclusively, “I’m so fortunate and definitely thrilled to be able to bring the role of Esther Valentine to life. The fact that it has been the number one show for over 21 years is icing on the cake for me.”  Kate who is always the most popular bell on the red carpet in Tinseltown added, “I proudly attended the party that was held for the cast and crew to celebrate the show’s 37th anniversary. Maria Bell’s birthday was the next day, so we were able to celebrate two great events. Everyone had a terrific time. We also had a 37th Anniversary cake-cutting event on the set the other day.”

Bell was recently chosen as one of the most beautiful and talented ladies in Hollywood by Canyon News.  Kate was not surprised to hear that. Adding news about her own “Y&R” milestone,  “I believe that ”˜The Young and The Restless’ has a great future. We have incredible writers headed by Maria Bell. With Maria Bell and Paul Rauch at the helm, I know we can’t go wrong. April 8th is my 28th anniversary and I look forward to celebrating many, many more,” said the talented Ms. Linder.

Catching up with actor Thom Bierdz this week was a lot of fun. Especially after he announced to Canyon News last week that he’ll be traveling to NYC this month in order to be given an award for his humanitarian work in equality for all people, especially gays, lesbians and transgendered. Thom was very proud of fellow actor Ricky Martin for ending all speculation and rumors when he admitted this week that he was gay. “Perhaps we [Phillip and Ricky Martin] can have a love interest on ”˜Y&R’,” the star tweeted. Martin wasn’t the only one to come out this week. Anna Paquin, who portrays Sookie Stackhouse on HBO’s mega hit drama “True Blood” and is engaged to on screen love interest Stephen Moyer, did a PSA this week and announced, “I’m Anna Paquin. I’m bisexual, and I give a damn.” “Give A Damn” is the theme of the campaign which will feature several famous faces and names speaking out for equality.

After spending more than a couple weeks on the road and also at the Scottsdale “Festival of the West,” my longtime client and godfather Clint Walker and his beautiful wife Susan checked in with me. Since the death of several legends, including Peter Graves, who starred with Clint in Dan Curtis’s “Scream of the Wolf” in 1974, Clint spoke about the recent losses in Hollywood and tells Canyon News exclusively, “I had the pleasure of working with Peter Graves on a feature for TV called ”˜Scream of the Wolf,’ and I always enjoyed his series ”˜Mission Impossible.’ He was a fine actor and a very nice person. It is sad to see so many fine older actors passing away, like Robert Culp, Parnell Roberts and my friend Fess Parker, who not only was a very fine actor, but he was one of the nicest people in Hollywood.”

While famous child star Beverly Washburn, who starred in “Old Yeller” with Fess Parker says, “We didn’t share any scenes together in the movie, but I always liked him and watched him on the set when I was a little girl. A few years ago, I saw him at a western convention in Florida and waited until after he’d finished eating, then I went up to him and was about to introduce myself, when Mr. Parker got up, hugged me and said, good to see you, Beverly. I was astonished that he’d remembered me after all those decades had past since seeing each other, and I was no longer a child by then. He was indeed a wonderful man.”

Word came midweek that Jesse James was in rehab and being treated for personal issues. Within hours of his attorney’s press release the entertainment news shows were speculating whether James was being treated for sex addiction just like Tiger Woods who claimed he was in rehab. While in rehab the Long Beach PD announced that a citation has been issued for Jesse James regarding an alleged incident of vandalism on a photographer’s property last week. There are mixed press reports about Sandra Bullock’s desire to divorce her husband. However, the photographs of Jesse James in a Nazi hat, posing as Adolph Hitler and saluting did not help his image very much with people around the nation. Certainly, the motorcycle jock never thought that photo would see the light of day. Sandra is a wonderful actress, who just recently won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for her riveting role in “The Blind Side,” and she and her stepchildren deserve their privacy at this time.

Yet another woman has come out in the Tiger Woods cheating saga. However, it’s not what you may think. This time, his kindergarten teacher is joining in the action and agreeing to tell all, with famed L.A. based advocate attorney Gloria Allred by her side, the teacher had childhood photographs of Woods and also discussed her feelings about his alleged mistresses. Just when we believed the Tiger story was over, it took yet another shocking twist. Who will be the next to talk? Stay tuned.

Dr. Conrad Murray filed papers this week asking the medical board not to pull his license to practice medicine, claiming he’s in dire need of the money for legal fees he’s incurring while fighting criminal charges in the death of one of his patients. In case you’ve been in hibernation over the winter, the patient was Michael Jackson. Shannon Doherty allegedly is having trouble with the tax man in California, and is doing her best to dance her way out of financial problems on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.” Lindsay Lohan’s landlord also filed papers asking that her two months of unpaid rent in the amount of $23,000 needs to be made current or he will proceed with the eviction process. Lohan has not had a major film role in a few years, so entertainment watchers are pondering how she’ll find a way out of this situation.

White hot actress Tanna Frederick is still blowing away the critics in her tour de force performance in Henry Jaglom’s “45 Minutes From Broadway” in Santa Monica at the Edgemar Theatre. Frederick is starring with Harriet Schock, Julie Davis, David Garver and “Sopranos” bad boy David Proval. Frederick is still recuperating after blowing away the competition at the L.A. Marathon just last week.

Sources are telling media outlets that Charlie Sheen wishes to move on and leave his role on the CBS hit “Two and a Half Men” after the filming next week is completed. Anyone can see this is an obvious ploy to get a raise in salary. Warner Bros is reportedly offering Sheen one million dollars per episode to sign on for another year or two and the lucrative offer is only part of a hefty future paycheck for Sheen. Any new episodes would be part of a syndication package, which would net him that salary for an indefinite period, even after the show no longer is filming new episodes. I suspect Sheen and the studio will come to a solution that is financially feasible for both parties. Guess CBS and WB have faith that his Christmas day assault charges will go away, or that fans won’t care for that matter.

My friend Asaf Goldstien who is often called the Hebrew Brad Pitt has just inked a deal to do a film in his native Israel. The film is titled “Interkum.” Asaf tells Canyon News, “Tommy, the film is a short independent film. I’m playing Evitar, he’s a guy that had a nervous breakdown and doesn’t want to have a brain surgery that is needed. The big question is whether he wants to live or not. His girlfriend leaves him the day before the operation because he doesn’t want to go through with the surgery, and he meets this other girl on the same night at a gas station, who then convinces him to go through the operation. The theme is, it’s always easy to open up your heart to strangers rather than the people you love.”

On Easter Sunday, L.A.”˜s own Cabeza de Vaca Arcestra will appear live on the Cinefamily stage to perform their live score to Cecil B. DeMille’s Biblical silent epic “The King of Kings!” Over the course of three silents (Faust, Metropolis and Häxan), the Arcestra, which features members of Dios Malos, has established itself as Los Angeles’ premiere ensemble for film score interpretation. Always experimental without ever sounding unprepared, the group constructs scores that exist symbiotically with the source material, and tonight’s music will be appropriately old-school —old old-school, in line with DeMille’s seismic portrayal of the Passion, which features a cast of thousands. In the film, Oscar-nominated actor H.B. Warner (a favorite character actor of Frank Capra’s) gives us a dignified and humble “Son Of God,” playing out the last weeks of his life before the Crucifixion in a series of haunting and moving vignettes, including a rare early Technicolor depiction of the Resurrection. Come see the Arcestra’s one-of-a-kind musical interpretation of one of the most profound stories ever told.  The show will be at 8 p.m. at the Cinefamily, which is at 611 N. Fairfax Avenue.  Tickets are $12 and can be purchased by going to King of Kings (w/ live score by Cabeza de Vaca Orchestra).  The information line is 323-655-2510.

Lastly, daytime viewers who watch “As The World Turns” will have a treat on Monday, when Oscar nominated and Emmy-winning actress Julianne Moore returns to her roots and to Oakdale, Ill. as Frannie Hughes to help celebrate the 25thanniversary of the character’s parents Dr. Bob and Kim Hughes, played by Don Hastings and Kathryn Hays. Moore is well known to movie goers from films such as “Hannibal,” “Boogie Nights,” “Children of Men” and “Far From Heaven,” which was the film that gave her a fourth Academy Award nomination. Fans can expect an exciting week for the CBS soaps as a gas leak causes a catastrophic explosion at the masquerade ball on “Y&R and at least one death,” “B&B’s” Bridget learns devastating news,  then Molly sees a menacing figure on Friday’s episode of “ATWT.” That’s the episode that I will be guest starring with Lesli Kay who plays Molly. It will kick off a dramatic and chilling storyline for the blue-eyed talented beauty. I’m very proud to have my close up opposite Lesli and being directed by Christopher Goutman, this year’s winner for Best Daytime-TV Director by the Directors Guild of America.

Here’s hoping everyone is enjoying spring, see you next week!

 

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