This Week In Hollywoodland

BEVERLY HILLS —This week in Hollywood, like all across America we pay homage to mothers. Mothers have a tough job. It’s often thankless. Mothers have to make sacrifices for their loved ones from the beginning to the end and not only do they keep families together, but they also keep companies running; for instance, Hollywood without mothers would never be so entertaining. However, the one thing all of our mothers want for us is to do something charitable for others. Here’s an opportunity for you to pay homage to mothers everywhere this week.

Kate Linder who stars as Esther Valentine on CBS’s “The Young and the Restless” was so excited to see her handsome soap costar Peter Bergman at the Secret Rose Theatre in North Hollywood, where Kate is performing in “Bedroom Secrets.” Peter never misses an opportunity to support his peers in the industry. Kate tells Canyon News, “Tommy, what a nice surprise! After my performance, Peter gave me a hug, which made the evening very special. I had no idea that he was attending, his support means a great deal to me.”

Linder and her “Y&R” costar Joshua Morrow, who portrays Nick Newman on the soap are also involved with a wonderful local charity. Joshua Morrow, Kate Linder and other celebrities are stepping out to help foster care children by donating autographed shoes. Hillsides Foster Soles, an online auction of celebrity shoes and photographs, raises awareness of foster care issues that children face while being in the system. This means a lot to Joshua and his beautiful wife Tobe, who takes care of their own three handsome boys on a daily basis. Please consider bidding online to get a chance to walk in Joshua or Kate’s shoes at: clothesoffourback.org/hillsidesfostersoles and help raise funds for Hillsides, a Los Angeles children’s charity. Auction runs through May 20. For children in foster care, they walk many miles dealing with multiple foster care placements, numerous school transfers, neglect, instability, feelings of abandonment and other emotional distress, low levels of academic expectations, special education needs, lack of adults advocating on their behalf, the list goes on. Take steps to learn more, visit Hillsides.org.

Hillsides is a foster care children’s charity that creates safe places for kids at risk as well as their families by providing comprehensive treatment, special education, mental health services and advocacy. Visit their site athillsides.org/ and at HillsidesEducationCenter.org. To go to Joshua’s link click on clothesoffourback.org/product_info.php?products_id=3726 or to go to Kate’s click on clothesoffourback.org/product_info.php?products_id=3719. Other stars involved with the Hillsides auction include, “B&B” actors Jack Wagner, Katherine Kelly Lang, Heather Tom, Lesley-Anne Down, Sarah Joy Brown, Ashley Jones, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood and Aaron D. Spears

Constance Towers appeared on stage last week for the 26^th Annual S.T.A.G.E. charity event. Despite a grueling schedule filming at ABC’s “General Hospital,” which the Beverly Hills beauty loves so much. Towers says, “I was very excited about last week’s AIDS benefit and it was a wonderful show to be part of. As I told you before, I sang ”˜Hello Young Lovers.’ The celebrity lineup was impressive, with Carole Cook, Tyne Daly, Ron Dennis (his first ever job in show biz was in my ”˜Showboat’ at Lincoln center, then he became a star from ‘Chorus Line’ obviously), Davis Gaines, Betty Garrett, Ilene Graft, Dale Kristen, Michelle Lee, Vicki Lewis, Melissa Manchester, Donna McKechnie, Patricia Morison, Karen Morrow, Sally Struthers and Julie Johnson, and John Lloyd Young were all there. Each performing a number they performed on Broadway. It was called ”˜Original Cast at the Luckman Theatre.’ This was the 26^th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event staged and directed by David Galligan. Tommy, he’s absolutely wonderful. Anyway, it was a big success. Now I can get back to my other work.”

S.T.A.G.E. is the world’s longest continuously running AIDS benefit, which brings together names in theater, television, film and cabaret who donate their time and talent to the star-studded benefit, and this year was no exception. Towers now returns to “General Hospital,” as the evil Helena Cassadine. This week, Helena will kidnap one of Port Charles’s most devious women. Towers smiles, then hints, “It’ll certainly get Luke’s attention.”

Hollywood actress, producer and writer Barbara Kerr Condon. Barbara has been extremely busy working on several projects for some time now. She recently told Canyon News, “I can finally tell you about the project I was doing the last time we talked. I had a role in a video game that uses brand new cutting edge technology. The name of the game is ”˜L.A. Noire,’ and it is big news. In fact it is the cover story on a premiere magazine for video games, ”˜Gameinformer.’ And there is a wonderful article about the game in the new issue. I play Mrs. Evestrom in the game. It was a blast being in the cast for this, and a privilege to be one of the first people to learn how to work as an actor with this ground breaking technology.” Condon’s excitement continued. “I also wanted to let you know I continue to work on producing my film, ”˜Three Times A Lady.’ It is very close to my heart and we are in the pre-production stage of the film. I promise to keep you and your readers apprised of the progress of ‘Three Times A Lady.’”

My dear friend Eileen Fulton who stars as Lisa Mitchell on CBS’s “As The World Turns” recently slipped in her kitchen while making a sandwich and broke her arm. Eileen was less upset about this mishap than she was about the death of her longtime costar and friend Helen Wagner who died last weekend in New York. Helen played Nancy Hughes on “ATWT’ since its debut in 1956. Helen was very gracious and generous to all of us over the years and she will be missed. Eileen filmed several scenes on Thursday of last week surrounding her and Lisa’s 50^th anniversary on the soap. Fulton tells Canyon News, “Tommy, I don’t know what we are going to do with the scenes. I had so many to film with Helen. Leave it to her to upstage me yet again. But Chris Goutman is a genius, he’ll figure it all out.” Fulton’s 50^thanniversary will air next week on “ATWT,” where she also gets to sing with a longtime fan of the show. “I think it’s marvelous to have this happen before the show ends. I only wish when you guest starred on our show last month, that we could have had a scene together again, like we did on your show ”˜Hollywood Classics,’ Tommy. But you did get to work with your friend Lesli Kay and she’s a beauty.”

Betty White makes history again this weekend. On the special Mother’s day episode of “Saturday Night Live,” White who is 88 appears as the host for the first time in her long and distinguished career. Fans of Miss White’s created a Facebook page to get the star on the show and it paid off. Betty also may get a daytime Emmy nomination this year as well. It would be great to top her already successful year off with a win for her incredible portrayal of the dying Anne Douglas on “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Bradley Bell’s incredible writing was on the mark for the episodes which coincidentally surrounded the women of “B&B.” Those emotional scenes included my friends, Susan Flannery, Hunter Tylo, Jacqueline MacInnes and Alley Mills.

“The Young and the Restless” head honcho Maria Arena Bell managed to get an acclaimed movie star to join her soap. Just weeks after Maria announced “Baywatch” producer and star David Hasselhoff would be returning to the show as Dr. Snapper Foster in June, it is also confirmed film star Sean Young, who starred in Eric Braeden’s “The Man Who Came Back” debuts on the show as well. Lee Phillip Bell co-created “Y&R” and “B&B” with her late husband Bill Bell, Sr. Lee is the mother of daytime TV and the mother of so many of us she’s adopted over the years. Thanks to Lee and Bill, Sr. for giving me my first start in the entertainment business. Also, Lee’s talented children Bradley, Billy and Lauralee send their mother love and appreciation on this Mother’s day. Lauralee’s millions of fans can hardly wait to see the next webisode of “Family Dinner,” which has recently been nominated for a Webby award. Lauralee’s on-air chemistry with Phyllis Diller, Oscar-winner Cloris Leachman and Emmy-winner Aaron Lustig is incredible. She shares that chemistry with all of her costars. “Y&R” fans are hoping she’ll make a return to her soap roots as Christine Blair Williams in the near future as well. Lauralee’s the hottest mama in Hollywood! Not to mention one of the most talented.

My “Queen of the Lot” costar and good pal actress Tanna Frederick is still fighting to clean up the waters of the Pacific. After the explosion and oil spill in the Gulf, Tanna’s efforts to clean up our waterways has increased. The tireless advocate tells Canyon News, “In the midst of this environmental catastrophe, there are things that can be done. This is a great opportunity for all of us to turn our mindset around and realize that out of this tragedy can come a shift in environmental activism. Project Save Our Surf is not an arm of any political party. Please consider making a donation to help us fight to keep our waters pristine.” To donate go toprojectsaveoursurf.org/team/psosteams/member/64.

The national media hasn’t been focused on the needs of the people of Nashville, Tenn. as much as they seem fixated on so many other stories. However, the flooding the historic city recently endured has not gotten the residents down. Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars live in Nashville. They include, Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman, Kenny Chensey, Taylor Swift, “Desperate Housewives” hunk James Denton, gorgeous supermodel Karen Elson and Sheryl Crow, just to name a few. Please consider making donations to the many non famous citizens of the historic city which is the home to The Grand Old Opry, which was under two feet of water and most of American music history, which is not only country music. You can help the people of Nashville in various ways:Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to disaster relief, donate to Hands On Nashville, volunteer through Hands On Nashville, New opportunities are posted on their website daily, donate to theCommunity Foundation of Middle Tennessee, donate to the Nashville Humane Association — pets have been displaced, too, Spread the word — post stories, pictures and videos to Twitter and Facebook encouraging others to donate and visit Nashvillest for frequently updated information regarding current needs (as well as general information).