Lynda Hirsch on Soaps Q&A

Source: Creators.com
July 25, 2009

Q: When the character of Mallet came to town on "Guiding Light," didn't he have another name and a shady past? — Robert, Port Huron, Ohio

A: Yes to both. When Mallet came to town in the 1990s, he had the name Anthony Camaletti. The mob was after him so he changed his name to A.C. Mallet. The writers were doing a goof on the name M.C. Hammer. As a law enforcement member, he fell in love with police cadet Harley. Harley and A.C. headed to Florida. While in Florida, he had a few affairs. Harley came back to town without her husband. In need of cash in Florida, Mallet became a hit man for Griggs. Mallet wanted to distance himself from the mob so he returned to Springfield. Short on cops, he was rehired by the police. Once again, he fell in love with a trainee. This time, it was Marina.

Q: When Don Diamont first came to "Bold and Beautiful," his character had a very prominent story line. Lately, no one even mentions his name. What is the deal? Also, didn't the actor have a relationship with a well-known singer? — Alicia, Rockford, Ill.

A: "B&B" has a reputation for shoving new characters down your throat. Suddenly, they disappear. Last time Whip was on the air, he was everywhere. Then he married Brooke and he disappeared. Whip is now back.

Massimo, dad of Nick and Ridge, was all over the place; then he disappeared. That worked well for "Days of Our Lives." It allowed Joe Mascolo to return to that show as Stefano.

Back to Diamont's Bill: While he was off the canvas for a while, the show says in the next month or two he will have a powerhouse story line.

Nice news for Don Diamont, who saw his Brad character killed off on "Young and Restless" earlier this year.

For many years, Diamont and Gloria Loring, who co-starred with him on "Days of Our Lives," were an item. Loring played nightclub singer Liz Chandler. Diamont played the lowlife son of her on-screen husband Neil Curtis. Aside from her work on "Days," Loring was a frequent singing guest on Johnny Carson's show. Loring was previously married to Alan Thicke. Their son Robin Thicke is a hot recording star.

Q: Didn't Kim on "As the World Turns" have a son by John Dixon? — Carrie, Waltham, Mass.

A: Indeed. Andy Dixon was the product of that marriage. Andy was a key character on the show for years. Scott DeFreitas, who played Andy since he was a teenager, met and married Maura West (Carly) when they worked on "ATWT." The couple now have five children — one from her first marriage and four from their own. DeFreitas proposed to West in a most unusual and — for some — embarrassing way: He asked her to marry him on the Yankees fan-o-gram. The love of baseball first fueled their friendship. The couple shared the birth of their first child on the cable television show "A Baby's Story." As for Andy, about six years ago, he left town to get over his issues with alcohol. We never understood why the show axed the character or why they never brought him back.