News Round-up: Wayne Tippit, Sursok, Rhodes, Groves

Wayne Tippit dead at 76
MELROSE PLACE star Wayne Tippit has died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, aged 76. The veteran character actor played Palmer Woodward, the father of Heather Locklear's character on the hit show, and was beloved as Ted Adamson on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW. He started his television career as Jerry Ames on THE SECRET STORM. He once played Alan Spaulding on GUIDING LIGHT as well when Chris Berneau was out sick. Tippit, who received a lung transplant in 2000, died on August 28 of complications from emphysema.

Horror flick Husk cast revealed, includes Y&R's Sursok
The After Dark Films horror movie, entitled “Husk,” will star Devon Graye, along with CJ Thomason and Wes Chatham. The movie also features Tammin Sursok, who plays Colleen Carlton on Y&R.

EASTENDERS big earners told to take 15% pay cut
The biggest stars of EASTENDERS have been told to take a pay cut - or lose some of their time on screen. The budget slashing by cash-strapped BBC bosses has led to anger from some of the cast who will see their pay packets fall by 15%.

Major earners on the soap including Barbara Windsor and Steve McFadden - Peggy and Phil Mitchell - will lose about £54,000 a year from their £360,000 salaries. Pam St Clement, who plays Pat, earns £330,000 and will be stopped £49,500, while Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale) will get £263,500 instead of £310,000.

EASTENDERS' Ricky Groves suffers STRICTLY COME DANCING injury
Groves, mechanic Garry Hobbs in Albert Square, was hit by tendonitis - a painful inflammation - in his right leg last weekend just days into rehearsals with glamorous dance partner Erin Boag.

Wrestler Dusty Rhodes will miss GUIDING LIGHT
A recap of last Sunday's FCW matches includes this GL reference: "Saxton mentioned that Archer was on some dating show a long time ago and was eliminated. This led Dusty off on a tangent about soap operas for some reason. Dusty enjoys GUIDING LIGHT. Dusty will be quite sad since GUIDING LIGHT was canceled and is scheduled to be replaced by a new version of LET'S MAKE A DEAL hosted by Wayne Brady. I can't make this stuff up if I tried."

Goodell: NFL Is Broadcasting's Franchise Player
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell paid a call on the FCC this week to talk about sports and regulation, and elsewhere buttressed the "sports-as-must-have programming" argument (or at least the NFL as must-have argument), that sports programmers have used to lobby the FCC for help with access to distributors.