News Brief

Historic LA hospital moves to new facility
On Friday, the historic Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center which was once the nation’s busiest hospitals had its areas of clinical treatment closed, department by department, as patients were moved from the hospital referred to as “old General” into its replacement facility. The old building will house some offices, but won’t be used to see patients anymore.

For many years, TV viewers saw its exterior on GENERAL HOSPITAL. But it was badly damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

DESPERATE Casting: Andrew's Getting a Lover
Joanna Cassidy has been cast on the show, and she will be playing the mother of Andrew's new boyfriend. Cassidy, whose character is named Melina, makes her first appearance in episode 11.

HOLLYOAKS star Guy set for Christmas switch-on
Guy Burnet, Craig Dean in HOLLYOAKS, teams up with Redbridge Mayor Cllr Loraine Sladden to switch on Ilford Town Centre Christmas Lights, on Wednesday, and bosses are bidding to make it the best-ever turn-on.

Emma Rigby quits HOLLYOAKS
Hollyoaks actress Emma Rigby has quit her role in the Channel 4 soap after nearly four years. The 19-year-old, who won the 'Best Actress' accolade at this year's British Soap Awards, is to leave early next year in order to pursue other drama, film and theatre projects.

Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, she said: "I've been on Hollyoaks since I was 15 and I've grown up on the show. I'm so very fortunate to be given the opportunity to learn my craft in such a fantastic environment. I just feel that the time is right to move on and hopefully get into dramas and films as I love to play different roles."

Y&R's Cooper celebrates the new Springboard Center
Contributors to the Springboard Center, plus THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS star Jeanne Cooper, celebrated the inpatient chemical dependency facility getting closer to opening Friday with an open house.

Self-directed tours were offered of the 13,000-square-foot building. Its walls and roof are up and electricity is installed, but it still is awaiting fixtures and furniture. “The building is not yet completed, but I wanted particular people who have contributed to see the progress. The main stars are the building and Jeanne Cooper,” Executive Director Tim Baker said.

Cooper and Baker met in New Orleans’ French Quarter in 1975. She attended Springboard’s groundbreaking about a year ago, and was pleased to see the construction coming out of the ground. She said the facility could be an example for the whole country.

“When I first came here, there was an energy. That is what I like to work with. People who had been asleep for a while and took pride in themselves and in their town,” Cooper said, adding the service would restore people’s souls.

TOM CASIELLO: The Llanview Conundrum
"They went there, and one of daytime television's shining moments of the last twenty years - a ground-breaking landmark storyline that not only helped thousands of women, but also inspired some young viewers to pursue a career in writing for daytime? It appears to now have a stain that is spreading so fast, there's no wiping it away.

And I am speechless."

OLTL: More Todd and Marty sex fallout
Mary Montanari writes: "The fact that Todd was having flashbacks of the rape that nearly destroyed Marty back then made their scenes yesterday even more disturbing. It is totally unfathomable to me how the writers could go this far with this particular couple."

EVENT: Andrea Evans returns as the Walk for Hope's celebrity ambassador
Join thousands of men and women who want to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer at the 12th annual Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer, which begins with registration at 8 a.m. Sunday at City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road Duarte, California.

Actress Andrea Evans of ONE LIFE TO LIVE returns as the Walk for Hope's celebrity ambassador. Breast cancer survivors and their families will participate in a 2.5K leisure walk and a 5K walk.