He's about to be back. Roger Howarth returns to "General Hospital" on Tuesday. Who will he be? Franco back from the dead? Drew back from the dead? Todd from "One Life to Live"? No one is talking. Howarth did go on social media after Franco was killed off and said he would be back but did not say who. He said, at the time, he did not know who he would be playing. He did state: "I trust the writers. They have always done well be me and the character."

Now that he knows, he is not telling. I first interviewed Howarth when he played Todd on "One Life to Live." He was not happy with the character. Todd was part of a gang-bang group. "Rape is heinous," said the happily married father of two. It was to be a gig for a few days. Fans liked the smoldering anti-hero. They signed him to a contract. He did mind when they started to justify Todd's actions. "You don't come back from that," said Howarth. As an actor, of course, he did. Then they signed him an ongoing scene partner named Moose. No not Bullwinkle. Moose was a parrot that served as Todd's Iago.

He whispered horrible deeds he wanted Todd to do. Todd was able to overcome the bird's treachery. At the time, Howarth was in a very good mood. He was about to start a cross-country ride with his family. He parroted the itinerary.

When you watch as much TV as I do, you also see a lot of commercials. Some are better than the shows they sponsor. Others have me holding my head. The best ads are from Geico. Not just because the mascot is so adorable, though he is, it's the content of the ads. They are funny and informative. They also cycle them. Speaking of animal crushes, I love the emu for Liberty Mutual. I am prepared for the hate email on this, but Progressive's Flo makes me want to run from the room. She has become smug and judgmental. As for her sidekick, Jamie, I like him. Especially since we have learned he is not a loser. He is rich, has a beautiful home and wife and plays a mean flamenco guitar.

I know you can never be too rich or too thin, but I am always amazed when a major star represents a product. Whoopi, Jennifer Garner, come on guys. When you take an ad, an actor who needs the money loses a gig. Also, everyone says Shaquille O'Neal is a great guy. When did he become America's spokesperson? From insurance to body powder to everything else, Shaq is the man. Now, the most confusing and dumbest commercial has to be Liberty Mutual's wet teddy bears spiel. So there's a guy selling food on the boardwalk. Another guy thinks it is a hot dog stand. The surly hash slinger snarls they are wet teddy bears.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: moonzigg at Pixabay