"One Life to Live" is going to give fans a slice of heaven when the show celebrates its 40th anniversary. On July 21, Viki (Erika Slezak) dies in a car crash. Don't worry, she is not really dead — she takes a trip to heaven. Would Viki go anywhere else? OLTL heaven is like no heaven ever seen. Forget the clouds and angels. Heaven will be a sleek condo. As Viki wanders through the skyscraper, she will see lots of dead people.

She will encounter fan favorites. Making angelic returns are Phil Carey (Asa), Mark Derwin (Ben) and Stephen Markle (Mel). Agnes Nixon, who created OLTL (as well as dozens of other soap operas), will also make a celestial appearance. Viki's guide will be Erin Torpey, who played Jessica.

Also set to return for a short visit is John Loprieno (Cord) in an earthbound plot when Thom Christopher (Carlo) decides to abduct Cord and Tina's (Andrea Evans) daughter.

A story set to run for several weeks will have Bo (Robert S. Woods) and Rex (John Paul Lavoisier) struck by lightening. In a role reversal, Bo becomes his pop, Asa, and Rex a young Bo. The duo has the fight of their life. If they cannot return to the present, Rex may be drafted and sent to Vietnam. Woods, who served in Vietnam, said he is very "intrigued" by the plot.

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Good golly, Miss Molly! "Young and Restless'" Gloria (Judith Chapman) and Jeff (Ted Shackelford) are getting married next week. In a "Tutti frutti, oh, Rudy" moment, Little Richard will marry the duo when they wed in a Las Vegas wedding chapel. Little Richard became an ordained minister in real life. His joining Gloria and Jeff is not his first soap opera wedding task. He officiated in real life when Demi Moore, who appeared on "General Hospital," married Bruce Willis. In the famous words of Little Richard, "Shut up!"

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Kill me now!! For the 4,372 time since Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda) left "General Hospital," a magazine has a cover story with the line "Is Brenda set to return to GH?" Marcil says, "I am the luckiest girl in the world." Sounds like she is going to come back. Then read the story. As usual, Marcil is noncommittal. Is she returning? Who knows — least of all her and the magazines that keep using their covers to sell magazines. When I know for sure — she signs a contract — I'll let you know.

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

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