'The Doctors' Recasts Althea with Virginia Vestoff, 46 Years Ago!

Virginia Vestoff as Dr. Althea Davis on The Doctors.

There's little on TV that brings me more enjoyment than the two half-hour episodes of classic daytime soap opera The Doctors that air on Retro TV each weekday. It is current October 1969 at Hope Memorial Hospital, and we already know what is going to happen over the next 13 years until the show ended on December 31, 1982. So why was I so upset when the announcer started Wednesday's second episode with, "The part of Althea Davis is being played by Virginia Vestoff"?

I knew it was coming, but this recast was quite jarring nonetheless. I didn't realize how dramatically different Vestoff looked compared to her predecessor, Elizabeth Hubbard, one of the best actors to ever appear in a daytime drama. This is going to take some getting used to!

Hubbard returns to the role of Althea in a year, or six months if Retro TV's two-episodes-a-day schedule remains in tact. It can't come soon enough for me.

Earlier in 1969, Vestoff received a Tony nomination for creating the role of Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, in the popular musical ''1776'' on Broadway. Sadly, Vestoff passed away in 1982 at only 42 years of age after a battle with cancer.

Serial Scoop Now spoke with Hubbard about The Doctors and more at the October 2014 premiere of Weight the series.

'The Doctors': Weeknights on Retro TV Promo

Elizabeth Hubbard stars as Dr. Althea Davis on The Doctors.

A new Retro TV promo for classic daytime soap opera The Doctors includes a voice over that says, "Weeknights on Retro TV: Drama, romance, tension... It's all just another day at Hope Memorial with The Doctors." Watch below:

New Retro TV Affiliates Coming Soon in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Tampa, Seattle, Denver, Sacramento, Austin, Oklahoma City & Amarillo

Back-to-back episodes of The Doctors air weekdays starting at 12 p.m. ET on Retro TV.

Luken Communications has reached a multi-station, multi-network affiliation agreement with Mako Communications, LLC. The deal encompasses Mako stations in 23 markets, including seven in the top 10 designated market areas (DMAs). The new affiliates will be distributed between Luken's Retro TV (home of The Doctors and Doctor Who) and Rev'n networks with a scheduled launch of December 1, 2014.

With the added Mako affiliations, Retro TV's distribution footprint will increase to nearly 78 million homes, covering 68 percent of the U.S. New markets include New York, Chicago, Seattle and Tampa, among others. Retro TV will reach a total of 87 designated market areas, including 39 of the current top 50 DMAs.

Below is a complete listing of Retro TV Mako affiliates:

5 Reasons to Watch 'The Doctors' on Retro TV

Daytime soap opera The Doctors ran on NBC from 1963 to 1982. In September, the show returned in reruns on digital channel Retro TV, starting with the December 4, 1967 episode. As of Friday, we are up to January 29, 1968, and The Doctors ("in living color") has been a pure delight. There are many reasons to love it, including Rita Lakin's smart and funny scripts that allow stories to be told about educated, intelligent characters who just happen to be very flawed. Viewers also get to see the original NBC logo and tags (including "stay tuned to Another World, next in color"). Below are five more reasons to watch back-to-back episodes of The Doctors weekdays from 12-1 p.m. ET on Retro TV:

5. Dr. John Rice's relationship with Polly Merriweather.

Polly Merriweather (Betty Walker) is a terminal patient at Hope Memorial being treated by Dr. John Rice (Terry Kiser). Over time the two have formed a close bond as she talks about her nieces, that have not visited her, and who she should leave her fortune to after she's gone. John has grown to really care Polly beyond the typical doctor-patient relationship. Their sweet exchanges always warm viewers hearts. If only there was a way to save Polly.

'The Doctors' Joins Retro TV on Monday, Watch a New Sneak Peek Video

Classic daytime soap opera The Doctors will join Retro TV's afternoon lineup starting September 29th. Fans of the Emmy-winning series will find two episodes airing back-to-back Monday through Friday at 12 p.m. ET/PT.

Watch a new sneak peek clip below:

Back-to-Back Episodes of 'The Doctors' Will Air Weekdays on Retro TV Starting September 29

Classic daytime soap opera The Doctors will join Retro TV's afternoon lineup starting September 29th. Fans of the Emmy-winning series will find two episodes airing back-to-back Monday through Friday at 12 p.m. ET/PT.

Set in Hope Memorial Hospital in the fictional New England city of Madison, The Doctors centers on the hospital's Chief of Staff Dr. Matthew Powers (James Pritchett) and his dedicated team. The daytime drama ran for 19 years, spanned 5,280 episodes and won several Daytime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Drama Series (1974), Lead Actor (James Pritchett, 1978) and Lead Actress (Elizabeth Hubbard, 1974). The show was also nominated for multiple Primetime Emmy Awards (before Daytime had its own ceremony) and won in 1972 for Outstanding Achievement in Daytime Drama - Programs.

Watch a new sneak peek clip below:

'The Doctors' Sneak Peek Clip; Classic Soap Opera Coming to Retro TV This Fall

The Doctors will debut on September 29 with back-to-back episodes at 12 p.m. ET/PT every weekday on Retro TV. Watch a preview clip of the classic daytime soap opera below:

Classic Episodes Of Daytime Soap Opera 'The Doctors' Featuring Alec Baldwin, Kathleen Turner, Kim Zimmer, and Elizabeth Hubbard!

Kathleen Turner as Nola 

Luken Communications yesterday announced the addition of the classic NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors to Retro TV. As we wait to see this beloved soap return, check out Academy Award nominee Alec Baldwin (Billy Aldrich), Academy Award nominee Kathleen Turner (Nola Dancy Aldrich), and Daytime Emmy Award Winning Actresses, Kim Zimmer (The Original Nola Dancy Aldrich), Hillary B. Smith (Kit McCormick), and Elizabeth Hubbard (Dr. Althea Davis)in classic episodes of The Doctors.

You just may be surprised who else you recognize!

Retro TV Adding Classic Daytime Soap Opera 'The Doctors' Later This Year

Luken Communications today announced the addition of the classic NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors to Retro TV. Set in Hope Memorial Hospital in the fictional New England city of Madison, The Doctors' storylines revolve around the hospital's Chief of Staff Dr. Matthew Powers (James Pritchett) and his dedicated staff. Several well-known actors and actresses passed through the halls of Hope Memorial during its run, including Academy Award nominee Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Academy Award winner Kathy Bates (Misery), Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn (The Exorcist), Emmy Award winner Ted Danson (Cheers), Emmy Award winner Terry O'Quinn (Lost), Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) and Academy Award nominee Kathleen Turner (Peggy Sue Got Married).