Elizabeth Hubbard Joins Cast of Award-Winning Web Series 'Anacostia'

Elizabeth Hubbard

Any day with Elizabeth Hubbard news is a good one, and today there are two new stories to report. The eleven-time Emmy nominee and two-time winner is joining the cast of Emmy and Indie Series Award winning web series Anacostia. She will play Eva Montgomery.

Hubbard, best known for her legendary performances as Dr. Althea Davis on The Doctors and Lucinda Walsh on As the World Turns, will reunite with her ATWT daughter, Martha Byrne, who plays Alexis Jordan on Anacostia so well that she won the first ever Daytime Emmy for the web series drama performance in April. Byrne co-wrote Hubbard's scenes with Anacostia creator Anthony Anderson, and will make her directorial debut in their scenes together.

In addition to shooting Anacostia with Hubbard, Byrne is putting together a docustory about her life.

"Your old actors, like generals, don't fade away," Hubbard told me when I spoke with her last October at the Weight premiere screening in New York City. "I'm ready to act."

Look for Hubbard to debut as Eva when Anacostia returns this fall.

RELATED:
* 'Serial Scoop Now' #1: 'Weight' New York City VIP Party & Screening with Martha Byrne, Daryn Strauss, Elizabeth Hubbard, Michael Park & Anne Sayre

'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:

Wes Kenney Dead at 85

H. Wesley Kenney

Television producer and director H. Wesley Kenney died on January 13, 2015. He was 85.

Wes Kenney was best known for his work on soap operas, directing The Doctors (the last live show he ever worked on), producing and directing Days of Our Lives from 1968 to 1979 before becoming co-executive producer of The Young and the Restless from 1982 to 1987. Y&R won Daytime Emmy Awards as Outstanding Drama Series in 1983, 1985 and 1986. From 1987 to 1989, Kenney replaced the legendary Gloria Monty as executive producer of General Hospital.

Kenney won seven total Daytime Emmy Awards including three at the 1st Annual event in 1974.

When Days of our Lives faltered after the switch from 30 minute episodes to 60, Kenney returned to the show to fix their production problems and he changed the way daytime dramas were scheduled and filmed from that point forward.

The Complete Story of 'The Doctors' (1963-1973)

Daytime TV covered the world of soap operas for decades before finally folding in the 1990s. In the mid-70s, the magazine did an excellent series titled "The Complete Story of..." recounting the history of a soap opera from its inception. Below is the historical feature on the first 10 years of NBC's The Doctors (1963-1973), which is currently being aired on Retro TV.

Some of the interesting tidbits include:

* The Doctors did not start as a serial; it began as a "half-hour anthology series of medical dramas, set in the large metropolitan Hope Memorial Hospital, and with the four principals alternating daily in the lead role, according to NBC's original announcement. The roles were Dr. William Scott (played by Jock Gaynor), Dr. Jerry Chandler (portrayed by Richard Roat), Dr. Elizabeth Hayes (played by Margot Moser) and Rev. Samuel Shafer, a hospital chaplain (played by Fred J. Scollay).

* Later in the first season, Herb Kenwith and Paul Lammers became the directors. But after nine months, The Doctors shifted to a continuing story line, and by 1965, James Pritchett was portraying Dr. Matt Powers, chief of staff at Hope Hospital, and Elizabeth Hubbard was playing Dr. Althea Davis, chief of the Outpatient Clinic.

* James Pritchett did a single performance during The Doctors' one-story-a-week phase, on June 20, 1963. "I played a corporation president running away and having a broken back that brought me to the hospital." He returned to The Doctors on July 9, 1963 as Dr. Matt Powers when the serial was still was still a one-story-a-week show.

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:

James Pritchett Remembered, Emmy-Winning Actor Was Born 92 Years Ago Today

Dr. Matt Powers can been seen running Hope Memorial (and smoking his pipe) weekdays on Retro TV.

During his 19 year run on NBC soap opera The Doctors (1963-1982), actor James Pritchett received critical praise, passionate fan support, and even a Daytime Emmy Award in 1978. His Dr. Matt Powers was Chief of Staff at Hope Memorial, the leader of a group of talented but flawed doctors, husband to Maggie, friend and confidant. Pritchett is now winning over a whole new generation of fans who are tuning in for The Doctors repeats on Retro TV, with episodes from 1968 currently airing weekdays from 12-1 p.m. ET. Two months of story is in the books and Matt is regularly sharing memorable moments with Maggie (Bethel Leslie), Althea (Elizabeth Hubbard), Nick (Gerald Gordon) and more.

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.

'Serial Scoop Now' #1: 'Weight' New York City VIP Party & Screening with Martha Byrne, Daryn Strauss, Elizabeth Hubbard, Michael Park & Anne Sayre

The stars of Daytime TV came out to support Martha Byrne and Daryn Strauss at a screening of
comedy series Weight in New York City. Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

On Wednesday, October 8, Serial Scoop Now attended the very first screening of comedy series Weight in New York City. Two-time Emmy Award-winning actress Martha Byrne (As the World Turns, Gotham, Crisis) stars as Claire, a woman who returns to her family a hundred pounds lighter after appearing for three months on a reality show. Written by WGA Award nominee Daryn Strauss (Downsized), Weight is smart, funny, dramatic and relatable, receiving loud bursts of laughter throughout the entire screening.

In our premiere episode, Serial Scoop Now host Michael Goldberg dishes with Byrne and Strauss about Weight, and catches up with Byrne's former As the World Turns co-stars, Michael Park, Anne Sayre, and Elizabeth Hubbard. Hubbard is currently winning over a whole new generation fans who are riveted by her portrayal of Dr. Althea Davis in The Doctors reruns on Retro TV.

"I'm very inspired by the things that make people act totally crazy," Strauss tells SSN. "I wrote a series called Downsized not too long ago and it was about how money makes people act crazy and desperate and do really crazy things. Weight is another one of those things. When weight is involved, people act a little nuts."

Watch below:



For more on Weight, visit weighttheseries.com.

'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).