Heather Tom

Game shows also rank high on the popularity list. Who doesn't have fond memories of watching The Price Is Right while staying homesick from school, and who doesn't enjoy testing their trivia knowledge against the Jeopardy! braniacs? Now there's a new game show, which will debut September 10, that is destined to be a hit. Merv Griffin's Let's Play Crosswords is the first game show that was produced by the recently deceased mogul since he launched Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy decades ago.

Griffin hand-picked his hosts in the past, including Alex Trebek, Pat Sajak and Ryan Seacrest. Joining that list is former soap star Ty Treadway as the host of Crosswords.

Best known to soap fans for his dual roles on One Life to Live (Dr. Colin MacIver and Troy MacIver), Treadway is also know for his talk-show career. He co-hosted the SOAPnet gabfest Soap Talk- with another former daytime star, Lisa Rinna (ex-Billie, Days of Our Lives), and then held the mic for American Idol Extra and American Idol Rewind. In endorsing Treadway, Griffin stated: "Ty exudes the kind of energy that will keep audiences engaged and excited. We are looking toward a long and successful association."

The late Griffin, who recently died of prostate cancer, earned 17 Emmys and other industry accolades as creator and producer of Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and his own self-titled talk show. He was also one of more than 60 million Americans who enjoyed solving crossword puzzles.

In other news, I recently mentioned that Heather Tom is returning to daytime. At age 15, she won the role of Victoria Newman on The Young and the Restless and is now playing Katie Logan on The Bold and the Beautiful. Besides being a talented, two-time Emmy-award-winning actress, she is also a philanthropist.

Feeling very lucky to be a working actress in Hollywood these days, Tom launched a committee titled Daytime for Planned Parenthood, which promotes a woman's right to choose and have access to modern medical care. As chairwoman, she has lobbied Congress on behalf of Planned Parenthood for two years now. Also, in 2004, Tom was a featured speaker at a Democratic National Convention kick-off event sponsored by Planned Parenthood and the Feminist Majority. She has also worked closely with SheVotes.org and various AIDS organisations.

Going hand in hand with her activism, she has appeared on many talk shows, including five appearances on Politically Incorrect and Scarborough Country. On the latter, she interviewed former star couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez before the release of their infamous bomb Gigli.

Lastly, the renaissance woman has taken an interest in interior design. She and her boyfriend, James Achor, formed Jane Doe Designs and are currently redecorating the Pacific Palisades home of Poppy Montgomery, who stars on the hit show Without a Trace.

- Dana Block