SOW Blind Item

[Ryan]

This East Coast actress has been battling a rare form of cancer, which her PR people asked Weekly and Soap Opera Digest to keep on the down-low for privacy purposes. The mags, of course, acquiesced. Now comes word that the request for privacy was actually to give the PR people time to pitch her ordeal to Oprah!

[Darcy]

I've read unofficially that Colleen Zenk Pinter had tongue cancer.

[Dr. Jay S.W.]

Does she play on ATWT? I heard that also. She began slurring onscreen or something like that.

[Ryan]

Yes, the great CZP did have some speech problems for a while that came across on-screen. I dunno if she does have cancer, but I hope all is well with her now.

[stenbeck212]

Waiting for acknowledgment from Oprah seems like a pretty odd way to handle it. Disclosure could help a lot of people cope. If it really is CZP, which I also read unofficially, this issue has affected her for months and Oprah still has a way to go before her new season starts. Weird.

[TC]

My first thought was CZP's tongue cancer, which I read about recently on a non-soap board.

[KSlater]

If being on Oprah helps this person cope, I say go for it. Having lost a loved one to cancer, I can't really criticize the actions of anyone suffering from the disease. I hope this actress whips it into submission!

[stenbeck212]

I don't think it's being seen as a coping mechanism. The disclosure is being put on hold because publicists want it that way.

[Juliajms]

It's her disease she can handle going public any way she chooses or not at all as far as I'm concerned.

[KSlater]

ICAM. Believe me, publicists are the last thing on your mind when you have the possibility of facing the grim reaper.

[AMCGio83]

They should incorperate that into her story. Imagine that. A ocially relevant soap opera on daytime that could educate the public.

[Soapsuds]

I agree but we are talking about Jean Passanante here. She couldnt write a good story if her job depended on it. If all this is true about CZP I wish her a speedy recovery. She is one classy lady and an outstanding actress.

[SpiritualJunkie]

CZP has tongue cancer (how the heck do you get that)? I hadn't heard that! I hope she's okay now.

[P.J.]

It's a rumor. About two months ago (just before Paul's last "death") CZP developed a noticeable lisp. It's gone on too long to be attributed to some dental work, and there's been NO talk about it at all in the mags.

If it's true, then the mags sound like asses. It's CZP's business, and she's under no obligation to give them the story first. And even if she did, why do they GAF? ATWT doesn't sell their magazines...at least that's the party line when it comes to covers.

However, I wouldn't put it past P&G's publicists to try and drum up more free press for the show either. I'm not really sure how CZP would expect she has enough recognition to rate a story on Oprah. Oprah's not even a CBS soap fan.

[AMCHistory]

My heart goes out to Colleen and her family if this is true. Sounds like we'll be getting confirmation soon.