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MATTHEW ASHFORD (JACK, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) joins the family on ABC's comedy Dharma & Greg this week when he guest stars as Greg's greed cousin. "Greg's father, Edward, is about to hand over the business," explains Ashford, "and the big question is, 'Who's going to get it?' So Dharma and Greg go visit the family in Dallas, where one person is more dysfunctional than the next. [My character is] not exactly a threat to the throne. He's kind of the local color?"

Ashford found the prime-time change of pace refreshing. "They have a huge team of writers who are always writing, changing, writing, changing," he reports, awed. "They come right down to the set! We're doing our run-through, and they're going over it. It's really fascinating. In daytime, everyone's spread all around, and there's no time. The script comes, and you have to get it done.

Along with Ashford, this episode features guest stars Leslie Charleson (Monica, General Hospital), Julie Pinson (Eve, Port Charles) and Morgan Fairchild (ex-Sydney Chase, The City). "Dharma Does Dallas" airs Tuesday, Feb. 20, on ABC. Check local listings

DEANNA BARNERT