Table of contents for February 1, 2016 in ABC Soaps In Depth

The In Depth Story: As Internet-savvy GH fans are well aware, executive producer Frank Valentini, headwriters Jean Passanante and Shelly Altman, and ABC’s manager of current programming, Nathan Varni, are quite active on social media platforms. “I do read and listen to what ever yone’s saying,” Varni shares with In Depth. “I love being part of the conversation. Having Frank, myself and the writers on social media shows how much we love the show and the genre and want to see this keep going.” As much fun as the GH team has interacting with viewers on-line, social media has actually not proven to be a useful decisionmaking tool for them. “It’s hard to find a consensus,” Varni explains. “I tried a few times to be like, ‘Okay, what are the…

The latest comings and goings — and how they will change your shows! Kevin: Imagine the scandal if Laura were to hook up with the ex of her onetime Deception partner, Lucy! Frisco: If Felicia’s former husband returned to make amends with Maxie, he could also make time with Laura! Ned: Tracy’s head would explode if her son took up with the former missus of her own former spouse! The In Depth Story: Luke may have been the love of Laura’s life. However, he hasn’t been the only love in her life. Nor will he necessarily be the last! “She’s not that old,” Francis reminded us recently, “that she wouldn’t still be looking for some sort of a partner.” Who’s available? At the moment, single guys in Laura’s age range…

Nina’s been proving herself a far more valuable asset at Crimson than anyone could have imagined or Julian really wanted. And on Wednesday, January 20, she has yet another inspired idea! Is she going to turn the magazine into a major success against all odds? Meanwhile, Liz seeks help for her troubled son, Jake, on Wednesday, January 20. (For more on Elizabeth’s situation, turn to the In Depth Cover Story, page 22). And as much as Liz seems nervous about becoming pals with Franco, she might find herself not only wanting but needing to heed his words on Friday, January 29. What he says is disturbing, but it could prove vital to Jake’s future!…

Sasha discovers that Nicole is behind Rick’s decision to rescind her modeling contract at Forrester on Monday, January 18, and she wastes no time in telling Zende about the malicious side of his girlfriend’s personality on Tuesday, January 19. Wyatt stops bemoaning his own shambles of a love life when he hears someone else’s romantic sob story on Wednesday, January 20. Bill and Brooke give each other a wide berth at the office in order to resist temptation on Thursday, January 21. And on Friday, January 22, Quinn finds herself in over her head while trying to manipulate a relationship and conceal a huge secret!…

It’s not just business as usual at THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Spencer Publications now that Brooke has been put on the payroll. In fact, very little work seems to be getting accomplished where Bill and his new hire are concerned, because they’re far too busy trying to keep their hands offeach other! “It’s strange and hard to imagine that Brooke is going to be able to [work so closely with Bill],” notes Katherine Kelly Lang of her alter ego’s late stendeavor. “We’ll see scenes where they are having to come to grips with their feelings and how they are going to handle working together.” That said, Brooke commits herself to keeping her head — as opposed to her heart/libido — in the game. “She’s needed a job like this,”…

… or do you miss the days when the rare occasions on which soaps showed reruns — like around the holidays — meant a truly classic episode, not one that had aired a few weeks earlier? Imagine if instead of flashing back a month or two, GH fans were able to relive moments like Monica giving birth to Rick’s baby with the assistance of his wife, Lesley? Or, if they feel the need to show episodes which highlight current players and storylines, why not let us relive Jason and Sam’s wedding or the 2008 episode in which he proposed to Elizabeth. While old episodes of primetime shows can be found on DVD, soap viewers often have nothing but their memories or crappy YouTube videos to feed their hunger to relive…

A born and bred L.A. guy, Paevey fell hard for Vancouver during his Hallmark Channel shoot. “I’ve been a lot of places and done a lot of traveling. [But] British Columbia is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been in my life,” he marvels. “During production, they put us up in a hotel that had a kitchen, washer, dryer and the whole nine, and I rented a car. It was like I moved for a month. I got to explore when we weren’t shooting. It’s just stunning. You can see my pictures on Instagram.” The avid traveler was so smitten, he’s already been back for a visit! “If I have time offand I feel like an adventure, I just go where the winds take me,” he reveals. “GH…

Floating around Port Charles since 1980, the Haunted Star has also been christened Titan and The Lucky Lady. The vessel has also been owned by seemingly every other character on the canvas. Can you remember which of these potential sea-goers never owned it? see page 92 for answer key gh singled out answers (from page 46) ANSWERS: d. Luke’s son, Ethan, did work the bar for a spell, but he hasn’t managed to get his name on the deed… at least not yet!…

“Boring” is one thing GENERAL HOSPITAL’ s Sam Morgan is most certainly not! Treasurehunting, spying, living under aliases, and surviving everything from explosions to a plague has made her one tough cookie. Here’s a tour of this live wire’s complex, usually precarious world, starting with the ABCs of both her recent past and ancient history. Alicia: The look-alike that Sam was coerced into impersonating. Alicia’s greedy mother, Allegra, wanted the fake to marry into money — and if Sam refused to go along with the cockamamie scheme, Jason would pay with his life! Balkan: Code name for European mobster Theo Hoffman. At Sonny and Brenda’s wedding, one of The Balkan’s goons kidnapped Sam and threw her into a limo. Moments later, the car exploded. Sam pulled through but temporarily lost…

ALL ACCESS • ALL ACCESS…

Being involved in a romantic story often means doing love scenes, and Dattilo is staying camera-ready with a little help from a friend. “I’m constantly talking about working out and trying to better my physique,” castmate Christopher Sean (Paul) reveals. “[So] when Bryan mentioned he was getting into shape, I said, ‘Listen, I’m at the gym. Come with me, and I’ll work on your technique — we’ll do it together.”’ Having once been a professional trainer, Sean admonished that he wouldn’t be babying Dattilo, who readily rose to the challenge. “I’d said, ‘I’ll teach you everything I know. Knowledge is power,’” Sean recalls. “I am extremely proud of Bryan because he looks great. He’s awesome! He’s got life and energy, and he’s going for it!”…

LEFT TOWN Robin and Patrick got married and moved to California with Emma. TRUMPED Tracy found a way to use the truth about Hayden’s identity to her own advantage. PROPOSED Hayden shocked Nikolas by suggesting they tie the knot. SPOOKED A mysterious prowler toyed with Jake, Liz and Jason. CONSUMMATED Nina and Franco finally had sex. Incredibly good sex, apparently! SAVED THE DAY Nina thought quick and averted a Crimson catastrophe. BONDED Kiki helped Morgan commit to regularly taking his psych meds. KICKED INTO HIGH GEAR Johnny put into motion his plan to take down Val. TEAMED UP Jordan joined Anna’s investigation of Carlos, Julian and Paul. PLED HIS CASE Carlos laid it all on the line with Sabrina.…

FIGHTING WORDS! GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Laura Wright explains Carly’s attacks on Elizabeth — and you might be surprised by what she has to say! PSST! GH’s Kin Shriner reveals which bit of set decoration he considers to be the top of the props — and why! UNCENSORED! GH’s Michelle Stafford (Nina) sits down for an in-depth interview! Don’t Miss The Next Issue Of On Sale... February 1 February 15 February 29 March 14 March 28 April 11 April 25 May 9 May 23 June 6 June 20 July 4…

The In Depth Story: “What I learned this year,” Mc-Cullough shared, “is that things can turn on a dime and that it’s my responsibility to sit in those moments, no matter how micro they might be, so that I don’t get whiplash.” The year started on a high note for McCullough as she prepared to direct an episode of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, ended one relationship and started another. However, the numbness she’d been feeling on the right side of her body eventually became too great to ignore, and she sought medical help. An MRI revealed a mass on her brain. “I called my boyfriend, then I called my doctor,” she writes. “He told me that he had been E-mailed the scans and that I didn’t have cancer, and it was…

Hope’s son, Shawn, is set to return to DAYS OF OUR LIVES this week — but it won’t be Jason Cook paying the part. Rather, Brandon Beemer will be reprising the role of Belle’s ex beginning on Tuesday, January 19. In other casting news, soap-hopper V incent Irizarry (David, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-David, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS; Nick/Lujack, GUIDING LIGHT) debuts this week as the mysterious Deimos, and Jordi Vilasuso (Griffin, AMC; Tony, GL) will bring Rafe and Gabi’s brother, Dario, back to town very soon. Meanwhile, Nadia Bjorlin has once again inked a deal with the NBC soap and will hit the air as a contract player this spring (right around the time the pregnant actress is due to deliver her first child), and Alla Korot (Allie, AMC;…

Does Chelsea have reason to worry about Adam on Monday, January 18? Things certainly are spiraling out of control that day, with Kevin getting suspicious and Luca laying down the law with Noah! On Tuesday, January 19, Kevin’s help is being sought by no less than Victor! Of course, by Wednesday, January 20, Victor is demanding answers from Kevin’s associate, Natalie. Thursday, January 21, finds Stitch in an awkward situation. And Friday, January 22, may be when we learn what Billy recalls about his accident!…

It had taken nothing short of a miracle (and a whole lotta years!) for DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ resident bad girl, Nicole, to finally reach the point of seeing a happily ever after in her future. What she never imagined was the untimely loss of her Prince Charming, Daniel, in a tragic accident. What’s a girl to do now? “It gets really hard,” acknowledges Nicole’s portrayer, Arianne Zucker. “There’s just been one thing after another. At what point do you accept that karma comes back and bites you?” It seems that Nicole is left with two choices: curl up in a ball or attempt to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart. “You have to deal with new ways to live your life,” Zucker suggests. “Being that survivor means…

The moment Johnny showed up on the Haunted Star, we found ourselves smiling from ear to ear. There’s no denying that in the hands of portrayer Brandon Barash, the character is one of the most charismatic mobsters to hit Port Charles since Maurice Benard’s Sonny. (Come to think of it, imagine Johnny and Sonny competing in a charm-off! Would the win go to the former’s devilish grin or the latter’s seductive dimples?) It was easy to see how Valerie might be sucked in by his “Greg” act, even as we cringed, suspecting that his attempt to “get rid” of her for Lulu would almost inevitably go disastrously wrong. Meanwhile, we can’t help thinking that someday, Valerie is going to wind up listing relocating as one of her biggest regrets. Between…

Q. How did Sonny find out that Dante was really his son on GENERAL HOSPITAL? Mariah Jones via email A. By the time a 15-yearold Olivia gave birth to Dante, Sonny had already left Bensonhurst behind. Fearing her son would be hurt by his father’s illegal activities, Olivia opted not to tell Sonny about the boy. When Dante hit Port Charles in the summer of 2009 as Dominic Pirelli, the undercover cop quickly became enmeshed in his father’s world, personally and professionally. As the guys bonded, Olivia worried they’d figure out their connection. Things came to a head when Sonny shot Dante, who was about to arrest him. Rushing in, a stunned Olivia declared, “My God, Sonny, you shot your son!” Upon recovering, Dante was put in the awkward position…

The “New” Jason Wonderful acting as the newest Jason is emerging: He has just enough Morgan and just enough Quartermaine to make it real. Coming to Sonny, opening up to him was so Jason-like. Loving him! Janine Crouch via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Easy Fixes Valerie needs to go. Jerry needs to go. Carlos needs to go. Stop bringing people back from the dead! Judy Johanson via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Franco-phile As always, love Franco. Love scenes with him and Nina — him and anyone, really! I hate Ava. Love Kiki not forgiving her mother. Hope she never does. Krista Staten Hammock via Soaps In Depth Facebook page R-E-S-P-E-C-T Vets need to be in leading stories, not used as puppets propping up new characters. The current regime…

Who doesn’t love a party? THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS certainly proved that they could throw a spectacular shindig by combining Abby and Stitch’s wedding with New Year’s Eve. Soaps In Depth was given an exclusive backstage pass to the festivities, which had plenty of fun, frolicking and fabulous gowns! “It was really so cool to film,” smiles Melissa Ordway, who plays new bride Abby. “Even though some of the days were long, it was totally worth it. I’m so honored to have my own soap wedding!”…

FYIFYIFYI Born: August 27. Hometown: Westchester, NY. Cause Célèbre: Mosley is the philanthropic chair for L.A.’s Ammunition Theater Company. “I reach out to a different charity every year that we support. This year, it’s My Friend’s Place, a shelter for homeless youth.” THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Karla Mosley may not fully comprehend what it’s like to be a transgender individual like Maya, the groundbreaking character she portrays, but she does have an understanding of her alter ego’s desperation to be loved and accepted. “Maya once said, ‘It’s hard to believe that you’re going to be loved when you’ve been told your whole life that you’re unlovable,’” remembers the actress. “I was blessed with a very loving and supportive family, but I was once the one who told myself that…

Q: Is there a decoration or prop that you would love to steal for your own personal use? Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth, GH) “I love that rustic-looking red chest that is the coffee table in Elizabeth’s house. I just love it. Unfortunately, it’s falling apart.” Hayley Erin (Kiki, GH) “My favorite is Ric’s briefcase, which he has in all the court scenes. It’s the funniest thing ever. There are scripts in there, while we’re filming. Everyone is obsessed with the briefcase.” Vinessa Antoine (Jordan, GH) “You don’t really see much of it anymore, but I love Jordan’s loft. It has a real artsy, New York/Brooklyn kind of feel to it. I want the whole thing!” Doug Davidson (Paul, Y&R) “There are a couple of lions on the Chancellor mantle. They’ve been…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL Liam gained perspective about his love life after chatting up a stranger on the way home from his “accidental” trip to Australia. Wyatt, meanwhile, realized that Steffy was his ideal woman after spending more time with her. When Liam landed in L.A., he found Steffy and Wyatt alone together and jumped to the wrong conclusion. Sasha filled in for Nicole as Zende’s model at his first professional photo shoot. After seeing the sizzling results, Rick offered her a job. Nicole was jealous of her friend’s success within the company and worried about Sasha working so closely with Zende. When Rick became aware of Nicole’s concerns, he opted to rescind the job offer that he’d made to Sasha out of loyalty to his sister-in-law. Brooke started…

The In Depth Story: Since Kiki hit rock bottom on Halloween, a new person has slowly emerged. “We’re watching a girl who is still growing up and struggling to figure out who she is, even as she moves forward,” headwriter Jean Passanante says. “You can’t go through what she went through — thinking her mother died, then getting her back and realizing that she’d betrayed her again and losing her father in that violent way — and not change.” This new version of Kiki has a job, managed to make some level of peace with Ava and is helping Morgan cope with his bipolar diagnosis. And Morgan has been there for her — even when that’s meant whisking her to a cabin in a manic frenzy! “In a strange way,…

ONE LIFE TO LIVE vet Patricia Elliott (Renee) lost her battle with cancer on December 20. The 77-year-old won a Tony Award for her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, but daytime fans will forever remember her as Renee Divine Buchanan, the madam-turned-socialite who captured Asa’s heart on OLTL. “Patricia was a great lady, a cherished performer and a great friend to so many,” said ABC in a statement. “For more than two decades, she delighted daytime audience with her ‘divine’ talents on OLTL. Our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.” Look for our tribute to Elliott in the next ABC issue of Soaps In Depth, on sale Monday, February 1.…

The week starts offwith a bang as Hope steps up to confess that she is a killer on Monday, January 18. On Tuesday, January 19, Victor opens up to Maggie about his twisted past, and John finally meets his mother! As the mystery matriarch is filling John in about his past on Wednesday, January 20, that same day finds Hope and Rafe sharing a kiss! A stunning betrayal lands John in a terribly dangerous situation on Thursday, January 21. And even as Abigail is making plans for her future with Chad on Friday, January 22, the hunk in question has a revealing conversation with Andre that could change everything!…

The entire time that Elizabeth was keeping quiet about Jason’s true identity, fans were waiting for that moment when her lie would be exposed. And we’re not just talking about Sam supporters, either. Even folks who want to see Liz and Jason wind up together knew that if they were to have any shot at happily ever after, her lie would first have to come to light. So in the days and weeks since Elizabeth’s big confession, we’ve been… well, underwhelmed by the fallout. She talks about being the town pariah, but the residents of Port Charles — perhaps fearing someone calling them hypocrites — have gone relatively easy on Liz. Heck, even Carly — whom we expected to see rake Liz over the coals — seemed to have a…

Things got quiet for GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Nathan and Maxie last month, but don’t worry: There’s no trouble in paradise. Nathan was MIA while portrayer Ryan Paevey starred in the Hallmark Channel movie Unleashing Mr. Darcy. “You’ll recognize the Darcy name from Pride And Prejudice,” the actor sets up. “Our film doesn’t quite take place in that universe, but we’re drawing on the characters. Darcy is a prickly but well-regarded, wealthy socialite — that’s what we borrowed. And this is sort of his love story.” The modern-day romance is actually based on Teri Wilson’s bestselling novel of the same name, which was inspired by Jane Austen’s literary classic. In this twist, Paevey’s Donovan Darcy is a billionaire dog breeder who is closed offto love until he meets a woman named Elizabeth…

William deVry (Julian, GENERAL HOSPITAL) and longtime girlfriend Rebecca Staab (Elizabeth, PORT CHARLES) are a bit outnumbered at home. The dog advocates, who raise money and awareness for organizations like Hope For Paws, currently have six — six! — four-legged furry friends living with them! “We got down to five… but then had to rescue another dog from being put down,” explains deVry, whose forever dogs Chalupa, Duckie and Josie are used to playing host to foster sibs. “We save a lot of dogs who are about to get euthanized. When I’m driving, my eyes are darting all over the place because people just dump their dogs. We grab them, put them in the car and take them straight to the vet and then to the groomer. We’ve never had…

Playing GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Robin for the better part of 30 years gave Kimberly McCullough a lot of things, amongst them a deep desire to work behind the camera. That’s why she enrolled in development programs offered by both ABC and Warner Bros. for aspiring directors. Consequently, she was invited to direct the Tuesday, January 26, episode of Freeform’s PRETTY LITTLE LIARS. “I was given a really juicy episode!” McCullough enthuses. “There’s something that happens in one of the scenes that will make the fans go nuts. It’s very sexy.” With six months to prepare, McCullough says that she was feeling both excited and ready. “The thing I like about directing is that I’m always learning, and I’m challenged by things that you can’t anticipate happening — you have to be…

With Maya expecting a child (through a surrogate, her sister Nicole), Mosley is hopeful that she’ll get some cute new co-stars this year. (Typically twins are used in the industry to ensure that one child is cooperative on set.) “I love kids and the spontaneity that they bring to set, so it would be really fun to work with a child,” she says. “In the very last episode of GL, my character [Christina] had a child in a flash-forward episode, so I got to work with babies, and they were adorable.” Mosley also worked with children for several years when she was a cast member on the kids’ show HI-5. “Our boss gave us an article that said people who spend time with kids are much happier, because kids laugh…

With more than two decades and over 2,300 episodes of DAYS OF OUR LIVES under his belt, it’s safe to say that Bryan R. Dattilo (Lucas) is a seasoned veteran. Nevertheless, he doesn’t take his role for granted, and he’s unwilling to play it safe when it comes to his performances. “It’s a little bittersweet because there are soaps that didn’t make it over the last couple of years. DAYS’ history and longevity have been gifts,” the actor maintains. “We can only hope that it lasts and that people find new and old ways to enjoy it.” He Ripped Our Hearts Out In recent months, Dattilo was given some of the most difficult scenes of his career: coping with the senseless murder of Lucas’ beloved son, Will. “I wanted to…

GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Jason has had a lot to come to terms with. Beyond everyone knowing him better than he knows himself and Liz hiding his identity, the amnesiac chafed at the notion that he’d been a Mob enforcer. This conflict was thrust to the fore when Jason knocked Nikolas offthe terrace and no one seemed surprised. With nudges from Spinelli and Robin, Billy Miller walked Jason offhis “reactive, self-indulgent” ledge — and walked himself right into a Gold Star! Jason’s Killer Instinct When Jason heard Spinelli calling after him at the park, he chortled caustically at the festive greeting. Then he gave in, letting Spinelli catch up. But as the geek babbled, Jason’s face didn’t crack. And when he finally spoke, he challenged, “Does it not bother you that I…

A Happy Ending At Last For The Drake Clan! Robin met with Obrecht in hopes of returning to work at the hospital, but was unimpressed with the opportunity offered. But as fate would have it, a better job offer was on the horizon for not only Robin but Patrick, too! Emma was game to move west with her parents, and Anna eventually gave her blessing. Emma suggested that her mom and dad should get married again at their going away party. She and Maxie had a blast planning the affair, and a newly ordained Mac happily served as the officiant. The joyous occasion was a bit awkward for Liz and Jason — especially after she caught the bouquet! Even as Robin told her gal pal not to give up on…