Table of contents for January 14, 2019 in ABC Soaps In Depth

The GH family lost a treasured member of the behind-the-scenes crew when longtime makeup artist Donna Messina passed away on December 7. Messina, who was the head of the soap’s makeup and hair department, had been a part of the GH staff for 35 years, winning multiple Daytime Emmy Awards for her work. “Donna joined the GH family on August 26, 1982. Anyone who’s been to set knows the hair and makeup department is synonymous with Donna,” said executive producer Frank Valentini. “To say her presence will be missed is an understatement. She was an incredibly warm, witty and all-around great gal. Our thoughts go out to her loved ones — we are all grieving this loss.” To Maurice Benard (Sonny), Messina was like a sister. “Sometimes you meet someone…

STATUS Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) has landed an epic voice-over role — that of General Leia in Disney Channel’s STAR WARS RESISTANCE and Disney XD’s LEGO STAR WARS: ALL-STARS! “To be able to say ‘May the Force be with you’ not only as a member of the Star Wars universe but as one of the truly iconic legends brought tears to my eyes the first time,” says Hennesy, who assumed the role made famous by the late Carrie Fisher several months ago. “I needed to take just a moment to process it.” Set 30 years after the Return Of The Jedi movie, STAR WARS RESISTANCE follows a pilot recruited as a spy… and that pilot is voiced by DAYS OF OUR LIVES alum Christopher Sean (ex-Paul)! “I look forward to meeting…

Ava is affected by what Lulu says when they chat on Wednesday, January 2. On Friday, January 4, Lulu plays hostess for a very special event. That same day, Laura is touched — and more than a little bit surprised — when “Kevin” proves to be downright supportive. While Alexis is attempting to clear the air on Tuesday, January 8, Franco can’t help but feel nervous. But what’s got him jumpier than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs? Lulu and Peter compare notes on Thursday, January 10, while Anna is given that rarest of things: a second chance! And while Peter tries to help his mom on Friday, January 11, Ava is caught off guard by Franco. But why does his arrival startle her so?…

Delayed from his rendezvous with Hope because of a storm, Liam pleads with Bill to step up in his time of need on Wednesday, January 2. Meanwhile, Kieran and Matt bicker over what they can do to help make sure Hope reconnects with her husband. After receiving a threatening message about Zoe, Reese feels intense pressure from an old acquaintance on Thursday, January 3. On that same day, with the Spencer helicopter at his service, Liam flies through the night trying to get to his stranded wife. Friday, January 4, marks the show’s 8,000th episode and centers on an event so profound, it will send shockwaves through the lives of all of your favorites.…

SEEING STARS…

General Hospital In Depth asked... Would you rather see Finn with Anna or Hayden? Out of sight, out of mind! Hayden and Finn were a hot item once upon a time, but now that she’s history, Anna is the fan favorite! This issue’s question... Should Drew and Kim try to recapture what they once had? Reader Reaction: 80% ANNA 20% HAYDEN TOP 5 GH COUPLES 1 Laura & Kevin Collins 2 Liz Webber & Franco Baldwin 3 Maxie Jones & Peter August 4 Carly & Sonny Corinthos 5 Alexis Davis & Julian Jerome TOP 5 ACTORS  (as voted by Soaps In Depth readers) 1 Last Issue: 1  Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) 2 Last Issue: 3  Jon Lindstrom (Kevin/Ryan, GH) 3 Last Issue: 4  Roger Howarth (Franco, GH) 4 Last Issue:…

OUR TAKE GH Hot Topic: The Character You Hate To Love Loving A lot of GENERAL HOSPITAL characters have a divisive effect on the audience. Some viewers will never see Franco as anything but a killer, while others are allin on his redemption. With Obrecht, the situation is a bit more complex. There is no behavior-nullifying tumor to justify some of the horrific things she has done over the years. There is, however, the performance of Kathleen Gati who, with the help of the writers, has repeatedly managed to humanize a character who has often come off as a cartoon villain. Obrecht goes from staging a comically hostile takeover of the Nurses Ball to holding a man hostage in a cabin for weeks. Yet we know that there is nothing…

While Canela loves that the Rosaleses are bringing the rich Cuban culture to Y&R fans, he wants the focus to be more on the family itself. “I feel there has been a change in Hollywood diversifying itself and giving opportunities to actors around the world, so I don’t think it’s important to overplay or push it. We’re a family who just happens to be Hispanic,” he says, “just as the other families in Genoa City happen to be [whatever cultural roots they are]. Maybe we don’t have to say anything about it. Maybe the fact that it’s just there is cool. And if there is a topic that is relevant that they can shed light on, that is cool, too. It could start a conversation. And who doesn’t like a…

Faced with Sonny’s growing connection to Margaux, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Carly could barely contain her anger… but Laura Wright forced her character to do just that. Instead of giving us a signature Carly explosion, she fought to play it cool and, in so doing, won this week’s Gold Star. An Unwelcome Guest When Carly received word of a visitor, Wright used her face to let us know her character was intrigued… but not pleased! And when she greeted Margaux, she was all attitude, her expression as she followed the D.A. into the living room a classic! Yet Carly fought to maintain her poker face — even when Margaux returned the scarf Sonny had lent her. Refusing to engage, Carly simply told Margaux to leave the scarf, escorted her out and shut…

Much like GH did when Peter Hansen (Lee) passed away in 2017, the soap has a special episode in the works to honor the late Susan Brown (Gail), who died on August 31. “A tribute show to Susan shot, in the can, airing soon,”TV son Kin Shriner (Scotty) shared via Twitter last month — which means that the special episode could air any day now. After Brown joined GH in 1977, Gail became a central character and even crossed over to spin-off PORT CHARLES. The actress and interior designer was last seen on GH in 2004 — when she and Hansen brought their characters to town for Lila’s funeral — and was a beloved cast member. “She was absolutely amazing,” Leslie Charleson (Monica) raves. “So very talented, in every aspect.…

The In Depth Story: In early December, Adain Bradley (Xander) posted a video to Instagram in which he reported that he had completed his final day of B&B taping for the year and would be taking a few weeks off to shoot his first movie! The young heartthrob has been cast in the indie Butter , a drama about a lonely, obese teenager who pledges to eat himself to death — live on the Internet. Looking back, “it has been a crazy year for me, summed up the British actor, who joined the show in May. “I just want to tell everybody thank you, and there’s more coming next year, but I’m going to go shoot this movie real quick.” Butter began filming on December 10, but given that B&B…

STATUS With Obrecht now in on Nelle’s secret about the baby swap, Chloe Lanier’s scheming character could return again to GENERAL HOSPITAL… at any time! The In Depth Story: As Obrecht’s visit with Nelle last week threatens to bring her past machinations to light — especially now that Michael has been named his own son’s godfather! — a GH rep confirms that another return by Lanier is “always a possibility.” And the actress is certainly leaving the door open for future Port Charles visits! As Lanier recently told Steve Burton (Jason) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) during a visit to their STONE COLD AND THE JACKAL podcast, “I’m happy that they’re having me recur and come back every now and then, because I do love doing the show. It’s really fun.…

Kristina decides to make a change on Wednesday, January 2. But will it be for the better? Meanwhile, her big sister, Sam, finds herself unnerved by what happens on Thursday, January 3. Does Sam have good reason to be worried about Kristina on Monday, January 7? And what happens that leaves Sam feeling left out — and by whom — on Tuesday, January 8? In other news, Ned can’t help but feel compassionate toward someone on Wednesday, January 9, while that day also finds someone checking on a loved one. Liz is the recipient of some good news on Thursday, January 10, while Griffin runs into Sonny at the chapel. Can the two men help one another deal with their issues?…

Victor puts a plan in motion on Monday, December 31! That same day, big drama unfolds at Devon s New Year s Eve bash. Sparks begin to fly between a rather unlikely pair on Tuesday, Januar y 1. That same day, Christine sets her sights on Victor! Abby has harsh words for Mariah on Wednesday, Januar y 2, while Reed decides it’s time for him to ’fess up on Thursday, January 3. And Nikki takes matters into her own hands on Friday, January 4!…

In some ways, Briana Nicole Henry was born to play GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Jordan. “My mom always says I was bossy from the time I came out,” cracks the actress, who assumed the role this fall. “I definitely do enjoy leadership roles, and Jordan’s at the top of her game. She’s the boss and she has her hands in all the mess, which is something I can relate to.” The GH newcomer can also relate to her character’s big heart of gold. “Jordan’s a powerhouse, but her motivation for this job has less to do with power and more to do with actually wanting to protect [Port Charles] and make a difference in people’s lives,” she maintains. “And I try to move through the world in a similar way and do…

The Flip Side GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Donnell Turner (Curtis) is set to direct and produce a top-secret movie, and he can’t wait to experience life on the other side of the camera. “It’s a faith-based film, which is awesome for me,” he reveals. “My mom is an evangelist, and my dad is an ordained Baptist minister, so it’s a language I speak. And it also has to do with the other side of life — the rough side. Selling drugs and being incarcerated, and I know that side, too. I speak both languages well. Plus it’s a transformational film, so it’s hot. It’ll take us on a journey.” While Turner codirected a film last year, this will be his first solo effort. “I actually moved to Hollywood to be a director,”…

Soaps In Depth has five copies of Soaps’ Greatest Love Stories to give away to lucky readers! A must-have for any true soap fan, this beautiful keepsake is a full-size coffee-table book chock-full of photo-filled flashbacks to the beginnings of some of the most popular love stories in daytime history! Relive the romances of 27 supercouples, including GH’s Jason and Sam, ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Todd and Blair and AMC’s Ryan and Greenlee. For full rules and free entry, log on to winit.abc.soapsindepth.com. No purchase necessary. Open to current legal residents of the United States and the District Of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older. Void elsewhere and where prohibited or restricted.…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL Steffy got defensive (and Taylor was outraged) when Hope said Taylor was a persona non grata at her family’s holiday celebrations. At the Christmas gathering, Hope and Liam announced their daughter’s name, and Ridge gave Steffy a present to pass on to her mother. Taylor later confided to Reese that she’d done something terrible and, as a result, Brooke was using the information against her. Reese tried to convince Zoe that he was more responsible than he’d been in the past, but this seemed dubious when a thug confronted him at Il Giardino, demanded repayment of a loan and made an angry threat. Zoe detailed Reese’s many past addictions to Xander and explained how it had affected her growing up. Hope arranged a “babymoon” trip…

CBS Corporation has sold the iconic 25-acre CBS Television City property where B&B and THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS are taped. So what does that mean for the future of the daytime dramas? As part of the acquisition deal, Y&R and B&B — as well as THE PRICE IS RIGHT and THE LATE, LATE SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN — will continue to be produced at the Television City campus in Los Angeles for at least the next five years. There’s no word yet as to what the next step will be for the shows after that period ends, but considering that a majority of the network’s programs are produced (and the main offices are housed) at the CBS Studios Center in Studio City, it’s possible that the shows will eventually…

IN Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) revealed on a December STONE COLD AND THE JACKAL podcast that he has more tape dates scheduled this month. “It’s funny,” he shared. “Whether it’s recording podcasts or whatever, I’m here [at GH] a lot when I’m not working. And sometimes I feel like I have to hoodwink the security guards at the gate: ‘I belong here. I swear!’ So it is wonderful when I drive up to the lot and they’re like, ‘What are you here to do today?’ ‘I’m here to work on the show. Imagine that!’”…

IN Matthew Ashford (once GH’s Tom) has reprised his role of DAYS’ Jack — and not as a ghost! Fans will recall that in 2012, the character perished after saving daughter Abigail from a damaged elevator before the cable snapped with him still inside. More recently, the initials J.D. were seen on one of the doors in Xander’s warehouse before it exploded, leading viewers to speculate that perhaps Jack had received one of Dr. Rolf’s infamous rejuvenating shots. Jack returned to Salem on New Year’s Eve with Eve, who would love nothing more than to punish his ex, Jennifer, for destroying her relationship with Brady! And a new romance with Jennifer’s beloved presumed-dead husband will certainly do the trick! For those keeping track, Jack has returned from the dead on…

Eli and Lani ring in 2019 in a way neither will ever forget on Monday, December 31. Abigail is reunited with a loved one on Wednesday, January 2. That same day, Rafe and Hope find themselves butting heads when it comes to the Gabi situation. As Chad is seeking advice from Julie on Thursday, January 3, Abigail might just hold the key to Gabi’s future! And on Friday, January 4, Rafe makes an arrest, while Hope does something that she prays will open Ciara’s eyes where Ben is concerned!…

… or are you a bit baffled by Nina’s blind support of her GH stepdaughter, Charlotte? Every time Valentin and Lulu have attempted to talk to the little girl about her bullying behavior, Nina has not only neutralized their efforts but done so in a way which is downright unfathomable. We might get Nina’s behavior if she was less heavy-handed in her approach, but she hasn’t just been in Charlotte’s corner… she’s practically enabling the bad behavior despite knowing it might get the girl kicked out of school! In fact, it would have made more sense if Nina was borderline disinterested, in which case it could be revealed that Charlotte — jealous of Sasha — was acting out to get her attention!…

Shooting Curtis and Jordan’s nuptials, “Donnell and I were laughing about how nervous we actually felt,” Henry chuckles. “It was surreal. I was never the little girl who imagined my wedding. I’ve really only started thinking about marriage this past year or so. So it was really cool to get this experience of being in the dress and having the bachelorette party and all these fun things. And GH went big and really decked out the whole place! It looked gorgeous. I actually stole a flower arrangement — they said I could! It was just so much fun.”…

Jason Canela did not have an easy time of it when he first joined THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS as the sexy Arturo. But his issue wasn’t the fast pace of the soap. It was sustaining an ankle injury the night before his first day on the set, which was so debilitating that he couldn’t even walk! “It was so bad that I had to ask for a wheelchair at CBS,” he recalls. “When I met [executive producer/headwriter] Mal Young and everyone, they looked at me in the wheelchair and were like, ‘What the hell? You were fine at the audition!’” Of course, the Miami native refused to let that stop him. “My first scene, I had to go up the stairs!” he recounts. “It was only five steps, but…

Amazon’s THE BAY THE SERIES has added yet another beloved soap veteran to its roster: ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Tina, Andrea Evans. In the just-released season, she plays Mickey’s kid sister, Patty Walker, whom Evans explains, “has taken over Patrick’s Roadhouse.” While Mickey is a no-nonsense nurturer, Patty’s someone that people should hesitate to trust. “She hears all the gossip,” Evans explains. “As she’s going from table to table, she picks up this and that.” Remembering Tina’s Evolution While it’s yet to be revealed what Patty will do with all that information, Evans is pretty sure that it won’t be anything good. “Typically, if I’m playing [someone], she’s probably not a very nice person,” the actress admits with a laugh. “That seems to be my thing, so I think we’ll…

GENERAL HOSPITAL’s William Lipton (Cameron) and Eden McCoy (Josslyn) recently showed up for a nothing-but-fun photo shoot for Soaps In Depth. Having worked earlier that day, the two teenagers seemed excited to let loose, probably because it was their first photo shoot together. But sometimes, firsts can be difficult! Trying to take a few dramatic shots, McCoy said, “It’s hard to be serious with William. It’s too easy to laugh with him!” Check out the photos to see what she means!…

Q: Who on your cast could nail The New York Times Saturday crossword puzzle? Elizabeth Hendrickson (Margaux, GH) “I have a feeling it would be James Patrick Stuart (Valentin). I don’t know him very well, but from the way he works, that would be my guess. The best actors are the smartest actors — and he is an incredible actor, so I’m going to guess that he can handle that puzzle.” Victoria Konefal (Ciara, DAYS) “I think Galen [Gering, Rafe]. He’ll come in the makeup room singing, spinning some random jokes, and then all of a sudden he’ll give us a random fact. And I’m all, ‘Okay! Thank you for the random information!’ I love learning!” Tamara Braun (Kim, GH) “I have no clue, but I know it’s not me!”…

Black And Blue Though a bit more casual than the tux jacket on the left, this black suit feels more comfy-cool on GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Wally Kurth (Ned). All Stitched Up ALL MY CHILDREN’s Eva LaRue (Maria) looks fantastic in both of these body-conscious halter dresses, but the lace-up detailing on the shorter navy option cinched the win! Let ’Er Rip! Jeans with a bit of wear and tear remain all the rage, and these daytimers know exactly how distressed denim should be done!…