Table of contents for September 26, 2016 in ABC Soaps In Depth

The latest comings and goings — and how they will change your shows! The In Depth Story: “I’ve been down that road a couple of times, [when playing Michael] on ALL MY CHILDREN and [Storm on] THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL, so I was definitely curious,” the soap-hopping hunk admits. “‘Do I need to start letting my agents know we need to look for a job in three months?’ “But,” he continues, “they’ve absolutely assured me, top to bottom, that Julian’s not going anywhere.” In fact, the crime boss’ current predicament will likely generate a whole lotta future plot. “They just wanted to tell a cool story and give Nancy [Lee Grahn, Alexis] and I some material to sink our teeth into,” deVry shares. “Now, Julian’s going to have to…

Not only d o e s Bradford Anderson reappear as Spinelli on Monday, September 19, this may not be our last Jackal sighting this fall. “There may be more coming,” the actor teases. “I love Port Charles, so I will always answer the phone.” The recurring fan fave would even consider a longer arc if the circumstances were right. “It depends on where my life is,” he explains. “If I have a couple months where I can really dig into something, awesome. If other things are going on and I get to go to GH for a couple of days, then that’s fun, too. “I’m lucky,” he adds. “The way this went, with me deciding I needed to take a break and my relationship with GH still being such that…

On Monday, September 12, Billy decides to call his mother’s bluff. Tuesday, September 13, finds Phyllis determined to save her marriage. Unfortunately for her, Colin finds out what Jill’s been keeping under wraps! On Wednesday, September 14, Chelsea gets an unexpected gift. Paul turns to Nikki regarding their son on Thursday, September 15. And on Friday, September 16, Victoria gets a most unpleasant surprise when she arrives at the Brash & Sassy offices!…

… or could GH use a bit of subtlety where its plot “twists” are concerned? Sam fainting every five seconds left the audience guessing she was pregnant long before it was con. rmed, and pretty much the only person caught o. guard by Liz and Hayden being sisters was Franco. The sibling reveal might have been fun had it not been telegraphed weeks earlier, what with Naomi practically getting the vapors every time Je. Webber’s name was mentioned. The only thing soap fans love more than guessing where the plot is heading is being caught o. guard when it zigs instead of zags!…

Believe it or not, an acting highlight for Lisa LoCicero (Olivia) was playing the alien Miral Paris on STAR TREK: VOYAGER. “Walking across the Paramount lot in my Klingon head and custom Starfleet yellow shirt was one of the greatest single moments of my life,” she raves. “Waving at the tour bus driving by, I felt like the biggest badass in the whole world!” That gig was also where she met one of her besties, Jessica Collins (ex-Aver y, THE YOUNG & T H E R E S T -LESS). “We are both daughters of Tom Par i s , al -though she is not Klingon,” snif fs LoCicero. “She is beautiful, and I have the ridgy for ehe ad. ” Al -though LoCicero has no intention of leaving GH,…

HE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS recently celebrated its 11,000th episode, so Soaps In Depth spoke with longtime leading lady Melody Thomas Scott about working on the soap and turning Nikki into one of the most iconic roles in not just daytime television but television in general! Soaps In Depth: When you auditioned for the role, did you have any idea how special Nikki would become? Melody Thomas Scott: None whatsoever. I had never seen the show, didn’t know who Nikki was, and don’t forget, I was an emergency last-minute recast, so I had no time to figure anything out until I started shooting the show. I just learned as I went along! In Depth: What is it about Nikki that fans love so much? Scott: I think their feelings about…

FYIFYIFYI Birthday: June 20. Hometown: Ventura, CA. Two More McCooks: A grandfather of three, the actor will add two more to that list later this year. His daughter-in-law, Melissa — who’s married to McCook’s oldest son, Seth — is pregnant with identical twin win girls! THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Eric recently came out of retirement to re-seize the reins of the business at which he’d labored for decades. In some ways, his portrayer, John McCook, feels like he’s done the same. “For the last two or three years, I’d been ‘the old man’ on the show who came in for weddings and funerals and homilies at Thanksgiving, you know?” says the actor. “I’d been doing that gladly and had kind of accepted that.” But far from writing off this…

FYIFYIFYI Picture-Perfect: Find the DAYS star on Instagram at @inlikebillyflynn. A Head For Numbers: Instead of drama, Flynn studied finance in college. On His Speed-Dial: “I talk to my greatgrandmother [Donna Smith] about every day,” Flynn reveals. “She’s everything to me.” Two Of A Kind: Flynn and his fiancée “met through acting class,” he reveals. Thanks to his scheming big brother, Andre, DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Chad has received yet another blow: “confirmation” that his beleaguered bride, Abigail, died in a plane crash. Now the grieving young man will need all the help he can get to figure out how to move on. But in so doing, might he play right into Andre’s hands? “You’ll see him grow to really trust Andre because he’s given his heart,” Billy Flynn (Chad)…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL Though wary of Quinn’s motives, Ivy gratefully accepted her offer to return to Forrester Creations, which left Steffy surprised and unsettled. Quinn’s first “assignment” for Ivy involved reconnecting with her old flame, Liam. New workplace guidelines implemented by Quinn and Eric left a bad taste in Pam’s mouth. Brooke told Ridge that she’d made positive inroads with Bill, which left the designer feeling conflicted about his plan to seize the reins at Forrester. Brooke, too, had major qualms about the sacrifice she was making to save the business. She and Ridge questioned whether Eric’s mental health was to blame for his Quinn-related lapse in judgment. Nicole was suspicious of Thomas and Sasha’s budding romance. When push comes to shove, will a sacrifice be made in…

The In Depth Story: The actress shared in an August 25 post that she wanted to let her fans know why she’s been so quiet lately. “I was asked back to play Eve on DAYS and had begun my exci t ing retur n, ” she shared. “During the threeweek July hiatus, I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and have spent six of the last nine weeks in the hospital.” DePaiva will undergo treatment over the n e x t t h r e e months but shares that her prognosis is promising. “I will not likely need a stem cell/bone marrow transplant, and we expect a complete cure. I consider this just a bump in the road,” she wrote, adding that she’s been surrounded by “ex-tremely supportive and…

All the latest comings and goings! Although GH’s Tyler Christopher originally thought that he would be back at work playing the “late” Nikolas this month, a cryptic tweet indicated that he actually may have been on the set late last month. “Great to see all your smiling faces today,” he tweeted on August 23. “You know who you are.” In response, co-star Laura Wr ight (Car ly) responded with a string of kissy-face emojis, which seemed to confirm that the Daytime Emmy winner was indeed referencing his GH peeps. Christopher, who reportedly turned his contract negotiations into an extended vacation, spent the summer hanging with his family and shooting a movie called The New Wife while a substitute Nikolas (Nick Stabile) played out the “death” of Laura’s son. Meanwhile, headwriters…

Jesica Ahlberg (Darby) returns on Tuesday, September 13 — which could be a sign of trouble for Kiki and Morgan, since the bipolar young man has unknowingly been taking Ava’s placebos instead of his lithium! Either way, on-screen adversary Hayley Erin (Kiki) isn’t complaining. “I’m such a fan of the character,” Erin raves. “Darby is so entertaining. She drives storyline. Plus, Jesica is absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful and the nicest girl in the world.”…

Victor continues to claim he wasn’t responsible for Tate’s kidnapping and, on Monday, September 12, says he can actually prove it! Things get emotional as Eve helps Theresa prepare for her wedding day on Tuesday, September 13. Sonny and Philip are united by fear as terrifying circumstances unfold in Salem on Wednesday, September 14. Aiden makes special arrangements for his son — and vows to make a big move — on Thursday, September 15. And on Friday, September 16, Steve visits Kayla as she recovers from surgery.…

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Jill is extremely tempted to confide in Colin what she knows — that Phyllis was cheating on Jack with Billy. But, for once in her life, she’s managing to resist temptation. “No one knows more than Jill that Colin has a tendency to color outside the lines!” says portrayer Jess Walton. “Jill knows that Colin is not to be trusted. “This [fling] is a huge family secret that could cause a scandal,” she adds. “Jill also knows Colin’s not beyond using a situation like this to his advantage!” Of course, it took the Aussie a nanosecond to realize his wife was hiding something from him and begin pressuring her to spill the beans. Will she succumb to her hubby’s manipulations? And if she doesn’t, could…

In Depth asked... Can Alexis ever forgive Julian for having betrayed her? Reader Reaction: 69% NOT THIS TIME! 31% ALWAYS! Even diehard Julexis fans are having a hard time seeing a reconciliation, with the naysayers outvoting true believers over two to one! TOP 5 GH COUPLES This issue’s question... Do you think Claudette and Griffin make a good match? TOP 5 ACTORS (as voted by Soaps In Depth readers) TOP 5 GH COUPLES TOP 10 COUPLES (as voted by Soaps In Depth readers) TOP 5 ACTRESSES (as voted by Soaps In Depth readers) TALK BACK TO SOAPS IN DEPTH: On-line: abc.soapsindepth.com Write: Readers’ Poll #39 c/o Soaps In Depth, 270 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cli. s, NJ 07632…

Hear Them Roar I love the women of GENERAL HOSPITAL! Alexis is knocking it out of the park, and she and Diane are a joy to watch. Nina is so spicy and sexy. Ava is riveting. Kiki has grown on me. And I’m happy to see Elizabeth stand up to Jason. We need more Hayden, more Jordan and always more Anna! Holly Anderson via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Rein It In Too many storylines going on! Sally Slaughtet via Soaps In Depth Facebook page A Jasam Baby! I’m loving the fact that Sam and Jason are having another baby! The pregnancy with Danny was full of negativity, so keep them happy and celebrating, for once. Please! Sarah Couch via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Murderously Slow There’s still no…

Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) wouldn’t call himself a dancer, but having grown up above his parents’ dance studio, he can follow any steps and appreciates real talent. “I came from a musical, dancing family and played the drums and took dance lessons, so I was exposed to a lot,” he says. “And as with anything in the arts, talent’s a total turn-on. As a kid, when I was in a dance class with a girl I thought was hot, if she couldn’t dance, the attraction was gone instantly. You’ve got to have some coordination, you know what I mean?” Luckily, his leading lady, Emme Rylan (Lulu), has it in spades — even if we rarely get to see the avid dancer’s moves in Port Charles! “I love watching Emme dance,” Zamprogna…

Quinn and Eric’s romance came as a complete surprise to fans the day the two characters unexpectedly turned up between the sheets, and though McCook wanted his wife, Laurette Spang, to find out about his exciting new storyline right along with viewers, his leading lady accidentally let the cat out of the bag! “I didn’t want [Laurette] to know until it was revealed on air, but when Rena found out about the storyline, she called our home line and left a message on the answering machine. Of course, Laurette heard and figured it out!” Luckily, viewers never saw it coming. “I’m really happy and proud of us for keeping it a secret [until it aired],” he says. “That’s a hard thing to do these days with the Internet, so the…

Having spent time in foster homes as a kid, Flynn has a real soft spot for those who’ve had a similar experience. That’s why he supports the work of Echoes Of Hope (www.echoesofhope.org), the Los Angeles-based foundation run by hockey great Luc Robitaille and his wife, Stacia. “What happens is that after the age of 18, you’re on your own,” Flynn explains. “They’re looking to extend the bene. ts and resources to age 21 or 25, because for a lot of these kids, once they are out of the system, they don’t have a lot of other options.” In the interim, the charity is o. ering food, shelter, school supplies and the emotional support needed to help emancipated foster kids get by. “A lot of these youth are getting older…

Q: What is something you’ve done lately that was extremely outside of your comfort zone? Laura Wright (Carly, GH) “I walked on fire at Tony Robbins’ [Unleash The Power Within] event. If you can walk on fire, you can do anything, because that’s one of the scariest things in the world. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever done.” Sean Carrigan (Stitch, Y&R) “I started an improvisational comedy class. It’s a di. erent sort of comedy as opposed to stand-up, which is in my comfort zone. Improv is group comedy. That’s very different from [scripting your set for] stand-up. It’s very challenging, and I’m enjoying it very much.” Ryan Carnes (Lucas, GH) “Wow, I’m having trouble thinking of something. I need to challenge myself more. This is awful. I’m…

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS Phyllis freaked out when Billy invited Jack and Ashley for dinner to announce that Jill was trying to blackmail him into getting back together with Victoria. Undeterred, Jill continued her matchmaking by sending Billy and Victoria on a business trip together. Billy outmaneuvered his mom by convincing Cane to go in his place but not tell Jill. Meanwhile, Ashley told Jack that she didn’t like the way Phyllis was treating him. Later, Abby confessed to Ashley that she and Stitch were having problems. Across town, Kevin challenged Chloe about throwing up walls to prevent them from getting close. Someone sets an impressive goal, but it might prove too little, too late.…

Since there’s been a lot of talk on GH lately about Jeff Webber — and his former portrayer, silver fox Richard Dean Anderson (MACGYVER), is as dreamy today as he ever was — fans haven’t been able to help themselves. They’ve been wondering whether Elizabeth’s long-absent father might be about to pay her — and secret sister Hayden — a visit in Port Charles. So… ? Yeah, no. It ain’t gonna happen, at least not in the foreseeable future. A GH spokesperson shares with In Depth that there are no plans for Heather’s ex-husband to put in an appearance anytime soon.…

Carly and Michael butt heads in a big way on Wednesday, September 14. By Friday, September 16, she’s getting some pretty good advice from Nelle, of all people! On Monday, September 19, Carly reveals some news that is sure to catch a few people off guard, while Nelle is there with a sympathetic shoulder for a friend during their time of crisis. Carly begs Sonny to do something important on Tuesday, September 20, but will they see things from the same perspective? The mobster can’t help worrying about Morgan on Thursday, September 22, while Carly yet again finds herself exchanging tense words with Michael!…

Wanting to make Maya’s lifelong dream come true, Rick recruits an influential friend to help him with the task on Monday, September 12. Bill gloats to Ridge about holding the key to saving Forrester Creations on Tuesday, September 13. Hoping to kick-start the rest of his life, Bill surprises Brooke by hiring a wedding planner on Wednesday, September 14. R.J. returns to town on Thursday, September 15, and he isn’t happy to hear about his mother’s impending nuptials. That being the case, the young man pays Dollar Bill a visit on Friday, September 16, to take matters into his own hands.…

Summer’s end found GENERAL HOSPITAL taking one of their periodic extended breaks, and Chad Duell (Michael) was certainly making the most of it. He’s been settling into his new house, hitting the audition circuit to spread his wings and having fun with his girlfriend. “I’m enjoying it!” he says. Of course, that doesn’t mean he’s not interested in getting back into the thick of things in Port Charles! Headed For The Big Screen? When Duell joined GH as a recast for Drew Garrett six years ago, the situation was more than just intense. “One of the things I’m most proud of is making it through that inferno,” admits the actor, who responded to the pressure by putting his head down and focusing on the work. Now, “I’ve been on the…

GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Ryan Paevey (Nathan) got a kick out of hearing he’d been booked as a celebrity bartender at a recent charity event. Landing that post usually means just looking pretty while pouring wine and beer, but Paevey worked his station like a pro. “I was an actual bartender for 13 years — much longer than I’ve been anything else,” he explains. “I was good at bartending and I loved it, so I fell right back into it.” The hunky actor reveals he enjoyed working as a barkeep so much that he had a hard time quitting his last gig, which was at Santa Monica’s Sushi Roku. “When I booked GH and the shoot date was approaching, it was so strange having to tell my boss I was quitting, because…

It’s hard to imagine Tonya Pinkins as anyone on ALL MY CHILDREN but attorney Livia Frye, but at 19, she was almost cast as Angie! Unfortunately, on the day of her screen test, she learned that the role had already gone to Debbi Morgan. A decade later, she was an AS THE WORLD TURNS’ alumna (as Heather) when the opportunity to join AMC arose again. “Joan D’Incecco, who cast all of the original major figures on the soap, remembered me,” she says. “And that’s how I booked Livia!” Switching Gears Although best known for her theater work, the Tony winner’s focus has shifted elsewhere. “Film and television really interest me because it’s a completely new arena and a new set of skills,” the Broadway star explains. “It’s very challenging to…

GENERAL HOSPITAL wasn’t even legal when ANTHONY GEARY (ex-Luke), CHRIS ROBINSON (ex-Rick), the late JOHN BERA_ DINO (Steve), EMMA SAMMS (ex-Holly), DENISE ALEXANDER (ex-Lesley) and RACHEL AMES (ex-Audrey) celebrated its birthday by having their cake — and presumably eating it, too. Eat your heart out, Lady Gaga. During a haves-andhave-yachts party on ALL MY CHILDREN, SUSAN LUCCI’s Erica accessorized her arm candy — the late, great JAMES MITCHELL as Palmer — with the world’s most glamorous shower cap. THE EDGE OF NIGHT’s SHARON GABET (Raven) looked like she might become the entertainment the evening of this ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT bash — she clearly had some news she was eager to share with her leading man, LARKIN MALLOY (Schuyler). High school yearbook picture? No, these were just the original young stars of…

The cast of GENERAL HOSPITAL prescribed good times and laughter at the show’s Fan Club Weekend! GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Rebecca Budig (Hayden) was as excited as fans when she met up with Tyler Christopher (Nikolas) after his summer break for an intimate Q&A. Their first order of business was determining when he was returning to the show. (Answer: soon! See Ins & Outs, page 10, for more on that). Laughs were also shared about life outside of Port Charles, but fans truly reveled in hearing about the duo’s working relationship. The end result was a session that felt less like a Q&A and more like a royally fun hang session!…

It’s no secret that when moms meet other moms, they have no trouble bonding over the travails of raising kids. So not only was it obvious that GH’s Emme Rylan (Lulu) and Kirsten Storms (Maxie) had a lot in common at their tag-team event, it was also clear that they had a lot in common with many of the ladies in attendance. The co-stars’ stories were something everyone related to, from childcare woes to the difficulty of keeping up with an energetic toddler. In fact, making Storms’ point on the latter subject, her little angel, Harper Rose Barash (Georgie), was spotted racing around like a speeding bullet during the event!…

Even as GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Laura was mourning the loss of her beloved son, she was also flirting with romance. So Genie Francis was presented with a difficult task: She had to keep her character’s grief close to the surface yet also play the eagerness and insecurity that go hand in hand with new relationships. For so beautifully accomplishing her mission, the veteran actress earns this week’s Gold Star. A Tempting Offer Early on, Laura was keeping it light, telling Kevin that she’d been too busy to see Raiders Of The Lost Ark when it first came out in 1981. (A fun in joke, too, for longtime viewers who know what she was up to back then!) And Francis played the divorcée as appealingly self-possessed when she told her suitor that…

DAYS OF OUR LIVES Steve skipped out on couples therapy, so Kayla got brutally honest with him. Laura gave Jennifer surprising news about Abigail, while Sonny dragged Chad out to get some air. The young DiMera was having second thoughts about Adrienne and Lucas taking custody of Thomas. He asked Kate to help him rebuild Stefano’s empire for Thomas, then asked Belle to relocate to Hong Kong for her job. Hope, meanwhile, was worried when Aiden rereopened the investigation into Stefano’s death. Eve grabbed Theresa for a bachelorette party, as Deimos and Victor confronted Tate’s kidnapper. And Clyde introduced Orpheus to Xander, who clearly still had it out for Theresa! When Steve visits Kayla following her surgery, will they get a whole new start?…