Table of contents for September 10, 2018 in ABC Soaps In Depth

The In Depth Story: “With social media, it doesn’t seem like so much time has passed, but I definitely missed everyone, so it’s cool to be back,” raves Ainsworth, whose character stormed off last October. “I love working with these people! I’ve known them since I was 16, so it’s like my second family. There’s this connection, especially with my family members on the show. In fact, the family scenes were probably what I was most excited about.” The funeral for Michael and Nelle’s baby gave the actress a chance to step right into those scenes she missed so much. “Right now, it’s just about reconnecting with the family, but GH has a storyline in mind,” teases Ainsworth. “I don’t know what it is, but I can’t wait to find…

On Monday, September 3, flash back to one of the most memorable episodes in recent history as the residents of Port Charles gather together to say their final farewells to Detective Nathan West. The episode, which originally aired on Friday, February 9, is one fans will likely never forget. From the moment Jordan announced to the assembled officers of the PCPD, “This is the end of watch call for Detective West” to Spinelli choking up while trying to sing “Danny Boy,” it was an hour which all but requires a box of hankies be by your side. Whether you missed it the first time around or just want to pay your respects to Nathan one last time, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.…

Dollar Bill declares to Katie and Thorne on Monday, August 27, that they will not succeed in getting full custody of Will. Hoping Liam will escort her to her ultrasound, Hope is chagrined to find him hanging out with Steffy and Kelly on Tuesday, August 28. After his attempts at reasoning with Katie don’t work, Bill vows on Wednesday, August 29, that he will use her struggle with alcoholism against her. Disagreeing with Quinn, Ridge and Thorne, Brooke defends Bill’s right to be a part of Will’s life on Thursday, August 30. And on Friday, August 31, Bill tells Katie that she has initiated a war she can not win!…

1 Finn’s diagnosis. “She’s a real piece of work,” he said of Cassandra. “You might want to leave her in that coma!” 2 The double slap.  Because sometimes, one slap just isn’t enough… isn’t that right, Ava? 3 The odd couple. Robert and Jason may have been reluctantly working together, but we enjoyed the pairing! 4 Twitter’s matchmaking. We’ve been bombarded with people suggesting Michael and Maxie would make a good pair. 5 Cameron. Asked by Chase if he was one of Elizabeth’s kids, Cam responded, “The eldest and the most promising!” The strategizing sessions. Scotty and Bensch’s whisper-shouted conversations in the courtroom were more shouted than whispered. ... And 1 Thing We Could Do Without...…

Q. GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Scott has so much anger toward Sonny. What did Sonny do to his daughter, Karen? Charli Magenetto Forest Hills, NJ A: Well, Sonny would say he took care of her… but we can’t exactly agree! After teenaged Karen recalled being molested as a child, the good girl started hanging out in some pretty shady places. And when she stumbled into Sonny’s club, the Paradise Lounge, he mistook her for an amateur stripper… and then convinced her to try it! He claimed it would empower Karen, but when his young star and lover wanted to quit, he wouldn’t have it. He also “helped” the beauty who dreamt of being a doctor by giving her drugs so she could stay awake during her classes. After she became addicted and…

OUR TAKE GH Laura’s Coming Home! Fans demanded GENERAL HOSPITAL bring back Genie Francis and her beloved alter ego, Laura… and the show listened. So now, as we count down to Laura’s return, we can’t help but wonder what the writers have in mind! Given that her hubby’s deranged twin is not as dead as everyone had previously believed (see News, page 2, for details), it seems safe to assume Laura will have her hands full! Since Laura was on the verge of becoming mayor before she left — because let’s face it, she totally would have won that mayoral election — we hope to see her assume a position of power in Port Charles, whether politically or in some other manner. Of course, Lulu will need help in dealing…

Birthday: November 28. Birthplace: St. Louis, MO. Raised: Rhode Island. For A Good Cause: Tognoni is an avid supporter of the American Red Cross, The Hoboken Homeless Shelter and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Fashion Admiration: The actress knows a bit about fashion, as reflected not only in her personal style but in her shoe line, Sole 9. If she had to point to an actress whose style she admires, she looks to the past. “Audrey Hepburn comes to mind. She was creative and a star, and people looked up to her!”…

Was it GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Luke and Laura whose coupling made your heart skip a beat? Was it ALL MY CHILDREN’s Greg and Jenny? ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Max and Blair? Whether your favorite pairing was THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Thorne and Macy, DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Sami and EJ or RYAN’S HOPE’s Roger and Delia, Soaps In Depth wants to hear from you! Fill out the form at the bottom of this page — yes, you can use extra paper! — and tell us why you were/are so crazy about your all-time favorite couple! Your answer may be published by Soaps In Depth. 1. What soap couple is your all-time favorite? 2. Why are they your favorite? 3. Is there a particular scene or storyline that made you fall…

Though at first GH’s William deVry was held up playing Julian in Port Charles, fans who came out to the very first GHFCW event — which even preceded the kickoff — were still treated to a wonderful time. First, as they sipped champagne, they got to grill newcomer Josh Swickard about himself, Chase and the drama unfolding on screen with Nelle. Then, they had some photo-booth fun with the hunk. Once deVry arrived, he said hello and dove right in, asking the fans how they had been doing since he last saw them! After some laughs with the microphone, the guys simply bounced from table to table to snap photos, sign autographs and get up-close and personal with the fans.…

As DAYS’ Ben, Wilson has had more than his share of trouble with the law, but in LADIES OF THE LAKE: RETURN TO AVALON, he’s got a badge! The indie series returned with the ladies “mourning” yet another death, and Wilson’s character, Detective Ethan Wyatt, on the case. However, whether he wants the truth to come out is questionable! “He’s a badass dude… He’s got some coloring of Ben, but they’re very different people,” the actor says. “I played your classic dirty cop, and I just tried to put my own twist on it and keep it as honest as possible within the realm of the story.”That story had the actor sharing shirtless scenes — and more than a little chemistry — with suspect Morgan Firestone (played by DAYS’ former…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL Taylor sat through Liam’s wedding to Hope, despite trying to talk the groom out of his decision. At the reception, she tried to make a speech, but was hauled into the kitchen by Brooke, where the two women ended up waging a war of words — and wedding cake! After tying the knot, Liam treated Hope to a romantic “staycation” at the cabin on her mom’s estate. Bill regretted missing the wedding and vowed to be a better father to Will, but when an important business meeting came up, he chose work over his son! Thorne convinced Katie to file for full custody of her son, a move Brooke thought would be a huge mistake. Sneak Preview Zoe knows what she wants and proves that…

The In Depth Story: There have been several men filling Mark Steines’ vacated post on Hallmark’s popular morning program this summer opposite Debbie Matenopoulos. However, it’s former AMC star Mathison who has been tapped to take on the job permanently beginning Tuesday, September 4. (He’d previously appeared on HOME & FAMILY as a guest host.) “I’ve filled in a bunch of times before and think my chemistry with Debbie is so good because I’ve known her for over 20 years,” a thrilled Mathison tells In Depth. “We even co-hosted a show called INSTANT BEAUTY PAGEANT on the Style Network together. We really have a lot of fun together, and I think people saw that and the [ratings] were good.” As the new co-host, Mathison not only hopes to incorporate some…

Steffy’s love life has been nothing short of a hot mess lately on THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL, but her portrayer is now a happily married woman! Portrayer Jacqueline MacInnes Wood took advantage of the soap’s four-week summer hiatus to elope with fiancé Elan Ruspoli, who proposed last November. At the time, Wood confided to Soaps In Depth that an elopement wasn’t out of the question, and in the end, that’s what the couple decided on. “I’ve had so many weddings on TV that I’d be fine with something small,” she explained. The low-key nuptials seem appropriate, given how Wood describes the nature of their relationship. “It’s just very simple and easy,” she confesses. “We just click.”…

IN GH has tapped Briana Nicole Henry to pick up where Vinessa Antoine leaves off as Jordan. (Antoine will last air any day now, as she’s exited GH to star in the upcoming Canadian series DIGGSTOWN.) And Henry — who had a recurring role as Devon’s troublemaking model girlfriend Esmerelda on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS back in 2014 — couldn’t be happier to take over the role. “Thanks, GH,” she Instagrammed. “So excited to join your family!” Donnell Turner (Curtis), who is thrilled with his new leading lady, got a kick out of being part of the recasting process. “It was just exciting to be on the other side of a screen test,” he admits. As for Curtis and Jordan, Turner concedes that the recast may shake thing up…

John tries to process the events which went down at his wedding on Monday, August 27, while Marlena’s loved ones gather at the hospital to await word on her surgery on Tuesday, August 28. As impossible as it is to imagine, John can’t help wondering on Wednesday, August 29, if he will actually lose Marlena on the very day they were to devote their lives to one another. Meanwhile, comforting Eric prompts Jennifer to make a confession on Thursday, August 30. And on Friday, August 31, Will at long last makes a decision about his future!…

Since assuming the role of Sonny’s father on GENERAL HOSPITAL, Max Gail has touched viewers’ hearts — but at July’s fan club event for the ABC soap, it was his heart that was moved. “There’s just been a warm response all the way around,” smiles Mike’s portrayer. “There’s a lot of sincere feelings about the storyline and a real appreciation. It feels good!” And while Mike’s battle with Alzheimer’s is heartbreaking, Gail adores the challenge. “It’s been a great experience — and in this medium, you get to unfold day by day,” raves the TV vet, perhaps best known for his role of Wojo on BARNEY MILLER. “When I look back at some of the primetime gigs I’ve had? Wow. This is nothing like doing two scenes as a guest…

Better Late Than Never Believe it or not, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Josh Swickard wasn’t always cut out for Chase’s shirtless scenes. In fact, when he got to high school, the hunk was just a few inches over 5 feet tall! “I’m what you call a late bloomer,” he chuckles. “Maybe senior year, I grew up a little bit? I always had somewhat of a build, but I was lean and small. As I got older, I kind of filled out. And as I’m not 21 anymore, I realize I’ll just keep filling out if I don’t work out!” The now-retired SoulCycle instructor learned that lesson shortly after joining GH. “Right before I got the show, I was teaching 15 classes a week and I rode every class,” he recalls. “So I…

Victoria/Cole/Nikki: Believing Victor dead, Nikki sought comfort from Cole… which freaked out Victoria (then Heather Tom, now THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Katie) when she began her own romance with him! Abby/Stitch/Ashley: While Ashley stepped aside when Abby became involved with Stitch, it took a while before she and the good doc put aside their feelings for each other! Ashley/Eric/ Dina: When Ashley realized that her new lover had hit the sheets with her mom, she dumped him! Liz/Stuart/Jill: Despite her mother’s romance with newspaper publisher Stuart, Jill seduced him away… but Liz eventually got her man!…

When it comes to interviews, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Thorsten Kaye (Ridge) has an ask-me-anything attitude we can appreciate. So Soaps In Depth tossed the alum of ALL MY CHILDREN (as Zach), ONE LIFE TO LIVE (as Patrick) and PORT CHARLES (as Ian) a few of our burning questions, and he took it all in stride as only a charming, affable and not-too-serious member of the acting profession is wont to do. Have a look for yourself! Do you ever wish that your character could be as much of a jerk as Bill is? “Everyone wants to be ‘that guy,’ but if you have too many people who act like that, then no one cares. It doesn’t work.” How do you and Don Diamont (Bill) get along in real…

Own the Blu-ray™ 9/11 and the Digital Movie now! Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) recruits a crew of specialists to plan and execute the biggest heist of her life in New York. 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. https://www.facebook.com/oceans8movie SCAN TO SEE MORE!…

Q: If you could play hooky from work today, what would you go do instead? Michael Easton (Finn, GH) “I’d probably sit in the bar with Roger Howarth (Franco). Roger and I are always trying to coordinate our lives so we can sit and have a beer and talk about life. We don’t get to do it as often as we like, but we like to do it. And we don’t work on the show together, so we try to catch up on life and sometimes we’ll make a video or something that’s funny and post it just to be silly and not take ourselves too seriously.” Risa Dorken (Amy, GH) “No thanks — I love working! I’ve dreamed of being a working actor for as long as I can…

Fresh, But Fierce A pair of mod ankle boots help GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Eden McCoy (Josslyn) step out in style in this cute red tank and matchstick jeans. Florals On Black There’s a similar print to these two dresses worn by THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Heather Tom (Katie; Kelly, ONE LIFE TO LIVE), but voters preferred the more classic styling of the look on the right. High-Low Hems Show off your legs with this asymmetrical style — these current and former ladies of ABC Daytime nail the striking silhouette! What Were They Thinking?…

STATUS While Kathleen Gati can’t say what’s in store for Obrecht — who has been on the run since escaping from police custody — she will make an appearance any day now. Whatever’s to come for the grieving mother after that, Gati is game. “I love to do other stuff, but this is my No. 1 show,” the actress shared at her GHFCW gathering, adding that she told executive producer Frank Valentini, “‘Anytime you want me, I’m there. But if you don’t need me, this is what I do for a living. I have to find other work. So if you want me, tell me.’” As for that “other” work, “I’m starting another audiobook, and I have stuff coming up that I’m not privy to speak about,” Gati tells In…

General Hospital In Depth asked... Will Kiki’s fling with Griffin destroy her relationship with Ava? A full two-thirds of our responding readers predicted that this would be the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. Reader Reaction: 67% NO DOUBT! 33% NO WAY! This issue’s question... Is Cameron a threat to Oscar and Josslyn’s relationship? TOP 5 GH COUPLES 1 Liz Webber & Franco Baldwin 2 Sam McCall & Drew Cain 3 Carly & Sonny Corinthos 4 Laura & Kevin Collins 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: - Steve Burton (Jason GH) 3 Last Issue: 2 Roger Howarth (Franco GH) 4 Last Issue: 4 Billy Miller (Drew GH) 5…

This isn’t Gail’s first exposure to GH. Back when he was playing Wojo on the groundbreaking ABC sitcom BARNEY MILLER, from 1975 to 1982 (upper left in the picture), he recalls: “On days we’d shoot, they’d have the feed from GH on until they lit up our cameras. I used to watch people like Tony Geary (ex-Luke) — who’d been in the same Lee Strasberg master class I’d taken — and it was an interesting thing. I also knew soap fans were very engaged, because years ago, my friend Paul Gleason (David, ALL MY CHILDREN) and I went bar-hopping in New York, and people were just screaming after him. Today, I’m seeing a lot of energy going on here with the fans! And now, I’ve watched a lot of the…

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Phyllis has had to stock up on extra-strength Tylenol ever since her daughter, Summer, roared back into town. Of course, Phyllis’ pain is portrayer Gina Tognoni’s gain! “I’m enjoying it,” she laughs. “This is her blood! She’s living in Summer’s home, and oh my gosh, it just brings up a lot of human emotion between the two that we all feel in real life. I love exploring that!” Even better, the ONE LIFE TO LIVE alumna (as Kelly) gets to explore those emotions with Hunter King, who first played Y&R’s Summer opposite her two years ago before leaving the sudser to focus on primetime’s LIFE IN PIECES. Despite being a recast herself — having inherited Phyllis from Michelle Stafford (now GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Nina) — the…

Having joined a team of people launching Advanced Anointing, the Los Angeles branch of a church based in the Arusha, a city in East Africa’s Tanzania, Melissa Archer (Natalie, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) was in need of training. “Five of us women went to Arusha to learn a lot, but we also wanted to visit the local Faraja Orphanage,” says the actress. “Faraja Maliaki Rayani, who runs it, has such a heart for kids that he started bringing them off the street and fighting to free those who were in jails along with their parents.” While charmed by the children with whom she played, Archer was also struck by the conditions in which they live. “They’ve got over 100 children there — half of them have HIV — and not…

On screen, GH’s Dr. Liesl Obrecht had seemingly crossed all the way over to the dark side after tying up, starving and torturing Peter, aka Henrik, in the Wyndemere tack house before setting it aflame. While viewers had recently seen the devious character being led away in handcuffs, they were nonetheless eager to cheer for the performances of her talented portrayer, Kathleen Gati. The gal with the gift of gab — in multiple languages and accents, no less! — held court over breakfast on the patio of Conrad’s Restaurant in Glendale, CA, and trust us, the stories that she shared with her admirers were priceless! “They say never work with animals or children,” Gati observed. “The last three months [for me] has been snakes, fire and a Boy Scout!”…

DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Ben handing Ciara a knife to protect herself while he was tending to her broken leg was just the first of many signs that his days of being dangerous are behind him. His portrayer, Robert Scott Wilson, says that it’s safe to become emotionally invested in the character now, and dare we say, even root for him. “Between the medicine, the therapy and everything else he’s been through, Ben is a changed man for sure,” the actor insists. “And he’s regretful — he’s not this inhumane animal. He’s ashamed and upset about what happened, and he came back to Salem to make amends.” The Road To Redemption However, given that Ben’s responsible for multiple murders, there are those who will never forget his past, and perhaps…

Upon receiving that text about Kiki and Griffin’s escapade on GENERAL HOSPITAL, Ava first sat on her haunches to assess the situation. Then, Maura West let her character pounce… and easily slinked away with this week’s Gold Star. Taken By Surprise With Kiki’s day in court upon them, West dug into Ava’s supportive yet firm maternal side. Thanks to a single text, however, that all disappeared. At first stunned by Franco’s message that Kiki’d slept with Griffin, Ava simply watched with new interest as her boyfriend gave his testimony. Her whole body tense, she seemed to be bracing herself for the truth. Instead, the fire alarm went off. After sniffing at the “fortuitous timing” of the alarm, Ava couldn’t get Franco to talk. So she turned to the two people…