Table of contents for August 3, 2015 in ABC Soaps In Depth

The In Depth Story: There was something about seeing Carly cooing with his infant daughter, Avery, that reached inside Sonny’s chest and grabbed hold of his heart. The three-time Mrs. Corinthos had always been there for him, through thick and thin, through the bubbly and the bombs. Knowing that Carly was and will always be the only woman for him, Sonny asked for her hand in marriage. Again. “Sonny felt like it was the time to ask her to marry him,” Benard tells Soaps In Depth. “Even if it’s the 85th time, it doesn’t matter to him. He loves her and he loves that he’s marrying her.” But the couple has tried holy matrimony before, with little success. (See sidebar.) What’s to say that their fourth attempt will be any…

The In Depth Story: As thrilled as everyone at GH was that Jonathan Jackson managed to car ve time out of his busy schedule to tape a few episodes of the sudser, Carlivati admits that he’d have loved the opportunity to write even more material for the NASHVILLE star! “We really had such a short window of opportunity to tape scenes with him,” laments the scribe to Soaps In Depth. “Between his NASHVILLE gig and the summer tour with his music, there wasn’t a lot of time. And we had all this story that we had to try to cram in! As a result, we really had to make sure to get what we needed, the important scenes involving the rescue and Jake being alive, as quickly as we could.”…

AS THE WORLD TURNS alums Terri Conn (Katie) and Austin Peck (Brad) are expecting their second child together any day now! The Pecks (who wed four years ago) are already parents to 2-year-old Kiera, and their blended family also includes her daughter, Julia, 11, and his sons, Aidan, 13, and Roman, 10. Another soap couple, Adrienne Frantz (ex-Amber, B&B and THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) and Scott Bailey (Sandy, GUIDING LIGHT), will welcome a daughter later this year following two tragic miscarriages. “It’s been a difficult struggle,” says Mrs. Bailey, due December 1, “so this is our miracle blessing.”…

Ryan Paevey (Nathan) spent GH’s threeweek summer hiatus recovering from a motorcycle accident! The actor revealed on social media that during a camping trip with friends, he took a spill while riding his Harley Davidson (which he’s named Lilith) and shattered his right wrist! Following surgery, which included inserting titanium pins to keep his bone in place, Paevey is happy to report that he is on the mend! At press time, there was no official word whether or not the injury would be written into the star’s storyline.…

As Richard Burgi makes his own mark on the role of Dillon’s dad, his predecessor, Paul Satterfield (who originated the character back in 1991), tells In Depth that he is “very excited for the GH fans to hear this news. I have always been a Richard Burgi fan. He is the perfect recast, and I think he and Jane [Elliot, Tracy] should knock it out of the park.” As for why Satterfield didn’t reprise the role, the actor reports that even if he was asked, his life is now on a very different career path. “I am currently contracted to continue teaching and coaching in the fall,” he shares. “I will continue teaching for at least two more years as I research and collect data from my classroom to begin…

Madeline interrupts Nathan’s evening with Maxie on Friday, July 24, and on Monday, July 27, decides that the fashionista simply isn’t good enough for her precious boy. On Tuesday, July 28, Nathan suspects that Nina is being set up, but he’ll need to act fast, because on Wednesday, July 29, Ric advances his scheme by suggesting Nina take a drastic step! Franco accuses Madeline of being in cahoots with Nina’s hubby on Thursday, July 30, and while Nina blasts Silas on Friday, July 31, Franco makes a devastating discovery!…

Abby stumbles on her climb up the corporate ladder on Monday, July 20, but that same day, will Adam have more success in his quest to win back Chelsea? As Avery bids Genoa City farewell on Tuesday, July 21, Phyllis attempts to get through to Jack. Chelsea issues Adam a warning on Thursday, July 23, while Jack and Victor’s rivalry reaches new heights. And on Friday, July 24, could Neil be in a position to destroy Nikki and Victor’s marriage?…

Neither sleepless nights nor dirty diapers can wipe the content smile from the face of GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Lisa LoCicero (Olivia). Thirteen years after having son Lukas, she and her husband, director Michael Jann, welcomed a baby girl, Verity Marion, into the world… and it was love at first sight! The Family Circle “Having been through this once before with Luke, I know how quickly this wonderful newborn time goes,” LoCicero says. “So I pretty much just stay around the house, holding her, nursing her and smelling her little head. She’s a very sweet baby. A little mellower than her big brother was. Or maybe we are just more confident parents this time around. That said, she never gets put down, so she doesn’t have much reason to cry!” LoCicero thought…

Bregman is currently involved in a writing project, which she’s keeping hush-hush for the moment. However, more than a few Y&R stars have recognized the power of the pen, as it were. The late Jeanne Cooper (Katherine) wrote her bestselling autobiography shortly before she passed away, and Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) has begun writing her own memoirs. Both Eric Braeden (Victor) and Jess Walton (Jill) have voiced an interest in writing down their life stories, while Eileen Davidson (Ashley) went the creative route when she published a series of murder mysteries!…

FYIFYIFYI Birthday: December 31. Hometown: New York, NY. Back In Business: Diamont underwent his fourth back surgery this spring to address a chronic injury. “I was in very bad shape before the surgery but am feeling great now,” he reports. Hawaiian Holiday: The actor and his family vacationed on Maui in June. THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Dollar Bill is not above paying bribes, but he’s never really had to pay the piper when it comes to the various dastardly deeds he’s committed. What’s the secret to emerging unscathed from so many unsavory acts? According to his alter ego, Don Diamont, the answer lies in the character’s wicked sense of humor. “It’s the irreverence — that playful, sarcastic part of him,” says the actor. “He has fun doing what he…

… or did GH’s Michael handing Avery back over to Sonny leave you scratching yo u r h e a d ? The young exec made it clear he hadn’t forgiven his parents, and heaven knows Sonny hasn’t left the Mob, and yet there was Michael, thrusting the baby into his father’s arms. And while Michael casually said he’d tell the court about the change, might the judge reject the reversal of his decision? Michael had very real grievances against Sonny, from having murdered A.J. to sexing up Carly on his couch. And while we weren’t fans of angry, pouty Michael, the character’s sudden 180 felt a lot less motivated than did his fury!…

FYIFYIFYI Good Sport: Wilson can bat or kick a ball from either side. Feline Friends: “Loomis and Tybault are doing great,” Wilson says of his cats. “They’ve got a sweet existence going on.” Frightfully Fun: “I co-wrote a screenplay for a horror film,” Wilson reveals. “Hopefully, it’ll go into production by the end of the year.” Homesick: “I miss the clean air and being able to walk everywhere,” the actor says of Sebastopol, CA. “The small town that I grew up in is more of a pastoral setting” than L.A. There’s something to be said for tradition, and there’s no greater tradition than the Olympic Games. This November, DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Guy Wilson (Will) is hoping to run the original Olympic course (which was also used during the 2004…

Q: Which of your co-stars should get a chance to host their own talk show? Tyler Christopher (Nikolas, GH) “Well, Nancy [Lee Grahn, Alexis] is hosting her own show [GENERAL HOSPITAL NOW on ABC.com], and she’s very passionate about it and very good about it. And I know it’s something she’s always wanted to do, so being able to support that is great. I know she’s really proud of it.” Darin Brooks (Wyatt, B&B) “Scott [Clifton, Liam] would be good. He’s funny and personable.” Kate Linder (Esther, Y&R) “I think Doug Davidson (Paul) might be really good at that. I’d like to try that as well! Maybe Doug and I could do a show together!” Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth, GH) “I think Lisa LoCicero (Olivia) would be great. She’s always really…

Lily told Devon she didn’t think that Cane would ever forgive her for sleeping with Joe. Lauren and Cane blasted Michael for the pain he’d caused by pushing them together in the first place. After being grilled by Michael, Sage warned Adam that the lawyer was checking into his background. Dylan vowed to Avery that Joe wouldn’t get away with attacking her! At the hospital, Phyllis caught Marisa in Jack’s room, and demanded to know who she was! Phyllis went to Ashley for help in taking down Victor, and Nick accused them of working against his father! Nikki leaned on Neil for support. Two people who probably shouldn’t be near one another share a very close encounter!…

After a bomb was delivered to their penthouse, Carly conspired with the Feds to get Sonny away from the Mob and into Witness Protection. But Sonny couldn’t get past the betrayal. Following Morgan’s traumatic birth, Carly awoke from a coma feeling no love for Sonny or their kids… but she did have feelings for Alcazar, who’d abducted her when she was pregnant! Carly was thrown for a loop when she saw Sonny locking lips with his old flame Brenda, unaware that it was a “Good-bye, I’m in love with some else” kiss. During the Metro Court hostage crisis, Carly and Sonny once again declared their love. But when the dust settled (literally), Sonny was heartbroken that she intended to marry Jax.…

How romantic! When GH’s Bryan Craig (Morgan) and Kelly Thiebaud (ex-Britt) arrived in Bali last month to celebrate their two-year dating anniversary, the actor made the vacation an even more memorable one by popping the question to his girlfriend! “I won’t be able to wait past the first day, so I know that’s when I’ll ask her,” Craig told In Depth days before the couple left on their trip to paradise. “I’m sure she knows I’m going to ask sometime soon, but I hope she’s not expecting it on this trip.” Congratulations to the happy couple!…

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months and missed the news, Anthony Geary (Luke) has wrapped up his 37-year run as the iconic Luke Spencer. His last appearance on the soap will be Monday, July 27. “I signed on for a 13-week stint in 1978,” the record-setting Emmy winner said in a statement. “Apart from an eight-year hiatus in the 1980s, Luke Spencer has been my alter ego ever since. I’d like to thank ABC, my producers and the GH audience for a long and exciting ride.” For details on Luke’s final week, see the Cover Story on page 24; then, turn to page 26 for our in-depth coverage of Geary’s farewell luncheon held on the GH set last month.…

As Justin reels over his divorce on Monday, July 20, he finds an unexpected shoulder to cry on. Will and Sonny finally have a heart-to-heart about the state of their marriage on Tuesday, July 21. Paige tries to warn Jennifer about JJ on Wednesday, July 22, but are her words falling on deaf ears? On Thursday, July 23, Nicole realizes that Serena could destroy her future with Daniel, and on Friday, July 24, the devious redhead gathers some more ammunition that could blow Nicole’s life to pieces!…

... And 1 Thing We Could Do Without...…

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Cane was sent reeling after Lily confessed that she’d had revenge sex with Joe! While the Aussie has never cheated on his wife (well, except for the kiss he shared with Lauren), he can’t claim that he’s never lied to her. In fact, should Lily use her hubby’s past dishonesties to compel him to forgive her now? Christel Khalil, who plays the straying wife, believes that Cane should cut Lily some slack. Recalling that Cane once gaslighted her alter ego into a nuthouse, the Emmy winner says, “If he doesn’t forgive her, there might be real anger from her, because it’s like, ‘How dare you!’” Of course, that kind of tit-for-tat doesn’t usually go over too well with married couples, and Khalil recognizes that Cane…

Though he had an honorable profession, this handsome devil was most definitely not an honorable man. Do you remember his name? How about if we gave you a few clues? (We’ll even give you one freebie: No, it’s not ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s David Vickers!) 1. In an attempt to leak family secrets to the press, this drug dealer hired one of his “clients” to steal a teenager’s diary. 2. Bent on revenge, he started to run drugs in Port Charles and schemed to get a young lady addicted… and he did! 3. While retrieving heroin stashed in the morgue cooler, he was stabbed in the heart (he had one?) with a scalpel. 4. Having just been dumped by his married lover, this vindictive lothario threatened the outcome of her…

Even dressed to the nines for the Nurses Ball, kids will be kids. So, although GENERAL HOSPITAL outfitted its pint-sized leading men, Nicolas Bechtel (Spencer) and Michael Leone (Cameron), in tuxedos for the big to-do, the youngsters still had the same goal in mind as ever: to give their adorable co-star, Brooklyn RaeSilzer (Emma), the giggles. How did they do? Take a look at this irresistible collection of photographs from backstage, and see for yourself!…

It was the event fans had waited years for, and Soaps In Depth was there when Jonathan Jackson’s Lucky finally returned to Port Charles. Join us for this exclusive look behind the scenes at the magic that unfolded when Jackson reunited with his TV family, including his on-screen parents, Anthony Geary (Luke) and Genie Francis (Laura).…

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Avery has always been one of the smartest, most down-to-earth denizens of Genoa City, so we were baffled by her recent behavior with Joe. Case in point: Despite believing that her ex was stalking her, Avery called Joe to set up a meeting with him in a dark park at night. Weirder still, she summoned him in order to take him to task for having slept with Lily, a woman she barely knows! Wouldn’t it have made more sense for Avery to be glad that Joe’s attention had been diverted to another woman? Sure, Lily’s married, but that’s not Avery’s business or problem! We’re going to be very sorry to see the talented Jessica Collins exit the canvas in a few weeks, but we’re even…

Abigail freaked to discover that she was pregnant, and wondered if Chad or Ben was the father. Luckily, Hope kept the young woman from making a big mistake. JJ got upset when Kyle hit on Paige, and she blasted JJ for continuing to interfere in her life. Nicole confronted Serena, then worried that someone knew about her and Eric. After slipping drugs into Jennifer’s drink, Eve had a heart to heart with Eric that made her reconsider her vengeful plans. As she prepared to sign divorce papers, Adrienne took a walk down Memory Lane with Justin. Stefano revealed to Chad why he should be with Abigail. Nicole receives a marriage proposal, but which of her suitors is the one asking?…

The In Depth Story: Jones, who returns for a short story arc beginning Thursday, August 6, tells Soaps In Depth that she signed the deal without even knowing the nature of her scenes! “When B&B checked on my availability, I had no idea what the story was going to be,” she confesses. “I tr usted that if Brad wanted Bridget back, it was for a good reason, so I agreed to do the days blindly. We haven’t seen her on screen in over a year, so I’m really excited!” When viewers last saw Bridget during one of her brief visits home in the spring of 2013, the physician was living on the East Coast with her young son. “My understanding is that she’s still in New York,” says Jones, who…

The latest comings and goings — and how they will change your shows! The In Depth Story: When Hayden fell into a coma after taking a bullet to the head by Nikolas’ hitman, many viewers assumed that it would only be a matter of time before the sexpot woke up. After all, Hayden knows that Jake is Jason and that tidbit would have to come out of her mouth sooner or later; otherwise, the show would’ve just killed offthe character and be done with it, right? Well, now there seems to be an accidental confirmation by Passanante that Budig is returning to GH! The actress and the scribe share a June 26 birthday, and in response to a celebratory message Budig sent her on Twitter, Passanante tweeted, “Thanks, Rebecca! It’s…

Nabbing Richard Burgi to play Tracy’s ex, Paul, was quite a coup for GH. He began his acting career with roles on AS THE WORLD TURNS, ONE LIFE TO LIVE and ANOTHER WORLD, but his last soap gig was back in 1993, as film producer Phillip Collier on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Since then, Burgi’s been a primetime staple with regular roles on everything from 24 to DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, so what made him decide to return to daytime? And why now? “It felt like it was time,” Burgi tells In Depth. “I wanted to be around L.A. I had gone through this last pilot season. Something was offered to me that I just didn’t want to do. I liked the idea of something steady and something locally.” GH headwriter Ron…

The revolving door at DAYS continues to spin, with Daniel Cosgrove (Aiden) and True O’Brien (Paige) named the latest castmembers said to be exiting Salem in the coming months. And In Depth hears that several additional stars could be leaving as well — one of whom has been a front-burner fan fave for years. However, on the flip side, DAYS’ cast is also getting some additions. Sal Stowers (Cassandra, ALL MY CHILDREN) will debut in September in a new contract role, and Tamara Braun (ex-Carly, GH) brings Steve’s stalker, Ava Vitale, back to Salem in December. We also hear that the return of another legacy character will soon be announced, so stay tuned!…

While Rick and Maya bask in the glory of their special moment on Monday, July 20, Vivienne and Julius argue about Maya and her transition. On Tuesday, July 21, Ivy makes a startling discovery in the Forrester mansion. Thorne makes arrangements on Wednesday, July 22, to take Aly to Paris where she can get the help that she needs. Zende and Nicole grow even closer on Thursday, July 23, and he encourages her to live out her dreams. On Friday, July 24, a newly returned Thomas tells Caroline he’s back in L.A. to stay.…

FYIFYIFYI Full Name: Eugenie Ann Francis. Birthday: May 26. Birthplace: Englewood, NJ. Deja Vu: In 1983, Francis returned to GH for a six-week run to facilitate her leading man’s exit from the show. Lucky Charms: When Francis won her Daytime Emmy in 2007, she was carrying a lucky charm given to her by her GH mom, Denise Alexander (ex-Lesley). “She gave me this little angel on a pearl when I turned 16; it had been hers,” Francis explains. “She wore it during her career. I wore it during mine. And when my daughter opened in her first play, I gave it to my daughter.” In the 1980s, the term supercouple was coined to describe GENERAL HOSPITAL’s phenomenally popular Luke and Laura, played of course by Anthony Geary and Genie Francis.…

Rick Springfield (ex-Noah/Eli, GENERAL HOSPITAL) has done a lot of surprising things in his career, but playing Meryl Streep’s boyfriend/bandmate is something he’d never dreamed of. Believe it or not, to be cast in the August 7 release Ricki And The Flash, the famous rocker actually had to prove that he can play guitar. “I walked into the room and spotted Meryl right away. My heart skipped a beat, because she’s about the biggest thing there is,” he recalls. “I got up on the mic and said, ‘I’m about to jam with Meryl Streep,’ and she got up on the mic and said, ‘I’m about to jam with Rick Springfield!’ That broke the ice.” Role Of A Lifetime While playing with the all-star members of the band in the film…

All My Children A licia Minshew (Kendall) had no idea what her post-ALL MY CHILDREN career would look like, but she was excited about the possibilities. “I just said, ‘Let the universe happen,’’’ she confides, adding, “I love to work!” Little did she know, less than two years later, she’d have several films, starring roles in several Web-based shows, and another Emmy nomination under her belt. Meanwhile, she’s been hard at work on several exciting new projects. See Her Like You Never Have Before! This fall, Minshew will debut in SudsvilleTV.com’s new drama, YEAR ROUNDERS, as Georgina Phillips, a trophy wife who got a raw deal. “They want to age me to look like a hot mess — I’ll be sporting a blonde wig and an orange spray tan,” Minshew…

All the wealth and power in the world meant nothing to Sonny Corinthos without his children with whom to share it. Lonely and melancholy, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s godfather was feeling the effects of his empty nest and estrangement from both his baby daughter, Avery, and his grown son, Michael. It wasn’t until Michael made a truly unselfish move of love and forgiveness that once again Sonny found the hope to carry on. Handsome and talented Maurice Benard’s subtle turn as Sonny welcomed Avery back into his world was touching and easily earned him the distinction of being this week’s Gold Star performer. The Empty Nest Carly walked into Sonny’s house and greeted him with a big hug. She was glad that he had asked T.J. to move in but was a…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL Maya had a difficult conversation with her parents that resulted in her father extending an unexpected olive branch, but Nicole was suspicious of her dad’s newfound open-mindedness. Ridge and Caroline decided transgender models ought to grace the runway for their Freedom fashion show — with Maya in the showstopper — to convey their message of acceptance and tolerance. But Aly felt that centering the show on Maya was a slap in the face to the legacy her family had built. To kick offthe event, Maya and Steffy made a joint speech about the message behind the line. Aly skulked around backstage and became increasingly delusional and out of control. Wyatt comforted Ivy when she spied Liam and Steffy making eyes at each other during the…