Table of contents for November 9, 2015 in ABC Soaps In Depth

Several former daytimers have recently had some major life changes! First, ONE LIFE TO LIVE alumna BethAnn Bonner (Talia) and her wife, Maria Fuenmayor, became parents to twins! The actress delivered Ruby Colette and Simon Lucas on September 22. “We are so happy!” she captioned an adorable montage of baby photos on Twitter. Then, on October 3, IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG hunk Aiden Turner (Aidan, ALL MY CHILDREN) and girlfriend Jessica Miller announced the birth of their first child, Tristan. “He puts a big smile on my face,” the proud pop tweeted of his infant son. Turner has a 6-year-old daughter, Ciella, with his ex-wife. Finally, on October 10, TRUE DETECTIVE star Leven Rambin (Lily, AMC) wed TRUE BLOOD’s Jim Parrack just outside of Austin, TX. “Thank you for…

More than a year after he last appeared as GH’s Kevin, Jon Lindstrom made a brief return to the soap last week when Anna sought out some professional advice from Port Charles’ resident psychiatrist — and there’s a chance that the shrink may be back again! “Everybody talks like I do” come back, Lindstrom tells In Depth. “I would really welcome going back again. Ever y time I go there, I have so much fun. Frank [Valentini, executive producer] has always been so welcoming to me.” While Lindstrom has been keeping himself rather busy with other acting projects such as TRUE DETECTIVE and ABC Family’s upcoming RECOVERY ROAD, his soap home still holds a special place in the daytime veteran’s heart. “I would appreciate going in to GH once a…

Just as DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Hope prepares to marr y Aiden, her and Bo’s grown son, Shawn, is back in town with Jason Cook reprising the role. But the actor’s stay will be a short one. “I just did the 50th anniversary, so I returned for about two months,” Cook revealed during an interview with a radio station in Colombia while promoting his new horror film, Dark Awakening (now available on iTunes and On Demand). But In Depth hears that the character will be sticking around Salem, so stay tuned!…

In the wake of a tragedy on Monday, October 26, Victor knows exactly who he wants to blame: Billy! Ashley goes to Stitch in search of answers on Tuesday, October 27, while that same day finds Nick receiving some pretty awful news! Chelsea steps up to defend her relationship with Adam on Wednesday, October 28, but that might prove to be an unpopular decision! Nikki and Phyllis prepare for a major event on Thursday, October 29, and the Halloween gala promises a night of surprises and danger on Friday, October 30!…

Is DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Ben a chip of f the ol’ block? It’s certainly looking that way now that he’s proven to be capable of doing anything — including murdering innocent people — to get what he wants. His por trayer, Robert Scott Wilson, says that what Ben wants more than anything is to eliminate the competition for Abigail’s heart. “Nobody likes dealing with an ex-boyfriend who keeps popping up, especially when you find out that she went along for the ride. No pun intended!” he laughs. “The engagement’s all part of pushing Chad out of the picture.” But framing Chad for murder? That sounds like something dear old Dad might do! Is Clyde to be blamed for his son’s reprehensible behavior? “Ben experienced so much trauma in his…

FYIFYIFYI Birthday: October 29. Birthplace: London, England. Did You Know? Although GH envisioned Anna as an American, Hughes so wowed the producers at the time that they had the character rewritten as a Brit. Damsel Is De-Stressed: How does the Emmy winner unwind? “Yoga. Period. That’s it,” she says. “It’s the only thing that works for me. I can shut off. Everybody goes away. I just want silence.” Ad It Up: Hughes co-hosted an infomercial for Pilates Power Gym. A lthough GENERAL HOSPITAL fans have long thought of Anna Devane not just as a heroine but a superheroine, she still has a dark side a mile wide — which might not be such a bad thing, considering the town she calls home. Nothing there is black and white, it’s all…

Let’s face it: Having a guy as sexy as Br yan Craig’s Morgan walk around GENERAL HOSPITAL shirtless is never a bad thing… right? That said, you might be disappointed to hear that viewers almost got to see even more of the buffhunk! “[Executive producer] Frank [Valentini] pulled me into his office,” shares Craig, adding with a laugh, “I thought I was in trouble, because I have been, many times.” But that wasn’t the case this time. Not by a long shot! “Frank says, ‘We’re putting you in the [Magic Milo number during the] Nurses Ball.’ I was like, ‘No, no, no!’ But he said, ‘You’ve got to. [Former headwriter] Ron [Carlivati] wants you to!’ The next day, Chad [Duell, Michael] came up to me and said, ‘Have you heard?…

1. Anna used to style her hair over her cheek to cover a: a. beauty mark. b. scar. c. tattoo. 2. Kristina was the star of a reality show called: a. MAFIA PRINCESS. b. MOB PRINCESS. c. DADDY’S GIRL. 3. Carly owned a restaurant located below Kelly’s called: a. The Cellar. b. Club 101. c. The Bamboo Bar. 4. As a teenager, Maxie frequently babysat: a. Kristina. b. Morgan. c. Lulu. 5. When we first saw Jax, he was playing: a. craps. b. poker. c. pinball. gh trivia answers ANSWERS: 1. b, 2. b, 3. a, 4. c, 5. c…

GENERAL HOSPITAL fans remember Ignacio Serricchio as Alcazar’s deeply disturbed son, Diego, so it was a shock when he turned up in the gut-busting role of Eduardo, a faux gay event planner, in The Wedding Ringer this year. Now, the actor/sometime stand-up comic is getting a chance to really strut his stuffin the new BET sitcom, ZOE EVER AFTER. In it, he’ll play Miguel, the sexy contractor working for the ex-wife (played by Brandy Norwood) of a famous boxer. In His Prime “Don’t get me wrong — I love drama, but you can’t goof around as much in it as you can with comedy,” the actor insists. “I’ll be able to show a lot more of what I can do — as well as a lot of other skills —…

Brooks, who grew up in Hawaii, jokes that he and his Canadian fiancée, Kelly Kruger (Eva, B&B; ex-Mac, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS), never agree on a thermostat setting. “We’re complete opposites in that sense. She always wants to be warm, and I always want to be cold. She wants soup, and I’ll want a cold milkshake!” Astrologically speaking, Brooks says he and his lady love are also nothing alike. “She’s a Scorpio and I’m a Gemini, and technically, those two signs don’t get along, but we had our [astrological] charts done by a friend, and we found out that this kind of helps us a little bit. My faults can be helped by her attributes, and vice-versa, so it’s a nice blend.”…

What storylines didn’t make the book’s final cut? One was the trial of Susan Martin (played by Denise Alexander, later Lesley on GENERAL HOSPITAL). That was a very important early story. It was very compelling. There was just no room. But Denise is on our cover! Something else that didn’t make it in was a collection of photos of different celebrities who’d been on DAYS. It was fascinating to see them all together, but there wasn’t room for it, and they didn’t speak to the heart and soul of DAYS, which is what this show is all about. How many photos did you sort through? That’s an interesting story. Not as many as I would have liked to, because unfortunately, many had been destroyed or lost. Regrettably, in the last…

Q: What would you want your last meal to consist of? Parry Shen (Brad, GH) “Fries from McDonalds, a truffle burger from Umami Burger, a slice of New York thin-crust cheese pizza, maybe stop by White Castle and pick up a few sliders, and a Frosty from Wendy’s.” Billy Miller (Jake, GH) “My dad’s ribs, my mom’s meatloaf, a baked potato and a really great bottle of Cabernet. What am I dying of? Going to the electric chair? Something else?” Ryan Paevey (Nathan, GH) “I’m going to give you two options: a beautiful sushi dinner or a center cut filet, medium rare.” Melissa Ordway (Abby, Y&R) “Probably my mom’s home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, mac and cheese, green bean casserole, corn scallop and hot rolls! Yum! And…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL Thomas’ banishment to Paris was the subject of much gossip and suspicion, and tongues continued to wag after Caroline unintentionally revealed that she was pregnant! Aware of Ridge’s vasectomy, Brooke immediately questioned her ex about how this could even be possible, but Caroline and her hubby were both wary when his ex offered them her best wishes. Witnessing the awkwardness and tension of Ivy’s first lingerie photo shoot prompted Liam to put his foot down and insist that she and Steffy work out their differences. Ivy later challenged Wyatt to a dare to help him understand why she was calling it quits as a Forrester model. Rick and Maya asked Nicole to be their surrogate, and though she was eager to help her sister, it…

With Jake and Elizabeth’s wedding — and November Sweeps! — right around the corner, GH viewers are closer than ever to the “Jake Is Jason” reveal! Bradford Anderson’s Spinelli has been back in town for a few weeks now, helping Jake and Sam uncover who Mr. Doe really is, and headwriter Jean Passanante teases that The Jackal will be sticking around Port Charles “for a significant event. He is around for an important period of time,” she tells In Depth. “His special skills come into play in an important way.”…

Look for the younger generation to take a more prominent place on DAYS in the coming months, because four more youngsters from Salem’s core families have been recast and aged! The growth spurt began this summer when James Lastovic debuted as Steve and Kayla’s son, Joey. Next, Vivian Jovanni takes over as Ciara (Hope and Bo’s daughter) and Jonathon McClendon as Aiden’s son, Chase, on Friday, October 30. Abe’s son, Theo, will get hit with a case of SORAS on Monday, November 3, when Kyler Pettis assumes the role, and Olivia Keegan will debut as Belle and Shawn’s daughter, Claire, on Wednesday, November 25, just in time for Thanksgiving!…

Your favorite stars caught in the act!…

One of the biggest complaints viewers often have when new writers join a show is that suddenly, the characters begin acting differently. And while it’s true that several GH characters have undergone changes in recent weeks, we’d have to say that they seem to be for the better. Franco and Nina, for example, continue to be outrageous and fun, but stop just short of being over-the-top. And some-how, Kiki — whom we will admit has never been one of our favorites, no matter who was playing her — has been humanized. By having her live with Nina and Franco, the man who once believed himself to be her dad, the show has created a quirky new family in a completely natural way. We do, however, wish that the trio weren’t…

Before being cast as Anna, Hughes had played Victoria The White Cat in the original London production of Cats and starred opposite John Travolta in the Saturday Night Fever sequel Staying Alive. Still, “I was very excited to get GH when I did,” she says — even though “at the same time, I didn’t know what GH was. I went into it blindly.” Even if the gig hadn’t worked out as brilliantly as it did, the showbiz vet probably would have taken it in stride. “Everything you do in your career changes you,” she muses, “and you learn about yourself.” What has she learned from playing Anna? That “it ’s lovely when you get the opportunity to play a character for that length of time and that you can be…

There are three things in life we can always count on: death, taxes — and Alexis and Julian grabbing every opportunity to rip one another’s clothes off. “Julian and Alexis went at it again,” Nancy Lee Grahn joked after taping one such scene. “It was kind of risqué today. I don’t know what you’re going to see, but it was hot.” It may sound odd, but Grahn finds comfort in having executive producer Frank Valentini on hand when the scenes are being taped. “I call him the Fat Police,” she admits with a laugh. “When you get to a certain a g e, things are dangling where they weren’t before. Nobody wants to see that! Frank makes sure the camera doesn’t show anything un flattering. ” Grahn even has her…

GENERAL HOSPITAL fans know Kathleen Gati as mad doctor Leisl Obrecht. But the soap is actually just a small part of her long and illustrious showbiz career. In fact, in Hungary, she’s a superstar! “I was made in Hungary but born in Canada,” she explains with a laugh. However, her heritage brought her back to Hungary many times over the course of her career, and the more films she shot there, the more films Hungarian directors wanted her to shoot. In the end, “they adopted me,” she says. “I felt loved and appreciated by the entire country. That speaks volumes.” So do the mementos on the following pages. “These posters remind me that, yes, I have something to say, and yes, I have this beautiful career,” Gati explains. “It’s about…

ABC’s soaps were so popular in ’82 that the network booked stars like SUSAN LUCCI (Erica, ALL MY CHILDREN) and TRISTAN ROGERS (ex-Robert, GH; Colin, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) as guests on its Saturday night hit, THE LOVE BOAT. GH’s pairing of Luke and Jackie didn’t exactly catch fire with viewers, but portrayers ANTHONY GEARY and DEMI MOORE certainly appeared to have warmed to one another at the American Music Awards. Long before she became a CSI detective, MARG HELGENBERGER walked a beat as NYPD cop Siobhan (opposite Michael Levin as Jack) on RYAN’S HOPE. With GH’s Luke/Jackie coupling a dud, then-executive producer, the late, great GLORIA MONTY, was forced to play on-screen matchmaker again by hiring EMMA SAMMS to play Holly. That time, Cupid’s arrow hit its mark!…

WIN IT! Soaps In Depth has a copy of DAYS OF OUR LIVES: 50 Years to give away to one lucky reader! For full rules and free entry, log on to winit.abc.soapsindepth.com. No purchase necessary. Open to current and 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. Lately, fans have been feeling even more at home when they tune into DAYS OF OUR LIVES, thanks to the show featuring so many familiar faces! But on screen’s not the only place where viewers can take a walk down memory lane. The show and Sourcebooks have partnered to release DAYS OF OUR LIVES: 50 Years, a beautiful tome that’s a must-have for soap enthusiasts…

Upon learning of Dante’s infidelity, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Dillon was determined to tell Lulu the truth about her husband. But, before he could, he found out that Maxie had revealed to his old flame his true feelings for her. Now, how could he rat out Dante? Dillon would seem spiteful and self-serving. Hmm. What if he just offered her a better, more faithful choice? For making his character such an appealing option, Robert Palmer Watkins earns this week’s Gold Star. Making A Scene As filming aboard the Haunted Star began, Dillon told Maxie — well, Declan told Marjory — “You will always have a piece of my heart.” And, in spite of how stressed out the leading man/director was, it was going really well… until there was a rustling of paper…

If you’ve visited the stores lately, you know that it’s already beginning to look a lot like Christmas. What should you get for that die-hard daytime TV fan on your list? Why something meaningful, of course! So kick back with your laptop and slap on your Santa hat… you’re about to clean up by choosing from Soaps In Depth’s list of unique, soap star-related music, movies, books, jewelry and more. BOOKS Who: Alyshia Ochse (ex-Cassandra, GENERAL HOSPITAL). What: Life Letters: Key To Your Soul… A Journey Into The Self. In this insightful new book, Ochse shares her unique plan for organizing your thoughts and identifying your goals and dreams. Paperback; 54 pages. Proceeds benefit a scholarship fund for Faro De Cabrera School in the Dominican Republic. Price: $12.99 (plus S&H). How…

The latest comings and goings — and how they will change your shows! The In Depth Story: According to our setsiders, it was Thompson’s decision not to renew his current contract, and he made it known to his colleagues and employers that he was planning to exit GH. The Canadian native made his Port Charles debut in 2005 as the neurosurgeon son of Rick Springfield’s Dr. Noah Drake, and quickly shot to soap superstar status once his character was paired with Kimberly Mc-Cullough’s Robin. However, the fivetime Emmy nominee has been more or less floating from one storyline to another since McCullough left the show in 2012. (Despite this, he managed to earn four consecutive Emmy nods since then.) As we went to press, In Depth was hearing that Thompson…

Lexi Ainsworth’s short return as Sonny and Alexis’ daughter, Kristina, went well. So well, in fact, that she is now officially on recurring status! “I think when I came back, it was, ‘Let’s test it out and see how it goes,’” she tells In Depth. “I guess it went well enough that they want to bring me back! It’s exciting! There are so many different ways it can go. There are so many layers and so much history. With everything that’s happened to her, there’s a lot of different stuffthat I can play around with. I can’t wait to read the next script so I can dive into it!” But enough with In Depth asking Ainsworth the questions; she’s got one for us! “Maybe you can tell me this —…

Thomas confronts Ridge about the real reason he was sent away to Paris on Monday, October 26, and Caroline finds herself put on the spot when she’s asked a tough question about her pregnancy on Tuesday, October 27. Zende is the recipient of unsolicited relationship advice on Wednesday, October 28. Despite her distaste for modeling lingerie, Ivy gets encouragement in that arena from an unexpected ally on Thursday, October 29. Pam and Charlie throw a Halloween bash for their co-workers on Friday, October 30.…

preview With her wedding only two weeks away, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Elizabeth is oh so close to having all her dreams come true. After all, she recently got her presumed-dead son back, and before long, she’ll finally be able to call the boy’s “late” daddy her husband! Everything’s coming up roses for the heroine… so what could possibly go wrong? Absolutely everything, thanks to the fact that every day, Jason — with the help of his supposed widow — is getting closer to finding out who he really is! Unhappy Halloween? As the week begins, everyone’s looking forward to the big Halloween party at the Haunted Star, which headwriter Jean Passanante promises will be a must-see event. “It’s always fun to write Halloween episodes,” she admits. “It’s not just about getting…

When THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Ridge and Caroline tied the knot, we’re pretty sure they didn’t expect that whole “for better or for worse” part of their vows to kick in quite so soon! Needless to say, things are dicey between the newlyweds as they struggle to come to terms with a pregnancy twist that has left them both reeling. Is their marriage doomed, or can this couple come to terms with the inadvertent infidelity that threatens to tear them apart? Thorsten Kaye (Ridge) jokingly acknowledges that Thomas and Caroline’s hookup certainly isn’t the first scandal of its sorton B&B. “The whole show is a little incestuous,” he says with a laugh. Plotting a future with Caroline even as she’s carr ying his son’s child may be a tricky…

… or does GH’s Olivia really need to work on her poker face if she has any intention of continuing to tell tall tales? When she and Julian crossed paths at the Metro Court, her face basically screamed, “Why, yes, this is the child I told you had died!” And given that there was a pretty good chance she’d run into someone who’d ask questions about the adorable new living accessory she was toting about town, she probably should have spent that commute from Brooklyn to Port Charles thinking up a plausible explanation other than, “Er, I found him!”…

More, Lante I would like to see more of Lulu and Dante. They need to have the truth revealed about what he did, and figure out what is going to happen in their relationship. Would love to see them have their second baby! Carol McQueen-Lawton via Soaps In Depth Facebook page The Baby Boom Please, no more drama concerning Avery. I am so tired of all the drama whenever a baby is born on this show! Teresa Donnelly via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Family Matters I’d love to see much more of the Brad story, please! We remember him mentioning that he comes from a Mob family many months ago. That would be an interesting storyline to explore! Debbie G. via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Dumb Jake It’s…

“Always a bridesmaid, never a bride” is okay by Emme Rylan (Lulu). Her seven-year relationship with Don Money did result in a marriage proposal which she accepted a few years back, but no wedding date has been set… and that probably won’t change anytime soon! “We’re never going to get married, and it’s all on me. I couldn’t care less,” she laughs. “Once we were engaged, I was good to go. I know he wants to marry me, so that’s enough for me. I know he wants to. He knows I want to. There. It’s like we’re married, right?” Rylan would consider tying the knot if one of their sons, Jackson and Levi, requested it. “If it meant something to my kids, then that would mean something to me,” she…

FYIFYIFYI Birthday: January 29. Birthplace: Knoxville, IL. Raised: Orland Park, IL. Sports Authority: Hartley is an enthusiastic baseball fan, who supports the Dodgers and the Cubs. Hero Complex: The actor played the Green Arrow on SMALLVILLE, and later was cast as Arthur Curry in that show’s spin-off, AQUAMAN. THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Adam Newman is arguably one of the most complex characters to hit Genoa City since… well, his father, Victor, arrived in town. Which was why fans were understandably anxious when word got out that the role would be recast. Of course, Justin Hartley’s portrayal of the angst-ridden rogue has erased their fears, with many taking to social media to express their admiration for the talented hunk. Just in time for Halloween, Soaps In Depth caught up with…

FYIFYIFYI Birthday: May 27. Hometown: Honolulu, HI. Oh, The Places He’ll Go: Brooks inherited his love of travel from his mom, a former TWA flight attendant. Don’t Squeeze The Charmin: A prankster growing up, Brooks explains that he “may or may not” have been responsible for TP-ing his high school as a teenager. Comparing yourself to others is a battle you can never win, but that hasn’t kept THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Wyatt from crying foul every time he sees his brother, Liam, with an advantage or opportunity that he was denied. Liam gets the swankier beach house, the hotshot executive titles at not one but two different companies, frequent top billing in the hearts of women and the status of “most favored son” in their father’s eyes. Is…

ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Jared was trouble from the moment he hit Llanview and began posing as Asa’s longlost son. “I loved him best in the beginning,” portrayer John Brotherton says, “when he was up to no good and just a slick con artist.” Nowadays, the actor still likes to play with fire on screen. But let’s let him tell you all about that… Armed And Dangerous Last spring, the actor starred in the box office juggernaut Furious 7. “Kurt Russell’s character runs a pseudo underground military unit, and I’m his right-hand man,” Brotherton recalls. “So ever ywhere Kurt goes, I go next to him with a big gun!” In the upcoming heist film Precious Cargo, the OLTL alumnus will again prove handy with weaponry as a bored ex-military man…

You have a chance to meet cast members of DAYS in person. Meng and many of the show’s actors are touring the country to sign copies of DAYS’ new book! “This is a little selfish, but I can’t wait to go on the tour and meet fans and see [the ones] again who’ve come out to past tours,” Meng says. “It’s fascinating to see and feel their love and support of the show and get feedback about who they are.” Here’s where the DAYS tour will be stopping in the weeks ahead: Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m. at Barnes & Noble The Grove in Los Angeles Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m. at Changing Hands in Phoenix Tuesday, October 27, at 12 p.m. at Barnes & Noble on 5th…