Table of contents for 10/9/2017 in ABC Soaps In Depth

The In Depth Story: Both of the actors left of their own accord to explore other career oppor tunities. Flynn debuted in June 2015 as Kristen and Tony’s son, while Fodé joined the cast the following month as Ridge and Taylor’s son. As for the characters’ places on the canvas, B&B appears to be in the process of finding Flynn’s replacement, having issued a casting notice for a character matching Zen de’s description. There was also a casting call issued for a younger leading man who should be at least 5’10” (Fodé is 6’2”), but the 20-year-old age of the character — referred to as Chase — is a few years younger than Thomas. Nonetheless, Fodé indicated in a farewell message posted on social media that a recast was a…

GH’s Ryan Paevey (Nathan) falls head over heels for onetime Maxie Jen Lilley (ex- Theresa, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) — in Hallmark Channel’s Harvest Love! “It’s a funny soap microcosm crossover,” chuckles the hunk, who joined GH after Lilley had wrapped up her stint as his thenfuture wife. “We would have been partners on the soap, but instead, we were partners in this film.” “It’s a funny soap microcosm crossover.” In the feel-good movie, “Jen plays Luna, a successful, slightly stressed-out doctor in the city who is spending too much time working and has become estranged from her kiddo, Andy,” Paevey previews. “She used to visit her family’s farm when she was a kid and takes personal time to go up there to reconnect with her son — and meets…

Kathleen Gati (Obrecht) and Jon Lindstrom (Kevin) haven’t been seen much in Port Charles as of late, but the actors have been hard at work on primetime projects! Gati has returned to The CW’s ARROW, reprising the role she played in the 2012 pilot — Oliver’s doting childhood nanny, Raisa. “My character is the polar opposite of Obrecht,” she reports. “Raisa is this warm, kind, loving person who just wants to embrace and nanny everybody. It’s different.” Also different is having hours to shoot a scene — rather than minutes, like at GH! “I get to take my time, think about things and try dif ferent ways,” Gati chuckles. “But after six hours of getting different angles, I said to Stephen Amell (Arrow), ‘By now, in the soap, we would…

Hope and Rafe realize they’re both pursuing the same job on Monday, September 25. As Brady is telling Nicole that Eric left town on Tuesday, September 26, Marlena tries to find out from her son where his heart lies. John and Marlena find themselves being asked for advice on Thursday, September 28. And on Friday, September 29, Julie gives Doug a very romantic surprise, while Gabi finds herself struggling to deal with her broken heart.…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Dollar Bill is finally being forced to pay the piper for his unethical (and downright criminal) schemes, and the fallout is hitting him where it hurts most: in his heart! Bill has already lost his position of power, thanks to Liam’s decision to hold his dad’s feet to the fire, and now Brooke has walked out as well. “Bill’s head is really spinning, because he doesn’t have any control at this point,” says his alter ego, Don Diamont. “Liam has blackm a i l e d h i m , Brooke is thoroughly disgusted by his behavior… everything is sort of falling apart!” Though Bill understands his family’s ire, he’s also angered by what he sees as their disloyalty. “Liam was happy to enjoy the…

… or were you shocked — in a good way — to hear GH’s Elizabeth take responsibility for her machinations during that whole Jake/Jason fiasco? “I’m part of the reason she lost time with Jason,” the nurse told Franco, admitting that she’d lied to sustain the house of cards she’d built. “I don’t know how Sam or Danny could ever forgive me… I don’t know how to forgive myself.” This story was one of several frustrating examples of this show’s seeming inability to play the fallout of big, dramatic moments over the past few years. So while it was too little, too late in terms of a payoff, it at least showed that on some level, the writers recognize just how big a deal Elizabeth’s lie was.…

While GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Anna was off meeting her new grandson in California, portrayer Finola Hughes was enjoying her own vacation on a very different coast — the Italian coast! “I had a wonderful time with my family and got to lay on my back in the ocean,” grins the gorgeous mother of Dylan, 16; Cash, 13; and Sadie, 9. “Nobody recognized me. We like to go to really quiet places and escape.” When Hughes came out of hiding and returned Anna to Por t Charles in mid-August, she was ready. “I felt refreshed and happy to start working,” she says. “Plus, I’m working with Michael Easton (Finn), and I love it. He’s part of the new mystery… and there are other people in it, too — lots of people!” Diamonds…

▪ GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Hayley Erin (Kiki) and Robert Palmer Watkins (Dillon) have been hanging out with a few Genoa City locals lately — and it’s because the beauty was once THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Abby! “I worked with Robert Adamson (Noah, Y&R) when I was 15,” Erin explains. “He played my brother on a pilot we did for MTV that didn’t get picked up. So I’ve known him for a pretty long time, but we weren’t in touch for a while.” When Erin and Watkins attended the Marco Island, FL, Soapfest charity weekend back in May, she reconnected with Adamson and got to know his on-screen sis, Camryn Grimes (Mariah). “We totally hit it off and now we’re all best friends,” she reveals. “We love it, because we can…

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Melissa Ordway (Abby) and husband Justin Gaston (ex-Ben, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) recently announced that their daughter, Olivia, will be getting a sister in January. Soaps In Depth caught up with the actress to get the details on her exciting news! Soaps In Depth: Congratulations! Can you tell us — planned or a surprise? Melissa Ordway: Oh my gosh, we were so surprised! We had tried to get pregnant for a couple of years before we adopted our daughter, Olivia. And we thought that it was never going to happen. But I totally think that everything happens for a reason, because Olivia was meant to be in our family. She was meant to be our daughter. I think that’s why it happened the way it…

Having starred on GENERAL HOSPITAL as mad doc Lisa, Brianna Brown was a no-brainer for the role of kooky Claudia on The CW’s reboot of DYNASTY. “What’s ironic is that my mother wouldn’t even let me watch soaps when I was young,” she laughs. But “it’s fun to get to play in this heightened world where they could write anything and you say, ‘How can I make this work?’” Déjà Vu? When DYNASTY debuts on Wednesday, October 11, Claudia will be re-introduced as the mentally ill wife of Matthew, with whom Cristal had been having an affair. While we can’t tell you how that plays out, we can reveal that it leads to the kind of edgy moments that Brown performed so well on GH. “When I had a meeting…

Called dashing designer Clarke “Bucky.” Had a tailor named Saul and an assistant named Darla. Referred to rival Stephanie as “Queenie.” Served cheese puffs and pigs in a blanket at company celebrations. Recruited Clarke to pilfer designs from Forrester. Pushed by Stephanie into Lake Como. Had a catwalk competition with the Forresters on board the Queen Mary. Impersonated a contessa, a gigolo, a nun and Massimo. Called dashing designer Thomas “Bucko.” Has a tailor named Saul and an assistant named Darlita. Refers to rival Steffy as “Princess.” Serves boxed wine at company celebrations. Recruited (unwitting) sister Coco to pilfer Forrester designs. Pushed by Steffy into Sydney Harbor. Had a catwalk competition with the Forresters on board the Stella Maris. Impersonated a caterer… so far.…

Before GHFCW’s official kickoff, William deVry (Julian) and Robert Palmer Watkins (Dillon) welcomed early arrivers with a champagne cocktail hour. With deVry delayed by an audition, Watkins warmed up the room with a little Q&A — and since his contract hadn’t yet been dropped, Kiki and Dillon’s romance was the hot topic. Ironically, it was deVry who had to field questions about his status with the show — he was feeling positive about how negotiations were going and, as he’d hoped, he’s since signed back on with GH! Once the casting business was addressed, it was good times for ever yone. After some more of the Q&A session, deVr y and Watkins turned the mic on the familiar faces in the crowd — asking them questions and catching up. Then…

Reynolds has often spoken publicly about the arts, and when he does, there’s one point that he’s sure to make: “When we look at cultures that have come and gone, what remains is the art that they created,” he shares. “We see and remember that society by the way in which it was reflected in their art.” Because of that, Reynolds believes in the importance of honoring today’s artists and nourishing the talents of the next generation. “When the recession started, communities began cutting budgets, and the first thing to go, whether that was in schools or cities, was the arts,” he recalls. “They believed arts were superfluous as opposed to necessary.” However, the actor purports, doing so will affect the future of both our children and our nation. “We…

Chloe and Julie found themselves at odds but soon formed an unlikely partnership. Abe began searching for a new police commissioner, which put candidates Hope and Rafe in a tough spot. Abigail and Chad’s wedding plans hit a snag. Brady was furious to learn of Nicole’s feelings for Eric and stunned the former priest with his demand. After pouring his heart out to a vision of Will, Lucas was confronted by loved ones about his drinking. Sonny had a disturbing dream about Will. Brady informed Sonny that he might not be willing to give up the top job at Titan! Sneak Preview When Bonnie gets some major dirt on a key player in Salem, what will she do with the intel?…

Will Ingo Rademacher (ex-Jax) give Haley Pullos (Molly) the royal treatment in a holiday movie later this year for cable network Ion? The actor announced on Instagram that he’ll be playing “a good king from a small European country who attended university in the USA some 20 years ago, fell in love but never returned… until now!” In one of Rademacher’s photos, a young lady wearing a tiara and bearing a remarkable resemblance to Pullos is front and center in a group of women, with Sharknado’s Tara Reid standing to her side. The same day, Reid tweeted that she was working on a film called A Royal Surprise, “a great holiday movie.” And actor/model Christian Olivio revealed that he’s playing bodyguard to Rademacher’s King Charles in the film. While Pullos…

Like many a person before him, Griffin finds himself becoming increasingly frustrated by Valentin on Monday, September 25. The priest makes his stance perfectly clear on Tuesday, September 26. Then, proving that he has a big heart, Griff does something incredibly kind on Monday, October 2. Valentin wants nothing more on Tuesday, October 3, than to leave his past in the past. But is that even possible, given everything that has happened since first he met the citizens of Port Charles? And who is on the other end of the phone when Valentin receives a call on Wednesday, October 4? After avoiding the truth on Thursday, October 5, Griffin finds himself feeling remorseful on Friday, October 6.…

Bill must face the consequences of his heartless actions when on Monday, September 25, an emotional Brooke lashes out! On Tuesday, September 26, Rick, Maya and Katie attempt to console the blonde, who opens up to her sister about why she left her husband. Sally is overwhelmed with gratitude when Liam gives her an astonishing and unexpected gift for Spectra Fashions on Wednesday, September 27. Though feeling as if he has lost everything that’s important to him, Bill discovers on Thursday, September 28, that he has a supporter in Steffy. And will Ridge’s attempt to put a smile on Brooke’s face score him points with his favorite ex-wife on Friday, September 29?…

At the moment, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Abby wants nothing more than to dip Scott in a vat of honey and send in the killer bees. Yet as most soap fans know, hate is just the flip side of love! Will Abby give Sharon a run for her money? “There is definitely some sexual tension between Abby and Scott,” insists her portrayer, Melissa Ordway. “Of course, Scott and Sharon have a lot of chemistry, too! So I’m excited to see what happens.” For her part, Ordway believes this might be a case of opposites attracting! “The two characters are so different. They are both what the other person hates most!” laughs the actress. “Abby is everything Scott despises… and yet there is still something that he likes about her!…

When Hughes heard Anna and Andre would be letting off steam with some dancing, “initially, I was uncomfortable,” she admits, “but we have such a great choreographer that it’s always fun, and I just love Anthony Montgomery. I didn’t even know he could dance!” With daytimers, you just never know what secret talents are hiding — unless of course they starred in a movie like the Saturday Night Fever sequel Staying Alive! Decades later, Hughes still gets recognized for the 1983 John Travolta vehicle. “That and CHARMED, funnily enough — and obviously GH,” she says. “I still see buzz about a CHARMED reunion all the time.” And in the current age of TV-show reboots, “it could actually happen.”…

▪ Maurice Benard (Sonny) and Laura Wright (Carly) loved digging deep for the heartbreaking tale of Morgan’s death… but are relieved to be on the other side of it! “We’ve just had to live it,” Benard explained at the GH Convention. “You don’t act it — you just gotta be in that moment. Laura was over-living it, so it wasn’t hard acting with her. It was also easy because it was right there in the writing. Also, Bryan Craig (ex-Morgan) left and that was hard for me.” Benard’s co-star was on the same, conflicted page. “It’s not a story any mother really wants to tell,” Wright confessed. “It’s great, but it’s a hard one. It was so well-written, it was so real and the cast came in and delivered. I…

GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Sam may have been falling apart on screen due to her illness, but portrayer Kelly Monaco was looking very much the well-put-together lady as she hosted a morning fan gathering, replete with coffee and donuts. Those gathered were relieved to hear that the actress had been as baffled as they were by Sam’s bizarre behavior, which she admitted was her “most challenging” storyline ever. However, the question they couldn’t wait to put to her was how the return of Steve Burton might rock not only Sam’s world but that of nearly everyone in Port Charles. Appropriately vague, all Monaco could reveal was, “It’s gonna be juicy!”…

Lulu and Maxie may not have seen much of each other lately on GH, but it was clear to fans that portrayers Emme Rylan and Kirsten Storms are rarely apart. They finish each other’s sentences, spend their free time crafting together, and it was revealed that Storms even predicted the gender of her gal pal’s new baby! Speaking of which, Rylan admitted that the morning was only her second time away from little Dakota, so she remained glued to her phone for updates while sharing what it was like to be given a sexy scene with Dante only five weeks after giving birth! Meanwhile, Storms shared her thoughts on the future for newlyweds Maxie and Nathan, which she hoped would include a little bambino of their own!…

… or are you just not all that excited about the fall line-ups being put forth by the major networks? Sure, there's the DYNASTY reboot and a few sitcoms that could be fun. But when cable outlets are giving us shows like THE WALKING DEAD, VEEP and GAME OF THRONES, we need something more than similar-feeling procedurals and superh e ro -themed dramas. Oddly, it seems as if some of the m ost promising shows on the horizon will actually debut at midseason!…

GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Matt Cohen once joked that Griffin’s personal baggage is overflowing with more baggage — and thanks to Ava, he finally got to unpack some of it! With Dr. Sexypriest forced to grapple with his calling and his attraction to his friend, Cohen played his character’s conflict with perfect unevenness to win this week’s Gold Star. The Fight Of Griffin’s Life Griffin was uncharacteristically gruff when Ava found him at Volonino’s. After scoffing that losing a kid was part of the job, the doc even yelled, “I’m fine!” Though he caught himself, Griffin couldn’t pull it together. He stuttered and grumbled angrily, and when Ava pressed him about how he’d become so empathic, he grasped the boxing-ring ropes tensely. But as he recounted how he’d found comfort in religion…

As the new head of Spencer, Liam instituted major changes within the company, including ditching “Skye” and helping get Spectra Fashions back on its feet. Upon finding out about her husband’s collaboration, a displeased Steffy immediately put Sally on notice. A rankled Wyatt also warned his brother that their father wouldn’t take kindly to his new business endeavors. Devastated to learn about Bill’s crime, Brooke turned to Ridge for support without revealing the details of her hubby’s bad behavior. R.J hoped his parents had a renewed shot at reconciliation. Sheila recruited Charlie for more sabotage against Ridge and Quinn. When Quinn learned that Sheila was still in town, she vowed to remedy that problem! Sneak Preview How will Bill’s other son react when he finds out exactly what’s going on?…

The In Depth Story: Watkins initially learned that he’d been dropped from his GH contract while off filming the lead role in the indie thriller Last Three Days. But with his current cycle good through late October, he returned to work shortly after Labor Day. “Somebody’s back on set today,” he cheered in a video message posted earlier this month. “Still at GH through end of October. Then we shall see what happens.” The actor told the Twitterverse that he had “no idea” whether he’d get to recur on GH after that, adding, “Nothing is confirmed. I don’t know what’s happening, but thanks for the support.” With his Port Charles future up in the air, Watkins hopes his GH run isn’t over. “I loved where Killon was going,” he said…

ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith is set to make another GH appearance any day now — “Brick’s back!” Maurice Benard (Sonny) declared via social media — and the tech and weapons guru will be around for more than just a one-off visit this time. “He’ll be in and out in the coming weeks,” previews a show rep. Meanwhile, Brea Bee, who played a General Hospital nurse back in 2012, returns to the soap in a new, meatier role on Wednesday, September 27. The mysterious newcomer she’s playing promises to cause big drama for a local… or two!…

Reformed gambler Billy decides to press his luck on Monday, September 25, while that day finds Victor receiving a special delivery. But from whom? Jack sits his mom down for a talk on Tuesday, September 26, warning her to butt out of his relationship with Nikki. Ashley tries to figure out how to move forward on Wednesday, September 27. Mariah and Tessa do something dangerous on Thursday, September 28, and Sharon backs Alice into a corner on Friday, September 29!…

Hot Topic: Is Michael In Love With A Cold-Blooded Killer? OUR TAKE We have to admit, when it comes to GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Nelle, we just don’t know what to believe — and that’s what makes this out-of-left-field killer storyline so fun. Considering the vicious con Josslyn’s kidney donor pulled on the Corin thos clan last year, we were actually impressed to see helicopter mom Carly even try to give Nelle the benefit of the doubt! Given Carly and Bobbie’s own rather questionable histories, it makes sense — in a weird way — that they would try and protect Michael from someone they perceive as having torn pages from their playbooks. Meanwhile, it’s been interesting to see Nelle bond with potential spoiler Dillon… or at least would be were it not…

▪ Matt Cohen (Griffin) and his wife, Mandy Musgrave (ex-Chelsea, DAYS OF OUR LIVES), are all about family time and eating right, so they’ve started growing their own food with son Macklin, 2. “Mack puts his little gloves on and waters the plants,” brags Cohen. “That’s my most recent obsession — us as a family, gardening and learning about agriculture. We’re learning how to grow our own fruits and vegetables. Since this was one of Southern California’s biggest blooms in a while, we’ve got a garden full of wildflowers, blueberries and blackberries growing — and everything came from seeds.” The happy gardener warns that not all seeds are created equal. “We’re trying to grow organic, heirloom food, and you don’t always know what you’re buying when you get it from…

Usually, when an actor appears on screen and has such a commanding presence that the audience immediately takes to him, he’s a seasoned performer with plenty of work and experience under his belt. GENERAL HOSPITAL newcomer Garren Stitt is only 14 years old, yet he nonetheless brings plenty of depth to the role of Oscar Nero — and that’s not just the fans’ opinion, either. He’s impressed his GH castmates as well. “Garren is great — the kid is the real deal,” says GH’s legendary leading man, Maurice Benard (Sonny), who immediately shared several scenes with the young Alexandria, VA-born star on the rise. “Maurice and I already have a special relationship,” concurs Stitt with a winning smile. “We have a similar sense of humor and hit it off immediately.”…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Sally Spectra has overcome obstacle after obstacle in her fight to revive the Spectra Fashions brand, but her latest roadblock — seeing her offices destroyed in a horrible conflagration — looked more like the end of the road than a mere setback. Coupled with Bill’s destruction of her romance with Thomas by telling a damnable lie, Sally has had to withstand a lot of bad news, both professionally and personally, in recent weeks. “She has worked so hard, and it’s like she just keeps getting clubs swung at her face,” says portrayer Courtney Hope with a sigh. “It’s pure tragedy. The second she feels like she’s made some strides, she just keeps getting pushed back.” That’s Gotta Hurt Watching the Spectra office set ablaze was…

Anyone who follows GH’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis) on social media knows that she is not afraid to tackle any topic, no matter how controversial. So it should come as no surprise that the breakfast she hosted featured conversations about a wide variety of subjects. “Of course, we talked about the show,” says Grahn, “and we talked about Julian and Alexis. But believe it or not, that was just a jumping-off point. We wound up talking about all kinds of things you might not expect!” And if you think anything was off limits, think again! “One of the reasons I really enjoy these smaller, more intimate events is that you really get a chance to share thoughts and go deeper,”_admits the actress. “You walk away really knowing the people you…

Although the storyline was sad — the sudden death of Lee Baldwin, due to the passing of his portrayer, Emmy-winning GENERAL HOSPITAL vet Peter Hansen — Kin Shriner (Scotty) and Lynn Herring (Lucy) were thrilled to have Carly Schroeder (Serena) on the set. “Carly is all grown up but just as much fun,” smiled Shriner between shots of the trio, who had just completed taping their scenes for the day. “ She did a great job.” And though Herring hadn’t seen Schroeder in years, she insisted, “Carly will always be part of such magical memories o f PORT CHARLES and GH.”…

As one of the faces of law and order in Salem for the better part of four decades, DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Abraham Carver is a beloved part of the community. It’s one of the things that his portrayer, James Reynolds, likes best about the character. “I don’t think that there’s anyone in Salem who’s more trustworthy,” the actor suggests. “There are certainly other characters with a sense of what’s good, but Abe really takes it to heart, and his loyalty to his friends and relatives is something that he holds dear.” Falling In Love Again Among those who matter most these days to Abe is Valerie, the woman from his past with whom he’s rekindled a relationship based on trust and unwavering support, even in the most difficult of…

Q: What acting legend would you love to have an opportunity to work with? Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) “Daniel Day-Lewis — there’s nobody better. If someone wants to tell me somebody who’s better, I’d like to hear it. The guy only works every couple years, because he kills himself. He and Christian Bale are incredible. Though I do feel Jake Gyllenhaal is underrated and nobody gives him the credit he deserves. He’s so good!” Stephen Nichols (Steve, DAYS) “If it can be living or dead, I would have to say [Marlon] Brando, which is a pretty obvious one. But living? I would say Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy or Elizabeth Moss.” Jacob Young (Rick, B&B) “I’ve always wanted to work with Robert Redford. To me, he’s that classic movie…

Nick blasted Victor for interfering by helping Noah with The Underground franchise. The Mustache warned his son that he’d fail without him, then met with Victoria to bury the hatchet. Nick found out from Nikki that his father had secretly visited Faith at camp. Furious, Nick told Faith that her grandfather had evicted him from the ranch. Abby feared the Abbott/Newman feud was restarting when she found Jack and Nikki together. Cane persuaded Lily to go to marriage counseling. Dina agreed to keep Graham away from Jabot business, but continued to defend her companion. Sneak Preview What will be the consequences when two women make a dangerous decision?…

LIFE AFTER DEATH! GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Bryan Craig fills us in on what he’s been up to since Morgan met his maker. GOT A SEC? Actually, we squeeze 60 out of GH’s Eden McCoy (Josslyn) for a rapid-fire Q&A. HAVE FUN! Nobody needed to tell Chad Duell (Michael) that when he stopped by Studio In Depth. Don’t Miss The Next Issue Of ABC SOAPS IN DEPTH On Sale... October 9 October 23 November 6 November 20 December 4 December 18 January 1 January 15 January 29 February 12 February 26 March 12 March 26 April 9…