Table of contents for July 16, 2018 in ABC Soaps In Depth

The In Depth Story: Ironically, the same man who helped reunite Dante and Lulu after his affair with Valerie is responsible for their current separation. And it all goes back to the night of Julian and Alexis’ 2016 nuptials. “If you’ll recall,” says GH co-headwriter Shelly Altman, “there was mayhem at the wedding. And one of the criminals who interrupted the ceremony wound up throwing Lulu off of the Haunted Star and into the ocean.” Dante managed to save his wife, and the incident helped put him and Lulu on the road to a reunion. But the man responsible was never caught, and Altman says that ever since, “Dante felt that was unfinished business for him. He has gotten a lead on the whereabouts of that person, so he’s gone…

Kimberly McCullough (Robin, GH) continues to add credits to her directing resumé: She recently wrapped two episodes of the upcoming Netflix comedy ALL ABOUT THE WASHINGTONS and is scheduled to helm two more episodes of ONE DAY AT A TIME next season. And, according to her recent interview with American Cinematographer magazine, she will step behind the camera for an episode of FULLER HOUSE this summer! The Netflix hit, executive-produced by John Stamos (ex-Blackie), is currently taping Season 4. To read McCullough’s American Society Of Cinematographers feature — in which she and GH co-stars Finola Hughes (Anna) and Kristina Wagner (Felicia) discuss how great the soap has been as a training ground for their work as filmmakers — visit www.ascmag.com.…

STATUS Patricia Bethune tells In Depth that she’s having a blast playing Ferncliff’s stern Nurse Mary Pat — and she’s not going anywhere just yet! “As far as I know, I’ll be at GH for a while,” teases the actress. “There’ll be a lot more for me, I think. It’s going to be great!” Bethune — whom viewers may recognize from TRUE BLOOD, GREY’S ANATOMY and a host of other primetime gigs — has actually appeared on GH before. Years ago, for a day or two as Jax’s assistant’s assistant,” she recalls with a laugh. “I think it was when he was first coming on the show [in 1996]. I gave a lot of exposition about who he was. It’s been years since I’ve been to daytime, and it’s changed…

Liam and Thorne uncover a potential threat to Hope s safety on Monday, July 2! On Tuesday, July 3, Ridge, Thorne and Liam try to figure out who could be menacing Brooke’s daughter, while Bill pays Steffy a surprise visit and, for once, gives her something to be thankful for. On Wednesday, July 4, Hope confides in Liam about her condition. Ridge and Brooke find themselves at odds on Thursday, July 5, as they discuss the new twist in the Hope/Liam/Steffy saga. On Friday, July 6, Steffy tells Liam she’s excited to get married ASAP, while Brooke gives Hope a pep talk about fighting for the groom!…

I’m So Egg-cited! We all know that reality TV isn’t… well, real. But it tends to look enough like the world we live in that with a little suspension of disbelief, we go along with it. But when THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY had Tinsley call her fertility doctor in order to look at pictures of her frozen eggs… all while sitting in a boutique in a wedding dress — we were on the floor laughing, and not in a good way. Worse, Tinsley and her mom kept saying that if Scott knew she was trying on dresses and talking about babies, he’d run for the hills. You know, as if she wasn’t doing this on camera for all the world — including Scott — to see. Contrasted…

In his first episode, Swickard only delivered one line. Piece of cake! His second episode, however, saw him facing off with Sonny. “Forty pages with Maurice Benard, arresting Sonny’s father and getting in Sonny’s face about what he can and can’t do,” he marvels. “That was a lot! And I was so nervous. There was one point I jumped Maurice’s line — I said mine before he was done saying his. Now, you don’t want to do that to anyone, but to do it on my second day with the godfather of GH? He looked at me, and I had to check my pants. He is just so intimidating! But once I got to know Maurice, he was the guy I turned to most with questions and concerns. We also…

This GENERAL HOSPITAL schemer’s antics in Port Charles were legendary. But did he have what it takes to stick in your memory? Let’s see if you recall his name. (We’ll even give you hints.) 1. After causing trouble in ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Llanview, this former pimp showed up in Port Charles in 1992 as a private eye. 2. The gumshoe was hired to investigate Tracy Quartermaine’s rival, Jenny Eckert! 3. Though the thief made a pretty penny off electronics swiped from the Q mansion, Tracy ended up with the money! 4. After boxer Jagger Cates attacked Sonny, his promoter cut a deal to keep the mobster from killing his client. 5. Back when Garfield was eyeing Frank Smith’s territory, this sly dog helped them import an international hitman.…

When Y&R introduced a lesbian love story between Mariah and Tessa, it certainly caused a buzz. Did Grimes find it at all scary to tackle on screen a subject that some people still see as controversial? “Scary is the wrong word — it’s like an excited anxiousness,” the actress clarifies. “For me, I wouldn’t be acting if I didn’t love the challenge, if I didn’t look forward to the challenge and crave it. I want to do different stuff than I’ve done before. It’s the reason why I do it, so I can push myself! To me, you never stop learning and growing, so when I get those opportunities to try something new, it’s less about me being scared, and more like me being, ‘Yeah, let’s go! Let’s do it!’”…

The Nurses Ball may be behind us, but the big event took a lot of hard work… which led to a lot of fun and games as the actors let off steam in the halls of GENERAL HOSPITAL. See for yourself, as Soaps In Depth pulls back the curtain and takes you backstage for a glimpse at all the shenanigans you didn’t see!…

Birthday: August 27. Hometown: Westchester, NY. Blame Colonel Sanders: A vegetarian, Mosley actually loved the smell of fried chicken during her first trimester. “The thought of eating it still grossed me out, but I could have bathed in the smell!” she marvels. “It was so bizarre!” Produce Metaphors: Currently addicted to pregnancy-related Web sites, Mosley cracks up at their tendency to compare a fetus’ development to various fruits or veggies. “This week your baby is the size of kale,” she says with a laugh. “I’m like, a head of kale?!?”…

Q: Which former co-stars do you keep in touch with? Laura Wright (Carly, GH) “Eric Woodall, my first co-star on LOVING, who played Matt. A guy named Wes Ramsey (Peter); I kind of live with him now and I met that guy [as Cassie and Sam] on GUIDING LIGHT. Lisa LoCicero (Olivia) — I worked with her on THE CITY and we lived together in New York for a while. And I Facebook and text with Kim Zimmer (Reva, GL) sometimes.” John McCook (Eric, B&B) “Once in a while I’ll see Ronn [Moss, ex-Ridge] around town. He plays music, of course, and has been doing his Web series [THE BAY], so I’ve seen him at a couple of events, but we don’t actively keep in touch. People think you form…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL Steffy called Bill out for blackmailing her into delaying her marriage to Liam, but the scheming patriarch steadfastly insisted she’d end up with him and not his son. As Wyatt and Sally’s relationship took off, Eric convinced Hope to hire the redhead on her Hope For The Future campaign. Ridge let Eric know just how horrible he thought the idea was, but Sally showed him her vulnerable side by opening up about everything she’d been through. Hope, meanwhile, warned her staff to keep an eye on Sally and Emma, though Charlie may have taken it too far when he saw Emma taking inventory and immediately suspected she was taking photos of the clothing! Sneak Preview  When an anonymous threat is made, everyone wants to know…

The In Depth Story: As portrayer Peter Bergman points out, “Jack has been so lost since the night the truth came out. This could be the answer to everything. “And no, it’s not lost on Jack that,” the actor continues slyly, “should he be proven a Chancellor, some claim on the Chancellor legacy is his!” While Chancellor’s current CEO, Cane, has already been pacing over that possibility, Bergman insists that his character is more interested in his personal life than his professional one. “Jack, more than anything, is much hungrier for a connection than a place to work or a place to own. He is hungry for a concrete familial connection that tells him who he is, that serves as a guide for him in a way that his father…

The In Depth Story: After much rumbling, it’s official: Following nine years in Port Charles, Zamprogna has decided not to re-sign his contract to continue playing Olivia and Sonny’s son. “I feel I owe it to you awesome fans to tell you that I’ve taped my final scenes,” the actor tweeted. “Going to miss you all and my GH fam. Good things happening though. More to come.” When Zamprogna — a BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and EDGEMONT alum — first brought Dante to town in June 2009, he was working undercover as Dominic Pirelli, trying to take down Sonny. It wasn’t until the detective infiltrated the Corinthos crime family and Sonny had shot him for it that they learned they were actually related. “Dominic and I talk a lot about how much…

IN GH’s Cameron has been recast, with newcomer Cade McWatt replacing Michael Leone as Elizabeth’s eldest son. It’s not clear whether Cameron will be slightly SORAS’d like Josslyn was when Eden McCoy took over, as McWatt is about the same age as his 13-year-old predecessor. Either way, look for Elizabeth’s son to get in the middle of the teen scene this summer. Speaking of Liz, that’s Cassandra James playing her old friend, Terry. And Port Charles may be getting a taste of Broadway soon, as Wicked and Shrek The Musical alum Noah Rivera Instagrammed in mid-June that he’d taped three episodes of the soap. “I love being on set and seeing all of the hard work it takes,” he posted. Look for his character to show up any day now.…

Franco’s fears are finally assuaged on Tuesday, July 3. On Thursday, July 5, he has a heart-to-heart with dad Scotty. That same day, Julian is looking to expand. But does this mean he wants to open another restaurant or get back into that other business he supposedly left behind? Nina has impeccable timing on Monday, July 9, while Peter makes a promise on that day. Kevin is taken into someone’s confidence on Tuesday, July 10, and Obrecht seems pretty distracted on Wednesday, July 11. Valentin questions the veracity of his wife’s tale on Thursday, July 12. And on Friday, July 13, Ava thinks there’s something very, very familiar about someone, and you’ll never guess who!…

Here’s hoping Billy is wearing asbestos Armani, because he decides it’s a good idea to play with fire on Monday, July 2! That same day, his ex-wife sends out a distress signal. On Tuesday, July 3, Phyllis suggests it’s time to form a new alliance… but with whom? Find out how far Cane will go to protect the Chancellor legacy on Wednesday, July 4, not to mention the extreme measure Jack decides to take on Thursday, July 5. Finally, when Kyle starts digging around on Friday, July 6, he winds up getting in over his head!…

So far, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Nelle has managed to stay one step ahead of everyone who would bring her down. But this week, forces are aligning which could finally bring her down. Because what Nelle doesn’t know is that three different men are doing everything in their power to reveal her darkest secrets… hopefully, before it’s too late for Carly, who is facing her worst nightmare! Chase Makes A Confession! Wanting to be completely honest with his boss, Chase fills Jordan in on his past with Nelle… and his desire to help see her brought to justice! “Chase feels partially responsible for the fact that Nelle is still out there destroying lives,” explains co-headwriter Shelly Altman. “He intends to use his past with Nelle to get her to reveal what she’s…

General Hospital In Depth asked... Do you think this is the end of the line for Valentin and Nina? Reader Reaction: 52% NO WAY! 48% DEFINITELY! It was a close call, but it looks like GH’s quirkiest couple is safe for now — at least if the readers have anything to say about it! This issue’s question... Do you think Franco and Elizabeth will make it down the aisle? TOP 5 GH COUPLES 1 Liz Webber & Franco Baldwin 2 Alexis Davis & Julian Jerome 3 Laura & Kevin Collins 4 Carly & Sonny Corinthos 5 Sam McCall & Drew Cain TOP 5 ACTORS  (as voted by Soaps In Depth readers) 1 Last Issue: 1 Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) 2 Last Issue: 2 Steve Burton (Jason GH) 3 Last Issue:…

OUR TAKE GH Hot Topic: Has Peter Paid A High-Enough Price For His Sins? For weeks now, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Peter has been held captive by Obrecht and, to a lesser degree, her reluctant accomplice, Nina. The twisted tale has given Michelle Stafford (Nina), Kathleen Gati (Obrecht) and Wes Ramsey (Peter) some fantastic material to work with… but it’s also deprived the audience of a bigger payoff. While Peter begs for his life in the woods, most of the people his actions impacted are back in Port Charles, going on with their lives in his absence. When Peter was befriending Maxie and helping her deal with Nathan’s death, viewers were anxiously awaiting the moment when Maxie found out the truth about her duplicitous pal. Given how many people had reason to…

No one was more shocked than THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Camryn Grimes (Mariah) when her name was called as Outstanding Supporting Actress at this year’s Daytime Emmys. “All I heard was my first name, and then everybody from Y&R sort of leapt up!” she recalls with a laugh. “Robert Adamson (ex-Noah), who was my date for the evening, yelled in my ear, and I was like, ‘Oh God, here we go!’ “I didn’t have a speech prepared, so it looked like I was making a beeline for the stage, but I was really like, ‘Oh God, oh God, oh God — now I have to think of something to say!’” she adds. “I didn’t turn and focus on anyone around me. I was like, ‘What do I do now?!’”…

Mosley and Rogers have been together for the past year and a half after meeting on the set of a mutual friend’s short film project. “He’s just beautiful inside and out, and our values are very much the same,” the actress shares of her sweetheart, a producer in the tech industry. “We have so many similar interests. He meditates, he loves to travel, and we both have a very strong commitment to service.” Rogers has a son from a previous relationship who lives in Paris, which is one of the reasons Mosley has been taking French lessons to make sure she and the little boy can converse more easily. “There’s so much love and pride there when I see John look at his son, and there’s a playfulness, too. I…

GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Kiki was through playing the victim and determined to handle her harasser the right way! Even as Ava, Bensch and Griffin pushed her buttons, Hayley Erin never let Kiki lose focus on what was at stake — and the actress’ commitment earned her this week’s Gold Star. Mama Drama With her story about to hit the newspapers, Kiki claimed she was ready for whatever was coming — which was good, because a lot was coming! First, she couldn’t shake Ava. Forced to recount Bensch’s harassment, Kiki gritted her teeth and laid it out quickly and impatiently. Naturally, Ava kept pushing and making it all about her own feelings… until Kiki finally broke and accused her mother of using sex as “a strategy and a weapon.” Her matter-of-fact tone…

Paint It Black Though there’s a similar vibe to these two black dresses worn by ALL MY CHILDREN’s Lacy Chabert (Bianca), the winning look on the left got a boost with some subtle shimmer. “Wow” Factor GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Michelle Stafford (Nina) looks dropdead gorgeous in both of these sleek modern gowns, though the blush-colored dress garnered a smidge more votes than did the bold red number. Rock Tees It’s safe to say that vintage (or vintage-looking) concert tees will never go out of style, and these stars of GH absolutely ace the look! What Were They Thinking?…

Perhaps one of GH’s most famous graduates, John Stamos (ex-Blackie), dropped by the soap’s set last month for a visit! “The studs of GH!” Instagrammed Stamos, posting a series of photos with Kin Shriner (Scotty), Maurice Benard (Sonny), Steve Burton (Jason) and Josh Swickard (Chase). “Visit to my old stomping grounds — thanks for the hospitality, boys.” Shriner — the only actor among the group who was on GH during Stamos’ 1982-’84 run — tweeted that when his “longtime friend stopped by,” there was lots of “reminiscing.”To that, Stamos replied that Shriner was “like an older brother and always had my back.” Understandably, the setside snaps fueled speculation that Stamos could be returning. But a GH rep reports that the FULLER HOUSE star was simply visiting. Check out a future…

Y&R alum Eva Longoria (ex-Isabella) — who once played a Brenda lookalike on GENERAL HOSPITAL — is a new mom! On June 19, the actress gave birth to her first child with her media-mogul husband, José Bastón. Named Santiago Enrique, the newborn weighed in at 6 lbs., 13 oz. “We are so grateful for this beautiful blessing,” she told Hola! magazine. Santiago joins Bastón’s three children from a prior relationship.…

STATUS Drew Cheetwood returns to the canvas this week, but Magic Milo isn’t likely to do much dancing during this visit. With Sonny hoping to learn more about his father’s connection to the original owner of Charlie’s Pub, his bodyguard has more serious business to contend with. Meanwhile, Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) has landed a plum guest gig on USA’s SUITS. According to Variety, she will appear in the upcoming season as Josie Gray, the CEO of a successful New York fashion house who goes up against a young independent designer. There’s no date yet for Hennesy’s episode, but Season 8 of SUITS is set to bow on Wednesday, July 18.…

STATUS Following more than two decades in Salem, Bryan R. Dattilo (Lucas) hinted on Twitter that he’s out at DAYS OF OUR LIVES. In a cryptic post on June 13, the actor wrote. “Twenty-five years. Two months. Twelve days. And four hours. Good run. Thanks to my DAYS family and fans. Enjoy Lucas while you can.” Having first joined the soap as Kate’s son back in 1993, Dattilo was briefly let go in 2011 but reprised his role again the following year. While DAYS does not comment on actors’ contracts, if Dattilo is exiting, he should air throughout the rest of the year, due to the show’s accelerated production schedule.…

Leo presents Sonny with a one-time-only opportunity to make the lawsuit disappear on Monday, July 2. But Leo’s attempt to strike a deal which would give him everything he could hope for hits a major stumbling block on Tuesday, July 3. Meanwhile, Brady’s past comes back to bite him in the rump as the battle for Tate continues on Wednesday, July 4. Eve is forced into a corner on Thursday, July 5, while things look downright bleak for Brady when on Friday, July 6, a cold case is put on the front burner!…

… or do you suspect there’s more to GH’s Margaux than meets the eye? For one thing, you don’t bring in an Emmy winner like Elizabeth Hendrickson (Maggie, ALL MY CHILDREN) simply to have her alter ego do a few courtroom scenes, even if it was fun to watch Margaux go up against Diane. There’s something about Margaux that we simply don’t trust, which is making it all the more fun to watch her deal with the Port Charles locals in hopes of gaining a little insight into what might truly motivate the woman inside the power suit!…

GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Chase seemed nice enough when he showed up in February… but boy, this whole Nelle twist has made Finn’s long-lost brother a lot more interesting! Having found his footing in Port Charles, Josh Swickard is ready for the drama. In fact, the former band and theater geek has always been ready for it! “Both my parents were involved in performing,” he says, “so the rule was, you had to play instruments, sing and all that good stuff.” But for all his training and experience getting laughs on Disney Channel’s LIV AND MADDIE, the actor was floored when he first landed in Port Charles. The show tapes so fast that “it’s like drinking from a firehose,” he quips. “You’re trying to ingest so much information in such a short…

Dream Girl Although GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Anna and Finn were an unexpected pairing, the quirky doc’s portrayer, Michael Easton, was into it from the start. “For years, when people asked me who I wanted to work with, my stock answer was always Finola Hughes’ Anna,” he shares. “I don’t think the writers were listening to me. I think it was sort of arbitrary. With some pairings, they throw it out there to see how it works — and on some level, this worked. It’s certainly an eclectic pairing, but Finn makes Anna laugh a bit, and he’s charmed by her.” Now that he’s finally been in the trenches with Hughes, Easton raves, “Finola is as advertised. She makes everything she does better — just by her presence and what she does.…

Birthday: January 7. Birthplace: Los Angeles. The Walk Of Fame: Despite growing up in the spotlight, the actress admits she finds red carpets difficult. “It’s one thing to do your thing in your comfort zone and perform — that’s your job. But the whole red carpet and interview aspect of it is entirely different,” she says. “That’s about you, so it can be a little daunting!” A Place Of Honor: Grimes says this Emmy statuette will join her other one at her grandparents’ house!…

Come August 10th (or there-abouts), THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Karla Mosley (Maya) and her partner, John Rogers, are going to have their hands full… with a newborn! The actress, who announced her pregnancy earlier this spring, is filled with joy, hope, trepidation and a very long to-do list in anticipation of the blessed event. “It was a really, really wonderful surprise,” says Mosley. “I couldn’t be more excited to be a mom; it’s something I’ve always known I’ve wanted.” Mosley and her mister already know the sex of their baby but have decided to keep that reveal under wraps for a bit longer. “We’re telling people close to us, but with everything being so public on social media in this day and age, this is one little piece that…

HELPED Kevin kept Ferncliff janitor Jason’s true identity a secret. DENIED Kevin claimed he knew nothing about the mystery patient communicating with Carly. FIRED Jason, from Ferncliff CONFESSED Chase told Dante and Jordan about Janelle bedding him in order to torpedo the investigation into her ex’s death. LIED Nelle claimed Chase was an obsessed stalker. Michael pretended to believe Nelle’s claim against Chase. PROPOSED Michael, to Nelle FAILED Valentin’s seduction HARASSED Francesca joined Kiki’s suit against Bensch. SCHEMED Ava and Franco, to take down Dr. Bensch Valentin, to win back Nina…