Table of contents for August 29, 2016 in ABC Soaps In Depth

The In Depth Story: While details remain scarce regarding the sci-fiicon’s character, Lucinda will arrive in Genoa City looking to make peace with her past, as she shares “an emotional connection” to someone currently on the canvas. Nichols will be involved in a two-day arc, which commences with Y&R’s milestone 11,000th episode airing Thursday, September 1. “I’m thrilled and honored to be a member of the cast of this historic moment in daytime television,” she said in a statement to entertainment Web site Mashable, which first reported the news. “I’ve been a huge fan of Y&R for decades. I’m equally honored to be from Chicago like the Bell family, who created this incredible TV show.” Adds the soap’s official Twitter page: “We’re honored to have Nichelle Nichols join us for…

The latest comings and goings — and how they will change your shows! The In Depth Story: Christopher was reportedly in the middle of contract negotiations when he asked for personal time off, but the fan favorite tells In Depth that there was no ulterior motive for his request other than he needed some good, old fashioned R&R. “In 20 years, I’ve never taken a vacation, even though you’re allowed to,” he confesses. “I was getting overwhelmed. It’s a stressful place; the way we move so fast, and still being able to perform. I’ve been doing it for so long. So this was my vacation — fixing my home up and playing with my kids.” The three-month break and lots of bonding time with Greysun, 6, and Boheme, 1, his…

With all the male doctors at GH, the hospital could use a female physician like Kelly Thiebaud’s Britt! Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Brad’s bestie is returning anytime soon. “Unless I decide to sign a contract, I don’t think they’re going to bring me back,” the actress confessed at the soap’s Fan Club Weekend, which she attended with fiancé Bryan Craig (Morgan). Thiebaud later told In Depth, “As of now, I don’t have any news of Britt coming back. I mean, she should, because she belongs in a lot of the story going on right now. And I miss her!” The actress left the show in late 2014 but remains in contact with executive producer Frank Valentini, thanks in part to Craig. “I talk to Frank every once in a…

It’s a rough time for Alexis and her daughters, as trauma unfolds around them at every turn! On Wednesday, August 17, Alexis prepares for what might well be the most important meeting she’s ever taken! (For details, see News, page 2!) Unfortunately, Molly and Kristina may not be much help, as they’re busy fighting amongst themselves on that same day! Clearly in need of someone to talk to, Alexis turns to Sonny on Thursday, August 18! Things between Kristina and her mom get so ugly on Wednesday, August 24, that Molly has to step in! Will the feuding mother and daughter find a way to come together on Friday, August 26?…

The feelings of malice between THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Bill and Katie have reached a fever pitch. Can they ever make peace, for the sake of their son, Will? “They are still a family, and they’ve got to find a way to work through this excruciatingly difficult situation,” says Don Diamont (Bill). That said, the actor can’t imagine a reconciliation in this couple’s near future, despite Brooke’s hopes that it will happen. “Things turned ugly after Katie made those threats to take Will,” explains Diamont of the incendiar y new dynamic between the se former lovebirds. “Just because Katie’s intuition was justified regarding [Bill and Brooke’s emotional affair], that doesn’t take away from the fact that Katie has stability issues.” From Bill’s point of view, there’s no salvaging what…

… or has Eden Mc-Coy been impressing the heck out of you as GH’s Josslyn? The girl’s take on unfolding events was in many ways a vital element that was previously missing in the story. It makes sense that Jax and Carly’s daughter would not be thrilled by her mother’s very public search for answers about her mystery kidney. What teenager wants to be made to feel “different” in any way, shape or form? Here’s hoping that even after the truth comes out, Josslyn — and McCoy — continue to remain front and center.…

Fast Friends Love the relationship developing between Finn (Michael Easton) and Hayden (Rebecca Budig). These are excellent actors and are believably bringing out new dimensions to each character. Fabulous! Holly Porterfield via E-mail A Cassadine Rises I loved Valentin when he went “Cassadine” on Cassadine Island! Great start to this summer story. Tim Banks via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Violence In The Afternoon I’m disgusted that GENERAL HOSPITAL chose to turn Alexis and Julian’s sweet, romantic love story into one of violence and fear. I watched GH for the escapism — not this. A single story never drove me away before, but I can’t watch. I need a break. Lara Tucker via E-mail Hear Them Roar Absolutely love Alexis and Diane’s girlfriend dynamic. They are both smart, powerful women,…

Parry Shen (Brad) was blown away when his 11-year-old daughter, Avery, played The Lion King’s Simba in a school production last year. “I didn’t help her much, and her comedic timing was great,” he brags. “You can hear me cracking up on the video. And I was taken aback, because she’s usually very reserved — but wait a minute… that’s totally me! I don’t wisecrack on the side or goof around, but once action is called, I can turn it on.” Shen’s younger daughter, Kori, 8, is another story. “She’s always ‘on’ — and the other side of that is that she can also be very dramatic,” he notes. “She was pretending to be upset about something and we saw tears streaming from her eyes. I said to my wife,…

Daisy Duke’s cutoffshorts and midriffbaring red plaid shirt became an iconic look with the popularity of THE DUKES OF HAZZARD in the late ’70s. Yet if the show’s producers would’ve had their way, Bach’s famous character would’ve had a completely different look! “They said, ‘This is what you’re going to wear,’ and it was this poodle skirt, white turtleneck, white go-go boots and a blonde wig!” recounts Bach with a laugh. “They basically wanted me to look like Dolly Parton. I think it was basically a look from one of her album covers.” Understandably hesitant, Bach asked them if she could have a chance to style her alter ego. “I quickly threw together a look that I felt captured Daisy — shorts with a Tshirt, a little halter, and high…

ALL ACCESS • ALL ACCESS General Hospital…

After learning that they were having a son, neither Clifton nor his wife could agree upon a name. Their “Eureka!” moment came while watching the original Star Wars trilogy. “Nikki had never seen it, and I said, ‘Well, we need to watch it!’” he recalls. “She kept saying, ‘Oh my gosh, Han Solo is so sexy! I love him!’ I was like, ‘You’re three decades late to the party, but yeah — he’s the [best].’” When his missus suggested they name their baby after the character’s portrayer, Clifton readily agreed. “So the truth is, he’s named after Harrison Ford,” says Clifton. “We liked it because it’s a rare name but not trendy.”…

Since ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Tina survived a “fatal” plunge over a waterfall, true love Cord’s subsequent romance with Kate (future MELROSE PLACE supervixen Marcia Cross) was DOA. GH boxer Johnny thought Amy was a knockout, all right. Yet their sweet romance didn’t have what it took to go ten rounds. ALL MY CHILDREN’s Erica (DEVIOUS MAIDS’ Susan Lucci) thought she’d met her match in Jeremy in 1985. But her actual match was Natalie, a romantic rival who was as formidable a seductress as La Kane. They looked close in 1981, but THE EDGE OF NIGHT’s Kelly didn’t stand a chance with Jody once Gavin showed up — the same way Gavin didn’t stand a chance once Preacher showed up.…

Martsolf and his dancer wife, Lisa, have recently become the proud owners of Las Vegas’ first Cardio Barre studio (http://cardiobarre.com/studios/las-vegas-nv). A master instructor of several years, Lisa proposed the idea. “She’d said, ‘I love teaching cardio barre because that incorporates a little bit of dance, a little bit of aerobics, and it’s just a terrific exercise because it’s non-impact,’” Martsolf recalls. “‘But why am I teaching so hard for other people? Why don’t we just have our own [franchise]?’” While the actor happily agreed to launch the new business together with his missus, he leaves the instruction efforts to the expert. “She likes for me to take classes, just to keep me humble — she gets me in there and busts me up!” he laughs. “And there’s a large portion…

Q: Have you ever appeared in a TV commercial or print ad? What was it for? Emme Rylan (Lulu, GH) “A million! When I first moved to New York, that was the only thing I could book. I did a Wendy’s commercial, a bunch of MTV commercials, HDTV, Herbal Essences, Dentyne Ice. I totally don’t want to tell you this, but I did a Trojan condom commercial! It was the first time they ever showed people’s faces in their commercial, and I’m just sitting on a park bench, very innocently discussing issues with my husband. My father was horrified, but that paid my bills for three years. It was my most successful commercial ever. My dad came around!” Heather Tom (Katie, B&B) “I did commercials when I was a young’un,…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL Still miffed about the damage done to his marriage, Julius cornered Sasha after Lizzy’s christening to tell her it was all her fault. He instructed her to leave town at once. Hurt by her father’s cruelty, Sasha found a friendly sounding board in Thomas. Bill told Brooke that he was not buying into her plans to reunite him with Katie. After receiving Bill’s divorce settlement offer, Katie was surprised when Ridge advised her to hold out for more. Wyatt told Liam and Steffy they no longer had to worry about his mother, because she was honoring her promise to stay away from Eric. Despite technically “breaking up,” neither Quinn nor Eric appeared willing to follow through on their vow to stay apart. The battle between…

Former Y&R fan fave Victoria Rowell (ex-Drucilla) is bringing her popular novel, The Rich And The Ruthless, to the small screen! Production is currently underway on a made-for-TV movie by the same name. It will also incorporate characters from Rowell’s other soapy tome, Secrets Of A Soap Opera Diva. Not only is the Daytime Emmy nominee directing and producing the film, but she also stars as retired soap diva Kitty Barringer, whose producer husband Augustus (BEING MARY JANE’s Richard Brooks) relocates their company’s long-running daytime drama to the family’s Jamaican villa after the show is evicted from its Hollywood soundstage. Mykel Shannon Jenkins (ex-Charlie, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL) and Brenda Epperson (ex-Ashley, Y&R) also star in the movie, which Rowell co-wrote.…

IngoRade-macher has wrapped up his “summer guest” visit as Jax — but remains open to a comeback if GH has more in store for the character. “There’s been a little talk about possibly getting more stor yline for Jax,” he tells In Depth. “Maybe… but who knows?” His portrayer isn’t the only one who’d like to see Jax back on a more permanent basis. “I would love him to [return]!” co-star Laura Wright told the crowd at the soap’s Fan Club Weekend. “Ingo was so fun, so happy to be back. And within seconds, he was right back in it. He was saying, ‘It’s like I never left!’ And Jax is such a great character.” Rademacher exits GH on Monday, August 15. Meanwhile, look for the actor to appear this…

It looks like Rick Hearst (Ric) is moving from Port Charles, NY, to Mystic Falls, VA! The recurring GH cast member has booked an episode of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES. “So stoked!” he tweeted about his part in the super natural CW series. “Will there be blood? Wait and see…” The eighth and final season of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES will premiere on Friday, October 21. Hearst isn’t the only recurring GHer moonlighting between appearances. Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) began work on the thriller Two Sentence Horror Story this month, in addition to filming the upcoming PixL madefor-TV movie The Wedding Do-Over! “It’s a wonder fuls weetrom-com,” she tells In Depth. “I play the mother of two boys, and one, a Marine who was overseas, is having a wedding do-over because he and…

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

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Victoria should have known that Victor wasn’t going to be too happy with her after she testified against him. Still, her most fervent desire is for her father to forgive her — and want to keep her as his second-in-command. Unfortunately, the blue-eyed beauty quickly realizes that this isn’t going to happen when her father encourages her to take the job at Brash & Sassy! “Her heart is still at Newman Enterprises,” confesses her portrayer, Amelia Heinle. “Not just because of the company but because her father is there in the company he built, and she wants to work side by side with him. So her greatest sadness now is that she’s not allowed to be there with her dad, that he kind of brushes…

FYIFYIFYI Birthday: September 13. Hard Body: Howarth says his fitness routine is “beer, chocolate and ice cream — in no particular order.” Handy Man: “I’m building a deck with my son,” shares Howarth. “Well, I’m going to try to, anyway!” On The Ball: The soccer player still hits the field and watches “between 20 and 30 hours” of pro games a week. GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Franco has come a long way since Roger Howarth stepped into the role. After the artist’s serial-killer tumor was removed, he evolved into a new man — or rather, a few of them. “Franco is a complicated character,” his portrayer maintains. And he wouldn’t have it any other way. Finding Franco’s Voice(s) “Franco’s compartmentalized, with different parts of him having different hopes and desires,” the actor…

Before getting his big break as GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Dillon, Robert Palmer Watkins was the definition of a struggling actor. Between auditions and the rare modeling or acting gig, he worked multiple part-time jobs, barely making ends meet. “I did it all,” he admits. “And I was in debt.” When his car suddenly died — an L.A. disaster! — his mother came through by selling him her Kia. “She basically gave it to me, because she’s an angel,” he says. “We had a payment plan, but I paid her the rest after joining GH.” These days, Watkins can afford a new ride… but after five years of hustling to make it in Hollywood, he’s in no hurry. “I’m still driving the Kia,” he smiles. “It’s not fancy. It’s not like I’m…

Q This serial killer targeting GENERAL HOSPITAL patients intrigues me, but didn’t GH already do a big poison storyline a few years back? Bernadette Dunkris via E-mail A. There was indeed a major poisoning plot in 2012, but it was a very different storyline than this one. Jerry infected Port Charles’ entire water supply with a life-threatening pathogen and then, motivated by money, blackmailed residents with the cure. Several folks around town fell ill, and some even died… including the longtime Quartermaine family chef, Cook! Before slipping the poison into the water supply, Jerry actually inoculated Alexis and Josslyn — his ex-lover and niece, respectively — with the cure. He hoped Alexis would leave town with him, but she was not keen on the idea! When a showdown on the…

Testing boundaries, hitting a ball game and sharing on Instagram… these are a few of Lexi Ainsworth’s favorite things, according to the way the beauty who plays GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Kristina picked between the choices we gave her. What else did we — and can you — learn about the actress? Read on and find out! First in line or fashionably late? “Fashionably late.” Book or movie? “Oh… movie.” Cook or clean? “Cook.” Ball game or video game? “Ball game!” Salty or sweet? “I don’t want to answer this one! (Laughs.) I guess I probably eat more salty treats than I do sweet things.” DMV visit or dental appointment? “Dental appointments, since my dad’s a dentist.” Introvert or extrovert? “Extrovert.” M&Ms or Skittles? “Neither! I don’t like candy. Dark chocolate is…

No one plays wild and crazy like GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Michelle Stafford, who’s gotten to go big with Nina’s heartbreak. Whether personifying the angry ex, sloppy drunk or randy seductress, the Emmy winner has shone. With time, however, Nina gained perspective, so Stafford brought her performances down to earth to earn this week’s Gold Star. Regrets… Nina’s Had A Few In the wake of Maxie’s scheme to frame Claudette, Nina was upset that her employee had threatened Crimson… but also impressed that she’d fought for Nathan. As Nina reflected on how men’s attentions wander, she couldn’t help but express frustration over Franco. Still a kid in so many ways, she mocked the flirtation between her ex and Elizabeth… but even as she mimicked the competition and dropped a “Gag me!” face,…

She Said Yes! Real-life soap sweethearts Chrishell Stause (Amanda, ALL MY CHILDREN; now Bethany, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) and Justin Hartley (who plays Y&R’s Adam) are heading for a wedding! “Do you think I need sunscreen?” Stause captioned a sunbathing snapshot that showed offthe sparkly engagement ring given to her by Hartley, who also stars in the upcoming NBC primetime drama THIS IS US. “Such a happy time!” she later tweeted. Congrats to the happy couple! Soap Matriarch Passes Away Gloria DeHaven — who played Maggie and Jill’s mother, Bess Shelby, on RYAN’S HOPE — has passed away at the age of 91. The actress, who began her career in Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times as a youngster and was a staple in MGM’s musicals during the 1940s, also appeared…

Fun And Games DAYS OF OUR LIVES will be preempted until Monday, Aug ust 22, as NBC airs coverage of the XXI Olympiad from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Leading Man On The Mend Our best wishes for a speedy recovery go out to Drake Hogestyn (John, DAYS), who is recovering from an accident that occurred on the set in early May. The actor was reportedly injured when a prop door had not been properly prepared and failed to “break” when he smashed into it head-first. Hogestyn is said to have suffered severe head injuries and, after being hospitalized, is recovering at home. He needed to be written out of the show but hopes to return as soon as possible. GLEE Star Lands A Gig In Salem! GLEE and GOSSIP GIRL…

A lighter stor yline for GH’s Andre in recent weeks turned out to be a blessing in disguise for his por trayer, Anthony Montgomery, who suffered a knee injury in late June around the time he earned his green belt in the Korean martial ar ts discipline Hapkido. On July 23, Montgomery tweeted that he’d finally been diagnosed with a “torn meniscus, ligament sprains and some other fun stuff,” and would begin rehab. In thanking fans who reached out with getwell wishes, he revealed that he’s “not absent because of the injury. GH has a lot of people to write for. Dr. Maddox will be back!” In Depth would also like to wish the actor a speedy recovery!…

Bryan Craig (Morgan, GH) pulling out of a driveway in a black Corvette on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. Kin Shriner (Scotty, GH) walking while texting on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Michelle Stafford (Nina, GH) walking in front of Mel’s Drive-In on Highland Avenue in Hollywood. Ryan Carnes (Lucas, GH) eating a bison burger at Erewhon on Beverly Boulevard in Hollywood. Donnell Turner (Curtis, GH) eating a chicken sandwich in the food court at George Bush International Airport in Houston, TX.…

YOU WIN SOME... GH’s Claudette got to spend some alone time with Nathan… YOU LOSE SOME... … but it only prompted him and Maxie to move up their wedding date! Generally speaking, soaps use a serial killer storyline to ramp up excitement and kill offsome dead weight. But GH seems to be doing neither with theirs. The victims have all been day players at best (and yes, Dr. Mayes, we’re lumping you into that category… sorr y!) despite the fact that the bloated cast is perhaps the No. 1 complaint we hear from fans. And there’s not much suspense being generated. Heck, even the people working at the place where bodies are piling up don’t seem all that concerned, so why should the audience worry?…

Los Angeles is known for its epic traffic and long drives to work, but no one at GH has anything on Howarth, who still lives back East. “I’m definitely not a fan of L.A., and I wouldn’t ever raise our kids here,” says the New Yorker. “The commute’s not ideal, but it’s what families do. This is my job. I try to make the best of it. I’m happy to be working, and we have a lot of time off.” The show has regular hiatuses that can last from a week to three weeks. In fact, after this interview, “I don’t have any responsibilities for a few weeks,” he marvels. “That’s a very long weekend!”…

Ryan Carnes (Lucas) isn’t just a working actor and musician: He also has a masters in Spiritual Psychology — the study and practice of the art and science of Conscious Awakening. “I graduated from the University Of Santa Monica’s Spiritual Psychology program, as did Lisa LoCicero (Olivia),” he reveals. “We both went later in life, though not at the same time. The program lends itself to being able to take stock in your own life, and in turn, be able to help other people take stock in their lives.” Don’t worry, Lucas fans: Carnes isn’t angling for a new career. “I never entertained ceasing to be an actor and musician,” he says. “I went to the program because I found it fascinating, and I wanted to learn more about myself,…

FYIFYIFYI Birthday: March 1. Born: Warren, OH. Raised: South Dakota. Must-See TV: Bach says one of her favorite roles was playing Margo on AFRICAN SKIES. “I did it with Robert Mitchum — not too shabby of an actor!” Jurassic Porch: The actress has a dinosaur bone on her porch, dug up on her family’s ranch in South Dakota. When THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS asked Catherine Bach to join the cast as Chelsea’s mom, Anita, four years ago, the actress admits that she hesitated for a nanosecond. Then she put aside her misgivings and enthusiastically embraced the character, who can be described as a gold digger and grifter — both traits for which she offers no apology. “Anita can be ruthless, but she does love her daughter and her grandson…

When we caught up with him last year, David Fumero (Cristian, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) was being introduced on the gritty Starz drama, POWER, as Mike Sandoval, the FBI agent brought in to lead a task force against a drug kingpin known as Lobos. While it’s since been revealed that Sandoval had actually been working for Lobos, this season, we’re finding out why! “You make certain decisions in life, and sometimes — whether it’s because of fear or anger — it leads you in the wrong place,” he explains. “Things are getting really bad for Mike, and now it’s all about survival for him. How does he stay on top? How does he keep treading water?” Rolling With The Punches Sandoval has made numerous blunders along the way, and no…

FYIFYIFYI Birthday: October 31. Hometown: Los Angeles. Tongue-Tied: Early on, baby Ford underwent two surgical procedures on his tongue to resolve a minor condition that impeded breastfeeding. “He’s been such a trouper,” says Clifton. The Write Stuff: The actor recently launched a new Web site that includes a blog he plans to keep updated. “One of these days, I’d love to start a podcast on the site, too,” he says. THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Scott Clifton (Liam) used to be what you might call a baby skeptic. “I know that must sound terrible,” he acknowledges, “but I’ve just never been a baby person. I’ve never wanted to hold someone else’s baby. I’ve just never been that guy.” The May 6th birth of Clifton’s son, Ford Robert, changed everything, of…

H2O not required! You Ask, we answer Q: I think that Hayley Erin (Kiki, GENERAL HOSPITAL) is such a freshfaced beauty. Can you find out what she does to take care of her skin? Lisa V. Adams, MA A: “My favorite product is Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths,” answers Erin. “They’re wipes, so I carry them around with me and I can wash my face anywhere, anytime. It helps my skin a lot! I love them. I’ve used them to take offmy GH makeup and it totally works, but I usually use the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes [first], because they’re just amazing and take it offin like two seconds. Then, I’ll go over my face again with the Cetaphil wipes. I love wipes. I’m totally into wipes!” Cetaphil Gentle…

RESCUED Following a plane crash, the Cassadine Island crew came home. Sonny and Jason kept Valentin from taking offwith Spencer. SEDUCED Nina slept with Valentin (as Theo). ARRESTED Valentin Franco CLEARED Primary suspect Franco was cleared of the hospital murders. DUMPED Franco dumped Liz, unaware she had cleared his name. INFECTED Darby passed her infection on to Dillon, Morgan and Kiki. WARNED Kiki told her mother to stay far away from Morgan in the future. CONFRONTED Claudette finally ran into Griffin. ARRIVED Jax, who was keeping a secret from Carly and Josslyn Nelle, who claimed to be Joss’ donor PREGNANT Sam…