Table of contents for October 24, 2016 in ABC Soaps In Depth

The In Depth Story: Although Tom has been pursuing more work as a director in recent years (including occasionally helming episodes of the soap), she is still committed to her work in front of the camera. We recently caught up with the five-time Emmy winner, who confirms that she reupped her contract with the show. “I re-signed back in August,” she tells Soaps In Depth. “I love my B&B home, so I’m very happy that it’s going forward!” Tom’s contract renewal comes at a time when Katie’s future is very much up in the air. With her character newly divorced from Bill, the actress says it will be interesting to see what the next chapter in her alter ego’s life looks like. “I’m excited to see what kind of [plots]…

The latest comings and goings — and how they will change your shows! The In Depth Story: As previously reported, Craig had asked for an early release from his contract, which was set to expire in the spring of 2017. We’re told that GH reluctantly agreed after the actor pleaded his case, and both sides eventually agreed to an exit date. “It’s been an amazing journey, but I feel like the time is right for me to say good-bye to GH and Morgan Corinthos,” Craig said in a statement. “This was not an easy decision, and I am extremely grateful to ABC, [executive producer] Frank Valentini and the entire GH cast and crew for the opportunity and their unyielding support. “To the wonderful fans who have embraced and loved Morgan…

With Tyler Chris top her not returning as GH’s Nikolas, viewers have been asking this summer’s temp recast, Nick Stabile, if he’ll assume the role for good now. “I would love to go back,” he tweeted. “Fingers crossed!” Some fans countered that there is no replacing Christopher, the Emmy winner who originated the role 20 years ago — but Coltin Scott (now known as Stephen Martinez) actually played the part in between Christopher’s stints! Nonetheless, Stabile understood fans’ concerns. “I get why he’s so iconic and important to the show,” he admitted. “But hey, if he’s not coming back, I’d love to do it. Maybe I’ll earn your support some day.” A GH rep says there are “no plans” to bring Stabile back as Nikolas at this time.…

Having just dealt with the kidnapping of her son, it’s probably not surprising that Theresa finds herself stressed out by the Salem siege on Monday, October 10. Gabi and Paul think Chad and Sonny need to put their differences aside on Tuesday, October 11. Brady suggests that he and Theresa should grab happiness while they can by tying the knot on Wednesday, October 12. Aiden tries and convince Hope that they should go on a date on Thursday, October 13. And on Friday, October 14, Steve is there for Kayla as she faces a crisis!…

YOU WIN SOME... Unlike many GH characters, Sabrina got a funeral… YOU LOSE SOME. … but unlike most, she seems to be really, most sincerely dead. Apparently, getting married is the kiss of storyline death on GH! Brad and Lucas tied the knot in a low-key ceremony attended by more police officers than friends before being exiled to storyline Siberia. More recently, Jason and Sam tied the knot at Sonny’s mansion before getting the same basic treatment. Oh, sure, Jason’s been there to help Michael deal with Sabrina’s death and scowl at Franco. And at least Sam — unlike her sisters — was on hand to watch her mom’s courtroom meltdown. But otherwise Jason and Sam — two of the most popular characters on the canvas — appear to be…

FYIFYIFYI Almost Famous: As far as being recognized goes, “it’s gone from weird looks to ‘Hey, you’re Curtis!’” Turner shares. Splitting Hairs: “I don’t wake up like this. I’ve gotta get a fade every other day.” Feline Friend: “Miss Josephine Baker’s my beautiful girl,” Turner says. Festival Guy: In the upcoming indie film Around The Bed, Turner’s thrilled to “show some range” as three different characters. Over the last 16 years, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Donnell Turner (Curtis) has struck his share of poses, stood in for megastars and even played doctor on two soaps (DAYS OF OUR LIVES and THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS). So his path to Port Charles was, to put it mildly, a long one. However, the 10-year-old boy who once dreamt of “being the black Luke Spencer”…

GENERAL HOSPITAL’ s Emme Rylan (Lulu) is finally comfortable working red carpets and hanging with fans. “It only took me 10 years in daytime to relax and feel like I know what I’m talking about,” the actress admits with a laugh. “When I’m doing a red carpet or a publicity event, sometimes I feel like I get into character. I just become another person. In life, we have a face with our husband, our best friend, etc. So for work, I’ve always felt the need to dress and behave perfectly.” Well, that’s all changing, now! The good-natured beauty didn’t hide her bruised and battered face after breaking her nose this fall, but instead documented the event with photos shared on social media. And as you can see from this look…

This insatiable flirt went looking for trouble in Port Charles, and boy, did she ever find it. First she hopped from one married man’s bed to another, then she wound up getting laid… to rest! Who was she? Let’s see if you remember! 1. This scamp continued her affair with Mitch Williams even after he got hitched to Tracy. 2. Next, Alan used the seductress to get even with his two-timing missus, Monica. 3. After being dumped by Alan, his jilted mistress took conniving cousin Heather’s advice and went after his money. 4. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, our mystery woman married her lawyer, Scotty, unaware that he was in cahoots with Heather. 5. Ultimately, the would-be scheme queen was done in by Lila’s first husband after trying…

With the exception of a brief romantic reunion after Kaye took over the role in 2013, Ridge and Brooke’s storied love affair has been put on hold in recent years. “I’m glad [executive producer and headwriter Bradley Bell] took a break [from this pairing] and didn’t try to put these two characters together,” said Kaye. “Brooke and Ridge have such a huge history from when he was [portrayed by Ronn Moss].” Yet now that Ridge is single again following failed relationships with Katie and Caroline, the time seems ripe for Ridge to reconsider his feelings for the blonde. “They’ve gotten older and perhaps more beatup,” Kaye chuckled, “but I think maybe he’s ready now, to be with this woman. I’m not sure how open fans are to this, but I…

What’s it really like to punch the clock in Port Charles? To find out, we asked GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Parry Shen (Brad)! My favorite days at work are: “When we shoot one-on-one scenes. Those are a lot more intimate. I like those scenes.” My very first day on the set, I remember thinking to myself: “‘Don’t call Dr. Drake Dr. Drake Ramoray [Joey’s soap character on FRIENDS]!’ I could not get it down. It was my first line to Patrick, ‘Hey, Dr Drake.’ And at home I kept saying Dr. Drake Ramoray.” When I get to work, the first thing I do is: “Lay on the couch in my dressing room and get 20 minutes of sleep. I always show up on set way early, because I live so far.” My…

DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Jennifer had a special place in grandma Alice Horton’s heart, but she’s been beloved by many others in Salem as well — and not just for her kind demeanor. Rather, Jen’s known for being a tenacious survivor of tragedies, tough obstacles and brutal heartbreaks. In fact, one might even suggest that the single mom has experienced just about everything from A to Z! See if you agree… A Aplastic anemia: Jennifer teamed up with Austin to find the environmental source of this ailment after baby Abigail contracted it. B Ballots: Jennifer was arrested for tampering with these in an effort to get Mayor Carver re-elected. C Children: Despite being hitched more times than she’d care to admit, Jennifer has kids with one and only one man.…

Having lost his lab and, with it, his shot at finding a cure for his illness, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Finn reacted to the hospital shutdown with typical cool… until at last he just couldn’t anymore. At that point, Michael Easton hurled the doc into the depths of emotional turmoil to win this week’s Gold Star. Faint Hope When Tracy ran into Finn leaving GH with his file box, the quirky M.D. seemed unfazed by the turn of events. He shrugged that he had a few weeks of his meds left, and when she challenged him to find a cure, he agreed, “There’s always hope.” As the elevator doors closed on Tracy, however, he flashed a ver y different smile… and while we weren’t sure what it meant, it didn’t exactly scream…

PICTURE THIS! Before Bryan Craig leaves GENERAL HOSPITAL and his role of Morgan, he and on-screen bro Chad Duell (Michael) team up for one last, fun-filled photo shoot. LET’S “I DO” IT! We rewind to the episode in which GH’s Jason sweetly suggested that he and Sam re-tie the knot. NAUGHTY! GH’s Bree Williamson gives us the goods on Port Charles’ latest bad girl, Claudette. Don’t Miss The Next Issue Of On Sale... October 24 November 7 November 21 December 5 December 19 January 2 January 16 January 30 February 13 February 27 March 13 March 27…

The CBS Daytime lineup recently marked 30 consecutive years at No. 1 — one of the longest streaks in television history! On September 20, the eye network ended the full 2015-’16 broadcast year at the top of the ratings, and to commemorate the milestone, the Los Angeles City Council declared the day to be CBS Daytime Day! Y&R’s Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) and KristoffSt. John (Neil), B&B’s Heather Tom (Katie) and Don Diamont (Bill), Y&R and B&B co-creator Lee Phillip Bell and THE PRICE IS RIGHT host Drew Carey were on hand for a ceremony at City Hall, where CBS Daytime execs were presented an official proclamation. “We’re all humbled and thrilled,” said senior VP Angelica McDaniel. “It’s a very special day for the network.”…

With Paul locked up, portrayer Richard Burgi is taking a break from GH — but this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Port Charles’ killer D.A. “We’ve bid adieu to Paul… for now!” teases a show rep. Chimes in Burgi: “After Paul goes to prison, I don’t know where [the storyline] goes!” The actor — whose official contract status remained unconfirmed at press time — suspected his GH exit was imminent as soon as he learned that Paul was the killer. “‘You want me to play that?’” he recalls thinking. “The actor’s knee-jerk reaction is, ‘Maybe I did something wrong… or maybe they just think I can play this.’ I’ll go through the litany of possibilities in my head, but I won’t ask. Cast members come up and say, ‘Wow,…

Sabrina’s death ended more than former portrayer Teresa Castillo’s run on GH. Last month, Joe took baby Teddy to Puerto Rico — and a show rep confirms that that was the last we’ll see of the Rivera boys, Jeffrey Vincent Parise (Joe/ex-Carlos) and the twins who play Sabrina’s son, Eli and Ilee Alzubaidy. Meanwhile, now that Naomi has taken the fall for Hayden, she will spend the foreseeable future behind bars. “She’s out of story for the time being,” a GH rep confirms of actress Robin Riker, “but you never know when she will pop back in.”…

The waiting game continues for THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Bill, whose relationship with Brooke remains in limbo as a result of her son R.J.’s objections to their engagement. Will the guy who is accustomed to getting his way be able to bide his time? His portrayer, Don Diamont, believes there’s little other choice! “When Brooke opened her heart to him earlier this year, that opened a Pandora’s box,” suggests the actor. “Once that happened, Bill couldn’t deny his feelings anymore.” While time may not diminish Bill’s feelings for the blonde, competition could factor in. Brooke’s ex, Ridge, finds himself available these days and having fond thoughts about his former love. “Right now Ridge and Brooke’s relationship is more about their friendship and being parents together,” acknowledges Katherine Kelly Lang…

… or do you feel kinda bad for Jake’s siblings on GH? While Jake gets both airtime and storyline — and has two men, Jason and Franco, fighting to be a part of his life — Aiden and Cameron appear to have been permanently banished to Grandma’s house. With Audrey being no spring chicken and Elizabeth’s children in need of care, there’s an actual story there just waiting to be told. After all, how many women in the viewing audience struggle with being a working mom — whether single or married — and figuring out how to afford the skyrocketing cost of daycare? At the very least, let’s see the hospital open up a daycare facility where the staffcan drop off their tots while they’re helping heal their friends and…

THAT’S A FACT Before he came back as Joe, Parise says fans were always suggesting ways he could return! Returning to a soap as a brand-new character takes some finesse, and for Jeffrey Vincent Parise, transitioning from mobster Carlos to doctor Joe meant more than dropping the former’s heavy accent and bad-boy ways. Parise actually went a bit method acting with his technique when he brought the good twin to town this summer. “The first day we filmed, it was really odd, ” Parise recalls. “I got myself to a place where I felt like I didn’t know anybody on set — not even the crew. I didn’t want to relate to them in the same way, because I wanted to have a completely different energy around me. And I…

FYIFYIFYI Birthday: March 31. Birthplace: Atlanta, GA. Special Time: Ordway says her favorite time with Olivia is when the baby falls asleep on her. “Sometimes she grabs my hair or my shirt. It’s the sweetest thing in the whole world!” Broadening Her Horizons: The actress says being a mom has given her a deeper understanding of all children. “Even working with kids is different. I just got to work with the baby who plays Sully, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I kind of relate to a baby differently than I did before!’” IF THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS fans think they’re seeing a special glow from Melissa Ordway (Abby) these days, they’re right. The beauty has been positively radiant since she and her hubby, Justin Gaston (ex-Ben, DAYS…

OMINGATTRACTION Another ex-daytimer shines on the silver screen If you thought Sebastian Roché was scary as GH’s Jerry Jacks, just wait till you see him in Amazon’s THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE! When the drama series returns Friday, December 16, Roché will debut in his new recurring role of Martin Heusmann, a highranking Nazi who happens to be the estranged dad of Reich hero Joe (played by Luke Kleintank, ex-Noah, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS). Not a day goes by that soap opera veteran Ian Buchanan doesn’t hear from fans on social media about how disappointed they were by the murder of his beloved GENERAL HOSPITAL character, Duke Lavery. “I was not ready to go. I still thought there was a lot of story that could be told,” he concurs.…

What was the last gift that you bought for yourself? A Harley-Davidson motorcycle! What was your favorite television show as a kid? HEY ARNOLD! Who makes you laugh? My fiancée, Kelly [Thiebaud, ex-Britt]. What was the last song you sang in the shower? I don’t know the name of it, but it was a Led Zeppelin song. Which movie do you know all the words to? Wedding Crashers. I’ve honestly seen it close to 200 times. What’s your favorite summer activity? Going to Big Bear, anything fun in the water and on the lake. What actor were you excited to meet? Danny McBride of EASTBOUND & DOWN. He was a super nice guy, too! What are the three most important things in your life? Family, my fiancée and my dogs.…

There’s no denying that GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Valerie doesn’t always make the best decisions. (Once you’ve slept with your cousin’s husband, that option’s pretty much offthe table.) But the police officer’s portrayer, Brytni Sarpy, did just fine when asked a series of questions designed to reveal a bit more about her personality. Maybe that’s because there were no wrong answers. Or maybe that’s because she’s just plain charming! Snow skiing or water skiing? “Neither! Snowman-building?” Water or soda? “Sparkling water.” Red wine or white? “Malbec red wine.” White bread or pumpernickel? “Eh… potato bread.” Halloween or Christmas? “Christmas, but I do love to dress up… ” Spendthrift or penny-pincher? “Somewhere happily in the middle.” Jennifer Lopez the singer or Jennifer Lopez the actress? “J. Lo the dancer!” Ice cream or froyo?…

“HEY DAY is my baby, that I’ve been working on forever!” The In Depth Story: The news that Stamos was developing a drama series set in the world of daytime television during the 1980s certainly had the soap’s faithful viewers all atwitter on Twitter… and not in support of the SCREAM QUEENS and FULLER HOUSE star! His new series is based on his own experiences as a rising teen idol after joining the cast of GH as Blackie at the tender age of 18 back in 1982 — a concept incredibly similar to that of HEY DAY, which Mc-Cullough has been working on for several years. The actress’ version is based on her experiences growing up on the soap during the same decade. “HEY DAY is my baby that I’ve…

Claudette brings her and Nathan’s daughter, Charlotte, to Port Charles on Thursday, October 13 — with 7-year-old Scarlett Fernandez debuting in the role of the little girl whose photo we first saw last month. Although a newcomer to television, Fernandez has been working in the entertainment industry since she was a newborn, and currently appears in a national commercial for Ross stores. Meanwhile, now that Claudette’s secrets are out, it seems only a matter of time before her wicked ex, Valentin, returns to town… but GH is remaining mum about when the villain’s portrayer, James Patrick Stuart, will be back to stir up trouble.…

Jason has made it pretty clear he’s not thrilled about Franco being in Elizabeth’s life. But on Tuesday, October 11, Franco makes it clear to Sam that he isn’t going anywhere. Might she be able to help her husband find a way to deal with the situation? Wednesday, October 12, finds Jason making a promise to one of the most important people in his life. Franco and Nina discuss what it means to be a parent on Thursday, October 13, and she receives absolutely heartbreaking news on Friday, October 14. And on Friday, October 21, Sam and Jason have a long discussion about what’s ahead for them!…

Wyatt is torn between loyalty to Steffy and doing what he believes is right on Monday, October 10. He tries to convince Ridge that his mom truly is a changed woman on Tuesday, October 11. Sasha has an eyeopening encounter when she sees Thomas interact with his son on Wednesday, October 12. A family favor causes tension between Zende and Nicole on Thursday, October 13. Ridge makes an announcement that will have a big impact on everyone at Forrester on Friday, October 14.…

Now that THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Jack has learned that his wife and brother have been sleeping together for months, fans will need to brace themselves for the changes ahead. In fact, portrayer Peter Bergman promises that the months that his alter ego spent trying to walk in his father’s noble footsteps will be tossed aside as Jack tips once more toward the dark side! “From the day that Jack’s father died, he made a promise to himself that he would be the head of the [Abbott] family, and he wanted to let go of all the feuds, the pettiness,” says the Emmy winner. “But now, with this huge betrayal by Phyllis and Billy, he’s going, ‘For what? Where’s the payoff?’ The very people that he protected, the very…

In Depth asked... Do you think Claudette and Griffin make a good match? Reader Reaction: 64% NOPE! 36% DEFINITELY! This issue’s question... Should the show recast the part of Nikolas or let the character stay dead? TALK BACK TO SOAPS IN DEPTH: On-line: abc.soapsindepth.com Write: Readers’ Poll #43 c/o Soaps In Depth, 270 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632…

My Enemy, My Sister I thought I would hate it… but I’m actually liking Elizabeth and Hayden as sisters. It should make for some interesting storylines. Christine Haines via Soaps In Depth Facebook page The Devil Inside Lulu needs a baby so badly she’s willing to have a Cassadine? With all they’ve done to her and her family, it’s just sick to see her want that, caring little if Dante is for it or not. Pam Hoffman Majors via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Oh, Happy Day! Jason and Sam’s wedding was perfect! Now let her have a smooth pregnancy. Nancy A. Dash via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Sabrina’s Exit Sabrina leaving is ticking me off— I can’t even believe they brought her back just to kill her! And…

Recurring fave Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) is always working on other projects, but no shoot has ever gotten as hot as a day she spent on the TV movie The Wedding Do-Over during Southern California’s wildfire season. “We were actually shootingin Santa Clarita on the day of the big fire!” shares Hennesy, referring to a blaze that lasted two weeks and destroyed over 41,000 acres of land. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I got photos of the plumes starting to rise. The fire was directly over this very small hill… it was like what Mount Vesuvius must have been! The rolling of the smoke and the plumage after plumage was just mesmerizing.” Hennesy couldn’t help wondering if they should evacuate, but production went all day. Thankfully, the crew didn’t return…

Like any parent of a newborn, Ordway didn’t get a whole lot of sleep during the first week when she and Gaston brought Olivia home. “Even though she slept a lot, we were like, ‘Oh my gosh, is she breathing okay?’” recalls the proud mom. “I’d watch her a little bit, then Justin would watch her. I don’t know how many times I put my finger under her nose to make sure she was breathing! I’d stare at her just to make sure her chest was moving up and down!” While standing guard may sound stressful, Ordway says it was just the opposite. “We were so fascinated and excited that we didn’t want to sleep!” she declares. “We didn’t want to miss anything — her first smile, her first expression…

Before maturing into GENERAL HOSPITAL’s glamtastic Maxie, Kirsten Storms was the cutest of cute kids during her starmaking DAYS OF OUR LIVES run as Belle. Tyler Christopher’s big break came in 1996 when the future Daytime Emmy winner was cast by GH as Laura’s secret son, Nikolas. In 1991 — years before Carly was even on GH, much less being played by Laura Wright — the aspiring actress got her start in showbiz when she was tapped by LOVING to play girl next door Ally. Back in 1989, a baby-faced Rick Hearst (Ric, GH) began his soaphopping career with a brief stint on DAYS as Scotty. Maura West (Ava, GH) was fresh out of college when she landed her breakthrough role in daytime — AS THE WORLD TURNS’ supervixen, Carly.…

McKAY’S Although this ALL MY CHILDREN burger joint may not have been the classiest place in Pine Valley — that would have been the la-di-da Chateau — its tables at least were close enough to one another that you almost couldn’t help but get a side order of eavesdropping with your lunch!   ANGEL SQUARE DINER The beauty of this conveniently-located Llanview eatery was that, no matter what you ordered offthe menu, proprietress Carlotta delivered it to your table tasting like it was a home-cooked meal. PERKS Sure, you can get a cuppa java and a blueberry scone anywhere. But you’d be hard-pressed to beat GENERAL HOSPITAL’s outdoor coffeehouse for the view — and we don’t mean the view of Port Charles’ park, either. (Hellooo, Aaron!) RODI’S TAVERN Your best…

Q: What’s the worst fashion trend you ever adopted, and why? Roger Howarth (Franco, GH) “I was a Hall & Oates fan in high school, and I cut my own hair, so I had an accidental mullet. It wasn’t like I’d planned to have the mullet, but because I was cutting my own hair, I couldn’t cut it in the back.” Gina Tognoni (Phyllis, Y&R) “I think hair crimping. I tried it. It just didn’t look good. Everyone around you says it looks good, but they lie!” Lisa LoCicero (Olivia, GH) “It’s got to be the hairdo I had for a while on THE CITY and LOVING — or just about anything I did during that time. It was a lot of midrifftops and knee-length skirts, with a bright red…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL With Eric still fighting for his life in a hospital bed, Ridge and Steffy wasted no time in doing everything within their means to remove Quinn from the equation. Liam assisted Steffy in this endeavor, and armed with the intel he uncovered, Ridge told Quinn she had no right to Eric or any of his material possessions. When Carter informed Ridge and Steffy of some important legal information, they were stymied, yet determined not to let Quinn hold all the cards. Ridge put Carter on the spot by asking him for a huge favor. But after initially agreeing, the lawyer eventually ended up balking. Steffy moved back in with Wyatt, which left Liam despondent — and Ivy ready to pounce. Caroline returned to L.A. and…

you decide! Blue Belle Voters preferred ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Elisabeth Rohm (Dorothy) in the more body-conscious blue dress as opposed to the white frock with its circle skirt. Hat Trick Fedoras remain fashionable this fall, and these current and former ABC actors wear them with aplomb!…