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

Q: Is Liz poised to become a Port Charles supervixen? “Sam and Elizabeth each have a little bit of saint and a little bit of sinner in them,” says Passanante. “To characterize one as all good and one as all bad is just wrong. And it doesn’t make for very good storytelling! This isn’t Snow White vs. The Evil Queen. We see flaws in all of our characters. Liz is who she is. She has not always done the right thing, and that’s true of most of the characters. And they’ll continue to pay for their mistakes and probably make all new ones. Because otherwise, they aren’t human.” Q: When will Jason get his memory back? The short answer: It doesn’t really matter. “Even if he woke up tomorrow and…

The In Depth Story: “The baby was a big part of it,” Clifton confesses to Soaps In Depth of his decision not to submit scenes for nomination, “but it also had a lot to do with the fact that I didn’t feel like I had [worthy] material this year.” Although the actor (once GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Dillon) has been nominated in years past based on scenes that he’d been initially skeptical of submitting, Clifton says that this year was different for one major reason: He’s at the point in his career where continuing to submit in the Supporting Actor category is beginning to be frowned upon, at least as he perceives it. “I have a lead position on the show,” he muses, adding that he’d resisted moving himself up to “the…

While GH vet Jon Lindstrom continues to make periodic appearances as Dr. Kevin Collins, the in-demand actor has been keeping himself busy working on other television shows. This week, Lindstrom pops up on the new Freeform (formerly ABC Family) drama RECOVERY ROAD — playing Dr. Walker, shrink to a group of residents from an upscale facility who must temporarily move into Springtime Meadows. ALL MY CHILDREN alum Mischa Barton (Lily) also guest-stars in the episode as one of Dr. Walker’s patients, actress Olivia O’Brien. Tune in at 9 p.m. EST on Monday, February 15.…

Brooke has to beg for Katie’s forgiveness yet again on Monday, February 15. On Tuesday, February 16, Katie lays down the law with her sister. Bill finds Katie in a compromising position on Wednesday, February 17, as Brooke has a long talk with Bridget that same day. When Ridge returns on Thursday, February 18, he’s got a new agenda: calling “dibs” on the Forrester mansion! Fond memories of Stephanie are shared during a cocktail party held on Friday, February 19.…

General Hospital In Depth asked... Will Nina and Maxie be able to keep Crimson from failing? The overwhelming majority felt confident that Nina and Maxie could put Crimson back on top and beat Julian at his own little game! Reader Reaction: 86% NO DOUBT! 14% NOT IN THIS LIFETIME! This issue’s question... Will Elizabeth come between newlyweds Nikolas and Hayden? TOP 5 GH COUPLES 1 Maxie Jones & Nathan West 2 Liz Webber & Jason Morgan 3 Alexis Davis & Julian Jerome 4 Lulu & Dante Falconer 5 Carly & Sonny Corinthos TOP 5 ACTORS (as voted by Soaps In Depth readers) 1 Last Issue: 1 Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) 2 Last Issue: 2 Ryan Paevey (Nathan, GH) 3 Last Issue: 3 Billy Miller (Jason, GH) 4 Last Issue: 4…

Birds Of A Feather I’m loving the Jake storyline! He is clearly messed up, but the only one who seems to understand him and be stepping forward to help him is Franco. I’m eager to see how Franco is going to use his knowledge to bring Jake back to normal — and develop a friendship with Elizabeth in the process. Elizabeth Brulc via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Water Those Roots I would love to see the Quartermaines back on! Monica, Alan, AJ, Emily, Skye, Ned! And Tracy! It’s time for the soap to go back to the history of the show! Jennifer Cartier via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Claiming Kiki Loving Kiki now — and the way she is standing up to Ava! She’s also showing tremendous support…

While Nashville might offer a slower pace than the City Of Angels, Burton isn’t exactly kicking back when he returns home. In fact, the entrepreneurial actor recently teamed up with former GH co-star Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky; now NASHVILLE’s Avery) to open a new restaurant, Jack And Jameson’s Smokehouse in Franklin, TN. “I had bought the restaurant earlier, under a different name. Jonathan actually stepped in for Brandon [Barash, ex-Johnny, GH) when we played with [the] Port Chuck [band] there, and he was like, ‘Oh, wow, I need a cool place like this to play.’ I was like, ‘If you’re interested, we’re actually rebranding and starting over.’ He said that he’d love to be involved, so we closed the prior restaurant, did a remodel with a new concept and a new…

ALL MY CHILDREN’s RUTH WAR-RICK couldn’t seem to hide alter ego Phoebe’s devilish nature, even while attending a benefit. Clearly, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s ANTHONY GEARY (ex-Luke) wore his dancing shoes to a cast party for FRIDAYS. He and Maryedith Burrell — one of the sketch comedy’s regulars — ruled the floor all night long! Though GH always had STUART DAMON in a suit or a lab coat — if anything at all! — to play philandering doctor Alan, the actor showed off his sporty side in a promo photo. Guess it’s a good thing that RYAN’S HOPE co-stars MARY PAGE KELLER (Amanda), LOUISE SHAFFER (Rae), PETER HASKELL (Kirk) and KEL LI MARONEY (Kim) had fun at the show’s anniversary party — all of them except for Shaffer were axed shortly thereafter.…

Primetime’s Best Soap? When JANE THE VIRGIN began, the CW series was a relatively simple show about a beautiful young woman accidentally artificially inseminated by the sister of a guy she had a crush on years earlier. Okay, so maybe it was never really a simple show. But this year, we’ve found ourselves enjoying it more than ever, thanks to more than a few twists we never saw coming… like Rafael’s mom being the evil drug lord Mutter! Better still, even when the dramedy is throwing outlandish twists into the mix, it never forgets that in order for them to have any impact, we must first care about the characters at whom they are launching the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. During the first season, it was pretty clear…

Braun formed tight bonds with all the boys in her care but especially with kindergartner Ema (short for Emanuel). “He would always hold my face and look at me with his beautiful, deep, soulful brown eyes,” Braun reflects. “One time, I was putting him to bed and he asked, ‘Show me how your mom tucked you in?’” So began their nightly ritual. “I would make sure all the covers were underneath him like a burrito,” Braun sighs. “And I’d give him kisses and hugs, and we’d wish each other the sweetest of dreams.” Cuddling Ema and sharing moments like that remains one of the actress’ favorite memories. “It broke my heart and warmed it at the same time because he doesn’t have a mom to tuck him in,” she says.…

GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Johnny is one loose cannon. During his recent run in Port Charles, Brandon Barash took the character all over the map, from sincere pal to insane madman. And when Johnny said good-bye, GH’s scribes sent Barash on that roller coaster one last time. He played the full gamut — all in one day, earning himself this week’s Gold Star. What’s The Big Deal? When the cops brought Johnny in to see Lulu at PCPD, he played it cool. With a slight smile, he held out his hands to be cuffed to the table and stayed quiet. But when the officer warned him not to try anything, he barked in the guy’s face! Even Lulu jumped. “It usually spooks them,” Johnny laughed by way of explanation. Once left alone…

Lynn Herring hears GH fans crying out for more of their beloved Lucy, and she is game for a return… a worthy one, that is! The actress is keeping busy running her family’s ranch and museum but recently reached out to viewers via her Facebook fan page. “I do miss playing Lucy, but I am not interested in a line here or there, or a day once in a while,” she admitted. “All the years of happiness and satisfaction I had playing Lucy are too important to me, and I would never want to belittle all the great memories I have of her adventures. If [executive producer] Frank Valentini and the writers need Lucy for a story or a firm connection in the show, then I will jump out of…

Boobgate has taken a backseat to the excitement of GH’s February Sweeps, but it’s not over. Look for Shari Belafonte (Lomax) to get back into the ring with Olivia and Alexis over breastfeeding in public on Thursday, March 17, and Friday, March 18. After that, the actress hopes to get into even more trouble. “I’m having a great time!” she tells In Depth. “I’ve always played the ingénue little goody two-shoes and always wanted to be the older bad guy — I’ve finally grown into my true character, my true self! I love that Lomax is on the shady side. I’m hoping to be the mayor you love to hate!”…

There’s romance in the air for Victoria and Billy on Monday, February 15. And it looks like Cane and Lily are getting in on the swoonworthy action, too, that same day! Ashley suffers a setback on Tuesday, February 16, while Hilary actually pushes Neil out of the spotlight on Wednesday, February 17! Abby fears that her marriage may be headed for big trouble on Thursday, February 18. And on Friday, February 19, someone had best watch their back, because Victor’s out for revenge!…

We’re not precisely sure what constitutes a “hot minute,” but we’re pretty sure THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Steffy didn’t waste too many of them before hooking up with Wyatt after what she perceived to be the end of her relationship with Liam. But lest you think this new romance is built only from the pieces of Steffy’s broken heart, her portrayer, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, clarifies what Wyatt means to her alter ego “I don’t think this is just a rebound,” says the actress. “I think she’s been in denial about her true feelings for Wyatt for a long time. They connect on an emotional level, and she has deep, true feelings for him.” How drastically might those feelings change when Steffy discovers that Liam didn’t actually abandon her at…

It all started when GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Genie Francis (Laura) was doing a tricky move in yoga class. “I twisted around, and there was a mirror reflection of me from behind,” she recalls of the life-changing moment. “I went, ‘Oh my God, that’s not me, that’s my mother!’ I was miserable that I had put on that much weight — again!” Since then, Nutrisystem’s celebrity ambassador has dropped 40 pounds, sent her baby to college, signed a new contract with GH and stopped smoking. What a difference a year makes! The First Step That fateful class was a wake-up call for Francis. “It was hard to do things that I used to do, and that was depressing,” she says. “I was like, ‘I feel so old. I can’t move!’ I just…

THAT’S A FACT #FunkItFriday’s Bieber cover banked 18,000 views in its first weekend alone. As a hustling actor trying to make it in Hollywood, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Robert Palmer Watkins (Dillon) put aside his other passions. But once he landed at GH, that all changed! The musician is plugging back into his roots and collaborating with his talented roommates to bring some funk to Fridays. It started when Watkins and roomie Victor Olivas decided to close out each week by releasing 15-second music video covers of hit songs via Instagram. #FunkItFriday became a success, and fans wanted more. So Watkins and his crew — singer Phillip Garcia (Paulo, TELENOVELA), lead guitarist William Rousseau, rapper Chris Oliver, cameraman Olivas and music producer Patrick Garcia — decided to go big and create full-length…

Q Was the truth about Michael’s paternity a secret on GENERAL HOSPITAL, or did everyone know who his father was? Jessica Martos via E-mail A A. Oh, there was plenty of drama around Michael’s paternity before Sonny basically decided to claim the boy as his own. Carly was married to Tony Jones when she got pregnant, but she and A.J. had spent a single night together. She hoped Tony was the dad, but that proved not to be the case. When A.J. started putting things together, Carly got his brother, Jason, to agree to claim that he was her baby’s father. When Carly suffered postpartum depression and skipped town after giving birth, Jason cared for her son and named him Michael after best bud Michael “Sonny” Corinthos. Carly eventually came…

ALL THAT GLITTERS GH gold digger Katherine Bell (Mary Beth Evans) tried to upstage Nurses Ball hostess Lucy Coe in 1996 by performing “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” in full Marilyn Monroe drag. PAST IMPERFECT GH rang in 2003 with a stylish blackand-white flashback to the 1920s after Mob moll Carly Corinthos (then Tamara Braun) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) discovered a speakeasy right under Kelly’s Diner. BACK TO THE FUTURE Of course LOVING’s Trisha Alden (Noelle Beck) was warm, we wanted to yell at Stacey Donovan (Lauren-Marie Taylor) during a 1990 fantasy sequence — just look at all the layers she’s wearing! TWISTED SISTERS GH gal pals Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring) and Felicia Scorpio (Kristina Wagner) turned undercover work into nunsense in 1997. AND IN THIS CORNER… The…

… or would shows like The CW’s CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND and NBC’s YOU, ME AND THE APOCALYPSE really benefit from being 30 minutes long instead of an hour? Both shows have fantastic casts, but each also tends to feel as if the episodes are dragging by about the midway point. In the case of GIRLFRIEND, the situation could be remedied by simply adding more musical numbers, which are pretty much the best thing about it in the first place. And although APOCALYPSE has a rather sprawling cast of characters, its stories could easily be pared down. Sometimes, what they say about less being more really is true.…

The In Depth Story: Prolific producer J.J. Abrams has partnered with King on the “event series,” which delves into one of America’s deepest conspiracies. “It’s the story of the day John F. Kennedy was shot,” Towers sets up. “James Franco’s character [Jake] steps into a rabbit hole and finds himself back in 1963.” Jake tries to change history and even faces some of his own demons — including a baddie played by ALL MY CHILDREN alum Josh Duhamel (Leo)! — but history fights him every step of the way. While Towers won’t reveal how her character fits into the story so as to not spoil a major twist, she does admit that her alter ego is no Helena. “She’s totally the opposite, which was great fun to play,” the actress…

The latest comings and goings — and how they will change your shows! The In Depth Story: Executive producer Frank Valentini kicked off Fan February by announcing the news himself, posting a video of him “running into” Easton at the supermarket and asking if the actor would like to return to the soap. After the showrunner promises that he’s “got something great” in store, Easton accepts the offer, and the two shake hands on the deal. As social media blew up with the news, Easton took to his Facebook page with a message of appreciation for his fans. “It’s true,” he wrote. “It was your kindness and support that made this happen. I am humbled by your faith.” However, what neither Easton nor Valentini let slip is exactly who the…

GH fans got excited when Kelly Thiebaud (Britt) shared photos of herself on Twitter last month, asking her followers, “Can you guess where I am?” Many recognized the Port Charles docks and a hospital bed (where Thiebaud had a script tucked underneath her leg!), and surmised that the actress was indeed at the GH set, where her fiancé, Bryan Craig (Morgan), still works. “I’m pretty sure she was there to support her fiancé and be with her GH pals,” reports a setside source, who confirms to In Depth that Thiebaud had no return dates scheduled at press time.…

Just days before GH’s Sabrina went into labor, her portrayer, Teresa Castillo, and husband Shane Aaron welcomed their second child to the world! “Bliss,” Castillo simply captioned a selfie posted to Instagram on January 26 of her cradling her new son, whose name had still not been announced at press time. His big sister, Victoria, will be 2 in May — likely around the same time that Castillo returns to the screen as she is expected to resume taping in April.…

Eduardo is wary — and maybe a little jealous? — when he sees Deimos putting the moves on Kate on Monday, February 15. Jennifer thinks she’s got things under control, but her addiction begins taking a toll on Tuesday, February 16. Wednesday, February 17, finds Ava heading back to Salem at what might be the worst possible time, at least as far as Steve is concerned! And sure enough, on Friday, February 19, Kayla is on the receiving end of a message from Ava that will blow her away!…

While THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Victor wants Luca gone, it doesn’t seem as if his rival is likely to oblige him any time soon. “Luca is like the flu that won’t go away!” chuckles executive producer/headwriter Charles Pratt Jr. “It’s stubborn, hangs on, resists attempts at eradication… and makes everyone around it miserable! ” Indeed, the Spanish upstart might actually be more than irritating — he could be dangerous! Already he’s been threatening Victor with a secret-revealing file. “The surprise [for Victor] would be that the file really exists and Luca isn’t bluffing!” says the scribe. “But to actually challenge him on it… how reckless does Victor intend to be?” Fans know only too well that Victor can be pretty reckless in his attempts to crush his enemies. Will…

… or has “boobgate” managed to take an issue which many women deal with on a daily basis — breastfeeding in public — and turn it into a storyline that is relatable, entertaining and working on several levels. We haven’t been fans of Olivia’s cartoonish behavior where Alexis and Julian are concerned. But watching the two women work together on the lawsuit against Mayor Lomax has had us rooting for a new supercouple in the making, Alexia! The story has also spilled over into the world of Crimson, which not only loops in Nina and her staff but ties neatly back to Julian, who hopes to see the magazine fail. There’s nothing we love more than a well-connected canvas, and Port Charles’ citizens are becoming increasingly intertwined every week!…

When GH approached Francis about returning last year, she says that the timing “couldn’t have been better.” Not only was she . t, but her “baby,” Elizabeth, 18, was about to graduate from high school. With son Jameson, 21, already o. at college, Francis and her actor/director husband Jonathan Frakes were facing the dreaded emptynest syndrome. “It was such a blessing that I got called back into my career at the moment the kids were leaving,” she marvels. “So many women struggle at that time. They fiounder. But I’m in a happy, grateful place.” While she and Frakes “both love our work,” Francis is thrilled that the pace at GH has slowed since her ingénue days. “My first year, we worked every holiday, with the exception of Christmas Day and…

Talk about going to extremes. When THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Steve Burton was on GENERAL HOSPITAL, he played Jason (now being portrayed by Billy Miller, Y&R’s former Billy) — an antihero who often found himself on the wrong side of the law carrying out instructions for the Mob. Today, Burton’s alter ego, Dylan, is not only on the right side of the law, but if he ever came face to face with a guy like Jason… well, we imagine the criminal would be in handcuffs faster than you could say, “You have the right to remain silent!” While Burton enjoys playing a guy who saves the day, he also likes that Dylan has a darker side, too. “I think there is enough there that people have seen — he…

It’s always a treat to see Diane sashay her sassy self into a scene on GENERAL HOSPITAL. While awaiting her next call to the soap set, Carolyn Hennesy remains plenty busy with other projects. Recently, she’s been trying on new characters for size, most notably, those showing more of her range. “Listen, comedy is like oxygen to me, and making people laugh is my bread and butter,” she says. “But for people to see me as tough, vulnerable and wicked… I hope that it would not only expand the audience’s awareness of me but also my awareness of my own ability.” Toughening Up Hennesy’s role as an arrogant presidential candidate in recent release Courting Des Moines did just that. Playing a hardened, no-nonsense police chief in the upcoming action thriller…

Wood and Brooks briefly met almost eight years ago back when he was playing the role of Max on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. “We met at some charity event or Emmy nomination party,” he recalls. “Jacqui was wearing these furry [Muk Luk] boots. I said, ‘What, did you kill a bear or something?’” Years later when both were working at B&B, Brooks went to enter Wood’s phone number into his cell phone, only to discover he already had it from the night they had first met… under the listing of Bear Carcasses! Needless to say, the two had a good laugh when they came to realize that their paths had already crossed in the past! “We didn’t even realize it at first, but that was so funny,” says Wood.…

Even before the cameras roll, GENERAL HOSPITAL rocks! ALL ACCESS • ALL ACCESS General Hospital…

“We didn’t want to put Robin in a wedding gown, so I thought a simple ‘going to church’ dress would be good,” says Shawn Dudley-Reeves, GH’s costume designer. “I wanted her to look feminine — we don’t get to see Robin dressed up much! I also thought Maxie probably ran to the mall and pulled a bunch of dresses, because it was last-minute. So when I shopped, I thought like Maxie. I pulled a rack of dresses and Kimberly McCullough (ex-Robin) and I did a casual fitting, trying on different colors. This blue just felt right. The style and cut were flattering and simple. I don’t see Robin being fussy with clothes. The dress is by Adrianna Papell. “For Emma, I actually had another dress picked,” Reeves continues. “But I…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL Steffy couldn’t fully commit to Wyatt without getting definitive closure with Liam. Liam, meanwhile, felt suspicious of the story Quinn was feeding him about his past. Deacon showed up at Quinn’s place, leaving her with no other choice but to let him in on her scheme. When Liam questioned Quinn after seeing her hide a cell phone, she used the situation to give Steffy the so-called “answer” she needed. Thomas apologized to Caroline for his womanizing past and became her protector when a medical emergency landed her in the ER. Their hospital visit took an uncomfortable turn when Thomas learned personal information about her pregnancy. Sneak Preview Liquid courage becomes the main course during a tense family dinner! THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS Nick asked…

Don’t Miss The Next Issue Of ABC SOAPS IN DEPTH On Sale... February 29 March 14 March 28 April 11 April 25 May 9 May 23 June 6 June 20 July 4 July 18 August 1 CHECKING IN! GENERAL HOSPITAL alum Jason Thompson (ex-Patrick) tells us all about joining THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS as Billy, the playboy that Billy Miller (now GH’s Jason) played. L.A. LIFE! GH’s Anthony Montgomery (Andre) shares his Hollywood story. PICKING SIDES! GH’s Rebecca Herbst weighs in on Team Sam vs. Team Elizabeth.…