Table of contents for November 18, 2019 in ABC Soaps In Depth

A few years back, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Julian detonated his life by doing very bad things in the name of protecting his family. The mobster has since built a more respectable life… but how will he fare now that it’s all falling apart? When Julian held a dagger to his beloved Alexis’ throat in order to placate his sister, “he knew what he was doing, and he was prepared to pay the consequences,” portrayer William deVry contends. But the former mafioso has come a long way since he was released from prison. “He’s really enjoyed this new life of his in Charlie’s Pub. And it was important that he spent some time alone and just slow down. “He could really do some soul-searching — which is very difficult to do,” he…

On the surface, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Laura and Ava have about as much in common as an apple and a rock… or so it appears. But when you look deeper, as the show has done recently, you discover that they’re actually quite similar. Both have loved deeply and paid the price for having done so. Both are mothers who have buried children. And both have found themselves the object of a madman or two’s obsession. So while the growing bond between the women at first seemed to come out of the blue, we now realize just how perfect it is. Ava is spiraling out of control, a situation Laura — whom you’ll recall spent a fair amount of time in a psychiatric ward — knows a thing or two about. Given…

Soap fans love it when characters remember — and use — their own history. So we cheered when, during a discussion about recent events, Lulu and Maxie brought up the circumstances under which Georgie was conceived and born. Lulu didn’t use it to take a swipe at Maxie but rather to illustrate a point that needed to be made. Thanks to both the script and the chemistry between real-life pals Emme Rylan and Kirsten Storms, Lulu and Maxie’s discussion worked on every level. • In what universe is a serial killer like Ryan going to be given both a pen that could be used as a murder weapon and a cellmate upon whom to use it? There were ways in which this could have been played that would have offered…

Hot Topic: Did Valentin Dig His Own Grave With His Lies? OUR TAKE When GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Nina finally gave Valentin the chance to plead his case, he spoke from the heart. And for a beat, we cheered at the notion he might actually tell the truth about having concocted the scheme involving Sasha. Yes, that could certainly have cost him Nina. As far as we’re concerned, there’s no excuse for what Valentin did! But if anyone was going to hear out the damaged Cassadine and understand where he was coming from, it was his adoring runaway bride. Had Val only taken this opening, he and Nina might have been able to work their way through the horrific betrayal. It might even have saved her sweet relationship with Sasha! But as…

Vincent Irizzary Dr. David Hayward (1999-2003, 2005-’15) The veteran soap-hopper, recently recurring as THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Dr. Armstrong, currently splits his time pursuing two of his many passions while living in Los Angeles. “I’m selling real estate right now,” he shares, adding, “I’m also selling wine with an international distribution company.” Having become a second-level sommelier, Irizarry knows his stuff and says that he’s successfully representing about 700 wines. Someday he might even be able to combine his newfound knowledge with his experience in the world of entertainment. “I’ve been talking to some people about trying to do a show about wines from around the world,” he says, “because now I’m meeting a lot of winemakers from all over.” James Horan Creed Kelly (1987) Although it’s hard not…

On The CW’s CHARMED, Macy has been kidnapped by the mysterious-yet-seductive shape-shifting assassin, leaving her sisters in a pickle. Not only are the Charmed Ones less powerful without each other, but while in their current state of “witchness protection” in Seattle, only Macy (as a half demon) had any powers left to begin with. In the episode airing Friday, November 8, at 8 p.m. EST, the race to find her is on! The Series’ New Attitude New showrunners Elizabeth Kruger and Craig Shapiro (the duo behind CBS’ SALVATION) say that they’ve given the series a “much more serialized story” with a “moodier and darker look.” Translation: Macy’s ongoing plight within this otherworldly soap is a story that’s both sexy and scary! Shapiro explains that in starting their search, Maggie and…

Pretty Prints Hayley Erin (ex-Kiki, GENERAL HOSPITAL) packs a punch in these cute prints, with the poppy-dotted wrap dress proving to be the clear fave. A Slam Dunk GH’s Maura West (Ava) looks fabulous in anything, but the sleek white pantsuit she wore to the 2018 Daytime Emmy Awards will go down in history as one of her best-ever looks.…

Valentin has been working hard to keep his various secrets under wraps, but he breathes a sigh of relief on Monday, November 4. (Something tells us that might be a tad premature, pal!) Across town, Jax — who isn’t exactly a big fan of Nina’s beau — finds that he has to stop someone from doing what they’d planned to on Wednesday, November 6. Nina takes a moment to visit the grave of her late, much-loved brother, Nathan, on Thursday, November 7. Might she ask his heavenly advice regarding her complicated love life?…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Sally jumped at Wyatt’s proposal of marriage, despite her reservations about his hostile mother and the ex-girlfriend he might potentially still be hung up on. Yet even more than these obvious red flags, we’ve got to wonder if the fiercely independent designer is really the marrying type. “I’ve actually thought about that a lot,” admits her portrayer, Courtney Hope. “I don’t think that’s what Sally always thought she wanted, but I do think she can see that now.” Hope believes her alter ego has been a sort of lone wolf because she’s so afraid of being hurt. “I don’t think she ever really believed she deserved [a happy relationship] or had the worth for that,” notes Hope, “but Wyatt has really changed that mindset for…

Given his complete lack of a poker face, we’re sort of surprised that Brad spent most of his life cooking up and carrying out schemes. But perhaps back then, he was able to brazenly lie without fear of getting caught because there was nothing he truly cared about on the line. Now, the family man wants nothing more than to hold on to hubby Lucas and their son, Wiley… and that has allowed portrayer Parry Shen to reveal that he is one of daytime’s most entertaining reactors. This is especially true when Brad’s interacting with Nelle or Obrecht. While their respective portrayers, Chloe Lanier and Kathleen Gati, seamlessly shift between saccharine smiles, villainous glares and hysterically inappropriate one-liners, Brad’s ever-shifting facial expressions tell a story of their very own without…

… or are you still wondering why Jason didn’t run straight to the police when Andre identified Bryce as his attacker? He didn’t even run straight to Bryce! Considering how he was scrambling to clear Sam’s name, we were stunned that he let this lead slip through his fingers. Lately, it seems like the scribes don’t quite know how Sonny’s Mob enforcer is supposed to fit into the crime-fighting scene. One minute he’s questioning suspects for and with the PCPD… and the next he’s questioning people on his own, so it doesn’t count for anything. No wonder Jordan was so annoyed! It felt as if Jason’s lone wolf was nothing but a ploy to get Sam sent to Pentonville — leaving us to again wonder why GH went with this…

Playing new character Amanda requires Morgan to wear a wig. “It’s a lot of fun,” she shares. “I’ve never worn a wig before, so it takes a bit of getting used to, trying to figure out how to place it on my hair — because I have a lot of hair! So it’s been a process, but it’s been fun to see myself with a different look.” In fact, putting on a wig has opened the actress up to other possibilities. “I’ve never dyed my hair, I’ve never really done anything different with my hair,” admits Morgan. “But this is allowing me to see a different side of myself, so I’m like, ‘Well, maybe I will be open to dyeing it sometime soon!’”…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s John McCook (Eric) couldn’t have been prouder or more elated when his daughter, Molly (a cast member on Fox’s LAST MAN STANDING), wed her beau, Broadway star John Krause (currently appearing in the Tony Award-winning Hadestown), in early September at the Santa Barbara Zoo. The soap legend generously shared photos from the beautiful event and weighed in on what the day meant to his entire family. FYI Date: September 7. Location: The couple settled on the unique locale as a nod to their habit of visiting zoos in new cities whenever Krause was on a national tour. “Jack Abbott” Attended: “Our friends, Peter [Bergman, Jack THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS] and his wife, Mariellen, were there,” notes McCook. Remember When? Molly McCook played B&B’s Margot,…

GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Maurice Benard (Sonny) loves getting silly with his costars and his goats on social media, but the mental-health advocate has also started a rather serious conversation with his fans via the State Of Mind Instastories that he posts on Sundays. The actor has been talking about mental health and his own battle with bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression for over 30 years. Now — with his memoir, Nothing General About It: How Love (And Lithium) Saved Me On And Off GH, due out April 7 — he’s taking to social media every weekend to reflect on living with mental illness. Since starting the talks in April, Benard has gotten real with fans about experiences ranging from being institutionalized as a young man to his first date with his…

Frew Is Freed! Dressed in Drew’s Navy Blues, Frew (aka the Franco/Drew hybrid) had his day in court. While his attorney, Martin, scored by questioning Liz about that time she hid Drew’s identity so he would stay by her side, Scotty turned the tables by asking Kim about drugging the same man in order to get pregnant just a few months earlier. In a shocking turn, however, both Jason and Kevin testified on Frew’s behalf… and the judge ruled in his favor! Scotty slugged Kevin, then asked Sonny to help him detain Franco so he could force him to have the procedure. While Sonny was torn, Frew was now questioning Kim’s mental state — so he wasn’t ready to leave town with her just yet, anyway. Peter, believing his problems…

Don’t Miss The Next Issue Of ABC SOAPS IN DEPTH On Sale… November 18 December 2 December 16 December 30 January 13 January 27 February 10 February 24 March 9 March 23 April 6 April 20 May 4 May 18 BEST & WORST! Soaps In Depth evaluates what’s been working gangbusters on GENERAL HOSPITAL… and what hasn’t quite been. TAKE TWO! Michael Easton (Finn) shares why he’s so eager to work with Roger Howarth (Franco). TRUE LOVE! In Depth ranks GH’s 10 best couples of all time. (Yes, including Scrubs.)…

The In Depth Story: When Eli and Lani’s marriage plans get derailed, Justin and Adrienne, and Jack and Jennifer have an impromptu double wedding in the town square! However, Jen won’t be offered congratulations by her cousin, Hope. After the bride uncovers something shocking about Rolf, Gina pushes Jen over a balcony to keep her quiet! In the aftermath of Jen’s tumble, Kayla and Haley will try to save her life, while Jack and JJ scramble to figure out exactly how it happened. Only Jennifer knows the answer for sure, so look for Gina to find a horrifying way to keep her from talking — ever!…

PSST! That’s adorable 5-year-old Jophielle Love playing Finn and Hayden’s little girl, Violet. The native of France has done some modeling, but an episode of GREY’S ANATOMY in mid-October marked her television debut. Speaking of Violet… as Finn struggles to adjust to being her dad — and without fianceé Anna by his side — the show is remaining mum as to when Finola Hughes will be back on screen following her extended, annual summer break. You’ll recall that Anna left town back in May to find her twin, Alex, in hopes of getting answers about their swapped memories and Peter’s true maternity. “Who knows what kind of information Anna brings back — or who she brings back with her?” winks Wes Ramsey (Peter). “I love that they’re adding another complex…

Elizabeth receives a bit of news on Tuesday, November 5, and, unfortunately, it’s not the kind that puts a smile on one’s face. That same day, Franco has an epiphany. Could things finally be changing for this beleaguered couple? Finn realizes that he’s really not ready to face Anna on Wednesday, November 6, while Alexis’ condition takes a turn for the worse. Cassandra is more than a little bit worried on Thursday, November 7. And what does it mean when Jason gets an alarming phone call on Friday, November 8?…

1 Michael’s perspective. “Not to hurt your feelings,” he told Sasha, “but compared to my family’s scandals, yours hardly rates.” 2 Scott’s dig. “What’s that I hear?” he asked fellow attorney Martin. “An ambulance? Go fetch!” 3 The reluctant pals. “I tolerate you because Anna loves you,” Robert told Finn. 4 Ava’s admission. “I enjoy a martini,” she told Lucas, “or several.” 5 Jordan’s truth. She told Curtis that the “cost of living in Port Charles” was “this town is riddled with liars!” … And 1 Thing We Could Do Without… Jason’s “help.” He has repeatedly made bad decisions which have resulted in things getting worse for Sam!…

It wasn’t long after regaining his memory that DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Jack demanded a divorce from Eve and asked Jennifer to remarry him. But given the terrible way that he treated the true love of his life while suffering from amnesia, can they really recapture their past magic? Of the guilt-tinged memories that Jack’s having, portrayer Matthew Ashford explains, “It’s all coming back, and he’s been working his way through it.” Fortunately, Jennifer’s been both patient and understanding. “She listens and says, ‘But we’re here now… don’t go down some deep, dark path,” Ashford says. “So that’s kind of cool. For Jack, it’s like you’re summing up your life and it isn’t so great, but guess what — we’re right here. So start living in the now.” But might…

We thought it a bit too tongue in cheek when Lucy randomly zeroed in on Sasha as the new face of Deception. But once Sasha’s lie was actually exposed, we had to agree with Lucy: Who better to sell Deception than a woman who fooled much of Port Charles? And who better to offer advice about redemption than one of the town’s most infamous trouble-makers? “Atoning is a life-time endeavor,” Lucy told Sasha, adding that forgiveness is “reparation and presence. If you really want to right all those people you wronged, you’ve got to be in their face.” We loved that advice — and we loved the potential we saw in this budding friendship!…

General Hospital In Depth asked… Do you think Nina will forgive Valentin once Sasha comes clean? Reader Reaction: 59% NEVER! 41% EVENTUALLY Readers think once the truth about Valentin comes out, Nina will freeze Valentin out… no matter how hard he tries to melt her heart again! This issue’s question… Will learning about Violet drive a wedge between Finn and Anna? TOP 5 GH COUPLES 1 Laura & Kevin Collins 2 Elizabeth & Franco Baldwin 3 Sam McCall & Jason Morgan 4 Maxie Jones & Peter August 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 Jon Lindstrom (Kevin/Ryan, GH) 3 Last Issue: 3 Roger Howarth (Franco, GH) 4 Last Issue: 5…

Q. GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Jason said he related to Franco’s memory swap because he was a Quartermaine when he was young. Isn’t he a Quartermaine now? Madeline FreezeMontclair, CA A. Technically, Jason is a Quartermaine, but it’s been a long time since he’s considered himself a real part of the family. Like Frew, Jason Morgan once woke up with no memories of his former life. The difference is, he wasn’t implanted with a new set of memories! The Quartermaines’ golden boy had been planning on going to med school, but a car accident in 1995 changed his trajectory. He came out of the coma a blank slate with a very different personality. And while the Q’s pressured Jason to remember himself, Sonny embraced him as he was. Ultimately, Jason turned his…

Mike —AND— Yvonne August 12, 2019 When GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Sonny, Carly and Stella cheered at seeing Mike, the Alzheimer’s patient looked a bit confused… but then a grin spread across his face. It was his and Yvonne’s wedding day! A Blessing In Disguise In the lobby of Turning Point, Mike asked after his tux and happily accepted a boutonniere from Stella. He seemed to know exactly where he was, so everyone laughed with relief… only to have him mistake his son for the reverend! Though clearly gutted, Sonny shrugged it off. And when Mike didn’t recognize Carly, either, she simply explained her attendance by smiling, “I just really like weddings.” Then she escorted him away to get ready, allowing Sonny a moment with social worker and friend Stella. “All I’ve…

Despite the sci-fi element of Franco “becoming” Drew, the twist was all too real for his family. With their day in court approaching, Elizabeth, Scott and Cameron were completely torn up. However, they did anything but give up! As Scott prepped Cam to take the stand, he took off the kid gloves, and the youngster delivered! Watching him respond with honesty, Scott and Elizabeth knew they’d found their secret weapon… but they were still protecting him. Not only did Cameron’s mom send him off before she and Scott discussed the nitty-gritty of the case, but she pushed her son to go “live every second” for Franco. Once the adults were alone, Scott confessed that Monica’s testimony was sure to be a hit to their case. “Mothers, they’re a very powerful…