Table of contents for December 2, 2019 in ABC Soaps In Depth

From the moment Jax and Nina crossed paths, it has been clear that they could, under the right circumstances, be more than friends. At the moment, however, he’s struggling to understand how she could stand by Valentin. Is that what causes the confrontation between Jax and Nina on Tuesday, November 19? By Wednesday, November 20, Nina is back in the bosom of her family, spending time with Valentin and Charlotte. As Val tries to protect his daughter on Friday, November 22, Jax and Laura receive a pretty big surprise!…

Phyllis is a woman on a mission on Monday, November 18. Will she dig up the intel she’s seeking? Tuesday, November 19, finds Nick issuing a threat and Billy catching someone off guard! Jill will be in for a shock thanks to what she discovers on Wednesday, November 20. Abby and Chloe team up in order to do damage control on Thursday, November 21. And on Friday, November 22, Theo does what he does best: get under Kyle’s skin!…

Before having his own memories replaced by those of another man, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Franco vowed that he would find his way back to Elizabeth. This week, the past could influence the present as decisions are made which could change everything! Echoes Of The Past Drew’s memories may still be rattling around in Franco’s head, but it is Scotty’s words which are ringing in his ears. “Desperate times call for desperate measures,” says co-headwriter Chris Van Etten of Scotty’s last-ditch effort to make his son see things through different eyes. Fully aware of the sacrifices that Franco made during their childhood, Frew is left reeling. Is the knowledge he now possesses enough to make him consider taking a different path than the one he’d originally planned? “Desperate times call for desperate…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Ridge walked out on his wife rather than turn his back on his troubled son, a choice portrayer Thorsten Kaye says was the only option in the designer’s mind. “You can’t escape your kid at the end of the day. That love has to be unconditional. It’s what parents sign up for.” Kaye believes his alter ego feels he owes a debt to his children, especially since he wasn’t always there for them when they were younger. “That makes him kind of blind,” he says, “to some of the stuff that’s been going on in front of him.” In any case, these recent conflicts have given him new material to play, both with Ridge’s family members and new admirer Shauna! Having spent much of the…

We’ll give Julian props for creativity: Having Carly’s bartender send Brad naked pics in order to cause a rift in his marriage to Lucas was brilliant. However, we’re a little unclear on Julian’s actual motivation. If the truth comes out about Wiley, it’s not like Lucas will be any better-positioned because Brad’s out of his life. No matter how you slice it, Wiley is Michael’s kid, period. Worse, Julian risked losing Lucas (again) if his actions were revealed before the truth about Wiley seemingly inevitably came to light. It feels as if Julian is working awfully hard to guarantee that his son ultimately winds up as heartbroken as humanly possible!…

… or have you been wondering when Jason’s going to get a little drama of his very own? He’s been busy backing up Sam since the Shiloh storyline began, helping the PCPD solve cases and being an emotional-support friend for everyone who needs him. But none of the storylines are actually Jason-centric. In fact, the same could sort a be said for Sonny, leaving us to think the problem might be that the show hasn’t figured out how to write stories for the BFFs that don’t involve the Mob. That said, with rumors circulating that Sonny’s enemies might perceive him as distracted, the guys might soon find themselves back in familiar territory… and on the front burner!…

Pullos can’t say enough about working on the Netflix kidcom THE EXPANDING UNIVERSE OF ASHLEY GARCIA, which is due out in early 2020. “I love doing comedy,” she raves. “Especially sitcom comedy — it’s so different from GH! With a live studio audience, it’s just energizing to hear people laughing at the jokes you’ve been working on for weeks.” And since the series takes place in high school, Pullos was the adult on set! “The other kids are all minors, so I kind of felt like the mom of the group,” laughs the actress, who found herself caught in the middle when she’d come back to GH. “I’d say something about working ‘with kids,’ and Kelly Monaco (Sam) and Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis) were like, ‘You are a kid!’ Okay……

DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Eve may change her last name as often as she updates her to-die-for ward-robe, but she’s still the same, scrappy gal she always was at heart. In fact, it’s kind of odd that she only wears stilettos because she’s had to pull herself up by the proverbial bootstraps more times than anyone can count. What can be learned from this true survivor? Read on and find out! MARRY WELL, DIVORCE BETTER! Eve may have only been wed to Jack (the first time) for a hot second, but the fact that she was became the gift that kept on giving. Long after his presumed death, she was able to support herself by claiming the profits from his successful book. IF YOU’VE GOT IT, FLAUNT IT. Eve’s hooker…

A Study In Contrasts Renee Elise Goldsberry (Evangeline, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) stands out in stark black and white, but our voters loved the pop of color in the look on the right. Paisley Vs. Pinstripes A poster girl for “California chic,” GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Laura Wright (Carly) gravitates toward styles that look carefree and comfy! Leather Jackets If you want to look cool this fall, here’s a one-and-done trick: don a leather jacket like the ones worn by these current and former GH actors!…

A Big Secret! In the Lifetime Movies thriller My Husband’s Secret Twin, Sofia Mattsson (Sasha, GH) plays the friend of a woman who realizes something is not quite right with her husband. Tune in on Saturday, November 23, at 8 p.m. EST. Christmas Magic GH alum Ryan Paevey (ex-Nathan) finds love in New York City in Hallmark’s Christmas At The Plaza, debuting Friday, November 29, at 8 p.m. EST. And AMC vets Lacey Chabert (Bianca) and Sam Page (Trey) spend Christmas In Rome in a Hallmark film airing Saturday, November 30, at 8 p.m. EST. In Memoriam Brian Tarantina passed away on November 2 at his home in Manhattan. The 60-year-old actor was well-known for his recent role as Gaslight emcee Jackie on THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL. But he is…

Will Lucas and Brad’s marriage survive the fight they have on Monday, November 18? And what causes Sam to feel so deeply shaken that same day? Chase apparently has reason to take his brother, Finn, to task on Tuesday, November 19. The question, of course, is whether Finn will listen to what Chase has to say! Sonny finds himself getting increasingly suspicious on Wednesday, November 20, but of whom? Julian takes a close look at Brad’s comings and goings on Thursday, November 21, while Carly notices something different about Mike.…

There’s a new man in Kayla’s life, and on Monday, November 18, they reminisce about how they wound up together. Sarah and Xander find themselves bonding over her new baby on Tuesday, November 19. So how is it that by Wednesday, November 20, she is freaking out about the child being missing? On Thursday, November 21, Clyde puts Xander in a difficult position. And on Friday, November 22, Xander goes to see Hope… and makes a stunning confession!…

1 Nikolas’ return. We didn’t believe he was dead for a second, but we’re still glad to have him back! 2 The co-workers. We immediately felt a connection between Trina and her new boss, Ava. 3 Scotty’s punch. Like Kevin, we never saw it coming! 4 The look. When Carly suggested Jason couldn’t search the school gym because it was locked, the enforcer’s expression was priceless. 5 The nickname. Hayden got a laugh out of Liz by dubbing first-time tippler Cameron “Lushy McBoozehound.” … And 1 Thing We Could Do Without… Laura’s incredulity. Given that every member of her family — herself included — has come back from the dead, should she have been so quick to doubt Ava’s claim about Nikolas?…

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Kyle has been battling Billy to be taken seriously in the top spot at Jabot, but could dad Jack be his real foe? After all, not only has Jack sided with his brother in business, the mogul is rolling out the welcome mat for Kyle’s newfound cousin, Theo! “Kyle’s relationship with his dad went sideways when he tried to take Jabot public while Jack was in jail,” acknowledges his portrayer, Michael Mealor. “But he learned his lesson… and feels like he has proven himself, not only recently but working at the New York Jabot office! And Jack keeps saying, ‘You’re going to be next.’ He even leaves him in charge, but then he acts like it never happened. It’s frustrating!” Adding Theo to the mix…

We get that Finn is, generally speaking, a pretty low-key guy. But we certainly expected him to have a much bigger reaction upon meeting his secret daughter! Sure, he got in the occasional cutting remark, and he gave Hayden the puppy-dog eyes which silently screamed, “How could you do this to me?” But for the most part, Finn’s reacting the way we might if we discovered that our child changed their grade on a report card. Disappointed, a tad upset… but not much more. If we had to guess, we’d assume the show felt it was more important to have Hayden and Finn bond over Violet before Anna came back, and that would have been difficult to do if the doc was too angry and resentful. Of course, GH easily…

General Hospital In Depth asked… Do you think Jax will keep Dev’s secret? What are the odds of Jax keeping a secret for his nemesis’ sake? Slim to none! Dev might’ve had better luck if he didn’t link up with Sonny! Reader Reaction: 65% NO WAY! 35% OF COURSE! This issue’s question… Do you want to see Nikolas and Ava get involved? TOP 5 GH COUPLES 1 Laura & Kevin Collins 2 Elizabeth & Franco Baldwin 3 Maxie Jones & Peter August 4 Alexis Davis & Julian Jerome 5 Sam McCall & Jason Morgan 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…

GH Hot Topic: Are The Port Charles Teens Ready For Love? OUR TAKE GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Josslyn and Cameron have been through the wringer — and it’s not like formerly homeless Dev has had an easy life! Meanwhile, Trina’s words of wisdom have us thinking she may have seen her share of trauma, even if her past is still a bit of a mystery. Thanks to some seriously impressive writing and casting, this teen scene is steeped in adult-sized drama and romantic potential. With Joss slowly opening up to the possibility of moving on, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for this quartet. Might she allow herself to pursue a relationship with Cameron, or perhaps wild card Dev? And how does Trina fit into the brewing emotional quagmire?…

Most people have a hard time defining chemistry, but they know it when they see it. And they’re seeing it in spades with the pairing of THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Devon and Elena. Soaps In Depth caught up with their portrayers, Bryton James and Brytni Sarpy, to chat about their real and reel relationships!…

Though ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Patrick Thornhart was Kaye’s first daytime role back in 1997, he’d had an opportunity several years earlier to join the cast of ALL MY CHILDREN. Taking the job, however, would have meant walking away from the role of Macbeth at a repertory theater company in Detroit. “I didn’t want to stop playing the Scottish king,” says Kaye. “I figured there would always be a soap opera part, but the chance to play that guy? It might not have happened again.” Kaye turned down the television gig to “strut and fret his hour upon the stage,” and luckily, daytime has remained eager to employ him in the years since!…

How Much Longer Can Nikolas Play Dead? It turned out a very alive Nikolas was working with Hayden and Jax to bring down Valentin, but they weren’t happy when he decided to stay in Port Charles. Hiding out at Jax’s, the Cassadine prince almost ran into Laura. When Josslyn wanted to move into her dad’s place, Nikolas revealed himself to Carly and she agreed to help them cover — for now. Ava’s claim to have seen Nikolas led her loved ones to convince her to spend some time at Shadybrook. When Jax came to see what she really knew about Nikolas, Ava was sedated… but admitted that she’d hidden Helena’s portrait! CASSANDRA DIES! Having blackmailed Nikolas into helping her escape Pentonville, Cassandra knocked out a guard while on work assignment.…

FLIGHT OF FAN-CY! GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Rebecca Herbst (Liz) opens up about connecting with the audience. 2019 IN REVIEW! Take a look back at the wild and wacky year that was, from Drew’s “return” to Nina’s wedding, from Shiloh’s demise to Donna’s birth. SURPRISE! Kin Shriner (Scotty) reveals how he keeps his castmates on their toes. Don’t Miss The Next Issue Of ABC SOAPS IN DEPTH On Sale… 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 June 1…

If you pay close attention to GH’s opening credits, you probably noticed that Chris Van Etten has a new co-headwriter in the wake of Shelly Altman’s recent retirement. “I’ve been part of the writing team for a while,” says Dan O’Connor, who has held various positions on that staff since 2014. He’d previously worked on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, although this is his first time sharing the top slot. “I was a fan of GH long before I was a writer on the show,” he says, “and I hope my enthusiasm for the show and its history shows!”…

The In Depth Story: As the week begins, Chad and Abigail argue once again about his recent communication with his long-missing father, Stefano. But Abigail barely has time to calm herself down following the blow-out with her husband when Eve requests that she come visit her in prison! Knowing that she’s been framed for a crime she didn’t actually commit, Eve begs Abigail to investigate Jennifer’s fall. Curious herself about the accident, Abigail agrees. Might the news that Jennifer later receives about what happened while she was in a year-long coma provide a clue? Regardless, whatever leads Abigail may have been tracking concerning Eve and Jennifer are forgotten when she returns home and finds Eli, on Gabi’s behalf, going through Chad’s laptop! As Gabi grows increasingly convinced that Chad is…

GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Jason has stood by Sam every step of the way, but the legal system seems determined to pull them apart. When at last Sam has her day in court, will she and her true love finally be free of Shiloh… or will this be the beginning of the end? The Home Stretch Truth be told, Sam and Jason haven’t had much of a break since the day he returned from the dead! What should have been so simple — two people who love one another being reunited by a miraculous resurrection — was instead complicated by the life she had created in his absence. “It really is a coin toss at this point.” No sooner had Jason and Sam admitted to themselves and the world that they wanted…

Back when GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Peter first came to Port Charles, he was seeking vengeance against the parents who’d abandoned him. And while he was sad to see Nathan become collateral damage of his murderous plot, it’s not like he’d ever underestimated the risks. “He was wearing a bullet-proof vest!” portrayer Wes Ramsey reminds. “He knew what was at stake… but he also believed he was invincible and couldn’t get caught. “So I don’t think Peter figured things would unfold the way they did,” he continues. “Having never had the love and attention of his mother and having an abusive, erratic psychopath for a father, there was such a desire to just belong… and all at once, he lost the opportunity to know his brother.” In the aftermath, however, Peter found…

It was smart of GENERAL HOSPITAL not to drag out the Nikolas reveal. It would have felt like a bit of a rip-off to spend weeks having the “mystery man” skulk around town, show us his face (which, of course, we wouldn’t recognize) and then say, “Surprise! It’s been Nikolas all along!” (Plus, the show wasn’t particularly subtle when it came to dropping hints about Nik’s return!) Instead, he lifted the mask, Ava filled us in on the fact that it was Nikolas, and then he moved back into the shadows. Dramatically, the fallout — with a concerned but disbelieving Laura convincing Ava to institutionalize herself — was both sweet and ironic. It also left us wondering how the unconventional bond that’s formed between the two women will be impacted,…

Kendra might be the worst schemer in the history of scheming. When she decided to ditch that oversized supplement bottle, she not only did it in the dumpster behind the bar owned by her victim’s ex, but she didn’t even bother to put it in a bag! • Throwing Dev into the mix at the Corinthos household has proven entertaining on numerous levels. Our favorite: It’s put Jax and Sonny at odds in a way they’ve never been. Rather than being rivals in romance or business, they’re butting heads as concerned parents. And while we can’t all necessarily relate to being a Mob boss or corporate raider, we’ve all had to deal with family drama! YOU WIN SOME… Maxie and Peter planned to move in together… YOU LOSE SOME… ……

Q. On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Sonny and Carly were talking to Mike about his late daughter, Courtney. But who was Courtney’s mother? Creek WashleyPortland, OR A: Courtney’s mom was a con artist named Janine. She was actually the first of the Matthews women to come to Port Charles, intent on extorting money from Edward Quartermaine with pics she took of the two of them in Las Vegas. It didn’t take long for Edward to turn to Sonny for help, and the Mob boss soon discovered that Janine knew his father — and the two had a child together! Courtney followed her mom shortly after, unaware that she had other family in town… or even that her dad was still alive. It turned out that Mike (then played by Ron Hale) had walked…

Busy Tajh Bellow (T.J., GENERAL HOSPITAL) stopped by Studio In Depth recently, and he didn’t come empty-handed! The charismatic actor — who had just spent several days away from Port Charles working on the Disney series BUNK’D — showed up with a fantastic smile and his fancy Houston on Rockets basketball jersey. “I love doing photo shoots!” he admitted. As you can see from these pictures, the camera loves Bellow right back!…

10 Liz & Lucky How They Met: Elizabeth was a newcomer at Port Charles High when she first laid eyes on sister Sarah’s handsome suitor, Lucky. However, Liz’s efforts to make her sibling rival look bad didn’t exactly make herself look good. How They Knew It Was Love: It was Lucky who found Liz in the park after her brutal rape and became her rock during the effort to discover her assailant’s identity. On Valentine’s Day a year later, they declared their relationship “a permanent lock” in a church that was empty but for their love. Their Biggest Obstacle: Liz was devastated when told that her future plans had literally gone up in smoke — Lucky had perished in a fire! Their Wildest Adventure: As it turned out, Helena and Faison…

Convinced she was being watched, Ava caught a masked man in her gallery and proved wrong everyone who’d suggested she was imagining things. But when in demanding that he show his face, she got more than she bargained for. “Nikolas Mikail Stavrosovich Cassadine,” he said in greeting and then seemed to move in for a kiss… only to have Ava faint into his arms! GH’s scribes had hinted at Nikolas’ survival for months, and in one short, simple scene, it was confirmed. But there was nothing simple about how this well-orchestrated scenario played out. With Nik gone when she came to, Ava ran around screaming his name and tried to reach Laura… who happened to be on her way over. Nikolas’ mom was on the codicil case for Jax and…