Table of contents for July 15, 2019 in ABC Soaps In Depth

Sylvia Miles — who played Roxy’s mother, Stella, on ONE LIFE TO LIVE — died on June 12 in New York City at the age of 94. The actress had also played ALL MY CHILDREN’s Jackie Diamond, the pornographer who got innocent Jenny mixed up in the world of adult films. Long before the Manhattan socialite made her brief daytime appearances, Miles was twice nominated for an Academy Award for her work in Midnight Cowboy and Farewell, My Lovely. “It was a dream come true to work with Sylvia,” recalls Ilene Kristen (Roxy, OLTL). “She was so creative, so open. Socially eccentric, she would bark at young people who didn’t know she had been nominated for an Oscar, and her house was filled with magazine clippings, making it hard to…

Jason and Sam have had a rough go of it over the past few months, given that they spent so much time pretending to have broken up in order to lure Shiloh into a trap. But at long last, they’ve been able to shuffle off that ruse. So on Monday, July 1, with all pretenses having been put aside, Jason and Sam finally have an opportunity to reconnect. Of course, thanks to the fact that Shiloh is still alive and well and walking the streets of Port Charles a free man, it’s not as if Jason and Sam can completely rest easy. But could the solution Sam proposes on Friday, July 5, involve finally dealing with Shiloh?…

Rex has been getting awfully suspicious of late, so Kristen has to spend Monday, July 1, trying to point him in a different direction. Marlena faces what might be a darn near impossible task on Tuesday, July 2, while Eve lashes out at Jack when she thinks he’s keeping something from her. Eric is in for a pretty big shock on Wednesday, July 3. And as things heat up between Ted and Kate on Friday, July 5, Kristen dons her Nicole garb to work with Gabi. And by “work with” we mean “butt heads with”!…

…or did you find Maxie’s sudden fixation with finding MIA Dante as strange as Peter did? Yes, Maxie’s a meddler by nature — especially when it comes to her bestie. And we get that, thanks to dad Frisco, she has a unique perspective on how Dante’s time away might affect his abandoned family. But she should also understand that when her father’s organization sends an agent to be deprogrammed, it’s for good reason! Had Dante simply disappeared without explanation, Maxie’s actions might make sense. Instead, it feels as if her impulsiveness is putting people in unnecessary jeopardy!…

Terrorizing Rick Thomas wasn’t thrilled when Steffy started dating the man he deemed responsible for the death of his other sister, Phoebe. He twice tried to kill his foe by setting his house on fire and blowing up his car. Years later, jealousy over Caroline prompted Thomas (then Adam Gregory) to toss his stepbrother out a second-story window! Texting Fake-Out Hellbent on keeping their dad from reuniting with Brooke on the eve of his marriage to Taylor, co-conspirators Thomas (then Drew Tyler Bell) and Steffy sent fake texts to convince the blonde that Ridge was over her. Berry, Berry Bad At Stephanie’s goading, Thomas (Gregory) tried to gaslight stepmom Brooke into thinking hallucinogenic berries had induced them to have sex during their harrowing ordeal deserted on a tropical island! Running…

Kim Wants A Baby! As soon as Kim returned from spreading Oscar’s ashes, she asked Julian to make a baby with her. Though he was tempted by the opportunity to take a real stab at fatherhood, he told Kim it wouldn’t be fair to try to replace Oscar. Rather than table the idea, she went to Drew! He, too, was tempted, but insisted this wasn’t the way. When Drew reminded her she belonged with Julian, Kim simply countered they could make a baby without actually being together. Drew told Margaux, who was leaving town, that he had no intention of reclaiming his memories via the flash drive, which remained locked away in his office — and someone overheard! CURTIS DOUBLE DIPS Drew offered to help Jordan with her medical expenses,…

Frock Star The dress worn by Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS; ex-Margaux, GENERAL HOSPITAL) won over the suit. Tie Optional Though Jon Lindstrom (Kevin/Ryan, GH) is quite debonair in the monochromatic look, he cuts a classic figure in this crisp white shirt and black suit. Taking The Plunge How low will you go? Daring necklines add real drama to these red-carpet looks.…

With one diagnosis, Bobbie’s life changed last week on GH. “Type 2 diabetes means a lifelong commitment to staying healthy,” explains the head nurse’s portrayer, Jacklyn Zeman. “You can’t just be a good girl for a few months and then let it slide! There are things Bobbie has to do and medications she’ll have to take.” While the actress doesn’t yet know how the show will handle Bobbie’s illness long-term, she has high hopes. “GH has had certain storylines that have just been very emotionally important and sentimental to our audience — like the AIDS storyline and Monica’s cancer,” she points out. “And I have a feeling with diabetes as prevalent as it is in our society, they will honor that. Everyone knows someone [who is diabetic]. As a matter…

The In Depth Story: “It always feels like I have never left,” smiles Hendrickson. “It took me a little longer to slip into Chloe’s skin, because I have been playing another character [GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Margaux] for a year, and I was working at GH the week prior. But I am really lucky in that what has always assisted me in reconnecting to Chloe are the other characters that are so important in her life. Greg Rikaart (Kevin), Kate Linder (Esther) and Jason Thompson (Billy) all make it much easier for me to settle back into her!” (For Hendrickson’s farewell to GH, turn to Ins & Outs, page 11.) “This is not necessarily what the fans will be expecting!” Meanwhile, Egan credits the new regime of executive producer Anthony Morina and…

MUSIC MAN As part of the soulful trio The Cowboy Killers, Coby Ryan McLaughlin (Shiloh) put a spell on concert-goers…

1 The slick move. As Willow was dealing with Diane’s secretary, Michael pulled out his phone and called the legal eagle’s private number. 2 “Ta.” We never tire of hearing Lucy’s signature way of saying good-bye. 3 The Nina switch. Effortlessly, Cynthia Watros slid right into the part newly vacated by Michelle Stafford. 4 Margaux’s parting gift. Before skipping town, she gave Jason a much-needed new lead on Shiloh. 5 Nelle’s jealousy. “Who,” she asked Brad, “is that trash [Michael] was with on the red carpet at the Nurses Ball?” … And 1 Thing We Could Do Without… Peter’s birthday party. Closing down The Floating Rib for the event only drew attention to how few people attended the sad fete.…

General Hospital In Depth asked… Do you think Jax is going to come between Sonny and Carly? Reader Reaction: 79% NO WAY! 21% OF COURSE! Keep it moving, Jax, there’s nothing to see here. The fans have declared your days of being a threat to Sonny and Carly over! This issue’s question… Would you like to see Mac become the permanent police commissioner? TOP 5 GH COUPLES 1 Laura Spencer & Kevin Collins 2 Elizabeth & Franco Baldwin 3 Alexis Davis & Julian Jerome 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…

Hot Topic: Is Alexis Ready For A New Relationship? OUR TAKE We were all for GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Alexis doing a deep dive into her own past to try and get to the root of her issues with the opposite sex. After all, let’s face it… she’s made some downright awful romantic decisions in the past! But now, we can’t help fearing she’s about to make yet another of those ill-advised decisions thanks to the very man who is helping her journey of self-enlightenment, Neil. From the second the two of them met, we felt sparks between the therapist and his soon-to-be patient. And therein lies the rub. We actually really like the vibe between Neil and Alexis, but either he has to immediately stop treating her or the writers need…

This past January, Josh Griffith returned to THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS as co-executive producer/headwriter. Soaps In Depth spoke with the scribe about his latest journey and what we can expect to happen in Genoa City. Soaps In Depth: What’s the biggest challenge to stepping into a headwriter position? Josh Griffith: Well, it depends. If it’s a show that you’ve never done before, you have to learn the voice of the show. But if it’s like here, where I am coming back to a show that I’ve done before, it’s really just making sure that you can smoothly transition from the previous headwriter’s stories. In Depth: While critics say all soaps are the same, true fans of the genre know that’s not true. What are the characteristics which make Y&R…

Luke Spencer —AND — Laura Webber Baldwin November 16, 1981 GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Laura Baldwin had trouble dragging herself out of bed… until she spotted her white gown hanging on the door. With a grin spreading across her face, she popped up, peeked out the window, spun around and cried, “It’s my wedding day!” Across town, her groom thew open his balcony doors and screamed, “Hello, Port Charles, Lucas Lorenzo Spencer, king of the single life, is giving it up today!” Don’t Even Say “Cassadine”! The bride and her mother couldn’t help but giggle over what a whirlwind life had been… but Laura also couldn’t resist asking about why Helena was in town. “We’re not going to talk about anybody named Cassadine,” Lesley Webber sniffed. “Blech!” Once Laura’s attendants came together…

On OWN’s QUEEN SUGAR, Nova took a major risk writing Blessing And Blood, the book that exploited her family’s history to promote her newfound philosophy of living in “radical truth.” When the book tour launches in the Wednesday, July 3, episode, will any of the Bordelons come? If not, showrunner Anthony Sparks says that the person she encounters next week in New York could be more supportive. “We’ll meet an old professor of hers played by [A DIFFERENT WORLD alumna] Cree Summer,” he previews. “She comes in at a moment when Nova is feeling very vulnerable, and they rekindle their relationship.” Darla’s On The Warpath! But back in St. Joe, Nova will first have to bear the wrath of Darla, who is furious to find a barely-concealed version of herself…

When Nelle rolled that laundry cart into the Pentonville infirmary, her humdrum time in lockup suddenly got a lot more interesting. And while she was thrilled to stumble upon the infamous Ryan Chamberlain, he couldn’t help but be charmed by the grinning blonde who wasn’t afraid to take a peek under the sheet for his missing hand. “Welcome to Pentonville,” Nelle offered. “It’s not as bad as they say, it’s worse.” (Just like them!) Ryan was instantly intrigued… but once she mentioned their shared nemesis, Carly, and he realized who Nelle was, he was downright titillated! There was quite a bit of exposition as they introduced themselves and felt each other out, but it was a hoot. Nelle naturally painted herself a falsely-accused victim, and Ryan also claimed he’d been…

FANG MAIL! GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Kelly Monaco (Sam) flashes back to her days as PORT CHARLES’ Livvie opposite Michael Easton (Finn) as Caleb — and reflects upon her then-future hopes. SHHHH! Jon Lindstrom (Kevin/Ryan) reveals the secret to keeping future GH plot twists under tight wraps. TRES CHIC! GH costume designer Shawn Reeves shares how he keeps Josslyn and all of Port Charles in style. Don’t Miss The Next Issue Of ABC SOAPS IN DEPTH On Sale… July 15 July 29 August 12 August 26 September 9 September 23 October 7 October 21 November 4 November 18 December 2 December 16 December 30 January 13…

The In Depth Story: While in town for grandma Caroline’s memorial service, Carrie finds some time to catch up with Rafe before heading back to Europe. And by “catch up” we mean that they do so in his bed! Sure, Rafe and Hope’s marriage is already thisclose to being kaput, but for his sake, let’s hope that his estranged wife is too focused on Ciara to notice that he bedded another Brady sister! Meanwhile, after all the drama that Salem’s endured lately, Rex proposes that a happy former tradition be revived: the annual Horton/Brady Independence Day BBQ! Look for the bash to be full of tense encounters, romantic moments — and shocking confessions, like the one that Carrie relays to her dad, Roman! As it turns out, Carrie’s secret won’t…

What does it mean when Mac works his magic on Monday, July 1, and will it involve the resurrection of Mr. Marbles? Carly has a lot on her mind of late, which explains why she has a sleepless night on Tuesday, July 2. That same day, T.J. shares the results of a DNA search he recently ran. What will it show? Josslyn receives an invitation on Wednesday, July 3, while Franco can’t help worrying about stepson Cameron. And on Friday, July 5, Harmony finds herself receiving a visitor. Meanwhile, if you’re wondering what GENERAL HOSPITAL will be showing on Thursday, July 4, it’ll be an episode from March featuring the climax of the Ryan showdown in Niagara Falls and the moment when Michael and Sasha first met!…

Phyllis is suspicious of Kevin on Monday, July 1. (Seeing as he recently kidnapped her, it certainly seems as if it would be wise of her to keep an eye on him!) Kyle tries to make a good impression on Tuesday, July 2, but will he actually succeed? Victoria proves she’s most definitely her father’s daughter as she plots her revenge on Wednesday, July 3. Cane and Traci have good reason to celebrate on Thursday, July 4. And find out what causes Billy to experience déjà vu on Friday, July 5!…

A baby should bring nothing but joy into the lives of his or her parents. But this week on GENERAL HOSPITAL, Carly and Sonny’s unborn child will have them asking difficult questions which could impact the future of their family! Facing Their Fears From the moment Carly first discovered her pregnancy, she’s been filled with a sense of excitement. But lurking just beneath the surface has been a trace of doubt and a whisper of fear. Although from the beginning she tried to brush aside any concerns that might arise, Sonny seemed more in tune with the possibilities that his wife didn’t necessarily want to face. In the months since, however, Carly has been taking steps to ease those fears, in both herself and her husband. Fears about her being…

For a while there, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Michael seemed like a babe in the woods, a sweet kid who needed to be saved — sometimes from his own parents! But, as his recent stunt in Beechers Corners reminds us, he can hold his own these days! “Michael’s stepped up when he’s had to, a few times now,” Steve Burton (Jason) agrees. “I don’t want to say Nelle’s story was a coming of age for him… but it was huge for him to take her down. He was just not going to back down!” That description sounds a lot like Carly. But one might argue that Michael gets his stubbornness and strength as much from his father — or should we say fathers? “He’s like a son to me,” Burton says in…

GH Coming Together The only thing better than GENERAL HOSPITAL staffers outmaneuvering Ryan to save Jordan was watching the commissioner later piece it all together for both herself and viewers. When she sat Curtis down on her hospital bed and outlined her theory, GH made it interesting by flashing back and showing us just how each party had played their part in the kidney “donation.” But Jordan was careful not to name names, in spite of her disapproving tone. With Curtis fighting to maintain his poker face, portrayers Briana Nicole Henry and Donnell Turner played the unspoken tension beautifully. Better still, the scenes played against Ryan waking up in Pentonville, realizing his kidney had been stolen and crossing paths with fellow troublemaker Nelle. By episode’s end, Jordan had decided to…

Q. When Jax first came back to GENERAL HOSPITAL, some locals seemed surprised he was interested in publishing. But didn’t he launch Crimson to begin with? Kieren JohnstonScottsdale, AZ A. You are correct… but those locals aren’t exactly wrong. The savvy businessman never got into the day-to-day running of Crimson, but the fashion mag might not exist without him. When Kate (at the time played by Megan Ward) was fired from her previous job at the fashion magazine Couture, she decided to strike out on her own and launch Crimson. She pitched the idea to Jax, who agreed to provide financial backing. And not only was he a major investor, but he also gave the magazine a home at the Metro Court Hotel — which he was partial owner of…

10. Proving he’s a chip off the old block, Nikolas’ son, Spencer, has already tampered with an election and approached Mob boss Sonny Corinthos about ordering his first hit — and the kid ain’t even old enough to drive yet! 9. Besides leading a life of crime before going straight in Port Charles, Alexis’ reformed-con-artist daughter Sam McCall stood by and watched as Elizabeth Webber’s son, Jake, was kidnapped. 8. In addition to helping brother Mikkos with his plot to make an ice pop of the world, Victor was always making hostages of people, including Jason — really Drew — after he awakened from his deep freeze. 7. Mikkos’ illegitimate daughter, Alexis Davis, might’ve been burned at the stake for her misdeeds in olden days. On her path to becoming an accidental serial…