Table of contents for October 10, 2016 in ABC Soaps In Depth

The latest comings and goings — and how they will change your shows! The In Depth Story: Saying good-bye is never easy, but Castillo certainly took her character’s death well! “I’ve never played a character this long,” she notes. “I’ve had fun developing Sabrina, but as an actor, there’s always a beginning, middle and an end. And four years was a good run!” As her contract was nearing its end, Castillo saw the writing on the wall before executive producer Frank Valentini broke the news to her back in June. “I was shocked, but wasn’t surprised,” she confesses. “My negotiations were coming up, and I’d honestly been torn about whether I wanted to stay. From the beginning, I felt like [being let go] could happen tomorrow, because Sabrina never had…

Viewers will get a glimpse of Susan Hornsby this week when Alina Patra is seen in the role. (A show rep notes that it’s a non-speaking part, which makes sense considering the character’s current state.) Paul’s eldest child was on screen as a youngster in the early ’90s, when Susan was kidnapped by the drug cartel. Off screen, an adult Susan was a victim of rape at the hands of beau Kyle Sloan, thus setting off her father’s vendetta! For the latest on Paul’s revenge scheme, turn to the In Depth Cover Story, page 24. Meanwhile, we hear that a young actress may have already clocked in to play Claudette’s little girl, Charlotte — but GH is keeping mum about when, exactly, the moppet will show up and who’s playing…

YOU WIN SOME... GH’s Alexis got to see Sam finally remarry Jason… YOU LOSE SOME... … but got so blotto she nearly passed out at the wedding! We’re beginning to wonder if somewhere along the way, Paul offed Brad and Lucas. Otherwise, we can’t imagine why they’ve been missing almost entirely since getting married. • Instead of becoming Avery’s nanny, we’d rather see Bobbie working at the hospital. With Sabrina dead, there’s definitely an opening… and if Amy were to take a position at Mercy hospital, we certainly wouldn’t weep. While her portrayer is lovely and clearly talented, the character rubbed most viewers the wrong way right from the start. • Speaking of Sabrina, how lucky is Michael that his next love interest, Nelle, was waiting in the wings even…

Back To The Future Love Kevin and Laura, Jax being back and that storyline. Love seeing Monica, Tracy and even Felicia. Also love having Robert back. Wish he’d have a scene with Felicia and Mac. Massaro via SoapsInDepth.com That “Killer” Plot Twist This concept that Paul is the killer is absurd — like trying to feed a lamp a pickle! What would be the motive, reasoning, benefit? Did the writers just put names in a hat and draw randomly? Makes no sense. Deb Valentine Dickerson via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Bride And Glory I love that JaSam got married, finally. Sam is gorgeous in her white dress, instead of a black tee and jeans. And Spinelli was a great surprise from Jason for his bride. As much as I…

Chad Duell (Michael) reveals he’s nothing like his character, aside from being an empathetic friend — and that might not be such a good thing! “I wish I’d brought a bit more of myself to Michael when I started the show,” he admits. “I find when someone stands out as an actor, it’s because they bring a little bit of who they are to the role. Every single person is unique and brings different things to the table. If you find a way to bring a bit of that to your character, you’re bringing something unique to you.” Duell learned this lesson after he started working more with daytime veteran Jane Elliot (Tracy). “She’s such a unique, interesting, cool woman,” he says. “Hanging out with her, I’ve learned there are…

Hendrickson admits that she had a little bit of nerves coming back and getting slammed with the amount of dialogue that daytime is known for. However, when she’s working with Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea) and Greg Rikaart (Kevin), she says that she feels like she never left the soap, and they immediately fall back into a familiar rhythm. “Those are the people that, when I work with them, all my nerves just sort of go away!” she shares with a smile. “I have such a connection to them on so many levels. But mostly, I respect them so much as actors. I always want to do my best for them, and they make me feel like I’m at my best. So whenever I’m in scenes with them, I always feel…

HEATWAVE Michelle Stafford (Nina) and Laura Wright (Carly) created a filter-free hot zone! Laura Wright (Carly) was thrilled to get a last-minute invite to co-host the Best Friends Tour social with Michelle Stafford (Nina). Original co-host Finola Hughes (Anna) was unable to attend for personal reasons, so Wright stepped in to help raise money for ChildHelp, a non-profit charity aiding victims of child abuse. The result was one wild Q&A session, which was only reined in when Stafford’s adorable special guest popped in. (See pics at right.) After the high-energy hosts dished love scenes, hot co-stars and more, they auctioned offpieces from Carly, Nina and Anna’s wardrobes. Stafford also gifted fans products from her Coco Luxe line, along with Scout & Jones bibs, before she and Wright joined fans at…

Much like movie star Mae West, when Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) is good, she’s very good, but when she’s bad, she’s even better! Strutting her stuff in a beaded Sue Wong dress, the funny fashionista had lots in mind to share, from juicy stories of life on the set to beauty and weight-loss secrets. So, suffice it to say, seafood wasn’t even the tastiest dish served up at her event at the Glendale, CA, eatery Crab Boil Avenue!…

As ONE LIFE TO LIVE fans might recall, it’s hard for Jessica Morris (Jen) to hide what she’s thinking. “If something’s annoying me or if I just can’t stand a situation or a person,” she says, “you can see it all over my face.” While that can be tricky in real life, it’s what keeps Morris in high demand as an actress. While in the past, Morris’ expressiveness got her cast as the victim in projects, now she’s playing a different type of role. “Lately, I’ve been the bad guy in a lot of thrillers and horror films,” she reveals. “I’ve graduated to being the villain, which is so much more fun!” Releasing on Halloween to DVD/VOD is Sorority Slaughterhouse, a campy film in which she plays a Goth girl…

Y&R executive producer/headwriter Charles Pratt Jr. has been tapped to helm the upcoming Fox series STAR. In taking over the showrunner and executive producer duties, Pratt replaces the musical drama’s former head, who departed due to creative differences with co-creators Lee Daniels (of EMPIRE and The Butler fame) and Tom Donaghy. Set in Atlanta, STAR follows three young women as they experience the ups and downs of the music industry on their group’s rise to fame. It is slated to premiere early next year. Veteran soap scribe Sally Sussman has been named Pratt’s successor as Y&R’s headwriter, marking her third stint with the CBS soap’s writing team.…

Not only will Tyler Christopher not return to GH as Nikolas after all, but Bryan Craig (Morgan) is leaving, too! In late spring, Christopher took a hiatus amidst contract renegotiations, but both sides were hopeful that a new deal could be hammered out. The Emmy winner even teased in late July that he hoped to be back at GH in September. However, contract talks apparently have since crumbled. Taking to Twitter to say farewell to GH fans, “I will miss you,” Christopher wrote. “What a run.” A show rep confirms that Christopher will not be returning, so for now, it seems as if Nikolas is really, truly dead! Meanwhile, Craig, who joined GH in spring 2013, asked to be let out of his contract, which was expiring next spring. We…

Nobody’s perfect, and Kiki acknowledges that by owning up to some of the mistakes she’s made in the past on Monday, September 26. Morgan is all set to celebrate, but his mood winds up souring on Tuesday, September 27, and he finds himself in some pretty hot water on Friday, September 30! After opening up to Franco on Monday, October 3, Kiki has an opportunity to compare notes with Nelle on Tuesday, October 4. On Wednesday, October 5, Morgan forgets that sometimes, what you think you see isn’t necessarily what you’re actually seeing! Thursday, October 6, finds Nelle offering her support, while new pal Kiki decides it’s time to come clean where her feelings are concerned on Friday, October 7! Could this mean she will soon be reuniting with Dillon?…

Eric makes a bold decision, on Monday, September 26, to go through with his plan despite his family’s protestations. On Tuesday, September 27, the rest of the Forresters realize that their plan has backfired and caused irreparable damage. Eric addresses his brood on Wednesday, September 28, letting them know how much they’ve disappointed him. Squabbles break out on Thursday, September 29, when the Forresters begin pointing fingers over who’s to blame for Eric’s current situation. On Friday, September 30, Wyatt takes an unpopular stance against his in laws, despite the personal stakes that are involved.…

preview Tensions run high this week as the residents of Port Charles wonder who could have murdered someone as sweet as poor Sabrina. And while GENERAL HOSPITAL fans know that the man behind the killing spree is none other than Paul, the secret will finally be revealed to someone on the canvas this week. When Paul makes his shocking confession to Tracy, will she find herself marked as his next victim? Read on for the chilling details of what’s coming next! Paul’s Plan Unravels! As everyone prepares for Sabrina’s funeral, Paul can’t help feeling guilty for the young woman’s death. Despite this, he remains a man on a mission… namely, to eliminate Monica! But even as he attempts to get his murderous plan back on track, it is being derailed…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Katie has all but given her blessing to a Bill and Brooke reunion, so is this finally a case of “happily ever after” for the blonde and the billionaire? Not if Brooke’s newly returned son, R.J., has any say in the matter! He’s fit to be tied about the state of his mom’s love life, and since returning to Los Angeles, he’s wasted no time in making his opinion known. This may spell disaster for Brooke, but her portrayer, Katherine Kelly Lang, couldn’t be more thrilled about the new spoiler in her alter ego’s personal life. “We’re all excited to have [R.J.’s new portrayer, Anthony Turpel on the show], ” she says. “It’s perfect casting, and I’ve really been wanting R.J. to come back for…

… or is watching Ava’s latest plot against GH’s Morgan downright difficult? For ages now, we’ve seen Morgan struggle with and eventually get a handle on his bipolar diagnosis. So for Ava to risk the young man’s well-being — and potentially put her own daughter in harm’s way at the same time — is downright cruel. Yet like many of daytime’s greatest characters, we understand Ava’s motives. She is THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Victor or THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Quinn, truly believing that even their most heinous acts are being done in the best interests of those they love. She’s misguided and impulsive and short-sighted, and we wouldn’t have her any other way.…

When viewers learned GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Dr. Griffin Munro was also a priest, those less versed in Roman Catholicism had questions about what his vows would have been and whether his affair with Claudette was a Thorn Birds-style no-no. (It was!) It turns out even portrayer Matt Cohen had to dig into his new religion. “My last name is Cohen — a Jewish name — and you’re looking at a guy who’s never opened any religious book, ever, in his whole life,” the actor confesses. “I’ve always been open to people’s opinions on religion, but I wasn’t brought up religious, so I don’t know a lot about it. So taking up the priest side of the character was difficult — just trying to learn what it is Griffin believes in and…

If you’re in trouble on GENERAL HOSPITAL, Diane’s the lawyer you want in your corner! (Sorry, Alexis.) Which of the following Port Charles locals has the legal powerhouse not represented? see page 92 for answer key gh singled out answers c. Jax (from page 46)…

FYIFYIFYI Birthday: September 10. Hometown: Renton, WA. Nothin’ But A Hound Dog: Young’s family pet is a Treeing Walker Coonhound named Hank, whom Young affectionately calls Hank The Tank. Mountain Man: Young and his family vacationed in Montana’s Glacier National Park in July. THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Jacob Young (Rick) may play a blue-blooded heartthrob from Beverly Hills, but at the end of the day, he’s a cowboy at heart. “I grew up on a ranch, in a farming community,” explains the actor, who relocated from Los Angeles to Northern Utah last year, looking for the serenity that small-town living affords. “That [country boy] side of me has always been there, but I feel like I’ve truly found myself in Utah. It’s magnificent and beautiful and quiet. It gives…

After spending most of this year on light duty at GH, Lisa LoCicero (Olivia) was a little nervous about her Saturday morning event, thinking she wouldn’t have enough dishy on-set stories to share and that attendance might be low. Instead, the actress was greeted by a full house, as well as a poem about Olivia that fan Brenda Steger had written and gifted to each guest. And this will come as no surprise to anyone who’s met the beauty, but LoCicero had plenty to say once she sat down for her Q&A session! The mother of two talked candidly about life at GH and at home with her family and also heard what fans had to say about the goings-on in Port Charles. “They are not shy about sharing what…

Having recently become certified as a yoga instructor, Lexi Ainsworth’s enthusiasm for teaching was catching! “It’s cold in here, but hopefully, I can warm you up,” Kristina’s portrayer said upon beginning the breathing exercises. And by the time she’d put everyone through their paces, the consensus was that she had indeed raised temps!…

While much of the GCFCW took place at the Embassy Suites, a crew of the soap’s fans left the hotel behind Sunday evening. What could draw them away from the hot spot? Some tasty shrimp scampi at Crab Boil Avenue! Oh, did we mention there was also a chance to chat with Bradford Anderson (Spin elli)? No? Our bad, because that was definitely the main event! After admitting he’s always glad to swing through Port Charles when circumstances allow, Anderson opened up about his family’s recent move to Sacramento, what it’s like to commute to Los Angeles and a whole host of other topics! Once he put down the mic, however, Anderson turned the table on fans. “When I’m up there, people want to hear about the entertainment industry,” he…

FYIFYIFYI Who’s That Guy? Visit www.meetfreddiesmith.com to learn more about the actor. Hairy Situation: “Anytime I’m on hiatus, I grow a beard,” Smith says. His Current Read: John C. Maxwell’s The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership. His Favorite Funnymen: “I like the Judd Apatow crew, the Adam Sandler crew, Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd,” Smith offers. “Their kind of humor gets me.” Has a miracle happened? DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Kiriakis men have agreed to stop working against each other and instead start banding together to combat the threat posed by Xander and Clyde. While any one of them seems up to the challenge of becoming Salem’s biggest badass, Freddie Smith says that it’s Sonny who intends to come out on top when it all goes down. “I think his…

Since Morgan’s bipolar symptoms first appeared on GENERAL HOSPITAL, we’ve seen Bryan Craig excel at going big — and we suspect we’ll be seeing that again. But the Emmy-winning actor earns this week’s Gold Star for recently going the other way, tamping down Morgan’s energy and then slowly releasing it after Ava swapped out his mood-stabilizing meds. Warning Signs Slumped in a chair at Perks, Morgan barely responded to Kiki’s story, but a delivery seemed to lift his spirits. He even started to smile… until he saw that the hats he’d ordered read Pecks, not Perks. Deflated, he punched the box and started verbally tearing himself down. Once he learned he wasn’t responsible for the mixup, the tension in his body eased slightly, but he remained completely unreceptive to Kiki’s…

The winner! 96% 4% What Were They Thinking? you decide! “Skirting” The Issue Of these summery looks worn by Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS; Annie, ALL MY CHILDREN), our voters preferred in a big way the floral print skirt and matching top. Lindsay Price (An Li, AMC) Risa Dorken (Amy, GENERAL HOSPITAL) Rebecca Budig (Hayden, GH; Greenlee, AMC)) Boyfriend Jeans Whether paired with booties, heels or flats, cropped “boyfriend jeans” are as classic as they are comfy!…

GH alumna Natalia Livingston (ex-Emily/Rebecca) married neuroscientist Dr. Matt Aldag on September 3 in Bedford, PA — with former co-stars Rick Hearst (Ric) and Tamara Braun (ex-Carly) among their guests. “To love and to cherish,” the newlywed captioned an Instagram snap of her and her husband. The couple, friends since they attended Georgia’s Emory University together, got engaged earlier this year and hosted a Labor Day weekend that treated guests to moonlight bonfires, s’mores, fishing, badminton, bocce ball, apple picking, wagon rides and more at nearby Blossom Hill Farm. “And they lived happily ever after,” the bride’s good friend Braun shared in an Instagram post of the wedding ceremony.…

Matt Cohen (Griffin) is headed to primetime! He’s landed a recurring roleon CRIMINAL MINDS: BEYOND BORDERS playing Ryan, the son of team leader Jack Garrett (Gary Sinise) for the CBS crime drama’s sophomore season. Inspired by his dad, Ryan is on his way to becoming a top agent for the FBI; Cohen will debut in the season premiere at midseason. The new gig reunites the actor with his former SUPERNATURAL boss, Adam Glass, who now helms CMBB. “A special thanks to GH for being so kind in working with us to make Matt part of CMBB this year,” the exec posted on Twitter. Cohen, in turn, shot do w n speculation that he’d be exiting the soap in favor of his new gig. “I’m going nowhere,” he tweeted. “GH [and…

Being sisters hasn’t done much to calm the waters between Hayden and Liz, who wind up butting heads yet again on Tuesday, September 27! Curtis and Andre also wind up in a heated exchange on Wednesday, September 28. As Laura travels back to Port Charles on Thursday, September 29, she finds herself with a bit of unexpected company! Sam makes her intentions perfectly clear on Friday, September 30, and Dante spends Wednesday, October 5, trying to be the voice of reason. Griffin finds himself glad to have Anna back in town on Thursday, October 6, promptly taking advantage of the ear she’s always happy to let him bend! Dates are subject to change.…

Chloe has a plan, but how will Nicole feel upon hearing it on Monday, September 26? And how will things play out when the ladies are joined by Deimos and Philip to get the test results on Tuesday, September 27? When Gabi and Chad run into one another on Wednesday, September 28, it’s clear that these two are quickly getting much closer! Aiden drops an explosive bit of info into Hope’s lap on Thursday, September 29. But on Friday, September 30, she has to put aside her issues and focus on rescuing her friends and neighbors from Salem’s unholy trinity!!…

The last thing that DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Chad wants is to get on with his life without his beloved Abigail. But with an infant son to raise and his own livelihood at stake, the guy’s got no choice. “He’s going to embrace the family name but [in order] to create a new legacy,” Billy Flynn (Chad) says of getting DiMera Enterprises back on track. “He’s trying to make the company legit.” Being a stand-up guy, Chad’s indeed going to try to do things on the up-and-up from here on out, but will he find out why Stefano had been unable/unwilling to do the same? “There are going to be tough decisions that he’s gonna have to make, which people can blame on him being a Di-Mera,” Flynn previews, “but…

FYIFYIFYI Hayley Erin Birthday: July 13. Invisible Ink: Most of Erin’s tattoos are hidden in plain sight. “GH has to cover one on my back, but the rest are white,” she explains. Dem Bones, Dem Bones: Erin boasts a “ridiculously huge” rib cage, adding, “You have to look the next time I’m naked on TV!” New Nest: After saving up by living with her parents, Erin is “so excited” to finally move into a house she bought this summer FYIFYIFYI Robert Palmer Watkins Birthday: June 18. Disappearing Ink: Watkins is removing a tattoo of an ex’s initials. “Until it’s gone, they stand for ‘Be kind,’” he winks. Potty Mouth: “I need to not cuss as much,” Watkins sighs after accidentally dropping a few colorful words during his interview. Triple Threat:…

Roger Howarth (Franco) doesn’t just love playing soccer — he’s one of those football fanatics who wakes up before the break of dawn to catch international league games. “When I watch the Premier League and I’m in California, I get up at 4 or 5 in the morning to watch,” reveals Howarth, who admits to tuning in for over 24 hours of soccer a week. “I have to watch it live. Too many people would text me with the results! There’s no way I can get through the whole day without finding out who won.” Howar th — who traveled inter nationally with the Puma Shoes U.S. National Soccer Team back in the day, but never played professionally — also still enjoys spending time out on the field. When it…

FYIFYIFYI Birthday: July 3. Born: New York City. Raised: Northport, Long Island Laugh Track: Hendrickson landed in primetime after leaving Y&R, with stints on NCIS: NEW ORLEANS and MAJOR CRIMES. But she’s particularly happy about her recurring role on CASUAL. “It’s just a small part, but it’s so great to work on a comedy,” she says. “I’ve always wanted to do that!” The old adage “Out of sight, out of mind” may apply to a lot of actors who decide to leave a soap or TV series. But it doesn’t apply to Elizabeth Hendrickson, who left THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS two years ago when her alter ego, Chloe, checked herself into a mental health facility in California. After all, the actress reprised her role for several electrifying episodes —…

In 1987, John J. York (Mac) starred in the thriller WEREWOLF as… well, the title kind of says it all, doesn’t it? In a 1975 episode of the sitcom HAPPY DAYS, Leslie Charleson (Monica) played the hot divorcée who needed Richie Cunningham’s help painting her fence. And no, that’s not a coy euphemism. On sudsy DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES in 2004, Ryan Carnes (Lucas) played a college hunk who resorted to blackmail rather than admit that he liked males. With DYNASTY’s Aaron Spelling as executive producer and DALLAS leading lady Victoria Principal among the cast, primetime soap TITANS should have been a hit for Ingo Rademacher (Jax) in 2000. It was not. Guest-starring on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES in 2006, Kathleen Gati (Obrecht) was taken hostage along with a grocery store full of other…

When Kathleen Gati (Obrecht) held court, she kept fans hanging on her every word. And how could they not lean in and pay close attention? Just hearing her speak without Dr. O’s thick accent was novel in and of itself… although she did lapse back into it frequently! The audience was laughing so much, they practically forgot to eat… and that’s saying something since there was a delicious seafood spread at her gathering.…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL Holding out hope that his parents might eventually reunite, R.J. was vehemently opposed to the idea of Brooke eloping with Bill. Worried the young man’s outbursts might foil their plan to seize the reins at Forrester, Thomas and Steffy considered filling him in on the scheme so that he might understand why Brooke and Bill’s marriage could benefit the whole family. Ridge led a family-wide revolt after Eric and Quinn announced their intention to wed. Desperate for the family’s approval and for Wyatt’s happiness, Quinn pleaded with Steffy to accept her and Eric’s relationship. Thorne and Felicia both returned to Los Angeles, concerned about their father’s welfare, but Eric was certain his brood would come around in time for the wedding! The bride’s “something borrowed”…