Table of contents for April 20, 2020 in ABC Soaps In Depth

After the big reveal that GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Valentin was not a Cassadine after all, it didn’t take viewers long to realize that by extension, he wasn’t actually related by blood to Alexis — and some of those fans immediately warmed to the idea of pairing him with Princess Natasha for a fling! “The soap audiences see things through those sex-colored glasses,” cracks Valentin’s portrayer, James Patrick Stuart. “That’s one of the reasons we tune into our soaps: We want to get sexed up! “And I get that,” he continues. “So I got it when some people said, ‘They’re not attached anymore… so maybe they’ll have sex!’” While he understands the reaction, however, the actor sees a whole different type of relationship brewing between Alexis and Valentin, who still share the…

GH The Great Escape With GENERAL HOSPITAL continuing to fire on all cylinders, we found ourselves more grateful than ever for our daily dose of love — and drama — in the afternoon. Soaps have long been touted as escapist television, and as COVID-19 changed just about every aspect of our lives overnight, we were comforted by our getaways to Port Charles. While the real-world crisis could easily be woven into the reel world of the show (a la the infamous Lassa-fever outbreak of 1979), we’re just as happy to focus on Alexis’ love life, the battle for baby Wiley and Elizabeth’s frozen pipes. GH THE FAMILY BUSINESS There’s been a lot to love about GH of late, but not much of it involved Brook Lynn’s ELQ fiasco. We want…

Welcome To “The Family” You might think that on a show titled GH, all roads would lead to the hospital. But it ain’t necessarily so. At least as many plots twist and tangle themselves up around the Corinthoses, the sprawling family headed by mobster Sonny Corinthos. A rarity in underworld circles, he’s considered a “good” mobster, which means as far as we can tell, he makes his money in ways that would get any of us thrown behind bars for the long haul, but he doesn’t move drugs through Port Charles, so local law enforcement usually turns a blind eye to the “coffee importer” and his activities. In the mafioso’s corner are wife Carly, a born moll with a past as checkered as a picnic blanket; son Michael, a JV…

Hot Topic: Strings-Attached Arrangement OUR TAKE It’s certainly true that this GENERAL HOSPITAL pairing came out of nowhere — after all, it started the very day that Britt returned to Port Charles! And yet, we saw it coming the moment The Britch sidled up to Julian’s bar to give him trouble. Not only did these two have instant, sizzling chemistry — our screens nearly short-circuited! — but Brad’s confidantes sort of make sense together. Parolee Britt allegedly is trying to walk the straight and narrow, something Julian attempted to do, too, recently, only to slide back into making dicey decisions. In other words, he’s been there, tried that. What we also like about this budding couple is that they’re as likely to be good influences on each other as bad…

Prior to joining GENERAL HOSPI-TAL, Matt Cohen (ex-Griffin) had close ties to another TV show, The CW’s long-running SUPERNATURAL. Since he had played both a young John Winchester and the Archangel Michael possessing John in different episodes, “my extended family is all a result of SUPER-NATURAL; I’ve traveled the world doing conventions with these people,” he says. “We’ve shared heartache, triumphs and failures. I really know them.” A Different World So when Cohen tried his hand at directing — on the short Mama Bear — some of the SUPERNATURAL cast eagerly took part. Then, “the right people got their hands on it and liked it,” he explains. As a result, he was invited to direct the Monday, April 13, episode, “Gimme Shelter,” in which Sam and Dean search for God’s…

That the mainstream media mentions most often about Roscoe Born, who died on March 3 at the age W of 69, was how good he was at playing bad guys. And certainly, he was brilliant at bringing to life villains like ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s iconic Mitch Laurence and THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ “Terrible Tom” Fisher. But what the non-soap press generally misses in its appraisal of the Daytime Emmy nominee’s work is the complexity that he brought to his roles. You could no more say that a Born character was just nefarious than you could say that his portrayer was just talented. How else to explain, for instance, why, during his run as SANTA BARBARA’s Robert Barr, as many a viewer rooted for his spoiler in the Cruz/Eden…

La Vida Blanca Adding a pop of color to these two suits was a bold move from Ricky Martin (ex-Miguel, GENERAL HOSPITAL), though readers agreed that the vibrant shirt works better than the vibrant sneakers! Simply Put Fans favored this white dress on GH’s Chloe Lanier (Nelle), which makes her look decidedly more innocent than her ever-scheming alter ego! Dresses With Boots Boots give a cool “kick” to skirts and dresses when you’re looking for something more substantial than heels. (continued)…

Jason is determined to keep everyone in his circle safe, including not only Sam and the kids but Sonny and his family, too. In order to do that, he’s having to lay down a few ground rules — even with Sam! And on Monday, April 6, Stone Cold draws a line in the sand. Despite having the best of intentions, Jason can’t help being drawn back to Sam. Sure, he knows that being together could (as outlined in the Cover Story, page 18) cause all kinds of problems, and not only where her parole officer is concerned. So on Friday, April 10, Jason finds a way to spend a bit of quality time with the woman he loves. But will they be caught?…

Jack challenges Kyle and Theo on Monday, April 6, while Jill extends an olive branch to a rival. Sharon awaits big news on Tuesday, April 7. Victoria stands her ground on Wednesday, April 8, while dad Victor is determined to seek revenge! Poor Nikki once again winds up trying to play peacemaker on Thursday, April 9, while Nick gets a bit of disturbing news. And who’ll wind up in the crosshairs when Summer sets a trap on Friday, April 10?…

There was a time when it seemed as if GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Nina and Valentin were the perfect couple. And while she may have moved on with a new man, Valentin still believes himself to be the one she belongs with! The problem is, if Nina’s not very careful, she might just prove him right… for all the wrong reasons! A Tale Of Two Ninas When viewers first met Nina, she was a completely different woman (and not simply because the part was played by a different actress!). That Nina was rash, impulsive and borderline scary. Since then, however, the character has matured in many ways. Somewhat ironically, many of the changes we now see in Nina came about because she was loved — and ultimately betrayed — by Valentin. He…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Quinn was like the cat that swallowed the canary when she claimed responsibility for outing Brooke and Bill’s stolen kiss. But will her public stunt end up backfiring on her in ways she never imagined? Her scheme may have hurt Brooke, but it could have unintended consequences vis-a-vis her own husband, Eric, who isn’t the sort of man to appreciate such malicious meddling. On the other hand, Rena Sofer (Quinn) thinks her alter ego isn’t going to feel too badly about shining a light on Bill and Brooke’s transgression. “Quinn’s feeling on the subject is, ‘I love you, Eric, but this is who I am.’ She felt like she had to do it, and she’s not ashamed of having done it!”…

… or were the recent scenes in which GH’s Maxie campaigned for a raise and promotion some of the most relatable things to air on any soap in recent days? Who amongst us hasn’t believed their work to be underappreciated? We cheered when Nina agreed with every word Maxie said, giving her former assistant full credit for practically running Crimson during its editor’s many absences. We also felt Maxie’s pain when it turned out that recognition was all she’d get, as Jax wouldn’t approve the budget bump to cover her raise. That said, surely Nina could have made cuts elsewhere in order to give Maxie what she deserved. Heck, maybe Nina could have cut her own salary (without telling Maxie) in order to make up the difference!…

Q. After they mentioned Cameron’s dad, Zander, on GENERAL HOSPITAL, my sister got excited that he might come back from the dead. But wasn’t he a drug dealer who killed a cop? Marlene Darsin Poughkeepsie, NY A. Yes… and no! Zander was indeed a drug dealer when we met him, and he would work as muscle for several Mob bosses during his time in Port Charles. He did not, however, actually kill the undercover cop found dead next to a drugged Emily after she partied at the club in which Zander worked. It turned out he’d actually stopped Mob boss Sorrel’s men from killing Emily along with Ted (the undercover cop). When the cops showed up for Zander, he panicked and kidnapped Emily at gunpoint, only making himself look guiltier.…

Jordan Plots Against Cyrus With Cyrus using T.J. to control her, Jordan finally confessed all to Curtis, Jason and Sonny. Wanting Cyrus out of Pentonville — and accessible to Sonny’s men! — the trio convinced the commish to tell internal affairs her dead DEA colleagues had fabricated the evidence that put him away. When Jordan warned Portia that Taggert’s reputation was about to take a hit, Trina was furious. Meanwhile, Curtis began to wonder if, despite Portia’s claims to the contrary, he might be Trina’s father after all. ALEXIS FALLS OFF THE WAGON Spinelli tailed Sam’s parole officer and caught Dolores canoodling with a Port Charles councilman. Unfortunately, he was then caught himself and arrested. When Sam came to get Spinelli, Dolores warned that leaking her affair would only land…

MAN ON A MISSION! GENERAL HOSPITAL’s legendary Maurice Benard (Sonny) shares his changing perspective and new goals in life. A CHANGED MAN! GH’s Michael Easton marvels at Finn’s evolution over the years. GOOD AT BAD! GH’s Jon Lindstrom (Kevin) reveals the method to his madness as Ryan. Don’t Miss The Next Issue Of ABC SOAP IN DEPTH On Sale… April 20 May 4 May 18 June 1 June 15 June 29 July 13 July 27 August 10 August 24 September 7 September 21 October 5 October 19…

With COVID-19 putting the kibosh on just about all gatherings, the Official GH Convention in Los Angeles has been bumped from late May to Friday, November 6, through Sunday, November 8. Purchased tickets will be honored, but new sales were put on hold while organizers worked with the actors to reschedule each event. Refunds can be requested via Creation Entertainment, and fans should contact their hotels and airlines directly to find out about amended policies and procedures during this health crisis. Meanwhile, the annual GH Fan Club Weekend, currently scheduled for Thursday, July 30, through Tuesday, August 3, remains in flux. Organizers announced that they’ll wait until early June to decide whether to hold, cancel or postpone the L.A.-area event based on the state of affairs at that time.…

The In Depth Story: While removing the microchip from Hope’s brain succeeded in banishing Princess Gina, Rolf might not be able to restore everyone’s former personalities. So as the week begins, John is nervously awaiting news of Marlena’s fate. Will his beloved Doc come back to him? Meanwhile, Abigail and Anna remain concerned about the mind control Stefano has over Chad and Tony, especially when he makes a last request to see his children. The Svengali has no more intention of giving up that control than he does Steve’s body. But how long can he keep an eager Kayla at bay? The doctor is every bit as determined as John was to succeed at reclaiming her lifelong love, even if it means performing surgery on him herself. But as the…

Nelle has no intention of abandoning her plans to raise Wiley, which means that on Monday, April 6, Michael has to very carefully consider what move to make next. Nina tries to talk a bit of sense into Nelle on Tuesday, April 7, but that’s never really proven a successful tactic in the past! Meanwhile, Nina’s jailed Aunt Liesl receives a visitor on Wednesday, April 8. Will they bring news of the outside world or perhaps offer Obrecht a way to rejoin it? Back in Port Charles, what is it that actually intimidates Michael on Thursday, April 9? And is Willow right to spend Friday, April 10, worrying about Wiley?…

1 The lockdown. Thanks to COVID-19, viewers could relate to how stir-crazy Josslyn felt being trapped at Sonny’s place. 2 The nod. When Portia told Trina to “breathe in… and out,” who didn’t hear the theme song of portrayer Brook Kerr’s former show, PASSIONS? 3 Spinelli’s return. Here’s hoping he (and portrayer Bradford Anderson) stick around for a long time. 4 The description. Diane’s suggestion that Michael find a wife who’s “Snow White and Mary Poppins, all rolled into one” described Willow perfectly. 5 The shout-out. Even ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Clint Buchanan chimed in on Brook Lynn’s ELQ blunder. Crimson’s staff. Was Maxie the only person working there? How else to explain the place falling apart in her absence!…

Well, the truce between THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Adam and Victor lasted about a nanosecond. Now that Adam is armed with the knowledge that The Mustache once killed a man while he was in Kansas, will we soon see Victor taking another trip to prison? Mark Grossman, who plays the schemer, says that Adam using the information that his dad has blood on his hands is complicated, especially in light of his own history in Vegas. “I’ve been in a similar situation, where I killed someone, but it was for a righteous reason or it was justified,” says the actor, speaking in character. “Adam really has mixed emotions about this. “Then again, information is always power to Adam,” he adds with a grin, “and it’s always good to have…

In Depth asked… Do you think Lucas should forgive Brad or dump him? This issue’s question… Should Josslyn go with dad Jax to Australia until the danger passes? Reader Reaction: 84% DUMP HIM! 16% FORGIVE! TOP 5 GH COUPLES TOP 5 ACTORS (as voted by Soaps In Depth readers) TOP 10 COUPLES (as voted by Soaps In Depth readers) TOP 5 ACTRESSES (as voted by Soaps In Depth readers) TALK BACK TO SOAPS IN DEPTH: On-line: abc.soapsindepth.com Write: Readers’ Poll #16 c/o Soaps In Depth, 270 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632…

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Christian Jules LeBlanc (Michael) has been creating intricate pencil drawings in children’s art for decades, even developing his own specialized technique. But recently, the Emmy winner made the leap into the rarified world of fine art with his exhibition, Wet, at the Kevin Gillentine Gallery in New Orleans. “Alex Beard, who is a children’s artist, fine artist and sells books, and Kevin [Gillentine] were at my birthday party. I was just showing some of my pieces on my phone, but they were like, ‘Wait a minute, these are amazing. You need to do something.’ That’s how it started!” LeBlanc marvels. “I’ve shown my art before, but I’ve never purposely prepared for a show, especially not at this level, which is fine art.” Indeed, working in…

As the real-life girlfriend of GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Chad Duell (Michael), Hope spends almost as much time with members of the ABC soap’s cast as she does with her own co-stars. “When I met Laura Wright (Carly), I was in awe of her — and Maurice Benard (Sonny), too. Chad and I tend to hang out a lot with his castmates, Josh [Swickard, Chase], Katelyn [MacMullen, Willow], Sofia [Mattsson, Sasha] and Chloe [Lanier, Nelle].” Recently, Swickard and his wife came to Hope and Duell’s house and were joined by B&B’s Matthew Atkinson (Thomas)! “We’re all in that world,” says Hope, “so it’s just so funny having a glass of wine with them and sitting around talking soaps!” Hope says her B&B family is just as welcoming to Chad at social events.…

We’ve always known Michael was a mama’s boy… but we were as surprised as Carly was to realize he’d found a woman after her own heart in Sasha! Until now, Sasha’s been a pawn in other people’s games and, thus, a bit of a blank slate. We’d seen hints of her power in the way she held her own with Valentin and Obrecht, not to mention her new partner, Lucy. But the new threat presented by Nelle has revealed just how far Sasha will go to protect those she loves. She may not be half as pushy as Carly… but she was clearly ready to take control of this situation and start playing it her way! With Michael and Carly at logger-heads over how to handle Nelle, Sasha interrupted them…