Table of contents for March 2, 2015 in ABC Soaps In Depth

It looks like GH viewers will soon get a peek into what childhood was like for the Spencer siblings: The soap is casting three youngsters for a “very important, pivotal episode.” First up, the soap wants a teenage boy, lanky in build with light hair, to play a very complex role. (Luke — duh.) His 7-to-9-year-old sister must have red hair (like Bobbie). The role of their 18-year-old sis (Patricia) is described as demanding. Additionally, the soap is looking to bring on a wellestablished, “name” actress in her early 60s to play a “juicy” part in a short arc. The character is described as a blue-collar survivor who’s lived a rough life but whose resolute spirit has carried her through. So, unless we’ve completely lost our ability to predict plot,…

After Katie asks Brooke for an awkward favor on Monday, February 16, the blonde gets some assistance from an unlikely source while prepping for an uncomfortable day on Tuesday, February 17. Quinn finds herself perplexed on Wednesday, February 18, as to why Deacon continues to be a part of Brooke’s life. Rick begins to worry on Thursday, February 19, about what sort of reception he’ll receive from a homeward-bound Eric. On Friday, February 20, Liam is forced to choose between teaching Rick the ultimate lesson and honoring his commitment to Ivy. FRIDAY FEBRUARY 20…

It’s one thing to share a grandchild with somebody and quite another to share a romantic relationship with them. Could DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Lucas and Adrienne wind up having both? “Lucas doesn’t like wrong things — he’s a moral guy,” suggests his portrayer, Bryan R. Dattilo. “So, once he feels that Adrienne might be abandoned by her husband [Justin], he’ll see an injustice there and want to bring it to her attention.” If Adrienne handles the heartbreak in the same way that she does most of life’s disappointments, Lucas might be drawn to her more than ever. “He sees a lot of appeal in her confidence and maturity,” Dattilo of firs. “She’s a woman who really has her act together. “With Sami and all the other women in his…

When it was announced that Brandon Barash would be briefly returning to GH as Johnny, many fans hoped to see him share the screen with his wife, Kirsten Storms (Maxie). Not only did the show deliver, they actually wrote a lovely scene that incorporated elements of the wedded pair’s real life! Johnny spoke about how, while behind bars, he’d imagined being a father to a little girl, and that he’d even picked a name: Harper, after To Kill A Mockingbird author Harper Lee. As it happens, that is the name of Barash and Storms’ adorable baby girl! The show also did a great job in explaining Maxie and Johnny’s faux romance. The conversation between Maxie and Nathan felt natural, as opposed to the chunky exposition that so often drags down…

THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Kevin recognized that pain — not passion — motivated Mariah to kiss Austin, prompting him to confront her about it. “You’re trying to push me away,” insisted Kevin. “The minute anybody’s the least bit nice to you, you start putting up all these walls.” He paused and added jokingly, “You really should work on that — it’s very of f-putting.” In response, Mariah revealed the soft heart beneath her prickly exterior when Kevin asked for some of her tip money for the cancer drive he was spearheading… and she gave him everything. “I knew there was a decent person somewhere in there,” he smiled. “That’s why I like you.” Is it any wonder we’re rooting for these two wounded souls to fall in love?…

Friends And Relatives The mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship between Olivia and Lulu is delightful to watch. It’s so natural and € filled with mutual love and respect. Whether they are discussing Rocco, Dante, a former lover they have in common or a certain uh-oh that happened on New Year’s Eve, these two make me wish that I could be a part of this great family. StegSumm via soapsindepth.com Snooty Helena I am sick of Helena complaining about the wannabe Cassadines — Alexis, Sam and Danny. She has no room to talk, as she has not one drop of Cassadine blood in her. They, at least, are blood heirs to the name. Elaine Chuba via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Why They Work I love Sam and Patrick. With him, she is able…

We’ll forgive you (barely) if you didn’t recognize Brittany Underwood during her recent time warp back to the ’80s — THE GOLDBERGS’ teased-haired, stonewashed-jeans-clad Jill Rubin was a far cry from ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Langston! “I was so excited,” she says of landing the guest role with show matriarch Wendi McLendon-Covey (Bridesmaids). “I would catch myself watching her with such awe, and I’d be like, ‘Oh wait, I’m working!’” YOUTHFUL Indiscretions Back in the present day, work is not a problem for Underwood. She’s taken on a darker role in Season 3 of the teen Web soap YOUTH FUL DAZE (Sundays at 6 p.m. EST at youth-fuldaze.com). “Sheila likes to start a lot of trouble!” she says of her character with a laugh. “I hope people will see that,…

When it comes to women, DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Brady doesn’t exactly have a great track record. While taking his friendship with BFF Melanie to the next level might just be the best idea he’s had in a long time, fate (who’s name is also Hurricane Kristen!) has other ideas in mind, and you know what that means! The baby that she’s been secretly carrying (the one he actually conceived with Theresa) is poised to change everything! Is Love Enough? “Whether or not Brady would be a good dad remains to be seen. I know that he has the capacity to love, but I just don’t know if he loves himself enough right now to take on the responsibility of a child as well,” suggests the character’s portrayer, Eric Martsolf.…

Did Ava Go From Jail To An Early Grave? Desperate times called for desperate measures for Pentonville inmates Sonny, Julian, Franco and Ava. Frantic to bust out of prison, they formed an unlikely and dubious alliance. The plan: While Ava and Madeline were being escorted to a transport van, Sonny would knock out the guard, toss Madeline aside, and the foursome would hijack the vehicle. And the plan worked just fine! But as the quartet sped off, headlights approached them from behind. Julian hit the pedal… and the van crashed! Johnny and Carlos jumped out of the other vehicle, drew their guns and fired. Sonny and Julian defended themselves with weapons they’d taken from the Pentonville guards. Franco took of f to save Nina, and Ava was at Carlos’ mercy!…

The In Depth Story: Sure, they shared a kiss on New Year’s Eve… but that was before Sloane booted Anna from her job! “It definitely presents a challenge,” laughs head-writer Ron Carlivati, “to the idea that there could be anything romantic between the two of them!” And yet, with tall, dark and gorgeous Grayson McCouch playing Sloane, we can’ t help but wonder if p e r h a p s Anna’s attitude toward him might soften! “She was in a relationship with a mobster,” concedes the wordsmith, “so it isn’t impossible!” Right now, however, it seems as if a battle might be brewing! “Essentially, what we did was give him a lot of power,” says Carlivati, “and take a lot of p owe rawa y from Anna. “But as…

All the latest comings and goings! Though fans still miss Laura like crazy, and her portrayer, Genie Francis, would have been a great asset to the Fluke storyline, when asked if there were any plans for her to return to Port Charles on the horizon, the actress tells In Depth simply, “No. No plans.” However, the L.A.-based per former says she enjoyed working for executive producer Frank Valentini and headwriter Ron Carlivati when she rejoined GH temporarily for its 50th anniversar y in 2013. (As viewers recall, Luke and Laura went on a mini-adventure to rescue a kidnapped Lulu and reminisced about their complicated relationship in — of all places — Milo’s apartment!) “I had a really nice time visiting,” Francis warmly shares. “That was a fun time for me.…

A huge week begins with Hope fighting for her life on Monday, February 16! That same day, Will’s article about Paul hits the streets… and it just might have unforeseen consequences! Aiden’s confession blows Hope away on Tuesday, February 17, and she finally realizes exactly who she is dealing with on Wednesday, February 18. Following an epic confrontation on Thursday, February 19, Will’s entire world is blown to bits on Friday, February 20! FRIDAY FEBRUARY 20…

It’s a good thing GENERAL HOSPITAL had Fluke running around threatening Sonny and Julian’s sons, because otherwise, we can’t imagine why they’d want to break out of Pentonville! Sure, the décor is on the drab side, but otherwise, it’s more like a Club Med for the morally challenged than a penitentiary. Rather than sit in cells and mull over what they’ve done, folks just wander around threatening one another and making indiscreet calls on a cell phone with the world’s longest-lasting batter y. And that’s just the men! By the time Madeline and Ava were bundled into the prison van, they looked more like they were being taken to PROJECT RUNWAY’s catwalk than the courtroom!…

DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ JJ may be getting older, but he’s sure not getting any wiser. Dumping Paige after sleeping with her mother, Eve, was the right thing to do, but what made him think he could keep his love away from other guys like Cole? Worst still, get her mom to help? “I know you hate me,” he implored Eve earnestly. “But you need to watch out for your daughter.” And in an instant, JJ would learn that in his youth and inexperience, he’d been totally played. “I got you out of her life, didn’t I?” she cooed tauntingly. JJ’s heart might have been in the right place, but it was clear that this kid is not only powerless, but totally out of his depth.…

Learning Curve GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Rick Hearst (Ric) has taken what he knows best — the craft of acting — and is spreading his knowledge. “I’ve actively started to coach young actors,” says the three time Daytime Emmy winner. “I toyed with and kind of piloted a program where I live. A manager contacted me and said, ‘I know you’ve been coaching and I have some clients I’d love to send to you.’” So Hearst took him up on it! Son Of A Gun Back in 2009, the daytime role to covet was that of GH’s Dominic Pirelli, who was later to be known as Dante Falconeri. Maurice Benard (Sonny) recalls that in the parade of actors who marched through the studio gates, one stood out to him the most: Dominic…

Who knows better than GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Kimberly McCullough (ex-Robin) what went on all those years behind the scenes of the soap? Nobody, that’s who! And thus, the hysterical but gritty TV pilot called HEY DAY was born! With her famous friends from daytime cast in the roles, McCullough’s masterpiece was performed for a receptive audience, who found irony, humor and a whole lot of truth in the tale. Daytime TV Circa 1985 As a tiny tot of 7 back in 1985, Mc-Cullough had her eyes and ears wide open while playing the precocious Robin, and her creative mind took in everything she saw and heard. The now-grown-up child star, who has become a triple threat actor/writer/director, fictionalized and exaggerated her observations, blended a few characters and came up with an…

It might surprise you to discover that THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Ashlyn Pearce (Aly) has been a bride several times over. Not in real life or in daytime, per se, but in the pages of bridal magazines! “I did my first bridal shoot when I was 16,” the actress says with a laugh. “I guess I have that innocent, ‘blushing bride’ look, which is why I was always chosen for those shoots. But I loved it, because I got to wear these amazing, gorgeous dresses.” Pearce’s early modeling career proved so successful, in fact, that she landed ad campaigns for Forever 21, Starbucks and Coca-Cola. “I was on billboards and Coke cans in Russia,” she notes. “That was really fun, because I’m addicted to Coca-Cola! So it was very…

From the moment GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Carly met Jake, there was an effortless connection. But, as it turned out, he wasn’t the man either of them thought he was. Literally. Armed with evidence of his numerous crimes, she knew she had to do what was best for him: turn him over to the police! As she weighed that difficult decision, portrayer Laura Wright gave a delicately nuanced performance that earned her this week’s Gold Star. Jake? Jake Who? The more Carly learned about Jake, the more confused she became, and finding a gun and ski mask in his duffel bag didn’t help. Were they his, or did someone plant them on him? The only way to get to the heart of the matter was by having Kevin tap into Jake’s memory.…

ESCAPED FROM JAIL Sonny, Julian, Franco and Ava formed an alliance. SHOT Julian, by Johnny Ava, by Carlos Johnny, by Julian PRESUMED DEAD Ava PLANTED A BOMB Jake, on the Haunted Star Fluke, in the Spencer house basement RATTED ON Carly turned in evidence against Jake. KISSED Fluke and Helena Sonny and Carly Nina and Franco KNOCKED OUT Dante, by Fluke DISCOVERED Dante found a corpse in the chair where Luke had been bound and gagged. HELPED Franco took LSD to stay at Shadybrook with Nina. Maxie helped Johnny go on the run from the cops. The governor pardoned Sonny for saving Ivy.…

The latest comings and goings — and how they will change your shows! The In Depth Story: As Hayley Erin (ex-Abby, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) prepares to take over the role of Ava and Silas’ daughter later this month, Alderson tells Soaps In Depth, “When I first had the talk with [executive producer] Frank Valentini about the possibility of me leaving, he told me the character would have to be recast because they had already written Kiki so deep into February that there was no way around it. I completely understood. There were no hard feelings at all.” On the contrary, “I actually thought it was a good idea,” the Daytime Emmy Award winner reveals. “I think it’s exciting for the character of Kiki to have someone give a…

GH has put out a casting call for a twenty something African-American actress for a contract role. Set to begin taping in late February, the unnamed character is described as beautiful (of course), dynamic (naturally) and charismatic (and here we assumed she was going to be dull!). No word yet on whether the role is a new one or a recast. Maybe Edward’s great-granddaughter is about to return to Port Charles?…

Emma may regret it when she lets slip a bit of info on Tuesday, February 17. Wednesday, February 18, finds Helena considering telling what she knows, while Nikolas can’t help but feel guilty about what he’s keeping under wraps on Monday, Februar y 23. That same day, Spencer takes center stage during his birthday party. He even manages to steal a little alone time with Emma on Tuesday, Februar y 24. But what he doesn’t realize is that danger is lurking in the shadows! Sure enough, something awful happens to the precocious y o u n g s t e r o n Wednesday, Februar y 25! Not surprisingly, Nikolas finds himself freaking out on Thursday, Februar y 26. Will Elizabeth be able to help him keep it together? THURSDAY…

It isn’t always prudent to mix love and business, but THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Heather Tom (Katie) is thrilled to see her character reenter the corporate world by Bill’s side. “I think she thrives in the office,” she says, “and I love playing those scenes. “Bill was really the one who saw and encouraged this business side of her,” she adds, “so the fact that they’re working together now harkens back to how their relationship started in the first place.” With two very different managerial styles, Bill and Katie are sure to butt heads down the line. But they ’ recurrently presenting a united front, especially now that conflict with Rick is leading t o w arda showdown. “The Spencers are circling the wagons,” Tom agrees. “It’s classic day-time…

There’s little we enjoy more than when emotional entanglements get complicated on soaps. And that’s happening all over the place in Port Charles of late. The very presence of Johnny exposed a fracture in Dante and Lulu’s seemingly per fect marriage. Sam and Patrick finally made love even as her beloved, not-so-late husband’s memories seemed to be coming back. Elizabeth has dedicated herself to Ric but can’t keep herself from getting all googly-eyed whenever Jake is around. Alexis loves Julian but has turned to Ned, who probably should be with Olivia, who — whoopsie! — slept with Julian. It’s easy to look at this soap’s more over-that op or violent storylines (as we’ll do in just a moment…) and feel like it has forgotten about the glory days of “love…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s 7000th episode didn’t simply mark a momentous milestone in the history of the soap, it took viewers straight to the action with an outing that was fresh, funny and left us feeling as though we were a part of the celebration, too! From never-before-seen audition tapes and backstage footage to candid, documentary-style quips from the cast, the special perfectly illustrated the phenomenon B&B has become over nearly three decades on the air. By the time the all-too-quick episode wrapped, we were left wishing they’d given us an entire week of behind-the scenes fun! Maybe we’ll get that when they hit 14,000 episodes!…

Feeling more than a little bit disillusioned, disappointed and disheartened by a system that doesn’t work, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Dante may be approaching a critical fork in the road. In one direction, law, order and justice; in the other, dad Sonny’s way of life. “Really, truly, I think this guy by now would be fed up with the system,” Dante’s portrayer, Dominic Zamprogna, says candidly, “and would not be a cop anymore — for sure. “It would be kind of cool,” he adds, “to be the guy who is okay with people killing other people.” FYIFYIFYIFYIFYIFYI Middle Name: James. Birthday: April 21. Birthplace: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Food Follies: “The only thing I wouldn’t touch growing up — and to this day I still won’t eat it — is liver and onions.”…

1. Carly embezzled money from the club she co-owned with Jax to: a. finance a fertility procedure. b. repay a debt to Sonny. c. pay off a blackmailer. 2. Ewen underwent brain surgery after Kate hit him in the head with a: a. paperweight. b. marble statue. c. chair. 3. Alice was hired to protect the Quartermaine family from: a. Damian Smith. b. Joseph Sorel. c. Heather Webber. 4. When Dante Falconeri . first arrived in Port Charles, he went by the name: a. Dominic Penzotti. b. Dominic Pirelli. c. Dominic Portofini. 5. As a memento of her love, Elizabeth gave Lucky a necklace with what on it? a. a key. b. a promise ring. c. a subway token. games answers gh trivia answers 1. a, 2. a, 3. b,…

It’s not easy for soap stars to transition to other mediums, but A Martinez has been making it look that way ever since landing on L.A. LAW while still playing Cruz Castillo on SANTA BARBARA. “Nothing in my life has touched Cruz,” he says. “He was responsible for me commanding the attention of a sizeable number of people for the first time in my career.” Crossing Over To The Dark Side Also admired for his work as GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Roy DiLucca, ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Ray Montez and THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Dr. Ramon Montgomery, the Daytime Emmy winner is now finding all new fans on Netflix as LONGMIRE’s Jacob Nighthorse. “He’s a lawyer who’s building a casino,” Martinez explains. “But he’s also a political radical that secretly practices…

Q : What actor or film would you like to see win at this year’s Oscars? Anthony Geary (Luke, GH) “This year’s nominations are notable for the jarringly overlooked. I haven’t yet had a chance to see all films in the Best Picture category, but of the ones I have seen, my personal favorites come from two very different worlds: The Grand Budapest Hotel is a dark horse candidate because comedies almost never win, and The Imitation Game. There are so many fine performances represented in the actor and supporting actor categories that I would have to see them all again and again to even consider one over another.” Linda Elena Tovar (Rosalie, GH) “I am very happy that three of my favorite directors are nominated in the Best Picture…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL Stuffy offered strict parameters about what it would take for her to participate in Liam’s plan to take down Rick. Ivy had major insecurities about her beau’s involvement with his ex, but Bill encouraged Liam to do what he must to ensure success for their plan. Back from Italy, Wyatt grudgingly groveled to Rick to regain access to Forrester Creations’ inner sanctum. Brooke revealed to Donna that she intended to put Caroline firmly in her place by stealing Ridge away from her! When Caroline caught wind that Brooke was barking up Ridge’s tree, she vocally staked her claim! Rick and Maya gave Aly false hope about her shoe line. Sneak preview Eric decides it is up to him to set things right at Forrester. But…