Table of contents for December 5, 2016 in ABC Soaps In Depth

Proving that it is never too late to find love again, ALL MY CHILDREN vet Jennifer Bassey (Marian) is engaged to LAW & ORDER alum George Bamford! The widowed actors met several years ago when a mutual friend suggested that Bamford, who was struggling following the passing of his wife of 50 years, call Bassey. The actress had been so inspired by a grief recovery course she took following the 2008 death of her husband that she became trained to help others deal with their own pain. “I never dreamed when I met George it would turn into this — that we would [develop] feelings for one another,” she told People.com. “I thought I had 30 great years with someone else, and maybe I won’t meet anybody again, and that’s…

T h e GH cast and crew have been on a twoweek hiatus, but Chloe Lanier (Nelle) hasn’t exactly been taking it easy. “I’m doing an indie film called Gorman on my break,” she tells In Depth. “It’s a drama about this girl who goes into the woods with a plan and thinks she’s going to be alone, but her cabin has been double-booked. The film actually has only two people in it. I’m excited.” The actress, who’d been working five-day weeks of intense story at GH before the break, jumped straight from Nelle’s special brand of crazy into her new project. “I wrapped GH on November 9 and started shooting [Gorman] on the 11th,” she says. “But you know what? That’s all I want to do! “A…

On Monday, November 21, Adrienne and Lucas’ wedding day comes to a grinding halt! It turns out that she has a bit of a dilemma on her hands! Fortunately, on Tuesday, November 22, Sonny is there to offer his mom comfort and talk her through the situation! That same day, JJ decides to spill the beans about a secret he’s been keeping under wraps! And on Wednesday, November 23, Paul and Steve launch an investigation! (The show will be pre-empted on Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25.)…

… or did watching Lulu mourn her lost embryo leave you wondering why she ever wanted it in the first place? We get that it’s her last viable embryo, if only because she and Dante have reminded us of that fact repeatedly for over a year. But we’d think that knowing Helena had tried to pay someone to carry Stavros’ child would have been enough to curb the Falconeris’ interests in the kid. We’d love nothing more than for Dante and his wife to consider adoption or, heck, just decide to be happy with the kid they have. But given this show’s love of baby-related storylines — especially where this couple is concerned — we’re 99.9 percent sure we haven’t heard the last of that missing embryo.…

Oh, The Romance! Loving the love in the afternoon! Finn and Hayden make me laugh, and that kiss — so steamy! Liz and Franco are so sweet. Our gorgeous Laura finally has a mature, handsome man in Kevin. Dillon and Kiki have so much promise. Still needed: A perfect man for Tracy — Dr. Je€ Webber? — and a fix for Julian and Alexis. Holly Anderson via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Alexis Who? It seems very much out of character for Alexis to be hitting the bottle. She’s always been a strong woman. It would seem to me she’d find other ways to deal with what life has meted out to her. Alexis has never been self-destructive. She’s intelligent, creative, crafty and a Cassadine, after all! Michael Skudar via…

While Kristina has been exploring her sexuality, portrayer Lexi Ainsworth is no stranger to Los Angeles’ LBGT scene — thanks in part to her gay best friend, Zach. “One of the first clubs I ever went to was an 18-and-over gay club, Tiger Heat at Avalon,” says Ainsworth. “It’s always a good time!” A recent visit, however, ended on a particularly high note. “Ingenue, a drag queen hosting the event, was closing it down at around 2 a.m.,” she recounts. “She gets up on stage and is addressing everyone, thanking us for coming out… and says, ‘Oh! I see Kristina!’ What? She pulls me up on stage in a club full of the LBGT community and says, ‘GH is an amazing show and I love the storyline. Kristina is a…

Billy and Victoria: The Abbotts couldn’t picture themselves leading separate lives… that is, until they called it quits. She eventually found a strong shoulder to lean on in Travis, which has since turned into love. Billy has had less success romantically, lately falling for sister-in-law Phyllis! Lauren and Paul: The then-P.I. really loved the mischievous redhead that he married. She was just too much for him. After the couple divorced, Paul soon discovered that he was really meant for fellow straight arrow Christine, and Lauren became the better half of Michael. Nick and Sharon: After coupling up as teenagers, the Newmans weathered some huge storms. But the blonde stunner switching Summer’s paternity test was the last straw for her occasionally unfaithful hubby. Sharon moved on with Dylan, while Nick recaptured…

In recent years, Clifton has made it an annual tradition to join his mom, Dr. Faye Snyder, as a guest lecturer for her non-pro t, The PaRC Foundation, which offers parenting and relationship counseling. Earlier this month, he led a presentation on improving one’s debate, argument and reasoning skills, as well as offering tips for countering irrational logic. “I have no formal philosophical education, but I’ve picked up things along the way just because of how much I engage in discourse,” says Clifton, whose mastery of civil debate is very much in evidence on his Twitter feed. “I debate and I debate and I debate, and I sometimes get my butt kicked, and that forces me to read up and learn and rethink my decision. I’ve been doing it since…

FYI Her Other Role: Evans also stars as socialite Sara Garrett on THE BAY. Season 2 of the soap is coming soon to Amazon Prime. The Closet She Covets: “Kate’s! Lauren Kos low knows how to put it all together,” Evans observes. “I wish I had that knack.” Wedded Bliss: The actress and her husband, Dr. Michael Schwartz, have been married since 1985. In the three decades since she began playing DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Kayla, Mary Beth Evans has seen the character experience both heartache and joy. However, in the past year, it’s been a lot more like drama, trauma and outright terror! Tired of keeping her beloved Steve at arm’s length, Kayla has finally decided to exercise her woman’s prerogative, change her mind and give their relationship another…

GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Alexis is a woman used to being in control, which is what makes her battle with alcohol so fascinating to watch — well, that and portrayer Nancy Lee Grahn’s performance! The powerhouse made off with this week’s Gold Star by letting the audience feel her character’s deep struggle… and then playing drunk so brilliantly that it left us feeling hungover! Not Quite Home Alone Waiting to hear about Sam’s condition at Mercy was slow torture for Alexis, but it was nothing compared to what awaited her at home. Closing her front door, she leaned back, let out a sigh and threw down her stuff. She seemed exhausted and relieved to be home. But then she stared at that box of wine so fiercely, we couldn’t help wondering if…

The In Depth Story: When Quinn learned that Katie had paid a few unannounced visits to Eric, jealousy reared its ugly head — and so, too, did a hint of Quinn’s former self when she put her foot down to ensure that Katie didn’t make a habit of dropping by the Forrester estate! But when the ladies clash again this week, will the viewers who have championed Quinn as a “changed woman” in recent months continue to view Katie as the instigator? “I never expected the audience to root for Quinn,” admits her portrayer, Rena Sofer. “I really love the fact that people believe she’s changed, because I believe that, too.” By the same token, Sofer knows that when her alter ego is on the defensive, Quinn often…

The latest comings and goings — and how they will change your shows! “I think about Brenda all the time... As long as Brenda is never recast, I will visit GH until I’m 100 years old!” The In Depth Story: Rademacher wraps up his second visit this year when Jax exits Port Charles on Monday, November 28. But we already want him back! Luckily, the fan favorite has told Soaps In Depth that “ I’m always willing to come back” — especially if it’s to help ex-ecutive producer Frank Valentini continue “to incorporate more of the history of the show” into current storylines. “Even if it’s just on a recurring basis here and there to keep the canvas colorful and to reward the longtime fans with old…

GENERAL HOSPITAL will repeat the Thanksgiving Day episode from 2014 — in which Sonny and Carly share a special moment, and Duke asks Anna to forgive him — on Thursday, November 24. The soap will be pre-empted on Friday, November 25. Curtis and Jason continue to work together on Monday, November 21, and find themselves looking at something they can’t quite comprehend! Meanwhile, as Ava continues to fret about the secret she desperately needs to keep under wraps, Scott does her a solid on Tuesday, November 22. Grief brings together two people you might not expect when Laura and Sonny share a bonding moment on Wednesday, November 23. Continuing to pull the strings from behind the scenes on Monday, November 28, Nelle has Sonny exactly where she wants him on…

Brooke can hardly believe her ears on Monday, November 21, when Ridge asks her a life-altering question at a location that’s sacred to them both. Struggling with her feelings for Zende, Nicole is taken by surprise when he, too, makes a significant romantic gesture on Tuesday, November 22. On Wednesday, November 23, Pam, Charlie, Katie and Brooke endure chaos in the kitchen while preparing a huge Thanksgiving feast as the Forresters, Logans and Spencers all attempt to set aside their differences for one day to celebrate the holiday. (The show will be pre-empted on Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25.)…

Fasten your seatbelts, GENERAL HOSPITAL fans, because things are about to get crazy. As November sweeps come to a close, Alexis will go from hosting Thanksgiving dinner to making a most shocking move! Is she finally about to hit rock bottom, or might salvation come from the unlikeliest of places? Secrets And Lies! Another night of drinking leaves Alexis in a bad place… in more ways than one! “Nothing good can come out of waking up in a seedy motel room on a guaranteed bug-infested bed in your undies,” sighs her por trayer, Nancy Lee Grahn. After assessing the damage — both literal and figurative — done the night before, Alexis reconnects with her drinking partner, Jax. “She doesn’t remember much about the night before,” admits Grahn, “but she manages…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Nicole found beau Zende in bed with her sister before she could tell him that she’d reconsidered being a surrogate for Rick and Maya again. Will her resulting heartbreak prove to be Sasha’s big break? Nicole is too pragmatic — and has too much pride — to simply forgive and forget, says her portrayer, Reign Edwards. “For Nicole, it’s just a matter of looking at the reality,” says the actress. “Zende slept with Sasha in the past, so there’s obviously some attraction. It’s not something she can be in denial about. She’s not stupid!” Ironically, the sisters had tentatively begun to mend fences earlier this year, but this latest turn of events has overturned their precariously balanced apple car t, so to speak.…

Anyone who watches GENERAL HOSPITAL knows Kathleen Gati (Obrecht) has got chops… and she has the awards to prove it! After a 1989 stint as ALL MY CHILDREN’s Taffy, the Canadian-born actress followed her dreams to Hollywood… only to go on a movie shoot that changed everything. “I went to Hungary for two months and stayed for six years,” she recounts. “I started getting roles and awards — winning one Hungarian Oscar after another, being the lead in one film or TV series after another. It was, artistically, the high point of my career.” It also connected Gati with her roots. “My parents left Hungary after the revolution of ’56,” she says of her symphony conductor father and opera singer mother, “and I continued where they left off. The whole…

1. The Port Charles diva who broke her tailbone on a stripper pole was: a. Carly. b. Olivia. c. Bobbie. 2. Maxie babysat young Lulu because she was trying to: a. make money. b. land Lucky. c. become more popular. 3. Kristina’s abusive ex was: a. Kiefer. b. Ethan. c. Trey. 4. Sexy powerhouse Lucy used to be a: a. naughty nurse. b. loose lab tech. c. mousy librarian. 5. Volonino’s boxing gym was . rst discovered by: a. Sonny. b. Dante. c. Spinelli. ANSWERS: 1. b, 2. b, 3. a, 4. c, 5. c…

It’s one thing to bring an Emmy home and find just the right spot to showcase it, but what does one do with three? For Evans, who was indeed recognized with a trio of trophies this year, such was the conundrum. “I walked one around the house, and it was not fitting in any of my shelves,” she recalls. “My house is so old that the shelves are all locked in place.” Knowing that she’d have to set her golden girls somewhere, Evans left them on her entry room table. “My housekeeper came, and she moved them all to a side table with a lamp, like next to the couch,” she laughs, adding, “and that’s where they’ve all sat since!” Given the eclectic nature of her décor, the actress says…

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL The Forrester fashion show proved a triumph for Quinn despite Ridge and Steffy’s efforts to sabotage the event. Returning home, Quinn was miffed to discover that Katie had been keeping Eric company in her absence! Looking to start her new life, Katie purchased the mansion next door to Eric and Quinn, which did not sit well with the new Mrs. Forrester! Bill told Brooke he still wanted to marry her, and she suggested he first spend some quality “bonding time” with R.J. The young man spent the day shadowing the publishing magnate, which proved awkward, to say the least! Ridge continued making inroads with Brooke by taking her to Stephanie’s grave, a location that had tremendous significance to them both. Zende tried to patch things…

During the month of December, GH will participate in Disney/ABC Television Group’s corporate-wide Share The Joy campaign with Toys For Tots. The charity will be integrated into storylines on the soap as characters will mention Toys For Tots and donate toys for needy children in Port Charles. And as they’ve done in years past, the GH cast and crew will make real-life contributions and invite members of the United States Marine Corps Reserves — organizers of the charity — to the soap’s set to receive their Toys For Tots donations.…

The 44th Annual Daytime Emmy contest has begun! The 2017 awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, April 30, and for this year’s race, the National Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences has implemented some adjustments. Most notably, while musical performances had previously been limited to talk shows and morning programs, the category will now encompass any daytime program, which means that the musical acts from GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Nurses Ball are eligible. And the digital drama performer categories have been split to now include Lead Actor and Actress, as well as Outstanding Supporting Or Guest Actor and Actress. The pre-nominations will be announced on Wednesday, January 25, and the final nominees on Wednesday, March 22.…

Benard’s newest character has a badge! Despite his rather intense GH storyline in the aftermath of Morgan’s death, Maurice Benard (Sonny) ha s jumped into a new role on his days off! Earlier this month, Benard shared on social media a series of photos from the set of a new, unnamed project, where he’s playing a character who is an officer of the law! “Hi, my name is Detective Alvarez,” he captioned an Instagram shot. “Can I see your driver’s license, please?” While Benard didn’t share details about the new gig, he is playing a cop in the pilot SOUTH SIDE: THE SERIES, but there was no indication from the actor that that was the project he’s working on. Centered around the 1980s crack craze in Southside Jamaica,…

Finn finally receives Hayden’s test results on Monday, November 21, and we’re going to guess they don’t read “Everything is awesome!” Why? Because he spends Tuesday, November 29, racing to find a cure, and as a general rule, one doesn’t try to cure awesome! • Dante and Lulu show up with a surprise for Maxie on Wednesday, November  23. • When Jordan and Andre butt heads on Monday, November 28, will it mean the end for their relationship? • Valentin knows that when it comes to a woman like Nina, flowers and candy aren’t the way to her heart. That’s why he uses Charlotte to score points with the magazine editor on Wednesday, November 30. As you’d imagine, on Thursday, December 1, Nathan and Maxie find themselves worrying about the…

Does Chelsea have feelings for Nick? That’s what Sharon wants to know on Monday, November 21! That same day, Devon finds himself in the middle of an ethical quagmire. How will he get out of it? Billy extends an olive branch on Tuesday, November 22, while Hilary is across town proving that a leopard can’t change their spots! And on Wednesday, November 23, friends and family come together to celebrate Thanksgiving. But can they really put aside their differences? (The show will be pre-empted on Thursday, November 24, with reruns or football airing on Friday, November 25, depending on the time zone in question.)…

Perhaps the last thing GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Sonny and Carly need — yet another obstacle to them finding their way back together — is exactly what they get this week. In fact, the fates seem to be doubling down on their efforts to keep the couple apart, because both Jax and Nelle turn into human roadblocks! Does Jax Want Carly Back? On the plus side, Sonny is on firmer footing than he’s been on for a while. “If it turns out to be true that someone else set this car bombing in motion,” says headwriter Shelly Altman, “he might be free to try to recover some of what he’s lost. Not that he’ll ever get over the death of his son.” But could he really get Carly back? “They are at…

There is no question that THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Sharon has become the town pariah now that the secret regarding Sully’s paternity is out. But if fans thought she’d crumble into a puddle of tears, they oughta think again. In fact, the blonde stunner has launched her own attack via GC BUZZ, saying that while she was wrong to keep the secret, she is as much a victim as Nick, and shouldn’t be penalized by having all her ties to “her” little boy severed! “Sharon has tried to get people to understand,” says portrayer Sharon Case. “It’s very frustrating for her that no one sees her side at all. She feels like the world is against her… and she finally has enough and says, ‘Screw all of you!…

there’s nothing GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Ryan Paevey (Nathan) loves more than hopping on his motorcycle and leaving Hollywood in the dust. “When I was a kid, I was a beach bum with salt in my eyebrows, but these days, it’s the mountains that call me,” shares the California native. “I often end up in the middle of nowhere — it takes some doing to get to some of these places! I’m hardcore about them. I’m not fancy. I sleep in the dirt and sometimes travel to sketchy places.” That’s why he usually rolls solo. “When I bring people with me, I feel responsible for their safety and enjoyment — and they usually complain!” No matter how rough Paevey takes it, however, the self-taught photographer is never far from reconnecting with his…

As a partner in Los Angeles’ Trinity Boxing Club gym, Matt Cohen (Griffin) is clearly a man who looks after his physique. But even those in the best physical shape have to surrender to age. “I played football in school and wish I could be on a team today, but I’m a 30-yearold guy — t h e y d o n ’ t have tackle leagues for us!” he laughs. “But I do get invited to flag football tour nament s and things like that.” Cohen also has his wife, actress Mandy Musgrave, to help keep him in form. “She throws a hell of a spiral, so we go to the park and she shows me up every now and then,” he says. “She’s a total jock — a…

Birthplace: Pound Ridge, NY. Anatomy Of A Supercouple: Egan credi t s both the storyline and her friendship with her leading man for the popularity of Chelsea and Adam’s love story. “Justin and I are great friends, so it was very easy and comfortable for us to work together. And then the storytelling was wonderful, with the whole Gabe thing. We just got lucky because it was a great story to tell, and we had a lot of chemistry and a lot of laughs!” THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Melissa Claire Egan is somewhat of an expert in dealing with love and loss in daytime. After all, when she played Annie on ALL MY CHILDREN, she had to deal with a crazy ex-hubby, an even crazier brother, failed love affairs…

FYI Born: October 31 in L.A. “Spy” Short: Clifton plays a Jason Bourne-type in a short called The Bourne Again Identity that spoofs concepts of theology on his blog at scottclifton.com. Driver’s Ed: The actor required a crash course on driving a stick shift for scenes in Puglia, Italy, where Liam got to drive a Ferrari through town! It was the moment Liam and Steffy fans have spent almost a year waiting for on THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL — seeing the gorgeous, starcrossed lovers finally reunited, with all the triumphant “feels” that go along with it. But Liam’s portrayer, Scott Clifton, has a bit of advice for all those viewers who are basking in the glow of the couple’s current happiness: Enjoy it while you can! “The episodes I’ve…

Susan Lucci was not ready for the passing of Agnes Nixon, who created not only her iconic character of Erica Kane but ALL MY CHILDREN itself. “We were in touch often… I was thinking we would have dinner in the very near future,” the actress sighs. “I did not expect to get the call from [her son] Bob.” One Of A Kind Hired at the tender age of 21 by the daytime legend, Lucci, herself soap royalty, considers Nixon an inspiration. “Her storytelling held a mirror up to our culture,” she says. “She fought to tell a fully integrated cast storyline on ONE LIFE TO LIVE [which she also created]. She fought to tell [AMC’s] AIDS storyline, Bianca’s coming-out storyline, the abortion storyline… Agnes had tremendous impact on all of…

Q: Which famous villain or villainess from film, TV or literature would you love to take a crack at playing? Chloe Lanier (Nelle, GH) “Angelina Jolie’s character in Girl, Interrupted. Psychologically damaged characters like that are the most fun to play, because there are so many layers, so many complexities and so much going on in their history.” Eric Martsolf (Brady, DAYS) “Tony Montana from Scarface, because I look so Cuban, you know? I’m perfect for the role, you know my German-Swedish self.” Joshua Morrow (Nick, Y&R) “I would have loved to take a crack at the Vampire Lestat. I’ve always been a fan of vampires, and I would have loved playing one!” Christian Jules LeBlanc (Michael, Y&R) “There are so many great ones! I’ve always wanted to sit there,…