Table of contents for 6/5/2017 in ABC Soaps In Depth

The In Depth Story: Fans were blindsided by the news that the popular performer’s contract was reportedly not renewed. According to TVLine, the Emmy winner will wrap taping in June and last air later this summer. “Fourteen years ago, I booked a two-week long gig on Y&R,” Rikaar t wrote in a farewell post on Instagram. “In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined what it would turn into: a careerdefining experience that has brought me so much happiness and fulfillment. Playing Kevin and watching him evolve over the years has mirrored my real life in so many ways. We both found love, both became dads and we both have more gray hair now than we did in 2003. I have such love and fondness for the cast and…

When Maxie went on an extended trip to Portland in February, her por trayer, Kirsten Storms, went radio silent on social media. But when the fan favorite returned to Twitter a few weeks ago, she seemed to be preparing for an even bigger return! After posting about doing her spring cleaning, the actress hit the hairdresser to get her trademark blonde ’do cropped and lightened. Sounds to us like she might have been getting ready to clock back in at GH! The actress’ time off from GH was initially pr oj e c t ed to be a three-month break for per sonal r easons , which would place her return to the canvas sometime this month. Whi le the soap is remaining mum about exactly when she’ll be back…

When Ciara finds out on Monday, May 22, about the lie that Theo and Wyatt told, she’s horrified by their actions. With his health failing, Brady says a tearful farewell to two of the most important people in his life on Tuesday, May 23. Kayla shares a bit of information with Joey that may impact how he feels about Jade on Thursday, May 25. And on Friday, May 26, Ciara decides it is time to say farewell to Salem. Will she really leave for good?…

A Thrill-ing Reunion ▪ When Michael Easton isn’t clocked in as GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Finn, he’s probably doing one of three things. “Chasing little ones around,” he says of kids Lilah, 6, and Jack, 3, “working on something with Trevor St. John (Todd/Victor, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) or drinking beer with Trevor and talking about working on something.” The collaborators’ first short films — festival darlings Ultraviolet and Dreamliner — were written and directed by Easton and starred only St. John. Their most recent dramatic thriller, First Strike Butcher Knife, however, features a few more familiar faces. “I did a little movie with some of the riffraff I used to work with at OLTL — Trevor, Kamar de los Reyes (Antonio), Dan Gauthier (Kevin) and Sherri Saum (Keri),” reveals Easton. “It’s…

Portrayer: Patrick Dorn “Oops” Moment: Thomas took “underage drinking” to the extreme when he downed a bottle of vodka as a kid. Portrayer: Drew Tyler Bell “Oops” Moment: Mad at Rick (then Kyle Lowder) for romancing his mom and sisters, Thomas torched his house and blew up his car. Portrayer: Adam Gregory “Oops” Moment: Agreed, at his grandma’s urging, to claim he and Brooke had sex while under the in. uence of psychotropic berries! Portrayer: Pierson Fodé “Oops” Moment: Had sex with his dad’s lady love, not realizing her faculties were compromised by booze and drugs!…

Q: Which of your co-stars provides the most entertainment in the hair and makeup room? Donnell Turner (Curtis, GH) “I’m not in there as long as everyone else. I just go in for a quick hit and I’m out. So there’s no entertainment. But across the board, Michelle Stafford (Nina) is entertainment, wherever you happen to be. You can be in the library with her and it would be entertaining.” Laura Wright (Carly, GH) “Chad Duell (Michael) gets me laughing. He usually talks about his dog or his house or something going on. He’ll put wigs on and be goofy. He’s just so funny. Maurice Benard (Sonny) is also pretty funny with his Snapchat.” Jacob Young (Rick, B&B) “I’ve got to say Darin [Brooks, Wyatt], for sure, and Lawrence [Saint-Victor,…

The In Depth Story: After drugging Sonny and pretending to sleep with him, Nelle got so close to the Corinthos clan that she tried to call off her scheme. “They set it up perfectly,” raves Laura Wright (Carly). “Nelle cared deeply for the family and was falling in love with Michael. And Carly honestly cared for Nelle. She had another daughter — someone she trusted, counted on and was happy to have in the family if Michael wanted to date her. Nelle was part of a real, decent family — probably for the first time in her life.” Since blowing that family apart, however, Nelle’s become persona non grata. “This is not just about hate,” Wright maintains. “Underneath that, there’s pain. These women were conned by the same man —…

Good news and better news for fans of GH’s Donnell Turner (Curtis): The hunk has landed a role on O W N ’ s T H E HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS — but he’s not leaving GH! “I’m bicoastal, shooting [HAHN] in Atlanta,” reveals the actor, who’s thrilled to join Tyler Perry’s primetime soap. “I’ve been working with Tyler since 2009. He liked my Coors Light commercial, so every TV show and a couple of his Madea movies, he’s had me audition for the lead” role Unfortunately, things never worked out… until now, that is. “It felt good to have him tell me, ‘We finally found the place we want you… and if this doesn’t work out because of your schedule, we will find a better part or get…

Anybody else think that sometimes, Ava is her own worst enemy? While she has the best of intentions on Monday, May 22, we’re willing to bet that she’ll ignore the very good advice she’s offered on Tuesday, May 23! Ava proves on Friday, May 26, that she really can’t get out of her own way. Will the secret she’s worked so hard to keep under wraps finally come out? And does all this have something to do with why Kiki is feeling so darn conflicted on Thursday, June 1? When she goes looking for answers on Friday, June 2, will she get them? And if so, will she wind up regretting having ever asked questions in the first place?…

Nicole is devastated when, on Monday, May 22, she discovers that her one chance at achieving a lifelong goal has already been used. While in Paris for a photo shoot on Tuesday, May 23, Maya receives news that puts her plans for the future on hold. Sally feels an overwhelming sense of guilt when, on Wednesday, May 24, she discovers just how much Thomas has lost because of her. Steffy attempts to mend the rift between her brother and father on Thursday, May 25, and Saul tries to convince Sally that they’d make a great team on Friday, May 26.…

julian may be the one who’ s r eturned from the dead on GENERAL HOSPITAL, b u t i n ma n y ways, Nancy Lee Grahn feels like it’s Alexis who’s been resurrected. “Headwriters Shelly Altman and Jean Passanante put the defibrillator on her and woke her up,” the actress raves. “She’s not just a prop or some smart attorney that handles ever yone’s crap anymore. She’s dimensionalized, interesting, flawed, smart — all those things. This team is digging deep with her, and that suits me fine. FYIFYIFY Carry Om: Grahn restarted her meditation practice in part, she admits, “because of Donald Trump and the GOP.” Life Sentence: This actress has no intention of retiring. “I actually like what I do!” she says. Humble Beginnings: In her . rst…

Now, unscramble the circled letters to reveal the birth name of the PCPD’s hunky Dudley Do-Right who changed his moniker so he could investigate his sister’s case. see page 96 for answer key gh scramble answers (from page 46) Devane, Jordan, Benson, Spencer, Maddox; James Reeves.…

… or is GH working awfully hard to make Amy unlikable? Risa Dorkin is adorable, yet from the start, her character has been written as shrill, gossipy and annoying. As the DARK SHADOWS Every Day blog always says, new soap characters need to “make a friend, make a joke and make a plot point happen.”.Given that Amy lives with Kristina, she has a friend, but we never see them together. The only “jokes” she’s made have involved her being mean to characters we like, and she’s not yet come within spitting distance of an actual plot. Give us a reason to like her, stat!…

Nicole may only have just (finally!) become a mother, but the blonde bombshell started that life phase late in the game. With numerous careers and nearly as many marriages under her belt — and don’t get us started on her laundry list of crimes! — she’s already been through enough drama to fill a lifetime. In fact, you might even say that she’s experienced just about everything from A to Z! A Accessory: Nicole kept vixen Vivian locked in a sarcophagus after Brady had buried her alive. B Bribery: Nicole paid o. Dr. Baker to keep him from revealing her miscarriage to EJ. C Chloe: Nicole wanted nothing more in life than to have offspring of her own but didn’t succeed until this best friend secretly became a surrogate and…

Victoria blamed Victor for her losing Billy to Phyllis, but hoped that Brash & Sassy’s business trip to Los Angeles would give her an opportunity to get him back! Ashley blasted Phyllis for reuniting with Billy. Ash gleefully told Phyllis that she hoped the L.A. trip would reunite Victoria and Billy. After sharing a kiss with Scott, Sharon warned him that she was not officially divorced yet. Undeterred, Scott told her that he wanted to get to know her as a person — not just jump into bed. When Chelsea asked Victor for help in tracking down Chloe, he gave her false information! Sneak Preview Is everything really as it seems where Nikki’s new houseguest is concerned?…

When she’s not working at GH, Eden McCoy (Josslyn) spends a lot of time at the beach — but she’s not there to work on her tan! The 13-year-old is a competitive beach volleyball player, and a recent win on the sand nabbed her entry into two major events! “I got my bid to the Junior Olympics and for Best Of The Beach, a super-prestigious tournament I’ve never done before,” she reveals. “That is super exciting! And it’s a lot more pressure. The Junior Olympics is hundreds of teams, compared to the tournaments to get you there, which have less than 30. It’s tough competition.” Best of luck to McCoy as she competes in the Junior Olympics this summer in Santa Monica!…

The In Depth Story: Morgan’s future went up in smoke when he got into Julian’s car last fall. But with no body recovered, many viewers still refuse to believe Sonny’s son is actually gone. “I was surprised people were upset GH killed him off,” Craig muses, “because when you come on a soap as a new character, it’s so hard for people to take a liking to you. I get that Morgan is Sonny’s only son by blood, but you just never know how a character’s gonna take. “It was tough at first!” he adds. “Then, four years down the line, he’s become this character everybody loves. It’s humbling that people want him back so badly.” Whether Ava and Kiki’s lost love survived or returns as a ghost, Craig would…

GH’s Nurses Ball begins this week, with EXTRA host Mario Lopez (ex-Christian, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL) — hot off of hosting the Daytime Emmy Awards — holding court alongside Nina on the red carpet. In addition to Lopez, KABC Los Angeles entertainment reporter George Pennacchio returns to the red carpet for the fifth time, and GH promises more familiar faces, surprise cameos and even a returning foe at the festivities! “We’ve all been working incredibly hard on this year’s Nurses Ball, and it’s going to blow the rest of them out of the water,” previews executive producer Frank Valentini.” To read more about the intrigue and drama, turn to the In Depth Cover Story, page 16!…

Victor decides that he has a new assignment for Scott on Monday, May 22. And on Tuesday, May 23, the mogul finds himself getting a visit from Dina, the mother of his longtime rival, Jack. But what does she want from Victor? Tessa’s been spending an awful lot of time with Nikki, and on Wednesday, May 24, Noah starts getting suspicious. Hilary begins plotting the ultimate revenge on Thursday, May 25, and on Friday, May 26, what Victoria decides about the future of Brash & Sassy could impact numerous lives!…

Grahn drew on personal experience to help turn Alexis into a believable drunk. “I practiced at home, for the sake of my art,” she quips before speaking seriously about her father, Robert. “He was a recovering alcoholic, 25 years sober before he died, and an addiction counselor. I grew up with addiction and understand it. We even went on the talk-show circuit and talked about the dynamics of alcoholism, recovery and what it does to family. So I just applied what I know to the story.” Grahn adds that she never even considered playing Alexis as a sloppy drunk. “When you’re drunk, you don’t walk around in this theatrical, stereotypical drunken way,” she scoffs. “What I’ve observed in most of the people who have been overserved is a belligerence and…

Hold onto your feather duster — it’s been 35 years since Kate Linder debuted on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS as Katherine’s ditzy but always sincere maid, Esther. To honor her service, Soaps In Depth caught up with the daytime vet to take a spin do wn Memory Lane! The Young & The Restless…

IFYIFYI Birthday: November 6. Hometown: Mos e s Lake, WA. Sweet Charity: I n March, Fodé joined Kim Matula (ex-Hope, B&B) in Louisiana to help Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) raise money for charity. (Donors doubled down when he treated event-goers to a brief striptease!) The “Marrying” Kind: Though he’s not looking to tie the knot anytime soon, the actor has actually officiated at several friends’ weddings! He’s got charm in spades, wealth most people could only imagine, eyes you could get lost in and abs you can bounce a quarter off. So why, pray tell, is THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Thomas Forrester so hopelessly single? The dashing designer has yet to find the sort of real and lasting love he seems to be looking for, and though newcomer…

Soaps wouldn’t be soaps without characters we love to hate. So when GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Brad left the backburner just in time to stir the pot for Finn and Hayden, we were beyond thrilled to watch Parry Shen prove that when it comes to throwing shade, his alter ego does it better than any tree in the forest. Pushing Buttons Coming across Hayden leaving a farewell message for pal Tracy, Brad had a surprising — if typically caustic — response to the longtime resident’s departure. “Yes!” he shouted. “One less Quartermaine hovering around protecting your junkie boyfriend!” Shen’s gleeful delivery of that single line pretty much sums up why we are so fond of Brad. He might not say what’s nice or politically correct, but you never have to question where…

Bill planned a private ceremony and recruited Justin to preside over his and Brooke’s nuptials. The bride-to-be was badgered, however, by several naysayers, including R.J., Quinn and Ridge, who made a proposition to Brooke that he hoped would change her mind. After realizing Brooke had indeed chosen Bill, Quinn consoled Ridge. Rick and Maya asked Zende and Nicole to watch Lizzy while they were in Paris on business. Eager to have her own child soon, Nicole planned a doctor’s visit to make sure all systems were go. Thomas had a change of heart about Sally after realizing Bill had sabotaged her first fashion preview. Steffy worried that Thomas was in over his head where Sally was concerned. Even as Thomas tried helping Sally out, the redhead extended an olive branch…

Nicole escaped to Brady’s jet to reunite with Holly, while Eric was stuck with Xander. Adrienne talked to Tripp on Steve’s behalf. Kayla told Brady that his condition was getting worse. Marlena shared an emotional reunion with John. Dario asked Abigail for a favor, but Kate couldn’t help but feel suspicious of him. Eli made a difficult decision after Lani urged him to fight for Gabi. Chad and Gabi were stunned to run into each other over in Greece, only to be held captive by a knife-wielding thief! Sneak Preview A new adventure begins when a disaster strikes several wandering Salemites!…