Table of contents for September 28, 2015 in ABC Soaps In Depth

Soaps In Depth: What do each of you bring to the canvas, style wise? How do your approaches differ, and how do those differences make you stronger as a team? Jean Passanante: First of all, we both know that soap opera is fundamentally a romantic storytelling form, and we both approach it from that angle. I think we both believe that story comes from character, and we both approach character from a personal, emotional point of view. For me, story always starts from the perspective of, “I’m so-and-so, I’m about to lose the love of my husband/wife/lover, so how far will I go to protect that?” Shelly is a wizard at figuring out how to pull various story threads together, and at breakneck speed. I’m slower, more contemplative and skeptical.…

The In Depth Story: “I love every one over there,” Stause, who not long ago wrapped a run as DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ Jordan, tells Soaps In Depth. “I’m a huge fan of daytime. Where would I be without it? I’m so grateful for everything I’ve experienced, so yeah!” While we’re sure he’d be happy to do so, Hartley doesn’t even need to introduce his girlfriend to the powers that be since Y&R’s casting director, Judy Blye Wilson, was in charge of finding talent for ALL MY CHILDREN when Stause got her daytime start as Amanda! “Judy’s one of my dear friends,” the actress says with a smile. “She’s the best. They do not get better than her!” Should Stause join Hartley on his show — we think she’d make…

After a whole lot of speculation that Bradford Anderson would return as Spinelli as GH got closer to the “Jake is Jason” reveal, ABC finally has confirmed that he’ll be making a comeback just in time for November Sweeps! The fan favorite tells In Depth exclusively that he’s had an open door policy with the soap, and this story arc “was the right time and the right situation. I’ve always told them, ‘If you want me, give me a call!’ So they did, and here we are! I so appreciate that they’ve always kept me in mind.” Anderson isn’t scheduled to report to the set until the end of September, and says that whether or not he’ll actually participate in the revelation of Jake’s true identity is as much of…

Vincent Irizarry (David, ALL MY CHILDREN) has been cast on DAYS OF OUR LIVES in the newly created role of Deimos, a character with ties to the Kiriakis family. Headwriter Dena Higley shared on Facebook that the daytime vet will be playing “the younger brother of one of our regulars. He comes to town with only one thing on his mind… revenge.” Irizarry will debut in mid-January. And he isn’t the only soap-hopper headed to town: Jordi Vilasuso (Griffin, AMC) has also joined the show in a role we hear is connected to Galen Gering’s Rafe. Look for him to debut in early 2016 as well.…

Just as Liz finds herself on the verge of telling Jake the truth on Tuesday, September 15, Sam is caught off guard by something her “late” husband does. And on Friday, September 18, Sam is taken by surprise. Monday, September 21, is a very important day for Sam, who can’t help but reflect on her late husband. After all, it would have been her and Jason’s anniversary. Elizabeth and Jake spend Wednesday, September 23, focused on their big plans for the future. Julian finds himself in the position of needing help from his daughter on Thursday, September 24, but will Sam come through for him? And on Friday, September 25, Liz might have cause for concern when Sam and Jake begint o bond… over memories of Jason! Will Sam help…

JJ suspects that his mom could be in grave danger on Monday, September 14! Across town, Eve has the mother of all meltdowns on Tuesday, September 15! Steve hopes to become a bigger part of Joey’s life on Wednesday, September 16, but his son may not feel the same way! Gabi at long last is released from prison on Thursday, September 17. When she reunites with Will and Arianna on Friday, September 18, will it be a new beginning for this dysfunctional little family?…

FYIFYIFYI Birth Name: Marcy Faith Behrens. Birthday: November 4. Birthplace: Providence, NC. Food For Thought: Rylan is a vegetarian. Painted Lady: Two tattoos adorn the tiny blonde – a star on her foot and a heart on her wrist. The Welcome Wagon: “Robert [Palmer] Watkins (Dillon) is awesome. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to be a new contract player on daytime right now. As an actor out there, there’s no way to prepare for 70 pages in a day,” says soap vet Rylan. “But Robert is coming to work so prepared. I’m sure he’s doing absolutely nothing elsewith his life but running lines!” There’s nothing like an extramarital one-night stand to threaten a supercouple and rile GENERAL HOSPITAL fans! Dante and Lulu’s failure to communicate landed him simultaneously…

Lisa LoCicero (Olivia), her husband, Michael, and their son, Lukas, aren’t the only ones getting used to having a newborn around the house. Their three dogs are also having to adjust to the situation! In a way, the family’s Chihuahua, Tuco, had a special relationship with baby Verity before she was even born. “When I was pregnant, I used to spend a lot of time on my bed, Googling baby things, with the Chihuahua sitting on top of me,” LoCicero explains. “Once, he was sitting on my stomach, which is where the baby always was, and she kicked so hard that it knocked him off! You could see my whole belly go ‘boink’! He slid off the side and turned around and barked, like ‘What the…?’ If I had a…

FYIFYIFYI Birthday: August 17. Birthplace: Lakewood, CA. Honor Bound: James received the Michael Landon Award, which recognizes charitable contributions by young people in showbiz. Shooting Hoops: In honor of March Madness, CBS held a basketball tournament, Soap Mayhem, which James won! THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Devon has undergone one of the most dramatic transformations in daytime. After all, the character began on the sudser as an edgy street kid, only to wind up as Genoa City’s youngest billionaire (courtesy of the legacy left him by his newfound grandmother, the late Katherine). Perhaps even more dramatic, the hunk went from having one of the longest, most tepid, off-screen relationships ever with cute-as-a-button Roxie to a sizzling on-air love affair with his father’s wife! And while some fans were furious over…

Maybe there’s something to that adage, “If you believe, you can achieve.” When Brandon Barash left his GENERAL HOSPITAL role of Johnny two years ago, he put it out into the ether that he wanted to do primetime cable projects. Lo and behold, he got exactly what he asked for! With a recurring role on TNT’s THE CLOSER spin-off, MAJOR CRIMES, and a starring role in the upcoming Lifetime movie The Unauthorized MELROSE PLACE Story, he is on his way to making his career dreams come true! MELROSE Madness! The MELROSE PLACE project is a hot one that had tongues wagging from the moment it was announced! Barash will be playing Thomas Calabro, who was randy Dr. Michael Mancini on the primetime soap for its entire 1992-’99 run. “It’s a…

“Bittersweet” is the only way to describe the vibe at the fan gathering for Michael Easton (ex-Silas). As he entered the packed room, he was greeted by both cheers and “awws.” As everyone rose to their feet, a touched Easton said, “I think it’s going to be a nice closure. It’s really nice to have it end with the fans. It will be a bit of a catharsis.” To make the event “a proper Irish wake” for Silas, Easton brought Irish music, along with Bushmills Irish Whiskey and Guinness Beer for all those who wanted. Raising his glass, Easton and his fans toasted his character and gave him “a proper good-bye.”…

Q: Is there any scene you’ve done that you hope your parents or children never see? Lisa LoCicero (Olivia, GH) “My parents have seen everything I’ve done on the show. But probably the worst one was the purple underwear scene with Johnny. I had to sort of climb up the chair. I remember saying to the director, ‘I’m wearing what and you want me to do what?!’ I know we got some flack from the censors on that one.” Guy Wilson (Will, DAYS) “Not really, because the scenes I thought I’d be embarrassed of I’ve always managed to just laugh at.” Hayley Erin (Kiki, GH) “I haven’t done that many love scenes, and they weren’t that bad. I wouldn’t feel weird about my mom watching anything, but my dad is…

Genoa City denizens gathered at the park to remember Katherine. Esther stunned Jill when she revealed that Colin had made advances to her when the businesswoman was in Hong Kong! Jack proposed to Victor that they put aside their differences and work together to find out who was really behind the Paragon Project. Ashley cozied up to Joe to find out if he might be behind the Paragon Project. Devon blamed himself for Hilary’s disappearance. After recalling their past weddings, Billy and Victoria made love! Phyllis and Jack went to the Abbott cabin for a romantic getaway, where Phyllis met a mysterious stranger! When a sexy newcomer shows up in Genoa City, who might he be connected to?…

The In Depth Story: Hearing gunfire while he and Sam were strolling along the docks certainly rattled Jake’s cage. For a minute there, he thought that he’d been shot, but he was actually having a memory flash of Faison (masquerading as Duke) shooting him! Jake and Sam have no idea just how close they are to uncovering his true identity. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is well aware and doesn’t like it one bit! With the third anniversary of Jason’s “death” just around the corner, Liz’s guilt is mounting by the minute! Feeling the pressure like never before, she’s on the verge of telling Jake the truth once and for all… but she knows that clearing her conscience could also reunite him with Sam! Or it might not. According to…

While Josslyn was of f spending the summer with her father, Jax, in Australia, her portrayer, Hannah Nordberg, was hard at work on another project! The pint-sized powerhouse landed a role as a young Dolly Parton’s bestie, Judy Ogle, in the highly-anticipated NBC movie, Dolly Parton’s Coat Of Many Colors, based on the iconic country crooner’s childhood in Tennessee. (THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Faith, Alyvia Alyn Lind, will play Par ton in the telepic, scheduled to air on Thursday, December 10.) However, it looks like Nordberg may be unavailable moving forward as well: The soap is looking for a “complex actress” between the ages of 9 and 11 to play an ongoing, recurring, “very impor tant role.” A show rep could not confirm if Josslyn was being recast, or…

DAYS’ Gabi is released from prison on Thursday, September 17 — which means that her portrayer, Camila Banus, will be back on the canvas. “I had an amazing year off to decompress,” the actress shares. “When you’re wound up doing so many [scenes] a day, that can be overwhelming. I needed a year. I’m happy. I’m content.” Meanwhile, Thaao Penghlis shared on Twitter that his return as Andre would be Friday, September 25. As for his DAYS storyline, the GH vet (Penghlis played Victor Cassadine, whom Nathan believes to be his father) has had nothing but praise for the tale that brings his presumed-dead character back to town. “It just keeps getting better,” the daytime vet tweeted, adding that, “it’s [a] new phase in this character’s life.”…

Ivy hits the roof when on Monday, September 14, Steffy turns the tables. Wyatt vows his revenge on the Forresters on Tuesday, September 15, going straight to his dad to lay out his plan of attack. An epic battle between the Spencers and Forresters commences on Wednesday, September 16. Bill and Katie visit Liam and Steffy on Thursday, September 17, to figure out if Wyatt’s accusations are actually true. Shaken by their visit, Steffy seems to make sure that Liam is still in her corner on Friday, September 18.…

What should have been a happy day for GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Corinthos clan resulted in tragedy, and it looks as if Carly may soon have to exchange her white wedding dress for would-be widow weeds. Even as Sonny’s loved ones gather by his bedside and pray for his recovery, it looks as if Morgan might just spiral completely out of control! For details on how the crisis rocks the first family of Port Charles, read on! Will Sonny Die? Sonny’s situation proves that sometimes, life can change in an instant. “He was in the moment,” says portrayer Maurice Benard. “He was thinking, ‘I’m getting married! I’m happy as hell!’ He didn’t think anything was going to happen, and then… bam!” preview This week, things look dire for the Teflon Don. But…

When DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ JJ agreed to join the DEA’s sting operation against drug dealer Kyle, he did so to protect ex-girlfriend Paige from getting involved with the guy. However, he never would have guessed that the job would also land him face to face with Clyde. Is the fear that the menacing villain instills in JJ great enough to prompt him to resume his own drug habit? JJ’s portrayer, Casey Moss, thinks not. “I’m pretty confident that JJ’s not going back to that lifestyle,” the actor suggests, “because it didn’t do him any good.” However, joining the ranks of Salem’s good guys hasn’t turned out so great, either. With Clyde now in the picture, JJ’s put both himself and the people he loves at risk. Without proper police…

Okay, we’re not exactly doyens of wedding etiquette, but it struck us as strange that THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Nick would let everyone know that he and Sage would be marr ying immediately, but… oh, yeah, no one was invited. Cer tainly, the groom-to-be ran the risk that they’d ignore him when he rescinded their wedding invitations but then gave them the date, time and place where the ceremony would be held! At the very least, Nick should have kept in mind that his father was a wild card, since Victor rarely listened to anyone but himself, so the safest thing would’ve been to tell him after the wedding had taken place! We’re equally baffled as to why Nick would agree to Sage’s impulsive suggestion that they hold the…

Kristina’s Return I just saw the article about Kristina’s return. I can’t wait. I’m so excited for the Davis girls to be together again! I’m also looking forward to Kristina’s reaction to Julian. As much as I love him, I wonder how she’ll feel about another (former) mobster in her mom’s life. L. C. via E-mail Flashback Overload! There is no need to keep showing us clips of what happened in previous episodes. It’s so annoying! Salena Obregon via soapsindepth JaSam Forever! I am enjoying Sam. Her memories of Jason show how much she still loves him. I hope they can find their way back to each other. Sherre Lott via Soaps In Depth Facebook page Cut Him Some Slack! Please give Sonny a break to enjoy his life for…

When Ryan Carnes (Lucas) was just three years old, his parents realized that a spoon and upside-down pot would no longer satisfy their musically-inclined son, so they bought him his first drum. And that, as they say, was just the beginning! “The neighbors broke those eventually,” he laughs, “and soon I wanted a real drum set.” At six, Carnes and his folks reached an agreement. “The deal was that if I took drum lessons for a year, they’d get me a real drum set,” he explains. “We both kept up our ends of the agreement, and I got my first drum set at seven. I was in jazz band, concert band and marching band in school, but at a certain point, sports got in the way, and drumming was no…

Plenty of child stars have ended up in rehab — or worse — when their careers went off the rails. James, who began his showbiz career playing Richie on FAMILY MATTERS, credits his parents for helping him avoid the pitfalls. “My parents never made [acting] my life,” he shares. “I grew up with kids in the entertainment industry, and it was their whole life. The most important thing about them was what they did — not whether they were a good person. This job is not consistent, it’s very unpredictable, so if you don’t work for a while, they didn’t know how to deal with it. They didn’t know how to handle rejection, so, unfortunately, their lives didn’t turn out well. What makes you special, what makes you important, what…

It was several months in the making — from the first day of filming to the final edit — but at last, the day had arrived: the premiere screening of Amsterdam: On The Move With Anthony Geary. It wasn’t just a Hollywood premiere, it was more like a Port Charles premiere, as all the GENERAL HOSPITAL guests took their seats, and Soaps In Depth was there to provide exclusive coverage! Photographer Jim Warren followed GH’s Anthony Geary (ex-Luke) over several days of making his way through the streets, alleyways and canals of Amsterdam, and the result was the 25-minute short film that he directed and edited — with the help of THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Robert Adamson (Noah), serving as editing supervisor. When Geary arrived at the premiere, fresh…

James Wlcek quickly found out that ABC still wanted to employ him after RYAN’S HOPE, the soap on which he played sensitive — and often shirtless! — artist Ben Shelby, came to an end in 1989. “A good friend was at ONE LIFE TO LIVE when Paul Rauch was there as executive producer,” he tells Soaps In Depth. “It was told to me that Rauch said, ‘I want this guy on my show!’” After the half-hour sudser closed its doors, Wlcek joined OLTL as Jack Gibson, a former race car driver who romanced ingenue Mari Lynn. But since his time in Llanview was brief, it’s RYAN’S HOPE that the native New Yorker recalls more fondly. “I was so upset when that show got canceled,” he says. “I really loved the…

The killer claimed another victim and Rafe realized that the murder could once more be traced to Chad! Hope defended Aiden after his secret came to light, even as Bo vowed to escape his captors and return to her! Adrienne broke things off with Lucas. Eve turned to Justin for comfort after receiving devastating news. Theresa suggested she and Nicole team up to buy Basic Black. John revealed to Marlena and Brady the real reason he’d joined the ISA, which prompted his family to try to dissuade him from his plans! Can a father and son find a way to heal their badly damaged relationship?…

The latest comings and goings — and how they will change your shows! The In Depth Story: “I can’t say that I’m coming back full-time yet,” Ainsworth confesses. “I’m just filming a few episodes now and then, we’ll see what happens.” Getting the call from GH came as a big surprise to the actress, who exited the show in 2011 and was replaced the following year with Lindsey Morgan. “I was shocked,” Ainsworth admits. “I was not expecting it, just because it had been quite some time since I was on, and also there was another Kristina. When they told me what the storyline was going to be, it sounded like a really good one. It’s fun revisiting Kristina and finding out new things about her and discovering old things…

The revelation that Madeline was the character guilty of murdering Silas means that her portrayer, Donna Mills, has wrapped up her most recent GH stint. But much like a bad penny, Nina’s Mommie Dearest will surely turn up again in time! Indeed, the actress — who won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Star for her GH role — has been quite vocal about how much she enjoys her short visits to the soap, and is more than happy to return every now and then for a few weeks when needed. After all, Mills did make a promise to her on-screen daughter, Michelle Stafford (Nina), on Twitter that “I’ll be back for you, my girl!” Or is that a threat?…

Newman Enterprises may not be big enough for both Victoria and Abby! We’ll find out for sure when the two face off on Monday, September 14! Jack tries to broker peace with Ashley on Tuesday, September 15, but will his efforts prove successful? Devon finally gets a little bit of news regarding his missing bride on Wednesday, September 16. Will he finally be reunited with Hilary? Sharon confides in Nick on Thursday, September 17, while Victor makes it pretty clear he wants Marisa out of Noah’s life, one way or the other, on Friday, September 18!…

The reconciliation of THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ Cane and Lily had fans cheering… but are they celebrating a tad too soon? After all, Joe — you know, the hunk Lily used for retaliation sex — is staying in town. And he just might want more than one night of passion with his friend’s wife! While Phyllis and Ashley have accused Joe of being behind the Paragon Project, he might be more interested in becoming half of a couple than corporate intrigue! “Joe is more about having a successful relationship,” insists executive producer/headwriter Charles Pratt Jr. “It’s the one par t of life where he always fails.” That’s not to say the hunk can’t mix business and pleasure. “Joe is an opportunist,” chuckles the scribe. “He still thinks there is…

… or should GH either stop doing courtroom scenes or infuse at least a little more realism into them? Most viewers know that, after being called as a witness, Ava would not be allowed to chat with the defendant on her way to the stand! Nor would folks like Kiki and Morgan be allowed to listen to the testimony of other witnesses, which might influence their own testimony when called to the stand. Audiences have gotten far smarter about these things over the years, and it’s high time soaps catch up!…

When Robert Palmer Watkins was cast on GENERAL HOSPITAL, he had no idea that he was hired to play Dillon because the show had used a dummy name for the character on the audition material. When he finally found out who he had been hired to play, Watkins immediately hit the Internet to research Dillon’s history. But as it turned out, there was a Dillon aficionado right there at the studio who was able to offer the actor further insight — and help make the transition easier. “I’ve had several talks with Elizabeth Korte, one of the writers here,” Watkins reveals. “She’s been amazing. The first two weeks, I was filming every day. I’d get to the set and I’d go right to her office and say, ‘Who is this…

GENERAL HOSPITAL has never been short on evil twins, relatives that resemble each other and strangers who look familiar. Which of these Port Charles residents did not have a mirror image that caused someone in town more trouble than they were worth? gamesanswers gh singled out answers (from page 46) Faith Rosco was the only one who didn’t have a doppelganger. (a)…

FYIFYIFYI Birthday: July 25. Hometown: Hollywood, CA. Her Motto: “‘Live like someone left the gate open.’ I love that saying,” the actress relates. “It’s like, ‘Just go!’” Lang Inspired By Lange: “Jessica Lange was my inspiration growing up, and she still is! She’s so Old Hollywood, and she has that mystique about her.” When THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) was in her early 20s, she was cast as the quintessential California girl in several music videos for The Beach Boys. “Every time I hear their songs, it takes me back,” she says. “I used to model for a surfing magazine, too!” Born in Hollywood, she’s built a career in the limelight, but it’s the sunlight and salty air of the seashore where she feels most at…

Didn’t make it to the GHFCW? We’ve got you covered! These 8x10 photographs from the Sonny & Sons event were the hit of the weekend, and Soaps In Depth had the four actors — Maurice Benard (Sonny), Bryan Craig (Morgan), Chad Duell (Michael) and Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) — autograph three of them for lucky readers who might not have been able to attend! For full rules and free entry, log on to winit.abc.soapsindepth.com. No purchase necessary. Open to current legal residents of the United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older. Void elsewhere and where prohibited or restricted.…

Proving herself a master of understatement, Ava looked at Julian and declared, “Today is just not my day.” Looking dowdy in denim and stripped of all makeup, Ava once again found herself behind bars. On the plus side, she no longer had to pretend to be the tough-talking stylist from Queens. However, she was also yet again being made to pay for the crime of having killed Connie in order to keep Julian’s secret from being exposed. As Ava’s life crumbled around her, Maura West rose to the challenge, effortlessly giving the kind of performance only she can deliver. Crimes Of The Heart Proving a woman of complicated, often contradictory emotions, Ava longed to reunite with her daughters, Avery and Kiki… even as she lusted after the latter’s beau! When…

When it returns on Tuesday, September 22, at 10 p.m. EST, TYLER PERRY’S IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG will be doing a whole lot of things right. At least, that’s the opinion of Edward’s portrayer, Joel Rush (who once played the bartender at The Cheating Heart on DAYS OF OUR LIVES). “The third season is super sexy,” he previews. “You’ll never leave the edge of your seat!” It’s About To Get Violent Look for Edward’s world to ramp up when the Colombian drug cartel comes gunning for him. “Edward never had something like [that] to contend with in his little hometown,” Rush says of his corrupt alter ego. “Now, he thinks That he is a marked man, and he’s going to pull out all the stops and use ever y…

Thomas had mixed emotions about a promotion at work that required him to work closely with Caroline, but he was even more flummoxed when Ridge called him in for a private meeting to ask a personal favor. Ridge made an announcement at work that didn’t please everyone present. Steffy noticed that her brother seemed to have a new attitude about Ridge and Caroline’s relationship. When Brooke advised Ridge to tell his ladylove a secret detail about his recent history in France, he basically told her to butt out. Wyatt’s allegiance appeared to shift from Ivy to Steffy. Sick of being manipulated by her cousin, Steffy flexed her power as president of Forrester to make sure Ivy’s first photo shoot as the new face of the company did not go according…