Table of contents for February 10, 2020 in ABC Soaps In Depth

The In Depth Story: DAYS has been in a holding pattern ever since the cast was released from their contracts back in November amid renewal negotiations between the soap, producer Sony Pictures Television and the network. And while executive producer Ken Corday reportedly told the cast that same month that the soap — created by his parents, Ted and Betty Corday — had received a one-year renewal to continue airing through the fall of 2021, the network had yet to make an official announcement. “We’re in the middle of knowing very soon [whether] DAYS is going to carry on,” Paul Telegdy revealed at NBC’s TCA session, according to Variety. “We love it. Millions of Americans watch it every week. I know this will be good news for the fans. I…

With madness unfolding on several fronts, Jax finds himself wondering what the proverbial last straw will be on Monday, January 27. Emotions are running high for Finn and Anna on Tuesday, January 28, with him being pretty darn upset about something, while she goes into protective mode. Here’s hoping they make time to talk thinks out, as they’re always stronger when they face things together! By Friday, January 31, Anna is definitely feeling the strain. But is the pressure coming from the situation with Peter or another source?…

After bonding with Brady over their shared loss, Kristen stirs up a little trouble for Eric and Nicole on Monday, January 27. While searching for Stefano, John and “Steve” run into a familiar face on Tuesday, January 28. Kate confronts Gina on Wednesday, January 29, about the plan she and Stevano have cooked up for John and Marlena. And on Friday, January 31, as Eric turns to someone unexpected for comfort, “Steve” tells Marlena the shocking news that John is dead!…

GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Valentin has proven his killer instinct and strategic might… but when it comes to a certain set of twins, he seems to have zero control. When he tried to take off with Charlotte, for example, it was Anna who was able to talk him down. “Because, of course, he has a connection with Anna, and the ink of that story will never dry,” James Patrick Stuart says of his character, who was close to the agent when he was still a WSB trainee. “It’s always a live wire when she’s around.” And the twin who betrayed a young Valentin while pretending to be Anna also has serious pull with him. “Alex is the one he was physically intimate with, and that’s the bit that’s never truly healed,” Stuart…

GH Missing In Action Last year, we raved about the way GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Elizabeth and Scotty came together to fight for Franco and be there for Cameron. Only a few months before, Scotty had been feeling alone and adrift in the world, so seeing him bond with his son’s new family was especially touching. But ever since Franco got his memories back, things have felt off. Not only was Scotty for some reason left out of his son’s emotional homecoming, but the newly-reunited couple was basically sidelined for several weeks. We get that there were big things going on around Port Charles, but we were majorly invested in this particularly happy ending. And not for nothing, but after spending months with the stale character who’d taken over Franco’s body, we…

FYI Twitter Handle: @RealEdenMccoy. Starting Number: McCoy was 12 when she joined GH. Two-Sided: This student athlete and soap star says she lives “a double life that’s intertwined.” Emotional Hangover: McCoy admits Josslyn’s grief “can take a toll” on her. losing Oscar was devastating for Josslyn, but the grieving teen has finally started to find her footing again. “She is definitely moving on,” portrayer Eden McCoy agrees. “And had several conversations with Carly that have helped her realize that moving on doesn’t have to mean forgetting. Joss is starting to understand that it’s appropriate and healthy to maybe notice other boys and have fun with friends again.” In other words, there’s room in her life for budding love triangles, hijinx and, yes, detention hang sessions like last year’s homage to…

Jason Morgan Once upon a time, Jason was the kind of preppy that Andrew McCarthy would have played in a John Hughes movie. He was a squeaky-clean straight-A student with a bright future as a doctor (like dad Alan and adoptive mom Monica). But — and let’s be real, you knew a big “but” was coming! — after being in a car wreck with alcoholic half brother A.J., Jason suffered brain damage that stripped him of his memories, increased his hotness by 72 percent and set him down a new path as a black-T-shirt-loving hitman for Mafia don Sonny. Though the makeover made him catnip to lovers as diverse as vixenish Carly and angelic Robin — 72 percent is a lot hotter, after all! — the former do-gooder now known…

Lovely In Lace Lace and ruffle detailing won out over the sleek yellow strapless gown worn by Brytni Sarpy (ex-Valerie, GENERAL HOSPITAL; Elena, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS). Boots, Two Ways GH’s Katelyn MacMullen (Willow) pairs the same ankle boots with two very different looks, and the head-to-toe black ensemble proved the clear favorite. Sweater Weather Warm knits are an imperative this winter, and we love these examples worn by current and former ABC Daytime stars.…

The In Depth Story: While Hope’s gratitude for him being there in her time of need may be more platonic than Thomas would like, for now, it’s a start! “There’s that old joke: The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results,” suggests portrayer Matthew Atkinson. “That’s exactly what Thomas is going through. But don’t you go insane when you’re in love? Just a little bit?” Working so closely with her ex in recent weeks has helped remind Hope of the Thomas she used to know, and for that reason, she’s not as reluctant to be in his presence as she once was. “Thomas believes that Hope does have feelings for him, deep down, but she’s just not allowing herself to show it…

IN Johnny Wactor joined the cast of GH last week when he made his very dramatic debut as Gladys’ presumed-dead son, Brando — who is also supposed to be Dev’s father, according to the teen’s faked papers! Although a newcomer to the world of daytime, Wactor has a long list of primetime dramas on his resumé, including guest spots on ARMY WIVES, CRIMINAL MINDS and AGENT X. And back in 2013, he was a star of NBC’s summer series, SIBERIA, a scripted supernatural drama about a LOST-meets-SURVIVOR reality competition gone horribly wrong. Although there is no word from GH about how long Wactor’s Brando will be sticking around, we can only hope that the appearance of Gladys’ son will add further drama to the family conflict surrounding Sonny, Mike and…

In news that will come as a surprise to absolutely no one, Ned and Tracy wind up on opposite sides of an issue on Monday, January 27. When Curtis begins to get suspicious on Wednesday, January 29, in whose direction will he be looking? Nelle’s working hard to get everything she wants (as detailed in the news story on page 4), and yet she’s downright miserable on Thursday, January 30. Will the call that her attorney, Martin, receives on Thursday, January 30, make things any better?…

Perhaps GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Sonny should have seen the attack which put several of his loved ones in danger coming. But as he and Jason circle the wagons, one question looms large: Who is out to destroy Sonny’s empire, and just how far will they go to accomplish that goal? After The Smoke Clears For a while now, Sonny has been dealing with such a wide range of issues that viewers might almost — almost — have forgotten that he’s not, as he likes to portray himself, a simple coffee importer. But when one of his trucks was hijacked a few weeks back, we began to sense that there might be more than just a fine cup of java brewing. Then, of course, all hell broke loose, with several of Sonny’s…

Though THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Wyatt recently slammed the brakes on his engagement to Sally in favor of a reunion with Flo, the redhead isn’t willing to accept their breakup. And why should she, given Wyatt’s history of waffling? When asked if his alter ego was following in the footsteps of his romantically-indecisive brother, Liam, Darin Brooks admitted, “There are similarities. Things are up in the air in [Wyatt’s] mind, and he’s trying to figure it all out.” As he continues to secondguess, look for things to get a bit more competitive between these two beauties in the days to come. Sally has proven herself to be a fighter when push comes to shove, but her romantic rival isn’t likely to cede ground, either. “Flo is a strong person,”…

… or are you unsure what to make of GH’s Gladys? When first we met the character last year, she treated Sonny with disdain even as she took his money and agreed to go along with the charade surrounding Dev’s supposed heritage. But the Gladys who showed up more recently is kinder, softer… dare we say lovable? Sure, she got under Sonny and Carly’s skin by poking around in his business. But she also spoke beautifully about the importance of dying with dignity, and let us see how deeply impacted she was by the loss of her son. Despite being uncertain as to what makes Gladys tick, portrayer Bonnie Burroughs has alternately charmed and intrigued us to the point of wanting to see her alter ego much more often!…

2012 After Starr Manning’s flight was diverted to Port Charles, the ONE LIFE TO LIVE heroine and her family were run off the road, and she lost boyfriend Cole and daughter Hope in an explosive accident — except it wasn’t exactly an accident! Anthony Zacchara had been involved in a chase when his tire was shot out, causing him to swerve into oncoming traffic and setting in motion the tragic twist of fate. Since Michael was the first on the scene, Anthony suggested that the young man’s dad, Sonny, had taken the shot. But Sonny was hardly the only one who had issues with his rival Mob boss. After all, Anthony had blackmailed Tracy into marrying him, shot Kate during her own wedding, forced Lulu to date son Johnny and repeatedly…

As a working mom, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Jacklyn Zeman was always on the move — clocking in for 20-hour days as Bobbie and driving her girls, Cassidy and Lacey Rose, to birthday parties or volunteering at their school. “That was an incredible chapter of my life,” the actress raves. “But when your kids are out of college and on their own, your identity completely changes. They still need you, but they don’t need you to abracadabra things into their life. Same thing with GH. I’m working, but I’m not on every day like I used to be. So all of a sudden, I can do whatever I want to do!” Part of that means getting to spread her wings. “I can actually get a job on four different shows and have…

The Fight For ELQ! With Michael distracted, Tracy revealed an anonymous buyer had pushed her to sell Dillon’s ELQ stock. She also told Ned to take control and warned him not to get distracted by Brook Lynn’s drama. She also tried getting her daughter-in-law on her side, but Olivia refused to be played. Over at Shiloh’s memorial, Nelle revealed she’d been released from prison… and was the cult leader’s widow! Then she strolled into the already cantankerous ELQ meeting and announced the shares Shiloh had inherited from Oscar were now hers. Though Nelle had a blast needling the Quartermaine clan, Michael and Ned suspected someone more powerful was backing her play in order to get the ELQ shares for themselves. And it turned out they were right: Nelle was operating…

1 The twist. With one word — “Dusty?” — Brook Lynn gave us new insight into Lulu’s beau! 2 Obrecht’s lament. “The two most dangerous words in any language,” she mused, “are, ‘If only…’” 3 Neil’s description. He called Alexis “captivating, intriguing and occasionally infuriating.” 4 Tracy’s quip. “First day with the Quartermaine name,” she said of Brook Lynn’s moniker change, “and she’s already disgraced it!” 5 The reveal. “After all,” said Nelle, whipping off her veil at Shiloh’s memorial service, “he was my husband!” … And 1 Thing We Could Do Without… Laura’s hypocrisy. She seems to have forgotten that she abandoned a young Nikolas to the Cassadines!…

What happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas. Yet slowly, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ fans have been finding out more about the connection that Chance had while working undercover in Sin City with the supposedly amnesiac Adam. “I really like what they’re doing with the Chance/Adam storyline right now — I feel like if Adam has got one buddy in Genoa City at the moment, it’s going to be Chance!” teases Donny Boaz, who plays the sleuth. “But is that something Chance should be proud of? Adam is the guy that everyone in town seems to love to hate!” Conversely, Chance is the guy who seems to love wearing the white hat and saving the day! So how can a hero like him be friends with a…

General Hospital In Depth asked… Should Lucas forgive Julian when he learns he caused the crash? Reader Reaction: 50% NO WAY! 50% TOTALLY! Well, that didn’t help. Fans are split right down the middle over whether they think Julian is worthy of Lucas’ forgiveness! This issue’s question… Do you want to see Nina find happiness with Jax or Valentin? TOP 5 GH COUPLES 1 Elizabeth & Franco Baldwin 2 Laura & Kevin Collins 3 Maxie Jones & Peter August 4 Alexis Davis & Julian Jerome 5 Carly & Sonny Corinthos TOP 5 ACTORS (as voted by Soaps In Depth readers) 1 Last Issue: 1 Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) 2 Last Issue: 3 Roger Howarth (Franco, GH) 3 Last Issue: 2 Jon Lindstrom (Kevin/Ryan, GH) 4 Last Issue: 4 Wes Ramsey…

Hot Topic: The Port Charles Couple We Never Saw Coming! OUR TAKE When GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Nikolas barged in on Valentin and Nina’s wedding with a half-dead Ava in his arms, we should have seen the foreshadowing. After all, Nikolas was carrying Ava over the threshold of the home he was there to reclaim, all but telegraphing to us his intention to make Ava his bride! Yet we were shocked when Ava broke the news to an equally stunned Laura, and we’ve been fascinated by the newly-wed pair ever since. Each has a motive for being in the marriage, and each swears that what they feel toward the other is far from love. Yet when they shared that first kiss as man and wife, there was definitely something there. And although…

Q. Am I crazy, or is this not the first time that GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Lucas has wound up in a coma? Nikki DReading, PA A: You are definitely not crazy — in fact, Lucas was fighting his way out of comas before he could even walk! Less than a year after Bobbie adopted the little cutie, he fell mysteriously ill… and then went into a coma. Thankfully, he recovered fully once he was diagnosed with and treated for Type I diabetes. A few years later, Helena Cassadine poisoned the poor kid with a deadly biotoxin… and then tried using the cure to blackmail Tony! Ultimately, Tony not only helped take down the Cassadine matriarch, but he got the antidote he needed to wake Lucas from his second coma. More recently…

Ava and Sonny’s run-in outside of Charlie’s was, on the surface, all about exposition. Mrs. Nikolas Cassadine not only recapped her recent nuptials but also revealed her grand plan to take her new husband to the cleaners. While the scene served to deliver information, however, the chemistry between Maurice Benard and Maura West stole the show. As Ava flashed her massive wedding ring, batted her eyes and purred over her delicious scheme, it was clear she was trying to impress her old frenemy. And though Sonny shook his head and challenged her decision to marry the man who’d landed her in Shady-brook, it totally worked! With Ava clearly back to her old self, she acknowledged that her life had been a train wreck of late, and that she’d decided to…

CAN WE TALK? That’s what we asked GENERAL HOSPITAL alum Kelly Thiebaud (ex-Britt). And luckily, she not only said yes, she filled us in on everything she’s been up to lately. TRUE LOVE Join us as we flash back to some of GH’s most romantic moments ever — including one between Liz and Lucky. DREAMY! GH’s Josh Swickard (Chase) and more share their Valentine’s Day plans. Don’t Miss The Next Issue Of ABC SOAPS IN DEPTH On Sale… February 10 February 24 March 9 March 23 April 6 April 20 May 4 May 18 June 1 June 15 June 29 July 13 July 27 August 10…