soap
BREAKING NEWS! Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced!
OPERA
GH’S ROGER HOWARTH
“I get to start over.”
MUST-SEE DAYS! EJ COMES HOME Wedding Special!
Soaps’ Memorable Ceremonies
JUNE 14, 2021
A360 MEDIA
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SOAP OPERA DIGEST 30
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ws 4 Late-Breaking Ne 11 Early Editions! ings 12 Comings And Go w 14 Hot Plots Previe s 16 1st Look Photo 20 Extra! Extra! 22 Record This 58 Synopses
A Sort Of Homecoming DAYS’s Sami is in the hot seat when EJ returns to Salem.
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Behind The Scenes
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Stars’ snaps of life on set.
This Week In Soap History Memorable moments from daytime’s past.
Wedding Albums Photos from four special ceremonies.
June 14, 2021. Vol. 46, No. 24. Next issue: June 21, 2021 will be on sale June 14, 2021.
contents
reader favorites Thumbs/ Performer Of The Week 28 It’s Only My Opinion 36 Roundup 24
Who do you have the most photos of in your camera roll?
Scene & Heard 46 Classic Lines
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interview 42
embarrassment of riches.” 42
GH’s Anna With Anna’s life in shambles, Finola Hughes weighs in on the state of her character.
columns 26 Editor’s Note 38 Crossword 39 56 66
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Puzzle Sudoku Scorecard Ask Us Sound Off Take Five
COVER CREDITS: Bryan R. Dattilo, Alison Sweeney and Dan Feuerriegel (Lucas, Sami and EJ, DAYS). Photos: Chris Haston/NBC. Laura Wright and Maurice Benard (Carly and Sonny, GH). Photo: XJ Johnson/JPI. Roger Howarth (Austin, GH). Photo: Craig Sjodin/ABC.
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late- breaking news 6 Roger Howarth On GH Comeback
Egan
9 B&B: Thomas Learns Liam Killed Vinny 10 DAYS’s Galen Gering On Current Story 12 GH Actress Returns
HOWARD WISE/JPI
14 B&B: Paris’s Shocking Discovery!
JOANNA DEGENERES; NUTRISYSTEM; PHOTOS: CRAIG SJODIN/ABC; GILLES TOUCAS/COURTESY OF BELL-PHILLIP TELEVISION INC
8 Y&R: Amanda Gets A Clue To Her Past
DAYTIME EMMY NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED!
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Hughes
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he nominations for the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards have been announced and here is this year’s crop of contenders. The show will air on CBS on June 25. Outstanding Lead Actress Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea, Y&R) Genie Francis (Laura, GH) Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis, GH) Finola Hughes (Anna, GH) Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy, B&B) Outstanding Lead Actor Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) Steve Burton (Jason, GH) Thorsten Kaye (Ridge, B&B) Wally Kurth Burton (Justin, DAYS) Dominic Zamprogna (Dante, GH) Outstanding Supporting Actress Marla Adams (ex-Dina, Y&R) Tamara Braun (Ava, DAYS) Carolyn Hennesy (Diane, GH) Briana Nicole Henry (Jordan, GH) Courtney Hope (Sally, B&B)
Outstanding Supporting Actor Darin Brooks (Wyatt, B&B) Max Gail (ex-Mike, GH) Bryton James (Devon, Y&R) Jeff Kober (Cyrus, GH) James Patrick Stuart (Valentin, GH) Outstanding Guest Performer Kim Delaney (Jackie, GH) George DelHoyo (exOrpheus, DAYS) Briana Lane (ex-Brook Lynn, GH) Cady McClain (Jennifer, DAYS) Victoria Platt (Dr. Raynor, DAYS) Outstanding Younger Performer Tajh Bellow (TJ, GH) Victoria Konefal (Ciara, DAYS) Alyvia Alyn Lind (ex-Faith, Y&R) Katelyn MacMullen (Willow, GH) Sydney Mikayla Mikayla (Trina, GH)
James
Kober
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
Gail
TODD WAWRYCHUK/ABC
GILLES TOUCAS/COURTESY OF BELL-PHILLIP TELEVISION INC; SONJA FLEMMING/CBS; CRAIG SJODIN/ABC; DAVID ZAUGH; TODD WAWRYCHUK/ABC
Brooks
Stuart
Q Stars weighed in on the nominee list. Maurice Benard posted on Instagram, “I’m really so happy for all the actors so many actors got nominated, i’m very happy for @1steveburton of course but I really don’t want him to win there’s no way in hell I can live with myself if he has more Emmys than I have, although he has two supporting I have two leads. I’d give it to dumb(Dom)He really does deserve it plus I don’t wanna see that pouty look on his face. On a serious note The @alzassociation story broke my heart in a fabulous way!!!” Finola Hughes tells Digest, “To have been able to create and work during this last year is humbling in itself, and that anything I have done is worthy of note is purely an embarrassment of riches. Very honored.” Jon Lindstrom (Kevin, GH) tweeted, “3 of my colleagues, but more importantly, my friends, were recognized tonight by their peers as among the best in the biz. Congratulations Finola, Nancy, and my TV wife Genie. You set the bar.” Melissa Claire Egan enthused, “Honored to be on this list. I love my job, this show, this cast, this crew. Very grateful!” Nancy Lee Grahn posted, “Having glorious day on getaway to Lake Arrowhead. Was thinking how grateful I am, then saw this. I’ll give to all of you whatever I’m having.” Darin Brooks tweeted, “Honestly, so blessed right now!! Thank you @DaytimeEmmys and my @BandB_CBS family!! And CONGRATULATIONS to everyone!!!” His wife, Kelly Kruger (ex-Mac, Y&R), posted, “CONGRATS TO MY BABY DADDY @THEE darinbrooks on his Emmy Nomination!! This is so long overdue. Help me congratulate him! We are so proud of you babe!!!!!” James Patrick Stuart offered, “Everyone says ‘it’s an honor to be nominated’ while dusting off the shelf. But, with all sincerity, I have never seen a stronger group of actors to be nominated with. I know and admire all of your work. I am humbled and grateful. Congrats guys.” 5
late- breaking news ■ On May 27, Roger Howarth — whose Franco was killed off in March — returned to the show in his latest guise, that of Austin, the doctor who delivered Maxie’s daughter. The actor admits that playing Austin for the first time was daunting. “I was straight-up terrified, 100 percent,” he reports. “Excited and pleased and grateful — I love what I do and I was glad to get back to it — but there’s a certain amount of nervous energy that showed up. That guy showed up! But I don’t dislike that; I think that kind of excitement and anticipation and level of opening-night, jittery thing that happens is super-fun and when it shows up, I always just think that’s great. I have some tools to regulate that kind of energy, but I’m frequently nervous; coping with the stress of performing and being an actor is part of what comes with [the job].” Howarth describes himself as still “in the approach” as he wraps his mind around his new character, the third he’s played (the first being his ONE LIFE TO LIVE alter ego, Todd Manning) 6
TODD WAWRYCHUK/ABC
ROGER HOWARTH ON GH COMEBACK
since he joined the GH ranks in 2012. “Even five or six weeks in [to taping episodes as Austin], there are still things that I don’t know and still things that I’m trying to figure out,” he notes. “But what I do know for certain is that I like him. I hope the audience enjoys him, because there is some great story coming and it’s exciting to me. “In terms of figuring it out,” he continues, “what’s been really kind of fun is that as soon as I think I have it figured out, I’m reminded that I just don’t. So there’s been some trial and error. I’m learning to juggle and sometimes I drop the ball. But I have a lot of support; [Co-Head Writers] Chris [Van Etten] and Dan [O’Connor] have a lot
of great ideas and Frank [Valentini, executive producer] has chimed in with what he needs, and so for me, at the risk of overusing ‘juggling exercises’, I am trying to juggle a lot of different inputs and trying to stay on track and do what’s expected. And it’s been fun. It requires some concentration from me and different parts of my brain that I wasn’t using.” Part of Howarth’s new assignment is to differentiate Austin from his previous GH roles. While he did change his hairstyle before returning to the studio (“It’s the only one that I didn’t already cover with the other two people; it was the only one left. And I may or may not have done it myself”), he points out, “I can’t change the way I look so much. So for this guy to be different, he has to speak differently and walk differently and to be honest, I’ve had mixed success and it’s taken me a bit — I’m still kind of figuring it out. But I really like the process of figuring it out. I’m just really grateful that I’m getting the chance to try.” As Austin, he finds himself “meeting” char-
ABC • ABC • ABC Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: The actor sported a different look when he joined GH as Todd in 2012.
super-fun. But I’m glad that it’s not an either/or proposition, because right now I’m really having a lot of fun with what I’m doing.” He’s also aware that a contingent of viewers had hoped that reports of Franco’s death had been greatly exaggerated, and says, “I’m just pleased and amazed and grateful that the work that we all did in the Franco/Elizabeth/ Cameron/Scotty/Liesl universe has such unbelievable support, and I’m really grateful that I got to be a part of something that was really special. I’m really proud of what we all did. I’m thoroughly excited about what’s next, because you just never know. But most of all, I’m touched and amazed at how gracious the fans have been so far.” That extends to the fans’ support of how he
reports. “I’m just so grateful for everyone’s support of Feeding America. Together, we have fed hundreds of thousands of people, and it’s just such an awesome kind of coming together of me getting a chance to thank people for their support, and them getting a chance to lend a helping hand to people who might be having a hard time. Who doesn’t want to be a part of that? I am surprised by how much I enjoy it. I’m going to keep doing it! It’s really nice to lend a hand.” While Cameo kept him busy, Howarth says he looked forward to getting back to work. “I really like the people that I work with. It was lovely to see the crew. I really like what I do, and I’ve been doing it a long time, and it’s really nice for me to be this far into a career and still have a level of enthusiasm where I look forward to getting back to work when I’m away from work. It’s really nice. I’m really lucky.” HOWARD WISE/JPI
acters who were familiar to Franco. Observes Howarth, “In the life of the character I play, they’re all new faces, but it’s a big ask, I think, for Becky [Herbst, Elizabeth] and Michael [Easton, Finn] to have Elizabeth and Finn say, ‘Yeah, I don’t know who this person is.’ But that’s what the ask is.” As for his own approach to these runins, he says, “Every time [Austin] is kind of introduced into a new character circle, I feel a little thrown, because I don’t know how the character that I play deals with that particular other character.... Every time he walks into a room and there’s somebody that Austin hasn’t dealt with yet, I’ve got to start over. I get to start over 24 times!” Prior to Howarth’s reintroduction, fan speculation about who he might play included talk of him reprising Todd — which the actor would have been cool with. “What would I say if I read in a script that Todd was there? I have nothing but incredibly positive things to say about my experience playing Todd and at this point, I would pretty much look forward to it; he’s a great character. That would be
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Calendar Girl: Devon helps Amanda (Morgan) unlock a key to her childhood.
HOWARD WISE/JPI
■ Amanda introduces Devon to Denise, a private investigator who has a connection to the Richard Nealon case. Devon is impressed by the amount of material Denise has, and she explains that she’d been hired by the father of a foster child that a couple, the Lewises, took in decades ago, because he wanted to find his little girl and make things right. Denise explains that she would really like to be able to find that little girl, who is all grown up now, and let her know how desperate her daddy was to find her. Amanda keeps mum about the fact that she is that girl. “I think it’s a combination of a few things,” notes Mishael Morgan of Amanda’s reticence to come forward. “She really wants to see if this family wants her for her or they’re just using her for the leverage that she could potentially give to Sutton’s defense. She wants to make sure that any relationship that they’re building is authentic because of who she is and not just because of what she could give them. And then I think also because Amanda has an interest in criminal law, but she hasn’t really worked in this field before, she wants to see what she can do and she wants to win it on her own
CBS • CBS • CBS
late- breaking news
merit and she wants to show her family what she can do at the same time.” After Denise leaves, Devon and Amanda go through the many boxes she left with them. Amanda has a strong reaction when she spies a stack of wall calendars her first foster mother
“A part of her just breaks inside.” kept. “These were two foster parents that she actually did have a bond with, and they raised her for the early years of her life, so these were some of her earlier memories of her foster mother writing everything on these calendars,” says the actress. “So when she’s pulling them out, there’s a bit of nostalgia there for her, just remem-
bering the happy times that she did have with that foster family.” Amanda suddenly sees an entry with the name Richard Nealon. Devon asks if it’s possible Richard went through with meeting the Lewises. Amanda says no, noting that the appointment was set for after his death, and the Lewises probably never knew why he didn’t show. Amanda can’t believe how close she came to meeting her bio dad and is struck by the fact that he spent his last days looking for her. “It’s a mixed emotion, a dazed and confused kind of feeling,” Morgan relays. “He was thisclose to meeting her and it never happened. A part of her just breaks inside a little bit. There’s a part of her that feels really numb and broken by that.”
CBS • CBS • CBS
late- breaking news
B&B: THOMAS LEARNS LIAM KILLED VINNY Too Close For Comfort: Thomas (Atkinson) and Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) learn the truth about Liam. HOWARD WISE/JPI
■ Ridge tells Thomas that Liam was the one who ran down Vinny, and all hell breaks loose. “We’ve seen for weeks now that Thomas has been pretty destroyed,” acknowledges his portrayer, Matthew Atkinson. “The closest friend he had in his entire life is gone, and what’s really sad is there is a real sense of being alone that Thomas is dealing with. He has people who support him, but he doesn’t have any intimate relationships in his life. He has no close friendships. The closest people he ever had he pushed away. He’s feeling disconnected and hopeless in a lot of ways.” After hearing the truth, Thomas doesn’t know how to react. “When he finds out from his father that this is all Liam’s fault, it’s the last thing Thomas ever expected to hear,” Atkinson relays. “In his head, like all of us do, we like to make an enemy in a situation like this. Instead of being empathetic when something terrible happens, you don’t immediately find empathy for the person who did it. Thomas has been demonizing this person in his head, whoever this horrible human being
is. When Thomas finds out it’s Liam, it is a huge jolt for him.” In spite of Liam’s erratic behavior in the last few weeks, Thomas is still stunned. “Thomas is always going to have some gripes with Liam because of how he has treated
“It is a huge jolt for him.” Steffy and Hope, but he would have never expected anything like this,” explains the actor. “Liam is a good dad. He does love Hope, and Thomas sees that. In the weeks leading up to this, there was this unexpected, unspoken connection with Thomas about Liam feeling remorse. In Thomas’s case, it goes back to the baby Beth sto-
ryline, and now in these moments leading up to Thomas finding out, he’s just taken aback that Liam was behind the wheel that night.” As the shock settles in, Thomas is not sure how to proceed, and feels there could be more to the story. “Thomas would never, ever have expected this,” notes Atkinson. “He’s not a wolf in any way, which makes Thomas wonder if there is another wolf to contend with, someone who has done terrible things and is responsible for the killing of his best friend, and if so, he is going to take this person down. Thomas is initially angry and overwhelmed with this news, but he believes he will get to the bottom of all of this.” 9
the dynamic between Rafe and Ava? “They share a sense of loss, so I think that they’re maybe trying to fill a void that may exist at this point in time. I don’t know if Rafe is as aware of it as Ava is; she’s recently lost her son and is coming to terms with what a bad parent she was and why, and that self-reflection is really drawing him in. If you look at them like a couple of pieces of a puzzle, they’re fitting together at this time. I don’t know if he’s looking at it like a serious thing but he’s really developing feelings for her. As different as they are, he’s been attracted to women that were the opposite. That was certainly the case with Sami and with Kate. I think that Hope was probably the closest in terms of their personalities; obviously, that didn’t work out.” Is Rafe aware that Nicole is jealous? “I think to a certain degree, and it’s amusing to him considering the fact that she’s the one who thrust Ava into his house. Rafe is like, ‘What, you’re jealous? What’s going on here?’ But I think that he’s looking at it like, ‘Are you jealous of our friendship? Do you not think we should be together? Is she not right for me?’ You have these feelings that come up and I think that’s how he’s interpreting it. It would seem totally out of left field that Rafe would be like, ‘You don’t want me to be with her because you want to be with me.’ That’s not even where he would want to let his mind go at 10
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this point in time.” If Nicole was single, could he have feelings for her? “Yes, X definitely. In fact, one could argue that there were times they did have these feelings, but they were with other people. Because they really never went down that road, it’s hard to say, but I definitely think he sees her as someone he really cares about, and those feelings can move forward in different ways, but again, he doesn’t even want to think about that right now. All he wants to do is try to help Nicole and now he’s got this thing with Ava, so that’s enough. But there are definitely some feelings that will jump in there and then Rafe has to pause for a minute and think, ‘Why are you feeling that? That’s different. Wait, stop.’ He doesn’t want to even let himself go there. You know how if the car goes veering into another lane, you’re like, ‘No, no, get back over there.’ I think that’s where he’s at. He doesn’t want to complicate things on that level.” Sami is also back on the scene. What was it like to work with Alison Sweeney again? “It’s like when you haven’t seen a friend from high school who was your best friend and you’re thinking, ‘What’s it going to be?’ and you have all these thoughts in your head and then you’re like, ‘Oh, my God. It’s the best.’ Sami is such a little troublemaker and it just sets up well for someone like Rafe, who is so by the book. There’s conflict but he loves her so dearly in spite of everything.” SO
with Galen Gering
NBC • NBC • NBC
late- breaking news
of next EARLY A preview week’s EDITIONS! stories.
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
late- breaking news
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL
■ Thomas confronts Liam in jail. ■ Paris faces a moral dilemma. ■ Quinn and Carter receive terrible news.
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
B&B’s Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor)
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
■ Philip and Brady lock horns over Chloe. ■ Xander pressures Nicole to put him to work. ■ Tony reconnects with EJ. ■ Bonnie and Justin dine with Steve and Kayla.
RATINGS RACE: WEEK OF MAY 10
YOUNG AND RESTLESS
■ Abby worries about Chance. ■ Sally plots her revenge. ■ Mariah makes a confession. ■ Victor questions Victoria about Ashland.
Y&R’s Abby (Melissa Ordway)
NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH
PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI
DAYS’s Bonnie (Judi Evans) and Justin (Wally Kurth)
The numbers listed after each show are ratings points. Each ratings point represents 1,210,000 homes. These numbers now reflect DVR playback within the same day.
•YOUNG AND RESTLESS 2.30 •BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL 1.96 •GENERAL HOSPITAL 1.48 •DAYS OF OUR LIVES 1.12
DFREE/SHUTTERSTOCK
who’s coming BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Juan Blasquez (Prison Guard): Blasquez keeps a close eye on Liam (Scott Clifton) on June 7. DAYS OF OUR LIVES Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera): EJ returns to Salem on June 9. See page 30 for more. GENERAL HOSPITAL Roger Howarth (Austin): Now it can be told:
the latest cast changes
ously appeared on the show as Todd (2012-13) and Franco (2013-21), has assumed the role of the doctor who delivered Maxie’s (Kirsten Storms) baby girl, Louise. See page 6 for more.
who’s going
Vernee Watson (Stella Henry): Two-time Daytime Emmy-winner Watson, who debuted in 2017, reprises the role of Curtis’s (Donnell Turner) aunt this week. She was last seen on the canvas in October 2020.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Heather Lindell (Jan Spears): Jan falls into another coma, which means Lindell will exit again soon. “Considering Jan’s ability and the fact that she’s capable of anything, it doesn’t surprise me that there are ways to incorporate her,” says the
Q Anne Heche (ex-Vicky/Marley, ANOTHER WORLD) and Alec Baldwin (ex-Joshua, KNOTS LANDING et al) will star in the upcoming disaster flick Supercell.... Jonathan Bennett (ex-JR, ALL MY CHILDREN) and Connor Paolo (ex-Eric, GOSSIP GIRL) will star in the indie horror film Fire Island, about a group of friends who flee New York City during the pandemic, only to find their summer vacation ruined by a serial killer.... Corbin Bernsen (ex-Todd, Y&R et al, r.) will be back for a third PSYCH movie, PSYCH 3: THIS IS GUS. The original TV series ran for eight seasons on USA.... Eric Roberts (ex-Vance, Y&R) will have a recurring role in season 2 of the HBO comedy series THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES.... Tammy Blanchard (ex-Drew, GUIDING LIGHT) will reprise her role in the Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors when the musical reopens on September 21.... Corbin Bleu (ex-Jeffrey, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) is filming the Lifetime holiday flick, A CHRISTMAS DANCE REUNION, which will feature a number of familiar faces to daytime and nighttime fans.
JILL JOHNSON/JPI
CASTING ABOUT
PRIME-TIME REPORT Q Renewals: ABC’s THE ROOKIE, starring Nathan Fillion (ex-Joey, OLTL) and Eric Winter (ex-Rex, DAYS), has been picked up for a fourth season. GREY’S ANATOMY will return for a 19th season, along with its sister sudsy drama, STATION 19, starring Jason George (ex-Michael, SUNSET BEACH), which will be back for a fifth season. Hallmark’s WHEN CALLS THE HEART, featuring soap vet Jack Wagner (ex-Frisco, GH et al), has been renewed for its ninth season. Cancellation Station: ALL RISE, starring soap vets Wilson Bethel (ex-Ryder, Y&R) and Marg Helgenberger (ex-Siobhan, RYAN’S HOPE, r.), has been canceled after two seasons. Posted Helgenberger on social media, “I will dearly miss playing with this amazing bunch of folks, along with the entire company.... I’m proud to have been a part of storytelling that illuminated injustices within the court system & policing.” ... MIXEDISH, starring Tika Sumpter (ex-Layla, OLTL), and CALL YOUR MOTHER, starring Kyra Sedgwick (ex-Julia, AW), have also been axed.
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
actress. “This time I worked with people I hadn’t before. I don’t know if they’re setting up other ways for me to have interactions with different characters but it’s always fun for me, as an actor, to work with someone I haven’t worked with before. It’s always really exciting. It’s always unfinished business with her because she’s never really getting what she wants. For me, as an actor, I see tons of ways that Jan can fit in and come back and stir up some trouble.”
Keith and son Keith, Jr. (far r.) had a great time connecting with Y&R’s Michael and TV son Kellen.
B&B CROSSOVER TO Y&R
Q Keith Carlos, who began recurring as Bikini Bar bartender Danny on B&B in 2018, will appear on Y&R as a young father who crosses paths with Kyle and son Harrison in Chancellor Park. Carlos appears with his own son, 3-yearold Keith, Jr. “Getting to do Y&R was amazing, and the fact that I actually got to do it with my son made it 10 times better,” he beams. “I can relate to the role of being a young father and sharing those precious moments of being an active dad.” Keith Sr., who was the first male winner on AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL in 2015, reports that his son may be following in dad’s footsteps. “We just did a Father’s Day campaign for the clothing brand johnnie-O, so he got to do some modeling, and the kid is a natural,” chuckles his proud pop. “At Y&R, I saw a little bit of nerves at first when he saw the cameras but he listens well. He takes direction well and after about one or two takes, he was really comfortable.” Carlos also enjoyed working with Michael Mealor (Kyle) and little Kellen Enriquez (Harrison). “Michael is a natural, cool guy,” he notes. “I feel like all of us just blended and it went pretty smooth, smoother than I expected. I thought the kids were going to be all over the place and we were going to have to do a million takes [laughs] but we all pieced it together nicely.” The Carloses will air on June 14. 13
Plots Pr
NICK ARGO/ABC; ABC
After Maxie hands her newborn over to Brook Lynn as part of the women’s highrisk scheme to protect little Louise from Peter — and fool Valentin into signing back control of ELQ to the Quartermaines — Maxie tries to sell the cover story that her baby was kidnapped by Peter’s plant nurse, “Chloe Jennings”. But passing off her big lie as the truth quickly becomes complicated when she is probed about the purported baby-snatching by a cop who knows her well: Dante. Sam walks in as Maxie is squirming under the weight of Dante’s questioning, and urges Dante to back off. He agrees to do so — for now — but clearly thinks there’s something Maxie isn’t telling him. Offers Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), “I’m not sure where this is going, but Dante and Maxie have a friendship, and he’s concerned.” The actor hopes that Dante will play a big role in the unfolding baby saga, noting, “Kirsten [Storms, Maxie] and I have known each other for a long time and we’ve gone through a lot together, just as friends and co-workers over time. Our scenes are always easy to play because I care about Kirsten and we have a pretty rich history together.”
Q&A Session: Dante (Zamprogna) puts Maxie (Kirsten Storms) in the hot seat.
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Come Fly With Me: Ashland (Richard Burgi) asks Victoria (Amelia Heinle) to dinner in the Big Apple. PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI
GENERAL HOSPITAL Will Dante Foil Maxie’s Plot?
YOUNG AND RESTLESS Ashland Invites Victoria To NYC Ashland gets a disturbing phone call, but covers when Victoria approaches. “Victoria’s arrival is a welcome distraction for Ashland,” says Head Writer/Co-Executive Producer Josh Griffith. Ashland reveals he has to go to New York that evening, and asks Victoria to join him. “At first, Victoria thinks that Ashland’s invitation is a joke, but soon learns that he’s serious, giving her a clear picture of Ashland’s intentions,” explains the scribe. Victoria notes that the timing might not be right for them to get so involved. “Victoria admits to Ashland that she is hesitant about getting involved with him because he is going through such a messy and public divorce,” says Griffith. Ashland gives her time to reconsider, then calls later for an update. “Victoria can feel chemistry with Ashland and realizes going to New York will change the dynamics of their relationship,” Griffith points out. “Victoria and Ashland are definitely a duo to keep your eyes on this summer as they will be a force to be reckoned with, personally and professionally.”
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
eview! Ever since the reveal that Shauna was the mystery woman in Carter’s bed, Paris has had an uneasy feeling about the situation. “Paris has always had good intuition,” explains Diamond White (Paris). “If she ever feels things are a little fishy, she does investigate and tries to get to the bottom of it. She’s catching looks or small facial expressions between them, things that people wouldn’t necessarily catch, and so yes, Paris is very suspicious.” Turns out, she has good reason to be. Paris overhears a discussion between Quinn and Shauna where they discuss how Quinn, not Shauna, actually slept with Carter. “Now it’s like, ‘What do I do?’ ” White chuckles of Paris’s predicament. “Does she go tell her sister that? Or, does she protect Carter and not say anything? Then there’s Eric, who she has to think about, too, because Quinn cheated on Eric. Paris wants to do the right thing, but she has no idea what that is now because so many lives will change if they found out this secret.” Paris’s Ears Are Burning: Paris (White) is privy to a bombshell.
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Paris’s Shocking Discovery!
Getting To Know You: Abe (Reynolds) feels drawn to Paulina (Jackée Harry).
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Abe And Paulina Get Closer Abe stops by Paulina’s and shares that Chanel’s application to own and operate a bakery in the new Horton Town Square has been approved. Paulina isn’t on board because she has a secret agenda for the project. “He’s more than happy to support Chanel starting this business,” notes James Reynolds (Abe). “It meets his goals of expanding opportunities and he knows Chanel has had a difficult time sticking to something, and this is something that she appears to be passionate about. Paulina, on the other hand, does not seem to favor anything that Chanel wants to get involved in.” Later, Abe and Paulina nearly kiss but she’s called away before they can make it happen. “He’s fascinated by her,” says Reynolds. “She’s unlike any other person that he comes in contact with in Salem in a lot of ways, personality being the foremost. And her energy level, I don’t think he’s ever experienced that, that someone has that kind of energy and focus to create this kind of personal wealth that she has over the years, and at the same time, she seems to enjoy life, so she’s not so work-focused that nothing else really matters to her.” 15
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PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI
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sneak
B&B’s Hope (Annika Noelle) brings a pick-me-up to an imprisoned Liam (Scott Clifton).
Chloe (Elizabeth Hendrickson) faces off with Adam (Mark Grossman) in the park on Y&R.
Kyle (Michael Mealor) and Summer (Hunter King) are ready for break-
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
Y&R’s Michael (Christian J. LeBlanc, l.) sits down with Rey (Jordi Vilasuso).
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
DAYS’s Allie (Lindsay Arnold, r.) seeks counsel from Marlena (Deidre Hall).
Philip (Jay Kenneth Johnson) makes sure Jan’s (Heather Linde ll) back is to the wall on DAYS.
B&B’s Carter (Lawrence SaintVictor) puts a ring on Zoe (Kiara Barnes).
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
B&B’s Quinn (Rena Sofer, r.) vents to Shauna (Denise Richards).
DAYS’s Gwen (Emily O’Brien) and Xander (Paul Telfer) have an object of desire.
17
BEHIND the SCENES!
TWITTER/EGAN
“We’re cool until they yell ‘ACTION’,” quipped DAYS’s Lamon Archey (Eli, l.), of his ALL AMERICAN co-star and on-screen adversary Taye Diggs (ex-Sugar Hill, GUIDING LIGHT et al).
Darin Brooks (Wyatt). “Making sh*t all Bold n Beautiful n stuff!! But here’s a fun fact… these super awesome masks made especially for us!! Just keeping things safe in the studio!!” 18
INSTAGRAM/BURTON
INSTAGRAM/BROOKS
GH’s Steve Burton (Jason) worked on his muscle memory.
INSTAGRAM/ARCHEY
Social snaps of stars on set.
SOAP OPERA DIGEST INSTAGRAM/BROWN
INSTAGRAM/WILSON
DAYS’s Robert Scott Wilson (Ben) was flanked by Deidre Hall (Marlena, l.) and Jackée Harry (Paulina).
Kimberly J. Brown (“Chloe”) was all smiles at the GH set.
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Readers of soapoperadigest.com weigh in.
What do you think of Quinn and Carter’s affair on B&B?
Feel The Burn: B&B fans are fairly divided over whether Quinn (Rena Sofer) and Carter (Lawence Saint-Victor) are a steam team.
47% Hot!
53%
HOWARD WISE/JPI
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trend temperature
HOT WARM COLD
Roger Howarth’s GH Alter
Sitcom Star To Y&R
Recast DiMera (DAYS)
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
Courtney Hope (Sally, B&B) posed with Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) when she guested on his YouTube show, STATE OF MIND.
STAR SHOTS OF THE WEEK Lauralee Bell (Christine, Y&R) teased, “#iam wearingbottoms.”
Kin Shriner (Scott, GH) posted, “Horribly rainy day in LA. @stou ffers creamed chip beef just the answ er !!!!”
my virtual interview for @thetalkcbs,” reported Denise Richards (Shauna, B&B).
) captured Crystal Chappell (ex-Carly, DAYS husband a pre-prom pic of son Dylan and DAYS). Michael Sabatino (ex-Lawrence,
guide to must-see episodes
Carter Country On Tuesday, June 8, Carter’s guilt gets the best of him while working closely with Eric (r.).... On Thursday, June 10, Carter attempts to move forward and re-proposes to Zoe.... On Friday, June 11, Quinn and Carter covertly update each other on the state of their respective relationships.
Days Of Our Lives
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
Warning Signs On Monday, June 7, Nicole gets sympathy from Roman; Chanel and Allie appear on the verge of a close moment; and Jack talks to Steve and Kayla about Gwen.... Chanel once again spots Eli in an exposed state; Tripp asks Kayla for advice; and Xander pays Dr. Snyder (both l.) a visit on Tuesday, June 8.... On Wednesday, June 9, Nicole debates confessing to Eric, and Kayla questions Gwen about Dr. Snyder. The show will be pre-empted on Thursday, June 10 and Friday, June 11.
General Hospital Ex Factor Carly shuts Jax out; Michael and Willow (r.) grow closer; and Lenny gives Mike advice on Monday, June 7.... On Tuesday, June 8, Stella talks to Portia about her presence in Curtis’s life; Alexis and Shawn make a discovery; and Jax backs Michael into a corner.... Nina gets a promising call on Wednesday, June 9, while Chase’s health appears to be improving; and Dante is called to Wyndemere after Ava and Nikolas receive a troubling threat.... Sonny steps up when he and Phyllis are caught by surprise; Finn considers a big decision; and Michael tells Willow about his encounter with Jax on Thursday, June 10. 22
PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI
Bold And Beautiful
On The Lookout On Monday, June 7, Lily keeps the peace between Billy (both r.) and Jack, and Kyle senses trouble with Tara.... On Tuesday, June 8, Victor pushes Adam to take the lead, and Summer tries to connect with Harrison.... Nick and Phyllis debate over a business venture; Sharon and Rey make plans for their future; and Nikki gives Adam a warning shot on Wednesday, June 9.... On Thursday June 10, Kyle challenges Ashland, and Rey plays games with Chelsea.... Victor questions Amanda’s connection to Sutton; Jack counsels Tara; and Lily turns to Devon for help on Friday, June 11.
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
Young And Restless
TV
On Wednesday, June 9, on THE BOLD TYPE, Jane faces unexpected performance reviews that shake her confidence in The Failing Feminist; Sutton’s attempts to move on from her divorce are thwarted by other’s opinions; and Kat reunites with Adena, who’s keeping a secret.... On WALKER on Thursday, June 10, Walker’s past comes back with a vengeance that threatens his family. Eva Tamargo (ex-Pilar, PASSIONS) guests on the series finale of REBEL.... On Friday, June 11, B&B vet Anthony Turpel (ex-R.J.) and his crew are back for the season 2 premiere of LOVE, VICTOR on Hulu. On DYNASTY, Fallon sets out to make sure everyone knows who’s boss; Adam heads back to the hospital to undo the damage done by Fallon, and the competition escalates between the sibs; Sam complains to Culhane about his relationship woes, and Culhane admits he’s uncomfortable with his own new status; Cristal and Blake inch toward reconciling; Liam suffers writer’s block; and Kirby feels distant from Adam when she shows up at the hospital and is met with a shocking surprise.... On Saturday, June 12, Jennie Garth (ex-Kelly, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210, above), stars in the Lifetime Original Movie LEFT FOR DEAD: THE ASHLEY REEVES STORY, based on a true event. Brant Daugherty (ex-Brian, DAYS et al, r.) stars in THE BAKER’S SON, a new movie on Hallmark Channel.
Please Note: These are the scheduled air dates, released to us by the networks and TV production companies at press time. Due to last-minute pre-emptions, actual air dates may vary.
23
DARREN GOLDSTEIN/LIFETIME; PROVIDER: LUBA POPOVIC/CROWN MEDIA UNITED STATES, LLC
TIME
thumbs up! down!
Best Of Show Or Digest Decides. thumbs up! DAYS OF OUR LIVES Triple Threat
All signs are pointing to a reboot of the Brady/Chloe/ Philip triangle, and all we can say is, it’s about time. Brady and Chloe’s recent closeness caused Kristen to take drastic measures to try to rid the world of Ms. Lane, which wound up backfiring, big-time, when Brady got wind of her plot. Chloe wound up in the clutches of Jan, who had her own ax to grind with her high school foe, which pushed Chloe back into Philip’s orbit, as well, when he came to her rescue. “Phloe” and “Broe” had huge rooting value in the early aughts, and even though Eric Martsolf wasn’t playing Brady
Applause, Applause
R’s We miss Alyvia Alyn Lind as Y& to Faith but are quickly cottoning take Reylynn Caster’s understated ison the role, and the cute chem n try she shares with Jacob Aaro ’s Gaines (Moses).... Bravo to GH wife Wally Kurth, who, along with the Debra, co-wrote the lyrics to Brook sweet lullaby his Ned sang to . Sami Lynn’s (fake) pregnant belly... lem seeing Nicole walk into the Sa twist Inn with Xander was a perfect DAYS. to the dual infidelity story on 24
DAYS’s Philip (Jay Kenneth Johnson, l.), Chloe (Nadia Bjorlin) and Brady (Eric Martsolf)
during that time, the actor has been in Salem since 2008 and shared enough scenes with Nadia Bjorlin’s Chloe to where they’ve established their own dynamic. Having Jay Kenneth Johnson’s Philip back has only punctuated the fact that this was storyline gold just waiting to be mined. Brady hasn’t been paired successfully since Chloe, and neither has Philip, for that matter. Never has the phrase “everything old is new again” felt so promising.
Picky Picky
thumbs down! GENERAL HOSPITAL To Forgive, Divine
Since 2018, when GH tapped William Lipton to play Cameron opposite Eden McCoy’s Josslyn, Cam and Joss have been played as unshakably loyal to one another, even as they’ve occasionally struggled to navigate the question of whether they are more than friends, which is why we are baffled by what has caused their current estrangement: Joss’s inability to forgive Cameron for thinking Jason
B&B’s Zoe discussing finding out that Carter had slept with another woman with Forrester higher-ups Eric, Ridge and Brooke was jarringly inappropriate.... Y&R’s Kyle and ex-wife Lola are on decent terms, but would he and Summer really be so insensitive as to hold their engagement party at Society, where Lola works, and not, say, the Grand Phoenix, which is owned by Summer’s mom, Phyllis? ... We get that GH only has one gym set, but given that Volonino’s is owned by mob boss Sonny, maybe Police Commissioner Jordan shouldn’t be shown working out there?
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
thumbs down! BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Big Bad Bill
While B&B’s Bill did what he thought was best to keep his son out of prison for the hit-and run accident that cost Vinny his life, his cold behavior has not benefited the character. Liam’s guilt and torment over covering up the crime was obvious — but instead of offering his son compassion, Bill took a tough-love stance that made him come across like a big bully. Not only is that behavior off-putting, but Bill’s lack of empathy for the dearly departed is appalling. Yes, Vinny did
switch Steffy’s paternity test results, but dying is an awfully steep price to pay for such a misdeed — and lest we (or he!) forget, Bill has done much worse (just ask Ridge, who he had dumped into the Persian Gulf in 2014!). Bill has only been given one note
to play in this storyline, and it feels plot-driven, not true to his character; after all, there’s a difference between ruthless and heartless. The show’s decision to cast Bill in such a negative light makes it hard for us to imagine rooting for him again.
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
could have killed Franco (which, admittedly, brought him to the brink of shooting her godfather). While Jason is unquestionably an important figure in Joss’s life, she was only 3 years old when he was presumed dead back in 2012, and by the time he returned, she was a teenager. It simply doesn’t jibe with what we’ve watched on screen to suggest that Joss’s emotional connection to Jason is so deep and abiding that it supersedes what she shares with Cam, who has seen her through every tragic event in her life, such as losing Oscar to cancer. Where is her compassion for the great loss her lifelong friend has suffered, and perhaps more to the point, why didn’t his sincere and heartfelt apology for his behavior suffice? We welcome dramatic conflict among the shows — we just want it to make sense.
Performer Of The Week Melissa Claire Egan (CHELSEA, Y&R) Q Melissa Claire Egan gave a riveting performance within a performance when her character faked a H OW I jail time for orchestrating Rey’s poisoning. A R D WIS E/JP As Chelsea tumbled out a confession of her misdeeds to Rey, Egan’s take on her character’s dramatic remorse was delicious, demented and slyly funny, to boot, as when Chelsea decided to drop her “I can barely walk” act, heaved an irritated sigh, and flung her cane across the room with panache. The actress channeled not only Chelsea’s emotional instability, but also her genuine indignation at Adam’s treatment of her, her face snarling with disgust and pain flickering in her eyes as she railed against Adam and Sharon’s “stolen kisses behind closed doors.” When Michael and Dr. Hedges, the psychiatrist secretly on Victor’s payroll, entered, Chelsea’s eyes narrowed suspiciously; newly on edge, Egan cranked up her alter’s paranoia as Chelsea lashed out, anger and self-pity both evident in her voice as she spat that Adam had hurt her “because I had the audacity to not be Sharon.” In the next moment, she practically burst with pride as she scoffed that the police “should be giving me a medal” for so brilliantly framing Adam for attempted murder; and then she wept brokenly as she recalled the isolation and invisibility she’d felt while trapped in her wheelchair. The men ate it up, and arrangements were made for poor, unspooling Chelsea to be committed. Victor was thrilled, but Chelsea did not share her co-conspirator’s triumph. Emotionally exhausted from leaving it all on the proverbial stage, his calm satisfaction seemed to trigger her own anxiety and lingering fears. Eyes watering, voice pleading, she made him promise he would help her rebuild her life. At day’s end, in her new bed in a psychiatric ward, her eyes flew open and shined with determination and rage, her mouth fixed with a scowl. The message was clear: Chelsea was far from ready to let her fate rest in Victor’s hands. Egan took mere words on a page and colored them with vivid emotion, leaning into Chelsea’s cunning and tapping into her heartbreak with equal success. It was precisely what Victor said it was: a tour de force.
25
soap digest
editor’s
OPERA
Dear Readers,
As someone who has covered DAYS on and off since
VP, Editorial Director STEPHANIE SLOANE
that I was a little dubious about the show recasting the role of EJ DiMera. James Scott made such a powerful impression during his r 2006-14 run, and “EJami” became such a popula duo that I couldn’t imagine lightning striking twice. Well, EJ is coming back to Salem after a seven-year absence and the show has hired Aussie newcomer Dan Feuerriegel to take over the part. On page 30, Head Writer Ron Carlivati shares the l thinking that went into recasting such a pivota role, and Alison Sweeney (Sami) discusses her new co-star, and how she thinks he’s doing. After hearing what they had to say, I’m very excited for Dan’s debut on June 9. Be sure to tune in for this new chapter! Finola Hughes has been quite busy of late as GH’s Anna. On page 42, the fan favorite opens up to Mara Levinsky about her current storylines and how she feels about Anna’s dynamic with Peter, Finn, Valentin and more. The Daytime Emmy nominations are out and the list can be found on page 4. What do you think of this year’s crop of nominees? Let us know at SODsound@soapoperadigest.com. It’s June and that’s traditionally a time for weddings. On page 48, we take a look back at four recent ceremonies.
Deputy Editor STELLA BEDNARZ Senior Editor MARA LEVINSKY Senior Copy Editor MICHAEL KAROL Senior Writers DEVIN OWENS TOM STACY Photo Editor BRYAN BECKLEY Contributing Editors CAROLYN HINSEY DONNA HOKE Art Director GEORGIA BENARDOS Associate Art Directors STEPHANIE ABRECHT GARY WALSH Production Manager MARKO BARLOVIC FOR SUBSCRIPTION CUSTOMER SERVICE CALL 1-800-829-9095
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■ We’re all in when couples break up to make up, but some soaps are losing the thread. Where is the love, people? ■ Take B&B’s Ridge and Brooke. They recently reunited after she shared a messy public smooch with his rival, Bill. But rather than let us watch them work their way back to each other with stolen kisses in the office and inappropriate footsie at Il Giardino, Brooke has spent 100 percent of her time trying to 1) break up Eric and Quinn and 2) reunite Hope and Liam. Ridge: “Don’t get your expectations up too high.” Brooke: “Expectations?” Ridge: “Hope and Liam.” Silly me. I thought they might have a conversation about their own reunion. Is Ridge still drinking too much? Do they ever talk to their teenage son, R.J. (who we haven’t seen since 2018)? Does the queen of Brooke’s Bedroom still own a negligee? I get that this A-list couple can’t always be 28
front burner, but they should at least be on the stove. Eric/Quinn, Bill/Katie and Wyatt/Flo also made their way back to each other off screen, although we did get to watch Wyatt propose to Flo ... at his father’s office. Romance has gone the way of Bill’s sports car: missing. If you’re not a Hope and Liam fan — and I’m not, she deserves better — the
Nicole: “You are the last
thing I want.” Xander: “You didn’t say that last night.” Nicole: “I was desperately missing my husband. I thought about Eric the whole time.” Ew! Xander’s heart was also broken by Sarah (really Kristen in a latex suit, don’t get me started), so he immediately 1) married Chanel
Where is the love, people? only “couple” to root for is Carter and the very-married Quinn. Yes, their sex scenes are sizzling and verboten and show great promise, but the duo went from 0 to 100 in three episodes and it’s hard to watch them make a fool of our beloved Eric. Do they have real feelings for each other? You can’t have a meaningful love triangle without love. ■ When a beloved duo splits, should they fall into bed with someone else? Yes, says DAYS.
and 2) slept with Nicole. Where is the rooting value here? Kate also disappeared courtesy of Latex Kristen so Jake immediately slept with Gabi. Jake: “I’m not sorry, because I never stopped wanting you.” Gabi: “One of my dreams finally came true and I didn’t have to drug anyone to make it happen.” Ah, Salem. Out of sight, out of mind. Sorry, Kate! The reunion we didn’t
know we needed until a few weeks ago was Lucas and the still-married Sami. They were kidnapped and locked in a basement so naturally they had sex and then fought about whose fault it was. Sami: “I made it clear I didn’t want it to happen again.” Lucas: “No. You made it clear you didn’t want anyone to find out.” Now that’s a couple finding their way back to each other. I could fill this magazine with “Lumi” classic lines but I especially enjoyed this one: Sami: “It would have been helpful if you had a flashlight.” Lucas: “Next time Kristen knocks me over the head and puts me in her dungeon I’ll be sure to bring my toolbox.” Throw a condom in there, sailor. ■ Y&R’s Sharon and Rey broke up when he thought Adam poisoned him and Sharon defended Adam, but a thorough investigation of the crime conducted by Rey about his own poisoning proved Chelsea did it.
So Sharon and Rey got back together by drinking tea on the couch and zzzzzz. Meanwhile, a chessboard told Adam in a dream that his treatment of Chelsea was wrong so, presto, he was a better person. Adam: “If I could go back and undo the damage....” Chloe: “Where would you start? Locking her up? Drugging her? When you chased after Sharon?” Adam: “I’m not going to stop you from scorning me.” Can I stop you from using the word scorning? It’s 2021, dude. ■ I can’t wrap my head around the painful and abrupt ending to Liz and Franco’s love story on GH so I choose to believe Roger Howarth’s evolution from Todd to Franco to “New Guy” will be a payoff. As for breaking up to make up, that’s not happening in Port Charles. Alexis’s loves Julian and Neil are both dead. Finn and Anna are making no effort to reunite. Maxie’s true love, Nathan, died, so she turned
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
Partner Swap: DAYS’s Xander (Paul Telfer) has been on a downward spiral since Sarah left town.
Pennsylvania. (He has time to do that because the only customer at The Tan-O has been Trina.) Meanwhile, Carly is back in P.C. flipping mob tables and drinking Sonny’s scotch. Jax (to Carly): “You’ve turned yourself into Sonny.” Sometimes the bereaved take a different route.... Nina was hurt by Valentin so she dated Jax, who also hurt her so now she’s pursuing amnesiac Sonny, who will definitely hurt her since he’s married to Carly. It’s like a round robin of heartache. On the bright side, Ned and Olivia are making their way back to each other and there’s a sweetness to the distant dance Brook Lynn and Valentin have done during her (pretend) pregnancy. Brook Lynn: “When did you become such an optimist?” Valentin: “When you told me I was going to be a father again.” Aw. Brook Lynn and Maxie are more from the “Break Up To Fake Up” school of dating — but in a sea of broken romances, I’ll take it. ■ Hey. It’s only my 앮 opinion. 29
Dan Feuerriegel (EJ, l.), Alison Sweeney (Sami) and Bryan R. Dattilo (Lucas)
Timing is DAYS’s EJ Comes Roaring Back To Salem — Just When Lucas Asks Sami For Another Chance At Romance By Stephanie Sloane
CHRIS HASTON/NBC; JOHN PASCHAL/JPI
embodies the spirit of that character through their acting, and it doesn’t always have to be a physical resemblance. Yes, sometimes it helps immensely to have someone who looks like the other actor, but other times I look at Abigail on our show. Marci Miller and Kate Mansi don’t physically look that much alike, but you get the sense of Abigail from both of them. All that is to say that you’re not necessarily looking for a doppelgänger; you go with who embodies the character, who has the chemistry with the other actor. We did a test with Alison [Sweeney, Sami] and she responded well to Dan, as did everyone on set. I wasn’t there for the auditions in person but I watched it virtually. Dan just brought a lot. He brought the attitude, which is what we were looking for in EJ. And an accent, which also helps. So I’m hopeful that the audience will welcome him and give him a chance because obviously, he’s something new and different, but that would be the same with anyone playing this role.” Sweeney admits that she was concerned when she heard there would be a new actor in the role. “To be honest, I was nervous when I heard they were recasting EJ,” she relays. “That’s a big role to fill. I mean, James Scott was definitely a fan favorite, and EJ is such a memorable role in the story and certainly in Sami’s life. I was nervous about who they’d find who could step into that right out of the gate. And then, I was also aware of how important it was for Sami to respond to EJ just right in those first scenes. When Ron first mentioned it to me, I had not realized the pressure I would feel.” But all went well and the actress has high praise for her new co-star. “Dan has been fantastic,” Sweeney raves. “I’ve really enjoyed working with him. He clearly understood the importance of the task ahead and really was great about everything. It was hilarious at first, sort of filling him in on the backstory and details for some of the characters and their relationships with EJ. But I didn’t want to 31
NBC • NBC • NBC
E
J returns to Salem this week after a sevenyear absence, which spells trouble for Sami and Lucas, who have been having an affair behind his back. Deciding to recast the role after James Scott’s memorable run from 2006-14 wasn’t taken lightly. “The genesis of bringing back EJ ties to the character of Sami,” begins Head Writer Ron Carlivati. “When I got to the show and Sami wasn’t on the canvas, she had left Salem but had this drive where she had this idea that her husband was still alive and was searching the world looking for him. So each time we brought Sami onto the show, you could kind of gloss over that, and we could sort of keep alive, ‘Oh, I’m out there in the world looking for EJ,’ but I feel with each successive visit, the spectre of EJ loomed larger and larger until we finally felt we had to deal with it. Otherwise, it’s hard to continue to tell stories with Sami unless you’re going to answer the question, is EJ still alive?” In 2018, the question was answered when Sami found EJ in Dr. Rolf’s Nashville lab. “So, with each visit, it becomes more imperative that we deal with the question: What’s going on in her marriage and what’s going on with EJ?” says the scribe. “So we came up with this idea to pair her with Lucas and build this little affair, and then how do you not deal with EJ? Does she just leave town with the secret that she slept with Lucas a few times? It’s a little unsatisfying. You want EJ to ultimately show up and wonder if this secret of Lucas and Sami is going to come out. So that is how we went about saying, we have to tear off this Band-Aid and find ourselves an EJ.” After an extensive casting search, Australian actor Dan Feuerriegel was tapped to play the pivotal part. “I think the audience understands that any time you’re dealing with a recast, it’s a challenge because you can’t just clone that other person,” Carlivati points out. “The original actor or actress is what is burned into people’s minds, so you have a couple of different ways to go. You can cast a look-alike who resembles the original actor, or you can go for someone who
PHOTOS: XJ JOHNSON/JPI
Sami discovered that EJ was alive in 2018.
Sami is determined to prove that Nicole (Arianne Zucker) slept with Xander.
overwhelm him by telling him too much all at once. I mean, it’s a lot to take in [laughs]. But we had so many great conversations, and again, he has to make EJ his own — he can’t try to replicate what James was doing. But, EJ does have some intrinsic qualities that Dan does a great job of bringing out. And when Dan and I would rehearse, it was really fun to try to create that dynamic relationship between Sami and EJ, and I hope those ‘EJami’ fans see the couple they were so connected to, but of course in a new, different way. All that is to say, my experience working with Dan has been fantastic. He’s hard-working, a talented actor and a super-nice guy. I’m thrilled for him
Dan, I hadn’t realized how hard that would be. But as I said, Dan is such a great scene partner and he has so much respect for the story, the history of these characters and the show that I know he’s going to give the fans the EJ they have been missing.” Story-wise this week, Sami has a lot on her plate trying to bust Nicole for sleeping with Xander while keeping her own relationship with Lucas under wraps. Nicole runs into Sami, who has just learned Nicole was never registered at the Salem Inn the night Sami saw her with Xander. “Sami has always hated cheaters,” notes Sweeney. “Ever since she saw Marlena with John [in 1993] she has felt that
“There is so much pressure from how I can imagine the fans will react to a situation like this.” — ALISON SWEENEY to be taking on this role.” For Sweeney, revisiting the “EJami” dynamic seven years later was a challenge. “It was actually really complicated for me returning to the ‘EJami’ storyline without James,” she reflects. “Obviously, when you develop a relationship like that between two characters, it felt sort of overwhelming to try to tackle it with someone new, someone I’d literally met for five minutes. Normally in a soap story, you have time for the characters to get to know one another and you sort of figure each other out. James and I had years of story together before it was really the ‘EJami’ we ended with, so to jump right into the deep end, so to speak, with 32
way and been so scarred by that experience. But having done it herself, it doesn’t stop her from righteously trying to bust Nicole. And while it’s partially because of her hatred of Nicole, I think it’s really out of love for Eric. While it’s obviously hypocritical of Sami, she loves Eric and from her right/wrong point of view, Nicole is wrong — and Sami always knew that — and she needs for Eric to know the truth about his wife.” Nicole claims that she wasn’t registered because she used a corporate credit card. Sami suspects it’s a bluff but is thrown when Nicole produces a receipt from the night in question, unaware that it’s a fake. “In the moment of
Nicole producing the receipt, I think Sami is a little caught off-guard,” admits Sweeney. “But later on, Sami will add it up and realize how suspicious it is that Nicole just happened to have proof right on hand. But in the moment, Sami feels stymied that Nicole was able to shut down Sami’s suspicions so easily.” Later, Sami asks Lucas to help her prove that Nicole had an affair with Xander, but he refuses. “Lucas thinks Sami’s out of her mind for trying to bust Nicole,” previews Sweeney. “He definitely calls her on her hypocrisy and doesn’t think it’s a good idea to poke the bear. But again — and, as always — Sami won’t listen to his good advice.” Lucas suggests that Sami’s marital issues may also stem from the fact that she’s in love with him. Sami protests, but Lucas thinks they could recreate their old magic and make a go of it. “Oh, I loved these scenes!” enthuses Sweeney. “Bryan [R. Dattilo, Lucas] was so great in this moment! Lucas has this wonderful moment where he is asking Sami to stay in Salem and give ‘Lumi’ another chance. He puts it out there, about their past, their friendship, how well they know each other. And he also points out that EJ hasn’t been the husband she deserves after everything she’s done for him. And I think for a minute she’s tempted. Sami feels so secure and safe with Lucas — their history, their connection is solid, as it’s always been.” Before Sami can respond, there’s a knock at the door. She opens it and is stunned to find EJ standing there. “Oh, my God, this was
such a tough scene for me,” shares the actress. “Obviously, there is so much pressure from how I can imagine the fans will react to a situation like this. And I wanted it to be great. And for Sami it would be huge. She’s been running around Salem, doing her own thing. And in a way, that’s the old Sami, up to her old tricks, scheming, etc., and after the years of looking after EJ, and what we’ve learned that was like for her, it must feel good for Sami to feel like herself again. She loves EJ, she did everything to help him, but he wasn’t responding. She wasn’t getting the two-way street she yearned for. And even though he got the money to rescue her from Xander, she still feels isolated from her husband. And then, boom. For him to just show up on her doorstep, healed and healthy, is a shock. And it is a fun scene. Ron had it in there that Sami is ‘speechless’ for a few lines before she pulls herself together. And I thought that was totally perfect.” As for what’s ahead, Sweeney teases, “You know Sami: She gets going in one direction and she can’t let it go. She has worked so hard to help EJ, to heal him, to get back to that relationship they had before everything happened and he ‘died’. And she isn’t going to give up on that for anything. As this story unfolds, you’re going to see that blind determination come to the forefront again and that is one of my favorite characteristics of Sami. I mean, in real life, I’m sure it would get you into a lot of trouble. But to get to play Sami, all grit and determination and conviction that she’s right, or her plan is right — even in the face of incontrovertible evidence ... It’s a hell of a lot of fun.” 33
NBC • NBC • NBC
Lucas asks Sami for another chance, but EJ returns before she can answer.
THIS WEEK
IN SOAP OPERA
HISTORY On June 11, 1982, Eileen Davidso n made her Y&R debut as Ashley.
JOHN PASCHAL/JPI
Digest looks back on standout moments from the past.
MIKE GUASTELLA/JPI
Future R&B superstar Usher (with Adrienne Frantz as Amber) made his B&B debut as Raymond on June 9, 1998.
34
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
JESSE GRANT/JPI
Philip (Jay Kenneth Johnson) and Belle (thenKirsten Storms) graduated from high school on DAYS on June 7, 2002.
DONNA SVENNEVIK/ABC
After a 16-year absence, Stephen Nichols (far l., with Matthew Ashford as Jack) returned to DAYS as Steve on June 9, 2006.
On June 7, 2010, ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Bo (Robert S. Woods) and Nora (Hillary B. Smith) remarried.
35
JIM WARREN
Marcus Coloma (Nikolas, GH) “The most photos in my phone are of my daughter, Coco. No question. It’s basically all photos of her.”
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
Brandon Barash (Jake, DAYS) “My daughter [Harper], for sure.” 36
PHOTOS: KATHY HUTCHINS/SHUTTERSTOCK
Q
roundup
Lawrence SaintVictor (Carter, B&B) “The boy. He takes up all the space. All [son] Christian. All day.”
Darin Brooks (Wyatt, B&B) “[Wife] Kelly [Kruger, ex-Mackenzie, Y&R et al]. She makes me take photos of her wherever we go, and her outfits of the day. I need to clear up space on my phone, but [daughter] Everleigh is a close second, only because I’ve been with Kelly for a lot longer, but Everleigh is getting up there now.”
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
SOAP OPERA DIGEST Bryton James (Devon, Y&R) “That’s easy. Brytni [Sarpy, Elena, his real-life love]! And when it comes to selfies of us, she always takes them.”
Eric Martsolf (Brady, DAYS) “My children [twins Chase and Mason]. When you’re a parent, you’re proud of them; you can’t believe they’re growing so much and you want to immortalize what you made. They’re my greatest creations, so I take pictures of my children.”
JILL JOHNSON/JPI
Jordi Vilasuso (Rey, Y&R) “My daughters [Riley and Everly].”
Lucas Adams (Tripp, DAYS) “Probably of my dog, Lando. I have photos of him all over my phone.”
BY DONNA HOKE
JUNE BRIDES
1. MARRIED BO (DAYS, 1995) 6. MARRIED MASON (SANTA BARBARA, 1989) 11. Scott’s father (GH) 12. Lois’s June groom (GH, 1995) 14. Those logging in 15. ___ nova 16. Lily’s mom (Y&R) 17. Winters son (Y&R) 18. French pronoun 20. Gambling inits. 22. Gumbo is its yearbook; abbr. 23. MARRIED DIMITRI (ALL MY CHILDREN, 1993) 25. MARRIED VICTOR (Y&R, 1994) 26. ’50s Democratic presidential hopeful, initially 27. Yellowfin tuna 29. “Boo-___!” (“All right!”) 31. MARRIED FRISCO (GH, 1986) 33. A neighbor of Montana; abbr. 35. Keep me informed, via text 36. Emailed also; abbr. 38. GH role for Zachary Garred 40. MARRIED GRANT (GH, 1983) 42. Pasta suffix 44. Electric swimmer 46. Buchanan patriarch (ONE LIFE TO LIVE) 47. Accepted fact 49. Be on a soap
ACROSS
38
51. MAYBERRY ___ (1968-71 sitcom) 53. Ocean’s Eleven centerpiece 54. Nickname for DAYS’s Marlena 55. Colorful pond fish 56. MARRIED BRAD (Y&R, 1986) 57. MARRIED LANGLEY (AMC, 1980)
DOWN 1. MARRIED ROSS (GUIDING LIGHT, 1994) 2. Comparative suffix 3. GH’s Charleson (Monica) 4. A Spaulding (GL) 5. “Mountain” ending 6. Big popcorn or drink size 7. GI entertainers, initially
8. Laura’s mother (GH) 9. Angers 10. “That being the case...” (two words) 13. Any June couple 19. Bay Area campus, briefly 21. Blockheaded 24. A bit daring 27. Sami’s daughter (DAYS) 28. “A Hymn to ___” (My Fair Lady song) 30. “Truth in Engineering” car company 32. High cards 33. GH’s Laura (Carly) 34. ____ Rose Keegan (ex-Claire, DAYS) 37. Made Sally a June bride (B&B, 1990)
Answers can be found in the next issue.
Q Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. You can’t change the digits already provided in the grid; you have to work around them.
39. 20-ounce (hot)/ 24 ounce (cold) Starbucks size 40. Fisherman’s take 41. MARRIED DOUG (DAYS, 1972) 43. A bride and groom may be on the top one 45. Young boy 48. Upper left keyboard key 50. GH’s Dante, for one 52. The Gift of the Magi gift
ANSWERS FROM LAST ISSUE & $ 5 6 2 1 2 / , 9 ( 5
+ $ 1 . 2 / 0 $ < $
5 , 6 $ , 6 6 7 ( ( 5 $ : 6 % 5 $ $ , ' 6 , 9 , $ ( * * ( ' 6 2 5 , 5 ( , 1 % 2
3 + , / $ $ & 5 5 < $ 5 $ / , % , $ 4 8 , / 7 / + 2 $ < $ 1 1 < ( 1 ( : . $
/ $ 9 $
, 6 , )
3 $ 0 ( / 1 & $ 7 + , 6 7 , / ( / 8 9 ( . ( 5 ( 1 39
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
2 4 2 4 7 6 1 7 3 6 5 9 2 8 6 1 4 5 3 5 4 4 1 5 8 5 1 2 8 4 2 4
Hunter King (Summer, Y&R) admits that she’s totally smitten with her new costar Kellen Enriquez, who plays Kyle’s 3-year-old son, Harrison. “Oh, my God, you have no idea how much I love him,” gushes the actress. “To begin with, I love babies and kids, so when he first came to set, I got baby fever right away and I instantly fell in love with him. I was just like, ‘Wow!’ He’s incredibly adorable and he keeps getting cuter by the day.” The only drawback, King reports, is that she hasn’t gotten to spend very much quality time with the tot because of child labor laws. “Because he’s so young,
Y&R’s Hunter loves her new co-star.
KATHY HUTCHINS/SHUTTERSTOCK
CHILD’S PLAY
they’re very strict with how much time he can be on set, so we can’t waste any time,” King explains. “I haven’t really gotten the chance to talk with him so he can get used to me. If I had it my way, I would be playing and talking with him a lot. He’s just so sweet and well-behaved. I know I didn’t behave that well when I was his age. I can go on and on with saying how much I love him. I don’t know how it could happen, but I wish it turned out that he’s Summer’s child so I could be the one to hold him and carry him around.”
JIM WARREN; CRAIG SJODIN/ABC
THE MORE, THE MERRIER Johnny Wactor (Brando, GH) can name a trio of actors he’d like to interact with more on screen, starting with Bradford Anderson (Spinelli). “I love working with Bradford,” he declares. “When he puts on his Spinelli wardrobe, he becomes Spinelli, and when he’s not [in Spinelli’s attire], he’s a different person. He’s theatrically trained and he brings such a distinct energy when you’re on GH’s Johnny (l.) is a fan of Bradford’s. set with him. He’s really good! Working with him is always fun.” Ditto Wes Ramsey (Peter). “We’ve only had brief scenes, and again, he is such a different person versus the character he plays,” Wactor notes. “It’s really fascinating to watch him work and fun to work with him. When he puts on the Peter August clothes, he becomes a really intimidating dude! I’d love to have more scenes with him. James Patrick Stuart [Valentin], same thing. He has such energy and charisma. It’s really palpable and you see it translate through the scene. We’ve only done a handful of scenes together, but I’ve gotten to watch him work in scenes that were adjacent to mine and it’s so fun to watch him work.” 40
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
Chloe’s recent scenes with Heather Lindell’s Jan on DAYS proved to be a physical challenge for her portrayer, Nadia Bjorlin. “I injured a muscle in my stomach, I thought, two days before the scenes had to be shot,” she recalls. “And I thought, ‘This is what I get for trying to get back into exercising; I injure myself.’ I used to be able to do this stuff so easily. And I did it in Pilates. That’s so lame. I don’t even have a good war story, but it was to the point where I was so sore in a part of my stomach that I was wearing a back brace. I ended up getting an MRI and it turned out the discs in my spine are degenerating, really uplifting news. With that being said, originally they wanted to choreograph something a little more exciting for Chloe’s rescue but I was like, ‘Guys, I can’t move.’ But it all worked out. It just created
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
Nadia (l.) took some hits working with Heather.
BRUISE CONTROL
more fun memories.” Being tied up was new for her, notes Bjorlin. “That was a first, that’s for sure,” she muses. “I bruise really easily so I got all bruised around my wrists and I thought, ‘This is probably not a good look in the real world.’ The props department sent me home with the zip ties to show my husband. They were like, ‘Here, show him what you’ve been doing for a week.’ He was like, ‘I’m sorry, honey. What? What are you doing at work?’ ”
GO WITH THE FLO
PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI
B&B’s Katrina Bowden (Flo) is thrilled about the opportunity to work more with Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke), Jennifer Gareis (Donna) and Heather Tom (Katie). “The scenes where her aunts finally accepted Flo into the family were so fun to film,” shares Bowden. “I really like working with all of the Logan women. It’s a really fun group. They were all so warm and welcoming, and not just on screen. We have had a lot of laughs taping those types of scenes together. On camera, it’s tense but off camera, we just crack up. But also I have to say, these women are so great and so emotionally talented. We all played off each other really well and it felt really moving while we were shooting those scenes. The relationship between all of these characters, since it came out that Flo was Storm’s daughter,
Logan ladies. I love it!” 41
(Anna Devane)
With Anna’s GH Life In Shambles, Finola Hughes Weighs In On The State Of Her Character. By Mara Levinsky
JIM WARREN
point of ‘enough’ comes, as opposed to trying to impose it.” So, I’m going to wait and see where Anna has had enough rather than impose it in order to save the character, which isn’t my job. My job is to portray the character. I want to see where the natural, “Okay, we’re done” comes. And I think when that starts to emerge, then I feel like it will feel more authentic, rather than trying to manipulate the story. Digest: It does seem like these two women could get to the other side of this conflict, that Maxie could come to understand Anna’s point of view well enough to move past her feelings of betrayal. Hughes: Right. I’m thinking that that might happen across the board, perhaps, as it gets weaved in. But I sort of feel like you can’t push those moments. They wouldn’t happen in real life. I have this kind of three-day rule: You have to sit on things for three days before you can confront someone about something, because your initial reaction is dramatic, and then the next day, you’re like, “Okay,” and then by the third day, you’ve got a little bit more of a logical perspective on it. We’ve got to wait for all of these big feelings to subside, in a way. But meanwhile, I’ve got to track through the paw prints of my actions. And that’s okay! I go where the writers tell me. Laura Wright [Carly] and I are sort of similar in that respect. We are both in the camp that we don’t believe you can ever say, “My character wouldn’t do that,” because you just never know. [In those moments] you can actually find some part you didn’t know, and you can discover a hidden depth to your character. I don’t know what the future holds in the storyline, but I’m interested to see. I think there have been moments, like with Mac on the steps at the hospital where they were talking and she took his hand. For me, that felt like a really honest, truthful moment of two people witnessing one person’s [mistake] and being able to say, “Okay, okay, we’re on the same page when it comes to kids.” Digest: Over the past few months, it
ABC • ABC • ABC
S
oap Opera Digest: We have so much to discuss! First off, what did you think of Anna and Finn’s breakup scenes? Finola Hughes: I haven’t seen them, but they felt good when we did them — for a breakup! I love him, I love working with Michael [Easton, Finn], so I’m glad they wrote them the way they did. There were lots of nuances to go into. Digest: You’ve been working closely with Kirsten Storms (Maxie) lately. She’s told me how happy that makes her; how do you feel about it? Hughes: Oh, I love it. She just grounds everybody in the scene. She’s just one of those kinds of actors. She’s just fabulous! I think we have a real shorthand now, which is wonderful, as we’ve been working together more and more. You know, it’s a hard story right now. A lot of the time I feel ... at sea, a little bit, with what goes on in the storyline, so it’s really great to be able to have someone like Kirsten to kind of be a touchstone and a grounding feeling in the storyline. We’re talking about toxins and poison and this and that, and you need to really work with people that you can find that realness within the storyline. And it’s the same for her; she has a lot to grapple with, too, in her baby storyline. But we have an understanding, and I really enjoy working with her a lot. It’s a pleasure. Digest: How has knowing she let Maxie down affected Anna? Hughes: Well, she’s my goddaughter, and the last thing you ever want to do is hurt or exploit someone’s feelings like that, because everybody is so vulnerable in the story. You’re dealing with [heavy] emotions. For me, I could breeze over it; I could figure out a way to not allow things to penetrate my character, but then I wonder where that would take the character. So, I’ve toyed with that; every time I’m reading it, I’m like, “Well, I’ve got to play the ‘I’m sorry’ card again; do I really want to?” There is a part of me that has been kind of like, “I’m going to see where the natural
feels like a new chapter has begun between Anna and Valentin. What is your take on the evolution of that relationship and the scenes you’ve shared with James Patrick Stuart (Valentin) of late? Hughes: Well, I adore James. I’ve always adored James. It’s a real gift to get to work with him, as it is to work with Michael Easton. I have an embarrassment of riches. Now, James is from the old school — he just can’t wait to make you laugh. He is dying to make you laugh! He’s fantastic, a really inventive actor, comes up with all kinds of stuff and it’s a totally different rhythm, and I think as far as Anna and Valentin’s history, there’s kind of an unspoken [understanding] that she can rely on him, and he understands all the crap that she might have been through. She doesn’t have to lie to him. She can say anything and it’ll be fine. Even though she did keep certain things from him, I think there’s ... I don’t want to say that there’s a lowering of the bar with expectations, but I do feel that there is a sort of understanding of how you cut corners sometimes in secrecy and in the bigger picture, because they’ve both been part of the [World Security] Bureau. There is an idea between Anna and Valentin that they’ve been through such dark stuff that most things are probably okay. Like, they probably wouldn’t argue about lying to each other. I mean, I think he has been mad at [Anna] at one time for lying or for covering up for Peter, as I have been with him. But the easiest way to explain it is just that there is an understanding between them. Digest: I thought that was one of the most interesting moments in the Anna/ Finn breakup scenes, where she said, “There are going to be times when I will be able to talk to Robert and Valentin about things that I can’t as easily discuss with you.”
Hughes: Yes. They were really well-written scenes, and Phideaux Xavier, who directed them — that was a moment where he came outside [to confer with me] because there is a moment where I say, “I want to promise that I won’t ever lie,” or something like that, and he said, “Do you want to say, ‘I wish I can [promise]?’ ” And I can’t remember what I did end up saying, but it was this great moment where we were sort of talking about [the nuances of], “I wish I could make that promise,” and I said, “You know, I think I might play it like, ‘I wish I could, but I can’t.’ ” You just wish things were different, but they’re not. Maybe a spy can’t be with a regular person. Perhaps that’s accurate. Who knows? Like, it’s too much to swallow, it’s too much for someone to be on board with. And I can understand that. And I think Anna could at the time, too. And there was this kind of weird professionalism that rose up at that point, which was, “We can’t go there, because I have to protect you.” Which I sort of liked; it was nice. Digest: Is it more enjoyable to work with Michael when Finn is being loving to Anna as opposed to him being so harsh to her? Or is it equally delightful no matter what? Hughes: Well, you know — you just trust people. It doesn’t matter what the context is. I’m not a big one to say, “Oh, I wish I didn’t have to do this scene.” I like anything I’m given. I think the difference is how you trust the other actor, like when you just know you
Spies Like Us: Hughes notes that because of their shared WSB background, Anna knows “she can rely on” James Patrick Stuart’s Valentin.
can fall into them. Michael is that kind of actor for me. I can just fall into him and just know he’ll be there to catch me, no matter what I do. And it just really works like that with him. So, you just know that whatever his instincts are going to be, they’ll be spoton. When he yelled at me in scenes we did recently — literally just yelled, “Stay out of my life!” or whatever it was — I remember on the day thinking, “Whoa, that was a lot.” But I think I decided in that moment to go under; I kept my emotions down. When somebody goes high, sometimes you can top them, but it didn’t seem the right instinct to go with. But whatever I do with him, I enjoy, whether it’s comedy, which I really enjoy doing with him — we need a bit of comedy in the show! — or drama. Digest: Can you imagine a scenario in which the writers could fashion a realis-
tic reconciliation for “Fanna”? Hughes: Oh, my God, I hope so! I mean, I would love that, of course. But I just have to remove my own personal feelings from that. If Michael’s character is going to work with someone else better, then that’s the way it’s got to be, and vice versa. But you never say never on a soap, do you? Digest: On the subject of Peter, do you feel that Anna has finally severed the part of herself that wanted to believe so strongly in Peter’s redemption? Is she officially out of the business of trying to be his conscience? Hughes: I think she is just seeing Peter in a different light now. She says, “You don’t have to go down the route of your father. You just don’t have to.” She can’t save him, but he can save himself. Anna feels like she could tell Peter, “You can save yourself if you want to.” We did a wonderful scene where I said to him, “I tried to love you.” It was very honest, very straightforward. Wes [Ramsey, Peter] and I were pretty happy with it. I think this has been very difficult for Wes as an actor, where his character has just become harder and harder to go back from the precipice, you know? But I think he’s had some marvelous scenes with Maxie, just amazing. He’s got some great things to play right now. He’s so lovely. Digest: Well, from one Anna fan to another: I hope she gets to smile again — and soon! 앮 Hughes: I agree. Anna needs a win.
ABC • ABC • ABC
Ab Fab:
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL (Brooke and Ridge discuss Hope and Liam’s reunion.) Brooke: “The last mile of the marathon is always the hardest.” Ridge: “Yeah. It kind of seems like Liam is running uphill with his shoes tied together.” (Wyatt reacts after Bill blasts him for calling him “testy”.) Wyatt: “The way you said ‘testy’ was testy, okay?”
DAYS OF OUR LIVES (Lucas balks when Sami plans to climb on his shoulders to try and escape their captivity.) Sami: “I’m going to punch you in the face.” Lucas: “For what?” Sami: “For what? You said I’m too heavy to lift. Is that really what we’re gonna talk about right now?” Lucas: “No. No. No. It’s more me. You know, I’m not the man I used to be ... I haven’t been working out so I honestly don’t know how long I can hold you up.” Sami: “All right, Popeye. Let’s get those muscles 46
going, ’cause we’re gonna do this right now.” (Kristen explains to Sami how she drugged and kidnapped Kate.) Kristen: “All that was left was to ship her out of town.” Sami: “Ship her? How?” Kristen: “I sedated her, and then I just stuffed her in a duffel bag.” Sami: “What? Wait. Sorry, you put Kate Roberts in a duffel bag?” Kristen: “It was a big bag. It wasn’t like some small carry-on or anything.” (Kate busts in on Kristen holding Chloe hostage, as multiple cell phones in Kristen’s purse ring.) Kate: “Oh, my God. Whose phone is that now? Who else did you kidnap?”
GENERAL HOSPITAL (Valentin makes his case to move into the Q manse to keep an eye on Brook Lynn.) Valentin: “This house is
A Leg Up: Lucas (Bryan R. Dattilo) had trouble giving Sami (Alison Sweeney) a lift. XJ JOHNSON/JPI
huge. It has more wings than Quartermaines.” (Diane returns after Carly and Ava have talked.) Diane: “Well, I don’t see any blood on the floor so I’ll take that as a good sign.”
YOUNG AND RESTLESS (Victor checks on Adam after he donated a kidney to Faith.) Victor: “How are you feeling?” 앮 Adam: “Lighter.”
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(
Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) performed the service.
Best man Wyatt (Darin Brooks) assured the crowd that he had no objections to the union.
(Annika Noelle and Scott Clifton) 48
PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI
CBS • CBS • CBS The bride and groom raised their glasses to thank their loved ones for their support.
Liam took Hope for a celebratory dip.
Pam (Alley Mills) was delighted as Liam treated Hope to a taste of cake.
49
PHOTOS: XJ JOHNSON/JPI
Abe (James Reynolds) escorted his daughter down the aisle.
NBC • NBC • NBC
The duo tapped Marlena (Deidre Hall) to officiate.
Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) and Valerie cheered the Grants’ celebratory kiss.
The pair honored their heritage by jumping the broom.
The mother of the bride, Tamara (Marilyn McCoo), also took part in the special day.
51
PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI XJ JOHNSON/JPI
Before the friends and family who had gathered for their vow renewal, Carly and Sonny (who were expecting daughter Donna) sealed their recommitment with a kiss.
ABC • ABC • ABC
Sonny and Carly had first dibs on dessert.
Carly shared a warm moment with her fatherin-law, Mike.
Sam and Kristina (Lexi Ainsworth) chatted with the “newlyweds”.
Michael (Chad Duell) wished his parents well.
53
PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI
Rey was wowed as his bride approached him.
CBS • CBS • CBS
The groom’s brother, Arturo (Jason Canela), flew in from Miami to officiate the ceremony.
Sharon’s daughters, Mariah (Camryn Grimes, r.) and Faith (thenAlyvia Alyn Lind), served as maid of honor and bridesmaid, respectively.
After exchanging heartfelt vows, the couple made it official with this kiss.
55
SCORECARD
GENERAL HOSPITAL
ARRESTED
Jason Morgan and Britt Westbourne
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL
Jason Morgan
BACK IN TOWN BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Steffy Forrester and John Finnegan
VALERIE DURANT/ABC
Bill Spencer Liam Spencer
GENERAL HOSPITAL
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Paulina Price
Hurt People Hurt People: After taking a bullet, GH’s Cyrus (Jeff Kober) took multiple hostages.
YOUNG AND RESTLESS
GENERAL HOSPITAL Portia Robinson and Trina Robinson
Louise Jones
KISSED
CONFESSED
GENERAL HOSPITAL
GENERAL HOSPITAL Gladys Corbin
ENTERED GUILTY PLEA DAYS OF OUR LIVES Belle Black
EVICTED DAYS OF OUR LIVES Lucas Roberts
FAKING CONDITIONS Kate Roberts 56
RESCUED
GENERAL HOSPITAL
HELD HOSTAGE
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kyle Abbott
Claire Brady
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
BORN
YOUNG AND RESTLESS
FELL INTO MINE SHAFT
BLACKMAILED Dr. Snyder
PATERNITY CONFIRMED
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
“Chloe Jennings”
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Digest Keeps You Up-To-Date
Sonny Corinthos and Nina Reeves Curtis Ashford and Portia Robinson
LEARNED SEX OF BABY BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Steffy Forrester and John Finnegan
MADE LOVE DAYS OF OUR LIVES Rafe Hernandez and Ava Vitali
RULED NOT GUILTY Chelsea Lawson
SHOT GENERAL HOSPITAL Gladys Corbin Cyrus Renault
FLASHBACK TRIVIA Erroneous reports of whose death led Sami and EJ to seek physical comfort from one another on DAYS in 2011? Turn to page 60 to find out.
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bold PHONE FRENZY Bill continues trying to reach Liam, who is not answering his phone. Wyatt walks in just as Bill instructs Justin to find Liam and wonders what’s going on. Bill refuses to answer and denies Wyatt’s claims that he and Liam are hiding something.
IT’S A BOY! Steffy and Finn return and tell Ridge about their romantic getaway. After, they visit Dr. Campbell for an ultrasound and learn that they are having a boy. Steffy and Finn ponder life with their new baby.
beautiful THE GOOD SON Ridge applauds Thomas for his great work on the Hope for the Future campaign. Thomas points out that since Hope has reunited with Liam, she likely won’t be in the office as much now, as she’ll want to spend more time repairing her fractured family. Thomas assures his father that he is determined to be a good person, a trustworthy parent, and that he is genuinely happy for Hope and Liam, and also for Steffy and Finn. Ridge commends Thomas for becoming the best version of himself. Thomas then confesses that he still loves Hope and he always will, but he also realizes that she truly needs to be with Liam.
Later, they share the news with her family. Ridge and Thomas are thrilled.
DECISION TIME Hope wants Liam to tell the truth, but not if
Go Directly To Jail: Baker (Dan Martin, r.) erroneously arrested Nick (Jack Wagner) for the death of Shane McGrath.
58
AARON MONTGOMERY/JPI
flashback to 2007
it comes at the expense of losing him and their family. Hope then questions Liam, wondering if he can live with the secret. Liam struggles with what to do next. Bill rushes to the cabin and finds it empty. Fearing Liam will confess, Bill heads to the police station just as Liam, with Hope by his side, speaks with Deputy Chief Baker. Baker puts Bill in his place when Bill attempts to keep Liam from telling his story. When Baker is called away, Bill urges Liam to keep mum. Liam insists that he’s going to confess. After Bill reminds his son of the consequences, Liam agrees to stay quiet and heads out. However, Liam manages to trick
“Hope knows that Liam is a good person and he wouldn’t willingly do something like that. She blames Bill for this entire mess and for putting her family at risk.”
Bill into leaving the police station, agreeing to meet up later, then stays behind to tell Baker his story.
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT Liam reveals his role in Vinny’s death to Baker, and insists it was an accident. Liam swears he was not a distracted driver when Baker queries why he fled the scene. Liam is stunned when Baker accuses him of getting back at the man who tampered with Steffy’s paternity test. Hope advocates for Liam, to no avail. When Liam cannot answer his questions about the car’s location and Vinny’s missing items, Baker arrests Liam. Heartbroken, Hope for-
gives Liam for everything in the past, and resolves to get him out of jail.
HOWARD WISE/JPI
How upset is Hope with Liam (Scott Clifton) for covering up Vinny’s death? Annika Noelle says:
• Hope begs Justin to get Liam out of jail. • Flo gets an earful about Shauna and Carter’s “fling”. • Zoe is blissfully unaware that her future with Carter is hanging by a thread. responsible for Liam’s predicament.
DOUBLE TIME WAITING GAME At the office, Bill grows concerned when he can’t get a hold of Liam. Once again, Wyatt walks in on Bill frantically searching for Liam and offers to help.
FAST AND FURIOUS Hope returns home and breaks down to her mother about Liam’s arrest. Brooke tries to understand the situation, but Hope blames Bill for everything. A seething Hope heads to Bill’s office, where he is furious to learn that Liam confessed. Hope then blasts Bill for being
Back at the station, Baker questions Liam’s account of the accident and asks if he had an accomplice. Liam refuses to change his story or give up Bill’s involvement, then demands to see an attorney. Just then, Bill interrupts and confesses to covering up the crime, demanding that Baker release his son. Liam tells Baker not to listen to Bill, as the duo tries to absolve each other of any wrongdoing. A frustrated Baker then arrests Bill for his involvement in Vinny’s murder, and declares that Liam will also be staying behind bars. 59
CBS • CBS • CBS
WHAT WI HAPPE
days
lives SQUARE DANCING
TURNING POINT Rafe brings Ava her morning coffee, along with his doubts that she is telling him the whole truth about Kristen’s escape. Ava sticks to her denial that she saw Kristen, and Rafe finally relents. Later, they make love.
CLOSING IN Xander pressures Nicole to hire him at Basic Black. Sami, meanwhile, gets more information from Allie about the night Nicole slept out. Sami confronts Nicole, who does her best to deflect Sami’s questions.
PATIENT EX Lucas comforts a blind Kate while Jake fills in Gabi about Kate’s condition and how she doesn’t remember their breakup. Gabi presses Jake to tell Kate that he is with Gabi now. Dr. Snyder is
Paulina returns to Salem and runs into Marlena; she remembers Marlena from when she used to visit Tamara in college. They bond over their shared troubles with their daughters, and Paulina reveals her plan to turn Horton Town Square into a diverse marketplace. Marlena leaves as Paulina confides to the plaque of Tom and Alice that she wasn’t entirely honest with Marlena about her plans.... Paulina gets upset when Abe throws her a curveball with an incentive program he’s starting for small business owners in the buildings she’s purchased. Paulina is even more upset when Chanel says she’s submitting an application to start a bakery.
perplexed when he can’t find a physical reason for Kate’s blindness. Kate reveals to Dr. Snyder that she’s faking both her blindness and her amnesia and warns Snyder to not say anything or she’ll persuade the hospital board to fire him.
Gwen is forced to do his bidding. She runs into Xander, who warns her about hurting Jack. After Gwen leaves, Jack wonders why Xander is there, and Xander shares that he has no place to live, then invites himself to move in. Jack agrees to let Xander stay with him, just as Julie arrives and says no. Xander apologizes for his recent misdeeds and Julie reluctantly relents.
MOVING IN Dr. Snyder shows up at the Horton house to pressure Gwen to be his drug mule.
flashback to 2011
60
PAUL SKIPPER/JPI
One Night Only: A grieving Sami (Alison Sweeney) and EJ (then-James Scott) sought comfort from each other when they got an erroneous report that their son, Johnny, had died.
SUSPICIOUS MINDS Sami presses a cornered Nicole to admit she slept with Xander. Nicole denies it, then lashes back that Sami cheated on her husband. Defensive, Sami denies that she cheated on EJ, but Nicole counters that she was talking about the time that Sami cheated on Rafe with EJ. Fed up, Nicole throws Sami out. Sami gets a call from EJ
“If he had been more open about Gabi, they could have ended it and all would be fine. But I think that he always said, ‘No, it’s you, it’s you,’ so she was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to commit to this.’ Now she wants them to pay.”
and asks why he rescinded the money transfer. She hastily hangs up when Lucas approaches. Ava and Rafe have breakfast. Nicole comes by and interrupts. After Rafe leaves, Nicole learns that Ava and Rafe slept together. Nicole reveals that Sami is on to the fact that Nicole cheated on Eric, and confirms Ava’s suspicions that the man she slept with was Xander.
asks if he can stay with her. Sami refuses.
HEAD TRIP Ben visits Clyde in prison and confesses that after seeing the hallucinations of Jordan, he’s convinced he’s going out of his mind. Clyde recommends that Ben go to South Africa and bring Ciara back, but when Ben argues that he wants to give Ciara space, Clyde suggests he take a drive to clear his head.
BY MY SIDE Lucas demands that Jake stay by Kate’s side to help her through her illness. Jake goes to see Kate as Gabi, outraged by Lucas’s demands, throws him out of the DiMera mansion. Jake arrives at the hospital where Snyder, obeying Kate, suggests she will need the support of those who care about her. Later, Jake comforts Kate as an unhappy Gabi watches. Lucas tells Sami that Gabi kicked him out, and
FIRE STARTER Melinda tells Belle that, in order for her to believe Belle’s confession isn’t some kind of legal maneuver, Belle needs to plead guilty to Charlie’s murder. Belle reluctantly agrees, and is remanded to Statesville to wait for sentencing. Jan brings Chloe and Claire to the cabin where Claire tried to set Ciara on fire. She’s happy to see in the paper that Belle confessed to Charlie’s murder,
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
How does Gabi (Camila Banus, l.) and Jake’s (Brandon Barash) reunion impact Kate? Lauren Koslow says:
NBC • NBC • NBC
WHAT WI HAPPE • Sami confronts Ava. • Jack opens up to Steve and Kayla. • Xander covers for Gwen. could reveal the truth, and instructs Chloe to kill her. Believing she can use the opportunity to get Jan’s gun away from her, Chloe agrees, but Jan gives Chloe a knife instead. When Chloe refuses to kill Claire, Jan realizes they both now know she killed Charlie and plots to get rid of them. Shawn snaps a picture of Belle and sends it to Jan. Jan’s glad Shawn and Belle held up their end of the bargain, but reveals she came up with a plan B: Claire is tied up in the cabin with a trail of gasoline leading to a booby-trapped lantern. Ben happens to come to the door and sets off the trap, but is able to put out the fire and save Claire. Shawn arrives, thanks Ben, and then brings Claire to see Belle. Jan calls Philip and demands money and a private jet in exchange for Chloe’s safe return. Later, Philip meets up with Jan, who refuses to give up Chloe to Philip. Chloe elbows her, and 앮 Jan’s gun goes off. 61
general hospital Brook Lynn gives Valentin and Yuri the slip and arrives in Beechers Corners. Maxie comes to in a house in a remote location. “Chloe” informs her that she is going to induce labor. Maxie’s warnings about how dangerous Peter is fall on deaf ears, so a desperate Maxie flings hot tea in her face, clobbers her with a fireplace poker and flees. She goes into labor alone in the woods and is discovered by a local doctor, Austin. He delivers Louise. “Chloe” catches up to them and knocks out Austin. While chasing Maxie, “Chloe” falls into an abandoned mine shaft. Maxie uses “Chloe’s” phone to summon Brook Lynn.
“Mike” knocks out Elijah before he can harm Nina. They hand over the evidence against Eli to Trooper Finchley, and the relieved pair end up in a kiss. A flustered Nina rushes off, while “Mike” kicks himself for blowing it.... Jason and Britt make love. After, she thinks he was just taking pity on her. He assures her that that’s not the case.... Portia expresses her gratitude to Curtis and kisses him. He pulls back, noting that he just signed his divorce papers. She’s embarrassed.
FAIR TRADE Carly and Spinelli track Gladys to the warehouse. Inside, Brando fires at Cyrus, but the gun isn’t loaded. Cyrus barks that he knew Brando was Sonny’s plant. Another gunman aims at Cyrus; he escapes, but Gladys is shot. At G.H., Carly briefs Ava and Nikolas, while
flashback to 2018
TODD WAWRYCHUK/ABC
Road Warrior: Maxie (Kirsten Storms) gave birth to her second child, James, on the side of the road as Peter (Wes Ramsey) drove her home from the Nurses’ Ball.
62
Brando and Sasha give a modified account of what went down with Cyrus to Jordan and Dante. Cyrus calls Carly: He’s taken Spinelli hostage, and will trade him for Gladys. With Gladys in surgery, Ava offers to pose as a decoy. Carly consults with Jason, who decides he has to head back to Port Charles — alone, for now, until he’s sure it’s safe for Britt to return. Ava and Carly go to the pier, but the “Gladys”-for-Spinelli exchange goes awry when Nik is spotted. Jason arrives and shoots Cyrus in the shoulder. Cyrus gets away. One of his thugs aims a gun at Carly, but is taken down by Dante, who promptly arrests Jason.
RACE FOR THE CURE After a menacing encounter with Peter,
PHOTOS: ABC
PASSION PLAYS
SPECIAL DELIVERY
ABC • ABC • ABC
WHAT WI HAPPE Is Britt ready to trust Jason (Steve Burton)? Kelly Thiebaud says: “Yeah, for sure. Jason saved her life. I don’t think she is doubting him anymore! Britt feels really lucky to have him by her side and wants to be there for him in whatever way he will let her.”
Valentin warns Anna that he thinks Peter plans to leave the country. With Liz’s encouragement, Finn works furiously to replicate the antidote. Anna arrives from Ireland and hands over Sean’s WSB files, which she hopes will help Finn with his research. He is grateful. Chase collapses and is rushed back to G.H. Finn pleads with Anna to get another dose from Peter. Willow sees their interaction and confronts Finn about what he is hiding regarding Chase’s condition. Liz pulls him away before he says too much and vows to Finn that they will find a way to save Chase. Willow laments to Michael that it feels wrong to be giving Chase false hope for their reunion. Anna seeks
more antidote from Peter and learns that he sold The Invader. He says he will meet her at the hospital with the dose, but she fears he will leave the country instead.
• Britt is caught off-guard. • Laura’s life is threatened. • Carly receives an urgent text.
While Portia tends to his gunshot wound, Cyrus nods off, and Portia grabs his phone to call 911. Before she can, Curtis calls her.
FINAL COUNTDOWN AN INNOCENT MAN Gladys pulls through surgery and confesses to Jordan that Cyrus paid her to lie and say it was Jason, not Peter, who disposed of the weapon used to murder Franco.
PHONE A FRIEND Laura counsels Curtis about how to handle the end of his marriage and his burgeoning feelings for Portia. Portia returns home to find a gun-wielding Cyrus, who needs medical attention. Trina arrives unexpectedly, and Cyrus makes them surrender their phones.
Peter is alarmed when he can’t reach “Chloe”. Brook Lynn meets up with Maxie at the clearing where Austin was knocked out. Maxie says a tearful good-bye to her newborn. After Brook Lynn hurries off with the baby, Austin stirs and wonders where the baby is. Maxie says she used his phone to call an ambulance. They are taken to G.H., where Liz assesses them. Peter, there to deliver the vial of antidote to Anna, spies Maxie, who coldly tells him that the baby is gone. 63
young WARNING SHOTS Michael informs Chelsea that she’s been pronounced not guilty by reason of insanity. Later, he speculates to Lauren that Victor might have orchestrated Chelsea’s breakdown, while Victor drops in on Chelsea to warn her that if she doesn’t continue to play along with their plan, she will never be released from the hospital. Chloe laments to Kevin that she thinks Chelsea is in worse shape than she thought. Kevin visits Chelsea and vows that if her actions come back to haunt Chloe, he will hold her personally responsible.
restless TRIBUTE BAND Devon, Lily and Moses launch their tribute to Neil, a walking tour in Genoa City featuring sights and sounds connected to Neil. Jack and Victor set aside their differences to share their appreciation for Neil. Nate and Devon visit the coffeehouse, where they agree not to make the same mistakes as Neil and Malcolm. Aware that this is a hard day for Jack, Phyllis checks in with her ex, who assures her that he is committed to his sobriety. At Crimson Lights, Ashley reminisces about her relationship with Neil to Sharon. Devon reveals a newly installed tribute to Neil in Chancellor Park. Moses fills in Faith about the tribute to his dad.
GIFTING, SWEET
tells Lily that he is happy for her and Billy. When Victoria gets wind of the new living arrangement, she also brings a present and wishes Billy well.
Billy gets a tip that Ashland changed his divorce filing from “no fault” to “fault” — for adultery. Devon delivers a housewarming gift and
IT’S COMPLICATED
flashback to 2018
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
Friends And Lovers:
The paternity test confirms that Kyle is Harrison’s father. Kyle and Tara inform Harrison that Kyle is also his dad. Kyle wants Summer to meet Harrison, and briefs her on his plan to meet with a lawyer to safeguard his place in Harrison’s life. Nina inadvertently stokes Summer’s insecurities about Kyle possibly having lingering feelings for Tara. Kyle shares his paternity news with Mariah and insists that he and Summer will be fine. Summer is hit by a flood of emotion when she spies Tara, Kyle and
“She wanted Kyle’s first kid to be with her and that is taken away from her. At the end of the day, he believes they can get through it. There is no doubt in his mind about his love for her, but he’s not sure if she’ll show up for him and he’s very insecure about it.”
Harrison together in the park. Phyllis frets to Jack that Ashland might take Harrison from the Abbotts, and Sharon gives Summer relationship advice.
READY TO MINGLE Imani tells Amanda that Sutton opposes Amanda’s new case strategy, which is to say that Richard was searching for his child when he was killed. At Society, Amanda introduces Nate to a flirty Imani.
TEAM SPIRIT Victor pitches a partnership between New Hope and Newman Media to Adam and Nick. Phyllis expresses her reservations about the idea to Nick. Adam offers Chloe an
HOWARD WISE/JPI
Does Kyle worry how Summer (Hunter King) will feel about him officially proven to be Harrison’s dad? Michael Mealor says:
ALONE TIME
online fashion platform at Victoria accepts a dinNewman Media, suggesting ner date with Ashland, but that Chelsea could work downplays their relationthere while she recovers, ship to Nikki.... Ashland then goes to Newman Mearrives at the Abbott dia to try to get Devon and mansion and tells Kyle Nick on board with joining that he wants to speak to 앮 forces with New Hope. Tara alone. Devon asks Nick if he thinks Adam SUDOKU ANSWERS deserves a second 6 1 5 8 9 2 3 7 chance. Nick overhears Adam having 8 2 3 5 4 7 6 9 a video chat with Connor and ques9 7 4 3 6 1 8 5 tions Adam about 4 3 9 6 5 8 1 2 possibly getting back together with 7 8 6 1 2 4 5 3 Chelsea.
FIGHTING WORDS At ChancComm, Lily and Billy decide to publish an
1 3 5 2
5 4 9 6
CBS • CBS • CBS
article that undermines the legitimacy of Newman Media. Victor is livid and tells Adam, then Ashland, about his intent to retaliate. Billy tells Victor that ChancComm is ready for his strike against them. After Nick reports to Adam that he and Devon will accept Newman Media’s sponsorship of New Hope, Adam tells Victor he thinks they should postpone their revenge against ChancComm. Sharon and Rey plan a second honeymoon in Miami, and she praises Nick for giving Adam another chance.
2 7 1 8
7 9 2 4
3 1 8 7
9 5 6 3
4 2 7 9
6 8 4 1
4 1 2 7 9 8 6 3 5
k s as u
Legal Ease: Y&R’s Michael (Christian J. LeBlanc) returned to the DA’s office in 2019.
DYNASTY who plays the stripper T.M., via email
A Yes he did. In 2012, Michael was of-
fered the DA post, which he accepted, but quickly learned how his duties presented a conflict of interest when friends like Phyllis and Paul got in legal hot water. However, when Michael’s marriage to Lauren hit stormy seas in 2013 — which included her affair with Carmine — and the Baldwins’ son, Fenmore, became involved in drugs and bullying another teenager, who almost committed suicide, Michael stepped down from his office to focus on his family. Christine took over as DA but handed the reins back over to Michael in 2019.
eryone was drunk at Fallon’s engagement party? Wasn’t he on a daytime soap? He looks so familiar. Thank you. Laurette V., via email A Good eye, Laurette. That is Aussie ac-
tor Lachlan Buchanan, who played Jack’s son, Kyle, from 2015-16. Besides playing Ryan, a.k.a. stripper “Scorpio” on DYNASTY, he can also be seen on STATION 19 as Emmett.
would want to be around for her. Rose G., via email A Deacon was last seen drunk and disorderly in
There is a strong resemblance between Y&R’s Elizabeth Leiner [Tara] and actress Jessica Morris [ex-Jennifer, ONE LIFE TO LIVE]. They could be twins. Leiner
Morris
JILL JOHNSON/JPI
before?
Senior Vice President, Group Publisher NEIL GOLDSTEIN Associate Publisher MEGAN PICKERELLI Associate Publisher SHELLEY FARIELLO Business Manager JAIME RABB
Jerome in charge at one time? Donna S., via email A Yes, the Jeromes were once part of the Five
Families, but they have not been represented in the group since 2015. The last time the Jeromes had a seat at a meeting of the Five Families, Ava represented the organization bearing her family’s name (with Petrov taking the place of a Jerome at the next meeting). At the time of his death, Julian was no longer actively serving as a mafioso. As for Olivia, she headed up the Jerome organization back in the late 1980s, and when she returned from the dead in 2017, she claimed to Julian that she was still the queen of the family.
A.F., via email
A Her name was Margaux Dawson; she left the
canvas in 2019. The role was played by Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe, Y&R).
Got a question or “Twin Peeks” suggestion for the staff of Soap Opera Digest? Please send all Ask Us requests to SODask@soapoperadigest.com. Or if you prefer snail mail, send correspon dence to: Soap Opera Digest 4 New York Plaza, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10004 Due to the volume of mail received, we that we cannot answer your letters per regret All correspondence is the sole property sonally. Opera Digest. The letters have been editedof Soap appropriate, for purposes of clarity or spa , where ce.
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI
June of 2017, when he was arrested at the Forrester mansion for taking shots at his ex-wife, Quinn, while she was out on the terrace. As for Deacon’s portrayer, Sean Kanan, he is hard at work on the second season of his Emmy Awardwinning digital series, STUDIO CITY, in which he plays a world-weary soap star.
Direct Response Advertising Director LORELIS MARTE (646) 521-2802 Direct Response Advertising Manager CATHERINE SMYTH (646) 521-2831
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PAIRING POTENTIAL
PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI
Since GH saw fit to break up couples Sam and Jason, and Finn and Anna, there’s now an opportunity for a Sam/Finn story. Kelly Monaco and Michael Easton have been paired numerous times on both PORT CHARLES and GH as various characters, and the two actors have crazy on-screen chemistry. Why not capitalize on that? In the past, the writers had to break them up due to a variety of reasons, but now the way is clear. The storyline possibilities are endless for an infectious
disease doctor and a P.I. The fans would love to see these two characters united, either romantically or as crime fighters. Hopefully, the writers and producers see the benefit of putting these two fine actors back together. Pamela J., Noblesville, IN
FRIENDS, INDEED This probably sounds strange, but I am glad GH’s Dante and Sam ended their friendship because their newfound adversarial dynamic is so fun to watch! Being at odds adds muchneeded intensity to their
“Kelly Monaco [Sam] and Michael Easton [Finn] have been paired numerous times on both PORT CHARLES and GH as various characters, and the two actors have crazy on-screen chemistry.”
scenes and their portrayers, Dominic Zamprogna and Kelly Monaco, have chemistry to spare. I love that Dante and Sam are no longer just chit-chatting over coffee and reminiscing, but are out pounding the pavement and actively trying to one-up each other. It’s like a game of cat and mouse. The anger, heat and tension between the characters will certainly boil over at some point and I have a box of popcorn ready for when it does! Sincerely, A GH fanatic from California
SURPRISE ENDING While the recent stand-alone Adamcentric episode of Y&R was well done, it left a sour taste in my mouth as a longtime “Shadam” fan. To say that I was disappointed in this development is an understatement. Instead of getting the payoff I had been expecting, I, and my fellow “Shadam” fans, got a bait and switch. Just as Sharon finally admitted that what hap-
pened between them over the past few months wasn’t one-sided, Adam vowed to let go of Sharon for good. Since I’ve been a fan of this star-crossed couple from the beginning, I’m usually able to weather the ups and downs with ease; however, this time their parting hit me differently. When Michael Muhney left the show, Adam and Sharon were mature friends. But Sharon and Adam’s friendship was largely ignored during Justin Hartley’s run in the role and I accepted that their connection was severed and there was no hope of a “Shadam” reunion. When the show recast the part with Mark Grossman, though, and used Sharon and Adam’s connection to usher him onto the canvas, it reignited their relationship and gave us hope for the impossible. Because of this, “Shadam” fans threw their full support
behind Mark and campaigned for other Y&R fans to accept him in the role. We thought we were eventually going to be rewarded for our loyalty since the narrative has basically screamed “Shadam” for the last two years. However, Adam and Sharon suddenly deciding to go their separate ways in a moment that was perfectly set up to be a declaration of love between them was shocking, disappointing and frustrating, and has us wondering if Y&R was just trolling us this whole time by hinting at a reunion they never intended to follow through on. I still hope this is merely a speed bump for “Shadam” and not an unfulfilling end to what could have been a beautiful, soapy relationship, but I can’t help feeling a little bit used and betrayed by the show in the meantime. Jennifer W., via email
CARLY CUE May 24th issue of wanting to punish Carly for being so Carly. Her loyalty to Jason has never been in question, but having the balls to go to the Big Five meeting in Sonny and Jason’s place was really something to pull off. One of the things I love about the writing at GH is the way legacy characters have grown over the years. Carly was once very impulsive. Now she takes time to gather the info before pulling off a plan. I am loving her more than ever. Hats off to [her portrayer] Laura Wright! Sharon P., Loudon, TN
NETWORK ADDRESSES ■ BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL/ YOUNG AND RESTLESS c/o CBS-TV 7800 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 ■ DAYS OF OUR LIVES c/o NBC-TV 3000 West Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA 91505 ■ GENERAL HOSPITAL c/o ABC-TV 4151 Prospect Ave. Hollywood, CA 90027 69
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
“[Y&R’s] Adam [Mark Grossman] and Sharon [Sharon Case] suddenly deciding to go their separate ways in a moment that was perfectly set up to be a declaration of love between them was shocking, disappointing and frustrating.”
“I have been watching GH since day one and I cringe every time I see Sonny with Nina,” emails Sandy P. “Wrap up this storyline and get Sonny back with Carly. Enough is enough! Move these stories along!” J. adds, “I would like to know why the GH writers are inserting Carly into every single story, why she’s the only character to not rest. She’s a character that’s great at the right time and place. With an ensemble cast, it’s doing a disservice to the show to focus this much on one character while sidelining others, like Sam and Liz.”... Tracey C. writes, “I find it a little odd and creepy that so many people on B&B talk about intimate details of their love lives with everyone. Brooke talking to Eric about his, everyone talking about Liam and Hope. Who shares that many intimate details? Who talks to so many other people about what happens in other people’s bedrooms?”
has superhuman strength to immobilize Chloe with her bare hands, tie her up, knock out Kate, and answer three telephones in a single episode.” express my disappointment that B&B totally ruined Carter’s character by letting him have an affair with Quinn. I don’t know how they will ever be able to restore his character again.” ... Mary H. in Milwaukee, WI, offers, “I’m not the only DAYS viewer who can’t believe that Kristen, out of nowhere, has achieved the ability to create completely convincing masks that deceive her nearest and dearest of victims, plus
YOU SAID IT! “Lately, when Monica is on screen on GH, or someone is talking about the Quartermaine mansion, reference is made to Alan giving Monica the house. Every time that occurs, it makes me smile. I still miss Stuart Damon portraying Alan Quartermaine, and always will. Lovely that the writers are paying homage to that memory. Thank you.” — Christine K., Belmont, CA
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Paul Telfer (Xander, DAYS)
■ How do you clear your head after a bad day? “I set up an exercise platform way back in the yard where my wife can’t see it so it’s not too much of an eyesore. I go back there and I exercise outside in the sunshine and look at the mountains, and it really helps clear the head for sure.” ■ What is a deal-breaker for you in a relationship? “Being too close-minded is a huge no-no.” ■ What gets on your nerves? “Everything? Specifically, the one thing I have never managed to quite cure myself of is being constantly surprised about how terrible all the other drivers are. I try not to become enraged by Los Angeles drivers, just the general selfishness of the way people operate these incredibly heavy, metallic death machines.”
JIM WARREN
■ What is your favorite comfort food? “Fried chicken. It used to be fish and chips, but I’ve been over here so long, and there’s so much good fried chicken in America.” ■ What is your dream car? “I’ve always loved Jaguars. They don’t make them anymore, but if I can get my hands on a late model Jaguar XK — the XK, of course, standing for Xander Kiriakis — I’m definitely going to buy one.” 72
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