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Aff or d the Ex t ra or di na r y.®
contents
28
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Late-Breaking News Early Editions! Comings And Goings Hot Plots Preview 1st Look Photos Extra! Extra! Record This Synopses
features 28
Snaps of stars’ life on set.
on the cover 32
Leaving Time Daytime’s all-time most shocking exits ever — voted on by you!
Behind The Scenes
46
Art Of The Matter The inside scoop on Y&R’s artistic homage to Victor Newman.
48
It’s A Living Four behind-thescenes professionals describe their soap jobs.
March 2, 2020. Vol. 45, No. 9. Next issue: March 9, 2020 will be on sale March 2, 2020.
contents
reader favorites Star Style 26 Digest’s Hottest Shots 30 It’s Only My Opinion 36 Roundup 24
What other job at the studio would you like to do for the day?
Scene & Heard 56 Classic Lines
40
interview 42
GH’s Taggert Réal Andrews is thrilled for the chance to visit Port Charles.
ways I can’t even express.”
columns
42
22 Editor’s Note 38 Crossword 39 57 58 66
24
36
COVER CREDITS:
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A Timeless Tribute to Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II The World’s Most Beloved Monarch
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“Our peace and prosperity can never be taken for granted and must constantly be tended, so that never again do we have cause to build monuments to our fallen youth.”
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late- breaking news 7 GH: Brad Fights For His Freedom 8 B&B’s Wyatt To Sally: Move In 12 New Project For GH Alum 12 Tragedy For B&B Fave
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
14 DAYS: Gabi Makes A Deal To Avoid Prison
O
n a recent podcast, Galen Gering indicated that his time as DAYS’s Rafe was winding down. While a guest on The Cliff Dorman Show, the host asked Gering if they could “talk about what’s going on”. Gering paused, then replied, “I haven’t ... I don’t know ... I mean, the fact of the matter is ... I don’t know how long I’m gonna be on the show, what the next chapter holds, right? If I’m staying, if I’m going. I know I’m definitely going for a bit.... I’m definitely going for a bit and I’m really excited about [it] ... I’m going to go back for a bit and, uh, spread the wings.... I’ve got a couple of weeks of shows to do [to wrap it up].” The actor, who started his soap career as PASSIONS’s Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald from 1999-2008, then joined the cast of DAYS that year as Rafe Hernandez, was reflective of his career so far. “Look, I’ve worked hard and I’m good at what I do.... But with that said, I’ve also been very lucky,” he admitted. “I realize that. I’ve seen a mil-
JOHN PASCHAL/JPI
6 DAYS: Maggie Remembers Killing Adrienne
GALEN GERING OUT AT DAYS?
“It’s way more complicated than I can even probably put words to.” lion people come and go.” But he was looking forward to seeing what would come next, albeit with mixed feelings. “It’s exciting. It is,” he offered. “Obviously it’s not that simple.... I think one has a multitude of emotions when you look at, like, potentially pursuing a whole new chapter, or pursuing a whole new chapter, obviously ... That’s really, like, you know, at its base, that’s certainly the actor’s job and the funny thing is, like, being an actor on a show where you
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
GL ALUM ROBERT NEWMAN ON RETURNING TO DAYTIME ■
“I think it would just depend on what the role was.”
ing so much, I mean, it definitely becomes golden handcuffs. “What ends up happening is you become so comfortable in this character,” he continued. “I’m
and it’s fun.... It’s a whole new chapter ... nervewracking and exciting and a whole gamut of emotions. It’s way more complicated than I can even probably put words to.”
may not be the end of Gering’s run, and that a door has been left open for a return. With the show so far ahead in taping, Rafe’s exit wouldn’t be seen on screen until late fall. 5
late- breaking news
DAYS’S MAGGIE REMEMBERS: I KILLED ADRIENNE!
6
Total Recall:
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
■ Maggie starts to remember the fateful night Adrienne died and Sarah went into labor. “They’re just flashes ... bits and pieces,” says Suzanne Rogers (Maggie). “Maggie’s not quite sure what they are. She’s very confused.” But then, Maggie recalls a bit more. “She has another flashback that’s a little more real,” recounts Rogers. “In the back of her mind, she knows she had something to do with that Mother’s Day night. Why would she remember something about Adrienne? Why would she remember being in her car and on that road if she wasn’t really there? It’s all swirling around in her head. She goes, ‘Wait a minute. I’ve got to find out more about this, and somebody’s got to tell me.’ So she goes downstairs and confronts Victor and Xander.” The two men, determined to keep the awful truth from Maggie, “still lie,” notes the actress. “They can’t believe she’s even questioning them and are like, ‘Well, wait a minute, don’t you believe us?’ And of course, no, she doesn’t. She knows something is wrong, and the two of them look very guilty. It
raises all the alarms in her head. She knows they’re hiding something from her and wants them to tell her the truth.” Finally, Maggie puts it all together. “She’s ripping into Victor and Xander, and says, ‘Why didn’t you tell me? I must have done it. I’m the one responsible for Adrienne’s death,’ ” recounts Rogers. “Sonny overhears, comes into the room, and all hell breaks loose.” Stunned, Sonny lashes out at Victor and Xander, then, he turns his attention to Maggie, “who’s kind of in shock and trembling,” describes Rogers. “Sonny just berates her. With his words, he’s slapping her across the face. That’s how it felt, and she deserved it. She hurt Sonny so deeply and destroyed Will’s life.”
Maggie tries to apologize to Sonny, “but she knows there is no going back,” points out Rogers. “It’s not going to bring his mother back, and it’s not going to change anything. She knows Sonny is never going to forgive her, and she doesn’t expect him to.” All Maggie can do is try to right the wrong that’s been done, and she assures Sonny she will. Then she heads to the police station to turn herself in. “Of all people, Maggie loves Will,” asserts Rogers. “The fact that this innocent person is in prison for something she did and because of her drinking.... She’s so beyond herself. She’s hating Victor and Xander. She’s hating what she’s done. She hating herself. It’s one sin on top of another.”
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
late- breaking news ■ “It was a little sad to know that the storyline was winding down, but exciting at the same time to know how the payoff would send ripples and affect so many other characters on the canvas,” says Parry Shen (Brad) of Brad getting busted last week for passing off Michael and Nelle’s son, Jonah, as Wiley for well over a year. It is Brad who feels the most immediate burn, as he opted not to disclose to Lucas that Julian was also in the know. Explains Shen, “Brad had already floored Lucas. Having him know that his father was also involved would have been too much for him to deal with, as well as unnecessary. There would be nothing gained for anyone.” Once he’s behind bars, Brad’s woes worsen because an also-incarcerated Nelle puts on a grand show of being terrified of Brad, then fibs that Brad stole Jonah from her while she was unconscious after giving birth. Nelle turning on him in such grand fashion “is not something Brad considered and takes him by surprise,” the actor says. “He’s never taken the full brunt of Nelle’s wrath and
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
GH: BRAD FIGHTS FOR HIS FREEDOM
The Fall Guy: Brad (Shen, l.) warns Julian (William deVry) that his silence comes at a price.
cunning before, so he’s very much taken aback and realizes he’s completely out of his league when it comes to this next level of deception. Brad knows he has no leg to stand on, and is in full panic mode realizing that he might be taking the full blame.”
“Brad knows he has no leg to stand on, and is in full panic mode.” Julian pays a visit to his disgraced son-in-law at the PCPD, hoping to get confirmation that Brad has no intention of ratting him out. Instead, he finds Brad in mental and emotional disarray as the potential consequences of Nelle’s sob story sink in. Previews
Shen, “Brad is panicking with Nelle now being in ‘victim mode’. He does not want to take full blame — so in desperation, he considers reneging on his decision to keep Julian safe. It’s a last-ditch attempt to alleviate his sentence.” Julian tries to appease Brad by offering to get him the best lawyer money can buy in exchange for his continued silence. Brad accepts, but warns Julian that he’d better hope his attorney can pull off a miracle — or else Brad will spill the beans about Julian’s role in the Wiley deception. Sums up Shen, “Brad is wising up to the situation, and wants a guarantee he will beat the charges. So if Julian’s lawyer fails, Brad threatens to take Julian down with him.” 7
late- breaking news
B&B’S WYATT TO SALLY: MOVE IN!
8
Surprise Offer: Sally (Courtney Hope) is stunned when Wyatt (Brooks) asks her to live with him.
HOWARD WISE/JPI
■ After learning that Sally is battling a terminal illness, Wyatt and Flo decide to make some changes in their relationship. “Wyatt still cares about Sally a lot,” says Darin Brooks (Wyatt). “They’ve spent a lot of time together and he wants to be there for her through this difficult period. Katie mentions that Sally doesn’t want anyone to know [she’s sick], but Wyatt insists that she can’t go though this alone. It’s just not right. Her family is not here. Who else does she have other than Wyatt?” He expresses his concerns to Flo, who agrees that they need to support Sally. “Wyatt and Flo come up with the idea of putting their relationship on hold so he can be there for Sally,” Brooks previews. “It’s actually Flo who insists that he be there for Sally, and in Wyatt’s mind, that’s who Flo is. She’s a kind person who puts the needs of others before her own. So, they come up with the idea together to have Sally move back in with him. Flo encourages him to do this. She’s confident in where they stand as a couple and she even says,
‘Spend time with Sally because we have all the time in the world and she, unfortunately, does not.’ She says she’s fine with
“Wyatt still cares about Sally a lot.” sharing him in this time of need. It’s a completely selfless act.” Knowing that Sally doesn’t want anyone to know about her illness, Wyatt doesn’t let on that he does. “Flo and Wyatt are going to pretend that nothing is going on and they’re going to keep the secret
because that’s what Sally wants,” explains the actor. “When he asks her to move back in, she is surprised, and we’re going to have to wait and see how she takes all of this. I mean, he just broke up with her. She didn’t want to accept it, so it’s going to be interesting to see how she’s going to react to Wyatt acting all chipper and nonchalant when he says that he wants to spend time with her. She’s like, ‘Hold on. You just told me that you didn’t want to be with me,’ and so Wyatt just kind of brushes it off. Of course, she can reject his offer, so we’ll have to see how this all plays out.”
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
late- breaking news
Y&R: DEVON GETS HIS MONEY BACK Making Bank:
HOWARD WISE/JPI
■ While sitting alone at Crimson Lights, Devon receives a mysterious text. Although the caller ID is blocked, Devon immediately suspects that Colin sent the message. “The only real drama that Devon has been going through recently is when his money was stolen, and this isn’t the first time that Colin has messed with him,” points out Devon’s portrayer, Bryton James. “So, his first instinct is that Colin is up to his old tricks again.” Devon summons Chance to try to crack the code of numbers in the text. Chance guesses that they could be longitude and latitude readings. Chance then spies Kevin at a nearby table and asks for his help. “Colin has been a nemesis to so many people in Genoa City,” James points out. “When Kevin finds out that he’s helping to bring down Colin, he’s ready to use his computer skills in any way he can.” Kevin immediately recognizes something in the pattern of the numbers and starts furiously typing on his laptop. After breaking through some
firewalls, Kevin makes a startling discovery. “Kevin not only finds out that the numbers are to
“It’s too good to be true.” an offshore bank account, but it’s under Devon’s name and has a balance of $2.475 billion,” James explains. “It’s all the money that was stolen from him.” Devon’s phone then pings with a new text: “Money can make a person crazy. All apologies, mate.” James says, “The message almost sounds like an excuse for what Colin has put
Devon through. It’s like he’s trying to get Devon’s sympathy so it’s confusing to him. Why did Colin go through so much trouble to steal the billions only to give it back so simply?” Devon thinks Colin is playing another game. “It’s too good to be true, so Devon suspects that there’s more to this,” James notes. “He thought he’d never see the money again, but now it’s suddenly back. Devon would like nothing more than to be finished with this whole situation, but things are never really finished when it comes to Colin.” 9
late- breaking news of next EARLY A preview week’s EDITIONS! stories. BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL
■ Wyatt gives Sally a life worth living in her final weeks. ■ Vinny rails at Thomas for using Douglas as a means to an end. PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI
Char ID OF OUR LIVES DAYS TKTKTK ■ Marlena and Will attend Ben’s (Actor name execution. TK)
■ Roman worries about Hattie. ■ Kristen has some choice words for Gabi. ■ Nicole overhears a telling conversation.
10
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
XJ J
YOUNG AND RESTLESS
■ Victor challenges Nick. ■ Tessa makes a shocking discovery. ■ Jack receives a surprise visitor. ■ Billy and Amanda examine their connection.
(Maggie, DAYS) ■ Did you ever think you’d be the driving force, no pun intended, behind a story of this magnitude again? “Never. I never did. That’s why I wanted to show them that I could do it. And that I appreciated the positive thought that they could give it to me and I would be able to do it. And I think I did. I think they were more than pleased. I’m happy about that, and that’s all you hope for. You don’t do things for awards. You do things for appreciation, that they get it. That what you wanted to show, they got. Because that’s in your head and they don’t know what’s coming out of your head. It was exciting, but it was scary.” Did you know from the get-go that Maggie was responsible for the accident that killed Adrienne? “No, not at first. Albert [Alarr, co-executive producer] told me I had a good storyline coming up. He said, ‘You’re going to be drinking, and Summer’s coming back.’ They kind of just give you little tidbits and generally you want that. I want that. I don’t want to know what the end result is. I want to live it as it [plays out] because we don’t know what tomorrow’s going to be. So as an actress, that’s how I like to approach my role. I like to know just today, and that’s how it was. Then, finally, they said, ‘You’re going to be responsible for killing
11
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
with Suzanne Rogers
someone.’ And I went, ‘What?!?’ ” Was that shocking for you? “Yes, because a) the alcohol had gotten really out of control, and b) I killed a friend. I was like, ‘Oh, my God! Is there any redemption at the end of this rainbow that you’re painting for me [laughs]?’ Albert said, ‘Yeah ... eventually.’ Eventually. That’s what I kept getting. So I knew there was going to be a whole lot more.” What has it been like to play? “It was so intense. It took its toll on me physically. I literally got ill when this was all over with because I went so deep into the character and played it for so much. In totality, I lost 23 pounds. I didn’t know why I was losing weight. I was dealing with [my elderly] mom and this and wanting to do a good job. When they told me I was going to start drinking again, I was like, ‘Oh, no. I really didn’t want to do this.’ I also found out I had diverticulitis — that comes from stress. So there you go. It was a matter of all of that combined. I was glad for the respite that we just had.” But it certainly has been a great story. “It was. But in order to do it well, for me, I have to go so into it. It’s not like I can drop it at the end of the day when I’m leaving ... when I’m getting into my car. Because I’ve got another script to learn for the next day, and it’s more of the same.”
Marc marks more time on GH.
coming GENERAL HOSPITAL Marc Anthony Samuel seen nurse is scrubbing back in soon; Samuel, who joined the cast in 2012, taped on several dates earlier this month. Tristan Lake Leabu (Reed Hellstrom): Reed
Tristan is making a Genoa City visit.
mom, Victoria (Amelia Heinle), on March 2.
who’s going DAYS OF OUR LIVES Galen Gering (Rafe Hernandez): The actor, who joined the show in 2008, revealed in a podcast that his Salem days are numbered. See page 4 for more.
REAL-LIFE STATUS Q In Memoriam: Orson Bean (ex-Howard, B&B; ex-Roy, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES), the 91-year-old husband of Alley Mills (Pam, B&B), was tragically killed on February 7 in Los Angeles after being struck by two motor vehicles. Mills and Bean had been married for almost 27 years. Mills’s co-stars took to social media to express condolences. “Orson Bean was one of a kind!” posted Don Diamont (Bill). “I so enjoyed every opportunity to chat with this man. He was so engaging, brilliant, funny, and warm. My heart breaks for our dear Alley. Every time I saw her I would ask, ‘How’s my hero?’ She couldn’t talk about her husband without smiling.” Wrote Darin Brooks (Wyatt), “He was one of those people who just genuinely seemed happy and full of life and freaking FUNNY man! And just a good, sweet dude all around… Genuinely thankful that you touched my life even for a brief moment in the 91 years you touched everyone else’s… ” Scott Clifton (Liam) weighed in, noting, “If you’re lucky in life, you meet one of those human beings so clearly
Meg Bennett Robert Parucha
NEW ROLE FOR GH ALUM TAMARA BRAUN Q
Tamara Braun next gig, playing the role of Mara Cohen in the indie comedy Kombucha Cure, which also features ALL MY CHILDREN alum Jennifer Bassey (ex-Marian). “First of all, I loved the name of the project,” says Braun about what first CASTING drew her interest. “Kombucha Cure. I ABOUT think I had just finished one when I got the call from my reps with Q Hunter King the offer. When I read what it was about, I was intrigued, as well. A dark comedy about the health insurance industry — had to take a look! Then the first few pages got me even more intrigued. It was a very interesting way to introduce a character.” Braun describes her character as “a woman whose personal life is in disarray, so the only place she feels much power is in her professional life, where she works for a health insurance Eric Robcompany as the prior authorization medical director. It is her erts goal to say no to expensive tests requested by doctors. She ends up going to a small town to investigate why the town has such a high rate of terminal cancer diagnosis and yet so many people are surviving. She finds something fishy but because of situations she becomes involved in she has to decide if she will help the people of this small town or follow the edict of the large corporation she works for.” Braun has been busy shooting “all around Los Angeles,” and enjoyed the operating on a different moral and intelchance to work with Bassey. “We had not lectual level than the rest of us. Orson met before this production,” the actress was one of them, and you knew it within notes. “Alicia Minshew [ex-Kendall, AMC] seconds of shaking his hand. All my love and Jennifer are good friends and so are to Alley Mills on this day of profound Alicia and I, so when I told her we were loss.” Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) working together she said we would love shared, “Orson was such an amazing each other. And we absolutely did! She is man! He was a brilliant actor! And sooo such a doll and so good and funny and tells kind to everyone. Always so positive the best stories! She plays Hanna Nowacki, and energetic and charming. He still had one of the townspeople that help to open up so much life and love to give. We were Mara’s eyes and heart to the struggles they just at the play Bad Habits 2 weeks ago deal with on a regular basis.” laughing and enjoying both Alley’s and Braun beams that she is “thrilled to start Orson’s amazing and funny performancthe new year with such a fun project and lookes. We had many laughs. I hope that you ing forward to what’s next. Sending love to are happy up there dancing in heaven all the fans and want to say thanks for all the Orson! We will miss you. You are loved! well-wishes and support I have been receiving And Alley, we are here for you always.” @TamaraBraun on Instagram and Twitter.”
Matt Miller): These actors have wrapped up their Y&R visits.
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SOAP OPERA DIGEST
YOUNG AND RESTLESS
Plots Pr YOUNG AND RESTLESS Mariah Freaks Out On Tessa Mariah tries to connect with Tessa, but Tanner answers her phone and reports that Tessa is in the shower and will call back. “Mariah truly wants Tessa to be happy and fulfilled in this very exciting venture in her career,” asserts Camryn Grimes (Mariah). “But in doing that, she’s also left Tessa completely unaware of the other things going on in Mariah’s life, such as losing her job and her mother having cancer.” When Tessa calls via video chat, Mariah is thrilled to finally be in touch with her girlfriend — until she sees a shirtless Tanner. Mariah then asks if Tessa and Tanner are sleeping together. Tessa is shocked. “Of course Tessa would find this question ridiculous because Mariah hasn’t made Tessa aware of any issues that she’s having,” Grimes explains. “For Tessa, this is coming out of the blue.” An embarrassed Tessa hangs up. “Sometimes, you can break down a relationship before you can build it up,” says Grimes. “Hopefully, this is a situation where that happens.”
PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI
The Eyes Have It: Mariah (Grimes) doesn’t like what she sees.
14
Let’s Talk: Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) makes an effort to get back with Ridge (Kaye).
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Brooke Makes Ridge An Offer In order to avoid divorcing, Brooke makes Ridge an offer. “Brooke says that if Thomas finds a way to move on with someone else, someone other than her daughter, Hope, that she would forgive the past and, in turn, forgive Ridge,” states Thorsten Kaye (Ridge). “If Thomas can do that, then they can move on as husband and wife in the same house, in the same bed. These two never stopped loving one another. It’s just that their children’s lives got in the way.” In Ridge’s mind, he believes that Thomas has gotten past Hope, and he is happy to accept Brooke’s terms. “I think being a parent comes with a big set of blinders, especially in this case,” Kaye says. “You want to believe the best in your kids and you can’t see what’s right in front of you. As far as Ridge is concerned, Thomas has moved on. He asked another woman to marry him, so of course he believes that Thomas has moved on. Ridge just wants what’s best for everyone, and he is very happy at the prospect of getting his marriage back on track.”
GENERAL HOSPITAL Trina And Cam’s Big “Date”
Help Wanted: Sarah (Godfrey, l.) and Eric (Greg Vaughan) implore Gabi (Camila Banus) to do the right thing.
Trina and Cameron agree to attend the winter formal together because no one else asked them — but Trina claims to Josslyn that it’s a real date, and that she and Cam have discovered that they have feelings for each other. According to Sydney Mikayla (Trina), “Trina is trying to make Josslyn jealous. She’s really trying to play matchmaker for her friends, so she’s trying to fuel the fire of that relationship. You can kind of see some chemistry between Trina and Cam, for sure, but with everything that Joss has been through, and knowing that Joss basically watched Oscar die before her eyes, she wants her life to be easier and she wants to get her best friends together. She’s willing to do whatever it takes.” Once they’re alone, Cam gives Trina a hard time for not telling Joss that they’re going to the dance as friends. When Trina explains her motives, “Cameron isn’t quite grateful, but I think he’s kind of hopeful that this crazy plan to make Joss jealous will work,” Mikayla sums up.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Gabi’s Deal To Avoid Prison
PHOTOS: J JOHNSON/JPI
Match Games: Trina (Mikayla) explains her strategy to Cameron (William Lipton).
Eric and Sarah discover that Gabi is a bone marrow match and can save Mackenzie’s life. They ask her if she will donate. “Sarah does most of the asking,” explains portrayer Linsey Godfrey. “She’s like, ‘You have to help me.’ And Gabi is a mom, so there’s an element of her that would do anything for her daughter and totally understands [where Sarah is coming from].” Nevertheless, Gabi says she isn’t sure she wants to be the donor. “Sarah is a fierce mama bear, so she loses it on Gabi,” says Godfrey. Gabi thinks it over and makes a deal: She’ll help Mackenzie if Sarah and Eric figure out a way to get the charges against her dropped. “Sarah and Eric are horrified at the selfishness of Gabi. She’s holding her bone marrow hostage in return for her freedom,” notes Godfrey. “Eric thinks he can go to the DA and explain things, because this is an extreme situation.” Unfortunately, the DA tells them there’s no deal. “They’re absolutely devastated. They feel helpless,” admits Godfrey. “But they’re not going to stop until they save their daughter’s life.” 15
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
eview!
What Will Happen
1
st LOOK
GH’s Sonny (Maurice Benard, far r.) and Jason (Steve Burton) have a powwow with Laura (Genie Francis).
photos
GH’s Sam (Kelly Monaco, c.) has a family meeting with Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) and Julian (William deVry).
DAYS’s Ben (Robert Scott Wilson) finds himself in familiar territory.
Y&R’s Kyle (Michael Mealor) and Summer (Hunter King) spice up their time at work.
16
HOWARD WISE/JPI
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
Lani (Sal Stowers) tries to make her point to Abe (James Reynolds) on DAYS.
GH’s Molly (Haley Pullos) doesn’t seem too thrilled about the cake, the champagne — or the ring — from TJ (Tajh Bellow).
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snap
! A R EXT Yes
32%
No
68%
Are you happy to see a new mob-centric storyline on GH?
Mob Mentality: GH fans aren’t sold on the new rivalry between Sonny (Maurice Benard, l.) and Cyrus (Jeff Kober).
trend temperature
HOT WARM COLD
Thomas’s Proposals (B&B)
Exiting DAYS Son
In The Wiley Know (GH)
“This. Pretty much a bucket list moment,” exulted Finola Hughes (Anna, GH), with SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE judge Nigel Lythgoe (l.) and Sting.
Don Diamont (Bill, B&B, l.) and his family celebrated the birthday of wife Cindy Ambuehl (ex-Kim, B&B).
“It was so wonderful to catch up with Prince Albert (c.) and spend some time outside of @boldandbeautifulcbs with [Ex ecutive Producer/Head Writer] Brad Bel l,” posted Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke, B&B ).
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
STAR SHOTS OF THE WEEK
guide to must-see episodes
PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI
Bold And Beautiful On Tuesday, February 25, Katie (l.) makes it her mission to save Sally’s job at Forrester Creations.... Katie bonds with Flo on Thursday, February 27.... On Friday, February 28, Sally demands to know if Katie spilled her secret to Wyatt.
Days Of Our Lives XJ JOHNSON/JPI
Monday, February 24 Tuesday, February 25 Wednesday, February 26 Thursday, February 27 Friday, February 28.
General Hospital Morning Glory Michael enjoys his morning; Monica receives good news; and Jason is of comfort on Monday, February 24.... On Tuesday, February 25, Nelle digs her heels in; Carly delivers a stern warning; and Sam unleashes on Julian.... Jordan brings Laura up to speed on Wednesday, February 26, while Nikolas confides in Liz, and Josslyn (l.) gets surprising information.... On Thursday, February 27, Carly is alarmed, and Alexis thinks about what might have been.
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
Young And Restless Let’s Get Real On Monday, February 24, Victor rallies the troops, while Sharon takes matters into her own hands.... Jill shares news about a new business venture on Tuesday, February 25, and Phyllis receives a tempting offer.... On Wednesday, February 26, Victor questions Adam’s motives, and Chelsea (r.) plans for her future.... Nikki gives Billy a reality check on Thursday, February 27.... On Friday, February 28, Jack shares disturbing news, and Victoria wants answers about her condition.
TV
Wednesday, February 26
TIME
Thursday, February 27
Friday, February 28
Sunday, March 1
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.
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soap digest
editor’s
OPERA
Dear Readers,
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what they’re wearing...wh
information station Q
Who makes the white, striped blouse that Brooke [Katherine Kelly Lang] wore when she had that argument with Quinn? Thank you. Jocelyn F., via email The Wendi Blouse is by Kobi Halperin. While it appears the blouse is no longer available, you can check out other styles at Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus.
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HOWARD WISE/JPI; XJ JOHNSON/JPI
Q
I liked the sequin dress Ava [Maura West] wore on GH to Nina and Valentin’s wedding. What can you tell me about it? Kay in Nevada The sequin cocktail dress is by Rickie Freeman for Teri Jon, and you can check out neimanmarcus.com to try to snag one for yourself.
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best of the best
Q B&B’s Katrina Bowden (Flo) has an all-time favorite red carpet outfit. “I wore a silvery mint-colored Badgley Mischka dress one year to the SAG Awards [in 2013] that is still my favorite ever,” she shares.
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
ere they’re going...what they’re doing
before and after Q
Linsey Godfrey
before
after
about face
Q Here’s how Brytni Sarpy
(Elena, Y&R) keeps her skin looking so luminous. “When removing makeup, I use Eve exfoliate, tone and declog the pores; all with the assistance of a hot muslin cloth; it feels like I’m giving myself a daily mini-facial,” she says. “Every other day, because I have fairly sensitive skin, I use a Clarisonic electric face brush with Kiehl’s Calendula cleanser for a deep clean, and for evening out my skin tone. I also use a few different serums and oils specific to my combination/hormonally-imbalanced skin needs, including, for a.m., Vitamin C Serum and Perricone MD Cold Plasma; and for p.m., retinol and an under-eye cream from my esthetician, who I visit monthly for a facial.”
JI
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Due to the volume of mail received, we regret that we cannot answer your letters personally.
HOWARD WISE/JPI
Digest’s
Hottest Shots
THE BRASS RING “This show changed my life and gave me the best role you could possibly want,” Braeden declared. “I came on to be the biggest assh**e there ever was for three months and then I was going to leave. But this character changed my career. It’s a wonderful part.”
■
GOOD HUMOR MAN THIS IS HIM
26
GIVING THANKS “The matriarch of my family is my grandmother, who is 95 and loves Eric,” explained Joshua Morrow (Nick). “Every time we have grace before dinner, she prays for Victor.”
Amelia Heinle (Victoria, r.) and Melissa Ordway (Abby) wore traditional German garb to introduce a video of Braeden breaking down in laughter on the set through the years. “Happy 40th anniversary to my Papa Eric!” Heinle later posted.
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
NAKED AMBITION “As Nikki, I first met you at The Bayou with very little clothes on,” Braeden’s longtime co-star, Melody Thomas Scott (with her husband, B&B Producer Ed Scott), remembered from the podium. “We were two of the most unlikely characters to bring together.”
SO MUCH MORE
“Eric is very talented, he intelligent, he’s well-read, ’s he athletic, he’s good-looking ’s an he’s a pain in my ass,” jok d ed Peter Bergman (Jack), wi Brenda Epperson (ex-Ashle th y).
HONOR ROLL
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JIM WARREN
CHEERS HERE
Steve Burton (Jason, GH; ex-Dylan, Y&R , r.) with former on-screen dad Doug Davidso posed n (Paul), noting, “I had such a great time when I was here and Eric was always so amazing to me. ”
THE MAN, THE MYTH d 27
BEHIND the SCENES! Social snaps of stars on set.
INSTAGRAM/BENARD
“#setlife #boldand beautiful Getting ready for a fun day on set,” wrote Lawrence SaintVictor (Carter, B&B). Lauren Koslow (Kate, DAYS, r.) posted, “with the beautiful @therealjudievans [ex-Adrienne, DAYS] #backto workwego #days #dayslikethese #life #friends #selfie.”
“So much fun hanging with these two super talented people!” beamed Freddie Smith (Sonny, DAYS, standing), who welcomed Camila Banus (Gabi, DAYS) and her boyfriend, Marlon Aquino, as guests on his podcast, The Freddie & Alyssa Show.
GH’s Instagram shared this sweet pic of Michael Easton (Finn), Jophielle Love (Violet) and m Finola Hughes (Anna) fro e. us ho the set of Anna’s town
TAG
INSTAGRAM/SWEENEY
Enthused Alison Sweeney, who will be returning to DAYS as Sami, “Super fun to be back filming at @nbcdays today! Special thanks to awesome wardrobe dept for the cozy robe to keep me warm between scenes. Always fun to be in Salem.” INSTAGRAM/BELL
H
“Why it’s the DiMeras. With Leann Hunley [Anna] in my dressing room after 37 yrs of a magical time. She is the best. Consistent & so trustworthy, rare in these times,” marveled Thaao Penghlis (Tony, DAYS).
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
Eden McCoy (Josslyn, GH) posted this shot with Ingo Rademacher (Jax, GH) with the header, “daddy daycare.”
“Sharon [Case, Sharon, Y&R, r.] & I were ready... waiting on the men no doubt,” teased Lauralee Bell (Christine, Y&R), who shared this snap from a cast photo shoot.
Daytime’s most outspoken columnist!
My Opinion
It’s Only
Follow Carolyn on Twitter @carolynhinsey
■ There’s nothing like a good soap surprise — we need more of them. ■ I like events that come out of nowhere and touch a bunch of characters, like GH’s shoot-out. Michael: “Laura was shot!” Gunning down the heart of your show is a bold move. The bullets meant for Sonny landed Laura, Josslyn and Gladys’s newbie son Brando in the hospital. That’s three core families
former Mr. and Mrs. Jacks. Jax:
town?” Carly: “Obviously someone is trying to make a move against Sonny.” Such a clever mob wife. The Sonny/Jax feud still crackles after 20 years and GH milked it beautifully throughout this drama. “Why don’t you call the police and get an update from your own house?” snarked Sonny. Michael’s involvement risks his role at ELQ, Brando 30
saved Carly creating (misplaced?) loyalty, Taggert’s back, and something’s up with Gladys and Dev ... that’s a lot of plates spinning from one episode. Tracy’s return was a happier surprise that also moved story forward. She convinced Ned to retake the CEO position at ELQ, tangled with Brook Lynn (which made us like the recast), and tried to oust
There’s nothing like a good soap surprise. Nelle from the Q mansion. Tracy: “My work here is done. I’m going back to Amsterdam — Luke Spencer is a walk in the park compared to this.” Perish the thought. ■ It’s also shocking when brutal honesty pops up, like in this B&B exchange: Wyatt (to Liam): “I can’t believe you kissed Steffy after you just asked Hope to marry you. Dude, what are
you doing?” Dude, what are you doing? All that waffling between stepsisters is not a good color on you. Wyatt’s one to talk after breaking off his engagement to Sally following one scene with Flo, but Sally’s pain did lead her to the hospital where we got this astonishing scene: Sally: “Why are you here?” Katie: “Are you kidding? When am I not here for a checkup or follow-up?” Playing a character’s medical history? Score! Katie’s had a heart and kidney transplant so, duh, she gets checkups, but we must salute that when we see it. Frankly, I salute any story that pushes psycho Thomas back burner. Thomas: “You spiked Brooke’s juice?” Quinn: “It’s so not me.” Oops, spoke too soon. You know what else is not Quinn? Confiding in her husband’s demented grandson. That Brooke/Quinn war could have been a real bombshell if we’d seen some logical foreshadowing before Quinn’s dark
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
HOWARD WISE/JPI
Fast And Furious: Lola (Sasha Calle) and Kyle’s (Michael Mealor) split skipped a few beats on Y&R.
side re-emerged. Brooke: “People don’t change.” Quinn: “Are you still a drunken mess?” Brooke: “You know I don’t drink anymore.” That was literally the only buildup. No one had mentioned Brooke’s drinking since 2015, but by the end of the episode Quinn had slipped vodka into Brooke’s juice. Eric: “I don’t like coming home to Fight Club in the living room.” Wait till he sees Leaving Las Vegas ... ■ Shockers come in all sizes, including ones where characters do a 180. Phyllis showing empathy for Sharon after she learned she had cancer on Y&R was like, Boing! Phyllis: “Despite our differences, I think you’re an amazing mom.” Sharon: “This is exactly what I don’t want.” Phyllis: “Then why don’t you give me my latte? It’s not rocket science, Sharon.” That’s better. Y&R also cleverly used Phyllis’s momentary soft side to draw her closer
to an appreciative Nick. Phyllis: “I look forward to the day I can be a thorn in Sharon’s side again.” But what was with the one-day implosion of Kyle and Lola’s “perfect” marriage? They set up the scenes so well with Summer and Theo at the restaurant, but then ... Mariah: “Kyle and Lola need their privacy. We should go.” I’ve never seen such a lackluster breakup so soon after a big splashy wedding. Lola: “This is not a fight. This is two people being honest.” Kyle: “Summer is in my heart.... What are you thinking?” Lola: “I was thinking about my mother.” Huh? It would have made total sense for them to say they wed too fast, but instead it was about Summer and Theo, with Lola claiming Theo knows her like Kyle “never could”. That doesn’t say much for their sex life since Lola had never even kissed Theo. Kyle: “I guess I should go to a hotel room.”
a sudden Abbott, making him and Kyle cousins? It makes more sense to undo it than ignore it. ■ Every soap has dumb characters, but it’s always shocking when a smart one acts like a dope, e.g., on DAYS. Ben: “You have to tell the truth.” Will: “What does the truth get Maggie? She spends the rest of her life in misery in prison? How could I do that to her?” Ben: “What about your life?” There’s no way the son of Sami Brady would rather die in prison than “hurt” actual drunk driver Maggie who is 1) 40 years older than he is, 2) not related to him and 3) an alcoholic who could do it again. Will should take a page from JJ, slated to be Best Man in Eli and Gabi’s wedding while actively plotting to stop it. JJ: “I’m looking forward to you getting exactly what you deserve.” Gabi: “That’s very sweet of you to say.” Ha! Please let Kristen’s teeth fly across the room into Gabi’s drink at the ceremony to reveal Susan ... surprise! ■ Hey. It’s only my opinion. 앮 31
YOU VOTED!
LEAVING 1
Peter Reckell (ex-Bo, DAYS)
Q
22% 10% 10%
After a three-year absence from Salem, Reckell brought Bo back to town in 2015 to put the character to rest — literally. “For whatever reason, Bo was written off in an awkward way and neither the audience nor myself got a chance to really say good-bye,” Reckell told Digest of his previous departure. “Before, I was kind of able to put myself in a bubble because things were done in such an unfeeling way that I was just able to be like, ‘They didn’t respect what I did, so screw it.’ That shell was cracked open and all those emotions came spilling out about having to say good-bye to Bo and all the people that I love and respect over there at the show, not only on-screen, but off-screen.”
2
9%
Anthony Geary
9% 9% 9% 9% 8% 5%
(ex-Luke, GH)
In 2015, eight-time Daytime Emmy-winner Geary announced his retirement. “I’m just weary of the grind and have been for 20 years,” he told TV Guide. Executive a statement saying, “After 37 years on the air, Tony felt this was the right time to bid adieu to Luke Spencer, Port Charles and GENERAL HOSPITAL. Anthony is our friend and a part of our television family, but, as difficult as this may be, we understand and respect that this is his choice.... The door will always remain open, so don’t think this is the last you’ll see of Anthony Geary or Luke Spencer.”
TIME (ex-Ridge, B&B)
Twenty-five years after his B&B debut, original cast member Moss called it quits. Two months after he left the soap, Moss spoke to Digest about his surprise exit. “It was a decision I didn’t take lightly and I’ve had a long time to get to this point,” he noted. When asked what could have kept him there, Moss said, “Well, ask me not to take such a significant pay cut, for one. And, probably put us back where I think the fans wanted us to be, which is more front and center with the storylines and the original characters who have made the show what it is for 25 years instead of putting us as background people to the kids. That would’ve helped ... not just my attitude about staying but with the fans’ appreciation of the show.”
4
Martha Byrne
(ex-Lily, AS THE WORLD TURNS) 93, Oakdale mainstay Byrne had played Lily on and off since 1985 — but in 2008, she walked away from the show after contentious contract negotiations. The sticking point, Byrne explained to Digest, was that after taking a significant pay cut in her last contract, she wanted a guarantee that she would work the same number of days she’d worked the previous year — something she said she thought was a “workable solution”. (ATWT disagreed, releasing a statement defending their “incredible generous offer”.) Byrne recalled, “About two hours later, they sent out a breakdown to recast.... I felt that it was a little extreme.” Byrne’s replacement, Noelle Beck, played Lily through to the show’s 2010 cancellation.
5
Beverlee McKinsey (ex-Alex-
andra, GUIDING LIGHT) Jaws dropped on the GL set on August 5, 1992 — and later, in the fan community — when on her last day at work before an eight-week vacation, McKinsey (who had played Alex since 1984) exercised a clause in her contract that allowed her to leave the show with eight weeks’ notice and announced after
MEDIAPUNCH/SHUTTERSTOCK
3
Ronn Moss
McKinsey shrugged to TV Guide’s Michael Logan. The role was recast the following year with Marj Dusay. 33
7
(ex-Adam, Y&R) Muhney joined the No. 1 soap as Victor Newman’s son in 2009 and made his mark on the role, even garnering an Emmy nod for Lead Actor in 2013. However, that December, Muhney was suddenly axed from the show and told HuffPost Canada TV, “It was explained to me that CBS and Sony want to give Adam a break for 3-6 months and then they’ll bring him back with a different actor.” Justin Hartley took over the role, but fans still clamored for Muhney’s return after Hartley’s 2016 exit. On Twitter, Muhney noted at the time, “I’ve been on a journey for several years. Moved away from the me that fought too many battles and covered up insecurities with ego. I just know that I like myself a lot more now than I did years ago. Had to let go of the hard-headedness. It’s a good feeling to let it go.” 34
Rowell was a Y&R superstar as Drucilla from 1990-98, 2000 and 200207, but her last run came to an end (and Drucilla met a presumed death after falling from a cliff) when the show granted Rowell’s request to be released from her contract early. At the time, Rowell was vague in interviews about what prompted her decision, but later, she Sony, alleging racial discrimination behind the scenes and retaliation in her subsequent efforts to return to daytime. (She dropped the suit in 2017.) Whatever bad feelings existed between the actress and show execs were put aside in 2019, when Rowell’s longtime Y&R leading man, Kristoff St. John (ex-Neil), passed away, and Rowell was invited to take part in his oncamera memorial on set. “I understand that there has been strain over a period of time, which is well-documented, but it was heartening to know that we could all come together [to honor St. John],” she told Digest. “It meant a lot to me and I believe it meant quite a bit to the fans.”
Gina Tognoni
BILL INOSHITA/CBS
Michael Muhney
Victoria Rowell (ex-Drucilla, Y&R)
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
9
Cady McClain (ex-Dixie, ALL MY CHILDREN)
When McClain opted to leave AMC for the second time in 2002, the show’s writers had her meet an off-screen demise in Europe — but eagerly reversed her fate late in 2005 when McClain agreed to return. Critics and viewers were both flummoxed by AMC’s decision, early in 2007, to give McClain the boot and kill Dixie off again, this time via a batch of poisoned pancakes — and the actress voiced a very popular opinion when she told Digest that killing “randomly and almost casually” was “very unsatisfying for the audience.” AMC ultimately staged another comeback for Dixie, who was revived in 2011 in time to reunite with Tad before the show’s network finale.
10
Billy Miller (ex-Drew, GH)
In 2014, three-time Daytime Emmywinner Miller, beloved to the Y&R audience for his run as Billy, moved over to GH as a recast Jason Morgan (rechristened Drew when the OG Jason, Steve Burton, returned in 2017), earning a strong fan following among GH devotees. But in 2019, rumors swirled that the actor was on his way out — and he confirmed the whispers on July 28 in an online message to fans, writing, “I am filled with gratitude for all your support, encouragement, and every emotion shared. I cherish the journey we have taken together. Thank you for allowing me into your homes and lives.” Drew met his presumed death off-screen the following month.
35
Q
roundup Lawrence Saint-Victor (Carter, B&B) “I’d say the writers’ room. I’ve been there, and if it’s not the writers or breaking story with Brad [Bell, executive producer/head writer], I would love to do some of the crew jobs, like gaffing, electric, camera assistant.... Those guys work hard; the stage managers, the set builders. They’re the first ones there and the last ones to leave and I would love to experience that. I already appreciate them, but I’m sure if I walked a day in their shoes, I would have an even bigger appreciation of what they do.”
Brytni Sarpy (Elena, Y&R) “Absolutely direct. It’s one of my next passions I want to explore and I would love to try my hand with familiar faces!” 36
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
Courtney Hope (Sally, B&B) “This is difficult because I love writing and I’ve always wanted to direct. I would be torn between those two things. I would say I’d start with writing because I love writing and then, if I had the opportunity for a second day of something, I would choose directing.”
Mark Lawson (Dustin, GH)
SOAP OPERA DIGEST HOWARD WISE/JPI
Darin Brooks (Wyatt, B&B) “I would like to try and direct or maybe write a script. That could be fun.”
STEVEN BERGMAN
PHOTOS: JILL JOHNSON/JPI HOWARD WISE/JPI
Joshua Morrow (Nick, Y&R)
Robert Scott Wilson (Ben, DAYS) “I’d love to direct an episode because I’d love to just learn the process, but also give my spin and my take on what I’d like to see the shots be and how certain shots should be for certain scenes and certain actors. I would just like to give my point of view through the director’s standpoint. I think that would be really fun.”
Kathleen Gati (Obrecht, GH) “I’d love to be a set designer for a day because I love creating new environments wherever I am — preferably in red!” 37
BY DONNA HOKE
HOUSEHOLD NAMES ACROSS
DOWN
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Answers can be found in the next issue.
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SOAP OPERA DIGEST
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XJ JOHNSON/JPI
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
DAYS’s Sal Stowers (Lani) says she DAYS’s Sal was bummed when she wasn’t working missed working closely with Lamon Archey with Lamon. (Eli) after their alter egos split. “Lamon and I have worked so hard on these characters,” she explains. “I think people don’t realize how hard it is to create a make-believe relation- just be like, ‘Okay. They’re broken up.’ ship on set. You have to really portray these You’re like, ‘Dang! We put all that work emotions and allow yourself to feel these into these characters.’ But it shows. People things for someone that you’re not in a see that these two characters love each relationship with. That’s not easy. I mean, other. They belong together. They are each that’s not even easy in real life, to be vulner- other’s safe place. They’re home with each able and open yourself up like that. Lamon other. They see each other. I think seeing and I have spent a lot of time growing our that in their wedding episodes, I really felt friendship and growing the connection of that between the two. I was just really proud those characters together, and so for it to of the work that we did.”
STRANGELY FAMILIAR Johnny didn’t feel like a stranger at GH.
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
CHECK, PLEASE!
B&B’s Scott wishes he could have been in the service industry.
GATE HER AID Getting recognized by a soap fan is always a treat for Mishael Morgan (Amanda, Y&R) and sometimes even beneficial. “We were at the Toronto airport and while we were going through customs, my husband realized he forgot his car keys,” the actress recalls. “I told him, ‘We’re not missing our flight for your keys. We’ll just call Triple A when we get to Los Angeles.’ After we were through customs, which took over a half hour, his friend called to say he had the keys and would bring them to the airport. I told my husband he didn’t have time to go through that line again, plus his friend ended up going to the wrong terminal.” That’s when fate stepped in. “This customs agent overheard what was happening and she said, ‘Oh, don’t worry. I’ll get the keys at Terminal 1, take the train back to Terminal 2, and meet you at your gate,’ ” Morgan marvels. “She did all of that and I was stunned. I never met a customs agent who was that helpful. When she dropped off the keys, she said, ‘I just want you to know that I love you on Y&R.’ That was pretty awesome. I gave her a hug and we took some pictures and I also got an email so I can send her a cast photo. We definitely have the best fans in the world.” XJ JOHNSON/JPI
41
(Marcus Taggert)
TRULY ANDREWS RÃ&#x2030;AL ANDREWS IS THRILLED FOR THE CHANCE TO VISIT PORT CHARLES. BY MARA LEVINSKY
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
JUST THE FACTS BIRTHDAY: January 31 HOMETOWN: North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada DAYTIME HISTORY: He played Taggert from 1996-97 and
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
L
ast December, as Réal Andrews openly shared on social media that he was undergoing cancer surgery, he was maintaining his privacy on a matter pertaining to his professional life: After a 17-year absence, he’d been asked to reprise the role of Sonnymenacing Marcus Taggert on GH. Given that no one knew about his imminent return to Port Charles, the outpouring of well-wishes from fans was especially meaningful — and unexpected. “I was just blown away by the response,” he says. “It was really humbling and powerful. I don’t walk around and say, ‘Hey, I was Taggert.’ I’m not that guy. I’m a big advocate of, as amazing as it was to be Taggert 17 years ago, that’s in the past, man. I always say, ‘Let’s make history instead of read history.’ To get that kind of support from people I don’t even know was just amazing, seriously. I knew, at that time, I was going to be on the show, but obviously I couldn’t say anything. I was like, ‘Oh, man, they’re going to be excited when I come back!’ ” But not even that taste of how much he still meant to GH devotees prepared him for the onslaught of positive messages he got when Taggert did show up on-screen. “It’s really insane,” he notes. “I’m humbled in ways I can’t even express for how [viewers] are receiving me back. It almost brings me to tears. It has brought me to tears, actually, just in gratitude. I never imagined the response that I’m getting, to be honest with you. I just appreciate it.” GH wasted no time in reigniting the potent Sonny/ Taggert rivalry that helped land Andrews his original contract with the show. Recalls the actor, “When I walked into GH on that very first day, I was an underfive — and I was a huge fan of GH, as well, so I was in awe when I was walking down the hall and I was running into people like Alan Quartermaine. When I saw Maurice [Benard, Sonny] coming, I went to stick my hand out to shake his hand like I’d been doing with everybody else, and he just went past my hand and gave me a big hug. There was kind of an instant something there.” In their first scene together, “I think all I said was, ‘I’m Detective Taggert, PCPD, and you’re going down.’ But apparently, they saw something in the booth, and they said there had never been that kind of energy, or someone able to stand up head-to-head with Maurice, and they literally called up my agent right there and offered me a contract. So, that’s how it all started.” While he’s thrilled to be reteamed with Benard, a close and trusted friend (as is his wife, Paula Benard, who, as of last year, is his agent), Andrews is equally pleased
pinch-hit between Andrews’s stints, when Andrews appeared on the prime-time show SOLDIER OF FORTUNE, INC.), then moved to AS THE WORLD TURNS, playing Walker Daniels from 2003-04. After a 2011 stint on ALL MY CHILDREN as Agent Trumbull, he was DAYS’s Hal Michaels in 2016 and 2017. THE FAMILY WAY: Andrews tied the knot with wife Michele on November 4, 2000 and they are parents to three kids: Marcus, Nathan and Danika. “They’re all very different. Marcus is the jock, and Nathan is the genius, and Danika is Daddy’s little girl, even though she’s big; she’s very talented and likes cheerleading.” WHAT’S IN A NAME: His name (which is pronounced Rey-ahl) is French; his mom was tutoring French students at the time of his birth. RUNNING MAN: Andrews was a track star in high school, but his Olympic dreams were shattered by a hamstring injury. PROMO CODE: The actor took his character’s good fortune to heart when he moved up the ranks at the PCPD. “I got a script one day and I got promoted from detective to lieutenant and I was so excited, I was so fired up. I called my mom: ‘Ma, Ma, I got promoted, I’m a lieutenant! She goes, ‘Son, you’re acting.’ I was like, ‘Oh, yeah. Right.’ ” 43
INSTAGRAM/BENARD
SCOTT GARFIELD/ABC
Enemies, A Love Story: Though their characters (pictured in 2002, l.) despise one another, in real life, Maurice Benard (Sonny) is a close friend of Andrews’s.
that GH is expanding Taggert’s milieu, connecting him to Jordan, among other surprise ties to the current canvas. When GH first approached him, “I didn’t ask questions — I was just grateful to be back,” he explains. “But once I was
on board, I was very excited and curious to see where I was going and what I was up to. What’s great — phenomenal, actually — is if you remember, Taggert, 17 years ago, was pretty much one-note: He was after Sonny, he was taking Sonny down. He had a little bit of a [romantic] relationship here and there, but not much. And right from the get-go, the writers are writing Taggert with a lot of levels, many
DID YOU KNOW? • Before booking GH, Andrews played a boxing trainer on SANTA BARBARA in 1992 and a cop on DAYS (in scenes with Kristian Alfonso, Hope) in 1995. • Maurice Benard (Sonny) was the best man at his wedding. • Andrews was a Luke and Laura superfan back in their early ’80s heyday. 44
twists and turns, and from an actor’s point of view, that’s very rewarding and exciting. It’s not just the Taggert and Sonny Show. What actor wouldn’t want that, instead of just saying, ‘You have the right to remain silent...?’ ” After rattling off the complete text of the Miranda rights, he chuckles, “I haven’t said it in years, but it’s so embedded in me because that’s all I used to say!” But it’s not just Taggert who has more layers in 2020 than he did back in 2003; the same can certainly be said of his portrayer. The actor, who will mark 20 years of marriage to wife Michele in November, is now a father of three. His firstborn, Marcus, made his debut in 2001. “I can’t remember if we named Marcus after Taggert or if they named Taggert after my son, because they didn’t say his [first] name for the longest time.” They are all delighted to see Dad return to GH. “They’re very excited for me for many reasons. They’ve seen how hard I’ve worked and it’s a blessing for my whole family, obviously, to be on a show like that. It changes the dynamics in terms of your financial situation, just keeping it real, so it’s blessings and gratitude all around, you know? They’re happy to see Dad happy. There’s a different vibe in my house right now; things have just changed for the better, in a lot of ways.” Certainly, that includes the actor’s year-plus of sobriety. “When you go through the program [AA], you do a lot of soul-searching and a lot of work,” he observes. “You don’t really realize
INSTAGRAM/ANDREWS XJ JOHNSON/JPI
History Repeats Itself? On the subject of Taggert and Jordan (Briana Nicole Henry), Andrews teases, “Have you seen Jordan? She’s pretty hot [laughs]! It’s not hard to create some underlying things about what Taggert may want, or maybe what he had. I can’t reveal too much story, but there is definitely an energy between Jordan and Taggert.”
when you’re in it, but man, I left a path of destruction, for sure.” Getting clean has only enhanced the actor’s appreciation for his spouse. “She stood by me through all of that,” he marvels. I’m extremely lucky to have her — and not only is she amazing to me as a wife, she’s an unbelievable mother.” Andrews’s personal growth post-Port Charles has made it all the more enjoyable to reconnect with his GH pals. “It’s 17 years but we didn’t miss a beat,” he smiles. “We’re more mature, our personal growth is at a whole other level, and our acting is at a whole other level, for all of us. I remember when I was on GH, back in the day, I never felt as grounded and as comfortable as I do now. I would always have my hand in my pocket because I wasn’t grounded, I wasn’t comfortable. But now I can stand in front of someone and just be. I noticed that about Maurice, too; he’s always been amazing, but we’ve all grown. “Someone asked me the other day,” he continues, “what was the difference between AS THE WORLD TURNS and ALL MY CHILDREN and GH? They’re all amazing, but there’s something different about GH. The other two were more like a job, like going to work. At GH, from makeup to hair to wardrobe to producers to the camera people, it’s just fun, 앮 dude! That’s all I can say.”
Much To Celebrate: Andrews’s wife, Michele, son Marcus and daughter Danika helped him mark one year of sobriety last Christmas.
HEALTH MONITOR ndrews is on the mend after undergoing surgery last December to treat his prostate cancer. “I feel amazing, but the recovery — I would be lying if I told you that it was a lot of fun,” says the actor. “I have to wear these big-boy diapers, I’ve got pain down there all the time, but I’m grateful that I’m cancer-free for now. On the set, I got a little doughnut that I have to sit on and a bunch of fun stuff. Just keeping it real, I’ll say two things. One, it’s not a joking matter; yes, it’s one of the ones that they have the best results of, you know, being free of cancer, but that’s only if you catch it early enough. I was blessed that I work with a doctor and get regular blood tests. My PSA [levels] went from 1.2 to 6.7 in a month and if I wasn’t getting checked, I wouldn’t have known.” Andrews, who has owned gyms and worked in exercise and fitness, notes, “I trained for that surgery the way I used to train for track meets or train for fights. It’s challenging. If you ever have to have surgery, treat it seriously. A lot of people have the mind-set that they’ll get in shape after surgery. No, it’s the other way around: You need to show up in the best shape that you can.”
A
ART
MATTER BY DEVIN OWENS
Awe-mazing!
Soap Opera Digest: What was the mandate given to you for creating this art installation?
Digest: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interesting that the entire collection looks cohesive yet is comprised of different styles.
Digest: What were your next steps?
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
Art Appreciation:
King Me:
Digest: What did you find the most challenging about the entire installation?
Digest: How long did this effort take from start to finish?
Digest: Did you witness Ericâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reaction to the finished product? Digest: What do the massive chess pieces represent?
ě&#x2022;Ž
It’s A Living Head-Prop, 1992-present Q What do your duties entail?
How many people are on the prop team?
B&B’s arsenal?
What’s been your most challenging assignment?
How are prop requests submitted to you?
Do you have any favorite props?
What can go wrong when working with props? Do you ever repurpose props? Have you personally created any props yourself?
What’s the oldest prop in
How many duplicates do you have on hand for vital props?
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
Key Exchange:
How and where are B&B’s props stored? births on the show, have you incorporated any of those animatronic dolls that appear more lifelike, or is it easier and more economical to wrap a doll in a blanket?
What do you do in an emergency situation, like when a prop goes missing but it’s needed on the set? Do you get requests from fans about where to find certain props, like the Christmas carousel?
Very Merry: The holidays wouldn’t be the same at the Forrester mansion without the beloved Christmas carousel.
image? Are there certain actors who are better with handling props?
Who came up with the idea of having a bell on the laptops, as opposed to an Apple? Considering the number of
When it comes to photos, who does the actual Photoshopping of the
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Writersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Assistant, 2008-present
Q How did you first get hired at DAYS? Have you held any other positions at DAYS?
Did you watch the show before you landed the job?
Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most fun thing you get to do at work?
Did you study writing in college?
What are your daily job responsibilities? What has been your proudest moment on the job?
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
What’s In A Name?
What has been your most challenging moment on the job?
disease named after you?
What other departments do you work with closely? The late Caroline Brady’s “Topits Disease” was named after you. How did that come about, and is it flattering having a
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Lighting Director, 2016-present
Q How did you land at GH?
Five days a week?! What are your hours like? What is the most challenging set to light?
How would you describe what the job entails?
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
Ready For Action: Here’s Mohr on set with Michael Easton (Finn) and Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis, l.).
Of the sets we see more often, are there ones that are easier to light than others?
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
Tent Control:
Is there a set that’s particularly fun to light?
ow many lights are there in, say, Sonny’s living room?
Do you interact with the actors much?
Casting Associate, 2011-present Q Were you a fan before this job?
What is your previous work experience with soaps?
What type of duties does your job entail?
Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an average day like for you?
How long do you typically have to cast a role?
SOAP OPERA DIGEST Do you still go through a pile of headshots or is everything digital now?
My One And Only:
Who was your most recent this-actor-wasmade-for-the-role moment? What kind of roles do you feel are the hardest to cast?
Which roles are the most fun for you to cast? How has the advent of technology changed the job?
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Forget SINGLE PARENTS! Some Of TV’s Funniest Lines Are On Soaps. BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL (Shauna and Quinn talk about their heated confrontation with Brooke.) Shauna: “I still can’t believe Brooke slapped me. If she hadn’t taken me completely by surprise....” Quinn: “I knocked her down so you didn’t have to.”
DYNASTY (Fallon confronts Jeff about his marriage to Alexis.) Fallon: “Blake just filled me in. He’s kidding, right?” Jeff: “It’s true.” Fallon: “Does she have some kind of blackmail on
you? I mean, is someone watching right now that can have you killed? Blink twice for yes.” (Fallon greets Alexis and her new face.) Fallon: “Hello, Mother, or at least I assume it’s you under there somewhere.” (Later, Fallon attempts to be civil to Alexis.) Fallon: “I’m sorry I was a little crabby earlier. You know, it’s not every day that your mother marries your cousin — except maybe in Nebraska.”
On A High:
HOWARD WISE/JPI
56
(Ava compares notes with Nina.) Ava: “It’s been quite a whirlwind for both of us, hasn’t it? There I was, thrown off a parapet by Valentin, only to be rescued by Nikolas, just in time to interrupt your wedding.” Nina: “Yes, I remember it because, you know, I was there.” (Ava is furious that Valentin got out on bail.) Ava: “Nina, I think it’s pretty clear you should never be left alone with this man again, so if he should approach you when no one is around, you can call me. Day or night. Perhaps we can meet on my parapet for old time’s sake?”
YOUNG AND RESTLESS (To distract Sharon from her cancer, Rey plays gin rummy with her.) Sharon: “You know, not all the days are going to be like this.” Rey: “I know, I assure you, I will win a hand.” (At Crimson Lights, Nate is suspicious when Elena buys his coffee.) Nate: “Thanks. What did I do to deserve this?” Elena: “Oh, you know, for being brilliant and creative and an incredibly helpful human being.” Nate: “Okay. So now I know you’re about to hit me up for a favor.” Elena: “Did I mention perceptive?” 앮
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
calendar North Country: Meet Y&R’s Christia n
Who: Y&R’s Sharon Case (Sharon), Mark
Grossman (Adam), Bryton James (Devon), Christian J. LeBlanc (Michael), Kate Linder (Esther) and Brytni Sarpy (Elena) What: Kate Linder’s 7th Annual OpportuniTea When: Sun., Apr. 5 Where: The Westin Calgary, 320 4th Avenue Southwest, Calgary, Alberta, Canada How: Join the stars for high tea to benefit March of Dimes Canada’s Conductive Education Program. Event will feature a Q&A, live auction and an autograph session. For pricing and more info, go to marchofdimes.ca/calgarytea.
c.) and Kate Linder (Esther) in Can ada. HOW RD
to coastalentertainment.com. Who: Various GH Cast Members What: 4th Annual General Hospital
Convention When: Fri.-Sun., May 29-31 Where: Los Angeles Marriott Burbank
Airport Hotel, 2500 North Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA How: Meet some of your Port Charles favorites. For pricing and more info, go to creationent.com/cal/gh_burbank.html.
Who: GH’s Kathleen Gati (Obrecht), Roger
JIM WARREN
Howarth (Franco), Katelyn MacMullen (Willow), Wes Ramsey (Peter), Emme Rylan (Lulu) and Josh Swickard (Chase) What: GH Fantasy Weekend When: Sun., May 17 Where: Sheraton Pittsburgh Station Square Hotel, 300 West Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, PA How: Join the stars for an afternoon filled with a Q&A, interviews and fan fun. Platinum and VIP tickets include photo op.
Who: GH’s Leslie Charleson (Monica),
Marcus Coloma (Nikolas), William deVry (Julian), Rylan and Swickard What: GH Fantasy Weekend When: Sat., Sep. 19 Where: Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA How: Spend the day with the stars to benefit the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Teal and VIP tickets include meet and greet. For pricing and more info, go to coastalentertainment.com.
Greg Rikaart (Kevin, Y&R) 2/26 Brandon Beemer (Shawn, DAYS) 2/27 Michael Mealor (Kyle, Y&R) 2/29 Benard
Who: GH’s Ramsey and Laura Wright (Carly) What: Meet And Greet When: Sat., Oct. 10 Where: Rockwells, 105 Wolfs Lane, Village of Pelham, NY How: Join the actors for a 90-minute show with a photo op and autographs to follow. For pricing and more info, go to coastalentertainment.com. 57
ARRESTED DAYS OF OUR LIVES Gabi Hernandez
GENERAL HOSPITAL
HOWARD WISE/JPI
SCORECARD
Digest Keeps You Up-To-Date Blasts From The Past: Matt (Robert Parucha) and Julia (Meg Bennett) helped celebrate Y&R’s Victor.
Brad Cooper Nelle Benson
DECLARED LOVE YOUNG AND RESTLESS Kyle Abbott and Summer Newman
DIED
LEFT TOWN
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Bill Horton
Tracy Quartermaine
ENGAGED
MADE LOVE
YOUNG AND RESTLESS Chelsea Lawson and Adam Newman
INTERRUPTED WEDDING DAYS OUR LIVES Eli Grant and Gabi Hernandez
KIDNAPPED DAYS OF OUR LIVES Kayla Brady
KISSED DAYS OF OUR LIVES Hattie Adams and Roman Brady Eli Grant and Lani Price
YOUNG AND RESTLESS Nick Newman and Phyllis Summers 58
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Deveraux, JJ Deveraux and Abigail DiMera
PROPOSED MARRIAGE BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL
Jasper “Jax” Jacks and Nina Reeves
Thomas Forrester to Zoe Buckingham
NEW JOB
VISITING
GENERAL HOSPITAL Brook Lynn Quartermaine
OUT OF TOWN DAYS OF OUR LIVES Jack Deveraux, Jennifer
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Valerie Grant
YOUNG AND RESTLESS Julia Martin, Matt Miller and Noah Newman
FLASHBACK TRIVIA What did Sami confess at her interrupted wedding to Lucas on DAYS in 2005? Turn to page 60 to find out.
AFTER EFFECTS Hope insists to Liam that Thomas is not the issue between them, explaining that she’s still smarting from the kiss he shared with Steffy. Liam apologizes to Hope.
aches when Douglas tells her that he doesn’t want anyone else to take her place as his mom. Thomas is satisfied that his plan is working when he eavesdrops on the conversation.
LISTEN IN
POP SECRET
Brooke is annoyed when she realizes that Thomas is eavesdropping on an argument she is having with Ridge. She then levels a serious accusation against Thomas.
Thomas plans a special dinner chez Forrester and invites Eric, Quinn, Ridge, Brooke, Steffy, Liam, Hope, Douglas, Vinny and Zoe. Douglas wishes that the family dinner only included him, Thomas, Hope and Beth. During the meal, Thomas surprises Zoe — and everyone in attendance — by asking her to
MOM’S THE WORD Douglas makes it clear that he is not happy that his dad is spending time with Zoe. Hope’s heart
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
beautiful
WHAT WI HAPPE • Hope interrupts an intimate moment between Thomas and Zoe. • Sally is stunned to learn what Ridge did with her designs. • Bill pays Flo a surprising compliment. marry him. After, Brooke corners Thomas and lets him know that she’s on to his game, then lashes out at him.
BROTHERLY LOVE Ridge and Steffy talk about Thomas. Ridge implores her to give Thomas another chance.
Why is Thomas using Douglas (Henry Joseph Samiri, r.) to get to Hope? Matthew Atkinson says:
NOT SO FAST
“He knows that Douglas is the key to getting Hope back. He’s making Douglas feel like Thomas felt when he was a child, like he’s losing one of his parents.”
Zoe makes a big request of Thomas before she will consider becoming his wife.
HOWARD WISE/JPI
TO TELL THE TRUTH Suspecting that Thomas’s proposal is more about Hope than Zoe, Ridge queries his son about his true intentions. Douglas tells Hope 앮 a secret. 59
days LOVE LINES Chad and Abigail share a romantic moment for Valentine’s Day. Chad gets a call that someone suspicious was spotted on the grounds near the gatehouse. He checks it out and finds an escaped Ben with Ciara. Ciara implores him not to call the police. Chad relents for 24 hours and leaves. Ciara and Ben make love. Brady invites Kristen to go to Gabi and Eli’s wedding with him. She’s torn because Lani’s her friend, but pleased Brady is inviting her out. He gives her a Valentine’s Day gift, a heart charm for her bracelet. They remember when he gave her the first charm and the bracelet on the previous Mother’s Day. Things turn romantic and they make love.
lives MEMORY LANE
STOP! IN THE NAME OF LOVE
BUSTED!
BRIAN LOWE/JPI
Lani tosses off her habit to reveal that she isn’t a Eli and JJ get ready nun and the only vow she for the wedding, then took was to expose Gabi’s Eli encounters Abe. Eli lies. When she describes impulsively invites Abe to the wedding, and is about to how Gabi used Julie’s pacemaker to force Lani to tell him his mom is coming break Eli’s heart, everyone when Valerie shows up. at the ceremony is hesitant Eli moves off to let them to believe her at first, but talk. Alone, Eli remembers then JJ backs up Lani’s when Lani broke his heart. claim. Gabi is forced to All the guests arrive and the admit her crimes and later, wedding begins. Gabi and Julie mercilessly blasts the Eli get all the way through their vows when Lani bursts bride. To everyone’s horror, an incensed Gabi turns the in and insists Julie stop the device all the way up and ceremony. Julie collapses. Julie reveals she flashback faked her cardiac to 2005 episode as JJ explains that he short-circuited Gabi’s pacemaker switch and put this whole charade in motion to trick her into confessing. Rafe is forced to arrest Gabi after she’s been Coming Clean: Sami (Alison Sweeney) and roundly blasted by the Lucas’s (Bryan R. Dattilo, l.) wedding was wedding guests. Lani interrupted and Sami had to confess to makes inroads with masquerading as Stan (Dan Wells, r.). Also Eli, and they kiss. pictured: Rhasaan Orange as Tek.
How does Julie react to hearing what Lani (Sal Stowers, r.) did to protect her? Susan Seaforth Hayes says: “Lani has done more for Julie than anybody lately. Lani sacrificed her own happiness to preserve Julie. They weren’t even that close. Lani certainly did it out of love for Eli, because Eli loves his grandma.”
HELLO, IT’S ME “Steve” becomes impatient with Kayla and reveals he’s “Stefano”. Kayla tries to escape, but he restrains her. Meanwhile, Marlena receives Valentine’s Day flowers from “Stefano”. John assures her that they’ll find him and put a stop to this. Justin and Rafe become worried because there’s been no word from Kayla. Rafe fills Justin in on the fact that Steve is “Stefano”. They race to Kayla’s office and find bandages, indicating she may have treated Steve, then see security footage showing her leaving the hospital with a man in scrubs.
FIRST STEPS Roman admires Hattie’s courage in impersonating Marlena so she could rescue John. Hattie admits her feelings for Roman again, but knows he could never return them. Roman says that’s not
true and surprises her with a gentle kiss.
FALLOUT ZONE Eli is still confused by all that’s happened and tells Lani he needs some time alone. Lani understands, adding that she still loves him and will never stop. At the station, Kate and Gabi are left alone in the interrogation room, each amazed at what the other has done.
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
WHAT WI HAPPE • Ciara and Rafe make an important discovery. • Justin is thrown by a visit from “Steve”. • Chad finds a special gift from “Stefano”. have helped Ben escape.... Chad warns Ben that his time at the gatehouse is up.... Chad stalls Rafe when he shows up wanting to search the grounds.... Ciara explains her theory to Ben that the DNA found on Jordan could be David’s father, who might have a motive to kill Jordan. Ben wants Ciara to investigate solo while he goes into hiding. But before Ben has a chance to get away, Rafe arrives.
MATCH GAME Brady is angry after he learns from Tate that the boy was tested by a doctor. Brady and Kristen confront Victor and Xander about why Victor went behind Brady’s back to have Tate tested. Sarah arrives and announces a match has been found for Mackenzie!
TIME’S UP Rafe suspects Ciara could
VISITING DAY Sonny visits Will at the prison to tell him about Gabi being arrested for threatening Julie’s life with the rigged pacemaker, but also wants to know why Will hasn’t filed the divorce papers they both signed. Still protecting Maggie, Will covers. After Sonny leaves, Maggie shows up after being summoned by Will. 앮 61
STRICTLY BUSINESS
PASSION PLAY
Alexis sees Neil with Obrecht and is relieved to learn that she’s his patient, not his date.... With Tracy back in Europe, Olivia checks in with Ned about his efforts to suss out who is trying to buy up ELQ stock.... Brook Lynn takes a hostess job at the Metro Court.
THE GUARDIAN Flush with cash after selling her ELQ shares to Valentin, Nelle secretly makes plans to leave the country with Wiley.
flashback to
Michael wonders who purchased the stock. After Sam explains why she’s not a suitable candidate, Lucas requests that Willow be 2018 Wiley’s legal guardian should something happen to him and Brad. She agrees; Chase is miffed that she didn’t consult with him first.
HOWARD WISE/JPI
ABOUT A BOY
Short And Sweet: Brad’s (Parry Shen) joy over Wiley’s birth was short-lived when the baby passed away after he came home from the hospital.
62
Sonny assures Carly that he’s taking steps to ensure that Cyrus doesn’t come after their family again. Dev tells Sonny and Carly that he thinks it’s time that they send him to boarding school. Lulu
interviews Brando for The Invader and warns him that while she knows the truth about Dev, he should be sure to have his story straight with other reporters. He goes to Sonny and Carly and asks to know the truth about Dev. Michael is tight-lipped when Chase presses him about the assault on Sonny.
LOVE ON THE ROCKS Anna and Finn bump into each other at the Metro Court. An icy Finn exits when Peter arrives. Peter assures Anna that he will prove that he has no connection to the assassin; he then gloats to Sam about her deal with Robert going south. TJ gets anxious about proposing when Molly goes on a rant against the marriage industrial complex to Sam
Does Peter feel genuinely bad that Anna’s (Finola Hughes) relationship with Finn is suffering because of him? Wes Ramsey says: “Of course. He’s not a monster and does in fact have a conscience. The fact that he could also be the sole cause for her potentially losing her own happiness is hard for Peter.” NICK ARGO/ABC
and Alexis. Finn breaks the news to Chase and Willow that he moved out of Anna’s. Chase supports Finn putting Violet’s safety first.
and a stunned Michael struggles to process that his son is alive. Everyone realizes that Nelle has slipped out. Carly calls the cops, who arrest Brad.
TOTAL RECALL Carly hosts a goodbye party for Lucas, Brad and Wiley. One of the guards catches Nelle on the premises. Lucas suddenly remembers Brad telling him that Wiley is Michael’s son. His back against the wall, Brad details how he came to pass Jonah off as Wiley. Julian is relieved that Brad doesn’t implicate him (nor does he expose Obrecht’s role). Lucas is devastated as the full scope of Brad’s betrayal dawns on him,
THE TASK AT HAND Sonny has Jason blow up the warehouse where Cyrus has stashed a drug shipment to send a message to his new enemy. Taggert is evasive when Curtis questions him about his past with Jordan. Things get contentious. Jordan is shaken when another member of her old task force, Simon, is killed. She phones Taggert, who rushes to her side. Jordan and Taggert, the only surviving members
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
W HA T WI HAPPE • Spinelli comes through. • Willow shocks Michael. •Sasha needs to do what is right for her.
of the task force, concur that they are being targeted because of an arrest they made. Curtis spies on them, then confronts his wife about her past with Taggert. Jordan insists that it wasn’t romantic, then leaves and goes to Petonville to see the man she and Taggert put behind bars: Renault. Sonny and Jason reconvene and ponder the personal nature of Cyrus’s vendetta. Mac reunites with Taggert and advises him to let Sonny and his rival take each other out.
GAME OVER Nelle descends on Willow, who is watching Wiley. They brawl; Nelle knocks Willow out and is poised to flee with Wiley when Michael and Chase catch up to her and force her to hand over the child. 앮 Chase arrests Nelle. 63
young KILLING IT When Adam returns from Las Vegas, Phyllis teases that she knows a lot more about what happened in Sin City. Later, Phyllis reveals what she heard about Adam to Chelsea and demands she give up her shares of the Grand Phoenix in exchange for Phyllis’s silence. Chelsea refuses to give in to the blackmail. Chelsea then locates Adam and insists that he come clean about his recent trip to Vegas. Adam confesses the truth, in-
flashback to
restless REALLY COOKING
cluding his responsibility for a man’s death. Chelsea declares her support for him. Chelsea informs Abby that she’s selling her percentage of the Grand Phoenix 2007 to Phyllis, and doesn’t explain why. A furious Abby surmises that her partner is being blackmailed by Phyllis but Chelsea keeps quiet. Abby angrily confronts Phyllis, which
AARON MONTGOMERY/JPI
Crime Doesn’t Pay: Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) was arrested, tried, convicted and did prison time for blackmailing Brad over his affair with Sharon.
64
Chance overhears, and realizes Phyllis knows the truth.
GOLDEN OLDIE At the gala for Newman Enterprises’ 50th anniversary, Chance tells Abby what happened with him and Adam in Vegas and that Phyllis used this information to force Chelsea to give up her percentage of the Grand Phoenix. Abby confronts Phyllis, who offers to buy her out as well, but Abby refuses to sell her shares. Phyllis storms off.
TIRED OF IT Sharon does another round of chemotherapy, then attends the Newman gala. During the evening, she experiences a moment of fatigue in front of Nikki. A suspicious Nikki asks if Sharon is pregnant, which she laughs off. Later, Sharon reveals her breast
HOWARD WISE/JPI
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
Though he shared a kiss with Phyllis, does Nick still love Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan)? Joshua Morrow answers: “Yes, but he’s accepted that she’s with Adam now even though Nick knows it’s not the best idea for her.”
cancer diagnosis to Nikki, who offers to help in any way she can.
PICTURE PERFECT At the Newman gala, everyone pays tribute to Victor and his accomplishments. The guest of honor is surprised when Noah shows up, as well as Victor’s ex-wife Julia and his brother, Matt. Phyllis enters, even though she wasn’t invited. After speeches honoring Victor are given, Nikki reveals her surprise: An art installation designed by Noah and featuring his own photography of his grandfather.
unexpectedly kisses him.
POP GOES THE QUESTION Adam tells Chelsea he never wants to lose her or Connor again. Adam proposes to Chelsea, and she accepts.
RIGHT ON TARGET
RIP OUT At the Grand Phoenix, Amanda tries to dissuade Billy Newman gala. behave himself and heads off to the party alone. After a moment’s hesitation,
LIP BALM During the party, Phyllis and Nick discuss his feelings about Victor. Phyllis notes that Nick knows her better than anyone else does and
proaches Billy and tries to persuade him to leave the party, unaware that Ripley has followed her there.
him but she doesn’t know she’s being tailed, as well. During the gala, Amanda ap-
6 4 5 1 3 8 9 2 7
2 8 1 6 7 9 5 3 4
Chance goes to Devon’s penthouse to inform him that he is closing in on Colin, adding that it will not be much longer until 앮 they apprehend him.
SUDOKU ANSWERS
7 9 3 5 4 2 8 6 1
4 5 9 2 1 3 6 7 8
1 3 6 8 5 7 2 4 9
8 2 7 4 9 6 1 5 3
3 7 2 9 6 1 4 8 5
9 6 4 3 8 5 7 1 2
5 1 8 7 2 4 3 9 6
k s as u
Crash Report: Despite JJ’s (Casey Moss) best efforts, Adrienne (Judi Evans) couldn’t be saved on DAYS.
Because of the impeachment hearings, I missed how Adrienne died on DAYS. I’m so mad because I was waiting for that episode. So, how did she die? Thank you. Jennifer T. in Ohio A Adrienne and Sarah’s car was struck by
another car, believed to be driven by Will, but was then revealed to have been driven by Maggie. Adrienne was the driver and sustained injuries that resulted in her death. I missed a few episodes of GH. How did Nelle get out of prison? On the January 15th episode she mentioned something about rescuing someone in prison. While I’m asking, how did Sam get out of prison? Thanks for answering my questions and love your magazine! Rob D., Las Vegas, NV A Thanks, Rob! Nelle was granted an
Q
early release for risking her life (and get-
I have a suggestion for your Twin Peeks column. I think Erika Slezak [ex-Viki, ONE LIFE TO LIVE] resembles Hillary Clinton. Could you put them side by side? Thanks!
ting stabbed) to thwart Ryan Chamberlain’s escape from Pentonville (but as viewers know, she was in cahoots with Ryan to set this up). As for Sam, she was granted parole in time to spend Christmas with her family. Is that the actor who played Ravi on Y&R appearing in the Nissan TV commercial? S.R., via email A Yes, that is indeed Ravi’s portrayer,
Q
Abhi Sinha, greeting a friend on the Nissan ad for the Altima sedan. My mom told me that she saw previews for the second season of LOST IN SPACE and although neither one of us saw the first season, she said one of the actors that flashed by on her TV screen looked like someone from Y&R. Can you figure out who she may be talking about? Thanks! S.S., via email
Q
Clinton
XJ JOHNSON/JPI
spied Ignacio Serricchio, who plays Don West on the sci/fi series, and appeared on Y&R as Police Detective Alex Chavez (2012-14). The actor also portrayed Diego Alcazar on GH from 2004-06.
Q
Besides Thorsten Kaye and Ronn Moss, did any other actor ever play Ridge on B&B? I don’t think so, but my sister insists that another actor had the role, as well. Please settle our dispute. Thank you. Andrea P., via email A Actually, Andrea, your sis is correct. Ronn
Moss originated the role of the playboy fashion designer in 1987 and played it until 2012. The following year, Thorsten Kaye stepped in. However, in 1992, soap vet Lane Davies (exMason, SANTA BARBARA et al) stepped in when Moss was on leave, so technically, three actors have played the iconic character.
Q
What was the name of the song that played during Alexis and Cristal’s epic catfight on DYNASTY? I loved it but I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before. Thanks. Deena F., via email A That catchy tune is aptly titled “Volcano
Girls” and is by the band Veruca Salt.
Got a question or “Twin Peeks” suggestion for the staff of Soap Opera Digest? SODask@soapoperadigest.com Soap Opera Digest 4 New York Plaza, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10004 -
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
A Mom has sharp eyes! She most likely
HEART OF THE MATTER I am so happy that Y&R’s Kyle finally admitted what I’ve known all along: Summer is the woman in his heart. Summer and Kyle’s love story is epic and their bond eternal. We are so fortunate to have Michael Mealor playing Kyle now. He is a wonderful, charismatic actor who lights the screen on fire with Hunter King’s Summer. There’s nothing these two amazing actors can’t do. Their chemistry is electric, and whether Summer and Kyle are fighting, kissing, or bantering, I am fully invested in their journey. I can’t wait to see what
comes next for “Skyle”! Dee L., Chula Vista, CA
JUST SAY NO I am completely disgusted with what’s going on with Kyle and Lola on Y&R! The way Kyle is being written now goes against everything Kyle and Lola have said and been through this past year. Summer should have been long out of the picture! “Kola” was the best thing to happen to the show and they completely ruined it! I am done watching! J.N., via email
FREE TO BE I am so happy that Kyle
“I am so happy that Y&R’s Kyle [Michael Mealor] finally admitted what I’ve known all along: Summer [Hunter King] is the woman in his heart.” 68
PHOTOS: HOWARD WISE/JPI
has finally been liberated and allowed himself to be open about his deep feelings for Summer. I have always felt Kyle loved Summer but was scared. She is the one woman who sets his soul on fire and I cannot wait to see their journey as a couple. They have always been in each other’s lives and have never been able to fully quit each other, so now it will be fun to see them tackle all the angst coming their way not only with themselves but with their always-warring families (Newman vs. Abbott)! Ashley H., via email
SUDDEN CHANGE Thank you, Soap Opera Digest, for putting Y&R’s Kyle and Lola on the cover of your February 3, 2020 issue. I was excited to see Sasha Calle [Lola] on your cover so I had to buy this issue at my nearby grocery store. I do wish “Kola” breaking up wasn’t the reason for your preview article. But wow, both Sasha Calle and Michael Mealor [Kyle] really pulled at my heartstrings in their characters’ breakup scenes.
SOAP OPERA DIGEST
“Both Sasha Calle [Lola] and Michael Mealor really pulled at my heartstrings in their characters’ breakup scenes.” Their performances were stellar, and their connection and chemistry is so evident in these types of angsty, heartwrenching scenes. I also can’t help but feel flabbergasted that “Kola” just gave up on their marriage in a blink of an eye and didn’t even consider counseling. Sure, it’s a young marriage and Theo was putting pressure on their relationship, but there was no buildup to this blatant shift in writing up until a week and a half ago when Summer kissed Kyle. Suddenly the show is claiming that Summer was in Kyle’s heart throughout “Kola’s” entire romance. Was Summer in Kyle’s heart when his marriage vows to her were actually about Lola? Was Kyle in love with Summer as he looked wistfully at a photo of Lola on his phone right after “Skyle” had sex? And most importantly, if Kyle really did love Summer all this time, then why did he willfully walk out on the “Skyle” marriage in order to reunite with Lola and proceeded to plan a fairy-tale “Kola” wedding? This is such
a condescending rewrite that’s contrary to what the audience saw themselves, and it makes Kyle seem like a pathological jerk. There’s a right way to break up couples on soaps, and this is absolutely the wrong way on so many levels. Brooke D. in CA
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS I was very sad to hear of the recent passing of actresses Marj Dusay [ex-Alexandra, GUIDING LIGHT et al] and Pamela Payton-Wright [ex-Addie, ONE LIFE TO LIVE]. I pinch myself that I was lucky enough to meet both of them. While managing a movie theater in Dallas in 1993, Ms. Payton-Wright was visiting the city and starring in a local stage production of Six Degrees of Separation. I fell in love with her performance and invited her to see a few movies during her downtime. She was so bubbly and kind, and I’ll never forget talking with her about OLTL’s complex Addie and
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Sofia Mattsson ■ What do you wish you had more free time for? “ ‘Me time’. I like to take long walks and listen to music and go to the beach and people-watch, and just kind of be quiet. It sounds kind of boring, but just time to reflect.”
■ What food do you wish was calorie-free? “Ice cream. My favorite is cookies and cream.”
■ How do you take your coffee? “With almond milk.”
■ What quality is most important to you in a friend? “Kindness.”
■ What’s your favorite movie? “I like The Notebook. Very romantic.”
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