Starrleena's Weekly Soap Critiques - April 23-27, 2018

Outstanding Performances

The Young & the Restless

Amelia Heinle:  for severa weeks, Victoria has been thrown into a domestic violence relationship with her ex-husband, J.T. Hellstrom (Thad Luckinbill) after they renewed their romance and subsequently became engaged.  After J.T.’s untimely death after he came after Victoria when he confessed to what he did to her father, Victor Newman (Eric Braden), Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) came at J.T. with a poker, which killed him instantly.  When Sharon (Sharon Case), Phyllis (Gina Tognoni), Nikki and Victoria made the decision to dispose of J.T.’s body in the garden at Chancellor Park.  Victoria was faced with Reed’s (Tristan Lake Lebeau) to leave Genoa City for a music school after learning of J.T.’s “disappearance.”  Heinle is holding her own and showing her acting range in this tragic storyline.

The Bold & the Beautiful

Don Diamont:  yes we love to hate him, but $Bill Spencer is a force to be reckoned with.  Diamont is doing a good job with playing a despicable character as $Bill does whatever he can to claim Steffy Forrester-Spencer (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) as his own, despite the fact that she is pregnant with his son, Liam’s (Scott Clifton) baby.  

Jacqueline MacInnes Wood:  Wood was sensational when she was pressured by $Bill (Don Diamont) to sign Liam’s (Scott Clifton) annulment papers so he wouldn’t send her mother, Taylor (Hunter Tylo) to prison for shooting him.  Steffy clearly wants to salvage her marriage to Liam if he can come to terms with her indiscretion with his father, but $Bill’s plan to make Steffy his and Hope’s (Annika Noelle) desire to renew a relationship with Liam have gotten in the way.

Scott Clifton:  Clifton is remarkable as Liam, torn between his love for Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and their unborn daughter, and trying to come to terms with learning of her indiscretion with his father, $Bill Spencer (Don Diamont).  Now Liam is faced with Hope’s (Annika Noelle) confession to move on from his marriage and renew what they had when she tells him she still loves him.  

General Hospital

Maurice Benard:  Benard was remarkable this week when he was forced to choose between his father, Mike (Max Gail) and daughter, Avery, after Ava (Maura West) threatened to have Mike brought up on kidnapping charges after Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) found Mike and Avery in a stable after Mike (who is suffering from Alzheimer’s) walked off alone.  Benard is phenomenal in dealing with his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis as he deals with Mike’s gradual decline in memory. 

Maura West:  we hate what she is doing, but West is doing a wonderful job as she goes after Sonny (Maurice Benard) for custody of their daughter, Avery—a fight that has been brewing since Ava gave birth to the little girl.  Ava has done some despicable things claiming her love for Avery. As much as we hate what Ava is doing, we commend West for her portrayal.

Days of Our Lives

Marci Miller:  playing a recasted character isn’t easy, but Miller has made the role of Abigail Devereaux DiMera her own when Miller was thrust into a Dissociative Identity Disorder story when Abigail turns into alters Gabby (after the character of Gabi Hernandez (Camila Banus) and Dr. Laura (after her grandmother, Laura (Jamie Lyn Bauer)) when it looks like Abigail killed Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) as Gabby dressed in a Gabi Chic coat and dark wig.  When Abigail’s husband, Chad (Billy Flynn) discovers his brother, Stefan (Tyler Christopher), with Abigail/Gabby, Gabby is on the run after Chad severely beat up Stefan.  As Abigail sits in her own private jail in her mind trying to come to terms with what is happening to her, Miller holding her own with this story, as Abigail comes to terms with learning she killed Andre.  Who will save Abigail from herself?

The Young & the Resltess Jaw-Droppers

The Young & the Restless spoilers for Wednesday, April 25, promises shocking life decisions and startling news.  Watch for an edge-of-your-seat episode!

At Vicky’s (Amelia Heinle) house, Phyllis (Gina Tognoni) grills the Newman about Paul’s visit and the contents of the tablet.  The redhead is on high alert when she learns Victor (Eric Braden) had Vicky’s house outfitted with a camera in the living room.

If he had a camera in one room, what would prevent him from installing other cameras throughout her house?

Elsewhere, Nick (Joshua Morrow) drops by Victor and Nikki’s (Melody Thomas Scott) place to prepare for a meeting with Jack and Arturo about their new business venture.

At Crimson Lights, Sharon (Sharon Case) spies a depressed Reed (Tristan Lake Lebeau) sulking in the corner.  When she finally gets the teenager to open up, he makes a heartbreaking admission.

At Jabot, Jack (Peter Bergman) assigns Billy (Jason Thompson) all the top level management tasks and Kyle (Michael Mealor) nothing important.  The young Abbott is upset and lashes out.  Billy shuts him down.

Over at Crimson Lights, Reed’s admission breaks Sharon’s heart.  J.T. (Thad Luckinbill) worked so hard to reconnect with Reed, and suddenly he disappears.  Reed is heartbroken, and there is nothing Sharon or anyone can do about it.  The only person he wants to see is his father, and Sharon knows Reed will never experience that again.

Back at the Ranch, Victor crumbles.  In a moment of absolute honesty, the Newman patriarch bears his soul to Nick.

Over at Jabot, Jack’s punishment of Kyle ends when he gives his trouble son a break.  The younger Abbott can handle some top-level assignments, under the watchful eyes of Billy.  Eager to please, Kyle agrees!

Later, Kyle sees Ravi and dashes over to him.  He wants to the techie to help him crack a certain memory card.

Elsewhere, Billy stops by to see Reed at Crimson Lights, and the teenager drops a bomb on him!  He has a life-changing plan.  Billy is beyond shocked.

Back at the ranch, Nick and Victor have patched things up.  Victor wants to know if Paul has found J.T.  Nikki updates him that the criminal has disappeared.

Suddenly, Victor makes a stunning confession to Nick.  Nikki is beyond heartbroken and tries to stop Victor, but it’s too late.  Nick is shellshocked.  J.T. abused Victoria and Victor has the videotape to prove it!  Enraged by the news, Nick swears he will kill J.T. himself when the double-crossing abuser comes back to town.

However, Nick’s personal vendettas are forced aside when Jack and Arturo arrive to discuss the business venture.

At Jabot, Ravi assesses the memory card and gives Kyle the green light on the task.  He can do it.

Elsewhere, Billy takes Reed back home to give Vicky the bad news.  When Vicky hears about Reed’s wishes, she crumbles.  It takes everything in Vicky to hold her composure.

At the Ranch, the business meeting ends, and everyone leaves except Arturo.  Nikki holds him back to discuss some logistical issues.

Back at Vicky’s house, Reed lists all of the reasons why leaving Genoa City for a music school is better for him than living in town, constantly reminded about his father, J.T.  the harried  mother tries to counter his reasons, but Reed has made up his mind.  He wants to know:  will she let him go?

At Jabot, Billy and Phyllis have a sweet moment in the elevator.

In the meantime, Nick returns home, and Sharon notices he is very disturbed by something.  Eventually, Nick spills all to Sharon.  He is on a mission to find J.T. and bring him to justice for all the horrific things he did to Vicky and to Victor!  Sharon is shocked he knows about the abuse, and panics when she realizes Nick won’t stop until he finds J.T.!

Elsewhere, Nikki wants Arturo’s advice on certain building ‘plans.’  It’s obvious she still has feelings for Arturo.  Soon enough, the two have fallen back into old habits.  Victor watches the entire interaction from afar.

Back at Vicky’s house, she decides on Reed’s future in Genoa City:  he can leave.  Thrilled, Reed happily tells his mother he’ll text his father the news.  Maybe J.T. will respond!  Sadly, Vicky knows the awful truth and is beyond heartbroken for Reed.

Watch The Young & the Restless on CBS daytime to see what happens!

Days of Our Lives Spoilers - Digging for the Truth

Days of Our Lives spoilers for Wednesday, April 25 will focus on enraged Salemites fighting for what they believe in!

Victor (John Aniston) takes matters into his own hands to get the answers he seeks. 

Elsewhere, Lani (Sal Stowers) has a moment with Eli (Lamon Archey) that ends in tears.

Watch Days of Our Lives on NBC weekdays to find out what happens!

10 Facts About General Hospital's Max Gail (Mike Corbin)

10 Fascinating Facts About General Hospital Star Max Gail

Max Gail has been turning in one heck of an acting tour-de-force as Genera Hospital’s Mike Corbin, a recast character diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.

In the process, he’s become beloved to GH fans who never knew of his earlier work in primetime and movies during his prolific career.

Here are 10 fascinating facts you may not know about this talented performer!

1.  He’s best known for his Emmy-nominated run as Detective Stan “Wojo” Wojciehowicz on the ABC sitcom Barney Miller.

2.  General Hospital isn’t Gail’s first soap opera!  In 2007, he played the short-term role of Merle, a hippie who gave aid to Belle (Martha Madison) and Shawn (Brandon Beemer).

3.  Gail made his acting debut in a stage production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in San Francisco.  His first TV roe was a patrolman on Ironside.

4.  In addition to performing on Barney Miller, Gail also directed episodes of the series using the name “Maxwell Gail”.

5.  In the 2013 film 42 (about Jackie Robinson’s first two years as a member of the Dodgers), Gail payed baseball team manager Burt Shotton.

6.  Gail has three children, two daughters (India and Grace), and a son (Maxwell).

7.  Gail has a twin sister named Mary Gail.

8.  After Barney Miller, Gail starred in the series Whiz Kids.  He played an investigative reporter named Llewellan Farley, Jr. who befriended a group of teen computer experts.  Longtime soap star, A Martinez, also appeared in the series.

9.  In 1979, when he was appearing on Barney Miller, the athletic Gail represented ABC on the nighttime show Battle of the Network Stars.

10.  In 1990, Gail was cast as the TV husband of Cindy Williams (Laverne & Shirley) in the series Normal Life, which starred Dweezil Zappa and Moon Unit Zappa.

General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC. 

Days of Our Lives Explosive Episode - April 23, 2018

On Monday, April 23, 2018, Days of Our Lives exploded when Chad (Billy Flynn) discovered his wife, Abigail ([Marci Miller] who’s been suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder [DID] after the death of Andre DiMera [Thaao Penghlis]), in bed with his brother, Stephan (Tyler Christopher).  Abigail’s alter, Gabby (a lookalike from Gabi (Camila Banus)—Abigail’s friend, who has been convicted of Andre’s murder).

After Chad gets a text from Kate (Lauren Koslow) about seeing Abigail, complete with dark wig, in Stephan’s bedroom, Chad rushes home.  That’s when he gets the shock of his life!  Filled with rage thinking Stephan somehow brainwashed Abigail, yet not realizing his wife’s mental illness, unleashes his rage on Stephan and literally beats Stephan within an inch of his life while a horrid Abigail/Gabby looks on.  After Gabby/Abigail leaves Chad decides to finish the job and continue beating Stephan until Hope and Rafe (Kristian Alfonso and Galen Gering, respectively), who have just found evidence it was Abigail who masqueraded as Gabi, find Chad beating Stephan.  

While the scene was disturbing to watch, kudos goes out to Flynn for excellent portrayal of a man driven to rage at the discovery of seeing his wife in bed with his brother.  Christopher and Miller also are due praise for their performances as well, especially Miller for a great job tacking DID with 2 alters.

That is not the only violence that happened that day…Gabi, in prison for the murder (although innocent) or Andre DiMera, received a beating from an inmate with an ax to grind—she turned out to be the girlfriend of Com. Raines, who was seeking revenge.  

Tune in weekdays on NBC to see what happens next!!!!