Beyond the Gates
Daytime Comings and Goings Week of July 6: A Late-Night Star Invades the Soaps, a Famous Family Reunites, and the Goodbyes Pile Up
The Comings and Goings sweep all five soaps this week with a splashy arrival, a welcome return, a milestone renewal, and a batch of fond exits.
DAYTIME COMINGS AND GOINGS BRING A COMEDY STAR, A RENEWAL, AND FAREWELLS
TL;DR: This week’s Comings and Goings span all five shows. General Hospital welcomes a late-night comedy star, locks in a Port Charles legend through 2029, and closes the book on a six-month villain, Days of Our Lives lines up a summer surprise, Bold and the Beautiful clears out its fashion show guests, Young and the Restless reunites a famous family, and Beyond the Gates turns up the heat on a messy deposition. The revolving door is spinning.
General Hospital Comings & Goings Welcome a Late-Night Star and Wave a Villain Goodbye
Port Charles is having a big week. Late-night favorite John Oliver, the Emmy-winning host of Last Week Tonight, is moonlighting in daytime as Z, the head of the WSB. He debuted last week in scenes with Eden McCoy‘s Josslyn Jacks, and he wraps his three-episode guest run on Monday, July 6, when Z locks horns with Laura Wright‘s Carly Spencer.
The bigger, more permanent news is a happy one. Veteran Nancy Lee Grahn has signed a new three-year deal that keeps her onscreen as Alexis Davis through 2029. Grahn has anchored the role of the Port Charles attorney since 1996, so locking her in is cause for celebration.
There is a goodbye in the mix, too. After six months of trouble, Andrew Hawkes made his final appearance as WSB Director Ross Cullum on July 2. And while Z broke the news to Josslyn that Cassius was shot and killed, there is still no official word on Ryan Paevey‘s status with the show, so stay tuned.
Do you have a theory about who really pulled the trigger on Cassius, or which returning favorite should fill the WSB power vacuum? Send your hottest takes to amber@soapoperamagazine.com and we may feature you on the site.
Days of Our Lives Comings & Goings Land a Comedy Heavyweight in Salem
Salem is getting a taste of late night. John Oliver is not stopping at Port Charles. The Last Week Tonight host is also heading to Days of Our Lives this summer, with his scenes opposite Dan Feuerriegel‘s EJ DiMera set to air in August. A comedy giant squaring off with Salem’s most dangerous man is a pairing we did not see coming.
Bold and the Beautiful Comings & Goings Clear Out the Fashion Show Crowd
The Logan fashion show is over, and L.A. is thinning out its guest list. Theodora Greece does buck the trend, returning as Alison Montgomery on Thursday, July 9.
Everyone else is heading for the door. Access Hollywood correspondent Lauren Herbert has wrapped her run as reporter Linda. Morgan Fairchild has completed her visit as San Francisco socialite Dottie Bright, and Jim J. Bullockhas departed as her right-hand man, Joseph Beasley.
Young and the Restless Comings & Goings Reunite the Abbotts in Genoa City
Genoa City is busy. Mykle McCoslin recently turned up as Dr. Virginia Nottingham, the surgeon who operated on Nikki Newman‘s eyes.
The bigger headline is a family reunion. Eileen Davidson returns as Ashley Abbott, pulling the Abbott clan back together as Jack Abbott weathers a crisis. And Lauralee Bell pops in as district attorney Christine Blair, who hears Christian LeBlanc‘s Michael Baldwin plead his case on Wednesday, July 8.
There may be more nostalgia on the way. In a recent interview, Jessica Collins teased a possible return as fan favorite Avery Bailey Clark, though nothing is locked in yet.
Beyond the Gates Comings & Goings Heat Up a Deposition at Fairmont Crest
Fairmont Crest is deep in legal drama. Kenjah is back as Dr. Madison Montgomery, whose deposition goes from bad to worse for everyone involved. Pierce Lackey makes another brief return as Mike Davis with that same deposition looming.
There is more movement around town. Iona Morris Jackson returns as Monica, the new Chief of Staff at Garland Memorial Hospital, and she is already clashing with Leslie Thomas. Jasmine Burke is back as June, who receives a gift that brings her to tears, and Darryl W. Handy pops back in as Detective Marcel Malone.
Which arrival are you most fired up about, and which goodbye stings the most? Drop into the comments below and let us know who you cannot wait to see.
Which Arrival Wins the Week, and Which Goodbye Hurts Most?
This week handed us a late-night crossover, a legend locked in through 2029, and a whole crowd of goodbyes. Are you more thrilled to see John Oliver crash daytime, or relieved that Alexis Davis is staying put in Port Charles? Bring your excitement and your tissues to our Facebook page and tell us which move meant the most.
THE RETURN EVERY Y&R FANS WANTS!
@soapoperamag GIVE US BACK PAUL! Genoa City is lawless right now and they need THE BIG GUNS. Enough flighty cops. Enough with having no detectives. IT'S TIME TO BRING BACK PAUL WILLIAMS. Whatever beef Y&R has with Doug Davidson MUST end. Genoa City NEEDS Paul. Patty-Cakes NEEDS Paul. And we THE FANS deserve Paul! #YoungandtheRestless #BringBackPaulWilliams ♬ original sound – Soap Opera Magazine
