Daytime Comings and Goings Week of March 9: Patty Williams Makes Her Move, a Hero Returns to Port Charles, and Salem Gets a Ghost From the Past

PATTY WILLIAMS IS BACK, A BELOVED HEROINE COMES HOME, AND DAYTIME IS ABOUT TO GET VERY INTERESTING

TL;DR: The week of March 9 daytime comings and goings brings Patty Williams back to The Young and the Restless for a limited run that is already causing chaos, Ethan Lovett resurfaces in Port Charles on General Hospital, Salem gets a stunning recast on Days of Our Lives, Vanessa McBride’s college-age daughter arrives to shake up Fairmont Crest on Beyond the Gates, and The Bold and the Beautiful rolls out a pair of San Francisco socialites by Friday.

The Young and the Restless

The comings and goings news out of Genoa City this week is exactly as dramatic as you would expect. Stacy Haiduk is back as Patty Williams for a limited run, and she wastes absolutely no time making her presence felt on The Young and the Restless. Patty’s reunion with Jack Abbott kicks off Monday, March 9, and given the circumstances — a locked yacht cabin, nowhere to run — it is exactly as loaded as you would expect from one of Genoa City’s most volatile relationships.

Haiduk, who last appeared as Patty in 2016 and has been pulling double duty as Kristen DiMera and Susan Banks on Days of Our Lives ever since, steps back into Patty’s shoes with the kind of energy that reminds you why this character has always been appointment television.

The other piece of Genoa City casting news landing this week is a homecoming fans have been waiting for. Christel Khalil is back as Lily Winters on Friday, March 13, returning from maternity leave and walking straight into a long-overdue moment with Cane Ashby. Khalil announced her return the only way a soap star should — with a gym selfie, newborn strapped to her chest, weights in hand. The woman is not playing around.

Which Y&R return has you more excited — Patty Williams or Lily Winters? Send your hottest take to [email protected] and we may publish it!

General Hospital

Port Charles is getting a visitor from its own past this week as Nathan Dean returns to General Hospital as Ethan Lovett, son of the late Luke Spencer and Holly Sutton. Dean, who originally played Ethan from 2009 to 2012 and made a handful of appearances over the years, is back for his first proper run with the character in quite some time. The last actor to briefly portray Ethan was James Ryan, and now Dean — who has since gone by Nathan Parsons professionally — is reclaiming the role. With Luke gone and Holly still very much a presence in Port Charles, Ethan’s return promises to stir up history that this town has never fully put to rest.

Days of Our Lives

Salem has two returns and one major exit shaking up the canvas this week on Days of Our Lives. The biggest arrival is a recast that nobody saw coming. Nikki Crawford stepped into the canvas on Friday, March 6 as a new incarnation of Lexie Carver, Abe Carver‘s beloved wife who was written off the show in 2012. The character, last played by the irreplaceable Renee Jones, is back and Crawford brings credits from Malcolm in the Middle, Pretty Little Liars, and Elsbeth to the role. Salem has been known to pull off resurrections, but this one lands differently.

On the returns front, Al Calderon is back as Javi Hernandez on Monday, March 9 with an olive branch for Leo Stark. Tina Huang reappears as Melinda Trask the same day opposite Gwen Rizczech. And Hank Northrop clocks back in as Liam Selejko on Tuesday, March 10 with Arianna Horton in his orbit.

The exit news is bittersweet. Alice Halsey wrapped her run as Rachel Black on March 5, with the young actress saying a heartfelt goodbye to fans on social media as she heads to a new Netflix series. No word yet on whether Rachel will be recast.

The Bold and the Beautiful

Los Angeles is keeping things relatively contained on the arrivals front this week until Friday, when The Bold and the Beautiful rolls out a pair of San Francisco regulars. Morgan Fairchild is back as socialite Dottie on March 13, making her second canvas appearance after surfacing in February. Joining her is Jim J. Bullock as Dottie’s loyal assistant Joseph, also airing Friday.

One casting note worth flagging: Romy Park is officially off the canvas as Poppy Nozawa after stepping away to pursue a producing opportunity. The actress confirmed the news herself, making clear this is her choice and very much a chapter she is excited about.

Beyond the Gates

Fairmont Crest gets a new face this week that is going to cause serious problems for at least one person. Angela Fairleydebuts as Deanna McBride, Vanessa McBride‘s college-age daughter, on Wednesday, March 11. Deanna did not come home for her father Doug’s funeral last year and her arrival now, right in the middle of the worst week of her mother’s life, is not going to be simple on Beyond the Gates. Fairley continues airing Thursday, March 12, when Deanna and Donnell McBride are already clashing.

Meanwhile Jordi Vilasuso kicks off the week Monday as Grayson Perez, who is carrying around a dangerous secret involving the DMV’s plasma ring while Ashley tries to comfort him. And Greg Vaughan shows up Thursday as Kial Rollins to dispense some much-needed wisdom while Fairmont Crest does what it does best and burns everything to the ground.

Which of this week’s arrivals has you the most excited and which exit has you the most devastated? Sound off below!

WATCH THIS: The drama never ends on Daytime!

@soapoperamag Jack's been locked in a yacht cabin in the middle of the ocean. No phone. No help. Then someone finally opened the door. It was PATTY-CAKES! What is Victor playing at? And why does he have Patty involved? This just got SO much worse. #YR ♬ original sound – Soap Opera Magazine