Soap Opera Digest February 6, 2023

Ben Masters (ex-Julian, PASSIONS et al) passed away at the age of 75 on January 11 at Eisenhower Health Center in Rancho Mirage, CA. The actor battled dementia for a number of years, but ultimately passed away from complications due to Covid. Masters, who hailed from Corvallis, OR, earned a B.A. degree in Theater from the University of Oregon and moved to New York City, where he starred on and off-Broadway in shows including Captain Brassbound’s Conversion, alongside Ingrid Bergman, and The Cherry Orchard, alongside Meryl Streep. Throughout the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, Masters starred in numerous miniseries and television shows, including KOJAK, KUNG FU: THE LEGEND CONTINUES and WALKER: TEXAS RANGER, among others. Masters was most wellknown to soap fans for portraying Julian Crane on PASSIONS from 1999-2008, which was his…

Fed up with Bill’s blackmail, Taylor confesses to Katie that she shot Bill in 2018, then confronts Sheila. “Taylor does not want her family in danger,” explains portrayer Krista Allen. “She is not going to let that happen. But, we are coming to a turning point. She wants to make it right and she is the only one who can.” The women rehash the circumstances surrounding the shooting, which gets Taylor’s mind reeling. “Sheila comes to visit Taylor and she gets in her head,” recounts Allen. “Taylor seems very strong. She wants peace and harmony, and then Sheila says, ‘We both shot somebody.’ And there is something that happens inside of Taylor in that moment. That’s when Taylor starts to question what happened to her. Is there something bad inside of…

While Nate is burning the midnight oil at Newman Media, Victoria shows up with a bottle of bourbon. “It’s a very nice bottle because she’s rich,” chuckles Amelia Heinle (Victoria). “Victoria is very intrigued by Nate. I think she’s been a little lonely and she knows that he can be trusted. After everything she’s been through with Ashland and how difficult all of that was, it’s just nice for her to know someone who is a solid person. And she thinks Nate’s office is a safe place for them to be friends and not just boss and employee.” Although Nate betrayed his family in the name of business, Victoria isn’t concerned that he’ll turn on her, too. “She thinks she knows him better than that,” Heinle reasons. “She believes that he’s…

Stella returns to Port Charles as Curtis and Portia’s wedding day draws nearer, but a conversation with Trina brings her closer to the truth about the secret Portia is keeping. While the two women are chatting, talk turns to the genealogy test that first connected Stella with her cousin in London — and also indicated that she had a close relative in town. “Stella finds out that Trina also took the test and found out that she had a close relation in town,” sets up Vernee Watson (Stella). “Trina also tells her that Jordan was interested in all of this, and Stella wants to know why.” Stella raises the subject with Jordan, “who hems and haws,” according to Watson. “She says, ‘Oh, we’re just investigating something.’ Stella says, ‘Is the company bogus?…

Gabi summons Dr. Rolf back to Salem to unscramble Stefan’s brain. “Gabi’s taken these extreme measures — kidnapping Stefan and handcuffing him to a chair — because he’s told her he knows the truth and has chosen to not be deprogrammed,” explains Camila Banus (Gabi). “He’s chosen to live brainwashed to hate her. Gabi thinks he should not be living this lie and he especially should not be hating her. So she’s taken it upon herself to get him deprogrammed.” Stefan is stunned when Gabi presents Rolf and announces that he’s there to deprogram him. “Stefan is yelling and screaming during the entire process,” says Banus. “He does not go down easy.” Gabi won’t be deterred, however. “Gabi keeps saying, ‘Why would you want to live a lie? Just get deprogrammed,…

Execs and cast from GH gathered at the Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour in Pasadena, CA, to speak about the soap, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary on April 1. The Nurses’ Ball will coincide with the anniversary festivities. Noted Co-Head Writer Dan O’Connor, “I think there’s no way to condense 60 years of history into one show or one storyline. So, we thought the best way to honor the past of the show and the future of the show and where we are going is to use the Nurses’ Ball as a jumping-off point, as an opportunity to bring our beloved cast and characters together to acknowledge what we had done in the past and to set up storylines for the future.” Executive Producer Frank Valentini reflected on the evolution…