ALL MY CHILDREN introduced Cameron
Mathison (Ryan) and Jesse McCartney (JR)
and welcomed back Cady McClain (Dixie)
and Nicolas Surovy (Mike Roy), while Daniel
Cosgrove (Scott) exited.... Janet and Trevor tied
the knot, as did Ryan and Gillian, while divorces
were granted to Adam and Liza, and Opal and
Palmer.... Jack dumped Erica when she bedded
Mike.... Stuart and Marian slipped between
the sheets.... Mateo and Hayley’s marriage was
rendered invalid when he learned he was still
wed to high school sweetie Raquel, with whom
he shared a surprise son, Max.... The Dillons
mourned the death of family pooch Harold....
The show won Daytime Emmys for Drama,
Writing and Supporting Actress (Julia Barr,
Brooke), while Soap Opera Digest Awards went
to Lead Actor John Callahan (Edmund), Female
Scene Stealer Jennifer Bassey (Marian),
Supporting Actor Michael E. Knight (Tad) and
Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa (Hayley and
Mateo) for Hottest Romance.... Jean Dadario
Burke was named executive producer after the
exit of Francesca James.
Charles Keating (Carl), Kale Browne (Michael), Timothy Gibbs (Gary), Amy
Carlson (Josie) and John Aprea (Alexander) left ANOTHER WORLD, which welcomed
back Matt Crane (Matt), Ellen Wheeler (Marley) and Sandra Ferguson
(Amanda).... Marley lost her marbles after being disfigured in a fire.... Michael died
in a car crash, while Rachel fatally shot Alexander.... Matt and Lila married and had
a daughter, Jasmine, while Paulina’s secret firstborn, Remy, arrived.... EP Charlotte
Savitz was fired, replaced by Christopher Goutman, while Jean Passanante and
Leah Laiman’s head-writing team succeeded Richard Culliton.... Judi Evans
(Paulina) won Supporting Actress at the Digest Awards.
AS THE WORLD TURNS hosted the
soap debuts of Terri Conn (Katie),
Annie Parisse (Julia) and the late
Nathaniel Marston (Eddie). Patricia
Bruder (Ellen) wrapped her 38-yearrun
and Tom Wiggin (Kirk) was also
out, while Rosemary Prinz (Penny)
and Yvonne Perry (Rosanna) visited....
Lily and Holden remarried,
and thanks to a baby swap, they
found themselves raising Hope
Dixon (Andy and Denise’s daughter)
as their own little girl, Faith.... Carly
gave birth to Parker (her son with
Hal) and married Hal, then John....
Tom cheated on Margo with Emily,
who became pregnant.... Jack’s
brother, Brad, arrived.... David left
Molly at the altar, then was presumed
dead when The Valetta sank.... Don
Hastings (Bob) and Kathryn Hays
(Kim) were honored with the Editors’
Award at the Digest Awards....
Lorraine Broderick took over from
Addie Walsh as head writer.
Kimberlin Brown (Sheila) and Barbara Crampton (Maggie) were out
at BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL, while future R&B superstar Usher (then
known as Usher Raymond) debuted as Raymond.... Ridge and Taylor
said, “I do” and welcomed
baby Thomas;
Macy and Grant also
wed, but he soon succumbed
to cancer,
prompting her fall off
the wagon.... Pregnant
Amber didn’t know
who the daddy was,
Rick or Raymond....
Evildoer Rush died
in a fall.... B&B introduced
a version of its
theme song with lyrics
performed by Dionne
Warwick.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES hired Arianne Zucker
(Nicole), Julianne Morris (Greta, originally known
as “Swamp Girl”, who was revealed to be the
daughter of Princess Gina), Patrika Darbo (Nancy,
now B&B’s Shirley) and Kevin Spirtas (Craig), and
LeAnn Rimes in the short-term role of Madison,
while Jason Brooks (Peter), Steve Wilder (Jack)
and Stephanie Cameron (Jennifer) exited. So
did Eileen Davidson (Kristen/Susan/Mary Moira/
Thomas, now Y&R’s Ashley), who added a fifth
role, Penelope, to her roster before saying
good-bye.... Stefano controlled new wife Vivian’s
emotions via a chip implanted into her tooth....
Kristen’s body was found floating in a pool, but the
true victim was revealed to be Penelope.... Marlena
chose John over Roman, while Carrie’s feelings
for Mike complicated her marriage to Austin.... Bo
and Hope reunited after she busted Billie for lying
about the role Hope played in her miscarriage....
Eric and Nicole’s romance began.... Edmund
married Susan.... Hope uncovered her past as
Princess Gina.... At the Digest Awards, DAYS nabbed the prizes for Villainess (Alison
Sweeney, Sami) and Male Newcomer (Jensen Ackles, Eric).
Maurice Benard (Sonny) returned to GENERAL
HOSPITAL, but Vanessa Marcil (Brenda) left,
and Monti Sharp succeeded Joseph C. Phillips
as Justus.... Bobbie finally learned that she is
Carly’s mom.... Liz was raped by Tom Baker and
grew close to Lucky, who found out about Luke’s
long-ago rape of Laura.... Mac and Felicia tied
the knot after busting his evil look-alike, James....
Brenda was presumed dead when her mentally ill
mother, Veronica, drove them off a cliff.... Tony lost
his marbles and kidnapped Michael.... Katherine
dumped Stefan (who was revealed to be Nikolas’s
father) and took up with Nik.... Jax’s brother, Jerry,
arrived.... The show’s 35th anniversary was toasted
with a prime-time special.... GH took home Daytime
Emmys for Supporting Actor Steve Burton (Jason),
Younger Actor Jonathan Jackson (Lucky) and
Younger Actress Sarah Brown (Carly), and Digest
Awards for Favorite Show, Lead Actress Vanessa Marcil (Brenda), Hottest Male Star
Ingo Rademacher (Jax), Male Scene Stealer John Ingle (Edward), Younger Lead
Actress Sarah Brown and Younger Lead Actor Steve Burton.
When Rebecca
Budig (now GH’s
Hayden) exited,
GUIDING LIGHT hired
Bethany Joy Lenz,
who had impressed
execs as Teen Clone
Reva, as the new
Michelle; Marj Dusay
(Alexandra) returned;
Cynthia Watros (Annie) quit and was recast
with Signy Coleman; Brittany Snow (Susan)
and Paul Anthony Stewart (Danny) debuted;
Fiona Hutchison (Jenna), Jay Hammer
(Fletcher), Lisa Brown (Nola) and Roger
recast Dennis Parlato were out; and Ryan
Brown was the new Bill, succeeding Bryan
Buffinton.... Reva was presumed dead
thanks to Annie, and mad scientist Michael
Burke generated a Reva clone, creating
major drama for Josh both before and after
Reva’s return. Ultimately, the clone, Dolly,
deliberately overdosed on rapid-aging serum and died of old age....
Phillip and Harley tied
the knot (with New
York City Mayor Rudy
Giuliani officiating),
while Rick wed Abby
and Dinah tricked Hart
into marriage.... Matt
and Vanessa became
parents to baby
Maureen.... Jenna
married Buzz and gave
birth to Ian (known as Rocky) before dying
in a car crash.... Ross and Blake split when
she cheated with Ben.... Michelle accidentally
killed Mick, who tried to rape her,
while Lizzie did in Beth’s abusive ex, Carl....
Cynthia Watros received the Daytime
Emmy for Lead Actress, and at the Digest
Awards, Cassie (Laura Wright, now GH’s
Carly) was named Favorite New Character,
and Phillip and Harley (Grant Aleksander
and Beth Ehlers) won for Favorite New
Couple.
Clint Ritchie (Clint) and Roger Howarth (Todd, now GH’s Franco) left ONE LIFE
TO LIVE, as did Kevin Stapleton (Kevin, who was recast with Timothy Gibbs) and
Yorlin Madera (Cristian; David Fumero replaced him). Kristen Alderson began her
run as Starr. Michael Zaslow reprised his Llanview
role, David Renaldi, before passing away from ALS.
The Rappaport family was introduced in the form of
Kale Browne (Sam), Catherine Hickland (Lindsay) and
Jason-Shane Scott (Will).... Claire and Matt Labine
were out as head writers. Pamela K. Long was in, but
was soon removed from her post.... While trying to
out the murderer of Bo-obsessed Georgie (Rachel
was the guilty party), Todd held 14 people hostage at
the Buchanan lodge, and faked DID to avoid prosecution.
His ruse was exposed at his bizarro nups to Téa,
which featured the groom’s arrival in a casket. Todd
then left town.... Thanks to Lindsay, Nora believed Bo
to be sterile, so she tried to conceive a baby with Sam
to pass off as Bo’s (who was mourning the death of
son Duke).... Jessica got pregnant after losing her virginity
to Will.... Dorian and Mel got hitched, as did Clint
and Lindsay, and Kevin and Cassie.... The show’s 30th
anniversary was marked with a prime-time installment.
Debbi Morgan quit PORT
CHARLES as Ellen; Wayne Northrop
(Rex) wrapped up, and Rib Hillis
(Jake) left.... After Lucy was forced
into a brief marriage to Rex, Kevin left
her at the altar when Eve exposed
her role in the accident that left
Serena blind. Lucy hit the sheets with
Scott.... The General Homicide killer
(revealed to be a Greg-brainwashed
Julie) did in Bennett, Grace, Jake, Dr.
May and John. Greg was presumed
dead.... Joe learned he had a kid,
Neil, with ex Courtney.
SUNSET BEACH Executive Story
Consultant James E. Reilly and Co-Head
Writer Meg Bennett stepped down (the
latter to rejoin the GH writing team),
with Margaret DePriest and Christopher
Whitesell taking over as co-head writers....
Nick Stabile (Mark) exited, while
Christina Chambers debuted as Maria....
Meg and Ben’s wedding was derailed
by the surprise appearance of his
presumed-dead wife, Maria.... Ben’s evil
twin, Derek, offed Mark, Elizabeth and
Jade before dying in a struggle with his
brother.... Virginia used a turkey baster
to impregnate Vanessa with Tyus’s stolen
sperm.... Caitlin faked a pregnancy
to secure Cole’s hand in marriage; and
Annie and Gregory made it official.... The
Sunset Beach community reeled from a
tsunami/earthquake combo.
William J. Bell stepped down as Y&R’s head writer and appointed Kay
Alden as his successor.... Victoria Rowell quit as Drucilla; Michael Damian
(
Danny) was out; and Don Diamont (Brad, now
B&B’s Bill) and Barbara Crampton (Leanna)
returned.... After Nikki’s hubby, Josh, was
fatally shot by his deranged ex, Veronica,
Victor and Nikki remarried on what was
expected to be her deathbed — but she recovered....
Ashley wed Cole, and Ryan married
Tricia.... Neil and Victoria got engaged after
their divorces from Dru and Cole, respectively....
Jill and Katherine battled over the deed
to the Chancellor mansion.... Eric Braeden
(
Victor) won the Daytime Emmy for Lead
Actor.... Sabryn Genet (Tricia) won the Digest
Award for Female Newcomer