Love You Long Time

This week, it looks like Jonathan Lavery (Jeff Branson) is not quiet over first wife Lily Benton Montgomery (Leven Rambin).

I wonder how his new fiancee, her sister Ava Benton (also Rambin), is going to react.

Well, there's always Amanda... wait, been there done that.

For both of them.

Death Becomes Her

If Jesse can come back from the dead after dying ON-SCREEN in Angie's arms twenty years ago, I think All My Children can write one of their greatest wrongs by reviving the late Dixie Cooney, most recognizably portrayed by Double Emmy Winner Cady McClain (1989-96, 1998-2002, 2006-07).

McClain just wrapped a six month stint on As the World Turns. She stated in her blog that ABC is yet to contact her about a return to All My Children.

Dixie fell victim to the Satin Slayer, Alexander Cambias, in mid-2007. Fans had waited four years for McClain's return since the character's apparent death in a off-screen car accident in 2002. Instead of the much anticipated reunion of star-crossed lovers Tad Martin (Michael E. Knight) and Dixie Cooney (pictured above in one of their last scenes), we got a promise of a date before her untimely demise, the victim of mistaken identity.

Now with the "Search for Kate Martin" storyline back in full gear (Sydney Penny's maternity leave put a halt to the story), there would be no greater payoff than a reunion for all the Martins, including Dixie. I don't think there will be a dry eye when Dixie finally holds the little girl she lost, in her arms again.

Jesse's return breaks all the rules:

• Jesse died onscreen. So did Dixie.
• Jesse appeared as a spirit to his family. So did Dixie (in a very busty white dress if I say so myself).

There is no excuse as to why Dixie cannot come home. Maybe Dr. David Hayward whisked her off and came up with another miracle cure (like Omar and Taylor on The Bold and the Beautiful). Maybe Palmer Cortlandt staged the death to remove Dixie from the threats at Chandler Mansion. Maybe Dixie took the opportunity to slip out of Pine Valley and continue the search for Kate the only way she knew how, alone.

Give fans what we have waited for: Bring Kate home. Reunite Tad and Dixie.

Welcome Home Jesse

Looks like ABC is confirming that Darnell Williams back as the late Jesse Hubbard and NOT Loving/The City's Jacob Foster.

Lucy! You have some 'splanin to do.

Words of Wisdom from Erica Kane

"You called your son Spike. I can't imagine what you'd name your dog."

In this era of wacky celebrity baby names, I think the little Mr. Lavery came out pretty lucky.

The Problem with Jesse
With news of Darnall Williams return to All My Children, the inevitable question is whether he will be playing Jesse Hubbard (1981-88, 94, 2001-02) or Jacob Foster (1995, Loving; 1995-97, The City).

I lean towards the idea of Jacob's return. There are too many questions that would need to be answered for Jesse's return to be believable. Where was Jesse for the last twenty years? Since it wasn't Jesse' spirit who visited Tad in 1994 and helped Gillian in 2001, who was it? If it was him, were all those spirits (Jenny, Ray, Natalie, Cindy, Travis, Jeremy, et al) not really dead?

Let's not pull a Michael McBain here. We all saw how that went.

Another question that would need to be addressed is what happened with Angie and Jacob after The City. If they broke up, what happened to their daughter, Cassandra? How will Angie explain to Jesse why she fell in love with his doppleganger?

Jesse's return would be outlandish, even for soap standards. The complexity of the situation is further compromised by the fact that Jacob exists. Any viewer of Loving can tell you that his introduction was a lot to swallow. Why revisit that open wound when we can all just move on?

Angie has a lot more to do in her life now than worry about her long thought dead husband. Maybe Frank finally told her about his son with Mia Saunders, William. We don't know much about Dre... maybe he is William. The search for her grandson can lead Angie back to Pine Valley, the place she said she could never call home again after Jesse's death.

Huge Un-Casting News
Rumblings have Rebecca Budig returning to All My Children in the role of Greenlee duPres, a role she originated in 1999 after a stint on the Guiding Light as Michelle Bauer. Budig left the role in 2005. Greenlee was recast in 2007 with Sabine Singh.

Budig received two Daytime Emmy Nominations in the Supporting Actress category for her role as Greenlee . Her departure was the conclusion of a front-burner storyline in November 2005, when Greenlee learned best friend Kendall Hart (Alicia Minshew) was not being her surrogate, but rather carrying her own child with Greenlee's then husband, Ryan Lavery (Cameron Mathison).


My View: Christmas has come early again. Singh never captivated me in the role of Greenlee. She failed to have the vulnerability and insecurities that made Greenlee such a complex character under Budig. Let's face it, Sabine is not a great actress. Everyone can play a "bitch." Budig played played a bitch with a soul.

But even Budig's starpower may not be enough to save this sinking ship. The writers have to get their storylines in order. They must remember what made Greenlee so great. Rekindle her relationship with frenemy Kendall. Budig and Minshew were All My Children's hottest couple (see picture).

DO NOT revisit a Greenlee/Ryan pairing. Though they made for great friends, romantic chemistry was non-existent between Mathison and Budig. That is not to say I have high hopes for the continued Greenlee/Aidan pairing.

Maybe with a fresh face, Greenlee can get a fresh start.


Update: SON is confirming Budig's return. It's ironic that neither SOD or TVGuide have mentioned anything about the recent returns.
Update: PVB is confirming Budig's return too. Looks like this is a sure thing people.

A Ghost of Christmas Past
In 2002, Julia Keefer (Sydney Penny) was amnesiac Maria Grey's (Eva LaRue) surprise Christmas present. Their brother, Mateo Santos (Marc Consuelos), was able to arrange the visit after helping the FBI in the Proteus drug ring investigation, though Julia was supposed to be Witness Protection with her husband, Noah Keefer (Keith Hamilton Cobb).

Julia helped Maria hide her new lover, an injured Aidan Devane (Aiden Turner), in the Wildwind hayloft . She also caused Maria to remember the tornado in 1994, that left Julia disfigured after a chandelier fell on her at Chandler Mansion.

Flash forward five years, and Julia is a now a widow and out of Witness Protection. Though the Santos family all live in California with Mateo, Julia has started her life anew with her own Christmas miracle, adopted daughter Kathy Mershon Keefer.

Christmas Wish...
Bianca (Eden Riegel) and Miranda (Hayley Evans) are returning to Pine Valley for Christmas 2007. They air on December 26th and 27th.

If I get my Christmas wish, the return would be a more permanent gig. Anyone taking bets on whether Bianca is with Zoe (Jeff Carlson), or has she reunited with the love of her life, Maggie (Elizabeth Hendrickson)?

The picture is of Bianca's own Christmas miracle in 2004 when Erica (Susan Lucci) reunited her with Miranda (then- Joseph & Raymond Cartigiano).

Welcome Home Debbi & Darnell
SON is reporting that Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams are slated to return to All My Children in early 2008, in spite of the writers strike that still looms over the television industry.

Morgan will reprise her role of Dr. Angie Hubbard-Foster, last scene on defunct ABC soap opera The City in 1997. It is still unclear if Williams will reprise his signature role of bad-boy turned cop Jesse Hubbard, or look-a-like Jacob Foster (the role he played opposite Morgan in the City from 1995-97).

Morgan and Williams are cited as soap opera's first African American super couple. Their storyline in the mid-eighties coincided with the phenomena that was Jenny & Greg Nelson (Kim Delaney and Laurence Lau respectively).

Williams left All My Children during the 1988 writer's strike, with Jesse being killed in the line of duty. Williams has made on and off again appearances as a ghostly apparition throughout the late nineties and early 2000's. It would be hard to explain a sudden revival of Jesse in light of these developments. Williams has also been an off screen presence, taking on the role of acting coach at All My Children.

Morgan left All My Children in 1990, and was recast with Saundra Quarterman. She later moved Angie to Corinth in Loving (1993-95), and later its spin-off The City.

My View: It's great that Debbi and Darnell are coming back to All My Children, but I have to wonder what storyline the writers have in store. For the most part, they do not have much connection left to the current canvas.

It will also be hard to reintroduce both actors because of their stints on Loving and The City. A lot went on when Angie and Jacob were around in Corinth and New York City. For one, Angie got married two more times, once to Jacob and another time to a man named Charles Harrison. Jacob and Angie even adopted a child together, Cassandra Foster.

Writers will also have to account for Angie and Jesse's son, Dr. Frank Hubbard (seen in the photo portrayed by Z Wright in 1988), last seen in Pine Valley in 2002 played by Jason Olive. Olive's departure was the result of the transition between head writers Richard Culliton and Gordon Raysfield's. His departure was never explained on camera.

It is great to see some veterans back. Let' s hope the current writers don't sink another super couple.

Catch up on your history by reading biographies for Dr. Angie Hubbard-Foster and Jesse Hubbard .

Who Killed Will Cortlandt?

Greedy. Opportunist. Bastard: all words used to describe the dastardly evil Will Cortlandt. Not many people in Pine Valley mourned the young Mr. Corltandt when he was discovered bludgeoned to death in his apartment in 1992. Will had transformed from naïve small town, Pigeon Hallow native to a ruthless corporate stooge that gave even the likes of Adam Chandler chills.

Will’s death and the trial that ensued was the headline on all the papers in Pine Valley. Everyone in town had a reason to want Will dead, but only one person could have committed the crime.

Take a look at the major players and slowly unlock the mystery behind Who Killed Will Cortlandt?

The Victim:
Will Cortlandt: Will Cooney grew up with his loving sister Dixie Cooney in rural Pigeon Hallow, West Virginia. After the death of his mother, Will and Dixie packed their bags and landed in Pine Valley in search of their Uncle Pete. To their surprise, Pete was millionaire electronics tycoon Palmer Cortlandt.
Palmer took a quick liking to Will and he quickly climbed the ladder at Cortlandt Electronics. The quick change in social status corrupted Will. Palmer recognized Will’s transformation, even becoming fearful that his nephew was slipping him poison. Palmer cut Will out of his life and corporation.
But it was too late. Fueled by anger, Will was determined to show his uncle he could make a name for himself. He got a job at Enchantment Cosmetics from Palmers old friend Erica Kane, and slowly plotted a takeover from within.
Will knew the only person Palmer hated more than him was Adam Chandler. Will seduced Adam’s naïve daughter, Hayley Vaughan, getting her drunk and eventually eloping. This was the last draw for Adam and Palmer, who jointly offered Will a settlement to leave town and never look back.
In a drunken stupor, Will attempted to consummate his marriage to Hayley; but, she was having second thoughts. Fearful of her husband, Hayley barricaded herself in the bathroom. As Will struggled to get to his wife, an unknown assailant bludgeoned Will to death with a crowbar.

The Good Guys:
Edmund Grey: Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Edmund Grey came to Pine Valley determined the crack the case. He soon realized he could not trust anyone he met in the small town. They were all suspects in Will’s murder.
The investigation into Will’s death took a back seat to the mysteries of Edmund’s own past. Edmund had been raised in Pine Valley, the son of the servants at Wildwind. With Dimitri Marick, the castle’s prince, a suspect in Will’s murder, Edmund struggled to come to grips with demons from his own past.

Livia Frye: Livia Frye was appointed as defense attorney to Brian Bodine, the prime suspect in Will’s murder. Livia was a relative newcomer to Pine Valley. She realized that people in the little town were not as they seemed. Based on the rumblings around town, she knew her client was innocent.

The Suspects:
Brian Bodine: Brian Bodine was discovered standing over Will’s dead body, holding a bloody crowbar. He was taken into custody as the prime suspect in Will’s murder.
Brian and Hayley Cortlandt has been high school sweethearts. To everyone in town it was clear that they were destined for the aisle. But, after a blowout over Hayley’s controlling father, Adam Chandler, Brian broke things off with Hayley.
When Brian married AnLi Chen to help her get a green card, Hayley reacted by marrying Will. Will fueled Hayley’s alcoholism. Brian tried to warn Hayley, but she pushed him away.
One night, Hayley frantically called Brian: Will was going to rape her. Brian rushed to Hayley’s apartment, determined to do anything to save the woman he lived.

Adam Chandler: Adam Chandler had already seen Will ruin one of his daughter’s lives, and was not about to let him do it again. Adam knew Will married Hayley solely for business purposes. He wanted her shares in Enchantment for a hostile takeover of the company.
But it was the alcoholism that Will had driven Hayley to that concerned Adam. He did the unthinkable and turned to longtime rival Palmer Cortlandt for help. Palmer and Adam decided to offer Will a settlement to leave town forever. But Will was not about to be bullied.
Desperate, Adam was willing to go to any means to save his daughter.

AnLi Chen Bodine: AnLi Chen knew Brian Bodine only agreed to marry her so that she could get a green card to stay in the country; but, she could not deny her blossoming feelings for her husband. AnLi was determined to seduce Brian even though it was clear that he still harbored feelings for his ex-, Hayley Cortlandt.
AnLi grew impatient with all of Hayley’s cries for help. AnLi recognized all of them stemmed from her loveless marriage to Will. In her mind, getting rid of Will would end the need for Brian to rush to Hayley’s rescue.

Opal Cortlandt: Opal Cortlandt was among the many suspects in Palmer Cortlandt’s poisoning. Will was determined to implicate Opal so as to finally cut her out of Palmer life, and most importantly, his will. Though both were exonerated for the crime, Will continued his machinations to get Opal kicked out of Cortlandt Manor.
Opal was now pregnant with Palmer’s son. Will’s accusations put doubts into Palmer’s mind about the paternity of her child. Opal was willing to do anything to protect her son. He deserved his birth right as the Cortlandt heir.

Palmer Cortlandt: Will had long been the apple of Palmer Cortlandt’s eye. But, his heir apparent had become his greatest liability. Will was a public relations nightmare for his questionable relationships and failed business investments.
The final draw came when Will tried to implicate Dixie Lawson’s new husband, Craig Lawson, as the culprit behind some missing funds at Cortlandt Electronics. Palmer had become especially protective of the emotionally fragile Dixie over the last year. To teach Will a lesson, he disowned his nephew and fired him from Cortlandt Electronics.
Adam turned to Palmer to finally end Will’s reign of terror. They decided to offer Will a settlement to drive him out of town. But Will was not so easily bought. Will was planning a takeover of Enchantment Cosmetics, hoping to rival Palmer’s business interests in Pine Valley.
Palmer was afraid of the demon he had created. Palmer knew he had to stop Will before he was too late.

Trevor Dillon: Trevor Dillon was uneasy when it came to his niece, Hayley Cortlandt’s, marriage to Will. Hayley had sunk into the alcoholism that had plagued her mother, Arlene Vaughan. Will fueled Hayley’s addiction. He was using her for her shares at Enchantment Cosmetics.
Arlene told her brother of Adam Chandler and Palmer Cortlandt’s plans to buy off Will. But when news came that the bribe attempt had failed, Trevor knew he had to take matters into his own hands.

Erica Kane Chandler: Erica Kane was already trapped in a loveless marriage with Adam Chandler. She was not about to loose her company too.
Erica offered Will a job at Enchantment Cosmetics after Palmer Cortlandt disowned him. Erica hoped that uncle and nephew would one day reconcile. In the meanwhile, she wanted to give Will a way to get back on his feet.
Will knew Enchantment was a major part of the Chandler Empire. Hayley Vaughan had significant shares in this interest. Will got Hayley drunk and eloped with her. Using her shares as leverage, Will was posing to launch a hostile take over.
Erica was determined to save her company. She was not about to loose her only possession to an inexperienced upstart. Will had to be stopped.

Craig Lawson: Conman Craig Lawson was on easy street since marrying rich widow Dixie Cooney. Only one man compromised his meal ticket. Will had tried to oust Craig by implicating him as the culprit behind some missing funds at Cortlandt Electronics. Luckily, Palmer saw through Will’s machinations and fired him instead.
But now, Will was armed with the knowledge of Craig’s past. Craig was not Tad Martin’s friend from California, he was an opportunist after Dixie’s money. Craig was accustomed to his new high standard of living. He was not about to go back to streets because of one man’s inability to keep his mouth shut.

Dimitri Marick: Dimitri Marick returned to Pine Valley with ambition in his eyes. Wanting to settle in his childhood home, Dimitri sought out viable investment opportunities. None looked better than Enchantment Cosmetics.
Will turned to Dimitri with his plans for a takeover of Enchantment. Dimitri already had an interest in the company, but not enough to lead a takeover alone. Will was willing to offer him shares. Dimitri wanted Enchantment, but it was unclear just how far he was willing to go to get it.
Gloria Marsh: Gloria Marsh was an outcast after her affair with Craig Lawson was discovered. She went to a bar to drown her sorrows. There, she met Will. After a night of drinking and dancing, all Gloria wanted to do was go home. But Will had other plans.
Will raped Gloria. Based on her history as a con-woman and adulterer, she knew she would have a hard time convincing a jury about what Will had done. Gloria had to take justice into her own hands.

Arlene Vaughan: Arlene Vaughan knew she had failed as a mother. She had lied about her daughter Hayley Cortlandt’s paternity for 18 years, and spent most of that time nursing the hangovers from her daily alcoholic binges. She wanted to make things right.
She knew Will was using Hayley only for her Enchantment stock. Adam Chandler assured her he had the situation under control. But when Will laughed in his face after Adam attempted to bribe him to leave town, Arlene was going to take matters into her own hands.
Desperate times, call for desperate measures.

Hayley Vaughan Cortlandt: Hayley Cortlandt was trapped in a loveless marriage with Will. Though they were married on paper, Hayley refused to consummate her marriage. Will’s patience was growing thin.
When Will had enough of Hayley’s games, he attacked her. She barricaded herself in the bathroom and begged her husband to calm down. As she drank herself into a stupor, she prayed that the lock on her door would be enough to stop Will.
When Hayley woke up from her blackout, Will was dead on her apartment floor.

The Murderer:
Janet Green: Janet Green had built up in her mind the image of her perfect world. It did not matter that Janet was facing a lifetime in prison for kidnapping her sister, Natalie Hunter. It did not matter that the only reason she was pregnant with Trevor Dillon’s daughter was because he thought she was Natalie. She and Trevor were destined to live happily ever after with their daughter. But something was making Trevor very unhappy.
At Pine Valley Hospital, Janet overheard Trevor lamenting his niece’s, Hayley Cortlandt, marriage to Will. Janet knew Trevor would never be happy until Hayley’s marriage was over.
Janet stole Trevor’s overcoat and slipped out of the hospital. She arrived at Will and Hayley’s apartment. Will was alone in the living room. Armed with a crowbar, she struck him. She continued to bludgeon Will until she was sure he was dead.