Recently in General Hospital

Once again, it's time to express your opinions for our Readers' Poll. In the comments section for this article, please respond to the question, and feel free to explain your answer, but remember that any comments here may be considered for publication in the magazine. Any extra comments you have that have nothing to do with this week's poll question should be directed to the Message Boards section of our Web site!

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Do you believe Lulu's drinking is a serious problem?

Please note that the cut-off date for your votes to be counted will be Thursday, February 23. And please, only one vote per person!

To vote on your favorite actor, actress and couple currently appearing on an ABC, CBS or NBC soap, please mail your choices to:

ABC Readers' Poll
c/o Soaps In Depth
270 Sylvan Ave.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632

Multiple mail-in votes during the same voting period will not be counted, so don't waste our time, your time, or the postage!

VOTES FOR ACTORS, ACTRESSES AND COUPLES CAST IN THE COMMENTS TO THIS ARTICLE WILL NOT BE COUNTED.

Associated Television International (ATI), the production company which has put on the Daytime Emmy Awards broadcast since 2009, will not be helming the show this year. In a statement released on Twitter, president Jim Romanovich announced that the company has opted to step away from producing daytime's biggest night.

"Regretfully, we have today officially passed on doing The Daytime Emmys for television this year. As fans of the soaps in particular, as well as being daytime producers ourselves, we have immensely enjoyed being a part of your celebration these past three years. In 2009, there was not going to be a Daytime Emmys for television, as you know. It was over. we felt it was important for it to continue on television for as long as possible to give actors, producers, writers and so forth the night of recognition they so deserve. It wasn't always easy. In fact, it was quite challenging on many levels. Although it was never a money making project for us, it was prestigious, first and foremost, plus we wanted to do something important for the daytime community. I would like to think in some small way we have contributed in the interest of the daytime soap formula being created beyond television as we're now seeing through various online ventures, such as what Prospect Park had tried to do, and series currently thriving on the web."

For the full statement, including what the production company had planned to do with this year's ceremony, click here. Keep checking back as this story develops.

UPDATE: Bruce Rosenblum, Chairman of The National Academy Of Television Arts And Sciences posted a statement responding to the current situation on the Academy's Web site that should give fans some hope. "The Daytime Emmy Awards is a powerful brand," he writes. "We at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences are continuing to explore all broadcast possibilities including network, cable and digital media in order to produce a prestigious show that will satisfy the daytime community, fans and the worldwide viewing audiences."

In case you missed January 24 post of the run-down of important upcoming GH dates, here it is again!

Mark your calendars, GENERAL HOSPITAL and ONE LIFE TO LIVE fans, because Soaps In Depth has the rundown of which characters will be showing up in Port Charles when next month!

First up is Finola Hughes, who brings Robin's mother, Anna, back to town the week of February 13. OLTL's Kristen Alderson (Starr) makes her GH debut the week of February 20, and Tristan Rogers returns as Robert Scorpio the week of February 27. That same week also marks the Port Charles arrivals of Llanview transplants Todd and Blair Manning, played by Roger Howarth and Kassie DePaiva. Finally, fans of Michael Easton's John McBain will have to wait until March to see the hunky detective arrive in town!

In the six months since Jen Lilley has temporarily taken over the role of GENERAL HOSPITAL's Maxie, the actress has faced harsh criticism from fans of the character's most recent portrayer, Kirsten Storms. Storms herself was a recast, taking over the role from Robyn Richards when GH decided to age Felicia and Frisco's eldest daughter. Lilley recently found herself on the receiving end of a backlash when GH announced that Storms would not be returning to the show as soon as expected. Now, Lilley has taken to Twitter to make a statement and defend the difficult position in which she's been placed.

"I had to get twitlonger to answer properly," she writes. "First, I, Jen Lilley, LOVE Kirsten Storms. I think she's talented, funny, beautiful, and kind. While I have loved my time on GH, I think it's under the saddest of conditions that I'm there.

"Because of unforeseen circumstances, I am staying as Maxie," she continues. "Please know that as a KS fan, I am really sorry. Kirsten is irreplaceable. To keep GH alive, someone had to step into the role. I cannot change what's happened. Yes, I love being on the show, but if KS could have stayed all along, I would have wished a thousand wishes that I could have come on as a different character, for her sake and your sake as a GH fan. Change is never easy.

"I hope you will find it in your hearts to stop being so hateful toward me personally, because honestly, after 6 months of it, I feel broken, and it's not helping the show. We have to stand united for the sake of General Hospital's livelihood and for soap fans everywhere. I think all of Kirsten's wonderful fans know that she'd want her fans to support GH and fight like hell for it's renewal. With utmost sincerity: Jen Lilley."

Soaps In Depth would like to extend our deepest condolences to GENERAL HOSPITAL star John Ingle (Edward), who lost his wife of 58 years, Grace-Lynn Martin Ingle, over the weekend. One of the couple's five daughters announced yesterday, February 12, in a heartfelt message on Facebook that the singer/actress had peacefully passed away earlier that morning, in her bed, wrapped in her bathrobe, with her cat by her side. The family believes that she died from a stroke. Mrs. Ingle is survived by her husband, their five daughters, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

There has been a lot of buzz about the demise of soap operas, but a new documentary just might bring the sad reality into the same world as Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg and other big time Hollywood names! Called Soap Life, the docu-film is about the changes taking place in the world of daytime television, and with over 70 interviews featuring fans, stars, producers, directors, writers, bloggers and fan club leaders, it could show the world what's really happening in daytime.

"The wife of our executive producer, John Grossman, who owns the production company NYPS, is a big fan of GENERAL HOSPITAL, and her whole thing was, 'You have the ability, so let's do something to save the soaps,'" explains producer Matthew D'Amato of how it all began. "We started doing research, and we sat down with a few actors, producers and directors, and said, 'Is this is a good idea? Could this work? Should we pursue it?' And we looked it up online and didn't see anything like this, so we thought it would be important to get started."

And the main goal of the film, D'Amato explains, is to generate enough buzz about the possible end of soaps to possibly prevent it from happening. "Hopefully this will get enough attention to help the genre, because we don't want to see it fade away," he says, adding that it's tentatively scheduled for a June 2012 release date at film festivals and possibly on networks such as Showtime. "We do want to see it at festivals, and we do want to see it on networks [so] people who aren't soap fans can watch the film and kind of relate to it, hear the stories and maybe want to pick them up or maybe do something about the genre. We have contacts we can send it to in order to get it out there, so hopefully it will get bigger and bigger!"

For more information on the project, visit www.facebook.com/soaplifedoc. To see a video about the project, visit www.youtube.com/user/SoapLifeDoc.

Jason Thompson (Patrick) isn't the only face familiar to GENERAL HOSPITAL fans who will be dropping by ABC's primetime hit CASTLE. Erin Chambers (ex-Siobhan) has booked a gig on the crime drama as well! Chambers is taping her guest spot today. "I really hope I don't giggle stupidly when I meet Nathan Fillion," she tweeted of the series star (who just so happens to be ONE LIFE TO LIVE's ex-Joey!). He's kind of dreamy."

So who will Chambers be playing? A spokesperson for CASTLE tells Soaps In Depth that the actress will appear as Suzanne Steiner, an old friend of the episode's murder victim, Odette Morton, who is a contestant on the competition show A NIGHT OF DANCE and is found dead in her dressing room. Chambers' episode is tentatively scheduled to air in mid-March.

After the success of last week's Bring A Newbie Day -- a new program that we're starting here at Soaps In Depth to encourage GENERAL HOSPITAL fans to introduce non-GH fans to the fun and excitement of life in Port Charles -- we're going to do it again tomorrow!

On Friday at 3 p.m. ET, our executive editor, Richard M. Simms, will be live-tweeting the show -- hopefully, along with you GH fans -- at @soapsindepthabc. The goal is for each of us -- you included -- to entice a non-GH viewer to tune in with us. When they have questions -- "Isn't that Cassie from GUIDING LIGHT?" "Wait, the mobster's son is a policeman?" "Has that cute blonde girl always liked wine so very much?" -- you and Richard will be right there on twitter to answer them.

This way, we can not only share the experience of watching our favorite show, but we can encourage more folks to do so as well (thus bringing up the ratings and, knock wood, insuring that ABC's last soap will go on and on and on).

So what do you say? Who's in?

If this continues to be the fun that we had with it last week, we'll be doing B.A.N.D. tweets for other shows on other days TBA.

As more and more fan favorites return to GENERAL HOSPITAL, other names being bandied about are Jack Wagner (Frisco), Jon Lindstrom (Kevin) and Lynn Herring (Lucy). As buzz continues to generate that Lucy and her Doc will make a return visit to Port Charles, Lindstrom's real-life girlfriend, Cady McClain (Dixie, ALL MY CHILDREN), dropped a bit of hope for fans wanting to see this rumor become a reality when she tweeted "A little bird just told me GH is bringing back some fan favorites. Who will return, I wonder?"

A spokesperson for ABC reminded that the network "doesn't comment on rumor or actor posts on social media."

And the parade of GENERAL HOSPITAL legacy characters continues! Fan favorite Robin Mattson (Janet, ALL MY CHILDREN) is set to reprise the role of crazy Heather Webber this Spring, confirms a spokesperson for the show! The daytime veteran played the role from 1980-'82, returning to Port Charles in 2004 under the guise of wanting to reconnect with her family... but she really wanted to marry widower Edward Quartermaine and get his fortune! Heather's been locked up in the loony bin at Ferncliff ever since, but fans can expect a not-so-friendly reunion with her son, Steve (whom she sold as a baby on the black market and then told his dad, Jeff, that the tot was dead!)

Though GENERAL HOSPITAL's Tristan Rogers (Robert) and Finola Hughes (Anna) are expected to remain in Port Charles for the foreseeable future once they return later this month, it looks Robert's other ex -- Emma Samms' Holly -- will only be back for a little while. "Just arrived at the studio for my last day of work," she tweeted this morning. Of course, there's still a chance that Holly will shake things up in Port Charles once more. Samms did add a "for now" onto the end of that statement!

While loony Lisa was the last person anyone wanted to see in Port Charles, her talented portrayer, Brianna Brown, is wanted everywhere! Her recurring role last fall as an undercover prostitute for a Saudi prince on the Showtime hit drama HOMELAND has put her on the radar. "I have been working a boatload [since October] -- literally non-stop -- and receiving straight offers," she tells Soaps In Depth.

Last month, she appeared as a love interest for Taye Diggs on PRIVATE PRACTICE. "Then I shot USA's new show COMMON LAW, and CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, working opposite Ted Danson," she confides of the episode airing Wednesday, February 8, at 10 p.m. ET on CBS. (ALL MY CHILDREN's Jill Larson (Opal) also appears in the episode.)

Look for Brown to appear in an episode of HBO's hit vampire drama TRUE BLOOD when its next season kicks off this summer, as well as NBC's upcoming drama AWAKE. "[It] is produced by Howard Gordon [one of the creators of HOMELAND]... It's a very big guest star, and who knows what will transpire," Brown says with a grin. "I'm having a blast working opposite [series stars] Jason Isaacs and Steve Harris."

Join GENERAL HOSPITAL's Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis) for a wild afternoon in Orlando, FL, next month! The fan event will take place on Saturday, March 24, at 1:00 p.m. ET in the Avalon Room at the Hard Rock Hotel at the Universal Orlando Resort. The fun will include a silent auction, raffle, Q&A with Grahn, and an autograph and photo session.

Tickets for the event range from $80 to $105 and can be purchased here. Seating will be assigned, so either indicate the names of the other people in your party in the PayPal comments box, or E-mail tlg@nancyleegrahn.com with the names of those in your group. A block of rooms has been reserved at a discounted rate of $259 per night for those attending Grahn's event, and the rate will be extended to pre- and post-event dates. To place a reservation, call (866) 360-7395 and ask for the "Nancy Lee Grahn event" price.

*** VOTING HAS CLOSED FOR THIS ROUND ***

Once again, it's time to express your opinions for our Readers' Poll. In the comments section for this article, please respond to the question, and feel free to explain your answer, but remember that any comments here may be considered for publication in the magazine. Any extra comments you have that have nothing to do with this week's poll question should be directed to the Message Boards section of our Web site!

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Do Carly and Johnny have real chemistry?

Please note that the cut-off date for your votes to be counted will be Thursday, February 9. And please, only one vote per person!

To vote on your favorite actor, actress and couple currently appearing on an ABC, CBS or NBC soap, please mail your choices to:

ABC Readers' Poll
c/o Soaps In Depth
270 Sylvan Ave.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632

Multiple mail-in votes during the same voting period will not be counted, so don't waste our time, your time, or the postage!

VOTES FOR ACTORS, ACTRESSES AND COUPLES CAST IN THE COMMENTS TO THIS ARTICLE WILL NOT BE COUNTED.

Having spent the bulk of his career as a soap star, Jon Lindstrom (Kevin/Ryan, GENERAL HOSPITAL and PORT CHARLES) has had his share of smokin' hot female love interests. However, in his new romantic comedy, What Happens Next -- releasing on Netflix and DVD on Tuesday, February 7 -- Lindstrom is getting an adorable leading man! "I'm very, very proud of this movie," he offers of the picture that explores a gay relationship. "I think it's a little comic gem and given the political atmosphere out there, I think it was brave to make it."

In this film festival favorite, Lindstrom plays Paul Grecco, a recently retired, straight billionaire and socialite who finds himself at loose ends until his worried sister (HOT IN CLEVELAND's Wendie Malick) gives him a puppy. "While walking the dog in the park, he meets a young man [Andy, a gay advertising wiz], and they start to develop a friendship," Lindstrom previews. "Paul finds out things about himself that he'd never really considered."

As the new friends explore the distinction between contentment and happiness, they also face complications presented by their ill-informed family members, including Andy's sister, Roz, -- played by ALL MY CHILDREN's Natalia Cigliuti (Anita) -- and their well-meaning advisors. "Megan Hilty (SMASH) has a hilarious scene as Wendie's manicurist," Lindstrom previews.

Want to get a jump-start on the laughs? Visit www.jonlindstrom.com to view the trailer, or www.Amazon.com or www.Netflix.com to purchase the film. For more on Lindstrom's post-soap career, check out his feature interview in an upcoming issue of Soaps In Depth.

The 2012 GENERAL HOSPITAL Fan Club Weekend will be here before we know it, and Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth) wants you to join her at her annual Soiree!

Co-stars Steve Burton (Jason) and Scott Reeves (Steve) will join Herbst for her event, which will take place on Thursday, July 19, from 9 p.m. to midnight at the Sportsmen's Lodge Hotel. Tickets purchased before March 30 are $70, and then the price jumps to $80. And one lucky Early Bird ticket purchaser will win a GH set tour with Herbst!

The Soiree will include live and silent auctions, raffle prizes and a whole lot more. Even better? Herbst will be raising money for her favorite charity, The Smile Train! For more information, click here.

Hello, Reverend! This weekend, John Stamos (ex-Blackie, GENERAL HOSPITAL) stars as Stephen Drew, a small-town minister whose close-knit community is torn apart in the Lifetime Original Movie Secrets Of Eden.

Based on author Chris Bohjalian's New York Times bestseller by the same name, the film centers on the brutal and sadistic murder-suicide of Alice and George Hayward, Pastor Drew's most beloved parishioners. But when dark secrets begin to surface about the seemingly perfect Hayward family -- including evidence that Rev. Drew was having an affair with Alice -- the minister becomes the prime suspect in the crime!

Secrets Of Eden premieres on Saturday, February 4, at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime. Check local listings for encore broadcasts.

Soaps In Depth is teaming up with GENERAL HOSPITAL star Steve Burton (Jason) and his personal trainer Jon Gustin -- who just happens to be his brother-in-law! -- to help our readers and GH fans change their lives! Starting in March, In Depth will be featuring a regular column where Gustin -- with a little help from Burton -- answers your fitness questions!

A fitness and nutrition enthusiast, Gustin has been seen on the E! reality series DIRTY SOAP and trains several daytime stars. He is a NSCA Certified Personal Trainer, an ISSA Fitness Nutrition Specialist, is a certified Kettlebell teacher and an EFTI (Equinox Fitness Training Institute) trainer. His simple goal? To help people go through the same life-changing experience and feel better about themselves, just the way he did!

Beginning with his very first columns, Jon will be answering questions from you! So E-mail your fitness and nutrition concerns to eic@soapsindepth.com, and you may just see your question and his expert opinion in print! What are you waiting for? E-mail us today! For more information on Jon Gustin, visit his Web site here.

GENERAL HOSPITAL's Jason Thompson (Patrick) is a busy man today! Before checking in at the GH studio, he dropped by the set of CASTLE to tape a guest-starring role!

"Look who showed up to the 12th precinct," former GH co-star Seamus Dever (Ian), who stars on the ABC primetime drama, tweeted this morning, showing off a picture of himself with Thompson, who replied that he was taping his CASTLE guest spot this morning and be back at the GH set this afternoon. "I like it!" tweeted Thompson. "Great to see and work with you again man."

A spokesperson for CASTLE reports that Thompson will guest star in the episode titled "Once Upon A Crime" as Noah Curtis, whose wife, Kristina, is found dead in Riverside Park... dressed as Snow White! Tune in on Monday, February 27!

Dr. Noah Drake is back in the building! Rick Springfield will soon be reprising his iconic GENERAL HOSPITAL role! EW.com broke the exclusive story that Springfield will report to the set in February to tape a handful of episodes to air in March.

Patrick and Matt's father last appeared in 2008, when he left Port Charles to get his drinking under control.

GENERAL HOSPITAL alum Antonio Sabáto Jr. (ex-Jagger; ex-Dante, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL) and superstar pro wrestler Mick Foley will be featured on the season finale of CELEBRITY WIFE SWAP, airing tomorrow, January 31.

Sabáto and his fiancee, Cheryl, are self-admitted clean freaks who keep a spotless home, and drive their daughter, Mina, in a pursuit of perfection with gymnastics classes and piano lessons, while also raising 3-month-old Antonio III. Foley and his wife, Colette, meanwhile, have a much more laissez-faire parenting style for their brood of 4. Tune in tomorrow night at 9 p.m. ET on ABC!

ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Sole fans will soon get to see their favorite pair -- if only for a few episodes -- on GENERAL HOSPITAL. Today is Kristen Alderson's first day on the GH set as Starr, and Van Hughes (Cole) will briefly be joining her. Soaps In Depth has learned that Broadway veteran Hughes -- who is currently starring in the touring production of American Idiot -- is also due on the GH set. Our theater spies report that Hughes will not actually miss any performances, since he is taping on a day off from the musical adapted from the Green Day album of the same name. A spokesperson for GH had no comment.

Meanwhile, Alderson announced last Friday that she's inked a multi-year deal with the soap. "Just signed my General Hospital contract! 3 years!" she tweeted. "Here we go... You guys ready!? YAY" Earlier this morning, the actress was up bright and early for her first day on her new soap set. "5:40 am! Time to get ready for work! Ahhh new beginnings!"

Congratulations to GENERAL HOSPITAL director William Ludel and his team, who took home the Director's Guild Award on Saturday night for the April episode focusing on Luke's Intervention!

CASTLE star Stana Katic presented Ludel with the award. "I got real lucky on this episode," the three-time winner said in his acceptance speech. "I got lucky because of an amazing DGA team covering my back every step of the way. I got lucky because our executive producer Jill Farren Phelps never stopped pushing to make the show as good as it can be. And I got more luck than I deserved with a group of actors who were willing to open themselves up and take some huge leaps so we could have something special, something we could be proud of."

Ever since it was announced that ONE LIFE TO LIVE star Michael Easton would be moving John McBain to GENERAL HOSPITAL's Port Charles, fans have been praying for Melissa Archer's Natalie to join him. Alas, it appears that when Easton told fans at a "Loving Llanview" event last weekend that Jolie would be reunited during May Sweeps, he was just being a jokester. A spokesperson for GH tells Soaps In Depth that at this time, Archer will not be joining the cast. "Despite us loving them, there are no immediate plans to bring her to Port Charles," says the rep.

Sorry, soap fans, but there won't be a second season of the E! reality show DIRTY SOAP. "So the word is that Dirty Soap is NOT being picked up for another season," tweeted castmate Jenna Gering, who is married to DAYS OF OUR LIVES hunk Galen Gering (Rafe). "Thanks to all of u who watched. You all have been so supportive!!!"

The reality show -- produced by ALL MY CHILDREN vets Kelly Ripa (Hayley) and Mark Consuelos (Mateo) -- followed the lives of the THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL's Brandon Beemer (Owen) and live-in girlfriend Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe, DAYS), the Gerings, ONE LIFE TO LIVE's John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex) and Farah Fath (Gigi), and GENERAL HOSPITAL's Kelly Monaco (Sam) and Kirsten Storms (Maxie).

Might there be more ONE LIFE TO LIVE characters moving to GENERAL HOSPITAL's Port Charles? The latest buzz is that Van Hughes (Cole) will make a GH appearance when his alter ego helps to bring Kristen Alderson's Starr onto the canvas. A spokesperson for GH had no comment in regard to Hughes' casting.

And while fans of John and Natalie have been clamoring for their favorite pair to move to Port Charles together, the detective's portrayer, Michael Easton, teased at one of the "Loving Llanview" farewell events over the weekend that co-star Melissa Archer may be joining GH after all! "Two words: May Sweeps," he told the excited crowd.

Soaps In Depth has learned that GENERAL HOSPITAL newcomer Alyshia Ochse (Cassandra) is wrapping up her time at the soap! The actress made her official GH debut as the "Woman In White" in early December, after weeks of skulking around the shadows of Wyndemere. A spokesperson for GH had no comment.

But Ochse isn't the only cast member who will be leaving GH in the coming weeks. We're told that there are other newcomers who will soon see their characters leaving Port Charles! Stay tuned!

Former GENERAL HOSPITAL executive producer Jill Farren Phelps has teamed up with veteran soap scribe and producer Josh Griffith (ONE LIFE TO LIVE, AS THE WORLD TURNS, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) to create a new soap opera! Nickelodeon has ordered 80 episodes of REACH FOR A STAR, an adaptation of the popular Mexican telenovela ALCANZAR UNA ESTRELLA, to debut on their Nick At Nite block this summer.

REACH FOR A STAR is a single-camera, daily series that will follow Loren, an average high school senior whose life changes completely upon becoming a star and winning the love of her celebrity crush. Casting is currently underway, with production due to start in March.

Get into the Valentine's Day spirit beginning on Sunday, February 12, with SOAPnet's Scrubs marathon! Featuring GENERAL HOSPITAL's beloved couple Patrick and Robin, the four-hour block will begin at 3 p.m. ET/PT and include the following episodes:

3 p.m. -- From November 7, 2006: Patrick shows up outside of Robin's window and declares his love. Finally giving in to her feelings, Robin confesses that she loves him, too.

4 p.m. -- From November 4, 2008: Robin and Patrick's daughter, Emma, is born.

5 p.m. - From December 29, 2008: In front of their family and friends, Robin and Patrick are married.

6 p.m. -- From December 29, 2009: The couple celebrates their first wedding anniversary.

A GENERAL HOSPITAL spokesperson tells Soaps In Depth that Kirsten Storms will not be resuming the role of Maxie Jones next month after all. "Kirsten Storms will not be able to return as soon as originally hoped and announced," says the rep. "Jen Lilley will continue to play Maxie Jones for the foreseeable future."

Lilley has been playing the role since September, when Storms took a medical leave from the soap. "I'm sad [Storms] is still sick," Lilley tweeted. "Rest up love! I'll keep Maxie kickin :) xo Here's to a bit more time on my favorite soap!"

*** VOTING HAS CLOSED FOR THIS ROUND ***

Once again, it's time to express your opinions for our Readers' Poll. In the comments section for this article, please respond to the question, and feel free to explain your answer, but remember that any comments here may be considered for publication in the magazine. Any extra comments you have that have nothing to do with this week's poll question should be directed to the Message Boards section of our Web site!

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Do Kate and Sonny have a future together?

Please note that the cut-off date for your votes to be counted will be Thursday, January 26. And please, only one vote per person!

To vote on your favorite actor, actress and couple currently appearing on an ABC, CBS or NBC soap, please mail your choices to:

Readers' Poll
c/o Soaps In Depth
270 Sylvan Ave.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632

VOTES FOR ACTORS, ACTRESSES AND COUPLES CAST IN THE COMMENTS TO THIS ARTICLE WILL NOT BE COUNTED.

We wanted to let you know of some big changes that we're going to be instituting regarding our Readers' Poll, effective with the very next round of voting!

The most important change is that we will now be only accepting votes on the questions (with your comments) on the Web site. To vote for your favorite actor, actress and couple, we ask that you now physically mail in your votes to:

Readers' Poll
c/o Soaps In Depth
270 Sylvan Ave.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632

However, our policy on duplicate votes remains the same. Multiple votes from the same reader will be discarded and not counted, so please save yourself the effort and postage by only voting once during each two-week voting period.

In addition, while the CBS issues of Soaps In Depth will continue to give the results for THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL and THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, the ABC editions of our magazine will now also include favorites from the CBS soaps and NBC's DAYS OF OUR LIVES in the actors, actresses and couples. So please feel free to vote for your overall favorites and don't feel restricted by network anymore!

Might GENERAL HOSPITAL's Michael Corinthos soon be getting a different look? The latest rumor making the rounds is that the soap may be recasting Chad Duell, who has been playing Carly and Sonny's son since 2010... but that may not necessarily be the case!

Late last week, ABC put out a casting notice for an unnamed 18-24 year old male of any ethnicity for a contract role, due to start taping in March or April. At the time, there was no available audition script. Earlier this week, the network posted sides for a character named "Erik" -- a character who wants to join the Mob and is covering self-doubt about the time he broke, the time he was a victim. Even more, the scene takes place with Jason -- who is trying to mentor "Erik" -- in the office of a Mob restaurant!

While the character of "Erik" does bear a strong resemblance to that of Michael, fans of Duell's shouldn't jump to any conclusions that their boy is not long for the show, because soaps often use past scenes to audition actors for unrelated roles! And while at some point in time, Duell may or may not be replaced, that time is not now! "I'm not," Duell responded to a fan on Twitter who asked if the rumors of his leaving were true.

Should GENERAL HOSPITAL be taken off the ABC Daytime roster in September to make room for Katie Couric's syndicated new chatfest, there just may be a Plan B for the network's sole remaining soap opera: Moving it to primetime!

In its new print issue as well as on its Web site, TV Guide reports that one scenario being bandied about by ABC is moving GH to primetime programming as a short-run summer series, similar to a Spanish telenovela. According to TV Guide's insider, even if the cost of production doubled over the typical budget of approximately $200,000 an episode, an after-dark version of GH would still be inexpensive for an original scripted show. A spokesperson for GH had no comment.

Tell us below, would you watch a primetime version of GENERAL HOSPITAL?

GENERAL HOSPITAL star Brandon Barash (Johnny) is flexing his muscles for the 2012 Los Angeles Muscles Walk -- and he wants you to, too!

The MDA Muscle Walk is a series of local walks around the country held to pay tribute and raise funds for those served by the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Join Barash and his team for the Los Angeles event on Saturday, February 4, at the CBS Studio Center, and stick around afterwards for a Q&A with the GH hunk! To join his team or make a donation, visit www2.mda.org/goto/BrandonBarash. Or, to find a walk in your area, visit www.mda.org/walk.

Less than a week after ONE LIFE TO LIVE aired its final episode, Kristen Alderson (Starr), Kassie DePaiva (Blair), Roger Howarth (Todd) and Michael Easton (John) are preparing to bring their alter egos to GENERAL HOSPITAL. The Llanview residents are due to appear in Port Charles next month -- just in time for February Sweeps -- which means that the actors are due on the GH set by the end of this month. "Just heard a tiny bit about my first storyline on General Hospital!" Alderson tweeted last night. "Can't WAIT to start filming...not this Friday but next! SO SOON!"

But is the move to GH a permanent one for the foursome? Not necessarily, says DePaiva, who took to her blog at www.KassieDePaiva.com to clear the air about Blair's future in Port Charles. "I must say, the ads and the press release by ABC is a little misleading," she writes. "Frank Valentini, [OLTL's former executive producer and now] GH's EP, asked me to come out for a couple of shows in February and I'm thrilled. Not only will I get to work with a fantastic cast... but a little piece of OLTL lives on. That makes me very happy. And who knows where it will lead."

For DePaiva's full blog, click here.

He plays therapist Dr. Ewen Keenan by day, but by night, Nathin Butler likes to let loose and rock out! On Saturday, January 28, Butler and his band, The Sugar, will be playing at the famed West Hollywood nightclub, The Viper Room! Showtime is 10 p.m., and there will be a fan signing following the show. Tickets are $15, and patrons must be 21 or older.

Port Charles attorney Claire Walsh seemingly disappeared from GENERAL HOSPITAL -- and Sonny's life -- but we now know where her portrayer, Dahlia Salem, has resurfaced! "Out the door to join the cast of ABC's Private Practice this week!" she tweeted. "Good morning!!"

GENERAL HOSPITAL alum Emma Caulfield (ex-Lorraine) visits the fairytale land that was on this Sunday's episode of ONCE UPON A TIME! In "True North," Caulfield guest stars as the Blind Witch, from whom the Evil Queen coerces orphans Hansel and Gretel into stealing an important artifact.

"I walked into my trailer and looked in the full-length mirror and I was like 'Damn! This is something!'" she tells Soaps In Depth of her wardrobe and makeup transformation. "It's visually stunning, it's a very high concept show. I got to be reunited with two of the writers I've had the pleasure of working with extensively: Jane Stenson who has written for absolutely everything, including BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, and then Liz Tigler, who was my boss for a huge chunk of last year withLIFE UNEXPECTED. So having both of their words to have the potential of working around was really cool.

Caulfield teases that her torment of little Hansel and Gretel on Sunday may not be her only appearance. "It depends on certain things," she says coyly. "If I do end up coming back, then great. If I don't, then I had a great experience."

Tune in to ONCE UPON A TIME at 8 p.m. on Sunday, January 15, at 8 p.m. ET!

And the returns of GENERAL HOSPITAL fan favorites just keep on coming! Hot on the heels of the news that Tristan Rogers (Robert) will be joining Finola Hughes (Anna) in Port Charles just in time for the exit of the television daughter, Kimberly McCullough (Robin), comes word that Emma Samms will be bringing Holly Sutton back to Port Charles as well!

Our pals at TV Line broke the news that Samms' Holly will be back on the screen in late February to help the Spencers -- including Luke and their son, Ethan -- deal with the vengeful Helena Cassadine. Samms created the role of the British beauty in 1982, and last appeared in 2009 when Holly came to town to solve the question of Ethan's paternity.