HOLLYWOOD—Hopefully, soap fans have recovered from all the craziness of February sweeps, because it appears March Madness is not only referring to basketball. There have been some major casting updates on some of your favorite soaps in the recent weeks.  Perhaps the biggest surprise of them all is the departure of Elizabeth Hendrickson from her role as Chloe on the “Young and the Restless.”

Hendrickson has delivered some surefire Emmy contender work in the recent weeks on the soap, so to see her depart a role that she brought so much fire to will leave fans reeling. The bigger question is rather she will be recast or bid adieu for an extended period of time. Speaking of “Y&R” the saga regarding is he or isn’t he dead, continues as Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) and Victor (Eric Braeden) continue the search for Adam. Aren’t these two aware that Adam killed a little girl? If he shows up in Genoa City he’s going to be carted off to jail. I have reason to suspect that the role will be recast, the big question is just who will fill the actor’s shoes.

Over on “General Hospital,” a notorious villain has returned to the canvas in Ric Lansing, who has done some heinous things to the citizens of Port Charles, not to mention his own brother Sonny (Maurice Benard). That story of him flying back into town to visit his daughter Molly was more than a bit skeptical. I had an inkling he was connected with Julian Jerome (William deVry) in some fashion, and I’m right; the big question for the audience is how?

I mean not only did he attempt to kill Sonny on multiple occasions, but he held his ex-wife Carly (Laura Wright) in a panic room for weeks hoping to steal her baby. I must say, that arc delivered some of the best suspense and acting on the sudser in quite some time. Just imagine the fireworks when these two cross paths.

Of course we can’t forget to mention his looming eyes for his former ex Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) just when the audience thought she was falling for Nikolas (Tyler Christopher), Ric comes swooping back in. This can only mean Nikolas will step in to prevent his former flame from getting entangled with the evil mastermind. All of this craziness has nothing to do with what audiences had been eagerly awaiting, the return of Donna Mills to the soap world. On March 14, she made an epic debut on “GH” as Madeleine Reeves, a powerful woman who also happens to be the mother of Nina, Silas’ (Michael Easton) comatose wife.

That’s perhaps the biggest question everyone wants to know, when will we get a glimpse of this mysterious woman?  It appears Mrs. Reeves has no love lost for her son-in-law, not to mention she has a connection to Nathan, who is Nina’s brother!  When you trace the steps it all makes sense. The interesting tidbit will be the revelation that Silas is not responsible for his first wife’s current condition. Start making guesses “GH” lovers as to who is responsible.

Another bombshell on “GH” involved the news on March 17, that Sean Kanan would be departing his role as A.J. Quartermaine. He was recently shot, so does this mean A.J. will finally meet his maker? No worries Port Charles’ loss is a gain for you “Bold and Beautiful” fans as Deacon is making another comeback. It seems more and more that the soap opera world is a game of switcheroo. Not loved by a soap, no worries you can always move to the canvas of another one.

Speaking of the “B&B” it looks like the claws are coming out between theLogansisters. Katie (Heather Tom) made it crystal clear that she has fallen for Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) and he has reciprocated those feelings, but that leaves Brooke (Katherine-Kelly Lang) out in the cold. Hate to say it Brooke, but this is karma for sleeping with Katie’s husband Bill (Don Diamont) did you expect everything to go back to normalcy after that bombshell. And Donna (Jennifer Gareis) stop playing advocate for Brooke, your sister was wrong and deserves every bit of heartache that comes her way. Expect this family that just bonded to be ripped apart.

Sweeps may be over, but that doesn’t mean the drama from your favorite soaps are taking a vacation.

By LaDale Anderson