As they say … the best-laid plans.

For a few months, I’ve been sitting on the news that Kate Mansi had decided to leave the role of General Hospital’s Kristina. Part of my exclusive conversation with Kate about her exit was scheduled to appear in this week’s newsletter, which was set to go out tomorrow. But once the news leaked online, it made sense to send this edition a day early.

Back when I worked at Soap Opera Digest, this happened all the time. We often had major information well in advance, but out of respect for the shows and/or the actors, chose not to publish it too early in order to preserve the story and the timing of the reveal. I remember one conversation with an online journalist, who questioned why we hadn’t credited their site with breaking a particular story. I explained that, from our perspective, it wasn’t news to us — it was just news we hadn’t reported yet!

In today’s world, though, it’s harder than ever to keep things under wraps. Kate actually stopped filming last month, so the fact that it stayed quiet for four weeks is pretty remarkable. Look for her final episode to air next month and check out her quotes below.

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Three years after joining General Hospital as Kristina Corinthos-Davis, Kate Mansi has chosen to exit the role.

“I’ve made the very difficult decision to leave General Hospital,” Kate tells me exclusively. “I have a few new projects that require my full attention and with my husband [Matt McInnis] currently producing a series filming primarily abroad, I needed the flexibility to travel while continuing to develop and work in Los Angeles.”

Kate joined GH in 2023 after an Emmy-winning run as Days of our Lives’s Abigail, and says she’s deeply appreciative of the opportunities she had in Port Charles. “I’m incredibly grateful to Frank, ABC, and our writers for the care they gave Kristina,” she says. “It’s been such a meaningful and unforgettable ride. I’ve loved being a fiery Corinthos-Davis girl in such a phenomenal family.”

She’s also especially proud of the meaningful material she was able to explore through Kristina. “When Frank first approached me about the role, two things deeply resonated with me: the opportunity to show my support for the queer community by playing an LGBTQ+ character, and to help tell an endometriosis storyline,” she reflects. “Together, I truly feel we honored both of those stories in a way that mattered. And the fact that I got to direct was simply the icing on the cake! Now, it feels like the right time for both Kristina and me to step into new adventures.”

Executive Producer Frank Valentini adds, “We love Kate and support her decision to leave. The door is always open, and we appreciate all that she added to the show these past three years.”

Tune in to Tuesday’s episode to learn more about what’s ahead for Kristina!

Kelly Monaco, who hasn’t been active on social media since leaving the role of General Hospital’s Sam in 2024, celebrated her 50th birthday on May 23 with a video showing her working out with her trainer. “Today I turned 50!” she posted. “There’s no place like home… coach @_monaco getting me back in shape.” “Happy Birthday Kid,” wrote former co-star Michael Easton (ex-Silas, GH et al). “Happy Birthday to the coolest chick around,” added Kristen Alderson (ex-Kiki, GH et al). Former Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron cheered, “Those are the kind of moves that won you the 1st Mirror Ball Trophy.”

The Bold and the Beautiful is welcoming back Darin Brooks (Wyatt) and Denise Richards (Shauna) this week. Brooks last appeared on the soap in January 2024, but when I spoke to him in February, he told me, “The door is always open on my end. I went to see Brad [Bell, B&B’s executive producer/head writer] a couple of months ago to see the new digs, the new studio… We don’t know what’s on the horizon yet, but I’m open to it.” Richards, who joined the show in 2019 as Flo’s (Katrina Bowden) mother, last appeared in 2022.

Jason Graham, who popped up as the presumed-dead Doug on Beyond the Gates on Friday, will appear again this week. Is he real? Tune in to find out!

Days’s Deverauxes — Matthew Ashford (Jack), Melissa Reeves (Jennifer) and Casey Moss (JJ) — will all appear on Monday, May 25.

Jennifer Gareis returns as B&B’s Donna on Monday, May 25 and Thursday, May 28.

Theodora Grace returns as Alison on B&B on Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28.

Jade Coatsworth is back as B&B’s Kingsley on Monday, May 25 and Tuesday, May 26.

Shannon McMullen plays Willow again on B&B on Monday, May 25 and Tuesday, May 26.

Sissy Sheridan returns to B&B as Jessica on Monday, May 25 and Tuesday, May 26.

Jazz Jasprett Kaur plays a D.J. on B&B on Monday, May 25 and Tuesday, May 26.

Christopher “Sincere” Cato plays Alex on B&B on Monday, May 25 and Tuesday, May 26.

Michael Ocampo will make his Days debut as Gus, Javi’s (Al Calderon) boyfriend, on Thursday, May 28.

Miles Anderson is back as Days’s Foster in scenes with Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie) on Friday, May 29.

Lamon Archey’s Eli joins Lani (Sal Stowers) in Salem on Friday, May 29.

Newsletter-exclusive highlights from my recent interviews. 

Forty years after joining Days as Kayla, Mary Beth Evans admits she still struggles with dialogue at times.

“We’re so expected — or maybe it's just a self-imposed thing — to get it done in one take,” she explained to me. “So, if it goes to two, you’re like, ‘Oh, jeez.’ And then if it’s three or four, you just want to leave the building. Your heart starts pounding and you get nervous. I always tell people, ‘I can’t have distractions. I can't have to go to the bathroom, I can’t be hungry, I can't have a headache, and I can’t have any personal problems.’ I have to be completely clean going out there because any little thing is a distraction from this frantic memorizing and then trying to participate presently in the scene.” 

Mary Beth recalled feeling that pressure when she guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2008. “It was a medical thing,” she recalled. “And then, of course, it took me four or five times to get through it and I was just looking up for the helicopter rope to take me out of the scene. I wanted out. Once I go up a couple of times, I’m completely freaked out and then I can’t remember anything. But the brilliant thing about this genre is that you have another day. So if you have a terrible day, you just go, ‘Okay, I’m gonna focus on these things that were a problem, clean them up, and then start fresh again.’”

Ben Gavin, who wrapped his run as Beyond the Gates’s Derek last week, says one of his proudest accomplishments was helping launch the first new soap in over 25 years.

“You could just feel that is was lightning in a bottle,” he told me of the launch. “Everybody's energy, everybody’s connection with one another, the writers, and the different storylines that they were hitting, you knew something special was happening. Michele Val Jean [creator] is a genius, and it's a gift to be a part of that, and a gift to say that, ‘Hey, I was there on day one of production, and I was in the very first episode.’”

Landing on the show in the first place came as a surprise to the actor. “It was not something that I envisioned,” he shared. “I didn’t see a new soap coming at all. I remember even just getting the audition sent for my agent, and I was kind of like. ‘A new soap? In Atlanta? Well, this sounds cool. I want this.’”

But Ben admitted to me that adjusting to the pace of soap work took some time. “I’ve always had my script, the lines that were written for me, and then I would write something next to it that I’m actually saying,” he explained. “And that’s usually worked for me on a film set, but on a soap, you don’t have that time to let it kind of marinate and figure out where it's going to go. So, I believe in the beginning of the show, I was doing what I call ‘head acting.’ I was acting in my head, and I even told myself, ‘This isn’t landing.’ And then, I started working with [acting coach] Joe Reitman, who’s awesome, and he gave me this pathway of finding physical actions that get you out of your head and into your body, which, as an actor, that's all you want. So, I feel like that has been one of the best things, something I’ll take with me forever. I’m ready for anything now; you can’t surprise me.”

Beyond the Gates: Wow, wow, wow. What a week in Fairmont Crest! The cotillion was beautiful, from the gowns to the sets, and was so well executed. Bravo! Derek’s death, however, really hit me hard. I got choked up when he said goodbye to Ashley, and when Shanice shook her head to indicate he didn’t make it through surgery, my heart hurt. I’m sorry to see Ben Gavin go — perhaps Derek has an evil twin? Kudos to Jen Jacob, who is doing a great job portraying Ashley’s grief and inner conflict. Personally, I’m not a fan of overly stoic reactions to death; it rarely feels authentic to me. Bring on the tears, and she absolutely delivered…. I appreciated the quiet support Bill gave Naomi when she came to the office looking for a distraction in the aftermath of Derek’s death…. And welcome back, Jason Graham! What a fun surprise to see him again as Doug!

The Bold and the Beautiful: I’m glad Brooke had a change of heart about pushing Steffy out of Forrester so she and Ridge could run it together. The whole thing felt oddly juvenile. Plus, it now sets the stage for Hope to go to Logan…. Speaking of Hope, Annika Noelle deserves a lot of credit for how convincingly she sells the character’s perspective. Hope seized control of Forrester in 2024, and is now encouraging her mother to follow suit, yet when she lays out her reasoning, I still find myself thinking, “Okay, maybe she has a point,” even thought I ultimately disagree with her…. We may not see Zende every day, but Delon de Metz passion for his character’s choices always comes through onscreen. He definitely deserves a shoutout as well. Maybe Zende can go to Logan, too! ... And hello, Taylor! You were missed.

Days of our Lives: EJ suddenly bringing up Sydney has me thinking Johnny’s sister might finally make her way in Salem…. I just love that Kelsey’s middle name is Adrienne — such a sweet nod…. The flashback-filled episode celebrating Mary Beth Evans’s 40th anniversary as Kayla was beautifully done and a wonderful tribute to both the actress and Steve and Kayla’s journey…. Who is this Lexie? This isn’t a criticism of Nikki Crawford, who is doing a very good job, but this version of the character feels completely unfamiliar to me…. What genuinely lovely scenes between Jack and Gwen. Hearing him say he wanted to work on their relationship was incredibly touching…. As for Kristen and Xander? Just … no. And their sexcapades? Absolutely not. This storyline isn’t doing either character any favors at the moment.

General Hospital: Dominic Zamprogna had a powerhouse week as Dante worked to shield Rocco from any fallout related to the Cullum shooting. Gio turning to Dante for help led to some terrific scenes between them, serving as effective icebreakers as their fragile bond continues to develop. And that Dante/Lulu showdown? Excellent…. Am I wrong for looking forward to the scenes between Josslyn and Cassius? Even though she’s being held captive, the fact that he can’t fully control her makes their interactions surprisingly entertaining…. Forget prom dates and report cards — the teen set in Port Charles is dealing with incredibly high stakes drama these days. But I don’t mind it at all…. Pascal’s vendetta against Lucas is just … strange. I don’t care how much he loved Marco…. Welcome back, Mac! It’s always a pleasure to see John J. York.

Young and Restless: I was completely riveted by the sit-down between Devon and Mariah. Having Devon begin their meeting with a card from Dominic immediately set an emotional tone, and the resulting conversation between multiple Emmy winners Bryton James and Camryn Grimes more than lived up to the expectations…. I’m getting a huge kick out of the Patty vs. Phyllis dynamic. Their history-filled tension translates so well in the present day as they both circle around Matt…. The exchange between Nikki and Victor about Nick’s addiction was another standout. The fact that Victor refused to give an inch when it came to their marital problems felt completely on brand. I am especially enjoying the focus on Nikki and Jack’s connection. Their bond feels rooted in genuine friendship as they navigate their troubled unions.

MONDAY, MAY 25

Beyond the Gates: Tune in for a repeat episode of a special episode that pulls back the curtain on the soap with commentary from the actors as they relive their storylines, including all of season one’s explosive affairs, shocking cons and family secrets.

The Bold and the Beautiful: A summer soirée brings Will and Electra closer, and Katie needs a final answer from Hope about coming to Logan.

Days of our Lives: Philip opens up to Brady; Amy is crushed by what’s recovered from the river; Sarah tries to change Xander’s mind; and Gabi and Gwen commiserate.

General Hospital: The show will air an encore episode in which Monica’s real will exposed Martin for forging the previous version and blackmailing Ronnie; Portia walked in on Curtis and Jordan kissing; and Sidwell unsuccessfully tried to convince Laura to back his takeover of Sonny’s piers.

The Young and the Restless: The show will air a repeat episodes in which Victor makes a dangerous decision; Victoria plots her revenge against Phyllis; Chelsea’s past catches up with her; and romance blooms for Devon and Elena.

TUESDAY, MAY 26

Beyond the Gates: Bill orders Tomas to stand down; Nicole confides her fantasies to Kial; Joey gives Donnell what he wants; and Deanna’s blast from the past has a mission for her to accomplish.

The Bold and the Beautiful: Brooke is excited about Hope’s line returning to Forrester, and R.J. is the victim of Will’s low blow.

Days of our Lives: Jennifer proposes a truce to Cat; Chanel gets her biopsy results; Xander and Sarah acknowledge hard truths; and EJ updates Johnny on Tony’s plan.

General Hospital: Lulu and Dante come to an agreement; Carly makes a plea; Kristina gets big news; and Chase and Joe pursue a lead.

The Young and the Restless: Victor gains leverage against Phyllis; Billy tells Adam about Sally’s pregnancy; and Patty makes a distress call about Jack.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27

Beyond the Gates: Shanice gives Ted her decision on the future of their relationship; Leslie crashes Garland’s press conference; and Mona has a health update for Jan.

The Bold and the Beautiful: Bill summons someone from the past to help expand Logan’s empire, and R.J. makes a plea to Ridge and Steffy to fire Will.

Days of our Lives: Theo comforts Paulina; Marlena hypnotizes EJ; Gabi confides in Ari; and Amy plans for revenge.

General Hospital: Ric checks in on Elizabeth; Sonny offers words of caution; Kai delivers bad news to Trina; Emma consoles Gio; and Trina visits her parents.

The Young and the Restless: Lily sees Cane in a new light; Abby makes a promise to Devon; and Nick’s life hangs in the balance.

THURSDAY, MAY 28

Beyond the Gates: A fallen hero in memorialized; Dani schools Bill on his selective memory; and Ted’s vote of confidence in Nicole rubs her the wrong way.

The Bold and the Beautiful: Donna is caught in the crosshairs of the Logan feud, and Bill’s plan gets thrown for a loop.

Days of our Lives: Johnny and Chanel share a hopeful moment; Lexie demands answers from EJ; Abe admits hard truths to Theo; and Javi, on his way to meet his new boyfriend Gus, runs into Leo.

General Hospital: Willow is horrified; Trina opens up to Gio; Michael is suspicious; Portia challenges Curtis; and Molly and Cody are interrupted.

The Young and the Restless: Victor makes a shocking decision to help Nick; Victoria seeks Jack’s help; Holden and Stephanie receive news on Malcolm’s condition; and Nikki is haunted by her dreams.

FRIDAY, MAY 29

Beyond the Gates: Anita and Vernon’s night of romance is interrupted by Kat and Martin; Joey wants Bill to contain a potential threat, then notices Bill is off his game; and Leslie insists on making Hayley an ally.

The Bold and the Beautiful: Electra has exciting news to share with Dylan, and things are finally looking up for Deke.

Days of our Lives: Family and friends support Marlena on the anniversary of John’s death; Belle and Brady make a discovery; Holly shares her emotional struggles with Sarah; and Eli comforts Lani; and Foster asks Julie out for dinner.

General Hospital: Valentin makes a romantic gesture; Ethan accepts a new mission; Molly offers wise counsel; Charlotte opens up to Carly; and Michael cautions Brook Lynn.

The Young and the Restless: Victor and Nikki force Nick to face his issues; Phyllis gives Patty a history lesson; and Kyle gives Jack surprising news about Diane.

Check out these recent articles I’ve written for tvinsider.com.