It’s May, which is traditionally a “sweeps” month, when shows pull out the stops with major storylines, shocking twists and big surprises designed to draw in viewers. It’s fair to say the soaps have already served up plenty of drama so far, and this week looks set to raise the stakes even higher.

The much-talked-about cotillion finally begins airing today on Beyond the Gates, and by midweek, a shocking death will rock Fairmont Crest. Since its February 2025 debut, BTG has seen relatively few cast shakeups, aside from Jason Graham’s Doug being killed off and Keith D. Robinson stepping in for Maurice Johnson. I had the chance to get a sneak peek of the episodes and I’ll admit, they got me a little emotional. Be sure to tune in — the cotillion is absolutely stunning, and the work that went into bringing it to life, both behind the scenes and in front of the camera, are truly can’t-miss television.

Y&R is also poised to bring plenty of excitement this week, as Nick continues to battle his drug addiction, and Devon has a long-awaited sit-down with Mariah. Over on Days, fans of Steve and Kayla will want definitely want to tune in — there’s something very special planned for the beloved couple.

Of course, every soap deserves your attention, but it’s always exciting when there’s a major event or standout moment on the horizon. It feels like a reward for loyal viewers who turn them on day after day.

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Rick Hearst (Ric) is not leaving General Hospital. The actor took to social media to shut down yet another rumor about his exit. “Complete [horse] shyte,” he wrote in response to a post suggesting he was out.

The cast and crew of Days of our Lives gathered on set on Friday, May 15 to celebrate 50 years since Deidre Hall first joined the show as Marlena. Stephen Nichols (Steve) posted, “What an extraordinary legacy. For five decades, @deidrehall_official has brought grace, strength, heart and unforgettable moments to Salem — and to all of us lucky enough to work beside her. Congratulations on this amazing milestone, Dee. Here’s to you, your remarkable career and the love you’ve inspired for generations of fans. #Days.”

Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie) added, “Yesterday in the parking lot of our studio two of Dee’s most devoted fans, Judi Evans [Bonnie] and me, gathered to chat in the sun about the loving salute Ken Corday [executive producer] hosted honoring Dee’s 50 years of Days appearances! The turnout was full of cheers and words of gratitude for our Deidre’s talent, beauty, wit, and stellar character. Network executives and stars from all the soaps gave her shoutouts for being the Queen of Daytime Drama ❤️⏳#50YearsofMarlena #DeidreHall.”

Jonathan Bennett makes his GH debut as Detective Joe Fitzpatrick on Monday, May 18.

Bryan David Garlick will be seen again as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Hayes on Monday, May 18.

Dick Christie returns as B&B’s Charlie on Monday, May 18 and Tuesday, May 19. The actor last appeared on the soap in April 2025.

Camryn Grimes is seen again as Y&R’s Mariah on Tuesday, May 19.

Delon de Metz will appear on B&B as Zende on Tuesday, May 19 and Wednesday, May 20.

Matthew Ashford’s Jack visits Days on Wednesday, May 20.

Alexis Gaube returns as Forrester model Petra on B&B on Wednesday, May 20.

Nick Lannan plays a stylist assistant on B&B on Thursday, May 21.

Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley are back as Days’s Tony and Anna on Thursday, May 21.

Jennifer Gareis returns as B&B’s Donna on Friday, May 22.

Newsletter-exclusive highlights from my recent interviews

Jonathan Bennett, who will debut as Detective Joe Fitzpatrick on the May 18 episode of General Hospital, has fond memories of landing his first major role on All My Children in 2001 and the actors he worked alongside.

“Talk about your first gig as an actor, you get to play David Canary's [Adam Chandler] son and have mostly all your scenes with a living legend,” he marveled to me. “At the time, he was the best of the best and he was so good that he brought up the people that were around him in the scenes. So even though I was green and had just started, the scenes with David were my best scenes. Not because I did anything differently, it’s because David being in my presence lifted me up and made me better just by being in the scene with him. That's the magical gift he had. And also, having Cady McClain [ex-Dixie; Pamela, Beyond the Gates] and Michael Knight [ex-Tad; Martin, GH] be my parents, they were all just pros and such legends that I just felt so lucky that that was my storyline, that I was with that group of people.”

Since his days in Pine Valley, Jonathan’s career has flourished, with a starring role in Mean Girls, numerous Hallmark Channel movies, hosting gigs, episodic television roles, and a run on Broadway. Still, he never loses sight of his good fortune.

“I wake up every single day, and the first thing my husband [Jaymes Vaughan] and I do is we say five things we’re grateful for that morning,” he shared. “That’s the first thing out of our mouths. And one of the things I’m always grateful for, is that I’ve gotten to do so many cool things, from soap operas to movies to hosting to Broadway. If I would have been blessed with just one of these things, I would have considered myself lucky, but the fact that I get to do all of it is an embarrassment of riches. It’s just absolutely magical, but it also lets me know that my mission and my purpose in life is to tell these stories. And the reason I think I keep getting to do all that is because the universe is listening to the mission, and when things like this all fall into place, it’s because you’re on the right track.”

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sheila Ducksworth, an executive producer on Beyond the Gates who also serves as president of the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture. We talked about the incredible level of detail in the show’s sets and the many interesting touches woven throughout them. When I visited the studio in January, I was struck by all the thoughtful elements incorporated into the production.

“I'm just so proud of every aspect of the show, because it really is the best of the best,” Sheila told me. “I feel like we’ve made every effort to make this everything that it could be and more. And we all keep looking to take it higher, and top what we did last time.”

She also discussed the intentional on-screen nods to Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the United States. “In Nicole's office, when you look behind her, you see a diploma that says Tougaloo College. Tougaloo College is one of the HBCUs in Mississippi, and folks and alum from Tougaloo have seen it and are floored because it's not one of the big HBCUs, like Howard or Hampton or Morehouse. It is a smaller institution, but a mighty one, and it's just amazing. We put a diploma from Tuskegee in Ted's office, and the alumni groups are online, and they're just like, ‘Oh, my gosh, we saw the diploma!’ And that was just very intentional. We want it to feel really real. We have a lion on the Duprees front door, because the lion is the mascot for [the fictional] Banneker University, and Banneker University is such a legacy school for the Duprees that we wanted the symbolism there for that.”

Sheila said that if you pay close attention, you’ll spot those kinds of touches everywhere on the set. “It’s endless,” she noted. “I mean, on every set, we try to do that, and I think people appreciate that.”

Beyond the Gates: It was hard not to get emotional when Anita rang the bell to mark the end of her chemo treatments…. Wow, is Anastasia awful. The way she spoke about Samantha was absolutely despicable. I need to see this woman taken down a peg at this week’s cotillion! ... Count me in as fully on board for a Mona and Randy pairing…. Yes, Joey may have been responsible for Doug’s death, but I did love the moment where the mobster gave Donnell the cufflinks for the cotillion. It was a surprisingly touching gesture…. I also think it’s a realistic touch that Nicole still has unresolved feelings for Ted. Their marriage fell apart because of his lie, but before that, she believed they had a strong, loving union. Now that some time has passed, it feels natural that she would still be feel drawn to him, despite everything that happened.

The Bold and the Beautiful: I am way too invested in this Forrester vs. Logan story — and I’m not complaining! When Brooke referred to herself and Ridge as the “king and queen of Forrester Creations,” I had to chuckle a little. This is a business, not a prom court. And honestly, it’s strange seeing Brooke suddenly try to edge into Steffy’s role as co-CEO. She’s really crossing a line, and the fact that Ridge even entertained the idea with Steffy is kind of wild…. Why is Donna acting like Katie considering Hope for a job at Logan is a Katie problem? Hope is a grown woman capable of making her own decisions…. And finally, how are Sheila, Taylor and Deacon doing? Has someone sent out a search party for them?

Days of our Lives: The low-key reaction to Lexie’s resurrection really underscored how commonplace back-from-the-dead stories have become in Salem. Yes, James Reynolds absolutely delivered as Abe came face-to-face with his “late” wife, but everyone else seemed to take the news remarkably in stride. And, I’m sorry, I can’t let this go: Theo told Lexie it’s 2026. Since when? We’ve seen every New Year’s Eve since the time jump. By that logic, it should be 2027…. Holly learning a lesson about cyberbullying might have landed more effectively had Sophia not spent months terrorizing her. Still, I love the addition of Stephen Oyoung as Sophia’s dad. He brought a much-needed gravitas to those terrific scenes with Jason and Amy at the police station…. And did Shawn have the most realistic gunshot recovery in soap history? The man actually spent meaningful time in the hospital for once.

General Hospital: The scenes between Dante and Lulu after he learned the truth about Rocco shooting Cullum were outstanding. And Finn Carr was excellent as Rocco unraveled in front of Danny and Charlotte. It felt completely natural that he wouldn’t be able to process the enormity of what happened on the pier. Along those same lines, the scenes where Liz opened up to Dante about the trauma of her 1998 Valentine’s Day rape, in an effort to help him understand what Rocco may be experiencing, were incredibly well done. It was a strong callback to an important story and added real depth to the growing bond between Liz and Dante. The slow burn of whatever the show is building between them has been perfectly paced…. Couldn’t Sonny have at least apologized to Ric for mistrusting him and pulling a gun on him? … And wow, Curtis — simmer down! Referring to Portia’s baby bump as “his child” and freaking out that Isaiah was touching it was huge indication of just how consumed he’s become by his revenge plan against Isaiah.

Young and Restless: Phyllis has been on fire lately. Her showdown with Christine was top-notch, and it’s great that these characters have kept their spicy dynamic intact decades after they first crossed paths. During the Phyllis/Matt scenes, I kept thinking, “How does she not know who he is!?” So it was a relief when it turned out she was playing him — and promptly headed straight to Victor to strike a deal in exchange for the Newman enemy’s whereabouts…. Lily giving Cane homemade cookies was a nice, unexpected touch. Outside of Pam’s lemon bars on B&B and the Horton doughnuts on Days, baking rarely shows up on soaps, so it felt refreshingly grounded and true to life…. And there was another strong set of scenes between Victor and Nick. It was a good note when Nick mentioned his son Christian being raised by nannies, cousins and aunts, given how rarely we actually see that family connection on screen.

MONDAY, MAY 18

Beyond the Gates: The Duprees get ready for Samantha’s cotillion; Jacob meets with Ben; Bill questions Hayley about her past; and Lia puts Derek in the hot seat.

The Bold and the Beautiful: Ridge seeks to mitigate the fallout from his decision; Steffy is caught off guard; and Dylan urges Remy to respect her wishes.

Days of our Lives: Kristen turns to Xander with a proposal; Brady goes out of his way for Sarah; Gwen vents to Leo; and Stephanie admits a hard truth to Alex.

General Hospital: Detective Joe Fitzpatrick is called to arrest one of Port Charles’s own; Laura delivers an update about Anna; Joss makes a grim discovery; and Emma opens up to Felicia.

The Young and the Restless: Victor questions Nick’s judgment; Adam and Chelsea strategize against a rival; and Sharon gives Phyllis unsolicited advice.

TUESDAY, MAY 19

Beyond the Gates: Grayson completes his assignment, then all hell breaks loose at the warehouse; Samantha and Jessica make their cotillion debut; and Nicole has to deal with an emergency.

The Bold and the Beautiful: Zende comes to an understanding about his future at Forrester; Taylor gains some new perspective about Brooke; and Hope gets some bad news.

Days of our Lives: Abe thanks EJ; Lexie demands to meet Paulina; Theo opens up to Gabi; and Philip checks up on Joy.

General Hospital: Valentin pitches a new plan; Gio supports Emma; Dante sets Joe straight; and Curtis briefs Jordan.

The Young and the Restless: Devon and Mariah discuss forgiveness; Daniel tries to broker a truce between Phyllis and Cricket; and Patty helps Matt Clark navigate Genoa City.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20

Beyond the Gates: Someone dies while a Platinum Deb is crowned; Vanessa questions Joey about the chaos of the evening; Tyrell and Jessica slip away for their first time together.

The Bold and the Beautiful: Katie questions her motives behind pursuing Hope, and R.J. and Zende put their differences aside for the sake of the company.

Days of our Lives: Amy mourns Sophia; Gabi makes Liam an offer; Holly and Ari grapple with difficult feelings; and Belle and Chad finally have their dinner date.

General Hospital: Alexis seeks assistance from Ava; Ethan makes a promise to Lulu; Britt makes a big decision; Valentin and Carly clash; and Nina gets a shock.

The Young and the Restless: Victor orders Michael to strike back against a rival; Victoria confronts Nick about his recovery; and Sally worries about Billy’s past catching up with him.

THURSDAY, MAY 21

Beyond the Gates: Ashley and Naomi are shell-shocked; Elon makes demands of Joey; Donnell has some tough questions for Vanessa; and Bill, Kat and Tomas compare notes.

The Bold and the Beautiful: Tensions rise as Hope demands answers from Steffy, and Electra learns a shocking truth.

Days of our Lives: Anna gets frustrated with Tony; Philip shares the truth with Gabi; Xander makes a suggestion to Gwen; and Paulina visits Lexie.

General Hospital: Ethan pays a visit to Tracy; Dante summons “Nathan”; Britt has new reason to worry; and Lulu prepares to make her move.

The Young and the Restless: Victor and Nikki put their differences aside to help Nick; Lily and Holden arrive in New York; and Jack has a change of heart about Patty.

FRIDAY, MAY 22

Beyond the Gates: Anita, Vernon and Ted have to do damage control; Andre and Dani console someone they love; Donnell confronts Joey; and one of the McBrides has a stunning reunion.

The Bold and the Beautiful: Hope’s career at Forrester hangs in the balance, and Will puts his heart on the line.

Days of our Lives: Jack reaches out to Gwen; Gabi confesses; Xander surprises Sarah; and Kayla and Steve reminisce.

General Hospital: Ric and Sonny compare notes; Willow delivers good news; Britt shares intel; Laura’s reaction surprises Lulu; and “Nathan” makes a plea.

The Young and the Restless: Nikki stands her ground; Holden and Claire’s trip takes an unexpected turn; and Jack makes a bad decision.

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