Through the Revolving Door: Soaps’ 2025 Comings and Goings [PHOTOS]

Holy smoke! After eight seasons, 9-1-1 killed off its leading man, sending Captain Bobby Nash to that big firehouse in the sky.

Consider the Chicago Fire stars flamed out. Ahead of the series’ Season 13 finale, the news broke that they would not be returning as first-responders Darren and Sam.

We were sure that Cane was coming back to Young & Restless. But instead, his portrayer took the new role of Professor Henry Dalton on General Hospital.

Ahoy, matey! The Bold & Beautiful alum’s return as Brooke’s old flame Nick was announced in April. Cue half brother Ridge turning green with envy in three, two…

As Season 21 of Grey’s Anatomy neared the finish line, it was announced that the grown-ish leading man had signed on for a hush-hush recurring role… that was likely to become a series-regular gig in Season 22.

“I wish this was an April Fool’s Day joke, but… ” Nope. That month marked the end of the Emmy winner’s latest return as Days of Our Lives’ Ava.

We started tooking forward to spring an extra lot once we found out that the Daytime Emmy winner would be returning to Young & Restless for a guest arc as Amanda.

The soap-hopper landed for the first time on General Hospital in April as Ezra Boyle, the latest sleazy politician to ooze his way into Port Charles.

No one is ever really gone from Grey’s Anatomy. So we were reminded when the Ally McBeal alum reprised his role of Koracick for a March episode.

After nearly a decade playing General Hospital baddie Valentin, the veteran soap star was seemingly written off on March 24 when his character was taken to Steinmauer to serve out a life sentence.

In March, Beyond the Gates announced its first major recast: Johnson was out as Nicole’s husband, Ted, and Robinson was in. No word on whether the character’s ubiquitous turtlenecks were also being replaced.

The Days of Our Lives newcomer certainly made a splash when she joined the show back in November, from Joy’s near-affair with Johnny to getting pregnant with Alex’s child. But it looks like she’s had enough Salem drama, as she left to go back home to Nancy, Chloe and her family in New York.

The actress returned to Days of Our Lives for a brief visit as Theresa in March. But she was gone almost as quickly as she arrived, off to care for her ailing mother in California, as Kimberly’s leukemia had returned.

A March social-media post revealed that the reality-TV mainstay (The Hills, Wife Swap, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here) would soon be paying a visit to The Bold and the Beautiful.

As Days of Our Lives’ Marlena intensified her search for John, she and Steve were set to interrogate Shane in mid-March. The veteran actor, who also played Victor on General Hospital, originated the role of Kimberly’s true love back in 1984.

Grey’s Anatomy’s Jo might not have been amused by Grey Sloan’s baby-faced new OB, but we thought Dr. Marcus was funny.

When Bold & Beautiful needed a little Law & Order, Steffy phoned Deputy Chief Baker… to no avail. The double murderer he was eager to return to prison — oh hey, Luna — turned out to have been paroled.

Why, why, why can’t we keep him? In March, General Hospital brought back Valentin but only for long enough to send daughter Charlotte back to Port Charles.

In March, the news broke that Chad’s portrayer was leaving the Days of Our Lives to join The Young and the Restless. Flynn’s years in Salem “changed my life in the best ways,” he told TV Insider. “Now I’m excited for this opportunity and to test myself in a new way.” No word, at least not at first, as to whom (Aristotle) the actor would be playing (Aristotle) on Young & Restless (Aristotle).

Lois’ mom stopped by General Hospital in March, just as Brook Lynn’s baby drama with Gio, Lulu and Dante all started coming to a head!

The closing credits of General Hospital revealed that the actor had been dropped back to recurring from contract status as TJ (which was where he started when he first took over as Jordan’s son).

General Hospital baddie Cyrus made a fatal mistake when he brought an axe to a gunfight with Josslyn. His shooting marked the end of Kober’s eventful run as Laura’s half brother, a mobster who became a murderous preacher.

When General Hospital lost Jonathan Jackson for a few days in late February, in stepped the Days of Our Lives alum who replaced Chandler Massey as Will before being replaced by Chandler Massey.

“No, really, it’s Sophia.” Tate’s babymama on Days of Our Lives just looked a bit different when Madelyn Kientz’s replacement took over the role.

General Hospital was just moving Brennan and Carly past the point of flirting when Soap Opera Digest reported that his portrayer had opted to leave the show. At least a terrific recast was found.

General Hospital picked to replace Mesure this alum of One Life to Live (Joey as a kid) and Young & Restless (where his Harding never should’ve been turned into a bad guy).

As February sweeps got underway, Young & Restless revealed that Nathan Owens isn’t really playing Nate’s surprise half brother Damian, this veteran of Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots is.

Consider this onetime Lost Boy found: The star of Speed 2 and countless other movies joined the cast of Law & Order: Organized Crime for its fifth season as Detective Tim McKenna.

Young & Restless’ Ian took one last, ahem, shot at revenge before being killed off himself. (Or so Genoa City believes, anyway.) Speaking of gun-toting senior citizens…

After about a gazillion kidnappings and murder plots, Young & Restless’ Crazy Aunt Jordan™ at last paid the piper when she drank a cup of tea laced with sleeping pills.

Don’t let the Woman in White’s angelic wardrobe fool you. The Days of Our Lives character, played in the 1990s by Pat Delany, was more likely to bring out the devil in Rachel. (Read more here.)

On January 7, Bold & Beautiful introduced the secret weapon that Steffy was aiming at Carter and Hope: perfume genius Daphne Rose. (Our take on the character here.)

Even as his debut on The Young and the Restless drew ever nearer — and it became increasingly obviously that he’d be playing Nate’s surprise brother Damian — the soap managed to refrain from confirming the role being assumed by Days of Our Lives’ former Cameron.

That was fast. After playing a Bold & Beautiful arc that was so short, it may have only been an arc-lette, the soap newcomer’s storyline seemed to dry up as Remy’s obsession with Electra was revealed and his place of residence changed to a prison cell.

When Bold & Beautiful unveiled its new opening-credits sequence ahead of the new year, R.J.’s image was no longer among the glamour shots. Guess that explains this plot non-twist.

Apparently, Bold & Beautiful wouldn’t be throwing a Forrester living room wedding for Thomas and Paris: They also vanished from the show’s title sequence.

Four years into the youngster’s run as Kristen and Brady’s daughter Rachel on Days of Our Lives, word came down that she was being recast.

After going on the lam with dad Valentin, General Hospital teen Charlotte was returned to the canvas shortly after mom Lulu awakened from her coma. And then sent back on the lam.

Days of Our Lives’ Sophia would be continuing to stir the pot past February 2025, but her original portrayer would not be continuing in the role of Tate’s pregnant one-night stand.

Emma finally made her return to Port Charles and General Hospital, though she now looks a bit difference as Bruner has taken over the role. You can read about the switch here.

With Bruner joining General Hospital as Anna’s granddaughter, that of course meant that OG portrayer Silzer’s days in the role were done. Read her reaction here.

Cameron came back to General Hospital with new girlfriend Gretchen, but their stay wasn’t long as both needed to get to Key West to spend Christmas with her family!

Friday the 13th really was unlucky for fans of General Hospital sweethearts Dex and Josslyn. Though the rookie cop had been recovering nicely from a stab wound, he wound up going into cardiac arrest and dying. (Read what Hofer says about his exit here.)

On November 23, 2024, the General Hospital Emmy winner announced that he was leaving his role of Michael after 14 years. But “this isn’t a goodbye,” he hastened to add, “it’s a ‘See you later.’”

For November sweeps, Young & Restless ordered double trouble by bringing back not only Crazy Aunt Jordan but the nefarious Ian Ward.

General Hospital finally gave Robert and Holly a happy ending… which was said to be more of a happy middle since they were expected to return to Port Charles in the new year.

After more than a decade playing Young & Restless‘ Abby, the actress was taken off contract. But “I hope I’m still there all the time,” she said.

No sooner had Bold & Beautiful introduced Electra than it revealed that it had also cast Remy, her… stalker?!?

At the Day of Days of Our Lives event, O’Brien revealed that not only was she returning as Theresa, the role she inherited from Jen Lilley, but also as Gwen.

In November, the sitcom vet — he stole the show as American Housewife’s sweet but simple Tripp — made his debut as Days of Our Lives’ new Doug. That is, the OG Doug’s grandson.

Just in time for February sweeps, the actress was set to return to Bold & Beautiful as Luna, who seemed golly! Just as sweet as could be until she started running around murdering people, framing Mommy and kissing her “faux-ther.”

Young & Restless viewers looked like they’d seen a ghost while watching the Halloween 2024 episode — because they had. Heather turned up to haunt her killer, Sharon.

General Hospital fans wept bitter tears on October 30 when, after 20+ years of cheating death, Sam used up the last of her nine lives.

Good idea! We did need a drink when we found out that the insta-fave had wrapped her run as Xander’s mother Fiona on Days of Our Lives. Can we order another round… of her?

Turned out, Steven Lars’ former portrayer only returned to General Hospital for long enough to usher his mom — “cured” Hook Killer Heather — off the canvas.

In late October, Soaps.com broke the news that Stefan (and previously Jake’s) portrayer would be leaving Days of Our Lives before Halloween. “Of course, the ego is like, ‘Oh, OK, that hurt,’” he admitted. “But I walked out of the [boss]] office equal parts shocked and excited about what was around the corner.”

In late October, the One Life to Live alum returned to Days of Our Lives as Philip — and not just for a visit, either. Victor’s son is “back for the empire,” said his portrayer. (Read Soaps.com’s exclusive interview.)

It was neither a trick nor a treat when, just before Halloween, General Hospital shipped off Violet to live with dad Finn in Seattle.

Things were looking up for General Hospital heroine Trina in October: That was when the soap revealed that it had cast this handsome Gossip Girl alum as Kai… a potential new love interest.

The occasion of Young & Restless’ “Dabby” wedding was set to bring back to Genoa City the groom’s sister Ana and mom Harmony.

Grey’s Anatomy paged the Chicago P.D. alum to play Dr. Cass Beckman in November 2024… but, curiously, the trauma surgeon doesn’t work at Grey Sloan, her husband does.

With General Hospital threatening to turn Steve’s maniacal mom Heather loose, it only made sense for Liz’s brother to put in an appearance — especially since he was finally out of prison himself!

In October, Nancy’s longtime portrayer returned to Days of Our Lives to introduce the newcomer playing her and Craig’s younger daughter, Joy.

Jennifer had a tough time accepting that Abigail was back on Days of Our Lives, but JJ not only bought it, he officiated the latest “Chabby” wedding!

Lucas returned to General Hospital in October, but this time around, he’s being played by As the World Turns alum Hansis instead of Ryan Carnes.

Jack and Jennifer were set to return to Days of Our Lives in June 2025, with Reeves continuing in the role once again after her November comeback to say farewell to Doug and Bill Hayes.

Shane was one of many returns slated for Days of Our Lives in the summer of 2025. And let’s hope this time around goes better than the last! After all, his handing Victor’s will over to Theresa led to the whole Alex heir scheme and gave Konstantin an opening to worm his way into everyone’s lives.

First Sami, now sister Carrie. In June 2025, Clark was set to pay her first visit to Days of Our Lives since she ended her last stint in 2019 — outside of her 2021 Beyond Salem run, that is!

Will is one of a slew of characters returning to Days of Our Lives this summer, which, of course, coincides with the show’s 60th anniversary. There’s no word, though, if Sonny or Ari will be coming back with him!

Once we learned that Bo and Hope would be heading back to Days of Our Lives — hopefully giving us the reunion we’ve been dreaming of — we were fairly sure Ciara would be back with her parents as well. And it turns out, we were right! Konefal is one of many returns to the Peacock sudser this June.

Tony and Anna are set to make their Days of Our Lives returns in June of 2025, which is a huge relief to fans who thought Penghlis was done with daytime!

The One Life to Live alum (as doc Sheila) was chosen by Young & Restless to pick up the role of Amy where Stephanie E. Williams left off in the 1980s.

Connie’s been caught, her reign of terror ended and her would-be victims saved. Next stop? Bayview! And that means it’s time to say goodbye to Julie Dove.

Pucker up, Liam! As of the fall of 2024, the Australian-born beauty was making tracks back to Bold & Beautiful as Ivy, an old flame who still has beyond-warm feelings for her ex.

The daytime newcomer nabbed the plum part of Ivy’s niece Electra on Bold & Beautiful.

Ahead of Monaco’s exit-exit from General Hospital, her frequent fill-in as Sam was once again tapped to step in for a few episodes in the middle of September.

Port Charles was set to get a whole lost more mischievous in the fall with the return of the Emmy winner’s shady Martin to General Hospital.

He’s smiling here, but when the Grey’s Anatomy vet reprised his role of Jackson in Season 21, he was sure to wear the kind of scowl that befits a doctor trying to mend the relationship between his temperamental mother and her star surgeon.

She’s moved out of the Little House On the Prairie: In Season 12 of When Calls the Heart, the primetime legend was set to appear in two episodes as Georgie McGill, “who shares a surprising past with one special Hope Valley resident,” according to the Hallmark Channel.

Apparently, there’s no such thing as a last dance for Days of Our Lives’ Hope and Bo. Their portrayers were set to return to Salem in 2025.

Though daytime is awash in killers, Bold & Beautiful appeared to be going to give the actress a time-out as double murderess Luna after her crime spree was revealed in September. The soap even put out a casting call for a sorta replacement.

From robbers to cops: As summer gave way to fall, the Animal Kingdom vet signed up to recur on Season 12 of Chicago P.D. as Deputy Chief Charlie Reid.

The doctor is in… jured. No sooner had the Star Trek: Discovery captain joined General Hospital as Isaiah than his character was struck by a car. Or was that the welcome wagon?

After over 20 years with General Hospital, it’s been reported that Kelly Monaco will be leaving and Sam is about to be killed off.

The Lost star is found: He was tapped to star opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone spinoff with Suits’ Patrick J. Adams and Firefly Lane’s Beau Garrett.

On August 19, General Hospital surprised us in the best way by returning the scene stealer to the canvas after way too long off screen as mischievous Brad.

After 17 years away from Grey’s Anatomy, the actress booked a return arc for Season 21 as perky Dr. Sydney Heron.

For all practical purposes, General Hospital snuffed out Blaze when Kristina’s grief over losing Molly and TJ’s baby — got all that? — prompted her to push away her distraught girlfriend.

Formerly TV’s Walker, the erstwhile Gilmore Guy signed on to Fire Country Season 3 to play Camden, a SoCal firefighter with, NBC says, “surfer swagger.” Know what else he has? A 99-percent chance of being spun off into his own series.

After months of speculation that the movie icon and onetime Catwoman would be starring in Yellowstone spinoff 2024, she was confirmed in August to be playing the lead in the sequel, now titled The Madison.

The alum of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist booked a Season 21 Grey’s Anatomy gig as James, the hospital’s new gay chaplain. Wait… had we ever met the old gay chaplain?

Maybe he was gonna have to — wait for it — Tracker. Get it? Track ’er? Anyway, Weigert wouldn’t be back for Season 2 as Colter’s handler, Teddi.

After four years and two roles (Gwen and then Theresa), the Days of Our Lives MVP bid Salem adieu… at least for now. “I was in tears, and I faced everybody on stage and looked at the cameras,” she said of leaving. “Then I just told everyone how incredibly lucky I am.

Lights… camera… Taylor? Bold & Beautiful made jaws drop on August 6, 2024, when it revealed that the General Hospital alum had been tapped to replace Krista Allen, who had replaced Hunter Tylo.

Despite her hectic schedule as a Hallmark star, the Days of Our Lives vet managed to make time to reprise her role of Sami in episodes that would air… OMG, do we have to wait that long? In 2025!

Berris has said goodbye to Days of Our Lives yet again as his split personality character Everett/Bobby was killed by Connie with a drug overdose.

The actress, who got her start on All My Children, is set to recur on Fire Country‘s third season as Audrey, a former fire camp inmate.

Chicago Fire has cast the Private Practice vet in a recurring role in the upcoming 13th season, as Monica Pascal, the estranged wife of Chief Dom Pascal.

The Warrior Nun alum is joining Chicago P.D. for its 12th season as Kiana Cook, a patrol officer who loves her job’s adrenaline rush and high stakes.

Nicole and Eric finally got their happy ending on Days of Our Lives when the two left Salem for a new life in Paris with their son Jude. But we have been told that we will see Eric again!

After eight years away from General Hospital, the Emmy winner booked a late-summer return engagement as Molly’s dad, Ric.

Sonny returned to Days of Our Lives to welcome big brother Alex back into the family.

Paul and Andrew dropped by Salem just in time to witness Theresa’s wedding disaster on Days of Our Lives. At least they’re still happily together!

Law & Order tapped the E.R. and The Affair vet to replace Camryn Manheim in Season 24.

Entrances don’t get much grander than the one that the English actress made as she debuted on Days of Our Lives as Xander’s oft-mentioned mother, double-wedding crasher Fiona.

Though General Hospital had Anna bust Valentin in July 2024 for his involvement in Pikeman, she still let her ex-lover escape with daughter Charlotte, lest they be torn apart again.

No need to look so glum. The General Hospital junior achiever was only said to be off the canvas as Jake while the character went to art school in Spain.

As Luke Kleintank left FBI: International ahead of Season 4, the Chicago P.D. fave was revealed to be coming aboard, essentially as his replacement.

Why, that’s the worst possible way a waiter can be stiffed! In mid-July, Bold & Beautiful killed off Il Giardino’s sexy server.

He’s outta there. In late June, it was confirmed that the Chicago Med vet would not be scrubbing back in for Season 10 as trauma surgeon Crockett Marcel.

The harebrained scheme that Days of Our Lives’ Tate cooked up to make time with Holly meant that his scene-stealing pal Aaron would be leaving the canvas — hopefully just for the summer.

In late June of 2024, the soap-hopper, who’d played several roles on General Hospital over the course of a decade, announced that he had taped his final scenes on the daytime drama.

Nearly 10 years after his last visit to General Hospital, the five-time Emmy winner booked a long-term return engagment as Liz’s first love Lucky that was set to start in the summer of 2024.

Six years after General Hospital had Ava’s ill-fated lover Morgan haunt her, the two-time Emmy winner was set to reprise his role of Carly and Sonny’s son in August — but, alas, only for a single August episode, our sister site TVLine reported.

The soap vet shared the news on X in June that his time as The Young and the Restless’ Tucker had come to an end. “I thank each and every member of the wonderful cast, the crew, the directors, the producers and production staff,” he said, “for the great experience from day one to the last.”

The actress — who is, indeed, the daughter of Jim Belushi — guested on The Bold and the Beautiful as lab technician April. What’s more, she was set to be embroiled in a summer mystery on the show!

The 90210 grad debuted on Days of Our Lives in June as the mysterious woman who may or may not be an amnesiac Abigail… with a healthy dose of plastic surgery thrown in to confuse the matter even more!

Jack’s portrayer made his return to Days of Our Lives just in time for the character to complicate the search for his presumed-dead daughter, Abigail.

Bill and Katie’s son is getting the SORAS treatment on The Bold and the Beautiful as Morrow is set to take over the role. And if you’re thinking he looks familiar, you’d be right: The newbie is the son of The Young and the Restless’ Joshua Morrow (Nick)!

Fly the funny skies? That was what Bold & Beautiful had in mind when it booked the Roseanne vet — both on and off screen — to play Deuce Stevens, the captain jetting the Forresters back to Monte Carlo in the summer of 2024.

All bad guys must come to an end — and in mid-June 2024, Days of Our Lives‘ villainous Konstantin was sent back from whence he came: hell.

Days of Our Lives‘ wardrobe department must have started stocking up on towels when the news broke that J.J.’s portrayer was winging his way back to Salem.

Consider that first impression made. In mid-June, Days of Our Lives introduced the newbie as Dr. Mark Greene, Aaron and Felicity’s big brother.

Any job that’s gotta be done for Young & Restless’ Tucker is a dirty one indeed. But the newcomer who plays his assistant appeared to be up to the challenge when she made her debut as Anna in June.

With (almost) all her lies blown to pieces and a manhunt on the way, it looks like Sloan may spend the rest of her life on the run, bringin Serfaty’s Days of Our Lives run to an end.

After a year away following Cameron’s reign of terror, Caster is finally bringing Faith home to The Young and the Restless.

Oh, to have the metabolism that could burn off donuts like Days of Our Lives’ Tate and new pal Aaron Greene, who showed up on the scene just in time for summer 2024.

Welp, at least he got to attend son Chase’s wedding on General Hospital. But no sooner had the bouquet been tossed than the Chase brothers’ dad passed away in his sleep, bringing to an end the primetime mainstay’s four-year run in the role.

Yes, yes, we know we “inned” him weeks ago as Young & Restless’ Alan. But this time we’re “inning” him as the shrink’s twin brother, Martin.

In the middle of May, Days of Our Lives revealed that the daytime newcomer, who has Down syndrome, had been cast as Sweet Bits regular Felicity.

Dang it. A bright light since joining Grey’s Anatomy in Season 19, Mika’s portrayer would only be coming back for Season 21 to give Yasuda a proper sendoff.

As Grey’s Anatomy neared the end of Season 20, the news broke that Schmitt’s portrayer would only be returning for Season 21 for long enough to wrap up his character’s storyline.

As May sweeps got underway, the primetime mainstay announced that her third season as Lt. Kate Dixon on Law & Order would be her last. Luckily, the procedural was likely to be around for centuries to come, so if the alum of The Practice ever changed her mind…

“I’m leaving the soap world,” the Days of Our Lives veteran told Soap Opera News in May 2024. “There are changes happening that I can’t discuss right now. It feels like it’s coming from somewhere else, maybe with a different writer. When people start taking you for granted, you change.” Later, the actor, who touched down in Salem in 1981 as Tony (and then lookalike Andre), tweeted that “nothing is final.” So was he done-done or just done? Tune in tomorrow.

Though General Hospital didn’t seem to immediately inform Gio of the undress code at the Metro Court pool, Brook Lynn’s cousin was going to be sticking around to make a splash over the summer of 2024.

After 12 seasons as Chicago Fire’s Deputy District Chief Wallace Boden, the OG exited the NBC drama as a series regular — but at least he was expected to continue on in a recurring capacity.

May 2, 2024, was a weird day for kids on General Hospital. Not only did this newcomer step in as a temporary replacement for Lily Fisher as Georgie, but another youngster was recast — permanently.

We really liked Enzo De Angelis (left) as Liz’s son Aiden on General Hospital. But he was swapped out for another actor in early May nonetheless.

In early May, it was announced that the daytime legend would be appearing on General Hospital as Neil’s attorney brother, Fergus, who was instrumental in getting Alexis disbarred. In other words, we’d be getting a rematch of Santa Barbara supercouple Mason and Julia (whom Davies and Nancy Lee Grahn played in the 1980s)!

May 1 marked the first Days of Our Lives appearance by this primetime vet, who’d been cast as EJ’s no-nonsense assistant, Rita.

Though the General Hospital Emmy winner was supposed to return as Spencer once he was done filming Season 2 of Ryan Murphy’s Monster, our sister site TVLine reported in April that nope, the actor was gone for good.

We’d have to wait until Heartstopper Season 3 dropped in October to see the Bridgerton heartthrob in action, but in April, it was announced that he’d joined the cast of the LGBTQ+ romantic dramedy as Charlie’s celebrity crush. Also new to the Emmy-winning series would be Agent Carter’s Hayley Atwell as Nick’s aunt and Ray Donovan’s Eddie Marsan as Charlie’s therapist.

For a while there, we were worried that the actress wasn’t going to be returning to Days of Our Lives for its farewell to Hope’s father, Doug (and his late portrayer, Bill Hayes). Thankfully, it turned out that our fears were unwarranted.

Three weeks after Sam Waterston’s Law & Order exit, the Scandal POTUS stepped in as new D.A. Nicholas Baxter.

No way would the matriarch of the Cerullo family let granddaughter Brook Lynn tie the knot without booking a return trip to Port Charles. This time, General Hospital scene stealer Gloria was even bringing husband Carmine (with George Russo stepping in for John Capudice).

The Young & Restless alum — he was Noah for a hot minute — planned to leave FBI: International and his role of Supervisory Special Agent Scott Forrester at the end of the CBS drama’s Season 3.

Right after Kleintank’s exit, this Chicago Med vet was set to make his entrance in the last two episodes of FBI: International. Could a Season 4 regular gig be far behind?

Turns out there’s an upside to a nervous breakdown, at least in the case of Young & Restless’ Ashley. The show snagged the scene stealer who played One Life to Live’s Cain to recur as her shrink, Alan Laurent.

The NCIS: Los Angeles vet, who played Special Agent Kensi Blye for all 14 seasons of the NCIS spinoff, signed up to reprise her role in the 1,000th episode of the mothership.

There were probably better times to start recurring on Station 19 than during its final season, but we were still glad to see the familiar face (from Queer as Folk and Hacks) in action as first-responder-for-hire Dominic. Here, his patient seems to be saying, and we don’t blame her, “Oh my God, have you seen how well that uniform fits him?!?”

The OG Days of Our Lives cast member, who played unlucky-in-love ex-nun Marie, was among the alumni set to return for the soap’s farewell to the late Bill Hayes and his character, Doug.

Also headed back to Days of Our Lives for the show’s tribute to Hayes was this fan favorite, who played Doug’s granddaughter, Ciara.

Days of Our Lives’ Eli and Lani booked a flight back to Salem so that they could be there to support his grandmother Julie in her hour of need.

No way could Days of Our Lives say goodbye to Doug without bringing home Belle and Shawn for the occasion.

On April 10, 2024, Days of Our Lives announced that “we’re seeing some newcomers in Salem” and shared a photo of two them. One was this alum of Apple TV+’s Nova Vita with Marci Miller (ex-Abigail). Who was Jimenez playing, though? The show wouldn’t say, although it seemed likely that she was going to be Camila Banus’ successor as Gabi. In the picture with Jimenez was another fresh face…

This new arrival on Days of Our Lives previously appeared on such series as The Haves and the Have Nots and The Dead Girls Detective Agency. He was also one of the few good things about The Walking Dead: World Beyond. (He’s wearing his soldier-boy garb from that show above). The identity of his new character was also kept secret. Gabi’s brother, Dario, maybe? A re-recast Sonny?

Days of Our Lives revealed that it was bringing this vet back to play the role she originated, Jennifer, for a Thanksgiving celebration and to join in the memorial for the late Bill Hayes’ character, Doug.

Needless to say, if Days of Our Lives’ Jennifer was coming back, on-again/off-again husband Jack would be, too.

9-1-1 tapped the Cosby Show vet for a four-episode arc as Amir, a hospital burn unit nurse with ties to Bobby’s past.

Or should we simply say “Not going after all”? Rumors of Bold & Beautiful baddie Sheila’s death were, as usual, exaggerated. Since that wasn’t her on the slab — the 10th toe was the giveaway for fiancé Deacon — it was only a matter of time before her portrayer was back in action.

During an April visit to The Locher Room podcast, Days of Our Lives star Deidre Hall (Marlena) revealed that after nearly 40 years away, Loring was returning to the soap as Liz Chandler.

General Hospital tapped the daytime newbie to sling hash as Hunter, the new manager of Port Charles hot spot Bobbie’s.

Don’t let the scrubs fool ya. The “Dr. Millin” that this head turner introduced on Grey’s Anatomy in April hadn’t been to medical school; he was just Jules’ social-media influencer brother.

Midway through the final season of The Good Doctor, ABC’s medical drama jabbed a scalpel into our hearts by brutally murdering the fan favorite’s Asher Wolke. And just as his boyfriend was waiting to propose, too!

On her very first day as Nina’s assistant Madison on General Hospital, the Port Charles newcomer wore the pained expression for which we expected her to have a whole lotta use — especially if Drew was going to keep bypassing her desk to march straight into the Crimson editor’s office.

A recurring player on General Hospital since 2023, Cross made his first appearance as Detective Bennet in months in April 2024 so that the police academy instructor could question the wisdom of Anna inviting Mob flunky Dex to start playing for the cops’ team instead of the robbers’. Maybe next Bennet will get a first name?

With six, you get… going? Apparently so. After appearing in just a half-dozen Season 12 episodes of Chicago Fire, the Bold & Beautiful, Grey’s Anatomy and Haves and the Have Nots alum was written off as Derrick Gibson.

This was no April Fool’s Day prank: As March passed the baton to the month after it, the recognizable character actor — a fave from The People Under the Stairs — booked a return engagement as possibly the only nerd ever to walk among The Bold and the Beautiful: Carl the Hospital Janitor.

The soap legend — Another World playboy Cass Winthrop from 1982-99 — revealed during a Locher Room visit that he was set to return to Days of Our Lives briefly after more than four decades as Julie’s brother, Steve.

In the spring of 2024, Days of Our Lives revealed that the insta-fave had decided to trade his role of Tate for the honor roll to focus on his college studies. At once, a called was placed to bring…

The Legacies vet, a skilled martial artist, was ready and willing to kick butt as Days of Our Lives’ new Tate.

No way could Bold & Beautiful hold a funeral for the demented Sheila Carter without her longtime Young & Restless victim Lauren Fenmore showing up to dance on the psycho’s grave.

Heartstopper fans were gutted to learn ahead of Season 3 of the Netflix coming-of-age dramedy that scheduling conflicts had prevented the Emmy winner from reprising her role of Nick’s mum, Sarah. But, said series creator Alice Oseman, “If we get a Season 4, I would love for Olivia to be a part of it again!”

We doubted — or at least hoped against hope — that it wasn’t au revoir for good when Bold & Beautiful shipped off Douglas and dad Thomas to Paris in late March 2024. But after the latter’s deeply disturbing breakup with Hope, we could understand why maybe the character was due for a French twist.

Before Station 19 shut its doors forever, in through them once more walked this Young & Restless alum as Emmett, the ex of Travis’ who was destined to blow up his new relationship with Eli.

We could only hope that Bold & Beautiful was going to be perking up Liam’s love life when it was revealed that the Aussie actress would be returning as his former romantic interest, Ivy.

Young & Restless announced in March that the towhead, who’s been playing Kyle’s son Harrison since his debut in May of 2021, would be recast come April.

Aaand this is the moppet (left) that Young & Restless picked to succeed Enriquez (right) as Jack’s grandson.

Before The Good Doctor finished making rounds, original cast member Antonia Thomas set a return engagement as Dr. Claire Browne. She’d even be around for the series’ send-off.

Also scrubbing back in to The Good Doctor was the Season 6 regular who played Danny Perez.

The former child star of Gentle Ben was tapped by Bold & Beautiful to play a homeless man who holds the key to an ongoing mystery. Maybe he’ll reveal how in all these years Forrester Creations has never had a gay designer!

Days of Our Lives finally brought back “Elani” — but only long enough for the couple to rest assured that her mom Paulina was going to be OK.

Lily returned to Young & Restless on March 13, 2024. And thanks to boyfriend Daniel’s hookup with his ex, the fireworks were cued up, um, a nanosecond later.

In March, Days of Our Lives temporarily had the actress step in for Jessica Serfaty as Sloan. Gotta say, as recasts go, this one was a home run!

Bold & Beautiful let us see Sheila stop breathing after being stabbed during a murder attempt on daughter-in-law Steffy. But was the hellcat really out of lives? TBD.

It was last call for Young & Restless’ Seth when he raised a glass to Jordan’s charade. Busted, she gave him a fatal nudge into oncoming traffic.

General Hospital didn’t even bring on the soap vet who originated the role of Olivia Jerome back in the 1980s to kill off her demented character. (For the second time.) She was just said to have been rubbed out during a February-sweeps prison transport.

“The time has come for me to move on and take Jack McCoy with me,” the Law & Order mainstay said in February. “There’s sadness in leaving, but I’m just too curious about what’s next. An actor doesn’t want to let himself get too comfortable. I’m more grateful to you than I can say.” And vice versa, buddy.

Smith and Chyz are tackling two iconic roles on Days of Our Lives as they’ve been tapped to play a young Alice and Tom Horton in flashbacks following the family’s longtime home burning down during February sweeps.

Less than a month after the actresses took off from Days of Our Lives so that Nicole could get daughter Holly into rehab, they were back. But, given what was going on behind the scenes, how long Zucker would be sticking around remained a big question mark.

The doctor is in… sorta! It was our sister site TVLine that first reported General Hospital had invited former All My Children M.D. Maria Santos to scrub in — but not as her old character, a new one: Blaze’s homophobic mother, Natalia.

After six seasons away from Grey’s Anatomy, Arizona’s portrayer was set to scrub back in, ABC announced in February. The guest star wasn’t coming back alone, either.

The Morning Show and Dead to Me vet would be joining Capshaw on Grey’s Anatomy in Season 20 as a fellow pediatric surgeon whose good intentions don’t always yield the best reactions.

In February of 2024, TMZ reported that the Days of Our Lives vet had, in effect, been dismissed as Nicole months after she spoke out about allegations of misconduct on the part of since-axed EP Albert Alarr. In response to her ouster, Zucker filed a lawsuit against the show for sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, negligent hiring and supervision, and wrongful termination.

Days of Our Lives’ Officer Goldman has been slowly moving from background to foreground as we get into the new year, but is she a trusted cop or duplicitous mole? The jury’s still out, but we always welcome an addition to the Salem PD!

Jagger is back on General Hospital after nearly 30 years, but this time, he’s played by a brand new face, has moved from cop to FBI agent and prefers to go by his actual name: John!

Just when Trina was going to need old pal Cameron the most, General Hospital revealed that it was bringing him home to Port Charles. Sadly, not to stay.

It’s hard to imagine Law & Order without Jack McCoy. But after the February 22 episode of the long-running procedural, we wouldn’t have to: It would be the last for the veteran actor, who joined the show back in Season 5. And taking his place?

Dun-dunn! No less than Scandal’s former POTUS was tapped to be Law & Order’s new D.A.

To accommodate the actor’s temporary absence, General Hospital had Spencer plunge to a watery “grave” as part of Esme’s cockamamie plan to get baby Ace back.

Esme’s plot worked out even worse for her than it did Spencer: Her portrayer was supposedly not going to be making another splash on General Hospital following the vixen’s death.

In February, Young & Restless’ Chelsea and Adam got a slightly late Christmas present — or a very early one for 2024? In any case, son Connor returned to Genoa City. (Ornaments not included.)

The son of General Hospital star Maurice Benard (Sonny) wrapped his return engagement as Josslyn’s troubled classmate Adam in early February.

After General Hospital — technically, Spencer — let Nikolas run off with baby Ace, Esme was so beside herself that she turned to Mommie Dearest Heather.

We couldn’t help but hope that Young & Restless planned to put Devon and Abby’s relationship to the test when the Emmy winner teased her return as Amanda. And no, that can’t be the same couch on which she caught them cheating, can it?

According to TV industry newsletter Puck, Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan has written the back half of the Paramount Network hit’s fifth and final season without John Dutton in it.

After taking some time off in the wake of her mother’s passing, the Emmy winner who plays Josslyn on General Hospital was set to return to work in February 2024. Needless to say, that meant that…

The sub that General Hospital brought in during Eden McCoy’s absence had wrapped her stint in Port Charles.

Color us surprised when Days of Our Lives sent Nicole off to Italy with her daughter in January — at least for now! Nicole’s got a lot of unfinished business in Salem.

Holly barely got to play with the big kids on Days of Our Lives before a drug overdose put her in a coma. And in January, she was packed off to Italy for miracle treatment to wake her up.

Kids — they grow up so fast and move on so quickly! It seems like only yesterday that Days of Our Lives SORAS’d Tate — technically, it was October 2023 — and in January, the character was shipped off to rehab. At least for the moment.

The alum of American Auto was tapped to turn up the heat in Fire Country Season 2 as Bode’s cellmate, Cole.

If you blinked, you might’ve missed him. Turned out, General Hospital had only brought Nikolas back for long enough to convince son Spencer to let him take baby Ace and run.

Only three months after announcing that he was done at Bold & Beautiful as Wyatt, the Emmy winner was booked for a brief return.

In mid-January, the Criminal Minds: Evolution actor announced on X that “sadly, my days of playing Will LaMontagne Jr. are over.”

Just in time for The Good Doctor to hang up its scrubs, the actor who plays Dr. Jared Kalu was promoted to series-regular status.

On second thought, make that “Out?” After pulling off what may have been the surprise of the decade by showing up out of nowhere as crazy Aunt Jordan on Young & Restless, the As the World Turns legend appeared to wrap her run when the villainess was carted off to jail. But as her nefarious character would point out, appearances can be very deceiving.

The Right Stuff vet nabbed the plum part of Stabler’s kid brother Joe Jr. in Season 4 of Law & Order: Organized Crime.

What? We can’t keep him? Apparently not. No sooner had General Hospital aired Bobbie’s memorial service than Lucas’ portrayer ended his return engagement.

Is it hot in here, or is it just that the Chicago Fire favorite returned as Kelly Severide in Season 12 after a sudden departure the previous season?

The General Hospital alum, who’d played Bobbie and Tony’s ill-fated daughter B.J. from 1986-94, returned in angelic form to interact with Mom’s loved ones at her funeral.

Only days after giving birth to her and fiance Brock Powell’s son Bridger, the Young & Restless Emmy winner was back at work as Mariah.

Good news for fans of Grey’s Anatomy’s “Schmico.” As production got underway on Season 20 of the ABC drama, the network revealed that Nico’s former portrayer was scrubbing back in.

MIA from Days of Our Lives since October 2023, the scene stealer brought Kristen roaring back in January — and no, not just to appreciate the finer points of Brady’s sexy stubble.

General Hospital couldn’t bid adieu to Bobbie without bringing back Felix to say goodbye to the fellow nurse with whom he brought down the house in 2018.

After being spelled by Hope & Faith alum Nicole Paggi, Maxie’s usual portrayer reported back to work at General Hospital.

Only a day after the actor announced that he was out at Days of Our Lives, he announced that he was headed back to General Hospital to raise Jason from the grave. Again!

The Emmy winner revealed shortly after New Year that he had taped his last episodes as Harris on Days of Our Lives — and just as General Hospital seemed to be crafting itself a new Jason, too.

In early January, the General Hospital fan favorite was again temporarily replaced by soap-hopper Lindsay Hartley, late of Passions, All My Children and Days of Our Lives.

Only a day later, Sam’s usual portrayer was back on screen on General Hospital.

We had known for a while that General Hospital had greatly exaggerated rumors of Nikolas’ death. But we were still caught as off guard as Ava when her ex made a surprise appearance at her art gallery.

As 2023 was about to exit stage left, the news broke that The Young and the Restless had cast Brian Gaskill as Seth, whose acquaintance recovering alcoholic Nikki makes at an AA meeting. The soap vet was previously Bobby on All My Children, Rafe on Port Charles, Ozzy on Bold & Beautiful and Dylan on Guiding Light.

General Hospital announced in late 2023 that it was bringing the actor back as Lucas for the saddest of occasions: its farewell to Bobbie Spencer, the iconic character played by the late Jacklyn Zeman. Carnes was but one of many recasts of Bobbie’s adopted son but held the role the longest and played, arguably, the doctor’s most memorable storylines.

Better late than never, it looked like Bold & Beautiful might provide #JusticeForEmma. Xander returned to the canvas full of accusations that Thomas was responsible for his ex-girlfriend’s murder. As luck would have it — good for Xander, bad for Thomas — Finn was only too happy to listen.

Given how far ahead Days of Our Lives tapes, it would be months after the 90210 alum’s casting was announced that she’d finally make her debut on Peacock’s soap. But the description of her character certainly had us looking forward to it. Marin was said to be “the desire of many, but her heart belongs to only one man who continues to push her away for her own good.”

As intel about Season 3 of Netflix’s LGBTQ+ romance Heartstopper began to leak, creator Alice Oseman spilled the beans that this charismatic newcomer had been cast as Michael, Tori’s love interest from her first novel, Solitaire.

A Chicago Fire regular since Season 3, the actress’ departure during Season 12 was disclosed in November of 2023. Perhaps to give the show time to write a happy ending for “Brettsey”?

Though the Grey’s Anatomy OG’s days as a series regular were behind her, she was set to make two appearances as Meredith in Season 20 of the long-running ABC drama.

We didn’t even realize that she had left until poof… she was gone. In fact, by the time the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, the Days of Our Lives vet who succeeded Hunter Tylo as Taylor on The Bold and the Beautiful had taped her final episode, aired for the last time and moved from Los Angeles to Atlanta. Could one of these actresses be the show’s next Taylor?

All the way back in October of 2023, our sister site Variety broke the news that Upton would be hanging up her badge following Season 11 of Chicago P.D.