Photo Credit; Steven Bergman

On-Air On-Soaps recently caught up with General Hospital’s Chad Duell (Michael) and Andrea Bogart (Abby) to discuss the intriguing romance between two of Port Charles’ most emotionally damaged, but loveable residents. As many know, Michael Corinthos has recovered from a bullet to the head that put him in a coma for over a year, but then was sent away to prison for the murder of Claudia Zacchara, only to wind up being raped during his time in Pentonville! Abby, the stripper with the heart of gold is trying to better herself, and get out of the life she leads, which usually ends up having her on the receiving end of abusive men!

Drawn together through their deep understanding of each other’s complexities and pain, and underlying goodness, Michael and Abby look to have a viable romance! But will it be tested? Of course, this is soap opera!  We can tell you to look for some possible game-changing moments the week of August 22nd on GH!  Will Michael and Abby’s love endure no matter what forces may try to come between them? We hope so! Here’s what Chad and Andrea had to say about it all!

What can we look forward to in early fall between Abby and Michael? We know conflict might be a-brewing! Isn’t that what makes for an interesting on-screen dynamic?

ANDREA: They are really playing up the age difference between us and it’s a constant struggle because of where we are in our lives. I honestly think it’s always a big surprise with us, and I don’t know what to expect. I know we just continue to find those great moments that we have together and hope the viewers will see that and continue to love it and maybe we will stay together, but I don’t know!

Courtesy/ABC

Do you think there is going to be a spoiler in the relationship? I do! Like another man for Abby? That would crush Michael!

ANDREA: Yeah, at some point I think so too, but it may not be another man for Abby.  Maybe it will be another woman… a younger woman for Michael!

Hey Chad, how many women would you like to have fawning over Michael on the show?

CHAD: Give or take…nine or ten! (Laughs)

But Chad, you work with the sexiest girl on the show in Andrea!

CHAD: Yeah, and she works with the sexiest guy on the show! (Laughs)

ANDREA: Let’s remind everyone that every time we have a make-out scene, this one never fails to get in, “You’re Welcome”.  And, I have never thanked him for the make-out scenes! (Laugh)

You say to Andrea, “You’re welcome?”  This is good to know. (Laughs)

CHAD: I am not serious with it, well, not fully serious. Yes, I often give her a “You’re welcome” after our kissing session. (Laughs)

Do you think Abby and Michael are truly in love? Or, are they just drawn together from the terrible tragedies that they have endured in their lives?

Courtesy/ABC

CHAD: Yeah, they both have a common ground with each other.  Michael went through something really awful and she has been through abusive stuff. So it’s obvious that they have a connection from that standpoint. But on top of that, he does above all else love Abby. They do have that special deep connection that not many people have.

ANDREA: And, I think the things that hold Abby back are her guarded ways of being a little bit older and having some more years under her belt than Michael. It is really her insecurities that keep Abby from letting herself go 100% with Michael. But I think that she is definitely there and wants it, but she is trying to keep a realistic perspective on it as well.

We are worried about Michael.  Michael has everything in life happen to him that is so horrific, and that is why I think because Chad is so great to watch in these emotional situations, that maybe he will lose the girl and just be so devastated.

CHAD: Maybe Abby will die in a car-crash or something!

So you want your gal killed off the show? (Laughs)

CHAD: To have a “to lose the girl scenario” though would be a dramatic thing for Michael.  It is nice to play if it makes sense… to do heavy emotional stuff, and it is fun to do, if it is well-written.  I hope there is nothing really bad that comes between Abby and Michael, because I like our relationship. But again, you never know with a new head writer, new stuff can happen.

Speaking of the new GH head writer, Garin Wolf did the two of you immediately notice a different in the scripts once you started taping his episodes?

CHAD: Yes, a lot of dialogue, next question. (Laughs) It is very well-written, but with a lot of dialogue. When we came back from our recent break we had a whole 46 page day which is the most we ever had, times two. It was tough, but it was well-written and flowed really well. And, I am not saying it did not flow well before, but you know what I am saying.

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

ANDREA: It was a tough day, but Chad and I got their early and really wanted to get re-acclimated on our first day back.

CHAD: Yes, and that is what we have to do with the new writing, we have to get to the set early and prepare it and that is a good thing.

Are people more on their toes now at the set of GH?

CHAD: Yeah, I think so because time is a little tight. So we have to make sure we get to the studio on time and if the dialog is long, you got to make sure you have it down pat.

Michael working at ELQ just seems to be something he may be doing to try and stay on the straight and narrow, and help his gal.  But something tells me, he is longing for the mob!

CHAD: Right now he is working at ELQ and one main reason he is there is for Abby. So for Michael it is about trying to have a respectable job there and that Abby wants to be a paralegal!

A pole stripping paralegal?

CHAD: Yeah, a pole stripping paralegal!

ANDREA: I am on my way up!

CHAD: Everything Michael is there for is for Abby.  Michael is not having a lot of fun. I don’t think he knows what he wants to do. He wanted to join the mob, but he landed at ELQ and he wanted to get Abby a job. And, he actually found it to be positive too. He did some business dealings where he realized, “Oh, I could actually work here.”  But it is not really want he wants to be doing.  Michael is sort of stuck there for her.  But it is not what his heart desires, if you will.

At the end of the day Andrea, what does Abby truly want for her life?

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ANDREA: I think she is looking at this right now as like an “eager beaver”. She has this opportunity that has fallen into her lap and we are like the packaged deal at ELQ. Abby is the go-getter and she wants to prove that, “I deserve to be here.” So I feel I am pulling out all the stops trying to work as hard as I can… to earn my mark! (Laughs) She just wants her life to be better than what it was and she is on a certain path. She is really committed to making a better life for herself and she really wants Michael to come with her.