Awww the end of the summer. Soon the cooler temps will be moving into our areas, the leaves will be changing and their will be that crispness in the air that we all have come to know when we usher in autumn. For a lot of us, fall also signifies the beginning of a brand new school year. It’s always good to see the familiar faces of our friends, favorite teachers and coaches, who we have not had the opportunity of speaking with for the last few months. 

For most schools (high schools and college) Fall also means that schools homecomings are right around the corner. Well, it seems as if at least one home coming (for now at least) is on the horizon over at the ABC Studios in Manhattan. A few weeks ago, news broke that Vincent Irizarry would be returning to the role of the dastardly Dr. David Hayward, on the alphabet network’s All My Children. Finally, someone at the network wised up and made the decision to bring back one of the show’s fan faves. His former lover Krystal is now “happily” married to his nemesis Tad Martin and raising their daughter Jenny, his daughter Babe (with Krystal) seems to have gotten her life and relationship with former hubby JR back on track.  Life seems to somewhat be smooth sailing for the residents of Pine Valley, so now more than ever is the perfect time for David Hayward to make his return and cause a little chaos.

What is his motive for telling the truth now? Is he hoping to destroy Krystal’s “perfect” life with Tad and the girls and her supposedly happy home? And who would believe him, if he revealed Jenny’s true paternity? If David’s return is an umbrella to this storyline, then I say bring it on because a “whose your daddy,” storyline involving Jenny Martin could open up the doors for further interesting storylines.

Besides, if Adam really was Jenny’s father it could potentially set up what some viewers want to see……Adam and Krystal reuniting. Besides David’s return could facilitate the return of another fan fave, and beloved cast member. Viewers were saddened and angered when former head writer Megan McTavish made the decision to kill off Dixie Cooney Martin, just as it appeared that she and true love Tad might reunite and search for their daughter together. We were able to relish in somewhat of a reunion between the two, when McClain made a few guest appearances as “ghost” Dixie earlier this summer. 

But what if Dixie was not really a ghost, as some viewers have proclaimed. We all know that Dixie was offed during the whole SSK storyline (don’t even get me started on that), when she ate the poisoned peanut butter pancakes meant for her daughter-in-law Babe. We also know how Zach, Kendall and Josh teamed up saving Babe’s life and whisking her into hiding for her own safety, while the rest of Pine Valley believed she was dead. Well, what if Palmer Cortlandt caught wind of what Josh, Zach and Kendall were doing to Babe and enlisted their help to save Dixie’s life and keep her safe until she was strong enough to return to Pine Valley, Tad and her family. 

Let’s not forget the heart condition that Dixie was afflicted with, and perhaps the treatment Josh was using on Babe had an adverse reaction on Dixie thus causing her to fall into a coma, where she has remained for the last few years. Desperate to save his niece, and spare JR, Tad, Laney, and himself any more heartache maybe Palmer enlisted the help of his former enemy David Hayward.  

It is a “mysterious” patient that happens to be Dixie, that brings David back to Pine Valley.  He needs supplies, wants to get the reports from the day Dixie supposedly “died” and consult with Angie on other treatment options for his patient. What if David, is the one that brings Dixie out of her coma, but tells her that her heart is still weak and he is not sure what kind of normal life she could ever have, knowing all the while that she is in perfect health. David then tells her that Tad has found and been reunited with Kate, while JR has started to put the pieces of his life back together and has reunited with Babe and their son. Dixie decides to return to Pine Valley (facilitating the return of Cady McClain) and spend what ever remaining time she has left with her son, grandson, daughter and daughter-in-law. Even though Dixie loves Tad and always will, she knows how devastated he would be if they reunited only to have something happen to her once again

When David and Palmer bring her back to town, she has a joyous and tearful reunion with JR, Little A and Babe. She locks eyes with Tad and embraces their baby girl and vows that she will be a mom to her for as long as she possibly can.  Dixie then announces that she and David will be living with Palmer and David convinces Dixie to marry him and live out her final days, happy and loved. David knows he will never be Tad, but he hopes that Dixie will one day fall in love with him, just like she did Tad. 

While this storyline would certainly right the wrongs of McTavish (and bring McClain and Dixie back to the show full time and alive) it would also provide viewers with a storyline filled with emotion and angst. David has always hated and blamed the Martin’s for things that have gone wrong in his life, the lives of his family and in his medical career. How would they know react and treat David, knowing that he was the one that nursed Dixie back to health and returned her to her family in Pine Valley? Would this be something that David could always hold over the heads of the Martins and Palmer for that matter? 

Or maybe David’s return could mean more airtime and a shift in storylines for other characters he previously interacted with on the show. Let’s not forget that he and Erica Kane were once lovers and have seemed to somewhat remain friends and confidants, over the years. Now that Sam Woods is leaving town and Jack seems to be having fun with Carmen, could David and Erica rekindle the flame that once burned between them. As many of you know, I was a fan of Jackson and Erica (before McTavish destroyed them) and would eventually like to see them reunited.  However, I am somewhat enjoying watching both characters interact with newcomers and former flames. 

Could you imagine the shock and surprise amongst the residents of Pine Valley, should Erica and David reunite?  Oh the schemes and blackmail these two could get away with, let me tell ya. You want to talk about entertaining….well that will certainly do it. Besides, David’s former sister-in-law Greenlee might just have a few choice words for the devilish doc. 

And then again, David may have a few choice words for his former sister-in-law about her choice in spouses and her new marriage to Aidan. Some viewers had always wondered what a Greenlee and David pairing would be like after all, the chemistry between Rebecca Budig and Vincent Irizarry was definitely there. Now that Irizarry is returning, could David step in line in hopes of being one of Greenlee’s suitors? Or perhaps another Pine Valley beauty might just catch his eye. 

Whatever happens with David on the romance radar, let’s hope that  the show does not sweep his romance with Julia or his infant daughter Leora (with former wife Anna) under the carpet. Sydney and Vincent sizzled in their scenes with one another, and I am one viewer (and probably in the minority here) who is still a little peeved that the show NEVER explored a pairing between their characters.  As for Leora, her birth, death and David’s marriage to Anna Devane are pivotal parts of the character’s history. GH seems to have forgotten that Anna even had another daughter very time they bring her back, so let’s hope that Pratt can remember this little diddy. 

Also, let’s hope that Pratt remembers that David has a daughter Babe still in town. I would love to see a father/daughter relationship explored between David and Babe, upon Irizarry’s return. How would his revelation (if it comes true) that Jenny is really Adam’s daughter affect the already damaged relationship between these two? Yes, David had not been around for Babe and did not even know that Babe was his daughter. However, his return could start the rebuilding of their relationship and possibly bring out the Hayward tendencies in Babe. 

While I am one viewer who is excited about Irizarry’s return to the show, I cannot help but to wonder if his is just the beginning of many other returns of our beloved characters and fan faves. Could Cady McClain, Julia Barr, Marcy Walker Smith, Robin Christopher, Eden Riegel and more be right around the corner. What about Marj Dusay? Since Guiding Light does not seem to know what to do with Ms. Dusay, I think that AMC and ABC should snatch her up and bring an alive Vanessa Bennett Cortlandt back to town. 

Welcome Home Vincent, here’s to many more years of David Hayward and you in Pine Valley!

Like many others, I am sure you could imagine my surprise when it was announced that Vincent Irizarry was returning to Pine Valley. Life in the Valley has not been the same since David Hayward left, and the return of David could also bring about some very interesting and long overdue storylines. Pratt if this is just the beginning of your handy work, then you so far have gotten off to a positive start….now just keep it up. Who will be the next fan fave to return…..lets stay tuned and find out!!!!!

By now you’ve read that Ya Ya DaCosta (Cassandra) is leaving the show. I guess viewers just did not feel right seeing Cass attempt to forge a relationship with Angie, Jesse and Frankie. Another cast member who was announced to be leaving is Mario Van Peebles. It appears as if Sam Woods will pack his bags and leave Pine Valley and Erica Kane behind. What does that mean for his onscreen son Dre? Unless the show is finally going to move ahead with a Colby/Dre pairing, something tells me that Dre might just be the next character to leave town.