AMC's Dimitri Dies- Who is Alexandra? "Dimitri dies in the emergency room at Seaview Hospital this week on All My Children. Friends and family- especially his half-brother Edmund- are devastated and shocked.
    Enter Alexandra Devane Marick. She comes into the hospital at the very moment Edmund is demanding that an autopsy be performed. She refuses to allow her husband's body to be touched. In fact, she says she's taking the body back to Vadzel, the Marick home in Hungary. Edmund and Jack jump into action to prevent this, but they soon learn Alexandra is a force to be reckoned with.
    Edmund is not the only one overcome with grief. Brooke and Erica are distraught, and Gillian can't believe her cousin is gone. Immediately, the mourners fall into two Alexandra camps- those who believe she is really who she says she is, and those who don't trust her.
    'The fallout promises to be cataclysmic,' executive producer Jean Dadario Burke says. 'It's obviously a shock, first of all, that he's dead, and then, who is this woman? We're going to have a great journey here, of who she is, and what's happened to Dimitri.'
    'I'm damaging these good people,' Finola Hughes (Alex) says in character. 'In another situation we would be family and I would be in love with them.' Alex immediately comes to loggerheads with her new brother-in-law, Edmund. 'This relationship is going to be very tense and difficult. There are a lot of barriers between us. If my character were able to just scream and cry and gnash her teeth in grief, then I think Edmund would feel more sympathetic. There's a grit to this character that sort of makes it difficult for people to access her. Alexandra does have a heart, and she does see what she's doing; however, she has an agenda, which she has to follow through, and in the process of doing that, she is indeed hurting a lot of people,' Hughes adds.
    During the week, viewers will be seeing plenty of Dimitri flashbacks, which 'will explain some of the journey,' Burke says. Burke remains cagey on Alexandra's relationship to another Devane- General Hospital's Anna. 'I think we're putting it on hold for a while,' she says. 'It's a soap opera; you never know.'" (SOW 8/3/99)

Edmund Investigates Alex Edmund enlists David's help in trying to uncover what really happened to Dimitri, this week on AMC. David eagerly tells Edmund all he knows about Alex- the doctor- and speculates, negatively, about her treatment of Dimitri. This only fuels Edmund's distrust of his sister-in-law, and causes him to vow once again to find out what killed his brother.
    On the other hand, Edmund is constantly hearing Alex's tender memories of Dimitri, which makes it hard for Edmund to believe that Dimitri died at her hands. Conflicted, Edmund continues to watch Alex; he sees her with a strange-looking vial. He manages to get some of the contents and give them to David, who is more than willing to run a test. The results of that test rock Edmund to the core. (SOW 8/7/99)

A is for Alex... or Anna? She looks like Anna Devane Scorpio, but she says her name is Alexandra Devane Marick. Anna lived in GH's Port Charles before her presumed death in a boat explosion. Alexandra just moved to AMC's Pine Valley from London, after her husband, Dimitri, died. Is Alex who she says she is, or maybe just a long-lost sister or cousin? Or could she be Anna Devane Scorpio, perhaps with a case of amnesia?
     "I think it would be funny if she is alive," Ander Hove says in character as Faison, "and I think Luke should track me down to AMC and finally nail me there and bring Anna back to GH." Finally, Mac and Faison agree on something! "I think if she's Anna that would be just fabulous," John York (Mac) says. "I would love to fly to New York and do some Pine Valley scenes. From what I understand they're going to do with Linda Dano (her OLTL character, Rae, will appear on all four soaps), we could really tie up some shoelaces here. As a viewer, I think it's intriguing."
    It's unanimous: "Oh, I would love it," Kristina Wagner (Felicia) agrees. "I just personally love Finola Hughes, and I'd love to see her again and work with her, but AMC's in New York and we're in Los Angeles, so it would be a little hard to do. But if she were on Port Charles, then we could say, 'Aha!' But at least AMC is safely on the same network, so isn't that convenient!" GH head writer Robert Guza has the last word- for now: "You're going to have to ask Agnes Nixion." (SOW 8/10/99)

Where's Dimitri's Body? Consumed by grief, AMC's Edmund now has to deal with the fact that his new sister-in-law, Alex, has taken possession of Dimitri's body. Though there is something not quite right about Alex's actions, she quickly explains to Edmund that she brought the body to a funeral home and shows him a copy of Dimitri's death certificate. However, Alex privately tells Dr. Silbert that Dimitri's casket can never be opened. News of the closed coffin infuriates Edmund, but Alex holds her ground. (SOD 8/10/99)

Fall Preview Edmund and Alex are passionately at odds in the aftermath of Dimitri's death. Edmund's suspicions build to a startling revelation. Unforeseen events and someone already on the canvas come into play to push their relationship, uneasy as it is, to the next level. Their passion over Dimitri is something that they both feel very strongly, and who knows where it could lead? (SOD 8/24/99)

AMC's Alex Makes a Confession to Edmund "Alex levels with Edmund about who she really is, this week on All My Children. It's been increasingly difficult to keep her medical background a secret since she ran into a former colleague- the nefarious Dr. David, who is eager to reveal her true identity to the residents of Pine Valley.
    'He corners her and taunts her,' executive producer Jean Dadario Burke explains. 'So finally she feels she has no alternative but to admit that she's a neurologist. Edmund has just uncovered one lie after another, so it seems all of her lies are catching up with her.'
    If Alex has learned one thing since coming to Wildwind, it is that you can't keep the truth from Edmund. She thought tearing her photograph from a medical journal would keep her professional life a secret. 'I guess you do desperate things at desperate moments,' Burke adds. 'Every time she thinks she's covered something up, something else pops up. Obviously this catches up with her. 
I think in a way she admires his tenacity and the fact that he smells something, but in another way, because of the story that has yet to be told, she's desperate to keep things quiet, secrets that she has,' Burke explains. Despite Edmund's persistance, and the fact that he thinks she may be behind Dimitri's death, she still has a fondness for her brother-in-law. 'Dimitri loved Edmund so much, he (through flashbacks) does explain how he feels about Edmund, and I think she respects that,' Burke adds." (SOW 8/31/99)

Fascinating Characters- Alexandra New girl in town Alexandra is not quite as talented in the art of deception; with her, we keep watching just to see what little hints she will drop to clue us in to the secrets we know she must be hiding. These two actors (referring also to David Canaray) are always at the top of their craft, and their intelligent, devious characters never fail to leave us with a mystery to ponder. As for Alexandra, we understand the outrage and pain that Erica Kane has unleased on the confusing new Pine Valley presence, but part of us wonders if maybe she did really love Dimitri after all. We won't miss a day as the mystery behind her appearance slowly unravels! (SOU 9/14/99)

Speaking My Mind, Mimi Torchin's editorial "If, as the saying goes, 'A good man is hard to find', then- in soap opera terms, especially- finding a good couple is even harder. Think of all the false starts and aborted romances viewers have endured because the two actors in a love story simply didn't click. For every great couple on soaps, there are a dozen duds that have fallen by the wayside. That's why I hate to see great chemistry squandered, and that's precisely what's happening on All My Children with Alex and Dimitri.  While Finola Hughes brings out the best in everyone she works with (even the drapes at Wildwind seem brighter!), she is simply magical in the flashbacks with Michael Nader. Nader's Dimitri has never been more appealing or charming, and his delight in his co-star is palpable. He and Alex have obvious 'new' soap couple potential, something AMC has been hard-pressed to introduce since Stuart and Marian, who, while sweet, are already an old married couple. A new romance on a soap, as in real life, is exciting and exhilarating, full of discovery, sexual tension and promise. This is exactly what Hughes and Nader exude in every memorable flashback. Other than gripping storylines, a show's couples are its most important resource. Popular twesomes are elemental to the wish-fulfillment aspect of soaps. They are what drive story and they are certainly what sell magazines! Chemistry cannot be faked. It cannot be thrust upon a couple who don't have it (we've suffered a plethora of forced pairings), and it can't be wished into existance by writers or producers. A rare commodity, chemistry also shouldn't be ignored. Since Dimitri isn't really dead, perhaps it's not too late to save his life and keep this couple alive, as well. Athough Hughes and John Callahan (Edmund) aren't devoid of chemistry, that special alchemy simply isn't there. Maria, phone home." (SOW 9/21/99)

Critical Condition, Marlena's Late-Summer Harvest "I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks that All My Children has something up its sleeve. In the flashback scenes featuring the love story of Alex Devane and the now supposedly dead Dimitri Marick. Finola Hughes has incredible chemistry with Michael Nader. Yes, we have all assumed that Alex's love interest is supposed to be Dimitri's brother, Edmund. Well, I don't see see anything chemical happening in scenes between Hughes and John Callahan, do you? Anyone who has ever watched a soap knows that Dimitri's closed coffin and the fact that we never saw his dead body are tip-offs to something... By the way, isn't Hughes so sublimely luminous on AMC that you can almost see her glow?" (SOW 9/14/99)

Is Dimitri Really Dead? "When All My Children's presumed-dead Dimitri turned out to be alive- if not well- optimistic Michael Nader fans hoped it meant that the ousted actor had been granted a reprieve. But now the brooding count has vanished and is again thought to be a goner. What gives?
    'I had died,' reveals Nader. 'But they thought it was better for all concerned that I come back and do a couple of days so that Dimitri does leave alive and well.' Is he? An AMC insider teases: 'He's presumed dead by all his family and friends, but there wasn't a body found...'
    'They decided to do a Shakespear in Love exit,' laughs Nader, referring to the film's final moments when Gwyneth Paltrow's character survives a shipwreck and emerges from the sea to wander ashore into the unknown. 'If he's not dead, he's a damn strong swimmer,' quips the actor.
    Clearly AMC decided to leave the door open for the popular actor. But for now, Nader is off the New York-based soap and back in Los Angeles- and keeping mum about the possiblity of a future return. As for AMC, 'We have no plans to bring Michael Nader back at this time,' reports a show spokesperson.
Internet gossips have speculated that Dimitri may turn up again in the form of Hunt Block (soon-to-be ex-Ben, GL) or Ian Buchanan (ex-James, B&B; ex-Duke, GH). Although AMC won't respond to those rumors, a setsider confides, 'There is absolutely no truth to that.'" (SOD 10/5/99)

Dimitri's Final Surprise "Dimitri may be dead, but the count still has some power, as in willpower. this week on All My Children, Dimitri delivers one final surprise from the great beyond.
    As the week opens, the widow Marick (Alex) informs Edmund that she's returning to London for the reading of Dimitri's will and won't come back. This doesn't sit well with suspicious Edmund, who plans to fly to Europe to hear for himself what's in his brother's will. 'Edmund thinks he knows what's going to be in there, whereas Alex seems to think she knows everything about the will,' previews Executive Producer Jean Dadario Burke.
    But neither Dimitri's sib or widow have the whole story. That distinction belongs to surprising Pine Valley-ite. Burke explains: "Along the way, Jackson got involved. It was when Dimitri rallied.'
    This new wrinkle comes to light during a clash between Edmund and Jackson. Edmund voices his mistrust of Alex and is perplexed when the lawyer keeps defending her. Jack finally admits that Dimitri summoned him to his Seaview Hospital bedside and added a codicil to his will. But that's all Jack will reveal. 'It's very interesting. You really want to know what Dimitri could have wanted,' grins the exec.
    Alex, who remains in the dark about all this, is unnerved when Edmund turns up in London. But it's during the reading of Dimitri's will that she is really thrown for a loop. Jackson unexpectedly strides in and drops the bombshell about the codicil, hinting that the revised document could have a profound impact on Alex. 'Once again, we will find out that Dimitri rules from the grave,' chuckles Burke. So will this development draw Alexandra and Edmund closer or add fuel to their animosit? Burke teases: 'Both things will happen. And I won't tell you in what order!'" (SOD 10/12/99)

AMC's Alex Plans to Leave Pine Valley "Now that her husband has died, All My Children's Alex sees no reason to stay in Pine Valley any longer. Although Edmund and Alex have come to a truce of sorts, especially at their private beach-side memorial service for Dimitri, Edmund is still wary of the woman who arrived at Wildwind this past summer.
    This week, she tells Edmund she's heading back to London for the reading of Dimitri's will, and when that business is completed, she'll remain there. Edmund makes no attempt to change her mind. Alex says her goodbyes to Gillian and Eugenia.
    Jack sees no reason for Edmund to still be suspicious of Alex, and he says so. Jack's pro-Alex stance annoys Edmund. Other Pine Valley residents- Stuart, among them- try to get Alex to stay; she refuses to change her mind, claiming that she knows that Edmund doesn't want her around.
    What Edmund does want is to be present for the reading of Dimitri's will. Jack then tells Edmund about a conversation he had with Dimitri before his death. Edmund is stunned and insists Jack accompany him to England. Jack hints that there are changes in the will that could have an impact on Alex's and Edmund's lives forever." (SOW 10/12/99)

Editor's Choice Wednesday Oct. 20th- From the moment she stepped off of Dimitri's plane, everyone has wanted to know more aobut Alexandra Devane Marick. This is day when part of her mysterious past is revealed. While speaking with Stuart, an emotional Alex divulges the reason why she became a physican to begin with and how that incident has affected the rest of her life. (SOU 10/26/99)

Pine Valley Mourns Dimitri's Death on AMC "The death of Dimitri was compelling and ever so sad on All My Children.  As the sick and dying Dimitri, Michael Nader was mesmerizing; arguably it was the veteran actor's best work. We believed that Dimitri was ill and in pain, both physically and emotionally. Nader showed us Dimitri's dilemma beautifully. Here was a strong and proud man who had to decide whether to let his family see him suffer, or simply to have them believe that he had died. He chose the latter.
    However, not everyone was buying it. Always the journalist, Edmund couldn't help but be suspicious of his new sister-in-law and the fate of his brother's body (she refusted to allow an autopsy). He dug and dug into her past before finally getting her to tell him everything- from the fact that she is a doctor, to the stunning news that Dimitri was alive. With that bombshell, the family was given a few days of hope. Unfortunately, the stem-cell treatment didn't work, and the family lost him all over again.
    Dimitri's death also set the scene for the arrival of Alexandra Devane, played by the luminous Finola Hughes. AMC clearly wanted a wonderful story to introduce the character, and this was it. Her initial secrecy intrigued us, while her grieving beach scenes won us over. It's too bad that Nader had to leave the show just when he was demonstrating such wonderful chemistry with Hughes.
Being hit twice with Dimitri's 'death' (they still haven't found the body; we know what that means) was doubly difficult to deal with. John Callahan was quite convincing as Edmund, who was blinded by rage. The scenes also provided the lovely Esta Terblanche a chance to show us how Gillian has matured into a serious young woman." (SOU 10/26/99)

Erica Stands by David "Alexandra is in a bind because David is the only one who actively wants to head up Dimitri's foundation. Alex already doesn't have the warmest feelings for David, and when she tells Gillian of her dilemma, Gillian blurts out that she can't do it. Alex is stunned. She gets Gillian to tell her everything she knows about David and, although hesitant at first, Gillian confesses everything that happened between her and David. Alex is appallad.
    Meanwhile, Erica and David aren't being to careful about being seen together, especially when they're spotted by Vanessa. They manage to cover being together, but Vanessa gets the opportuntity to warn Erica about David and is more than willing to fill Erica in on David's past history with women. Erica declines Vanessa's offer. Erica has better things to do, like hosting a party for David when he gets the directorship position. David's stunned- this will mean she wants to go public with their relationship.
    After a conversation with Alex, David learns that she won't consider him for the job. Erica insists on talking to Alex on David's behalf, but he's not in favor of that. David seeks out Edmund to ask for his help. After all, David helped him with Dimitri. Edmund tries to talk to Alex, who shares the shocking information as to why she won't consider David.
    Not one to give up, Erica attempts to talk to Alex on David's behalf, but what she learns from Alex could end her relationship with David!" (SOU 11/9/99)

Erica Learns About David's Past "When Erica shows up at the waiting room at Pine Valley Hospital this week on AMC, she can't help but pick up on the fact that David has no respect for Gillian, and she asks Alex for an explanation. It seems Erica may be the only person in Pine Valley who doesn't know about Gillian and David tawdry past. Alex does, and has no problem telling Erica about it.
     'Erica thinks Alex is just being hostile toward me,' Vincent Irizarry (David) says in character, 'so she gives her this information about Gillian. You know that this would touch certain buttons in her, especially with Erica and her history, her past.'
     'It's really testing this relationship more so than most, but we'll be revealing even deeper emotions that both of them have,' executive producer Jean Dadario Burke explains.
Is David worried? 'Gillian was a big girl. Nobody forced her to do what she was being asked to do, and at the same time a relationship has been established where they were using each other right from the start,' Irizarry says. 'So, you know, in that way he doesn't feel that he prostituted her. Gillian was using him back for months to get Ryan back.'
    It's not that Erica has made a secret of her past loves. In fact, she loves to remind David of the fact that she was the great love of Dimitri's life, to the exclusion of the many other men. 'She never talks to me about Jack, and she was with Jack after Dimitri. Or Mike Roy,' Irizarry says." (SOW 11/9/99)

Paging Dr. Marick "Did we miss something? We thought AMC's Alex wasn't practicing medicine, but now she's running around in scrubs and in the operating room. Oh, well, we love her bedside manner." (SOW 11/30/99)

The Count's Down "Dimitri collapsed on the day he returned from Europe with his suprise bride, Alexandra Devane. The count was soon pronounced dead. When Edmund accused his sister-in-law of foul play, she admitted that Dimtri was actually alive. Neurologist Alex was treating the proud Dimitri, who didn't want his family to see his debilitating condition. After experimental stem cell therapy, Dimitri rallied, but then fled the hospital and apparently walked into the sea, again devastating his family." (SOD 12/21/99)

New Year's Eve Nightmare for Alex! "This week, as the Crystal ball raises more questions about Alex's past, the mystery woman jeopardizes David and Erica's future! It all begins when David ditches Erica to bring Alex flowers. After Alex sends the vase crashing across her lodge, Rae assists in picking up the pieces- literally and emotionally. The relationship expert suggests that there is a connection between David and the hyperventilating Alex's anxieties about clocks and New Year's Eve. Rae then makes Alex realize that David reminds her of someone from her past.
    It's a Date! Meanwhile, Edmund notices missing years on Alex's resume. Further piquing his curiosity is David's report on Alex's outburst. Concerned, Edmund checks in with his late brother's widow, and the two agree to honor Dimitri's wish that they look out for each other. Comforted, Alex agrees to attend the Crystal Ball!
    Erica dumps David! At the Soiree, Rae and Edmund observe Alex's tense reaction to a tuxedoed David's arrival. Edmund warns Dr. Hayward to steer clear, but the damage is already done: Alex flashes back to a man in a tux! When David asks for a dance, Alex tells Erica she's fed up with him and his gifts. Per David's version of his and Alex's past, Erica writes off Alex as a woman scorned. 'Demand the truth,' Alex urges. In turn, Erica blasts David for standing her up to deliver flowers to Alex and exits herself!
    David goes too far! While Alex hurries to leave before the clock strikes midnight, David follows, as Rae watches. Cornering Alex, David begs her to stop acting so 'irrationally.' That exact choice of words rings hauntingly in Alex's ears, triggering a disturbing flashback of an older man, and prompting her to do something quite unexpected and rash! (SID 12/28/99)

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