Soaps
Soap Gods, It’s Time to Reunite Kelly Monaco & Michael Easton On TV
The introduction of Caleb Morley on Port Charles changed the trajectory of my television viewing experience. My gateway into the world of soap operas was the General Hospital spinoff, right around the time Port Charles was appealing to a younger audience.
The vampire craze of the mid-to-late 2000s, thanks to Twilight, hadn’t quite taken hold yet, but Port Charles knew what was coming. Cue the introduction of the seductive and undeniably charming Caleb, played to perfection by Michael Easton. He genuinely made 11-year-old me think: Do I want to be a vampire? When Easton crossed paths with Kelly Monaco‘s Livvie Locke, it was like a soap supernova.
Easton and Monaco raised the bar for onscreen chemistry. Whenever they shared scenes, you couldn’t take your eyes off them. It didn’t matter the plotline — remember Port Charles’ iconic 13-week story arcs?! — because they could always create magic together. Every conversation, dream sequence, or showdown was laced with sexual chemistry and an irresistible magnetism that casting directors can only wish to replicate. Their forbidden romance was too hot for daytime TV (complimentary), but we’re thankful ABC gave us the gift that is Calivia.
When Port Charles was canceled in 2003 (it was truly ahead of its time), General Hospital quickly scooped up Monaco to play Sam McCall. Easton went over to One Life to Live to play John McBain. I’m old enough to remember the What If… webisode where Sam and John had the sexiest elevator makeout session since the invention of the elevator. In every soap universe, Monaco and Easton’s characters were meant to be together. They are fated soap opera mates.
When One Life to Live was canceled, Easton brought John McBain over to GH. Anyone with eyeballs knew that putting Monaco and Easton in the same vicinity was mandatory. Naturally, Sam and John had a crackling chemistry that was different from Livvie and Caleb, yet familiar. Unfortunately, due to copyright issues, Easton was unable to continue playing John on GH for the long haul.
Look, I’m not going to go down the rabbit hole of the John McBain/Caleb Morley/Stephen Clay/Silas Clay saga, but Easton eventually rejoined General Hospital as Dr. Hamilton Finn. However, the soap chose not to pursue any romance with this new character and Sam.
Both Monaco and Easton have since left General Hospital, but a recent trip down Port Charles memory lane (thanks, YouTube) has allowed Calivia to reenter my consciousness.
Now, we don’t have to bring back Caleb and Livvie, but the soap world should try to reunite Monaco and Easton on TV — and this time as love interests again.
Monaco and Easton had some of the best chemistry ever seen on television — and not just daytime TV. I’m talking about all TV. Why not give the people what they want? The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, and Beyond the Gates, you have the opportunity to do something epic.
If no streaming service wants to grab the rights to Port Charles so that I can rewatch the Tainted Love, Miracles Happen, and Torn story arcs (IYKYK) over and over again, then give me the next best thing. Monaco and Easton deserve the chance to be TV endgame.
Do you want to see Kelly Monaco and Michael Easton reunite on TV? Which soap would you like to see them on? Vote below and sound off in the comments below.
