McClain Returns to ‘AMC’ For Story Arc, Too

Photo: Marina Chavez/ABC

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 4:19 PM ET | By Angela Rosa

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — “All My Children” will be whistling Dixie this March.

On the heels of the fabulous news that Julia Barr is returning to “All My Children” for a three-month story arc, which will begin airing on February 23, as Brooke English, is the equally fabulous news that Cady McClain will also be returning to the ABC sudser in 2010 “for a short run.” ABC Daytime President Brian Frons made the announcement that the actress and “AMC” had “just made a deal” during the ABC panel at the Television Critics Association Press Tour on Tuesday, January 12. The only storyline detail that has been revealed so far is that Dixie, McClain’s character, will share story with her true love Tad Martin, played by Michael E. Knight.

Two-time Daytime Emmy-award winner McClain started her daytime career on “AMC” in 1988 as Dixie Cooney, kin of the Cortlandts, she remained with the soap until 1996. The actress returned to the show in 1998 and then left again in 2002. McClain then moved on to CBS’s “As the World Turns” as Rosanna Cabot, where she has enjoyed several long-term and short-term stints – and where she earned an Emmy win for her work. The last time McClain appeared on “All My Children” was in May 2008 for a short stint as ghost Dixie. In early 2007, the character of Dixie was killed off by poisoned peanut-butter pancakes. In current storyline, Dixie’s son, JR (Jacob Young), is battling cancer, while ex-husband Tad is romancing Liza Colby (Jamie Luner), again.

SOAPnet reports that Dixie will return to Pine Valley in early March. Will Dixie be a ghost or will she return in the flesh (after all the formerly deceased Jesse Hubbard’s (Darnell Williams) organs were donated yet he’s alive and kicking in Pine Valley today)? Stay tuned.

Update (01/19/10): The length of McClain’s return has been made public, and in this case there is emphasis on the short in short-term story arc. McClain tells Soap Opera Digest that they “only asked me back for a week.”

“All My Children” airs Weekdays on ABC. Weeknights on SOAPnet. Check local listings. “AMC” now also airs online at ABC.com which can be accessed 24/7.