Yesterday, it was announced that veteran soap actor Rick Hearst would be returning to ABC’s “General Hospital” for the first time since 2009 as his character Ric Lansing. Hearst is scheduled to first air on Monday February 24, but isn’t expected to speak until Tuesday, February 25, according to ABC Soaps In Depth. In honor of his grand return, the actor took to Twitter to thank the fans, “GH” executive producer Frank Valentini and head writer Ron Carlivati for making it all happen.

After Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) commented on her Twitter page earlier this week after a fan asked, “When will it be time for Ric to come home???” and the actress responded with, “shooting it this week ull see it next month,” fans have been left wondering if that meant Rick Hearst would be returning to ABC’s “General Hospital.” Today, Soap Opera Digest is reporting that the actor is indeed heading back to Port Charles.

As previously reported, the annual “General Hospital” Fan Club weekend will take place from Thursday, July 31 through Monday, August 4 at the Sportmen’s Lodge Hotel and Events Center in Studio City, CA. Tickets for the Kick Off Cocktail Party, Main Cast and Blast from the Past – Part II events went on sale last week Monday.

TVGN is proving why it’s now the “the new way to watch soaps.” With the network already picking up encore airing rights to “The Young and the Restless” this past summer, and “The Bold and the Beautiful” earlier this month, the network plans to provide soap fans with even more “soap” for their viewing pleasure courtesy of the new documentary, “Who Shot the Daytime Soap?” Airing Monday, December 16 at 8:00 PM ET/PT, preceded by airings of “B&B” at 6:30 PM ET/PT and “Y&R” at 7:00 PM ET/PT, the documentary tackles the history of daytime soap operas as told by those who were there during the good times, the bad times and the new times.