General Hospital and The Young and the Restless Do Battle Over Finola Hughes

According to Michael Lohan of TV Guide, Finola Hughes, best known as Anna Devane on General Hospital, was set for a guest starring role on The Young and the Restless this summer. But there was just one problem:

ABC wasn't having it!

Reportedly, the network convinced Hughes to turn down The Young and the Restless. Now, it has issued the following statement on the situation:

"General Hospital always planned a big summer storyline revolving around the characters of Anna Devane and Robin Scorpio as the mother-daughter relationship continues to grow in the face of Robin becoming a mother for the first time.

Upon learning Finola Hughes had booked a role in a short story arc on a competing daytime drama, General Hospital requested that she honor her commitment to our show, and she graciously obliged."

Over at CBS, The Young and the Restless had set Hughes for a four-episode appearance as Zara, the flirty, opportunistic mother of Sabrina (Raya Meddine). The character isstill  due to arrive in Genoa City June 19, just in time for Sabrina's wedding to mega-mogul Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). Hughes just won't be playing her anymore.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.