All My Children

To commemorate the move of All My Children to California, a pair of actual politicians will appear on the show's February 17 episode.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (pictured) and Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti will make cameos on All My Children on that date.

The former will play himself and cross paths with Susan Lucci's Erica Kane at the local hot spot Confusion in Pine Valley. Kane will chat with Villaraigosa about meeting the year before at a charity event in Los Angeles.

Cady McClain is set to return to All My Children.

The actress - coming off a stint on As the World Turns as Rosanna - will reprise the character of Dixie, last seen (as a ghost) in 2008.

For just a mini arc, McCalin will  with leading man Michael E. Knight. No word yet, though, if Dixie will appear in angel or human form - but we're excited to find out!

With five new episodes of All My Children planned for next week, viewers can expect these developments to take place...

• Greenlee pulls through a operation room crisis.
• Adam receives bad health news.
• Jake and Angie are confused by the results of Trevor and Marissa's DNA tests.
• Jake gets his hands on a piece of David's hair.

Fans were shocked enough to learn that Julia Barr would be returning for this week's All My Children anniversary episode.

Now, they should prepare to be truly stunned:

Soap Opera Digest reports the actress will come back again, starting on February 23, for what a series rep promises will be "a great story arc."

The actress joined All My Children in 1976, winning two Daytime Emmys before leaving controversially 2006: she opted not to remain with the drama  as a recurring player after she wasn't offered a new contract.

All My Children celebrates a major milestone next week: it's 40th anniversary. It will do so with these developments...

• Hayley (Kelly Ripa, pictured) returns!
• Liza comes face to face with Stuart again.
• Amanda threatens to leave Jake.
• Adam’s crooked judge dismisses himself from Emma’s custody hearing.

As the year comes to a close, these storylines will be featured on All My Children...

• Tad tries out to discover what David is up to.
• Ryan plays right into Adam and Annie's hands.
• David has surprising news for Greenlee.
• Opal has a bad feeling about Emma!

Sadly, there are only three new episodes of All My Children next week. These developments will be featured during them...

• David to JR: Tell Marissa the truth about your condition!
• James to Jesse: don't cross me!
• Angie (Debbi Morgan, pictured) to Madison: testifying against your father!
• Kendall is reunited with her boys on Christmas Day.

Here's a look at what All My Children fans can look forward to over the next few episodes...

• Annie puts herself on the stand.
• Erica goes toe to toe with James.
• Zach arrives in Los Angeles... on a mission!
• David (Vincent Irizarry, pictured) hands out apology “gifts” to his guests.

All My Children viewers should prepare for more Opal than ever over the next few months.

After being bumped to recurring status in 2006, Jill Larson is happy to report that she signed a new contract - as a series regular - with the soap opera last week.

"It's just so meaningful to me," said the actress. "Because Ray [MacDonnell, who is retiring from the role of Joe] is not going, for example, and obviously with Eileen [Herlie, ex-Myrtle, who passed away last year] gone, a lot of the history of the show as we know it is no longer represented on the screen. I am absolutely thrilled that I will be joining All My Children in California."

It's shaping up to be an explosive Christmas on All My Children. These developments will take place next week...

• Kendall pushes Erica away.
• JR and Colby (Natalie Hall, pictured) await for their father’s verdict.
• Frankie comes face-to-face with Madison.
• Amanda continues to play into David’s hands.