The Vancouver Sun from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 142

Space alien lands on General Hospital HERE'S AN ALIEN Bradley was called in again. -2 Wk 1 loose on General Hospital. As the Air Force zeroes in to protect the natives, medics join the chase to see how this creature ticks. Soap trendsetter General Hospital again comes up with a fresh gimmick thanks to Joe Hardy, the new boss. Better yet, unlike the usual run of cool, distant science-fiction aliens, Joe's creature, Casey Roger, takes a handsome human form and bares a compassionate soul.

Casey is E.T. with the body of a movie star. The way Hardy plots it, Casey is going to be Finola Hughes' (Anna Evans) love. While running from the curious, the two can't keep their hands off each other. That should hook fans for the spring-summer run.

Anna, mesmerized by a creature from outer space, the star Lumina, to be precise, is teaching him human tricks. Finola Hughes is delighted with this turn. Otherwise, out of boredom, Finola might seek greener pastures. For his alien, Joe Hardy singled out soft-spoken, athletic Bradley Lockerman, once known as Zed Diamond on the Capitol series. After reading for another part, ou re going to be playing an alien," said Joe.

Bradley didn't blink. "Really." Hardy liked that reaction. Nothing was going to surprise this actor. Off camera, in his dressing room, Bradley amuses himself playing eight level computer chess, testing his skills against master plays programmed into the device. The actor talks about his melodramatic entrance on the show, emanating from a blue crystal and being found by a child, Anna's daughter Robin (Kimberly McCullough).

What better way to learn about a strange world than through a curious kid. According to the story structure, Casey is here to retrieve a life-giving crystal now broken in pieces and spread about the area. Until he retrieves all the pieces, Casey is stuck on earth. Apart from the startling blue beginning, special effects receive a low priority, because this is a sympathetic creature, not a weirdo. Now and then Casey's fingers give off a blue aura through hand wiring as he connects with a crystal piece, but tricks are not the point, connecting with earthlings is.

BRADLEY LOCKERMAN: an alien with a compassionate soul Bradley Lockerman likes the whole approach. Here's a storyline that won't end up in a jumbled mess, which was his fate on Capitol. "The soap had a following, but there was inside friction," Lockerman explains. "Washington should be a source for all kinds of craziness, yet no one took a stand, I guess for fear of offending somebody. When the show stopped I went off and played golf for two years.

I would play everyday if I had the opportunity." Fat chance, if the alien and Finola's Ann click. Looks like Bradley will have to be content with computer chess. JlJLJE3 Stacey buys a gun on Loving. A disguised Rick has Heather in a car, determined to take her away, when they are in a crash. Clay takes Gwyn to a romantic country inn and tells her that he is falling in love with her again.

Dane helps Stacey to track down Rick and the baby. Dane tells Paul to cancel Rick's loan and make him pay it back immediately. Brenda insists she can remember something that happened the night of the murder on One Life to Live. Gabrielle is furious when Matt takes a room at the Waterside Inn. Jake comforts Megan who is panicking about telling Herb she threatened Michael with a gun.

Roger's condition worsens. As Matt and Gabrielle kiss, a fire spreads through the bar. Jack and Jennifer agree to help Isabella on Days of Our Lives. Isabella breaks ties with Kiriakis. Craig lies to Shane about Kimberly's baby.

On Australian TV, Patch and Kayla seek help in finding Stephanie. Ernesto puts Bo on a plane to Salem. Maya plans to nail Charles with the cuff links on Generations. Chantal reads a threatening message. Jordan will use Jason in his art swindle.

Adam tries to stop Rita from leaving town. Frisco can't find Desiree's photo on General Hospital. Lucy throws a party for Tiffany and it's a disaster. Faison takes Casey and Anna captive. The crystals release tremendous power and Port Charles has a blackout.

Ethan and Sydney confront Laura about Sasha's death on Santa Barbara. Under questioning Annie tells the truth, and Laura lies. Ethan and Shannon grow closer, so do Kelly and Hunt. Stephen is certain C.C. is the killer.

Mason and Julia revel in lovemaking. Cassie is pleased by Paul's protectiveness on The Young and the Restless. Is Victor merely using Ashley? Jack can live with his guilt over Nikki. Brock can't shake Esther's remark about Marge not being his mother. Editor's note: Plot portents for Another World and Guiding Light were not made available by those soaps 'producers in time to meet TV Times production deadline.

MAY11 TO MAY18TV TIMES 55'.