Hasselhoff, Franco visit ‘Y&R,’ ‘General Hospital’

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Soap operas may be struggling in the ratings, but they’re getting some love from high-profile guest stars like David Hasselhoff, who has dropped in on ‘The Young and the Restless,’ and James Franco, set for his second ‘General Hospital’ stint late this month. Oscar nominee Bruce Davison will join Franco for a summer murder and mayhem story line.

Hasselhoff will step back into the scrubs of Dr. William ‘Snapper’ Foster next week and Monday, June 21. He’s been gone from the CBS series for decades -- he starred from 1975 to 1982 -- but that’ll be explained away in soap shorthand. Apparently he was ‘working in London’ all that time and never visited home. He’s back now because his mother is gravely ill and, perfect for melodrama, he’ll be treating her. (See a behind-the-scenes video of Hasselhoff discussing the role after the jump.)

The former ‘Baywatch’ star is busy these days. He’s also starring in a series for A&E that will follow him as he plays stage dad to his two aspiring musical-artist daughters. The unscripted show, yet to be named, is scheduled to air in the fourth quarter. In fact, his daughter Taylor Ann Hasselhoff will play a nurse during his ‘Y&R’ run.

Think all these things are connected somehow?

There’s also a Comedy Central roast of Hasselhoff in the works, set to air in August, so he’ll continue to be front-and-center, even though he’s no longer a host of the NBC summer series ‘America’s Got Talent.’ (Starring roles in candid YouTube videos have yet to be determined.)

Franco, whose appearance late last year boosted ratings for ‘General Hospital,’ brings his mysterious artist character back to Port Charles. (He’s described the role as part performance art and part rehearsal for a project he has in development.)

The psycho story arc must have proved too good to pass up for Davison, an Oscar nominee for ‘Longtime Companion.’ He’ll appear on ‘GH’ as Franco’s art dealer, Wilhelm Van Schlagel.

These guests follow film star Julianne Moore returning to her old stomping ground, ‘As the World Turns,’ where she’d launched her career (as twins, no less). She did a one-day cameo this spring; the show ends its 54-year run in the fall.

-- T.L. Stanley