To recast the role or create a new character -- that is the question which soaps are faced when half of a supercouple leaves ... On Guiding Light, bad boy Jesse Blue had been to hell and back to get over the right side of the tracks -- and to straight-arrow girlfriend Michelle.

Last fall, Rebecca Budig decided not to renew her contract. In response, the show brough in a ringer -- Joie Lenz (who's won raves playing the teenage Reva clone) -- to take over the part. "I had a little hesitation when they first told me they wanted me to play Michelle because Rebecca was leaving," she admits. "But I really wanted to be there."

It helped that GL had a master plan. To cover all bases, rather than bank on the new Michelle to duplicate the give-and-take that her predecessor had with leading man Paulo Benedeti, the show also hired an alternative love interest for her -- Loving veteran Paul Anthony Stewart as junior Mob boss Danny. As a result, not one but two new couples are dominating GL: Michelle and Danny, and Jesse and Michelle's best friend, Drew. *

* She is NOT HER BEST FRIEND!!!! I feel better now.