Credit: CBS (2), Disney, Paul Skipper/JPI, Howard Wise/JPI

Oh, General Hospital, what on earth are you thinking, sending Sidwell to prison for so long that by the time he gets out, he’ll be going from the big house to the retirement home? Carlo Rota is lightning in a bottle, the embodiment of the word “charisma” and the rare actor who can be scary one minute and hilarious the next.

But I’m not gonna bother gnashing my teeth over the colossal mistake the show is making by cutting short the scene stealer’s run. Instead, I’m going to look on the positive side — and yes, there is one. The other soaps have to have taken notice of what a dynamo he is, and one of them, I’d be willing to bet my stock in Deception is going to snatch him up sooner than later.

Since the great Joseph Mascolo passed away, Days of Our Lives has struggled to fill the villainous void he left in his wake as Stefano DiMera. Rota could do that in a heartbeat, perhaps introducing to the canvas a brother of the Phoenix’s that he just never happened to mention. Such a character would shake up the whole show and beautifully position the leading man to pass chemistry tests with Deidre Hall (Marlena), Lauren Koslow (Kate), Jackee Harry (Paulina) and more.

Bold & Beautiful could also make great use of Rota as the larger-than-life designer that Logan imports from Europe to expand its brand. When not sending Hope and Deke’s designs down the runway, Bill and Katie’s fashion house could send Rota’s character’s frocks out into the world. And when the dressmaker isn’t raising hemlines, he could raise temperatures as he strikes up a workplace flirtation with Shauna and, upon meeting Donna, pays her the kind of compliments that would make anyone blush.

Beyond the Gates could recruit Rota to play The Impaler’s second in command, the heavyweight that she calls in when there’s dirty work that she needs done. With his conniving character whispering in her ear, Heather (General Hospital‘s former Parker, Ashley Jones) might decide that brother Joey (General Hospital’s Kevin, Jon Lindstrom) isn’t making the most of his criminal empire, therefore she and her henchman should take it over and show him how it’s really done.

Finally, Young & Restless could bring in Rota as something the show has needed for ages: an actual friend for Victor, someone who can tell him, “My dear man, what you’re proposing is not only vile and illegal but patently ludicrous.” All of Genoa City would take notice of the newcomer who suddenly makes The Mustache more tolerable. And Rota’s character? He’d take notice of one woman in particular, happily married Lauren. Though he can’t have her, she knows just the gal for him: mother-in-law Gloria. Anything that puts Judith Chapman back on screen is a win by us! (She was Ginny on General Hospital ages ago, BTW.)

Where do you hope Rota turns up next? Answer in the comments after you review the below photo gallery of General Hospital exits.