General Hospital
GH's Finola Hughes On Soaps Resurrgence, Anna & Duke, A Kimberly Return?
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
One of the big questions on all of fans minds is will the the unbelievably talented (she is an actress and a director to boot, now!) land a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress when the nominations for the 40th annual Daytime Emmys are announced tomorrow morning on Good Morning America, for her role as Anna Devane! If her reel, and what we know, are any indication, she should be a lock for a spot!
In a brand new interview with Soap Opera Uncensored’s Nelson Branco, she has been named “Sexiest Woman Alive 2013”. The GH star fields some questions on: acting against a latex mask during the Faison/Duke story and reveal, what she thinks of the renaissance of the soap opera, the returns of AMC and OLTL, and if a return from her on-screen daughter, Kimberly McCullough (Robin) might be imminent. Here are a few excerpts:
Finola on acting in the scenes with Duke then aka Faison: “I had a lot of help from Frank Valentini (EP, GH). He was on the set all the time. And, obviously, a lot of help with the acting because Ian helped. I never think about the audience when I play a scene, Frank does. But when I was having to get close to Faison, I kept thinking, ‘The audience is going to be freaking out.’ So, I was like, ‘How am I going to show the fans that Anna is feeling weird or is trying to overcome something? How can I walk that narrow line, so that people can think, ‘ew, be careful,’ and, on the other hand, ‘It’s Anna… she’ll save herself. As an actor, you can never be subjected to yourself. You can’t stand and watch yourself — or none of it will work. I had to find this place in me that gave myself a little warning bell like, ‘Don’t go too far or you’ll lose the audience. Pull back a bit, but let them know that you’re on their side, so I didn’t lose all street cred.’ Sometimes it got gnarly and, sometimes, I thought I saved myself and, sometimes, I had to jump in with both feet. What worked, worked, and what didn’t, didn’t. ”
Finola on the state of soaps, when everyone was saying they were dying: “I didn’t believe it was over to begin with. I felt the apparent collapse of the soaps was wrong. I didn’t feel it was necessary. I felt it was mismanagement. They took a few wrong turns. Perhaps they weren’t grasping the audience as well as they could, but that didn’t mean they were over. What’s so amazing about soaps is the fact that it can be reinvented. It’s like Madonna. Just when people are ready to write her off, she reinvents herself and becomes more relevant and successful. As a human being, you should be able to do that; and certainly, if you’re a creative endeavor, like a soap, you should be able to shake things up. That’s certainly what they did with NIGHT SHIFT. It was a total reinvention of the craft. I thought it was very well done. And I’m not sure why that whole idea got dropped.”
Finola on if she thinks Kimberly McCullough will return as Robin soon to play out the story: “I don’t know. We’ll see what she’ll do. I have no idea. I have the sense that she wants to bite her teeth in fully when it comes to her directing career. It’s been hard because she was on GH when I was gone; (and vice versa). We’ve wanted to work together for so long. We keep missing each other. It’s such a gift to work with her.”
Finola on the returns of One Life to Live and All My Children: “I think it’s fantastic. I’m glad all those people have jobs again. There’s still lots of story to tell. I hope they shoot it differently and tell story in a new way. They’re inventing something really cool.”
So what do you think of Finola being named, “Sexiest Woman Alive 2013”? Do you think the Anna should stay with Duke? Do you want Kimberly back to play scenes with Finola? Do you think Finola will land a Daytime Emmy nomination tomorrow? Let us know!
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Brook Lynn and Chase Have Their Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
On General Hospital, Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) both were treated to Bachelorette and Bachelor parties to shake off any of those pre-wedding jitters. At The Savoy, the ladies have a touching and fun time with Brook Lynn.
The bride-to-be gives a speech to thank everyone for coming, while Lois lets everyone know to try the signature cocktail the “Brooklynn Chaser”, which gets everybody eventually and mostly, drunk.
When Tracy (Jane Elliot) questions Lois (Rena Sofer) as to why there is no music for the party, Lois realizes she forgot, and somehow, who does she call to the rescue? Spinelli (Bradford Anderson)! Saving the day, he winds up playing some tunes and later gets on the dance floor to ‘shake it off’ with the gals.
Photo: ABC
Lois makes a speech as the mother of the bride, and shares how proud she is of the woman Brook Lynn has become. Wedding games begin, including one of “hot potato” with a wedding bouquet.
When it’s time for the “Silly Poses” section of the party, Spinelli has now morphed from DJ to staff photographer taking memorable photos of the ladies to remember the evening by.
Photo: ABC
The best part of the event, was when Brook Lynn tries to get her grandmother Tracy out on the dance floor, which, at first, she refuses. After several of the guests bust a move, a tipsy Tracy joins the dance party after Joss mentions that if her grandmother Bobbie was here, she would dance. Tracy says “she agrees” and begins to cut a rug on the floor, much to the delight of the other women.
Photo: ABC
In the final moments, a tipsy Joss and Kristina (Kate Mansi) have a confrontation about Sonny, and Joss lets Kristina in more on Sonny’s behavior, which looks to have clued in Kristina a bit more as to how something is way off about her dad.
Photo: ABC
Across town at the Hatchett Bar, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and the men with the exception of Anna (Finola Hughes) and Jordan (Tanisha Harper), all attend Chase’s Bachelor Party where throwing hatchets into a dart board for supremacy is the order of the day. Drew (Cameron Mathison) and Ned (Wally Kurth) get into some words over ELQ, while Dante makes a toast to his police partner, Chase.
Photo: ABC
Suddenly Dex (Evan Hofer) shows up. Chase thanks Dex for coming, but Dex gets some dirty looks from other cops on the force. Dante gives Chase his present, which is a signed baseball by the Boston Red Sox.
Ned (Wally Kurth) makes a speech that although no one is good enough for his daughter, Brook Lynn, Chase has come closer than anyone has, so welcome to the family. Running in at the end is Blaze (Jacqueline Grace Lopez), who just left Brook Lynn’s party, and she toasts her singing partner, Chase, and to the great man that he is.
Photo: ABC
What did you think of Brook Lynn and Chase’s pre-wedding celebrations? What was your favorite moment? Comment below.
General Hospital
Cameron Mathison Previews New Game Show ‘Beat The Bridge’ (Promo)
As previously reported, Cameron Mathison (Drew, General Hospital) will be seen doing double duty this summer when he premieres in June as the host of Game Show Network’s Beat The Bridge.
Now, while Cameron will be the host with the most, that doesn’t mean he will stop playing GH’s Drew. In fact, Mathison taped the game show in 2023, so it will now air for the first time in 2024.
Taking to his Instagram this week, Cameron shared his enthusiasm and some new hosting snaps, sharing, “Our newest game show host reporting for duty😎 Head over to the Game Show Network YouTube channel for your first look at the show and don’t miss Beat The Bridge premiering this June! I can’t wait for you guys to see this!”
Photo: GSN
In Beat The Bridge, an enormous interactive bridge dares players to cross by stepping on the right answers to challenging trivia questions. As they play, each steps forward and puts money in their team’s bank, with bonus money for each successful crossing. Here’s the catch: the team gets to keep the money only if it can “beat the bridge” by returning one of its players back across before time expires.
Photo: ABC
Meanwhile, on GH, Drew and Nina (Cynthia Watros) recently had hate-sex. Do you think its a one-time deal? Where will Drew’s story take him next under new head writers, Patrick Mulcahey and Elizabeth Korte? Stay tuned.
Now below, check out the first promo for Beat The Bridge from the Game Show Network with you host, Cameron Mathison. Then, let us know, will you be checking out the game this summer? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nina Confronts Ava for Sabotaging Her Relationship With Sonny and Signs the Divorce Papers
Looks like Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Ava (Maura West) are back to be each other’s sworn enemy number one. By the end of the Monday, April 22nd episode of General Hospital, the women know where they stand with each other after Nina goes in on Ava accusing her of wanting Sonny (Maurice Benard) all to herself, while her marriage has been on the rocks.
In story, at Nina’s office, Ava shows up to see Nina and says she is sorry about what happened with Sonny and that he reacted the way he did, acknowledging that is was over the top, even for Sonny. Ava says she’ll smooth things over, but Nina says she now understands how manipulative and transparent Ava really is.
Given their horrible history, Nina goes in on Ava and how she should never have trusted her. Nina wants to know how long has Ava had this agenda dating all the way back to telling Nina to turn Carly (Laura Wright) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) into the SEC. Ava says she never told her do to that, but Nina wants to know how long Ava has been playing her for a fool.
Courtesy/ABC
Ava says she moved in with Sonny to keep Avery safe and she wants to be on good terms with Avery’s father, Sonny. Nina thinks she likes being in Sonny’s inner circle. Ava tells Nina if she goes to him about her advising Nina to call the SEC on Carly and Drew, it won’t work. Sonny still considers Nina a traitor and he will think she’s lying because she’s so desperate to win him back. Ava says if Nina would stop blaming everyone else that maybe Sonny would respect her. Nina says “like he does you?” Ava says Sonny not only respects her, but he also counts on her.
From there, Ava launches into why she and Sonny understand each other, after all, Sonny is a powerful, turbulent, and sometimes violent man. She goes so far to say if Nina wanted someone to just sit by the fire with and play with their grandchildren, she’s got the wrong guy. Ava then talks about Mike from Nixon Falls (Sonny with amnesia) and how Sonny hid the darkest parts of himself from Nina back then, whereas with Ava they are the same similar creatures, so he doesn’t have to hide anything.
Courtesy/ABC
Nina wants to know just what Ava wants with Sonny? What is her end game? Ava responds that they understand each other, in ways she can’t with Sonny. Nina tells Ava she can go ahead and have it all and signs Sonny’s divorce papers. Ava walks out with the documents, while Nina in tears at her desk, takes off her wedding rings and has her assistant come in so she can messenger the rings back to Sonny’s address.
The episode and these scenes featured great performances by Cynthia Watros and Maura West. You can check some of the scenes below.
Now, let us know, what is Ava’s next move? Is she going to become Mrs. Sonny Corinthos? Do you like Ava and Nina as enemies? Comment below.
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She deserves an Emmy! She’s incredibly talented. She convinces me in EVERY SCENE she is in!
YES to all of the above questions! And for sure when KMc is ready, I hope she’ll come back. That entire story is what brought me back to watch GH in the first place and when they didn’t show it for months (until August) I sort of gave up hope on the show. They need to keep that story moving with or without her. I’m obviously a big Devane/Lavery/Scorpio/Drake fan. My fam needs story
She’s the best, I’m glad she’s back full time, and hope she gets nominated for the Emmy .
She is awesome and a fave!!! I wish all good things for her! She is a beautiful and sexy lady! GH has a number of sexy ladies. She is so talented and we are so lucky to have her back and I hope she stays for a very long time. I would hope she gets the Emmy nom and hopefully the win! She deserves it! I really want her to get back with Robert but… if she has awhile with a great relationship with Duke… I am all for it! Of course I love seeing her work with KM and would love her back anytime they can make it happen! I would love to see more of her with Tracy and Emma… actually more of Anna with everyone is best!!! Keep up the great work Finola… we are so lucky to have you on GH!!!
yeah, she’s my fave GH actress, and I love her chemistry with Tristan Rogers & Kimberly McCullough.
I don’t think Anna&Duke are nearly as interesting without Robert in the mix. He really needs to return.
A Scorpio/Drake/Lavery/Faison adventure would be awesome!
Im with everything you said!
I will be rooting for her to win the emmy.Love her with Kimberly always have. I am liking Duke now, but I wouldn rather she be with Tristan R. I really wish Kimberly the very best in what she wants to do with her life..I am very happy that we at least have Anna.
I do not like Anna & Duke together..
That couple is overwhelming boring..
It’s grandma and grandpa dull ..
Still absolutely thrilled to have Duke and Anna back together! They are one of the best pairings that GH has ever had. Smart, sweet, strong, and so so SEXY. I do hope that Robert comes back (with Holly along!) and they all have a fantastic story finding Robin. Scenes with Emma and all 4 of her grandparents, as well as her parents, would be great! I don’t care for Robert and Anna together romantically (so I hope Cartini don’t go there, lol), but I do enjoy them as friends and working together. I’d really like to be seeing more Anna and Duke than we’ve been getting, but I’m happy to have them at all after so many years, so I’m being patient.
Finola is just awesome – soaps are like Madonna, LMAO!
Emmy is certainly in the horizon for Ms Hughes, and well deserved as she’s shown me in each and every scene she’s been in. Finola certainly has perfected her craft beautifully over the years she’s even made kissing a rubber mask believable! I have to be honest but I really miss Anna with Luke and wish that had not ended so abruptly. Tony and Finola have such great chemisty and work wonderfully off one another there is so much more story to tell there. I hope RC revisits them real soon. As for Kimberly of course I’d love for her to return as Robin but not if it means giving up her dream. I want her to soar and succeed as a women director, not very many of them out there.
She can take the emmy home now, because it will be hers in a few short weeks anyhow. Anna’s true love has always been Duke. The fact that their characters are so opposite is such a good combo. Robert has always fallen into that best friend category. Besides, Anna and Robert had their chance both before, during and after Duke and they’re still not together today.
Anna Devane is not my favorite character on GH, but I do admit that Hughes is a great actress and I enjoy her scenes.
I am always enthralled went she is on. Finola brings such depth to her scenes that I cannot ignore her. I wish her the best of luck with the nomination. She is truly deserving.
With Robin returning soon will this break-up Sabrina and Dr. Drake?
Spoiler says K.M. will film 40 episodes this summer to air on gh in sept. to nov.? Spoiler hinted Maura West only temp and will be killed off? Any truth ot someone just guessing?
Finola rocks and I really enjoy watching her….I wished they would bring Robert back because I absolutely love how Tristan Rogers and Finola Hughes plays off each other.
She is the coolest most beautiful natural woman. I just love her and having her back on GH has made the world of difference. Thanks GH.
I am definitely rooting for Finola to get an Emmy nom and win, specially since her first win she wasn’t on hand to receive it!
And she looks as good as she did in the 80s even if the big hair is gone LOL!
As for Kimberly, we need Robin back long enough to give closure on Robin’s enprisonment. This story has dragged on now over a year and it is unfair to GH and Robin fans to be left hanging for months on end, aching for this story to end and for Robin to be reunited with her husband, child and the rest of her family and all her friends who adore her. If at the end it means Scrubs fades to the backburner or off completely, I can handle that-but dammit Robin and Scrubs deserve their reunion and happy ending. To leave it hanging this way is an injustice to us loyal fans who have stuck it out all this time!
I am enjoying GH still a lot-love the blossoming romance of AJ and Elizabeth, adjusting pretty well to NuLulu and looking forward to many new faces or old ones returning. I have been a loyal GH fan for 30 years now and plan to keep watching. But Robin is my all time fav GH character and for me to fully enjoy GH I need to see this horrible story ended and resolved!
Jenny
Finola is a classy lady and an amazing actress. So pleased she was on the pre-nomination Emmy list but am shocked and disappointed she was not short-listed this week. I believe she would have won for lead actress. She certainly deserves it.
Not a fan of Duke with Anna this go around. I’d much rather see Anna with someone new which includes an exciting new storyline.
I’d love to see Kimberly back if she can fit it into her schedule! Anna and Robin are one of the very best mother/daughter duos. Love them together!
As far as an Emmy nomination, I was absolutely stunned Finola was not nominated!!! In fact, I still can’t believe it! Unbelieveable!