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Maurice Benard Reveals He Just Signed New Contract To Stay With GH!

Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

Within the last half hour, Daytime Emmy winner and soap superstar, Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) has announced that he is staying put at General Hospital and that he just signed his contract to stay with the lone ABC soap, which is on the rise!

Benard revealed both on his Twitter account and Facebook page the following:  “I just signed my contract for General Hospital. It makes me feel good that I’m not leaving my family.”

While the details of how long the contract is for was not revealed, it looks like this major player is on board to continue to see what is next for Sonny Corinthos under the more than capable hands of of executive producer, Frank Valentini and head writer, Ron Carlivati.

So soapers, now that you know Maurice is continuing on in Port Charles, what story would you like to see next for Sonny?  Let us know!

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Ugh, why do they insist on keeping him?

Because he has fans who love him and he is a great part of GH..
I like the way he is being written, lately..

I agree. Maurice is amazing. They need for Sonny to move out of the mob and become a mentor or something positive.

I would rather hear that Jack Wagner, Tristan Rogers, Kimberly McCullough, Genie Francis, Wally Kurth, Stuart Damon, Vanessa Marcil, Ingo Rademacher, or Jonathan Jackson were coming back and on-contract! This has been the Sonny show for almost 20 years and the show should let him go or revert him to back burner because I am so sick of Sonny, his world, his women…it’s all been done to death!! This character overstayed his welcome and I am just as done with him as I was Jason. I would have loved for today’s breaking news to be that “Maurice Benard Follows Steve Burton’s Exit from GH!” I don’t want to be mean because I think Maurice is talented and a wonderful man but this character ate the show and my utter disgust for Sonny is all due to the people who ran this show into the ground for over a decade. I love what FV and RC are doing with the show but the one person I still fast forward unless he is in scenes with AJ is Sonny!!!

I couldn’t agree with you more! Add Jackie Zeman, Denise Alexander, and Kin Shriner to the list I’d take over Sonny! I’ve watched since 1973–long before Port Charles ever heard of Sonny Corinthos. Had he been tied to the show’s previous decades (son of the late Dr. Phil Brewer, Jessie’s monster of a husband, or another unknown son of the late Dr. Steve Hardy…), I might’ve cared more. But as you said, it’s all been done to death. I detested the last producing and writing regime and am a huge fan of EP Frank Valentini & Writer Ron Carlivati from their work on OLTL, too. They have turned the show around so much, I can’t wait to see the next episode from day to day again for the first time in many years. They have brought beautiful BALANCE back to the show, and I’m actually enjoying ALL the stories, with former legendary characters back in action again with current existing Port Charles residents, with a nice splash of OLTL’s Llanview thrown in. As long as Maurice Benard as Sonny Corinthos is a part of the show again, and not THE SHOW, I’m fine with him staying. I appreciate his acting, though have never been a Sonny or Jason Morgan (only Quartermaine) fan, because the show focused exclusively on them and a few others in their orbit like Carly & Sam, but I am at least enjoying Sonny’s story since it focuses more on Kate/Connie.

Excellent post!

I agree with your comments above.

I hope GH did not waste a good portion of their budget on this character. This character has been worked to death. All he does is read the cards and mumble his way through his lines. Maurice did not even have chemisry with Vanessa on her brief return. Vanessa had so much more chemistry with Steve and Dominic during her short stay.

Thank you Marisa I thought I was the only one that notices he is looking off in no man’s land half the time he is reading cue cards and gets paid probably the most of anyone on the show.

i am a true sonny fan 100% am glad he is staying because the rating boost will
only last for a short while and maurice is well loved by alot of fans

and i cannot wait for steve burton to return and he will

abc and rc and fv know they need to keep him on gh

and i agree bring vanessa marcil back as brenda for sonny they did have a wonderful love story
but just my opinion but i am glad he is staying

I love Sonny Im a true fan of his. I have been watching him on GH since the show first aired. GH will not be the same without him.

I would like the writers to send him on a very long vacation. I am so sick of the Sonny show. His character has become so pathetic. It is painful to watch him try to act. I have no compassion for this sick killer. Connie is the sane one. She wants out. Kate is crazy for wanting this mobster. Please give Sonny less air time. GH has such a great cast. The writers need to use all of the talent on the show. The show is so much better when we see all of the characters with story lines.

What Sonny show? What show are you watching. It’s the Todd show!!!!

yes love sonny, i love todd as roger howarth but too much air time

i say get rid of connie before she destroys johnny z. love brandon barash
as well

Agree.. I fastforward thru much of Sonny’s scenes… Def not watching because of Sonny..

Probably because the whole show revolves around him in one way or another! Im glad.

Sonny has half his screen time..
I wish he would get a good story and be back on my screen..
He has’t been played as often during this past year..

yeah i want to see more sonny and i guess abc agrees they did re new
his contract i think he is a beloved character and abc knows it

just like eric b on y&r

I love Sonny.. good to know he will be around, most likely, to the end ..

yeah, yeah yeah!!!! love those dimples

I am happy.Fan of Sonny’s.Happy to see my
old favs return and still keep MB.Sonny &
Brenda one of my all time favs..New
Writers are doing a great job with storylines
For all..

i agree melissa

yes melissa bring back vanessa marcil aka brenda for sonny

they had one of the best loved storylines and were a great soap couple

I think the writers and the exec are spreading the storylines around . It is not the Sonny Show anymore. Good fo!r Mr. Benard

mb has less air time but when he is on you know it and believe me i am a mb
fan love him 100% he is the main reason i watch daily and dvr and re watch
on soap net at nite

i would love for jason aka steve burton to return to be with sonny in some kind
of storyline

With all due respect to Mr. Bernard, as the story begins to take shape around the Quatermaines, he is becoming an outsider. The writers clearly don’t want this to be a crim drama and neither do the fans.

GH revolves around Sonny becuz that’s what the majority of the fans want! Love him or hate him but he still makes a huge impact on practically every loyal viewer, either pro-sonny or against him.I personally admire him for being a manic depressive in real life and how it was written into his character becuz of that. After my own diagnosis of the same illness in the late 90s I’ve been hooked since. Kudos Maurice, and goodluck!

agree 100%

rachel you are right kudos to mb and his loyal fans

This is the best GH news ever. GH got this one right. The show is doing so good now and with Maurice on board will only continue to rise. I want to see the Kate/Sonny/Connie story play out. This is definitely the best writing Sonny has had in a really long time. I am a happy Mo fan this morning.

i am as well a MO fan and have been for 20 yrs or more

and fv and rc know they need him on gh anyway they can get him

could you imagine him leaving just shortly after steve chose to leave that would
be really a bad move for gh and abc knows it
he has millions of fans because when i say what soap i watch the reply is always the same “i love sonny and jason”

now maurice is staying i hope steve returns soon to kick aj out

cannot stand aj, duke or faison get rid of the asap!!!

I think you guys are being unfair. It has definitely not been the “Sonny show” since the regime change. The stories are much more balanced across all characters. I love that Sonny is staying. Thank you Maurice and GH for continuing to make terrific stories.

I agree. It is a much more balanced ensemble. Frank and Ron did that for years over at One life to Live. They know how to mix storylines and characters better than any team in daytime.

So very happy Maurice is staying. Love the man and love his character. I am glad they now vocus more the Family man than the Mobster angle. Now we need Jason back. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE GH.

yes!!! love maurice and steve and am happy he is staying

Looks like I still need to keep the remote handy…I will continue FFing most, if not all, Sonny scenes. I absolutely hate the way he yells and struts and plays god all the time. This would have been the perfect time to retire Sonny and all things mob related!

Ditto!!!!

Ditto also!

I’m so happy he is staying! The difference in the Sonny character since Ron Carlivati and Frank Valentini took over is wonderful and I’m excited to see what they have in store for him. I’m enjoying the character for the first time in years. Ron gets the character and it is obvious Maurice Bernard is once again enjoying playing him!

Hurray!! A great actor staying till the end, unlike another who quit!!!

Unfortunately Sonny and Maurice have become, to GH, what Reva and Kim Zimmer was to GL: the character that ate the show. Both are (in my opinion) very talented performers, and both have played characters who have been allowed to overshadow the rest of the show’s characters, to the show’s detriment. I like what Carlivati and Valentini have been doing in terms of trying to restore some perspective–Sonny is actually suffering some fallout with Michael because of who he is and how he has behaved, instead of everybody automatically worshipping everything Sonny does and thinking he can do no wrong–but I really think the show could use a break from Sonny. Failing that, I hope they’ll continue moving toward a balance of stories and an ensemble piece, rather than the Sonny-(Jason)-Carly show that GH has been for years.

I used to share in the anti-Sonny vitriol, but I like the balance that the new regime has employed. It’s no longer “The Soapranos.” By putting Finola Hughes on contract and making Anna Devane the police chief, it’s clear that the PCPD are no longer going to be the Keystone Kops. Steve Burton’s departure further diminishes the Corinthos empire. I WOULD like to see Tristan Rogers put on contract as Robert Scorpio. His scenes with Constance Towers yesterday were MAGIC! “Science fiction? This from the lady who tried to freeze the city with a jewel-powered weather machine?” Delicious!

That was a great line yesterday – those were the 80’s! ha!! Would love to see more of Tristan Rogers 🙂

He has been on GH a long time…I like the change in his character…I don’t think it is the Sonny show quite as much now. As it was two or three years ago when it was the Sonny show…We see our favorites too..Everyone gets their turn.. One more tidbit , I read ABC Soaps in depth and it said Lucy Coe is coming to Port Charles on Dec. 14…In
time for the hospital ball………….That is good news……

Actually for the fist lime in 20 yrs, I am actually liking Sonny. The show is no longer the Sonny show, it is more balanced and the Q’s and the Scorpio’s are slowly coming back front burner. As long as it keeps going and Sonny finally goes to Prison (Briefly) that is progress. MB is glad that Sonny is finally acting Human.

Very happy, even though I don’t watch GH

I’d like to see him be a grandfather to Dante and Lulu’s child. I like Sonny, and his adorable dimples : ) I’m sure they can find a story for him. Maybe he could get some life threatening illness which would bring out his vulnerable side? I’m sure the writers will put together a good storyline for him. He’s got potential. IMHO.

Sorry to hear of the re-signing – the character of Sonny out-lived its usefulness years ago. Hate the mob, hate all in its orbit.

I’m glad Maurice is staying. Despite what some believe, it is not the “Sonny Show” anymore. I think the show is more balanced now.

I’m not sure what I want to see for Sonny romance-wise. Something needs to happen with the Kate/Connie thing because her schtick is getting old, but since this a former OLTL regime, I can see the DID storyline going on and on. Not to mention I also smell a Natalie/Jessica (two different fathers or two fertilized eggs) with Maxi being Lulu and Dante’s surrogate. I think they will have Maxi and Spinelli sleep together and Maxi will probably be pregnant with both Spinelli’s child and Dante and Lulu’s baby which, of course, will cause so much angst and go on forever. 🙁

I think I would like to see Sonny spend more time at the new boxing ring mentoring boys and being a grandfather, things like that.

Now if they could only give him a worthy leading lady!

WOW…First of all, if you’re really watching GH then you know this show doesn’t revolve around Sonny.

LOVE MAURICE & I’M SO GLAD HE’S STAYING!!!!!!
I really hope they reunite Sonny & Kate soon. Looking forward to Sonny becoming a grand dad. More Sonny & Dante please!
Without Maurice & Sonny I wouldn’t be watching GH, period.
And I said that without bashing any actor I don’t like and it was really easy to don’t lol

I am glad he has re-signed. I do however think he needs a woman that he can have a relationship with and explore that again. I love Kelly Sullivan’s Kate/Connie but I love her as her..maybe not her with Sonny. The scenes with Johnny & Connie sparked some interest, perhaps once shes whole..they may explore that. But to see Sonny with someone else…don’t know who, or someone new? Just needs a fresh story for a new year 🙂 LOVE GH!! 🙂 Looking forward to 50 yrs of GH hitting!

I’m glad Maurice is staying until the end. I love Sonny and the mob stories. I didn’t watch in the 80s or the 90s so I don’t know who all these people are and it makes GH not as enjoyable to watch as before for me but its more balanced and the show is doing better ratings wise.

i agree love the mob storyline and sonny i have been watching for 22 yrs and
do not remember much of the 80s and only got hooked on sonny with brenda in
i think the early 90s but not sure

do wish brenda would come back they had a great love story

I’m glad he’s staying. It wouldn’t be GH without him..BUT, IMO they have got to release him from his isolation with Kate and put him back to being involved with his family and children and Carly. IMO, when they removed him from those connections, that is when his appeal and his character took big hits and made him dull and uninteresting. Looking back this began when they started to remove him from the mob and put him with Emily and then Kate, changing him to someone he really wasn’t.

I don’t see anything wrong with him being a mobster, he was ALWAYS a the mobster with the heart and he should have stayed that way. Kate has practically destroyed him. I say get rid of her HER.

Soooo happy Mo is keeping Sonny on GH! MB is an elegant, gorgeous man and a phenomenal actor under any talented pen. I love whenever Sonny is onscreen doing what he does. The Q’s and all those returning characters mean absolutely nothing to me. I would trade every one of them, wrap them all in a bow and ship them back wherever they’ve been for all these years – to keep Sonny. Everyone has a right to their faves and MB’s Sonny is polarizing but, worth every dime they pay him and MORE, IMO. Thank goodness, TPTB get that. Kudos to them, congratulations, MB and yaaayyyy Sonny fans!

yes i aagree with what you say these returing characters mean nothing to me
hate aj they think he can replace jason/steve burton NOT!!!!!
i love to just look at maurice in anyway i can see him everyday love the dimples
and agree he worth every dime they pay him abc knows they need him on gh
so does fv and rc i also love the mob storyline

glad to hear he’s staying… actually glad to hear that they’re doing contracts period!

it would be nice if they could bring on someone to perhaps be someone (female) that he could be with, even if it was a great friend – help him get over Kate or help Kate to snap out of it. Kinda like Emily was before they hooked up.

i am glad sonny is staying love him in any story line

I absolutely would not watch GH if Sonny was not in the mix. I think he should have more happening though. it seems not enough as in the past. Love him.

The only thing I know is Sonny should always stay in the mob. He should always stay in charge. I don’t want Sonny to become a good and upright citizen. Boring!!! Hurry up and bring Jason back so he can go right back to his old job. And boy was he good at it. Let Aviah’s baby be Sonny’s so the young Corinthios boy can stay young. Let Micheal and keke stay together. I don’t know about anyone else but I don’t want to see keke with the brothers again that’s over and done. Let Aviah’s baby get kidnapped by Silas crazy wife. Don’t ever let it come out that Sonny shot AJ. I definitely don’t want to see a long trail where Sonny goes to jail. Which would never happen so don’t waste our time. Who ever came up with the idea for Sonny to kill AJ made a huge stupid mistake. You should have at least made it an accident. Your going to regret that later. Everything will definitely have to come out. Unless Sonny kills Aviah and frames her some how for AJ’s death. Anyway your going to have to get creative because one thing I do know Sonny can NEVER go to jail. Don’t make that mistake.

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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General Hospital

Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital

If General Hospital’s Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) nuptials are on, you didn’t think Grandma Gloria Cerullo would miss out on the festivities, now did you?

Casting news from Soap Opera Digest reveals that Ellen Travolta is back taping scenes that will air the week of May 13th on the ABC daytime drama series.  When viewers learned that Carmine Cerullo, was also on his way back to Port Charles, now in the face and body of actor George Russo, it only made sense that Grandma Gloria would join Grandpa Cerullo. Look for them both mid-May.

As most people know, Ellen is the older sister to John Travolta. She first make appearances as Gloria back on GH in the mid-90s. Most recently, she returned to the Quartermaine mansion to meet up with daughter, Lois (Rena Sofer) and granddaughter Brook Lynn for Thanksgiving in Port Charles in 2023.  Michael Fairman TV interviewed Rena Sofer and Amanda Setton late last year where they shared what it had been liking working with Ellen, who remains very close to Sofer in real-life.

Photo: JPI

Amanda shared: “We fell in love immediately. What’s crazy is my maternal grandmother was Grandma Gloria. I had her till I was 30 and we were so close. She was really like a second mom to me. So, when I got this script and I’m reading “Grandma Gloria”, it was so bizarre. And then in meeting Ellen, she looks like my grandma – same haircut, same high cheekbones. It really did feel like I had a few days with my grandma. It was very, very special for me. Ellen is sweet, prepared, professional, talented and funny to boot. So, it was one of the best weeks I’ve had at work. I hope she comes back. My fingers are crossed.”

Photo: ABC

Now, we can’t imagine Brook Lynn and Chase’s wedding day to be smooth sailing, in fact, expect just the opposite, but could it be Grandma Gloria who is ultimately the hero or the calming voice of reason for any pre-wedding jitters? Stay tuned.

So, glad to know that Ellen Travolta will be back for Brook Lynn and Chase’s big day? Comment below.

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Breaking News

The Young and the Restless and General Hospital Actress and Writer, Meg Bennett, Passes Away at 75

Meg Bennett, who had played Julia Newman and later became a writer for the top-rated daytime drama, The Young and the Restless has died at the age of 75.  The news comes from her family who shared that she lost her battle to cancer back on April 11th.

Daytime fans remember fondly, Meg’s portrayal of Victor’s (Eric Braeden)first wife. Bennett joined the show in 1980, after her first soap stint for two years in the role of Liza Walton on Search for Tomorrow.

Impressed by her story notes, the late Bill Bell, then head writer of Y&R, had Meg doing double duty acting and writing on the show from 1983-1987. When he decided to write off the character of Julia, he also wanted Meg to stick around as a writer.  Not only did this begin a whole other daytime career for Bennett, but she was not done playing Julia either. Throughout the decades, Julia would still come back to Genoa City for a visit. Most recently, Y&R fans saw Julia in 2018, and again in 2020.

Photo: JPI

Bennett also appeared on Santa Barbara and was a writer on that show as well from 1991-1993. She played the role of Megan Richardson. It was next that Meg had her longest writing stint coming to ABC’s General Hospital. Meg wrote for GH from 1993-2011.

In 1995, Bennett won her first Daytime Emmy for writing and her personal life changed after falling in love with nine-time Daytime Emmy winner, former GH head writer, Bob Guza Jr. In addition, GH also utilized Bennett for her acting skill when she was cast as the villainess Allegra Montenegro.  Meg and Bog Guza were officially married in 2004 and purchased a home once owned by Boris Karloff and Gregory Peck.

Photo: JPI

Additionally, Meg wrote for The Bold and the Beautiful 1987-1989 and later served as a executive story consultant to Brad Bell from 2002-2004.  She also wrote for Sunset Beach, Generations and GH: Night Shift throughout her writing career. She went on to win five WGA Awards for GH and Santa Barbara.

Meg is survived by her husband of 19 years, Robert Guza Jr., two stepdaughters, four grandchildren, a brother and a sister.

Share your remembrances and condolences for Meg Bennett via the comment section below.

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