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General Hospital

THE EMMA SAMMS INTERVIEW- GENERAL HOSPITAL

emma_main.jpgEmma Samms returns this week to General Hospital to finally get us down to the nitty gritty. Who is Ethan? Is he Holly’s son with Luke Spencer? Or, the biological son of Robert Scorpio? Or, is this just another scam being pulled off by the beautiful con artist?

As part of the “GH” May Sweeps humdinger, Emma came back to the show to tape a few weeks worth of episodes, something she says, she “relishes” doing. Her last appearance on the soap was a few years back. Of course, we all remember her as the young Holly Sutton who captured the hearts of both Mr. Spencer and Mr. Scorpio during the legendary “GH” heyday. But from that heyday did an offspring… spring?

On-Air On-Soaps chatted with Emma about her exciting return, her numerous projects, family life in England, and her time on the primetime soap, Dynasty. Also, she’s getting to work with her old pal Tony Geary, and her newest buddy, Nathan Parsons, and she tells us she couldn’t be happier.

Here’s Emma!

Listen to the audio:

[display_podcast]

MICHAEL:

You are back on General Hospital this week! When you came back this time from your last visit two years ago, you came back to a new set and a different look, and the show in HD!

EMMA:

I tell you the new hospital set is amazing, but my character never goes anywhere near the hospital. The Police station, yes, but not the hospital. As far as High Definition, I hope I look good in it. (She laughs)

nathan_parsons.jpgMICHAEL:

How is working with Nathan Parsons (Ethan), presumed “son” of Holly?

EMMA:
I have he is amazing! I watched him before I met him and worked with him. Then as soon as I started working with him, I forgot whatever I was talking about, because he has such an interesting character and quality about him. It’s not your standard young actor. He is very interesting and the way he works, it makes you pay attention to him. I think everybody focuses on him. He is very charismatic. We have quite a few scenes together, and they have been very interesting, and that is all I am going to say! (She laughs)

MICHAEL:

So, as we have heard, he will turn out to be Luke Spencer or Robert Scorpio’s Son?

EMMA:

Yeah. That much I can tell you.

MICHAEL:

And Holly will be the mama?

EMMA:

Probably. I am very well trained by the ABC press department! (She laughs)

luke_scorpio.jpgMICHAEL:

Is Holly coming back with an agenda? What is precipitating her return?

EMMA:

I think it’s safe to say that Holly always has an agenda. I think there are a lot of people who are very keen on having her reunited with Scorpio, because that was such a successful pairing. But, what people have to remember is that she has been on her own for a long time, and it’s quite likely that she will revert back to type, which is a con artist. She’s from a whole family of swindlers and thieves, and in truth, it makes much more sense for her to be that character, if the writers are kind enough to bring me back every now and then. Holly is the type of character that you can bring back to cause a little trouble and than leave again. That idea of coming in and out of the plot and the show is what I am so happy to do.

MICHAEL:

So, Holly is either conning Luke with this Ethan, or she is there to tell Luke some truths?

EMMA:

Holly is always pleased to see Luke, as I am to see Tony Geary (Luke). I have been so lucky to have two marvelous on-screen relationships at “GH”, and I am very grateful for that. Of course, it was Tony who taught me to act at age 21. I think it’s safe to say that I was pretty rubbish….

holly_luke.jpgMICHAEL:

….And your first scene was in the pond, supposedly naked!

EMMA:

That’s right….

MICHAEL:

…I know my Holly.

EMMA:

You know the Holly trivia!

MICHAEL:

What do you think about Tony Geary? I think he is the consummate actor on soaps.

EMMA:

I totally agree with you, and the reason why, is he listens, he pays attention, he is not reading the lines in the way that you would necessarily think of them when you are first reading them, and he makes it all so different and exciting and interesting. I am still learning from him. The other thing about Tony is not only is he an amazing actor, he is an amazing person. It’s always a delight to be around him.

MICHAEL:

Well, it would be so exciting to have Holly, Luke, Robert and Tracy in a one big mess over Ethan!

tony_nathan.jpgEMMA:

A lot of people are hoping different things, and of course you can never make everybody happy, which can be a bit frustrating for an actor, because you are going to upset some people and you are going to make other people happy. I always hope, overall, you make more people happy than upset. You have to do essentially what the writers tell you to do.

MICHAEL:

I saw some “hot” chemistry with Maurice Benard (Sonny) on the set of “Good Day LA” when they did a segment on your first day back at “GH”. Do you think it would be fun for Holly and Sonny to mix it up?

EMMA:

I tell you, they would be two interesting characters together, if they were ever to have an issue to deal with that brings them closer.

MICHAEL:

So we can assume that Jane Eliot (Tracy) and you are going to really mix-it up?

EMMA:

I think one can assume that because it’s too good to miss, because Jane is such a fantastic actor as well. The interesting thing is now that I do all sorts of work other than soap operas, I therefore am on film sets and nighttime television shows, both here and England. The thing that makes the “GH” experience unique is that on a show like General Hospital everybody is nice and hard working and professional, because they won’t have you if you are not. You will get kicked off the show pronto, if you are none of those things. And, what a joy that is, and a difference that makes to go to the set and be surrounded by these really lovely people.

MICHAEL:

Well, Fallon, ( He laughs) when you played that part on the prime-time soap Dynasty, what was your take away from that experience and the primetime soaps of the 80’s?

dynasty.jpgEMMA:

Besides all the clothes in my attack? (She laughs) It was all mostly designed by Nolan Miller, and how lucky was I to wear those things? In truth, to be part of a show that has become an iconic representation of the 80’s generation is really a privilege. Who would have thought that after the show some 20 later, after the show has been finished, that people are still talking about it, and that it does represent the 80’s in such
a profound way.

MICHAEL:

Do you still stay in touch with some of your former Dynasty co-stars?

EMMA:

I do. The actor who played my love interest in the last couple of seasons who played the police officer, Roy Abruzzo, is a friend. He went onto to do The Sopranos for a couple of years. I have stayed in touch with him. In fact, I went to see him in a play a few weeks ago.

MICHAEL:

You live in the countryside in the UK. What have you been doing with yourself in England?

EMMA:

Mostly, I have been raising my kids who are now 11 and 12. I have a boy and a girl. I am blessed to have two such wonderful little people to devote my life too. I still work some. I do some bits and pieces for the BBC. I did a movie with Wesley Snipes a few years ago, and I did a mini-series in South Africa, except everything is a way from home! So, I try to limit it very much. I am going to be doing a very interesting job when I get back, which is that I am actually dancing in a modern ballet type production. I have not danced in a very long time.

MICHAEL:

Weren’t you a dancer originally in you career?

lisa_starlight.jpgEMMA:

Yes, I was!

MICHAEL:

See, I know my Emma Samms!

EMMA:

You know your Holly.

MICHAEL:

Of all your accomplishments, what are you most proud of?

EMMA:

I would say, by far, it’s having created with my cousin The Starlight Children’s Foundation. It’s now called, over here, the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation, which helps children who are critically, chronically and terminally ill. And, to have had a career that meant that I could use that celebrity, as it were, to do good things and help kids, and to help families going through horrible times…that’s the best thing in my career, by a long shot!

MICHAEL:

Are you still active in the organization?

emma_samms.jpgEMMA:

Very much so… and certainly in the UK! Business is booming for us. We have raised more and more money every year, and reaching more and more children, which is very satisfying.

MICHAEL:

In closing, emails have come into me from many of your long time female fans telling me to ask you your beauty tip.
You still look amazing! What is your secret?

EMMA:

Genetics is my secret, which is sadly the answer. I think we are all destined to age pretty much like our mother, unless we mess with it too much by being out in the sun a lot or smoking, or whatever. My mother looks fabulous. So, thank
goodness for that!

General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Learns Britt Died and Tells Anna He Has Been Working For Cates Since November 2021

On the Tuesday, March 26th of General Hospital, Anna (Finola Hughes) and the viewers learn about where Jason (Steve Burton) has been for over two and half years. However, Jason gets some news of his own.

Anna is visiting Jason at the PCPD interrogation room. She asks him if he shot Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), which he flatly denies. Anna believes him, but she tells Jason it doesn’t matter, because video footage shows him on the roof at the time of the shooting

When talk turns to Jason not willing to speak without his lawyer present, Anna can’t grasp why Jason would instead spend an hour alone talking with John Cates (Adam J. Harrington).

Photo: ABC

It is then that Anna brings up that John went by “Jagger” and that the two of them knew each other in high school. Jason doesn’t recall much of his time in high school following his brain injury, but then he gets furious realizing John knew about “Jason’s” past. That is when Jason slams the table and tells Anna, “I’ve been working for John Cates since November 2021.”

Next, Jason explains further that he has been working as an informant for the FBI. Anna wants to know how this came about and he tells her that after the tunnel collapsed, and he couldn’t make it to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud)… all of a sudden he sees Anna’s face drop.  Anna is the first person to tell him that Britt died and was murdered. She tells Jason the killer is in custody, but he continues to be shocked, overwhelmed with tears welling up in his eyes. Realizing he has to pivot to save his life, Jason continues telling Anna how he wound up working with John.

Jason explains that after the tunnel collapse in Greece, FBI agents grabbed him and placed him under arrest and took him to Quantico where he met John. At Quantico, John played a recording of RICO violations and offered Jason a deal if he agreed to be an informant against Pikeman, the illegal arms dealer.

Anna hears from Jason that he thinks Pikeman is selling illegal arms to anyone flagged by the NSA but has ties to the WSB which they needed a civilian to infiltrate their organization as a military soldier, a mercenary.

Jason tells Anna he was a part of the team brought into eliminate Sonny (Maurice Benard). Every time an attempt was made on Sonny’s life over the last two years, a different team was sent to do the job. Anna gets furious when she learns that John told Jason his job was to kill Sonny and she was with John at the warehouse that night. Jason ensured the sniper missed Sonny and left the rifle behind. However, they were supposed to meet an extraction team. Before he was shot, Dante saw it was Jason on the roof and when he turned around with his hands over his head, Dante was shot by the other guy. Jason says if Dante dies, he’ll be charged with capital murder and then will be useless to the FBI.

Photo: ABC

Meanwhile, John visits Bobbie’s and runs into Carly (Laura Wright). She learns Jason is in custody and is going to head to the PCPD. Before she does, Carly has some words with Cates when she learns not only does John have a vendetta against Sonny, but Jason too.  Carly tells John he should recuse himself from the case.

So, what did you think about the moment when Jason learned Britt died? What do you think of Jason’s return storyline thus far and what we learned about Jagger/Jason and more? Comment below. But first, check out a moment from today’s GH with Jason and Anna.

 

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