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Y&R's Jill Farren Phelps on Bringing Steve Burton to Genoa City: "I did not lure him away from GH nor did he leave GH to come to Y&R!"

Photo Credit: MF Soaps Inc.

Photo Credit: MF Soaps Inc.

Soap fans have been seemingly divided on the news that Steve Burton is now taping his new role of Dylan McAvoy on The Young and the Restless, after twenty-one years as Jason Morgan on General Hospital.

Longtime GH fans feel Burton stabbed them in the back, while others understand Burton’s decision to move his family to Nashville, while still wanting to work, but in a different role than he has played for decades and with his friend and longtime executive producer, Jill Farren Phelps, who has moved from GH to Y&R.

In a new interview with Michael Logan of TV Guide Magazine, Phelps fills in some gaps for fans and answers some burning questions.    Here are a few interesting excerpts below:

Phelps on if when Burton was in talks with GH to continue his contract, if Phelps offered him the opportunity to come with her to Y&R:  “Oh, I’m willing to bet I said something like that. (Laughs)  But jokingly! Contrary to whatever rumors are out there, I promise you I did not lure him away from GH nor did he leave GH to come to Y&R.”

Phelps on if Steve was the first choice in the creation of the role of Dylan McAvoy:  “We didn’t start talking seriously until about five weeks ago. We put out the character breakdown for Dylan McAvoy and we were seeing actors for the role. I just kept thinking how great Steve would be in the part but, at first, it was just a dream. I talked to his manager and we were able to make it work out so that Steve could continue to have the life he wants in Nashville. Plus, Steve loved the idea of playing a character very different from Jason Morgan.”

Phelps on if Dylan is completely new to town or if he has some secret past with some residents:  “He’s brand new. Initially, he’ll be with Avery and Nick and also Sharon. But there’s a long story for Dylan that takes him on a journey from character to character and, ultimately, to someplace you never dreamed he was going to go.”

So what do you think of Phelps comments on how Steve Burton landed on Y&R? Are you now looking forward to Burton’ debut on January 29th on the number one daytime soap opera? Let us know!

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Although I miss him as Jason and him not being on GH has left a huge void, I get why he left. What I don’t get is why GH didn’t recast his character. I think that the Jason character has a large play in a lot of story lines.

But who knows, maybe the recast of Jason is in the works!

I wouldn’t believe a word out of this miscreant’s mouth even if her tongue was notorized! Greats like Genie Francis, Beverlee McKinsey, Kim Zimmer, and Robin Strasser have all had to put up with her crap. Glad that Genie is off “Young and Restless” and doesn’t have to put up with this creature.

Let’s don’t forget that woman fired Anna Lee/Lila from GH without a concern in the world. Broke the woman’s heart so please her nose keeps getting bigger by every lie she tells I am so over SB coming to Y&R sorry it is not the second coming. I know she is the EP that was all over GF about her weight has she looked in the mirror lately?

HE WILL BE A LUCKY MAN TO WORK WITH SHARON CASE. SHARON IS THE BEST ACTRESS EVER!!!!!!!!

really?………Like I believe anythng JFP says to anyone…….to little to late………don’t care you both deserve each other.

I agree. Jill lies all of the time. She lured him in a contract so that Sony will see that he works well and will greenlight the project they are working on

Yeah and she didn’t kill off Frankie Frame either.

Was she responsible for Frankie Frame’s awful death?!?! All I kept thinking while reading her interview was her claim that she wasn’t going to fire Genie again. Surprise!

Like i said in my post go read the entire interview she also said she loved Stephen Nichols/Tucker guess who is gone. This woman is a liar I do not care that Steve Burton is coming over but if you lie about one thing you will lie about another. She is totally unprofessional.

OMG Max I was going to say the same thing! LMAO

Soap fans are like elephants they never forget- and apparently they never forgive either. Another World has been off the air for over ten years and you are still mad at Jill for making the decision to kill her off– yes, it was more graphic than it had to be, but plot wise, it was a good story line, and the last we saw Frankie her spirit was giving her blessing to Cass in his new marriage. If Frankie is at peace with death, maybe it is time to move on. Let’s just pick Jill apart for decisions she makes in 2013.

No they do not and your right it has been off the air but everywhere she goes trouble follows. We have a nu-Noah a nu-Summer Alex the cop the two guys Mason & Tyler hogging air time before we even get to know or care about them. Now Noah’s girlfriend you tune into a soap that you have watched forever to see your family not a bunch of newbies thrown at us. MAB did the same thing it should be a slow build read the late great Douglas Marland’s book on how to kill a soap and they are putting the final nail I mean does anyone really care about Avery/Betty Crocker now she is front and center acting like a giggly school girl

I don’t care how long it’s been off the air. It was my favorite soap of all and I loved Frankie and she should not have been killed off like that. I will be angry about that forever!!!

There are so many reasons… Another World was one of my favorites…. Alice Barrett was right up near the top…. HOT Woman!

Killing off Frankie Frame was criminal.

I move that this Steve Burton issue be tabled forever. Opposing parties may keep their opinions but those on each side must abide by the call to accept that GH once and Y&R will continue to work to tell compelling stories involveing cahracters played by the actor Burton who has shown he is popular with fans and an important player in the daytime drama genre.

Really, Mr. Burton has every right to pick and choose stops on his career path as he believes suits him and his family best. We in the audience must accept that fact and may either contnue to watch him and his shows or not.

The continued debate about this matter does not cast the most favorable light on daytime drama which by its nature grows and changes and evolves.

Best of luck, Mr. Burton, JFP, and Y&R. I look forward to the adiditon of a new cahracter and the continued reboot of a favorite soap.

Best of lulck, GH and company. While disappointed in how the Jason Mrogan storyline unfolded (that twin revelation and his sudden death), no body was recovered and no one seems to die in Port Charles. A recast is likely and will be welcomed.

Now tune in tomorrow…

I second that motion 100% Iakovos, very well said !!!

Enough Said. You are so right. <3

ITA! Iakovos, people change jobs all the time. I wish all my fav soap folks the best of whatever they want personally and professionally.

While I’m not sure how happy I would be with a Jason recast, I do agree with everything else. It’s a soap and people need to move on. He has a right to choose his own career path, just as we all do. People take this all way too seriously.

I go along with Iakovos’ post – we fans can’t change things – and after all – it is Steve Burton’s life. I wish Steve good luck playing a new character on Y & R and hope that GH will recast the role of Jason. I feel the role of Jason is very important to GH and we fans really need to have another actor take over the role of Jason to make the GH soap complete.

Good luck Steve Burton. I don’t think it was the best choice for your career but I wish you the best of luck. I think the role of Jason should be recast. It will be difficult for the fans at first but we will adjust and GH will thrive.

As for JFP, given enough time she will hang herself. Hopefulkly, she will not destroy Y&R in the process.

Read the entire interview the woman is the biggest liar I have ever known in soaps. She has brought on how many of her buddies now? He does not come cheap I really wonder if it is as all hugs and kisses over there.

k/kay- mary sf here- couldn’t respond directly to your response to my post so I will do it here. The sf in my name stand for soap fan. You and others who have read my posts should know by now I truly love the genre. I think it one of best forms of story telling there is. I think daytime drama don’t get the respect and credit they deserve for it. But as much as I love the form, I know it is just television, it is entertainment, it holds value for me, but I value my spirit more than a soap.

Perhaps that is why I have such a difficult time understanding how so many people, not just you, can be so upset about story lines that happened years ago. My real life has enough difficulties in it, that to spend the time or energy hanging on to something that happened so long ago on a television show is something I just don’t get.

In my post I was attempting to use humor as a way to diffuse the bitterness and rancor I was reading, not for JFP sake, but for the sake of you and other posters I gotten to kinda know in this format. I cannot, nor will not tell any of you how to feel. Your dislike for this woman is obvious but is really worth it ? Has being angry at JFP for killing Frankie or whatever creative choice she made on whatever soap made your life better?

JFP may exactly like you said she is- and if she ends of destroying this soap that would be sad. And I would be upset, just like I was upset when they cancelled AW. But over time I forgave TPTB for doing that, and my life moved on. I don’t like all the choices she has made on this show either and agree with a lot of points you made in your response. And it is great we have this forum to vent our frustrations about choices we cannot control. But I hope everyone will just keep some kind of perspective here and remember some things in life are more valuable in life than soaps and one of those things is our spiritual well being. Forgive me if it sounds like I’m preaching, but I just happen to think you are worth more than what happen on a soap so long ago-

Mary you are right just sorry if it happens to Y&R she just rubs me the wrong way!

I don’t want to see y&r destroyed either, but trust me, if JFP destroys it, it is because the powers that be at Sony and CBS Daytime want her to. Her bosses are not idiots, they know her rep, they know what she brings to the table. So unless they are totally clueless, which is doubtful, they are going to get the result they want whatever that might be. As viewers we play into their hands and stop watching the show, giving them the reason they need to pull the plug, or we can hang in there, like we did during MAB years. Lets us keep sending the message to Sony and CBS, we love this show and we are not going anywhere. If they want to kill it, let them get their hands bloodied and do it, but this fan isn’t going to help them avoid the fall out, by bailing on the show, so they can blame the ratings.

SHARON CASE WILL BE WORKING WITH HIM. SHARON IS A TALENT AND HE WILL DO GREAT WITH HER 🙂

I really dont feel its any bodys bussiness other then steve burton himself,this is his life his career,his reasons are his reasons,,,fans need to remember the actors that play these roles are individuals outside of there characters..for whatever personal reasons steve burton chose to leave his role of jason morgan and take another job over at young and restless is his own personal choice,,,best wishes to you steve whereever your journey takes you.

Exactly.

SB HAS BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS HE WANTED TO LEAVE GH ,SO I’M SURE THIS WAS THE WAY IT WENT DOWN,HE PROBABLY MISSED WORKING.AND WANTED SOMETHING NEW.MAYBE HE WAS BORED WITH JASON .I SURE WAS ! BUT I’LL GIVE SB A CHANCE ON Y& R AS LONG AS JILL N JOSH DON;T TAKE TIME FROM ADAM/MICHAEL.

they can take all the time from Victor.

Good riddance Steve! You and Phelps deserve each other. I feel like once both of them left GH, a dark cloud moved out of Port Charles. Any else notice how dark YR is getting? Your going to wish MAB was back pronto.

I would never with Maria Arena back to Y&R. Jill and Josh have made Y&R more consistent and have cut loose ends that needed to be cut. It’s reminding me more of what the show was 10 years ago. It’s perfect.

Well I won’t weigh in on whether it was all planned or not, or who lie to who- but I love a challenge. JFP states that Dylan will end up where no one would dream of- so here are three top choices, undreamed of possibilities for Dylan McAvoy

1. We find out Victor has been a closeted homosexual all these years, and Dylan will become his life partner and they will rule GC from the penthouse together.

2. Murphy sadly passes away and Dylan become Katherine’s Chancellor’s new boy toy

3. We find out Paul Williams MIA brother Steve has been in the witness protection program all these years. His name was change to McAvoy and Dylan will be his son, so Paul will be his uncle. And the two will fight the Mob so poor Steve can finally come home.

I think it is BS, do I feel stabbed in the back, no, Steve can do what he wants and work for who he wants. I just think all the BS was completely unnecessary, Steve should have just said I’m leaving for personal & business reason. Like I said I have no problem with him going to YnR, I just don’t like the shady way IMO that it was done.

I understand JFP commenting on this issue now, as there are such varying opinions on Steve’s reasons for said move, and I do not have a problem with her wanting someone she trusts and respects as an actor and a person working with her, who wouldn’t? I am a long time fan of GH (watched it long before Steve came on board), and miss Jason/Steve Burton on there GREATLY, but I understand and respect his choice for change, and look forward to seeing him play another character on Y&R, which I have never watched before, and I am sure this type of “new” viewer is probably what JFP was hoping for and again I say, who wouldn’t. I wish Steve much good luck in his new role.

Happy for him. The character of Jason Morgan had been decimated over the last 3-4 years. For heaven’s sake, he was sitting around making shell necklaces on a beach and carrying around a ceramic tchotchke. His best work was when Jason Morgan was warring with Jason Quartermaine’s heart. Wish him well, and I will be tuning into Y&R for the first time to see him.

from a full time newbie fan (2-3 years now) Hooray.. i love GH.

I was caught up in Jason/Sam storyline. However, his last year, and/or after he married Sam… he starting going downhill… and became the shell of the person he was.

when GH did give us glimpses’ of Jason, as a quartermaine…made me realize… THIS GUY CAN ACT. Dag… playing a mob guy must have gotten to be too much…..

stagnant in a role… hint: Victor. geez! he has the opportunity to flex his acting chops….

Good for Steve Burton….

I wish i had time for Y&R.

It’s GH and DAYS for me. i’m going to squeeze in AMC.

In response to what you wrote: “The character of Jason Morgan had been decimated over the last 3-4 years. For heaven’s sake, he was sitting around making shell necklaces on a beach and carrying around a ceramic tchotchke”

I’m trying to get my timeline correct, wasn’t JFP running GH during the
“decimation years” of Jason Morgan? HHHhmmmmmm…………

Here’s hoping GH continues to climb up in the ratings; find new viewers, or brings back old viewers who got BEYOND BORED with the show the last 3-5 years.

Let’s agree to disagree, lets ALL move on from this subject and lets ALL continue to SUPPORT GH!

Just my opinion,
Grace

Since I did not watch Steve on GH I am just glad to see Y&R add a new man . The ladies need a new eligible man.

I do not beleive her or him done with SB. Gh will be great with out him

If people read and listen to his comments in print and in Video before we found out he was going to Y&R you would have known why he did what he did. People some people are selfish and stuck on stupid and only want to see and hear what they want to hear. A soap is a job just like our jobs. And I a sure if you were give the opportunity to do what you wanted to do and love and have more time for other things you would do the same thing. Get over yourself and get a life and let SB live his. SMDH

Well said, Ladyg13. This is what separates those of us that understand acting is a job from the others that feel that every person that graces their screen owes them something. Think about all the nuts that cannot separate actor from character.

The world is a sad place sometimes especially these days when the majority has some sort of entitlement.

I laugh- some people believe they own the characters and they owe them explanations for what they decide to do with their personal lives when it ain’t none of their business lol ..

hope Steve has a great new career ..

Nut Up Much? LOL…. it’s with passion and remaining fastidious to la la land… i warn you….. Just saying…

I just wish the man luck. He has been faced with doing the same thing over and over again and was about to go through the sam rinse and repeat story. I don’t blame him for getting out and moving on. Hope his new character is a hit and all his other ventures rock!

Its sad because he’s belong to GH and she let jeff branson Out when fan want him Back she make place but we deserve Ronan Back we all miss him

I don’t care that he left for another show. I will miss him as Jason..and respect his decision. What bothers me is the WAY he left…lying to us..I don’t care what what’s her name says..its BS. This was planned and if he had only said he was leaving because he was bored playing Jason, or he got a better offer from Y&R or GH did not offer him time off to spend with his family..then WE THE FANS would accept it and wish him all the best and most likely follow him there. But I don’t care what what’s her name says..it’s a lie. This was planned and he will realize it when he doesnt get the following he THOUGHT he would all because of the way this was handled.

Agree.

Quite honestly, I don’t even miss Jason Morgan like I thought I would…not even a little bit.

As long as Steve Burton’s presence does not make Y&R the “Dylan McAvoy” show AND barring there is absolutely NO James Franco on Y&R ever, then I think it is a good move.

I am a glass-is-half-empty kind of girl so I had NO expectations with Jill coming on board. I have to say that most of her moves have been the right ones. The recast Noah and Summer have worked out very nicely. I like that Nikki and Victor are being showcased, but not on every day. I really like that Michael and Lauren are getting more time.

The only thing I didn’t care for was having Gloria’s Gloworm burn down, but I guess there was not much story there and Gloworm probably seemed too old for these millennials they are hoping will start watching.

I kinda glade he is gone. The show focused too much on him. Now they can focus on the hospital because the show is called “General hospital”
And please people…GET OVER IT!

I have never watched Young and Restless, but I will check it out now hat Steve Burton will be on there. I wish him well in whatever he does.

Glad Steve is happy. I understand wanting to move your family. Y&R made it so Steve can do both.

I am a Steve Burton fan first & foremost & support him wholeheartedly in his decision to return to daytime & take on the role of Dylan McAvoy on Y&R. I’ve always respected & admired the very fan friendly Jill Farren Phelps as well. She/Y&R were willing to offer Steve what Frank Valentini/GH would not. I don’t blame Steve for jumping at the opportunity to take on a new/different role & to work with his friend JFP again! This is a win-win for everyone involved. We get to see Steve Burton on our TV screens & he will bring A LOT of new viewers to Y&R! I wish Steve & Jill ALL the best in their latest collaboration!

Listen, I am “over” it. It never bothered me all that much to begin with. Yes, it is his life he should do what is best for him, and I wish him well.
BUT, there was absolutely no reason he couldn’t have stated that from the beginning. STEVE is the one who led us to believe one thing, while doing another, based on his words and actions. It is ‘put to rest’ for me, but please don’t tell me I don’t have a right to be angry at how I feel he treated his fans.
I am loving General Hospital right not and hope all you Y&R fans feel the same way!

lol Steve did what he said he would do and wanted to do..
he wanted to leave GH for a few years, his house sold his contract was up and he left..
He said he wanted to move his family to TN and he did..
He said he wanted more time with his family and Y&R are giving him what he wants..
when he had done what he said he wanted to do he then decided to take a new challenging job with Y&R..

get over it.. Steve has a life that does not include us .. and he owes us nothing and his personal life is none of our business..
🙂

I don’t care who Jill hires as long as they can act. I disagree with on thing. Steve is not the shot in the arm Y&R needs. Better stories are the shot in the arm the show needs. Hiring popular actors is merely the gravy if the story is strong.

The show still needs to work on its long them story structure. I still have yet to see how Noah’s story is tied to ANYTHING! Certainly not history. And in the process 2 other actors have been hired to move this rather pointless plot forward. Same goes for the cyber bullying story. The characters involved are seen to infrequently to have a great impact. Not to mention all the bullying is happening off screen by off screen bullies. Not resonating with me. Then there are the Winters. I’m glad to see them on screen more but the drama surrounding the characters is just blah. There are no real stakes in the corporate stories anymore. Bill Bell was easily the best at creating riveting corporate drama. No one in the last 7 years has been able to capture that magic. All the corporate stories are a revolving door of characters jumping ship, getting fired then re-hired and upping one over the other with no real or long term consequence to anything. So what’s the point of telling them?

The show still needs work. Writing isn’t there yet.

I don’t believe a thing that JP says. She has lied to us from the beginning!

Boy, I’d like to believe what he and she said, but “frankly, Scarlett…”

I think Dylan McAvoy will eventually be…………Katherines son.

I say if Steve B wants to work with JFP let him. I’m guessing by next year this time she will be out at Y&R because their numbers dropped significantly. She will ruin that show just as she almost did to GH.

I’m really sad 🙁 that Steve Burton left GH its not the same with him not being on there I havent really watched GH that much since he left. I still luv GH and I will still watch it but its really sad that he’s gone we miss Jason Morgan :(. I understand as a parent why he did what he did and I hope he’s happy and wish him well and good luck on Y&R I hope they luv u as much as all of us TH fans will miss u 🙁 Ur biggest fan Nicky

Burton sucks. GH is pulling out all the stops, doing everything possible to build itself out of the ashes from its previous regime. All these years, GH has kept Burton gainfully employed, giving him major story lines and a big fat pay check- even though (sorry) he no longer resembles the soap stud of his youth. At this time transition and hope, GH producers could have used some loyalty. Sorry, but his timing really sucks.

i don’t see either JFP or SB above fibbing, so who cares, GH is moving on and doing great at it, Jason or SB are not needed now. GH has an embarrassment of riches so adios SB and good luck.

Listen, I never thought Steve left General Hospital for The Young and the Restless, he left probably because his character was taken for a horrific drive and the JaSam relationship was destroyed. And he wanted time with his family. Jill and Sony probably offered him something that would let him be in Tennessee more than GH did in the end.

I bet JFP will have give SB a huge Paycheck to get him to go shirtless. SB rarely did in recent years. When he did, WOW!

Call SB, JFP’s Gigolo!

I never watch Y&R,so I really don’t care what Burton or Phelps do.

While I’m excited that GH has moved on so seamlessly in the wake of Steve Burton’s abrupt departure I’m hopeful that he will return to GH at some point even if it’s five or ten years from now, to at the very least bring closure to the character of Jason. If Kelly Monaco ever leaves the show I hope there’s a deal in place for a Jason/Sam happy ending even if Steve has to be on loan from Y&R at the time for a day or two. We all know Jason did not down in that lake!

I leave a response whenever I appreciate a article on a website or
I have something to valuable to contribute to the conversation.
Usually it is triggered by the passion displayed in the post I browsed.
And on this article Y&R

the truth is steve burton is more interested in getting a deal with sony, which own Y&R, and the best way to get the little deal he’s trying to sell them along with james franco and JFP is if he works for them on their soap. ever since he got into this business deal with franco and phelps, burton has been seeing $ signs, and nothing wrong with that but i’m doubtful if the deal he’s trying to sell them will fly, sorry, but very doubtful.

I don’t think Steve can be replaced and be Jason! I wish him luck! I was never a y&r fan, probably never will. GH is always interesting even bringing back all the old ones!

Hell no
I do not see the broad range needed to b a transitiong actor in steve burton..

I saw an interview years ago, with Steve Burton wanted a part like Jason. He was happy then, that they were changing is role from being so soft. I so much wanted Steve to stay on GH, and I was so happy when they said Jason was coming back! My son looks at YR, he said Steve wasn’t leaving that show. I told him he was wrong! he is coming back, and NO ONE ELSE CAN PLAY JASON! Well I tell you, I am so MAD!! LOL. but understand this… I felt this way about Carly also, but everybody that played Carly was GREAT! Especially Laura Wright, that is playing her now. So Jason, (I mean Steve) you are going to be greatly missed, and wish it was you that was coming back. I guess we now have to block you out, and adjust to the new face 🙁 . I like you on anything you play on.

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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