General Hospital keeps adding more soap superstars to its cast. Now comes word via Soap Opera Digest that none other than longtime Days of our Lives star, Charles Shaughnessy is joining the cast over in Port Charles.
Shaughnessy became uber-popular in the role of ISA agent Shane Donovan, and was one-half of a Salem supercouple of Shane and Kimberly(played by Patsy Pease). He last appeared on the NBC soap opera in 2017.
Now, with the news of Shaughnessy joining General Hospital his role is being tight-lipped at the moment, although he will be on-air come September.
Primetime viewers, of course, know Charles from his roles on the hit sitcom The Nanny, as well as Saints & Sinners, Mad Men, Masters of Sex,The Magicians and more.
This will not be Shaughnessy’s first time on GH. He played Holly Sutton’s cousin Alistair Durban back in 1984.
So, who do you think Charles will play when he appears on General Hospital? Share your theories below!
Could he be reprising his role of Alistair Durban or did that character die? (I know nothing about that character or that storyline). Was the Alistair character on good terms with Robert? Maybe this is the writers reintroducing us to the “Holly is being held captive” story?
That would make sense because Holly is locked away somewhere so they need to bring him back so Robert can finally get a story line.
Steve
2 years ago
I’m at a loss on this one. SOD reported that he’ll be on contract!?!?
Before anyone mentions it – despite being away for 40 years, Jeff Webber is not coming back with a British accent.
Some fans speculated he’s a recast Robert Scorpio (due to TR’s valid comments about a miscast not-so-frozen character). TR isn’t on contract and the amount of fan backlash they’d get for a recast wouldn’t be worth it.
A return of Allistair could happen, but that’s not a contract role.
Who does that leave? Sasha’s never before mentioned father? A British mobster? Whom ever he’s playing, the character is likely to be a love interest for Alexis.
Jeremy
2 years ago
Maybe, he will be included in Holly’s return as her captor. The scene of Holly kidnapped and shown last fall does need addressing… perhaps, Holly will be seen one year later, and maybe Charles will be apart of that story. Welcome Charles!!!
Wish he was returning to Days, however, with Patsy and Jen. But it’s cool that he’s coming to GH, too. Did GH get a bigger budget for these all-star soap favorites joining GH, including Cameron Mattison and is Rebecca Budig(?) returning too?
Satan
2 years ago
Haven’t heard any updates on Emma Samms’ health recently. If she’s healthy though, maybe they’re finally going to address the question of where Holly has been all this time since we saw the 5 second cell phone clip of her being held prisoner just after her “funeral”.
If they brought back Holly’s cousin Alistair for that storyline, that would make sense. Robert seems to have mysteriously disappeared from Port Charles lately, so perhaps he’s been following up on some “leads” about Holly’s whereabouts, and might want to talk to any of her known relatives and or associates. Might have dropped by Amsterdam to visit his old friend Luke Spencer too, though we obviously aren’t going to see that part on camera.
And of course… there’s always the rumor going around Hell that Holly & Drew Cain (also “presumed dead”, but we all know better) are being held prisoner by the same people, so this may also be tied in with Drew’s rumored return.
I’d really rather see Charles Shaughnessy back on Days where he belongs. He would probably be a natural fit for this international mystery/smuggling plot/whatever in the upcoming Peacock spinoff thing. But if he’s part of a decent storyline on GH, a Devil is cool with it.
Gina
2 years ago
Wow GH got Charles, he signed a contract. That was reported on line.
Ethan
2 years ago
Wow this is terrific news, Charles is a wonderful actor. Loved him on Days as Shane Donovan and he was dashing in the sitcom The Nanny. Frank Valentini listen call Fran Drescher and give her a role on GH. She would be a hoot. Love her so much.
This is about streaming. They are seeing something in the data that is showing that soaps are a profit generator and they are investing in soaps again. It’s good news for soaps and the genre. I just wish CBS could convince Proctor And Gamble to do a Last Blast Type series on GL and As the World Turns.
If ABC gave a damn about streaming, they would drop their idiotic policy of withholding episodes from streaming for 8 days after the airdate unless you’re the financial slave of one of the major corporate cable oligopolies.
With a weekly series (i.e. Gray’s Anatomy) this is a mere inconvenience where you could merely start watching your season a week after everybody else and just avoid spoiler discussions if you didn’t want to know what everybody else had already seen.
But with a daily show like GH, this is impossible. By the time you see an epsiode, you’re already 8 episodes behind the airdates.
Not to mention the ridiculous level of pre-emptions for ABC News and what they consider “breaking news” stories, which 95% of the time are definitely NOT something that couldn’t wait until their 6:00 PM broadcast…. or a crawler at the bottom of the screen that tells the news junkies to watch the ABC News Live 24 hour digital news channel.
The CBS soaps don’t air in Hell, so I don’t keep track of how they handle their streaming, but NBC has made it very easy to watch Days – (at least when it’s not preempted by the Olympics or other sports events that always get in the way a few days every year. Peacock probably works better if you subscribe to the cable oligopoly which owns NBC, but it’s accessible to everybody, as long as you don’t mind watching ads (and they’re probably not as bad as other streaming services in that respect)
Disney/ABC is rich enough that they could easily put their ABC network programming (which originates on the “free” airwaves) on their streaming platform, same day as broadcast, available after 5:00 PM or so and of course it would probably have ads in it, which pay for the programming. There’s literal no logical reason for them to NOT do this. We’ll see how important streaming REALLY is to them, if they take this idea seriously.
I actually used to do that on occasion. Watched the epsisodes on CityTV’s website in Canada. For whatever reason, the VPN I used for that is no longer working.
Not sure who the “Navaro” family is, but if you meant the “Novak” family, we have already seen the head of that organization a few times before. Most recently at the “Five Families” mob summit, where he sided with Carly over Cyrus the Virus, and persuaded his fellow “dons” to do the same.
Mr. Novak is probably not happy with the actions of his bratty little nephew Joey, and might fit him with cement sneakers before Jason takes him out.
Jacqueline
2 years ago
I am really worried he is a Robert Scorpio recast. Look at his recent pic–he could pull it off. What TR said about WR storyline, etc.. was true but his girlfriend may not have liked it and I think she may have alot of pull at GH (which is not the way it should be). I would not be surprised at all if he was a Scopio recast. Didn’t watch CS on Days but loved him on The Nanny–he does comedy well. Hope he’s a new character–maybe a comedic sidekick for Gladys–that would be something to see lol.
Nobody, not even Frank Valentini, would be dumb enough to throw the true GH legend, Tristan Rogers, under the bus to prop a useless tool like Whiny Heiny. Who is now shoveling dragon stables in Hell anyway.
Frank remembers that his former sidekick ReRon lost his job at GH because of the unholy shitshow he made out of Luke Spencer’s exit storyline (and the “Fluke” storyline which preceded it, for that matter). You don’t do that to the GH legends.
Soaphound
2 years ago
Looks like I’m a lone wolf here when I say I couldn’t care LESS about his arrival. I’m up to HERE with characters I can’t abide, like nuSpencer, T.J., Gladys. And I was getting annoyed with Austin until he talked Chase thru the Willow & Michael fallout. I hope he can be a replacement friend for Chase, since Michael just betrays people right and left when a woman is involved (remember how he threw his family under the bus for Nelle). So, I’ll reserve judgment on Mr. Shaughnessy for now. Sorry.
Didn’t you think it just a little suspicious that Austin is suddenly inserting himself into Chase’s life? Sure, we get why Austin inserted himself into all the Quartermaine family drama. He’s Jimmy Lee’s kid, thought his dad got shafted and wants his piece of the proverbial pie.
But Chase has nothing to do with all that. However, Chase DOES have a connection with somebody else from Mikey’s past. We all know that Nelle Benson is not in Hell (though she should be) and who or whatever is buried in the PC cemetery, it ain’t her. We also know that presumed “dead” people who float down that mysterious river, they usually wash up in rural small towns somewhere. So what if Nelle – much like Sonny – washed up in Pawtuck (where ever that might be) and Austin was her doctor… and possibly more than that??
If this is the case Nelle might not have amnesia like Sonny did, but she merely slid down a cliff and didn’t have a bridge drop on her, so less chance of traumatic head injuries that way, apparently.
Soaphound,
Well, here Iam again. I do like Chas.S. parts on Nanny and Days, but can take him or leave him. I so can’t stand nu-Spencer, he’s such a little sneak but what is it about Austin? I still can’t figure out if he’s helping, befriending Chase or is there something in it for him? He’s a real mystery. I am reserving judgement, I want to like him as I did Franko.
Oh, speaking of Gladys. She really is a very attractive woman. Too bad she is so money hungry and willing to have her son work for the mob to get it. I would like to see her in a better role.
I agree about Gladys, Violet, in that she’s a very good actress and seems to be having a ball with this trouble-stirrer role. It’s probably more fun than playing a goody-two-shoes.
Edward
2 years ago
Maybe it’s something to do with Emma samms hopefully bout her retur
‘Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit For Stand Up To Cancer’ Live Virtual Event Announced; Featuring Soap Opera Notables and Moving Tributes
May 2, 2024
Stand Up to Cancer in collaboration with Alan Locher and Michael Fairman, will come together for a a three-hour livestream benefit, Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer … We All Have a Story.
Several stars from from daytime drama television past and present are scheduled to participate for an evening of stories of emotional on- and off-screen experiences with cancer, and moving tributes to beloved daytime favorites who lost their battle plus musical performances.
Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer … We All Have a Story, streams live on Thursday, May 16, from 8 to 11 p.m. ET/5 to 8 pm PT simultaneously on StandUpToCancer.org and YouTube channels The Locher Room and Michael Fairman Channel.
Photos: CBS and JPI
Tune-in for cancer survivorship stories with General Hospital’s Cameron Mathison and The Young and the Restless’ Colleen Zenk, who will reflect on the impact of publicly sharing their diagnoses; 2024 Daytime Emmy nominee Eric Braeden, who shares his cancer journey as well his memories of beloved The Young and the Restless co-star Meg Bennett, who passed from cancer April 11; and more.
Moving tributes to soap stars who’ve lost their cancer battles, including: Daytime icon Jackie Zeman, who played nurse Bobbie Spencer on General Hospital for 45 years, shared by daughters Cassidy MacLeod and Lacey Gorden, a tribute to Elizabeth Hubbard who played the iconic Lucinda Walsh on As the World Turns and Dr. Althea Davis on The Doctors, as shared by her on-screen daughter Martha Byrne and real-life son Jeremy Bennett, two-time Emmy Award-winner Jerry verDorn (Guiding LightOne Life to Live), shared by widow Beth verDorn and his on-screen wife on Guiding Light, friend and co-star Liz Keife, the iconic Andrea Evans, who played Tina Lord Roberts on One Life to Live, shared by her husband Stephen G. Rodriguez and daughter Kylie Rodriguez and Kamar de los Reyes shared by his One Life to Live co-stars Michael Easton(General Hospital)Trevor St. John (The Young and the Restless).
Photo: MEastonFacebook
Poignant reflections from actors who have portrayed breast cancer survivors, including Sharon Case and Eileen Davidson from The Young and the Restless; Erika Slezak from One Life to Live; Tina Sloan and Kim Zimmer from Guiding Light and more.
Additional talent slated to participate in the virtual benefit include (*subject to change): Eddie and Kristen Alderson (One Life to Live); Elia Cantu (Days of Our Lives); The Day Players, Featuring Days of OurLives castmates Carson Boatman, Brandon Barash, Wally Kurth (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee), Eric Martsolf (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee); Kassie DePaiva (One Life to Live); Don Diamont (The Bold and the Beautiful); Linsey Godfrey (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee, Days of Our Lives); Leo Howard (Days of Our Lives); LesliKay (The Bold and the Beautiful); Eden McCoy (General Hospital); Kin Shriner (GeneralHospital); Michelle Stafford (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee, The Young and the Restless).
Courtesy/LaceyGorden
“Daytime television invites viewers into the private lives of characters, often bringing important issues like cancer screenings into living rooms and around water coolers. Soaps debuted the first cancer storyline in 1962 – years before the topic was discussed in the mainstream, and it left an indelible impact: a whole generation of women who scheduled a potentially life-saving Pap smear for the first time,” said Daytime Stands Up host Alan Locher. “For so many viewers, this brought the issue front and center,” added co-host Michael Fairman. “Today, it’s become almost impossible to avoid; but there is hope with cancer research, thanks to organizations like Stand Up To Cancer.”
SU2C Co-Founder Sue Schwartz, SU2C President and CEO Julian Adams, Ph.D., and SU2C Health Equity Committee Member Elizabeth Jaffee, M.D., will also participate to speak to the importance of early detection, exciting scientific breakthroughs, and the ongoing work yet to be done to make screenings and treatment equitable for all.
“This year, an estimated 2 million people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer, presenting an opportunity for the public to stand with us and rise to the occasion,” said Adams. “We’re thankful to Alan Locher, Michael Fairman and our friends from the daytime television community, who will raise critical funding to honor those we’ve lost – and to propel new scientific breakthroughs for current and future patients. Everyone has a story, and we’re grateful to all of you for sharing yours.”
For over 15 years, SU2C has leveraged its relationship with the entertainment community – which includes more than 1,100 celebrity ambassadors – to generate public donations, increase awareness and fund cutting-edge cancer research. SU2C research has contributed to the development of more than 10 scientific breakthroughs that have significantly impacted the field and provided new treatment options for breast, colorectal, lung, melanoma, pancreatic, pediatric and prostate cancers.
Photo: SUTC
In support of the event, SU2C will also be launching a 10-day eBay silent auction, from May 16 through 26, for fans to bid on items, including a meet-and-greet experience with the cast of NBC’s Days of Our Lives; an autographed script from the cast of Young and Restless and signed merchandise from the Bold and Beautiful cast; a 1:1 video call with General Hospital’s Cynthia Watros, Maura West and Laura Wright, and with daytime legends Robert Newman, Vincent Irizarry, Colleen Zenk, and more. Full details will be shared the evening of May 16, on Stand Up To Cancer’s website.
Are you looking forward to this very special one-night only virtual event to help benefit cancer research and shed light on the stories, performances and lives of the people we love and have loved in daytime TV? Comment below.
Haley Pullos Receives 90-Day Jail Sentence Following DUI Charge And Wrong-Way Car Crash
April 29, 2024
Former General Hospital actress, Haley Pullos (ex-Molly Lansing-Davis) is going to be doing time in jail, exactly one-year after her arrest from a hit and run wrong-way car collision.
The crash resulted in bodily harm and damages to the other driver, and now Pullos who pleaded “no contest” to the charges and will serve 90 days in jail. She was taken in custody on Monday, April 29th, after the ruling.
According to Haley’s attorney, Mark Daniel Melnick, the 25-year-old actress struck a plea deal and after her three months in jail will be sentenced on July 29th. As part of that sentencing, she must serve five years probation, 200 hours of community service and pay $8,260 in restitution to Courteney Wilder, the other driver in the crash and her driver’s license is revoked for a year.
Courtesy/ABC
According to TMZ, the plea deal for Pullos has the “no contest” to one DUI, while the judge dropped the felony DUI causing bodily injury and misdemeanor hit and run charges.
Melnick said in a statement to PEOPLE, “Haley is very grateful to the court for a minimum sentence and for recognizing her remorse and the strides she has made in her sobriety.”
Pullos had played the daughter of Alexis Davis (played by Nancy Lee Grahn) on the ABC soap opera since 2009, but after her car crash and DUI she was replaced by three different actresses until the show finally settled on the current Molly, Kristen Vaganos.
Photo: Pasadena PD
Back in April 29 of 2023, and at the scene of the crash, the police found edibles and mini-bottles of tequila in Pullos’ vehicle and that she was intoxicated. As it turned out, this was to be the second hit and run in the evening for Pullos who had an earlier collision with another car.
The courts decision follows a year-long legal battle with Haley’s pleas changing throughout it, ranging from “not guilty” to “no contest”. She sought treatment for her drinking at a rehab following the crash.
Nancy Lee Grahn, who portrayed Pullos’ on-screen mom took to X on Monday night, April 29th and shared on the sentence and the specific jail, Haley will be serving time: “As Haley’s TV mom I can tell some truths about her as I’ve loved her since she was little girl. She made a HUGE mistake, knows it, owns it & has spent the last yr doing EVERYTHING imaginable to take responsibility 4 it. It’s not that I oppose jail. It’s that I oppose this jail.” The jail in question by Grahn is the L.A. county jail.
So, what do you think about Haley Pullos serving a 90-days jail sentence, and the other rulings that will be part of her sentencing? Comment below.
Marla Adams, The Young and the Restless’ Dina Mergeron, Dies at 85
April 26, 2024
Marla Adams, best known for portraying matriarch, Dina Abbott Mergeron on CBS’ The Young and the Restless for 37 years, died on April 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. The news came from Y&R’s Director of Media and Talent, Matt Kane.
Throughout her veteran soap opera career, Marla appeared had appeared on Secret Storm (in her other longest running soap role as Bell Clemens from 1988-1974), The Bold and the Beautiful (ex-Beth Logan), Days of our Lives (ex-Dr. Claire McIntyre), Generations (ex- Helen Mullin), General Hospital (ex-Mildred Deal) and Capitol (ex-Myrna Clegg).
However, it was her role as Y&R’s upper crust Dina, who abandoned her children and her marriage to John Abbott (the late Jerry Douglas) that was her most memorable role. Throughout the years, Dina would have several romantic reunions with John, but in 2017, the character returned to Genoa City to reunite with her estranged family. Dina was the on-screen mother to Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson), Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland) and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman).
Photo: JPI
As for Adams, she joined Y&R in 1982, but left the soap three years later her contract expired. She returned to Genoa City for stints in 1991, 1996 and 2008 before being asked by then Y&R head writer-producer Sally Sussman to return in 2017, which would begin the top-rated daytime drama telling the story of Alzheimer’s disease. Through Dina, the show shed light on a person going through the perils of the illness, and how the family copes and tries to come to terms with its fate.
In fact, Marla took home the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 2021 for her work in the storyline, She had previously been nominated in 2018.
Photo:JPI
Speaking with Michael Fairman TV, Marla shared on her final scenes on Y&R when Dina passed away and was reunited with John Abbott, “It was heart-wrenching for me. In the story, Dina died when she went outside and to the front door of the Abbott home. They did not tell me before-hand, and that’s why it was so wonderful. I hope they came in for a closeup of that because I had no makeup on, it was beautiful, and then, Dina said, “Oh, John.” I’ve done everything from movies, to daytime, to nighttime, to Broadway, but that was the iconic moment for me, to do this gig with wonderful, wonderful actors and friends, and to do this particular storyline.
Born in Ocean City, New Jersey, on August 28, 1938, Adams’ love for the stage was ignited after winning the Miss Ocean City and Miss Cape May pageants and finishing as a runner-up in the Miss New Jersey pageant. She also fondly remembered being the Miss Diamond Jubilee Queen during the 1954 celebration of the 75th anniversary of Ocean City’s founding. A student at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Adams appeared on Broadway in the 1958 production of The Visit at the Morosco Theatre with Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne and starred as June in the 1961 feature film, Splendor in the Grass
Over the span of her decades long career, Adams starred in more than 40 productions including television’s: The Golden Girls, Hart to Hart, The Love Boat, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Harry O, Adam-12, Starsky and Hutch, Marcus Welby, M.D., Barnaby Jones, and the feature film, Beneath the Leaves.
Photo: CBS
In a statement, Y&R’s current head writer and executive producer, Josh Griffith expressed, “On behalf of the entire company of The Young and the Restless, we send our deepest sympathies to Marla’s family. We’re so grateful and in awe of Marla’s incredible performance as Dina Mergeron as both Marla and Dina made an unforgettable mark on Y&R.
Marla is survived by her daughter, Pam Oates, son, Gunnar Garat, grandchildren, Gefjon and Stone, and her great-grandson, Remi.
Photo: JPI
Michael Fairman TV sends our condolences to Adam’s family, friends and co-stars. Now below, share your remembrances of Marla Adams, and watch a few of our interview with Marla from the set of Y&R during the show’s 45th anniversary celebration and on the red carpet at the Daytime Emmys below.
