General Hospital
Access Hollywood Chats It Up with General Hospital's Emme Rylan and Kathleen Gati!
Courtesy/AccessHollywood
Access Hollywood’s Sharon Spaeth was on the set of General Hospital earlier this week for the 13,000 episode celebration and had a few moments to pull none other than Emme Rylan (Lulu) and Kathleen Gati (Liesl Obrecht) into the GH wardrobe department to get some face time in this video interview with the two talented ladies from Port Charles!
During the conversation, Kathleen reveals how she first found out that none other than the evil Dr. O was going to end up being Chief of Staff at General Hospital! Plus, Emme discusses the difficulties she faced replacing Julie Marie Berman in the role of Lulu Spencer Falconeri!
But, what of that dark secret that Dr. Obrecht is carrying around? That Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) baby Ben is actually the bio-child of Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and Lulu, whose marriage fell apart because they thought they lost the only baby they can ever have, when it was revealed baby Connie, now baby Georgie, was actually Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) and Maxie’s (Kirsten Storms)! Oh, what a tangled web!
Watch this very cute and engaging interview with Emme and Kathleen after the jump! Then, let us know what you thought about their comments!
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General Hospital and ‘H.R. Pufnstuf’s’ Billie Hayes Dead at 96
She was one-of-a-kind, and now actress Billie Hayes has passed away at the age of 96. Hayes’ family announced her death from natural causes on April 29th at Cedar-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
Hayes was best-known for her unforgettable role as Witchiepoo on the 1969-70 Saturday morning live-action children’s classic H.R. Pufnstuf from Sid and Marty Kroft.
However, daytime fans will remember that then General Hospital executive producer, Gloria Monty, hired Hayes to play the recurring role of the street-smart international spy, Brighton O’Reilly, back in the 80’s series hey day.
GH’s Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio) took to Twitter to mourn the loss of Hayes on Monday sharing; “My dear wonderful Billie Hayes has died. Sadly I only got to work with her on GH but it was a magical relationship. Right away Gloria Monty saw something unique and ran with it. I cannot tell you how her passing saddens me.”
Photo:ABC
In story, Brighton O’Reilly was shot and killed by Victor Cassadine back in 1981. Billie told Soap Opera Digest back in 2003 about her time as an agent on GH, and her exit from the series: “I asked Gloria why she killed me off, and Gloria said, ‘To tell you the truth, Billie, we really hemmed and hawed at it. But I decided to do it for selfish reasons. I knew if I killed O’Reilly there’d be such an abundance of sympathy and love for Scorpio that his stock would go up. And he’s my new leading man!’ I understand why Gloria knocked me off, but I would have loved to have gone on with it because I feel it could have been developed into a fascinating character.”
Photo: JPI
Sid and Marty Kroft also took to Twitter and expressed: “Margaret Hamilton (Wizard of Oz) once told us that Billie Hayes was “one of the best witches ever” We couldn’t agree more. Rest in Peace dear friend.”
Billie’s career spanned decades including Broadway, television, motion pictures and voice-over work. In addition, she founded the Los Angeles-based animal rescue nonprofit organization Pet Hope, a cause she had championed since adopting a puppy abandoned in the basement of Broadway’s St. James Theatre during the run of Lil’ Abner in which she was featured in the role of Mammy Yokum.
Share your remembrances of Billie Hayes and your condolences for her family and loved ones via the comment section below.
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I know some fans arent but im ok with Emme as Lulu and Kathleen Gati…a Star is Born…she is my favorite Queen Of Mean!!!
Meanwhile, is Jerry Jax going to kidnap Robin again? If Luke is buried in that grave…wouldnt he have suffocated by now…where does Carly go potty being tied up so long;she’s going to need a change of undies, lol…i see Victor Cassidine comes back Fri!!!
LOL– I always think the same thing when people are held captive on soaps– like Robin when she was in that lab for or when Duke was tied up with Dr. O in the cave at Nicholas’ home— where or how do these people go to the bathroom.? Now I do realize soap time is different than our time, meaning what might play out on screen over days our time in their reality might be only a few hours, like Nicole and Fr. Eric in the basement but still??? And have you noticed for the most part their hair remains… Read more »
It was Victor, not Jerry…
Then if not Luke…since he is at sanitarium…then may Carly will be buried in that grave like i originally thought and this is when Shirley Jones guest stars?
Victor head of the wsb does explain how Dr.O became head of the hospital…Victors sinister plot to take control of PC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So Victor kidnaps Robin to have her attempt to bring Helene and Stravos back from the dead!!!!!!
What a great interview! Loved it! Love them! Love GH! Love this site! Love you, Michael! Love, Love, Love!
great!
Kathleen Gati (Dr.Liesl Obrecht) and Roger Howarth (Franco)
are the two most exciting, intriguing, intense, awesome characters with General hospital !!
I can’t get enough of either of them..
both portray their characters with excellence… BRAVO !!
luv.. DrO and FrancO … !!!
I agree 100%, we need to see more of them.
I don’t know how you could compare a talent like Kathleen Gati to Roger Howarth. She is a total pro with so much range of emotion and so much nuance to he performance and she elevates the actors around her.
Howarth is a one note actor who has one tool in the tool box. Twicth, tick, stutter, physically flail around and chew the scenery. He gives other actors no room as he lights his hair on fire in every scene. There is no comparison between the two.
@GH. I’m noticing that… more and more… his physical ‘ ity… emoting… and he drudges out his dialogue…. it’s kinda like huh? where is this coming from? why? he’s cute, sexy for his sake… and it’s a little long in the tooth.. if you will… how he’s soapbox ing…. I would never hurt Carly… and LOL…. poor Carly.. is it worth cheering for her at this point? for the sake of her kids… damn them… for getting in the way… it’s her way or the high way… yawn… carly being carly… girl gets what she wants…. at least… we’re not… Read more »
I love Dr. O!!!
Great interview. I had no idea the actress who plays Obrecht was not German. My only complaint (not about the interview or the actresses) is that the writers/ producer etc are being very unfair to Leslie Charleson. Why can’t they give her more of a part. I’m surprised she does not quit. And though it’s rather funny having Obrecht as the head. How stupid is that? It’s not a comedy show, but that’s what it’s become. Everything is implausible.
The female joker! What a sad joke GH has become.
I like Dr.O…my current favorite daytime villain…i do agree that ‘seems’ stupid she is head of the hospital but there is more to this story than her just getting a job…just gotta wait and see how it plays out!!! I do wish they give Leslie more of a story…hope they ring on Nina’s father and it turns out he was an old flame of Leslie’s before she came to Port Charles…Leslie became pregnant by him but put the baby up for adoption…he and his wife adopted that girl and it turns out to be Nina but he never told his… Read more »
bring not ring…lol
Who is Nina?
I meant Monica, not Leslie…
MONICA! not Leslie…ok Leslie C. plays Monica…i meant Monica…dont want some to think i meant Leslie played by Denise Alexander, who by the way could be doing more too…like in scenes with Lulu instead of just bein Spencers babysitter!!!
I agree, Denise Alexander could do more too. I don’t know if she just wants to work once in a while or wants more work, but I get the impression Leslie Charleson wants more work. Having Obrecht the head of GH is beyond stupid. And I hate Cassadine story lines (meaning the evil ones, not Nicholas) So I guess that guy is going to kidnap Robin. Stupid, but not as dumb as Obrecht at GH. While the actress is talented and funny, I think spinning her off in a comedy soap would be better. Some humor on a soap is… Read more »
Well, Leslie’s not on contract, so she could do other projects if she wanted to. I’m sure she appreciates having the job, at this stage in her life, even though she’s not on that often. But I agree…they haven’t been fair with her. I’d love to see her in a different S/L away from the hospital, maybe getting involved at ELQ with Tracy, but the show is juggling so many stories right now that they’re not doing justice to half of them.
And I agree…this whole COS storyline is THE most implausible I’ve seen in a long time!
I don’t know if the writer is male or female from your users name, but “I’m sure she appreciates a job at this stage of her life..” What about Tony Geary who does whatever he wants on GH and is on or off as he chooses. They just brought in some new Cassadine guy. I have seen his face and heard his name in soap magazines but have never watched anything he’s in. He looks older than Leslie Charleson. Just because she’s not young there are many story lines good writers could manage. I don’t know what COS means. This… Read more »
I miss Monica Q, too!
Lin…I’m a woman just a couple years younger than Leslie, so I know of what I speak when I said she must appriciate a part-time job at her age, and a good one at that.
FYI, Leslie Charleson and Thaao Penghlis are both 68 and Tony Geary is 66…same as me.
I know I wouldn’t want to be working full time at my age and consider myself lucky to be retired! 🙂
I love dr. o. I’m so happy, she is staying on gh. she is a wonderful actress.
Love Emme as Lulu! I hope fans start to warn up to her! No she is not Julie Marie Burman, but that is fine with me! I liked JMR, but loving the feminine touch that Emme has given to Lulu! Now if only she and Dante could reunite! Oh, and Dr. O is one of my favorite daytime villains tied with DAYS’s Nick Fallon!
If people haven’t warmed up to her in a year it’s not going to happen. BTW the feminine touch? really? JMB dressed way better than ER does.
JMB… has the bodacious… “BOD” to pull off ANY thing…. man… woof! through the roof HOT! when she gussies up and make ups her hot to trot! recall her this past year at the emmy’s: when she won… that dress… hair up with make up…. dang! you know how it goes…. Fans.. have no choice… but.. to let the shows… carry on… recasts are I have accepted emme rylan as she’s by all appearances more feminine and dolled up…. she’s smaller, petite… and wheres those puffy sleeve shirts alot… to hide her stick arms I just wish… the mindset of… Read more »
I agree Phil…that’s what I said on another post…Julie Berman was more of a tomboy.
Kathleen Gati’s beautifully crafted Dr. Obrecht has proven a worthy opponent for Finola Hughes Anna. Not only is she a wonderful addition to the cast, she is a warm and genuinely charming woman in person. Definitely a keeper.
what a delight… to see how animated… Ms. Gatti is
as she, and others have coined…. it’s truly a symbiotic relationship
when a newbie takes off and helps FIYAH our shows…. I couldn’t be happier that she enervates herself… as an actor… and the audience feasts
trust us, Kathleen! you as well… are a highlight of General hospital
————-
Emme Rylan… hang in their… trials and tribulations abound….
Newbies are to be commended, when your acting contributes… some more than others… but… it all comes together
What is FIYAH?
Hope your the same Lin who asked me who Nina is…i dont know if you have or havent been watching lately but Nina is currently the unseen wife of Silas Clay who is accused of allegedly putting his wife in a coma…some of us believe its his lookalike brother Stephan who is responsible for Nina’s coma…Stephan is Silas’s brother who was on the show over a year ago who may or may not be a vampire?
Thanks. Yes, I am the same Lin. I guess I’m stupid as I still don’t know what FIYAH is. My understanding is that Leslie did want to work full time. I didn’t think of his wife in a coma when she was just referred to as Nina, but yes, I do know who she is now. I’m not a fan of the Stephan Clay/vampire/or not story line. I stopped watching whatever that show was they were on (can’t remember right now) when the vampire storyline started. Not into it at all. The character of Silas is not acting like an… Read more »
@Lin….That would be “fire”…..fueled by the highest octane!!! Kind of like sizzling to the nth degree….at least that is my interpretation!!!! ; )
Some of the best soap actors were at one time a recast of their characters.
Fun interview!!! Liked them together! Kathleen is a delight off screen as is Emme (I’d seen her interviewed before)!
I am a big fan of Dr O but was not happy to see her as Chief of Staff. I wish that TPTB could have found a better way to keep her on GH. KG exudes so much charisma and warmth. I am a fan.
I totally agree. The actress is totally different than I expected. There is room for humor in a soap. But I don’t see this character in the hospital. Perhaps in a David Hayward (from AMC) role where she develops crazy things but not as head of the hospital.
Replacing Lulu was going to be difficult but in the hands of this talented actress was done with ease! Ms. Gait is a find! A villain that they just don’t make anymore. Glad she is sticking around!
It seems Ms. Rylan is trying way too hard to convince the audience that she has chemistry with Dominic Zamorogna. It’s just not their, IMO. Hoping Frank and Ron move Lulu in another direction AWAY from Dante.
I had that distinct distinct impression also. Thanks for confirming my thought.
The actress is doing the best she can but she’s just not Lulu. I understand she didn’t even audition for the role.
@Harry-Regarding the current occupant of the role of L. That is correct. The recast did not go through the audition process nor was she required to do a screen test with Mr. Zamprogna.He informed us at a fan event the weekend of March 9, 2013, he had not even met her in person. The first time they met face to face was their first day of taping together on March 18th (as I remember from an interview published later).
Agree. When I heard that I was like “what chemistry?” I certainly didn’t feel it.
Ditto.
Ditto. Truthfully never have felt it.
Dr. O was fun as Faison’s side kick but a little Dr. O goes a long way. She’s like a jalpeno pepper that way.
Over using her is like over using Fonzie, and hence begs the over used phrased, they’ve jumped the shark. Having her become a cartoon villain ruins the character’s mystique. I am glad Ron is having a lot of fun playing Batman with his characters, but he’s entered the land of cartoons and doesn’t seem to know how to write a daytime drama.
I agree.
her “MEAN”ingful looks… and shrill caricature… is villian’ness… and intent
but… let’s not get too cartoonish…. i’d hate to see Ms. Gatti go by the wayside… like the ruination… of Heather Webber
I love you Robin Mattson
these two… are meant to savor and stratosphere witty
I love them still
Love, love, love Kathleen Gati!!!!!
I like Emme Rylan a lot more after that interview and hearing her express her excitement and dedication to the character of Lulu. I thing she’s doing a great job, I’d wondered if she was really giving it her all, now I think she is but that being said Julie Berman is a much stronger, emotionally charged believable actress and if the show ever had the opportunity to have her reclaim LuLu, I think they should jump on it. Just saying… I know this is off topic but I have to throw it out there every so often, Sarah Brown.… Read more »