General Hospital
"All About Brenda" ABC Daytime, SOAPnet, and GH rev up for Vanessa Marcil's return!
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
In celebration of Vanessa Marcil’s return to General Hospital as Brenda Barrett on Wednesday, August 11, special Brenda programming takes over on ABC Daytime and SOAPnet the week of August 9. General Hospital will own the ABC Daytime drama block from 1:00-3:00 PM, ET on Tuesday, August 10, with classic episodes featuring the men in Brenda’s life (Sonny, Jax and Jason). Additional programming and digital events include special retrospectives, a SOAPnet marathon of classic Brenda episodes, hosted wraps, a countdown of the 25 key Brenda moments, timelines, photo galleries and trivia quizzes.
When we last saw Brenda, Jax had left her at the altar and, as a result, she left town. Now Brenda’s return to Port Charles comes at a time when the three most important men in her life – Sonny, Jax and Jason – are all in crisis. Brenda’s in trouble herself – when is she not? – possessing an explosive secret. She has no idea of the havoc this indiscretion will wreak or that she’ll send the lives of loved ones hurtling into chaos.
The Brenda Barrett ABC Daytime and SOAPnet programming event includes:
July 17: SOAPnet’s 25-day countdown to the return of Brenda Barrett begins: Each day leading up to her arrival, a key Brenda moment will be revealed: Every day, starting on Saturday, July 17 and leading up to her return on August 11, fans will see key Brenda moments on SOAPnet. Some of the moments will include Sonny learning Brenda is wearing a wire; Sonny and Brenda’s famous kiss on the beach; and Sonny leaving Brenda in the rain. The complete list of 25 Brenda video moments will be available on ABC.com and SOAPnet.com starting August 10.
August 6 & 9: Original “General Hospital” episodes feature Sonny remembering special moments with Brenda Barrett: 3:00 PM ET ABC / 10:00 PM ET SN: Facing estrangement from all his major relationships, especially from his children, Sonny finds himself reminiscing about Brenda and longing for a past, simpler life that allowed him to love as completely as he did once with her. On Friday, August 6, we leave Sonny on the docks thinking about Brenda — and he flashes back to the time he helped her lug a heavy suitcase. Mistaking Claire Walsh for Brenda on August 9, Sonny tries to distract himself from his memories of her by pursuing Claire. However Sonny still cannot get her out of his mind – and he remembers the first time he told Brenda he loved her.
August 10: “General Hospital” takeover event with all three hours of the ABC Daytime drama block dedicated to “Brenda Barrett’s Men: A Special ‘General Hospital’ Marathon,” hosted by Vanessa Marcil on ABC and SOAPnet:
1:00 PM ET ABC / 8:00 PM ET SN – “General Hospital” Episode #8602 (OAD November 5, 1996) — As Brenda prepares to marry Jax at the Quartermaine mansion, Sonny interrupts with Miranda, who’s still married to Jax.
2:00 PM ET ABC / 9:00 PM ET SN – “General Hospital” Episode #8831 (OAD September 24, 1997) — After being left at the altar by Sonny, Brenda reminisces about the key moments of their relationship.
3:00 PM ET ABC / 10:00 PM ET SN – “General Hospital” Episode #10138 (OAD October 29, 2002) — Brenda and Jason’s Las Vegas wedding.
August 11: Brenda Barrett Returns to “General Hospital”: 3:00 PM ET ABC/ 10:00 PM ET: Brenda appears on the “General Hospital” landscape as the face of fashion house Cartullo, only to be attacked by a dangerous stalker.
August 15: SOAPnet marathon: “The Best of Brenda and Sonny,” with special appearances by Vanessa Marcil and Maurice Benard:
3:00 PM – “General Hospital” Episode #8105 (OAD December 2, 1994) – In Puerto Rico, Sonny and Brenda escape on a boat and end up washed ashore on a beach, where their relief turns to passion. The two then hurry back to Miguel’s (Ricky Martin) concert to warn him that he and Lois are in danger.
4:00 PM – “General Hospital” Episode #8688 (OAD March 7, 1997) — Trapped in a cave and thinking they’re going to die, Sonny and Brenda admit their feelings for each other and make love as Jax and Jason search for them.
5:00 PM – “General Hospital” Episode #8829 (OAD September 22, 1997) — Brenda is stunned at her wedding when Sonny leaves her waiting alone at the altar.
6:00 PM – “General Hospital” Episode #9002 (OAD May 26, 1998) — Brenda pays a surprise visit to Sonny and finally gets him to admit why he didn’t show up for their wedding.
The complete list of the key 25 Brenda video moments will be available starting August 10. Fans can log onto www.abc.com/generalhospital and www.soapnet.com for more info.
So, now are you ready for the fantastic Vanessa to turn up the heat some more on GH? We are!
General Hospital
Chris McKenna Reportedly Out as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jack Brennan

As ABC’s General Hospital continues to make casting additions in front of the camera; a new report indicates that Chris McKenna is the next contract player to be written out of the show as his storyline as Port Charles WSB bureau chief, Jack Brennan, is coming to end this fall.
According to sources close to the situation, who informed Soap Opera Network, McKenna will exit the long-running soap opera when Jack is killed-off the canvas. The outlet shares, Brennan’s death will come about as the soap, “leans heavily into storylines surrounding the World Security Bureau (WSB).”
McKenna, who previously appeared on the soaps when he was 12 as a young Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live from 1990-1993, then as an adult as Mark Harding on The Young and the Restless from 2014-2015, and next on The Bold and the Beautiful in the short term role of Dr. Hayden, began his run as GH’s Brennan back in February of 2025, replacing Charles Mesure in the role.

Photo: ABC
JACK’S ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE
In fact, McKenna won the part over Daniel Goddard and Daniel Cosgrove, who eventually were cast in other roles on General Hospital, that of Henry Dalton and Ezra Boyle, respectively. Chris informed his fans via X, back in August of 2025, that he was put on contract at the daytime drama and thanked them for helping make it happen.
Chris told Michael Fairman TV how it was to step into the role previously played by Charles Mesure, “I knew the challenge it was going to be and I had a like 0nly five days to get my head around it, so I was ready for it. Sure, it was challenging, but I was up for it. I was a recast before on The Young and the Restless.”
On-screen, Jack became romantically involved with Carly Spencer (Laura Wright), but that went bust when Carly learned Jack was not up front with her and had secretly enlisted her daughter, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) to join the WSB. Over months, Carly plotted to get revenge on Jack, and suddenly, Valentin Casssadine (James Patrick Stuart), Jack’s mortal enemy, came into the picture and he had fallen for Carly and she for him.
Now, Jack has started up a relationship with Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) and has found himself in situations stooping to lows to help Nina and her criminal daughter, Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) out of jams, especially where Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) is concerned.

Photo: ABC
REUNITING WITH ERIKA SLEZAK
Last fall, Chris got a thrill of a lifetime when his OG on-screen mother from One Life to Live, the iconic Erika Slezak (ex-Viki) took on a guest role on General Hospital as Ronnie Bard, the secret sister of Monica Quartermaine (the late Leslie Charleson). While the two did not have a storyline together, Chris did share some tender moments reconnecting with Erika on the set,
McKenna has a laundry list of primetime credits including: State of Affairs, Good Trouble, Lucifer and Castle, where in an ironic twist he appeared alongside another Joey Buchanan none other than Nathan Fillion.
So, how do you feel if the report holds true and GH is killing off Brennan and Chris McKenna would exit the show? How do you think Brennan will die on GH? Will he be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and someone will take him out? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
General Hospital
Ryan Paevey Open to Return to ‘General Hospital’ to ‘Stir the Pot if Cassius Could be a Good Agent of Chaos’

On General Hospital, Ryan Paevey wrapped his comeback to General Hospital on the July 6 episode, when it was revealed that Cassius Faison was not dead, but being held by the WSB thanks to Z (John Oliver).
It was Z who gave Cassius an ultimatum: a one-way ticket to prison or a death sentence, or to become an agent himself! We never got the answer on-screen, but suffice to say, Cassius is still out there somewhere, but we can assume he is working for the WSB.
GH fans were thrilled to see Paevey back on the ABC daytime drama series where he initially played the very popular Detective Nathan West from 2013-2018. It had been over 7 years until Ryan made a return to his former soap stomping grounds when on-screen in September of 2025, he arrived in Port Charles as a very much alive Nathan, who was actually Cassius impersonating his late twin brother.

Photo: ABC
Over this past weekend, Paevey appeared at the annual GH Fan Club Weekend in Burbank, California, where according to a report from Soap Central who was on the scene; when a fan asked Ryan if he would make another visit to the soap opera in the future, he explained, “That’s a ‘Frank Chat,’ referencing a discussion would need to be had with Frank Valentini, GH’s executive producer.
A CASSIUS FAISON SIGHTING ANYTIME SOON?
Ryan also added, “I’m a bit of a drifter. So, I’m not sure that I want to go back and sign forever. Doing so took a lot of things out of my life, stuff that is valuable to me.” Paevey also explained while he was away from GH he was caretaker to his parents and working on his Fortunate Wanderer jewelry business and more.
However, Paevey concluded his thoughts on the matter with, “But, yeah, I would come back and stir the pot if Cassius could be a good agent of chaos… a conversation might be had with Frank about exactly what ‘not dead’ means.”
All this to say, would you like to see Ryan make another comeback to General Hospital? This time as WSB agent Cassius Faison? Do you think he would help out his sister, Britt and his mutter, and even Josslyn, if they got into serious future trouble? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Christian Howard Makes One Final Return as Ethan Lovett, as Hudson Learns Damning Intel

The Tuesday, August 4 episode of General Hospital brought with it another appearance by Christian Howard in the role of Ethan Lovett. As previously reported, Howard was brought into wrap up Ethan’s storyline as Nathan Dean’s four-month run with the show came to its conclusion.
Now, it has been 100% officially confirmed that today was the last episode of Howard as the recast Ethan. In story, Ethan was now seen in Oslo, Norway after hightailing it out of Port Charles after Hudson (Troy Lennon Appel) had showed up looking for him at the Metro Court pool in Port Charles.
On the July 31st episode, Ethan made a beeline to Lulu’s (Alexa Havins) grabbed his bags and headed out of the country without saying goodbye to Ava (Maura West), who he just had spent the night with.

Courtesy/ABC
However, on Tuesday’s GH, it was also the day where Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) finalized baby Phoebe’s adoption for Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard). This was juxtaposed with the action in Oslo where Hudson showed up at Ethan’s hotel room door. He demanded immediate answers about Delilah and the baby. Ethan told him that both Delilah and the baby she carried died.
ETHAN’S LIES CATCH UP TO HIM
Hudson is livid. The two get into multiple altercations with Hudson getting the upper hand claiming that Ethan is a thief, who had “stolen from the wrong man.” At that point, Hudson delivered a beatdown on Ethan. Next, he threatened Ethan that he will go after his entire family if he finds out he was lying to him.
Back in Port Charles at the Metro Court pool, Ava is lamenting about Ethan’s sudden disappearance to Trina (Tabyana Ali). Later alone, she gets a call from Ethan telling her to never reveal that he’s not Phoebe’s biological father. Cut to: Hudson out in the hotel hallway listening in on the call through a bug he planted in Ethan’s hotel room. Hudson then takes off. The final moment of Ethan’s is him sprawled out bloody on top of the hotel bed.
A GH rep told Soap Opera Digest that “the door is open for Ethan to return to Port Charles” in the future. And as previously reported by TV Insider, when Nathan Dean signed on for his four month return, it was due in part to that he and his wife announced back in March they were expecting a baby.
So, now that Christian Howard has officially exited the series marking the end of the story for now of Ethan Lovett, what are your thoughts? Obviously, we will look for Hudson to return to Port Charles and infiltrate the Quartermaines lives especially Brook Lynn and Chase to get close to Phoebe, and then there is Ava, who may be in terrible danger, or is she? Share your thoughts and theories.
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Brenda, Claudia what’s the diff? They tried this when they brought back Sarah Brown, see how good that worked? Not Good… This is another atempt at the inept writing leader Mr Guza and his even worse writing staff, ever since the unpairing of Kate & Sonny, Jason 7 Elizabeth the GH ratings have “SUNK”, yet TPTB continue to go on with very bad & stupid s/l’s. The Brenda retuen does not excite me it proves that GH has really sunk, I will bet this will not work, this is going to futhur ruin the daytime drama, I fear the in the next year another soap will be cancelled and then another until the only one’s with a solid following Y & R & B&B will be left. Gh has wasted time and talent on an inane s/l Franco (who cares), Michael in prison (bad move) and the shove him down your throat “Disco Dante”, they refuse to believe History the most important word in soapdom, I really believe that Mr Frons & Mr Guza don’t care about this genre, because if they did they would “admit how wrong they have been”, most people I have talked to don’t even remember Brenda, and the one’s that do could care less. I wish Megan Ward & Laura Wright would be offered roles on Y&R or B&B, Sarah Brown knew when to go, these two are much to good for the crap they have been handed to do.
i think the reason why the Sarah Brown stuff didnt work is cuz anyone that watching GH for more then 5yrs was like they brought back Carly to play someone else then they tried to connect her to everyone in a s/l. with Vanessa she is reprising HER role.. they dont have to make a s/l for her to make connection to the cast Brenda has connection to everyone on the canvas save the newbies(Olivia, Kate,Johnny, Dante, Ronnie) an that will work in their favor. however i do agree the Franco/Michael s/l was is just stupid
Sometimes I hate leaving comments or even visiting message boards b/c posters can be so unbelievably immature, ridiculous and rude. Just so much negativity! So let me say this. I’ve watched GH since 1992 so I’m excited that GH is attracting both legendary soap stars such as VMG as well as movie stars like James Franco. I want the soap opera genre to succeed and I don’t think by calling the show that I like “crap” is going to exactly help anything. What’s the point in watching if you hate it so much? Sounds like sadomasochism to me.
I guess there is this new generation of viewers that are raised with this “armchair commentator” mentality. If they hate something then EVERYBODY should know about it and agree with them. It’s the whole “I hate a right to express my opinion” syndrome.
So, WELCOME HOME BRENDA BARRETT! Not only am I excited to see this extraordinary character back on my screen but I’m thrilled to see what her affect will have on the entire GH canvas! I’ve re-started the soap tradition in my house and turned my 15-year old niece (and all her little friends) into a GH viewers and they’re now watching the S&B story on youtube.
What makes you think that the whole world should revolve around Brenda. You took All My Children off on Tuesday for that. AMC is the only soap that I watch. Why should GH take top preference over the rest. Who cares!!!!!!!!!!!!