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Anthony Geary & Maurice Benard on GH's Stay of Execution, Valentini's Efforts & Llanview Crossovers!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

Who better to let soap fans know their thoughts on all the behind the scenes ups and downs then General Hospital’s most notable and prolific stars, Daytime Emmy Award winners, Anthony Geary (Luke) and Maurice Benard (Sonny).  Both men have been through the battles that GH has had to fight over the year to remain on the air, and have seen the show go from number one to a fledgling ship to its recent re-birth in the expert hands of new executive producer, Frank Valentini.

In a new piece out today from TV Guide both Geary and Benard weigh-in on GH’s renewal, Llanview faves crossing over to Port Charles, and the difference on the GH set these days.   Here are a few excerpts!

Maurice Benard on GH’s pick-up:  “For all we know, we’ve only bought ourselves six months.  But that’s not stopping the It’s a beautiful day in Port Charles! “Everyone’s excited and we’re determined to work hard and keep this thing going. Our goal now is to boost our ratings and be the No. 1 soap. Then they can’t cancel us!” Anthony Geary added, “For the last year or two we’ve been living on death row hoping for a reprieve, so this feels great. “We’re all breathing a sigh of relief, although we don’t really know what this all means.”

Courtesy/ABC

Anthony Geary on fans concerns of One Life to Live actors and characters taking over GH: “No one is worried that Port Charles will be usurped by Llanview. There’s just no downside to this. It makes us a much better show.”  Maurice Benard added: “Bringing in all this new blood is the smart thing to do. Let’s hope there’s more coming. I’ve been telling people we should do this for years!”

Anthony Geary on how Frank Valentini is working his magic on the soap:  “Frank loves this show and is fully prepared to go down with the ship, standing on the bow screaming at the top of his lungs. I can only admire that. It has made me and most of us want to work harder. Some people don’t like it because they got complacent, and I’m not just talking about actors but people throughout the production. Those who don’t want to work harder will not stay.”

So what do you think of Geary and Benard’s comments about fans concerns of the Llanview crossovers, what the renewal means for GH, and signs that the show is on an upswing under Frank Valentini’s watchful eye?  Weigh in!

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Glad to hear they like it! Hope they all want to work hard and stay on air. I think it is the best soap left… let’s hope they see it!

GH Rocks!!!

I personally think Bring It On though I will be honest I am not feeling the chemistry between Starr & Michael, but they are not why I have started watching again. I also think the new gal that plays Kate/Connie is improving all the time. And it is great to bring on a smart cop like McBain now get him to start interacting with Mac because I beleive John York is really very good when given story. Congrats GH for proving if you write good story viewers will come back.

They know what they’re talking about. If your business seems to be sliding downward, you gotta pick up the slack, get rid of the slackers and get to work even harder! Glad they’re on board with bringining in new blood (i.e. OLTL actors/characters)… it can only get better from here!

I’m really happy to hear that Anthony and Maurice are open to an inflow of actors from other soaps. Something has to change on GH to get it’s ratings up; things can’t stay the same and at the same time just hope the ratings go up.

I think it would be great if the gang from the Buenos Dias cafe from Llanview moved over to Port Charles and took over running the Spencer’s diner. Alot of fun and good interaction happened at that place in Llanview. The diner, when it was Ruby’s in Port Charles, was like that. And maybe that could help Erika Slezak slip into Port Charles and the land of GH.

I think GH is really in need of a strong, dynamic lead female character. Erika did that as Viki on OLTL, Susan Lucci did that as Erika on GH. That really gave the shows alot of good story lines and drama.

I hope it becomes Anna. I think she could do it!

Personally I think the strong dynamic lead female character has already been brought on and signed to a contract (thank goodness!)…..Finola Hughes! She is a GH legacy character and I think the best female character in GH history. Just my opinion…I don’t mind if they bring on characters from other shows as long as it’s well balanced with GH legacy characters.

It’s Tracy and Monica. Monica always has it, they just don’t feature her enough. It should be Monica and Tracy, as it was on OLTL, with Vicky and Dorian. Not Anna. Anna could never be strong like Tracy and Monica has class.

There are rumors floating around that Erika Slezak just might stop for a visit!

I heard that too, Kay.

God I hope so! I miss VIKI!!!!

Good have starr there, so Viki AND Dorian have reason to Visit!

Also did you know that Liz’s Grandfather (Late Great Steve Hardy) had a cross over with Viki and Todd’s sis Merrie in 1969?

Can you tell us more about this crossover ? I would love to know how it went, and would be interested to see if it could be explored more.

In 1969, Merrie had a Blood disease, and Steve Hardy went to Llanview to consult.

Plus another Tie-in, was when Cole’s Uncle, Ian Thornhart was a Dr. at GH, a decade ago. He hooked with Lucy and hasn’t been seen since.

I was trying to figure out who Merrie was… Oh, Meredith. I never heard anyone call her Merrie before. 🙂 Funny, I remember a scene where she and Larry (Wolek) were at the side of the crib and looking down at their baby Danny… that was a while back, huh?

I heard this to at soaptown usa (loose lips) I hope its true ,every time I go there the rumors are always true ,so seeing Erika slezak on general hospital would be so good I cant even say in words how wonderful that would be I miss her.She worked as a waitress in paris texas so she can pick roxy up and they can go to kellys diner for a cup of coffee,see a hiring sign fill out the job application and they both get hired.

I would really like all this “renewal” talk to stop. It is NOT a renewal. ABC owns GH and they have chosen to not cancel it just yet. There has been no official word on any extension. Like Maurice Benard said, it could be SIX months. People, don’t celebrate just yet. We have not won anything.

I do like that there appears to be a lot of articles coming out in soaps defense, but for what good that does remains to be seen. I think ABC just has their own agenda (one that does not include a future with scripted daytime drama) and they are just waiting until they have all their ducks in a row this time before completely pulling the rug out from under us.

well let’s at least celebrate helping to tank the Replacement, I mean the Revulsion, I mean the Revolution! ha! And I think it’s a small victory in the least, that they didn’t cancel both GH and the Revolution – they could have done that, but they didn’t want to deal with the wrath of soap fans so soon after what went down already! So there’s that to celebrate – we were heard – loudly!

Rock and roll, FV and GH! Let’s keep this train rolling, as long as possible! And whenever possible, “Less is more” when it comes to the previous “all mob, all of the time” focus….and “more is more” when it comes to humor, as much as possible…bring on David Vickers, just for a quick visit, to comfort Starr in PC!

We must boycott all of The Revolution’s successor shows so that GH always conquer them.

ABC has already taken two soaps away from us. The least they should do is having the decency to leave us one soap. Besides, Couric said that she wants GH as her lead-in.

As far as the end of ABC Daytime and its other shows….will we ever find out who JR shot in the final scene of AMC? At least there is hope in the long run for Victor to be revealed as alive somehow, someplace via OLTL characters on GH. But AMC really left it all wide open….can you please get to work on that for us, RC and FV?

And why not have have the infamous Erica Kane (and Susan Lucci!) cross paths with Luke, one of these days?

Erica met Sonny and Luke met Viki in the What if series. We know they have chemistry.

I have no real complaints for once. I would really like to see Kassie DePaiva brought aboard on contract. This woman Tweets and is a one woman cheering squad for daytime tv, specifically Soaps. She is one hell of an actress, singer, and from all I can see an all around nice person.
I’ll always be sad GH could not get their act together and treat Genie Francis with the long-earned respect she deserved. I wish her the best at Young and Restless. She shines on the show considering she was thrown in with Melody Thomas Scott who has long been what she was to GH and should still be. Maybe it will change but for now unless they can bring Laura back even half as strong as the character she is now then leave her be, intact with her dignity. I am thrilled on the hiring of Roger Howarth, long a favorite of mine…Apparently fit right in at GH. No surprise to me. Anyway, That’s my take. Thanks for a forum to express our opinions. I really like this site although pretty new at reading it. Very well put together and professional. Not that anyone’s crying over my feelings. Thanks Again Michael. I was on pins and needles over the thought of watching General Hospital sinking for the last time. There is a major sentimental reason I have always loved this show. My mother was killed in the late 60s, but she loved these shows. I distinctly recall the first episode of GH. I was in second grade and had just got home from school. The show was grainy to watch, music was bad, Black and White of course. But I will never forget Jesse Brewer RIP Emily M. Aunt Lucy? Oh my, anyone who ever saw Lucille March, hope that’s right, play this part well it was a treat. Recalling Audrey being a bit of a floozy, now that is OLD GH. I loved it. Skipped work to watch Luke and Laura, Only rich folk had VCRs then so you had to watch at two pm west coast time. Anyway, again, I am glad to see this show once again narrowly missing the chopping block, remember what happened when this happened before? Months later it was completely turned around. I see it starting to happen again. If I had a wish, it would be to see AMC meld with OLTL…All My Lives…lol. Anyway you get my drift. I had a much harder time watching the end of OLTL. There were too many talented actors and the stories were going well. I miss Gigi and Rex. What about Victor Lord showing up on that last show, I laughed and got angry at the same time…cliffhangers with possibly no ending. That was a good one i never saw coming. Thanks for making it though this. Feedback appreciated. Excuse my grammar and spelling, its gotten a bit rusty.

I love Both these two actor’s and I gosh, I would hate not to be able to get my Maurice Bernard fix, daily. The man can act, is gorgeous, sexy and those penetrating eyes! Mauuawah to them both, especially Maurice. <3

The brilliant Erika Slezak should come to Port Charles to help Kate/Connie with her recent DID diangnosis!

No post from Scott yet huh. Oh well, I love the show these past couple of months. I love the faster pace with the scenes. I love the new actors (all of them). Anything new will help now. All we need now is the viewers, calling all viewers, please watch GH everyday. They need you know more than ever.

LOL! Please, MB has been a “talking head” for years and who can take him seriously. It’s because of loathsome Sonny & immediate gang that the show has been going downhill for years – despite fan outrage. Tptb kept pumping them day after day for years and years and years. I’ve lost all respect for Geary. Great actor but if he’s angry at Luke’s association with L&L and wants Luke to become whatever he’s become now (as the list is endless), let him get another job. Stupid man, OK I agree L&L lost their mojo in the real world of growing old and life, but to discredit what was truly a magical phenomenon, rare indeed in literature/media of all types, is ignorant and self-centered beyond belief. GH should have been cancelled long ago.

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‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’

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Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.

Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.

The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.

Photo: Hallmark

Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”

In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.

It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.

Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.

You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.

So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.

 

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‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?

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On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.

As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.

Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?

Courtesy/ABC

Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.

BROTHERLY LOVE?

Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”

With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”

BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE

Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”

So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair

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After the Wednesday, April 29 episode of General Hospital, it’s clear outside interference and other circumstances are set to blow Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) marriage sky high, as Michael (Rory Gibson) reveals his plans to entrap Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and use her relationship with Chase to do it!

In story, Michael dropped by unexpectedly to Carly’s (Laura Wright). A plotting Michael reveals his plan to nudge Willow and Chase into having an affair. Michael hopes it would create both a political and personal scandal, where Willow would lose her seat in congress. In the scenario, she would be having an affair with her ex-husband, while taking care of her supposed disabled husband, Drew (Cameron Mathison), who cannot speak and is confined to a wheelchair, which in turn will look horrible for Willow’s character.

Carly asked does he really want to destroy his cousin, Brook Lynn’s life in the process? Michael goes in on Chase’s holier than thou attitude, and says he is going to set-up the circumstances that would lead Chase and Willow to betray their spouses, and hit the sheets together. Michael swears to Carly what the two of them do is up to them, but he’s going to go on the offense with this.

MICHAEL HAS BACK-UP

Later, Jacinda (Paige Herschell) is talking with Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) at Crimson and how much she dislikes Willow because of what she has done to Michael. Just then, Michael shows up and tells Jacinda privately, he’s figured out a way to fight Willow. Looks like Jacinda might work with Michael to bring down Willow and use Chase as the person to do it!

At the hospital, Lucas (Van Hansis) tells Josslyn (Eden McCoy) that Carly is cheating on Jack, but he doesn’t know with who. Josslyn suddenly flashes back to the moment she found her mother harboring a fugitive, Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), in her attic, and as figured out that her mother is sleeping with him. She heads out.

Courtesy/ABC

BRENNAN IS ABOUT TO LEARN ABOUT CARLY

Next thing you know, Josslyn has showed up inside Jack’s (Chris McKenna) hotel room at the Metro Court and when he enters his room, he is shocked to find her there. He lays into her for not keeping his distance and that Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) will have no problem killing her if he knows she’s WSB. Josslyn fires back that he is only concerned about that because his relationship with her mother depends on her being safe. But then, she lays the boom, and tells Jack, Well, you’re too late. You already lost her.”

LULU GETS A GLIMPSE OF CASSIUS’ TEMPER

In addition, Lulu (Alexa Havins) sees a different side of “Nathan.” Since she is unaware that the man before her is his twin, Cassius Fasion (Ryan Paevey), he tells her that Rocco (Finn Carr) blabbed that he shot Cullum to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), and now he thinks they should send him away to stop him from talking to everyone else. This concerns Lulu, who rails at Nathan for telling her what to do with her son and that she isn’t going to abandon him. With “Nathan’s” outburst at her on the matter, will she finally get a clue this is not the man she thinks it is?

So, what do you think of Michael’s plan to push Willow and Chase into an affair? Will it work or backfire? Do you think Joss will reveal that Valentin is the man sleeping with Carly to Brennan, which will send him in a rage? Will Lulu continue to be clueless about “Nathan?” Weigh-in via the comment section below. But first, take a look at the GH video tease for today’s April 30 episode.

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