Kansas Guest, I do understand what you’re saying and yes, soaps are always courting the younger demographic by bringing in new characters played by younger actors. This is not new. However, what is new is the expedient rate in which the ‘in-with-the-new-out-with-the-old’ mentality is being utilized.
Back in grade school I was in the chorus (I was an alto) and we used to sing, “Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other’s gold.” In pursuing the younger demographic, the ABC suits are showing disregard for their older and loyal demographic and they will end up losing them as well as perhaps not being able to garner that age demographic they so actively seek. Moreover, I do hate how young people are underestimated by their elders as far as their tastes and values are concerned. I think young people value the core families just as they value having limits and boundaries imposed upon them because it gives them a sense of safety and security. Moreover, when I was about ten I started watching AMC with my grandmother. You know whom I found to be the most interesting on AMC? Phoebe Tyler, Mona Kane and Charles Tyler—loved their love triangle. These characters were all well over sixty years old at the time. Phoebe really fascinated the hell out of me and she reminded me of my own grandmother who was a terrible snob and bragged of her own blue blood heritage.
So, I think it’s fine to introduce new characters as long as you pay fidelity to your core families and to the long time viewers who love them. It’s a delicate balancing act and one with which Agnes Nixon mastered.

Kansas. in theory, your right. If you dont freshen up the demos, your viewers eventually die. However, soaps are on life support! Your not going to get many 18-49 new viewers. Especially from this guy. He is a no name with no connections to PC. Thats why Kevin is important, he keeps long time viewers around. What they should do is bring in new, younger talent that has PC connections. For example, Scott has a daughter Serena. Bring her on if your looking for youth and younger demos. Y&R does this very well.

Agree about Howarth and it is so infuriating having to suffer through his nonsense and every attempt to try and make him palatable while a character like Kevin and Jon Lindstrom, and actor who is actually talented is discarded.

Awwwww, Harry!!!!!!! How could you not love that little-big trio? I really enjoy the banter; the strange and ridiculous goings-on in that apartment. Howarth IS amazing, Harry; as is Stafford. They can play anything….turn any role upside down and everywhichway.
Furthermore, which is a miracle of all miracles coming from me, Hayley Erin is coming into her own. Kiki is reborn. Just wait and see, Harry. LOL. Think positively. Would you rather watch Valerie and her ” woe is me for craving and itching for dufus-y Dante who’s in love with Lala-Lulu-head”?
Seriously, though. I think this couple creates a modicum of comic relief; not for everyone, but there are many Franco-Nina fans…..Just as there are many Sonny, Alexis, Sam, Jake etc. fans. We all have our favorites. Franco and Nina are dancing to the tune TPTB are playing. Their personae are evolving, albeit non gratae. I’m sorry you have to suffer through them, Harry. But, LOOK AT ME!!!!! I suffer through Sonny!! Lol. Bye.

Harry, Roger’s problem is Franco. The character sucks! I hated it when it was James Franco and I hate it now! Kill him off and let Roger go or bring him back as a Cassadine straight from HELLena’s lab!

Yes, unavailable. Why can’t fans remember this? Sometimes it’s not an illuminati style conspiracy, the actor has moved on. Plain and simple.

As for the constant salvaging of new characters, some of us remember when Carlyle was a new character who took pages from vets. Just saying. At some point there is a moment of origin.

Separately, is GH spinning its wheels? Yeah. They need to get their storylines sorted, there’s no energy, no forward thrust. No burning reason to see what comes next. As much as I hate the mob storylines the new baddie is the only storyline that has a pennies worth of interest… Burgi is bringing it.

You have absolutely no information or evidence that the actor has “moved on” whatever that means. He has done some other roles, they are not permanent or full time.

And the point is irrelevant because John Lindstrom has repeatedly made it known on social media that he would like to work on GH.

Look around at all the vets who are not on. Have they all “moved on” or have they worked on other projects because they are actors and take work?

Bottom line, vets aren’t a priority for Frank and they are sorely missed. It isn’t an illuminati conspiracy, it is just a fact of what Frank has done to GH.

Matilda you raise a fair point regarding other roles not being permanent or full time…

However, to your statement that vets aren’t a priority for Frank – I’m recalling the Guza years where they were killed off (Quartermaines), shoved into retirement so they died of shock (Anna Lee), sent out of town without a mention (Bobbie), or still living in Port Charles without a mention after Port Charles ended (Lucy). At least we have them in town to complain about not seeing them. And he did bring Finola Hughes (Anna) and now Genie Francis (Laura) back full-time.

As I write this though I recall Ian Buchanan’s Duke getting killed off and it makes me sad all over again….

Matilda is correct–Jon Lindstrom has had some other projects in the past, but as she asserts, he has made it clear that he is available and eager to reprise his role as Dr Collins. I have no issue with a new character being introduced to the canvas when it does not come at the expense of a fan favorite who is in the midst of a psychologically compelling story. I saw some really exciting things transpire with the exchanges between Anna and Dr Collins and the actors really rose to the challenge. I was eager to see more of this exciting psychiatrist/patient relationship which may or may not involve projection and transference, and now I learn there will be no more. How does it make sense to nip that in the bud?
I repeat, Jon Lindstrom has NOT made it clear he has moved on–folks need to stop repeating falsehoods as if it were the gospel.

sexy new doc in town – I’m cool with that — it IS GH after all. Just too bad they didn’t keep Silas too; GH needs more sexy docs especially if it’s true Jason Thompson is leaving.
Look what Blair Underwood did for SATC? 😉

ahaa! Jimh 🙂
It is me!!
GH has been a total boring love-in..
Sonny and his sons in a huge love fest of sappy crappy loving each other to pieces stuff is boring and not the Corinthos, not at all,, who are those people ?? lol
It deserves a FF to hopefully get to the good stuff.. LOL
WTH is happening to my GH, it stinks!

Want to keep Jon but don’t need another sociopath. Been there with Franco.

I understand what you’re saying Rose, but I don’t count James Franco having all this fun while pretending to be a performance artist/psychopath. The character he ad libbed while seemingly mocking the soap opera genre as well as the fans, was never meant to be permanent and never should have been forced onto Roger Howarth who all but gave up when given that ill fitting costume to wear.
Franco was always a cartoon figure and never predicated onto true psychology while Ryan was. And Ryan was brilliantly and realistically fleshed on by JL. You actually believe in this character and he was chilling. His relationship with his twin brother invited pathos, complexity and sucked the viewer in.

Harry…I don’t see Roger’s current portrayal of Franco as psychopath at all. The first few months were excruciating, no fault of RH. The writing of his character was infantile and buffoons. They have since evolved him I.to somewhat of a hero to those he loves…Nina, Kimi and I would bet for Scottie too if he needed him. Lets not forget how he risked his own life to find Carly…though SHE obviously forgot.

I love Franco now. I’m sure they’ll eventually throw some crazy back into his mix but I find him poignant, sincere, protective, determined…and I love him with Kimi and Nina. Hope they keep the characters and develop the three into a family. Roger’s really found his way with this role…

I want the new Doc to be for Jordan. Valerie is too bland and needs to go after Dillon.

Sorry Cee, I’d rather see Kevin and Anna fall for each other.

Melissa, I was wondering if Jon Lindstrom didn’t want a long-term deal. Like I said, there may be multiple things about this we don’t know. But I agree with you, they make it easier not to be a open to a new actor when they don’t tell us things like the other/veteran actor didn’t want the commitment. I’m also glad he’s part of the hospital staff instead of a mobster (as far as we know at this point- LOL!).

Very true, Melissa. The mind is a complex machine. Fans of doc Kevin/Jon will react exactly as you have described them. So, never bring in a new actor as a stand-in for a loved character/actor. It does mess up the scope.

Hmm…well, when I Tweeted to bring back Jon Lindstrom for good and to also bring back Ryan, Jon Lindstrom re Tweeted my Tweet.
I think that means that yes, he would like a permanent gig on GH.

aww Harry, they are horrible match..
Anna is like hell on wheels and Kiven like warm water..
They live in two different worlds.
If Anna is hooked to Kevin Anna will become a boring house wife, another Olivia LOL

On the one hand I could see Kevin and Laura together…the show needs a good, grounded couple. On the other…maybe Kevin and Olivia. She’s looking for a good, non- mob connected man for herself and child. Alak…Kevin is probably gone, gone, gone….

Maybe he’s for Felix..OR…dare I say … TJ..LOL

@su….
Oh, but Su…opposites attract, ‘doncha’ know? We need a little oomph from both these characters. Especially Anna…she seems to have lost her mojo-hoodoo and desperately needs to find it. I think Kevin and Anna would be hot together.

I have a feeling ABC is once again cutting their daytime budget and we will not see Robert and Anna reunite!

They could put him with Liz or Sam, get all those fan bases even madder lol….

Hey, Su.
What you said, and then some. Unfortunately, that is where Pandora’s mind is. Why is there so much angst; so much resentment still swirling the planet with this archaic idea that white women rope all the black men; when the opposite happens just as much? People fall in love….for the right reasons, I would hope, and not because of one’s skin color. It’s time to get over this ‘phobia’. Just my two-cents worth. Later, susu.

su0000, its old fashion thinking because blacks and whites are still MILLIONS of miles away in thinking that both races are equal. Look no further than than what you see with the police. THAT is a ten hour debate but its raw and people are angry!

Totally agree with you Shay. If it weren’t for Anna and Laura’s timely returns I wouldn’t be tuning in.

Its a sin and a disgrace to the character! I love Genie and do want her on the show but if this is what she is to do, forget it! Give the women a love interest or a job!

Hi, Rebecca.

I have to disagree with you about Molly and TJ. They’re kids. Kids don’t usually carry that much weight on soaps — and their stories tend to be used simply for filler. Ultimately, most soap fans don’t care about the teens.

That being said, it still doesn’t make any sense why having the same race is a requirement for adult love interests on soaps. It makes absolutely no sense that both Jordan and Valerie are single with no love interest in sight. They are both gorgeous. The idea that GH needs to bring in a token black guy to be with either one (or both!) of them is completely asinine. Any of the white guys currently on the show would be perfectly fine as a romantic interest for either of the ladies, but because they aren’t the same race TPTB are against making them a couple.

You are right; there are fans who were taught that interracial dating is wrong. These same fans were taught that same-sex couples are wrong, too. Yet the writers and producers CHOOSE to showcase same-sex couples. They also CHOOSE NOT to showcase adult black/white interracial couples — and that’s VERY cowardly of them.

Thank you, MissFixIt! That’s exactly my point! Waiting around and hoping some black guy comes to town is just DUMB!!! People connect for all kinds of reasons — and race is usually NOT one of them! As though interracial couples sit around daily speaking about the differences of their skin tones! No, they’re too busy connecting about what they truly do have in common, which is the reason why most couples get together, right?

These soaps continue to perpetuate racist ideas and stereotypes that are completely self-serving to those who are and continue to be racist viewers. There’s no reason why Jordan shouldn’t have already been romantically involved with Julian, Rick, Dante, Jake/Jason, and/or Sonny. They’ve all been closely involved in her story lines. There’s no reason why Valerie hasn’t hooked up with Nikolas, Dillon, Patrick, Michael, or Morgan. They’re all right there in her orbit as well. She slept with Dante, and that didn’t work out. So now what? She’s supposed to wait for the new black guy to get to town to save her? How much do you want to bet that since now Jordan and Valerie are friends, they’ll be fighting over the new black dude once he arrives??? All of those single white dudes in Port Charles, yet the two black ladies want to fight over the ONE black man??? Are you kidding me??? That’s just INSULTING! Beautiful, successful, COMMISSIONER Jordan has been sitting around PC completely DATELESS — just waiting and hoping for a black man??? I don’t buy it, and it’s just racist!

Like I said, TPTB clearly don’t have a problem standing up to those fans who are against same-sex relationships, BUT somehow black/white interracial romance is too much for the racists to handle, and too much for them to accept in 2015??? Okay, so I’m guessing that the TPTB are part of the racist problem since they CLEARLY REFUSE to be part of the solution.

Lol…Trophy Lady…we’ll have to agree to disagree again. Shawn was with Alexis and Carly. They broke up…as many same race couples do. Point is…they were paired up. Dante and Valerie…who is biracial by the way…was with Dante. They didn’t keep them split them because of race; he’s married. It’s quite well known to longtime fans that Edward Q had a love affair with Ellie May…probably not her name…which escapes me. His grandson Justice was welcomed into the family. As for gay couples…they’ve paired while Lucas with Asian Brad who both felt something for black Felix. And then there’s Milo and Uggg..the nurse…can’t think if her name either. I need sleep…

To top it off we don’t yet know WHO this new guy will be paired with…but we already have one poster on this page who thinks he’ll be paired with a white woman and resents THAT. I guess when we don’t have to have this discussion is when it will be as commonplace As any other couple. Were not there yet in real life, but getting there.

I also disagree about the young love stories. They are very relevant to the fabric of the families-fabric of the show and it’s very forward thinking to portray young love between different races. I applaud them and think Molly and TJ are adorable together. Liz and Lucky started out at the same age…so did Robin and Stone and others. They’re a part of the soap family and very relevant.

Rebecca, LOL, you do realize that the people you mentioned — most weren’t even real couples. Carly and Shawn were NEVER really anything. They did some flirting and that was about it. Alexis and Shawn had more problems than not — and were never really together as a true couple. Dante and Valerie merely slept together. Edward and Mary Mae were OFF SCREEN! We never saw them as a couple at all. Justus just showed up one day. And as for Milo and Epiphany — well, when was the last time you saw them together on screen?

My point still stands: with ALL of the white guys currently available on the canvas, why is it necessary to bring in a black guy for Jordan or Valerie? It doesn’t even matter that some of the white guys are married — characters date, fall in love, get married, and get divorced ALL THE TIME on soaps. That’s what they’re all about. Why doesn’t this happen with the black female characters and the white male characters as couples? Why isn’t it being written that Dante cheated on Lulu, and then realizes that he’s fallen in love with Valerie, wanting to leave Lulu for Valerie? That’s what soaps do all of the time. Why is it now “because he’s married” he can’t be interested in someone else? The same could be said for the Jordan-Julian-Alexis triangle that should’ve been. Why is it because Julian is “involved” with Alexis, he somehow can’t be romantically involved with Jordan, too? Reeks of racist and biased storytelling to me…

Yeah, Erick. I’d love that!!!! Add some heated steam…..

Erick! I’d be all for pairing him with Elizabeth, Samantha, Anna, Lulu, Maxie, Laura, Dr. Obrecht — WHOEVER!!! Just don’t automatically pair him with Jordan or Valerie SIMPLY because they’re black. That is just so incredibly LAME!!!

It would be the same thing if he arrives in Port Charles and he’s related to either Jordan or Valerie, or they knew each other before arriving in PC. Honestly, do ALL black people have to be involved with each on the show??? That kind of thinking and writing is UTTERLY RIDICULOUS!

Hi, Cee Cee. I agree with you. The writers don’t want to tick off fans who are ARCHAIC and RACIST. But, somehow, those same writers don’t feel the need hold off on homosexual relationships. TPTB feel that we are now at a point where EVERYONE should be accepting of those relationships. TPTB even use homosexual relationships of their characters as teaching tools.

Why don’t the TPTB feel the same way about black/white interracial relationships? Why is it okay to push the boundaries with homosexual relationships, but it’s NOT OKAY to do that with the black/white interracial relationships? Clearly, TPTB care about one cause, and choose to IGNORE the other. And that is VERY problematic — and racist.

Sorry, Trophy…I think you’re jumping the gun.. _ We don’t even know who he’s being paired with! To suggest Dante fall in love with Valerie and leave Lulu? He hasn’t done so with ANY female. White, black or green. Instead of acknowledging that Dante and Valerie were attrActed to each other physically…and made a connection being both brought up by single moms…you’re not happy and think it’s racist that he didn’t fall madly in love with Valerie and leave his wife for her! Dante loves Lulu…he cheated on her out if despair. Period. Now that’s not to say that down the road, when Lulu finds out that he cheated k. Her and lied about it that this couple may have real troubles…perhaps she’ll turn to Dylan, and if they’re really over perhaps there’ll be a Dante and Valerie then. But to suggest Dante should have immediately left Lulu for hsf? That’s not Dante. He loves his wife. Jordan has barely been on. Its not like we see her on a regulAr basis. When she was on canvas regularly, she already had a complex history with Shawn. Now that she seems to be getting more airtime, let’s see who they pair her with. It shouldn’t matter who as long as it’s a dynamic couple. Sabrina is Latin. So far both her love nterests have been white. Not many couples on GH have been involved in love triangles or have left each other for some one else. You’re suggesting that and annoyed that one of the already established couples haven’t brwoken up or fallen in love with one or one or both of these two black actresses. That would be just as nonsensical if they broke up for ANY character…unless the couple was in trouble to begin with. Milo and Epiphany Molly and TJ Alexis and Shawn Carla and Shawn Dante and Valerie Sabrina and Patrick Sabrina and Michael Edward and Uggg..STILL can’t remember her name…Mary Mae? My point is GH hasn’t historicAlly been an integrated show. Its evolving with diverse ethnicities and alternative ifestyles. But in SPITE OF that history, they’ve had interraciAl affAirs and relationships. Valerie is the child of an interracIAl relationship.)) We haven’t seen an ongoing mixed couple because of the lack of diversity. If the show hopefully continues and the ethnic backgrounds grounds of the actors vary more and more, they’ll be more couples of every type, ut to suggest that an establishex couple split for the sake of firming such a couple is not the point of storytelling. And…JordAn came to town with her own history; her son and Shawn. Valeri.e fell in live with a married man, a white man, abd they paired her with another, Dylan. Dylan, by the way, hasn’t had a relationship since he’s been on, either. Anna doesn’t, Lucy doesn’t…currently Tracy doesn’t. Ahhhhh…but Monica does…with a black judge. Forgot about them! There are many characters who we barely see. But they’re out there…including an increasing amount of interracial couples. With all… Read more »