General Hospital
‘Desperate Housewives’ Creator, Marc Cherry Speaks on His Admiration for Erika Slezak and Her “Astounding Acting”
This week, Marc Cherry, the creator of Desperate Housewives, joined Rebecca Budig (Taylor, B&B) and Greg Rikaart (Leo, DAYS) on the latest edition of Soapy. During his sit-down chitchat Cherry opens up about his love of soap operas, his writing process and more.
Throughout the conversation, Cherry shared that he used to watch the ABC line-up of shows and in particular, All My Children and One Life to Live, noting the likes of Susan Lucci (ex-Erica Kane), but also the iconic courtroom scene of Karen Wolek on One Life to Live and then getting to meet Judith Light in person.
In addition, Cherry had very special words for the incomparable Erika Slezak, who played Victoria Lord for more than four decades on One Life to Live and is set to debut on General Hospital this fall in a brand new role. He shared his thoughts on what made Erika so exceptional in his discussion with Rebecca and Greg.

Photo: JPI
Cherry stated, “You know who is also great? I got to see Erika Slezak on One Life to Live do some astounding acting. And the biggest thing with soap opera writing sometimes is the writers do a lot of exposition and will go, ‘Remember, the time you told me when we were in Greece about the affair,’ and I know that is part of the requirement to keep fans and in approaching it, but Erika Slezak could do that exposition and make it seem 100% real.”
He went on to say how daytime stars have often been perceived as less than, as compared to motion pictures or other television stars, simply because of the day-part and the target audience. Marc explained, “That to me is one of the interesting things about the daytime drama industry, if you would have taken these people out and just given them the opportunity on a movie, or you know a primetime show, they would be perceived so differently. They are amazing artists who might not be regarded as seriously as some other people, because they were doing their work at shows directed towards housewives at home in the afternoon. And that’s one of the other things, is learning to have respect because there’s some truly amazing talent in every sector of the industry.”

Photo: CBS
Fans can listen to Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart on Audacy or wherever podcasts are available and can watch full video episodes weekly on the CBS Brand YouTube Channel. The show is produced by the Paramount Multiplatform Production Group. The podcast is executive produced by Mike Benson. Andrew Pemberton-Fowler serves as producer.
Make sure to tune-in next week for the Tuesday, August 26th episode when Rebecca and Greg welcome Greg’s Y&R family, Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin) and Tracey Bregman (Lauren Fenmore Baldwin) to the talk series.
So, what do you think about the comments made by Marc Cherry on the greatness of Erika Slezak and his fondness of the ABC soaps of the past? Let us know below, but first, you can check out the entire episode of ‘Soapy,’ and/or the clip following it where Cherry talks about Judith Light’s memorable courtroom scene and his love of the soap genre.
It is so true what he said about Erika Slezak. I found an episode of OLTL dated 3/7/77 on YouTube the other day. There was a scene she did in the hospital cafeteria with Doris Belack as Ana Craig. They were pure perfection. Even though they were on a set with extras around them it was so believable. The little things that Erika did were masterful. It was while Viki was distressed over baby Kevin’s kidnapping. She continued to make wonderful acting choices for so long and we were lucky to witness them. Looking forward to seeing her on GH.
So true! OLTL in the day had some very strong actors… and writing. Emotional, heartfelt, suspenseful. I think it is because of the stage training.
So true
Could Marc Cherry be asked to restore some life into those daytime dramas that are lacking in strong character-driven story, or that need help moving on from a whirlpool trapping them in repetitive plotting?
Erika Slezak is the master. Watching her create a character is absolute magic. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss One Life to Live.
I cannot wait to see what Erika does with whatever she’s given at GH.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Will Ava Tie the Knot With Drew?

On the Friday, November 13 episode of General Hospital, Drew (Cameron Mathison) convinces Ava (Maura West) they need to get married, to each other! Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) hopes to get the DNA results on Jude (Will Traval) she has waited for, and Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) secretly co-conspire to find out who in Port Charles had the infamous tick!
Here’s what went down: Drew explained to Ava that they needed to get hitched ASAP, that way, they couldn’t be forced to testify against each other in the Jack Brennan case. After initially being kind of sick of the thought of marrying Drew, he made her change her mind, by throwing out the fact that if she lands in jail Sonny (Maurice Benard) will have Avery (Ayla Bullington) all to himself.
Next, Ava heads to GH to ask Lucas (Van Hansis) to be her witness in marrying Drew. Lucas has already figured out the reason Ava is marrying Drew because it has something to do with Brennan’s death. Explaining she hates the idea of getting married to Drew, she has run out of other options. Lucas agrees to help her, but firmly tells Ava nobody would believe it was a real marriage anyway.

Photo: ABC
CAN MOLLY AND JOE STOP THE WEDDING?
At the same time, Drew asked Martin (Michael E. Knight) for a post-nuptial agreement. Martin was not happy to hear that Drew was going to marry Ava, warning that prison was a better option than tying himself to a woman like Ave Jerome.
Eventually Ava, Lucas, Drew, and Martin gathered at the city clerk’s office. Lucas comes up with a way to derail or stall the nuptials by saying that they need to wait for Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarski) and Avery to show up, as they should be a part of this, too.
Lucas may have saved the day, because Molly (Kristen Vaganos) and Joe (Jonathan Bennett) went to Drew’s office to serve him his warrant, but found the office door open. Next, Joe found a sticky note on Drew’s folder that revealed Drew had obtained a marriage license. A light bulb goes off in his head and he realized Ava and Drew are getting married, so he and Molly rush off to City Hall to try and stop it.

Photo: ABC
IS JUDE THE TRUE BABY DADDY?
Elsewhere, after receiving a text message that the DNA results are in at the hospital, Brook Lynn ends her discussion over Jude and baby Phoebe with Gio (Giovanni Mazza) and runs out of the Quartermaines.
Once Brook Lynn gets off the elevator at GH, she sees Jude and Britt Kelly Thiebaud) looking might close. She quickly heads back towards the elevator sight unseen and was clearly shaken by what she saw. Earlier at the doctors and nurses hub, Elizabeth helped Dante by confirming by an ear gesture they had worked out; that the patient with the tick was Ava Jerome.
You can check out the scenes where Lucas gets a visit from Ava and he learns she wants him to be her witness in marrying Drew at City Hall.
Now weigh-in: do you think Ava and Drew will tie the knot before Joe and Molly make it to City Hall? What do you think the DNA results will show once Brook Lynn gets her hands on them? Have they been tampered with? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Carly Fears Escalating Tensions Between Sonny and Josslyn: ‘I’ve Already Lost One Kid Because of That Man. I Won’t Lose Another’

On the Thursday, November 12 episode of General Hospital, as battles line are drawn by Carly’s (Laura Wright) ex-husband, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and her daughter, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy), she realizes things are about to get a whole lot worse, and she expressed her fears to Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart).
After Sonny came to see Carly to get her daughter to back off of him; especially when Josslyn lit into him in front of nuAvery (Ayla Bullington), Carly is terrified that Sonny could retaliate against Josslyn. Realizing, Josslyn is in danger, Carly won’t sit by and let anything happen to her. She tells Valentin, “I’ve already lost one kid because of that man. I won’t lose another.”
Viewers won’t soon forget the devastation Carly felt when Morgan (Bryan Craig) died in a car bomb explosion back in 2016 because of Sonny’s dealings in the mob in a complex story involving Julian (William deVry) and Olivia Jerome (Tonja Walker).

Courtesy/ABC
SONNY IS READY FOR WAR
Meanwhile in the aftermath of his visit with Carly, Sonny told his brother Ric what went down when Josslyn disrespected him in front of his own daughter and hurt Avery. Since Josslyn already make it known that she no longer considers herself part of Sonny’s family, he’s decided to treat her accordingly.
Sonnys first step in payback is to take away her support system at JJE by approaching Hudson Parker (Troy Lennon Appel) again, but this time in a much less-friendly way.
Ric points out that this would go against every move Sonny made as a legitimate businessman in Port Charles and would mean he’s back in the mob? Sonny doubles down, saying Josslyn changed the game when she involved Avery. While he showed concern of how bad Carly would feel over all this year, he said he is ready to finish what Josslyn started.
At the Metro Court, Ava (Maura West) is listening to Avery explain what happened between Sonny and Josslyn and how much she hates Josslyn right now, which Ava seems to be OK with.
WILL JOSSLYN’S WORLD BLOW UP ON HER?
Speaking of Josslyn, she is on the pier still after her talk with Hudson and still crying over her confrontation with Sonny and Avery overhearing it, and what she told her sister. Lucas comes across her at the pier while out for his run.
Explaining how badly she feels for what she said about Sonny to Avery, Lucas says that eventually Avery will discover the truth about Sonny. He explains to Josslyn that even though Avery hates her now, she will come to realize that what she said about her father was the truth, and that Josslyn was not lying to her at all.
So, what do you think about Sonny ready to play dirty to take down Josslyn? How will Carly ensure her daughter does not wind up dead? Who do you think is in the right here? Is Josslyn’s vendetta against Sonny justified, at the cost of the relationships with her family? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing

General Hospital star Cynthia Watros, who can currently be seen in on the ABC soap opera in the role of Nina Reeves, has had a enduring career in television. That included her time on the 2000-2002 Fox sitcom, Titus.
In Titus, Watros starred along with Stacy Keach as Erin Fitzpatrick and Ken Titus, respectively. After the November 10th news that Keach had passed away at 85 while living in Poland, Cynthia took to her Instagram on Thursday, November 12 to pay tribute to the great actor.
Watros expressed, “My first prime time show was along side Stacy. I loved him instantly. What an amazing talent and man.❤️”

Photo: ABC
In Titus, Stacy played stand up comedian Christopher Titus’ heavy-drinking, chain-smoking, five-times-divorced father who frequently pulled cruel pranks and tried to toughen his kids up. Cynthia played by Christopher’s level-headed, big-hearted girlfriend trying to build a normal life with him. In fact, Cynthia’s role on the sitcom was first series regular role after her Daytime Emmy run of Annie Dutton on Guiding Light which ran from 1994-1998.
STACY KEACH’S WIFE ON HIS PASSING
Keach’s wife, Malgosia shared the news of the actor’s death publicly in a statement with PEOPLE. Malgosia expressed, that Stacy had, “a long and difficult battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure.”
She added, “Stacy peacefully departed this world. He fought for so long, with extraordinary courage, determination and strength. He was a true warrior, facing his illness with the same remarkable spirit and resilience that defined his life.”
Małgosia continued, “Stacy was not only a legendary actor, admired and loved by audiences the world over, but also my beloved husband, my companion and the heart of our family. His passing leaves an immeasurable emptiness in our lives. But his extraordinary spirit, his unforgettable voice and the love he gave so generously will remain with us forever.”
Now, let us know do you remember when Cynthia made her sitcom debut in Titus? Share your thoughts via the comment section on Cynthia’s many TV roles and the passing of Stacy Keach in the comment section. But first, check out the very first episode of Titus with Cynthia Watros below!
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