General Hospital
Does Head Writer Ron Carlivati Want James Franco To Play Himself On General Hospital?

Courtesy/L.A.Times
According to an item from Showbiz 411.com’s Roger Friedman, General Hospital’s head writer, Ron Carlivati may be interested in bringing back the original “Franco”, motion picture star James Franco, back to the ABC soap opera, but this time not as the fictitious Franco who is now played by Roger Howarth … but as himself! Got that?
Friedman reports that he had a conversation with the WGA nominated head writer of the town of Port Charles over the weekend during the WGA Award ceremonies. The item says: “Ron told me he wants the real Franco to make one more return. I think the idea is that the multi-tasking actor would play himself, and I guess confront the fictitious Franco. Anyway, the soap is now the hip show that Franco wanted it to be when he was on it.”
So, what would you think if James Franco returned to General Hospital but this time as himself? Can you imagine what the scenes would be like having a “Franco” showdown between Roger Howarth’s Franco and the real James Franco? Comment below!
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.

Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”

Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
General Hospital
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.

Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?

On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.
Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.
However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.

Courtesy/ABC
BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON
Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.
He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.
Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”
General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”
So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.
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Great idea if the writers can make it exciting.. GH is great these days I hope they keep it up.
no, no, no, no, no, no
NO!, NO!, NO!, NO!, NO!
ditto here! had enough of him the first time! and don’t be messing with the ‘franco’ character again. It’s not like Roger can go back to playing Todd… and this idea of one franco confronting the other franco? what is that… Todd 1 vs. Todd 2. (victor), 2.0?
please don’t bring him back!
I agree Joshua! A thousand times NO!!!
The Franco reminder we have now, is too much.l
It sounds idiotic to me.
YES!!!YES!!! YES!!! I Love James Franco and his character. I am sure Ron would write a great script for JF I hope so..
The only reason I would want to see James is if he came back to kill Franco!!! That character needs to go!!!
Amen! That’s a great ideal to get rid of Franco once and for all.
Making Roger “Franco” was the MOST boneheaded idea CarToony has ever come up with. I don’t know what they were smokin’, but it had to be some pretty powerful stuff! 🙁
I agree! Get rid of Franco / Todd! So annoying on OLTL & now on GH!
James franco needs to come back. Todd from OLTL Sucks as franco!!
I’d love to see him come back!
Sounds dumb! JF is a great actor, but his Franco was a mess cause the show was such a mess. GH has finally dug itself out of what the writers created. Why go back?! And if they even bring Jason back, GAG! I have enjoyed the show since he left. I love Steve Burton, & Jason, but it became way to much, It was the Jason show. There is more of a story to tell in PC, so tell it. Use AJ more.
Enough of the stunt casting. Tell some decent, plausible stories, Ron, or step down. For God’s sake! This show is a mess.
GH is not a mess, it is exciting variety..
There is a variety of stories, something for everyone..
I like all the stories..
RC and team is doing a great job!!
(so are the actors)
I think the cast of GH is just way too big , why not write for the characters that were on GH & make the newcomers apart of their storylines , right now the newcomers are getting the storylines & the GH characters are apart of their storylines.And the newcomers keep coming , meanwhile half the cast are invisible & they have to be in order to accommodate all these newcomers. I am all for tuning in to watch GH’s storylines but this is too far away from the GH I have watched through the years & all the credit does indeed go to RC & FV for creating a whole different version of what once was GH.
Jeff, you said it. Thank you.
Bernie, the cast has contracts that guarantee them so much on screen time..
some of the old timers do not want to be on the set everyday and have other irons in the fire..
the new guests rarely stay past their story, which brings variety..
It is not always RC’s fault the actors themselves want what hey want, too .. time off and lighter days..
I hope James Franco returns, it will be a short stay but it would be dangerous fun..
April 1, I will be a 51 year viewer, and GH has returned to its G Monty glory days. It is NOT a mess, ABC has FINALLY got a EP and HW that actually know what they are doing. The terrible part is that One Life To Live’s loss is definately GH’s gain. I have recently even got my sister, who had quit watching a couple of years ago, watching again, and she has said how great GH is once again.
I don’t know how any one can say the show is a mess, it’s awesome, what more do people want?
SU0000, The screen time guarantees in the contracts are decided by and offered by the producer, Frank. It is his decision who gets offered the larger contracts. To suggest that Roger Howarth, Michael Easton, Kristin Alderson, Maura West, Teresa Castillo and William Devry have the largest contracts because they are willing to work and other actors are not is totally without any basis or evidence.
Some actors came back for short stays like Jack Wagner, but to claim that John J York, Kristina Malandro, Jane Elliot, Sean Kanan, and others are not on screen more is because they don;t want to work as much is absurd.
The characters that dominate, the OLTL 3, Sabrina etc, do so because that is the way Frank and Ron want it. Do you really think the actors from their old show and the other newbies they have brought on are the one’s that dominate because other actors don;t want to work as much? How absolutely ridiculous.
And SU0000, I forgot about Tristan Rogers. Did he not get a contract from GH because he didn’t want to work as much? He seems pretty excited to have a contract on Y&R. GH thought they could use him at will to draw fans in while their favored actors from OLTL and the newbies are taken care of with contracts and screen time. They were wrong.
ICAM – the show’s become a mess and bringing back Franco is a stunt. They should never have brought Roger back as Franco. It’s a waste of his talent – redeeming a psycho serial killer and rapist is bizarre – Roger would have made a great real Q or Cassadine – not evil.. but not good… Ron should start writing good stories. Carly is a favorite character, but she’s become FF material because of this ridiculous Heather storyline. Heather is a ridiculous character and hasn’t been written well since her return and they silly ‘back to life – escaping prison every other day” stories are repetitive and annoying. Carly and Franco pairing is an embarrassment – Carly w/ AJ as the new Monica and Alan makes way more sense and the actors have real chemistry. Sabrina is as dull as toast. I realize Ron is pushing her on us because he gets royalties for new characters – but please… recast her then. Obrecht on a daily basis – spare me (again royalties for Ron) – But I will give him Britt… love her w/ Nik – nice actress… I could go on for days at the mistakes the show’s making, but I think you get the idea.
I agree Lona. I recall my grandmother watching her “stories” every day at noon. Her stories were filled with people she knew and loved. Where’s the stories? Where’s the characters we know and love? Please, no more stunt casting.
I couldn’t agree more, Jeff. This sounds like the silly season on GH will be permanent. 🙁
Oh thank you GH50 person. I wanted to say what you did but felt too tired and depressed. As usual, you said it much better than I could have.
wow!
James Franco is a ham lol he would jump at the chance to be on GH again in his Franco roll..
IF, it happens and we RH and JF together on screen in a story, it would be incredibly great! A block buster !!
The 2 Franco’s facing off!!! wow & wow!!
((I hope it comes to be!!)
“A Blockbuster!” Sue, you do realize Blockbuster went out of business due to poor micro and macro planning don’t you?
Franco wouldn’t be playing Franco…he’d be playing himeself…James Franco. Still could be fun because James Franco is not only brilliant and great looking…he’s also a bit of a nut! (in a creative way of course…ahem.)
Oh what a brilliant….er, brilliantly STUPID idea. First they decide to cast the very talented Roger as the result of James Franco’s mental masturbation and now they think it would just be so very keen to have the real Franco come in to meet the manifestation of said mental masturbation. Poor Roger.
With making Dr O the chief of staff, Victor Cassadine the head of the WSB, and Sabrina the Disney star of the Perils of Pauline, General Hospital has become a self parody. It’s so campy it makes Beach Blanket Babylon look like King Lear. What about character driven stories? What about drawing back old viewers like me with well written drama involving characters with whom we have invested a lot of time and emotions? Hearing news like this only reinforces my decision to stop watching GH. Ron is so damn tone deaf that he can only not hear the plaintiff wails of disgruntled fans, he can not hear the toll of those bells. And Ron? Do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.
In the words of SHREK…NO MORE FAIRY TALE CREATURES IN MY SWAMP!!!!
I think that they’re perhaps not hearing THESE posts. On twitter, they get good and bad feedback. In “real life”…they get different feedback on the streets than they do on social media. The bottom line is the ratings are up and they’ve been declared a success and as having saved GH from the chopping block…so I guess they’re good where they are.
For me, personally, I’ve been enjoying it and am so glad that the show is safe at least a year. However, I too am disappointed that they didn’t do more with Frisco, Robert, Sean Donnelly…they don’t utilize Felicia and Mac other than an occasional conversation…it’s like these characters are present living in the neighborhood somewhere…but we just don’t get see them a lot.
I don’t get why they paired Anna and Duke up again if they do nothing with them. They’re barely together…I used to love Anna and Duke. There’s no romance, adventure, banter…I’d almost rather have left their relationship in the past then see it so dull now. And I love Ian Buchanan. And yeah, he’s now involved with Sonny but so far he’s just filler.
Liz. What can we say about Liz. She was fired, rehired…and they still don’t give her a real story. I’d hate to see her go…she’s a familiar face on the canvas who I truly like…they started something with her and AJ and then just dropped it. And AJ…don’t get me started on him! I LOVE AJ…and they put him on the back burner for Robin’s storyline…bring him back already and make it interesting!
I think the problem is that while I like GH and would more than hate to lose it…shudder…there’s no more sense of community or family. It’s like separate vignettes. They used to have groups of friends…Lucky/Liz/Nicolas/Emily…Robin/Stone/Brenda….Jax/Alexis/Ned/Lois…the Q’s…there were just more groups…and somehow these groups intertwined.
I need more intertwining! :/
Oh this I like–“No more fairy tale creatures in my swamp!” Perfect.
Today, a woman tweeted Ron the following, and I think it pretty much sums up the quality of the show.
“My 11 year just told me watching GH is the best hour of her life!!! #Generalhospital #GH @carlivatiron”
Out of the mouths of babes….but of course, Ron would take this as the highest form of flattery.
Isn’t this guy ALREADY in everything already? I SWEAR I saw him in the extra-long commercial during the Superbowl….(and I hope you can hear my sarcasm from here…)
wolfy
And like Franco, I was redundant in my first sentence. (sigh….)
This sounds like RC wants to write the tale of two …Franco’s
This is exactly what I think is going on. What a terrible idea — UGH! Enough already….the Franco reincarnation is not working. It didn’t work when RH was just playing Franco, it didn’t work when the brain tumor was the “cause” of Franco’s serial killing, and it isn’t working now that Franco has been given new parents….just cut your losses and move on already!
JF would be wise to stay away from this train wreck!
That’s what I was thinking as well. The tale of two Franco’s, just like the tale of two Todd’s on One Life to Live. I have a good sense this is where he’s headed with this storyline, makes sense. Looking forward to it, GH is on fire, by far the best soap. Good storylines and very entertaining. Wonder if they will bring Steve Burton back, his picture was shown on yesterday’s episode by Victor Cassidine.
I disagree. It’s nothing like The Tale Of Two Todds on OLTL. As OTT as it was at least had the purpose of reinstating the original actor, Roger Howarth, as “the real Todd.” This is…well I don’t really know what it is aside from a really dumb idea.
I’m not a fan of breaking the 4th wall. James Franco is a real person who for a time played the fictional role of Franco on GH which is now being played by Roger Howarth. Where can they go with that? RH is obviously not going to be booted out so James Franco can resume the role so what then? Lame one liners
about how RH’s Franco was always just imitating the real James Franco?
Dumb, dumb dumb. RC needs to learn to write well crafted stories for the cast he has rather than an endless stream of stunts and gags.
wont bff steve burton throw a fit? i don’t see it happening with james franco being tight with steve burton and jill faren phelps, they would prob get him to do “their show”.. plus RC needs to go back to reality and get rid of all the cartoon crap he’s doing lately.
Shhhh– don’t give them any ideas, otherwise before we know it JFP will make James Franco the new Adam Newman on Y&R.
Lol. Dont think she hasnt thought it.
Lets just concentrate on the characters and actors we already got and especially underused like Monica, A.J., and Liz…at least Liz is in more scenes but could still use her own storyline!!!
Batman will next become part of GH…Nikolaus Cassidine will become the superhero…he does have the mansion and a butler named Alfred…Lucky Felix will move into the mansion as his trusty sidekick Robin and together they will fight Victor and Dr.O and their diabolical plots(BAM! POW!) see you next week…same bat time…same bat channel…, lol!!!
Ooh I like the idea of Nicolas as a superhero like batman or green arrow after all he is a billionaire an he got one killer bod!
Great idea JimH!!! Very appropriate!!! Since I can’t get Robert back with Anna… all for it!!!!
Hmmm? Sounds like RH may be leaving the show? Or perhaps he is the real Jason who may come back from the dead?
Good I never liked RH as Franco it does not fit RH.
Sounds to me like they want to de-Franco RH as Franco. I can see that happening, because RH as Franco has not worked! Franco/Todd is so bad it’s embarrassing, and it wastes RH’s talents. And frankly, the character still makes my skin crawl. Franco and Carly do not work! The only hesitation I have is Cartini rarely admits they made a mistake. They made a huge one making RH Franco.
PLEASE NO! I’m sick of James Franco. He is in everything! I’m surprised he hasn’t shown up on Barney yet!
I haven’t been able to accept RH as Franco, and I don’t think I could accept the real JF as any other character.
GREAT IDEA! And he can be the new police commissioner! Seriously????
ONE WORD ; NO
sometimes i wish the internet had been around in the 80s because we could look up how many people would have complained vociferously that those newbies (you know, forgettable characters like Anna or Duke, say) were the producers’ favourite new playthings and they were obscuring the vets that everyone wanted to see and wasn’t it time to get rid of them because nobody wanted them and everyone hated them. and seeing as people seem to hold sabrina’s RRRRs against her (i can assure you when i speak to a fellow italian, i speak differently), i’m sure anna and duke’s accents were being lambasted.
Ron C. is obviously bereft of any good ideas. As if we needed any more proof, considering what’s on screen these days.
And here I thought it couldn’t get worse….
First reaction is no not again. Thanks to Roger, I realize it wasnt the Franco character I hated. The actor Franco crappy appearance was problem. But Im interested to see how the writers would use actor Franco. Roger knows how to act on soap. Both actors together could be amusing.
I love James Franco and the roll Rodger is playing stinks,
Yes
Maybe bring back the real Franco. And then some how Jason?
Recast jason
Ron loves to do crazy stupid crap with GH i hope this never happends it would be so lame and embrassing
GH has become such a jumbled up mess I can’t stand to watch it. It seems like they have new characters every month. What about bringing back the Qs like FV said over a year ago. No more Franco anything. They need to kill off Franco. Next month Donald Trump and Daffy Duck will on the show. Sheesh.
Oh please, no more (James) Franco! His namesake character was such a sick, demented freak that I swore off the show for a good, long year during his reign of terror on Port Charles….only since RoHo’s more comical version erased that awful memory of the original incarnation have I been able to watch the role without revulsion.
YEESSSS! I hate the fact that they have a new Franco actor and it isn’t James Franco himself i think that is dumb. They need James Franco back to play the real Franco at least one more time. I dont like the new Franco at all. He doesn’t fit the role of Franco