Connect with us

General Hospital

18

Emma Samms Opens Up On the Challenges of Taping General Hospital While Battling Long COVID

By Michael Fairman

Published

on

Photo: EmmaSamms

General Hospital fans are anxiously awaiting the return of Emma Samms (Holly Sutton) to the ABC daytime drama series, that was originally slated to air on October 19th. However, with the preemption of today’s episode, Holly’s return to the canvas will be pushed back a day.

For Emma, returning to work has been something she has to be careful of, and manage, due to her ongoing bout with Long Covid-19.  According to PEOPLE.com, when Samms began taping new episodes of GH, she informed the producers that she had certain limitations.

Emma shared: “I told them if I stand still for too long, I might fall over. I might lose my voice if I talk too much. I sometimes sound gaspy.” She added, “I said, ‘Basically, think senior citizen and not a fit one. Just think in those terms when you are writing for me.'”

Since originally contracting Covid-19 in March of 2020, Emma is one of the millions worldwide who have suffered the more debilitating effects of Long Covid.

Photo:ABC

When she came back to Los Angeles from the UK for her month-long GH shoot, Emma shared:  “I had massive trepidation.” But the popular star noted: “I feel really lucky that people are willing to accommodate me in order for me to work. I feel desperately sorry for people who don’t have bosses who are as sympathetic.”  Speaking of being sympathetic and understanding, reportedly GH’s EP, Frank Valentini, gave Samms his parking spot near the ABC Prospect Studios; to help limit the amount of walking Emma would have to do.

In the latest issue of Soap Opera Digest on newsstands everywhere Friday, Tristan Rogers (Robert) shared on Samms’ return: “I didn’t think it would happen given her health.”  SOD also shared that Robert will be in for the shock of his life when he reunites with his ex-Holly, who is very much alive.

Emma’s husband, Simon McCoy, has been with the actress during filming of GH.  When they return to England, Samms revealed: “I’ve got nothing scheduled the month I get back, and I shall just recuperate.”

So, looking forward to seeing Emma back on GH? Share your thoughts via the comment section.

18 Comments

18 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Aww so cute together Holly and Robert back when I watched the show

Very classy moves by Frank Valentini!

Is she only returning for one month?

If those are recent pictures, she looks great, considering all she’s been through recently. She may feel like a “senior citizen” but damn sure doesn’t look like one.

Some idiotic rumors on other sites trying to say Holly’s the “hooker”. Don’t think she’s physically capable of pulling off that particular role, from her own description. Not to mention, she has no connections to any of the hooking victims.

I can’t quite understand why she is working at all regardless of accommodations being made for her. Covid is Covid.

She’s not contagious. She had the actual Covid infection back in March of 2020. She just happens to be among the unfortunate number of mortals who have suffered long term damage as a result of the virus. Nobody’s going to “catch” that from working with her.

No, all Covid is not the same. Long Covid is quite different from what the vast majority who get Covid experience. Those with long Covid cannot spread the virus. After suffering with this for a few years, kudos to Emma for trying get some normalcy back in her life.

Happy to see her back at GH and hope it wasn’t too much for her. Don’t know what the storyline will entail, but I hope it leaves room for more returns.

She is welcome back anytime she wants to come back… Or anytime the story dictitates it. She is legacy GH. Holly… And Emma always have a place in town.

Her health issues are caused by the “vaccines” … not by “long covid.” Why doesn’t she know this and why is she lying?

I will love to have the character back. She is always fun!

She got Long Covid way before any vaccine was even available. I too have Long Covid. And when I got the initial vaccination series, I actually felt better than I had since early 2020. Long Covid is something totally different than a negative reaction to the vaccine.

Yeah ok, “Daryl Licked”, cause you know more than the doctors and scientists that actually do this stuff for a living. Get out of here with the tinfoil hat conspiracy BS.

I got Covid in April 2020. This was a year before any vaccines were available. I never recovered. I suffer from symptoms every day. Some days I sleep for 16 hours other days I can not breath.

The only one lying here is YOU. She got Covid in March 2020. You know… the first month that 99% of the planet had any knowledge of the virus at all?

Vaccines… for whatever idiotic Q-Anus myth you want to believe about them – would not even exist until a year AFTER that. So unless she was borrowing Doc Brown’s DeLorean, it would be impossible for the vaccines to cause her problems.

If you wish to spread lies, there are plenty of other websites for you.

FACT
Emma caught Covid in March of 2020 and has had chronic symptoms since then.

FACT
The vaccines were not available until December 2020 for medical professionals and shortly thereafter for high risk individuals. Emma would have had her symptoms for at least 9 months before a vaccine was available.

FACT
The vaccines have saved lives and made those recipients who did catch Covid have milder cases.

A little education goes a long way.

Daryl, you seem to live in alternate universe and how dare you accuse Emma Samms of lying? Emma and her doctors are well versed and well educated on the profound effects of long term COViD. She’s suffered enough and is graciously visiting GH as a favor- she certainly doesn’t need the money.

She looks great.

I love RnH but I wonder if Tristan and Emma feel the same. Apparently, they had a bitter breakup in real life, and Emma said how hard it was doing kissing scenes after their relationship ended. I hope enough time has passed that they can work together without any animosity.

General Hospital

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

Published

on

By

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.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jonathan Bennett (@jonathandbennett)

Continue Reading

General Hospital

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

Published

on

By

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.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

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

Published

on

By

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.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

CBS unveils Beyond the Gates season 2 promo and Jordi Vilasuso joins the cast. Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Giovanni Mazza as Gio

General Hospital

Airdate: 12-8-2025

Popular

18
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x