The big return that General Hospital’s executive producer Frank Valentini teased after the show won Outstanding Drama Series at the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards has turned about to be, as promised, a true fan favorite and beloved actor for longtime fans of the ABC daytime drama series.

Five-time Daytime Emmy winner, Jonathan Jackson is on his way back to the ABC soap in his signature role as Lucky Spencer, the son of the iconic supercouple, Luke (Tony Geary) and Laura (Genie Francis).

According to Deadline, Jackson’s on-screen return will happen later this summer and is expected to be for a “long run.” This announcement comes on the heels of yesterday’s GH casting news when they revealed that two-time Daytime Emmy winner Bryan Craig was coming back for a one-day appearance in the role of Morgan Corinthos.

Photo: JPI

As for Jackson, he began his GH career at 11-years-old back in 1993, winning viewers hearts and captivating the audience with his brilliant performances. In fact, his on-screen dad, eight-time Daytime Emmy winner, Tony Geary, has many times said that Jonathan is his all-time favorite scene partner.

Jonathan stayed with GH till 1999. The role was then recast with Jacob Young and later with Greg Vaughan. Then, Jackson returned to the role of Lucky for another run in 2009-2011.

After his GH departure, Jackson went on to star in ABC’s country music soap opera, Nashville in the role of Avery Barclay for six seasons playing opposite another soap alum, Hayden Panettiere (ex-Lizzie, GL). Jonathan returned once again to GH for a limited run back in 2015. Jackson has won five Daytime Emmys for his work as Lucky in 1995, 1998, 1999, 2011 and again in 2012.

Photo: JPI

When Valentini told ABC7 ‘s On the Red Carpet at the Daytime Emmys, “A former cast member is coming back, and I think that the audience will go crazy for him,” speculation was rampant of just which male actor was coming back to the show. Many fans hoped and many predicted Jackson, and now they will get their wish. Could Lucky finally reunite with Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) when he returns to Port Charles? Stay tuned.

Recently, Jonathan has appeared in the film Unsung Hero about the family back-story of the hit Contemporary Christian/Pop duo For King and Country, plus has appeared in numerous other TV, film and music projects.

Photo: JPI

Jackson continues to perform as a musician around the world with his band Jonathan Jackson + Enation, plus several tours with cast members from Nashville, and is also an accomplished writer penning the theological prose, The Mystery of Art.

So, are you excited for Jonathan Jackson’s long-awaited return as Lucky Spencer? Comment below, but first check out his Instagram post where he shares his excitement on his return to GH.

 

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It looks like the teases Bryan Craig was dropping on social media were true, sort of.  According to TV Line, Craig is returning to the ABC daytime drama series to reprise his two-time Daytime Emmy-winning role as Morgan Corinthos.

However, it looks for now as if Craig is returning just for one episode. Circle August 1st for when he reappears on the long-running soap opera.

Now, it remains unclear if Morgan will come back as a ghost or vision from beyond, or if it will turn out that he is alive and well after everyone believed he was killed when a bomb meant for Julian Jerome blew up the car he was in. That incident took Craig off the show was back in 2016.

Photo: ABC

Speculation was high that Bryan could be the actor, GH EP Frank Valentini was referring to when he dropped the bombshell in an interview at the 51st annual Daytime Emmys that “a former cast member is coming back…and I think the audience will go crazy for HIM.”

Photo: BCraigIG

Craig continued to fuel the fire that he was on his way back to GH with a Father’s Day with himself and GH on-screen dad, Maurice Benard (Sonny), and then an image on his Instagram which looked like the GH set.

Photo: JPI

The actor began his TV career in 2013 when he took on the role of Sonny and Carly’s (Laura Wright son. After departing General Hospital three years later, Craig was cast on ABC’s Grand Hotel, and most recently appeared on Freeform’s Good Trouble, plus several independent motion pictures.

Now the question becomes is Bryan Craig’s one-day appearance who Valentini was referring to, or is there another male actor from the past still on their way back to Port Charles? Comment below.

For decades, soap opera fans around the world have wanted a chance to see Santa Barbara episodes again. The soap, which first aired on NBC back on July 30, 1984 aired for only 9 seasons until the network pulled the plug after diminishing ratings and multiple changes in writing and producing regimes. The show last aired on January 15th, 1993.

Santa Barbara was co-created and initially produced and co-written by the legendary team of Bridget and Jerome Dobson. At the recent 51st annual Daytime Emmys, Jerome was honored with the Gold Circle medal for his over 50 years of work and accomplishments within the medium. Sadly his wife, Bridget passed away earlier this year in January at the age of 85.

The show featured an all-star soap cast throughout its run which included, at times: Marcy Walker, A Martinez, Dame Judith Anderson, Robin Wright, Justin Deas, Eileen Davidson, Lane Davies, Nancy Lee Grahn, Kim Zimmer, Jack Wagner, Jed Allan, Louise Sorel. Judith McConnell, Roscoe Born, Sydney Penny, Todd McKee, Terry Lester, Justin Gocke, Nicolas Coster and many more.

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During a livestream conversation on Friday, June 21st, Jerome Dobson and A Martinez visited the Michael Fairman Channel to reminisce about the success and ups and downs of Santa Barbara and much more.

Many people in the live chat and many around the world (Santa Barbara was very popular internationally) have wanted to know with the legal issues it appears had plagued the show for years, if there would be a chance that fans could ever see Santa Barbara episodes again, and if they could become available or streamed?

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Dobson shared exclusively, “Well, there’s some legal footwork being done right now about that kind of possibility. There’s been so much demand to see Santa Barbara, and so it’s not totally out of the question.” Martinez (ex-Cruz Castillo) reaction to that possibility was that of “Wow!” That was also the same reaction by several viewers watching the live conversation in the chat, because that would be a soap dream come true for many.

Photo: NBC

So, do you hope that the legalities can finally be worked out and you could relive the seasons of ‘Santa Barbara’ all over again? Let us know in the comment section below. You can check out the live chat with A and Jerome below, the moment happens around the 56:18 mark.