It’s been over two-years since his last appearance on General Hospital, now fan favorite Kin Shriner (Scott Baldwin) has taken to social media to share his thoughts on the casting of his grown-up TV daughter, Serena Baldwin now played by Kelly Kruger.

Kelly took over the role of Serena on-screen starting with the July 30, 2026 episode and has been ensconced in the storyline with her mother, Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring), in trying to win back full creative control of Deception for her.

In fact on the Monday, October 19 episode of the ABC soap opera, Serena tried to dupe Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) into signing over Michael’s (Rory Gibson) shares of the company. Jason caught on and wondered why she was doing this. She claimed she just wanted to help her mom gain creative control from Tracy (Jane Elliot) rather than full ownership, and begged Jason to keep quiet about it, which he agreed to for now.

Courtesy/ABC

WHERE IS SCOTT?

On Monday, Shriner also took to X and said, “I think Kelly Kruger is doing a great job on General Hospital, and she and Lynn Herring work well together.” That was followed by comments in his thread about the show needing to bring back Scott too.

In fact, back on August 25, Shriner also took to X with a reminder that Scott is still around and ready to come back to Port Charles, sharing, “Scotty Baldwin always fits in he just needs the right sport coat !!!!”

The last time Serena mentioned her father Scott was when Kruger made her debut and informed Lucy that her father was, “living his best life in Key West.”  Meanwhile, Shriner posts on his X account continually and shared back on August 2, that it has been 49 years since he made his on-screen debut as then teenaged, Scotty Baldwin and thanked the fans for al the love and support.

So, now let us know, are you enjoying Kelly Kruger as Serena Baldwin? Do you want to see GH bring back Scott Baldwin into the story, so Serena has both her parents in Port Charles? Do you like the potential of Jason and Serena pairing? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

While Bradley “Smitty: Smith finds himself currently in a whole heap of trouble on Beyond the Gates, his portrayer Mike Manning is getting set for the upcoming 53rd Daytime Emmy Awards where he finds himself nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

A previous two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Manning will visit You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel for a livestream chat on Wednesday, October 21 beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

This year, Beyond the Gates broke records becoming a 15-time Daytime Emmy nominated seres, a first in Daytime Emmy history for a new show entering the competition for the first time. Manning will discuss being part of the groundbreaking soap.

Photo: CBS

MIKE MANNING’S UPCOMING PROJECTS

While Manning has his series regular role on Beyond the Gates he is also involved in a myriad of other projects including: his role opposite Nicolas Cage in the film, Madden and the upcoming Anthony Hopkins starring motion picture, Eyes in the Tree, which Manning is featured and also produced.

LGBTQ+ ADVOCACY

Mike first gained nation attention back on MTV’s The Real World D.C., now almost 17 years ago, when he came out on the reality series, which served as an example of early LGBTQ+ representation, leading to thousands of letters from viewers who felt connected to, or felt represented by his journey. Through his advocacy, Manning has served as a youth ambassador for Boo2Bullying and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, anti-bullying, and environmental protection.

Daytime fans first met Manning as uber-bad guy Charlie Dale on Days of our Lives (2020-2o22) and later for his Emmy-winning role as Caleb McKinnon on The Bay.

This week on all-new episodes of Beyond the Gates, viewers will see the pick-up after Smitty has been framed for the murder of Dr. Lia Whitmore, after being in possession of incriminating pills linked to her death, that were seemingly planted at his home. 

If you have a question for Mike, but cannot be with us in the live chat, drop it in the comment section below and we just might ask it on the broadcast.

So, how do you think Smitty will get out of the charges against him? Rooting for Mike at the Daytime Emmys? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

Soap operas aren’t for everyone and you can add motion picture and television star Mary Elizabeth Winstead to the list. It was back in 1999 that a 14-year-0ld Winstead joined the cast of the upstart NBC soap opera in the role of Jessica Bennett.

Now in a new conversation on Off Camera with Sam Jones, Winstead talked about the early years of her career in Hollywood, which was topped off by her decision to get out of her contract with Passions after just a year.

Opening up about her experience on the set of Passions, Winstead shared, she didn’t particularly enjoy it. Having worked on other sets before landing the role of Jessica, Winstead said that compartively, “I kind of knew this wasn’t what everything was like.”

Photo: NBC

DISGRUNTLED OVER SOAP OPERA’S TOXIC ENVIRONMENT

However, Mary Elizabeth then went on to explain the set of Passions has a real “militant vibe” and “it was friendly and it wasn’t encouraging or warm.” She cites an example of how her mother wasn’t allowed on set and and was forced by the producers to spend her day in Mary Elizabeth’s dressing room.

Winstead added, “There were times where she (her mother) would kind of try and quietly be there (on set), and they would be like, ‘We’ll just pretend we didn’t see you around here.”‘All of this, and her unhappiness, led Winstead to break her contract.

For those who need a Passions refresher course, the character of Jessica Bennett ,who was later played by Jade Harlow and Danica Stewart, was initially a quiet introverted teen. Eventually, Jessica went through a major downward spiral that included substance abuse, being forced into prostitution by Spike Lester (whom she briefly married), a fake death and burial, and rehab!

MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD’S CAREER

As for Winstead, she most recently appeared in the Hulu remake of The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, A Gentleman in Moscow, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Smashed (for which she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination), 10 Cloverfield Lane and FX’s Fargo.

Meanwhile on the home front, Winstead is married to motion picture and television star Ewan McGregor. The couple tied the knot in 2022 after meeting on the set of FX’s series Fargo in 2016.

You can check out Mary Elizabeth Winstead talking about her experience on Passions on the Off Camera Show below.

What do you think of Winstead’s feelings on the environment on the set of Passions? If you watch the clip below, do you think host Sam Jones talked down about soap operas as well? Weigh-in via the comment section.