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Finola Hughes Expected To Be Off General Hospital for 3 Months While She Directs The Film BYRD AND THE BEES!

PhotoCredit: HutchinsPhoto.com

PhotoCredit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Finola Hughes, who has been turning in exquisite performances this past week as Anna comes to grips with the fact that Duke Lavery (Ian Buchanan) was shot and killed, will be taking a short leave from General Hospital, according to the latest edition of Soap Opera Digest.

The actress is expected to take three months off of her role on GH this summer to direct her new film, Bryd and the Bees.  The film is set to star Jonathan Rhys Meyers which is said to tell the story of  struggling author, Rebecca Byrd, who on an impromptu trip to Scotland  lives the most romantic story she’s NEVER written.

GH’s head writer Ron Carlivati related to SOD, on working around Hughes short leave:  “We worked with that, so you get to see some of what becomes of Anna after Duke dies, and we’re forced to hit the pause button a little bit with Anna Devane, but she will be back, rest assured.”

It remains to be seen if Anna will be written-out for awhile, or if she will be on the canvas but not appearing on-screen.

So, excited to hear Finola will be shooting her new film? How do you think GH will handle her short break from playing Anna?  Share your thoughts below!

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I will miss Finola during her absence. She always puts forth amazing work!

Wish you well on your project, but hurry back to GH.

i’m happy for Finola, but i hope its not 3 staight months off the air, i was so happy that she was appearing more on screen hopefully if she does go off they will have her finally looking for Robin, Robin needs to tell her mom all the people who have done her wrong so that anna can start getting back at people like Helena and jerry who both have kept robin their prisoner.

I like how you think. Yes, go off and find Robin and bring her home! Kim or some other actress, it doesnt matter at this point!

If she directs a film, its 3 straight months, she cant make a film crew sit around to run back and do GH.

Very impressive…directing Jonathan Rhys Myers…one of my favorite actors! While I’ll miss her character on GH…taking time off to grieve Duke will enable Anna more ready for a new love if they take her down that road. Anything sooner would have been disrespectful to the romance of Anna and Duke.

I’m pretty sure this film will be great..have never seen Myers in anything that wasn’t. Great news…

GH’s cast are very talented in the arts..
It is good that they can do other projects to express their talents..
One should not spend their lives on a soap opera there are other things to do, also ..
Finola will be missed.. but- she will return and that is a good thing ..

I hope they send her to Scotland to lay Duke to rest in his home town.

I second that…

Would have been nice if they’d sent her and Duke off together somewhere. Let’s hope they handle it by giving Anna some hope that he’s alive and sending her to find him!

I second that! If she and IB both needed to exit the canvas to work on her film (IB is in it too) then they certainly could have had Duke & Anna leave together instead of having Duke die so suddenly. Maybe after they were wed. That would have brought in the viewers as much as a funeral.

The only way they can rectify this with legacy fans who are disappointed at yet another legacy character dying is by giving Anna a clue and an inkling Duke is still alive somewhere before she leave for summer.

Since the summer scripts are most likely already in the hopper, I think they could just have her bank some scenes and show them throughout the summer. They did that last summer when TG was off– Fluke showed up in a brief scene here and there– especially since they knew this was coming for a while no doubt. But whether seen or unseen, she will not be forgotten and look forward to seeing the film she is directing when it comes out.

I hope that 3 months goes by quick. Love Anna so much. Hoping Anna can find Robin out there.

Rarely do I get so pissed off about my favorite soap but Finola leaving for three months would have been a perfect excuse not to see her while her and Duke head out of the country. No they had to kill Duke and THEN F with us and think he is alive only to find out it was only a dream of Sonny’s! Terrible. Terrible.

I know, Timmm. She always brightens my heart when I see her. I love her so much…and, will be sorely missed, albeit summer is fast approaching…kids out of school and all…..I hope not to miss much of my soaps.

Hopefully Anna comes back with Robin. Recasted or not. DVR GH and watch it after the kids are fast asleep!

Easier said than done, Timmm. Two hours with my son and I’m exhausted….the kid has more energy than twenty, six-year-olds combined. Thank God for nanny and my family.

I don’t know about a Robin recast. Most fans will be up in arms, no? Robin left soon after I started watching, I don’t know her….so, it makes no difference to me if she is recast. It would be great if Anna comes back with her daughter.

After Jake wakes up from his ‘stupor’, chances are he and a Sam will end up together….all his feelings for her will be flooding back. A double whammy for Lizzie…her deception and her rival Sam. Jake’s shiny perception of Liz will leave a bitter taste in his mouth. Little miss-goody-two-shoes is not at all what she seems. Too bad. I really wanted this relationship to work. Her own fault!!!!!l
The way to Patrick would be open for Robin….not that there would be any doubt he’d go running to Robin, slo-mo, ….so, yes, I’m all for a recast if Kimberly is not ‘available’.

My best friend has a son and she usually watches Y&R around midnight! So I know you got your hands full!

I love Kim playing Robin. She is a rare child actor who got to play her character as an adult and play it well. If Kim doesnt want to return and GH needs the star on screen, thats when I would recast. Your seeing it right now. Robin’s “Uncle Duke” died and Robin is nowhere to be found!

I just like looking at Jakeson and Sam together. They seem like a perfect fit. Plus, they seem to have chemistry and heated passion.

I think Anna should have a show down with Carlos and he ends up dead! So she has to go to headquarters to be questioned & do paperwork and stuff then she says she needs a little break!! By then 3 months will be up before you know it!! We’ll miss you Anna!! They can write a good scene of you having it out with Carlos!!

Didnt u watch the show, thats what happened, she killed Carlos

Thanks GH for permitting Finola maximize her Talents.I am far far away,Philippines but I am religiously following Anna.Canvass please so we won’t miss her!

Can we have a contest to have fans vote for next seasons DANCING WITH THE STARS, soap star dancer. The winner to be announced the first day of the show?

Interesting title. This film will definitely be something to see……especially since it’s set in Scotland.
I will miss her….
Sealbh math dhuit! …. And, Godspeed.!!!!!

I shall miss her loads, too, CeeCee. In addition to Dr. O., she is my favorite over-50 lady on the GH canvas due to her cool, classy, calm and collected presence. Shall be a long summer without her, but I also wish her well! (Seems she shall need it….apparently, JRM has once again fallen off the proverbial wagon, as his disheveled, disgusting self has been photographed staggering around London for all and sundry to see….nice one! Hope his latest drunken escapades don’t interfere with the filming schedule….)

Shay, Shay, Shay…favorite over-50 lady on GH? Does this mean you have over/under 20, over 30, over 40, ladies, girls, men, guys, etc? I think from reading your other comments you meant well, but…:))

@Rose….Well, thank you for the benefit of the doubt! Of course, no harm was intended, I simply was noting that Finola’s absence shall be sorely noticed, not for the least of reasons being that Anna is such a shining example of everything “a woman of that certain age” should be! Except for the character of Dr. O.—as so charmingly portrayed by Kathleen Gati—I find all the other females in Port Charles’ 50-something age bracket to be wanting on so many levels….you already know that I consider Lucy and, most especially Alexis, to be utterly disgraceful!!! (No need to further expound on that thought…..LOL!) Hence, in addition to just outright missing the admirable Anna and all that her character brings to the GH canvas, I shall truly be longing for the tasteful sophistication that is Finola Hughes’ trademark. Her discerning presence is not just welcome, but irreplaceable, as well.

I will miss Finola but wish her well with her new adventure. She was outstanding today with her live performance when she shot Carlos.

I will miss Finola, she is a great actor. Wish her
Luck with the film she is directing.
Hurry back to GH, it won’t be the same without you.

well I think she will come back with a solid strong wowan that always be can’t wait to see more of anna

When will her movie come out we will miss you come back very soon

General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Learns Britt Died and Tells Anna He Has Been Working For Cates Since November 2021

On the Tuesday, March 26th of General Hospital, Anna (Finola Hughes) and the viewers learn about where Jason (Steve Burton) has been for over two and half years. However, Jason gets some news of his own.

Anna is visiting Jason at the PCPD interrogation room. She asks him if he shot Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), which he flatly denies. Anna believes him, but she tells Jason it doesn’t matter, because video footage shows him on the roof at the time of the shooting

When talk turns to Jason not willing to speak without his lawyer present, Anna can’t grasp why Jason would instead spend an hour alone talking with John Cates (Adam J. Harrington).

Photo: ABC

It is then that Anna brings up that John went by “Jagger” and that the two of them knew each other in high school. Jason doesn’t recall much of his time in high school following his brain injury, but then he gets furious realizing John knew about “Jason’s” past. That is when Jason slams the table and tells Anna, “I’ve been working for John Cates since November 2021.”

Next, Jason explains further that he has been working as an informant for the FBI. Anna wants to know how this came about and he tells her that after the tunnel collapsed, and he couldn’t make it to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud)… all of a sudden he sees Anna’s face drop.  Anna is the first person to tell him that Britt died and was murdered. She tells Jason the killer is in custody, but he continues to be shocked, overwhelmed with tears welling up in his eyes. Realizing he has to pivot to save his life, Jason continues telling Anna how he wound up working with John.

Jason explains that after the tunnel collapse in Greece, FBI agents grabbed him and placed him under arrest and took him to Quantico where he met John. At Quantico, John played a recording of RICO violations and offered Jason a deal if he agreed to be an informant against Pikeman, the illegal arms dealer.

Anna hears from Jason that he thinks Pikeman is selling illegal arms to anyone flagged by the NSA but has ties to the WSB which they needed a civilian to infiltrate their organization as a military soldier, a mercenary.

Jason tells Anna he was a part of the team brought into eliminate Sonny (Maurice Benard). Every time an attempt was made on Sonny’s life over the last two years, a different team was sent to do the job. Anna gets furious when she learns that John told Jason his job was to kill Sonny and she was with John at the warehouse that night. Jason ensured the sniper missed Sonny and left the rifle behind. However, they were supposed to meet an extraction team. Before he was shot, Dante saw it was Jason on the roof and when he turned around with his hands over his head, Dante was shot by the other guy. Jason says if Dante dies, he’ll be charged with capital murder and then will be useless to the FBI.

Photo: ABC

Meanwhile, John visits Bobbie’s and runs into Carly (Laura Wright). She learns Jason is in custody and is going to head to the PCPD. Before she does, Carly has some words with Cates when she learns not only does John have a vendetta against Sonny, but Jason too.  Carly tells John he should recuse himself from the case.

So, what did you think about the moment when Jason learned Britt died? What do you think of Jason’s return storyline thus far and what we learned about Jagger/Jason and more? Comment below. But first, check out a moment from today’s GH with Jason and Anna.

 

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