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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Alex Is ‘Wicked’ To Anna; Franco Receives Devastating Diagnosis

Courtesy/ABC

Friday’s episode of General Hospital brought with it a clever play on the Broadway smash hit musical, Wicked, but no there was no singing, instead we had the always brilliant Finola Hughes, playing the good witch and the bad witch, in the form of portraying twin sisters, Anna and Alex as Halloween night comes to Port Charles.

In story, Anna, who is dressed for Halloween in white as a good witch, reads the report in front of Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) that proves that Faison did not have the marker for RA (rheumatoid arthritis) which then proves that since she did not have it, nor Faison, that Alex is the biological mother of Peter August (Wes Ramsey).

All this time, as Anna says, she blamed herself for being with Faison only to find out that was a complete lie.  Anna becomes so incensed by all of Alex’s machinations that she smashes a glass just as the power goes out.  Valentin tells Anna he was also used by her sister where Peter was concerned.  Anna questions whether she should warn Peter, that Alex might be after him and his unborn child with Maxie (Kirsten Storms).  Valentin is convinced they need to get rid of Alex, before she does something to them.

 

Anna does decide Peter should show know the truth, as Valentin leaves to find out Alex’s whereabouts.  When the lights come back on at Anna’s, she is clubbed over the head by Alex who is dressed in black as a bad witch. Later, when kids come to trick-or-treat at Anna’s, she has switched places with her sister offering the kid’s candy after stashing Anna away in the basement and most-likely locking her in there.

Peter is in a whole heap of trouble as he keeps getting creepy phone calls from Helena saying they have “unfinished business”.  We later see a trap is being set by Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) and Sam (Kelly Monaco) in a secret location.  Sam is using a voice-alternating ‘Pro Tools’ like audio software program to simulate Helena’s voice to spook Peter and to set him up!

Back at the hospital, Terry (Cassandra James) delivers terrible news to Franco (Roger Howarth). His test results show he has a malignant tumor again on the front lobe of his brain, and that it is inoperable and cannot be removed through surgery.  She tells him she wants to run more tests to see what options they have.

When she asks Franco if he has developed any symptoms, he flashes back to the night at Wyndemere when Ava’s (Maura West) painting was revealed and ruined with C077x spray-painted across it and a haunting dream he had, but denies to Terry that he has had any problems as of now.  When she tells him they need to tell Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst), Franco says he does not want to tell her, or the boys, about this.  When Liz enters the room, Terry and Franco keep mum as to his condition, for now.

Roger Howarth showed once again why he can always be counted on to bring poignant moments to his scenes as Franco.  Be on the lookout for what happens with this story.  In a November sweeps preview in the current issue of Soap Opera Digest on newsstands now, GH head writers, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor teased about the medical crisis that it “may hold the key to unlocking one of the biggest mysteries in Port Charles – something that has been in the works for years.”

So, what did you think will happen next in the Anna/Alex saga?  What do you think will ultimately happen to Franco? Will he become the ‘killer’ Franco again? What could be the mystery the co-head writers are referring to? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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I’m intrigued by the Franco story and what the secret is. I appreciate the potential emotional impact we may get when Franco tells Elizabeth about his diagnosis. Roger Howarth and Rebecca Herbst bring such passion to Franco and Elizabeth that we know they’ll bring only their A game with this story. I hope we see the entire Webber-Baldwin family facing this together as a strong family unit. The possibility of losing the only stable father figure in their lives will be devastating for the boys and all three young actors have the acting chops to convey it. We needed a family centered story and the Webber Baldwins are just the right family to be at the center of those

Another brain tumor story? The only mystery is how a horrid character like Franco has been able to stay on canvas. Well, I guess that’s not really a mystery, it’s because Roger Howarth is great. But even he can’t save this mess of a character for me.

sonniorsolita
I happen to like the actor and the character. They sure did a good job of rehabilitating Franco better than some of the others who are always rotten. He’s a good husband and step-father and if as that Dr. said , the tumor is inoperable and he starts exhibiting some of his old ways I can just see him taking his own life before hurting anyone or putting his family through such misery and pain.

I am loving that Franco and Elizabeth and their family seem to have a big emotional story coming. The stakes are high because we watched this family lovingly built over the years. And the actors all have the talent to handle this material.l and truly make us feel!

I am also loving the Valentin and Anna dynamic and seeing them come together against a common enemy.

I’ve been unhappy about the lack of focus On beloved characters and couples of late and am hoping this is changing!

Not sure what to think about the tumor story yet but looking forward to Friz having their own frontburner story for a change. I know Becky & Roger will rock the material. Hoping that the Peter story doesn’t drag on too much longer.

ITA Jenn.

Well, if Oscar’s brain cancer was incurable, then they damn well better not cure Frodd’s.

The real Franco died when Jason killed him. Trying to resurrect him as a way to rebrand Todd Manning never made any sense at all. They have really wasted too many years trying to redeem a character who is essentially a serial rapist, posing as a dead serial killer.

With all the rumors going around about huge cast cuts coming to GH, they damn well better not find a way to “save Frodd”. Or Whiny Heiny, for that matter. Let Alex take her son out the way Ryan’s mom did in the 1990s. (only without the eventual resurrection this time)

Satan–
They have not yet done all the testing etc
to know exactly what Franco is facing.
He/Roger is a star and will not die.
He’s not going anywhere, nope..

If ay one is to be killed off, then I vote for;
Anna and Alex to kill-off each other.
60-70yr old grandmothers portrayed as a super-spy is more than ridiculous.
I’m still not seeing any purpose Ann has; her time has come and gone..
Good for Robert/Scorpio for holding on- he has a purpose as AG/whatever his position is now.
I luv Valentin, hoping he and Franco get up-front in exciting/intriguing/suspenseful stories 🙂
I’m counting on the men to bring the drama!
the GH women have become dull/boring measly yawn.
I need some dark exciting action LOL 🙂

Finola just turned 61 and is one of only 2 contract performers over 60 (NLG being the other).

While the majority of the audience got one thing we wished for this week (Peter is not Anna’s son), the next is to see her return to the strong woman she traditionally has been.

Looking forward to her eventual showdown with Liesl when the truth finally comes out.

When did Alex become evil? She was sweet/normal on AMC. I only remember her on GH when Ron/Frank came on board and she was changed then? Did I miss another time of Alex on or mentioned between AMC and Ron/Frank time?

I wondered the same thing!

Thanks- finally an exciting Franco.!
Franco and Liz are one of the dullest/lacklustre/boring couples, ever.
Hope Franco goes back to the dark side!
I have heard; Roger plays crazy dark in a bravo way.
looking forward to tumour Franco doing his dirty deeds..
Also- doesn’t Franco know the Peter/Hinrik secrets etc?
Anyways- good move GH, bringing Franco back to life!

The Webber-Baldwins are truly the heart of this show for me..Putting Franco and Elizabeth together was a smart move, putting Roger Howarth with Rebecca Herbst has proven to be simply brilliant..The slow build in making them such a strong family unit will make the stakes of this storyline so much higher. The boys finally have a stable strong family, I hope we get to see the emotions of every member of the family as they face this together..Roger, Rebecca and the boys are all powerhouse actors, I’m looking forward to watching them deliver!

With Alex pretending to be Anna, Iam wondering how far she’ll take it. Will she sleep with Finn and her other interactions will be interesting to say the least? I still think Robert is Peter’s father not Faison. Cant wait to see this story play out!

Bring back Todd…

At this point I could almost tolerate Todd… as long as they keep Blair and the annoying little Disney princess bubblegum autotuned twit out of it.

I LOVE Franco and Elizabeth together! This stupid black-mail story has finally come to light and now we’re saddled with a retread of Oscar’s inoperable brain tumor. Sigh! Can’t we have a few moments after Mike’s death to breath? Terry better be able to save Franco or she’ll became the Dr. Rick Bauer (GL) of GH. Not really looking forward to this story if it doesn’t have a happy ending. Sigh.

OMG, Peter was sure lapping up Mommy Dearest’s ridiculous performance today. Those two deserve each other.Hope they can save Finn from Alex’s clutches.

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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