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Chris McKenna Speaks Out on His Exit from ‘General Hospital’ and Thanks Fans for ‘The Support You’ve Shown Me and Jack’

By Michael Fairman

Published

3 weeks ago

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Chris McKenna
Photo: ABC

On the Tuesday, September 1 episode of General Hospital, the body shown floating in the Metro Court pool was identified as Jack Brennan, ending the run of daytime veteran, Chris McKenna, in the role of the WSB Port Charles bureau chief.

McKenna began his time on the ABC soap opera back in February 2025, after replacing Charles Mesure who decided to leave the show. As it turned out, McKenna actually wrapped almost three months ago in June and has been keeping mum, even though reports surfaced that he was exiting the show come fall and Brennan would be killed-off.

Now as a murder mystery begins, McKenna took to his X account on Tuesday, and shared these heartfelt words and clarification, starting with, “Hey, everyone. Just want to say how moved I’ve been by the support you’ve shown me and Jack. As you now know, I left the show months ago, wrapped in June. I’ll say more once my exit interview runs. Until then, from the bottom of my heart- Thank You.”

Courtesy/ABC

THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER

Then, in said “exit interview” with TV Insider, Chris confirmed,  I did my last episode in June, so I’ve had a few months to adjust.” He also added how bittersweet it was when he found out it was the end of the line for Jack.

“It’s disappointing how it’s ending right now, but this was a gift,” expressed McKenna. “Between my son being born and having this place to go to work for the past couple of years, this has been just a fantastic time, and it’s been so much fun. I got to be introduced to an entire new legion of soap fans who weren’t familiar with me, got back into the daytime world and did some powerful work I’m really proud of, so it’s been a great experience. I have no complaints.”

Previously, Chris played a young Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live where he got his first big break from 1990-1993. Decades later, he took on the role of Mark Harding on The Young and the Restless from 2014-2015.

Photo: CMcKennaIG

CHRIS MCKENNA AND PAIGE HERSCHELL LEARNED THE SAME DAY THEY WERE BEING WRITTEN OFF

While Chris did not get a major exit scene with lots of emotion or dialog, he still appreciated a departure by water! “I would have loved to have had a big, heroic martyrdom or a big grand speech. Unfortunately, I just played my dead body floating in a pool for two days,” joked Chris.

As it turned out, Chris wasn’t alone in finding out he was being pink-slipped from the soap. He learned the news the same day as Paige Herschell found out they were writing Jacinda out as well.

McKenna had one hope for the story in the months to come adding, “Though it’s not the end I woulda chosen for Jack, I hope this generates months of riveting television around ‘Who killed Brennan?’ And I hope that Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) killed him. It’s time she graduates to full-on murder.”

So, what do you think of the events that transpired of when and how Chris McKenna learned he was exiting General Hospital as Brennan? Who do you think murdered Jack?  Are you sad to know that today marked his final episode (unless there may be flashbacks?) of Chris’s GH run? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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I am sorry to see him go. Chris McKenna has done a fantastic job in the role of Brennan. Another murder mystery to be solved though it is most likely a combination of the drug Ava put in his drink and a mystery person who pushed him in the pool. And I agree that it is time for Willow to get what’s coming for all of her misdeeds.

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Yes. There was so much storyline for him. And who will run the WSB?? No one else except Joslyn??

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More than Jack’s body in the pool, Trina and Gio stole the show. I was very pleasantly surprised how good they were and how much I enjoyed both songs.

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I fast forwarded through it.

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Like going to book club without reading the book first ?

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Your analogy makes zero sense. I just don’t care for the music storyline.

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Fair enough… but that first song was really good. I too, would have automatically fast forward thru singing scenes but I was watching the show live.. and was honestly surprised at how good that song was.

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The analogy = not watching a scene could equal admitting to not reading a chapter.

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He was a great addition. However, he was not suited for the role of Jack Brennan.

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He is a good actor, and he made the character very believable. I hope he finds employment out there in the streaming universe. It does open up a murder mystery I didn’t see coming. We probably won’t know until the winter, but that’s ok, more storyline, and who doesn’t love a murder mystery. I’m sure the coming months will bring lots of intrigue and guessing on what really happened….how did he get from the elevator to the pool??

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McKenna played the part of a government agent very well. He also had good chemistry with Watros (but that was too little, too late). He and Wright never quite felt like they gelled. It was hard to follow Mesure who sizzled with Wright.

I admire Chris for his dedication to the genre and willingness to interact with fans. He’ll show up on B&B or DAYS somewhere down the line.

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He has done The Bold and the Beautiful before. He had a day-player role of Dr Hayden.

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I think they could have done a lot more with him,he was great with Nina. Sad to see him go

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I agree. But I believe they extended his story several months longer than it was supposed to be. He’s a good actor.

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I can think of other characters I’d rather see gone. I liked him being on the show. They could have done a lot with him and given him a juicy backstory.
Anyway, I was simultaneously amused and annoyed by the similarities of the 2 duos: Ava & Drew and Danny & Charlotte. Danny & Charlotte looked like young versions of Drew & Ava. Each one a bad influence on the other, headed nowhere but trouble.

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You are so right

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well this sucks i don’t even know what to say about this bad decision, Jack had so much potential, although i think GH new version of the WSB sucks, I still rather see spies running around in port charles then the mob. again horrible decision GH.

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Instead of killing off Jack Brennan, it should have been that DISGUSTING DIRTBAG Drew dead in that pool!!!!! SHAME ON YOU, GH!!!!!

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I’m really sorry for Chris McKenna and the rotten deal he got from GH.
He is a very good actor that gave his all to the show and made the role of Brennan his own after taking it over. Not only that, in his off time he was the biggest cheerleader for GH and was out there with the fans every chance he got.
That kind of loyalty doesn’t exist anymore.
I remember when he got hired he said casting at GH had asked him a few times to come in and read for a part. Well, he got it, did a terrific job and this is what he gets for giving this show his time and talent.
Frank Valentini needs to reconsider these awful decisions lately or there won’t be a show.

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Just looking at all the flack he got when taking over the role to the massive disappointment when it came out he was being killed off should have clued TPTB that they were making a mistake. There are plenty of other characters that could go or at least be sidelined instead. Mostly because of what the writers have done to the characters. Like Curtis or Chase. Charlotte has to be one of the most irritating characters ever. She and Doofus Danny really are annoying.Don’t even get me started on addled Anna. What a ridiculous storyline. What possible outcome can there be other than shipping Anna off to an asylum for an extended period. I can’t believe Finola Hughes is thrilled with what they’ve done to Anna.

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They should have never wrote them off to send it or Brennan. I like them both and I think they could’ve had better storylines shame on you writers get rid of the good people and keep the ugly people like that Drew and a few others. I’m not too fond of sorry about that, but that’s my feelings.

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Why would they kill off Brennan and then bring in a new WSB boss to replace him?? This doesn’t make any sense. Joselyn had a good repoire with him.
I think this is a terrible decision.

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General Hospital

William deVry to Appear on ‘Tracker’ Season 4; Shuts Down Rumors of a ‘General Hospital’ Return

Published

3 hours ago

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September 21, 2026

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William deVry addressed the rumors of his imminent return to General Hospital as Julian Jerome, which have popped up recently as click bait on websites or in video reels.

The soap opera veteran set the record straight when he took to Instagram to share a video of all that he’s been up to lately, and how fans catch him on multiple upcoming shows. Chief among them appearing in Justin Hartley’s (ex-Adam, Y&R and ex-Fox, Passions) drama series Tracker on CBS during its upcoming 4th season.

As deVry closed out his video message, he took a moment to confirm once and for all, “I am not coming back to General Hospital.” The last time viewers saw Julian on the Port Charles canvas, he was being zipped in a body bag after being shot in December of 2020, which ended deVry’s six-year-run on the soap.

Daytime fans also know that before his time on General Hospital, deVry played Michael Cambias on All My Children (2003-2004) and Storm Logan on The Bold and the Beautiful. (2006-2008).

Photo: CBS

TRACKER SEASON 4 HAS SEVERAL SOAP OPERA ALUMS

Coming up on Tracker, William is set to appear in episode 5  that airs in early November, where he is playing a bad guy. That’s the same episode that marks the return of another soap alum, Jensen Ackles (ex-Eric, Days of our Lives) as Russell Shaw, the brother of Hartley’s Colter Shaw.

Tracker premieres on Sunday, October 4 with its season premiere episode entitled “Safe Harbor,” launching Colter into a port-side case.

Before William is seen on Tracker, you can check him out next week in the movie Spill which drops on September 20 on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. That is followed on October 10, when the GH alum appears in Lifetime’s Movie of the Week, The Monster She Married, alongside Matthew Morrison (ex-Glee).

You can check out William’s video message below.

So, excited to see William deVry on the new season of Tracker? How do you feel about how the rumors got started that Julian Jerome might be resurrected? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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Beyond the Gates

RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Bests ‘General Hospital’ in Key Demos and Gains More Viewers Week-Over-Week

Published

10 hours ago

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September 21, 2026

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Beyond the Gates

The ratings are out for the week of August 31- September 4, 2026 and it was a solid one for daytime’s youngest daytime drama, Beyond the Gates, now taping its third season.

According to the latest Nielsen report via Soap Opera Network, Beyond the Gates saw a rise in total viewers, tied with third place General Hospital in Households, and overtook GH in the women’s 18-49 and 25-54 ratings share putting them firmly in the number three spot.

Let’s take a look at the drama that had viewers tuning-in to the action in and around Fairmont Crest: Andre (Sean Freeman) kissed Heather (Ashley Jones) before leaving for Seoul with Dani (Karla Mosley).

Hayley and Bill

Photo: CBS

Meanwhile, Heather figured out that her brother Joey (Jon Lindstrom) killed Doug. Hayley (Marquita Goings) poisoned Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett) yet again and left him unconscious. Jacob (Jibre Hordges) and Smitty (Mike Manning) made progress in the Impaler investigation, and the Articulettes had to deal with Leslie’s (Trisha Mann-Grant) interference.

As for the numbers, Beyond the Gates came in with an average of 1,677.000 total viewers and gained +66,000 for the week, with total household share at 1.2 up +1, and the key demos: 18-49 rating share of 0.20 up +0.07 from the previous week and 25-54 rating share at 0.29 also up +0.07.

Drew and Ava

Photo: ABC

GENERAL HOSPITAL

Over at General Hospital, the ABC soap opera was the only show to lose viewers for the week of all four broadcast network television daytime dramas. GH came in with an average total viewers tally at 1,911,000, but lost -24,000 and was now only up year-over-year +27,000.

In story for the ratings week: Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) buried Brennan (Chris McKenna) on the ground around the Quartermaine estate, and Drew framed Nina (Cynthia Watros) for the crime by planting Brennan’s wallet in her car.

Chase (Josh Swickard) aggressively pursued the investigation of Jordan’s (Tanisha Harper) car crash which led him to confronting Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton). Trina (Tabyana Ali) overheard information suggesting Brook Lynn might be tied to the incident and later got an earful.

Darcy and Dylan

Photo: CBS

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

CBS daytime’s The Bold and the Beautiful, which has been on a great run in the ratings of late, came in with total viewers at 2,778,000 adding +59,000, and up year-over-year at this time +312,000. B&B was firmly in the #2 position in households, plus 18-49 and 25-54 demos, behind its sister soap Y&R.

In story for the ratings week: Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) struggled to hide her affair with Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) from Finn (Tanner Novlan), and Carter did the same in trying to keep it under wraps from Daphne (Murielle Hilaire). In addition, Darcy (Kelly Sullivan) arrived in Los Angeles and stood up to Katie (Heather Tom) for her treatment of her daughter, Dylan (Sydney Bullock).

Phyllis and Matt

Photo: CBS

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

The top spot once again belonged to The Young and the Restless. In fact, Y&R gained the most viewers week-over-week adding +127,000 with its total viewer average at 3,189,000 tuning-in. In addition, it was also up year-over-year +327,000. Y&R also was #1 for the ratings week in households and in the 18-49 and 25-54 demos.

In story for the ratings week: Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) thought of a plan for Matt (Roger Howarth) to return to Genoa City. Billy (Jason Thompson) temporarily gave up his fight for Chancellor after Sally (Courtney Hope) had a pregnancy scare, which could have lasting implications as they head to the altar in October.

Meanwhile, Kyle (Michael Mealor) and Victoria  (Amelia Heinle) secretly arranged another hookup, Nate (Sean Dominic) prepared for surgery with Stephanie (Vivica A. Fox) by his side, and while in rehab, Nick (Joshua Morrow) helped Marie (Jade Harlow) after her frightening confrontation with her abusive husband, Logan (Tommy Walker).

So, what do you think of the latest ratings picture? Glad to see Beyond the Gates performing well? Which soap opera has you most glued to your screens? Which soap opera has you often wanting to tune-out? Let us know via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Secrets Exposed!

Published

12 hours ago

on

September 21, 2026

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General Hospital

This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, official spoilers, and the latest teaser video, indicate that the truth is about to come out on many fronts which could put several Port Charles residents in harm’s way, but who will double-cross whom?

First, Nina has been carted away by the WSB, after she is the prime suspect in the disappearance and possible murder of Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). Now it appears that her daughter Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) is willing to do anything to find her mother. (probably for fear she will somehow implicate Willow!)

Ava (Maura West) meets with Willow at the Metro Court Gardens and informs her, “If Nina is being framed. I may know by whom.” Would Ava risk the ire of Drew (Cameron Mathison), if she throw’s him under the bus and admits he planted Jack’s wallet in Nina’s car, or is she about to accuse someone else to protect him?

Meanwhile, Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Justine’s (Nazneen Contractor) romance is about to become public, or at least fall into the wrong hands! The two are being spied on while making out in a dark location thinking they are alone. Next, Ava’s voice is heard saying, He had to go down!” Is she talking about Sonny who she had teamed with Drew to take down? Cut to Sonny telling Ric (Rick Hearst) “Let ’em try.”

Finally, the action turns to Pentonville, where Curtis (Donnell Turner) is in a dangerous situation, when outside his cell, another inmate suggests to him, “Find a reason not to be in your cell after lunch.” Later, that man and two others, enter the cell as Sidwell (Carlo Rota) just reads a book, as he looks concerned as the men encircle him. Does Curtis come to the rescue of Sidwell? Stay tuned.

SPOILERS

Here’s a look at the official General Hospital spoilers for the week of September 21-25 below.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Willow seeks out Valentin. Anna shares her fear with Jason. Carly makes a discovery. Rocco reassures Scout. Britt confides in Isaiah.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Jason and Sonny catch up. Carly does damage control. Britt and Anna come face to face. Jordan sees something she wasn’t supposed to. Lulu opens up to Dante.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Sonny strategizes with Ric. Tracy enlists a new ally. Drew takes note of an encounter between Chase and Willow. Trina makes a big decision. Kai receives an offer.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Ava confronts Sonny. Tracy reveals her agenda. Jordan is in for a shock. Michael and Drew put their cards on the table. Alexis meets with a potential client.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Carly levels with Jason. Lulu is stunned. Josslyn refuses Michael’s request. Jordan wants answers. Hudson assists Brook Lynn.

Now below, check out the latest General Hospital promo entitled, “Out Secret’s Out.”

Then weigh-in: Do you think Ava truly helps Willow save her mother by pointing the finger at Drew? Do you want Drew to go down, or do you want him to exact his revenge on Nina and Willow? Who do you think is behind Sonny and Justine’s romance being exposed? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

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Video Du Jour

Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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