General Hospital
General Hospital Daytime Emmy-Winning Directing Team Remembers Johnny Wactor: “He Came to Set Every Day with a Smile of Gratitude and a Love-Filled Hug for Everybody”
It has been a rough year and a half for the General Hospital family losing so many beloved cast members and producer, Nneka Garland. Now, the Daytime Emmy-winning directing team has spoken out about the emotional toll it has taken on everyone associated with the show, and most recently, with the heartbreaking murder of Johnny Wactor (Ex-Brando Corbin).
The actor was shot back in the wee hours of the morning on May 25th by a masked gunman who was part of three car thieves trying to steal the catalytic converter from Wactor’s vehicle. Johnny came upon the scene after he finished his bartending shift in downtown Los Angeles and was walking a co-worker to their cars.
Last Friday at the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards, GH was named Outstanding Directing Team for a Daytime Drama Series. Following their on-stage victory, the group stopped by to chat with Michael Fairman TV on the Winners Walk.

Photo: NATAS
Directors Robert Markham, Tina Keller, Allison Reames and the rest of the award-wining directing team, shared in the joy of their victory, but it was not lost on them the seriousness of the moment as well.
Tina Keller expressed, “It’s been a rough year, and it’s been really rough for General Hospital recently with Johnny.” Keller, along with Robert Markham recalled what it was like working with Wactor.
“He came to set every day with a smile of gratitude and a love-filled hug for everybody,” shared Keller. “I’ve never worked with anyone who was so much light-filled and happy to be where he was. Just so much gratitude and joy and it’s a tremendous loss for his friends, his family, and anyone who loved him.” An emotional Robert Markham confirmed what Keller shared, “Yeah, absolutely. He was a gentleman. He really was, and we’re going to miss him.”

Courtesy/ABC
GH paid tribute to Wactor in the final moments of the Tuesday, June 11th episode with a title card in remembrance of the slain actor. A march in Los Angeles is scheduled for this morning, Wednesday, June 12th, to City Hall for a call for change to clean up the streets of LA from crime, to help find Wactor’s killer.
The directing team took home the gold in the Directing for a Daytime Drama Series category, in part, due to the episode they submitted surrounding the memorial of Epiphany Johnson played by the late Sonya Eddy, who passed away back in December of 2022. The second episode they submitted was when Anna’s (Finola Hughes) house was set on fire.

Photo: ABC
Keller spoke to directing the memorial episode that was so heartfelt and raw as performed by the cast that knew and loved Sonya Eddy. “You know, it was a beautiful day to be able to pay tribute to Sonya and it was a rollercoaster all day,” shared Tina.
“We had our cast giving tributes to her and they all did such a beautiful job. It was well-written and a rough day emotionally, but it was an honor to be able to play a tribute to somebody who’s been such an important role in General Hospital throughout the history of the show,” Keller concluded.
You can check out the entire conversation with the Daytime Emmy-winning Directing team from General Hospital below. Make sure to visit the Michael Fairman Channel for full coverage of the red carpet and Winners Walk with interviews from daytime’s biggest night.
Now, let us know, what you thought of the winning GH Emmy episode submissions and the heartfelt words from the directors on the death of Johnny Wactor and the loss of Sonya Eddy via the comment section.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting death of Johnny Wactor is urged to contact LAPD Detectives Gonzales or Martinez at Central Bureau Homicide at (213) 996-4142. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go to lacrimestoppers.org.
He was a true southern gentleman.
It must have been a real joy, writing for someone like Johnny, who seems to have been so full of joy himself.
I think his kindness and likability showed in his acting. I miss his character on GH and him not being in the living world.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Brook Lynn and Chase Hesitate to Sign Divorce Papers, Elizabeth Reveals Aiden’s Leaving For Paris, Willow Flashes Back to Her Crimes

As the week came to a conclusion on the Friday, October 23 episode of General Hospital, Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) wrestled with becoming an empty-nester, while Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and Monet (Blythe Howard) conspired to keep Lulu (Alexa Havins) and Ric (Rick Hearst) at legal bay, and Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase’s (Josh Swickard) frozen relationship thawed, but how much?
Let’s take a look! First, in a moment that was written to bring Liz and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) closer, the GH head nurse is wistful over the fact that she just learned that her talented bakery chef son, Aiden, secretly earned his GED and got into a prestigious pastry school in France and to top it off received a scholarship to attend the school.
Liz is concerned that allowing him to go wasn’t the smartest move because of his young age. Dante suggested that maybe it’s her fear of being alone that is causing her to feel hesitant for Aiden to go abroad. He shared a story about the support her received from Olivia when he moved away from home for the first time; that he understood mothers and sons are close, but she needed to let him go build his own life.

Courtesy/ABC
After coming to terms with it, she revealed that Aiden is leaving in four days and had to make cupcakes for the Halloween party, Dante offered to help her do the baking. They smile. So, what this means to GH fans? All of Liz sons: Cameron, Jake, Aiden are all now officially off the canvas!
WILLOW VS. LULU
At Miller & Davis, Willow strolls in to meet Monet to go over their strategy in their meeting with Ric and Lulu. While discussing their next move, Willow flashes back to the night she shot Drew (Cameron Mathison) twice in the back, and then later, how she first stuck a needle in his neck to use the paralytic drug that kept him in a locked-in state for months.

Courtesy/ABC
When Ric and Lulu arrive, the four end up in a stalemate. Willow refused to drop the lawsuit, and Lulu refused to retract the story on her. Willow’s stance is that Lulu had been manipulated by the Quartermaines, who wanted to take her children away, so Michael can have sole custody of them. Lulu fired back that she was doing her job as an investigative reporter to expose crimes perpetrated by a congresswoman.
Now at an impasse, Ric and Lulu tell Monet and Willow they will see them in court as now a judge will hear the case. Not what Ric wanted that to happen, but now he tells Lulu, they will figure out a way to bring Willow down.
DIVORCE BLUES?
Finally, Chase and Brook Lynn head to the Dominican Republic to get a quickie divorce after how their lawyers dredged up awful things about both of them in Port Charles. While on the plane, the two discuss that they still want each other to be happy.
Once in front of the judge in the Dominican Republic, he asked if the two were mutually consenting to this divorce, but instead, the two sang each others praises.
This left the judge to ask if the two wanted to go through with ending their marriage and he left the room. Later, when he returned with the divorce documents to sign, Chase and Brook Lynn stared at each other hesitating to sign on the dotted line.
So, what do you think will happen next? Will Brook Lynn and Chase end their marriage, or decide to try to make it a go? Is it upsetting to you that all of Elizabeth’s sons are off the canvas? Should the soap recast them all, like they did with Alexis’ daughters and restart the story of these young men? Do you think now will be the time that Willow’s crimes will be publicly exposed, and she will lose her kids and her seat in a congress? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Breaking News
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Presenters Announced

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) revealed on Thursday, the lineup of presenters for 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards taking place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.
The ceremony will stream live on the NATAS YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@theemmys and watch.TheEmmys.tv.
Scheduled to present from the current soaps are: Katelyn MacMullen (Willow, General Hospital), Delon de Metz (Zende, The Bold and the Beautiful), James Preston (Nick, The Bay), Paul Telfer (Xander, Days of our Lives), Tamara Tunie (Anita, Beyond the Gates) and Susan Walters (Diane, The Young and the Restless).

Photo: NATAS
In addition soap alums, Crystal Chappell, Lesli Kay, Joe Lando, Eva LaRue, who is also a nominee this year, A Martinez, Juliet Mills, and Alicia Leigh Willis, will also be on hand to present.
The ceremony which celebrates nominated lifestyle programs and dramas will also include presenters: Eva zu Beck (Superskilled with Eva zu Beck), Danielle Chang (Lucky Chow), Sunny Hostin (The View), Derek Hough (Extra), Pati Jinich (Pati’s Mexican Table), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Michael Jr. (Stand Up and Do Something), Judge Greg Mathis (Mathis Court with Judge Mathis), Keke Palmer (Glam Through the Ages), Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight), and Andrew Zimmern (Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen).
The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards will bring together an exciting mix of presenters representing the full spectrum of daytime television,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO of NATAS. “From familiar faces in daytime drama to the personalities and creative voices behind talk shows and lifestyle programming, this year’s lineup reflects the breadth of talent that makes daytime so special. We look forward to celebrating the people who continue to shape the genre.”
Matthew Hoffman (Love Island USA, Cheap A$$ Beach Houses) will serve as the ceremony’s Voice of God, bringing his signature comedic narration to the evening’s celebrations. As previously announced, Lifetime Achievement honoree Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her husband, Jonathan Frakes.
So, what do you think about the list of presenters for the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know who you are looking forward to seeing via the comment section below.
General Hospital
Could Kristen Vaganos and Josh Kelly Be Exiting ‘General Hospital?’

General Hospital fans took to social media following the airing of the Wednesday, October 21 episode of the ABC daytime drama series. In story, Molly (Kristen Vaganos) reveals to Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) that she has received an offer to join the top law firm in Chicago that practices civil law. She says it’s her dream job.
The problem Molly says is relocating from Port Charles and uprooting her life and being away from her mother, Scout and boyfriend Cody Bell (Josh Kelly). Wistful that she may lose another daughter to a long-distance situation (Kristina left a few months back to go to medical school in California), Alexis urged Molly to get Cody to go with her.
Molly still seemed concerned and has trouble committing to the idea. Alexis tells her to talk it over with Cody. Meanwhile, Cody asked Tracy (Jane Elliot) is he can have Thanksgiving off because he and Molly planned to spend Thanksgiving together with their families. After initially balking, Tracy agrees.

Courtesy/ABC
WILL MOLLY AND CODY HEAD TO CHI-TOWN?
Later, Cody shows up at Miller & Davis and the conversation turned to Thanksgiving dinner that Alexis is hosting. Molly and Cody asked her not to cook anything. Cody hugged Molly reassuring Alexis that he and Molly would take care of whatever was needed on Turkey Day.
So, this raises the question, why out of nowhere are we learning that Molly received an amazing law offer in Chicago, if the character was not being written out? If Molly leaves the canvas, would the character of Cody make his exit too?
Kristen Vaganos joined GH as a recast Molly Lansing-Davis back in September of 2023 and went on contract in August of 2024. Josh Kelly began playing Cody Bell back in June of 2022. Initial reports were that Kelly joined the show on contract and then as of June 2025 went on recurring status with the show per his choice.
Do you see a world where GH is writing out Molly and Cody? Would you be sad to see Kristen and Josh exit the soap opera? If this is not what is going on, is this just a plot point for some other story that is upcoming? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
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