In an effort to bring back productions to the United States and offering incentives to keep them from going abroad, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Congress has introduced proposed legislation to establish a federal film and television tax credit. It is being touted as a landmark moment for Hollywood Workers and small businesses.

The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, led by Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Calif.), Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas), Rep. Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Rep. Brian Jack (R-Ga.) in the House of Representatives, would establish a 20 percent base tax credit on labor expenses and a potential rebate of 30% if signed into law. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) are spearheading an identical bill in the Senate.

To be eligible, productions must have a minimum spend of $1 million (per film or per TV season), and at least 75% of production days must be in the U.S. For animation, 75% of the production cost must be in the U.S.

Photo: CBS

SOAP OPERAS AND OTHER FORMS OF PROGRAMMING WILL NOT BE PART OF THE BILL

The federal incentive would be eligible to be stacked on top of individual state tax incentives, much like the current system in Canada and Australia. In the new bill, postproduction and special visual effects labor costs can be counted as eligible expenses.

However, the lawmakers proposed bill does not include the following type of shows: Daytime dramas, porn, commercials, talk shows, interview shows, game shows, award shows, news programming, live sports, corporate/industrial videos, and social media videos,

TV AND FILM PROJECTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE HOPE TO BRING BUSINESS AND JOBS BACK TO THE U.S.

At the end of the September 24 episode of General Hospital, Jordan (Tanisha Harper) had a run-in with Monet Mitchell (Blythe Howard), the latest attorney to join Miller & Davis. However, when the two women laid eyes on each other it seemed from a happy moment for Jordan.

As it turns out, Monet is Jordan’s younger sister and in fact, the lawyer was quite rude to Jordan even making a comment about the scars on her sister’s face. The cliffhanger ending put an end to the speculation of just who Monet had a connection to in Port Charles as had been teased, although we have to say most viewers predicted this from the start.

Earlier in the episode, Monet paid a visit to Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) and was quite threatening and unrelenting about Tracy making sure her client, Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard), has no issue moving back into the Q’s with his daughter Phoebe and wife, Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton). That’s something Tracy doesn’t want. In the end, Tracy was taken a little off-guard by Monet’s terse demeanor.

This marks the first time in over 12 1/2 years on the show, that the character of Jordan actually has a family member on the canvas, and within that span, four actresses have played Jordan: Vinessa Antoine, Briana Nicole Henry, Tiffany Daniels (a short fill-in for Henry) and Tanisha Harper.

Photo: ABC

JORDAN AND MONET HAD A SISTERLY FALLING OUT

Blythe Howard told TV Insider, about wanting the part of Monet Mitchell, “I saw it come through and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is giving Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction, and I don’t get those auditions ever,’” she says. “It was just a really fun, spicy role and I couldn’t pass it up.”

The actress also gave a bit of the back-story that will fuel the sisters dysfunctional relationship,“You’ll find out that we’re estranged.” In speaking about her new Port Charles alter-ego, Howard added, “I think Monet is just here to keep everybody on their toes. I love that she’s strong and doesn’t take no for an answer. She goes after what she wants, and she’s not afraid to maybe step on some toes to get what she wants.”

Viewers may get a clue soon that Monet knows exactly what she is doing and why. “We never know what her angle is going to be or what she’s up to,” confirms Howard. “I think she knows exactly what she’s up to, but everybody else doesn’t.”

FAMILY MATTERS

As the counterpoint, Tanisha Harper weighed-in and teased this new sisterly on-screen relationship viewers are about to see to Soap Opera Digest. Harper expressed, ‘Having Monet on the show is going to allow viewers to see another side of Jordan.”

Tanisha continued, “We had Jordan as this strong businesswoman, and then we started to see a little bit more of a vulnerable side to her when she went through the car accident, and now, having her sister come onto the landscape, I think that getting to see what their dynamic is will be interesting for the viewers and add just another layer to the show in general.”

Harper says of the ending of Thursday’s GH, “I think Jordan is in shock, and she’s a little leery, as well, about what her sister’s motives are for coming to Port Charles. Out of all the cities she could have come to, why pick this particular one, knowing that her sister lives there and they haven’t spoken in many years?” Hmmm.

So, were you glad or disappointed that Monet turned out to be Jordan’s sister? What do you think happen between the sisters that caused their estrangement for years? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

Chad Duell (ex-Michael Corinthos, General Hospital) just wrapped filming for a TV pilot that could bring him back to your screens in the near future. The Daytime Emmy winner took to his Instagram story to reveal is part of the cast of the horror-comedy mockumentary, Ghosts Are Real.

In the spoof, Duell is seen donning a black leather jacket and gloves and dark sunglasses as smoke billows up around him. Chad wrote  “Pilot in the books, Can’t wait to share it with you all ”

Ghosts Are Reals official Instagram account, which the producers just started shared the series is about “A dysfunctional ghost-hunting crew finally finds real ghosts.
A scripted paranormal horror-comedy series.” The account also revealed that the pilot episode is now in post-production, and episode 1 or Case 001 is called “The Scooters.”

Photo: JPI

LEAVING GENERAL HOSPITAL AND GETTING BACK ON TV

After a 15-year-run as GH’s Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Carly’s (Laura Wright) son, Michael Corinthos, Duell made the decision to exit the show and take a break. His last episode aired in January of 2025. In May of that year, Rory Gibson debuted as the recast Michael and has been firmly-implanted into the role ever since.

In a livestream conversation last month on the Michael Fairman Channel, Chad opened about his current foray into music after releasing his first two EDM-style tracks, If You Need Me followed by Static in the Crowded Room.

Looking back on his decision to leave General Hospital when he did, Duell shared his thoughts at the time, “I’m taking some time away, we’ll see what happens. Obviously, they decided to go in a different direction with Michael when I was gone. I didn’t think they were going to bring somebody back in my place. But you know, it’s the business. You never know what can happen.”

Duell also explained he had not watched a single episode of General Hospital since he left the series, but now feels reenergized following the loss of his father and stepping away from the soap. Chad expressed, “I’m in a place now mentally, where I’m ready to sink my teeth into (acting) again.”

In case you missed it, you can check out the full conversation with Chad below.

Now let us know, do you hope Chad’s new role in the pilot for Ghosts Are Real eventually becomes a series? Would you like to see Chad back landing more TV and film roles? Let us know in the comment section.