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GH’s Donnell Turner Talks Soaps and WWE Connection, Rebecca Budig Reveals For First Time Her Phone Call With Stephanie McMahon

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: WWE, ABC and CBS

The connection between daytime soap opera and pro wrestling is undeniable. We have been pontificating on this forever, and on Michael Fairman TV we often cover both the drama of the soaps, and the drama and cliffhangers from the WWE and other pro wrestling organizations. To us, while having different mechanisms. they all tell a continue story of the good vs. evil, babyface vs. heel, and all the twisted dysfunctional relationships along the way.

Now, on the latest edition of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart, the duo welcome General Hospital’s Donnell Turner (Curtis Ashford) to talk about his life on the soaps, how he works to foster a friendly and fair workplace, and details about the genesis of his mentorship and charitable pursuits.

However, at one point in their conversation, the talk turns to the connection between pro wrestling and the WWE, with Turner, sharing, “There are podcasts that I’ve done and a few (cover) soaps and wrestling. I thought that was a weird pairing until I realized that there is a through line.”

REBECCA BUDIG’S JOURNEY IN THE WWE

Budig piped it with a surprise story,  “Oh, there is (a throughline)! I used to host for ‘Raw’ when the WWE was the WWF. I was on All My Children (as Greenlee) at the time. I was working a lot at that time. I got this side gig just to make extra cash and I liked it. So, they hired me to host ‘Raw’ Live on MTV.”

She continued, “I got a call from Stephanie McMahon, Vince McMahon’s daughter, and I don’t think I’ve told this story. She called me and she goes, ‘Vince doesn’t think you know the product.’ I’m like, ‘I don’t, because I am just me.’ But they kind of wanted me to be like an actor (who was the host). Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock were there (at the time). I had to know who these people were. I’m like ‘I don’t have time to watch wrestling. I’m working and memorizing lines. ; It was fascinating, but it is a whole thing.”

In a side note; on the comment from Budig that she worked on ‘Raw’ on MTV, it was actually WWE Sunday Night Heat that was the actual name of the program, which was a companion to ‘Raw’ that aired on MTV from October 1, 2000 until March 30, 2003.

WRITERS GO FROM SOAPS TO PRO WRESTLING

Rikaart summed the WWE conversation up best when he added, “But the through line is there and there are are soap writers who have left writing on soaps to go write for WWE.”  True, indeed!

You can check out the clip from the March 31 edition of Soapy below with Donnell, Rebecca and Greg on WWE and the soaps below.

Fans can listen to episodes of Soapy on Audacy or wherever podcasts are available, and can watch full video episodes weekly on the CBS Brand YouTube Channel.

So, do you agree with us that soap operas and pro wrestling share a common denominator? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nina is Frantic, Sonny is Mistrustful, Chase and Willow are Being Framed

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The highly-anticipated Monday, May 11 episode of General Hospital picked right back up with the drama; which also sets the tone for today’s next installment of the ABC daytime drama series.

In another excellent performance by Daytime Emmy winner, Cynthia Watros, Nina is watching things unravel right before her eyes, and she is always playing defense to try to cover for the events that just transpired.

Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) ends up on the floor of Drew’s (Cameron Mathison) house unable to move after Nina injected him with the paralytic drug dose meant for Drew. Her intended target was Valentin (James Patrick Stuart), but during the Jack/Valentin Brawl, she struck the wrong guy! Valentin helps Nina turn Brennan on to his back and then makes his exit before anyone sees him as she calls the paramedics who rush Jack to GH.

Courtesy/ABC

MAN DOWN

In the meantime, Drew, who has overheard all the screaming in the other room, starts to have mobility in his hands and is trying to reach for the phone since his weekly dose went to Brennan instead of him. Now at the hospital, Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) has questions for Nina on how Jack ended up like this; which Nina claims one minute they were talking and all of sudden he dropped to the floor.

A panicked Nina calls Willow (Katelyn MacMullen), who went out for a run and ran into Chase (Josh Swickard). She tells her daughter using cryptic words that Jack got the dose of meds meant for Drew. Alarmed, Willow runs back to Drew’s, but not before having conversations with Chase about how she will help ensure he and Brook Lynn have the best chance at keeping baby Phoebe, after all, they had been through so much when she lost their baby.

SNAPS TELL ALL?

The moments of closeness between Willow and Chase are snapped by a photographer or someone hiding in the bushes as it seems like Michael’s plan to implicate Willow and Chase by making it look like their having an affair is underway. How far will this go?

Meanwhile, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) went at Lulu (Alexa Havins) for keeping him in the dark about Rocco (Finn Carr) being the person who shot Cullum and their elaborate cover-up. Things get worse when Lulu mentioned “Nathan” also knows and helped Rocco the night on the pier of the shooting. Dante is livid that as Rocco’s father, she felt he could not be trusted, and it was for him to figure out how he would navigate the information to protect their son; even if he is the police commissioner. Lulu also shared she did not want to tell him, because of what happened when Michael went to prison all those years ago.

Courtesy/ABC

BROTHER TO BROTHER

At Ava’s (Maura West) art gallery, Sonny (Maurice Benard) with gun in hand, rails at Ric (Rick Hearst) for lying and deceiving him. Ric confesses he was being dishonest, but not about anything to do with Sonny or the business. He shows Sonny the secret art transaction he was working with Ava. The reason is, he wanted to surprise Elizabeth with it as they have a special weekend planned. Ric explained that the sale had to be be done covertly because of a legal conflict involving the seller’s divorce. Eventually, Sonny lowers his gun. Cooler heads prevail and the two brothers hope there will come a time where Ric’s loyalty to Sonny will never be in question.

Carly (Laura Wright) learns what happened to Jack from Valentin, and feels badly for Jack. Valentin also tells her Jack does not know where Josslyn is and now that he is incapacitated that means that Cullum will take over the day to day of the WSB bureau in Port Charles and things are about to get worse.

Courtesy/ABC

In the final moments of the episode, Willow runs into Drew’s house and stops Drew from dialing the phone near his wheelchair. She scolds her husband and says, “Looks like no one can be trusted to keep an eye on you except me.” we fade to black.

So, what did you think of the performance of Cynthia Watros? How much longer can Nina and Willow get away with what they have done to Drew and now Brennan? Elizabeth already mentioned to Lucas, what are the odds that two men have the same medical issue at the same house.  Are you glad Willow and Chase are being framed, or annoyed by it? Weigh-in via the comment section.  In case you missed it, check out the scenes below with Sonny and Ric, and Ethan and Ava.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Previews His New Role as PCPD Officer Joe Fitzpatrick

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Those expecting Jonathan Bennett’s new General Hospital character of Joe Fitzpatrick to be the latest doctor to arrive in Port Charles. Think again! When Joe arrives on the scene he will be an officer with the Port Charles Police Department (PCPD).

That might be good news for the police force, who has had a lot of trouble (pretty much always!) solving cases, and with Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) pretending to be cop, Nathan West, and Chase (Josh Swickard) working his back up the ranks, police commissioner, Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) who could use a some helping hands, unless they are corrupt?

In the latest issue of TV Guide Magazine on newsstands now, Bennett shares a little more insight into what we can expect from Joe, when he first gets into the mix. You can circle next Monday, May 18 for the actor’s GH debut.

THE MYSTERY OF JOE

“Returning to daytime television was not on my bingo card for 2026.(However) I feel like I hit the jackpot when this opportunity came because the character is something that I really wanted to play.”

As soap fans know, Jonathan started his career on All My Children as JR Chandler from 2001-2002. Since that time Bennett went to fame with the motion picture Mean Girls, playing Aaron Samuels then continued on a path acting and producing and hosting where he had become a mainstay on the Hallmark Channel and Food Network. Bennett’s Hallmark reality-competition series, Finding Mr. Christmas was just nominated for three Critics Choice Real TV Awards.

Speaking on GH’s Joe and the PCPD, Bennett teased, “I’m feeling excited, and I’m also laughing because I can’t wait for the world to see what Joe Fitzpatrick is really all about.”

Could Joe Fitzpatrick be a closeted cop? An out cop? Neither? Will he be a good guy who might help crack the case of who shot Drew and help Willow get her comeuppance? Will he be investigating the shenanigans that might lead him into the path of Dr. Lucas Jones (Van Hansis)? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Mistakes and Cover-Ups Impact the Lives of Drew, Nina, Dante and Brennan

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This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, several residents of Port Charles are reeling from their actions in the just released GH video spoilers for the week of May 11-15!

First, Isaiah (Sawandi Wilson) confesses to Portia (Brook Kerr) that he is a suspect as the other driver who was involved in Jordan’s (Tanisha Harper) car accident that disfigured her face. But as viewers know, Curtis (Donnell Turner) is the one after a talk with Portia that pointed Justine (Nazeen Contractor) towards Isaiah. But is the culprit really Isaiah, or is it Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton), or is Jordan solely at fault for taking her eyes off the road to kiss Curtis?

Meanwhile, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) armed with the information that Rocco (Finn Carr) shot Cullum (Andrew Hawkes), confronts his ex-wife Lulu Spencer (Alexa Havins) at her home. An angry Dante says, “You know it was Rocco who shot Cullum. Why wouldn’t you tell me?” Lulu admits it was Rocco, but how is she going to explain why she kept Rocco’s father out of the loop?

Courtesy/ABC

Then, in the exciting pick-up from Friday’s cliffhanger, Nina (Cynthia Watros) is in a continued panic as now Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) finds himself at the hospital looking unconscious and hooked up to machines. In addition, back at Drew’s house, now that Drew (Cameron Mathison) did not receive his dose of medication to keep him in a locked-in state (since Nina jabbed Jack with it), he is starting to show signs of life and is moving his fingers to try to dial the phone for help.

Later, a series of images are set agains the statement by Sidwell (Carlo Rota), who says, “We have a mess on our hands.” Sidwell is the one supplying Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) with the drug to keep Drew paralyzed and unable to speak. Now that Jack got a dose, how can they control what happens next, and what will Willow do when she finds out that Nina gave Jack the medication meant for Drew? Stay tuned.

Now below, take a look at the official GH spoilers for the week of May 11-15.

MONDAY, MAY 11
Nina warns Willow. Lulu is in the hot seat. Elizabeth puts the pieces together. Ethan and Ava clash. Ric defends himself.

TUESDAY, MAY 12
Lulu seeks out Britt. Dante has words with “Nathan.” Curtis takes on a mission. Rocco clashes with Danny and Charlotte. Isaiah is in the hot seat.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
Ethan issues an invitation to Kristina. Michael lets Jacinda in on his plan. Willow meets with Sidwell. Curtis worries about Jordan.

THURSDAY, MAY 14
Britt weighs her options. Tracy is outraged. Laura explains her actions. Carly has questions for Nina. Dante has a tough conversation.

FRIDAY, MAY 1
Carly stonewalls Cullum. Valentin strategizes. “Nathan” confides in a surprising someone. Elizabeth opens up to Dante. Ric and Alexis come together for Molly.

Check out the latest General Hospital promo entitled, Mistakes Leaves Traces below.

Weigh-in: What do you think Nina and Willow will do to cover their tracks with Jack getting jabbed with Drew’s medication? Will they continue to somehow keep him in a locked-in state? Will Drew pretend he is still unable to move as he starts coming around to dupe Willow and Nina and eventually get away? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and let us know what story point you are most looking forward to this week on GH.

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