General Hospital fans knew something was up when in the closing credits of the July 24 episode of the ABC soap opera, Nathan Dean’s name was removed. Fast-forward to the Monday, July 27 episode and Christian Howard has replaced Dean as the recast Ethan Lovett.

When Howard made his first on-screen appearance, the soap opera made no bones about the fact that this was not a temporary fill-in when in a voice-over announce they shared ‘The role of Ethan Lovett is now being played by Christian Howard.”

This marks a quick ending to Dean’s return to GH after six-years away as Luke (Anthony Geary) and Holly’s (Emma Samms) wayward son. In the spring, Nathan shared to TV Insider, that he settled on a short term four-month run in the part for 2026. Nathan debuted in the role of Ethan Lovett back in 2009 and played the part until his exit in 2012. He then made brief comebacks in 2013, 2015 and 2020.

Photo: ABC

WHERE DOES ETHAN LOVETT’S STORY GO FROM HERE?

Dean’s recent GH comeback began on the April 17, 2026 episode, where viewers eventually learned that Ethan had a connection to the mysterious Delilah Wilson (Lily Cardone), who died giving birth to a daughter.

That said daughter, wound up as Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase’s (Josh Swickard) foster child who they are hoping to adopt. Initially, Ethan claimed to be the baby’s father, but later changed his tune when trapped with Ava Jerome (Maura West) after being shot. He admitted he is not baby Phoebe’s father.

On today’s July 27 episode, Christian Howard’s first scenes were at the Metro Court Pool with Maura West. In the scenes, Ethan continues to flirt and fight with Ava. His goal was to make sure she never told Brook Lynn and Chase, he is not Phoebe’s bio-dad so that their adoption can go off without a hitch.

This is not the first time, Dean has been recast as Ethan. Back in 2023, Ethan suddenly had blonde hair as played by James Ryan for a couple of episodes.

As for Howard, he has a very large background as an action-adventure actor and stuntman, Christian was born in the United Kingdom, and can be seen in episodes of Street Fighter: Resurrection, and Lucifer, among others.

It should be noted there is no word yet if Christian Howard is just finishing up scenes of Ethan Lovett, but will also exit shortly, or if his casting is for any substantial length of time.

So, what do you think about the sudden replacement of Nathan Dean as Ethan Lovett? If you caught GH today, how did Christian Howard do as his successor in the part? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.

This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, everything points to Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) emerging from the water able to talk (which we already know he can after Friday’s cliffhanger) and walk, but will it come to fruition?

According to the just released ABC promo for the week of July 27-July 31, several women in Port Charles are in for a shock, but is it Drew coming for payback to Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen)?

First, in the video preview, after pushing a wheelchair-bound Drew into the lake at the Quartermaine boathouse, Nina looks mortified for what she’s done. She apparently goes to her new beau Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) for help. We hear Jack say to Nina, “You pushed Drew’s wheelchair into the lake?” A freaked out Nina begs Jack to. “help me cover this up!”

Courtesy/ABC

PANIC CITY

Next, Gio (Giovanni Mazza) is on the scene at the boathouse and says, “I found him!” However, a panicked Nina, who is with Jack asks, “Where is Drew now?”

Suddenly, we see a moment of a stunned Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) at the hospital, Trina (Tabyana Ali) on edge at the Metro Court pool, and Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarski) coming to her grandmother Alexis Davis’ (Nancy Lee Grahn) house and standing tn the doorway stunned, calling out, “Dad!”

Last and certainly not least, Willow is down on the floor of the Cain living room in the dark and is startled, As she turns what seems most likely towards the door, what does she see? Is Drew back in action? Stay tuned.

Take a look at the official GH spoilers for the week below.

MONDAY, JULY 2
Britt and Jason reunite. Willow is horrified. Ava comes clean with Ethan. Nina turns to Jack for help. Valentin makes a trade.

TUESDAY, JULY 28
Carly and Sonny debrief Jason. Willow’s future is on the line. Emma interrogates Josslyn. Rocco is wary. Michael confuses Jacinda.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29
Gio’s news rattles the Quartermaines. Ava is suspicious. Trina and Kai jump to conclusions. Alexis is thrown. Michael asserts his power.

THURSDAY, JULY 30
Serena Baldwin returns! Jason and Anna reconnect. Tracy is blindsided. Ethan gets a shock. Tristan draws a hard line.

FRIDAY, JULY 31
Anna is gobsmacked. Sonny summons Jason. Ethan delivers big news to Lulu. Brook Lynn defends Danny. Dante coaches Liz.

Check out the “He’s Back” promo for this week’s episodes of General Hospital below.

Now weigh-in: Do you think Drew survives being pushed in the water while strapped to a wheelchair? Does he come back to terrorize Nina and Willow? Can the women and Jack stop Drew, if they don’t have the evidence they need to hold over his head to stop any recrimination for their misdeeds against him? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.

It’s always tricky deciding what scenes to represent your performances to include on your Daytime Emmy Reel. In the case of two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Steve Burton (Jason Morgan, General Hospital), he knows a thing or two, or three, of what gives an actor the best shot at taking home the gold.

This year, Steve became one of the five nominees for the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards when his name was announced two weeks ago on Extra.

GH viewers know 2025 was a banner year for Burton who delivered very emotional and powerful scenes, which often revolved around the death of Jason’s mother who raised him, Monica Quartermaine (Susan Moore was his bio-mom) in tribute to her portrayer, the late Leslie Charleson.

Photo: ABC

Some of Steve’s most highly-regarded work came when Jason has to give a eulogy and share his remembrances of Monica at her funeral in front of the Quartermaine family and Monica’s friends and loved ones. It was a particularly emotional day for the cast and crew, where reality and acting blurred the lines.

On the latest episode of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli, GH), the duo welcomed to the show, a very special guest, Giovanni Mazza (Gio, GH), who himself landed a nomination for the first time in his career in the Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category.

As the three men discussed pouring their hearts and souls into their work and scenes, Giovanni Mazza, said to Burton, “What you did, particularly with Monica’s funeral, I know that whatever prep you did and with everything that you put into it, I know that it was a culmination of everything that you have ever done and experienced, and you put it into your work and everyone saw it.”

Photo: ABC

STEVE BURTON SHOCKS GIOVANNI MAZZA

Suddenly, Steve had to correct Giovanni, with what might be to some, startling news. However, when you think about it, as Burton explains it made sense. Steve responds to Mazza, “I appreciate that. But what’s crazy was that wasn’t in my reel.”

Burton continued, “I’ve been on the show for so long. I’ve been through so many storylines and there’s times where you do scenes where you’re going, ‘This is good’ And then, when you’re getting feedback from your coworkers and the crew going, ‘Hey, man, that was really incredible,’ you go, “Yeah, that’s probably pretty good. I’m going to take a look at it for my Emmy reel.’  So, that’s all I was focused on for my Emmy reel. I go, “Man, this is so good. I can’t wait to see it. This is it.’ No. It was one of those things where there was a million cutaways.”

“There were no true closeups, really, because they had to include everybody in the scene, which is totally fine,” explained the two-time Emmy winner. “But that was an interesting process for me, because I thought that was it. I thought that was going to be the anchor to the scenes that I submitted, and it wasn’t.”

DID STEVE BURTON USE ANY OF THE SCENES FOR HIS EMMY REEL SURROUNDING MONICA’S DEATH?

As to what scenes were on Burton’s reel, all he would say is, “I had to find other material, which is great. It made me really go through the process. It’s just one of those things. I did use some of that stuff from Monica’s death, for sure.”

However, speaking of the experience to say goodbye collectively to Monica and Leslie Charleson during the funeral shows was something he will never forget. Steve explained, “(The funeral scenes) were definitely a culmination of my experience there, my time with Leslie Charleson, my relationship with Leslie, my relationship with people who were in the scenes with me. The feeling of the crew mourning her also. It was emotionally a lot. I was grateful for that opportunity. It was amazing (to be able to do).”

Watch the full conversation with Steve, Bradford and Giovanni below.

Now, weigh-in: were you shocked that Steve Burton did not include Monica’s funeral? While he has not revealed all of the scenes on his reel, Steve has to be one of the frontrunners, given the other material he did get to play surrounding losing Monica. Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.