General Hospital
GH’s Emma Samms Talks on Her Connection with Jonathan Jackson, and the Similarities in their Work Thanks to Tony Geary
Today, on the Wednesday, September 4th episode of General Hospital, Emma Samms reprises her role as Holly Sutton, when she arrives on the scene in Africa where Lucky Spencer (Jonathan Jackson) is being held.
This will give longtime viewers a chance to see Samms and Jackson in story together, something that has never happened before. Emma first joined GH in 1982, while Jackson was cast in 1993, and while they have both come and gone from the show, they never crossed paths … till now.
Speaking with Variety on her return and getting the opportunity to work with five-time Daytime Emmy-winner, Jonathan Jackson, Emma expressed, “It’s such a gift that Frank (Valentini, EP, GH) has given me, working with Jonathan, who is, obviously, a very, very good actor.”

Photo: ABC
Emma also noted, “That’s undisputed – but he’s also really nice. And we have a very similar way of approaching the work, and we realized that that is because we were both trained by Tony Geary (ex-Luke Spencer).”
Viewers will remember that Samms was originally brought in as a love interest for Luke when Laura went missing and Genie Francis exited the show. At that time, Jackson was only 11-years-old. Emma recalled the difficulties the series had in finding another love interest for Luke that would stick.

Photo: JPI
“I didn’t realize when I started that I was the third attempt to find somebody for a new romantic relationship for Luke,” shared Samms. “They had tried really amazing people, like Janine Turner and Demi Moore. So I was sort of the last-ditch attempt in that regard. But I had no clue, which is probably extremely valuable and helped me a lot. I just came in sort of innocent, and ‘I’ll do the best I can’ sort of thing. And I just somehow got away with it. I was very fortunate.”
The actress, who struggles with symptoms from Long-COVID, also revealed that this time back on-screen she’s working with a “brilliant, strong, powerful, interesting villain now,” and there’s “going to be some interesting twists with Holly coming back to town.”
So, are you looking forward to Holly’s return on GH and her scenes/story with Jonathan Jackson? Comment below.
I get that JJ is beloved by many sentimental Luke and Laura fans, which makes sense, but I don‘t understand why people keep saying he’s a great actor. Squeezing one’s forehead, loudly dragging one’s shoes across the set, constantly pushing one’s hair to the side, lip-licking, eye rolling and saying Mmkay? for emphasis is literally NOT acting. Yes, I resent that they are writing off so many interesting characters to bring back old stars who probably cost a lot, but if they at least brought back good actors, it wouldn’t be quite so disappointing.
He’s won 5 Emmys. doofus.
Wow, He’s a five-time emmy-winning actor, who plays his role superbly, we’ve seen all of about 2 minutes on screen thus far… Which is really not enough time to tell what an actor can put out!
I’ve seen you write the same exact thing criticizing Jonathan’s acting multiple times. Like you somehow feel the need to keep repeating yourself to try and sell people on your opinion. Particularly the line about the “lip licking, eye rolling, hair pushing, saying Mmmkay”, like he’s a Valley girl from the 1980s or something.
Everyone is obviously entitled to think what they want. But I mean, go back and watch the 2011 storyline when Luke got drunk and allegedly killed Jake with his car, the scenes with Tony Geary and Jonathan Jackson, which both won an Emmy for, and if you still want to say that JJ is a bad actor, then I’d say that you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Case in point, I am very glad to see the talented Emma Samms back. She brings something playful, mischievous and interesting to her performances as Holly. Would love to see her interact with characters beyond Robert. Her brief scenes last time with the spectacular and dynamic Carolyn Hennessy were fun to watch.
What happened is he was good as a kid then he left that’s fine but he never took off in movies like they all thought. He just never grew up as a grown up if that makes sense. This dirty scruffy look I see he has going on does not help. It will not encourage me as a former viewer run back to the show anymore then Steve Burton did been there done that.
Totally agree Adele. Jackson was great as a child. He left and Jacob Young did a great job playing Lucky the teen. Then it was time for Lucky to be an adult and they brought in Greg Vaughan who was wonderful as Lucky the adult. He became a police officer, married man and father. He even tried to get his father to recognize his excessive alcohol use disorder and get help. Didn’t work. Lucky faced and overcame his own substance abuse disorder. Vaughan was an adult and did a great job with everything they threw him. Jackson suddenly decided he wanted to come back and they dumped Vaughan. Jackson stayed what two or three months and left again. What was the point? How long can he spare you viewers this time?
Jackson stayed 2 years after he replaced Vaughan. At that point, the character needed a break (remember the horrible pairing with Siobhan).
Of course this was in 2011, when “temporary” head writer Garin Wolf had some kind of bizzare agenda to destroy the entire Spencer family. Luke was a hopeless drunk who allegedly ran over his own grandson & burned down the family home. Lulu was doing her own acts of arson. Lucky became a pill popping crybaby who abandoned his wife & kids on Xmas eve. And yes, the Siobahn story was pathetic. And Laura at this point was still a blonde wig attached to a rocking chair at the Shadybrook funny farm.
Luke & Lulu were at least able to redeem themselves somewhat (though the Fluke story would ruin Luke all over again). Lucky never really had that chance, because until recently, we only saw him for one week in 2015, and that was of course focused on Luke’s “exit story” so he didn’t have any time to redeem himself. Though he did manage to bring Jake back from Cassadine island as part of that story.
You can bet your soul that Jonathan Jackson would not have agreed to a long term return as Lucky unless it included the chance to finally redeem the character from the horrible corner he was written into back in 2011
Also Rick Hearst. I didn’t think I’d want to see Ric Lansing again but Hearst’s performance is so immediately and intensely creepy and controlling/ manipulative but also with flashes vulnerability. That guy is acting. Can’t wait to see him to cross paths with Sonny.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Cullum Kidnaps Obrecht as Britt’s Replacement to Finish Faison’s Final Project
WSB director Ross Cullum is truly as despicable villain as they come, and played with steely intensity by Andrew Hawkes. For the double agents latest crime, you need to look no further than the Friday, June 5 cliffhanger of General Hospital, where in the episode’s final moments he sneaks up on an unassuming Dr. Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) after hiding in the back seat of her car.
Next, he chloroforms her with his intent clear. He plans on forcing her to finish the last leg of Faison’s final project at Wyndemere, since her daughter Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) left town with Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) in tow to get away from Cullum!
In what led to the kidnapping, Cullum had a terse conversation with his business associate and co-conspirator on the project, Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota). It is Sidwell who is preoccupied with wanting to bring Marco’s killer to justice (not knowing it’s the man right in front of him!). Sidwell told Cullum if bringing Marco’s killer to justice wasn’t a priority for the WSB director, then why should protecting Cullum be a priority for him?
SIDWELL VS. CULLUM
The two finally put aside their differences as they have to complete Faison’s final project for it will be highly lucrative for them, useful for their mutual gains, and groundbreaking. In order to do that they need a great mind with a scientific background to finish it up and get them to the finish line since Britt as disappeared.
Later, outside of “General Hospital,” Obrecht is headed back to her car after searching Britt’s office for any clues as to the whereabouts of her daughter. But when she got in the car to drive away, that’s when the aforementioned Cullum strikes!

Courtesy/ABC
BROOK LYNN GETS ADVICE FROM A FORMER ADULTERESS
In other key developments, after Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) keeps inserting herself into Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) life, all with the seeming pretense to pay back Chase for helping her clear her name at the trial, and standing by her, she brings good news in person about baby Phoebe’s adoption to Alexis’ (Nancy Lee Grahn) law office to Chase. Once Brook Lynn heard Chase was on her away over with paperwork, she decided to hightail it out of there for an “emergency” appointment for Deception.
As we come to find out, Brook Lynn meets up with Lucy (Lynn Herring) at the Metro Court pool, She then proceeds to inform Lucy about Willow sniffing around he husband. Lucy says she knows a thing or two about being an adulteress. Brook Lynn wants Lucy to help her send a clear message to Willow to stay away from her husband, or else!
Now below, check out the scenes before Obrecht was kidnapped where she visited Willow, Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) and suspects Willow is up to no good.
Then let us know, with Lucy taking Brook Lynn under her wing, what plot do you think the two will come up with against Willow? What do you think will happen to Obrecht? With Lucas also at Wyndemere trying to bait Sidwell into an attempted murder charge, will he winds up thrown in the secret room with Josslyn? Share your thoughts and theories on the latest GH via the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
2026 SDSA TV Award Nominations: All Five Daytime Dramas Score in Best Achievement in Set Decoration
The Set Decorators Society of America has revealed its nominations for 2025-26 SDSA Awards for Television, which recognizes the work of the set decoration and production designers in primetime, streaming and daytime series.
This year, all five soap operas: Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and The Young and the Restless all received nominations in the Best Achievement in Decor/Design of a Daytime Series category.
In its official SDSA rule book, to qualify for the category of a Daytime Series, which includes daytime dramas, daytime talk shows, daytime game shows, and daytime children’s programming, all episodes must air before 6:00pm and must have a credited Set Decorator. For daytime dramas, the content must contain multiple plotlines that are carried over from episode to episode.

Photo: JPI
WHICH EPISODES CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPETITION?
The eligibility year for episodes runs June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026. Founded in 1993, the SDSA is an international nonprofit professional association dedicated to promoting excellence and preserving the legacy of the art of set decoration in motion pictures and television.
Several popular primetime and streaming titles that have wrapped their final seasons also received nods including Euphoria, Stranger Things, Hacks, Outlander, and The Boys. Popular titles such as Bridgerton.
Take a look below at the nominated scenic design teams from your favorite soaps:
Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Daytime Series
Beyond The Gates: Set Decoration by Cynthia Slagter with Production Design by Bruton Jones
The Bold and the Beautiful: Set Decoration by Prim Rosales, Beth Wooke, Prerna Chawla, Charlotte Garnell, Chelsea Mondelli, Michelle Hall, & Linda Louise Sheets with Production Design by Lou A. Trabbie III
Days of Our Lives: Set Decoration by Adele Caine & Sarah Holmes with Production Design by Tom Early & Dan Olexiewicz
General Hospital: Set Decoration by Jennifer Elliot with Production Design by Andrew Evashchen
The Young and the Restless: Set Decoration by Jennifer Haybach, Justine Mercado, Maria Dirolf, & Monica Lowe with Production Design by David Hoffmann
So, which soap opera from the calendar year of basically June of 2025 to a week ago in 2026, do you think has had the best looking sets? Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, or The Young and the Restless? Make you pick and drop it in the comment section below.
General Hospital
Marc Forget Exits ‘General Hospital’
The Thursday June 4 episode of General Hospital paved way for the end of the line for Jenz Sidwell’s (Carlo Rota) butler/fixer, Pascal (Marc Forget).
In the pick of the June 3 cliffhanger, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) was the hero and stopped the evil-doer from fleeing Port Charles for his part in aiding and abetting his boss with the cover-up of the murder of Professor Henry Dalton (Daniel Goddard) among other crimes.
Today’s episode did indeed mark the final appearance of Marc Forget who joined the ABC soap opera when he debuted back in July of 2025. Viewers met met Pascal when Kelly Thiebaud returned to the soap opera as Britt Westbourne and she was being blackmailed to work on Faison’s final project while at the Five Poppies in Dalmatia.

Courtesy/ABC
A General Hospital rep confirmed to Soap Opera Digest, that the June 4 episode, “Will be the last viewers will see of Pascal for now, but notes that in the world of Port Charles, comebacks are always possible.” So, how did Pascal get written-off the canvas? Here’s what went down:
PASCAL GIVES LUCAS KEY INFORMATION BEFORE BEING DRAGGED AWAY
After Sonny intercepted Pascal on his desperate attempt to get out of town, Sonny informed him hat Sidwell would stop at nothing from trying to get retribution for whoever killed his son, Marco, and promptly turned around and said that he would help Pascal flee the country, only if he turned on Sidwell.
An absolutely terrified Pascal had evidence for Sonny that he could use against Sidwell. However, he feared he would get killed on sight if he tried to retrieve the incriminating photos of Sonny and Laura from the safe at Wyndemere. So instead, Pascal gave the combination to the safe to Lucas (Van Hansis), so he could get the blackmail photos himself. But, did Pascal just set up Lucas to be killed since he loathes him for being the man to win the heart of the late Marco?
In the end, Sonny had one of his henchmen drag Pascal away and whisked off to an airfield to fly away to parts unknown, and hopefully never to be heard from again. But what now? Is Lucas going to end up being pegged as Marco’s killer and taken down by Sidwell if he gets his hands on the incriminating photos for Sonny and Laura? Stay tuned.
So, what did you think of Marc Forget’s run as Pascal? Sad or happy to see the character go? Do you think he will be back down the line? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
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