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General Hospital’s Executive Producer Frank Valentini Previews, “There’s More Tribute to Come For Monica”

By Michael Fairman

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Photos: ABC

The cast and crew and behind the scenes creatives were deeply saddened when General Hospital’s longest tenured cast member, Leslie Charleson (Monica Quartermaine) passed away back on January 12th of this year.

While we have previously reported GH’s plans for its 62nd anniversary episode airing on Tuesday, April 1, which will include honoring Charleson when her character of Dr. Monica Quartermaine get a new cardiac wing named after her at the hospital, the soap’s executive producer, Frank Valentini shared with Variety, that even after that, there is more in store the.

Valentini teased, “There’s more tribute to come for Monica. But the opportunity presented itself that we would have the anniversary of the hospital be on the anniversary of the show. So it’s a little meta, but I think it’s great. And then to give the hospital a reason to celebrate, that’s how we came up with the the new wing for Monica, which is a really beautiful set. It’s pretty incredible.”

Photo: ABC

The ABC daytime drama will address the death of Monica Quartermaine and the passing of Charleson at a later date, as this anniversary episode was said to be written before the news of the fan favorite’s death.

During the April 1 anniversary episode, Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Laura (Genie Francis) remember those who have come and gone and been a vital part of the hospital including: Alan Quartermaine (Stuart Damon), Epiphany Johnson (Sonya Eddy), Bobbie Spencer (Jackie Zeman) and more.

“As much as we always want to go boldly into the future, I think you can’t go into the future without understanding where you’ve come from, or what the past has taught you,” shared Valentini. “And if there’s anything that it’s taught us, it’s that the hospital is a very interesting and exciting place for story to be told, and the lives and the stakes in the hospital are so much bigger.”

So, glad to hear that there are more plans to honor Leslie Charleson and her contributions for 47 years as Monica Quartermaine down the line? Comment below.

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Happy to hear… but not looking forward to all the tears it will bring. GH tributes always are very touching and emotionally well done in honouring the passing of a cast member.

I most enjoyed the time Monica came to visit Tracy in the hospital, Tracy thinking she would die & be completely honest, told Monica, ” I Love you more than than anyone else in the world!” & began crying.. shortly after, Monica left the room..she had a hard time processing it, because she knew it was true..
After all there fights
Monica was great in that episode

I sure hope they show ample footage of the Alan and Monica wild make out sessions on the heels of one of their infamous marital fights. They were really a super soap couple without actually being called a super soap couple. They were classic!

I loved watching them. They were the most entertaining couple on daytime.

It would bring the house down! So to speak…

love that they honor the history of the show and remember all the departed cast members

Everything they do for Leslie (and Monica) will be beautiful but we’re always going to miss her.

She will be so miss Just don’t understand what took so long

This was written prior to Leslie Charleson’s passing. It’s not like she passed and they just pushed out scripts. That’s not how it works… even at this soap.

Leslie deserves to be honored immensely and forever! I will always remember Monica and Alan fighting!

They were an ideal couple, perfectly made for each other!

Been watching since day one. Saddened we lost Lesley but her tribute will be beautiful. Naming a wing after her is so appropriate and will keep her memory alive to all her fans. Rest in peace, Lesley, you are missed already.

I’ve been wondering when they were gonna honor her! I know it’s going to be a tear jerker. I’ll be sure to grab my box of tissues.

This was written prior to Leslie’s passing.

I have been a faithful fan of General Hospital since 1978. So many characters and storylines have come and gone since then. My mother’s favorite characters, besides Luke and Laura, were definitely Monica and Alan Quartermaine. In both of our opinions, they are central to what General Hospital is today. I am VERY happy to see that Dr. Monica Quartermaine will have a hospital wing named after her, definitely that episode (the 62nd anniversary show), and the episode where the entire cast will honor her in what will probably be the most saddest of episodes (those memorial episodes usually are as they should be). Leslie Charleson was a phenomenal actress. The name Monica Quartermaine will never be forgotten and neither will Leslie Charleson. RIP Leslie.

Wonderful news. A suggestion is to include Sasha Gilmore’s deceased husband’s name somewhere (Johnny ?” who sadly passed at a young age.

Ehh, the context here is legendary characters who were actually employed by the hospital itself. What happened to Johhny Wactor IRL was tragic, but “Brando Corbin” doesn’t fit in this context.

She’s been gone since January

I’m very happy that Monica will be honored in this way. She deserves this tribute. Condolences to her family friends and fans. Condolences as well for all who have passed. I really love GH Stars. God bless their souls and spirits to be protected as they transition to that Paradise where they will sleep for now. Until Jesus returns. In Jesus’s Mighty name I pray. Amen, Amen and Amen. ✝️❤️️➕➕➕⭐⭐

I think it’s ridiculous that they haven’t addressed her death yet. Monica is just up in a room dying all this time? Leslie has been the longest person on the show. The least they could do is address the fact that she is dead. They could then name the wing after her. That would make more sense and honor her life.

They don’t just snap their fingers and bam there’s a script. This episode was written before she passed. Then they tape 6 weeks in advance. When a cast member dies it takes time and planning. They have to see who they’d like to bring back and who could be available. With Monica for example they would want Ned there. But Wally Kurth also works on Days of our lives. So they’d have to be sure he’s available. Once they know that then it’s the planning and writing. Then the taping and editing. We dont want these rush. I don’t mind that Monica is still alive currently even though Leslie is not.

Did you read the story you’re commenting on? This is directly addressed:

The ABC daytime drama will address the death of Monica Quartermaine and the passing of Charleson at a later date, as this anniversary episode was said to be written before the news of the fan favorite’s death.

My mom started watching General Hospital when it was in black and white. I’ve only been watching for 30 something years. We love it, the story lines just keep drawing you in. We love all the actors. Let me tell you we shed some tears when the actors passed away. The best way to sum up GH is they feel like our family. I hope it never goes off air in my life time.

It would be nice if the character of Lesley Webber came back.

I would hope Denise Alexander as Lesley Webber would be included in a tribute to her longtime co-star Leslie Charleson and nemesis Dr. Monica Quartermaine. Those years with Alan and the Webber brothers were so well done. Soaps work best when past characters are remembered and included in current stories. As the World Turns was very good about that. GH remembers at anniversaries, but I wish some of the old guard would be featured more.

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Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

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Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.

The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.

Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.

Photo: JPI

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST

Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”

Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”

Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”

Photo: JPI

KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL

Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”

You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.

So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!

 

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Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

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Steve Burton

The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.

TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.

That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.

Steve Burton

Photo: ABC

STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES

GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.

Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).

Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.

GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS

Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.

Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.

So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?

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Jason and Britt

On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.

Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.

However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.

Britt

Courtesy/ABC

BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON

Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.

He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.

Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”

General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”

So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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