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‘General Hospital’s’ Genie Francis Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: ABC

General Hospital fans loved to see one of its all-time icons, Genie Francis (Laura Collins), front and center in story. This past week in episodes that aired from November 17-21st, Genie got to remind everyone why she remains the MVP of the ABC daytime drama series.

Coming into the week, in highly-intense emotional scenes, Laura, knowing she is in the battle of her political career, smack dab in the middle of the crucial mayoral election of Port Charles against Ezra Boyle (Daniel Cosgrove) in her bid for reelection, she risked it all to be there for her grandson, Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) in court, who is framed by Professor Henry Dalton (Daniel Goddard). Eventually sent to juvenile detention for breaking into the professor’s university lab.

In the pick up on November 17 episode, Laura goes to cast her vote at a polling station, when none other than Dalton shows up and elicits the reaction he wanted from her, and in front of the citizens of Port Charles, who were present recording it all on their cellphones. An angry and Laura accuses Dalton of lying about his lab being trashed to pieces, and stands up for her grandson, vowing she will not allow him to be targeted.

Courtesy/ABC

Viewers once again saw the fiery Laura we recall from years past, who can lose her temper, stands up for justice, fight for her family at any cost! In the key moment and outraged, she slaps Dalton right across the face. It was electric and memorable, because we haven’t seen in this side of Laura in a very long time.

However, that was just the start of the trauma for Laura. After a face-off with Drew (Cameron Mathison), and knowing she has many enemies who want her out of office, including Ezra Boyle and Sidwell (Carlo Rota), she learns she has won the election despite it all.  Sadly, her moment to take it in and celebration is cut short, when she is on her way to a post-election gathering with her staff, when she gets a flat tire. When she goes to the trunk of her car, she sees Dalton’s dead body inside of it.

Now, is where Genie really got to shine, as we saw not only the horror, the trauma and watched Laura try to figure out desperately, who she could call to help her! She lands on Sonny (Maurice Benard)! The mobster is quick to help her out and to try to calm her down, but ultimately telling her, someone is coming after her. He gives her directions to head home, and that he and Jason (Steve Burton) will clean up the mess and make it look like this never happened.

Courtesy/ABC

Laura is completely shaken and rattled to the core, and we don’t know yet what’s to come given her traumatic past with the deaths of David Hamilton, James Duvall and Theresa Carter all a part of her fragile previous mental health issues.

All of the scenes noted above and throughout the week were just brilliantly played by Francis, which is why Michael Fairman TV names Genie as the Power Performance of the Week. And yes, let’s remember this for Emmy time 2026 and get the longtime vet a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

So, do you agree with our pick of Genie Francis deserving top acting honors for the Power Performance of the Week? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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Genie was on FIRE! A few of these scenes would make for a great Emmy reel for Lead Actress. The horror, the trauma, all of it… was pure real Genie. Well done, Genie!!!

Next step, find some contrasting scenes when her children come together (hopefully, Lucky (I’ll take JJ for one-day only) and bring back Nicholas in the form of Adam Huss (1-day)…for the passing of Dr Leslie Webber. The contrast will show her sentimental love and history for her Mom and her family, including grandchildren and all. Kevin needs to return (w/John Lindstrom) for a few days. We know the actor is now linked to BTG.

I would be quite disappointed in GH, if they didn’t bring back Nicholas because he was very close to Leslie (when Tyler Christopher played Nicholas) and there was a lot of history there… or, maybe GH can lure Marcus Colombo for a few days.

Or, recast with a permanent with a new actor at a later time. But, GH and LAURA will need, Nicholas, Lucky and we have our Lulu.

BOOM! Genie for the GOLD #DaytimeEmmyAwards2026 #LeadActressGenieFrancis.

There’s no advantage in having Nikolas return for Lesley’s memorial (please note the spelling for both). With Tyler sadly gone, there’s no flashbacks. And as great as Havins has been, there’s no Lulu flashbacks either.

The next time we see Nikolas, it will likely be a recast. While Huss could be a temporary return, Coloma would never be asked back.

Nicholas needs a re-set. His character has been totally ruined. They should say the last few years was someone impersonating Nicholas because none of that time was in character for him. They could take the story back to the train ride when he ran into Eva on the train, when he fell/jumped and say he’s been in a coma, or had amnesia and a Cassadine uncle found him and brought him back to live on Cassadine island. They should re-cast for someone with a European accent that could be believable as a prince. Then Asa wouldn’t be a Cassadine and Nina could get custody. Having Laura raise this child you never see is ridiculous. Nina could get her 2nd chance at motherhood. Heck, the Cassadine uncle could also have Spencer! Then he starts having flashbacks and returns to Port Charles to piece things together. It’s the only way to save the character and could potentially reenergize the whole Cassadine saga.

Yes her performance was brilliant. It’s about time they start using her we want all Laura back Strong and confident so she could stand up to Drew, Ezra and even Stilwell. I do not want her to crack. Because right now she’s the only strong confident woman in PC Right now Anna is gone. Jordan you got her wrapped up in Curtis’s nonsense. Laura has to stay strong for her family, especially her grandson and she needs more than Lulu in her family back in her life

Finally doing right by Genie Francis giving her a storeline. Excellent performance by her. Because this is getting good.

Genie did some amazing work with some barely decent writing. Who would believe Laura shot Dalton then had the strength to put his dead weight dad bod in the trunk?

Soap fans are frequently asked to suspend belief. Port Charles is apparently a big enough city to have an international airport and a large organized crime contingent. But the mayor neither has a driver nor security personnel? And security cameras (i.e. in the city hall garage) only exist when it serves the story.

And while we fans fully appreciate Genie’s work, it’s her peers that decide the Emmys based on the reel she puts together and the category in which she submits.

YES …SHE’S BACK!!! Thank you writers for finally give Laura something good …. dont stop!!!!

She was amazing. Always a great actress, but this performance was so believable. From defending her grndson to the fear, after discovering the body…wow.

By any and every account Geanie Frannis deserves MVP this year for lead actress! Her performance couldn’t have been more real if it really happened! Cudos to her for perseverance and dedication to her career!!

Genie Francis is remarkable and this week proved it all! Amassing, scared even me! Deserves Best Actress of the Year award!!

I really love the mayor performance with Ezra and Drew. I love it great acting madame mayor. I am so glad that you are still madame mayor I love that she called Sonny. Great performance.

Michael of course Genie is deserving of the power performance for this week, month, year, anytime but Michael you should of split this one with Kelly Theibould too, mainly because they both gave in one singular episode the most scared performances I’ve ever seen two actress give, they both were so shock in their terrifying experiences, Britt seeing Dalton get killed right before her eyes, and then Laura finding Dalton dead body in her trunk, both their performances felt so real, they really looked terrified with what each experienced individually, I was scared watching, And kudos to Daniel for playing a scary dead person, what an awful way to die. I can’t wait to see this all played out and again kudos to Genie and Kelly.

Excellent job i love genie Francis so talented, i rewatched that scene where smacks dalton in the face over and over again, loved it.

Yes I love Laura aka genie Francis I’m 76 and have been watching gh since it first went on the air I love all the characters a ND the stories they all deserve and award amazing actors and actresses love the show hope it never goes off the air Inez t rydzak devoted fan of gh

Genie, was magnificent. In every scene, it was so believable. Brilliantly played.

Yes, I totally agree Genie Francis did an amazing job with the range and depth of her performance this past weeek. It was great to see her used the way she should be…as the. Reigning queen of daytime GH. I’ve love her for years,this was just another reminder of why.

Genie always will be at the top of her game. She knows how to make Laura just as she always was a fighter and a survivor. Keep up the good work Genie and get that Daytime Emmy cause you deserve it.

Absolutely agree !!!!!! We are seeing once again Genie showing her acting skills, with emotions and all!!!! And finally with a good storyline, more than one that brings back her passion and I just can’t say enough good things about her. I’ve watched her on interviews and her life story, what a positive role model.

Yes she is a wonderful brilliant actress I love watching her I don’t like missing a minute of GH it’s a big part of my day.

it’s about time the writers are using the veteran actors of GH instead of bringing back people from the dead!

Well she wasn’t part of the #1 Super Couple of ALL TIMES for no reason and that was a long, long time ago! She has definitely mastered her art and more!!! As we watched it we knew we were watching GREATNESS!
Especially the scene with Sonny…”I can’t do this, I can’t do this”.
Thank you Genie Fransis…you surely DID!!!

YES, ABSOLUTELY!!! She was the BEST!! LOVE HER!!!! ❤️‍❤️‍

Genie Francis deserves not just a nomination but the Emmy for 2025.

Great to see Genie back ! Emmy yes!!

I text my bff and told her that day that Jeanie Francis had really out did herself acting in that episode ! Now I see these a few days later.

Yes. I totally agree. She was so brilliant.

Yes! And the award goes to, oh yes again, the great Genie Francis. She’s like a good wine; she gets even better with age. Congratulations to Genie Francis. Outstanding performance!

I’ve been watching GH since it came on the air. Genie Francis deserves all awards possible. As someone commented here, she is like a fine wine, and just keeps improving! I’ve been watching old Murder She Wrote episodes in which Genie appeared and realized even as a young lady what a superb actress she has always been. She makes her characters so real! Thanx GH for keeping her again front and center. Currently I can not get GH so am looking forward to watching what I have missed, apparently the best stuff of recent years!

You bet! I’ve watched her from her beginning on the show. She is a powerful actress. I absolutely love her!

About time Laura got a bigger part.She is a dynamite actress.Go Genie

GH gave material she could sink her teeth into, and she pulled it off!

Greatness indeed!!! Go Genie!

Genie is brilliant!

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Alum Kelly Monaco Reveals She’s Six Months Sober

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Kelly Monaco

Longtime General Hospital favorite, Kelly Monaco (ex-Sam McCall), took to her Instagram on Tuesday, September 15 and shared that she is six months, seven days sober from alcohol. Monaco played Sam for 21 years on the ABC soap opera.

Accompanied by a screenshot from the I Am Sober app that tracks the progress of anyone struggling with or trying to not drink, Monaco wrote, “Now the whole 6/7 thing makes sense! #duces.”

Monaco has kept a very low profile since her final episode on General Hospital aired back on October 30, 2024, when Sam had a shocking heart attack and died. It was later revealed that Daytime Emmy nominee, Jeff Kober (ex-Cyrus Renault) injected Sam’s IV with a fatal dose of digitalis.

Photo: JPI

KELLY MONACO HAS KEPT MORE TO HERSELF SINCE LEAVING GH

This year, Kelly has posted on her Instagram account a total of four times, most recently to celebrate her mother, Carmina’s birthday, who turned 70 just four days ago.

Jumping into the comment thread on Kelly announcing her sobriety were several of her former GH co-stars including Brandon Barash (ex-Johnny, GH) who shared, “Love this. Congrats! 👏👏👏,” Ingo Rademacher (ex-Jax, GH) who just posted the hands up and heart emojis, and Lexi Ainsworth (ex-Kristina, GH) who wrote, “So proud of you 👏 badass.”

Kelly Monaco, Dancing with the Stars

Photo: ABC

DANCING WITH THE STARS BEGINS NEW SEASON; KELLY WAS THE SEASON ONE CHAMP

With this season’s Dancing with the Stars about to kick-off tonight, in which Kelly was the first-ever celebrity winner in season one and returned for an All-Star version, might we hear from her on her picks or thoughts on this year’s batch of contestants?

One thing has remained a constant with Kelly’s unwavering fan base, they want her back on General Hospital, because as we know in the soaps, many characters somehow come back from the dead, so why couldn’t Sam?

Share your thoughts for Kelly and her six months of sobriety via the comment section below and if you would still like to see her back on General Hospital or even another soap opera within the next few years. 

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Soap Alums Remembered During In Memoriam Segment at 78th Emmy Awards; Patrick Muldoon Omitted

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In Memoriam Emmys 2026

During last night’s 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, as it does every year, the television academy paid tribute to those in the industry that they’ve lost over the last year; since the previous Emmys held each year in September.

Starting with an emotional tribute to the late Catherine O’Hara by three of her co-stars, Schitt’s Creek’s Annie Murphy and Dan Levy and Home Alone’s Macaulay Culkin, the segment then dovetailed into Noah Kahan performing “Bridge over Troubled Water” as the faces and the names of those being remembered were shown on the screen.

Daytime soap alums, who either stayed in the genre for the majority of their career, or went on to primetime success as well, were honored including: Anthony Geary (Luke, GH), Hayden Panettiere (Sarah, OLTL, Lizzie, GL, Juliette, Nashville), James Van Der Beek, (Dawson, Dawson’s Creek, and Stephen, ATWT), Gil Gerard (Alan, The Doctors), June Lockhart (Mariah, GH), Patricia Crowley (Mary, Port Charles and GH), Randolph Mantooth (Clay/Alex, Loving and The City, and Richard, GH) and Jon Cypher (Alex, ATWT and Arthur, Santa Barbara).

Photo: TVAcademy

THOSE HONORED AND THOSE WHO WERE NOT

However, in a glaring omission, the producers of the In Memoriam failed to include Days of our Lives beloved star, Patrick Muldoon who played the OG Austin Reed and also Richard Hart on Melrose Place. Muldoon passed away in April of this year at 57.

After Kahan concluded his performance, a special tribute to Rob Reiner began with Jamie Lee Curtis taking to the stage to share some warm words about her late friend.

In a ironic and sad twist, Curtis shared ,“Last week, Robbie won an Emmy for guest actor in a comedy series for his beautiful work on The Bear, and he now holds the record of 48 years for the longest gap between acting Emmys, which was previously held by his father Carl Reiner, at 37 years.”

Reiner, who along with his wife, Michele Reiner were killed by their son, Nick Reiner, is currently awaiting a decision if he will stand trial. Prosecutors on Tuesday, shared they will not seek the death penalty if he is convicted at trial, but instead life in prison. Curtis said of Rob, “He was generous and kind and funny as hell, and a friend to all. We all miss Rob and Michele and all those we lost this year.” The Emmys then faded to black and went to commercial break.

So, were you happy to see those who you know from their work in soap operas included in the 2026 In Memoriam tribute at the Primetime Emmys? Share your thoughts in the comment section. But first, in case you missed it, you can watch it below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Break Up After Realizing They Can’t Trust Each Other

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Jason and Britt

Trust issues were cited as the reason for the break-up of Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) and Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) on the Monday, September 14 episode of General Hospital, ending the their complicated romance once and for all.

The episode began with the pick-up of Jason and Britt’s argument over Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) at the Quartermaine boathouse. Britt is in disbelief that Jason continues to take Anna’s side, and that he will not back her up as her witness, as she wants to report Anna’s attempted murder of her to the PCPD.

Jason tells Britt that Anna had been pushed to the brink through the mental torture she’d endured while held captive at Wyndemere, and accused Britt of doing nothing to save her, when she knew exactly what was going on as she was at Wyndemere as well. Britt told Jason that she’d been a victim of Sidwell and Cullum too, and by the time she figured out what was happening to Anna, they had moved her somewhere else.

Courtesy/ABC

BELIEF SYSTEM BROKEN

Then, Jason clearly lets Britt know he doesn’t believe her version of what transpired. An enraged Britt fires back at Jason in disbelief, that he is siding with Anna instead of her, when he was on Mount Emerson and saw for himself how Anna was planning to kill her. Suddenly, Britt wants to know if Jason would have helped Anna cover her tracks, if Anna had killed her.

Next, Jason argued that Britt seemingly needs to believe Anna would have killed her when he knows deep down Anna would never have murdered her. Jason thinks Britt is trying to absolve herself of her own guilt and complicity in keeping Anna locked up.

Britt shouts “You need to believe that! Otherwise, you’d have to admit that your friend is unhinged and dangerous. And she would have killed someone you say you love!” Now at a complete impasse, Britt walks out on Jason realizing they don’t trust each other and calls it quits.

Tristan

Courtesy/ABC

PICKING UP THE PIECES

Later, Jason finds Carly (Laura Wright) at the Metro Court, and while in an elevator fills her in that he doesn’t trust Britt, and that as much as he loves her, he doesn’t trust her like he does Carly. Britt is back at the hospital.

A concerned Tristan (Dean Geyer) tries to talk to her about what transpired with Anna. However, Britt clams up and walks away from any discussion.

Now in the General Hospital teaser video for the action on Tuesday, September 15,  Jason ask Carly (over beers and a game of pool) “When you lie for a living, how long before you start lying to yourself? Take a look at that below.

Let us know, are you glad that Jason and Britt finally called it quits? What about the reason that the couple broke-up, over Britt knowing about Anna being locked-up at Wyndemere and Jason not willing to back Britt about Anna trying to kill her? Is Tristan the next man for Britt? Let us know your thoughts 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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