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Genie Francis Talks Luke and Laura’s Rape Scene, “I Won’t Defend it,” GH Stars Gone Too Soon, and Teases Her Upcoming Book on Two-Part ‘State of Mind’

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: StateofMind

General Hospital icon, Genie Francis (Laura Collins) is making a rare appearance in a sit-down style conversation with her longtime co-star Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) on his mental health You Tube series, State of Mind. Part one, which drops tomorrow on November 16 will be Genie in a one-on-one raw interview with Maurice. However, part two airing the following Sunday on November 23 will include Genie’s husband, Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Jonathan Frakes.

While we have already previewed Genie talking about her Daytime Emmy Lead Actress snubs and an upcoming key scene between Laura and Sonny that will air a few weeks from now that included how Francis was able to connect to the material because of a previous real-life trauma; ahead of the part one premiere, Michael Fairman TV can share some additional sneak peek clips and topics.

In a key moment with Genie and Jonathan, Maurice reads a question from none other than Sarah Brown (ex-Carly, GH et al) about how Genie feels now, decades later, about Laura being raped by Luke (Anthony Geary). The moment happened in story back in 1979. During State of Mind, Genie shares her stance: “As a kid, I was following directions… I played rape.” At the time, Genie was just 17 and she recalls Anthony Geary being a gentleman with her about having to play this tough material.

Photo: ABC

However, Genie remembers that on-camera, “It was just us dancing and then us dropping down out of frame.” But she added, “Looking back on it as an adult, I won’t defend it… It was wrong.”  The legendary star who debuted on the soap back in 1977 also revealed she is writing her memoir and that she has new insight on the hot topic flashpoint in soap opera and television history that she will revisit. Speaking on how the Luke and Laura love story played out and looking at it through a different lens, Genie expressed, “If you were truly raped, I don’t see you fall in love with the guy.”

On Sunday’s show, look for a heart-tugging moment when Maurice asks Genie to reflect on those they have lost from GH history and the cast which included: Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio) Leslie Charleson (Monica Quartermaine), Jackie Zeman (Bobbie Spencer) and Tyler Christopher (Genie’s former TV son, who played Nikolas Cassadine).

Francis said of Tristan Rogers: “Delightful… so talented… a very bright star. Brighter than where he landed. He deserved to land in the movies.” For Leslie Charleson, she recalled, “Sweet, warm. My first time ever in live television having the other actor go up was with Leslie Charleson, and watching the terror in her eyes, she forgot her line and I knew she forgot her line. When the scene ended she wept and we held each other and I cried. Utterly terrifying.”

Photo: ABC

Genie spoke of the great Jackie Zeman: “I loved her so much. And I was so afraid when she asked me to go out for lunch or to do something. I had this weird abnormal fear of somebody. She was like on a pedestal, she was like a cool big sister, I wanted to be like her. I yearned to be close to Jackie but it was also, my thing (social anxiety) came up and I was scared, and at some point she stopped asking. And that’s my thing. Missed opportunity.”  And sadly, how life came to a tragic end for Tyler Christopher: “A beautiful angel. So beautiful and so vulnerable,”  recalled Genie. “He was not equipped to live in this world. He was so pure (that) he couldn’t live in this dirty place.”

Make sure to check out the full conversation with Genie Francis premiering at 10am PT, Sunday, Nov. 16 on State of Mind via YouTube and all major podcast platforms. But before tomorrow, check out these preview clips below.

So, what did you think about Genie’s comments on Luke and Laura’s controversial 1979 rape scene, and that she is now writing a book, where she will reveal more of her thoughts on the subject, plus her touching remarks on those we lost from GH? Let us know in the comment section.

 

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I think if you take a step back, it was just a messed up time back then for young girls. Even before Luke was in Port Charles, look at how the Laura character was treated in the David Hamilton storyline. The newspaper headlines were along the lines of Teenage Lolita kills lover. Laura was made to be the villain in the David Hamilton storyline when she was the victim. They held little girls to the same standard as grown women. Look at Bobbie. In order to get ahead of the media and to not lose her nursing job, she went to Steve Hardy and told him she had been a child prostitute, like it was her choice to have ever been a child prostitute in the first place. No, she was technically pimped by her Aunt Ruby. And don’t even get me started on Aunt Ruby. The irony of how we all overlooked Aunt Ruby’s role in Bobbie’s prostitution. And how we all still fell in love with Ruby in spite of it. Didn’t they actually write Ruby, a former Madame who prostituted her niece, to nanny Rick Webber’s son after Leslie died? Just weird times. It was all around us….it was creepy for young girls and how they were portrayed. Look at the sexualized commercials and movies a very young Brooke Shields was in. Disturbing. Laura falling in love with her rapist?….just another day back then. Ick.

You make excellent points. I always struggled with the way Aunt Ruby was later portrayed as some kind of Saint after prostituting out her underaged niece. You’re right- different times that is hard to process now.

I don’t think much has changed. Girls still dress like hoochie mamas. I saw a girl who was probably around 16 today who was wearing shorts at Outback Steakhouse so short you could see the bottoms of her butt cheeks…..

When you think about it, Rick Webber had poor taste in housekeepers. First, Alice Grant is convicted of killing Diana Taylor (but is given a slap on the wrist because she was supposedly protecting Heather). Later, Rick hires former madam Ruby Anderson. Yet, she somehow became beloved in the community and offered sage advice for the young ‘uns.

And, as much as I loved the pairing of Alan and Monica – he did plot to murder her and Rick. A fine live between love and hate, indeed.

Bravo, Carrie! Such insight! Amazing memory and great points throughout.

Genie Francis is an icon, an incredible actress, and a thoughtful, intelligent person. I like the way she is able to frame her feelings and thoughts on defending that ludicrous storyline (i.e., falling in love with your rapist): she won’t do it anymore!

On a tangential matter, I’m blown away that Benard didn’t seem to know much about the rape storyline; I know it was many years before he joined the cast, but the whole “Luke and Laura” phenomenon, including its inception, not only brought GH (and daytime soaps) its best ratings ever, it was also a pivotal, controversial storyline and one of the benchmarks in GH history.

James
Always appreciate your insights…

Benard seems to have a select memory as it pertains to GH history. In part 1 of Genie’s interview, he claimed to watch Luke & Laura when “he was growing up” and mentioned bring 14. Mo was 14 in 1977 (before Luke arrived in PC).

Maurice (whom I greatly admire) may not have the best memory sometimes. In part 1 of this State of Mind episode with Genie, he says he can’t imagine doing a live broadcast. But they actually did a live broadcast in May of 2015. I remember him in that ordeal and I thought he did well. Whenever I’ve seen GH actors in interviews over the years, Tristan Rogers’ mind and memory was like a steel trap. He recalled old storylines with complete accuracy. Kin Shriner has a great memory as well. Given what these professionals are expected to memorize everyday in their jobs, it’s amazing they can remember anything else once they get home each day. 🙂

I was on a break from GH when Benard came out, but didn’t he have sex with an underage Karen Wexler (Scott’s daughter) when she was on drugs? So technically isn’t he as much of a rapist as Luke Spencer?

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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ethan is Rocked at News of Delilah; Is Baby Phoebe His Child?

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The return story of Ethan Lovett (Nathan Dean began to unpeel itself on all new episodes of General Hospital, when on Tuesday May 5, he is seen on the pier talking on his phone and clearly calling a woman named “Delilah,” and in what seems like concern for her, tells her on voicemail, “you need to show up.”

As viewers know, Delilah (played by Lily Cardone) was the pregnant woman that Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) found on the side of a road and managed to get her to the hospital. Once at GH, Delilah died, but her baby was born. Brook Lynn and Chase then went to efforts to become the little one’s foster parents, since no other family ties for the baby girl have been found.

Their happiness at finally having a child, may be very short-lived. First, Brook Lynn is a key suspect as the other driver that may have caused the accident that burned and put disfiguring lacerations on Jordan’s (Tanisha Harper) face. At that time, Brook Lynn had a bit of wine with Lucy (Lynn Herring), and had rushed out of the Quartermaine mansion to try to get to Gio’s (Giovanni Mazza) performance with Trina (Tabyana Ali) at the reopening of Charlie’s.

Courtesy/ABC

Fast forward to now. Ethan turns up at the Quartermaines and runs into Brook Lynn and Chase along with baby Phoebe. Brook Lynn introduces Ethan to her husband and then they explain they are foster parents to Phoebe.

Brook Lynn then tells Ethan, that sadly, Phoebe’s mother had died, and all they knew about her was her name: Delilah Wilson. As soon as Brook Lynn mentions Delilah’s name, it’s clear Ethan is stunned, although he tries not to let on anything to Brook Lynn and Chase. Previously, Brook Lynn told Chase that it was recommended to her that they try to search on their own for Phoebe’s family. Well, is this her dad starring her in the face?

All this begging the questions: What is Ethan’s relationship to the deceased Delilah? Were they working on some kind of con together? Were they in love? Is Ethan the biological baby-daddy to Phoebe, which would really throw a wrench into Brook Lynn and Chase’s dreams of starting their own family? And, will all of this dovetail into Michael’s plan to get Chase and Willow to hit the sheets? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Brennan’s Eyes Are Opened About Carly and Valentin, Josslyn Finds Herself Locked Up Like Anna

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In a pivotal episode of General Hospital, Monday, May 4 finally blew the lid off of Brennan/Carly/Valentin and showed off Josslyn’s super spy prowess, and Cassius dark side all in one fell swoop!

Here’s what went down: Brennan (Chris McKenna) went ballistic after catching Carly (Laura Wright) after hitting the sheets, only he didn’t know (yet) with whom. The Port Charles WSB Bureau Chief goes in on Carly wanting to know who is it that she is sleeping with.  After his angry demand, Carly tells Jack to “turn around.” Thus, revealing Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) as the other man, who is holding a gun pointed straight at Jack.

Initially, Jack thinks Valentin played Carly due to their vendetta, but au contraire! Jack gets an earful about how Carly flew to Steinmauer posing as his attorney. When Jack tried to understand why Carly would betray him in such a way, Carly spelled it out for him.

Coutesy/ABC

Next, Carly let Jack have it for his lies and duplicity about her daughter, Josslyn (Eden McCoy). She knows that Jack recruited Josslyn into the WSB, preying on her grief over Dex’s death to get her to murder Cyrus Renault. Carly adds, you tuned my daughter, “into a lying, murdering spy, like you!” In tears, Carly told Jack that Josslyn will never be the same, because of what he did to her.

SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY AND LIVING TO TELL ABOUT IT

Jack realized, Carly was the one behind getting Valentin’s transfer from Steinmauser. Now on the attack, Jack told Carly she will wind up in prison for aiding and abetting a fugitive. He tells her that Valentin will grab his daughter, Charlotte and disappear, and when that happens he won’t lift a finger to save her, in fact, (he throws in for good measure) that she might get lucky and thrown into a pit with Jason.

Valentin told Jack that if he didn’t help them, he will turn him over to Cullum, who he knows is a double agent and would like nothing better than to make Jack the fall guy for all of his own crimes. Jack apologized to Carly for lying to her, said he still loves her, but that he wonders how long it will be before Valentin betrays her too.

After the scenes aired, Chris McKenna took to X and shared, “And after we finished the last scene I ran over to Laura Wright and hugged her, and then pulled in James Patrick Stuart too. Thrilled to have that material with those legends. Hope you dig it.”

Courtesy/ABC

JOSSLYN LANDS IN A SLEEPER HOLD

In addition, Josslyn and Cassius (Ryan Paevey) had literally, a knock down drag out fight. First, after Cassius grabbed her arm as she was set to leave her apartment, he told her he knew she was WSB! Joss suggested that “Nathan” must be traumatized from years of being presumed dead. She grabs a candlestick and the two go at it complete with kicks, shoves, throws and all; leading to Cassius putting Joss in a version of the sleeper hold and making her pass out.

Later, Cassius calls for Sidwell (Carlo Rota), but speaks to Pascal (Marc Forget), that there is an issue that needs to be dealt with. At the end of the episode, Josslyn wakes up in the same room that Anna was driven crazy in which must be somewhere at Wyndemere, Cassius is seen looking through the one-sided window and we fade to black.

So, what did you think of the Carly and Valentin reveal to Brennan? Did Carly come out the victor in her payback to Brennan? Then, who do you think will figure out Josslyn is kidnapped? Will it be Brennan? Will he help her or use it as leverage against Valentin and Carly? Share your theories in the comment section.

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How ‘General Hospital’s’ Ned and Lois Love Story Moved Rosabel Kurth, Daughter of Wally Kurth and Rena Sofer, to Tears and Served as Inspiration

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In a case of life imitating art, literally, Rosabel Rosalind Kurth, the daughter of Wally Kurth (Ned, GH and Justin, DAYS) and Rena Sofer (Lois, GH) took to her Instagram over the weekend to share her emotional reaction to watching her now divorced parents real life love story play out on General Hospital; beginning in the early 90s when on-screen Ned and Lois were one of the “It’ couples of the show.

As Rosalind explained, it was the Lois and Ned’s love story that impacted her so much that it fueled one of her latest art projects. Here’s the backstory: Rena Sofer and Wally Kurth were married in 1995 after being in story on GH. They had Rosabel in 1996, before divorcing in 1997. The two had gone their separate ways for many years, and in 2023 resumed working together on-screen as exes Lois Cerullo and Ned Quartermaine on General Hospital.

Here’s what Rosabel shared in her post, “In 1993 Rena, my mom, was cast on General Hospital to play Lois Cerulo, a spunky band manager and romantic opposite to Eddie Maine (aka Ned Ashton) played by Wally, my dad. As Ned and Lois fell in love, so did Wally and Rena, following relationship milestones close behind the work of the script-writers. Until Wally and Rena got pregnant with Rosie, me, and the scriptwriters had to write in a new pregnancy and eventually a new character.”

Photo: WKurthIG

Rosabel continued the real-life back story, “My mom left the show to have me, and shortly after the love story stopped writing itself my parents divorced. For 27 years my mom and my dad had minimal contact at best, tense contact at worst… until 2023 when Rena was recast to return as Lois on General Hospital to help Eddie (Ned) with identity recall after a bout of amnesia.”

Next, Rosabel revealed the key scene between Lois and Eddie (Ned) in which she noticed it also seemed like a breakthrough moments for her parents, “Two years ago, at 27 years old, I turned on General Hospital to watch Lois and Eddie rehash the past, but what I really watched was Rena and Wally having a conversation, making eye contact and even smiling at each other in the same room at the same time. When I turned on this episode of GH I didn’t know that I’d get to see a flashback sequence encapsulating Lois and Ned’s entire love story in under 2 minutes and I certainly didn’t know it would move me to tears the way it did.”

The art project the talented Rosabel is working on she shared is called, “The Honeymoon Period.” It is the first part of what she imagines to be a years-long investigation of love and fantasy through the lens of my parents’ scripted romance.  Kurth added, “I’m still gathering the courage and figuring out what this body of work will look like, how it will affect my relationships, and how I will share it with you all in the end and in the meantime.”

Photo: JPI

As a proud mama, Rena Sofer jumped into the comment thread and expressed, “Awwwww my love!!! I love this journey for you both as an artist and a daughter!! You are so lucky to have all of this on tape to watch and experience for yourself!! And equally as lucky to have your mother and father here to guide you through any questions that may come up!! I am immensely proud of you!”  As soap fans know, Rena is also an artist having been making ceramics, pottery and the like.

You can watch the montage of Ned and Lois scenes below in Rosabel’s touching post below.

Now let us know, was Lois and Ned’s love story one of your all-time favorites on General Hospital? Are you glad that Rena and Wally got some closure from their 2023 reunion on-screen? What do you think of the artistic talents of Rosabel Rosalind? Let us know via the comment section below.

 

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A post shared by Rosabel (@rosabelrosalind)

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