General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: “I’m Alexis Davis, and I’m a Fighter, and an Idealist, and an Advocate”; Nancy Lee Grahn Gives Masterful Performance In Special Episode
When you combine superb direction, writing, production, and acting in a special episode of a daytime drama, viewers can see and understand the thought and care that went into it.
This was more than on display during Thursday’s highly-anticipated ‘Alexis-Centric’ episode honoring the 25th anniversary of Alexis’ portrayer, two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Nancy Lee Grahn, on General Hospital.
Courtesy/ABC
In the story, symbolism was apparent and used for dramatic impact and it worked beautifully throughout, and best of all, Nancy received a script worthy of her immeasurable talents, and showed us once again why she remains one of the gold standards of our genre. If you have not seen the episode DO NOT read any further as it contains spoilers.
It begins with an emotional Alexis looking at her mother’s watch which was still frozen from the time of her death. While playing one of her mother’s records very loudly, she recalls Mikkos Cassadine kissing and dancing with her mom as a young Alexis (Natasha) looked on from the staircase. When Sam asks her about it, Alexis shares that she sees the watch as sort of a representation for her own life being frozen over the last three years; which has included Alexis’ battle with booze taking over her life and her being disbarred, when being a lawyer was the way she identified herself and what gave her purpose.
Overwhelmed and anxiety-ridden, Alexis hightails it to Kevin’s office for a therapy session knowing she is going to Pentonville in the morning to serve her sentence. She says she does not know who she is anymore. Then, Kevin asks her how she spent her day thus far. She flashes back to lunch with the good men in her life, Finn, Valentin, Jax and Ned. Valentin tells Alexis she is proud of her for honing up to her mistakes.
Back at the therapy session, Alexis she was an attorney who stood for something and her life has derailed, and that she was a fighter, an idealist, and an advocate. She knows she has to find a purpose in prison to make it through the three-year term and asks Kevin to help her find one.
Kevin wants to go back to when she was a little girl and her memories that are flooding back to her of Mikkos and her mother. Just then, the younger version of Alexis is huddled in the corner of Kevin’s office, an image of her from the past. Alexis tries to come to terms with her father and the choice of dangerous men and relationships that have marred her own happiness … recalling Julian holding a knife to her throat like Mikkos did to her mother. She says he was one of the toxic men in her life, but Kevin reminds her all of the men in her life were not toxic.
Alexis starts with Ned as one who was good for her saying he was always stable, but she ruined that by recently sleeping with him and putting a wedge in his marriage to her long-time friend, Olivia.
We then flashback to earlier in the day, where Alexis ends up in an almost confrontation with Olivia. However, Olivia tells her she misses the Alexis Davis she used to be and to get her back.
Now back with Kevin, a guilt-ridden Alexis relays she feels responsible for Neil’s death. Kevin interjects she is not, nor what happened with Julian. When Kevin attempts to bring up Mikkos again, Alexis rejects it and is angry that he is making her problem about daddy issues; like so many other women. She vehemently shouts that the men in her life do not define who she is.
Then, Alexis flashes back to hurtful memories she has buried of a young Natasha witnessing Mikkos calling her mother a “greedy little bitch”. She recalls it was on Christmas Eve and that Mikkos stopped by to give them gifts. That is when he presented her mother with the watch. However, things took an ugly turn when he tried to leave, and she threatened to tell Helena all about her and Natasha. Next, Mikkos slapped her and that is when the watch shattered. As all this was going down, a young Natasha watched from the stairs and was horrified that she couldn’t stop her father from beating her mother and remembers how helpless she felt.
However, Alexis reveals to Kevin she thought this would be the last of Mikkos coming by, but he returned on New Year’s Eve and her mother took him back into their lives. Alexis is beside herself that she could not protect her mother, but Kevin reassures her to remember she was just a child.
Courtesy/ABC
It is then we come to the crux of the story. Alexis looks over in the corner and sees her younger self crying. She goes to her younger self and tells her nothing that happened was her fault, and that their father was damaged and cruel. She tells the young Natasha this shouldn’t have been her burden to carry alone, and that she deserves to be happy. Then in the moment of strength and coming full circle, Alexis introduces herself to the young Natasha, “I’m Alexis Davis, a fighter, an advocate, and an idealist … and I will take care of everything from her on out.” In that moment, Alexis embraced herself, and forgave herself, so she could move on with her life.
Alexis then flashes back to earlier that night, as the Davis girls gather for a faux graduation ceremony so Alexis could see Molly in her cap and gown and they hug. Back in her session, Kevin remarks that Alexis has repeatedly defined herself as a fighter, an idealist, and an advocate, and reminds her she has three daughters who have those qualities, and that all she needs to be is Alexis Davis.
Then, we get a heart-warming montage of Alexis though the years in honor of Nancy’s 25th anniversary with GH.
Courtesy/ABC
As the episode concludes, it is the next morning, and Alexis enters Pentonville and enters her jail cell. There she meets her fellow inmate, who is studying law books to prep for her upcoming parole hearing. Alexis introduces herself as “Alexis Davis” and as someone who can help her. We then go back to her mother’s watch which now begins ticking at Alexis’ home. The show fades to black.
Kudos to Daytime Emmy winner, Phideaux Xavier for his outstanding direction, head writers: Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor and script writer, Scott Sickles for the thoughtful episode, EP Frank Valentini and his production crew for putting it all together, and the one and only Nancy Lee Grahn for a performance that will be remembered as a classic.
Share your thoughts on today’s on Nancy’s ‘Alexis-Centric’ episode via the comment section below.
Nancy was amazing like always
Nancy Lee Grahn gave an outstanding performance. Expect even more as she makes her way in prison. Should be plenty of material there from a great directing and writing team! Shame on ABC for not renewing GH yet! Happy 25th Nancy! Love your dedication to the show.
Every time someone mentions about General Hospital not being renewed, I feel the need to remind that “renewal” is not applicable to GH. The show is owned, produced and airs on the same division of one company, the ABC network. It is in perpetual production (like the evening news) and does not have a renewal cycle like the other 3 soaps. CBS has to renew contracts for Y&R and B&B to let Sony plan ahead. Similarly, NBC with DAYS and Sony/Corday. ABC does not sign a contract with itself for GH, thus there’s nothing to renew.
I just wish they would stop preempting the show for silly reasons. It’s a good thing this “Natashapalooza” episode yesterday, because they are probably going to interrupt Friday’s GH to tell you that an old man died somewhere across the pond. Bet your soul on it….
Satan…For a great many people that “old man” meant something special to them. Please a little more respect.
Thanks for the explanation on GH renewal. But ABC gives very little assurance to its over 2.5M viewers of how long GH will be on the canvas. Since they own the show, cancellation will be swift and we may be blindsided like we have with other daytime shows.
If they cancel, they’ll give ample time to end a show that’s almost 60 years old. They gave notice to AMC, OLTL, Port Charles, etc.
ABC has stated in the past that they do not officially renew GH the way CBS & NBC renew their soaps. ABC 100% owns GH, unlike CBS & NBC. Thus they don’t have to renew it the way the other soaps get renewed. It’s sort of like how ABC doesn’t renew Good Morning America.
GH runs its fiscal year autumn to autumn and if the show’s budgeted for the next year, then it’s “renewed”.
Personally I do not like her politics but I think she is a wonderful actress and good luck to her ! I just got the word today I have breast cancer so it really puts things in perspective so I pray that everybody just cuts the crap and quits the hate against each other ! Until it hits you we all just attack each other what a bunch of crap ! We are all gods children no matter what color our skin is! Please leave politics out the door
Kay…I’m sure this is a tough time for you. Hoping the best for you. Agree, hate does not belong in our lives. It just brings us all down.
I wish you the best with your battle. As for politics – we are permanently past the leaving it at the door. The internet and social media have forever changed that.
My heart goes out to you, Kay. I can only imagine what you’re feeling now. All the cliches about keeping a positive attitude may be true but are often hard to swallow. Please keep us posted..maybe dishing about the soaps can at least brighten your days (it does mine). Praying for you.
Kay, Iam sure we have traded comments from time to time, and this is a hard reply to make. I just want to remind you of Alexis and her thing about being a fighter and something else I found helpful during my two bouts with breast cancer, keep your sense of humor. Believe me it helps and being a little crazy doesn’t hurt either. From what I’ve read Nancy Lee is having to support her fiancie who is suffering from cancer. Kay, many prayers and best wishes to you. They have come so much further with medical science than years ago when I went through it. You hang in there and keep up with the soaps, I swear they got me through just watching others and their problems.Keep us posted. We are right here with you.
Violet, that was a beautifully written and thoughtful response.
Yes, Alexis is a fighter we can all emulate.
Kay, all the best to you! I have an aunt, cousin and good friend that all beat breast cancer, and I know you will too. They beat theirs many years ago, and the advances made in cancer treatments have come so far since then, so I will keep you in my thoughts for a speedy recovery.
Kudos to everyone involved for a wonderful look into Alexis’s life, past, present and looking forward. Nancy Lee was the consumate star and outdid herself. She never disappoints. I also felt that Diane, her best friend should have been there.
Oh Violet, call me Scrooge, but I didn’t enjoy the show at all. I’ve had too much experience in dreading the passing of hours before something terrible happens. Nancy’s performance is always excellent, that’s not the problem. The only thing that I looked forward to was seeing Diane, and that didn’t happen. Just not my day, I guess.
Soaphound
Funny you saying Scrooge. I did not enjoy nor totally watch the Christmas thing with Finn as Scrooge, or the Women election thing. These things I usually can’t stand, but for some particular reason, maybe just Nancy Lee’s gripping performance held my interest, but kept waiting for Diane to show up. I guess I’d never realized, she doesn’t have any other women friends does she? Of course Julian was missing as well as her other two baby daddys, Rick and Sonny, and her last paramour, Neal. Sorry, you didn’t enjoy the episode.
Nancy, beautifully done. We had always heard snippets of your past life over the years, but seeing it.acted out so heartfelt was another story. This was the first time I was brought to tears on GH and that is saying something.
Rose
This is wierd, but what finally made me cry was when her daughter came walking down the stairs in her cap and gown.
Violet Lemm…Yes! To see the support of her daughters and vice versa (even though there are times when any one of them can frustrate me). And after everything to see the results of how much they care for each other…tears.
Most bizarre moment of yesterday’s episode…
This is the moment they choose to tell us that Nick & Ava took over Julian’s bar??
That was peculiar as they showed it being shut down after Julian’s death. At the very least, they should give it to Felicia, since Julian blew up her bar.
What I think is bizarre is the other new restaurant they were going to a few weeks ago, now Ava & Nick’s joint, not to mention Curtis’s new Nightclub AND the Italian Restaurant today where Petey so quickly found the very willing waiter to poisen Finn’s coffee. Who knew they would be playing Russian Roulette of sorts with the damn coffee cups. I have read a spoiler that I think is true, but do not want to spoil it for anyone, but we know it won’t be Finn, one of your favorites, ha,ha.
I just have to say when the Sr. Harrison walked in I thought it was Sonny, am I crazy or what?
Now that Sonny’s going gray, they do resemble each other a little.
We all know Mike got around in his younger days. Maybe Courtney wasn’t the only kid he had with somebody other than Sonny’s mom, Adela.
Nah…. writing Finn & Chase into the Corinthos family… that’s probably not something a Devil should put out into the universe. Because it’s exactly the type of thing Frank Valentini would do.
Not sure if today’s restaurant is permanent set, as it’s a one table room. When Heinrich was giving the waiter the vile in the alley, they flashed the sign with the restaurant name “Beradino’s” a nice homage to John Beradino who played Steve Hardy.
I like the new Port Charles Grill set as it’s nice to have a break from everyone eating at the Metro Court. Curtis’ club set seems a bit small. Sad that the Floating Rob set is gone (the rear entry was a problem like the Q foyer before remodel).
And the lazy Susan scene was a nice throwback to Heather’s attempted LSD poisoning of Diana Taylor. Little PJ (Steven Lars) had the last laugh on that one.
I am so glad you thought that too ! I also had that “what?” moment.
Beside a great performance by Nancy, I wonder where the phrase “I’m a Fighter, and an Idealist, and an Advocate” came from. That’s worth a gold star!!!
rose
I know a lot of people don’t agree with her ideas and political views, but I feel that not only Alexis Davis, but that is exactly what Nancy Lee Grahn stands for.
That was some great writing,Rose. I also love how Ryan incorporated the fighter, advocate and idealist into his description of her three daughters. Dr. Collins is a brilliant psychiatrist!
Nancy has always been my favorite actress on the show…because even when she showed apparent weakness, her strength was never not there. That’s how she’s always played her and the realness of that resonates with me.
Outstanding performance by Nancy, she is truly a fantastic actress!, hope she never leaves GH! My favorite show for 30 plus years! Love everyone on the show, they are so real they seem like family!
Nancy Lee Grahn was spectacular (as always). But the standout of this episode was the writing and the direction. This is a slam dunk for an Emmy in both categories. One of the best I have ever seen, and I have been watching soaps since 1965.
The writers did an amazing job in the short paragraphs of monologue they could squeeze into one episode to really give a message of strength of resiliency to others who have suffered or witnessed trauma and have translated that into not being permitted to live a happy adult life. It gave a glimpse of taking the trauma, breaking it down, and giving yourself permission to heal. I felt it deeply. Thank you! Wonderful acting as well. Outstanding.
Sure think that Nancy has a chance to win best actress and Genie best supporting actress at the Emmys this year
This episode was one of the very best ever. My God. What a performance by Nancy Lee Grahn. I loved her first on Santa Barbara & oh I love Alexis.
I was glad to see the ongoing story of Alexis at Pentonville and her new life in prison. Her biggest obstacle was another prisoner today, marking her territory and apparently threatening Alexis. As smart as she is I don’t know if she can physically ward off or protect herself against this massive woman.
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
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!
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.
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.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
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.
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.
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
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Vivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
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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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