General Hospital
GH’s Jon Lindstrom Talks on Michele Val Jean’s New Daytime Drama, ‘The Gates’: “It’s Just Huge That This is Going Forward at This Time.”
On Tuesday night, General Hospital’s Jon Lindstrom (Kevin Collins) visited the Michael Fairman Channel for an hour-plus chat on his enduring soap opera career, his first crime thriller novel Hollywood Hustle, and more.
When the discussion turned to his dear friend and former GH writer, Michele Val Jean, and the news of the soap opera she has created The Gates being announced, Lindstrom revealed what he knew of the new production venture that would make The Gates the first new soap opera in 25 years!
First, Jon gave Michele props, “Talk about the geniuses. She is one. I could not be more thrilled for her. I’ve known about this show for a while. She read my book early on. You know, we as writers try to help each other, really. I think they’re the most helpful of all the creative fields. My friend Michelle wrote all the original Kevin and Ryan stuff (on GH). A lot of people probably don’t know that.”
Speaking on how the original Kevin and Ryan twin story came to life, Lindstrom added, “Michelle is such an intelligent writer. We collaborated a bit back then, in terms of talking about the relationship with Kevin and Ryan and what the theme should be and all that. But, she did the writing. She’s the one that really ran with it and made it what it still is today. That’s how much of an impact, I feel, that she had on that story.”
Lindstrom is beyond thrilled for Val Jean and The Gates and what this will do for the daytime industry and soap fans, expressing, “To see that it’s her that has created what will be the first new soap opera in 25 years is fantastic.” In addition, Jon assured The Gates is going to get past just being in development, “It will. It is. It’s green lit. It’s going.”
As previously announced, The Gates will be from CBS Studios/NAACP production venture in partnership with P&G Studios. At the epicenter of the story is a wealthy Black family living in an upscale gated community. Val Jean is one of the series executive producers as well its writer and showrunner. Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereine have also been named as EP’s.
Jon shared how important Michele has been to this genre and certainly even more so now with The Gates, “I consider Michele one of my best friends. One of my most important friends, certainly. She’s been a constant for a long, long time now. If you really love your friends, you want to see them do well. So this is huge. It’s huge for the medium. It’s huge for television. It’s huge for writers. It’s huge for the audience. It’s just huge that this is going forward at this time.”
Check out Jon’s full conversation from the Michael Fairman Channel below, and make sure to order your copy of his gripping first novel Hollywood Hustle.
Now let us know, excited to hear that ‘The Gates’ looks to be truly on its way to making it to your screens in the near future? What do you think of the enduring friendship of Jon and Michele, and their collaboration on the origin of the Kevin Collins/Ryan Chamberlain twins drama on GH? Share your thoughts int he comment section.
General Hospital
Adam Huss Makes Another Return to General Hospital as Nikolas Cassadine
Nikolas Cassadine will be back on your screens next week but now via Pentonville. That means, that actor Adam Huss is back for a visit for all-new episodes of General Hospital.
In story, Ava (Maura West) comes to visit her ex in the slammer. So, just what does Ava want now? She clearly has been working an agenda on Sonny (Maurice Benard). Is she working with Valentin (James Patrick Stuart)? What will she tell Nikiolas? stay tuned.
Meanwhile, once news of Huss’ return broke earlier on Friday via Soap Opera Digest, he also announced his return on his Instagram expressing, “For all those who’ve been asking, cat’s out of the bag;) Thank you to all my #Nikolas #GH fans for your unwavering support. I don’t take it for granted for a second! (Even when I can’t answer 😊) #generalhospital”
Huss took over the role of Nikolas back in January of 2023, after Marcus Coloma left the soap opera. Previous to that, Huss filed in for Coloma in September of 2021 and November of 2022. Fast-forward to January of 2024, Nikolas gave Ace to Laura and Kevin to raise, while he eventually turned himself into the police for kidnapping Esme and keeping her hostage while she was pregnant and Wyndemere.
The return of Huss comes on the heels of multiple reports that his on-screen son, Nicholas Chavez is not returning to the show as Spencer Cassadine, while in story Spencer is believed to have drowned int the Seine River after falling off a boat in France, when drugged by Esme.
So, looking forward to seeing Adam Huss back as Nikolas? Do you think GH will eventually have him more full-time? Comment below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny and Jason Trade Threats on Each Other
The love affair that once was mobster Sonny (Maurice Benard) and hit man Jason (Steve Burton), and having each others back, is now apparently over! On the Thursday April 25th episode of General Hospital, an increasingly paranoid Sonny is confronted by Jason.
Jason wants to talk to Sonny about a “family matter”, but Sonny says they aren’t family now because he’s working with the Feds. Sonny goes on to say how he cannot trust Carly (Laura Wright) or Jason and he knows about Jason buying back the Metro Court for Carly from Nina (Cynthia Watros).
When the conversation turns to Josslyn (Eden McCoy) and Dex (Evan Hofer), Jason informs Sonny that Kristina (Kate Mansi) knows Sonny ordered a hit. Jason is worried about Dex’s safety. He tells Sonny that if he does something to Dex, Kristina will figure out that he is responsible.
Sonny goes on to say how much he loves his kids and how he will protect them. He then tears into Jason for abandoning his sons, Danny and Jake, for two years and how he has no right to stand there to tell him what to do.
Jason warns Sonny again to leave Dex alone or he’ll personally stop him. Sonny snaps at Jason, countering, “You’ll die trying!” And at that point, Jason walks out and Sonny slams the door behind him.
What do you think about this split in the longstanding relationship of Jason and Sonny? Do you like Jason and Sonny at odds? Will Kristina be the person to ultimately figure out what is happening to Sonny, or it might it be Nina, who knows Ava (Maura West) is up to no good? Share your thoughts in the comment section, but first watch this clip from part of the Sonny/Jason scenes below.
Breaking News
REPORT: Nicholas Chavez Not Returning to General Hospital
For those who were holding out hope that Daytime Emmy winner and fan favorite, Nicholas Chavez would be returning to General Hospital after filming his leading role in Ryan Murphy’s Monsters anthology, it looks like those hopes have been dashed.
According to a report from TV Line, although unconfirmed from General Hospital or a representative for Chavez, the actor will not reprise his role as Spencer Cassadine on the long-running ABC soap opera and continue the love story of Sprina opposite Tabyana Ali (Trina, GH).
Chavez was cast as Lyle Menendez over the the summer of 2023 for the second season of Murphy’s limited Monsters series on Netflix. In the upcoming season, the series will focus on the the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, the two well-to-do Beverly Hills brothers accused of murdering their parents in 1989.
After word from Chavez casting was revealed, GH fans were concerned over the fate of the Sprina story, a spokesperson for GH shared, “We support Nicholas’ endeavors and look forward to having him return to General Hospital once this project is wrapped.”
In story, the series “killed off” Spencer when he went overboard with Esme to the steely waters below after being injected with a drug, thanks to Esme and falling into the Seine River in France. However, his body was never recovered, and believed to have drowned or washed away. Thus, leaving an opening for Spencer to return in the form of Chavez or be recast down the line.
TV Line shared that ‘multiple sources’ are confirming that Chavez is not returning to the ABC soap opera, which is what many had suspected might be the case once he left for this major starring role in a Ryan Murphy project. Chavez has been relatively quiet on social media for months.
The Michael Fairman Channel spoke with Nicholas Chavez for a virtual interview when he first joined the show in 2021, and spoke to him right after when he won the Daytime Emmy in 2022 – you can see those below.
No word yet on when Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story will debut on Netflix, but it is assumed later this year.
So, what do you think about the news of Nicholas Chavez not returning to his role as Spencer Cassadine on General Hospital? Comment below.
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