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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Laura Learns She Has ‘Family Ties’, Julian’s on the Brink, Trina Gets to the Truth

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

On Thursday’s episode of General Hospital, two characters were floored at some major revelations; while another continues to run for his life.

First, Laura (Genie Francis), who is snooping around the long-term care facility, is in Florence’s room, when she hears someone beginning to come in.  She hightails it to the bathroom, only to find out and overhear Martin (Michael E. Knight) speaking to his mother, Florence!  When he goes to get her some water, Laura has no choice but to pop out of the bathroom, just as Curtis (Donnell Turner) bursts through the door to tell Martin to keep quiet about everything from this point out.

After Curtis leaves to head back to Port Charles to help Jordan (Briana Nicole Henry), it leaves Laura and Martin to have a heart-to-heart. Martin says how much Florence misses his father, which prompts Laura to tell him that she is his half-sister,  Gordon Gray is her father.   He goes on about how Gordon had a wandering eye, which Laura sadly says she is a by-product of.  She asks Martin why Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober) is paying for Florence’s care.  Enter Cyrus, who reveals that Florence is his mother, too! This shocker leaves Laura stunned that the man who is out to destroy Port Charles is her other half-brother.

 

Meanwhile, Julian (William deVry) who previously was visited by the ghosts of Duke Lavery (Ian Buchanan), Connie Falconeri from Bensonhurst (Megan Ward), and the love of his life, Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) … while in a delusional state … is somehow still alive at the bus station.  He is bleeding out from his gunshot wound.  When a stranger comes to the bus station, Julian asks what time it is, and finds out he missed his bus to Montreal.  Now, he offers the stranger 100 bucks for his ticket, so he can get on the next bus.  Meanwhile, Cyrus’ henchman is on the scene ready to silence Julian, but Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Jason (Steve Burton) arrive leaving Jason to take out the gunman and Sonny to go after Julian who got away,   Eventually, Julian and Sonny come face to face, but Julian looks to be on his last leg.

Courtesy/ABC

Mac (John J. York) has dragged a very much alive Taggert to the PCPD and demands to know who helped him fake his own death.  Taggert is now played for several episodes by Asante Jones subbing for Réal Andrews.  Portia (Brook Kerr) and Trina (Sydney Mikayla) show up at the PCPD to warn Jordan about Cyrus’ latest ploy.  However, when they arrive they are shocked to see a very much alive Taggert.

An emotional Trina demands an explanation from her father … why he stood by and watched his family grieve for him, without telling her the truth and why he had to remain hidden.  Taggert pleads with her to understand it was for her own safety.  She does not want to hear it and leaves the station with Portia.  In these scenes we must give praise to Sydney Mikayla who delivered a daughter’s hurt and betrayal when she had to play it against Jones, not Andrews, whom she had previously developed an on-screen chemistry with as father/daughter.

Courtesy/ABC

So, do you like that GH tied Cyrus, Martin and Laura together? How much more suffering can they put Julian through?  What did you think of Sydney Mikayla’s performance? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

 

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Amazing! GH is crushing it right now. What a month! Though I really dislike Cyrus, it’s interesting to think about Laura being tied to a drug kingpin. I also like her being connecting to Martin…IF only he would lose that damn accent. Please find a way to make that go away. It’s just a really bad accent and inconsistent to boot. Overall, a terrific episode!

Oh I like how he has an accent. 🙂 It sounds more like old-timey Savannah to me instead of Shreveport though. If his character 86’d the accent, I would be disappointed. Take care. 🙂

I totally agree with the accent, it is annoying and he is such a great actor.

Cyrus is a bore…not the actor but the character…when is Julian gone for good…and when does Nelle return married to Morgon Corinthos

It’s been going on for years WDV must have offended someone because for years he has been treated awful

Julian’s goodbye tour is going on as long as Cher’s.

Ian Buchanan is a like fine wine – getting better with age.

Connie (and that dress) are a good sight in small doses.

Would’ve been nice to see Carlos and Olivia Jerome. These writers could probably do better by Tonja Walker than Jelly did.

Other than the unnecessary accent, Martin is now somewhat relevant. Will his now being Charlotte’s great uncle change his dynamic with Valentin?

Genie never disappoints. Sydney is a star in the making. Any day John York is on is a good one. Hope Real Andrews is in the mend.

I’m expecting Julian in Hell really soon now. But somebody has to explain how he made it from a bus station in Secaucus New Jersey to that old foot bridge north of Port Charles, within seconds while bleeding out….

Meanwhile Laura seems to be in a Hell all of her own, now that she knows she’s related to Cyrus the Virus. On the other horn, she and Martin might actually be able to have some sort of sibling relationship. Seems like they’re making the effort to make Martin more of a real person, as opposed to the cartoonish lawyer with the Colonel Sanders fetish that he’s been up until now.

Ridiculous choice to have Taggert revealed as alive to his daughter while the temp hire is playing him. They should have saved that scene for when the Real deal was back on the set.

Satan
What got me was Diane’s speedy arrival at Jason’s side. I’ve gone from N.Y to N.J and could not believe her explanation. Yes, that did look like the P.C bridge and now both Sonny and Julias are in the drink! I also agree about them using Taggert’s stand-in for those scenes.

Wow! A true soap episode. Laura, Cyrus and Martin are all related! I never saw this coming. Especially Laura and Cyrus. It’s great to have Genie Francis in a major storyline. She’s an amazing actress.

Priscilla
I agree with you. Can not see that trio sitting around the Christmas tree!
Don’t tell anyone but if he wasn’t the terrible man he is, I could almost feel sorry for Cyrus. Good actor that he is, he can really turn on the emotions.

I agree. As I noted down below, the talent simultaneously coming from all three actors was off the charts. And I’m so happy to see Michael E Knight in a front burner storyline. He seems to be finding his sea legs as he fleshes out the character of Martin Grey. The other day I loved how he flashed Valentin (played by his long time friend) a grin when he was called back to the table. Love his natural brotherly chemistry with Laura which was almost instantaneous. Finally, I loved his interaction with his brother Cyrus. The two actors looked close into each others’ eyes and one almost could feel the family history permeating from them.

Harry
You said it all. I really love these two actors,and wish they were playing good guy parts, though it wouldn’t be as exciting, right? We know Cyrus can not come to a good end, and Martin while using the law for good and evil, who knows about him. Happy Holidays to you Harry, stay well.

Julian’s exit has been the longest, most dragged out exit story ever!! Get it over with already!! As the only former mobster who actually changed his ways, it is disgusting, as always…to watch murderers Sonny and Jason claim a higher moral ground. But that is par for the course on GH.

Did they REALLY bring Steve Burton back 3 years ago to have uncomfortable chats with Maurice Benard???

Oh My Lands! I was so blown away by Sydney Mikayla’s performance! She really carried all those scenes.
Laura popping out of the bathroom left me scratching my head, wondering how she’ll get out of the hospital without consequences for herself, Curtis or Kevin. After all, these “professionals” lied to get her into the facility. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see how her new “family” will impact her quest to take down Cyrus and how she’ll deal with half-brother Martin once Cyrus is removed from the scene.
And, I must say that I enjoyed Julian’s fleeing from Sonny scenes. The “conversation” with Duke, Connie and Alexis was so well crafted. I haven’t seen today’s episode yet, but I did have to laugh when they were to be in NJ and Julian walked onto the same footpath bridge that’s been used a million times when characters are in Port Charles. Boy, he moved fast! LOL!

This is great story. Jeff Kober is a good villan and this will give Michael Knight more air time. GH is must see again.

I know this article is about Thursday’s episode, but omg Friday’s episode was awesome!
I love the scenes between Michael Knight and Jeff Kober. These two actors bring out the best talent in each other. Such a great idea for the writers to make them brothers.
I had been bored with the “robotic” Cyrus Renault but not anymore. His character is far from robotic when he’s sharing a scene with Michael Knight.
I LOVE the way Michael Knight plays Martin when standing up to Cyrus; Completely unafraid of Cyrus.
Great job to both of them and to the lovely Miss Genie Francis.
You can tell the three of them love their jobs.

I could not agree more! That hospital room was positively crackling with talent, charisma and energy. The dynamics between the three characters was off the charts. It was a brilliantly written and acted scene. “ Am I that predictable?” Laura asks. “No, I’m that good,”retorts Cyrus. Oh snap!

Harty, I like the few times Martin has looked Cyrus dead in the face and says “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” Martin isn’t afraid of ole’ Cy and I love it. Cyrus is almost subservient to Martin. He does not challenge Martin like he challenges everyone else in Port Charles. Martin ain’t putting up with Cyrus’ nonsense and Cyrus knows it. 🙂

Cyrus still recognizes Martin as his big brother, so I think he respects him for that.

Carrie, yes! I love the dynamics which exist between Martin and Cyrus. The close eye contact and the flickering as of familiarity in their expressions shows so much without telling too much.

Meant Harry, not Harty. Sorry.

Cyrus: “imagine my delight when i discovered i share DNA with such an esteemable woman.” Laura: “don’t expect me to have the same delight, i don’t give a damn about our shared DNA…” Martin: ( MY delight ) that at last, Martin has a breakthrough !!! I LOVE his friendship w/Valentin. these two men are far and away , more interesting in all the other male bonds. Wow… watching @Cyrus: facial EXPRESS’ion (s) as i’ve said from the time he first aired. keep up. (Roger Howarth could get acting lesson) it’s not lost on me, that Cyrus as the oldest child… had no choice in knowing all the family history mayhem and struggled. bravo to Jeff Kober for igniting a good actor that no matter the material is his own show as well. this is going to get even slicker as the bond of siblings take. fly any one

Oh, I guess I misunderstood the men’s relationship. I thought Martin was the elder brother.

Hi Violet! I just know that the brilliant Jeff Kober (whom I know from China Beach and Sons of Anarchy) is about 4 or 5 years older than Michael E Knight so I just assumed he was the big brother. I hope you and your family are doing well and staying safe. Good riddance to Julian and 2020!

PS. Kidding about Julian, love William deVry. The character was just written into a corner with no exit strategy.

Harry
Happy Holidays to you and yours too. I did not watch China Beach but recently saw a couple of NCIS L.A and he was being held as a long time prisoner. Very good role for him and great acting chops as usual.

Patrick, I love how you recite the dialogue to reinforce your point. Much appreciated. Yes, you’re right. Jeff Corbin could give many of the actors lessons on how to emote without screaming, smashing the crystal, and rubbing one’s temples in order to demonstrate emotional angst.

I need to praise Genie’s acting skills repeatedly—-her talent is as vast as an ocean. The various expressions/emotions crossing her beautiful face tell a million stories. I was so engrossed as she studied her nemesis’ body-language with bated breath while he interacted with Martin.
I must say that I am beginning ( belying my preconception of both the actor and character) to truly appreciate Kober. Much like Genie, he has the gift of capturing an audience by the diverse expressions on his face. I saw that devilish facade soften as his eyes turned to his mother!! So impressed, I am. The man has a heart?!

Sorry, but I think this educated girl could somehow understand the love her father had for her to protect her in this way, and just be thankful that he’s alive.

I was speaking of Trina above. Good actor. She’s got a mouth on her that’s for sure and she doesn’t mind who she uses it on, be it Cyrus, Curtis, Jordan, etc.

It definitely puts a totally new spin on Laura’s birth dad when everyone heard that she killed her Surrogate dad figure back in the 2000’s Rick Webber and faced a total catatonic mental breakdown in 2005. Fans of Laura are taking a long puzzled reaction to her half blood relationship to both Cyrus & Martin. Shock for Trina regarding her dad’s near death revival, btw Great acting Trina! Let’s hope that both Sonny & Julian survive their fall? Great acting GH Cast & Crew. Forever Loyal Devoted Avid fans from Modesto CA.
Patricia Silva & son Mark L.D. Brown.

I want sonny 2livej

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jacinda Executes Her Plan to Drug Willow, Jason Tells Tracy He’s Out of the Mob, Sonny Quits Too!

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On the Thursday, August 6 episode of General Hospital, Sonny (Maurice Benard) seemed to get a clue from Jason and also decided to leave the mob. Speaking of Jason (Steve Burton), he went to tell Tracy (Jane Elliot) that he quit working for Sonny, which Tracy says would be music to Monica and Alan’s ear.

Michael (Rory Gibson) gets caught in Serena (Kelly Kruger) and Lucy’s (Lynn Herring) scheme, and Jacinda (Paige Herschell) slips a blue pill into Willow’s (Katelyn MacMullen) iced coffee as payback for the restraining order she filed against her. All this, as the closing arguments from Molly (Kristen Vaganos) and Martin (Michael E. Knight) are delivered before the jury in the Isaiah (Sawandi Wilson) vs. Curtis (Donnell Turner) court case.

Let’s break this all down: In the most heartfelt of scenes, Jason shows up at the Qs to see Tracy. He explains he told Sonny he can’t work for him anymore and quit. He tells Tracy he has to be a better role model for his son, Danny.

Courtesy/ABC

GETTING OUT OF THE MOB IS EMOTIONAL

Jason gets teary-eyed. Tracy says what Jason wants for Danny is all that his parents, the late Alan and Monica Quartermaine would have wanted for him. A gutted Jason feels so badly for his previous behavior towards his parents and wishes he could apologize for all that he put them through. Tracy says if they were here now, they would be happy that he had come to this decision for himself.

At Sonny’s, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) gets an earful from his father, who informs him that Jason had decided he wanted out of the business for Danny’s sake. Suddenly, Dante is worried for Sonny’s safety. However, Sonny says he shouldn’t be. Sonny claims he’s getting out of the mob too and plans to focus on business opportunities that opened up after Sidwell’s arrest. (This makes no sense, because Sidwell was involved in shady dealings too!) Next, the two men hug it out as Sonny explains he won’t be a problem for his son with the PCPD anymore.

At Nina’s (Cynthia Watros), Willow wants her mother to stop confiding in Jack Brennan about her children. Nina explained to her that her quest to reopen the investigation into Michael as a suspect in Drew’s shooting, could implicate Jack, since he had gotten rid of the traffic cam footage of Willow, the night she shot Drew. Nina is mortified when she also learned Willow has a restraining order against Jacinda.

JACINDA WANTS PAYBACK AIMED AT WILLOW

Jacinda asked Ezra (Daniel Cosgrove) to return the blue pills she’d left at his place a few months back, claiming she needed to take the edge off after Willow served her with a restraining order. She explains Willow wants her nowhere near Amelia and Wiley. Ezra is concerned for his escort/friend.

Later, Jacinda arrives at Nina’s where she runs into Willow. When Willow and Nina leave the room, it leaves Jacinda to spot the iced coffee lattes marked for Willow and Nina.  Next, she slips one of the blue tablets into the cup marked “Willow.”

Elsewhere, at the Metro Court Pool, Serena Baldwin lays on Michael’s pool chaise lounge chair. When he gets out of the water, he goes over to his chair only to have Serena laying on it. She gets a bit flirty, but explains she is concerned for her mother and Deception. Michael explains he will vote fairly with his shares given to him by Maxie. (You can check out the scenes entitled “Ambushing Michael” below).

Now weigh-in: Do you think Sonny is truly going to get out of the mob? And take up some of Sidwell’s, of all people’s business opportunities? Did you enjoy the touching scene between Jason and Tracy? Do you think Nina will wind up drinking the coffee that is laced with the drug Jacinda put in it instead of Willow?

Do you think Willow is going to try to paint Michael as a bad father and use drugs against him as well? Do you see a spark yet between Serena and Michael, or no? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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Days Of Our Lives

Jean Lodge, British Actress and Mother of ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘General Hospital’s’ Charles Shaughnessy, Producer/Director David Shaughnessy, Dies at 99

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Our hearts and condolences go out today to Charles Shaughnessy (ex-Shane Donovan, Days of Our Lives and Victor Cassadine, General Hospital, and Maxwell Sheffield, The Nanny) and his brother, David Shaughnessy, one time executive producer and director at The Young and as well as The Bold and the Beautiful, on the loss of their beloved mother, Jean Lodge.

Lodge was a British actress who appeared with Alan Ladd in the 1954 medieval adventure film The Black Knight. She died at age 99 on August 5 just one day after she celebrated her birthday. News of her passing came from her granddaughter, Amy Shaughnessy who took to Facebook with a tribute to her beloved grandmother.

Throughout her motion picture career, Lodge was featured in 1949’s Dick Barton Strikes Back and Dr. Morelle: The Case of the Missing Heiress. Later credits included: Brandy for the Parson (1952), White Corridors (1951), Final Appointment (1954), Accidental Death (1963), The Eyes of Annie Jones (1963) and Invasion (1966).

Jean Lodge

WATFORD/Mirrorpix via Almay

THE SHAUGHNESSY BROTHERS CARRY ON THE FAMILY LEGACY

Talent runs in the Shaughnessy family as Lodge’s late husband, Alfred Shaughnessy, had developed and served as head writer and producer on the acclaimed 1971-75  UK series, Upstairs, Downstairs.

As daytime fans know, Charles Shaughnessy was one-half of the Days of Our Lives super couple of Shane and Kimberley (Patsy Pease) and has appeared on the soap opera on and off for decades starting in 1984 up until his more recent appearance in 2025 at John Black’s memorial. In addition, Shaughnessy was the last actor to play Victor Cassadine on General Hospital, a role he played from 2021-2023.

David Shaughnessy has continued his career behind the scenes mainly as a daytime soap opera director with a list of credits from Santa Barbara to Y&R, B&B and since 2019, Days of Our Lives.

HEARTFELT REMEMBRANCES

When Amy Shaughnessy took to Facebook to announce her grandmother’s death, she expressed,  “Jean Margaret Shaughnessy (neé Lodge) left us today, one day after her 99th birthday. She passed, as she would say, “quite quietly” and peacefully in her sleep. My grandmother was a beautiful, talented, complicated, passionate, emotional, energetic woman who was always on the move and full of life.”

She continued, “The perfect hostess Jean enjoyed parties, friends, socializing, the theatre, feeding the ducks, museums, gardening, music, culture, long walks in nature, animals, painting (she was amazing!), cooking, art, traveling… the list goes on. She loved her two sons, Charles and David, her daughters-in-law, Susie and Annie, and her five granddaughters, Amy, Jenny, Katie, Maddy, and Josie. She was blessed with two great-grandsons, Julian and Noa.”

“An ever-present matriarch, her silliness, stubbornness, joyfulness, and her love for storytelling will continue on through her family. Us. Forever. We will miss her. We will carry her with us always. We love her all the world and then some.”

Share your thoughts and condolences to Charles, David and Amy and the rest of the extended Shaughnessy family on the passing of Jean Lodge via the comment section.

 

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A post shared by Amy Jean Shaughnessy (@amyjean_1930)

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General Hospital

Chris McKenna Reportedly Out as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jack Brennan

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Chris McKenna

As ABC’s General Hospital continues to make casting additions in front of the camera; a new report indicates that Chris McKenna is the next contract player to be written out of the show as his storyline as Port Charles WSB bureau chief, Jack Brennan, is coming to end this fall.

According to sources close to the situation, who informed Soap Opera Network, McKenna will exit the long-running soap opera when Jack is killed-off the canvas. The outlet shares, Brennan’s death will come about as the soap, “leans heavily into storylines surrounding the World Security Bureau (WSB).”

McKenna, who previously appeared on the soaps when he was 12 as a young Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live from 1990-1993, then as an adult as Mark Harding on The Young and the Restless from 2014-2015, and next on The Bold and the Beautiful in the short term role of Dr. Hayden,  began his run as GH’s Brennan back in February of 2025, replacing Charles Mesure in the role.

Chris McKenna

Photo: ABC

JACK’S ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE

In fact, McKenna won the part over Daniel Goddard and Daniel Cosgrove, who eventually were cast in other roles on General Hospital, that of Henry Dalton and Ezra Boyle, respectively. Chris informed his fans via X,  back in August of 2025, that he was put on contract at the daytime drama and thanked them for helping make it happen.

Chris told Michael Fairman TV how it was to step into the role previously played by Charles Mesure, “I knew the challenge it was going to be and I had a like 0nly five days to get my head around it, so I was ready for it. Sure, it was challenging, but I was up for it. I was a recast before on The Young and the Restless.”

On-screen, Jack became romantically involved with Carly Spencer (Laura Wright), but that went bust when Carly learned Jack was not up front with her and had secretly enlisted her daughter, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) to join the WSB.  Over months, Carly plotted to get revenge on Jack, and suddenly, Valentin Casssadine (James Patrick Stuart), Jack’s mortal enemy, came into the picture and he had fallen for Carly and she for him.

Now, Jack has started up a relationship with Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) and has found himself in situations stooping to lows to help Nina and her criminal daughter, Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) out of jams, especially where Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) is concerned.

Erika Slezak, Chris McKenna

Photo: ABC

REUNITING WITH ERIKA SLEZAK

Last fall, Chris got a thrill of a lifetime when his OG on-screen mother from One Life to Live, the iconic Erika Slezak (ex-Viki) took on a guest role on General Hospital as Ronnie Bard, the secret sister of Monica Quartermaine (the late Leslie Charleson). While the two did not have a storyline together, Chris did share some tender moments reconnecting with Erika on the set,

McKenna has a laundry list of primetime credits including: State of Affairs, Good Trouble, Lucifer and Castle, where in an ironic twist he appeared alongside another Joey Buchanan none other than Nathan Fillion.

So, how do you feel if the report holds true and GH is killing off Brennan and Chris McKenna would exit the show? How do you think Brennan will die on GH? Will he be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and someone will take him out? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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