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GH’s Maurice Benard and Chris McKenna Talk Charles Mesure’s Exit and the Recasting of Jack Brennan

By Michael Fairman

Published

9 months ago

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Photos: ABC

Chris McKenna (Jack Brennan) revealed for the first time publicly that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder on a memorable episode of his castmate, Maurice Benard’s (Sonny Corinthos) mental health You Tube series, State of Mind that dropped on Sunday, December 21st.

During their sit-down conversation and as previously reported, McKenna shared that he had his first major depression as a teenager. However, when COVID hit, he had a major psychotic episode which required hospitalization, and that’s when Chris explained he was properly diagnosed, which in turn got him on the medication lithium, where he added, “That’s where I am today.”

In addition, Maurice discussed with Chris the behind the scenes story of how McKenna landed the role of Jack Brennan, after the first Brennan, Charles Mesure, made the decision to exit the series. Mesure’s last airdate as Brennan was on January 30 of this year. McKenna stepped in beginning on the February 4 episode of the ABC daytime drama series.

Photo: ABC

Previously, a GH rep told Soap Opera Digest, on the casting switch: “Charles Mesure opted to exit the role of Brennan. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors. General Hospital looks forward to continuing Brennan’s exciting storyline with Chris McKenna in the role.” Daytime fans knew of McKenna’s work best from his roles as a teenaged Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live (1990-1993) and later as Mark Harding on The Young and the Restless (2014-2015).

HOW CHRIS BECAME JACK BRENNAN

Now, Maurice shared his vantage point on what went down: “Let me first say, there was another actor in the role (referring to Mesure) that Chris came in for, and I’ll just say this, he was good, but if you don’t want to be there, get out, and that’s kind of the whole situation. He got out, and I am not saying this is with him, but sometimes when you get out, somebody comes in and the audience loves them and then you’re really in trouble, because a lot of times, the audience hates the next person.” Chris added, “Especially the way I came in which was just after the first kiss (between Carly and Brennan).” Benard explained, “And he was liked, but you came in and now they automatically love you.” Next, Benard asked McKenna, how he landed the part of Brennan.

“I did Y&R 10 years ago. I was on there for a year and a half recurring. So, that was the other time I had been on daytime. It was One Life to Live and then The Young and the Restless And now, 10 years later, this came along,” recounts McKenna. “I had told this story once before, but I had gotten calls from GH over the years, over the past decade, each time asking me, ‘Would you be interested in returning to daytime? And if so, would you like to read with Laura Wright?’ Each time I said, ‘I’d love to, and I’d love to read with Laura Wright.’ They said, ‘OK. Hold on. Hang tight, we’ll call you back.’ No call. Okay, fine. Couple years go by it’s, ‘Hey, GH just called. They want to know would you be interested in returning to daytime, and would you want to read with Laura Wright?’ I said, ‘Yes, sure.’ Then, that doesn’t happen.

So, I thought Frank Valentini (executive producer, GH) who I knew from One Life to Live back in the day just doesn’t want to see me. I’m thinking, ‘He probably thinks I’m still 14 and can’t picture it.’  Then, they called me again. This is just a year ago, and said, ‘Would you like to come back to daytime and read with Laura Wright?’ So, I said, ‘Yes, I would,’ but I said, ‘this isn’t going to happen’ to my manager. I said, ‘Why do they keep calling me? They’re not going to do it or they would have already.’

FINALLY AUDITIONING WITH LAURA WRIGHT

“Now, it’s January of this year, and me and wife just had a baby (their son, Spencer), and I’m nesting, I’ve gained weight. I’m not ready to go because I’m in baby-mode. I get a call and the city isn’t opened up yet after New Year’s. And they go, ‘Do you want to come in to GH and read with Laura Wright?’ I tell my manager, ‘Why do they bother me? They’re not going let me come read.’ He’s like, ‘I know you’re right. I won’t even bother you with it.’  The next time they call, he calls me back like two hours later and goes, “Something must have happened. They really want you there on Tuesday to read with Laura Wright in front of Frank and a bunch of people!”

Chris continues, “So after doubting it would happen, they really send me a script and I thought, ‘Well I know what to do with this.’ Then, when it was time for the audition there was a room full of guys who look like me, middle-aged and some good actors. Laura was at the end of the hallway, She saw me and gave me a hug in front of everyone one else which I am sure did not sit well with them, But I knew Laura from when she was on Loving. I hadn’t seen her in 32 years. We used to play in the same Make-A-Wish softball game where she was the pitcher and I was the catcher. She made me so nervous back then.”

Photo: ABC

“If you had told me when I was 14, that later in my life I would be doing love scenes with Laura Wright, I would’ve been like that’s all I have to do in life, “expressed McKenna. “Then, I went in to read and some of the writers knew me from One Life to Live, which I didn’t know were going to be there. I said, ‘Don’t think of me as this gangly 14-year-old kid now.”‘ I did the scene and it went very well.  Laura turned to MK Weir (producer, GH) and Frank, and by the time I got home, there was talk about whether or not I was going do an accent or not, but they decided just, ‘you be you.'”

Being cast as WSB Port Charles bureau chief, Jack Brennan has meant the world to Chris. “I’m so happy on this set and so much happier now than I ever would’ve been at any other time. I turned down a contract on Y&R, and this couldn’t have been more perfect. It’s exactly what I want. Exactly the role I want and the people I’m working with, and it’s just been incredible.”

You can watch Chris in his very personal talk on mental illness and more with Maurice Benard below.

So, what do you think of the twisty road Chris had to landing an audition to read opposite Laura Wright on General Hospital? Glad that Chris has taken on the role of Brennan after Charles Mesure made the decision to step away from the part earlier in the year? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

Published

3 hours ago

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September 12, 2026

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Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

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!

 

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General Hospital

Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

Published

5 hours ago

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September 12, 2026

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Steve Burton

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.

Steve Burton

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.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?

Published

10 hours ago

on

September 12, 2026

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Jason and Britt

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.

Britt

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.

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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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