General Hospital
Maurice Benard Recalls How He Treated Chad Duell “Badly” After ‘General Hospital’ Replaced Drew Garrett as Michael Corinthos
On General Hospital, Drew Garrett played the role of Michael Corinthos from 2009-2010 and earned a Daytime Emmy nomination along the way for his performances. Drew was replaced by Chad Duell back in 2010. Chad stayed with the series till earlier this year in 2025. Now with rumors rebound, just who will be playing the role of Michael when the character returns from a burn clinic in Germany all healed up has been a question with much speculation.
On Sunday, Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) brought his former TV son, Drew Garrett onto his mental health and interview show State of Mind to discuss many topics including: Garrett’s skin condition which held him back for some time in his career. However, the conversation took a turn later in the episode when Benard once again revealed his initial behavior at learning Garrett was on his way out and Chad Duell was now coming on to GH play to play his son over 15 years ago.
First, Garrett told Benard his thoughts on his time playing his on-screen son in the quick-pace of shooting a daytime drama, “I think I thrived off the pressure and that energy especially because of you. I think in a lot of ways you were supportive and very helpful to my process. I just felt like we saw eye to eye. I felt like you believed in me with that same ‘come-from’ that I did. I always felt like you were kind of street. I always felt like you were kind of no b*s*, and to let the work speak for itself.”
Photo: ABC
Drew recounted a very special scene that connected the actors, “You remember that seven page scene? (The one where Michael and Sonny are sitting in Sonny’s office) which was about Michael wanting to do better and walk in Sonny’s footsteps. I think the throughline of the scene was, ‘You can do better, and you don’t have to be like me.’ Michael wanted to be like Sonny, but he was also dealing with the whole trauma of the head injury and everything that was going on.”
Maurice added, “It was a seven pages and I told you (I think you maybe went up on on the line), we can’t drop the ball on this this scene. Once the ball drops the scene’s done.’ I didn’t tell you then, but it was a hard scene to do. For me it was hard, too. For anybody else, I don’t think they could have done it. We did the scene and you nailed that scene!”
Photo: ABC
Later, Maurice recalled his reaction to learning that Garrett was being replaced by another actor. “It was a Sunday. Paula’s (Maurice’s wife) was on the phone and I hear you’re not going to be working there. I went berserk. First of all, we had just done that scene. It happens all the time and everybody comes and goes like a revolving door, but I came to work the next day and now Chad is there (who’s now a friend of mine). But, let’s just put the cards on the table. I’m not proud of it. I don’t recommend it, but I treated him badly for maybe like 6 months. I didn’t talk to him. It wasn’t cool.”
Benard shared that on Chad’s first day. he watched him having to do monologue on a witness stand and in the scene Sonny is right in front of him. Maurice related, “I’m right in front of him. He’s sweating and having a panic attack.” Understanding his behavior towards Chad was not called for, Benard admitted, “It was awful. Of course, I’ve never done that again. But I was so pissed off. You can say some of that was ego, some of that was I liked you (Drew) so much, and we had just done that scene. It was hard on Chad.”
Responding to a post from Michael Fairman TV on the subject on X, Maurice Benard expressed, “I’m so happy I can consider both actors my friend and we all learn, or should learn from our mistakes.”
You can watch the entire episode of State of Mind featuring Drew and Maurice below.
Now weigh-in: what did you think of the Drew as Michael and Maurice’s story on how he initially treated Chad Duell, before they became friends? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
So is Drew coming back as Michael? Awfully strange timing.
No; that is wishful thinking of several fans online, though.
No he’s not coming back. Maurice is “live” in the YouTube chat when the State of Mind episodes premier on Sunday morning, and he was asked if Drew was on because he was coming back to GH? Maurice said no. For the record, he didn’t say anything else about the recast… or even if there is one yet. But I suspect it’s going to happen soon. Sasha’s baby is due in July, and I don’t see that happening without Mikey back in Port Charles… in one form or another.
According to social media reports, they’ve been quietly recasting Michael. Robert Adamson posted (since removed) that he was not considered for the role. Ironically, Rory Gibson (who replaced Adamson on Y&R) was supposedly screen tested.
Gibson has posted selfies on set in a dressing room that resembles Steve Burton (Jason), and several people from General Hospital have begun following him on social media, from Frank Valentini himself to some makeup crew.
It’s not the first time Maurice Benard has mentioned treating Chad Duell poorly because of Drew Garrett’s exit; it was intriguing to see Garrett’s reaction to this, though. Not going to lie… I kind of wish they had gotten into why we exited the role, as it was never outright disclosed⏤at least to my recollection it never was.
My recollection is that the reason given at the time was pretty much identical to the reason for the most recent recast of Kristina — they simply wanted to take the character in a different, more mature direction.
Of course, Duell is only two years younger than Garrett in real life. And, ironically, one of my issues with Chad’s adult Michael was that he never really looked/sounded much older than when he first came on the show 15 years ago. I obviously don’t support the abuse Duell got from Bernard (or, at times, fans), but count me as someone that hated the recast at the time and never really changed his mind.
Hopefully, with this next recast, they’ll bring in an actor whose adult Michael can hang with Bernard, Wright and company gravitas-wise.
My recollection is that the reason given at the time was pretty much identical to the reason for the most recent recast of Kristina — they simply wanted to take the character in a different, more mature direction.
In searching through this site’s archives (back when it was On Air On Soaps), Duell’s casting came after auditioning with Garrett and then being poised as a potential romantic pairing for Lexi Ainsworth (ex-Kristina), but at the expiration of Garrett’s contract, they chose to bring Duell in instead as Michael, and the character in-development for Kristina was scrapped.
They told Lexi she was reading with Chad as a potential love interest so she wouldn’t give Drew a heads up that they were letting him go. They fired him after shooting his scenes and had Chad lined up to come in the next time Micheal was due to shoot. Thankfully scenes were running long that day and Lexi didn’t end up chemistry reading with Chad, Steve Burton did instead because she would have felt responsible for hiring Drew’s replacement. She did notice Maurice was hard on Chad but she had chalked it up to him wanting to make him a better actor since he and Nancy had taken her under their wing and treated her like one of their own children.
Drew Garrett would make an excellent Will Horton recast, if Chandler Massey, didn’t want to return full-time at DAYS. I’d love to see Will & Sonny back in Salem!
Maurice is a total a hole. Chad was just a kid. Why don’t he go and be mean to the producers…o yeah he can’t cos they pay his bills
This was 15 years ago and Bernard is owning it publicly to make an example out of himself. What else do you want him to do?
Also, Chad was 22 at the time he came on the show. He certainly didn’t deserve Maurice’s abusive behavior, but he was hardly “just a kid” either.
The mysterious Hudson (Troy Lennon Appel) is clearly in collusion with someone as witnessed on the Tuesday, August 24 episode of General Hospital.
Since Troy Lennon Appel made his debut on the soap on July 30, we already know he “appears” to be the true biological father of baby Phoebe, and is quite the bad dude after roughing up Ethan in Norway.
Now in Port Charles, claiming he is there for JJE (Jasper Jacks Enterprises) business, and with the edict to contact Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) and let her know her father named her the CEO of his company while he is “sailing” abroad, he was initially met with resistance when Josslyn refused to accept the job.
Courtesy/ABC
I’VE CHANGED MY MIND
However, after a recent turn of events, where Brennan (Chris McKenna) told Josslyn, the WSB has her next assignment, and it is to find out what’s going on with her father’s company, they demanded her to accept the CEO position. Now Josslyn is caught and has to back-petal after initially telling Hudson to bring her qualified candidates and she would pick one as her replacement.
In all-new episodes, while at the Quartermaine boathouse, Josslyn informed Hudson that she was now taking the CEO position. Josslyn cited that she realized she wanted to honor her father’s wishes and uphold his legacy.
Hudson is stunned and tries to dissuade her, and is quite suspicious over her sudden change of heart. Realizing no matter what he said Josslyn was not backing down, Hudson says he hadn’t been on board with Jax’s decision to give the company to Josslyn, but now he could see that maybe he’d been wrong about her.
HUDSON HAS A PROBLEM
Josslyn says failing herself, or her father, isn’t an option and when she commits to something she goes all in. She tells Hudson that she would appreciate his support. Hudson says she has it, as she turns to walk away after dropping her bombshell decision on him.
Next, a very pissed off Hudson, picks up his phone and makes a call to someone and tells them that Josslyn took the job. He intimates that this is bad news and will screw up their plans. He tells the person on the other end that he is going to make her change her mind!
So, where is this leading? Who could Hudson be working with on the inside and who did he call? How do you see General Hospital weaving in Josslyn taking over JJE as their new WSB mystery story? Put your creative hats on and let us know your thoughts via the comment section.
But first, check out the GH teaser below for today’s Wednesday, August 26 episode below, where Josslyn tells her mother, Carly to accept her decision of either taking the job at JJE or staying with the WSB!
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Josh Swickard Recalls Emotional Moment After His Final Scenes with Michael Easton, and Favorite ‘Chase’ Storyline
Josh Swickard (Harrison Chase, General Hospital) is the special guest on this week’s all-new episode of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart. The GH fan favorite and leading men opened up about his life pre and post GH, his marriage to actress and producer, Lauren Swickard, and some of his toughest and most memorable moments during his eight-plus years as officer Chase of the PCPD.
One of the most heartbreaking moments came when Josh had to say farewell to his on-screen brother Finn played by soap veteran, Michael Easton. It was back on the Thursday, June 27, 2024 episode of General Hospital.
In it, Chase drives Finn to a rehab facility and the two brothers share a heartfelt talk in the car. Finn thanks Chase for allowing him to say goodbye to his daughter, Violet (Jophielle Love). Chase promises to take good care of her. However, Chase warns Finn to not to take any shortcuts on his way to sobriety and to always think of Violet’s wellbeing. It is apparent, the brothers don’t want to say goodbye, but on the count of three, Finn leaves Chase’s car and walks through the door of the rehab facility, while Chase in tears beats the steering wheel before drives away.
Photo: ABC
MISSING HIS TV BROTHER
Josh spoke to the “Soapy” podcast hosts about it and recalled, “In our last scenes together, and it was like his last day. Michael was like, ‘It’s okay.’ And I was like, ‘No, it’s not.’ I was supposed to be crying in the scene, I think. I was like a little glassy-eyed, a little glazed over. And then they were like, “And cut.” I was like, “Great.” I just like went behind the car and wept.”
Speaking of his professional and personal relationship with Easton, Josh expressed, “Michael is an awesome guy. He’s such a sweetheart. We’ve done fan events together in New York and he would show me things, like, ‘This where I used to live …’ He’s like an older brother to me.”
Not only did Josh lose his on-screen brother, but he also lost his on-screen father, Gregory, played by Gregory Harrison, when he was killed-off the show after the character battled ALS. “I think I was more just mourning friends that play family on a show, but a show that goes year after year, year round, and so they become family,” explained Swickard. “So, that part’s been hard for me of just losing friends that while, yes, you get to see each other, you get to call each other, it’s different (when they leave).”
Photo: JPI
CHASE IN A COMA IS FAVORITE OF JOSH’S
When asked, what has been his favorite storyline during his run on GH thus far, Josh took it back to when Chase became became critically ill after being poisoned by a toxic from Peter August (Wes Ramsey) meant for Finn. Eventually, Finn had to rescue his brother with the antidote for the toxin. That story played out from April to June 2021.
Josh explained, “Where I was in a coma and I was seizing and coughing and I had no blocking for like four months! It was great! It was a storyline where I was about to die and I had to say goodbye to a lot of lovely people and it was so exhausting. You get in the car and you feel like you got hit by a train every day because your body doesn’t fully know what acting is, apparently. I remember multiple days being like, ‘Oh, this is why I signed up for this.'”
Swickard also answered if there were moments in the storyline if he felt Chase was not going to survive. The GH star answered, “There were moments that I wondered. However, I think they were pretty upfront with me. They were like, ‘This isn’t what’s going to happen.'”
Check out the full conversation with Josh on the ‘Soapy’ podcast via the comment section below.
Now let us know, what has been your favorite scenes of Josh as Chase on General Hospital during his run? Do you miss the relationship between Chase and his brother, Finn? Let us know via the comment section below.
This week, all-new episodes of General Hospital tease a long-held secret revealed, a surprise cellmate and a life on the line. On Monday August 24, ABC released their weekly promo entitled “Keep Brennan Busy,” raising eyebrows that this could the beginning of the exit of the character, after it was reported that Chris McKenna (Brennan) is leaving the soap come this fall.
In the spoilers video: First, Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) is telling Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) that she has known the truth all along that she shot Drew (Cameron Mathison), even though she was her legal counsel and defender her during Willow’s trial of shooting the former congressman.
Willow is shocked, and her face shrinks up. What will she say in return? Will she just say, “yes” I did it and then blackmail Alexis to also keep her quiet, like she has been able to do to so many others?
Courtesy/ABC
DREW’S BACK TO HIS OLD SELF WITH A VENGEANCE
Next, Drew is suddenly on this renewed warpath to take down Sonny (Maurice Benard), but before he deals with that, he want to get the WSB Port Charles Bureau Chief out of the way. He informs his partner in crime Ava Jerome (Maura West) over drinks at the Metro Court his plan for Brennan. While Drew tells Ava his agenda, we cut to: a woman’s hands pouring a packet full of powder into a drink at the Metro Court pool area.
Drew gives Ava her assignment, “I need you to keep Brennan busy while I search his hotel room.” The question becomes, who is the woman who is drugging Brennan? Is this the first attempt at taking out the guy foreshadowing the future, or could this be the demise of Brennan?
YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU MIGHT SEE IN THE SLAMMER
At the end of the video, Curtis (Donnell Turner) is seen in his cell at Pentonville. He gets what appears to be his new cellmate, and utters, “You?” Is this when Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) has manipulated someone from the inside to visit Curtis and begin a plan to get what he wants from Jordan (Tanisha Harper) and use her lover to do his dirty work? Stay tuned.
Take a look at the rest of the official spoilers for the week of August 24-28 below.
MONDAY, AUGUST 24
Valentin makes a pitch to Jason. Brennan confronts Willow. Josslyn has news for Hudson. Laura briefs Anna. Tracy issues a warning.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25
Jason encourages Carly. Obrecht wants answers. Anna is tempted. Ric jumps to conclusions. Lulu offers relationship advice.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26
Nina is enraged. Jordan makes her loyalties clear. Michael seeks Sonny’s advice. Tristan opens up about his past. Felicia stonewalls Brennan.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27
Gio and Emma overhear an argument. Drew vows revenge. Ava feels slighted. Justine gets a shock. Alexis makes threat.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28
Sonny makes a promise to Laura. Carly and Valentin make a decision. Anna offers support. Ava sets a trap. Drew is waylaid.
Check out the the latest GH promo, “Keep Brennan Busy” below.
Now let us know, do you think Drew’ plot against Brennan will be the untimely end of the WSB Port Charles Bureau Chief? How will Willow keep Alexis from opening her mouth about the fact that she shot Drew? Share your predictions and theories via the comment section below.
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Who is Hudson in Cahoots With After Revealing Phone Call?
Y&R’s Victoria and Kyle’s Love Affair to Kick-Off; Amelia Heinle Says EP Sally McDonald Shared Why; ‘You’ve Got Chemistry’ with Michael Mealor
Dolly Parton Remembered: Y&R Alum Alyvia Alyn Lind Shares Heartfelt Tribute to the Legendary Singer and Songwriter
‘General Hospital’s’ Josh Swickard Recalls Emotional Moment After His Final Scenes with Michael Easton, and Favorite ‘Chase’ Storyline
Brytni Sarpy Joins the Cast of ‘Days of Our Lives’
‘Veronica & Julian’ Feature Starring ‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Releases Key Art and More (Exclusive)
‘General Hospital’ Alum Bryan Craig Cast in ‘The Weapon’
John Oliver Recaps His ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘General Hospital’ Soap Opera Experience on ‘Last Week Tonight’
Hayden Panettiere, ‘Guiding Light’ and ‘Nashville’ Alum, Dead at 36
GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)
Dolly Parton Remembered: Y&R Alum Alyvia Alyn Lind Shares Heartfelt Tribute to the Legendary Singer and Songwriter
‘General Hospital’s’ Josh Swickard Recalls Emotional Moment After His Final Scenes with Michael Easton, and Favorite ‘Chase’ Storyline
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Is This the End for Brennan?
‘Guiding Light’s’ Grant Aleksander Shares Heartfelt Remembrance of TV Daughter, Hayden Panettiere On What Would Have Been Her 37th Birthday
‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Admits That He Didn’t Expect the Role of Michael Corinthos to be Recast, and Would Consider Working on Another Soap (Exclusive)
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