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‘General Hospital’s’ Maurice Benard Talks: New ‘Sonny’ Storyline, His Contract, and Three Characters He Would Want to See Back in Port Charles

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: ABC

Three-time Daytime Emmy-winner Maurice Benard teased what’s on deck for General Hospital’s Sonny Corinthos, his future with the soap opera, and just who he would love to see make a return, during an in-depth conversation with ESPN Radio New York host, Ty Butler.

Benard appeared this week on Butler’s You Tube channel, and it’s clear that Butler and his real-life family are deep fans of General Hospital, so he had some pointed questions for Maurice from what’s happening currently in Port Charles to look backs at Sonny’s past.

Now that Sonny has decided to get out of the mob, Benard teased what’s coming up for the apparent “former” mobster, “When (the writers) told me I was out of the mob it didn’t throw me. I was like, ‘let’s see what I can do here.’ There were a lot of people during the hey day of the gangster period (on GH), who did not like it. (They would say) ‘It’s too much Sonny, it’s too much violence.'”

Maurice Benard

Photo: ABC

WITH SONNY OUT OF THE MOB, WHAT’S NEXT?

However, the long-running GH mainstay added, “I don’t care what I’m doing as long as Sonny maintains power, and that power doesn’t mean killing people, or being a gangster. You can be powerful in business. You can be powerful over here, and I think they’re doing that. I do know the story (coming up) and I can’t say (much more), but it’s really amazing. When I heard about it, I said, “Oh, wow!”‘

This week, Maurice marks his 33rd anniversary in the role of Sonny. It’s a role he began back on-screen on August 13, 1993. But how many years might the popular star have left in the tank to remain in Port Charles? Maurice explained his position on that, “My contract is up February or March (2027). So up until then, I’ll just tell you guys that the upcoming story, I’m very happy with it.”

He added, “I’m not going to retire soon, but I’m at a certain point where I can retire if I wanted. But, I don’t want to as long as I’m happy at GH, and I’ve been happy at GH for a while now. So, they’re going have to kick me out. They’re going to have to say, “Nah, we’ve had enough. Get the hell out.”‘

Photo: JPI

HOW WOULD THE END COME FOR SONNY CORINTHOS IF MAURICE BENARD EVER EXITED GENERAL HOSPITAL?

During their conversation, Butler asked, if the time would come that Maurice were to make an exit from General Hospital, how would he like it to go down. The longtime GH star had an answer that if he were to leave, he should go out on a big cliffhanger. “Something happens to one of his children and it’s his fault. Sonny can’t take it,” explains Maurice on his Port Charles alter-ego. “He goes home, he takes a shot of whiskey. (Then), Sonny goes upstairs and all you hear is BOOM. And it goes to black. Now, if it were a movie, it would work. But let me tell you something … it’s a soap opera. You don’t know if Sonny did it! You don’t know if somebody else did it, set it all up to make him look like he did. You don’t know. So there’s a big story there, right?”

BLASTS FROM THE PAST

When asked by the ESPN radio host,  what cast member would he like to see return to the show?  Benard named three characters, and they are: Brenda (Vanessa Marcil), Luke (the late Anthony Geary, obviously that was stated as Benard misses him dearly) and Morgan (last played by Bryan Craig).

You can check out the full conversation with Maurice below on the The Ty Butler Show.

Now, let us know, what do you think is the new storyline that is about to kick-off, other than we know Sonny is getting out of the mob, and wants to get Sidwell’s assets and keep them away from Drew? Glad to hear Maurice does not plan on leaving General Hospital anytime soon? And, do you agree with Maurice … would you like to see the characters of Brenda and Morgan come back to the Port Charles canvas? Let us know via the comment section.

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I think when Maurice does retire it should be Sonny and Brenda going away to live happily ever after as Mr and Mrs Corinthos

Imo, they were the best! Agree w you so much!

GH should invest in bringing back a few characters instead of so many newbies at one time. I’m still getting confused by the new male actors because they all look the same. If the show wants to continue growing their audience, listen to what the viewers want. Less of ridiculous storylines like Jordan’s car crash and the same dialogue over and over about Isaiah being responsible. It was the biggest non-storyline of the decade.

Please bring back Brenda and a recast Jax and get rid of the so many underutilized actors. I’d love to see a different dynamic with Lulu besides being an overprotective mother. Almost two years of obsessing about Rocco and Charlotte is not entertainment. The fans want more Carly, Sonny, Jason, Ava, Michael, Tracy and the all the Qs. Speaking of, please bring back Dillon.

I am fine with Carly on a back burner (I do not mean off the show). The character has a tendency to monopolize the show.

Those new men do all look alike! And I agree about the car crash and Lulu stories. Complete bore fests and a waste of good talent.

They’re all carbon copies of Dex. All they have to do is bring back Dex instead of hiring all these copycats.

Dex is dead, my friend, and is not coming back, so it’s time to get over it.

All Lulu does is screech and whine.not entertaining at all.

The actress is capable of much, much more. It’s just all of the writing afforded to her is just her wringing her hands anout her ungrateful, bratty kids. Who is getting on my nerves is Joss. While her mother smirks, Joss sneers. And the way she constantly boasts about being a WSB agent is so uncool. Can you imagine Anna boasting about being a WSB agent when she was Joss’s age? She wouldn’t. Also as she struts around in a bikini, I can’t help but notice her midriff bears no scar from where the bullet hit her. Maybe her skin has the same magical healing power that Donald Trump has, whose ear was scar free mere days after being grazed by a bullet.

One of the great joys of soaps is that you can escape from reality, especially politics. It’s truly sad that some of us can’t quite make that jump.

Sonny makes the show ,to me, just saying …

I have wish for Dylan to come back per years. There are not enough quarter remains left and he is at good age to date anybody from 25 to 50 lol. He was an intricate part of the quarter domains back in the day with the abortion and whenever I see him on bold and the beautiful, I think oh come back. Please please please bring them back.

Brenda just sucks the energy out of the show whenever she returns. You know she’ll leave again, so what’s the point.

I’ll maintain my conviction that Morgan is worth more to story (and character development) if he remains dead.

Will be interesting to see how a mob-less Sonny fits in PC.

You know the saying you can’t go home again? That’s applicable to Brenda’s returns. She and Sonny were sizzling back in the 90s but trying to recapture that magical chemistry 30 plus years later is as unattainable as Gatsby’s green light. And the attempt to grasp that spark yields to depressing results. I also agree that the Morgan character is more valuable dead than alive.

The biggest problem with Brenda’s returns is that they never last long. The second biggest problem with Brenda’s returns is that they always use it as an excuse to introduce a new villain.

First time, it wasn’t so bad. Luis Alcazar came to town. Had his short run of evil deeds and then Alexis gutted him with a steak knife and tossed him off a hotel balcony. And a little while later his twin brother Lorenzo showed up. But that’s alright. The Alcazar brothers were decent villains.

But the last time Brenda showed up, she brought that idiotic cartoon villain Teddy Balkan with her. And even her parts of that storyline were as dumb as Teddy himself was. Like the months of speculation of whether she and Dante had a backstory and a secret child together (which thankfully turned out not to be true). Or the scene where she got Mikey drunk and tried to convince him (and Carly) that they had actually had sex. Fuzzy Devil Memory tells me that Brenda left town with Jax that time, but he came back without her, and nobody ever asked why.

When ever they finally decide to pull the plug on GH once and for all, I expect we will see Sonny reunited one last time with either Carly or Brenda. But I wouldn’t bet your soul that we ever see her again before that.

The one thing I do wish they would have addressed during one of her later returns – the whole scenario from the first season of Night Shift, where Brenda was obviously the patient who got BBQ’d in the exploding ambulance, and remained silent & mummy wrapped for the entire season, only to have her bandages removed in the last episode, and be told that “by some miracle” she wouldn’t need plastic surgery after all.. Her face wasn’t shown on camera. But Jason saw her as she left the hospital, and he clearly recognized her.

Ironically the timing of this scenario would have been compatible with the later backstory written into the Balkan clusterphuck, so they should have used it then.

As far as Morgan goes. he will be back eventually. Probably not in the immediate future though. Too many newbies running around right now as it is. Which he technically would be, if it was anybody other than Bryan Craig in the role.

I would very much like to see Morgan back.

I agree with steve

I agree Brenda n Morgan I hope will be back soon

He can just move to his Island… No death scenes, please

I like it, then his family can visit. I hope Morgan does return, maybe with Kiki, and others: Sam, Nicholas, and Spencer.

Happy to hear that Sonny will be legit but remain powerful. Please bring back Danny’s mom and Morgan.

I Agree

Would Would Love to see those 2 again

I would love to see Brenda back!

I would love for Morgan to come back .

Yes Morgan. It would heal the family and that crazy Jos. She can’t blame Sonny for everything. He has been good to her

Yes love morgan

Curious to see how this story will play out. I’m actually a fan of the mob violence on the show so we’ll see. I would like to see Vanessa Marcil back as Brenda but I would prefer they kept Morgan dead. It adds truer stakes to the overall story. I didn’t like the actor Bryan Craig anyways

I am a fan, too; it’s part of what sets GH apart from the rest of the soaps. Back in the heyday, there was almost a nighttime show quality to it with the writing, stories, characters. But I’m also ok with Sonny and Jason getting out, hopefully, not to boring pursuits. Frankly, Jason is already boring-living at the qs, at Tracy’s beck and call, running behind Danny doesn’t sound super interesting to me.

I already hate the fact that Jason and Sonny are getting out of the mob. I want Jason back killing people for Sonny. And on a side note….I really hate the crash storyline, count your blessings you guys are alive and didn’t kill anyone since it was your fault!

Agree! No more Morgan!!! RIP

I agree GH was different from the other soaps, because it didn’t get stupid and it was like an evening show. Action n good acting
I do agree with too many new people.
I want to see more of our favorites have airtime. They are being pushed off the set.
Too much LULU N ROCCO! Too much Willow n company. We need Sonny n Jason
Back in our screens.

I would love to see Sonny and Jason take over Bobbie Place or buy it out from Carly since she never there.

Bring Nell back

No! Please! We have weeping Willow
Her sister! So tired of Drew , Willow n Nina
I’m glad Jack is gone. These stories last too long n the same stuff over n over again.

Thats okbut Jason and sonny need a little more of a story line
How’s about if Jason took over elq and got sonny into it.it would shake up the quartermaines

If Jason was going to take over a business, it should be Aurora Media. The reason why is obvious. He already owns it! Remember that Billy Miller’s Drew purchased the company from Julian Jerome. But this is when he still thought he was Jason. So he bought the company in Jason’s name, using Jason’s money. Which means Jason has always been the legal owner of Aurora!

Now back in 2017, Jason let Drew keep the company, because he had no interest in running a media company at the time, and he didn’t blame Drew for the things Faison & Helena had done to both of them with the abductions and all that “brain mapping” dragonshit.

But that was then, and this is now. And now there’s a whole list of things Drew has done against his own family, especially against Michael & Danny. So Jason would be 666% justified in taking back Aurora. And the fact that Curtis is now going to prison means there’s going to be a change in leadership at that company one way or the other anyway. Drew probably thinks he’s going to walk back into that CEO office, now that he’s recovered from his “needle paralysis”, but obviously Michael wouldn’t like that idea at all. He would definitely side with Jason, if he decides to reclaim his company.

As for what Sonny is going to do next? Assuming he still retains ownership of all the “legitimate” businesses he has around Port Charles, he could actually cook in that Italian restaurant, and Charlie’s hasn’t had anybody running the place since Kristina suddenly decided to be a doctor. Though him running a bar would be a little too much of a Tricky Dick Nixon Falls flashback, so keep Nina away from him if that happens!

Love GH been watching from the Beginning Love All the new Characters but SONNY JASON TRACY CARLY are GH & All the original characters are Sooo Amazing The new Kids are Sooo Great also

Agreed!

Bring Brenda back

Whynot

Bring back morgan

Sonny is my favorite character. I wanted to see him in Cleveland but didn’t get to. Maurice is an awesome actor and I hope he stays around for a long time to come. I also loved Vanessa Marcil as Brenda she is so beautiful and I loved the two of them together and to bring back Sonnys son would be great as well. Love General Hospital been watching faithfully since 1978.

Yes would love Brenda and Morgan to come back to GH!

Well since Sonny hasn’t done much “mobbing” since his return from Dixon Falls, I suppose I can get on board with his new found power. But I am a big fan of Sonny The Mobster. I would love to see Morgan return. Can do without Brenda. Why not bring back Finn, Hayden and an aged Violet? The hospital can use a doctor.

We love Sonny please stay

Mr Bernard, it would Kill ME! If Sonny went out with a bang! Then that would mean I’m sure, another mystery to solve. Nobody could replace You portraying Sonny
Corinthos. Maybe You could go off in the sunset with Justine on Your Arm, or whomever you’re with at that time.
SONNY NEEDS MORE AIRTIME, LIKE JASON. GH gets too many characters and our favorites get left behind and then it doesn’t seem like OUR GH. Thanks for the Memories Sonny Corinthos♥️. Can’t wait to see what’s next For my Favorite Gangster?

Yes, Sonny deserves some happiness. I like him with the DA, would like that explored more.
I am so over the car accident, recording contract, and baby with multiple fathers. I’m sure those actors are good but the characters just bog down everything. Willow, Drew, and their kids are going a bit long too.

And please Not Jason n Carly.. Everyone

We can do without Willow, Nina and Jos

I never thought the day would come where I would fast forward through Sonny scenes, But that day has come. It’s not just the writing, it’s HIM! He acts bored with the script writing he is given! As Neil Young once sang,” It’s better to burn out than to fade away.” I think Maurice should seriously consider retiring rather than attempting to recreate his glory years.

The script writing does suck so I can’t blame him there.

Many more action oriented storylines outside of the mob. That’s what a real entertainment is is the action oriented storylines

When Maurice retires..I miss him.. he should have whatever exit He would like.. to roll with to feel his last days on the soap.. yes I miss Anthony Geary soooo much as well an alot of others.. an morgan. .

I am totally with him on bringing back Brenda and Morgan! Brenda was my all time favorite character she had the best chemistry with him.

I would love to see Morgan,Sam,the Casindine son for Trina

Bring Brenda back.

Would like to see Morgan come back and the Laura son and grandson and Brenda been gone for along time I think that the Da and Sunny should have a public relationship

Bring back Nicholas, Spencer, Maxie or at least Spinelli. And Sidwell. Recast Kevin. Laura needs her husband .

The best. Recast I recast I have ever seen Michael Corinthos

“There were a lot of people during the hey day of the gangster period (on GH), who did not like it. (They would say) ‘It’s too much Sonny, it’s too much violence.'”:

This dissatisfaction with the mob-related storylines has been an issue long since the GH “heyday.” Many fans, myself included, stopped viewing the show for this particular reason. (I personally tune in only for special shows: Bobbie’s death, Luke’s recent tribute, Erika Slezak’s appearances.) GH was indeed dark for far too long, and a mobster was glorified as a hero, despite his rage, verbal abuse, and even the murders he committed, including that of A.J. Quartermaine.

Morgan would be good.

I love to see sunny he retired a from the mob that’s cool

Lest viol and more love but crazy kool to see And Morgan to come back love it he could come back as a gangster I bet his mom Carley would love that she loves violence gangsters, but not agents like her daughter she likes outlaws not not above the law she’s crazy, but I think her daughter’s doing right she should be proud of her they make it sound like if the laws real bad it’s just some crazy people, but not the law ain’t bad and she should support her daughter without the law what with this role be like?

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Elizabeth Thinks of Dante While With Ric; Will She Leave Her Ex in the Dust?

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Liz, Dante and Ric

Clearly, head nurse Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) is trying to deny her feelings for Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) on General Hospital, when she is trying to make up for missed opportunities and dates with her former husband, Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst).

On the Friday, November 6 episode, Elizabeth arrived at the Metro Court for her date with Ric. She made sure she thanked the legal eagle for taking care of her house on Halloween when she was called into work.

However, while telling Ric this, Elizabeth is struck by a flashback of her and Dante baking in her kitchen, where a very close encounter almost led Dante and Elizabeth to kiss. After shaking that image off in her head, she goes back to her date with Ric, who is being very sweet to her.

Elizabeth and Ric

Courtesy/ABC

ELIZABETH HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT RIC

Their date gets interrupted when Lulu (Alexa Havins) shows up at their table asking Elizabeth to convince Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) to drop the libel case against her.

Later, when Liz talked with Willow, and Willow shared she appreciated the head nurse looking out for her, she asks her friend if Ric is the kind of man she wants her life?

Willow is pointing out, as she had in her relationship with Drew (Cameron Mathison), does Ric really love Elizabeth  … or is he using her to get what he wants? That comment puts more doubt in Elizabeth’s mind over reconnecting with Ric, and giving her more credence to follow her feelings for Dante.

So, where is this leading? Will Elizabeth cut things off with Ric? If so, will he snap? Is Ric using Elizabeth? And what about Dante? Are you enjoying the growing closeness between Elizabeth and Dante, or do you prefer Elizabeth with Ric? Let us know in the comment section, But first, check what went down on Ric and Elizabeth’s dinner date which lead to more questions than answers below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Tracy Leaves Port Charles to Help Dillon; Paving the Way for Jane Elliot’s Temporary Exit

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Jane Elliot

General Hospital viewers became concerned when on the Thursday, November 5 episode, Tracy (Jane Elliot) was preparing to leave Port Charles to go help her son, Dillon Quartermaine, who got arrested while trying to film in Thailand.

Tracy informed Jason (Steve Burton), that she had to leave and was counting on him to look after things while she was away. That included: making sure Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and baby Phoebe were safe from the likes of Jude Jax (Wil Traval) as well as the Quartermaine businesses since Ned (Wally Kurth) still can’t overexert himself since his heart attack.

In Tracy’s final scenes, for now, she tells Gio (Giovanni Mazza) and Emma (Braedyn Bruner) to be there for Brook Lynn while she is going through her ordeal after divorcing Chase (Josh Swickard) and Jude trying to claim baby Phoebe.

Brook Lynn and Tracy

Courtesy/ABC

HOW LONG WILL JANE ELLIOT BE GONE FROM GENERAL HOSPITAL?

However, GH fans! Have no fear. Tracy’s exit was written into the show to facilitate Jane Elliot’s annual vacation. Same time last year, Elliot exited the canvas around this time after the entire Ronnie Bard/Martin Grey debacle; where they conspired to make it look like Monica left the Quartermaine mansion to her sister, Ronnie (Erika Slezak) instead of Tracy. In that storyline, Tracy took off for a spa in France for some much-needed R&R.

Now, according to Soap Opera Digest, while viewers are just seeing the beginnings of Jane Elliot’s temporary leave, the soap opera confirmed that the long-running star is already back taping new episodes. GH roughly runs about six weeks ahead of air in its production schedule.

Jane Elliot

Photo: JPI

ALL ABOUT JANE

Jane Elliot started her GH journey back in 1978, and has come and gone a few times including an announced retirement back in 2017, only to eventually come out of retirement a few tines, and rejoin the show full-time in 2023.

Along the way, Elliot has won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress back in 1981, and in 2025 was honored for her 50 years of excellence in daytime television becoming a Gold Circle honoree from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Michael Fairman TV spoke to Jane at that time, immediately after receiving her honor on-stage. You can check out that interview here.

Now below, watch scenes from Thursday’s GH where Tracy informs Jason she has to leave the country and go help her son.

Then let us know, with the mention of Dillon Quartermaine on today’s GH, will the soap opera FINALLY recast the role? Will you miss Jane while she is off-screen? Glad to know she is already back taping all-new episodes of the ABC daytime drama series? Let us know in the comment section.

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General Hospital

GH’s Finola Hughes and Laura Wright Tease Anna/Valentin/Carly, “It’s Not Your Typical Triangle, We’ll Say That”

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Finola Hughes and Laura Wright

On General Hospital, Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) are now dealing with the fallout of their discovery, the dead body of Jack Brennan. While Carly became a suspect, now the two need to figure out just who was responsible for the former WSB Port Charles Bureau chief’s sudden ending.

Meanwhile, Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) is trying to put her shattered life back together, after almost killing Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud), hallucinating she was seeing a dead Peter August (Wes Ramsey) and trying to shake off years of trauma at the hands of Cesar Faison (Anders Hove).

While it has become apparent that Valentin and Carly love each other, the same holds true for Valentin and Anna, but is it differently, now that the former lovers are apart? However, it appears when Anna is in trouble, Valentin shows up to save her. That is not lost on Carly, who up until now has tried to be adult about the whole situation, but how long will that last?

Carly and Valentin

Photo: ABC

Michael Fairman TV caught up with both Daytime Emmy-winning Lead Actresses on the red carpet at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards and asked them to weigh-in on what viewers can expect, and what’s it has been like working with leading man, James Patrick Stuart.

Laura Wright explained, “James is hilarious. I would say most of our dress rehearsals are laughing it out because we’ve got to show up for taping, but he’s very funny.” Finola Hughes echoed that with, “He’s a very funny person, always,” adding, “I couldn’t be in a scene with him and Amanda Setton (Brook Lynn, GH). It was him, me, and Amanda one time. We couldn’t get through the scene!”

Valentin and Anna

Photo: ABC

The discussion turned to if GH viewers will see Anna and Carly fighting over the love of Valentin. Laura Wright shared, “Not in the way you would think. It’s not your typical triangle. We’ll say that.” Finola Hughes concurred, “It’s not your typical triangle!”

Watch our chat from the red carpet with Finola and Laura below, and make sure to check out all the moments from Michael Fairman TV at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards here.

So, do you think Valentin will be caught in an actual love triangle between Anna and Carly, or will he be fully in his relationship with Carly, only to find himself constantly coming to the rescue of Anna Devane, causing an ultimate riff in his relationship with Carly? Who would you like to see Valentin with … Anna or Carly? Let us know via the comment section below.

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