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‘General Hospital’s’ Michael E. Knight Talks The Evolution of Martin Grey and Working with Icons: Genie Francis, Erika Slezak, and Jane Elliot (Exclusive)

By Michael Fairman

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Photos: ABC

When soap opera favorite, Michael E. Knight debuted on General Hospital back in 2019 as Martin Grey, the lawyer for Nelle Benson (Chloe Lanier), the character was a lot different than the 2025 version. The three-time Daytime Emmy-winning actor best-known for his performances as All My Children’s beloved Tad Martin, has the opportunity to strut his stuff since Martin has become more complex, more shady (think Tracy/Ronnie drama), and yet has a deep love for his sister, the Mayor of Port Charles, Laura Collins (Genie Francis).

Knight recently spoke with Michael Fairman for a conversation now on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, about how Martin has shifted from the once southern drawl legal eagle, to the clean-shaven more cosmopolitan version of the character, and the incredible opportunity he had to work with Jane Elliot (Tracy) and Erika Slezak (Ronnie) in the battle over Monica’s last will and testament, and for the right to own the Quartermaine Mansion. As it turned out, Martin was responsible for forging the will to keep Tracy from getting what Monica rightly gifted her; all part of his revenge plot.

Michael shared his deep gratitude to the GH creatives for giving Martin Grey, second life. “I really want to reach out and hug Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte (co head-writers, GH) for getting me off the bench and retooling the character, because, Martin started out one way; the whole ‘Kentucky Fried Chicken,’ and beard thing. Then, about two years ago, Frank Valentini (executive producer, GH) just said, ‘Ok, we talked. We want you to be more of a leading man. Basically, we want more of Tad. So, I’ve been allowed two lives on General Hospital. The people I get to work with are amazing.”

Courtesy/ABC

We have to agree! Not only is Knight amazing, but so too are the women he recently and has continued to work with: Genie Francis, Jane Elliot and special guest star, Erika Slezak. Speaking of the legends, and why they have remained successful in the soap medium, Knight shared, “There are fewer and fewer people who can actually do it, and who want to work at that kind of speed and at that kind of level. The people that are really brilliant at it are the likes of Erika, Jane and Genie.”

ERIKA SLEZAK

Getting the opportunity to work with Erika Slezak is something Knight will never forget: “Erika is so great at showing vulnerability. I asked her to please come back and do this again, because in three weeks she created this wonderful character where she goes at it with Tracy, but then you see the rest of the Quartermaine family fall in love with Ronnie and they let her fall in love with them.”

Knight recalled a moment with Erika, saying, “You’ve done all this great work. The Quartermaines love you. The fans love you. You’ve created a place in people’s hearts. When are you going to come back?’ She’s like, ‘I like my home. I like Connecticut, I like my family. This is hard work.”‘ However, Michael has faith that Erika will be back when the show has a story for Ronnie. “I think they will (bring her back). I hope they do. I really do. Let’s face it, she’s a great foil for Tracy.”

One of the key moments in the storyline was when Martin blackmailed Ronnie, when she wanted nothing more to with his plan to dupe Tracy out of Monica’s house. Knight recalled, “After it (the scene) was over, we kind of looked at each other, because we had taken two or three passes at it. Erika came over and she hugged me and she said, ‘Thank you, Thank you for putting the work in.’  I knew the work was good. I was (initially) worried because I wondered what would Chris and Elizabeth do now that you’ve got Martin in a corner.”

GENIE FRANCIS

Several years back, Laura learned she had two half-brothers. The treacherous Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober) and Martin Grey. Since that time, Michael Knight has been able to play the love between brother and sister and the disappointment she has with his questionable actions. “Genie is one of the funniest people I’ve ever worked with,” shared Knight.

Photo: ABC

No matter what Martin does, Knight feels like Laura is there for her brother and vice versa. “They are still very much brother and sister. Family’s at a premium and is a big deal to Martin. His older brother Cyrus was wiped out, father died, and his mother is in a home somewhere. And all of a sudden he’s got this wonderful woman as a sister that he never knew we had. So there’s a lot at stake (for him).”

JANE ELLIOT

As to Martin and Tracy, Knight knows these are two people who love to just needle each other. “They love playing dirty,” explains Michael. “I said to Jane a couple months back, ‘I think we have a soap opera relationship based on a Wile E. Coyote and a Road Runner cartoon. It’s like, ‘I scheme and scheme and scheme and scheme and scheme.’  I’m always going to be the one to get the anvil on the head, because Tracy sidesteps. She figures out what’s going on and finds a way to snake her way out of it!”

Photo: ABC

“Jane’s just not the kind of person that leaves well enough alone, like the pinching of the cheeks (scene when Martin is found out), she’ll just find something that always takes it to another level,” shares Knight. “If you have two or three takes with her, by the end of it, I’m usually having so much fun. I’m chewing the scenery a couple times. It’s always fun to work with somebody who’s just going to give you more than is on the page.”

In case you missed it, check out our full conversation with Michael E. Knight below.

Now let us know, do you enjoy the Martin Grey 2.0 version? And Michael’s scenes with Genie Francis, Jane Elliot and with Erika Slezak? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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He’s the best. So happy he’s on GH.

As a viewer is such a gift to see all these iconic actors share the screen together, they know how to create magic, and Yes, I’m loving Martin 2.0, his scenes with Genie are so touching and its great to see sibling relationships play out, and well what can one say about his scene with Jane Elliot, I mean its pure gold and as a viewer a pleasure to see play out.

Glad they let Michael ditch the unnecessary, silly drawl and the Colonel Saunders beard. He’s just a natural actor, and those forced affectations distracted from his talent. Watching Michael go toe to toe with Jane, Genie, Jane and Nancy really underscores just how good he can be. I’m very happy they’re giving him a second chance.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Who is Hudson in Cahoots With After Revealing Phone Call?

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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!

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‘General Hospital’s’ Josh Swickard Recalls Emotional Moment After His Final Scenes with Michael Easton, and Favorite ‘Chase’ Storyline

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Josh Swickard

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.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Is This the End for Brennan?

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General Hospital

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.

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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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