On the Tuesday, September 1 episode of General Hospital, the body shown floating in the Metro Court pool was identified as Jack Brennan, ending the run of daytime veteran, Chris McKenna, in the role of the WSB Port Charles bureau chief.

McKenna began his time on the ABC soap opera back in February 2025, after replacing Charles Mesure who decided to leave the show. As it turned out, McKenna actually wrapped almost three months ago in June and has been keeping mum, even though reports surfaced that he was exiting the show come fall and Brennan would be killed-off.

Now as a murder mystery begins, McKenna took to his X account on Tuesday, and shared these heartfelt words and clarification, starting with, “Hey, everyone. Just want to say how moved I’ve been by the support you’ve shown me and Jack. As you now know, I left the show months ago, wrapped in June. I’ll say more once my exit interview runs. Until then, from the bottom of my heart- Thank You.”

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THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER

Then, in said “exit interview” with TV Insider, Chris confirmed,  I did my last episode in June, so I’ve had a few months to adjust.” He also added how bittersweet it was when he found out it was the end of the line for Jack.

“It’s disappointing how it’s ending right now, but this was a gift,” expressed McKenna. “Between my son being born and having this place to go to work for the past couple of years, this has been just a fantastic time, and it’s been so much fun. I got to be introduced to an entire new legion of soap fans who weren’t familiar with me, got back into the daytime world and did some powerful work I’m really proud of, so it’s been a great experience. I have no complaints.”

Previously, Chris played a young Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live where he got his first big break from 1990-1993. Decades later, he took on the role of Mark Harding on The Young and the Restless from 2014-2015.

Photo: CMcKennaIG

CHRIS MCKENNA AND PAIGE HERSCHELL LEARNED THE SAME DAY THEY WERE BEING WRITTEN OFF

While Chris did not get a major exit scene with lots of emotion or dialog, he still appreciated a departure by water! “I would have loved to have had a big, heroic martyrdom or a big grand speech. Unfortunately, I just played my dead body floating in a pool for two days,” joked Chris.

As it turned out, Chris wasn’t alone in finding out he was being pink-slipped from the soap. He learned the news the same day as Paige Herschell found out they were writing Jacinda out as well.

McKenna had one hope for the story in the months to come adding, “Though it’s not the end I woulda chosen for Jack, I hope this generates months of riveting television around ‘Who killed Brennan?’ And I hope that Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) killed him. It’s time she graduates to full-on murder.”

So, what do you think of the events that transpired of when and how Chris McKenna learned he was exiting General Hospital as Brennan? Who do you think murdered Jack?  Are you sad to know that today marked his final episode (unless there may be flashbacks?) of Chris’s GH run? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

Monday’s, August 31 episode of General Hospital brought with it the the final appearance, for now, of the iconic Genie Francis as Mayor Laura Collins.

In story, it has been revealed that Laura is taking a leave of absence from her mayorship to go abroad and visit her husband, Kevin (Jon Lindstrom), and her grandson Ace in Ireland.

The timing of the story-dictated moved had to do with Genie’s annual summer hiatus from the long-running ABC soap opera. As per usual, GH fans can look forward to Laura’s return on-screen to come with an impact later this fall.

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General Hospital fans have loved the legendary star since her debut back in 1977, when Francis was in her teens, and was later paired with the late Anthony Geary as soap opera super couple Luke and Laura.

Back in 2007, Genie won her first and only Daytime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series category. She has been nominated four times as a solo performer in either the Lead (1997, 2021) or Supporting Actress categories (2007, 2012). In addition, in 2002, Genie along with Tony Geary were nominated for America’s Favorite Couple.

LEAVING PORT CHARLES

Before Laura left town, she had a meeting with her friend Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and his arch enemy, Drew Cain (Cameron Marthison) while at the Metro Court Hotel. It was there, Laura announced to the rivals that she was leaving town soon and wanted them to call a ceasefire while she was gone.

Laura asked Drew to first bow out of the Pier 55 auction so Sonny could regain his property. However, that didn’t go over so well with Drew, who said nothing Sonny does is ever legitimate. However, Sonny informed Drew that he was also a legit businessman (and seemingly out of the mob).

So, will you miss Genie during her summer break? What do you hope Laura’s story will be when she returns? Do you think the series will pair Laura with Ezra Boyle (Daniel Cosgrove) or keep the Laura and Kevin relationship going long distance, since Jon Lindstrom is primarily a cast member on CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates? Let us know via the comment section below.

The Monday, August 31 episode of General Hospital brought with it plenty of espionage, close encounters, and ended with a horrifying discovery in the Metro Court Hotel pool by none other than Charlotte Cassadine (Bluesy Burke)!

Here’s what went down in the main arc of the key stories; culminating in what appears to be a body of a man in a suit floating in the water. In the pick-up from the last Friday’s cliffhanger, Ava (Maura West) is able to sway Jack (Chris McKenna) to sit and talk with her so she could give him some insight into Nina’s (Cynthia Watros) history with her daughter, Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and Nina’s complicated past. Jack succumbs to Ava’s charms and lies, and starts to down the drink she spiked with the sleeping pill given to her from Drew (Cameron Mathison).

Eventually, Jack divulges to Ava he feels overheated and decides it’s best he heads back to his room. However, Jack only makes it to the elevator where he is stumbling around pushing the wrong hotel floor buttons. Meanwhile, Ava is panicked. She texts Drew to hurry up and alert him that Jack is on his way back to his room.

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THE MASTER KEY

In Carly’s (Laura Wright) office, she receives a call from the front desk about a package that has arrived for Drew Cain.  Carly tells Valentin (James Patrick Stuart), with whom she began to make out with, that she wants to find some evidence on Drew to hold against him. The two decide to use the hotel master key to look around Drew’s office at Aurora Media.

At the same time, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) and Charlotte decided to snoop around Drew’s office, so he could have some kind of leverage over Drew to enable him to see his sister, Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarski). Danny swiped the master key he stole from housekeeping, but he and Charlotte were interrupted by Carly and Valentin showing up and having the same idea as them.

Inside Drew’s office, Valentin finds a business outline and plan of Drew’s to enter back into the corporate world and to take down Sonny. Then, Carly says they should take the file themselves and use it to bring down Drew.

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PHYSICAL SPACE

Meanwhile, a shirtless Chase (Josh Swickard) and Willow encounter a very physical and intense moment between them when the exes lock eyes at the boathouse. Chase pulls back and Willow apologizes for leaning on Chase so much.

Chase reaffirms out loud that his wife, Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and their adopted child, Phoebe means everything to him, but he could still be there for Willow, but as his friend, especially give their past.

Next, Rocco (Finn Carr) and Scout show up from behind the bushes having overheard the entire conversation between Willow and Chase. At that point, Scout doubts Willow ever loved her father, Drew Cain, and feels she betrayed her.

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CONFLICTED ABOUT HIS EX

Chase meets up with Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) at the Hotel Gardens and opened up about his feelings about Willow with who he believes is still in love with him. Dante advises Chase not to get involved in Willow’s issues with Michael, their kids and Drew. Will Chase heed the warning?

Next, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) and Willow ran into each other and knocked back drinka at the Metro Court Hotel bar. Britt and Willow discuss Chase and how Willow knows that she blew it with Chase when she cheated on him with Michael (Rory Gibson).

Elsewhere, in Carly’s office, Drew knocks out the hotel’s security system with a computer virus. Later as he searches Jack’s room, Ava runs in and tells Drew they need to get out of the room before Jack finds them there.

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DEAD IN THE WATER?

At the end of the episode, Charlotte and Danny wind up to the Metro Court pool, which is now closed for the season. Scout suggests that she and Danny take one last swim, so when they “borrowed” Chase’s truck, it wasn’t all for naught.

However, once in the pool and into the deep end, Charlotte lets out a blood curdling scream (the scream heard in this week’s latest GH promo). Suddenly she sees what looks to be a man’s body floating in the water who looks to be clothed just like Jack.

So, is it Jack who is dead in the water? Is this a red herring? The timing of Willow showing up at the Metro Court Hotel bar is suspect, given that she suddenly appeared and had drinks with Britt. Did she push Jack who was already drugged into the pool, and then join Britt to cover her tracks?

What do you think of Chase’s behavior? Is he falling for Willow again, and cant seem to help himself? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section, but first check out the scenes leading up to the ending with Ava distracting Jack and getting him to sip on the spiked drink below.