General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Patient Six Dealt Heartbreak As He Learns Sam Is With Another Man & Morgan Has Died!
Courtesy/ABC
If you watched Tuesday’s episode of ABC’s General Hospital, you caught an emotional performance by Steve Burton (Patient Six).
In it, Patient Six, who believes he is Jason Morgan, returns to his place with Sam (Kelly Monaco), where he is overcome by seeing the leather jacket he gave her, and all the larger matchbox trucks and cars for his son, Danny. He runs out onto the balcony shaken. When Sam comes through the apartment door with Jason (Billy Miller), Six overhears all the lovey-dovey talk between the two from the balcony, and then a devastating earful when they mention the death of Morgan Corinthos! When Sam and Jason go upstairs, Six makes his way back to the front door, but not before moving Sam’s motorcycle jacket to the couch, since he is still reeling from all he has just learned.
Later. Six heads to the cemetery and to visit Morgan’s grave, where Steve Burton showcased why he has been beloved by many in the audience over the years, as Six says he should have been here to protect Morgan and that he was names after him. Six mentions that he has lost five years of his life and does not know what has transpired in that time. Lo and behold, who should also be heading to Morgan’s tombstone, but Ava Jerome (Maura West)! After hearing a noise behind him, Six’s instinct is to draw a gun on her, but then he realizes it is Ava. The woman that helped him escape captivity in Russia.
Courtesy/ABC
This gives Six the opportunity to thank Ava. He asks her if she knew Morgan. She only says that Morgan was a friend of her daughter’s. When inquiring what happened to Morgan and how he died, all Ava would say is that he was troubled before his death, and that it was an accident, and she needed to leave it at that.
Next, Six tells Ava he needs to lie low and has nowhere to go. She says she wants to help him and prove to herself that she can do the right thing, and invites him to stay with her. He agrees. Back at Ava’s, she receives a phone call that Derek Wells Media had been bought by Jason Morgan, and she says she could not believe her brother sold his only asset to that man! When she related this to Six, he reacts in shock at hearing the name! We fade to black.
So, what did you think of Steve Burton’s performance? What do you think about the pace of the story now that Six is Port Charles, and some key story points have been revealed to him? Will he figure out there are two Jasons in town? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
101 Leave a Reply
It has been very good and makes me excited for the next episode…truly !
I agree, Brian. Burton is cooler than the other side of the pillow. On another note, did the writers and director go out of their way to make Faux Jason and Sam more insufferable than ever? While sad Jason hid in the balcony looking in, Sam and Jason are smooching it up with baby talk while wearing his and her matching attire.
I swear, with their matching black motor jackets and color coordinated outfits, those two look like catalogue models for the his and her Chico’s motorcycle collection
They’re so cute, I can just eat em up!
LOL, Harry, Sam and Jason always wore matching attire. Now there will be three of them wearing the same black t shirts!!! I sense a biker gang in the near future…
Credit where credit is due, the writers are doing a great job with Six. I knew he wouldnt see “Anyone” until Friday. I knew damn well he wouldnt see Sam at their house. I knew Andrew would show up as Sam looked for Danny’s permission slip. [Yes, that was lame!] Steve Burton is showing tons of emotions just with his eyes and his facial expressions. No Stone Cold here! I actually felt bad for Morgan’s “Death” for once! Then he sees Ava at Morgan’s grave. This is going to be interesting being that Ava and Jason are becoming indebted to each other. Sonny’s hair is going to run when he discovers this! I’m sure Griffin will be a part of this secret threesome as Jason reclaims his name. Notice I didnt say his life!
I love Patient 6. Who would have “thunk”, Timmmy? Moi!! Go figure. But, let me tell you….Burton completely turned my head at the end of his ‘visit’ on Y&R. He certainly proved his talent.
Steve is a true actor, he is soooo there on cue….facial expressions and all.
This story smells of Helena. Who is whom? I have said it from the onset. Whoever is not the real Jason was ‘injected’ with the real Jason’s memories—-brainwashed by Helena and her minions.
It may even have been Robin ( as per Helena’s orders when in captivity) who did the deed, thinking the fake Jason was the real one….unbeknownst to her there was a double.
Are you following me, T? Say yes!! LOL.
@CeeCee…Our favorite “freaky fa” Faison is an expert hypnotist….perhaps he played a part in brainwashing “faux Jason” into believing his supplanted memories were real!
You are so smart my C! The exit of Dylan showed the Steve Burton that should have always been on Y&R. They flubbed up his character so bad! Yes, he got redemption in the end and his abilities are showing on his return to GH. Not Stone Cold but I call him “Stone Blue” because of those eyes that melt the screen with emotion! I pray he stays an outsider and doesnt get sucked into the Corinthi Zone! He should tell Sonny to F off! Monica should kiss Jason’s feet and beg for him to stay away from Sonny, the one who took so much from the Q’s! We hear Morgan’s name everyday on the show. Why not A.J.? Morgan was ten times the loser that A.J. was! What a crock!
PS: I follow you everyday Cee Cee!
Hi, T.
Thank you, my friend…. I take everything you say to heart. I am very excited about this story….every day, it gets better and better.
It’s beyond understanding why Steve/Jason would even want to be with Sam..YUCK!
Sorry to disagree but after 30 years of watching GH I am ready to turn it off. It has become very boring and the story lines are not going anywhere, Steve Burton is a much better actor than what the writers are doing to him, really he has barely uttered a full sentence since his return.
Steve Burton gave such a fantastic performance. A word wasn’t even needed to know exactly what Jason was experiencing in learning some of what he has missed. My heart broke for Jason.
Truly, Dawn! No one can emote with those blue eyes the way Burton can. We viewers were short changed with the first Jason reveal. It wasn’t Billy Miller’s fault, but the way he came back as Jason was anti climatic and unsatisfying.
Finally, viewers are getting the return they’ve been waiting for. What I really appreciated is that Burton’s Jason reacted realistically the way anyone would upon seeing his beloved wife with another man. Prior to seeing Sam and later Jason the second, Jason was so overwhelmed with emotion he had to go outside to the balcony to catch his breath. That’s a real emotion and Burton played it brilliantly.
Burton says so much without ever opening his mouth. Moreover, he’s damned good at the adventure, fighting and gun scenes–something Miller never mastered (he’s a bit of a clod hopper).
While Burton excels at adventure scenes and emoting with his eyes, Miller excels at cuddling, giggling and snaking. They are polarized opposites of each other.
Opps, ahem, that’s snacking, not snaking. I would hate for anyone to think my mind was in the gutter with that last sentence.
Totally agree with you Harry. Finally the return of Jason we wish we had when Billy Miller came in. The emotion is there in everything. Recognizing things in sonnys house, the booze, the picture of the corrinthos, the feelings he had immediately for Sam, the emotion about seeing them together, dannys motorcycle, sams jacket, the emotion when he heard morgan died, realizing jake was alive and being confused by that, recognizing Liz’s voice…. all the stuff the true Jason Morgan should’ve felt upon returning to his life. Love it. Burton is killing it, riveting to watch.
As usual Steve is rocking the material, my heart breaks for P6 as he realizes how time went on without him. I was disappointed with the pace at first but am now loving it. Unfortunately I am selfishly wanting to see something everyday which I know is not going to happen. I love that the story is allowing me to see Steve with the emotions and the action scenes which has lacked believability since he has been gone. No one does the fight scenes like he does on GH. I like BM but the fights scenes were not as believable.
Agree with you, Joanne. I feel badly for 6, as well. He must be so confused….lots of missing years.
How long will it take for him to piece everything together? A truly riveting story. About time!!
The anticipation….the suspense is there… can’t wait for his meeting with Sam….and, mostly coming face to face with “himself”.
@Shay.
Yeah, Shay, Faison may have had a hand in this….anything is possible. Was he ever en league with Helena?
I wish Faison would make an appearance, Shay…..as Oscar’s father? HaHa.
Oh yeah, Helena and Faison have, shall we say, a “history?” One of a purely professional nature???? I know he used to conduct hypnosis/mind control experiments for the “Ice Queen’s” test subjects, I mean, victims, but as for romance??? Hmmmm….Maybe he is Cassandra’s real daddy! (Hey, a half-sis for Britt!!!!) Sounds like this maniacal Dane possibly could give Sonny a run for the money in the “siring” sense!
Moving the story along in a timely fashion, is making it enjoyable….
LOVE having STEVE back on GH‼️‼️‼️
I thought this was a great episode. A Friday cliffhanger on a Tuesday! Steve Burton has been the highlight of the show since his return. My love of Jason dwindled Steve’s last 3 to 6 months. He became unlikeable and I was not sad when his departure was announced. Nor was I excited about his return. However, it definitely helps that he has not reunited with the unholy three. I like his connection with Ava, I liked Griffin helping him, and I even liked his talks with Huxley. I just need him to reunite with the Quartermaines, Liz, and Jake.
Wouldn’t it be something if Jason/Steve fell for Ava? What an impossible triangle—Jason, Ava, Griffin. Love it !!
I felt the same way….that is, iffy, about Steve. But, I have come a long way….I like the way you think, Leila. I will not be too thrilled if he embroils himself with Sonny and Carly. Sadly, it cannot be avoided.
And, if the soap gods have any pity for Jason1, they will leave Sam well enough alone—leave her with Jason2.
I don’t know how ‘exciting’ that pairing was……but Sam must not have been so different with him as she is with the present Jason.
One good thing: I understand Jason1’s speech. ….he enunciates his words. I would not anticipate watching him with Sam, at this juncture, he may dtart muttering under his breath.
Celia
Sean Kanan was the second actor to play an adult AJ Quartermaine. Gerald Hopkins played him for about a year, before SK took over. Kanan abruptly left the series and was replaced by Billy Warlock, who gained fame on DAYS. Warlock, who was a lot shorter than Kanan, played AJ for the infamous meat hook scene. While somewhat resembling Stuart Damon (Alan), BW and Steve Burton did not look like brothers (unlike SK and SB who looked like family).
Thank you, Shay.
As I said, I love all explanations….it makes it much easier to follow plots.
Now, there’s the Drew story. Are we hearing about Drew for the first time? Is this a new character or did he really exist, as Franco’s playmate? Brother?
Also, why does his ‘mother’ call Franco Bobby?
You’re welcome, CeeCee! As far as I know, this is the first mention of Drew…but as I have stated before, I shied away from much of the original (James Franco-featured) story because his tale was often so horribly unpalatable…just very dark and repulsive. However, I can tell you that shortly after his birth, this character’s so-called “mother,” aka, nurse Betsy Frank, formally named him Robert when she purchased him from Heather, hence the “Bobby” moniker. He later dubbed himself with the edgier “Franco” branding when he launched his art career. (And, of course, the character was also called that in honor of the first actor who portrayed him…)
Many other people have died in Port Charles, yet, they are not remembered, memorialized, or even mentioned. Jason’s brother AJ died, at the hands of Sonny, yet, here he is, at The Moron’s grave, mourning. His wife has moved on, his child is being raised by someone else, and where does he go to breakdown-Morgan’s grave. Seriously, I can’t stand to watch “The Moron Hour.” The character was highly unlikeable, disrespectful, petulant, and just nasty, yet, we continue to mourn him and paint him as a Saint in death. Why? Because he is the Dimpled Don’s kid.
Well, if Six is original Jason, he assumed AJ died when Billy Warlock left the series. AJ, in the form of Sean Kanan returned to PC right after Jason was presumed dead.
We had a respite for a few months from the Morgan love fest. But, yes, it is back full force this week. At least Nikolas is getting mentioned more.
Jason/Six would also believe Jake is dead and that Sonny was with Connie.
Oh, Steve. I am so confused!!!… someone else played AJ?
I started watching at the end of Steve’s tenure; that is, when a Duke-masked Faison shot Jason who, in turn, fell into the water—what is that water? The only waters I can think of in that area are the Erie Canal, Irondequoit Bay and Lake Ontario…..LOL…
Seriously, Steve, I was not aware AJ had been replaced. Was Sean not the original?
Anyway, what you say makes sense. I just wonder if Steve’s Jason remembers ‘everything’.
Also, I thought it was very tacky for TPTB to have Jason1enter the “Morgan” residence while KNOWING his presumed wife and Jason2 were doing it upstairs. Unfathomable. Talk about masochism!
I received an AJ and Franco explanation in my inbox. If it was you, Steve, thank you. If it was not, I thsnk whoever took the time to explain.
I do have a much better, clearer perspective.
Out of context: Franco must have super human strength in his arm. He picked up that pumpkin by its stump as if it were made out of plastic. LOL.
@CeeCee….There was a whole slew of actors who portrayed AJ through the years before Sean K was introduced in the role in 1993—alongside Steve Burton’s already existing Jason as they played Q half-bros. Their striking likenesses made this duo believable as real siblings, even though the resemblance was purely physical. Jason was always the “Golden Boy” and AJ was forever the “Bad Boy.” In 1997, Kanan left the show for personal reasons and Billy Warlock was recast in the role which lasted (on-and-off) until his character was “killed off” in 2005. Fast forward to 2012, and Kanan reprised his version of AJ until he was murdered by “you know who!!!!” in 2014….End of story(?)
@Steve….P.S. As for the striking resemblance between Sean Kanan and Steve Burton, if memory serves, they are actually distantly related in real life, right? I know they both had roots in Cleveland.
Why is Six afraid of Seven? Cause Seven ATE Nine!!!
Exactly! What about mourning people we love like Alan, Emily or A.J.? Morgan sucked when he was alive and sucks now that he is “Dead!”
Well, Morgan died during Jason’s five year absence so it makes sense that he would be mourning for him. Before he allegedly died, he was already aware of the deaths of the aforementioned family members.
Other than by Monica, AJ was never properly mourned! Sure, Mikey got petulant and self-righteous for a brief while when he discovered Sonny killed his bio-dad, but honestly, this late character never got his due….even his funeral was FF-ed with just a quick musical montage….no real service to speak of, then he was promptly shipped to the Q mausoleum for Sonny and Ava’s disgusting, disrespectful crypt tryst send-off to their victim. How lovely….
Well, I agree about AJ. He was disrespected in life and disrespected in death.
My Lord, Sonny and Ava made love on top of his not yet cold body in the Quartermaine crypt! I tell, ya, no respect.
AJ is the Rodney Dangerfield of daytime television.
Did any of you know that when Johnny Carson died reporters went to Rodney Dangerfield’s house to get his reaction? Trouble is, Dangerfield had died a couple years prior to Carson’s death.
AJ? No respect, I tell ya.
Although I’ve enjoyed Billy as Jason/Jake….Steve Burton showed us why he was beloved as Jason Morgan. He was “Jason”, all the mannerisms, facial expressions and more. He conveyed the hurt and concern as only the “real” Jason could have. Now, more than ever, I hope the powers that be ensure he is the real Jason…I didn’t realize how much he was missed until yesterday.
***By the way, Thanks Michael Fairman for the giving us the opportunity to vent and post about our favorite shows…and the ones we’ve sadly lost.
Wait until Jason finds out that the woman who helped him escape from Russia was the one responsible for putting Morgan in that car…. which was bombed by her psycho sister… and that both of them are his in-laws!!
ya…its ok.
maybe Jason is Oliver’s father and Dr.O is his mother-lol
Steve/Jason is a creation of Helenas.. he is Helena’s.
Hey, that’s what I said, su, LOL.
….except, su….we do not know which Jason. One is the true Jason; the other is Drew.
It was Drew that disappeared, as we learned today…. Would it not be more feasible to think that Helena took Drew, and moulded him into a robot. Maybe?
Re: Danny
During the end of the Phelps/Guza/Wolf era, Franco was played by “Special Guest Star” James Franco. In his final appearance, while Jason & Sam were vacationing in Hawaii, Franco shot a video that implied he raped an unconscious Sam.
Valentini/Carlivati take over and Sam was pregnant with a WTD storyline. The baby was assumed to be stillborn when Heather switched Sam’s newborn with that of Tea Delgado. Months later, the baby switch is revealed, and this time Heather falsified the DNA tests to indicate Franco was Danny’s bio dad. Shortly after, Jason takes a nap off Pier 52 before it is revealed that he was really Danny’s bio dad.
I need a drink after reliving that, lol
@Steve.
Thanks, for the concise synopsis, Steve.
I wrote to you, earlier….I received your explanation in my inbox before it hit the site.
So, I hope you get one or the other. LOL.
@Steve….And I need a barf bag after reliving that! Seriously, Franco’s “Franco” (Try saying that ten times really fast….Lol) was one of the most revolting soap opera characters ever to inhabit the GH canvas…Sure, at first he was a novelty, but as he plumbed the depths of utter depravity, he completely turned me off the show for quite some time…it was only after he was presumed dead and the 50th anniversary year approached with all those wonderful legacy player guest shots that I could stomach the idea of once again visiting “Port Charles.” Hence when I heard RoHo was taking over the role, I was less than elated…Whilst he has definitely remolded the character into a more lightweight, comedic freak show, I still cannot—even after all the time that has passed—erase the disturbing images and memories of Franco 1.0 from my mind. Having said that, I think all things considered, Howarth would have made a much better Cassadine.
Steve Burton has never been better! His story thus far is so poignant and he’s conveying such depth of emotion…really…kudos! I always felt that all the years he’s played Jason as “Stone Cold” he was very expressive even while his emotions were supposedly suppressed. He’ s great at showing emotion with his eyes, be it joy, sorrow or fun. (Those comical/quizzical expression he would make when talking to Spinelli were priceless!)
I’m really enjoying his comeback. Really, the best thing GH has going on right now.
(Although. on a side note I’m loving the Anna/Finn story.) I like Finn much better with Anna than with Hayden; Michael seems to come alive when working with Finola (and Finola seems to do the same working with Michael).
Rebecca, Finn is actually funny now.
Loved him jumping up and down with faux enthusiasm at the prospect of he and Anna going on a double date with Mac and Felicia.
LOL, Harry! I know! I LOVE them together! I haven’t enjoyed Michael this much since he joined GH. HIs sarcasm, snarky responses to Anna…the scene you just described…it’s gold! Finola’s come alive, too! I really hope they evolve this past the pretend stage (although probably at that point Hayden will come back with the baby). Really? I’d much rather he stay with Anna. They’re so fun to watch together and make a great looking couple.
I’m liking Steve back as well. Have to admit I wasn’t that excited with him by the time he originally left GH. Same old, same old “Stone Cold.” But by that time I even think he had lost his enthusiasm as well. Until he left Y&R and they actually gave him a finish where he could show that he was more than a one-note story-line. Just don’t want him falling back into the Sonny/Carly orbit. And I am also very tired of the Morgan stuff.
Am liking Anna and Finn as well. Finn may not be Robert, but they still seem to be building a reluctant but fun rapport with each other with a bit of humor. Plus it gave some wanted airtime to Felicia.
And Jessica Tuck (liked her on OLTL) as Cassandra. Wouldn’t be surprised of she was a daughter of Helena. She sure has a resemblance to her. Noticed the first letters of Cassandra are also the first letters of Cassadine. Hummmm. Hoping she is another generation of this family. But I really, really hate (this is one of the few times I will use this word) the business she is in and want her taken down for it.
Always loved Jessica Tuck, but man, would someone give her a cheese burger?
I am not talking about how svelte she is but about how pale and wane she is.
She needs some protein and some Omega 3 pronto.
She has vegan written all over her.
Great observation, Rose! Jessica really does resemble Helena! Not sure if they’d be related in this story line considering Valentin is a Cassadine…and these two were intimate. But that would have been great casting if they were or will be looking for a new daughter of Helena’s to suddenly be discovered.
By the way, you’re allowed to “hate” a story or a line of “business!” (I hope you’re not making a disclaimer because of the negative reaction the word “hater” has gotten on here regarding characters, etc. Completely different. Many of us HATE that AJ was murdered and Sonny got a way with it while Michael acts like AJ never existed. It’s a natural response! Don’t ALL CAP me if I overstepped…I’d “hate” that. 🙂
Steve has been amazing since his return. I too noticed the emotions, his eyes you can see are searching for answers, and I feel the emotion too.I’ve been glued to the tv watching and I haven’t been this interested in GH for a while. Jason’s return changed that. Wouldn’t be bad to have his brother return as well…bring him back from the dead too. he got the shaft last time he was on.
But…are we sure Steve will be Jason? Or will he be Andrew? It will end up with both Steve and Billy having to go thru lots of x-rays to find broken bones from when he was pushed down the stairs by Bobby! Franco will be having a hard time with this one.
i can’t wait to he finds out Jake is alive, thats going to be a whopper , i’m enjoying the pace of the storyline, not just w/ jason but other characters. GH is still in my opinion the best soap around, even if Y&R is celebrating their milestone at #1 and BB out ranks GH in the ratings, they still pale in comparison.
Also, Six would think that Danny was Franco’s biological son. The paternity test that Heather switched was not revealed until after Jason got shoved in the harbor.
The confusion is getting worse now, Steve. Franco’s son????? Oh, boy!!
I’ve been enjoying his return, and the surprising pairing with Ava! Have to met though, I’ll be really disappointed if it turns out not to be Jason. I love the nuanced sensitivity that he’s been showing as he learns different things, it’s really taking me back to the glory days of Jason! Hope the story progresses at a reasonable rate.
Thank goodness the show found another way to force us to mourn Morgan Corinthos.
And more to come, I’m sure, Alan. Remember Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner! There’s sure to be plenty of “Morgan moments” built around the holiday celebrations at “Chez Corinthos!”
And this was a character that 90 percent of the viewers hated! But my Shayster, it could be worse, imagine if Sabrina would have been Sonny’s daughter!
And don’t kid yourself Timm….that is exactly the direction Carlivati was heading with that character! He was obviously testing the waters, seeing if he could wedge her in there as Sonny and Lily’s daughter. The timing was just never right for that reveal, and then Avery came along, and it would have been overkill on the Sonny daddy thing. Then Sabrina was already involved with Michael and while it wouldn’t have been incest as Michael is NOT Sonny’s child, it would have been awkward at best. I wonder when they will get around to revealing that Avery is actually Morgan’s daughter! Carly was alone with the paternity tests and she played it a bit too cool! She changed the tests for many reasons: to protect Morgan from being linked to a child via Ava, to stick it to Ava (after Sonny “stuck it to Ava” in that Crypt), to ensure that Ava would have little to no chance at custody, to have a chance to raise another child with Sonny, etc! I can’t wait for something that monumental to blow up in Carly’s face! As biological grandparents, Sonny and Carly would have virtually no rights….in the real world anyway!! It would be a thrill to see Ava rise above and destroy Sonny once and for all!! And if this show were written correctly, Real Jason would be at Ava’s side denouncing Sonny for ruining his young life! That will never happen but it should! Sonny took a brain damaged kid with a promising future as a doctor, alienated him from his family, turned him into An unrepentant blood thirsty murderer, kidnapped Michael as a child, murdered AJ at point blank cold blood range….and yet we are expected to believe Jason should be blindly devoted to him?!?!?! For what?????? Sonny ruined Jason’s life and the life of his family!! Until ANY regime addresses this glaring basic problem with this story, and corrects it, GH will never be GH. It will always be The Sonny Show, and it has disgusted and repulsed me for 22 years!
Well, that certainly put things in perspective, Timmm! Needless to add, I shall remain eternally grateful that Sabs never joined that ever-expanding list of Sonny’s long-lost offspring….imagining her as a “Corinthos Kid” is simply too awful a prospect to contemplate!
Steve has been really good and he’s expressed more emotion this time around.
This is really good stuff! Keep it coming, Mr. Valentini. And Mr. Burton…you’re reminding us day in and day out why you are a 2-time Emmy winner. Bravo!
Every episode has had great cliffhangers lately and the story is progressing at a great pace! Was worried this would drag out until February sweeps in 2018 but this is great. Just wondering how the writers explain Robin and Jason’s breakout from Cricton-Clarke prior to the accident. Also, why didn’t Ava mention that she was the one that drove over Jason Morgan’s face resulting in him requiring drastic plastic surgery? Did Betsy sell Andrew to a family in San Diego making him Oscar’s papa? That would make Scout his half sister!
Keep it up Jason! Patient 6 is dead…long live Stone Cold. At some point Spinelli and Robin will need to return to Port Chuck to clear up a few things?
Thanks!
Robin probably helped Billy Miller’s character escape from the clinic, since he looked the same and was unable to talk at that point.
How would he know Robin and why would he answer to ‘Jason’…..? Also, why is paying the Russians to hunt down Patient 6? Who would want to keep him in Russia??
think theyre having her help him to redeem her, not possible & he better HATE her when he finds out she killed morgan
First of all…she didn’t kill Morgan. She tampered with some meds. I remind you that Morgan and Kiki did the exact same thing to Michael! So where Kiki gets off being so righteous I can’t figure out. And what about Sonny murdering AJ in cold blood?! He also shot his own Dante at point blank range. People always say “Oh he didn’t know it was his son!” Excuse me?!? He knew he shooting a young unarmed cop!! That makes it somehow better? Ava has been on this show for under 5 years. Sonny has been on for almost 25 years causing murder and mayhem and you know what?! He has not shown an ounce of remorse for even one of his crimes!!! I am sick of the hypocrisy!
Good show!!!!! You go, Jovin!!!!!
Jovin.
Hi…Re your Sonny ‘stampede’….you have just become my best friend, LOL.
WOW and TRIPLE WOW!!!!!!! More, please!!!!!
What gets me about this self-righteous gnome is that he has no remorse.
You are right about Avery’s situation….I await the day when it is finally evident that Morgan is, indeed, Avery’s father. In the real world it would be an open and shut case….Ava would have all rights, as the child’s only surviving parent.
What gets to me is that Ava supposedly had custody to begin with? So why is the baby with Sonny? And, Ava needs permission to see her own child? To top it all off, Molly has more rights with Avery? And Puppy-eyed Michael?
It is so ridiculous….in what universe? What did I miss?
…… just as idiotic as the priest from “The Love Boat,LOL, or, Griffin’s superior tries to convince Griffin to return to the roost; the Catholic Church. Any one perdon who is Roman Catholic and who is well-versed in all things RC, knows that once a priest “steps out”, he can never return to the priesthood.
I am so tired of soaps continually obstructing/ignoring this fact. Also, divorced people cannot be married in the Catholic Church. There is no divorce in the Catholic Church….only annulments, granted by the Pope.
Sorry, Jovin….got carried away there. LOL. But, Lordy Lord….why can’t ‘they’ get it straight? These writers make up their own rules.
Just as much as he should hate Sonny for killing his brother, AJ, Amy.
There really is no justice in PC. It’s a wild, undisciplined town.
Steve Burton is amazing!! So glad he is finally back in Port
Charles! Didn’t Jason know Ava in the past before he was shot
I am pretty sure she was in the picture then so that part is
Odd that now they don’t know each other. Anyway great
Storyline and great acting! Please please please don’t let him be
Andrew! He needs to be the real Jason and Sam needs to
Be back with Steve and not Billy. I hope that happens!
I think I have this Jason twist figured out.
I think Steve Burton grew up as Drew as a child and is also Jason Morgan.
I think Billy Miller grew up as a child as Jason Quartermaine.
I think when Jason Quartermaine (Billy) had the car accident with AJ is when the switch was made.
In comes Steve Burton (Drew) who takes on the role of Jason Morgan.
Burton as Jason Morgan does not after the switch act like JQ because he wasn’t him, he was Drew as a kid.
Miller/Jason Quartermaine disappears via Helena after the accident with AJ.
Miller/ JQ is the scarecrow.
Burton lived as Jason Morgan and had Jake, had Danny, married Sam, has the full connection to the Corrinthos clan.
Miller/JQ has a forced connection with Corrinthos because its fake. He (Billy) was JQ as a kid so all his old Jason Morgan memories were planted when Helena had them both.
Miller/JQ came back to Port Charles and was run over by Ava and his face changed. Miller felt connections to the Quartermaines when he came back, cuz he was one.
Burton (Drew) clearly has all the real Jason Morgan feelings and connections.
Good sleuthing, Dee,
You might be on to something there.
I keep thinking Billy Miller is Drew. But, after reading your post, Dee…..your theory makes so much sense. I like it.
I did not know life in PC pre 2014, but, I learn something new every day…..the internet helps, but it does not compare to hearing the town’s history and its peoples by all of you on this site. It’s comparable (almost, LOL) finding out ‘first-hand’.
I thank you all….
If you don’t know the history of the show… the one thing over the years that you may have missed is how totally different Jasons personality was after the car accident with his brother AJ when they were young. Not only did that car accident cause Jason Q to lose all his memories, it was as if he was a “different person”. He was gonna be a doctor, he wanted to save lives, he was a good kid. He awoke after the accident and didn’t want anything to do with the Q’s, became a mobster, and killed people for a living. This proposed switch of them at this time totally fits with history. Drew as Jason makes much more sense. And on top of that, may not outrage the Billy Miller fans when he is proved to be the J Morgan imposter, because Billy will be Jason Quartermaine and not a total nobody with no connections to anyone.
What validates your case further, Dee, is Franco’s hippie, flake of a step mother said she always got the feeling Drew would be okay because he was such a survivor.
I think you’re on to something
Harry, I totally caught that too. Drew/Steve Burton is a survivor, so true. I’ve read that people feel like there’s a twist coming, and to me it seems like they are setting this up. Once I started thinking Steve Burton was Drew, a couple of weeks back, the “potential surprise-switch” of the twins feels like it’s just falling into place. And wouldn’t it be so much more meaningful to the fans if Steve Burton was Drew and had that childhood connection to Franco, given all the past that Burton & Franco have been through together with Sam & the fake rape & all that? And then to find out they were like brothers as kids. Explains all that history where Psycho Franco was obsessed with Jason Morgan (Drew) when Franco first came to town….
Steve B. is slaying every scene!! I love love love that he’s returned. He’s emoting & giving us dramatic eye action. There’s nothing better than seeing him back in PC! I was only surprised by him going to Ava’s house. I mean he should have a burner cell phone by now to just call Sonny or Carly. I’m excited to watch everyday, so the dvr is set. I’m disappointed with the pacing though. I’m waiting for Jason sightings, you know. Like him sneaking into the Q’s to see Monica, creeping around GH looking for Liz, & having a low key drink at the bar to clear his mind. I need him to contact Spinelli & Diane, b/c this other Jason is stepping into the spotlight using his mob money. I can’t wait till he sees the kids!! Oh! Speed it up, pls.
I am 7 years behind on GH but know a few things LOL
Wait til “Jason” finds out Jake is alive and that Franco was dating Carly and Liz.
So much has happened while he was gone.
And yes AJ was dead so he doesn’t know that AJ came back and died again.
Storyline sounds interesting but I can’t see myself just skipping the last 7 years.
Steve Burton is hitting it out of the park!! (No surprise there lol) No dialogue required to show Six’s emotions. They are written all over his face. I am sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the next scenes/episode to come across my screen!! BRAVO STEVE BURTON!!
As someone who was never a Steve Burton Jason fan, I’m surprised how much I like this story.
I think I have this Jason twist figured out. Or at least this is how I predict this will go down…
I think they will say Steve Burton grew up as Drew as a child, and is also our original Jason Morgan.
I think they will say Billy Miller grew up as a child as Jason Quartermaine.
I think when young Jason Quartermaine (Billy Miller) had the car accident with AJ is when the “Jason Switch” was made. [THIS IS THE KEY — THIS SWITCH]
In comes Steve Burton (Drew) who steps in as the original Jason Morgan.
Steve Burton as Jason Morgan, did not — after the accident & switch — act anything like Jason Quartermaine, because Steve Burton was never him, he was Drew as a kid.
Billy Miller/Jason Quartermaine disappears via Helena after the accident with AJ.
Billy Miller/Jason Quartermaine was the scarecrow [he has memories of this].
Burton lived as the original Jason Morgan and had Jake, had Danny, married Sam, has the full “REAL” connection to the Corrinthos clan.
Miller/JQ has a forced connection with the Corrinthos because it’s fake/planted. He (Billy) was JQ as a kid, so all his old Jason Morgan memories were planted, when Helena had them both.
Miller/JQ came back to Port Charles and was run over by Ava and his face changed. Miller felt connections to the Quartermaines when he came back, cuz he was one [remember him seeing pictures of Alan & Edward Q on the wall at the hospital as Jake Doe and he felt something].
Burton (Drew) clearly has all the real Jason Morgan feelings and connections.
I’m sorry but I just don’t get the fanfare over Mr Burton. He sighs, mopes, pouts and speaks in a whisper all the time. There is no pathos or sadness in his “eyes”…there is basically nothing. I have zero interest in his character’s future. Okay so he is THEE Jason Morgan. I’m already over it. All the people who whine about how the show is all about Sonny and Carly and now they are cheering for the return of the real Jason Morgan. Well get ready for more Sonny and Carly and Jason and Carly and Sonny and Jason and blah blah blah…….this was the most ridiculous decision the show could have made. But I love GH and I will watch and I will even skip the fast forward button because with the exception of SB..their cast is stellar. So I pass on the praise for Mr Burton because he escapes me but I support GH regardless……..but don’t let me go on about this topic cause the gloves are ready to come off…..LOL
Oh, Mateo…you know how much I appreciate your writing and opinion.
But, in just this instance, I disagree.
I felt the same as you when Steve first came to Genoa City. His face was blank….as Dylan, he really was Stonecold….robotic. He brought Jason Morgan with him and wore him as a kid glove. I was very vociferous about it….not very kind to him. Sorry about that. My clamor continued until baby Christian was born. He changed…he became human.
Burton’s last few scenes, as Dylan, blew me away.
Presently ( on his return to GH), his eyes speak volumes….just the right amount of teary lucidity to indicate his inner turmoil….or the change in mood…the puzzlement, as he tries to search for a beginning to the travesty of this imbroglio, hoping to reach an end.
By the same token, Billy Miller falls short of my expectations after he ‘divested’ himself of Billy Abbott.
I am very disappointed by his Jason representation. Not that I ‘knew’ Jason, but, I do not find him Billy interesting in this role. He looks different, too….beefy….barrel-chested ( not my thing)….he came down a few notches when coupled with Sam, the lamentable, one-tone, soap whisperer.
I liked him so much better with Liz, as Jake, albeit her actions were not so pure, at the time.
Phraseology correction: like a kid glove.
“…but don’t let me go on about this topic cause the gloves are ready to come off ”
not for me
reload fire and then some
that cross to bear is mine
I am loving it! Burton is great! Billy is great! Kelly is great!
This will unfold to be a really good story. I do hope it keeps moving at a decent pace. So far it has…
Jason with Sam..that’s all.
Danny and the other child
I want Steve and Kelly to work together
I hope so… because we have got to FREE Billy Miller from the Corinthos’ clan
I have been watching General Hospital for 42 years now I can’t believe it I was so devastated when Steve Burton left a show and so thrilled to have him back he definitely needs to be the one who ends up with Sam I hope they play this out right
DOES – every thing have to be spelled out ?
when Steve Burton was in “their” condo… he slipped out on the balcony
as Sam and BM Jason came home
Sam and “Drew” practically renewed their marriage vows … not so out of earshot of SB “Jason”
give me an effing break… as his eyes had that downward cast
oh well… how much will he “blame” Sonny for those 5 years ?
another thing that gnawing at : just what will be played out with “Jason” and Ava ?
when he is told the whole truth and nothing but… from Sonny and Carly ?
I just have this gut feeling that for all of Maura West propping.. she will be kicked to the curb. it’s just so perturbing to see her at Morgans grave site with “Jason” as she wants to continue her valiant efforts at being a good person. in helping out “Jason” again.
another thing : YEAH – “Drew” goes to see Nina w/Valentin about buying out Julian media company… it was so lame that Drew was ready to take on Valentin should he mention “nepotism” LOL that was not even Valentin thought. god this too much.
at least Nina isn’t fired. it’s just too much… why should Valentin and Nina be under their wing ?
it’s just not adding up too much interest
defining once again…. Dullard on
I don’t know, Patrick, what else you would need to find the story interesting. Soaps are primarily about people…their relationships. Feelings. Connections. Family. Something that at times GH sorely lacks. Now…they’re finally revisiting those things:
A) I think it’s a bonus but I love the flashbacks of a young Jason/Sonny which is quite instrumental to GH history and Jason’s history.
B) Jason? Drew? (Whomever he turns out to be) walked out on to the terrace because he was overcome with emotion…needed to get fresh air. Regardless of which twin he is, he now has Jason Morgan’s memories so of course he’s hurt/devastated to see his wife with another man, seemingly moved on…how hurtful must that be? Horribly so.
I don’t think Maura West is being “propped.” I don’t get when a wonderful actress gets to be involved with another story line that it’s considered “propping.” It all ties together: she’s the mother of Sonny’s child (who WAS Jason’s best friend). She wound up at a clinic where Jason was (it’s a soap…which is why we watch, no?) and that made it more interesting. Ava has been soul-searching for quite a while now; it didn’t start when she ran into Jason and wanted to redeem herself. When faced with her own tragedy, when feeling rejected by Griffin who is the polar opposite of the life she’s lived…she’s had many months to contemplate her life. So, not knowing who Jason/Drew was, she helped him with no motive, other than that…to help him.
Which leads to an interesting dilemma when Jason/Drew finds out the relationship between Ava and his beloved Corinthos clan…does he turn against her? (I hope not.)
I think the current Jason (Billy Miller) buying Derek Wells media is the juxtaposition…the going all out to show that THIS Jason is not like the old one. That’s why everyone, from Sam to Sonny and Carly are shocked he would do this. That’s why they continually say he’s changed so much since he’s been back. So, now, after being shot, lying in a coma near death, Sam having a breakdown (whatever the cause)…the time was right to attempt to go legit. It makes sense that both “Jason” and Valentin and Nina would come to their first meeting feeling defensive. Nepotism (Julian did own the company and Jason and Sam are his son-in-law and daughter) so why not think it? Either way, could be an interesting team…
I’m personally loving the story. I do dread though when THIS Jason becomes once-again Sonny’s right hand man. If he doesn’t I’ll be pleasantly surprised but his love/loyalty is still in full force so it’ll probably just go back. Sam? She’s been screaming for Jason to get out of the business….she should be thrilled at the thought of a much safer/secure life for her family..but we already see her longing for the more exciting days as she puts on her dress but then holds her biker jacket in reflection…slowly slipping it back on….
Hey Patrick…I added an addendum to my post above but it isn’t here. Basically, just wanted to “edit” my first sentence to you…came off kinda harsh in rereading it. Just wanted to give you a fresh pair of eyes on how the stories are unfolding…perhaps you’ll enjoy them more. Or not. I tried… 🙂
Hi Rebecca1: whew! I, finally, have a chance to let
I finally had a “Steve Burton moment”
at the park: scene on… Liz and “Jake” walking thru from a pumpkin carve and contest.
oh God.. it was palpitating… watching Steve Burton realize that was his son.. after a 5 year absence
even if : the flashback.. went against him.. as Liz slapped him… ” you left us, and didn’t look back” further stating that it was Lucky who raised “Jake”.
I love my Liz.. she is a STUNNER. and is perfect in General Hospital…. had to throw that in
I STILL “saw” the magic between Billy Miller and Rebecca Herbst. naysay that much. as I’ve posted.. GET Billy Miller out of the dullard Corinthos’ orbit.. and Steve Burton and Kelly Monaco can do whatever they want.. I will not care.
let’s get that dance and romance; perking and stirring
Liz and Drew ; MOVE
i’d like to add.. that i’m not that angst out about GH.
Days of OUR Lives has provided much more let
yowsah
Maura West is still my gal pal. Will Griffin LIVE what he does know ? has learned ( LOL ) with Ava ? is he that triggered
what’s in the cards with SB: Jason.. with regard to Ava ? yeah, she’s tied to Sonny.. I loved her coy play @senses when she handed Sonny that “note” from ….. the one and only… as she tells Sonny she’s done enough deed for the day. PLEASE GH : she walks all over him…. watching Sonny try and have his finest moment on that canvas. he falters on this show
he knows it
hence the dry and dullard interplay with Carly. god this sucks
they try for what it’s worth to have moments of the “it” couple.. take for example even at the GH chapel… where they lamented that it’s been a year since Morgan died. they reflect nothing but forced coupling. get off the show
it stinks with the sole focus being
is Steve burton going to bring all that ? it sure as well will spark w/ Drew being the Quartermaine that we can all give a sigh of relief to what’s playing out
he will be the reward that will justify the waste that Shelley and Frank ARE
Roger Howarth : Franco – and – Todd of ole’
i’m sick of him continually still frying up … he’s messed up.
we all know that
Liz does not add in to this equation. let her become a mixture in Griffin … for a dance with Ava…. let Liz perk up the past history with Steve Burton… let Liz heart to heart with “Jake Doe ”
Rebecca Herbst is the answer to dredging out the kings return.. from which Carly and Sonny are salivating for : it’s not about you . DOA .. it’s going to be hysterical just what the scripture will read when Carly and Sonny fall
Shelley and Frank ! – YOU brought him home
MOVE ! this old train !
expletives all over the place
MOVE your guns if they’re firing
I get that Steve Burton is back
for Sam
Liz LIVES
that’s our deal
Steve Burton is Jason Morgan aka Drew Quartermaine . This would explain why after the accident he couldn’t relate to the Quartermaines because his programing got dumped.He truly is a lost soul.
Agreed.
Steve Burton is the real Jason Morgan, and was Andrew Frank (Drew) as a kid.
Billy Miller is imposter Jason Morgan, and was Jason Quartermaine as a kid.
Jason Quartermaine was also taken from his family & his life .
Breaking News
GH’s Maurice Benard Takes On Role Of John Gotti In Upcoming Lifetime Movie
General Hospital
General Hospital’s Max Gail Opens Up On Portraying Mike’s Battle With Alzheimer’s & Making A Difference In People’s Lives
“What happens the day I wake up, and you guys are the strangers,” says Mike to his son, Sonny and his wife Carly (Laura Wright). “I left you before to my everlasting regret, but it’s going to happen. I’d do anything if I didn’t have to do it again, but it’s going to happen – one way or the other. At least this way I could leave some good feelings, instead of disappearing before your eyes.” Those words were said during a gut-wrenching scene on Friday’s episode of General Hospital, as Mike tries to come to terms with his deteriorating mental state in his battle with Alzheimer’s, and the hard realization that he may be better off in a care facility, instead of at his son’s home. These scenes, as all the scenes in this storyline, have been exquisitely played by Max Gail (Mike) and Maurice Benard (Sonny).
When Max Gail arrived on the GH canvas as the recast Mike Corbin in a role made soap-famous by Ron Hale, viewers did not know what to initially expect. What they did know was that Max is an accomplished actor with a body of work from primetime dramas and comedies, film, and the stage, and that if he is coming to GH, he must be coming on board for something major. Before GH, suffice to say, Gail is most remembered for his role as “Wojo” on the ABC sitcom Barney Miller that aired from 1975-1982.
In story on GH, Mike, who abandoned Sonny as a child, once again re-enters his son’s life, but soon we learn that he is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and that the soap is tackling a story that is an important medical, social, and familial issue of our time.
Gail has been a revelation in this role. A clear frontrunner for an Emmy, playing the facets, the levels, the characteristics, and the heartbreak of a person who is slowly losing everything they know near and dear to them, as in the end they are ultimately stripped of their dignity from this most horrific of diseases.
On a personal note, and as part of this conversation with Max, it was important for him and for me to share, that I lost my mother at the end of April of this year to Alzheimer’s. So his work hits close to home, this story hits close to home, as it has also resonated for many viewers who have shared their stories on social media and when Max makes personal appearances.
Here now is this very special interview for Michael Fairman TV with an actor whom we can all agree is touching all of our lives.
You’re portraying a person suffering from Alzheimer’s and play the progression of the disease. Do you feel pressure as an actor to get it right for those who have loved ones, or person’s afflicted with it?
Courtesy/ABC
MAX: It’s more like an urge, or a calling to find some kind of truth in it that I can connect with. One of the things I’m inclined towards showing is someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia often just drifts off somewhere else. “Where am I going?” This has happened to me many times in life. For instance, when I was a youngster, I can remember getting in my car, and I’d driven a long way from some party or something like that, and I’d been drinking, and I didn’t remember it. I knew I’d gotten home somehow. So, it’s not out of my realm. I’ve learned that there are no set behaviors really… other than that it usually ends up being really difficult for caretakers, and seemingly really painful for many, if not most people suffering with Alzheimer’s, and losing connection and losing the ability to just function. We are kind of on the cusp of that in story at GH. I think it was originally proposed that I would play the part for just a few months, and to give me an out if it wasn’t working. Maybe, there was a placeholder idea to ship Mike off to a home or something, but the storyline has touched so many people that it has been continuing.
The story has been so effective. You’ve done such an amazing job, and the fans love Mike and what you’re doing with the character, and they’re on board on this journey. It’ll be interesting to see how far they will take this with Mike. Will we actually see him not being able to communicate anymore? How far will the writers go to show the horrific aspects of Alzheimer’s?
MAX: I’m not sure. You know, I’ve had times where I’ve got the scene, I get the writers, and I get the heart of it. Other times, I find where that transition is from where Mike is lucid and clear, and other times what that state of mind is and that switch is, and what that is in behaviors and energy level. I think there’s an ongoing downturn for Mike, and for me as an actor finding something in the moment and finding how it works with things that he does remember. They’re trying to find a place for Mike within all of the interwoven drama of General Hospital. I, frankly, had no idea how complex the range of storylines was. Mike doesn’t really have control over his story. I don’t want that as an actor. Mike has some intentions that are really important to him. I’m trying to find that balance where there are times when he has a pathetic, very sad remorse about what he has missed. I think that underlies his feelings for his son, who he never could quite reach, because of his own failings as a father. Sonny’s formative experiences growing up were then with his abusive stepdad. Finding all of that is really important to do in a way that doesn’t make Mike just this sweet older man with Alzheimer’s. It’s a wonderful challenge to be presented with.
Courtesy/CBS
You brought up that Mike is seemingly very sweet in his demeanor now. My mother, who I shared with you died a few months ago from Alzheimer’s was a strong-willed, feisty woman. As the disease took hold of her, she became very sweet. She became almost childlike. The fire had gone out of her eyes. You knew she didn’t know who you were, and so, all of that, as you know is so tough to witness as her son. In terms of Mike and his ultimate care, everyone says they love him and want what is best for him, but that he needs to be taken care of because he gets confused, doesn’t know where he is sometimes. etc. Sonny has been grappling with putting him in a care facility to be looked after, or to keep him with the Corinthos family under their roof. However, Mike has come to a realization that he may need to be in facility all on his own, and doesn’t want to burden his son by living with him anymore. That was a poignant moment, and another one of the best scenes has been when Mike couldn’t remember that Sonny was his own son.
MAX: Right and he doesn’t know if he’s around friends or around enemies. This can be true of Alzheimer’s patients.
I had that happen with my mother when she came out to Los Angeles to see me for the last time. She was out of her element, she was confused, and she broke down and cried in the hotel room. She asked my father, “Why did you bring me here?” and he told her, “We came to see our son.” It was heartbreaking. Later, she had a moment of clarity and realized more of what was going on. I think it’s those in-and -out moments that you portray so well on-screen. I feel that they are very realistic to what I, and others, have experienced.
Courtesy/ABC
MAX: I appreciate that and sharing that with me, because you never know as an actor. That place of “Where am I? What is this?” makes me think of that “Summer Wind” moment from the Nurses’ Ball when it wasn’t just, “I’m embarrassed. I don’t remember the words.” It was, “I don’t know where the f**k I am. I thought there was a band there, but there’s not.” So, in a way, I just had to be there on this big soundstage and just feel this big space around me. I could barely see that there were people out there. It’s kind of a terrifying thing to a lot of people, but I think Mike has something in him that makes him want to be okay with all of this. He doesn’t have to freak out and get accusatory.
Courtesy/ABC
What has it been like working with Maurice Benard as your on-screen son? Do you watch back your scenes together and ever go, “Oh, that was great!?”
MAX: Yes, there have been a lot of those! There are some scenes that are so emotionally focused, and we get a lot of delight in each other. He has been playing this character in this situation for so long, so it’s just kind of in him. Maurice has presence. I think when I went in to read for the part of Mike, I had gone through pilot season and had gone in for some interesting pilots. I didn’t feel like I was really connecting in the readings, because most things are by tape these days, anyway. When this part came up, a soap hadn’t really been on my radar. I knew I’d be going in to read with the actor, so I said, “Okay,” and I looked at the material, and then I checked out Maurice on IMDB. One of the things that got my interest was that he has been diagnosed and takes medication to deal with bipolar disorder, and that’s become a part of his life, and it’s become part of his character. I thought, “Wow, that’s really interesting. This is a survivor, and he’s risen to something that takes a certain kind of balance and courage.” I watched some clips, and when I went in for the reading of this kind of an amalgamation scene of what the story elements were going to be, I felt like we connected before we’d even started the dialogue.
Well, Maurice certainly loves working with you! He has been very supportive and vocal about that.
MAX: It’s mutual. We can take really little simple moments, and we can find something deeper in it, and it doesn’t have to be an, ‘I’m going to start crying now’ moment. Although, I would love for Mike to have a moment of self-observation where he goes, “Gee. I cry a lot more than I used to.” I think there are people who are like that, and it’s okay for certain people to cry, and for other people it is not.
Courtesy/ABC
There was a part of my mom that knew something was wrong. She’d go, “Why am I crying? I don’t know why I’m crying.” She got confused as to why she was feeling that. She couldn’t connect it all, and at times she kept saying, “I don’t understand. I don’t understand.” Those were the things she would try to express.
MAX: I have a feeling that Mike has those moments too, but he finds a way for it to be okay. There may be a point where someone with Alzheimer’s can’t pull it off anymore, but how we find those and those specifics, I don’t know.
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Working on a classic sitcom such as Barney Miller is vastly different than working on a daytime soap opera. While now being at GH, have you found any commonality within the experience?
MAX: If I can take a moment and reflect on Barney Miller, because it was a great experience and one that I found was not so easy to find again over the years. One of the things that really resonates is that when we started shooting the studio audience laughed too easily. We would end up retaking the scenes. Sometimes, we didn’t have the end of the show written, because they tended to let certain things start to show up in the earlier parts of the script. Danny Arnold who was the writer, creator and producer of Barney Miller would always take over the way Frank Valentini (executive producer, GH) does in a way … looking to be respectful of the director, but still seeing things on his own. Frank has a really wonderful eye. He’s much more connected into the overall storylines, the motivations that went into the writing, and what he sees in the moment. I always welcome him on the set because the directors, who have a range of talents and sensibilities, are tasked with coming up with a whole lot of shots to cover, a whole lot of tricky angles, and all of that.
Courtesy/ABC
Vernee Watson has been amazing as Stella, who is also Mike’s social worker. Does Mike have romantic feelings toward Stella?
MAX: Vernee is wonderful. I didn’t know Vernee had been on the show when I came on board. She won an Emmy, and I’m not surprised. She is so present and so specific, and she’s very bright and gets what all of these elements are, and so, I think they have a connection. For whatever ways Mike has lived in his like, there isn’t some strange, exotic draw that she is black, and Mike is white. I like that because both my first and late wife, and my second wife, with whom I’ve had children (and we’ve been separated for awhile, but have a great relationship) are African-American. So, in my world that is not a big deal. I think there’s an affinity there between Mike and Stella. You know, he’s alive. He’s old, but he’s not dead. There’s an ease with women he likes. I think there are a whole lot of reasons for them to not get involved. One is just professional, and she’s a social worker. We just shot something where I say something to somebody else about, “back when I still had all my marbles,” you know, he’s in another stage of life, which many people go into gracefully, while many don’t.
What do you think about how Mike knows about who was buried at Charlie’s Pub? He was trying to keep the truth about Charlie Delaney from coming out, which turned into a gas leak that blew up the bar! This storyline ties in to Sonny’s mobster dealings as well.
MAX: Well, this is where they put this effort in the storytelling to connect Mike in some way and be intertwined with Sonny. Of course, it reveals certain things about Mike that he’s never revealed to anybody before. So, that’s kind of cool. I think when he knows what and how much sometimes is not clear. That’s why I started talking about Barney Miller because the other thing was a lot of times when we go together for the table reads, they didn’t have the end of the story. They had a first draft, maybe. Dan would talk about it, and they’d say, “Next week, the main story is going to be this man in his fifties who is coming to terms with the fact that he is gay,” or whatever those underlying themes may be with the different characters reactions. So, we knew elements going into it and that sometimes I didn’t know what the writers are really intending. In terms of Mike, he’s kind of back and forth in certain moments. I have to resist the idea that they trap me by just being careless. I’ve learned that just trying to fix the script often gets you into a place where you “rehearse yourself out of it,” as they say.
Courtesy/GoodDayLA
You appeared on the morning show Good Day LA a few months back with Laura Wright (Carly), and Maria Shriver, who has founded the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement. What was that like meeting Maria, and helping get the word out about the effects of this disease and the work Maria is doing?
MAX: It was great to do. Maria had sent out a tweet that is was wonderful what was going on, on General Hospital. On Good Day LA, she talked about her work, particularly focusing on the fact that more women are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s than men. So, then Laura and I sat down and did an interview alongside Maria. We actually had a nice conversation before. They did a web interview also as a follow-up. That was very cool, because Maria is very smart, and I’d never met her, but it was great to see what she was doing. Whatever we are dealing with in the show is sort of my opportunity in the real world to bring awareness and shed light on the subject. I’d love to see an ongoing conversation online amongst people who can share their stories with each other. That’s a lot of what they’re doing. They’re raising money for research, but people need to be able to talk to each other when you’re a caregiver. Coming out of the early sixties and early seventies when I was playing a cop on TV, I never was a fanatic activist. I certainly got the behavior of the Chicago police at a certain time in terms of the energy and conflicts of the time. There was something to think about, but at the same time, I had opportunities to kind of share that all cops aren’t bad, just look at the show, Barney Miller.
Courtesy/ABC
You were my favorite character on Barney Miller as Detective Wojciehowicz! I think for many who watched the show you were, too!
MAX: I think “Wojo” ended up being the heart of the show.
Max, you’re helping people through your beautiful performances including me. Congratulations on that. I’ll continue have to have a box of Kleenex handy as I watch how it all unfolds for Mike.
Photo: IMDB
MAX: Well, I really appreciate your questions. I’m just planting that seed. That is really what I would like to do after talking to you and so many people. That’s something I’d like to put out there. We each have our own domains and responsibilities and all of it overlaps, and you can kind of get in touch with that; if you just go around the circle and share it, and then go around again. I’m looking to help people out there in the world who are watching and are looking to share in the conversation.
So, what did you think about the heartbreaking scenes on Friday’s episode of GH between Mike and Sonny? What have you thought of Max Gail’s performance throughout his GH run? Have you experienced the loss, or are watching someone you love, or care about slip away from Alzheimer’s? Share your thoughts via the comment below.
General Hospital
ABC Names William Burton As The New Head Of Daytime
Over the years there have been several changes to ABC Daytime, and now comes word over the last 24 hours that William Burton has been promoted to Senior VP and Head Of Daytime, Sports and Syndicated Development/Production for ABC. Burton starts in his new role immediately.
Deadline first reported the executive level move by the network. Burton had previously been overseeing the business operations of ABC Daytime since earlier this year as SVP Daytime following the departure of former Daytime head Rebecca Campbell.
Courtesy/ABC
Those duties have now been formalized in Burton’s expansive new role, In terms of General Hospital, the creative aspects from the network are still being handled by ABC head of current programming, Vicki Dummer. Burton has been behind the business operations of ABC Daytime including the daytime drama.
In addition, Burton will oversee the creation and production of syndicated programming across ABC platforms including the upcoming daytime talk show from Tamron Hall that is in development for a potential debut in the fall of 2019.
So, share your thoughts on Burton being named the new head of Daytime for ABC via the comment section below.
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