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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sidwell Behind Maxie’s Coma; Ric Gets Panic Room Payback

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

Two major developments were revealed on the Tuesday, August 26th episode of General Hospital and one harkened back to the past. First, Sidwell (Carlo Rota) as anticipated is the puppet master pulling at least some of the strings in this story that will eventually connect, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), Pascal (Marc Forget), Vaughan (Bryce Durfee) and Josslyn (Eden McCoy), and Professor Henry Dalton (Daniel Goddard) and more.

After having dinner with Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring), where she is very upset over Maxie (Kirsten Storms) dropping over on live TV and landing in a coma, Sidwell returned to Wyndemere to find Colette (Mercedes Lopez Renard), the double-crossing WSB agent, waiting there for him. She wants an update for Pascal and their “associate.”

Sidwell informs her, “You can tell them both that I will soon have a controlling interest in Deception, and then we can use the company as we previously discussed, and the compound had worked perfectly in silencing Maxie Jones!” So there you have it! Maxie was targeted and poisoned by the new face mask cream tester that was all a set-up to get her out of the way so they can take over Deception and more nefarious things to come!

Courtesy/ABC

Meanwhile, as Ava (Maura West) and Kristina (Kate Mansi) figure out what to do with a breathing but knocked out Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst), Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) arrives home and surveys the scene. Ava and Kristina tell Alexis what happened, and she wants to call the police, but then Kristina points out they could all land in prison for various reasons, attempted murder, extortion, embezzlement, you name it.

The women act together to figure what to do with Ric’s body and to shut him up, and to act fast when Ava points out that Molly (Kristen Vaganos) will be home soon and can’t see her father like this! Later, while getting rid of the evidence, Ava puts the antique bloody paperweight in her purse, while Alexis protests. Meanwhile, Kristina comes back in to the house and shares she moved Ric’s car to the garden shed. “Now, as far as the outside world is concerned, Ric was never here,” she says.

Photo: JPI

At the end of the episode, Ric is shown in what looks to be a basement. Bound and gagged to a cot. When he comes to, he realizes what is going on and screams for help. We fade to black.

Longtime GH fans will recall that Ric did something very similar to Carly Corinthos (then Tamara Braun) back in 2003, when he made a panic room and held her captive. It was all part of a very sick and twisted revenge plot to steal Carly’s baby, in order to have him and Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) raise it for themselves.

So, is turnabout fair play for Ric Lansing? Does he deserve what’s coming to him? Meanwhile, what do you think of Sidwell making sure Maxie was poisoned and silenced? Who is the top mastermind behind everything going on at the Five Poppies Resort that dovetails into the ‘Deception’ story? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section. And, just to take a walk down memory lane, check out this clip below from when Elizabeth finds Carly in Ric’s panic room with devastating consequences.

 

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Who would have thought that Alexis had a bed, chains, and a ball gag in a dusty old garden shed full of bats?

I mean, I’m the Devil, so I ain’t judging, but I never imagined Alexis getting her freak on like that, right?

It comes as no surprise to me given what I consider to be her insatiable and unbridled libido!

This comment makes no f-ing sense.

The comment comes from a person who has a long history of irrationally hating Alexis.

Hey, Kev! Thanks for remembering me! But I beg to differ: calling out Alexis for her voracious sexual appetite and cougar-like antics does not constitute “irrationally hating” the character. More like simply telling it like it is! (Or perhaps was…I am not up to date on her latest conquests…has she finally slowed down?) Just asking…..

Hey, Kev! Thanks for remembering me! But I beg to differ: calling out this character’s voracious sexual appetite and cougar-like ways does not constitute “irrationally hating Alexis!” It is just telling it like it is…or, at least, was. I am not up to date on her recent conquests. Has she finally slowed down?

Why ever not, Michael? In the past, I often made observations regarding this character’s obsessive sexcapades and from that point of view, she would seem to be up—-or down, as the case may be—for just about anything. Hence the notion that she would have a shed full of sex toys at her disposal is not an assumption gone amiss!

Alexis said Ava had the ball gage in her car.

I laughed when that was revealed. I’m glad they explained it and it makes sense for Ava. Lol

Ok, Sidwell had his time as the new criminal/victim in town. Time for him to go!

Meant to write villain.

Hoping Carly catches on to the Ric situation and tells him to eat rocks. This is one time I’d be in support of Carly, although I do love Hearst’s portrayal of Ric.

The “game set match” dialogue between Joss
& Vaughn leads me to believe it’s a setup and that code (which is Chris McKenna’s birthday) will trigger an alarm and/or the safe contains trick documents. Still think Colette is the likely floating body Danny and Rocco find (with Dalton in second).

Look out Lucy. With Maxie out of the way, Sidwell is next on your list. Would be funny if Jenz marries her with the intention of getting Deception, but he is killed meaning Lucy inherits Wyndemere.

Karma has come for Ric, but damn I got nervous he would choke with that ball in his mouth, another fun episode with now Alexis in the mix and ava and Kristina now trying to cover this big oh mess, well it looks like everyone got something on the other, so they can all keep each other in check with blackmail. Oh and on another note, It sucks that Tamara Braun is going to YR, I was hoping she would come back as Kim Nero, and be in the mix with bad Drew now.

As good as Braun is, the canvas is rather full.

GH -until recently – struggled to write stories for their female characters in their 50s and 60s, but things are looking up. Felicia finally got a chance to shine the past two weeks. Alexis and Ava seem to be going into a few weeks of front-burner story. Nina has started to be a standout in the Drew disaster. And, Lucy is finally getting some non-comedic stuff. But Anna, Laura – and even Carly – need something more.

Don’t forget Tracy aka Jane Eliott

I didn’t. Jane is an amazing 78. She and Verne Watson are our shining silver stars.

Nearing the end of watching and removing GH from my dvr. You have exceeded the violence level for even a soap – guns shots, hits on the head, poisoning, kidnappings, on screen killings. The days of ABC’s love in the afternoon are long gone.

Yeah those days ended about the time Alan dropped the roof of the Quartermaine attic onto Monica and Rick Webber. After that they moved on to adventure stories, light science fiction and eventually America’s favorite coffee importers.

While I can agree with you in that GH can use more love and romance, and does have a lot of violence…that type of thing has been a part of the show and all soaps for many years. People get murdered, shot, stabbed, poisoned, electrocuted, thrown off buildings, run over by cars, die of terrible diseases, die in fires, you name it. And those events usually result in great drama on a show, which is what you expect from a good soap opera. GH just hit their highest demo ratings in 18 months, so they’re doing something right. But everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Bye, thanks for letting us know.‍♀️

Hey Matt, I hear where you are coming from. With everything going on in the world and every day life, sometimes the bullets, the stabbings and the whatever can be a bit much. Sometimes you just need a little escapism for an hour to take your mind off of things.

What I miss from years ago is the comedic ad libbing. Comedy used to be infused everywhere and it’s good medicine. Thank God they throw us a bone every now and then with Tracy and Martin to make us laugh.

Yes! That is so true! GH was known for that! The Quartermaines, Luke, Robert & Tiffany. The golden days of GH!

Tony Geary was the last one to get away with ad libbing. Unfortunately, since the shows move at lightning speed – when one take is all that is usually allotted for – going off script is frowned upon.

General Hospital

Chris McKenna Reportedly Out as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jack Brennan

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Chris McKenna

As ABC’s General Hospital continues to make casting additions in front of the camera; a new report indicates that Chris McKenna is the next contract player to be written out of the show as his storyline as Port Charles WSB bureau chief, Jack Brennan, is coming to end this fall.

According to sources close to the situation, who informed Soap Opera Network, McKenna will exit the long-running soap opera when Jack is killed-off the canvas. The outlet shares, Brennan’s death will come about as the soap, “leans heavily into storylines surrounding the World Security Bureau (WSB).”

McKenna, who previously appeared on the soaps when he was 12 as a young Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live from 1990-1993, then as an adult as Mark Harding on The Young and the Restless from 2014-2015, and next on The Bold and the Beautiful in the short term role of Dr. Hayden,  began his run as GH’s Brennan back in February of 2025, replacing Charles Mesure in the role.

Chris McKenna

Photo: ABC

JACK’S ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE

In fact, McKenna won the part over Daniel Goddard and Daniel Cosgrove, who eventually were cast in other roles on General Hospital, that of Henry Dalton and Ezra Boyle, respectively. Chris informed his fans via X,  back in August of 2025, that he was put on contract at the daytime drama and thanked them for helping make it happen.

Chris told Michael Fairman TV how it was to step into the role previously played by Charles Mesure, “I knew the challenge it was going to be and I had a like 0nly five days to get my head around it, so I was ready for it. Sure, it was challenging, but I was up for it. I was a recast before on The Young and the Restless.”

On-screen, Jack became romantically involved with Carly Spencer (Laura Wright), but that went bust when Carly learned Jack was not up front with her and had secretly enlisted her daughter, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) to join the WSB.  Over months, Carly plotted to get revenge on Jack, and suddenly, Valentin Casssadine (James Patrick Stuart), Jack’s mortal enemy, came into the picture and he had fallen for Carly and she for him.

Now, Jack has started up a relationship with Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) and has found himself in situations stooping to lows to help Nina and her criminal daughter, Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) out of jams, especially where Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) is concerned.

Erika Slezak, Chris McKenna

Photo: ABC

REUNITING WITH ERIKA SLEZAK

Last fall, Chris got a thrill of a lifetime when his OG on-screen mother from One Life to Live, the iconic Erika Slezak (ex-Viki) took on a guest role on General Hospital as Ronnie Bard, the secret sister of Monica Quartermaine (the late Leslie Charleson). While the two did not have a storyline together, Chris did share some tender moments reconnecting with Erika on the set,

McKenna has a laundry list of primetime credits including: State of Affairs, Good Trouble, Lucifer and Castle, where in an ironic twist he appeared alongside another Joey Buchanan none other than Nathan Fillion.

So, how do you feel if the report holds true and GH is killing off Brennan and Chris McKenna would exit the show? How do you think Brennan will die on GH? Will he be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and someone will take him out? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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General Hospital

Ryan Paevey Open to Return to ‘General Hospital’ to ‘Stir the Pot if Cassius Could be a Good Agent of Chaos’

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Ryan Paevey

On General Hospital, Ryan Paevey wrapped his comeback to General Hospital on the July 6 episode, when it was revealed that Cassius Faison was not dead, but being held by the WSB thanks to Z (John Oliver).

It was Z who gave Cassius an ultimatum: a one-way ticket to prison or a death sentence, or to become an agent himself! We never got the answer on-screen, but suffice to say, Cassius is still out there somewhere, but we can assume he is working for the WSB.

GH fans were thrilled to see Paevey back on the ABC daytime drama series where he initially played the very popular Detective Nathan West from 2013-2018. It had been over 7 years until Ryan made a return to his former soap stomping grounds when on-screen in September of 2025, he arrived in Port Charles as a very much alive Nathan, who was actually Cassius impersonating his late twin brother.

Photo: ABC

Over this past weekend, Paevey appeared at the annual GH Fan Club Weekend in Burbank, California, where according to a report from Soap Central who was on the scene; when a fan asked Ryan if he would make another visit to the soap opera in the future, he explained, “That’s a ‘Frank Chat,’ referencing a discussion would need to be had with Frank Valentini, GH’s executive producer.

A CASSIUS FAISON SIGHTING ANYTIME SOON?

Ryan also added, “I’m a bit of a drifter. So, I’m not sure that I want to go back and sign forever. Doing so took a lot of things out of my life, stuff that is valuable to me.” Paevey also explained while he was away from GH he was caretaker to his parents and working on his Fortunate Wanderer jewelry business and more.

However, Paevey concluded his thoughts on the matter with, “But, yeah, I would come back and stir the pot if Cassius could be a good agent of chaos… a conversation might be had with Frank about exactly what ‘not dead’ means.”

All this to say, would you like to see Ryan make another comeback to General Hospital? This time as WSB agent Cassius Faison? Do you think he would help out his sister, Britt and his mutter, and even Josslyn, if they got into serious future trouble? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Christian Howard Makes One Final Return as Ethan Lovett, as Hudson Learns Damning Intel

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The Tuesday, August 4 episode of General Hospital brought with it another appearance by Christian Howard in the role of Ethan Lovett. As previously reported, Howard was brought into wrap up Ethan’s storyline as Nathan Dean’s four-month run with the show came to its conclusion.

Now, it has been 100% officially confirmed that today was the last episode of Howard as the recast Ethan. In story, Ethan was now seen in Oslo, Norway after hightailing it out of Port Charles after Hudson (Troy Lennon Appel) had showed up looking for him at the Metro Court pool in Port Charles.

On the July 31st episode, Ethan made a beeline to Lulu’s (Alexa Havins) grabbed his bags and headed out of the country without saying goodbye to Ava (Maura West), who he just had spent the night with.

Christian Howard

Courtesy/ABC

However, on Tuesday’s GH, it was also the day where Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) finalized baby Phoebe’s adoption for Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard). This was juxtaposed with the action in Oslo where Hudson showed up at Ethan’s hotel room door. He demanded immediate answers about Delilah and the baby. Ethan told him that both Delilah and the baby she carried died.

ETHAN’S LIES CATCH UP TO HIM

Hudson is livid. The two get into multiple altercations with Hudson getting the upper hand claiming that Ethan is a thief, who had “stolen from the wrong man.” At that point, Hudson delivered a beatdown on Ethan. Next, he threatened Ethan that he will go after his entire family if he finds out he was lying to him.

Back in Port Charles at the Metro Court pool, Ava is lamenting about Ethan’s sudden disappearance to Trina (Tabyana Ali). Later alone, she gets a call from Ethan telling her to never reveal that he’s not Phoebe’s biological father. Cut to: Hudson out in the hotel hallway listening in on the call through a bug he planted in Ethan’s hotel room. Hudson then takes off. The final moment of Ethan’s is him sprawled out bloody on top of the hotel bed.

A GH rep told Soap Opera Digest that “the door is open for Ethan to return to Port Charles” in the future. And as previously reported by TV Insider, when Nathan Dean signed on for his four month return, it was due in part to that he and his wife announced back in March they were expecting a baby.

So, now that Christian Howard has officially exited the series marking the end of the story for now of Ethan Lovett, what are your thoughts? Obviously, we will look for Hudson to return to Port Charles and infiltrate the Quartermaines lives especially Brook Lynn and Chase to get close to Phoebe, and then there is Ava, who may be in terrible danger, or is she? Share your thoughts and theories.

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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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