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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Must Say Goodbye to Mike As Maurice Benard Delivers Heartbreaking Performance

By Michael Fairman

Published

8 years ago

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Photo Credit: ABC

Any of us who has watched their loved one slip further away from Alzheimer’s disease could relate to exactly what Sonny Corinthos (Mauice Benard) was feeling on Tuesday’s episode of General Hospital.

It is always a tough and horrific decision when families contemplate what to do with (in this case) a parent, and where is the best place for them to live out the remainder of their days.  Sometimes, it’s clear cut and easy, and sometimes it’s difficult.

In the case of Mike Corbin (Max Gail), Sonny and Carly (Laura Wright) gave him a home and safe place to be, but as the disease progressed and as Mike’s reality becomes his own, and has he has been losing more self-control. it becomes apparent that they need to be able to give him the best life they can now.

In story, Griffin (Matt Cohen) points this out to Sonny and Carly when they discuss the progression of the disease on Mike.  It is apparent that Mike wants to go live with, and be with his “girlfriend’ Yvonne at Turning Woods.  Sonny and Carly struggle to come to term with that fact, but know they must let him go.   It is tough for them to put Mike permanently at the care facility.  Sonny thinks he may have been too selfish by keeping Mike with them so long.  Ultimately, he arranges a room for his father at the facility.

Mike comes downstairs after packing his bags, and thanks them for taking him in.  Hey says, that they are nice people, but that Yvonne is waiting for him, so he is moving in with her.  Sonny tells his dad, he has a room at the Corinthos’ home any time he wants it.

In the most touching moment, Carly offers to drive Mike to get to Yvonne faster.  He really appreciates it, and Sonny decides to just let Carly do this alone, because it would be too difficult on him to watch his father check-in and have to leave him behind.

Before he heads out, Mike forgets his gloves and he goes upstairs to look for them.  Sonny decides to check Mike’s suitcase to see if they are in there, and begins to break down.  He sees the framed photo of himself and his father from the Nurses’ Ball last year, and packs it in Mike’s suitcase.  After Carly drives off with Mike, Sonny begins to cry.

We have to give kudos to Maurice Benard in these scenes.  Anyone who has been witness to watching a parent go through this most dreadful disease, could feel his pain.  It was a heartbreaking and raw performance.

So, what did you think of the scenes where Sonny must let his father leave his home and move into the care facility?  Share your thoughts via the comment section below.  And in case you missed some of the scenes, check them out here.

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Max and Maurice have been brilliant in this storyline.

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I think the three of them did a fantastic job yesterday with Mike’s move!

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Great performance from Max and Maurice they brought tears to my eyes.

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Me too

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This has been one of the most real and heartbreaking storylines GH has done in a number of years. Kudos to everyone involved.

Max Gail deserves all the praise and accolades headed his way. Look forward to seeing him on that Emmy stage. Maurice Benard gets more criticism than perhaps any actor in daytime today. People say he always plays the same roles, the same stories. His performance in this story has been anything but the same. He’s been excellent. Of course, some people would rather walk over broken glass barefoot than ever give Maurice credit for anything.

Honorable mention to Laura Wright, Vernee Watson, Nigel Gibbs as Marcus and Janet Hubert as Yvonne for their roles in the story, as well. It’s been riveting to watch, particularly for anyone that has lost someone to Alzheimer’s.

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I agree Dan, Maurice could cure cancer and his naysayers would still bitch!

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I agree with both you and Dan, T…..Maurice’s performance has risen tenfold.
TPTB have given Sonny a heart; which is a complete oxymoron if you ask me. One cannot have a heart and be a killer.
The criticism fits the actions—Sonny is a murderer. How does the viewer reconcile himself/herself with that fact? The criticism is warranted—-the same for Carly. They constantly point fingers at Ava, as some inept mother and hortible perdon……okay, she has done “b.b.baaad to the bone” stuff—-And, what has Sonny done? Serve as a choir boy? Hypocrites…. Clearly Sonny is transforming….isn’t he? If he is, then Sonny can no longer exist in Prt Charles. Once Max is gone, Sonny’s fangs will come out again.
Sonny loves his father. The tears are real. The pain is real. Maurice really stepped up.
However, regardless of this display of a loving son; Sonny is still a murderer.
Max has completely stolen my heart……yet, I can’t stand Aunt Stella–nothing spectacular–she has a secret. That interests me–Curtis is Marcus’ son….
Janet Hubert? Fantastique!!
Methinks “Ye gods” are doing their best to score points for Sonny. I love Maurice….But, I still despise Sonny. What are TPTB trying to do? To use Su0000 infamous words: “they’re trying to sissify Sonny”.❤️

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I have a love/hate relationship with Maurice of which he is blissfully unaware. That said, I think it’s important to point out when he pulls in a poignantly powerful performance. Yes, sometimes I think he mugs it up too much but when he stops trying and allows the pure hush of the emotions run through him, it’s a beautiful thing. He did this with his farewell scene with his father and it should be noted and appreciated. Yes, he was good.

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Hi I’m agreeing with u about Maurice but those who criticize him know he does not write the story lines and his character has changed tremendously in my book, he is a lot more forgiven, back in the day Ava, Julian, Franco would be gone. And as far as I’m concerned I don’t want his character to change I like Sonny Corinthos just the way he is, and as for Maurice in my opinion I think he is the greatest actor of my time, he’s right up there with Charlton Heston.

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You are so right, Bren. I am so sick of the Sonny bashing. Maurice does not control his story lines; I’m sure there were a few that he would have preferred not to do, but he is not a prima donna like Tony Geary. If they took Sonny off GH, I would stop watching.

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Thank you, finally someone who understands.

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Hi, Alic…..I think you are conflating the actor with the character. We fans, do not criticize the actor or the character’s storylines. We criticize the idea that Sonny is a murderer, yet he is idolized. That’s the crux of the matter—the behavior of the character is unacceptable to me ……it is as barbaric as killing babies. My opinion.

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Dear Celia, preach! You are much kinder to the actor than I have been, but I do take your point.

It all boils down to this, however: Sonny is a murderer. It was bad enough when Luke, a known rapist, was turned into a hero, which translated into unparalleled ratings. The writers and producers have thus tried in vain to turn the murderous Sonny into a hero as well, to make the audience feel empathy for him. They bound him to a wheelchair, they killed off his son, they gave him a father with Alzheimer’s disease, and they have devised other countless plot twists all in an effort, in part, to help the actor garner Emmy nominations and, further, to make the character of their anointed leading man more palatable, so that, maybe, just maybe, the viewers could overlook — or even forget — that the character is a dark, abusive, cold-blooded murderer.

I’m not buying it. I never have. I never will…

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Yeah, well, it’s a soap and I like Sonny and a few other murderers on GH too.

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Hello, James,
Believe me, my friend—-my sentiments for Maurice do concur with yours, as far as his acting goes.
His performance, as the doleful son, has been impressive, comparatively speaking. Having been exposed to stuttering, forgetting his lines, acutely lacking charisma etc., Maurice has been “spectacular”.
However, raising him to the stars ( pardon the pun) would be disingenuous.
When I say I love Maurice; I admire the man…..I respect any man who is true to his mate, his children, his family. ….From what I’ve read; Maurice is that man. Kudos.
Sonny, the character, is a horse of a different color.
Your soooo descriptive machinations, by the writers, endearing this character to the audience, may work for some……smoke and mirrors…..soft sell.—As yourself; I’m not buying it. I never have. I never will. ….LOL❤️

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Thanks for your further explanation, Celia! Glad to see we’re both “not buying it.” Best to you, Friend!

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LOL, James,
I felt I needed to further explain my words—-by no means did I want to obfuscate my true feelings for Sonny, the character…….it is so very clear that ‘ye gods’ have been trying to embellish………better word is “humanize” him. As I said, it “ain’t” working for some of us.
As an actor, Maurice is mediocre, at his best—Thus, I do get the recent accolades as he bares his heart and soul to the viewer where his father’s deteriorating mind (and dignity) is concerned. Hand-picked scenes from this storyline call for applause—-however, I do believe, in the grand scheme of GH, as a whole, that it will become an illusion, when we lose Mike—sadly, I must add!!
Yet, as a man, I respect his sense of honor—-he fits the criterion of a good, caring human being.❤️

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LOL, Alic—-God forbid!!….. I doubt Sonny or Maurice…… any “he-man” anywhere, would take to the appellation of “Prima Donna”!! No woman, he!!

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Dan…I agree about everyone in this story, including Sonny and Carly. And am glad you mentioned Nigel and Vernee. I really liked Vernee before the Mike story. In real life it is interesting to see there is controversy over a male partner of his famous wife who he has lost to, I believe alzheimers, now having a new live-in lady friend. He may have lost his wife on one hand, but he is getting support and help from the new lady, who also helps with his wife.

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Yes I fill what Sony going threw I lost my dad a year go to that disease every time sonny cried tears road down my eyes He played the hell out of that story line.

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great performances and so real. I cried when my mom went to a nursing home.

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All I have to say, about it–
Mike Corbin (Max Gail)is a treasure. I luv the guy..
He has brought much to GH and it will be sad sad sad day the day he exists GH..
It will be a great loss.

It will be quite soon, Max/Mike will exit 🙁 🙁

And- he’d best get an award !!

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Hey, you—SuzieQ…Where have you been? LOL…Right on, girl!! Max is da man!!

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Celia our CEE CEE!! :):)
I’m around but the soap news/going on is so not as it was in the old place 🙁 it had lots of stuff daily.
and the old board was warm and cuddly this one is colder and sterile .. haaa!!
I miss the old board, the atmosphere of it 🙁

Anyways.. good to hear from you!!!
I’ll make an effort to stop in more often..

and– Oliver will not die..
And it’s JT in the walls..
he somehow could hold his breath while buried alive for 20 minutes ahaa yah sure- he would have suffocated well before the last shovel full.

And- it’s time for everyone to switch lovers, their mates again.
same old revolving recycling of the couples- WHOOPIE!! ahaa

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Hi, my love, my friend….
Yeah, I miss the old boards, too…the atmosphere was definitely warmer…
I ‘visit’ here when I am a able—it’s an addiction…..
I agree with your deduction—-JT is alive, living in the walls…..and Oscar will live.
I think it was Satan who suggested a solution—enter; Drew and Jason.❤️

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I’m with Su and you, CeeCee….I’m still not accustomed to this new format either….I think my biggest issue is with the sheer number of threads…it’s difficult to keep up because there are more new topics introduced before we can even really respond and discuss the points made on previous posts…it all just gets lost in the mix! I suppose that is a plus for those afflicted with ADHD, but for those of us who actually appreciate a good conversation, that possibility is made more complicated by having to search for all those older threads where we had commented. Having said that, I did see your last reply to me, and will be posting. It’s been a busy week, so I’m still catching up…hope you’re having a good one!!!!

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General Hospital

Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

Published

8 hours ago

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September 12, 2026

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Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.

The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.

Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.

Photo: JPI

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST

Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”

Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”

Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”

Photo: JPI

KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL

Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”

You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.

So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!

 

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General Hospital

Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

Published

9 hours ago

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September 12, 2026

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Steve Burton

The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.

TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.

That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.

Steve Burton

Photo: ABC

STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES

GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.

Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).

Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.

GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS

Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.

Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.

So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?

Published

15 hours ago

on

September 12, 2026

By

Jason and Britt

On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.

Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.

However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.

Britt

Courtesy/ABC

BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON

Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.

He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.

Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”

General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”

So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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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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