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

By Michael Fairman

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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.

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

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

Me too

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.

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

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”.❤️

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.

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.

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.

Thank you, finally someone who understands.

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.

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…

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

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❤️

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

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.❤️

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

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.

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.

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

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 !!

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

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

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.❤️

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!!!!

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom

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This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, the race is on! Can Lulu (Alexa Havins) and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) get to Rocco (Finn Carr) and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) in time to ensure their safety from Cullum (Andrew Hawkes)? Can Carly (Laura Wright) with the help of her brother, Lucas (Van Hansis) rescue Josslyn (Eden McCoy) from captivity at Wyndemere? These questions may be answered, plus the return of the one and only Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) are on tap!

In the just released General Hospital spoilers video for the week of June 22-26, Lulu tells her mother, Laura (Genie Francis), “Dante and I have to get to Rocco before Cullum!” Meanwhile, Rocco (Finn Carr) looks angered and emotional as Britt walks through their cabin hideout. Does Rocco know his parents are on the way to find them, or has Cullum already tracked them down to the British Virgin Islands?

Back in Port Charles, Carly is informing Lucas that his niece, “is a WSB agent.” She knows Josslyn (Eden McCoy) is being held against her will at Wyndemere, and she has to find a way to get her out. Lucas agrees with Carly’s plan of, “We go in and we don’t leave without Josslyn!” Elsewhere, Josslyn is looking worried for her future as she is stuck in captivity thanks to Cassius, Cullum and Sidwell!

Courtesy/ABC

FINOLA HUGHES RETURNS

The final moments of the teaser promo reveal Anna in a psychiatric clinic in France. We have not seen her for months after Cullum, Sidwell and Pascal fed her hallucinogenics to make her believe her arch nemesis, Cesar Faison was alive!

Now, the doctors walk towards her hospital bed, where we see the super spy calmly knitting. Is Anna back to normal and playing everyone to get out of her predicament, or does she still remain deeply traumatized … or both?

Take a look at the rest of the official GH spoilers for the week below.

MONDAY, JUNE 22
Willow gets an unwelcome surprise. Trina sticks to her guns. “Nathan” wants reassurance. Ethan advises Ava. Brook Lynn receives an update.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23
Dante cautions Liz. Laura learns a secret. Brook Lynn confides in Michael. Sonny challenges Ava. Chase makes a decision.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
Anna meets with her doctor. Carly makes a stunning confession. Britt extracts a promise. Cullum pulls a fast one. Gio and Emma hit the pool.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25
Josslyn clashes with Cassius. Lulu and Dante make a discovery. Chase receives a warning. Jordan seeks help. Alexis is summoned to the PCPD.

FRIDAY, JUNE 26
Anna takes a huge risk. Britt is in grave danger. Willow is in disbelief. Danny must act fast. Curtis jumps to the wrong conclusion.

Check out the latest General Hospital promo entitled, “Rescue Mission” below.

Now weigh-in: Do you think Anna is still mentally off-balance, or OK, and just pretending to be troubled to get out of France and get back to Port Charles? Will Josslyn finally be rescued, or will Carly and Lucas find themselves locked up with her? And, who will get to Britt and Rocco first? Cullum, or Dante and Lulu? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric

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With the highly-anticipated returns of Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) on this week’s June 24 episode of General Hospital, Steve Burton’s (Jason Morgan) upcoming return on July 13, which also serves as the ABC daytime drama’s 16,000 episode, things are about to fire on all cylinders in the story, as noted today by series star, Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos).

On Father’s Day, the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning actor and mental health activist took to his Instagram and expressed in a video that he has some unbelievable upcoming senes with the aforementioned Burton and Hughes. Add to that Nazneen Contractor (Justine Turner) and Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing), where Benard gave credit where credit is due to the GH writing team, which is led by co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten..

In this video, Benard said, “I just want to get on here and say that I did some work with Steve Burton, Finola Hughes, Rick Hearst, Nazneen Contractor, and they’re all just fantastic. Truly fantastic. But, I want to say the writing was just exceptional. It truly was. It was exceptional. So, thankful for that kind of writing. I know writers don’t get the credit a lot, but I just want to say to the General Hospital writing team, keep rolling!”

GENERAL HOSPITAL PREVIEW

So now the question becomes, with a major tease like that, what is about to go down between Sonny, Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric? Will we finally get to the end of the line for Sidwell (Carlo Rota), as previously teased by the GH co-head writers? Will we learn what happened to Jason and Anna, fully? Will Justine and Sonny becomes closer or stop their liaisons? And what of Ric? Will he be true blue to his brother or double-cross him? There is a lot at stake as we move further into the summer and one that looks like it could be one of the more exciting ones in years!

FINOLA HUGHES CONFIRMED AMAZING SCENES WITH MAURICE BENARD

As a punctuation point to his video, Benard also shared this written message in the post: “I just did some wonderful scenes with Steve Burton, Rick Hearst, Finola Hughes and Nazneen Contractor and  and unbelievable writing, freaking amazing scenes that you will see in the near future on General Hospital.” In fact, Finola Hughes jumped in the post comment thread and responded, “I loved our scenes so much xxx”

Fans will most likely see all the scenes Benard referred to later in July, since GH tapes approximately six weeks ahead of air.

So, are you excited to see what Maurice is talking about? Are you hyped for what’s to come on GH? Any clue on what you think will go down between the main characters on the soap with the returns of Anna Devane and Jason Morgan to the mix? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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A post shared by Maurice Benard (@mauricebenard)

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‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Announces Upcoming Release of His First Single, ‘If You Need Me’

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In a surprise move, Daytime Emmy winner, Chad Duell (ex-Michael Corinthos, GH) is getting ready to unveil a new chapter of his career in music.

The former GH star, where he played the son of Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) for 15 years, has announced his new single, “If You Need Me” will drop on Friday, June 26. The single is now available for pre-order on Spotify and major music streaming platforms and is distributed by DistroKid.

Taking to his Instagram story over the weekend, to announce the pre-save of his new single, Chad expressed, “I’ll make a full post about what I’ve been up to and my music once it goes live next week, but you can pre-save my first single so it goes straight to your Spotify once it drops next week.”

Photo: CDuellIG

SINCE LEAVING GENERAL HOSPITAL

Previously, since his departure from the ABC soap opera. Chad starred alongside Zach Mendez in the world premiere of of Yum Yum at Annapolis, a new play written by Bruce Reisman. Duell last appeared on General Hospital on the January 21, 2025 episode.

The part was recast with Rory Gibson who debuted as the new Michael in May of 2025 during the Nurses’ Ball episodes and who has remained in the role since that time.

In an interview earlier this year on The Able Show, Duell said on his decision to exit the soap opera, “I was blessed to be part of that (show) for as long as I have, but what happens sometimes is if you’re doing the same thing, especially in a creative field for such a long time, you can get a little burnt out in a way. It can make you a little depressed, so that’s kind of what happened. On top of that, I had other things going on in my life at the time. My father passed away recently and I just needed a reset. So, I stepped away. A lot of times you have to go through some stuff to really step into that next level. I needed to kind of feel uncomfortable.”

So, what type of musical genre will Chad’s new song be? Country? Pop? Rock? Dance/Club? Something else? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below, and if you are eager to hear the new single next week via the comment section below.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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