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

January 30, 2019

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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26 Comments

  1. Michael

    January 30, 2019 at 9:53 am

    Max and Maurice have been brilliant in this storyline.

    Reply

  2. D Fortis

    January 30, 2019 at 10:51 am

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

    Reply

  3. Bren

    January 30, 2019 at 2:32 pm

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

    Reply

    • Holly

      January 31, 2019 at 6:12 am

      Me too

      Reply

  4. Dan

    January 30, 2019 at 11:26 pm

    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.

    Reply

    • Timmm

      January 31, 2019 at 9:38 am

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

      Reply

      • Celia

        February 3, 2019 at 7:18 pm

        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”.❤️

        Reply

      • Harry

        February 7, 2019 at 12:01 am

        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.

        Reply

    • Bren

      January 31, 2019 at 2:03 pm

      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.

      Reply

      • Alic

        February 1, 2019 at 4:49 pm

        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.

        Reply

        • Bren

          February 2, 2019 at 5:54 am

          Thank you, finally someone who understands.

          Reply

        • Celia

          February 3, 2019 at 7:25 pm

          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.

          Reply

          • Jamesj75

            February 3, 2019 at 9:37 pm

            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…

          • Alic

            February 4, 2019 at 5:15 pm

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

          • Celia

            February 4, 2019 at 7:36 pm

            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❤️

          • Jamesj75

            February 4, 2019 at 8:47 pm

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

          • Celia

            February 6, 2019 at 7:34 am

            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.❤️

        • Celia

          February 7, 2019 at 6:42 am

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

          Reply

    • rose

      February 6, 2019 at 8:52 am

      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.

      Reply

  5. Doris

    January 31, 2019 at 2:21 pm

    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.

    Reply

  6. Linda

    January 31, 2019 at 2:55 pm

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

    Reply

  7. su000

    January 31, 2019 at 9:16 pm

    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 !!

    Reply

    • Celia

      February 3, 2019 at 7:27 pm

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

      Reply

      • su000

        February 4, 2019 at 6:56 pm

        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

        Reply

        • Celia

          February 4, 2019 at 7:57 pm

          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.❤️

          Reply

          • Shay

            February 6, 2019 at 1:24 pm

            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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Dante Dante Dante. #anactortrains #trainasif #healthycompetition #goodguydustin #dustinislosingit

A post shared by Mark Lawson (@themarkmlawson) on

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B&B’s Heather Tom talks with Michael Fairman immediately following her record-tying win in the Lead Actress category during the 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards.  Heather and Erika now hold the most wins for an actress with 6! Leave A Comment

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