General Hospital
General Hospital’s Steve Burton Reveals the Emotional Scene He Almost Could Not Get Through
On a recent episode of General Hospital, Jason received a message from his mother, Monica Quartermaine (Leslie Charleson) via a note. The effect it had on Jason’s portrayer, Steve Burton turned out to be quite visceral.
As GH fans know, although Jason’s bio-mom was Susan Moore, he was raised and adopted by Monica. Speaking on his Daily Drama podcast with his co-host and GH co-star, Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Steve shared some insight on the difficulties he had getting through that scene.
Burton shared that in the key moment, “Brooklyn (played by Amanda Setton) came in and that’s where she gave me (Jason) the letter from Monica. That was a very hard scene for me to do. That was a tough one. That was the one time I was almost going to call ‘cut!’ It read ‘Jason, I believe in you.’ I was literally going to walk off the set.”
Photo: JPI
To clarify and in the story, Monica was saying “I believe in you” and that she knows Jason didn’t shoot Dante (Dominic Zamprogna). Steve added, “It was tough, man. Emotionally, it was a tough scene. It was overwhelming in the moment.”
Steve went on to detail to Anderson, “She (Brook Lynn) pushed it to me and I read it and she was walking out and I had to stop her, but I was so emotional I couldn’t even get it out. And at that point, I’m like, ‘Do I just keep going … or do I just walk off the set right now?’ But, I knew just to stay, because it’s so hard to get back there, once you shut it down. I knew, the next take wasn’t going to be the same.”
Photo: JPI
It’s clear that Leslie Charleson is so missed on-screen as Monica by all of her castmates, and that Jason and Monica had a very special mother/son relationship throughout the decades on GH.
What did you think of the moment when Jason got a note from Monica that said, “I believe in you?” Were you touched as well? Let us know in the comment section. You can check out the latest episode of Steve and Bradford’s podcast below.
I’m not sure what he was choked up about; that Leslie Charleson is obviously not well and is no longer on the show? (that’d be understandable.) But that note? I’m thinking that’s not all a mother would say in a note when her son comes back from the dead. How utterly dumb. These writers need to hire writers, lol.
Agree – I wonder if he had to come up with something for the fans and that was it.
Sons coming back from the dead isn’t that big of a deal for Monica anymore. Between AJ & Jason it’s happened a dozen times or so. Now on the other horn, Jason being accused of shooting Sonny’s son? That’s a new one.
LOL; now let them bring back AJ. She can send him the same note. It’d be applicable for AJ’s always uphill battle.
I’ve been waiting all of these years for AJ to return…
He did return and then he and then-head writer, Ron Carlivati and Sean Kanan had a falling out, and he killed AJ off! Ugh; so non professional. Work it out behind-the-scenes; don’t kill off a legacy characters you just brought back!
It wasn’t necessarily a falling out; when Sean Kanan came back, he was told what would/wouldn’t be happening with AJ, which is why he came back. But they focused the story on AJ still being a deadbeat/drunk, and then the scripts began poking fun of Kanan’s weight/body, and he wasn’t happy so he opted to leave. And knowing how vindictive and spiteful the “writer” is, he killed AJ back off as quickly as he brought him back.
I thought it was just right for that moment. It said it all, she loved and believed in him
All she said was she believed in him. There’s no way that was enough. She just found out her son is alive! Brook Lynn should have said something like, Monica isn’t well but she desperately wants to see you; come to the house.” (and then given him the note).
I think his emotion was more a real life reaction to Leslie Charleson and the fact that she obviously has some health issues going on, and can’t be on the show. He’s worked with her for 33 years, longer than 95% of the current cast, so it’s understandable he would miss her and be thinking of her during a scene like that.
They clearly wanted to address Monica’s absence and offer an explanation for why she hasn’t been around, and did the best they could without Leslie being available to do a voiceover or anything. They could have had Jason have a one way phone conversation with Monica, but I think a simple but meaningful note had much more impact. And you don’t need to send a full page note to convey what needed to be conveyed, under the assumption that Jason and Monica would have an in person reunion at some point, in theory anyway.
Acknowledging that Monica still exists, even in the form of a short note, is a lot more than previous writing team bothered to do over the past few years. I think the new writers are doing just fine.
We’ll have to “agree to disagree. I think the way they’re handling Leslie Charleson’s absence passed absurd a long time ago. For over two years we’re supposed to believe she was never available: not when Willow was dying, not when Willow and Michael got married, not at Epiphany or Britt’s memorial, not the entire time Ned was Eddie Maine, not for Amelia’s birth, not when Tracy came back. I think they had a couple of options they could have gone with; a definitive that Monica had taken a job as Chief of Staff or Cardiology out of the country, OR, she passed. Or, recast, which I know at this point would be hard to accept and would be a challenge (I, too, am a long time viewer), but having to play make believe in this make believe world is stretching it. Tracy pretending to talk to her on the phone to tell her she’ll see her at home is ridiculous. They need (in my opinion) to make a decision. The Quartermaine house is bare of actual Quartermaines; in my opinion they should find a way to bring AJ back from the dead again and keep him this time, bring back Dillon, and possibly Skye and Lila Rae. Fill up that house with people we went through the years with; (those of us who watched back in the day) because as it stands now there’s not much of anything about the Quartermaines left. And as much as I ADORE Jane Elliott as Tracy and hope she remains with the show to the end, they’ve watered her down too much. Without Monica to snark with or AJ to belittle, without Ned around…sigh. They need to bring back who they can. I wish for many reasons Leslie would return, but I think at this point we know that’s not going to happen.
I would love to have Dylan back. I loved the character and how the actor portrayed him.
And I’ve been waiting since AJ allegedly died for everyone to find out that he isn’t actually dead.
But, as to Monica – I agree that she should be written out of the script in a believable way at this point. Taking a new job elsewhere doesn’t seem believable at her age. Who knows? Maybe they are waiting for just the right time to announce that Monica is deceased. Geeze — the writers have had to do this many times when the actors really did die suddenly. They can figure something out.
Could they be waiting for Brook Lynn’s wedding to be over?
OMG, really sick of all the angst over Monica. Couldn’t Sasha or.whomever just bring her, her morning breakfast tray and have.her be passed away? Very plausible as well as believable I think the rest would just fall into place.. As far as Brook Lynn, maybe you mean someone else? She’s been married quite a while now.
It is from my understanding, the decision to not recast the role of Monica is a mutual decision between Leslie Charleson & the serial/network. Her [brief] return, via phone calls and then those two-episodes, were kind of a “goodbye” should she be unable to return, and it allows her to be the last remaining actor in the role.
The note was short and covered the sentiment perfectly. Obviously LC was not able to do a voiceover of a longer message, so why make the viewers read or have Jason read aloud? GH has to carefully decide how to mention longterm characters when the performer is unable to appear. They’re not going to recast Audrey, Monica or Mac as those actors have spent 30-40+ years building those characters.
Kudos to Steve for playing that scene quite well. And good job writers for a plausible reason for Monica’s absence.
Very well said. Shows GH respects legacy actors / characters.
LOL; it has nothing to do with “respecting legacy actors/characters.”
If only a two absence could be said…
Toxic.. always toxic .
Ridiculous. We suspend our disbelief when we watch any show, right? I can sooner suspend my disbelief when a character comes back from the dead that have a mom who thought her son was dead and found out he wasn’t just write, “I believe in you,” It was uninspired, lazy writing from the writers. Those words could have been at the end of the letter; not the only words.
I wish we would see more of Mac. He’s hardly over-the-hill.
I’ve been wondering about Audrey. She isn’t mentioned anymore — that I’ve heard — nor do I recall any mention of Audrey’s death. Rachel Ames is 94 after all.
Anna Lee (Lila) kept working until Anna’s death at the age of 91 — and then it was announced (on the show) that Lila had died peacefully in her sleep.
I entirely agree with your assessment, I was wondering what to comment , and you said it for me and a lot of others I bet, short and sweet and to the point, without a long, drawn out essay.
I so miss seeing Monica on the show. She was my now deceased partner’s favorite character.
I loved her as well. Especially miss her and Alan alot. I feel so bad that she is sick and not on anymore. Wishing and c hoping 4 her health to improve. Getcwell leslieakaMonica quartermaine
Killing off Alan Q years ago was unbelievably insane. Stuart Damon was as shocked as the viewers were. What a horrible, horrible, decision.
I signed off do not watch any of them now I guess I don’t read recaps but my heart breaks for John York etc I have had cancer it is a horrible thing I pray he comes thru this
Kay
John York, who has played Mac since 1991 has been going through a challenging health period and has been unable to be on the show since November. Let’s all hope he can return soon.
Rachel Ames retired from acting shortly after she went off contract. Frank was able to get her back for 2 episodes around 10 years ago. Elizabeth occasionally mentions her, but not as much as she used to.
According to her son, Anna Lee was devastated when the previous EP cut her contract which her son claims led to her passing. Not a great way to treat a longtime valued cast member.
Maybe the “Note” was real, from Leslie Charlson to Steve Burton. That would surely throw Steve/Jason for a loop!
That was one of the most heart felt messages any son could get from a mom I wish they would show many of this scene.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
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.
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.
If Anna Devane’s (Finola Hughes) new therapist on General Hospital looks familiar to you, it’s because actress Kearran Giovanni, who plays Dr. Nichols, previously played a doctor on One Life to Live!.
Viewers tuning-in to the Thursday, September 10 episode of GH got their first look at Dr. Nichols who has been brought in to help Anna recover from her PTSD and trauma following the reveal that she has been suffering from a break in reality since before being put in mental health facility in France, after being gaslighted by Cullum and company earlier in the year.
One Life to Live fans will recall that Kearran Giovanni played Dr. Vivian Wright in 2009, and it was then she first worked with current General Hospital EP, Frank Valentini, who at the time was at the helm in Llanview.
Photo: JPI
WHERE ELSE HAVE YOU SEEN KEARRAN GIOVANNI?
Giovanni appeared on OLTL in the recurring role through 2012 and in the final ABC episode of the beloved series was the the ob/gyn who delivered Destiny Evans (Shenell Edmonds) and Matthew Buchanan’s (Eddie Alderson) baby into the world, whom they named Drew Buchanan II after Bo Buchanan’s (Robert S, Woods) late son. In addition, Vivian has been dating Shaun Evans (Sean Ringgold).
In addition to One Life to Love, Giovanni has very impressive credits having appeared in numerous TV series and motion pictures including starring in the TNT drama Major Crimes from 2012-18, ABC’s Designated Survivor 2017-19, the CW’s Black Lightning from 2019-20. Most recently, Giovanni appeared on the Fox series, The Resident and has a recurring role on the CW’s crime series, Walker from 202-2024.
HEALING ANNA
On today’s General Hospital, after Anna’s harrowing meltdown where she almost shot and killed Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) after seeing visions of “Peter August” (Wes Ramsey), Jason (Steve Burton) saved the day and talked Anna down from committing murder. Now, Dr. Nichols was introduced as a valuable staff member at the hospital. Although, this marked the first time in the history of the show we have heard of her character.
So, do you remember seeing Kearran Giovanni on One Life to Live? Happy to see that Anna may have a qualified therapist in charge of her healing, unless the doctor turns out to be not on the up and up? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Anna Breaks Down in Front of Jason and Britt After Shots Are Fired
The Wednesday, September 9 episode of General Hospital featured top-notch performances by Finola Hughes and Steve Burton, as Anna holds Jason and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) at gunpoint on Mount Emerson.
Anna is not in her right mind as hallucinations of Peter (Wes Ramsey) overtake her, egging her on to shoot and kill Britt. Jason begs Anna to put down the gun, but it’s clear Anna is speaking to someone who is not there, but in a direction that is just past Britt.
Suddenly, Anna screams at Britt, “You’re just like your father!” Anna also tells Britt that she knew Britt was aware that she was locked up on Spoon Island and did nothing to save her. Britt turns to Jason and tells him she had no idea Anna was on the Island, “until Cullum showed up in Port Charles.” That declaration gave Jason pause.
Courtesy/ABC
“PETER” TAKES A BULLET
Next, Anna is overcome with angst, filled with tears and screams out, “I won’t let you beat me!” She fires the gun where the imaginary Peter was standing, as Britt screams and Jason dove to cover her. Now completely shaken, Jason took the weapon from Anna and ordered Britt to leave the scene as Anna collapsed in Jason’s arms.
Jason was so concerned for Anna. She reveals she’s been seeing visions of Peter August since France. Jason shared his theory with Anna that she was manifesting her worst fears about Faison. However he knows deep down Anna would never have shot Britt. Jason promises to come back and clean up the area, but would take Anna home first.
Courtesy/ABC
ANNA ADMITS TO EMMA SHE TRIED TO KILL BRITT
At Anna’s, Jason brings her in the front door as Emma is there. Jason tells Emma (Braedyn Bruner) he would like to return and spend the night. A confused and worried Emma get the full story from her grandmother.
Anna explains she tried to kill Britt and she is not as well as she was pretending to be in France. Cut to: Jason cleaning up the site of Anna’s plot against Britt on Mount Emerson. He moves over and finds bullet casings on the ground and examines one of them.
The story climax also signaled the end of the run for Wes Ramsey, who has been showing up on episodes over the last several months as Anna’s dark side conscience. Now that Anna was able to break the psychological hold visions of “Peter” had on her, it ends this latest return of Ramsey’s.
So, what did you think about the scenes between Anna and Jason? Do you think Jason and Britt’s relationship will come to an end now that seemingly Britt revealed she knew Anna was held captive after Cullum came to town? Glad to know Anna won’t be haunted by visions of Peter August anymore? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
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