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GENERAL HOSPITAL Touches on Racial Profiling, Social Injustice and Bias In Key Scenes with Portia and Jordan

Courtesy/ABC

This week ABC’s General Hospital took the opportunity to write in to their scripts and story, the issue that has been so prevalent in our country now and for decades that of racial profiling, injustice, bias, gender equality and more rolled into scenes featuring: Brook Kerr (Portia), Briana Nicole Henry (Jordan), Sydney Mikala (Trina) and William Lipton (Cameron).

When Portia comes to the boxing gym for a workout and comes upon Jordan hitting the boxing bag hard over the the incident with Cameron in the hospital garage, it spurs a greater conversation.

Jordan tells Portia about the situation that arose with Cameron and a gun, and Portia says she heard about it.  Jordan knows if Cameron’s skin was a different color, she may not have been able to de-escalate the situation and talk her officers down, if she had not arrived on the scene in the nick of time.

This launches the two women into an important conversation on racial profiling, social injustice, white privilege and gender bias that they have found themselves dealing with in their professions (Portia is a doctor and Jordan the police commissioner) and their children’s lives.

Later in another scene, Trina reminds Cameron how they, along with Joss (Eden McCoy) were pulled over by a cop last summer when they were driving around the backroads.  She goes on to say when Cameron questioned why they were being stopped, it scared her.  She feels if Joss and Cam were not there, she would have likely been pulled out of the car and pinned to the ground by the cop.  Trina notes she put aside her fear and never said anything to them, because they would never understand.  Trina tells Cam he needs to realize how lucky he was the other night when nothing happened to him after his run in with police.

You can watch the conversation below in scenes with Briana Nicole Henry and Brooke Kerr.

Then let us know, did you like how GH wove this social message into the story?  Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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It might have been a credible discussion between two Black mothers, if not for one thing….

One of them is the police commissioner, which means she’s actually in a position to do something about it. If she thinks there are racist cops in the PCPD who would have treated TJ or Trina differently than she treated Cameron, then isn’t it up to her to get rid of the racist cops?

Of course the problem with the PCPD is that they have exactly one cop on active duty right now, and he just literally rejoined the department after recovering (we hope) from mental issues planted in his brain by rogue WSB operatives. At least we know Dante’s not a racist. It’s just the day player uniformed cops we have to worry about, apparently.

Now the real question…. how long before Commissioner Jordan’s questions about the inequalities in the “justice” system bring her back around to her ex boyfriend (Shawn Butler) who’s still in prison for a crime that she (and everybody else) knows he didn’t commit?

Oh Satan, I don’t know. On one hand, I appreciated the effort but something about it felt forced. You’re right, though. Write a racist cop story and let Jordan deal with THAT. And Dante? He’s back to being the town idiot, jumping to all the wrong conclusions and trying to arrest the wrong people. Chase was never as foolish-looking as Dumb Dante, even with the same basic dialogue. I didn’t miss Dante and I winced when he rejoined the force. It’s like actually feeling your brain cells die off…slowly.

Totally agree! My guess is they went as far as they thought the sponsors and network would tolerate. I was waiting for Jordan’s existential crisis about being part of the problem, but I kind of knew they couldn’t get there. I was impressed that they did it at all, given how alt-right the most vocal element of the soap fan base is skewing these days. I thought it was pretty good, all things considered.

Who says she’s not attempting to get rid of the racist cops (offscreen)? The writers’ simply chose to touch on the issue, not delve deep. Their intentions were good and relevant. I’m surprised they “went there” at all.

I was glad to see GH finally talk about this. Jordan is in a prime position to note the disparities she witnesses in her department. And having Portia and Trina weigh in provided different levels and opportunities to enlighten people. I just wish that could have gone full force they have been on “Gray’s Anatomy” and “Station 19”. You really had to read into what the characters weren’t saying. I’m sure the censors held them back. Hope it’s not a one and done conversation. We so need to keep the education and discussion going.

Back in the 80’s and 90’s, when soaps actually did social issue storylines, this could have touched on a whole story that enveloped a lot of the cast.

On today’s soaps, this felt forced, inserted, and very out of context. The climate is too charged. I get that soaps still occasionally try to insert something relevant … but I think this a bit exploitative and indulgent.

They weren’t just talking about white privilege, they were talking about white supremacy and anti-Black racism, and gesturing to the routine murders of Black people by police. I think it does a bit of a disservice to these powerful scenes to describe the subject matter as “white privilege” and “bias” when they were talking about something so much more severe than that.

All you naysayers. The scenes were great and bravo to GH for addressing the issue.

I watch to escape the 24/7 news, fake news, current events. As of today after Alexis talking racism again with her sentencing judge is no different than that horrible Mainstream media. Go back to evil twin, relationship drama with some humor. Been watching since the 70’s & this is a total turn off

Rose, your ignorance and racism is SCREAMING in this comment. Soaps have always been about socially relevant and topical issues, and this is a social, topical one, and it needs to be told.

Rose…Like you I watch soaps to have a time out on the “real” world. I’m sure each of us has our turn-off subjects. For me anything to do with addiction. And while the acting was very good, the altzimers (excuse the spelling) story on GH and Steffy on B&B were fast forwards for me. But I still think there is a place to address social issues that have real life implications. So I have no problem with some cross over…as long as they don’t dwell on them. On this note I think the discussions on racial on GH from Trina, Cameron, Portia and the police commissioner were well done and timely.

Please stop the black vs white crap on general hospital. We have heard enough and I am sick of it. To tell you the truth it’s making white people to hate blacks. Your going to start riots if u keep this crap up. As far as white people we never had a problem with blackes till blm broke our statues and ripped our history down. Pushing this on people is going to start major crap cuz were ALL SICK OF IT.

General Hospital

THIS WEEK on GENERAL HOSPITAL: Dex and Josslyn’s Relationship at a Crossroad, Jason Contacts Diane For Help

Previews for the week of March 18-22nd on General Hospital, plus the latest promo for the daytime drama series, share that Jason’s (Steve Burton) return has already affected so many lives, especially given the fact that several key people aka Michael (Chad Duell), Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and Danny (Asher Antonyzn) know his location at this moment.

Eventually, Jason (Steve Burton) will get in touch with Diane (Carolyn Hennesy), from what one can only assume is legal help. However, John (Adam J. Harrington) seems hot on Jason’s trail, but the question remains, if Jason was working for John as seemingly revealed in a flashback to keep out of prison, are the two working together … or are they mortal enemies?

Meanwhile, it looks like its curtain for now in the relationship between Dex (Evan Hofer) and Josslyn (Eden McCoy). After Nina (Cynthia Watros) dropped a bombshell about Cyrus (Jeff Kober), Joss gets an earful of information from Dex, when he admits that he was in Cyrus’s hospital room to kill him on orders from Sonny (Maurice Benard).

Photo: ABC

According to Soap Opera Digest, Eden McCoy shared, ” I think what’s different about this situation, and what pushes her over the edge, is that it wasn’t, like, a self-defense situation. It wasn’t at a shoot-out. He wasn’t protecting Sonny. Cyrus wasn’t doing anything! And I think that really scares her, to see him in the light of voluntarily killing someone in their sleep. That is very different from, like, shooting someone that’s shooting at Sonny. She is just in shock, like she can’t actually believe it.” As told by McCoy, “At that point, Josslyn says.’I can’t do this anymore,’ and makes her exit.”

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

MONDAY, MARCH 18

Dex makes a confession to Josslyn. Tracy shares a moment with Sonny. Diane offers encouragement to Alexis. Kevin explains what might have led to Marshall’s misdiagnosis. Stella has an unlikely encounter. 

TUESDAY, MARCH 19

Josslyn opens up to Carly. Dex confides in Anna. Sonny offers Natalia some valuable insights. Jason gets a visitor. Brook Lynn lays into John.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

Tracy sees a new side of Cody. Alexis informs Molly about her plans. Natalia has a revelation. Anna makes an admission to John over drinks.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

Drew has a proposition for Nina. A photo shoot at Deception goes wrong. Laura and Heather find some common ground. Willow is worried by her actions.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22

Jason reaches out to Diane for help. Maxie calls Lucy out. Cody and Olivia comfort each other. Sasha makes a huge decision. Chase and Brook Lynn are stunned.

Now below, watch this week’s promo for the action in Port Charles.

What storyline are you looking forward to the most? The least? Let us know in the comment section.

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General Hospital

REPORT: General Hospital Alum, Robyn Bernard, Homeless & Battling Addiction, Before Her Passing at 64

Robyn Bernard passed away earlier this week on March 12th, when her body was found in an empty field, which is allegedly behind a 7/11, and some trailer homes, in San Jacinto, California. The actress and singer, and former General Hospital alum, played Terry Brock from 1984-1990 and was 64-years-old at the time of her death.

New reporting on the life that she led over the past year, and longtime mental health issues and struggles with addiction, paint a picture that may have led to her death. Although it should be noted, the toxicology report is currently not completed or released. However, the sheriff department stated that no foul play is suspected.

Now, according to the Daily Mail, friends of Bernard spoke on how she had become part of their homeless community, and that she she struggled with alcohol addiction, and had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia through the latter part of her life.

Photo: ABC

In their accounts, things went south for Robyn when in 2014 she moved to the community in San Jacinto, which is 84 miles from Los Angeles. At that time, she moved into a trailer park for senior citizens and was beloved for her singing by her neighbors.

The report also notes that in 2015, tragically, Bernard’s trailer park home was burned to the ground taking 7 of her 8 beloved cats and all of her possessions. After that, Robin stayed with many people of the community, but the previous management chased her off of the premises. She then broke up with her boyfriend and eventually stopped communicating with her parents.

Bernard’s final home was in a community called Parkview Estates, facilitated by Riverside County’s Adult Protective Services Department.  According to police records obtained by Daily Mail, through 2017-2019, Bernard faced numerous DUI drugs and alcohol arrests during that period.

Joni Woods, who lives opposite the space where Bernard’s trailer once was said: ‘I used to see her (Robyn) around town all the time pushing her shopping carts. She always had four or five of them, and I always felt so bad for her.” Robyn’s former boyfriend, Dan Berlin, expressed that the last time he had seen the GH alum was two years ago, “She was out there, talking to herself in a nonsense way. She was a schizophrenic.’

The friends of Bernard shared: “She used to say that Hollywood screwed her over,” adding, “They did her dirty and that’s why she ended up living in San Jacinto of all places.”

Share your thoughts on this tragic story of the last part of Robyn’s life, which again, stresses the importance of trying to find the appropriate help for those dealing with mental illness, being homeless, and addiction. 

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General Hospital

While ‘General Hospital’s’ Dante Lays in a Coma; Dominic Zamprogna Has Some Great New Portrait Headshots

On General Hospital, Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) has thus far survived two bullets to the chest, and is laying in a coma. Sam (Kelly Monaco), his lady love, is by his side and beside herself after learning her ex Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) is alive and is of the belief that Jason have been the shooter who tried to take out Dante.

Sonny (Maurice Benard) has been wracked with guilt after he wasn’t so kind to his son, before the PCPD cop got shot. Meanwhile, Jason is hiding out at the Quartermaine boat house trying to recover from the gun shot wound he received.

While Dante’s life is still hanging in the balance, it appears that his portrayer, Dominic Zamprogna, took a diverse range of headshot and portrait photos under the eyes of talented photographer Jackson Davis. The photos were posted on Davis’ Instagram account.

Photo: ABC

A few former GH castmates commented on the photos including Marc Anthony Samuel (ex-Felix) who expressed: “Dante, Dante, Dante…,” and Mark Lawson (ex-Dustin) posted, “Dom!!!! Handle yo’ biz.”

Zamprogna joined General Hospital back in 2009 and has been nominated four times for a Daytime Emmy Award throughout his time thus far on the ABC daytime drama series.

So, what do you think will happen to Dante? Will he wake up and be just fine, or will he have another medical condition? What do you think of Dominic’s new headshots? Comment below.

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