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GH Head Writers Confirm Erika Slezak’s Arrival Comes On the Heels of Monica Quartermaine’s Death

By Michael Fairman

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Photos: JPI

When the news broke this summer that six-time Daytime Emmy winner, Erika Slezak (ex-Viki, One Life to Live) was headed to General Hospital in an undisclosed role, soap fans jumped for joy, that this iconic actress would be seen this fall on the canvas in Port Charles.

While many first speculated that she might be reprising her role as Viki, that soon became apparent that wouldn’t be the case especially after Martin Grey (Michael E. Knight) found a letter addressed to Monica that held some important information that we have yet to fully revisit.

Now comes word from General Hospital co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten, that indeed Slezak’s arrival will be timed with the death of Monica Quartermaine, when the long-running soap opera pays tribute to the late Leslie Charleson, who passed away earlier this year on January 12.

Photo: ABC

Speaking with TV Insider in the new fall preview for General Hospital, Korte and Van Etten shared, “Monica’s death will devastate the Quartermaines, none more than Jason (Steve Burton) and Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot). The family will come together with much of Port Charles to say goodbye to a woman who was an integral part of the community for nearly 50 years. For most, it will be an occasion for mourning and togetherness; but for a few, it will mark an opportunity to be seized. Into all this steps Erika Slezak’s character, who arrives bearing surprising connections to the Quartermaine clan and mysterious ties to others on the canvas.”

Photo: JPI

The head scribes also shared, “We’re in hock big time to executive producer Frank Valentini for coaxing Erika Slezak to come west and play with our cast. She’s a class act and a powerhouse. We can’t wait to see how her character challenges the status quo in Port Charles.”

Back on June 12th, Erika Slezak’s official website, shared the news that the veteran actress was coming to GH noting, “Erika has just informed us she has signed a short-term contract with ABC’s General Hospital. Erika will be playing a new character and will begin taping her episodes in September. At this time, Erika does not know which character she will be playing or when her scenes will air, but is excited to be working again with Executive Producer Frank Valentini and the cast of GH!”

So, excited to know that Erika will arrive as her new GH characters during the passing of Monica Quartermaine? How do you think she will shake up the Q clan? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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I cannot wait for the one and only Erika Slezak to come to GH. “Into all this steps Erika Slezak’s character, who arrives bearing surprising connections to the Quartermaine clan and mysterious ties to others on the canvas.” That is very intriguing. Whatever they come up with, I hope the material truly utilizes Erika and pays proper respect to the late Leslie Charleson.

I also hope they do justice to Leslie Charleson, Denise Alexander and Tristan Rogers with fitting tributes to the deaths of Monica Quartermaine, Lesley Webber & Robert Scorpio.

Both Lesley Webber and Robert Scorpio have not passed on GH

Monica’s death impacts many on the canvas while driving story. It sets up the long anticipated plot of who gets the mansion.

For Lesley, while she’s a treasured long term character, her death only impacts Laura. Hopefully, there’s an episode where Laura reminisces and they have flashbacks with the mother and daughter.

If/When they choose to have Robert die, that would require getting Emma Samms, Sofia Mattson, and Kimberly McCullough back for a few episodes. Will also need to wait until Maxie returns and her storyline wraps.

Hope this is more than 3 or 4 episodes

Totally agree Michael. I know Erika Slezak is an east coast person; but, I hope she can stay on GH for a least a few months. Having her on GH is a big deal. I can’t wait.

I was hoping they keep Monica alive. She and Tracy could fight for who is the matriarch of the family. You should keep the character alive and Erica will be a great Monica Quartermaine.

That would be soap opera blasphemy

Agreed. You don’t recast someone who had the role for over 45 years.

Erika is only taking a short-term role.

Sorry, but I’m bothered she’s not Viki. ABC won the rights back to all the characters from AMC and OLTL after that mess with Prospect Park was settled and the network hasn’t even bothered to utilize that victory. I thought sure we would see some of our favorites pop up from both shows.

As much as I do NOT want OLTL characters on GH (the 2012 invasion still turns my stomach) I would almost prefer a brief appearance of her Viki character, compared to these rumors of Monica suddenly having a “sister” who was never mentioned before.

I’m getting ReRon flashbacks here, from when he used the death of two legends on Days of Our Lives to introduce cartoonish characters that added nothing of value to the show. One of them being an “old friend” of Victor Kiriakis who turned out to be an enemy, and the other an alleged namesake grandson of Doug Williams, whose first act was to steal a diamond necklace from his grandfather’s family. His last act was to give it back, and did absolutely nothing worth remembering in between.

OLTL never aired down here, so I have no attachment to any characters or stories from that show. But I think we can say honestly, after multiple attempts to make Roger Howarth and Michael Easton part of GH have failed, that it seems to be a losing strategy to bring these folks on board. Not to mention a certain AMC transplant who is dragging the entire show down into a sewer, even as we speak.

That “certain AMC transplant” has surprised many with his take on swarmy villainy. The show is in a much better place this year than last.

I can guarantee that Erika Slezak won’t be cartoony.

I fully agree but will add… would it not be easier for ABC to relaunch a version of OLTL rather than trying to work them into GH ?

I wish they would just keep Monica upstairs or at a conference or something & not kill her off. I love the way they mention her almost daily. Makes me really think she’s upstairs!

I totally agree with you

Agreed they really need to do this

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Tanisha Harper on the Future of a Jordan Ashford and Michael Corinthos Pairing

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Jordan and Michael

It’s been clear for awhile now that General Hospital has been pushing Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper) more into the orbit of Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson), leading to speculation that the two will become more than just business associates and friends.

Well, now, Tanisha Harper has confirmed that the long-running ABC soap opera is testing the waters for a Jordan/Michael romance in her discussion with Soap Opera Digest.

The two characters share something in common, in that, they both have suffered severe burns and disfigurement, and they share a common bond working for Aurora Media.

Photo: ABC

CHEMISTRY TEST

Harper explained, “At first, they were kind of just sprinkling it in; we were starting to do some scenes together here and there. But, I think the writers and Frank Valentini (EP, GH) liked it, and we’ve progressed with that.”

This poses a bit of dilemma for Jordan, who’s boyfriend Curtis Ashford had been sent to Pentonville for assaulting Dr. Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson), but who just wound up on the receiving end of a prison beat down and landed at the hospital.

All things being equal, Tanisha shared that Michael is fast becoming, “the one person who understands what she’s going through on a deeper level. That makes for a strong connection, and I think the fans are starting to see that connection, too.”

As to if things will escalate and get hot and steamy from herem like any great forbidden love story, Tanisha shared, “That seems to be where we’re headed. In true soap fashion!”

Harper also noted about the future of Jordan and Michael, “We’ll see what the writers have in store for us, but I do think that this could be something really interesting. It’ll make some people mad, and some people will be here for it!”

So, are you down for a Jordan and Michael romance? Let us know via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali Weighs In on Who She Thinks is Trina’s Stalker (Exclusive)

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Tabyana Ali

On General Hospital, as Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) has launched a music career alongside Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza), it was recently revealed that she actually has what seems like an “obsessed” stalker! How do we know? Well, there is a collage of the young woman that said person is continuing to add more photos to as the weeks and months roll on.

There have been several obvious suspects in the way GH has presented the characters. Chief among them music executive, Simon Craft (Grady Eldridge) who continually has made statements and has been shooting daggers at anyone getting in the way of his prized recording artist.

At the same time the stalking started, Kai’s friend and former college football teammate, Quinn (Jequan Jackson) showed back up who previously had a falling out with Trina. Might he be playing nice, but wants revenge on Trina?

Simon, Trina and Gio

Photo: ABC

KEPT IN THE DARK

Fast-forward and now General Hospital fans learned that two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Alley Mills is on her way back to the show as Heather Webber, who previously was known as”The Hook” killer at one point, and is the biological mother of Trina’s sworn enemy, Esme Prince (last played by Avery Pohl).

Esme perished went she went overboard with Trina’s boyfriend, Spencer Cassadine (last played by Nicholas Alexander Chavez) a few years ago into the steely waters below. Could Esme be the one obsessing over Trina, or could it be someone else completely?

In a brand new video interview out on Tuesday, September 29, Tabyana Ali visited You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel and weighed-in on who she thinks could be the culprit! However, Tabyana shared she actually has no idea who it actually will turn out to be.

“The crazy thing is that everybody knows who it is except for me! They’re keeping that secret from me,” revealed Ali. “They want me to be as oblivious as Trina.”

Courtesy/ABC

THOSE WHO WENT OVERBOARD AND PRESUMED DEAD

After looking over the potential suspects and with all the theories that have floated about, Tabyana had her top picks! “I would love for it to be Spencer. I would love for it to be Esme. Mostly because I also just want my friends back on set, too. I would love to just see them and hang out with them. I think it definitely could be one of those two,” speculated Ali.

“I think everybody thought it could have been Quinn, or could have been Simon. I think we were all pointing in that direction for a minute, but I thinks that’s too easy”, declares Tabyana. “I think they’re just trying to throw me off, and trying to make it seem like it’s one of them. Now, nobody told me one way or the other about them.”

As soaps go, it’s usually not the first string of suspects who turn out to be the actual person behind the stalking. Tabyana agreed, “If you just know writing in general, if you just know TV in general, if you know soaps in general, you know that’s a game. You know, they set up, set up, set up, and then they really show the reveal. So. I was like, ‘This is just the setup to the reveal, right?'”

As for it being Spencer, it may not because his motives are bad. Ali shared, “It could be Spencer trying to fight his way back to Trina, or Heather trying to get revenge for her dead daughter Esme, or Esme herself. Those are all good ones, I was also playing around with what if it’s Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober)? That would be kind of fun. Don’t know what his motive would be. I know he passed away. He’s dead because of Joss (Eden McCoy), but it’s like everybody comes back alive on soaps, so…”

Trina and Kai

Photo: ABC

FROM KAI WITH LOVE

Some fans theorized it could be Trina’s boyfriend, Kai Taylor (Jens Austin Astrup) or one another option being that the real stalker takes him out. “I think that’s kind of happened to all of Trina’s boyfriends,” lamented Tabyana. “They’ve all kind of gone that way. So, hopefully it doesn’t happen that way. Would it be easier if Kai was the stalker? Okay, yeah, maybe. He’d go to jail for a couple months or whatever. Come on out and then what? He would had to have had a brain-eating amoeba that made him do it. Who knows?” (Laughs)

In the end, are Trina and Kai truly in love? Ali shared her viewpoint and gave a tease, “I think they have love for one another, but to love someone it does take gradual time. I think it’s getting to that point. I think with this music situation as well, it is really proving to Trina that Kai is willing to be there with her every step of the way.”

She continued, “He is supporting her 10 toes down, making sure that she has everything that she needs, to going to every live show. I think this portion of their lives will definitely guide them somewhere else. I think, an ‘I love you,’ might come just around the corner.”

You can check out the full conversation with Tabyana now on the Michael Fairman Channel below.

Then weigh-in, after hearing Tabyana’s thoughts on the matter, who do you think will be proven to be Trina’s stalker? Let us know via the comment section below.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Lulu Tells Charlotte Everything That Could Have Happened to Her With Drew

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Lulu and Charlotte

The Monday, September 28 episode featured emotional scenes for Lulu (Alexa Havins), Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) and Charlotte that set the stage for the previously reported exit of Bluesy Burke.

In story, Lulu and Valentin inform Charlotte they are sending her away to boarding school in Maine. The reason: she needs more structure, and more than her parents can give her. Charlotte’s recent actions to try to set up Drew (Cameron Mathison) to make it look like he was making advances to a teenage girl was the last straw for the teenager.

Charlotte, at first, was angered and begging her parents to not make her leave Port Charles. Valentin exits to give Lulu time alone to talk to their daughter.

Charlotte and Danny

Courtesy/ABC

MOTHER HAS SOME THINGS TO SAY

Now alone, Lulu tries to open her daughter’s eyes as to what could have happened to her if she went through with her plot to videotape Drew with her in his car! Charlotte explains her plan and how she had everything under control, but Lulu asks her what if Drew took advantage of her or hurt her? What if things went terribly wrong? She questions Charlotte, if she even thought about that?

Lulu tried to make Charlotte see that Drew could have sexually assaulted her. Eventually, Charlotte agrees to go to boarding school, as Lulu and Charlotte share a tear-filled goodbye. However, before she leaves town, Charlotte asks her mother to let her say goodbye to Danny (Asher Antonyzyn).

VALENTIN OPENS UP TO ANNA

Meanwhile, Valentin has gone to the Metro Court Gardens and runs into Anna (Finola Hughes). Valentin is distraught sharing he feels like a failure as a father and because of his choices what has become of his daughter. He is devastated. These were also well-played scenes between James Patrick Stuart and Finola Hughes. Anna assures Valentin that sending Charlotte to boarding school is not a bad idea at all.

DANNY IS HEARTBROKEN AND ANGERED

Towards the conclusion of the episode, Charlotte tells Danny she is being sent to Maine to boarding school by his parents. Danny tries to look on the bright side, that Maine is not that far away from New York, and at least she is not being sent overseas.

However, Danny becomes upset when Charlotte tells him that her parents knew what she was planning with Drew, because Rocco had told Carly (Laura Wright).

Danny is confused why Rocco would have ratted her out. Charlotte says to impress Scou (Kayden Brenna Tokarski). The two teens hug with Charlotte promising that she’d be back, and Danny telling her he would here for her once she returned to Port Charles.

So, what did you think of the scenes between Lulu, Valentin and Charlotte? Did Lulu raise good points to her daughter about Drew, to scare her enough to realize actions have consequences? Will you miss Bluesy Burke? Let us know via the comment section, but first take a look at the opening scenes featuring the trio that sets-up Charlotte’s farewell, for now, 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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