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General Hospital’s Cynthia Watros Delivers The ‘Power Performance of the Week’

Photo: ABC

Friday’s episode of General Hospital combined with Tuesday’s episode of the ABC daytime drama series, saw Daytime Emmy-winner, Cynthia Watros, run through the gamut of emotions in her portrayal of the duped Nina Reeves on her wedding day and the aftermath.

Watros, who made Annie Dutton of Springfield and Guiding Light one of the most memorable soap roles of all-time, showed GH viewers why she is just THAT good!  We have always said that Cynthia can play: drama, romance, torture, cray-cray, heartbreak all rolled-into-one; especially when given the material.

Courtesy/ABC

In story, after part of the secret is out that Sasha (Sofia Matteson) is not really Nina’s bio-daughter – Nina, who has had everything she believed in fall in on her, tries to regain her strength to go back to Wyndemere to face Valentin, and move out of his house.  Once there to get her things, Nina tells Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) that where she goes is no longer his business.

 

Valentin admits that he was looking for her daughter which caused this whole situation, but he also does not admit his part in the Sasha cover-up and that he was the one paying her to portray Nina’s daughter.  He even goes so far to insist that Sasha’s actions were all her own.  Nina still does not believe him.  After she packs her bag, and heads for the door. Valentin tells her that his life is meaningless without her. Nina basically says, “True, that” in so many words … and makes her exit.

Next, with sunglasses on, Nina returns to the workplace at Crimson where she finds Sasha with Michael (Chad Duell) and Lucy (Lynn Herring).  She calls security and tells them all to get out.  Sasha then spins a yarn, much to the chagrin of the audience, knowing that if she implicates Liesl (Kathleen Gati) and Valentin, Nina would be devastated.  So, Sasha says she acted alone and faked being Nina’s daughter, when she was contacted by her attorney, and she was in cahoots with the guy … until he suddenly died!  What!?  Nina looks very suspicious… and throws back that how would Sasha know how to change three DNA test results.  Sasha had an answer for that – she had a friend who works in a lab do it.   Nina still believes she could not have done this alone without Valentin.  Then, in a heartbreaking speech, Watros as Nina shares how she has lost everything: her daughter, her marriage, hope she even had a daughter in the first place, and the list goes on.

 

Courtesy: ABC

And … let’s not forget Tuesday’s nuptials, which we gave our review and recap previously here.  It is there that Nina is first blindsided, and the betrayal, rage, and hurt displayed by Watros was all top-notch.  Here is Nina finally marrying the man she loves, whom she had to allow herself to come to trust all over again so she could be with him, even with all of the warning signs around her.  Not only does she have Lulu (Emme Rylan) spoil her nuptials with exposing the secret of Sasha, but then has to process the deception  which means to her that maybe she never had the child she so desperately wanted and believed she had all along.

Courtesy/ABC

The Friday cliffhanger though posed an upcoming intriguing scene.  Ava (Maura West) showed up with a bottle of booze to commiserate with Nina at Crimson (The same woman who Nina literally ripped the baby right out her and kidnapped it in a heinous revenge plot).  Will these two wronged woman team up?  Will there be hell to pay?  That is yet to be seen, but without a doubt, Cynthia Watros is Michael Fairman TV’s ‘Power Performance of the Week’.

Let us know if you agree with our pick via the comment section below, and what you thought about Cynthia’s work in these key episodes.

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Wow…amazing

It certainly was “soapy” and over the top.

Yes, she is in real Nina mode now! Remember,all of you old soap-timers, this is the woman that played the deliciously, wicked Annie Dutton on Guiding Light, many years ago! I hope she doesn’t let Valentin off the hook!

Nina’s performance was magnificent! She showed viewers she can assume a role right in the thick of things and blow it out of water! Congratulations on this riveting performance!

Excellent betrayed performance

I still miss Michelle Stafford. She was my Nina .

Meh….the previous actress that played Nia was 100 times better.

Totally. Our original Nina was beautiful and classy with a little bit of evil if you brought it out. She’s great whether she’s Phyllis or Nina. Not trying to knock new Nina but I just don’t feel her as Nina… yet

I was so happy to hear Cynthia Watros was going to play Nina
She has stepped in and has done a fabulous job! She is a wonderful actress and i loved her in the Guiding Light too! I also would like her to stay with Valentin!

I’m glad the truth is out(half of it anyway). I’ll be glad when Valentin is exposed for the treacherous person he is.

this week she finally took over and wiped the memory of Michelle away.

I totally agree. It was a brilliant performance and unbeatable for the week.

I disagree, but thats because i like the other Nina, this one seems boring and i never watched the other soap she was in but i hope she was a better actress in that one. She really needs more make up , kind of frumpy!

I’m with you Valerie

Stunning performance emotions riding in waves

Honestly, I still don’t care for her. She doesn’t measure up to our original Nina.

I knew Cynthia would deliver a outstanding performance on GH. She was a phenomenal actress on GL.

Agreed that cynthia’s performance was amazing with all the different emotions being displayed! I was very inpressed!

I was very impressed with Cynthia’s acting and capturing all the emotions needed to convey the raw feelings of the moments. Yes. She’s a good actress!!

I can’t help but feel like I wish Michelle Stafford had gotten to play these scenes, but ABC dropped the ball on that one. However, I will say, after what was a slow beginning, Cynthia Watros has really done a nice job making the role her own. And she knocked it out of the park in these scenes. I finally got to see what my friend that watched her on Guiding Light was raving about. I’m very glad GH finally moved this story along after being stuck in neutral seemingly forever, and the pay off was worth it.

She played the emotional moment very well. Wish the writers would have added more anger and outright hurt. She wears her heart on her sleeve, would’ve been in character. We’ll have to watch and see.

Valentine needs to be showed up don’t let him off the hook.

It was great performance. But it’s time for Cynthia to make Nina her own. Stop all those tics and flips from previous actress Leave staffords portrayal in past make Nina a stronger woman not so crazy and needy

Agreeed!

I’ll give Cynthia credit though, she has made this transition a little but more easier but with the wedding scenes out the way, lets hope she can connect with the key players.

Cynthia does however need to connect with Ingo and Donnell to truly make Nina work.

So far, the Jax-Nina storyline that GH is banking on hasn’t exactly worked out due to the nonexistent chemistry between Ingo and Cynthia.

It may have looked good on paper due to Cynthia’s resume but on wax it’s a dud and GH may have to heavily cut it’s loses.

YES! Love Cynthia Watros.
I just turned on Monday’s show, gotta turn it off, Parking Lot is ruining it. Get rid of him!

No impact—emotionally and/or otherwise.
I have a low tolerance for “duh”, naive ( yet mature) women with stars in their eyes. And, I do not appreciate the scribes , who depict supposedly intelligent females as fragile idiots ‘taken-in’ by devilish men such as Valentin.
C’mon—-it’s the 21st Century….women, even on soaps, should not be allowed to appear brainless by looking the other way and follow their heart…..Especially knowing Valentin’s iffy reputation.
Nina is no babe in the woods. She’s been around the corner a few times—coma or not!!

I hear you, CeeeCeeGirl! This obtuse one is yet another GH character suffering from the “Alexis Syndrome,” aka, females who have never grown up and repeat the same mistakes with men over …and over….and over again like they are naive teenage girls just experiencing their first pangs of lovesickness…it’s patently ridiculous and insulting to women everywhere to repeatedly portray such femmes who only seem to know how to think with their nether regions and not their God given brains! P.S. Hope you are feeling better!

Nina isnt stupid,,,its Halloween,,she is going to trick Valentin somehow

Hello, Jim! I think Nina can be quite dim when it comes to men, but she’s crazy like a fox once it’s time to mete out the punishment for disappointing her with their bad behavior. In between meltdowns, she always has a plan…..Lol.

Hey’ Shaybelle,
Right?? The portrayal of ditzy, lovesick mature women makes me foam at the mouth.
I do like Alexis so far, but there is the potential in the revival of a Julian-Alexis lovefest, now that Kim is out of Julian’s life. Ha??
I wouldn’t mind if both ignited their fiery ‘union’ behinf closed doors–literally. I mean, both characters have grown, I see that. I think the relationship would be more sedate at this point? ….
NuNina was soooo overacting, looking like a lunatic—-that was not a nice moment for me. I cry over anything—but my eyes did not well-up—-unreasonably enough, I felt aching pangs of pity for Sasha, albeit the girl was playing with fire.
Nina is not the only victim here. She was so desperately looking for her long-lost child that she would accept a little pet dog, as her child, if Valentin said so. Patetica!!
Sasha is as much of Valentin’s victim as Nina or anyone else who crosses his path —-everywhichway….
Wouldn’t it be soooo beyond expectation if Sasha did turn out to be her daughter afterall?
The ye-gods missed their opportunity with Kiki and Nelle. Why not make Sasha her daughter? Redo the DNA test—
I do feel much better, my Shay…..thank you for asking.
Remember when I hurt my knee ice-skating? Well….I am home because my knee is acting up again….Cortisone shots aren’t working for my torn meniscus– meaning: surgery!!
I can just see myself in twenty years—stiff and misshapen from arthritis. LOL.
Soon, mia bella! Stay well….

Oh, CeeCee, God forbid we get a redux of the Julian and Alexis saga! She’ll be dropping her knickers at the ready anytime he is in close proximity…so much for being “sedate” and “behind closed doors!” You just know the two of them will be going at it like rabbits once again…everywhere, anywhere! ! Please…no, just NO!!!! Been there, done that! Lol….As for NuNina, you’ve called it correctly…she’s a real loon, isn’t she??? Egads….I wouldn’t want to see either human or furry being suffer the fate as her child…especially not Sasha….I am still holding out hope she is a Westbourne…and why not??? As the song says, “She’s got the look!” (But what a mess of maternal mysteries GH has become….I’m still not convinced that Kiki was ever Ava’s real daughter…guess that’s another loose end never to be tied up in a neat little bow, eh???) Anyway, so sorry to hear of your ongoing discomfort….sounds very painful, and it’s especially inconvenient this time of the year when the hustle-and-bustle of the holidays is right around the corner. Do take care, mia amica! It was so nice to hearfrom you! Later….

Well, my Shay…..I look a it this way: if Alexis and Julian decide to indulge their insatiable libido of old ( rerun performance) by scorching the sheets, I will, at least, be rewarded by your very vividly colorful excoriation—-I can see their dkin scraping from your scathing words…..you know how much I enjoy your descriptive prose, LOL.
None of these storylines hits my core. Blah, blah, blah…..I want to spank Lulu!! I want to put a paper bag over Nina’s head!! I want to fix Kim’s teeth and snap her out of her schoolgirl daze. I suppose every mother who has lost a child grieves in her own way—-but, this is so nuts, Shay—-yeah; it’s a soap.
Franco need his ears boxed until Drew is out if his system. Just give me one day to personally straighten everyone out…..including the scribes. They are writing for grammar school children.
Lucy? She is just annoying entertainment.
At the moment, Sasha and Ava deserve “hats off”….not that I am “taken” by the characters, but, Ava never ceases to grab me—-she can simply stand there doing absolutely nothing and capture my attention—Sasha is a very believable protagonist—the sense of innocence her limpid eyes emanate is a skill which eludes many……not easily conquered. Yet, it could be an innate quality the actress uses to her advantage.
C’est tout, ma belle…
Thank you for your solicitousness. I truly appreciate it.
Stay well, tesoro!!

Nina is just playing Valentin…she is no fool!!!

Perhaps, Jim ( Jimmy?) ……but, I don’t think it’s the case this time. I think Nina is in denial and lonely for lack of a family. She is hurt and is aching to fill that void of love which , for all appearances, Sasha tore from her. She may have misgivings about Valentin’s integrity, yet subconsciously, she’s willing to give a deaf ear and a blind eye to these internal signals.
More’s the pity, as my Gran is wont to say.
Frankly, I am more interested in the phenomenon called Ava/Maura. She is deserving of all the accolades fans can regale to such a star……and, she is a star!!!!
I have anticipated Nikolas’ resurrection from the onset—-hopefully, he will be both Ava’s White knight and Sir Galahad.
It was very disappointing to have had the hint of a strongly potential liaison between him and Ava, to then have the blooming relationship end as soon as it started.

Hey, Jim,
Perhaps I spoke too soon? I’m catching up here….LOL
Nina seems to be a little, ’emotionally’ distant from Valentin. You may be right! She ain’t no fool.
It’s Sam that is getting on my nerves with her damsel in distress syndrome, looking for her Robin Hood. No pity from this corner.

This is an aside–In today’s ep, Julian offered Ava a latte—-Italians are literally consumed with rage when their native tongue is either butchered or if their phrases are misinterpreted……Latte means milk. If one asks a barista, in Italy, for ‘un latte’, one will be served a glass of milk. The true expression is ” latte e caffe’ “. However, Americans have adopted their own version of Italian phrases etc.
In Italy, the only coffee that is served is un’espresso. Then there’s the cappuccino …….Here in the States, we have milk with our coffee. In Italy, the locals have coffee with their milk—ergo, latte e caffe’—-or caffe’-latte. Macchiato ( which literally means “stained) is another variation—-all derivative of espresso as the basic beverage. Cappuccino means ‘hood’—invented by the Cappuccini monks who wore hoods. LOL.
Oy vey!!

Powerhouse disaster is more like it. In a word – horrible. Horrible writing and the worst recast ever. No chemistry with anyone. Either bland or over the top. I can’t even watch when she’s onscreen anymore. She has completely ruined the character of Nina. Been watching GH since I was a kid and it’s just become ridiculous. Too many outlandish story lines with gaps and poor fact checking and now they can add character assassination to the list too.

General Hospital

Is FBI Agent John “Jagger” Cates on the Level? GH’s Finola Hughes, Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson Weigh-in

When John “Jagger” Cates resurfaced on General Hospital in recent months in the form of Adam J. Harrington taking over the role originally played Antonio Sabato Jr,. know one knew quite sure just what side of the law is Cates really on? And, is he back in Port Charles to settle old scores with Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Jason (Steve Burton)?

What viewers have learned is that when Jason was taken captive two and half years ago, back in November of 2021, he was taken to Quantico, where Agent Cates had multiple RICO violations on Jason and was going to send him to prison for years, unless he worked for Cates and his team, in which Jason has been an informant working on the inside on the Pikeman arms deal case, or so it appears.

Now on the latest episode of Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson’s Daily Drama podcast, Finola Hughes (Anna) stopped by to chat with her GH co-stars and all three weighed-in on just what they think maybe going on with John Cates.

Photo: ABC

Bradford Anderson, brought up that maybe Agent Cates isn’t working on the level. Hughes responded, “I don’t know, I’m not sure.” Burton added, “Yeah, we’re not sure. There’s some unknowns coming,, so we’ll figure that out. But, it’s been a fun story to play for sure. I really like it. A lot of layers to it. I’s been excellent stuff to be back with for sure.”

Finola added, “I think we’re gonna be going through finding out who certain people are that are coming on canvas, like John Cates and Brennan and where do they all fit in?”

Courtesy/ABC

Steve added, “You’ve got Pikeman and what their real motives are. “Jagger” obviously. And then . Pikeman is not facing on screen. Is that true or no?  The question of is Pikeman a person also got brought by Anderson, to which his co-stars added, it’s a company.

Courtesy/ABC

Explaining more about Brennan and what he was up to, was answered by Hughes, That’s a sort of throwback, perhaps back in the day at WSB. He just came on the canvas briefly. Nobody knows if he’s goo (or bad).  I (Anna) got him put in prison, so he’s off, and out of the way right now.”

You can check out the latest edition of the Daily Drama podcast below.

Now let us know, who do you think John “Jagger” Cates is working for? FBI, Pikeman, himself, or some other unknown entity or enemy? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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