General Hospital
General Hospital’s Genie Francis Delivers The ‘Power Performance of the Week’
Sometimes in daytime when it rains it pours and viewers can be treated to a plethora of performances all in one week. Such was the case this past week which saw brilliant work from: General Hospital’s Genie Francis (Laura) and Maura West (Ava), and The Bold and the Beautiful’s Matthew Atkinson (Thomas).
However, there is something to be said when television and soap opera icon, Genie Francis, is given the ball and material worthy of her talents. It’s not every week, or every month that the character of Laura is front and center – but from the looks of the story that GH is weaving they are doing a deep-dive into Laura’s childhood and teenage years which was fraught with drama – a foreshadow that there is more exciting story to tell with Francis.
Last week’s Monday November 30th, and Tuesday December 1st episodes brought with it the emotional fallout, and farewell for the character of Lulu and her portrayer Emme Rylan who was written-off the show. The vehicle to do so was the bomb that Julian (William deVry) planted at the Floating Rib on the orders of Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober). The injuries she sustained in the blast wind up putting her in a coma and having to enter a long-term care facility away from Port Charles.
When Tracy (Jane Elliot) arrives in Port Charles to be there for Laura during Thanksgiving, the hug alone at the hospital between these two characters was enough to bring out the hankies. Tracy considers Lulu a daughter to her. Lulu’s father, Luke, is MIA, so Laura has to carry the burden, make strong impactful decisions and act fast to save her daughter’s life, and do the right thing no matter how difficult this will be for her as a mother.
Throughout the two episodes we watch Laura’s grief and her resolve. When she learns that a bomb has caused the explosion at the Floating Rib and that Cyrus may have been behind it, she is livid, a mama-bear who will get her daughter justice. But lo and behold, who should have the guts to walk up to Laura and offer his apologies and concern for Lulu … Cyrus! In the hospital, Laura wallops the drug lord right in the face vowing that no one will stop her from taking him off the earth after she gets the evidence that he was the mastermind behind the bombing,
Courtesy/ABC
Laura also had the horrific task of telling Lulu’s best friend, Maxie (Kirsten Storms), that they are going to move Lulu to a long-term care facility and that she needs to say her goodbyes. One by one people go to Lulu’s bedside including: Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), Tracy, and Nikolas (Marcus Coloma).
When it is Laura’s turn (as the care facility has come to take Lulu away), she cries by her bedside begging Lulu to come back to everyone that loves her. In a heartbreaking moment, Laura tells a despondent Lulu that she has rejoiced every day since she was born and she knows that her daughter is a fighter and will never just give up and will come through this.
As Lulu’s loved ones gather in the hospital corridor to watch as Lulu is transported to the facility, Laura watches grief-stricken. As the elevator closes she breaks down in front of Kevin (Jon Linstrom) emotionally- spent and devastated.
In all of these scenes, Genie Francis was magnificent and broke viewers’ hearts right along with Laura’s. So with that said, Michael Fairman TV names Francis’ work, The Power Performance of the Week.
What did you think of Genie’s performances? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
As always Genie was awesome. Im still mad she was let go a few years back. Laura and family should be the center of the show, not Sonny and Company
It would be nice if Luke (Tony Geary) were to go on Zoom and talk to Lula. Luke could tell Lulu how much he loves her and how he wishes that he could be standing beside her.
I know that Tony Geary has decided that Luke and Laura are over and done with as a couple. But Luke would not even have to see or talk to Laura if that’s what Tony Geary wants.
I stopped watching when they ridiculously fired her. Started back when she came back. Will stay as long as she does.
Genie delivered a gut wrenching performance. She reached deep down in herself and externalized it for the camera. She is hand’s down the best crier on daytime. Genie hasn’t just mastered the skill of releasing the tear ducts, she’s mastered the art of expressing emotional anguish through facial expressions to accompany those tears. Finola Hughes is also an expert (and quite copious)crier but she doesn’t have the ability to trigger my tears the way Genie does. It was also wonderful to see Tracy,who is always a sight for sore eyes.
On another note, Maxie’s reaction upon hearing the grave and sad news about her best friend’s state, shed nary a year. She scrunched up her face in an effort to emote, but overall, her reaction was disappointing and lackluster. Moreover, the next day Maxie is happily chattering away with Anna about her wedding with that guy who sucks the oxygen out of the room just from entering it. Despite everything she’s been through, Maxie continually comes off as a superfluous and shallow character.
Give Genie the Emmy now for her Oscar worthy performance.
great
Yes, oh, yes, Harry! Give Genie that Emmy.
They are all great actors it brought tears too my eyes also the scenes
Genie Francis proves again there is no better actress in daytime to take a story and then bring it home, proper. Hats off to Ms. Francis … DAYTIME DIVA !!
Seems like Laura is going to be involved in major storylines for a while, since it’s starting to look like her ancient backstory (Gordon Gray & David Hamilton) is somehow tied to Cyrus the Virus and that sleazy Colonel Sanders wannabe lawyer both of whom might end up being Laura’s half brothers.
So they get rid of Laura’s REAL family, and attach her to those two scumbags? Yeah, that makes sense…. though I’m still thinking that the only logical reason to send Lulu to veggieland for a while is that she can eventually wake up feeling like her old (JMB) self again.
It appears that GH is setting things up to reveal that Cyrus is her father! What a brilliant and creative twist albeit with some revisionist history.
Cyrus is nowhere near old enough to be Laura’s father. I don’t remember Gordon Gray (if indeed he was ever actually seen on GH) but if he was Leslie Webber’s “mentor” when she was a young doctor, and Leslie herself would probably be in her 80s by now, then Gordon Gray would probably be 100 or so if he were still alive. Cyrus may be a few years older than Laura, but it’s probably within a decade. Definitely not old enough to be her father. But he might have some bizzare mental fixation on her, somehow blaming Laura (who wasn’t even born yet) for his father having an affair with Leslie back in the day.
True—-but, such reality makes no difference to the PTB—-eg: Sam and Julian.
Nonetheless, I do agree with your reasoning.
Well they have pretty much spilled the beans now officially on all this. Martin admitted that he and Cyrus are brothers and that Florence Gray is their mother, meaning that Gordon Gray is their father (as well as Laura’s bio-dad)
So now the only question is does Martin have the same ill will toward his half-sister that Cyrus does…. or could it be that he’s not even aware of the connection? Though I would find it hard to believe that an attorney who seems to have his ways of finding information, wouldn’t want to know why his brother is so obsessed with Laura (and other people in Port Charles)
Again, I could not have “examined” and explained this plot better—-Cyrus may have a score to settle with Laura? Did she inadvertently do something in her past to hurt Elizabeth in any way? Is this the mystery ? What has Laura done to the dragon that is Cyrus, to elicit so much “fire”?
Also, I missed a couple of eps and I have yet to catch up—-thus, does Cyrus have something on Martin? Is he blackmailing his own brother? —not that Cyrus would have any such reverence for a sibling, unless he is a partner in crime—yet, I get the feeling Cyrus doesn’t kneel for anyone nor does he hold fealty for anyone either.
Will Martin be Laura’s savior at the opportune time?
She left it all out there and in doing so torn my heart out. Ms. Francis is a Master Class.
What is the relationship between Laura and Tracey?
Tracy was stepmother to Lulu when Tracy married Luke (Laura’s previous husband). While the two did not always get along, Laura’s been extremely grateful to Tracy for being there for Lulu when Laura was in Shadybrook all those years.
Thank you Steve
She was great as always and you know what she is one of the few actresses’s on daytime that has the guts to not have perfect makeup on ! Thank you Genie because it has always driven me nuts when you are in a crisis sorry you don’t have on lip gloss ! Kudos Genie !
Wow, the writers gave her some great material and she delivered one of the most emotional scenes on daytime this fan has seen in a long time! Well deserved, her and Maura West killed their scenes this week. It was actually a great week for daytime drama on GH and BB.
All I can say is phenomenal acting. I am not surprised she showed up and showed out!
She does what she does best, cry!
She was brilliant. Deserves an award for that performance
I love Genie so much. She really is the center/heart of the show. I’m very excited that they are making her part of a big story. She deserves it!
I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see Genie collect her second Emmy next year for these scenes.
The writers haven’t always given her the most compelling material in recent years, but when they do, she always knocks it out of the park like few others ever have in daytime. She’s one of the all-time soap icons for a reason.
Dominic Zamprogna was also heartbreaking in his scenes saying goodbye to Lulu, Kirsten Storms, James Patrick Stuart, Jane Elliot, everyone brought it.
The bombing of The Floating Rib and the aftermath was some of the finest storytelling and emotional scenes that GH has done in years. Kudos to the cast, directors, producers, writers, everyone involved.
Always the best, Genie—-one of a kind magnificent!!!!!! You killed it!! A million times kudos.
I am hoping for Cyrus to conclude his run lickety-split– I saw Jeff Kober on an old episode (2004) of “Law And Order: SVU”,…..always the bad guy. He’ s a phenomenal actor, despite his obnoxious characterizations ….He has that annoying attitude which makes me want to punch his smug face—So, if any actor can draw such antipathy from me? Well, hats off.
At first glance I thought he was Steve Tyler.
Laura has been a long time character favorite of mine since the beginning of her being on GH. Genie Francis puts so much emotion into her character Laura you can’t help but feel her emotions. I’ve always said if Laura cries I cry!!!. Such a fantastic actress. Love Laura!! Love Genie Francis❤️❤️❤️
Yeah it was alright.
Genie Francis is one of the best actresses that really can portray her emotions as if the scene she is playing is frightfully and terribly real-life! She makes everyone cry even the camera men! God Bless your acting abilities! I have been watching since Luke and Laura,and have always cried when you have a loss.
You know Tony Geary is a great performer,but I think Someone was mad a Genie because Tony won 8 Emmy’s and Genie only has one Emmy. This woman is a great actress, why did she not win a lot of Emmy’s as well? She was cheated, why? Someone did not like her,she is too talented!
Oh Laura, what have you gotten yourself into this time? I think you should resign as Mayor and get together with Curtis as partners.
What has she gotten herself into? A “family reunion” that she never saw coming!!
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.
Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”
Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.
Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
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.
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’
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Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
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