General Hospital
Genie Francis Interview – General Hospital – Paley Center For Media Event
General Hospital’s Genie Francis chatted with Michael Fairman about her return to the series for its 50th anniversary celebration as the iconic Laura! Genie also reveals her surprise at the recent return of Robert Kelker Kelly as Stavros Cassadine, her hopes of staying put at GH, and playing all the twists and turns of one of soaps most beloved characters!
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Serena Sets Her Sights on Michael; Jason’s Emotional Exit from the Mob
This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, new and old motivations come into play with dangerous consequences. According to the just released GH video spoilers video for the week of August 3-7, a bailiff calls out, “All rise!”
Now it’s Isaiah (Sawandi Wilson) vs. Curtis (Donnell Turner), as the surgeon is suing the owner of the Savoy for assault that ruined is ability to operate. At the end of the day, which of these men has enough evidence against the other? Portia (Brook Kerr) is by Isaiah’s side, while Jordan (Tanisha Harper) is with Curtis.
Next, Lucy (Lynn Herring) has a plan to get the controlling shares of Deception away from Michael (Rory Gibson). She wants her daughter, Serena (Kelly Kruger) to seduce Michael. She tells her, “Pick out your most seductive suit.” Soon, we see Serena in her bathing suit at the Metro Court face to face with Michael.
Later, there is a small baggie containing three blue pills. Nina (Cynthia Watros) ask Willow (Katelyn MacMullen), “What did you do?” We also see Michael asking the same thing of Jacinda (Paige Herschell). Leading into this week, viewers know that Willow doesn’t want the former escort anywhere near her children, Amelia and Wiley. Is this how she stops her, or is Jacinda up to old tricks and wants to frame Willow? Remember when Jacindsa drugged Drew (Cameron Mathison)? Stay tuned.
Finally, in the pick-up from last Friday’s cliffhanger, an emotional Jason (Steve Burton) continues to tell Sonny (Maurice Benard) that he cannot work for him anymore. Sonny ask, “So that’s it? You’re Out?” We fade to black.
Take a look at the official GH spoilers for the week below.
MONDAY, AUGUST 3
Jason makes a sacrifice for Danny. Elizabeth becomes privy to a secret. Carly is touched. Valentin has a warning for Nina. Josslyn cautions Brennan.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
Brook Lynn and Chase celebrate a milestone. Trina gets an earful. Carly’s plan backfires. Curtis is skeptical. Michael is anxious about his family’s’ future.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5
Sonny wants answers. Ava is struck with inspiration. Curtis’ trial begins. Brook Lynn wrestles with a big decision. Lucy and Serena scheme.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6
Sonny makes a stunning announcement. Serena makes her move. Willow faces a new threat. Isaiah takes the stand. Lucy questions Laura.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
Josslyn is taken aback. Ava courts a new ally. Jordan and Anna catch up. Isaiah vents to Lucas and Elizabeth. Michael questions Jacinda.
Check out the latest ABC promo for General Hospital entitled, “What Did You Do?” below.
Now weigh-in: Do you think GH is about to pair Serena with Michael? Is it curtains for Jacinda? Can anyone stop Willow once and for all, or make her pay for her crimes? What will Jason do without Sonny and the mob? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
General Hospital Fan Club Weekend brought out many of your favorites to the four day event; with the main cast gathering on Saturday, August 1. Fans near and far attended the weekend held this year at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. Whether it be the main cast event or the smaller more intimate events featuring two or three cast members a great time was had by all.
Some of the cast participating in the main cast event included: Cyrus Hobbi (Yuri), Gary James Fuller (James), Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Viron Weaver (Wiley), Paige Herschell (Jacinda), Chris McKenna (Brennan), Josh Kelly (Cody), Kayden Brenna Tokarsi (Scout), Cassandra James (Terry), Laura Wright (Carly), Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane), Rick Hearst (Ric), Adrian Anchondo (ex-Marco), and Chloe Lanier (ex-Nelle).
In addition to, Van Hansis (Lucas), Cameron Mathison (Drew), Ryan Paevey (ex-Cassius), Easton Rocket Sweda (Leo), Maurice Benard (Sonny), Kristen Vaganos (Molly), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), Kate Mansi (ex-Kristina), Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth), Cynthia Watros (Nina), Kristina Wagner (Felicia) and more.
Take a look at some of the snaps from the main event arrivals below:
Photo: HutchinsPhoroi
GH’s Rick Hearst with on-screen daughter, Kristen Vaganos, plus Nancy Lee Grahn, and Kate Mansi.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Maurice Benard on-hand to meet the fans.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto.com
Jack Brennan in the house … Chris McKenna.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Adrian Anchondo, Van Hansis and Anchondo’s boyfriend, Days of Our Lives, Colton Little.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Josh Kelly and his gal, the former Nelle Benson of Port Charles, Chloe Lanier.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Who is James’ father? Not Cassius or Spinelli, actually. Actors Gary James Fuller, Ryan Paevey and Bradford Anderson!
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
One of General Hospital’s newest cast members, Kayden Brenna Tokarski attends her first GHFCW event.
Check out some more arrival images featuring: Laura Wright (Carly), Cassandra James (Terry), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) and more in the gallery below.
Michael Fairman TV will be adding more images to this post in the day ahead.
So, were you glad to see so many of your GH favorites attending this year’s General Hospital Fan Club Weekend? Let us know via the comment section.
General Hospital
Vincent Pastore of ‘Sopranos’ Fame and ‘General Hospital’s’ Maximus Giambetti Dies at 80
Vincent Pastore, best known for his memorable role as Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on HBO’s The Sopranos has passed away.
The veteran actor was found dead on August 1st in his home in the Bronx, New York. Pastore was 80-years-old. The cause of death is yet to be determined.
As well as his role on The Sopranos, many soap fans will recall he played multiple smaller roles on the beloved One Life to Live from 1995 and 2004. However, in 2008, he landed the short-term role as Maximus Giambetti on General Hospital.
PASTORE WANTED TO BE ON GENERAL HOSPITAL
Maximus was the mobster father of Sonny Corinthos’ (Maurice Benard) bodyguards: Max (Derk Cheetwood) and Milo (Drew Cheetwood)
According to Soap Opera Digest, Pastore told Soaps In Depth back in 2009, after appearing in a SOAPnet promotional campaign as a celebrity fan of General Hospital: “‘I’d love to be on the show. So they called up GH’s casting director (Mark Teschner) and Bobby (Robert Guza Jr. ex-head writer, GH) and they wrote me in!”
Pastore was a huge General Hospital fan from way back, who at one point told producers that he would watch the ABC soap opera while working in bars and nightclubs in the 70s and 80s.
Throughout his decades long career, Pastore appeared in films including: Goodfellas, Carlito’s Way and Men of Respect, The Jerky Boys: The Movie and the 1996 HBO TV movie Gotti.
In TV, besides The Sopranos, Pastore’s credits included: Law & Order, The Practice, Son of the Beach, Queens Supreme, Hawaii Five-0, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, plus the miniseries The Last Don II. Most recently, Vincent was a series regular on Gravesend and guest starred on Yellowjackets.
Pastore is survived by his daughter, Renee, son-in-law and granddaughter.
Share your remembrances and condolences for Vincent Pastore on his memorable role on ‘The Sopranos’ and his time on ‘General Hospital’ via the comment section below.
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GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Serena Sets Her Sights on Michael; Jason’s Emotional Exit from the Mob
‘General Hospital’ Fan Club Weekend 2026 (Photos)
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Oh my gosh Michael! What a neat fun interview with Genie! Loved it! Thanks for being out there for all of us fans! BTW, big fan of yours too!
Thank you Michael, Genie is the best
Thank you so much Michael!!!
Love the video interviews and Genie is a favorite!!! You are so good at getting good responses and she delivered.
Thank you!!!
This woman is incredible! How many actors do you find that are this open and expressive? I want her to have everything she desires for Laura. She has created the best character ever! Thanks for doing this interview with her.
Michael, do you know if this event’s video will be posted anytime soon for those of us who missed it that night? I went to the Paley Center website but couldn’t find it. I’m so upset I forgot about it!!
I am sure every fan would love to see the Paley center GH. As for genie welcome back. Hope she is not stuck all the on screen time with Tony G. he looks like someone gave him something sour to eat. He doesn’t look happy and he said he wanted to be with Spanky pants. He may but we who watch the show don’t care if he doesn’t want to be there retire and give someone else a chance at a job. Genie we are thrilled to see and I want to see her feisty and strong.
wow it is all perception..i may add YOUR perception..Tony Geary never said anything about being unhappy so YOU DON’T KNOW what he thinks. And if now he wants to play something else aside from Luke and Laura..it is his right, actors loved to be challenged not playing always the same thing even if they are successful in it like Tony was with this Luke and Laura pairing with Genie Francis. Both actors can play something else, not a big deal..as for the new Lulu and Cassadine story Tony showed up even if the material was very campy and quite weak actually (come on all these monologues whereas it was pretty obvious that Lulu was not dead at all..even Marcy Rylan did not play a ‘dead’ Lulu, during all the scenes she did flucker non stop her eyes..it was quite funny actually..lol)
Also fun interview : i am happily surprised to hear that Genie Francis was ‘thrilled’ to see again RKK (HOT hot devilish Stavros..he aged so well, even more gorgeous than before..) because he doesn’t have a good reputation poor guy..but he is talented and again..gorgeous, would be great to see him again on Soapland..
What a fun interview with Genie ! I hope Genie stays for a long time !!
What a great interview. Love Genie Francis. I too have watched her from the beginning. She is such a great actress! Please keep her on a long long time.
Thanks Michael you give the best interviews ever because you make everyone feel at ease. You go Genie!
Michael you are the best, thanks for this wonderful interview with Genie, I love her work and I’m so happy that she’s staying around.
Thanks for the terrific interview with Genie. I hope she stays around for a long time. She and the new writing team are the only reason I came back to GH. Here’s to 50 more!
Michael… you must do something else with Genie!!! I think she really enjoyed speaking with you! I watched he watch you and some of the others when she walked behind you! Maybe a podcast or a hangout…?
Such a fun awesome interview. Michael. Love Genie Francis. Always have, always will. She is so approachable, which makes it even more enjoyable.
I hope it is true that Genie finished contract negotiations and will be back on GH in Oct. Keep Tracy away from Luke! It’s all Luke and Laura now. Laura has suffered enough and deserves to be happy with Luke.
And we fans deserve to be happy with the L and L reunion after all this time of waiting and hoping. Contrary to what people say, the chemistry has not diminished (Genie has worked so hard to keep it there!)–and Luke and Laura together does not in any way mean “dullsville” or any such nonsense. The two actor, Genie and Tony, could just look in each other’s eyes and recite the phone book and the scene would smolder!
so is genie francis still with general hospital or not…ill be so pissed if she is not back soon…the new guys over there promisd she would be back to stay …if it wass a ploy to just get some of the audience back,,ill never tune in again…
I say this from the bottom of my heart,I remember genie on GH b4 there was a Luke and Laura,they met on the 3/30/1979 episode,say day 3 mile island was going on in Pennsylvania.
this woman is such a incredible actress,she lights up the screen she is so sincere and is as pretty today as she was in 1978.
soaps were dying in the 70,s were each rating point was only worth 778’000 homes there were no teenagers on soaps that were the forefront of the show.her story pre Luke brought the show from a 7.2 to a 9.3 when she married Luke and all the ABC soaps went up as well even the edge of night which was only available in 80 percent of the country in 1979.she is a great actress cannot believe what Jill did to her at the y and r ‘she is brought on the show by request ‘is nominated by her piers after only 1 year at the show 4 a academy award and she is the first person Jill lets go from the show miss her on the show think the industry has treated her horrible and the recent spike in ratings could be from lots of snow storms on the east coast,tv viewing always go up when people are stuck in there homes because of bad weather.I miss her on tv’but daytime tv does not deserve her,and I would like to thank Michael fairman of the kind words u said about her when interviewed on TVGN,I have so much more to say,but I cant time 2 long 🙂 I think I AM going to buy 1 of those voice activated typing things.thank u so much for taking the time 2 read this…..
p.s. the read lines are from my spell check,i cannot seem 2 get read of them,sorry,thank you 4 your time…..
I should of proof read my type I meant 2 say she married Scotty in 1979,Thank U…..
just like I have always said “CLASS ACT” I wish Y AND R would bring her back…..
what a class act !!!!! what a class act to a industry that I feel really did not treat her good. I feel she really liked Y/R but genie will never show the hurt inside of her and she has aged so gracefully.she adds class and viewers were ever she goes after she left days they went down in the ratings (could be just a “i don’t know how 2 spell it it begins with a c) I cannot get over this interview , I never saw it until today , I am speechlass all that is going through my mind is CLASS ACT CLASS ACT CLASS ACT,i think her parents raised her well and kept her grounded. in a lifetime interview she said when she was just on gh a few months.she went home and told her parents she was getting a new boss “Gloria monty” her dad told her she better be on her toes and have her i’s dotted and t’s crossed.he had worked for Gloria and she’s tough…..
I did not see my previous comments , I guess I did see the interview and don’t remember 🙂