General Hospital

GH Script Writer Scott Sickles On Penning Final Scenes Between Luke and Helena: "Writing Helena Has Been One Of My Greatest Joys Over The Past Few Years."

July 10, 2015

Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

On Thursday’s episode of General Hospital, viewers witnessed the final scenes between long-time nemesis’ Luke Spencer and Helena Cassadine. And as we previously reviewed and reported on the episode, it was quite a memorable swan song between long time scene partners Tony Geary and Constance Towers.

After the episode aired, GH script writer Scott Sickles took to his facebook page and related his thoughts on penning the final scenes between these iconic soap adversaries, and getting the opportunity in the last few years to script the scenes for the character of Helena, Luke and to work in collaboration with the General Hospital writing team.

Sickles shared: “On July 9, 2015, GH aired the final scenes I ever personally scripted between Luke Spencer and his lifelong arch-nemesis Helena Cassadine. Writing Helena has been one of my greatest joys over the past few years. I have no idea if she’ll ever be back (or do I? Because if I did, well… there’s no way I would tell you… 🙂 We’re in the home stretch with Tony Geary and it’s been an honor and a pleasure. This is a highlight for me.”

Scott went on to say to the many fans that commented on his post: “Credit where it’s due: it was truly a collaborative effort. Most of the magic came from Ron Carlivati, Anna Theresa Cascio, and Elizabeth Korte. I’m just glad I got to add some touches. Those scenes were a team effort.”

So GH fans, do you think if this was the last time we will see Helena Cassadine? Do you think she will return sooner than later? What did you think of the scenes between Constance Towers and Tony Geary that ultimately led to the reveal of little Jake Spencer (James Nigbor) being alive, and Sickles touching post on the creation of them? Share your thoughts below!

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Guest

Margie

The last two days have been outstanding. JJ made me shed a tear today.

Guest

claudia kurzyna

I hope that we will see Constance appear again on General Hospital. The scenes were touching for her goodbye to her arch enemy Luke.

Guest

Timmm

In a way it is time for her to go but I think she will be around when Nick goes over the top or takes a dive? Plus, I love Helena’s scenes with Spencer.

Guest

Rose

I really loved the last scenes between Luke and Helena. It made me think of all of the “delicious” stories these two have brought to GH. Hope Helena appears again. Maybe as Jake’s adopted Grammy? I’m sure they developed a bond of sorts with each other the last few years.

Guest

su0000

NOOOO!
I won’t allow Helena Cassadine to be gone!!

The Cassadines are a cornerstone of GH !!
Helena/Constance Towers is a great joy to me, I luvs her!
The Cassadines can vanish, never!

If Helena/Constance goes it will be a very sad thing..

I was very touched, heartfelt, Luke and Helena’s scene..
It was a moment that will always be with me..
Such an eloquent goodbye, so little said, no more needed to be said I could feel it..

I’m sure Helena/Constance Towers has shed tears saying goodbye to Tony..
They were indeed a diabolical dule..
Nemesis at their best !

Guest

Harry

Well, we only know this was the last scene between Helena and Luke.
Helena, much like yourself, has harbored a long and simmering hatred of Laura.
Therefore, if Laura stays on we have a greater chance that Helena will not leave forever because her work is not yet done.
Pray that Laura stick around, Suoo.

Guest

Fanny

I recently read, Helena will be making another appearance later this
summer. It will involve Nik, ELQ, and Rosalie’s deep, dark secret..

Guest

Jeremy

yeah, Helena’s not done, she’s got Nick and Spencer to attend to, meddle with, etc. She’s got further story to tell. Just because Luke is departing, is by no means the same for our beloved Helena/Constance Towers. Luke was Helena’s toy! She’s probably mourning his loss, maybe her character is shifting gears a bit, maybe she’s been doing a lot of yoga and mediation in seclusion, 🙂

Guest

CeeCee

LOL, Harry….again, with that undeniable wit of yours.

Guest

Jimh(leave it to beaver)

The acting was the best part…little Jake’s appearance was a little creepy…i expected to hear the soundtrack from ‘The Omen’…imo…time for Helene’s exit story too…i love Constance Towers but its time for another villian to bring havoc to PC…Jennifer Smith wouldve been perfect—even without Luke…she couldve become obsessed with Nicolaus or Jullian!!!

Guest

Jeremy

I would love to see Jennifer Smith return, too. And, go after Magic Milo, the show is already majorly campy, so why not? koo-koo Jennifer goes after Ephipany’s man! oh the fun to be had with Jennifer.

Guest

David B.

nope love Helena cassindine

Guest

anne

Doesn’t Helena have to come back at some point because isn’t she holding Robin captive?

Guest

Fanny

Yes she is… TPTB are thinking of recasting Robin…..

Guest

mike

They, should I love kmc but Elizabeth Hendrickson wld be awesome while also offering sex appeal

Guest

Fanny

This can’t be the Last we see of Helena… She’s an
equal opportunity hater. She’s still holding onto Robin,
one or more of her son’s is on ice.. Nik and Spencer
still reside in PC.

Guest

Kyle

It better not of been the last time! I love Constance Towers (Helena) she’s an asset to General Hospital!! I would be very very mad if they don’t have her back! She needs to be on GH full time, IMO. Plus, she has Robin, and Lulu’s/Stavro’s Embryo.

Guest

Sheri

Remember though, Constance is in her 80’s…maybe she doesn’t WANT full time work. I hope we haven’t seen the end of her with the unresolved issue with Robin and Lulu and Stavros embryo, but I doubt it will be a full time role.

Guest

Jeremy

I totally want Constance Towers to return in the fall as Helena. She’s a gem, and like you said an asset to GH. FOR SURE. She’s stunning at her young age, and she knocks it out of the park in her scenes. She’ll be back, she always has more to do in Port Charles.
Maybe, she’ll take a short rest, but she’s always got an angle to work, with or without Luke.

Guest

aria

i sure do hope Helena will be back, after all the character is connected to more characters on the show then just lule, i’m sure she would still love to get back at Laura and theres Nikolas, and the two jakes and elizabeth i’m sure will have something to say to the queen of evil, so yeah, Helena got more people to make miserable.

Guest

Dan

We all know it wasn’t the last time we’ll be seeing Helena. No reason to kill off the character as long as the divine Constance Towers is still going strong. Helena will never die, just like Faison will never die, Jerry Jacks, Heather Webber, the great villains never die.

As for the scenes between Tony Geary and Constance, loved them! With the reveal of Jake being alive, the return of Jonathan Jackson, I thought this was a great week overall for GH.

Guest

Rebecca1

I think it was good…but, again…flashbacks would have added so much more. Their love to hate each other relationship throughout the years, the teasinfpg, flirting as they threatened to kill each other…and the many times each one tried, coupled epwith a respect for the others wit, the way they challenged each other…all that and the many adventures they took us on.

Yes, I think and hope Helena will make other appearances…but I doubt that chemistry could be duplicated. Sad…just another ending. C’est la vie…

Guest

Harry

Rebecca, I am craving flashbacks as much as I am craving a hamburger.
I will gladly pay you on Friday for a flashback on Thursday.

Regards,

Weezy

Guest

Rebecca1

Harry, That entire response just FLEW over my head. Lol…and I pride myself on my superlative quick wit!

So I’ll de deuce, knowing you like Helena, that you DO crave hamburgers and would like to see flashbacks, too. Since I’m a vegetarian, lol, I’m actually craving an avocado roll…

Weezy. Hmph. Jefferson? Okaaaaaayyyyy. She’s cool….

Guest

CeeCee

Harry, are you allergic to hamburgers or Helena? Is that why you’re sneezing? LOL.

Guest

Linda

I love Helena always have always will….she will be back!

Guest

Double Z

Geary was obviously not into it…

Guest

justjean

Truly I’M So Tired Of Helena…Really!! Love the final scene with Luke but it’s time to rest her. Going to miss Luke….

Guest

Scott (ATWT Fan)

While Constance Towers continues to be a consummate actress in the soap field, I find the whole storyline — from Luke’s exit to the overly-unacceptable resurrection of Jake — to be quite underwhelming, horribly executed and not written in strong context. This is not a story that should be told, but since it [unfortunately] is, it is not one that should be rushed in a limited-run of appearances by Jonathan Jackson’s Lucky and the soon-to-be exit of Anthony Geary’s Luke, an exit mind you that is long over-due. The past few years of Mr. Carlivati’s reign of terror on General… Read more »

Guest

Rose M

My most favorite reveal about bring Jake back was to have the return of James Nigbor to the canvas. It had such impact to me! I don’t know what will happen in the future, but that moment was the best!

Guest

Robynne

LOVED seeing Constance and hope they find good, ingenious ways to use Helena in the future.

The scenes between Luke and Helena have always been fun to watch, this last one brought tears to my eyes.

Guest

su0000

Luke and Helena !!!
what an extraordinary diabolical couple..
I loved every second of Luke and Helena, none better..

I am looking forward to seeing the great Constance/Heena at Windermere!
There is still havok for her to create 🙂

Guest

tammy Heckerman

I hope Helena is gone for good.

Guest

janet

OK my two cents. Helena is a wonderful character. Let her go. But I enjoyed the goodbye scenes but. Why and exactly how did she end up with little Jake ?he looks like the next brainwashed character from the Cassidines. Sure some fans wanted him back, and LUCKY was great in the scenes. Luke has gone fine. TG can take Ron with him also. The show even the goodbye to Luke is a trashed joke. Nothing explained. Nothing for the fans to be happy about. No answers. Guess Ron will tell everyone to go to twitter to get the answers.… Read more »

Guest

Rebecca1

I’m really not sure of much of what you said except your wrong recollection of Luke “not caring” that he ran over Jake. He was devastated.

Guest

Katie lerch

I love general hospital have been watching it for forty years I don’t like this bringing people back from the dead some of the plots are to far fetched

Guest

Kay

I love her, but I hate when she is real bad..I like her soft side.
She could be a wonderful grandmother , to all her grandkids.
Hate to see Luke go but ,,,,,, we know he wants to.
Give Laura some good story lines.
Her and Danta, fighting, her helping LuLu go on with her life.
Paul is hot , put him and Laura together, Tracy too.
Good cat fight.

Guest

Rhonda

I loved the scenes with Helena and Luke,I do have 1 hope and that is that this one time she had a shred of decency and there are no games with little Jake,that she “saved” him because of her respect for Lucky and Luke.no brainwashing or other games.just this 1 time let it be human compassion.

Guest

Abruzzfan

I absolutely love Helena Cassadine/Constance Towers!!

Guest

Kathy

the little Jake story line good but I have a question why did she choose to tell him now

Guest

Pris Hodges

I am going to miss Tony as he is truly an exceptional actor… Helena I can take ONLY in SMALL DOSES. As for bringing Jake back, I do NOT like any one coming back that is truly dead ( i.e. run over, shot, disease ridden, etc) now if they go into a coma or leave town for a little while than bringing them back is quite all right…but from the dead…..a definite NO. I am not pleased with the way the general storyline for GH is going ( not including the exit of Tony in this). The actors/actresses seem to… Read more »

Guest

Mia Denise

Nope Helena will be back later this summer, she is part of the “big” secret Rosalie is hiding.

Guest

Timmm

All the things Helena has done to the residents of Port Charles, how is she not dead yet?

Guest

CeeCee

@mike.
Yes, yes, yes….Elizabeth H would characterize Robin to the letter. From what I have read about Robin, Elizabeth is a perfect match….petite and smarting ( as in sharply witty). She, also, lends a resemblance to Anna, in mannerisms.

General Hospital

GH EP Frank Valentini On Taping the Sonya Eddy Tribute Episode: “It Was an Extraordinary Script, and It Was a Labor of Love That Day”

March 26, 2023

This week on General Hospital, the ABC daytime dramas series kicks off its 60th anniversary set of episodes, with what is sure to be the most emotional – the tribute episode for the late Sonya Eddy in honor of her beloved GH character, Epiphany Johnson.

GH’s executive producer spoke with Soap Opera Digest (in their latest issue on newsstands now), about how the show decided to handle the delicate subject of a real-life cast member’s passing and connect it to the story on the canvas of the soap opera.

In conjunction with GH co-head writers, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor, the trio decided that if they weren’t ever going to be able to see Sonya as Epiphany again, that there was no way they were going to ever recast the role. Valentini shared: “We decided it was important to honor not only Sonya, but Epiphany and we wanted to dedicate a full entire episode all about that.”

The EP went on to give praise to his writers, and the cast for their performances when taping the episode: “I think everyone was touched by what the writer’s wrote. It was an extraordinary script and it was a labor of love that day in honor of Sonya, who was so incredibly loved by everybody in the cast and crew.

The way the death of Epiphany is structured on the airshows is key also to the upcoming Nurses’ Ball episodes set to air the following week. Frank expressed: “Epiphany is a very pivotal person in the Nurses’ Ball, so it’s almost like a part two (of her tribute).

The Sonya Eddy tribute episode airs Wednesday March 29th.

Are you looking forward to seeing how GH honors Sonya and the beloved Epiphany of GH? Comment below.

General Hospital

General Hospital Alum Briana Lane Mourns the Loss of Her Husband

March 22, 2023

Heartbreaking news to report. Briana Lane, who took over the role of General Hospital’s Brook Lynn Quartermaine while Amanda Setton was away from the series, shared that her beloved husband, John Lange, passed away on March 14th.

Lane posted a photo of herself with John on her Instagram expressing: “I will love you forever my sweet John. Til we meet again.”

Photo: ABC

In August of 2020, Lane started subbing for Setton as Brook Lynn, and her performances won the hearts of GH fans. She stayed with the show till November of that year and returned one other time in 2022. In addition, Amanda received a Daytime Emmy nomination for her work in the Outstanding Guest Performer category in 2021.

As for the love story of Briana and John, they wed in December of 2016. As many know, Briana is not only a great actress, but also has a successful music career and John was very supportive of her professional life. Lange was remembered as a walking encyclopedia of television knowledge, a dog lover, and a lover of comedy.

Friends of Lane’s have set up a Go Fund Me page, to assist in giving John the memorial he deserves and to help Briana as she navigates this next chapter of her life.

Many of Briana’s former GH co-stars shared their grief and support in her IG post including: Kirsten Storms (Maxie) and Katey MacMullen (Willow).

Share your condolences for Briana on the loss of her husband in the comment section below.

General Hospital

GH Alums Chloe Lanier and Johnny Wactor Guest Star on ‘Station 19’

March 15, 2023

You can catch two of your favorites, who you first came to know from their work on General Hospital, on tomorrow night’s March 16th episode of the ABC primetime drama, Station 19 (8 p.m. ET).

Look for Daytime Emmy-winner Chloe Lanier (ex-Nelle) and Johnny Wactor (ex-Brando) to appear within the hour-long show.

In the episode titled, “Even Better than the Real Thing”, Lanier will play the role of Ciara.

According to ABC in story: a simulation fire training goes dangerously wrong; Maya tries to make amends, and Bailey encourages Carina to listen; Jack’s sister shows up at the station with a friend, an injury and an attitude.

Chloe took to her Instagram to share, “I get into a bit of trouble on Station 19 this Thursday. Directed by the incomparable and lovely Paris Barclay! (I’m a big fan) Had such a great time working on this one and I can’t wait for you all to see it.”

Meanwhile, Wactor looks to be playing a fireman in the episode, and took to his IG and shared: “Catch me on Station 19 this Thursday, 3/16 at 8 PM. I’m excited. Too bad I can’t do a live watch party on here. I’ll have to do some research because a watch party would be fun!”

Will you be checking out Chloe and Johnny on Station 19? Comment below.