General Hospital
GH UPDATE: Kirsten Storms NOT returning as Maxie! Jen Lilley stays put!

Courtesy/ABC
Many fans will be disappointed to hear that the previously announced return of Kirsten Storms to her beloved role of General Hospital’s Maxie Jones has had to be put on hold!
A spokesperson for the series told ABC Soaps In Depth, “Kirsten Storms will not be able to return as soon as originally hoped and announced. Jen Lilley will continue to play Maxie Jones for the foreseeable future.”
Next, Lilley took to twitter to say, “I’m sad Kirsten is still sick. Rest up love! I’ll keep Maxie kickin 🙂 xo Here’s to a bit more time on my favorite soap!”
Here’s sending good vibes Kirsten’s way!
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.

Photo: Hallmark
Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”
In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.
It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.
Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.
You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.
So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?
On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.
As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.
Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?

Courtesy/ABC
Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.
BROTHERLY LOVE?
Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”
With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”
BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE
Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”
So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair
After the Wednesday, April 29 episode of General Hospital, it’s clear outside interference and other circumstances are set to blow Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) marriage sky high, as Michael (Rory Gibson) reveals his plans to entrap Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and use her relationship with Chase to do it!
In story, Michael dropped by unexpectedly to Carly’s (Laura Wright). A plotting Michael reveals his plan to nudge Willow and Chase into having an affair. Michael hopes it would create both a political and personal scandal, where Willow would lose her seat in congress. In the scenario, she would be having an affair with her ex-husband, while taking care of her supposed disabled husband, Drew (Cameron Mathison), who cannot speak and is confined to a wheelchair, which in turn will look horrible for Willow’s character.
Carly asked does he really want to destroy his cousin, Brook Lynn’s life in the process? Michael goes in on Chase’s holier than thou attitude, and says he is going to set-up the circumstances that would lead Chase and Willow to betray their spouses, and hit the sheets together. Michael swears to Carly what the two of them do is up to them, but he’s going to go on the offense with this.
MICHAEL HAS BACK-UP
Later, Jacinda (Paige Herschell) is talking with Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) at Crimson and how much she dislikes Willow because of what she has done to Michael. Just then, Michael shows up and tells Jacinda privately, he’s figured out a way to fight Willow. Looks like Jacinda might work with Michael to bring down Willow and use Chase as the person to do it!
At the hospital, Lucas (Van Hansis) tells Josslyn (Eden McCoy) that Carly is cheating on Jack, but he doesn’t know with who. Josslyn suddenly flashes back to the moment she found her mother harboring a fugitive, Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), in her attic, and as figured out that her mother is sleeping with him. She heads out.

Courtesy/ABC
BRENNAN IS ABOUT TO LEARN ABOUT CARLY
Next thing you know, Josslyn has showed up inside Jack’s (Chris McKenna) hotel room at the Metro Court and when he enters his room, he is shocked to find her there. He lays into her for not keeping his distance and that Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) will have no problem killing her if he knows she’s WSB. Josslyn fires back that he is only concerned about that because his relationship with her mother depends on her being safe. But then, she lays the boom, and tells Jack, Well, you’re too late. You already lost her.”
LULU GETS A GLIMPSE OF CASSIUS’ TEMPER
In addition, Lulu (Alexa Havins) sees a different side of “Nathan.” Since she is unaware that the man before her is his twin, Cassius Fasion (Ryan Paevey), he tells her that Rocco (Finn Carr) blabbed that he shot Cullum to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), and now he thinks they should send him away to stop him from talking to everyone else. This concerns Lulu, who rails at Nathan for telling her what to do with her son and that she isn’t going to abandon him. With “Nathan’s” outburst at her on the matter, will she finally get a clue this is not the man she thinks it is?
So, what do you think of Michael’s plan to push Willow and Chase into an affair? Will it work or backfire? Do you think Joss will reveal that Valentin is the man sleeping with Carly to Brennan, which will send him in a rage? Will Lulu continue to be clueless about “Nathan?” Weigh-in via the comment section below. But first, take a look at the GH video tease for today’s April 30 episode.
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i hope she’s ok.
kirsten we all miss you. please get well soon. its not the same with out you. i loved you as belle black on days of our lives. maxie love your character. you are a great actress kirsten. please come back soon.
I hope Kirsten gets well soon. She is missed, however, I’m finding Jen Lilley’s Maxie very entertaining. She’s doing a great job.
Get well Kirsten, hope all is ok. Thank God Jen Lilley is the replacement, not Storms but the next best thing. I can not imagine any other actress carrying the role in the true to fashion Storm way like Jen has been. Great job Jen Lilley, keep up the good work.
Kirsten my thoughts and prayers are with you!
something just doesn’t feel right with this announcement…………..
My thoughts exactly, Ethel.
I hate to agree with you, but I must. Something smells funny.
Please feel better real soon!!! We want you back as our favorite Maxie! Take care!
I read that she coming back to Days Of Our Lives as Belle Black and I hope she dose,we lov and miss her.
I would love to see her back on Days as Belle!
IF she were to go back to DAYS, I wouldn’t want it as Belle. I’d want Martha as Belle.
Get well soon, miss you so much.
I really hope Kirsten gets well also. It’s sad someone so young has problems. It was very classy of her replacement to tweet that. She’s doing a good job jumping in a role. Working on a soap isn’t easy.
Not upset by this. Sure, she’s not feeling well, but I always felt like she’d never come back. This is probably her trying not to go back. Besides, Jen Lilley is a much better Maxie and made me fall in love with her!!!!!! Keep Lilley, ditch Storms.
Ouch! Those comments are pretty harsh. I read that she is suffering from endometriosis. Though I have never had the misfortune to suffer this, PLENTY of other women have. It’s nothing to take lightly. It sounds like she is really in pain.
GH is extremely lucky that they found a replacement for her who hit the ground running.
You should read this: https://wubtub.blogspot.com/2011/10/kirsten-storms-battles-endometriosis.html
Listen, I know Kirsten is sick. But I’m still not upset by this news. I find Jen Lilley a much more enjoyable Maxie. With KS I hated the character, with JL I actually love Maxie.
People need to STOP thinking I don’t know why she’s out at GH. I know why. I feel for her, I do. But I know when to cross a line between talent and liking and their personal problems.
I like jen lilley ,alot, but no one is maxie but ks,and what she is out sick for is hell,and I hope she gets well soon ,she has been sick for a very long time.as far as jenn lilly ,to bad they couldnt find somewhere else to put her when ks comes back,and why are they turning lulu into a drunk,Im not liking the drinking,then again Im not liking any of the stories on gh,cant wait till february ,support general hospital the ratings are sinking big time ,but then again there are so many people who are not getting counted ,unless you are watching it when its on,nothing else is counted,I have no idea how to solve that problem.scott I think you should google endometriosis,its that bad.
I have said this before… THIS IS NOT ABOUT HER ILLNESS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!!!! Stop trying to make it seem like it is because I’ve clearly stated it is NOT.
like jenna said those comments were really harsh ,I thought so to,and kristan storms does want to come back ,if you seen her facebook page you would see that .to me she is maxie ,and when she is well again she is coming back to play her.I like jenn lilley to ,but she is a fill in at this time ,and doing a very good job ,Ive also gone to her facebook page to tell her so,anyway can we just get along here.I just want general hospital to not get killed by abc,and whatever makes that happen so be it.we are running out of daytime soaps,and thats not good.
You can take it as harsh, I don’t care. But saying I don’t know the illness is BULL. Because my comments had nothing to do with her being sick. I feel for Kirsten, I do. I’m a fan of hers but never enjoyed her as Maxie. I find Jen Lilley much more enjoyable in the role and actually made me like the character.
I do not find Kirsten Storms an enjoyable Maxie. Nor do I feel like she fits into the role.
Yeah, I love the original Maxie. She is a childhood role modle of mine, and I hope she gets better, and I don’t like picking favorites, they’re both great actresses, but Kristen feels more like Maxie to me.
Praying that Kristen recovers soon.No one can play Belle or Maxie like Kristen storms.
It’s obvious Kirsten during her recovery thought about the sinking ship that is GH. She probably thinks it’s better to secure a roll somewhere else b4 GH is cancelled. Good for her.
I hope Kristin a speedy recovery!! she is missed very much. Maxie is just not the same. Jen is doing OK but she can not pull off Maxie Jones like Kristin can.
Lori
I don’t see this new chick as Maxie, she doesn’t have the feisty, fire that Kirsten Storms holds, hurry back Kirsten…hope you feel better soon, because this girl doesn’t even compare.
Jen’s ok, but is no Maxie Jones! Can’t imagine anyone can play the part as well as Kirsten Storms. The chemistry between Spinelli and Maxie is completely gone – so sad.
I hope that Kirsten is getting better and will return to G.H. (as promised) as soon as she is able to. It’s been such a long time and I worry about her, I hope she isn’t sick much longer. I watched her in her role of Belle Black on Days of our Lives and was happy when she joined the cast of G.H. First I pray that she WILL be all better, that’s first and foremost. Then I will be happily awaiting her return to her role as Maxie Jones. The new girl is okay but in my opinion only Kirsten Storms can REALLY be Maxie. Get well girl and God bless you.
I love her playing this part. She is a fantastic actress. She brings her character to life. The woman that is playing her now, is not feisty, sorry but she lacks the spunk that Kristen brought to the role. Please get better soon, we want you back on the show.
I have known many with this illness and its not stopped their lives, i am worried that Kristen has the cancer kind and thats why she seems to have dropped off the earth, does anyone KNOW if thats the case? I know it could be seems weird to be out of the spotlight and completely gone from site unless one is undergoing cancer treatments and they are able to get past the cameras with it all. Seems she just disapeared from the cameras as well. Thats really weird. I pray her and her family have reconnected and decided to get along so she wont have to go through this alone, whatever it is, she needs to not be alone. We all LOVE that girl and want her back, and I am really sick of the new girl and the storyline of her just now, i want Kristen back, but i do and can understand if she is more ill than we have been told and she is fighting battles we all know are a matter of life and death. But just the Endo….I dont understand being out of your life and life work this much for it, others have managed to get on with their jobs and life the best they can. She must have one heck of a good ins policy to keep her going this long for sure otherwise.
Jen Lilley does an ok job but she cannot and does not take the place of KS, something missing in her performance.
Jen has done. A great.job.hope kristen gets better soon
If she in fact has endometriosis, I don’t understand why it would have stopped her cold. Two of the female pros on Dancing with the Stars(Julianne Hough and Lacey Schwimmer) have also suffered with it but kept up professional dancing, Hough going on to start an acting career as well. I’ve also had friends with it, and while it sucked, they kept living their lives. It seems there is more to this than just that.
I hear that some women get it worse then others she had a very bad case of it. I hope she is doing better and we find out how she is doing. Remember she was ready to come back then she got sick again? I wish her well. And you could be right maybe there is more to it.
Wish we coud get more of a real update on her condition. I sure do miss her and have wached GH since the beginning. She is a great actor and to me has not nor can really be replace.