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GH’s Finola Hughes Delivers The ‘Power Performance of the Week’

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: ABC

Once again, as she has many times previously, General Hospital’s Finola Hughes (Anna) is our pick for the Power Performance of the Week. This time, Hughes, brought the emotional heartbreak, guilt, the steely resolve of super spy Anna Devane, all rolled into one as Anna helped end the life of super villain, Peter August (Wes Ramsey) aka Henrik Faison.

It seemed fitting that in the end, as Peter is near his last breaths (after being clubbed over the head by Felicia and taking a fall), that it was Anna who was by his side, but not how you might expect.  Feigning that she called for an ambulance and the paramedics to help Peter, when she in fact didn’t, proved once again Anna can be as tough as they come as she was going to take care of Peter once and for all, by simply preventing anyone from coming to save him.

Photo: ABC

Peter, knowing the end is near calls Anna a killer, and she responds, “Depends on your perspective.”  What Hughes does so well is give Anna the appearance that she often has it all under control, when we, the audience, know she’s conflicted and she is breaking inside.  After all, Anna had believed for quite some time that Peter was her son with Faison, only to find out later it was her twin sister, Alex, who was his bio-mom.

Photo: ABC

When Anna showed Peter some understanding as he is dying, she expressed, “No one deserves to die alone, not even you.” Anna did take Peter’s hand in his final moments. Later, walking away from his dead body, and in tears, and she says goodbye to him in a full-circle moment. Finally, the bad guy had been apprehended and he can’t hurt anymore people that Anna loves or feels responsible for.

Courtesy/ABC

Next, a guilt-ridden Anna returned to Port Charles, and Robert (Tristan Rogers) was there to catch her in her emotional time of need.  In wonderfully played scenes between Finola and Tristan Rogers, Robert says to Anna, “I see him (Peter) sitting on your shoulder, dripping doubt into your ear.”  Anna responds, “Will you answer me something honestly? Do you not think that I bear some responsibility for the way that he turned out, and all the blood he spilled?” Robert tells Anna that no, she does not, and she nearly got herself killed for it.   The emotional high point occurred when Robert tells Anna that the “next time she gives her heart to someone, give it to some guy that deserves her love.”  Hughes’ reactions as Anna listens to Robert intensely, and is overcome with tears, was beautifully played.

In the latest issue of Soap Opera Digest on newsstands now, GH’s co head-writer, Chris Van Etten shared on Peter’s demise, “We always knew that the final moment had to be between Anna and Peter.  There was no other consideration.  The story started with Anna, and it has to end with Anna.”

So, what do you think of our pick for Finola Hughes as the Power Performance of the Week? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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Finola was her typically amazing self. Anna got some of her groove back this week after being weakened by Heinrik over the past 4+ years. When she told him that the ambulance was not coming, I said out loud “it’s about time Anna F-n Devane is back!”

Kudos to the writers for focusing on the Scorpio family unit this week. All the beats were played. Felicia, front and center again, from dealing Heinrik’s final blow to a loving wrap up chat with Mac. Robert and Anna’s conversation and Maxie’s unification with Bailey Lu (a much better name choice).

This all leads to the bigger question… what’s next?

I’d give Kristina Wagner an honorable mention as well, as she showed that Felicia is tough as nails! And I loved seeing Robert on four shows this week! Sincerely hoping that he, Mac, Felicia and Anna will be front and center for “Ice Princess 2: The Wrath of Cassadine!”

Yes it was a very good scene but I also feel it was truncated and should have been longer. Finola was typically excellent and managed to give Peter a shred of humanity at the end. Many of us don’t believe we’ve seen the last of Peter but, for now, I enjoyed his demise. I am surprised dimwit Dante hasn’t arrested Felicia yet. But give him time. I can see him also arresting Brook Lynn and Chase for fraud or something equally stupid.

Finola Hughes is my favorite actress on GH. There is something so sincere and authentic in her delivery that blows me away and this was no exception. Awesome job! How perfect that Anna was there to see Peter’s demise. As an aside, I’m grateful this storyline is over as it went on far too long

I would pick Kirsten Storms as the “power performer of the week”. Her work telling Peter she plans on escaping and especially when Peter was going to shoot her were the best of the week for me! Finola was fine too of course, just Kirsten was better!

I agree Richard. Ms. Storms’ performances since the first unveiling of Peter have been astounding. She’s found levels of depth and pathos that were always there but really burst out in this story. I don’t put much stock in awards anymore but if she isn’t rewarded with an Emmy this year, they should just retire the award forever.

AMAZING!!!

Doesn’t Felicia get consideration for Power Player of the week…

She’s the one who sent Heiny back to Hell, after all!

I agree. Felicia always rises to the occasion.

OMG
An award for holding someone’s hand?
Where’s the credit due Felicia, she’s the one that slayed the dragon? It hardly took five minutes for him to croak, and no way would help have got there in that time. Maybe Anna could have tried something other than holding his hand to save or comfort him, in turn helping herself from feeling so much guilt. Felicia isn’t regretting what she did to save her daughter, and no one blames her. Maxi by the way sent Anna the lipstick message that led Anna and her posse to Peter’s hideout.

Sing it, Violet! I’m so happy Felicia got her due. And Anna too. Sisters doing it for themselves.

Violet…Yes, an award. Anna and Peter’s handholding scene was perhaps the most poignant act I’ve seen on GH. Simple and touching even with the baggage that lead up to this point. It made me even shed a tear for what Peter could have been if his life had been different.

rose
I love Finola Hughs too and I too shed a few tears but not for Peter but for all the lives he took and wrecked without a backward glance, even his own child having to grow up realizing what a monster her father was.

Violet…It goes without saying about all the damage Peter did. And there is always the ripple affect that spreads to the unintended like friends, family and community. I like Nina, but the same ripple affect idea has spread to others because of her choices and reasons. At least no deaths unless Carly’s eyes could kill.

Rose: “ripple shmipple” Nina’s “crime” was nothing compared to Sonny and Carly’s crimes. All this whining from the characters (and Carly/Sonny fans) is laughable. Sonny can threaten to kill Nicolas and no reaction; Carly can kidnap an old woman from a nursing home and nutthin’. Carly lie to Nina about Nelle being her daugher? Meh. But NINA” OMG..how “dare” she not reveal a truth! Paleeeez…the Port Charles hypocrites are cringe-worthy….as IF Carly didn’t keep Michael from AJ, keep Avery from Ava, try to change Spencer’s paternity results, drug AJ, try to kill Tony and Franco, kidnap an old woman, etc, etc…

Rebecca1…All right, All right…Nina’s not always perfect, but I like her anyway. But she isn’t even close to Carly who I can’t stand. Thanks for the complete dossier on Carly. I’d almost forgotten some of her misdeeds. As for Sonny, if it wasn’t for Nina, some of Mike wouldn’t be transferring into Sonny. But enough to get involved with Sonny?

Rose; that was so not the “complete” dossier on Carly, lol. Those were just some of the highlights. “Mike” was always a part of Sonny, the part of him that got buried, or never had a chance to awaken, when he chose the criminal path. Mike’s someone he’ll never share with Carly; even with all their decades together his time as “Mike” and his complete happiness in Nixon Falls will always be a cherished memory with Nina. But underneath it all the darkness is still there. I just hate the thought of her going over to the dark side with him & getting tangled up in the mob stuff if/when he returns to that life full time. Nina deserves better. I’m rooting for a Jax recast…

Rebecca1…I think you are right about Sonny. I do remember he resented how his stepdad treated him and his mom. I think that is what took him over to the dark side…to get back at him if I am right. But it never excused the strip/girly clubs he had and how he used girls at that time. So now he is showing a mix of Sonny and. Mike. But like you I don’t want Nina to get entangled with him either. I wouldn’t mind a Jax recast. Again, he’s not always perfect, but I mostly liked his character. Sad, evil days for the world right now. Let’s hope for some sort of karma, soon.

Absolutely, FH was and is amazing. But can we please talk about the dynamics which exist between Anna and Robert? All it takes is an exchange of looks between these two and their history, their connection their knowledge of each other just leaps up to form a crescendo of understanding. And yet, no words were spoken.

Harry
Yes, Anna and Robt. forever but I also love the smiles from both he and Olivia when they are together. So cute!

Finola Hughes could be reading a disctionay adn she would get my vote for Performer of the Week – she is tha good! Yet again, her beautifully nuanbed performance showed why Anna Devane is one of, in my book THE most, compelling and beloved characters in daytime.

Could not find another place for this. “What is thy name hypocrisy?, thy name is CARLY! or something like that. She was totally unbelievable today talking to Britt about them declaring Jason dead so soon. How long did she wait to write Sonny, personally and legally out of her life, a few weeks? This woman is a piece of work and nuDrew whom Ive come to like is falling for her needy crap.She can mow someone down with a look and the next minute she’d her crocodile tears all over her prey of the day, makes me sick!

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‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

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Dominic Zamprogna

General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up about the burgeoning love triangle forming between his Port Charles alter-go, Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) after recently aired scenes, plus his hopes for the future of a Dante and Liz pairing, during his appearance on the Sunday, April 23 edition of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli).

On last week’s episodes of GH, Ric has made the decision that he wanted to propose to his ex-wife, only when he showed up at Elizabeth’s front door, he misread the scenario he walked in with Liz tending to Dante’s injured leg from the softball game. From there, the legal eagle’s jealous streak is reemerging which may cause him to act out and do something unforgivable, or will he take the high road? Stay tuned.

Speaking with Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson about where Elizabeth stands in the annals of the long-running soap, Zamprogna said, “She’s up there with Steve and Maurice (Maurice Benard) as one of the most legacy-filled people on the show.”

Courtesy/ABC

HOW DANTE AND ELIZABETH CAME ABOUT

Dominic jokes it’s a far cry for where Dante and Elizabeth previously, recalling, “We had some scenes together years ago and we were both laughing. Becky’s like, ‘Well, I guess we’re not going be paired up anytime soon.’ I remember we laughed immediately after they yelled ‘cut,”‘and said to each other, ‘Well, so much for that!'”

Fast-forward to early 2025 and as Zamprogna remembered it, “Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) came up to me at the General Hospital Christmas party, and I think it was a year and a half ago and she said, ‘We’re going to have you in scenes with Elizabeth,’ My internal monologue is going, ‘I’m not with Lulu (Alexa Havins) anymore and Sam’s (Kelly Monaco) gone, so maybe they want to see if this works.’ I didn’t want to get scenes with Becky and try to find the chemistry. I just wanted to play whatever honestly was written and came across for both of us and hope it was what people liked, and I don’t know if it is … or not.”

Knowing how beloved Elizabeth is to the GH faithfuls, Zamprogna added, “She got a big fan base with Ric … and a big fan base with with Jason … and you know, you’re going to piss somebody off. But, didn’t Ric drug Elizabeth and put Carly in a panic room?”

Dom and Liz

Photo: ABC

DANTE AND ELIZABETH PAIRING COULD STIR UP STORY FOR OTHERS IN PORT CHARLES

In closing, Dominic felt that the wide-reaching tentacles of a Dante and Elizabeth relationship is something he is 100% down for. “The triangle thing; I was happy to hear it was with Ric and her, because I felt it’s important to have her the top of it as opposed to Dante, Lulu and Elizabeth.”

Zamprogna added, “When you get into relationships on a soap, things seem to fizzle out a little bit, The buildup is what’s the fun part, and the getting to know each other, and the people who are affected by this coming together. When with this case it’s going to affect: Ric, Sonny, Lulu. There’s so much more story here. To me, it’s going to be a fun story to play.”

You can check out Dominic’s visit to That’s Awesome with Steve and Bradford below.

Now weigh-in: Are you rooting for Dante and Liz, or Dante and Ric at this juncture of the story, or neither guy  for Elizabeth? Let us know your thoughts and picks via the comment section.

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GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)

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Patrick J. Gibbons

At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.

However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.

Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Photo: ABC

FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG

Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!

Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”

MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL

Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).

Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”

Photo: JPI

PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY

Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”

It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”

A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”

Photo: PGibbons

IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS

As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”

He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”

Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.

So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.

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‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Admits That He Didn’t Expect the Role of Michael Corinthos to be Recast, and Would Consider Working on Another Soap (Exclusive)

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Chad Duell, the Daytime Emmy-winning actor, who stepped away from the pivotal role of Michael Corinthos on General Hospital, opened up about: his previous decision to leave the series after nearly 15 years, where’s he’s at now after time away from the demands of a daytime soap opera, and took a stroll down memory lane with some of Michael’s most-acclaimed storyline during his run, during a livestream chat on August 19 on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.

Viewers last saw Duell on-screen as Michael in January of 2025, and with his successor in the role, Rory Gibson making his debut at the GH Nurses’ Ball in episodes that aired later in May. It was clear that during the conversation, Chad was a bit surprised that the GH brass decided to recast him when he thought he was just taking some much needed time off.

Burn-out of the daily grind of being on a soap was definitely a part of Chad’s decision to take a break. Duell explained “People know when you’re doing something for so long or your character is kind of in the same place for so long or doing the same stuff over and over again, you do get a a little burnt out, you get a little stiff, stale, a little stiff at times. I didn’t want that to be any sort of lasting impression. I have 15 years of a body of work of I’ve done on that show, which is fantastic.”

Chad Duell

Photo: ABC

WHILE CHAD WAS AWAY GH RECAST MICHAEL CORINTHOS WITH RORY GIBSON

Chad shared, his mindset when leaving GH was, “I’m taking some time away, we’ll see what happens.” Then he added, “Obviously, they decided to go in a different direction with Michael when I was gone. I didn’t think they were going to bring somebody back in my place. But you know, it’s the business. You never know what can happen.”

Duell also shared he has not watched a single episode of General Hospital since he left the series, but now feels he reenergized following the loss of his father and stepping away from the GH, “I’m in a place now mentally, where I’m ready to sink my teeth into it again.”

Courtesy/ABC

Even though he is no longer Michael on GH, Chad was very happy with his final storyline where Michael was set on fire when a bomb exploded at Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) penthouse. “It was fun to put him in a dangerous situation, because I was wanting Michael to be in something scary instead of trying to be a hero character or just things happening around him, but to be the center point of tragedy happening to him. (I always saw) Michael as the heart of the (Corinthos) family.”

When Michael was badly burned the show chose not burn his face, which normally a soap does when they are recasting role and switching actors. Chad weighed-in, “They didn’t burn my face because I told Frank Valentini (EP, GH) I’m willing to come back. It was just a little bit of a break. So, I assumed that if they would have burned my face, they could have brought somebody back looking different than me… if that’s what their plan was.”

Courtesy/ABC

MEMORABLE MICHAEL STORYLINES

One of Chad’s most memorable performances was the in the storyline of Michael’s rape while he was sentenced to prison in 2010 and the confession of it in 2011. “It was so well-written and I was very nervous,” recalled Chad. “When I get really nervous about something, it ends up being really good when I do it, because it just means I care a lot about it”

“I have to put a lot of effort and work into it, and I really want it to be good.  I was working with Dominic  Zamprogna (Dante) and Steve Burton (Jason) a lot during those scenes, and Laura Wright (Carly). It was great working with Steve and Dominic, especially, during that storyline.

A NEW SOAP ROLE FOR CHAD?

As to a future soap opera role, Chad is open to the idea and would love to jump back in to a juicy role, “I know people over at The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Young and the Restless. They know that if they’re interested, I would love to come in for a screen test or something, and they can see what I’m doing.”

Meanwhile, Chad has been busy putting out new music under the moniker Duelly and during the interview he explains how he creates his EDM tracks and much more. You can stream his latest single, Static in the Quiet Room on Spotify, Apple Music and You Tube Music.

You can check out the full conversation with Chad Duell below.

Now let us know: what show would you like to see Chad cast on down the line? BTG, DAYS, B&B, Y&R, or a new role on GH? What did you think of his thoughts on the casting switch while he was away in the role of Michael? What was your favorite Michael storyline during Chad’s 15-year run on the ABC soap opera? Let us know via the comment section.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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