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GH’s Genie Francis ’45 Years as Laura’ On Set Celebration (PHOTOS)

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: ABC

Yesterday, the one and only Genie Francis (Laura Collins), marked her 45th year as the beloved Laura Collins on the ABC daytime drama series, General Hospital.

Francis debuted in the role on February 8th, 1977 as Laura Vining and when eventually paired with Anthony Geary (Luke) took daytime by storm, and the genre became must-see mainstream TV, under the purview of then EP, Gloria Monty.

Throughout her 45 years, Francis has won a Daytime Emmy for her work in the Outstanding Supporting Actress category back in 2007, but has also been twice nominated for Lead Actress; including last year in 2021, and had another previous Supporting Actress nomination.

Photo: ABC

In her recent SOD interview, Genie shared what it has been like to now be paired on-screen romantically with Jon Lindstrom (Kevin), after Laura spent years in Luke’s orbit: “You come together and it sparks into something larger. I had that with Tony Geary, and I have that with Jon Lindstrom. It’s an interesting thing that happens. I’m grateful for it because if we were not able to do that on that show, I don’t think they would have kept the character on in quite the same way.”

Check out a few photos below of GH’s on set celebration on Tuesday.

Then, share your congrats to Genie for a job well-done, and this milestone, in the comment section.

Photos: ABC

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I think she had chemistry with Kin Shriner and also Stephen Nichols . Congrats Genie

She has chemistry with everyone.

RoseKellyPC,
I was just about to say that. LOL

What can I say? Genie Francis is pure magic. Whenever she’s on, I find myself happy, nostalgic, and grateful that the viewer is in the hands of a true professional. So glad she’s FINALLY back in a meaningful story, not just as an appendage to Luke. I also hope she’s instrumental in bringing down Esme, the latest Peter-type villain: self-centered, obnoxious, and completely unlikable.

Oh, Soaphound—how I agree—your words are sacrosanct.
And, yes—Laura will be the one to bring Esme ( whose makeup is the wrong shade) down. There is something very satanic about her, isn’t there?—she’s a sycophant with an inherent need to hurt people.
I wish Esme’s actions ( drugging Trina etc.) will be exposed soon. She belongs in a sanitarium. I had wondered if Esme were related to Ryan. I still wonder—hmmm. His daughter? That would make her Kevin’s niece. Will he be in her corner and help her when the world comes crasking down on her? I think she has Alexithymia., No feelings—no emotions except the brain to use people to her advantage.
Pardon my impertinence—Esme has visited Spence—she used the adjective “conjugal”. Are they married? The word applies to married people and married people only—-writers: get your vocab right!!
Also—not relating to Esme, of course—-
Aside: some women with thick legs and thighs should not be wearing mini dresses/skirts. Pardon me and LOL.

Satanic??

**in my best Bill Clinton voice**

I did not have sexual relations with Harmony!!

– who is more than likely Esme’s biological mother

You think? So, am I to assume Shiloh to be her baby daddy?
Very possible.

Ryan is her father. I’m not sure how they’re going to explain how he and Harmony knew each other back in the day, but it’s only obvious that Ryan knows exactly who she is. The guy can only communicate with eye movements these days, but when he saw her, those eyes were freaking out.

I’m only surprised that Kevin hasn’t figured it out yet. Dude can’t recognize his own niece??

Makes sense, Satan—when we first saw Esme interact with Ryan, I noticed their looks and her subterfuge—I actually commented about it.
Moreover, as far as Ryan communicating only with his eyes? I don’t know, about that. I bet Esme and he communicate verbally. He’s faking it.
Something else gave me pause today—-Willow is not Harmony’s daughter–OK—
I have said ad nauseam that Willow and Nelle were twins—or that Willow and not Nelle was Nina’s daughter .
But, Harmony killed that notion today. Someone named Joan living within the commune gave birth to Willow? Well, there goes that.

Celia, just had a horrifying thought! What if Sonny “conjugaled” with this Joan and Willow is Sonny’s bairn? That would really throw a fly into the Metamucil. They could plan a “Chinatown” type reveal, with Michael getting slapped and confessing, “She’s my wife”. SLAP! “She’s my step-sister”. SLAP! “She’s my wife and my step-sister!” Now that’d be worth tuning in for.

Oh, “slap” me silly, Soaphound. HaHa!!
Your horrifying thought “ain’t” so far fetched.LOL–Sonny’s seed is so powerful–he’s “conjugated” and fornicated with just about everyone-everywhere-anytime—so….
Is there any woman in the PC circle Sonny has not tasted? And, now they’re all such great friends!! Let’s see: Mother and daughter; Alexis and Sam—Carly; Olivia; Ava; Nina—I don’t know the others—I heard of Brenda? Whoever she was!!
You are too much fun—I can hear the slaps, my friend. Shhhh, not so loud. It’s 2 AM.
BTW—the only other person who says “bairn” is Fiona, my grandmother—straight from Scotland and a brogue to match. Love it!!
Nite!!❤️

CELIA, YES! My mom and I can never fathom why these gals with big thighs are wearing minis and, God help us, short shorts. It just isn’t flattering and invites the question, “What was she THINKING?” Or, even worse, “Doesn’t she have a friend or relative who will tell her the truth?” Strangely, we say that a lot during the OSCARS as well. Esme is just a creep; the very idea of Spencer ‘conjugaling’ with her makes me nauseous. She’s not a “fun villain” like Nelle or sometimes Ava. And here’s an idea — since she’s homeless without Laura, maybe she could sell some of that outdated hair. I’m sure the 1960s would take it back.

HaHa—love it, Soaphound—I have three sisters and you can’t put us in a room together without blowing your mind—no subject is left untouched—sitting at my parents’ kitchen table, drinking coffee/tea, while my Mom shakes her head with a smile on her face. We affectionately call her “The Alien”–she’s nothing like us. And, she’s not her mother’s daughter either. My grandmother will joyfully sit with us and join the chatter.
None of us is perfect nor has a perfect body. But, most of us try to camouflage whatever flaw.
Now, about Esme—it strikes me as so weird for someone that young to speak of conjugal visits–D.i.s.g.u.s.t.o—she could have said “fool around”, but “conjugal’? I was waiting for her to say, “fornicating”. LOL.
I know what you mean—as much of a villainess as Nelle was, I liked her—same with Faison, Ava etc. Esme is simply not a liakable character. I want to smack her face a few times. ( kidding)–
And, yes—her hair is too out-dated and blah!! It’s not so bad when it’s loose ( not tied up). She’s a pretty girl, but there’s something about her that, as you say, gives me the creeps.

Celia, you brought back so many GREAT memories here. Growing up visiting my grandmother’s (we called her Nanny) house in New York after we’d moved to California, the best days were ones when we just stayed home around the kitchen table all day and just talked (or in my case listened). My Nan was Scottish, the other grandparents were from Italy. What tales! What recipes! What memories of going off to matinees or the local bakery or Leonard’s Pizzeria in the 60s and early 70s. And of course.. watching AS THE WORLD TURNS, ANOTHER WORLD and, later, GUIDING LIGHT. New York city isn’t the same now. How could it be?

Well, wonder of wonders—we share a Scottish grandmother, Soaphound….LOL—Nanna is actually a Scot endearment for Grandmother—
You touched my heart with your description of bygone days.
My mom grew up in the city—-Mulberry St.—those were different days—even our soaps had heart, as my grandmother keeps telling us. The kitchen table has always been the “gathering” place; the focal point of our family—-It’s a biiiig table ( metaphorically). I have five siblings —-my younger brother is twenty-six and my baby sister is in her last year of College ( we call her “oops”) —there’s more room for the family to grow.LOL.
That family “congregation’ used to exist in soaps—I was about thirteen when Another World, sadly, came to an end–but I remember Ada’s home having an inviting air about it, albeit at that age, one has a different perspective.
What do we see today? A makeshift of a tiny kitchen with a huge island, at the Corinthos’ “mansion” where Carly holds her rants….Audience, lend me your ears!! So inviting…

Soaphound
Was reading this again after Laura’s meeting today with Esme. Laura sure made her squirm, but not enough to give up her vendetta against Joss who by the way was pretty nasty herself. She really surprised and embarrassed her friend.

Congratulations to the one and only Genie Francis for 45 years as Laura. You’re the very best.

Looking at these pictures makes me smile… She is simply radiant. I have loved her all of these years. Congratulations Genie!

The one and only incomparable. No one else can play that role. She had great chemistry with Tony Geary, Kin Shriner and Super Hot chemistry with Stephen Nichols.

Ms Francis should be as dominant on GH as Miss Slezak was on OLTL. I would like to see Laura’s family restored and engaged forefront. They are core.

Only if GH is able to persuade Jonathan Jackson to come back.

Congrats. That is great

I loved Genie back in the day with Kin Shriner, never did like Luke and her falling for him after what he did to her. I do think she and Jon Lindstrom make a very believable couple as does she and her brother.

She hasn’t spent 45 consecutive years on GH, which would be more noteworthy. It’s just been 45 years since she first aired as Laura.

Congratulations.

The only one near that many consecutive years would be Leslie Charleson. Even then, towards the JFP era, we were lucky to see Monica twice a year.

Francis is the genuine “star” of GH! Her work with Geary put GH on the map, eliciting the highest TV ratings for a soap ever. Her acumen as an actress has skyrocketed. GH and its viewers are LUCKY to have her. In interviews, Francis comes across as sincere, appreciative, and humble. A true delight on and off camera. Congratulations!

What a joy to see her on GH! Congratulations to her for 45 years and marvelous acting. She is a treasure for ALL of us!

She lights up the screen and emotes more than anyone else. Every smile and every tear is truly believable and magical to watch.

I think you are a phenomenal actress and a lovely person. I have watched from the very beginning and loved every minute, except that final breakup with Luke. But nothing lasts forever and I do love Laura with Kevin. Even though I’m a hopeless romantic, I do enjoy that Laura has become independent and powerful in her own rite. You portray it all so well and light up every scene you’re in. I wish you many more happy years with GH. Congratulations!

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair

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Sonny, Dante, Michael, Brook Lynn General Hospital

On the Thursday, October 1 episode of General Hospital, both Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) had some things to say and what they had to say didn’t go over well with whom they were talking to!

Sonny had a confrontation with his son, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), while Michael leveled with Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) over Chase (Josh Swickard).

GH is setting up a scenario where everyone is going to make it look like Sonny was responsible for having Sidwell (Carlo Rota) beat up in Pentonville; while viewers already know Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) were behind it.

Sonny and Dante

Courtesy/ABC

A VISIT WITH DAD

Now, Dante comes to Sonny’s house. He wants to know straight up from his dad if he ordered the attack at Pentonville. Sonny flatly denies any culpability or responsibility, but Dante refuses to believe him.

Dante informs Sonny he has video footage of Sully and Vito at the prison. Sonny explains to Dante he doesn’t know why Sully beat up both Curtis and Dante. Things escalated when Sonny was deeply hurt that Dante refused to believe him. Dante says he was disappointed that his father didn’t respect him enough to be truthful with him!

Sonny asks Dante to consider that he was being set up. He says all he did was to tell Vito to instruct Sully to keep a watchful eye on Sidwell, not to harm him. No matter what Sonny said, Dante continued hammering him with how he knew deep down, even though he said he left the mob, he had to finish off Sidwell for himself.

Next, Sonny explains everything he has ever done was to provide for and to protect his family. Dante fired back that he doesn’t want to deal anymore with Sonny’s half-baked truths. As the two men argue, Gio (Giovanni Mazza) shows up at Sonny’s front door and overhears Sonny losing his temper and shouting at Dante, “Get out of my house! I don’t want a son like you!”  The scenes featured an excellent performance by Maurice Benard.

Michael and Brook Lynn

Courtesy/ABC

MICHAEL THE MANIPULATOR

While this is going down, outside the Quartermaine boathouse, Brook Lynn opens up to Michael about living at the Q’s with Chase being there, since he only came back due to legal advice from his lawyer, Monet Mitchell (Blythe Howard).

Brook Lynn questioned whether they should get legally separate. Michael insisted that would be a big mistake. When she asks why, Michael tells Brook Lynn to bide her time until Chase and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) have an affair; then she’d have full custody of Phoebe.

An angered Brook Lynn pushed Michael into the water and accuses him of moving Willow back into the gatehouse with intent on putting Chase and Willow in closer proximity and sacrificing Brook Lynn’s family in the process.  As the two cousins bicker, Chase shows up asking Brook Lynn if she is OK. Michael punctuates their talk with “You know, I’m right.”

CURTIS FIGURES OUT A WAY TO GET OUT OF THE SLAMMER

At GH, Willow visits Curtis (Donnell Turner) in his hospital room. Curtis wants Willow to get him pardoned and keep him out of jail, and in return, he will help her nail Sonny.

Next, Willow tells Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) she wants Curtis held for observation for three more days. He agrees to do so under one condition, that she understands that he may need to call in a favor from a congresswoman.

So, what did you think of how Dante accused his father and refused to believe Sonny’s answers? Is this the end of their father and son relationship for good? Is Michael the most manipulative person of all, except for Willow? Do the two deserve each other? Do you want Chase and Willow to have an affair? And what of Curtis? Does he have many redeeming qualities left? Share your thoughts via the comment section,  but first check out the talk Michael had with Brook Lynn.

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GH Alum Tajh Bellow and Y&R Alum Loren Lott Star in New Tiktok and Microdrama ‘Love Island’ Spoof

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Tajh Bellow and Loren Lott

Two soap opera alums very familiar to fans of General Hospital and The Young and the Restless are paired together in a new short-form digital series from none other than Issa Rae’s production entity HOORAE Digital.

Look for Tajh Bellow (ex-TJ Ashford, GH)) and Loren Lott (ex-Ana Hamilton, Y&R) as part of the cast of  The Compatibility Experiment, premiering on October 14, 2026, exclusively on TikTok and its companion microdrama platform, PineDrama.

In the video teaser, it appears that Bellow and Lott play a couple, Kelvin and Camila, set in a Love Island reality show-esque environment trying to win the one million dollar cash prize, only what could go wrong?

The Compatibility Experiment

Photo: HOORAE

The Compatibility Experiment loglines share that it brings a fast-paced, relationship-focused reality check—much like Love Island with a twist. The show takes a participant’s current relationship, introduces them to a potentially more compatible partner, and forces them to navigate the differences with life-changing money on the line.

The new series is part of a groundbreaking content deal between HOORAE Digital and TikTok to develop premium short-form storytelling. The ensemble cast also features; Ayona, Reggie Luck, JaNa Craig, Tosin Morohunfola, Jessica Jacoby, Georgia Warner, and Nick Cassidy.

General Hospital fans know Tajh Bellow for his performances as TJ Ashford, and who earned two Daytime Emmy nominations along the way during his run. Bellow took over the role in 2018 and last appeared on the ABC daytime drama series in December of 2024.

Loren Lott first appeared as Devon’s (Bryton James) sister Ana Hamilton on The Young and the Restless from 2018 to 2019; making a brief return in 2024. She has continued to perform on the stage and screen with recent credits including: Bel-Air, Cherish the Day, and All American: Homecoming.

Check out the trailer for The Compatibility Experiment below and let us know what you think of its concept and if you are glad to see Tajh and Loren again? Hoping they might return to daytime in their GH and Y&R roles at some point in the future? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ava and Drew Revealed to be Behind Framing Sonny for Sidwell’s Prison Beatdown

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Drew and Ava

If you thought that the person responsible for the Pentonville brawl that saw Sidwell (Carlo Rota) and Curtis (Donnell Turner) taken to General Hospital was Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) or even Sidwell himself, you were dead wrong! On the Wednesday, September 30 episode of GH, it turned out that the culprits were actually Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison).

In story, Drew apparently bankrolled the attack on Sidwell and framing Sonny. He told Ava their planned worked (she came up with it!) but was horrified when Drew informed her that Curtis got caught in the crosshairs. Ava is visibly upset because of her longtime friendship with Curtis’ daughter, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali). Drew tried to make Ava see the bright side. Curtis was witness to it and his presence will cast doubt on Sonny’s claims to that he had gotten out of the mob and gone legit.

Later, Vito shows up at Drew’s. They informed him that his guy on the inside of the slammer made a big mistake by hurting their friend and ordered him to leave town.

Maura West

Courtesy/ABC

BOATHOUSE BRAWL

In other major developments, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) and Rocco (Finn Carr) have a blow out fight as Danny blames his “brother” for the reason Charlotte was sent off to boarding school.

Rocco told off Danny for Charlotte’s (Bluesy Burke) reckless behavior and he explains he had to protect his sister. He went in on Danny saying that his mother Lulu (Alexa Havins) has been right to send Charlotte to boarding school and far away from Danny.

However, Rocco went a bit too far when he shouted, “And if your mom was alive, she would send you away too!” Next, Danny punched out Rocco, leading to a terrible brawl. An angered Danny yells at Rocco to, “Stay away from me and everyone in my family. And don’t you ever mention my mom again!” Danny storms off.

Rocco

Courtesy/ABC

Now alone outside the boathouse, Rocco flashes back to his first kiss with Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarksi), hoping that his fight with Danny will not escalate and ruin their budding romance. Meanwhile, a bloodied-mouth Danny heads over to Sonny’s and Jason (Steve Burton) is there at the same time. He then admits that he has a bad fight with Rocco and they are both beaten up.

WILL SCOUT WISE UP?

At the end of the episode, Scout, who had a fight with Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) over Drew, and who keeps telling everyone how good a man her dad truly is, comes upon a suspicious scene.

Scout hides behind the wall outside Drew’s. She sees her dad, Ava and Vito talking. Next, Scout seems to overhear Vito assuring Drew and Ava that their business dealings are done, and he’ll be leaving Port Charles for good.

So, what did you think of the reveal that Ava and Drew were behind framing Sonny for the prison beatdown of Sidwell (and Curtis)? Do you think Danny and Rocco’s relationship can be repaired, or do you think the teenagers will continue to be at each other’s throats? Finally, do you hope Scout gets a clue and stops thinking her dad walks on air? Weigh-in via the comment section, but first check out how Ava and Drew conspired below.

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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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