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GH’s Genie Francis Delivers The ‘Power Performance of the Week’

Courtesy/ABC

This past Monday’s episode of General Hospital was one of the series best installmnets in recent months filled with long awaited confrontations and reveals.

The cast at the epicenter of it which included the talents of: James Patrick Stuart (Valentin), Cynthia Watros (Nina), Marcus Coloma (Nikolas), Maura West (Ava) all had stellar moments.

Courtesy/ABC

However, there is nothing like getting to see the icon herself, Genie Francis (Laura), do what she does best; the momma bear who is at once shocked and overjoyed that the son she grieved for over three years was very much alive, and the flip side of the anger over the fact that he let her, his sister, and most importantly his son, Spencer, continue to believe that he was dead, all for his vendetta and quest for revenge against Valentin Cassadine.

For it was Valentin who was the man who shot him and now is no longer the heir apparent to the Cassadine throne, now that the codicil said that it all belongs to Nikolas and Valentin was Helena’s son, not Mikkos’.

The thing of it is, everyone is great when Francis does her performances, and you could see that in the work of soap newcomer, Coloma, who you could just see through his eyes the disappointment and despair he caused his mother all these years, by Francis’ mesmerizing delivery.

Beat after beat in that episode, Genie brought the fire, the sorrow, and the wisdom, as Laura to every moment.  It was also well-written that Laura did not just have a happy reunion with her son, but a complex one fraught with issues to be ironed out.

Then, in the punctuation of that episode, was there anything better than watching Laura’s jaw-drop when Ava struts in telling Nikolas it’s time to tie-the-knot?

That is why Michael Fairman TV names Genie Francis “The Power Performance of the Week”.

Let us know in the comment section below, if you enjoyed Genie’s performances as much as we did.

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But of course…

emmy nominations for sure

Genie Francis is the VERY best of the VERY best. TPTB at GH should appreciate her way more and have her front and center MUCH more often. She is a force and Laura is a character that we cherish. Many of us were kids when we started watching the Left Handed Boy days on GH, which still puts us in GHs prime demographic. They need to respect the core long term audience more.. one way of doing this would be to feature our characters and our families and stop shoving newbies, not connected to the core cast, in our face. Valentine works as a character because of his connection to Laura and Anna. James Patrick Steward who is amazing in the role is lucky in that respect. Others who might be as talented suffer because poor writing and this disrespect of of GH history.And where Genie herself thought that the audience doesn’t know the difference between bad writing and bad acting, I assure her otherwise. We know GH’s failings…. and there is nothing about HER or her performances that would be considered anything else but mesmerizing. She is so incredible, and brings the sincerity, realism, depth and much needed emotion to every scene she plays in, despite the writing. Thanks Genie and thanks Michael for the acknowledgment.

Well said, Sus! Would love to see her EVERY day. She IS under-utilized. She glows!

Loved her performance

Genie Francis gave a wonderful performance but I got admit I really liked it when she smacked his face for letting everybody believe he was dead when I get off of me

Saw that one coming from all the way down here in Hell! First she’s gonna hug him, out of relief that he’s alive. Then smack him upside the head for letting his whole family – especially Spencer – believe he was dead for three years.

Which is exactly how I would expect Laura to react. So at least the writers got that one right.

Agreed!

Exactly!

NuNik just isn’t cutting it for me. He has no sex appeal or chemistry with his co-stars. Has he even hit puberty yet? Is the facial hair supposed to make him look “tough?”
Genie Francis always brings it. Insipid Lulu can go and cover school cafeteria “stories” off-screen.

Hi, DMRR,
We usually agree, you and I, however I find nuNikolas soooo sexy!! His eyes are a little blood-shot, LOL—-but his mouth is perfection ( like my husband’s, LOL)–those lips!!
Genie gets more and more beautiful—-her performance floored me. WOW!! Every nuance was delivered with incredible precision—her movements; her facial expressio–her indignation and hurt. Superb!!

Hahaha. Maybe I am comparing him to Tyler Christopher, who will always be Nikolas to me.
& yes, Genie is incredible!

Also, I wish that they didn’t dress Genie Francis like an old lady.

I remember when she wore purple or lilac a lot. Looked beautiful! Yes, the costumes are too conservative. I’d like to see her dressed informally, in jeans, once and awhile. Her hair looks beautiful. And her face, always.

Yeah! Just because someone is 50+ does not mean they should be dressed all frumpy. The Laura we all know & love would be more free spirited, including her wardrobe. Imho.

Did we enjoy Genie’s performance? It was worth tuning in for! Finally some real emotion about characters we care about and have history with. Hopefully being part of this story will be good for nuNikolas in “raising his game”. Though I like Marcus, right now, Nikolas’ “threats” are giggle-inducing and during his reunion with Elizabeth, she wiped him right off the screen. But I’m still hopeful. Meanwhile, more Laura can only be a good thing.

I agree 100%

GH has the best of the best actors;
problem was- they were given horrible material for the past two years
(if not longer)
Now;
The great dynamic thrilling ”’ Cassadine’s”’ are back!!

GH hasn’t had intriguing villains/the bad guys ya love, for a very very very long time.

With the loved Cassadine back in action, now, it’s in the hands of the writers.
Will they fluff it up
or
give us on the edge suspense, drama, intrigue and mystery..
time will tell.. (hoping for the best!!

Horrible material, yes, Su–and for much longer than 2 years, I’m afraid.
I remember drama–some of the scenes (earlier years) are seared in my brain. So well executed.

NuNikolas has good chemistry with Liz..Franco with Ava..and Britt returns and paired with Valentin while Nina and Jax work the best..meanwhile i hope tptbb seen Genie’s performance and keep her front in center..storywise, i did not like her slap Nik..so kept it from Spenser that he is alive..would laura prefer he remain dead..she should be a little angry but more grateful he is alive!!!!

The legend Genie Francis showing everyone how it’s done. When you see those eyebrows raise up, the “you know what” is about to hit the fan. So many wonderful performances in that Monday episode. GH is on fire right now, and it’s showing in the most recent ratings, +207,000 viewers from the previous week, and very close to catching Y&R in the 18-49 demo. Hope they can keep the momentum going!

She is amazing, & I love her so much!! Hoping, we get to see more of her on #GH!!

of course Genie was great, that’s nothing new, and so was the whole cast. its great when the writers get their ducks lined up and we get to see the whole cast just shine. GH has the best ensemble cast, and when the writing matches their talent then its explosive and epic.

Best ensemble cast–under used.

I love when gene francis is on. She is the best. And as a mother I could see every emotion in her eyes n face!! Job well done Laura!!

Laura you are the greatest still good after all your years on GH

perfection as always !

There is nothing like a Genie Francis performance.

Amen–she sets the bar–and it’s a high one.

IT IS ABOUT TIME ,LAURA LET HIM KNOW THAT SHE,SPENCER,AND LULU HAVE BEEN GRIEVING FOR HIM FOR THREE YEARS

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nina Confronts Ava for Sabotaging Her Relationship With Sonny and Signs the Divorce Papers

Looks like Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Ava (Maura West) are back to be each other’s sworn enemy number one. By the end of the Monday, April 22nd episode of General Hospital, the women know where they stand with each other after Nina goes in on Ava accusing her of wanting Sonny (Maurice Benard) all to herself, while her marriage has been on the rocks.

In story, at Nina’s office, Ava shows up to see Nina and says she is sorry about what happened with Sonny and that he reacted the way he did, acknowledging that is was over the top, even for Sonny. Ava says she’ll smooth things over, but Nina says she now understands how manipulative and transparent Ava really is.

Given their horrible history, Nina goes in on Ava and how she should never have trusted her. Nina wants to know how long has Ava had this agenda dating all the way back to telling Nina to turn Carly (Laura Wright) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) into the SEC. Ava says she never told her do to that, but Nina wants to know how long Ava has been playing her for a fool.

Courtesy/ABC

Ava says she moved in with Sonny to keep Avery safe and she wants to be on good terms with Avery’s father, Sonny. Nina thinks she likes being in Sonny’s inner circle. Ava tells Nina if she goes to him about her advising Nina to call the SEC on Carly and Drew, it won’t work.  Sonny still considers Nina a traitor and he will think she’s lying because she’s so desperate to win him back. Ava says if Nina would stop blaming everyone else that maybe Sonny would respect her.  Nina says “like he does you?” Ava says Sonny not only respects her, but he also counts on her.

From there, Ava launches into why she and Sonny understand each other, after all, Sonny is a powerful, turbulent, and sometimes violent man. She goes so far to say if Nina wanted someone to just sit by the fire with and play with their grandchildren, she’s got the wrong guy.  Ava then talks about Mike from Nixon Falls (Sonny with amnesia) and how Sonny hid the darkest parts of himself from Nina back then, whereas with Ava they are the same similar creatures, so he doesn’t have to hide anything.

Courtesy/ABC

Nina wants to know just what Ava wants with Sonny? What is her end game? Ava responds that they understand each other, in ways she can’t with Sonny. Nina tells Ava she can go ahead and have it all and signs Sonny’s divorce papers. Ava walks out with the documents, while Nina in tears at her desk, takes off her wedding rings and has her assistant come in so she can messenger the rings back to Sonny’s address.

The episode and these scenes featured great performances by Cynthia Watros and Maura West. You can check some of the scenes below.

Now, let us know, what is Ava’s next move? Is she going to become Mrs. Sonny Corinthos? Do you like Ava and Nina as enemies? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital

If General Hospital’s Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) nuptials are on, you didn’t think Grandma Gloria Cerullo would miss out on the festivities, now did you?

Casting news from Soap Opera Digest reveals that Ellen Travolta is back taping scenes that will air the week of May 13th on the ABC daytime drama series.  When viewers learned that Carmine Cerullo, was also on his way back to Port Charles, now in the face and body of actor George Russo, it only made sense that Grandma Gloria would join Grandpa Cerullo. Look for them both mid-May.

As most people know, Ellen is the older sister to John Travolta. She first make appearances as Gloria back on GH in the mid-90s. Most recently, she returned to the Quartermaine mansion to meet up with daughter, Lois (Rena Sofer) and granddaughter Brook Lynn for Thanksgiving in Port Charles in 2023.  Michael Fairman TV interviewed Rena Sofer and Amanda Setton late last year where they shared what it had been liking working with Ellen, who remains very close to Sofer in real-life.

Photo: JPI

Amanda shared: “We fell in love immediately. What’s crazy is my maternal grandmother was Grandma Gloria. I had her till I was 30 and we were so close. She was really like a second mom to me. So, when I got this script and I’m reading “Grandma Gloria”, it was so bizarre. And then in meeting Ellen, she looks like my grandma – same haircut, same high cheekbones. It really did feel like I had a few days with my grandma. It was very, very special for me. Ellen is sweet, prepared, professional, talented and funny to boot. So, it was one of the best weeks I’ve had at work. I hope she comes back. My fingers are crossed.”

Photo: ABC

Now, we can’t imagine Brook Lynn and Chase’s wedding day to be smooth sailing, in fact, expect just the opposite, but could it be Grandma Gloria who is ultimately the hero or the calming voice of reason for any pre-wedding jitters? Stay tuned.

So, glad to know that Ellen Travolta will be back for Brook Lynn and Chase’s big day? Comment below.

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Breaking News

The Young and the Restless and General Hospital Actress and Writer, Meg Bennett, Passes Away at 75

Meg Bennett, who had played Julia Newman and later became a writer for the top-rated daytime drama, The Young and the Restless has died at the age of 75.  The news comes from her family who shared that she lost her battle to cancer back on April 11th.

Daytime fans remember fondly, Meg’s portrayal of Victor’s (Eric Braeden)first wife. Bennett joined the show in 1980, after her first soap stint for two years in the role of Liza Walton on Search for Tomorrow.

Impressed by her story notes, the late Bill Bell, then head writer of Y&R, had Meg doing double duty acting and writing on the show from 1983-1987. When he decided to write off the character of Julia, he also wanted Meg to stick around as a writer.  Not only did this begin a whole other daytime career for Bennett, but she was not done playing Julia either. Throughout the decades, Julia would still come back to Genoa City for a visit. Most recently, Y&R fans saw Julia in 2018, and again in 2020.

Photo: JPI

Bennett also appeared on Santa Barbara and was a writer on that show as well from 1991-1993. She played the role of Megan Richardson. It was next that Meg had her longest writing stint coming to ABC’s General Hospital. Meg wrote for GH from 1993-2011.

In 1995, Bennett won her first Daytime Emmy for writing and her personal life changed after falling in love with nine-time Daytime Emmy winner, former GH head writer, Bob Guza Jr. In addition, GH also utilized Bennett for her acting skill when she was cast as the villainess Allegra Montenegro.  Meg and Bog Guza were officially married in 2004 and purchased a home once owned by Boris Karloff and Gregory Peck.

Photo: JPI

Additionally, Meg wrote for The Bold and the Beautiful 1987-1989 and later served as a executive story consultant to Brad Bell from 2002-2004.  She also wrote for Sunset Beach, Generations and GH: Night Shift throughout her writing career. She went on to win five WGA Awards for GH and Santa Barbara.

Meg is survived by her husband of 19 years, Robert Guza Jr., two stepdaughters, four grandchildren, a brother and a sister.

Share your remembrances and condolences for Meg Bennett via the comment section below.

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