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GH's Jonathan Jackson on his Emmy Nomination & tackling tough emotional story!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

On-Air On-Soaps spoke to General Hospital’s sensational Jonathan Jackson (Lucky) about his much-deserved Daytime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor!  Jackson whose Emmy-nominated performance, where Lucky confronts Elizabeth and Nikolas about their affair, has been heralded as a soap classic, riveting, and is highly regarded from his peers. Jonathan, a three-time Daytime Emmy winner already found out the news of his nomination on his birthday last Wednesday! Quite the present, he tells us.

But Jackson’s emotional and gut-wrenching performances have not stopped there with the confrontation by Lucky of Liz and Nik’s betrayal. Already in 2011, we have already seen him in tour de force performances during Jake’s death and Luke’s intervention.  Here is what Jonathan had to say below about choosing his Emmy reel, his co-stars, and fellow nominee, Jason Thompson (Patrick) and how Jackson’s nominated work is being touted as an all-time memorable soap moment, ala Judith Light’s courtroom confession as Karen on One Life to Live.

Jonathan on his Emmy reel selection: “I always knew that the episode I would choose to submit would be when Lucky confronts Elizabeth and Nikolas about their affair. Years ago back in the 90’s; they used to have us send in two shows as opposed to one. There were other shows I was really happy with that if I could I would have put in along with it I would have, but that episode was a perfect storm situation. Nothing culminated like that episode. We all knew the scenes went great. When things like that click, there is something in the air and bigger than the individuals that are in the room. You can feel it and you know it.

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

One of the things I have learned over the years, probably because I started acting really young at eleven years old was; actors can be very self-critical and it can make people very self-conscious. That is something that I really have been intentional about over my acting career, to not be overly self-critical, but to do my best and give it my all, and to leave it at that and not try to judge it. For me, that is where I like to stay. And so afterwards, I felt really positive about the scenes. I was completely drained for several days.  It is one of those episodes that takes a lot out of you.  I really was hoping that Becky Herbst (Elizabeth) would get nominated.  I thought she did really incredible work over that same arc and storyline.”

Jonathan on how his performance is being touted as an all-time classic: “In regards to how people have said this is one of those all-time memorable performances, it is amazing to be perceived like that. I am young punk still. I had to be educated about the famous Judith Light (Ex-Karen, OLTL) courtroom confession scene. So for me, I don’t have much of a context for that. It is like when I started working with Tony Geary (Luke) and Genie Francis (Ex-Laura), I had no idea who Luke and Laura were. But, it’s amazing to be considered up there with Judith. I am humbled on how it’s been received.”

Courtesy/ABC

Jonathan on being given the ball at GH, and how it is to play one emotional story after the next: “Honestly, it has been insane the amount of intense work I have had over the past year on GH. I have literally been on my knees praying to continually get through it. There was the Elizabeth tragedy that happened last year, and then Lucky was drunk, and then he was at the edge of everything for four months. Then, this year it has been Jake’s death, and the Luke’s intervention and one thing after another. So it has been really crazy and a lot. I am grateful that the show believes in me, and that they want to give me that work to do, but it is a balance of trying to find those places to recoup. I try to take it day to day.  We are always in dialog that it does not go far. It was the same thing with Tony Geary (Luke) on his recent storyline and what he was giving out day in and day out. It was truly incredible. Tony also sent me an email telling me congratulations on the Emmy nomination, and he is always just incredibly supportive.”

Jonathan on being nominated in the same category as his GH co-star Jason Thomson: “I was also very happy for Jason Thompson.  I think he is an incredibly powerful actor and I have told him that, on a few different occasions. I don’t get to work with him very often, but recently when we did the Jake storyline in the hospital when he passed away, Becky and I had a scene with Jason and Kimberly McCullough (Robin). I remember feeling a strong presence from him as an actor in the room. It really helped me in my performance. I felt that he has that leading man presence and has a depth there that is real and unique. The episode that Jason sent in for the Emmy, I was extremely impressed with.  We are all really supportive of each other here. I was excited for GH as a whole getting 21 nominations.”

Courtesy/ABC

Jonathan on heading to Las Vegas, and the red carpet and presentation of the 38th Annual Daytime Emmys! “My wife Lisa and I will be at the Emmys. I have said this before that in daytime you don’t get an end to a season where you get a three or four month hiatus. It just keeps going and going. That can wear on you.  So for me, the Emmys are like a marker for the year where you can go, “Ok. We are celebrating what is last year. We get to get together over the work we have done, and especially in this time we are in.” It’s fun to see people from the other soaps.  I have such great respect for how hard everyone works in this medium. It can be insane to pump out this much material all the time and I want to see them get celebrated. For me, I am prepared to not win, or win, and it does not matter. Being nominated is a great honor. I have experienced enough things in life to know that things happen for a reason.  If it not meant to happen, I am totally fine with that, and if it is meant to happen, then there is a reason for it.  I just want to be in place of gratitude and humility through it.”

More more reactions, interviews, and thoughts with the acting nominees for the 38th Annual Daytime Emmys, make sure to go to our Daytime Emmy Hub reactions page here!

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I adore this man so, so much.

Jonathan is a good actor but let’s not confuse wide eyed shrieking with being a good actor.

Jonathan is a great actor and a gentleman. Congrats JJ!

Congratulations to Jonathan. For me his return is the only reason I’m watching GH again. Love to watch him act.

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom

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This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, the race is on! Can Lulu (Alexa Havins) and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) get to Rocco (Finn Carr) and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) in time to ensure their safety from Cullum (Andrew Hawkes)? Can Carly (Laura Wright) with the help of her brother, Lucas (Van Hansis) rescue Josslyn (Eden McCoy) from captivity at Wyndemere? These questions may be answered, plus the return of the one and only Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) are on tap!

In the just released General Hospital spoilers video for the week of June 22-26, Lulu tells her mother, Laura (Genie Francis), “Dante and I have to get to Rocco before Cullum!” Meanwhile, Rocco (Finn Carr) looks angered and emotional as Britt walks through their cabin hideout. Does Rocco know his parents are on the way to find them, or has Cullum already tracked them down to the British Virgin Islands?

Back in Port Charles, Carly is informing Lucas that his niece, “is a WSB agent.” She knows Josslyn (Eden McCoy) is being held against her will at Wyndemere, and she has to find a way to get her out. Lucas agrees with Carly’s plan of, “We go in and we don’t leave without Josslyn!” Elsewhere, Josslyn is looking worried for her future as she is stuck in captivity thanks to Cassius, Cullum and Sidwell!

Courtesy/ABC

FINOLA HUGHES RETURNS

The final moments of the teaser promo reveal Anna in a psychiatric clinic in France. We have not seen her for months after Cullum, Sidwell and Pascal fed her hallucinogenics to make her believe her arch nemesis, Cesar Faison was alive!

Now, the doctors walk towards her hospital bed, where we see the super spy calmly knitting. Is Anna back to normal and playing everyone to get out of her predicament, or does she still remain deeply traumatized … or both?

Take a look at the rest of the official GH spoilers for the week below.

MONDAY, JUNE 22
Willow gets an unwelcome surprise. Trina sticks to her guns. “Nathan” wants reassurance. Ethan advises Ava. Brook Lynn receives an update.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23
Dante cautions Liz. Laura learns a secret. Brook Lynn confides in Michael. Sonny challenges Ava. Chase makes a decision.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
Anna meets with her doctor. Carly makes a stunning confession. Britt extracts a promise. Cullum pulls a fast one. Gio and Emma hit the pool.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25
Josslyn clashes with Cassius. Lulu and Dante make a discovery. Chase receives a warning. Jordan seeks help. Alexis is summoned to the PCPD.

FRIDAY, JUNE 26
Anna takes a huge risk. Britt is in grave danger. Willow is in disbelief. Danny must act fast. Curtis jumps to the wrong conclusion.

Check out the latest General Hospital promo entitled, “Rescue Mission” below.

Now weigh-in: Do you think Anna is still mentally off-balance, or OK, and just pretending to be troubled to get out of France and get back to Port Charles? Will Josslyn finally be rescued, or will Carly and Lucas find themselves locked up with her? And, who will get to Britt and Rocco first? Cullum, or Dante and Lulu? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric

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With the highly-anticipated returns of Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) on this week’s June 24 episode of General Hospital, Steve Burton’s (Jason Morgan) upcoming return on July 13, which also serves as the ABC daytime drama’s 16,000 episode, things are about to fire on all cylinders in the story, as noted today by series star, Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos).

On Father’s Day, the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning actor and mental health activist took to his Instagram and expressed in a video that he has some unbelievable upcoming senes with the aforementioned Burton and Hughes. Add to that Nazneen Contractor (Justine Turner) and Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing), where Benard gave credit where credit is due to the GH writing team, which is led by co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten..

In this video, Benard said, “I just want to get on here and say that I did some work with Steve Burton, Finola Hughes, Rick Hearst, Nazneen Contractor, and they’re all just fantastic. Truly fantastic. But, I want to say the writing was just exceptional. It truly was. It was exceptional. So, thankful for that kind of writing. I know writers don’t get the credit a lot, but I just want to say to the General Hospital writing team, keep rolling!”

GENERAL HOSPITAL PREVIEW

So now the question becomes, with a major tease like that, what is about to go down between Sonny, Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric? Will we finally get to the end of the line for Sidwell (Carlo Rota), as previously teased by the GH co-head writers? Will we learn what happened to Jason and Anna, fully? Will Justine and Sonny becomes closer or stop their liaisons? And what of Ric? Will he be true blue to his brother or double-cross him? There is a lot at stake as we move further into the summer and one that looks like it could be one of the more exciting ones in years!

FINOLA HUGHES CONFIRMED AMAZING SCENES WITH MAURICE BENARD

As a punctuation point to his video, Benard also shared this written message in the post: “I just did some wonderful scenes with Steve Burton, Rick Hearst, Finola Hughes and Nazneen Contractor and  and unbelievable writing, freaking amazing scenes that you will see in the near future on General Hospital.” In fact, Finola Hughes jumped in the post comment thread and responded, “I loved our scenes so much xxx”

Fans will most likely see all the scenes Benard referred to later in July, since GH tapes approximately six weeks ahead of air.

So, are you excited to see what Maurice is talking about? Are you hyped for what’s to come on GH? Any clue on what you think will go down between the main characters on the soap with the returns of Anna Devane and Jason Morgan to the mix? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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A post shared by Maurice Benard (@mauricebenard)

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Announces Upcoming Release of His First Single, ‘If You Need Me’

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In a surprise move, Daytime Emmy winner, Chad Duell (ex-Michael Corinthos, GH) is getting ready to unveil a new chapter of his career in music.

The former GH star, where he played the son of Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) for 15 years, has announced his new single, “If You Need Me” will drop on Friday, June 26. The single is now available for pre-order on Spotify and major music streaming platforms and is distributed by DistroKid.

Taking to his Instagram story over the weekend, to announce the pre-save of his new single, Chad expressed, “I’ll make a full post about what I’ve been up to and my music once it goes live next week, but you can pre-save my first single so it goes straight to your Spotify once it drops next week.”

Photo: CDuellIG

SINCE LEAVING GENERAL HOSPITAL

Previously, since his departure from the ABC soap opera. Chad starred alongside Zach Mendez in the world premiere of of Yum Yum at Annapolis, a new play written by Bruce Reisman. Duell last appeared on General Hospital on the January 21, 2025 episode.

The part was recast with Rory Gibson who debuted as the new Michael in May of 2025 during the Nurses’ Ball episodes and who has remained in the role since that time.

In an interview earlier this year on The Able Show, Duell said on his decision to exit the soap opera, “I was blessed to be part of that (show) for as long as I have, but what happens sometimes is if you’re doing the same thing, especially in a creative field for such a long time, you can get a little burnt out in a way. It can make you a little depressed, so that’s kind of what happened. On top of that, I had other things going on in my life at the time. My father passed away recently and I just needed a reset. So, I stepped away. A lot of times you have to go through some stuff to really step into that next level. I needed to kind of feel uncomfortable.”

So, what type of musical genre will Chad’s new song be? Country? Pop? Rock? Dance/Club? Something else? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below, and if you are eager to hear the new single next week via the comment section 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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