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GH's Laura Wright Interview: The Support of ABC, The Men in Carly's Life, And Phelps New Gig!

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

So when does Carly Corinthos Jacks played by Daytime Emmy winner, Laura Wright not have her plate full on General Hospital?  Now she is canoodling with Johnny Zacchara (Brandon Barash), having some verbal sparring and fireworks with Todd Manning (Roger Howarth), then there is always Sonny (Maurice Benard) who Carly shares children with and always turns to when her love life combusts, and then there is the upcoming return of Jasper Jacks  (Ingo Rademacher), and the unresolved issues of their messed-up marriage!

Whether playing the most emotional storyline one could imagine, or playing romance with an edge, Laura Wright plays each and every scene she is in to the hilt and with such finesse!  On-Air On-Soaps had the opportunity to sit down with Wright at the recent ABC Summer Press Tour TCA Cocktail Party, where the press and the stars mingled and celebrated the upcoming fall television season.

Laura shared her thoughts on; if she feels ABC is now firmly behind their lone network soap after its cancellation rumors, the ushering in of characters from Llanview to Port Charles, and her recent night at the Daytime Emmys.  Later, Laura gives us a bit of sneak peak as to what may be coming next for Carly. Plus, how it is behind-the-scenes at GH under the guidance of new EP Frank Valentini, and her thoughts on the news of her former boss, Jill Farren Phelps and her new gig at The Young and the Restless! And now, our conversation with Laura!

From the looks of everything, from having GH participate in the ABC Summer Press Tour TCA Panel and having the cast at the After-Party,  and other things we hear are in the works, it looks like the network is fully behind General Hospital at this juncture.  Do you feel that as one of the mainstays of the series?

Photo Credit: MF SOAPS Inc

LAURA:  We really feel the support on a big scale.  We have never really had this in this way.  The network at this point wants to make sure that we all know that we are all one big family.  It’s a whole new team and while you may have soaps fans who are very leery, which I understand, or that don’t want to support the new daytime line-up, there is a new team in charge.  And it truly does feel like they are here to support us.  I can’t bring back All My Children and One Life to Live and I wish I could give every single person a hug that misses those characters so much.  I really understand.  But I am super grateful that we are here at the panels.  I have gone to the TCA After-Party many times.  Brian Frons (Ex -Sr. VP. ABC Daytime) would always say, “Hey, wanna come?”  He would invite five of us.  I would bring my daughter, because all the Disney Kids would always be here.  It was always great, but never were we asked to be on a panel.  I can tell you it was made-sure of this time.  Everybody wanted GH to have a panel and the panel went so well.  It has been talked about for days.  No one has ever talked to me here on the red carpet, and this time they were like, “Oh my God. General Hospital! You are feeling the support, how does it feel?”  This is from people who never would have cared to talk to me!

ABC needed to do this badly! General Hospital needed to be counted and promoted like every other existing or new show in their lineup!

LAURA:  If you are going to have us on your line-up, you have to take care of us.  We are now having promos during the daytime line-up. That did not happen before.  They are doing it.  From what I understand we have a huge major marketing photo shoot that we are going to shoot in a couple of months.  It feels different and Frank Valentini feels different.  Having one of the ABC reps say, ‘They are 100% behind General Hospital,” which I read on your website, that is a big deal!  We have never had anyone say that before and mean it! (Laughs)

You have been very vocal that Brian Frons and Jill Farren Phelps (Ex-EP, GH) were part of your success story at GH.  Now Jill is at Y&R! What did you think of that announcement?

Photo Credit: Wenn Photo

LAURA:  How great for Jill, but how great for the cast and the crew of Y&R!  Like I said at my acceptance speech at last year’s Daytime Emmys, when she showed the love, I moved cross country to this show.   I think she is a great executive producer.   Jill is great on so many levels.   She is a great teacher for anyone who is in the producing profession. She allows them to spread their wings and grow.  I think she is fantastic.

Jill will be spearheading the look and feel of Genoa City now after being at the helm of GH for so many years and coming off her Emmy win.   It will be interesting to see what the tone of the new episodes will be like on Y&R, in contrast to how GH is now.

LAURA:   I am just as happy and excited and hopeful for The Young and the Restless as I am for The Bold and the Beautiful and Days of our Lives.  We are all a soap family now. Nobody wants to see anymore shows go.  These are people that I love and adore who have jobs.  I don’t want to see actors lose jobs.  I really love what we do.  I am happy for anyone to do well.  You know, Y&R holds the title.  I would love to bump them down a few notches, and they would like to bump us down a bit too.  But that is all fun competition. Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R) and Christian LeBlanc (Michael, Y&R) are my buds.  I love those guys so much.  I want all the shows to stay on the air!

You had been on Guiding Light and you saw that show got canceled, even though you were not with it at the end of its historic run.   However was there a moment, were you thought last year, GH was going down too? 

LAURA:  The only thing that I could not believe about it was that ABC would be a network without a soap opera.  And we are talking about General Hospital!  I don’t mean to take anything away from the other shows.  And on the same token, I cannot believe that All My Children is gone, and One Life to Live.  I grew up watching the Buchanan cowboys!  But I did not feel it was going to happen to GH.  I felt Guiding Light was going to be canceled, and God bless them for doing everything they could.  I will not judge any producer or anyone on that show.  Until you are in that position, it’s like the President of the United States …  until you walk in that man shoes, or in this case until you walk in Ellen Wheeler’s shoes.   I can tell you I did not work for her when it got close to the end, but when I did work for her she was really amazing and kind to me. Ellen really struggled with me leaving and once the decision was made, she called me late at night.  She said, “Pour yourself a glass of wine. Can we talk as girlfriends?  I am so excited for you!”   So as a boss, she had to play hardball with me and beg me, if I was going to stay with GL or not.  But once the decision was made she was happy for me.  I did not feel that death was looming at GH like I did when I was on Guiding Light.

Photo Credit: Steven Bergman

How was Daytime Emmy night for you this year? We couldn’t have our two-peat in the Outstanding Lead Actress category. 

LAURA:   We couldn’t …  but I just didn’t feel it.  I didn’t feel my material in a way that I was not in love with it.   But it’s OK; I just really, really wanted to be nominated! (Laughs) I wanted to go through the process of that, but it just felt different.

It was different, I agree … because last year I knew you were going to win! (Laughs)

LAURA:  I didn’t know that was going to happen until the minute they called my name.  It’s so funny because no one talks!  No one came up to me who judged my category from GH.  So I thought, “Oh God.  It must be bad.”   But my girlfriend said, “But you didn’t say anything to anybody else!” And I was like, “You know, you’re right!”  You don’t want to blow it and go, “Oh. It’s so yours”, and then it doesn’t happen.   Then when I got to Las Vegas, Terri Conn (Ex-OLTL and ATWT) was like, “I loved your reel.”  Other people also said that to me as well.   So I picked that year exactly the opposite of what I was going to pick, because clearly I was doing a bad job at picking for years before that. (Laughs)

Do you like where Carly is headed now?  I want you to have something fantastic to sink your teeth into, and I hear some big things are coming down the pike now. It has now been announced that Ingo Rademacher is returning as Jax, which means there has to be some very unresolved things that are going to come up!   However, I want it to be about something other than which man she is sleeping with!

LAURA:   Well, Carly doesn’t really sleep with different men, which is interesting.  Frank does not want Carly to be seen in that light, which I love.  He wants it to mean something if it does, and he also wants it to be that if she is going to do it, and it is for the wrong reasons, there will then be repercussions because of the wrong reasons.  I could not be happier.  I just started taping some material and I am in “Carly Heaven”!  A group of people were visiting us at ABC, and they told Frank Valentini, “Carly should fight over Johnny against so and so.”   Frank said, “Carly will never fight for another man.  They are all going to fight for her.  I have three in a week or two that are going to be fighting for her!”  So that is why it’s “Carly Heaven”! (Laughs)  It’s great.  I am super-excited and it’s exactly how it should be as far as I am concerned.  I work very hard.  I love what I do. There is not a bigger cheerleader for the show on the set and off. Give me everything and I will kick-ass, but I do like to share!  (Laughs)

How do you separate Carly from Laura after a long draining emotional day of shooting?

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

LAURA:  It’s hard when I have some very emotional stuff to do.  When I am done and I am heading home, I sometimes say to myself, “I just want to crawl underneath the covers.”

Roger Howarth (Todd) and you together are amazing, hot, fun, delicious, shall I go on?

LAURA:  Roger and I have some fantastic stuff together.  I can not stop laughing with him!  We were starting a scene and they yelled, “… and action!”  And then they go, “We have to start again!”   I have to say to Roger, “Stop making me laugh.”   He is hilarious!  And we do come up with a lot of fun things to do.  All that pinky-swearing, I came up with that, and all the stuff where he was throwing the bottles, he came up with that.  So we ask, “Can we add these things?” And Frank is like, “Go for it!” 

I think Ron Carlivati (GH, head writer) and Frank Valentini sat there plotting (Laughs) when they knew they were coming over to GH.  I believe they thought, “Let’s try pairing Laura with Roger!”  

LAURA:  That is funny! Someone put on Twitter; “Carly Jacks is going to be Carly Manning in about six months.”   I don’t see that happening, I really don’t, because she is still married first of all.  We had scene where we are talking about it and I say, “Yeah, actually I am still married!” And he is like, “What?”  And I am like, “Well, who needs to rush things!” It’s a funny dynamic and it’s so different than the Carly/Johnny relationship.   I have to give props to Roger.  Sometimes we discover things in dress rehearsal that don’t pop up when we tape, and we are still figuring each other out too.  But I love working with him.

So you see, it’s a good thing that some of the OLTL people came over to GH!

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

LAURA:  I am the person who says, bring whoever over! Absolutely!  If the shoe was on the other foot and GH were canceled, how great would it be for the actors and the fans to see their favorites?   It’s easy to pooh-pooh it.  However, from a human aspect it’s great for people to have jobs.  The former OLTL stars are now my co-stars.  They are now on my team.  They are like family now.   I am not going to begrudge anyone for having work.  I understand how people are saying; “Well I don’t see some of my GH people because the OLTL people are working.”  These people are all under contract and pulling in a paycheck and that is good for them and for the show.

The pace of the show is so much faster, and now it’s no longer “The Sonny Show”.  We are seeing more characters mix it up on the canvas at one time!

LAURA:   You see more of everyone without it being too odd.  It’s not the Sonny/Jason/Carly show which is really good.  I get to go home and see my kids more now.  Then as the audience member you want to see Carly and not have her shoved down your throat, or being in every storyline where you are going, “Are you kidding me? Why is she in this?” (Laughs)

So soapers, what do you think about the on-screen chemistry between Todd and Carly?  Would you be rooting for them to get-together?  Or, are you digging Johnny/Carly?  And what about Jax?  Let us know your thoughts on the men in Carly’s life, and what Laura had to say about the support she and the cast feel from ABC for GH!

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no Todd and Carly… she belongs with Jax, first….Johnny also is a good match.

Jax left her and his daughter and Johnny is a murderer. Jax is coming back. I think he is an ass along with his demented brother. Todd belongs with Blair but if the powers that be put him with Carly, I think it would be a good match.

Carly is THE best w/ Jax. She’s like Johnny’s big sister, imo, and he’s just a murdering thug like Sonny. It demeans Carly to be w/ him and excuse his actions after she learned her lesson w/ Sonny and she saw what Sonny’s life caused her kids… She still has a daughter to think about.

I agree!

A million times no to Todd/Carly as a romantic pairing! They’ve had to contrive a lot to make them friends in the first place. A Todd Manning that doesn’t have a ‘Blair or bust’ view of romance with the sordid past that he has is not Todd Manning at all.

Besides, Carly has enough men on her plate it’s sickening, after everything the character has done to the GH canvas (Tony, AJ, Robin, Sonny & Brenda’s marriage, Jax to name a few) and still hasn’t been paid for.

They are very contrived as besties, but Laura and Roger make it work. It need not go any further as they don’t have romantic chemistry at all!

Johnny or Jax makes no difference to me. Only important thing here is that Blair is the love of Todd’s life. Nothing but friendship & laughs between Todd & Carly.

Sounds like Laura understands this as well.

I love the chemistry between Todd and Carly! They are so much fun to watch. I really like the direction that these two are moving in. Slow but with a lot of fun moments. I can see them being a fun couple and I loved reading how they come up with some of the ideas for their scenes.

I think it also cool to hear about a lot of the changes in the direction of the show and how happy the cast is with it. I like how she said that Ron doesn’t want his female leads fighting over men anymore. He wants the guys to fight over the women instead. This is great. Good interview.

I agree! I love the Todd & Carly scenes – I can see why Roger cracks her up — he cracks me up too, always has. Not sure if they’ll make them an in-love couple, but I’ll take what ever scenes of them together I can get. They are super fun to watch together. Carly’s character is very similar to Blair’s so I can see why Todd would like her.

Great interview!! I love Carly and Johnny.. but I don’t feel like they are soul mates. But I understand why he is drawn to her too, she believes in him and he needs that right now…I think he really misses Claudia and the unconditional love she gave him, and he sees/feels a bit of that in Carly… or at least wants that mirrage, since, after all he is hiding so much from her….But I think Carly and Todd seem really right for each other.. although I like Carly and Sonny too… :/ My heart just aches for Johnny and I really hope they will bring him someone… and Todd is perfect for Carly I think 🙂

I would NEVER root for Todd and Carly to get together. Todd is a character who’s not nor should ever be a romantic lead due to his history. Todd is a one woman man and that woman is BLAIR.

I can’t wait til JAX comes for Carly. CarJax is the root-for couple as Jax is the man Carly belongs with.

Todd needs Blair. They are soulmates.

Jax is not going to be pleased to see her with Johnny, not at all. He’s going to have to do something about that.

I really like Laura Wright and Ingo Rademacher together as Carly & Jax. Not to take away from her other pairings on the show…but they just seem to have that extra special chemistry. I really like the Todd/Carly friendship. I’ve really missed the male/female friendships we used to enjoy on GH. I’ve hated bracing myself whenever a GH female is thrown into a GH male’s orbit for the past decade…it’s a one scene chemistry test and in two shakes they’re the next “it” couple that no one really wants but the execs and now we’re stuck with them for the next 5 years. As a longtime fan, it was really, very disheartening. I’m all about couples that don’t necessarily make sense but that have that crucial magnetic pull toward one another that comes across as *magic* on screen. I love what Frank & Ron are doing with the show and I love that they just “get” soaps. I’m so excited that GH is back on track again! Thanks for the interview Michael Fairman & Laura Wright!! xoxo

Al I can say is- Awesome!
The writers the actors the stories the new feel of GH ,all is awesome..

The more positiveness and support the longer GH will survive.
The negativity and the hate some have for GH the sooner it will be canceled..
Support and love for GH will save it ….

i totally agree with your post!
the negativity has got to stop!

I agree also..Everyone should be happy they still have GH to watch…Yes the negativity has to stop…….

count me in! More GH please!

Carly needs to stay with Johnny! Or Jax.. Todd belongs with his one true love and soulmate Blair.. Looking forward to Kassie DePaiva returning to Port Charles and reunite with her man Todd..

What chemistry? If I never had to see another scene with Carly barging in on Todd I would be happy.

Todd Manning should not be pinky swearing with anyone. I don’t think they are funny at’tall

Carly and Todd are HOT!
I’m looking forward to seeing them pair up!
They would be a very interesting and vivid couple!!

i agree i love them togather there great and hot

I like Carly with Todd also….

They don’t have romantic chemistry at all! However, Laura and Roger work very well together! Perfect, but they don’t pack heat. Roger couldn’t be any more asexual if he tried!

Todd does all kinds of silly immature things just like Carly does. I thought the pinky swear was cute and I think they can be a fun romantic pairing in the future. I never thought I’d see the day when TNBer s acted worse than the Jasamers. RME

I love Carly and Todd together, they are exciting and there would be many great stories if they were to hook up..
I am 100% ready for Todd and Carly!!

ME TOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Todd and Carly are mediocre in my opinion. He is only his true self with Blair, and needs to go and fight for her and his family instead of pinky swearing and taking cosmo quizzes with Carly. What are the writers doing with Todd’s character, totally OOC. Please NNNOOOOO Todd and Carly.

What about TOMAS??? Blair is going to marry him………

Great interview Michael! Laura is one of my faves! Love Carly and Jax!!! Keep Carly and Todd friends… he needs her. I am not a fan of the Johnny and Carly relationship. Wish Ingo was going to be around for more than a few shows! Would love to see CarJax again and if Todd is somewhat of a impediment for a few minutes all the better. Love Laura and bring Ingo back on contract!!! Oh and let’s get Todd with Blair eventually!

i like carly and johnny together but ultimatly i think i would like to see her with jacks they have chemistry and sparkle together. As for carly and todd i would want them to remain friends todd belongs with blair and with kassie depaiva returning as blair i hope carly and todd remain only friends. In readiing between the lines of this interview i think laura wright understands that there should be a fun friendship with todd. Blair is the love of todds life he needs blair they are soulmates as are carly and jacks. the only loser i see here is johnny i think with jacks return he will be kicked to the curb by carly. This was a great interview thanks.

If I could ascribe to be anything like…. it’d be Carly. Course, that’s not going to happen… I think she’s the luckiest girl on the block…. market. She’s total woman. she’s bigger than Sonny and Jason… and i have to agree, even Johnny… and I LOVE Johnny’s character… he’s tender and it’s feeling to see him sensitive. He seems a lil’ too young for Carly as well. Todd, I like the instant chemistry… should they be friends… sure, why not try that… he’s a new character for GH.. and no reason to jump the GUN and make Todd and Carly a supercouple too quick. He’s definately MAN enuf. There’s no question. What i really agree with you, on… is that extra “sparkle” that I’ve always thought… for Carly… and that’s Jax… Ingo Rademacher… he, like Todd… that big man who naturally emotes STRONG… capable, and confdent. playful, sexy, CARES… dag.. we could all go on and on. Carly and Jacks belong. Jax… aside from the “MOB”… was what was good about Jax… the MOB> Sonny/Jason/Carly show… add in Sam… and Jax reeled marriage… apart from the mob… and Carly had that.

the thing that bothers me… to this day… is showing, Jason… sharing, ALL his feelings with Sonny… ????? Tell all this to Sam! What? he does the same with Liz at times… it bugs me… for the life of me… that’s why, i’m to the point… just re-unite Sam and her son… and this would be the catalyst for moving on with new pairings. I could accept this.

the other thing… i would not tolerate… ladies, this is just my take… but, I actually feel for Sonny… when they show Kate… telling, Johnny.. or whomever.. she’s not even in love or liking being around Sonny…. DID ??? too many screws lose… it doesn’t look well or bode well… for Sonnys masculinity… A MAN NEEDS TO KNOW HIS WOMAN, STANDS BY HER MAN. PERIOD. ok DID? sometimes, we see Kate/Connie… loving and or not thinking he’s good enuf… Oye! LOL… maybe this is payback for us fans to revel in… the mob is gone.

this is far reaching? what about Johnny and Kate? if the writers decide that carly and johnny arent a twosome? and giving a new triangle… since they’ve already slept together… sonny/kate/Johnny? i know… hard to accept that Johnny “framed” kate with the death of Starrs’s family…. just saying. i do want Johnny to find his way out of the deaths of Starrs family…. that another thing… regardless… Todd… wouldn’t be blackmailed and letting Starr’s family not be avenged? thats tough to swallow.

I did not watch OLTL so all I know is I love Todd and Carly as friends. I could see them in a relationship at some point but no need to rush it. I do not like her with Johnny. I’m looking forward to Jax coming back to stir things up. So happy it seems like ABC is truly behind GH. I reallly, really hope that’s the case!

I liked Laura before, but after this artricle, I LOVE her! This really showed a very kind-spirited woman who’s not afraid to be about the whole of the show rather than just about herself. What kind words for everyone! Kudos for her!

I like the sparring between Carly and Todd as friends. There were scenes between Carly and Blair when Cassie first crossed over, where I thought the characters seemed too much alike for them to bring Blair over full-time. And I wondered if the writers were purposefully drawing out these similarities to pair Carly with Todd later on. I really enjoy the friendship between Todd and Carly, so I’m not sure I’d want to see them together, regardless of how much I think Blair and Carly are alike. Friendships rock, too.

The thing i liked about Carly and Blair… was the sizing up.. if you will… two formidable women… confident in their own shutz pa… etc… that they didn’t have to say a word… worthy opponents… throw in Todd… Johnny… Jax… these men are “like toy”. HOT toys….

what i’m getting at… is Carly needs that adversarial… and or connection, and they don’t even have to be friends… but… a women… the men can bounce off of. That’s why I was instantly smitten with TEA. Carly’s an adult… and sensual has its place… so, it could be either Blair or Tea… for our imagination. Strong-willed Women.

Hell no to Tea. FL eats every scene she is in.

Tea has that courtroom instint. I agree she could eat and spit you out… however, she also has that sultry alluring come hither. what man wouldn’t like her?

HELL NO to any Todd/Carly pairing. I can barely get through their scenes together already. Todd needs his woman – that will ALWAYS be Blair!

I liked Carly and Johnny together, but I’m ready for CarJax. They were always HOT~

Blair is marrying TOMAS……

Todd and Carly? No. Just no. That is one pairing that would make me tune out. Todd’s one true babe and soulmate is Blair Cramer. Anyone who knows Todd’s history knows that.

Blair can’t trust TODD.. For reasons we all know why……

I know exactly why Blair doesn’t trust Todd, but that doesn’t mean I want to see Todd hook-up with Carly. As long as Blair is breathing, Todd won’t give up on her. He said so nine years ago before he was taken from his family and held captive for eight years. In my opinion, a hook-up with Carly is completely OOC for Todd, and I hope it never happens.

What about Tomas ??????????

After their magazine surveys this week I think it’s inevitable that they get together at some point. That will definitely be delayed with Jax returning, but it will happen. There is so much chemistry with them. It’s amazing to watch. Carly and Johnny have seemed to cool down a lot recently. Absolutely can’t say enough good things about the show right now. Love each and every day.

ultimately I love Carly with Jax above all else. Just wanted to state that.

Ditto!

Love Laura’s attitude. She is such a positive person. Love that they are making Carly into a better character. Think the interaction with Todd is new & fresh just like Sam with John. GH is fast fresh & exciting these days. Wish people would quit complaining about story lines & characters and just support & enjoy that the show is still on. I am longtime ABC soap fan 40+ yrs and I just appreciate that 1 is still on & that I get to see a little of OLTL on GH. Keep up good work Ron & Frank and everyone st GH.

Sonny moved on why can’t Carly? johnny and jax are boring. Carly is fun, sexy,beautiful,exciting,feisty,confident,and smart and she needs someone like Todd.

No no no to Todd and Carly!I dont have a problem with Todd becoming involved with a new woman (as long as its written right) but the way they are writting Todd when he is with Carly is terrible.He acts completely OOC, doofus like and moronic (I am still not ove the stupid pinky swearing), and I find their instant friendship forced and contrived.I just dont recognize who RH is supposed to be playing in those scenes.
As a Todd Manning fan,first and foremost and with no couple agenda,I really,really hope they dont go there.I didnt wait 8 years to get Todd back and get this.

What a classy woman! Great interview! By the way, Carly has great chemistry with Todd, as buddies. Personally, I’d like to see them stay that way. I like Carly with Jax and Todd with Blair.

I love Todd and Carly they look so good togather

This show hasn’t been the “Sonny Show” in years. But it’s the “Todd Show” now. I don’t give a crap about Todd. This is GH not OLTL.

I love GH, too-but I’m getting sick and tired of the sense of entitlement that some fans have towards “their GH”. If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that we’re not entitled to anything. It seems like some fans would love to be right, and have GH cancelled, than to fight and keep GH on the air. Just watch the show, already, and quit acting like 3 year olds not not getting their way-or you’ll deserve what you get…

well put troy!

Great interview. The show has never been more exciting and Carly & Todd are a lot of fun to watch together. They look great together too and Roger & Laura have some great chemistry. I don’t see a long lasting love between Carly & Johnny and I’m anxious to find out what happens when Jax returns. Good to hear support from the Network, you can feel the excitement, it shows up everywhere!

OLTLers are so bitter. Get over it. I like Carly/Todd alot but think that a friendship is better than a romance for them. They could be each other’s BFF’s since neither really has a good close friend.

The new GH is so good. Frank and Ron have done an amazing overhaul and brought my fave soap into the 21st century while keeping the history alive. Love Laura – think she is the best Carly ever.

I’m not bitter & OLTL was my favorite soap……Blair wants Tomas…blair had her chance….I did like them together..Too much history between them….And the secrets & lies of Todd when with blair…

Tricia, you are such a sweetheart.

Todd, Johnny, Jax……What’s a girl to do? Lucky Laura for having all these great guys to share scenes with! (you can add Sonny and Jason to this list too!) Gh is must -see TV for me every weekday, and the only show on ABC that I watch anymore.

I am loving Todd and Carly as friends… I am not sure it needs to go romantic. Todd/Blair is singular and epic really. I also like Todd/Tea, but Todd/Blair.. it is just that extra special oomph.

But I do love all Todd/Carly scenes.

YES! Pair her with Todd… Blair is not there for Todd to be with, so it’s a definite YES! Love their chemistry!

What a pity Shawn is not part of this equation! The moment that idiot EP came aboard with his trusty dumb ass sidekick masquerading as a HW, Shawn was tossed to the wolves! Shawn and Carky would have been a great sexy pairing. But the audience has to settle for Carly in the middle of 2 deranged killers and Jax, who means nothing to these idiots. Until Jax becomes a rapist, there will be no place for him with Ron and Frank.

Andrea,
While I liked the potential of Carly/Shawn, the reality was that Sean Blakemore was going to be on a movie shoot soon-so there was very little time to invest in the pairing. While you may not like Frank/Ron. don’t blame them for something beyond their control. More senses of entitlement-smh

There’s no sense of entitlement. None whatsoever! But no one invest time to get zero return. If you want to buy the excuse that Shawn was off filming a movie, be my guest! It was the convenient excuse needed by those two hacks! Try not to be so damn judgmental!

And not liking Frank and Ron is the understatement of the century! I loathe those two idiots, and GH has become unrecognizable under them. It’s a mess!

Great interview but I wish you would have asked her about the backlash to her appearing on The Chew. It’s not like it wasn’t a big story…at least on Twitter.

As always, Michael, you never fail to deliver a great interview! Thank you!

I remember Laura when she was Laura Sisk and working on LOVING. She had great chemistry with Ted King. He is a potential for her too if they bring Alcazar/Lorenzo back. Then again, Laura has chemistry with everyone.

While I love the playful friendship between Todd and Carly, it would be a shame to ruin that with having them jump in the sack. If they do it, I hope it builds slowly. Right now he is kind of like her replacement Jason since she doesn’t share as many friendship scenes with Jason anymore.

But for all of you going on and on about how Todd belongs to Blair, I think that is probably end game so take a chill pill (as my mother likes to say). 🙂 As for Carly’s end game, it will probably be Jax since we know Sonny’s will always be Brenda.

That being said, should the show go on for years as they hope, you can’t just leave the characters pining away for their soulmates – you have to move them on with other love interests until it is time for their story to end.

Also, I had heard that Roger Howarth has very strong opinions about the direction of “Todd” and believes he is supposed to be with Blair in the end, so I am pretty sure that will happen. Lorenzo won’t last nor will any other dalliances that Todd has. And I heard Maurice Benard has the same feelings regarding “Sonny” and “Brenda.”

What about Ted King? ex-gh alcazar/Lorenzo? For DAYS OF OUR LIVES? a potential love interest, for Billie and Hope… ? YES!

do you have a link about roger howarth wanting todd & blair as endgame. i always felt he does root for the pair, but is not nearly as vocal about it as i’d like him to be. of course roger doesn’t do interviews, but still — after 20 years of TnB being his meal ticket…. there should be some line somewhere when he speaks in support of TnB. i haven’t found it.

No I don’t, DomSmythe. I heard it on a rumor/spoiler site. It is hard to weed out the truth from the fantasy sometimes, but I kind of believe it more than not. I think the same goes for Maurice Benard and the Brenda character.

Carly = kiss of death. See Tony, AJ, Alcazar, Johnny,Sonny and soon to be JAX.
Todd Manning doesn’t “pinky swear” OR have friends
NO Todd and Carly. Just NO.

agree X 1000!!

Carly and Johnny have been fun and hot, but everyone knows that they are not long-term. When she finds out the truth about what Johnny has done, she’s outta there!.

Carly and Todd are fantastic together…as FRIENDS! I love their repartee and they really understand each other. But I think Carly realizes it will always be Blair for Todd and they will not get involved romantically…at least I hope not.

Carly and Jax was my favorite pairing and I hope they have some kind of resolution to their relationship when Jax returns. I’d love for him to stay, but who knows. Maybe with CarTini in place, he’ll stick around. It would be nice to see a long-term marriage on this show.!

i see Todd and Carly as a sibling relationship. Anything other than that will ruin their
fun dynamic duo. TRUST ME! Ron and Frank should not even go the romantic route with them.
Starr and Michael are already dating, why ruin what they have going by trying to pair Todd and Carly? Way to ruin a social calender for two kids! To me she is the younger version of viki Lord (OLTL) in PC. The voice of reason and that sibling he needs to keep him in line.
Johnny and Carly are something new and i don’t care who says it, Brandon and Laura have tremendous chemistry and play so well off each other! As much as i like watching Laura and Roger having fun in their scenes,

As for Jax, i’ll akways pick Sonny over him LOL! Sonny & Carly are just it for me no matter who they are with. Johnny is my only saving grace right now coz i love Brandon and Laura together. Even in bad times, Sonny & Carly can never fail to pull you back in.

Now i need Ron and Frank to at least take a Breather with SKate and have Laura and Maurice interract more coz um hello? It’s been over three months since their last scene outside Kelly’s in may.

so all in all Laura is tlling us that the three guys are Todd/Johnny/Jax huh? *winking*

Oh Shauna PUHLEASE! Carly found all those men ruined and damaged from their respective detinations. am so freaking tired of carly being blamed for those men’s choices. she did not put Sason in the mob, they chose it, she just walked into it. and lived in the mob and put up with all the Bullshit and all the rules and the kids had to succumb to all the choices of bodyguards and when she finally walked away she was still called the bad guy.
Alcazar? Are you freaking kidding me? when did Caly ruin Alcazar???? WHEN? He was the one obsessed with her.

AJ? don;t even get me started. his problems started way before Carly. he was the inferior one to Jason and had to work his way up. An heir was his only saving grace and he barely even gave a damn about michael except if hewas threatened with losing ELQ!

Tony was an imbecile PERIOD! It’s not like he was an angel anyways. Am so glad she shot him though for mocking her after taking her kid and when robin testified on his behalf, never mind the twit almost having died, he got off and that made me loathe Robin more than i do now.

Johnny? are you freaking kidding me NOW? How the heck does that even apply. Johnny seems more a better man than he was before. At least she put her foot down to his Sonny shenanigans and that helped alot.

Pleasplease please, let’s nt insult the world ith saying she’s the kiss of death to of all the people on GH, SONNY? sonny is the kiss of death to anyone who buy’s his 100% gaurantee. Look at Kate “Sonny is a coffee importer” i mean really WTF?>>???
Gee i guess when all hell breaks loose it will be Carly’s fault as well *roll eyes*
She tried to watrn Sonny not to walk back into bad emotional situations with Brenda and he decided to go forward. when al hell broke loose, Carly was the one who was blamed as if she put a gun to his head.
the same Sonny who floats over his BFF Jason after telling him to walk away while he still can yet he goes ahead to propose to Kate? How selfish. He always advised Sonny to work things out with Carly and asked her to try and do the same.

you seem to have left out Jason but…………….. yeah he is also his own worst enemy althoug i would not put it past anyone blaming Carly for his surrent mishaps with Sam.

Lawd am so freaking tired of Jax the hypocrite being treated like the Victim. He also makes choices that hurt people. And he always walks away unscarred. That man had no shame telling the court appointed mediator that Michael was as danger to Josslyn.

I am glad that someone is FINALLY calling out Jax for the hypocrite he is. I’m still waiting for the barbed-wire steel cage match between Jax and Sonny. Someone PLEASE make that happen!

Thank you Laura Wright for all that you said! I so appreciate it and we are with you! By the way I never saw it as “the Sonny show”. I love you and Sonny and Jason and Sam. But I am glad to see other people too. The show is really rocking! I love it. And for Carly, it would be awesome to see her between Johnny and Jax. As for Todd, we need Blair back and I will always root for him to be with Blair. Thanks so much!

Heck yes to Carly and Todd!!! This is the best prospective pairing I’ve seen in years.

I love Laura!!! And she and Roger have great chemistry!!! Bring it on.

I’m really loving Carly and Todd.

I’m rooting for Carly and Todd!!! Loving GH.

carly really was best with jax. it was balanced and it was sweet — something not common on soaps. i personally don’t think laura wright has great chemistry with any actor, but if i had to choose it would be brandon barash. so 2nd choice: johnny & carly.

far, far distant 3rd is todd & carly. they are fun and interesting in scenes, but there’s WAY too much of the same thing. they both yell in scenes and they both come at people with full force. it’s funny, but not sexy and subtle and epic.

todd & blair are epic.

LOVED her on GL and loving her as a fairly new GH viewer. Carly and Todd have great chemistry but I still have my hope that they will award Kassie DePaiva teh contract she deserves.

I need a break from the T&B roller coaster, and I want to see Todd interact with new people and have new experiences. I think their pairing would be something different for both of them. For Todd because Carly is a little feistier than Blair, and more confident in her appeal than Tea… translation: don’t play games! It would be different for Carly, because Todd would treat her like a queen without judging her; Jax was good to her, but he did judge her for her ties to Sonny and Jason. I’m all for T&B and CarJax end game, but I say “

^^^I got cut off. I say bring on Tarly in the meantime.

General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Learns Britt Died and Tells Anna He Has Been Working For Cates Since November 2021

On the Tuesday, March 26th of General Hospital, Anna (Finola Hughes) and the viewers learn about where Jason (Steve Burton) has been for over two and half years. However, Jason gets some news of his own.

Anna is visiting Jason at the PCPD interrogation room. She asks him if he shot Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), which he flatly denies. Anna believes him, but she tells Jason it doesn’t matter, because video footage shows him on the roof at the time of the shooting

When talk turns to Jason not willing to speak without his lawyer present, Anna can’t grasp why Jason would instead spend an hour alone talking with John Cates (Adam J. Harrington).

Photo: ABC

It is then that Anna brings up that John went by “Jagger” and that the two of them knew each other in high school. Jason doesn’t recall much of his time in high school following his brain injury, but then he gets furious realizing John knew about “Jason’s” past. That is when Jason slams the table and tells Anna, “I’ve been working for John Cates since November 2021.”

Next, Jason explains further that he has been working as an informant for the FBI. Anna wants to know how this came about and he tells her that after the tunnel collapsed, and he couldn’t make it to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud)… all of a sudden he sees Anna’s face drop.  Anna is the first person to tell him that Britt died and was murdered. She tells Jason the killer is in custody, but he continues to be shocked, overwhelmed with tears welling up in his eyes. Realizing he has to pivot to save his life, Jason continues telling Anna how he wound up working with John.

Jason explains that after the tunnel collapse in Greece, FBI agents grabbed him and placed him under arrest and took him to Quantico where he met John. At Quantico, John played a recording of RICO violations and offered Jason a deal if he agreed to be an informant against Pikeman, the illegal arms dealer.

Anna hears from Jason that he thinks Pikeman is selling illegal arms to anyone flagged by the NSA but has ties to the WSB which they needed a civilian to infiltrate their organization as a military soldier, a mercenary.

Jason tells Anna he was a part of the team brought into eliminate Sonny (Maurice Benard). Every time an attempt was made on Sonny’s life over the last two years, a different team was sent to do the job. Anna gets furious when she learns that John told Jason his job was to kill Sonny and she was with John at the warehouse that night. Jason ensured the sniper missed Sonny and left the rifle behind. However, they were supposed to meet an extraction team. Before he was shot, Dante saw it was Jason on the roof and when he turned around with his hands over his head, Dante was shot by the other guy. Jason says if Dante dies, he’ll be charged with capital murder and then will be useless to the FBI.

Photo: ABC

Meanwhile, John visits Bobbie’s and runs into Carly (Laura Wright). She learns Jason is in custody and is going to head to the PCPD. Before she does, Carly has some words with Cates when she learns not only does John have a vendetta against Sonny, but Jason too.  Carly tells John he should recuse himself from the case.

So, what did you think about the moment when Jason learned Britt died? What do you think of Jason’s return storyline thus far and what we learned about Jagger/Jason and more? Comment below. But first, check out a moment from today’s GH with Jason and Anna.

 

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