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GH’s Lisa LoCicero Delivers The ‘Power Performance of the Week’

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

This week on General Hospital the truth came out on all fronts; as Olivia (Lisa LoCicero) put two and two together and realized Ned (Wally Kurth) cheated on her with Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn).  Meanwhile, Alexis figured out Tracy (Jane Elliot) framed her to make it look like she passed out drunk behind the wheel.

Throughout, there were great performances from Wally Kurth, Jane Elliot and Nancy Lee Grahn, but it was soap vet, Lisa LoCicero, who for us was given the material and stole the show with her heartbreaking performances as a woman scorned.

LoCicero plays Olivia Falconeri from Bensonhurst, so believably, that viewers understand her every woman, who married into the well-to-do Quatermaines, and who has a much higher moral and ethical standard then the Q’s.

In key scenes at the Quartermaine mansion, Olivia confronts Ned about the night he never came home, and she wants the truth.  She also rightly accuses Tracy on being part of the cover-up.  A caught Ned confesses.  He tells Olivia he was in a terrible place, and jumped to the wrong conclusion about her and Robert (Tristan Rogers), and began drinking, which Sam (Kelly Monaco) overhears and can’t believe he was drinking with an alcoholic. Olivia says that Ned is incapable of being trustworthy after spending his entire life amongst a house full of liars and cheats.  Meanwhile, Alexis shows up in the middle of all this to confront Tracy on her machinations setting the stage for a showdown between Olivia and Alexis.

When Alexis and Olivia talk in private, the former legal eagle apologizes to her friend for sleeping with her husband; saying they both knew it was wrong right after it happened, but Olivia quickly points out that they didn’t seem to stop themselves or think it was wrong, while he was unbuttoning his pants or she was taking off her blouse!

Olivia stands her ground through her devastation and is appalled that Alexis calls her a “friend” and how she is only showing remorse because she has been caught!

Courtesy/ABC

When Ned tries to talk to Olivia and professes how much he loves her and how sorry he is for having sex in a drunken stupor with Alexis, Olivia is gut-punched.  Ned continually says he thought Olivia and Robert hooked-up thanks to Brook Lynn deleting messages meant for Ned.  The fact that he would assume the worst of her, only made things worse for Ned, and then to go as far as having revenge sex with Alexis, made Olivia feel her husband had sunk to new lows.

It is then Olivia has a moment of reckoning; wondering what is her role in the Quartermaine family anyway, and how she doesn’t really fit in.  Ned promises to wait for her and begs her not to give up on them.  When he leaves, Liv breaks down … her marriage in pieces and betrayed by all those she thought she could trust.

Each of the aforementioned moments were played to perfection by LoCicero, leaving the audience wondering just what will Olivia do next and how will she bounce back from this betrayal.  That is why Michael Fairman TV names Lisa our pick for The Power Performance of the Week.  And, if it’s one thing we know about Olivia, she is a scrappy fighter, a survivor, and in the capable hands of this actress, we will be rooting for her all along the way.

So, what did you think of the performance of Lisa LoCicero?  Do you hope Olivia and Ned work things out and they stay together, or do you want to see if she and Robert Scorpio might have a new romance? Comment below.

 

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Lisa LoCicero brought the Bensonhurst out of Olivia, and I am completely here for it! It was about time, too!

I have a always thought this actress was underrated just as Elizabeth Hearst I did not see itch’s I am not watching much tv theses days but good wishes to her!

Geeze sorry not watching much tv these days ! Congrats

Lisa and Wally need to be on contract. I prefer Ned & Olivia on my screen much more than many other characters!

Wally’s not likely to be on contract since he’s still appearing regularly on Days. This was less complicated in the pre-COVID time, when Days had a ridiculous taping schedule, which was up to 9 months ahead of air dates before everybody had to stop production for a while. Upside of that being that Days never ran out of original episodes, but now they’re back on the same timetable as everybody else.

Wally seems happy with working on both shows, so I’m not going to ask him to choose between Ned & Justin.

I agree!!!!

These days a contract means less than it used to. What matters is if you are driving story. Ned and Olivia have been front burner since the show returned in August. Emmy-wise, Wally could almost submit himself for lead as Ned and supporting as Justin.

Jon Lindstrom (recurring) rightfully submitted himself as lead for 2018 and 2019 as Ryan was the main storyline.

James Patrick Stuart has never been on contract, yet Valentin does not feel like a recurring character.

keep Ned & oliva together to love them two for good

I loved loved her performance! I was cheated on back in the day and her words and thoughts were just like mine!!! Absolutely fabulous performance! Love her

First I thought Lisa/ Olivia was great. But coming from the kind of adulteress family like the Q’s, and he adding to this before with Monica, there is a little room for Ned to wonder about the Olivia/Robert trip. As far as Olivia and Robert’s casino/search for Holly, it was a throwback to some of the most fun I’ve seen on GH for years. But Robert is too much of a travelling man for Olivia. I guess I would rather see her give Ned another chance. Do GH and B&B compare notes when timing their storylines? Recently the altzimer (sp?) story, alcohol addiction with Alexis and Steffy, and now stupid Liam and Ned.

Rose
I agree with everything you said. Also, isn’t this the second recent Power Performance of The Week for Lisa/Olivia? I just love this gal. She makes those Q’s look so uptight and stuffy, it’s even rubbing off on Michael. You hardly ever see him smile anymore. I have read a few people saying that Olivia is loud , obnoxious, etc., but compared to Carly for example, I’ll take her any day. I say no to her and Robert. I like them much better as loving friends, not lovers.

Wow! You are so right, Violet. Olivia is a real powerhouse and Lisa’s performance was truly original and heartbreaking. It reminded me of the movie SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME when Lorraine Bracco found hubby Tom Berenger cheating and punched his lights out. And you’re right about Michael, too. His personality has vanished.

Soaphound
Thanks so much but this is getting tiresome, ha! Again today, Lisa/Olivia gave it her all. Another gut wrenching performance! I can’t wait until the next one, when she lets Alexis feel her wrath. Just hope she remembers that Ned was part of that disaster, he wasn’t forced. Gee, Robert is looking better and better.

Robert is way to old for her. That’s ridiculous.

While LiLo is a big fan of Tristan Rogers, I agree that pairing them together might be a bit off.

Olivia’s first onscreen GH romance was with Johnny (about a decade younger). After she briefly reconnected with Sonny. Now she’s settled with Ned, who despite being about a dozen years older, the relationship works since Wally and LiLo have a wide range.

Then again, anything’s possible when the actor playing your son is only 9 years younger than you.

The real spark for Robert right now seems to be Jackie. And, eventually Holly’s return.

Olivia & Ned should not give up on their marriage. Robert & Holly always & forever!

Steve
I also liked her a few years ago with Scott Reeves. I thought they were a cute couple. Too bad they hauled him off to prison, while keeping so many other real murderers on the show forever.

Robert Scorpio is not too old for anyone because…..he’s Robert Scorpio!

You tell them HARRY!!! I consider that comment ageist……
And truly Bensonhurst OVER ACTS…She’d be far more effective if she took it down a notch.

Keep Ned and Olivia together.

I hope Olivia will forgive him and they will rebuild their marriage. She is over looking the fact she left with Robert and he never saw her calls because if brooklyn. They have all made mistakes. Poor Leo is in the middle of the crap.

Keep them together.

When Olivia when Into details about all the moments they could have stopped..like when the belt buckle was being undone..it was epic..what an amazing actress!

Wouldn’t it be something if sonny comes back and becomes part of Olivia life again.

That was water under the bridge, no pun intended. They were just teenagers when she got pregnant and had Dante, that Sonny knew nothing about. I do like them together though.

Agree, Great performance!

She hit it out of the park!!!

That was truly her best performance ever. She played the wronged wife to the max!!! Award winning performance.

When did Olivia and Alexis become friends? Olivia went out of her way to be there and to prove Alexis’ innocence. I know I was done for storyline purposes, but I ain’t buying it! Alexis is always so damn snooty, so this didn’t ring true for me.

I, too, thought it was one of the best performances I’ve seen in a very long time.

No,No,No Olivia has too much class to go backward , that’s why she left Sonny. Leave Ned standing right where he is looking dumb. Olivia get your child move out and don’t look back. Listen anybody can do good when you are in love bliss but when you do good when all hell breaks out defines who you are as a person. I would let him see me come up smelling and looking better than ever. His lost not your baby.
By the way your performance was perfect, simply perfect.

She totally rocked it!

Congratulations well deserved!! Once again kudos to the writing team giving their actors great writing & dialogue!!

Angela
Yes, their writing was good, but we have to praise the director too in getting the best from Lisa which she gave. Brava, Brava

Those scenes were pure SOAP OPERA!! THE juxtaposition of Ned and Olivia in the living room with Alexis and Tracy in the foyer were what soaps are all about!!! Forget back from the dead, doppelgangers, mob shootouts, and all those things that execs seem to think viewers want to see! This was stunning, meaningful human drama centered on characters we love and care about!! I have waited for a LONG time for this show…or ANY SHOW to tell this type of story!! Bravo!!!

Bensonhurst would be great with Robert….they click…Those individuals who say Scorpio is tooooo old for Olivia are ageist. Ned’s behavior and response to his marriage vows is sad.. He should have known instinctively that Olivia wouldn’t cheat…she’s incredibly loyal all the way around…. I sincerely hope she gets even with both her husband & Alexis who has gotten on my last ever loving nerve.

I just caught up with these shows from when the reveal happened. Nothing like a good soap reveal that has been months in the making, when it’s done well, and this was done very well. Lisa LoCicero was fantastic, Wally Kurth, Jane Elliot, Nancy Lee Grahn, everyone was perfect. These scenes were so well written, and just another shining example of why GH has the most talented and deepest cast on daytime. Bravo!

General Hospital

Chris McKenna Reportedly Out as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jack Brennan

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Chris McKenna

As ABC’s General Hospital continues to make casting additions in front of the camera; a new report indicates that Chris McKenna is the next contract player to be written out of the show as his storyline as Port Charles WSB bureau chief, Jack Brennan, is coming to end this fall.

According to sources close to the situation, who informed Soap Opera Network, McKenna will exit the long-running soap opera when Jack is killed-off the canvas. The outlet shares, Brennan’s death will come about as the soap, “leans heavily into storylines surrounding the World Security Bureau (WSB).”

McKenna, who previously appeared on the soaps when he was 12 as a young Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live from 1990-1993, then as an adult as Mark Harding on The Young and the Restless from 2014-2015, and next on The Bold and the Beautiful in the short term role of Dr. Hayden,  began his run as GH’s Brennan back in February of 2025, replacing Charles Mesure in the role.

Chris McKenna

Photo: ABC

JACK’S ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE

In fact, McKenna won the part over Daniel Goddard and Daniel Cosgrove, who eventually were cast in other roles on General Hospital, that of Henry Dalton and Ezra Boyle, respectively. Chris informed his fans via X,  back in August of 2025, that he was put on contract at the daytime drama and thanked them for helping make it happen.

Chris told Michael Fairman TV how it was to step into the role previously played by Charles Mesure, “I knew the challenge it was going to be and I had a like 0nly five days to get my head around it, so I was ready for it. Sure, it was challenging, but I was up for it. I was a recast before on The Young and the Restless.”

On-screen, Jack became romantically involved with Carly Spencer (Laura Wright), but that went bust when Carly learned Jack was not up front with her and had secretly enlisted her daughter, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) to join the WSB.  Over months, Carly plotted to get revenge on Jack, and suddenly, Valentin Casssadine (James Patrick Stuart), Jack’s mortal enemy, came into the picture and he had fallen for Carly and she for him.

Now, Jack has started up a relationship with Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) and has found himself in situations stooping to lows to help Nina and her criminal daughter, Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) out of jams, especially where Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) is concerned.

Erika Slezak, Chris McKenna

Photo: ABC

REUNITING WITH ERIKA SLEZAK

Last fall, Chris got a thrill of a lifetime when his OG on-screen mother from One Life to Live, the iconic Erika Slezak (ex-Viki) took on a guest role on General Hospital as Ronnie Bard, the secret sister of Monica Quartermaine (the late Leslie Charleson). While the two did not have a storyline together, Chris did share some tender moments reconnecting with Erika on the set,

McKenna has a laundry list of primetime credits including: State of Affairs, Good Trouble, Lucifer and Castle, where in an ironic twist he appeared alongside another Joey Buchanan none other than Nathan Fillion.

So, how do you feel if the report holds true and GH is killing off Brennan and Chris McKenna would exit the show? How do you think Brennan will die on GH? Will he be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and someone will take him out? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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Ryan Paevey Open to Return to ‘General Hospital’ to ‘Stir the Pot if Cassius Could be a Good Agent of Chaos’

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Ryan Paevey

On General Hospital, Ryan Paevey wrapped his comeback to General Hospital on the July 6 episode, when it was revealed that Cassius Faison was not dead, but being held by the WSB thanks to Z (John Oliver).

It was Z who gave Cassius an ultimatum: a one-way ticket to prison or a death sentence, or to become an agent himself! We never got the answer on-screen, but suffice to say, Cassius is still out there somewhere, but we can assume he is working for the WSB.

GH fans were thrilled to see Paevey back on the ABC daytime drama series where he initially played the very popular Detective Nathan West from 2013-2018. It had been over 7 years until Ryan made a return to his former soap stomping grounds when on-screen in September of 2025, he arrived in Port Charles as a very much alive Nathan, who was actually Cassius impersonating his late twin brother.

Photo: ABC

Over this past weekend, Paevey appeared at the annual GH Fan Club Weekend in Burbank, California, where according to a report from Soap Central who was on the scene; when a fan asked Ryan if he would make another visit to the soap opera in the future, he explained, “That’s a ‘Frank Chat,’ referencing a discussion would need to be had with Frank Valentini, GH’s executive producer.

A CASSIUS FAISON SIGHTING ANYTIME SOON?

Ryan also added, “I’m a bit of a drifter. So, I’m not sure that I want to go back and sign forever. Doing so took a lot of things out of my life, stuff that is valuable to me.” Paevey also explained while he was away from GH he was caretaker to his parents and working on his Fortunate Wanderer jewelry business and more.

However, Paevey concluded his thoughts on the matter with, “But, yeah, I would come back and stir the pot if Cassius could be a good agent of chaos… a conversation might be had with Frank about exactly what ‘not dead’ means.”

All this to say, would you like to see Ryan make another comeback to General Hospital? This time as WSB agent Cassius Faison? Do you think he would help out his sister, Britt and his mutter, and even Josslyn, if they got into serious future trouble? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Christian Howard Makes One Final Return as Ethan Lovett, as Hudson Learns Damning Intel

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The Tuesday, August 4 episode of General Hospital brought with it another appearance by Christian Howard in the role of Ethan Lovett. As previously reported, Howard was brought into wrap up Ethan’s storyline as Nathan Dean’s four-month run with the show came to its conclusion.

Now, it has been 100% officially confirmed that today was the last episode of Howard as the recast Ethan. In story, Ethan was now seen in Oslo, Norway after hightailing it out of Port Charles after Hudson (Troy Lennon Appel) had showed up looking for him at the Metro Court pool in Port Charles.

On the July 31st episode, Ethan made a beeline to Lulu’s (Alexa Havins) grabbed his bags and headed out of the country without saying goodbye to Ava (Maura West), who he just had spent the night with.

Christian Howard

Courtesy/ABC

However, on Tuesday’s GH, it was also the day where Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) finalized baby Phoebe’s adoption for Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard). This was juxtaposed with the action in Oslo where Hudson showed up at Ethan’s hotel room door. He demanded immediate answers about Delilah and the baby. Ethan told him that both Delilah and the baby she carried died.

ETHAN’S LIES CATCH UP TO HIM

Hudson is livid. The two get into multiple altercations with Hudson getting the upper hand claiming that Ethan is a thief, who had “stolen from the wrong man.” At that point, Hudson delivered a beatdown on Ethan. Next, he threatened Ethan that he will go after his entire family if he finds out he was lying to him.

Back in Port Charles at the Metro Court pool, Ava is lamenting about Ethan’s sudden disappearance to Trina (Tabyana Ali). Later alone, she gets a call from Ethan telling her to never reveal that he’s not Phoebe’s biological father. Cut to: Hudson out in the hotel hallway listening in on the call through a bug he planted in Ethan’s hotel room. Hudson then takes off. The final moment of Ethan’s is him sprawled out bloody on top of the hotel bed.

A GH rep told Soap Opera Digest that “the door is open for Ethan to return to Port Charles” in the future. And as previously reported by TV Insider, when Nathan Dean signed on for his four month return, it was due in part to that he and his wife announced back in March they were expecting a baby.

So, now that Christian Howard has officially exited the series marking the end of the story for now of Ethan Lovett, what are your thoughts? Obviously, we will look for Hudson to return to Port Charles and infiltrate the Quartermaines lives especially Brook Lynn and Chase to get close to Phoebe, and then there is Ava, who may be in terrible danger, or is she? Share your thoughts and theories.

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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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