General Hospital
GH's Michelle Stafford Dishes On Nina & Valentin, Playing Cray Cray & The Challenges Of Creating A Complex Character!
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
On General Hospital, Nina Clay (Michelle Stafford) in a “quickie” maneuver married Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart)! Was it for love, or was it so she could desperately become the mother to his young daughter, Charlotte (Scarlett Fernandez)? Since Daytime Emmy winner Michelle Stafford came to the ABC daytime drama series, Nina has longed to have a child, by any means possible, following 20 years in a coma! That includes; inducing labor to her then preggers enemy, Ava Jerome (Maura West), delivering her baby, and then kidnapping the child. After Nina finally came to somewhat of her senses, it seemed she had put her harrowing past behind her, but has she really?
Now Nina is willing to back-up her nefarious new husband, and the two are ready to fight by any means possible to keep Charlotte’s bio-mom, Lulu Spencer Falconeri (Emme Rylan), from being granted sole custody of the child. Since her time on GH, viewers have seen the evolution of Nina Clay Cassadine. She became a successful and savvy fashion editor-in-chief of once fledgling Crimson Magazine, and has gone toe to toe with its mob boss owner, Julian Jerome (William deVry). She has shown she is capable of love, and understanding of what is right and what is wrong, and has also done some humane things for those in Port Charles. But which version of Nina will ultimately play-out in the months to come? That is the question only the writers may have the answers to.
On-Air On-Soaps caught up with Michelle Stafford at the recent 2017 ABC TCA All-Star Cocktail Reception, where this talented actress shared her thoughts on: working alongside James Patrick Stuart, how she sees the trajectory of her on-screen persona to the audience, if coming over and creating a new role on another soap (after her wildly successful run on Y&R) has been filled with unexpected challenges, and much more. Here’s what the “Real Stafford” had to say about her current adventures on-screen, and ventures off-screen.
How has it been working with James Patrick Stuart (Valentin Cassadine) as your newest leading man on GH?
Courtesy/ABC
MICHELLE: James is great! I did not know his work from before. I believe he was on All My Children before I was on Y&R. I cannot even tell you how much I love him. He is a spectacular partner. He is very respectful of me. We laugh and we have fun, because you have to have fun, and he is really good actor. The thing about him is … I don’t notice somebody’s work when I am working with them. I am just doing the scene, but I see the scene back and he is really interesting, I notice him doing stuff in the scenes I didn’t know was there. I think he is super sexy. James is a smart actor. He and I both get it. They (Valentin and Nina) have to be in love, and it has to be deep, or it won’t work. When I have heels on I think James and I are the same height! (Laughs) I am a big woman. I walked into hair and make-up the other day and there was Becky Herbst (Elizabeth), Kelly Monaco (Sam), and Rebecca Budig (Hayden), and I am like, “Hello, little children!” They are itty bitty and good for them! (Laughs)
Do you think Valentin and Nina have legs as a romantic pairing?
MICHELLE: We will see. I think it’s up to the writers, and if it’s a story that the audience wants. I can’t tell you how happy I am that Finola Hughes (Anna) is joining the story with us. The three of us together I feel is magical. Neither Finola, or I are playing “I want to be the one that wins in the scenes.” We don’t have that going on. I know since social media is so prevalent in what we do now, that people get too attached to what the audience thinks, or may think. You have to be willing to be fired and play the story. For an artist, it’s such a mistake to listen to a group of people, because sometimes it’s what they feel that day. They might feel differently three days later.
Nina is so attached to Charlotte; a child that is not hers. Are you at all concerned that Nina will be portrayed as one again “cray cray” this time in marrying Valentin, and with her deep-rooted desire in wanting to be a mom?
Courtesy/ABC
MICHELLE: I truly don’t care, as long as it’s good story, and as long as it’s fun. The one thing I did say is that Nina either has to be crazy, or she has to be sane, but you guys can’t one day have her do something and you play the crazy music, and then next week she isn’t. I only say that because as a storyteller your audience gets confused. They may be thinking: “Should I like her, or shouldn’t I like her?” So that is my only concern. I don’t care whatever way it goes, but you can’t waffle.
What did you think of her marrying Valentin on the spur of the moment, which would ultimately be a game-changer as to who has custody of Charlotte … Lulu (Emme Rylan), or Valentin?
MICHELLE: In any story you play you have to be in love with the person. Nina wants a family. The thing that works for me as an actress is she lost her entire life. Wouldn’t you want a family? A baby? She has had her entire life taken away from her. It’s the impetus for everything she does. It’s very simple with her. She got everything taken away, and she is grasping to have love really at the end of the day. It still works for me as an actress.
So is this marriage to Valentin a sham? It appears to the audience quite often that Nina’s life goal is to have a kid she can raise and call her own.
MICHELLE: She wants a family, and I think if she is playing she just wants the kid that is a bit transparent and thin, always playing her obsessed with kids. I think she just desires love so much.
Courtesy/ABC
Nina is beginning to look like the villainess, especially around Charlotte’s bio-mom Lulu, while inserting herself into the little girl’s life. Do you see Nina as being the bad one here?
MICHELLE: I don’t know, but Lulu is not being very nice. But Nina is supporting her husband. I think that is very real to her, and Lulu hasn’t even raised this girl. I like that in the beginning they were all cool with joint custody, but Lulu wants full custody. She is fighting the fight, because she is thinking: “Why are you doing this, Lulu? You had joint custody with Valentin, now you want everything. So, screw you! You want everything, and you insult me, so screw you!” (Laughs) It’s kind of a knee-jerk reaction that people do have in real life.
Has this been a challenge for you as an actress, with the different GH head writers interpretation of the character of Nina?
Courtesy/ABC
MICHELLE: It’s a challenge. To be honest, I think I am underestimated going on a show and creating a new character. It wasn’t tough on Y&R when I started there, but it was 1995. It was a very different time. It was Bill Bell (Co-creator, Y&R) writing the character, and this is no disrespect to Jean Passanante and Shelly Altman (GH head writers), but it was a different. Bill was writing the show and the network was not involved, and it was 100% his vision for a character. My acting and writing relationship with Bill Bell was magical. I was too young to know that doesn’t always happen in Hollywood. Here we are in 2017, and it’s just very different. So that being said, there have been obstacles, but at the same time I was willing to have them. I have enjoyed the obstacles and have been creating something new. It’s very fun, but I believe you have to embrace it, but I will be honest. Having the GH head writer change, that was a bit jarring, because it was so different. They really wanted to change up the character, but then you also have to be true to who you were, because otherwise it makes no sense. The audience is smart. They are like: “Hey, you are trying to get us to like her!” And as an audience member, I would not like that, either.
Several months back, GH played the harrowing history between Ava (Maura West) and Nina, when Nina was meeting with a young pregnant girl in the park, and Ava came upon her and shouted to the hills that Nina is a baby-snatcher, and more! What did you think of this scene, where they finally reminded viewers of the heinous act perpetrated on Ava by Nina; inducing her labor and then stealing her newborn baby girl, Avery?
Courtesy./ABC
MICHELLE: The thing is Nina was deeply disturbed, and that’s true. She was put in a coma, and basically killed for 20 years of her life by her mom. I think that would be disturbing. . But now she is growing up. I would actually like, and I don’t know where the story is going, but for Nina to say to Lulu, “I want you to have this child.”
What’s the latest with your skin care line, Skin Nation? You are fast becoming quite the entrepreneur!
MICHELLE: We were just chosen by Wellness Magazine as a company to watch for in 2017. This has been quite an undertaking, and we have new people on the team. My message for Skin Nation is bigger than the actual product. The message is to educate people about organics and natural products on their skin, and toxins that are in everything, and about taking care of your body. When I got emails from women of color saying. “Can I use it too?” And Asian women, I would say back, “Why couldn’t you? It’s about bringing women together, and taking care of themselves. And when we become really solvent, I would like to get involved with women’s charities. So I really like this, and it’s really fun.
Courtesy/RStaffordTwitter
And as for your very fun and popular vodcast Single Mom A Go Go, I sometimes see comments that people would prefer you not swear on your show. How do you feel about that feedback? What is the outlook for the show, overall?
MICHELLE: I am going to do some changes there, too. This year, I am not going to swear. You’re either in the mom advertiser bracket, or you’re not. So I have to pick a side. I think I might make this show eventually an audio podcast. The episode that I recently posted with Vinessa Antoine (Jordan, GH) was actually the way the show should be. I have Greg Vaughan (Eric, DAYS), and Finola Hughes (Anna, GH) on new episodes of Single Mom A Go Go, and I am going to announce I am not going to swear anymore!
So, what are your thoughts on the character of Nina Clay Cassadine? Do you think Valentin and Nina’s relationship will flourish, or combust? Will the crazy Nina of the past emerge? Do you want the character to continue to be more balanced? What are your thoughts on Michelle’s outside projects: Skin Nation and Single Mom A Go Go? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali on a Potential Kai/Trina/Gio/Emma Quadrangle, ‘I Don’t Think That’s Impossible, But That Would Be Messy’
On recent episodes of General Hospital, music executive Simon Craft (Grady Eldridge) has been pushing and demanding that Trina (Tabyana Ali) and Gio (Giovanni Mazza) play up a faux relationship when they are onstage, or in front of the camera, to add to their allure as new recording artists to his label.
Simon knows full well that Gio is dating Emma (Braedyn Bruner), and Trina is with Kai (Jens Austin Astrup). It was apparent from the start, that Kai seemed a bit more comfortable with the “arrangement” understanding this was for business, and not pleasure, while Emma initially didn’t like the idea.
Now with Trina’s stalker story in full gear, and as fans eventually find out who is completely obsessed with the budding young singer, while initially seeming to be Simon that would seem to be too easy of a choice. But is GH toying with the idea that somehow Gio and Trina get stuck in a situation and one thing leads to another and they develop feelings one another, too?
Photo: ABC
SIMON’S MANUEVERS
In addition, after Curtis (Donnell Turner) and Sidwell’s (Carlo Rota) beatdown at Pentonville, where everyone is accusing Sonny (Maurice Benard) of ordering the deed, will this find Gio and Trina on the same side, believing it’s Sonny, or will Gio end up sticking by his grandfather when by week’s end he was also questioning if he was telling the truth?
During a new conversation on the Michael Fairman Channel, Tabyana Ali shared her thoughts that if Gio and Trina were pushed closer together, what that would mean for their relationships with Emma and Kai, respectively.
Photo: ABC
MUSICAL CHAIRS?
Pondering the soap staple, Tabyana exclaimed, “Oh, my goodness. Who knows? I mean, quite honestly, I don’t think it’s it’s impossible, but, oh, wow! That would be messy!” Ali added that its something that could be quite intriguing to play. “There’s a part of me that wants it to happen just to see, how does it play out? Right? Then, there’s another part of me that’s like, “You can’t do that to Emma and Kai.” That’s so wrong,” believed Ali.
However, Tabyana did admit a complicated love story wasn’t far from her mind. “Originally, I wanted something like a quadrangle. I really wanted that to happen. And if this is a moment where it could happen, I think that would be fun too.”
When asked to tease what’s coming up for Trina in the next several weeks, she offered up three words. Things for her will “(get) Suspicious, (be ) spontaneous, (and) very dangerous.”
So, do you think the GH writing team is teeing up a situation where Trina and Gio become more than friends and musical artists together? Would you be down for it, or be against it? do you like Emma with Gio and Kai with Trina? Share your thoughts via the comment section, nd in case you missed it, check our chat with Tabyana below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair
On the Thursday, October 1 episode of General Hospital, both Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) had some things to say and what they had to say didn’t go over well with whom they were talking to!
Sonny had a confrontation with his son, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), while Michael leveled with Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) over Chase (Josh Swickard).
GH is setting up a scenario where everyone is going to make it look like Sonny was responsible for having Sidwell (Carlo Rota) beat up in Pentonville; while viewers already know Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) were behind it.
Courtesy/ABC
A VISIT WITH DAD
Now, Dante comes to Sonny’s house. He wants to know straight up from his dad if he ordered the attack at Pentonville. Sonny flatly denies any culpability or responsibility, but Dante refuses to believe him.
Dante informs Sonny he has video footage of Sully and Vito at the prison. Sonny explains to Dante he doesn’t know why Sully beat up both Curtis and Dante. Things escalated when Sonny was deeply hurt that Dante refused to believe him. Dante says he was disappointed that his father didn’t respect him enough to be truthful with him!
Sonny asks Dante to consider that he was being set up. He says all he did was to tell Vito to instruct Sully to keep a watchful eye on Sidwell, not to harm him. No matter what Sonny said, Dante continued hammering him with how he knew deep down, even though he said he left the mob, he had to finish off Sidwell for himself.
Next, Sonny explains everything he has ever done was to provide for and to protect his family. Dante fired back that he doesn’t want to deal anymore with Sonny’s half-baked truths. As the two men argue, Gio (Giovanni Mazza) shows up at Sonny’s front door and overhears Sonny losing his temper and shouting at Dante, “Get out of my house! I don’t want a son like you!” The scenes featured an excellent performance by Maurice Benard.
Courtesy/ABC
MICHAEL THE MANIPULATOR
While this is going down, outside the Quartermaine boathouse, Brook Lynn opens up to Michael about living at the Q’s with Chase being there, since he only came back due to legal advice from his lawyer, Monet Mitchell (Blythe Howard).
Brook Lynn questioned whether they should get legally separate. Michael insisted that would be a big mistake. When she asks why, Michael tells Brook Lynn to bide her time until Chase and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) have an affair; then she’d have full custody of Phoebe.
An angered Brook Lynn pushed Michael into the water and accuses him of moving Willow back into the gatehouse with intent on putting Chase and Willow in closer proximity and sacrificing Brook Lynn’s family in the process. As the two cousins bicker, Chase shows up asking Brook Lynn if she is OK. Michael punctuates their talk with “You know, I’m right.”
CURTIS FIGURES OUT A WAY TO GET OUT OF THE SLAMMER
At GH, Willow visits Curtis (Donnell Turner) in his hospital room. Curtis wants Willow to get him pardoned and keep him out of jail, and in return, he will help her nail Sonny.
Next, Willow tells Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) she wants Curtis held for observation for three more days. He agrees to do so under one condition, that she understands that he may need to call in a favor from a congresswoman.
So, what did you think of how Dante accused his father and refused to believe Sonny’s answers? Is this the end of their father and son relationship for good? Is Michael the most manipulative person of all, except for Willow? Do the two deserve each other? Do you want Chase and Willow to have an affair? And what of Curtis? Does he have many redeeming qualities left? Share your thoughts via the comment section, but first check out the talk Michael had with Brook Lynn.
General Hospital
GH Alum Tajh Bellow and Y&R Alum Loren Lott Star in New Tiktok and Microdrama ‘Love Island’ Spoof
Two soap opera alums very familiar to fans of General Hospital and The Young and the Restless are paired together in a new short-form digital series from none other than Issa Rae’s production entity HOORAE Digital.
Look for Tajh Bellow (ex-TJ Ashford, GH)) and Loren Lott (ex-Ana Hamilton, Y&R) as part of the cast of The Compatibility Experiment, premiering on October 14, 2026, exclusively on TikTok and its companion microdrama platform, PineDrama.
In the video teaser, it appears that Bellow and Lott play a couple, Kelvin and Camila, set in a Love Island reality show-esque environment trying to win the one million dollar cash prize, only what could go wrong?
Photo: HOORAE
The Compatibility Experiment loglines share that it brings a fast-paced, relationship-focused reality check—much like Love Island with a twist. The show takes a participant’s current relationship, introduces them to a potentially more compatible partner, and forces them to navigate the differences with life-changing money on the line.
The new series is part of a groundbreaking content deal between HOORAE Digital and TikTok to develop premium short-form storytelling. The ensemble cast also features; Ayona, Reggie Luck, JaNa Craig, Tosin Morohunfola, Jessica Jacoby, Georgia Warner, and Nick Cassidy.
General Hospital fans know Tajh Bellow for his performances as TJ Ashford, and who earned two Daytime Emmy nominations along the way during his run. Bellow took over the role in 2018 and last appeared on the ABC daytime drama series in December of 2024.
Loren Lott first appeared as Devon’s (Bryton James) sister Ana Hamilton on The Young and the Restless from 2018 to 2019; making a brief return in 2024. She has continued to perform on the stage and screen with recent credits including: Bel-Air, Cherish the Day, and All American: Homecoming.
Check out the trailer for The Compatibility Experiment below and let us know what you think of its concept and if you are glad to see Tajh and Loren again? Hoping they might return to daytime in their GH and Y&R roles at some point in the future? Weigh-in via the comment section.
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As nice a person as MS is, the amount of time spent on this character with no long-term connections to the canvas is annoying.
Legacy characters (Felicia, Lucy) in her age group deserve more airtime than Nina.
Cannot stand the character of Nina
I agree Sara. I really do not want to watch her when she is on.
Not a fan of Nina’s either. She has been on every day as they try and fit this square peg into round holes.
It seems she has finally found a home with Valentin and suddenly she is on every day. I also feel like in their efforts to prop this pointless character up, they’ve torn down Lulu. Lulu blabbing to Charlotte that she was her mother was a stupid and selfish move ant totally out of character. Then she climbs through the air ducts, falls through the ceiling and lands on the wedding cake. It’s not enough that that make Lulu look selfish, they make her look stupid and clumsy too.
Join the club, Sara….and Ronda, you absolutely nailed it on your Nina/Michelle appraisals.
Great actress….but just doesn’t belong. No amount of shoe horning will work. It is forced and painful to watch the efforts being made to make this character fit in and has been from the start.
Sad, but true, Jenny. As I continuously litanize, I love Michelle Stafford. She was my idol on Y&R as a teen, and beyond.
So, it really and truly hurts to see her so lost in this role. I, honestly, don’t know what could be done to have her fit in, as it were.
Nina and Valentin are a “good” couple, and I thought this would have been Nina’s/Michelle’s break. But, I must admit that after witnessing the raw rapport between James and Finola? Well, I just don’t know…
Touche’, Jenny….My disdain for the character of Nina is one of the main reasons I have all but given up on GH….I’ve grown tired of waiting for her—and too many other pointless players—to finally get the hint and leave Port Charles. It has gotten to the place that there are too many of these individuals to name, however, she’s the most egregious example of the showrunners’ penchant for bringing on big name soap actors from other series and expecting us to accept them despite the fact there is absolutely no rhyme or reason for their characters to exist on the GH canvas. It’s been a non-stop exercise in futility from day one and to keep forcing Nina (and her similar ilk) on an audience that craves more emphasis upon legacy characters and backstories is a waste of valuable time and resources.
I could tell Michelle was upset at one point with her character, because she started blocking so many people on Twitter just like Ron Carlivati used to do (well maybe not as bad as him). Good to hear she’s open to banning swearing on her show. It would be different if she only swore once or twice during the show in appropriate places but it’s tiring to listen to every other word out of her mouth be a swear word, like having a thousand exclamation points in one blog post. To be honest, Nina works with Valentin but I don’t want to see romantic or especially bedroom scenes with a villain on the show. That said, I know they probably wanted to show us how Nina slips into the badness; it’s just a channel flipper for me. I wish they’d put more effort in telling complex stories for the characters on the show that are rootable. I mean, Nina was a bit more rootable when she started running Crimson and facing off against Julian but no more. Skin Nation looks like a good product! Even though I’m sort of neutral as a fan, I have enjoyed three of her podcasts: two because of the actor she was interviewing and a third just to get some GH information. I hope it remains a vodcast. There are plenty of podcasts out there and I love seeing what the actors look like and their expressions. It adds another layer to the show with the snack table in front of them, chatting morning show style. Lastly, I love how another insider is referencing “the execs” once again. I seem to be seeing that a lot lately as if they are the third co-Head Writer.
I love Miss Stafford and have enjoyed on Y&R, PACIFIC PALISADES (!), and on GH, but… I just cannot find love for Nina. The character’s introducion and evolution is so over the top. I know! I Know! That is what GH is a lot of the time, but even so. Still, Miss Stafford is a force and despite the character flaws and story lines, I like watching the actor. She is wonderful. It would be great to see her in some feature films or even on stage!
No disrespect to the actress but Nina needs to leave PC. This story line is not winning her any fans. It is ridiculous that they keep sticking this character everywhere hoping she will stick. Sleeping with a man when she has known him all of five minutes and the quickie wedding makes her seem irrational. No one on the message boards wants her near their favs.
Crimson should have been given to Maxie and she needs to be no where near Dante and Lulu. The only time I could tolerate her was when she was isolated with Franco.
I don’t care for her over the top, in your face acting style either.
I like Nina, though I agree with Steve’s comment above that we should absolutely see more of Felicia and Lucy (not to mention Scott, Mac, Kevin, Laura). This obviously comes down once again to budget and who the execs are willing to pay. Why it doesn’t seem obvious to them that many fans want more of the aforementioned characters remains a mystery. Or, more to the point, why they DO know it and refuse to write for these much-loved GH characters. They obviously think there’s more of a “payday” with newer characters. Many of us don’t agree.
With that said…as said…I like Nina. I like her sooo much more than the present Carly. While I think Laura Wright is a wonderful actress…I just can’t stomach the smug way Carly is written. I truly can’t stand her; I fast forward her scenes. They need to tone down her “attitude.” Nina, on the other hand, is vulnerable. I like that. It excuses many of her flaws for me. I got that she was wounded from the start, I like how she evolved and I understand her longing for a child, for connection, for love. So with that psychological profile all that she’s done and continues to do makes sense to me.
I also like her with Valentin…though I don’t want her taking Lulu’s place. And while I think she has strong feelings for her new husband, combined with a fierce attraction, I think it will be interesting if somehow she comes upon a picture of his former physical self. How will she react to his “original” visage/body. Will she be able to get his image out of her mind and still feel the current attraction? Will she stand by her man, knowing he was “the beast” in this Beauty and the Beast story????
Interesting…
So I’m pleasantly surprised; Nina did see Valentin’s “before” picture and her reaction was one of pure love and empathy. Great performance by both Ms. Stafford and James Patrick Stewart…they’re turning into a real love story….
Rebecca…I did a recap of last week GH since I wasn’t able to watch. I too like Nina, especially how she blossomed with Crimson and her relationship with Maxie. “Yes” sometimes she can be a limitless too much, but I put it towards her enthusiasm to be “alive” again. I agree about god actress Laura and tedious Carly character. But unlike Nina, she always had an attitude when she came to Port Charles. I know you don’t like Nelle, but I hope she can rise above her grudge and Carly-type intrigue.
As far as Nina with Valentin, for me sweet in one way, but I just haven’t been able to shake his actions towards Nik, Laura, Lulu at the Greek island. Cruel.
Hi Rose…GH is really picking up in my opinion. Did you catch Friday with Franco and Liz? I thought it was incredible…this was the first time I truly loved Franco. I love Roger; that wasn’t the issue. And, as with Nina, I gave his character a pass on his past deeds. But he was portrayed as so obnoxious/imbecilic for a while. Gradually, they emotionally matured him. In this incarnation (as opposed to James Franco’s Franco) he’s always protected those he loved. Even when he was immature. Carly, Nina and now Liz. But he was grungy. (And I think Roger’s gorgeous!) So, I like his new look…still-long hair but somehow sexier…his cleaner-shaved face…the tender way he approaches Liz. Their scene was so moving; they have a great rapport. And it truly captured love mixed with sensuality.
I realized in watching them how they messed up the love scenes between Alexis and Julian. I don’t know if it was the actors…specifically William (Julian) trying to prove a point…but it was rushed…they practically grunted!!! LOL. And you KNOW I was and am still a fan of the couple…love the actors, etc. But it was awkward to watch the way that it was executed. (I remember now I thought that then, too.) Not, as the few said, because of age. Not at all! But the way they went about it. Had they held each other, reached out to each other…if you FELT the love between them and they made love…I think many who didn’t take to them might have. But I’ve digressed waaaay off!!!
I’m really loving Nina and Valentin. And yes, we were introduced to Valentin as the enemy, but now we see another side…a deeply troubled man hurt to the point where he wants to hurt others back. Of course it doesn’t excuse it…but he’s not evil for evil sake like Helena was (still is???)
We’ll see moving forward how it evolves. For now I think they’re doing a great job adding depth of character and motivation to a few of the stories. Not easy to do on a daily, ever-changing soap. Let’s hope it continues.
Oh! As for Nell? LOL. I just can’t stand her. I’m not saying I won’t change my mind…I’m a softy for sob stories….
I love Nina and Valentin together, they’ve been a real highlight on GH in recent months. I think James Patrick Stuart is fantastic, and Michelle Stafford is doing some of the best work she’s done since coming to GH. I hope we continue to see more of them. The story about them getting together, and the Charlotte situation with Lulu, and Valentin’s mysterious past with Anna is my favorite storyline on the show currently.
I like seeing Nina as a more of a balanced character instead of the over the top, cartoon way that Ron Carlivati wrote her, which is what he does. We still see some of the crazy Nina, but she’s much calculating and restrained, instead of climbing the drapes and chewing the scenery in every scene. I’m very much a fan.
Also loved Michelle’s “Single Mom A Go Go” vodcast with the incomparable and very missed Ian Buchanan, which I had the pleasure of checking out on YouTube recently. It was just two old friends sitting around shooting the breeze about anything and everything over tea.
Great interview, Michael!
I agree with everything you said.
Love Nina and Valentine together.
Love Michelle in anything she does.
As usual, great post, Dan.
I also really like Nina. If you’re talking about soaps being relationship-driven, Nina and Nathan have the best brother-sister dynamic on GH IMO. It’s pure love & respect between those two, even when they acknowledge their disagreements. And, I don’t agree that Nina has no roots. Her husband is a Cassadine, her brother is a Cassadine (even if they haven’t followed up on that), and she’s Maxie’s sister-in-law. She even likes Maxie, which puts an interesting spin on all the relationships. If they would just have Dr. O on more often as “Aunt Liesel,” I think there could be hilarious scenes between all of them at Wyndemere.
What the hell is going on lol
The back story that Valentin was some kind of the Hunchback of Notre Dame junk.
Jean and Shelly are beyond awful..
The last of the Cassadines could have been a deep and powerful story, a story with meaning and a future.
J&S are total crap writers.
To put James Patrick Stuart (Valentin Cassadine) in a who is the mommy story is insane.
I FF through 70% of the Lame nonsense ..
GH has been dying, a horrible death, under Jean and Shelly..
Michelle Stafford is a seasoned great soap actor and she is being written terribly.
I feel sorry for both James and Michelle, they could give great performances if they had a good suspenseful, intriguing, exciting story and what has been given to them (and others) is pure junk writing..
((what happened to the most terrifying character- Valentin Cassidine, the character that was to make us take notice, to be put on the edge? A Cassidine of fear and power, a villain of the times.
It is sloppy weak nonsense writing. Horrible.
Jelly decided to “humanize” Valentin. So now we have this feared Cassadine playing house with Nina! Way to ruin a promising character. Where will they stick Nina next?
I always thought Stafford was greatly overrated as an actress.
Watch her in scenes with Finola Hughes. The latter actress really shows up the scene chewing, over-the-top Stafford. I wish Stafford could learn from watching Finola Hughes.
I liked Nina pre-Franco and I love her post-Franco. I just did not like her stories with Franco. She sizzles with Valentin, and I like her relationship with Nathan, Maxie, and Charlotte. I also like her scenes with Lulu and Anna.
Don’t like the character or the story. Give the vets more airtime please!!
I love the way she plays her character on GH. She did have an unfair life thanks to her mom. She is a great actress and I do like her with Valentin, however I’m afraid he’s going to hurt her to the point she could go back to her beginning. That would be sad as I think she has come a long way to be where she is now running her business.
Nina is a very interesting character, not typical. She is fun to watch.
Phyllis Romalatti Abbott was the role of a lifetime for Michelle Stafford. Pure magic, that special synergy between actress/character. Not quite so with Stafford as Nina Clay. I keep waiting, but for me it’s mostly “meh” … The good news is the current Phyllis (GinaT.) is about as interesting as Phyllis as Stafford is as Nina (again, meh). Maybe there’s a chance Michelle can come back to YandR for a third time and reclaim Phyllis? Or possibly the pairing of Stafford with the super sexy James P. Stuart can spark something in Nina to make her actually interesting to watch. I am hoping for the former…
I love the character of Nina,and love the actress, i never saw her on YR, so i don’t have this comparison to go by like so many posters seem to do, its exhausting reading from those who want her to go back to YlR because they think that character is “better” and those who keep on whining that the show is to bloated, or full of to many soap stars from other shows, etc, so they hold it against the actor, it never ends. I think the character is interesting and i’m enjoying the show more, yes, its been bad at times, it could still be better, but i still enjoy the show, and i hope its on for a very long time.
I LOVE NINA! I LOVE NINA AND VALENTIN!
Michelle Stafford, James Patrick Stuart, and Scarlett Fernandez are must see TV.
Nina and Valentin are about the only characters that keep me coming back to GH these days. I think their chemistry is amazing and believe they have the makings of a good, old-fashioned soap opera super couple. It seems the end game here is actually Valentin and Anna, which is very disappointing. Finola Hughes (and Anna, for that matter) is amazing and is long overdue a decent story. Just wish it was a different story, with a different love interest.
Nina has been an epic failure since day 1 and nothing’s changed. GH keeps trying to make her work but it’s like trying to nail Jello to a wall–impossible.
GH’s cast is way too large.Save the money/airtime & write her off. Use GH history & let Lucy could run Crimson.
MS was very good on YR. JPS is promising as Valentin but Nina drags him down. Plus, their love scenes/kissing come off as desperate & smarmy.
Nina’s permanently stuck as a baby crazed 20 y/o. Anna & Valentin come off as erudite, adult and sexy. It’s long past time for GH to cut the fat. Needless and unwanted characters need to go. The bloated cast size makes scenes last only 30-40 seconds and screws up over all pacing. Trimming cast size would tighten storylines. A cast this large is impossible to manage.
Regarding Single Mom a GoGo… bad idea to cut the swearing. Why would you? We’re all adults & if someone swears so what? The interviews are supposed to be up close, frank and personable.
Yes, yes and yes! I agree, Scoma.
Because the swearing was every other word…seemed pretentious and “I’m so cool AI say fukk” all the time. Just got annoying.
I say if Michelle and/or her guests feel like swearing they should. Knowing that they will consciously not be swearing takes away the spontaneity and realness that makes the show so much fun to watch. People need to lighten up and stop being offended by everything that doesn’t conform to their standard of acceptability.
I personally can’t stomach her cursing all the time and NOT because I, LOL, need to “lighten up.” I could give half a shite about someone swearing…if it’s real in the moment and that’s how they’re expressing themselves. Michelle’s just comes off, as I said, as “trying” to sound cool. It’s the same way I feel when a person’s wearing sunglasses in a dark club. Just “too cool.” It’s also the way I felt on the OLTL online reboot. They said shit every other word just because they could. Guess they thought it’d sound more authentic. Just sounded “placed.” Like, let’s place a shit here. Errrrrr…the word. Not…never mind….
Nina, Valentin, Ava, Julian, Alexis, Anna, Laura, Liz, Brad, Liesl, and sometimes Franco, are the only reasons I still watch this show.
I hear ya — this show is a total mess these days. Whatever happened to Village of the Damned lil Jake and his storybook about the little girl on Cassadine island? Or Laura’s search for the bequeathment Helena left her (she gave up after that thing at the Campus Disco)? Or Kristina’s affair with her professor? Or Kristina’s affair with Aaron? Or Molly and TJ? Or Valerie? Or Nurse Amy? Or the free clinic Michael was going to build? Or the brownstone redevelopment program? Did Ava ever get the flashdrive with her confession that Paul had (she might’ve — I tend to drift off a LOT during this show since Jean and Shelly took over)? If Julian had plastic surgery to change his face why was the picture Jason found of a young William deVry? What happened to The Weeping Nyad? If Bobbi thinks Nelle is up to something why doesn’t she investigate her instead of just waiting for her to make her move? Why are Sam and Jason so excited about a new baby when they don’t spend a lick of time with Danny? How dumb is Lulu to believe that an egg stolen in 2014 has resulted in a 7-year-old daughter 2 years later? What education does Laura have to be on the hospital board (she went to college briefly before saving the world and becoming Miss Star Eyes and then being a prisoner on Cassadine Island)? Has anyone told Lesley that she has a great-granddaughter? And can someone please rent THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN for Alexis so she can realize that she is innocent?
Michelle is great. She seems to be in touch with the fans and cares how they write Nina. Franco is an actress killer! ANYONE he is attached to he ruins. Nina will be better off with Valentin. STILL, she is way better off on Y&R!
I love Ms. Stafford’s interview and her honesty. My problem was never with her character, but where she went. It’s difficult for everyone in between writers. As a matter of fact, I was fine until she went baby crazy and got with Valentin. Those are Nina’s main problems right now, and I feel like she and Franco were great together, because they seemed to mesh well, they get each other. Now they feel like they are being propped by their prospective partners and it’s a shame. I loved when she found out what her mother did, her fights to keep Crimson afloat, but then they killed her ex-husband Silas just as he started to get properly massaged into the canvas and then there was a struggle from then on to keep her relevant. It’s not impossible to make an interesting story for Nina but they need to connect her to the canvas more, somehow, not sure how they can do that. She has more of a chance than Franco, who I only watched based on the actor, not the character that absolutely NO ONE asked to return. Nice to know the actress is honest as her character is, and not only understands but shares the frustrations. The network is too involved with the show, but if they weren’t then Rebecca Herbst wouldn’t have stayed and our requests would’ve been ignored, due to the machinations of the producer at the time trying to fire her and make us like her succubus ‘sister’ that they just whipped up out of nowhere, so maybe it does just need to be the writer’s vision in the end. I do wish that there were some visionary writers that had a vision worth seeing on GH, and B&B by the way.
This woman is simply amazing. I love that she’s on GH. I’ve liked the character of Nina from the jump…from way back when she carried around her revenge list through her current story. Keep it coming, GH!
It didn’t offend me in the least. It annoyed me. As I said, it sounded contrived. Not spontaneous, not “real.” Reminded me of a person wearing sunglasses in a club…cause they think they look cool. Trying so hard to look or sound cool just makes ya look…like you’re trying…not being. I could give half a shite about “being offended.”
Go out and buy her Skin Nation products. They really are great!
I actually became interested in Nina when Valentin arrived as Theo. James Patrick Stuart is amazing and he brings swag to Valentin. I’m on team Valenina
The character is a waste of time and space along with the ink and paper used to print the the script. I’m sure the actress cost a lot of money in terms of contract guarantees when that part of the budget could well be used to keep more characters like Mac, Felicia, Lucy and their portrayers involved in relevant story. Putting Lucy at Crimson could have been a riot. But no. Gotta keep Uncle Frank’s “Pets and Gets” out in front and give them something to do even if it forces them down our throats.
I’ve come to love and root for Nina. There have been a lot of whipsaws with her, but that’s soaps. She was great with Rosalie as scheming/crazy Nina, loved the getting it slowly together with Franco Nina, and I’m coming to love the all in with Valentin/Charlotte ignoring warning signs Nina. I’m proud of how she’s made a career for herself. I also thought her recent scenes with Valentin were beautifully done by both of them. So, she’s a fictional character I’m rooting for.
Nina doesn’t come across as a villainess. If anything, Lulu is the one being unreasonable. I love Nina and Valentin.
Since clues were dropped last year, writers! Make it happen. Kiki to Nina. Let there be a horrible accident with Kiki’s life in danger and have Nina find out and go cray cray on Ava. Whether Kiki survives or not, Give us what we want. If Kiki becomes one of GH’s casualties, let her linger in a coma to save her unborn child so that Nina can finally get her child. And please bring back Todd, Star and John McBain. Hell, even Lucky bc Liz needs some help.