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!
There was never any doubt that in watching the riveting and emotional scenes on General Hospital which featured Finola Hughes as a PTSD-driven and mentally tortured Anna Devane, that when the climatic moments in Anna’s story aired, that we would not be singing the praises of Hughes. Once again, Finola showcased why she is one of the soap opera genres greatest assets and actresses.
In the key scenes, Anna has had a complete breakdown as she has lured and cornered Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) on Mount Emerson, and even thought through how she would kill her and cover it up, all thanks to hearing the voice and seeing a dead man, Peter August (Wes Ramsey). It’s visions of Peter that keeps egging Anna on to pull the trigger on Britt while in her delusional state.
Before Britt realizes that Anna trapped her in meeting her in Mount Emerson, she is very confused as to why she was all the way out in the boondocks to talk about what happened to her brother, Cassius Faison. However, Britt soon learned that what Anna was about to do is personal, and not professional, as she pulls the gun on her.
Courtesy/ABC
ANNA FIRES HER GUN IN GAME-CHANGING MOMENT
When Jason (Steve Burton) shows up to save the say, he tries to talk Anna off the ledge, begging her to not shoot Britt and make one of the greatest mistakes of his life. When Jason figured out Anna felt she needed to kill anyone related to Cesar Faison, he made her think twice, because that would mean, she also would need to end the lives of two of Maxie’s children, James and Bailey Lu.
Anna can’t stop seeing hallucinations of Peter pushing her to shoot Britt. Suddenly and completely overcome, Anna fires bullets straight in the direction of where she sees Peter as she declares this all must end tonight.
After the shots are fired, Anna realized what she had done and just sobbed and shook. It was a devastating and heartbreaking moment for longtime General Hospital fans to see the beloved Anna Devane, super spy, so lost. Anna explained to Jason, after he was able to disarm her, how she was being pushed to kill Britt by her visions of Peter.
EMMY-WORTHY SCENES FOR 2027
In another hankie-inducing moment, Anna just grabs Jason and breaks down in his arms. If these weren’t Emmy-worthy scenes, we don’t know what is, and it must be remembered by Hughes, General Hospital, and hopefully the voting body of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) when Emmy submissions and voting get underway in 2027 for the 54th annual Daytime Emmys.
From everything we noted above, to the sheer brilliance of her work, Michael Fairman TV names Finola Hughes, this week’s Power Performance of the Week.
Now let us know, do you agree with our pick of Finola? Were you moved to tears during the gut-wrenching scenes? Should Finola include these scenes in an Emmy submission in 2027, should she decide to compete for Lead Actress gold? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
General Hospital
RATINGS: ‘General Hospital’ Shows Most Gains in Total Viewers Week-Over-Week and Up in Key Demo
The ratings are out for the week of August 24-28 for your favorite broadcast television soaps, and it was ABC’s General Hospital which added the most total viewers and planted itself firmly in third place in its battle with Beyond the Gates in the key demos of women 18-49 and 25-54.
According to Soap Opera Network, all daytime dramas were up year-over-year, and General Hospital was joined by The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful with gains in their total audience viewership, while Beyond the Gates was only slightly off pace for the ratings week.
Let’s take a look at what had viewers tuning-in, starting with General Hospital, who added +79,000 viewers. While still under the 2 million viewers mark (which they can hopefully return in the coming weeks) their overall tally was an average of 1, 935,000 tuning-in, while still up year-to-year +136,000.
GENERAL HOSPITAL
In addition, GH while actually down from the previous week in the 18-49 ratings share, they still out performed Beyond the Gates for third place. However, GH was firmly in third place for the 25-54 ratings share.
The stories that were featured for the week included: Anna’s (Finola Hughes) PTSD and struggle with painful memories tied to Cesar Faison, and her concocting a plan to get rid of Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) recording Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) threatening her, and later running into a severe threat from Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) regarding Kai (Jens Austin Astrup) and Drew’s (Cameron Mathison) shooting, and Drew enlisting Ava (Maura West) to gain leverage over Jack, which resulted in Ava drugging him, while Drew went snooping for the evidence Brennan had against him.
Photo: JPI
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Y&R remained in the top spot amongst all the soaps once again with 3,062,000 tuning in, and up +35,000 for the week, while year-to-year still showing strong gains at +231,000 viewers. However, while Y&R remained #1 for the 25-54 ratings share, it fell to #2 in the 18-49 ratings share behind The Bold and the Beautiful.
In story for the week, Nick’s (Joshua Morrow) sobriety in rehab was a focus, as was Victoria (Amelia Heinle) and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) hitting the Jabot office couch and having sex for the first time, and Lily (Christel Khalil) and Billy (Jason Thompson) battling over control and ownership of Chancellor Industries.
Photo: JPI
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
B&B is continuing to be inch closer to Y&R for the top spot, separated by a little more than 300,000 viewers. For the ratings week, the series posted a total audience of 2,719,000 adding +31,000 eyeballs overall, and like Y&R, is up year-to-year in its performance.
The CBS soap now , now in its 40th season is +217,000 from the same time last year. In the key demos, The Bold and the Beautiful was in the top spot for the women 18-49 ratings share and number two for women 25-54.
In story, the major threat to Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Finn (Tanner Novlan) and Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Daphne’s (Murielle Hilaire) marriages continued as Steffy and Carter swore they would not tell their spouses that the two had a drunken hook-up. But as viewers know now, Steffy is pregnant!
Photo: CBS
BEYOND THE GATES
Beyond the Gates tallied an average of 1,611,000 total viewers for the week, up +72.000 year-over-year and down slightly in tune-in for the week losing just -36,000 viewers. The CBS soap came in fourth place in the key demos for the week behind General Hospital, with whom they are often trading places for the third spot.
In story, after Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) was released from the hospital, Hayley (Marquita Goings) stuck to her plan, doubling down on poisoning him and even getting caught in a major lie or meeting with Randy (Maurice P. Kerry), as Vernon (Clifton Davis) may be on to her machinations.
The ratings report is generated from Nielsen (Live+Same Day Big Data + Panel) for the week of August 24-28, 2026
So, what did you think of the performance of General Hospital for the ratings period? Which daytime drama has you most likely to tune-in each day? Which has you tuning-out? Let us know what’s working, or not working for you in story, via the comment section below.
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.
Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”
Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom on Working with TV Son Crew Morrow: ‘I’ve Always Wanted to Play an Overprotective, Overbearing Mother’ (Exclusive)
‘General Hospital’s’ Finola Hughes Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
RATINGS: ‘General Hospital’ Shows Most Gains in Total Viewers Week-Over-Week and Up in Key Demo
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’
‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
Vivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
‘General Hospital’s’ Braedyn Bruner Reveals Her Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and How Emma is Getting Her ‘Edge’ Back
‘General Hospital’s’ Bluesy Burke Marks 1 Year as Charlotte Cassadine: ‘It’s The Best Gift I’ve Ever Received’
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
‘Beyond the Gates’ vs. ‘The Young and the Restless’ in a Soap Opera Showdown on ‘Flip Side’ Season 3 Premiere
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom Talks Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and What’s Behind Katie’s Deep-Seated Issues with Dylan (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Did Brook Lynn Deserve Chase Walking Out on Her?
-
General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
-
News1 week agoVivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
-
News2 days agoJess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
-
General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’s’ Braedyn Bruner Reveals Her Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and How Emma is Getting Her ‘Edge’ Back
-
General Hospital5 days ago‘General Hospital’s’ Bluesy Burke Marks 1 Year as Charlotte Cassadine: ‘It’s The Best Gift I’ve Ever Received’
-
News5 days ago‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Drops First Look 40th Anniversary Opening Title Sequence
-
News3 days agoY&R’s Co-Head Writer Jamey Giddens, Ahead of November Stories and Scripts Debut with Dan O’Connor, Explains How Fall Tees Up Their Plans for Genoa City
-
Interviews6 days ago‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Kelly Sullivan Talks Becoming Darcy Dylan, Who’s Melissa’s Dad, and Future Love Interest (Exclusive)
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.