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General Hospital

GH's Nancy Lee Grahn talks Alexis's Menopause and Twitter Mishaps!

Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

The outspoken and fabulous, Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis) of General Hospital, has a new storyline launching this week, when it is revealed that Alexis has menopause! So what does the Daytime Emmy award winning actress think about this plight for her alter-ego?  Well, in a new interview out today from TV Guide, she with her wry sense of humor and honesty takes a look at the decision to make Alexis have hot flashes! Plus, Grahn, who has been taken to task by some on twitter, talks about those tweets that landed her in a bit of hot water, but also how important she feels it is for her to a voice on a myriad of subjects when soap actors are all but ignored by the mainstream press!   Here are a few excerpts below!

Nancy on if she feels the soap audience wants to see a menopause story:  “Do they want to see one more mob shootout? In the 15 years I’ve been on GH we haven’t had many stories told about women from a woman’s perspective. I think I can make this funny and entertaining and relatable. Besides, it’s very timely, because the soaps are also going through menopause! Women can either think of this stage of life as death or a chance to transition into something wonderful, and that’s what the soaps need to do. To survive, they need to change with the times. They need to adapt. [Laughs] They need some damn hormones!”

Nancy on if new GH executive producer, Frank Valentini is happy with the menopause decision for a story for La Grahn, when it was originally Jill Farren Phelps idea/concept:  “Frank doesn’t like the idea of Alexis having menopause because he thinks it makes her too old. Now if she turned into some dried-up old hag over this, well, that would be very painful to watch. But there’s no need for that. I had a great love affair in real life, a really amazing romance, after I started menopause, so I know it’s not the end of life as we know it.”

Nancy on accidently spilling the GH spoiler that Sam is pregnant via Twitter, and if she gotten into hot water because of it: [Laughs] I did! I’ve gotten in trouble a couple of times. But let me tell you what happened there. I had not been watching the show at the time and I thought that news was already out. Fans were Twitter-tricking me. They were asking, “How do you feel about your character becoming a grandmother?” and “Isn’t it great that Sam’s pregnant?” And I’m, like, “Oh, yes!” not realizing I was confirming it. I was rightfully reprimanded by the network. It was an honest mistake, I swear. I would never be that stupid.”

Do you like the idea of a menopause story for Nancy and Alexis? Or, would you like to see her tackle something else? And, if so, what? Let us know!

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Just glad for her to have a story at all!

shes great whatever she does as long as shes front and center menoupause is not the end of the world!

Thank God! Bravo Nancy Lee Grahn!

Women have always had to hide the change of life and it isn’t fair.

It is a fact of life that all women go through this (whether we want to or not and it is NOT pleasant.

Imagine feeling intense heat coming up your neck encompassing you whole head and its making you feel like you are going to spontaneously combust.
That is what a hot flash or a hot flush (which can last anywhere from 15 to 25 minutes) feels like . And there is not much that a woman can do, save sticking your head in your freezer or throwing open the window to the freezing winter outside standing there just to get some relief.

I so sympathized with Alexis throwing open the window in Sam’s office while breathlessly sticking her head out the window into the freezing cold of a PC winter ‘s day.

It was a great scene that I understand only too well as I have experienced it often in the last 20 years since my change began. This is real life folks and though the change of life(menopause) is different for every woman, we should not be required to hide its effects, it is difficult to deal with and nothing that we should ever feel like we should be ashamed of.

Rahter this, yes, than another mob murder plot! Did GL’s Reva Shayne (Kim Zimmer) have a similar storyline once upon a time? It is a vital honest genuine situation to explore and i hope it is done correctly, not with fanfare and then rushed or forgotten. Nancy

Menopause is a “plight?” In the 21st century, people still think like this? “Frank doesn’t like the idea of Alexis having menopause because he thinks it makes her too old.” A woman past 49 is too old? No wonder television ratings don’t include them. I think the storyline is passe and dated, but apparently many people never got the message that it needs to be done. Will male menopause get a storyline too?

I am just breaking my rule I was not going to post anymore but I can’t let this go read the entire interview with Michael Logan we are still harping on our castmate not getting an emmy .Grow Up! And if I was a lawyer I would sue her for slander leave the actress who won the emmy for young actress alone. A word to Ms. Grahn start listening instead of shooting off your mouth you might learn something. But then you are a Liberal it is ok for you to tear someone apart that did nothing to you. Stick to acting and stop Tweeting!!!!

Nancy and many other celebrities keep forgetting that our country is split in half and there are some fans who are republicans and what you do is insult them and at the same time loose alot of fans ,laura ingrum ,dont know how to spell her name, but she wrote a book called shut up and sing ,and it makes sense ,what she is dong is saying I am a celebrity and I am smarter then you,well shes not ,and if you ask me I dont think she is well informed,I use to like her till I heard a comment she said ,and it changed my mind about her .so im with you kay killgore,stick to acting and stop twitting and giving interviews tearing down people you dont know.the left is not always right ,did I just say that?

soaps really need to have s/l’s that are true to life as much as possible – i excited that nancy finally has her own s/l and i know she will be amazing!

I like it if it wasn’t always portrayed as a joke/extreme. Not everyone goes thru that and now there is more medical/holistic approach to this occuring.

Actually it launched at the Jasam wedding in late September, and we’ve had 2 or 3 scenes about it since then.

Oh yes! Any story about stuff Alexis is going thru – hot flashes or panic attacks from being too close to Sonny when she had the hots for him — it’s all fun! And like she mentions, GH has been mob story driven too long! And Nice Mobsters too. Guess that’s what fast-forward is for … getting past all the boring-is it ever going to end-mobster crap.

TV ratings are so much about women, any stories that are related to our goings on of our bodies should be good for the show! And I love when Alexis & Diane get together — they are such a hoot!

add- and Alexis having menopause now does not make her an old lady!! Hey Frank are you listening? Women can go thru and start menopause at different ages. It can start much earlier than the old tales of “old” women going thru the change in their 50-60s. It’s just not like that! And women that have gone thru it are still not “old”! that’s ridiculous!

I think a storyline with Alexis in menopause would be awesome! Going thru menopause myself it would be great to come home from a long day at work and sit down to watch GH and Alexis having hot flashes, foggy moments, and make me laugh would b great! Alexis would do a fabulous job!

General Hospital

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

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

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

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

Photo: ABC

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

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

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

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

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General Hospital

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

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

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

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

Photo: SPeaceIG

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

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

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

Courtesy/ABC

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

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

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

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

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General Hospital

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

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

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

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

Photo: ABC

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

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

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

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

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

Photo: ABC

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

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

 

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