General Hospital
GH's Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo on Sonny/Brenda wedding, Dante & contract renewal!
Courtesy/ABC
Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo (Brenda Barrett) has a very frank and direct conversation with TV Guide’s Michael Logan in a brand new interview out this week centering on the upcoming wedding that kicks off this week of General Hospital’s Sonny and Brenda. And while Vanessa gives insight into the wedding itself and previews the aftermath, she also fielded questions about if she might renew her contract, (since she only signed on to GH for one year), and her thoughts on where Brenda’s relationship could go with Dante played by Dominic Zamprogna. However, Vanessa admits it is her admiration and desire to work with Maurice Benard (Sonny) that compels the actress to enjoy her current storyline. Here are a few excerpts below:
Vanessa on if she will renew her contract, and if so, doesn’t she need to let the series know soon: It’s always going to be about scheduling and family for me. It’s no secret I came back to GH to work with Maurice, not only to honor my roots but to honor him specifically. When I was the new kid on the show, he took me under his wing. He really saved me. The week we shot the wedding was the best week ever because I was in scenes with him all day long, every day. Working opposite him is like listening to music — it’s beautiful and emotional and surprising and nostalgic and I feel all that at completely spontaneous levels. This is literally the most fun I’ve ever had acting. Right now my happiness is at its peak, if that answers your question.
Vanessa on the sparks between Brenda and Dante, and if she feels there is potential for a relationship between them: I was very much playing that because [GH head writer Bob Guza] wanted to make sure that [the possibility of attraction] was established and intact. Of course, at that point Brenda and Dante didn’t know they had this crazy connection, but I do like the serendipity of it all. I think Brenda was drawn to Dante because he’s basically a younger version of Sonny, who is the love of her life. There’s something kind of pure about it. [Laughs] Even though in theory it’s a little alarming. I can guarantee nothing like that will ever happen (referring to relationship with Dante) now that Brenda knows he’s Sonny’s son. Never! Now we’re getting into Jerry Springer territory.
General Hospital
General Hospital’s Adam J. Harrington Weighs-in On John and Carly, and How it’s ‘Starting to Get Very Complicated”
On recent episodes of General Hospital, Carly (Laura Wright) came to John “Jagger” Cates (Adam Harrington) rescue as he was beaten down in an assault. Carly put on her “nurses cap,” sort of speak, and got John to his hotel room and watched over to him, to make sure he didn’t lose consciousness.
GH fans also got their first glimpse of what may be a new romance for Carly, if she and John continue to bond. If John and Carly were to have a relationship, it would certainly have a ripple effect with Jason (Steve Burton) and Sonny (Maurice Benard).
Adam J. Harrington shared his view on the scenes and what might be next between the two. Speaking to Soap Opera Digest, Harrington shared, “I thought it was written in a way where there’s an understanding and a respect between them both. I don’t think there was any moment where she was not aware that he’s an FBI agent, and there was no moment that he wasn’t aware of her history and relationship to other people in the town. I really liked it. I was really looking forward to shooting it with Laura and we had a really nice time shooting it.”
Photo: ABC
When Carly and John part ways, it seems there were some romantic sparks, as Harrington puts it, “Isn’t that interesting that sometimes with people, the one moment they actually show how they feel is when they know there’s an escape hatch. They know they’re about to walk away. So, it’s almost safe in that moment to do it. I thought that was really special about how (the writers) handled John and Carly. Even the music in that scene was beautifully done.”
Where is this all heading? Conflict! Internally and professionally, and as Adam explains, “Who Carly was to John on paper as just a tool to be used as bait is starting to get very complicated.”
What would you think of a John and Carly pairing? Would you prefer him with Anna, or neither of them? Let us know via the comment section and take our poll below.
General Hospital
General Hospital’s Steve Burton Reveals the Emotional Scene He Almost Could Not Get Through
On a recent episode of General Hospital, Jason received a message from his mother, Monica Quartermaine (Leslie Charleson) via a note. The effect it had on Jason’s portrayer, Steve Burton turned out to be quite visceral.
As GH fans know, although Jason’s bio-mom was Susan Moore, he was raised and adopted by Monica. Speaking on his Daily Drama podcast with his co-host and GH co-star, Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Steve shared some insight on the difficulties he had getting through that scene.
Burton shared that in the key moment, “Brooklyn (played by Amanda Setton) came in and that’s where she gave me (Jason) the letter from Monica. That was a very hard scene for me to do. That was a tough one. That was the one time I was almost going to call ‘cut!’ It read ‘Jason, I believe in you.’ I was literally going to walk off the set.”
Photo: JPI
To clarify and in the story, Monica was saying “I believe in you” and that she knows Jason didn’t shoot Dante (Dominic Zamprogna). Steve added, “It was tough, man. Emotionally, it was a tough scene. It was overwhelming in the moment.”
Steve went on to detail to Anderson, “She (Brook Lynn) pushed it to me and I read it and she was walking out and I had to stop her, but I was so emotional I couldn’t even get it out. And at that point, I’m like, ‘Do I just keep going … or do I just walk off the set right now?’ But, I knew just to stay, because it’s so hard to get back there, once you shut it down. I knew, the next take wasn’t going to be the same.”
Photo: JPI
It’s clear that Leslie Charleson is so missed on-screen as Monica by all of her castmates, and that Jason and Monica had a very special mother/son relationship throughout the decades on GH.
What did you think of the moment when Jason got a note from Monica that said, “I believe in you?” Were you touched as well? Let us know in the comment section. You can check out the latest episode of Steve and Bradford’s podcast below.
General Hospital
George Russo to Appear on General Hospital as Carmine Cerullo
Coming up, it looks like Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) grandfather, Carmine Cerullo is headed to Port Charles.
According to casting news from the ABC soap opera, George Russo will take on the role. Russo will tape his episode next week on April 15th and will appear on the May 15th episode of the long-running daytime drama series.
If George looks familiar he has been in numerous primetime television shows and motion pictures including: The Offer. Winning Time, Grand Crew and Shameless.
Photo: ABC
Longtime GH viewers will recall that Lois’ (Rena Sofer) dad, Carmine, was previously showed up in Port Charles on and off from 1994 to 1996 and was played by John Capudice.
Clearly, it seems that Carmine will be a part of Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s wedding. Will it go off without a hitch? Are you looking forward to it? Stay tuned.
Who else would you like to see attend the nuptials? Gloria Cerullo (Ellen Travolta), any other blasts from the pasts who should be present? Let us know in the comment section.
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Sounds to me like she’s sticking around.
Kill me now, ugh!!!, please do not resign.
Vanessa, please leave and don’t come back.
Maybe u shouldn’t watch the show, Brenda and Sonny are the show
Agreed Kemp should watch something else, although he/she will probably get their wish b/c Guza sucks. Half my friends began to watch GH again when Brenda came back and the other half laugh at me for even watching what GH has become. For those who will now tell me to watch something else, I will once VMG leaves. Can’t watch Sonny with anyone else now; Clair and he were gross!!
Please keep Vanessa! Please get rid of that whiny little hipocrite Elizabeth!
lol, I love how “please do not resign” can have two entirely different meanings depending on context/pronunciation. I know you don’t want her back, but I can read that and feel like I agree even though I am hoping for the opposite outcome. I hope she doesn’t resign/quit! *^^;*
There are a LOT of things I am unhappy with that they’ve done to make the fans hate her; it’s gotten so bad I almost can’t enjoy having her around cause I just see everything she does that is going to make people rant about her on any given day, but I still absolutely love her on the show. I really don’t think she will stay, there is too much chaos between budget cuts and choppy story writing, but I hope she can come back again and maybe be less hated by then.
“lol, I love how “please do not resign” can have two entirely different meanings depending on context/pronunciation” — LOL!!! I didn’t even notice that person said “ugh”, then they say…”Please do not resign”..LOL!! Good observation on your part. Funny:-)
Brenda/Vanessa dont let them with thier negative comments bother you please resign you are a great actress and Brenda is Gh history she is the past present and future and I love my Carly and brenda cat fights now we need claudia to come back from the dead and that would be a sight to see LOL so I hope you decide to stay around for awhile because it would be sad to see you go so soon. A year is not long enough when things are just getting started.
You know what?? I’m SICK AND TIRED of all you newbies who’s been watching the show for 5 years or so, thinking you actually know something about the characters from the past. If you newbies and haters have done your homework before making a judgement about Brenda, you’d know that her character has changed a great deal…but there is no way a lot of people (like myself) could hate her because of how much history she’s brought to the show.
The girl isn’t even all that bad… at least she’s tolerable compared to the likes of Carly who I CAN’T STAND!
It’s an absolute SHAME that Headwriter Bob Guza has changed Brenda for the WORSE (to many people)…They (GH) have tried SOOOOOO hard to make people hate Brenda it’s sickening. They have written her character TOTALLY off the wall it’s a shame. I still love Brenda though and am PRAYING that she re-signs.
Anitra, I couldn’t have said it any better myself! It’s always obvious as to who the newbies are… They sound like idiots… They don’t know anything about Brenda’s character or Sonny and Brenda’s history… I have been a fan of GH since 1994, and have ALWAYS been a fan of Sonny and Brenda! The writing now is pathetic and if it weren’t for VM’s return, I wouldn’t even be watching today.
I say to the newbies… You don’t know what you are talking about.
Thank you. Your reply is appreciated.
I’ve been watching all my life.. so I guess you can say, from the early 80’s and on (was born in 79′).
I see that newbies don’t really care about how a character was portrayed from back in the day. They just see what’s on the TV screen now, and assume that THAT is how that character has ALWAYS been. They see Sonny & Brenda’s relationship as boring and they want to see more JASAM (Jason & Sam) or LANTE (Lulu & Dante). HAHA! I just learned that that’s how everyone is phrasing their couples.. Anyway.. I’ve stopped watching for probably 6 years..well, after GH tried to forcefeed the audience Sonny and Carly, I left all together…then came back when VM came back in 02. I left in 03’…I left right along with her. I started watching again this past august to see what GH was up to. I didn’t even know that she was going to come back during that month. I think I came back watching RIGHT after they had a Brenda Marathon on the Soapnet Channel.. I was upset that I missed those episodes.
After S&B’s wedding… I want an S&B baby..lol! What’s one more child for Sonny? LOL! If Sonny even THINKS about cheating on her with Cujo (Carly)?????? OMG! GH lost me FOREVER! I tell you though… after VM leaves…I’m leaving also.
Thanks, Vanessa, for coming back. Ignore the negativity. You are my favorite character of all time
If GH is keeping Rebecca Herbst on the show as Elizabeth, then her character needs to change. Elizabeth needs to toughin up as a single mother and go after what she wants like a real single mother does. I’m sure people are tired of looking at the simple character she is. Make Elizabeth a tougher person. Make her get child support from Nicholas or Lucky and get rid of Brooklyn. She is an unnecessary character on the show and sounds like fake ass Bensonhurst native New Yorker.
Bring back Keesha Ward so she can snap Jason out his robot phase. It’s been too long!. I’m tired of seeing her run behind Jason. Sam needs some real self esteem and live a normal life for a change. Her needy ass is getting ridiculous!
I hope Sonny and Brenda work out this time so that Sonny can retire from the MOB.
Let someone else take his place in that violent lifestyle. As for Carley, she needs her ass kick and will get exactly what she deserves. Jacks and Sky should get back together and get married. The two make a nice couple. Mack and Alexis needs to stop playing games and get it on. Michael and Abby would be good together and it’s time for Morgan to get a girlfriend. He’s getting older or GH might make him gay. It would be interesting to see Donte with a black woman like Maya. That shit would be while for the show. It’s been a minute since Jason Q. and Keesha Ward in the 90s. Ha! ha!
If Maurice leaves …I leave . HE is the life of General Hospital..His vulnerability makes me wanna cry…His love for Vanessa comes through,,,,,when they were younger ..Maurice had all the right moves..I would have welcomed him into my life( mob & all) He is still super sexy..the way he dances with VM is so charming, sweet .loving and remains central too his core .. When he wants someone …you see him and it is incredibly mind boggling how this man is not on the best movie list.. I am and will always credit him with saving me through my depression….I feel like i know what he goes through in his real life. I wish him…the best…because ..he is a lovely, gracious…eloquent man with dimples to die for and a empathy for his audience…LVE YOU Maurice and Thank YOU…for being my PRINCE of ABC..may God bless you. You have helped so many people! caroline from Massachusetts
Brenda needs to stay. For all of you saying that she has to leave obviously haven’t been watching the show long enough to know that the show is finally good. I watched it when Brenda started and stopped once she left because it was so awful. Now I am finally hooked on it again, so stop being negative and writing these ridiculous comments. She needs to stick around.
Agree completely; I only came back for her after sooo many years. With these “official” comments of her leaving I feel very disappointed. Yes they gave us an S&B wedding but there is so much more the fans deserve for the couple. If she was only coming for a year I wish it would have been the year before Maurice retired so they could leave together or at least given us more time and story. I got so excited with her return and now am really let down if she leaves. No story line will change that feeling for me 🙁
like almost everyone on here, i’m watching GH now only because of vanessa marcil giovinazzo. there’s just something about her. she acts with her eyes and allows us all to really access her character and feel everything she feels. maurice was a fine actor, and prolly still is. however, he’s had more or less 1 role his whole life and he’s bored as all hell. i’ll always love sonny out of respect for history, but maurice’s acting has become indifferent and one-dimensional. vanessa, on the other hand, gets better and better over time. but she’s in a tough position with guza writing, jill phelps producing and maurice as a formerly-awesome but currently indifferent co-star. i admit since the wedding maurice is getting better — and when i say better i mean he’s getting his mojo back that i haven’t seen since vanessa was last on GH. finally vanessa and maurice are getting to access their mad chemistry. we need guza to up the ante and start writing powerful scenes. we need vanessa to RENEW HER CONTRACT and maurice to step up to the acting plate and also influence storyline development. fans have waited many, many years. we deserve it!