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‘Grey’s Anatomy’ To Address Coronavirus Pandemic In Upcoming Season; Should ‘General Hospital’ As Well?

Photos: ABC/JPI

The first television show to announce that the COVID-19 will be part of their upcoming stories is now ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy.   The medical primetime TV drama which centers on the lives of the doctors, nurses, and patients who work and are taken care of at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital is heading into its 17th season when it resumes production.

‘Grey”s EP Krista Vernoff revealed the plan during a “Quaranstrraming: Comfort TV That Keeps Us Going” panel hosted by the TV Academy, that will be able to be streamed in its full version today at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on Emmys.com.

According to EW.com, Vernoff shared: “We’re going to address this pandemic for sure.  There’s no way to be a long-running medical show and not do the medical story of our lifetimes.said that the show’s writers are meeting with real-life doctors, who have shared their stories about dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Now, so far we have heard that none of the daytime soaps, B&B, Y&R and DAYS (which has already taped episodes till October) have plans to incorporate the pandemic into their storylines, due to the nature of soaps and the escapism it provides its audience.  Viewers have been turning the TV channels and hearing about the COVID-19 pandemic 24 hours a day, in these unprecedented times

But it does beg the question, will ABC’s General Hospital, which at its core is a show centered around a hospital as its backdrop, write-in the COVID-19 pandemic into their storylines, or address it in some way without it overtaking its planned storylines? Perhaps, how it affects the citizens of Port Charles…  or the front line nurses or doctors?  Michael Easton’s character of Finn, is an infectious disease specialist, for instance, so they could utilize the character in this way.   Since all TV shows are now at the mercy …. and the importance of safety protocols which will make shooting and editing the series somewhat different, would writing COVID-19 somehow in to scripts help with the look and feel of scenes?  We know B&B is taking on a more seamless approach and work-arounds to still deliver to the audience “love in the afternoon’.

‘Grey’s ‘Vernoff also shared how their series writers get some of their inspiration for the stories they tell:  “Every year, we have doctors come and tell us their stories, and usually they’re telling their funniest or craziest stories. This year, it has felt more like therapy.  The doctors come in and we’re the first people they’re talking to about these types of experiences they’re having. They are literally shaking and trying not to cry, they’re pale, and they’re talking about it as war — a war that they were not trained for. And that’s been one of our big conversations about Owen, is that he’s actually trained for this in a way that most of the other doctors aren’t.  I feel like our show has an opportunity and a responsibility to tell some of those stories.”

So, what do you think? Would you like to see GH address COVID-19 especially for the hospital front line nurses like Elizabeth, Epiphany and doctors like Finn? Or do you want the subject matter far away from your soap viewing, since you are getting so much of it in your daily lives? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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I don’t think GH should incorporate COVID into the story line. It’s too much to experience this in real life and on GH every day. I’m all for timely and relevant stories but soaps also provide an escape from our every day lives. I hope they wait to come back when it’s safe and take us on some fantastic adventures, per usual.

I don’t think General Hosp should write the Covid into their story line we get enough of that everyday we need a break from It

GH hasn’t been about the hospital in a long time! This would be a perfect opportunity to bring it back to the forefront!

Ummm . . . it’s not as though General Hospital has a whole lot to do with the hospital anymore anyway. No, there’s no need to address Covid. (Now, if Covid is having particular effects on The Mob in the United States, yes, by all means, GH should definitely incorporate that into the storyline.)

Sure…. incorporate the pandemic. And use it to kill off Ava, Frodd, and Whiny Heiny!!

NO–GH should not do covid19
and-
I have had 24/7 of covid19, on news, online, in newspapers, everywhere there is media there is Covid19.. since March 24/7 ..And-watching Millionaires/Billionaires dealing with covid19, is beyond ridiculous..
———

They aren’t prying standing in the unemployment lines or waiting for a stimulus check or fighting to keep their business from failure being evicted because can’t pay rent they aren’t in food line to feed the family and they wouldn’t be protesting and in-kind._______

_____there are a 100 things Billionaires are not struggling with during this time..
It would be about financially secure Billionaires not the lives of every-day fans.. 
I would not even watch it because it would be grossly fake.
The soaps would be wise to leave stories of Covid19 alone.

No to COVID. GH doesn’t know how to do simple Soap 101: romance domestic drama, etc., how can we expect them to handle COVID? Maybe Helena Cassidine started it? Hell, no!

I do think they should address it. GH historically has addressed timely topics…it doesn’t have to be a huge storyline -ie Finn could be assisting teams around the world via zoom calls… nurses wearing masks…

I think they should incorpate Covid-19 into the storylines it might actually bring GH back to what it was before the mob took over!!!

GIVE !!! Chad Duell – an – EMMY … (2) for “his” DEATH scenes

I’ve gone back and forth on this and finally concluded that GH should totally should tell the story of Covid 19, and here’s why. Yes, Covid 19 and 2020 have been really bad for a lot of people around the world, its devastated our country and its still ongoing and uncertain, most of us are worried about the economy, loosing jobs, our lives and we are underseige, its been really really bad but it has also brought out the best in people, in so many ways and so I feel that GH can do this if they balance it out, in daytime they are the right show for this,they have major characters situated to bring this storyline to our screen and it would make sense. The doctors and nurses can finally be the show true hero in this tale. Major characters to showcase, like Elisabeth who is a nurse, and we seen how heroic nurses have been in this battle, and Dr. Finn is an infectious disease doctor, we can see the character quarantining at home, the teen home schooling. they have so many endless storyline that can come out of it and they could still do it without being to depressing. just imagine, just like we all have a story to tell so do the characters on the show. heres my list of examples:

1. the hospital can showcase major Finn, Elisabeth, Monica, epiphany at work being heroes and making sacrifices .
2. Laura is the major of Port Charles showcasing the great Genie Francis front and center as the major has endless story there.
3. Lulu is a reporter also a front line worker.
4. Carly and Olivia own the metro court, showcase the affect on businesses.
5. sonny can convert his coffee business to make mask.
6. paging Doctor Kevin Collins because a lot to people are gonna her stressing and need someone to help them with their mental health.
7. kelly is gonna have to do online orders to stay afloat.

8. the characters quarantining at home, i.e nell could stay with the quatermaines because of the custody battle being put-on hold.

9. Ava stuck with Nicolas in spoon island and Spencer forced to come back home.

the point is the storyline are endless so in my opinion it would be stupid if the writers don’t see all the potential they have.

Laura is he Mayor, lol, not the major. and also finally a storyline where Jason doesn’t get to save the town and be the “hero”. that alone is a major plus.

As stated by others, GH long ago drifted from their hospital focus to the mob — and never looked back. This, in my opinion, has been to the detriment of this once-great serial. So there is no need to do some half-ass storyline on Covid-19, as it would do the issue neither justice nor justification.

But here’s my larger point: while watching these shows, escapist fare though they might be, we always have the sense that everything will eventually work out: the heroine will be rescued from the well, the evil twin will be uncovered, the murderer will pay for his crimes (except for GH’s Sonny, of course), true love will prevail. In real life, however, with this awful scourge hanging over our heads and disrupting our lives for months on end, the problem is compounded by an inept, dishonest, disinterested U.S. president (and administration) and his minions of sycophantic, clueless governors. As of this writing, 142,000+ deaths, ~4 million known cases, 10s of millions unemployed. Currently, things are getting worse, with no end in sight. Other countries, such as Germany and Canada, have done a much better job of managing this pandemic.

Some suggest that the virus will always be with us. Our lives are already forever altered. A happy ending is not guaranteed. So, no, I don’t want art attempting to imitate life when life itself has been taken from so many of us and life is so uncertain for the rest of us.

^^^ “…So there is no need to do some half-ass storyline”

– IF – the “whole” WORLD , IS; In This

why aren’t we agreeing ?

disparity is THAT Bad?

I kid you , I kin you , I rare you, AGREE on something… “move on”

“Lord, World ON”

not leaking it; steady hold on ; where AND when does this take

my eyes are yours my friend , hold, hug

friend

5 months IN; does this

smiling, warmth

^^^ ” compounded by;…”

THE Truth !

I will drink my glass of wine.. have my spirit as I usually

I leak it here; talk to my favorite cousin in home town

Leave

^^^ “…when life itself has been taken”

Beautiful

Why do we stare at an open fire

because I can fight for my child, and

Patrick, thank you for your replies. Hugs to you. Stay safe, Friend.

I don’t think they should we hear enough of it in real life 24/7! Watching soaps is an escape from everything in the real world

I don’t’ think they should incorporate coviod into the storyline. We need a break from real life

I truely hope GH does NOT incorporate COVID-19 into their story lines. I am SOOOO sick and tired of hearing nothing but news about COVID-19. I watch TV as an escape. My mind needs something more than all this real life nightmare. I read to escape and to learn. That is also why I watch TV. But enough is enough.

Also, any story related to this will seem insulting. Once people start complaining about a direction the writers want to take the story, a million people (of TIIC) will start tinkering in it and it will all become an embarrassment.

Stay away from this on my soaps, please.

I don’t think that they should do covid, specifically, but perhaps a made up virus so that the show can address a little bit of what has happened in a contained four week storyline… … but a ‘soap virus’ where there is a miracle vaccine just in time. then actors can do a PSA about covid and/or the Nurses Ball can raise money for unemployed actors. But a covid specific story? no thank you.

No! I work retail! I have had enough! I don’t care if the show is around a hospital. It’s about characters lives that I love watching.

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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