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Jacqueline Grace Lopez Talks Her General Hospital Exit, Blaze and Kristina’s Break-up, Ricky Martin, and If She Could Return

By Michael Fairman

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2 years ago

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Photo: ABC

Back in mid-August, in an abrupt on-screen departure, Allison “Blaze” Rogers (Jacqueline Grace Lopez) not only had a devastating break-up of her relationship with Kristina Corinthos-Davis (Kate Mansi), but then left Port Charles and headed out to be the opening act and go on tour with music superstar, Miguel Morez (formerly played by Ricky Martin).

As General Hospital fans also know, Jacqueline Grace Lopez previously opened up that she was also caught off-guard when her storyline quickly wrapped. Now, for the first time since her exit, Lopez spoke on what went down behind the scenes at how she learned she would be leaving the role she loved to play on and off since 2022, and more.

During a livestream conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, Jacqueline spoke on her exit, how the decision was made to make Allison gay, working with Kate Mansi and creating the couple known as ‘Kraze’, and if how you’re going to leave a show best to do it to go on tour with Ricky Martin, right?

Photo: ABC

HOW LEARNED BLAZE WAS BEING WRITTEN-OUT

Jacqueline found herself in shock when she found out after the most recent co-head writing change, she was leaving GH. “I found out via script and I confirmed it. I received the script for the first episode where we first learn about the tour,” Lopez began. “I remember reading that and going, ‘Oh, well, I changed  mind. So I’m staying and I’m taking care of my girlfriend because that makes sense because I love her and I want to be there for her.’ Then, the next day I got the second script, and I remember reading that and I was like, “Oh, I’m going.’ There was this ‘spidey sense’ for me of, ‘I think I’m being written off the show this time.'”

After reading the script details, Lopez checked with GH execs to make sure she is interpreting this to mean she is definitely exiting.”My last two days were the Monday and Tuesday before we went to break in July,” Jacqueline recalled. “So the week before, I sent an email to the powers that be. And I said, ‘I just need to know if I’m coming back on the other side of the break. And the response was, ‘We love you, but Blaze has to be gone for a while.’ So that’s how I found out.”

COULD A RETURN FOR BLAZE BE IN THE FUTURE?

On soap operas, the key phrase for all actors is ‘”never, say never.” After all, even if your character dies that doesn’t mean you cant come back! Looking at the current GH canvas, Lopez thinks there could still be a place for Blaze. “I think there’s possibility. I have an anchor parent (in Natalia). I have family on the show. I speak about additional family on the show. I think there’s space to come back, be it in passing. You know, Blaze has a tour date in Port Charles,’ shared Jacqueline. “From a character standpoint, I think Allie would drop everything for Kristina if need be. 90% of the heartbreak in that last scene between Allie and Kristina is that she knows she’s doing this because it’s about, ‘I love her so much and this is what she needs.’ So, I’d like to think there’s space to come back.”

Photo: ABC

FINDING OUT BLAZE WOULD RETURN TO THE SHOW IN AN LGBTQ+ LOVE STORY

When Allison first arrived on the scene back in 2022 as a singer, she was managed by the abusive Linc Brown. However, when GH brought Lopez back in this last incarnation, viewers learned Blaze was gay. Jacqueline explains, “I was off the the show for two months already. All of a sudden I get a call from Mark Teschner (casting director, GH).  He goes, ‘So Frank (Valentini, EP, GH) wants you back and but he wants to make Blaze queer. Are you comfortable doing that?’ I first wanted to sit with it because I said, ‘I don’t want to take an opportunity away from someone else who can authentically live this experience because I identify as straight.'”

Later, Lopez had second thoughts on her stance, adding, “Then, I thought about, and I said, ‘I’ve established this character. This character is mine. It’s just another layer (to her). Frank actually got on the phone with me, which I give him immense credit for, and he quelled my fears. I said, ‘I want to earn it. I don’t want to just drop in and all of a sudden I’m running around and this is my new identity. I want it to be a slow burn. So, fans don’t see it as just a token storyline drop kind of situation.’ Frank was wonderful. He said, ‘The gift of this medium is we can tell and build relationships organically and in long form, and we’ll earn it.’ He’s like, ‘Don’t worry. The audience will know it before the characters do.’ And he was absolutely right. They did it in a way where we learned all the layers of what she had gone through – that her mother was conservative-valued, and completely not accepting of this life that she believes her daughter was having.  It wasn’t just like, ‘Wait, all of a sudden, Blaze is gay?”

Photo: ABC

Jacqueline, who has shared the importance of representation in the media not only for LGBTQ+ community but as a Latina, earned many new fans on her GH journey.  She expressed, “It was a huge responsibility and something I don’t take lightly at all. One of my throughlines with how I try to carry myself in the world, both personally and professionally, is I try to help people feel seen. I tell stories. I want to get it right. I’m very blessed to have a lot of gay friends, and a lot of people in the LGBTQ+ community and allies as well. I have a friend who’s from Puerto Rico who came out, who ended up having to sleep with a bible under his pillow with passages just completely demonizing homosexuality and to pray the gay away. I get to go through this and feel the hurt and feel the shame. But to get to be Blaze, to get to be Allison, and feel my mom (Natalia) dismiss me in that way and not see me and not want to see who I love in my heart. I mean, even now, it’s just heartbreaking. It’s given me such an insight that I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to experience in this way.”

Photo: ABC

WORKING WITH KATE MANSI

The main thrust of Jacqueline’s recent storyline was bringing the on-screen relationship of Blaze and Kristina to life. “Kate pretty much knows what she wants to do,” explains Lopez.  “For me, I was more the person where I was like, ‘This line it’s weird to me.’ And she goes, ‘We’ll figure it out.’ We would talk about it. We developed this routine where we would run lines with each other, then we would block on the day if there were questions brought up. Jacqueline recalled a key scene for Kate. “If we had any emotionally, impactful scenes, I made it a point to call her up or text her ahead of time, like the day when Kristina was in the bathroom after Chase and Brook Lynn’s wedding and she sees her dad (Sonny) beating up Dex. Kate had to come in so emotionally raw. I just remember texting her on the day just being like, ‘If you need anything from me or whatever you need from me, you let me know. ‘”

Photo: JPI

RICKY MARTIN

Now that Allison is off on a world tour with Miguel Morez, did Jacqueline realize at the time, that it meant her character was essentially going on tour with Ricky Martin in the story? Lopez recalled, “The only reason I knew Ricky played Miguel on GH is because of fan Wiki. So, when I saw Miguel Morez, I was like, ‘Either they just really love alliteration with names or this is an actual character.’ So I googled it and then I saw Ricky Martin and then I called casting and I was like, ‘I’m sorry … is Ricky Martin coming on the show? And they were like, “Not to my knowledge.” And then I left. (Laughs)

Watch the full interview with Jacqueline below.

Now, let us know do you want Blaze to return and eventually go back to Kristina? Were you glad the GH tackled, albeit for a short time this same-sex relationship, but also showing how a mother can be so disrupted and bigoted against her own daughter just for being her ‘authentic’ self? Share your thoughts via the comment section.

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Bring her back

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Good for her for speaking up before accepting the storyline. She’s so right. Don’t pander to audiences. Just write all characters with depth and it will transcend everything else.

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I think it would make perfect sense for her to return considering what Kristi’s going through because she can’t depend on her sister..

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Beyond the Gates

53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced: ‘The Young and the Restless’ Tops With 18, ‘Beyond the Gates’ With 16

Published

6 hours ago

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July 14, 2026

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The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the full list of nominees for the upcoming 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, and it was CBS daytime’s The Young and the Restless and broadcast television newest soap opera, Beyond the Gates that racked up the most nominations with 18 and 16, respectively.

The full reveal on Tuesday follows the announcement of several major categories including Lead Actor and Actress on Monday via Extra and Entertainment Tonight and The View today revealing Daytime Drama Series and more.

The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmys ceremony is set to take place on Friday, October 30 at the historic Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California.

Photo: CBS

In a statement, Adam Sharp, President and CEO of NATAS expressed, “We’re proud to honor the extraordinary talent and creative teams whose work continues to define and elevate daytime television, As the Daytime landscape evolves and new forms of storytelling emerge, we remain committed to recognizing the innovation happening across the industry.”

“Each year, the Daytime Emmy Awards celebrate the creativity, passion, and dedication that drive this vibrant community of storytellers,” said Rachel Schwartz, Head of the Daytime Emmy Awards. “Congratulations to this year’s nominees, whose work continues to entertain, inspire and connect with audiences every day. We look forward to celebrating their remarkable achievements in Hollywood this October.”

The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of genres, including daytime dramas, talk series, entertainment news, culinary, adventure, instructional and legal/courtroom programming.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Honoree, Gold & Silver Circle Inductees, and ceremony host will be announced at a later date.

Now below, check out the nominees in the daytime drama, talk show, entertainment news series and creative arts categories and congratulations to all!

Photo: JPI

Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
Beyond the Gates
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
Stacy Haiduk (as Kristen DiMera), Days of Our Lives
Karla Mosley (as Dani Dupree), Beyond the Gates
Michelle Stafford (as Phyllis Summers), The Young and the Restless
Heather Tom (as Katie Logan), The Bold and the Beautiful
Tamara Tunie (as Anita Williams Dupree), Beyond the Gates

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
Eric Braeden (as Victor Newman), The Young and the Restless
Steve Burton (as Jason Morgan), General Hospital
Scott Clifton (as Liam Spencer), The Bold and the Beautiful
Thorsten Kaye (as Ridge Forrester), The Bold and the Beautiful
Christian Jules Le Blanc (as Michael Baldwin), The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
Linsey Godfrey (as Sarah Horton), Days of Our Lives
Camryn Grimes (as Mariah Copeland), The Young and the Restless
Beth Maitland (as Traci Abbott), The Young and the Restless
Trisha Mann-Grant (as Leslie Thomas), Beyond the Gates
Amanda Setton (as Brook Lynn Quartermaine), General Hospital

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
Sean Dominic (as Nate Hastings), The Young and the Restless
Timon Kyle Durrett (as Bill Hamilton), Beyond the Gates
Michael Graziadei (as Daniel Romalotti), The Young and the Restless
Roger Howarth (as Matt Clark), The Young and the Restless
Mike Manning (as Bradley “Smitty” Smith), Beyond the Gates
Lawrence Saint-Victor (as Carter Walton), The Bold and the Beautiful

Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series
Braedyn Bruner (as Emma Scorpio-Drake), General Hospital
Al Calderon (as Javier Hernandez), Days of Our Lives
Alice Halsey (as Rachel Black), Days of Our Lives
Giovanni Mazza (as Gio Palmieri), General Hospital
Ambyr Michelle (as Eva Thomas), Beyond the Gates
Arielle Prepetit (as Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne), Beyond the Gates

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series
Jasmine Burke (as June Hughes), Beyond the Gates
Jeff Kober (as Cyrus Renault), General Hospital
Eva LaRue (as Natalia Rogers-Ramirez), General Hospital
Christopher Sean (as Paul Narita), Days of Our Lives
Ray Wise (as Ian Ward), The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
Beyond the Gates
The Bold and the Beautiful
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital

Outstanding Directing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Casting for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Daytime Talk Series
3rd Hour of TODAY
The Drew Barrymore Show
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Live With Kelly and Mark
TODAY With Jenna & Friends
The View

Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host
Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin & Ana Navarro, The View
Kelly Clarkson, The Kelly Clarkson Show
Tamron Hall, Tamron Hall
Jennifer Hudson, The Jennifer Hudson Show
Sherri Shepherd, Sherri

Outstanding Entertainment News Series
Access Hollywood
Entertainment Tonight
Extra

Outstanding Daytime Personality (Daily)
Mona Kosar Abdi, Derek Hough & Terri Seymour, Extra
Cassie DiLaura, Denny Directo, Kevin Frazier, Rachel Smith & Nischelle Turner, Entertainment Tonight
Scott Evans, Zuri Hall, Kit Hoover & Mario Lopez, Access Hollywood
Star Jones & Corey Jovan, Divorce Court

Outstanding Arts and Popular Culture Program
Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood — An Entertainment Tonight Special
Off Script With The Hollywood Reporter
Variety & CNN Actors on Actors
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Working In the Theatre

Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Daytime

Beyond the Gates, Episode 103
Have Guitar Will Travel World
The Kelly Clarkson Show Episode 5033
Let Frankie Cook,” Getting the Band Back Together
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Outstanding Technical Direction and Video for a Daytime Program

Beyond the Gates, Episode 104
The Bold and the Beautiful,” Episode 9511
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade”
The Jennifer Hudson Show, ” Episode 4041
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade”

Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup for a Daytime Program

Beyond the Gates, Episode 103
General Hospital, Episode 15719
The Kelly Clarkson Show,” Episode 5033
The Young and the Restless,” Episode 13273

So, what do you think of the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy nominations? Who are you happy to see receive a nomination and who do you think was snubbed? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Shares Reaction to His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy Nomination, ‘It Was to Honor Leslie Charleson’

Published

8 hours ago

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July 14, 2026

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The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award nominations kicked-off on Monday with the announcements of four major categories including, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series — Actor, and among the nominees is General Hospital’s Steve Burton (Jason Morgan).

Burton is already a two-time Daytime Emmy winner in the Supporting Actor category for his roles as GH’s Jason and his turn as Dylan McAvoy on Y&R. However, Steve is yet to win in the Lead Actor category and he has received 11 nominations along the way in his daytime career.

Following the reveal that he is a 2026 Daytime Emmy nominee, he and his GH co-star, podcast co-host and comedy show partner, Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) taped a special edition of their That’s Awesome podcast just featuring Burton’s reaction to the news.

Photo: JPI

FOR LESLIE CHARLESON

Steve expressed, “I know it’s such a cliche to say, ‘I’m just so honored to be nominated.’ But truly, I’m so grateful to be nominated, so grateful to just be on the show off and on for 30 plus years and to be nominated with the guys in my category. Just to get the opportunity. Frank (Valentini, executive producer, GH) texted me right away. I was just like, ‘Thank you for the opportunity to get to do what I do.'”

Taking in the moment, Burton thanked those who helped him select the material for his nominated reel. “Unless you win, you don’t get to say things. So. I’m going just say a few things: Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) helped me a lot with the material, (as did) Michelle Henry, who’s a producer on the show, Laura Wright (Carly, GH), and then my wife Michelle (Lundstrom). I believe it was Jill Phelps who told me that when A Martinez felt like he had a great show or great scenes, he would mark it down. So, when Emmy time comes, you have all the show numbers written down, and you don’t have to think about it, because that’s half the battle (finding the material).

Burton explained how meaningful this nomination is for him, because of playing the scenes of Jason losing Monica, and his closeness with the late, great Leslie Charleson.

“The nomination’s an amazing thing, and it’s beautiful, but really it’s to honor Leslie Charleson. A lot of my material was because of her, and how I started on the show as a Quartermaine, it just means a ton,” shared Burton. “Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) has obviously has been instrumental, and I’ve said it from day one and I’ll shout it from the rooftops. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here, and to be working with the people that we work with is incredible.”

Photo: JPI

SHOULD JOHN OLIVER BE NAMED HOST OF THE DAYTIME EMMYS?

During the end of his conversation with Anderson, Steve suggested that the host of the Daytime Emmy should be Last Week Tonight’s John Oliver, who recently guest starred as the head of the WSB named Z on General Hospital, and is soon to show up on Days of Our Lives in a mystery role in August.

Thus far, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has not revealed their host for the upcoming ceremony to be held on October 30 in a venue to be named in Hollywood, California.

You can watch Steve sharing his reaction to receiving his 2026 Lead Actor Daytime Emmy nomination below on a special segment on the That’s Awesome podcast.

Now let us know, are you glad that Steve chose scenes surrounding Jason mourning the loss of the woman that raised him, Monica Quartermaine for his Emmy reel? What do you think of John Oliver as a suggestion to host the Daytime Emmys? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Reconnects with Danny; Tristan Roberts Arrives in Port Charles, Lots of Nods to #16

Published

18 hours ago

on

July 13, 2026

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General Hospital’s 16,000th episode was packed with little reminders through points in today’s script that the ABC daytime drama series has set another milestone and it paved the way for the return of fan favorite and newly nominated Daytime Emmy Lead Actor nominee Steve Burton (Jason Morgan). The 16,000th episode also introduced viewers to the new surgeon in Port Charles Dr. Tristan Roberts played by Dean Geyer. 

Here are the key takeaways and what went down on the July 13 episode: Tristan and Jason are seated next to each other on a plane heading to Port Charles. Throughout the flight, a beaten up Jason has flashbacks to being thrown into, and being held captive in a cell and tortured. It appears Jason is suffering from some form of PTSD from what he was put through after being dragged out of Port Charles by the WSB months ago.

As the plane prepares to land, Tristan tells Jason there would be a car waiting for him once they land and to enjoy the rest of his life. Later, Tristan arrives at the nurses and doctors hub at GH and approaches Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst). He tells her his name and that he is the new surgeon on staff.

Photo: ABC

A REUNION PLUS A HEAD NURSE DEFENDS SONNY

Meanwhile, at the end of the episode, Jason is outside the Quartermaine boathouse looking bewildered when he runs into Danny (Asher Antonyzyn), who is so thrilled to see his father, and the two hugs each other as tears are shed.

Elsewhere, Elizabeth tells Sonny (Maurice Benard) that he thinks its a great idea for him to get the 16th seat on the hospital board, but when it comes times to convince Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) of that, things go awry when Tracy, Laura and Sonny try to work things out. After Tracy launches into Sonny about killing Alan and Monica’s son AJ, Sonny walks away dejected.

Next, Sonny runs into Elizabeth, where he informs her what happened with Tracy. So what’s a head nurse to do? Elizabeth marches into the conference room and reminds Tracy of all the different donations and ways Sonny has contributed to the hospital from the Stone Cates AIDS wing, to the Michael Corinthos Center for Pediatric Head Injuries as well as his constant support each year for the GH Nurses’ Ball.

Courtesy/ABC

WSB WAR SCARS

Then, in one of the best parts for longtime fans of the series, Elizabeth talks about her legendary grandparents, Audrey and Steve Hardy and she tells Tracy they would have wanted Sonny to have a seat on the board for all the good that he has done for the hospital. After Elizabeth states Sonny’s case, things took a turn and Tracy and Sonny wound up shaking hands as Sonny is board member #16.

In the how great was it to see Anna (Finola Hughes) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) together scenes department, the pick-up of last Friday’s cliffhanger is played out as the two former lovers fill each other in on what has gone down in their lives in the last several months including Valentin admitting he had been living in Carly’s attic, and Anna realizing she was kidnapped by Cullum, Sidwell and Cassius Faison. During their conversation, Anna sees the hallucination of Peter August (Wes Ramsey) right while Valentin is standing there.

Courtesy/ABC

Later Anna was on her way to saying goodbye to Valentin, when the two share an emotional hug. After Valentin made his exit, Peter reappeared and warned Anna to not let Valentin distract her because she has important work to do. Anna answers, “I know.”

So, what did you think of General Hospital’s 16,000 episode? What do you think is wrong with Jason? What is the important “work” that Anna has to do? Were you glad to see Sonny get a seat on the hospital board, or not so much. Weigh-in via the comment section. But first, check out the scenes on Jason and Tristan’s long flight to Port Charles.

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