General Hospital
James Franco's Mom, Betsy Franco Makes A Return To General Hospital!

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
So the rumors of this were once again proven true! Betsy Franco, the mother of motion picture star James Franco (who was the actor who portrayed the original “Franco” on General Hospital) is returning to the ABC soap opera for an appearance!
According to a GH rep who informed Soap Opera Digest, you can look for Betsy to be reprising the role of Franco’s adoptive mother, also known as Betsy, but who as fans recall was also went by the name of Karen!
Betsy was first seen in 2010 on GH, and she reprised her role again in 2013. It shall be interesting to see if Roger Howarth (the current “Franco”) shares scenes with James Franco’s mom! Could Betsy end up hiding out with Ava and Sonny or Morgan’s baby, now kidnapped by Franco and Nina (Michelle Stafford)?
What do you think of the casting news? What do you think brings Betsy Franco back to GH? Comment below!
wow luv it!!
RC and team always add more meat to the stew to make it awesome..
Betsy Franco!! This will be good..
GH gathers no moss!! exciting stuff ahead !! .. gotta luv it !!
She was awEpsom before so I have no doubt she’ll be again
What a stupid idea. Moreover, the woman is no actor. She cannot act. Why, why why? This is the worst example of stunt casting ever. It makes no sense and will not help ratings nor will it help propel a good character driven storyline.
ohhh Harry.. No cookies for you!
she is simply a guest appearance, a story tool ..
There is purpose for her appearance, we just have to wait for it, again, she is story tool..
And–
it will be fun, !!
Something different, and nothing much to with rating as she is not a famous person nor an actor.. But she is a ”purpose” :)… lol
Well, it doesn’t make any sense. She can’t act. Her scenes with her son were embarrassing to the say the least.
And if this were Y&R pulling this stunt casting you’d say the same.
Harry,
She doesn’t have be an actor, she just needs to entertain me and she will.. I’m sure I will have a giggle or two watching her..she is only a guest probably a couple of scenes..
She is apparently needed for this story, she does have a purpose for the story..
It will be good.. I’m looking forward to seeing just why she was brought in, that is what is important 🙂
I can’t wait to see her with Roger/Franco..
that will be awesome; her and Roger! LOL!! that could be a riot..
And– Y&R people do not have the moxie to even pull a stunt, they are so stale they are moldy.. LOL
Harry…agree…she’s no actress. At the time she piqued my curiosity just because she was James Franco’s mom and I liked him….and I know he’s all about being outlandish and experimental. I guess he had enough clout that they wen with what was probably his suggestion at the time to hire her. At this point she’s probably coming back for continuity; probably a very small role; not worth a recast. It’ll be fine…
@Su0000 The tptb would kill for the ratings of the “stale” and “moldy” Y&R even in amongst the younger viewers Y&R beats GH. 🙂
Well it makes me think James Franco is going to be there also. Not my favorite, but it would get RoHo out of being Franco and could expose him as someone else. I’d like it better because I love RoHo & think Franco is the worst character ever. Not RoHo’s Franco. Just Franco in general.
It will more likely be her just hiding Nina, Franco, & baby Corinthos.
In other news, Kelly Monaco tweeted out a pic of her & BM (Jake) yesterday morning on set reading lines together it seemed. He cut his hair all off again & spiked it like SB’s Jason, it seems, and he’s wearing a black t-shirt. YIKES!! I hope they are effing with us and that was a joke! I do NOT want the 2nd worst character ever, Jason Morgan, to take over GH again. Just NO!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL—Since when does someone need know how to act to be on a soap? I think everyone on this site can rattle off a dozen or more names that worked on a soap, or are presently on a soap that fit that bill—-
She was already been on as this character’s mother, sure at the time, her real son playing he adoptive so might had something to do with her getting the part– but regardless, if they need Franco’s adoptive mom to be part of the story it only makes sense to get the person who played her before. She won’t be on long and she can’t be any worse than some ‘actors’ I’ve seen over the years on soap.
Nope she is appearing to inform everyone that this Franco is really an imposter that he is really Todd Manning from Lllanview!
sigh You’re probably right, Kay.
Again, strenuous measures are being made to remedy mistakes of the past.
The handy dandy brain tumor didn’t do the trick so let’s try a case of mistaken identity.
lol
The brain tumor made Franco a serial killer..It made Franco do horrible things.,
Heather’s DNA made Franco ”odd” ..
the only thing Franco has done wrong is help Nina kidnap ava’s baby, yet he is not the actual kidnapper/not his deed/plan..
Franco is crime free…
What he did at the wedding was from Heather’s DNA.. lol
and not a crime, nobody died ..
Franco is not killing anybodt hw how ever coniving
LOL the last sentence came from Dragon auto correct or something..
I dont know what it is… lol …
K/Kay, I think this Franco was exposed as Todd Manning a long time ago 🙂 This is just a way to get attention, nothing more, nothing less. There will be no major reason to have her on, there will be no big reveal, and even so, it would not need her to deliver it. This is how TPTB generate interest in the show and it’s pretty tiring. I wouldn’t mind things like this if the primary focus of the show was on good writing and storytelling, but it is not, so we get this kind of stuff instead.
Actually I was being sarcastic about RC and his writing but considering the response I am getting back maybe he would pull this. With this bunch never say never!
Why doesnt Roger Howarth’s mother play Betsy?
Glad she’s back. I hope she stays.
No offense to the real Franco but I could care less about NuFranco. I hope she takes him home with her.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.

Photo: Hallmark
Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”
In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.
It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.
Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.
You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.
So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.
View this post on Instagram
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?
On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.
As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.
Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?

Courtesy/ABC
Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.
BROTHERLY LOVE?
Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”
With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”
BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE
Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”
So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair
After the Wednesday, April 29 episode of General Hospital, it’s clear outside interference and other circumstances are set to blow Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) marriage sky high, as Michael (Rory Gibson) reveals his plans to entrap Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and use her relationship with Chase to do it!
In story, Michael dropped by unexpectedly to Carly’s (Laura Wright). A plotting Michael reveals his plan to nudge Willow and Chase into having an affair. Michael hopes it would create both a political and personal scandal, where Willow would lose her seat in congress. In the scenario, she would be having an affair with her ex-husband, while taking care of her supposed disabled husband, Drew (Cameron Mathison), who cannot speak and is confined to a wheelchair, which in turn will look horrible for Willow’s character.
Carly asked does he really want to destroy his cousin, Brook Lynn’s life in the process? Michael goes in on Chase’s holier than thou attitude, and says he is going to set-up the circumstances that would lead Chase and Willow to betray their spouses, and hit the sheets together. Michael swears to Carly what the two of them do is up to them, but he’s going to go on the offense with this.
MICHAEL HAS BACK-UP
Later, Jacinda (Paige Herschell) is talking with Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) at Crimson and how much she dislikes Willow because of what she has done to Michael. Just then, Michael shows up and tells Jacinda privately, he’s figured out a way to fight Willow. Looks like Jacinda might work with Michael to bring down Willow and use Chase as the person to do it!
At the hospital, Lucas (Van Hansis) tells Josslyn (Eden McCoy) that Carly is cheating on Jack, but he doesn’t know with who. Josslyn suddenly flashes back to the moment she found her mother harboring a fugitive, Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), in her attic, and as figured out that her mother is sleeping with him. She heads out.

Courtesy/ABC
BRENNAN IS ABOUT TO LEARN ABOUT CARLY
Next thing you know, Josslyn has showed up inside Jack’s (Chris McKenna) hotel room at the Metro Court and when he enters his room, he is shocked to find her there. He lays into her for not keeping his distance and that Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) will have no problem killing her if he knows she’s WSB. Josslyn fires back that he is only concerned about that because his relationship with her mother depends on her being safe. But then, she lays the boom, and tells Jack, Well, you’re too late. You already lost her.”
LULU GETS A GLIMPSE OF CASSIUS’ TEMPER
In addition, Lulu (Alexa Havins) sees a different side of “Nathan.” Since she is unaware that the man before her is his twin, Cassius Fasion (Ryan Paevey), he tells her that Rocco (Finn Carr) blabbed that he shot Cullum to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), and now he thinks they should send him away to stop him from talking to everyone else. This concerns Lulu, who rails at Nathan for telling her what to do with her son and that she isn’t going to abandon him. With “Nathan’s” outburst at her on the matter, will she finally get a clue this is not the man she thinks it is?
So, what do you think of Michael’s plan to push Willow and Chase into an affair? Will it work or backfire? Do you think Joss will reveal that Valentin is the man sleeping with Carly to Brennan, which will send him in a rage? Will Lulu continue to be clueless about “Nathan?” Weigh-in via the comment section below. But first, take a look at the GH video tease for today’s April 30 episode.
-
Days Of Our Lives1 week agoDAYS Stephen Nichols Remembers Drake Hogestyn as the ‘Most Vital, Enthusiastic, Committed Man I Ever Knew’ Ahead of the PanCan PurpleStride Walk
-
Days Of Our Lives5 days agoDAYS Stephen Nichols and Co-Stars Walk in Honor of Drake Hogestyn at PanCan PurpleStride LA, ‘I Felt Him With Us’
-
General Hospital4 days agoBrandon Barash Granted Restraining Order Against ‘General Hospital’s’ Kirsten Storms
-
Days Of Our Lives3 days ago‘Days of Our Lives’ Rob Scott Wilson Talks ‘Turning Heel’ as Necktie Killer, Ben Weston
-
General Hospital1 week agoPaige Herschell Marks One-Year as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jacinda Bracken
-
General Hospital6 days agoGH’s Giovanni Mazza Performs Violin Version of Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’ at LA Lakers Playoff Game; Co-Stars Heap High Praise
-
General Hospital1 week agoSteve Burton’s Wife, Michelle Lundstrom, Raises Alarm on AI Scammers and Hoaxes, Pretending to be the ‘General Hospital’ Star
-
Days Of Our Lives2 days ago‘Days of Our Lives’ Conner Floyd on Chad’s Quest For Abigail’s Resurrection; But Who Should Be Cast as NuAbby?