General Hospital
Jason Cook Set To Exit GH! Would he return to DAYS as Shawn-D?

Courtesy/ABC
Jason Cook’s time at General Hospital is apparently almost up! The actor who has played Dr. Matt Hunter since 2008 has been informed that he will exit the series sometime next month. But would Cook return to Days of our Lives if the opportunity presented itself to reprise the role of Shawn-Douglas Brady?
Tonight at the Days of our Lives Paley Center For Media Panel discussion, members of the DAYS cast were asked by emcee, Alison Sweeney (Sami), what person do they miss the most from the cast? Kristian Alfonso (Hope) said she missed Jason Cook and the character of Shawn-Douglas, her on-screen son. With the new writing regime in place, and Cook becoming available, maybe the timing could be right for a return to Salem!
Cook, on the other hand, spoke to Soap Opera Digest about his GH departure, explaining that even before his upcoming exit, he was planning on doing some of his other projects and was going to ask for time off anyway. Jason stated, “I was going to have to take several months off the show for all these other things I’m working on. One would have been this summer, to do LifeCHANGE (his project with Arianne Zucker, Nicole, DAYS] and other shoots, as well as my new cooking show, Chop This. It’s an on-location cooking show with a different restaurant chef showing us a couple of recipes each week. It’s going to start online at www.chopthis.com. If Genreful (his short film with GH co-star Bradford Anderson) gets funded, I have that to do, too. So, I am stepping away for the time being. There is no talk about me coming back, but I was going to have to take time off anyway.”
So what do you think of Jason being written-out as Matt on GH? Would you like to see him back on DAYS as Shawn-D? Let us know!
Would love him back on Days, but only if Belle, and Claire returned with him.
Please say it is so. I love Jason Cook as SHawn D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would love for Bell and Claire to return and Jason Cook . Jason Cook and Bell made a good pair. I would like them to come back as a couple. Maybe have them get married on the show. They don’t seem to get many young couples getting married on the show. They need to get rid of all the action and get back to more romace sceens.
I’m new at watching DOOL since OLTL left. Really enjoy him sounds like a good idea. Hate to be losing Matt.
Sorry to see this Character depart. But the writing was on the wall, something has to save Maxi! Wish Jason best of luck in his future plans!
GH and Days could do a switch. GH gets Sarah Brown and Days gets Jason Cook.
BTW, what I just said wasn’t met to be pejorative or anything. I have a great amount of respect for both soaps. I just think that the switch could be a great idea that mutually beneficiate both soaps.
Good Idea Heather.
Matt should have hooked up with Elizabeth or at least been given a decent storyline instead of twisting in the wind. Poor Patrick, what is he going to do without his brother? Does this mean Matt is guilty of murdering Lisa and Maxie is going back to Spinelli? Yes, Shawn should return to Salem; Days could use all the help it can get.
his character was not written well from the beginning – it is a shame because there was much potential there for him……………….
i am so happy that he has some major projects lined up!
I agree his role was not fully developed.
Sorry… Jason Cook… but I am Spixie all the way! If your leaving means you are going to jail for killng Lisa Niles and we get Maxie back and back with Spinelli… well than everytthing is great!
I would like to see Shawn-Douglas, Belle, Chloe and Phillip come back. I think they are more interesting than Billie, Austin and Carrie. I think Kim and Shane’s son, Andrew, would be a good addition to the scene. Also, I would like to see “Days” revisit the Nicole and Eric romance. Nicole has become such a great character and it would be fun to actually see her smile again.
I hear Chloe is returning, or at least in the talks. I would love to ese Shawn-D. Maybe it would stop Peter Reckell from leaving and give Bope something else to focus on other than Stefano.
If Matt goes to jail, for being drunk as a skunk and he accidently sent lisa flying overboard Thats wrong, the pcpd knows what lisa did , He should get a award of some kind for finally taking her down she was crazy. If he goes to jail I hope john mcbain goes ballistic and starts throwing every one involved with the mob behind bars that have been in jail for a second then diane or alexis gets them out. He doesn’t remember, He was at a party, In a boat, in the middle of where ever, she was up to no good, oops she goes over who cares, we saw what she did to patrick and robin , He wasnt in a car, he was at a dumb party it was a accident , case closed. And finally Lisa niles is GONE. So let matt leave town not go to jail.
ITA. Besides, Sonny and Jason should pay for their crimes…NOT MATT!
I don’t think Sonny and Jason will ever pay for their crimes, Matt will, the good guys always do , doesnt make any sense does it? Lisa niles tortured patrick and robin, So matt did every one a favor and the pcpd know it, Matt being the good guy that he is will turn himself in. Guess we find out today.
well, this sucks, hope he comes back down the line.
I really thought he was wasted on GH. He has a lot of comedic talent ,is charming, great looking and simply delightful. I really wish they had invested in him. The hospital staff is shrinking fast! WHY???
Nice Read! charming, great looking and simply delightful…. doesn’t he man up and then some…. if given the chance.
I liked the character Matt on GH, but figured he was going to be heading out when I assume he killed Lisa. I really like Jason Cook and loved him on DOOL. It would be smart of DOOL to bring Cook and Kirsten Storms back as Belle and Shawn if Kirsten is well enough to work. Loved her as Maxie, but it seems her time at GH is over.
You’re right. It would be smart of DOOL, but they seem to be doing some dumb things with the veterans that they do have over that. How do you bring back characters like Jack, Carrie, and Austin, then turn around and let the actors go just months later?!? They’ve totally destroyed the character of Carrie to the point that I hope that they kill her off when she leaves. They’ve gotten Jack and Jennifer back together to just to tear them apart again when Matt Ashford exits. Jason would be better served trying to get fully immersed into prime time/big screen.
I agree. I love Jack & Jennifer and Matt Ashford. I’m to the point where I wish Carrie had been blown up in the cabin (no offense to the actress) because they’ve destroyed her character. And I am not loving this version of Austin either. I read on another site that apparently Jason Cook has so many different projects going on that he was going to ask for time off of GH. I doubt he’ll return to DOOL in the near future due to his busy schedule.
This sucks. Jason was SO GOOD with Kirstin on Days, and they just wasted him on GH. I was hoping that the new team would utilize him more on the show. I hope he goes back to Days.
If he goes back to Days, I believe he would end up being underutilized. They’re wasting a lot of talent at DOOL these days too!
I don’t care if he comes back.. Days just needs some good writing.. it has been many, many years since they had any good writers..
His closest thing to a story line was what Matt had with Elizabeth, and it was actually pretty decent but RC was clearly not pursuing that so he would have continued wasting away with Maxie, who’s become intolerable and can’t stop saying the word “selfish”. Way better to quit.
Where is Shawn D, Belle, and Claire Its been way to long
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.
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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.
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