General Hospital
Jean Passanante Decides Not To Renew Contract With GH; Will Retire From Writing Soaps

Photo Credit: Paley Center For Media
One of the most enduring soap opera scribes of our time, Jean Passanante, has decided to call it quits plotting the lives of the citizens of Port Charles and retire from soap opera writing.
The current co-head scribe of General Hospital, along with Shelly Altman, revealed via her facebook post on Tuesday morning that she will not renew her contract with the ABC daytime drama series, and will complete her tenure in August, at which time she plans on retiring from penning the soaps.
Throughout her career, Jean has been head writer, or co-head writer for not only GH, but All My Children, One Life to Live, As the World Turns, The Young and the Restless and Another World. She has won multiple Daytime Emmys and WGA Awards for her work.
In her announcement Jean related: “Friends, soon I’ll have more time for pie-baking because I’ve decided not to renew my contract with GENERAL HOSPITAL. I’ll retire from soap-writing in August. The irony is that Con Ed must replace a gas pipe, and they show no signs of doing that in the foreseeable future. So we have no oven. It’s like the Twilight Zone episode in which all Burgess Meredith wants is to read, and after a nuke drops on his town, he finds himself among the ruins of the library with all the books he can possibly read at his fingertips. And then he breaks his glasses.”
Share your thoughts on Passanante’s departure from GH and send your well-wishes for the next chapter of her life after years in daytime in the comment section below.
I’m so sad to see Jean go, but I’m so happy for her to embark on her next journey. Congratulations, Jean! You will be missed.
nice post. 😉
Best news in years. She’s a breakdown writer, not a head writer, and it showed, time and time again, in the writing. She and Shelly knew how to start stories, but had no follow-through, so every single storyline was a letdown. I wish her luck in her retirement and hope she doesn’t ever come back to writing. She was a hack.
Maybe she’ll write a book about WHY she is retiring from writing for soaps (and doing some pie-baking!). Maybe she’ll have the temerity to write in the book just how she was “shackled” and “hamstrung” by TPTB. Maybe she’ll write about how she was forced to write those inane story lines presented to her.
A girl can dream, can’t she? 🙂 🙂
I totally agree she a breakdown writer, not creative at all to be a head writer
Good luck to whatever she decides…currently GH has its up and down moments but its too Sonny/Carly and i have grown bored with them as well as with Nina..almost everything revolves around them…Valentin/Charlotte story seems to go nowhere…Alexis and Dianne..every time they are together i almost feel like they are suddenly going to go all Lesbian…i can feel these two are attracted to each other but fear to admit it to the other…come on you two…you know you want to go there-lol
Say What?
Jim, you must be bored with GH because your daydreaming is off the radar!
Wow!!!!! Really!!!
Thats M.A.S.H-thats where my Radar is-lol
Jimh, you made me laugh out loud today!
“suddenly going to go all Lesbian” — Priceless!
And what’s good for the goose… I used to think Sonny and Jason (Steve Burton) were “suddenly going to go all gay.” But they’re nonexistent on my wish list of possible such couplings…
Although — bringing this back to the writers — given that Sonny has been written for ad nauseam, exponentially frontburner, repugnantly the focal point, maybe one day the writers will run out of storylines for Sonny and the only thing left will be a storyline in which Sonny questions his sexuality. Such a storyline will give Benard a chance at a run for another Emmy, which is clearly part of the mission of the GH braintrust.
—Here I was, originally hoping to add additional humor to Jimh’s funny post, and then I had to get on my anti-Sonny soapbox! Oh, well, at least I’m consistent. And I’m not alone…
You are sooooooo not alone, Jamesj75! I don’t know how many fans have to express their dissatisfaction with the Sonny/Carly Fest for them to give it a rest. I mean, really, writers…get a clue. Please.
I hear you, James,
What sticks to my craw is how Jason would do anything for Sonny…”over the river and through the woods”.
I understand theirs was a close, brotherly friendship in another life….What I don’t understand is how Jason can even shake Sonny’s tainted, murderous hand—the hand that killed his real brother.
These writers do an injustice to everything that’s righteous, in this world.
Quite frankly, I cannot imagine for even one second Old Sonny Boy questioning his sexuality….he is so deeply invested in his primacy as Port Charles’ “Love God to the Ladies” that the mere notion of a possible alternative lifestyle would never occur to him, his “bromance” with Jason notwithstanding!
I had last week’s shows on in the background this weekend. I was so bored watching Sonny and Jason, and Monotone Sam. I ended up muting most of Monday’s and basically all of Tuesday’s episode and then just gave up watching all together.
Ahhh, Jimmy!!! You break the monotony of what is GH, these days.
I guess some people just can’t appreciate you or your own ‘funniness’. Pay no attention.
Love you, Jimmy.
Celia! Thank you for your reply (above)!
Yeah, that whole Sonny-murders-AJ plot was the point of no return for Sonny. You make great points about shaking “the hand that killed his real brother” and certain writers doing “injustice to everything that’s righteous.” It’s appalling…
Best to you always, Friend!
Oh, jimh….you NEVER disappoint! I don’t know that I necessarily get those particular vibes from Diane….she still loves her Max—and shoe shopping, right???? But in terms of Alexis? I suggested some time ago that she should answer the Sapphic siren call after her many, many disastrous duos with men…now THAT would make sense!!!!!
I felt it most just recently…it was like Alexis was about to jump off that couch and pounce on Dianne…but i have been ill so it could just be the meds im on-lol
the eppi where she goes to the hospital … “for” Julian
That embrace , spoke volumes… argh! and blech ! they were all over each other.
stop, put a stop to it
then the next minute – she’s pulling away , as Julian goes in for another “hug” and she pulls back… ” I think one hug is enough ”
COOL your jets Alexis.
at the cabin… as she sells herself at the doorway… looking demure and “naked” at the same time
argh! they are either together !!!!! or not… just STOP GH STOP with the will she or wont she step outside of her “box” and LIVE and have FUN.
accept Julian
although… I’d rather Robin Christopher… as Skye Chandler return to town.. and then… get Julian out of his tired scenery… save for Ava. because Sam has run her course. and we never see his sons… so who cares… altho I love Lucas.
so what’s the point ? what family should he be fighting for? dang
move on
I will no longer go the Frigidaire route
Oh, Shay, that’s not quite how it works. I’ve had many disastrous dates with men, but that doesn’t make my loins yearn for a woman.
If it did work that way, please let Brad Pitt know I’m available, lol.
Oh, Shay. Sappho, indeed. Greek mythology and history seem to insinuate themselves within your and mine. Great minds…..
Should read: within your thoughts and mine. Oops.
I think Shelly should also join you. You guys can open a bakery! You two could make little Chimera sugar cookies and shipped them around the world in music boxes!
The Music Box Bakery…we can bake…but the music box connection makes no sense-lol
Ha ha! You two are funny.
On Y&R they wrote a MUSIC BOX story that went absolutely nowhere! Sally Sussman came and and wrapped that damn thing up in a few days! In other words, use the Music Box for cookies, not a story that stunk to high heaven!
That was too funny — thanks you made my day
How about miniature statues of the EP–with ising, Trimm! And sell them by the baker’s dozen (isn’t that 13–unlucky number!).
(Laughter and applause!)
Too funny, Timmmbo! But I should think they could simply supply the GH craft table with all those cookies….not to mention keep them coming onscreen to ply poor little Charlotte with her daily-required sugar rush that her minders cannot seem to do without when it comes to placating this child!
Charlotte creeps me for some reason…they should had kept the previous kid who played Jake who creeped me too and had him and Charlotte in scenes together…these children together could had been as spooky as those twins from The Shinning…lol
Yes, jimh!!!!….I still miss that spooky little Jakester….he was so perfectly eerie! New Jake is a real cutie, but he has more of a mischievous “Dennis the Menace,” quality, minus the truly menacing aspect!..It was the same situation with that superb “Child of the Corn” Joss we had awhile back…that girl was the ultimate Carly offspring…a total “bad seed.” I miss her, too!
Shay… your response with the little Jakester… I miss James Nigbor. he deserves another chance…
this little toothache ( nuJake)… syrupy over the top cute. don’t go their GH. it’s painful enough with Jason and Sam. PAIN
I LOVED the original JOSS… that’s a nice omen to LW Carly. fitting for the character
anyway.. I wanted to tell you I fell over laughing.. at your wit with Charlotte neverending supply of chocolate. I LOVE that child to bits. she… like Emma… own their scenes.
cute’sters ( the originals )
Emma
Josslyn
Jake
Charlotte
add in ONE Spencer
i’ll take them
Yes, Patrick! James Nigbor was the perfect “Little Jake!” Though reticent and on the silent side, I thought his demeanor was totally befitting for a boy who was obviously traumatized by Helena…all it took was a single spooky look from him to convey his deep-seated “issues”—no words required! NuJake is simply way too chipper to be effectively persuasive as a disturbed child who was brought up on “The Island” in the “Romper Room from H#!!” As for Charlotte, she is another “gift” from Helena that keeps on giving…must make sure those sugar infusions ala cookies and hot chocolate continue to flow to fuel this pint-sized terror! (On second thought, make that FROZEN hot chocolate with this week’s East Coast “heatwave!”) P.S. What I wouldn’t give to see the former Joss back in Port Charles! With her added to the roster— along with the insufferable Spence—whatta collection of kiddos that would make for one VERY scary “Bad Seed Summer Camp!”
Kate Hall Now!
Christopher Whitesell will join her if Shelly Altman leaves next.
Curious to see who will replace her. I think the fans who think her leaving will change anything at GH will be surprised since the issues aren’t the writers but the network and executives who meddle. Wish Jean a happy retirement!
I largely agree with you, Jenn–I’ve long thought the problem is more the ABC brass than the writing staff, going back at least as far as Guza. I have no confidence whatsoever that whoever is chosen to replace JP will necessarily write anything more to my liking. It could happen–I liked much of what Carlivati did–but I think if it did, it would be purely by accident. As long as the mob is the show’s focus–and it will be, until ABC changes its mind about that–the show is going to be set in a warped moral and ethical universe, and I think that limits the possibilities severely for telling truly compelling stories.
Yes–ABC brass hold the key. Too bad!
I liked Ron’s work, also. Plus, I agree with previous comments about Jason and his closeness to Sonny; also, Michael and Monica don’t make it any better. Terrible writing as far as I’m concerned. I stopped watching G. H. years ago when Sonny was allowed to treat A.J. so horrific and the Qs had no power to fight Sonny. There have been people who fought the mob even though they knew consequences were coming.
I loved ron carliavatis writing he wrote with the history of the characters in mind and played the characters off of the other characters like they did back in the day not just one or two power couples and that is now the sl that is lame and boring my only problem with his writing was that he had a tendency to drag sl s on too long Jason/jake sl but over all I would love to have him back he also included the vets who are essensial to the show for history and continuity sake if not it becomes a new show the reason fans watch soaps is because we come to know and love the characters that have been a part of our lives for years
Overall, I have enjoyed Jean’s work in daytime, particularly on the P&G soaps. She has written some strong stories for GH as well. I wish her very well.
I do wonder what this will mean for GH. Hogan Sheffer?
New head writer: I want mystery, intrigue, and romance on GH. And I want storylines to have payoffs.
As a longtime soap opera fan, I appreciate Jean’s long history of writing amazing stories in daytime, and her dedication to this industry that we fans appreciate. I wish her well. I have wondered recently if she has written for Genie Francis, who is a legend at GH, on a good note that I am loving seeing Laura strong and with a purpose. Writing teams must focus on GH rich history of legacy characters (more webbers and quartermaines).
Howard, I wondered also who was writing for Genie. I, too, am loving seeing Laura strong and with purpose (and glad to see that Genie has gotten some of her swagger, humor, and confidence back). Hope all that won’t end now! (Sigh!)
I really want to see Laura in a couple. I know she doesn’t “need” a man…I just think it would be nice for her to have one. They need to feature her with Jon Linstrom/Kevin. The fans loved it and they just ditched it. Again, if Jon’s not available or the budget won’t allow…why “tease” the viewer and then drop it. So stupid.
and baldwins
I hope her last script includes the death of Sonny. I’d for sure start watching GH once he dies. Nothing at GH will change as long as NV is at the helm of ABC Daytime. He needs to go stat!
Thank you, Scott5! I second your motion!
Great suggestion, Scott5…along with a huge soap-style disaster that will wipe out at least half of the insufferable cast, including Sonny, of course…It can be either natural or manmade, I’m not partial to either, just so long as it gets the job done!
now the chimera would’ve been great for doing that lol
I’m cracking up!
Me, too, dmr…lol.
Enjoy your retirement, Jean!
How refreshing would it be to have HW and a EP over there that did not kiss the ring of Maurice Benard? I have no issue with her she was only carrying out her marching orders why do you think RC was shown the door he was giving GH some balance yes some of it was over the top but at least it was not the Sonny show ! Sigh! I would like to ask die hard fans that are still hanging in there how were you able to hold food down watching a washed up mobster with small man syndrome torment a woman who had just been burned badly ! I understand from blogs that most viewers were totally disgusted.
Yeah, TPTB have sunk to a new low–and, believe me, baby, that a real LOW low!
I’ve never been a fan of Jean’s writing. The last few years of ATWT put the final nails in the show’s coffin, her tenure on Y&R was boring and uneventful, and her stint on GH has had mostly mixed results. Some stories, like Morgan’s death, Kristina’s sexuality, the Olivia Jerome arc and the Valentin/Anna/Alex chimera debacle have been interesting to watch, but other stories like the hospital serial killer of last summer, the whole Nelle storyline, and whatever this “Man Landers” nonsense is, have been dreadful.
I’m not sad to see her go. I was happy when she and Shelley were booted from Y&R, and I actually preferred Chuck Pratt’s writing in comparison to theirs (something I never thought I would say until it happened). Hopefully they will also get rid of Shelley when her contract expires, and we’ll get a new team that will restore the suspense, intrigue, and story payoffs that GH was known for under Ron C. and other previous writers.
I also really want a resurrection of characters we actually care about! The GH cast is populated with characters that have very few ties to the canvas and are nonessential to story. Dump characters like Franco, Nina, Andre, Valerie, Nathan, Kiki, Amy, Brad and Nelle and bring back fan-favourites.
Now that Tracy is gone, I want more Q’s. Even though Emily and A.J. are dead, I’ll accept whatever story is needed to get them back. I also want to see Nikolas and Lucky back in Port Charles, where they belong, even if they have to recast the roles. Since Tristan Rogers is no longer under contract at Y&R, why not bring Robert back permanently? And how about characters from GH’s past that have ties to the show, like Jax, Brenda, Steve & Sarah Webber, Tom Hardy Jr., etc. GH’s core families need to be beefed up again, and less focus needs to be given to newbie characters.
It would also be nice to get the vets involved more. Laura, Kevin, Lucy, Scott, Felicia, Mac and Bobbie used to be the show’s backbone, but now they are hardly ever seen and utilized the way they should be.
This is all just wishful thinking, but hopefully some of these changes can be made!
I, too, feel your pain about the vets. When it comes to contract actors, the writers have little say on who appears how often (due to guarantees and minimums for those actors). The writers leeway is with the recurring performers who work based on storyline, availability and budget. Sporadically, Jelly has done a decent job working recurring vets into story. We’ve seen more of Monica, Bobbie, Scotty and Ned than we have in ages. Yes, more Mac, Felicia and Kevin would be ideal. The only vet they really bothered was TR (Robert) who has refused to appear based on how his character was written the past few times.
The ultimate decision on contract actors lies with Valentini & Varni. Unless there’s a change there, we’re most likely going to see the same characters driving story.
Yeah, I agree! Why pick on the lowly writers? THEY are not the blame!
Haha, Nancy! I wouldn’t exactly call the writers “lowly” but I know what you mean. They’re not in charge of the hiring/firing…they write what/who they’re given. We can all go on and on about who we’d like to see back but there’s got to be a reason for such changes. I think it’s cost. Advertisers. Etc…glad to see Mac on today…his, sigh, “annual” appearance. As an actor he was really given a bum deal. As soon as Finola came back..don’t get me wrong, one of my favorites…but they ditched him from the police force, made him a bartender and then just edged him out. He was a longstanding, much loved character. Heartless moves by corporate.
Art imitates life. People get pushed out of jobs they’re still capable of doing for less expensive up-and-coming employees. Way of the world. Not good. Just is.
I dont think wants and needs will be fulfilled because Frank still runs the show and only hires his boys and pisses on GH history and its legacy!
Happy retirement to her! It should’ve happened years ago after she made the final years of ATWT barely watchable, but better late than never. Hopefully, Altman will “retire” (LOL) too and GH will install a new HW who’ll help this trainwreck of a show regain its heart, soul and brain.
They’ll have the same problem because GH will still have the same EP and ABC daytime will still have the same heads.
“The more things change the more they remain the same.”
I agree about ATWT. Passanante’s “writing” butchered that show. I breathed a sigh of relief when she was gone from Y&R. I don’t watch GH but, given the years that I endured watching her “writing” on ATWT and (thankfully, briefly) on Y&R, I have a good idea of what she likely did to GH as well.
I wonder what the unemployed ATWT veterans (Eileen Fulton, Don Hastings, Kathryn Hays, Elizabeth Hubbard, Marie Masters, Colleen Zenk ……) think about this “retirement”? Most of them strike me as too classy to ever give their real opinion but I can’t imagine that they have a high opinion of her writing “skills.”
I hope Passanante’s retirement is enjoyable and wish her well. However, I still miss ATWT and will never get over what her writing did to that show.
Whomever comes in next needs to restore balance to the show. Too much Sonny, too much mob.
Nothing on GH changes much with just changing writers. Frank is still the problem as are all his pet actors that longtime GH fans care nothing about. As long as Frank produces a show geared towards fan wars and all the inside baseball BS of appealing to stans of specific actors and shippers, thinking that the obsessions of a very small group translate to what a larger GH audience wants, GH will still have a very limited appeal to a small group who can obsess over Friz and Roger and Jasam and whatever. GH is a shell of itself. It is unrecognizable and it is filled with faces like Stafford, Howarth, Easton, Budig, DeVry, Miller, the Valentin guy, West etc that longtime GH fans, lapsed viewers, care nothing about. Different or even better stories for them will not attract a larger audience.
Right on, MB! What I said! You say it so well.
Very well put, MB! And spot-on!
WHOOPIE!!!! ……
………………….. HALLELUJAH !!
bye bye Jean– take Shelly with you !!
The QUEENS OF SNOOZE (both) will be gone, hopefully.
GH needs to clean house on All the writers..
clean house and bring back General Hospital, the real GH, the GH that was unique and stood alone among the regular ho hum soap as the – Not a Traditional Soap, the Unique One needs to return to its glory.
(( Jean and Shelly and their sidekick Frank destroyed the once awesome soap.
LONG LIVE GH !!!
Hey, su! You got it right re “sidekick Frank.”
The show needs to clean house, with the actors, too. There are too many recurring characters and new characters. CLEAN HOUSE!
totally agree too many characters is part of the problem as to why there are issues on the show no continuity etc everything just gets all jumbled together like they have no clue what they are doing they should use the vets as a base and go from there building on the history of the show seriously someone just needs to hit the reset button on this show it is just getting totally screwed up
This is great news for GH. She is a horrible writer. I’ll never forgive her for the mess she made of As the World Turns in it’s final years.
That’s the problem with soaps today. Writers will come in with their own vision of what they want the show to be, and if the fans hate it, they will stop watching, the show will lose ratings and get cancelled, but the writer who destroyed it will find another job elsewhere with ease.
Jean is a perfect example – she canned ATWT, moved on to Y&R and made it a snooze fest, and then got hired for some inexplicable reason at GH and turned it into a shell of itself. Chuck Pratt is another example – he destroyed AMC in his year-long tenure, went on to find success in primetime, came back to daytime and made Y&R barely recognizable, and is now back in primetime. How these hacks continue to find work is beyond me.
it would be great if they could recruit some writers from TV land instead of soap land.
Give TV serial writers a try- it can’t get any worse.
New blood new ideas new way of laying out stories that could be interesting, for sure.
The soaps will die if they don’t roll into the 21st century.
(the soaps are stuck in the 80’s with 80’s writers and they only know how to write from the 80’s ..)
Stuck In The 80’s !!!!!
I totally agree with this comment. It has puzzled me how these writers continue to find work on the few remaining soaps after the wreckage on their resumes.
Passante:
Head writer of Another World when cancelled.
Head writer of ATWT when cancelled.
Writer on OLTL when cancelled.
Becomes co-head writer on Y&R and is demoted within a year on the job.
Sure, Passante has experience in writing but, over the past 15 years, little professional success. I wish her well in retirement. I just wish that she had made this decision 15 years ago….. maybe ATWT would still be on the air.
But I remember when Charles Pratt’s writing (under other “regimes” and brass wrote sharp, even humorous dialog.
GH stuck in the ’80’s???? Hardly, su0000….were that the fortunate case, then the show would still be #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Remember she has to write what she’s being asked to write!
Don’t forget the “suits.”
I wonder if Hogan Sheffer is available? I loved it when he wrote for ATWT. His style would be a good fit for GH.
There is a God after all!
Wendy Riche? Bring her back and restore GH to it’s roots. Sally Sussman is making Great strides at Y&R, the show looks like it did in Bill Bell’s days, Wendy can do this for GH.
I totally agree!
Wendy was the EP, not the head writer. It appears Frank is staying.
Loved Wendy Riche. I will forever miss Claire Labine, too.
Could we find someone who writes as well as Claire L. did–and with her core family stories–with ethics and goodwill to boot? Tall order! Wonder if anyone of that caliber is out there today. Must surely be!
PS Remember who disliked Claire L. vehemently? You guessed it? Petulant TG, by name.
“Can’t fight city hall”!
Nancy, when Claire wrote for General Hospital in the ’90’s, it was “must see daytime TV!” I remember rushing home from high school and doing my algebra homework, while watching Sonny and Brenda (favorite couple), Ned and Lois, and the Quartermaine’s. Back then, we had stories built on friendships and relationships. Drama was front and center and we had “Cliff Hanger Fridays!
Jean don’t retire, you will be bored
Why shouldn’t she have the same emotion that many GH viewers have had?
Spot on, Steve!
Steve! You need to give warnings if you’re going to post witticisms like that one! My laptop does not like it when I spew coffee all over my keyboard!
I wish her well. However after enduring a revolting door of new writers on both Young and the Restless and Days I no longer have any illusion a change in head writers means much in terms of what we see on screen .
I am not a fan of any of the storylines she wrote while on GH but I do think she has had a respectable career and I wish her well.
I’ve enjoyed many stories on both GH and OLTL and I admire anyone with heart, imagination, and the creative drive. Thank you, Jean, for your contribution to our fictional worlds…
Hello there, Rebecca!
Thanks for your supportive reply to me in this thread!
And I admire your classy angle in this thread, genuinely thanking Jean for work. You make terrific points! Take care, Friend!
Thanks, Jamesj75. I save my “wrath” for people who deserve it…not a creative soul…a soap writer…who did her best. Hopefully she has a thick skin!
This is good news…………ten years too late!! I don’t watch GH but I’ll never forget the HORRIFIC “writing” that she served up for years on ATWT. IMO, her writing was a key factor in the cancellation of 50-year old ATWT.
I wish her well in her retirement but don’t ever want to read that she has reconsidered the decision and is returning to soap writing.
Anybody else wondering if there’s more to the story than this? True, things could be exactly as reported; JP has had a long career, and it’s entirely possible she just wants to retire and enjoy life (I say this as a recent retiree myself; I had just reached a point at which I knew I was ready to go). It sounded like that was what happened to Jane Elliott, for example. Still, I do have to wonder if the grind of trying to produce compelling drama despite network interference (translation: having to spend day after day struggling to make ABC’s dumb ideas work on screen) took its toll and she finally decided she’d just had enough of soap writing. One could not blame her, if so.
Jean is fairly active on Twitter and she insists that it was entirely her decision. She acknowledged that many would think otherwise.
Then again, nobody asked her if she was tired of coming up with different ways to praise Sonny.
Because that is the top priority for any writer at GH these days…..
Too bad RC isn’t available, loved his tenure at GH. Yes, I know Fluke was a mess, but I think that had more to do with AG than RC.
FLUKE was such a travesty! I like how we were able to see more of Luke’s past and his childhood, and I would have preferred that angle to have been explored more. Then, that would tie into his “alcoholism” (which, I never quite bought) and his life as a recluse. The split personality disorder storyline was a total mess, IMO.
So AGREE!
The only reason we got the split personality angle was that the audience figured Fluke was Bill Eckert. Ron wanted an element of surprise, so he switched the reveal to be a (disappointing) surprise.
Denise Demuccio is as much to blame for Ron’s ouster as Fluke.
damn…. YES ! I’ll take this and RUN
I never bought the hype… his everlasting appeal…. lets upchuck every thing
enjoy Amsterdam
no last laugh here
Besides the Chimera story sucking ,Jason Q not resurfacing, and no climax involving the Nelle story, we never knew who Val’s black father was, Kiki has never ran into Finn and could we go ONE episode without hearing the name Morgan! He was disliked on the show, a two bit actor with a big mouth!
You are spot on, the MORON was a two bit actor with a big mouth who squealed and screamed thinking that gave him “range.” I would like to watch General Hospital, not “The Morgan Hour.”
I enjoyed your writing during the last year of OLTL. Happy Retirement! Maybe they can call you if OLTL comes back in any form!
Fire Shelly and bring back Bob Guza as Head writer! GH was dark and intense when he was at the helm! As someone who isn’t a fan of the traditional love in the afternoon cheesy, soapy storylines, I miss the days that GH felt more like an edge of your seat prime-time series rather than a daytime drama!
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair

On the Thursday, October 1 episode of General Hospital, both Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) had some things to say and what they had to say didn’t go over well with whom they were talking to!
Sonny had a confrontation with his son, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), while Michael leveled with Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) over Chase (Josh Swickard).
GH is setting up a scenario where everyone is going to make it look like Sonny was responsible for having Sidwell (Carlo Rota) beat up in Pentonville; while viewers already know Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) were behind it.

Courtesy/ABC
A VISIT WITH DAD
Now, Dante comes to Sonny’s house. He wants to know straight up from his dad if he ordered the attack at Pentonville. Sonny flatly denies any culpability or responsibility, but Dante refuses to believe him.
Dante informs Sonny he has video footage of Sully and Vito at the prison. Sonny explains to Dante he doesn’t know why Sully beat up both Curtis and Dante. Things escalated when Sonny was deeply hurt that Dante refused to believe him. Dante says he was disappointed that his father didn’t respect him enough to be truthful with him!
Sonny asks Dante to consider that he was being set up. He says all he did was to tell Vito to instruct Sully to keep a watchful eye on Sidwell, not to harm him. No matter what Sonny said, Dante continued hammering him with how he knew deep down, even though he said he left the mob, he had to finish off Sidwell for himself.
Next, Sonny explains everything he has ever done was to provide for and to protect his family. Dante fired back that he doesn’t want to deal anymore with Sonny’s half-baked truths. As the two men argue, Gio (Giovanni Mazza) shows up at Sonny’s front door and overhears Sonny losing his temper and shouting at Dante, “Get out of my house! I don’t want a son like you!” The scenes featured an excellent performance by Maurice Benard.

Courtesy/ABC
MICHAEL THE MANIPULATOR
While this is going down, outside the Quartermaine boathouse, Brook Lynn opens up to Michael about living at the Q’s with Chase being there, since he only came back due to legal advice from his lawyer, Monet Mitchell (Blythe Howard).
Brook Lynn questioned whether they should get legally separate. Michael insisted that would be a big mistake. When she asks why, Michael tells Brook Lynn to bide her time until Chase and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) have an affair; then she’d have full custody of Phoebe.
An angered Brook Lynn pushed Michael into the water and accuses him of moving Willow back into the gatehouse with intent on putting Chase and Willow in closer proximity and sacrificing Brook Lynn’s family in the process. As the two cousins bicker, Chase shows up asking Brook Lynn if she is OK. Michael punctuates their talk with “You know, I’m right.”
CURTIS FIGURES OUT A WAY TO GET OUT OF THE SLAMMER
At GH, Willow visits Curtis (Donnell Turner) in his hospital room. Curtis wants Willow to get him pardoned and keep him out of jail, and in return, he will help her nail Sonny.
Next, Willow tells Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) she wants Curtis held for observation for three more days. He agrees to do so under one condition, that she understands that he may need to call in a favor from a congresswoman.
So, what did you think of how Dante accused his father and refused to believe Sonny’s answers? Is this the end of their father and son relationship for good? Is Michael the most manipulative person of all, except for Willow? Do the two deserve each other? Do you want Chase and Willow to have an affair? And what of Curtis? Does he have many redeeming qualities left? Share your thoughts via the comment section, but first check out the talk Michael had with Brook Lynn.
General Hospital
GH Alum Tajh Bellow and Y&R Alum Loren Lott Star in New Tiktok and Microdrama ‘Love Island’ Spoof

Two soap opera alums very familiar to fans of General Hospital and The Young and the Restless are paired together in a new short-form digital series from none other than Issa Rae’s production entity HOORAE Digital.
Look for Tajh Bellow (ex-TJ Ashford, GH)) and Loren Lott (ex-Ana Hamilton, Y&R) as part of the cast of The Compatibility Experiment, premiering on October 14, 2026, exclusively on TikTok and its companion microdrama platform, PineDrama.
In the video teaser, it appears that Bellow and Lott play a couple, Kelvin and Camila, set in a Love Island reality show-esque environment trying to win the one million dollar cash prize, only what could go wrong?

Photo: HOORAE
The Compatibility Experiment loglines share that it brings a fast-paced, relationship-focused reality check—much like Love Island with a twist. The show takes a participant’s current relationship, introduces them to a potentially more compatible partner, and forces them to navigate the differences with life-changing money on the line.
The new series is part of a groundbreaking content deal between HOORAE Digital and TikTok to develop premium short-form storytelling. The ensemble cast also features; Ayona, Reggie Luck, JaNa Craig, Tosin Morohunfola, Jessica Jacoby, Georgia Warner, and Nick Cassidy.
General Hospital fans know Tajh Bellow for his performances as TJ Ashford, and who earned two Daytime Emmy nominations along the way during his run. Bellow took over the role in 2018 and last appeared on the ABC daytime drama series in December of 2024.
Loren Lott first appeared as Devon’s (Bryton James) sister Ana Hamilton on The Young and the Restless from 2018 to 2019; making a brief return in 2024. She has continued to perform on the stage and screen with recent credits including: Bel-Air, Cherish the Day, and All American: Homecoming.
Check out the trailer for The Compatibility Experiment below and let us know what you think of its concept and if you are glad to see Tajh and Loren again? Hoping they might return to daytime in their GH and Y&R roles at some point in the future? Weigh-in via the comment section.
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General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ava and Drew Revealed to be Behind Framing Sonny for Sidwell’s Prison Beatdown

If you thought that the person responsible for the Pentonville brawl that saw Sidwell (Carlo Rota) and Curtis (Donnell Turner) taken to General Hospital was Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) or even Sidwell himself, you were dead wrong! On the Wednesday, September 30 episode of GH, it turned out that the culprits were actually Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison).
In story, Drew apparently bankrolled the attack on Sidwell and framing Sonny. He told Ava their planned worked (she came up with it!) but was horrified when Drew informed her that Curtis got caught in the crosshairs. Ava is visibly upset because of her longtime friendship with Curtis’ daughter, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali). Drew tried to make Ava see the bright side. Curtis was witness to it and his presence will cast doubt on Sonny’s claims to that he had gotten out of the mob and gone legit.
Later, Vito shows up at Drew’s. They informed him that his guy on the inside of the slammer made a big mistake by hurting their friend and ordered him to leave town.

Courtesy/ABC
BOATHOUSE BRAWL
In other major developments, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) and Rocco (Finn Carr) have a blow out fight as Danny blames his “brother” for the reason Charlotte was sent off to boarding school.
Rocco told off Danny for Charlotte’s (Bluesy Burke) reckless behavior and he explains he had to protect his sister. He went in on Danny saying that his mother Lulu (Alexa Havins) has been right to send Charlotte to boarding school and far away from Danny.
However, Rocco went a bit too far when he shouted, “And if your mom was alive, she would send you away too!” Next, Danny punched out Rocco, leading to a terrible brawl. An angered Danny yells at Rocco to, “Stay away from me and everyone in my family. And don’t you ever mention my mom again!” Danny storms off.

Courtesy/ABC
Now alone outside the boathouse, Rocco flashes back to his first kiss with Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarksi), hoping that his fight with Danny will not escalate and ruin their budding romance. Meanwhile, a bloodied-mouth Danny heads over to Sonny’s and Jason (Steve Burton) is there at the same time. He then admits that he has a bad fight with Rocco and they are both beaten up.
WILL SCOUT WISE UP?
At the end of the episode, Scout, who had a fight with Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) over Drew, and who keeps telling everyone how good a man her dad truly is, comes upon a suspicious scene.
Scout hides behind the wall outside Drew’s. She sees her dad, Ava and Vito talking. Next, Scout seems to overhear Vito assuring Drew and Ava that their business dealings are done, and he’ll be leaving Port Charles for good.
So, what did you think of the reveal that Ava and Drew were behind framing Sonny for the prison beatdown of Sidwell (and Curtis)? Do you think Danny and Rocco’s relationship can be repaired, or do you think the teenagers will continue to be at each other’s throats? Finally, do you hope Scout gets a clue and stops thinking her dad walks on air? Weigh-in via the comment section, but first check out how Ava and Drew conspired below.
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