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!
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) revealed on Thursday, the lineup of presenters for 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards taking place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.
The ceremony will stream live on the NATAS YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@theemmys and watch.TheEmmys.tv.
Scheduled to present from the current soaps are: Katelyn MacMullen (Willow, General Hospital), Delon de Metz (Zende, The Bold and the Beautiful), James Preston (Nick, The Bay), Paul Telfer (Xander, Days of our Lives), Tamara Tunie (Anita, Beyond the Gates) and Susan Walters (Diane, The Young and the Restless).
Photo: NATAS
In addition soap alums, Crystal Chappell, Lesli Kay, Joe Lando, Eva LaRue, who is also a nominee this year, A Martinez, Juliet Mills, and Alicia Leigh Willis, will also be on hand to present.
The ceremony which celebrates nominated lifestyle programs and dramas will also include presenters: Eva zu Beck (Superskilled with Eva zu Beck), Danielle Chang (Lucky Chow), Sunny Hostin (The View), Derek Hough (Extra), Pati Jinich (Pati’s Mexican Table), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Michael Jr. (Stand Up and Do Something), Judge Greg Mathis (Mathis Court with Judge Mathis), Keke Palmer (Glam Through the Ages), Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight), and Andrew Zimmern (Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen).
The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards will bring together an exciting mix of presenters representing the full spectrum of daytime television,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO of NATAS. “From familiar faces in daytime drama to the personalities and creative voices behind talk shows and lifestyle programming, this year’s lineup reflects the breadth of talent that makes daytime so special. We look forward to celebrating the people who continue to shape the genre.”
Matthew Hoffman (Love Island USA, Cheap A$$ Beach Houses) will serve as the ceremony’s Voice of God, bringing his signature comedic narration to the evening’s celebrations. As previously announced, Lifetime Achievement honoree Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her husband, Jonathan Frakes.
So, what do you think about the list of presenters for the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know who you are looking forward to seeing via the comment section below.
General Hospital fans took to social media following the airing of the Wednesday, October 21 episode of the ABC daytime drama series. In story, Molly (Kristen Vaganos) reveals to Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) that she has received an offer to join the top law firm in Chicago that practices civil law. She says it’s her dream job.
The problem Molly says is relocating from Port Charles and uprooting her life and being away from her mother, Scout and boyfriend Cody Bell (Josh Kelly). Wistful that she may lose another daughter to a long-distance situation (Kristina left a few months back to go to medical school in California), Alexis urged Molly to get Cody to go with her.
Molly still seemed concerned and has trouble committing to the idea. Alexis tells her to talk it over with Cody. Meanwhile, Cody asked Tracy (Jane Elliot) is he can have Thanksgiving off because he and Molly planned to spend Thanksgiving together with their families. After initially balking, Tracy agrees.
Courtesy/ABC
WILL MOLLY AND CODY HEAD TO CHI-TOWN?
Later, Cody shows up at Miller & Davis and the conversation turned to Thanksgiving dinner that Alexis is hosting. Molly and Cody asked her not to cook anything. Cody hugged Molly reassuring Alexis that he and Molly would take care of whatever was needed on Turkey Day.
So, this raises the question, why out of nowhere are we learning that Molly received an amazing law offer in Chicago, if the character was not being written out? If Molly leaves the canvas, would the character of Cody make his exit too?
Kristen Vaganos joined GH as a recast Molly Lansing-Davis back in September of 2023 and went on contract in August of 2024. Josh Kelly began playing Cody Bell back in June of 2022. Initial reports were that Kelly joined the show on contract and then as of June 2025 went on recurring status with the show per his choice.
Do you see a world where GH is writing out Molly and Cody? Would you be sad to see Kristen and Josh exit the soap opera? If this is not what is going on, is this just a plot point for some other story that is upcoming? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
It’s been over two-years since his last appearance on General Hospital, now fan favorite Kin Shriner (Scott Baldwin) has taken to social media to share his thoughts on the casting of his grown-up TV daughter, Serena Baldwin now played by Kelly Kruger.
Kelly took over the role of Serena on-screen starting with the July 30, 2026 episode and has been ensconced in the storyline with her mother, Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring), in trying to win back full creative control of Deception for her.
In fact on the Monday, October 19 episode of the ABC soap opera, Serena tried to dupe Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) into signing over Michael’s (Rory Gibson) shares of the company. Jason caught on and wondered why she was doing this. She claimed she just wanted to help her mom gain creative control from Tracy (Jane Elliot) rather than full ownership, and begged Jason to keep quiet about it, which he agreed to for now.
Courtesy/ABC
WHERE IS SCOTT?
On Monday, Shriner also took to X and said, “I think Kelly Kruger is doing a great job on General Hospital, and she and Lynn Herring work well together.” That was followed by comments in his thread about the show needing to bring back Scott too.
In fact, back on August 25, Shriner also took to X with a reminder that Scott is still around and ready to come back to Port Charles, sharing, “Scotty Baldwin always fits in he just needs the right sport coat !!!!”
The last time Serena mentioned her father Scott was when Kruger made her debut and informed Lucy that her father was, “living his best life in Key West.” Meanwhile, Shriner posts on his X account continually and shared back on August 2, that it has been 49 years since he made his on-screen debut as then teenaged, Scotty Baldwin and thanked the fans for al the love and support.
So, now let us know, are you enjoying Kelly Kruger as Serena Baldwin? Do you want to see GH bring back Scott Baldwin into the story, so Serena has both her parents in Port Charles? Do you like the potential of Jason and Serena pairing? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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