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General Hospital

Jen Lilley reveals on Twitter she is staying on as GH's Maxie & to stop the hate towards her from fans!

Photo Credit: Janna Giacoppo

Photo Credit: Janna Giacoppo

It is never easy and many times awkward for the best of actresses to come on to a daytime soap opera and replace a beloved performer whether it be permanent or temporary.   Today, General Hospital’s current Maxie Jones, Jen Lilley took to her Twitter page to inform her followers and many fans of Kirsten Storms, that she is for the forseable future now staying put in the role of Maxie.  She also asked fans, for the greater good of the show, to stop any hate towards her for things that are out of her control.

Here is what Jen tweeted, ‘I  had to get twitlonger to answer properly.  First, I, Jen Lilley, LOVE Kirsten Storms. I think she’s talented, funny, beautiful, and kind. While I have loved my time on GH, I think it’s under the saddest of conditions that I’m there.  Because of unforeseen circumstances, I am staying as Maxie. Please know that as a KS fan, I am really sorry. Kirsten is irreplaceable. To keep GH alive, someone had to step into the role. I cannot change what’s happened. Yes, I love being on the show, but if KS could have stayed all along, I would have wished a thousand wishes that I could have come on as a different character, for her sake and your sake as a GH fan. Change is never easy.

I hope you will find it in your hearts to stop being so hateful toward me personally, because honestly, after 6 months of it, I feel broken, and it’s not helping the show. We have to stand united for the sake of General Hospital’s livelihood and for soap fans everywhere. I think all of Kirsten’s wonderful fans know that she’d want her fans to support GH and fight like hell for it’s renewal. With utmost sincerity: Jen Lilley”

While we adore and love and send our best wishes to Kirsten Storms, I think fans should go easy on Lilley, who is doing an admirable job in the role.  Kirsten’s shoes can never be filled, but unfortunately in show business, the show must go on.  So,  let’s all support both Jen, Kirsten, and GH at this most delicate of times.

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Give the girl a break already!!

people are mean to hate her for having to replace a charactor. She is doing a great job even though she isnt KS. We all have to deal with change. Someone had to replace her would you turn the job down? Doubt it. I agree with give her a break…

What a small minded world we live in. It’s a soap! People get replaced all the time! Jen is doing a fantastic job taking over this role!

I have to say, I was so ready for Kirstens return. But I found myself last night watching GH and looking @ Jen and thinking “wow, she is maxie now and almost seemed to make me think it would be strange to see Kirsten back”. I wasn’t a fan of Jen up until recently, she has filled the shoes perfectly and is a natural at it now where as in the beggining it seemed she was a little out of place. Here’s to Kirsten’s health. And Thanks Jen for doing a Great Job!!!!

Completely agree! Over the last few days, Jen has really started to look comfortable in the role. She’s doing a great job.

It never ceases to amaze me that people can’t seem to separate characters from their actors, and understand that acting is a business. As much as we are sad when our favorites are replaced with other actors (what stands out in my mind was Laura Wright being replaced by Nicole Forester as Cassie on Guiding Light), it’s irresponsible and silly to take it out on the actors who are doing their jobs.

Well said, Traci.

I agree that everyone should stop being mean to Lilley.. It is not her fault that KS is sick and needs to have a replacement for the show. I wish KS the best in getting better and getting back to the show but until she can come back Lilley is doing a find job in her place. I am sure it is hard to try to come on to a show and fill someone elses shoes so go easy on her

Well said Michael and Jen.

thanks! I hope if Kristin does return, Jen will stay and maybe be a lost sister or near relative. She is doing a great job. I miss KS, but in light of the situation of soaps in general, I support this young actress and GH as a whole.

I don’t understand why people hate her. It’s not like Kirsten was fired. I don’t know what’s wrong with her, but it must be serious. I wish her well and think Ms. Lilley is doing a great job. Why hate her? Did she make Kirsten sick? No. Leave her alone. No other substitute would be better than Jen Lilley is. Al things considered, I think she’s doing a bang up job.

BRAVO Jen! Well said. I think some of the issue is that as fans, we don’t know what happened, or why? When is KS coming back or not? But the truth is, it is NONE of our business why KS is not returning; be it a personal matter, health matter etc. We must STAND TOGETHER to unite to KEEP ALL SOAPS ALIVE!! Grace

I think Jen needs the respect from fans that we give all the other phenomenal actors on GH. She makes an excellent point when she says we need to fight like hell for GH to be renewed. I’m losing it come September in the Orlando, FL area. Bravo Jen.

I honestly don’t know how anyone could possibly blame Jen Lilley for what has happened. I love KS and still miss her but that doesn’t mean Jen hasn’t done a bang-up job with the role. Her Maxie is different from KS’ and it’s taken me a bit to get used to that but she’s a strong actress. I can only imagine what a difficult position she found herself in.

Jen, I support you so much, and you are doing a great job. KS, is not replaceable..you said that, I just said it. Now we need to move on. Change of any kind is never easy. There are a lot of GH fan who do support you. So, stay strong, don’t take to heart what the KS fans may say..they are hurting..and they are hurting you. That does need to stop..I need to find your twitter page and follow and support you..hugs..

Some soap fans take the word FANATIC to a whole new level.

Poor girl. She is doing a bang-up job and receives all this hatred. It’s a sad world we live in.

No one is ever happy. If they had dropped the Maxie character, there would be complaints. If Kirsten Storms does come back, there will be complaints from the people who like Jen Lilley.

Daytime drama fans are a unique breed. Some recasts do not work. This one does. I think we as fans are spoiled because recasts and replacements are not as common or accepted. Why should, when an actor decides to go or is ill and cannot continue, a character be dismissed or a plotline compromised? Best wishes to these two actresses now and onward.

Ya know what peeps…give Jen a break – she’s doing a bang up job as Maxie Jones …no disrespect to Kirsten.

It is very sad the Jen had to write what she did, but it was well said and necessary. I miss Kirsten very much too and hope she is well and back as Maxie ASAP. People need to stop being mean about anything with the soaps we have left and should be happy we have them. I love GH and all of the actors and will hope that they will be on for many more years and we should be grateful when one is out sick that someone comes in and does a great job filling in for them. We are happy to have you Jen and thank you for keeping our Maxie going! Now if you can get her back with Spinelli all will be well!

shes doing a fine job playing maxie ,I liked her the first day she hit port charles,and was hoping that when k s comes back they can find a place to keep her,its not easy to replace someone and jenn lilley came in a gave it her all.the only reason I yelled at her today on her facebook page ,was to tell her not to pick on elizabeth , maxie is being naughty ,and to tell her she is doing a fine job being maxie and if shes at general hospital to stay,good.I really like her .and everyone should back off ,shes doing her job,and in my eyes ,doing one hell of a job.you go jenn lilley.

and jenn lilley just liked my post.shes so sweet.

This is the bad side of twitter. “Fans” can tweet hateful crap directly to the actors. I just don’t understand it. If you don’t like the actor don’t even bother to tweet anything.
If she feels broken, maybe she should delete her twitter and not bother. Wonder if it’s contractually required by GH that she has it?

I think Jen is doing an AMAZING job as Maxie. I enjoy KS but almost would be odd to see her back in the role. Keep up the Great work Jen. For all the haters out there, grow up, she has a job to do and is doing it quite well. KS is gone for now so it is what it is.

I’m confused it was my understanding that Kirsten Storm’s tweeted that she was returning to the role of Maxie at the end of the month. Is that no longer happening.

She did, then a week or so later it was confirmed she wasn’t returning as planned. I think she either left the series or the series let her go.

Good grief, how mean spirited people are! Not Jen’s fault Kirsten is ill. My only problem has been that Jen & the new Kate look too much alike, sometimes I glance up & can’t tell who is on the screen. Leave Jen alone & bring back the original Kate! (I guess I am being mean myself, not intended that way though!)

You’re a great Maxie. You can’t help someone got sick. You go.

I think Jen is a great actress, and has captured the “Maxie” personality perfectly. I had no idea people were treating her badly because of KS’ problems which she has no control over.

I love KS too, but I’m hoping Jen will enjoy her days as long as GH remains on the air.

Not upset by this at all!!! I much prefer Jen over Kirsten.

I am so proud and happy for Jen, I’ve had several conversations with her on Twitter and she’s nothing but a pure angel. I wish her nothing but the best and lots of years here on “GH” as Maxie!!

Jen is wonderful and brought comedy back to GH. She should not be so emersed in Twitter to feel “broken” by dopey fans.

to all the haters out there: if you don’t have anything nice to say then keep your mouth shut…………………….

Agreed!!!

I’m not a full-time viewer but when I do tune in, I think Jen Lilley is great when she’s on.

I do not think that fans should take it out personally on the actress, but to be in this business, Jen will have to understand not EVERYONE is going to like you. I don’t mind her, but she is not Maxie. She portrays Maxie in a way that is very unrecognizable to me and that is not her fault, it is just fact, in my opinion. I think for her to be “broken” that some are critical is a little over the top. There were people that certainly sent hate towards Kirsten, and probably still do, as well as many other actors and actresses on GH. If people are sending ugly things like “You’re ugly”, or antyhing to do with her PERSONALLY that is beyond uncalled for, but if people are sending their opinions of her portrayl, she needs to let that go. I think GH should have written Maxie out, it would relieve drama from the audience, less confusion and pressure on KS’s return, and Maxie is barely in a storyline (except for Matt’s and her lack of chemistry with Jason Cook has significantly pissed off many M&M fans anyway, so that is pointless).

I completely agree. I have nothing against Jen. But since she took over the writers have made Maxie a bratty, teenage girl. It’s annoying as hell. Just write her off the show.

I’m fine with Jen. She didn’t walk into an easy situation. If anything, I wish the writers of GH would start to give Maxie more character. She comes from great “stock” to be so insecure and shallow. Since they are both connected to Felicia, if Frisco comes back, this could be an interesting dynamic for both of them on figuring out how their relationships with Felicia played into where they are now.

People need to grow up and leave Jen Lilley alone. Yes, she’s no Kristen Storms. Nevertheless, I think that Lilley is doing a great job portraying Maxie and we should give Lilely a chance instead of bashing her for the simple reason that she replaced Storms.

Keep the good work Lilley and don’t listen to these juvenile haters.

If you wouldn’t play the part so whiney I would be ok with the change even though I really miss Kristen Storms.

I love all of these “critics” – who have never acted a day in their life – weighing in on something of which they know nothing. Jen has done a great job making the very best of a bad situation, and I think it’s time for everybody to just grow up and accept the fact that things sometimes change because of conditions beyond everybody’s control. I’m sure neither KS or JL are happy about these circumstances, but give the girl some credit for God’s sake. That’s the problem w/the internet – it’s easy to be an obnoxious bully when you remain anonymous.

First of all, how do you know that no one here has ever acted or otherwise been involved in the industry? That’s an awfully presumptuous thing to say.

Second, by your logic, no one should have an opinion about a book if they’re not a writer or about a painting if they’re not an artist or about a dish of food if they’re not a chef. Come on now! A person can learn how to appreciate and judge the quality of an art form without being a practitioner of it. While personal attacks on JL are uncalled for, any viewer of GH certainly has the right to evaluate her acting. The audience is the reason the show is produced.

And let me remind you that you are also an anonymous commenter.

I am enjoying her version of Maxie very much and am happy she is there. I especially love her funny chemistry with the character of Anthony.

I think she’s fabulous as Maxie! I don’t miss Kristen Storms one bit.

maybe if they softened her look… too much eye liner and bright red lipstick… she’s not KS…. i have to support my soaps first… the soap as a whole… who can’t say…. over the years…. 30+ years soap fan…. that we’ve seen favorite actors come and go… give her more love scenes with matt.

I read her twitter she gets lots of love, really she needs to ignore the haters and concentrate on the positive. All daytime actors get this, anyone in the public eye really. Also having read her other tweets before she unleashed this response I have to say she comments on the show, who she thinks the character should be with, who she likes/dislikes and read any almost any other GH actors twitter Bradford, Rebecca herbst, Steve Burton, Kelly Monaco, Jonathan Jackson, they for the most part stay out of this (with the exception of Becky’s firing) and she needs to take the same approach.

I wonder if people would feel the same if their favorite actor was replaced?

I love Kirsten’s style of playing Maxi-but I also feel Lilly has done and outstanding job to step into such a unique character role. I wish the best for both of them but i feel Lilly has been a fresh spin on Maxi and have enjoyed her very much. Maybe she can find out she is a twin and never knew it until now . That wa they both could be on the show-that would be a hoot.

or when kirsten comes back jenn lilley should stay on and be a new character ,I like her to ,she plays maxi very well .

Your not hated your just not her.

Still really missing KS over here! I’m sorry JL feels that fans don’t like her, but it’s not personal. It’s her acting that’s been a disappointment, and she needs to understand that part of working in the arts is accepting the audience’s right to analyze and critique your performance.

Maxie has always been written as a self-centered, manipulative, sometimes bitchy character, but KS found a way to soften those sides of Maxie by adding layers to her dialogue. Underneath the arrogance and the pushiness and the snark, you knew she had a conscience and a heart. KS even found a way to make a lot of her antics come off as cute–just Maxie being Maxie.

Unfortunately, JL’s delivery is one-dimensional and doesn’t convey that kind of depth. I often catch myself repeating her lines as KS might have said them and thinking how much more sympathetic they sound when read that way. Lately, the writers have been trying to redeem Maxie with this silly plot about how she tries to punish herself with a false murder confession. But what they’re really trying to do is compensate for JL’s inability to make Maxie likable without such plot devices. I actually find the character so annoying now that I usually change the channel when she’s on.

I’ll never stop hoping that KS will return as Maxie. I know nothing about JL as a person, so I don’t have any issue with her, and maybe she would be a good actress in another role. But she’s not a good fit for this one, and like any consumer of entertainment, I have the right to my opinion about it.

General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Learns Britt Died and Tells Anna He Has Been Working For Cates Since November 2021

On the Tuesday, March 26th of General Hospital, Anna (Finola Hughes) and the viewers learn about where Jason (Steve Burton) has been for over two and half years. However, Jason gets some news of his own.

Anna is visiting Jason at the PCPD interrogation room. She asks him if he shot Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), which he flatly denies. Anna believes him, but she tells Jason it doesn’t matter, because video footage shows him on the roof at the time of the shooting

When talk turns to Jason not willing to speak without his lawyer present, Anna can’t grasp why Jason would instead spend an hour alone talking with John Cates (Adam J. Harrington).

Photo: ABC

It is then that Anna brings up that John went by “Jagger” and that the two of them knew each other in high school. Jason doesn’t recall much of his time in high school following his brain injury, but then he gets furious realizing John knew about “Jason’s” past. That is when Jason slams the table and tells Anna, “I’ve been working for John Cates since November 2021.”

Next, Jason explains further that he has been working as an informant for the FBI. Anna wants to know how this came about and he tells her that after the tunnel collapsed, and he couldn’t make it to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud)… all of a sudden he sees Anna’s face drop.  Anna is the first person to tell him that Britt died and was murdered. She tells Jason the killer is in custody, but he continues to be shocked, overwhelmed with tears welling up in his eyes. Realizing he has to pivot to save his life, Jason continues telling Anna how he wound up working with John.

Jason explains that after the tunnel collapse in Greece, FBI agents grabbed him and placed him under arrest and took him to Quantico where he met John. At Quantico, John played a recording of RICO violations and offered Jason a deal if he agreed to be an informant against Pikeman, the illegal arms dealer.

Anna hears from Jason that he thinks Pikeman is selling illegal arms to anyone flagged by the NSA but has ties to the WSB which they needed a civilian to infiltrate their organization as a military soldier, a mercenary.

Jason tells Anna he was a part of the team brought into eliminate Sonny (Maurice Benard). Every time an attempt was made on Sonny’s life over the last two years, a different team was sent to do the job. Anna gets furious when she learns that John told Jason his job was to kill Sonny and she was with John at the warehouse that night. Jason ensured the sniper missed Sonny and left the rifle behind. However, they were supposed to meet an extraction team. Before he was shot, Dante saw it was Jason on the roof and when he turned around with his hands over his head, Dante was shot by the other guy. Jason says if Dante dies, he’ll be charged with capital murder and then will be useless to the FBI.

Photo: ABC

Meanwhile, John visits Bobbie’s and runs into Carly (Laura Wright). She learns Jason is in custody and is going to head to the PCPD. Before she does, Carly has some words with Cates when she learns not only does John have a vendetta against Sonny, but Jason too.  Carly tells John he should recuse himself from the case.

So, what did you think about the moment when Jason learned Britt died? What do you think of Jason’s return storyline thus far and what we learned about Jagger/Jason and more? Comment below. But first, check out a moment from today’s GH with Jason and Anna.

 

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