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John Stamos Was Told by Iconic General Hospital EP, Gloria Monty: “If You Leave, Dear, You’ll Never Work in This Town Again,” New Memoir Reveals

By Michael Fairman

Published

3 years ago

on

Photo: ABC

The new memoir by John Stamos , If You Would Have Told Me, has already made many headlines in mainstream media leading up to its release today on October 24th. The book is now available everywhere books are sold.

While the memoir of John’s life on-screen and off has plenty of bombshell moments and details, he does talk about the beginnings of his career as General Hospital’s Blackie Parrish – a role he played from 1982-1984.

In story, Blackie came on to the canvas as a troubled teen who became the foster child of Rick and Lesley Webber.  Stamos was just 18-years-old at the time, but on GH, John was playing a street-wise kid who was used to surviving on his own and had just lost his mother.

Photo: ABC

Throughout, If You Would Have Told Me, there are several stories and references to John’s years in daytime including his relationship with Lori Loughlin (ex-EON), whom he first met when she introduced the category he was nominated in at the 1983 Daytime Emmys. He also addresses if he and Demi Moore (ex-Jackie Templeton, GH) were an item while on the ABC soap.

John landed the role of GH’s Blackie on his first audition and was paid $400 an episode.  Stamos shared, “and if I happen to stay on longer, $450.”

However, a critical point in his soap career changed his trajectory, when he told then GH executive producer, Gloria Monty, that he wanted to leave the soap. She took him to lunch to discuss, after a run-in with Dean Martin, who told Stamos to ‘get out while you can’. John told the tough-as-nails EP who had turned GH around from certain cancellation, that he wanted to go to a sitcom. Monty responded, “You know, if you leave, dear, you’ll never work in this town again.”  Clearly, Gloria was proven wrong, as John went on to multi-decades long and successful career in television.

Photo: ABC

In addition, Stamos also shared how he lost it in front of Elizabeth Taylor (ex-Helena Cassadine, GH), who was visiting the GH set to see her friend Tony Geary (ex-Luke Spencer). “There she is, in all her lavender-eyed glory, poised in a director’s chair, sipping champagne,” Stamos recalled. However, he yelled at the Oscar-winning actress and legend unknowingly when he got irked by the fact that someone was moving around a director’s chair while he was in the middle of the scene and that person was her!

Photo: JPI

So, what do you think about John Stamos proving Gloria Monty wrong? Are you going to pick up your copy of ‘If You Would Have Told Me’? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Didn’t GloMo also tell Jane Elliott that her work wasn’t good enough to submit for an Emmy?

She may have known how to resurrect a dying show, but some of her viewpoints were highly questionable.

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Look, I don’t want to speak ill of the dead, and I do realize how Monty “saved” GH. I am one of those fans who was happiest with the show in the years preceding Monty’s tenure. And I do recall an infamous anecdote about how apparently cruel Monty was to a particular actress, Mary O’Brien who played the second Heather. Maybe it was “tough love.” I don’t like sports coaches who yell or even get physical with their athletes. Same goes for executive producers. Stamos made the right decision for him (to leave GH) at the time, and things certainly worked out well…

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She deserves great credit, certainly–but the soap world generally acts like she saved GH by herself, when two very talented headwriters (Douglas Marland, and then Pat Falken Smith) had as much to with it, and arguably more, and she had one of the most gifted casts in soaps’ history for a good bit of her tenure (many of whom were not people she herself had hired) who certainly played a huge role as well.

She also did more than any other single person I can think of to wreck the soap genre, because she’s the one who introduced the idea that the executive producer, and not the headwriter, should be the driving creative force behind a soap–unleashing the whole culture of micromanaging (because once Monty got her way with that, every other soap executive up and down the chain decided they should have the same authority to impose their “creative vision”) that has brought things to the current point.

(Don’t even get me started on the “Rape is seduction” fiasco.)

As for Monty bullying her actors, MOB apparently wasn’t the only one. I know that some actors truly adored her, but judging from stories that crept out in the years after she retired, she could be just awful, and like you, James, I just don’t see any reason for that. Nothing justifies treating people that way. . . .

Reply

Hey Michael:

So glad to see your reply. Thanks for the backup and for providing further detailed commentary and analysis. I’m with you on all counts: “‘rape is seduction’ fiasco,” great writers, great inherited cast, etc. Maybe GH didn’t have an HR department in those days. 🙂 We know that DOOL certainly has one in 2023!

PS: I always enjoy your insights here. Take care, Friend!

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He proved Monty wrong. Would love for him to make a brief visit back to GH.

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Jeanette, John Stamos did return, not as Blackie, but as himself in 1992. I want to say it was a storyline involving characters (for some reason I remember Scotty, Dominique, and Julia?) in Hollywood. And here’s the thing, Gloria Monty wrapped up her second stint as executive producer in January of ’92, and Wendy Riche came on, and it’s a bit poetic if you ask me.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Josslyn Gets a Visitor in Obrecht, Chase Makes A High-Profile Arrest … But Who is it?

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5 hours ago

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June 7, 2026

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This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, after Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) chloroformed Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati), she winds up thrown into the secret room at Wydemere with Josslyn Jacks. Now, both Obrecht and Joss are under the thumb of Cullum and Sidwell  (Carlo Rota) for different reasons.

However, what will Cassius (Ryan Paevey) think of the news that his mother is being forced to finish Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) work on Faison’s final project?  Cassius gets very alarmed when Sidwell informs him in the Monday, June 8 “Next on General Hospital” video teaser, that, “Locating Britt is no longer a priority.”

Meanwhile, Portia’s (Brook Kerr) baby shower is here, which could wind up in an all out war between Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson) and Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner). While Curtis is lawyering up with someone, Portia wants Isaiah to “just hold off for now.” Is she referring to him suing Curtis for destroying his ability to operate after injury his hand, or to stay away from the baby shower?

Courtesy/ABC

KRISTINA’S PLANS

Kristina Corinthos-Davis (Kate Mansi) pays a visit to Lucas Jones (Van Hansis). It appears she drops the news of her decision to leave Port Charles to attend medical school at UCLA, which paves the way for Kate Mansi’s upcoming exit. When talking with Lucas she says, “A lot of people are going to be surprised by this.“ Is it that she wants to become a doctor, or is something else also going on?

By week’s end Chase (Josh Swickard) is going to make a major arrest! Who gets hand-cuffed and taken to the PCPD? Is it Sidwell, who Lucas was trying to set-up or someone else? Stay tuned.

Now below, check out the official GH spoilers for the week of June 8-12.

MONDAY, JUNE 8
Laura relishes her victory. Jossyn’s days may be numbered. Kristina issues a request. Curtis seeks Alexis’ help. Kai worries about Trina.

TUESDAY, JUNE 9
“Nathan” makes a major confession. Portia’s baby shower is a tense affair. Sidwell is on the warpath. Willow is blindsided. Brook Lynn issues an apology.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
Carly takes action. Trina makes a bold decision. Dante gets bad news. Willow receives a tempting offer. Curtis and Portia clash.

THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Valentin cautions Carly. Ava has a guilty conscience. Sonny is taken by surprise. Nina checks in on “Nathan.” Cody scores points with Molly. Danny and Charlotte make a plan.

FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Ethan weighs his options. Tracy has harsh words for Willow. Brook Lynn seeks Sonny’s aid. Chase makes a high-profile arrest. Alexis is persuasive.

You can check out the General Hospital preview video for the Monday, June 8 episode below.

Now weigh-in:  Will Josslyn and Obrecht work together to escape Wyndemere? Who is Chase going to arrest? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Cullum Kidnaps Obrecht as Britt’s Replacement to Finish Faison’s Final Project

Published

1 day ago

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June 6, 2026

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WSB director Ross Cullum is truly as despicable villain as they come, and played with steely intensity by Andrew Hawkes. For the double agents latest crime, you need to look no further than the Friday, June 5 cliffhanger of General Hospital, where in the episode’s final moments he sneaks up on an unassuming Dr. Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) after hiding in the back seat of her car.

Next, he chloroforms her with his intent clear. He plans on forcing her to finish the last leg of Faison’s final project at Wyndemere, since her daughter Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) left town with Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) in tow to get away from Cullum!

In what led to the kidnapping, Cullum had a terse conversation with his business associate and co-conspirator on the project, Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota). It is Sidwell who is preoccupied with wanting to bring Marco’s killer to justice (not knowing it’s the man right in front of him!). Sidwell told Cullum if bringing Marco’s killer to justice wasn’t a priority for the WSB director, then why should protecting Cullum be a priority for him?

SIDWELL VS. CULLUM

The two finally put aside their differences as they have to complete Faison’s final project for it will be highly lucrative for them, useful for their mutual gains, and groundbreaking. In order to do that they need a great mind with a scientific background to finish it up and get them to the finish line since Britt as disappeared.

Later, outside of “General Hospital,” Obrecht is headed back to her car after searching Britt’s office for any clues as to the whereabouts of her daughter. But when she got in the car to drive away, that’s when the aforementioned Cullum strikes!

Courtesy/ABC

BROOK LYNN GETS ADVICE FROM A FORMER ADULTERESS

In other key developments, after Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) keeps inserting herself into Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) life, all with the seeming pretense to pay back Chase for helping her clear her name at the trial, and standing by her, she brings good news in person about baby Phoebe’s adoption to Alexis’ (Nancy Lee Grahn) law office to Chase. Once Brook Lynn heard Chase was on her away over with paperwork, she decided to hightail it out of there for an “emergency” appointment for Deception.

As we come to find out, Brook Lynn meets up with Lucy (Lynn Herring) at the Metro Court pool, She then proceeds to inform Lucy about Willow sniffing around he husband. Lucy says she knows a thing or two about being an adulteress. Brook Lynn wants Lucy to help her send a clear message to Willow to stay away from her husband, or else!

Now below, check out the scenes before Obrecht was kidnapped where she visited Willow, Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) and suspects Willow is up to no good.

Then let us know, with Lucy taking Brook Lynn under her wing, what plot do you think the two will come up with against Willow? What do you think will happen to Obrecht? With Lucas also at Wyndemere trying to bait Sidwell into an attempted murder charge, will he winds up thrown in the secret room with Josslyn? Share your thoughts and theories on the latest GH via the comment section below.

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Beyond the Gates

2026 SDSA TV Award Nominations: All Five Daytime Dramas Score in Best Achievement in Set Decoration

Published

2 days ago

on

June 5, 2026

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The Set Decorators Society of America has revealed its nominations for 2025-26 SDSA Awards for Television, which recognizes the work of the set decoration and production designers in primetime, streaming and daytime series.

This year, all five soap operas: Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and The Young and the Restless all received nominations in the Best Achievement in Decor/Design of a Daytime Series category.

In its official SDSA rule book, to qualify for the category of a Daytime Series, which includes daytime dramas, daytime talk shows, daytime game shows, and daytime children’s programming, all episodes must air before 6:00pm and must have a credited Set Decorator. For daytime dramas, the content must contain multiple plotlines that are carried over from episode to episode.

Photo: JPI

WHICH EPISODES CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPETITION?

The eligibility year for episodes runs June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026.  Founded in 1993, the SDSA is an international nonprofit professional association dedicated to promoting excellence and preserving the legacy of the art of set decoration in motion pictures and television.

Several popular primetime and streaming titles that have wrapped their final seasons also received nods including Euphoria, Stranger Things, Hacks, Outlander, and The Boys. Popular titles such as Bridgerton.

Take a look below at the nominated scenic design teams from your favorite soaps:

Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Daytime Series

Beyond The Gates: Set Decoration by Cynthia Slagter with Production Design by Bruton Jones

The Bold and the Beautiful: Set Decoration by Prim Rosales, Beth Wooke, Prerna Chawla, Charlotte Garnell, Chelsea Mondelli, Michelle Hall, & Linda Louise Sheets with Production Design by Lou A. Trabbie III

Days of Our Lives: Set Decoration by Adele Caine & Sarah Holmes with Production Design by Tom Early & Dan Olexiewicz

General Hospital: Set Decoration by Jennifer Elliot with Production Design by Andrew Evashchen

The Young and the Restless: Set Decoration by Jennifer Haybach, Justine Mercado, Maria Dirolf, & Monica Lowe with Production Design by David Hoffmann

So, which soap opera from the calendar year of basically June of 2025 to a week ago in 2026, do you think has had the best looking sets? Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, or The Young and the Restless? Make you pick and drop it in the comment section below.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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