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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

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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.

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…

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. . . .

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!

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

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.

General Hospital

Paige Herschell Shares Heartfelt Goodbye: ‘Thank You ‘General Hospital’ for Giving Me Jacinda’

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For just under 24 hours, fans of ABC’s General Hospital took to social media and, for the most part, were unhappy to see that character of Jacinda Bracken written off the soap opera on the Tuesday, August 11 episode.

The story turn marked the end of the latest run of Paige Herschell who had initially joined the show back in April of 2025.  Many viewers liked the romance between Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) and the often down on her luck former escort.

However now, the beginnings of their love story was aborted, as previously reported, in a story-line dictated move, after Michael learned Jacinda drugged Willow’s (Katelyn MacMullen) iced coffee, while his ex-wife was with his children, Amelia and Wiley.

Courtesy/ABC

In Herschell’s final scenes, Michael tells her that Willow is going to come after him for full custody of his children after Jacinda’s actions, and he cannot lose his kids. He informs her he has to break-up with her, and he set up a bank account for her, so she can start a new life anywhere in the world. They shared a tearful goodbye. From the looks of it, GH may be heading back to a Michael and Willow reconciliation. Time will tell.

PAIGE HERSCHELL OPEN TO A RETURN AS JACINDA

After her final episode aired, Paige Herschell took to her Instagram story, and shared these heartfelt words: “Thank you General Hospital for giving me Jacinda. I’ve loved every moment with her, on stage and off. And thank you to the fns for your sweet messages and encouragement. I’m overwhelmed with your kindness. I’ve loved sharing this journey with you all.”

In closing, Paige left the door open, that she would definitely be interested to return down the line to GH as Jacinda. Herschell expressed, “If you need me … I’ll be in the character closet.”

With Jacinda, you never know when she might show up. She has come and gone from the Port Charles canvas before, and she may prove be useful a character to come back and seek revenge or extort money from Michael or someone else down the line.

General Hospital had been making a lot of moves in front of the camera recently with several new cast additions and several exits. Who might be coming or leaving next? Stay tuned.

So, what did you think of Paige’s heartfelt goodbye? Did you get emotional watching Jacinda lose the man she loved, and once again finding herself down on her luck and feeling less than? Let us know via the comment section.

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Paige Herschell Exits ‘General Hospital’ as Jacinda Bracken

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As suspected, Jacinda Bracken got a one way ticket out of Port Charles, thus ending the run of Paige Herschell as the escort-turned-girlfriend of Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson). The story turn took place on the Tuesday, August 11 episode of General Hospital.

After Jacinda drugged Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) by spiking her iced coffee, and Michael finding Willow drugged out in front of their kids, Amelia and Wiley, he knew he had to break things off with her.

Michael gave Jacinda enough money to get out of town and start a new life for herself, because given these recent developments, Willow will use this against him to gain full custody of his children. In their final scenes, Michael and Jacinda said a heartfelt goodbye to one another.

Michael and Jacinda

Courtesy/ABC

THE HISTORY OF JACINDA BRACKEN

According to Soap Opera Digest, a GH rep confirmed that today marked Paige Herschell’s final appearance in the role and that her exit was indeed, storyline-dictated. Herschell had originally auditioned for the role of Blaze a few years back. That part went to Jacqueline Grace Lopez.

Later, Herschell was brought in for a short stint beginning in April 2025, as the escort hired by Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Portia (Brook Kerr) to paint Drew (Cameron Mathison) in a bad light. So with Nina and Portia supplying her with ketamine, she drugged Drew. Next, Jacinda was able to get the then congressman to do liquor shots off her body in front of everyone at the Savoy Nightclub. After Drew made a public spectacle of himself, Nina paid Jacinda to leave town and she wound up in Australia.

However, by September of 2025, Jacinda was back in town, where she agreed to pretend to be Michael’s girlfriend for appearances sake and to give him an alibi on the night Drew Cain was shot. The arrangement eventually turned into genuine feelings for one another.

Back in April of 2026, Paige celebrated her one-year anniversary with GH as Jacinda and posted on Instagram,”Holy smokes! It’s been one year since Jacinda was introduced on Genera Hospital. I’m so grateful to this show for the work! Thank you to the amazing fans and the awesome cast and crew! One year! Holy moly! Jacinda- you continue to surprise me.”  Fast-forward and now by August, Herschell has wrapped her run.

So, with the news of Jacinda’s departure on GH, are you glad Michael sent her packing. or were you hoping that Michael and Jacinda would wind up a bonafide couple that would go on for quite some time? Let us know via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Are Michael and Willow Headed Back Into Each Other’s Arms?

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Could it be after all is said and done that Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) and Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) might actually get back together? It sure seemed like a possibility after viewers witnessed the Monday, August 10 episode of General Hospital.

In it, Michael raced to Nina’s after Jacinda revealed she drugged Willow. Out of an abundance of concern, Michael wanted to make sure his children, Amelia and Wiley, were safe, but also to check on his ex-wife.

When he arrived on the scene, Willow was high as a kite and Michael was trying to defuse the situation when he sees Amelia and Wiley witnessing the whole thing. He is shocked to find out from Willow that Yuri dropped off the kids to her when it wasn’t her night to have them, because Yuri said he had a hot date. Michael noticed the iced coffee on the table, realizing he has to keep it away from Willow (who had been drinking it).

Courtesy/ABC

THE SPARK BETWEEN MICHAEL AND WILLOW

Once the kids left the room, Michael informed Willow she was high. She tells him she would never take drugs and that he was ruining her buzz kill and asks him to please not fight with her. When Michael finally gets Willow to lay down on the couch she tells him that she likes when they were friends and his calming voice. Michael told Willow, “I liked that, too.”

In that moment between Michael and Willow, it appeared like the spark was still there between the former couple, but how could they go back to anything after all the terrible things they have done to one another, and mostly all of Willow’s machinations, which to this point Michael doesn’t even know?

If Michael finds out (as in the preview this week where it’s teased that Trina and Kai tell him about Willow shooting Drew), will he still feel the same about her, or understand all of her motives and what led to it?

JACINDA IS OUTTA HERE

At the end of Monday’s episode, Jacinda (Paige Herschell) called Michael, and was so relieved when he told her he was able to get to Willow in time, before things escalated further. Jacinda say, “No harm done. That’s good, right?” Michael looks over at Willow asleep and is beyond pissed with Jacinda.

Now. in the preview for today’s Tuesday, August 11 episode of the ABC daytime drama series, Jacinda is in tears telling Michael, “I’ll go, on one condition.” Looks like this will be the end of Michael and Jacinda, but what will she ask of him before she makes her exit?  stay tuned.

So, do you think the GH writers will circle back to Michael and Willow getting back together for the sake of their children, and fall back in love with each other? Do you think Serena Baldwin and Michael being teased as potential pairing, was just a tease and no more than that? Glad that it seems like Jacinda is on her way out, or do you like Jacinda and Michael together?

Weigh-in via the comment section, but first check out the scenes from Monday’s GH, where Michael rescues Willow, and the GH video teaser for today’s episode 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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