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Jonathan Jackson Interview: His Daytime Emmy Nom as GH's Lucky & Role in New Primetime Soap, Nashville!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

What a week this has been for Jonathan Jackson!  First, the already four-time Daytime Emmy winner gets nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his role as Lucky Spencer on General Hospital when the 39th Daytime Emmy nominations were announced on Wednesday. Then Friday, his primetime soap pilot, Nashville, gets picked up and is going to series and will premiere this fall on ABC!  Nashville stars Jackson along with a stellar cast of Connie Britton, Powers Boothe, Eric Close, and Hayden Panettiere!  And to top it off, he celebrated his birthday yesterday!  Lots of great gifts we would say, for probably one of the finest actors to ever grace the soap opera genre.

Jonathan Jackson’s work on GH in 2011 was transcendent.  Storyline after storyline he delivered in spectacular fashion; acting acrobatics and realism, and such emotional depth to the life of Lucky Spencer that we the viewers cried right along with him.  If any nominee up for this year’s Daytime Emmy had a banner year, it was Jackson.

On-Air On-Soaps caught up with the talented young star to get his take on all the good fortune and great news!

Jonathan, here we are again!  Congratulations on your Daytime Emmy nomination, in a year when you delivered one powerhouse performance after another, after another!  How do you feel about the nod this time around?

JONATHAN:   It is pretty cool!  I am thrilled and very thankful.  Each year has its own unique set of circumstances.  I am excited for all the nominees as well, and especially the GH family.

Courtesy/ABC

In my mind, you had a bunch of episodes to choose from.  It was almost an embarrassment of riches, but all of the performances were knockouts!  Which episode did you go with for the Emmys, and why?

JONATHAN: There was a lot from the amount of storylines and episodes, and from the intensity of what they asked me to do.  It was way more than usual in terms of serious choices to look at.  But, I ended up going with the episode at the Haunted Star where Lucky told Luke that he was the driver who hit Jake.  It was when Lucky was asking him how much he had been drinking.  And, there were six or seven scenes with Tony Geary (Luke) and I.  There were a lot of different shows to look at, but that particular one just was a really special show for me and for Tony, as well.  Something just happened when we were doing those scenes, so that is why I went with that.  It just seemed like a complete show, with a beginning, middle and end to it.

You had so many great moments on GH last year, but I think my favorite was your scenes in Luke’s intervention.  Was that in the running as one of the final choices?

JONATHAN:  I did consider it, absolutely!  There was Luke’s intervention, the material with Tony when Luke was at the Bordello, and the episodes with Jake dying.  There was also Lucky getting drugged up for two days.  I mean, there were so many, it was literally like there were a lot of different options.  The intervention was really powerful and that was another one of those moments I will cherish with Tony.  But in terms of an entire episode, this one that I chose had the same quality as the intervention, but it has six or seven scenes in it, as opposed to the one big scene in the intervention.

How did you find out you got nominated?

Courtesy/Jim Warren

JONATHAN:  I got a text from a friend, but really did not make much of it, and fell back asleep. But then my kids came in and told me, “Congratulations”.  I guess they had talked to someone and found out.  And so I found out from them, which was cool, and really sweet.

Did you and Tony Geary contact each other on Emmy Nomination day and offer each other congrats?

JONATHAN:  We did not speak in person, but we did leave each other messages.  But I was super excited for him.  And like I was saying, this last year on the show really meant a lot because of the amount of stuff he and I got to do together.  It was something we had been talking about during the years I had been away from GH … that we wanted to work with each other again and do some great work.  That is one of the reasons it is so special.  I feel I did honor what I wanted to do with Tony, by picking this episode for Emmy contention.

I spoke with the fantastic Jason Thompson (Patrick) your co-nominee from GH.   He said, “Listen, I am going to take out all the supporting guys from GH before the Emmy ceremonies!” (Laughs)  He also gave you praise when he said he had an episode that he liked of his work, when Patrick was in scenes with Lucky when Jake died.  However, since you were in it and doing such incredible work, he wouldn’t submit it! (Laughs)

JONATHAN: (Laughs) I love Jason.  I think he is an incredible actor and I was really excited for him to get his nomination.

You have been very busy since you left GH.  You landed Nashville, which was just greenlighted by ABC to go to series this fall!  Did you get the break you wanted from GH, with all the emotional sturm and drang of the day in and day out of playing Lucky Spencer?

Courtesy/Enation

JONATHAN:  Well, I have been working really hard on my band, Enation, and I have been doing quite a few writing projects and also Nashville.  It’s been pretty busy, but it’s been a different kind of busy than GH, which I think was healthy.  The GH grind, mentally and emotionally, got too intense there.  It’s been great now.  I feel like I have a whole other part of my brain available for my kids and for other projects.

The big question is, now that Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati are steering the ship at GH, would you consider a return to the series?

JONATHAN:  I have been staying in touch with GH.  There is always a possibility to come back and do some more work there in the future.  I just love everybody there.

Tell me about Nashville!  Fans will not only get to see you act in the new primetime series, but sing as well?

JONATHAN: Yeah, the character is a singer/songwriter.  I am so glad it got picked up and it’s really exciting!  It’s an amazing group of people.  Callie Khouri is the writer, and R J. Cutler is a wonderful director to work with.  He really has a passion for the characters and the show.  We are combining some amazing music in the Nashville scene with really great story and character-driven drama.  It just has a very authentic feel to it, and I think they are committed to making a very high quality show.

Is the character you play on Nashville, Avery, a good guy or a bad guy?  Or, we don’t know yet?

JONATHAN:  That is the one of the good things about the way that Callie developed the characters.  And that is that there really aren’t too many black and white characters of good guys and bad guys.  There are people who make bad choices, and more troubled people who end up making really good choices.  I think that as the show progresses it will keep the audience guessing, and keep them interested as to who these people are.  My character is a little bit of a narcissist, but I would not say he is a bad guy.  I would say he is a little troubled and sort of arrogant on the surface.  However, I think there is a lot of depth to him and a lot to explore with the character.

One of your long-time co-stars, Becky Herbst (Elizabeth), got nominated for Supporting Actress for her work in Jake’s death.  I am very thrilled for her. 

Photo Credit: Steven Bergman

JONATHAN:  Oh me, too!  I am so excited about that!  She did some incredible work.  I am grateful that she got recognized for it.

So Jonathan, you could win your fifth Daytime Emmy.  Do you have a mantle to hold all of this gold?  When you look at the trophies, what does it mean for you?

JONATHAN:  It’s pretty crazy! (Laughs)  I guess for me, they all follow memories I had with amazing people.  Like last year’s Emmy and submission, it was the stuff with Becky Herbst and Tyler Christopher (Ex- Nikolas).  That holds a very special place in my heart.  Acting is a team sport.  So when any of us gets recognized, we can only give credit to the people that we worked with … and I have worked with some incredible people!

 

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He is so talented and seems like such a genuinely nice guy! Very happy for all of his success and hope he makes it back to GH sometime. By and large the GH cast just seem like very nice normal people with very little ego or diva stuff. Cngratulations JJ! Good interview Michael as usual!

This man from the get go got my vote, anybody that young working with a Soap Opera Great Tony Geary you knew Jackson was good. Same with Miss Alderson working with another great Howarth. Anyway thats what I think.

Me to.

JJ is a class act. Miss him terribly on GH, but wish him well with Nashville and his other projects.

I love Jonathan’s acting, but I just took a listen to his album, Soul & Story: Volume One, and it’s incredible. Beautiful, soulful acoustics – he’s got a great voice. He said he’s put hard work into his band and what he’s created has so paid off. Check it out folks, very impressive!!!

You always publish the best interviews with JJ. Thanks for asking all the right questions.

Great Interview. Thank you. Mr. Jackson is right his work with Tony Geary, and in the past Genie Francis…. well is in a league all of it’s own….and The Triple L are still golden each nominated for an Emmy this year. Congrats to Jonathan, Genie, Tony, Becky…. I so need a Spencer family redemption/reunion before GH ends!!! I was lucky to meet Mr. Jackson a few times and he is a class act all the way around. So excited for both him and us regarding his pilot being picked up, and the success of his music career. Can’t get enough of this man’s work…or interviews with him… so thanks Mr. Fairman for sharing this with us.

I’m so excited for Jonathan Jackson and plan on watching his new show, Nashville. I’m also a big fan of his music and was lucky enough to see him perform live and meet him. He is such a nice guy and very appreciative of everything in his life and that is always evident in any interview he does. Another great interview. Thanks

Jonathan Jackson is one of those rare acters who is so in the moment when he works, that you forget you are watching an acter in a scene. So happy for his Emmy nomination and for all the nods for GH, OLTL, and AMC! Thanks for another great interview!

Did someone say Connie Britton? I’m there! LOVE her!

Another great article. He picked a great scene to submit to the Emmies, too. Very powerful and emotional scene between him and Mr. Geary. Can’t wait to see Nashville when it comes out!

Incredible acting, the drug induced storyline was extremely emotional. Kudo to Jonathan Jackson for his superb acting. Enation has been touring and blessing the east coast with heartfelt meet and greet concerts. Wonderful music with lyrical depth He is a humble, spiritually driven young man. It is a joy to watch him succeed.

I am soooo happy for Jonathan Jackson – love him on GH and I think his band is great. Good news that the pilot for his new show, Nashville, got picked up. Would love to see JJ return to GH on occasions and continue his role as Lucky. He and Tony Geary are so wonderful together – just like a real father and son. I also love his scenes with Rebecca/Elizabeth – they make a really good couple. Add to that his Emmy nomination for supporting actor – this is the icing on the cake!!! Congrats to you JJ/Lucky – you deserve all of the above kudos!!!

Congratulation on the emmy nomination and the new show.I returned to wathing GH when you did,and I can understand your leaving. How much emotional storyline can a body take.
Congrats also to your beautiful family,and hope your singing career picks up because of the show.
Will be rooting for you.

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Who is Hudson in Cahoots With After Revealing Phone Call?

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The mysterious Hudson (Troy Lennon Appel) is clearly in collusion with someone as witnessed on the Tuesday, August 24 episode of General Hospital.

Since Troy Lennon Appel made his debut on the soap on July 30, we already know he “appears” to be the true biological father of baby Phoebe, and is quite the bad dude after roughing up Ethan in Norway.

Now in Port Charles, claiming he is there for JJE (Jasper Jacks Enterprises) business, and with the edict to contact Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) and let her know her father named her the CEO of his company while he is “sailing” abroad, he was initially met with resistance when Josslyn refused to accept the job.

Courtesy/ABC

I’VE CHANGED MY MIND

However, after a recent turn of events, where Brennan (Chris McKenna) told Josslyn, the WSB has her next assignment, and it is to find out what’s going on with her father’s company, they demanded her to accept the CEO position. Now Josslyn is caught and has to back-petal after initially telling Hudson to bring her qualified candidates and she would pick one as her replacement.

In all-new episodes, while at the Quartermaine boathouse, Josslyn informed Hudson that she was now taking the CEO position. Josslyn cited that she realized she wanted to honor her father’s wishes and uphold his legacy.

Hudson is stunned and tries to dissuade her, and is quite suspicious over her sudden change of heart. Realizing no matter what he said Josslyn was not backing down, Hudson says he hadn’t been on board with Jax’s decision to give the company to Josslyn, but now he could see that maybe he’d  been wrong about her.

HUDSON HAS A PROBLEM

Josslyn says failing herself, or her father, isn’t an option and when she commits to something she goes all in. She tells Hudson that she would appreciate his support. Hudson says she has it, as she turns to walk away after dropping her bombshell decision on him.

Next, a very pissed off Hudson, picks up his phone and makes a call to someone and tells them that Josslyn took the job. He intimates that this is bad news and will screw up their plans. He tells the person on the other end that he is going to make her change her mind!

So, where is this leading? Who could Hudson be working with on the inside and who did he call? How do you see General Hospital weaving in Josslyn taking over JJE as their new WSB mystery story? Put your creative hats on and let us know your thoughts via the comment section. 

But first, check out the GH teaser below for today’s Wednesday, August 26 episode below, where Josslyn tells her mother, Carly to accept her decision of either taking the job at JJE or staying with the WSB!

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‘General Hospital’s’ Josh Swickard Recalls Emotional Moment After His Final Scenes with Michael Easton, and Favorite ‘Chase’ Storyline

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Josh Swickard

Josh Swickard (Harrison Chase, General Hospital) is the special guest on this week’s all-new episode of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart. The GH fan favorite and leading men opened up about his life pre and post GH, his marriage to actress and producer, Lauren Swickard, and some of his toughest and most memorable moments during his eight-plus years as officer Chase of the PCPD.

One of the most heartbreaking moments came when Josh had to say farewell to his on-screen brother Finn played by soap veteran, Michael Easton. It was back on the Thursday, June 27, 2024 episode of General Hospital.

In it, Chase drives Finn to a rehab facility and the two brothers share a heartfelt talk in the car. Finn thanks Chase for allowing him to say goodbye to his daughter, Violet (Jophielle Love). Chase promises to take good care of her. However, Chase warns Finn to not to take any shortcuts on his way to sobriety and to always think of Violet’s wellbeing. It is apparent, the brothers don’t want to say goodbye, but on the count of three, Finn leaves Chase’s car and walks through the door of the rehab facility, while Chase in tears beats the steering wheel before drives away.

Photo: ABC

MISSING HIS TV BROTHER

Josh spoke to the “Soapy” podcast hosts about it and recalled, “In our last scenes together, and it was like his last day. Michael was like, ‘It’s okay.’ And I was like, ‘No, it’s not.’ I was supposed to be crying in the scene, I think. I was like a little glassy-eyed, a little glazed over. And then they were like, “And cut.”  I was like, “Great.” I just like went behind the car and wept.”

Speaking of his professional and personal relationship with Easton, Josh expressed, “Michael is an awesome guy. He’s such a sweetheart. We’ve done fan events together in New York and he would show me things, like, ‘This where I used to live  …’ He’s like an older brother to me.”

Not only did Josh lose his on-screen brother, but he also lost his on-screen father, Gregory, played by Gregory Harrison, when he was killed-off the show after the character battled ALS. “I think I was more just mourning friends that play family on a show, but a show that goes year after year, year round, and so they become family,” explained Swickard. “So, that part’s been hard for me of just losing friends that while, yes, you get to see each other, you get to call each other, it’s different (when they leave).”

Photo: JPI

CHASE IN A COMA IS FAVORITE OF JOSH’S

When asked, what has been his favorite storyline during his run on GH thus far, Josh took it back to when Chase became became critically ill after being poisoned by a toxic from Peter August (Wes Ramsey) meant for Finn. Eventually, Finn had to rescue his brother with the antidote for the toxin. That story played out from April to June 2021.

Josh explained, “Where I was in a coma and I was seizing and coughing and I had no blocking for like four months! It was great! It was a storyline where I was about to die and I had to say goodbye to a lot of lovely people and it was so exhausting. You get in the car and you feel like you got hit by a train every day because your body doesn’t fully know what acting is, apparently. I remember multiple days being like, ‘Oh, this is why I signed up for this.'”

Swickard also answered if there were moments in the storyline if he felt Chase was not going to survive. The GH star answered, “There were moments that I wondered.  However, I think they were pretty upfront with me. They were like, ‘This isn’t what’s going to happen.'”

Check out the full conversation with Josh on the ‘Soapy’ podcast via the comment section below.

Now let us know, what has been your favorite scenes of Josh as Chase on General Hospital during his run? Do you miss the relationship between Chase and his brother, Finn? Let us know via the comment section below.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Is This the End for Brennan?

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General Hospital

This week, all-new episodes of General Hospital tease a long-held secret revealed, a surprise cellmate and a life on the line. On Monday August 24, ABC released their weekly promo entitled “Keep Brennan Busy,” raising eyebrows that this could the beginning of the exit of the character, after it was reported that Chris McKenna (Brennan) is leaving the soap come this fall.

In the spoilers video: First, Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) is telling Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) that she has known the truth all along that she shot Drew (Cameron Mathison), even though she was her legal counsel and defender her during Willow’s trial of shooting the former congressman.

Willow is shocked, and her face shrinks up. What will she say in return? Will she just say, “yes” I did it and then blackmail Alexis to also keep her quiet, like she has been able to do to so many others?

Courtesy/ABC

DREW’S BACK TO HIS OLD SELF WITH A VENGEANCE

Next, Drew is suddenly on this renewed warpath to take down Sonny (Maurice Benard), but before he deals with that, he want to get the WSB Port Charles Bureau Chief out of the way. He informs his partner in crime Ava Jerome (Maura West) over drinks at the Metro Court his plan for Brennan. While Drew tells Ava his agenda, we cut to: a woman’s hands pouring a packet full of powder into a drink at the Metro Court pool area.

Drew gives Ava her assignment, “I need you to keep Brennan busy while I search his hotel room.” The question becomes, who is the woman who is drugging Brennan? Is this the first attempt at taking out the guy foreshadowing the future, or could this be the demise of Brennan?

YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU MIGHT SEE IN THE SLAMMER

At the end of the video, Curtis (Donnell Turner) is seen in his cell at Pentonville. He gets what appears to be his new cellmate, and utters, “You?” Is this when Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) has manipulated someone from the inside to visit Curtis and begin a plan to get what he wants from Jordan (Tanisha Harper) and use her lover to do his dirty work? Stay tuned.

Take a look at the rest of the official spoilers for the week of August 24-28 below.

MONDAY, AUGUST 24
Valentin makes a pitch to Jason. Brennan confronts Willow. Josslyn has news for Hudson. Laura briefs Anna. Tracy issues a warning.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25
Jason encourages Carly. Obrecht wants answers. Anna is tempted. Ric jumps to conclusions. Lulu offers relationship advice.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26
Nina is enraged. Jordan makes her loyalties clear. Michael seeks Sonny’s advice. Tristan opens up about his past. Felicia stonewalls Brennan.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27
Gio and Emma overhear an argument. Drew vows revenge. Ava feels slighted. Justine gets a shock. Alexis makes threat.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28
Sonny makes a promise to Laura. Carly and Valentin make a decision. Anna offers support. Ava sets a trap. Drew is waylaid.

Check out the the latest GH promo, “Keep Brennan Busy” below.

Now let us know, do you think Drew’ plot against Brennan will be the untimely end of the WSB Port Charles Bureau Chief? How will Willow keep Alexis from opening her mouth about the fact that she shot Drew? Share your predictions and theories via 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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