General Hospital
UPDATE: Jonathan Jackson LEAVING General Hospital!
Courtesy/ABC
Shocking news today first out of Soap Opera Digest! It looks like four-time Daytime Emmy winner Jonathan Jackson (Lucky) will be leaving General Hospital in early 2012.
According to SOD, “While the show would not confirm, insiders say that it’s a done deal. There’s no word yet if the show plans to recast.
UPDATE from TV Guide late today! Jonathan will shoot his final scenes as Lucky Spencer on November 17. Word from the set is that the beloved and acclaimed actor is exhausted from a heavy work schedule and months of a harrowing storylines that have included the death of Lucky’s child and the character’s addiction to drugs. Sources say Jackson had attempted to get GH execs to lighten his schedule with no luck. He also wanted to be romantically reteamed with Rebecca Herbst (Liz) but struck out there, too. The actor has already completed his final scenes with TV dad Tony Geary (Luke). Look for Jackson to be off the air by mid-to-late December.”
With Jackson is leaving that will make another signiifcant blow to the cast which is known for its unbelievable acting chops and performances as GH moves into 2012 a key year as to whether the show has legs and a future with the alphabet network or will be on the chopping block.
Stay tuned for more on developments on Jackson leaving Port Charles as they become available!
The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.
Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.
Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.
However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.
Courtesy/ABC
BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON
Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.
He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.
Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”
General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”
So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.
If Anna Devane’s (Finola Hughes) new therapist on General Hospital looks familiar to you, it’s because actress Kearran Giovanni, who plays Dr. Nichols, previously played a doctor on One Life to Live!.
Viewers tuning-in to the Thursday, September 10 episode of GH got their first look at Dr. Nichols who has been brought in to help Anna recover from her PTSD and trauma following the reveal that she has been suffering from a break in reality since before being put in mental health facility in France, after being gaslighted by Cullum and company earlier in the year.
One Life to Live fans will recall that Kearran Giovanni played Dr. Vivian Wright in 2009, and it was then she first worked with current General Hospital EP, Frank Valentini, who at the time was at the helm in Llanview.
Photo: JPI
WHERE ELSE HAVE YOU SEEN KEARRAN GIOVANNI?
Giovanni appeared on OLTL in the recurring role through 2012 and in the final ABC episode of the beloved series was the the ob/gyn who delivered Destiny Evans (Shenell Edmonds) and Matthew Buchanan’s (Eddie Alderson) baby into the world, whom they named Drew Buchanan II after Bo Buchanan’s (Robert S, Woods) late son. In addition, Vivian has been dating Shaun Evans (Sean Ringgold).
In addition to One Life to Love, Giovanni has very impressive credits having appeared in numerous TV series and motion pictures including starring in the TNT drama Major Crimes from 2012-18, ABC’s Designated Survivor 2017-19, the CW’s Black Lightning from 2019-20. Most recently, Giovanni appeared on the Fox series, The Resident and has a recurring role on the CW’s crime series, Walker from 202-2024.
HEALING ANNA
On today’s General Hospital, after Anna’s harrowing meltdown where she almost shot and killed Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) after seeing visions of “Peter August” (Wes Ramsey), Jason (Steve Burton) saved the day and talked Anna down from committing murder. Now, Dr. Nichols was introduced as a valuable staff member at the hospital. Although, this marked the first time in the history of the show we have heard of her character.
So, do you remember seeing Kearran Giovanni on One Life to Live? Happy to see that Anna may have a qualified therapist in charge of her healing, unless the doctor turns out to be not on the up and up? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
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Heaven forbid ABC and GH give Jonathan what he has been requesting and thus by default also give fans what they would want…like a reunion of a beloved (and very beleaguered) couple. Because that might just draw fans to the show and increase ratings which doesn’t help their soap-killing plans when trying to rid themselves of their daytime drama.
Much better to only give the fans what they want after the official cancellation announcement has been made.
i’m really sad to see jonathan go, agian this proves GH doesn’t care one way or the other who stays and goes. GH should be trying so hard to be the best they can be yet instead they keep proving time and time again that they don’t care, and if the people who run the show don’t care then how do they expect us to?, what was the point of bringing jonathan back if it wasn’t to reteam him w/ rebecca? they could’ve done a wonderfull compelling quadrangle along w/ sam and jason yet, the show keeps doing the opposite of what fans are begging them to do. they must think we are morons, because no matter what we ask for or beg for we end up getting the opposite!..
This is another blow to the beleaguered show. First we hear that Genie probably won’t be back and now JJ is gone. I can’t blame him for wanting to lighten the load, and I wish him well.
he will be missed…
Funny that Jill Farren Phelps (the executive producer) did the same thing she did to Beverly McKinsey (Alexandra on Guiding Light) when she worked on GL back in 1992. Beverly didn’t like being in a storyline where she was so mean to her onscreen son and his fiancee and she expressed it and it fell on deaf ears. So Beverly gave her six weeks notice when she took her six week vacation lol.
With Frons, JFP and Guza and Wolf running the show no wonder GH is a sinking ship and has been for a while now.
I’m sadden that he is leaving. He is a very talented actor. I’ve been watching GH for 30 years now. I just don’t understand why GH is doing what they are doing now with their storylines and letting excellent actors go or fire them. It is very sad to see this great show go down hill lately.
There is only one thing to say, GREG VAUGHAN.
I absolutely, 100% agree! Bring Greg Vaughn back as Lucky. Jonathan Jackson was great before he left the first time. Ever since he came back, I simply cannot stomach watching him in any scene. He was a fantastic young Lucky but stinks to high heaven as an adult Lucky.
Sorry, I won’t miss him but wish him the very best!
Will he be off the air in early 2012 or mid-december??? Kind of confusing…
Thank goodness. He seemed too off-put for the role, IMO.
BRING BACK GREG VAUGHAN!!! HE WAS LUCKY SPENCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hate to admit but i’d rather see lucky gone than see him back with his cheating ex-wife. lucky deserves better. i have loved lucky for a long time – good lucky jj!
lucky is such a great character!! I am sad to see he is leaving
my heart is very saddened by this devastating news about jonathan – i remember his first scene on gh when he still a kid – gh is loosing such an extraordinary actor who is one of the best if not the best males actors in daytime right now – what are they thinking??
i know he will land on his feet and be awesome in whatever he does next in his carrer – i am so disappointed that tiic &tptb let this happen……….
i meant was still a kid..
This is sad news. Jackson really works as Geary’s son. Such a perfect cast. He will be missed but stories go on. That is nature of daytime drama. Maybe the previousl replacement will be available. He did a very good job, too. Issues with GH are with the web, yes, but with the writing. This is not the show I enjoyed years ago. Too much mob and darkness now. Lighten up and find the joy in Port Charles, please!
Well, the man knows a sinking ship when he sees one. I never could figure out why he came back he has his band, doing films he was doing fine. I don’t think they will recast because I think TG will retire and I heard the actress who plays Lulu is considering leaving.
Oh, Lord – don’t bring Greg Vaughn back… as much as I enjoy him as an actor his version of Lucky was washed out and whiny!!
Surely this can’t be a surprise? It was leaked out last spring he was going to be done my Christmas time.
Whose next?? Robin?? I think so.
I just can’t figure out why JJ stayed with the trainwreck that is now GH THIS long. Best wishes to him. As for those who think that GV should return, I wouldn’t wish this show on my worst enemy, let alone a great guy like him. Besides, GV is working pretty steadily now and, unless I heard wrong, he’s landed a primetime series for sometime in the new year.
I didn’t really want to see him back with Liz after all they’d put between them but if he thought it was a good idea, I think he’s smart, knows his character and they should have listened to him. Or at least calmed down on victimizing his character so much, he’s probably exhausted.
If the show was more balance, and they gave all the actors something to do, then actors like jonathan, wouldn’t feel burn out . Its sad that the show isn’t willing to give him less to do,if thats what he wants for now. How bout giving someone else a little attention? Whats sad is that GH has such great history, and great actors, if they only had great people running it, then this show would be the easiest to fix. Theres no reason why GH shouldn’t be great, and enjoying the kind of high oltl is experiencing, but then oltl has been cancelled, so its kind of sad that ABC is killing their soaps.
Very sad to see him go. Give him what he wants so he will reconsider. GH cannot afford to lose him without the show taking a hit. Liz should return to Lucky after she’s finished being distracted by Matt. Jackson and Herbst are great together. GH needs both if it hopes to continue.
He was the original and the very best Lucky. I hope he just takes a rest and comes back for I love both the character and the actor.
I would be happy about his leaving if they would bring back Greg Vaughn! Jonathan is too much of a whimp for me!
JJ was the BEST lucky spencer, it’s so sad that he’s leaving. WHY couldn’t GH listen to him? He knows this character better than anyone. GH was great back in the 90’s…now it just SUCKS! I loved the Spencer Family but now all the great actors keep leaving. Maybe GH needs to take a hint…listen to the actors, they know what will work and what wont because they actually listen to the fans!