General Hospital
Jonathan Jackson talks on his hopes, the future, and his decision to say goodbye to GH!
Courtesy/ABC
What a Christmas bummer for soaps fans! We have to say goodbye to the talents of four-time Daytime Emmy winner who is exiting the canvas of General Hospital as Lucky Spencer this week.
Jackson caught up with ABC Soaps In Depth to discuss his decision to leave the show, what he had hoped would happen with the Lucky/Liz pairing, and if he might reconsider his decision in the future and return to GH. Here are a few excerpts!
Jackson on the challenges with the Lucky/Liz love story: “It’s difficult to tell love stories in a day in and day out medium. It can easily become a little bit mundane. I think there’s a way around that, but it’s not easy. The answer can’t be to always have one of the two people betray the other one and have the whole thing fall apart because the characters end up compromising everything about themselves. There has to be another way to have drama without the characters themselves doing that to themselves or doing that to each other. That would be the challenge: how do you create drama and suspense nuances but maintain the integrity of the characters? That’s really difficult to do.”
Jackson on if he might return in the future: “I hope that the show can continue to thrive and be successful. The world is a fluid place. Things change and evolve. Everything in this world is temporary and transient to some degree. It’s the eternal things that matter and the relationships with people that matter. Those are the things that I try to focus on and hold onto.”
ABC Soaps In Depth goes on to say, “With the behind-the-scenes regime change at GH in the new year, all this might, indeed, change, and Jackson might be back on your screens after a quick negotiation and compromise. Jackson fans, cross your fingers.”
Are you sad to say JJ go? Do you think a deal will be struck with Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati that will bring Jackson back to GH and in a creative forum that works equally for the show and for the actor? Let us know what you think!
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.
Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”
Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
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.
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I agree with what he said about the love stories being a little mundane….because it does become all too familiar and predictable sometimes with soaps. I mean, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been sitting in my living room watching a soap, and can say the lines or predict the actions before the characters act them out. It would be nice for someone to surprise us every now and then….and rather than drag a story out to nauseam, they actually get to the point….or have the characters say what any normal person would say or do in a real life situation. That would be a twist and a change that would be well received by the audience.
I love JJ’s Lucky Spencer and I want him back on the canvas pronto!
At this point it would be a surprise if Lucky and Liz got back together. GH is in free fall and disintegrating, about to crash and burn, with so many characters written off and actors leaving. Bringing back Lucky and reuniting him with Liz would help, and FV and RC are probably smart enough to figure that out. But whether anything or anyone can save GH from Katie is another issue.
I do hope that the new regime is doing their homework and that they are studying the history of this great show and its characters. I hope they don’t turn GH into OLTL. I’m not saying one is better then the other, they both stand on their own legacy. So yes, I’m hoping they realize how valuable Jonathan is to the show, as well as Nathan Parson who i hear is also leaving, and do everything possible to keep the people we want to see, and not make the mistake of bringing in new people to soon.
What I was sad about is how the last year they have written for this character and his exit story was awful obviously they did not feel inclined to write for him in a positive way. Get prepared for all out of work OLTL actors over here and how does that help, look how Y&R has been ruined. GH just start working with your cast and get back to basics. JJ good luck! Go back to movies and your band and be happy!
It is so sad when the powers-that-be allow these kind of travesties to happen! I’m appalled that such an asset to the show is leaving and with the current changes in cast. Lexie & Nathan have a gold mine of potential, but alas they screwed that too. If/when GH is cancelled, they have only them selves to blame. What a shame!
Cant replace Lucky nor Cole on OLTL.
*gets down on knees and prays like a 6 year old hoping Santa comes soon* Please please please let this work out! GH w/o JJ has always seemed less alive.
This mans talented and maybe knows GH is next to be cancelled.
So go out while hes fresh in peoples minds.
I wish more HIM luck, he’s just a great actor and deserves a BIG shot at the Big Screen.
GH is looking to be cancelled, first they don’t jump at the chance to have Genie Francis return and now they are letting Johnathan Jackson go. The writers must want to crash and burn.
PLEASE PLEASE ALL YOU NEW WRITERS BRING JJ BACK HE IS THE WHOLE SHOW NO ONE & I MEAN NO ONE CAN PLAY LUCKY AS HE WILL ALWAYS BE LUCKY & LUKES COWBOY I PRAY EVERYDAY THAT IN 2012 THEY WILL FIND A STORY LINE FOR A REUNION WITH LIZ AS I WATCHED THEM TOGETHER IN THE 90’S THIS IS MY NEW YEAR DREAM PLEASE PLEASE BRING MY JONATHAN JACKSON BACK HE IS A 4 TIME EMMY WINNER HELLO GH WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT HIM AND RECAST???? OMG NO NO NO PLEASE!! NO ONE CAN BE LUCKY BUT JJ HE IS THE REAL LUCKY I HOPE YOU WRITERS ARE READING THIS BECAUSE WE ALL WANT JJ BACK PLEASE!!!
Please bring jj back..I love him..Work it out with him please..
Love lucky…
Please come back.
He is the original Lucky. The writers should bring him back and Luke too. I liked Luke as the wonderful drunk he was. Luke being sober… A 32+ year fan! I remember the Campus Disco when Luke raped Laura and the whole Frank Smith saga! Bring JJ back…
I understand why Jonathan is leaving. How much doom and gloom can a person subject themselves to as an actor. They could have added some fun in the mixture and maybe he would stay. Ridiculous, all the great actors on GH are leaving. Personally, who really cares about the Shawn character. Bring back Jax to stay.
I hope they do bring Jonathan Jacks back at Lucky he is so good.