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Kelly Monaco Notes ‘General Hospital’ Alter-Ego Sam McCall Became a “Character I Didn’t Recognize, Let Alone the Audience”

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: JPI

General Hospital’s 21-year veteran, and one of the longtime leading women on the show, Kelly Monaco, has left the building after the news last Friday she had taped her final episode as Sam McCall.

Monday, October 1st would have marked her 21-year anniversary since she debuted on the soap opera back in 2003 following her other soap-famous role of Livvie Locke on the GH spinoff, Port Charles.

Monaco’s GH departure was reportedly “storyline-dictated,” while others have continued sharing other speculations and online scenarios, since Kelly has not yet, publicly offered up any official statement. Last week, when Kelly wrapped her run, her mother Carmina took to X and shared some heartfelt sentiments, on and for, her daughter’s last day, and the culmination of two decades of her body of work for the ABC soap opera.

Photo: JPI

However, on Tuesday, several media outlets were reporting a response from Monaco to comments and remarks made on a Soap Hub post on Instagram in a related story about Monaco’s former GH co-star Greg Vaughan (ex-Lucky, now Eric, DAYS), where the actor shared his thoughts on his time working with Kelly.

In the IG post thread, some disparaging remarks about the reason Monaco was let-go, and in particular from one of the posters, who said that Kelly had “no primary roles,” prompted Kelly herself to respond. While some may be negative towards her, Monaco’s true fans have continued their online petition campaign to bring her back to the soap and have more than 16,000 signatures on top of taking out a billboard in Times Square and more to call attention to their battle cry for Kelly.

Photo: ABC

On the IG thread in question, Kelly responded, “‘No primary role’… do your homework. When Billy Miller was fired (as Drew in 2019), Sam’s storyline stopped. Stripping Sam of every characteristic she had. Something I worked for decades to build… Slowly dismantling her, into a character that I did not recognize, let alone the audience. Call it what you will… retaliation at it finest. I will give a proper statement. The truth will set you free.”

All this, leading viewers to surmise how the character of Sam will be written-off the show in the weeks ahead, and what Monaco may plan on saying when the time is right on her side of the story, after playing an extremely popular character on the iconic soap opera for two decades.

So, what do you think about the words Kelly relayed to a poster when speaking of her exit from GH? Comment below.

Photo: SoapHubIG

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If this is the way frank treats actors who dare to speak up it really makes me want to stop watching.

Billy Miller’s mother has said that Billy was fired for standing up for Kelly and paid the price.What is the matter with her other co-stars in that Billy was the only one to stand up for her?

Makes me really wonder about the shows three leads who have considerable clout and could have done something to help Kelly out all these years from this.

There have been several actors who were let go over the last year and all have said very positive things about Valentini. Roger Howarth and Michael Easton, who followed him over to GH from OLTL both sung his praises. Others, who have medical conditions or other personal issues have also spoke about his generosity and supportive nature. I find it hard to believe he is the only villain in this issue.
They always say there are three sides to a story. His, hers and the truth. I don’t think we will ever know the real truth about everything.

Hmmm. Makes me think the the blame lays at her feet.

I think it lies with frank and Disney

I think a highly successful 21 year run on a successful television show is a very big achievement and something not a lot of people get! Not everyone loved and revered the character of Sam!!! Her death story is going to be bracing and polarizing, something GH does very well!!

simply disappointed at GH, as a fan I don’t know what else to say, the writers, new, old whatever incarnation of writing team are just horrible, they should be fired, and FV, what is going on behind the scenes? why did you fire Kelly, and appearantly the late Billy Miller? the drew characters is not working, there’s nothing ab0out him that’s appealing.

I rather enjoy GH right now

Ditto! I’m excited to see some of my favorite characters return and also like some of the new characters on the show.

Really good actresses turn “s**t into sugar”. Just look at some of the horrible storylines Maura West has had as Ava through her time at GH.

Yes, some of the stories for Sam the past few years haven’t been good, but why did Lindsay Hartley make an impact whenever she subbed for Kelly?

Her suggesting the character changed after Billy Miller was let go doesn’t add up. Burton returned to GH in the fall of 2017. It was a few months after when Sam was reunited with his Jason. Miller (as Drew) stayed on the show until summer of 2019. Sam went through the whole Shiloh mess while Drew was dealing with Oscar and his eventual demise. Once Sam reunited with original Jason, there wasn’t much interaction between she and Drew.

Kelly quit kissing the ring of the three pets they were why I quit watching . I had no idea they fired Billy Miller I thought he quit. I personally hope she gets a job making triple her salary.

Her behavior appears to be unprofessional.

B.S!

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out! Sounds disgruntled to me. I never have been a fan of Sam’s. I do like her when Lindsay Hartley is in the role! Kelly is a fine actress but I don’t think she has been happy at GH for a while. Time for her to move on. I am sure she will land on her feet and land a roll elsewhere. I’m sure I will like her there as well.

Shame that this is how the show treats longtime actors I was very upset to see them get rid of Michael Easton and Roger Howarth this is no way to run a series… first you force us to have Peter August… then Nina and you want to get rid of Sam and keep Nuttallia and Nina ewww

I personally don’t believe her “version” of the events. I don’t think not having your contract renewed is exactly the same thing as being fired. I think once Steve Burton decided to come back there was t much use for Billy anymore. And yeah Kelly is biased in what happened. Personally I never thought she was a great actress. She hasn’t been on much and honestly hasn’t been missed.

To my knowledge, Kelly was essentially responsible for Frank having hired Billy Miller- as Jason- in the first place. So of course she had all sorts of opinion on the fact when Billy Miller left no matter what the circumstances. And since the two had whatever sort of relationship outside the studio that they had, she never accepted that much of the audience didn’t think Billy was right for the role of Jason, and wanted Burton back. So that was the first thing she resented. In 2012 I saw an interview with Burton and Kelly, and she couldn’t have sung Steve’s praises more effusively. That was just before he left for Y&R. But when Billy was pushed aside for his return, Kelly couldn’t have been further from that. She didn’t want Burton to be the real Jason, she didn’t want her character to reconnect with him, she didn’t want anything to do with him. And she couldn’t get beyond it, with her acting or anything else. And this last time around… those GH photos of Jason with Carly and Sam on each arm… Kelly simply looks miserable. I’m sure that behind the scenes she was lobbying whenever and wherever she felt she needed to keep her character away from his, and I imagine it just got tiresome. Especially when the alternative was for Steve to be paired with Laura Wright, and they have so little chemistry it almost shows up as anti-chemistry. Certainly romantically.

Soaps ebbs and flow. The GH of Ms. Monaco’s era is not the same GH that captured my attention and heart once upon a time. Changes in producers and writers change characters’ motivations, situations, value. I never connected to Sam but the mob mess and all the implausible resurrections never set well with me. A mob daughter may not be long lived and Sam’s death (?) may be a catalyst for new plot directions and improvement to GH overall.

Kelly nailed her response

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Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

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Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

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!

 

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General Hospital

Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

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Steve Burton

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.

Steve Burton

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.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?

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Jason and Britt

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.

Britt

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

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