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Lauren Swickard Joins General Hospital

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: JPI

Here’s an intriguing bit of casting news!  General Hospital will welcome Lauren Swickard, the actress/wife of Josh Swickard when she debuts next week on the ABC daytime drama in the role of Janice, a nurse at Ferncliff.

According to Soap Opera Digest, who spoke with both Lauren and Josh about her fun part, the couple couldn’t be happier to share a workplace.  Lauren expressed: “I love the producers and some of the cast members are actually my best friends. So it’s just been so special to be a part of this.”

While Josh added, “I was more nervous than Lauren was, just because I know what a weird beast it is (to shoot a soap opera). Most of her work lately has been feature film stuff, which is just a completely different flow. But I was blown away by how calm and composed she was.”

Lauren has previously appeared with Josh in two Netflix original movies, A California Christmas and its sequel A California Christmas: City Lights. She also wrote both of those films.

Just what will Nurse Janice be like at Ferncliff? Stay tuned.

So, what do you think about Lauren coming to Josh’s stomping grounds at GH? Comment below.

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I wonder if she would be a good Lulu recast? Have to wait and see how well she does. We don’t need another NuNuMolly situation.

Looking forward to seeing her on GH

Congratulations looking forward to seeing you

I wish they would recast the new Molly she is too old to be playing that part she looks like she is TJ’s mother not his partner need someone in their 20’s not 40.

I agree

I agree to

Totally agree! NuNuMolly is way too old and looks awkward in scenes with TJ and Kristina.

Agree

I can not get into the new Molly..Actually all the ”girls” are hoohumm..
But- nu Molly does not fit into the Davis family..
But GH has been doing horrible casting, for a while..
Drew–Trina- for starters..

Welcome Aboard to lovely Lauren. Hey, she can’t do any worse than most of the recent additions, though I’m initially impressed with nannyBet. Married to Josh, eh? Luck be a lady…

Last edited 3 years ago by Soaphound

Well if it works and she good that all that matters!! There a lot of recast new people coming in. I’m still waiting to see Steve Burton return!!! He as iconic as laure sonny Carly Jane Elliott mac Kristin Wagner Maxie ect ect

0oooh geeeez I did not know who Josh Swickard is..
I googled LOL
In the picture he looks much more handsome, so eehh googled him.
Anyways- he has become a nerd, especially being with Brook..
His manliness has ceased- poor Harrison the wimpy guy ….lol

SuOOO,
Hon, please explain who you are talking about. I know Josh Swickard is Chase on GH and Brook is on B&B but they are definitely not together on a show and the only Harrison I know is the son of Kyle on Y&R.

Chase 1st name is Harrison and Brooke is his girlfriend

Harrison Chase they just call him Chase and Brook is Brook Lynn his woman on GH
Soo definitely together on a show called General hospital

I know all this, I watc h GH every day. Never heard Brook Lynn called just Brook, threw me off and they always call Harrison Chase just Chase, again thought it was someone else

You watch GH and you didn’t recognize this picture of “Chase?” Josh Swickard looks exactly the same as he does on the show; not “much more” handsome. He’s as stunning as always…

There’s nothing “wimpy” about “Chase.” He was always a dedicated detective, he was always a guy in love whether it was with Willow or now with Brook Lynn. Nothing has changed in his character. Or his “manliness.” I’m not sure what you think he should be doing or how he should be acting…should he get brutal with Brook Lynn or dump her? Should he knock people around while interrogating them? LOL…

Last edited 3 years ago by Rebecca1

I hope she is a good nurse I’m so sick of mean nurses at hospitals and prisons

Me too

Apparently not. Looks like she’s definitely Nurse “Karen”, and probably on the payroll of the pill pushing quack who’s keeping Sasha drugged up.

Not liking this one but, fresh faces is good yes but Workin w spouses….gotta go……& When is emme coming back as lulu? I heard it was by the end of the yr.

Bad Bad Super Bad choice to replace Molly. They should have found a way to keep her. If it was about money they could have given her Nina’s salary she needs to be gone. Maybe they should bring Brenda back. Sonny is my Guy. Way back when he was Nico Kelly. He has had many women on GH but Nina is scraping the very bottom of the barrel. No class.

I’m beginning to think they should build a AA meeting room right on the set of that’s what it takes to get Haley Pullos & Tyler Christopher gainfully employed again.

I’m not an alcoholic but I did invent temptation so I would be a great sponsor, right?

Last edited 3 years ago by Satan

And not have characters drinking relaxation booze so much, especially Ava.

Well… now that you mention it, did you notice all the alcohol related jokes that have somehow crept into scenes featuring 40 year old recast “Molly”?

“Vodka or ice cream??”, for example. At least they didn’t say “tequila or edibles??”

LOL; that was an interesting choice. I also thought it ironic she had an “accident.” I guess we can assume the actress had a real life accident and broke her ankle. Quite the timing…

I AGREE, I DON’T CARE FOR THE RE-CASTS FOR THE DAVIS GIRLS. THEY LOOK LIKE THEY DON’T FIT THE PARTS OF THE ORIGINALS. THE PERSON PICKING THE NEW CAST MEMBERS MUST LIKE OLDER ACTRESSES.

Kate Mansi who is playing Kristina is 34; Lexi Ainsworth (ex Kristina) is 30, the character is around 29-30 so Kate’s age/casting is fine. It’s the Molly casting that’s strange. The actress is going on 40 and playing a 25-year old. I still wonder if we’ll find out why they didn’t keep the first recast who was good and the right age…

What does Molly have to do with this article about Josh Swickard’s wife? She’s coming on to play Sasha’s nurse.

They should not have “found a way” to keep Haley Pullos. Are you not aware she had not one but two car “accidents” in one night; a hit and run (that she caused) and a near fatal crash (that she caused) that almost killed someone. She was drunk and possibly high. It was said she was belligerent and ungratefully yelled at the rescue guy who pulled her out of her car that was folded like a crushed sardine can and who saved her life, that he should get his hands off of her “$400 dollar shirt.” She’s in a cushy rehab to avoid jail and she’s being sued. That’s not someone GH should want back or, lol, offer more money to.

Haley had a nasal, whiney, voice and an entitled attitude that emanated through the screen. I was thankful that she wasn’t on the canvas in a really long time, and when she came back to do this story I knew I’d FF because I just can’t stand listening to her or watching her. So for me, ANY recast is a breath of fresh air, even an almost 40-year-old with a Betty Boop voice. I do wish they’d kept the first recast, Holiday Mia Kriegel; I thought she was great.

“Nina’s” great, too. I’d take her every hour of the show if it meant I’d never have to see another scene with Carly or Joss. I LOVE the way Kristina is being written…too hyper, yes…but I love how great she is with Nina; how she put down Joss and Michael. That sealed the deal for me.

Last edited 3 years ago by Rebecca1

You need to pay attention the young Lady that has been playing the original Molly was in an accident and she will be coming back. You guys are just hating on the people for know reason they are doing a pretty good job give them a break and good luck to all of them keep up the good work. I have been watching soaps for a pretty long time thing happen and people move on.

To just say “original Molly was in an accident” is to brush off the severity of the actual situation (which I’m not going to rehash here). It’s highly likely she will never return to GH.

She will probably not be coming back. Too much baggage. She was in two car accidents that she caused because of drunk driving and she almost killed someone. She’s been charged on several counts and is being sued while she waits it out in a cushy rehab. They’re not just waiting for her to heal; the recast is supposedly permanent. Many of us, including me, don’t want to see Haley Pullos back. She was annoying as Molly anyway. Couldn’t watch her or listen to that whiny voice.

Last edited 3 years ago by Rebecca1

She’s not a permanent addition nor do I think she wants to be. She’s an actress, writer and producer and had a lot of success with the two Christmas movies she wrote that she and Josh both starred in, and they have a 2 1/2 year old and a nine month old (approximate ages). Seems like this is a short gig as one of Sasha’s nurses…

Last edited 3 years ago by Rebecca1

I thought this was about Chase’s wife Lauren not the Davis family. Anyway, I think she ‘s 9doing the part very well that she was hired for. Not really mean but a stickler for the rules and protocol. I thought that was cute how much she loved Chases singing that everything else was forgotten.

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

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Dominic Zamprogna

General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up about the burgeoning love triangle forming between his Port Charles alter-go, Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) after recently aired scenes, plus his hopes for the future of a Dante and Liz pairing, during his appearance on the Sunday, April 23 edition of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli).

On last week’s episodes of GH, Ric has made the decision that he wanted to propose to his ex-wife, only when he showed up at Elizabeth’s front door, he misread the scenario he walked in with Liz tending to Dante’s injured leg from the softball game. From there, the legal eagle’s jealous streak is reemerging which may cause him to act out and do something unforgivable, or will he take the high road? Stay tuned.

Speaking with Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson about where Elizabeth stands in the annals of the long-running soap, Zamprogna said, “She’s up there with Steve and Maurice (Maurice Benard) as one of the most legacy-filled people on the show.”

Courtesy/ABC

HOW DANTE AND ELIZABETH CAME ABOUT

Dominic jokes it’s a far cry for where Dante and Elizabeth previously, recalling, “We had some scenes together years ago and we were both laughing. Becky’s like, ‘Well, I guess we’re not going be paired up anytime soon.’ I remember we laughed immediately after they yelled ‘cut,”‘and said to each other, ‘Well, so much for that!'”

Fast-forward to early 2025 and as Zamprogna remembered it, “Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) came up to me at the General Hospital Christmas party, and I think it was a year and a half ago and she said, ‘We’re going to have you in scenes with Elizabeth,’ My internal monologue is going, ‘I’m not with Lulu (Alexa Havins) anymore and Sam’s (Kelly Monaco) gone, so maybe they want to see if this works.’ I didn’t want to get scenes with Becky and try to find the chemistry. I just wanted to play whatever honestly was written and came across for both of us and hope it was what people liked, and I don’t know if it is … or not.”

Knowing how beloved Elizabeth is to the GH faithfuls, Zamprogna added, “She got a big fan base with Ric … and a big fan base with with Jason … and you know, you’re going to piss somebody off. But, didn’t Ric drug Elizabeth and put Carly in a panic room?”

Dom and Liz

Photo: ABC

DANTE AND ELIZABETH PAIRING COULD STIR UP STORY FOR OTHERS IN PORT CHARLES

In closing, Dominic felt that the wide-reaching tentacles of a Dante and Elizabeth relationship is something he is 100% down for. “The triangle thing; I was happy to hear it was with Ric and her, because I felt it’s important to have her the top of it as opposed to Dante, Lulu and Elizabeth.”

Zamprogna added, “When you get into relationships on a soap, things seem to fizzle out a little bit, The buildup is what’s the fun part, and the getting to know each other, and the people who are affected by this coming together. When with this case it’s going to affect: Ric, Sonny, Lulu. There’s so much more story here. To me, it’s going to be a fun story to play.”

You can check out Dominic’s visit to That’s Awesome with Steve and Bradford below.

Now weigh-in: Are you rooting for Dante and Liz, or Dante and Ric at this juncture of the story, or neither guy  for Elizabeth? Let us know your thoughts and picks via the comment section.

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GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)

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Patrick J. Gibbons

At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.

However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.

Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Photo: ABC

FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG

Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!

Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”

MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL

Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).

Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”

Photo: JPI

PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY

Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”

It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”

A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”

Photo: PGibbons

IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS

As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”

He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”

Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.

So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.

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‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Admits That He Didn’t Expect the Role of Michael Corinthos to be Recast, and Would Consider Working on Another Soap (Exclusive)

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Chad Duell, the Daytime Emmy-winning actor, who stepped away from the pivotal role of Michael Corinthos on General Hospital, opened up about: his previous decision to leave the series after nearly 15 years, where’s he’s at now after time away from the demands of a daytime soap opera, and took a stroll down memory lane with some of Michael’s most-acclaimed storyline during his run, during a livestream chat on August 19 on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.

Viewers last saw Duell on-screen as Michael in January of 2025, and with his successor in the role, Rory Gibson making his debut at the GH Nurses’ Ball in episodes that aired later in May. It was clear that during the conversation, Chad was a bit surprised that the GH brass decided to recast him when he thought he was just taking some much needed time off.

Burn-out of the daily grind of being on a soap was definitely a part of Chad’s decision to take a break. Duell explained “People know when you’re doing something for so long or your character is kind of in the same place for so long or doing the same stuff over and over again, you do get a a little burnt out, you get a little stiff, stale, a little stiff at times. I didn’t want that to be any sort of lasting impression. I have 15 years of a body of work of I’ve done on that show, which is fantastic.”

Chad Duell

Photo: ABC

WHILE CHAD WAS AWAY GH RECAST MICHAEL CORINTHOS WITH RORY GIBSON

Chad shared, his mindset when leaving GH was, “I’m taking some time away, we’ll see what happens.” Then he added, “Obviously, they decided to go in a different direction with Michael when I was gone. I didn’t think they were going to bring somebody back in my place. But you know, it’s the business. You never know what can happen.”

Duell also shared he has not watched a single episode of General Hospital since he left the series, but now feels he reenergized following the loss of his father and stepping away from the GH, “I’m in a place now mentally, where I’m ready to sink my teeth into it again.”

Courtesy/ABC

Even though he is no longer Michael on GH, Chad was very happy with his final storyline where Michael was set on fire when a bomb exploded at Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) penthouse. “It was fun to put him in a dangerous situation, because I was wanting Michael to be in something scary instead of trying to be a hero character or just things happening around him, but to be the center point of tragedy happening to him. (I always saw) Michael as the heart of the (Corinthos) family.”

When Michael was badly burned the show chose not burn his face, which normally a soap does when they are recasting role and switching actors. Chad weighed-in, “They didn’t burn my face because I told Frank Valentini (EP, GH) I’m willing to come back. It was just a little bit of a break. So, I assumed that if they would have burned my face, they could have brought somebody back looking different than me… if that’s what their plan was.”

Courtesy/ABC

MEMORABLE MICHAEL STORYLINES

One of Chad’s most memorable performances was the in the storyline of Michael’s rape while he was sentenced to prison in 2010 and the confession of it in 2011. “It was so well-written and I was very nervous,” recalled Chad. “When I get really nervous about something, it ends up being really good when I do it, because it just means I care a lot about it”

“I have to put a lot of effort and work into it, and I really want it to be good.  I was working with Dominic  Zamprogna (Dante) and Steve Burton (Jason) a lot during those scenes, and Laura Wright (Carly). It was great working with Steve and Dominic, especially, during that storyline.

A NEW SOAP ROLE FOR CHAD?

As to a future soap opera role, Chad is open to the idea and would love to jump back in to a juicy role, “I know people over at The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Young and the Restless. They know that if they’re interested, I would love to come in for a screen test or something, and they can see what I’m doing.”

Meanwhile, Chad has been busy putting out new music under the moniker Duelly and during the interview he explains how he creates his EDM tracks and much more. You can stream his latest single, Static in the Quiet Room on Spotify, Apple Music and You Tube Music.

You can check out the full conversation with Chad Duell below.

Now let us know: what show would you like to see Chad cast on down the line? BTG, DAYS, B&B, Y&R, or a new role on GH? What did you think of his thoughts on the casting switch while he was away in the role of Michael? What was your favorite Michael storyline during Chad’s 15-year run on the ABC soap opera? Let us know via the comment section.

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