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Lindsay Hartley Returns to General Hospital as Sam McCall

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: JPI

If you caught, or will be catching the Tuesday, January 2nd episode of General Hospital, you will see a familiar face reprising a role she previously stepped-in for.

Soap vet Lindsay Hartley is back as a temporary replacement once again for Kelly Monaco in the part of Sam McCall.

The former Passions and All My Children alum previously filled-in for Monaco in 2020 and 2022, and she is once again back on the ABC soap opera on a temporary basis.

Photo: JPI

GH fans also saw a quick change in the role of Maxie Jones, when Kirsten Storms was out for an episode of taping that aired last week and was replaced Nicole Paggi.

Also out for the beginning of the year is Eden McCoy who is on a temporary leave of absence from the show and will be returning in February. Josslyn is currently being played by Courtney Fulk.

No word yet on the length of time Hartley will be in our-screens filling in for Kelly Monaco.  However, Hartley took to her Instagram story and shared an image of her with Dominic Zamprogna as Dante and said, “Yes, one more time.”

So, if Kelly had to miss some episodes, are you glad its Lindsay playing the part in her absence? Comment below.

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As Monaco is in the promotional cast photo for Bobbie’s memorial, Hartley is on for no more than a week.

Lindsay is just the best.
Wish it was permanent.

Same!! She is amazing and has huge chemistry with Dante! Love her!

I like Lindsey and glad she’d back temporarily. Love her Lifetime movies.

No one can play Sam but Kelly, l hope she’s ok and will be back before the weeks end

Nope I want Sam Kelly Monaco only

I agree with you, only Kelly can play that part.I have been watching GH for almost as long as it been on and still waiting for Jason to come back

Yep; if there a times Kelly needs time off and they need a temp recast I think Lindsay is perfect for the role.

Love Lindsay—ohhh, if only!!!

I like both Lindsay and Kelly. I wouldn’t mind if they wrote a character for Lindsay to portray full time. I usually have no interest in new characters entering the canvas but I wouldn’t mind that.

How do you write an article like this and NOT tell us why Monaco is temporarily replaced?!?
Anyway, I like Lindsey better than Kelly, so I would like to have her on full time.

@Michael

Szima is simply enquiring as to WHY Kelly Monaco is being temporarily replaced. With all due respect, your article does not mention the WHY (illness, personal leave, jury duty, etc, etc) for Monaco’s absence from the show.

You got the WHO, WHAT, WHERE… however, there’s no WHY!

We’re not entitled to know the why.

A true journalist’s job is to gather ALL the facts: the Who, What, Where, and Why (and sometimes… When). MF could have said, “We are not privy to the reason why Kelly Monaco is absent from GH” or, even better, “We reached out to GH for comment and they have not returned our calls” — that is more information to satisfy the reader. Not including a “WHY” is not journalism.

I attended the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at ASU.

Granted this website is a blog format which acts like a news outlet.

Maybe it’s just not everyone’s business why Kelly is being replaced. It could be something personal, did you ever think if that?

As long as Kelly Monaco comes back Lindsay is ok but she is not Kelly (Sam)

Great to have Lindsay Hartley 

back as Sam—

I like her 100% better than Kelly Monaco as Sam–

Kelly’s a better Sam than Lindsay ever was.

Kelly M is the best Sam.

Lindsey does a great job as Sam. General Hospital’s January 2nd, 2024 episode was brilliant.

If we can’t keep her permanent as Sam, how about she comes on as Cara?

I absolutely LOVE how Soaps adopt the live theatre concept of temporary replacements (a la understudies on stage..). The Show Must Go On! Even if you are filming scenes a month away from airdate..

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Rocco is Coming Apart at the Seams

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On the Tuesday, May 12 episode of General Hospital, Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) was at its epicenter and the secret which is destroying him. Previously, Rocco shot WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) in the back to stop him from killing Jason (Steve Burton) and to save Britt (Kelly Thiebaud). 

However, the consequences of Rocco’s actions are weighing so heavy on him, that now he is starting to crack, and with good reason! While Rocco has been suffering in silence, he is wracked with guilt over Jason taking the fall for him, being carted away by the WSB, and worse yet, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) losing his father.

While Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) confronts “Nathan” (Ryan Paevey) about how he covered-up and “advised” Lulu (Alexa Havins) to stay quiet about the night on the pier which saw Rocco shoot Cullum, Dante can clearly see that the man in front of him seems off. His responses and demands and insights are not those of the good-natured “Nathan.” Will Dante be the one, or the last to know that “Nathan” is really Cassius Faison?

Courtesy/ABC

STAY AWAY FROM MY SON

In yet another confrontation, Lulu and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) go at it over Rocco. Lulu blames Britt for Rocco being on the pier at all that night, because Rocco cares about Britt, and she warned her not to get close to Rocco, but Britt did anyway.

Then, at the Quartermaine boathouse, Rocco was shocked to learn that Danny overheard Sonny saying that Jenz Sidwell was responsible for Jason getting taken away, and confided in Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) the intel several weeks ago. Rocco tried to cover his guilt as Danny and Charlotte explained they hadn’t confided in him because he has been so withdrawn lately.

Courtesy/ABC

ROCCO AND DANNY AT ODDS

Next, Danny asks Rocco to help him and Charlotte break into Wyndemere. Danny is determined to get info on Sidwell to try to find Jason. It’s at that point Rocco loses it. He shouts that Sidwell is a dangerous man and Danny needs to stay away from him.

In the most surprising turn of event, Rocco threatened both Charlotte and Danny that if they tried to sneak into Wyndemere he would turn them in.

Danny loses his cool and firmly tells Rocco, that unlike him, he didn’t have parents to clean up his problems for him and told Rocco to stay out of his way. As Rocco walked away, he asks Charlotte if she was coming with him. When she refuses, he tells the both to screw off.

Courtesy/ABC

THE ONLY PERSON I CAN TALK TO

Later, Britt returns to her room at Bobbie’s and finds Rocco waiting for her. He begins to share with her how freaked out he has been feeling over shooting Cullum. Britt hugs him and attempts to comfort Rocco letting him know he is a hero for saving her life and Jason’s. Britt tells Rocco she can talk to her anytime, as the two hug one more time. We fade to black.

Finn Carr delivered another excellent performance within his storyline. It’s clear GH made the right call by giving this young actor the ball with such a high stakes dramatic and emotional storyline to play.

So, do you think Danny will find out what Rocco did and come after him for letting his dad take the fall for shooting Cullum? Do you think Rocco will continue to turn to Britt, further upsetting Lulu? Will Dante get a clue about Cassius? Share your thoughts in the comment section. But first, in case you missed it, check out the emotional moments between Rocco and Britt on yesterday’s GH below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nina is Frantic, Sonny is Mistrustful, Chase and Willow are Being Framed

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The highly-anticipated Monday, May 11 episode of General Hospital picked right back up with the drama; which also sets the tone for today’s next installment of the ABC daytime drama series.

In another excellent performance by Daytime Emmy winner, Cynthia Watros, Nina is watching things unravel right before her eyes, and she is always playing defense to try to cover for the events that just transpired.

Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) ends up on the floor of Drew’s (Cameron Mathison) house unable to move after Nina injected him with the paralytic drug dose meant for Drew. Her intended target was Valentin (James Patrick Stuart), but during the Jack/Valentin Brawl, she struck the wrong guy! Valentin helps Nina turn Brennan on to his back and then makes his exit before anyone sees him as she calls the paramedics who rush Jack to GH.

Courtesy/ABC

MAN DOWN

In the meantime, Drew, who has overheard all the screaming in the other room, starts to have mobility in his hands and is trying to reach for the phone since his weekly dose went to Brennan instead of him. Now at the hospital, Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) has questions for Nina on how Jack ended up like this; which Nina claims one minute they were talking and all of sudden he dropped to the floor.

A panicked Nina calls Willow (Katelyn MacMullen), who went out for a run and ran into Chase (Josh Swickard). She tells her daughter using cryptic words that Jack got the dose of meds meant for Drew. Alarmed, Willow runs back to Drew’s, but not before having conversations with Chase about how she will help ensure he and Brook Lynn have the best chance at keeping baby Phoebe, after all, they had been through so much when she lost their baby.

SNAPS TELL ALL?

The moments of closeness between Willow and Chase are snapped by a photographer or someone hiding in the bushes as it seems like Michael’s plan to implicate Willow and Chase by making it look like their having an affair is underway. How far will this go?

Meanwhile, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) went at Lulu (Alexa Havins) for keeping him in the dark about Rocco (Finn Carr) being the person who shot Cullum and their elaborate cover-up. Things get worse when Lulu mentioned “Nathan” also knows and helped Rocco the night on the pier of the shooting. Dante is livid that as Rocco’s father, she felt he could not be trusted, and it was for him to figure out how he would navigate the information to protect their son; even if he is the police commissioner. Lulu also shared she did not want to tell him, because of what happened when Michael went to prison all those years ago.

Courtesy/ABC

BROTHER TO BROTHER

At Ava’s (Maura West) art gallery, Sonny (Maurice Benard) with gun in hand, rails at Ric (Rick Hearst) for lying and deceiving him. Ric confesses he was being dishonest, but not about anything to do with Sonny or the business. He shows Sonny the secret art transaction he was working with Ava. The reason is, he wanted to surprise Elizabeth with it as they have a special weekend planned. Ric explained that the sale had to be be done covertly because of a legal conflict involving the seller’s divorce. Eventually, Sonny lowers his gun. Cooler heads prevail and the two brothers hope there will come a time where Ric’s loyalty to Sonny will never be in question.

Carly (Laura Wright) learns what happened to Jack from Valentin, and feels badly for Jack. Valentin also tells her Jack does not know where Josslyn is and now that he is incapacitated that means that Cullum will take over the day to day of the WSB bureau in Port Charles and things are about to get worse.

Courtesy/ABC

In the final moments of the episode, Willow runs into Drew’s house and stops Drew from dialing the phone near his wheelchair. She scolds her husband and says, “Looks like no one can be trusted to keep an eye on you except me.” we fade to black.

So, what did you think of the performance of Cynthia Watros? How much longer can Nina and Willow get away with what they have done to Drew and now Brennan? Elizabeth already mentioned to Lucas, what are the odds that two men have the same medical issue at the same house.  Are you glad Willow and Chase are being framed, or annoyed by it? Weigh-in via the comment section.  In case you missed it, check out the scenes below with Sonny and Ric, and Ethan and Ava.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Previews His New Role as PCPD Officer Joe Fitzpatrick

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Those expecting Jonathan Bennett’s new General Hospital character of Joe Fitzpatrick to be the latest doctor to arrive in Port Charles. Think again! When Joe arrives on the scene he will be an officer with the Port Charles Police Department (PCPD).

That might be good news for the police force, who has had a lot of trouble (pretty much always!) solving cases, and with Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) pretending to be cop, Nathan West, and Chase (Josh Swickard) working his back up the ranks, police commissioner, Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) who could use a some helping hands, unless they are corrupt?

In the latest issue of TV Guide Magazine on newsstands now, Bennett shares a little more insight into what we can expect from Joe, when he first gets into the mix. You can circle next Monday, May 18 for the actor’s GH debut.

THE MYSTERY OF JOE

“Returning to daytime television was not on my bingo card for 2026.(However) I feel like I hit the jackpot when this opportunity came because the character is something that I really wanted to play.”

As soap fans know, Jonathan started his career on All My Children as JR Chandler from 2001-2002. Since that time Bennett went to fame with the motion picture Mean Girls, playing Aaron Samuels then continued on a path acting and producing and hosting where he had become a mainstay on the Hallmark Channel and Food Network. Bennett’s Hallmark reality-competition series, Finding Mr. Christmas was just nominated for three Critics Choice Real TV Awards.

Speaking on GH’s Joe and the PCPD, Bennett teased, “I’m feeling excited, and I’m also laughing because I can’t wait for the world to see what Joe Fitzpatrick is really all about.”

Could Joe Fitzpatrick be a closeted cop? An out cop? Neither? Will he be a good guy who might help crack the case of who shot Drew and help Willow get her comeuppance? Will he be investigating the shenanigans that might lead him into the path of Dr. Lucas Jones (Van Hansis)? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

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