General Hospital
(WATCH) Lynn Herring Talks 2025 GH Nurses’ Ball, Lucy and Her Dresses, Richard Simmons, Sidwell, and Her Son, Hank Northrop’s Debut on DAYS
The General Hospital Nurses’ Ball 2025 edition kicks-off tomorrow on Tuesday, May 20th with the red carpet arrivals as mistress of ceremonies, Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring) works herself into a frenzy hoping all of her best laid plans go off without a hitch! But, since when has that ever happened?
GH has upheld the Nurses’ Ball tradition throughout the years (last year they took a year off from the festivities). What started in 1994 as an important statement during some of the most devastating times of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the U.S. and abroad, also dovetailed out of the heartbreaking love story of Robin (Kimberly McCullough) and Stone (Michael Sutton). Now, GH uses the episodes as a reminder that there is still work to do to help those globally, but it also serves as culmination of major plot points all convening at the ‘Nurses’ Ball.’
Michael Fairman TV chatted with the one and only Lynn Herring for a video chitchat now on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel to get a preview of what viewers will see over the four-episode event, how she feels carrying the torch since its inception, those dresses, and some remembrances of the late fitness guru, Richard Simmons, who back in 2013 was Lucy’s nemesis at the ball. In a very heartfelt moment, Lynn also shares her pride that her son with the late Wayne Northrop (ex-Roman, DAYS), Hank, now has a role on Days of our Lives.

Photo: ABC
SIDWELL AND LUCY
So, what’s the story with Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) and Lucy Coe? Is she really intrigued by the guy romantically, or using him for his moolah especially since he underwrote the Nurses’ Ball in his entirety? Lynn Herring explained, “First, Carlo is actually so much fun to work with and that’s my problem right now. We had scenes today and we were laughing about them. We have no idea where this is going. I think secretly Lucy has gotten a little savvier than sometimes she acts. I mean, her silliness is definitely a cover. Sometimes it’s real and she needs to still grow up, but sometimes she kind of knows what she’s getting herself into. But the end result is worth it, and she got the ‘Nurses’ Ball’ underwritten!”

Photo: ABC
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE NURSES’ BALL
GH viewers love Lucy! They became even more fond of her from her undying passion to put on the ‘Nurses’ Ball’ and her subsequent “hosting” style. Herring recalls when she found out in 1994 that she got the nod to spearhead the event on-screen. Lynn expressed, “I think the first thing I did was cry, because our show had been impacted, the whole industry had and across the world, obviously the United States, a lot of the creative community. I remember I was so proud. I just remember thinking, ‘This is a gift and it’s meant to be that we can communicate what this is doing to our country.’ I just remember being completely overwhelmed and also pressurized because I think the whole effort by Lucy to make it right and to do it right was the tricky thing. We don’t always get it right. Sometimes, the numbers may be off base, sometimes you don’t love the dress, sometimes the interactions, but the heart of it, and the continuity and history is always true, and we try to represent that.”

Photo: ABC
RICHARD SIMMONS VS. LUCY COE
Over the years, Lucy has had some made some enemies, and people that just had it out for her. One of which was the late great fitness guru and OG General Hospital favorite, Richard Simmons. Since the last time GH aired the ‘Nurses’ Ball,’ Simmons had passed away back in July of 2024 at the age of 76.
The year was 2013 and Richard revived his role as ‘himself’ for the ‘Nurses’ Ball. In remembrance, Herring shared, “Lucy generates an energy that I think sometimes can combust too much. Richard was very manic and hyper. He would be Lucy’s energy on steroids x 10. He comes to work though with the same joy of wanting to entertain. Richard wanted people to feel his love and acceptance and warmth and that’s the first thing you see.”
To this day, Lynn has a very special reminder of Richard, when he gifted her a dress. She shared the details, “I just admired Richard so much, because whatever he was going through, he would put that aside and wanted to be a true performer and really engage with all of us. We spent several days together, obviously, and then the last day he had this beautiful jeweled dress that he had gotten at an auction, or an art house, and he gave it to me. I told him, ‘Richard, I don’t need a gift, but I will keep that and treasure it,’ because it just represents everything he gave everybody. It was so fun in our scenes, because he would try to get so mad at Lucy, and we would be doing our nemesis stuff and then we would crack up. We did have to do several takes occasionally.”

Photo: ABC
LUCY AND HER DRESSES: HOW DOES SHE CHOOSE?
It wouldn’t be a ‘Nurses’ Ball’ without Lucy Coe having more clothing changes than one would see at a Beyonce Concert! Speaking of how the dresses get determined, Herring explained, “Shawn Reeves is our costume designer now. and back then it was Bob Miller before him. Bob would design the dresses. So a lot of times I never get to say Bob, “My whole back is out and my stomach.” But, I had to go with his designs and they were so magical. So, I never said anything. Now, Shawn has found a way to do this on a budget. You have to remember that our budgets are so different now. Shawn finds the most beautiful fabrics and he knows me so well, that we both will look in the mirror together. He brings a dress rack in and I’ll try them on and he will go, “Oh, no, Lynn,” or I will go, “Oh no, Shawn. That’s bad.” I don’t think we’ve ever disagreed where we didn’t see it right away in the mirror and go, “That is not going to work!”
However, Lynn received a little added something for one of Lucy’s gowns for 2025: “This year, Shawn surprised me. There was a ‘yes’ dress and we both went, ‘This is nice.’ However, he added this whole bustle and beautiful train that I never saw coming. It’s so beautiful. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

Photo: JPI
HANK NORTHROP TO DEBUT ON DAYS OF OUR LIVES
It has been a rough several months for Lynn Herring after losing the love of her life, her husband, Wayne Northrop to Alzheimer’s late last year. The couple had been married for over 43 years, and share two sons. One of which, Hank Northrop, will debut in the fall on Wayne and Lynn’s old stomping grounds at Days of our Lives. “It’s been a magical journey that we’ve been on,” says Lynn. “Hank found out on his own birthday (about the role), and Wayne passed last November. It has been a gift from the folks at DAYS, and his dad. Hank just really believes his dad’s watching over everything he does. He feels a lot of pressure because he’s heard so many stories about Wayne’s pranks and all the bad things his dad did. I mean, Wayne locked people in their dressing rooms when they had to be on set!”
Herring added, “I kept telling Hank, ‘Don’t be like your dad!’ However, the way they’ve embraced him at DAYS has been so special, and James Reynolds (Abe Carver) wasn’t told that Hank was going to be working there, and he broke down and Hank broke down and at that point, they were only 10 shows in. Hank’s character on DAYS is very interesting, because it’s complicated I think they’ve changed it a little as they’ve gone and he just gets so excited.”

Photo: ABC
GH NURSES’ BALL PREVIEW
With the spotlight to be on Lynn over the next several episodes of GH, she teased about the 2025 Nurses’ Ball! “This year, they’ll (the fans) see a lot of interactions, and the musical numbers are really good and appropriate. They’re going to get a kick out of it, I think.”
Now below, watch our full conversation with Lynn.
Then weigh-in; what is your favorite part of the GH Nurses’ Ball? Are you excited to see Lynn take centerstage as Lucy Coe? What did you think of her touching words on Richard Simmons, and her son Hank Northrop? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
What a great interview. Lynn Herring is the best.
General Hospital
Chris McKenna Reportedly Out as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jack Brennan

As ABC’s General Hospital continues to make casting additions in front of the camera; a new report indicates that Chris McKenna is the next contract player to be written out of the show as his storyline as Port Charles WSB bureau chief, Jack Brennan, is coming to end this fall.
According to sources close to the situation, who informed Soap Opera Network, McKenna will exit the long-running soap opera when Jack is killed-off the canvas. The outlet shares, Brennan’s death will come about as the soap, “leans heavily into storylines surrounding the World Security Bureau (WSB).”
McKenna, who previously appeared on the soaps when he was 12 as a young Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live from 1990-1993, then as an adult as Mark Harding on The Young and the Restless from 2014-2015, and next on The Bold and the Beautiful in the short term role of Dr. Hayden, began his run as GH’s Brennan back in February of 2025, replacing Charles Mesure in the role.

Photo: ABC
JACK’S ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE
In fact, McKenna won the part over Daniel Goddard and Daniel Cosgrove, who eventually were cast in other roles on General Hospital, that of Henry Dalton and Ezra Boyle, respectively. Chris informed his fans via X, back in August of 2025, that he was put on contract at the daytime drama and thanked them for helping make it happen.
Chris told Michael Fairman TV how it was to step into the role previously played by Charles Mesure, “I knew the challenge it was going to be and I had a like 0nly five days to get my head around it, so I was ready for it. Sure, it was challenging, but I was up for it. I was a recast before on The Young and the Restless.”
On-screen, Jack became romantically involved with Carly Spencer (Laura Wright), but that went bust when Carly learned Jack was not up front with her and had secretly enlisted her daughter, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) to join the WSB. Over months, Carly plotted to get revenge on Jack, and suddenly, Valentin Casssadine (James Patrick Stuart), Jack’s mortal enemy, came into the picture and he had fallen for Carly and she for him.
Now, Jack has started up a relationship with Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) and has found himself in situations stooping to lows to help Nina and her criminal daughter, Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) out of jams, especially where Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) is concerned.

Photo: ABC
REUNITING WITH ERIKA SLEZAK
Last fall, Chris got a thrill of a lifetime when his OG on-screen mother from One Life to Live, the iconic Erika Slezak (ex-Viki) took on a guest role on General Hospital as Ronnie Bard, the secret sister of Monica Quartermaine (the late Leslie Charleson). While the two did not have a storyline together, Chris did share some tender moments reconnecting with Erika on the set,
McKenna has a laundry list of primetime credits including: State of Affairs, Good Trouble, Lucifer and Castle, where in an ironic twist he appeared alongside another Joey Buchanan none other than Nathan Fillion.
So, how do you feel if the report holds true and GH is killing off Brennan and Chris McKenna would exit the show? How do you think Brennan will die on GH? Will he be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and someone will take him out? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
General Hospital
Ryan Paevey Open to Return to ‘General Hospital’ to ‘Stir the Pot if Cassius Could be a Good Agent of Chaos’

On General Hospital, Ryan Paevey wrapped his comeback to General Hospital on the July 6 episode, when it was revealed that Cassius Faison was not dead, but being held by the WSB thanks to Z (John Oliver).
It was Z who gave Cassius an ultimatum: a one-way ticket to prison or a death sentence, or to become an agent himself! We never got the answer on-screen, but suffice to say, Cassius is still out there somewhere, but we can assume he is working for the WSB.
GH fans were thrilled to see Paevey back on the ABC daytime drama series where he initially played the very popular Detective Nathan West from 2013-2018. It had been over 7 years until Ryan made a return to his former soap stomping grounds when on-screen in September of 2025, he arrived in Port Charles as a very much alive Nathan, who was actually Cassius impersonating his late twin brother.

Photo: ABC
Over this past weekend, Paevey appeared at the annual GH Fan Club Weekend in Burbank, California, where according to a report from Soap Central who was on the scene; when a fan asked Ryan if he would make another visit to the soap opera in the future, he explained, “That’s a ‘Frank Chat,’ referencing a discussion would need to be had with Frank Valentini, GH’s executive producer.
A CASSIUS FAISON SIGHTING ANYTIME SOON?
Ryan also added, “I’m a bit of a drifter. So, I’m not sure that I want to go back and sign forever. Doing so took a lot of things out of my life, stuff that is valuable to me.” Paevey also explained while he was away from GH he was caretaker to his parents and working on his Fortunate Wanderer jewelry business and more.
However, Paevey concluded his thoughts on the matter with, “But, yeah, I would come back and stir the pot if Cassius could be a good agent of chaos… a conversation might be had with Frank about exactly what ‘not dead’ means.”
All this to say, would you like to see Ryan make another comeback to General Hospital? This time as WSB agent Cassius Faison? Do you think he would help out his sister, Britt and his mutter, and even Josslyn, if they got into serious future trouble? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Christian Howard Makes One Final Return as Ethan Lovett, as Hudson Learns Damning Intel

The Tuesday, August 4 episode of General Hospital brought with it another appearance by Christian Howard in the role of Ethan Lovett. As previously reported, Howard was brought into wrap up Ethan’s storyline as Nathan Dean’s four-month run with the show came to its conclusion.
Now, it has been 100% officially confirmed that today was the last episode of Howard as the recast Ethan. In story, Ethan was now seen in Oslo, Norway after hightailing it out of Port Charles after Hudson (Troy Lennon Appel) had showed up looking for him at the Metro Court pool in Port Charles.
On the July 31st episode, Ethan made a beeline to Lulu’s (Alexa Havins) grabbed his bags and headed out of the country without saying goodbye to Ava (Maura West), who he just had spent the night with.

Courtesy/ABC
However, on Tuesday’s GH, it was also the day where Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) finalized baby Phoebe’s adoption for Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard). This was juxtaposed with the action in Oslo where Hudson showed up at Ethan’s hotel room door. He demanded immediate answers about Delilah and the baby. Ethan told him that both Delilah and the baby she carried died.
ETHAN’S LIES CATCH UP TO HIM
Hudson is livid. The two get into multiple altercations with Hudson getting the upper hand claiming that Ethan is a thief, who had “stolen from the wrong man.” At that point, Hudson delivered a beatdown on Ethan. Next, he threatened Ethan that he will go after his entire family if he finds out he was lying to him.
Back in Port Charles at the Metro Court pool, Ava is lamenting about Ethan’s sudden disappearance to Trina (Tabyana Ali). Later alone, she gets a call from Ethan telling her to never reveal that he’s not Phoebe’s biological father. Cut to: Hudson out in the hotel hallway listening in on the call through a bug he planted in Ethan’s hotel room. Hudson then takes off. The final moment of Ethan’s is him sprawled out bloody on top of the hotel bed.
A GH rep told Soap Opera Digest that “the door is open for Ethan to return to Port Charles” in the future. And as previously reported by TV Insider, when Nathan Dean signed on for his four month return, it was due in part to that he and his wife announced back in March they were expecting a baby.
So, now that Christian Howard has officially exited the series marking the end of the story for now of Ethan Lovett, what are your thoughts? Obviously, we will look for Hudson to return to Port Charles and infiltrate the Quartermaines lives especially Brook Lynn and Chase to get close to Phoebe, and then there is Ava, who may be in terrible danger, or is she? Share your thoughts and theories.
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