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Michelle Stafford and Lauralee Bell Discuss The Legendary Bill Bell In Emotional Moments During SINGLE MOM A GO GO!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/YouTubeSingleMomAGoGo

Courtesy/YouTubeSingleMomAGoGo

The second installment of General Hospital’s Michelle Staffords (Nina) vodcast, Single Mom A Go Go, shared some never-before-known insight into the powerhouse actress’ start on The Young and the Restless as Phyllis and more, when Michelle welcomed Lauralee Bell (Christine) as her special guest.

While the episode continued its theme talking about the struggles, and ups and downs of motherhood, and being a working mom to boot, this particular vodcast became extra illuminating when Michelle and Lauralee reminisced about their time together on Y&R.

In particular, the show contained an emotional moment.  Michelle relived her audtion experience for the role of Phyllis right in front of Lauralee’s legendary father, Bill Bell (Creator, Y&R).  Stafford revealed she had a string of auditions prior to that one where she did not get the part, and when her lucked changed the day she auditioned for then crazy Phyllis, she related to Lauralee that her father saved her life.  And in fact, when Michelle would give her acceptance speeches at awards show, she would always thank Bill Bell first and foremost.  The ladies also discuss how much Bill loved writing for Michelle’s Phyllis, and more.

Watch Michelle and Lauralee chat it up in Single Mom A Go Go after the jump.  Go to timecode 36:27 on the video, if you want to get straight to Michelle’s Y&R casting story.  Then let us know what you thought of the sentiments shared by Michelle and Lauralee on Bill Bell in the comment section below!

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Bill Bell also wrote brilliantly for Days back in the 70s-he is to blame for me skipping school to watch Days back then it was so good i hated to miss an episode-lol…unfortunately, if i was going to school today i wouldnt even skip to watch…it has some good moments here and there but no enough for me to care if i miss an episode but i wont give up on the show entirely because once its gone its gone!!!

That’s true with all the soaps these days. They just can’t figure out how to keep the writing compelling so we’re getting all sorts of lame gimmicks like the network MEGA soap among other things. I am hoping that the new EP for Y&R will turn things around with a new focus on good writing and the other soaps will follow. Though my patience is running thin, if he improves Y&R I just may start watching that and give up on the one I watch now.

I only watch Y&R on occasion-it feels as if this show like the rest of them has run its course but i too hope the new EP changes things around-the British are far better at producing and writing soaps-im addicted to Coronation Street the way i use to be with our American soaps and never miss an episode…they are far more realistic and compelling drama!!!

Where do you watch Coronation Street?

I will have to check out Coronation Street. I am completely fed up with the soap I have watched for the past twenty years.

Hey Michael Fairman,
I am really enjoying your providing Michelle’s show! These are great! And I really enjoy the talk about the “golden age” of soaps. Thank you Michael!!!!

2 things about Michelle: 1. I loved the choices she made as Phyllis. I would expect her to go left and she would go right. 2. I think she shoukd become a writer for soaps. Soaps need people that understand the genre in order to write for it. I think Michelle would be great. Always a fan of Michelle’s. She is a true talent.

I have always been impressed with Mr. Bell. Please read the biography out there. Awesome! He really was a master of this special storytelling. He mentored writers I wish were working today. Y&R was running on all cylinders back in the day >>> compelling characters, respected legacies and histories, slow burn suspense and drama, romance. Special touches like the comforts of Gina’s and the Colonnade Room, the Abbott family breakfasts, the characters that once in a while sang a song. Today it seems everyone is running around but going nowhere, and the recent contrived family bonds to link characters and revise history, and the implausible Victor Newman trial and other downer turns. Surely there are notes or ideas or hints of what to do in Mr. Bell’s archives.

Totally Agree – and Yes, the Biography is terrific. So loved seeing Michelle and Loralee “together again”, too.

Wouldnt it be wonderful to have Bill Bell writing todays soaps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even though I was wasn’t watching Y&R at the time, I loved when Michelle and Lauralee reminisced about their time together on Y&R and especially her first audition with Bill Bell. It was interesting to hear how they are both very different from their characters but everyone always assumes that they are just like their characters.

I agree with you Jim (Leave it to beaver) I think the Young and the Restless has really seen better days. I really hate saying that, being a long time fan since the early to mid eighties when Lauren and Tracy were fighting over Danny (the good old days) How many times can the audience put up with Victor and Nikki divorcing and re marrying, to name one example. I know it must be hard on the writers to come up with new ideas, but like you said I hope the new EP will be able to help. I am hoping that Jill will keep popping up. Maybe that will bring some of the “vets” out a bit. I guess we just have to wait and see

This was awesome! Thanks for sharing. I ended up watching the whole thing.

General Hospital

Could Justin Bruening Join ‘General Hospital’? Set Visit with Wife Alexa Havins Stirs Fan Hopes

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Justin Bruening and Alexa Havins

Several famous couples met on All My Children; one of which is Justin Bruening (ex-Jamie Martin) and Alexa Havins (ex-Babe Carey, now Lulu Spencer, GH). The two met on the soap and married back in 2005 and share four children together. Fast forward to 2026 and Havins, who is currently in the middle of Lulu’s legal battle with Willow (Katelyn MacMullen), received a visit from her hubby on the set of the ABC soap opera.

Bruening took to his Instagram to share his visit to Port Charles with a series of very cute photos of the couple, which then lead fans to hope that a Justin sighting could potentially lead to a role on the show!

Taking to his social media, the first photo was captioned, “I’m lost….Can someone point me in the direction of a good hospital?” Next, Justin selected a pic with himself and his wife, sharing, “Oh! Here’s someone! Lulu, you say? Hmmm….That’s weird…you look familiar. Have we met?” In a follow-up photo, Bruening commented, “You’re cute….. What are you going to do with the rest of your life? I’m thinking……… 4 kids? House in the burbs? 1,001 pets?”

Photo: JPI

FROM PINE VALLEY TO PORT CHARLES

Then, Bruening included a photo of himself in front of the photo of his former on-screen brother, Michael E. Knight (ex-Tad, AMC) who now plays Martin Grey on General Hospital.

Taking to the comment thread was Alexa Havins’ on-screen son, Finn Carr (Rocco Falconeri) who shared, “This is amazing!” In addition to many fans who now hope that Justin might one day soon join the cast of GH.

“Does this mean you’re coming on GH or just visiting your beautiful wife,”expressed one fan. Another wrote, “Ooh, any chance we’re getting a cameo? Tell Alexa she’s my fave on the show.” Another had a casting idea, “Make Justin Bruening a Dillon Quartermaine recast!”

Alexa Havins played Babe from 2003-2007 on the beloved ABC soap opera, while Bruening played Jamie from on and off from 2003-2011 when the series was canceled by ABC.

Since his days in Pine Valley, Bruening has appeared on primetime in series including, Ravenswood, Grey’s Anatomy, and Sweet Magnolias.

Justin recently wrapped The Other Side of the Window, a thriller where the loglines share: “CEO Elise Dufoe must work with unconventional allies to clear her name after her husband dies mysteriously and she is framed for financial crimes.” The feature is said to be in post-production.

So, did you love seeing Justin and Alexa together in the new pics? Would you like to see Justin land a role on GH? If so, who should he be cast as? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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General Hospital

Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award Preview: Genie Francis Talks Historic Run as ‘General Hospital’s’ Laura and Longtime Co-Star Tony Geary

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Genie Francis

On Friday, October 30, Genie Francis will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards ceremonies. Ahead of her honor, Genie sat down with Extra host and Dancing with the Stars judge, Derek Hough to discuss her legendary soap career and enduring on-screen partnership with the late Anthony Geary (ex-Luke Spencer).

Speaking of joining GH as a young Laura Vining when she was just 14, Francis admitted,  “It was so scary, I mean you don’t know what you don’t know. If I really knew what I was in for I would have been terrified.”

Genie will be presented with her Lifetime Achievement Award by her husband of 40 years, actor and director, Jonathan Frakes.

Genie Francis

Courtesy/CBS

Commenting on being the recipient of the Daytime Emmys highest recognition, Francis expressed, it’s “a wonderful feeling of accomplishment,'” and on receiving the award from her husband, “It feels incredibly safe and takes a lot of my nerves out of it because I know he’s another one who’s just not going to let me screw up, right?”

THE LEADING MEN THROUGHOUT HER LIFE: JONATHAN FRAKES AND TONY GEARY

Speaking of feeling safe, Francis echoed that sentiment when getting teary-eyed over reflecting on her time as the all-time soap opera super couple, Luke and Laura with Tony Geary. Genie reflected, “I’m going to cry. He (Tony) made me who I am today. I learned so much from this man. He was so loving and so kind. She added about the famous dance at Wyndham’s department store between Luke and Laura, “If I was in his arms I could do it.”

That sentiment carried on for decades with Geary. Francis even admitted to Derek Hough, a secret, “I wear Tony Geary’s cologne. I just remember hugging him and smelling him and I said, ‘Oh, it smells so good.’ And he told me what it was and he said, ‘It’s unisex. You can wear it.’”

Tony Geary

Courtesy/Extra

Up until now, its hard to believe that Genie has only won once at the Daytime Emmys. It was back in 2007 in the Outstanding Supporting Actress category, where once on-stage to accept the gold statuette, she acknowledged Geary.

Genie continues to be humble regarding the impact and lasting impression she’s made on the soap genre saying to Hough, “I’ve never gotten my impact. I just don’t get it.”You can check out Extra’s segment with Genie Francis below.

Now weigh-in; are you happy and excited to see Genie being honored for her decades of work in the soaps? What has been your favorite storyline of Laura, or Luke and Laura through the years? Let us know via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Chase and Brook Lynn Sign Divorce Papers; Are You Glad They Ended Their Marriage or Hoped for a Reconciliation?

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Chase and Willow

Any hopes for a last minute reprieve were dashed when filled with sorrow, Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) and Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) signed their divorce papers in front of a judge in the Dominican Republic on the Monday, October 26 episode of General Hospital.

The judge asked if they really wanted to go through with this, as a teary-eyed Brook Lynn and Chase both hesitated to sign the court documents. They admit that neither of them wants to get divorced, but they both came to the conclusion that too much mistrust has permeated their relationship, and too much has happened between them to stay married.

With that, Brook Lynn decided to put her pen to paper first. She signs the divorce papers. Next, Chase follows suit. They look at each other with tears in their eyes that their marriage is officially over. When the judge went to filing their divorce papers, Chase and Brook Lynn agreed to split custody of baby Phoebe straight down the line 50/50.

Josh Swickard

Courtesy/ABC

THE END OF THE ROAD

Next, the judge returned and gave each a copy of their paperwork. Chase says to Brook Lynn that he thinks that they should each fly back to Port Charles separately, and that he would take another flight home. Chase says goodbye to Brook Lynn and exits. Now alone looking at the empty room, Brook Lynn utters,“Goodbye, Chase.”

Later in the episode, as Brook Lynn flies back home to Port Charles alone, she listens to the message from Tracy (Jane Elliot) telling her she is doing the right thing by divorcing Chase.

Cut to: an emotional Chase who went to the beach. He looked at his wedding ring. Mourning the loss of his marriage, Chase buried his ring in the sand, at the same time Brook Lynn was removing her wedding ring on the airplane.

The drama won’t stop from here for Brook Lynn, because as teased in the GH video spoilers preview for the week, Jude (Wil Traval) will come calling wanting to see his “daughter,” and potentially staking claim to baby Phoebe!  As for Chase, now that he is a free man, will he begin a relationship with his ex-wife, Willow Tait (Katelyn McMullen), with whom he has been completely duped? Stay tuned.

So, were you happy that Brook Lynn and Chase actually ended their marriage? Were you hoping that the two would reconcile at the last minute and realize love can conquer all, or do you think they were being adult about the situation that they couldn’t get out of their own way and feelings to make their union work? Share your thoughts in the comment section. But first, check out the scenes from Chase and Brook Lynn’s divorce and its aftermath below.

 

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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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