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

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!
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
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.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Walks Away From The Mob After 30 Years; Steve Burton and Maurice Benard Deliver Emotional Moments

Is this the end of an era? It certainly looks like it after Jason (Steve Burton) explained to Sonny (Maurice Benard), why he can no longer work for him, and be his right hand enforcer for his organization on the Monday, August 3 episode of General Hospital.
In story, Jason filled Sonny in on everything that went down before he was taken into custody by the WSB including: his opportunity to kill Cullum, Rocco shooting Cullum on the pier, being carted off to Jakarta, and watching his son, Danny, who now only has one parent (since his mother, Sam McCall died in 2024) suffer the consequences of his actions. Jason made clear to Sonny he must be there for his son now and needs to set a better example for him.
As emotional Jason is trying to get the words out and becomes overwhelmed with sadness, because he is truly caught between his son and the man that changed his life after Jason sustained longstanding brain damage from being injured in the car crash nearly 30 years ago in 1996.

Courtesy/ABC
Jason recounts to Sonny what led him to this decision, “The WSB’s taking me in. They throw me shackles and then they force me in the back of a transport. Danny was there. He’s pounding on the door. Tears in his eyes screaming that what they’re doing to me is wrong. They just can’t take me off. I’m sitting there wondering, ‘What the hell have I done to my kid?’ His mom’s dead. I’m going to prison if I’m lucky. Something just breaks inside of me.”
“So, I promised myself, I got to do better,” continued Jason. “I failed my son too many times and I can’t do it again. If I keep working for you, then I’m going to make sure that your security’s my priority and not Danny. It’s not fair to you to keep me on when I can’t do the things I used to. I can’t kill for you again. I got to stop doing what I’m doing so Danny doesn’t follow in my footsteps.”
Next, Sonny lets Jason know Danny had already tried to join the mob in his absence, and that he knew Jason wouldn’t want Danny in this life, just like he would not want his own children. Jason thanks Sonny for handling the situation. He adds, “I just have a few years before Danny’s going to be out on his own. This my last chance to be a true father to him before he doesn’t even need me anymore. I’m out.”

Courtesy/ABC
Sonny gives Jason his blessing with tears streaming down his face, and tells Jason they will always be brothers, and they share a hug, before Jason exits.
Applause to Steve Burton who played the scenes beautifully, and Maurice Benard, who reminded us why the longstanding relationship between Jason and Sonny has been one of the all-time best and one of the cornerstones of three decades of GH. Burton should remember these scenes for potential inclusion for his Emmy reel for 2027.
So, what did you think of the scenes where Jason tells Sonny why he is leaving the mob and can’t work for him anymore? Do you think it will stick? In the past, these two have found themselves, often having to face a common enemy back working together and Jason goes right as Sonny’s enforcer? Were you moved by Steve and Maurice’s performances in the scenes? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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