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Rena Sofer on Her General Hospital Comeback as Lois Cerullo: “She’s Still Loud and She’s Still Mouthy”

Photo: Gilles Toucas/Bell-Phillip TV

When Rena Sofer burst on to the soap scene 27 years ago as General Hospital’s Lois Cerullo, viewers knew out of the gate that this actress was something special, especially how she inhabited the one-of-a-kind outspoken and lovable woman from Brooklyn.

Now as previously announced Sofer is back on the ABC daytime drama series beginning on the October 10th episode. Rena last appeared on the show from 1993-1996, and again in 1997. She won a Daytime Emmy for her portrayal as Lois back in 1995 as the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Since Sofer’s original exit on General Hospital, she later returned to the soaps as Quinn Fuller on The Bold and the Beautiful from 2013-2022. However, the fan favorite actually started her daytime career on Loving as Amelia “Rocky” McKenzie, a role she played from 1988-1991.

Photo: JPI

With the current story about Ned Quartermaine’s (Wally Kurth) amnesia and believing he is former rock star, Eddie Maine, it’s the perfect timing for Lois to enter back into the picture to help her former husband and their daughter, Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton).

Rena spoke with Soap Opera Digest in their latest issue about her highly-anticipated comeback, and how she stepped back into Lois’ skin: “It’s interesting to play her at this age. She’s still loud and she’s still mouthy. She was still a lot like me, except with a Brooklyn accent and nails.”

Photo: ABC

As to what fans can expect, Sofer shared: “This story isn’t about me.  The story is about Brook Lynn. The story is about Eddie Maine and Ned, so I need to respect that. This is not about me coming back and telling my story; this is about me coming back and supporting the stories that are there with me trying to create the knowledge of who Lois is now, 27 years later. So that is challenging, but also, part of the fun.”

The talented actress is also keenly aware of how GH fans have wanted her to return to GH for decades: “If they hadn’t spent the last 27 years constantly making little buzzing noises about Lois coming back, or me coming back as Lois, I wouldn’t be in this position. It’s inspiring, and I am forever grateful.”

Looking forward to seeing Rena reprising her signature soap role as Lois Cerullo? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Awesome to see her back; for a hot minute I suspected either a major recast or a return of Lesli Kay, so it’s nice seeing Rena Sofer coming back, and I hope she continues to stick around!

This looks like a one off return. She’s already saying it’s not about her so it’s either a 6 week or 6 month arc. Also, her and Wally Kurth were married/divorced. While they have co-parented over the years I doubt they’ve been hanging out either and I’m sure she isn’t dying to see him 24/7 even if it’s just for work. Time will tell of course. I am curious to see how Lois plays in 2023.

That crap is all in your head so why write it. You don’t know her relationship with Justin. Shh. Shush

OMG, exactly!

Wally, I assume you mean.

Interesting. I only heard of Wally and (Blair) being 2gther for Year’s

Blair , kassie, is with James Depavia. Not Wally .

Wally Kurth and Rena fell in love while playing Lois and Edde/Ned in the 90s. They married and have a daughter. They’re divorced; each married to someone else now.

Love her; I wish she was staying. No one’s mentioned how long she’ll be on. I’m assuming Eddie Maine is still in love with her; she’s the “muse” in his song that he has yet to identify. Since Rena and Wally are divorced in real life, I wonder if them not bringing her back full time has anything to do with it And I’m hopeful the “scab” writers will do this story right. So far, they are much better than the writers we’re unfortunately getting back…

Absolutely

Hi Michael (Fairman). I think this is the third time I’ve asked this question; I would appreciate you clarifying the “edit” option. The option is still there, but every time I edit something a popup occurs that says something about typing comments too quickly, and then the edit in my comment doesn’t appear. Can we or can we not edit our comments? Thanks!

Hello Michael

I have had the issue. I mistype a word, then go to correct it with the edit button and revieve the same message, that I am posting to quickly.

Happened to me also–

So excited for her return. Just hope Olivia and Ned/Eddie stay together

Me too!!!!!!

what about her role on loving rocky i believe was her name

How long did she play Rocky?

She’s so pretty. I hope her appearance will be a distraction from the Sasha/Gladys/Cody debacle—so sick of this storyline. Maybe, today’s episode was staged to catch the rat ( the psycho psychiatrist) in the act?

I really hope so because it was absolutely ridiculous Sasha would trust Gladys for literally one second.

Hi Celia–:)

Wow that was almost 30 years ago, half a lifetime!

I have no idea who/what she was..

Well, will be interesting.

On Sasha and Cody, I agree,

Hey, SusieQ— I don’t know who she is either. I know she’s Brook Lynn’s mother and Ned’s ex—I think the were married in real life, as well? I’ve only been watching since 2014. But, past characters are discussed during certain scenes—-I manage to learn a thing or two. Plus, whenever a past character re-appears I google him/ her.

Soaps have always been about continuity, and in the past newer viewers were able to become familiarized with characters from the past because they were kept on the show OR referred to often. Their children, grandchildren carried on the family etc.
Lois and Ned were a big deal decades ago. But different writers came aboard and destroyed much of the show’s history and great legacy families of which the Quartermaines were one. Loved them and their stories!
The writers dropped the ball and basically put them on a back burner to Sonny and Carly and their clan. The Quartermaines were never Olivia, Leo, Michael, Drew, Willow and Carly thrown in. They were: Edward/Lila/Alan/Monica/Ned/Tracy/AJ/Jason/Dillon, then Emily and Skye. Alice the cook. Reggie the butler. They were GREAT stories and one of the major families. But slowly they were destroyed. Unfortunately, the actors who played Edward and Lila passed in real life. The writers killed off Alan, Emily, and AJ for absolutely no reason. They stuck with Jason’s memory loss so he never again was really part of the Qs. Ned was barely on and Brook Lynn only recently came back in the last few years. So, unfortunately, there’s no anticipation or excitement for newer viewers for characters they never heard of, but for those of us who watched this show for decades, we (can’t speak for all obviously) LOVE the vets; want them back. They’re the “real” GH. Not his barrage of mostly new characters with a sprinkling of some lingering vets.

I agree I am so tired of the Sasha/Cody/Gladys nightmare. Please put it to rest!

Yes!! The plot had suspense —it reached its climax , which in a normal storyline, the viewer sighs in relief and that’s that. Anything prolonging the ending is nothing but a big bore and waste of time.

I’m so looking forward to seeing Rena back on screen as Lois, and I hope this isn’t just a short-term return, and that she will be sticking around beyond this storyline arc. There is a lot you can do with the Lois character after 27 years, beyond the stuff with Ned/Eddie and Brook Lynn.

Welcome back. However I do like Ned/Eddie and his wife. So I hopeless is going to respect that.

It’s going to be a blast!

I love Rena Sofer, she’s one of my favorite actresses. I’ve been waiting for her to cube back to GH since she left B&B. Can’t wait to see Lois back on screen!!

Anyone better than Olivia and her “nouveau-riche” persona. It would be great if “Lois” sticks around—I’d love to see the dynamics between her and “Eddie” or Ned.

Gh has enough characters. Enough already

Rena Sofer where have you been, been missing you as Quinn but looking forward to watching you as Lois on General Hospital and I don’t watch General Hospital but I am now because of being a loyal fan , welcome back to the Soaps

Breaking News

Haley Pullos Receives 90-Day Jail Sentence Following DUI Charge And Wrong-Way Car Crash

Former General Hospital actress, Haley Pullos (ex-Molly Lansing-Davis) is going to be doing time in jail, exactly one-year after her arrest from a hit and run wrong-way car collision.

The crash resulted in bodily harm and damages to the other driver, and now Pullos who pleaded “no contest” to the charges and will serve 90 days in jail. She was taken in custody on Monday, April 29th, after the ruling.

According to Haley’s attorney, Mark Daniel Melnick, the 25-year-old actress struck a plea deal and after her three months in jail will be sentenced on July 29th. As part of that sentencing, she must serve five years probation, 200 hours of community service and pay $8,260 in restitution to Courteney Wilder, the other driver in the crash and her driver’s license is revoked for a year.

Courtesy/ABC

According to TMZ, the plea deal for Pullos has the “no contest” to one DUI, while the judge dropped the felony DUI causing bodily injury and misdemeanor hit and run charges.

Melnick said in a statement to PEOPLE, “Haley is very grateful to the court for a minimum sentence and for recognizing her remorse and the strides she has made in her sobriety.”

Pullos had played the daughter of Alexis Davis (played by Nancy Lee Grahn) on the ABC soap opera since 2009, but after her car crash and DUI she was replaced by three different actresses until the show finally settled on the current Molly, Kristen Vaganos.

Photo: Pasadena PD

Back in April 29 of 2023, and at the scene of the crash, the police found edibles and mini-bottles of tequila in Pullos’ vehicle and that she was intoxicated. As it turned out, this was to be the second hit and run in the evening for Pullos who had an earlier collision with another car.

The courts decision follows a year-long legal battle with Haley’s pleas changing throughout it, ranging from “not guilty” to “no contest”. She sought treatment for her drinking at a rehab following the crash.

Nancy Lee Grahn, who portrayed Pullos’ on-screen mom took to X on Monday night, April 29th and shared on the sentence and the specific jail, Haley will be serving time: “As Haley’s TV mom I can tell some truths about her as I’ve loved her since she was little girl. She made a HUGE mistake, knows it, owns it & has spent the last yr doing EVERYTHING imaginable to take responsibility 4 it. It’s not that I oppose jail. It’s that I oppose this jail.” The jail in question by Grahn is the L.A. county jail.

So, what do you think about Haley Pullos serving a 90-days jail sentence, and the other rulings that will be part of her sentencing? Comment below.

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General Hospital

GH’s Laura Wright Previews How Carly Gets Clued-In to Sonny’s Behavior: “All the Questions That Anybody Would Have, We Hit on Them”

This week on General Hospital, Carly (Laura Wright) seems to be close to figuring out what is going on with her ex-husband, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) or is she? In the latest promo for the ABC daytime drama series, looks like Jack Brennan (Charles Mesure) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) have a plan to bring Sonny down … eliminate Jason (Steve Burton) and make it look like Sonny is responsible.

Meanwhile, Carly gets an earful from Nina (Cynthia Watros) that Ava (Maura West) had a lot to do with getting Nina to sell her portion of the hotel back to Jason, her interest is piqued.

According to Laura Wright during her chat with Soap Opera Digest, Carly has a growing concern over Sonny’s current roomie, Ava Jerome, and the mobster’s paranoid and irrational behavior recently.

Courtesy/ABC

Wright shares about Carly, “She doesn’t trust Ava for a moment.” Then in a great teasers, Laura reveals “All the questions that anybody would have, we hit on them. I’m excited.”

So, will Carly figure out just what Ava is up to? Will she learn that Sonny has been fed the wrong pills that are not controlling his bipolar disorder thanks to Valentin? Stay tuned.

Check out this week’s promo for GH and then let us know, what do you think Ava is up to exactly? Is she in cahoots with Valentin or operating separately? Will Jason and Sonny be led down a path where the two try to eliminate each other? Share your theories in the comment section below.

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General Hospital

Jack Wagner Recalls Dilemma During Time on General Hospital: “It Was So Hard for Me Being in the Music Business and Coming from a Soap to be Taken Legitimately as a Singing Artist”

Soap fans first met Jack Wagner back in 1984 when he joined General Hospital as Frisco Jones. While they loved Frisco and Felicia’s (Kristina Wagner) on-screen romance, one might recall that when Frisco first came to town he was the lead singer of Blackie’s (John Stamos) band, Blackie and the Riff Raff.

During his early days on GH, Wagner was also working on his rising musical career, which put him at a serious crossroads. Things got even more challenging, when Jack became a pop star after the release of his 1985 single, “All I Need” which hit the Top 10.  The character of Frisco actually sang the song on GH, before it went on to become a mega-hit.

While Wagner appeared on GH through 1995, and reprised the part for several episodes back in 2013, fans to this day miss him and hope one day he might return.

Photo: ABC

Speaking with PEOPLE, Wagner admitted his inner conflict with being a soap star, while trying to have a successful musical career.  Jack reflected, “I used to battle it, because it was so hard for me being in the music business and coming from a soap to be taken legitimately as a singing artist. It took time to let go of that, but now I embrace it. If I can make someone’s day by going down memory lane, it makes my day.”

Photo: WarnerBrosRecordsInc

In his early musical days, Wagner released six albums, and his role on GH didn’t hurt the frenzy surrounding seeing him live. “I would sell concerts out in an hour or two,” Jack admitted.

Looking back at the GH hey day, in which he was a part of, Wagner added, “It really was incredible how popular the show was in the ’80s. It was crazy, because back then, people would join fan clubs, and there would be bags and bags of fan letters. I took it in stride, because it was just sort of the things (that) happened to Tony Geary (ex-Luke), Rick Springfield (ex-Noah) and John Stamos, who were ‘teen idols,’ I guess you would call us, back then.”

Wagner currently appears on Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

So, do you remember Jack’s musical taking off during his time on GH? Do you hope that one day he might make a return as Frisco Jones on the ABC daytime drama series? Comment below.

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