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Risa Dorken Cast As GH's New Nurse Named … Amy!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/IMDB

Courtesy/IMDB

“Amy ___  to the seventh floor nurses station!”  That may be the call when actress  Risa Dorken makes her GH debut on May 4th!

According to Soap Opera Digest, Dorken has been cast as GH’s neweest nurse, but there is a key twist!

Apparently, her personality and the character description pretty much matches that of Amy Vining, the long-running blabbermouth nurse played by the late Shell Kepler (who passed away in 2008), and sister to Laura.  (Genie Francis).

The role in the casting breakdown described the new Amy as “a spunky new nurse who just can’t help herself from gossiping and putting her nose in other’s business.”

So, will Risa Dorken be Amy Vining’s daugther or relative, or is this a coinci-dink? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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I hope she is related to Amy…sounds like she would be with that description…and she is very cute…at first i thought she was going to be Charlotte-Nathans ex-maybe she is and Amy’s kid too-this is a newbie i actually look forward to for a change-Please be Amy’s daughter and Nathans ex!!!

or will she be Nina’s thought-dead child?…i prefer Amy’s daughter and Nathan’s ex

Why the hell does her name have to be Amy? This is over kill.
Having her act like the classic Amy Vinning is good enough–no need to name her Amy.

I thought Nathan’s ex was named Claudette?

That was an error-i meant Claudette…

this is awesome, its brilliant, we need a busybody nurse, so i like it as to weather she’s related to the late amy vining, i welcome it if it is, if it isn’t then thats ok too, but great idea from the writers.

IMO it’s a nice homage to the character of Amy Vining. The character was never a pivotal one. But, it’s nice that GH never recast her, which they could have easily done. Having a nurse named Amy is a sweet sign that while she may be gone, she hasn’t been forgotten.

Enough with the new characters! Felix could easily be the gossip at the hub

We NEED some new people on the show. I.would prefer they bring back some oldies, but definitely need to keep mixing it up. I also think it would be cool if they gave some parts to some OLTL people. Oh I miss them!!

Hell yes starting with Melissa Archer!

We dont need more characters. Cast is beyond full & please no more OLTL actors.

Marilyn? Are you kidding? We need more people on GH like Donald Trump needs more holes in his head.

I so agree that we it would be nice to have some of the OLTL characters on the show. I like having Roger on the show. I liked him as Todd, but it got weird with him coming back at Todd for Starr who became Kiki than Roger comes back to become Franco. Just like Slyus who also played his dead brother for a while and now coming back as Fin. Why can’t they bring other people in so it doesn’t get confusing with crossovers.

Could she be Amy’s daughter? If so, who’s the daddy?

Maybe Finn?

Okay I’ll buy it until proven otherwise. lol

Last I remember Amy Vining died and I don’t remember Laura saying she had a niece. So I’m guessing “coinci-dink”.

I don’t know why but I don’t remember Amy dying. I hope this is a relative for Laura though. Could be something for Laura to have to deal with.

The actress past away in real life but Amy has not passed away on screen. So she could have just moved away and finally had a child and this could totally be her daughter!

would Amy really name her daughter after her?

Lucille Ball named her daughter after her so its possible…or she is using her middle name-maybe she is Claudette Amy Vining West?

Oh, Wow, Wow, Jimmy!! Good one!! I did say that Claudette would show up sooner or later. Maybe, she wants her gloves back.

Claudette needed her Visa. I believe Nathan said she was Canadian ( Quebecoise). Perhaps, Amy, the mother, had her with a French-Canadian. But, she would not need to marry Nathan if that were the case because Amy Vining was American. Hmmmmm. Good theory, though, right?

So, if this is the case… we know who Nathan has the hots for…

#TheBlondies lol

Sounds fun. All shows need a character like this.

Days-where’s Maxine!

I liked Maxine…with the return of Valerie Grant they could have been cousins like i suggested in a letter to Corday sometime ago,,,

The cast is bloated as it is! They tried to cry poor with Becky Herbst, but they keep adding new people like they have all the money in the world. Let me guess: Becky will be on her hiatus when “Amy” debuts.

She looks like a cross between Tracy Abbott and Tanya Tucker! Not bad. I dont think she is related to Amy. Who would name their daughter after ones self? UNLESS, Amy is her middle name? BUT, I dont remember Amy even dating much. Who could the father be? SCOTT BALDWIN! Welcome Risa.

Maybe Finn is her daddy…thought she could be Claudette Amy Vining Finn West-ties her to Laura, Dr.Finn and Nathan-his ex wife…thats the way the writers should have written the character instead of writing in a whole new family-still hope she is tied to someone in PC!!!

Lucie Arnez is sort of named after mom Lucille Ball so its possible…im named after my dad so why cant moms name their daughters after theirself?…i have heard of daughters named after their moms-not many do that but some have.

And while we are at it, Tim is Timothy. Why isnt Jim Jimothy?

My Aunt named her daughter, Joyce after herself.
I loved to hate Amy Vining, and am looking forward to the “character renewal”.

Or Tim Tames.

Or she could be yet another daughter for Laura while in the sanitarium who turns out to be a Cassidine thanks to Helene and one of her sons-Stravos, Valentin…

So pretty!

Really pretty ! Pleased to see the Hospital on an IV drip.

Maybe “Amy” could turn out to be a long-lost daughter somehow of Scotty Baldwin AND Laura Spencer. Lest us no forget, that when Laura and Lulu found that old (?album was it?) in the creepy and eerily Wyndermere… The album had to do with the older days with Laura and Scotty (with some ties into and mentions of Luke Spencer as well). Could see “Amy” being part of this key ticket that Helena Cassadine left behind for Laura in her will.

ANYTHING that involves Scotty, I’m in! The problem with your theory is I cannot see Laura walking away from a child?

Amy was Laura’s younger sister. Can’t tell from the photo how old this actress is, but I wonder if she can pass as Laura’s younger sister and be a recast of Amy Vining herself!

Oh forget it. I just IMDB’d her and she is only in her early 20s. Would be nice for Laura to have a niece around.

I loved Shell Kepler as Amy Vining, and when things turned dark in Port Charles, I lamented she was given so little to do. There is much to be said for the continuity characters who may not have constant front-burner stories, but “pour the coffee” and give audiences the sense of comfort and home. Kudos to the writers for what perhaps creates that again. Yes, the cast is bloated and eventually we need to winnow the rolls.

Worry about adding new characters, but Risa/Amy seems like a good addition based on the history of Amy Vining. Just wonder how she got passed an interview with Dr. O?

I’m kinda excited i’m not gonna lie, this could be good

Speaking of Laura, what happened to her and her quest for figuring out what Helena’s “gift” to her meant-another forgotten storyline?

Sounds fun!

Not unless she’s French jimh. I believe Nathan said he married her to keep her from being deported. And Amy sounds like she’s going to be the good-natured hub of all things gossip, like her predecessor. But who knows…she is joining the cast as Claudette is being talked about. I don’t think so, but you never know…

She dropped her accent like Madlyn had done?

Hmmmm…

Just what we need, another new character!

I have no idea who Amy Vining is. I shall educate myself.

Amy Vining was classic. Played by Shell Kepler. She was Laura’s (adopted) sister. You may have heard the name Laura Vining. Amy was the hospital gossip. She was funny! Sadly, the actress passed away a few years ago. Not sure why a new “Amy” is being introduced. Hope whatever they are trying to pull works. The new actress has some big shoes to fill.

I know, Joe. But, I was sort of prepared, and braced myself as soon as the name Claudette came up.
I can’t say for sure, of course. But, why throw the name around if she were not to materialize?

Hey, CeeCee….Just think how long we heard about Nina before she turned up…..and ever since she did, I’ve been wishing she hadn’t! How I hope we won’t have a repeat situation with Claudette.

Shay, Hearing Silas wax poetic about his invisible friend brought back childhood memories of Big Bird waxing poetics about his invisible friend, the Snuffallagus (I have no idea how to spell that).
But damn, while I was expecting some mystical phantom animal to appear, I was instead stuck with Michelle Stafford snoring and hamming it up like the scene chewer she is.

@Shay/Harry:
Just for interest sake…Mr. Snuffleupagus turned out to be real afterall. ‘Srsly’! Lol.

I think Griffin was the guy Claudette was with while she was married to Nathan-maybe he shot Griffin, the secret he’s hiding from Maxie!

It’s rude & disrespectful is what it is. I expect nothing less from GH these days though. Jelly & Co. spit on pretty much everything I ever loved about GH. Not sure what “demo” they’re going for with this one but it will fail like all the other stunts trotted out over the past 4 years. This isn’t a “nod”. This is erasing the past which is exactly what the past 2 regimes have tried endlessly to do. Too bad those of us who actually watched pre-2000 aren’t falling for it.

Can you really blame some writers though, wanting and or at least trying to look past the past?

Please make her Amy’s daughter!! Pretty please?!

Did they ever mention onscreen that Amy Vining died? I don’t recall any mention of it.
I hope she is an Amy relative otherwise it would be be disrespectful to Shell’s memory.
Maybe she could be a child that Amy had with that boxer Johnny (that was in the early 80s), which of course would be older than this actress is.
But it would be a nod to history.
As many others posted, the cast is already so bloated. I’d love to see more of Mac, Felicia, Robert, Kevin, Lucy, Epiphany, Diane, Milo, Max, TJ, Cam, Spencer, Laura, Scotty, and see Duke back.

She was murdered, but WE never saw a body. At least, that’s what my 9 yr old brain remembers.

I don’t remember her being murdered but I was not much older than you!

A nurse named Amy! The many scenes between Shell Kelper and Jane Elliott at the nurses station brings back fond memories.

JUST A SIDE NOTE: Kepler was a smart businesswoman. Way ahead of her time! She just maybe the first soap actor to have a product on the likes of HSN or QVC.

Cast is a bit full now as it is. So I agree with another’s comment.

I loved the old Amy she was so bubbley most of the time , that is when she wasn’t spelling guts out about things she would hear others talking about. I think her an the nurse who helped Sunny walk again would but heads . Would be funny it will be great to bring Amy in to shake up the 7th floor stiff necks , an some of the nurses, it will be great an funny for her to come back to put a different kind of spark of being a busy body who never keeps anything to her self, luv it. I also loved Jessie, an. Lucy nurses ba k when go was on l y on for 30 minutes, an 15 of the 30 was advertising.

would have been nice to have a different name and not Amy.Sure hope its not AMYVinnysdaughter. Would be great to have it be Claudette. Having watching this show from day one when it was only on for 15 mins cant wait to see what this new character will bring to the show.

The writers said they wanted to center alot of the characters and stories back to the hospital thus we have three new doctors and now “Amy.” I don’t know what to think of their name choice yet. Either they’re trying to recreate something lost while introducing a “new” character to viewers who never knew the original, or it’s a nod to the original actress-character by creating a similar one who coincidentally has the same name…like the coincidence of the many same faces of Michael Easton or the nid to Roxy. Curious to see how it plays out. She could add an element if good-natured fun like the original…perhaps she’s part of something Laura lost!

She has a couple of videos on youtube. She was definitely cast to play a relative of the other nurse Amy, same voice.

I just saw her today and instantly ran to google, because after watching her with Kirsten Storms…I was convinced they were related. Obviously I am wrong, but they really do look like THEY could be family.

Has anyone noticed that the new nurse Amy looks just like maxie. Are they sister’s in real life????

If this new addition to gh is a throw back to charcter amy vinning them she is a welcomed site she can certainlty hold her own with dr. monica rhat’s for sure, espically after today’s run on description of how Jason came to be a quartermaine.

I think Amy will be Amys daughter.

I missed many years of GH & wondered what ended the story for Amy Webber? I sorely realize the actress passed away, so did the have nurse Amy Webber pass on the soap opera too? Always wondered now more than ever seeing Laura talking to a psycic & she mentioned Amy, is this a future role down the road perhaps!

Amy just disappeared one day. I believe they mentioned the character’s passing in one of the recent anniversary episodes, but never went into details. Haven’t seen her down here in Hell, so I guess that means she went upstairs. Something that’s not always guaranteed for residents of Port Charles!

General Hospital

Chris McKenna Reportedly Out as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jack Brennan

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Chris McKenna

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.

Chris McKenna

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.

Erika Slezak, Chris McKenna

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.

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General Hospital

Ryan Paevey Open to Return to ‘General Hospital’ to ‘Stir the Pot if Cassius Could be a Good Agent of Chaos’

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Ryan Paevey

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.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Christian Howard Makes One Final Return as Ethan Lovett, as Hudson Learns Damning Intel

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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.

Christian Howard

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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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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