General Hospital
Ron Carlivati Interview – General Hospital – Paley Center For Media
General Hospital head writer, Ron Carlivati spoke with Michael Fairman at the Paley Center For Media in Beverly Hills GH 50th celebration about crafting the shows 50th anniversary episode, bringing back all-time favorites and The Nurses’ Ball. In addition, Carlivati gives a tease and some insight into the complex returns of Michael Easton, Kristen Alderson and Roger Howarth. Plus, the story behind resurrecting Stavros Cassadine, and ushering in the new Lulu!
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ SORAS’s Scout Cain and Casts Kayden Brenna Tokarski in the Role of Drew and Sam’s Daughter
In General Hospital casting news, none other than Scout Cain just grew up right before our eyes! In a case of SORAS (Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome) the daughter of Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) and the late Sam McCall (formerly played by Kelly Monaco) has been recast.
According to Soap Opera Digest, Kayden Brenna Tokarski takes over the role from Cosette Abinante who has played Scout since 2022. If you caught yesterday’s GH 16,000 episode on set cast celebration video, you may have witnessed Kayden at the festivities. The young actress will make her debut in July since GH tapes about six weeks ahead of air.
Taking to her Instagram on Tuesday, June 2, Kayden confirmed her casting by posting: “A DREAM COME TRUE. So honored to be joining the General Hospital family!! Biggest thanks to Mark Teschner (casting director, GH) and Frank Valentini (EP, GH) for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to work on this iconic show.”
Courtesy/ABC
The decision to make a sharp turn with the age of the character was for upcoming story purposes, and to open up Scout for more teenaged and young adult storylines; especially since Drew Cain is eventually going to come out of his locked-in state and perhaps Scout can go at war with Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) for what she did to her father? Stay tuned.
SCOUT CAIN READY FOR TEENAGE ROMANCE?
As General Hospital viewers know, Scout was born in 2017, which makes her about 9 before the SORAS occurred. Some rumors are circulating that a more teenaged Scout could become a love interest fo Finn Carr’s Rocco Falonceri? Previously, the two characters bonded over Sam’s death, since at the time Rocco’s father, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) was engaged to Sam, and the two, along with Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), tried to stick together as “brothers and sister,” after her mom passed. But will that relationship dynamic change?
Tokarski who is 16, has an impressive acting resume which includes: Gaslit on Starz. Lifetime’s My Professor’s Deadly Secret, where she played Lauren the on-screen daughter of Passions and Y&R alum James Hyde (ex-Sam and ex-Jeremy Stark, respectively) character of John, and another Lifetime thriller, Killer in the Woods.
More recently, Kayden completed production on the indie thriller Quads & the Kicker, and can be seen in the upcoming Curse of Vandor starring Dee Wallace (ex-Pat Spencer, GH). The actress has also appeared in numerous national ad and branding campaigns including being featured opposite Joey Fantone in a Red Lobster commercial and voicing the part of “Wednesday Addams” in a Wendy’s commercial as a tie-in to the Netflix series Wednesday.
So, what do you think of General Hospital casting Kayden Brenna Tokarski as the new Scout Cain? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
Monday, June 1, ABC’s General Hospital celebrated yet another milestone in their iconic history with the taping of their 16,000 which will air on July 13th. To mark the occasion the cast and crew took some time out to acknowledge the big day.
General Hospital’s Instagram and social accounts posted a video of the cast cavorting on the set where it was revealed that longtime favorites, Steve Burton and Finola Hughes are back in action and taping all-new episodes of the series in their signature roles of Jason Morgan and Anna Devane.
Today marked Steve Burton’s actual return date, while according to Soap Opera Digest, Finola Hughes has already been back for some time. As GH fans know, Steve went on an extended hiatus from the show in February, his last episode till now aired on March 25, but the two-time Daytime Emmy promised to be back in June and here he is.
THE WHEREABOUTS OF JASON AND ANNA
In story, Jason took the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot WSB director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) who was attempting to kill Jason and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud). Now that Cullum has figured out Rocco is the one who shot him, Rocco fled Port Charles along with Britt and they remain MIA. Might they find Jason, while they are on the run?
As for Anna Devane, the character was last seen on-screen in February. Hughes was written out after Anna was kidnapped and given hallucinogens by Sidwell (Carlo Rota), Cullum and company believing that her nemesis Cesar Faison (Anders Hove) was alive. Eventually, a gaslighted Anna wound up at a mental health facility in France, tried to break free, and was captured again and put back in the facility.
Recently, Congresswoman Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) helped ensure that the French authorities would drop any legal charges against Anna potentially paving the way for Anna’s return to Port Charles? We shall see!
Below you can check out the special video marking General Hospital’s 16,000 episode with the accompanying words, “There’s nothing like celebrating a milestone with family, friends, and cake to cure a case of the Mondays. 63 years and 16,000 episodes later, we’re still going strong thanks to all of you! Thank you so much for watching.”
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Today on June 1, General Hospital marked another milestone with the taping of their 16,000 episode. And along with that, came some very intriguing casting news when actor Dean Geyer was spotted in the social media video that made the rounds of the cast celebrating on set.
As it turns out, and according to TV Insider, Geyer has joined the cast of the ABC soap opera in the contract of role of … wait for it, Tristan Roberts. If you think it’s a nod to the late great Tristan Rogers who passed away on August 2025 and who played Robert Scorpio for decades you would be correct!
Tristan Rogers hailed from Australia, and Dean is also from Australia by way of South Africa. Geyer moved down under at 15. So, yes, “Tristan Roberts” will indeed have an authenticate Aussie accent.
GLEE AND NEIGHBOURS ALUM
GH isn’t the first soap Geyer has appeared on having played the role of struggling musician Ty Harper on the long-running Australian soap opera Neighbours from 2008-2029
Dean may look very familiar to primetime fans having appeared in some major television shows including: Terra Nova as Mark Reynolds, Glee as Brody Weston, Zoey 1o2 as Todd, plus 9-1-1 as Zane Williams.
The talented Geyer is also a singer/songwriter having appeared on season 4 of Australian Idol, where he came in third. In 2007, Dean released his album titled Rush.
Look for the 16,000 episode to air on July 13 since General Hospital tapes approximately six weeks ahead of air.
You can check out the music video for Geyer’s track, “If You Don’t Mean It” released in 2007 below.
As well, look below for the video that surfaced today where General Hospital shared on their latest milestone, “There’s nothing like celebrating a milestone with friends, family, and cake to cure a case of the Mondays. 63 years and 16,000 episodes later, we’re still going strong thanks to all of you! 🎂 Thank you so much for watching.”
So, what do you think about the casting of Dean Geyer in the role of Tristan Roberts and the nod to the beloved Tristan Rogers? Who could be Tristan’s love interest when he gets to Port Charles? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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Spencer Pratt, ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Guest Star and Reality Show Notable, Holds Second Place and Poised for L.A. Mayor Runoff
Peabo Bryson, Grammy Award-Winning Singer of Memorable ‘One Life to Live’ Theme Song, Passes Away at 75
Daytime Drama Casting Directors Talk Four of the Most Challenging and Important Recasts of Their Careers
‘General Hospital’ SORAS’s Scout Cain and Casts Kayden Brenna Tokarski in the Role of Drew and Sam’s Daughter
‘Beyond the Gates’ and ‘The Young and the Restless’ Crossover Event Preview: A Tornado, Scandal and Dangerous Liaisons
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: The Search for Rocco and Britt is On; Willow Wants to Stop Drugging Drew
‘General Hospital’ Exec Prod Frank Valentini on Kate Mansi’s Departure as Kristina, ‘The Door Is Always Open’
‘General Hospital’ Cast Maxwell Caulfield as Apollo, the Suspicious Gallery Owner in Guest Appearance
‘General Hospital’s’ Finn Carr Talks: Working with Andrew Hawkes, How Britt is like a ‘Cool Aunt,’ Brother Elliot Carr’s Debut
‘The Bold and the Unscripted’ New Reality Competition Series Gives Actors a Shot at Role on the CBS Soap
Peabo Bryson, Grammy Award-Winning Singer of Memorable ‘One Life to Live’ Theme Song, Passes Away at 75
Daytime Drama Casting Directors Talk Four of the Most Challenging and Important Recasts of Their Careers
‘Beyond the Gates’ and ‘The Young and the Restless’ Crossover Event Preview: A Tornado, Scandal and Dangerous Liaisons
Steve Burton and Finola Hughes Back Taping Episodes at ‘General Hospital’
‘General Hospital’ Casts Dean Geyer in the Role of ‘Tristan Roberts’
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awesome interview michael!
i agree!
I am totally in love with Gh and cannot wait until he next episode everyday.This show is on fire.
Same thoughts here!
Sorry. His “moment” was a joke to me. And the “Big 3”? Seriously? Guess I don’t share Mr. Fairman’s admiration for this writing team.
I agree, why are they the Big 3?? Who cares if they are there or not/
Big 3? Apparently he means the Big 3 who are gonna hog up all the airtime from the GH actors when they get back? FV/RC fought tooth and nail to get back ME, RH and KA but they didn’t bother to fight to keep Burton. The pets are back.
Big 3 as in the ones Prospect Park is citing in suing GH and ABC for damages, I guess.
Wow. Meow. You may not like them, but a lot of people do. If they weren’t popular, there wouldn’t have been a brouhaha about them or the characters roiling and boiling for the past three months.
The denial, it burns…
Popular? You don’t know that. You know that for a fact? There was a big brouhaha because they are FV’s pets and he likes writing for them, not the GH actors. HA Steve Burton was way more popular than these three clowns so why wasn’t there a fight to keep him? They wanted him out that’s why.
They r suing for the charaters they played…not exactly for the actors! And if pp wants any of these actors…they could keep the characters off the canvas until the actors are avaiable…thats if they want to return to OLTL.
Loved the interview… thank you Michael!!! Loving Ron’s loyalty to GH and that he is a true fan! He sounds like he is having fun!!! He’s doing a great job! Thanks Ron!!!
The big 3? As if those transplants the starts of the show. Disgusted to hear anybody refer to them as the big 3!
Sorry you feel that way…..is it that time of the month? Maybe you should watch something else.
Nasty.
Sorry you’re such a b! tch! I guess I can’t have an opinion of my own with out you making a time of the month comment. I watch for the big 15, You know the actual GH stars, same as 90% of the audience and I’ll continue to enjoy them just fine despite the little 3.
Pay no attention to negative replies like Judys…i may not agree with your reply but i wouldnt include a tasteless remark just because you dislike something and i disagree unless they say it first…
You can’t make everyone happy. *rolls eyes*
Kudos to RC and FV for doing a fantastic job.
If Mr. Fairman were ever to interview Mr. Valentini, could he inquire as to whether there is ever manipulation of posts and likes on Facebook? There have been anecdotal reports of deleting posts and buying likes to support storylines. I wonder if Mr. Valentini has any comment on this.
Yes!! My post about Sabrina have been deleted on facebook. I totally believe they manipulate facebook posts in favor of storylines or characters (sabrina) they like. Also some of the post on facebook about Sabrina, when you click on some of the ppl making these post, their fb page has no information and was just made.
thanks Michael for the interview. the 50th Anniversary episode was the best! I love love GH now. Don’t want to miss even one day
Kelly Monaco fans are not happy. Her airtime has been almost zero on this show since Steve left. I will not count that ridiculous vampire crap. So it looks like Sam is stuck taking care of Rafe to introduce the Rafe/Clay storyline in May with Sam being used as a prop. According to FV/RC, Kelly is okay to be used promoting GH, but not good enough for airtime.
Yep, that’s it exactly. She’s never, ever, ever going to have a storyline again, and will henceforth be used only when the morning shows need a spokesperson.
Give me a break. The writer are rotating storylines so that everyone gets an opportunity to be in the spotlight with their own front-burner story. Right now, Kelly is backburnered, and she will rotate back around again later.
That’s the beauty of soap/anthology storytelling. Everyone gets a chance to shine, and different stories get to be told.
good reply
Agree with most of what you said in your two posts Pen. Glad to hear you think ME will not be a recast for Jason Morgan… there’s been a lot of references to Jason and hopefully it is because he’s a missed character… he and SB! Yes… I am an SB fan and proud of it! I will still keep hoping someday he comes back as Jason Quartermaine… lots of great stuff that could be done with that.
I agree with the back burner / front burner of storylines and characters and that is part of it but setting the table so to speak for new story lines sometimes means stepping back and layering in different complexities and that is what is going on here! Kelly will be back in the midst of a lot of story very soon!
I personally don’t miss Jason or SB, but that’s my personal view; I understand others do miss him. But I don’t think they plan to bring him back anytime soon.
I also think the reasons he’s being referenced now is to allow Sam a final mourning and goodbye, as it were, before she moves on (with, I again devoutly hope, ME’s character, if the story works).
Give me a break…..Everyone DOES NOT get a chance to shine. What happened with Reeves and Barash? Where was their chance? I’m sure their fans were happy that they got squeezed right out of GH. This Clay/Rafe story coming will be about Clay and Rafe not Sam. Easton is one of FV’s pets and apparently FV will try anything to get his pets (ME, KA, RH) back but didn’t bother to keep SB from leaving. The mob is gone but yet Maurice is already whining he wants to see more mob stuff. Hes gonna wait along time for that. Sam involved in TWO stories? Rafe and dad stuff? That’s not fair to the other actors,is it? HA I’ll have to see to believe there will be a Sam’s dad storyline. With ME, KA and RH coming back I don’t see it.
I disagree Betty… the fact that she is taking Rafe is all a part of a new storyline with ME coming back. I am so hoping he is not being recast as Jason Morgan… but someone else that will be involved with Sam and Danny and Rafe. The whole notion that they explored with Steven Clay being Rafe’s real bio father is going to be played out further by ME either as a relation of Steven Clay, or Steven Clay or someone who just looks like Rafe could be his father. She will have a big story very soon!
There’s also the storyline involving the reveal of her father’s identity, as well as the story with ME.
I’ll say right now — he’s not going to play Jason Morgan. For one thing, neither he nor the writers are insane enough to even attempt such a boneheaded move. It would be ridiculous, terrible storytelling. Not to mention, what actor would want to step into a character so closely identified with a certain actor? Not Easton. He had the chance to do that once and (wisely) turned it down. He’s too good an actor for that, and besides, what would then happen if Burton returned (which is unlikely)? They’d have to go through all the character bullcrap all over again.
Anyway, back to Sam: yes, the guardianship of Rafe is setup for at least one frontburner storyline for her that I devoutly hope involves Easton’s character closely. Her paternity will be another.
Frankly Im ticked off and not amused. I do NOT see Michael Easton as all that important nor bringing KA back.
The producer failed however to bring back the most interesting of Cassadines Stefan. Obviously he is catering to his OLTL crew and stomped on the hearts and minds of those who followed this program. Stefan unlike the frozen popsicle is not a cartoon but interesting with good bad and shades of grey. Shame on this producer for ignoring some genuine talent and characters of interest. Nothing was hotter than watching Stefan and Helena intertwine and the story of Helena’s maltreatment of her son was never explored and should be.
Until this is corrected, Im not amused.
What if Micheal Easton came back as Stefan? I doubt he will…but i was wondering ‘what if?’ he did? KA is most likely to play a character with better connections to the show like Scott Baldwins daughter Serena. I think FV and RC liked working with these actors on OLTL and wanted to continue working with them on GH. Id feel the same with people iv liked and would want to work with them again!
I’m sure the production is falling over themselves to accommodate your directive.
FYI, Robert Kelker-Kelly agreed to come back for this short stint only — he’s retired and flies planes now. Perhaps at some later juncture he might change his mind and be available if a Stavros story arc happens, but until and if it does, I think it’s really cool that he was there for the time he was.
At any rate, it’s a story that isn’t going to be told for the moment, and there are plenty of other stories to unfurl. It’s too bad you’ll be unamused, but then…you can’t please everyone, can you?
I have an idea, why not backburn Laura Wright and Maurice for a few months. Right? It’s only fair to give other actors their fair chance. Let’s rotate those storylines. HA, yea, right.
Just watched the 50th anniversary episode again and it truly was perfect!!! Thank you so much RON!!! Thank you so much GH… 50 years looks great and I hope there will be 50 more!!! So well done!!! Emmy worthy for sure!!! Thank you again Michael for having ths episode here for us to come back to again and again!!! Loved it!!!
How come Lulu has amnesia and cant remember her family, doctor, friends and the baby but can remember everything else? She knows she can go to a bar…so does she remember her age? She remembers how to talk, go to the bathroom, put on makeup, brush her hair ect? Dante shouldnt be so desperate! He should be grateful Lulus alive and show some compassion knowing Lulu has amnesia and stop trying to rush her…her memory will not return that quickly…at least not in the soap world!
No where else to say this… but…WELL DONE!!!… RC and other writers on the handling of the Luke and Laura relationship scenes on Tuesday’s show!!! While I am a HUGE Luke and Laura fan… it was really well done!!! Handled beautiflly with so much love and care of two iconic and favorite chracters!!! Now at least Luke can be with Tracy!!! I just wish it weren’t Scottie for Laura… maybe she will wise up someday or maybe somewhere down the way Luke and Laura will fit back together again… we can hope! Again beautifully handled in every way!!! Congratulations RC and company!!!
I love Frank and Ron! They are great, and am a big One Life fan. I heard One Life was nominated for best show for the episode that aired Jan 12, 2012, and if I am not mistaken, current One Life EP, Jenifer Pepperman directed that episode, how come no one mentioned that?