General Hospital
Stephanie Erb Temporarily Fills-In for Nancy Lee Grahn as GH’s Alexis
While Nancy Lee Grahn is taking a short break from taping new episodes of General Hospital, while she is recovering from surgery, the ABC soap opera has cast Stephanie Erb as the temporary Alexis Davis.
According to Soap Opera Digest, Look for Erb to first air beginning the week of April 25th.
Stephanie has appeared on numerous primetime series from True Blood to Grey’s Anatomy, to Criminal Minds and Ray Donovan, to name just a few.
Erb was previously on Port Charles back in 2000 as a patient named ‘Camille”.
Nancy Lee Grahn tweeted on the short casting switcheroo: “My dear #GHers. All’s well sweet ones. Out for a bit. Stephanie is a champ. Be back soon. xoxo”
So, while we wish Nancy a speedy recovery, Stephanie will be holding the fort down for Alexis on GH. Share your thoughts via the comment below.
Hope Nancy is doing well & recovers quickly. I’m OK with temp recasts under such circumstances, I’m just not crazy about the temps getting to play out key parts of the storyline (i.e. the NuTrina being thrown right into the middle of Esme’s obsessive plot with the sex tape thing)
…. so now that we know something big about Harmony & er.. somebody in Alexis’s recent past (no specifics mentioned so not to spoil it for those who haven’t seen it yet) I really hope Alexis doesn’t find out about this until Nancy’s back on the job.
And on that note…. Why doesn’t TJ recognize the voice of the woman who helped Cyrus kidnap him not all that long ago??
NuTrina is not a temp, so her jumping in now makes sense since Sydney was not going to continue in the role.
Otherwise, I agree on temps. When temp-Monica reminisced a few weeks about her marriage to Jeff, it lacked authenticity (although I’ll need James or other long-timers to refresh my memory if Leslie Charleson assumed the role while still married to Jeff).
According to NLG, she’ll miss 2 1/2 weeks of taping. Depending on the writing and filming schedule, temp-Alexis might be around a month.
Hello Steve: Thanks for the mention. I believe that Monica and Jeff were still married when Charleson took over the role from Patsy Rahn (who was fired). 1977 was a traumatic time in GH history for me because that’s when they also fired Valerie Starrett, the original Diana Maynard Taylor (and, as I’ve mentioned, my favorite all-time daytime actress). Of course, Starrett had been driving storyline as Diana since 1969.
But getting back to the original point by you and Satan, a temporary replacement can be jarring, particularly when major plot points are revealed. Back in the 1970s, the fans almost never found out about cast changes in advance. The soap magazines, the main source of soap info, would report such changes long after the fact, and often the details were lacking. Such a different time now, for better or worse…
Thanks James. I knew I could count on you for some background. In the mid-late 70s, they recast many characters who were driving story. Monica, Rick, Laura, Heather, Diana. Those were my early memories of GH, which I sat and watched with my mom after I walked home from elementary school. I remember when LC took over Monica, but forgot where in story they were. Things really picked up when CR took over as Rick. Always fun going down memory lane with you.
Steve, it’s always truly a pleasure. You’re so right (and more comprehensive) about those recasts. It’s actually surprising that GH still avoided cancellation (and later thrived) with all those recasts.
I also like how you provide context to your soap viewing as an elementary schoolboy. I was in the same place, but a few years earlier than you (by my calculations). It’s weird, and yet satisfying, how some of these soap memories remain so vivid all these years later. Take care, Friend!
Hi. Just stumbled on to this,and SO thrilled to read Steve and Jamesj75 comments. I started to watch GH as a little girl, after school, in 1971. I too watched the half hour episodes, and remember original Monica, Rick, Heather, Diana Taylor, etc. “New” Diana came from DOOL. Didnt like Diana recast either. Love when LC Monica recurs now, and does anyone else miss Leslie?? So liked Audrey’s appearance, though brief on GH 50th anniversary. Wish they’d bring Leslie back,even on occasional recurring status. Think the last time we saw her was at Laura/Kevin wedding. Surely Leslie could have appeared to say good bye to Lulu when they shipped her off to long term care. Any thoughts?
Great to read your reply, jvdramateacher! So thrilled you are also a fan of Valerie Starrett. Be sure to watch the link from 1975 that Satan graciously provided us — so many great characters in one half-hour episode!
I agree with you about Audrey. She had quite a long run with the show and doesn’t get the credit she deserves; I just wished she had more screen time in the later years, too. There are so many unsung heroes from GH’s long history… Also, bringing back Leslie on recurring status would be terrific. There have been plenty of times over the years when the presence of Leslie was sorely missed. Take care, Friend!
Hi there.
Lesley Webber is a beloved character in GH history. At 82, Denise Alexander might not want something on a regular basis. Lesley was last on in late 2020 and early 2021 to wrap up the Cyrus as hospital Chairman storyline. They had her actually teaming up with Monica to bring Cyrus down. Her last scene had her saying goodbye to Laura mentioning she was going to check in on Lulu at the clinic.
Grateful for any scenes that DA and Jane Elliot continue to provide for however long they choose to be a part of the show. And, isn’t it about time for Lucy to have a visit from Aunt Charlene? Maree Cheatham is still acting.
Steve
I just happened on your post about Denise Alexander, etc.Your last sentence really caught my eye where you refer to one of my all time heroines, Marie Cheatham. Oh, how I loved her from the first time I saw her on Search For Tomorrow and everything after that, Days, etc. She could almost be another Sheila at times. She still looks good at 81. You say she’s still acting?
James, I stumbled across something on YouTube that you will probably love to see…. It’s a full episode of GH from 1975.
The storyline is from shortly after Phil Brewer was murdered and police detective Wally Cleaver is looking for the geode rock murder weapon. He questions a number of people at the hospital including Diana Taylor – in her original Valerie Starrett form, of course.
For some reason, it’s in black & white, despite from being 1975, long after GH switched to color. But otherwise great video & sound quality for the time…..
Satan, you are my hero! I just watched this episode, and it is golden (despite the black-and-white presentation). For me, this was GH at its peak. Thank you, my Friend. Thank you!
I realize that things happen, actors have real life issues, people leave, etc. But GH has had a large amount of this happening all at once. New Jordan, new Trina, temp Monica, temp Harmony, etc. It really does change the tone and the fabric of the show. It does help when we viewers know some of the reasons. We know Sydney left for college, and so far the new Trina is doing a great job! The similar look helps. Having the real Taggert back helped immensely with that transition. New Jordan is a good actress, but I am just not really feeling her as Jordan. She is too polished, too refined. Both of the other Jordan’s had the wild frizzy hair which really did help to sort of show that the character was a bit of a non conformist. Monica is seen infrequently enough that it would seem possible to reschedule pivotal scenes for when Leslie Charleson is available. Harmony is a recurring character, so it would seem that they could delay her scenes until the regular actress is available. I don’t pretend to know the daily ins and outs of producing a soap, but it just seems like a lot all at once. It really does take regular viewers out of the continuum of the show with so many major and minor recasts happening all at once. But with that said, the writing on the show is really good right now. I am really not on board with the creepy turn Esme has taken on. Showing a young female drugging another young female with date rape drugs, and faking a pregnancy, and exploiting the first time love making of legacy characters is lazy unnecessary soap trope writing. It’s disturbing. Ryan Chamberlain is a character who has violently murdered countless women, so to give him a daughter who loves and reveres him is very disgusting and unnerving. On the plus side, seeing veterans Robert, Anna, Felicia is awesome! Let’s get going with Chase and Brooklyn already!!! They are soap gold!!! Find Maxie a solid long term love interest!! Stop making Michael and Willow so sanctimonious and judgmental.
Agreed on the analysis of Michael and Willow. From a historical perspective, Michael’s personality has snippets (some larger than others) of Carly, Sonny, Edward and AJ.
Harmony has been on contract since the fall. Inga Cadranel indicated she dealt with Covid for 3 weeks, which would’ve been a long time to hold up story.
Whenever there’s a temporary recast I pay closer attention to see if there’s a reason those scenes still had to be filmed. For Monica, the only reason they had to continue that shooting day was the scene with her and Jake by the elevator. Hudson West is a busy “child” actor who is recurring. Every day a minor is shooting, the studio is responsible for having a teacher present. Both Hudson and the teacher’s schedule would have to be cleared at least a few weeks prior. Unfortunately this day in age, budget rules.
On the plus side, sometimes actors are able to give the show enough time to avoid recasts. Lydia Look told Frank about her annual trip to see family during Lunar New Year so Selina Wu was written out for a while and Brad was still able to be part of story.
I hope Nancy Lee is improving and will be back soon. Supposedly some good stuff involving Alexis, Harmony and Neil’s lowlife brother is coming up and I want to see Nancy acting these juicy scenes herself.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Chris McKenna On Jack’s Reaction to Carly Cheating On Him with Valentin: ‘Heartbreak and Absolute Rage and Humiliation’
The stage is set for next week on General Hospital, after yesterday’s May 1 cliffhanger, when Brennan (Chris McKenna) sneaks into Carly’s (Laura Wright) house and heads up to her bedroom, bursts in the door and finds her between the sheets, albeit at that moment alone.
However, Jack is already armed with plenty of ammo, he saw two glasses of wine in Carly’s kitchen, Josslyn (Eden McCoy) already lit the fire, by telling him her mother was seeing someone else, the WSB bureau chief then went to visit Carly’s ex, Sonny (Maurice Benard). The mobster’s reaction pretty much sold Jack that Carly must be sleeping with another man.
As Jack goes to check out the situation to confirm his suspicions, Carly and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) have just hit the sheets, after fighting their attraction once again for each other. Now comes the moment of truth that Carly has been sleeping with Brennan’s sworn enemy, Valentin.
Courtesy/ABC
In a preview of what’s to come, Soap Opera Digest spoke to both Chris McKenna and Laura Wright where they talked about the upcoming scenes. McKenna expressed, “This has been coming for such a long time.” He also previews, “Brennan comes at her pretty aggressively.”
THREE’S COMPANY
Wright added, “Carly didn’t expect Brennan to walk into her bedroom! He doesn’t have a key. It’s late at night. She thinks she and Valentin are in the clear. She sees that he’s so angry and so worried about being cheated on… but not that he’s sorry for lying to her face or because her daughter is in danger because of him!”
As to how Jack will handle the situation from here and finding out that Carly is with Valentin, McKenna confirms, to expect, “heartbreak and absolute rage and humiliation” from Jack. He’s thinking, ‘This can’t be real. This can’t have happened. I can’t be this stupid. I can’t have been this blind.’ And as to Jack’s current state of mind, coming into the situation, “Jack is drunk and a little unhinged and the audience finally gets a glimpse of what’s going on underneath that rigid exterior.”
Needless to say, the fallout will be huge, and McKenna is proud of the trios work in the scenes, sharing that Laura Wright was a fantastic as ever, and that GH’s executive producer, Frank Valentini was on the set the entire time with Laura, James and him, making this story point play out to its full effect.
So, are you excited to see how what goes down between Brennan, Carly and Valentin and the fallout? Do you think this will cement Carly and Valentin as a couple, or will Carly regret what she’s done to Jack? Weigh-in on how you hope this all plays out via the comment section below.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.
Photo: Hallmark
Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”
In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.
It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.
Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.
You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.
So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?
On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.
As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.
Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?
Courtesy/ABC
Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.
BROTHERLY LOVE?
Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”
With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”
BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE
Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”
So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.
‘General Hospital’s’ Chris McKenna On Jack’s Reaction to Carly Cheating On Him with Valentin: ‘Heartbreak and Absolute Rage and Humiliation’
‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Has Dylan’s Mystery Caller/Stalker Been Revealed to Be an Alive Luna Nozawa?
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nick Confesses His Drug Problem to Victor; Joshua Morrow, Mark Grossman, Eric Braeden Bring the Newman Bond
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
DAYS Stephen Nichols Remembers Drake Hogestyn as the ‘Most Vital, Enthusiastic, Committed Man I Ever Knew’ Ahead of the PanCan PurpleStride Walk
DAYS Stephen Nichols and Co-Stars Walk in Honor of Drake Hogestyn at PanCan PurpleStride LA, ‘I Felt Him With Us’
Brandon Barash Granted Restraining Order Against ‘General Hospital’s’ Kirsten Storms
‘Days of Our Lives’ Rob Scott Wilson Talks ‘Turning Heel’ as Necktie Killer, Ben Weston
Paige Herschell Marks One-Year as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jacinda Bracken
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Has Dylan’s Mystery Caller/Stalker Been Revealed to Be an Alive Luna Nozawa?
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nick Confesses His Drug Problem to Victor; Joshua Morrow, Mark Grossman, Eric Braeden Bring the Newman Bond
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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair
Judith Light Talks Her Role in ‘The Terror: The Devil In Silver’ Dropping on AMC+ with Co-Star ‘Downton Abbey’ Alum, Dan Stevens
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