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Stephanie Erb Temporarily Fills-In for Nancy Lee Grahn as GH’s Alexis

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: IMDB

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.

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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…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRepVXva7zM

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

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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