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Steve Burton Addresses His Fans on Twitter on the News of His Exit From GH!

Photo Credit: SteveBurton.com

Photo Credit: Jim Warren

It’s been a whirlwind day in the world of soaps and once again the shake-ups behind the scenes seem to be more intriguing then the plot lines themselves on the air shows of your favorite daytime dramas! Early today fans learned that Steve Burton (Jason) will be departing General Hospital after 21 years from his own decision to call it quits and move on to new adventures with his career and his loving family.

Burton later took to Twitter to address his legions of followers and fans!  Here is what the popular Daytime Emmy winner shared on his exit! “Just wanted to thank all of you for your support over the years. You are amazing. It’s been an incredible 21 yrs of my life. THANK YOU   Thanks for all the luv.. I know it’s difficult for some.  It is difficult for me. I luv the cast and crew…it has been home. Hoping to tweet ltr.  They are trying to figure out my last day. I will let you know. (much luv and thanks to u all.) I will keep tweeting. And Port Chuck lives!”

What do you think of Steve’s thoughts to his many fans who are reeling from the news, but happy that Steve seems content to move on?  Weigh-in!

 

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Good for Steve for making a big life change. I hope it all works out for him and his family. The show will go on and maybe we’ll see less mob focus. Even in Ron C’s capable hands, I find the hitman with the heart of gold and little difficult to swallow.

It’s as bad as news as hearing your soap is cancelled!! Irish Jim all the best!! I hate it but happy for him and his family and doing what he’s wanted to do!!

I think it is a win-win. He loves and respects his fans who love and respect him and he is acknowledging that. He is also trying to keep everyone in the loop. Great way to go!

Regarding the TV Guide Interview:

No money battles, storyline complaints (oh, really?) or testy negotiations?

Now was the time to leave after 21 yrs. with GH?…..with the 50 Anniv. storyllines taking shape?

JMO but if Phelps, Frons and Guza were still around, SB would have hung around for the 50th Anniv. show. They would have accommodated SB with a working schedule with his family in TN..he would have stuck it out….but with this new regime…SB and Jason Morgan apparently were not that important to keep around. I think Steve realized this. Todd, Starr and John were more important (thus no deal could be worked out)

Friends of SB were gone: Phelps, Frons and Guza. I remember at the beginning of the year before the new regime started…SB had announced his band PC would be doing three tours in 2012. One was done in April..then you read on twitter the other two (one around August) were a no go because of TPTB. Couldn’t do them. This could not have set well with Steve. Also, in interviews…SB did not like what the writers were doing with Jasam and he said so.

Yes, Steve the door was open for you to leave GH, but I don’t believe it was because you sold your house to live in TN full time. I think there waas much more to it than that.

So SB is now working with his bud, JFP. Does this mean he will be commuting back and forth to LA or NYC for their project with Franco?

For an actor/director/producer the work is in either LA or NYC.

Movies? More commuting to LA or NY from Nashville?

Primetime TV? More commuting to LA or NY from Nashville?

But SB wouldn’t or couldn’t commute back and forth for GH to finish up the 50th Anniv?

If he eventually winds up on Y&R….we will know there was more to leaving GH than was printed in his TV Guide interview.

FV is making a big mistake by letting SB go. JASON IS GH. Steve has a huge fanbase and it’s gonna show in the ratings. First OLTL takes over GH and now the main man is leaving. BIG MISTAKE

First off, Jason is not General Hospital. Jason is a hitman, that barely acknowledges his real family, the Quartermaines.

Secondly, OLTL has NOT taken over GH, that is absurd. Three characters (four if you include the few weeks Tea was involved) have come to the show. That is all. With them, they have brought new fans as well as new storylines for characters who were becoming boxed in (take for example Sam, who had been nothing but Jason’s lapdog for several years).

I understand that Steve was very close to the previous regime, but the previous regime was not benefiting GH and if that is a reason SB chose to leave, that is his decision. I, personally, would rather have a good overall show, than bending backwards to please an actor whose character is actually disliked by many viewers. Frank Valentini did not let go of Steve. This was Steve’s decision- that is all.

With that being said, I am very happy for Steve to be pursuing new opportunities and expanding his acting career and I wish him nothing but the best in his new endeavors and his new home in Tennessee 🙂

Yes, Steve Burton is GH, Mo Bernard is GH, Anthony Geary is GH and it’s a shame that something couldn’t be worked out between FV and Steve so he could be around for the GH 50th Anniv. storylines.

SB and Fv were in negotiations for Steve to stay at GH.They broke down because Steve did not like the offer from FV…so SB decided to leave. Yes, it was SB’s decision…he could take it or leave it. He didn’t take it.

Yea, you are right about FV “actually disliking” the character of Jason. You could plainly see it on screen since FV invaded GH.

There isn’t ONE GH writer left on the “new” OLTL show. Why? What does that tell you? These OLTL writers know squat about the GH characters. Ratings have not improved since FV/RC took over this show.

So Steve’s character, Jason, was actually disliked by many viewers. LOL Oh, really? How do you know this? You work for the studio and count his fan mail? Just because you dislike him doesn’t mean there are tons out there just like you.

Frank doesn’t “dislike” the character of Jason so how was this evident when Frank and Ron TOOK OVER (not “invdaded”) General Hospital? Ron wrote very well versed storylines for Jason, including his failing marriage to Sam (giving Steve the opportunity to show off his acting chops), rebuilding his friendship with Elizabeth (respecting that aspect of his character’s history), staying true to his job (working with Sonny to help bring down Joe), interacting more with Carly and his goddaughter (something that was lacking with previous regimes), as well as Michael, not to mention opening up new doors for his character such as his frenemy relationship with John McBain and his new enemy, Ewen.

Also, GH is not in any form OLTL. Yes there are THREE characters from there, all of which have been well integrated with GH characters and although the new executive producer and headwriter are from OLTL, they have done a marvelous job and have actually written the characters more like themselves than they have been in YEARS! Sam is no longer a door mat that lives to please Jason, Elizabeth is morphing back into the strong woman she used to be, Carly actually gets to spend time with her children now, as does Alexis who, also, is being written better than ever before. And I beg to disagree, but ratings, as well as criticisms, have substantially improved since the new regime has been set in place- sorry to burst that bubble. It also helps that many GH actors are supremely satisfied with the new team, as well as the network. 🙂

And actually Jason is disliked. Do you go on any social media sites? Jason is usually heavily criticized. While the character does have many fans, as with any character, he also has many who are not fans, especially in years of previous regimes when he was constantly onscreen. Now, I hope you understand the difference between Steve and his character, because I am strictly talking about Jason Morgan. I personally am not a fan of the character, but am certainly a fan of Steve’s work, which is why I know he will succeed in future endeavors, which was his choice. And if you read the interview with Steve, you would know that contract negotiations had very little impact on his decision, he chose to leave because he wanted to branch out, as well as move his family to Tennesee.

ITA!!!!!!! Its more to it…….I wish steve the best…..sad for my jasam…..

I hope they show Jason… re-uniting with his son… and giving his son to Sam… and Move on.

I’ll cry…. alas, Jason will have a son, in Port Charles.

I figure… he’ll have a brain aneurysm… Oye… even more sad… but, he’ll come out of it… and be a quartermaine… and “relapse”.

Thanks,Steve,let me know right away. Good luck in TN, I do have friend from my old church who went back to his hometown. I love you,big brother..take care of yourself and family and be think of u everyday as big brother to watch your would be former soap show.

I am still so sad to see one of my faves leave, but I am happy for Steve to get a chance to do other things and spend more time with his family. I will miss him on the show so much. Yes he was a hitman but he was so much more and he is so talented and he will do well. But… please let him come back if he is available and wants to! Best wishes Steve and thanks for being such a great guy and a fun character!

I am very sad to see Steve Burton leave. He and his character Jason Morgan are the reason I have been watching General Hospital. Jason Morgan is the heart and soul of Port Charles and Steve Burton is the heart and soul of Jason Morgan.
He will be missed.
I wish him nothing but the best and am looking forward to seeing him in some new projects.

Glad for you and your family but not us GH fans

you will be missed on General Hospital
even if we have another Jason , it will be so hard to like him because we love you soo much an we got do used to you
thank you
love

You will be missed!!You are the reason I have been watching the last 21 years. You and Kelly made an amazing love story that I will never forget.I wish you the bet of luck!!I hope good things come your way!

I ‘ve been watching GH pretty much from its beginning and I have always loved Steve Burton no matter which incarnation of Jason he was/is. In my personal opinion, I think his departure from GH is a combination of things , the most significant being his personal goals for his family and his career- the time is right. things have a way of falling in to place. I believe Steve is a person who has great faith, and is following path that is being shown clearly to him. He left the show once before to pursue other possibilities but came back as many have done before him, because he needed to support a family and work wasnt that available at the time. I wish him great success in whatever his endeavors are, and will miss what he brings to the show. His great sense of humor is undeniable. I would like to have been able to see Steve and Michael Easton play their humor off one another since Michael has the same type of tongue in cheek , witty, and dry dead pan type of humor that Steve does. ( Roger Hawoth too for that matter. In any event there will be a huge hole in the heart of GH once Steve is gone., and the remaining 2 Q’s (Edward’s been talked about but not seen) plus ALice will be have even less reason to be written for. Wow GH is missing that balance . We a legit powerful billionaire business tycoon family with good honest people with moral fiber and conscience on the scene that the mob can’t touch .I digressed. Best to you and your family Steve, from one of your fans.

Since Steve Burton has decided to leave General Hospital, I have lost interest, as he was one of the main stars for years. Please do not kill him off permantley, but replace him with another actor ASAP!!!!

u will always be in our hearts good luck on ur journey

Good for Steve I think after 21 years he needed a change and be with his real family. he is a great actor and will go far in his career. just want to say thank you for playing Jason for so many years. Truly your fan Joanne by the way I will give the Y&R a chance even though GH is my favorite but I know what a great actor you are you will be great!!!

Good for Steve I think after 21 years he needed a change and be with his real family. he is a great actor. always in heart will miss you on gh

He is gone let it go. I wish Y&R long before he got there and they really dont need him, he will not make or break Y&R. I wish him luck.

DEAR STEVE, I HAVE NEVER MISSED A CHARACTER MORE THAN ROBERT SCORPIO, G,H, = SONNY,JASON, CARLY, LUKE & THE REST- U & SONNY R MY SHINING STARS, U ARE GONE & NOT COMING BACK, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE FAMILY THING, & IM PROUD U PUT YOUR FAMILY FIRST, BUT WHAT U SAID COMPARED TO HOW FAST THE RUMORS WERE SPREADING ABOUT THE Y&R WHICH I NEVER WATCHED & JFP-ETC, WERE TO CLOSE TO COMFORT, YOU AREA AN AMAZING HANDSOME ACTOR & FOR ME & MILLIONS NO ONE CAN EVER REPLACE JASON Q MORGAN- OR THE BEST COUPLE JASAM- NOT EVEN SONNY-WHEN I WATCHED YU ON THE TALK I WAS SO MAD, HURT & DISAPPOINTED I FELT LIKE U LIED & BETRAYED US, IF U WERE TIRES OF PLAYING JASON AFTER 21 YEARS I COULD UNDERSTAND, IF GH WOULDNT WORK WITH YOUR SCHEDULE TO FLY TO TENN & BACK TO L.A. I UNDERSTAND, I CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU & JAMES FRANCO TOGETHER & HOPE U COME TO SOUTH FLORIDA ONE DAY WITH PORT CHUCK SO I CAN SEE YOU, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FROM MY HEART FOR GIVING ME 21 OF MY FAVORITE CHARACTER JASON-THEY DIDNT EVEN HAVE YOUR MEMORIAL YET ON GH-THAT WILL BREKT WHAT EVER PIECE OF A HEART I HAVE LEGT AFTER LOOSING MY HUSBAND & MOM & DEAR FRIENDS & ANIMALS ITS BEEN A ROLLER COASTER RIDE THE LAST FEW YEARS & AT THE END OF EVERY DAY I WATCH MY GH, BUT WITHOUT YOU IT IS NOT THE SAME- I FEEL YOU SHOULD GET ON NOT A CBS CHANNEL OR JUST A SHORT INTERVIEW & TRY TO CLEAR SOME QUESTIONS UP FOR THOSE FANS WHO WORSHIP YOU, WHEN I SAW HOW HAPPY U WERE ON THE TALK, I SMILED THROUGH THE TEARS & KNEW THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED, HAPPY FOR YOU TO BE HAPPY & HAVE MORE TIME WITH YOUR WIFE & CHILDREN, I WILL MAKE SURE NEVER TO GET THAT ATTACHED TO A CHARACTER AGAIN, MAYBE BECAUSE MY SONS NAME IS JASON & U RESEMBLE EACH OTHER IN MANY WAYS & CLOSE IN AGE, I GOT SO ATTACHED TO YOU, SO BE HAPPY, ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY & GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR NEW SHOW & LIFE, I DONT THINK I CAN TRY TO WATCH OR FOLLOW ANOTHER SOAP, ESPECIALLY SINCE AMC & OLTL ARE SUPPOSE TO COME BACK- TODD HAS HELPED ME ALOT BEING ON GH, HE MAKES ME LAUGH, AGAIN THANKU FOR BEING JASON & THE 21 YEARS- U R LOVED & MISSED & SOME OF US STILL PRAY U WILL COME BACK SOMEDAY IF U LEAVE Y&R, BUT RIGHT NOW ENJOY WHATS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU,KNOW U R LOVED & MISSED BY SO MANY-GOD BESS –FRANNIE :))) XO XO

General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Learns Britt Died and Tells Anna He Has Been Working For Cates Since November 2021

On the Tuesday, March 26th of General Hospital, Anna (Finola Hughes) and the viewers learn about where Jason (Steve Burton) has been for over two and half years. However, Jason gets some news of his own.

Anna is visiting Jason at the PCPD interrogation room. She asks him if he shot Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), which he flatly denies. Anna believes him, but she tells Jason it doesn’t matter, because video footage shows him on the roof at the time of the shooting

When talk turns to Jason not willing to speak without his lawyer present, Anna can’t grasp why Jason would instead spend an hour alone talking with John Cates (Adam J. Harrington).

Photo: ABC

It is then that Anna brings up that John went by “Jagger” and that the two of them knew each other in high school. Jason doesn’t recall much of his time in high school following his brain injury, but then he gets furious realizing John knew about “Jason’s” past. That is when Jason slams the table and tells Anna, “I’ve been working for John Cates since November 2021.”

Next, Jason explains further that he has been working as an informant for the FBI. Anna wants to know how this came about and he tells her that after the tunnel collapsed, and he couldn’t make it to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud)… all of a sudden he sees Anna’s face drop.  Anna is the first person to tell him that Britt died and was murdered. She tells Jason the killer is in custody, but he continues to be shocked, overwhelmed with tears welling up in his eyes. Realizing he has to pivot to save his life, Jason continues telling Anna how he wound up working with John.

Jason explains that after the tunnel collapse in Greece, FBI agents grabbed him and placed him under arrest and took him to Quantico where he met John. At Quantico, John played a recording of RICO violations and offered Jason a deal if he agreed to be an informant against Pikeman, the illegal arms dealer.

Anna hears from Jason that he thinks Pikeman is selling illegal arms to anyone flagged by the NSA but has ties to the WSB which they needed a civilian to infiltrate their organization as a military soldier, a mercenary.

Jason tells Anna he was a part of the team brought into eliminate Sonny (Maurice Benard). Every time an attempt was made on Sonny’s life over the last two years, a different team was sent to do the job. Anna gets furious when she learns that John told Jason his job was to kill Sonny and she was with John at the warehouse that night. Jason ensured the sniper missed Sonny and left the rifle behind. However, they were supposed to meet an extraction team. Before he was shot, Dante saw it was Jason on the roof and when he turned around with his hands over his head, Dante was shot by the other guy. Jason says if Dante dies, he’ll be charged with capital murder and then will be useless to the FBI.

Photo: ABC

Meanwhile, John visits Bobbie’s and runs into Carly (Laura Wright). She learns Jason is in custody and is going to head to the PCPD. Before she does, Carly has some words with Cates when she learns not only does John have a vendetta against Sonny, but Jason too.  Carly tells John he should recuse himself from the case.

So, what did you think about the moment when Jason learned Britt died? What do you think of Jason’s return storyline thus far and what we learned about Jagger/Jason and more? Comment below. But first, check out a moment from today’s GH with Jason and Anna.

 

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