If you caught Tuesday’s episode of General Hospital, Jason Morgan

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(Steve Burton) finally had the opportunity to have a little heart-to-heart with the evil and nefarious Cesar Faison (Anders Hove), and viewers began to be filled-in on the back-story of what happened to twins, Jason and Drew (Billy Miller), that caused Drew to have Jason’s memories, and took Jason away from his loved ones for five years.

For Steve Burton, his five years away as Jason and General Hospital, the place he called home for more than two decades, was a time of tough choices, individual growth, and new opportunities.  But as many have said, “You can take the boy out of Port Charles, but you can’t take Port Charles out of the boy.”  Last fall, the big news for GH fans was that Steve signed on to reprise his role of Sonny’s hit man with a heart of gold, and with that brought an edge-of-your-seat storyline, and fantastic performances from all involved.

On-Air On-Soaps caught up with Steve at the recent ABC TCA Cocktail Reception to get his thoughts on: his emotional return on-screen and off, the social media battle between fan factions who are rooting for Sam (Kelly Monaco) to be with Jason, or Sam to stay with Drew, what his relationship is like with Billy Miller, who had taken on the role of Jason for the last few years, plus reuniting with his long-time co-stars, Maurice Benard, (Sonny) Laura Wright (Carly), Monaco, and more.

Who says you can never go home again?  Steve’s triumphant return proves that sometimes things can be better the second time around.  Here’s what he had to say about it all during this candid and heartfelt conversation.

The journey back to your old stomping grounds at GH certainly came with its share of agonizing moments, uncertainty, and major successes along the way.  How do you feel now looking back at what it took to get you to the place you are at today?

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STEVE:  Leaving GH was one of the hardest things I ever did, and one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make.  Psychologically, it felt like I left my family.  It was difficult, and people don’t realize that stuff looking at it from the outside.  It took a long time for me to just be OK with it, and where I would say, “I’m not there anymore … now I got to do this.”  But then it became a rebirth for me of doing something else, and I went to Y&R.  Then to have some free time, and work on myself, personally, and have a hiatus, and then coming back after leaving Y&R with such a great story was amazing.  Now coming back to GH, I just have a whole new perspective.  I am re-energized.

Your performances since your return as Jason have been very emotional and filled with lots of welling up of tears in the eyes, and more.  The once always stoic “Stone Cold” is showing some deep hurt, and pain these days.  What have you thought of your work since coming back to Port Charles?

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STEVE:  Honestly, I don’t know.  It might have been too many tears!  I didn’t know what to do when I got back.  First, I did not know the story, and I was so used to playing Dylan on Y&R, where it’s playing someone more like myself.  I still had times on that show where I could go deep with story, but going back to GH, I wasn’t sure what I did before.  So, I went back and watched You Tube to see what I was doing, or not doing. I was still showing emotion through my eyes, but I was not doing much expression, so I had to figure how to get back to that, or what I was going to do.  However, it was easy once I put the leather jacket on, and was back working with Maurice (Maurice Benard) and Laura Wright (Carly).  I just fell back into it.  And let me just say, I am not one to go on You Tube and watch soap operas. (Laughs)

The storyline of the two Jasons, and how that played out was riveting soap opera, and really one of the best storylines of 2017 in daytime. Were you at all concerned the story could have fallen flat?

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STEVE:  It could have been a disaster, and they hit a freakin’ home run.  They did!  Everybody was worried, including me.  When you are part of a twin storyline you’re thinking, “How are they going to make this work?”  I will tell you I told Frank Valentini (executive producer, GH) that I didn’t want to know the story before I came back.  But that kind of makes the whole thing even better, right?   I got my first script, and I am in a mask, and a hoodie, and Maura West (Ava) is acting her heart out.  It was cool.  I thought how they brought me back was fun.

You made a public statement via social media after waring fan bases where attacking you, Billy Miller, and Kelly Monaco.  I was glad you came forward and said something about the situation.  Some fans were quite upset when you came back and reclaimed your role as Jason, feeling it was a slight to Billy.  However, as viewers have now witnessed, Billy gets to play an entirely new and different role as Drew Cain.

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STEVE:  First, I probably did not make a big enough statement.  There is just no room for hate.  It’s just such a waste of time.  Billy is in a great position, because he gets to reboot.  Listen, here is the thing: if you are looking at it from an actor’s standpoint he gets to now go create a whole new character.  I would be excited about that as an actor, quite honestly.   We are now brothers on the show, which is cool.  Nobody wants to ever step into someone else’s shoes, and try to play somebody, or not try to play somebody.  That is the worst job in daytime being a recast.  Nobody really wants to do it, and usually the fans don’t want to see it, and it’s really a difficult position to be in.  So, the fact that Billy gets to start over is pretty cool.

Fans also seem to think there must be a contentious relationship between you and Billy when you are working together in scenes, or behind the scenes.

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STEVE:  First of all, we have had the same managers for years, we had worked together on the show for a year, we were friends on Y&R, and half the time what we are talking about on set is the restaurant business, because Billy owns restaurants, and I have restaurants.  Everyone wants World War III, and there is no World War III!  It’s acting … it’s our job.

It has been so touching watching you as Jason reconnect with the other characters on the canvas.  What have you thought about all of those key moments?

STEVE:  There are so many rich moments that were built-in.  The writers wrote what they wrote, but because the history was there that’s what I think made people respond to me coming back.  Obviously, I had been on the show for twenty years and more, but it’s really about the relationships; that’s what soap fans watch for.  Having those first scenes back with Maurice, and then with Laura, and then with Kelly.  Then I had stuff with Becky Herbst (Elizabeth) in the jail, and then with Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) in our little stuff, and even with Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis) when we had some scenes together on the docks.  It was so great to work with everybody again, because it is so built-in to the history of our characters, and you don’t have to act, because it’s so emotional what we are playing and living.

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Because it is so emotional for you coming back to GH; we are seeing that projected on-screen where almost real-life meets soap-life in your scenes.  Would you agree with that?

STEVE:  100%, it’s true.  That was what was happening.  You are coming home after five years away to your family, and that is what viewers saw on-camera.

Let’s talk about that kiss on New Year’s Eve between Jason and Sam! What did you think about that plot point happening at that moment? That certainly made a segment of the fans very happy, while making others very angry.  At least, people had a reaction to that lip-lock one way, or the other. (Laughs) 

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STEVE:  Did everyone go crazy over that? (Laughs)  Look, I did not know it was happening until I read the script.  I found out a day ahead!  Now, when I first came back to GH for the first month, and I did not have a lot of dialog I was reading ahead going, “I can do this!” (Laughs)  But then I started talking more than Jason has ever talked in his life!  I texted some people and said, “Ah, just to refresh your historical perspective, Jason never talked this much!” (Laughs) Now I have to just read one day ahead, as I cannot read that far ahead anymore.

It must be a conundrum and a challenge for Kelly Monaco to play, as to how far does she go in her portrayal over this man who she loved and who she believed died five years ago, and the man she moved on with, and whom she also loves with all of her heart.

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STEVE:  It’s tough.  You got to do your job, and the character is torn between two guys.  This is after all a soap opera, and what happens in it. That’s the perfect triangle!  It’s a great triangle, because the situation that went down happened to both Drew and Jason.  He’s not pissed off, and my character is not pissed off at necessarily each other.  We are pissed off about the situation.  Add to that, you have a girl in the middle who is going, “Well, that is my husband who I thought died, and this is the guy I am also in love with. So, what do I do?”  It’s actually great story!  You can’t build the story any better than that!

Looks like we are getting very close to knowing exactly what happened to Jason after Faison “killed him” and who was behind the whole scheme that ended up brain-mapping Drew with Jason’s memories, and kept Jason away from his family for five years.   When it is revealed, do you think it is plausible and will go over with the audience, who are now invested in knowing what happened to these two beloved guys?

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STEVE:  It could have been really bad when they do these types of story, but they did a fantastic job. When the fans find out why this all happened to Jason and Drew, I think it is all justified where the fans can go, “OK, I believe it.  Moving on.  What’s next?” (Laughs)  Now, it has to shift back to: What is Sam going to do? What is Jason’s relationships like with Michael (Chad Duell)?  Is Jason going to get in the middle of things with Elizabeth and Franco (Roger Howarth)?  There are all these other dynamics we can start playing, and that is what I would anticipate the writers would do.

You submitted yourself for Daytime Emmy contention.  How did you decide what to ultimately submit yourself for being that you had great exit story as Dylan on Y&R, and what you had up to the submission deadline coming back to GH as Jason? (Steve received a Pre-Nom in the Supporting Actor category for his work on GH)

STEVE:  I had such great exit story on Y&R, but this past year coming back to GH was a big deal for me, and it was a big deal for fans.  Listen, I am an actor.  I would love another Emmy, but it just felt weird to me to be representing another show at the Emmys, when I am now on GH.  It’s not about winning Emmys for me.  I am not an ego-maniac.  I was there, and now I am here.  That’s all there is to it in my decision as to what show to submit my work from.

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What can you say in a broad stroke for viewers to look forward to with Jason’s story?

STEVE:  I think the writers have a year and half mapped out of story.  I have no idea what it is, but I can tell you the team now at GH is on top of it.  Chris Van Etten and Shelly Altman (Co head-writers, GH) together are amazing.  We have other key people behind the scenes like Elizabeth Korte (writer, GH), who is like the rock, still.  She is like the Wikipedia of GH that people check in with and go to about everything General Hospital.

Has your wife, Sheree checked you out on GH since your return? 

STEVE:  No, she has watched only a few times.  But we have three kids to take care of, and so between that and everything else she is involved in, she is very busy.

Your little girl, Brooklyn is quite the little starlet! She is so cute in all of your photos and Instagram posts!

STEVE:  I have worked with a lot of kids before, obviously.  But, if I would guess which of my kids would become an actor, it would be her!  She definitely puts on a show like nobody’s business.  She is amazing.

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You are currently still residing in Nashville with your wife and three children. Would you consider a permanent move back to Los Angeles?

STEVE:  I am in Nashville right now. I do plan to stay on GH until it’s done whenever that may be.  Hopefully, it will be around for the next foreseeable future.  I do not see it being canceled.  I know a lot of people say that about the remaining soaps, but I think GH is such an iconic brand still to this day.  But as to where I would live … for now Nashville is good.  The kids love it there, but who knows things always change.  I just roll with things, man. 

Has this whole experience of returning to GH been everything than you had hoped for, and more?

STEVE:  It has been more than I could ever hope for.  Everything has been more for me.  I am just grateful for the opportunity to be able to come back.  You don’t get that opportunity often in life.  You know as an actor that once you leave that the door is shut, and you may not get the chance to go home.  That’s why it was so hard to leave five years ago. 

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I remember when you left GH five years ago, and we had chatted about it during your final days on the set!

STEVE:  It was tough.  It was horrible … it was horribly emotional.  I had dreams about it for years, “General Hospital” dreams.  I grew up here.  To be able to do it again, and have the kind of welcome I had with the fans, and the cast and the crew, I feel like I have not missed a step.  Maurice Benard is always joking with me and he goes, “I’m leaving in two years!”  I go, “Dude! You are staying here.  You might as well shut up!”Maurice goes, “Oh no, man.  You are staying!”  I go, “I will be the crypt keeper in a leather jacket at this point, and that’s it!I will be a skeleton with a leather jacket on.  That is how long I will be here!” (Laughs)

So, what are your thoughts on Steve Burton’s return to GH thus far? What did you think of the explanation of what happened to Drew and Jason that caused Drew to be brain-mapped with Jason’s memories? Are you rooting for JaSam to be together in the end, or that Sam and Drew stay together when all is said and done? Share your thoughts on the chat in the comment section below!