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‘The Haves and the Have Nots’ Gavin Houston Comes to General Hospital

Courtesy/OWN

On yesterday’s episode of General Hospital, Portia Robinson (Brook Kerr) received some surprise visitors just in time for her upcoming wedding to Curtis (Donnell Turner) on Valentine’s Day.

GH introduced Portia’s brother, Zeke, played by none other than Gavin Houston formerly one of the series stars of Tyler Perry’s OWN soapy drama, The Haves and the Have Nots.

Interestingly enough, this is not Houston’s first turn on GH.  Back in 2010, he appeared on the ABC soap opera as a CSI tech named Sly Thomas who was helping solve the Claudia Zacchara (Sarah Brown) murder case.  Houston actually started his daytime career back in 2002 as Guiding Light’s Remy Boudreau.

Arriving on the scene for the Portia and Curtis nuptials, was also Portia’s father, Dr. Sterling Robinson played by Ricco Ross, who had a recurring role on P-Valley.

So, while Sterling and Portia went into the medical profession, it seems from indications from Trina (Tabyana Ali), that her uncle went in his own direction.  What could Zeke be involved with?  Stay tuned.

What do you think of GH bringing in more of the Robinson family? Did you enjoy Gavin’s performances on ‘The Haves and the Have Nots’? What line of work could Zeke be into on GH? Comment below.

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I guess we’ll know on Friday if he’s on contract (or not). Guess is he’ll be working for Selina which may lead to a clandestine relationship with Brad.

Wishful casting – Debbi Morgan in an extended guest spot as Portia and Zeke’s mom.

He did play a gay character on “The Have and Have Nots” so perhaps a new love interest for Brad… let’s hope.

Sounds good but don’t think the type casting transfers over

I hope Brad sticks around. He only had Britt to interact with and now she’s gone. And his ex-husband has seemingly disappeared.

Much rather see Lucas come back than adding a newbie. Whether or not Lucas reunites with Brad or not. He’s a Spencer by adoption & a Jerome by birth, not to mention a doctor, so there’s a far better case for keeping him around.

hello Satan

whilst I cannot disagree with a word you have said… I still have to express my extreme fondness of Gavin Houston. His acting skills are top notch, in my opinion.

Fair enough. I haven’t seen this other show y’all are talking about, so I don’t know about his other work.

you can watch the haves and the have nots on any free tv/movie site just search the name of the and free online and gives you options best drama show ever by tyler perry

Yes he was great on the Haves and Haves, but what about another younger AA love interest,(m/f) I’m not homophobic but we’re also under represented on the daytime screen. Or maybe someone black for Trina or Aunt Stella. Please?!

hi Tori

I am not hetrophobic, but what does “AA love interest” mean? And if it does mean “male/female” why not just say it that way.

The ever growing “alphabet soup” of sexual orientation is just getting to be a little much. Can’t we, at this point, just be “a human being loving another human being” I know that sounds very simple, but when we come right down to it…isn’t that all it is?

A/A means African American!

Hello Faye

I did come to realize that after my post to Tori. My sincere apologies if my ignorance has offended.. all I can say is I live in Canada.

Hey, Brian—from where in Canada do you hail? I’ve spent many a summer in Maple. Ontario, as a kid (suburb of Toronto), and King City. I have family there—-I visit quite often—Love Toronto. ❤️

I am enjoying snowy cold Winnipeg winters

Hi Brian, I believe AA is for African American love interest. I understand what she is saying, because it seems to be happening quite a bit on other soaps as well. At one point it was said that African American couples do not generate a lot of interest from the soap fans. I totally disagree with that, because Angie and Jesse from All My Children and Neil and Drucilla from Y&R, shot down that myth!

I believe AA refers to Adam and Adam, as opposed to Adam and Eve.
I applaud your suggestion that we should call any relationship a human being loving another human being. The less we point out differences, the sooner they can cease to exist

Lol I hope they keep him on the show you know gh ain’t gonna have too many aa on the show

What is an AA.Too many letters meaning different things for this old lady. Used to mean Achoĺics Annomous.

LOL—That’s too funny. That’s what I thought, too. AA—Alcoholics Anonymous.
Black, white, purple, sexual orientation? —makes no difference to me.
People are people and as such, I have my faves and not so faves.
If I have to see one more amateurish, “coy” look from this Trina again, or listen to her wavering sotto-voce uttering , or see the infinite amount of teeth when she smiles/speaks? Oh, man… I’ll; I’ll—I don’t know what I’ll do. LOL—-and, it has nothing to do with the color of her skin—she simply makes mine crawl. I wish Sydney would return. I miss her spunk and pretty face!!
Poor Spencer!!
Aside—-is Amelia safe from Heather?

I know I’m late to the discussion but this kid that plays Trina is annoying and very hard to watch. For starters she doesn’t look like either of her parents whomever they may be. Sydney looked every bit of Curtis’ daughter which I suspected from the beginning. If Sydney isn’t coming back can they at least get a better actress and one where we can see what the appeal is for Spencer.

Hi, Faith–welcome…
I completely understand what you say. I don’t watch nuTrina—I just can’t. It’s not her fault. She tried for the part and was hired.,I’m starting to sound like a broken record, as the old saying goes. Ali does not fit at all.
Sydney lit up the screen—and the closeness she had with Ava was authentic. The bond they shared was so natural and sweet—almost like mother and daughter.. Also, the easy camaraderie between her and her coeds was tangible. I really enjoyed all their scenes together.
The vibe is simply lacking with Ali—no rapport with either cast members or viewer.

I think Gavin Houston is a great actor and I also fellI he has a Lot to offer General Hospital with his acting skills.

He has something to do with the Pikeman’s deal with Sonny

I think it’s refreshing to see out-of-town-family show up for important occasions like a wedding. And these guys seem to be a great addition.

Why are we STILL adding characters? Cody wasn’t bad enough? Where are Molly & Kristina? Lucas? I’m used to Dex but he’s really just taking Cam’s place with Joss. Curtis’ father is a dead-weight downer. Just when I thought things might be looking up…

Sorry, but another Black family is a welcome addition for Black viewers like me. We have been faithful viewers for years even when nobody on the soaps looked like us. Marshall’s story line was very relevant to the mental health issues that plaque our nation right now and keeping GH current is important. Additional Black characters makes Port Charles look like a real city in the U.S. Portia and Curtis are Black and their wedding attendants should reflect that fact. (RIP Sonya Eddy, we miss you).

Sorry; I don’t agree. On almost every show, every film, the ONLY diversity I see added are black characters. Whether it’s in TV commercials, film, remakes of shows AND complaints about past shows which were fabulous. FRIENDS being blamed for not having black characters? Sex In The City? Those shows were written by people about their experiences and the people they hung with. They shouldn’t have to be apologizing for that.There were barely any Jewish characters on TV or film when I was growing up; still aren’t. It’s only recently that there are one or two Jewish holiday movies…

As for GH? Jewish actors may be on the show, but they’re not represented because they’re playing non Jewish characters. Matt Cohen a priest? He couldn’t be a “Jewish” doctor? There’s not ONE Jewish character and there has barely been more than a handful in the history of soaps. So, black people aren’t the only underrepresented group. I’m sure people from other backgrounds can speak for themselves on that, but I’m tired of the constant addition of more and more black characters (that’s not to say I don’t enjoy the characters; I do) with the obvious absence of others.
On an unrelated note; I never thought Marshall had schizophrenia; still don’t. Back in the day? No family was cool with mental illness. That, too, is not just about black people. It was always a stigma in all backgrounds that thankfully more people are being made aware of.

The last Jewish character on GH was Sonny’s accountant Bernie (who also had a twin brother named Benny who previously had the same job) They actually showed him observing Hanukkah during one of the helliday episodes. Sadly he was literally shot in the back by the Valentini regime, the first time they threw Jason under the bus in 2012.

I always thought it was curious that the entire Zacchara family was portrayed by Jewish actors, but they kept them an Italian mob family. Meyer Lansky & Bugsy Siegel were fairly big names in mob history, so there’s no reason why a Jewish mob family couldn’t have been in Port Charles.

As far as Portia’s family goes… do we even know if they’re sticking around, or if this is just a short visit for the wedding… because it would look kinda weird if she got married and nobody in her family showed up.

I cringed each time Bernie was on; they couldn’t have written a more stereotypical character. As I mentioned in another comment, so many GH actors ARE actually Jewish: Brandon Barash, Sean Kanan, Rene Sofar, Amanda Setton, Stuart Damon, Tamara Braun, Matt Cohen, etc…yet they just won’t write them as Jewish characters, but instead choose to do a caricature/stereotype in Bernie.

And you’re right, too, about the Zaccaria’s on GH. They were supposed to be an Italian mob family, but they were played by all Jewish actors; why not make them a Jewish mob family? LOL and smh…

Hi, Satan—-I wasn’t watching at that time of the Zaccara family( no “h” ). I’d just like to add that Italians get pretty riled when they see their own constantly being portrayed as mafiosi on most shows. These writers are stuck in stereotypes so much, I want to scream in frustration over their blind vision—-as usual, as you know, I love oxymorons//so pardon me.LOL.
Culture was borne in Latium ( Lazio) presently known as Rome!!
A little Italian grammar lesson—-at the risk of annoying you and everyone else….here it goes.
There is no “k” in the Italian alphabet.
When “c, or cc” are followed by hard vowels, “a, u, o”, the “h” is not needed because phonetically, the sound is “k”.
However, with soft vowels, “e,
i) the “c” becomes soft.
Therefore, you will never ever see a cha, chu, cho, ccha, cchu or ccho combination in any Italian name or phrase. These writers should consider “checking before using “. The same goes for “g” Spaghetti!! The “h” gives the word the “ga” sound, otherwise it would read as spajetti. ( Oh, and there is no J, W, X, and Y either)—- Sorry for boring you, but try as I might, I can’t get the instructor out of me—LOL. Ciao ❤️

Exactly, Angela. There are many ethnicities ignored and/or underrepresented. As an Italian American, I was shocked to learn that Milo Ventimiglia’s character on his new show has Italian surname. Most Italians in media seem to be constantly eating or trying to be Mafioso. Same with Jewish characters… either eating or acting like the world hasn’t changed since FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Parry Shen’s Brad is Asian..he’s also talented, sexy, and needs more interaction than Ms. Wu — another Asian gangster stereotype, though I LOVE the actress. Soaps are trying but still have a way to go.

Agree Soaphound. Stereotypes prevail.I was just mentioning in another comment here (and I’m not sure how many noticed this when it aired several years ago) but when Hayden reminisced about her father (who she later found out was her adoptive father) it was about the wonder Passovers they had which obviously implied he was Jewish, AND he was in jail for a ponzi scheme!!! So they decide to make a character who doesn’t exist,Jewish, and then say he’s in jail for a Bernie Madoff-type crime. OMG! I was livid! smh…

And you’re right; the Mafia stereotypes are rampant for Italians, but I don’t even think they have an Italian character. Weren’t the Zaccarias supposed to be Italian? The kicker is that entire family was played by Jewish actors: Brandon Barash, Sarah Joy Brown and Bruce Weitz!

Unfortunately, Putin is making the case that the world has not changed since Fiddler On the Roof, other than for the worse. The scene at the wedding is NOTHING compared to the last year in Ukraine.
Slava

While the cast remains quite bloated, it is necessary from time to time to add related characters (regardless of their ethnicity). It would be strange for Portia to get married and not have any family there. Heck, it’s really weird that we still don’t know Jordan’s maiden name after being on the show for almost a decade. (I’ll say it’s Simpson so that when she married both Tommy & Curtis it was an Ashford & Simpson nuptial – even though those relationships were not solid as a rock).

And, yes, more diversity among racial, religious and sexual orientation backgrounds is good. OLTL did a good job through the years (earlier Siegel family and later Nora) with Jewish representation. GH can (and should) do better. Brad and Selina are links to a historical family that appeared back in the 80s. While Terry and Brad are representative of the LGBT+ community, their lack of (or off-screen) romances is concerning. The Latino community and those with mobility difficulties would also be covered in a more diverse umbrella.

One Jewish character isn’t exactly representation. It’s a token.

Love it….Hilarious!!!

Lol @ Ashford & Simpson Solid As A Rock!

I am not racist in any way, but I would prefer to have more white characters that I can identify with. I feel that GH is being taken over with black actors.

Taken over? Seriously? Let’s see…

Sonny, Carly and Nina have the biggest episode counts and are driving story. Multiple characters from the Quartermaine, Corinthos, Scorpio and Cassadine families remain front and center.

Trina is in an “A” storyline but otherwise…

Portia & Curtis are a B storyline which is now getting heavy play with the wedding upon us.

Marshall is in a “C” level story. Jordan and TJ are “talk to’s” without their own plots. Stella appears sporadically but makes those moments count. Taggert will fade away if he’s not Trina’s bio dad.

We just lost a beloved long term supporting character in Epiphany. Brick is on once in a blue moon and Felix and Deanna may be brought out of mothballs for the Nurses Ball.

Taken over? Do you prefer the old days when characters of color were siloed and were barely involved in story? Bryan and Claudia? Lainie?

Frank doesn’t always get it right, but he deserves credit for establishing the Ashford family (and now broadening the Robinsons).

It’s a wonderful multicultural world out there. Take time to explore!

Thank you!!!!

Well said! And rest in peace Sonja Eddy . She is already missed.
I’m always suspicious when someone says “ I’m not (fill in the blank) … disclaimers usually backfire because they’re not true.

Black audiences have “identified” with predominantly White casts since television began. 5 or 6 core Black characters on a 60 year old show won’t ruin your experience dear.

Excuse me, but what show are you watching???

And you say you’re not racist?

The definition of being racist is saying you’re not racist in any way then saying you want more white characters and that black actors are taking over GH. Hello jay your racist buddy!

F.J.K. — Nobody said anything about black characters. My point is that there are enough characters on the canvas already, period. Not every statement has to have racial feelings attached.

Never said YOU were being racial. No, everything is not about race but, I was just stating my feelings about the (hopefully) latest addition of Black characters and what Black TV viewers have endured for years. Take no offense, non intended.

Exactly! Why not bring on more Black characters?!

They could do that and also build on existing GH history. For example, what ever happened to Brian & Claudia Phillips? They were friends with Laura & Scotty back in their college days (late 70s).

Where are Tom & Simone Hardy these days? First “mixed-race” couple in Port Charles, if a Devil remembers correctly. Their son Tommy Jr was the original “TJ” (no relation to the current one, of course)

And why have the Wards completely disappeared? One branch of that family tree were also Quartermaines, of course

The actor who played Bryan passed away a while back. They could’ve tied Jordan or Portia to Claudia somehow.

Weren’t Tom and Simone divorced by the time Matthew Ashford (ironic) took over the role? Seem to recall them trying him and Felicia before she got with Mac. Elizabeth mentioned Tommy Jr a couple years ago. Frank obviously had no plans to bring him on as TJ Ashford and Marshall’s oldest son were given the name Thomas about 10 years ago.

The Wards have been forgotten except when Maya’s ELQ voting shares come up from time to time.

Because the show shouldn’t be just a mix of black and white people. There are other people who need representation and the show ignores them.

Yes, they have turned Carly into a bigger hypocrite than she was. Joss on her way as well. Cody could have been interesting. Dex is boring a monotone for me. I love this show.

Why not bring new characters?

Hating on the blacks I see.

No you don’t see that. What you’re “seeing” is a resentment that the ONLY “diversity” that the show brought and keeps bringing are black characters while ignoring other minorities or underrepresented people.

I agree Marshall is dead weight and I wish Portia will get nerve enough to tell Curtis the truth.I’m tired of waiting.I’m also sick of Sam and her love life.Carly is making me sick.I also don’t think Nicholas is dead.I think when they open the closet he will be gone

I hope against hope the writers weren’t stupid enough to kill off Nikolas. I’m not sure these writers have any respect for legacy characters, families, or the history of GH.

thank you ! when I was watching yesterday’s show.. I knew I had seen him before. I loved The Have and the Have Nots” and so very happy to see him on GH ! Hoping he gets a huge role

Brian
Yes, I loved that show, they had a great cast. I especially loved Peter Barros from ATWT and John Schneider from everything he was on.our young and foolish Jeffery has grown up since that show.

I hope he does too!

Yes I feel the same love his character on The Haves and the have nots

I just loved this actor not only on GL but especially on Haves and Have Nots. I really didn’t recognize him and have not seen him since Tyler Perry’s show ended.

Right; let’s keep adding more the “diversity” which means more black characters while there’s only two Asians who are rarely on, not one Jewish character, Muslim character, and I think now we have one occasional Latin character. And while we add more and more black characters let’s get rid of legacy characters like Nikolas. Just change the name of the show and be done with it.

Who are the more and more Black Characters that you keep referencing? So Portia’s Dad and brother came to town. So what? Maybe it’s short term. Maybe it’s to set something else up involving other characters. Both are accomplished actors with tons of credits. The storyline is building. Popular characters have families built around them quite often. I’m struggling to see the issue unless there’s more to it…..

My point is the show was about white Christians (Catholic? Protestant?) as all soaps seem to have been since their beginning. The only diversity I’ve seen in all these years is the addition of black characters. Yes, we get an occasional Asian, Hispanic, or gay couple, but that’s about it. GH now has Curtis, Portia, Jordan, Marshall,Brick, Aunt Stella, Trina, (we had the wonderful Epipfany), Felix, several nurses, TJ, Phyllis, had Lenny, and now we have a new black cop (which we read was coming aboard), and they keep bringing on more. And I love all those characters; but the show has become a mix of black characters and white characters to the exclusion of others. I’d actually feel better about it if they didn’t diversify; at least then it wouldn’t be representing one minority over another to the exclusion of all others, than the way they’re going about it. I’m sure if it was the other way around and there were no black people on the show but instead we had 10-15 Jewish characters and the show kept adding more there’d be some “mention” of that, especially from other groups who weren’t existent at all on the show.

People think if you’re “white” Jewish you’re represented by the white characters. If it was that simple there’d be no antisemitism. Jewish people need representation too; and not by stereotypical accountants like Bernie, the sole Jewish character and his twin brother who made an appearance. Matt Cohen,(Griffin) Tamara Braun,(Carly/Kim) Stuart Damon,(Alan) Sean Kanan,(AJ), Rene Sofar (Lois) Amanda Setton (Brook Lynn) and many other GH actors are Jewish in real life…but the show refuses to write even ONE Jewish character! Again; I know there other others who feel the same about lack of representation of their background. So the “diversity”, when one new black character after another is introduced, is frustrating when that’s the answer to diversity. The only way other races and faiths will feel less foreign to the majority is to have more representation. The only character the show can muster up is “Bernie, the accountant?” Oh, and Hayden’s father, the one she found out adopted her? We saw him for five to ten minutes total, in jail, for a PONZI Scheme! And they inferred he was Jewish!!! WHY would they make a characters who’s basically non-existant Jewish and say he’s in jail for a “ponzi scheme,” ala Bernie Madoff…FFS! They owe me a TV from the screen my fist broke when I punched through it. LOL

Angela, I hesitated to speak up on this issue, but I think your further detailed explanation of your thoughts is most illuminating and helpful. I can gather you have no intent on pitting one minority against another. Each minority sadly faces its own struggles, including proper representation in the media.

My memory is a bit hazy on the details, but in the late 60s/early 70s, there was a prominent Jewish family on One Life to Live: the Siegels, husband Dave Siegel, an attorney — okay, at least he wasn’t an accountant; wife Eileen who was Catholic; and their children, Tim and Julie.

At 50+ years on, it might be nice to feature a Jewish family on a soap. Just sayin’…

Oh Jamesj75, THANK YOU! I LOVED David Siegel; he was my favorite character on OLTL. The great Allen Miller! Did you know he was also a renowned acting teacher and early mentor and supporter (with first wife Anita) of my idol, Barbra Streisand? Wow, what great days. As I recall, David was married to (Irish Catholic) Eileen Riley, sister of Joe Riley who I thought was a real dreamboat. Funny, I was never bothered even in the 60s about an interfaith marriage. Go figure.

Soaphound, great to hear your further reminiscing on this issue! I certainly enjoyed the character of Dave, too. But I had no idea of Allen Miller being an acting teacher or his Streisand connection. That is quite impressive. Joe Riley and Vicki were a supercouple before the term was coined. Thanks so much for providing such great comprehensive texture to the important, enjoyable character of Dave Siegel. Take care, Friend!

Thanks Jamesj75. Some people just don’t get it and want to jump down the throats of anyone who brings up a valid point they can’t relate to, which is part of the problem. They can’t put themselves in another’s shoes; can’t empathize or understand the importance. I vaguely remember “Dave.” 😉 Good character.

It’s interesting. Don Diamont, who plays Bill on B&B, is Jewish in real life. I heard he played a Jewish character on Y&R some time ago. Would have liked to have seen that although I don’t know anything else about the character. Maybe I’ll see if there’s anything on YouTube. But again my point is there’s an obvious omission when we have to say “remember when there was that one Jewish character?” lol. I’m not sure if there were more than five Jewish characters cumulatively on the multitude of soaps that have aired for decades including those that aired for years before going off the air.

Angela, thank you for your reply and for fighting the good fight. You’ve made cogent, empathic points throughout. As you allude, a sprinkling of Jewish characters throughout the decades of soap history isn’t a great track record. I’ll be on the lookout… Take care, Friend!

Thank you, Jamesj75. 😉 You take care, too.

Why does everything have to be about diversity?I’m sick of hearing it.

What’s your background Marion? Are you a white Christian? If you are, then you’re sick of it because you have no idea what it’s like to turn on every show and film and not see anyone from your race, faith, or ethnicity on there. EVER.

Angela,
When I am watching a show I don’t wonder nor do I care what the hell religion the person is, be it actor or charactor ,Protestant, Catholic or whatever. Judaism is a religion and why should it be advertised like straight, gay or anything in between. The color is usually pretty obvious, so that shouldn’t be a problem for you. As far as not “seeing “anyone of your race, faith, or ethnicity, I’m sure there are some of each,they just don’t feel the need to make a point of calling attention to it. If I’m introduced to someone, I don’t feel the need to make them aware of my religion or nationality unless we want to discuss what we have in common. Don’t try and tell me I don’t understand. I do but I can’t express myself the way you and others can.

You DON’T understand. Your comment couldn’t have proven that more. Do you not know about the Holocaust? Do you not know about the rise in antisemitism across the world? Do you not know that hate crimes against Jews have risen over 100%? Do you not know that neo nazis are putting out antisemitic propaganda in little plastic bags and leaving them on people’s lawns in numerous states around the country? Do you not know that nazis in Florida have been projecting on to the outside of buildings things like Kanye was right and Hiter didn’t kill enough? Do you not not know that Kanye West praised Hitler, said he liked him, and wanted to kill Jews…and his fans were loving it? The white supremacists were loving it?

Do you not notice that “Bernie” the accountant, or caricatures of cheap Jews with hooked noses are the images that much of the world sees? A world that barely has any Jews in it; people in countries that hate Jews who never even met a Jewish person, because they believe the conspiracy theories and laugh at the hooked-nose caricatures and think that’s what Jewish people look like? There is SO much you don’t know or understand if you’re not a minority, if you’re not Jewish, and you don’t understand how much representation matters.

Do you think that the black people we see today everywhere; from TV to film to TV commercials to pop stars, sports figures are the same representation as the old Aunt Jemima boxes? The representation has changed, the public perception has changed, and kids being brought up today have a completely different feeling about black people than in your time because white people started getting to “know” actual black people through more and more representation. If TV and film don’t represent other minorities who are victims of hate, bigotry, violence, conspiracies, then those people are always going to be seen how racists and antisemites want to portray them. Same for gay people. When you get people to know people even through fictional characters, then people who don’t have those people in their real lives start seeing them as more than the “other.”

So as a Jewish person, when GH has Matt Cohen, Tamara Braun, Sean Kanan, Rene Sofar, Amanda Setton, Stuart Damon, etc, etc, but has them play NON Jewish characters? Jewish people aren’t being represented, because many viewers don’t even know they’re Jewish in real life. But put a “Bernie the accountant” on? And he fits the stereotype and him they represent as a Jewish character!

Today we had Stella reading the Bible. That’s not the Jewish Bible. The Hospital Chapel, the Christmas show, Sonny’s Catholicism, Griffin the priest…none of this represents Jewish people. And again, if the show ONLY featured white people of a certain faith and they wanted to stick with that? That’d be fine because we all grew up with those characters on this show; these families. They’re the legacy characters that we’ve all come to “know” and love. But once a show says they’re going to add diversity to the show? Then they need to do better because while it may be great for the black population that they’re being represented by gorgeous people with great professions that the viewers love them (including me) that does nothing for Jewish people who are still dealing with representation like little old men with hooked noses counting their money and other people’s money as “representation,” it does nothing to bring actual Jewish characters into the homes of people who never even had a Jewish friend in real life and know nothing of “the Jews” then the stereotypes they’ve been fed. Soaphound expressed that she wished there were Italian characters; ones that weren’t always mob or centered around food.

So if you don’t get it, no one’s blaming you, but don’t tell someone from a group you’re not part of how they feel or think you understand how they feel and why when you seemingly never had to deal with this type of hatred or exclusion,and you don’t understand how important representation is to combat these bigotries.

I suppose Matt Cohen could have been a rabbi as easily as a priest (he was also a doctor of course) but he wouldn’t have had much of a congregation. I didn’t know Tamara Braun was Jewish, but that means the first two Carlys were portrayed by Jewish actors. The Spencers aren’t a Jewish family, but they might have written in something about Carly’s adoptive mother Virginia Benson being Jewish, so Carly might have been raised as Jewish. On the other horn, one of Bobbie’s ex husbands was named Jacob Meyer. I don’t recall if they ever specifically said he was Jewish, but my fuzzy Devil memory thinks that “religious differences” came between him & Rose Kelly, who was very much an Irish Catholic girl.

I do think Lois Cerullo could have been just as easily written as a Jewish character, rather than Italian, and then BrookLynn – who mostly raised by her mother – would also have been Jewish. I honestly had no idea about Stuart Damon or Sean Kanan, but I could see the Q’s written as a Jewish family… though it might limit their choices for pizza toppings on Thanksgiving.

Yes, Jake Meyer and Rose Kelly did have religious differences. His faith wasn’t an issue when he married reformed hooker Bobbie Spencer, lol.

Jake Meyer was played by Sam Behrens who is married to Shari Belafonte. She appeared on GH about 6 years ago as the second Mayor Janice Lomax (Nikolas rigged the ballot boxes so that Lomax beat Felicia for mayor).

LOL; many Jewish people aren’t kosher so that wouldn’t be a problem. I know I’d just have a cheeseless veggie (organic) pizza, but then I’m a vegetarian. 😉

The list the Jewish actors who come to mind (some I’ve already mentioned):

Stuart Damon/Alan Quartermaine
Matt Cohen/Griffin Monroe
Tamara Braun/Carly and Kim
Sarah Joy Brown/Carly
Kin Shriner/Scottie (half Jewish)
Nancy Lee Grahn/Alexis (half Jewish)
Brandon Barash/Johnny Z
Amanda Setton/Brook Lynn
Sean Kanan/AJ
Rene Sofer/Lois
Kristen Alderson/first Kiki (half Jewish)
Steve Bond who played Jimmy Lee Holt was Israel/Jewish (though he converted later on to a born again Christian when he met his wife)

Then we have Wally Kurth (Ned) who has a Jewish daughter in real life, Kristen Storm who has a half Jewish daughter, Charles Shaughnessy/Victor, though Christian, has Jewish children with his Jewish wife…

Point is with all these Jewish actors through the years, or those who have Jewish children; family, not ONE has played a Jewish person in the show because there are none. Why?

I’m not sure why they made Griffin a priest at all; it added nothing to the story. He could have been a doctor only, and if they wanted him to be Duke’s son, his mother could have been Jewish (we never met her anyway) and he could have stated he was Jewish. When they brought on Kim, who was a new character, Tamara Braun could have played her and Kim could have been Jewish, which would have made Oscar Jewish, etc. All soaps have not written in Jewish characters; it’s glaring. It’s made more obvious by the fact that they hire all these Jewish actors but can’t write one Jewish character….

Angela
While some others may not exactly grasp your passion for a viable concern, there are many here that can relate. However, it doesn’t have to come at the expense of members of other groups that have been traditionally not highlighted.

We all want to see ourselves represented positively out in the greater universe, but especially in entertainment. It’s one of the main reasons I cannot follow The Bold & The Beautiful. How does a show revolving around fashion in Los Angeles not have a major gay character?

Keep sticking up for representation. Eventually things may change.

Thank you OG Steve. I agree it doesn’t have to come at the expense of other groups, but in a sense it does come at the expense of other groups. Soaps have made a choice; they choose to show representation primarily for only one previously underrepresented group while sprinkling a tad of some others and zero for yet others. Why the imbalance? Society is very influenced by fictional depictions or lack thereof. There are those of us still battling stereotypes and hate and there are some groups that not many will stand up for when that occurs….Until all are represented in a positive light and people become familiar with those they don’t know or judge, the hate will win; the stereotypes will prevail.

I appreciate your comment.

Angela,

Just want to say that my best friend for the past 40 years is Jewish and I’ve learned the good and bad from her, but she sure does not dwell on this stuff. I watch what I like on TV including the Soaps for more than 60 years and if I feel the need for a more diversified venue I can always watch night – time TV. I love GH and Y&R the way they are. FYI, Don Diamont played a man, George Kaplan on Y&R saw his brother and father killed by German art thieves,his mother being an artist was a Concentration Camp survivor and they were chasing her down. Thats when he became Brad Carelton. You can probably find some of this SL on Utube.

I’m not talking about “your need” Violet. And you having one Jewish friend isn’t the point. I expressed myself all over this page; I can’t make it any clearer. As for Don Diamont, he’s Jewish in real life. I did mention him somewhere on this page. I’ll see if I can find his scenes from that story on YouTube. Thanks…

Angela
So sorry, I will not bother you anymore. I understand it is YOUR need, not anyone else’s. I just wanted to let you know that you expressed your self just fine and I was trying to do the same by telling you about my friend. I’ve known for some time that Don Diamont was born Donald Fienberg and guess what, I still like him!

It was so nice to see Gavin again, it took my breath away I hope he’ll have a permanent part so we can see him regularly. What’s gonna happen now in Port Charles that Nikolas is dead. I’m praying that the writer’s will find a way to save Willow, what about Joss, she has Nelle’s kidney. Can you use any of the Marrow from Joss? Is Wiley too young? Implement something that she doesn’t have cancer, and it’s because she wasn’t getting enough nutrients during her pregnancy, come on be creative you all are writer’s, don’t let her die please. I want to see is Nelle coming back, and she going to be the the one to save her twin, will she have a HEART ❤️ TO SAVE HER SISTER.

Sincerely,
Mary B.

Forever A Loyal Fan

Kidney transplant recipients (Joss) are not eligible to donate bone marrow. Able-bodied children are not able to give consent to voluntary medical procedures and a parent may not volunteer their child thus ruling out Wiley and James.

Since Nelle is assumed dead, Liesl is Willow’s only family option remaining.

I do think you are on to something with Liesl being the only option. Plus it would give a strong reason to keep Liesl on the canvas.

I’m a Devil, not a doctor… but if Nina (allegedly Willow’s mother) is not a match, then the odds of a great aunt (Liesl) being a better match are roughly the same as a blizzard here in Hell on Saturday.

Not saying that’s not how they will write it…. just saying if they do, it makes no sense at all. Hell, at this point it might make more sense to reveal that Finn is really Silas Clay’s long lost twin brother (he does look the part, after all) and therefore with identical DNA to Willow’s father, he could be a match.

Haha; I like that idea about Finn being Silas’s twin brother. Too bad they didn’t bring him on as that so we wouldn’t have had to hear 2/3 of the viewers ask why no one in-story noticed that he looked like Silas (same as we had to hear when Austin came on; took months to explain why no one in-story thought he looked like Franco, lol.)

What I was thinking, if you or anyone else remembers the OLTL story about Jessica and Natalie, that originally they were thought to have two different fathers. Maybe Nina had some “hanky-panky” lol before she went under into slumber and her “twins” have two different fathers. Maybe Willow’s long-lost father shows up like Julian did for Danny. Hey! It’s a soap; a girl can dream….

Loved seeing Portia’s family. I think she’s rather boring as are her new in-laws. I love Curtis’s dad though and his reality with the other characters.

I remember him from Guiding Light.
He’ll be a good addition to the cast.

I absolutely love it! New Story line is very welcome! I’m so over sonny and Nina!!! I actually wanna die when I have to watch scenes between these two. I literally fast forward thru. We need our old Nicholas back and Jason! So we can have our beloved Sonny back.im sick to death with dex, get to his story line already.

Well now maybe some new writers came in after all I can’t see this being a bad thing He’s a very talented actor good looking I hope they don’t make him be a horrible criminal. but it’s a soap
Opera. ‍♀️

“good looking” ? more like “grougous, drop dead grougous” !!!

where is the auto correct when you need it ?? I truly meant “Gorgeous”

I love GH and it’s decisions to add and take away characters regardless of race/color/ethnicity. GH you are the bomb. Just hurry up and bring Jason back

Whatever he is doing, or why he is really in Port Charles, I am here for it. I loved him on THAHN, his acting was great. Hope they keep him for more than a minute.

Like his looks. It is about time that GH has more Beautiful Black Men and Women on the ďaytime Soap.

GH doesn’t need more. We have 10-15 black characters. “It’s about time” OTHER people who aren’t represented were brought on and written for.

Angela, GH does not have 10-15 Black characters, more like 6 with an occasional quick hello from Aunt Stella. Any other Black characters on the show are seen so infrequently, it doesn’t warrant mentioning. I hope you get your wish regarding other representations for diversity. However, I can’t wrap my head around a 60 year old show finally giving 6 Black characters worthwhile storylines and ppl having a problem with it. The idea that it’s “too much” is laughable. The criticism is ridiculous and a terrible look.

Drake
You said it better than I could and in a lot fewer words.

It’s not a “terrible” look. What’s a terrible look is not thinking it’s important to add representation of others than just black people to a show proving its “diversity.” The show seems to have gone out of its way to not feature one Jewish person; not even a Jewish DOCTOR, in a show that has the word Hospital in its title. (And I never said the words, “too much.”)

If a black person was resentful that there were ZERO black characters on, and TJ, Portia, Jordan, Curtis, Trina, Marshall, Stella, Felix, Brick, Taggert, Phyllis, Lenny, in addition to (the beloved, may she RIP, Epipfany until her passing), and past members of a major legacy family (even though they’re no longer on; Justice Ward, Keisha, and Mary Mae, if they were ALL Jewish, or ALL ASIAN, or ALL anything other than black people, and the show added a few more Jewish and or Asian, etc, but still no black people, they’d say something. And guess what? They did. And now we have and have had the aforementioned black characters and still more being added. Whether contract or sporadically. And yet there are still no Jewish, Asian (but for one and more recently two), Hispanic, etc characters. So, regardless of your “disapproval,” my point stands. If they are going to improve diversity on soaps, they need to start adding people of other backgrounds other than black people to a white cast. And as a Jewish person? To see so many Jewish actors on the show but yet not one Jewish CHARACTER? That’s glaring.

I only hope you are this adamant and vocal when the next Dex, Cody, Esme etc. comes to town. If you are not then your argument needs reevaluating.

Are you purposely going out of your way to not understand what I said several times over? It’s not that difficult. I’m truly not sure what you’re not getting. If the show wants to keep it the way it started? One race, one religion; go for it. If it’s going to “add diversity?” Then add characters of DIFFERENT DIVERSE backgrounds; not 10-15 & growing black characters, and zero others with the exception of two Asian characters barely seen and one transgender person.”

I love Gavin Houston and am excited to see him on GH!!!

Gavin is cute! Young but cute! Need some more slightly older Black fine men on GH. If I can’t have it in real life I at least like to watch it on my Soap!!!!

Glad you think 45 (Gavin) is still young! What, Brick and Marshall don’t fit the bill, lol.

Phyllis needs some lovin’, but with Epiphany now gone, they’ll probably try Phyllis & Marshall together.

Best option is for Stella to get her groove back with a new fine man of color.

OG Steve
Do you remember her old friend whose wife was in the same facility as Sonny’s dad? Maybe he’s become available.

Diane
What’s wrong with Curtis? I’m an old white woman and I think he’s very sexy and good looking.

He should be a detective and help solve the “hook” attacker.

There have been a few tv shows with a Jewish story line? But they never last.

Well, they do pretty well with the sitcoms. Seinfeld was the biggest show of the 90s, and is still all over the place in reruns & streaming. And the Goldbergs have been on the air for 10 years now, though I wouldn’t be surprised if they end the show after this season. They lost two major characters in less than a year (George Segal died & Jeff Garlin got fired for being a dumbass, apparently) and it’s really tanked the show quality.

On the other horn, there was a recent show on Amazon Prime called “The Hunters” which was very well done. It only ran two seasons, but that was by design. The storyline had a lot of fictional elements (such as finding Hitler alive in South America & putting him on trial) but it was based on some real documented events like “Operation Paperclip”.

I think it’s greaat!! GH needs more black people on the show for sure!!! I want to see more black couples. Not just couples of color. But like Black Love. On the show. And Black villains. It’s like they don’t think we could be art enough to set some stuff up or be crazy. Shoot like Baldwin said “to be black in America is to be in a content state of rage” lets use that for the small screen. Man the should let me write for this show….I would create a whole villain storyline behind Portias family! Trust!!

I do like this actor—hpe he sticks around–gay or straight…
What I don’t get is the fuss and extravagance over this “marriage. “Verginal veil” et al— A bit ridiculous!!.

I Loved them showing up it was Just what the show needs.

Zeke and Sonny would probably bump heads…

Sorry to see Gavin go, but I guess others are glad that we aren’t having any additional characters, I only wish they could have found room for this one.
Well, the truth will set you free they say, ha, ha, not this time. Old Stella had no business running her mouth, what’s new, huh? She did say ” it wasn’t her story to tell” all the while she kept telling Trina to have her mother spill her guts that will effect the rest of her life. It sure didn’t look like Trina will forgive her mother anytime soon, Curtis and Marcus either. As a mother I can understand Portia’s predicament. How do you pick a time when you say ” oh, by the way, I need to tell you something”. I think Trina will come around eventually but Curtis is such a stickler for the truth. Pot,Kettle here with his alliance with Ms.Wu..Can’t wait to see him get himself out of this mess.

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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