Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

How do we give a proper send off to one of the most acclaimed actors of the genre, who has left his beloved role on General Hospital for a new chapter in his career playing a pivotal role on The Young and the Restless?  The only way we can – with a candid, touching, and full-circle conversation with the man himself, Jason Thompson.

Back in October, Jason revealed that he was leaving GH after ten years of playing Dr. Patrick Drake.  He would end his run taping episodes before Thanksgiving.  Then in early December, it was revealed that the rumors that were circulatating for months were true.  Thompson was now heading over to Y&R to take on the role of Billy Abbott from the exited Burgess Jenkins.  This move reunites Jason with his first soap opera executive producer, Jill Farren Phelps (EP, Y&R).  And, as fans of GH were noticing about the time that Thompson announced his departure from the ABC daytime drama series, Kimberly McCullough (Robin) and Tristan Rogers (Robert) were announced returning for a story arc, which ultimately was about wrapping up Patrick and the Scrubs love story, which had been in limbo for quite some time.  Now in the coming weeks, GH viewers will prepare for an emotional goodbye, while Y&R viewers will prepare for a dramatic hello!

In recent episodes of GH, viewers watched as Patrick and Sam (Kelly Monaco) split up, a distraught Emma (Brooklyn Rae Silzer) wanted to see her mother Robin so desperately that Patrick and his daughter high-tailed it to Paris, only to find she wasn’t there.  After locating Robin’s true whereabouts, that set the stage for the Drake family reunion, but where will Patrick and Robin go from here?  On-Air On-Soaps chatted with Thompson to get his thoughts on: working with all of his longtime GH co-stars and saying goodbye to them, what went on behind the scenes on his final tape day and in his making his big decision to leap to another soap, how he feels about tackling the role of Billy Abbott on Y&R, which has seen its share of recasts including; its most famous portrayer his now former GH castmate, Billy Miller (Jason Morgan), and we learn who else provided him with some solid advice on his career move.

When one thinks of the emotional and terrific performances Jason has given GH fans over the years, it’s to imagine him not there.  But for now we celebrate, and look back at his time in Port Charles, and look forward to seeing him dazzle us all over again on Y&R.  Here’s what Jason shared in our final General Hospital interview.

MICHAEL:

How are you now that you have had time to sit with and reflect on your decision to leave General Hospital?   It could not have been an easy decision to make.

JASON:

Courtesy/ABC

I felt good about the decision, and felt like it was the right thing to do.  As you said, it wasn’t an easy decision.  A lot of time, thought, feeling, and conversation went into it for that exact reason.  It is an important move not only for me, but for my family, and Brooklyn, and the show, and the show’s future.  It felt like a longtime coming to be quite honest, because of the thought process going into it.  Once I finally told Frank Valentini (executive producer, GH) and ABC that I was not going to re-sign with General Hospital, we had a couple honest, real conversations.  Those were great.  It was important for me to keep the respect level as high as possible, and to know that this doesn’t have to become a personal thing for me, or for the show, or Frank, or whoever was involved.  It is more just a part of the business, and it’s changing for this situation, anyways.  The people over at GH mean very, very much to me.  I still want to share my life with them.  So, I didn’t want it, and Frank didn’t want it to get weird between us.  Leading into it there was a long process, but it felt efficient and it felt good.  It felt like the move was scary enough, and it wasn’t so scary that it was debilitating.  I trusted the process, and the decision that I came to.  After that, I was able then to just focus on the work and enjoy it.  It was a process for a lot of people.  Not only me, but it was a process for Brooklyn, for the writers, for other cast members, and friends I have at GH including the lovely ladies and men in the make-up room, who I spent so much time with.  We were able to say goodbye slowly, but surely.

MICHAEL:

Your last tape day at GH was obviously an extremely emotional one for you, as there were many moving parts, and so much going on … including that it also happened to be your birthday.

JASON:

Courtesy/ABC

Leading up to taping my final scenes, my family and I were in the UK just the week before.  I came back on that Wednesday.   I had 11 episodes to tape on that Thursday and Friday. Those two last days were really, really great, because I was able to do the thing that I loved to do which is to work, and collaborate with these people that I love.  It was a ton of work, but it was also the kind of work where we could grin and get through it.   Kelly Monaco (Sam) and I did a lot of material as well as Brooklyn and I, Kimberly and I, and it was really nice. You had to try to keep it all as light as possible, because there was so much work to be done that you were focused, and it was extremely emotional, but it was great, because it was all what we love to do.  Obviously, the last tape day also being my birthday, the emotions I felt came from my personal life in a way, and how it kind of intersected with everything else.  It was a lot to take in, but it was, very, very gratifying.  Frank and the other producers gave me a fantastic cake.  Brooklyn said some stuff, and Frank and Kimberly said some stuff.  I was able to thank people, everybody, or as many people as I possibly could.  There were a lot of sad goodbyes, and a lot of happy ones.  My mom and dad were in town, and so they were there.  We came home and we had something to eat, and I went to Boston the next day for a fan event.  It was quick, and it felt really good.

MICHAEL:

Courtesy/ABC

Did it all seem to be a nice conclusion for you after ten years of playing Patrick?

JASON:

It brought it around for sure.  If you are a Scrubs fan, I think you will be really happy with the ending.  And at the same time, Patrick gets an opportunity to say “goodbye” to people that he loves and that meant a lot to him.  I can imagine there are some people that are going to miss Patrick, but the show goes on for a lot of other people.  That’s the way it goes.   It was a really nice goodbye, in my opinion.  I think it was a very respectful one, and one that I am thankful for.  I’m sure it was not easy for GH, and the writers to figure out how to do it, and the ramifications of it.  I respect that.  I hope the exit does well.  That was absolutely part of this process.  Kimberly and I had conversations about it, and we talked to Frank about it, and Brooklyn was a part of it, also. We said, “This is happening.  Now let’s go tell a really great story.  Let’s give it what we can, and make it fun at the same time.”

MICHAEL:

Kimberly McCullough has been instrumental, and a very key component in creating the successful love story of Patrick and Robin with you.  How was she about your decision to leave?

Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

JASON:  She was very supportive, as we have always been to each other.  Kimberly knows me very well.  We talked about it, and we were thorough with it.  I talked to her about things that she could answer in not only a professional actor way, but as a supportive friend, and someone who has stepped away from GH.  Kimberly was definitely an ally in all of it.  She gave me great advice all along the way.  She always does.  There is something to be said about her doing that, also.   Kimberly can always come back and continue to appear on the show, almost like Brooklyn, who can come back for the summer and have a stint here and there.  If they decide to recast Patrick that would change things.  I can understand how moving forward it will feel different.  Kimberly is very important to General Hospital.   She has been for a very long time.  I know this ending is going to take some people’s breath away, because they are losing not only Brooklyn, but Patrick, and Robin to a certain extent.  But the great thing is I know they have plans to bring Brooklyn back when they can.  As you can tell, Brooklyn has done an amazing job with her work this last little while.  She is growing into such a fantastic actress.  We built something really great.  Kimberly was an intrical part of that.  She helped me get my feet underneath me for the first little while.  Over the years, it became such a collaborative time together, and it ended in the same way.

MICHAEL:

However, it was hard for viewers to see, and I’m sure for you over the last year, as Patrick was mostly placed on the back-burner in terms of story.  Would you say that the fact that they were not utilizing you enough played a part into your decision to exit GH?

JASON:

Courtesy/ABC

It is kind of irrelevant, but yeah that was a percentage of my thinking for sure, but at the same time decisions are made for a certain reason.  I am sure if you asked GH, and they were being candid, they might have a reason for it also.  Frank and I had some conversations throughout the last year where I would ask, ‘Hey, what’s going to happen?  What’s going on here?  I feel like I want to kind of move it a little bit.”  Whatever the conversations were, I am still going to go there and do my job.  To an extent, it’s out of my hands.  I have never been somebody to go and complain, and be banging on the door going, “What’s up?  I want to work.”  I know there are ups and downs to stories, and especially nowadays when it comes to budgets.  But that is not my job.  My job is to show up and do the work.  For me, what is most frustrating is when I look back at ten years and see how Patrick was utilized, and the story he got.  I want to be working.  I want to have to work hard.  I want to have to stay home for 2 to 3 hours a night before the shoot day, and figure out what I’m doing.  Then go to set and try to execute it, and be pissed off if I didn’t do as well as I thought I could, and be happy when I did, and then want to do more.  If there is any feeling on that part of my decision on being on the back burner, it’s because of that, mostly.  I felt that for as hard and as long as I had been at GH, I tried to do the best work I possibly could do.  To not really have the chance to get in there, and do that kind of thing, and be trusted with a story, or to be part of the engine that pushes story forward … I wanted to be doing that.  Some changes happened behind the scenes in the last six months to a year at GH also, and that is all part of it.

MICHAEL:

To clarify: the decision for you to leave GH was yours? 

JASON:

Yes.  It was not something General Hospital wanted.  This was my decision.  Now is there a part of me that thinks I could have waited a couple months down the road to see if things changed?  Yes, there is a part of me that thought about that.  However, I felt very confident in my decision to go to Y&R in the time I was making the decision.  I’m not really looking back. 

MICHAEL:

Courtesy/ABC

However, if you were to look back on your time at GH, you must be proud of what you were able to accomplish, and to be a part of  his legendary soap opera, and the performances you gave that touched so many viewers.

JASON:

What I am going to look back on is what you said: that I was a part of a show that is so well-respected, and for what Kimberly and I built, and Teresa Castillo (Sabrina) and I built, and Kelly Monaco and I built, and what I built on my own   One of the more important relationships I built over the last few years was with the character of Anna, and Finola Hughes (Anna) and of course, Brooklyn.  Looking back at it now, and all of the growth my fellow actors and myself have made is just a cool thing to be a part of, and to be a part of the history of GH.  It would be very interesting to watch all of the Patrick scenes put together. You would see someone’s life like you have never seen before!  I am really proud of all of that more than anything.  It’s more for me about what I have been able to share with millions of people over ten years.

MICHAEL:

I think it’s important for people to understand that this is a “show business” decision.  Often times we all dissect and try to read between the lines, but the bottom line is you made a business decision for what you felt was best for you at this time.

JASON:

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

In order to continue what I love to do, I have to make money; and the network has to make money.  I needed to be supported by fans to be wanted by the show, in order for me to make money in order to provide for my family.  It goes down the list.  Now for me, it’s trying to balance it all: trying to be the businessman, be the art head, and being the loving and supportive person … it’s all of it.  It’s part of being a professional actor in a way, in my opinion.  David O. Russell (director and writer of JOY) said it perfectly when he referred to soap actors as “professional athletes”.  I felt that way about it for a very long time.  I looked at it as a pro athlete: “I am kind of a free agent right now.  I am at a decent place in my career.  I still have some life left in me, and some work to do.  Let’s see what happens if I open up the doors, and see if anybody calls.  I feel like it’s time to move on.”  So, I think David is right.  I think there is something to be said about the efficiency that soap operas work at, including the actors.

MICHAEL:

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto

I think it’s also important for people to note: that it was Y&R’s executive producer Jill Farren Phelps who originally cast you as Patrick on GH when she was in charge there, and you were the very first actor to audition for the role of Patrick, and you got the part!

JASON:

That’s true.  I was the first person to audition for Patrick.  Jill and I have stayed in contact over the years.  I consider her a dear friend.   She changed my life.  We would see each other a couple of times a year, and we are fond of each other.  It is a funny little quirk that we are going to be working together again, but it’s not that surprising.  It’s fun to be working together again ten years later.  I am not one to burn bridges anyway.  If everyone is cool, and everyone is respectful, I am not going to hold a grudge.  You are going to have to do really something bad for me to cross you off the list! (Laughs).  I am not one of those people.  I believe in second and third chances.

MICHAEL:

Was there any trepidation in taking on the role of Billy Abbott on Y&R?  It has been a role that has seen several recasts, including Billy Miller (Jason, GH).  Did it not enter your mind in your decision process? 

JASON:

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

I would be lying if I was to say that didn’t enter my mind.  That was part of the process, but again I am still learning a lot about Y&R, and learning about the character. What I can say that made sense to me was the trust factor I had in the people that I was talking to, and that included: Jill, Peter Bergman (Jack, Y&R), who I have met over the years a couple of times.  He is a great man.  Then, Doug Davidson (Paul, Y&R), who I have spent some time with together over the years, and with Rick Springfield (Ex-Noah, GH), and Steve Burton (Dylan, Y&R) and I talked, too.  Billy Miller obviously did a tremendous job with the character of Billy Abbott for a number of years.  Billy and I talked about what it is like over at Y&R, and what the character is like.  It wasn’t like, “I am going to step into this characters shoes, and it’s going to be awesome!”  No, I get it. There is a lot of  “pressure”, and expectations and apprehension, not only on my part, but on people that only think of this character as Billy Miller’s, or a lot of people who have loved Burgess Jenkins the last few years, or let alone the revolving door that has come with this character over the last several years.  The only thing that I can do is do what I do well, and not only be truthful to where the character has been, but more importantly where the character is going moving forward.  I know there is deep history with the character.  I know Patrick Drake’s history.  If somebody were to be recast as Patrick, I would sit down with them in two seconds, and tell them everything that I know.  It was a beautiful thing that I got to create with a bunch of terrific castmates, and writers, and producers, and everything else.  I would love to see what happens with Patrick going forward, whether he is never on-screen again, or someone else plays him.  It’s now irrelevant to me; it’s up to GH to do what they want with Patrick.  For me, going forward at Y&R there is a massive history with Billy Abbott, and he is a fantastic character.  To be honest, I am really excited about it.  I think he is a great character, and he reminds me a little bit of Patrick when he first got to GH, whereas he is a little reckless, and your kind of catching the character at a weird place, where he knows he has got to man up, but he has this burning desire to not relent, ever.  Billy knows that his family has got to be the most important thing to him.  So for me, there are a lot of similarities, because he is a man of a certain age, and he has got kids, and he has a girl, but he’s got this other side to him.  I can relate to that personally.  There are some similarities you are going to see in me that are in Billy, as you have seen with me and Patrick.  It’s going to happen, no matter what.  I am really excited to find out who this dude is.

MICHAEL:

Courtesy/CW

You must have a strong belief in the Y&R writing team going in to your new on-screen life in Genoa City.

JASON:

I trust in the people that are telling the story: head writer and executive producer Chuck Pratt Jr, and writer Tracey Thomson, and the writing team.  So, I’m trying to warrant everybody’s expectations in the role, and if I can, exceed them.  I get it!  People are not going to be total fans of me playing this character, but I’m going to do everything I possibly can to change their minds.

MICHAEL:

Right!  As per usual, some fans are being naysayers that you don’t fit the role of Billy, etc.  This always seems to happen in the soaps when an actor replaces another actor on a show, or a popular one, even if the actor is a multi-Daytime Emmy-winner or perennial nominee, or whatever the case.  There is always that beginning slippery slope to win over the fans, which ultimately, most of the time, ends up being successful.

JASON:

Courtesy/ABC

A perfect example of this is Billy Miller, and Steve Burton, and the character of Jason on GH.  Billy does something different than what Steve does.  Steve does something different than what Billy does.  Nobody can say they are not both great actors!  The character takes on a little bit of a different kind of texture, obviously.  It has to.  Leonardo DiCaprio could come in and play Billy Abbott, and it would be totally different.  And by all means am I comparing myself to DiCaprio, we all know that (laughs), but it’s going to be different.  I am looking forward to getting more comfortable with the role of Billy Abbott.  I am really going to be able to have fun with it.  They’re allowing me to bring in what I feel is right, or good, or to open up the way the role is played a little bit.  It’s a different position for me to be in.  I had to work to get the trust to have input at GH, where now after ten years of doing that, and getting to know the people, and them getting to know the way I work … this feels awesome!

MICHAEL:

You mentioned you spoke to Steve Burton, who also was on GH for over 20 years when he left to come to Y&R.  How was that conversation?  How did he help you make, or inform your decision?

JASON:

Courtesy/CBS

We talked, and he and Jill also have a great friendship.  I can understand what he was saying once I got over to Y&R.  They are really great people, and a fun cast, and a great crew.  To me, spending ten years at General Hospital, I didn’t think it got any better than that.  I am not comparing the two, but I am glad that I feel it was the right choice. General Hospital is really the only one that I knew as far as the soap world.  There are just really efficient people that do this genre.  I love them for that.  You check the b**s at the door … and you just do the work.  You have to be there every single day; the show has to be on five days a week.   I respect the hell out of everyone that is in the genre.

MICHAEL:

Let’s talk about a few amazing recent moments on GH:  The performance by Brooklyn Rae Silzer in the episode where Patrick broke up with Sam.  That little girl was incredible!  Take me though how you worked with her to have that emotional outcome?

JASON:

Courtesy/ABC

She was incredible!  We have a really great relationship that is so trusting, loving, and funny to say for a nine-year-old, but she is a professional actor.  Brooklyn is very smart.  She gets it.  So when these scenes came up, we talked about it.  We talked about what it means.  I would say, “Let’s go over what it means for Emma, first.  Let’s figure out where these beats are.  Let’s figure out what it means, when you say, ‘Mommy left.’  Let’s figure out how many times that goes back, and how many times did it happen … when Robin left the first time … then she died … and then she came back, and then she left again, and then the phone calls.  So, let’s add it all up.  Then Sabrina comes in.  Then mommy comes back, and then you lose two people, and then Sam comes in and you get a little brother now, and you got a pseudo-mom in there that is fantastic.  You love her and now she is leaving.”  It’s a lot.  You can’t possibly relate to that as a human being almost, let alone a nine-year-old!  Then what we tried to do was just make it personal.  “Now let’s talk about us.  What makes sense for us?”   We have this amazing friendship. We have been very close to each other, and it’s going to be really difficult to say goodbye to each other – and then it becomes me and her, and Kelly Monaco working those scenes.  I have always said to Brooklyn: “When there are scenes like this have that little thing inside you that we talked about (that I am not going to share with anybody) have that there.  Keep one ear to the stage director, and to the director that needs you to do anything else.  Just keep that fire burning, and then whatever happens just trust that, and don’t act.  Don’t do anything else, just say the words, and follow the direction.  I promise everything will be there for you.”  We always said, “It’s just for fun.  Let’s just experiment. Let’s see what happens.  It doesn’t matter if it works, and it doesn’t matter if it does, none of that matters.  Now let’s try to do this scene.”  After every single scene, whether it was the one in the park (where Emma was almost kidnapped, where they were hard and dramatic in a way), or those scenes that aired recently, we would always check in with each other after, and go, “How was that?”   It was just us together with Kelly, trusting each other and getting through it, and as you can see what potential this kid has.  It was really so rewarding.  I was so proud of her, and kind of astonished just to watch it happen in front of me.  It’s really difficult for me to hear the tone in her voice, and knowing what she is doing.  Not only am I proud in those moments, or when the scene is done, but that is part of the reason those scenes work for me, too, because it’s heartbreaking to see a kid go through that.  The amount of honesty that Brooklyn can do it at is a special little gift that she has got.  I think part of it is that she has a fantastic family.  Her mom and dad are great.

MICHAEL:

Courtesy/ABC

It has been amazing.   I have written about this, but I will say it again.  There has never been a father/daughter on-screen relationship on the soaps as special as what you and Brooklyn have created together.  It is so special and moving, and the way you react to her in the scenes, and the tears that come from you.  It must be gratifying to have gone through this with a nine-year-old girl, no less to form this acting partnership.

JASON:

Part of the journey we went on was very interesting, because it started with Kimberly, and Kimberly went through it when she was younger.  So we knew what we were getting into, and Kimberly was very helpful.  We were always aware that Brooklyn was there, and out of respect for her, and for her mom, and her trusting her to be with us, we wanted to include her in almost everything.  There was not a discussion about Brooklyn, or that involved Brooklyn that she was not a part of, or I did not talk to her just as much about it.  Brooklyn’s parents were so proud of her.  I am very proud of what Brooklyn has become, not just as an actor, but what she has grown up to be.

MICHAEL:

You obviously were the one to tell Brooklyn you were leaving.  How did that conversation go?

Courtesy/JThompsonTwitter

JASON:  Yes, after I told Frank Valentini, she was the first person I told.  I emailed her mom, and we got on the phone that night with Brooklyn.  She was just a trouper.  Her mom talked to her to let her know, and then we talked.  Brooklyn said, “I don’t care about the work.  I am just so happy for you, if this is what you want.  I am just going to miss you so much.  I don’t care if I don’t work.  I’m not thinking about that.”  I mean, that is the kind of kid you are talking to.  We kept the conversation as light as possible.  I made it clear to her that she is stuck with me.  She’s not going to lose me, and that’s true.

MICHAEL:

When you hung up the phone, it must have been so hard for you.

JASON: 

It was very hard for me to do, for sure.  There were a lot of hard conversations to have, but that had to be one of the hardest ones.

MICHAEL:

Kelly Monaco and you created this couple known as “Samtrick”.  To many it felt forced, and it ultimately had nowhere to go with Jason Morgan back in the picture.  But I will say, the fallout of their relationship over the last weeks of episodes gave the audience a chance, and afforded you the type of emotional material we were used to seeing from Jason Thompson.  Would you agree?

JASON:

Courtesy/ABC

I would agree with that – and that’s why it felt good to go out the way we did. These last scenes were all part of the last weeks of air shows.  Look again; we knew it was forced in a way.  We knew what was happening, but Kelly and I had many conversations to make this relationship as honest and real as possible.  We would say, “Let’s make them want us more.”  I think it could have worked even better, and been even stronger.  When I look back at it, there was a lot of time of Patrick thinking about other people, when he could have been thinking about what is right in front of him.  I think that was the focus that Kelly and I had a lot of times. We focused on what Sam, and Patrick felt.  Kelly and I are really great friends, and it was an absolute pleasure working with her for the time we had together.

MICHAEL:

What happened when you told Kelly Monaco that you were leaving GH?

JASON:

Courtesy/ABC

She was like, “F**k  you!” (Laughs)  When you are working that closely with somebody it wasn’t a shock when I initially told her what was happening.  But one of the last scenes we did together was very emotional, and it kind of took me by surprise a little bit when we finished.  She came back afterwards and gave me a big hug.  I will never forget it.  Let’s just say that.  It was awesome, and really cool for whatever reason.  But it was very emotional, because I think we both really enjoyed the kind of moments we were able to create.  The material at the end with Emma, those were very hard scenes to do.  Not only because Brooklyn was so fantastic, but we knew what was happening, and it was hard to say goodbye in a way, but it was very gratifying.  I have always been a fan of Monaco’s.  Once you meet her, it’s hard not to be!  When I look back at GH over the years, I can always pinpoint when it was best … it was when a couple of actors, the writers, and the producers were on point and nailing it, and knowing exactly what they wanted to do, and everyone was buying into the same thing.  It’s hard to ignore when that kind of collaboration is happening.

MICHAEL:

On Christmas, Robin and Patrick basically had their long-awaited reunion, where for a moment they touched upon the issues that plagued them.  How would you explain those scenes?

JASON:

Courtesy/ABC

Robin is able to explain basically what has gone on to Patrick in the last however long.  He sees first hand the situation that she has been in.  There is that moment for Patrick where he says, “I never wanted to believe you would do what you’ve done.  I want to believe that this is true, because this is what I have always kind of felt deep down.”   Robin tells Patrick that she is sorry that she could not be honest with Patrick.  They now come back to Port Charles to regroup in a way.  There is a situation they have found themselves in before at New Year’s, that I think is nicely done.

MICHAEL:

How did you feel about how they wrapped up the storyline … many are noting it feels rushed?

JASON:

Let’s be honest, and give the audience a bit of a break here.  It was rushed, because of the real situation of me leaving the show.  So, would this have been drawn out a little bit more?  Would some people say, there is no way that Patrick would trust Robin right off the bat again?  Possibly.  But there will be a lot of people who will be like, “Just relax and try to not get too involved with that.”  Now saying that, I think GH did a fantastic job bringing us back, and giving a sort of backhanded gift to a lot of people, and to tell a good story.  It’s the change that Robin and Patrick needed in their life at the place they are at now.  I see it as kind of one of those things.

MICHAEL:

Courtesy/Pinterest

So when you performed in your very last GH scene that we will soon see, and they yelled “Cut”, what happened?  

JASON:

First, as I mentioned, my mom and dad were there, too.  It was cool for them, because they were there for my first week at GH.  So it was cool they were there for the end.  Brooklyn came running up to me at the end bawling her eyes out, and that was pretty much the most emotional I have seen her up to that point.  We just walked around for a few minutes together, and I held her.  We had the cake earlier in the day, so I was able to say goodbye to a lot of people then.  At the very end, there were some last hugs from everybody.  We all kind of took our time in walking downstairs to the dressing rooms to get changed, and taking it all in.  It was great having them there.  I am so glad that it happened that way.  Maurice Benard (Sonny) talked to my parents for 30-45 minutes afterwards.  He is just the sweetest man, and so my parents got to hear, “We’re going to miss him, and we love the guy,” or, whatever he said.  I think it was nice for them to hear that kind of thing, and to just be there.  It’s almost like if you were going to put this into school years – I went from Grade one to Grade ten!  That’s a ridiculous amount of time.  In a way, my parents were at that last day of graduation.

MICHAEL:

Courtesy/ABC

When it was all over did Kimberly say something like, “Well, we did it, kid?”

JASON:

Yeah, she gets it!  It was a tremendous amount of work in two days that she was doing, also.  It was a high-five, and a hug, and “I love you, and I will talk to you this weekend.”  It was the last scene on a Friday afternoon, and Thanksgiving was the following week.  People were ready to go home to their families.  It’s kind of good thing it was like that.  You just keep going.

MICHAEL:

Another important relationship you built over recent years was with Finola Hughes (Anna). What can you say about working with her?

JASON:

Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

One of my favorite things about Finola is the amount of respect I have for her, as well as my wife Paloma, for Finola and her family.  It’s one of those families we look up to in a way.  I am going to miss working with her.  Finola is dedicated.   She’s a pro.  She knows what she is doing, and she is fearless.  Finola is respectful of the genre, and is respectful of the people she works with.  I think when the two of us got together the two of us had common ground.  Working with her was always a process, and so much fun.   It’s not just: you say your lines, and I say my lines, and then let’s do it and go home.  It’s never like that with Finola, and I love that.  I hope one day she trusts me enough to direct me in one of her projects!

MICHAEL:

So when you informed Finola you were heading over to Y&R, what did she have to say?

JASON:

She knew about it beforehand.  I had talked to her about it.  We went back and forth about it, because she has been in the business along time.  Finola knew me well.  She knew I felt good about my decision to join Y&R, and she was happy for me.  She was like: “Good for you.  I think it’s a good move for you right now.  It’s a good time to change it up.  Congratulations!”

MICHAEL:

Now the big question: are you ready for Y&R’s Eric Braeden to call you “Billy Boy” (Victor’s nickname for Billy)?

JASON:

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Yeah, I can’t wait!   I met him, and he is super cool.  Eric’s a very sweet man, and I don’t think you can’t say enough about his work over the years, much like another relationship I will truly miss, but will stay in contact with … Maurice Benard (Sonny).  He was the same thing for me.  Maurice was the guy I looked up to, and his work ethic, and how he feels about acting, and his process.  We would spend hours on the process of acting, and how fun it is.  I am happy to say there are a lot of people who think the same way over at Y&R, too.  I’m looking forward to working with him and Justin Hartley (Adam), who is a fantastic dude.

MICHAEL:

Maurice Benard and you did not get a chance to work together hardly at all during your ten year run on GH, but you did recently.

JASON:

Yes, we had a couple of scenes recently.  We had asked to work together for the last five or six years.  He will tell you the exact same thing.   I think between him and me we knew we could do some good stuff.   What a bonus the last couple months to have some scenes with Maurice!

MICHAEL:

When you look back, what scenes are you leaving your time at GH with that remain special for you, and in the forefront of your mind?

JASON:

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The tie scene was something that has taken a life of its own, which is what you hope for sometimes, and becomes bigger than you planned on, and became more special for people.  I keep going back to years and years ago at Christmastime with the kind of Santa Claus, and it was snowing with Patrick and Robin, but they weren’t together yet.  I always keep going back to that scene, because it was kind of the beginning of them.  You could see the twinkle that was kind of starting between those two characters.  I go back to the HIV storyline with the scare that Patrick had when he nicked himself.  I think working with John J. York (Mac).  I think John is underutilized and should be used more.  I think he is something that GH doesn’t have.  I think the audience feels very, very comfortable seeing him.  He makes people on set warm and fuzzy.  I think he is a fantastic man, and he has paid his dues in a lot of ways.  I feel he has a lot more to give. He is a very feeling guy.  I think when the audience sees he is on screen, they feel that everything is all right if Mac is there.

MICHAEL:

What will you miss most about not being at GH?

JASON:

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First off, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) and I hung out all of the time.  We didn’t get to do a lot of work together, but I’m going to miss the day-to-day of sitting with them and talking s**t!  Actually, more than anything, realistically! (Laughs)  My other top things would be: What is going to happen with this guy, Patrick?  There weren’t a lot of moments, no matter what I was doing, that I didn’t have thoughts of him.   I will miss that part of playing him.  I also am going to miss the ladies in the make-up room … I was notorious for sitting there with Donna and Angela, for like six hours a day.  I remember Angela was like 19-years-old when I started working there.  I remember telling her I couldn’t believe she turned 21, and that she is going to have Tequila for the first time! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

Did you submit for the Daytime Emmy competition this year?

JASON:  Looking back on everything, I wasn’t originally going to submit this year, because it felt weird to submit myself in this moment with what was going on.  I did eventually submit for Lead Actor.  I ended up submitting the scenes for the pre-nominations, and we will see what happens after that.  For the pre-nom round, I went with the scenes where Patrick is mad at Sam, and he ends up throwing the vase against the door, and then the very last scene after Sam leaves, and Emma and Patrick are on the living room floor together, where Emma says she wants to call mommy.

MICHAEL:

We need to talk about the fans that embraced you at GH.  The passion they have shown for you, and your work.  Some are very sad you have left the show, while others understand and are happy that you made the decision if it’s best for you.  What can you say to them and their continued support?

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JASON:  First of all, I want to wish all the fans a Happy New Year, and here’s to new beginnings.  I don’t know if there is a perfect way to express what I feel for them.  I sit here in my house with my dog.  I have a wife, and a career, and to think about the impact that Patrick Drake has had on people I have never met, and will probably never meet, but Patrick means something to them, or the Scrubs relationship means something to them, or it’s giving them an hour out of their day to relax and enjoy – all of that is incredible!  The fans have embraced me to a level that you can’t even articulate.  I am just so grateful, and saying “thank you” just doesn’t really do it.  It was very clear that the only thing I could do to try to give back was to do the best job that I could.  The audience deserved that. Realistically, the fans are the ones that deserve the best that you can possibly give them.  I would hope to say that is what I did on the majority of my days.  Is this a little bit annoying for them right now?  Yes.  Does it not make a whole lot of sense?  Yeah, true.  Now we are trying to do it right for them. The fans have given me a life.  The seed was put there at the time by ABC, and Jill Farren Phelps, but without the fans that stuff doesn’t grow.  I’m in a grateful place.  It’s all been emotionally exhausting, but so spiritually and emotionally fulfilling at the same time.

MICHAEL:

In closing, you mentioned earlier that you think Scrubs fans will be happy with the ending that they will see play out on upcoming episodes of GH.   It seems this was extremely important to you and Kimberly to get right as much as you could, given all of the variables.  Would you agree?

Courtesy/ABC

JASON:

I really hope they are happy.  If they are not, they might have an opinion on what the show could have done different.  I’m sure there are a million opinions that things could have done differently over the years.  But, I think they will be, and I truly hope they are, because it means a lot to Kimberly and I both, because of the amount of support we have gotten over the years.  Obviously, Patrick has had other girlfriends, or close-to-be-wives over the ten years.  However, I think what Kimberly and I were able to build over the years, along with everybody else, needed the support it got from the fans to turn it into what it became.  So, I really hope the ending is something they are going to like, and feel gratification from.  There is no wool being pulled over their eyes … it’s a good thing!