General Hospital
THE TYLER CHRISTOPHER INTERVIEW – GENERAL HOSPITAL
This week, Nikolas has just poured his heart out over Emily’s grave and then gets his first look at the Emily “doppelganger’ hovering in the halls of “GH” while all hell has broken loose in the OR. As the hospital catastrophe reaches epic proportions and people are quarantined from a dangerous biotoxin, Nikolas is smack dab in the middle of all the drama.
Tyler Christopher, everyone’s favorite “Dark Prince”, chatted with me about the return of his on-screen acting partner, Daytime Emmy winner Natalia Livingston, what lies ahead for the duo, the Daytime Emmys, and what it takes to play the noble and complex Cassadine!
Listen to the audio:
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MICHAEL:
On “GH”, there is big story playing out now and well into February. Natalia Livingston (Ex-Emily, now Rebecca) has come back to the show. How has that
been for you, now that she is in a
new role?TYLER:
It has been great. We planted ourselves into the minds of the fans, and they can’t let it go. We are less apt to bring people back from the dead here. So it’s been good.
MICHAEL:
She looks quite different!
TYLER:
She cut her hair and you put some glasses on her, and nobody will know the difference.
MICHAEL:
Are you having fun with this new character?
TYLER:
Where we stand now, and at where we are at shooting-wise, we have not even had dialog yet. So the anticipation of that is exciting, but we have not gotten that yet. But, I have seen her in the hospital crisis more than enough.
MICHAEL:
As this crisis ensues, what’s Nikolas’s role in what happens?
TYLER:
I think his priority in the beginning of this, in addition to helping people that are injured and who need to be evacuated, is finding out who this woman is and what is her intention, and what is she doing here in the midst of all the chaos?
MICHAEL:
Are you moving people and patients to Mercy Hospital because “GH” is now in a shambles?
TYLER:
I don’t know exactly where we are moving them. We are just moving them out. (He laughs) There is an added obstacle that there is a biotxoin that is airborne, so there is that issue on top of everything else.
MICHAEL:
And as we learn that came out of someone’s body?
TYLER:
That’s what they say and tell me! (He laughs)
MICHAEL:
When you heard, or got the scripts, that it was time for another big “GH” umbrella story that always has elements of disaster, what were your thoughts?
TYLER:
If history prevails, either every November or February we all get together as a cast and we all hang out for a very long time. And big things happen. Things catch on fire, and people die. So it was not a surprise to find out that we were doing
another “GH” crisis.MICHAEL:
Did you call the other actors when you found this out, like, “Here we go again!”
TYLER:
No. I think we all accepted our fate. (He laughs) That this was the way it was going to be once a year, even though it’s long hours. It’s fun to hang out, and laugh, and be serious when we need to be. For the most part, the times that we have done these crises, ratings have gone up and people have enjoyed seeing it.
MICHAEL:
And Emmys have occurred…
TYLER:
Emmys have been had!
MICHAEL:
Is Claire Coffee, as Nadine, going to have closure with Nikolas? We know that Claire has stated she is now off-contract from the show. Obviously, the two of them seem to be heading towards just being friends. What are your thoughts?
TYLER:
I think all the evidence points towards that now that Natalia is back. It does not take a genius to figure that one out. I think there is some guilt in the beginning to tear himself away from this girl, and his obvious attraction to her, because of her uncanny resemblance to Emily. But, I don’t think Nadine will go quietly.
MICHAEL:
Did you submit yourself for the Daytime Emmys this year?
TYLER:
I did submit myself for Lead Actor this year. In retrospect, I don’t know what I have this year as opposed to what I had last year, which did not hold up!
MICHAEL:
It’s been a tough year for Nikolas trying to move on and get closure from the devastating loss of Emily. All great Emmy stuff, if you ask me. Do you think he finally got closure before all this is heaped upon him?
TYLER:
I think in as much closure as one can have with losing the love of his life. I don’t think he can move on. It’s been over a year and he was just starting to settle in to being by himself and living without her, and this person shows up and stirs up all those old memories over again.
MICHAEL:
So, back to the crisis. You are running traffic in the hospital and all hell is breaking loose?
TYLER:
Well, Jason is also trapped in there. So he is going to put on his fire helmet and police uniform and FBI badge, and come and probably save most of the day. I am doing my part with the added danger of the huge explosion in the hospital. People may or may not know there are many flammable things that are loose in the hospital, and I’m making sure the place does not explode… plus, Elizabeth is in bad shape. So I am trying to save her. It’s just everybody. It’s just one big happy helping hand!
MICHAEL:
Over the past year you had the brain tumor, losing Emily, trying to move on, and meeting Nadine. What was the hardest part in playing Nikolas over the past year?
TYLER:
The staple of this character, since I have played it the second time around, is his relationship with Emily. The very first month I came back five years ago is where we started this relationship with Emily, and just last year is where it ended. The challenge for me, as an actor is, “What is this guy like without this person in his life?” The audience is so used to having this couple around, and for five years on a soap, is an eternity! That’s the history that we have and in just one day it was gone. For me, it was what new fresh thing can we do for this character to fill that void? In the last year we added some humor to the guy, in that he is not just about manners and things of that nature. So, that was a new venture into the character to lighten him up a bit.
MICHAEL:
I don’t like him that way. I like the “Dark Prince”!
TYLER:
Nobody wants him to be happy. Eternal sadness!
MICHAEL:
I know you have your own theatre company: “68 Cent Crew Theatre”. Will you be performing in any outside plays coming up?
TYLER:
We are doing a John Patrick Shanley festival at our theatre, Theatre 68, this winter and spring. For me, with this thing going on, it’s just too much to take on a play at this time.
MICHAEL:
In closing, what can we look forward to from Nikolas as we head into February?
TYLER:
Look forward to an in-depth exploration into this Rebecca character, and him trying to find out what her intentions are. Are they good or are they bad? Also, we’ll have Nikolas struggling with the fact that she looks exactly like Emily.
It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since Van Hansis made his debut as the recast Lucas Jones on General Hospital. It was back on October 4, 2023 that GH fans got their first look at the former As the World Turns (ex-Luke Snyder) favorite in his new soap role.
Hansis became the fifth actor to play the role of the adoptive son of the late Bobbie Spencer and Tony Jones, and the biological son of the late Julian Jerome and Cheryl Stansbury. Prior to Van, C.J. Thomason (2002–2003), Ben Hogestyn (2005–2006) Ryan Carnes (2004–2005, 2014–2020, 2024) and Matt Trudeau (2020–2021) had played the part.
When Van left daytime after As the World Turns sadly went off the air in 2010, it would be 14 years until he stepped back into the updated frenetic pace and grind of acting on a daily soap opera.
Photo: ABC
LUCAS CAME HOME TO PORT CHARLES
Since Lucas has been back in Port Charles, he fell in love with the late Marco Rios (Adrian Anchondo) who was murdered, moved into a new apartment with his current roommate (soon to be love interest?) Joe Fitzpatrick as played by Jonathan Bennett, has become best buds with the “Britch” Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud), and has found himself involved in multiple other storylines. However, now that Van is firmly implanted on GH, might Lucas get a leading storyline of his own? Stay tuned.
In the meantime, to acknowledge his two-year anniversary at General Hospital, Hansis shared via his Instagram a photo montage and some heartfelt “thank you’s’ and words. “Two years ago yesterday, Lucas Jones came home to Port Charles looking a little different. Looking exactly like me.” began Hansis.
“When I took on the role, I was told it would be a heavy recurring for a few months and then we’d see where it goes – being based in NYC at the time, I thought it would be a fun little gig that would bring me back to my old stomping grounds of daytime for a bit.”
Photo: ABC
GENERAL HOSPITAL HAS BEEN LIFE-CHANGING FOR VAN HANSIS
Next, the longtime New York-based actor confirmed he has now moved to Los Angeles as this new chapter of his life has unfolded, and how grateful he is that the show’s writers and producers have continually given more for Lucas to do.
Van explained, “But then they kept writing for me more and I fell in love with Lucas, and everyone around him (in front of and behind the camera). I wanted to stay a while and am so grateful I have. Being a part of GH these last two years has been life changing. Literally. My family and I are Angelenos now, I’ve made incredible new friendships and have been able to revisit old ones.”
The three-time Daytime Emmy-nominated actor concluded with, “Thank you Frank (Valentini, executive producer, GH), thank you Mark (Teschner, casting director, GH), for inviting me to the party. You throw a great one. ”
So, happy to know Van is sticking around General Hospital for some time to come? What has been your favorite Lucas Jones moment over the first two years of Van’s run? Let us know via the comment section below.
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Breaking News
Robert Kelker-Kelly, ‘General Hospital,’ ‘Days of our Lives’ and ‘Another World’ Star Dies at 62
Robert Kelker-Kelly, who became prominent as a one of the leading men in soap operas back in the late 80s and 90s has died at the age of 62. TMZ first reported the news of Robert’s passing on Saturday, October 3 at his home in St. Peters, Missouri.
According to the St. Peters police report, officers responded to call at around 8:16 pm about an unconscious man who was not breathing, as paramedics and other EMS were en route, Kelker-Kelly had reportedly complained of chest pain shortly before becoming unresponsive and the circumstances appeared consistent with a medical event.
Officers and paramedics administered life-saving measures, but were unsuccessful in reviving Kelker-Kelly. The cause of his death is still unknown and under investigation.
Photo: NBC
Daytime fans first saw Robert back in 1987 when he was cast as Sam Fowler on Another World. He played the role for three year suntil 1990. Two years later, he took over the role of Bo Brady on Days of our Lives replacing Peter Reckell, who at that time decided to leave the show.
As Bo, Kelker-Kelly was major in story playing opposite the likes of: Crystal Chappell as Dr. Carly Manning, Kristian Alfonso as Hope Williams and Lisa Rinna as Billie Reed. When Peter Reckell returned to his signature role in 1995, Kelker-Kelly left the show.
Next, Robert returned to his original stomping grounds at Another World but this time as race car driver, Bobby Reno who was actually Dr. Shane Roberts. His second AW stint lasted from 1996-1998.
Photo: ABC
Eventually, the actor would begin his run as the evil Stavros Cassadine on General Hospital in 2001, then make returns in 2002 and 2003. In 2013, he briefly returned as Stavros as part of the show’s 50th anniversary celebration, and made one last appearance in 2014.
Robert has also became a professional pilot full from 2003 to 2015 and had been married to former Days of our Lives star, Miriam Parrish (ex-Jamie Caldwell) from 1997-2011, but the couple divorced in 2011. Since that time, he has not remarried.
Recently, Robert was back in the news when Lisa Rinna talked about her time working with her former Days of our Lives co-star in her recently released memoir, You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It.
Rinna shared on her then on-screen love interest, “Behind the scenes, we hated each other. Remember when Kathy Hilton said I was the biggest bully in Hollywood? Not true. Not even close! I have legit stories about the real bullies in this town. Robert Kelker-Kelly is one of those bullies.”
The former Billie Reed and reality star even punctuated that with, “He made my life a living hell on the set of DAYS, He was horrible to me, I’d go so far as to say verbally abusive. He was passive-aggressive, manipulative and played weird mind games.”
Michael Fairman TV will provide further updates as they become available on the death of Robert Kelker-Kelly.
Now, share your remembrances and condolences on the loss of Robert Kelker-Kelly via the comment section below and let us know of all his daytime roles, which was your favorite.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Everyone Turns Their Backs on Sonny; Can Anyone Get Chase to Open His Eyes About Willow’s Treachery?
This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, the ABC soap opera picks right back up with everyone turning their backs on Sonny (Maurice Benard), and now the one person he hoped would be by his side appears to be abandoning ship when Justine (Nazneen Contractor) doesn’t believe him about ordering the beatdown of Sidwell (Carlo Rota) in the latest spoilers video.
Sonny screams at Justine, “Someone is setting me up.” She says, “It’s over!” He proclaims, “I didn’t do it!” Little do they know that it was actually Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) who set Sonny up to take the fall for the Pentonville drama that left Curtis (Donnell Turner) with injuries as well.
Then, Lulu (Alexa Havins) is seen using her voice memo app on her phone to record her discussion with Sidwell while he is recovering from his injuries at the hospital. This moment is intercut with Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) saying, “I wish there was someone who could get Chase (Josh Swickard) to open his eyes about who Willow truly is!”
Next, Willow is seen happily waving while at a table at a Metro Court Gardens, while Chase, Michael (Rory Gibson), Brook Lynn and Ava (Maura West) all receive text messages. Tracy (Jane Elliot) punctuates the promo stating, “That’s the real Willow,” while the words “The world knows” comes across the screen.
Take a look at the official GH spoilers for the week of October 5-9 below.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5
Sonny challenges Justine. Josslyn takes matters into her own hands. Britt and Willow discuss matters of the heart. Jason is taken to task. Serena finds herself in a bind.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6
Felicia has welcome news for Anna. Brook Lynn confides in Valentin. Hudson tries to talk Josslyn down. Lulu makes a daring play. Willow and Chase discuss his marriage.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7
Carly asks Anna for a favor. Tracy bites her tongue with Gio. Drew and Alexis go at it. Scout tries to broker peace between Danny and Rocco. Lulu pursues a lead.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
Carly supports Sonny. Lulu’s latest article makes waves. Ava pitches a new target to Drew. Curtis gets a shock. Chase throws down the gauntlet.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
Britt offers a lifeline. Anna offers her expertise. Sonny reassures Gio. Portia makes her loyalties clear. Dante’s investigation hits a roadblock.
Check out the latest General Hospital promo for the action this week entitled, “The World Knows” below.
Now weigh-in: With everyone disbelieving Sonny, what will be his next move? Will he hit rock bottom, or rise up and fight back and prove his innocence? Will Sonny enlist Jason to get to the bottom of this, even though Jason is out of Sonny’s business? Meanwhile, can this truly be the week that Willow is exposed for her multitude of crimes … or is this all a red herring? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.
Van Hansis Marks Two Years as ‘General Hospital’s’ Dr. Lucas Jones
Robert Kelker-Kelly, ‘General Hospital,’ ‘Days of our Lives’ and ‘Another World’ Star Dies at 62
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