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TODAY: John Reilly Tribute Episode Airs on General Hospital

Courtesy/ABC

Friday on General Hospital, it’s time for all of us to say goodbye to the beloved John Reilly and pay tribute to him and the character he portrayed for many years, Sean Donely.

In story, a mystery is woven into the episode, and the story, as Robert (Tristan Rogers), Anna (Finola Hughes), Robin (Kimberly McCullough), Mac (John J. York) and Felicia (Kristina Wagner) as well as Reilly’s real life daughter, Caitlin Reilly, appear.

John Reilly died at the age of 86 back in January of this year and since that time the ABC daytime drama series has promised this installment of the iconic soap opera to honor him, but in very “Sean Donely” style given the character’s history with the WSB and espionage.

The veteran actor appeared on GH in the show’s hey day of the 80’s debuting in 1984 and staying on till 1995 and then making two more appearances in 2008 and 2013.

Watch the promo for today’s GH below.

Now let us know in the comment section if you are looking forward to seeing it.

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I thoroughly enjoyed the episode and seeing so many great GH vets. Loved the setting, the eerie hallways, and watching Anna and Felicia have some quality screen time together. The only downer was having Peter Puke scenes interspersed, though Bobbi’s arrival rescued us. A great reminder of GH’s halcyon days.

Only real complaint I have about the episode is the fact that Whiny Heiny was involved at all, even if only for a scene or two.

Aside from that, it was very well done, and focused on classic GH characters who actually knew Sean. Didn’t expect to see Tiffany on screen, given her health issues, but it was great that they managed to bring her voice in by telephone. Wouldn’t have been right to not include her in some way.

Minor complaints about the people who were NOT there, but should have been. Frisco Jones & Lucky Spencer come to mind. Lucky supposedly lives in Ireland, so he definitely should have shown up for this.

Lucky was not close to Sean, neither was Laura actually but I’m sure she was there in support of Tiffany. Sean and Tiffany left town about a year and a half after Lucky arrived with his parents. Frisco was friends with Sean but given the fact he didn’t show up for his own brother’s (Tony) and daughter ‘s funerals (Georgie), why show up for Sean’s? He’s being consistent.

It was VERY well done. Congrats, GH.

Dennis M… At first I was worried how GH would handle this. I didn’t want anymore sad goodbyes. So like you I enjoyed it as well. And Frisco is always missing in action. Wouldn’t mind seeing Annie /Caitlin make an entrance into Port Charles. Be definitely not as Lulu.

John Reilly was fantastic as Sean and I remember him a bit with Tiffany and I’m sorry to hear of his passing. And, I’m sorry but I was heavily disappointed in this tribute, the only thing I truly enjoyed the most was the various flashbacks especially at the end with Sean & Tiffany’s wedding! That was a hoot and a holler.

The story where most of GH’s veterans hop-skip and jump to County Kerry, Ireland from New York in less than a day… really? (well, it is a 7+hour flight)… But, wouldn’t it have made more sense for the memorial to take place in Port Charles where stories with Sean, Anna, Felicia, Frisco, etc, etc. took place? The daughter Annie, could’ve flown out to lay Sean’s ashes somewhere important in Port Charles. Don’t get me started on the foolish writing just to test Annie – who became a WSB agent in the “test” of vanishing characters. Silliness! I expected more from GH.

However, I will say, that all I could think about besides the passing of John Reilly… was… why didn’t GH casting cast Caitlin Reilly (Annie), as the new-LULU! I kept watching her and thought she’d be perfect for a LULU recast. In my opinion, I think GH missed it big-time with the tribute. And, there were scenes with Peter (in Port Charles with Maxie – so gross). I look forward to read what others felt about this so-called “tribute”.

Excellent show! GH always does these tribute episodes well. It was wonderful to see all the vets together, so much of GH’s rich history on the screen at the same time. And I got a kick out of the story they told. It was a nice tip of the cap to the old days of GH, and the type of stories that Sean was involved in for so many years.

I’m glad Kristina Wagner decided to return. Felicia was conspicuous by her absence for Maxie’s wedding. She looked great. Loved her scenes with Finola. So much history there. It also says how much John Reilly meant to her that Kimberly McCullough would return given that she retired from acting.

I didn’t think they would be able to include Sharon Wyatt because of her health issues, but they found a way. If anyone should have been involved in a Sean Donely/John Reilly tribute episode it was her. It would have been a nice touch if they could have gotten Tony Geary to make an appearance, given how much history Luke and Sean shared together. But you can’t have everything.

Overall, I thought it was very well done tribute.

I absolutely had no idea who those people were (outside of the regulars)
I had no idea as to what it was about-
It made no sense to me, none at all.

SuOOO
Same for me, but glad the others enjoyed it so much.I had seen J.R on other soaps but wasn’t watching GH at that time. Someone suggested his daughter for a Lulu replacement but I think they are poised for a Dante and Sam pair-up.

Oh, I forgot that Lulu and Dante are no longer married, so it wouldn’t make a difference.

Thank you for that utterly useless contribution to
the conversation.

Hi Harry 🙂
You’re welcome-
And thank you for joining in with your useless contribution to the conversation.
Your opinion is always welcomed 🙂

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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