General Hospital
Tristan Rogers reflects on Bob Guza's reign as GH head writer & daytime's demise!
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
The talented and outspoken, Tristan Rogers (Colin, Y&R & formerly, Scorpio on GH & GH: Night Shift) posted a thought-provoking and compelling blog post on his website TristanRogers.com. Titled, “The Going of Guza” Tristan takes a look at the tenure of recently fired long-time General Hospital head writer, Bob Guza, and how it impacted the direction of the series. Next, Rogers reflects on how the soap genre was in deep trouble years ago, and how changes were not made soon enough to fix the model of daytime dramas so they could have staying power in today’s times. Here are a few riveting excerpts below!
Tristan on Guza’s time as head writer on GH: “Many things have been said regarding Bob’s writing some of them fair and some of them less so. Let’s have a look at what will probably be regarded as his legacy. We have a “mob influenced storyline” and the fact that he had little respect for women. And then there’s the systematic dismantling of most of General Hospital’s legacy, including that of Luke and Laura, to be replaced by the noble deeds and example set by a bunch of “bargain basement criminals”. I am sure I will get some flack for that statement but the fact remains that whatever thoughts, you the fan harbor in your mind and heart about this relationship the show itself has done everything possible to trash and disassemble it. I don’t think there’s any legacy or standard on GH that has been untouched, in some way, by this wholesale “story slaughter”.
Makes you look back on the eighties and wonder if they ever happened at all. Now the general consensus is that Guza’s to blame for this and no one else. The fact is that Guza was just one of those involved. I mean, come on, does anyone think for one second that Guza could have single-handedly changed the direction of the show without the permission and cooperation of other significant people? As to who the others are I remain “mum”, but think of the endless hours you’ll all have exchanging views on who else could be involved!”
Tristan on the demise of daytime: “I have commented before that the demise of ABC Daytime has been on the table since the eighties. It was never a case of “if” but always “when”. And now it’s happening. What will happen and can it be reversed? IMO not at a Network level. The shows could/might be picked up by someone else and re-engineered. Cost is a major factor to be addressed and so is the overall way the shows are structured and managed. Daytime has been stuck in a time warp since the early eighties and needs to be completely re-invented. It needs to look at how prime soaps have evolved and try to grasp why Reality shows are so strong and learn something from them.”
Make sure to read Tristan’s entire blog post here.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair
On the Thursday, October 1 episode of General Hospital, both Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) had some things to say and what they had to say didn’t go over well with whom they were talking to!
Sonny had a confrontation with his son, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), while Michael leveled with Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) over Chase (Josh Swickard).
GH is setting up a scenario where everyone is going to make it look like Sonny was responsible for having Sidwell (Carlo Rota) beat up in Pentonville; while viewers already know Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) were behind it.
Courtesy/ABC
A VISIT WITH DAD
Now, Dante comes to Sonny’s house. He wants to know straight up from his dad if he ordered the attack at Pentonville. Sonny flatly denies any culpability or responsibility, but Dante refuses to believe him.
Dante informs Sonny he has video footage of Sully and Vito at the prison. Sonny explains to Dante he doesn’t know why Sully beat up both Curtis and Dante. Things escalated when Sonny was deeply hurt that Dante refused to believe him. Dante says he was disappointed that his father didn’t respect him enough to be truthful with him!
Sonny asks Dante to consider that he was being set up. He says all he did was to tell Vito to instruct Sully to keep a watchful eye on Sidwell, not to harm him. No matter what Sonny said, Dante continued hammering him with how he knew deep down, even though he said he left the mob, he had to finish off Sidwell for himself.
Next, Sonny explains everything he has ever done was to provide for and to protect his family. Dante fired back that he doesn’t want to deal anymore with Sonny’s half-baked truths. As the two men argue, Gio (Giovanni Mazza) shows up at Sonny’s front door and overhears Sonny losing his temper and shouting at Dante, “Get out of my house! I don’t want a son like you!” The scenes featured an excellent performance by Maurice Benard.
Courtesy/ABC
MICHAEL THE MANIPULATOR
While this is going down, outside the Quartermaine boathouse, Brook Lynn opens up to Michael about living at the Q’s with Chase being there, since he only came back due to legal advice from his lawyer, Monet Mitchell (Blythe Howard).
Brook Lynn questioned whether they should get legally separate. Michael insisted that would be a big mistake. When she asks why, Michael tells Brook Lynn to bide her time until Chase and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) have an affair; then she’d have full custody of Phoebe.
An angered Brook Lynn pushed Michael into the water and accuses him of moving Willow back into the gatehouse with intent on putting Chase and Willow in closer proximity and sacrificing Brook Lynn’s family in the process. As the two cousins bicker, Chase shows up asking Brook Lynn if she is OK. Michael punctuates their talk with “You know, I’m right.”
CURTIS FIGURES OUT A WAY TO GET OUT OF THE SLAMMER
At GH, Willow visits Curtis (Donnell Turner) in his hospital room. Curtis wants Willow to get him pardoned and keep him out of jail, and in return, he will help her nail Sonny.
Next, Willow tells Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) she wants Curtis held for observation for three more days. He agrees to do so under one condition, that she understands that he may need to call in a favor from a congresswoman.
So, what did you think of how Dante accused his father and refused to believe Sonny’s answers? Is this the end of their father and son relationship for good? Is Michael the most manipulative person of all, except for Willow? Do the two deserve each other? Do you want Chase and Willow to have an affair? And what of Curtis? Does he have many redeeming qualities left? Share your thoughts via the comment section, but first check out the talk Michael had with Brook Lynn.
General Hospital
GH Alum Tajh Bellow and Y&R Alum Loren Lott Star in New Tiktok and Microdrama ‘Love Island’ Spoof
Two soap opera alums very familiar to fans of General Hospital and The Young and the Restless are paired together in a new short-form digital series from none other than Issa Rae’s production entity HOORAE Digital.
Look for Tajh Bellow (ex-TJ Ashford, GH)) and Loren Lott (ex-Ana Hamilton, Y&R) as part of the cast of The Compatibility Experiment, premiering on October 14, 2026, exclusively on TikTok and its companion microdrama platform, PineDrama.
In the video teaser, it appears that Bellow and Lott play a couple, Kelvin and Camila, set in a Love Island reality show-esque environment trying to win the one million dollar cash prize, only what could go wrong?
Photo: HOORAE
The Compatibility Experiment loglines share that it brings a fast-paced, relationship-focused reality check—much like Love Island with a twist. The show takes a participant’s current relationship, introduces them to a potentially more compatible partner, and forces them to navigate the differences with life-changing money on the line.
The new series is part of a groundbreaking content deal between HOORAE Digital and TikTok to develop premium short-form storytelling. The ensemble cast also features; Ayona, Reggie Luck, JaNa Craig, Tosin Morohunfola, Jessica Jacoby, Georgia Warner, and Nick Cassidy.
General Hospital fans know Tajh Bellow for his performances as TJ Ashford, and who earned two Daytime Emmy nominations along the way during his run. Bellow took over the role in 2018 and last appeared on the ABC daytime drama series in December of 2024.
Loren Lott first appeared as Devon’s (Bryton James) sister Ana Hamilton on The Young and the Restless from 2018 to 2019; making a brief return in 2024. She has continued to perform on the stage and screen with recent credits including: Bel-Air, Cherish the Day, and All American: Homecoming.
Check out the trailer for The Compatibility Experiment below and let us know what you think of its concept and if you are glad to see Tajh and Loren again? Hoping they might return to daytime in their GH and Y&R roles at some point in the future? Weigh-in via the comment section.
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General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ava and Drew Revealed to be Behind Framing Sonny for Sidwell’s Prison Beatdown
If you thought that the person responsible for the Pentonville brawl that saw Sidwell (Carlo Rota) and Curtis (Donnell Turner) taken to General Hospital was Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) or even Sidwell himself, you were dead wrong! On the Wednesday, September 30 episode of GH, it turned out that the culprits were actually Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison).
In story, Drew apparently bankrolled the attack on Sidwell and framing Sonny. He told Ava their planned worked (she came up with it!) but was horrified when Drew informed her that Curtis got caught in the crosshairs. Ava is visibly upset because of her longtime friendship with Curtis’ daughter, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali). Drew tried to make Ava see the bright side. Curtis was witness to it and his presence will cast doubt on Sonny’s claims to that he had gotten out of the mob and gone legit.
Later, Vito shows up at Drew’s. They informed him that his guy on the inside of the slammer made a big mistake by hurting their friend and ordered him to leave town.
Courtesy/ABC
BOATHOUSE BRAWL
In other major developments, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) and Rocco (Finn Carr) have a blow out fight as Danny blames his “brother” for the reason Charlotte was sent off to boarding school.
Rocco told off Danny for Charlotte’s (Bluesy Burke) reckless behavior and he explains he had to protect his sister. He went in on Danny saying that his mother Lulu (Alexa Havins) has been right to send Charlotte to boarding school and far away from Danny.
However, Rocco went a bit too far when he shouted, “And if your mom was alive, she would send you away too!” Next, Danny punched out Rocco, leading to a terrible brawl. An angered Danny yells at Rocco to, “Stay away from me and everyone in my family. And don’t you ever mention my mom again!” Danny storms off.
Courtesy/ABC
Now alone outside the boathouse, Rocco flashes back to his first kiss with Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarksi), hoping that his fight with Danny will not escalate and ruin their budding romance. Meanwhile, a bloodied-mouth Danny heads over to Sonny’s and Jason (Steve Burton) is there at the same time. He then admits that he has a bad fight with Rocco and they are both beaten up.
WILL SCOUT WISE UP?
At the end of the episode, Scout, who had a fight with Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) over Drew, and who keeps telling everyone how good a man her dad truly is, comes upon a suspicious scene.
Scout hides behind the wall outside Drew’s. She sees her dad, Ava and Vito talking. Next, Scout seems to overhear Vito assuring Drew and Ava that their business dealings are done, and he’ll be leaving Port Charles for good.
So, what did you think of the reveal that Ava and Drew were behind framing Sonny for the prison beatdown of Sidwell (and Curtis)? Do you think Danny and Rocco’s relationship can be repaired, or do you think the teenagers will continue to be at each other’s throats? Finally, do you hope Scout gets a clue and stops thinking her dad walks on air? Weigh-in via the comment section, but first check out how Ava and Drew conspired below.
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Tristan has always had his finger on the pulse of daytime, and his comments are spot-on. He can call it as he sees it because he was there for what I call the honeymoon period of soaps. The perfect storm of writing, acting, and producing was in effect and the viewers were the happy recipients of great television. How sad for Tristan, and for us, to have to watch it disappear.
The main reasons I watch the show is Sonny, Carly, Jason, Sam, Alexis and her girls, Maxie, Matt, Robin and Patrick. It is the only soap that I watch the same day I record it. GH has the good mob guys (Sonny, Jason) and the bad mob guys (Johnny and Anthony). According to the good mob guys they don’t deal in drugs, pornography or prostitution. (OK, a little poetic license here) 😉
My leas favorite storyline was the Laura and Luke “rape me, I’ll marry you” …..I stopped watching when pitiful Laura was enamored of her rapist….what a sad message to send to to young girls and women.
Just recently, Luke – driving drunk – killed Liz’s and Jason’s son, raised by Luke’s son, Lucky. Again, GH writers are sending the wrong message…Luke should have been charged with vehicular homicide and driving under the influence…GH decided to send him to rehab instead of having him serve prison time for a year or two and then do community service. Geary likes long vacations.
One of Mr. Guza’s biggest blunders was bringing Brenda back…there is no chemistry between Sonny and Brenda. If another male PC resident would have proclaimed his love for Brenda or she would have giggled once more; I would have shot my TV set. That entire storyline was a snoozefest.
I loved the “spy” era….same as the “mob” with badges….
The Sonny, Jason and Carly show is what has helped destroy GH. Check the viewer ratings if you don’t believe me. Please explain to me what kind of msg is being sent to young girls and women when a Mob Boss, Hitman and the town TRAMP are the main focus of a soap opera where the criminals and a mean, vindictive, ruthless whore are ALL glorified?
The story of Luke and Laura is what made GH number 1 in the 80’s. They have been titled the number 1 super couple of ALL time in daytime. The genius of the writers in those days took a rape story and turned into the most popular love story in the history of daytime. Tony Geary and Genie Francis are daytime royality.
Lastly, bringing Brenda back was the smartest thing GH has done in years simply because of the tremendous fanbase Brenda has and Sonny and Brenda have as a couple. The week of their wedding proved through the ratings how many fans came back to GH for this event. Where TPTB messed up was in the writing for this phenomenal super couple.
Thank you!!!! I couldn’t have said it better myself! Brenda and Sonny’s story has been so full of turmoil there hasn’t been time for the hot romance they are known for. Heck we’ve maybe gotten 4 kisses and they’ve been married for almost 4 months!
Yes! You get it! Bringing back Brenda was the best decision tptb made in years, but the writing for this super couple wasnt there. I think out of the entire year, there were maybe 3-4 scenes that got it right. A total let down.
Sonny and Jason were “good mob”? Are you high? There is no such thing as good mob. They are organized crime. They are mobs. They are thugs. They kill for business. This is what went wrong with this damn soap opera.
Right on Tristan !!!!! At least we get to see you and Genie back on a show that hasn’t turned into a Mob Show!!
I agree with Tristan totally. I don’t accept the notion that Sonny and Jason are “good people” as was mentioned in an earlier comment. GH makes them out to be that way in the storyline……..but everyone is familiar with what actually takes place in the mob, right? How do you think Sonny makes his money……..poker? The truth is the show is too mob-centered and it will become more so without the non-violent characters of Nikolas (Tyler) and Jax (Ingo), who have now both been fired.
Agree 100% with Tristen. the mob was sexy and augmented story when it was a *part* of the show under Claire Labine in the early 90’s. But Guza’s misogynistic rendering of so-called story with a mob obsession spat in the faces of history and characters.
One commenter said bringing Brenda back was a mistake. WRONG. She was the only character I came back to GH to watch — and that because of her history with the show and interaction across the canvass. Vanessa is a fine actress. Maurice was too until he got bored with Guza’s writing and indifferent in his acting. THAT was the reason for the change in Sonny & Brenda’s chemistry. Maurice Benard got back in gear at the phenomenal S&B wedding, however. Brenda’s return was the perfect example of how much Guza could mess up a cash cow. Brenda always, always brought ratings to GH. Even when Guza messed her 1st return in 2002-03 she brought back ratings, but this time in 2010-11 it was just too much. Guza had thoroughly massacred so many characters.
GH will die and soon. Garin Wolf is better because anyone is better than Guza, but he’s not Claire Labine or other great soap writers. He’s on board to end the soap and the genre altogether will soon be a thing of the past.
Kudos, Tristen, for speaking the truth!
I agree 100% Gh fan 35 years. Late 90’s and especially 2000’s was exciting. The viewers were expanded to the males and younger adults. I love soaps, I have to work during the day so most are recordings, soap net or other means. I really think the viewer ratings are off. I nor my family , friends actually stopped watching. I would not ever want to see a time when soaps don’t air. Reality tv sucks and is the reason I don’t watch prime time tv anymore. Guza did destroy all super couples including Jasam. He could not come back from that mistake as far as I am concerned. Mob / action is key and it’s what separates GH from other soaps. Don’t bore me to death. GH is boring right now .
Gh always- reney
Luke and Laura and all the past storylines were good in its time. The show has to continue and move on. They could not possibly be as popular now, just like Brenda triangle. It ran its coarse, time to move on. GH once had variety of storylines, doesn’t anymore. GH also let too many characters go. Missing Jason, Lucky, Jax and the mob. Glad to see Nick back. The mob didn’t have to take over entirely. The mob and bad guys have always been part of GH. All I see now is long drawn out , boring storylines from actors I can care less about and oldies.