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General Hospital

Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo on why she is returning to GH now!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Soap fans are just a few weeks away from seeing one of their all-time most popular characters return, when Brenda Barrett steps back into Port Charles, and Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo returns to General Hospital.  In a new interview out today with TV Guide Magazine’s, Michael Logan, Vanessa clues fans in as to why the time was right for her return.

In addition in one excerpt below, Logan points out that Marcil Giovinazzo’s return had been in talks for years and promises of her return always seemed imminent but never materialized, such that, it could have appeared as if the actress was yanking the shows and the public’s chain.

Marcil Giovinazzo set the record straight by saying ; “We came close to a deal a few times before this. Very close. It was always a matter of when, not if — and I said that in every conversation I had with Bob Guza. But, for me, there could never be a return where Brenda wasn’t incredibly involved with the characters who are basically her family. She doesn’t have any blood family. She has no parents. I’d tell Bob, “You know my list — Sonny, Jason, Robin, Jax. These are the characters I want to work with every day. If you can promise me that’s going to happen, we can work this out.” He called me one time and said, “Listen, James Franco’s coming on the show and we’d love for you to walk in with him.” But I didn’t want to do that. He’s a great movie star and an incredible actor and it’s an honor to have him on GH. But what does he have to do with Brenda? It was important that Brenda’s return be about her people, her family.”

Marcil Giovinazzo on why also the time was right to return; “Because it feels so right. A lot’s been going on. We found out that my older sister, Sherry, has breast cancer. We’ve bought a farm in upstate New York and she and I went up there to spend a week together before she had to start her chemo, and it got me thinking about how grateful I am to GH for giving me pretty much everything I have. [Head writer] Bob Guza and I got back in touch again during that time. I told him I wanted to settle down for a while so that I could be available to my sister and my family, and that maybe during that time I could come in and out at GH for a couple of days a week. I called [ABC Daytime chief] Brian Frons and asked him if he would have me back, and he was gracious enough to say yes. I just couldn’t feel any more grateful that I’m still allowed to visit such a great place. I love that Julianne Moore went back to As the World Turns to honor where she came from. It’s important to do that. I left GH for a few different reasons, but it was never because I wasn’t madly in love with the show and the character and with daytime.”

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One small correction: Brenda does have “blood family”. She has a sister, Julia. Otherwise, YAY! I’m glad to have her back.

I believe they were referring to Brenda not having any blood family in PC, Julia came back only becuase Jax sought her out and she was only on the show for a couple months…Brenda is pretty much byherslef in PC, a lot like how Sam McCall was before finding out that Alexis was her biological mother who gave her up for adoption, now Sam has two sisters, a Mom, and a Greek Prince as a cousin…who woulda thunk…LOL…anyways, have to say that I am ubber excited to see Brenda Barrett return to our beloved GH, I am a Bren/Sonny fan all the way and can’t wait to see these two heat up my screen again…Jax better not ruin them, he should stay with Carly, he already broke my Bren’s heart and he should not be forgiven for the terrible way he treated when she left in 2003, thanks GH for bringing VM back, she is absolutly amazing…can we please have Bren/Sam become besties, Sam needs a friend!

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Brennan is Found Dead in the Water as Suspects Mount and Cover-Ups Begin

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The Tuesday, September 1 episode of General Hospital confirmed that the body floating in the Metro Court pool was indeed WSB Port Charles bureau chief, Jack Brennan, thus ending the run of Chris McKenna, who debuted on GH back in February of 2025.

In story, Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) screamed and Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) had a major freak out, when they were the ones to find Brennan’s body lifeless in the pool. Being in fear that Drew (Cameron Mathison) would use this against him, Danny told Charlotte they need to flee the scene.

Elsewhere in Jack’s hotel room, a panic-stricken Ava (Maura West) was trying to convince Drew to get out of Brennan’s room asap since she thinks the sleeping pill she spiked his drink with only made him head back to his room. Eventually, Ava was able to convince Drew to leave, and the two headed to the pool deck and were in for the shock of their lives when they saw Jack’s body floating face up in the pool!

Courtesy/ABC

THIS DOESN’T FLOAT AVA AND DREW’S BOAT

Ava went into cover-up mode in fear Jack’s death would be traced back to her since Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) saw her with Brennan at the Gardens. Next, Ava threatens to take down Drew with her if she goes down for a crime he put her up to in the first place.

Then, the pair decide to move Brennan’s body out of the pool and place him in a laundry cart. They are going to use the service elevator to bring the body down to the garage and dump Brennan somewhere.

At the Quartermaine boathouse, Charlotte and Danny arrive and Danny realizes he put a dent into Chase’s (Josh Swickard) truck that he “borrowed” without Chase’s permission. Suddenly, Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarski) and Rocco (Finn Carr) were on the scene and four got into heated words when Danny insulted Drew which brought Scout to tears that she doesn’t want to have to choose sides between her brother and her father.

SECURITY BREACH

After Rocco and Scout left, Charlotte had a new freak out when she realized the bracelet she had on is missing. Cut to: Jack’s wrist and sleeve in the laundry cart with Charlotte’s bracelet around it.

Jason (Steve Burton) helped Carly (Laura Wright) with figuring out how the hotel’s security system was disabled and the alarm was deactivated. Suspecting foul play to a VIP guest, Carly and Jason go up to to Jack’s room. However, once they were inside, Brennan was nowhere to be found. Just then, Jason looked around and realized someone was in the room doing a search.

So, it looks like plenty of people will need to cover their actions including: Danny, Charlotte, Ava and Drew. But if none of them caused the direct death of Brennan, who did? Chief among the suspects would have to be Willow Cain, then we had Nina leveling a threat against Jack overheard by Carly and others, or are they only red-herrings and the real killer is someone you wouldn’t expect? Also, what will Jack’s autopsy report reveal? Stay tuned, and share your theories via the comment section.

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General Hospital

Chris McKenna Speaks Out on His Exit from ‘General Hospital’ and Thanks Fans for ‘The Support You’ve Shown Me and Jack’

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Chris McKenna

On the Tuesday, September 1 episode of General Hospital, the body shown floating in the Metro Court pool was identified as Jack Brennan, ending the run of daytime veteran, Chris McKenna, in the role of the WSB Port Charles bureau chief.

McKenna began his time on the ABC soap opera back in February 2025, after replacing Charles Mesure who decided to leave the show. As it turned out, McKenna actually wrapped almost three months ago in June and has been keeping mum, even though reports surfaced that he was exiting the show come fall and Brennan would be killed-off.

Now as a murder mystery begins, McKenna took to his X account on Tuesday, and shared these heartfelt words and clarification, starting with, “Hey, everyone. Just want to say how moved I’ve been by the support you’ve shown me and Jack. As you now know, I left the show months ago, wrapped in June. I’ll say more once my exit interview runs. Until then, from the bottom of my heart- Thank You.”

Courtesy/ABC

THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER

Then, in said “exit interview” with TV Insider, Chris confirmed,  I did my last episode in June, so I’ve had a few months to adjust.” He also added how bittersweet it was when he found out it was the end of the line for Jack.

“It’s disappointing how it’s ending right now, but this was a gift,” expressed McKenna. “Between my son being born and having this place to go to work for the past couple of years, this has been just a fantastic time, and it’s been so much fun. I got to be introduced to an entire new legion of soap fans who weren’t familiar with me, got back into the daytime world and did some powerful work I’m really proud of, so it’s been a great experience. I have no complaints.”

Previously, Chris played a young Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live where he got his first big break from 1990-1993. Decades later, he took on the role of Mark Harding on The Young and the Restless from 2014-2015.

Photo: CMcKennaIG

CHRIS MCKENNA AND PAIGE HERSCHELL LEARNED THE SAME DAY THEY WERE BEING WRITTEN OFF

While Chris did not get a major exit scene with lots of emotion or dialog, he still appreciated a departure by water! “I would have loved to have had a big, heroic martyrdom or a big grand speech. Unfortunately, I just played my dead body floating in a pool for two days,” joked Chris.

As it turned out, Chris wasn’t alone in finding out he was being pink-slipped from the soap. He learned the news the same day as Paige Herschell found out they were writing Jacinda out as well.

McKenna had one hope for the story in the months to come adding, “Though it’s not the end I woulda chosen for Jack, I hope this generates months of riveting television around ‘Who killed Brennan?’ And I hope that Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) killed him. It’s time she graduates to full-on murder.”

So, what do you think of the events that transpired of when and how Chris McKenna learned he was exiting General Hospital as Brennan? Who do you think murdered Jack?  Are you sad to know that today marked his final episode (unless there may be flashbacks?) of Chris’s GH run? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

Genie Francis Exits ‘General Hospital’ For Her Annual Summer Hiatus

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Genie Francis

Monday’s, August 31 episode of General Hospital brought with it the the final appearance, for now, of the iconic Genie Francis as Mayor Laura Collins.

In story, it has been revealed that Laura is taking a leave of absence from her mayorship to go abroad and visit her husband, Kevin (Jon Lindstrom), and her grandson Ace in Ireland.

The timing of the story-dictated moved had to do with Genie’s annual summer hiatus from the long-running ABC soap opera. As per usual, GH fans can look forward to Laura’s return on-screen to come with an impact later this fall.

Courtesy/ABC

General Hospital fans have loved the legendary star since her debut back in 1977, when Francis was in her teens, and was later paired with the late Anthony Geary as soap opera super couple Luke and Laura.

Back in 2007, Genie won her first and only Daytime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series category. She has been nominated four times as a solo performer in either the Lead (1997, 2021) or Supporting Actress categories (2007, 2012). In addition, in 2002, Genie along with Tony Geary were nominated for America’s Favorite Couple.

LEAVING PORT CHARLES

Before Laura left town, she had a meeting with her friend Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and his arch enemy, Drew Cain (Cameron Marthison) while at the Metro Court Hotel. It was there, Laura announced to the rivals that she was leaving town soon and wanted them to call a ceasefire while she was gone.

Laura asked Drew to first bow out of the Pier 55 auction so Sonny could regain his property. However, that didn’t go over so well with Drew, who said nothing Sonny does is ever legitimate. However, Sonny informed Drew that he was also a legit businessman (and seemingly out of the mob).

So, will you miss Genie during her summer break? What do you hope Laura’s story will be when she returns? Do you think the series will pair Laura with Ezra Boyle (Daniel Cosgrove) or keep the Laura and Kevin relationship going long distance, since Jon Lindstrom is primarily a cast member on CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates? Let us know via the comment section below.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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