General Hospital
WATCH: GH's Finola Hughes Go Behind The Scenes And Learn About Polycythemia Vera Blood Cancer
Courtesy/ABC
Viewers of ABC General Hospital recently learned that super spy/super agent/super person, Anna Devane may be facing her biggest enemy yet, when she was diagnosed polycythemia vera (PV), a rare blood cancer.
Daytime Emmy winner, Finola Hughes (Anna) is taking on the challenges of incorporating how Anna’s new health condition will impact her life, her future and her career.
Hughes has partnered with Incycte and Voice of MPN to raise awareness and understanding of both PV and myeloproliferative neoplasms. Doing her research ahead of her character’s life changer, finola met with Linda, a woman living with polycythemia vera to better understand the disease.
Now go behind the scenes as Finola preps for her role as someone living with PV after the jump. Then let us know what you think of GH shedding light on this medical issue in the comment section below!
Finola Hughes is one is my main reason for staying with GH thru thick and thin !
She is always a wonder to watch.
100% agree with you! She’s magnificent!
I second this!
I so enjoy Finola Hughes as Anna…I agree, she is a magnificent actress…
Soaps and their in house diagnosis is upsetting and creating Hypochondriac’s! aha!
Hypercondriac is a condition that affects the mind where a person thinks they are ill yet in real sense they are not. ((0oh oh I think I have that, I’m tired and terrible headache too!))
Medical anything does Not belong in soaps..
It is not helpful and written for soap drama.
Anna has become a basket case in many directions and has become FF, for me.
And, that is a shame I use to see her as a strong confident woman, no longer do I 🙁
Valentin has near destroyed her and he hasn’t done anything to her LOL .. crazy stuff..
“Medical anything does not belong in soaps.”
You do realize the show is called General Hospital, right?
Maybe the mob can blowup GH, LOL!
He seems to need to be reminded of that!
I could see Anna having migraines when her repressed memories became part of the Valantin back story. But this new illness? I don’t mean to trivialize it, but I had never heard of it compared to Jess’s heart attack and the “educational” info that went with it. Also, usually am not a fan of Kimberly/Robin dropping in and out of Port Charles. But have to admit in this case she is at the right place at the right time, even though I wish it wasn’t for this particular reason.
Am frustrated by Sam, who I mostly happen to like. For someone who was lucky to have Danny, she should be way more careful about her sleuthing activities this close to due date of her and Jason’s. baby.
A couples things in response to Rose’s post: Headaches are a symptom of polycythemia vera. The writer’s weren’t switching illinesses; they were leading up to it. I think it’s great when soaps try to educate the public about illness, addiction (as we are now seeing with Finn). AMC and other soaps did this. As someone else pointed out, the root of GH is GH, so hitting on health issues makes alot of sense to me. Helps get the focus back to a part of reality that doesn’t include gunfire.
Soaps are fiction and are about drama. Many soap plots are about risk and unexpected dangers. Sam is Julian’s and Alexis’ daughter, her sleuthing here isn’t about P.I. business income, it’s very personal.
Another post referred to Anna as a “basket case”. Try a little empathy in understanding a character’s experience: Anna was told she ordered a hit on Valentin. She has no memory of it whatsoever. If that were you, wouldn’t you be trying to get to the bottom of it? I can easily understand that it would be mind-boggling and shocking. It’s not something a normal person can just walk away from…
Hi Max…I sorry my comment presented a problem for you. It was not my intention to minimize any illness. But I guess when any soap does a psa/informative health story I’m used to something more “common,” for want of a better word, or topical…like Jess’s heart attack on Y&R,,or even Morgan/Sonny’s bi-polar. I had never heard of Anna’s Illness before. And while GH is at the hub of health issues, sometimes lately I wish they could focus more on other Port Charles stories.
As for Anna wanting to find out what’s been “haunting” her, of course I don’t blame her for taking all steps necessary. That’s why she has been going through the hypnosis/regression with the psychiatrist. Just wish they hadn’t turned it into a life threatening illness.
And “yes” Sam’s sleuthing is personal, but it can wait. She isn’t showing common sense right now because she is so close to her due date, and had problems birthing Danny. Frustrating to watch. And I really dislike when any soap has to include the life of a child as part of the “drama.”
u can be physically strong, intellectually sound, and emotionally vulnerable all at once. Anna has never just been a one note character
This must be the most tone deaf post that I’ve ever seen on this site…your ignorance is really quite astonishing.
Finola Hughes is brilliant. Bravo to her and GH for using the show as a platform for educating the public about this terrible disease. I think the show should do more of this very thing. 2 thumbs up, General Hospital!
dear JasonLovesGH.
Not one word was said about the great Finola Hughes ..
It was about the character Anna ..
you continue to make no sense, what are you on? hey i know you love Ron Carlivati work,so i take it you will soon be watching dool, or probably already do, so can you get to it,and finally say goodbye to watching GH, since you seem to hate everything about it so much..
Was I the only one in utter hysterics when Robin babbled on and on the police man who was guarding Anna? Don’t get my wrong, I adore Robin, but she used very scientific medically terminology which only another doctor would understand. She sounded like one of those voice overs on those commercials warning viewers of the side effects of a certain medication. That poor cop looked like he wanted to hail a cab.
Yes, Addy…it was beyond amusing and annoying. It was the same when they mentioned Shriner’s Hospital for Children every other sentence. “Excuse me, I need to use the ladies room and Shriner’s Hospital for Children is where children…”
Of course both are worthy of mention and commendable that they’re being incorporated into a story. But!!! Be subtle…get the word out…without breaking the fourth, fifth and hundreth wall!
Good-looking cop, though!
su0000 – this is called General Hospital. You do know that a hospital is where they discuss medical conditions.
In my experience. though, info about patients is confidential except to attending doctors, nurses and family only…not the beat cop, and certainly in not such detail.
Su…you don’t seem to want emotions on a soap…only adventure. Soaps are supposed to portray life…the human condition in all its twists and turns. Soaps are DRAMA. Yes, at times quirky, funny, mostly-over-the-top..but the common denominator is that they’re about PEOPLE. And people are multi-dimensional. And people…even the strongest…fall. Illness, loss, death, anxiety, depression, addiction…all human…all make up the fabric of our stories…both in fiction and reality.
Anna Devane is the same as she ever was. She’s beautiful, tough, smart, sharp, a fighter. And, now, she gets to use all those attributes in her fight against her disease. This doesn’t lessen the character…only adds another dimension as it did when Robin…also brilliant, strong, driven…was diagnosed with HIV. Or, when Alexis has lung cancer. (which in reality not many survive.) Point is, these characters continue on and forge ahead.
I don’t know where you got the idea that soaps were humorous, action-packed thrillers. They never were. Those aspects were part of the bigger story, not THE story.
Even the mighty fall…Anna will rise again.
A day with Anna Laura and Tracy on our screens is a day in heaven!
hi rebecca1 ,,
soaps have always had emotional stories, I’m more than fine with it.
However I am not fine with how Lame and Sucky the emotional side has become. There really needs to be a lot of improvement, the writing has become weak and lazy and at times disconnected.
I do like the adventure side, the suspense and intruge of soaps are noted as a cornerstone, the on the edge spellbinders that writers can no longer produce as once they were capable of doing.
However I am not fine with how overly lackluster dull the writing has become..
I do like humor is a soap. It is a great balance to level the doom & gloom, it is needed. (not one laugh or chuckle since J&S)
I am a firm believer that medical whatever’s as a PSA do not belong in poorly written stories, not good, nope ..
I’m with you– Anna will rise again (hopefully J&S can accomplish bringing Anna back, I miss her)
Hi Su…thanks for your response. I understand what you’re saying. To be honest, I don’t like watching shows (or films) on ANY disease because it just effects me too much. I need escape…not to be brought down.
With that said, as long as the story doesn’t depress me…as long as I know the character I care for is going to “win” in the end it’s not as much a negative. And I DO expect Anna to come through this…or find out someone’s messing with her and it just appears that she has the condition. (though not sure that would sit well from a moral standpoint…) or…she’ll just go about her life normally at some point and we’ll forget she has it…like we do with Maxie, Alexis, Robin…all who have conditions but it falls to the background. Plus, I do think this story provides an opportunity to open up a lot more stories. I don’t think it’s just about Anna’s new condition.
I disagree with you though. (what a surprise! 🙂 ) I actually think the writing has been good, the stories have been holding my interest and I like that they’ve been incorporating more vets. And I say this in a “as far as daytime soaps” go. I also think there HAS been some humor…Ned, Olivia Falconeri, Franco, Tracy, Scott…even Ava.
I only recently started watching B&B. I find that show to be funny! I know longtime viewers of that show seem a bit fed up with it but I enjoy it. I like the characters…and I think it’s entertaining.
Now…where’s Poldark, Outlanders, How To Get Away With Murder, Scandal, Ray Donovan, The Affair, The Young Pope, etc. etc. There is some great programming out there…
Rebecca1..
You have a good list. I watch those. also;
”Outlanders, How To Get Away With Murder, Scandal, Ray Donovan, The Affair, The Young Pope, etc. etc. There is some great programming out there…”
—
I’ll add–
24 Legacy, Suits, the Blacklist, Designated Survivor, Empire, Big Bang, This is Us, Gotham, Lucifer, Mr Robot, Game of Thrones, Westworld, and of course The Walking Dead ….
and now The Good Fight.. I miss Seinfeld ..
)ooh Netflix- Orange/Black, Narcos, Marco Polo..
And as all our above is what people of all ages watch. The Primetime Series.
And that is why imo the soaps need to step up their game they’re stuck in the 80’s .
Rebecca and Su…mostly like your tv list. I would also add The Catch…clever and good cast. Love Lucifer.
Beginning to think Big Bang has had it’s funnier days. Did see one today I had not seen before with Sheldon’s MeMaw (sp?) making an appearance.
Have liked Blacklist, but like a lot of series (including Arrow), after a few years, they seem to start to lose their mojo. Hope Suits isn’t going this way. And I usually don’t like series extentions like what they are now promoting for Tom/ Blaclklist.
Also am an NCIS fan, mostly when Ziva was on.
And almost anything PBS/Mystery/Masterpiece….currently, The Paradise. Liked Mr. Selfrige…my son was just in London and Berlin on business. He went into Selfridges (with pictures) and said it was elegant and amazing.
Looking forward to new season of Better Call Saul.
Suoo, I thought your favorite shows were reruns of Murder She Wrote, Golden Girls and Matlock.
Addison…you are going to love this. A great fan of the a Golden Girls has opened a restaurant in their name fill with their memorabilia, menus reflecting what the ate, and TV’s playing reruns. Definitely for a special fan, but sounds like fun.
hey Rose ,,
CC and I are luvin Lucifer Morningstar, too !! (I want that umm man lol)
Anyways;
Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart ) would have been a great soap Mr. Morningstar!!!
WHOA I have loved that!!
and- Addison and Rose.. I watch the Golden Girls on the MeTV channel, really I like them! and- All In The Family, too ..
The reason for Robins running of the mouth to the officer was o Olivia Jerome could here it! Jelly writing at its worst
Hey Rose, Su, Addy…
I love all those shows…LOL…Golden Girls is actually quite funny, too!
I’d add The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Younger and The Flash to the list. All fantastic.
Ah from y&r we get it you think pencil thin is cool! NOT
As a side note, I think “GH” has been really good for the past two weeks. About time!
Kevin, I wish I could agree. What they’re doing right is tending to Alexis’s alcoholism and Anna’s health issues. For me, these two are the reigning stars of GH–GH’s MVPs for sure. I would put Genie Francis as laura in there except she is not given enough scenes. Genie is an underused resource. I also love the erupting bromance which seems to be transpiring between Jason and Curtis. More please! These two have a great comical chemistry. I also think the characterization of Valentin has been skillfully developed and well written.
Okay, that said, here is what is not working for me: 1. The redundancy of Sonny and Carly. I understand that these two will be renewing their vows and Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care. Sonny and Carly are fast forward material but the EP and head writers do not seem to understand this. 2. Speaking of redundancy, can they please find a decent story line for Michael Eastman which does not involve him writhing around on the floor with a needle in his hand as Roxy the bearded lizard sadly looks on? I cannot believe that I am fast forwarding through this man’s scenes. Hayden is not helping matters either. Frankly, I like Roxy better. 3. Lizzy and Franco finally get together and then they disappear from the canvas. The writers do not seem to know what to do with these two which doesn’t involve Franco trying to redeem himself. 4. Why is Sam so stupid? Why would she get into a car with a strange woman? She told her mother that her AA sponsor made her nervous and so we are to believe this private investigator ignored her instincts and hopped into the car with this odd woman? I realize Sam lying in the ravine next to bridge was supposed to be a cliff hanger, but it left me feeling just bored. 4. I do not understand why Ava Jerome is so set on obtaining GH. I am not understanding the connection and frankly, I don’t care.
Clearly, I can’t count. Of course 5 should come after 4!
And why is 6 afraid of 7? Cause 7 ate 9!!
Harry, we agree!
Finola can handle this and seems to be doing her homework to get this serious and rare illness the attention it needs. Linda, the lady in the videos is very sweet. They should give her a walk on!
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom
This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, the race is on! Can Lulu (Alexa Havins) and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) get to Rocco (Finn Carr) and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) in time to ensure their safety from Cullum (Andrew Hawkes)? Can Carly (Laura Wright) with the help of her brother, Lucas (Van Hansis) rescue Josslyn (Eden McCoy) from captivity at Wyndemere? These questions may be answered, plus the return of the one and only Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) are on tap!
In the just released General Hospital spoilers video for the week of June 22-26, Lulu tells her mother, Laura (Genie Francis), “Dante and I have to get to Rocco before Cullum!” Meanwhile, Rocco (Finn Carr) looks angered and emotional as Britt walks through their cabin hideout. Does Rocco know his parents are on the way to find them, or has Cullum already tracked them down to the British Virgin Islands?
Back in Port Charles, Carly is informing Lucas that his niece, “is a WSB agent.” She knows Josslyn (Eden McCoy) is being held against her will at Wyndemere, and she has to find a way to get her out. Lucas agrees with Carly’s plan of, “We go in and we don’t leave without Josslyn!” Elsewhere, Josslyn is looking worried for her future as she is stuck in captivity thanks to Cassius, Cullum and Sidwell!
Courtesy/ABC
FINOLA HUGHES RETURNS
The final moments of the teaser promo reveal Anna in a psychiatric clinic in France. We have not seen her for months after Cullum, Sidwell and Pascal fed her hallucinogenics to make her believe her arch nemesis, Cesar Faison was alive!
Now, the doctors walk towards her hospital bed, where we see the super spy calmly knitting. Is Anna back to normal and playing everyone to get out of her predicament, or does she still remain deeply traumatized … or both?
Take a look at the rest of the official GH spoilers for the week below.
MONDAY, JUNE 22
Willow gets an unwelcome surprise. Trina sticks to her guns. “Nathan” wants reassurance. Ethan advises Ava. Brook Lynn receives an update.
TUESDAY, JUNE 23
Dante cautions Liz. Laura learns a secret. Brook Lynn confides in Michael. Sonny challenges Ava. Chase makes a decision.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
Anna meets with her doctor. Carly makes a stunning confession. Britt extracts a promise. Cullum pulls a fast one. Gio and Emma hit the pool.
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
Josslyn clashes with Cassius. Lulu and Dante make a discovery. Chase receives a warning. Jordan seeks help. Alexis is summoned to the PCPD.
FRIDAY, JUNE 26
Anna takes a huge risk. Britt is in grave danger. Willow is in disbelief. Danny must act fast. Curtis jumps to the wrong conclusion.
Check out the latest General Hospital promo entitled, “Rescue Mission” below.
Now weigh-in: Do you think Anna is still mentally off-balance, or OK, and just pretending to be troubled to get out of France and get back to Port Charles? Will Josslyn finally be rescued, or will Carly and Lucas find themselves locked up with her? And, who will get to Britt and Rocco first? Cullum, or Dante and Lulu? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.
General Hospital
Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
With the highly-anticipated returns of Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) on this week’s June 24 episode of General Hospital, Steve Burton’s (Jason Morgan) upcoming return on July 13, which also serves as the ABC daytime drama’s 16,000 episode, things are about to fire on all cylinders in the story, as noted today by series star, Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos).
On Father’s Day, the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning actor and mental health activist took to his Instagram and expressed in a video that he has some unbelievable upcoming senes with the aforementioned Burton and Hughes. Add to that Nazneen Contractor (Justine Turner) and Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing), where Benard gave credit where credit is due to the GH writing team, which is led by co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten..
In this video, Benard said, “I just want to get on here and say that I did some work with Steve Burton, Finola Hughes, Rick Hearst, Nazneen Contractor, and they’re all just fantastic. Truly fantastic. But, I want to say the writing was just exceptional. It truly was. It was exceptional. So, thankful for that kind of writing. I know writers don’t get the credit a lot, but I just want to say to the General Hospital writing team, keep rolling!”
GENERAL HOSPITAL PREVIEW
So now the question becomes, with a major tease like that, what is about to go down between Sonny, Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric? Will we finally get to the end of the line for Sidwell (Carlo Rota), as previously teased by the GH co-head writers? Will we learn what happened to Jason and Anna, fully? Will Justine and Sonny becomes closer or stop their liaisons? And what of Ric? Will he be true blue to his brother or double-cross him? There is a lot at stake as we move further into the summer and one that looks like it could be one of the more exciting ones in years!
FINOLA HUGHES CONFIRMED AMAZING SCENES WITH MAURICE BENARD
As a punctuation point to his video, Benard also shared this written message in the post: “I just did some wonderful scenes with Steve Burton, Rick Hearst, Finola Hughes and Nazneen Contractor and and unbelievable writing, freaking amazing scenes that you will see in the near future on General Hospital.” In fact, Finola Hughes jumped in the post comment thread and responded, “I loved our scenes so much xxx”
Fans will most likely see all the scenes Benard referred to later in July, since GH tapes approximately six weeks ahead of air.
So, are you excited to see what Maurice is talking about? Are you hyped for what’s to come on GH? Any clue on what you think will go down between the main characters on the soap with the returns of Anna Devane and Jason Morgan to the mix? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Announces Upcoming Release of His First Single, ‘If You Need Me’
In a surprise move, Daytime Emmy winner, Chad Duell (ex-Michael Corinthos, GH) is getting ready to unveil a new chapter of his career in music.
The former GH star, where he played the son of Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) for 15 years, has announced his new single, “If You Need Me” will drop on Friday, June 26. The single is now available for pre-order on Spotify and major music streaming platforms and is distributed by DistroKid.
Taking to his Instagram story over the weekend, to announce the pre-save of his new single, Chad expressed, “I’ll make a full post about what I’ve been up to and my music once it goes live next week, but you can pre-save my first single so it goes straight to your Spotify once it drops next week.”
Photo: CDuellIG
SINCE LEAVING GENERAL HOSPITAL
Previously, since his departure from the ABC soap opera. Chad starred alongside Zach Mendez in the world premiere of of Yum Yum at Annapolis, a new play written by Bruce Reisman. Duell last appeared on General Hospital on the January 21, 2025 episode.
The part was recast with Rory Gibson who debuted as the new Michael in May of 2025 during the Nurses’ Ball episodes and who has remained in the role since that time.
In an interview earlier this year on The Able Show, Duell said on his decision to exit the soap opera, “I was blessed to be part of that (show) for as long as I have, but what happens sometimes is if you’re doing the same thing, especially in a creative field for such a long time, you can get a little burnt out in a way. It can make you a little depressed, so that’s kind of what happened. On top of that, I had other things going on in my life at the time. My father passed away recently and I just needed a reset. So, I stepped away. A lot of times you have to go through some stuff to really step into that next level. I needed to kind of feel uncomfortable.”
So, what type of musical genre will Chad’s new song be? Country? Pop? Rock? Dance/Club? Something else? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below, and if you are eager to hear the new single next week via the comment section below.
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Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans
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