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WATCH: GH's Finola Hughes Go Behind The Scenes And Learn About Polycythemia Vera Blood Cancer

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

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!

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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: Will Ava Tie the Knot With Drew?

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Ava

On the Friday, November 13 episode of General Hospital, Drew (Cameron Mathison) convinces Ava (Maura West) they need to get married, to each other! Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) hopes to get the DNA results on Jude (Will Traval) she has waited for, and Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) secretly co-conspire to find out who in Port Charles had the infamous tick!

Here’s what went down: Drew explained to Ava that they needed to get hitched ASAP, that way, they couldn’t be forced to testify against each other in the Jack Brennan case. After initially being kind of sick of the thought of marrying Drew, he made her change her mind, by throwing out the fact that if she lands in jail Sonny (Maurice Benard) will have Avery (Ayla Bullington) all to himself.

Next, Ava heads to GH to ask Lucas (Van Hansis) to be her witness in marrying Drew. Lucas has already figured out the reason Ava is marrying Drew because it has something to do with Brennan’s death. Explaining she hates the idea of getting married to Drew, she has run out of other options. Lucas agrees to help her, but firmly tells Ava nobody would believe it was a real marriage anyway.

Ava and Drew

Photo: ABC

CAN MOLLY AND JOE STOP THE WEDDING?

At the same time, Drew asked Martin (Michael E. Knight) for a post-nuptial agreement. Martin was not happy to hear that Drew was going to marry Ava, warning that prison was a better option than tying himself to a woman like Ave Jerome.

Eventually Ava, Lucas, Drew, and Martin gathered at the city clerk’s office. Lucas comes up with a way to derail or stall the nuptials by saying that they need to wait for Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarski) and Avery to show up, as they should be a part of this, too.

Lucas may have saved the day, because Molly (Kristen Vaganos) and Joe (Jonathan Bennett) went to Drew’s office to serve him his warrant, but found the office door open. Next, Joe found a sticky note on Drew’s folder that revealed Drew had obtained a marriage license. A light bulb goes off in his head and he realized Ava and Drew are getting married, so he and Molly rush off to City Hall to try and stop it.

Brook Lynn

Photo: ABC

IS JUDE THE TRUE BABY DADDY?

Elsewhere, after receiving a text message that the DNA results are in at the hospital, Brook Lynn ends her discussion over Jude and baby Phoebe with Gio (Giovanni Mazza) and runs out of the Quartermaines.

Once Brook Lynn gets off the elevator at GH, she sees Jude and Britt  Kelly Thiebaud) looking might close. She quickly heads back towards the elevator sight unseen and was clearly shaken by what she saw. Earlier at the doctors and nurses hub, Elizabeth helped Dante by confirming by an ear gesture they had worked out; that the patient with the tick was Ava Jerome.

You can check out the scenes where Lucas gets a visit from Ava and he learns she wants him to be her witness in marrying Drew at City Hall.

Now weigh-in: do you think Ava and Drew will tie the knot before Joe and Molly make it to City Hall? What do you think the DNA results will show once Brook Lynn gets her hands on them? Have they been tampered with? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Carly Fears Escalating Tensions Between Sonny and Josslyn: ‘I’ve Already Lost One Kid Because of That Man. I Won’t Lose Another’

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General Hospital

On the Thursday, November 12 episode of General Hospital, as battles line are drawn by Carly’s (Laura Wright) ex-husband, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and her daughter, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy), she realizes things are about to get a whole lot worse, and she expressed her fears to Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart).

After Sonny came to see Carly to get her daughter to back off of him; especially when Josslyn lit into him in front of nuAvery (Ayla Bullington), Carly is terrified that Sonny could retaliate against Josslyn. Realizing, Josslyn is in danger, Carly won’t sit by and let anything happen to her. She tells Valentin, “I’ve already lost one kid because of that man. I won’t lose another.”

Viewers won’t soon forget the devastation Carly felt when Morgan (Bryan Craig) died in a car bomb explosion back in 2016 because of Sonny’s dealings in the mob in a complex story involving Julian (William deVry) and Olivia Jerome (Tonja Walker).

Avery

Courtesy/ABC

SONNY IS READY FOR WAR

Meanwhile in the aftermath of his visit with Carly, Sonny told his brother Ric what went down when Josslyn disrespected him in front of his own daughter and hurt Avery. Since Josslyn already make it known that she no longer considers herself part of Sonny’s family, he’s decided to treat her accordingly.

Sonnys first step in payback is to take away her support system at JJE by approaching Hudson Parker (Troy Lennon Appel) again, but this time in a much less-friendly way.

Ric points out that this would go against every move Sonny made as a legitimate businessman in Port Charles and would mean he’s back in the mob? Sonny doubles down, saying Josslyn changed the game when she involved Avery. While he showed concern of how bad Carly would feel over all this year, he said he is ready to finish what Josslyn started.

At the Metro Court, Ava (Maura West) is listening to Avery explain what happened between Sonny and Josslyn and how much she hates Josslyn right now, which Ava seems to be OK with.

WILL JOSSLYN’S WORLD BLOW UP ON HER?

Speaking of Josslyn, she is on the pier still after her talk with Hudson and still crying over her confrontation with Sonny and Avery overhearing it, and what she told her sister. Lucas comes across her at the pier while out for his run.

Explaining how badly she feels for what she said about Sonny to Avery, Lucas says that eventually Avery will discover the truth about Sonny. He explains to Josslyn that even though Avery hates her now, she will come to realize that what she said about her father was the truth, and that Josslyn was not lying to her at all.

So, what do you think about Sonny ready to play dirty to take down Josslyn? How will Carly ensure her daughter does not wind up dead? Who do you think is in the right here? Is Josslyn’s vendetta against Sonny justified, at the cost of the relationships with her family? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing

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Stacy Keach and Cynthia Watros

General Hospital star Cynthia Watros, who can currently be seen in on the ABC soap opera in the role of Nina Reeves, has had a enduring career in television. That included her time on the 2000-2002 Fox sitcom, Titus.

In Titus, Watros starred along with Stacy Keach as Erin Fitzpatrick and Ken Titus, respectively. After the November 10th news that Keach had passed away at 85 while living in Poland, Cynthia took to her Instagram on Thursday, November 12 to pay tribute to the great actor.

Watros expressed, “My first prime time show was along side Stacy. I loved him instantly. What an amazing talent and man.❤️”

Photo: ABC

In Titus, Stacy played stand up comedian Christopher Titus’ heavy-drinking, chain-smoking, five-times-divorced father who frequently pulled cruel pranks and tried to toughen his kids up. Cynthia played by Christopher’s level-headed, big-hearted girlfriend trying to build a normal life with him. In fact, Cynthia’s role on the sitcom was first series regular role after her Daytime Emmy run of Annie Dutton on Guiding Light which ran from 1994-1998.

STACY KEACH’S WIFE ON HIS PASSING

Keach’s wife, Malgosia shared the news of the actor’s death publicly in a statement with PEOPLE. Malgosia expressed, that Stacy had, “a long and difficult battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure.”

She added, “Stacy peacefully departed this world. He fought for so long, with extraordinary courage, determination and strength. He was a true warrior, facing his illness with the same remarkable spirit and resilience that defined his life.”

Małgosia continued, “Stacy was not only a legendary actor, admired and loved by audiences the world over, but also my beloved husband, my companion and the heart of our family. His passing leaves an immeasurable emptiness in our lives. But his extraordinary spirit, his unforgettable voice and the love he gave so generously will remain with us forever.”

Now, let us know do you remember when Cynthia made her sitcom debut in Titus? Share your thoughts via the comment section on Cynthia’s many TV roles and the passing of Stacy Keach in the comment section. But first, check out the very first episode of Titus with Cynthia Watros below!

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