General Hospital
With Talk Of Nikolas On GH, Tyler Christopher Says: “I’ve Always Said I Would Never Close That Door From My Side”
On recent episodes of ABC’s General Hospital, a few of the key characters in the life of the “late” Nikolas Cassadine spoke about him including: his on-screen mother, Laura (Genie Francis), his ex, Hayden Barnes (Rebecca Budig), and a woman who would have been poised to be a new love interest, Ava (Maura West).
So with the name-drops and mentions in recent weeks, could the character who was shot by Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) and fell out a glass window on a balcony, be making a return soon and be very much alive?
Soap fans tweeted at the actor most known for his role as Nikolas Cassadine (in which he won a Daytime Emmy for his performance), and former Days of our Lives star, Tyler Christopher, to see what his thoughts were on what could be happening on General Hospital with the character.
Tyler made this statement to his Twitter followers: “You are all very sweet to be so loyaI as you always are. I know they are talking about Nikolas as of late. I’ve always said I would never close that door from my side. I just want to thank you all for always rooting for me and the character. I grew up with him as many of u have.”
For over 20 years, Christopher had played the role of the dark prince of the Cassadines. When he went on leave from the series in 2016, he was replaced by Nick Stabile, who was Nikolas at the time of the character’s supposed death.
Later, Tyler debut on Days of our Lives and took on the role of the newly created character of Stefan O DiMera. He was also nominated earlier this year for a Daytime Emmy for Lead Actor for his performance in that role.
Longtime fans of GH have also been active on social media hoping that somehow GH could find a way to bring back both Tyler, as well as his on-screen TV brother, Jonathan Jackson (Ex-Lucky) so Laura could also have her sons back on the canvas.
So, do you think GH is about to bring Nikolas back? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
I’m all for Tyler Christopher, or even Nick Stabile, as Nickolas, but not Jonathan Jackson as Lucky. I’d much rather see Greg Vaughn come back as Lucky instead. Jonathan is too flighty and never sticks around, ends up leaving when something better comes along, which by the way is why Greg Vaughn was let go…so Jonathan could come back. And then he’s up leaving again.
I agree with your comments totally! But we are in luck as Tyler is coming back in the role of Nicholas. I’m wondering if Jax and Hayden have something to do with his reappearance??
kitty, I’m thinking Hayden definitely knows something about Nikolas, I’m thinking she found him and probably helped him recuperate, and now he’s still recuperating but probably now out of the hospital and in some island being taken care of and probably w/ Hayden and Finns baby around too. who knows, but that’s where I’m going w/ this after all Nikolas is starting to get mention a little to much don’t you think ?
So agree with you about JJ. They FIRE GV to bring back a short term actor. GV is a good actor and I like him as Lucky. GV is on Days (I think) at the moment, but if the opportunity presents itself, they should bring him back. Triangle with Liz & Franco would be good. As would a Nick/Ava pairing. Nick defending Ava against Sonny would be good.
Exactly. Greg would definitely be a better fit in a love triangle with Liz and Franco than Jonathan. I like Jonathan, it’s just that he’s not committed to GH long term and never will be again. I think the character of Lucky should be recasted so he can stick around for good and just move on from Jonathan.. I’m not okay with actors who quit their jobs and the moment their careers go down the toilet elsewhere, they want their old job back, getting the current actor fired. Years ago, Tyler Christopher left the role and Nickolas was recast by Coltin Scott, and Coltin was let go when Tyler decided to come back. Same thing just happened when Michelle Stafford left GH to resume her role on Y&R, getting Gina Tognoni fired. I hate it when they do that.
Greg should stay on Days, because he’s far better suited for the role of Eric Brady. He did OK on GH, but it was hard to identify the character he played as “Lucky Spencer” because he didn’t have hardly any resemblance to Luke & Laura’s kid, the guy who married Elizabeth, etc.
As far as JJ leaving GH, that was due to the horrible writing….. they had an interim head writer there named Garin Wolf who was between the Guza regime and the OLTL takeover of the show. Wolf had his good points and his bad points, but the absolute worst thing about his writing was an obsession with destroying the entire Spencer family. He might have hated Lucky most of all, turning him into a pill popping crybaby who abandoned his family on Xmas Eve. I don’t blame JJ for not sticking around for that. Though now that Nashville is over, I really would like to see him come back. And more than likely, be the one to track down his brother Nikolas.
I think a Lucky recast would work if they choose carefully. It really goes against Lucky’s nature to abandon his kids. He swore he’d not follow in his father’s footsteps and that he would be there for his kids. And I am all for anyone who can break up Lizzy and Franco Cleaver.
All I ask is that they do not cast Jacob Young. He tended to yell his lines and I am sure he would frighten poor Aiden if he screamed,”YOU MUST KNOW HOW MUCH I LOBE YOU! RIGHT!!!???”
C’mon give Franco a break
You mean Ward Cleaver? When they extracted that brain tumor they must have accidentally given him a lobotomy. They took away his dark side but they also took away his nuance, his complexity, his spirit. Now he’s skipping up to the police station like Cindy Brady. Forgive the mixed metaphors (mixed old TV characters). I like Roger Howarth but Franco is boring.
Forever J. J!!
Wouldnt worry about it. JJ has no desire to return to GH; he’s heavily involved with his band. Greg Vaughan’s at DAYS for years and it’s rumored he may be leaving, but to live with his girlfriend Angie Harmon in North Carolina. So, if he leaves Days for that resson we can assume it wouldnt make him available for soap work.
In my opinion, there is only one Lucky and that is Jonathan Jackson.
There’s only one Nikolas and that’s Tyler Christopher. There is so much unfinished business and storyline potential with the character. He’s available and would obviously go back if asked. GH and ABC need to make it happen. There’s no reason not to. Same goes for Jonathan Jackson, if that could be worked out, even just for a short return. I would love to see one or both of them back.
The show needs a shot in the arm, they’re struggling in the ratings. Too many stories dragging on endlessly without a resolution, too many new characters that people don’t care about. GH has the best cast in daytime from top to bottom, they could be doing so much better. Frank needs to get on the horn with Tyler, work out whatever issues need to be worked out from when he left the last time, and get it done!
Stories would still drag on without any resolution even if they brought Tyler back. Bringing him back will only shoot up the ratings short term.
He’s finally been asked. I can’t believe it took Frank Valentini so long to wake up and listen to the fans! Tyler announced it and so did GH! He’s coming back as Nicholas in the fall. Woohoo!!!
Kitty, where did you see that Tyler is coming back? I see nothing about it anywhere. Checked his Twitter, checked the GH Twitter. Nothing. Would love for it to be true, but I think you’re jumping the gun a little bit. If and when Tyler does announce his return, Michael Fairman will have it here on the site, I’m sure.
Hi Dan I’m not positive but I believe it was soap dirt.
He didnt say he was coming back. He said he wasnt closing the door if he was asked. He hasnt been asked..or..at least, that hasnt been reported. Seems to me he wants to be after having to leave Days for personal reasons..and stating on Twitter that he hasnt closed the door “on his end” gets lots of fans support which in turn the producers take note of. Then they weigh the cost benefits.,..
I wouldn’t say they have the best cast. Watching Days and B&B for about six years now.. GH for decades…but those other two have equally good actors. Quite a few, as we know, go from show to show, so I think who we like is subjective…not necessarily the best. As for stories dragging on, again, GH doesn’t stand out. Both B&B and DAYS have had stories that go on and on…B&B, most recently, should win the award for most redundant dialogue in an ongoing story…
Either viewers have forgotten how the genre works… or we’ve gotten more impatient, because daytime soaps always took forever. Used to joke that u could stop watching for a year, pick it up again and never miss a thing.
Yes bring back Nicholas we miss him n if you could bring back Lucky Jonathan to play him that would make Laura be so static to have both sons back
I do like Brandon Barash as Stefan on Days tho he would had been ok as Peter Blake even if a little young for the role…if Tyler does come back on GH hopefully they write for him…also i like new Nina Cynthia Watros but also liked the actress since her days on GL…GH has its ups and downs…mostly the later….still think Dee should had been around when Kiki was killed off…would like to see Heather around…keep Mac as Commish..i do like new Jordan but Mac as Commish so much better…
Brandon Barash was not only too young to play Peter Blake, he was also too short! The original Peter was probably about 6’7″. Now I have heard some mortals “shrink” a little bit as they age, but that would be a bit extreme.
Doubt we will ever see the character of Peter Blake again in any form. Nobody even mentions him, including Kristen, his only actual living blood relative.
Always loved his character, don’t know why he left! But i always they would bring him back. Not a replacement!!
I’d love for him to come back. I’ve missed him since he left. Excellent actor!
I would love it if Tyler returned to the role of Nikolas Cassadine!! It’s definitely time for him to return!
I think Hayden knows Nikolas is alive, hopefully Christopher will play the prince again. as for lucky returning, the character been so ruined already. Is lucky really needed? the character is to self righteous and liz doesn’t need someone like that in her life, Jason already acts that way with her.
Love Tyler. Liked Nick Stable too. I have my doubts, though, the writing is horrible, no character development, & the storylines are horrendous. Oh, how I wish Dante KILLED Peter. Bury that bozo in the parking lot and be done with it! #julliardbootleg
@DMRR….You have succinctly stated the current condition of GH…if it were a patient, it would be on the critical list! An emergency intervention is definitely in order…time to cut-out all the superfluous characters, tighten up the plotlines and get back-to-basics by returning much-missed legacy players to Port Charles! A good start on the road-to-redemption for this soap would have been your suggested dream scenario regarding the highly-unpopular Pete! “Bury that bozo in the parking lot and be done with it,” indeed!!!! (Love it!)
Hahaha, Shay! Isn’t “bring your boyfriend to work” day over??? He’s horrendously horrible!
“Horrendously horrible!” Total understatement there, DMRR! By the way, I sent you a previous reply suggesting another “day” for Pete to celebrate and although according to my email it was approved, it never actually posted! Hmmm…..guess someone had second thoughts…LOL. Anyway, I also added that your deliciously biting wit never fails to amuse me! That much I will repeat! (Sans a “re-pete” of my my no-no comment….)
Please save this show! Bring back Nicholas & spencer! Lucky & Luke! Everyone loved the old crew and get Ned back involved…come on writers spice this up with the old crew!!!!i love the new people so much but we need some nostalgia!
Tony Geary retired. Luke. Is. Gone. Forever.
Every hint has been clearly given that Nikolas is not dead. He’s certainly not in Hell, I can verify that much. Having said that, if they can’t get Tyler Christopher back, don’t bother at all. The first Nikolas recast – Coltin Scott or Steven Martinez or whatever name he’s going by now – did a decent job, but he’s since become a fugitive con artist in real life, so not likely he will ever be back.
The most recent recast? Simply horrible. Never bring him back, even if it’s to throw him out the window a third time.
Heeey Satan ..
It is Jax-
Jax is in cahoots with Nikolas..
they are working a game on Valentin.
Wait for it 🙂
Yeah, and it seems like Hayden is also in on it, given her facial expressions when Laura was talking to her about Nik & Spencer.
I’m totally cool with them bringing down Val the Bastard, as long as it’s the real Nikolas. If Tyler ain’t coming back, don’t bother.
Heeey Satan,
when Valentin was brought in I was excited for a hardazz Cassidine, the real deal..
But he’s a creampuff and a disgrace to the Cassidine name.. Not a true-blood fearing Cassisine not a bad bone in him, the wuzzy BWAA!
Jax and Nikolas and Hayden had best bring on some hard drama as in days of old ..
I’m sure that Tyler will be Nicolas, he is ready to return no need to recast.
Right, Su000? It was said that Valentin was the only person of whom the sinister Helena Cassadine was afraid. All he’s done is play with DNA and Ancestry.Com. Oh, and he played the piano and sang delightful silly, little love songs at the Nurse’s ball. Oh SHUDDER!!!!
Right, Harry! Oh, the horror! 🙂
Agree, su000! No need for a recast. Tyler is willing; bring him back! Genie played with him when he was a nubie; she and he are good together as mother and son.
Well, they definitely keep teasing us that he is alive. I hope it finally comes about as being true and that Christopher returns in the role. There’s just soooo much story left to be explored. That being said, if not Christopher, Nick didn’t do a bad job in the role. So let’s get Nikolas back to GH, have Spencer come back and then watch all those fireworks go off. Nik going after Valentin, his budding romance with Ava who’s been adrift since Kikki’s death, reuniting with Laura, Lulu and Spencer; not to mention Hayden and Elizabeth and all his frienemies he developed before being shot. The possibilities are numerous!
One thing we know for sure, it won’t be Stephen Martines.
I’d love to see Tyler Christopher (wearing his dark burgundy dress shirt and dark grey slacks and living on Cassadine Island) back on General Hospital. Remember how he always wore that same outfit?
What a vivid memory you shored up there, Charday. Now that you mention it, I do indeed remember that burgundy dress shirt. Didn’t it have a Roman collar and was that during the time Nikolas was going through his unfortunate hair bang period?
@Harry…Oh, I vividly recall those gray trousers….I always thought that they looked like polyester “grandpa pants” that would stretch every which way!
Please please bring him back!!!
Nikolas needs to return to GH. His story is unfinished. Valentin is not likable and has no redeeming value — he needs to leave GH and Nikolas needs to return soon!!
there was so much satiate.. left over.. from Tyler – AND – Maura
HUGE let
you add the passion of;
Valentin n’ Nina
Olivia n’ Ned
Brad n’ Lucas
Mac n’ Felicia
Kevin n’ Laura
sterling amount of add
I would love it if both Laura’s son’s came back portrayed by their original actors.
Yes bring him back I love watching him on general hospital. He is a good actor.
I would love too see Tyler Christofer come back,it’s been too long.give Tyler what he wants in is contract.And also,I would love too see Jonathon Jackson,too come back,he has been gone too long,his kids on the show hasn’t seen him in a very long time.
I would love to see Nikolas come back but not lucky. Lucky was boring.
It would be wonderful if Tyler could bring Nicholas back to Port Charles. No one can really play that role but him. JJ-J is the only one who can play Luckey. Bring them both back and P.C. will really be interesting again.
Come on home, Tyler! Genie will welcome you!
They could recast Lucky. I’ve never thought Jackson was a good fit nor did I like Vaughn in the role. Jackson seems as scrawny as his facial hair. Vaughn is too big of a man to be Luke & Laura’s kid and he seems to have aged too quickly in his role as Eric Brady on Days.
As for Nikolas Cassidine, it’s Tyler Christopher all the way! He looks like a man who would be torn between his good self and his bad self. He looks like a Greek/Russian prince.
Bring both characters back. Laura needs her sons around her especially now that she’s finally moved on from Luke and come into her own personal power.
BTW Julie Berman will forever be the real Lesley Lu Spencer! I don’t even know this new girl’s name!! She should join the caravan returning back to Y & R.
Yes!!! I miss Nick and never thought for a minute of counting him out! Nor they would write him out totally. I am sure he is plotting with Hayden and Jack’s to remove Valentine from the the Cassadine castle as well as his thrown! I have the whole thing planned out for ya Nicolas come on down
General Hospital would have to be crazy not to bring back the dark prince! It could be a great storyline and ratings surge for the show.
Yes i hope so i love his character
Yes bring back the Prince. Give him a juicy role to sink his teeth into that will give him another Emmy !!!
I want to see Tyler Christopher come back to GH as Nikolas and I want to see him sporting a beard at first. He can shave it off later but for his return I want to see him with a beard.
General Hospital
General Hospital’s Adam J. Harrington Weighs-in On John and Carly, and How it’s ‘Starting to Get Very Complicated”
On recent episodes of General Hospital, Carly (Laura Wright) came to John “Jagger” Cates (Adam Harrington) rescue as he was beaten down in an assault. Carly put on her “nurses cap,” sort of speak, and got John to his hotel room and watched over to him, to make sure he didn’t lose consciousness.
GH fans also got their first glimpse of what may be a new romance for Carly, if she and John continue to bond. If John and Carly were to have a relationship, it would certainly have a ripple effect with Jason (Steve Burton) and Sonny (Maurice Benard).
Adam J. Harrington shared his view on the scenes and what might be next between the two. Speaking to Soap Opera Digest, Harrington shared, “I thought it was written in a way where there’s an understanding and a respect between them both. I don’t think there was any moment where she was not aware that he’s an FBI agent, and there was no moment that he wasn’t aware of her history and relationship to other people in the town. I really liked it. I was really looking forward to shooting it with Laura and we had a really nice time shooting it.”
Photo: ABC
When Carly and John part ways, it seems there were some romantic sparks, as Harrington puts it, “Isn’t that interesting that sometimes with people, the one moment they actually show how they feel is when they know there’s an escape hatch. They know they’re about to walk away. So, it’s almost safe in that moment to do it. I thought that was really special about how (the writers) handled John and Carly. Even the music in that scene was beautifully done.”
Where is this all heading? Conflict! Internally and professionally, and as Adam explains, “Who Carly was to John on paper as just a tool to be used as bait is starting to get very complicated.”
What would you think of a John and Carly pairing? Would you prefer him with Anna, or neither of them? Let us know via the comment section and take our poll below.
General Hospital
General Hospital’s Steve Burton Reveals the Emotional Scene He Almost Could Not Get Through
On a recent episode of General Hospital, Jason received a message from his mother, Monica Quartermaine (Leslie Charleson) via a note. The effect it had on Jason’s portrayer, Steve Burton turned out to be quite visceral.
As GH fans know, although Jason’s bio-mom was Susan Moore, he was raised and adopted by Monica. Speaking on his Daily Drama podcast with his co-host and GH co-star, Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Steve shared some insight on the difficulties he had getting through that scene.
Burton shared that in the key moment, “Brooklyn (played by Amanda Setton) came in and that’s where she gave me (Jason) the letter from Monica. That was a very hard scene for me to do. That was a tough one. That was the one time I was almost going to call ‘cut!’ It read ‘Jason, I believe in you.’ I was literally going to walk off the set.”
Photo: JPI
To clarify and in the story, Monica was saying “I believe in you” and that she knows Jason didn’t shoot Dante (Dominic Zamprogna). Steve added, “It was tough, man. Emotionally, it was a tough scene. It was overwhelming in the moment.”
Steve went on to detail to Anderson, “She (Brook Lynn) pushed it to me and I read it and she was walking out and I had to stop her, but I was so emotional I couldn’t even get it out. And at that point, I’m like, ‘Do I just keep going … or do I just walk off the set right now?’ But, I knew just to stay, because it’s so hard to get back there, once you shut it down. I knew, the next take wasn’t going to be the same.”
Photo: JPI
It’s clear that Leslie Charleson is so missed on-screen as Monica by all of her castmates, and that Jason and Monica had a very special mother/son relationship throughout the decades on GH.
What did you think of the moment when Jason got a note from Monica that said, “I believe in you?” Were you touched as well? Let us know in the comment section. You can check out the latest episode of Steve and Bradford’s podcast below.
General Hospital
George Russo to Appear on General Hospital as Carmine Cerullo
Coming up, it looks like Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) grandfather, Carmine Cerullo is headed to Port Charles.
According to casting news from the ABC soap opera, George Russo will take on the role. Russo will tape his episode next week on April 15th and will appear on the May 15th episode of the long-running daytime drama series.
If George looks familiar he has been in numerous primetime television shows and motion pictures including: The Offer. Winning Time, Grand Crew and Shameless.
Photo: ABC
Longtime GH viewers will recall that Lois’ (Rena Sofer) dad, Carmine, was previously showed up in Port Charles on and off from 1994 to 1996 and was played by John Capudice.
Clearly, it seems that Carmine will be a part of Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s wedding. Will it go off without a hitch? Are you looking forward to it? Stay tuned.
Who else would you like to see attend the nuptials? Gloria Cerullo (Ellen Travolta), any other blasts from the pasts who should be present? Let us know in the comment section.
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