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News for the week of 02-Nov-2015
The announcement of several major returns for mid-December happened earlier this past week JUST before the shoe finally dropped about Jason Thompson (Patrick) officially leaving as rumored. Thompson himself announced his departure on Instagram last Friday, with all the proper sentiments respectful of everyone involved at GH.
One of the returns is Kimberly McCullough (Robin), who will show up on-screen earlier in November. McCullough already filmed one episode, and told Soap Opera Digest recently that she’s excited to return home to play out more. Executive producer Frank Valentini issued this statement associated with her return: “There is some really cool stuff planned for Robin. It’s a race against time and a trio is formed in a desperate attempt to help save a life that hangs in the balance, but that’s all you’re going to get out of me.” Co-head writer Shelly Altman promises that now, Robin’s status will be addressed and dealt with, after remaining undetermined for so long.
Then, there’s the return of Robert Scorpio, aka Tristan Rogers, to complete the voodoo — so we won’t notice a major leading actor bolting for probably a rival soap. The October 28th announcement appeared on executive producer Frank Valentini’s Twitter: “Even MORE exciting news #GH fans: @tristanrogers will return in December! http://abc.go.com/shows/general-hospital/news/gh-news/tristan-rogers-returns-to-general-hospital-as-robert-scorpio-102815 … #FallinLoveWithGH.” It’s not likely that Rogers will return to stay but to expedite the exit of probably Patrick with Robin and Emma. Soap Opera Digest online reported as much on October 28 with this, via the actor’s rep: “Tristan is only visiting Port Charles for a very short time. Tristan will continue with Y&R as Colin. Tristan and I do not want the fans to be misguided in any way.”
Genie Francis (Laura) signed a contract for three years. Michael Logan will interview her for TV Guide Magazine this coming week.
Finola Hughes (Anna) also signed a firm contract, staying for awhile.
Live-tweet with Brytni Sarpy (Valerie) November 2, 11 a.m. PST/2 p.m. EST #GH, when the secret plays out on-screen.
Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) enjoys the revolving door accommodating his returns. In the October 26th issue of ABC Soaps In Depth, he likened coming back to putting on “a nice outfit” at the start then slipping into something more comfortable by the time he has to leave again. “GH and I are kind of in a long-distance relationship. We see each other once a month, and when I greet GH at the airport, I wear a nice outfit. And by the end of the week, we’re in our pajamas.” The affable actor also shared that, among the favorable responses on social media to news of his return, he zeroed in on the first negative one — but not in a negative way. Some woman tweeted, “Noooo! Whhhyyyyyy?,” which made him laugh good-naturedly, and share it with people he knew.
New head writers Jean Passanante and Shelly Altman are in agreement about taking GH back to a more character-driven format, focused around characters viewers care about the most, as well as putting the hospital back in the center of all the action. That’s their plan anyway. Expect more romance, more interaction amongst the major families (including the Qs), and more of an emotional perspective — even from mob boss Sonny. Who he is and how he reacts as a family man and a man in love will be important. “I feel like this is a very giving canvas of characters,” Passanante explained in an October 26, 2015 interview with ABC Soaps In Depth. “There’s so much that can be explored with these people, and we’re hoping that we’ll have some surprising returns, some shaking up of people’s expectations a little bit.” Altman added, “All while being honest to who the characters are.”
Passanante and Altman previewed some stories to come in terms of those beloved characters: Julian’s not lying about wanting to go legit, “we’re going to dovetail his actual legitimate business with a surprising collection of characters…” Anna will rediscover her heroism, “[s]he will connect with some interesting people…” Elizabeth will suffer for her treachery, but the story’s in her redemption, “People seem so shocked that Liz was put in this position, or that the beautiful and sweet Elizabeth would do something like this. But she’s done some pretty nasty things in the past. She’s not perfect. Nobody’s perfect. She hasn’t murdered anyone. She’s just not telling [Jake] who he is…”
Casting wants to find a semi-famous black actress in her mid-‘50s to ‘60s to play a recurring role of a strong woman who knows her mind — for a late-November shoot.
Gossip for the week of 02-Nov-2015
On the heels of Jason Thompson’s (Patrick) announcement that he would indeed be leaving GH, came the announcement from Daytime Confidential that Y&R fired the Billy recast, Burgess Jenkins, and that Thompson may be next in line to inherit the major role. (See Y&R for more info on what Jamey Giddens found out from his inside sources.)
TPTB aren’t fooling anyone with their BIG RETURNS. Who cares if Kimberly McCullough (Robin), Tristan Rogers (Robert), and, to a lesser extent, Brandon Barash (Johnny) are returning for a spell? Or that Finola Hughes (Anna) and Genie Francis (Laura) are staying longer? The whole point of most of the returns is to facilitate Jason Thompson’s (Patrick) jumping ship — most like to Y&R as the new Billy, a role once played by Emmy-winning actor Billy Miller who is now floundering over at GH as Jake/Jason. Robin, Robert, Anna, and Laura are probably going to help defeat Helena, Nikolas, and Elizabeth (I can’t believe I’m lumping her in with these idiots) for Patrick’s happily ever after — but not with Sam. Patrick, Robin, and Emma will finally reunite, out from under Helena’s thumb, and ride off into the sunset — far across the country. Fade to black.
There’s no question that Laura Wright (Carly) can act. She won her first (and only) Emmy in 2011 for playing Carly as the third and last recast, after all. But is she really Carly or another character altogether? That’s what I think. Read my latest SoapHub commentary: “When Did Carly Become God?” It’s not that I have anything against Wright’s Carly outright. I just wish she’d be more like the Carly Sarah Joy Brown created. I miss the fun, wild, devil-may-care, hot mess Carly. This sensible shoes everyone looks up to isn’t recognizable.
General Hospital News & Gossip, Copyright © 2024 Carol Banks Weber. Published by SoapZone.com / Jeff Jungblut. No part of this page may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed on this page are those of the author and may not be representative of SoapZone.com or its advertisers. Don't steal scoops.
