General Hospital on ABC

Reconstructive Surgery: Inside General Hospital's Makeover

• Apr 8, 2009 01:32 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich
• 26 Comments

Surely Monica can tell Patrick what a vast improvement the new hub is, versus the olden days.

On April 14, not long before it becomes the first ABC sudser to  broadcast in high definition, General Hospital will unveil a new nurses' hub, that pivotal set's first freshening-up in many a year. And it's well-deserved, too, since the location was blown to bits last month as the casualty of a plot twist. GH production designer Chip Dox offered TVGuide.com an inside look at how and why the hospital's nerve center got a much-needed redo. Check out photos here.

TVGuide.com: Which came first — the decision to have an explosion in the hospital or the idea to update the nurses' hub?
Chip Dox: They came pretty much on top of each other. For [the GH spin-off] Night Shift, we built a new hub, with the idea that ... read more

GH in HD: Soap Will Look Sharp for May Sweeps

• Apr 6, 2009 03:25 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich
• 19 Comments

Sonny and Claudia will look sharper than ever.

Despite turning 46 years old on April 1, General Hospital will be looking better than ever when it begins broadcasting in high definition on April 23, the first day of the May sweeps ratings period.

"Our loyal viewers will be very pleased with the technology that provides top-notch video and audio quality, and shows our commitment to the production of this long-running series," says Brian Frons ... read more

General Hospital Exclusive: Meet Sonny's New Son

• Mar 12, 2009 04:20 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich
• 41 Comments

General Hospital's Maurice Benard (Sonny) and his new "son," Drew Garrett

Apparently it was not a gunshot wound that landed Michael Cornithos in a coma. It was a debilitating case of Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome.

Following months of speculation, General Hospital has recast Michael Quartermaine Corinthos — and ... read more

Genie Francis Promises to Deliver Another Emotional Note

• Jan 30, 2009 02:30 AM ET
• by Matt Mitovich
• 13 Comments

Genie Francis, The Note II: Taking a Chance on Love

In December 2007, Daytime Emmy winner Genie Francis and Ted McGinley helped give Hallmark Channel its highest-rated original movie of the year. This Saturday at 9 pm/ET, they and the cabler will look to repeat that success with The Note II: Taking a Chance on Love, in which Francis' advice columnist thinks about heading for a wedding and tries to bond with her long-lost daughter, all the while following the emotional mission a brand-new missive sends her on.

Francis spoke with TVGuide.com about the new notes she hopes the follow-up will hit. She also opened up about how her troubled times as a teen phenomenon make her feel for today's super-scrutinized starlets. Plus: Genie's take on soaps' budget-crunching, and her General Hospital future. Read it all, after the jump.

General Hospital Casting Exclusive: A New Con Is On!

• Jan 20, 2009 01:15 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich
• 33 Comments

Nathan Parsons and Anthony Geary, General Hospital

An old pro will cross paths with a young con when television newcomer Nathan Parsons makes his General Hospital debut the week of Jan. 26, TVGuide.com has learned.

Playing the recurring role of Ethan, Parsons' first scenes take place on the Haunted Star, opposite multiple Daytime Emmy winner Anthony Geary (Luke). Later down the 'pike, just when Ethan thinks he has gotten away with some ... read more

A Familiar Face Brings New Drama to General Hospital

• Jan 13, 2009 01:24 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich
• 24 Comments

Will General Hospital's mysterious new arrival work alongside Jason Cook's Matt?

On Thursday, Jan. 15, General Hospital viewers — and eventually Nikolas — will do a double take when the late Emily Quartermaine appears to rise from the dead. The truth is, however, that Natalia Livingston (who left the role of Nik's great love) is back on the ABC soap in a new role, as a mysterious young woman named Rebecca. Livingston talked to us about how much sweeter GH is the second time around.

TVGuide.com: Is playing another character something that was suggested, or even joked about, when they wrote you and Emily off the show? "It's a soap opera, Nat — we can always bring you back as a look-alike."
Natalia Livingston: It was a talk that I had with [headwriter] Bob Guza, who had come up with an awesome idea for a storyline. It wasn't the right time at that moment, but now it is! 

TVGuide.com: So this "comeback plan" was in mind when you left?
Livingston: I knew that there was a possibility for a comeback, yeah. We ended up waiting... read more

I, Claudia: Sarah Brown Surveys Her General Hospital Future

• Dec 16, 2008 12:18 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich
• 23 Comments

Sarah Joy Brown, General Hospital

Last winter, Sarah Joy Brown was granted an opportunity presented to few actors (Leigh McCloskey excluded), to create a second, non-related character on a single daytime drama. Having first originated the role of General Hospital's Carly, for the past year Brown has been stirring a new, more dangerous kind of excitement as crime queen Claudia Zacchara. So much has the multiple Emmy winner enjoyed this new ride that she recently signed on for another year. TVGuide.com invited Brown to ponder what's ahead for Sonny's sometimes inconvenient wife of convenience.

TVGuide.com: Sarah Brown is never one to take her career moves lightly. What was important to you in deciding on another year with General Hospital?
Sarah Brown: Re-signing for me this time around was dependent on several major things ... read more

Exclusive: Has Privileged Sage Met Her (Love) Match?

• Oct 17, 2008 06:49 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich
• 3 Comments

Ignacio Serricchio

"Sage is full of rage." That’s how I, at least, keep the twins' names straight on the CW's Privileged. (Rose, meanwhile, is the "delicate flower"; that's the writers' own mnemonic device.) My point here is that Sage, and not Rose, is the prickly one here, but maybe getting a bit of love in her life might start to smooth those rough-n-tough edges...?

We soon will find out. Sources tell me exclusively that ... read more

Logan Rave: Lisa LoCicero Brings Sexy Back to GH's Sonny

• Oct 14, 2008 10:53 AM ET
• by Michael Logan
• 22 Comments

Maurice Benard and Lisa LoCicero

Wasn't Lisa LoCicero's arrival on General Hospital as ballsy Brooklyn babe Olivia Falconeri utterly fantastic? Clearly, the show's top star, Maurice Benard (Sonny), thinks so. In their first scenes together last week, the duo set off some wildly intriguing sex sparks — which makes Benard's lack of chemistry with current leading lady Megan Ward (Kate) all the more obvious and disappointing.

GH is making a huge mistake if it doesn't team Sonny and Olivia now.

Viva LoCicero!

Exclusive: World Now Turns for GH Alum Jon Lindstrom

• Oct 8, 2008 02:22 PM ET
• by Michael Logan
• 17 Comments

Jon Lindstrom

You can't keep a bad man down – but you can give him a handsome new puss. As the World Turns has cast former General Hospital fave Jon Lindstrom as Craig Montgomery, the arch-scoundrel who fled Oakdale last February after attempting murder. The actor's first airdate is Dec. 3.

"Jon is a witty and immensely likable actor even when he's doing unspeakable things – as he did [playing twins Kevin and Ryan] on GH," says ATWT head writer Jean Passanante. "And that pretty much sums up Craig."

The character will return to Oakdale "with a deep desire to reconnect with his family," adds the scribe, "though his first order of business is to get himself off the hook for trying to kill Paul [Roger Howarth]. It's a big problem, but Craig is up for the challenge."

Though Craig, who first appeared in 1982, is one of the great villains in suds history, this marks the fourth recast in three years. Hunt Block was dropped from the role in 2005. His replacement Jeffrey Meeks was fired in 2007 and replaced by the original Craig, Scott Bryce, who in turn got the ax early this year.

Look for an exclusive interview with Lindstrom in TV Guide magazine.