...Because everyone spills their guts, literally & figuratively, at Pier 52.
​
On August 18th, Soaps in Depth confirmed that Robert Palmer Watkins (A.K.A. Dillon Quartermaine) was deposed from ABC's General Hospital. This comes on the heels of Rebecca Budig's (Hayden Barnes) shocking firing, William Devry's (Julian Jerome) shaky contract talks, and the announced return of Steve Burton (ex-Jason Morgan). Devry is one-half of a hugely popular pairing with Nancy Lee Grahn's Alexis Davis. Budig is an adored, Emmy-nominated soap goddess. Watkins' character is a part of the meager younger set and a fundamental family that's been reprehensibly shrinking since the 2000's (despite fan outcry). These things considered, it makes one ask "What the heck is going on at GH?!"
 
On social media, many viewers have postulated that cuts were made to financially accommodate bringing on Burton. As a result, for every message of support he's received, there's one full of venom. While the budget theory is logical, it can't be said for sure if it's accurate. In any event, Burton has no control over the management and/or production of the series. The actor has also been the target of preemptive anger from fans of Jason-recast Billy Miller, who fear Miller will somehow be ousted from the role. Others are concerned that the character's life away from the mob will be reversed. This goes without saying, but apparently it must be reiterated: Burton isn't responsible for casting or storyline choices, either (whether the fears become a reality or not). Moreover, actor switches usually don't mean characterization alterations...unless of course, a "fake/real Jason" plot is the plan.
 
It can be assumed that Burton's homecoming is an attempt by ABC/GH to boost ratings, but the reality is that if the writing isn't on point, it's a wasted effort. History has shown that it doesn't matter who's on camera if there isn't a valuable script to bring to life. For example, both Budig's appearance and the resurgence of "Carly"-originator Sarah Brown were heavily touted and promoted, but the audience became disengaged and disappointed with the stale narratives. When news came of Budig's axing, there was more discussion about squandered opportunities than what actually existed, which was very telling. One person argued online: "To be fair, both Hayden and Dillon haven't been very significant, but we want them around because we love Rebecca and Robert, and Dillon is a Quartermaine." Feeling there was some truth in the statement, I replied "If Hayden, Dillon or any other figure fails to be impactful, it's because of the writing, 7/10. The actors shouldn't end up without a job because the writers didn't do theirs." In her exit interview with TV Insider,  Jane Elliot (A.K.A. Tracy Quartermaine) expressed sympathy for daytime scribes because of the various constraints they have to work around, such as budgets and demands from advertisers. After reading it, I felt guilty about sharp critiques I made in the past, but I eventually let it go. Though I'm sure some contingencies have changed over time, budgets, advertisers and actor guarantees have always been a part of the equation. Those elements aren't new, and GH has seen better story days. A large roster isn't new either, but fans and soap journalists alike have insisted that cast size is the reason balance, flow and muscle can't be maintained on paper.
 
As for who Burton will portray, I haven't bothered to speculate or get excited because I don't have faith the angle will be well-executed, whatever it is. I prefer he play Jason, but not if that means a "fake/real " scenario. That would be a mistake. It would be too broad of a revision to be sensible, among other things. Recent dialogue has teased that his role may involve Franco's childhood, with a link to Jason Morgan. I can't say I'm thrilled about the Franco portion. There's too much of a jarring, negative record for that to be the connection. GH's executive producer, Frank Valentini, swears "No one has guessed right" about what's in store. With how bleak everyone's theories are, let's hope he's right and some great TV is ahead.

​For more of my thoughts on GH's writing, landscape and future, check out: "Pier 52: GH's Latest Exits & Not Planning the Future"

...Because everyone spills their guts, literally & figuratively, at Pier 52.
 
In a period of 24 hours starting on September 14th (I'm sure a record was broken), it was announced that ABC's General Hospital lost 3 actors: Tyler Christopher ("Nikolas Cassadine"), Bryan Craig ("Morgan Corinthos") and Teresa Castillo ("Sabrina Santiago"). The former 2 won Daytime Emmys just 6 months ago for Outstanding Lead and Younger Actor in a Drama Series, respectively. Christopher originated his role as an heir of a wealthy, unbalanced royal family in 1996. He's left the series twice; the second time he was unexpectedly let go in 2011 and fans rallied for a reversal, not seeing him again until 2013. Christopher was temporarily replaced during a sabbatical this summer, while Nikolas faked his death, only to be shot by Valentin Cassadine (portrayed by James Patrick Stuart) and presumed dead again. There wasn't a formal send-off with a wrapped-up storyline, flashy funeral and sentimental montages, as Christopher said in late July he thought he'd return to set in September. Somewhere in that short month and a half, contract negotiations reportedly fell through. Bryan Craig came on the scene in 2013 as the first actor to play an aged Morgan Corinthos. His performance was applauded out of the gate, with him nabbing a Daytime Emmy nomination in his first year and consecutively since. He chose to leave the series, stating he felt it was "the right time." Castillo arrived a year before Craig, as a nerdy duckling-turned-swan nurse with a heart of gold. Apparently, it was a writing choice that led to the actress' contract not being renewed; her character was strangled by the hospital serial killer (9/14). Sabrina joins the long list of newer figures to not stick around for the long haul or full-time. With the extremes of a veteran actor and freshman talent, these departures bring attention to GH's secret elephant of a problem: they aren't building for the future.
 
As I wrote in my "We Need Tyler Christopher Back on General Hospital!" petition mission statement (click here if you'd like to sign it), legacy characters/actors are the backbone of a soap opera. They are the threads in the tapestry and help maintain a sense of familiarity. That said, they should be regarded with great care and respect. However, 30+ year personas (ex. Monica Quartermaine, Lucy Coe, Laura Spencer & Kevin Collins) are given little or nothing to do, while the 10-20-year class is allowed to walk--sometimes in the middle of a front-burner storyline-- as if they're dispensable. In 2016 alone, contract impasses saw Jason Thompson ("Dr. Patrick Drake") heading over to CBS' The Young & The Restless, Rebecca Herbst ("Elizabeth Webber") almost out, and now Christopher. It might be unfair or inaccurate to say there isn't reverence, but it feels like the attitude is that we viewers should just be glad to see the older-set, even though they're treated like relics instead of legends with these barely-there plots. Further, when actors don't seem to be fought for, it makes you wonder if they're valued by the honchos. How can you lay the groundwork for the next generation if you let the foundation, from which they'd launch, fall out? That is...if they ever launch.
 
There's been an effort to broaden and add to GH's canvas (ex. there's been more minority-race casting in recent years than in the last decade), but that's where it stops. New characters are cut off at the knees, never to blossom into proper supporting players because they're habitually used as romantic placeholders, props, plot-devices, side-kicks and air-time fillers. Promising storylines are abandoned and/or characterizations are altered in an unfavorable way. The mixed reaction to Sabrina's death online, for instance, was all about what they didn't do with the part. Numerous comments on Twitter were in the frame of "She was useless anyway" or "It's a shame because she had potential." Sabrina was never given her own tale. She spent the first-half of her tenure helping Patrick lick his wounds until his wife (and true love) came back from the dead, and the second-half championing Michael Corinthos through a breakup with Kiki Jerome and a custody battle over his half-sister. Consequently, most followers she had weren't exclusively hers--they were interested in her as long as she was with their guy; otherwise, they weren't paying attention. It was only legitimately about her twice: 1) when she tried to cause Ava Jerome's miscarriage to avenge her own, and 2) when she went on the run with the only link to her past in the cast, Carlos Rivera (Jeffrey Vincent Parise). The miscarriage angle was a flash-in-the-pan unfortunately, and the other was wildly whipped up for Castillo's maternity leave. That was another issue--rather than creating clever and convenient exits, both of Castillo's pregnancies were written in, causing Sabrina's life to be deconstructed repeatedly. Determined to work again as a nurse, Sabrina pronounced to Michael that she needed to have her "own life." I thought that meant she would finally get a meaningful day in the sun, but in actuality, the sun was setting. One of many missed opportunities, in my opinion. As TV Guide magazine's Michael Logan tweeted, Castillo is a "lovely, luminous actress." Parise was wasted too; Carlos was a plot-device hot potato, passed around to fill in several stories and recklessly killed twice.

...Because everyone spills their guts, literally & figuratively, at Pier 52.

January 20, 1995 marks the 1st appearance of one my absolute favorite characters, Emily Bowen, a youngster adopted by doctor-couple Monica and Alan Quartermaine after her biological mother died of cancer. Thanks to the (mostly) heartfelt and riveting writing of the character and the beautiful portrayals of Amber Tamblyn and Natalia Livingston, Emily was a joy to watch develop for many “General Hospital” fans, as she blossomed from a troubled orphan to a literal princess-and doctor-who was the calming glue of the often quarreling Quartermaine family. It seemed like there was never a dull moment in Emily’s storyline: she abused drugs, was in the center of a murder investigation and blackmailed, had a couple of boyfriends from the wrong side of the tracks, was paralyzed, kidnapped, beat breast cancer, dodged murder attempts, survived two train crashes and was sexually assaulted by someone physically identical to her husband.

Plots play a central role in seizing a viewer’s interest, but seductive, captivating and/or relatable characters are what propel a story. In my opinion, Emily Quartermaine is one of the most well-written female leads. A symptom of societal gender politics and stereotypes, most female soap figures are either warm-hearted pushovers or immoral and a bit icy. Every now and then, there’s an Anna Devane, who’s a powerful match of brawn and dogma. Emily had all the right ingredients. She was a happy medium between the extremes of a Robin Scorpio and a Carly Benson. Emily was kind and noble, but she’d sass you and get you together if she needed to-verbally or physically (Carly is a hard person to shut-down and Emily was doing it when she was barely legal). She was respected by most, but wasn’t self-righteous or boring (the girl had some edge). She loved with all her heart, but the men in her life never became her identity. She gave you a girl-next-door image, but she could turn on the sex.

Her super-couple love affair with Prince Nikolas Cassadine (Tyler Christopher) was equally well-composed. Their relationship started under unusual circumstances, (he was avoiding an arranged marriage and she was recovering from cancer and wedding vows made on her deathbed), but they were such a perfect fit, that all their other pairings are pale in comparison and are barely discussed, which is rare in soap-fan land. Even the infinitely-famous Luke and Laura had other pairings people debate over. Definitely princely, Nikolas was handsome, debonair, romantic, a pure spirit and a brute protector, ideal for the poised and smart heroine heiress. Unwaveringly dutiful to and enamored with each other, Emily and Nikolas (AKA “NEm”) were nothing short of a fairytale. It took her rape by Connor Bishop to pull them a part, and still, they eventually found their way back to each other. Emily’s familial and peer bonds were just as endearing and special (particularly those with brother Jason and friends Lucky & Elizabeth); a dynamic noticeably missing from GH today (I want to see more close friendships!).

...Because everyone spills their guts, literally & figuratively, at Pier 52.

I planned on doing a “Pier 52” with my commentary on some postings from GHsecrets.tumblr.com about JaSam (the coupling of Jason Morgan & Samantha McCall), but now that SiAm (Dr. Silas Clay & Sam) has been initiated (they kissed on 9/5), I decided that in addition to my original idea, I’d give my thoughts on the new pairing & the writing of Sam’s post-Jason life (if some portions of this article look familiar, it’s because I pulled some lines I thought were important from previous pieces where I mentioned Sam’s storyline). As a Sam fan, I’m only partially happy with what I’ve been seeing currently. 2013 has been the year of familial bonds and friendships for Sam McCall-Morgan (portrayed by Kelly Monaco) as she’s been coping with the loss of her husband (Jason), gained an adoptive son (Rafe Kovich), faced the man who’s tormented her (Franco) and watched her infant son (Danny) battle cancer. As if things couldn’t be any tenser, she doesn’t know that her biological father is mobster Julian Jerome, who’s planning to take-over the territory of Sonny Corinthos, a dear friend of hers, and that her potential new love is linked to his sister, Ava. I love that family is now at the center of Sam’s arch and that her father is a part of “General Hospital” history, but there’s a massive elephant in the room that the writers have momentously neglected to thoroughly address and that elephant is Jason.

Yes, we saw Sam be in denial, shed a few tears and feverishly hunt for her husband, but there was so much surrounding Jason’s death, from how he died to the aftermath, that was not worthy of a 20-year veteran character and a decade long romance. Doing justice and paying respect to the magnitude of Jason & Sam’s union is going to be elemental in creating a “moving forward” trajectory that key viewers (i.e. the core fan-base, which in Sam’s case, are mostly JaSammers) will be content with and want to watch. Constantly in a place of individual emotional isolation and internalized pain, Jason and Sam understood each other (it never seemed right to me that Carly would sometimes get Jason right before Sam did). The gun-toting, butt-kicking and motorcycle riding JaSam were an outlawed version of Anna and Duke, to a degree, and were a major super-couple in the 2000's. As Ryan White-Nobles of TVSourceMagazine.com tweeted, “People come into your life for a season, a reason and a lifetime. Jason is Sam’s lifetime.” Unlike most characters, all of Sam’s other romantic connections were superficially based (she was a con-artist in her beginnings). Jason (Steve Burton) was the only person whom she found a place and a sense of belonging.

Turmoil is part of super-couple territory, but it seemed to find JaSam at an alarming rate. Most soap-lovers get married, divorced, remarried and have a couple of kids; JaSam could never quite get there. Then, in 2011, fans thought they were finally going to have their way when Sam and Jason wed, but it wasn’t a month before the honeymoon was literally over. Franco (then played by James Franco) kidnapped Jason and made him watch as he led Jason to believe he raped Sam (it was later re-written that Sam wasn’t raped and the scene was staged). When Sam turned up pregnant, a DVD left by Franco and a manipulated paternity test left the couple to conclude that Sam was having Franco’s child. Being that Sam had previous miscarriages, abortion or adoption wasn’t an option for her. The script had Jason rejecting the unborn child, becoming an insensitive butthole and leaving Sam to fend for herself. This series of events was a colossal mistake inherited by the upcoming writing team (“One Life to Live’s” Ron Carlivati became head-writer in 2012) that would cause a whole domino effect of mistakes. JaSam’s problems were exacerbated by Sam’s bubbling feelings for John McBain (an OLTL carry-on), who would help deliver her son. Another crazy string of events resulted in other OLTL carry-ons raising Sam’s son while she thought he was dead and she and Jason remained estranged. Feeling guilty, Jason teamed up with his rival, McBain (Michael Easton), to find the truth about Sam’s son and bring him home. Eventually, Jason asked for Sam’s forgiveness and embraced Danny. Viewers got just a glimpse of the Morgan family reunion and JaSammer jubilance was again short-lived. As crafty of a hit-man Jason was, he was unsuspectingly shot in the back by Cesar Faison (disguised as Duke Lavery) and kicked over into the harbor like a dog. Although his body being in the harbor and never found by police left an opportunity for the character to resurface at least, Jason’s exit was harsh and hurried. It was like being in a car where the driver suddenly slams on the brakes and you crash into a wall.

For today's "Pier 52," I'm just going to post some anonymous "secrets" from a fan Tumblr & comment. I'll spill my own personal guts later (I definitely have ideas). Jacob & Jaxon Kring, the twins who play Danny Morgan, have so much personality, I almost pay more attention to them in scenes than the adults. Their laughs, cries, looks and points are unscripted, but are always on time and add to the scenes. It's uncanny. They should keep them as long as possible. 

This is ridiculously accurate. As a child, Michael was mouthier, fearless and more confident. You would think adolescence would heighten this, but Mike went soft during high school. Some say how they write a character is all about who the actor is. Maybe that's true. One person said Andrew Garrett's Michael was the best. Maybe that's true too. All I know is that being a Quartermaine raised Corinthos should make Michael a contender-pun intended-for a future GH patriarch & at this tender, push-over, mama's boy rate, it's not happening. Morgan is handsome and has a little edge, but he's kind of dopey. Kristina has always been a brat. I'd like to see these characters be tougher, wiser and more intense.