http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/soaps/jonathan-jackson-returns-to-general-hospital-2594.html

Jonathan Jackson Returns to General Hospital

by Michael Logan September 29, 2009 11:52 AM EST

In a jaw-dropping switcheroo, Greg Vaughan is out as General Hospital’s Lucky Spencer and Jonathan Jackson—the actor who originated the role to extraordinary acclaim—has agreed to step back in. Jackson hits the air October 27. Though the decision to re-cast seemingly came out of nowhere, the official word from ABC is that Vaughan “has decided to leave GH and vacate the role to explore new opportunities.” Vaughan, on the other hand, has Twittered to his fans that he got the axe. Here, in a TV Guide Magazine exclusive, the Emmy-winning Jackson talks about his sudden return to Port Charles.

This is stunning—and very welcome—news! You made an indelible mark on the role, and the show.

I’m sort of in a whirlwind. This is pretty much out of the blue. It’s been 10 years since I left the show but in some ways it doesn’t feel like that at all. When I [got the offer] from GH I talked about it with my family and it felt like the right time to return. [Jackson is married to former GH star Lisa Vultaggio. They have a son, 6, and a daughter, 4.] I also talked it over with Tony Geary [Lucky’s dad Luke], who was really positive about this. Our relationship goes back a long way. That’s one of the biggest motivators in my coming back—getting to work with Tony again. It feels like a very exciting adventure.

Had there been previous offers to return to GH?

It had been contemplated at different times over the years. But it never really felt right until now. I start work October 1, then have a break, a period where I’m transitioning and moving the family down to L.A. I’ve been living in Washington state for quite a while—six or seven years now—and fly to L.A. for work. But in order for me to be available to GH as much as they’ll need me, we’ll all be moving there. It’s important to keep the family together.

Your last big gig was your recurring role on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. What’s life like balancing L.A. and Washington? What did moving there do for your soul?

It’s a good balance. I grew up there. My family’s there. After we got married, it felt like it was time to get some breathing room, get into a different headspace. Lisa had been acting for probably 16 years and felt like a new beginning. The people in Washington are wonderful. It’s been great to have that network of support. I like L.A. The restaurants are wonderful. But there is a certain tone to the town. Everybody’s intensely in the entertainment industry, and that creates a different culture, a different feeling in the air. It felt right to raise the kids in Washington, at least for their early years. We have a foundation there. I like the rain. The fall. The changing weather.

How do you fill your days there?

I’ve been doing music pretty heavily for the last 5 years. I have a band called Enation. We tour and make records. I write books. I write screenplays with my brother, Richard. I have many creative outlets beyond the acting.

Looking back at your early years as Lucky, where did you get all that old-soul stuff? Why were you such a fine actor—and so complex and worldly—at such a young age?

I don’t know where that came from. The whole acting thing just sort of clicked for me. Somehow I just understood it internally. I am definitely a person of faith, so I believe it all comes from there but even if you’re gifted, you still have to really work hard. None of it’s easy.

You played Lucky as a kid and a teen. Now you’ll get the chance to play him as a mature adult.

That’s going to be fascinating and fun for me and a bit of a paradox. I’m coming back to play the character as an adult but because I don’t know what that really means yet, I’ll be like a child—coming into it with a sense of wonder and curiosity because it’ll all be so new. I have no idea what this is going to feel like.

Did you ever imagine you’d reclaim the role after it was re-cast with Greg Vaughan?

I guess I always felt like there was a possibility somewhere, just because of the connection the audience has with Lucky, and with me playing him. So, yeah, I always felt it was a possibility. I was determined to work with Tony Geary again no matter what. It’s shocking how everything has aligned.

Wow, if his main reason for returning is working with Tony Geary, he's going to be in for a very rude awakening.

I can't wait to see him on screen again

The last answer is just so wrong. HIS connection to the role of Lucky and HIS fans?? It's been 10 years. He's not kid anymore. Things change. Fans change. Fans leave.

And please ABCD just be honest for once...Greg Vaughan was fired!!!

I guess Nathan Parson just lost his best friend.

This is going to be an odd transition because GV and JJ really have nothing in common -- as far as appearance, mannerisms, style, etc.. GV was the definition of hunk, hunk, hunk...and JJ is....well, a manchild at best.

While JJ certainly isn't a piece of chiseled man-beef like GV, I still think he's appealing in that Leo DiCaprio/goth rocker kind of way. He's still pretty damn adorable, that Jonathan.

While JJ certainly isn't a piece of chiseled man-beef like GV, I still think he's appealing in that Leo DiCaprio/goth rocker kind of way. He's still pretty damn adorable, that Jonathan.

He's going to be such a contrast to the men on GH who look like the Hulk. I hope he won't take any tips from them on fitness.

This means the only guys on GH I would call hot are probably all going to be gone by this time next year.

Not that I watch GH, but I hope he's dropped that whole aping Christian Slater thing where he talks in his throat and his voice is all clicky.

It's strange because his Lucky was so very successful, moreso than say Nathan Fillion's Joey whose successors also showed a noticeable physical change. Don Jeffcoat and blond twin boy were so hard (impossible) for me to wrap my brain around as Joey, and when Nathan came back it was like all was right with the world. I just don't think it'll work the same for JJ... at least not initially. His teeny bopper fans in 1997 are grown now, many of them probably don't even watch anymore. It remains to be seen, but I'm willing to guess that what made teenaged JJ appealing to girls won't exactly translate to a man in his twenties. Female fans want their men to be like GV.

While JJ certainly isn't a piece of chiseled man-beef like GV, I still think he's appealing in that Leo DiCaprio/goth rocker kind of way. He's still pretty damn adorable, that Jonathan.

I hear you, but even in LD's case, youth was on his side. Of course he's had a super successful career, but just watching him in the kind of role he continues to play, there's this thread of that Tiger Beat boy the girls fell mad for playing grown up. As the face gets fatter, the eyes get more lined, I really don't think fans want to see LD grow up. It's the difference between "golden boy" actors like him or JJ, and actors like Paul Newman and the men who've played Bond. Just different types.

I don't think it will matter that much because female fans aren't a priority for GH. The show is anti-good looking men, and anti-female.

The question I have is whether JJ is going to get bogged down in the tic-laden Master Thespian stuff he and Tony had a tendency to do, and whether they will make Lucky the same waste of space they have made their favorite leading men into. Wendy Riche was there for JJ's entire run. The type of young man Lucky was under that regime does not exist on GH now. Now, if Liz had been raped, Lucky would have slept with Sarah to help him get over the burden of a girl who was damaged goods. That's how GH sees rape now.

That's how GH sees rape now.

Now?

GH & rape's problems started a LONG time ago.

You're right, I was just separating Riche's era from the others as I don't think she saw rape that way.

You're right, I was just separating Riche's era from the others as I don't think she saw rape that way.

Touche.

This will be Guza's test though.

Will he backburner the mob for the Spencer/Cassadines or will Lucky become another mob sidekick like Zander & Spinelli?

I don't even know what is left of the Spencers and the Cassadines. I think he happily destroyed both of those families, and that legacy, as some type of spite move because he only cared about them when JJ was around.

I guess he can rebuild them (I'm sure we'll be getting some new, very very scary Cassadines soon), but by the time he wrote JJ's Lucky out, Lucky was starting work for the mob. I won't be surprised if we get that again.

I wonder if JJ knows that the show had Luke get a big kick out of his Lucky being tortured and brainwashed by Helena.

Edited September 29, 200916 yr by CarlD2

Touche.

This will be Guza's test though.

Will he backburner the mob for the Spencer/Cassadines or will Lucky become another mob sidekick like Zander & Spinelli?

My wish if for Guza to backburn the mob or kill everyone in it. But the hospital of General Hospital would be destroy before that happen.

JJ is going to be screw