Steve Burton is done with the show!

TV Guide Magazine: Word is, this is one of the most amicable soap exits ever — no money battles, storyline complaints, testy negotiations. Where's all the drama, dude?

Burton: I've been through 21 years of ups and downs with GH— regime changes, cast and crew changes, budget cuts, shakeups of one kind or another, and it's been nothing but a huge positive in my life and for my family. I have no complaints, no negative feelings at all. But it's time to go. I'm going to take some time off and do nothing but relax, just enjoy life a little bit with my wife and kids. I've bought a home in Tennessee, way out in the country outside Nashville. [Laughs] Probably too far out in the country! I've been talking about leaving GH and moving there for the last seven years. The timing was never right and then the economy crashed and I couldn't sell my house in California. I went there many years ago when I did the movie The Last Castle and loved it. Tennessee reminded me of growing up in Ohio. The people are nice, it's family oriented and, now that my kids are 6 and almost 9, I want to get them planted. My contract was coming up at GH so we put the house up for sale again and it went in, like, eight weeks. That opened the door for me to leave GH.

FULL INTERVIEW:

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Steve-Burton-Quits-General-Hospital-1052432.aspx

I won't lie, I'm sad about this. We're losing another Quartermaine and I've been enjoying Jason now that the show doesn't revolve around him. I thought Carlivati had just barely tipped the surface in what he could do with Jason. I wanted to see more with Jason and Liz and I just enjoy him being there. I like the relationship with Carly and Michael, Sam and John, even Sonny. It's going to be weird to never have him there.

I'm thrilled! So glad Jason and his airtime are leaving.

Jason has not been an airhog for quite some time now. This only bumps up Filthy McNasty to lead, and trust, he will eat up alot of airtime. Toad as well. Mo should be panicking right now. I suspect LW is still on this show because it's good for business, but she should beware as well.

I'd rather see Patrick bumped up than a OLer! This is foul no matter how you look at it.

I think Mo ate his brussels sprouts for this regime a while ago. He's been shifted into second tier priority for a while now.

Any time they want to ice Laura Wright and bring back Sarah is good for me.

I'm happy about this, but I will miss Liz and Monica. I just don't see anyway that they Ron would keep them on without Jason.

I'm pretty sure they're keeping Liz around for if/when they can get JJ's Lucky to come back but Steve leaving kills two of the most popular (and debated) couples in the show's recent history. Definitely a buzzkill so to speak since they've amped both sides of the triangle so much...but surprise, you both lose! But I can't say I'll personally miss him.

Edited August 28, 201213 yr by alexisfan07

I'm pretty sure they're keeping Liz around for if/when they can get JJ's Lucky to come back but Steve leaving kills two of the most popular (and debated) couples in the show's recent history. Definitely a buzzkill so to speak but I can't say I'll personally miss him.

Wouldn't it be nice if the show used this as a chance to move away from the failed "fanwars=ratings" strategy that has been so toxic over the years? I know that's not about to happen but still Burton's leaving would be a great chance to change direction.

Just because he's off GH does not mean he's gonig to Y&R. I swear every time someone leaves GH/gets fired/is thinking about leaving GH the Y&R rumors start.

Wouldn't it be nice if the show used this as a chance to move away from the failed "fanwars=ratings" strategy that has been so toxic over the years? I know that's not about to happen but still Burton's leaving would be a great chance to change direction.

I never really watched long enough to know this as their strategy but Jason/Sam and Jason/Liz have some of the most intense fans that I've ever seen. I haven't really seen a triangle that's created such a 50/50 split in the audience. But the constant baiting and teasing with the subject in the storyline has become stale (and that's putting it lightly).

surprise, you both lose!

Couldn't it be argued that, without Jason, they both WIN?

Liz isn't going anywhere and finally at least she'll be free from the void that is Jason. I want her to have a new romance that she should have had instead of the Lucky crap and the JaSam propping she's had to do.

Wow I did not think this day would come. I guess this stabilizes Mcbain and Todd's part in the show ( Maybe they can bump up Johnny and Patrick but I don't see that)

Wow I did not think this day would come. I guess this stabilizes Mcbain and Todd's part in the show ( Maybe they can bump up Johnny and Patrick but I don't see that)

McBain and Todd still stick out like sore thumbs and have little chemistry with any established characters. That's the main failure in their stories.

Jason has not been an airhog for quite some time now. This only bumps up Filthy McNasty to lead, and trust, he will eat up alot of airtime. Toad as well. Mo should be panicking right now. I suspect LW is still on this show because it's good for business, but she should beware as well.

I'd rather see Patrick bumped up than a OLer! This is foul no matter how you look at it.

For years I've wanted either Burton or Bernard to leave so the mob centric stories will finally eradicate from this show and now that it seemingly has a new airhog takes it place. All the propping will simply go to Easton and Monaco and the Caleb and Livvie fangurls finally get their wish - he's even grown his hair out to revert back to form. However i will say from the little ive seen of him on GH ive never gotten the greasy quips and "he needs a shower" comments. The guy still has the zoolander routine down to a T even though he's gotten over the hill but he looks no less nasty or greasy than Mo who has a ton of gel slicked into his hair.

I wonder if Sonny with get a new mob partner. It will be hard for the mob to remain a big part of the show with just Sonny and Max and Milo.

McBain and Todd still stick out like sore thumbs and have little chemistry with any established characters. That's the main failure in their stories.

I couldn't disagree more if I tried, come on now. Todd has chem with Carly as much as I hate the thought of it, he has it with Sam too(ditto on hating that too)

John has chem with Alexis and Sam and even yes Sonny

They have more overall chem than most characters do *side eyes Kate/Connie*

Honestly, I'm glad he's leaving. Nothing against the actor himself, but the character has outlasted his welcome. I just hope and pray the show doesn't recast the role. It is unnecessary and disrespectful, IMO.

This show has been so ruined it doesn't even matter. Had this been 5 years ago it would've been awesome news.