GENERAL HOSPITAL: December 2022 and Year End Stats

[jcar03]

PLEASE GIVE CREDIT WHEN SHARING OR TAKING A SCREENSHOT! THANKS!

GENERAL HOSPITAL
December 2022 Episode Count
22 Episodes

1. Nicholas Chavez (Spencer Cassadine) - 16
2. Marcus Coloma (Nikolas Cassadine) - 14
3. Tabyana Ali (Trina Robinson) - 13
*Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 13
*Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Webber) - 13
6. Eden McCoy (Josslyn Jacks) - 12
7. Michael Easton (Dr. Hamilton Finn) - 11
*Evan Hofer (Dex Heller) - 11
*Cynthia Watros (Nina Clay) - 11
*Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) - 11
11. Kelly Thiebaud (Dr. Britt Westbourne) - 10
*Maura West (Ava Jerome) - 10
*Laura Wright (Carly Corinthos) - 10
14. Katelyn MacMullen (Willow Tait) - 9
*Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones) - 9
16. Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos) - 8
*Genie Francis (Laura Collins) - 8
*Cameron Mathison (Drew Cain) - 8
*Kelly Monaco (Sam McCall) - 8
20. Roger Howarth (Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt) - 7
*Josh Kelly (Cody Bell) - 7
*Avery Kristen Pohl (Esme Prince) - 7
*Charles Shaughnessy (Victor Cassadine) - 7
24. Tanisha Harper (Jordan Ashford) - 6
*Michael Kruse (Rory Cabrera) - 6
*Alley Mills (Heather Webber) - 6
*Amanda Setton (Brook Lynn Quartermaine) - 6
*James Patrick Stuart (Valentin Cassadine) - 6
29. Kathleen Gati (Dr. Liesl Obrecht) - 5
*Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) - 5
*Brook Kerr (Dr. Portia Robinson) - 5
*Jon Lindstrom (Ryan Chamberlain) - 5
*Sofia Mattsson (Sasha Gilmore) - 5
*Josh Swickard (Harrison Chase) - 5
*Donnell Turner (Curtis Ashford) - 5
36. Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) - 4
*Cassandra James (Dr. Terry Randolph) - 4
*Jeff Kober (Cyrus Renault) - 4
*William Lipton (Cameron Webber) - 4
*Parry Shen (Brad Cooper) - 4
*John York (Mac Scorpio) - 4
42. Tajh Bellow (TJ Ashford) - 3
*Robert Gossett (Marshall Ashford) - 3
*Gregory Harrison (Gregory Chase) - 3
*Lisa LoCicero (Olivia Quartermaine) - 3
*Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio) - 3
*Kin Shriner (Scott Baldwin) - 3
*Kristina Wagner (Felicia Scorpio) - 3
49. Bradford Anderson (Damian Spinelli) - 2
*Joyce Guy (Phyllis Caulfield) - 2
*Michael Knight (Martin Grey) - 2
*Wally Kurth (Ned Quartermaine) - 2
*William R. Moses (Jeff Webber) - 2
*Haley Pullos (Molly Lansing-Davis) - 2
*Viron Weaver (Wiley Corinthos) - 2
56. Lexi Ainsworth (Kristina Corinthos-Davis) - 1
*Daniel Buran (Linc Brown) - 1
*Bonnie Burroughs (Gladys Corbin) - 1
*Christina Ferraro (Dr. Sofia Navarro) - 1
*Lily Fisher (Georgie Spinelli) - 1
*Lydia Look (Selina Wu) - 1
*Jophielle Love (Violet Barnes) - 1
*Heather Mazur (Deputy Mayor Ashby) - 1
*Anthony Montgomery (Dr. Andre Maddox) - 1
*Ava & Grace Scarola (Avery Corinthos) - 1
*Scarlett Spears (Donna Corinthos) - 1
*Easton Rocket Sweda (Leo Quartermaine) - 1
*Vernee Watson (Stella Henry) - 1
*Emily Wilson (Ellie Trout) - 1

Contract Actor Not Appearing This Month:
Johnny Wactor (Brando Corbin) [yes, they still haven't removed him]

Identified Non-Recurring Guest Stars/Underfives:
Jason Beaubien [Annie Biotixx] (Emcee)
Antione Grant (Cop #1)
Jesse Grant (Bartender)
Ari Kappatos (Demetrius)
Maddie Lane (Mary)
Brandon Larkins (Axel)
Chauntal Lewis (Nurse Chanel)
Jacqueline Grace Lopez (Blaze)
Frank Lyon (Bodyguard Frank)
Mike Peebler (Agent Whitten)
Trish Ramish (Metro Court Hostess Trish)
Johnny Redwood (Johnny)
Alice Rietveld (Denise Makenzie)
Jennifer Yun (Nurse)

 

GENERAL HOSPITAL 2022 Episode Count
245 Episodes

1. Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 160
2. Laura Wright (Carly Corinthos) - 140
3. Cynthia Watros (Nina Clay) - 125
4. Nicholas Chavez (Spencer Cassadine) - 112
5. Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) - 111
6. Maura West (Ava Jerome) - 105
7. Marcus Coloma (Nikolas Cassadine) - 101
8. Cameron Mathison (Drew Cain) - 99
*Eden McCoy (Josslyn Jacks) - 99
10. Donnell Turner (Curtis Ashford) - 97
11. Avery Kristen Pohl (Esme Prince) - 95
12. Kelly Thiebaud (Dr. Britt Westbourne) - 94
13. Charles Shaughnessy (Victor Cassadine) - 92
14. Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos) - 91
15. Katelyn MacMullen (Willow Tait) - 90
16. Michael Easton (Dr. Hamilton Finn) - 88
17. Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Webber) - 87
18. Tabyana Ali (Trina Robinson) - 86
19. Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones) - 84
20. Amanda Setton (Brook Lynn Quartermaine) - 81
21. Brook Kerr (Dr. Portia Robinson) - 80
*Kelly Monaco (Sam McCall) - 80
23. Tanisha Harper (Jordan Ashford) - 76
*Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) - 76
25. Josh Swickard (Harrison Chase) - 73
26. Genie Francis (Laura Collins) - 67
*James Patrick Stuart (Valentin Cassadine) - 67
28. Tajh Bellow (TJ Ashford) - 60
29. Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) - 59
*William Lipton (Cameron Webber) - 59
*Kristina Wagner (Felicia Scorpio) - 59
32. Evan Hofer (Dex Heller) - 58
33. Roger Howarth (Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt) - 56
*Sofia Mattsson (Sasha Gilmore) - 56
35. Josh Kelly (Cody Bell) - 55
36. Robert Gossett (Marshall Ashford) - 49
*Michael Kruse (Rory Cabrera) - 49
38. Lisa LoCicero (Olivia Quartermaine) - 43
39. Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio) - 41
40. John York (Mac Scorpio) - 40
41. Johnny Wactor (Brando Corbin) - 39
42. Jon Lindstrom (Dr. Kevin Collins - 23/Ryan Chamberlain - 17) - 38
43. Wally Kurth (Ned Quartermaine) - 37
44. Lynn Herring (Lucy Coe) - 36
45. Inga Cadranel (Harmony) - 33
46. Kin Shriner (Scott Baldwin) - 32
47. Bonnie Burroughs (Gladys Corbin) - 30
*Carolyn Hennesy (Diane Miller) - 30
*Cassandra James (Dr. Terry Randolph) - 30
50. Bradford Anderson (Damian Spinelli) - 28
*Kathleen Gati (Dr. Liesl Obrecht) - 28
52. Gregory Harrison (Gregory Chase) - 27
53. Lydia Look (Selina Wu) - 26
54. Michael Knight (Martin Grey) - 25
*Parry Shen (Brad Cooper) - 25
56. Easton Rocket Sweda (Leo Quartermaine) - 21
57. Max Decker (Johann Bauer) - 19
58. Wes Ramsey (Peter August) - 18
*Vernee Watson (Stella Henry) - 18
60. Sydney Mikayla (Trina Robinson) - 17
61. Real Andrews (Marcus Taggert) - 16
*Jennifer Field (ADA Arden) - 16
*Jophielle Love (Violet Barnes) - 16
*Emma Samms (Holly Sutton) - 16
65. Sonya Eddy (Epiphany Johnson) - 15
*Joyce Guy (Phyllis Caulfield) - 15
67. Daniel Buran (Linc Brown) - 14
68. David Lautman (Grant Smoltz) - 13
69. Lexi Ainsworth (Kristina Corinthos-Davis) - 12
*Dioni Michelle Collins (Deanna Sirtis) - 12
*Alley Mills (Heather Webber) - 12
*Haley Pullos (Molly Lansing-Davis) - 12
*Viron Weaver (Wiley Corinthos) - 12
74. Max Faugno (Oz Haggerty) - 11
75. Risa Dorken (Amy Driscoll) - 10
*Brian Norris (Paparazzo Felty) - 10
*London & Jett Prinzo-Berendt (Bailey Jones) - 10
*Jacklyn Zeman (Bobbie Spencer) - 10
79. William R. Moses (Jeff Webber) - 9
80. Robert Adamson (Michael Corinthos) - 8
*Jane Elliot (Tracy Quartermaine) - 8
*Jeff Kober (Cyrus Renault) - 8
*Heather Mazur (Deputy Mayor Ashby) - 8
*Ava & Grace Scarola (Avery Corinthos) - 8
*Teddy & Lincoln Sykes (Bailey Jones) - 8
*Hudson West (Jake Webber) - 8
87. Sean Blakemore (Shawn Butler) - 7
*Christopher Van Etten (Chet Driscoll) - 7
89. Enzo De Angelis (Aiden Spencer) - 6
*Stephen A. Smith (Brick) - 6
91. Stephanie Erb (Alexis Davis) - 5
*Holly Gagnier (Jennifer Smith) - 5
*Cyrus Hobbi (Yuri) - 5
94. Leslie Charleson (Dr. Monica Quartermaine) - 4
*Adam Huss (Nikolas Cassadine) - 4
*Amelie McLain (Charlotte Cassadine) - 4
97. Arya & Ayla Dormiani (Donna Corinthos) - 3
*Lily Fisher (Georgie Spinelli) - 3
*Priscilla Garita (Harmony) - 3
*Lindsay Hartley (Sam McCall) - 3
*Asante Jones (Marcus Taggert) - 3
*Brad Schmidt (Brando Corbin) - 3
*Deborah Strang (Betsy Frank) - 3
104. Cosette Abinante (Scout Cain) - 2
*Helena Mattsson (Sasha Gilmore) - 2
*Scarlett Spears (Donna Corinthos) - 2
107. Finn Carr (Rocco Falconeri)  - 1
*Isaiah Dell (Leo Quartermaine) - 1
*Christina Ferraro (Dr. Sofia Navarro) - 1
*Rif Hutton (Lenny Caulfield) - 1
*Holly Kaplan (Dr. Monica Quartermaine) - 1
*Briana Lane (Brook Lynn Quartermaine) - 1
*Chloe Lanier (Nelle Benson) - 1
*Damien Leake (Marshall Ashford) - 1
*Anthony Montgomery (Dr. Andre Maddox) - 1
*Marc Anthony Samuel (Felix DuBois) - 1
*Constance Towers (Helena Cassadine) - 1
*Emily Wilson (Ellie Trout) - 1

Contract Arrivals (10)
Kristina Wagner (Felicia Scorpio) - 1/3 (recurring previously)
Tajh Bellow (TJ Ashford) - 2/14 (recurring previously)
Tanisha Harper (Jordan Ashford) - 3/2
Tabyana Ali (Trina Robinson) - 3/25
Robert Gossett (Marshall Ashford) - 3/28 (recurring previously)
Michael Kruse (Rory Cabrera) - 3/29
Josh Kelly (Cody Bell) - 6/1
Gregory Harrison (Gregory Chase) - 6/10 (recurring previously)
Evan Hofer (Dex Heller) - 8/29 (recurring previously)
Emma Samms (Holly Sutton) - 10/20

Contract Departures (6)
Wes Ramsey (Peter August) - 1/28 (moves to recurring until final airdate 2/23)
Sean Blakemore (Shawn Butler) - 3/21
Inga Cadranel (Harmony) - 5/4
Johnny Wactor (Brando Corbin) - 9/20 (would be credited until 1/06/23)
Michael Kruse (Rory Cabrera) - 9/27 (moves to recurring)
Emma Samms (Holly Sutton) - 11/30

Preemptions (15)
April 12 - New York City Subway Shooting News Coverage
May 25 - Uvalde School Shooting News Coverage
May 30 - Memorial Day (repeat of 10/22/2021)
June 16 - January 6th Select Committee Hearing
June 21 - January 6th Select Committee Hearing
June 23 - January 6th Select Committee Hearing
June 28 - January 6th Select Committee Hearing
July 4 - Fourth of July (repeat of 11/24/2021)
July 12 - January 6th Select Committee Hearing
July 21 - ABC News Report
September 8 - News Coverage of Queen Elizabeth II Death
October 7 - MLB Wild Card Game
October 13 - January 6th Select Committee Hearing
November 24 - Thanksgiving (repeat of 11/24/2021)
November 25 - NCAA Football

Monthly Leaders
January: Maurice Benard (Sonny) and Laura Wright (Carly) - 15
February: Maurice Benard (Sonny) - 15
March: Avery Kristen Pohl (Esme) - 16
April: Maurice Benard (Sonny) and Inga Cadranel (Harmony) - 13
May: Laura Wright (Carly) - 18
June: Laura Wright (Carly) - 12
July: Avery Kristen Pohl (Esme) - 13
August: Nicholas Chavez (Spencer), Marcus Coloma (Nikolas), and Maura West (Ava) - 15
September: Maurice Benard (Sonny) - 19
October - Charles Shaughnessy (Victor) - 15
November - Maurice Benard (Sonny) - 12
December - Nicholas Chavez (Spencer) - 16

Recurring Actors Are Italicized 

Thanks to alexisfan07 for checking the data!

Edited January 28, 2023 by jcar03

[FrenchFan]

Thanks for the great work.

Is Leslie Charleson sick or something ? She hasn't appeared in months and usually GH uses her a bit more.

[jcar03]

I do believe she took a nasty fall sometime in the spring.

[jcar03]

PLEASE GIVE CREDIT WHEN SHARING OR TAKING A SCREENSHOT! THANKS!

GENERAL HOSPITAL 2000-2022 Episode Count Top 50
5724 Episodes

1. Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 4147
2. Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Webber-2963/Jessie Brewer-1/Mrs. Cratchit-1/Eliza-1) - 2965
3. Steve Burton (Jason Morgan-2943/Drew Cain flashbacks-3) - 2944
4. Kelly Monaco (Sam McCall) - 2837
5. Laura Wright (Carly Corinthos-2785/Lena Spencer-2/Beatrice Eckert-1) - 2787
6. Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis-2638/Lexy Brighton-1) - 2638
7. Ingo Rademacher (Jasper “Jax” Jacks) - 1877
8. Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones-1768/Fred’s Wife-1) - 1768
9. Tyler Christopher (Nikolas Cassadine) - 1653
10. Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) - 1526
11. Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos-1518/Young Dick Wilkins-1) - 1518
12. Anthony Geary (Luke Spencer-1483/Tim Spencer-2) - 1483
13. Jason Thompson (Patrick Drake-1390/Steve Hardy-1) - 1391
14. Julie Marie Berman (Lulu Spencer) - 1246
15. Jane Elliot (Tracy Quartermaine-1182/Marley-1) - 1182
16. Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing) - 1160
17. Bradford Anderson (Damian Spinelli) - 1127
18. Leslie Charleson (Dr. Monica Quartermaine-1112/Mrs. Dilber-1/Mary-1) - 1112
19. Kimberly McCullough (Robin Scorpio Drake) - 1098
20. Finola Hughes (Anna Devane-1066/Liesl as Anna-1/Alex Marick-25/Older Belle-1/Alice-1) - 1075
21. John J. York (Mac Scorpio) - 1065
22. Roger Howarth (Franco Baldwin-789/Todd Manning-144/Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt-110/Bob Cratchit-1) - 1044
23. Natalia Livingston (Emily Quartermaine - 903/Rebecca Shaw - 140) - 1043
24. Tamara Braun (Carly Corinthos-842/Dr. Kim Nero-187) - 1029
25. Maura West (Ava Jerome-1028/Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come-1/Ada Hook-1) - 1028
26. Greg Vaughan (Lucky Spencer) - 1017
27. Lisa LoCicero (Olivia Quartermaine) - 1010
28. Michael Easton (Dr. Hamilton Finn-614/Dr. Silas Clay-245/John McBain-125/Ebenezer Scrooge-1) - 984
29. Genie Francis (Laura Collins) - 933
30. Wally Kurth (Ned Quartermaine-871/Fezziwig-1) - 908
31. Robin Christopher (Skye Quartermaine) - 879
32. Jacklyn Zeman (Bobbie Spencer) - 853
33. Brandon Barash (Johnny Zacchara) - 849
34. Kin Shriner (Scott Baldwin) - 840
35. Alicia Leigh Willis (Courtney Matthews) - 804
36. William deVry (Julian Jerome) - 781
37. Emme Rylan (Lulu Spencer Falconeri) - 753
38. Billy Miller (Drew Cain) - 705
39. John Ingle (Edward Quartermaine) - 663
40. Stuart Damon (Alan Quartermaine) - 662
41. Ted King (Lorenzo Alcazar-573/Luis Alcazar-57) - 630
42. Derk Cheetwood (Max Giambetti) - 620
43. Donnell Turner (Curtis Ashford) - 616
44. Sonya Eddy (Epiphany Johnson) - 607
45. Sarah Brown (Claudia Zacchara-352/Carly Corinthos-228) - 580
46. Carolyn Hennesy (Diane Miller) - 578
47. James Patrick Stuart (Valentin Cassadine) - 575 NEW
48. Kristina Wagner (Felicia Scorpio) - 570 RETURN
49. Dylan Cash (Michael Corinthos) - 554
50. Michelle Stafford (Nina Clay) - 520

Removed from the Top 50 This Year
Scott Clifton (Dillon Quartermaine) - 517
Lindze Letherman (Georgie Jones) - 512

CHARACTER Top 10

1. Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) - 4147
2. Carly Corinthos (Laura Wright-2785/Tamara Braun-842/Sarah Brown-228/Jennifer Bransford-107) - 3962
3. Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst-2963/Martha Madison-5) - 2968
4. Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) - 2943
5. Sam McCall (Kelly Monaco-2837/Lindsay Hartley-11) - 2848
6. Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn-2637/Stephanie Erb-5/Susan Diol-2) - 2644
7. Nikolas Cassadine (Tyler Christopher-1653/Coltin Scott-468/Marcus Coloma-276/Nick Stabile-14/Chris Beetem-5/Adam Huss-5) - 2421
8. Michael Corinthos (Chad Duell-1518/Dylan Cash-554/Drew Garrett-168/Blake & Dylan Hopkins-47/Tiernan Cunningham-11/Robert Adamson-8) - 2306
9. Lulu Spencer (Julie Marie Berman-1246/Emme Rylan-753/Stephanie Allen-23/Aislyn & Kelli Griffin-18/Tessa Allen-13) - 2053
10. Maxie Jones (Kirsten Storms-1768/Robyn Richards-152/Jen Lilley-99/Danica Stewart-21/Molly Burnett-11) - 2051

Yearly Leaders
2000: Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 168
2001: Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 192
2002: Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 227
2003: Tamara Braun (Carly Corinthos) - 237
2004: Tamara Braun (Carly Corinthos) - 224
2005: Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) - 228
2006: Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) - 217
2007: Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) - 222
2008: Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) - 222
2009: Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) - 208
2010: Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) - 234
2011: Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) - 186
2012: Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 175
2013: Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 149
2014: Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 180
2015: Billy Miller (Jason Morgan*) - 170
2016: Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 163
2017: Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 169
2018: Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 161
2019: Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 152
2020: Laura Wright (Carly Corinthos) - 127
2021: Laura Wright (Carly Corinthos) - 180
2022: Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) - 160

*later revealed to be Drew Cain

Monthly Leader Count
Maurice Benard - 70
Steve Burton - 55
Laura Wright - 39
Kelly Monaco - 24
Dominic Zamprogna - 21
Tamara Braun, Chad Duell, Billy Miller - 13
Rebecca Herbst - 12
Sarah Brown, Roger Howarth, Maura West- 6
Anthony Geary, Nancy Lee Grahn, Natalia Livingston, Ingo Rademacher, Jason Thompson, Jacob Young - 5
Julie Marie Berman, Tyler Christopher, William deVry, Finola Hughes, Kari Wuhrer - 4
Kristen Alderson, Brandon Barash, Nicholas Chavez, Michael Easton, Genie Francis,  Emme Rylan, Coltin Scott, Kirsten Storms, Greg Vaughan, Alicia Leigh Willis - 3
Bradford Anderson, Jennifer Bransford, Robin Christopher, Marcus Coloma, Bryan Craig, Drew Garrett, Rick Hearst, Sean Kanan, Kimberly McCullough, Nathan Parsons, Avery Kristen Pohl, Wes Ramsey, Kelly Sullivan, Amber Tamblyn, Jacklyn Zeman - 2
Shaun Benson, Sean Blakemore, Rebecca Budig, Richard Burgi, Nathin Butler, Inga Cadranel, Jimmy Deshler, Hayley Erin, Briana Nicole Henry, John Ingle, Wally Kurth, Chloe Lanier, Jon Lindstrom, Katelyn MacMullen, Vanessa Marcil, Grayson McCouch, Ryan Paevey, Tristan Rogers, Amanda Setton, Charles Shaughnessy, Kin Shriner, Tava Smiley, James Patrick Stuart, Josh Swickard, Donnell Turner, Tonja Walker, Megan Ward, Cynthia Watros - 1

Preemptions (270)
2000 - 3
2001 - 7
2002 - 3
2003 - 7
2004 - 4
2005 - 4
2006 - 5
2007 - 5
2008 - 9
2009 - 11
2010 - 12
2011 - 8
2012 - 9
2013 - 13
2014 - 10
2015 - 8
2016 - 10
2017 - 13
2018 - 8
2019 - 14 
2020 - 74
2021 - 18
2022 - 15

[FrenchFan]

The Sonny show again and again. Years ago when JFP was fired, I had hope...

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[Liberty City]

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[Vee]

LMAO!

[Faulkner]

DZ and Billy Miller are such weird outliers. (Although BM was technically playing Jason then, so you can lump him in with Burton.) I do remember The Dante Show well. It’s funny that Mo was still No. 1 during nearly the entirety of Carlivati’s run.

Edited January 5, 2023 by Faulkner

[titan1978]

And complained still!  Because he wasn’t seeing counts like he did during Guza in the 200+ episodes a year range.

Edited January 6, 2023 by titan1978

[Vee]

And in fairness, it was Guza who had begun downshifting his airtime and role, moving Sonny into a more healthy patriarch role because he'd clearly gone off either Maurice or Sonny or both in the later years of his second run. The writing became a bit more pointed at taking aim at Sonny and his issues and hypocrisy wit his family, and St. Jason was prioritized even more. Putting aside the many issues with the rest of that regime and Jason worship the handling of Sonny had become more critical and nuanced before Guza got fired. In that first year or two, Ron was just continuing (in a much more clumsy and slipshod fashion, because he also gave Sonny a lot of very goofy frontburner story with Connie, etc.) what Guza had teed up.

But I don't think MB ever felt secure or comfortable enough to rattle the cage with Guza in the Frons years as with Ron Carlivati.

Edited January 6, 2023 by Vee

[titan1978]

We have discussed this before, Guza was holding Sonny more accountable.  I feel like it started with the Emily affair.  Once Jason started turning on him more, then Carly joined in after Michael went on trial, he took a step back.  You add in Dante (who Guza clearly loved), and he was having scenes where even Sonny would admit how terrible he can be, and that he didn’t want to change.  His scenes with Brenda towards the end of her second return were excellent in this regard.  I know people remember it being Sonny centric, and it was, but to me Jason was the character Guza used the most for the longest time.  He was just in and out of Sonny’s pocket.

But even with the writing no longer in his favor, MB still saw more episodes a year than he did once Frank arrived.  Close to if not over 200 per year.

 

[Vee]

I think the Emily debacle is when the worm began to really turn, yes. Supposedly it may have been partly or wholly the suggestion and push from Benard and his wife, which makes me wonder if it blowing up on them got Guza pissed at the actor. And yeah, I've discussed those scenes at the end of Brenda's last run in 2011 too many times. They were brilliant, the Guza team's last best work and a summation of the Sonny character; without those scenes accounted for, there is no point in ever doing an earnest romance with Sonny again.

Anyway, Guza appeared to be evolving the show past Sonny to a degree with Dante, etc. Which I was fine with. But he didn't go all the way. He still adored Jason, and Mo's guarantees remained very high. The logical move with JJ back was to start to hinge the show on buddy cops Dante and Lucky a la Luke and Scorpio in the '80s. DZ and JJ were great together. But they didn't turn Dante and Lucky into the Sonny and Jason of the 2010s, and they could've. It would've shifted the whole axis of the show. As it happens, it took Ron Carlivati and Frank Valentini to do that when they took over - and while they considerably (and very imperfectly) moved a lot of the show away from the mob focus, it didn't last forever.