10 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

If Frank cares that much about ATWT (more than most at ATWT did by the end), that would be something...I just figured it was because they have nothing else to do with the characters.

Honestly, whatever the reason, I adore seeing Van Hansis & Maura West working together. The brief scenes they shared on World Turns as Luke & Carly, respectively, were always beautiful. And there is a natural built-in chemistry between them that comes off so effectively well.

Chad Duell kind of backs up what @Contessa Donatella said about his reasons for leaving in this new interview with Steve and Bradford and says his father dying made him realize he’s too comfortable and wants to try other things. The idea this is only a temporary exit seems more like wishful thinking on the shows part though. Personally I hope we get a recast in a few months but I expect Frank to wait a while to see if the pressure of no stable income makes him want to return

I don't know what has or hasn't been said here. Personal reasons was said in the Suds & Squared Circle Media podcast.

And then Chad did the Daily Drama podcast with Steve & Bradford. All he talked about was personal growth. You can see it. it's online.

13 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

Honestly, whatever the reason, I adore seeing Van Hansis & Maura West working together. The brief scenes they shared on World Turns as Luke & Carly, respectively, were always beautiful. And there is a natural built-in chemistry between them that comes off so effectively well.

I have to admit I just had no interest in anything the show did with Carly in ATWT's last decade, but I will have to try to find those scenes. 

Everything with Ava these days comes off to me as rewriting plans to kill her off, but if they are keeping her around, building her relationship with Lucas isn't a bad idea. I wish they'd done more with Ava and Sam, although that probably would never have worked.

10 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I wish they'd done more with Ava and Sam, although that probably would never have worked.

I remember the scenes Ava & Sam shared when Ava's face had the burns. I found them to be so beautiful, and really do wish more had been explored there.

35 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I have to admit I just had no interest in anything the show did with Carly in ATWT's last decade, but I will have to try to find those scenes. 

Everything with Ava these days comes off to me as rewriting plans to kill her off, but if they are keeping her around, building her relationship with Lucas isn't a bad idea. I wish they'd done more with Ava and Sam, although that probably would never have worked.

Ava & Sam?! What an idea. I cannot imagine it.

It's true that Lucas & Ava, the Jerome connection, works, as it should.

I just think he needs to be with Spencers. Carly for one. Joss for another. He is the Bobby legacy. He's a doctor & he's at the hospital. I don't like Brad stalking him. But on the whole, I am very enamored of him as Lucas. I even got where he was coming from in his attack on Willow & Drew.

Although, clearly, that should have been Michael! And, we all know it.

12-20

 

Honestly. Perhaps it's because it's been a different kinda of year for me so I'm now looking at Christmas much differently than I have in years, but I really liked the Christmas episode here. With all the different families and little subplots running around.

 

I LOVE they finally played the beat of the aftermath of the Scorpio reveal between Sasha and Cody. I don't like the rewrite, but it did feel like they just dropped their interaction completely after their yearly teases. And now that they are connected to the same family, they do have to interact somewhat. Love James wanting Cody there. And I just about expected him to go and find him. Glad Sasha and Cody talked it out. And I went awwwww right along with Mac and James when Cody showed up. And it goes without saying KS looked great and I giggled at her talking to James about SHADE. He is going to be such a divo. 

 

I kinda wonder if TJ was supposed to be in the Robinson/Ashford scenes instead of Marshall, but I didn't mind Marshall being there. And that reminds me that I loved that people who should have been in the episode, but were not in the episode were at least mentioned. Stella being a typical holiday mama was cute. And I loved Curtis let anyone know he was in charge of Aurora. Them saying prayer made me think of my mother.

 

There's the Nina I've been missing!!! I may always love the cameraman for his angles on CM, but lord if Drew doesn't continue to get creepier and creepier and looked 5 seconds away from going cray cray. And hehe at Ava and Ric! No, no, no, you two. You going to be a couple, you will be one ON CAMERA. Love seeing them, hated they were reduced to...you guessed it...the wacka, wackas. That said...the scenes played like a delicious time bomb so I can't hate on that. 

 

Wow. Christmas at Sonny's!!! And of course he would be encouraging Michael to keep on going getting revenge on Drew. And wow again...this is the first time Sonny and Brennan have really interacted. I really and truly wished that if Carly and Brennan are going to be a thing, they would be added to the list of Gio/Trina, Kai/Trina where the New/Old Writers actually RELAX and allowed Carly and Brennan come along naturally. Enough with the forced gimmicks. They actually don't need it and definitely did not have it when they started to interact. Right now, they just look silly when we all know he got her out of prison and Carly should have figured it out already which will naturally draw them together and then they could add Sonny as a spoiler if they wish. Again (for usual) it writes itself. 

 

No offense to the death, but I admit I giggled at the writers showing that CAMERON WON with Joss seeing him happy and with a girlfriend just a day after Dex died. 

6 hours ago, carolineg said:

I don't believe Chad's departure has anything to do with personal issues or story/material and came down to money.  I don't get the vibe he's on a short "break" or whatever, but gone at least for now.

I get that GH is conflict averse, but this is becoming a non-story.  There have been successful affair stories where no is the villain, everyone is a villain, or there is a clear right/wrong side.  This affair story is pretty much everyone boringly sucks here and there is no rootable couple to back up one side or the other.

Once Michael slept with Sasha the only way to go was to make him a vengeful Q.  Most of the audience would root for Michael at this point.  I do wonder if the show was thinking about going that route like @DRW50 mentioned and just pulled back when CD decided to leave.  Now he'll probably just leave town with his tail between his legs and never know Sasha is pregnant and let Drew/Willow raise the kids or some nonsense.

Duell makes it very clear why he is leaving. 
https://michaelfairmantv.com/chad-duell-opens-up-decision-to-leave-general-hospital/2024/12/29/

Speaking on his departure (which from this interviews seems like he has already wrapped his run), Chad shared, “A lot of stuff has been going on in my life. (With) this break, there’s a few things behind it. As people know, my dad passed away and I’m still coming to terms with that, and, also, my intention was to spend some time back in Arizona but that’s becoming a little harder to do. Right now, I’m just more about doing things mentally, physically, preparing myself for whatever comes, (and) next chapters.”

1 minute ago, Efulton said:

Speaking on his departure (which from this interviews seems like he has already wrapped his run),

I believe he was finished right after their Thanksgiving break. At that time they were apparently taping in the very beginning of February. They were that far ahead because of their Christmas break. At least that was something that was posted.

 

1 hour ago, Efulton said:

Duell makes it very clear why he is leaving. 

https://michaelfairmantv.com/chad-duell-opens-up-decision-to-leave-general-hospital/2024/12/29/

Speaking on his departure (which from this interviews seems like he has already wrapped his run), Chad shared, “A lot of stuff has been going on in my life. (With) this break, there’s a few things behind it. As people know, my dad passed away and I’m still coming to terms with that, and, also, my intention was to spend some time back in Arizona but that’s becoming a little harder to do. Right now, I’m just more about doing things mentally, physically, preparing myself for whatever comes, (and) next chapters.”

Thanks!  I have heard the interview.  

With the widespread info about Frank cutting costs I was just giving my thoughts on the situation.  Everyone here knows I have no insider info.

It doesn't really take away my opinion and point about this being a short "break" for personal reasons.  The rest of the interview he states he wants to try new things and reach his potential.  I have seen several posts on here that have stating he was sorting personal issues out and WILL be back.  That is still not what I am hearing from this interview.  

Anyhow, I am sure Michael will be back one way or another. 

 

 

36 minutes ago, carolineg said:

Thanks!  I have heard the interview.  

With the widespread info about Frank cutting costs I was just giving my thoughts on the situation.  Everyone here knows I have no insider info.

It doesn't really take away my opinion and point about this being a short "break" for personal reasons.  The rest of the interview he states he wants to try new things and reach his potential.  I have seen several posts on here that have stating he was sorting personal issues out and WILL be back.  That is still not what I am hearing from this interview.  

Anyhow, I am sure Michael will be back one way or another. 

You are obviously a discerning listener. Chad didn't say what you say he didn't say.

16 hours ago, Contessa Donatella said:

I'd like to see more of Dark Michael. 

Yeah, I think that is a majority opinion. CD definitely seems more clocked in when he does so hopefully it gets back to that.

 

1 minute ago, dragonflies said:

 

Mhmm, and 98% of them are gorgeous! Saw them first-thing this morning! Hopefully we get more opening updates in January!

Oooooo new pictures!!!