In a revealing two-part interview with “General Hospital” star Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos), for his popular “State of Mind” podcast series, Genie Francis (Laura Collins) sits down for a rare and emotional conversation as the two soap icons open up about their new storyline on the long-running soap opera, the state of the genre itself, their decades-long friendship, as well as their deeply personal mental health journeys — Benard on bipolar disorder, and Francis on depression and social anxiety.

Get Back to Couples

In an exclusive preview clip released to Soap Opera Network, Benard talks with Francis about the state of couples on soaps, comparing how things were done in the past to how they are done today, particularly on “General Hospital.”

“Let me tell you something. They don’t do couples anymore,” says Benard to Francis, who agrees with him. “If you think about that time when you came back [in the 1990s], and I just started. Sonny and Brenda [Vanessa Marcil], Luke [Anthony Geary] and Laura, Lois [Rena Sofer] and Ned [Wally Kurth], Jason [Steve Burton] and Robin [Kimberly McCullough] … couples were the thing. Now they’re not doing as many. I don’t know why.”

“Do you think the pandemic changed it because of intimacy?” pondered Francis, contemplating when things shifted. “Maybe, yeah. I mean, it could be. I truly believe…look I don’t question anybody how they’re doing their jobs, but they should get back to couples. I think that’s what helps,” Benard points out, with Francis agreeing, saying, “Helps it, yeah!”

Watch the preview clip below.

The two-part “State of Mind” interview with Genie Francis will be released on Sunday, November 16 and Sunday, November 23, with the podcast available to watch or listen to on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

Note: In part two, Francis’ husband, Jonathan Frakes (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”), joins the conversation.

Note: The post Soaps Need To “Get Back To Couples,” Says ‘General Hospital’ Stars Genie Francis & Maurice Benard (EXCLUSIVE) first appeared on Soap Opera Network.

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In general, I think they're right.

For example, on the rare occasion that I turn on Y&R, it just people droning on endlessly about who works at what company and who's taking over what company. It's mind numbingly boring. There's zero romance. I will never understand why TPTB there think these are the stories their core audience wants.

Even on BTG, which overall I enjoy, there is no star-crossed lovers being kept apart. There's no couple that you can root for to get together really.

I've been saying that about GH for months. Back to couples...NOT purposely being slow and throwing ridiculous...and I do mean RIDICULOUS...obstacles AND the kitchen sink at a pairing that has potential...whether the person in charge liked the people with potential or not.

 

There's slow burn in soap romances. And then there's molasses. 

I do believe, in general, they are right. I do believe, as Genie Francis pointed out, that the pandemic shifted things a bit. But at the same time, I also think it is a product of the time. People ask for those slow-burning romances, but when they are given, they complain things are too slow. I will say, couples (in general) are something I do believe General Hospital struggles with. Not as much as, say, The Bold and the Beautiful does (they switch couples up almost as much as one changes their undergarments), but the idea and concept of a couple (not even mentioning supercouples) is lost in modern storytelling on soaps.

Hallelujah!  Hopefully the execs/writers/etc are listening.

GH is the one that's the most in need.

A gay triangle would be nice to see.

8 minutes ago, Soapsuds said:

A gay triangle would be nice to see.

I'm sure Brad will pop up soon enough.  

1 hour ago, Taoboi said:

I've been saying that about GH for months. Back to couples...NOT purposely being slow and throwing ridiculous...and I do mean RIDICULOUS...obstacles AND the kitchen sink at a pairing that has potential...whether the person in charge liked the people with potential or not.

 

There's slow burn in soap romances. And then there's molasses. 

Exactly. That's why I think we need fresh blood for a lot of these characters. New men/women who they can play with... build something slow with. Bold for example recycles the same triangles over and over and over again... to a point where nobody cares if Brooke and Ridge are together. But just imagine we give Brooke something new, fresh... (maybe forbidden LOL) and hot... and let it go from there. Just an example. I also think Katie is a character that has been long ignored to a point it's laughable. Give her a brand new man. Dollar Bill and she have no future. Heather Tom can play in love so well. She could rock those nuances. 

No, Genie and Maurice, soaps do not need to get back to couples.  They need to get back to families - loving each other, protecting each other, getting in each other's way.

Hell, soaps need to get back to characters before any of this. 

2 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

Hell, soaps need to get back to characters before any of this. 

29 minutes ago, Khan said:

No, Genie and Maurice, soaps do not need to get back to couples.  They need to get back to families - loving each other, protecting each other, getting in each other's way.

 

2 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

Hell, soaps need to get back to characters before any of this. 

I agree with you both as I think this is what leads to the lack of believable couples. 

GH has gotten a little better at the family element but character work, motivation, is still not there. 

In GH's case it's puzzling because you do have well liked couples who are stifled or actively hated by the show.

I suppose the call should be - get weird agendas out of production decisions. Genie has plenty of experience dealing with those. 

41 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

Hell, soaps need to get back to characters before any of this. 

Word.

38 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

GH has gotten a little better at the family element but character work, motivation, is still not there.

I agree.  Even Bob Guza had a better grasp on developing characters than the current regime.  And it's really not that hard to do, you know?  Just ask yourself two questions: What does this character want? and What (or who) is standing in their way?

GH has plenty of characters and families. It does seem to currently avoid actively pushing along major romance unless it's for one of FV's pets, as @DRW50 has noted many times. Both Genie and Mo are right about that and I wonder if they've sensed it day to day.