Finola Hughes Talks on How 'General Hospital' Has Bonded Together During Their Tragic Losses; As they Lead the Pack with 19 Nominations for the Daytime Emmy Awards - Michael Fairman TV
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Finola Hughes Talks on How ‘General Hospital’ Has Bonded Together During Their Tragic Losses; As they Lead the Pack with 19 Nominations for the Daytime Emmy Awards

Photo: ABC

General Hospital’s Finola Hughes could finally take home her second Daytime Emmy in the Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series category tonight on the 50th annual Daytime Emmy Awards live on CBS and streaming on Paramount + beginning at 9PM ET.

Hughes took home the gold back in 1991 for her performance of complex super spy Anna Devane.  However, at that ceremony she wasn’t present due to trouble with her green card at the time.

Michael Fairman TV caught up with Finola at this week’s 50th annual Daytime Nominee reception at the Hollywood Museum where they just opened a new showcase of costumes, props, scripts, and Emmys from over the decades from your various favorite soaps.

Photo: ABC

GH coming into the Daytime Emmy Awards is leading all nominations with 19. However, it has been a bittersweet year for the ABC soap opera having lost so many people in front of the camera, and behind the scenes, making tonight all the more emotional for the actors and the creatives, who find themselves nominated and representing the legacy show, currently in its 60th year on the air.

Photo: ABC

Finola addressed the emotional rollercoaster it has been after the losses of: Sonya Eddy (ex-Epiphany), Nneka Garland (former producer), Jackie Zeman (ex-Bobbie), Billy Miller (ex-Jason/Drew, Bob Miller (ex-Costume Design, GH) and Tyler Christopher (ex-Nikola, GH). and how it has brought everyone closer together. “There’s been a lot of talking,” Hughes shared. “People have really got together and talked, starting with the passing of Sonya Eddy. It’s like we were all examining ourselves and her life and, I think that has just continued with each person that we’ve lost. I think losing Jackie Zeman was really a big blow for a lot of us.”

Speaking on the recent passing of Tyler Christopher, Finola shared that around 40 people gathered together to pay tribute to him. Hughes expressed,”We just had a real get-together. It was beautiful. It was lovely. Kimberly McCullough (ex-Robin, GH) sort of a put it together.”

Photo: JPI

Asked if she felt the cast found closure on Tyler’s sudden passing, Hughes added, “I didn’t even know that you get closure, but I think that what it did was it gave us all a chance to talk. We literally were in a very safe space for everybody to talk.”

Earlier this week, Hughes was stunned when another one of her favorite actors passed away in Andre Braugher. The former Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Homicide: Life on the Street actor died of lung cancer at 61.

Photo: JPI

Taking to her Instagram, Finola offered up her remembrance for the talented actor: “Oh Andre Braugher…. Every single episode of Homicide I was glued to the screen, but only wanted to watch his character Frank Pembleton. Such a mad crush, his presence, his work, everything. Now my kids adore him in Brooklyn. Really so sad, sending love & thoughts to his family….Thank you for your exceptional talent and sharing it with us all 💔 🕊️”

During our conversation, Hughes confirmed to Michael Fairman TV that she indeed had “huge crushes” on Braugher for his work was extraordinary.

Recently, Finola joined other 2023 Lead Actress nominees: Michelle Stafford, Sharon Case, Melissa Claire Egan and Jacqueline MacInnes Wood. for the annual Lead Actress luncheon thrown this year by last year’s Daytime Emmy Mishael Morgan. Hughes shared: “It was one of the best times I’ve had. It was such a lovely group of ladies and we just had a really interesting time. It was just very, very, very cool.”

Photo: ABC

So, what does Finola think of her nominated work, especially the moment that still has viewers buzzing as one the best moments of the year in soaps? That, of when Anna watches as Peter August (Wes Ramsey) finally succumbs to death, while she is hovering over his body? A humble Hughes said, “I felt I was very connected in the scenes.”  Now, we are about to find out just how the voting went.  Stay tuned.

What did you think about what Finola shared on how General Hospital is dealing with the loss of so many beloved favorites in front of the camera and behind the scenes? Will the scene with Anna Devane and Peter August pay dividends for Hughes at the Daytime Emmys? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GH’s Kin Shriner Remembers Jackie Zeman on the One-Year Anniversary of Her Passing

Today on May 9th, marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Jackie Zeman, who for 45 years played the iconic nurse Bobbie Spencer on General Hospital.

Jackie passed away at 70-years-old from cancer and leaves behind her two daughters, Cassidy and Lacey, and all of her enduring fans, and of course. her GH co-stars and dear friends.

Perhaps, her dearest friend was Jackie’s longtime co-star Kin Shriner (Scott) where for years they shared stories on-screen as Bobbie and Scott, and off-screen developed and cultivated an unbreakable bond.

Photo: ABC

Michael Fairman TV spoke exclusively to Kin Shriner to get his thoughts and his memories of Jackie on what is for him and many, a sad and heartbreaking day.

Kin expressed: “It does not seem like a year. I think of Jackie every day and every day. I am approached often as an ambassador to the old days. Every day somebody talks about the heyday of General Hospital bringing up Bobby, Scotty, Luke, and Laura. And it always saddens me because I know that Jackie would still want to know that the fans still love that period of time and we miss her, and I miss that. I don’t get to come in and have a scene with her again, ever. So, it’s all sad and I can’t believe that it’s a year.

When asked what does he think Jackie’s legacy is, now reflecting on her passing a year later, Kin shared, “Her legacy is that It she changed daytime television in the seventies. She was the catalyst that came into General Hospital and created Bobbie Spencer from the wrong side of the tracks, the fiery firecracker woman that she was.”

Photo: ABC

Shriner added on their deep connection, “Jackie brought it all to the screen and she brought it to real life. She raised two great kids, and was a spitfire of a woman and someone that I enjoyed being around from the day we met to the day she died, I was in her life, and she was in my life. We went through a lot together, you know, ups and downs, and it’s just sad that she’s not here anymore.”

Share your thoughts to Kin’s words on the loss of Jackie Zeman via the comment section below, and also your thoughts that is has already been a year since we lost this daytime icon.

Coming up, make sure to watch Kin and many other stars from the soaps on the Michael Fairman Channel’s very special livestream event Daytime Stands Up  in conjunction with The Locher Room and Stand Up To Cancer on Thursday May 16th from 8 pm ET/5 pm PT.

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General Hospital

Giovanni Mazza Joins General Hospital as Brook Lynn’s Cousin

Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) wedding is bringing several new faces to General Hospital. Now comes word that violinist and actor, Giovanni Mazza is set to show up for the nuptials which begin the week of May 13th.

Mazza will play Giovanni Cerullo, the cousin of BLQ, who will play the violin at their wedding ceremony.

Giovanni, who is based in Chicago, has performed at many live events and television shows including for the NBA (see below). As an actor, he started at the young age of 8 in commercials and indie based films out of Chicago.

Photo: ABC

He got his first speaking role at 10 on Nickelodeon’s Bella and the Bulldogs.  Giovanni holds a dual citizen in the United States and Italy. Deadline broke the casting news.

Will GH keep Mazza around for the summer months when the teen scene usually is featured more in story on the soaps? Stay tuned.

Watch Giovanni perform at the L.A. Lakers, and then let us know if you are looking forward to seeing him on GH? Comment below.

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General Hospital

GH’s Donnell Turner Visits His Dream Show, ‘Jeopardy!’

General Hospital’s Donnell Turner (Curtis Ashford) has been a longtime fans of the iconic game show, Jeopardy!

After taping scenes at GH on Tuesday, Turner visited the set of the show and met host Ken Jennings.

Taping to his Instagram, Turner shared a pic of himself with Jennings noting, “Hanging out with the GOAT, Ken Jennings, after work yesterday as a guest, not a contestant (Yet!).”

Photo: DTurnerIG

In addition, Turner added about Jennings: “Thank you sir, your kind spirit and charm made this unforgettable for me. A salute to the whole crew, from security to producers, you all were beyond exceptional. This was BIG for me! If you know me, you know this is my program and an unequivocal pinch me moment. Stay tuned for more y’al”

Last year in the wake of Mayim Bialik’s departure from the Jeopardy! brand, Ken Jennings became the permanent host of the show.

So, will Donnell Tuner wind up on ‘Jeopardy!’ as a celebrity contestant? Let us know in the comment section below.

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