GH In The News: The PC Press Club

[mariah23]

59 minutes ago, DanaK said:

Awkward timing for sure

Also there should be a 🤢warning for the opening scene!

[Sake614]

7 hours ago, DanaK said:

Sadly, Cameron Mathison (Drew) has lost his home in the current LA fires

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-cameron-mathison-loses-his-home-to-california-fire/

I saw that earlier. Very sad as long as he and his family are safe that’s what matters 

looking at videos from the palisades fire and it’s just devastating. Malibu beach has pretty much burned to the ground. And I heard that many people were without fire insurance because the insurance companies pulled out after being denied rate hikes after the last fire  😫

[DanaK]

SOD interview with Carlo Rota (Sidwell) on his path to getting into acting at age 30

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/exclusive-how-gh-star-carlo-rotas-early-midlife-crisis-sent-him-into-showbiz/

[Sake614]

Nothing like a tragedy to bring out the vultures. Someone set up a go fund me in Cam Mat’s name and he had to take to social media to warn people NOT to send money because it isn’t him. Imagine believe that an actor would set up a fundraising page?

in other news, Eric Braeden also lost his house. 💔

[jsbt]

I'm getting tired of reporting these. Leslie Charleson is gone.

Soap Opera icon, Leslie Charleson, known as Monica Quartermaine on “General Hospital,” died Sunday morning after a long illness. She was 79.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” “General Hospital” executive producer Frank Valentini announced. “Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on ‘General Hospital’ alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew. I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set. On behalf of everyone at ‘General Hospital,’ my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”

The beloved actress who joined the soap in 1977, has had some health ups and downs over the past few years, which has limited her time on the ABC soap, where she hasn’t appeared since December 2023. In recent years, she has suffered several falls that prevented her from getting around. Although it impeded her mobility and resulted in her need for a walker, it never got her spirit down. She was hospitalized last week after one such fall.

The Kansas City native began her long career on daytime television in 1964 when she was just 19 in the short-lived ABC soap opera “A Flame in the Wind.” A few years later she began a 3-year-run on CBS’s “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing,” where she played Iris Donnelly Garrison, who was in a popular love triangle with characters played by Donna Mills and David Birney. In 1970s, she guest starred on many of the best known shows of the time, including “The Rockford Files,” “The Wild West,” “The Streets of San Francisco,” “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Mannix,” “Ironside” and “Happy Days,” where she played divorcée Dorothy Kimber and was the first on-screen kiss for actor-director Ron Howard (who played Richie). In 1973, she starred opposite Shelley Winters in the film “The Day of the Dolphin.” She fell in love with the aquatic mammal and collected dolphins for the rest of her life.

In later years, she guested on “Dharma & Greg,” “Diagnosis: Murder,” “Friends” and starred alongside fellow soap stars Deidre Hall (“Days of Our Lives”) and Colleen Zenk (“As the World Turns”) in the 1993 made-for-television movie “Woman on the Ledge.”

Although her primetime time appearances were plentiful, she returned to the world of soap operas in 1977, when she was hired to replace Patsy Rahn as Monica Bard on “General Hospital.” Charleson used to joke that she wasn’t received with open arms by many of the cast and crew, who were upset that her predecessor was given the heave-ho. However, her humor quickly won them over.

During her 40-plus years on “GH,” Charleson’s Monica was part of one of daytime’s biggest and most popular love triangles (Rick/Monica/Alan), has given audiences doses of both comedy (she had a thing for slapping people and was as a member of the super-wealthy, perennially quarrelsome and dysfunctional Quartermaine family) and drama (including surviving breast cancer and the loss of three children), and has been shot and held at gunpoint more than once. Along the way, she earned four Daytime Emmy nominations for outstanding lead actress.

After 30 years on “GH,” she was taken off contract and reduced to recurring status in 2010, for which her fans and fans of the show protested. In 2017, Charleson tripped while walking her dog and injured her leg, causing her to be replaced for two months on the show by one-time child star Patty McCormack while she recovered. Several years later, she suffered another fall and was once again recast for a single day. Last October, it was announced that it was unlikely she would return. Monica, however, continues to be mentioned in storyline when the Quartermaines are gathered, referring to her as being upstairs in their mansion.

I personally knew Leslie. Very well, in fact. She was a very good friend to me. No one was more kind, fun-loving, loyal and generous. I remember times at her beautiful house, when she’d let her turtle wander in her luscious backyard and it would disappear into the bushes; when we’d sit in the kitchen nook and gossip; when I would tease her about her love of Elvis Presley and the Eagles. She was a good laugher, she was. It was deep and seemed to work its way up from her feet. And the things she loved most: her horse and “General Hospital.” She loved the show and being a part of its legacy. And the fans, she loved them with her whole heart. I hope she knows how much she was loved back… and how much she will be missed.

[WhitneyWhit]

Is it weird that this has brought tears to my eyes?  There’s something about these passing like Leslie, Jackie, that just seem so personal and such a reminder how much time has gone by. 
 

 

[jsbt]

4 minutes ago, WhitneyWhit said:

Is it weird that this has brought tears to my eyes?  There’s something about these passing like Leslie, Jackie, that just seem so personal and such a reminder how much time has gone by. 

Not at all. It's hard for anyone who grew up with this show.

I have many, many issues with Frank Valentini's stewardship of GH, but I'll never forget what he did for many vets over the years to pay respect to them, starting with the wonderful service he did in John Ingle's final days which was reported in great detail by his grateful family. I never forgot either the seemingly spontaneous applause for Rachel Ames when she appeared at the nurses' station during the anniversary in 2013. I don't believe she knew about it; she looked very surprised. And the tributes for Jackie, for Sonya Eddy, for John Reilly, etc. were wonderful and kind.

GH has many glaring flaws but they kept Monica very involved in recent years before Leslie's recent injury and illness, with the Qs and at the hospital. They endeavored to keep her involved any way they could, via voice or by brief appearances in the last couple years. I am grateful to FV and to GH for that.

I knew this was probably coming but it's still very sad. Leslie was vital to revitalizing this show and making it a generational force, and to modernizing soaps in general with both GH and Love is a Many Splendored Thing and her work there. I held out hope we could see her one last time. I will watch a '90s episode in her honor tonight, probably the breast cancer story she was so good in. Monica was too real for the room sometimes, and that was all Leslie.

[Artsda]

So sad 😭. Watched her so long.  

[dubbel zout]

Your post about LC was beautiful, @jsbt, thank you for that.

[DanaK]

We figured this was coming sooner than later but it’s still sad. And the cast has been suffering a lot of losses over the last few years making it even harder

I’m curious in-show who will inherit the Quartermaine house 

[KittenPokerCheater]

I'm heartbroken too.

I hope they give the character a beautiful send-off and take their time doing it.  No ten second goodbye shenanigans.  

(And I hope Tracy gets the house, so she can run around saying, "It's MY house; Monica gave it to me!").

[GHScorpiosRule]

Even though we knew it was coming, I still wasn’t prepared for this. 💔💔💔💔💔💔

Whatever his issues with Sean Kanan, I really hope we get some good flashbacks with AJ, even Billy Warlock. Her tenure on this show is rich with history. Frank shouldn’t stint in anything.

[Cheyanne11]

I got choked up when I was reading the announcement.  Though Monica hasn't been in the forefront for awhile, I remember when she was one of the main characters on the show.  I mean, Alan dropped a roof on her, for god's sake!  RIP, Leslie.  

[tessaray]

The Monica/Leslie rivalry was my 2nd favorite on daytime - right after Viki/Dorian on OLTL. 

[General Days]

As a kid, I was as into the Alan/Monica/Rick/Lesley storyline as I was into Scotty/Laura/Luke. I'm so sad we've lost her. Poor old GH has had a rough couple of years. 

[JMO]

Oh, I'm sad to read about this.  She was so good at her job, for such a long time, and by all accounts a remarkable woman in her real life.  In her reel life---well, Edward and Lila may have been the oldest generation, but it was Alan and Monica, and Tracy, who established the Quartermaines on GH, and Alan wouldn't have been Alan without Monica.  The character was important to so many storylines, not limited to the ones that featured her. Monica and Robin are also the reasons why there's a remnant of Jason Quartermaine in Jason Morgan, and I hope that remnant will grow again. I admired that Leslie came back as often as she did, when it was obvious that her mobility had become limited.  Not too long ago I was watching an old Emergency! rerun, and there was a young, beautiful Leslie Charleson.  

I've said this before, and this is why--I wish the show had found a way to honor Monica----her retirement, or even the character's death---while Leslie was still around to enjoy it.  

I guess this is the price we pay when our shows last longer than 60 years and we have actors who are dedicated enough to continue working well into what would otherwise be their retirement.  We stay in relationship with them, and we mourn them when they pass.   

Edited 17 hours ago by JMO
clarity

[Prairie Rose]

Leslie Charleson's guest spot on Happy Days just aired on MeTV not long ago. I believe that was in 1975, a couple of years before she joined GH. I enjoyed the Quartermaines, and it seems like they all adored each other in real life. One of my favorite stories was when Anna Lee (Lila) received a helmet from Ms. Charleson dubbing her "The British Bullet" once she was using her motorized wheelchair. Stuart Damon (Alan) said in interviews that he was so broke during his first few weeks on the show that Ms. Charleson would drive him to and from the studio. Great times.

[Auntie Velvet]

2 hours ago, jsbt said:

I knew this was probably coming but it's still very sad. Leslie was vital to revitalizing this show and making it a generational force, and to modernizing soaps in general with both GH and Love is a Many Splendored Thing and her work there. I held out hope we could see her one last time. I will watch a '90s episode in her honor tonight, probably the breast cancer story she was so good in. Monica was too real for the room sometimes, and that was all Leslie.

There was a Monica/AJ scene I always think about during that time period. He went to check on her while she was feeling ill after treatment, and they talked solemnly but lovingly. It was a very autumnal, firelit and lovely moment.

ETA: Found it!

 

Edited 16 hours ago by Auntie Velvet

[PatsyandEddie]

Monica and Allan were so vivid and real. Many thanks to Leslie and Stuart for their years of entertainment. They were magic. 
May her memory be a blessing. 

[Grinaldi]

I was born in 75. I believe my first solid memory is a day in the basement watching ABC while my mom ironed and I couldn't understand why All My Children "looked funny." (The were on location in St. Croix.) And back, there were three characters I loved the most: Erica Kane, Karen Wolek and Monica Quartermaine. I have literally known her all my life.

Monica was smart, tough, sarcastic, and most definitely In Charge. I wanted to be her when I grew up. I loved her grit and her knowing looks. But most of all I loved her humor. And those things came straight from Leslie Charleson.

Monica became a fairly revolutionary character, one for whom her job was a priority. But she wasn't played as a bitchy 80's stereotype. When every other woman had shoulder pads, she never needed them. She was a career woman who could be soft, romantic and caring without losing her steel.

Edward, Alan and Monica conspiring, or sniping, or spitting invective at each other in the Quartermaine drawing room was the most entertaining stuff this show ever did. I'll take "It's my house" "Because I gave it to you!" over all the Ice Princesses you got.

And when it came time for the drama, Leslie never disappointed. The breast cancer story will be lauded until the soaps disappear and maybe even after. Monica had to bury way too many children, a couple more than once. (Phelps and Guza should have to answer in The Hague for what they did to the Qs -- killing Emily is one of the biggest mistakes any writer ever made.) But Monica, and Leslie, stayed strong.

I will miss her wit and her snipes at Leslie Webber and Carly and Tracy. I will miss the mix of profound sadness and hopeful joy she brought to her scenes with Jason. And of course I will miss her and Alan loving and hating and scheming.

And as for Leslie, I think she was often overlooked as an actress, mainly because she avoided histrionics. She knew when to be quiet or small to be powerful.

The scene I remember most was after Maxie received BJs heart and she was talking to I think Alan about what it meant to hold such a small heart in her hand, to watch one little girl die and another live, about the power of the moment. It was a beautiful Labine monologue and she hit it out of the park. She trusted the words and the moment to do the work. It wasn't about her, she didn't show off, she just felt it. I sobbed because not only was the story terribly sad but because I was seeing the true power of soap opera. Here was a woman I had known all my life delivering beautiful words about a miraculous tragedy happening to other people I had known forever, too. Here was my old friend sharing something profound. 

She was one of the greats. The world is a little dimmer, a little colder, and little less funny today. 

And as for Monica, I hope she's in heaven, giving Edward and Alan hell.

[JMO]

@Grinaldi, if there was such a thing as a eulogy for a character, your post would be Monica's.  Thanks for those beautiful words.

[Daisy]

the saddest thing is... I can't even remember Monica's last scene. that's what hurts the most :(  I really hope Leslie was a peace when she passed. 

 

[steelyis]

My only regret about dropping GH more than a decade and a half ago is that I didn't get to watch so many old guard from the 1970s, 80s, and a good portion of the 90s leave the canvas before they were truly gone forever and took what made soaps truly great television with them.    

Leslie Charleson is a legend. She helped make Dr. Monica Quartermaine a soap icon, and there will never be another like her.

[nilyank]

1 hour ago, Daisy said:

the saddest thing is... I can't even remember Monica's last scene. that's what hurts the most :(  I really hope Leslie was a peace when she passed. 

 

Someone posted it on YT:

 

 

Edited 14 hours ago by nilyank

[ByaNose]

Back in the late 70’s and 80’s Alan, Monica, Rick & Leslie were “it”. The fighting and the cheating and Alan following them to their love nest (on location of the backlot), Monica screaming out to Leslie while giving birth that Rick was the father (so rude) and, literally the roof falling down on Rick and Monica at the Q mansion courtesy of Alan. It was totally awesome and I probably shouldn’t have been watching it (around 13-ish) but being totally sucked into it. It was weird because I was so into the adult storylines. Scotty, Laura, Bobbie and Luke came a little later. Good memories. No one knew how good we had it. I guess it will be a few months before they address it. It will affect current characters such as Tracy and Jason. Who gets Monica’s house that Alan gave her? LOL!!! 

[YaddaYadda]

This felt like getting kicked in the gut. I loved Monica, I relished her scenes, she made me cry and she made me cackle. And it was all because of Leslie. 

[CeChase]

💔

I read everyone's memories, some of which mirror my own.  I grew up with her and will always remember her. 

[Sake614]

13 hours ago, DanaK said:

We figured this was coming sooner than later but it’s still sad. And the cast has been suffering a lot of losses over the last few years making it even harder

I’m curious in-show who will inherit the Quartermaine house 

Olivia of course. She’s already taken over the role of woman of the manor, complete with Cody calling her mama Q and everyone asking her permission for people to stay there. 

[GHScorpiosRule]

12 hours ago, Auntie Velvet said:

There was a Monica/AJ scene I always think about during that time period. He went to check on her while she was feeling ill after treatment, and they talked solemnly but lovingly. It was a very autumnal, firelit and lovely moment.

ETA: Found it!

 

Holy Hell, I had forgotten what an UTTER ASS Alan was to AJ.

Watching this just reminds me what cowards the current crop of writers and show runners are when it comes to telling compelling stories that aren't one and done in a day or week*.

*See Ava's one day of chemo, and Willow's with hair still intact and with make-up.

 

[DanaK]

9 hours ago, ByaNose said:

Back in the late 70’s and 80’s Alan, Monica, Rick & Leslie were “it”. The fighting and the cheating and Alan following them to their love nest (on location of the backlot), Monica screaming out to Leslie while giving birth that Rick was the father (so rude) and, literally the roof falling down on Rick and Monica at the Q mansion courtesy of Alan. It was totally awesome and I probably shouldn’t have been watching it (around 13-ish) but being totally sucked into it. It was weird because I was so into the adult storylines. Scotty, Laura, Bobbie and Luke came a little later. Good memories. No one knew how good we had it. I guess it will be a few months before they address it. It will affect current characters such as Tracy and Jason. Who gets Monica’s house that Alan gave her? LOL!!! 

After all that scheming and fighting, it was interesting that Monica became a beloved matriarch of the family

[Melgaypet]

I don't know what to say. I don't think I understood when I was so young what a revolutionary kind of character Monica was. The Alan/Monica/Rick/Lesley story was before my time. But Monica was neither ingenue or vixen. She was a career woman but also had great passions. Flawed, smart, kind, vindictive, loving, selfish, wounded, fierce - Monica was all of these things. And Leslie Charleson brought it all to life without histrionics but with deep realness.

[CeChase]

1 hour ago, Melgaypet said:

I don't know what to say. I don't think I understood when I was so young what a revolutionary kind of character Monica was. The Alan/Monica/Rick/Lesley story was before my time. But Monica was neither ingenue or vixen. She was a career woman but also had great passions. Flawed, smart, kind, vindictive, loving, selfish, wounded, fierce - Monica was all of these things. And Leslie Charleson brought it all to life without histrionics but with deep realness.

All of this is so true. 

[ciarra]

Rose Parade 2007, gorgeous Andalusian horse.