BEST SOAP
General Hospital
Every show had its issues in 2024. B&B had two great shockers with Sugar/Sheila and Luna gone wild, but then also came the very repetitive stories, Brooke/Ridge/Taylor etc. Y&R had the most riveting drama of the year with Sharon and the death of Heather Stevens, while at other times was marred down by business storylines. DAYS brought its entertainment value and showed its heart many times throughout the year, but at other times was incredibly hard to watch episode to episode.
So, in an imperfect year for all the soaps, for us, the one we were able to get through the most was General Hospital. It brought us so many emotional moments big and small with Bobbie, Sam and Dex’s death, the angst of Kristina and Molly over the loss of the baby, Lulu coming back to life, the Quartermaines front and center (and loving Jane Elliot), and Steve Burton back as Jason who in the smallest of moments showed that this version of Jason is less stoic and is more likely to shed a tear. Don’t get us wrong. The show had its problems with its bloated cast, unfinished stories that seem dropped out of nowhere, and fan favorites being let-go, but in the end, it’s GH that gave us the most overall ability to tune-in.
BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS
Honorable Mention:
Nancy Lee Grahn – Alexis Davis – General Hospital
This was definitely Nancy’s year on General Hospital. From the loss of Gregory Chase to the loss of her beloved daughter, Sam McCall, and a heartbreaking look at a mother’s grief, Nancy played it all with great depth. In story, Alexis also tries to hold up her two other bickering daughters (Molly and Kristina) among their battle over the loss of the baby that Kristina was carrying, Nancy showed why she is a powerhouse every day of the season. PLUS, how we loved the Christmas episode where Alexis enlisted Ric to help her decorate the tree to cheer up their daughter, Molly, which was comedic genius from both actors.
BEST SINGLE PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A STORYLINE
Kate Mansi – Kristina in the pouring rain visits “Adela’s” grave – General Hospital
In complete anguish, Kristina visits the gravesite of the baby she lost when she crashed through the window at the Metro Court during an argument with Ava. Grieving, she goes to the grave in the pouring rain and is torn up inside over the baby’s death and lays herself across the grave missing her daughter. It’s the kind of Emmy scene voters love.
BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR
Honorable Mention:
Steve Burton – Jason Morgan – General Hospital
Burton’s re-entry story as Jason working for Pikeman/FBI Cates and the blackmail that ensued was a bust. While to some this may be a controversial choice, later in the year GH brought more of an emotional Jason, who was interacting with his children, who would give solid advice to those in need, and was dependable as they come. We felt for Jason’s heartfelt goodbye to his longtime love, Sam, the moments as he tried to comfort his son, Danny, and even being dissed by his now MIA son, Jake. Recently, Jason moved into the Quartermaines and we’ve enjoyed his scenes with Tracy, and doing what all of us wanted to do, punch the lights out of his brother, Drew!
BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE IN A STORYLINE
Michael Easton – Gregory’s Death and its aftermath – General Hospital
This was a case of when a soap opera decides to write-off a character or an actor, that they give them meaty material at the end of their run, hence the case with the exit of Michael Easton. The heartbreak began when his dying father, Gregory (who has ALS) and Finn have a ‘come to Jesus’ moment and put their past animosity aside and reveal that they love each other. Gregory also tells Finn how proud of him he is and vice-versa. The next morning, Finn finds his dad passed away in his bed, and that propels the real downward spiral of Finn’s drinking problem which eventually lands him off the canvas and in rehab. If we had to lose Easton, he went out with heavy duty memorable scenes.
BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
Cast of General Hospital – Bobbie’s Memorial and its aftermath
General Hospital gave the perfect send-off to the beloved Jackie Zeman, and her legendary character of nurse Bobbie Spencer. In a fully-developed story, not only did we get the heartbreaking memorial service, but the second leg of it where we learned that Bobbie was working to save women who had a fallen into a life of prostitution, just like she had in her younger years while in Europe. We learn all this through Angela, the reporter, who shows up in Port Charles, who turns out to be Bobbie’s daughter, (the angel) BJ, played by the returning Brighton Hertford. Who will ever forget the moment she calls Lucas (then played by Ryan Carnes), “champ” and he takes a moment to realize that BJ must be with him in spirit. Hankies!
BEST TEARJERKER
Sam’s Death – General Hospital
It is hard to beat the tour de force performances of Dominic Zamprogna, Steve Burton, and Nancy Lee Grahn, as each came to Sam’s hospital bedside and said their goodbyes to her after her sudden heart attack following her liver donor transplant surgery. Burton was incredibly moving as Jason says farewell to his ex and the mother of their son, Danny. As the grieving fiancé, Zamprogna’s Dante broke our hearts, and when Alexis climbs into bed to be with her daughter, Nancy Lee Grahn took the whole thing to another level. We not only brought out the hankies for the story, but that we had to endure the loss of 21-year vet, Kelly Monaco who was written off the show.
BEST YOUNGER ACTOR
Finn Carr – Rocco Falconeri – General Hospital
Finn Carr gave us all the feels and the emotions as a son hoping and praying his mother, Lulu, would wake up after a four-year coma, juxtaposed with being wracked with guilt that his other “mom” Sam lost her life in the middle of it. The scenes with Genie Francis as Laura in the hospital chapel, illustrated Carr’s depth as an actor, plus who didn’t love the moment when Rocco saw a very much alive Lulu at the Q’s for the first time.
BEST RETURN
John J. York – Mac Scorpio – General Hospital
When John J. York finally returned to GH after his battle and treatment from two blood cancers, he stepped right back into the drama. Mac learned Cody is his biological son and that he lied about it, which sent good-natured Mac reeling. As the story beats were played out, it was York’s lovable Mac that we never want to see hurt. John played this father/son drama and its resolution to perfection, Welcome back Mac!
WORST RETURN
Jonathan Jackson – Lucky Spencer – General Hospital
We have always said, and stand by, that one of the all-time greats is five-time Daytime Emmy winner, Jonathan Jackson. How excited were we and longtime GH fans, when we learned Jackson would be returning to the show on contract. However, the writers could not have set up his return worse. Jackson’s Lucky was put into the Sidwell/diamond saga and trapped in Africa, which seemed interminable. He then finally made it back to Port Charles where he learned he could not be a donor match for Lulu. Then, he spent weeks lamenting whether he should just go back to Africa, and it all came off as wishy-washy, deadbeat dad syndrome. Finally, it looks as if GH is putting Elizabeth and Lucky back together, and let’s hope there is a major story utilizing Jackson’s incredible emotional capabilities as an actor in 2025.
SAD GOODBYE
Violet says goodbye to Chase, Brook Lynn and Tracy – General Hospital
Jophielle Love as Violet cried her eyes out before she left Port Charles to join her dad, Finn in Seattle post-rehab. She actually is the biggest winner of the year, because she got to take with her some of Lila Quartermaine’s real china! But how great was Jophielle Love when Violet says her goodbyes to Brook Lynn, Chase and Tracy Q? Hankies!
BEST RECAST FEMALE
Alexa Havins – Lulu Spencer – General Hospital
While so many were ready to criticize GH for their choice for not bringing back Julie Berman (they did try, but she did not want to come back) or going in a different direction than bringing Emme Rylan back, the choice of Alexa Havins is a pretty inspiring one, and she fits the role like a glove. In short order, the former All My Children actress, who stepped away mostly from acting to be a stay-at-home mom, has returned to daytime without missing a beat.
WORST COUPLE IN THE MAKING
Willow and Drew – General Hospital
Let’s not forget, Drew was having sëx all over the office with Willow’s mother, Nina before hitting the floor with her daughter. Then, putting a wrecking ball through Willow’s marriage to Michael. Maybe the two truly, truly deserve each other? From the looks of it, we are going to get ‘Drillow’ in 2025, especially with the looming exit of Chad Duell’s Michael.
MOST SHOCKING KISS
Anna and Jason – General Hospital
GH seemed to be building to this for months – that Anna and Jason seemed to be getting closer – and there’s nothing like being held prisoner – thinking you’re going to die – than bringing two people together for one last kiss, only to survive, and then have awkward moments for months while agreeing to never speak of it again.
BEST STANDALONE EPISODE (Tie)
Bobbie’s Memorial Service – General Hospital
The hankies were needed as the cast including; Kin Shriner (Jackie Zeman’s dear friend) broke our hearts eulogy after eulogy. While there were some key people missing at the service, the moment when the casket was brought in, to Lucas coming home for his mother’s service, to Angela the reporter showing up (with the reveal she is BJ on the follow-up episode), made it gut-wrenching to say goodbye to nurse Bobbie, and we felt that Jackie Zeman was looking down at her former cast members and friends, and proud of what they accomplished in her honor.
BEST FATHER/SON MOMENT
Aiden tells Lucky he’s gay – General Hospital
Colin Cassidy really delivered in this poignant scene where Lucky learns from Aiden that he is gay. Lucky took the information and instead of shunning his son, accepted him with love and compassion. This was a simple and effective coming out scene, and one of the best we have seen between a child and a parent on the soaps. Brilliantly played by both actors. Applause!
MOST POMPOUS CHARACTER
Drew Quartermaine – General Hospital
Need we say more? In short order Drew Quartermaine became the most arrogant, backstabbing, wife-stealer in soap history. Not only did GH make Drew a savvy politician, but he had sëx with his nephew’s wife, and took away his ‘best friend’ Curtis’ position at CEO of Aurora, all in underhanded maneuvers. However, payback is a b!tch!
MOST CONVOLUTED PLOT
Honorable mention:
Pikeman Arms Dealers – General Hospital
So, Jack (formerly John) Brennan ran this? Valentin ran this? Jason was blackmailed by FBI agent John “Jagger? Cates or Carly would face RICO charges, and on and on and on and on. Confusing, right?
MURDER EVERYONE FORGOT ABOUT
Sonny kills Cates – General Hospital
Did we watch another soap? Didn’t Sonny Corinthos shoot in cold-blood FBI agent John Cates? Now, whether Cates deserved it or not, is not the question. The question is, are we going to revisit that Sonny murdered a man showing his true mobster mentality and ways, or is Sonny going to get away with this and not p
