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General Hospital Tragedy Could Be Paving the Way for Another Stunning Comeback
Tuesday, November 8th, 2022
R.I.P., Willow?
Now that General Hospital has revealed that Willow’s leukemia had advanced to stage four, the chances of the cancer spreading to other areas of her body are increased exponentially — and her chances of pulling through, decreased. For a while now, we’ve been predicting that things could become so dire for Michael’s sweetheart that Carly would be forced to disclose her connection to Nina, so that Port Charles’ pariah could donate blood, or bone marrow, or something. (Hey, we’re no more a doctor than Heather Webber is!) But what if we’ve got if Nina, for some reason, can’t save the day? Then who could?
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A Deal With the Devil
Since Nelle and Willow are sisters, the “late” vixen might be able offer up whatever her ex’s new love needs… for a price. Imagine if Nelle were to crawl out of the woodwork just as Michael & Co. were bracing themselves for the impossible task of — gulp — saying goodbye to Willow. If the wanted woman proved to be the miracle that they needed, surely they’d agree to drop all the charges against her, right?
Yes, we know it doesn’t make a whole lotta sense. But remember, in Port Charles, doing a good deed is basically the equivalent of a Get Out of Jail Free card. (Right, Sonny?)
Hey, Wait a Minute… !
At that point, General Hospital could pull the rug out from under us yet again, by having Willow survive only long enough to bring her and Michael’s baby into the world. Crushing, sure. But it would also open up a very strange opportunity, for Nelle to demonstrate that she is capable of real change.
Suppose the supervixen had learned from her mistakes. Suppose she was ready to accept that sometimes striking back isn’t the smartest way forward. She might actually prove to be a comfort to Michael. In turn, he might be shocked to find that — gasp — he kinda likes this new Nelle. In the end, they could accidentally wind up in the very relationship that she once sabotaged.
Catch up on all the latest returns to General Hospital in the below photo gallery.
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Image: ABC
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<p>Once again, rumors of Holly’s “death” were greatly exaggerated as Robert’s lost love was poised to return in April 2023, <a href="https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/exclusive-big-gh-casting-news/" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a> whispered.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
2/36
<p>Where do we send a thank-you note to the daytime legend for retiring in such a way that she can still now and then bring Tracy back to Port Charles, as <a href="https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/exclusive-big-gh-casting-news/" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a> reported that she was set to in the spring of 2023? Because that, ladies and gents, is a gift.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
3/36
<p>Wish we could report that the <em>Community</em> grad was visiting Port Charles for a happier reason. But the actress’ guest appearance was tied to the show’s tribute to her late friend, Sonya Eddy (Epiphany).</p>
Image: Michael Yada/ABC
4/36
<p>Making the trek from Grey Sloan to <em>General Hospital</em>, the real-life superfan, seen here at the 2019 Nurses Ball, was set to return for 2023’s gala, only in the new role of red-carpet correspondent Sydney Val Jean.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
5/36
<p>As Curtis and Portia’s wedding day neared, the groom surprised his bride — and us — by sneaking onto the guest list her brother Zeke and father Sterling.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
6/36
<p>For the last leg of Nikolas’ journey — at least for now — Adam Huss was once again called in to sub for Marcus Coloma.</p>
Image: Chris D/JPI
7/36
<p>No, they didn’t get as close as all this when Anna turned to former beau Andre for help clearing her name in the matter of Lucy’s shooting. But it was still nice to see her old flame again ahead of New Year.</p>
8/36
<p>’Sup, punkin? Just in time for Halloween, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/650410/general-hospital-recasts-sonny-carly-daughter-donna-corinthos-scarlett-brielle/" target="_blank">Scarlett Spears took over</a> the role of Sonny and Carly’s daughter, Donna.</p>
Image: Paul Archuleta/Getty Images
9/36
<p>In the fall of 2022, word leaked that the <em>Star Trek: The Next Generation</em> vet had been picked to play Elizabeth’s never-before-seen mother, Carolyn. And as dad Jeff?</p>
Image: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic/Getty Images
10/36
<p>The brother of Rick Moses — aka hot hitman Hutch on the soap back in 1980 — was set to move from <em>Falcon Crest</em> to Port Charles to replace Richard Dean Anderson as Liz’s long-MIA dad.</p>
Image: ABC
11/36
<p>Beefy bodyguard Yuri got more than a plate of cole slaw at the Quartermaines’ picnic, he got a new romance with Terry. Eat your heart out, Chet!</p>
Image: ABC
12/36
<p>October didn’t just bring back pumpkin spice, it also brought back Wiley’s portrayer, who’d last appeared in Willow’s Nelle-centric nightmare.</p>
Image: Bell-Phillip Television Productions, Inc.
13/36
<p><em>Bold & Beautiful</em> usually uses the veteran actress’ Pam as comic relief. But there was nothing funny about the character she took on on <em>General Hospital</em> just in time for November sweeps: She replaced Robin Mattson as psycho Heather.</p>
Image: Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
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<p>In a blink-and-you-missed-it cameo, the original cast member — aka Nurse Judy Clampett in the old days — popped up as a Metro Court patron in September 2022.</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>You didn’t <em>really</em> think that Esme’s tumble off of Wyndemere’s parapet would be the end of her, did you? No, no, no. The she-devil was set to make her Port Charles comeback just in time for Halloween.</p>
Image: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
16/36
<p><em>General Hospital</em> didn’t have to think too hard about whom to bring in when Amanda Setton needed a sub for a day as Brook Lynn in October 2022. The show just called Lane, who’d also spelled Setton during her maternity leave two years prior.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
17/36
<p>Dead schmead. Nelle was set to raise hell anew in September 2022 thanks to a short-term return by her Emmy-winning portrayer.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
18/36
<p>To the delight of Yuri fans, Brook Lynn and <span style="text-decoration: line-through">Bailey’s</span> Lu’s beefy bodyguard made a surprise appearance at the Quartermaines’ charity picnic in August 2022.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
19/36
<p>The fall of 2022 promised to bring with it not only the change of seasons but the long-awaited return of Holly. “No one,” said her portrayer, “is more interested in what’s happened to her since we saw her two years ago, being held captive by a mysterious villain, than me!”</p>
Image: State of Mind screenshot
20/36
<p>In June of 2022, the son of Maurice Benard (Sonny) made another guest appearance as Adam — basically so that Josslyn’s skeevy classmate could apologize for their <em>last</em> interaction.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI, ABC
21/36
<p>When COVID concerns sidelined Chad Duell, <em>Young & Restless</em>’ former Noah suited up to temporarily take his place. Note: Despite what these pictures suggest, the suit was not a tuxedo.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
22/36
<p>A photo taken in May 2022 at the soap’s 15,000th episode celebration on the set revealed that Cyrus would soon be back in action. And by “in action,” we mean of course “making trouble.”</p>
Image: Priscilla Grant/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
23/36
<p>Tongues wagged in May 2022 when the <em>One Life to Live</em> vet — Cutter in his Llanview days — was tapped to play a mystery man who sounded a <em>lot</em> like the “late” Jason (but turned out to be Dante’s old pal, Cody).</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
24/36
<p>Ever since Jason’s latest “death,” Port Charles had been short a bit of T-shirt-clad muscle. Enter this head turner as Dex, who seemed less likely to pick up the nickname Stone Cold than Red Hot.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
25/36
<p>Developments don’t get much more, ahem, <em>arresting</em> than this: The soap rookie was recruited in March 2022 to play Rory, the newest cop on the PCPD. One of the cutest, too.</p>
Image: ABC
26/36
<p>Reporting for duty at the Port Charles Police Department in March 2022 was the third actress to play Jordan (following Briana Nicole Henry and Vinessa Antoine).</p>
Image: ABC
27/36
<p>In the spring of 2022, the daytime newcomer took over the role of Trina from Sydney Mikayla, who bid adieu to Port Charles to focus on college. Need we mention that Ali also rocked it? ’Cause she did.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>When has a little thing like “death” ever slowed down Helena? The Cassadine clan’s malevolent matriarch resurfaced via a prerecorded message to crash longtime foe Luke’s memorial service.</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>We were as excited to have the <em>General Hospital</em> legend back on screen in early January 2022 as we were crushed by the news that Tracy brought with her: Luke was really, most sincerely dead.</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>In November 2021, the veteran actress revealed that she was not only returning as Felicia, she was doing so on contract. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of that family once again,” she said.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>When at last Brad was sprung from prison, Britt’s bestie was free once again to roam the streets of Port Charles. Wait, is that a good idea? Shouldn’t he be chaperoned by a responsible adult?</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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<p>In October 2021, we learned that the mystery man who’d been keeping a watchful eye on Curtis and Portia was none other than the club owner’s better-“late”-than-never father, Marshall.</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>When “ill-fated” Drew was resurrected in August 2021, it wasn’t with the face of previous portrayer Billy Miller but that of the <em>All My Children</em> vet who had played Ryan.</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>Nobody had to say “Here comes trouble!” when they got a look at Esme in August 2021; any time she hatched a plot — and she hatched a <em>lot</em> of ’em — the word was written across her portrayer’s lovely face.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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