So I’m trying to catchup on five back episodes of General Hospital, which I haven’t watched because…..oh yeah, I could care less!!!

Let’s see….we have the Brenda returns storyline……snooo-ZER!

Brenda Barrett (Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo). (ABC/Rick Rowell)

Really! How absolutely sloooowwwwwly can Brenda’s return drag out.

There are so many non-storylines going on around Brenda (Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo) – and none are remotely interesting…

The whole Sonny/Brenda and Sonny/Jason reunion is a total bore…a big WHO CARES???

Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo (Brenda) and Maurice Benard (Sonny). (ABC/Rick Rowell)

I am SOoooo sick of all those flashback clips.

The first couple of clips were nostalgic…now they’re fast-forward material every time one comes on.

The only s/l that could have been a home run is Brenda’s involvement with the Alliance to Save Exploited Children, a group that helps children involved in sex trafficking.

That was a great opportunity for the writers to shed light on an important social issue….

Instead, the exploited children issue has taken a backseat to the hunt for yet another criminal – the big, bad Balkan….

And if TPTB think that I’m at all interested in Lucky going to Ireland to try and track down The Balkan – along with dragging Dante and Lulu into the mix – I don’t care about that either….It’s also boring!

I do think that Jonathan Jackson as Lucky has a remarkable Irish accent, though.

And vying for perhaps the worst storyline of all time…..

Drumroll please…..

The Claire and Sonny tryst!!

Yes, folks, they want us, the stupid viewers, to believe that Claire Walsh (Dahlia Salem), a career-driven, tough-as-nails federal prosecutor with one goal in mind – to take down Sonny Corinthos – ends up throwing her career away for the chance to sleep with the mobster….

Dahlia Salem (Claire) and Maurice Benard (Sonny). (ABC/Ron Tom)

That, my friends, is an all-time low on many fronts.

But especially because they took a strong, smart woman and reduced her to Jello (once again) after falling under the spell of the charming mob boss.

It’s a shame, really. Because I like Salem and her portrayal of Claire.

I just don’t like the way the character has been ruined.

The only strong woman who hasn’t fallen prey to Sonny is Diane Miller (Carolyn Hennesy).

Believe me, I was cheering when Diane lit into Claire for trashing her career for a roll in the hay with Sonny.

Smart woman, that Diane.

And Carolyn Hennesy really brings it every time she’s on that screen.

Carolyn Hennesy (Diane Miller)

Yessireee…she’s one of the best things that show has going for it!

The only storyline that of interest right now is the Crazy Lisa kidnapping Robin storyline….

Kimberly McCullough (Robin) Brianna Brown (Lisa) Jason Thompson (Patrick) Photo: ABC

But, quite frankly, that was spoiled for me by the spoilers and the previews, which gave everything away! UGH!

I was never, ever one of those girls who was attracted to the bad boys.

In life – and in soaps – it’s the good guys….the guys with honesty and integrity, who I always root for.

Having said that, my top three fave guys in soapland these days are actually quite similar in the way they are the white knight, do-the-right-thing kind of guys.

And they are (drumroll please) – Police Chief Bo Buchanan/OLTL, Det. John McBain/OLTL and Officer Dante Falconeri/GH.

Hmmm. There seems to be some kind of these going on here…

Oh yeah…They’re all cops!

Robert S. Woods‘ Bo Buchanan has been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember.

Robert S. Woods (Bo Buchanan)

Bo has always been the antithesis to his powerful – albeit immoral – father Asa, played brilliantly by the late, great Phil Carey.

Yes, Bo struggled all his life – right up to his father’s death – with the love for this father and the hate for the choices (many illegal) his father made.

Asa was a hard-living, womanizing, boozing, cantankerous old coot.

Bo is the polar opposite.

But they both loved each other.

One of the choices that was contrary to his character – and that he struggled against – was kissing his ex-wife, Nora, behind his brother’s back while Clint and Nora were engaged, and later married.

But, really, Nora (Hillary B. Smith) and Bo were meant to be together all along….and I think that counts for something in the right vs wrong department.

In other words, if destiny intervenes (and I don’t mean Destiny Evans)…if two people are made for each other – like Bo and Nora – then it’s more right for them to be together than wrong….Does that make any sense?

And they didn’t have sex until after Nora broke up with Clint (Jerry Ver Dorn) – and in this day and age THAT counts too!

Speaking of which, where the heck ARE Bo and Nora these days???

They had that wonderful wedding week, which I thought was really funny and highlighted the comedic sides of many of the cast members.

Hillary B. Smith (Nora), Eddie Alderson (Matthew) and Robert S. Woods (Bo). (ABC/Donna Svennevik)

Then, POOF, they were gone off the canvas….and now they’re back…and Bo has a new, young assistant….

Unfortunately, I think we ALL know where THAT is going.

As far as Johnny McBain….There’s always been a soft spot in my heart for him.

Michael Easton as John McBain (Photo/ABC)

Michael Easton‘s portrayal of John…well, he’s one of my favorite characters in soapdom.

It’s his intensity for doing the right thing….the hero….the rescuer….

And those deep, blue eyes….

He’s another one who always does the right thing and is honest as the day is long.

And if you’re one of his peeps…someone he cares for….or even just a friend…
No matter, he will go to the mat for you!

Take Kelly and the murder of her mother…John and Kelly were mildly acquainted before she asked him to help her find out what really happened to her mother.

But he has gone above and beyond to help her.

Ya gotta love it!

One of his biggest struggles came when he found out that Michael and Marcie’s baby, Tommy, whom they adopted because he was abandoned, was really the son of Todd Manning and Margaret Cochran.

In that case, it was a huge dilemma for him ….What exactly was the right thing to do? Betray his brother?

It ate at him – and Easton showed the viewer the inner struggle that McBain was going through.

And Dominic Zamprogna‘s Dante Falconeri reminds me so much of McBain!

Julie Berman (Lulu) and Dominic Zamprogna (Dante). (ABC/Ron Tom)

Dante is honest to a fault – and Zamprogna shows us those qualities through the earnestness in his eyes when he’s talking.

Dante’s big brown eyes….they’re just honest, that’s all I can say.

And he, too, struggles with a similar situation to Bo…although, in my opinion, having Sonny Corinthos as a father is WAY WORSE than having Asa as a father.

Dante is loyal…boy is he loyal…even after being drugged by Brook Lynn, he’s still loyal, thank goodness…

And I love the fact that Michael has figured it out…He’s on to Carly’s plan to use Brook Lynn (Adrianne Leon) to break up Dante and Lulu (Julie Berman).

Yes, I’m a sucker for the good guys.

I guess it stands to reason that police officers SHOULD be the good guys…

But, as we all know, it doesn’t always happen in life – and, especially doesn’t always happen in the soap world.

HELLOOOO, Det. Ronnie DiMestico!

Silas Kain

I was holding off writing about this because I had more concerns about One Life to Live.

But after watching last week’s episodes of General Hospital I can’t hold back any longer. So, here goes. It’s not one of my more wordy pieces but it gets to the heart of my greatest frustration with GH these days.

So, what do we do about Sonny Corinthos? Mobster, serial husband, dad to a litter of flawed puppies?

Maurice Benard (Sonny) Photo:ABC

What do we do about Sonny now that the love of his life is returning to Port Charles?

Well, I say we do nothing.

In the early days, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) was a romantic pirate – a modern day Jean Lafitte. Sure, he’s a mob warlord. Yeah, he’s killed a few people along the way. And he’s been a romantic hero to so many for so long.

Maurice Benard as Sonny (ABC/Michael Yarish)

But just how did Sonny come to be? Just WHO is Sonny Corinthos?

Sonny was born into a pretty rough situation. Yes, he’s Mike’s son. But Mike abandoned him early on. And that was the first nick in his armor.

His Mom remarries and this time to an abusive cop who treated Sonny like dirt from the get-go.

So, I get Sonny’s issues. They’re all so damn Freudian.

Son loves Mom. Son hates stepfather. Son grows up to be rebellious. Sonny looked at every cop as being his stepfather. I get it. I understand how the character of Sonny came to be.

There’s one slight problem…we all have to grow up at some point and the writers have locked Sonny in a time warp from which there is no escape.

Let’s look at the canvas of Sonny’s life today.

There’s Carly.

Laura Wright as Carly. (ABC/Michael Yarish)

They still love each other – no question.

But Carly (Laura Wright) is beginning to open her eyes because if there’s one thing to be said for her – she is a lioness when it comes to her cubs. And that’s what I respect most about her.

Carly is a selfish, self- absorbed shrew in every way except one – her children. That’s her redemption.

There’s Olivia, mother of Sonny’s first-born son, Dante. She kept him away from his father for all the right reasons. I respect Olivia and her choices. I admire her tenacity and see her as Sonny’s first brush with Carly.

Laura Wright (Carly) and Lisa LoCicero (Olivia). (ABC/Rick Rowell)

Olivia and Carly are alike in more ways than not – the difference?

Olivia brings her Italo-Catholic Bensonhurst upbringing to the table in a splendid way.

And while she struggled through her adolescence and her 20’s raising her son to be everything his father was not, Olivia (Lisa LoCicero) now realizes she may have failed. Sonny’s genes dominate Dante. And now Dante has to confront his own demons about his “unknown” father. Dante has to face his own genetics and question who he is as a man. In doing her best to protect her son, Olivia failed Dante by shielding him from the truth for too long.

You know, we’ve had many a romantic journey with Sonny. Be it Brenda, Kate, Alexis, Carly, so on and so forth.

This current arc with federal prosecutor Claire Walsh is a complete joke and an insult to legal professionals everywhere.

Dahlia Salem (Claire) and Maurice Benard (Sonny) kiss. (ABC/Ron Tom)

And even with the prospect of Brenda coming back into Sonny’s life, it doesn’t let him off the hook – not by a long shot.

As an avid GH fan, I’m insulted by the direction Mr. Guza has taken. Whether you realize it or not, you can learn a lot about a head writer’s personal values by the direction in which they take their characters. And as bad as General Hospital is these days, there is room for redemption and learning a lesson.

It begins with acknowledging that Sonny Corinthos is no longer eligible for the redemptive process. He’s toast. He’s finished and he must go, period. And before your head explodes by what I just wrote, let me explain why I am so adamant on this course…

It all began on that fateful day when the shot fired by Sonny was heard around the soap world. With complete malice and forethought, Sonny Corinthos pointed a gun at Dante Falconeri’s heart and pulled the trigger.

Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) and Maurice Benard (Sonny). (ABC/Rick Rowell)

Yeah, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) was a cop hell bent on talking Sonny down. And Sonny hates cops. I get it.

I also get the fact that Sonny was robbed of Dante’s childhood. And knowing Sonny’s fierce love for his spawn, I even understand his attempt to win his eldest son’s soul.

Notice I didn’t say heart. Why? Sonny no longer deserves to be recognized as even having a heart.

In that split second with the cold, heartless stare of a monster, Sonny fired the bullet than must change General Hospital forever.

In the aftermath of Dante’s shooting, we’ve painfully watched Kristina be brutally beaten within an inch of her life. Though the scenes between Sonny and his daughter were gut wrenching due to his own history, it just isn’t enough.

Kristina (Lexi Ainsworth) recognizes her father’s flaws. Kristina has had to grow up in her father’s shadow, keeping him at arm’s length because she knows him all too well.

Maurice Benard (Sonny) and Lexi Ainsworth (Kristina). (ABC/Rick Rowell)

Kristina is more like Sonny than anyone realizes. She has his stubborn streak. She sees most of the world in terms of black and white.

Without the love and guidance of Alexis, Kristina could have very easily become the reincarnation of Claudia without even a blink of an eye. For Kristina there is hope and the prospect of a good life – after her father is taken out of her life permanently.

I saved the best for last.

Michael.

First of all I had low expectations for Chad Duell and I admit I was completely wrong. This kid has presence.

He’s taken Michael into manhood brilliantly and is handling a very sensitive story line with the professionalism of a seasoned thespian.

Michael is a casualty of mob war.

And as much as Sonny genuinely loves Michael, Sonny loves himself more.

When Michael went to jail it was Jason who stepped up to the plate. Jason, the ever present subservient Sonny bitch, has come into his own. Sorry for being so graphic but I’m calling this spade what it is, a spade.

For too many years Jason (Steve Burton) has also been in Sonny’s shadow being ever loyal and a wee bit blind to Sonny’s flaws.

When Michael went to jail we got to see some emotion.

Chad Duell (Michael) and Steve Burton (Jason) behind bars. (ABC/Patrick Wymore)

Let’s face it; through all of Jason’s trials and tribulations, he is the father Michael should have had. Jason has been the nurturer, the father figure the source of unconditional paternal love.

While Michael was in jail, he was brutally raped.

That’s right – Michael was raped.

And while the writers are slowly exposing what happened I am furious at how nonchalant Guza and his team have been and continue to be. Anyone who has suffered through such an ordeal knows what I’m saying is Gospel truth.

And, in the end, it all goes back to Sonny Corinthos.

The writers have opened Pandora’s Box this time.

This isn’t Luke rapes Laura. This isn’t glamour. This is cold, hard reality.

An adolescent boy on the verge of manhood has been violated in a horrific way in a place where he never would have been were it not for his “father”.

Jason knows it. Dante knows it. Carly is beginning to realize it.

Sonny, as usual, is oblivious because it wasn’t Sonny who got raped.

There is an opportunity to take Michael’s journey of healing in the right direction. The writers gave us the story; it’s time for them to deliver the consequences.

We need to recognize, understand and identify with Michael’s pain. We need to share the agonies of Jason and Carly as they come to terms with what’s happened. We need to experience the horror when Alexis has to comfort her daughter not only for the violation of Kristina but for the aftermath Kristina will experience when she discovers her brother – her hero – was violated just as brutally and worse.

The manner in which the writers have handled Michael’s trauma is nonchalant, too cavalier. And that speaks more to the values of Guza nd Frons than it does to the cast, crew and fans.

This is a painful story. At the basest level it has to be explored. Like I said, they opened Pandora’s Box.

In the end, it all comes back to Sonny Corinthos. It started the day he shot Dante. That did it for me. There was no room for redemption.

When Michael went to jail, Sonny remained the typical coward while Jason took responsibility. Sonny uses mob power, sexual prowess and his own sense of justice to his advantage and no one else. As touching as his scenes were with Kristina, they don’t begin to redeem him.

Enter Brenda. Oh boy.

Vanessa Marcil Giovinazzo (Brenda) and Maurice Benard (Sonny). (ABC/Patrick Wymore)

ABC management seems to think they can undo all the damage by bringing back a beloved character with a rich history. It just doesn’t wipe away the consequences which must be delivered.

There is only one logical conclusion to the decades of Sonny – he’s got to go, period. Inasmuch as I would love to see Sonny Corinthos cut down in a hail of gunfire as a result of his own actions I propose a better alternative.

Let him be charged with shooting Johnny. Let him be tried, convicted and sent to Pentonville.

And as the jail cell door locks behind him, let the last words he hears be from Carly with Jason and Michael standing there, “Sonny, while you were protecting your own ass, Michael gave up his for you.”

Slam the door. See Sonny go mad.

And let him fade way from the Port Charles landscape while the rest of us pick up Sonny’s miserable pieces.

I know it’s been out for awhile….

But I just had a chance to watch all six webisodes of the online ABC fantasy soap series “What If,” where they pair a character from one ABC soap in a chance meeting with a character from another soap…..

HY-sterical!

The thing about the episodes is that they are short, four-to-five minute clips, each, so that you can get a taste of the two characters interacting – and it leaves you wanting more!

They are well-written and well-acted.

It’s all just pure fun….

And let’s face it….who doesn’t like our soap characters having a little fun together???

Watch the intros to the series by the actors, who talk a little bit about what it was like working with each other.

I’d have to say my favorite is Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) meeting Tess Buchanan (Bree Williamson)…those two characters together made me smile and laugh the entire time!

In my opinion, Zamprogna and Williamson are so great in portraying their respective characters, so no surprise to me that they would be good together.

Damian Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) meets Todd Manning (Trevor St. John)….this is also one of my favorites… I mean, what can you say when these two polar opposites collide….ya gotta love it!!

The ending is PRICELESS!!

I also loved the Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) meeting Erica Kane (Susan Lucci).

Those two vets worked off each other seemlessly – and Sonny and Erica together was the epitomy of soapiness!

Then there’s Carly Corinthos Jacks (Laura Wright) meets Ryan Lavery (Cameron Mathison)….Again, those two make it seem like they’ve been onscreen together forever.

And the chemistry between the two is electric!

But let’s face it…who wouldn’t have chem with either of them?

When Angie (Debbi Morgan) and Jesse Hubbard (Darnell Williams) meet Starr Manning (Kristin Alderson)….let’s just say the teenager hears TMI! So funny!

And when Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) meets Greenlee Smythe (Rebecca Budig), there’s a bit too much alcohol involved, if you catch my drift.

The “What If” series can be found at abc.com and soapnet.com.

I have to say that I’m really looking forward to the next four webisodes coming out….

We have Luke Spencer (Tony Geary) meeting Viki Buchanan Banks (Erika Slezak); Maxie Jones (Kirsten Storms) meeting Rex Balsom (John-Paul Lavoisier); Blair Cramer (Kassie DePaiva) meeting Tad Martin (Michael E. Knight) and John McBain (Michael Easton) meeting Sam McCall (Kelly Monaco).

Talk about some fireworks with those couples!

First they break up Spixie….

Kirsten Storms (Maxie) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli). Spixie in happier days. Photo: ABC

And now they’re turning Spinelli dark.

Why is it that soap writers feel the need to take something reaalllly good – and turn it bad?

And even worse, they are not being true to the character – at all!!

That’s one of my biggest problems with the soaps – taking a really good character and turning him into a bad guy on a dime.

(One Life To Live does it a lot, but that’s a blog for another day!)

I give all the credit to whomever thought up the concept of Damian Spinelli and executed all of the brilliant writing I so fondly refer to as Spinelli-speak.

Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) was so different from most soap characters.

He had a genuine goodness through and through….someone unable to lie or show meanness toward anyone.

It was certainly not the norm that he forged a lasting and profound friendship with someone who is his polar opposite – Jason Morgan, the mob enforcer.

But, again, that was part of Spinelli’s charm…he could see past the outer Jason to his inner good qualities.

Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) and Steve Burton (Jason). (ABC/Ron Tom)

I loved the innocence, yet deep wiseness of Spinelli’s character….

Spinelli – the nerdy, off-beat computer geek who endeared himself to all….

Where has he gone?

This whole revenge plot with Carly against Dante is ridiculous.

The thing is….the real Spinelli would see the illogic of Carly’s thinking in blaming Dante for Michael’s incarceration….When WE ALL know the blame is on Sonny, Jason and Carly herself for raising Michael in the life and exposing him to the mob….not to mention the entire coverup of Claudia’s killing.

It’s been a slow, yet steady progression down a slippery slope into becoming just like all the other not-so-nice characters on GH….and there are PLENTY of those.

Therein lies another big problem with GH….they kill off all the really good characters…..Georgie…Emily…..

Need I say more?

And now, slowly but surely, they’re turning Spinelli into another bad guy.

I just don’t get it!!

Kelly Monaco (Sam) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) (ABC/Ron Tom)

Why would you take someone so special like Spinelli and turn him into just another revenge-driven character?

Sam said it best in yesterday’s eppy.

“Spinelli, I’ve never seen you act like this. It kind of scares me. I’ve never seen you so dark.”

I LOVE to discuss my soaps with other fans, because it helps me to see things from other points of view…other perspectives.

And even though I might not like a particular storyline, there are fans out there who do.

It was just one of those convos I had recently with my good friend and loooongtime soap fan, Sharona.

You see, she was telling me how GREAT she thought General Hospital was these days and how she was liking the storylines – particularly the Michael & Jason in prison storyline.

Huh??

Did I hear you correct, Sharona?

She explained it like this:

“The fact that Jason gave up his freedom for Michael is heartwarming and going to great lengths to protect him in jail since he blames himself for handing him over to Sonny as a baby. He knows now that was a huge mistake and you feel the same guilt he does watching that storyline develop. He literally gave up his own life and love life for Michael.”

Chad Duell (Michael) and Steve Burton (Jason) behind bars. (ABC/Patrick Wymore)

Hmmm. I never thought of it that way.

Sharona did agree that it would be implausible for a judge to send an 18-year-old to a hard-core prison for five years in order to teach the adults who perjured themselves a lesson.

But, as I always say, you do have to suspend reality when watching soaps….That IS part of the real draw, after all.

And Sharona reminded me of that.

But still, I hate the whole Michael going to prison thing.

And I ESPECIALLY hate that Michael has probably been raped (although we haven’t actually heard the r-word yet).

Hasn’t Michael been through enough already?

It’s just another facet of GH’s going to the dark side….everything being either depressing, sad or violent.

As a quick aside – I think Chad Duell has been doing an incredible job as Michael….stepping into the role during a highly-charged, front-burner storyline and seamlessly making the change.

I have to say the ousting of Drew Garrett as Michael left big shoes to fill. Garrett was amazing in the role, it was hard to imagine the change.

But Duell HAS done a superb job!

Click here to read about the recast and to watch this very quirky video with Chad Duell in it!

Now – on the Carly trying to destroy Lante by using Brook Lynn (Adrienne Leon) ….Well, I hate the whole s/l because I love Dante and Lulu together.

Lulu has grown so much since she’s been with Dante…Not to mention the GREAT chem going on between Sonny’s son and the daughter of supercouple Luke and Laura.

And not only that….THEY did the right thing and now they’re the town pariahs….I don’t get it and I don’t like it.

And I am SO sick of hearing Carly blaming Michael’s fate on Dante and Lulu, when – in reality – it’s the fault of Carly, Sonny and Jason for putting Michael in the line of fire, so to speak.

As far as Sharona’s thoughts on the subject:

“It’s been fun watching the Lulu-Dante romance develop and build slowly, watching her support of Dante through the whole brother Michael and Sonny mess was encouraging and hopefully a test of time for their relationship no matter what Brook Lynn and Carly throw at them. The romance is very believable and it’s just nice to watch a young couple develop like that through all the adversity. The chemistry is great between them and the writers have done a good job with that. The scene between Lulu reading Brook Lynn the jealous girlfriend act was priceless.”

Julie Berman (Lulu), Adrianne Leon (Brook Lynn) and Dominic Zamprogna (Dante). (ABC/Rick Rowell)

Sharona continues, “What I don’t get or like is how vindictive Carly has become. Just when I thought she got over her witchy ways her nails come out again. I think her Lulu-Dante plan is going to blow up in her face.”

ITA about the jealous GF scene….I was so with Lulu (Julie Berman) on that….telling BL to stay away from her man and getting all territorial – with Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) listening in to boot! Yes, it WAS priceless!

Here….Give it a look see….

So Sharona and I are pretty much on the same page about that s/l.

And Laura Wright as Carly makes me want to slap her one minute and cheer alongside her the next!

She has so many dimensions to the character!

I’m hating what she’s trying to do to Lante. But I really love when she goes toe-to-toe with Sonny and puts him in his place.

And although I don’t like much of what Carly does when she’s on her own and I haven’t liked Jax much over the years – I like Carly and Jax together as a couple.

I have to say, that I have liked what Jax has become recently as a father figure to Morgan and Michael and a father to Jocelynn.

But it took me a loooong time to get over the way he ditched Skye (Robin Christopher) on their wedding night when Brenda (Vanessa Marcil) showed up – which led to Skye spiraling downhill.

Speaking of Brenda, she’s coming back to Port Charles, if you haven’t heard yet.

Vanessa Marcil (Brenda Barrett). (Photo by Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images)

And I really don’t know how I feel about it considering her last appearance brought about the Jax/Skye split.

If she can lighten up Sonny – I’m all for it!

But as for Franco‘s return…..

James Franco returns as the psycho-artist Franco. (ABC/Carol Kaelson)

All I can say is fasten your seat belts!

I am sick, sick, SICK of listening to Sonny, Jason and Carly blame other people for their misdeeds!!

Sonny is just ridiculous in terms of his thinking and his rationalization of what he does and who he is.

The guy is a mob kingpin and he is constantly blaming others for hurting his family….Really???

Dante hurt Michael more than Sonny??? Really???

Because last I checked, Dante wasn’t the one who got Michael shot…It wasn’t even Claudia who was responsible for that….The blame for that rests with Sonny and Jason and Carly for exposing Michael to the dangers of the mob and the enemies that come with that life.

And, by the way, Dante did the right thing by telling the judge the truth.

It was Sonny and Jason who – by executing a cover-up – got Michael locked up.

Michael (Chad Duell) in prison. (ABC/Patrick Wymore)

[As an aside in my mob rant, I think Chad Duell is doing a great job, having just stepped into the role of Michael in the middle of a very powerful storyline. Duell replaced Drew Garrett, who also did a wonderful job with the character.]

The idea that a judge would sentence an 18-year-old to five years of hard prison time for protecting his mother and newborn sister is so ludicrous – it’s not even in the realm of possibility that it would happen.

And would someone please tell me why the judge didn’t sanction all those who perjured themselves in connection with the cover-up – most of all Carly?

The most truthful words to come out of Carly’s mouth were the lies that she told to Dante Tuesday.

Let me explain.

Carly told Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) it wasn’t his fault that Michael was in prison, it was her fault for exposing him to the mob life.

BINGO!!!

But not in Carly’s mind.

You see, SHE doesn’t really believe it.

Carly (Laura Wright) is lying to Dante in order to give him a false sense of security – and have Jason take him down.

Even more upsetting to me is that she is going after Lulu (Julie Berman) too….Lulu who has done nothing wrong.

Another thing I can’t stand about Sonny (Maurice Benard) is that he does all these really horrific things and then he goes to church, as if that cancels out all the people that he’s killed or ordered killed.

And I really, really HATE the way Sonny and Carly ALWAYS end up back in bed together….and judging by the upcoming preview pics released by ABC, they’re going there AG-ain.

Laura Wright (Carly) and Maurice Benard (Sonny) in a scene that airs this week. (ABC/Patrick Wymore)

UGH!!!

In my opinion, there is WAY too much emphasis on the mob….and I have to admit, it’s losing me.

All I can say is – Thank Goodness Luke is back!

Luke BEE-lieves Ethan and is fighting for him!

Ethan (Nathan Parsons) and Luke (Tony Geary). (ABC/Greg Zabilski)

Loved, Loved, LOVED the Luke/Sonny scenes!!!!!

Tony Geary as Luke and Maurice Benard as Sonny ignited the TV screens. The intensity between them was explosive and I couldn’t take my eyes off the TV – or even blink – while the two friends verbally fought for their respective children.

Now, in general, I’m not a huge Luke OR Sonny fan (dodging rotten tomatoes as I say this)….But, to be honest, they’re not my personal favorite GH characters.

Let me say that I think both actors are incredible!

But I’m talking about the characters here, not the actors.

I like Luke. I do. He’s just not on all that much anymore. And I do love his scenes with Tracy. They’re always entertaining, for sure.

But Sonny….well, he’s another story.

I hate his temper. I hate what he does and I hate what he stands for…Helloooo, The MOB! He kills people and orders hits on people and there’s so much more that I detest about his character.

Maurice Benard as Sonny (ABC/Greg Zabilski)

Shooting an unarmed cop in the chest point-blank kind of says it all.

I know, I know…. He wouldn’t have shot Dante if he knew he was his son….Exactly HOW many times did he say that line? Like that justifies it!

I guess I really never got the appeal….how he reels ALL those women in with just a flash of his smile and those dimples – despite all the really bad things that he does. I just don’t get it!

But I have to admit, ya gotta love the drama that surrounds Sonny.

How about all that glassware flying on Friday?

One thing about GH these days, I can’t WAIT to watch it!

How about seeing Lindze Letherman return Friday as Georgie? I Love Georgie!
I’m still mad that they killed her off…one of the only truely good characters on that show! She had so much potential, but TPTB felt the need to kill her! Grrrrr.

Be that as it may, I hope we see more of Georgie on Monday. I’ve always liked the dynamic between Letherman and Kirsten Storms as Maxie.

I’m also really looking forward to the Luke/Kristina scenes.

When last we left GH on Friday, Luke had just told Kristina that she needed to tell the truth and that they BOTH knew Ethan didn’t beat her up.

Lexi Ainsworth has been A-mazing as Kristina throughout this teen dating abuse storyline.

But it sure is time for the right person to be ID’d as her abuser – and that’s Kiefer!

Does it strike anyone as odd that Carly and Michael are the only two people who realize that it’s Kiefer and not Ethan who beat Kristina?

Michael (Drew Garrett) and Carly (Laura Wright) (ABC/Craig Sjodin)

I just wondered why no one else even brought up Kiefer’s name as a possibility, considering she dumped him that night to be with Ethan.

And can anyone tell me WHY they’re replacing Drew Garrett as Michael?

Chad Duell is slated to take over the role with his first appearance on April 20.

Chad Duell as Michael (ABC/Chris Chavira)

Garrett has been so good in the role since taking it over as the SORASED Michael emerged from a one year coma. He has given some really strong performances in showing Michael’s struggle to fit in and be normal, despite his inner turmoil.

And he seemed to have a really good rapport with all the other actors.

So I really don’t get the change.

One thing’s for sure….

Today promises to be some good GH watching.

I have been riveted – JUST RIVETED – the past few days on General Hospital.

And NOT because of the (yawwwwn) – Liz/Nik/Lucky who’s-the-daddy storyline.

I have been fast forwarding through those scenes.

The polar opposite to that is the teen dating abuse storyline.

Back in July, Soapbox1 reported the teen dating abuse storyline was coming up. But, I must admit, I had no idea how loooooong it would take to play out.

Be that as it may, the payout, so far, has been worth the wait.

The performances have been extraordinary on all fronts.

First of all, HUGE KUDOS to Lexi Ainsworth as Kristina. She’s been so good all around since she was brought on after SORASing the character.

But this storyline has really showcased her acting talent.

Btw, whoever did the makeup after Kristina’s brutal beating…..so realistic that it was really hard to look at.

Lexi Ainsworth as Kristina and Nancy Lee Grahn as Alexis Photo: Adam Larkey/ABC

Christian Alexander as Kiefer has been soooo good in making us hate the character…..at least I do. I cannot STAND Kiefer and what he represents.

And, of course, really strong performances (as always) from Nancy Lee Grahn as Kristina’s mother, Alexis Davis. I so empathized with her every moment.

Then there was Maurice Benard, who makes me, alternately, love Sonny one moment and hate him the next. In this case, I hated him when he pointed the gun at Ethan, threatening to kill him in his very Sonny way.

Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), Jane Elliot (Tracy), Jonathan Jackson (Lucky), Maurice Benard (Sonny) and Nathan Parsons (Ethan). Photo: ABC/Adam Larkey

But, the next minute, I sympathized with Sonny when he was in Kristina’s hospital room, talking about watching his mother getting beaten back when he was a boy…..which, we know, helped propel the whole mob thing.

I also loved the tender moments between Kristina and her newly-discovered brother Detective Dante Falconeri (Domenic Zamprogna). Zamprogna is so earnest and so caring as Dante…..Ya gotta love him!

And it was quite interesting watching Dante eavesdrop on Sonny’s above-mentioned soliloquy to Kristina.

Is Dante softening toward Sonny? It seems so.

I also like the close sisterly relationship developing between Kristina and Sam (Kelly Monaco). Sam, who had been abused, had a heart-to-heart with Kristina in the hospital and put on a brave front for her. Sam broke down in tears afterward with Jason.

For me, it’s really hard to watch everyone believing that Ethan did this to Kristina when we all know that he didn’t.

Nathan Parsons as Ethan Lovett. Photo: Rick Rowell/ABC

I guess, from what I’m gathering, the abused person protects her attacker.

But, in this case, it could mean that an innocent person could die. And that’s the part of the storyline that I don’t like

Kristina told Kiefer that she didn’t want him to die and that she knew if she named him that Sonny would kill him.

But what about Ethan? She doesn’t care that Sonny would kill him?

That part, I don’t get. And that part makes me want to scream at the TV that Ethan didn’t do this!

I’m interested to see what happens between good friends Luke (Tony Geary) and Sonny when Luke gets back into town.

I know the truth will come out. It always does.

I had a feeling today, when Kristina started to tell Alexis that she lied, it wouldn’t lead to her telling the truth about who really attacked her.

It was too early for that.

I just hope it doesn’t take too long for the truth to come out.

I want to see Kiefer get his due – and his smug, pompous parents too!

There were so many people speaking the truth about Sonny Tuesday, my head was spinning….in a good way!

Maurice Benard as Sonny ABC/Adam Larkey

Lulu is two-for-two on telling it like it is and giving some serious whoop-ass in the past two weeks.

She really let loose on Elizabeth and Nikolas two weeks ago, after finding out they were sleeping around together behind Lucky’s back. She gave a particularly stinging tongue-lashing to Liz (with the whole world cheering).

On Tuesday’s eppy, Julie Marie Berman, once again, gave an incredibly strong performance – first unleashing on Jason and then turning her full vengeance on Sonny.

It was so great to hear Lulu threatening Jason!

Lulu told Jason that if Dominic Pirelli aka Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) was dead, then she was going to the police and tell them everything she knew about the Corinthos organization.

“If Dominic is dead, I hope you and Sonny burn in hell!” Lulu told Jason.

Then, when Lulu got to the hosptal, she went after Sonny, calling him a “bastard,” “a rotten pig” and telling him that she hopes he rots in hell!

And in the out-of-the-mouths-of-babes department….how about Christina and Morgan??

Did they speak the truth or what?

Christina (Lexi Ainsworth) said that Sonny (Maurice Benard) ruins everything and they can’t even enjoy a christening without something bad happening.

She then proceeds to inform them that Sonny shot a cop – murder with special circumstances.

“I hope dad goes to prison for life,” she said.

Morgan (Aaron Refvem) agreed with his sister and felt only concern for Dominic.

“If dad did it, he’s like a murderer,” Morgan said. “Dad’s a criminal. Dominic was probably trying to arrest him. That’s what cops do. They’re the good guys.”

The good guys!

Which is quite different than a mobster.

I’m just glad that Morgan wasn’t poisoned by Michael and that he was able to stand by what he believes is right.

And then there was Johnny (Brandon Barash). I loved his conversation with Maxie….more truths.

“Poor Sonny,” Johnny said. “The man shoots a cop and finds out it’s his son. It must wreck his whole night, right?…Let me tell you about awful. Sonny standing in the hallway outside Dante’s room wringing his wrists, hands to the forehead. Poor Sonny. It’s all about Sonny’s pain. What about Olivia? And what about Lulu? She loves Dante. So why should they be forced to deal with the man who shot him?’

Bravo, Johnny! Key words: it’s all about Sonny.

Would somebody tell me why – after Sonny shoots Dante – he still has the right to yell at Olivia (Lisa LoCicero) and blame her for this?

Um….Sonny. WHO pulled the trigger?

That’s so typical of Sonny, never taking responsibility for his actions.

And talk about cayonnes…

How about Sonny threatening Steven Webber before he goes into critical surgery to operate on Dante?

“If my son dies, I got nothing to lose by making you pay,” Sonny said.

Now THAT takes some big ones!

If Dante dies, it’s no one’s fault but Sonny’s.

But the icing on the cake was at the end, when Detective Ronnie Dimestico (Ronnie Marmo) comes into the hospital to arrest Sonny. Sonny tells Ronnie he’s not going anywhere!

Really??? Because you just shot a cop in cold blood.

Ronnie tells Sonny: “Now you want sympathy from me? Special treatment? Is that what you’re looking for? After you shot Dante and put him in the O.R.? I am FRESH out of mercy for you Sonny!”

Yeah, Ronnie! My thoughts exactly.