Thank you Mr. Jackson...that's Jonathan if you're Nasty!

After the hoopla that was James Franco's stunt casted appearance on General Hospital...and make no mistake, I was on board that train and rode it all the way into the station!...the smoke has cleared and the show has settled back into it's planned storylines.

The central one involves Lucky/Elizabeth/Nicholas. If you don't watch the show, this has become a love triangle between Lucky, his childhood sweetheart and his brother. Jonathan Jackson was signed to reprise the role of Lucky, which he originated as a boy. Jackson won many Daytime Emmys for this role and went on to have a primetime and movie career. He was succeeded by two other actors. Greg Vaughan played Lucky for 7 years and did a fine job...and no disrespect to him, but IMHO he couldn't have played the layers that Jonathan Jackson is unpeeling at the moment. His portrayal is mezmerizing. It's informed with the history of all that has gone on before between these three characters. Watching Lucky's decent into the dark rabbit hole of heartbreak, disbelief, rage and reckless behavior, his raw vulnerability with his dad - the iconic Luke (Anthony Geary), has me spellbound and weeping...yes I am not afraid to say, unabashedly, I have been watching these episodes with tears streaming down my face.

Make no mistake about it, GH has a (for the most part) superb troupe of actors...and they have risen to the challenge of Jackson's performance. We saw the kick they got out of acting with Franco, but frankly his performance was a showy little turn of middling substance...which I enjoyed the hell out of!...but it can't hold a candle to what Jackson is doing. For all of you who are quick to poo poo "soap opera acting" - I'd put Jackson's work up against anything anybody on prime time TV is doing right now. AND, he's doing it with little if any rehearsal...pages and pages of dialogue that they get the night before. No movie or primetime actor could handle that workload with the skill and presence he's demonstrating.

So, while the movie star, Franco arrived with great fanfare, Jackson slid quietly back into a character he had not inhabited in 10 years and is bringing it!

So, thank you Mr. Jackson. Just, thank you!

On the 9th Day of Christmas...

My Universe gave to me...

James Franco on General Hospital!

Again, in dark times, it's often just the seemingly silliest things that get me through.

I enjoyed getting caught up in the hype of James Franco...one of my favorite actors...seeking out a role on a show that I have watched since Luke & Laura days. I was insanely excited...not only for myself but for the actors on the show. What a great energy boost for them. These actors put out some great performances under the gun and on the fly...there is little to no rehearsal and rarely more than one take...I can tell you from first hand experience that there are no six figure movie stars who can deliver under those circumstances...

It was such fun to watch Kirsten Storms' Maxie get seduced by "Franco." And the twinkle in Anthony Geary's eyes when he and the movie star spray painted on the 'art'...priceless.

And by the way...Not enough has been said about the return of Jonathan Jackson, to the role he originated. I watched his Lucky Spencer grow up. He is a mezmerizing actor who has brought back a lot of the layering and shading of that character. Greg Vaughns Lucky was solid and had a strong "hero" vibe...you never know with Jackson's version...

So, the orignial giddiness of James Franco's presence has worn off because I enjoy watching this cast no matter who guests with them...but like I said, sometimes it's the silliest things that get me through to the next better moment...so Bravo to Franco and to GH for contributing to my bridge over troubled waters this year.


Still can't wait to see how the storyline plays out!