Normal Hospital sees the rumor mill is churning and I’ve acquired some scoop about doable backstage intrigue associated to Jonathan Jackson’s destiny as Fortunate Spencer on the ABC cleaning soap and the way it may additionally tie into Rebecca Herbst who performs Elizabeth Webber. We’re going to speak about the potential of Fortunate and Elizabeth possibly exiting.
Normal Hospital Rumors: Jonathan Jackson’s Potential Exit as Fortunate Spencer
All proper. So, this rumor comes from a supply I don’t have numerous data on. I’m not going to provide them numerous sunshine and oxygen as a result of I don’t know them. They’ve been round just a few years doing GH podcast. I don’t know their monitor file for reliability on scoops. I simply need to say that proper up entrance.
However on the identical time, this chatter about Jonathan Jackson appears believable and it aligns to numerous identified details about his new time and tenure on Normal Hospital. We’re going to get into the rumor after which I’m going to inform you why I believe this might have legs.
And to be clear, I’m not attempting to upset anyone, not attempting to upset followers, however I’m a journalist and my job is to report information and that features rumors. We had been one of many first ones speaking about Kelly Monaco’s exit rumors and it turned out true. So, I’m doing what I do. Don’t shoot the messenger.
Three-Half Rumor: Jackson’s Departure, Valentini’s Plea, and Herbst’s Destiny
Let’s get into it. Very first thing to know, this rumor has three elements which might be type of tied in collectively. So, half one, it spilled on this GH podcast that Jonathan Jackson supposedly determined he’s going to depart Normal Hospital round August or September of this 12 months. In case you don’t bear in mind, he got here again as Fortunate Spencer August twenty third, 2024. And Jonathan Jackson’s exit rumor saying August or September is smart if he solely signed on for a one-year stint to deliver again Fortunate.
And might I simply say, I can’t consider it’s been virtually a 12 months since Jonathan Jackson got here again. It looks like he’s solely been again a few months. So, the primary a part of the rumor that Jonathan Jackson could possibly be leaving in 3 to 4 months, that’s believable, however simply to be clear, not confirmed, however the timing traces up. Yr to 12 months, one 12 months, that is smart.
Normal Hospital: Rumor Half Two – Johnathon Out?
So, the second a part of this three-part rumor is that supposedly showrunner Frank Valentini is attempting to get Jonathan Jackson to remain on as Fortunate till February. Now, for the timing of half two, that will equate to a sixmonth extension for Jonathan Jackson if he signed a one-year deal. Six-month time period extensions are pretty frequent within the cleaning soap world. So, once more, believable, not possible, not assured, believable.
Right here’s half three of the rumor. The allegation is that Jonathan Jackson’s choice to remain or go could possibly be tied into Becky Herbst’s destiny on Normal Hospital and her long-running function as Elizabeth Webber. Now, I’ll say half three of this Jonathan Jackson rumor is especially regarding and sadly not essentially shocking given how the ABC cleaning soap has finished Becky prior to now and never in a great way.
Rebecca’s Historical past with Normal Hospital: Contract Negotiations and Fan Outrage
You recognize, she’s been on Normal Hospital as Elizabeth Webber for nearly 30 years. She has an enormous and constant fan base as a longtime legacy character. However a number of instances over the past 10 plus years, the powers that be have, you already know, left her hanging and never essentially, if speak could be believed, had not handled her effectively throughout contract negotiations and have even fired her.
In case you don’t bear in mind, the powers that be fired Rebecca in early 2011. Fired. In case you don’t know that. And the Liz actress did an interview after that speaking about how she was totally blindsided after they known as her into a gathering and mentioned, “We’re writing you out.” That sparked fan uproar and outrage.
And guess what? 4 weeks later, the showrunner on the time, who’s lengthy gone, rehired Becky. After which 5 years later, it was like a foul flashback to the identical plot, Daytime Confidential, spilled in March 2016 that GH was placing Becky by way of the ringer on her contract negotiations and was desirous about letting her go once more. And once more, fan outrage surged after that report. and Frank Valentini reportedly backed down as a result of Becky wound up with a brand new multi-year contract..
Potential Exit Technique: Fortunate and Elizabeth’s Future on GH
So, these two items of historical past make half three of the Jonathan Jackson rumor very problematic for me. If Frank’s attempting to maintain Jonathan Jackson round until February, it could possibly be to arrange a March exit for Liz because we know Becky Herbst’s renewal interval is in March. It’s in early early within the 12 months, like within the January to March vary. So, one thing may occur like Fortunate and Elizabeth they head off on an journey, she retires as a nurse, Aiden Spencer (Colin Cassidy) is off to varsity.
I imply, it will work. I don’t like the thought of it. And there’s some debate about whether or not Jonathan Jackson actually is on a one-year contract. Once they introduced him again to play Fortunate he mentioned it was a long-term gig with no timeline ever publicly confirmed. So Jonathan Jackson might imagine that one 12 months is a long-term cleaning soap gig in comparison with say a multi-month arc as Fortunate which I might take into account short-term or a visitor arc. So the language may be very open to interpretation.
There’s anyone on cleaning soap social media insisting that Jonathan signed a three-year deal. They don’t actually have any credibility that I’ve seen and a long-term contract has not been confirmed by any supply that I take into account credible. So, we simply merely don’t understand how lengthy he got here on initially. Generally GH will say they signed a long-term deal. I believe they did it when Steve Burton got here again as Jason Morgan, however with Liz’s return, it was non-specific. Jonathan Jackson by no means mentioned both means. And simply to be clear, this can be a rumor, not a spoiler.
Liz’s Hesitation: Exploring the Way forward for Fortunate and Elizabeth’s Relationship
So, this comes sizzling on the heels of Fortunate proposing to Liz. She mentioned no. We’re left hanging on why. As of the time I taped this video, she had not defined herself to Fortunate. We don’t know if Liz’s reply isn’t any or simply not proper now.
And it appears fairly fast to me, type of out of the blue for Fortunate to suggest to Liz particularly since he’s been mendacity about her rack and masking for Kristina Corinthos-Davis (Kate Mansi). I’m personally torn on whether or not I even desire a long-term Liz and Fortunate reunion. I appreciated her higher with Nikolas Cassadine (Adam Huss) or Jason Morgan (Steve Burton). You recognize, she and Fortunate struggled prior to now.
I don’t all the time like the best way he handled her or the best way that Fortunate spoke to Liz. In case you don’t recall, Fortunate and Liz had been married twice earlier than. Each instances led to divorce. So, that could possibly be why she’s hesitant to say sure to the proposal. And once more, this Jonathan Jackson/Rebecca Herbst factor is barely a rumor.
The timing makes it believable, however people who begin pretend rumors, in the event that they do their analysis, you already know, they will unfold one thing round that appears believable. So, at this level, I’ll say it’s nothing to get labored up about, however it’s one thing to keep watch over. That’s what I’ll say.
Considerations for Becky Backstage Politics and Display screen Time
I’m neither right here nor there on whether or not Jonathan Jackson is staying a 12 months or three. For me, he can keep or go. I don’t love any of his storylines. Fortunate’s romance with Liz has been principally offscreen and to me not significantly passionate and his protection of Kristina is admittedly icky to me as a result of it meant he was mendacity to Liz’s face for a very good lengthy whereas. I’ve a a lot stronger opinion about Rebecca’s future on GH.
I’ll say that the cleaning soap I believe has finished her improper a few instances prior to now and never nearly her contract. On the GH fan weekend in 2023 at Graceland, each Kelly Monaco and Rebecca Herpst acquired fan questions on why they didn’t have extra episodes, extra display time, extra storylines, particularly given how lengthy they’d been on the cleaning soap.
That was October 2023, and neither may actually reply that as a result of they don’t management it. And so they each continued to be again burnered till a 12 months later, October 2024, when Kelly Monaco was written out for good as they killed Sam McCall off for no good purpose. So, plenty of rumors about backstage politics swirled round her exit. So, I simply hope this identical regime isn’t plotting in opposition to Rebecca once more. That’s why this rumor actually bothers me. We’ll see the way it goes. And if I hear something associated to her or Jonathan Jackson’s contract standing, I’ll let you already know.