TMC
01-21-2018, 08:36 PM
http://soapcentral.com/gh/news/2018/0120-genie_francis_out.php
One of General Hospital's most beloved characters has, instead of being voted into office, been voted off the island. Genie Francis has been dropped to recurring status.
It's a decision that will not sit well with General Hospital fans: Emmy winner and daytime icon Genie Francis (Laura Collins) is out at General Hospital.
Show sources tell soapcentral.com that Francis was informed in late 2017 that she would be dropped to recurring status in 2018 -- and that executive producer Frank Valentini wanted Francis to appear in only about a dozen or so episodes. Francis was said to be devastated by the decision and reportedly refused to agree to appear so infrequently.
If Francis was blindsided by the decision, the show's writers were surprised, as well. The writing team had planned a long-term storyline with Laura running for mayor of Port Charles. That storyline had to be abruptly altered when the decision was made to drop Francis from contract status.
There are several rumors making the Internet rounds about exactly why the show felt that Francis needed to be demoted, but soapcentral.com has not yet been able to independently confirm any of those rumors.
Francis has played the role of Laura off and on since 1977. Most soap fans know that Luke and Laura's 1981 wedding was the most-watched episode in soap opera history. A whopping 30 million people tuned in to see the "I do's." She eventually exited the show in 1982 before returning full-time in 1993. In 2002, Francis exited the show after contract negotiations went sour. Francis returned to the show several times over the next decade, returning in 2013 to help celebrate General Hospital's 50th anniversary. In 2015, Francis returned as part of Anthony Geary's exit storyline, but Francis ended up sticking around and signed a long-term contract with the ABC soap.
In addition to her well-known role on General Hospital, Francis has also appeared on All My Children, Days of our Lives, Loving, and The Young and the Restless. It will come as no surprise that DAYS and Y&R fans have already taken to social media to urge their shows to snatch up Francis. Likewise, GH viewers have posted petitions on various social media sites asking for Francis to be rehired.
Daytime Confidential's (https://daytimeconfidential.com/2018/01/20/genie-francis-bumped-to-recurring-on-general-hospital) Jamey Giddens also reports that Francis is out.
ABC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. We're told, however, that the show is hopeful that Francis will end up appearing again in the future.
One of General Hospital's most beloved characters has, instead of being voted into office, been voted off the island. Genie Francis has been dropped to recurring status.
It's a decision that will not sit well with General Hospital fans: Emmy winner and daytime icon Genie Francis (Laura Collins) is out at General Hospital.
Show sources tell soapcentral.com that Francis was informed in late 2017 that she would be dropped to recurring status in 2018 -- and that executive producer Frank Valentini wanted Francis to appear in only about a dozen or so episodes. Francis was said to be devastated by the decision and reportedly refused to agree to appear so infrequently.
If Francis was blindsided by the decision, the show's writers were surprised, as well. The writing team had planned a long-term storyline with Laura running for mayor of Port Charles. That storyline had to be abruptly altered when the decision was made to drop Francis from contract status.
There are several rumors making the Internet rounds about exactly why the show felt that Francis needed to be demoted, but soapcentral.com has not yet been able to independently confirm any of those rumors.
Francis has played the role of Laura off and on since 1977. Most soap fans know that Luke and Laura's 1981 wedding was the most-watched episode in soap opera history. A whopping 30 million people tuned in to see the "I do's." She eventually exited the show in 1982 before returning full-time in 1993. In 2002, Francis exited the show after contract negotiations went sour. Francis returned to the show several times over the next decade, returning in 2013 to help celebrate General Hospital's 50th anniversary. In 2015, Francis returned as part of Anthony Geary's exit storyline, but Francis ended up sticking around and signed a long-term contract with the ABC soap.
In addition to her well-known role on General Hospital, Francis has also appeared on All My Children, Days of our Lives, Loving, and The Young and the Restless. It will come as no surprise that DAYS and Y&R fans have already taken to social media to urge their shows to snatch up Francis. Likewise, GH viewers have posted petitions on various social media sites asking for Francis to be rehired.
Daytime Confidential's (https://daytimeconfidential.com/2018/01/20/genie-francis-bumped-to-recurring-on-general-hospital) Jamey Giddens also reports that Francis is out.
ABC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. We're told, however, that the show is hopeful that Francis will end up appearing again in the future.