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FLY AWAY HOME (Soap Opera Digest 9/20/05)
GH's Robin Returns, But What Does That Mean For Jason And Sam?
By Tom Stacy
It's news that many GH viewers have been waiting to hear for years: Fan fave
Kimberly McCullough, who joined the show in 1985 at age 7 and literally grew
up before the audience's eyes, comes home to Port Charles on October 12.
"We've wanted to bring Kimberly back for a long time," reveals Head Writer
Robert Guza, Jr. "And her schedule finally allowed it to be possible." While
the scribe is mum on the exact length of her stay, he will say, "Kimberly
is not going anywhere. This is no short-term gig. She's back on the show
for a good, long while."
Doing what, exactly? "We came up with a very interesting story which will
involve a career for Robin," Guza continues. "There is a situation currently
on air on the show that is going to lead to the direct reason why Robin returns,
and needless to say, it will have an impact and repercussions on Sam and
Jason. Let's just say Sam is going to need Robin, and even though she needs
Robin, she's got to wonder about the advisability of putting one of the loves
of Jason's life back in his orbit."
"This is huge!" notes Sam's portrayer, Kelly Monaco. "At the moment, Jason
has amnesia, so I'm sure this is going to shake things up tons. But that's
the fun of soaps. We'll all be on the roller coaster together and see what
unfolds."
Jason's change of life not only leaves him vulnerable, but could be dangerous
for those around him, as well. "We particularly love, in the rollout of all
of this, that it gives us a chance to really examine what makes Jason who
he is," notes Guza. "What makes somebody turn into a character like Jason
was? WHat happens when a hit man renounces violence? What happens to the
people in his life? His family? His loved ones who count on him to protect
them? And he's suddenly saying, 'I don't want to kill people. It's not right.
I'm not going to kill in cold blood. I won't.'"
But, warns Guza, just because Jason has seemingly renounced his life of violence
doesn't nessecaruly mean there's a reunion with Robin in the making. "The
fact is, Robin's going to come back in a crisis and for a crisis," teases
the scribe. "And you must remember, Robin is the one who blew the secret
that AJ was Michael's father, and that caused a major rift with many of the
people she loved, primarily Jason and Sonny. When Jason and Robin connected
at Lila's memorial [last year], they skirted the business between them, so
don't think that's over and make the assumption that Jason is going to go
flying back into Robin's arms because, in fact, he and Sam have become a
very tight couple. They're deeply in love."
Can that love survive? Many fans are asking that question, concerned that
Robin's return signals the departure of Monaco from GH. Not so, say both
the exec and the actress. "This is not going to be a way to cover beacuse
Kelly's going off to do whatever she's going to do," assures Guza. "That
is not the case. She's around for the long term and we have major story plans
for Jason and Sam."
Monaco echoes the sentiment, adding that Sam may fear Robin's return, but
she's thrilled to be working with McCullough. "When I first heard about it,
I thought it was fantastic," Monaco enthuses. "The more the merrier. She's
a fantastic actress. She has an amazing history here and if we can bring
some of that back, where there's longevity in a story and a character, I
think it's wonderful."
And Robin's return may not be the only one we'll see in coming months. When
asked if Robin's estranged parents, Anna and Robert, could show up, Guza
smiles and teases, "We're very big on family on General Hospital."
PICTURE INSERT [JASON HUGGING ROBIN] -- State of the Union: Robin's
HIV status will be addressed. "Robin is in excellent shape for all intents
and purposes," states Guza. "But she is still HIV-positive and we're going
to do that justice."