In a casting coup that no one saw coming, three time Daytime Emmy winner Jonathan Jackson is reprising the role of Lucas "Lucky" Lorenzo Spencer, Jr. this fall.
No, you are not reading a Liz & Lucky fan-fic. This is as real as it gets. Daytime Confidential first reported the news of Jackson's return this evening. Not much longer, a now-jobless Greg Vaughan, who currently portrays Lucky Spencer Tweeted "As of today, with sad regrets, I will no longer be a part of what has been a big part of me and my [family's] life. GH and [the powers that be] have [chosen] to take a new direction. I THANK ALL of YOU, for the many memories we've shared and new ones to come!!! ALL MY LOVE, & BIG HUGS to YOU the FANS!!! I LOVE YOU ALL MORE!!!!"
Vaughan joined the show in 2003 as the third actor to portray 6-time Emmy winner Anthony Geary's onscreen son, Lucky, and is the only actor not to have earned himself a Daytime Emmy in the role. In 2006, Vaughan pulled off a gripping drug addiction storyline, for which he was snubbed by his cast and producers for an Emmy pre-nomination in favor of Rick Hearst (ex-Ric Lansing) and newcomer Jason Thompson (Patrick Drake). Since then, Vaughan has been on the backburner serving as Elizabeth's (Rebecca Herbst) safety net and Port Charles' bumbling police detective who just can't catch a break. The actor has been the subject of much fan speculation since earlier in the year it appeared he had been taken off contract with ABC daytime's flagship soap. Speculation ran wild that Jackson may return to his iconic role and Vaughan would be replaced.
ABC's official statement on Vaughan's departure is "Greg Vaughan has decided to vacate the role to explore new opportunities. We thank him for his years engaging our audience and dedication to the show and network. The cast and crew wish him well in all his future endeavors." Soap Opera Source finds it interesting that they chose to state that Vaughan has decided to vacate the role to explore new opportunities. Really, ABC, really? Vaughan was obviously pushed out, just admit it. This is reminiscent of the move GH pulled back in 2003 when they decided to bring back original actor Tyler Christopher to replace Coltin Scott, who then played Nikolas, in the middle of his contract negotiations because Christopher became available again. ABC also had the spin cycle on full force back then, too.
Jackson joined General Hospital in 1993 as the son of supercouple Luke and Laura (Anthony Geary and Genie Francis). Jackson left the show in April 1999 to focus on a film career. The character of Lucky was thought to have died in a fire, but Jackson had pre-taped scenes that had been stretched throughout 1999 in which Lucky was actually seen to be held captive by Cesar Faison (Anders Hove), who was hired by Helena Cassadine (Constance Towers). This was at the height of Jackson and Rebecca Herbst's popularity as young supercouple, Liz and Lucky.
The character of Lucky returned to Port Charles a year later when Jacob Young took over the role as a brainwashed Lucky, with a darker personality. The brainwashing eventually wore off, but the character never really gelled with the brave, strong, compassionate and loyal son of Luke Spencer that Jackson had created. When Vaughan took over the role in 2003, General Hospital had Luke Spencer's son, who had grown up learning cons and fighting the machine, become a police officer. Fans were not pleased. The show continually made Lucky the butt-end of jokes and eventually destroyed the bond that Lucky had with Elizabeth when the two cheated on each other and she got pregnant with another man's child. With Jackson's return, one must wonder how all of this damage will be undone, if it can at all. Will Jackson and Herbst still have the magic?
Upon leaving General Hospital, Jackson appeared in the Michelle Pfeiffer drama, The Deep End of the Ocean. In 2000, Jackson was up for the role of Gabriel in the Mel Gibson headlining action flick The Patriot, but the part was eventually landed by the late Heath Ledger. Jackson was also a favorite to play Anakin Skywalker in the updated Star Wars franchise movies, but the role went to Hayden Christensen. Since then, Jackson appeared in the film Tuck Everlasting and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights and guest starred on television shows such as Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. In his spare time, Jackson is a guitarist and the lead singer for the band Enation, with his brother Richard Lee Jackson and Michael Galeotti, husband of One Tree Hill's Bethany Joy Galeotti (ex-Michelle Bauer, Guiding Light).
Jackson will return to the GH set on October 1st. Jackson's first airdate is yet unknown, and a final airdate for Vaughan is yet unknown. Lucky, who is currently engaged to Elizabeth for the third time, is unaware that Elizabeth had a one night stand with his brother Nikolas (Tyler Christopher) last month. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out when Jackson takes over the role. This month, Elizabeth and Nikolas work to keep their tryst a secret from Lucky as Helena returns to Port Charles and hold's Elizabeth's secret over her head.
love him
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sooo hottt i am so happy that hes back. but i am also glad that he left only cuz it gave us time to thimk of Lucky as a cop i am not sure with out him leaving i would have wanted to see him as a goody goody he is lukes son anyway soooooooooooo happy he is back and is it just me or did he get even hottter |
Lynn
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LMAO!!! gh lover, I know I shouldn't laugh at you, but if it's your assertion that Jonathan Jackson can't act and that Greg Vaughan is better than him, especially after Jon blew it up on Monday and Tuesday...bwahahahahahaha! There is a reason GV was fired. When you can bring back the original actor and have him slip back into the role like he never left that's saying A LOT. It's also saying a lot if you can be in a role for nearly seven years and make so little impact that you're easily bumped aside and replaced by a guy who was barely 17 years old the last time he played the character! The fact that GV no longer has a job speaks for itself and the general happiness over JJ's return also speaks for itself. I get that you miss GV, but I simply couldn't stand for the idea that Jonathan Jackson can't act. You may not LIKE his acting, but the guy brings every day. GV doesn't even have an eighth of his talent. |
gh lover
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BRING BACK GREG VAUGHN! Bring back Greg Vaughn! I do not want to look at Jonathon's scraggly wanna be beard and glassy red, drugged out eyes another day. Acting? What acting? Bring back Greg Vaughn! |
Dee
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Lucky Spencer is HOME!!! I'm still loving having Jonathan back! With each scene he reaffirms why no one else can fill Lucky Spencer's shoes except him. He wears the character like a second skin. Jonathan doesn't just play Lucky Spencer. He IS Lucky Spencer in every sense of being. I am so glad he returned and I'm even happier to love Lucky Spencer once again!  |
Chichimo
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Love JJ I am so psyched that G.H. finally had the good sense to bring back Jonathan Jackson. He is THE ONLY person who can play Lucky. Sorry, but Greg just didn't fit the profile. He never looked the part and had zero chemistry with Elizabeth. |
LB8282
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So thrilled Okay, so I have not been watching GH religiously over the past decade, as I did during the one before. I was a diehard until JJ left in 99. I stuck by the show for about another year but life got involved and without the real Lucky and Liz, I got annoyed and stopped watching. I check in on PC every so often and watched last night to catch another fav, James Franco, in his role. I almost had heart failure when I saw LUCKY back. It was too late to call anyone so I did this morning. I will def be back into watching GH now. I also love GV and think he is gorgeous. I thought he did a much better job in the role than Lucky #2. But JJ will always be Lucky, no matter how long he was gone for. I hope GV goes on to great things and can't wait to see his new endeavour. |
judichesson
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... well i can certainly see by all the comments who the fan favorite is....jonathan jackson hands down. I,too think jonathan, as the one and only lucky should reprise the role. Seriously, no one can fill his shoes. They have tried and obviously GH along with all of his fans agree. Why else would GH bring JJ back at the drop of a hat. They know what he's about: Three emmys, fan favorite, outstanding actor...theres your reason. I know GH tried everything to keep him from leaving, but he was so talented they HAD to let him go and explore new opportunities and new challenges. Actors do that all the time. He did his thing for 10 years, now he has a family and prob wants to return to a stable and secure job in this economy for his kids. Plus he said that Lucky's character has a strength and it challenges him to play this character. So good for him. I stopped watching years ago when he left and have started watching again, because i enjoyed watching jj. He is an outstanding actor. Ive watched him since he left in alot of his movies and i really enjoyed him the most as lucky spencer. I never thought he would return because he has so many other talents. I truly think he missed his gh family. And lets get one thing straight people, he is NOT a teenie bopper, he may look younger but come on, he is 27 years old, is married and has 3 kids. I think that disqualifies him as a teenie bopper. If i hear one more person refer to him like that, i will scream. JJ has always been more mature than your average kid when he WAS a kid. So please stop referring to him as such. I am excited for jjs return, like 90% of the people here. Ive been waiting for this since he left in 1999 so im sorry for the GV lovers. You can imagine how the JJ lovers felt when he left but its been 10 years and FINALLY the real Lucky is back and I couldnt be happier. Greg Vaughn is a good actor...i loved him on the Young and the Restless.....he's just not Lucky Spencer. No one is except jonathan. GV will be fine....he never seems to be without a job. He leaves one and picks up another. I guess the GV fans will just have to follow him to his next soap. |
Santae M
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GH- I'm BACK!!! Finally, finally, I have a reason to watch GH again. Someone said Greg wasn't great when he started, but he got better, and I completly agree... but he's still no Jonathan Jackson. The chemistry Jackson and Herbst had in the 90s was incredible, neither Greg or Jacob were able to duplicate or do better. I feel bad for Greg, but there's only one Lucky and he's back now. As for the writer who said GH didn't learn from the Sarah Brown return, that didn't fail because they brought her back, its because of the character they wrote for her. Claudia= failure, not Sarah |
JH
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Bring Greg back! Jonathan Jackson may be back but he is definitely NOT the actor Greg Vaughn is. Greg is far far the better policeman than Jonathan as Lucky Spencer is. If you want the teenie bopper type actor playing a police officer then Jonathan may be the right fit but Greg is still the best. I find it appauling that GH would do this to Greg. Thats whats wrong with America, people can't leave well enough alone. Greg should sue and I have made up my mind. GH will no longer be a part of my afternoon line up. This is just not the right thing to do. Your ratings will fall...watch and see! |
