Entertainment Briefs: Saturday, August 9, 2008

Published: August 9, 2008

LOS ANGELES — Genie Francis is checking back into "General Hospital.”

The actress, 46, will reprise her role as Laura on the ABC daytime soap opera beginning Aug. 26.

The character's 1981 fairy-tale wedding to Luke (played by Anthony Geary) was watched by 30 million viewers and landed the couple on the cover of Newsweek magazine. Francis began playing Laura in 1976.

Laura was last seen slipping in and out of a catatonic state in 2007. The upcoming appearance will feature Laura in a story line with daughter Lulu. Francis, who now runs a home-furnishing shop in Belfast, Maine, said she was told that Laura wouldn't be killed off during her latest guest stint.

"I would stay on, but ‘General Hospital' honestly doesn't seem to want that relationship with this character at the moment,” Francis said. "They want little short doses during sweeps periods. It's not entirely up to me. I'm thrilled and delighted my audience stands behind me. If they didn't, you can be sure I wouldn't get to come back for these visits.”

Francis won a supporting actress Daytime Emmy in 2007 for previously reprising the role.

USA has set an October premiere date for the return of the Emmy-winning original "The Starter Wife.”

The 10-episode run of "The Starter Wife” will launch Oct. 10 on USA.

It's unclear whether this is counted as the second season for "Starter Wife” or a first season spun off of USA's hit 2007 miniseries.

Based on the best-selling novel by Gigi Levangie Grazer, "The Starter Wife” is executive produced by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott and focuses on the post-divorce life of Molly Kagan, played again by Debra Messing.

Messing was nominated for an Emmy for the first miniseries, one of 10 nods "The Starter Wife” received. The "Will & Grace” star also will be an executive producer on the series.

Judy Davis won an Emmy for her performance as Joan McAllister and will be a series regular along with Chris Diamantopoulos.

Source: Wire Services

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