Soap Hub Performer of the Week for GH: Kin Shriner

Kin Shriner’s Scotty Baldwin lost, arguably, the love of his life (Laura) to the late Luke Spencer. For his performance as a man who got to dance on the grave of his hated rival Soap Hub bestows Performer of the Week for General Hospital honors on Scotty’s portrayer, Kin Shriner.

Kin Shriner – Performer of the Week

It wasn’t appropriate for Scotty to join Laura Collins (Genie Francis), Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot), and others aboard The Haunted Star for Luke’s (Anthony Geary) memorial. However, it was also only fitting that Kin Shriner’s Scotty appears in the episode given the tumultuous relationship he shared with the man who raped and later married his wife. Kudos to all the GH writers – especially head writers Christ Van Etten and Dan O’Connor and scriptwriter Dave Rupel – for a memorable episode filled with drama, humor, and spot-on historical accuracy and references that included Jennifer Smith (Luke’s ex-fiancée), the legendary Ice Princess, and Aunt Ruby (the late, great Norma Connolly).

Scotty couldn’t face off against Luke as he’s no longer among the land of the living but he did come face to face against Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) whom Scotty recently filleted on the witness stand while defending Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) in court. Tensions escalated as Sonny and Scotty came to blows (though later, Sonny confided in Carly that the skirmish was a ruse to fool Victor.) To make it look real, however, Scotty got a black eye. Ironically, he was in a fight on the day of Luke’s memorial as he got in one with Luke on the day of Luke and Laura’s 1981 wedding.

While Luke’s mourners were celebrating his life and enduring Helena Cassadine’s video tribute to Luke (a great way to include fan-favorite Constance Towers as Helena in the episode), Kin Shriner’s Scotty took a swig of his flask, nursing his wounds while on the docks, alone. He speculated on how Luke’s mourners were singing his praises. He hoped Luke was enjoying himself. Scotty lamented that Laura was there as Luke had stolen her from him. “But, Luke Spencer, you’re dead and gone. I’m still standing,” Scotty proclaimed. “So, you lose you son of a bitch!”

As Scott reveled in his enemy’s passing, Tracy scattered Luke’s ashes from an urn on the deck of The Haunted Star, the ship formerly known as The Titan. A wind blew Luke’s burnt remains (where else?) right onto Scotty’s face and into his eyes. Soon, Bobbie Spencer (Jacklyn Zeman) came upon Scotty and asked him what had happened? “I caught the bouquet,” replied Scotty (Kin Shriner), acknowledging that his feud with Luke may have climaxed on that fateful wedding day but will always be a part of his life.

Honorable Mention: Jacklyn Zeman (Bobbie) also shined in this episode and in others related to Luke’s passing. Over the years, Zeman and Geary so convincingly played siblings one might’ve thought they were sister and brother in real-life! At long-standing set Kelly’s, Bobbie sadly recapped her family history to daughter Carly Corinthos (Laura Wright), which included their challenging childhood and how she returned to Port Charles to make something of herself as a nurse. Bobbie gave credit to Luke, her big brother, for always having her back. She acknowledged that while her plan to break up Laura (Genie Francis) and Scotty (Kin Shriner) so she could land the young attorney for herself wasn’t exactly ‘noble,’ she could always count on Luke to help her. Kudos to Zeman for her emotional tribute to the late Luke.

General Hospital (GH) airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Port Charles, check out all the latest that’s been posted on GH spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.