General Hospital (GH) spoilers have a shocker in store. Roger Howarth, the actor that plays Franco Baldwin, has reportedly hit a snag in his annual contract talks with the ABC soap. This news comes from inside info at Daytime Confidential and could blow major plot holes in GH’s storylines if TPTB and the actor can’t reach an agreement.
Right now, Franco is critical to several storylines. He’s heavily involved in the Jake Webber (Hudson West) story about the kid’s secret past on Cassadine Island. And, of course, Franco is the love interest of Liz Webber (Rebecca Herbst) which is just heating up with the two planning to move in together and Franco offering a proposal a few weeks ago.
This time last year, Roger Howarth was rumored to be put through the renegotiation wringer about the same time Liz portrayer Rebecca Herbst was. Rebecca’s contract talks lasted so long there was a storyline gap while she was offscreen. Daytime Confidential’s Jamey Gidden quotes his source saying, “They haven’t made a deal and the show won’t be able to keep playing him until they do!”
Given General Hospital’s recent rocky history with contract negotiations, there is no telling how this will go. Tyler Christopher was let go from General Hospital when showrunners couldn’t reach an agreement to keep legacy character Nikolas Cassadine around and it seems belt tightening at the show is yet again causing another actor crisis. It will be very noticeable if Roger Howarth goes missing.
Franco doesn’t own a business, so there’s no excuse for him to be away for that. Plus, all of Franco’s family live in Port Charles – mom Heather Webber (Robin Mattson) and dad Scott Baldwin (Kin Shriner) are both local to town. And Franco’s art career is dead so they can’t even write him an art show out of town or out of the country.
It will be glaringly obvious that something is amiss at General Hospital if Franco disappears out of the blue. And if Roger Howarth has to leave the show over this contract dispute, that means the end of Franco. Even role originator James Franco pales in comparison to the acting chops of Roger Howarth in the role. Is this the end of Friz? Will everyone’s favorite reformed serial killer disappear with no explanation?
Share your comments below on Roger Howarth’s contract talks and be sure to tag General Hospital and Frank Valentini on social media to let them know you want them to keep Franco in Port Charles. Stay tuned to CDL for more General Hospital spoilers, news and updates.
