GH Spoilers: Steve Burton And Bradford Anderson Reveal The Harsh Truth About Soap Contracts

General Hospital spoilers and updates reveal at times, the excitement unfolds rapidly in our beloved soap operas, while at other moments, the plots appear to drag on endlessly before reaching a climax.

However, ultimately, those events have already been resolved behind the scenes in the studio.

In their latest podcast episode, Stone Cold and The Jackal, Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Damian Spinelli) discussed how far in advance the stars of General Hospital are informed about their schedules.

This conversation unveiled some intriguing insights regarding contracts. The duo reminisced about the past when actors would receive a physical piece of paper in their inboxes, allowing everyone to see how much work their peers were getting.

Nowadays, schedules are communicated via email, which means no one is aware of who is getting more screen time than others. Burton, who is currently under contract, remarked, “When you’re young, you’re like, ‘I want to work more, I want to work more; why is that person working so much?’”

Bradford Talked About Being Recurring

But what’s the experience like for those on the other side of the equation? “Since I’m not under contract, they need to schedule me for specific days, unlike those who are contracted and essentially belong to the network,” Anderson clarified.

“They presume that if it’s a filming day, you’re available because you’re contracted. Therefore, for recurring characters or anyone else not on contract, they must arrange for the day.” When Spinelli is required in Port Charles… “They provide me with two weeks’ notice for the day they wish to book me, and I go on hold,” Anderson elaborated.

Bradford Explains More About Being Booked For Appearances On The Show

“It’s essentially hold dates, like ‘Hold this date,’ which grants them the legal right to prioritize General Hospital over any other projects that may arise in the meantime. Then, a week prior, they confirm my booking for that date, indicating their agreement to hire me for that day. If they back out, they incur a penalty-thus, they strive to be very clear about ‘Yes, that’s the day we want him, we will book him for that day; it’s a different procedure.”

Burton mentioned that actors such as Anderson receive their schedules sooner than those who are on contract, who occasionally get theirs late on Tuesday or early on Wednesday for the upcoming week. “But usually, you get a week’s notice or less,” he said. Anderson responded, “One risk of my schedule is that a hold date isn’t a guarantee; it’s just when they expect you to work.”

Bradford Continued Explaining How Things Work

Bradford shared, “For me, I’m just a plane ticket away, so I usually book a flight within that 14-day window to secure a lower fare. However, sometimes a week before, the date shifts, and that’s the gamble I take by living a plane ride away. It’s simply part of the equation.”

Although it doesn’t happen frequently, changes can occur for those on contract too. Like rescheduling scenes to the next week if they’re running behind, if a specific set isn’t ready, or if an actor falls ill. “But one thing to note is that you won’t know when you’ll be taping until effectively the night before,” Anderson added.

Sometimes Scheduling Is Dicey

“Even if you live nearby, coordinating with family to arrange who will pick up your kids and take them to school, attending a doctor’s appointment, or scheduling a dentist visit… everything is unpredictable. So planning anything is quite challenging.” And that’s why… “I haven’t visited the dentist in 25 years,” Burton quipped.

Anderson emphasized, as Burton agreed, that “these aren’t complaints,” but rather they were offering fans a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes happenings. So for those interested in the process, now you understand… things aren’t as straightforward as they seem.

Be sure to catch up on everything happening with GH right now. Come back here often for General Hospital spoilers, news, and updates.