December has only just begun, and GH viewers already have something to buzz about. Kevin Collins suddenly showed up again, and the moment he appeared on screen, fans immediately started wondering what this means for Jon Lindstrom, especially since he is also very active on Beyond the Gates. Naturally, soap fans are curious about how he is juggling both worlds and what this surprise return might signal.
Setting the Stage Before the Reveal?
Kevin has been off the canvas for quite a long time, so his return comes at a moment when the show is dealing with a lot of emotional fallout. GH is still sorting through the impact of Professor Henry Dalton’s death, and Laura has been relying on Sonny for support.
That shift already gives Kevin an interesting place to reenter, even if we are not revealing the core news just yet. Before taking on Joey Armstrong on Beyond the Gates, Lindstrom had already cut down his GH appearances to once or twice a month.
He did not have a major storyline running, so the show did not need to write around a big departure. The real issue became the distance between the two sets. GH films in Los Angeles while Beyond the Gates shoots in Atlanta. Lindstrom explained that when he told GH executive producer Frank Valentini about his new role, Valentini asked if he could still appear on GH. Lindstrom said he technically could since he was not under contract, but the travel between the two cities made things extremely difficult.
The Truth About His Status On Beyond the Gates
The good news for BTG fans is that Lindstrom is not leaving. His return to GH does not mean he is stepping away from Joey Armstrong. He revealed that GH eventually reached out with a workable idea. The production team suggested filming multiple Kevin scenes over only a couple of days so that the travel would be worth it. Lindstrom agreed to the plan and joked that Genie Francis was probably tired of having Laura talk to a version of Kevin that only existed through phone calls.
Once GH sorted out the scheduling challenge, Lindstrom was able to return to film the scenes that fans are now seeing. It took time to figure out, which is why a full year went by without Kevin onscreen. Kevin also comes back at a very meaningful moment. Lindstrom mentioned that Kevin is not thrilled about Laura leaning on Sonny, but he understands why she is doing it. As a therapist, he knows people reach for connection when life becomes emotionally heavy. As for how often he might appear going forward, Lindstrom said he would happily do GH anytime it fits.
The truth is that Beyond the Gates keeps him extremely busy these days. Joey Armstrong is always in the middle of tension in Fairmont Crest. His work is not exactly legitimate, and he is constantly mixing with powerful people who make his life even more complicated. So, he is staying on Beyond the Gates and giving that role plenty of attention. GH will continue to bring him in when the timing and scheduling line up. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for every Beyond the Gates spoilers.