Daytime TV Performer of the Week: Kathleen Gati Is Making ‘General Hospital’ Wicked Fun Once More
It’d be easy to play an antagonist like Dr. Leisl Obrecht as an eyebrow-raising, one dimensional super-villain, but the talented Kathleen Gati has always injected her General Hospital character with a love of family, wit, humanity, intelligence, and a strong sense of pragmatism.
Gati’s return to GH has injected Port Charles with some much-needed energy and has earned the actress TV Insider’s Daytime Performer of the Week honors.
Many grandmothers err on the side of caution when it comes to their grandchildren holding sharp objects. Not Gati’s Dr. O. She instructed grandson James (Gary James Fuller) on the proper way to throw an axe. “The key is to hone in on your target just as one does during the hunt,” Leisl shared with James. “Never lose sight of anything you want to achieve.”
With James’s Oma offering him advice like this, we can imagine what Maxie’s (Kirsten Storms) next parent/teacher night at school is going to be like. Move over, Josslyn (Eden McCoy). Maybe the World Security Bureau (WSB) will recruit James to be its newest and youngest agent?
Part of the fun of Leisl sharing dabs of wisdom like this to youngsters is watching the reactions of the grownups around them. Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) cringed as James listened intently to Leisl’s suggestions on how to hit the bullseye. Gati’s return to GH is a reminder that a rising tide lifts all boats.
Gati plays Dr. O with such delightful wickedness that her entrances whet our appetites for what’s to come. “Herr Morgan, we meet again,” Leisl quietly and almost threateningly proclaimed after spotting Jason (Steve Burton), her “late” daughter Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) beau from a distance at the Metro Court pool. How does one not stay tuned after a setup like that?
On numerous occasions, Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) has thanked Drew (Cameron Mathison) for saving her life when she needed a bone marrow transplant, and while he certainly played a role in all that (in his more heroic days), it was Leisl, Willow’s aunt, who provided the life-saving marrow.
It only made sense for Dr. O to be at Willow’s wedding. But the scenes we truly can’t wait to see are the ones between Britt and her “Mutter,” as Leisl is affectionately referred to.
“It is a gift to me to see you in such good health and so happy,” Leisl warmly told her great niece. And she meant it. Sure, Dr. O can easily “cut a bitch,” but she’s also capable of showing great warmth and affection to her family. She doesn’t mince words or suffer fools gladly, but if she’s on your side, you’re likely going to win.
Another example of Leisl’s softer side was when she gently approached Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) and consoled her on the loss of her child, Samantha (Kelly Monaco). “My condolences of the loss of your daughter,” Leisl gently told Alexis. “We are members of a terrible club.”
Does Leisl know that Britt is actually alive? We’re going to have to guess yes on that one based on the way Gati’s been playing her character when certain references about daughters are made, but that didn’t stop Leisl from sympathizing with another mother. We’re keeping an even closer eye on Gati’s performances to look for little things that might tell us what she knows and what she doesn’t.
ABC
Gati knows that Leisl doesn’t have to do anything underhanded or scream and shout to win a confrontation. When Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and Lulu (Alexa Havins) interrupted their son Rocco (Finn Carr) taking a selfie with his kind-of-but-not-really-grandmother Dr. O. and demanded that she stay away from him, Gati didn’t have her character rise to their level of concern. Instead, she simply used the truth, pointing out that if Britt had not acted as surrogate mother to Rocco, then he might not even exist.
“It’s a shame that we can’t peacefully co-exist,” Leisl said with a knowing smile.
It’s clear the writers are having fun scripting such zingers for Gati’s Leisl to fire off in any type of situation, which the actress does with style.
“I’m a doctor – not a florist,” Leisl proclaimed to Nina (Cynthia Watros) when she was asked to check on Willow’s bridal bouquet. “And I will not be a party to ‘baby’s breath.’”
“I’ve been absent for too long,” Leisl shared in one of her recent appearances on the show. That was well put as we couldn’t agree more.
Gati’s return to General Hospital as Dr. Leisl Obrecht has made Port Charles even more unpredictable, exciting, and fun all at once. Welcome home, Dr. O!
General Hospital, Weekdays, ABC
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G
Glad she is back on GH. Bring back Scott Baldwin too. They were great together.
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G
I am absolutely 💯 loving Liesl! A breath of fresh air that we needed with all the doom and gloom of Drillow. She speaks loudly - and comically - without raising her voice. Hey Leisl......
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G
Love that Dr. LEISEL Orbrecth is back! Can't wait for Britt! Yes the real Britt to return as well! Hopefully misdiagnoised with that Huntington's disease and free to return to her life! As a doctor at Gh both her and Liesel! I loved the Axe throwing... is there any chance Liesel's son and Maxie's ex is still alive too? Finger crossed! Finally GH is coming back to life! Find Scotty Bsldwin
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S
I would love for Scott to return and try to win back Leisl.
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G
Fun again. GH went gloom snd doom with Willow/Drew story dragging on. Scotty was gone, Nicolas gone and Spencer gone. Silly WSB stories and Drew snd Ezra gabbing yawn fest! Bring humor and real fights back.
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R
Thrilled she is back- too much negativity lately- too dark- time for some levity and less continuous lying and switched, kidnapped babies and parents- over and over - boring
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S
Leisl adds much needed fresh air and wicked fun to a depressing canvas. Taking Willow to task about her romance with Drew the first time they saw each other again was priceless. I look forward to all her comments throughout Willow and Drew's wedding drama. She calls them like she sees them and her vision is spot on.
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O
The phrase “a rising tide lifts all boats” is apropos! Love, love, love, die Frau Gatti! The proverbial breath of fresh air that this show desperately needs!
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G
Yes!! I'm so!so! Excited those 2 are back because I was ready to stop watching after 45 years!! Bring Scotty back as well. I think I can speak for a lot of people,because we like getting angry and being on the edge of what's next,it's about time and bring back Nell and Sam because Felicia is a boring private eye,don't get me wrong but we need Sam to do under mining sneaking roles.
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C
Welcome Back Leisl! 👏🏻
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G
So how does Gatti get a pic on the GH opening, but Nunu Lulu still isn't there. Is she not under contract?
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S
The beginning pics are supposed to be the headshots of the characters in that episode, both contract and recurring. At one time the pics were only contract actors. It's been criticized in comments that Lulu has never been included but there has never been any official explanation why. It could be as simple as not submitting a headshot. I thought I saw Leisl's pic last episode but maybe I was mistaken.
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B
The newest contract actors on the show (characters of Lulu, Brennan, Marco, Emma, and Michael) have not had official photos done. Evidently, the producers aren't using Kelly T.'s old picture for Britt's return, so add her to the list of contract actors without a photo. Plus some of the new recurring actors haven't been part of the photoshoot (The Professor (his name escapes me at the moment), ADA Turner. Or not so new recurring (Finn, Danny). Once back from summer break, I assume there'll be a new photo shoot and thus new head shots.
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B
They used the picture they had of KG when she was previously on the show. It's not a new photo shoot.
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P
I love Liesel this actress is from Montreal just like me....she is a breath of fresh air...
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R
I've been waiting for her Return!! She is PERFECT!!
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G
She is so Beautiful! And a Great Actress
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G
Wecome back ,loved the florist line perfectly....delivered.... pun intended 😀😄😜
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B
Love Leisl! Can't wait for scenes with her and he Britta!
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G
Glad to have her back...if Portia goes...she should run GH!
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L
Delighted to have her back!!!!!!!!
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