by Dan J Kroll

Posted Monday, December 03, 2007 5:58:54 PM

The cast cuts continue at General Hospital, as the text-message killer continues to methodically pick off the women of Port Charles. The latest exit, however, will also usher in the return of a very popular GH vet.

For months fans have questioned the status of actress Lindze Letherman (Georgie Jones) with General Hospital. Earlier this year, as Letherman's contract neared an end, the actress and show execs reached a deal that temporarily extended Letherman's stay with the show by three months. Now, as that extension reaches an end, there is word that the network had decided that it will not renew Letherman's contract.

How do you feel about the decision to kill off GH's Georgie?  I'm upset. There is no reason to kill off a character with story potential.   34%   I'm all for anything that brings back Felicia to Port Charles.   27%   There is too much violence and no reason to have so many deaths.   18%   I was never a fan of Lindze's Georgie, so I'm not terribly upset.   10%   Killing a major character makes the killer storyline more believable.   6%   I don't have an opinion about Georgie's death at this time.   3%   Other   1%     Poll Posted: December 1st, 2007

---> It's been hinted at for several weeks, but there is now insider confirmation that Georgie will be the next victim of the mass murderer lurking about Port Charles. Just last month, Emmy winner Natalia Livingston (Emily Quartermaine) met an untimely death at the hands of the killer. Unlike Livingston, who will continue to make GH appearances as a spirit, Letherman will be out right after her character is offed.

General Hospital's writing team seemed unable to come up with storylines of consequence for Letherman since the exit of her on-screen love interest, Scott Clifton (Dillon Quartermaine) earlier this year.

Letherman joined the cast of General Hospital in September 2002. Prior to making her foray into daytime, Letherman made several guest appearances in primetime sitcoms such as "Suddenly Susan" and "Family Matters."

In writing Georgie's death, General Hospital has arranged for Georgie's on-screen mom, Kristina Wagner (Felicia Jones), to return to the show in December. Wagner joined General Hospital in 1984, but opted for what was called "an amicable split" with the show in June 2005. Shortly thereafter, soap vet Sandra D. Ferguson was cast as Felicia.

A show spokesperson declined to comment on Letherman's exit or Wagner's return, thereby making first and final airdates unavailable at this time.