Applause, Applause

Outstanding Performer - Week of July 25, 2005

The day General Hospital's Jason realized the extent of Michael's psychological problems, Steve Burton showed fans the heart of a man often seen as heartless. After watching Michael talk to thin air, Jason stood motionless, horrified and scared, trying to wrap his head around the imaginary friend Michael had conjured up.

Sam tried to help Jason compose himself. "How could I not see how bad it was?" he lamented, as Burton's eyes glistened with tears. He bowed his head and turned away, as Jason struggled to come to terms with the awful truth. Sam suggested that "Jodie" might be the part of Michael that knew the identity of AJ's killer, so Jason had to get the truth out of him. "I'm not good at pretending" the mob enforcer confessed, displaying rare helplessness. Then almost panicked, he admitted "Michael needs help. I cannot be the one to screw it up".

Pulling out a chair, (something he could see and touch), Jason confronted Jodie, speaking slowly and softly. But she revealed nothing and a frustrated Jason fled, encouraging Michael to try and get the truth out of his friend.

Burton allowed the fans to see the usually emotionless Jason fight back tears. Desperate, he called Dr. Thomas, who advised him to go along with the child's fantasy. Jason, the man who can't lie, suddenly found himself forced to just that. Unfortunately, Michael saw through the act when Jason looked in the wrong direction while addressing Jodie. The kid was crushed by the blatant lie and so was Jason. Burton displayed Jason's confused anxiety as he grasped for the right words to console the child.

"You think I'm crazy" wailed Michael. "You're not crazy" Jason countered, scooping the boy up in his arms, to reassure him. "We'll get through this buddy...I'm going to protect you and keep you safe".

Jason is a man of few words, but Burton makes the most of every one.

Soap Opera Weekly