Long Day's Journey Into Right

To their fans, they're the red-hot romantic pairing known as "Journey"(a combination, in case you're scratching your head, of Jason and Courtney). To each other, they’re…well, usually the butts of each other’s jokes. Here GENERAL HOSPITAL'S Steve Burton (Jason) and Alicia Leigh Willis (Courtney) goof while the goofing is good. But also reveal a close working relationship built on trust, friendship and mutual respect. (Just so long as there aren’t any razors around.

Digest: How did you feel when you found out that you’d be paired up?

Alicia Leigh Willis: Oh God - I wanted to run [laughs].

Steve Burton: I wish you would have.

Willis: (to Burton) It’s hard to do this with you here; I can’t be nice to you!

Burton: The main thing for me was that it was good because there was finally something that could get between Jason and Sonny that was legitimate. There are all kinds of webs that are woven with that - her being Sonny’s sister, Jason being the best friend. The whole situation with the business relationship…So, there are a lot of things that can be played as opposed to Jason’s other relationships: “We can’t be together. You’re in danger!” Then, that was it. This was a lot of elements that no other relationship has had.

Willis: I was excited. I had a few scenes with Steve before that. He liked to pick on me a lot.

Digest: (to Burton): You?

Burton: No!

Willis: Yes, he does!

Burton: No!

Willis: But, it’s like hanging out with my big brother, so it’s cool. I like it a lot.

Digest: How friendly were you before Jason and Courtney were made a couple?

Burton: We didn’t really know each other. I came back [to GH in May 2002], and she was working with Billy [Warlock, AJ], so we talked. But, I didn’t really know her. It’s cool, we have a lot of fun - especially the four of us, with Tamara [Braun, Carly] and Maurice [Benard, Sonny].

Willis (acting unenthusiastic): Yeah, it’s great.

Burton (laughs): as I’m twisting her arm.

Willis: No, it is a lot of fun.

Digest: When did things really click?

Burton: I didn’t know her, so what I tried to do - with getting into [an on-screen] relationship - was be respectful I know I kid a lot. Sometimes I can go overboard. But, I wanted her, especially in the situation that we’re in, to feel comfortable because that’s what you can build a working relationship on.

Willis: Well, he is… [To Burton] Oh, it’s so hard to be nice to you [laughs]

Burton: See?

Willis: No, no but no matter how much joking around we do… he makes me feel a lot more comfortable about doing uncomfortable scenes than some people have. I’ve worked with a lot of people doing stuff like that and Steve is the most respectful person I’ve ever worked with.

Burton: Yeah, and I’m not even talking about love scenes. If there’s that respect, you can be comfortable doing anything. There’s going to be freedom in acting, and that’s the main thing. We didn’t know each other, so I wanted it to be that we’re friends and we can work together.

Digest: How does your current relationship compare to when you started?

Willis: I feel more comfortable. We give each other a hard time, but…

Burton: Everyone is friends here, so you don’t want to be uncomfortable with the person you’re working with. We have a very open set. People are rooting for each other. Everyone can take criticism and [suggestions]. Everyone is open; that's how the work is good, and it gets better.

Willis: If someone does something amazing, everybody compliments them.

Digest: Was it very uncomfortable to do your first love scene together?

Burton: It’s never really comfortable.

Willis (laughs): No, it’s not. It’s weird.

Burton: It’s so funny because people have this perception that it’s this great thing. But if I don’t know the person…you just do what you have to do and try to be respectful and not get too cheesy. Then you go home. It’s part of the job. There are people who do enjoy it, but not everybody does.

Willis: I don’t see how you could.

Burton: Well, there are some sick people out there.

Willis: It’s weird. There are a ton of people watching you. Bu, if you find someone who you’re comfortable with, you can kind of get it over with.

Digest: Ever joke your way through it?

Willis: I do. He tells me to shut-up [laughs].

Burton: Yeah, I’m like, “Please, let’s just do it. Let’s get it over with!” Just so long as you’re making sure that everyone is okay and not feeling awkward. A lot of people won’t speak their mind about something they don’t want to do.

Willis: He speaks up for me a lot. Hanging out with these guys, I’ve learned slowly to speak up for myself more.

Burton: Which is a bad thing for the people upstairs, but good for us. “Once she started hanging out with Steve, she became such a pain.” [Willis laughs] Look, there’s a line. You fight for what you believe in and with the other stuff, you just deal.

Digest: Do your co-stars tease you when you have love scenes?

Burton: No, because luckily, we don’t have to do anything risqué.

Willis: Yeah, ours are pretty tame.

Digest: What about that scene where Courtney shaved Jason’s face?

Burton: With the shaving thing…people make fun of it, but, actually, I didn’t mind it because it was a different way to show intimacy in a relationship, as opposed to the satin sheets and the 40 candles.

Willis: Do you remember that you had to show me how to do it, though? I didn’t know what I was doing [laughs]!

Burton: Of course, a guy would never let a women shave him. It’d be like “Let me shave and then whatever.” But, I don’t mind those little things, and it’s good that they’re trying to think of different ways.

Digest (to Willis): So, you couldn’t do it?

Willis: I got shaving cream everywhere!

Burton: It wasn’t really your fault.

Digest: Was there a real razor in there?

Burton: No! Are you crazy?

Willis: I wish!

Burton: Yeah, she wishes, so she could have put it to my neck and sliced it.

Willis: “Oops [laughs]!”

Burton: "Jason’s dead. Time to get back with AJ." [Willis laughs.]

Digest: Are you surprised at how quickly the fans responded to Jason and Courtney?

Willis: All I heard in the beginning was a lot of negative stuff. That’s all you pay attention to at first. But, then I realized that there were all these “Journey” sites, and these people were supporting us.

Digest: Has fan opinion gotten more positive?

Willis: Oh, yeah.

Burton: Yeah, but, it’s cool that people support Jason/Liz, Jason/Courtney, Sonny/Alexis… As long as it doesn’t cross that line where it becomes “We hate you!”

Willis: Yeah, I would never want any Journey fans to badmouth anyone else on the show. It sucks when it reaches that point.

Digest: Do you laugh your way through a lot of other scenes?

Willis: Oh God! When don’t we?

Burton: It doesn’t matter who you’re with you’re laughing.

Willis: I’m the worst. I get the giggles so bad, and I can’t stop. Steve and Maurice get mad at me, but it’s there fault. They’ll give me a look because they know what sets me off. And then they’ll blame it on me and say it was my fault. But, they really started it.

Burton: That’s bull. Don’t even try that.

Willis: You know it’s true.

Burton: I’m sorry, that’s not true.

Digest: How do you regain control?

Willis: Sometimes I can’t. Sometimes, we just have to do the take over. Not a lot. I’ve been getting better lately. But, it’s hard! Especially when you’re working with these guys and they know how to push your buttons. But, if we have something serious, I can focus.

Digest: Are your acting styles different or similar?

Willis: He’s been doing it a lot longer than I have…a whole lot longer than I have [laughs].

Burton: Only 16 years. That’s a though question. I don’t think anyone is similar.

Willis: You just have to find what’s best for you.

Digest: What would you like to see happen with Jason and Courtney?

Willis: I’d like to kick his ass.

Burton (grins): I don’t know. If we’re together, they need to find legitimate reasons to keep us apart and then get back together. It can’t be stretched out and end up being stupid. It needs to be legit. We’ll see what happens.

Willis: I’d like to see Jason in the kitchen cooking dinner with oven mitts on... [Burton bursts out laughing]… while she’s out guarding Sonny.

Burton: Now you’re using my material. But, it’s true. Courtney’s like Mike Tyson now, beating everybody up. She bitch slapped Ric around.

Willis: That’s right. You want some?

Burton (grins): That’s one thing that’ll never happen. You can beat up Ric and A.J.

Digest: How would you feel about this pairing going long-term?

Willis: I’m okay with it.

Burton: It’d be fine. As long as she obeys everything will work out great. [Willis laughs] She won’t have any accidents or anything. No, hey - it’s great. The fans like it. I think we’re popular characters on the show. It’s a great thing to be; I’ve definitely been on the other end [laughs].

Willis: You have?

Burton: So, has she…until she started working with me.

Willis: Anywaaaaay…

Burton: But, no - it’s great. That means we’ll work a lot and have a fun story. You can still work a lot and not have a good story. But the story has been so great lately. [pauses] I’ve been back a year already.

Willis: Seems longer.

Burton (laughing): Thank you. It’s been great since I’ve been back. As long as it keeps being fun, it’s good.