All hail the return of General Hospital's Denise DeMuccio (and Franco)

General Hospital's New Year's Day encore flashback episode was meant to honor Anthony Geary and Luke Spencer after Geary's death at the age of 78 on December 14, 2025, and it did just that. However, it also reminded us of a long-ago character who didn't last long, but also did last because that character was really our beloved Ava Jerome.

Denise DeMucio takes on Port Charles

Ava wanted to keep Kiki happy | Image: ABC

Who can ever forget Denise DeMuccio, that hairdresser from Queens who just happened to burn her fingerprints with hair chemicals, so there was no way to prove that Denise was really Ava (Maura West). (Does Ava ever mention the fact that she doesn't have fingerprints?) In fact, Denise was supposed to be Ava's never-before-heard-of twin sister, and Ava even got her mother, Delia Ryan (Ilene Kristen), in on the act.

Franco (Roger Howarth), who we miss in a million different ways (Elizabeth needs him), knew almost immediately that he was dealing with Ava, his ex-lover, good friend, and the woman he raised a child with when he believed that Kiki (Hayley Erin) was his and not Silas Clay's (Michael Easton).

General Hospital ties that bind

General Hospital's Ava needed Franco to keep her cover | Image: ABC

On the July 27, 2015, episode of General Hospital, we were reminded of how stories even come full circle. Franco knew that Denise and Morgan (Bryan Craig) were having an affair, but he kept that knowledge from Kiki because he needed Ava to help him make Nina (then played by Michelle Stafford) jealous.

At the time, Nina and Ava were mortal enemies after Nina induced Ava's labor and kidnapped Avery during a psychotic break. Now, they are the very best friends, reminding us that almost anything can be forgiven on a soap. On top of that, Nina was married to Ric (Rick Hearst) at the time, who was gaslighting her into believing she was crazy and had kidnapped Avery (Ava and Grace Scarola) again. In 2025, Ava helped Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) and Kristina (Kate Mansi) lock Ric in Alexis' basement, tied to a gurney with a ball gag in his mouth.

And yes, the concept of Denise was as silly now as it was back then, as she seemed to just be another version of Lois Cerullo (Rena Sofer). However, imagine if Denise returned today, but as a whole separate character who really is Ava's long-lost twin. Now, that would be something on GH in 2026.

Catch all-new episodes of General Hospital weekdays on ABC and Hulu.