General Hospital Performers of the Week: Erika Slezak and Michael E. Knight

The embarrassment of soap vet riches General Hospital has on-screen of late has been nothing short of a gift for longtime soap fans. This week, ABC longtime soap fans got to watch two of the network's most legendary daytime performers share powerful scenes together and we were both tickled pink and blown away.

Emmy winners Michael E. Knight and Erika Slezak thrilled us for years in Pine Valley and Llanview, respectively. Now, they have made it to Port Charles as two new characters, earning this week's Soap Central honors as GH performers of the week.

How can I help you, sir?

Ronnie and Marty were in cahoots | Image: ABC

Both Slezak and Knight had us fooled when Ronnie first opened the Quartermaine front door to find Martin Grey standing before her. They barely acknowledged that they'd ever met, save for two brief minutes at the tea party the day before. In fact, they had several scenes at the front door before the truth came out.

However, as soon as Ronnie got Marty into the living room and closed the double doors, their demeanors immediately changed when they knew nobody else was listening.

General Hospital stars kick it up a notch

General Hospital's Ronnie was distraught over having to see Monica's house | Image: ABC

Once Marty and Ronnie were alone, the truth came out. And so did Marty's dark side. We learned that Marty did indeed change Monica's will, but only after Ronnie had come to town and decided she hated Tracy (Jane Elliot). She really did just want to pay respects to her sister, but Marty sucked her in with a nefarious plan.

Slezak showed us Ronnie's guilt and nerves as she expressed her regret for going along with Marty's harebrained scheme. Meanwhile, Knight brought out a new side of Marty. Rather than sticking with the bumbling schemer personality, we learned just how enraged Marty was when Tracy had him put behind bars in California earlier this year.

He didn't care who suffered in order to get his revenge. After chastising Drew (Cameron Mathison) for threatening to have an old lady arrested, Marty went and did the same thing. Knight was a far cry from Tad the Cad as he growled at Ronnie and got in her face. Slezak portrayed Ronnie's shock and fear without having to say a word, while Marty grew more menacing. In just a few short minutes, Knight's Marty made Slezak's Ronnie a sympathetic character.

During the episodes that followed, Slezak wore Ronnie's guilt on her face and sleeve while Marty reverted right back to sidekick mode with Drew and bumbling big brother mode with Laura (Genie Francis). But these two beloved and consummate performers gave us scenes we could only dream of during our years watching All My Children and One Life to Live.

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