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80's Soap Opera Drama in Development From John Stamos and Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron!

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

80’s soap opera is making a comeback on cable TV with none other than former GH star John Stamos (Ex-Blackie Parrish).

Deadline is reporting that Stamos has partnered with producer Craig Zadan and Neil Meron for a cable drama series chronicling the fame and excess of daytime soaps in the 1980s.

The untitled drama, now in early stages of development, will be inspired by the experiences of Stamos, whose acting career was launched in 1982 when, at the age of 18, he landed the role of Blackie Parrish on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital.

Described as “Boogie Nights in the soap world,” the drama will explore the colorful and often dark world of soaps as it follows the journey of a young man thrust into soap stardom, during a decade defined by Reaganomics, greed, excess, indulgence and materialism. As a newly minted teen idol, he will struggle to balance his family life, working at his fathers restaurant and maintain his humble upbringing while navigating the temptations of sex, drugs and fame.

Stamos will executive produce alongside Zadan and Meron through the duo’s Storyline Entertainment. This is the latest collaboration for Stamos, Zadan & Maron who previously teamed to produce the Emmy-nominated miniseries Beach Boys: An American Family and the TV movie, Martin and Lewis.

Zadan and Meron are prepping their next NBC musical, Hairspray Live! and are working with Aaron Sorkin for NBC’s first live drama, a 2017 broadcast of A Few Good Men.

The news of this 80’s soap opera themed concept is not the first of its kind.  GH’s Kimberly McCullough has also been hard at work at her “Hey Day” project which is about a young actress trying to make it in the soaps during this decadent decade.

What do you think of the 80’s soap build around the life and times of  a young man influenced by Stamos’ early soap career?  Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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aria
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aria

it sounds like must see tv to me, this is a great idea, and if its on cable then it can be more racy, a behind the scene of a soap, w/ a hot young new comer, drugs, excess, fame, if done right it could be juic;y.!

Patty
Guest
Patty

love it , good writing, acting and creativeness is better then these stupid reality shows.

Steph
Guest
Steph

Really? This is basically the idea Kimberly McCullough had years ago. Come on now…

Shane
Guest
Shane

What would be truly wonderful is if they could get some actual soap stars to be in this soap. What are Kim Zimmer or Erika Slezak or Susan Lucci doing??? How about Robert Newman or Matthew Ashford??? Hey a soap fan can dream can’t he???

Angel
Guest
Angel

Zimmer and Newman are doing off broadway now. Lucci just finished Devious Maids (she would be PERFECT.) Ashford is on The Bay now on Amazon but actors these days can pull double duty.

Celia
Guest
Celia

I love John…and I love this news. What I don’t love is his Julius Caesar hair cut/do. All he needs is a circlet of laurel leaves.

Shay
Guest
Shay

Too funny, CeeCee!!!! Speaking of coiffures, what did you think of Scotty and Julian’s dueling examples of bad hair days on Thursday’s GH episode? As they stood side-by-side in the jailhouse, it was all I could do to stifle my laughter at these overgrown boys with the juvenile-looking top thatches!

Celia
Guest
Celia

HaHa, Shay. I think Scotty’s hair ‘swings’ that way naturally. On him, it looks cute in a boyish -kind-of -way…it suits him.
Julian’s? So not natural !!

Timmm
Guest
Timmm

Cee, John is so handsome he could have a mohawk and the chicks would still be dialing his digits!

davlestev1
Guest
davlestev1

SMH…I don’t get it..I truly don’t.

Theadora
Guest
Theadora

This show sounds almost identical to the show that Kimberly McCullough has been promoting. Coincidence? Hmm.

Lou Piikes
Guest
Lou Piikes

I was thinking the exact same thing as you.

Sly
Guest
Sly

Where was he when GH needed some support for their 50th anniversary show.

Suddenly Blackie Parrish is important to him. I did not know who John Stamos was before he was Blackie Parrish.

I will support Kimberly 100% but not Stamos, I will not be watching.

Mellie
Guest
Mellie

Um, remember a movie called Soapdish? Same concept.

No one will be watching. Because no one cares about daytime soap operas any more.

Kent
Guest
Kent

Yup, Stamos ripped off McCullough.

Lou Piikes
Guest
Lou Piikes

Yelp!!!! A total rip-off. Why did his project get approval and not Kimberly MCcullough?

lou piikes
Guest
lou piikes

It would be great if the series was broadcast in daytime instead of prime time. Late afternoon would be preferable.

Susie
Guest
Susie

just shows the inequality in the entertainment business when JS can hook up with producers and get a concept similar to what KMc has been working on without a struggle while Kimberly has to first make a pilot and then sell it on her own with no backing

blake
Guest
blake

I’d like to check this out. Soaps were so great in the 80’s and early 90’s, this sounds fun.

Timmm
Guest
Timmm

I hope it works out for John. I would tune in. I hope it catches on and he sticks it to Valentini for not including Blackie on the 50th anniversary program!.

Celia
Guest
Celia

Hi, my Timmmy.
Why was John called Blackie? Was there a story behind that name? I must look him up. I don’t like doing it, though.
Was he ‘attached’ to a core family? I just know him as “Uncle Jesse”….. Love that show; even as an adult.
Later, Timmmy.

Sly
Guest
Sly

I understand that they call him Blackie because of his jet black hair.

Celia
Guest
Celia

@Sly.
Hey, Sly,
Thank you. Smiles!!

Timmm
Guest
Timmm

Dealing with the hurt and of Laura missing, Leslie and Rick Webber adopted Blackie Parrish. I dont ever know that anyone questioned why he was called Blackie? You think the Webbers would have asked when he was adopted what his real name is? I dont know. Its like Valerie Spenser. She is half black but not ONE character has asked her why she has color? DUMB!

Christian
Guest
Christian

I forget what program I was watching, but John Stamos himself said that he was invited for the 50th, but scheduling conflicts prevented him from going back to GH. He said he wanted to do it.

Timmm
Guest
Timmm

Thats cool to hear. One gold star for Mr. Valentini.

Allen saint james
Guest
Allen saint james

I’d much rather see current soaps return to 80’s style storytelling.

jaybird369
Guest
jaybird369

If I remember correctly, Stamos’s previous series ‘Grandfathered’ (FOX) was cancelled after just one season. Y-e-p.

Rebecca S.
Guest
Rebecca S.

Sexism in tv world. Kimberly and John had both same ideas. Kimberly had it first and gets shot down. A male John has same idea and gets a pilot .

General Hospital

General Hospital Alum Briana Lane Mourns the Loss of Her Husband

Heartbreaking news to report.  Briana Lane, who took over the role of General Hospital’s Brook Lynn Quartermaine while Amanda Setton was away from the series, shared that her beloved husband, John Lange, passed away on March 14th.

Lane posted a photo of herself with John on her Instagram expressing: “I will love you forever my sweet John. Til we meet again.”

Photo: ABC

In August of 2020, Lane started subbing for Setton as Brook Lynn, and her performances won the hearts of GH fans.  She stayed with the show till November of that year and returned one other time in 2022. In addition, Amanda received a Daytime Emmy nomination for her work in the Outstanding Guest Performer category in 2021.

As for the love story of Briana and John, they wed in December of 2016.  As many know, Briana is not only a great actress, but also has a successful music career and John was very supportive of her professional life. Lange was remembered as a walking encyclopedia of television knowledge, a dog lover, and a lover of comedy.

Friends of Lane’s have set up a Go Fund Me page, to assist in giving John the memorial he deserves and to help Briana as she navigates this next chapter of her life.

Many of Briana’s former GH co-stars shared their grief and support in her IG post including: Kirsten Storms (Maxie) and Katey MacMullen (Willow).

Share your condolences for Briana on the loss of her husband in the comment section below.

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GH Alums Chloe Lanier and Johnny Wactor Guest Star on ‘Station 19’

You can catch two of your favorites, who you first came to know from their work on General Hospital, on tomorrow night’s March 16th episode of the ABC primetime drama, Station 19 (8 p.m. ET).

Look for Daytime Emmy-winner Chloe Lanier (ex-Nelle) and Johnny Wactor (ex-Brando) to appear within the hour-long show.

In the episode titled, “Even Better than the Real Thing”, Lanier will play the role of Ciara.

According to ABC in story: a simulation fire training goes dangerously wrong; Maya tries to make amends, and Bailey encourages Carina to listen; Jack’s sister shows up at the station with a friend, an injury and an attitude.

Chloe took to her Instagram to share,  “I get into a bit of trouble on Station 19 this Thursday. Directed by the incomparable and lovely Paris Barclay! (I’m a big fan) Had such a great time working on this one and I can’t wait for you all to see it.”

Meanwhile, Wactor looks to be playing a fireman in the episode, and took to his IG and shared: “Catch me on Station 19 this Thursday, 3/16 at 8 PM. I’m excited. Too bad I can’t do a live watch party on here. I’ll have to do some research because a watch party would be fun!”

Will you be checking out Chloe and Johnny on Station 19? Comment below.

 

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A post shared by Johnny Wactor (@johnnywactor)

 

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A post shared by Chloe Lanier (@chloelanier123)

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Jane Elliot Returns to General Hospital This April

Although it was previously announced back in January (during ABC’s TCA Winter Press Tour) that Jane Elliot would be returning to General Hospital, the soap opera and Soap Opera Digest have confirmed that Jane’s first episode back will air next month on April 17th.

While Elliot won’t be a part of the Nurses’ Ball which airs the week of April 3rd, as part of the show’s 60th anniversary episodes, the Daytime Emmy-winning fan favorite will be back in action during the anniversary month and beyond.

As viewers know, Jane originally decided to retire back in 2017, and so Tracy was written off to join Luke Spencer in Europe.  Since that time, Elliot has come back to the show for a few appearances.

The last time we saw Tracy was at the beginning of 2022, when she came home to Port Charles to give the shocking and tragic news that Luke had been killed in a cable car crash.  Tracy eventually went back to Amsterdam, where they had been living, to settle his affairs following his death.

Will Tracy’s return help bring down Victor Cassadine (Charles Shaughnessy) who is believed to be behind Luke’s death? Could Tracy learn Luke is really alive after all? Stay tuned.

So, excited that Jane Elliot’s return to GH is just around the corner? Comment below.

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