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ABC Entertainment President, Craig Erwich Offers Update on ‘Pine Valley’ and is Open to Additional ‘General Hospital’ Iterations

Photos: ABC and JPI

During today’s ABC TCA virtual Winter Press Tour, Craig Erwich, president of ABC Entertainment and Hulu originals, addressed entertainment reporters during a press conference on some potential developments and upcoming new shows, existing shows, and specials scheduled on the network

According to TV Line, Erwich shared he has no further updates at this time on the All My Children reboot “Pine Valley’ that has been in development for over a year from Kelly Ripa (Ex-Hayley, AMC) and Mark Consuelos (Ex-Mateo, AMC) and company.

However, the ABC boss did say that due to the recent success of Days of our Lives streaming limited-series and its holiday movie on Peacock, that he would be intrigued for ways to bolster the General Hospital franchise, adding that he is “always open to additional iterations or explorations” in regards to the network’s sole daytime drama.

So, what do you think is happening with “Pine Valley”? Would you like to see ABC and its streaming platform partners develop something original for General Hospital ala DAYS? Comment below.

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At this point, no news is probably good news on the Pine Valley front. It’s probably still percolating, going through concept and character adjustments.

You’re right. I wonder if Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa will reprise their roles periodically. I know a lot of LGBTQ and they hope ABC and Pine Valley won’t shy away from adding Gay Characters. Not Sure if Bianca will return.

The concept line of Pine Valley never made sense to me….The “feud” between the Kane and Santos families. Other than Erica stealing Maria’s baby and the fallout from that 25 years ago, there was never a feud. To try to change history, and use that as the framework for a “darker, edgier show” to create some epic, legendary feud sounds like a big rewrite and I’m not really interested in that.

General Hospital has been a pioneer in different programming concepts and spin offs, both traditional network shows (Port Charles), and limited, non-narrative pieces (Night Shift). If this is the wave of the future, then they better get on it. Maybe it could help to relieve some of the bloat in their cast.

Just a suggestion….although I doubt ABC is that motivated or ambitious…why not take all the shows that they own rights to….find writers and research people who would put in the work…and mesh it all together into one soap??

Do you know how thrilled viewers would be? They could incorporate characters from AMC and OLTL, but also longer deceased serials like Ryan’s Hope, Loving, The City, and even wayback shows like Dark Shadows and other shows from way before my time (I am in my 40’s).

It would be a Herculean effort to track continuity, characters backstory and their ages, and all the details, but I think as long as it was well written, viewers would be VERY forgiving and appreciative.

The show would have a built in wow factor and curiosity would be through the roof! The cameos and crossovers would be a hoot! Who knows who could be passing through town on any given day?

I know this is a pipe dream, but there is life in the dramatic serial form! People crave it, watch it, and binge it. But, the traditional daytime soap format (5 days a week, expensive production model, network only, daytime) is a dinosaur and basically dead.

ABC owns the rights to SO many great old beloved shows, and nowadays, when EVERYTHING is a reboot, it would be a shame not to tap into that rich history and guaranteed historic fan base!

Maybe the feud happened after All My Children went off the air! We’re to tune in to find out why.

GH makes the point of going to Corinth (where Loving was set) and they do nothing. Not even a mention of the murders, the Alden mansion…. nothing… I have said for years that Faison (who cross-over on Loving) was hiding in the Alden mansion with Trisha hostage. I don’t get why they do nothing with all the history they have.

I hope ABC still considers some sort of One Life To Live v3 or limited series

I always thought that a spin-off series about the WSB would be intriguing. Maybe Jack Wagner could pop up occasionally as Frisco (isn’t he in charge these days?) and Finola and Tristan could guest now and then, but you could focus on new agents, perhaps as a weekly serial action adventure.

Now that would be great. Would love to see Jack W interact.

Bill I like your idea, I’m all for more wsb agents in an out of PC. Dark edgy, and on HULU since Disney owns it .

In other words forget it. GH Nightshift was a good iteration of the show and they flat out dropped it so he’s full of it. If he’s that interested Frank Valentini would be gone. Earwig (Erwich) is just talking to talk. End of.

I think there is something to it. Streaming has changed the game. You need lots of content and soaps are cheaper to produce compared to a network show and you have a loyal fan base. In terms of scale you have a smaller audience but a more loyal one and to make money with streaming you need very loyal fans.

Sure. I only watch the Days with Sonny and Will. And I pray that ABC picks up Pine Valley. I watched The Edge of Night before it cancelled, All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital with my Mom. I even remember the Ice Princess Storyline in the early 1980’s.

Sorry about the Pine Valley reboot but thrilled he is looking at the Days limited streaming series and Christmas movies and would consider something involving GH down the line. ABC actually owns their soaps and can easily make it happen.
Now if only CBS could negotiate something with Proctor and Gamble so we can see our old CBS soaps this would be heaven. It would be wonderful to see GL and As the World Turns soaps in a movie or limited series. The stars aren’t getting any younger and neither am I. It’s got to be cheaper than developing these series from scratch.

We need a scary soap like Dark Shadows. Can we do a reboot with Caleb the vampire on a new spinoff. That last scene on GH indicated he was not dead. ME could do both shows. I wish they would put Dark Shadows on daytime again and have Michael Easton as Barnabas Collins.

It seems like the Actors involved in “PINE VALLEY” are all insisting that this show will happen, even though it doesn’t really sound like much is occurring at the moment. If they are going to do it, they really need to get a move on. Susan Lucci commented that the pandemic has slowed down progress and that’s probably true to some degree. Personally, I would like to see ALL MY CHILDREN re-launched closer to it’s original inception. However, I would happily watch the New PINE VALLEY with an open mind.

It’s a bit strange that Kelly and Mark Consuelos haven’t said much about the New project since it was first announced two years ago. I don’t want to add a negative vibe to it, but I wish it sounded more encouraging than it seems to sound here. Understandably, the Pandemic has slowed down progress of New shows, but I wish there were a way to know for certain if this production is still happening….has it just been a very slow process – what’s the latest word?

General Hospital

THIS WEEK on GENERAL HOSPITAL: Dex and Josslyn’s Relationship at a Crossroad, Jason Contacts Diane For Help

Previews for the week of March 18-22nd on General Hospital, plus the latest promo for the daytime drama series, share that Jason’s (Steve Burton) return has already affected so many lives, especially given the fact that several key people aka Michael (Chad Duell), Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and Danny (Asher Antonyzn) know his location at this moment.

Eventually, Jason (Steve Burton) will get in touch with Diane (Carolyn Hennesy), from what one can only assume is legal help. However, John (Adam J. Harrington) seems hot on Jason’s trail, but the question remains, if Jason was working for John as seemingly revealed in a flashback to keep out of prison, are the two working together … or are they mortal enemies?

Meanwhile, it looks like its curtain for now in the relationship between Dex (Evan Hofer) and Josslyn (Eden McCoy). After Nina (Cynthia Watros) dropped a bombshell about Cyrus (Jeff Kober), Joss gets an earful of information from Dex, when he admits that he was in Cyrus’s hospital room to kill him on orders from Sonny (Maurice Benard).

Photo: ABC

According to Soap Opera Digest, Eden McCoy shared, ” I think what’s different about this situation, and what pushes her over the edge, is that it wasn’t, like, a self-defense situation. It wasn’t at a shoot-out. He wasn’t protecting Sonny. Cyrus wasn’t doing anything! And I think that really scares her, to see him in the light of voluntarily killing someone in their sleep. That is very different from, like, shooting someone that’s shooting at Sonny. She is just in shock, like she can’t actually believe it.” As told by McCoy, “At that point, Josslyn says.’I can’t do this anymore,’ and makes her exit.”

Take a look below at the rest of the official teasers for the week.

MONDAY, MARCH 18

Dex makes a confession to Josslyn. Tracy shares a moment with Sonny. Diane offers encouragement to Alexis. Kevin explains what might have led to Marshall’s misdiagnosis. Stella has an unlikely encounter. 

TUESDAY, MARCH 19

Josslyn opens up to Carly. Dex confides in Anna. Sonny offers Natalia some valuable insights. Jason gets a visitor. Brook Lynn lays into John.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

Tracy sees a new side of Cody. Alexis informs Molly about her plans. Natalia has a revelation. Anna makes an admission to John over drinks.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

Drew has a proposition for Nina. A photo shoot at Deception goes wrong. Laura and Heather find some common ground. Willow is worried by her actions.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22

Jason reaches out to Diane for help. Maxie calls Lucy out. Cody and Olivia comfort each other. Sasha makes a huge decision. Chase and Brook Lynn are stunned.

Now below, watch this week’s promo for the action in Port Charles.

What storyline are you looking forward to the most? The least? Let us know in the comment section.

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General Hospital

REPORT: General Hospital Alum, Robyn Bernard, Homeless & Battling Addiction, Before Her Passing at 64

Robyn Bernard passed away earlier this week on March 12th, when her body was found in an empty field, which is allegedly behind a 7/11, and some trailer homes, in San Jacinto, California. The actress and singer, and former General Hospital alum, played Terry Brock from 1984-1990 and was 64-years-old at the time of her death.

New reporting on the life that she led over the past year, and longtime mental health issues and struggles with addiction, paint a picture that may have led to her death. Although it should be noted, the toxicology report is currently not completed or released. However, the sheriff department stated that no foul play is suspected.

Now, according to the Daily Mail, friends of Bernard spoke on how she had become part of their homeless community, and that she she struggled with alcohol addiction, and had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia through the latter part of her life.

Photo: ABC

In their accounts, things went south for Robyn when in 2014 she moved to the community in San Jacinto, which is 84 miles from Los Angeles. At that time, she moved into a trailer park for senior citizens and was beloved for her singing by her neighbors.

The report also notes that in 2015, tragically, Bernard’s trailer park home was burned to the ground taking 7 of her 8 beloved cats and all of her possessions. After that, Robin stayed with many people of the community, but the previous management chased her off of the premises. She then broke up with her boyfriend and eventually stopped communicating with her parents.

Bernard’s final home was in a community called Parkview Estates, facilitated by Riverside County’s Adult Protective Services Department.  According to police records obtained by Daily Mail, through 2017-2019, Bernard faced numerous DUI drugs and alcohol arrests during that period.

Joni Woods, who lives opposite the space where Bernard’s trailer once was said: ‘I used to see her (Robyn) around town all the time pushing her shopping carts. She always had four or five of them, and I always felt so bad for her.” Robyn’s former boyfriend, Dan Berlin, expressed that the last time he had seen the GH alum was two years ago, “She was out there, talking to herself in a nonsense way. She was a schizophrenic.’

The friends of Bernard shared: “She used to say that Hollywood screwed her over,” adding, “They did her dirty and that’s why she ended up living in San Jacinto of all places.”

Share your thoughts on this tragic story of the last part of Robyn’s life, which again, stresses the importance of trying to find the appropriate help for those dealing with mental illness, being homeless, and addiction. 

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General Hospital

While ‘General Hospital’s’ Dante Lays in a Coma; Dominic Zamprogna Has Some Great New Portrait Headshots

On General Hospital, Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) has thus far survived two bullets to the chest, and is laying in a coma. Sam (Kelly Monaco), his lady love, is by his side and beside herself after learning her ex Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) is alive and is of the belief that Jason have been the shooter who tried to take out Dante.

Sonny (Maurice Benard) has been wracked with guilt after he wasn’t so kind to his son, before the PCPD cop got shot. Meanwhile, Jason is hiding out at the Quartermaine boat house trying to recover from the gun shot wound he received.

While Dante’s life is still hanging in the balance, it appears that his portrayer, Dominic Zamprogna, took a diverse range of headshot and portrait photos under the eyes of talented photographer Jackson Davis. The photos were posted on Davis’ Instagram account.

Photo: ABC

A few former GH castmates commented on the photos including Marc Anthony Samuel (ex-Felix) who expressed: “Dante, Dante, Dante…,” and Mark Lawson (ex-Dustin) posted, “Dom!!!! Handle yo’ biz.”

Zamprogna joined General Hospital back in 2009 and has been nominated four times for a Daytime Emmy Award throughout his time thus far on the ABC daytime drama series.

So, what do you think will happen to Dante? Will he wake up and be just fine, or will he have another medical condition? What do you think of Dominic’s new headshots? Comment below.

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