News
CONFIRMED: Mal Young IN! Jill Farren Phelps OUT as EP at Y&R!

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
Wednesday morning saw confirmation on the Internet that Jill Farren Phelps is indeed out as EP of the number one soap opera, The Young and the Restless. She is being replaced by British soap producer, Mal Young, who for the last six months has been working as Supervising Producer on the CBS Daytime drama.
In an official statement by Steve Kent, senior executive vice president, U.S. programming for Sony Pictures Television, on the departure of Phelps who has been a the helm of Y&R since 2012:“On behalf of everyone at the show, we extend our sincere thanks to Jill for her years at Y&R and wish her continued success.”
Reports have that Chuck Pratt Jr. will remain in his place as executive producer and head writer of Y&R.
Young took to his Twitter page confirming his new appointment relating simply: “Day One.”
Throughout the day several of the cast of Y&R took to Twitter to congratulate Mal on his EP gig in Genoa City.
Jason Thompson (Billy) who was hired by Jill Farren Phelps at Y&R and gave him his soap start at GH tweeted: “Congrats Mal. I excited to go on this journey with you. I trust you buddy! Let’s do it!”
Miles Gaston Villenueva (Luca) tweeted: “Congratulations to this man. What a creator and collaborator. And a beautiful human. Cheers.”
Alicia Coppola (Meredith) tweeted: “Congratulations to this class act of a gentleman. Talented and kind. I raise my glass in your honor. XOXO A”
So, what do you think of Mal Young in as the new EP of Y&R? Comment below!
Charles Pratt must go next Jill was a big reason why buy Charles is the reason for all my children n now y&r he must go also
Chuck Pratt needs to hit the road, then FOJ’s Steve Burton, Hunter King, and the rest of the gang, can join him. It’s time to get Y&R back on track. It’s been a mess for nearly two years now.
Jill was the initial problem. I dodnt know how much Pratt is responsible for , we’ll see. But es, dump all these pets and lets get back to Bill Bell Y&R!
Changes had to be made. The show has been in a downward spiral for quite some time. The problem wasn’t just JFP, it is the writing as well = Chuck Pratt. Until something is done there, I don’t expect significant changes. Keep in mind, he still holds an EP position and the head writer title.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
YES! Sing it from the rafters!
Now maybe Y&R will step up its game. Her replacement sounds promising.
Yes!! And, stop the gross madness going on between prison-doc Meredith and “Mr. Lover, Lover”. Nothing is more disgusting to me, right now. What the heck are these writers thinking?…..
Iis she going to take all her dear friends she employed with her?
Pratt needs to go as well – these so-called ‘story lines’ of his are a complete failure!!
If they want to fix Y&R in a very positive way, then PLEASE fire Chuck Pratt.
But this is a beginning.
I don’t know who this person (male or female ) is so it’s hard to draw a conclusion. I hope he/she is good. I haven’t read any past history so I’m hoping he/she goes back to the core of the Abbott’s & Newman’s and gets our stars back(Jill, Tracy etc) and please fix up the Chancellor mansion to it’s glory. I did notice someone already trying to be a favorite. Hopefully he/she wont buy into it. I would like to see him/her and Chuck run the show without input from the workers. Well guess we’ll see. Best of luck to Mal Young.
Yes!!!! What you said, Nikki. Among all those previously mentioned by other posters to make an exit?
I would love to see Luca goooone!!!! Please!!!! I can’t take anymore sidelong, creepy, beady-eyed lokks from that rat. ……with his too tiny, snug-fitting Ken-doll suits.
That miniature jacket he was wearing can probably fit my six-year-old. LOL.
Looks
Could it be true? Is Luca on the right of justice? Is he looking out for Newman Enterprises? Is the barrista the real bad guy?
Thats just so funny Cee Cee!
I agree and please let Victor act his age instead of a dog in heat. That whole thing with the prison doctor makes me sick. I got so angry at that fool the other day I actually yelled at the T.V.”oh get your clothes back on & go drink your prune juice”. Nothing about age, my Mom is his age & she acts her age and she cringes when he starts. I want to see Victor stay in jail. Let Ian out running Newman into the ground so old Vic can build it from the ground up as he puts it. I want to see Max get well & through surgery ok. No more kid deaths. When Chloe comes back I’d like to see her normal or at least dealing with Delia’s death better good grief it’s been a year or more.
@Timmm.
Thank you, my Timmmy…lol
@Nikki.
Again…agree, Nikki. I love Chloe/Elizabeth. I hope she will not just come back as a routine visit.
As far as Max? I think he was to be a temporary character; however, it seems that TPTB liked what/how the boy delivered.
Thus, the brain tumor. Golly gee….all these brain tumors floating around people’s brains. I find it so distasteful. Using such a sensitive subject and blaming IT for people’s criminal behavior doesn’t sit well with me.
But, hey….that’s our soapworld: excising a tumor makes everything better. Right?
Mal Young is a man. Which is why Jason Thompson called him “buddy” in his tweet and why the actor who plays Luca called him a man.
It’s often important to read the story you’re commenting on.
Made a mistake. Please keep your ignorance to yourself. This is a happy pleasant site nobody welcomes rudeness. Thank you for reading my comments.
Great first step back to respectability – now, get rid of Pratt too!
Hallelujah! Half the battle done. Now maybe I can start watching again. Too bad she and Pratt weren’t a two way departure. Hopefully next
I hope the show benefits.
…….SHE’D THE HACK PRATT……NEXT!!!!
I have been waiting for this in a very long time! Could Mal Young balance Chuck’s way of writing? Let’s see, let’s see!
Pratt needs to go. it’s the only way this soap can improve
My understanding lots of letters etc were sent to CBS on destroying sets and hiring her buddies and putting front and center. Pratt needs to also and get down on your knees and beg Kay Alden to come back as HW she knows the history of the show.
Yes, Kay. It looks like your prayers are finally being answered.
Please!!!! Kay Alden would be a God send.
Pratt needs to go also!
ok!
look at me; I’m bowing (now hear the applause!
I said , when Mal Young was brought in, either JFP or Pratt would be shown the door /fired”.
The reason Mal Young was brought in was to (dirty move) silently train him, then fire Jill or Chuck.. heh! …it was the plan from day one, as I had said back then…
Hey! perhaps Pratt will be next and then it will be Mal Young and Ron Carlivati !
CBS/Y&R might be cleaning house, new hires on the way..
Yes, and I said it before, Ron Carlivati needs to be @ Genoa City.
He is the best head writer right now in the business..I criticized him in the past when his stories get out of place, but nevertheless they are still better than all the current stories given by the head writers left right now in the remaining soaps.
Mal Young is new blood..Lets watch and see..PRATT must go too..He is better suited for primetime drama shows.
Much as I’d like to see Ron Carlivati back writing for one of the soaps, he’s wrong for Y&R; I think his style would not mesh well with the show and the viewers would (still) not be happy. (Where he really needs to be is back at GH, which desperately needs him, but I guess that’s not happening, or at least not anytime soon.)
hi Michael (not Fairman)
Never forget–
Ron Carlivati, for many years, was the head writer for OLTL, and the characters were very defined.. The stories were great drama and yet humor..
RC can go in many directions. RC did OLTL, very well.
ahaa the soap opera all the characters were watching inside of OLTL, that was fun.
(since J&S came to GH, a long time past, I have not had a laugh, not even a good chuckle, and that is a sad thing)
Hi Omar..
Ron is the cooolist youngest writer..
He was just 41 when he came to GH, and younger yet when he wrote for OLTL.
the soaps need young writers like Ron..
I think Ron’s style would suit Days far better than Y&R– and I be all for Ron coming in and injecting some humor and fun back into Days–but atlas I don’t think that will happen any time soon sigh
Jesus, Mary and Joseph–the last thing Y&R needs is that hack at the helm!
We should listen to you more often, SuzieQ. LOL. When you’re right; you’re right!!!!
Awesome!!!!!!!!!
I just know that some of my favorite actors were fired or written out under her watch. Then each time, her favorite friends started coming aboard her soaps and getting special treatment whether they fit in or not. It’s happened with every soap she was a part of.
KMB, I know–she was the one who had Brad Maule (DR Tony Jones) fired from GH,
Pratt has to go next.
Well, the job is half done. Pratt has to go as well. His horrendous writing is killing the show.
Soap fans love their show’s history and legacy families and characters. If Mr. Young recognizes that and pays due respect, he’ll do well.
I seem to recall Steve Burton jumped GH to Y&R because he wanted to work with Phelps again and that Y&R made shooting schedule to fit when Burton moved out of state. So will he leave Y&R when his contract comes up?
Will her best bud Steve Burton be following her out of Genoa City?? Will they both be headed back to Port Charles??? Frank Valentini and Billy Miller beware!!!
Never was huge fan of Jill’s work or Steve Burton’s acting for that matter..Not a big fan of Billy Miller either..I have the up most respect and admire the work of Frank!!
Hi Omar, I thought the same thing. I don’t see Burton hanging around. He came on board because of JFP.
Omar…dude…LET’S HOPE SO!!!!! I mean…here’s hoping that Steve Burton follows JFP right on out the door…FOR GOOD!!!!! BYE BYE BYE AND MORE BYE!!!!!!!!!!
Later.
JFP had a very bitter parting when she left GH, so I doubt they would ever hire her back. Don’t know about Steve Burton. I ams sure he had his fans, but towards the end of his GH it wasn’t like he was bringing the ratings up at all…
Great news. Jamey at Daytime Confidential called this a few weeks ago in his blind items. I’m glad she’s gone from Y&R, I hope another show doesn’t hire her. She can go do her teen shows again.
This is great news! I’d given up watching regularly the show, missing episodes and FF through others. The SLs are awful. They simply don’t make sense. I’ve been a fan since the Brooks sister! To see what the show became under JFP and CP (yeah, I know he remains. For how long?) is sad.
Now, I ask people to be patient and let MY make changes before rushing to judgment.
It is definitely time for a change!!!
How interesting the three latest hires are the first ones to congratulate the new boss? Worried much?
The sad truth is unless Mal Young’s desire is to go back and try to rebuild Bill Bell’s original vision for the show, what he does might not improve the show– but I have noticed since he has arrived the scripted dialogue of the show has improved so that is a hopeful sign.
Sony and CBS have to do their part, people cannot expect the Chancellor mansion to return to it’s former glory if the suits will not give the show a decent budget—
I don’t believe JFP is completely responsible for everything that ails the show, it was in pretty rough shape when she took over– but she didn’t make it better and in some areas she made it worse, so I do believe a change in leadership was needed, but if Mal is more interested in recreating the show to reflect his vision instead of going back to Bell’s vison, we still might not see the real Y&R for a long time to come.
Mary SF I’m with you on this one.. I know he was heavily involved in a number of British soaps many of which I’ve watched.. Brookside was a great soap.. Unfortunately his tenure ran the show into the ground and cancelation.. Instead of focusing on the close and it’s characters he went for block buster storylines and ratings.. He created Family Affairs another Brit soap I’ve seen.. And true to form took it through so many changes chasing ratings it was canceled.. Needless to say I FOR ONE am not holding my collective breath.. Especially since two weeks after his February 2016 first show debut JFP has essentially been out.. What you see is what he gives and we’re well into June.. IJS
Hi, I’m a UK viewer of this page. Mal Young did not cause the cancellation of Brookside; when he was in charge, the ratings were very high, great storylines and acting as well. It was after he left the show and moved to Channel 5 that a succession of new Producers ruined Brookside with ridiculous over the top storylines. Brookside lasted another 6 years after he left to become Controller of Drama at Channel 5 where he created Family Affairs which you mentioned. You are right that there were many changes to that show; in fact I don’t think I have ever seen so many changes in a soap; constant cast changes and they even changed the location where it was set lol. However, again, this was not down to Mal Young. Family Affairs started in 1997 and at the very beginning of 1999, a massive overhaul of the programme happened where 95% of the cast were axed and this was done by a new Executive Producer. Mal Young had left in around 1998 and the show carried on until New Years Eve 2005. Young moved to the BBC and became controller of Drama where he oversaw EastEnders and loads of other shows. There was an existing show called Casualty and he created a spin-off Holby City (hospital soap) which still exists, as does Doctors, a daytime medical soap which started in 2000 and is still on the air now. Doctors is a perfect example of how a programme wth a daytime budget can look great; good acting, writing and superb production values for a fraction of the cost that for example, EastEnders costs to make
If ever…
Smh..I don’t know what you mean
Oh I see never mind Penny lol
No problem! I would love to have Bill Bell’s vision/spirit in Y&R again, too!
CONGRATS !!!! YES
and then some
to the dedicated Genoa City denizen
I can only HOPE… this is a sign… that – SONY – is dedicated to their productions… and
YES
I mean Days of OUR Lives
SONY … puhlease… do right by Y&R and DAYS
Thank You
and yes… I mind the store
and Sony … benefits
I am waiting to see what the Y&R veterans tweet about the new regime. Pratt definitely needs to go to make a fresh start. I would love to see Mal Young and a new writer come in and refresh Y&R. As long as Pratt remains in control via his EP description, nothing much will change. If they get rid of him and start working on making wise story line decisions this could be a great thing. I am another voice in favor of a writer like Ron Carlivati. He injected humor and realness to the characters on GH an OLTL. Excited for the possibilities but until the house is completely cleaned all we have are new sheets. Let’s change the mattress too!
I dont care if the Executive Producer is Mickey Mouse, just as long as Jill Farren Phelps is GONE!!
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Her expression in that photo says it all. LOL
All the actors kissing up to Mal. 😉
I do hope this means good stuff for the show. I do think part of the prob is Chuck and his grand story ideas–a disaster every six months. We don’t need that. Give us good story, good character, good actors, romance.
ROARING – LOL
she looks constipated… and then some
nice laugh
In football, if the head coach gets fire, the coordinators usually go to. I dont know why they canned Jill and not Chuckie baby? The show needs rebooted and no one at the top should have been left behind. Sorry Chuck, nothing personal.
I’m Still Celebrating!!!!!! The celebration will continue when they FIRE CP!!!
I have said it before and I will say it again…since Bill Bell died and after Kay Alden left the show has not been the same. The show has a completely different feel and sound…First of, all the characters seem different and please forgive me for saying this again, I SO MISS THE CLASSIC BACKGROUND MUSIC. I quit watching when Maria Bell took over and I tried tuning in from time to time but I turn it off…Until the show is back to the way it was in it’s glory days I won’t be watching. I have been a faithful viewer since the 70’s when my mom got me hooked on it.
Oh for goodness sake can somebody get that old Victor to act his age? He’s a Dad , a grandfather, and if Noah or any other of his grandchildren get married he’ll be a great grand-dad and he’s running around like a dog in heat.
It took too long to boot JFP. Pratt should go also. They insulted loyal Y&R viewers for long enough! I know Y&R is entertainment, but they took “the J out of JOY” as the quote says. We long-time viewers watch Y&R to enjoy and because we love our favorite characters. Years ago, soaps were originally referred to as “Love in the Afternoon”. Yet they turned GC into a sad, depressing place where newcomers always try to hurt and deceive our favorites. Why? Who wants to watch that all the time? They thought that was a winning formula? JFP, Pratt and their bunch wrote our favorite characters with totally different personalities. Then they changed the main characters into weak scared, dumb, helpless, clueless people even though they are educated, intelligent and run large companies! Most of their stories made no sense! Did they think we wouldn’t notice? I hope the new guy, Young, takes time to research the characters. Maybe he can return Y&R to when it was exciting, fast moving and we never wanted to miss one day.
I wonder what Steve Burton will do. He left GH to follow her. I don’t think that he could go back to GH since Billy Miller has taken over the character of Jason. Maybe he will say in Nashville.
I am happy that the decision was made to finally fire JFP but I hope that CP is right behind herald out the door!! We need a fresh start with a HW that respects the viewers, the story, the history, the characters, continuity and everything in between! The two major FOJ’s that I would like to see depart are Steve Burton and Hunter King along with any and all privileges accorded to them because of their alliance and association with her, effective immediately but within contract restraints… I am also hoping that the new EP can change the decision and allow Michael Knight to remain on the show now under contract as a major player! It would be interesting to hear what the legacy actors feel about the firing of JFP like EB, MTS, PB, SC, JM to name a few…rather than the 3 newbies that are probably watching their backsides!
In British soaps, the Producer is the main person; they can hire or axe scriptwriters, cast, story writers etc… Is this the same in America? It seems as if the Headwriter has the control to write what he or she wants and as a result they can axe characters if they don’t want to write for them? Have I got the wrong idea here? If this is the case then why bring in Mal Young? If the problem is the writing then can Young axe Pratt or at the very least tell Pratt what stories he wants and what cast he wants and doesn’t want?
Up until the end of 1970’s, American Headwriters controlled the soaps, especially if they created them.
Y&R was controlled by Headwriter William Bell. Bold & the Beautiful is controlled by his son Bradley Bill who is EP and Headwriter. Days of Our Lives has been controlled by Executive Producer Ken Corday for many decades. General Hospital traditionally been controlled by the Executive Producers.
Jill Farren Phelps has historically had control of any show she produced, which is why it was such a surprise that she came to Y&R. She doesn’t have good taste for story. She’ll approve good ideas for stories, but she’ll also approve bad ones and then stubbornly stand by them.
Really, JFP is best suited for the telenovela format. She could produce 100 episodes heavily featuring whoever she wants. There are no longtime fans to please, and it’s over before it has a chance to fall apart. I really hope she does that again.
I approve of Mal Young because Brits produce more realistic soaps. Prime time television drama has become so much more sophisticated in the past 20 years, and American soaps have not caught up. How many of you in your lives have friends come back from the dead, or been fooled by an old enemy who got a new plastic surgery face? Leave that to Game of Thrones. At least they use magic to pull that off.
Thanks very much for your reply; it has given me a valuable insight into soap opera production in the U.S.A.
I don’t personally know Mal Young but he comes from a place near me called Liverpool – you’ve probably heard of it with The Beatles etc… Young is a producer who has mass produced programmes and created them. He is a Producer of popular drama that the mainstream audience want.
He produced a soap opera called Brookside which was on a minority television channel and he achieved amazing ratings considering it wasn’t on the likes of the BBC.
He left Brookside and eventually the ratings bombed and the show was axed. He worked for a few different television companies after that; one of which was the BBC where he oversaw the already on-air EastEnders but he also created a hospital soap/drama called Holby City which is still running today and has been aired since around 1998. A show he did NOT create was called Casualty and Holby was what he created as a spin-off from Casualty. He also created a soap called Family Affairs for another minority channel which he produced for around a year and then he left. This show then continued for around another 7 years.
He has created/produced many other shows but finally, I would like to mention Doctors. He co-created and Executive Produced this and it is a daytime soap which started in 2000 and is still running today. Like American daytime shows, British daytime shows are the same in the respect that the budgets are much lower than budgets for primetime shows.
I think Doctors is a perfect example of a programme that is ”made on the cheap”; for example a half hour episode of Doctors costs a lot less than ‘EastEnders’. I think I read somewhere once that an episode of Doctors is £40,000.00 compared with EastEnders being £200,000 an episode; a huge difference!!! lol.
If you watch Doctors on You Tube (if there are episodes on there), you will notice that the production values (the camera and lighting quality), the acting and the writing are absolutely superb for a low budget show and I hope and am sure that he will use his talents to make Y&R much better.
Pleeeeaase bring them all back!!! If possible bring back MM he was the only Adam and he needs to come back
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up about the burgeoning love triangle forming between his Port Charles alter-go, Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) after recently aired scenes, plus his hopes for the future of a Dante and Liz pairing, during his appearance on the Sunday, April 23 edition of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli).
On last week’s episodes of GH, Ric has made the decision that he wanted to propose to his ex-wife, only when he showed up at Elizabeth’s front door, he misread the scenario he walked in with Liz tending to Dante’s injured leg from the softball game. From there, the legal eagle’s jealous streak is reemerging which may cause him to act out and do something unforgivable, or will he take the high road? Stay tuned.
Speaking with Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson about where Elizabeth stands in the annals of the long-running soap, Zamprogna said, “She’s up there with Steve and Maurice (Maurice Benard) as one of the most legacy-filled people on the show.”

Courtesy/ABC
HOW DANTE AND ELIZABETH CAME ABOUT
Dominic jokes it’s a far cry for where Dante and Elizabeth previously, recalling, “We had some scenes together years ago and we were both laughing. Becky’s like, ‘Well, I guess we’re not going be paired up anytime soon.’ I remember we laughed immediately after they yelled ‘cut,”‘and said to each other, ‘Well, so much for that!'”
Fast-forward to early 2025 and as Zamprogna remembered it, “Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) came up to me at the General Hospital Christmas party, and I think it was a year and a half ago and she said, ‘We’re going to have you in scenes with Elizabeth,’ My internal monologue is going, ‘I’m not with Lulu (Alexa Havins) anymore and Sam’s (Kelly Monaco) gone, so maybe they want to see if this works.’ I didn’t want to get scenes with Becky and try to find the chemistry. I just wanted to play whatever honestly was written and came across for both of us and hope it was what people liked, and I don’t know if it is … or not.”
Knowing how beloved Elizabeth is to the GH faithfuls, Zamprogna added, “She got a big fan base with Ric … and a big fan base with with Jason … and you know, you’re going to piss somebody off. But, didn’t Ric drug Elizabeth and put Carly in a panic room?”

Photo: ABC
DANTE AND ELIZABETH PAIRING COULD STIR UP STORY FOR OTHERS IN PORT CHARLES
In closing, Dominic felt that the wide-reaching tentacles of a Dante and Elizabeth relationship is something he is 100% down for. “The triangle thing; I was happy to hear it was with Ric and her, because I felt it’s important to have her the top of it as opposed to Dante, Lulu and Elizabeth.”
Zamprogna added, “When you get into relationships on a soap, things seem to fizzle out a little bit, The buildup is what’s the fun part, and the getting to know each other, and the people who are affected by this coming together. When with this case it’s going to affect: Ric, Sonny, Lulu. There’s so much more story here. To me, it’s going to be a fun story to play.”
You can check out Dominic’s visit to That’s Awesome with Steve and Bradford below.
Now weigh-in: Are you rooting for Dante and Liz, or Dante and Ric at this juncture of the story, or neither guy for Elizabeth? Let us know your thoughts and picks via the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Mike Manning Lands Role in Indie Horror Feature ‘Deify’

While Smitty tries to hold the fort down in his marriage to congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) and their two teenaged children, Samantha (Najah Jackson) and Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) on Beyond the Gates, Emmy-winner Mike Manning has also landed another feature film role.
According to Deadline, Manning has joined the cast of Deify with 6 other new cast members for the indie psychological horror film starring Neal McDonough and Skeet Ulrich, which was previously announced last week.
Joining Manning as the latest cast addition are: Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene, Casey Harnett, Kirk Avecdo, Anji White, anf Nicholas Chimera who’s directing the pic also has a part in the film.
WHAT’S THE STORY OF DEIFY?
Taking to his Instagram with the news of his casting, Manning shared, “A movie about a cult? What could possibly go wrong? Come for the enlightenment. Stay because they won’t let you leave. DEIFY is coming…”
The movie is currently shooting in Chicago and in story, “a cult leader is put on trial after causing his devoted followers to be burned alive. The film is inspired in part by events surrounding the 1993 Waco, Texas, standoff between members of the Branch Davidians church and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, one of the largest civilian firefights ever recorded on American soil.”
MIKE MANNING IS A DAYTIME EMMY NOMINEE
In addition, the multi-talented Manning is a producer on the feature. Previously, Mike was nominated last month in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. He previously won an Emmy for his role on The Bay and for being a producer on the digital drama.
Mike’s previous credits include the role of Charlie Dale on Days of Our Lives and the Manny on This Is Us, plus various primetime and screen credits.
So intrigued to find what role Mike will play in the upcoming horror/cult film, Deify? Enjoying him as Smitty on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
General Hospital
GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)

At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.
However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.
Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Photo: ABC
FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG
Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!
Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”
MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL
Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).
Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”

Photo: JPI
PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY
Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”
It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”
A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”

Photo: PGibbons
IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS
As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”
He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”
Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.”
So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.
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