General Hospital
Emme Rylan On Why She Chose to Leave Y&R & Become GH's New Lulu Spencer Falconeri!

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
A name change and a new soap job were all part of an exciting new chapter in Emme (formerly Marcy) Rylan’s professional life when she was the actress that General Hospital wanted for the role of Lulu Spencer Falconeri, once Daytime Emmy winner, Julie Marie Berman decided to part ways with the coveted role on the ABC soap opera.
In a revealing interview in the latest issue of Soap Opera Digest on newsstands now, Rylan opens up about the factors that weighed into her decision to leave her recurring role of Abby Newman on The Young and the Restless to take over the role of Luke and Laura’s daughter, Lulu in Port Charles.
Rylan noted: “It was a really hard decision, but the artist in me couldn’t walk away from this. I’ve got to try and live in her world. It was so intriguing and that’s how I made my decision. I had to put all the political and personal stuff aside and follow my creative instincts.”
So are you excited to see Emme take on the role of Lulu Spencer Falconeri? Do you think she was a good choice on paper for the role? Do you think the talented actress made the right decision to leave Y&R, especially since they showed her the front door once before at the CBS soap? Weigh-in!
Good for her, she will make a great Lulu.
The idiots at Y&R must be kicking themselves, that show is on a decline creatively.
Nikki and Victors 100th wedding was snoozeworthy. The only thing hot is Lauren and Carmine.
I only love to watch Sharon and Adam. They are the super couple of this show. Chelsea is a a shows worst nightmare. Leslie is and never will be Drucilla. i did not like Abby acting nasty to Sharon when there was no good reason. Her and her spoiled siblings stole 1.5 billion from there father and they had nerve to bash Sharon when Victor chose to marry Sharon and leave for Jacks to go get Niiki on Sharons wedding day!
I love Chelsea. She’s a great character IMO. I love that they’ve hooked her up with Dylan. I’m not sad to see Marcy….errrr…Emme go. It just sucks I have to watch her on GH now.
I love Chelsea and Adam together – hope they put them back on track. Do not like the Lauren and Carmine story – would like at least one couple to be solid in a soap and Lauren and Michael were that for me!
Not Sharon and Adam, Chelsea and Adam, they are going to put Dylan ans Sharon together. Oh best wishes Emme!
Sharon’s a skank and Chelsea is cool. I just can’t picture this show without Mrs. C. Nicki will survive as will Victor and their children will have a baby boy, probably named Victorious. I’ve watched this show more on than off since it’s birth. Oh, and Michael and well that story line should just GO AWAY!! GET WELL SOON JEANNE COOPER!!!
This time recasting I am happy. I can’t seem to get past how awful and spoiled Abby was. she became vulgar to Sharon at the funeral . She had every right to do what Sharon did. Abby is spoiled and bratty like her brother Nick and sister Victoria and OMG Nikki! I hope I can forget about how abby acted with the new girl playing Abby. I think the cop Alex is hot
I love Abby, Nick and Victoria, I love the character’s they play on Y&R. But I loved her on Guiding Light. But what GH??
This is so funny. Abby is a character, not a real person. That’s the role that written for her. Spoiled and bratty.Do you think they’re going to change the way Abby is portrayed just because there’s a new person playong the role. You sound like Abby is real. lololol.
I will be sorry to see her leave. Not that I like Abby, she can be a spoiled brat, but she grows on you. There will be more and more changes unless Y&R changes their attitude. Ive heard that alot of the actors and actress’s are not happy. Its a shame. It used to be such a good show. Victor and Nikki have become boring (yawn). There are not enough characters in this show. Everyone is sleeping with one another and marrying one another over and over again. Its getting really boring.
I like the actress, but, I watch ONLY Y&R, so, I won’t be watching her. She will be hard to replace, but, we’ll get used to it, we always do. I like all the hot men on Y&R. Dylan, Nick, Billy, Tyler, Neal, Carmen, to name a few. Eye candy hour for me, lol.
I love YR and couldn’t stand her character so I don’t care that she’s leaving. Hope she can make it work at GH.
I didn’t like Abby until her latest return, where she was kind and not thr least but bratty. After seeing Emme as Abby 2.0 & seeing her appearance on CSI this week I am certain she will be a great Lulu & can’t wait to see her on #GH.
I think Emme is a good actress. Do you know why she was almost let go the first time…when Y&R showed her the door, according to the article above?
It was at a time when they let 7 actresses go to trim their budget. Eileen Davidson, Genie Francis, and Heather Landon were among those let go along with Emme. Then went Stephen Nichols soon after. 🙁
If they want to cut someone, get rid of Cloe, she is the worst and has the worst hair on TV. Lilly and Cane could leave and never be missed, they hold the award for worst parents. Who runs to the “office” every night when they have lil kids @ home. Beyond stupid.
They let all those people go. The fans demanded they bring Emme back. Funny to note that while they let all those people go Josh G and the other former GH writers brought in many GH alumni. They are allowing GH alums to hijak the show.
What happened to Daniel (Phylis son) hes gone too?!
I saw her on CSI too. I think she should move around, stretch. She’ll grow. Whatever she does, I love her.
She can’t leave fast enough for me!
I don’t blame her for leaving Y&R. She wasn’t under contract and they’d already fired her once. I’m sorry she’s gone though.
I liked Ms. Rylan — using whichever first name — from GUIDING LIGHT and thought she made a fine Abby. It is not her fault the charatcer was SORAS’d too quickly or given some bad plotlines and too little to do. I am hoping JFP and Josh can right the wrongs inflicted by MAB on Abby and help her find her way in Genoa City.
Lulu will be a very different role from her GL and Y&R parts, and I am sure she is relishing the challenge. I look forward to her taking her turn. I will miss Julie Berman but Lulu is in good hands.
I think she will make a great Lulu. JFP clearly has a problem with beautiful blonde women. It makes me concerned for Sharon Case.
Sharon Case is the shows money ticket. Best actress! They really need Victoria Rowell back as well as Drucilla. Dylan and Sharon will make great brother and sister and Adam a great husband to Sharon. 🙂
lol such a running joke and I know where people are getting it from Ruby. Dylan and Sharon are not going to be brother sister they are slated to be romantically paired.
Chelsea and Adam are married they are having a baby. Enough already Adam and Sharon are over.
Sharon is finally becoming her own woman, getting her away from the Newman brothers and father is the best move the writers have made!
I don’t know her….
I hope she looks enough like Genie Francis (Laura) as Ju;ie Marie Berman did. I just wish Julie stayed until after the 50th anniversary show where she could of take 50th annerversary pictures with her brother Johnathan Jackson (Lucky).
Shame on Julie.
Shame on Julie? She told TPTB in July that she was not going to renew her contract when it expired in November. She would have been long gone by the 50th. TPTB asked her to stay longer and then put her on the back burner. Stupid move on their part to begin with – and then THEY are the ones that decided when she would finish filming.
And it’s already been announced that Jonathon Jackson is NOT coming back for the 50th because of his schedule with Nashville.
Please make sure you know the facts before you lay blame and shame on someone. Shame on you!
Nobodies role is front and center like it use to be on GH, bc the writer’s are doing such a great job distributing the stories amongst them all. Julie has not been on the back burner, she has been getting as much play as anyone considering all the people showing up. Shame on you for replying to me so harshly, as if you are Julie and I said something about you. Know the difference between laying blame (your words) and me making a statement. Don’t respond, momduck. I don’t want to be bothered. DUCK your way away from my name!
We don’t know that she herself decided to walk away just before the 50th. I’m gonna go on a limb here and believe it was planned this way because Lulu gets kidnapped and it will be easier to make the actress transition if there’s a “before” Lulu (Julie) and an “after” Lulu (Emme), considering what may happen to the character. If you guys recall, they did the exact same thing when JJ decided to leave the Lucky character the first time around; Jacob Young started playing him brainwashed a while later.
Elise I think you are right.
Shame on Julie? Julie stayed past her contract and didn’t get to decide her departure date. That choice belongs to the EP. Julie taped until she was told that she was done.
She owed Y and R absolutely NOTHING except her best work. They dumped her with no warning and brought her back on recurring, paying her only for days she worked. GH gave her a contract a terrific role to step into and Emme is great. She will be fine, and AGAIN Y and R loses, why am I not surprised?,
I’m not familiar with her, but I can see a striking resemblance to a young Genie Francis.
Love Y&R and Emme Rylan, I watched her on GL and as Abby on Y&R. I believe she made a wise choice going to GH, she will be under contract and not have to contend with the mess of JFP and her plot killing tactics. Good luck Emme and we will see you on GH. It took JFP less than 2 days to recast with another of the actors from HH to replace Rylan, hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if this wasn’t the strategic plan all along.
I’m confused by the name change. Why?
Heather, I’m with you what’s the name change thing? Don’t get it.
Emme will make Lulu fun, I’m so glad she on Gh
Oh Julie’s Lulu could be a lot of fun, too – true to the personality of JMB herself who has been described by some castmates as one of the most “fun” people with whom to work in the GH set. And, on screen, Julie’s Lulu has managed to have fun – karaoke nights at Jake’s, playing guitar hero, playing a hilarious drunk with Jason and Sonny .. and much more. It’s really all in the writing. Just as Julie’s Lulu could be fun – GIVEN THE WRITING WHICH ALLOWS IT.. I’m sure Emme’s can be as well. But just remember that the scripts and stories need to create opportunities for any actress to play the “fun” side.
Keeping an open mind but if it is true TPTB did not screen test her and Dom Z I am left feeling concerned about the show’s commitment to the characters of Lulu and Dante and them as a couple. I am not familiar with Emme Rylans work but know that Dom Z is a phenomenal actor and person so I am choosing to try and keep an open mind to this change and give the actress a chance before I judge.
I’m not really worried about the chemistry thing. DZ seems to be one of those actors that has chemistry with everyone.
Don’t worry Em will nail it. Lizzy Spalding and Abigale Newman were somewhat similar albeit Lizzy had tons of acumen. Abigale was headed that way. I’m sure Em will kill it. Great move by GH. Hopefully the new Abby will grow into the role though she strruggled in today’s episode.
Y&R is like the Titanic: its the biggest ship that appears to be unsinkable. Then it strikes the JFP iceberg, and seems like its not going to stay afloat much longer. GH is Emmes lifeboat to escape b4 she drowns in the sea of endless boardom(ive stopped watching now) and just like the 1997 movie he appeared in, Eric Breaden is going to go down with it.
They can take Nikki, Chelsea and Chloe away. They have no use on this show at all
I am very excited to see her play Lulu!!! I like Emme and think she will be great!!! I tink she made a great decision and she will get to play with a whole new and great cast and crew! I am excited for her! I think she actually looks more like what the child of Laura and Luke would look like tha Julie Marie did. I love Julie Marie and wish her the best!!! Can’t wait to see Emme as Lulu!!!
I never like Julie Marie Berman and from what I am reading she might have a drinking problem.
Are you kidding me? Your rude speculation adds nothing to this argument. Keep your stupid speculations to yourself. Its not fair to say something like that anonymously with no proof and no way for an actress to comment. What she does is her business. She’s won numerous Emmys, that shows she is a professional and a good actress. Her personal life is hers, not yours to ruin with rumors! Who are you, TMZ???
My question is who are you???? We are all entitled to our opinion and just because someone has won an award does not make them a good person. For years the rumors have been flying about her being very difficult. I can respect your opinion but you obviously do not understand that my opinion would not ruin anyone’s life.
I will tell you who I am, Nancy. Someone who doesn’t believe people should try to take down someone on the Internet, hiding behind an anonymous first name, by throwing out rumor and speculations because they don’t like someone. Saying someone is not a good actress or isn’t right for a role is your “opinion.”. Saying they are a drunk is not opinion, it’s rumor and hurtful at that. And even if she is, which I have never heard nor care to know, you are insensitive to someone with a disease they may be dealing with. You think because you’ve read she’s difficult that it’s ok to go online and spread rumors and bash her online. It’s not.
Actually, there are situations where posting in a public forum such as this that someone may have a drinking problem CAN ruin someone’s life. Such comments can be also considered slanderous.
I think she will be excellent in the role of Lulu. Personally, I never took to JMB. With parents like Luke & Laura Lulu would be a spitfire and I never felt JMB brought that intensity to the role. As long as they write to her strengths, Rylan will bring a new vitality to the role. It will be interesting to see what chemistry she has with DZ’s Dante.
One thing I DO look forward to is seeing her (hopefully) in scenes with Lisa LoCicero. They both can pull off DRAMA like nobody’s business.
Hmm – I’m not sure what you mean by intensity; however, from your example of LLC’s acting, I have an idea. I adore Lisa LoCicero and I know she has had some fine performances, but I also have seen her perform some over-the-top, campy dramatic scenes. Now, I realize that this type of acting is what some prefer in their soap stories. However, not all of us do. Many of us prefer the finely-tuned dramatic intensity that an actress like Julie Marie Berman has brought many times to her role as Lulu on General Hospital. Examples include her two Emmy-winning performances and her already much-praised dramatic intensity and vitality in her final GH scenes yesterday with Kirsten Storms. Those were emotionally- charged scenes that reach deep into the viewers’ hearts and make us become invested in a character. And Julie has also touched many of us deeply with her quiet intensity when, with a word or expression, she can capture the moment and make it come alive for us.
I don’t know Ms Rylan’s work at all … but I’m very interested to see what she can do in this role … and I hope she can match the quiet intensity and understated excellence that made me invest so completely in Ms Berman’s portrayal of Lulu.
I am not making assumptions, I am waiting to see Emme in the role of Lulu. It’s a different character for her, much more mature than her two previous Daytime alters. I’m excited about this.
”Emme” is wise to go with GH..
Y&R is on a downfall; is stinks ..
GH is the new rising super soap!! Y&R has more viewers, but it is also shown in 32 countries and GH in USA/Canada..
Anyways, Y&R is struggling with competing with GH..
I am a long long time fan of both Y&R and GH, and GH rocks and Y&R is a YAWN.
But, I still watch Y&R out of a 25yr habit ..
I’m definitely going to miss JMB as Lulu, however I am willing to wait and see how MR does with the character. Hopefully better than what I saw on Y&R… jmo
I would have loved to been a fly on the wall when she auditioned and ran into GF she probably said take it before dragon lady JFP fires you again. Smart move good luck Ms. Rylan just as you were beginning to grow on me on Y&R but you did make the right choice.
Emme Rylan did NOT audition for the role. As of his public appearances two weeks ago, Dom Zamprogna – who read with other unsuccessful candidates – had not even met her.
i adored her as lizzie on gl. she did both drama and comedy well. i guess i will have to watch gl after a 24 yr hiatus.
I think Emme is a fine choice for the role of Lulu. I am looking forward to her interpretation of the character.
I enjoyed Ms. Rylan’s work on Y&R and thought she sparked well in her scenes there with Genie Francis, which is encouraging. My only reservation is that, based on what I’ve seen of her on both Y&R and GL, she could just as easily be a recast for Maxie. However, I’m confident that RC and the writers can adjust for the different energy the new actress will bring to the role and differentiate her sufficiently from Maxie.
I think Rylan will do a great body of work on General Hospital . She did wonderful work on Y & R. I agree will some of the comments about her treatment of Adam; no call for the hatred displayed towards him by her character or anyone else’s.
I wish Rylan the best in her new role.
I’m so excited to see Emme as Lulu! I loved Julie Berman and am certainly sad to see her leave, but it was her choice and execs couldn’t have done a better job with a recast! Watching Rylan on Guiding Light and Young and the Restless, she is fantastic! I’m curious to see her interpretation of Luke Spencer’s daughter.
As for Y&R, it’s no surprise that the show is horrific with Jill Farren Phelps as executive producer. I’ve stopped watching because it’s even WORSE than Maria Arena Bell’s version and THAT is truely saying something. Well, I just hope her firing amazing actors in favor of Hollywood Heights alum and the plethora of people I could care less about watching, will show CBS they made a mistake in hiring her.
I think Emme will do a fabulous job! I’ll miss Julie, but am happy to have someone of Emme’s talent replacing her.
I think she was precious on GL, loved her on Y&R even when she was a brat-she is just so darn cute! I cannot wait to see her as Lulu although I LOVE Julie Berman as Lulu & can’t believe she is leaving! Marcy is very little-we’ll see how she looks against Dante! Ha. Can’t wait.
I’ve only seen her on Y&R…I’m not excited about this at all. I’ll give her a chance but seriously not looking forward to this.
I have not seen Emme’s work but I am looking forward to it. I’ve never been a fan of JMB. She’s a good actress, but she is not very likable. I hope Emme makes Lulu more likable.
GH offered her what Y&R wouldn’t. Security. Better to have a full time job that a part time one, I’m sure that Marcy has a mortgage to pay like anyone else. I hope that one day she will return to Abby’s world.
Excellant and beautiful choice…
LOL, she can say it’s the artist in her… but a contract role on a soap versus a recurring role on a soap that just fired her months ago. What’s the smart business decision? But she can’t say that because she needs to be able to reclaim Abby if her GH gig as Lulu ever goes south. She’s smart, but I don’t buy her reasons for a second.
I think Rylan will do great work at GH . I will miss her on Y&R where I think that she did wonderful work. As the baby daughter of a hugely wealthy man, I think her character was right on. I like the way she defended Victor against Sharon and Adam who had no right to destroy Newman Enterprises. They should create their own company. They have turned Sharon into the biggest loser with no integrity left. Makes sense for turning her into a soap villain before they redeem her character. ……….GH is lucky to have Rylan….. I also understand the need to pay your mortgage!
I think Julie Marie Berman was great as Lulu. I am sorry to see her go too. I am just mad that they could not find anything for Dante and Lulu to do for a year and a half.. Hopefully Dante and Lulu will have more to do.
Oh I hate that LuLu is leaving with Genie Francis and Tony Geary,( Luke & Laura 🙂 her real mom & dad go figure! I just do not think it was her time to take her leave. Esp with so many of the origanal cast from that era coming on board again:) I think I would have hung out to c what the writer’s had in mind. It will make for outstanding TV if it is written around the Spencer clan!! I can nt wait.?! Go GH go:) Back to the good old days yea! P.S. I will be 50 in April too:) I have been watching since the month I was born yea buddy:) Teri Youmans, SC
Unfortunately, Julie’s contract was up. She did agree to a four-month extension … during which time the writers did very little with her. I’m sure she would have loved to have played out this upcoming Spencer story and I know she will miss GH, having described her last day on set as one of the hardest days of her life. However, after being on the back burner for so much of 2012/13, I understand her need to move on and explore new opportunities while she is still young enough to do so.
At this particular point, I’m vacilating between dreading this recast and an almost “can’t help but be curious” state of mind. Kind of like being in a purgatory of sorts because essentially Julie has only just “exited” and the character of Lulu won’t be seen for a period of time. (Unless they pan a camera on a figure being held captive and immobile, never showing a face, or only letting us see blond hair.) What I’ve seen of the recasts’ work on GL and Y&R has struck me as not much of a difference in those two characters that she played. She did work opposite Tom Pelphrey on GL (who is a powerhouse much like Dominic Zamprogna), and while there were times I got annoyed with how she was choosing to play Lizzie Spaulding, she did manage to hold her own when on camera with him. That being said, the character of L is very different from either Lizzie or Abby Newman. Definitely not a spolied, “to the manor born” rich girl but one that has a savy set of street smarts in combination with a noble bearing that has been hard won, character wise, and that has been beautifully developped and layered over the seven and a half years that Julie has crafted her. It’s a characterization that won’t be supplanted very easily. And that’s just trying to be honest from where I’m sitting. I’m perfectly willing to give her a chance, but if anyone thinks this is going to be a “quick fix” or an “easy fit”, I’d point to the recast of KSul’s Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri or the temporary recast of Maxie with JL. Neither of those were accepted right away, and for some, are still considered polarizing. It will definitely be a wait and see game, and it will start the moment she appears on screen. That she will be sharing that same screen (assuming here), with AG, GF, and DZ makes it that much more interesting to say nothing of dicey…
Well said, Beth. I agree that Julie Marie Berman has created a rich, complex, unique character in Lulu Spencer … and, although Ms Rylan will inevitably put her own mark on the character, too much of a departure would simply not be Lulu Spencer Falconeri. It’s a fine line! However, I’m open to what ER will do with Lulu. I don’t know her work at all … so I am open for possibilities. She appears poised to start with the most significant characters in Lulu’s life – all played by talented actors with whom Julie has had phenomenal chemistry. So, yes, this is dicey … but, at the same time, it can work well in that all three are gifted, generous actors who will really work with the new Lulu. And as for DZ, well that man exudes chemistry so ER is especially fortunate to be playing opposite him.
Like you, I am dreading seeing a new face replacing our uber-talented and much-loved Julie, but open to seeing what happens and hoping to really like what I see. Bottom line, I’m wishing everyone success – Julie as she embarks on new adventures in her career; Dom as he explores new territory on GH and Emme as she take on the important role as the daughter of the legendary Luke and Laura.
Emme is a wonderful actress & will be GREAT as LULU on General Hospital, we love her happiness, great positive outlook, Emme is simply a doll..
Diana Gallant
I am both a GH and Y&R fan. I loved her as Abby but not so much as lulu. Emme/ Marcy doesn’t play LULU very well, lulu had great energy and spirit , and with emme /Marcy, I just see it and what about this thing with her name????????? This is very confusing……. Why did she do this I mean, is she emme or is she Marcy ????????
OK Julie wanted to leave and try other things. Goodbye ,good luck and break a leg. She was fine, I had shut the show off before Lulu was soarased, so I missed A lot of her . Emme, I watched on GL she was great and she held her own with the great actors on there, She was Alans granddaughter, Phillips daughter, Beths daughter, and she was a mother. She made me like her and forget Hayden P who played her and was also very talented. She is now on Nashville..This young women can act,and she will bring it.I have no doubt about that.
Phelps is keeping up with what she does, comes in destroys the show and brings on her FOJ’s. Thanks for giving Emme to GH. I for one am glad she got the opportunity. welcome.
You cannot blame anyone for this. The job was open because the actress wanted to leave. FrankenRon found a replacement .
I loved her on Guiding Light and she should have stayed with Young and Restless. She will be missed.. Good Luck on her new role..
I hate it when the actors and actresses get changed. They never seem to find the right person to fill the spot that one has followed for so long. Sorry to see you go as Abby. It stinks. Anyways I do wish you the best in whatever you want to try next. I have watch Y&R since the beginning and have seen many changes I did not like.
While I wish her luck, it’s going to be a BIG adjustment for me! I liked the other Lulu! Hope they get back to a believable story line on GH!!
I didn’t know she was leaving, it was a shock when I saw her lying on the table on GH as LuLu. I just saw her the other day on Y&R. I think she will make a great LuLu!!
Absolutely! Watching GH for 50 years and she is the perfect actress to play Lulu Spencer. She has a whacky enough personality and will fit right in the role as Luke Spencer’s only daughter; that we know of!
I really hope that Adan & Chelsea get back together. I loved seeing the tender side of Adam. I think Sharon & Dylan should pair up. They would be good together. I am sorry Ms Rylan has left. She was great as Abby. And they also got rid of the man who played Kyle. This man (can’t think of his name) was very much looking like Peter Bregman. Sorry to see Kyle & Abby go
Abby Newman was a air head!! But she knew something was going on with Lauren & Carmine soooo tune in with the new Abby!!
I dont want another Abby or LuLu. I like them just the way they are.
I loved her on Guiding Light when she was Billy Lewis’ daughter. As the Naked Heiress…not so much. Some times a change is good. I hope the new Abby will bring it.
I want her back as Abby.She made the show.
I say bring ronine back to Phyllis. I love them together. I hate that brad is with bold and beautiful…he is so HOT!! Now I have to watch the bold just to see brad!!!!!!
It is very upsetting to see “Abbey” leave Y&R. She was wonderful playing Abbey and now we have lost another key actress in our show. I am sure she will do well in her new role. However, not a being a fan of GH I am going to miss her.
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.
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.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Admits That He Didn’t Expect the Role of Michael Corinthos to be Recast, and Would Consider Working on Another Soap (Exclusive)

Chad Duell, the Daytime Emmy-winning actor, who stepped away from the pivotal role of Michael Corinthos on General Hospital, opened up about: his previous decision to leave the series after nearly 15 years, where’s he’s at now after time away from the demands of a daytime soap opera, and took a stroll down memory lane with some of Michael’s most-acclaimed storyline during his run, during a livestream chat on August 19 on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.
Viewers last saw Duell on-screen as Michael in January of 2025, and with his successor in the role, Rory Gibson making his debut at the GH Nurses’ Ball in episodes that aired later in May. It was clear that during the conversation, Chad was a bit surprised that the GH brass decided to recast him when he thought he was just taking some much needed time off.
Burn-out of the daily grind of being on a soap was definitely a part of Chad’s decision to take a break. Duell explained “People know when you’re doing something for so long or your character is kind of in the same place for so long or doing the same stuff over and over again, you do get a a little burnt out, you get a little stiff, stale, a little stiff at times. I didn’t want that to be any sort of lasting impression. I have 15 years of a body of work of I’ve done on that show, which is fantastic.”

Photo: ABC
WHILE CHAD WAS AWAY GH RECAST MICHAEL CORINTHOS WITH RORY GIBSON
Chad shared, his mindset when leaving GH was, “I’m taking some time away, we’ll see what happens.” Then he added, “Obviously, they decided to go in a different direction with Michael when I was gone. I didn’t think they were going to bring somebody back in my place. But you know, it’s the business. You never know what can happen.”
Duell also shared he has not watched a single episode of General Hospital since he left the series, but now feels he reenergized following the loss of his father and stepping away from the GH, “I’m in a place now mentally, where I’m ready to sink my teeth into it again.”

Courtesy/ABC
Even though he is no longer Michael on GH, Chad was very happy with his final storyline where Michael was set on fire when a bomb exploded at Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) penthouse. “It was fun to put him in a dangerous situation, because I was wanting Michael to be in something scary instead of trying to be a hero character or just things happening around him, but to be the center point of tragedy happening to him. (I always saw) Michael as the heart of the (Corinthos) family.”
When Michael was badly burned the show chose not burn his face, which normally a soap does when they are recasting role and switching actors. Chad weighed-in, “They didn’t burn my face because I told Frank Valentini (EP, GH) I’m willing to come back. It was just a little bit of a break. So, I assumed that if they would have burned my face, they could have brought somebody back looking different than me… if that’s what their plan was.”

Courtesy/ABC
MEMORABLE MICHAEL STORYLINES
One of Chad’s most memorable performances was the in the storyline of Michael’s rape while he was sentenced to prison in 2010 and the confession of it in 2011. “It was so well-written and I was very nervous,” recalled Chad. “When I get really nervous about something, it ends up being really good when I do it, because it just means I care a lot about it”
“I have to put a lot of effort and work into it, and I really want it to be good. I was working with Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) and Steve Burton (Jason) a lot during those scenes, and Laura Wright (Carly). It was great working with Steve and Dominic, especially, during that storyline.
A NEW SOAP ROLE FOR CHAD?
As to a future soap opera role, Chad is open to the idea and would love to jump back in to a juicy role, “I know people over at The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Young and the Restless. They know that if they’re interested, I would love to come in for a screen test or something, and they can see what I’m doing.”
Meanwhile, Chad has been busy putting out new music under the moniker Duelly and during the interview he explains how he creates his EDM tracks and much more. You can stream his latest single, Static in the Quiet Room on Spotify, Apple Music and You Tube Music.
You can check out the full conversation with Chad Duell below.
Now let us know: what show would you like to see Chad cast on down the line? BTG, DAYS, B&B, Y&R, or a new role on GH? What did you think of his thoughts on the casting switch while he was away in the role of Michael? What was your favorite Michael storyline during Chad’s 15-year run on the ABC soap opera? Let us know via the comment section.
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