Connect with us

General Hospital

Frank Valentini Speaks On: Pressure to Save GH, Jill Farren Phelps & Time to Assess Port Charles!

By Michael Fairman

Published

on

Courtesy/ABC

As was made official earlier today by ABC, One Life to Live’s former head honcho Frank Valentini will now be taking over the reins from Jill Farren Phelps, at General Hospital  as of January 9th.  Phelps had been GH’s executive producer for the last 10 years.

In an exclusive interview with EW.com, Valentini addressed his quick hiring to General Hospital, coming into the series when there are consistent rumors of its soon-to-be-demise, and what he intends to do with the canvas.  Valentini is quick to point out that becoming GH’s show runner happened over the last 48 hours.  Here are some excerpts below!

Valentini on if he feels his coming on-board GH is to save it from cancellation: “ Any exec producer always has the weight of the world on their shoulders. I’ve always felt a tremendous responsibility. You have the fate of a lot of people’s futures in your hand.   I’m the type of person who takes that very seriously. If I spent any energy worrying about whether we were getting cancelled, it would take away from making the show the best that it could possibly could be. When you’re running, don’t look behind you.”

Valentini on replacing long-time GH executive producer, Jill Farren Phelps: “Jill Phelps is a fantastic producer.  She taught me so much when we worked together She was so generous and so kind. And I can’t say enough good things about her. Jill called me this morning and congratulated me. It’s always tough when someone loses their job. But at the end of the day everyone understands that there are business decisions that get made.”

Valentini on his playbook or plans to help GH: “But I don’t think it will change dramatically. I have to come in and assess what’s working and see what can be made better.  At this point, during the transition, I ask the audience to be patient. Come along for the ride, and enjoy and love their show.”

So what do you think of Valentini’s comments? Let us know your thoughts on the move of bringing the talented Valentini over to Port Charles!

 

Click to comment

0 Comments
oldest
newest

I love Frank! I sure hope he can make some substantial changes to make this show the best it can be.

the writting is bad I can tell the writer has changed. what is going on with the storylines the best one going is carly and sean I feel bad for the actors it has to be hard to go to work and have a stupid script. GH has always been the best soap on but at this point I am about to stop watching and so are my friends please fix it quick and you can send lulu packing.

My piece of advice is please don’t make GH all about the mob. The hospital storylines have some interesting stories left to tell. The characters and character histories to build on if someone pays attention. Please focus on the whole cast. Don’t make it a three person show like past headwriters did. Utilize actors to their maximum potential.

They really should shake it up at GH if they are going to survive… I saw a promising story with Carly and John a bit controversial when she told him his problem with her was because she was white and then it just fizzled out but it was good story.

As much as I love Sonny, I agree!! WE NEED THE HOSPITAL & THE QUARTERMAINES!!
ENOUGH FRANCO CRAPPO!! JASON: KILL HIM AND MOVE IT ALONG!!
ROMANCE:: LUKE & TRACEY, LUCKY & LIZ, SONNY & CARLY, MAC & ALEXIS, JOHNNY OLIVIA STEVE..,,A GREAT TRIANGLE… JASON LIZ SAM LUCKY MATT MAXI SPINELLI…A NICE MIX-UP
WE NEED ROMANCE,,,,,LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON!!
ALSO: HOW ABOUT PP & OPRAH WORK IT OUT AND MAKE A SOAP COMBO OF AMC & OLTL.. USE THE ACTORS/ACTRESSES WHO ARE INTERESTED

OPRAHS NETWORK IS IN BIG TROUBLE, BUT IF PROSPECT PARK INC AND OPRAH WORK TOGETHER, THEY CAN HELP EACHOTHER…AND THE FANS!!
I AM SO SAD ABOUT MY SOAPS AND THE INDUSTRY!!
PLEASE WORK IT OUT..AND LET US HELP. I AM WILLING TO PAY $50 A MONTH…IF YOU TAKE 200,000 FANS…YOU GET A LOT OF HELP RIGHT THERE…PLEASE WORK IT OUT!!

I don’t believe that this was all a sudden thing! Frank and Ron were already slated to go over to GH a few months before the PP thing came along, so I don’t doubt that they had this thing in the works all along! Don’t trust anything that the Mouse tells us!

More Quartermains! The Q’s were a huge part of the show througout the 80’s, 90’s and well into the 00’s. just bringing Monica, Edward and Tracy out every so often throughout the year to bicker isn’t enough. I want storylines. Give Monica happiness.

Love the Sonny and Kate paring, but make it a reality. Get them married and stable. it cuold always be a contest of will between the upscale Kate and mobster Sonny that could bring interesting storylines for years.

Interesting news. Now, I may consider giving GH a chance after January 13th, as long as the following occurs. I propose that all or most of the residents of Llanview relocate to Port Charles and take over. John, Bo and Nora can finally take down the mafia and send Sonny, Jason, Luke and their minions to Pentonville where they belong. Dorian can run General Hospital because currently they have no adults on staff, except for Epiphany. Clint and Viki can run ELQ. Todd can bring the SUN to Port Charles. Blair can open up Capricorn PC. Tea can go head to head with Diane in court. How much fun would that be!? Only if wishes came true! Note to fronsie: if you were going to replace the GH show-runners with the heads of your #1 soap, why didn’t you just cancel GH instead and leave ONE LIFE TO LIVE on the air? Oh, I forgot: this decision was made by a corporate executive; common sense doesn’t exist amongst the decision makers of corporate America. My bad. hehe. Long live ONE LIFE TO LIVE!

I know you’re probably joking with what you wrote, but instead of hijacking GH and basically turning it into OLTL 2.0, how about we hope for a happy medium.

A show where perhaps some former OLTL characters can be incorporated into the mix, to help freshen things up, which as a GH fan, I would welcome. While also rebuilding and strengthening the core of GH, and honoring its rich history and tradition. which is long overdue. That would be a show that both GH and OLTL fans might be able to enjoy.

Instead of the fans of both shows sniping back and forth, saying this should have happened, or that should have happened, shouldn’t that be what we all hope for?

Long live OLTL Jared! I’ve never watched GH, but only if. Loved you post.

I will be devasted if OLTL takes over GH. I have been watching OLTL since I was 7 years old and I am devasted to see it go but I will be pissed if GH is ruined! OLTL has been exciting the last couple months now that its ending but before that it was so boring, it kinda felt like cornation street ( or whatever that old program is called) GH doesn’t need any help from outside viewers taking over the show… Just keep doing what their doing and ii will at least have one of my guilty pleasures to watch.

I threw up a little when I saw that Brian Frons announced it – that tainted it for me because I won’t ever respect anything he’s involved with ever again – ever again – one more time – EVER.

And, I don’t trust anything that was said because of that, either – I think it’s all B.S.

Sigh……..

yeah, the show is tanked now. Frank and Ron are horrific. This is Frons saying “Hey, here’s my way of sticking it to you fans before I cancel this show, too.”

If Frank Valentini is moving to GH to bring new life to it, as good as he is, won’t that all be in vain? If Katie Couric is taking that time slot , where is GH going to be? None of this makes sense. With all the commotion about OLTL and All My Children travesties, what do the producers think they are going to accomplish in the end? Will we all be in suspension and holding our breath waiting for the final pin to drop. It’s just a matter of time……..

My advice to GH new team is to make sure you don’t try to make GH into OLTL, both of you have a long history w/ OLTL. The worst thing you could do is to start hiring OLTL actors, or start recasting w/ OLTL actors ect. If I was both of them, i would concentrate on on storylines, pacing, and the current cast. Biggest mistake they could make is to start creating new characters or bringing on to many new people. GH has its own unique history, it has a great cast, and even past talent, that would be welcome back, so concentrate on that, and i think its possible to succeed.

The best thing they can do actually is turn GH into ONE LIFE TO LIVE. The ratings don’t lie, and OLTL is the #1 soap on the network that shall remain nameless. They cancelled the wrong soap, period.

Ditch GH and Keep OLTL

The wrong soap was cancelled. OLTL is head and shoulders above GH in every way. And I say that as someone who has been a fan of both shows for years. Unfortunately, GH has turned into the Sonny and Jason hour. And James Franco has done GH no favors. I turned GH off quite some time ago which really bothers me because I know I should be supporting the soaps right now, not tuning out. When OLTL ends, I’ll no longer watch ABC. They have no loyalty to the fans, why should I have any for them?

Im not a GH fan, I loathe mobe related tv shows and movies. If Frank and Ron can do for GH what it did for OLTL then the fans should welcome them both with open arms. I do think that the fate of GH is sealed with Katie Couric’s show taking its time slot in 2012. Hey, worst case is these guys come in and give GH fans a quality final season!

too much reality and talk. hope they can keep our drama going forever. otherwise, sell GH to Sony, a much better organization for drama

I wonder if Frank will get rid of the Franco nonsense, which the audience obviously never cared much for when looking at ratings, and finally bring my Valentin Cassadine character on, which was displaced by the Franco Fiasco, much to the chagrin of most GH loyalists. I am still willing to shake things up in Port Charles, balancing those duties with my producing duties elsewhere.

If this is really you Matt I completely agree. James Franco has been a complete waste of air time. There is no story with him and his performances have been ridiculously inept and over the top.
Maybe the new brass with cease to kiss his derriere and send him packing.

I agree forget franco who cares the storyline is a wast of time and stop making jason look like a wimp get him back to his old self he and sam.

I still believe that Disney has already made the decision to cancel GH. They just want to throw the remaining viewers a bone and usher it out well. And all I would say to Frank V is that if you dont make any drastic changes, I wont watch. GH needs a complete overhaul. But Im not concerned. I cancelled GH off my TV about a yr ago anyway. Que Sera que sera.

Ron C.and Frank V. can work their magic and bring great things to GH as they did to OLTL. However, people fail to recognize that this takes time and that is one factor GH does not have on its side. It doesn’t matter. OLTL has been outstanding and brings in over 400,000 more viewers than GH, but it still got canceled. GH is losing their 3 o’clock time slot in Sept. If OLTL replacement shows produces the same ratings as the Chew, GH doesn’t stand a chance. The end of daytime happened on April 14, 2011 when AMC and OLTL were cancelled. I will be so sad on Jan. 13 when the final episode of OLTL airs.

I’m sorry but I’m not for this AT ALL. I was shocked to see Garin Wolf already replaced as head writer for General and to see Ron Carlivati????? What is this????? Turning into One Life to Live????????????????

I’m sorry, but if General characters are slowly being pushed out, I’m out for good. This has been my show for over 30 years and if it’s being taken over by a show that couldn’t hold its ground, then that’s just ridiculous.

Sorry about you, Garin. You were doing an excellent job as was Jill Pharin Phelps. I was suprised to see you out of the production as well. It’s really sad. I’m also sick of the new credits in the beginning, no match-ups at “half-time”, and FINALLY seeing Jason and Sam after, what, almost two weeks???????????????????????????

Sad. Very sad.

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Brook Lynn and Chase Hesitate to Sign Divorce Papers, Elizabeth Reveals Aiden’s Leaving For Paris, Willow Flashes Back to Her Crimes

Published

on

By

Brook Lynn and Chase

As the week came to a conclusion on the Friday, October 23 episode of General Hospital, Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) wrestled with becoming an empty-nester, while Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and Monet (Blythe Howard) conspired to keep Lulu (Alexa Havins) and Ric (Rick Hearst) at legal bay, and Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase’s (Josh Swickard) frozen relationship thawed, but how much?

Let’s take a look! First, in a moment that was written to bring Liz and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) closer, the GH head nurse is wistful over the fact that she just learned that her talented bakery chef son, Aiden, secretly earned his GED and got into a prestigious pastry school in France and to top it off received a scholarship to attend the school.

Liz is concerned that allowing him to go wasn’t the smartest move because of his young age. Dante suggested that maybe it’s her fear of being alone that is causing her to feel hesitant for Aiden to go abroad. He shared a story about the support her received from Olivia when he moved away from home for the first time; that he understood mothers and sons are close, but she needed to let him go build his own life.

Elizabeth

Courtesy/ABC

After coming to terms with it, she revealed that Aiden is leaving in four days and had to make cupcakes for the Halloween party, Dante offered to help her do the baking. They smile. So, what this means to GH fans? All of Liz sons: Cameron, Jake, Aiden are all now officially off the canvas!

WILLOW VS. LULU

At Miller & Davis, Willow strolls in to meet Monet to go over their strategy in their meeting with Ric and Lulu. While discussing their next move, Willow flashes back to the night she shot Drew (Cameron Mathison) twice in the back, and then later, how she first stuck a needle in his neck to use the paralytic drug that kept him in a locked-in state for months.

Willow

Courtesy/ABC

When Ric and Lulu arrive, the four end up in a stalemate. Willow refused to drop the lawsuit, and Lulu refused to retract the story on her. Willow’s stance is that Lulu had been manipulated by the Quartermaines, who wanted to take her children away, so Michael can have sole custody of them. Lulu fired back that she was doing her job as an investigative reporter to expose crimes perpetrated by a congresswoman.

Now at an impasse, Ric and Lulu tell Monet and Willow they will see them in court as now a judge will hear the case. Not what Ric wanted that to happen, but now he tells Lulu, they will figure out a way to bring Willow down.

DIVORCE BLUES?

Finally, Chase and Brook Lynn head to the Dominican Republic to get a quickie divorce after how their lawyers dredged up awful things about both of them in Port Charles. While on the plane, the two discuss that they still want each other to be happy.

Once in front of the judge in the Dominican Republic, he asked if the two were mutually consenting to this divorce, but instead, the two sang each others praises.

This left the judge to ask if the two wanted to go through with ending their marriage and he left the room. Later, when he returned with the divorce documents to sign, Chase and Brook Lynn stared at each other hesitating to sign on the dotted line.

So, what do you think will happen next? Will Brook Lynn and Chase end their marriage, or decide to try to make it a go? Is it upsetting to you that all of Elizabeth’s sons are off the canvas? Should the soap recast them all, like they did with Alexis’ daughters and restart the story of these young men? Do you think now will be the time that Willow’s crimes will be publicly exposed, and she will lose her kids and her seat in a congress? Weigh-in via the comment section.

Continue Reading

Breaking News

53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Presenters Announced

Published

on

By

Daytime Emmy Presenters

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) revealed on Thursday, the lineup of presenters for 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards taking place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.

The ceremony will stream live on the NATAS YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@theemmys and watch.TheEmmys.tv.

Scheduled to present from the current soaps are: Katelyn MacMullen (Willow, General Hospital), Delon de Metz (Zende, The Bold and the Beautiful), James Preston (Nick, The Bay), Paul Telfer (Xander, Days of our Lives), Tamara Tunie (Anita, Beyond the Gates) and Susan Walters (Diane, The Young and the Restless).

Genie Francis

Photo: NATAS

In addition soap alums, Crystal Chappell, Lesli Kay, Joe Lando, Eva LaRue, who is also a nominee this year,  A Martinez, Juliet Mills, and Alicia Leigh Willis, will also be on hand to present.

The ceremony which celebrates nominated lifestyle programs and dramas will also include presenters: Eva zu Beck (Superskilled with Eva zu Beck), Danielle Chang (Lucky Chow), Sunny Hostin (The View), Derek Hough (Extra), Pati Jinich (Pati’s Mexican Table), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Michael Jr. (Stand Up and Do Something), Judge Greg Mathis (Mathis Court with Judge Mathis), Keke Palmer (Glam Through the Ages), Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight), and Andrew Zimmern (Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen).

The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards will bring together an exciting mix of presenters representing the full spectrum of daytime television,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO of NATAS. “From familiar faces in daytime drama to the personalities and creative voices behind talk shows and lifestyle programming, this year’s lineup reflects the breadth of talent that makes daytime so special. We look forward to celebrating the people who continue to shape the genre.”

Matthew Hoffman (Love Island USA, Cheap A$$ Beach Houses) will serve as the ceremony’s Voice of God, bringing his signature comedic narration to the evening’s celebrations. As previously announced, Lifetime Achievement honoree Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her husband, Jonathan Frakes.

So, what do you think about the list of presenters for the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know who you are looking forward to seeing via the comment section below.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

Could Kristen Vaganos and Josh Kelly Be Exiting ‘General Hospital?’

Published

on

By

Josh and Kristen

General Hospital fans took to social media following the airing of the Wednesday, October 21 episode of the ABC daytime drama series. In story, Molly (Kristen Vaganos) reveals to Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) that she has received an offer to join the top law firm in Chicago that practices civil law. She says it’s her dream job.

The problem Molly says is relocating from Port Charles and uprooting her life and being away from her mother, Scout and boyfriend Cody Bell (Josh Kelly). Wistful that she may lose another daughter to a long-distance situation (Kristina left a few months back to go to medical school in California), Alexis urged Molly to get Cody to go with her.

Molly still seemed concerned and has trouble committing to the idea. Alexis tells her to talk it over with Cody. Meanwhile, Cody asked Tracy (Jane Elliot) is he can have Thanksgiving off because he and Molly planned to spend Thanksgiving together with their families. After initially balking, Tracy agrees.

Courtesy/ABC

WILL MOLLY AND CODY HEAD TO CHI-TOWN?

Later, Cody shows up at Miller & Davis and the conversation turned to Thanksgiving dinner that Alexis is hosting. Molly and Cody asked her not to cook anything. Cody hugged Molly reassuring Alexis that he and Molly would take care of whatever was needed on Turkey Day.

So, this raises the question, why out of nowhere are we learning that Molly received an amazing law offer in Chicago, if the character was not being written out? If Molly leaves the canvas, would the character of Cody make his exit too?

Kristen Vaganos joined GH as a recast Molly Lansing-Davis back in September of 2023 and went on contract in August of 2024. Josh Kelly began playing Cody Bell back in June of 2022. Initial reports were that Kelly joined the show on contract and then as of June 2025 went on recurring status with the show per his choice.

Do you see a world where GH is writing out Molly and Cody? Would you be sad to see Kristen and Josh exit the soap opera? If this is not what is going on, is this just a plot point for some other story that is upcoming? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Heather Tom

The Bold and the Beautiful

Airdate: 7-24-2026

Popular

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x