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Frank Valentini & The Cast Of GH On Time Slot Change, Surviving Cancellation & The Future, and Robin's Return!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: MF SOAPS Inc

Photo Credit: MF SOAPS Inc

At yesterday’s ABC Summer Press Tour for the Television Critics Association, General Hospital was given a show of faith, and great opportunity at promoting the enduring soap opera by ABC, when executive producer Frank Valentini and a host of top talent from the series were invited to the panel discussions.

Lead by Frank Valentini, the reporters and journalists in the room, including On-Air On-Soaps fired questions to the cast and the EP.   On stage along with Valentni were:  Tony Geary, Jane Elliot, Jason Thompson, Nancy Lee Grahn, Maurice Benard, Steve Burton, Kelly Monaco, Michael Easton and Laura Wright.

From it’s upcoming time slot change and upcoming surprises, to it’s survival to stay on the air, to Kimberly McCullough’s (Robin) “visits” and what that all means, and so much more, read below the quotes to some of the most revealing, concerning, and entertaining questions from the panel!

Frank, if Genie Francis (Ex-Laura, GH) were to become available from Y&R, would you bring her back to General Hospital?

FRANK:  I would just say that there is rich history that General Hospital has and there are many wonderful characters on the show right now, and in addition some people we are interested in bringing back. At this point unfortunately contracts forbid us to talk about things like that, but all I will say is we are big fans of Genie, I wish her the best, but I think we are pretty solid right now.

To Tony Geary on being very emotional on his recent win for Outstanding Leas Actor at the Daytime Emmys. Were you so moved during your speech because GH had survived cancellation to live another day?

TONY:   I would say it was a little of both.  We were pretty shaky about a year ago, before Frank came on board.   We were living on death row.   I think we were all thrilled, and emotional and excited about being honored for the hard work, and the storyline that I got the award for was really important to me.  I love when the character goes to the dark side, and that was one of the darkest I have been able to go.  So it meant a lot to me to be acknowledged.

To the panel:  GH had been living on deaths door, what would you say to people as to why it important that we have soaps on the air as part of daytime programming?

NANCY:  I think everyone seems to enjoy cutting edge things or something that is the newest thing, but there is something to really be valued about tradition and something that is familiar, and something that makes people feel comfortable, and something that is generational, and that is exclusive.  Some of these people have watched GH for nearly 50 years.  I think it’s important to remember this audience paid for television for a long time. I think they are very valuable and extremely loyal.

Courtesy/ABC

FRANK:  It’s also an original American art form,   I think it’s not only about tradition, but about storytelling and the family, and the fantasy of romance, love, and friendship and those are the bedrocks of what this country is all about.  I don’t want to sound too patriotic about it, but I think people look to these shows as touchstones, in which to explore life and experience life, as well as being entertained by it.

JASON:  To me, I have been on the show for seven years.  I look down this line and I see people who have been in this business for a really long time and there is something to be said about that, let alone, GH being on for 50 years soon.   I think storytelling has changed.  Everyone is sort of into this faster pace, and also what Frank said, we believe in the stories that we tell.  We are an extended family.  And even talking about my storyline with the character of Robin, we did a storyline talking about HIV in daytime before anyone else was touching it.  And there have been many stories like that during GH’s time, and as we go forward we are constantly thinking and doing new things to bring TV to a new level. People see us in their living rooms every single day, and they get attached to you, and it is something we should celebrate!

JANE:  I have a different viewpoint on this.  For 50 years we have been telling stories 5 days a week 52 weeks a year.  We are in people’s home during the day.  We are part of people’s touchstones when they are in the hospital with a sick parent, or when they are pregnant and they bring their new babies home. It’s people who work at night like athletes and musicians, who watch. What I like about it is that it has stayed the same, that it is this same kind of cultural anomaly. We are there family and they are family because of it

STEVE: This show is the same, but we do a lot more work in a lot less time.  When I started on the show in 1991, we did 21 scenes a day we would shoot. Yesterday we did 78 scenes. So you guys are welcome to come down and check out what we do, because it is truly amazing.  I think a lot of credit goes to our crew who works so hard. The one thing that the wrecking ball or being on death row has done for all of us is that we are united, which is great as cast.   I think it makes the work better.  Everyone is working towards the same goal.  So is the crew.  As bad as it has been, it’s been a great experience because everybody has a new energy to work and to keep the show on the air.  GH is such an iconic brand. We are not ready to let it go.

Photo Credit: MF SOAPS Inc.

NANCY:  We were kind of like the walking dead for awhile heading toward the iceberg, saying, “I just need somebody to do something!”  And they did. ABC did.  They changed everything.  I will say Frank had made an enormous difference and at ABC there is new marketing and publicity.  I have done so much already and Vicki Dummer (SR VP ABC Daytime) seems to be a pretty great broad from what I can tell.  We are now a “Yes sir. No sir,” crew.  For some jaded group here, some of us, we are invigorated, and we are willing and ready to win and stay on the air.

Frank, you came in from OLTL and began rebuilding GH. Can you explain how you took it from where it was to the amazing place it is today?

FRANK:  Maybe not rebuilding, but maybe remodeling. Being an outsider it is easier to come in and see things as opposed to someone who is already there.  I think the show was in terrific shape, but there needed to be some tweaks.  I think it’s also my taste and sensibilities for the show to go a little bit faster.  I felt there were some key characters missing.  Not in terms of who they were, but certainly archetypes that I think were important to bring on the show.  Bringing in some of the cast members from One Life to Live was a way to honor that audience, and also to create story that was good for the current cast.

Michael Easton, how was it coming over from One Life to Live to General Hospital, and how did you former cast mates feel about it?

MICHAEL: I t was bittersweet, but at the same time it’s been exciting to come over to GH and work with these guys and it has been a new energy for me. We were pretty aware for a year there that the wrecking ball was right outside the door at OLTL. We all worked at a very high pace to try to make that work.  And its’ been interesting to come over here and have the same feeling.   I think the only way we are going to be able to advance is to have great storytelling, and to try to recapture the audience we may have lost and bring some things that are exciting and different.  It woke me up for sure coming here.  I think I was in a stupor for the last year and I feel very fortunate.  I think the GH audience has been very kind to let the OLTL characters in.   I think they realize there is a bit of synchronicity with all the other fans of soap opera and they understand. If it went the other way, we would love having them.  I think it’s nice of them to be accepting. I think some of the One Life people are slowly coming over and they are excited to see Roger Howarth and Kassie DePaiva and some of the other people.

Frank, Kimberly McCullough just returned or visited GH, and there was a bombshell that she is alive and receiving electro-shock therapy.  What are the plans for her and status with the show?

FRANK:   She is back for a little bit.  It’s always challenging when actors want to pursue different avenues in their personal and professional life.  I think Kimberly McCullough had made a decision to leave the show.  Having worked with her for six or eight weeks before she left, she is a really bright woman. She has been exposed to so many aspects of the business in a very short amount of time.  She is interest in being a director and so we kind of connected and bonded, because I am interested in being a director as well. I said to her “This is such a wonderful thing you have created.  Let’s try to keep it alive.”  She is open to it and we are going to try to work together. It’s also good because she lives in Los Angeles.

Photo CreditL MF Soaps Inc.

Frank, has ABC given you indication what matrix you have for survival? Since they have been clearly looking to put on cheaper programming with the cancellation of One Life to Live and All My Children?  Do you see the audience numbers significantly change?

FRANK:  I don’t think it will change in the near future that the television market that exists in the United States will ever be anything other than challenging.  All I can say is that ABC invited us here to me, that is a great sign, and the network is behind us 100%. They are very excited about the show’s 50th anniversary. We will be laying some things out between now and April.  I feel you just need to watch the show to catch the energy and the momentum we have.

Frank, GH is moving to its new time slot on September 10th.  How do you feel about the change? And, what is the show going to do to enhance tune-in and to gain more notice for the switch?  Is their a big umbrella story coming up?

FRANK:  I think the time slot change will be great.  I think it will shake-up the lineup a bit.   I like the way we are being positioned and the shows that will be surrounding us.  I know the network is doing a big push to inform the audience of the time change, and yes, we are doing a big umbrella story with lots of fun surprises. We have a lot of terrific stuff coming up!

Tony, you walked off the shot and out of frame, in the end of the very famous GH opening title sequence which featured all the men o f GH. Was that planned?  

TONY:  That was not planned. I just sort of “had it”.   I walked off and they loved it.  What I say is you sort of live two lives and I flip in to Luke Spencer at a moments notice as I know how he feels etc.  And when I’m threatened or uncomfortable he takes over, and he took over and said, “I have had enough” I was delighted that it was kept in the opening for as long as it did. I was surprised.  I said to them, “Why did you keep it? And they said, “It’s because it’s the perfect end.”

So after reading the comments from Frank Valentini and several members of the cast of GH from the panel, what do you think of GH and where it is today? Are you excited about its future and what feels like a significant nod by ABC to promote it and carry it through to its 50th anniversary?  Let us know1

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I was blown away with Ewen being in charge of doing electro shock on Robin. It was so classic soap. The changes and pace are better than ever. It’s been like mud for 3 yrs so it so great for a looong time soap watcher. This show has grown alot with Frank and Ron and I’m very grateful for bringing back the “great GH” back. Love the Q’s, Jason, Sonny and Liz for yrs as well as the newer folks Johnny, Starr the latest Micheal. There is more balance of love, family and drama. Heather is a great short term addition as well as Anthony. Do miss Cam/Jake, Alan, Emily and Georgie. Would love Georgie and Spinelli together.

Michael, a MILLION thanks for posting this. I read bits and pieces from Twitter feeds, but this is great to see it all laid out for us.

I will say, ABC better not be pulling a fast one on us again. It shows a lot of support by having GH have their own panel at the TCAs, but I hope this means they are here to support it for the long haul.

Someone also mentioned something about Katie Couric and her Twitter timeline from soap fans (hinting that she is getting a lot of complaints) so I checked it out. It is ridiculous all the topics she wants to talk about. We do not need nor want yet another talk show. GAA is not doing as well as they would have hoped, the Revolution died a horrible death. We soap fans are speaking out and making ourselves heard and, I just hope that ABC is finally listening. Just keep GH on the air for another 50 years … please!

I hope GH continues on TV, I’ve watched off and on for 35 yrs. The last 3 yrs I’ve only watched OLTL and was so sad when it was cancelled. I watched GH again because of OLTL characters coming over, six months into the show I’m pretty disappointed. Killing of Cole & Hope, Tea’s baby and JOLIE breaking up, I feel like OLTL ending is being raped for GH. The s/l are old OLTL storylines I’ve already seen just with different actors-not liking it! When Jolie is officially broke up so am I with GH. OLTL was cancelled and the ending destroyed for GH. Should have brought over the actors as different characters. My only idea – 2 hrs of GH and more OLTL characters to be added and please NEW storylines!.

I gave up on GH years ago when it when so far off the rails. It became the Mob/Sonny show and it was terrible and boring! The producers lost site of what made GH great and ignored its rich history and INCREDIBLE cast. Now, since Frank and Ron took over, GH is better than ever! It hasn’t been this good in about 20 years….probably since the days of the introduction of Nicholas and Helena Cassadine…another great example of using the shows history! Frank and Ron KNOW better than anyone about show history and how to use it. They made OLTL the best in the lineup and they’ve done it again AND brought OLTL to PC! How great…now if they just brought a couple more characters on from Llanview, I’d be the happiest fan ever:)

GH sucks

Terribly inappropriate and immature.

Love, love, love GH. Miss OLTL terribly……

GH’s storylines have improved. Love the vets, particularly Anna and Heather. The budding romances are what makes soap operas GREAT! I like how the OLTL cast are being folded into the storylines. Initially I thought the babyswitch was going to be another boring repeat but surprised thus far. The DDSwhatever is so reminiscent of OLTL — I did not care for it then. So far it’s tolerable, but what gives it traction is the actress who portrays Kate/Connie, and the storyline of long lost/abandoned son. In sum, if I had to grade GH, it would get a B+.

OMG! OMG. OMG? I haven’t been cliff-hang’ed… in such a long time.

GH. Tues. 7/24.

Heather, in the Port Charles, police station… sequestered… under scrutiny… “telling” Anna…. Robin’s ALIVE.

Patricks – induced “brain freeze”… visions of Robin… THANK GOD.. that kiss with Lulu, was just that.

1. Heather, shooting of Luke… i was so hoping she wasn’t being written out or in a corner… it looks like she’s still top shelf. HOOT! CAMP. BEACON OF OLE SERIAL.

2. Patrick. this love story… twosome. is stellar stuff. Jason Thompson… is Manning up. He naturally, emotes… sensitive… masculine… fatherhood…. familial… friend… co-worker… you name it. he’s delivering the goods. Jason and Sonny could take lessons from him. I put, Johnny, Todd, EJ from DAYS… heck, even Jack from Y&R. These guys tear up… well.

GH – Patrick “talking” w/Robin.

“Everywhere is EMPTY.”

“The Bedroom…” et. et…

mind boggling – the writing – Kudos! Standing O’vation.

Nice piece – good to hear the read on things from various cast members. One thing Jane’s forgetting – it’s not just nite people that watch GH. There are plenty of us that work during the day and watch in the evening on SoapNet or via DVR. I’ve been watching since I was a teenager, 40 years ago. Thru H.S., college and adult life. Did the same for AMC and OLTL – shows I just miss. I’m surprised not one AMC cast member was picked up by GH. Would love to see more from OLTL migrate inbound also. How about Roxy? They could use a hair salon in Port Charles with a little funk!

We have enough OLTL people, but I agree it would be nice to get some AMC actors on the show…just 2 or 3 like with OLTL.

Ok I give up what was with Tony Geary’s pants??? LOL Maxie would not approve!!!

Lol, I guess when you win 7 Emmys you can get away with wearing yellow pants! 🙂

Hey, he’s stylin’!
Don’t you know that colored pants–red, green, yellow, etc.–are all the rage right now?
LOL

I’m impressed with the work Frank and Ron and all of those involved have put into remodeling GH in the past several months. There is much more to be done, however. At present, the show has as much going for it as it does working against it.

Here are some random (mostly minor) gripes:

The “Mob Princess” reality series story plays like an after-school special. It’s also an insult to loyal daytime drama fans who choose to watch this soap opera over reality shows competing in the same time slot, and it’s especially demeaning to those who still feel burned by ABC’s replacement of GH’s sister shows with lackluster factual entertainment… The introduction of the now recast Kristina to Port Charles has been a complete fumble. GH has shown absolutely nothing endearing or redeemable about this character since her return… The coupling of Starr and Michael comes across as forced, just like most teen-oriented story arcs of soap opera summers past… The D.I.D. story line is underplayed. At first it started off at full boil, then suddenly it fizzled into a subplot to sustain a larger mafia-related story that nobody really cares about full of characters that nobody really cares about: Joe Scully and his secret son, Trey, and the murder of John McBain’s sister, yada yada yawn. I thought daytime’s version of The Sopranos left the building along with the previous executive producer. What gives?… While I like their friendship, I just don’t see any romantic chemistry between Anna and Luke. Ditto regarding John and Sam. .. Jane Elliot as Tracy is so delicious to watch, so why is she practically M.I.A.? She should be on at least four days a week!

Here’s what does work for me:

Robin Mattson’s Heather always has my eyes glued to the screen. I can’t take my eyes off her for a second or else I’ll miss something! She is a girl gone wild and then some. I just hope GH is smart enough to keep her around long term. Admittedly, I’ve felt slighted greatly by the tease of veteran actors and their classic characters returning to the show in what later turn out to be mere cameo turns. Sorry, ladies and gents, but don’t bring back Emma Samms as Holly and have her leave just as fast as she arrived! That’s criminal. Thankfully, we have Finola Hughes as Anna back in PC front and center. Finola is an incredible actor in a league of her own and surely pure joy to the writing team. I hope those same writers feel the same of Kelly Sullivan as Connie/Kate (I like street-wise Connie much better than boring Kate). She is nothing short of amazing in expressing this fractured character’s vulnerability and versatility. Lisa LoCicero, Laura Wright, and Nancy Lee Grahn further the notion that GH enjoys an embarrassment of formidable female actors as much as it does their equally impressive male counterparts in the likes of Roger Howarth, Jason Thompson, and Brandon Barash, etcetera (among the usual Emmy-winning suspects, of course).

Lastly, I’m devastated by the loss of Jen Lilley as Maxie. She’s a cool kitten who will land on her feet somewhere special without a doubt. Maybe her old boss Jill Farren Phelps can create something new and exciting for her over in Genoa City. Fingers crossed. Eyes, too! As they say in showbiz, break a leg, Jen! (Preferably not your own.) : )

“I just don’t see any romantic chemistry between … Ditto regarding John and Sam.”

Whoa, Jeffrey, are you watching the same show I am? Ha! Ha! My goodness Michael Easton and Kelly Monaco are ELECTRIC every time they are together and always have been. And the way the smooched on the pier, stood up, turned around all while holding hands, and then he just pulled her into him. Gosh! That is sexy!

I think MOB PRINCESS is ending very soon, but you have to remember it is summer and that is the “teen” time. Hooray for it ending soon!

I agree with everything you said about Heather. 🙂

I’m not sure what you are getting at regarding Lisa LoCicero, Laura Wright, and Nancy Lee Grahn, though.

I agree about Starr and Michael, but they have potential.

Trey reminds me of Stifler from AMERICAN PIE, but hopefully this character has some legs.

I don’t think they can just wipe out the mob in one day. It is like weight gain – it didn’t happen over night, you can’t get rid of it overnight.

I guess I see it more positively because this show has me hooked every night whereas it would put me to sleep when they brought Brenda back the last time (and wasted her) and when they misused Sarah Joy Brown as Carly 2.0, I mean Claudia.

@Jeffery.

Olivia – Lisa LoCicero. floored me… with her “girl from the bronx”… Nutting Up on LSD. Way to go Lisa… You go girl. For Reals.

It’s something… to see a character/Actor… really step outside themselves… and reel scene stealing show. I was so used to her… as Dante’s mother… and Steven Lawrence’ girl.

I am impressed that, with a nod to the traditions of teens in the summer, GH still has the main story lines focus on cross generational stories (and the best threads for the vets in years, years, years). Starr and Michael are really quite sweet–nice (along with Mollie and TJ) to have teens with some happy, infatuated moments rather than all murder mystery, serial killer, angst all the time.

While Mob princess is a little cringe worthy, some attempt to poke on what’s creepy and exploitative about reality tv is worthwhile–and it allows another frame of reference to comment on the mob without the “bad guys with the hearts of gold” absurdity that has dominated GH for the last decade. That along with both Sonny and Jason suffering some consequences for their actions within their families and personal relationships (alienation of sonny’s kids and the notion that using your thug clout for your kids gain might not be what they want; the possibility that jason’s sending goons after John contributing to Sam’s son’s death–even if the big reveal is that the baby is alive, there was still a several month period that jason, and the audience had to think that roughing up your opposition might bite you in the ass).

And as for putting the rooting for bad guys crap fully to rest, how better to accomplish that than to have kick ass, take no prisoners Anna Devane in charge. (and if cartini can figure out how to accommodate Jonathan Jackson’s desire to not be all tragedy all the time, they might be able to bring him back to a competent port carles police department and not just as a nod to eliaeth lucky fans as the show is cancelled)

And while cartini have carried on the tradition of dead babies and rapes far too much, I can see why they wanted to free Starr up to be a young romantic lead in terms of story lines (and ratings). It would be nice to have Hope pop up with David Hayward part of a larger mind control, organ harvesting, body resurrection plot line but Cole (like each of erica kana’s earlier husbands, did eventually have to go). of course AMC’s resurrection plot lines were absurd, as was the two Todds final twist with OLTL. But certainly no more than the ice princess and other nut job plots with GH–and they are all terribly wonderfully and absurdly soapy. Such plot twists (the old west and 1968, going to heaven, what three or four times, and even eterna) were part of OLTL’s charm. And if that chutzpah can be brought to bear to have David Heyward, Helena, and Irene Manning part of a three soap (two posthumously) crossover to bring back Alan, AJ, some worth additional soul from All My Children to wind up that cliffhanger, and maybe Nash so Jessica could have her happy ending (even if totally off screen) from OLTL–so be it. And I like the idea that these “dead” characters have appeared as ghosts really from the intensity of their connection to their loved ones while they were prisoners and/or in a coma as a way of soapily explaining it all away.

i’m excited but i hate the new opening, lol, that really needs to change, theres other stuff too, but then this email would be too long, overall i’m happier now then i was a year ago when GH was under the dark shadows of Phelps and Guza but i still think that FV and RC could tone it down with the cheesyness. I’m not a fan of cartoon villians, split personality but they won me over the minute they brought back Finola Hughes.

I don’t mind the short new opening…what’s the point of a longer one? Just takes more time away from the show and who really watches it anymore anyway? I record the show and FF through it every day.

I have not been THIS GLUED to my GH TV set since Luke and Laura. This storytelling is SO fantastic. I’m still in shock about Ewen being behind Robin’s kidnapping. I agree, total classic soap storytelling. This is what got us hooked oh so many years ago and this is what will keep us hooked and entertained for many years to come. Thank you, everyone at GH!

I have watched gh since Laura killed David Hamilton.i couldn’t agree more with ur comments.

Thank you for asking about Kimberly McCollough’s status on the show. I am a Robin fan, too. I am glad Frank is as well and want to work with her to keep Robin a part of the show.

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

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Dominic Zamprogna

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?”

Dom and Liz

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.

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General Hospital

GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)

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Patrick J. Gibbons

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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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)

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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.”

Chad Duell

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

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