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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny, Valentin and Dante Find Themselves at Emotional Crossroads

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

On the January 3rd episode of General Hospital, three men found themselves at some defining moments in their lives, their relationships, and their futures.

First, Sonny (Maurice Benard) who is coming to the realization that he has a problem with his heart, sits down with Jason (Steve Burton) and explains to him that he has been having chest pains for awhile before the incident at the boxing gym. He feels he needs to make some long-term plans and needs to take a step back from the mob. Jason says he will step up his role for the short-term but he can’t take over the organization. He has to be there for his son, Danny after the death of Sam.

During their conversation, FINALLY, the mention of Sonny murdering FBI agent John “Jagger” Cates came back around. Sonny wants to find out who found the gun that exonerated Alexis. He tells Jason about giving “Charlie’s” to Kristina. Next, Sonny goes on about not wanting to be a burden to his kids. Jason tells Sonny the kids love and need him in their lives. In the end, Sonny says they have to come up with an exit strategy as there is no one they can hand the organization to.

Courtesy/ABC

In Prague, Lulu (Alexa Havins) and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) have a major showdown which brings up all types of points for the two exes. Lulu blames Dante for messing up her chance to bring her daughter, Lulu home to Port Charles. Dante tries to explain to her that Lulu brought the attention on the situation, which caused the sniper to shoot, which allowed Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) to getaway with Charlotte (Scarlett Fernandez).

Dante believes that Valentin was being manipulative and the shooter followed her to get to Valentin. Lulu doesn’t want to give up on finding Charlotte, but Dante tells her to let the professionals handle it. Nothing is getting through to Lulu.

It’s at that point and in a excellent performance from Dominic Zamprogna, Dante finally lays into Lulu. He tells her that Charlotte has chosen to be with Valentin. Meanwhile, their son, Rocco (Finn Carr) sat by Lulu’s bedside for four years praying and willing her to wake up out of her coma. Dante says Valentin knows how to go under the radar, and her search for Lulu caused too much attention and danger for everyone.

Courtesy/ABC

Lulu stands down that she’s going to stay in Prague and keep searching for Charlotte determined to bring her home. At that point, Dante lets loose on her. He tells her that Sam lost her life while saving Lulu’s. The way she is acting it’s like Lulu is going to throw it all away because she doesn’t care about the sacrifice Sam made. Lulu says she’s grateful for what Sam did, but it’s her life and she’ll make her choices, not what he thinks she should do. Before he storms out, Dante tells her he figures Rocco doesn’t matter to her anymore! Lulu smashes a vase in the hotel room in anger.

Courtesy/ABC

Valentin is on the run with Charlotte. In his car, they have a heart-to-heart, which is touchingly portrayed by James Patrick Stuart. He asks Charlotte if she wants to go back to Port Charles with her mother, and that he knows she is missing out on a normal childhood with her friends, and her brother, Rocco, etc. Charlotte says Lulu has people in her life, while Valentin doesn’t have anyone. She wants to stay with her father. He hugs his daughter, and they drive off.

Elsewhere, Michael (Chad Duell) convinces Sasha (Sofia Mattsson) to stay in Port Charles to raise their baby. He says he will let her raise the child alone, but if she needs anything financially or anything medically he will be close by and has the means to help her. Sasha says that if she had to get unexpectedly pregnant, she is glad that he turned out to be the bio-dad.

Courtesy/ABC

What do you think will happen to Sonny? Are you glad Dante told off Lulu? Do you want Charlotte with Valentin or do you think she should go back to Port Charles with Lulu? Will Valentin ultimately figure out a way to live back in Port Charles for his daughter’s sake? Share your thoughts in the comment section. but first check out the scenes between Valentin and Scarlett below.

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For Dante (and the Davis women)… why do none of them know about Sam’s autopsy and the digitalis overdose? It seems outside of hospital staff, Lucky and Ric are the only ones aware of this. Not sure it’s against HIPAA to release autopsy results to family members.

Wouldn’t the hospital have to call in the PCPD as part of the investigation?

Whether you agree with Sam and Dex’s deaths, at least they’re creating a hospital-centric storyline.

Both actors were in active storyline, and both were good.
The new writers need to consult with a group of daily watchers to see where our heads are at. I personally wouldn’t have axed either one of them. Willow is getting boring after her sorded affair with that stupid Drew. Send him off too DC and leave her home with Michael. I would have recast Michael instead of writing his character out.

Don’t Write Out Michael, Bringing Him Back!!!Gives Great Story Lines For Sonny, Carley, Willow, and Brings In Jason Having To Deal With Drews, Depraved Lust For others (Carley,Nina,Willow)
Has To Be Dealt With…. He Went From Michael’s Mother Carly… To Nina, Ex-Wife To His Father Sonny…and Willows Mother…. To Willow Herself!! Ohhh My Goodness!! All That Right There Is Major Storylines…And Now A Baby With Sasha!!! Lots Of Storyline There With Michael’s Character….Now Is A Good Time To Bring Back Morgan…??? The Car Blew Up… And No Trace Of Morgan; Was Presumably Dead??
Being Heald By Sonny’s Enemies Finding His Way Back To Port Charles To Help His Father And Jason Take Over The Organization and Help Michael He Be The Unknown Man Sasha Could Say She Slept With…DNA Could Match and Save Michael Secret For Another Storyline Sasha and Carly Too, As Well As Eva Jerome…..

Just looked up N.Y laws and Autopsy reports are given to next of Kin or as requested. Yes, why hasn’t Alexis demanded a report? They say it can take months, depending on the circumstances surrounding the death. In Sam’s case, it seems pretty cut and dried, except to us viewers.

I agree with Michael Fairman and others that Alexa Havins is truly a great casting choice as a Lulu recast. She’s doing an outstanding job! But I just realized something- I despise Lulu no matter who is playing her.

6th

DNT like the new Lulu. Want the old one back. PLZ

She’s not coming back.

I do too. I miss Emme Rylan. I know they’re not going to listen to us because they’re not going to switch actresses now, but those of us have been watching for many many years have become invested in our characters. I lived all over the world while I was in the Air Force and my mom would record the shows for me and the characters were like my family

The key thing you wrote is investment in the characters (not the performers).

Alexa is playing Lulu closer to the original adolescent/adult performance of Julie Berman. For many, Emme (and the writers) took Lulu in a direction far from the character’s original persona.

Exactly. Emme Ryan was a bit too Lulu-Goes- Gidget for me. Too perky and spunky for my taste.

I thought it was just me. Couldn’t stand Emme’s Lulu, Gidget is a good description . I could not understand Dante with this crazy person.”Perky and spunky” was a nice description but I always found her interfering, butting in and in everyone’s business.I like Alexa and her more grown-up interpretation of Lulu.Wouldnt mind seeing she and Cody together, unless they find out that he and Sasha are actually not related.

Agree with Judy. Gavin’s has a boring face & don’t like her. Get rid off Drew. Another boring character. Both Lulu & Drew are not needed to continue the storyline.

I’ve pretty much always liked LuLu. And Alexis Havin is doing a fantastic job in the recast, imo. But I must admit that right now her character is really starting to get on my last nerve. I was so glad that Dante set her straight before he left that hotel room.

Agree

True. I was kidding when I said I detest Lulu. I kind of have a love hate relationship with which she is blissfully unaware. But yeah. Alexis Haven has nailed it.

Her denial is going to get someone hurt or worse. I can’t decide who’s worse- her or Portia. Both ladies are such good actors that most of us despise them! Daytime Emmy deserving, both of them!

I can’t stand Portia’s interfering and a too long list of other things but I can’t compare she and Lulu, who are very different people.

Ditto! Obvi she’s a good actor!

Lulu is her father’s daughter: Head strong AKA: STUBBORN! I know she’s concerned about her daughter and she should be. Valentin has placed Charlotte’s life in danger and he is being very selfish. Charlotte’ shouldn’t have been asked to make that choice.

Also agree

Has it occurred to you that Charlotte would be in grave danger if she wasn’t with him? His enemies would use her as bait to get to him.

Ah. no – That shouldn’t be the decision of a child. My opinion.

I think the writers have ruined this show. Lulu needs to leave the bratty Charolette with her father! Maybe another bullet will make her wake up! No body acts like they know Sam and Dex were murdered except Josslyn. Crazy!

It’s about time Dante told Lulu off. This Lulu is acting arrogant and self-centered I hope that changes. People on the show like Edward quartermaine have lived very very long time with a heart condition I think it’s a bad idea to take Sonny out of his position however Jason is what he is already and Danny is his kid I don’t understand that decision either. They broke him and Sam up because he is Sonny’s #2 which was stupid but ok so he can still be in that position but no other??? And Luke’s son is back! Valentine’s being very selfish keeping her on the run and in danger he should make a deal that he will turn himself in if they keep him in port Charles near his daughter. TJ’s character has been terrible lately. Just needed to vent

Charlotte is a brat that should stay with her Dad. Dante is right. Lulu is tossing Rocco aside chasing a pipe dream.

Agree, thoroughly!

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‘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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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’ 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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