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General Hospital Was ‘The Dope’ That Helped Wrongly Accused Man Through 13 Years In Prison!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

Never underestimate the power of soap operas.  We have been saying this for decades.  For many, the lives of the characters we love, or love to hate, give us our daily fix and connection to feeling emotions, and provide us comfort.

Last week, a story circulated via many soap opera notables that emanated from NPR (National Public Radio) in their fandom series of interviews via The Morning Edition.  In it, former accused murderer, Chris Scott, opened about about his love and connection to General Hospital.  Scott spent 13 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.  Chris knew that if he had any chance to get out of the slammer, if he was proved innocent, he had to stay out of trouble, and it seems like the story of the citizens in Port Charles helped him, and other inmates do just that.

Here are some excerpts below from the NPR interview in Chris’ words edited with clarification by NPR.

Chris on how he got hooked on GH: “The first time I watched the soap opera in prison, I walked to the day room, and they was watching soap opera. And they was like, “Hey dude, this is the soap opera side of the day room, where people watch soap opera” — and I was like, ‘oh, this is the side that I need to be on.  I got a crew of men that, in the world of society, was killers.. These were some of the hardest-core fighting guys — but when that soap opera came on, you can hear a pin drop on cotton. It’s like all eyes — don’t nobody want to blink, because if you feel like if you blink, you gonna miss something.  We gave General Hospital a new name. We didn’t call it General Hospital no more. We called it “The Dope” — because it was addictive. We walked down the hallway, they shouting, ‘Hey — did you see ‘The Dope’ yesterday?’… Watching these love stories in a day room full of guys, you know they made the snide remarks of, ‘it’s pretty much for women and females” or whatever the case may be. But we didn’t care about that — because they knew the guy that was watching the soap opera probably can kick half of the cellblock he lived on’s butt.”‘

Chris on shedding tears during GH’s emotional story beats: “The soap operas really, it resonated a lot about missing home, missing the arguing you heard your mom and dad have every now and then. You miss the sisters fighting over the bathroom. You miss the brothers going outside shooting basketball in the backyard. So yeah, it resonated hard and heavy.  Like, just say, holiday seasons. You see the soap opera people, they got the big Christmas trees. They dress nice in red and white and all these pretty Christmas colors. And it made you want to be a part of that. … And seeing it on TV, I tell you, I didn’t want people to see me cry or shed a tear, but every now and then that happened. So I had to go in my cell. And I used to hang a sheet up, and the sheet would cover my whole cell, and I just used to go in my cell and have a big cry about it.  Wasn’t bad tears, it was good tears, because I knew I still had a heart. Because being falsely imprisoned, sometimes it hardens that heart to where you don’t want to show a sign of weakness. I know watching soap operas helped me with my dilemma, and we all can learn a lesson about how we choose not to judge people about what they think or what they watch because we all need something to hold on to.”

Chris’ story will be featured in an upcoming PBS documentary True Conviction.  He is out of prison and has stared his own detective agency, and still checks out GH every single day  .. a soap fan for life!

So, what do you think about the power of soaps and how it helped Chris, and others get through difficult times? Comment below!

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No matter what people say about soap operas, if one starts watching and become HOOKED and with the soaps that have good character human stories, it really touches all of us in some form of fashion…for instance it’s like music, it touches all of us…I have loved my soaps for the character’s feel like family especially for us that don’t have family…I myself have been blessed with friends that are my family instead of blood relatives that can turn on you in a heart beat…we all have heard the saying, you can pick your friends but you cannot pick your family, blood related that is… lol…THAT’S why I love my soaps aka daytime dramas…On another note that’s why I think TPTB with soaps really need to listen to the fans and give us what we want for we are the one’s that really keep our soaps going and we care like family…

Truth, Kevin….I am addicted….have been as far as I can remember. I may carp once and again, but I love my soaps and I would never stop wstching just because a storyline is not to my liking.
Soaps are ‘home’ to me—warm and comfy.

Celia, I use to be addicted but not any more but I totally understand…

Oh Celia, don’t get me wrong, I STILL LOVE MY SOAPS…

Oh, Kevin, my friend….I am so sorry….Oopsies….that came out wrong. I meant YOU speak the truth, as I feel exactly as you do. I agree with your every word.
It is an obsession to be addicted to anything, LOL….. I guess ’tis better to be addicted to soaps than to more harmful ‘substances’, yes?
I may be addicted, but not a slave to soaps….then again, I wonder if I would be if it were not for DVR’s, LOL. Would I re-arrange my schedule so not to miss my soaps as my grandmother used to do? Hmmmm.
Mr. Fairman’s sites are just as addictive, LOL.
Later, Kevin.

Oh, and Kevin? My soaps got me through the most debilitating, painful time in my life….other than my husband and family, thst is.
So, this is why your words are so poignant to me…….they ring true as they reflect those emotions that may seem dormant, but are so close to the surface; …..always at the ready to emerge, at any given time.

Yes Kevin my grandma got me started way way back when the soaps first started and i have been hooked ever since. It is so much fun to see what is going to happen every day. Some days better than others but we would be lost with our our soaps!

What a beautiful story. He is so right about them being addictive. Thank heaven I’ve never been in prison. But, I watched GH from April 1, 1963 until 2005. I was a kid when it started and I found it fascinating. I watched One Life to Live from July 15, 1968 until the last online episode and would be watching it now if someone would put on air. You develop such a deep personal connection to the characters and many of the stories. Yes there are many outrageous situations and problems depicted in soaps. And things are frequently overdramatized. But, the interpersonal relationships and family and professional relationships mirror the lives of people in the real world. I can see how someone stuck in the cold, stark world of prison would try to hang onto something tangible from the real world. A soap opera was probably as close as he could get. Good for Chris. He sounds like a man who was bright enough to find a way to survive an awful situation. Thank goodness he was finally proven innocent.

Well said!

Soap operas are for everybody. The story we just read about is one good reason why they can never end. if the day comes where all the shows are gone, I can honestly say my life won’t have much purpose because the characters on the shows are real people to me and they are the ones I love no matter if they portray good characters or evil. It’s still my getaway from the hassles i deal with in life.

James, I agree with your heartfelt post. I went thru a bad breakup in 1984 and the Reva suicide story on GUIDING LIGHT helped me reclaim my life and self respect. Also, as a lifelong fan of great acting, I’d put the work of Laura Wright, Jane Elliot, Maura West, Genie Francis, Michelle Stafford, Billy Miller, Roger Howarth against any prime time actor AND most movie stars. They make soaps a light in my life as well.

Soaphound, I think our daytime actors/actresses beat night time by a long shot and they master their craft all year long…LONG LIVE SOAPS…

Soap operas are are escape from the real world…no other genre has that kind of affect on the viewing audience!

hey Jimh..
So right you are–
;;Soap operas are are escape from the real world;;

But yet, many bitch whine and moan when it’s not exactly like Real Life..
They tear little things apart to analyze them as to why they are not real..
DUH things in soaps are not from Real Life..
So– seems they don’t want an escape into a make believe land, they want reality.

BWAHAA! go figure!

I know…im one of them but it is fun to bitch and moan about something-lol

I so agree they are an escape from the real world and that was why everyone was glued to the radio back during the first days they were created. It took them away for a short moment in time to be elsewhere and not think of what was going on. With times the way they are now we need them more and more of them not just 4. They give us something to look forward to especially Cliffhanger Friday!

wow! what an interesting perspective! many times soap fans are disrespected because the genre probably is, to some extent, disrespected. seems like you have to “admit” you watch a soap…and then make some excuse like it’s my “guilty” pleasure. so to hear how much GH got this man and others through their days…particularly in that he was innocent and this allowed him the escape (that’s TWO jail puns…not intended!) he needed, is a testament to the genre.

TV, even non-soaps, is such great escapism. Getting familiar with fictional characters, that ability to suspend disbelief…it’s great we’re all able to do so.

Yes, Rebecca, so true and with the quality of theatrical movies in a steady, heartbreak decline, soaps are really shining these days. Looking forward to the return of NASHVILLE also.

Did you read Michael Fairman’s post…Nashville is cancelled! Will only be back for the remainder of the season…

Hi Soaphound…wanted to add (regarding Nashville)…though I’ll miss the characters…I didn’t take to CMT’s version as I’d hoped I would. I loved it when it was on ABC; every episode, every character. It wasn’t the same after they killed off Jeff…then omitted Layla and Luke from the CMT…Connie left…new characters introduced. Just wasn’t feeling it.

With that said I’m surprised it was cancelled because last I read on it the show garnered the highest ratings for oringinal programming on CMT. Wonder what happened…

I’ll miss the characters…particularly Deacon, Gunner, Avery and Will. Sigh…lose a show, lose “people” we love.

Sweet story! 🙂

Speaking as the “warden” of the biggest supermax prison in the universe (Hell) I can confirm that GH is popular with many of the prisoners down here as well.

Soap Operas like GH help keep you sane when real life sucks. It’s an addiction that won’t harm your health or kill you. I’ve had this GH addiction for over 30 yrs and it’s not going away any time soon! #LongLiveGH

I guess Michael Fairman will know why I am really impressed with this story. And I echo the comments on this story.

One of Chris’s comments I kinda chuckled at was his reference to Sonny Corinthos…”He ran the whole town, and he had a bunch of businesses everywhere, but his main business was coffee importing. This was a kind of inspiration to me, so I need to watch this guy and get some knowledge. This was kind of like that entrepreneurship I learned form watching soap operas.” And since being released Chris created a detective agency looking into other innocence cases.

I do wonder if their viewship numbers are factored into the ratings. They would add viewers to all four soaps.

Also it would be nice to have their comments on Michael Fairman.

I always felt the soaps were a good escapism from reality that we all need at times. Have to watch that PBS special, sounds good.

OK–
here is thing.
What years of his 13 years in prison did he watch GH??

The link article was extremely weak..
did not mention the year he was incarcerated or the year he was released or how old he was when he entered prison..

However; I’d imagine it was the high power years when GH was actually great, the years of the Mobsters, when the cast actually had mobsters characters doing mobster crimes, shootings and like the real deal..
.GH use to be the type of soap that would interest imprisoned people and not what it has become.
I’d guess he entered the prison late 80’s to early 90’s .. when all the mob Families were in action)

//they surely wouldn’t have gathered to watch during the past years boring blah junk tv it has been// getting much better now..

I’ve watched GH when Luke and Laura was the story!! How the rape scene was done,it was a big thing then during the disco era!! Watched the,Ice princess story,Hrlrna and her crazy sons… Then I stopped for awhile got back to it,then it was Stone and Robin watched Emily get killed off etc… Now,I’m happy that Steve Burton is back Jason don’t like the story at the moment!! Confusing!! But,hoping Sam will go.back to her real Man!! LOL GH Forever!!!

Great story!!! I’m a forty seven year old man who is proud to be a huge GH fan for life. I’m busy during the day but I cozy up to the laptop every night to escape this world for my favorite alternate universe- Port Charles, NY. Can’t imagine what life would be without the joy I get from this production. It’s easy to understand how the show got him through prison because it sure takes me away. Thank you ABC for the best show ever made!

I watch days of our lives and young and the restless I grew up watching soaps I remember watching all my children then watching passion for life until they both went off the air and you know I never been in prison and not planning on being there I have heard story’s,. they are horrible and sometimes touching depending on which side you want to look at it, I have read your story I must say took courage to stay strong even in the most weekness points and I commend you for that,. Stay strong and keep doing what your doing , looks like you will have a bright future ahead of you.

Why would anyone think the monster storylines were the greatest years of GH? It was never, ever what the show was about, and it ruined it. Sonny, in particular. He’s like a violent version of Fonzie from the old Happy Days sitcom. For every fan that loves Sonny and the psycho-phant robot killer Jason, two people are turned off. The ratings for GH were highest during Luke and Laura in the ’80s. Luke was mob-related at first, but mobsters were not the focus of the show. Luke broke free of Frank Smith. The bad guys got weirder than the mob with the Cassidines. The Quartermaines had bad sides to them, while eing a respectable wealthy family. The hospital always had bad people, but not Mafia killers. It was on a human scale.

I totally agree with you, Skeptic, regarding any misguided allegiance to Sonny and the mobster storylines. Thank you!

How about this week… we just say thank you for keeping GH on the air all these years so that those of us who love it can enjoy it? Let’s be happy we still have our show, with all of the incredibly talented actors and actresses portraying our favorite and flawed characters who bring us pleasure and more!

Great story Michael!

When it’s at its best, GH is addictive as dope (as the return of Steve Burton shows). Sadly, as this summer proved, it can also be like Dramamine.

People will laugh at you for being a soap fan but these are the same people who watch “Walking Dead” or “Game of Thrones.” What the difference? They are stories and just like soaps, some are good, some are bad and some are ridiculous!

Chris… youve got all my love ,respect and congratulations… my son too was in for a year plus… but… he too found that was one thing helped get him through it all… hope to find out time of your upcoming PBS… thankful greatly for your success!!!

I know a lot of guys who watch General Hospital. My significant otherMike watches. I’ve been watching since I was in elementary school. I’d say it’s been about 44-45 years! I’ve been with Mike for almost 32 years so he’s been watching since then off and on…mostly on. He does like what’s been going on these past couple months loving the story line. When I miss it he tells me I better go watch it now! He records GH every day for me.
I’m so glad Chris got some relief while in prison. 13 years for something he didn’t do…wow! I don’t know if I could do it! Good Lick Chris in all you do! #GHFOREVER #JASONISTHEBEST #LoveMeSomeSonny

This once again goes to show that the male soap fandom is woefully misrepresented

I’ve been a loud addict since I was 7 yo it’s been 30 years and I’m not close to bored with the show.

Does anyone remember the disco song “I just can’t cope with out my soap “General Hospital”!!!!??????

Yes, I do. Not the finest contribution to the genre; but, it did demonstrate how significant GH was in American society of the day.

It’s very disappointing that my thoughtful post on adulation of the prison population for the character of Sonny was deemed unsuitable for publication. I was merely addressing the elephant in the room: Because the character of Sonny gets away with crimes, including murder, with virtually no jail time, it’s no wonder he is considered a hero to the prison population.

Some want to make this story about the condescending notion that men can be soap fans, too. It goes deeper than that. I’m sure Mr. Fairman appreciates those who toe the party line and serve as perpetual cheerleaders for all soaps despite any hypocrisy or flaws.

Hey, James…if it makes you feel any better, I did echo your sentiments and my post was trashed, as well.
Must have been a Sonny lover who happened to decide if our writing was worthy …..LOL.

Yes, my dear Friend Celia, it does make me feel better: that I wasn’t solely singled out. But I question the wisdom of anyone who would trash any post by you… And I originally used the word “thoughtful” about my own post, not to toot my own horn, but to convey that my point was at least logical.

Speaking of logical, your theory on the “Sonny lover” sure makes sense to me.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Celia! 🙂

@CeeCee…If your “Sonny Lover” theory is correct, then I have to assume that there are also Alexis and Nina “lovers,” as well. Would explain so much why many of my posts are also given a one-way trip to oblivion!!!

Thank you, my friend….and, a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, as well. Enjoy….!!

Thank you, Celia!

To whomever else replied to me and explained that no “rhyme or reason comments don’t go through,” please try to reply to me again, here or elsewhere. I did read your interesting reply via my e-mail and I truly appreciate your response — but I don’t know who wrote the post. Somehow the post doesn’t appear in this thread where the link takes me… Very unusual…

Soap Operas i think can help people get through hard times in their lives because soaps can be a escape for them.

WOW! That is amazing. Good TV can transcend and entertain and help. Soap operas are escapism.

The so-called Powers to Be want folks to underestimate Soap Operas but they have proven, for decades, they are worth watching on so many levels.

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, Zamprongna 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 down 100% to play. “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 and 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? 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 of them 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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