General Hospital
GH Nurses’ Ball 2019 Part One: Nina’s Red Carpet Arrival Commentary And Locking Eyes With Jax
On Friday’s first installment of the 2019 GH Nurses’ Ball episodes, it was red carpet time in Port Charles as all of the most famous and infamous residents got dressed to the nines and to impress.
This year, Nina Cassadine (Michelle Stafford) is back for her on-camera hosting duties covering the arrivals on the live-stream, but is joined by Crimson’s New York fashion editor, Sydney Val Jean played by guest star Chandra Wilson of Grey’s Anatomy. And as you’d expect, these two fashionistas battle it out at times on the carpet for attention.
Throughout the arrivals, and through this episode, this one really belonged to the talents of Michelle Stafford, who through her comedic, romantic, and dramatic timing, made for some of the best moments. In a surprise, when Nina begins to choke after interviewing Peter (Wes Ramsey), Maxie (Kirsten Storms) and Lulu (Emme Rylan), she excuses herself and ends up outside where Jax (Ingo Rademacher) appears and offers her some champagne. The two seem to be clearly smitten with each other! Nina accepts his drink, and thanks him, and then goes back inside to her hosting gig, while Jax looks very intrigued by Nina. Previously, Nina gave a major kiss to Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) when he appeared on the red carpet.

Photo: ABC
Some of the more shocking …. or interesting red carpet arrivals included: Shiloh (Coby Ryan McLaughlin) showing up with Sam (Kelly Monaco) on his arm, and then getting into words with Sonny (Maurice Benard), who tells the cult leader that family means everything to him and that there is nothing he wouldn’t do for the people he loves. Shiloh is convinced Kristina (Lexi Ainsworth) will come back to “Dawn of Day”.
When Anna (Finola Hughes) and Finn (Michael Easton) stroll down the red carpet, they get distracted when a dapper Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers) shows up, clearly intent on wooing back Anna, to which Anna looks caught by her feelings for both men while Finn is pissed at the game’s Robert is playing. Later, Finn confronts Robert about his ring.

Photo: ABC
Everyone was shocked when Kevin Collins (Jon Lindstrom) showed up arm and arm with Ava Jerome (Maura West). We later learn that this is an attempt to smoke out Ryan, who Ava believes will show his face at the ball. Lucy (Lynn Herring), the hostess with the mostess, comes up with a plan to get Kevin away from Ava, not knowing they are not romantically together and tries to, perhaps, rekindle their romance up in a Metro Court hotel room. Meanwhile, Scott (Kin Shriner) wants to get Ava away from Kevin, so he heads up to Lucy’s room with Ava to show her and to catch Kevin and Lucy together, but we don’t know what they saw when the door opened!

Photo: ABC
Meanwhile in Toronto, Canada, Curtis (Donnell Turner) and Laura (Genie Francis) come to realizing they have been tied up and there is a gas leak in the cabin. Laura realizes Ryan is trying to kill her in an explosion just as he was supposed to have perished in at the fun house years ago. It appears Ryan set a trap for Laura and Curtis and fled the scene. The two extricate themselves before running from the cabin just as it blows up!
Back at the ball other notable couples have arrived from: Chase (Josh Swickard) and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen), to Michael (Chad Duell) and Sasha (Sofia Mattson), to Franco (Roger Howarth) and Liz (Rebecca Herbst), to the GH nurses crew.

Photo: ABC
The episode ends with an announcer telling all the guests to take their seats as its just about showtime! And of note: Is the opening title sequence music changed to a new theme for GH, or is it just for the Nurses’ Ball episodes? That’s one of the buzziest questions today.
So, what did you think of the red carpet arrivals? Michelle Stafford’s performance? Jax meeting Nina? What do you think will happen next with Ryan? Comment below
Franco and Elizabeth were the best thing about the red carpet. Roger and Becky can do so much with the little material they’re given, I wish this show would invest in them and use them as leads.
Looking forward to the Ryan reveal at the Ball, more Friz, Cam performing, Ava performing and hopefully some unexpected performances.
Franco sure has become the little joiner, hasn’t he? Not a dark bone in his entire, goody-two-shoe body.
The episode also debuted a revised opening credits with slower pictures and the hospital image as the final shot. Kudos for those two points.
The new song, if it’s permanent, doesn’t seem to fit as it is missing the classic 3-note Jack Urbont intro that has been part of every GH opening since the ambulance version of the late 70s.
Two steps forward, one big step back.
Steve, I caught that also!
Love Robert Scorpio always! I hope he’s not the baddie in this story. Love Michael Easton as well, just not paired with Anna. The photo of the three of them looks like a family photo. Dad, Mum and son!
Like I said, Marianne! Robert Scorpio forever! He can do more with a cocked eyebrow than most actors can do with 5 pages of dialogue. Such a pro!
omg why o why did they put Nina and Jax in scenes together knowing full well that they are changing actresses? seeing Michelle w/ Ingo and the chemistry they obviously have will now have to be reset when the new actress playing Nina takes over. the show should of waited for the new access to debut so she could establish her chemistry w/ Ingo . its already going to be difficult no matter how talented the actress is. just saying.
I agree 100%. I adore Michelle Stafford and am very disappointed that she’s headed out soon. What a bummer!
I’m unfamiliar with the actress taking over the role but I hope she has similar chemistry with Jax.
I don’t think even Mr Valentini and Co knew just how instantly mesmerizing that chemistry would be until it happened. I literally moved to the edge of my seat during that scene. Wowsa! It’s feeling like a huge opportunity missed. Time will tell.
Long live GH! ❤️
Right? And I could really do without Stafford’s goofy, gummy, freaky expressions. Please make her go away.
Patience, Harry! Patience! We shall soon be rid of her….but will Nina 2.0 be any more palatable? I have my doubts….and bringing in an old favorite like Jax to prop up NuNina only reinforces this belief.
Hi Shay
I definitely think the new Nina will be great. I watched Cynthia Watross for years on GL, and if anyone can be mean and snarky, she can match Michelle Stafford any day of the week. As Patrick mentioned Robert Newman from GL, he was the one C.W had the insane, crazy obsession with. I only hope there will be some fire between she and Ringo/Jax,
and that it will lead to the end of Valentin. I would be very glad to see the end of him and his snippy daughter. I had the distinct feeling that he and Jax already knew each other, but will have to wait and see. Hope I didn’t bore you too much.
Not at all, Violet…it was good to hear from you! Although I never watched GL, per se, I am familiar with Watros from her work in an eons-ago sitcom featuring comedian Christopher Titus. Besides being boyishly cute, he was quite offbeat and funny…she played his straight woman as the exasperated girlfriend/wife(?) It was there I suppose I formed a lack of appreciation for her…I simply found her not at all engaging, but that’s just my own take! Having later read of her soap history of portraying a total whackadoo, I could not fathom her being any more appealing for me in that particular mold. Then again, I will admit that I was hoping for a kinder, gentler and more balanced, mature Nina 2.0….someone for whom the term “temporary insanity” could have been suitably applied to her past antics…emphasis on the word “past!” Given the choice of recast, me thinks Nina 2,0’s mental problems have just begun, which may prove highly entertaining for those like yourself with fond memories of “Crazy Annie,” however, I was desirous of someone who would immediately erase all notions of that “Nutty Nina” who we suffered not so gladly over these last five years. In other words, I didn’t want a match for Stafford’s highly strung loonytune, but as you have stated, it appears that is what we—and Port Charles—are in for…To those who will enjoy that scenario, I say God bless, although I doubt I will be counted amongst them. Regardless, at least we can agree upon our less than sparkling opinion of the current Nina…considering many of your hilarious comments about the character, I think I can safely surmise that we both found her to be insufferable and will not miss her one bit!!!! As for Jax and Valentin’s prospective previous knowledge of one another??? It certainly wouldn’t surprise me when you look back at how many times there have been incidental inferences to Jax’s shady doings, whether in tandem with his brother Jerry or all by his lonesome. It also often seems that Valentin has been lurking in the GH shadows for many, many years prior to his onscreen presence, hence he thusly no doubt has the goods on just about everyone with a connection to Port Charles!!! Perhaps our answer to the Jax-Valentin question will be shortly forthcoming! Later, Violet, and thank you for your reply!
IMO, Nina’s reaction to seeing Jax was a little over the top. She was behaving like a giddy, young fangirl. I’m not sure if that demonstrates chemistry; her bedazzlement was certainly obvious.
GOD – ALL it took was one pic… and heart splatters everywhere
Jax AND niNA !
I Miss Michelle Stafford LOVE Michelle Stafford
I have to be excited about Cynthia Watros cause it got me ALIVE Valentin AND readymade to bear w/Charlotte. two exquisite being
I cheered from the mountain top for Nina.. AND my love of this girl, MIchelle Stafford
yeah, it was “No Matter…” how long it took to Valentin to snare Nina
I LOVE you with Jack Abbott .. that was a long time ago
after Valentin; come back
AND I’m beside assuming because of – RED – TURN @jack many times will keep excited’ because it happens so MANY time
enter a new snare; new show ‘up’
bye Nina… Hello ‘New Actress’ MS w/Eva Larue
I LOVed right’ along w/ Robert Newman drives Joshua Lewis’ “yum”
They gave us a coveted Cassidine that is the opposite of every Cassidine, shameful..
Valentine is nothing more than a Johnny Peachy.
Disgrace what was done to a Cassidine!
Nikolas should have been brought back so Valentin and he could fight for the power while trying to off each other!
Anna is waaaay too old for Finn, she is a Grandma to a teenaged granddaughter.
they are ridiculous together, not to mention totally Boring!
The cult story has no teeth..
The couples are all sleepers, everyone one them.
(no cheating, no betrayals, no dirty deeds, as soap couples are infamous for, the couple all come off as senior citizens on an AARP dating night fling.)
Sonny and Julian have been disassembled and recycled into empty cans.
Carly being pregnant has no purpose unless she loses the baby and freaks out/ old plot.
Jordon and Curtis suck as a couple and her transplant is uneventful-
her kidney will come from the Ball dead guy.
The Willow baby story is a total fail.
Nothing to get excited over its simply BLAHHH, not even a twisty plot to speak of.
Maxie and Lulu have become valley girl annoying..
Back to Ball-
eeehhh .. it’s looking at dresses, couples wearing the dresses and tuxes, this year has little entertainment value..
Hopefully, it will turn it up on Monday..
((the Coldplay song, I’ll get back to that one
bwaa electronic music thing chainsmockers are Awful bad!
All in all– I still love GH, a whole bunch !!
but it needs help, lots of help..
I feel GH will be the 1st of 4 to be cancelled!
Anna is not to old for finn, how insulting she’s beautiful and Finn is no spring chicken. Nobody is bother when the male actor is older then the female actor but god help the women if she’s a few years older, that’s old way thinking so you must be very old.
Furthermore, at one time, it was sort of hinted at that the trouble between Finn and his father had to do with father’s wife. Although that story was never fully developed, it made me think that Finn might have had an affair with her and Chase was the result. In fact, there’s only about a 7 year age difference between Hughes and Easton.
Hi suOOO
I love your comments, mostly because you say things I wouldn’t dare. You are so funny, the way you put things just crack me up. I would really love to know you.
As far as Anna and Finn go, you’ll have to be a little patient, Hayden is returning to take Finn out of Anna’s clutches. I think Carly’s baby was written in because of her real life pregnancy. I don’t see another reason either. Originally, I thought the Wyley Willow thing was to get she and Michael together, but now I can’t figure where they are going with that SL. Ah yes, the valley girls drive me nuts too, but at least we don’t have to see hula hoop Lulu with that God awful dress this year. I am kind of looking forward to Ava and Kevin’s performance, which will get Ryan’s knickers twisting!
Whom are you referring to as the ball dead guy? Funny, no matter how you phrase it.
Violet Lemm, how you be?
I meant by the Ball guy lol
The person that will be killed during the Nurses Ball (someone always gets killed during the ball, it seems..)
So- Jordon will get the dead Ball guys kidney..
Anna and Scorpio need to hook up again and not necessarily in a hot sexual way (please no!)
Aahh Ava and Kevin’, what a match-up made in hell LOL and that’s what makes them intriguing and Hot!
As you said- watching them in action will be a good thing, indeed.
I didn’t know Laura/Carly was real life pregnant.
So- they will have a need to play this one out to the delivery and then after the baby tragedy will be played out..
Hey su!
No cancellations with Robert Scorpio aboard! He and Anna will sizzle as they did in classic times of GH, IF the writers and TPTB are smart at all and IF they give Tristan a contract and revive his love story with Anna.
Can’t they see he can act circles around everyone? Isn’t it blatantly obvious?
heeey nancy!
I’m a Tristan/Robert Scorpio lover!
It would be great to have him back but- doesn’t he live outside of the USA?
if so- that’s quite a trip back and forth lol ..
Thought he lived in LA but I could be wrong, su!
I do know that Jax (Ingo Rademacher) has a home in Hawaii but I think he moved to LA when he got a contract on another soap opera. “Jax” said Fri: “I’m here for a long time.” So, here’s hoping Ingo will stay on GH.
We need these two men, don’t we? 🙂
Hi Nancy- Tristan’s wife (facebok) tells she lives in;
Palm Springs
California
So, apparently so does Tristan lol ..
yes, we need those two men 😉
Yes!!!!
Amen, Nancy!! Seeing the dashing Robert Scorpio on the NB red carpet was alone worth the price of admission! And Finola’s Anna looked fabulous in her evening frock…both the cut and color were simply perfect for her!!!! These two legendary legacy characters definitely belong together!
part of the show were well done but the intro on the red carpet was laughable…introducing the characters by name like well known celebs to me was a joke…Nina lusting at the site of Jax-MS may have her fans but her campy acting style and scene chewing is a real turn off to me(ya, its a soap but the writing is the reason why the rest of Hollywood treats soaps like low entertainment!!!
Jimh
So happy Iam not just a party of one at this “ball”. I did love K.S/Scott’s entrance. He always leaves me laughing.
Amen! You said a mouthful there, Jimh! With no scenery chewing required…unlike the aforementioned Nina!
love the new opening for the show.
Michelle Stafford did an awesome job on the red carpet!!!
Could not stand M.S/Nina and her antics, but I had the distinct feeling that Jax and Valentin know each other.
So was the flirtation with Nina real, or did Jax already know she’s with Valentin? Time will tell.
Speaking of antiqs, whats with Anna acting so silly about Robert? So she thinks he wants to propose. So what, she’s supposed to be in love with Finn. Hopefully, she’ll spare him and run off with old Bobby.
Like I said, Violet–Robert and Anna forever!
And I think the best things on the carpet were dashing Robert Scorpio and his twinkling eyes and sardonic smile. keep him forever! Please! And Robert and Anna forever, also. Please!
And Jax–aaah, Jax! Those blue eyes can take one away! How handsome. And his dazzling smile, to say nothing of that nice head of hair. Keep him forever, also. PTB, are you listening?
No Alexis, but, we have Peter at the Nurse’s Ball. This flop ruins every episode for me.
No Alexis is always a good thing for me, DMRR, but I totally get your aversion to Pete…the only role he should be fulfilling at this event is as a parking valet.
Hahahaha!!!!!
I was mistaken, saw Alexis. I watched 10 minutes and turned it off. Sick of Mr. Laura Wright, the cult, and Oscar.
Me, too, DMRR….Given my aversion to so many current GH players, I only watch the highlight reels featuring the characters I can abide, hence today I caught Anna, Scorpio (and yes, Finn…) along with Dr. O and her deliciously diva-esque performance of “Guilty,” where Alexis was clearly seated in the audience!
Loved Dr. O! Now, she has talent!
She has “UBER-talent!!!” Kathleen Gati’s radiant Liesl owned the NB with her very tongue-in-cheek performance of “Guilty!” Not to mention, she was absolutely resplendent in that royal blue showstopper of a gown…a star is “reborn!” (And how nice was it that Dr. O didn’t need to “steal” the stage this time around?….Now that’s progress!)
Just watched the red carpet. It was cringe-worthy. Maxie was awkward. Although, I loved seeing the fashion. Nina’s reaction to Peter is similar to mine, rolling the eyes. Although, I mute and fast forward the boyfriend, too. YUCK.
Not sure who salivated more over Jax, Nina or Peter.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up 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 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 they were previously, “We had some scenes together years ago and we were both laughing. And 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 2025, and “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?”

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

At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.
However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.
Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Photo: ABC
FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG
Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!
Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”
MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL
Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).
Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”

Photo: JPI
PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY
Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”
It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”
A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”

Photo: PGibbons
IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS
As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”
He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”
Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.”
So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Admits That He Didn’t Expect the Role of Michael Corinthos to be Recast, and Would Consider Working on Another Soap (Exclusive)

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

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

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

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