General Hospital
GH's Dominic Zamprogna Interview: "There is Good Stuff Coming For Lante Fans!"
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
Next week on General Hospital Lante fans, and those of Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), will find several things in Dante’s world may have turned upside down, in particular with the women in his life. His mom Olivia finally wakes up after a medically induced coma as a result of Heather Webber giving her a whopping dose of LSD. Meanwhile, Lulu isn’t feeling well! Hmmm.
On-Air On-Soaps recently caught up with the talented and popular Dominic Zamprogna to get the lowdown! Will Lante fans finally get to see some major story for their favorite duo, after the couple seemed to have been back-burnered for some time? What does he think of the other men who have been circling in Lulu’s life, namely Patrick and Johnny, and if they pose any real threat to the couple’s future happiness? Dominic shares his thoughts!
Meanwhile on the real life homefront, Zamprogna is about to be a proud papa for the second time! His wife, Linda is expecting their second child due around Christmas time. Having been a co-host on our On-Air On-Soaps Podcast, Dominic’s direct tells-it-like-it-is attitude is refreshing and he can be hilariously funny and charming all at the same time. He’s the real deal. So with that, here’s our chat with Dom!
So let me put this out there to get your opinion on this. I interviewed Jason Thompson (Patrick) and I suggested that perhaps the powers-that-be at GH were considering putting Lulu in Patrick’s future as a potential love interest. And then, the Lante fans went off on me! (Laughs)
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
DOMINIC: I agree she could be in his future! I watched their scenes and I thought Julie had really nice chemistry with Jason, to tell you the truth! (Laughs) They are two fantastic actors. I thought they worked really well together. It’s a soap. So whatever happens … happens.
But wouldn’t you like something to happen to Dante and Lulu? They can’t just be on the air as a boring happy couple, that never seems to fly on soaps.
DOMINIC: Well, we haven’t really been anything lately! If she is with someone else, that would certainly get us back on and some airtime. I think it comes in waves. To me, that’s the nature of soaps. And yes. I think I would like that threat in their relationship. But that threat exists between Lulu and Johnny, because they are business partners again. We are going to see just how much of a jealous person Dante is, even though he tried not to be. You can see he can’t help it Johnny slept with Dante’s mom and is his father’s enemy. Plus, he slept with his wife years ago. So they have a past. So you are going to see that drive a bit of a stake between them … and that is going to bring us back into the forefront a little bit more. But honestly, whatever stirs things up is good! Obviously, Frank Valentini (executive producer, GH) and Ron Carlivati (head writer, GH) are into stirring things up all over the place from what we have seen so far!
I kind of thought; what if they had a triangle with you, Julie Marie Berman (Lulu), and Jason Thompson. That would be giving the fans three great actors to watch interact with each other in this situation. And again, this would all be temporary until Kimberly McCullough (Robin) comes back to the show! (Laughs)
DOMINIC: You know that would be interesting though. If you have a Dante/ Lulu/ Johnny triangle, you have a bad guy, a good guy and her in the middle. With Patrick and Dante, here you have two good guys which could be interesting, and again their scenes together are phenomenal. So again, fans should not get angry at the threat of that. It would be story and legitimate story and conflict, no matter what happens.
Courtesy/ABC
Here is my thing: I have loved your performances on General Hospital the entire time you have been there. You had such great story, and you were on all the time and then you were back-burned. Were you concerned that the new regime did not want to write for you?
DOMINIC: No, no, not at all. I think everyone gets their time in the sun. Sure, compared to the first two and half years I was on the show, I was on non-stop everyday. I think these guys (Frank and Ron) like me too, but they like to spread the stories and the action out a little bit. I don’t think that is a bad thing. And at the same time, it’s nice for your fans to say, “We want more Dante” instead of saying, “We are sick of seeing him!” I also feel in the last month the story has been there. Now it’s just starting to air though!
So there is big story for Lante fans isn’t there? Lulu isn’t feeling so good next week.
DOMINIC: Honestly the story is there and it’s coming. I have worked a ton since we had the dark weeks. There is a lot of great stuff coming up in scenes with me and Julie. Like awesome! So, if Lante fans are looking for some good stuff, they are about to see a lot of good stuff coming up!
How would you have liked to have seen the former writers lay out story for Dante and Lulu? Do you think they got married to quickly? Do you think it was done at the right time?
Courtesy/ABC
DOMINIC: The problem when you have two people like me and Julie is when you have written a big build up to our relationship, and then you finally had us have sex, and then we got together, it did well. There also was the Brook Lyn thing and all of that. I do think with Frank and Ron it wasn’t their story to have us married. If they had their way, they wouldn’t have had us marry. And I think if Jill Farren Phelps (Ex-EP, GH) and Garin Wolf (Ex-head writer, GH) had their way, they wouldn’t have married us so soon either. There was supposed to be a bunch of things that was supposed to happen. But time and the threat of the show being canceled, forced them to push up story. So we got married in December. Then it was like, “OK. What do we do with them now?” And then the new people came in and said, “Oh, they are happy.” But they were breaking up all these other couples. So the thought was, “let’s not break them up.” I think at some point you have to have a real threat of a breakup, or a massive crisis or conflict of something between the two. Not outside forces, because then that feels contrived such as Lulu opening a club with Johnny. I do like the conflict they are having because Dante being jealous is a real problem that happens in real relationships. People who become insecure in their relationship because of an ex, that can cause a lot of problems. I think that is one of the first legit concerns that they have had since they have been married. I will say again that there is so much great stuff coming!
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
Next week, Dante has a lot going down; there are some developments with Olivia after she awakens from her coma and her LSD trip! And it may not be good!
DOMINIC: Yup. Mom’s in danger, but it’s a different kind of danger. There are a lot of people in different kinds of danger. Patrick is in trouble. Luke is in trouble. Olivia is going to be in trouble, but actually it’s going to play out much more interesting than you think!
What happened to the scenes between Dante and his father Sonny? It seems like you and Maurice Benard (Sonny) hardly work together at all anymore. What is up with that?
DOMINIC: We had some scenes the other day. Whether we are going to see more on top of that, I don’t know. Whenever Sonny and Dante get together on screen for to long people are like you can’t be too happy either, and you can’t be to angry either. There are fans on both sides of that fence as well. There are fans who really want Sonny and Dante to get along, and fans who really don’t want Sonny and Dante to get along.
I never knew where their father/son relationship ended up! I was confused if they liked each other, loved each other, or still couldn’t stand each other.
Courtesy/ABC
DOMINIC: It didn’t end up anywhere definitively. I think their relationship is always going to be influx and that is what is interesting about it. It’s kind of like a train wreck where we have a conversation and it’s kind of like a rubbernecking experience, where you don’t really know if its going to end with a harmonious moment and a hug, or if its going to be like, “Good seeing you,” or, “F*** U, Dad.” I think it’s interesting no matter what they write for Maurice and me.
Alright Dom and Lante fans, what do you think of his remarks in the interview? Are you excited about what is to come for Dante and Lulu? What do you think should be the dramatic conflict between these two? Are you liking Lulu and Johnny being in each other’s orbit again? Let us know what you think will happen coming up in the story as previewed and hinted at by Dominic!
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WATCH: 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Winners Virtual Interviews
Breaking News
47th Annual Daytime Emmys Draws Over 3 Million Viewers For CBS Telecast with Return to Network TV
Friday night was a good night for daytime! With its first foray back on to network television since 2011, the Daytime Emmy kudofest, while for the first time held this year virtually, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, scored very well in its timeslot.
The CBS broadcast averaged 3.1 million total viewers and a 0.3 demo rating. That is way up from the last time viewers saw the award show on TV when it was on cable network POP TV back in 2015 with just over 900,000 viewers for its initial broadcast.
According to TV Insider report: The first hour of the Emmys garnered 3.3 million viewers to top the hour by edging out a rerun on ABC”s Shark Tank, and then slipped to second place for the second hour with 2.8 million viewers.
These were strong numbers for Friday night, and hopefully CBS and the other major networks will now continue this, and serve up the Daytime Emmy Awards moving forward.
Courtesy/CBS
The ladies of CBS’s The Talk hosted the event; each virtually from their homes, in an event filled with at-home acceptance speeches and presenters, and clip packages. The show was produced by NATAS and Associated Television International
So, what do you think of the ratings performance of this year’s Daytime Emmys? Comment below.
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Christine
August 3, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Being Italian-American myself, I am a bit biased, 🙂 but I really LOVE Dominic Zamprogna too. He does a great job as Dante. I am only somewhat regretful that I stopped watching GH during the middle of Vanessa Marcil’s last return because it was doing nothing for me. I love Brenda and the story was horrible, in my opinion.
Sadly I never got to see Dante and Lulu get together, but they make a great couple. The writers/producers should be happy that they have such great chemistry because it seems like they are hellbent on this Corinthos-Spencer union.
I admit I would not be crazy about a triangle for them, but I also know that happy couples = boring. You have to have some angst every now and then to keep the spark alive.
One other thing before closing, I think Dante and Lulu were put on the backburner because I believe Lulu was supposed to become an alcoholic and the new team did not want that so they had to cut a lot and that didn’t leave much airtime. They just have had so much of a mess to clean up after the former regime, but it seems like they are running on all cylinders now.
Chris
August 3, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Dom Z. is Canadian, not Italian!
Manny
August 4, 2012 at 1:11 am
Sorry, but he’s both… Canadian and Italian origin.
pink
August 4, 2012 at 7:07 am
Dom IS Italian because his dad is from Italy.But he is also Canadian because he grew up in Canada.He is also part British because his MUM is from England.
Christine
August 4, 2012 at 1:34 pm
I was referring to the ITALIAN part! Alla famiglia. 🙂
Suzie
August 4, 2012 at 1:14 am
I don’t see a triangle with Patrick/Lulu/Dante working. There needs to be a
bad boy element and we’ve got that ad nauseum with JZ. But I do think JT
and JMB worked well together. Would love to see a friendship between
Scrubs and Lante evolve. Especially if Dante were the one that helped
Anna discover that Robin is still alive. Of course, FV would have to let
Dante be the “hero” instead of John McBain and THAT’S not very likely.
Karoake night with Scrubs +Lante + Luke and Anna would be a blast.
Todd
August 4, 2012 at 1:48 am
I am a new gH watcher, but I don’t find the appeal in the character of Dante. I agreed with what was written in Heathers forged letter. I liked how Lulu got the taste for danger after surviving her kidnapping. She has so much more chemistry with Johnny, or Patrick. For some reason GH fans like the dull status quo and like couples to be happy. I like Lulu alone. Perhaps she can explore being a PI with Sam and Spinelli.
Erick
August 4, 2012 at 10:14 am
You should really You Tube the scenes from Sept-Nov 2009 when Dante and Lulu first met, when people didn’t know he was Sonny’s son and a cop. It was hard not to root for him. And there actually was danger back then, because Lulu found out he was a cop before everyone else did, and knew Sonny & Jason would kill him if they found out.
Evelyn riley
August 4, 2012 at 2:55 am
Good interview! Big no to Patrick-lulu but
I’m completely psyched for the good stuff
Coming up for Lante!
I have to respectively disagree w Dz on the fan
Piece. Fans are super invested in the couple
(d/Lu) so of course they will be upset at a potential
Triangle what not – fans are invested in the couple
Hoping Lu is pregnant!
Glad the marriage happened when it did – thx to
Jfp/gw – bc in all honesty fans might never have
Gotten wedding if it wasn’t done then
Melissa
August 4, 2012 at 4:53 am
I so can’t wait for the Lante scenes, s/l and of course Dante and Olivia scenes! I am a huge Lante/Dom and Julie fan
Philip
August 4, 2012 at 5:08 am
Dom is a terrific actor and he’s one of the GH regulars who’s made watching the show fun. Looking forward to seeing what happens to him and his GH loved ones. LOL
Janeway
August 4, 2012 at 6:47 am
Thanks for the interview! I love and adore Dominic!!!! He brought me back to watching GH. I think he is incredibly talented and GH is lucky to have him. His chemistry with everyone is great, but his chem with Julie is phenomenal! They are the sweetest, cutest, hottest couple I have ever seen. I am soooo happy they are back on the front burner where they belong. I want to see them have exciting and challenging stories and angst is good, but I DO NOT want to see a TRIANGLE! To me that is lazy writing and soap cliche’. I LOVE that Lante are married. I love to see them solve problems together, they feel very real. I would love to see them both involved in helping expose Johnny and helping Patrick ( finding Robin?). Patrick and Dante both need a male friend. I want to see them explore what it means to be a married couple ( and a family?). I like that they are exploring issues like Dante ‘s jealously ( although I see it more as him being overprotective-what would he have to be jealous of? LOL) and Lulu’s insecurities. I want them to be the exception to the soap rule and stay together (Iike some soap couples did in days of old). One question, what does the new regime have against physical affection? Afterall it is a soap. I miss the love scenes/afterglow/pillow talk that was always part of Lante. I am glad the kissing and touching is coming back, hope they will give us some of that too.
MissEllie
August 6, 2012 at 6:32 am
Completely agree with these comments. Love Lante!!! Love Dante!!! Love Lulu!! Don’t see how Patrick is anything more than friend and would love to see a friendship between Patrick, Maxie, Lulu, and Dante. Triangles are very soap cliche and I am sick to death of them. They make me want to turn off the tv — why alienate the fans??
dee
August 11, 2012 at 2:29 pm
now that Kristin Storms is coming back loved her as Maxie but Jen Lilly has really done a great job keeping Maxie alive and still around so great going , and will be sad to see her go but glad that our Maxie is back woohoo!
dee
August 11, 2012 at 2:33 pm
i was going to try not write one more word, but you had it all great, to me the abc soaps and yes i am putting back amc and oltl because this happened to them too, NO Passion and ADVENTURE on soaps, why??? Is it Disney???
Cathleen
August 4, 2012 at 8:16 am
Love DZ and can’t wait for the amazing stories coming up for him and Julie. Michael, always enjoy your interviews. It was good meeting you at the FCW two weeks ago.
Linda
August 4, 2012 at 10:13 am
I may be in the minority but Lante is sooo annoying. They never should have gotten married. I wish the writers would have gone with the Lulu drinking problem. At least that would be more interesting.
Jules
August 4, 2012 at 10:16 am
NO to Lulu and Patrick! ZILCH chemistry. They have as much heat as a wet match. Don’t care about Lante, but Patrick belongs with Robin, and there’s no “interim” relationship he can have that will fill the spot for her until she returns. Throw Lulu with Johnny, have Dante be jealous and be done with it. Don’t bring Patrick into it.
Veronica
August 4, 2012 at 11:15 am
I really like Domnic. He keeps it real and is very genuine and complimentary of his co-stars. I like that Dante grounds Lulu and gives her the stability she never had but he also has a dangerous job so he and Lulu’s need for adventure and risk is not that different when it comes down to it. I agree that Johnny makes a very interesting conflict for the couple because of his past with Lulu and because he appeals to that part of Lulu that craves danger but I’d still want Lante to win out in a situation like that.
The Patrick scenario seems really forced to me and while JMB excels at any scene where her character Lulu is badgering another character into submission, it just didn’t feel organic at all.
It honestly baffles me that while the viewers know that Robin is alive and making the most of her connection with Patrick, we’re supposed to root for him to get over her and go along his merry way to be the interloper in a couple he’s never given the time of day before three weeks ago. But the writers are going to do what they’re going to do.
Kels
August 4, 2012 at 11:50 am
I am glad they don’t have Dominic on every day like his first two years. Now I actually enjoy his scenes instead of roll my eyes in frustration with him being in every story whether it made sense or not. I also got frustrated with Dante and Sonny having the same conversation every time they shared a scene. It went like this… Dante: You’re a mob boss and a lousy father. Sonny: I am not going to apologize for who I am. Blah-blah-blah! I have no problem with them sharing future scenes but please dear writers, don’t repeat the same conversation we have heard for the last 3 years! I am looking forward to a Dante/Lulu/Johnny love triangle. Sorry but Lulu doesn’t fit with Patrick and she already has amazing chemistry with Johnny. So I vote for them to go with that angle and write a really messy triangle for them!
dee
August 11, 2012 at 2:25 pm
now we see todd every day do you do the same, just curious??? I love Dom, so it was not hard at all, plus at that time they were only showing Jason,Sonny,Dante all of them were on every day, he was new back then but for me he gave the show some extra fresh air , with Lulu. just curious about Todd?? no offense just asking???
Kels
August 12, 2012 at 12:05 am
Todd has only been on every day for two months. Dante was on every day for two years! Check back with me in a couple of years if Todd is still on every day and I’ll let you know.
ghfan4evr
August 4, 2012 at 2:31 pm
I am playing catch up with this past weeks epi’s and just finished watching Wed/Thurs shows. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see Lante on my screen again and I am super excited to see where RC and FV take them.
Thank you Michael for doing this awesome interview with one of my favorite actors.
DomSmythe
August 4, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Dom Z is an excellent actor, and sort of under appreciated. He’s never been nominated, for one. His acting is very down to earth and real. I love that.
As much as I like Dante, I never ever saw chemistry with Julie Berman/Lulu. And Lulu and Patrick is really boring.
I’m gonna put this out there: I want to see Patrick with Alexis. And I loved Dante and Brenda, thought the writing was horrific. Dante needs to be with someone new — who, I’m not sure….
Daisylover
August 6, 2012 at 7:22 am
As Maurice said in an interview he did, Dominic is a working man’s actor and greatly underappreciated. I completely agree. Dom was unknown to the world of soaps when he came to GH 3 years ago and became the fastest climbing actor in popularity in the history of soaps. That must mean something. He and Julie Berman have magnificent chemistry. They are great friends and love working together.
I understand what Dom means about conflict and angst. As much as I love to see Dante and Lulu happy we also need to see them struggle. For so long we’ve been missing that sparkle between them because they haven’t been on screen, but finally we’re beginning to see that Frank and Ron are finally “getting” Lante. It’s been confusing because we were seeing a Dante and Lulu we weren’t used to. But gradually TPTB are recognizing what Lante was all about, and fans are getting the real Lante back. Bravo.
Personally, I love this couple, I love these characters, and I love the actors that portray them. I could watch them forever, separately, together, any way I can get them.
Christy
August 6, 2012 at 3:01 pm
ha! when I read “Lante” fans, I totally thought he was talking about Llanview fans! ha
Beth
August 8, 2012 at 9:27 am
Very good interview with Dominic. I’m definitely ready for something that will shake up Lulu and Dante’s relationship, and I’m hoping that comes in the form of Johnny. There is so much history between Lulu and Johnny: planning to take down Anthony, Lulu killing Logan and Johnny covering for her, Johnny facing the death penalty for a murder that Lulu committed, Lulu facing her fears of becoming her mother in Shadybrook, Johnny’s own fear of turning into his father, etc. Given the situation Johnny is in right now, there is a lot of potential for Lulu to revisit her past and have that conflict with her marriage.
On another note, I’ve always wondered how Dominic feels about the fact that most soap characters have multiple relationships while his character has only had one relationship. I’m curious to know if he’s thought about his character in a different relationship and if there is any character/actress currently on that he’d like to work with. Thanks for a great interview.
dee
August 11, 2012 at 2:22 pm
on your question about Dante only being with lulu that is basically incorrect well sorta remember brooklyn, and they even tried with Brenda, fans had nothing to do with putting a split between lante, it is kinda like with luke and laura it really never work!
Very good interview, first i want to congratulate Dom with the next baby coming. Imo i think Lante has so much chemistry, that they just do not explore it imo. ABC soap is far cry from the days of romance and adventure, i am not sure when it stop but i have a feeling it has something to do with Disney i could be so wrong, but really do not see passion like you would see back in good old days of soap, which that why a lott of ppl watched soaps. Whatever bring Lante back on my screen more than 1 day a week i am all for it, plus i want more adventure plus romance, not talking about just sex but real, well soap real romance, bring it on it would be amazing if you do it right!
Christy
August 9, 2012 at 2:01 pm
every time I see Dante…. all I can think of is when he was on Stargate Atlantis and that episode. 🙂
Lisa
August 14, 2012 at 10:35 am
Personally, I’d like to see Lulu’s aplastic anemia come back into play during her pregnancy. Even though she had a bone marrow transplant, she can relapse especially with being pregnant. This might be an interesting arc to the current storyline and of course, will provide lots of drama and angst.