Connect with us

General Hospital

202

GH's EP Frank Valentini on The New Opening, Changes Ahead, And The Competition!

Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

Following the General Hospital panel at the recent ABC Summer Press Tour TCA’s, On-Air On-Soaps had a few moments to ask GH’s executive producer, Frank Valentini his thoughts on the new GH show open, what other changes he has planned for the lone ABC that may reflect in the the look and feel of it, and how he feels GH compares to his soap opera competition on the other networks!  Here is what the talented Valentini had to say about it!

Valentini on the decision of who to include in the opening and why it was made much shorter: “We need to think of General Hospital as a show that keeps evolving and so we put some of the newer characters into the open. We also made it shorter  so there is more programming content too.  So all the time taken out of our open was put into our show.  I think that is really exciting and good for the fans too, as there is more General Hospital.  I think that was more important that seeing the opening of the show, because a lot of fans said they fast-forward through it.

Valentini on other changes he plans to make to the look and feel of GH, when he has already quickened the pace and spread out the wealth of story among many characters similar to how he made OLTL a success:  “There are many things I want to do and I am someone who looks to the future.  I think there is a lot more. General Hospital is such a giant brand that has a lot of equity in it and I want to exploit and explore that.  I think a couple of the other changes we made are the lighting changes and the way the shows looks, which people have responded too. We have boxing ring sequences with Sonny that are cinematic. It is great for story, and it is also visually exciting and something like that will  always enhance the viewer experience.  This is a show that shot in HD and really beautiful. “

Valentini on if he checks out what his competitors are doing, and how he thinks GH stacks up against them:  “I am always listening and paying attention to what other people are doing, but I don’t think the other shows can touch General Hospital right now.”

So what do you think of the shorter opening?  Are you getting used to it?  And, do you see and feel the rhythm and look of GH evolving?   And, finally, how do you think GH stacks up against DAYS, Y&R and B&B?   Weigh-in!

Leave a comment | 202 Comments

202 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

I definitely noticed the changes in lighting – it’s softer and more realistic. In comparing it with other soaps, I agree with Valentini. YR writing has lacked so much in the last two years I can’t even watch it. DAYS rebooted itself almost a year ago, but there’s nothing exciting going on there.

I was a huge OLTL fan and saw the introduction of a few OLTL characters a great way for GH to gain OLTL fan support. I’m hopeful that GH will continue for many years to come.

I agree with what you said on the second paragraph of your comment OLTL fan support for GH..

I do not feel it looks softer or more realistic. I feel the lights are too bright and are glaring. I really really really miss the way it used to be lit. It just gave GH a cool, edgy vibe. Even more I miss RC Cates, the old background music guy/music director. He had such a sensitive touch. The new music people are improving, so that’s good… but they need more silences.. more NO music. Go watch old GH and there are so many POWERFUL scenes with NO music.. they let the ACTORS do the work. But then, when the music comes in, it is SOOO perfect I really, really really miss RC Cates. I would also like to know w hy they fired every single GH script writer except for Kate Hall.. and Elizabeth Korte, although I get the feeling Korte has to do more with continuity than actual script writing. The oldl writers, had such a nuance about them.. and one of the things I miss about the old GH is the NUANCE. I am SO angry at Mr. Valentini for coming in and changing things that did NOT need to be changed at GH. He should have focused on good stories and NOT changed what was awesome. ::calming down now.. it’s just a show::… but why, why, why….

I agree. It’s so obvious that the new writers do NOT know the GH characters, their personalities or their histories. All of a sudden Sonny and Carly are not even talking, even about their kids. It’s just plain strange. There are no familial connections anymore and everyone is off doing something by themselves, with someone that doesn’t make sense…GH is unrecognizable and that’s a shame after all these yrs on the air.

OLTL’s success? Um, OLTL is no longer on the air so these little changes may not be successful for GH in the long run. I don’t like the new opening at all. Too many characters on the show that have nothing to do.

OLTL’s cancellation has nothing to do with it’s artistic success. In fact, it had better ratings than GH when it was cancelled.

OLTL was ABC’s highest rated soap and GH has had small but measurable gains since the team of Frank Valentini took over as the EP and Ron Carlivati as head writer.

There are always extraneous characters in “soapland” not every character can be involved in every story. The introduction of OLTL characters is no different than random arrivals of Maggie, Joe Scully, Ewen and whoever else the flavor of the day is. The only difference is that the arrival of OLTL characters may have given GH an infusion of people (like myself) who stopped watching GH years ago because they (me) were unhappy with the direction it went in, however remained OLTL fans and have followed the characters from Llanview to Port Charles.

yeah, better rating in its last year, lets not rewrite history here, if OLTL was such a cash cow for abc, why would they let it go over GH?

Now I understand the opening. Don’t like it, but I do get his point. And it is true, NONE of the other shows can touch GH right now. That is why I so do not understand its ratings.

I like seeing all the actors & actresses in the intro like OLTL use to have..

I’ll take more show over more opening. GH has always been superior to OLTL which is why it’s still on the air. Writing, acting and directing all better and now, I love the new lighting. Even the wardrobe and sets have gotten better. More color and class. LOVE IT, ALWAYS LOVED IT, he just impressed on an already great show and has made it even better.

Yes GH is better because of the ex-writers of OLTL!!!!! Thanks to them GH is finally on the right track…And I don’t think Gh has always been superior to OLTL…..I always watched OLTL more than GH. When OLTL was on…Just recentely started watching Gh when the crossovers from OLTL came on….To me in the past I felt GH too many mob oriented stories…But now, it has improved & is much better now thanks to the writers of OLTL…..

Thanks to Frank & Ron the ex-writing team of OLTL ..Gh is exploding in a extremely good way…..

GH sucks the opening sucks & takes away from the history of GH!! FV&RC is not listening to the GH Fans.. and it surely reflects in the ratings.. FV ur correct when saying the other shows can’t touch GH.. because GH is last place far worser than the other shows… ThankYou Micheal for allowing me to state my honest opinion…

You have no idea what a good soap is . It seems as though you don’t like the soap because Jason and Sam are not together. There is more to GH then Jason and Sam. Get a grip, I wish GH was two hrs long. I can’t get enough

You hit the nail on the head! 🙂

Stop complaining! My God where have you been the past year and a half? OLTL’s ratings were HIGHER than GH’s! It’s no secret the huge mistake abc made by canceling OLTL. We all know now how flawed the rating system is. When Bob Guza took over everyone was so excited thinking he was going to make changes and put GH back on top. All he did was to put the show into a coma. When abc brought FV and RC to GH they knew they would once again work their magic as they did with OLTL. They came in in January and hit the floor running. They understand the fans (which is why Robin is still alive and we have some old timers back). It may take awhile and I know alot of GH fans are upset about the people from OLTL joining the cast but you have to realize this was done to bring more viewers to GH and to keep it on the air! I can’t believe how people who say they love GH can sit and complain about the opening when you have been told it is short so that they can give us more show! What is wrong with you all? Do you want GH to survive or not??? Stop complaining about stuipid nonsense and be happy we still have a show to watch.

Well said, Angela! I agree with all the points that you made!

I agree with Angela, on her entire post!!!!!!!!! Yes stop complaining you still have your favorite soap & you can still watch it..My #1 favorite soap is gone (OLTL)…OLTL crossovers a plus for GH.. More viewers!!!!!!!!!!! This is a good thing… Angela made a lot of good points………….Everyone should read them!!!

Gh doesn’t S–CK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh yeah, you OLTL viewers have really made a difference, because GH is now #3 or#4 woo hoo, you guys have really helped in the ratings, you should actually be thanking GH for making room for those crapy oltl crossover character because oh my god, they’re so rich with history and depth. and what was GH without them before? I mean think about it, Starr is the next singing superstar, i see her giving Britney Spear a run for her money, and John, well yeah, really he’s going to put Sonny and Jason away i see it coming and as for Todd, the guy could get his own spin off and we can call it ALL MY VICTIMS. Yeah, thats the Ticket.

Aria you need to reread what I wrote, because you either missed the point I was trying to make or you’re just too ignorant to understand what I was saying. First of all no one actor or actress can save a show. Bob Guza ruined GH! He did nothing. His storylines were dark and depressing. He turned out to be nothing more than a huge disappointment. Jill Farren Phelps had her day. It was time for new blood and abc went with Frank Valentini. He and Ron C proved themselIves on oltl. Its no secret that the show should have never been cancelled. I have watched GH since 1970 through good times and bad. I am a true soap fan I stick with my show no matter what. True I watched oltl as well but I lost one show and whatever it takes to keep GH on the air well Im all for it. Can you say the same?

Sorry Angela,
I disagree theonly time the ratings for One life soared was when it was announced uit was being canceled. and your wrong again about G.H. under Guza and Pharen Phelps G.H. had chart topping ratings plus allot of other Emmy awards to their credirtr. He didn’t put G.H. into a coma .yes some of his stories could be considered redundant so di these cartoon hacks Cartini at one life. Please for example tjhe “JESS/Tess?Bess/Wes and the rapist Bobby Ford? and John Mc Bat to the rescue they hypocritical ass wipe . Please these 2 writers are intent on destroying the mere essence of G.H. and turn intoanother round of One life . and who suffers not tonly the “ORIGINAL FANS: who have stayed through thick and thin (46 years) and (43 years of One life). Yes I was there before vcr dvrs and the rag mags .
Cartoon Valenti isn’t even covering up the lies he told before coming . He doesn’t give a RATS ASS for the General Hospital and its going to be destroyed on the back of our show. You watch one by one our g.h. characters will ldisappear and one lifers wil invade ponce more . if that happens canel the “ORIGINAL” G.H. let us have our swan song since one lifers had theirs and the bring back One life don’t try and merge 3 soaps in one because its the fans who lose. and for the record these 2 incredibly morons have no clue as to what General Hospital is and what it stood for all these years. They have destroyed . I call them soap killers .

Angela, Calling people ignorant just show that you are the ignorant one. Posters are allowed their opinions and calling people names is just rude and wrong.G.H. has had 49 years of
being a number 1 soap and yes at times it was a sleeper not all soaps are always going to be fantastic Jeez one Life sucked for many years starting with Dena Higley and ending up with Cartini ,.
the only reason the ratings soared was because of Cancellation. so name calling posters is rude an insensitive . This is still free America.

Kim you are right I probably should not have called her ignorant. But her whole post was surreal. I mean I felt as though she thought she was speaking about real people and not actors playing a role. Guza was brought in last July to turn things around and he fell flat. You can’t argue that. Everyone, myself included thought when abc brought him in last summer he would bring new life to the show. And yes JPP did work her magic. So did Glory Monty all those years ago. But it was time for her to move on. GH has always been the star in abc’s daytime lineup and I do feel that Cartini will make GH continue to shine. Also I too have been a loyal fan of all abc soaps (that have come and gone) since 1970. The “original GH”? The original GH centered around the hospital. There was no Luke and Laura, no mob and no Quartermaines. Just the Hardy’s, the Baldwins and Jessie Brewer and a few others. If we have learned one thing in all this is how flawed the rating system is. I for one don’t want GH to go anywhere, and I will continue to watch faithfully everyday as I hjave the past 42 years.

Great post!!!! Love it!

I like that by the intro being shorter we get more GH story! That is way more important than the intro to me.

I agree Debbie. And it’s true…anyone who records the show (as I do) FF’s the intro anyway. I wouldn’t care if it was even shorter and showed none of the characters.
I used to think I liked the previous opening because it showed the actors real/character names, but after watching it once, I never watched it again, so what’s the point?

I wish primetime would take the hint! I understand those actors, being on only once a week, probably want their credit shown every week, but some of them are soooo long, they are just wasting time.

You know, I didn’t like the short opening the first couple of days, but now I find myself wanting to HEAR more of it. It is kind of futuristic and if you blink, you miss it. 🙂 I only fast-forwarded the opening sequence when they used those flashing lights because it triggered my migraines!!

I think even if the opening was longer I would not fast-forward because it is edgy. I never fast-forward Y&R’s opening of Nadia’s Theme.

As for the lighting, I have definitely noticed the changes. I could actually see Rebecca Herbst’s BLUE eyes at Kelly’s in her scenes with Jason the other day.

And for stacking up against the competition, I only watch Y&R in addition to GH. I watch Y&R because it is mostly just every day drama with the exception of a big story climax like Ricky and Paul. But GH is like a little cliffhanger almost every day so I like that excitement for the end of my evening.

The only thing I wonder about is the placement of GH come fall. I just saw out here in Los Angeles that ABC 7 intends to have it at 1 PM so I guess that will come after the news or is that The Chew (?) then after GH will be Dr. Oz and Katie following. They are literally stuck between a rock and a hard place. Dr. Oz is Sony’s baby and they seem very happy with his success and he has quite a following so people will tune in (hopefully they will also tune out after he is over), but The Chew is not great so hopefully the loyal soap fans will tune into GH at its new time. In other words, they do not have a very good lead-in. Well I guess fall will be their time to shine and prove themselves.

I did miss the old starter, but he makes a valid point, that I often skipped it if I could. Never thought of it that way. I love stuff like the boxing scene because there was such real conversation instead of shoot em up bang bang

I always thought the new opening was great and couldn’t believe when people complained. I told them it’s the show that matters and not the opening. GH is just so good since Frank came on. Every day I can’t wait until the next episode. I have always watch GH through the good times and the bad but now it’s ALL GOOD. Thanks Frank

I couldn’t have said it any better, Karen. I totally agree with you!

I totally agree but would add Ron to also get credit for making our GH great again! RE: the opening, no opening could ever be worse than the guys in tuxedos opening. They kept it for so long that out of the 11 male characters shown there were only 4 left on the show before they finally changed it. (And, yes, I was so annoyed that I actually counted!). I prefer the shorter opening/more story time.

I’m used to it and actually like it. I want them to add Kirsten Storms though if they can. As far as his comment about other shows not being able to touch GH right now, I agree even though it sounds kinda vain.

I don’t think it vain…he’s just proud. And for the most part, rightly so.

I like the new opening. Maybe at the end of the week they can list the actors. The show is really good I look forward to it. It hustles right along. He has blended the two shows seamlessly.

Well said, maggiejinx. I agree. He has blended the two shows seamlessly. I was skeptical at first, even though I loved both shows. Didn’t think it could be done. But Valentini/Carlivati have done an outstanding job.

Y’all are so right! Something about this new GH feels OLTLish-the lighting, the pacing, something. I just love it. When I walk thru the room & look up & see Starr & Todd, I just die! I feel like I am watching OLTL. Today when they were talking about Natalie, Liam, Viki, Blair, it just helped me to hear their names. I look forward to GH every day now & not just because of the OLTL actors. It is just plain BETTER.

Judy,maggiejinx,and gloria, your all so right, Ron and Frank have seamlessly blended all the bad of GH with all the bad of OLTL,still more sonny and jason and sam, now mix in with with the cheesyness of horrible new opening, hundreds of flashbacks, and recycled OLTL storylines. I was skeptical to and didn’t think it could be done, but wow, it has, so now we have the worst of both shows.

The show has greatly improved-it was virtually unwatchable last year. I love the OLTL characters and wish they would try to bring Erika Slezak, Andrea Evans or maybe Kim Zimmer as Echo over for some storylines. AND PLEASE BRING ON KASSIE AS BLAIR AND FLORENCIA AS TEA PERMANENTLY!!!!!!!! The pace is faster and I actually look forward to the show. THANKS FRANK AND RON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My only problem is the baby switch thing is a bit tired and I hate the fact that GH is going to be on at the same time as DAYS in Los Angeles. I will watch GH online.

I agree what you said about OLTL characters .. More of them on GH.. Love Erika Slezak She is my #1 favorite from OLTL….And I would like to see Roxie, GiGI , Rex…………………………….I Like GH better now than from 1-2 years ago….

Yes-I’d love to see the Balsoms including Roxie join GH or at least visit! I’d also like to see Bobbie Spencer RN. return to the show. Today’s show was great as well!!!

I totally disagree with bringing on more OLTL characters! I do love that Todd and John are there, could possibly do w/o Starr, but the cast is big enough and the GH cast has history to build on, we don’t need more newbies! I hate when people think they’ve blended the two soaps seemlessly, they only brought 3 characters over, that’s hardly blending both soaps! I have noticed the lighting and do think it makes the show much more modern! Thank you Frank for bringing the show to the 21st century!

If the shoe was on the other foot. It woudn’t bother me in the least…I like seeing OLTL characters on GH..OLTL was my favorite soap and I still miss it & enjoy seeing them on GH… They are not quite blended..Did you watch OLTL ever??????? It will be my #1 favorite soap on or not…

You should be happy you still have your favorite soap GH ..Mine is gone(OLTL).. This is for comment on 7/10 at 7:11am…

Gh is my second favorite soap…

I love the new opening and I love GH. I was never a fan of GH but when OLTL went off, I need to watch something and I wanted to support GH (even if I despise ABC for taking the soaps off the air). I love that the show incorporated OLTL characters and I am excited to continue to get to know and grow with the GH characters as well!

I will support GH…….I agree w/everything else you said…………

The direction with GH ..loving it !! I dont understand Ewen ..but I think either a he is Jerry’s kid or b just caught up in something . Sam and Jason , the baby ? Oh I think Tea should be on the show full time along with Blair !! Oh and I think once Johnny’s secrets come out ..push Cary towards Todd . Shaun and Alexis .. steamy !! Oh and Joe Jr , Trey , and Kate/Connie GREAT JOb on that storyline . If anyone is ganna figure out what Dr Ewen has been doing it will be Empathy !! Also, Natalie needs to be on GH too .. I can see a nice exchange of words with Sam . Faithfully … Tiffany Brenna Evans Stamps Wiley Peace Love and Happiness

I am really! really! trying to support GH especially since they brought over OLTL characters. I like the shorter opening and I also like the previews at the end. I am concerned about the way FV and RC are changing the history of OLTL. First of all, they get rid of Cole and Hope and then they have totally changed Natalie’s character. She would never take off like she did and never get restraining orders on John. She would be in PC kicking Sams … I am really disappointed with that so I don’t know if I will keep watching or not. If they are going to put John and Sam together, than just do it already!! I just hate to see so many years of good OLTL history go down.

GH is back and I am watching live (ok, listening while at work and watching DVD-R later) … which I have not done in a long while…. it is just getting better and better! Love the new blood and new twists and turns. It is one of the best shows on television and at 5 hours a week, with no season breaks, it is addictive!

i’ve never watched anything but ABC soaps, so can’t do any comparison to the other shows, but can compare it to GH from years ago. The show has really been reved up! I really like the quickened pace, more script pages done per show is great. Many times I’ll be watching and it’s really going great and I worry that it’s about over and check the time on the DVD and it’s usually at the half way mark, so plenty more good show to watch. In the old days it didn’t seem like much had happened and then it was over — they used to drag stories out way too long. I have noticed the better lighting and extended sets on the hospital and added touches, like to the police station – plaques on the wall, stuff on desks – makes it look more like an office, rather than an inexpensive set.

I don’t mind the shorter opening – I like the look and music. It’s fine cuz I still fast forward thru it because it’s followed by a few commercials rather than the show. I’ve noticed they (ABC) had shortened the commercials, probably to cram more in to pay for the show.

speaking of the sets – did you all notice that John & Natalie’s place seemed to be the old webber/scorpio residence with the dark woodwork painted white? guess Mac and Felcia are living elsewhere these days! 🙂

the boxing scene – didn’t notice any special HD type of look to it. Isn’t that usually better for larger, deeper sets or outside shots? But it was funny when Trey said ‘bring it'” and Sonny just nonchalantly knocked him out. that was funny.

I disagree with him About the opening. I don’t FF abd it gets me going & excited ! It’s our theme song! Cut out the lame previews than cause those are stupid
MUSS MY GH THEME SONG & OPENING

frank valentini is doing a wonderful job on general hospital. he saved general hospital from being cancelled. please frank keep up the good work. i heard a big rumour that bobbie spencer jackie zeman will be coming back to general hospital very soon. hopefully its true. i miss her so much. frank valentini is one hot man. very good looking guy. always had a crush on him.

GH is sooo much better than it was 6 months ago !The additions of Todd,Heather,McBane and Anna are great !!I hope they all stay on the show permanantly and keep stiring thing up as they have been.Robin Mattson has really stood out with emmy worthy performances !!

DITTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

im hooked right now..i want Natalie and Liam to show up tho!!!

I don’t know if that is going to happen now after what Todd did by sending Natalie the photo of John kissing Sam……John left for Llanview to see Liam…Natalie won’t let John see him now & she took his paassport to boot….I want them to kiss & make-up…..John forgave her now she should forgive John..

I like the new opening. The last one always seemed off to me. The lighting was strange, and the actors seemed stiff. So far, I am really happy with the changes being made, the whole show has a much better look and feel to it. Everyone seems much more relaxed. And the characters from OLTL have fit in perfectly.

I have to admit though, watching Heather Webber drive Todd Manning nuts is my favorite interaction on the show. They have amazing chemistry! But things won’t be right until Natalie comes to Port Charles and pays Sam a visit regarding that kiss with John. Natalie was never one to suffer in silence.

Keep doing what you’re doing Mr. Valentini. GH hasn’t been this good in a long time! I am loving the nearly daily cliffhangers… they aren’t just for Friday anymore! It’s a great move making me look forward to each day’s episode. 🙂 The humor is great too… Crazy Calling. Crazy Calling. Crazy Calling! You must create more weird Manning ringtones. 🙂

I couldn’t agree more with the Crazy Calling statement! I always loved Todd and his humor on the show is much needed! The little digs he gets in are always great and have me laughing every day he’s on!

I want that “Crazy Calling” ringtone they could make a FORTUNE if they sold it!!!

didn’t natalie cheat on john with her sister boyfriend? she’s not exactly miss innocent.

GH’s theme was it’s identity. Valentini took it away and inserted some intergalactic sounding jingle. Look at Dallas on TNT. The same opening and it felt just like being back on Southfork after all these years. I don’t need 20 seconds of show in place of an opening. If he wanted to shorten it give us a bumper type opening by the GH song. Like he said himself, GH is a brand!!! I hate it more on a daily basis.

james i agree with you, dallas reference was a great expample, but i don’t think he gets it.

I’m with you guys. Who are they kidding when they say they did it to get more GH. They’re gaining ad time. It’s a non-opening to me. Bring back the ambulance opening! That’s -General Hospital is on!

I agree. And my beef is that they removed the show’s signature- The LA County Med Center that has been there since the 60s!

To me that building is General Hospital and I started watching in 1969! The majority of the history and and constancy has been gutted from this show and that’s death to a soap opera. The Dallas reboot seamlessly honors history while moving forward with a strong new generation.
GH doesnt even seem anything like the same show. I hate it as well. I also hate Cartini’s dumbed down, so called “fun” stories. They are lame and insulting to viewer intelligence much like the garbage they slung on OLTL. SMH.

I miss the way before the intro came on we would hear the beginning of the music.. it had this intensity to it.. this new “music” is just strange, not intense at all.. just no emotion to it at all. I like your description… “intergalactic jingle ” and I totally agree, shorten it or keep the old intro.. although I’m more upset about the lighting, background music and almost all script writers being replaced with OLTL.. esp when our GH ones were so much better!!!!! Wasn’t minding RC/FV when Cates and the old light crew and the old script writers were there, but now I really miss the old GH…. I am can’t believe that FV has done all this. He really needs to get Cates back and the old light crew back.. be humble, admit his mistakes.. and bring back some of the old script writers too.

IA…They could have left a bit of the GH theme that is recognized. What would the harm in that be? This one represents nothing.

the new opening is garbage. in the faster-paced soap world, his stories need to evolve sooner (like Sam having a a baby in under 6 mos, new Xtina, etc)…and by the way, there are way too many back burner/filler characters on this friggen soap! we need to lose Mike-Starr, Mac-Felicia (until Frisco swoops in), Shawn-Lex, and most of all Elizabeth…holy crap is she ever a waste of a soap contract. sweep these ppl under the rug or pretend they never existed and get Scorpio back asap. He and Luke and Holly and Anna need to go on an adventure this fall. It would be awesome if the story was tied to a Frisco rescue and somehow Mac got killed off by Faison.

let’s not drag out the Robin is now a memory-less mental patient until November, ok? move a long Jerry Jax….you’re boring already.

yeah, lets not make you a GH consultant any time, your ideas suck brother!

Agreed, Aria! He wants characters that haven’t been around since the 90s, and lose characters that are relevent today?! Makes no sense! I liked Felicia and Frisco too, but have you seen the two of them lately? Botox has not been their friend!

I think you would make a great story consultant. GH desperately needs an adventure story. But on the contrary I love Becky Herbst as Liz. And dont hold your breath for a quick resolution to the Robin story. Kim has a new job with a direction fellowship so she cant make long term commitments to GH.
So I predict she will be missing for quite a while.

What wrong with Mike-Starr,Mac & Felicia… What do you mean burner-filler characters???? I like scorpio…. Don’t agree on GH storyline & what charcters they should ex-off in your comments………

You’re living in the past, my friend! I loved all those people too but that was the 80″s! I’m so glad Anna is around and Heather is a riot! You have to bring in the new without completely forgetting about the old. That’s what makes these soaps so great–the history of almost 50 years!

Now that I know that the extra time due to a shorter opening will mean more scenes in the actual show (less cut out scenes), then I’m all for it!! I’m really liking the faster pace and the quick cutting back and forth between scenes….it keeps us viewers on our toes for sure!! I’m hoping for some actual happy and funny scenes coming up now that Lulu will be telling Dante that she’s pregnant!! Can’t wait!!! Thank you Frank and Ron!!!

I think the new opening is very cutting edge & makes GH look so much more sophisticated than the other soaps still left on the air..I have been watching since I was a kid (used to watch with my mom Jessie & Phil Brewer & Audrey & Steve Hardy)…but like all things newer isn’t always better but in this case definately…before they took over I could hardly watch with all that MOB garbage..Frank & Ron are awesome..keep up the good work I luv watching GH…Luv, luv, luv Todd on GH even better than I liked him on OLTL & I am a big Roger Horwarth fan..he makes Sonny & Johnny look better..the faster pace is what is really needed if soaps are going to survive (the only problem I have will be a baby switch lingering too long)…I have never been a Jason fan so let him have Liz..they are both icky..Sam deserves better..& yes more humor too!! I luv it..can’t wait to watch every day now..& Frank & Ron are both cute!!! doesn’t hurt..

The new opening is AWFUL, and I can’t believe anyone likes it.

It’s too short to make any impact, and it moves too fast. There’s no respect for any actor, who whizzes by you so fast it’s ridiculous.

Valentini’s claim that we now get “more story,” is crap. You mean those two extra lines of dialogue we get? Or that longing look from one character to another? Or that flashback scene? More than likely, ad time has been bumped up. I’d respect Valentini more if he said “We want to stay on the air, so it was all about making ABC a few extra bucks.”

A good opening DOES brand a show. It was great seeing that full-blown DALLAS open every week. Check other cable shows. I know that HBO doesn’t have ads, but the open for THE NEWSROOM sets the tone for the show. Then there’s BOARDWALK EMPIRE. On AMC we get MAD MEN and THE KILLING. Cable seems to realize the importance of show openings, even if the major networks don’t.

Rick, I agree with much of what you say even though I do not think the opening is “awful.” 🙂

As I write this I am sitting here having a quick dinner with my children while we listen to one of my old CDs of classic TV themes. It isn’t just visual openings that are missing these days, but musical ones (like Perry Mason). I know that cable gets it. Mad Men is a perfect example. My husband recently turned me onto Game of Thrones and that is another one beautifully done.

It’s sad because people used to get awards for these openings, but it is just another job that is being taken away. At least CBS stayed somewhat true to Hawaii 5-0 and kept its beautiful song and even the Ilikai. Being a product of the 70s and watching Dallas and Falcon Crest with my folks, those beautiful openings and themes still stick with me (especially FC) to this day.

I think the lack of openings is par for the course. Nobody has time for anything these days so why an opening? Heck people can’t even have a face to face conversation because they are busy texting. It is sad. I wish Hollywood would slow down, go back to the grinding stone and pump out some NEW ideas, and really showcase their product like cable does. At least Y&R has Nadia’s Theme. People will say what they will (still waiting for the new alleged opening), but I could care less if they NEVER change it because I think it is beautiful and timeless.

I totally agree the opening is awful 🙂

The need to take a hint from primetime openings like Dexter, Game of Thrones, & The Newsroom. Those opening set how the show is gonna be but GH, unfortunately doesn’t.

What about bringing some AMC characters on GH? Certainly David Heywood would fit seemlessly into the present landscape. That would make us AMC fans happy. Valentino is too OLTL-centric since he was its EP. It’s a little off putting, although I will continue to support GH, as I have for going on 50 years.

I don’t think it is all that black and white as Valentini being too, as you said “OLTL-centric,” but more having to do with waiting for the rights to revert back to ABC since Prospect Park messed things up for
ANY future for AMC.

Keep the faith. 🙂 I agree that you could start with David Hayward (since he has history with Anna) and build on that, but then remember all that adding from other, defunct shows will make others unhappy. They have a tremendous job to do and you just can’t make everyone happy, but finding some middle ground is a good start.

Not sure what you are talking about re: Prospect Park and AMC since PP had the same deal with OLTL Nd that hasn’t stopped GH from bringing those characters on. Valentina is OLTL-centric because it was a show he worked on and he is familiar with the characters. All I am saying is that AMC is the other ABC soap which was recently cancelled and bringing on appropriate characters from it would draw in former viewers. I do not advocate bringing on characters from other network’s defunct shows–there is, however, a strong history of crossover characters between all three ABC soaps which would be beneficial for all to continue and enhance. Valentini’s immediate bringing over OLTL characters demonstrates his loyalty to that show and his lack of affinity to AMC by virtue of his past association with OLTL.

Get a grip ppl this is General Hospital. It is not a homeless shelter for displaced characters from cancelled soaps.
They dont have the budget for all that and it is taking even more away from the already watered down history of this Iconic show.

Be glad we still have a soap to watch….Displaced characters from cancelled soaps like OLTL is bringing in more viewers for Gh….What’s wrong with that???? dg PLEASE READ Angela’s comments on 7/10 at 6:27am….She made alot of good points….

See my comment above. Characters have historically visited/crossed over between Pine Valley, Llanview and Port Charles throuout the years. That’s a fact. I am not advocating a “homeless shelter” but a continuation of that tradition from each of the two ABC soaps, not just OLTL.

I wouldn’ t mind seeing crossovers from AMC….Adam Chandler…But I am a OLTL fan thew in threw…………..

DG, lol, that was funny, good point though.

I agree with you about the AMC characters. Where are they? So many would work well on GH. Seems like Y&R is the only one who has picked-up AMC actors, but then gone and misused and abused them!

GH is now crap thanks to RC and FV! It was bad for years, but it’s been made worse now. They should just name it One Life to Live and be done it.

Thank you Cindy. I hardly recognize the show anymore. And I watched for over 42 yrs now since I was a small child. I hate it now.

After 46 years as a G.h. fan long before soap rags,vcrs and dvrs . I watched faithfully taking night jobs (graveyards) so I could watch my soaps I also was 43 year fan of O.L.T.L. and when these 2 came on it went to total destruction. Which I blame these Cartoon hacks . As for G.h. total and utter destruction to the opening to the music and the scripts are re runned from One life to live. And as a Carly fan being insulted that Kate is now the “greatest” sonny love? please utter crap . You have have not only insulted Carly fans but Brenda fans as well. And yes this is still America and I have a right to complain when I see my favorite soap in the toilet . And adding The “LIFERS” please . One Life to live rides again on the backs of the General Hospital cast .So I quit watching ad its a shame . Thanks aloot Valenti and Carvileti for taking a good soap for almost 50 years and ruining it. You ruined One life so now ruin G.H. too.

Again READ Angela’s COMMENTS on7/10 at 6:27am……I am getting a bit tired of hearing about OLTL and how they are hurting GH!!!!!!! Gh isn’t going in the toilet…They didn’t ruin OLTL you have Brian Frons is the one who chopped & cancelled OLTL …………………And arent ruining GH either…I was a fan of OLTL was my favorite soap of all..Gh is second…Again be glad you still have a soap to watch….AGAIN, PLEASE READ ANGELA”S COMMENTS ON 7/10 AT 6:27A.M……………………………She made a lot of GOOD POINTS…

Quit watching.

If it weren’t for RC & FV , Gh would have been canceled months ago….It’s improved a lot from about 1-2 years ago………………..I am a fan of OLTL & always will be on or not…..I like seeing the crossovers of OLTL on GH…It isn’t interferring with the GH at all in fact it is turning it around…..I just recentely started watching GH again since the crossovers started to come on GH…..Didn’t care for it in the past.Too many mob oriented stories for me….But GH is defintely on the right track since RC & FV has been doing the writing on GH…..It got extented for a year & maybe a whole lot longer…..GH shoudn’t be called OLTL ..They are two competely different soaps…..

I like the look and the feel of the new opening, it is modern ..
I like sooooo much about GH.
The past 6 months under FV and RC have given new life to GH!!!
I do see a future for GH and hope FV and RC keep on keeping on!!!

I guess I may be in the minority but I never cared one way or the other about the opening….I guess I am way more focused on the show itself and wanting the show saved. Being overly upset about the opening just seems silly to me. Anyway, I have noticed the lightening and love the change. More importantly, I LOVE the entire show again! Like others have said, to me the show had become pretty much unwatchable before FV / RC took over…what a difference a couple months has made. Love the OLTL transplant characters and the fresh and new storylines being done with them and the other GH cast memebers. So much to love it is hard to list it all. Standouts for me are the John Mcbain & Sam budding romance ( So glad they have finally moved forward and away from Jasam), Love Anna being back and made commish, crazy Heather; TODD, OMG just love Todd, and the list just keeps going. Would love to see Kassie / Blair on more, but other than that I would rather see additonal GH vets back before more transplants from other soaps. Anyway, FV and RC are doing an amazing job and it is much appreciated!

AGREED. FV/RC have done an amazing job turning around this show around, and I am thankful for it. I didn’t see the costumes mentioned above, but that’s another of the small, positive change, in addition to the lightening. The only draw back is hair and make-up, which I’m sure will be addressed. One phrase to describe both — too much product.

I am with you about GH vets ONLY coming back to GH, and I thank FV wholeheartedly for getting IR/Jax back and KS returning. I was very open to the OLTL characters joining GH, and Todd is one of my favorite characters. But now I am most certainly closed to that idea. The controversy over Natalie/MA has soured any welcoming I may have had for OLTL characters.

why not play the opening with the cast getting credited on monday and all other days not show it, i would go for that. and as for Gh being untouchable and bether then the other shows, well i kinda agree, but GH is unique and to make it to much like OLTL will make it the passion of daytime, and as i recall, passion wasn’t exactly big at the EMMY”s so, theres got to be a good balance, less cartoony and more high class drama.

Thank God someone realizes that Cartini have really dumbed down daytime drama. These were shows that started out as ground breaking family dramas driven by social issues and dare i say it moral values.

Before Cartini One Life it’s self broke racial diversity ground in daytime. They broke new ground with gay issues, the explored sexual addiction and prostitution. After Cartini it became the haven of over the top cartoonish villains, slapstick comedy, ridiculous split personality plots, etc. I dont want to see that happen to GH .
GH has enough of that in the later 80s. By the 90s the came back to good family driven, real life stories- Stone’s + Robin’s aids, Monica’s breast cancer, BJ’s heart transplant. I guess those days are gone. SMH.

This OLTL fan is now totally hook on GH. I wish everyone could be happy… and say positive things right now. I truly want to be watching GH for many more years to come. This can only come thru fan support. I’d figure everyone would be happier with more show, less opening.

You wouldnt feel that way if the situation were reversed,
I’ve watched GH for over 42 yrs now. And I watched One Life off and on for the last 36 yrs.
I personally dont like Cartini ( Frank V and Ron C’s) take on soaps. If you do thats you opinion and you have a right to it. But every day GH looks less and less like the show that I grew up loving.
Cartini have brought their signature cartoonish style to GH and it sucks.
Cosmetically the show looks great and that includes the opening. But the show’s history has been bled dry and the current stories are vacuous and implausible. So no everyone is not happy.

Thanks… I understand your comments as well… my point is that with all the negative comments, it would seem that some would be happier if GH was cancelled, I, would not.

I think GH looks more like the soap that I USED to watched 15 years ago before it became MOB Hospital. I remember the compelling storylines, the amazing couples, the passion. Once the MOB element overran Port Charles I turned elsewhere for my soap enjoyment. So I for one have been THRILLED with the change in regime at GH and look forward to many more years. As far as the stories being “implausible” you are watching a soap opera.

BE HAPPY YOU STILL HAVE A SOAP TO WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to be more positive than negative….If it weren’t for Fv &RC Gh wouldn’t still be on..I know no one wants that to happen…GH survived you should be happy!!! I remember Gh years ago when I watched it with my mom & it was in B&W….There was romance like you said …..Times change,….For comments4 on 7/9 at 7:58P. M……Dr. Hardy days are gone….Those were the good old days…All those charcters from that era are probably gone….That was a long time ago..

So a short opening gets us, what, 25 more seconds of dialog?

The opening was likely being skipped because most people hated it. I bet there was a lot less skipping with ‘Faces of the Heart’.

Overall, I love the new GH though. I hope the Buchanans blow into town though!

Yes ! Bring on the Buchanans !

nicer more alive.

The shorter opening is awful and they used posed pics, which makes the show look cheap

Gh is fantastic but, could be better if more characters were added from OLTL.

You One lifers will be the death of GH, mark my words. And then none of us will have anything left to watch. Cartini is doing a hatchet job on Gh’s history and they will reap their reward.

I don’t aYougree………..OLTL is bringing life to GH….MORE VIEWERS FOR GH !!!! You should be glad you can still watch GH!!!!!!!!!!!

The more you add, the less story for everyone else. There are too many people on this show as it is!

NO, NO, NO more OLTL characters. This is GH, not OLTL, and we don’t need any more invasions from that show. I’d much rather see a couple characters from AMC.

Yes more OLTL the more yhe MERRIER!!!!! Will draw more viewers to watch GH…..I prefer OLTL my favorite soap on or not.es GH isn’t no OLTL for sure it is totally different I know that for sure…

I agree. AMC characters would fit seamlessly.

DITTO!!!!!!!! A few more wouldn’t hurt………………

I used to fast forward through the old opening, because the music and visuals were obnoxious. The new opening is growing on me, but it’s too short. I think people would enjoy a nice opening, especially like the “Faces of the Heart” opening of the 90’s. I don’t remember ever fast-forwarding through that.

I am looking forward to more elements of ONE LIFE TO LIVE being inserted into GH.

The more that Cartini push their agenda to continue One Life the more GH fans they piss off like me and the lower the ratings go.
That BS is not going to work for the simple reason that it’s not a cross over its an obvious attempt to continue One Life’s stories on GH.
And GH fans who didnt watch One Life resent that.
I watched One Life and I still resent it because GH deserves the same kind of reboot that One Life got before it was canned. GH never got that and doesnt have it today. GH’s true history has still been neglected. The show has practically no links to its venerable past.
The classic characters who still exist are being misused. SMH.

If it were the other way around and OLTL was still on & Gh was crossover’s on OLTL.. It wouldn’t bother me at all..I don’t see nothing wrong with Gh stories..Oltl stories on GH?? It doesn’t bother me in the least and it is only a touch of that happening. It’s still manly GH stories w/ more revenge mob stories with Sonny & Joe….Well I stopped watching GH for quite a while because I lost interest…Because of the mob/gangster stories..Years ago GH never had those kind of stories…When Dr.Hardy,Lucille,Audrey,etc.. Not in that era no gangster stories..That’s when GH was at it’s very best.I watched it w/my mom….Again I have no complaints about OLTL crossovers or the storyline…

I am looking forward also in seeing more elements of OLTL inserted in GH also!!!

No. Any characters brought to GH (and there should be one or two AMC ones) should have to take on elements of GH, not the other way around. The name of this show is General Hospital, not OLTL.

Trying to make us believe John and Sam is awful!!!

Jason and Sam got a child, and this writing been going strong since

that dreadful Franco mess….I don’t get the writers, this writing is

gonna bring new customers or new ratings!!!….Give me a break!!

I’m trying to wrap my head around this mess!!!!

And you going to do Liarsions again omg!!

and John and Sam have no connections

Michael Easton is a good actor….But JASAM have been through hell!!!

the writing in my opinion……TO FORCED!!!

John has woman
Jason has a woman

Jason with Sam +Baby

I understand Michael Easton is your favorite….

But Come ON!!

Michael Easton & Natalie, Sam & Jason.. When she played Livy years ago With Easton as Caleb…They had that connection..Remember what they said when John first met Sam: Do i know you from somewhere??? But I want Natalie & John together..I Natalie can forgive John……

Yes I Wouldn’t mind if Natalie could come to GH..

It would free up John… And I Think it bring another layer

to the show….

Far as Jason & Sam is concern the first thing they should do

is, Jason should suprise Sam with a house, it may cause some

friction and make Sam think that Jason is calling all the shots on

their ‘reuniting”, which (Can be funny if it was written right!!!!!)

Wait till Sam finds out her baby is alive !!!!!! And it is Jason’s baby…Then Sam & Jason will finally get back together….Right now they are on the outs…She blame’s him fot the lost of her baby….I wonder how Sam finding out her baby is alive will pan out???????? I hope she finds out soon before it’s too late…Will Todd tell her???????????? Or continue to keep it under wraps because of Heather who is black mailing him….Will Todd risk it all & tell Sam the truth???

Did he really say the word ‘fast-forward’!! Does this mean that the idiot ABC bigwigs now admit that there are soap fans that are not counted in their stupid rating system!!!!!! Bring back OLTL!!!!!!!

DITTO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is post on Soapcentral…..In regard to JASAM…

I firmy disagree with the OP….

I dont feel that Jasam is contrive!!

I’m all for the EP supporting his show, but saying no other show can touch GH right now is a bit arrogant, considering GH goes between 3rd and 4th in the ratings. But that’s a biased opinion on my part, because the only soap I watch is Days! I think execs from all shows should support the Genre, considering there are only 4 left on daytime.

I have been watching GH for over 35 yrs and I love it … I love Dante and Lulu. The story lines are great and Todd is the comic of the show

I am all for quickening the pace and giving the show a modern look. But as a 42 yr viewer of GH I still mourn the show’s signature building-The LA County Med Center in the opening. Phasing that out wasnt necessary. As for the “wealth of story” give me a freaking break! Valentini is watching a different show that the rest of us.
Kate/Connie- the worst D.I.D. story I’ve seen on soaps with the most inept actress Kelly Sullivan. On the flip side of that we have her lackluster romance with the still over exposed Sonny- I’ll pass.
Moving on we have Heather the Looney tunes keystone villain with her fingers in everyone’s pie. Robin Mattson is a fabulous scene stealer, but her story is a bit much and has very little to do with the true history of the character. The obsession with Luke was very silly. I wont even dignify the Friday The 13th Jason mask twist. That was one of the stupidest things I’ve seen on TV since Casey the Alien and his glowing Crystal.

The Jasam baby switch was predictable and about as compelling as watching paint dry.
Anthony’s patricide was ruined by Heather in her Morton Salt/Gorton’s fisherman outfit, burying him. And that was preceded by the ridiculous weekend at Bernie’s homage.
Cartini have turned GH into a three ring circus cartoon just like they did One Life to Live.

Many are singing their praises but I’m here to turn off the karaoke microphone. Just like the regime before them they continue to worship the big 4 actors – Maurice Bernard, Steve Burton, Kelly Monaco and Laura Wright. They’ve given nothing but lip service to the true core history of this show. The Quartermaines are languishing on the back burner as always. The Baldwins, The Webbers, Kevin, Lucy, ect have been completely forgotten in favor of talentless younger newbies ( hello new Christina, Trey, Nathan Butler ( Ewen),) and One Lifers.
The incomparable Finola Hughes is back as Anna but in a lame triangle with geriatric Tony Geary and matronly frump Jane Elliot? Spare us! Anna spent the 80s defusing bombs, battling master criminals. So she deserves a much better love life. And Jane Elliot is a gifted actress who has no chemistry with Geary and was GH’s classic house bitch. That is her niche and that’s where she belongs today. She fails miserably as a romantic foible for the well preserved uber Milf Finola!

And finally Cartini is now ruining the one story they did right- Robin’s disappearance. GH doesnt need another round of Jerry Jax! I give that a big fat yawn! This story was ripe for the return of Brian Patrick Clarke as the sinister Grant Putnam or Anna’s arch enemy and former DVX mentor Faison ( Anders Hove). Instead we get a rerun of the wayward Jax brother sociopath. Some imagination!

As far as no other soap touching GH, Valentini’s arrogance is showing. The 3 remaining soaps are in complete and utter disarray now. NBC spend millions of dollars to reboot Days, but disappointed the audience by repeating the same worn out plots from 20yrs ago with their newly rehired vets so of course they are floundering in ratings.
The venerable YR is so far off track that they dared to pair Sharon Case with Eric Braeden and they have no idea how to properly utilize the ultra talented actors they snatched from ABC, so for the first time in yrs YR is floundering.
And the Bold and Beautiful has become the Steffy, Liam, Hope show. So really there isnt much competition anyway. Ironically Valentini’s comments are quite like all the fans who are raving over his leadership at GH as compared to that of Guza, Frons and Phelps. It’s all very lame. To a man dying of thirst, room temperature tap water is like Perrier!

“And finally Cartini is now ruining the one story they did right- Robin’s disappearance. GH doesnt need another round of Jerry Jax! I give that a big fat yawn! This story was ripe for the return of Brian Patrick Clarke as the sinister Grant Putnam or Anna’s arch enemy and former DVX mentor Faison ( Anders Hove). Instead we get a rerun of the wayward Jax brother sociopath. Some imagination! ”

All valid points and excellent examples, dg, but I would not give up hope regarding Faison because I think he is still in play. I think he is probably giving orders to Jerry. Obviously Jerry is dying and is taking his orders from someone else. I do not think that “Cartini” are just going to leave it at that given how they had Cole recite the whole Ice Princess story to Starr months back. I firmly believe that Helena is involved in this as well as others from GENERAL HOSPITAL’s past as well as some from OLTL (i.e., Irene Manning, Alison Perkins).

GH is NOT a better show bc the ratings have reflected that over the weeks. All Frank & Ron seem to care about is there precious OLTL characters (Starr & Todd) hogging screentime from the ACTUAL GH cast!! We don’t need ANYMORE One Life characters bc the GH cast doesn’t get stories at it is.

The introduction of the One Life characters could’ve been more methodically & slowly instead of shoving them down our throats days on end.

If this show is soooo good, the ratings would be thriving & it would be at the top most weeks & NOT dead last!

I support GH BUT not this One Life run show who care more about writing stories from a dead soap into a show that’s suppose to be about GH!!

I want to watch GH stories on GH not OLTL stories on GH.

If this show gets cancelled, Cartini will be to blame!

I agree, but it’s all but impossible to fix blame for the ratings, or anything else, on Cartini. When other EPs and HWs were screwing up the show, they got blame justifiably heaped on them. The soap press were constantly pointing out the flaws on the show. But not for Frank and Ron! They can do no wrong according to the interviewers. Why is it that no one is asking Frank if he’s losing the GH fans with his changes? Why aren’t RC’s rerun stories from OLTL being questioned? Why can’t the falling ratings be placed on their heads? I support GH too, but refuse to support this hybrid soap they are calling General Hospital.

I agree 100% this is not the G.h. as it should be this has become One life to live on the backs of G.H.cast and crew and the history of this soap has been disintegrated to absolutely nothing. its rerun Ron just whiting out old one lifer scripts and but in G.H. character .
That is not the soap I’ve watched almost 50 years . I watched long before the soap rags Dvrs and Vcrs . Worked grave yard shifts to watch G.H. and this is how my beloved soap is going? please cancellation would be much better than having the show as it is now utetr destruction . case in Poitn Sonny and Kate Please utter garebage it and MB. and Cartoon Hacks insult the Sonn/Brenda fans and th Carly/Sonny fans . They are the history of G.H. along with the Quartermaines and Webers. By bringing the Lifers to save our show? please that is a lie . this was the plan along for Valenti they destroyed One life so why not bring back their show to General Hospital and yes I was watched One life for 43 years day one t day end. and In the last 8 years since Higley then these 2 took over it was driven into the ground. This is G.H. not one life and we have a fine cast and insulting fans by bringing more Lifers over well oneway to tick “OFF the original fans” who stood by G.H. through thick and thin. How many fans can say that ? not many . And you wonder why the ratings are in the toilet ? keep it up Valenti and A.B.C.D. will cancel the show . and Btw here in Northern Ca Katie is on Channel 3 at 3 P.M. If A.b.c wants to do us G.H. a favor fire these 2 non creative untalented whatevers and cancel the chew and bring One life back . and leave G.H. the hell alone.

I totally agree w/ you on your points. I support GH NOT this hybrid soap.

Look at the ratings every week. It’s indicative that Cartini’s plan to “save” GH IS NOT working. 🙂

i agree, its like the soap press has drank the FV and RC koolaid everyone acts like they’re the best thing to happen to GH yet, they have as many flaws as the previous regime, if we could only get someone who could combine the good things these guys do with the good things the other regime did and put it together then GH would be great.

I totally agree. No one seems to be asking the questions about how RC and FV are facing the obvious displeasure that this ‘blending’ of soaps is causing. They seem to think it’s just going to go away, but these replies are showing that it’s not and not anytime soon either.

Someone should address the fact that it is NOT going as easily as they had wanted it to and ASK them what they are going to do about it now that they know it’s not working.

LOL, soap watchers are an opinionated, passionate, bunch, you have to give us that! And we all think our opinion is the only right one there is :). So here’s mine: I really like the show now – I’m happy it’s not only Sonny and Jason – I love that I get to see Alexis have a story. I’m liking Sam with John – and I’m surprised – I love having John and Todd around – they’re so much a part of my existence that they just seemed to fall into place in the show for me……can’t wait for Blair!! YIPPEE to Blair. I’d love to have Tomas, or Lorenzo, don’t care which one :). And I sure wish I could have Zach and Kendall. I love that everyone is getting something meaty to do – it’s fair. I like the opening. I’d pay serious money to have Alexis rip Shawn’s clothes off. I wish they had not had Jerry return as an animal – I love S and Jerry and Alexis and my dream would be to have him return and a good guy – that story isn’t appealing to me at any level – too bad. I’ll actually FF thru it – and I love Sebastian, he’s a great actor. What a waste. Sigh. Other than that, happy!

Frank has accomplished what we would have called impossible a year ago: reviving a moribund soap opera and making it humorous, suspenseful and entertaining. The addition of OLTL characters to the GH canvas have sparked story lines and energized many of the GH cast which had been totally boring for years. Let’s celebrate the new GH and anticipate watching every day! Now that GH will move to 2pm very soon, I wish ABC would wise up and reboot OLTL at 1pm, dumping that obnoxious talk show, and recapturing much of the audience which abandoned all ABC daytime programming that was not scripted, continuing drama. Certainly ABC should promote GH during prime time in the same fashion it advertises its obnoxious, inexpensive reality/talk shows. LOL

I also an celebrating the new GH !! Three huge cheers.

HIp Hip HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!

AMAZING comment! Best I have seen on here. GH is transforming into a moden addition of its glory days and I could not be more proud- I also very much agree with the OLTL reboot!

Yes reboot OLTL…This would make everyone happy…MEE TOO! Not sure about that at all…They said they weren’t planning in reviving OLTL!!!

While there are some improvements, as a long time GH fan I am disappointment in the recent dismissal of family and friendshipsconnections of the GH characters. That is something that GH had always been able to perpetuate. Now, you’d never know some of them had been friends, or married or even had a family together. Also, GH characters are NOT being written to fit who they are. They are doing and saying things they never would before.

We were led to believe that these new people knew and understood GH but it seems they don’t know the character’s histories with each other at all and throwing in a few vets does not fix the damage done when other GH characters are written so OUT of character.

Sonny and Kate are a joke and will never gain the S&B and S&C fanbases.

Miss the old opening, but since I NOW FF through it, it’s ok, if that was the purpose of it being so short…it worked.

GH is totally lacking in comparison to Y&R, DOOL because the family and relationships factors have been dissolved. We no longer see the S&C connection, Jason & Carly’s connection, or much or any of the characters connections to each other. GH is just a bunch of characters running around getting involved with characters that are new and never talking to the ones they should be talking to .

You are right about the history being ignored or trashed. It seems there are weeks and months in between family members communicating. And making the people who were still watching when Cartini took over tune out, is not the way to build on the ratings they had. Taking all the characters these viewers were watching GH to see for the past ten years and turning them into strangers is also not helping.

I have to completely disagree with your last paragraph. Y&R is an abomination of a soap right now, all they do is bring in new characters that have little or no ties to the ones that have already been there and recycle the same storylines over and over again. GH, on the other hand, is doing a fantastic job of weaving intricat storylines that involve characters, couples, families, and all sorts of entanglements. They have brought on new characters or brought returning, beloved ones on, giving characters more depth and fresh storylines instead of constantly running around in the same web. They are also bringing over beloved characters from fellow ABC soaps, bringing with it new fans, without a “newbies” on screen. The intergration of John McBain has been fantastic with his backrounds with both Sonny and Anna, as well as giving Sam a much needed new love interest and storyline. Jason and Carly’s friendship has been featured often in the past few months, as well as the writers revisiting his friendship/relationship with Elizabeth that has been on-going for over a decade.

While I, personally, am not a fan of Sonny and Kate’s, TPTB have struck gold with an actress like Kelly Sullivan who works masterfully off of Maurice Bernard as well as her great scenes with Olivia and Dante- again, a family connection. The Davis family has also been featured heavily with many scenes of Alexis, Sam, Kristina, and Molly mixing it up together in various ways (such as Alexis/Molly realstic mother/daughter dating spat, Sam giving her younger sisters advice, and Alexis helping Sam with her crumbling marriage and flirtation with John McBain). Sure, Sonny and Carly may not be featured right now, but that is always a topic of heated argument between GH fans who either love or despise the pairing.

As for your first paragraph with characters “not being written to fit who they are”, I must argue this as well. Many characters during the Guza/Wolf debacle over the years, characters were transformed into forms of themselves that were different- so them reverting back to who they are now, must be what is throwing you. For example, Sam came onto the show and remained a fairly strong, kick butt woman who was independent, yet vulnerable. During the 2009-2011 period, she became unrecognizable and was simply a prop for Jason’s issues, instead of having her own storylines- even her rape became about comforting Jason’s hurt! Now, Sam is becoming strong once again, telling Jason that she can’t forgive him, yet staying true to the senstive soul she is by reeling from the loss of, presumeably, the love of her life, the grief of losing another child, and more. Lulu, who was a jumbled mess of a character over the years, is showing her true Spencer nature by wanting adventure instead of monotony, throwing her hat into the ring of part of her family history with the Haunted Star. Sonny is becoming, once again, the perfect balance of good and bad, something previous headwriters had not done well the past few years either by making him too “gangster” or too “sensitive”. Johnny is staying true to who he was always intended to be- the mob prince with the decent heart, facing the guilt of repercussions that came with doing something he had always dreamed of- avenging his “mother” (Maria), “sister” (Claudia), and messed up childhood 9and adulthood!) by killing Anthony. These are just a few examples of characters who have been rejuvenated by the new GH.

It took me a while to get used to the new opening. I like having more show, but I still don’t like the blink-and-you-miss-it new opening. I FF the opening a lot, but will catch it from time to time. Maybe if the pictures were a little larger?

I miss the ambulance…You knew it was a hospital…This new opening you don’t know what it is exactly.. It’s called GENERAL HOSPITAL , so bring the ambulance back!!!!!!!!

The new opening is very strange and doesn’t serve any purpose but it really doesn’t matter. What matters is the content of the show. I haven’t enjoyed anything about this show since the new team took over. There were months of Sam and Kate overload — every day and every segment. Now, it seems to be a rare day when we don’t have Todd and Heather. This show has an inflated number of cast members. Why add Joe Jr, Trey, new Krissie, etc? We have had many new additions including Anna, Heather, Todd, John, Starr, and some Blair and Tea. The show can only handle a finite number of cast members before it doesn’t make sense. The show, as it is now, doesn’t make sense to me. I am hanging in and hoping for the best.

New opening is fine as long as we get more show. Love the faster pace & better lighting. Have been watching 40+ years since I was kid with my great grandma all ABC soaps & I miss other 2 but GH is best it’s been in years. Love McBain & Todd on GH even more than on OLTL. I wish people would quit complaining if S/l doesn’t go their way & just support & be glad it’s still on. I don’t like time chg. It will be on at same time as Days which I don’t think is good for either soap. I’ve been trying to support them all since OLtL & AMC went off now I will have to record Days or watch on Soapnet as long as it’s on. Keep up good work Ftank & Ron loving the exciting show again.
Love McBam together Jasam was boring bring on their hot love story the buildup is great & will make it more exciting when they finally get together.

“We have boxing ring sequences with Sonny that are cinematic. It is great for story, and it is also visually exciting and something like that will always enhance the viewer experience.”

Sorry Frank, it wasn’t exciting enough for me to stop FFing all Sonny’s scenes. Add Trey to the mix and it was doubly FFable.

General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Learns Britt Died and Tells Anna He Has Been Working For Cates Since November 2021

On the Tuesday, March 26th of General Hospital, Anna (Finola Hughes) and the viewers learn about where Jason (Steve Burton) has been for over two and half years. However, Jason gets some news of his own.

Anna is visiting Jason at the PCPD interrogation room. She asks him if he shot Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), which he flatly denies. Anna believes him, but she tells Jason it doesn’t matter, because video footage shows him on the roof at the time of the shooting

When talk turns to Jason not willing to speak without his lawyer present, Anna can’t grasp why Jason would instead spend an hour alone talking with John Cates (Adam J. Harrington).

Photo: ABC

It is then that Anna brings up that John went by “Jagger” and that the two of them knew each other in high school. Jason doesn’t recall much of his time in high school following his brain injury, but then he gets furious realizing John knew about “Jason’s” past. That is when Jason slams the table and tells Anna, “I’ve been working for John Cates since November 2021.”

Next, Jason explains further that he has been working as an informant for the FBI. Anna wants to know how this came about and he tells her that after the tunnel collapsed, and he couldn’t make it to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud)… all of a sudden he sees Anna’s face drop.  Anna is the first person to tell him that Britt died and was murdered. She tells Jason the killer is in custody, but he continues to be shocked, overwhelmed with tears welling up in his eyes. Realizing he has to pivot to save his life, Jason continues telling Anna how he wound up working with John.

Jason explains that after the tunnel collapse in Greece, FBI agents grabbed him and placed him under arrest and took him to Quantico where he met John. At Quantico, John played a recording of RICO violations and offered Jason a deal if he agreed to be an informant against Pikeman, the illegal arms dealer.

Anna hears from Jason that he thinks Pikeman is selling illegal arms to anyone flagged by the NSA but has ties to the WSB which they needed a civilian to infiltrate their organization as a military soldier, a mercenary.

Jason tells Anna he was a part of the team brought into eliminate Sonny (Maurice Benard). Every time an attempt was made on Sonny’s life over the last two years, a different team was sent to do the job. Anna gets furious when she learns that John told Jason his job was to kill Sonny and she was with John at the warehouse that night. Jason ensured the sniper missed Sonny and left the rifle behind. However, they were supposed to meet an extraction team. Before he was shot, Dante saw it was Jason on the roof and when he turned around with his hands over his head, Dante was shot by the other guy. Jason says if Dante dies, he’ll be charged with capital murder and then will be useless to the FBI.

Photo: ABC

Meanwhile, John visits Bobbie’s and runs into Carly (Laura Wright). She learns Jason is in custody and is going to head to the PCPD. Before she does, Carly has some words with Cates when she learns not only does John have a vendetta against Sonny, but Jason too.  Carly tells John he should recuse himself from the case.

So, what did you think about the moment when Jason learned Britt died? What do you think of Jason’s return storyline thus far and what we learned about Jagger/Jason and more? Comment below. But first, check out a moment from today’s GH with Jason and Anna.

 

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Kim Coles as Whitley

Days of our Lives

Airdate: 7-24- 2023

Popular