General Hospital
James Franco Issues Statement on the Deposing of Jill Farren Phelps as GH's EP!
Courtesy/ABC
This day just gets wackier by the moment! Now General Hospital’s ever returning guest-star Oscar nominated actor, James Franco has issued a statement on the firing of Jill Farren Phelps as executive producer at his favorite daytime home!
Franco apparently responded via email from the New York Magazine.com’s Vulture section asking the actor for his take on the Phelps firing for the hiring of One Life to Live’s Frank Valentini.
James Franco wrote: “Jill is a pro. She is experienced, innovative and loving. I had nothing but great experiences with her for two years. She was open to experimenting on General Hospital in ways that I have not found on any other film or television project. Jill helped create daring story lines that blurred the line between fiction and reality — she allowed us to do a special episode at MOCA in LA for which they won daytime Emmys, she was always open to taking the show in unexpected directions. She and I plan to work together in the future because we enjoy collaborating so much. Anyone in Soaps would be a fool not to want to work with her.”
So could Jill Phelps next project be with Franco? What do you think of the actors statement? Let us know!
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali on a Potential Kai/Trina/Gio/Emma Quadrangle, ‘I Don’t Think That’s Impossible, But That Would Be Messy’
On recent episodes of General Hospital, music executive Simon Craft (Grady Eldridge) has been pushing and demanding that Trina (Tabyana Ali) and Gio (Giovanni Mazza) play up a faux relationship when they are onstage, or in front of the camera, to add to their allure as new recording artists to his label.
Simon knows full well that Gio is dating Emma (Braedyn Bruner), and Trina is with Kai (Jens Austin Astrup). It was apparent from the start, that Kai seemed a bit more comfortable with the “arrangement” understanding this was for business, and not pleasure, while Emma initially didn’t like the idea.
Now with Trina’s stalker story in full gear, and as fans eventually find out who is completely obsessed with the budding young singer, while initially seeming to be Simon that would seem to be too easy of a choice. But is GH toying with the idea that somehow Gio and Trina get stuck in a situation and one thing leads to another and they develop feelings one another, too?
Photo: ABC
SIMON’S MANUEVERS
In addition, after Curtis (Donnell Turner) and Sidwell’s (Carlo Rota) beatdown at Pentonville, where everyone is accusing Sonny (Maurice Benard) of ordering the deed, will this find Gio and Trina on the same side, believing it’s Sonny, or will Gio end up sticking by his grandfather when by week’s end he was also questioning if he was telling the truth?
During a new conversation on the Michael Fairman Channel, Tabyana Ali shared her thoughts that if Gio and Trina were pushed closer together, what that would mean for their relationships with Emma and Kai, respectively.
Photo: ABC
MUSICAL CHAIRS?
Pondering the soap staple, Tabyana exclaimed, “Oh, my goodness. Who knows? I mean, quite honestly, I don’t think it’s it’s impossible, but, oh, wow! That would be messy!” Ali added that its something that could be quite intriguing to play. “There’s a part of me that wants it to happen just to see, how does it play out? Right? Then, there’s another part of me that’s like, “You can’t do that to Emma and Kai.” That’s so wrong,” believed Ali.
However, Tabyana did admit a complicated love story wasn’t far from her mind. “Originally, I wanted something like a quadrangle. I really wanted that to happen. And if this is a moment where it could happen, I think that would be fun too.”
When asked to tease what’s coming up for Trina in the next several weeks, she offered up three words. Things for her will “(get) Suspicious, (be ) spontaneous, (and) very dangerous.”
So, do you think the GH writing team is teeing up a situation where Trina and Gio become more than friends and musical artists together? Would you be down for it, or be against it? do you like Emma with Gio and Kai with Trina? Share your thoughts via the comment section, nd in case you missed it, check our chat with Tabyana below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair
On the Thursday, October 1 episode of General Hospital, both Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) had some things to say and what they had to say didn’t go over well with whom they were talking to!
Sonny had a confrontation with his son, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), while Michael leveled with Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) over Chase (Josh Swickard).
GH is setting up a scenario where everyone is going to make it look like Sonny was responsible for having Sidwell (Carlo Rota) beat up in Pentonville; while viewers already know Ava (Maura West) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) were behind it.
Courtesy/ABC
A VISIT WITH DAD
Now, Dante comes to Sonny’s house. He wants to know straight up from his dad if he ordered the attack at Pentonville. Sonny flatly denies any culpability or responsibility, but Dante refuses to believe him.
Dante informs Sonny he has video footage of Sully and Vito at the prison. Sonny explains to Dante he doesn’t know why Sully beat up both Curtis and Dante. Things escalated when Sonny was deeply hurt that Dante refused to believe him. Dante says he was disappointed that his father didn’t respect him enough to be truthful with him!
Sonny asks Dante to consider that he was being set up. He says all he did was to tell Vito to instruct Sully to keep a watchful eye on Sidwell, not to harm him. No matter what Sonny said, Dante continued hammering him with how he knew deep down, even though he said he left the mob, he had to finish off Sidwell for himself.
Next, Sonny explains everything he has ever done was to provide for and to protect his family. Dante fired back that he doesn’t want to deal anymore with Sonny’s half-baked truths. As the two men argue, Gio (Giovanni Mazza) shows up at Sonny’s front door and overhears Sonny losing his temper and shouting at Dante, “Get out of my house! I don’t want a son like you!” The scenes featured an excellent performance by Maurice Benard.
Courtesy/ABC
MICHAEL THE MANIPULATOR
While this is going down, outside the Quartermaine boathouse, Brook Lynn opens up to Michael about living at the Q’s with Chase being there, since he only came back due to legal advice from his lawyer, Monet Mitchell (Blythe Howard).
Brook Lynn questioned whether they should get legally separate. Michael insisted that would be a big mistake. When she asks why, Michael tells Brook Lynn to bide her time until Chase and Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) have an affair; then she’d have full custody of Phoebe.
An angered Brook Lynn pushed Michael into the water and accuses him of moving Willow back into the gatehouse with intent on putting Chase and Willow in closer proximity and sacrificing Brook Lynn’s family in the process. As the two cousins bicker, Chase shows up asking Brook Lynn if she is OK. Michael punctuates their talk with “You know, I’m right.”
CURTIS FIGURES OUT A WAY TO GET OUT OF THE SLAMMER
At GH, Willow visits Curtis (Donnell Turner) in his hospital room. Curtis wants Willow to get him pardoned and keep him out of jail, and in return, he will help her nail Sonny.
Next, Willow tells Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) she wants Curtis held for observation for three more days. He agrees to do so under one condition, that she understands that he may need to call in a favor from a congresswoman.
So, what did you think of how Dante accused his father and refused to believe Sonny’s answers? Is this the end of their father and son relationship for good? Is Michael the most manipulative person of all, except for Willow? Do the two deserve each other? Do you want Chase and Willow to have an affair? And what of Curtis? Does he have many redeeming qualities left? Share your thoughts via the comment section, but first check out the talk Michael had with Brook Lynn.
General Hospital
GH Alum Tajh Bellow and Y&R Alum Loren Lott Star in New Tiktok and Microdrama ‘Love Island’ Spoof
Two soap opera alums very familiar to fans of General Hospital and The Young and the Restless are paired together in a new short-form digital series from none other than Issa Rae’s production entity HOORAE Digital.
Look for Tajh Bellow (ex-TJ Ashford, GH)) and Loren Lott (ex-Ana Hamilton, Y&R) as part of the cast of The Compatibility Experiment, premiering on October 14, 2026, exclusively on TikTok and its companion microdrama platform, PineDrama.
In the video teaser, it appears that Bellow and Lott play a couple, Kelvin and Camila, set in a Love Island reality show-esque environment trying to win the one million dollar cash prize, only what could go wrong?
Photo: HOORAE
The Compatibility Experiment loglines share that it brings a fast-paced, relationship-focused reality check—much like Love Island with a twist. The show takes a participant’s current relationship, introduces them to a potentially more compatible partner, and forces them to navigate the differences with life-changing money on the line.
The new series is part of a groundbreaking content deal between HOORAE Digital and TikTok to develop premium short-form storytelling. The ensemble cast also features; Ayona, Reggie Luck, JaNa Craig, Tosin Morohunfola, Jessica Jacoby, Georgia Warner, and Nick Cassidy.
General Hospital fans know Tajh Bellow for his performances as TJ Ashford, and who earned two Daytime Emmy nominations along the way during his run. Bellow took over the role in 2018 and last appeared on the ABC daytime drama series in December of 2024.
Loren Lott first appeared as Devon’s (Bryton James) sister Ana Hamilton on The Young and the Restless from 2018 to 2019; making a brief return in 2024. She has continued to perform on the stage and screen with recent credits including: Bel-Air, Cherish the Day, and All American: Homecoming.
Check out the trailer for The Compatibility Experiment below and let us know what you think of its concept and if you are glad to see Tajh and Loren again? Hoping they might return to daytime in their GH and Y&R roles at some point in the future? Weigh-in via the comment section.
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I don’t like to pretend that James Franco added anything to General Hospital with his appearances. Coming in for a few days and taping scenes with no real purpose and interspersing them over months does not make it innovative. It merely took screen time away from other characters and actors who deserved their own storylines.
I so agree. He’s just kissing her posterior because she indulged him in his lame obsession with GH and the ridiculous over the top character he created there. He was a complete waste of air time on the show and I have never seen him give worst performances.
Ive watch GH for 42 yrs and I have never seen a worse EP in the show’s history. She was completely inept. James take your lame but back to feature films and get off daytime. Your over-sized ego has had enough stroking.
i really love franco and i think that maybe you just dont get it. he has been doing a great job with his serial killer character and when he sends the dvds he allways looks like he is on the edge.
Seniron , who cares? Ive been watching soaps, TV and movies all my life. Ive watched some master actors over the years. And I have never seen worse performances than James Franco did on gh. On the edge my ass, that’s not acting, he just yells and screams and leers and makes an ass of himself. I know good acting when I see it and this isnt it. I’m so saddened back the lack of sophistication among soap fans. Any garbage they throw you, you lap it up like fillet Mignon. Sad indeed.
Wow.
On one hand, that’s a really lovely statement he’s left for a member of the soap world. Very kind, professional gesture.
On the other, JFP really isn’t worth the time it took it write such a lovely statement.
Just….wow.
Sorry, but what the @#$% does Franco know about soaps?? His GH appearances have been clearly nothing more than vanity pieces for him. He came in to a genre, to a show, that he clearly condescends to and IMO did nothing to help the show. He wasn’t woven into the canvas, he is the guest star who took over the show for his own entertainment.
Granted, the show has been pretty dreadful with or without him, but it’s been even worse with him.
I think Franco is a good actor. But I am not as impressed with his Renaissance Man impression as he apparently is. Franco’s ego is as overblown as Frons’ talent.
Thank you so much for this Boes. Im so glad that people werent deceived by his so called love for the show. He’s an egotistical jackass who needs to just get lost and take his lame, underdeveloped, melodramatic character with him. He just irks the hell out of me.
Dont get be started about Frons.
Francos good , I’ll like a scene with him & Sonny saying to Franco ” You Sick Freakin Bitch.”
I watch youtube never again ABC.
I can understand his loyalty to Jill , she was good to him, but to GH fans she had run her course. We were stuck in a rut for a very long time, and GH suffered because of that. I don’t really know whose to blame, is it Jill, or Brian Frons? or Bob Guza?, but i do know this, under all three of them, GH became the mess that it is today, and they all allowed it to happen for far to long. I’ve said this time and time again, GH has an awesome cast, great history, and fans who begged, and prayed for the show/network to hear them, and we went unheard for the longest time. Under the “right” team, theres no reason why GH, can’t rise again. But its going to take the right team, and ABC. I wish they would cherish what they have in their hands, instead of trying to kill it.
“Anyone in Soaps would be a fool not to want to work with her.”
Franco, glad you’re temporary.
thats mean, but you opinion.
There are certain notable exceptions, but stunt casting rarely ever works. The point is to generate buzz to attract new (or lapsed) viewers and then get them hooked on the story. What happened here is that people tuned in, saw something incredibly stupid, and tuned out. The problem is that current GH fans tuned out too because it took away screen time from people they actually wanted to see. Anyone who thought this was a good idea needs to be shown the door. Somebody lock it before Franco gets back in.
As far as I’m concerned, I could not care less what James Franco has to say about GH unless he says he’s done with it. His storylines are drawn out and boring and like the rest of GH under JFP, and Brian Frons watch, unwatchable. Been to GH’s own message board, a large majority agree. For a 30+ year viewer I have never seen one “star” have so much pull, who has absolutely NOTHING to do with this soap. Veteran actors who have given ABC more than 10, 15, or 20 years were pushed aside for a “top tier” actor, (in case you can’t tell that was sarcasm) who sounds like he’s reading the script for the first time)so just like it does to its fans, ABC disrespects its actors too as it has done for years. (can anyone say Rebecca Herbst)-still waiting on a s/l worthy of her abilities. Bringing back Alcazar or Ric Lansing would’ve brought more ratings than JF.
STFU Franco! You have NO say-so in anything!
Jill was partially responsible for destroying GH. And the Franco stories were horrible. If JF liked working with her so much, he can have her.
Huh? That’s all I have to say.
When did James Franco get a say? With Guza’s obsession for him & Vanessa?
Surely, he was never a fan of GH’s legacy…
Where was he when the soaps came under attack and two have been cancelled? She just must have kissed up to him and let him dabble and play in our stories. Our shows are not his lab for experiments…to try new forays in the blurring of fantasy and fiction …in HIS mind anyway. He needs to snap out of his famtasy and either shut up on things he has no real knowledge of or stand up for the story telling and professionalism that all soaps do. Good luck to both, maybe now GH can become the great show it once was and will be. Don’t tell me, he is good friends with and a friend of serial killer frons too!
JFP has caused each soap she was on problems…
Beverlee M. left
Killed off Maureen Bauer
Killed off Frankie Frame
Everything she destroyed on GH, don’t know details never watch GH
Not sure about SB never watch that soap.
Need I say anymore.
Don’t forget she was also responsible for Robin Strasser to leave OLTL in the early 2000s. I totally forgot she killed Frankie on Another World.
Well, I guess you can say there s not too many jobs in daytime anymore for her since we are down to four soaps.
Anyone notice he’s the only one supporting the woman that killed off Alan?
Glad that James Franco said something about Jill Farren Phelps and hope this does not want him to return to GH. Love him!
I am always upset when I see people lose their jobs. Unless it’s politicians! lol! Even Guza, Frons and JPF. I can’t help it, it’s just how I am. I also believe that while these people did great damage to the show I love, that doesn’t mean they are evil horrible people, we have no idea exactly how these things came about and knowing how it is at my job – the CEO makes a choice and the rest of the EVP’s have to follow suit and make it happen. Sure, the EVP’s take the heat for following through on the CEO’s choice, but they also get paid to take the heat. So it’s essentially what they are paid to do.
I believe that we have demonized Guza, Frons and JPF too much – I think this will be evident when nothing really changes on the show despite them being gone. That means it’s all coming from ABC higher ups.
I say all of this because I completely understand how James Franco, and other actors, have had such great things to say about JPF. We don’t know her, we have made quite a few declarative statements regarding how horrible these people are (I see them in this thread of comments as well as in all the internet gossip sites and message boards) but the truth is, they aren’t evil. I am OK with people having positive things to say about any one of them. I don’t have to agree, but I am kind of tired of us fans and insiders being so harsh on people who I believe are mostly just following orders – if they don’t then they get fired and news ones come in.
I am sure I am being a bit naive in some aspects here, but I am kind of tired of people acting like Guza, Frons and JPF are horrible people – not just horrible at their jobs.
I hate what has happed to my soap (GH) as well as with OLTL and AMC, but I don’t think there is ANYTHING Guza, Frons or JPF could have done to change the future – because ABC/DISNEY wanted it this way. So if they didn’t deliver, someone else would have.
I think we need to start going higher up on who we complain about destroy daytime. We need to go to the source, and that source does not begin with the head of ABC Daytime, we have to go higher.
Sorry, I went off on a tangent there. I guess the point is that James Franco and others who enjoyed working with JPF or Guza or even Frons just goes to show that while they might be horrible at business, that doesn’t mean they are just plain horrible.
Obviously James Franco has no idea of JFP’s horrendous track record. She wrecked Another World and it was cancelled after her stint there as EP. She tanked OLTL and for the last decade or so she has done a complete hatchet job on GH. She is inept, unimaginative and a just plain hack.
JF can go on kissing her backside till the cows come home for all I care as long as both she and he take their useless carcasses off the GH sound stage.
Innovative,Jill Phelps,I think not. being a woman, she should have stop women being butt monkeys on GH. Females should have been shown stronger and not always depending on a man. Innovative don’t mean being raped on a honeymoon and worrying about your baby being a child of rape. thats totally gross. The best thing Jill P. could have done is that Franco and his storyline with her when she left.