Connect with us

General Hospital

40

Jean Passanante Rejoins The Writing Team Of General Hospital!

By Michael Fairman

Published

on

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Veteran daytime drama scribe Jean Passanante, who recently revealed her departure from the writing team at The Young and the Restless, is heading back to her former digs on the writing team at ABC’s General Hospital!

Passanante confirmed the news via Twitter last evening tweeting:  “Heading back to Port Charles! I hear there’s one nutty hospital there.

The last time Jean was writing for the characters of GH was back in November of 2013, prior to her taking the co-head writing position at The Young and the Restless.

As soap fans know, Jean has written for a myriad of other soap operas including: Another World, All My Children, As the World Turns, and One Life to Live.  The move reunites her with her longtime colleague, GH head writer Ron Carlivati.

So, happy to hear the news that Jean is coming back to work at General Hospital?  Comment below!

40 Comments

40 Comments
oldest
newest

so glad that she will be back writing for general hospital.

Bring Steve back with you! Talk about ratings!!!! Thru the roof!!!!

Yuck! Steve is a horrible one note actor…Y&R can keep him!

It’s great news. I hope she can focus on families and bring some love and romance to GH! NO mob.

I agree–sick of the mob storylines, especially Sonny, Carly, and Franco. But that’s what fast-forward on my DVR is for.

I luv the mob stuff as do many fans..
GH IS mob stuff mixed with a variety of stories,,
GH is not just mob lol there much variety on GH..
The mobsters will never leave Port Charles, they rock !!

long live the mob !!!!

And GH does focus on families..
they just happen to be mob families lol Michael and Sonny have been great,,
Always there is something going on in the families..
All is well and as it should be with GH … 🙂

(GH is not as the other 3 soap nor is it supposed to be as them)

Yes seems like good news. It is interesting when you look at other recent developments. The show has had problems for a while and it is obvious that the network is stepping in to try and right the ship.

The ratings have not been good and the first week of sweeps, with the Nurses Ball and heavy promotion did not move the needle. The network ordered the live shows to try and get some buzz and they are bringing back Genie Francis. Now,
after the Fluke disaster and the Jake story just dragging, a new writer is coming on board, one that has Head Writer experience.

This is a good sign if for nothing else, it shows that the network is taking steps to try and improve the show. It’s nice to see a commitment and hopefully the show will get on the right track.

The Fluke “disaster”? I know some very vocal fans didn’t like it, but as far as I know they’re the only ones. Geary got at least one Emmy out of it, among other things. I have yet to hear any reports of network or cast, crew, or show dissatisfaction with that story.

Erick, aside from the vocal fans, who do you hear from? The silent one’s? The Fluke story was riddled with holes and inconsistencies that were talked about, all over the place, by many fans on many different sites and forums as well soap writers; many of them as well. The story dragged for way too long, regardless of TG’s absence and was then completely changed in a way that sealed the deal on the inconsistencies and holes.

TG getting an Emmy for a ten minute reel of performances is no indication of the story and its success.

As for hearing reports of the network’s dissatisfaction, where would you expect that to appear and is that how you think they would handle it? Broadcasting it so that you could hear about it?

Follow the events. Ratings are at best stagnant, not doing well, demos are down and hitting lows. The network ordered the Live Shows. RC said that they were the idea of the network and ordered. So right there we have an instance of the Network stepping in, inserting their control and demanding an event designed to boost ratings, something they care about. Something they’re not getting.

Then Genie Francis is coming back. She has been gone for two years and Frank’s statement was very telling. He said the door was always open if the story and timing were right. He made a point to show that he was in charge and that her absence was based on the show’s direction and story. So why now when we saw that FV had no use for her previously? Why give a qualifying statement about her return? You wouldn’t. He didn’t because It’s obviously not his choice. It’s about ratings and that’s the network. We also got reports that Genie demanded a contract and a story. It is clear this was done at the network level, especially given these other steps, including a new writer being added.

The network has an investment here. They’ve given Cartini three years. They’ve had some ups, but many downs and that’s what they are experiencing now. They get only so long on their own before the network comes in to try and protect their investment. That is obviously what is happening.

Yes. The Fluke disaster. Covered with a Emmy- a Daytime one.

Erick, cast and crew are not going to complain about a story because they value their jobs. You ever see that episode of Friends in which Joey, who played Dr Drake Amore on Days of Our Lives complains about the writers? Joey’s character ends up stepping into an empty elevator shaft and ends up dying. Funny and fictional? Yes, but it’s predicated upon a reality–if you value your job you don’t bitch about the writing. Tony Geary strongly hinted that the writing was ridiculous but he vowed to play the hell out o fit anyway. The Fluke debacle was made up it went along and it showed.

Where in the world do you get any of this information?? Ratings have not been going down, and the network didn’t order the live shows. The rating have fluctuated but over all the numbers are up – overall. The Fluke story was anything BUT a disaster. GH hasn’t had this much buzz about in decades. Period.

The Fluke disaster is almost an understatement. It was like a train wreck in slow motion. Now that Geary’s emotional self-love storyline is done, maybe Show can actually tell a story instead of a year-long testimonial to a hasbeen who was never much to begin with.

Dotty,,
I agree with your words…
Some people are just grumpy when stories are not the way they want them to be- written just for them .. lol
I thought the Luke story was awe grand/awesome.. I really like the journey..
The Luke story did not start until after the Fluke ride ended and that is when Luke went on his journey to face his demons, not before..

First there was Fluke story stuff.. after was the Luke story, and it was great ..

Dotty, I get my information from various sources, much of it, from Michael Fairman.

I saw in a couple of places that it was at the network level that the live shows were conceived and ordered. Here is a clip from Michael Fairman’s interview with RC, where RC says that the Live shows were the brain child of Paul Lee. Paul Lee is the President of ABC Entertainment Group, he runs the network.
https://e98.637.mwp.accessdomain.com/general-hospital/ron-carlivati-interview-general-hospital-42nd-annual-daytime-emmys-red-carpet/2015/04/30/

As for the ratings. The ratings are not great. They are up in total viewers from other times and down from other’s, yes they fluctuate. But the overall numbers are not great. The fact that Paul Lee, the guy who runs the entire entertainment group, the network and the studio, is involved should tell us something. For him to get involved in the GH process and to try and devise a way to boost ratings and generate interest for a soap opera, given all his responsibilities, is telling.

But the ratings are actually down, the one’s that count, the demos. Here is another link to Michael Fairman’s story on the current ratings. He points out that although there was a small gain from the previous week, GH “unfortunately hit their all-time low in the demo rating share for the third week in a row.” And the fact is that GH is down over 100,000 viewers in the 18-49 demo, close to 20%, from this time last year.

So yes, The Live Shows were the network’s call and the ratings, the demo ratings, are down and hitting an all-time low.

AJQ..
GH ratings are not down they holding in the line of steady..
And-
GH has via RC and FV have brought in approximately a million, a million viewers, and that is greatly upping cancellation ratings it once had..
No other soap has brought in millionish new viewers during the past 2 years..

(ratings are up and down.. GH is doing well..:)

Su0000-

FV & RC have not brought in a million viewers. If GH is averaging approximately 2.8 million viewers, that would mean that it was averaging only 1.8 million viewers prior to Cartini and that is absolutely false.

But this is about demo ratings and GH is down in 18-49 from the numbers prior to Cartini. That is a fact, as reported by Michael Fairman, GH is at an all time low in the 18-49 demo. Here is the link, so you can now tell Michael Fairman that he is wrong. https://e98.637.mwp.accessdomain.com/news/ratings-all-soaps-gain-in-total-viewers-except-days-down-but-expectations-are-high-nbc-soap-will-rebound-for-50th/2015/05/15/

ALQ, HI..
My comment was about GH’s numbers rising ..

2012– Jan. (avarage)
One Life to Live 2.1 (Final ABC Season; ended January 13, 2012)
Days of our Lives and General Hospital 2.0 (tied)

GH since RC and FV took over GH has gained a millionish/there abouts, new viewers..

Su0000-

Your numbers are wrong, you are confusing the rating with the raw number. 2.0 would be a rating, it doesn’t mean 2 million viewers.

The average in total viewers for Jan 2012, was 2,340,000 not 2,000,000.

And again, it is about the 18-49 demo, the demo that a majority of advertisers care about, the audience number they use to determine the price they will pay for commercials, the number that Paul Lee cares about and why the network has now gotten involved.

GH has lost over 100,000 viewers in the 18-49 demo in the last year, that is almost 20% of the audience. The number is even down from the time period that you have used as an example, Jan 2012, the last month before FV and RC took over. The Jan 2012 18-49 avg was 584,000. It is currently 530,000.
They had increased, now they are back to all time lows.

Those are the facts. The 18-49 demo is down significantly in the last year, it is at an all time low for three weeks and GH does not currently have a million more total viewers since Jan 2012, not even close.

AJ, your posts are always long and filled with information that backs up MOST of your statements BUT to say the Fluke story was a disaster dismisses some of our credibility. If you study EVERYTHING that was written and televised you can find loopholes BUT if your a fan who watches GH for entertainment purposes and not so much with a critical eye, you would see that the story wasnt so bad and its not done. Your writing a review before it ends. Tony will be around the rest of the summer and he vowed to clean up some of the holes. He did say that he is less interested in the twilight of his career in the direction of his story and letting the writers write and he acts. Genie needed to be back a year ago but she will be here now. As far as these rating stunts, GH FANS will watch regardless. A “Live” show is really what we see everyday anyway since there are no time for rehearsals or two and three takes. Lastly, the ratings may not have reached the peak they expected so far for sweeps but GH is healthy. Genie may bring back a couple old fans back to the show or a couple new ones but she is not a ratings blockbuster. If you want to see a soap struggling and looking for any angle to keep its head above water, tune into NBC, Days is flat lining. I wish them luck. GH doesnt need it. They are healthy.

You all need to get a room.

People bitch about the mob issues on GH. I got news for you, its been around for 33 years and its not going away. It creates drama. They try and focus on the hospital but people come and go in a hospital and they end up there one way or another. What do you want to happen, someone cut their finger at a bakery and come to the hospital looking for stitches?

Me, too!

I am glad to have her back on GH…

Clearly some fans know about her writing but I’m not familiar, all I know about is that RC is the head writer and FV runs the show, pass that when things are great I praise RC/FV and when it’s bad same thing, so beyond that how would I know what she’s responsible for writing if she’s part of a writing team? But welcome back I guess..

Her work is a plus to the show! Very good news!

I am not overly familiar with the writing of Jean Passanante..
I do know; while she was with Y&R the terrible writing of the- music box story among other snores) well I hope she doesn’t bring that stuff to GH..
I hope she is good and doesn’t mess up my GH .. lol
Her resume looks good.. And the comments here look good in her favor..

She wrote for GH before she came to YR.

People started leaving because of the Gay scenes. Many have said they’re good byes on blogs. I look forward to more story lines. Bring A new rich guy.

I am happy they are featuring gay story lines on Days of Our Lives and General Hospital.. I enjoyed the ones on All My Children, As the World Turns, and One Life to LIve. It broke new ground and gave a chance for people to understand love between people of same sexes. I wish on Days, they would let Sonny and Will enjoy their marriage alittle before bringing in another gay male to upset the apple cart. I am sad to see Freddie Smith leave, i hope they recast his character. Luke, Noah, Reid, Oliver and Fish were all great on their respective s oaps. I think it is great the daytime dramas are willing to feature new groundbreaking stories involving gay couples.

WORD!

Jean, seems like you went from the outhouse to the penthouse! Yes Y&R is #1 but so were they Patriots and we see what happened with their “Balls!” GH’s PSI’s are legally inflated and ready for you to pick up the ball and throw a couple touchdowns! Welcome back!

Nathan West and Maxie Jones are headed to Cassadine Island. [Touchdown!]
We need more Scotty and Franco moments in their robes eating steak. [Touchdown!]
Agent Sloan is recasted. Third times a charm. [Touchdown!]
Anna brings a recasted Robin home with her. Sorry Kim. [Touchdown!]
Stefan Cassadine swoops in and steals ELQ from Nicholas! [Touchdown!]
Hayden sticks around in Port Charles. [Touchdown!]
Jason and Sam reunite. [Touchdown!]
Carly and Rick, seriously! [Touchdown!]
Luke walks off into the moonlight and hops on a ship captained by English. [Touchdown]
Recast Dylan and he will be Tracy’s right hand man to recover ELQ [Touchdown!]
Goodbye Sabrina, Carlos, Lucy and Liz! [Touchdown!]
Hurry back Ned! [Touchdown!]
Brenda and Julian? [Touchdown!]

How about they Sabrina, Lucy and Liz and they say goodbye to those Godfather rejects Olivia, Dante, Max, Milo, Diane, and Ric Lansing?

I am all about booting the Godfather rejects!

Jean Passanante is a good writer with a lot of experience behind her. She has worked with the GH landscape before so it won’t be foreign to her. I have to say I love Ron Carlivati’s writing style because in addition to good drama he adds great humor into the mix. Those characters have complexity and it’s refreshing to see. As for the comments mentioned above about leaving GH because of gay storylines, I find those who leave needing some therapy. Two or three characters being gay and being portrayed as part of the fabric of a community is real life. The idea that someone doesn’t like a gay character getting airtime shows a complete lack of humanity. It’s okay to be gay as long as you don’t talk about it or acknowledge it in any way. That line of thinking belongs in the 60’s. Not in current times. Explore more stories with those characters and place the emphasis on the fact that gay or straight we all live the same lives. I love the direction the show is taking. The actors are top notch and with the exception of one or two characters I have to say that I love the entire cast. They obviously work together well. I love GH quite a bit and look forward to what the writing team has to offer.

Beautifully said. When I was 13 years old in 1993 and started watching General Hospital if you told me in 2015 after 23 years of watching the show that there would be a gay couple on it I would have laughed in your face. In 1993 I knew I was gay at 13 years old I knew I was gay at 6 years old I knew that I thought Bo Duke was very cute it wasn’t sexual I just had a crush on him. So for me to see gay characters on General Hospital it helps me identify with a couple.

Wow some of what I’m actually reading here looks correct. Yes, key demos have been at record lows including the first two weeks of Sweeps. Yes the live shows were probably pitched by Cartini to ABC simply as a means to counter the ratings slump in the absence of any stories actually taking place.

Yes Fluke was pretty strongly disliked. I believe the network likely asked for rewrites to wrap it up after it still dragged even after TG’s successful return from surgery rehab. Yes more downs than ups especially lately.

I don’t think hiring back Jean Passanante is incidental at all. I think it’s strategic. Among all the people on twitter connected with ABC and the show that welcomed her back, there was one very glaring omission. There’s a very good reason for that.

Unfortunately, the “live” shows nor the touted Nurses’ Ball added nothing. They were lackluster, and that’s being kind. And the Fluke story did alienate many, many fans because of the total violation of Luke’s character, someone the longtime fans loved and were previously devoted to.
To be blunt, the Fluke storyline (the “climactic” 52nd anniversary show was a real shock and letdown) accounts for the low ratings. And the writing is simply bad.
The current writers care nothing for the legacy of the show and the historical accuracy of it. A real turnoff for the longest, most loyal viewers.
In short, the show is in trouble, ratings wise and the suits at ABC want to shore it up; thus they have hired JP, a writer who is sympathetic to “women’s issues,” probably to write the Laura scenes for Genie Francis–and those she will have with Luke as they attempt to salvage that character so Tony Geary can exit with some shred of dignity after his evil, angry, ego-obsessed portrayal of Fluke, a distasteful character that longtime, loyal fans wanted nothing to do with.
Again, I ask: what is gained if you win an Emmy and lose an audience?

They should keep the Nurses Ball. The whole thing is what keeps Sonny and the mobsters from overrunning the show once again.

I so agree!

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

Published

on

By

Dominic Zamprogna

General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up about the burgeoning love triangle forming between his Port Charles alter-go, Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) after recently aired scenes, plus his hopes for the future of a Dante and Liz pairing, during his appearance on the Sunday, April 23 edition of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli).

On last week’s episodes of GH, Ric has made the decision that he wanted to propose to his ex-wife, only when he showed up at Elizabeth’s front door, he misread the scenario he walked in with Liz tending to Dante’s injured leg from the softball game. From there, the legal eagle’s jealous streak is reemerging which may cause him to act out and do something unforgivable, or will he take the high road? Stay tuned.

Speaking with Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson about where Elizabeth stands in the annals of the long-running soap, Zamprogna said, “She’s up there with Steve and Maurice (Maurice Benard) as one of the most legacy-filled people on the show.”

Courtesy/ABC

HOW DANTE AND ELIZABETH CAME ABOUT

Dominic jokes it’s a far cry for where Dante and Elizabeth previously, recalling, “We had some scenes together years ago and we were both laughing. Becky’s like, ‘Well, I guess we’re not going be paired up anytime soon.’ I remember we laughed immediately after they yelled ‘cut,”‘and said to each other, ‘Well, so much for that!'”

Fast-forward to early 2025 and as Zamprogna remembered it, “Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) came up to me at the General Hospital Christmas party, and I think it was a year and a half ago and she said, ‘We’re going to have you in scenes with Elizabeth,’ My internal monologue is going, ‘I’m not with Lulu (Alexa Havins) anymore and Sam’s (Kelly Monaco) gone, so maybe they want to see if this works.’ I didn’t want to get scenes with Becky and try to find the chemistry. I just wanted to play whatever honestly was written and came across for both of us and hope it was what people liked, and I don’t know if it is … or not.”

Knowing how beloved Elizabeth is to the GH faithfuls, Zamprogna added, “She got a big fan base with Ric … and a big fan base with with Jason … and you know, you’re going to piss somebody off. But, didn’t Ric drug Elizabeth and put Carly in a panic room?”

Dom and Liz

Photo: ABC

DANTE AND ELIZABETH PAIRING COULD STIR UP STORY FOR OTHERS IN PORT CHARLES

In closing, Dominic felt that the wide-reaching tentacles of a Dante and Elizabeth relationship is something he is 100% down for. “The triangle thing; I was happy to hear it was with Ric and her, because I felt it’s important to have her the top of it as opposed to Dante, Lulu and Elizabeth.”

Zamprogna added, “When you get into relationships on a soap, things seem to fizzle out a little bit, The buildup is what’s the fun part, and the getting to know each other, and the people who are affected by this coming together. When with this case it’s going to affect: Ric, Sonny, Lulu. There’s so much more story here. To me, it’s going to be a fun story to play.”

You can check out Dominic’s visit to That’s Awesome with Steve and Bradford below.

Now weigh-in: Are you rooting for Dante and Liz, or Dante and Ric at this juncture of the story, or neither guy  for Elizabeth? Let us know your thoughts and picks via the comment section.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

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

Published

on

By

Patrick J. Gibbons

At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.

However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.

Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Photo: ABC

FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG

Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!

Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”

MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL

Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).

Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”

Photo: JPI

PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY

Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”

It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”

A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”

Photo: PGibbons

IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS

As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”

He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”

Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.

So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Admits That He Didn’t Expect the Role of Michael Corinthos to be Recast, and Would Consider Working on Another Soap (Exclusive)

Published

on

By

Chad Duell, the Daytime Emmy-winning actor, who stepped away from the pivotal role of Michael Corinthos on General Hospital, opened up about: his previous decision to leave the series after nearly 15 years, where’s he’s at now after time away from the demands of a daytime soap opera, and took a stroll down memory lane with some of Michael’s most-acclaimed storyline during his run, during a livestream chat on August 19 on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.

Viewers last saw Duell on-screen as Michael in January of 2025, and with his successor in the role, Rory Gibson making his debut at the GH Nurses’ Ball in episodes that aired later in May. It was clear that during the conversation, Chad was a bit surprised that the GH brass decided to recast him when he thought he was just taking some much needed time off.

Burn-out of the daily grind of being on a soap was definitely a part of Chad’s decision to take a break. Duell explained “People know when you’re doing something for so long or your character is kind of in the same place for so long or doing the same stuff over and over again, you do get a a little burnt out, you get a little stiff, stale, a little stiff at times. I didn’t want that to be any sort of lasting impression. I have 15 years of a body of work of I’ve done on that show, which is fantastic.”

Chad Duell

Photo: ABC

WHILE CHAD WAS AWAY GH RECAST MICHAEL CORINTHOS WITH RORY GIBSON

Chad shared, his mindset when leaving GH was, “I’m taking some time away, we’ll see what happens.” Then he added, “Obviously, they decided to go in a different direction with Michael when I was gone. I didn’t think they were going to bring somebody back in my place. But you know, it’s the business. You never know what can happen.”

Duell also shared he has not watched a single episode of General Hospital since he left the series, but now feels he reenergized following the loss of his father and stepping away from the GH, “I’m in a place now mentally, where I’m ready to sink my teeth into it again.”

Courtesy/ABC

Even though he is no longer Michael on GH, Chad was very happy with his final storyline where Michael was set on fire when a bomb exploded at Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) penthouse. “It was fun to put him in a dangerous situation, because I was wanting Michael to be in something scary instead of trying to be a hero character or just things happening around him, but to be the center point of tragedy happening to him. (I always saw) Michael as the heart of the (Corinthos) family.”

When Michael was badly burned the show chose not burn his face, which normally a soap does when they are recasting role and switching actors. Chad weighed-in, “They didn’t burn my face because I told Frank Valentini (EP, GH) I’m willing to come back. It was just a little bit of a break. So, I assumed that if they would have burned my face, they could have brought somebody back looking different than me… if that’s what their plan was.”

Courtesy/ABC

MEMORABLE MICHAEL STORYLINES

One of Chad’s most memorable performances was the in the storyline of Michael’s rape while he was sentenced to prison in 2010 and the confession of it in 2011. “It was so well-written and I was very nervous,” recalled Chad. “When I get really nervous about something, it ends up being really good when I do it, because it just means I care a lot about it”

“I have to put a lot of effort and work into it, and I really want it to be good.  I was working with Dominic  Zamprogna (Dante) and Steve Burton (Jason) a lot during those scenes, and Laura Wright (Carly). It was great working with Steve and Dominic, especially, during that storyline.

A NEW SOAP ROLE FOR CHAD?

As to a future soap opera role, Chad is open to the idea and would love to jump back in to a juicy role, “I know people over at The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Young and the Restless. They know that if they’re interested, I would love to come in for a screen test or something, and they can see what I’m doing.”

Meanwhile, Chad has been busy putting out new music under the moniker Duelly and during the interview he explains how he creates his EDM tracks and much more. You can stream his latest single, Static in the Quiet Room on Spotify, Apple Music and You Tube Music.

You can check out the full conversation with Chad Duell below.

Now let us know: what show would you like to see Chad cast on down the line? BTG, DAYS, B&B, Y&R, or a new role on GH? What did you think of his thoughts on the casting switch while he was away in the role of Michael? What was your favorite Michael storyline during Chad’s 15-year run on the ABC soap opera? Let us know via the comment section.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Heather Tom

The Bold and the Beautiful

Airdate: 7-24-2026

Popular

40
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x