General Hospital
Max Gail To General Hospital As The New Mike Corbin!

Photo: IMDB
In a major storyline beginning on the February 5th episode of General Hospital, Sonny Corinthos’ (Maurice Benard) father, Mike Corbin is back in Port Charles.
But this time, he will look different since former Barney Miller favorite, Max Gail is taking over the role from Ron Hale, who played the part from 1995 to 2010. Hale had retired, and Mike checked into rehab in story, and as fans know Corbin had a gambling addiction.
According to TV Line who broke the news, Gail will appear on the ABC daytime drama series for what it being called an “extended arc”.
So, what does Mike’s return mean for Sonny? Share your thoughts on this casting news in the comment section below.
OOH LA LA – only the hottest man during my formative years ! being honest
check him out on you tube. when he was on Barney Miller
HEY – whatabout our Lady Q : “Monica”
hi Patrick ,,
I never heard of a Barney Miller..
I did YouTube him, it was a tv show.
That show was 1974- 4.3 decades ago..
That is 43 years ago, I wasn’t yet born !!
There must be other not yet born, also..
Anyways I checked one episode and I’m not sure which one that man was ..
I could really care less about Sonny’s dad and more Sonny Sonny Sonny. I mean it. They have propped him up as the big star of GH and involved in every nuance in one way or another. Too much of a good thing. Or a bad thing. But too much, either way. I loved Ron Hale on Ryan’s Hope. Hope he is enjoying his retirement. Max Gail-have not seen him since Barney Miller.
Oh yes, Phyllis! Ron Hale as RH’s Roger Coleridge….I loved him, too! Especially with Ilene Kristen’s daffy Delia by his side. Always hoped for a GH reunion between these two soap vets…would have been hilarious to see scatterbrained Dee’s reaction to encountering her hubby’s doppelganger at Kelly’s! Just wasn’t the same when she only had a framed photo at Sonny’s house as a reference point to observe their striking resemblance.
Ron Hale was at his best on Ryan’s Hope as Roger….good actor,
handsome, those eyes….He deserved better than to be the alcoholic
gambling father of Mob boss Sonny C…
CRUSH
Sorry, it involves Sonny; don’t really care. Sigh.
Word!
First we get Stella (Welcome Back Kotter), then Jim (BJ & the Bear) and now Mike (Barney Miller). Why doesn’t Frank realize fans want GH 70’s history (Laura, Monica and Bobbie) over 70’s sitcom actors?
This is why we can’t have nice things!
That is so spot on!!!! Good one! Could not agree more!
“This is why we can’t have nice things….” How perfectly put, Steve!
Perhaps Charo is available to play another of Sonny’s long-lost relatives!
HaHa!
Coochie Coochie!
Let Charo be Sonny’s long lost daughter.
He deserves it.
Why couldn’t they recast Sonny’s father with the actor who played Nick Tortelli from Cheers?
Butch Patrick, where are you?
@Harry….Too obvious???? Louie de Palma would have also worked well…or Reverend Jim!
Perfect comment!
GH is becoming ABC’s modern day version of “The Love Boat” with its galaxy of “guest stars” dating back to the “Disco Era!”
Bah ha ha! Shay, The Love Boat!!! Maybe a little bit like Fantasy Island too.
There’s Sonny, standing on the pier wearing a three piece white suit and while pointing at the sky screams,”The plane! The plane!”
Then after the plane lands an assortment of 70’s characters get off the plane and infiltrate Port Charles.
Maybe KC and the Sunshine Band will play on the Haunted Star? By the way, how in the hell does that business make any money?
That’s the best one yet, Harry! Can you just imagine the cavalcade of characters from the decade that taste forgot deplaning at Pier 52????….Potsie Weber and Ralph Malph, Chrissy Snow, Marcia Brady, Danny Partridge, Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap, and let’s not forget, JJ Evans and Thelma….DYNOMITE!!!! Too bad “Aunt Esther” has gone to the great beyond….she and Stella would have really hit it off!
@Timmm….”Do a little dance….” As for how the “Haunted Star” makes a profit? Two words: “Cooked books!” (Hey, this was once Luke’s business!)
YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD…..THIS SHOW IS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
Bringing back Mike Corbin? Good grief. I’d be more interested in seeing Fran Dreshler play a sister Sonny didn’t know he had.
@Max Daddee….I think she’d be better suited as Olivia’s Bensonhurst cousin, Fran Fine Falconeri Fishbein!
Have to say I have mixed feelings about this one….
Mike Corbin (aka Michael Corinthos Sr.) has long been missed on this show, and the idea of sending him to “rehab” for a gambling addiction was ridiculous (does that even exist??)
Will it be the same without Ron Hale though? He worked great with Sonny, and with Michael, Jason, etc.
Max Gail is a great actor, but time will tell if he’s a good fit for this role. At least we can thank all that’s unholy that they didn’t take the recast from the OLTL pool of unemployed actors.
One of the early episodes of Intervention covered the issue of gambling addiction and the subject of that episode was given the option of going to rehab to address his problem.
What would you do all day at a gambling rehab facility? Obviously, card games would be out. Presumably, no internet access allowed, to keep you away from online casinos.
Would they restrict TV access so you couldn’t bet on sports??
They’d drink.
Right, Satan. I mean, you couldn’t even play Suoo’s favorite game. BINGO!
Thats true, I am sick of Frank bringing in his buddies!
It means more airtime for Sonny and i dont mean that in a good way!….Barney Miller’s Wojo…Mojo…Bojo…watshisname???lol
Maybe he will get involved with Ava and marry her-making Ava Sonny’s stepmobma-lol
Ava would probably get some sick pleasure out of banging three generations of the Corinthos family, so I wouldn’t put it past her.
I doubt Mike would be interested in her though. Especially when he finds out what she did to his grandson.
If only Harris, Fish and Yamana were still alive, they could’ve come along for the ride…with the PCPD down a man, that clueless copshop could have certainly used their skill and expertise!
They could had played his poker buddies…
Hal Linden is still alive.
There is a little bit of six degrees of Kevin Bacon going on here as far as Barney Miller is concerned, Wojo is now on GH and Tony Geary was, ahem, well, extremely close to Ron Glass who I think played Harris on Barney Miller.
OMG, Harry!!! I forget about that particular….um….storied connection! Jackpot!
Why why why why…..so tired of the Sonny show and after the dismissal of Genie Francis I’m done
Me too. Sorry to have not witnessed the great acting by Nathan’s loved ones
Who cares, I’m sick of the Sonny!
An “extended arc” for Mike means lots and lots and lots of more screen time for Sonny.
Smart move, GH — great news like this will have viewers forgetting in no time that you have screen time for just about anyone but Genie Francis…
Instead of bringing in new players or old characters with someone new playing the part how about just putting Genie Back on contract. Been watching since day one but am not liking the new producers or writers past couple years.
Excellent!
Hopefully, back for Sonny’s quick and permanent death scene and funeral.
That would mean the quick and permanent death of General Hospital.
Without Steve Hardy, Luke Spencer, or Sonny Corinthos, this show goes straight to Hell (and not in a good way)
Steve can’t come back, and it’s not likely that Luke will either. Sonny ain’t going nowhere. Nobody’s going to watch the Frodd “Baldwin” show.
I would suggest that by linking the iconic character of Steve Hardy to Sonny, you are committing blasphemy. But I guess that’s what a Satan would do…
🙂
Great one, Charday!
Wojo. Barney Miller. Saw him on an airplane flight on was on, years ago..
Max Gail is good at his craft… could possibly be interesting repartee
between Sonny and Mike, if the writer’s don’t over do Mike’s past vices…
Otherwise father & son will go round in circles (yet again) & get nowhere
fast.
Good actor, should be interesting.
0oooh no!
Sonny has a father!
Sonny has always been my favourite enigma.
aww I’m not into Sonny and daddy issues..
I do not see the importance of bringing daddy in..
Nonetheless, it might be ingesting, it had best be, and there will be hell to pay if the plan is to pansy Sonny into a full-blown eunuch…
Stop messing with my Sonny.. enough is enough !!
You let 2 great favorites go and bring on a other one i have been watching for 50 yrs and now i am getting disgusted with Genie and not ggiving Ryan a month , I truly see why your Days is catching up to you on the ratings. Better get with it before your CANCELLED
ahhh I never heard of a Barney Miller ..
so, no whoopie for me.. just a HUH?
Hi su0000
Mike Corbin (Sonny’s father) was a very important part of GH and in Sonny’s life. Troubled relationship but underneath it all a lot of love. I know you like Sonny, so you might be interested in googling the history of Sonny and Mike…This was not just a father/dad warm and fuzzy thing…
LOL…meant father/son
Actually, Sonny is tolerable with certain characters – His dad being one of them. I’ll miss Ron Hale, but the character is needed and a good one. And it’s great to have more actors over a certain age getting jobs and characters getting story! And anytime family is built up on a soap it’s a good thing!
How lovely, they have room for yet another character on the canvas and room for another actor in the budget, but no room for Genie Francis. And after a few weeks have gone by, absolutely zero from Valentini, Varni, anyone at ABC with an explanation for why they did what they did. They clearly have no care at all for what the fans think. Until they do, I have no care to watch.
Exactly, Dan! Unfortunately, you are correct when you say: “They clearly have no care at all for what the fans think.”
I – TOO – am – SICK – of Sonny
Patrick!
He’s my Sonny! Be nice to him LOL ..
I – am – SICK – of Jason.
IF I were the writer I’d have Sonny shot Jason dead, then Sonny would be my personal hero !..
Look on the bright side, at least Sonny can stop piggy backing on the back Anna’s stories and get one of his own.
Anna has chemistry with just about everyone. She would have chemistry with a Chia pet. But when she and Sonny are in a scene together? The scene flat lines but I cannot fast forward through it because Anna is in it.
l certainly like Max Gail and fondly remember his work on Barney Miller. I channel the feelings of @Patrick in that regard.
However, what is the thinking?!?! Maurice Benard doesn’t have enough airtime as it is?!?!
Oh, I know. Maybe the thinking is this: “if we put Sonny in scenes with a sympathetic and comic father, perhaps Sonny will become more palatable to the audience.”
How many more years is GH going to continue this bombardment of Sonny and the mob onto the viewers? How many more years are they going to cater to this despicable character? How many more years will they continue to tarnish the legacy of a once great show by their misguided priorities?
This is ludicrous!
I was so taken, no ? rushed to express, then had to read other posts
yes, it’s ludicrous and infuriating
it seems.. now that Frank Valentini agenda, is out of the bag… as it were… he’s gone all Trumpette
no regard for any thing other than… heck perhaps it’s true that the writers themselves had no idea.. reason for Laura 180 degree turnaround. exit
it seems to me that Wes Ramsey is going to get bubblegummed out with Lulu and Maxie. I am sooooo glad that other posts see his blank acting . soooo glad
ie: MORE actors to fill and overload the Corinthos nest. it’s getting sketchy… whatever is going on behind the scenes with Frank Valentini. it’s ruptured and theres no way to get out of this.
Thanks for your reply, Patrick! You certainly add more backup and texture to my points. Thank you for that. I so often feel that my negative, repetitive commentary on Sonny et al. is tiresome for others here. Yet it is the force that beckons me to this site: to give this constant drumbeat of resentment for the misdirection this show has taken for 2+ decades. It invigorates and satisfies me to see so many like-minded viewers here.
Again, I ALWAYS enjoy reading your posts. Your insights and poetry are much appreciated, Friend!
Different producers have sacrificed so many great characters for this on character…..Sonny! I’ve never understood it. They have completely alienated long time viewers, especially with Genie’s dismissal. I miss the show that I grew up on and those characters that made me want to tune in everyday. Yes, some of those characters are there still, but like Anna for example, have thrown away their characters principals, for SONNY! When will it ever end.
Thank you, Justin! You are absolutely right! And, yes, it’s not just the current producer but also his predecessors. It really makes no sense. Glad you feel the same way. Take care, Friend!
James…HELL YEAH this is ludicrous!!!!! I (also) fondly remember Max Gail from the Barney Miller days. But…I am NOT FOOLED HERE!!!!! I mean…this is just an excuse (or whatever) for GH to give that scummy Sonny yet more airtime!!!!! ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!
Later, Brother.
You’ve got to be kidding me. This is ridiculous, your adding another member to sonny’s family BUT we lost Genie Francis. Come on GH fans STOP watching and let ABC know we are not happy and we mean business. No explanation from Frank Valentini and top brass at ABC about Genie yet…this is pathetic!!
Excellent points, Carla!
Remember him well from Barney Miller. Will be interesting to see how he works with Maurice.
I liked Ron Hale as Sonny’s father. I believe that he has retired from acting. This will just give “The Dimpled Don” more air-time. The Faison storyline has somehow become all about Sonny and Jason (oh, and Laura Wright’s boyfriend). As much as I like Sonny, I always have, it’s just a bit too much. Nothing seems to change, however.
I wonder if this guy was hired in a parking lot too?
I love Max Gail, but to echo many other comments, this means even more Sonny and that’s bad.
Very bad.
Max Gail is best known for his comedic work and rightly so….Thus, are we supposed to believe that Mike Corbin has suddenly become a laugh riot??? I really cannot reconcile soap vet Ron Hale’s serious portrayal of this character with that of an actor otherwise regarded as Wojo, and that is no slam to the talented and highly-amusing Mr. Gail, but since Hale is apparently unavailable to reprise his role, then why is it even deemed necessary to bring Mike Corbin back at all??? Seems like just another lame excuse to spotlight Sonny….for the thousandth or so time!
Amen, Shay!
Exactly, boes!
Cool, then bring on “The Fonz” as Sonny’s long-lost cousin and Mrs. Cunningham as his grandma….Chachi…not so much.
Or “Boom Boom Washington” for Aunt Stella….
Ha ha! I remember when the actress who plays Stella used to deliver her lines without SCREAMING!!!
Hey Shay…GOOD ONE…HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
I like Max Gail
I miss Ron Hale
Just cool your angst
And watch the tale!
But a story with Sonny
Can’t help but be scummy
Even with his Dad
You know it’ll be bad.
Haha my dear Boes
I hear what you say
If we could we would
Push the Son far away
Good advice, my Friend, and indeed quite funny
But no one could ever pay me enough money
To watch with disdain and suffer the pain
Of even more screen time for Sonny! 🙂
I hear you my friend, I do feel your pain
What good does it do, To be filled with disdain
Let’s watch and first see, Let’s give it a whirl
Perhaps there’s no need for dismay to unfurl
The writing so clever
The story so rich
Lamenting not needed
No reason to switch…
The channel!
😉
This has been fun, Rebecca! 🙂 Take care.
ahhhh…gave up so soon!!!! you’re quite the rhymin’ simon! 😉
Does anyone have any solid proof ABC put Laura on recurring because of the budget? NO! She would have still been on the show occasionally but she decided against it. Quit blaming every actor on the show or a new guest actor just because you are bitter that the show had no long term plans for the character of Laura.
There was a long term plan for Laura. She was set to become mayor after a campaign against another beloved legacy character. The writers had to suddenly change the storyline.
Fans are not blaming the actors, but they are holding the EP accountable for casting ang budget decisions.
If Frank hires some dude in the parking lot and instructs his writers to create story for him, then yes, fans can speak up.
So Steve, Laura wins the election, then what? There is no drama in that. Who the hell tunes in and wants to know what is going on in the mayor’s office today! I suggest watching “Spin City.”
Steve, great insight, I hadn’t heard that anywhere before. I thought Genie was at the end of the 3-year deal she signed in 2015. That makes it even more egregious, in a very public and jarring way to the viewer, the EP scuttled two stories midstream, if you count Rebecca’s hasty exit, forcing the writers to piecemeal something together on the fly.
Physicians have their Hippocratic Oath of “first, do no harm” and I have to believe there are a set of precepts guiding executives and managers in their roles—even a crass “try not to f*%$ it up” would do—but I should not even know Frank’s name, if he’s doing his job right. Not impressed. Barbara Bloom, bide your time and you’ll get a crack at this soon enough. All we ask is that you observe the above advice (that Frank can’t seem to heed) and not pull a “CBS” on us…we’re kind of used to having our show around.
Timmm, appreciating your candor, as always. We’ll never get the whole story. A 1/27 EW.com story cites unnamed network executives about how contract renewals can go down and how the backlash by fans will likely yield nothing. Totally get the business side—planning, budgeting, projecting the story lines many months out—however, neither Genie’s impending story, nor contract status were sneaking up on anyone, so this still has all the earmarks of a major blunder by TPTB. With scenes taped generally six weeks in advance of airing, to allow the story to progress without having Genie locked in is squarely on management and was terribly disruptive to the entire production and ultimately the audience.
Conversely, without knowing the details of Genie’s on-again, off-again relationship with the show, it seems to have worked for her to come and go over the years, knowing that she always had a place to call home. It’s great to know you can “go home again” and nowhere is that more possible than in daytime. It’s just too bad that this time around the terms were going to be less favorable to the actress. It takes two to make a s-storm, and in no way did Frank help himself, but to be blunt, we weren’t renewing Susan Lucci or Erika Slezak, the heart and soul of their respective former shows. Beloved, iconic, a wonderful actress and human being, yes, Genie is all of those things, but her character had been neglected for too long and relegated to middling story at best. That things should pick up for her at contract time was fortuitous for her and a problem of their own making for management. Good for Genie for playing hardball but did it need to end that way? What kind of negotiation was this? It nearly degenerated into a Tyler Christopher fiasco where you had to recast to wrap the story. Still finding it difficult to believe it couldn’t have been handled better by both sides. And it’s never a good thing when the most compelling drama is going on behind the scenes.
Reed, thank god someone gets me! I love Genie. I want Genie on GH. BUT, what will she do? Okay, she wins the election. Then what? Her and Kevin are great together but where is the drama in that relationship? Lucky is not there. Nicholas is not there. Lulu is a train wreck! What do you do with Genie? Yes, she is daytime royalty BUT she doesnt anchor the show. She hasnt for 28 some years! Like you said, she isnt Lucci or Slezak. That is a fact. Take care.
It wasn’t even contract renewal time for Genie. Frank told her they were using an out window (i.e. network option) in her contract. Soap actors traditionally sign contracts that bind them to the show for a set number of years. The producer/network usually has 13 or 26 (veterans) week windows to cancel a contract at their whim. Genie didn’t have a choice to negotiate.
The same option period cancellation happened with Rebecca Budig and Robert Palmer Watkins.
I know I am going to come across crabby, but I never understand, in a time when there are only 4 soaps on the air, casting directors not seeking out soap alum for roles. Ron Hale was great as Mike. He also played on Ryan’s Hope for its entire run before GH, which I would say only helped him. I can think of so many actors- Kale Browne, Justin Deas, Jerry ver Dorn, and Dennis Parlato to name a few- who would have the acting chops to share scenes with Maurice and Laura, as well as daytime experience that could (and most likely would) bring in some former soap viewers. I am sure Max Gail is a talented actor. I just think GH would have served itself better to have a soap actor in the role.
While I agree that soap vets are usually better casting choices, the great actors you mentioned would steal the scenes from Maurice. Ron Hale started as Mike before Sonny/Maurice became the omnipresent character that he is today. Brown and VerDorn would drink MB’s milkshake.
I liked Ron Hale, from the ’90’s. I think he did a great job in the role.
Ron Hale retired from acting, I believe-unfortunately. He was great in the role.
Yes, that’s why he left the role in 2010. Frank (and the writers) knew this and they still went ahead with this storyline. It will lack the heartwarming effect that would’ve been there if Hale was still in the role, or if Gail had been on the show for a year or two.
The same thing happened last year with the recast Larry Ashton. Having a newbie in the role during Tracy’s departure took away from the story.
Just noticed your post, Steve, stating that Max Gail’s role as Mike will “lack the heartwarming effect”…he couldn’t BE more heartwarming! He is completely, totally endearing in this role and he melts me each time I see his worn, weathered, worried face. He’s really stepped into the role and made it his own.
I really like seeing General Hospital day in and day out. My biggest beef with seeing the show is when channel 7 chooses to interrupt the show for the dumbest reasons, short of world war three. Now to Max Gail taking the role of Sonny’s father that’s great and I watched most of Barney Miller so I know Max Gail can carry the role of Mike Sonny’s father. I believe this role gives the two actors Mr. Bernard and Mr. Gail a wonder chance to soar with their acting abilities. And I saw the show on 02/06/2018, I think this particular show could be one where Sonny not only finds the money he thinks Mike stole, but I think this could lead to Mike going through the beginnings of dementia. If this is something the writers could think about and use that would be wonderful. Of course there are other themes they could send Mike and Sonny through. I hope the dementia idea could be a consideration, anyway just a thought.
Judy
It seems as though the show will be touching upon Alzheimer’s/Dementia. The Young and the Restless did an amazing job tackling this medical issue. Unfortunately, I don’t have the same confidence in the writers at General Hospital. The writers constantly introduce new characters, then drop them, create storylines based on important social issues, then drop them (gay marriage/adoption, drug addiction, wounded heroes, etc.). Although, this storyline will include The Dimpled Don, so it will probably be given full attention. Somehow, it will revolve around Morgan’s death, like every other scene does-UGH.
I didn’t know that they might be doing a dementia story with Sonny’s father. That makes me sad. Mike was always such a great character and if they go this route it means the eventual loss of the character and many emotionally heavy scenarios which I’d rather not see. I LIKE escaping into the relationshiips on GH as well as the madness…but I don’t want to feel depressed. (although Nathan’s death certainly did the trick and gave me a good cathartic cry!)
Max Gail is fitting beautifully into this role. He’s not the Mike we’re used to, but when I saw his warm, friendly face smile at Sonny he melted my heart. I’d rather see them get closer…not because of illness but just because Mike has recovered from his addiction and can be more actively involved with his famil.
But now it all makes sense. Calling Carly Courtney. Probably never delivered the money but thought he did? Ugh. I’m already depressed thinking about the direction this is going…
“…I saw his warm, friendly face smile at Sonny he melted my heart ”
ditto
I thought the same … and yes… it validated my admiration of his acting and presence.
i’m glad the “girlfriend” is staying back. I didn’t get the chemistry thing.. but they had to present him somehow.
I was a little off put that Sonny…. after 5 years … would be “so , angry” after all this time. REALLY? have to power punch your worth, already ?
I – certainly – was not… put off from this new brand father and son.
Max Gail is charismatic enough to see this out.
hope he’s liking his new gig. like you… I hope he makes his way throughout ALL of Port Charles. let this man roam and randy about
as long as it’s not about Sonny – calling – all the shots
shoot.. I hope your last para isn’t happening that quickly. we need more moments and time of lucidity. I don’t’ know… more time to actually see Sonny in tender scenes… Carly sure can’t act that. here’s hoping … @Maurice Benard does with this opportunity.
I just don’t get how fans can truly see any real moments of sincere emotion out of either Sonny – or – Carly. where’s the fun and serial in these two.
let’s see Sonny open
I don’t know how long they’re going to run this story Patrick but I’m not a fan of it. Too depressing. I don’t mind if they show illness in a hospital story if the person eventually recovers; Anna comes to mind. Not that I like that they gave her an illness at all. I don’t. They also gave Alexis cancer. Thankfully both recovered and it’s barely mentioned. I don’t think escapism needs fatal illness. HATE IT!
So. I think this is going to be another tearjerker. Mike will come and stay with Sonny, they’ll get closer, there’ll be tender moments and gradually both Sonny and Carly will realize something’s not right. Then they’ll get the diagnosis and ugh…did I say…HATE IT!
With that said, and AS said, Max has already captured my heart…which will make it that much tougher to watch.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Is it too late? Can they say that Mike was slipped some hallucinogens…that one of Sonny’s enemies planted Mike’s girlfriend there and she is tampering with his mind??? And, then, in a true fairy tale ending all is right with the world????
Doubt it. 🙁
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up 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?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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