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Nathan Fillion Talks His Time On OLTL Working With Robin Strasser & Erika Slezak On LIVE WITH KELLY AND RYAN!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

Former Castle star, Nathan Fillion chatted about his time as Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live this week on Live with Kelly and Ryan when he was a guest on their Niagara Falls episodes.

While talking about his start in soaps, and playing an on-screen romance with an older woman, Dorian, played by Robin Strasser, he noted that because of that storyline he was hit on as a young man by older women via letters sent to him at the OLTL studios.

Fillion, not only made mention of Strasser, but his OLTL mom, Erika Slezak (Viki) during his segment.

Robin Strasser, who saw Fillion’s appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan tweeted: “Nathan Fillion If I only have one life to live, I’m so grateful-I got to work with him! He’s a VERY special man-Star Quality/Quality Star.”

Watch Nathan talk about his remembrances working on OLTL after the jump.  Then let us know, do you remember the Dorian/Joey romance and affair, and how upset Viki was over it? Comment below!

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I Miss Him…

I’m so happy Nathan mentioned his start at One Life to Live. Nathan did a great job as Joey. He’s so right. Working with Erika Slezak and Robin Strasser, if you’ve got an ounce of smarts, how could you possibly fail?

I loved the Joey and Dorian storyline. It was shocking when it started. My reaction was the same as Viki’s in the beginning. As the story evolved, Joe grew into adulthood and Dorian grew to genuinely care for Joe. There was mutual care and respect between them for the rest of the series.

Nathan Fillion is the only actor I have ever heard be so honestly appreciative of his soap background. I applaud his gratefulness and openness to talk freely of his OLTL experience.

Hey, maybe he’s talking now because he wants to come on another soap.
BTW, what’s he doing now that his primetime show is gone–and gone, perhaps, if we are to believe ANY of the leaked gossip about the in-fighting of the two stars (one of them, notably, Fillion himself), because he was a prime reason why it is gone. Too bad that egos can destroy such a beloved show. Professionals should be able to work together for the success of the show and to reward the loyal fans of the show. Look out for what you wish for; it might just happen and suddenly you are a persona non grata with no show

Personally, I didn’t watch his prime time show “Castle” because I didn’t find his co-star likable. Nor did I see the chemistry between their characters. I’ve always thought maybe she was the problem star. I based my earlier comments on other interviews he has done in print and on TV. He got along with his previous co-stars. After all his “Firefly” and OLTL co-stars even appeared on “Castle.”

I have liked Nathan in everything he has been in starting with Joey on OLTL. I don’t even know if they were using the term cougar yet back then. But especially Firefly, Serenity and a really bad guy, Preacher, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The there is Castle. One thing I really liked about Castle is that there were guest appearances of actors from his previous shows, including the soaps…with Susan Sullivan (Another World) playing his mother Martha Rogers. What a wise mom, diva flair she had.

And as I mentioned under the Kassie return to Days story, maybe current soaps could take a page from soaps when they had more fun, romance, lightness, and adventure to them than the constant dreary, depressing stuff we are seeing now on shows like GH.

I love Susan Sullivan–have since she was on the soaps. She, unlike others I could mention, seems the consummate professional. And now she no longer has a job on the primetime show we loved so much.

I loved this and Nathan has always shown his respect for OLTL and I love that.

Wish he had shown more respect for his own show. (Sigh!) Egos CAN and DO get out of hand, don’t they?

Does this ego thing seem like deja vu? Shall I again refer to ugly happenings by another “star,” namely one who left GH about a year or so ago–and who left other people’s egos on the floor–where he stomped on them with his petty tantrums. But Genie is thriving and looking more relaxed and radiant than ever with her fan base intact and her ego firmly in check. Brava, Genie!

He was awesome as Joey especially when his mom, Viki, was having one of her breakdowns. He was also very good in the movie, “Waitress”. He seems like such a nice guy.

What I remember most about that storyline is the way Dorian would lovingly (lustfully?) say, “Joe,” when everyone else was calling him “Joey.” I get it: she saw him as a man and wanted to use the more formal version of his name. But the relationship between Dorian and Joe brought out a tenderness in Dorian, giving her shades of grey — was it 50 shades of grey?!

YES! YES! YES! & she always somehow elongated “Joe…”

Hey dmr!

It was fun stuff on OLTL! Good times… Take care, Friend!

Love Nathan. He has always spoken so highly of his start in daytime. I remember when Dorian and Joey had their affair. WOW! That was before it was hot to be a “cougar.” Now, that was some great daytime, lunchtime television and storytelling. I miss those days, those stories. On another note, can’t stand Kelly Ripa. Sorry, just can’t. So fake.

I saw that episode and it was great that such a talented actor gave credit to his OLTL roots! He also had a small part in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN at that time also credited hid soap roots enabling him to cry on que!

General Hospital

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

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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.

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Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Mike Manning Lands Role in Indie Horror Feature ‘Deify’

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Mike Manning

While Smitty tries to hold the fort down in his marriage to congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon)  and their two teenaged children, Samantha (Najah Jackson) and Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) on Beyond the Gates, Emmy-winner Mike Manning has also landed another feature film role.

According to Deadline, Manning has joined the cast of Deify with 6 other new cast members for the indie psychological horror film starring Neal McDonough and Skeet Ulrich, which was previously announced last week.

Joining Manning as the latest cast addition are: Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene,  Casey Harnett, Kirk Avecdo, Anji White, anf Nicholas Chimera who’s directing the pic also has a part in the film.

WHAT’S THE STORY OF DEIFY?

Taking to his Instagram with the news of his casting, Manning shared, “A movie about a cult? What could possibly go wrong? Come for the enlightenment. Stay because they won’t let you leave. DEIFY is coming…”

The movie is currently shooting in Chicago and in story, “a cult leader is put on trial after causing his devoted followers to be burned alive. The film is inspired in part by events surrounding the 1993 Waco, Texas, standoff between members of the Branch Davidians church and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, one of the largest civilian firefights ever recorded on American soil.”

MIKE MANNING IS A DAYTIME EMMY NOMINEE

In addition, the multi-talented Manning is a producer on the feature. Previously, Mike was nominated last month in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. He previously won an Emmy for his role on The Bay and for being a producer on the digital drama.

Mike’s previous credits include the role of Charlie Dale on Days of Our Lives and the Manny on This Is Us, plus various primetime and screen credits.

So intrigued to find what role Mike will play in the upcoming horror/cult film, Deify? Enjoying him as Smitty on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

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

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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.

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

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