News
OWN Orders New Soap Opera To Series!
Big news soap fans! None other than Jamey Giddens (Daytime Confidential) has written and will co-executive produce a new soapy drama for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network.
The word came via Deadline who announced that Ambitions (working title) is a multigenerational family saga centered around one woman who, having recently relocated and intent on revitalizing her marriage, finds herself going head to head with some of the most powerful and deceitful players in the city.
Ambitions will begin production later this year and will debut on OWN in 2019.
The series will be produced for OWN by Will Packer Media in association with Lionsgate/Debmar-Mercury. Will Packer Media’s Sheila Ducksworth serves as executive producer alongside Packer; writer Jamey Giddens serves as co-executive producer.
So, excited to hear a new soap is on its way, and Giddens has been given the nod as writer and co-EP? Comment below.
I know Jamey has worked hard so kudos to him he will be missed at DC he made me laugh hysterically but he deserves this!
He proved you work hard you can live your dream!!!
Time will tell…the best primetime soap was Peyton Place with Knots Landing a close tie…also liked Dynasty and Dallas-the originals!!!!…did watch Empire for some time but lost interest!!!
Never saw Peyton Place the soap-loved the Movie with Lana Turner. Wish they would re-run Peyton Place-and the other classic soaps. Loved Knots-also Falcon Crest was delightful.
Jim really!! How old sre you?? Lol??? Peyton Place??
Jovin there’s a lot of us old fuddy duddy diehard’s still hanging about. LOL. I was 7 when One Life To Live started and 8 when All My Children began. Our father worked days, our nurse mother worked nights. During the summer it was watch her stories or go outside. I chose the soaps and haven’t looked back. My aunt and uncle used to argue over how true to the novels Peyton Place was. And if you were visiting one of three other aunts you ran the range from ABC to CBS to NBC.
maybe.
Good for Jamey!
And
Good for us!
Do not know where else to post this but we lost a First Lady yesterday Barbara Bush I read President Obamas remarks they were very gracious do you think maybe we might just stop with the hate on both sides just for once and try to come together as a nation their have been many Presidrnts that I have not agreeded with but maybe we might try to just for a day stop the hate. If we do not we are going to be lost as a nation let’s quit yelling at each other and try to find solutions for our many problems. Obama Clinton Bushes even the Trumpster maybe we just might find some common ground for our children and for our nation.
We also lost Harry Anderson-star of 80s sitcom Night Court…
There was another “coincidence” the same time of Barbara Bush’s passing. I wonder, is the universe telling us something? The British were celebrating the 92 birthday of Queen Elizabeth. You may not agree with some of their politics or decisions, but here were two women about the same age, both having grace, dignity, love for their family and country, and having adapted to changes throughout their lives. You won’t see many of their kind again.
Thought I should add re the comment ” You won’t see many of their kind again.” With Barbara and the Queen I meant persons like them that were brought into the public/political arena by circumstance or lineage who became good role models. But I’m sure many of us have those in our own lives to whom we can say the same things. I know I can. But wonder how they would adapt to many of the changes if they were here now. Hard enough for us who are here now. Sometimes a lot of culture shock here in micro seconds.
It is Not a soap opera,,
It is simply another series with a continuing story which is the same as all the other tv series with a continuing story all considered to be soapy by continuation.
* OWN is not a big enough network to create and maintain a soap opera.
A soap airs daily– – series air once weekly with a set amount of episodes per season.
IF, OWN could maintain a daily soap it would have taken on AMC or OLTL that came with a huge ready to go following (and still has its’ audience)
”Ambition” is simply another tv series with a continuing story..
((and by description, it sounds like ‘eeehhh’ ..
Anyways– good luck with it .. 🙂
su0000, simply, you’ve nailed it!
In your remarks here and the remarks below regarding the current status of soap boards…
No! Not all soap operas air daily… Primetime Soaps have been around for quite sometime and were even featured in SOD in their heyday! That being said this does sound more like a soapy continuing drama NOT a Soap Opera! The fact that the network even stops short of calling it a soap speaks volumes!
I hope Oprah knows what she’s doing and that Jamey Giddens is a much better writer and producer than he is a co-host of Daytime Confidential’s podcast. I always support Oprah and her network though so will give it a chance despite the often obnoxious, aggressive, talk-over-your-cohosts petty critiques I have heard from Jamey on DC in the past. I have heard enough of his podcasts to know the ideas he pitched on there were not my taste. They were often of the Carlavati-inspired school of soap.
Wow, congrats to Jamey Giddens. That’s probably why he’s not as active in Daytime Confidential lately.
hi James ..
All the soap boards are failing..
We, checked out the soap boards this weekend, a look-see to check out the situations
All were quite absent from posters and enthusiasm.
The big posting board around the corner is the same old speak..
It’s referred to as – Groupthink .
Same people posting their carbon copy remarks, it seems to be the same group, mainly for the past decades.
Even here, my favourite place ..
It used to be updated 3 times a day, now once every 1-2 days, usually.
Why??
there is no new news to get excited over to generate controversy ..
It used to be that 150- 200 (at times) posts, in threads here now 50 is a big deal..
Some boards have instant posting other boards have a delay to get to moderaters, yet they all are way-way way below posts they once were.
It seems, Jamey Giddens, has a lot more time these days to do other projects..
Hi Su- I am thinking the reason things here are not updated so often is Fairman is busy with launching his new site, plus the emmys nest weekend is a huge amount of work and planning-and often he is involved in the production end of the program. I don’t know what the big posting board around the corner is?
This is my favorite place-the scoops are always 100 per cent true and accurate and way sick of those sites that put out totally false or misleading soap news or lure you in with clickbait titles and then nothing. Hate that. I do enjoy twitter- can quickly scan through a lot of info and respond right away if desired.
Hi Phyllis, I totally agree with you
Im hoping we get some veterans fromOLTL and or AMC/GL. Also, kinda of hoping for a priest! I know, a bit weird but love the idea of havinf somebody know all the secrest via confession!
Thanks, Oprah.
No.Winfrey stated that ‘there is no money in soap operas’ when she was previously asked to produce the now defunct One Life to Live and All My Children.
Yep; that was my first thought!
I can’t take on another soap, but good luck!
Good for him can’t wait and i’m sure Jamey will be casting some of our daytime faves
It is Not a soap opera unless it airs 5 days a week.
If it is a once a week then it’s simply another ‘continuing series’
A real genuine soap opera, it will not be.
but- it’s worth a look-see..
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.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Mike Manning Lands Role in Indie Horror Feature ‘Deify’

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.
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.
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