General Hospital
Robert Palmer Watkins & Risa Dorken Preview The GH Nurses’ Ball 2017: Watch The Interview!

Courtesy/ABC
Those those red carpet arrivals, those touching and funny musical performances, those umbrella drama storylines – all are signatures of General Hospital’s annual Nurses’ Ball episodes, and those wardrobe malfunctions of Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring).
Each year, GH takes a break from the usual storytelling by bringing all elements together into the ‘ball’. What is on the docket this year? Well, we know their will be songs originally performed and written by the late David Bowie and George Michael, and one by Billy Joel. We know Kimberly McCullough will be in the house as Robin (the ball started because of Robin’s storyline with Stone when he died of AIDS and then she contracted HIV), and we know Michelle Stafford and Extra’s Mario Lopez will be on the red carpet as Nina Clay Cassadine, and Lopez as “himself”.
To get even more insight into what may go down as the episodes begin to unravel today, On-Air On-Soaps Michael Fairman caught up very early in the morning with two of the singing sensations who will be performing in musical numbers in the ball: Robert Palmer Watkins (Dillon) and Risa Dorken (Amy) during a satellite media tour promoting the annual GH on-air event.
While the duo could not spoil too much for the audience, they did give us some intel on what to watch for and more!
Now after the jump, check out our GH Nurses’ Ball preview interview with the two of the brightest stars on the soaps these days… Robert and Risa. Then let us know what you are looking forward to this week on GH, and if you are excited to see Robert and Risa’s musical numbers in the comment section below!
RPW has really flourished on this show. For long time viewers who fondly remember a young Scott Clifton’s take on Dillon, it was tough at first. RPW’s Dillon is sweet and caring. He’s brought out the best in both Haley Erin and the Kiki character, plus held his own in scenes with Jane Elliott. I wish they’d show more of his emotional side. We never really got to feel Dillon’s recovery from learning Paul was a serial killer.
Risa is a fine actress. Unfortunately, the character of Amy is not needed on the show. Perhaps if they made her one of Lucy’s daughters, that would have been better.
I agree with what you said about RPW. As much as I think the character is somewhat Tuesday and Wednesday “filler,” I think the actor does a good job and did well in scenes with Jane. As far as Haley Erin is concerned, I can’t stand behind her as an actress. I’ve always disliked the character, Kiki Jerome, back when Kristen Alderson played her, and since then, the character has never grown on me. I had to laugh, when Dillon surprised Kiki with a spa package for all of her hard work passing the nursing program. Please. The character has never had a real job, and this is the first time that she’s ever done anything of value. Mind you, she finished the program in lightening speed, haha.
While I think the actress who plays Amy is a good actress, the character just annoys most viewers, and again, is “filler,” IMO.
Completely agree! When Hayley debuted as Kiki…she was awful!! Butbremember….it takes VERY VERY talented actors to sell the crsp material that Ron C. Was writing at the time! Now that most of tje characters are behaving and talking like real people again…and not cartoons….it is much easier for actors to sell the material! And…regarding Amy……WHY was she not made the daughter of long time nurse Amy Vining?? That would have endeared her to fans AND made her a legacy character!!
We’re not sure Amy Vining ever had sex. In the 20 years she was on the show, I think she had one boyfriend. Of course, that could’ve changed when she disappeared without notice from Port Chuck.
It was touching that she was remembered when they revived the NB a few years ago.
I loved Scott as Dillon. He is not available for a good reason. He is a B&B superstar! So we get Robert. He has grown on me. He is finding his way and seems like a cool dude.
Amy Vinning was a legendary character and the actress met a unfortunate early death. I would have left the name “Amy” alone. BUT, we have Amy Driscoll. I dont like the character. I thought Paul should have killed her off. But she is here and they are trying to tie her to other characters now. Whatever. The actress was on Facebook answering questions with Robert and seems a fan of the show. Where the hell is Lucas?
Agreed. Risa is a good actress and plays the character well, in terms of, playing her as an annoying busy body. However, the back story of how Amy and Maxie went to high school together and Maxie was a “mean girl” and a cheerleader…WHO CARES?!?!?!?! It’s not relevant to viewers since it’s a backstory attempt at a current storyline.
I was wondering about Lucas, too.
Apparently, this backstory is a lame attempt to create justification for Nurse Amy’s obvious desire to jump Nathan’s frame.
The back story is a rewrite of history. Maxie was never popular or a cheerleader in high school. How could she with her heart problem. Maxie was there. She was dealing with her and abandonment issues and got mixed up with Kyle who ended up making a sex tape of them and posting it on the internet. The writers are once again rewriting history to make a charcter they created and we can’t stand and shoving her down our throats. Maxie is a legacy character and a character many fans love. Don’t rewrite a long time characters history for the sake of a new character that’s has been on a little over a year.
The subplot featuring Nathan and Amy is just filler until Maxie returns. They are going to pay RP anyway, so they need to give him something to do other than arrest people & listen to Nina complain.
I find the red carpet scene laughingly bad..Mario Lopez interviewing the locals like Sam and Jason and others like they are well known celebs is such a joke…and as for the nurses dance numbers-hope none of them appear on Dancing With The Stars!!!
Jimh, and Nina’s awkwardness made me feel awkward watching the show! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I was rolling my eyes during Mario’s interview with Monotone Sam and Jason. Sam is exhausted having a newborn and toddler at home. Really? She doesn’t work and is the most useless P.I. So, what else does she do, besides talk in a monotone and put me to sleep?
Paging Britt and Brad….STAT! Your presence is required on the red carpet for your clever and scintillating takes on all things NB…
The actress who plays nurse Amy is very good but don’t like the Amy character. I hope Maxie returns to claim her man as Amy is on the prowl.
Exactly, Linda…like I’ve said before, I smell a “Fatal Attraction” storyline for this nosy nursey…There has always been something really unsettling and weird about this character!
Amy probably has an apartment with a secret room hidden behind a closet…inside is a metal human size cage she ordered from Amazon…she will drug Nathan and keep him prisoner in it…she will have him shirtless and dressed with a leopard cloth Tarzan-like outfit…lol
I wish Ellie Trout was still on the show. without Spinelli.
I don’t know, what nurses ball… Ellie and Nathan “dated” to make Spinelli and Maxie jealous. but it worked, for me
I saw a natural and at ease couple who are potential. Nathan West… dreamboat that he is… sparked.. with Ellie.
Adorable interview! I liked Robert Palmer as Dillon immediately…I love his style…whether as himself or as in character he’s just a “natural.” He doesn’t seem put on…he’s got an easy, cool, relaxed, friendly style both on and off screen and (for me) fit effortlessly into the role (even though I, too, liked Scott Clifton “back in the day.”)
Risa Dorken is so cute! Not sure what her background is but I can see her in musical theatre. I already see her in the role of Tracy Turnblad in another revival of HAIRSPRAY. She’s got such an exuberance..she sings/dances…has the cutest voice…and so pretty! I’d hate to see her turn into a Nathan “stalker”, LOL, though I do think they could incorporate her more into the story…find her a cute up ‘n’ coming doctor. (They seem to have dropped, surprise! the story that she had a crush on Dillon since high school and was hoping to have something with him when she found out they’d be working together at the Ball). After all her crushes it’d be nice if they have a sweet new couple. I do think as someone suggested they should have made her the daughter of Amy Vining…then she’d be connected and embraced.
oh…and Robert Palmer Watkins…if I were still at the age of putting posters on my wall of “hot” dudes…he’d be right up there! 🙂
Love RPW and Killon. As for Amy she needs to stay far away from Nathan, Maxie, and Naxie. She needs to go after a guy who isn’t marry.
Theirs were my two favorite performances at the Nurses’ Ball. His number with Kiki was all right, but the number did not suit them as well as last year’s, due to his considerable adorableness with Erin, and the Nurses’ Ball opening and closing numbers with Rita were awesome along wth Robin’s video.
amy and Nathan , are the best ,,they were marvelous ,, the ,, scene that they did to do their act , meeting and getting to make their scene ,, on general hospital , I have watched general hospital ,for years they performed,, they finally found ,,the best ,, scene ,,, thank you , for the best ,,
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.
-

General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’s’ Maurice Benard Talks: New ‘Sonny’ Storyline, His Contract, and Three Characters He Would Want to See Back in Port Charles
-

Days Of Our Lives1 week agoHow John Oliver’s ‘Days of Our Lives’ Guest Star Turn as ‘Devlin St. John’ Came to an End
-

Breaking News6 days agoJohn Oliver Recaps His ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘General Hospital’ Soap Opera Experience on ‘Last Week Tonight’
-

Days Of Our Lives5 days ago‘Veronica & Julian’ Feature Starring ‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Releases Key Art and More (Exclusive)
-

General Hospital5 days ago‘General Hospital’ Alum Bryan Craig Cast in ‘The Weapon’
-

Breaking News1 week agoHayden Panettiere, ‘Guiding Light’ and ‘Nashville’ Alum, Dead at 36
-

Recaps1 week agoTHE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Sharon, Nick and Marie Struggle in Aftermath of a Relapse; Jade Harlow Shares She’s ‘Really Proud’ and ‘Grateful’ to ‘Show How Addiction Can Touch Anyone’ (Exclusive)
-

News1 week agoB&B’s Don Diamont Recalls His Soap Start on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and Confrontation with Exec Prod Al Rabin (Exclusive ‘Soapy’ Preview)













