Guiding Light
Soap Veteran Executive Producer Jill Farren Phelps Virtual Interview on Tap
In a very special conversation, don’t miss one of soaps longtime executive producer ‘s Jill Farren Phelps appearance on an upcoming livestream on The Locher Room.
Jill joins host and former ATWT and GL publicist, Alan Locher on Wednesday, June 23rd at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST.
As soap fans know Jill has helmed Another World, General Hospital, Guiding Light, One Life to Live, Santa Barbara and The Young and the Restless.
She has also been nominated for 15 Daytime Emmy Awards and took home 11 Emmys for her work.
While Phelps has been a polarizing figure on the soaps, look for the good, and the bad decisions under her tenures at the soaps to be discussed and more.
Here is the link to watch it live
So, what would you want to ask Jill? What was her best decisions and worst decisions as EP of the soaps? Let us know via the comment section below.
I don’t have the energy to type everything, so I’ll just focus on her disastrous days at GH. Killing too many Quartermaines and Georgie Jones. Making the key focus of GH be the mob, instead of the hospital. Unceremoniously dumping vets (her treatment of Anna Lee, in particular).
Whenever I feel like complaining about Frank, I remember how much worse it was.
Steve, I completely agree with your assessment of JFP. You innumerated her lowlights quite well. It really frustrates and annoys me what this so-called producer did to this once-great show. I, too, could write a lot more, but you have nailed it! Thank you, Steve.
James
Always appreciate your insights.
The one person who really gave it back to JFP was John Ingle. When she bumped Anna Lee and him to recurring, he promptly grabbed a contract offer at DAYS. Sadly, that left viewers with a woefully recast Jed Allan as Edward. As good an actor as he was, Jed looked awkward with Alan and Tracy and his grieving scenes when Lila died lacked authenticity.
Two years later, Ingle was back on contract at GH and stayed that way until his passing.
As Aria mentioned, Rebecca Herbst also probably got under Jill’s skin.
To finish on a positive note and give her credit, it was under her oversight that Genie Francis finally got her daytime Emmy.
Thank you, Steve! I always appreciate your insights as well. But you have also educated me, as I knew nothing about the situation regarding John Ingle — good for him, by the way — or the circumstances regarding Genie Francis’ Emmy win. Let’s hope there will be one for Lead Actress for Francis soon… I admire you for ending on a very positive note!
Jed Allan as Edward Quartermaine 3.0 was ridiculous. He was the same age as Alan & Tracy, for Hell’s sake, and he’s supposed to be their father??
Not that John Ingle was a good choice to play Mickey Horton either. That was the period that the abomination known as “Bonnie Lockhart” first appeared in Salem (yes, it’s true, we can’t blame her existence on ReRon. He just brought her back, for no good reason)
Thank Hell that was all over with in relatively short order and John was back on GH.
As far as Jill Fred Phelps goes – and yes, I gave her that middle name as an example of how toxic she was – I always thought she was FAR more poisonous to GH than Bob Guza ever was. Contrary to what some misguided viewers may believe, Guza was a brilliant writer, even if he did favor some characters over others. But what writer isn’t guilty of that, right??
I think you and I must be the only two beings in existence who are willing to give Guza any credit at all, Satan. I could not watch GH during his tenure, but it wasn’t because he can’t write; it was just too dark, dreary, and depressing (and mob-obsessed). But he knows how to execute a story (which is the biggest failing I’ve observed among unsuccessful soap writers: they may have good ideas, but they can’t execute them worth a damn); that was obvious to me anytime I’d tune back in to GH for a few days (which was as long as I could ever stand it, before the grimness drove me away). I’d personally at least check in on any show he was head-writing, and I would probably stick around if the darkness and the mob didn’t come along with him (nor any actors with the surnames Benard or Burton).
you aint kidding, she was very polarizing she also fired Rebecca Herbts,(fans got that decision reversed), I mean she alienated her audience more then bring them together. the wouldn’t even bring back legacy characters like Laura or Anna, if it wasn’t for Frank, there would be no Laura,Anna, and Lucy or Felicia.and so much more. I’m just glad she’s not with GH anymore.
Steve…dude…as a so-called executive producer, that Jill Farren Phelps woman is a DISASTER…PERIOD!!!!!
Steve…have a good one.
Don’t forget the destruction of AJ Quartermaine
Steve, I agree with your every point. And I might add that when she decides to fire an actor, she makes sure they go out with a humiliating exit storyline. She certainly did that to Genie Frances on Y&R. If you’re one of your favorites, you’re fine but if she dislikes you, then look out. She needs to stay away from the soap opera genre. They don’t call her the destroyer of soaps for nothing.
Her single handed destruction of y n r has we knew it as bill bells shining legacy is still felt today!
Yes. They re were bad showrunners before her LML comes to mind, however from what I recollect when she came on Y N R no longer resembled anything like what Bell intended. Instantly gone was the moody dark lighting and she fired the music composer responsible for y n r s signature background scores. I believe she let most of the bell show runners go and brought over her yes ppl from her abc time including Steve Burton. I think Pratt was the writer during that time. Marco Messeli, Jacks ‘ evil doppleganger’. Enough said. It was clear the brasd mandate wss chop chop chop $$$.
Continually today the show resembles one on the verge of cancellation with its 3 plot cast , bright obnoxious sets and tacky unmemorable background music.
….
Cant she retire in hiding already?
If he plays softball with her, it won’t be worth watching. If he asks her how she didn’t know that Beverlee McKinsey’s contract allowed her an out from GL…that could be interesting. If he asks why she fired Anna Lee from GH, and then didn’t have the guts to tell Ms Lee that she fired her, that would be interesting. If he asks how she screwed up Y&R so bad, that would be interesting. But if he treats her like a queen, I’ll skip it.
Towards the end of MAB’s tenure and into JFP’s reign of terror, whatever happened to Cane’s twin brother and I know that his sister died when she was young. The one thing that MAB should have stuck to her guns with is the firing of Daniel Goddard (who got on his knees and begged MAB and the PTB to keep him around) the first go around. Keeping him around meant we all had to endure another I don’t know how many years before he was eventually fired again (for good this time), because he wouldn’t do the potential May/December romance between Cane and Traci. I’m just glad that nothing came of it. I was just shocked that they had even gone that route to begin with.
I’ll say this much for her: she’s got guts. Given all the controversy surrounding her tenures on . . . well, take your pick of ANY show she’s been in charge of . . . I’m pretty sure I’d stay away from doing interviews in which the viewers can ask the questions, if I were she. I guess she may have fans out there, but I’ve yet to run into a single one. Anywhere. On any soap board or in any discussion group I’ve ever visited. The most sympathetic viewers I’ve run into are those who are willing to acknowledge there’s been some good in with the (ample) bad. But I can’t think of a single show she’s touched whose long-time viewers/fans would say, “Yeah, overall, she was good for my show.” (Maybe Santa Barbara, but I would not want to bet on that.) I suppose it might be interesting to hear her side of the story–factors that drove her decision-making, obstacles she encountered; I’m sure the job of EP has been an increasingly tough one, as the budgets got cut more and more and the networks and owners interfered more and more–but other EPs have encountered those same factors and obstacles and managed (some of them, anyway) not to do so much damage.
Whoops, my bad. I was thinking Alan Locher took audience questions. Since he doesn’t, I’m sure it will indeed be a bunch of softball questions, and I’m just not interested in another fluffy, overly generous PR piece on her soap career. (And no guts points for JFP, either.) A candid, balanced interview that gave her credit where credit is due but didn’t gloss over the damage she has also often done, on the other hand, would be interesting to see. We won’t get that, alas.
I hope this isn’t a terrible interview for her. I have my issues with her work just like everyone does. I particularly did not understand or appreciate her vision of General Hospital.
However, let’s remember she is the most Emmy decorated EP in the history of soap operas. That means she has a lot of good will among actors and voting members.
I hope people treat her with kindness and respect. Also remember these are just soap operas. Entertainment. Jill did not kill any of our real family members.
As much as I liked how she took an already red hot Guiding Light to another level in late 1991 to 1992 (and still really good in 1993 to mid 1994) I still dislike her for killing off Maureen Bauer and having so much focus on her buddy Justin Deas as Buzz Cooper. The writers for GL were top notch and even won best writing Emmys at that time. However I wish the executive producer before Jill (Michael Liabson?) stayed the EP. We still would have had Maureen Bauer and Beverlee McKinsey probably would have stayed on longer as Alexandra since she said she mentioned working too much to JFP.
But I can’t wait to read the comments in the live chat during the interview. I hope that Alan Locher doesn’t make it a fluff piece and asks the questions that we fans ask. It’s frustrating when he glosses over our questions and only asks a few.
Beverlee McKinsey hated the storyline and was hating the hours, so she was most definitely done with daytime. And it was proof when she only came back to renew her union insurance for a short stint on General Hospital. And even stated she didn’t like doing the work when she did it, and was enjoying her retirement.
She made a mess and ticked off many long-term fans during her reign at OLTL. If I remember correctly even Erika Slezak who went out of her way to always stay away from controversies even couldn’t resist commenting about her. And, I’m pretty sure Robin Strasser hated her.
Hey Chaz. I may be wrong, but Erika Slezak was always gracious when talking about Jill. She really had nothing to complain about during Phelps’ tenure. She had a young leading man and lots of good story to play.
I do know that Erika did not like Dena Higley’s writing, and quite infamously and uncharacteristically spoke out about that.
I don’t even want to speculate about Jill and Robin. Lol.
Chaz, I’m not a big One Life fan.. in fact, it is my least favourite American daytime soap opera. However, I do know Erika Slezak did an interview some years ago, and said she held Jill Farren Phelps close to her heart, and called a “wonderful producer” in her own words. She also remarked how Phelps had a difficult time running the soap, because of the higher-ups, and even Phelps said One Life was the most difficult soap she’s worked on.
She has killed off so many legacy soap characters. Why would I want to listen to her?
Alan Locher reads our comments and sometimes asks our questions but he doesn’t do direct questions, he chooses which ones to ask. I find Alan to be the best host ever, he really is great with his guests and makes them extremely comfortable!
For me my biggest problem with JFP’s time at GH was the positioning of Sonny Corinthos as the lead of the show, and it becoming mob-centered. I have never liked Sonny and while he has many fans I also think he turned off millions of viewers who left the show and never came back. The show is in the best balance ever lately, partly because Sonny has amnesia and is a nice character named “Mike” in Nixon Falls. The only part of the show I don’t like these days is the Sonny/Carly/Jason mob storylines. So my question for her would be: why did you decide to make the show about the mob instead of the hospital? Killing of so many of the Quartermaine’s was so incredibly stupid!
Amen, Brother, Amen! I completely agree with your assessment, particularly:
“…my biggest problem with JFP’s time at GH was the positioning of Sonny Corinthos as the lead of the show, and it becoming mob-centered. I have never liked Sonny…” and “why did you decide to make the show about the mob instead of the hospital?” SOMEONE should answer THAT question, Richard!
I am one of the “millions of viewers who left the show and never came back,” although I have admittedly returned upon rare occasion for special episodes (e.g., recent tribute to Sean Donely) and glimpses of Genie Francis.
She’s got a LOT to explain/defend about her controversial history on numerous soaps. This event will be a good test of Alan Locher’s ability as an interviewer. If he asks Phelps legitimate questions about her controversial actions (take your pick) on any of those soaps, it will be a fascinating interview. On the other hand, if the conversation is nothing but “fluff” pointing out her years of experience but never mentioning any of the “road kill” in her wake, I’m done with Locher.
Watched this interview this afternoon and it was quite good! Very informative and she got to have her say. I didn’t always agree with her, but I enjoyed hearing her point of view. She has had a fascinating career on soaps. Alan, as usual, did a great job with the interview! The only question I wish he had asked, since she has worked on both New York based and Los Angeles based soaps – what are the biggest differences between NY-based and LA-based soaps, in her opinion?
Can’t stand this woman. She destroyed literally every soap she ever touched, and I’m so glad she’s gone from the genre. Whatever the opposite of the Midas touch is, that’s JFP. HOW did she ever manage to get, much less keep, job after job after job?
JFP’s tenures at One Life to Live and General Hospital were complete disasters. But I should point out that at least IMHO, her tenures at Santa Barbara and Guiding Light (despite her killing off Maureen) were actually quite good.
Congratulations are in order for three-time Emmy winner, Tom Pelphrey (ex-GL and ATWT) and his fiancée Big Bang Theory star, Kaley Cuoco! The couple welcomed their second baby daughter together on October 12, and revealed they named the little bundle of joy, Philomena Carmine Bobby Pelphrey.
Tom and Kaley shared the news via their Instagram accounts on Wednesday with some adorable baby pics. Cuoco captioned the photo“🎀Philomena Carmine Bobby Pelphrey🎀. 💖10/12/26💖. There are no words to describe this feeling once again. What a blessing.
Cuoco added, “We are so grateful for the crazy wild up and down journey that brought us to our little Philo! Family officially complete 😭Time to bring Matilda’s baby home! 😂💕”
Photo: KCuoco IG
BABY MAKES FOUR
Next, Kaley shared her love for the father of her children, exclaiming, “Tom Pelphrey, life exploded the minute we met, and the gifts keep coming. I love you forever , girl daddy! 💘.”
Philomena now joins big sister, Matilda mwho was born in 2023, as part of the Pelphrey/Cuoco family! Tom and Kaley began dating in 2022 and became engaged in 2024.
Daytime fans first saw the talented actor on Guiding Light as Jonathan Randall, the son of Reva Shayne (Kim Zimmer). Tom won two Daytime Emmys for his memorable performances during his run from 2004-2009.
He later played Mick Dante on As the World Turns from 2009-2010, before heading to work in primetime and motion pictures. Last month, Pelphrey one the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in HBO’s Task.
TOM PELPHREY CELEBRATES EMMY WIN AND NEW DAUGHTER WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER
After winning his Emmy, the expectant dad told E! News, “We’re both so excited. Our daughter’s excited. We’ll see how it goes when it actually gets there.” Tom added, “The things that are new and the things that feel like not a big deal this time. But mom and baby are healthy, so God willing, that keeps up, and we’re thrilled,” added the actor.
Pelphrey took to his own Instagram and said on the birth of his second daughter, “Philomena Carmine Bobby Pelphrey. Another miracle. Welcome to our family youngest queen! Kaley you showed up in every way as a partner and a mom even when you weren’t feeling your best- you’re a CHAMPION. The girls and I would be lost without you. Thank God for the gift of this family and these girls.”
Jumping in to the comment thread to congratulate Tom and Kaley were Beyond the Gates star Ashley Jones (Heather), Dave Annabelle, Martha Plimpton, Alyssa Milano and many more.
Share your congrats and well-wishes to Tom, Kaley, Matilda and their new addition to the family, little Philomena via the comment section below.
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On Tuesday, September 22, the Greenville, South Carolina Coroner’s office ruled that actress Hayden Panettiere’s death was an accident, attributing the 36-year-old’s passing to be a combination of toxic effects from fentanyl and other drugs that were in her system.
Panettiere was found unresponsive on Sunday, August 16. There have been numerous reports and sources speaking to various outlets about the manner in which the Nashville and Guiding Light alum died, but nothing was certain until now.
The Greenville County Coroner’s office shared that fentanyl, combined with 4-ANPP, Alprazolam (also known as Xanax), Methocarbamol (a muscle relaxant) and Quetiapine (used to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia but is sometimes prescribed to treat depression), were all found in Hayden’s system.
Photo: CBS
GUIDING LIGHT ALUM’S DEATH IS STILL UNDER AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION
Meanwhile, the Greenville Police Department shared there is still an ongoing investigation into this case. “Our detectives will continue to follow leads and gather information as we work toward resolving this case,” the department shared.
That is, because despite Panettiere’s death being ruled accidental, authorities continue investigating whether anyone might be criminally responsible for providing the star with a lethal substance. It is being shared that this is “cross-country investigation” stretching from as far as South Carolina to California.
As we previously reported, TMZ shared on September 14 that law enforcement officials believe Hayden’s “long time drug dealer” may have been the person responsible for supplying her with an oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl which she took the morning of her death.
Panettiere “had been temporarily staying” at the apartment in Greenville, the coroner’s office said in August. Authorities did not say whose apartment it was but it was said to later be an Airbnb. It was Hayden’s on-again off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zach who called 911 the afternoon of August 16 to say Panettiere was unresponsive, according to police reports.
Photo: ABC
HAYDEN PANETTIERE IMPRESSED IN EVERY ROLE SHE PLAYED
Soap opera fans still remember Hayden’s as a very young Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live from 1994 until 1997, and then her signature daytime role as Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light from 1996-2000.
She later went on to star on the Music City primetime soap opera, Nashville from 2012-2018 on ABC and CMT where she played country and western singer, Juliette Barnes opposite General Hospital alum, Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky Spencer), who played her love interest, Avery Barclay.
Over this past weekend, Jackson, Charles Esten (pictured above), Connie Britton, and others from the cast of Nashville gathered for a memorial service in Hayden’s honor to pay their respects for their beloved co-star.
So, what do you think about the ruling in the death of actress Hayden Panettiere that it was an accident involving toxic effects of fentanyl combined with other drugs and medications she was taking at the time? Share your reactions via the comment section below.
Breaking News
‘Guiding Light’ and ATWT Alum Tom Pelphrey Wins Supporting Actor in Drama Series Emmy For ‘Task’
Tom Pelphrey, one of the greatest actors of our time, who got his first big break on the soaps, can now add a primetime Emmy to his two Daytime Emmys after receiving the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series tonight for his memorable role as Robbie Prendergrast in HBO’s Task.
Taking to the stage for his acceptance, Pelphrey delivered one of the more impassioned and touching moments at the 78th annual Primetime Emmys airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
Pelphrey shared, “I thank God for my life and my sobriety. I thank my family and my friends for all your love and support all these years, from Emmys to black box theaters and everything in between.” He added special thanks to his Task co-star and Emmy nominee, Mark Ruffalo, sharing, “Thank you for this incredible role and this opportunity and your friendship. I’m so proud to be your friend.”
Photo: NBC/TVAcademy
TOM PELPHREY GIVES BEAUTIFUL SHOUT OUT TO KALEY CUOCO
In conclusion, Tom gave a shout to his fiancée, Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco, when he expressed, “And to my favorite actor in this room, my love, my best friend, my partner, the very pregnant Kaley — I love you more than anything, and our family is the crown jewel of my life.”
Cuoco is the mother to their first child together named Matilda, and she is pregnant with their second child. Tom also gave shout oust to his children, the one they have, and the one on the way. “Matilda, daddy loves you. Baby girl, daddy loves you. Thank you. God bless,” an emotional Pelphrey said.
The now Emmy-winning actor beat out a stellar field for the gold statuette that included: Three men from the cast of The Pitt: Patrick Ball, Shawn Hatosy and Gerran Howell, The Morning Show’s Billy Crudup, Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden and Pluribus actor Carlos-Manuel Vesga.
Photo: JPI
TWO-TIME DAYTIME EMMY WINNER FROM GUIDING LIGHT
Pelphrey had previously been nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2022 for his guest star role as Ben Davis in the hit series Ozark. On the soaps, Tom won two Daytime Emmys for his role as Jonathan Randall on Guiding Light in the Younger Actor in a Daytime Drama Series in 2006 and 2008 and was nominated a total of four times.
For six years, Pelphrey played the son of Reva Shayne (Kim Zimmer) from 2003-2009, before later joining the cast of As the World Turns in the role of Mick Cain from 2009-2010. From there, it’s been all primetime television, stage and films for Pelphrey.
So, were you happy to see Tom Pelphrey winning an Emmy for his role in Task? What did you think of his acceptance speech? Do you think he was one of the best actors to ever get their start on soaps? Let us know via the comment section.
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THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Brooke Confronts Katie On Her Vendetta Against Her and Claims, ‘It Breaks My Heart’
Tom Pelphrey and Kaley Cuoco Welcome Baby Girl, Philomena into the World
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