General Hospital (Read 5,001 times)

[karebr13]

I just found out over on the daytime royalty website that GH headwriter Garin Wolf and executive producer Jill Farren Phelps are out and that they have been replaced by OLTL executive producer Frank Valentini and headwriter Ron Carlivati.


daytimeroyaltyonline.com/topic/8612950/1/

www.soapoperadigest.com/content/ghs-phelps-out-oltls-valentini

GH's Phelps Out, OLTL's Valentini In

By SOD • Posted: Dec 1, 2011

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© Steven Bergman
After ten years, Executive Producer Jill Farren Phelps is being replaced at the helm of GENERAL HOSPITAL by ONE LIFE TO LIVE Executive Producer Frank Valentini, who just wrapped production on OLTL last month. This isn't the first shake up behind the scenes in Port Charles. In May, ABC confirmed the ouster of Head Writer Robert Guza, Jr., and Garin Wolf stepped into the spot of chief scribe. Valentini, of course, was until November 23 slated to remain as OLTL's EP when Prospect Park moved the show to its online network; he was also to have served as the company's V.P. of Serial Drama. PP's decision to shelve its plans for OLTL made Valentini a free agent. Also a free agent now is OLTL Head Writer Ron Carlivati who, pre-Prospect Park, was heading to Port Charles. Insiders say he'll join Valentini at GH.


From SOD's Facebook page:

Soap Opera Digest Official Page
Confirmed: Ron Carlivati named GH's new head writer.
www.facebook.com/digest.weekly


www.soapoperadigest.com/content/ron-carlivati-named-gh-head-writer

Frank Valentini isn't going to GH alone — his Emmy-winning OLTL scribe, Ron Carlivati, is joining him as Head Writer. “Frank and Ron's creativity, passion and outstanding leadership will be a welcome addition to the cast and crew, as well as viewers and longtime fans," says ABC honcho Brian Frons. "As creative leaders in the industry, I am very excited for their arrival to GENERAL HOSPITAL and their dedication to the genre will certainly invigorate the daytime drama that has been part of pop culture and the TV landscape for many years."

[karebr13]

I finally got a chance to get caught up on a weeks worth of episodes and I really enjoyed most of everything that happened on the show. I don't really like the fact that GW was fired now that I feel like the show is getting really good.

As much as the whole Franco/Sam/Jason stuff bothers me because of the whole insinuation that Sam was raped by Franco I can say that both KM and SB are doing a great job with this storyline and I can't wait to see how the rest of this storyline plays out.

I can't believe that I have been even enjoying the Sonny/Kate stuff too lately considering how much I despise Sonny and don't really care for Kate.

After watching Monday and Tuesday's episodes where Robin was talking to Mac it definitely looks like Robin is going to be dieing of AIDS as her exit story. What a shame that Robin is going to be killed off? The only positive thing to come out of this is that Robert Scorpio (Robin's father is going to be coming back to Port Charles for 13 weeks so hopefully he will be back for Robin's exit)

I really don't like what is going on with Lucky and Liz right now.

Maggie still has grown on me yet but I did like her scenes with Emma.

I am still very curious as to who the lady in white is going to end up being.

[Tom Horton]

I don't like Maggie at all and I'm still not enjoying Sonny & Kate but I have stopped racing to FF their scenes so I guess that's progress. The scenes between Robin and Mac were great. It will be a sad story and I would prefer that she not die either I guess... on the other hand I think they are going to all do a great job with the story and since GH seems to be ending soon it doesn't matter so much IMO that they are killing off one of their young legacy characters.

I'm not sure what the changes in administration will mean for GH but I'm hoping for the best. I also saw that Brian Frons has been fired, but sadly that decision came way too late. ABC can choke on their freaking health & talks shows for all I care.

[Tom Horton]

Loved the Mac and Alexis scenes earlier this week, especially the part where he wanted to know why she trusted him and that maybe if he were "bad" she would be more into him.

[Tom Horton]

Remember how I thought that maybe if Matt got more scenes and I got to know the character better that I might warm up to him - wrong - the more he talks the more unwatchable he becomes. I'm past ready for him to fade back into the background.

[karebr13]

Matt has really been annoying me a lot lately too in all his scenes. I am ready for them to cut his airtime again or get rid of him all together. Also the new Maxie has really been getting on my nerves alot too.

I am so over all this marriage drama between Lante. I wish that Lulu would just hurry up and make up her mind about whether she wants to marry Dante or not.

My favorite storyline right now has to be the Robin cancer stuff. Kimberly McCullough is doing a tremendous job with the material and it is hard to watch knowing that she is going to end up dieing of AIDS thanks to Lisa. I loved the Jason and Robin scenes the other day. Too bad Carly had to interrupt them so that Jason could help her again.

I also really like the Sam and Jason stuff right now. I'm glad that Sam finally opened up today to someone other than Jason about what happened to her.

I can't believe I am saying this but even Sonny hasn't been annoying me that much lately. Too bad Carly is really getting on my nerves right now.

I am still very intrigued with the Wyndemere stuff and I sorta like the Liz and Ewen stuff at Shadybrook.

I still don't care too much for Maggie.

I found out that Nathan Parsons/Ethan is going to be leaving the show when his contract is up.

[Tom Horton]

Unfortunately I had heard that news about Nathan/Ethan too. I'm bummed over all of these departures of characters I enjoy. I agree with everything you said (well except that Sonny's storyline is still annoying me but it's more that I still don't like the actress playing Kate). The Robin storyline is going to be so sad but they are doing a great job with it. I'm glad that they are explaining that it is because Lisa replaced Robin's medication that will cause her death since there were concerns early on that the storyline wouldn't accurately reflect the improvements that have been made in the survival rate of AIDS patients.

I still don't like Maggie and I still don't care about what happened in Memphis. I like Steve and Olivia and wish they would just focus on them. I'm also hopeful that maybe Johnny will have a good storyline coming up with the new female cop. I don't care much about a romance between them I just want Johnny to have someone who cares about him.

Abby's death was completely out of the blue for me since I'm usually spoiler free for GH. I liked Abby and would have preferred that she stick around but at least Michael is finally becoming more tolerable lately. I've been enjoying the scenes between he and Sam bonding over what Franco did to them. I'm glad Jason overheard their conversation today so that he has a better understanding of why Sam has been having such a hard time to talking to him.

[phloefansince2000]

I just went on ABC.com and I saw that Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati will be the GH new head writers! Which I am excited about GH is my fav soap opera and they already have strong. Frank and Ron used to be OLTL writers so they have a lot of experience. They need to write for Days they need new writers.

[Tom Horton]

Hi Phloefan, I moved your post to this thread where we've been discussing General Hospital. We would love to have you join in our discussions about GH here.

I'm also hoping that the new writers will be good for GH. I enjoyed the Lante wedding and I'm looking forward to seeing more of Ethan's mystery, Jasam's storyline, and the upcoming one for Robin.

[Tom Horton]

Jax is back!! I'm sure I'm way behind but I didn't know he was returning. Does anyone know if he's back for good or if it's just a visit?

[karebr13]

Jax is only going to be back temporarily for a few episodes. I really wish that he was coming back permanently since he has always been one of my favorite characters on the show.

I hope that the new headwriter can save GH from cancellation since I have been really enjoying the show a lot lately. I really like the Robin and Sam storylines and am intrigued by the Wyndemere stuff.

I totally loved the Christmas episode. The Lante wedding was so sweet and beautiful and the Robin/Patrick/Emma stuff was so sad to watch knowing that Robin is going to die of AIDS thanks to Lisa.

[Tom Horton]

I haven't watched today's episode yet but otherwise I'm caught up and one small storyline that has me particularly curious right now is Spinelli. He gave Sonny $20 million dollars but it wasn't the money that was missing and Spinelli couldn't find, but apparently instead Spinelli managed to make that much off of his new found betting skills? My thinking is that if Spinelli could make that much to replace Sonny's missing millions, then obviously he can make that much for himself as well. I don't know if Spinelli was just making everything up to get Maxie jealous or if he really did have a meeting planned but it wasn't with a women, but rather something related to business/investment. I would love to see Spinelli earn his own fortune and maybe even have his own company and tell Sonny to go screw himself. Sonny annoys me for a lot of reasons, but his treatment of Spinelli is especially irksome to me for some reason and I would really like to see Spinelli have a win.

[karebr13]

I have always hated the way that Sonny has treated Spinelli. Spinelli has gone out of his way so many times to help Sonny out of his jams and yet Sonny is always treating him like a piece of S***. I would love for Spinelli to pull a fast one on Sonny and take the missing $20 million dollars and invest it in a way that would turn Sonny's world upside down. Maxie is really starting to annoy me a lot lately with the way that she is stringing both Spinelli and Matt along. I absolutely hate the way that she is always cancelling her plans with one of them so that she can be with the other one. Now that Lulu is moving out of Maxie's apartment, I wonder if since Spinelli moved out of Jason's place today if he is going to end up being Maxie's new roommate.

I am so glad that Jax is back. I just wish that it would be permanent.

I am interested in seeing what is going to be happening with Michael now that Johnny is going to be giving him a job.

I can't believe that Tracy and Anthony are going to be getting married. I am not sure if I am going to like them as a couple.

Molly continues to be the highlight of GH right now. I love her passion with trying to learn more about the Cassadine history.

[Tom Horton]

After watching yesterday's episode, it seems that my initial hope about Spinelli building a fortune of his own isn't going to happen. I like your idea about Spinelli possibly moving in with Maxie. In the days of Belle overkill on Days, I never would've thought I would say this but I miss Kirsten Storms and can not wait for her return. If Kirsten were performing this same material, it would make me laugh, instead it annoys me to no end.

I wish Jax's return was permanent too but maybe they will bring him back full time in the near future.... and you know how much I adore my Molly. I hope they never ever decide to SORAS her!

Will Tracy actually go through with marrying Anthony? I keep hoping for the usual soap staple of having Luke ride in to the rescue at the last minute. Anthony usually amuses me but that doesn't change the reality that he is a psychopath. I don't want my Tracy getting hurt by him! It's bad enough what they've done to Alexis lately - that stupid crying scene irked me yesterday - she used to be so strong and smart but now they've got her acting like a wimpy idiot all to help out Sonny once again. I don't want to see Tracy ruined for Anthony. Tracy & Luke are charming and funny together (and sometimes sweet and heartbreaking) but at best Tracy & Anthony are campy, cheesy, contrived humor and at worst it could easily become scary and degrading for Tracy. If I wanted to see women being abused and degraded, I'd just tune back in to Days.

[karebr13]

Kristen Storms should be back taping at GH in the next few weeks. I will be so very glad when she reclaims Maxie. At least Kristen Storms' Maxie didn't annoy the hell out of me. I was never a really big fan of KS as Belle on Days but I really do like her a lot as Maxie on GH. Her quirkiness really makes me laugh.

This whole Robin AIDS storyline is breaking my heart watching. I hate that she is going to end up dieing and leaving poor Patrick to raise Emma alone. I wish though that she would really sit down with Patrick and tell him what is going on so that he can be there for her.

I don't think the writers at GH could do anything to turn me off more than Days has been lately. At least they know how to write interesting and complete character driven storylines unlike the writers at Days who have the most boring bunch of garbage going on right now that are really pissing off the viewers more and more. If Days doesn't start listening to what viewers want to see and incorporating it into their storylines they will end up off the air long before GH is. At least TPTB at GH are listening to what the fans don't like and rewriting what is not working for them unlike Days who just keeps going with all these storylines that viewers are outraged over being shown.