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26 December 1st, 2011 Frank Valentini Speaks On: Pressure to Save GH, Jill Farren Phelps & Time to Assess Port Charles!

Courtesy/ABC

As was made official earlier today by ABC, One Life to Live’s former head honcho Frank Valentini will now be taking over the reins from Jill Farren Phelps, at General Hospital  as of January 9th.  Phelps had been GH’s executive producer for the last 10 years.

In an exclusive interview with EW.com, Valentini addressed his quick hiring to General Hospital, coming into the series when there are consistent rumors of its soon-to-be-demise, and what he intends to do with the canvas.  Valentini is quick to point out that becoming GH’s show runner happened over the last 48 hours.  Here are some excerpts below!

Valentini on if he feels his coming on-board GH is to save it from cancellation: “ Any exec producer always has the weight of the world on their shoulders. I’ve always felt a tremendous responsibility. You have the fate of a lot of people’s futures in your hand.   I’m the type of person who takes that very seriously. If I spent any energy worrying about whether we were getting cancelled, it would take away from making the show the best that it could possibly could be. When you’re running, don’t look behind you.”

Valentini on replacing long-time GH executive producer, Jill Farren Phelps: “Jill Phelps is a fantastic producer.  She taught me so much when we worked together She was so generous and so kind. And I can’t say enough good things about her. Jill called me this morning and congratulated me. It’s always tough when someone loses their job. But at the end of the day everyone understands that there are business decisions that get made.”

Valentini on his playbook or plans to help GH: “But I don’t think it will change dramatically. I have to come in and assess what’s working and see what can be made better.  At this point, during the transition, I ask the audience to be patient. Come along for the ride, and enjoy and love their show.”

So what do you think of Valentini’s comments? Let us know your thoughts on the move of bringing the talented Valentini over to Port Charles!

 

Tags: ew.com, Frank Valentini, General Hospital, jill farren phelps, One Life To Live

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1. Brian says:

   December 1, 2011 at 5:52 pm

   I love Frank! I sure hope he can make some substantial changes to make this show the best it can be.

   Reply

   

   Betty James replied December 6th, 2011 at 9:37 pm

   the writting is bad I can tell the writer has changed. what is going on with the storylines the best one going is carly and sean I feel bad for the actors it has to be hard to go to work and have a stupid script. GH has always been the best soap on but at this point I am about to stop watching and so are my friends please fix it quick and you can send lulu packing.

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2. Susan says:

   December 1, 2011 at 5:55 pm

   My piece of advice is please don’t make GH all about the mob. The hospital storylines have some interesting stories left to tell. The characters and character histories to build on if someone pays attention. Please focus on the whole cast. Don’t make it a three person show like past headwriters did. Utilize actors to their maximum potential.

   Reply
3. Jeffrey Moree says:

   December 1, 2011 at 6:38 pm

   They really should shake it up at GH if they are going to survive… I saw a promising story with Carly and John a bit controversial when she told him his problem with her was because she was white and then it just fizzled out but it was good story.

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   Robin replied December 2nd, 2011 at 6:11 pm

   As much as I love Sonny, I agree!! WE NEED THE HOSPITAL & THE QUARTERMAINES!!
   ENOUGH FRANCO CRAPPO!! JASON: KILL HIM AND MOVE IT ALONG!!
   ROMANCE:: LUKE & TRACEY, LUCKY & LIZ, SONNY & CARLY, MAC & ALEXIS, JOHNNY OLIVIA STEVE..,,A GREAT TRIANGLE… JASON LIZ SAM LUCKY MATT MAXI SPINELLI…A NICE MIX-UP
   WE NEED ROMANCE,,,,,LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON!!
   ALSO: HOW ABOUT PP & OPRAH WORK IT OUT AND MAKE A SOAP COMBO OF AMC & OLTL.. USE THE ACTORS/ACTRESSES WHO ARE INTERESTED

   OPRAHS NETWORK IS IN BIG TROUBLE, BUT IF PROSPECT PARK INC AND OPRAH WORK TOGETHER, THEY CAN HELP EACHOTHER…AND THE FANS!!
   I AM SO SAD ABOUT MY SOAPS AND THE INDUSTRY!!
   PLEASE WORK IT OUT..AND LET US HELP. I AM WILLING TO PAY $50 A MONTH…IF YOU TAKE 200,000 FANS…YOU GET A LOT OF HELP RIGHT THERE…PLEASE WORK IT OUT!!

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4. Angela says:

   December 1, 2011 at 6:51 pm

   I don’t believe that this was all a sudden thing! Frank and Ron were already slated to go over to GH a few months before the PP thing came along, so I don’t doubt that they had this thing in the works all along! Don’t trust anything that the Mouse tells us!

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5. Sean says:

   December 1, 2011 at 7:29 pm

   More Quartermains! The Q’s were a huge part of the show througout the 80′s, 90′s and well into the 00′s. just bringing Monica, Edward and Tracy out every so often throughout the year to bicker isn’t enough. I want storylines. Give Monica happiness.

   Love the Sonny and Kate paring, but make it a reality. Get them married and stable. it cuold always be a contest of will between the upscale Kate and mobster Sonny that could bring interesting storylines for years.

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6. Jared says:

   December 1, 2011 at 7:46 pm

   Interesting news. Now, I may consider giving GH a chance after January 13th, as long as the following occurs. I propose that all or most of the residents of Llanview relocate to Port Charles and take over. John, Bo and Nora can finally take down the mafia and send Sonny, Jason, Luke and their minions to Pentonville where they belong. Dorian can run General Hospital because currently they have no adults on staff, except for Epiphany. Clint and Viki can run ELQ. Todd can bring the SUN to Port Charles. Blair can open up Capricorn PC. Tea can go head to head with Diane in court. How much fun would that be!? Only if wishes came true! Note to fronsie: if you were going to replace the GH show-runners with the heads of your #1 soap, why didn’t you just cancel GH instead and leave ONE LIFE TO LIVE on the air? Oh, I forgot: this decision was made by a corporate executive; common sense doesn’t exist amongst the decision makers of corporate America. My bad. hehe. Long live ONE LIFE TO LIVE!

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   Dan replied December 2nd, 2011 at 3:25 am

   I know you’re probably joking with what you wrote, but instead of hijacking GH and basically turning it into OLTL 2.0, how about we hope for a happy medium.

   A show where perhaps some former OLTL characters can be incorporated into the mix, to help freshen things up, which as a GH fan, I would welcome. While also rebuilding and strengthening the core of GH, and honoring its rich history and tradition. which is long overdue. That would be a show that both GH and OLTL fans might be able to enjoy.

   Instead of the fans of both shows sniping back and forth, saying this should have happened, or that should have happened, shouldn’t that be what we all hope for?

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   Tali replied December 3rd, 2011 at 12:25 am

   Long live OLTL Jared! I’ve never watched GH, but only if. Loved you post.

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   mary replied December 3rd, 2011 at 2:14 pm

   I will be devasted if OLTL takes over GH. I have been watching OLTL since I was 7 years old and I am devasted to see it go but I will be pissed if GH is ruined! OLTL has been exciting the last couple months now that its ending but before that it was so boring, it kinda felt like cornation street ( or whatever that old program is called) GH doesn’t need any help from outside viewers taking over the show… Just keep doing what their doing and ii will at least have one of my guilty pleasures to watch.
7. Linda Dowell says:

   December 1, 2011 at 8:15 pm

   I threw up a little when I saw that Brian Frons announced it – that tainted it for me because I won’t ever respect anything he’s involved with ever again – ever again – one more time – EVER.

   And, I don’t trust anything that was said because of that, either – I think it’s all B.S.

   Sigh……..

   Reply
8. Scott says:

   December 1, 2011 at 9:06 pm

   yeah, the show is tanked now. Frank and Ron are horrific. This is Frons saying “Hey, here’s my way of sticking it to you fans before I cancel this show, too.”

   Reply
9. Doe says:

   December 1, 2011 at 10:26 pm

   If Frank Valentini is moving to GH to bring new life to it, as good as he is, won’t that all be in vain? If Katie Couric is taking that time slot , where is GH going to be? None of this makes sense. With all the commotion about OLTL and All My Children travesties, what do the producers think they are going to accomplish in the end? Will we all be in suspension and holding our breath waiting for the final pin to drop. It’s just a matter of time……..

   Reply
10. aria says:

    December 2, 2011 at 12:11 am

    My advice to GH new team is to make sure you don’t try to make GH into OLTL, both of you have a long history w/ OLTL. The worst thing you could do is to start hiring OLTL actors, or start recasting w/ OLTL actors ect. If I was both of them, i would concentrate on on storylines, pacing, and the current cast. Biggest mistake they could make is to start creating new characters or bringing on to many new people. GH has its own unique history, it has a great cast, and even past talent, that would be welcome back, so concentrate on that, and i think its possible to succeed.

    Reply
11. Jared says:

    December 2, 2011 at 6:03 am

    The best thing they can do actually is turn GH into ONE LIFE TO LIVE. The ratings don’t lie, and OLTL is the #1 soap on the network that shall remain nameless. They cancelled the wrong soap, period.

    Reply
12. Vickie says:

    December 2, 2011 at 7:28 am

    Ditch GH and Keep OLTL

    Reply
13. Alley says:

    December 2, 2011 at 8:20 am

    The wrong soap was cancelled. OLTL is head and shoulders above GH in every way. And I say that as someone who has been a fan of both shows for years. Unfortunately, GH has turned into the Sonny and Jason hour. And James Franco has done GH no favors. I turned GH off quite some time ago which really bothers me because I know I should be supporting the soaps right now, not tuning out. When OLTL ends, I’ll no longer watch ABC. They have no loyalty to the fans, why should I have any for them?

    Reply
14. Rob says:

    December 2, 2011 at 10:00 am

    Im not a GH fan, I loathe mobe related tv shows and movies. If Frank and Ron can do for GH what it did for OLTL then the fans should welcome them both with open arms. I do think that the fate of GH is sealed with Katie Couric’s show taking its time slot in 2012. Hey, worst case is these guys come in and give GH fans a quality final season!

    Reply
15. bertha blanchard says:

    December 2, 2011 at 6:58 pm

    too much reality and talk. hope they can keep our drama going forever. otherwise, sell GH to Sony, a much better organization for drama

    Reply
16. Matt Borlenghi says:

    December 2, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    I wonder if Frank will get rid of the Franco nonsense, which the audience obviously never cared much for when looking at ratings, and finally bring my Valentin Cassadine character on, which was displaced by the Franco Fiasco, much to the chagrin of most GH loyalists. I am still willing to shake things up in Port Charles, balancing those duties with my producing duties elsewhere.

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    dg replied December 5th, 2011 at 7:10 pm

    If this is really you Matt I completely agree. James Franco has been a complete waste of air time. There is no story with him and his performances have been ridiculously inept and over the top.
    Maybe the new brass with cease to kiss his derriere and send him packing.

    Reply

    

    Betty James replied December 6th, 2011 at 9:43 pm

    I agree forget franco who cares the storyline is a wast of time and stop making jason look like a wimp get him back to his old self he and sam.
17. dg says:

    December 5, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    I still believe that Disney has already made the decision to cancel GH. They just want to throw the remaining viewers a bone and usher it out well. And all I would say to Frank V is that if you dont make any drastic changes, I wont watch. GH needs a complete overhaul. But Im not concerned. I cancelled GH off my TV about a yr ago anyway. Que Sera que sera.

    Reply
18. jp says:

    December 6, 2011 at 5:13 pm

    Ron C.and Frank V. can work their magic and bring great things to GH as they did to OLTL. However, people fail to recognize that this takes time and that is one factor GH does not have on its side. It doesn’t matter. OLTL has been outstanding and brings in over 400,000 more viewers than GH, but it still got canceled. GH is losing their 3 o’clock time slot in Sept. If OLTL replacement shows produces the same ratings as the Chew, GH doesn’t stand a chance. The end of daytime happened on April 14, 2011 when AMC and OLTL were cancelled. I will be so sad on Jan. 13 when the final episode of OLTL airs.

    Reply
19. ghisabc says:

    March 17, 2012 at 11:30 am

    I’m sorry but I’m not for this AT ALL. I was shocked to see Garin Wolf already replaced as head writer for General and to see Ron Carlivati????? What is this????? Turning into One Life to Live????????????????

    I’m sorry, but if General characters are slowly being pushed out, I’m out for good. This has been my show for over 30 years and if it’s being taken over by a show that couldn’t hold its ground, then that’s just ridiculous.

    Sorry about you, Garin. You were doing an excellent job as was Jill Pharin Phelps. I was suprised to see you out of the production as well. It’s really sad. I’m also sick of the new credits in the beginning, no match-ups at “half-time”, and FINALLY seeing Jason and Sam after, what, almost two weeks???????????????????????????

    Sad. Very sad.

    Reply