GH: The Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati Interview

[katie_9918]

Anyone who claims that Frons was ever interested in saving any of the soaps automatically loses all credibility,

[DRW50]

I do think he had a soft spot for GH.

[Vee]

Frons's soft spot was for Guza's GH.

He told anyone at ABC who would listen that Guza was the only man who truly understood GH and could steer it for the future, and he thought GH was still the flagship and the only soap worth potentially preserving. He took from OLTL's financial coffers to cover its splashy budget overages like James Franco, CGI and the Port Charles Hotel fire. And he ultimately threw both AMC and OLTL under its wheels to try and keep it going longer. At one point I'd heard ABCD wanted all 3 cut at once, but Frons begged to save GH.

[marceline]

I really enjoyed Labine's OLTL. I adored Mel and Dorian and I don't think any writer ever did better by the Gannons, especially RJ.

[DRW50]

I have to admit I kind of hated Mel.

[Vee]

I loved Mel.

If OLTL 2.0 had pulled a swerve a la Dimitri on AMC - brought Mel Hayes back alive to spar with David for Dorian - I think people would have been gripped by that. But my understanding is that Stephen Markle has been ill a number of years; he certainly looked it when RC brought him back several times on ABC. I also would've preferred Herb, but Tony Call has been resolute for a number of years that he will never act again.

[BetterForgotten]

Me too. I thought he always killed Dorian's spirit and always wanted to "change" her. They were nice at the beginning, but I grew tired fast.

Herb will always be Dorian's great love to me, and I wish they could have brought him back for her at some point.

[DRW50]

That was how I felt too - too much time shaming Dorian. I preferred their fun relationship early on.

I do think Stephen Markle was a good actor and he worked well with Robin and the cast. Nothing against him personally.

I tend to think of Herb as her soulmate, but I would have been fine with a decent Joey recast too.

[ER Tosh]

In a strange way I guess we have Frons to thank for that one reason (Unless you hate Ron and Frank GH so much that you just want it cancelled).