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It’s official! Former One Life to Live head writer Ron Carlivati and executive producer Frank Valentini will take over ABC’s General Hospital effective January 9, 2012.
ABC issued a release today announcing the hiring of the pair. The network’s announcement confirms reports last night by ABC Soaps In Depth regarding the firing of current EP Jill Farren Phelps. The outlet was the first to break the news, as well as breaking this morning that Carlivati would assume the mantle of head writer. SID reports current head writers Garin Wolf and the recently promoted Shelly Altman will remain with the show as a part of the writing team.
ABC’s full release below:
FRANK VALENTINI NAMED EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND RON CARLIVATI NAMED HEAD WRITER OF ABC’S GENERAL HOSPITAL
Brian Frons, President, Daytime, Disney/ABC Television Group (DATG), has announced the appointments of Frank Valentini as executive producer of the ABC Emmy® Award-winning “General Hospital” and Ron Carlivati as head writer of the daytime drama, both effective January 9, 2012.
“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,” said 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.” “I look forward to this next exciting chapter working with the wonderful cast and crew of ‘General Hospital,'” said Valentini. “This is an incredible opportunity for me to extend my passion and expertise for daytime television as I continue my relationship with DATG and become part of an extraordinary team in 2012.”
Since 2002 Valentini has served as the executive producer of ABC Daytime’s award-winning “One Life to Live,” the same year the show garnered an Emmy for Outstanding Daytime Drama. Along with his duties as executive producer, he directs, and has two consecutive wins in 2008 and 2009 as a part of the “One Life to Live” directing team. He was also nominated for a DGA Award in 2002. With over 26 years of experience with “One Life to Live,” Valentini has held many production positions throughout his career with the series, including associate director, stage manager and coordinating producer. In addition, he has served for two years on the Board of Directors for the New Group Theater Company. Valentini received his degree in Film & Television Production from the University of Buffalo. He has traveled to over 60 countries, and in 2002 he became a published photographer.
With a 15-year tenure at “One Life to Live,” Ron Carlivati served as head writer from 2007 to 2011. On behalf of the drama series, he garnered the 2008 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Daytime Drama. He was previously nominated for an Emmy in 2002, 2006 and 2009, along with two WGA Award nominations. A law school graduate of George Washington University, the self-professed fan of soap operas briefly worked as a corporate lawyer before moving to New York City in 1996 and pursuing his lifetime passion as a writer for the genre.
Winner of a record-setting 10 Emmys for Outstanding Daytime Drama, “General Hospital” airs at 3:00 p.m., ET, 2:00 p.m., PT on the ABC Television Network, and on SOAPnet at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT. Winner of eight Daytime Emmys in 2011, the program celebrated 48 years of broadcasting on April 1, 2011, and is the longest running dramatic series on ABC, having aired close to 12,500 episodes. “General Hospital” was created by Frank and Doris Hursley. Mary O’Leary, Michelle Henry and Mercer Barrows serve as producers. Fans of “General Hospital” can also tune in to episodes at ABC.com, which become available the day after airing on the network.
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