Thursday, February 15, 2007

Jill Farren-Phelps produces new soap

In the soaps world, Jill Farren-Phelps is well-known as not only the executive producer of "Santa Barbara" in the late '80s (her first soaps gig) but also a prominent producer for ABC's long-running hit "General Hospital." On "SB," she took over when the Dobsons were locked out, bringing us Terry Lester as Mason, the Zach Kelton / Ethan Asher characters, the Robert Barr storyline and other fun stuff. Leigh McCloskey, who played the Zach and Ethan characters, once told BRBTV, "I have to commend the show's producer, at that time. Jill Farren-Phelps, for her zest and willingness to hire actors with fire rather than manniquins. It was a delight to work for her and for the time I was part of its story."

Well, now Farren-Phelps is turning her creative energy to a new soap, another spinoff of "GH" like the late-1990s "Port Charles," only this time focusing on the hospital after-hours. "General Hospital: Night Shift" will be an original, scripted show for SoapNet cable, which currently airs same-day episodes of ABC soaps in the evening hours. It will launch this summer, with a push from its parent show.

"The series is set during the night shift at General Hospital and will delve deeper into the relationships, friendships and medical cases seen at the hospital," SoapNet's press info says. Farren-Phelps will be the executive producer, while Robert Guza Jr., head writer for "General Hospital" who also wrote for "Santa Barbara," will do the writing.

You can read more at SoapNet's website.

No comments: