Although “Good Afternoon America“ showed some gains over the recent performance of ratings eyesore “The Revolution,” those gains could only last so long. The ABC News daytime talk show hosted by “Good Morning America’s” Lara Spencer and Josh Elliott has also failed to bring in an audience on par with the year-ago airings of the canceled “One Life to Live” after five weeks of ratings data (week of August 6-10, 2012).

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Photo Credit: Yolanda Perez/ABC

With anticipation high for the recently introduced TNT Original Series “Major Crimes,” The Huffington Post compiled a list of the 30 Best and Worst TV Spinoffs Ever. “Port Charles” was listed as one of televisions worst.

“Despite the fact that the ‘General Hospital‘ spinoff lasted more than six years, ‘Port Charles’ — which took ‘GH‘ characters Lucy Coe, Kevin Collins, Scott Baldwin and Karen Wexler — broke all the TV soap rules, and not for the better. It dropped the open-ended writing style of other daytime dramas and spent way too much time in the hospital,” the Post cited as its reasoning for placing the daytime drama series on the list.

Premiering on Sunday, June 1, 1997 as a 2-hour primetime television event, “Port Charles” was the first spinoff of ABC Daytime’s “General Hospital.” As a daily soap opera, “PC” launched on Monday, June 2, 1997. It ended on Friday, October 3, 2003 after airing 1,633 episodes.

Shortly after its conclusion, ABC shifted Kelly Monaco (ex-Olivia “Livvie” Locke Morley) and Michael Easton (ex-Caleb Morley) to “General Hospital” and “One Life to Live,” respectively. Monaco currently portrays Sam McCall, while Easton left “OLTL” (upon that soaps cancellation) and transferred his character John McBain to “GH.”

To find out what other shows made the best or worst list, click here.

Rob Loud/Getty Images

Ron Palillo, best known for his star turning role as Arnold Horshack on “Welcome Back, Kotter,” has died, reports TMZ. The actor appeared as Gary Warren in episodes of “One Life to Live” in 1994. He died this morning of an apparent heart attack.

On Thursday, August 9, “OLTL” lost another alumnus when Al Freeman, Jr., passed at age 78. He portrayed Llanview Police Captain Ed Hall on the drama series from 1972 to 1988. He won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for his role on “One Life” in 1979 – the first win in that category for the soap and the first for an African American actor. Former co-star Judith Light (ex-Karen Wolek) tweeted “Al freeman Jr. amazing man,extraordinary actor,a joy 2 work with on the soap opera OLTL. He will missed. Rip dearest Al.” Cause of death has not been released.

Donna Svennevik/ABC

Nic Robuck (ex-James Ford, “One Life to Live“) has landed his first feature film role, reports ABC Soaps In Depth. The actor has signed on to play the lead in the film “A Dark Plan.”

“I play the lead character, Shane Dempsey, a sociopath who had a horrible upbringing. He will do anything for the love of others… even kill if he’s desperate enough!” said Robuck to Soaps In Depth. “He’s a bit like James in that they both had rough upbringings,” Robuck revealed, “but Shane has much deeper, darker-rooted issues and isn’t quite stable.”

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CBS has released the first group cast photos of “Partners,” the networks new comedy series starring Brandon Routh (“One Life to Live“), Michael Urie (“Ugly Betty“), David Krumholtz (“Numb3rs“) and Sophia Bush (“One Tree Hill“).

(click images to view larger sizes)

Photo Credit: Zimbio

Former “One Life to Live” star Brandon Routh (ex-Seth Anderson) and wife Courtney Ford (“True Blood“) have welcomed their first child, reports People Magazine on their website. Leo James Routh, born Friday, August 10, weighed in at 8lbs. and measured 20 1/2 inches.

“We’re in awe … we can’t take our eyes off him!” the two said in a joint statement to People with Routh adding his wife is a “rockstar.”

The couple will celebrate their five-year wedding anniversary in November.

Since leaving “OLTL” in 2002, Routh became a household name in 2006 when he starred as Clark Kent in “Superman Returns.” Although he is not returning as the man in the blue tights when Warner Bros. Pictures releases  “Man of Steel” on June 14, 2013, Routh can next be seen in the new CBS primetime comedy series “Partners.” Based on the lives of creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick as two life-long friends and business partners whose “bromance” is put to the test when one of them becomes engaged, “Partners” stars Michael Urie (“Ugly Betty“) as Louis and David Krumholtz (“Num3ers”) as Joe. Louis is “spontaneous, emotional and prone to exaggeration,” while Joe is an “accomplished architect who leads with his head and not his heart, especially in his love life.” Routh portrays Wyatt, a vegan nurse and Louis’ partner in life. “One Tree Hill’s” Sophia Bush stars as Ali, Joe’s new fiancé and a “sophisticated jewelry designer.”

“Partners” premieres Monday, September 24 at 8:30 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

Photo Credit: GH Fan Club

On Saturday, July 23, 2011, “General Hospital” held its annual fan club weekend event at the Sportmen’s Lodge Event Center. Incidentally, in the year that followed many were left wondering if the 2012 event would ever come to be amidst all the drama and rumors surrounding the cancellation, reincarnation (through the Disney/ABC Television Group/Prospect Park Productions deal that wasn’t) and ultimate demise of “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” and the possible effect it would have on “GH” itself. On July 21, 2012, “GH” did indeed holds its annual fan event – again at the Sportsmen’s Lodge Event Center – with a renewed focus and much hope for the future.

“General Hospital” cast members Steve Burton (Jason Morgan), Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Webber), Kelly Sullivan (Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri), Scott Reeves (Steve Webber), Lisa LoCicero (Olivia Falconeri), Jason Thompson (Patrick Drake), Dominic Zamprogna (Dominic Falconeri), Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos), Jen Lilley (soon-to-be ex-Maxie Jones), Drew Cheetwood (Milo Giambetti), Rebekah Montoya (Delores Padilla), Brandon Barash (Johnny Zacchara), Bradford Anderson (Damien Spinelli), Sean Blakemore (Shawn Butler), Laura Wright (Carly Jacks), Julie Marie Berman (Lulu Spencer-Falconeri), Haley Pulos (Molly Lansing), Erik Valedez (Trey Mitchell), Robin Mattson (Heather Webber), Nathin Butler (Ewen Keenan), Lindsey Morgan (Kristina Corinthos) and Richard Steinmetz (Joe Skully Jr.), were joined by “One Life to Live” turned “GH” stars Kristen Alderson (Starr Manning) and Michael Easton (John McBain), along with the soaps new executive producer Frank Valentini, on the stage as they greeted some of the soaps biggest fans.

Photo Credit: Frank Valentini

For more than half an hour they all took fan questions, while Erik Valdez created a running joke within their answers alluding to shirts coming off. Of course, it couldn’t be helped as Valentini revealed a new boxing set had been built similar to the steam room set seen frequently on “OLTL.” Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) arrived late and was only on hand for the fan autograph signing sessions that took place immediately afterward.

Before Bradford Anderson took the reigns from “GH” Fan Club President Debbie Morris, Valentini was asked if he wanted to say a few words to the audience gathered. While he kept his responses short and sweet, he did reveal that he had arrived late to the party due to an important commitment. “I was at the Director’s Guild meeting this morning with some of the directors from daytime,” he said referring to the Director’s Guild of America (DGA), which is the union that represents directors in movie and television productions – despite being an executive producer, Valentini frequently directs episodes of his soap operas. “This is my first fan club event. I’m really excited about the show and I’m excited about this cast and I think it’ a great day for celebration, so don’t let me get in the middle. Let me share it with you,” Valentini concluded.

Despite receiving pre-prepared questions, Anderson decided to take the unusual approach of giving the fans the chance to ask their own. He walked around the room and had each person he chose say their name and ask their question of a “GH” cast member. The first question asked was how much time the cast have off each year. While the question was directed at the entire cast it was agreed, in particular by Burton and Zamprogna, that Bradford should be the one to answer it for them. “As you guys know, we have a new episode practically everyday. So that means we have to make a new episode practically everyday, and what we’re doing now is we’re trying to do more in less time so that we can save money to keep our fare show on the air for all of you,” the actor answered.

Thanks to the presence of Valentini some of the questions directed at the cast ended up being directed at him instead – in part due to Burton’s insistence on Valentini answering one particular question that referenced the timeslot change for the soap. The exact question was “Do you think the change in the timeslot for ‘GH’ is gonna screw up the ratings?” Burton, deciding it wasn’t something he could answer, immediately jumped up and over the legs of his co-stars to hand the microphone over to his boss who was all the way across the other side of the stage. As fans and cast members laughed over Burton’s gesture, Anderson joked “Aren’t you glad you showed up Frank?” Always the trooper, Valentini said “I think there is always risks in having a timeslot change, but I believe that our audience is loyal enough, but more importantly smart enough, to say ‘okay, now we have to watch GH at 2 so we’ll take our naps at 2, we’ll take our lunch at 2, we’ll take our breaks at 2.’ Here on the west coast it’s at 1 o’clock and I think that’ll be better. I actually think on the west coast it’ll be better for us than on the east coast, where it’ll be more of a challenge.”

While not giving anything away, Valentini did reveal that “we have a really great story that’s gearing up for the fall and we’re going to get a lot of promotion from the the network,” which according to the producer includes the recent blurbs popping up that reminds viewers of the change just before the end of each episode of the soap.

Q&A Highlights

• “I would love to play Johnny [Brandon Barash] because I love how he mixes his bad boy with his charm and sexiness and then he gets to flirt with all the girls in the cast,” said Rebekah Montoya, who was asked which character she would love to play other than her own. Bradford Anderson responded with a joke that it could also be that Barash has “phenomenal chest hair.”

• Although he was hosting the Q&A, Bradford Anderson couldn’t hide from another question from a fan. This time the actor was asked which version of Spinelli does he prefer portraying on the soap, “Do I like geek Spinelli or like just ridiculously weird Spinelli? The Jackal P.I. storyline was fun just because it was a challenge for me and I got to wear clothes that fit, so that was cool. It’s fun to go off in a different direction, but it’s always nice to come back home to my geeky self.”

• New to the cast, Erik Valedez was asked about playing a such a sleaze! “It’s a lot of fun to play a sleaze because I’m really not that guy in real life, I promise you,” the actor joked. “It really is a lot of fun to come in and play such a jerk. With that said, stay tuned! There’s going to be a lot more revealed about this jerk/sleaze bag Trey and I think I take my shirt off a time or two, so maybe you guy’s should keep watching.” Thanks to Valdez, more shirtless responses would soon follow.

• Kristen Alderson was asked about leaving the east coast and no longer working with her brother (Eddie Alderson, who portrayed Matthew Buchanan on “OLTL”). “Well, I still live with my brother so I see him every day,” Alderson said in a joking manner. “I grew up on ‘One Life to Live,’ and that was an amazing experience. It was definitely a big move in my life but L.A. couldn’t be any better than it already is. I love the weather, and I love this cast and crew. They’ve been so welcoming to me.”

• Next up was Robin Mattson, who was asked how much fun she was having with playing crazy Heather Webber. “It’s pretty fun!” Mattson said enthusiastically. “Well let’s see, I get to work with Roger Howarth and Tony Geary. That’s especially fun, in addition to having a wonderful son [Mattson said referring to Scott Reeves as Steven Lars] and his lovely girlfriend, who have been so gracious and generous with themselves in real-life to me, so I made some new friends and it’s been great to join some old friends and enjoy good times again.”

• Fans may have noticed an absent Sean Blakemore on the “GH” canvas, but it’s not because they don’t want to use him – he’s just an in demand actor! Blakemore was asked about his disappearance from the soap and let Valentini, like Burton before him, answer the question. “Just so you know, even before I started on the show, I got a call from Sean’s agent asking to let Sean go and do a movie. I said, ‘you know what, you got to let people do things and spread their wings’ and it wasn’t for a long period of time, but he went and shot a movie. He went and had a great time. As you know it takes time to build things and right now we’re in the process of building something that I think you’ll really like,” said Valentini to the pleased audience. ”What Frank said is absolutely true. You guy’s are going to be very pleased. There’s a lot of fun stuff coming up…interesting and I think I may have a shirt off? You guys will be excited. There’s a lot of funs tuff coming up in the fall,” said Blakemore adding to Valentini’s statement. “Sounds like everyone’s having a shirtless scene…I’m not! I subscribe the the Steve Burton method. I won’t take my shirt off,” Anderson jokingly said afterward.

• I was sitting in the dressing room and I was thinking ‘I can’t do this,’ and then the news broke that I booked it [the role of Maxie] so I was like ‘god I got to go upstairs and do this, I can’t give it away!’ and everyone was so kind and so welcoming and no one ever made me feel awkward in an awkward circumstance,” said Jen Lilley when asked about what was going through her head as she was about to take on the role of Maxie Jones from Kirsten Storms, who had gone on medical leave at the time.

• A fan of Jason and Sam wanted some intel on where the cards land in the couple’s future, but Steve Burton stated “We have been advised by Frank Valentini not to answer those questions, so if you want to tweet him please feel free. He does respond every now and then. He’s very interactive socially on the networks also.”

• The ultimate question fans have been asking about since 2001, when it was last seen, was whether or not the show plans on bringing back the uber popular Nurse’s Ball event. The question was of course directed at Frank Valentini. “I’ll just say this, I love music and I love Nurses.”

On a posting on the Official “General Hospital” fan club web site, Debbie Morris revealed that “Yes, we are already working on plans for a fabulous 50^th Anniversary Fan Club Weekend, like no other….so stay tuned!” If you were unable to attend this year’s festivities, make sure to keep one weekend in July 2013 (TBD) on your radar so you can go next time.

Legion College

“General Hospital” makes a few changes to the writing staff.

Head Writer Ron Carlivati brings in another writer from his former “One Life To Live” team.  Anna Theresa Cascio joins the “GH” team as a breakdown writer. Leaving the “GH” team is breakdown writer Garin Wolf, who has been with the show since 1997.  Also leaving is breakdown/script writer Tracey Thomson.

Over at “The Young and Restless,” changes were recently made as Josh Griffith takes over as Head Writer from Maria Arena Bell. Co-Head Writer Scott Hamner has also left the show.

For discussion on these topics and more, join us in the Writers/Directors thread at the SON Community.

Disney/ABC Television Group

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — “General Hospital” leads the way with 23 nominations, followed by “The Young and The Restless” with 16, “Days of our Lives” with 15.  Tied with 11 nominations were “One Life to Live“, “All My Children” and “The Bold and The Beautiful“.

OUTSTANDING DRAMA

All My Children

Days of Our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES WRITING TEAM

All My Children

Days of Our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES DIRECTING TEAM

The Bold and The Beautiful

General Hospital

One Life To Live

The Young and the Restless

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

CRYSTAL CHAPPELL, as Dr. Carly Manning
Days of our Lives, NBC

DEBBIE MORGAN, as Angie Hubbard
All My Children, ABC

ERIKA SLEZAK, as Viki Lord
One Life to Live, ABC

HEATHER TOM, as Katie Logan Spencer
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

LAURA WRIGHT, as Carly Corinthos Jax
General Hospital, ABC

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

MAURICE BERNARD, as Michael “Sonny” Corinthos, Jr.
General Hospital, ABC

ANTHONY GEARY, as Luke Spencer
General Hospital, ABC

JOHN MCCOOK, as Eric Forrester
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

DARNELL WILLIAMS, as Jesse Hubbard
All My Children, ABC

ROBERT S. WOODS, as Bo Buchanan
One Life to Live, ABC

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

MELISSA CLAIRE EGAN, as Annie Chandler
All My Children, ABC

GENIE FRANCIS, as Genevieve Atkinson
The Young and the Restless, CBS

NANCY LEE GRAHN, as Alexis Davis
General Hospital, ABC

ELIZABETH HENDRICKSON, as Chloe Mitchell
The Young and the Restless, CBS

REBECCA HERBST, as Elizabeth Webber
General Hospital, ABC

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

BRADFORD ANDERSON, as Damien Spinelli
General Hospital, ABC

MATTHEW ASHFORD, as Jack Deveraux
Days of our Lives, NBC

SEAN BLAKEMORE, as Shawn Butler
General Hospital, ABC

JONATHAN JACKSON, as Lucky Spencer
General Hospital, ABC

JASON THOMPSON, as Patrick Drake
General Hospital, ABC

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

MOLLY BURNETT, as Melanie Layton
Days of our Lives, NBC

SHELLEY HENNIG, as Stephanie Johnson
Days of our Lives, NBC

CHRISTEL KHALIL, as Lily Winters
The Young and the Restless, CBS

JACQUELINE MACINNES WOOD, as Steffy Forrester
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

EDDIE ALDERSON, as Matthew Buchanan
One Life To Live, ABC

CHAD DUELL, as Michael Corinthos
General Hospital, ABC

CHANDLER MASSEY, as Will Horton
Days of our Lives, NBC

NATHAN PARSONS, as Ethan Lovett
General Hospital, ABC

Full list of nominations can be read here.

ABC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — “General Hospital” DVR Alerts for the Week of May 7, 2012.

GENERAL HOSPITAL: DVR ALERTS

• Monday: McBain and Dante race to save the women they care about. Jason gets an unexpected surprise. Will Michael be able to get through to Starr in time? Anthony is convinced someone in particular has it out for him.

• Tuesday: Jason wants to know what John is after concerning Sam. Kate makes a heartfelt plea to Sonny. Starr and Michael’s relationship hits a snag. Luke and Anna’s bond continues to grow.

• Wednesday: Tea Delgado arrives in Port Charles. Is she there to help or hurt Todd’s daughter? Olivia is torn. Will Mac be moved by Felicia’s heartfelt plea? Spinelli makes an interesting discovery.

• Thursday: Todd and Tea’s relationship remains as volatile as ever. Mac and Felicia find themselves in an awkward position. Matt’s concerns about Patrick increase. Olivia makes a discovery concerning Steve.

• Friday: Tea struggles to get through to Starr. Carly welcomes a new guest to the Metro Court. Todd makes an interesting discovery. Olivia reaches out to Steve.