HOSPITAL + CHECK-IN

GH’s Executive Producer And Head Writers Discuss The Show’s Triumphant Return — And Dish About What Comes Next!

- Mara Levinsky

Executive Producer Frank Valentini shares what it took to get GH back up and running.

Soap Opera Digest: Talk me through what was required for you to be able to resume production in a safe way.

Frank Valentini: It took, basically, every brain and every mind and every ounce of manpower in the Disney corporation to get the show back up and running. We were the first scripted show back on the air on ABC, so we had full, undivided attention and support from the entire network, and we needed to make sure that not only were we protecting the staff and crew, but we were ensuring that, you know, life, as we knew it on the set, would have to metamorphose to a new and different reality. So, setting up all the new protocols and working with the unions and the guilds to ensure they felt comfortable sending their members back into the studio was very, very challenging and that’s why it took so long, because with something like this, you have to be extra-careful, and we were, and so far, so good. It’s been very exciting and very rewarding to see all of that hard work pay off. I couldn’t be prouder of the entire team. Everybody has been so great and so responsible. It’s really inspiring to see, because we always pull together under normal circumstances, but you can really tell the strength of the team under these challenging times. But I think everyone’s goal in the studio, aside from being employed, which is very, very important, was getting the show out to our fans and creating new, original content, not just for the network but for the world. We had the scripts and we were excited about the story and we really wanted to tell it.

Digest: You’ve also hired a health coordinator to help ensure everyone’s health and safety.