Jill Farren Phelps
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Jill Farren Phelps (born July 7, 1950) is an American television producer.
Career
Phelps has been the executive producer of many American television soap operas: Santa Barbara (1987–1991), Guiding Light (1991–1995), Another World (1995–1996; resigned August 4, 1996), One Life to Live (1997–2001), and currently General Hospital (2001–present).
Phelps got her start as a music director on Guiding Light, General Hospital and later on Santa Barbara before she started producing.
Under her watch Santa Barbara won 3 Best Drama Emmys in a row (although the first was for material which aired before her arrival).[clarification needed] Phelps later won Emmys for General Hospital for Outstanding Drama Series in 2005, 2006 and 2008.
Santa Barbara
In 1984, when Santa Barbara was created for NBC, Phelps served as a music producer. Phelps rose through the ranks, and was later promoted to producer. During executive producer Mary-Ellis Bunim's tenure, the show was praised for such blockbuster story lines as an earthquake, a serial killer mystery, and a mother's search for her long lost son. In 1987, after Bunim was let go, NBC Daytime named Phelps executive producer. Under Phelps, the show won three consecutive daytime Emmy awards for Outstanding Daytime Drama in 1988, 1989, and 1990.
Guiding Light
After Robert Calhoun left Guiding Light, Ms. Phelps, who had recently departed Santa Barbara, took over as Executive Producer.
Another World
While at Another World, ratings improved in the key demographic of women 18-49 by 34%.[1]
One Life To Live
After her tenure on Another World, ABC Daytime hired Ms. Phelps to be the Executive Producer for One Life to Live in 1997. Together with head writer Pam Long, the show was praised for a number of compelling stories, such as the murder of Drew Buchanan, the feud between Cassie & Barbara, the death of Jenny Wolek Renaldi (Brynn Thayer), and one of the most touching developments in the history of OLTL, David Renaldi’s (Michael Zaslow) return to the show despite the actor's courageous battle with ALS.
Positions held
Awards and nominations
Phelps has been nominated for fourteen Daytime Emmy Awards and won six times (1988–1990, 2005, 2006, 2008).
References
- ^ "Executive producer of the ABC Television Network's "General Hospital"". About.com. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
