Jill Farren Phelps
Encyclopedia
Jill Farren Phelps is an American
television producer
.
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). Phelps later won Emmys for General Hospital for Outstanding Drama Series in 2005, 2006 and 2008.
In 2004, in a controversial move protested by many General Hospital cast and crew members, Ms. Phelps fired the legendary actress Anna Lee
, who portrayed matriarch Lila Quartermaine. Ms. Lee had been promised the role for life by former Executive Producer Wendy Riche and was in her nineties at the time of her dismissal. She died of complications from pneumonia shortly after being let go from the show.
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.
, Ms. Phelps, who had recently departed Santa Barbara
, took over as Executive Producer.
, 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
.
s and won six times (1988–1990, 2005, 2006, 2008).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
.
Career
Phelps has been the executive producer of many AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
soap operas: Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara (TV series)
Santa Barbara is an American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on July 30, 1984, and last aired on January 15, 1993. The show revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family of Santa Barbara, California...
(1987–1991), Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
(1991–1995), Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
(1995–1996; resigned August 4, 1996), One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
(1997–2001), and currently General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
(2001–present).
Phelps got her start as a music director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
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). Phelps later won Emmys for General Hospital for Outstanding Drama Series in 2005, 2006 and 2008.
In 2004, in a controversial move protested by many General Hospital cast and crew members, Ms. Phelps fired the legendary actress Anna Lee
Anna Lee
Anna Lee, MBE was an English actress.-Career:Lee studied at the Royal Albert Hall, then debuted with a bit part in the film His Lordship...
, who portrayed matriarch Lila Quartermaine. Ms. Lee had been promised the role for life by former Executive Producer Wendy Riche and was in her nineties at the time of her dismissal. She died of complications from pneumonia shortly after being let go from the show.
Santa Barbara
In 1984, when Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara (TV series)
Santa Barbara is an American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on July 30, 1984, and last aired on January 15, 1993. The show revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family of Santa Barbara, California...
was created for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, Phelps served as a music producer. Phelps rose through the ranks, and was later promoted to producer. During executive producer Mary-Ellis Bunim
Mary-Ellis Bunim
Mary-Ellis Bunim was an American television producer and co-creator of MTV's The Real World and Road Rules.-Biography:A native of Massachusetts, Bunim began her career in daytime dramas...
's tenure, the show was praised for such blockbuster story lines as an earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
, a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
mystery, and a mother's search for her long lost son. In 1987, after Bunim was let go, NBC Daytime
NBC Daytime
NBC Daytime is the schedule for the NBC television network's daytime television programming which consists of morning news program Today and soap opera Days of our Lives...
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 LightGuiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
, Ms. Phelps, who had recently departed Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara (TV series)
Santa Barbara is an American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on July 30, 1984, and last aired on January 15, 1993. The show revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family of Santa Barbara, California...
, took over as Executive Producer.
Another World
While at Another World, ratings improved in the key demographic of women 18-49 by 34%.One Life To Live
After her tenure on Another WorldAnother World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
, ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime
ABC Daytime is a programming block on the ABC Network which has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows and talk shows.-Schedule:...
hired Ms. Phelps to be the Executive Producer for One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
in 1997. Together with head writer Pam Long
Pam Long
Pamela K. Long is an American actress and writer, most known for her stints writing the CBS Daytime soap opera Guiding Light, from 1983 to 1986 and from 1987 to 1990....
, 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
Brynn Thayer
Brynn Laurel Thayer is an American actress who has had numerous roles in a variety of television series, most notably Matlock portraying Matlock's daughter, Leanne MacIntyre...
), and one of the most touching developments in the history of OLTL, David Renaldi’s (Michael Zaslow
Michael Zaslow
Michael Joel Zaslow was an American actor. He was best known for his role as villain Roger Thorpe on CBS's Guiding Light, a role he played from 1971 to 1980 and from 1989 to 1997.-Life and career:...
) return to the show despite the actor's courageous battle with ALS
ALS
ALS refers to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's diseaseIt may also refer to:-Medicine:* Advanced life support, a level of medical training* Anterolateral system, part of the nervous system...
.
Positions held
Awards and nominations
Phelps has been nominated for fourteen Daytime Emmy AwardDaytime Emmy Award
The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
s and won six times (1988–1990, 2005, 2006, 2008).