‘General Hospital’: Dominic Zamprogna Talks Dante & Sam’s ‘Contrarian Dynamic’
Q&A
It appears as if the General Hospital good guys are finally going to get their man — Peter August (Wes Ramsey) — now that they’ve gotten a lead on the evil villain and Maxie’s (Kirsten Storms) whereabouts. For Dante Falconeri, played by Dominic Zamprogna, it’s deeply personal given that Peter escaped his custody and shot his pal/boss Mac Scorpio (John J. York) the last time he got away.
Along with wanting to bring Peter to justice, Dante’s involved in a romance with Sam McCall (Kelly Monaco). The actor talks candidly about what the new pairing is like, especially since both Dante and Sam have been part of other long-term couplings — his with Lulu (Emme Rylan), currently in a coma, and Sam with Jason (Steve Burton), who is presumed dead. Read on for the scoop!
Everyone’s after Peter now. This must be personal now after his escape from Dante’s custody.
Dominic Zamprogna: [Laughs] I think it’s personal with everybody. I don’t think there’s anyone on the canvas who doesn’t want to be the one [to bring Peter down]. There’s no love lost. At this point, Peter’s gotten away too many times from Dante.
Peter seems to have an unlimited supply of funds and luck.
He’s slippery! But it’s cool. It makes for good stuff. This week is going to be great. It’s old-fashioned action stuff that we haven’t done in a while. We’re kicking a little bit of butt and there’s a surprise ending. I think it’s going to be fun. I think people are dying to see this come to a conclusion – whatever that may be. I’m going to watch it – and I shot it.
What’s working with Wes like?
Wes is a consummate professional. There’s never a day I work with Wes that he doesn’t do what’s best for the scene. A while back, I submitted a few scenes ago that I had with Wes after Nathan’s [Ryan Paevey] death and got nominated [for a Daytime Emmy]. Wes is always prepared. We did those scenes in the hospital [that aired] a few weeks ago. Dante said Peter didn’t know anything about him. I’ve always enjoyed working with Wes. It’s never about anything than the work in front of us. At the end, we always say [to each other], ‘Hey, that was awesome.’
Peter’s fairly confident that while he can step aside from the law, Dante will not.
That’s true… to a degree. I think we’ll see moments where Dante will go with his gut a little bit more.
You’re sporting a look that I’ve never seen before – Dante’s got a Port Charles Police Department regulation haircut but it’s still stylish and those suits are pretty sharp.
[Chuckles] You didn’t like my beard? Maura West [Ava] really loved my beard. She’ll tell me that all the time. I’d had the beard for a year-and-a-half. I was ready to let it go. The day I shaved people were like, ‘Holy [expletive]…you look like a different person.’ It’s almost easier to get into character when you have a look – Dante was messed up back then [when he had the long hair and beard]. The change is cool. I didn’t want to just go standard short hair. I wanted to keep something different. Frank [Valentini, executive producer] was into that. We just kind of went with it. I wasn’t sure I was going to dig [my new look] but I do. It’s based in reality. If you’re undercover, you’re in street clothes. If you’re a detective, you’re in suits.
What feedback have you gotten on the Dante-Sam pairing?
I know it’s a bit of a challenge for fans to see [new pairings]. But I think we might be winning some of them over. Fans fell hard for Dante and Lulu. I imagine it’s an even more intense experience for “JaSam” fans. I know it’s a challenge. It’s new. In real life, people might say they don’t like someone who is dating a friend of theirs but that’s because of how their friend is being treated.
ABC/Craig Sjodin
If we’ve learned nothing else the last few years, it’s that nothing is forever.
Right. Kelly and I were talking about Sam and Dante. I love that it’s not what Dante and Lulu were. You’ve got a contrarian dynamic between Sam and Dante. He’s a cop. She’s an ex-con/private eye. This is new territory for both of them. It’s making some interesting stuff to play. We didn’t rush the “I love yous” with each other. They came out over time. I think more and more people are wanting to see where they could go.
General Hospital, Weekdays, ABC
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P
Dante and Sam have great chemistry always have! Ignore the the noise! GH if they're smart will continue this pair. So much to mine with them and Dom and Kelly are great actors who can pull it off.
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R
Love them together. They both have matured and been through some stuff separately and together and the dynamic of the relationship at this point in their lives is something different than with their first loves.
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R
Love the storyline with Sam & Dante. They deserve some love ❤️
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C
Actually I can’t stand Sam with Dante! There is no chemistry whatsoever!! Just NO!!! Make it stop 🛑
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B
It's so ridiculous. They literally pulled this out of thin air. lol Zero chemistry, zero sense.
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B
Dante and Sam are great together, Sam gets to laugh and be a mom
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O
Totally have my heart. Only reason I watch!!!!!!!!
6 3
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P
Same! They are the only reason I'm tuning in these days.
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O
Anddddd two women fighting over sonny GET real! YUK!
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B
Women have always been fighting over Sonny!
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R
Sorry will never ship Dante and Sam they do not have the chemistry and passion that JaSam and Lante had!
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O
Love them both but not as a couple. I’d prefer to see Sam on her own, being a mom and a PI. Don’t really see “couple chemistry” with Dante, just good friends, but if Sam has to be with someone I’d rather it be Dante than the new Drew. They are just awkward and he’s nothing like Drew. No one will ever have the chemistry that she had with the original Drew, so if it has to be someone let it be Dante.
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O
I'm totally sick of Carly and sonny and where's the king pin drama if he goes Mike soft with that Nina how can he be taken serious as a drug lord, and what about that YUK Nina paying for her sins of the past/present! Can't stand her!
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B
Um, Sonny isn't a "drug" lord
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R
No, he is not.
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G
I like Drew and Sam to get together. And Carly stay with Sonny. Bring Lulu. Back.
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B
I don't like Dante and Sam together. They don't look comfortable together- just don't have chemistry. As soon as Lulu was written out of hte story - he hooked up with Sam and has forgotten all about Lulu.
8 7
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B
They're beyond awkward, because they have barely given each other the time of day for years. lol This was so random and unnecessary. They pulled out of thin air, because FV didn't know what else to do.
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P
Please they have shared lots of screentime together. Just cuz you miss your old ship doesn't mean Sante is random. There's a reason they paired them in a "What if".
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O
Hate Dante with Sam. They have no chemistry. He belongs with Lulu and he would never move on unless she was dead, which she isn't. Lante forever ❤️
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B
Exactly. But, this is what FV has done with all the vets since he took over. He writes them completely out of character, ruins the popular super couples beyond repair and keeps the characters/storylines everyone hates.
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P
I absolutely LOVE Sam and Dante together. As much as I adored seeing Sam with Jason, I like her better with Dante. A lovely couple! LET'S NOT FORGET Michael and Willow though! They're adorable.
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O
I could get past the Jason /Lulu part... but it's hard to get past the fact that not only do they share siblings, she was also the baby momma to one of his dad's kids. It feels incestuous.
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O
COVID is getting easier to handle-BRING JASON back and his hard/sweet character who works for sonny and loves Carly they should have kept them together
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O
i like Peter and i believe that he is A good man he is trying to change to be A good Person i understand that some People don't like him and he is A surviver the real reason he is on GH because he is dating Laura Wright in real Life so that why he is not Leaving GH
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B
Wes plays Peter very well, that's why people don't like Peter. But the show has to have some bad guys
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O
Get rigged of NINA. Bad chemistry with everyone. She just evil. No love in her.
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C
Not shipping Sante I see no chemistry and passion like JaSam and Lante!
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B
Dominic deserves a much better storyline than this. He's such a good actor. The whole Dante/Sam pairing is laughable, it literally came out of thin air. So random, forced and unnecessary. Peter should have stayed dead. FV's obsession with him is bizarre. The only reason they're keeping him around this long is because he's dating LW. I'm so glad I don't watch this show anymore and haven't in several years. GH is a joke and has been ever since FV took over. He's ruined the legacy of this show with his dumb storylines.
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P
Dom does deserve his own solid storyline. FV created Peter so he's invested, but the character and storyline is boring. Dom should be going undercover with Sam into the mob, not chasing bad acting villians like Peter.
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