‘General Hospital’ Bombshell as Head Writers Are Replaced By Soap Veterans
Bosses at General Hospital just dropped a huge bombshell. The show’s co-head writers, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor, are leaving the long-running soap opera. It’s sure to have a massive impact on what viewers see at home and could mean dramatic new storylines and cast changes.
As first reported by Soap Opera Digest, Emmy-winning soap veterans, Patrick Mulcahey (The Bold and the Beautiful) and current General Hospital script editor Elizabeth Korte, will take over as head writers.
Van Etten and O’Connor’s previously written episodes are expected to air through March 2024, as per MichaelFairmanTV.
Korte and Mulcahey both have previous experience with General Hospital, especially the former, who has been a member of the writing team since 1995. Korte also served as co-head writer in 2001 and currently works as a script editor; overall, she has worked on 1156 episodes and counting.
Mulcahey has worked on and off with General Hospital over the years, starting out as a script writer and then an associate head writer and breakdown writer from 1998 to 1999. But he is better known for his work on fellow daytime soap, The Bold and the Beautiful, where he penned 940 episodes between 2005 and 2019.
In addition, Korte co-created the General Hospital spinoff GH: Night Shift with Bob Guza Jr.
Van Etten was promoted to head writer in 2017 and was joined by O’Connor in 2019 following Shelly Altman’s retirement. The pair helmed the show through the recent Daytime Emmys success, where it won the trophy for Oustanding Daytime Drama Series.
It also picked up an Outstanding Directing Team award and four acting Emmys for Robert Gossett, Eden McCoy, Alley Mills, and the late Sonya Eddy.
The previous head writer duo also led the show through its recent 60th anniversary special, which aired earlier this month. The special, which featured classic moments and cast members from years past, ended with a huge announcement, revealing that Steve Burton would be returning to the soap to reprise his iconic role as Jason Morgan.
Let us know what you think of the decision in the comments section below, and tell us what changes, if any, you’d like to see made to the soap.
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R
What are they thinking. They just won that Emmy for outstanding daytime. And they’re going to replace the writing team! This is absolutely the worst decision that can possibly be made. I think it’s horrible.
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P
I totally agree w/you!
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R
I think this is gonna be a disaster for general hospital . The one thing I really like about the show was all the different story lines at one time. Some of the bold and the beautiful story lines has been so boring. Why mess up a good thing.
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G
I think this move is a big mistake. I’ve been watching since the 70’s and yes the past couple of years have been pretty bad but it was just starting to get good again- Jason coming back, Nina getting taken down a peg….. I think they should have given the fired writers a chance to get things back on the rails.
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R
Why change what isn't broken ?
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C
Because it is nearly broken. You clearly don't watch the show, or watch with blinders on. The non-acting Emmy wins are meaningless window dressing presented by people who don't actually suffer through the show's daily grind of poor storytelling, sluggish pacing and favoritism shown toward certain actors over the last few years.
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M
... Well, GH is fully broken now. The idiotic story lines are garbage. The show used to be about adventure and action, but now they just sit moaning and complaining.
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R
Another thing I can’t stand the bold in the beautiful. It moves like a snail, and I get that they’re only half an hour. However, that’s not what I want to see. Happen to General Hospital. Bringing on the head rider from bold in the beautiful. Seems like a low budget move.
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G
I’m sorry to hear about the changes to come. I sometimes watch Bold and Beautiful but hate how the story drags on for weeks at a time. I have watched General Hospital for over 50 years. I know changes happen. I just hope that the format is not the same as it is on the Bold and Beautiful.
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G
If it becomes like the Bold and the Beautiful, I will stop watching. They only focus on one or two storylines at a time involving and they drag in forever. They talk about the same stuff over and over, multiple days in a row. Characters disappear and they don't even mention what's become of them. General Hospital is great as is!
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R
I didn’t see the Bold and the beautiful win any awards. I hope it doesn’t spoil general hospital
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B
When the show gets political I quit.. Glad Jason is coming back..
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B
The new writers took over the show around the time I started watching more intently. Watching since 1968, off and on depending on life circumstances). I’ve had some issues—it goes a little too fast on some plots, and as much as I love everyone there-the long time actors especially-there’s just too many. I’m not happy about a decision that may change too much. Hopefully there will be respect for the audience and the actors.
Yeah Jason! Hope he and Spinelli work together again.
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C
I love the fact that Steve Burton is returning to GH! I quit watching GH after Steve left the show. It was heartbreaking. Nobody can replace his character as Jason Morgan. He truly the only that can portray this character in true form. It broke my heart for him to leave the show again but I understand. Steve show that he really does have a little of Jason Morgan in him. It didn’t matter what other think, he did what he believes to right. I have missed Jason . So hurry up and come back!
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B
all the writers are doing a crap job. They had a chance to make a great come back with Jason and it was so lame! And now after Drew was going to go after Nina, he hires her back? and then sleeps with her? NOT beliveable at all. I may have to stop watching after 40 years......so sad
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C
The new writers have not only destroyed Sam's character but Drew and Willows also. Drew used to be such a great guy. Now he's sleeping with his nephews wife and her mother. All while running for office. I can't even stand to watch scenes with him in them anymore. They've made him disquisting and that's pretty hard to do. Thankfully Steve Burton came back or they'd really be in trouble.
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M
What happened to GH??? It used to be one of the best soaps on the air. Now the characters just sit around moaning and complaining.
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D
I just love General Hospital 💙💕🤗 I am addicted ‼️ I think 🤔 bring back Jason Morgen is so awesome 👍 he was one of my favorites 🤗 and I would also like to send my condolences to all the General Hospital family that has passed away 💙💕 they were all amazing 🥲 I will truly miss them all very much 😘 and too all the rest of the cast , writers, producers, etc . Keep up the fantastic work and performances 💙💕🤗
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O
Jason Morgan has always been my favorite! Stop stalling and bring him back already. 🤩
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O
I certainly hope the B&B writer leaves all of the B&B storylines behind because they have been terrible and redundant.
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J
Their storylines were dragging out. the NF storyline went for 9 months as did Nina SEC. The pacing needs to pickup, The Carly and Nina High School behavior needs to end. Kill the storylines that are not working. Trina/Spencer needs to end.
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R
I love Spencer and Trina please don’t in that relationship or that storyline. You could ask Tracy and Scot, or multitude of other ones which would be much better to end
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G
What is you issue with Spencer and Trina. They are a big couple that had a billboard in time squre on the cover of people magazine. People love this ship!!!!
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P
The show has been amazing for the last 3 years. It has been must-watch TV. I don’t know why they would revert to writing the characters as immature. It’s a huge turn off for me.
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M
It’s about time.Get rid of about half the cast including Alexis and her daughters, Finn, Elizabeth, Violet, Brooklyn, Chase, Anna, Valentin, Charlotte, to start with.
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