‘General Hospital’ Writers Tease ‘Volatile & Sexy’ Future: A Glimpse Into Port Charles 2025
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2024 was a year of behind-the-scenes changes at General Hospital. In January, the show announced that it had replaced co-head writers Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor and appointed longtime GH scribe Elizabeth Korte and veteran writer Patrick Mulcahey to replace them. Months later, Mulcahey’s name was removed from the credits, and the show confirmed he was out. The team was reshuffled again and Van Etten returned as co-head writer alongside Korte.
Here, for the first time since they were paired, Korte and Van Etten share their vision for Port Charles in 2025.
How do you work together as co-head writers? What is your collaboration style?
Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten: We have a collaboration in the truest sense. Soap opera requires generating such a volume of story that we never stop riffing. One of us may throw out an idea and the other will build on and embroider it. One example is crafting Kristina’s [Kate Mansi] fall. In the process of bouncing around ideas, we found a number of ways to expand the fallout beyond those characters immediately involved.
Most importantly, we keep the atmosphere safe for voicing any idea, even the ludicrous ones. Sometimes when we rein it in, the ludicrous idea is the most exciting one. There are times when our ideas are in conflict; but in those circumstances we have space to talk it through and find common ground such that we can proceed in a direction that speaks to the characters and to the larger canvas. We hear one another out and never feel handled.
Disney/Bahareh Ritter
How would you describe the Port Charles you’re writing?
Korte and Van Etten: Volatile and sexy.
Elizabeth, you have been at the show for 30-plus years. What does it mean to you to hold this position? How does your history with GH inform your writing?
Korte: Co-Headwriting GH is an honor and a challenge — daunting at times but I am loving it. I could not ask for a better collaborator and writing partner than Chris, who brings so much creativity, enthusiasm, and experience to the task. I hope that my history with the show enables me to understand the characters, to hear their voices clearly, to honor their complex history, and to track off that history as we move them forward. The audience invests their time and passion in the show, and we want to honor that investment — what they watched, what they care about — as we build new story.
Chris, what does it mean to you to be back at the show?
Van Etten: I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’ve [loved] GH since Frisco [Jones, Jack Wagner] wooed Felicia [Scorpio, Kristina Wagner] and Anna [Devane, Finola Hughes] danced with Duke [Lavery, Ian Buchanan]. Writing for GH is a dream twice come true, and I thank Frank [Valentini, executive producer] and Nathan [Varni, executive director of drama programming, ABC/Hulu] for their generosity, and the cast, directors, producers, and crew for their trust and derring-do. And it’s an honor to work with our team of writers, and especially Elizabeth. She has a steady hand, abundant empathy, and an awesome imagination.
Looking back on 2024, what are the story highlights for you?
Korte: The returns of Jason [Morgan, Steve Burton], Lucas [Jones, Van Hansis], Ric [Lansing, Rick Hearst], Lucky [Spencer, Jonathan Jackson] and Lulu [Spencer, Alexa Havins]. The arrivals of [Jack] Brennan [Charles Mesure], Isaiah [Gannon, Sawandi Wilson] and Gio [Palmieri, Giovanni Mazza]. Kristina’s fall and the aftermath. Sam’s [McCall, Kelly Monaco] death and the aftermath. Willow [Corinthos, Katelyn MacMullen] and Drew’s [Cain, Cameron Mathison] affair and all the messy fallout. Curtis [Ashford, Donnell Turner] and Drew’s rivalry. Gregory’s [Chase, Gregory Harrison] tragic death. All the drama at the Quartermaines.
Disney/Bahareh Ritter
Van Etten: All of the above! Additionally, the heartbreaking task of bidding goodbye to Bobbie [Spencer, Jacklyn Zeman]; seeing Lucky and Lulu reunited with Laura [Collins, Genie Francis], their families, and loves; Anna getting her groove back; [Hamilton] Finn’s [Michael Easton] spiral and redemption; expanding the Scorpio family and giving Robert [Scorpio, Tristan Rogers] and Holly [Sutton, Emma Samms] their Casablanca moment; anything Heather [Webber, Alley Mills], everything Tracy [Quartermaine, Jane Elliot]; watching Rena Sofer [Lois Cerullo] and Amanda Setton [Brook Lynn Ashton] develop their on-screen mother-daughter relationship.
The GH fans are very engaged online. Do you check out the posts?
Van Etten: I don’t, but there are a few trusted fans in my circle who are glad to give me their two cents when solicited — and often when not. [Winks]
Disney/Christine Bartolucci
What does it mean to you both to be writing a show that has been on the air for over 60 years?
Korte and Van Etten: It’s an incredible responsibility. We must honor the show’s history and the audience’s love for it, as well as the work of all those who preceded us — all while creating new story to challenge and grow its characters. We’re privileged to write for such a talented cast, many of whom have embodied their roles for decades. It’s humbling. We work daily to earn and maintain the trust of our audience and colleagues.
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P
The fact that they think their version of GH is "Volatile and sexy" shows how truly clueless they are about their audience
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A few years ago GH was genuinely a sexy soap then they started tearing apart every couple fans liked, and wow, it's all very deliberate. Fans keep saying 'they hate us' and it turns out they simple don't care to listen to the fans AT ALL. Soaps don't survive that way- Geez if you really don't care about fans at least hide that was RUDE
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G
I do not think the writers honor the fans investments in the show and what the fans care about (like they said above). If they did, they would not have killed off beloved long time characters (the writers said they like to honor the history and long time characters) when the fans pleaded and objected.
Also, killing a baby in its 8/9 month is not a highlight. There could have been a rich storyline with custody fight over the baby and having TJ and Molly have visitation with their baby and their reactions/emotions, etc.
There could also have been some rich drama with a love triangle between Sam/Dante/ and LuLu. Dante could have had some great scenes where he would be torn between the two women, etc
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B
They are not listening to fans I have not seen or heard anyone like the Willow and Drew storyline and they keep going at it.
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C
I know I sick of those two, PLEASE MICHAEL DONT LEAVE, JUST TAKE SIME TIME OFF. I want willow to pay, for all you've done for her, just look at what she did. She needs to pay.
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C
I agree.. Michael (Chad) needs to comeback. The writing for the new Quartermain, God makes him awful. Doesn't he need to be in Washington? The only one really looking out for Willow is Michael. She sure doesn't deserve it. Someone needs to bomb his world. I think he is selfish enough that losing his company and government sear he might just take off, and without Willow. With everything out in the open he could lose his daughter. Win win.. I can't stand Drew. His unshaven beady eyes.yuck. don't get me wrong Willow needs her butt kicked. Maybe that would be a good time for Michael to come home. Just my thoughts
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G
Are they honoring the history by rewriting it? Because they are gaslighting us with dialogue that contradicts WHAT WE SAW.
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O
Chris naming Heather as an highlight when she was one of the worst and most criticized stories of 2024. You gotta laugh at this point.
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O
Please tell me that Korte’s mention of honoring the show’s history was a joke or misprint.
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B
I think the unedited quote from Chris would be more like, "There are times when our ideas are in conflict; but in those circumstances we have space to talk it through and find common ground such that we can proceed in a direction that speaks to the characters and to the larger canvas... by ignoring Elizabeth's befuddling insistence on honoring characters' history when it's so much more convenient to re-write it!"
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G
Killing off Sam and pushing the Drew/Willow affair are lows.
2024 was not a good year for “General Hospital”.
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C
Agree, terrible timing. Its like the writers don't care about the show anymore
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O
volatile and sexy?? more like no-stakes snoozefest. these people are delusional.
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P
Personally, I think they missed the boat on what could've been a "volatile and sexy" relationship - Nina and Drew - in favor of one skeevy and manipulative - Willow and Drew. But, hey, that's just me.
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I think the writers need to complete some stories. They seem to half finish a story example we didn’t get to see Michael having Christmas with his children, Dex not getting a memorial. Things like that. They don’t complete anything. Even when Drew (not my favorite person right now) broke up with Carly it was 1,2,3. Not even a little drama. I feel like they’re all over the place. I love the younger actors but they need to also focus on the “older” ones also. Besides Willow and Drew🤮 Jason and Somy… Carly with Jason and Sonny and Brennan. I was looking forward to a Nina and Drew storyline. Valentin and Nina and Anna. I do LOVE what they did with Tracy’s character. Lulu and Dante. Brooklyn being Gio’s mother. Cody!! Live Cody what are they going to do with him? I’m hoping that he’s Gio’s father. That will give him a great storyline. We need more of that and not have so many loose ends. This is just my opinion. But I think they could do better! ✌️💚🕊️
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Agree
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O
Is the sexy in the room with us?
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Volatile maybe, but definitely not sexy. LOL Nobody wants to see Drew and Willow getting it on. The fans hate them together and detest both characters. I've never liked Willow myself, and I always knew she'd cheat on Michael since she cheated on Chase to be with Michael. That's just who she is. She has a "hero complex" with men - Chase, Michael, now Drew. Who she is now though is even worse than just a cheating wife. She's cruel and a dumber version of Nelle. At least Nelle was smart. She had men following HER around, not vice versa. lol Willow's listening to Drew, since she can't think for herself. She has no regret, no remorse and no regard for Michael's feelings whatsoever. All she's done is play the victim, blame him, take the kids and try to replace him with Drew.
I was never a fan of Drew either, even when he was played by Billy Miller. He was unnecessary. They kept him around, because Sam had a child with him thinking he was Jason. To explain that away, they had to make him Jason's twin. They weren't exactly close, but they got to a point where they accepted each other as brothers. This Drew is like Billy Warlock's AJ on steroids. lol I loved the look Chase gave Willow today when she was whining about her situation to him in the hospital. He did not want to hear it. His best friend/cousin-in-law is fighting for his life and Chase knows how it feels to be cheated on by Willow. He finally sees her for who she is and probably realizes he dodged a bullet with her.
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R
These writer couldn't write themselves out of a paper bag! Are destroying Gh!
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G
Do they actually think we are idiots. This whole interview was ridiculous. Don’t insult true fans. The reason this is the best soap opera is because of the fans. So maybe you should see what we care about also. While you making all your changes
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B
After watching for most of 60 years I have been disappointed in making Drew the bad guy and willow jumping into an affair so quickly for no reason. Death of Sam was so unnecessary to start killing off main characters just to do a “serial killer” story. After 4 years in a coma Lulu just gets up and walks like her legs weren’t used for years did not make sense. Hope story lines start getting more exciting again.
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Anna has been MIA. After kissing Jason the writers got scared and lost their balls when they perused the backlash on social media from those crazy Stan’s of jasam liason & jarly. Htf do u have two of the shows stars kiss and then drop the story and what happened between them just like that. Terrible, terrible writing they suck and I lost interest in the show. U going to show me something one day and than just forget about? Ridiculous.
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While I don't dislike the writing enough to stop watching (I feel like they're trying to lose me though) So many off the wall relationships that make no sense. Characters changed into unrecognizable zombies just walking through the part. No these writers do not care about viewership at all. That much is glaringly obvious.
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S
I think these new writers are making the women of GH look weak and pathetic , especially Willow. Call me when this storyline is over. I have been watching for 55 years and I believe this is the worst storyline yet. I guess I’m gonna have to watch something else during this time slot.
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R
Get rid of Drew and Willow they are ruining your show.so disgusted
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B
WHY DID YOU PUT FELCINA JONES ON BACKBURNER AND BREAK HER FRISCO CHARCTER UP STUPID DUMB WRITING SHOULD HAVE RECAST HIM BEST COUPLE AND BROKEN LUKE AND LAURA UP
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G
In what real world can a person who was in a coma for 4 years up and get on an International flight to Prague. Without anyone's help, no money, credit card maybe? This was too crazy!
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G
Please put Lulu back in a coma. She is horrible!
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O
Please clean up Lucky! His hair looks greasy Sll the time. The cut is horrible. Bring back the good looking lucky.The derilic look is not attractive
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P
To see so much negative comments proves people don’t know how soap operas work anymore. Storylines come and go. Actors come and go and characters come and go and come back and go again etc. 2024 was not a horrible year for GH. Did it go as many fans wanted 🤷🏽♂️ it’s really not up to the fans to dictate storylines. When things don’t work producers and writers know and usually abort or change it up. People need to expect the unexpected… it’s never ok to rewrite history but that was done at a minimum…. Sometimes we just need to expand our imagination. I mean Gloria Monty wrote about the Ice Princess and freezing the world as well as an alien taking residence in Port Charles. Give the writers a chance. I’m sure 2025 will be a great year for GH
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It's not about that. The writing's terrible. Willow's infatuation with Drew that led to her kissing him behind Michael's back for months came out of nowhere. It wasn't built up well. Elizabeth's affair with Nikolas back in 2010 was, since they'd been friends for decades. She took responsibility for her actions, admitted she had no excuse, and even allowed Lucky to say awful things to her because she felt that he deserved it. She couldn't even look at Nikolas, asked herself what was wrong with her to trash her life and her boys' lives, kicked him out and actually fell apart over losing Lucky. Liz didn't double down on her affair with Nikolas and rub it in Lucky's face. She also didn't try to take his kids without his consent.
Nikolas was genuinely remorseful for betraying his brother, Lulu called them BOTH out, and it led to Elizabeth suffering a breakdown. Lucky moved on eventually, and Elizabeth wasn't flaunting it around town when she thought Aidan was Nikolas'. She didn't rub it in Nikolas' face either when she found out Aidan was actually Lucky's. There was remorse with Nikolas and Elizabeth. There isn't with Willow and Drew.
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