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Charles Measure and Laura Wright
Disney/Christine BartolucciIt’s about to heat up in Port Charles.
General Hospital co-headliners Chris Van Etten a Elizabeth Short not holding back in terms of their vision for the a long-running ABC soap.
The pair team up for the first time after the show replaced Van Etten and former co-head writer Dan O’Connor last year. Then he hired Korte and a veteran soap writer Patrick Mulcaheybut Mulcahey’s tenure was short-lived, and Van Etten soon returned.
The pair teased fans with what to expect from General Hospital while they were at the helm in the writers’ room, calling their version of Port Charles “volatile and sexy” in an interview with Internal Television published on Wednesday, January 15.
General Hospital has more changes planned following changes in the past. Fans noticed during the Wednesday, August 7, episode of the soap opera that former head writer Chris Van Etten returned to write alongside Elizabeth Korte. The end credits of the show included Van Etten’s name, and General Hospital script and analysis writer Cathy LePard (…)
“It’s an incredible responsibility. We must honor the history of the show and the audience’s love for it, as well as the work of everyone who preceded us – and all while creating a new story to challenge and grow its characters,” they elaborated. “We are honored to write for such a talented cast, many of whom have embodied their roles for decades. He is humble. We work daily to earn and maintain the trust of our audience and colleagues.”
Sofia Mattsson, Katelyn MacMullen, and Chad Duell.
Disney/Christine BartolucciVan Etten and Korte added that they never stop bouncing ideas off each other, and sometimes, the crazier the better.
“We keep the atmosphere safe for voicing any idea, even the ridiculous ones. “Sometimes when we rein it in, the ridiculous idea is the most exciting,” they said. “There are times when our ideas clash; but in those circumstances we have room to talk through it and find common ground so that we can go forward in a direction that speaks to the characters and to the larger canvas. We hear each other out and never feel manipulated.”
General Hospital fans aren’t the only ones happy to see Steve Burton back on the show – his costar Laura Wright is just as excited for his return. “It’s perfect. It’s home. It’s safety,” Wright, 53, said of Burton’s return in a behind-the-scenes video from his homecoming episode, which aired Monday, March 4. Wright (…)
Van Etten and Korte have 35 years of experience in the field General Hospital writers, and Korte feels their longevity and working relationship will serve them well in their current roles.
Sofia Mattsson, Katelyn MacMullen, and Chad Duell.
Disney/Christine Bartolucci“I couldn’t ask for a better collaborator and writing partner than Chris, who brings so much creativity, enthusiasm and experience to the task,” he said. “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 trace that history as we move them forward.”
As for Van Etten, he called it an “honor” to work with Korte, adding, “She has a steady hand, abundant empathy and incredible imagination.”
General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC and can be streamed on Hulu.
