Charles Measure and Laura Wright
Disney/Christine BartolucciIt’s about to get hot in Port Charles.
General Hospital co-head writers Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Short they don’t hold back when it comes to their vision for long-lasting ABC soap.
The couple teamed up for the first time after the show replaced Van Etten and former co-head writer Dan O’Connor last year. He then hired Korte and the veteran soap opera writer Patrick Mulcaheybut Mulcahey’s tenure was short-lived, and Van Etten soon returned.
The pair teased fans about what to expect from General Hospital as they head up the writers’ room, calling their version of Port Charles “volatile and sexy” in an interview with TV Insider published on Wednesday, January 15th.
General Hospital has more changes after the past changes. Fans noticed during the Wednesday, August 7, episode of the soap that former head writer Chris Van Etten returned to co-write with Elizabeth Korte. The sign-off credits for the series featured Van Etten’s name and General Hospital screenwriter Cathy LePard (…)
“It’s an incredible responsibility. We must respect the show’s history and the audience’s love for it, as well as the work of all those who came before us — all while creating a new story to challenge and develop our characters,” they explained. “We are privileged to write for such a talented cast, many of whom have embodied their roles for decades. That’s humbling. We work every day to earn and keep 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 to bring up any idea, even the funny ones. Sometimes when we rein it in, the funny idea is the most exciting,” they said. “There are times when our ideas conflict; but in those circumstances we have room to talk and find common ground so we can continue in a direction that speaks to the characters and the bigger screen. We hear each other and never feel left out.”
General Hospital fans aren’t the only ones happy that Steve Burton is returning to the show — his co-star Laura Wright is just as excited about his return. “It’s perfect. it’s home. It’s a certainty,” 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 a combined 35 years of experience in General Hospital writers room, and Korte believes that 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 have asked for a better collaborator and writing partner than Chris, who brings so much creativity, enthusiasm and experience to the task,” she said. “I hope that my history with the show allows me to understand the characters, to hear their voices clearly, to respect their complex history, and to follow 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, an abundance of empathy and an incredible imagination.”
General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC and can be streamed on Hulu.