I know McTavish was criticized for bringng back some cartoony aspects to Port Charles (people getting frozen, etc) but really that felt in keeping with some of GH's history and I felt it was more entertaining than some of what GH writers have saddled the show with

Eric, what was the story with McTavish and Tony Geary? Was it that he and his writing partner wrote a treatment for the "End Game" story, at least I think that's what it was called, which McTavish ran with and completely dumbed down and turned into a cartoon (how shocking!!)? Or was "End Game" the story that had to be shelved because of 9/11? It's all very hazy.

I am pretty sure End Game was the story that was canceled or toned down cuz of 9/11.

I am pretty sure End Game was the story that was canceled or toned down cuz of 9/11.

It was.

The original script had the hospital being blown up.

Eric, what was the story with McTavish and Tony Geary? Was it that he and his writing partner wrote a treatment for the "End Game" story, at least I think that's what it was called, which McTavish ran with and completely dumbed down and turned into a cartoon (how shocking!!)? Or was "End Game" the story that had to be shelved because of 9/11? It's all very hazy.

9/11 only effected the ending of the storyline -- not the entire storyline. Also, Endgame that aired was NOT, according to him, the story Geary had pitched.

Here's more:

"In December of 2000, my writing partner, Irene Suver, and I delivered an 80-page document to ABC entitled 'Endgame.' It was a story to end the Spencer-Cassadine 'war' once and for all, and to move us out of the morass of the past," Geary said in a statement.

"Now there seems to be some confusion regarding the authorship of the story currently airing on [General Hospital]. That storyline is the sole creation of the current writing staff, and bears no resemblance whatsoever to 'Endgame.'"

Source

I am pretty sure End Game was the story that was canceled or toned down cuz of 9/11.

That was my favorite GH story this decade by far. Jacob Young did some good work that story, and anything that facilitates sword fights and bottomless pits is okay in my book.

There were bottomless pits?

There were bottomless pits?

yep and thats apparently where Stavros has been chilling ever since. It was ridiculous that underneath the hospital was this secret sci-fi lair built within a hidden cave

There were bottomless pits?

Yes. That's how the storyline ended. There was a trap door and Stavros fell into a bottomless pit.

And don't forget how after Stavros was thawed out, he and Helena started using the cryogenics chamber... AS A CHAMPAGNE COOLER!!

HAHAH how awful although a part of me kinda gives McTavish some twisted form of props for basically aknowledging how dumb the sci fi Gen Hospital stories were in the early 80s and perhaps doing them one better (though she didn't reactivate Luke's superhero powers did she? ) I guess we can be thankful she never built a bottomless pit in Pine Valley

yep and thats apparently where Stavros has been chilling ever since. It was ridiculous that underneath the hospital was this secret sci-fi lair built within a hidden cave

Yeah that freezing Stavros and then he is alive was stupid!! Not believable at all! ALTHO The actor who played Stavros and the actress who plays Helena had great chemistry. When he grabbed her throat, they had hot chemistry. They should have been lovers instead of mother and son!

(though she didn't reactivate Luke's superhero powers did she? )

What superhero powers? He never had superhero powers.

I guess we can be thankful she never built a bottomless pit in Pine Valley

Oh how soon we forget Natalie in the well LOL.

Natalie in the Well was one of the storylines that got me hooked on AMC (I was 11 or 12 )

Sonya I swear I read that very briefly they flirted with the idea of Luke having superpowers...

Natalie in the Well was one of the storylines that got me hooked on AMC (I was 11 or 12 )

Yeah, I loved Natalie in the well too. It was a well-done storyline and Kate Collins really made it work. I think that was the storyline that propelled the show to #2 in the ratings. Collins was so under-rated. It's a crime that she was never nominated for an Emmy.

I doubt that will ever happen now, with the over-the-top, cartoonish performances she turns in whenever she appears as Janet.

I doubt that will ever happen now, with the over-the-top, cartoonish performances she turns in whenever she appears as Janet.

I think that's basically what Janet is now, how she was probably advised to play it. If they gave Janet more layers she might be able to do that. Her work as Natalie was very multi-layered.