ARTICLE: ‘General Hospital’ Executive Producer Frank Valentini Embraces New Writing Team, Says Fans Will Have “Much To Look Forward To”

[Errol]

As of the Thursday, August 8 episode, “General Hospital” has firmly established its third head writing team this year, with Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten as head co-head writers and Cathy LePard as associate head writer.

In a statement released to Soap Opera Digest, the show’s executive producer, Frank Valentini, said of the new team, “No one knows ‘General Hospital’ and its history more than Elizabeth and Chris. Cathy joined the show in 2023, and her talent and love for the genre has been a tremendous asset to this team. We look forward to this dynamic writing combination continuing the legacy of the show and giving our fans much to look forward to.”

Dan O’Connor, Chris Van Etten
ABC

Valentini’s comments mark the first time since being named executive producer in 2012 that he has formally commented on changes within the show’s writer’s room in an official press statement. Meanwhile, Van Etten’s promotion to co-head writer comes several months after he and then-co-head writer Dan O’Connor were abruptly let go from the same position in January. The two were quietly replaced with Korte and Patrick Mulcahey. Van Etten and O’Connor’s written material aired until March 14, while Korte and Mulcahey’s material began airing on March 15. That said, it was revealed in mid-May that Van Etten had returned to the show’s writing team as a breakdown writer/scriptwriter shortly before it was announced that Mulcahey would be exiting the series.

Observing the show’s on-air credits, it can be ascertained that Mulcahey was immediately replaced by Van Etten, considering Korte and Mulcahey’s names appeared together through the Tuesday, August 6 episode, while Van Etten’s name was added alongside Korte’s as of the Wednesday, August 7 episode. LePard was added to the credits as associate head writer beginning with the Thursday, August 8 episode.

Under Korte and Mulcahey, the “General Hospital” has hit a new low among TV households with a 1.2 rating and has tied its series low among rounded Women 18-49 (0.2 rating) for a record 21 consecutive weeks, according to the latest ratings figures released by Nielsen.

During the week of July 29-August 2, 2024, the show averaged less than two million viewers for the 16th consecutive week and the 21st time this season, officially making the 2023-2024 television season the worst on record for the 61-year-old series. In fact, six weeks into the third quarter of 2024, the series is tied with “The View” among Women 18-49 viewers, each averaging just 134,000 viewers within the key demographic.

Season-to-date, “General Hospital” is averaging exactly two million viewers (2,000,000), a 0.03 rating among Females 12-17, a 0.10 rating among Women 18-34, a 022 rating among Women 18-49 and a 0.37 rating among Women 25-54. Among demo viewers, just 4,000 Females 12-17 are tuning in, while only 34,000 viewers fall within the Women 18-34 age bracket. Elsewhere, 145,000 viewers are among Women 18-49 and 229,000 viewers are among Women 25-54. Thus, most of the show’s audience falls within the Women 55+ demographic. Opposite its soap competition, the ABC soap is down -28% among Women 18-49 while “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless” are down -24% and down -17%, respectively.

Hoping to turn things around with what is being called a fall reset, “General Hospital” has announced the returns of some familiar faces, including Jonathan Jackson as Lucky Spencer, Rick Hearst as Ric Lansing and Emma Samms as Holly Sutton. Of the three returnees, Jackson has signed a long-term contract, and Hearst is back for a “nice run,” according to a spokesperson for the show. Samms’ return is expected to be short. There are also plans to recast the role of Lulu Spencer, a character who last appeared on the show in 2020 and was played by Emme Rylan.

One can only hope the show can turn the tide quickly, given renewed talk of budget cuts on the horizon.

Note: The post ‘General Hospital’ Executive Producer Frank Valentini Embraces New Writing Team, Says Fans Will Have “Much To Look Forward To” appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website.

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[Khan]

SMDH.

[AMCOLTLLover]

I want my emme back

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 but can’t wait to hear who they recast Lulu with. New face or someone familiar in the soap community 

[Wendy]

Well, the fans did have a lot to look forward to, Frank. But then you fired/forced out the guy that knows good soap writing [Patrick Mulcahey], so...

[Liberty City]

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I had that with Patrick Mulcahey, and y'all ruined that. so, keep your embrace, and hope it keeps you warm at night.

[TEdgeofNight]

Apparently he didn’t gel with Patrick Mulcahey. 

[Toups]

Probably because it wasn't his decision to bring Mulcahey back.  Just speculation....but it's kind of obvious.  Let's see if the person who decided to bring Mulcahey back will take a step back. 

[Contessa Donatella]

Hmm. I thought we knew that Korte was the one who wanted Patrick Mulcahey & also that he had to be begged to do it. 

[titan1978]

Whatever the power struggle is about or who the players are, Valentini got back control of the writing. He lost Michael Easton, JPS, and Roger before them. And the show is bringing back Lucky and Lulu. He has suffered some blows in this round of struggles bts.

Edited August 10, 2024 by titan1978