Big changes are taking place behind the scenes at General Hospital! GH fans might have already noticed something was up when they caught the new names rolling in the end credits. Yep, Chris Van Etten is back in action! He’s now sharing the head writing duties with Elizabeth Korte. The ABC soap confirmed Van Etten’s return on Wednesday, August 7. Hold up; there’s one more exciting piece of news. Find out!
GH Announces Major Shifts as Tensions Rise
General Hospital is also shaking things up by promoting Cathy LePard, a script and breakdown writer, to associate head writer. What’s with the sudden shift? It’s happening because the show is heating up with some seriously intense storylines. For instance, Sonny Corinthos is spiralling as his mental health takes a dive.
Moreover, there’s a buzz about the return of Ric Lansing and Morgan Corinthos. Plus, fans are on the edge of their seats, itching to see if Lulu might finally wake up from her coma. If you’re an ardent GH fan, you might remember Patrick Mulcahey. He was let go from his co-head writer role back in May, only a few months after stepping in.
The ABC soap didn’t make a big announcement at the time. However, the word got out that Chris Van Etten was back in the mix. Chris first took on the co-head writer role in 2017 after Jean Passanante retired. Additionally, the man has a deep history with the show, working alongside Shelly Altman until her retirement in 2019.
He later joined forces with Dan O’Connor until both were let go in January 2024. Showrunner Frank Valentini released a statement about Chris, “No one knows GH and its history more than Elizabeth and Chris.” He believes Cathy, who joined in 2023, has been a tremendous asset to this team.
Furthermore, Frank added, “We look forward to this dynamic writing combination continuing the legacy of the show.” Let’s shed light on Van’s career. He started writing for One Life to Live in 2005 before joining the ABC soap in 2012. As the drama intensifies, it’s clear that the new writing team is ready to take GH to new heights.
