I know nothing about him but I hope that he brings some balance and fresh ideas to the show. Friday’s episode was one of the worst things I have ever had to endure as a loyal fan and avid viewer. It was basically 40 minutes of Sonny in a hole, praising himself endlessly by enumerating the wonderful qualities that his children were lucky enough to have had him pass on to them. It could not have been any funnier if it had been intended as satire, but sadly it was not. I guess that since every other character seems to have done it, all that was left was to have Sonny himself extol his unending list of virtues. Why, the man could be a saint if he wasn’t a murdering thug of a mob boss! So, come on Chris Van Etten – write us out of the current mess of a show we’re being being forced to endure. Long live GH!

I can only hope the Chris guy is under age 50, best yet under age 40..
Young writers are desperately needed ..

Sounds like business-as-usual with the execs still writing the show and them taking on someone as co-head writer that will tow the line as much as possible. I hope this backfires and he pushes them to do the right thing, but since RC and JP didn’t have any influence beyond a year for RC and six months for JP/SA , I doubt a younger person would have any more sway, probably less.

I read JP’s tweets and correct me if wrong but she said, “I am retiring-at least for the time being”-something to that effect. Is that like Steve Burton every time he leaves a show to be with his family in Nashville? I don’t know. Were Jean and Shelley really writing partners like Barbara Essensten and James Harmon Brown-do I have the names right? They were partners it seemed on every show they worked on. I know that when I have a half-empty carton of milk or tub of whatever that has soured-I don’t buy another and then add it to the half-empty one-I toss it out and start fresh. How much of this is really the headwriter and how much is the Exec. Producer or other higher-ups? I wish I knew the inner workings-only to have a clearer idea of the thought process-or lack of it-that goes into these shows. I do not know about Days but Victor is king at Y&R and Sonny at GH-once Luke left. Bold and Beautiful does not have a king-it has a wonderful cast and writing-in my opinion-and all get a turn front and center-and I do love the show-more so than any other and GH was once at the top, for me.
So many of the plots and stories on GH are beyond suspending disbelief- they are like some crazed fool putting together a jigsaw by force-making the pieces fit regardless of their size or shape or towards any conclusion that pays off emotionally for me. Sonny shot and in a hole- there is no angst for me-except how long do we draw this out for? I am hearing Tyler Christopher was just signed by Days-to me huge score for them-huge loss for GH. I hope this new writer -who seems to have a good deal of experience, is well-liked by his peers and I like when one who has paid dues is promoted-but will his status now as co-head writer make any difference or not? How far ahead have they already written? I get all worked-up and frustrated- it seems GH fans are the most vocal and fanatical of all the shows.

Not the name I was expecting, but I do see Chris Van Etten credited often whenever I watch General Hospital, so I can only hope that he can bring some great things to the table. I only hope that it brings a bit more consistency to the serial. I know a lot of people were hoping for Sri Rao to come on board, and while I would’ve been open to that, as well, I am willing to give Van Etten a fighting chance to see how he handles the position as co-head writer, alongside Shelly Altman. Though, I low-key would’ve loved for ABC to lure Lorraine Broderick back as a head writer for a soap opera, despite her not wanting that kind of position again.

The show needs to return to its roots. I mean can we get awesome wsb plots. Danger mystery intrigue action adventure… Against all odds storytelling

It seems shows always bring in a new writer right after irreparable damage has been done to a show. There are now so many cold blooded murderers running around Port Charles that it’s hard to like or sympathize with so many characters. Ava, Julian, Sonny, Jason, Anna, the rumored departing Obrecht, Alexis (in a way), even those who killed in when being fired upon (Sam) or trying to defend someone (Michael). And of course, Valentin. They need to bring back Nicholas so that Valentin can be softened and not made a murderer, and so Genie Francis and Marci Rylan don’t go into conniption fits every time they see him. Burning and disfiguring Ava is not going to make anyone more sympathetic to her character, she still has to pay for the number of characters she has killed off. Also, if I were Monica, I’d still be revolted by Sonny for killing my son, despite Monica apparently falling for the excuse that Ava goaded him into it, and taking out her vengeance on Ava by getting her to donate a painting to the Nurses Ball. It is ridiculous that all the characters have to act friendly and concerned to unpunished murderers who killed members of their family or lovers. I also hate the fact that lazy writers find it easier to kill of a character than creatively writing them out of the show. Budig’s character had such wonderful potential but they are rushing into this end-times scenario that appears the character will be written out forever. I don’t know how much of a back lash there has been (but the mantra, “anything for Steve Burton” takes precedence), but throwing her under the bus with two years on her contract (unless of course she has been a negative force on set and has been making life miserable for all the other cast members) pains a lot of viewers. I thought Michael Sutton did a terrific job. But the decimation of the Quartermaines really started GH on its path to ruin and too much emphasis on cold blooded murder performed by characters we are supposed to love has hastened its demise. Hasn’t anyone told ABC that The Sopranos went off the air and shows like the Good Fight (or Wife) or This Is Us are the shows that are attracting audiences today.