Breaking News
‘General Hospital’ Names Patrick Mulcahey and Elizabeth Korte as New Co-Head Writers; Replacing Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor
In a surprise move, General Hospital has decided to make a head writer change and that means that Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor are exiting their positions and being replaced by Patrick Mulcahey and Elizabeth Korte. Look for Chris and Dan’s stories to air through March.
Patrick and Elizabeth are no strangers to GH. For Korte, she has been a longtime writing team member of the ABC daytime drama series for several decades starting in 1994. During her time with the series, she has served as co-head writer back in 2001, and has worked in various capacities including as script editor since 2008. Along with Bob Guza Jr, Korte was the co-creator of the GH spinoff, GH: Night Shift and also served as co-writer of the show with Guza.
Patrick Mulcahey previous tenures with GH were starting in 1996 as a script writer, and then from 1998-1999 as an associate head writer and breakdown writer. Having a storied career in the soaps, Patrick has written for Search for Tomorrow, Texas, Guiding Light, Santa Barbara and The Bold and the Beautiful. He last worked with B&B in 2019 as a script and story consultant.
Photo: ABC
Previously, Chris Van Etten had been upped to GH co-head writer upon the retirement of former co-head writer, Jean Passanante. Before that, Etten had been a breakdown writer at GH since 2012 and working under then head writer, Ron Carlivati (now head writer, DAYS). However, Chris started his daytime career at One Life to Live working with GH and former One Life EP Frank Valentini and working his way up the writing ranks.
As for Dan O’Connor, like Van Etten, he got his start on One Life to Live as a writer’s associate from 2007-2011 and later joined the GH writing team under Ron Carlivati in 2013 where he held various roles including as associate head writer and breakdown writer, prior to being named the co-head scribes.
O’Connor was a writer’s associate from 2007-2011. Like Van Etten, O’Connor later joined Carlivati’s writing team at General Hospital in 2013, where he held the dual role of associate head writer and breakdown writer before being named co-head writer. Soap Opera Digest first reported the news.
Despite the well deserved praise for the Bobbie memorial – It was time for a switch.
Something creative (and balanced) needs to be done with the Carly-Nina mess. Mulcahey created the Carly character so hopefully he moves her to a different level. And Drew just needs to go.
He also was around for the introduction of Alexis – another character that needs a jump start. Mac & Felicia were also front and center during his original time with GH.
That said, it’s time to increase the presence of the next generation.
Korte has been the continuity writer for a long time. Sometimes she ignores show history, but hopefully as co-head, she’ll have a balanced approach.
I’d rather they try to lure back some of the characters that have been let go from the legacy families; bring back Dillon, Skye, (her daughter) and have AJ come back with Jason. I don’t care HOW they explain AJ’s resurrection but he should never have been killed off by Carlivati because of his petty war with Sean. Bring back Lucky, maybe bring back Liz’s sister Sarah. Bring Liz’s parents on and bring back “Steven Lars.” Get back to the core families and the various generations. And STOP this one-sided dumping on Nina; the woman lost over 20 years of her life, was hurt over and over again, had her babies taken, one grew up to be “trouble” and is dead, Sasha conned her and Nina’s heart was broken, Harmony AND Carly tried to keep her from ever finding out about Willow and yet these current writers keep having Nina pay over and over again while those who have hurt her pay nothing and are loved by the whole town. It’s infuriating to watch.
Don’t forget Elizabeth’s other sister Hayden. That character had alot more story to tell and I never liked how she was only on for 2 short stints. But everything else you mentioned is spot on!!
Hi James. I have to disagree with you there. I couldn’t stand Hayden from day one until she thankfully took her exit. I hated that they made her Liz’s sister out of the blue intead of bringing back Liz’s “established” brother and sister. What was REALLY galling to me was that as you know (how can anyone miss it) there’s not ONE Jewish character on the show (which I’ve brought up several times). Diversity seems to include only certain groups, but I digress. When Hayden found out that her father wasn’t her biological father, she reminisced at how close they were and how she loved Passover dinners. Passover dinners????!!!! Not ONE Jewish character on the show, but for some reason the writers decided that Hayden’t “not real” father who she thought was her father, was Jewish. And what was he in jail for? A ponzi scheme. A Bernie Madoff-type crime. HOW GH got away with that blatant antisemitism is beyond me. They create a Jewish character who has no role on the show, imply that he’s Jewish, and is in jail for a ponzi scheme. So for me? There’s nothing about Hayden, the way she was written, how they threw her in as Liz’s sister at a time they barely had any vets left on the show, add that piece of antisemitic crap to her story and I have no desire to see her return. I’m not optimistic though. Any character can be brought back so I just enjoy her absence for as long as it lasts…
Well said. And I totally agree with you.
I might be willing to send AJ back up from Hell, if they asked me to. But isn’t Sean Kanan busy on one of the CBS soaps?
The Billy Warlock version of AJ really doesn’t need to be seen again. Ever. At least Kanan’s version had a few redeeming qualitiies. And remember, I’m the Devil, so it takes a lot for me to find somebody totally reprehensible, but the Warlock version of AJ? Yeah, he would be one of those. He’s cleaning out the dragon stables with Heinrich Faison, and he can stay there.
Yes; I think Sean Kanan’s on B&B. I don’t watch that but I’ve heard he was (I think he still is). AJ was always one of my favs; and I hated that Carly and Sonny got over on him til the very end. He should never have been killed off especially when he was brought back from the dead to begin with. And though I LOVE Sean and would love to see him return, I have to admit that after a while Billy won me over, too. I felt empathy for him as AJ; I think he did a great job. So though physically he and Sean are nothing alike (understatement) Billy made the role his own. I’d love to have him back if Sean wasn’t available…
I guess I was the only Warlock fan, I preferred him over Kansan’s
If Im following the timeline correctly, was Mulcahey part of the Lucky and Elizabeth storyline in 98-99, which was fantastic until JJ left GH. If so, I hope he will finally write a front burner storyline for Becky H. I’ve read a blast from Elizabeth’s past will return soon. I’m not a fan of Finn/Liz pairing. While I’m excited that Jason is returning, I would love to see the writers reunite Becky with Jonathan Jackson’s Lucky.
The only thing “surprising” about this move is that it took so long. I stopped watching “Generally Carly” completely for the first time in over 30 years because it’s virtually unwatchable. I doubt this will get me to start again, but good luck to them.
I think this is a good move. Probably would be better to have Guza himself back as head writer, but at least these two are writers who worked under him, and not “fruit of the poisoned ReRon tree” like the previous writers.
Along with the return of Jason and (hopefully) the demise of Parasite Nina, things are starting to look up for the city of Port Charles.
“Parasite Nina?” You can’t see where she’s been hurt over and over again by Carly and company yet is the ONLY one who is rejected and berated and treated like garbage? REALLY? What are you watching???
I’ve been watching a complete toilet spiral since November 2021, with very few exceptions (such as the Bobbie tribute episodes). And I haven’t been shy about saying so.
Thankfully, it looks like I’m not the only one who noticed this, and things – by all indication, given recent developments – are finally changing for the better.
I didn’t mean in general; I meant the Nina part. I’m not sure how you can call “Nina” a parasite. She’s heads above Carly in the character department, no pun intended. She’s the victim; not the perp, and I’m sick of the way, surprise, surprise, Carly’s loved by one and all, forgiven for everything she did to Nina, and everyone, including clueless Willow, another character they ruined, somehow can’t see how cruel Carly was to Nina, how Carly took it upon herself to keep a daughter who was stolen from her mother at birth to keep her mother from ever finding her…and then goes a step further and asks Carly to walk her down the aisle. And what was with that idiotic bracelet Willow gave to Nina on Nina’s wedding day? She gave her Harmony’s bracelet? The woman who stole Nina’s child, was never going to let her know Willow was her daughter, who drugged Willo so Shiloh could rape her, who killed Neal and his brother, was going to kill Alexis and Carly???? Willow gave Nina THAT bracelet as a gift? Nina’s been treated like sh-t by everyone. It’s not the character that’s unbearable, it’s the one-sided, imbalanced, writing. It’s horrible and tough to watch.
As for Bobbie’s memorial? I wasn’t thrilled with that either. It was the Carly show. I’m not even sure why they had Lucas come back for it….
Satan said it right about Ms. Nina. This woman blames everyone for choices that she made. She knew the character of her daughter, Nelle first hand, because she worked with her. Matter of fact, she worked with Carly to bring her down! She even made an enemy of Anna, because she worked with Valentin to.cover up the bad seeds deeds.
I’ve always wondered if fans would like the Nina character more if it was played by the original Nina (Michelle Stafford). Drew is a different character than the original for sure but how do they fix that now? I liked Ron sorry and Van Etten. Korte has been writing for GH for a long while now. Look forward to Jason being back.
No the over acting of Stafford we have to deal with on Y&R
Stafford was so done by the time she left to go back to Y&R. There was no way they’d even attempt to pair her with Benard. Nina could’ve left the canvas without ever exploring her connection to Nelle or Willow.
Watros came in and revitalized the character and had a calming effect on Benard’s portrayal of Sonny.
The first few years of Ron’s writing was rather entertaining. When Fluke and Denise DeMuccio appeared, however, the writing was on the wall.
Funny because I liked Nina more when she was played by Michelle. However, I cannot picture Michelle with Sonny! No way. The whole backstory of Nina is heartbreaking & really kind of ridiculous but . . . Remember when she came to town in a wheelchair at the park when Sam & her kid(s) were there with Silas?
Heck no!! I’m so done with Y&R and her overacting over there. Not to mention their retread storylines, and the overdone pairing of Sharon with Nick. They’re going to go there yet again, and I’m sick and tired of it. Get NEW characters in there, lighten things up. Nick and Sharon, Nick and Phyllis, Nick and Chelsea…….overdone, overdone overdone!! All shows need new writers, and need to weave the history of its characters into the present. Long time viewers appreciate it, and new viewers need to know the history of its characters.
Just keep some of the storylines running for long periods of time. I hate that most storylines on soaps are started and wrapped up in just a couple of months. One example i can give is when Nelle switched babies and it took a year-and-a-half for the payoff. THAT’S how stories used to run. GH has a good track record of keeping their stories going until we finally get the payoff and I don’t want to see that changed.
As far back as Port Charles, ABC’s become enamored of the telenovella approach. For the last few years of PC, each story was designed to be told in thirteen-week chunks. I kind of like that approach, because if you have a clunker storyline, it will be gone in a few months. Remember how excruciating the Peter August storyline was? He couldn’t die soon enough! And Fluke? Please! Keep the pace up and tell better stories.
Quit this show when Billy miller stepped on the elevator and was gone! If you people really think the return of expensive Steve Burton is going to solve your problems with this soap get a grip ! First of all he looks horrible second he can’t act third who needs this?? But I do know I would not come back because now it’s the Sam and Jason and the Jason and Liz stupid fan wars
I guess the last quarter ratings was the last straw for ABC and/or FV?! I actually don’t know who pulls the plug on writer changes. It was a needed change. I’m always curious how different things look on screen when a new writer(s) stuff is aired. Back in the day they used write out whole families. I don’t see anything like that happening though.
The ratings for 2024 have been up significantly. The primetime special/Bobbie’s memorial episodes brought back some viewers who stuck around for at least the week after.
Ratings did dip under 2 million for the later weeks of 2023, but have strongly rebounded to over 2.2 million last week. That’s better than some network primetime shows.
Probably the best description for the HW switch is “creative differences”.
As for Laura Wright she sucked the life out of this show years ago ! Your best asset was Becky and you have wasted her
She really did. The way she uses Nina as a punching bag has driven me to only watching once or twice a week. Wright actually defends her character being a bully on social media and has said “Carly is the girl everyone wants to be friends with”. When I read that I just thought that she must be delusional.
As forCynthia Watros I don’t know how she gets up and goes to work every day just to be pummelled into the ground by Carly, Michael and Willow.I believe Patrick Mulcahey was at GL and wrote for Cynthia there. So hopefully she will get much better treatment under him than the current “Carly Loving” regime!!!
Cynthia Watros gets up and goes to work everyday as she is good friends with Laura Wright in real life.
You are taking her real life name and mixing it with character names…
Carly Loving regime?
The regime that killed off her son Morgan (yeah he’s not really dead), killed her best friend Jason TWICE (yeah he’s not either) stole her husband, stole her business, tormented her for years with Psycho Nelle, then for more years with Nelle’s alleged “mother” (still not proven, other than a WalMart necklace as “evidence”) , neutered Sonny and broke up their marriage and almost got her killed in a mob war, caused by Sonny’s alleged “death” and resulting power vaccuum.
I won’t blame the regime for killing off her mother, since that was out of their hands, of course. But the rest of it…. if that’s your idea of “loving”, what would a “Carly Hating” regime look like??
Let me start with: I liked Dan O’Connor & Chris Van Etten as a head writing duo. They came in and really did shift the writing in a way that had been needed for quite some time. However, once COVID hit, the steam immediately left their station. Returning from the COVID break, instead of progressing storylines and possibly even factoring in the COVID-19 pandemic into the scripts (considering hey, this IS a hospital show), they picked right back up with the same storylines they went into the hiatus with. Timing and pacing is their issue: when they are given a time limit for executing a storyline (a.k.a. Emma Samms’ one-month return) they shine. They have an A to Z plot point and they aren’t allow room to change it. When they are on it they’re on it, but when they are not…. it’s all Hell breaking loose. The changes in storyline because audience figured it out (Cyrus / Pautauk leader being a female), the hold Hat Daddy had over the mob and his big secret, etc. were really messy, and proof they couldn’t stay contained to a story timeline. And that ultimately is their negative. Plus, I also believe Nathan Varni and TPTB at Disney-ABC were paying attention during the strike material; fans were VOCAL about how much better-paced things had moved, and once O’Connor and Van Etten were returning, things immediately reverted and were being undone.
Patrick Mulcahey is a MAJOR WIN! He’s someone whose name has been tossed around for a while. First in possible replacement of Josh Griffith on The Young and the Restless and then in general terms. He’s smart, he’s educated and he’s worked some of the greats, so his input is needed. He is hard-headed and doesn’t take the easy way out in his writing, and IF Disney-ABC allow him to do his job ⏤ and I am hoping they do, because you don’t hire someone like Mulcahey and not allow them to do their job ⏤ this really could put General Hospital back on an amazing trajectory. His words have always reigned true to his passion for daytime. He is smart, and when John Conboy came onto Santa Barbara, Mulcahey left after the one and only meeting he had with him. That’s the kind of energy we need: he won’t be taking anyone’s bullshït, which again, proves to me TPTB know what they’re doing in hiring Mulcahey. In 2011, in an interview with Santa Barbara Online, he had this to say on the future of soaps: ❝ [That] soaps really don’t have a future. We needed to change or die, and the only changes we made were for the worse. ❞
Elizabeth Korte I feel is a safety promotion; she’s been there since 1994, and has remained through multiple regimes while Mulcahey had been misused on The Bold and the Beautiful, so she can be there for some kind of “continuity,” which I don’t feel is necessary. Plus, both Mulcahey & Korte worked together during his all-too-short time at General Hospital, and I am hoping her attention to playing favourites with characters is settled by Mulcahey, who I do feel is top dog in the head writing team.
I know it’ll take time for the new material to shift, and I am willing to provide the appropriate time for both Mulcahey & Korte to fix things that need to be fixed. That being said, I am also happy to see a FEMALE head writer back in daytime, and while it is not the name I would have chosen, I am welcoming it cautiously.
Now, if only the “writer” could get canned from Days of Our Lives.
Chris & Dan had some strong points. On the plus side, I admire how they had vets like Ned and Lucy front and center driving story. Sonny became less hostile. And, although not perfect, Spencer & Trina became the most talked about young couple in ages.
Hopefully, the new writers will bring suspenseful stories…More action, something that grips you and has teeth to it…GH has been an overkill of lackluster writing….
Dust off some of the glory days writing of GH–
tweak them and produce exciting stories as once were..
Bring back the days when I couldn’t wait for the next day’s episode….
The show is mostly great-please don’t screw it up
I sure hope that the new writing team keeps Tracy around. Her return in 2023 breathed new life into my GH viewing habits. Tracy Quartermaine is a force!!!
I think it’s Jane’s choice if Tracy sticks around. She retired initially. I assume if she’s having a good time, she’ll stick around. It isn’t like Tony Geary where he left the country. She’ll also probably want some nice long vacations (which she’s earned!)
Depending on how well it goes, and with Mulcahey it should go well; I wouldn’t be surprised if EP Frank Valentini is replaced by Mulcahey as well. Been watching soaps since the late 60’s so I know he’ll bring some good stories to the table. So does ABC.
I doubt Valentini is going anywhere. He stays within the budget they give him, and that seems to really matter to the ABC folks.
Hiring Patrick Mulcahey is a super-smart move; let’s hope they let him work his magic.
Been years long break from GH. See you in April GH. I will be tuning in again. Bring back Rebecca Budig please.
This is good news. Patrick Mulcahey is a skilled writer. He’ll bring character-driven drama to-the-table.
Honestly, with this current headwriting team, they were unimpressive. No real cohesiveness & “stories” that dragged on ad nauseum.
Definitely time for a fresh approach in the headwriting department.
I’ve appreciated what Chris and Dan have written. Haven’t always liked where stories went, but certainly appreciated their efforts. I can’t imagine that writing a soap is easy with all the interferences from network execs, having to figure out actors’ schedules or others’ whims that play into what makes it on air. I’ve read it over and over again how all the interference makes churning out over 250 scripts a year is draining on the Head Writers and their staff. And yet so many soap fans think they can do better. We can’t. So, Thank You to Dan and Chris! And Welcome and best Wishes to Patrick and Elizabeth!
Actually, I’m not so sure that many of us couldn’t (do better), especially those of us who’ve been around for a while and remember what soaps used to be like in the 1970s and 1980s (and before, even, for some people who post here).
But I still take your point on how hard it must be to produce good, solid writing with the network and others interfering constantly. (There’s a reason why some of the great headwriters left the field, starting in the 1990s, and never looked back.)
I’d also point out that what makes it onto the screen, after all the interference, could be vastly different from what was originally written (which I’d suspect in most cases was much better than the final product). I’ll happily criticize what makes it onto the screen, but I’m much more careful than I used to be about making judgments about various writers’ abilities based on what I see, because I don’t see any way of determining accurately what’s their writing and what’s somebody’s meddling.
In GH’s case specifically, I’d say the last time ABC really got out of the writers’ way and let them do their jobs was early in Carlivati’s tenure. At some point, though, about a year or 18 months in, I could really tell that ABC had gotten back heavily into the mix, and the show started veering back into some truly unpalatable territory.
I give Van Etten and O’Connor credit for finding a way to keep Sonny front and center (which ABC apparently insists on, despite the damage to the show overall) without making the mob stuff the center of his existence; they’ve threaded that needle better than anybody since early Carlivati.
I’ll be interested to see what Mulcahey does (and how long he sticks around before he either walks or is shown the door). As others have pointed out, he has a reputation for not suffering fools gladly, and he doesn’t seem to have a problem walking away from daytime entirely for extended periods when the clowns take over, so I think we’ll like what we see on the screen, if they’ll only let him do his job.
Remember when P&G ran the majority of soaps? Back in the days of multiple Soap magazines and books and articles on the subject. BTW my favorite columnist back in the day was Cleveland Ohio’s Lynda Hirsch, especially for her live Friday updates on The Morning Exchange mostly following Dorothy Fuldheim(#Icon).But I digress. I read Harding Lemay’s ”Eight Years In Another World and P&G was a nightmare for daytime(for a lot of HW). But he fought for his vision and got it for years until they stepped in again. If ABC and Disney really want the show to continue they’ll step back and turn Mulcahey loose to do what he does best. But I doubt it. Like Dolly Levi they can’t help but meddle. To the show’s detriment.
I read on another site late last night that one of mulcahey,s conditions for a return was to bring Tamara Braun back as Carly. How amazing. She was the best Carly!! She will give Carly layers again . Not a vile toxic character which seems to be the only way Wright is capable of playing her.
Tamara will be be back on screen in late april/early May according to the report. Finally I will look forward to watching GH!! This is like the biggest casting news in at least a decade!
That’s just wishful thinking/speculation. Besides, Braun was not playing Carly when Mulcahey created the character – Sarah Brown was.
Head writers have little impact on casting decisions. Frank Valentini (with guidance from Mark Teschner) has the say on all casting decisions. Frank is pretty close with Laura Wright, so again that hypothesis doesn’t hold merit.
It said that Sarah brown wasn’t available so he went with Tamara Braun in order to”reset” the character of Carly!! Apparently both Teschner and Valentini signed off on this in order to apease him!!
Braun is under contract to DAYS. Brown has no acting credits for past 3 years. Please list the site. Many of them out there are pure speculation and fan fiction.
Not that things like that don’t ever happen, but I wouldn’t bet on it, if I were you. (I’m not even sure TB wants to come back to GH, for that matter.)
Greg, you are spewing absolute bull crap with this one.
Not sure how to take this surprising news. The show’s ratings fell but are back up to 2.4 million viewers. Hope the new head writers can build on that and bring the show up to over 3 million. Anyone that formerly wrote for Guiding Light or Santa Barbara has my vote. Good luck to GH! And how about create a character for the great Kim Zimmer or Erika Slezak? OMG as that show would have the best cast ever in daytime!
ABC has invested a lot of money bringing back a lot of its soap stars from the 90’s and 2000’s for those falling ratings. The cast on GH is huge and I doubt Disney is happy at this point. I have a sneaking suspicion this show is being prepared for streaming on Hulu exclusively. Mulcahey writes for adults. Peacock has proven with Days that a hard core of soap fans will follow a soap to streaming when it leaves a network. The bonus for a streamer is a soap provides year long content with a loyal audience and is cheaper than creating original programming from scratch.
I had not thought of that possibility, but you may be right. Days has survived the transition, which shows that the model can work (if by “work” one means “mean make continuing to produce a soap viable in the eyes of network executives”–I know most viewers still aren’t happy with the decision). I’m not thrilled with the idea, but I’m not thrilled with most decisions TPTB have made in the last couple of decades, so . . .
I am a very cynical person but I just have this nagging feeling in my gut and I hope I am wrong. ABC learned from the AMC and OLTL cancellation debacle. If they later pull the plug on the show – they can say see we tried everything to save the show even bringing back all of the old favorites. My gut tells me the future of the remaining daytime soaps are on streaming where content that viewers are willing to pay for is all that matters.
As a 50-year viewer of GH, I hope you are all wrong. I do not stream ANYTHING, nor do I intend to in the future.
Another reminder that casting is up to the Executive Producer (Valentini) and Casting Director (Teschner).
Slezak lives in Connecticut and would not want to commute to LA on a semi-regular basis. Zimmer had some not-so warm things to say about Echo’s return to OLTL after GL went off the air. Unlikely she and Frank would work together again.
This is great news. Patrick Mulcahey is among the best. I hope that you’ll do an interview with him, Michael, asap. It would be interesting to hear what some of his plans are for the show. I’m especially curious about Nikolas’s future. Since he was instrumental in writing for the character during Tyler’s (RIP) original run, I’d like to see more of those personality traits restored. I’m confident that, if it’s on the page, Adam Huss can play it.
Can you writers GH please find someone to be a witness that saw Ava push Christina through the window just so she could get punished.they Couldn’t live with themselves knowing they saw what happened. Let them come forward.
Somebody was taking pictures of the entire thing as it happened. It was either Sonny’s guy “Brick” or somebody hired by him. Not sure why those pictures were never used as evidence against Ava.
Did you watch the scene originally? Klumsy Kristina is the only person who thinks she was pushed. Not even her parents think she was pushed.
Over and done.. Ava was cleared and Christina tripped on her own.
Except, Ava did not push Kristina out the window.
I watched it twice, or as many times as it was re-shown. Kristina was standing near the duffle bag in front if the window. Ava tried to grab her arm and as she pulled away, she tripped over the bag, sending her out the window. IM NOT an Ava fan, but Kristina provoked the whole thing herself. It was her own fault that the baby died. Maybe , someday she will be able to remember how things really happened. I guess you didn’t see the episode yourself, or you wouldn’t say what you just said, no witness exists, it was just the two women.
Breaking News
Dolly Parton Remembered: Y&R Alum Alyvia Alyn Lind Shares Heartfelt Tribute to the Legendary Singer and Songwriter
The world is in mourning on Tuesday, August 25 with the news of the passing of iconic and beloved country western singer/songwriter/actress Dolly Parton. The 11-time Grammy winner crafted and performed memorable hits such as “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” 9 to 5″, and “Here You Come Again, ” to name but a few.
Parton died in Nashville today. She was 80-years-old. Not only was Dolly an iconic name in the world of music, she was also an actor, producer, playwright, theme park founder (Dollywood), and a noted philanthropist.
One of the people lucky enough to know and experience the life of Dolly through a different lens was Alyvia Alyn Lind, the one time Faith Newman of The Young and the Restless. Lind played the role of Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon’s (Sharon Case) daughter on and off from 2011-2021.
Photo: HallmarkChannel
ALVIA ALYN LIND PLAYED A YOUNG DOLLY
However, it was Lind, who portrayed a young Dolly in the television movie adaption of Parton’s song and book “A Coat of Many Colors” in 2015, and its sequel in 2016 Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.
Parton and Lind shared a close bond following the project, famously performing a touching, emotional duet of Parton’s song “Angel Hill” together on Hallmark’s Home & Family.
Taking to her Instagram just a short time ago, Alyvia paid tribute to the one and only Parton, expressing, “I am truly at a loss for words. There are some people who come into your life and leave a mark that can never be erased. Dolly was one of those people. will forever be grateful that I had the privilege of knowing her, learning from her, and carrying a piece of her with me through such an important and formative part of my childhood. Getting to play Dolly changed my life, but getting to know her changed my heart. Memories, lessons, laughter, and a light that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
Alyvia added, “The world will never be the same without her, but that light will live on in all of us who were lucky enough to experience it. Thank you for believing in me, for teaching me, for letting me be a small part of your story, and for being such a meaningful part of mine. Rest peacefully, Dolly. You will be missed more than words can ever say. Thank you for everything. ❤️
FAMILY ANNOUNCES THE DEATH OF DOLLY PARTON
Parton also starred alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman in the smash 1980 film 9 to 5, and later roles in films including: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone, Steel Magnolias, Straight Talk, and Joyful Noise.
Parton’s death was announced via her official Instagram post by her nephew, Bryan Seaver on behalf of the Parton family. He shared the news in a video statement. You can see that below.
View this post on Instagram
Breaking News
Hayden Panettiere Remembered: ‘Guiding Light’ and More Stars Mourn Her Loss in Wake of Tragic Death
Tributes continue to pour in from the entertainment and soap opera community, and especially from former co-stars of Hayden Panettiere, who died on Sunday at the age of 36.
Panetierre was best-known to soap fans for her roles as as a young Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light and Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live, and as an adult in ABC’s music city primetime soap opera, Nashville where she starred as Juliette Barnes opposite General Hospital alum, Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky, GH and ex-Avery, Nashville).
As previously reported, Panettiere died on Sunday afternoon, August 16 in a home in Greenville, South Carolina. The coroner released an official statement on Monday, which read in part “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death. The cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies.” First responders rushed to the scene after a 911 call about a woman who was unresponsive from an overdose and in cardiac arrest.
Photo: JPI
Now below, check out some of the heartfelt remembrances for the extraordinarily talented, Hayden Panettiere from several of her Guiding Light co-stars and more. Michael Fairman TV will continue to add to the list of tributes throughout the next few days as they become available, as well as keep you updated on any further developments in Panettiere’s death.
Beth Chamberlin (Beth Raines, GL): “Hayden played my daughter for 3 years. She was the most brilliant child actor I’ve ever seen. The things she could do, the way she could remember 20+ pages of dialogue, day after day. Even on days where the director would come out between dress and tape and make huge cuts to the scenes, Hayden, never once forgot a line or missed her blocking. The adults would, but not Hayden. I felt blessed to work with her. And always perfect in her playing of the scene.”
Connie Britton (Rayna James, Nashville): “This was Hayden. Bursting with brilliance, shining so bright. I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak.
I love you girl. Sleep easy now. 💔”
Tina Sloan (Lillian Raines, GL): “Hayden Panettiere was my granddaughter on Guiding Light. She died at 36 and was such a star.”
Rebecca Budig (ex-Michelle Bauer, GL, now Taylor, B&B): “I remember working alongside her..loved her and her family. She and Beth were spectacular together. So sad for her family and those who knew and loved her.”
Karla Mosley: (Dani Dupree, BTG) “This is awful awful news. Blessings to her soul and all who loved her.”
Photo: CBS
Bethany Joy Lenz: (ex-Michelle Bauer, GL) “There is nothing that posting pictures on the internet can do. I avoid it usually in moments like this. But Im here with my head in my hands and I don’t know what else to do in aside from praying for her soul, which I have done and will continue. I’m crushed. I knew the wild little blonde. Was she nine? Ten? I was eighteen. She ran through the Screen Gem studio hallways at 222 E44th St. laughing and playing games in between Guiding Light blocking and camera rehearsals. Long, unruly curls trailing behind her. She knew her lines and everyone else’s. Her intelligence was astonishing. She understood scenes and nuance and human struggle like no child I’d ever seen on camera. And she’d sit with you for a great conversation, then giggle and go play. We’d connect on and off over the years, like the cousin in the family reunion who got famous and life moved her away—but I always felt such joy seeing her when we were lucky enough to cross paths. We’d make a pact to talk soon. Lunch. Dinner. Somewhere we could curl up into a corner—but we never quite made it happen. I mostly stayed up to date through mutual friends.”
Lenz continued, “I don’t understand how this is real. Everything seemed to be turning around. She was coming BACK to life, wasn’t she? It’s too young and there’s still so much more life. And her daughter…. Hayden, you are surround by love. I’m sorry for every moment I didn’t reach out or check in. This can’t be real. These are moments of how I knew you, in glimpses over 26 years. I don’t know how to process this. I am praying for you to know the peace of God now and always.”
Brittany Snow: (ex-Daisy Lemay, GL) “I was lucky enough to play your sister for 3 years. I related to you so much in so many ways. Ways that I never even told you. Your talent was remarkable & so was your determination to be a bold, bright shining light. And you were. Always supportive, curious, funny and brave. You will always be remembered undoubtedly for your undeniable strength and spirit 💔.”
Photo: CestenIG
Charles Esten (ex-Deacon Clayborne, Nashville): Patty (Esten’s wife) and I are stunned and saddened at the loss of our dear and beautiful friend Hayden. I will never forget the first time I met her. In a sound stage office in Hollywood, I was finishing up my very first NASHVILLE audition. I had read two Deacon scenes before pulling out my guitar and singing two songs. I said my goodbyes and, hoping I’d done well, went to open the door to leave. Instead of swinging all the way out, the door bumped into somebody. Kinda hard.”
“To my complete surprise, It was Hayden Paniettiere, who – in full Juliette Barnes mode – had been listening with her ear to the door. Instead of looking even a little bit caught, her face instantly bloomed into the most beautiful smile. Eyes twinkling, she clapped her hands and said, “That was so good!!” I can promise you that in that moment, there was nothing in the world I needed to hear more than that. I told her that, along with my HEROES-watching family, I was already a big fan of hers, and that I was grateful for the very kind words. It was her turn to go in, so as I went to leave, I said a jokingly cocky, “See you on the set!”
“I was, of course, many auditions away from landing that incredible role. But when I finally did, and showed up in Nashville to start work, she walked right up to me, pointed in my face, and with that magical grin said, “See you on the set!” From there, we became fast friends, working very hard to play those 2 troubled Nashvillians, but always having fun and laughing a whole lot along the way. She was, of course, extraordinarily talented, infusing her larger-than-life character with all the heart, charisma, humor, whip-smart intelligence, and flat-out magic that were, alongside whatever troubles and pain she carried, a part of her own personal palette. What a great gift it was to act with her, sing with her, and to just be her friend. She was always extremely kind to my family, especially my wife, Patty, who I’m certain she liked even more than me.”
Together, we are heartbroken that she is gone, and praying for her family, and for all those who, like us, will miss and mourn her so dearly. God bless you, Hayden.
Rest In Peace and Light ❤️
Emme Rylan: (ex-Lizzie Spaulding, GL et al.)” So very sad. Rest in peace sweet soul.”
Bryan Craig: (ex-Morgan, GH) posted a text exchange via his Instagram story he had with Panettiere where they laughed about her making fun of his hat. He wrote: “Love you Hayden. Rest in peace Angel.” Craig later added, “Cherish the moments with people you love and care about. As cliche as it sounds. Send that text, get that cup of coffee, tell them you love them and you’re proud of them. You may not get the chance again.”
Share your remembrances of Hayden Panettiere from Guiding Light, Nashville, or any of her other roles in her 3 decades long career via the comment section below.
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Breaking News
John Oliver Recaps His ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘General Hospital’ Soap Opera Experience on ‘Last Week Tonight’
Last Week Tonight host, John Oliver had his soap dreams come true on not one, but two long-running daytime dramas, heralding it his “hot soap summer” on the Sunday night, August 16 edition of his HBO series.
As viewers recall, Oliver’s tour of soap duty began back in March when he made a request and an offer to appear in any daytime drama that would have him with certain conditions, which included: having a ridiculous and over the top character name, a juicy storyline, and a slap.
Both Days of Our Lives and General Hospital came a-calling for Oliver, taking him up on his offer and in short order. Oliver appeared on GH in the role of the head of the WSB named Z on episodes airing July 2-6, and then on DAYS in the role of Salem’s chief water inspector, Devlin St. John, in episodes that streamed the week of August 11.
Photo: ABC
FIRST STOP, PORT CHARLES
On Last Week Tonight, Oliver shared that both soaps delivered, and then launched into a comedic send-up complete with clips from some of his scenes. Starting with General Hospital.
Oliver said, “To General Hospital’s credit, they met all my requirements and more. First, my character got to arrive by a helicopter flanked by a pair of armed goons. And I got to do a dramatic walk during which I bravely shot in the general direction of a guy who was already on the ground. It’s called being an action star, by the way, unless you’re me or Vin Diesel, you really wouldn’t understand. And then in my next scene, I revealed my true identity. (Oliver played the scene where Josslyn wakes up in a hospital bed with Z standing at the side of her bed introducing himself).
He continued, “As for getting slapped, well, they knocked that and me out of the park too, because it turns out that agent’s mother was not happy with me,” explained Oliver, as they cut to the slap of Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) in the WSB Port Charles bureau office on Z. Oliver screamed, “YES! It has everything! A slap, a dramatic closeup, and me doing a voice so wrong, it is genuinely embarrassing. That was my honest attempt at an American accent. I can’t tell you why it’s southern. I can only tell you I was trying my hardest.”
Photo: ABC
SECOND STOP, SALEM
Then, came John’s wrap-up of his role of Devlin St. John on Days of Our Lives, the town’s chief city water inspector. “It is on Days of Our Lives I appeared in scenes alongside soap legends like Jackée Harry (Paulina) and Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie). And the Days of Our Lives team met my demands in a whole different way because instead of being an international spy boss, they wrote me a character a little more my speed.”
Cut to a clip of Oliver introducing himself as Devlin St. John to Rita. He explains, “I’m the only thing standing between this town and a catastrophic plumbing failure. A literal sewage apocalypse. They made me Salem’s Chief City Water Inspector, which let’s be honest, is perfect casting. If you’re going to bottle my essence and sell it as cologne, it would be called ‘Chief City Water Inspector.'”
DEVLIN’S WIG
The late night host also clarified all the reports, that the wig he wore for his DAYS character he actually brought from home. “Now, as for the hair, I agree, it’s absolutely incredible. It’s been reported this past week that it is a wig I brought to set from home. And while it wasn’t technically from home, we did actually provide that wig, and for good reason,” joked Oliver. “I’ve seen myself act. I knew the hair was going have to do 90% of the work. I’ll be honest, I was going for a healthy John Stamos (ex-Blackie, GH) look, but instead, it appears I ended up looking more like Tina from Bob’s Burgers.”
Photo: Corday Productions
“And if you’re wondering whether I got slapped on Days of Our Lives, not only was I slapped by a man wearing elegant silk pajamas (EJ), I also got to slap him, which felt utterly incredible. But wait, I was also stabbed with a syringe and not once, not even twice, but three different times. And if that wasn’t enough, this happened too.” At that point, Oliver played the clip of Rita using the taser on Devlin.
JOHN OLIVER LEAVES DOOR OPEN FOR A SOAP RETURN
The now late night star-turned-soap actor concluded his segment with, “Are you not entertained? Watching that makes me feel the way I assume Matt Damon felt after seeing the first cut of the Odyssey, both proud and impressed that my body could even do that. Which again, you wouldn’t understand. You’re not an action star like I am now. ”
As he ended his recap, Oliver thanked both soaps for playing along, and noting that neither DAYS or GH actually killed him off! Could a John Oliver return happen down the line? Stay tuned.
Watch John detail his soap dreams come to life on General Hospital and then Days of our Lives below.
Now let us know, what did you think of the performances of John Oliver on General Hospital and Days of our Lives? Did you prefer one over the other or enjoy both of his guest arc visits? Could you see Oliver nominated in the Guest Performer category at next year’s Daytime Emmys, even for a 3-episode run on one of the soaps? Let us know in the comment section.
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