General Hospital
GH Breakdown Writer Daniel J. O'Connor Wraps His Run & Tweets: "Thank You To The Amazing GH Team & Fans For A Great 3 Years."
Courtesy/Twitter
More turnover in the writing department at General Hospital! Following on the heels of writer Kate Hall’s exit to The Young and the Restless, comes word today from breakdown writer, Daniel J. O’Connor via his Twitter account.
O’Connor who has been with GH since 2014, after a run as the writers assistant at One Life to Live from 2007-2008 that eventually aw him writing for the series in 2011, send out this message to his followers and fans of the 52-year old soap opera Monday morning.
Daniel related: “Thank you to the amazing GH team & fans for a great 3yrs. My last ep airs today. Hope it goes off without a hitch… ”
The talented scribe then tweeted about his next writing gig: “Happy to still be part of ABC on a new project. Stay tuned.”
With the departure of Hall, O’Connor, and the recent exit of head writer Ron Carlivati, do you think this spells a new future for GH … or do you have some major concerns? Share your thoughts below GH fans!
It is sad and sickening that they ran off all traces of Llanview from the show. I guess they enjoyed the 1.9 ratings they were getting before OLTL came to the rescue
Did you happen to hear of something called the Prospect Park lawsuit? You act like GH had a choice to get rid of the OLTL characters. If you wanna be sad and sickened with someone, be sad and sickened at Prospect Park. Their lawsuit eliminated all traces of Llanview from the show.
You can’t blame Prospect Park Dan. They had every right to get the Llanview characters back. They paid ALOT of money for the rights. Unfortunately, as we know it turned out to be a disaster all around. And while I was a big OLTL fan and very happy that Todd, Starr and John lived on…and was VERY disappointed when they left…I still don’t blame PP. It ‘s business. But I do blame ABC or Ron, whomever was responsible for letting go of Kristen and Michael Easton. I’m hoping Roger/Franco isn’t next. They’re FINALLY giving him an interesting adult personality and I’m falling in love with RH all over again…
OLTL characters never brought up the ratings. The ratings were up when a core GH character Robin returned to the canvas. She left and those numbers went back down. So despite what some people think OLTL had nothing to do with saving GH
It certainly did not..but getting RC who brought off the wall stories after leaving OLTL did..and then it got tiresome..and now who knows what’s in store..can’t they go the way of OLTL and find another newcomer like Michael Malone..their are countless young writers who could most likely change the face of soaps but the networks would rather stay in the P&G Irna Phillips type days of storytelling..something has to seriously change with daytime.
It would be nice if #GH would just come out and address the issue directly. From a PR perspective it’s not very encouraging to hear about the departures from the scribes themselves. It looks as if people are abandoning sinking ship right and left instead of being asked to step down to make room for new creative blood.
So then WHO is/are writing for GH these days?
ABC rarely addresses the public.
It is business with ABC, noting emotional.
At some point in time they may announce whatever.
Soaps bring in new/different writers, all the time.
Y&R has done so, recently.
DOOL has done so, recently.
———– It is the switching.
A.
GH’s new head writers are Jean and Shelly, the two Y&R fired and were replaced by Pratt.
That almighty demographic that is SO important, the 18 to 49, is sinking like a rock for GH. I imagine they are trying all manner of changes in an attempt to stop that.
Rats, sinking ships and all that….
please get rid of all this mafia bull .concentrate on general hospital.elizabeth with her crying and whining is boreing.
I cannot stand Liz! Jasam rules!
Ok, try to figure out what ive written sarcastically…try reading it is as annoying as it was for me listening to ‘DUHneese!!!…lol
This comment doesnt make sense now that my original comment hasnt appeared…lol
Hi, Jimh.
I did give you an answer, albeit your original comment did not appear. I suppose ‘they’ did not like what I had to say either….all I quoted were the words to the song…you know? OH, DUHneese? LOL.
@jimh and CeeCee….At least we can rejoice that the DUHneese chav-fest is finally over and done with! I thought we’d never see the end of that tacky black wig and OTT tartwear! Now if we could only do something about Alexis….
Ron and now Daniel are no longer with GH..
However, both remain with ABC .
They are working on a new ABC project.
Perhaps a primetime soap, perhaps not. But, both are still employed by ABC.
GH will go on.
I just do not see it being better with the new writers that were fired from Y&R.
Time will tell..
I’m looking forward to Ron’s new project with ABC (wonder what it is..
As far as I know. I have never heard of let go head writers of a soap staying on with the network writing for a new ABC project.
That being known tells that ABC sees Ron as good writer.
I’d be curious to know what a ‘break down’ writer does. We are not insiders. But we are still interested.
What is the difference is between a breakdown writer and a staff writer?
Each show (and Headwriter) handles things a little differently, says Jonathan Reiner (TV guide online), but as a general rule, “each week a breakdown writer meets with the Headwriter and the Associate headwriters and talks over the content for his/her day (an episode), then works up a 14 to 18 page document (double-spaced) which outlines the 21 or so scenes, including actors, sets, important props, etc. A dialogue or Scriptwriter (sometimes referred to as a staff writer) can work from this to turn the breakdown into a script. Traditionally the breakdown writer doesn’t include dialogue, but several breakdown writers like to include key phrases or actual lines because it’s sometimes important to include dialogue to get the tone right for the scene.”
…or so says Google
Sounds like just a simple overhaul of the writing team to me! Why wouldn’t new head writers want to bring in breakdown and script writers who they work well with creatively. This sounds like a promising move towards a great creative change. I’m curiously optimistic
People overreacting, as usual. When new writers take over a show, they bring in some of their own people. It’s the same thing that happened when Ron Carlivati took over. I believe the only members of the previous GH writing team he kept were Elizabeth Korte and Kate Hall. Jean Passanante and Shelly Altman probably wanna bring in their own breakdown writers and so forth. This isn’t unusual at all. I really wouldn’t read too much into it. But of course that won’t stop people.
Bingo.
Unless there’s this club for writers or if your known because yo are the head writers of the show how are we suppose to know whose who? I’m not a writer groupie so I have no idea who oconnor is or what he contributed to the show, so I have no idea what I’ll be missing. Now if he’s been let go cause he’s to much like RC then I understand but beyond that I wish him the best.
As long as the endless recycling of writers continues, the soaps continue to be an endangered species.
Mister Media..
Soap writers/head writers have a short lifespan .. lol
They know they are not going to permanent fixtures.
Head Writers are changed usually around the 4 yr mark.
I’m no expert on length of head writers longevity on a soap, but seems like 4 years.
Then at some point in time they rotate.
Soap writers, head writers are becoming an endangered species.
I don’t see this as band news, I see it as more change!
Every time a show brings in new head writer(s), the current writer(s) either stay or leave. It’s sad to see 2 GH writers leave, but it happens in TV shows (when Ron Carlivati become head writer, a lot of GH writers left).
On the bright side, GH new head writers Shelly Altman & Jean Passanante are going to have to find new writers. I’m sure writers from DAYS, Y&R or B&B would jump ship to writer under them at GH! – I’m sure bringing in new writers will help bring in some new blood in the writers room!
This is not uncommon. In every workplace when there is a change in management, owners or supervisors, whatever, some people end up leaving for various reasons. They either cannot lose their loyalty to their previous bosses, or they don’t like the new style of management, or there is a personality conflict with the new people. It is no different on a soap–they don’t make it clear if these people left on their own, or were “let go” but this sort of thing is to be expected. The best thing for any work place is have happy employees who work well together and hopefully GH will get that team in place and continue for years to come.
And– writers also return to their originals soaps..
After a year or two, seeing how things go with GH, Ron could return.
There are not many soap writers left and recycling them seems to be the thing.
Good to hear. The show needs a fresh writing team.
Nothing fresh about these two.
Robert..
LOL 🙂
with the Queens of Snooze at the helm of GH, I am frightened for its’ future longevity..
((a change can be for the better or for the worse, I fear the worse 🙁
That’s funny, Robert S.
Negative people. Give them a chance. Personally I liked what they were doing with YnR.
Jonboy-
Research their ratings -killing and show –
killing track records.They’ve had chance after chance after chance to do damage to the genre that is so loved by so so many dismayed,disappointed and devastated viewers.For many ,seeing their venerable shows fall by the wayside is like losing their circle of friends.
Get rid of the mob and bring family and romance back to GH. The show is slowly sinking. I care about this show. Bring back the popularity that made GH an outstanding 50+ years show…one example…Jason Thompson and Kimberly McCullough. Let’s put some real thought into making a comeback.
Rebecca Franklin,
There is no longer a mob.
Show me a mob and I will be very happy.
There is 2 men, old mobsters, that threaten each other.
There are no mobsters on GH, Sonny and Julian fighting are not a mob anything.
GH used to have ‘many’ mobsters, actual characters that were of the mobs, there are no mob charters other than the 2, just 2 and 2 is nowhere near a mob.
I would love to have an actual mob story.
There has not been any mob action since the Alazars and they are long gone.
Sonny and Julian bickering over territory and dock shipments, every now and then, is far far far from mob action.
I wish they would hire characters to be mobsters.
I wish there were 12 or more mobsters as once was, now 2.
I can’t believe that people actually say there is too much mob stuff when in fact it is a rare treat to actually have mob action and then it lasts for a day or two.
That’s tough to do when Kimberly does not want to be there, she is more interested in behind the camera. I wish they would recast her already.
It only matters who stays . So he will be going , and will it make a difference ,NO. The head writer will still have the say. As for Ron. I had enough of him and his twitter and destroying beloved characters, Robin, Anna ,Nick, Liz .Even Patrick has been lobotomized. Lets face it. The fans want Robin back, Kim has said she could return here and there, but TIIC didn’t want that. My way or the highway. Ron’s now on the highway. I don’t blame Ron for all the B.S he can have his share, and his childish twitter and his name calling. Tony can have Luke’s share. Frank controls the money ,he gets to share. I now have no interest in the show except to read about it on line. The unholy threes return has made me just do it. Shut it off. I have no idea who this guy is, couldn’t care less and when he said OLTL I got it. For those of us who didn’t watch that show .We wanted to watch GH. Just not Guza’s G.H .
Kind of hard to write story for some one who only wants to come on now and then. It really messes up everyone involved in her stories. Is Patrick just supposed to keep breaking up with people every-time she decides she wants to appear for a couple of episodes?
Robin could have returned, had co parenting with Patrick. She could be working in a lab, and Patrick could be free to chase other women. The way it has been written, he looks like a jerk, Robin told him what Victor said his threats etc, and what does he do. Jump in bed with the wife of the man who Robin went to save. .This way neither of them look like jerks. She comes home to see her parents, and emma . leaves to do work in Paris /
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.
Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”
Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.
Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.
Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.
However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.
Courtesy/ABC
BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON
Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.
He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.
Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”
General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”
So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
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