General Hospital Co-Headwriter Patrick Mulcahey Out As Lone ABC Sudser Shakes Things Up Again

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In a shocking move, General Hospital confirmed to Deadline that Patrick Mulcahey is no longer a member of the soap’s writing team. Back in January, the ABC soap announced that it was replacing longtime headwriters Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor with daytime vets Patrick Mulcahey and Elizabeth Korte. Now, Korte will become the soap’s sole headwriter.

Korte had been serving as script writer and historian for the show, while Mulcahey’s daytime writing credentials stretch back to Search for Tomorrow in 1979. He has long been a widely-respected writer, having gained particular notice for his work on the NBC sudser Santa Barbara.

Material written by Korte and Mulcahey only began airing in March, but now, after just a few months with the new scribes, General Hospital has changed course yet again.

According to the report, episodes written by Mulcahey and Korte will continue to air through midsummer. While no reason was given for the change, it is no secret that some of the recent changes — such as the pairing of Drew and Nina — were not particularly popular.

On screen, the long-awaited nuptials of Brook Lynn Quartermaine and Harrison Chase have taken center stage. And obviously, material written by Mulcahey and Korte will air throughout May sweeps, the period when all eyes turn to ratings and soap generally break out their biggest events.

No word on who confirmed the news to Deadline. We reached out to a General Hospital spokesperson for comment, but — like Deadline — have not as of this time received a response.