2024 has been a rough year for General Hospital and the actors who work on the hit ABC soap.
Casting changes have taken over, and the canvas that once was Port Charles looks unfamiliar.
Some actors who left were expected, and some were newer additions who didn’t hold the weight of the other goodbyes.
However, when more than a few long-term actors (dare I say, vets?) leave, there begins questions about what the end goal is and what direction General Hospital is headed in.
General Hospital is the last remaining ABC soap, and I was shocked when it was chosen to continue. All My Children and One Life to Live were much better, in my opinion, though I had watched all three for decades.
Now, it seems there could be trouble for the long-running soap as many viewers are still reeling from recent casting decisions.
Shocking General Hospital exits
Kelly Monaco was fired from the ABC soap after two decades on General Hospital and even more years with the network as she appeared on Port Charles, the GH spinoff.
Although she has been backburnered for years, it was still a shock to learn they fired her and killed off the character. She was used to prop up the return of Lulu (Alexa Havins), who was also recast after four years off-screen.
Chad Duell announced he was walking away from the show after 14 years of playing Michael Corinthos. His life changed as he became a first-time father, which may have contributed to his decision.
Tristan Rogers and Emma Samms took Robert and Holly off-screen during a storyline that was unnecessary to begin with. While we assumed Holly was back to stir up trouble and leave again, Robert leaving with her wasn’t anything we expected.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Avery Pohl exited the General Hospital canvas earlier this year. We knew Spencer would be off-screen as Nicholas was filming the Menendez Netflix show, but we fully expected him to return. Unfortunately, he opted not to come back, and Spencer remains “dead” with no body found. Esme went overboard with Spencer, and her exit was expected, though some believed she would pop back up because surely a villain has nine lives on a soap.
Michael Easton exited General Hospital, though the circumstances surrounding it remain murky. He has played several characters in Port Charles, but Hamilton Finn was the latest. The writers destroyed his character and sent him to Seattle, where Violet (Jophielle Love) eventually followed. His relationship with Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) was destroyed, leaving her available for a Lucky (Jonathan Jackson) reconciliation.
General Hospital is a mess
I don’t know what’s happened to General Hospital, but it’s almost unrecognizable these days.
The show brought back Jonathan Jackson, yet he’s been lurking in the background, debating running off to Africa again. What was the point?
Michael is exiting the canvas with no plans to recast the character, so what do they plan on doing with him? Currently, he is involved in an infidelity storyline, and Sasha (Sofia Mattsson) could be pregnant. And when he leaves, will Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) go with him?
Robert and Holly left just as it was revealed that Sasha was their daughter. The whole storyline was unnecessary and pulled Sasha away from Cody (Josh Kelly) for no reason. Robert and Holly’s fans got their “happily ever after,” but who cares? They were big four decades ago, and making it right now seems like a waste.
Things are progressively sliding backward, and it doesn’t bode well for longevity. The writers should be changed, and perhaps TPTB should be trolling fan groups and X for ideas that will keep viewers tuning in.
If they aren’t careful, their viewers could jump ship to their competition on CBS and Peacock.
Let us know in the comments what you think about General Hospital’s future and the recent casting changes.
General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC.
I will never quit my GH I’ve watched since birth practically.
OLTL always had the worse writers … GH was always my favorite.
Robert was better off wirh Diane than a fluff like Holly! Sasha was great with Cody, who may be pointed in Lulus direction now! What a mess! Don’t dare mess with Alexis or Diane!
I agree. Alexis is my favorite. Diane is right there with Alexis.
I have watched since the end of 1961. Things have really changed since then. Hope GH keeps on playing.
I stopped watching GH since Robert left. I felt with him there there waa still a little WSB mystery
First Sasha and Brando loose their baby, then kill off Brando. .Making Cyrus a brother to Laura! Bringing back Lucky back, he looks like a hobo. Bringing Holly back, who most were glad she was glad she’s gone. Making her mom and Robert her dad to split up Sasha and Cody. The whole thing with Drew and Willow. The lost of Molly and TJ’s baby . And then killing off Sam will put the last nail in the coffin ! My sister and I have quit watching after they killed off Sam. They should have gotten rid of Drew and Cyrus. The show needs to do something about the writers before the loose more viewers!!
Amen!
I agree Cyrus should be one to go. He’s nothing but trouble. (No offense to the Actor)
I agree with almost everything you have said the writers are terrible they don’t follow history of the show at all truly and jump all over drag on stories and have stories we all can’t stomach to watch Drew and willow was just and is sick and stupid and to make her into neglect 2.0 I’m hearing is just sick they need writers who can think adventure and suspension and mystery and family and all of it like it was not this garbage writing we have list to many actors from these writers already let’s get new ones that are good
It is all about the cost of the show. Eliminating the actors who earn the most and establishing characters with actors who are paid a lot less. Probably will work.
I think GH isn’t what it use to be . The storylines are awful and make no sense. I am surprised they haven’t cancelled the show yet. The writers that they is eep changing go from bad to worse. This has been a disaster year for GH and I don’t see it getting any better any time soon. It’s such a a same because it use to be my favorite soap but I got so disgusted with it that I don’t watch it anymore.
I can’t believe what is happening on GH. Why are they messing things up so terribly? Kelly Monaco was a huge shock! I also thought the original Lulu would be coming back. That didn’t happen. It’s just not the same. If all of the regulars are leaving, it’s like a new soap. You get used to the daily cast and they become like friends that you actually know. (Even though they don’t know us). I just don’t like the changes that are happening. I just read where Spencer is not coming back. Michael is leaving. Please, someone please explain the reason behind these changes. Kelly Monaco was a real shock. What could she possibly have done to get fired? I am unhappy with all of these changes. Besides, no one asked me my opinion…LOL…
They have completely ruined this show. Whoever is running things needs to be replaced. Completely stupid character releases
Instead of working and creating a new interesting show these writers have destroyed a diverse show. There is always dead wood in shows but they took out good actors, just needed good plotlines. That’s not writing, that lazy working. I might never watch them again and that sad. Even their choice of new actors are not the best. If they got rid of old actors and replace them with good actors and exciting storylines over time people could adjust. But their actors are not even comfortable in roles. Just look at Lulu and Carl’s brother. This is bad actoring. They need to cancel the show instead of destroying this once great show. Let them have their flowers and let them go. This is torture.