GH Rocked By Cast Changes
General Hospital has undergone a lot of changes this year, both on-screen and behind the camera. The show fired Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor as head writers in early 2024 and replaced them with Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahey.
Longtime soap writer Mulcahey’s time as head writer was short-lived. He was fired a few months later. The show announced in August that Van Etten had been rehired and was writing the show with Elizabeth Korte.
But the behind-the-scenes drama is nothing compared to the many cast changes in the last few months. Steve Burton returned to the show after three years. Jonathan Jackson was another big-name return, bringing Lucky back to the canvas after nearly a decade. The actor made an appearance in 2015 to help write Luke Spencer (Tony Geary) off the show.
The show lost several other actors to make room for Lucky and Jason. Michael Easton, Roger Howarth, and Michael E. Knight were among the 2024 departures. Nicholas Chavez decided not to return to Spencer Cassadine after booking a huge Netflix role.
But the revolving door of comings and goings did not prepare fans for the news that Kelly Monaco was leaving the show after 21 years.
Kelly Monaco Helped ABC Announce Steve Burton’s Return
ABC aired a primetime special in January to celebrate the soap’s 60th anniversary. The special included the surprising news that Steve Burton was returning as Jason Quartermaine. He was let go in 2021 after refusing the COVID vaccination.
Kelly Monaco and Laura Wright, who plays Jason’s leading ladies Sam and Carly, were part of the announcement.
Kelly Monaco’s Sam McCall has been connected with Jason since the beginning when the actress joined the show in 2003. JaSam, as fans affectionately call the duo, hasn’t shared much screen time since his return. But fans were hopeful that the beloved couple would resume their romantic relationship at some point.
But that seems unlikely now that Kelly Monaco is leaving, especially if the rumors are true that the show is killing Sam off.
Steve Burton Breaks Silence On Kelly Monaco’s Firing
Steve Burton co-hosts the Daily Drama podcast with his GH co-star, Bradford Anderson (Spinelli.) The two filmed a podcast episode shortly after news broke about Kelly Monaco’s firing.
The podcast’s YouTube page was flooded with questions about the unexpected exit. Bradford Anderson said that the show was on a filming break and the rest of the cast heard about Kelly’s firing at the same time as everyone else.
He added that they don’t have any more information than what’s already out there. Steve Burton chimed in to agree. “I wish we had information to tell you,” he said.
He speculated that more information should come out in the coming days. The GH star noted that he doesn’t know how the show will write off Sam but said, “Whatever happens sucks.”
Watch the podcast clip below.
