Soap Opera Fan Blog Talks with General Hospital Writer Karen Harris.
Just so you know, this is the woman who claims Sonny and Brenda as hers!
Granted, Karen admits that no one writer can own any of the characters or storylines that they create, but Sonny and Brenda come pretty darn close! When she first came to General Hospital in 1993, Karen was asked to write the back story for Sonny’s character. Hence Deke, Joe Scully and Mike Corbin were carved out as part of Sonny’s dark side. In fact, Mike Corbin was based on her own father-in-law!
Through the years, Karen wrote scripts dealing with Luke and Laura’s return with young Lucky, Kevin and Lucy, Ned and Lois and even Tony’s goodbye to B.J. before her heart was given to young Maxie. She was part of the team that put together the famous “Clink-Boom” episode in which Sonny’s pregnant wife Lily was killed in a car explosion the very moment that Brenda married Jax on out at sea. Another big part of Karen’s GH background was writing for Robin and Stone.
These days Karen says that when she has a Robin and Patrick (writing) day, that’s a good one for her because she connects to them as a couple. She told me that she will always love putting Sonny with Kate because they are ‘very different’ from other soap couples. When I told her how much I enjoy the Spinelli-isms, she yelled, “Try writing it!” She added that she loves writing for Spinelli and that Kirsten Storms is ‘…just dynamite’.
I asked Karen about the infiltration of mob storylines in Port Charles and she thought before she replied. “It’s nice having our own identity because it’s what sets us apart. Other shows try to copy that now,” Karen told me. She added that they always try to find some level of redemption along the way for the characters. “Carly, for example, grew up after losing Michael” she said. While on the subject of ‘Carjax’, I told her that I find myself hoping that Carly and Jax make it, Karen got excited and said, “Good! I want you rooting for them!”
Karen told me that it means a lot to her when she is able to make a viewer cry. I wonder how she’d feel about the way my cheeks hurt after smiling so much during the recent two Scrubs weddings. I’m guessing that would mean something to her too.
To read about Karen’s newest way to reach soap fans, go to Soaps.com, our sister site, and read about her ’soap within a soap’ online soap pilot!
Care to comment? Please let Soap Opera Fan Blog hear your thoughts about Karen’s incredible (and going strong) soap writing career/
.
Check back often to see what else we’ve dug for you! You can always count on weekly summaries , spoilers, actors bios, appearances, video clips, comings & goings, and polls here at Soap Opera Fan Blog, but on especially juicy weeks, there are breaking news stories, too!
Photo Credit: Soap Opera Fan Blog
Related posts:
- Soap Opera Fan Blog Talks with General Hospital’s Rebecca Herbst!
- Soap Opera Fan Blog Talks with General Hospital’s Megan Ward!
- Soap Opera Fan Blog Talks with General Hospital’s Nazanin Boniadi.
- Soap Opera Fan Blog Talks with General Hospital’s Sonya Eddy.
- Soap Opera Fan Blog Talks with General Hospital’s Carolyn Hennesy.
Fun fact! Julie Clark Robinson wrote this story just for you on January 7th, 2009 |
Comment added January 7th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Hi Julie: What a nice interview. Thanks so much for your thoughtfulness and care in getting it right. I have to be honest, the soap press takes more care than the “mainstream”. It’s a real pleasure to talk to people who love the genre. Thanks for the time and energy you spend supporting what we do and what you love. Also, I’m thrilled you smiled (and cried a little?) through Robin and Patrick’s weddings. So did I. I think the whole show –from the writers to production and the actors — did a superb job of playing the history, romance, and joy of a traditional soap wedding, Port Charles style.
Finally, I just want to remind your readers that LIFE IN GENERAL/GREENVILLE GENERAL is a pilot project right now — meaning we have just the one show and are looking for financing/sponsors so we can make a whole season’s worth. I paid for this one out of my pocket. In fact, I’m meeting with 3 different entities next week to try to sell it! Of course, It’ll be easier to get them interested if I can let them know how many people watched it, so if your readers enjoyed LIG/GG, I hope they let their friends know! And I’ll keep you posted on our progress. Again, thanks for the fun interview — I enjoyed talking to you. And if you want, I can come back and answer questions every once in a while. Happy new year to everyone, Best Wishes, Karen
Comment added February 28th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
2-28-09
Karen Harris and the General Hospital Show:
I LOVE THE SHOW!!!! a fan since the 1970’s. and now that the Emily/ lookalike is back!!!I am so happy! and I love Jason and SAM! and Sonny is the greatest and Spinelli!!! the soap is actually my favorite show on TV and I love sports!!! but anyway, good writing!
Sincerely, Karen Harris
Comment added February 28th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
a grand way to show appreciation to the hard work of writers, actors, and entertainers!!!!It is almost unlikely I would ever meet these people; thus thank you all to a grand show!!!!Sincerely, Karen Harris Loveland, CO
Comment added May 11th, 2009 at 6:46 am
When are you going to get on with the business of Claudia getting what she deserves? I don’t know if this was your intent but we are beginning to grow bored with this and the fact that you have the character Sonny lokking like a total fool. I started watching GH because you wrapped up story lines fairly quickly, however I am beginning look elsewhere for my soap fix.
Comment added May 20th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Bring Nadine back! Even if shes not with Nikolas (but she should be!!!)
Comment added June 2nd, 2009 at 4:56 pm
[...] Soap Opera Fan Blog Talks with General Hospital Writer Karen Posted by root 2 hours 44 minutes ago (http://blog.soapoperafan.com) Care to comment please let soap opera fan blog hear your thoughts about the soap is actually my favorite show on tv and i love sports but anyway good writing 2009 soapoperafan com sheknows com blogs powered by wordpress Discuss | Bury | News | Soap Opera Fan Blog Talks with General Hospital Writer Karen [...]
Comment added June 12th, 2009 at 3:31 am
why doesn’t Mike Corbin have more lines? He such a fine actor and we’ve been watching him for years.
Comment added June 19th, 2009 at 5:44 am
[...] Soap Opera Fan Blog Talks with General Hospital Writer Karen Posted by root 4 days ago (http://blog.soapoperafan.com) Care to comment please let soap opera fan blog hear your thoughts about karen video clips comings amp goings and polls here at soap opera fan blog on tv and i love sports but anyway good writing 2009 soapoperafan com sheknows com blogs 2009 soapoperafan c Discuss | Bury | News | Soap Opera Fan Blog Talks with General Hospital Writer Karen [...]
Comment added July 22nd, 2009 at 9:09 am
I have a question for Karen Harris and all the GH writers. Through the character of Damien Spinelli and his love story with Maxie, I suspect that the writers are getting out a very definite message for the viewers that relates to the message of the Sacred Feminine. I’ve suspected for a long time that the set designers had a reason for so many urn like framed pictures and vessel shaped knick knacks, but with Spinelli we get words like Goddess, courtly love, and just yesterday he mentioned the Holy Grail. There are dozens of other references I can’t even recall at this time, but my question is, are the writers deliberately peppering the dialog to get out a specific pro-feminine message relating to envisioning the Divine as also female and not exclusively that of a celibate son of a virgin mother?
Thanks! BTW, today is the feast day of Mary Magdalene! I could be totally off the mark here, but it just seems to be much too much of a coincidence.
gin9rrsnap
Comment added August 10th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
I love General Hospital but I have to say since the breakup of Jason and Elizabeth, I reluctantly watch the how now. I know too many people who are disappointed about this break up. The show has gone down in the Nielson Rating.
Comment added August 25th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
ENOUGH WITH THE YANKEES already. It is VERY clear to anyone who lives in NYC -especially the outer boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island & the Bronx) - that this Yankees storyline is annoying at best. Any family with strong generational ties to Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, would NEVER be life time or generational Yankees fans. REmember the Brooklyn Dodgers - many Brooklynites still have never forgotten the Dodger/Yankee rivalry & would NEVER be Yankees fans! To real New Yorkers it is very annoying to have GH bringing up Coney Island, 18th AVenue, Bensonhurst every other minute & truly not understanding the area. Have ANY of the writers ever even been here? Enough already… if you are going to use this story line at least do your research otherwise FOoorgetttabboutit!