was then passed when the original ABC, Inc. merged with Capital Cities/ABC Inc. in 1985 and it became Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. The show would change hands again when The Walt Disney Company bought Capital Cities/ABC in 1996 and Disney began to program the network and the soap in September 1997 where it remains today. Production of General Hospital was suspended in March 2020, as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Production resumed on July 22 of the same year; new episodes began airing on August 3, 2020. General Hospital was Disney's first series to go back into production during the pandemic. Cast Characters Though the series originally focused on solely the medical staff at Port Charles' General Hospital, and starred John Beradino as Dr. Steve Hardy and Emily McLaughlin as Nurse Jessie Brewer, the series branched out and began to focus more on the people and families of the town of Port Charles rather than those solely in the hospital. Port Charles is full of "dysfunctional family dynamics ... and family drama remains the focal point of this town." The current families on the show include the quarreling and wealthy Quartermaine family, the mobster crime Corinthos family, the middle class Scorpio/Jones family, the aristocratic Cassadine family, and the adventurous Spencer family. Main crew members Executive producer: Frank Valentini Producers: Michelle Henry (senior producer), Mary-Kelly Weir (senior producer), Jennifer Whittaker-Brogdon (producer), Nneka Garland (coordinating producer), Jeffrey Sierks (associate producer) Directors: Larry Carpenter, Tina Keller, William Ludel, Gary Tomlin, Frank Valentini, Denise Van Cleave, Phideaux Xavier Head writers: Dan O'Connor and Chris Van Etten Associate head writer: Anna Theresa Cascio Breakdown writers: Ashley D. Cook, Suzanne Flynn, Lloyd Gold, Shannon Peace, Elizabeth Korte Script writers: Charlotte Gibson, Kate Hall, Lisa Seidman, Dave Rupel, Scott Sickles Casting director: Mark Teschner, Lisa Booth (casting associate) Lighting directors: Bob Bessoir, Melanie Mohr, Vincent Steib Notable former crew members include Gloria Monty, Jill Farren Phelps, Robert Guza Jr., Charles Pratt Jr., John William Corrington, Lewis Arlt, Lynda Myles, Alan Pultz, Judith Pinsker, Joseph Behar, Stephanie Braxton, Norma Monty, Frank South, Ralph Ellis, Shelley Curtis, Jean Passanante, Hope Harmel Smith, Michael Conforti, Michele Val Jean and Ron Carlivati. Executive producers Setting Since the series began in 1963, Port Charles, New York, has been the setting for the show. The town exists in the same fictional universe as other soap opera settings such