Port Charles Central 

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Last Updated - February 5th

"COOPER"

NOLAN NORTH
 (Chris, Port Charles) and his wife Jill Murray are the proud parents of baby boy Cooper Murray, born January 14. "The PC fans are going to go nutty over" the name, laughs the actor. "No, he's not named after the sinister Greg Cooper!" North tells Soap Opera Digest that he gave a top-notch delivery room performance. "I didn't pass out! I cut the cord. It's the most incredible thing I've ever witnessed in my life. Everything's perfect."

 GO CARLY!!!

CARLY SCHROEDER (Serena)  has been nominated for the 21st Annual Young Artist Awards.  She is nominated in the "Young Soap Actress" category. The winner will be announced March 19th.

INTERSTING TIDBITS

Phenomenally popular actress Louise Sorel (soon-to-be-ex-Vivian, Days) joins the cast as hospital patient Donatella Stewart starting March 13. Also, the show is beefing up its nursing staff! That's Samantha Adams playing nurse Deniece; she'll finally speak at the end of the month. Timothy Paul Perez debuts as nurse Hector Rosales Feb. 22. And Gannon Daniels will play nurse Katie Backer starting Feb. 24.

PORT CHARLES, NEW WRITERS

By Mara Levinsky

Big news from the town of Port Charles: KAREN HARRIS and JONATHAN ESTRIN have been named the show's new head writers, replacing SCOTT HAMNER. Hamner, who was been head writer since March 1999 (and was co-head writer with LYNN MARIE LATHAM before that) will have no continuing affiliation with the show.

Harris served as General Hospital's co-head writer for the majority of 1996, partnered with BOB GUZA and briefly, RICHARD CULLITON. Jason's accident and his subsequent love story with Robin, Carly's seduction of Tony, the return of the Cassadines to Port Charles, and the Sonny/Brenda/Jax triangle were among the stories she helped shepherd while sharing the top plotting post.

Harris, an Emmy winner and three-time Writers Guild of America honoree for her work on General Hospital, penned the TV-movies Roseanne: Portrait of a Domestic Goddess and The Joanna Stingray Story.

As for Estrin, he'll bring an extensive array of primetime credits to bear upon his PC duties. After serving as supervising producer of the award-winning drama Cagney & Lacey, Estrin executive produced and/or co-wrote series such as NBC's Sisters and TV-movies including the Elizabeth Taylor/Carol Burnett vehicle Between Friends and Something So Right, starring Patty Duke and Rick Schroeder. Estrin also directed several episodes of Cagney & Lacey

Said ABC Daytime President ANGELA SHAPIRO in a statement, "I am thrilled to have two such esteemed writers at the helm of Port Charles. Karen's award-winning writing on General Hospital and Jonathan's stellar primetime storytelling make them an exciting duo to have on board." Added the show's newly-installed executive producer, JULIE CARRUTHERS, "I am looking forward to working with Jonathan and Karen as their combined talents take Port Charles to new heights. On the eve of a new year, this is an exciting time for the show."

From Soap Opera Digest

 

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