Former 'General Hospital' Head Writer Ron Carlivati Presented With Writers Guild Award (Video)

Ron Carlivati

General Hospital won in the Daytime Drama category at the 68th annual Writers Guild Awards on Saturday night. The ABC soap opera won for the second year in a row, this year beating one other nominee, The Bold and the Beautiful.

GH was nominated for the episode celebrating the soap's 52nd anniversary that aired on April 1, 2015. Current cast members took on past roles to recreate scenes from the show's very first episode that aired on that day in 1963.

Ron Carlivati accepted the award on behalf of his writing team, and had very interesting comments to make about former General Hospital actor Tony Geary.

You can watch the video below.

Shelly Altman and Jean Passanante Named Co-Head Writers of 'General Hospital'

Shelly Altman (center) at the 2014 Daytime Emmy Awards.

Shelly Altman and Jean Passanante were named Co-Head Writers of ABC’s Emmy Award-winning series General Hospital, it was announced today by Vicki Dummer, Executive Vice President Current Series Programming. The scribes will take the reins of the network’s long-running drama series starting August 10, 2015.

In making the announcement Dummer said: “We are pleased to welcome back two esteemed writers to our General Hospital family. Shelly and Jean’s combined talents and experiences promise to continue the show’s legacy of compelling storytelling that will resonate with our impassioned viewers. We’re delighted with what they have in store for the show as they continue honoring the rich, diverse environs of Port Charles.”

Altman is a multiple Emmy award-winner for her extensive work on soap operas, including One Life to Live and The Young and the Restless. Prior to her work on serial dramas, Altman wrote for several primetime shows, including Kate and Allie, Counterstrike and True Blue. She is also an accomplished film writer whose credits include the award-winning, Sweet Lorraine.

Passanante previously served as head writer and co-head writer for several daytime dramas, including The Young and the Restless, All My Children and As the World Turns. She has won four Daytime Emmy awards, six Writer’s Guild awards and five GLAAD media awards. Passanante also has an extensive theatre background, having served as administrator of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Playwright’s Conference and artistic director of New Dramatists and New York Theater Workshop, among many other creative roles.

Altman and Passanante replace Ron Carlivati, who has been with GH since early 2012.

Michelle Stafford: 'I Am At GH To Aid Story'

General Hospital actress Michelle Stafford.

Michelle Stafford talks about her General Hospital character, Nina Clay, in a new interview published on Sunday. She praised head writer Ron Carlivati for his writing style.

"He GOES for it," Stafford said. "So I don’t want to be careful. I’m going all out, because then if it’s too much they can bring me down. We’re finding the character together. Ron writes to your strengths. He watches you and gets ideas from you, so you’re doing it together. That’s so important for a head writer."

Stafford has appreciated the notes that executive producer Frank Valentini gave her about her performance.

"You don’t hit it out of the park every time," she explained. "You go for it, but you don’t always hit it. Sometimes an actor makes a splash on one show and then comes onto a new show expecting they’re going to make another splash. But you have to start each new job anew. I’m the new kid on the block. I am at GH to aid story."

Stafford will make her next General Hospital appearance on Tuesday, June 3rd. Watch a promo for her return below: