View source for Port Charles

{{Short description|American television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Port Charles opening.jpg
| caption =
| genre = {{Unbulleted list|[[Soap opera]]|[[Medical drama]]|[[Supernatural]]|[[Fantasy (genre)|Fantasy]]}}
| runtime = 30 minutes
| creator = Wendy Riche
| developer = [[Carolyn Culliton]]<br>[[Richard Culliton]]<br>Wendy Riche
| starring = [[List of Port Charles cast members|List of cast members]]
| country = United States
| language = English
| theme_music_composer = Martin Davich
| num_seasons = 6
| executive_producer = Wendy Riche (June 1, 1997 – December 24, 1999)<br>[[Julie Hanan Carruthers]] (December 27, 1999 – October 3, 2003)
| network = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|1997|6|1}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2003|10|3}}
| related = ''[[General Hospital]]''<br>''[[General Hospital: Night Shift]]''<br>''[[One Life to Live]]''
| num_episodes = 1,537
}}
'''''Port Charles''''' (commonly abbreviated as '''''PC''''') is an American television [[soap opera]] that aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] from June 1, 1997, to October 3, 2003. It was a [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] of the series  ''[[General Hospital]]'', which has been running since 1963 and takes place in the fictional city of [[Port Charles, New York (fictional city)|Port Charles]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. The show features longtime ''General Hospital'' characters [[Lucy Coe]], [[Kevin Collins (General Hospital)|Kevin Collins]], [[Scott Baldwin]], and [[Karen Wexler]], along with several new characters, most of whom were interns in a competitive medical school program. In its later years, the program shifted more towards supernatural themes and stories, with a reduced emphasis on the original hospital setting.

==History==
===1997–2000===
Plans to spin off ''General Hospital'' were announced in December 1996.<ref>{{cite web |title=NewsBank for Statesman &#124; www.prod.statesman.com |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EA25E15608B86A2&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |access-date=2013-06-24 |publisher=Nl.newsbank.com}}{{dead link|date=September 2025}}</ref> ABC had previously passed on the idea of a ''GH'' spin-off proposed by former head writer, [[Claire Labine]].<ref name="pqarchiver1996">{{cite web |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/17215267.html?dids=17215267:17215267&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+02%2C+1996&author=By+Connie+Passalacqua.+Connie+Passalacqua+writes+%22The+Soaps%22+column+on+alternate+Mondays.&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=THE+SOAPS+%2F+%60General+Hospital%27+Spinoff+in+Spring&pqatl=google |title=Newsday - The Long Island and New York City News Source |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=1996-12-02 |access-date=2013-06-24 }}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Tentatively titled ''GH2'', the series was set to revolve around interns at the medical school across from General Hospital. ''General Hospital'' executive producer Wendy Riche was hired to fill the same role for the new series, and partnered with married soap opera writers [[Carolyn Culliton|Carolyn]] and [[Richard Culliton]]—the latter of whom Riche had hired as co-head writer of ''General Hospital'' in September 1996—to co-develop the concept. (The Cullitons served as head writers of ''Port Charles'' from its debut until November 1997; Richard would subsequently be appointed head writer of the NBC soap ''[[Another World (TV series)|Another World]]'', where Carolyn had previously served and would rejoin as a staff writer.)<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j4NJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zAsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5278,925492&dq=port+charles+general+hospital+spin+off&hl=en The Post and Courier – Google News Archive Search<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{dead link|date=November 2014}}</ref> Riche said of the new show, "This will be a multigenerational show, which is the kind of drama we've always done at ''GH''".<ref name="pqarchiver1996"/>  It was later announced that the series would be titled ''Port Charles'', after the fictional city the series are set, and would star [[Jon Lindstrom]] and [[Lynn Herring]], playing their roles from ''GH''.<ref>{{cite news |date=20 March 1997 |title=Sudsy spinoff of 'GH' called 'Port Charles' |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ltIgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=22oFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4835,2883833&dq=port+charles+general+hospital+spin+off&hl=en |work=Sun Journal |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref>

The series premiered with a two-hour [[prime time]] special, that aired on June 1, 1997.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zuckerman |first=Faye B. |date=1 June 1997 |title='General Hospital' spinoff goes prime-time |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dJBSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1cQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6665,223813&dq=port+charles+general+hospital+spin+off&hl=en |work=The Telegraph-Herald |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref> It started in its regular 12:30&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern]] timeslot the following day, replacing ''[[The City (1995 TV series)|The City]]'', a continuation of the previously cancelled ''[[Loving (TV series)|Loving]]'' (the latter, like ''Port Charles'', having also premiered as a feature-length nighttime special) that ended its 17-month run on March 28. (Edited 30-minute classic episodes of ''[[All My Children]]'', ''[[One Life to Live]]'', and ''General Hospital'' had filled the timeslot in the interim from March 31 to May 29.)<ref>{{cite news |date=24 March 1997 |title='Port Charles' to debut June 1 in prime time |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VfZJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EIUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3015,7606779&dq=port+charles+kin+shriner&hl=en |work=The Vindicator |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref> The series also featured the return of ''General Hospital'' characters [[Scott Baldwin]] ([[Kin Shriner]]), and [[Karen Wexler]] ([[Jennifer Hammon]]). After the series premiered, it was unclear if Lindstrom, Herring, and Shriner would remain with the series. It was later confirmed the actors would stay on the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sun_sentinel/access/23321804.html?dids=23321804:23321804&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+29%2C+1997&author=LYNDA+HIRSCH+Special+to+the+Sun-Sentinel&pub=South+Florida+Sun+-+Sentinel&desc=%60PORT+CHARLES%27+TRIO%27S+MOVE+PERMANENT&pqatl=google |title='Port Charles' Trio'S Move Permanent |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=1997-11-29 |access-date=2013-06-24}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Riche later recalled the creation process by saying, "We knew that ''The City'' was probably not going to last.  I was having lunch with Pat [Fili-Krushel] at some event.  We were talking about ''The City'' and what to do with that timeslot.  I said, 'If I were a programmer, I would start the ABC lineup with a half hour of the west wing of General Hospital with the interns in a learning hospital, and cap the day off with ''General Hospital''.  I would interface the characters in Port Charles with both wings of General Hospital.' Pat thought that was a great idea.  She thought about it for a few hours, ran it by upper management, and told me to write it up.  I sat down, wrote down some characters and storylines, sent her back some pages, and created the show.  That was a natural bridge as a programmer.  I had worked as a programmer at ABC and [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] so my head also thinks in those terms.  We wanted to bring continuity to the show, which was Lucy, Kevin, and Scotty."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.welovesoaps.net/2010/07/wendyriche3.html#!/exjun_ |title=Wendy Riche: The ''We Love Soaps'' Interview, Part Three |work=[[We Love Soaps]] |date=2010-07-25 |access-date=2013-06-24}}</ref>

In the first episode, tenured nurse [[Audrey Hardy]] (''General Hospital'''s longest-running character, portrayed by [[Rachel Ames]]) was injured and an intern had to operate on her with a power drill to save her life. Despite low ratings, ''Port Charles'' celebrated its first anniversary on June 1, 1998, as the series slowly continued to establish its own audience and improve in its time slot.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5MdOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oB4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6844,1900753&dq=port+charles&hl=en Star-News - Google News Archive Search<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In its first few years, ''Port Charles'' developed a reputation for focusing most of its energies on the medical school program, setting more of its main action at Port Charles' General Hospital than was seen on the parent show, ''General Hospital''. As it evolved, it turned its focus to stories with gothic intrigue that included themes such as forbidden love, [[vampire]]s, and life after death (somewhat similar to the earlier series ''[[Dark Shadows]]'', which also aired on ABC in the late 1960s and early 1970s).

In December 1999, [[Julie Hanan Carruthers]] was promoted to executive producer after Wendy Riche decided to step down from day-to-day oversight of the show to focus on ''General Hospital''.  Carruthers was the senior supervising producer of ''Port Charles'', while serving the same role on ''General Hospital'' at the spin-off's inception.

===2000–2003===
In December 2000, it was announced that ''Port Charles'' would abandon the traditional open-ended style of storytelling in favor of 13-week story arcs similar to Latin [[telenovelas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/64644887.html?dids=64644887:64644887&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+24%2C+2000&author=T.L.+STANLEY&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=ABC+Takes+a+Slightly+Telenovela+Approach+to+%27Port+Charles%27&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630041325/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/64644887.html?dids=64644887:64644887&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+24,+2000&author=T.L.+STANLEY&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=ABC+Takes+a+Slightly+Telenovela+Approach+to+'Port+Charles'&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |title=Los Angeles Times: Archives - ABC Takes a Slightly Telenovela Approach to 'Port Charles' |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=2000-11-24 |access-date=2013-06-24}}</ref> Each arc is referred to as a "book", and has its own plot line.<ref>{{cite news |last=Calvo |first=Dana |date=3 May 2001 |title='Bold' aim at Latino viewers |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=31VWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1usDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6723,456561&dq=port+charles+telenovas&hl=en |work=Eugene Register-Guard |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref> The approach was designed to attract more younger viewers, with shorter format being easier for many viewers to keep up with.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bauder |first=David |date=31 July 2001 |title=Networks tinkering to find new audience for their slipping soap operas |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=saRFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gc8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=6867,4980993&dq=port+charles+telenovas&hl=en |work=Portsmouth Daily Times |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref> ABC's head of daytime, Angela Shapiro said of format change, "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey, still, we need to come up with [quicker] stories that have a beginning, middle, and end."<ref>{{cite web |last=Rice |first=Lynette |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,275719,00.html |title=On The Air: March 17, 2000 |publisher=EW.com |date=2000-03-17 |access-date=2013-06-24 |archive-date=2008-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122151928/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,275719,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The new production model allowed the cast, crew, and writing staff to only work six months out of the year.

====Cancellation====
On June 27, 2003, ''Port Charles'' was cancelled by ABC after six years due to low ratings and financial concerns.<ref>{{cite news |date=3 July 2003 |title=ABC pulls the plug on 'Port Charles' |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3LdIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wYEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3778,974377&dq=port+charles+cancelled+by+abc&hl=en |work=The Vindicator |pages=D7 |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref><ref>[https://www.soapcentral.com/pc/news/2003/0627-cancellation.php Soap Central – Google News Archive Search<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The final episode aired on October 3, 2003.<ref>{{cite news |last=Havens |first=Candace |date=1 August 2003 |title='Port Charles' meets the network guillotine |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JJ9NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hkkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3293,3651295&dq=port+charles&hl=en |work=The Bryan Times |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref> [[Brian Frons]] said of the decision to cancel the relatively young series, "This was an extremely difficult decision, we were very pleased with the creative execution of the show, but the 30 minute format in this time period posed significant financial challenges, which ultimately led to this decision."<ref>{{cite news |date=6 July 2003 |title=The ship for 'Port Charles' has sailed |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WfIaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NEgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6004,490334&dq=port+charles+general+hospital+spin+off&hl=en |work=Daily News |pages=13B |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref> Since the program taped for only six months out of the year, the remaining episodes were aired with the cast not allowed to return to tape resolutions to storylines. This left the final episode as a cliffhanger; Caleb told Olivia that Alison ([[Erin Hershey Presley]]) was pregnant with his baby because of the wish that she (Olivia) made on his ring and it was revealed that Imani was a werewolf. ABC returned the 12:30&nbsp;p.m. time slot to its affiliates after ''Port Charles'' ended its run.

After ''Port Charles,'' the characters of [[Scott Baldwin]] and [[Audrey Hardy]] returned to ''General Hospital'', and many of the other actors from ''Port Charles'' moved on to play roles on other dramas, including a few who took on new roles on ''General Hospital'', such as actors [[Kelly Monaco]], Kiko Ellsworth, [[Eddie Matos (actor)|Eddie Matos]], [[Kent King]], and [[Jay Pickett]].

====Post-cancellation aftermath====
The cancellation of ''Port Charles'', along with ABC's relinquishing of what was historically a [[graveyard slot|death slot]] at the time of the show's ending, resulted in a major impact on the [[first-run syndication]] market as ABC affiliates sought new programming to fill the open timeslot in the midst of the 2003–04 television season. The most significant impact occurred in the New York television market, where the cancellation created an opening on network flagship station [[WABC-TV]]. Taking advantage of this opening, syndication distributor [[Buena Vista Television]] reached an agreement to move ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (American game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire]]'' (which had been canceled by ABC one year earlier) over to WABC's open 12:30&nbsp;p.m. slot from [[WCBS-TV]], which had been airing the program in the 4:00&nbsp;p.m. timeslot since it premiered in first-run syndication in September 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1967240|title=''Millionaire'' nabs key slots in syndication|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 2, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030907080505/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1967240|archive-date=September 7, 2003}}</ref> This situation arose after WCBS picked up syndication rights to ''[[The People's Court]]'' for the 2003–04 season when [[WNBC]], which had aired the program since it was revived in 1997, dropped it from its lineup.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://business.highbeam.com/2012/article-1G1-95355049/millionaire-poorer-ny-game-loses-wcbs-plum-4-pm-slot|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808042435/http://business.highbeam.com/2012/article-1G1-95355049/millionaire-poorer-ny-game-loses-wcbs-plum-4-pm-slot|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 8, 2014|title=''Millionaire'' poorer in N.Y.|url-access= |work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 2, 2002|access-date=July 30, 2014}}</ref> ''Millionaire'' continued to air in that time slot until September 2014, when it was moved to 2:00&nbsp;p.m. (where it would remain until its withdrawal from syndication in 2019, apart from the 2015–16 season) in order to accommodate an extension of the station's noon newscast as a result of the cancellation of ''[[Katie (talk show)|Katie]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://7online.com/entertainment/afternoons-are-new-on-abc7-ny/256565/ |title=Channel 7's New Afternoon Lineup |date=August 18, 2014 |publisher=WABC-TV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819091327/http://7online.com/entertainment/afternoons-are-new-on-abc7-ny/256565/ |archive-date=August 19, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The second syndicated season of ''Millionaire'' premiered before ''Port Charles'' aired its last episode; as a result, some affiliates did not air the soap in its normal timeslot during its last few weeks.

In 2013, the writers of ''General Hospital'' revisited the final storyline of ''Port Charles'' after actors [[Michael Easton]] and [[Lynn Herring]] joined the show, putting their own spin on the ''PC'' storyline. Easton was now playing [[John McBain (One Life to Live)|John McBain]], a role he originated on the cancelled ''[[One Life to Live]]'', while Herring would reprise her role as Lucy Coe. To work with the previous ''PC'' storyline, Easton started a dual role, playing both John and Caleb onscreen.  At the conclusion of the story arc, it appeared the Caleb character had died; however, in the morgue after Lucy Coe left convinced he was dead, the true Caleb switched bodies with the Medical Examiner and walked out of the morgue.

==Cast of characters==
{{Main|List of Port Charles characters}}
{{see also|List of Port Charles cast members}}
Popular characters such as [[Lucy Coe]], [[Kevin Collins (General Hospital)|Kevin Collins]], and [[Scott Baldwin]] moved from ''General Hospital'' to ''Port Charles'' at the start of the series. New characters were introduced as doctors and interns at the local medical school. These interns included brothers Joe (Michael Dietz) and Frank Scanlon ([[Jay Pickett]]), wheelchair user Matt Harmon (Mitch Longley), Julie Morris-Devlin (Lisa Ann Hadley), [[Eve Lambert]] (Julie Pinson), [[Karen Wexler]] (Jennifer Hammon), Chris Ramsey ([[Nolan North]]), Jake Marshak (Rib Hillis).<ref>{{cite news |last=Stone |first=Sally |date=1 June 1997 |title='Port Charles' debuts on June 2 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pc5FAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A9AMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4236,4121716&dq=port+charles+kin+shriner&hl=en |work=Portsmouth Daily Times |pages=3 |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref> [[Debbi Morgan]] portrayed the resident in charge of the new interns, Dr. Ellen Burgess. Morgan was widely known for her portrayal of [[Angie Hubbard]] on ''[[All My Children]]'', ''[[Loving (TV series)|Loving]]'', and ''The City''. The actress described her character, which was seen as a departure for Morgan, whose Angie was known as a generally nice character, by saying "She's everything I abhor in doctors-their abruptness, the lack of [[wikt:bedside manner|bedside manners]] that so many of them have. She's a talented doctor and brilliant at what she does. Her bedside manner just sucks!".<ref>{{cite news |date=27 July 1997 |title=Morgan does a turnaround on 'Port Charles' |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oUogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PqYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4206,5021575&dq=port+charles+general+hospital+spin+off&hl=en |work=The Tuscaloosa News |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref>

As the series progressed, the storylines became less centered around the interns, and as a result, many actors ended up leaving the series. ''Port Charles'' then started to introduce new, younger characters as a part of the supernatural storylines. These characters proved to be popular with fans and critics, mainly [[Alison Barrington]] ([[Erin Hershey Presley]]), [[Caleb Morley]] ([[Michael Easton]]), [[Livvie Locke]] ([[Kelly Monaco]]), and [[Rafe Kovich]] ([[Brian Gaskill]]).<ref>{{cite news |last=Havens |first=Candace |date=5 July 2002 |title=New 'PC' books leaves many characters 'Torn' |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W-0wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z-AFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3777,200412&dq=port+charles+kelly+monaco+livvie+locke&hl=en |work=The Nevada Daily Mail |pages=3 |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref>

When the series ended in 2003, Shriner returned to ''General Hospital,'' while Herring was not offered a place back on the show. The actress stated, "That was very disheartening. It never occurred to me that Lucy wouldn't still have a place in town if ''PC'' didn't work out. But you know what? Even knowing what I know now, I would still go off to do PC. I would not trade that fabulous experience for anything!"<ref>{{cite web |date=2013-01-09 |title=General Hospital Exclusive: Are Vampires Returning to Port Charles? - Today's News: Our Take |url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/General-Hospital-Vampires-1058614.aspx |access-date=2013-06-24 |publisher=TVGuide.com}}{{dead link|date=September 2025}}</ref> Several of the younger actors took roles on different shows, including Easton, who was cast as [[John McBain (One Life to Live)|John McBain]] on ''[[One Life to Live]]''. Monaco transferred over to ''General Hospital'', but in the newly created role of [[Sam McCall]]. It was said that the supernatural elements of the storyline would have made it difficult for the writers to integrate Livvie into the series.<ref>{{cite news |last=Havens |first=Candace |date=4 October 2003 |title=Ex-'Port Charles' actors catch on elsewhere |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UeoyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RwgGAAAAIBAJ&pg=4366,1427852&dq=port+charles+kelly+monaco+livvie+locke&hl=en |work=The Free Lance-Star |pages=12 |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref>

==Story arcs==
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2017}}
Each 13-week arc of the story was  referred to as a "book". There were a total of twelve books after the series switched to that format. In order, they were:

{| class="wikitable"
|- "
! Book || Duration
|-
|''Fate'' || December 4, 2000 – March 2, 2001
|-
|''Time in a Bottle'' || March 5 – June 1, 2001
|-
|''Tainted Love'' || June 4 – August 31, 2001
|-
|''Tempted'' || September 3 – November 30, 2001
|-
|''Miracles Happen'' || December 3 – 31, 2001
|-
|''Secrets'' || January 2 – March 29, 2002
|-
|''Superstition'' || April 1 – June 28, 2002
|-
|''Torn'' || July 1 – September 27, 2002
|-
|''Naked Eyes'' || September 30 – December 30, 2002
|-
|''Surrender'' || December 30, 2002 – April 1, 2003
|-
|''Desire'' || April 2 – July 4, 2003
|-
|''The Gift'' || July 7 – October 3, 2003
|}

==Crews==
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2017}}

===Head writers===
{| class="wikitable"
|- "
!Duration || Name
|-
|June 1 – October 13, 1997 || |[[Carolyn Culliton]]<br>[[Richard Culliton]]
|-
|October 14, 1997 – May 6, 1999 || [[Lynn Marie Latham]]
|-
|May 7, 1999 – February 3, 2000|| [[Scott Hamner]]
|-
|February 4 – March 1, 2000 || No Head Writer Listed
|-
|March 2 – April 5, 2000 || [[Karen Harris (writer)|Karen Harris]]<br>Jonathon Estrin
|-
|April 6 – May 19, 2000 || Karen Harris
|-
|May 22 – November 9, 2000 || Karen Harris<br>[[Barbara Bloom (television executive)|Barbara Bloom]]
|-
|November 10, 2000 – October 3, 2003 || [[James Harmon Brown]]<br>[[Barbara Esensten]]
|}

===Executive producers===
{| class="wikitable"
|- "
!Duration || Name
|-
|June 1, 1997 – December 24, 1999 || Wendy Riche
|-
|December 27, 1999 – October 3, 2003|| [[Julie Hanan Carruthers]]
|}

==Reception==
The  series received mostly positive reviews from critics. In a review of the early months, ''[[The Tuscaloosa News]]'' compared the series favorably to ''General Hospital'', "But all in all, this was quite an auspicious start for a new show. When ''Port Charles'' was conceived, this spin off was a companion piece to the highly successful ''General Hospital''. Since then, ''General Hospital'' has lost not only its headwriter, but its direction."<ref>{{cite news |date=10 August 1997 |title=GH spinoff 'port charles' is finding its way |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CAciAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GqYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4240,2026067&dq=port+charles&hl=en |work=The Tuscaloosa News |pages=5H |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref> During the early days, many critics felt the series wouldn't make it, but it later proved to be a critical success.<ref>{{cite news |last=Havens |first=Candace |date=30 May 1999 |title=GH alum settles down in Port Charles |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mWQzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jAgGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2908,7684072&dq=port+charles+general+hospital+spin+off&hl=en |work=The Free Lance-Star |pages=2 |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref> The series received particular acclaim during the vampire storylines. The ''[[Star-News]]'' wrote in a review of the "Tainted Love" arc, "Its well-placed edginess always underscores the danger. It was riveting. So was this story. We did not want it to end."<ref>{{cite news |last=Reichardt |first=Nancy |date=19 September 2001 |title=Love saves the day on 'port charles' |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1gJPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Th8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6841,1486460&dq=lynn+herring+vampires+port+charles&hl=en |work=Star-News |pages=9 |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref> The fast-paced style of storytelling has also been called "Edgy, unpredictable and extreme."<ref>{{cite news |last=Havens |first=Candace |date=29 December 2002 |title=ABC's 'Port Charles' strives to be different |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-jofAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OdAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3862,4443095&dq=port+charles&hl=en |work=Herald-Journal |pages=2 |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref> ''[[The Vindicator]]'' described the change in the series by saying, "The series clipped along at an amazing pace and viewers became intrigued as more fantasy elements such as time travel and vampires were added to the mix. The show became the ''Dark Shadows'' of its time, and although the ratings were low, it continued to grow."<ref>{{cite news |last=Bobbin |first=Jay |date=26 September 2003 |title=Rob Lowe enters 'The Lyon's Den' as NBC drama debuts |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1eFIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=loIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4543,5429339&dq=port+charles+micheal+easton&hl=en |work=The Vindicator |pages=13 |via=[[Google News Archive Search]]}}</ref> ''[[Soaps in Depth|ABC Soaps in Depth]]'''s list of ''100 Greatest Daytime Couples'' included [[Rafe Kovich and Alison Barrington|Rafe and Alison]] at number 92, and Caleb and Livvie at number 34.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In 2003, the series was nominated for a [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-03-12-daytime-emmys_x.htm |title=USATODAY.com - 'View' scores 6 Daytime Emmy nods; Lucci gets none |publisher=Usatoday30.usatoday.com |date=2003-03-12 |access-date=2013-08-19}}</ref>[[Zap2it]] included the series on its list of ''The Best and Worst TV Spinoffs since 1990'', noting, "''"Port Charles"'' never got the traction that its venerable parent show did, despite attempts to introduce the supernatural and a change in production to tell more contained story arcs. It lasted six years, and after its cancellation a few characters eventually returned to ''General Hospital''."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zap2it.com/news/pictures/zap-best-worst-tv-spinoffs-pictures,0,937648.photogallery?index=26 |title=TV spinoffs: The best and worst since 1990 |publisher=Zap2it |access-date=2013-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131121055320/http://www.zap2it.com/news/pictures/zap-best-worst-tv-spinoffs-pictures%2C0%2C937648.photogallery?index=26 |archive-date=2013-11-21 }}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' included the series on their list of "15 Soap Operas We've Loved, Lost", noting, "What started off as a simple spin-off of ''General Hospital'' ended up venturing way out there, with vampires and werewolves stalking around Port Charles. Having ''GH'' folks like Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring) and Scotty Baldwin (Kin Shriner) leading the show made for an instant audience base. Some viewers couldn't get behind all the supernatural happenings (a vampire/human baby conceived by a wish upon a ring?), but hey, we got Kelly Monaco out of the deal."<ref>{{cite web|last=West |first=Abby |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20308587_20304400_20603923,00.html#20603924 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101074734/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20308587_20304400_20603923,00.html#20603924 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 1, 2014 |title=A. Martinez &#124; 15 Soap Operas We've Loved, Lost |publisher=EW.com |date=2011-04-17 |access-date=2013-08-19}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Vampire film]]
* [[List of vampire television series]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0118435}}
* Port Charles @ soapcentral.com Page
* [http://www.soapzone.com/pc Port Charles - SoapZone]

{{Port Charles}}
{{US daytime soaps}}

[[Category:1997 American television series debuts]]
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