Quarter-mania! How General Hospital Is Getting the Qs Back On Track

It wasn’t too long ago that General Hospital’s Quartermaine family looked like they were…well…put a fork in them, they’re done!

Anna Lee (Lila) and John Ingle (Edward) passed away, leaving the clan without their matriarch and patriarch. Former writers mistakenly killed off key characters, like Alan (Stuart Damon) and Emily (Natalia Livingston). And Jane Elliot’s departure as Tracy seemed to seal the family’s fate as yesterday’s news.

But the soap’s current scribes have gotten the Quartermaines back on track with some new additions and intriguing turns. Here’s how they did it.

Bye-Bye Ned Ashton
When mama Tracy was bidding adieu to Port Charles, Ned (Wally Kurth) made a small, but major announcement: he was changing his last name from Ashton to Quartermaine. It totally made sense.

Tracy was the major influence in his life, and Ned’s always been a Q at heart. However, now, it’s official.

Here Comes Olivia
Having Ned marry Olivia (Lisa LoCicero) and moving her into the family home was another key move. Her push-pull with Monica (Lesley Charleson) leads to lots of bickering – a favorite and familiar activity with the Qs. Plus, with Olivia came son, Leo, who Ned’s hoping to adopt, it means another generation added to the clan.

Doubling Down
With Steve Burton back as Jason and Billy Miller revealed as his twin, Drew, that means two more contentious members in the fold. Because of their twisted ties, there will always be an undercurrent of combativeness between the siblings. It’s reminiscent of the one Alan and Tracy shared.

Enter Oscar
Another surprise Quartermaine addition has been Oscar (Garren Stitt), the son Drew never knew he had with ex, Kim (Tamara Braun). Monica’s already invited the twosome to move into the mansion, albeit that doesn’t look likely, yet. But if it happens, it would infuse the house with teenage blood, something that’s been missing from it for years.

Another Baby on the Way
Just when it looked like there wasn’t “room at the inn” for one more, Michael (Chad Duell) learned that his ex, Nelle (Chloe Lanier), is pregnant with his kid. It could just be a matter of time before the manipulative gold digger sets down stakes under the Quartermaine house and really shakes things up.

General Hospital (GH) airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for air times.