• More More

Search

My Account Logout
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • other
  • NEWS + FEATURES
  • VIDEO
  • FILMS
  • SERIES
  • INTERACTIVE
  • COMMUNITY
  • DATABANK
  • DISNEY+
  • More More
My Account Logout
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • other

ALL OF YOUR STAR WARS FAVORITES NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY+

All

  • Andor
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Books + Comics
  • Characters + Histories
  • Collecting
  • Creativity
  • Disney Parks
  • Disney+
  • Events
  • Fans + Community
  • Films
  • Force For Change
  • Forces of Destiny
  • Galaxy of Adventures
  • Games + Apps
  • ILMxLAB
  • In Pop Culture
  • Interviews
  • LEGO Star Wars
  • Lucasfilm
  • Merchandise
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi
  • Opinions
  • Quizzes + Polls
  • Recipes
  • Rogue One
  • Solo
  • Star Wars Celebration
  • Star Wars Day
  • Star Wars Rebels
  • Star Wars Resistance
  • Television
  • The Bad Batch
  • The Book of Boba Fett
  • The Clone Wars
  • The Force Awakens
  • The High Republic
  • The Last Jedi
  • The Mandalorian
  • The Rise of Skywalker
  • The Star Wars Show
  • Visions
{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

Soap and Space Operas, Quartermaines and Skywalkers

April 4, 2014
April 4, 2014
Jennifer Heddle

Lucas Books' senior editor visits the set of the long-running General Hospital, and finds that its world of mobsters, forbidden romances, and family drama has a lot in common with the Star Wars universe.

General Hostpital

Last week I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the set of General Hospital, a show that I’ve been watching (with the occasional break here and there) for over 30 years. One of the most exciting parts of the visit was getting to watch scenes being filmed. As you can imagine, filming for a soap opera is different than filming for a television show that only airs 22 episodes a year. There’s no time to dwell. The actors say their lines, do a couple takes, and as long as everything looks and sounds good, it’s on to the next scene. And General Hospital has been doing this consistently for over 50 years. It’s just mind-blowing.

It got me thinking about serialized storytelling, and the fact that it’s not easy. And that led to me reflecting on what an accomplishment the Star Wars Expanded Universe is. Publishing has been telling Star Wars stories without a break for 23 years. That’s only two years less than The Simpsons. That’s soap opera territory.

Granted, the stories in Star Wars books and comics have spanned centuries, showing us different eras within the Star Wars galaxy, but the novels in particular have had a strong streak of serialized storytelling. The basic story following Luke, Han, and Leia has shown them, and their friends and families, through decades of their lives. There aren’t all that many literature series that do this, period. Especially when you consider that the stories are executed by multiple authors. Star Wars books have been following the saga of the Skywalkers and the Solos just as General Hospital has followed the Quartermaines and the Spencers. We’ve seen births, deaths, separation, illness, war, great joys, and deep lows. All with a consistency to the storytelling, a dedication to the principles of the Star Wars universe.

Finola Hughes of General Hospital and Jennifer Heddle of Lucasfilm

Serialized storytelling that goes on for so long faces its own specific set of challenges. You’re not telling a contained story from beginning to end, like that of Walter White in Breaking Bad. You have to keep your audience engaged over the course of decades. You need infusions of new ideas, new characters, new writers, new twists on old stories. You have to give your fans reasons to keep coming back, year after year, even if they think they already know your universe inside and out. That the writers and editors of the EU have managed to do that very thing for so many of you is an amazing accomplishment.

When I go home tonight, I’m going to watch the latest episode of General Hospital. A.J. Quartermaine died this week, and the repercussions are still being felt. I especially feel for his mother, Monica Quartermaine, as both the character and the actor have been on the show since 1977. My grief for her is all the more heartfelt because I’ve known her for over 30 years. It’s the kind of emotional experience I can’t find in too many places. It’s specific to long-term serialized storytelling. But I’m pretty sure Star Wars readers know exactly what I’m talking about.

Expanded Universe general hospital soap operas

Related Stories

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Games + Apps", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/games-+-apps"}

Cal Kestis Looks to Infiltrate to an Enemy Stronghold in Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars - Exclusive Excerpt

January 31, 2023

January 31, 2023

Jan 31

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

A Scoundrel’s Origin Story Revealed in Marvel’s Star Wars: Sana Starros

January 30, 2023

January 30, 2023

Jan 30

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Characters + Histories", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/characters-+-histories"}

Boushh Blasts His Way to New Allies in Marvel’s Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #28 – Exclusive Preview

January 18, 2023

January 18, 2023

Jan 18

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

Inferno Squad Strikes Back in Marvel’s April 2023 Star Wars Comics – Exclusive Preview

January 17, 2023

January 17, 2023

Jan 17

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Characters + Histories", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/characters-+-histories"}

Marvel’s Star Wars: Darth Vader – Black, White & Red Revealed

January 12, 2023

January 12, 2023

Jan 12

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

Marvel Comics and Mateus Manhanini Reveal Stunning Star Wars Black History Month Covers - Exclusive

January 11, 2023

January 11, 2023

Jan 11

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"The High Republic", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-high-republic"}

Yoda Returns to Turrak in Marvel’s Star Wars: Yoda #2 - Exclusive Preview

December 21, 2022

December 21, 2022

Dec 21

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"The High Republic", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-high-republic"}

Porter Engle Settles a Dispute in Marvel’s Star Wars: The High Republic – The Blade #1 – Exclusive Preview

December 20, 2022

December 20, 2022

Dec 20

More From Star Wars:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • SWKids
  • Terms of Use
  • Additional Content Information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Your California Privacy Rights
  • Star Wars at shopDisney
  • Star Wars Helpdesk
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved