History Series / PortCharles

''Port Charles'' is an American [[SoapOpera soap opera]] that aired on Creator/{{ABC}} from June 1, 1997 to October 3, 2003. The show was a {{spinoff}} of ''Series/GeneralHospital'' and, like the mothership, was set in fictional [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Port Charles, New York.]] The show was an attempt by Creator/{{ABC}} to shore up its 12:30 Eastern timeslot (which had been filled for years by the troubled soaps ''Series/{{Loving}}'' and its spin-off ''Series/TheCity1995'') to better compete with Creator/{{CBS}}'s hit, ''Series/TheYoungAndTheRestless''.

* DisabledLoveInterest: Matt to Grace, even though they never slept together, and to Ellen. Before they consummate their relationship, he makes it clear that his injuries do not affect his ability to perform sexually.

* ForWantOfANail: During the show's time travel arc, Frank communicates with a teenage girl in the 1970's, urging her not to go to a party where she'll lose her virginity and kick off a lifelong downward spiral. It turns out that the girl in question was Karen Wexler's mother and [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Frank's well-meaning advice has resulted in her not being conceived and therefore never existing]]. Even worse, her mother ends up screwed up anyway.

* IronicName: The show is called Port Charles, after the town it's set in, when most of the action takes place in the hospital and focuses on the doctors and nurses working there. (Strangely, this is a reversal of the situation with its parent show, called ''General Hospital'' even though most of the action takes place in the surrounding town).

* WholePlotReference: The show kicked off with the abduction of Scott's daughter Serena, in a storyline very reminiscent of the film ''{{Film/Ransom}}'', right down to Scott screaming " Give me back my daughter!"

* WhereDaWhiteWomenAt: Alison and Jamal. Her [[InterclassRomance being rich and him being poor]] didn't help matters.

Finally, in 2000, the show moved from traditional, open-ended storylines to a structure that resembled a telenovela. Storylines were now told over thirteen-week story arcs (termed "books" by the creators), with each book's subtitle shown in the opening credits.

The show was cancelled by Creator/{{ABC}} in 2003 and is, as of 2014, the last show Creator/{{ABC}} has programmed into the 12:30pm Eastern timeslot.

* IronicName: The show is called Port Charles, after the town it's set in, when most of the action takes place in the hospital and focuses on the doctors and nurses working there. (Strangely, this is a reversal of the situation with its parent show, called General Hospital even though most of the action takes place in the surrounding town).

* BigGood: Would anyone ever believe that {{Cloudcuckoolander}} Lucy Coe ended up being part of a bloodline of Vampire Slayers, alongside her cousin Rafe, [[spoiler:who was unable to actually slay anymore, though, having died in his last stand off against Caleb, and only acting as her guardian angel]], and the only one able to defeat Caleb not once, or twice but three times?

* LiteralSplitPersonality: Caleb split Livvie's kind and innocent qualities off into an identical, amnesiac woman named Tess so that she would easier to corrupt. This ended up working against him since the now totally ruthless Livvie had no problem betraying him. Eventually, Tess and Livvie got back together in a SplitPersonalityMerge slash FusionDance.

* CrossOver: The show's supernatural storylines were brought into continuity on Series/GeneralHospital during the winter of 2013 - though given a somewhat non-supernatural explanation at the end. [[spoiler: then another twist at the very last minute that switches the story back to a supernatural thriller cliffhanger]]

* ContinuitySnarl: Debbie Morgan plays Ellen Burgess, despite the show being a spinoff of ''Series/GeneralHospital'', which was established as being part of a SharedUniverse with ''Series/{{Loving}}''[=/=]''Series/TheCity1995'' and ''Series/AllMyChildren'', three shows where she played Angie Hubbard.

* ActorAllusion: Debbie Morgan plays a doctor on this show (Ellen Burgess), just as she played on ''Series/{{Loving}}'', ''Series/The City1995'' and ''Series/AllMyChildren'' (Angie Hubbard) for roughly a decade prior.

* ActorAllusion: Debbie Morgan plays a doctor on this show (Ellen Burgess), just as she played on ''Series/{{Loving}}''[=/=]''Series/The City1995'' and ''Series/AllMyChildren'' (Angie Hubbard) for roughly a decade prior.

* RequiredSpinoffCrossover: Inverted. Despite this show being a SpinOff of ''Series/GeneralHospital'', it's characters from this show who would occasionally turn up on its parent program, though this trope was sometimes played straight also.

Finally, in 2000, the show moved from traditional, open-ended storylines to a structure that resembled a telenovela. Storylines were told over thirteen-week story arcs (termed books by the creators).

* AlternateUniverse: An arguable example in its supernatural days. While closely tied to Series/GeneralHospital during its first two years, once ''Port Charles'' moved to telling stories about vampires and werewolves, very little of the action on ''Port Charles'' impacted ''General Hospital'' and vice versa. Until the CrossOver, that is....

Two years into the show, the focus of ''Port Charles'' changed dramatically, introducing supernatural & gothic elements such as angels, werewolves, witchcraft, time traveling and vampires; with its new focus, the show more closely resembled a modern day version of ''Series/DarkShadows.''

* LiteralSplitPersonality: Caleb split Livvie's kind and innocent qualities off into an identical, amnesiac woman named Tess so that she would easier to corrupt. This ended up working against him since the now totally ruthless Livvie had no problem betraying him. Eventually, Tess and Livvie got back together in a SplitPersonalityMerge.

* RealLifeRelative: Lynn Herring's (Lucy) RealLife husband Wayne Northup played Rex, Serena's kidnapper.

* BigGood: Would anyone ever believe that {{Cloudcuckoolander}} Lucy Coe ended up being part of a bloodline of Vampire Slayers, alongside her Cousin Rafe, [[spoiler: unable to do so anymore though having died in his last stand off against Caleb, and only acting as her guardian angel]], and the only one able to defeat Caleb not once, or twice but three times?

''Port Charles'' is an American [[SoapOpera soap opera]] that aired on Creator/{{ABC}} from June 1, 1997 to October 3, 2003. The show was a {{spinoff}} of ''Series/GeneralHospital'' and, like the mothership, was set in fictional [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Port Charles, New York.]] The show was an attempt by Creator/{{ABC}} to shore up its 12:30 Eastern timeslot (which had been filled for years by the troubled soaps ''Series/{{Loving}}'' and its spin-off ''The City'') to better compete with Creator/{{CBS}}'s hit, ''Series/TheYoungAndTheRestless''.

* ActorAllusion: Debbie Morgan plays a doctor on this show (Ellen Burgess), just as she played on ''Series/{{Loving}}''[=/=]''The City'' and ''Series/AllMyChildren'' (Angie Hubbard) for roughly a decade prior.

* ContinuitySnarl: Debbie Morgan plays Ellen Burgess, despite the show being a spinoff of ''Series/GeneralHospital'', which was established as being part of a SharedUniverse with ''Series/{{Loving}}''[=/=]''The City'' and ''Series/AllMyChildren'', three shows where she played Angie Hubbard.

* RequiredSpinoffCrossover: Inverted. Despite this show being a SpinOff of ''Series/GeneralHospital'', it's characters from this show who would occasionally turn up on it's parent program, though this trope was sometimes played straight also.
* SharedUniverse: Aside from it's parent show, Ian Thornhart being the twin brother of Patrick Thornhart meant with ''Series/OneLifeToLive'' too.

* BabiesEverAfter: The series ends with Alison pregnant.